After two very painful initial miles, I discovered what my problem actually was. It turns out my left ankle was lacking support and it was rolling funny as I my forefoot struck the ground. When I run, my left foot turns inward (pigeon toed) and my ankle rolls outward because I over pronate. It was cold and windy and I contemplated giving up. But then I realized that if I gave up now, then it would just make me more likely to continue giving up in the future. Besides, I had to run with Amanda tomorrow and I couldn't tell her that I didn't make it through 7 miles. I was determined and I was also broken. I stopped after mile 1 and I stretched really good. Especially, I stretched my shins. I ran/walked until I got back to my house. I decided to get my athletic tape/bandages and wrap my ankle. The wrapping would be the litmus test, if I still had issues with my ankle after wrapping it, then I would just walk until I completed the 7 miles. Luckily, wrapping my ankle gave it the support it needed for me to complete the remaining 5 miles. It took me 1 hr and 45 minutes to run/walk the 7 miles, but I did it. I did take intermittent walk breaks every 2 miles or so and I did have to slow my pace. It wasn't exactly what I wanted to do for the day, but I have to put everything into perspective. I was hurt and I sucked it up and continued on. I found a way to deal with my pain and in the end I am much happier for continuing on and achieving my goals.
What I learned today is that our bodies are incredibly resilient and with a little help I can push my body beyond my expectations. Last week I did 6 miles and I struggled a little to keep running until the end. This week, once I got past my initial hiccup, I easily did the 6 miles and I felt exhausted at the end of mile 7. My next step is to start looking into shin splint prevention and ankle strengthening exercises in order to help me solve my problems. Because at this point if I don't do something, I am going to struggle a lot more when I get to the Baltimore Marathon.
Total Miles Run: 38 miles
Until we meet again...happy running :-)
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Low Mileage So Far This Week
Not sure if it is the change in weather or just the extra stress at work, but I have been super tired this week. I guess it is to be expected because as time goes on you run more and it takes more time out of your day to try and balance everything.
I am starting to feel the effects of months of training. While I have only been "half marathon" training for 3 weeks, I have been training and building up to longer distances since the beginning of November. What I am learning is that the constant pounding on pavement really takes a toll on your body. Especially your knees. Its a trade off, some aspects of running lead you to be in better shape, while other aspects leave you feeling broken.
One positive of running is that I no longer get winded when running. I used to have to stop because I couldn't get up a hill and yes at one point in time a couple of years ago, I had difficulty walking for a prolonged period of time. So the fact that I can run 6 miles without the slightest bit of struggle is quite remarkable to me. Even if after I run my marathon, I think I will always keep running because I see the immediate health benefits. Another positive, is I can eat a little bit more or how I am accustomed to. While training I am burning more calories and I don't have to feel guilty because I had that extra piece of pizza or a slice of pie. That's always nice to not feel as guilty about what you eat. In fact, you can usually justify it as carbo loading and then tell people its all part of your training regimen ;-)
The downside to running, and yes I did expect this. The harsh reality to running is that it is physically demanding. By Sunday, my goal is to have completed 44 miles in the past 3 weeks. While it isn't a tremendous amount of miles it is essentially the distance of me commuting round trip to work twice. That's pretty significant if you think about it. I've sustained some minor injuries thus far. Monday I dealt with the left leg getting a terrible shin splint and a strain in one of my leg muscles. I did some research and it just requires me to not be as challenging in my runs. This means lay off the hills for the next two weeks and pop advil when I'm done. When I read this, it made sense because I noticed that when I ran, I was cramping and in a ton of pain when going up the hills. I thought I was doing something wrong. It turns out its just a minor injury. The other issue I am having is that I am slightly pigeon toed when I run and this puts a lot of stress on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th toes. This also causes my flat feet to have my non-existent arches to pull and be strained. I also did research on this and it turns out that a tennis ball can help. What it does is it helps to stretch out the tightened muscles on the bottom of your foot. Since I started doing this, my arches have been sore, but I have felt a huge difference as far as pain.
How to stretch the Tendons in Your Arch:
Take a tennis ball and place one foot on top of the tennis ball.
Apply a decent amount of pressure to your foot and roll the tennis ball on the bottom of your foot.
Massage the heel and the arches.
Repeat with other foot.
My other piece of advice is to get the shin split prevention compression sleeves. I thought I only needed one, it turns out I need one for my other leg too. So I bought another sleeve. I like Zensah it is sturdy and anti-microbial. Plus, they come in a variety of cool colors. They cost about $20, but can be as expensive as $40 per sleeve. I ordered mine off of amazon.com.
My goal for this weekend is to complete a 4 miler and a 7 miler. Honestly, given the injuries I am not pushing myself too hard because I have to be concerned with the long term goals. So if I have to walk, then I will. The important part is to cover the prescribed distance so I can move on to 8 miles next weekend.
See you Sunday and happy running!
I am starting to feel the effects of months of training. While I have only been "half marathon" training for 3 weeks, I have been training and building up to longer distances since the beginning of November. What I am learning is that the constant pounding on pavement really takes a toll on your body. Especially your knees. Its a trade off, some aspects of running lead you to be in better shape, while other aspects leave you feeling broken.
One positive of running is that I no longer get winded when running. I used to have to stop because I couldn't get up a hill and yes at one point in time a couple of years ago, I had difficulty walking for a prolonged period of time. So the fact that I can run 6 miles without the slightest bit of struggle is quite remarkable to me. Even if after I run my marathon, I think I will always keep running because I see the immediate health benefits. Another positive, is I can eat a little bit more or how I am accustomed to. While training I am burning more calories and I don't have to feel guilty because I had that extra piece of pizza or a slice of pie. That's always nice to not feel as guilty about what you eat. In fact, you can usually justify it as carbo loading and then tell people its all part of your training regimen ;-)
The downside to running, and yes I did expect this. The harsh reality to running is that it is physically demanding. By Sunday, my goal is to have completed 44 miles in the past 3 weeks. While it isn't a tremendous amount of miles it is essentially the distance of me commuting round trip to work twice. That's pretty significant if you think about it. I've sustained some minor injuries thus far. Monday I dealt with the left leg getting a terrible shin splint and a strain in one of my leg muscles. I did some research and it just requires me to not be as challenging in my runs. This means lay off the hills for the next two weeks and pop advil when I'm done. When I read this, it made sense because I noticed that when I ran, I was cramping and in a ton of pain when going up the hills. I thought I was doing something wrong. It turns out its just a minor injury. The other issue I am having is that I am slightly pigeon toed when I run and this puts a lot of stress on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th toes. This also causes my flat feet to have my non-existent arches to pull and be strained. I also did research on this and it turns out that a tennis ball can help. What it does is it helps to stretch out the tightened muscles on the bottom of your foot. Since I started doing this, my arches have been sore, but I have felt a huge difference as far as pain.
How to stretch the Tendons in Your Arch:
Take a tennis ball and place one foot on top of the tennis ball.
Apply a decent amount of pressure to your foot and roll the tennis ball on the bottom of your foot.
Massage the heel and the arches.
Repeat with other foot.
My other piece of advice is to get the shin split prevention compression sleeves. I thought I only needed one, it turns out I need one for my other leg too. So I bought another sleeve. I like Zensah it is sturdy and anti-microbial. Plus, they come in a variety of cool colors. They cost about $20, but can be as expensive as $40 per sleeve. I ordered mine off of amazon.com.
My goal for this weekend is to complete a 4 miler and a 7 miler. Honestly, given the injuries I am not pushing myself too hard because I have to be concerned with the long term goals. So if I have to walk, then I will. The important part is to cover the prescribed distance so I can move on to 8 miles next weekend.
See you Sunday and happy running!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Week 2 Complete
About 25 miles under my belt now. I skipped one workout since I was sick, plus I had to accommodate for potential bad weather.
Overall, not a bad week and I was happy that I ran 6 miles in less than 90 minutes. It was pretty awesome. Especially since I am starting to gain more and more confidence with myself. For one thing, I have no fear of wearing spandex. This is exemplified by the fact that I have bought the world's loudest print under armor capris. I gotta work on my booty a little bit more before I dawn those bad boys. Let's just say insanely busy pattern on a lot of surface area may not be the most attractive.
On the plus side, I have started to eat better. I am contemplating eating some healthier things and attempting to control my calories somewhat because I know I am running and I want to be efficient. But, the major plus is that I can eat more and not gain weight. My 6 miler allowed me to burn off almost 1000 calories. That made the Red Robin Royal Burger an achievable reality. I think running may help me indulge in my next favorite sport, eating :-) That's right no salads for this girl, I need protein!!!
Perhaps the most interesting development is my assessment of all clothes. I was laughing with my friend Ashley this weekend because I found myself assessing flat seams and the ability to prevent chaffage. Yes, I am now primarily concerned with chaffage...somehow it makes me concerned that I am going to have to figure out how to prevent this over the next 7 months. So my marathon training goes something like this:
1. Complete marathon
2. Prevent chaffage while completing marathon
3. Don't die shortly after completing marathon
It's as easy as 1...2...3...
Well, I am super excited because i get to run with Amanda tomorrow. It's just three miles, but it should be fun!
Total Miles Run: 25 miles
Until later, happy running!
Overall, not a bad week and I was happy that I ran 6 miles in less than 90 minutes. It was pretty awesome. Especially since I am starting to gain more and more confidence with myself. For one thing, I have no fear of wearing spandex. This is exemplified by the fact that I have bought the world's loudest print under armor capris. I gotta work on my booty a little bit more before I dawn those bad boys. Let's just say insanely busy pattern on a lot of surface area may not be the most attractive.
On the plus side, I have started to eat better. I am contemplating eating some healthier things and attempting to control my calories somewhat because I know I am running and I want to be efficient. But, the major plus is that I can eat more and not gain weight. My 6 miler allowed me to burn off almost 1000 calories. That made the Red Robin Royal Burger an achievable reality. I think running may help me indulge in my next favorite sport, eating :-) That's right no salads for this girl, I need protein!!!
Perhaps the most interesting development is my assessment of all clothes. I was laughing with my friend Ashley this weekend because I found myself assessing flat seams and the ability to prevent chaffage. Yes, I am now primarily concerned with chaffage...somehow it makes me concerned that I am going to have to figure out how to prevent this over the next 7 months. So my marathon training goes something like this:
1. Complete marathon
2. Prevent chaffage while completing marathon
3. Don't die shortly after completing marathon
It's as easy as 1...2...3...
Well, I am super excited because i get to run with Amanda tomorrow. It's just three miles, but it should be fun!
Total Miles Run: 25 miles
Until later, happy running!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Rain Run
I have never run in the rain before and quite honestly, I am not sure if I like it. Some of my friends love running in the rain they say there is nothing like being hot and having the cool drops of rain help to soothe you. I guess, but I didn't feel that way. When I run I expect to be sweaty. I expect to feel gross. Because I have come to terms with the sweaty grossness I am okay with that simple fact. However, rain just makes me feel extra slimy and gross when I am done. I don't understand why people think it is refreshing because I feel anything but refreshed. I feel matted and I am not even sure if that is a way a person can feel. That's not refreshing. Also, I am not the post office I don't operate whether or its rain or shine, sleet or snow. I kind of like to operate in nice weather only. I will begrudgingly suffer through cold, but anything that can lead to the possibility of pneumonia does not seem like a good option. I guess I am not hardcore enough. Perhaps I am a weather whimp, but I do know one thing, that I will live to run another day.
A positive that came out of running in the rain is that I realized I run faster in this scenario:
A. I am becoming drenched and therefore miserable
B. I have no ipod to keep me amused.
My pace typically hangs around a 14:30 but my rain run allowed me to run both miles at a 13:20 pace. So booyah! The speed equation can be seen below:
Bored + Wet = Fast... who knew???
I had planned on 4 miles today and honestly, I would have suffered through the entire mileage had it not been for the fact that I was using my cell phone to track my distance. I am overly paranoid about ruining electronics. So I cut the run short to two miles and I will run the 4 tomorrow. The plan is to run my 6 miles on Saturday since the weather is supposed to be bad on Sunday.
Total Miles Run: 19 miles
Until tomorrow, happy running :-)
A positive that came out of running in the rain is that I realized I run faster in this scenario:
A. I am becoming drenched and therefore miserable
B. I have no ipod to keep me amused.
My pace typically hangs around a 14:30 but my rain run allowed me to run both miles at a 13:20 pace. So booyah! The speed equation can be seen below:
Bored + Wet = Fast... who knew???
I had planned on 4 miles today and honestly, I would have suffered through the entire mileage had it not been for the fact that I was using my cell phone to track my distance. I am overly paranoid about ruining electronics. So I cut the run short to two miles and I will run the 4 tomorrow. The plan is to run my 6 miles on Saturday since the weather is supposed to be bad on Sunday.
Total Miles Run: 19 miles
Until tomorrow, happy running :-)
Monday, February 13, 2012
I Feel Like the Walking Dead...
Today I ran almost a continuous 5 mile jaunt. I briefly walked for a few minutes at the 2.5 mile marker. I figured if I could make it halfway, then taking a short break for my wary legs would not be a problem. What I realized is that 5 miles is a lot! For those of you that are good at math and logic, if 5 miles is a lot then the remaining 21.2 is going to be even more. I know, I have a way of stating the obvious.
After today, I realized I need to come up with a game plan for how I am going to tackle this ginormous distance. And yes, I realize first and foremost that I need to put one foot in front of the other. Its interesting that I feel this way after running with Amanda yesterday because a bulk of our conversation centered around running strategies. Both her and I are or were strong believers that running a half marathon involved running the half marathon. But as it turns out, you don't have to run the entire time. No one with a pitchfork is going to chase you off the course, there will be no official ready to DQ because you don't have the gumption to keep up an insane pace. Actually, running gurus like Hal Higdon suggest taking walk breaks. Amanda and I played around with some different strategies yesterday. She likes to take a brief minute or two minute walk break after mile 1 and every so often when she is feeling tired. I am not sure if I want to pick a specific time or mile marker.
I do know what I want to do though. I definitely want to walk through any and all aid stations. Ideally I can intake more water and potential snacks that way in order to stay fueled. What I learned last time is that the aid stations are littered with cups and sticky Gatorade, etc on the ground. Honestly it is easier to walk. I guess that means every mile I should train to walk. But, I kind of want to run the first 6 miles or so continuously. There is something about knowing that I ran at least half of the raceest without taking a rest that appeals to me. Will I? Who knows...but I do know that I have to continue to train even thought I am pretty sure I am walking like something out of AMC's Walking Dead. Slowest cool down pace ever as I made my way home. Compression capris or not it was a long way that I ran tonight and I am proud that I pushed it and ran, even if my pace hung around a 14:30 for the duration of the run.
Total Miles Run: 17
Until next time, happy running ;-)
After today, I realized I need to come up with a game plan for how I am going to tackle this ginormous distance. And yes, I realize first and foremost that I need to put one foot in front of the other. Its interesting that I feel this way after running with Amanda yesterday because a bulk of our conversation centered around running strategies. Both her and I are or were strong believers that running a half marathon involved running the half marathon. But as it turns out, you don't have to run the entire time. No one with a pitchfork is going to chase you off the course, there will be no official ready to DQ because you don't have the gumption to keep up an insane pace. Actually, running gurus like Hal Higdon suggest taking walk breaks. Amanda and I played around with some different strategies yesterday. She likes to take a brief minute or two minute walk break after mile 1 and every so often when she is feeling tired. I am not sure if I want to pick a specific time or mile marker.
I do know what I want to do though. I definitely want to walk through any and all aid stations. Ideally I can intake more water and potential snacks that way in order to stay fueled. What I learned last time is that the aid stations are littered with cups and sticky Gatorade, etc on the ground. Honestly it is easier to walk. I guess that means every mile I should train to walk. But, I kind of want to run the first 6 miles or so continuously. There is something about knowing that I ran at least half of the raceest without taking a rest that appeals to me. Will I? Who knows...but I do know that I have to continue to train even thought I am pretty sure I am walking like something out of AMC's Walking Dead. Slowest cool down pace ever as I made my way home. Compression capris or not it was a long way that I ran tonight and I am proud that I pushed it and ran, even if my pace hung around a 14:30 for the duration of the run.
Total Miles Run: 17
Until next time, happy running ;-)
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Oh So Cold...
Today's weather was a chilly 28 degrees when I went for my run. My friend, Amanda, had actually texted me in advance wanting to know if we could cancel the run since it was so cold. I really wish I had checked my phone, but I didn't. We set out to do 5 miles, and me after realizing I was miserable asked if we could change it to 3 because I was just too damn cold.
What did I learn from this cold weather run?
1. Anyone who likes to run when it is less than 30 degrees outside really should get their head examined.
2. I miss my compression gear. I bought a compression shirt, which helped to keep me somewhat warm, but my pants were just regular windbreaker pants. I am pretty sure I saw the beginnings of frostbite forming.
3. The cold messes with your mechanics. Between the lack of compression gear and the sub zero temperatures my muscles were not working as well as they should have. It took a lot of effort to pick up my legs. I really had to work to go the extra mile :-) Sorry, had to throw that in there. But in all seriousness my shins, my legs, and my fantastic butt were all feeling fatigued. The weather also made it harder for my legs to warm-up. But rest assured, by the time I was done running I was warmed up and felt like I could go another mile or two.
4. Water is crucial. While I didn't sweat a lot, I felt dehydrated. I took my water bottle with me because I woke up this morning feeling parched. You know you are desperately dehydrated when you are willing to hold a refrigerated bottle of water when it is less than 30 degrees outside. But, without the proper amount of water it made me feel like I was already spent.
5. Sleep is important. I went to bed at 1:30 am last night and I was up by 8:30. Not too bad, but sleep is important and without the proper amount of rest it can leave you feeling listless. That's why experts recommend you sleep well two nights before your race. Apparently, no one sleeps well the day before a race.
Total: 12 miles
Happy Running!
What did I learn from this cold weather run?
1. Anyone who likes to run when it is less than 30 degrees outside really should get their head examined.
2. I miss my compression gear. I bought a compression shirt, which helped to keep me somewhat warm, but my pants were just regular windbreaker pants. I am pretty sure I saw the beginnings of frostbite forming.
3. The cold messes with your mechanics. Between the lack of compression gear and the sub zero temperatures my muscles were not working as well as they should have. It took a lot of effort to pick up my legs. I really had to work to go the extra mile :-) Sorry, had to throw that in there. But in all seriousness my shins, my legs, and my fantastic butt were all feeling fatigued. The weather also made it harder for my legs to warm-up. But rest assured, by the time I was done running I was warmed up and felt like I could go another mile or two.
4. Water is crucial. While I didn't sweat a lot, I felt dehydrated. I took my water bottle with me because I woke up this morning feeling parched. You know you are desperately dehydrated when you are willing to hold a refrigerated bottle of water when it is less than 30 degrees outside. But, without the proper amount of water it made me feel like I was already spent.
5. Sleep is important. I went to bed at 1:30 am last night and I was up by 8:30. Not too bad, but sleep is important and without the proper amount of rest it can leave you feeling listless. That's why experts recommend you sleep well two nights before your race. Apparently, no one sleeps well the day before a race.
Total: 12 miles
Happy Running!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Week 1 Complete- 9 miles total at a very steady pace
Week 1 of Training has been completed!
So I made it through my first week with only 9 miles under belt. Tomorrow I start week 2 (obviously) and I begin the week with a 4 mile run. Can't wait because I am pretty sure I can run it with relative ease.
This week was marked with a lot of revelations on my runs. So here is what I learned:
I hate treadmills. We have had some bad weather up in this neck of the woods this week. Now it isn't Seattle Snowmageddon weather, but it has been annoying enough to keep my from running outside. My friend Casey assures me that running in snow is fun, but I am pretty sure slipping on ice is not. Its not that it has been super cold, but some of the sidewalks and trails that I run on tend to have ice because the shadows from the trees don't exactly allow the sun to melt the ice on the concrete. So, Thursday I headed to the gym to run on the treadmill. I've never been fond of it, but I decided to try it again and maybe this time I would feel differently. No. I didn't. Many people don't understand why I hate treadmills because it allows you to watch tv while running. Even my semi-quasi hero, Dawn Dais, loved the treadmills for that reason. I just can't stand running in place for that long. It's not that I couldn't run a continuous 5k its just that I didn't want to because I was bored. This is perhaps the only time when I truly hate running. I am forced to bounce up and down at a predetermined speed while staring at other people bouncing up and down at predetermined speeds in a stuffy sauna environment. There is no fresh air, no change in scenery, and no autonomy. I loved my Friday run much better because I was in complete control. I ran up the hills I wanted, I explored the various side streets, and I did it while taking in the cool crisp air. I guess the difference between me and the rest of the treadmill loving world is that for most of them running is a necessary evil, while running for me is a form of entertainment and a source of enjoyment. I just don't know about something that makes me feel like a hamster in a wheel.
I also realized I am good at pacing myself. This has been a comment made to me by many an individual over the past several months. Amanda, Annie, and my hubby have all said I have a very steady pace. Up, down, or flat I maintain a very steady pace. It's dropped from a 16 flat to a consistent 14 flat. My goal is to get down to a 12:30-13:00 min/mile by April 1st. I think I can come close. Pacing is probably the best advice anyone can give you. I read a lot of running books and running websites. One piece of advice that always struck a chord with me was that when running don't try to "keep up" with other people, know your pace and know your limits.
In the countless races that I have been apart of I can say that sometimes, even me the perpetual tortoise, has often surpassed the hares out of the gate. The best example I can think of was at Baltimore. My friends and I decided to run the half marathon together. The only problem is that only one of us trained and we all had a different pace. I cramped up after the first half mile in my calve and I told my two friends to leave me behind. What I saw was a lot of people sprinting and running at excessively fast paces. They passed me and left me in their dust, but these individuals didn't look like they were in any better shape then me. So I continued walking until I felt like I could run. Then I busted out my amazing 15 minute/mile pace. It was slow going, but as the miles racked up I saw many of those same individuals who sprinted passed me doubled up in pain on the side of the street or now walking because they were out of gas. I continued running. Eventually, I passed the Dunkin Donuts guy in a coffee costume who had also passed me. Rule #1 when running, never let the guy in the costume beat you. Although, I must pay homage to the man because running in a costume is not easy. I did so this past Halloween as a Banana in Pajamas. I was definitely a crowd favorite. But back to my original point, know your pace and don't let anyone pressure you into running at a faster pace. Running is an individual sport, and if you aren't listening to you, then you will not do well.
Total Miles Run: 9
Until next time, Happy Running!
So I made it through my first week with only 9 miles under belt. Tomorrow I start week 2 (obviously) and I begin the week with a 4 mile run. Can't wait because I am pretty sure I can run it with relative ease.
This week was marked with a lot of revelations on my runs. So here is what I learned:
I hate treadmills. We have had some bad weather up in this neck of the woods this week. Now it isn't Seattle Snowmageddon weather, but it has been annoying enough to keep my from running outside. My friend Casey assures me that running in snow is fun, but I am pretty sure slipping on ice is not. Its not that it has been super cold, but some of the sidewalks and trails that I run on tend to have ice because the shadows from the trees don't exactly allow the sun to melt the ice on the concrete. So, Thursday I headed to the gym to run on the treadmill. I've never been fond of it, but I decided to try it again and maybe this time I would feel differently. No. I didn't. Many people don't understand why I hate treadmills because it allows you to watch tv while running. Even my semi-quasi hero, Dawn Dais, loved the treadmills for that reason. I just can't stand running in place for that long. It's not that I couldn't run a continuous 5k its just that I didn't want to because I was bored. This is perhaps the only time when I truly hate running. I am forced to bounce up and down at a predetermined speed while staring at other people bouncing up and down at predetermined speeds in a stuffy sauna environment. There is no fresh air, no change in scenery, and no autonomy. I loved my Friday run much better because I was in complete control. I ran up the hills I wanted, I explored the various side streets, and I did it while taking in the cool crisp air. I guess the difference between me and the rest of the treadmill loving world is that for most of them running is a necessary evil, while running for me is a form of entertainment and a source of enjoyment. I just don't know about something that makes me feel like a hamster in a wheel.
I also realized I am good at pacing myself. This has been a comment made to me by many an individual over the past several months. Amanda, Annie, and my hubby have all said I have a very steady pace. Up, down, or flat I maintain a very steady pace. It's dropped from a 16 flat to a consistent 14 flat. My goal is to get down to a 12:30-13:00 min/mile by April 1st. I think I can come close. Pacing is probably the best advice anyone can give you. I read a lot of running books and running websites. One piece of advice that always struck a chord with me was that when running don't try to "keep up" with other people, know your pace and know your limits.
In the countless races that I have been apart of I can say that sometimes, even me the perpetual tortoise, has often surpassed the hares out of the gate. The best example I can think of was at Baltimore. My friends and I decided to run the half marathon together. The only problem is that only one of us trained and we all had a different pace. I cramped up after the first half mile in my calve and I told my two friends to leave me behind. What I saw was a lot of people sprinting and running at excessively fast paces. They passed me and left me in their dust, but these individuals didn't look like they were in any better shape then me. So I continued walking until I felt like I could run. Then I busted out my amazing 15 minute/mile pace. It was slow going, but as the miles racked up I saw many of those same individuals who sprinted passed me doubled up in pain on the side of the street or now walking because they were out of gas. I continued running. Eventually, I passed the Dunkin Donuts guy in a coffee costume who had also passed me. Rule #1 when running, never let the guy in the costume beat you. Although, I must pay homage to the man because running in a costume is not easy. I did so this past Halloween as a Banana in Pajamas. I was definitely a crowd favorite. But back to my original point, know your pace and don't let anyone pressure you into running at a faster pace. Running is an individual sport, and if you aren't listening to you, then you will not do well.
Total Miles Run: 9
Until next time, Happy Running!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Day 1 of Half Marathon Training
I know a week or two ago I said I would only post once a week unless something really important happened. It's not necessarily that something important happened, but I realized how I feel. This led to a deeper understanding of why I decided to run in the first place.
First let me say, I had a bad day at work. Actually, this year it seems like I have had many bad days at work. Just a quick vent, I get frustrated that I never get recognized by my boss' for my work and all the extra things i do. I also get frustrated at how my students don't understand that education is not a party and that a teacher is not there to entertain. Further that by the fact that many of my recent endeavors in the workplace have been unsuccessful. In essence, I have been one cranky ball of frustration since late August.
I came home today pissed off at the world, like usual. The last thing I wanted to do was run. But, this was a milestone day and decided that the rest of my training would not go so well if I couldn't even start half marathon training day 1 on time. So I forced my self into my compression capris (after a long hard day...spandex is not a mood elevator) laced up my mizunos and headed out for a run. It was brisk and it was after 5 pm, which is much later than I like to start. The running was slow going at first, especially since I had lifted the day before. But as time went on an amazing thing happened. I became less stressed. Each hill I ran up and consequently down (I like those much better) I began to feel the tension release from my shoulders. Then, I realized somewhere between mile 2 and 3 that what I was doing felt good. Not, the endorphins out of breath good, but good to the core. I was at peace. I returned home not nearly as angry and proud that I ran 3 miles continuously and that those 3 miles were marked with many different challenges.
So what did I learn? I learned that deep down I want to be athletic. I started running to lose weight, and its been slow going, but that isn't why I kept with running. I didn't realize it until now, but running is my hobby and my passion. It makes me feel good about myself and it allows me a sense of identity that is separate from my work. Too often, I have become absorbed into my job and I feel like it is the end all be all. I am not happy with this arrangement. I need more and I need to keep running because it allows me to be who I am. I am not the fastest or the slimmest individual. But, I am me and I am unique. My stride is unique, my pace is deliberate and calculated. Many runners are similar, but no two runners are exactly alike. I like the fact that my sport allows me to be who I am and that what I get out of running is what I choose to get out of it. Running is definitely a solitary sport and it is where I go to seek that solitude.
Until next time, happy running :-)
First let me say, I had a bad day at work. Actually, this year it seems like I have had many bad days at work. Just a quick vent, I get frustrated that I never get recognized by my boss' for my work and all the extra things i do. I also get frustrated at how my students don't understand that education is not a party and that a teacher is not there to entertain. Further that by the fact that many of my recent endeavors in the workplace have been unsuccessful. In essence, I have been one cranky ball of frustration since late August.
I came home today pissed off at the world, like usual. The last thing I wanted to do was run. But, this was a milestone day and decided that the rest of my training would not go so well if I couldn't even start half marathon training day 1 on time. So I forced my self into my compression capris (after a long hard day...spandex is not a mood elevator) laced up my mizunos and headed out for a run. It was brisk and it was after 5 pm, which is much later than I like to start. The running was slow going at first, especially since I had lifted the day before. But as time went on an amazing thing happened. I became less stressed. Each hill I ran up and consequently down (I like those much better) I began to feel the tension release from my shoulders. Then, I realized somewhere between mile 2 and 3 that what I was doing felt good. Not, the endorphins out of breath good, but good to the core. I was at peace. I returned home not nearly as angry and proud that I ran 3 miles continuously and that those 3 miles were marked with many different challenges.
So what did I learn? I learned that deep down I want to be athletic. I started running to lose weight, and its been slow going, but that isn't why I kept with running. I didn't realize it until now, but running is my hobby and my passion. It makes me feel good about myself and it allows me a sense of identity that is separate from my work. Too often, I have become absorbed into my job and I feel like it is the end all be all. I am not happy with this arrangement. I need more and I need to keep running because it allows me to be who I am. I am not the fastest or the slimmest individual. But, I am me and I am unique. My stride is unique, my pace is deliberate and calculated. Many runners are similar, but no two runners are exactly alike. I like the fact that my sport allows me to be who I am and that what I get out of running is what I choose to get out of it. Running is definitely a solitary sport and it is where I go to seek that solitude.
Until next time, happy running :-)
Monday, February 6, 2012
Half Marathon Training Begins Tomorrow!
Normally, I post after a run, but I just wasn't feeling it yesterday. I was terrible friend this weekend and totally bailed on my friend. Not really my doing, I actually had planned to run with her Saturday, but I had to get a new furniture set for my living room and the store wasn't going to hold it for long. I had to get my parents' SUV and despite my best efforts to explain that I needed to get to my house by 11am, it just wasn't being comprehended.
So, how much exercise did I do? Not a whole heck of a lot. On Sunday I went for a short run and realized my heart just wasn't in it. I ran for about 30 minutes straight and then headed home. I also realized that I was supposed to finish the couch to 10k program this week and then start half marathon training next week. But, since I am already running the same mileage throughout the week, that I might as well just jump right in. So here is my program:
Novice 2 Half Marathon Training Guide
Why I personally chose Novice 2? Well, I have already completed one half marathon and did okay. I have been running for over a year and I am in decent cardiovascular shape. I want something a little bit more challenging, but not overwhelming.
Why Hal Higdon? I actually used him because of a recommendation of my friend, Carly, she used his program and had a lot of success when she trained for a half marathon. His 5k program was also the first training program I ever used. It prepared me quite well and I have the same expectation for the upcoming dueling halves.
So there it is, training program picked out. Running 3 miles tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday. Can't wait!
Happy running :-)
So, how much exercise did I do? Not a whole heck of a lot. On Sunday I went for a short run and realized my heart just wasn't in it. I ran for about 30 minutes straight and then headed home. I also realized that I was supposed to finish the couch to 10k program this week and then start half marathon training next week. But, since I am already running the same mileage throughout the week, that I might as well just jump right in. So here is my program:
Novice 2 Half Marathon Training Guide
Why I personally chose Novice 2? Well, I have already completed one half marathon and did okay. I have been running for over a year and I am in decent cardiovascular shape. I want something a little bit more challenging, but not overwhelming.
Why Hal Higdon? I actually used him because of a recommendation of my friend, Carly, she used his program and had a lot of success when she trained for a half marathon. His 5k program was also the first training program I ever used. It prepared me quite well and I have the same expectation for the upcoming dueling halves.
So there it is, training program picked out. Running 3 miles tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday. Can't wait!
Happy running :-)
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