...ran another half-marathon, that is!
Almost two weeks ago, on January 24 (the day before my birthday), I ran the 3M Half Marathon. Based on my first half-marathon experience, I was a bit dubious about the whole thing, but I absolutely had a blast! I had been chewing on the idea of an early-2010 half for a while, even before RNRSA. It was down to 3M or the more popular, and more expensive, Austin Half Marathon. It finally came down to cost--3M was $30 cheaper. And it didn't hurt that it boasts a mostly downhill course. So I signed up on New Year's Eve (before the price increased) and got down to some quick training. I got in about 3-4 long runs before the big day, and hoped for the best.
Race day dawned super-windy! So windy, in fact, that the vast majority of the road barricades blew over and the start of the race was delayed for almost an hour while APD reset them all. I must say, I was quite grumpy huddled at the starting line in the 45-degree-with-wind-gusts-up-to-30-mph conditions. But once we got going, it wasn't so bad. I maintained a decent pace for most of the race, and only walked through the water stations. My (infamous) right knee started acting up around mile 5-6, but settled down around mile 10. I took a GU around mile 8, and that definitely helped power me up the one significant uphill section of the race. On the final stretch, I saw a couple of my friends who live in the area, and that was a nice boost. And then...I finished, with an almost 30-minute PR over RNRSA! I think two things can account for that: 1) It wasn't my first long race, so I knew what to expect, in terms of fatigue and nutrition, and 2) the weather was significantly different for the two races. While the balmy, still weather in November drained the life out of me, the chilly winter breeze of January definitely helped push me along, or allowed me to push myself along. Something to remember for future races (including this one, which I hope to do again next year!). After the finish, I grabbed some fruit, got my drop bag, and hopped on a bus to go back to my car. Later in the day, my stomach acted up a bit, but I guess that was just delayed-onset of nerves, or some such business. My friend took me out for pizza later, and then I vegged for the rest of the day.
No time for rest the next day! I worked a textbook-lending event at a local community college library for 10 hours. I was kinda stiff in the beginning, but I think all the moving around, and reaching, and stooping for books really helped me loosen up. In fact I think I would have been much more sore and stiff had I not had to move around so much. That evening, my friends took me out for Thai food and ice cream for my birthday. Overall, I was quite pleased with the productive 48-hours that led into my 26th year of being. :)
For the spring, I've got some 5Ks and 10Ks planned, and I'd also like to work on building my running base to 15-25 miles-per-week. This week will make about 18.5 miles. Next Sunday, I'm running a 5K that's part of the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon. This way, I get to feel a bit of the excitement of the big races, but don't have to put too much wear and tear on me olde body, and I can also make it to work by noon. ;)
If you're in the wicked snow storm right now...become one with the treadmill. If you're in Texas right now, enjoy this beautiful weekend! I hear the upcoming week's supposed to be another wet one...
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Thoughts from Weekend Runs
Saturday's 4.5:
- Oops! Forgot to lotion my legs.
- They really should put a sidewalk on this side of the street. This grass is gross.
- I wonder what they do at this particular Dell building.
- How many uses are there for a tape measure? Apparently not enough for this one on the sidewalk.
- What makes white cows white?
- Oh boy, I hope those birds don't poop on me, although it is supposed to be good luck...
- If I had a backyard, I would maintain it...probably.
- Sometimes, I wanna run forever...
- Must look cool, must look cool, must look cool...
- I bet this water bottle is making a lot of noise. Blissfully, my iPod prevents me from noticing.
- Less strollers, please!
- I always forget how nice the view is under MoPac.
- Rowing? Perhaps.
- Why can't I be turning around at this bridge? Or this one? Or this one?
- Hills suck.
- Hey dude, there's a door on that bathroom...
- So that's what GU tastes like!?! Very...gooey.
- When's it gonna kick in?
- There it goes! Whoosh...
- My knee does NOT like this downhill.
- Wow, Mozart's Requiem sounds great whilst running under a canopy of bare trees. LOVE IT!
- Wet dogs wet dogs wet dogs
- Yo, Rottweiler...
- Sometimes, I just can't run forever, but, man, that GU may have changed my life...
Saturday, December 12, 2009
So, About that Half...
I did it! I was way slow (so slow, I don't think I'll mention my time), but I finished! It was super-humid and kind of warm for November; so warm, in fact, I'm not sure I'll do another long fall race, since Texas falls tend to be temperamental and you never know what you'll get (apparently, the 2008 Rock n' Roll San Antonio was extremely cold and rainy). But anyway, I made it, and learned some lessons along the way.
The day before the race (Nov. 14), my dad drove to my place, and then we drove together to San Antonio. My mom and brother were also supposed to go, but, in true teenager fashion, my brother remembered he had a band function at the last minute, so my mom stayed home with him (nerd). When we got there, we first went to the expo at the Alamodome to get my race packet. This was my first full-blown expo experience, so it was a little overwhelming. At one point, I remember kind of turning around in circles in place, trying to figure out where to go (with my dad laughing at me, of course). I did manage to score various granola bars, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and Subway lip balm (???). After that, we checked into the hotel, which was really nice and connected to the Riverwalk (I've always wanted to stay in one of the Riverwalk hotels!). We then walked downstairs to get lunch/dinner at about 3. We stopped at a Mexican place along the river, with lots of other race people (there were expo bags everywhere). I got enchiladas and was pretty full, and didn't really eat for the rest of the day (which I would come to regret the next day). We walked around the Rivercenter mall for a little bit, then went back to the hotel and chilled for a little while (Dad napped with the remote, so I had to watch football and read magazines). I then laid out my race gear for the morning (I decided on a short-sleeve shirt and shorts, though it would be in the 50s in the morning), including my iPod, took a shower, and went to bed (meaning I got in bed at about 9, but fell asleep about 11, and proceeded to toss and turn all night).
Race day (Nov. 15)! I got up at 4 and got dressed. I wasn't really nervous, but mostly because I didn't really know what to expect. I just knew that I'd be running for a substantially long time. My dad got up with me and walked me to the shuttle stop, which was a few blocks away. I got there at about 5:15, and the line was already pretty long. However, it magically doubled as soon as I got there! I still wonder how all those people got to the race on time. The shuttle ride was about 10 minutes, and then we had to walk about a mile to the race start area, which was a little annoying. However, there were porta-potties everywhere! So that was a good thing. :) Once we got to the start area, I got a bagel, a banana, and a bottle of water, and sat down for about an hour. I still wasn't particularly hungry, and only ate half the banana, but maybe that was just nerves, or over-caution. Then I went to the porta-potty (the lines were pretty decent, from my limited experience), came back and sat down some more. The race was slated to start at 7:30, so I went over to my corral (22) at about 7:10. A mistake! Since I was so far back, we ended up standing there for about 45 minutes before we actually started, and my lower back started to hurt (as it does when I stand still for a long time). But, at about 8:15, corral 22 finally got to the start, and we were off.
Now, to be honest, the race itself has become a bit of a blur in the past 3 weeks. I ran for the first two miles (through downtown, so the crowds were out and it was pretty exciting), then took my first walk break to preserve energy. The first water station was at about mile 3 (maybe? I'm not sure). I made sure to get a little water at every station, just to keep myself hydrated. I remember thinking that the course was awfully flat for San Antonio (they weren't lying when they said "fast and flat" on website), and we ran through several neighborhoods. It wasn't the most scenic route, but it was relatively flat and there were several residents out cheering us on.
Around mile 6, I think I started walking much more than I wanted to. I was starting to get a little worn down, and the sun was rising in the sky. It was probably almost 70 degrees at that point, and still humid, so it wasn't so great. I tried to run as much as I could, though. Around mile 9 or 10 it got pretty tough, mentally. I remember thinking that I just wanted to stop moving. Propelling yourself forward for 13.1 miles is kind of intense, much more so than I realized. My back was still hurting from standing so long at the start, and I'm sure salt was starting to show on my face (I discovered this particular physical phenom after my 10 miler the week before). The thought of stopping definitely crossed my mind, but I knew I could finish, even if I walked the rest of the way. Somewhere between 11 and 12 we split from the full marathoners, and I remember feeling soooo sad for them, and wanting to give them hugs (delirium, anyone?). However, we also met up with the super-fast marathoners who were almost to the finish, so that was inspiring/annoying. They were also handing out GU at this point. I kinda wanted to take some, but I've never used it before, so I didn't want to risk a stomach upset. At mile 12 we got wet sponges, so away went the salty face. Finally, the Alamodome was in sight, and after an annoying uphill right before the finish (wtf?!?) we were done. Medals, water bottles, wet towels, get your picture taken, get some snacks, and there you go. I found my dad, and we rushed (or, he rushed me and I hobbled) back to the hotel so we could make our check-out time. Some friends of mine had come to watch me, and had seen me finish, but I wasn't able to meet up with them because of the checkout business (if you're reading this, thanks again guys!!! Love you!!!).
Now, I'm 98% sure I fainted sometime after I got back to the hotel. Though I did get some snacks in the after-race area, I didn't really want to eat anything (I have a really hard time eating after I run). My dad was trying to take pictures of me with my medal, and I remember feeling light-heading, breaking into a cold sweat, walking into the bathroom, closing my eyes, opening my eyes, and being on the floor. I got my dad to bring me some sports drink, after which I felt a bit better. I've had these pseudo-panic attacks a few times before, but usually only after someone tells me a really intense medical story (once it happened when someone was telling me about a graphic ski accident). But this is the first time I've lost consciousness. But, I was able to take a shower, pack up, and make it out by checkout time (you're welcome, Dad :-p).
We drove back home, got barbeque, and then my dad left. I think he had a great time being a spectator, for once. ;)
Overall, it was a great first major-race experience. I definitely learned that I need to eat something the night before, even if I'm not particularly hungry. I also shouldn't go stand at the start too early, since it will wear me out a little. And, in the future, I will probably take off my headphones near the finish line. I couldn't hear anyone calling for me, though my dad and my friends said they did. :-D
Since the race, I laid off running for a little bit, but I'm back at it because I'm kind-of, sort-of, maybe training for something in January. However, I'll keep mum on that for now since I haven't actually registered. I went for a super-chilly run on Thursday, for which I regret not wearing gloves, but which was also one of the best runs I've had in a really long time. I'm also trying to focus more on my overall fitness and working on the strength-training business. Although I'm still losing weight (though my grandmother made a point of telling me not to lose anymore at Thanksgiving :-p), I definitely need to work on toning. Tonight I'll hit the gym for some cross-training, and tomorrow will be a long(ish) run.
So, yup, there you go. Epic-ly long post, but epic updates too. :)
The day before the race (Nov. 14), my dad drove to my place, and then we drove together to San Antonio. My mom and brother were also supposed to go, but, in true teenager fashion, my brother remembered he had a band function at the last minute, so my mom stayed home with him (nerd). When we got there, we first went to the expo at the Alamodome to get my race packet. This was my first full-blown expo experience, so it was a little overwhelming. At one point, I remember kind of turning around in circles in place, trying to figure out where to go (with my dad laughing at me, of course). I did manage to score various granola bars, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and Subway lip balm (???). After that, we checked into the hotel, which was really nice and connected to the Riverwalk (I've always wanted to stay in one of the Riverwalk hotels!). We then walked downstairs to get lunch/dinner at about 3. We stopped at a Mexican place along the river, with lots of other race people (there were expo bags everywhere). I got enchiladas and was pretty full, and didn't really eat for the rest of the day (which I would come to regret the next day). We walked around the Rivercenter mall for a little bit, then went back to the hotel and chilled for a little while (Dad napped with the remote, so I had to watch football and read magazines). I then laid out my race gear for the morning (I decided on a short-sleeve shirt and shorts, though it would be in the 50s in the morning), including my iPod, took a shower, and went to bed (meaning I got in bed at about 9, but fell asleep about 11, and proceeded to toss and turn all night).
Race day (Nov. 15)! I got up at 4 and got dressed. I wasn't really nervous, but mostly because I didn't really know what to expect. I just knew that I'd be running for a substantially long time. My dad got up with me and walked me to the shuttle stop, which was a few blocks away. I got there at about 5:15, and the line was already pretty long. However, it magically doubled as soon as I got there! I still wonder how all those people got to the race on time. The shuttle ride was about 10 minutes, and then we had to walk about a mile to the race start area, which was a little annoying. However, there were porta-potties everywhere! So that was a good thing. :) Once we got to the start area, I got a bagel, a banana, and a bottle of water, and sat down for about an hour. I still wasn't particularly hungry, and only ate half the banana, but maybe that was just nerves, or over-caution. Then I went to the porta-potty (the lines were pretty decent, from my limited experience), came back and sat down some more. The race was slated to start at 7:30, so I went over to my corral (22) at about 7:10. A mistake! Since I was so far back, we ended up standing there for about 45 minutes before we actually started, and my lower back started to hurt (as it does when I stand still for a long time). But, at about 8:15, corral 22 finally got to the start, and we were off.
Now, to be honest, the race itself has become a bit of a blur in the past 3 weeks. I ran for the first two miles (through downtown, so the crowds were out and it was pretty exciting), then took my first walk break to preserve energy. The first water station was at about mile 3 (maybe? I'm not sure). I made sure to get a little water at every station, just to keep myself hydrated. I remember thinking that the course was awfully flat for San Antonio (they weren't lying when they said "fast and flat" on website), and we ran through several neighborhoods. It wasn't the most scenic route, but it was relatively flat and there were several residents out cheering us on.
Around mile 6, I think I started walking much more than I wanted to. I was starting to get a little worn down, and the sun was rising in the sky. It was probably almost 70 degrees at that point, and still humid, so it wasn't so great. I tried to run as much as I could, though. Around mile 9 or 10 it got pretty tough, mentally. I remember thinking that I just wanted to stop moving. Propelling yourself forward for 13.1 miles is kind of intense, much more so than I realized. My back was still hurting from standing so long at the start, and I'm sure salt was starting to show on my face (I discovered this particular physical phenom after my 10 miler the week before). The thought of stopping definitely crossed my mind, but I knew I could finish, even if I walked the rest of the way. Somewhere between 11 and 12 we split from the full marathoners, and I remember feeling soooo sad for them, and wanting to give them hugs (delirium, anyone?). However, we also met up with the super-fast marathoners who were almost to the finish, so that was inspiring/annoying. They were also handing out GU at this point. I kinda wanted to take some, but I've never used it before, so I didn't want to risk a stomach upset. At mile 12 we got wet sponges, so away went the salty face. Finally, the Alamodome was in sight, and after an annoying uphill right before the finish (wtf?!?) we were done. Medals, water bottles, wet towels, get your picture taken, get some snacks, and there you go. I found my dad, and we rushed (or, he rushed me and I hobbled) back to the hotel so we could make our check-out time. Some friends of mine had come to watch me, and had seen me finish, but I wasn't able to meet up with them because of the checkout business (if you're reading this, thanks again guys!!! Love you!!!).
Now, I'm 98% sure I fainted sometime after I got back to the hotel. Though I did get some snacks in the after-race area, I didn't really want to eat anything (I have a really hard time eating after I run). My dad was trying to take pictures of me with my medal, and I remember feeling light-heading, breaking into a cold sweat, walking into the bathroom, closing my eyes, opening my eyes, and being on the floor. I got my dad to bring me some sports drink, after which I felt a bit better. I've had these pseudo-panic attacks a few times before, but usually only after someone tells me a really intense medical story (once it happened when someone was telling me about a graphic ski accident). But this is the first time I've lost consciousness. But, I was able to take a shower, pack up, and make it out by checkout time (you're welcome, Dad :-p).
We drove back home, got barbeque, and then my dad left. I think he had a great time being a spectator, for once. ;)
Overall, it was a great first major-race experience. I definitely learned that I need to eat something the night before, even if I'm not particularly hungry. I also shouldn't go stand at the start too early, since it will wear me out a little. And, in the future, I will probably take off my headphones near the finish line. I couldn't hear anyone calling for me, though my dad and my friends said they did. :-D
Since the race, I laid off running for a little bit, but I'm back at it because I'm kind-of, sort-of, maybe training for something in January. However, I'll keep mum on that for now since I haven't actually registered. I went for a super-chilly run on Thursday, for which I regret not wearing gloves, but which was also one of the best runs I've had in a really long time. I'm also trying to focus more on my overall fitness and working on the strength-training business. Although I'm still losing weight (though my grandmother made a point of telling me not to lose anymore at Thanksgiving :-p), I definitely need to work on toning. Tonight I'll hit the gym for some cross-training, and tomorrow will be a long(ish) run.
So, yup, there you go. Epic-ly long post, but epic updates too. :)
Monday, October 12, 2009
Allow me to Reintroduce Myself...
I'm currently in the midst of my half-marathon training, about to start week 8. This weekend, training took on the form of a 10K, specifically, the Run Austin Run 10K (there was also a half-marathon and a 5K). I'd run the 10K distance before, but not in a race, and it was only my 3rd race ever, so I was interested in the outcome. The race was slated to start at 7AM on Sunday morning, so I got up at about 5:15, got dressed, ate a banana, got my stuff together, and drove to the race site. Now, here in Central Texas, we are actually having a fall this year (which we rarely ever have--it usually just sort of stops being hot sometime in November), so it was quite chilly. Chilly enough for me to endlessly debate with myself the previous day about whether or not to wear a long sleeve shirt. After talking to my dad (the uber-runner--and running purist), I decided just to wear a short sleeve shirt, since I would definitely warm up once I got going. Once I parked my car, I sat inside for about 30 minutes because I didn't see any point in standing around being cold for an hour (it was about 55--not cold, but chilly enough for our neck of the woods). About 25 to 7, I got out, put on my race number, reluctantly took off my jacket, and walked over to the starting area.
The start of the race was to be staggered--the half-marathon would start at 7, the 10K would start at 7:10, and the 5K would start at 7:15. However, the police officers working the route ran into a few delays in securing the route, so the half didn't actually start until about 7:15. So, I actually stood outside for about 45 minutes before the 10K actually got going. I put myself towards the back since I know I'm fairly slow. For about the first half mile, my feet were kind of hurting since we had been standing so long prior to starting, but that went away after a little while. Though I started at the back, I managed to begin picking off people that started too fast, so that was kinda fun. At one point, I think I passed a girl I knew in college who was doing the half marathon. However, I really hadn't seen her in about 4 or 5 years, and only knew she had taken up running due to that great bastion of social networking known as Facebook, so I didn't really want to say anything in case she thought I was a weird stalker or something. And I didn't want to slow down and talk (I might send her a message today and mentioned that I saw her and congratulate her).
So, the first 3 miles went by pretty well. I felt good and had warmed up, so I was glad I hadn't worn long sleeves. However, at about mile 4, we got into a hillier, residential section of town. I kind of expected the hills, but didn't really think they'd be that bad. Ha. I do most of my training on relatively flat routes or on the treadmill, so I haven't really dealt with hills too much. But these definitely made me walk more than I wanted to. There was one steep downhill that my knee definitely wasn't happy about. And it didn't help that cars were zooming around us in the neighborhood. I guess they didn't appreciate having a race course on their streets. :-p But there were a few folks outside cheering, so that made up for it.
Once we exited the neighborhood and headed for the last stretch, I remembered someone saying near the race start that it was supposed to be downhill. NOT. It wasn't brutal hills like those in the neighborhood, but it was definitely a steady incline. I ended up running a good portion of the last couple of miles with a lady pushing a stroller. She mentioned she'd never run this far with a stroller, so props to her! I'm sure she would have finished way ahead of me without it. Right before she crossed the line, however, she took her kid out of the stroller and they crossed together--I assume it was adorable, but I was too busy gunning for the line to see it. :-p Overall, my pace was slower than I wanted it to be, but I'll attribute some of that to the hills, and some of it to my slacking-off-in-training (which I'll talk about later). After they cut my chip off, I went in search of water, but couldn't find any (wtf?!?). So I grabbed a random protein drink and headed to my car, since I had brought water with me. It's probably lucky that I left when I did, since it started to pour shortly after I arrived back at my apartment. Very unfortunate for the half-marathoners. I took a quick shower, dressed, and headed out to a brunch with some friends who gave me all sorts of kudos for the race. :-D Then I went home, made chili, and vegged out on the couch for the rest of the day.
I had all sorts of outcomes from this race, other than the soreness in my glutes and hamstrings from those hills. A major thing I learned is that I need to be more focused on my training. A confession: I've been slacking off a bit during the past few weeks--and it definitely showed during the race. It would have been great to been able to tackle the distance with fewer walk breaks, and consistent training definitely would have helped with that. Training has been starting to feel like a bit of a chore, but now that I have a gauge of my current fitness level, I feel excited about where the remainder of my training will take me. I now understand the importance of completing the four weekly runs in my plan (especially the long run!), and also need to work on strength and resistance in both my lower and upper body (those hills!).
I also found out that I enjoy racing. Not necessarily being competitive, but running with other people who have the same goal as me. It inspires a sort of, "We're all in this together" feeling in me, which is fun. Normally I just trudge along on my own, but it was great to be out there with other runners, and not just fitness buffs at the gym. I'm looking forward even more to RNRSA, especially to the camaraderie I'll get to experience with thousands of other runners and spectators. Running really is a community.
The start of the race was to be staggered--the half-marathon would start at 7, the 10K would start at 7:10, and the 5K would start at 7:15. However, the police officers working the route ran into a few delays in securing the route, so the half didn't actually start until about 7:15. So, I actually stood outside for about 45 minutes before the 10K actually got going. I put myself towards the back since I know I'm fairly slow. For about the first half mile, my feet were kind of hurting since we had been standing so long prior to starting, but that went away after a little while. Though I started at the back, I managed to begin picking off people that started too fast, so that was kinda fun. At one point, I think I passed a girl I knew in college who was doing the half marathon. However, I really hadn't seen her in about 4 or 5 years, and only knew she had taken up running due to that great bastion of social networking known as Facebook, so I didn't really want to say anything in case she thought I was a weird stalker or something. And I didn't want to slow down and talk (I might send her a message today and mentioned that I saw her and congratulate her).
So, the first 3 miles went by pretty well. I felt good and had warmed up, so I was glad I hadn't worn long sleeves. However, at about mile 4, we got into a hillier, residential section of town. I kind of expected the hills, but didn't really think they'd be that bad. Ha. I do most of my training on relatively flat routes or on the treadmill, so I haven't really dealt with hills too much. But these definitely made me walk more than I wanted to. There was one steep downhill that my knee definitely wasn't happy about. And it didn't help that cars were zooming around us in the neighborhood. I guess they didn't appreciate having a race course on their streets. :-p But there were a few folks outside cheering, so that made up for it.
Once we exited the neighborhood and headed for the last stretch, I remembered someone saying near the race start that it was supposed to be downhill. NOT. It wasn't brutal hills like those in the neighborhood, but it was definitely a steady incline. I ended up running a good portion of the last couple of miles with a lady pushing a stroller. She mentioned she'd never run this far with a stroller, so props to her! I'm sure she would have finished way ahead of me without it. Right before she crossed the line, however, she took her kid out of the stroller and they crossed together--I assume it was adorable, but I was too busy gunning for the line to see it. :-p Overall, my pace was slower than I wanted it to be, but I'll attribute some of that to the hills, and some of it to my slacking-off-in-training (which I'll talk about later). After they cut my chip off, I went in search of water, but couldn't find any (wtf?!?). So I grabbed a random protein drink and headed to my car, since I had brought water with me. It's probably lucky that I left when I did, since it started to pour shortly after I arrived back at my apartment. Very unfortunate for the half-marathoners. I took a quick shower, dressed, and headed out to a brunch with some friends who gave me all sorts of kudos for the race. :-D Then I went home, made chili, and vegged out on the couch for the rest of the day.
I had all sorts of outcomes from this race, other than the soreness in my glutes and hamstrings from those hills. A major thing I learned is that I need to be more focused on my training. A confession: I've been slacking off a bit during the past few weeks--and it definitely showed during the race. It would have been great to been able to tackle the distance with fewer walk breaks, and consistent training definitely would have helped with that. Training has been starting to feel like a bit of a chore, but now that I have a gauge of my current fitness level, I feel excited about where the remainder of my training will take me. I now understand the importance of completing the four weekly runs in my plan (especially the long run!), and also need to work on strength and resistance in both my lower and upper body (those hills!).
I also found out that I enjoy racing. Not necessarily being competitive, but running with other people who have the same goal as me. It inspires a sort of, "We're all in this together" feeling in me, which is fun. Normally I just trudge along on my own, but it was great to be out there with other runners, and not just fitness buffs at the gym. I'm looking forward even more to RNRSA, especially to the camaraderie I'll get to experience with thousands of other runners and spectators. Running really is a community.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Making Room for Real Life
The week before last (first week of August), I managed to get in my first double-digit week in a few months. Sad, yes, but I take my little victories as they come. I was on track to continue the trend last week (in preparation for my half-marathon training that starts next week), but alas, life got in the way. I planned to do 3 miles on Friday and 4 on Saturday morning before my fam came into town. However, not long after I got up on Friday, I found out that one of my friends had been hit by a car the previous night and was in the hospital. She fractured her sternum and left kneecap, and may or may not have done something to one of her upper vertebrae. Luckily, the car was only going about 15 mph at the time, so she wasn't hurt worse (remember guys: be careful walking home at night!). She's at home now and seems to be feeling a bit better, and her mom flew in to be with her. Needless to say, most of Friday was spent in the ER waiting room, and Saturday I slept in.
Later Saturday morning, my parents arrived to drop of my brother while they took a weekend trip to nearby Fredericksburg for their anniversary. Now, my brother's 15, so I suppose he could have stayed home alone, but would you trust a 15 year old boy to stay home alone? Not this one, I wouldn't. :-p So I played the nice big sister and we hung out at the mall and got pizza and ice cream for dinner. Somewhere in there I managed to sneak to the gym to crank out 4 miles on the treadmill. Not as terrible as it sounds, since I broke it into three segments: 2 miles, water break, 1 mile, water break, 1 mile. However, my knee wasn't too happy at the end, so I made sure to ice it afterwards. It's still a little cranky today...
Yesterday, my brother and I got breakfast at a pancake place and I had this epic green chiles and swiss cheese omelette that had to have been made with about 5 eggs. I ate half, along with 3 pancakes, and I was pretty much full for the rest of the day. Though, later in the day, I did have a bag of Sun Chips. My knee was still bothering me yesterday, so I didn't do anything. I'd rather let it rest than aggravate it and have to sit out for 2 weeks.
I've mentioned this before: I'm not a morning person. I've decided to give running at sundown another try this evening, just to see if I can tolerate the heat. It seems to be about 95 around sundown. Although it is nice running in the morning when it's cooler, I'm not sure I've been feeling this alertness you're supposed to feel from getting your physical activity in before your day starts. Mostly, I'm just tired. So, I plan to set out around 8:30 PM for 3 miles, to test my heat tolerance and my cranky knee. If the heat's too much, then mea culpa, and it's back to 5:30 AM (at least until late September)!
So...though I didn't maintain the double-digit base last week, I was able to be there for a friend in an emergency, and I definitely think that's more important. You have to remember to stop and make room for real life, and just be grateful to have the ability to run when you can.
Later Saturday morning, my parents arrived to drop of my brother while they took a weekend trip to nearby Fredericksburg for their anniversary. Now, my brother's 15, so I suppose he could have stayed home alone, but would you trust a 15 year old boy to stay home alone? Not this one, I wouldn't. :-p So I played the nice big sister and we hung out at the mall and got pizza and ice cream for dinner. Somewhere in there I managed to sneak to the gym to crank out 4 miles on the treadmill. Not as terrible as it sounds, since I broke it into three segments: 2 miles, water break, 1 mile, water break, 1 mile. However, my knee wasn't too happy at the end, so I made sure to ice it afterwards. It's still a little cranky today...
Yesterday, my brother and I got breakfast at a pancake place and I had this epic green chiles and swiss cheese omelette that had to have been made with about 5 eggs. I ate half, along with 3 pancakes, and I was pretty much full for the rest of the day. Though, later in the day, I did have a bag of Sun Chips. My knee was still bothering me yesterday, so I didn't do anything. I'd rather let it rest than aggravate it and have to sit out for 2 weeks.
I've mentioned this before: I'm not a morning person. I've decided to give running at sundown another try this evening, just to see if I can tolerate the heat. It seems to be about 95 around sundown. Although it is nice running in the morning when it's cooler, I'm not sure I've been feeling this alertness you're supposed to feel from getting your physical activity in before your day starts. Mostly, I'm just tired. So, I plan to set out around 8:30 PM for 3 miles, to test my heat tolerance and my cranky knee. If the heat's too much, then mea culpa, and it's back to 5:30 AM (at least until late September)!
So...though I didn't maintain the double-digit base last week, I was able to be there for a friend in an emergency, and I definitely think that's more important. You have to remember to stop and make room for real life, and just be grateful to have the ability to run when you can.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Motivation and Four-inch Heels
So, I seem to keep losing motivation to run on Saturdays, when I've tentatively scheduled my long runs for half-marathon training. Everything's fine during the week, but then Saturday comes and I have no desire to get out of bed, let alone run in the morning. If I only had to do a short run that could be done on a treadmill later in the day, I don't think there'd be a problem. Or if it wasn't like the surface of the sun by 8AM, and I could just run outside later than 6... I guess I'll keep working on the scheduling of this training business, and we'll see how it works out. This week I'll either do my long run on Wednesday or Friday, with Saturday as cross-training. We'll see...
I was going to run this Saturday, but ("what had happened was...") my Dad was in town buying me a new car (!!!), and I figured I'd just stay in and make pancakes for him. After he left, I thought I might hit the treadmill at the gym, but...yeah. You get the picture. Later that night, I went out dancing for a friend's birthday. I haven't been to a club in ages, so I was kinda of excited to get all dolled up--which happened to include a rather fierce pair of four-inch heels. It was a fun night, with lots of hip-hop, dancing, and perhaps a few too many drinks. Since it had been so long since I'd been out to a club, I'd forgotten that my feet feel fine while I'm groovin', but the pain kicks in as soon as I slow down. Actually, it wasn't too bad, but I did decide to let my feet (and my knee, which also probably has a beef with the heels) a rest. Not to mention the fact that I didn't get home 'til about 3:30...
This week got off to a good start with a nice 3-miler this morning (would have been nicer if that lady's dog had been on a leash--who walks their dog at 6AM?!?). This week, I'll concentrate on getting my miles in before the weekend to avoid the end-of-the-week malaise.
How do you stay motivated during the weekend, when the temptation of laziness (or greediness?) sneaks up?
I was going to run this Saturday, but ("what had happened was...") my Dad was in town buying me a new car (!!!), and I figured I'd just stay in and make pancakes for him. After he left, I thought I might hit the treadmill at the gym, but...yeah. You get the picture. Later that night, I went out dancing for a friend's birthday. I haven't been to a club in ages, so I was kinda of excited to get all dolled up--which happened to include a rather fierce pair of four-inch heels. It was a fun night, with lots of hip-hop, dancing, and perhaps a few too many drinks. Since it had been so long since I'd been out to a club, I'd forgotten that my feet feel fine while I'm groovin', but the pain kicks in as soon as I slow down. Actually, it wasn't too bad, but I did decide to let my feet (and my knee, which also probably has a beef with the heels) a rest. Not to mention the fact that I didn't get home 'til about 3:30...
This week got off to a good start with a nice 3-miler this morning (would have been nicer if that lady's dog had been on a leash--who walks their dog at 6AM?!?). This week, I'll concentrate on getting my miles in before the weekend to avoid the end-of-the-week malaise.
How do you stay motivated during the weekend, when the temptation of laziness (or greediness?) sneaks up?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
So I lied...
...about using the Runner's World beginner's half-marathon training plan. After doing a bit more research, I decided that I liked Hal Higdon's Half-Marathon Training Plan for Novices (like myself) better. It's still 12 weeks, but it's rather simplified and flexible, allowing you to focus on mileage. I don't get to start until August 24, so in the mean time I'm working on building my base and cross-training.
In my inaugural post, I mentioned that I developed runner's knee back in February. Due to financial reasons, I was never able to have it treated by a physical therapist, so I've just been kind-of working through it on my own. For the most part, it rarely hurts anymore. But, as I've been upping my mileage, I've been noticing a twinge every now and then. Not enough to stop, but enough to say "hey, I remember what that feels like...it sucks." Hopefully strength training will help my quads become stronger, which will in turn help to support my knees. I don't want to be 25-going-on-75.
This morning I did 2 miles on the treadmill at Gold's while listening to the Runner's Lounge half-marathon podcasts. Wasn't sure how I'd do listening to people talk whilst running, but it didn't seem to pose a problem. And gave me something else to think about other than "in 2, out 2." Tomorrow I plan to do my "long run" of 4 miles, though I haven't decided if it'll be at the lake or near my apartment complex. Then, on to Nordstrom's! SALE!!! Lucky I got those gift cards for graduation...
In my inaugural post, I mentioned that I developed runner's knee back in February. Due to financial reasons, I was never able to have it treated by a physical therapist, so I've just been kind-of working through it on my own. For the most part, it rarely hurts anymore. But, as I've been upping my mileage, I've been noticing a twinge every now and then. Not enough to stop, but enough to say "hey, I remember what that feels like...it sucks." Hopefully strength training will help my quads become stronger, which will in turn help to support my knees. I don't want to be 25-going-on-75.
This morning I did 2 miles on the treadmill at Gold's while listening to the Runner's Lounge half-marathon podcasts. Wasn't sure how I'd do listening to people talk whilst running, but it didn't seem to pose a problem. And gave me something else to think about other than "in 2, out 2." Tomorrow I plan to do my "long run" of 4 miles, though I haven't decided if it'll be at the lake or near my apartment complex. Then, on to Nordstrom's! SALE!!! Lucky I got those gift cards for graduation...
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