http://worldcultureclub.org/2010_Desert_Dash_Results.php
Wow. I actually placed 61 out of 71 females! Sweet! I thought I was pretty much in last place. (Okay, so yes, this is technically "pretty much in last place," but I mean I thought I was was 2nd or 3rd to last place. Not ten females behind me.)
Friday, April 30, 2010
New beginning . . .
Okay. Plan #2 it is! (If you don't know what I'm talking about, read the 4/25 post.)
So, Plan #2: Lighten up on the intensity of running, but continue to keep it up. Do spin once or twice a week. Move to more spin and other low impact exercises as running becomes less of an option. (And yes, running is safe.)
Then, in a year, start training again and get back to my half marathon then full marathon plans. That gives the rest of you a lot of time to get there, if you want to join me for a half, walking or running . . . or even a full, if you're crazy like me. :)
So, Plan #2: Lighten up on the intensity of running, but continue to keep it up. Do spin once or twice a week. Move to more spin and other low impact exercises as running becomes less of an option. (And yes, running is safe.)
Then, in a year, start training again and get back to my half marathon then full marathon plans. That gives the rest of you a lot of time to get there, if you want to join me for a half, walking or running . . . or even a full, if you're crazy like me. :)
Thursday, April 29, 2010
struggling . . .
Okay, I'm getting really annoyed at how long it's taking my legs to heal up. The weirdest sensation was the day or two after the race, when my legs feeling "floppy" when I would walk or try to run. It was like I had never walked before. Weird. They are getting progressively better, and I can kind of jog, but they are still sore enough to make that too painful. I've been doing some walks, but I'm just losing steam. I think I'll just plan on taking the rest of the week easy. We might go for a little hike on Saturday, so hopefully I'll be feeling better by then. Next week I'll ease back into a schedule. This definitely makes me want to train better, so this doesn't happen again.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
And now . . .
. . . my legs hurt. It's weird. I ran 10 1/2 miles the week before and my legs were only a little sore the next day. 3 miles more, and I can barely walk for several days. Weird. I guess I did run a little faster, and there were a couple little hills. I can finally get up from a chair without using my arms for all of the support. It's mostly my quads that have been killing me. Anyway, I went for a walk on Sunday, and I plan on doing that today as well, to get things loosened up again. I'm excited to get back into things, and work on my speed in running. It would be nice if I could take less time to do my runs each day, as well as not be in completely last place in my next race. :)
Needless to say, I'll still be running, and therefore, I'll still be writing. (You poor souls!)
Needless to say, I'll still be running, and therefore, I'll still be writing. (You poor souls!)
Sunday, April 25, 2010
I finally did it!!!!
That's right! I kicked those 13.1 miles' butt! (And it kicked back.)
The night before, we ate the classic pre-run dinner of spaghetti and meatballs (fake ones for me). We laid out our clothes, pinned our numbers on our shirts, and charged our iPods. I even put my chews in my pockets because I was so scared I was going to forget to take them on the run. We got Simeon settled over at our friends' place (conveniently next door), and tried to relax enough to go to bed. The plan was to go to bed early . . . we made it in bed by 11pm. Oh, well.
5:15am came too quickly, and the night before was filled with getting up to go to the bathroom, since we both had hydrated extra well the night before. We got ready, emptied our bladders and bowels as much as possible (trust me - this is vital before running long distances!), and ate a banana (potassium helps with bring water into cells) and steel cut oats (carbs). And away we went.
It was a bit cold out, but it was actually really refreshing. We took some pictures, took a little warm-up jog around the field there, and peed 3 or 4 times. And it was time to start. There were even less people than I had expected - about 150 at the most.
The first mile was a whole lot of me getting passed, which I expected. During the second mile, I had to really use the confidence I had worked so hard on when first running, as I realized I was actually the very last person. It felt like I was in 4th grade track and field again, and had to remind myself that I deserved to be there just as much as anyone else. I was also afraid of getting lost, since they had changed the track due to the Tanque Verde wash flowing with water. It took until mile 3 to remind myself of how far I'd come and that six months ago, I couldn't even run a mile. Also, I had to remember that my goal was to run the whole thing, and that some of these people ahead of me are going to walk at some point, which ended up happening towards the end of the race - I actually got to pass a few people then. :)
My running went great. I ran the whole half marathon!!! With no walking. My original goal was to finish in 2 hours 30 minutes. I then changed it to 2 hours 45 minutes when my training went down hill because of injuries. I finished in 2 hours and 39 minutes. Yeah! There were a few hills, but nothing crazy. And it was really beautiful. The run went through the neighborhoods around the 49ers and other neighborhoods off of Tanque Verde and Reddington Road. The turn around point was at the end of Reddington Road, where it turns to more of a dirt road. Once I got into a groove and got over my frustrations (see next paragraph), I really enjoyed my run. I did great until the last 2 miles. Those I really had to push myself to keep running. That's when I started thinking about Cruz, my sister, her husband, and their kiddos waiting to cheer me on at the finish line. That really kept me going, and I finished strong.
The race itself . . . . where to start and how to stay positive . . . ? If you are going to do a half marathon, go for one of the big ones, with thousands and thousands of runners, and people who are cheering along the sides. This race was really frustrating. It was a fundraiser for a local group, so my expectations weren't super high, but really?! Our start/finish sign was butcher paper held up with duct tape. The course was confusing, and over half of us went the wrong way, so ran the majority of the race (a huge loop) backwards. There were water stations at mile 2, 3, and then I didn't see another one until mile 7. Then I didn't see another one until the mile 3 spot (which was then mile 10) and one more before the finish. We live in the stinkin' desert!!! I think there was at least one more, but it was packed up and driving away as I was approaching. Thankfully, there were some people filming from a golf cart in front of me around mile 9? and they gave me their own (half drunken) bottle of water. That saved me. I don't think I would have finished without it. The volunteers also seemed to care less that they were there and that we were running a really long way. No cheering. Hardly a smile. I'm never doing this marathon again. I'm going big next time.
With all the complaining done, I am still proud of myself and my husband. We totally rocked! I am also glad that I ran the half marathon. I met a few other runners towards the end that were also running their first, and we tried to encourage each other along the way. I have learned so much from my training and actually finishing my first race, and I'm excited to do it again, but better. Here are some of the things I've learned:
-How to love and encourage myself
-How to push myself when I want to quit
-train slowly, especially at first, and fight the urge to do too much at the beginning
-don't get discouraged from an injury - just cross train and let it heal
-get your stride evaluated and invest in good shoes (no, the $25 special probably won't cut it)
-Shoes' support goes out after a few hundred miles (I didn't know this!), so shoes have to be replaced, often before they show signs of wear (unless you're going to do the Zen/barefoot running style)
-Your body really only stores 1 hour of glycogen - Gu Chews make a huge difference in long runs, and they're not too bad tasting, either
-Run a big race, especially for your first one, and one that gives out medals - I wish I had something besides a really ugly Yellow shirt to show for my hard work.
-don't stretch before runs - just warm up - but stretch really well afterwards - yoga every morning has helped me a lot
-find music that inspires you when you exercise, and do a few runs outside without music, too
-good workout clothes really make a difference - I'm ready to try some of those awesome running shirts now, that have mesh in the underarm and sides
-get an iPod strap that doesn't chafe your arm so easily - ouch!
-figure out what works for you - many people do better running in pairs or groups. I run better by myself
-Sometimes it's important to listen to your body - sometimes it's important to tell it to shut up :)
-running, and most exercise, is more of a mental exercise than physical - we don't allow ourselves to feel a little pain to get the benefits
-We are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for - Our bodies are amazing machines that we often don't push ourselves hard enough
If I can do it, so can you!!!
My next plans: (I've decided to use this word instead of goal - it then becomes something that will happen instead of something to shoot for)
1. re-train for a half marathon (do it maybe in Nov or Dec) and then continue training to do a full marathon in the spring.
2. if I get pregnant before plan #1 can happen, train through pregnancy, moving to spin and other low impact exercises as I get further along. Start plan #1 after a baby comes
3. get my mile time down - I figure if you get from walking to running by running 1 minute, walking two, then you can do the same thing to boost your speed (run 1 minute at the faster pace, run the slower pace for two)
4. add in weight training 2-3 times a week again, and yoga every morning again
The night before, we ate the classic pre-run dinner of spaghetti and meatballs (fake ones for me). We laid out our clothes, pinned our numbers on our shirts, and charged our iPods. I even put my chews in my pockets because I was so scared I was going to forget to take them on the run. We got Simeon settled over at our friends' place (conveniently next door), and tried to relax enough to go to bed. The plan was to go to bed early . . . we made it in bed by 11pm. Oh, well.
5:15am came too quickly, and the night before was filled with getting up to go to the bathroom, since we both had hydrated extra well the night before. We got ready, emptied our bladders and bowels as much as possible (trust me - this is vital before running long distances!), and ate a banana (potassium helps with bring water into cells) and steel cut oats (carbs). And away we went.
It was a bit cold out, but it was actually really refreshing. We took some pictures, took a little warm-up jog around the field there, and peed 3 or 4 times. And it was time to start. There were even less people than I had expected - about 150 at the most.
The first mile was a whole lot of me getting passed, which I expected. During the second mile, I had to really use the confidence I had worked so hard on when first running, as I realized I was actually the very last person. It felt like I was in 4th grade track and field again, and had to remind myself that I deserved to be there just as much as anyone else. I was also afraid of getting lost, since they had changed the track due to the Tanque Verde wash flowing with water. It took until mile 3 to remind myself of how far I'd come and that six months ago, I couldn't even run a mile. Also, I had to remember that my goal was to run the whole thing, and that some of these people ahead of me are going to walk at some point, which ended up happening towards the end of the race - I actually got to pass a few people then. :)
My running went great. I ran the whole half marathon!!! With no walking. My original goal was to finish in 2 hours 30 minutes. I then changed it to 2 hours 45 minutes when my training went down hill because of injuries. I finished in 2 hours and 39 minutes. Yeah! There were a few hills, but nothing crazy. And it was really beautiful. The run went through the neighborhoods around the 49ers and other neighborhoods off of Tanque Verde and Reddington Road. The turn around point was at the end of Reddington Road, where it turns to more of a dirt road. Once I got into a groove and got over my frustrations (see next paragraph), I really enjoyed my run. I did great until the last 2 miles. Those I really had to push myself to keep running. That's when I started thinking about Cruz, my sister, her husband, and their kiddos waiting to cheer me on at the finish line. That really kept me going, and I finished strong.
The race itself . . . . where to start and how to stay positive . . . ? If you are going to do a half marathon, go for one of the big ones, with thousands and thousands of runners, and people who are cheering along the sides. This race was really frustrating. It was a fundraiser for a local group, so my expectations weren't super high, but really?! Our start/finish sign was butcher paper held up with duct tape. The course was confusing, and over half of us went the wrong way, so ran the majority of the race (a huge loop) backwards. There were water stations at mile 2, 3, and then I didn't see another one until mile 7. Then I didn't see another one until the mile 3 spot (which was then mile 10) and one more before the finish. We live in the stinkin' desert!!! I think there was at least one more, but it was packed up and driving away as I was approaching. Thankfully, there were some people filming from a golf cart in front of me around mile 9? and they gave me their own (half drunken) bottle of water. That saved me. I don't think I would have finished without it. The volunteers also seemed to care less that they were there and that we were running a really long way. No cheering. Hardly a smile. I'm never doing this marathon again. I'm going big next time.
With all the complaining done, I am still proud of myself and my husband. We totally rocked! I am also glad that I ran the half marathon. I met a few other runners towards the end that were also running their first, and we tried to encourage each other along the way. I have learned so much from my training and actually finishing my first race, and I'm excited to do it again, but better. Here are some of the things I've learned:
-How to love and encourage myself
-How to push myself when I want to quit
-train slowly, especially at first, and fight the urge to do too much at the beginning
-don't get discouraged from an injury - just cross train and let it heal
-get your stride evaluated and invest in good shoes (no, the $25 special probably won't cut it)
-Shoes' support goes out after a few hundred miles (I didn't know this!), so shoes have to be replaced, often before they show signs of wear (unless you're going to do the Zen/barefoot running style)
-Your body really only stores 1 hour of glycogen - Gu Chews make a huge difference in long runs, and they're not too bad tasting, either
-Run a big race, especially for your first one, and one that gives out medals - I wish I had something besides a really ugly Yellow shirt to show for my hard work.
-don't stretch before runs - just warm up - but stretch really well afterwards - yoga every morning has helped me a lot
-find music that inspires you when you exercise, and do a few runs outside without music, too
-good workout clothes really make a difference - I'm ready to try some of those awesome running shirts now, that have mesh in the underarm and sides
-get an iPod strap that doesn't chafe your arm so easily - ouch!
-figure out what works for you - many people do better running in pairs or groups. I run better by myself
-Sometimes it's important to listen to your body - sometimes it's important to tell it to shut up :)
-running, and most exercise, is more of a mental exercise than physical - we don't allow ourselves to feel a little pain to get the benefits
-We are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for - Our bodies are amazing machines that we often don't push ourselves hard enough
If I can do it, so can you!!!
My next plans: (I've decided to use this word instead of goal - it then becomes something that will happen instead of something to shoot for)
1. re-train for a half marathon (do it maybe in Nov or Dec) and then continue training to do a full marathon in the spring.
2. if I get pregnant before plan #1 can happen, train through pregnancy, moving to spin and other low impact exercises as I get further along. Start plan #1 after a baby comes
3. get my mile time down - I figure if you get from walking to running by running 1 minute, walking two, then you can do the same thing to boost your speed (run 1 minute at the faster pace, run the slower pace for two)
4. add in weight training 2-3 times a week again, and yoga every morning again
Friday, April 23, 2010
The big day . . .
So, tomorrow's the big day. I'm a little nervous because besides spin on Monday, I haven't done any other exercise this week. You're supposed to taper your workouts before a big race, but I don't think you're supposed to sit on your butt. :) I'm also a little nervous because my last big run was . . . well, read my last post. But overall, I'm quite excited! Cruz and I watched a documentary called The Spirit of the Marathon (on Netflix Instant Streaming, for anyone interested - you have to "search" for it), and that got us pumped. And I went and got our numbers today. Honestly, I wish we could have found a big race to run in, as this one is even smaller than I expected (maybe 200 people), there's no chip timing because not enough people signed up, and the route was changed because the original route went through the wash, which is now running with water (no pun intended). So, this is my way of saying that I will most definitely be doing another race. But mostly, I'm excited and nervous. And trust me, there will be a post soon about how everything went. :)
Wish us luck!
Wish us luck!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Last hard runs . . . check . . .
Last week was my last week of hard runs, since you should always taper distance and intensity before a long race. I needed to do one more long run. I was gong to do it on Tuesday, but Cruz was stuck at work until late, and I just didn't have any energy. Wednesday was my only other chance, since I was leaving Thursday to take some students up to All Sate Orchestra and Choir in Flagstaff. Then I got an e-mail - We're having a camp meeting at 7pm on Wednesday. That gave me a very small window of opportunity. Could I just run to my meeting? I could, but I'd be stinky throughout the meeting. I'd have to drop off a change of clothes there before my run. This was becoming ridiculous. Then, Wednesday morning, Simeon woke up sick. Cruz was a trouper and stayed home with him, so my new plan was to run after school and be home in time to make dinner and clean up for my meeting.
I started my run at the Children's Memorial Park. I ran along the river walk from there to Dodge, just past the Brandy Fenton Park. That's about 10-11 miles or so. It was the hardest run I've ever done. I didn't want to deal with cramps, so instead of eating a snack before hand, I ate my first serving of Gu Chews. I was going to bring the rest with me to be eaten about halfway into the run, as I always do with really long runs . . . I forgot them. I realized it about 2 miles in. Too late to go back.
It was also much hotter than I had anticipated. Good thing the river walk has drinking fountains every half mile or so. Things were going fine. I got to Campbell and was getting more tired and hot. But the cool thing about this stretch is we used to live/run over here many years back. I remembered how I would struggle to run the half mile from our apartments to the bridge without walking. And how excited I was when I finally made it to the park, about 1 1/2 miles. I was starting at Campbell, 1/2 mile before this point, so for me it was 2 miles to the park, with another 1/2 mile to Dodge. I was enjoying the pride of coming so far in my running, as I had already run about 3 miles to Campbell and was still only a little tired. Okay, really tired. And then I remembered . . . there are no drinking fountains until I get to the park.
Two miles until I have water. There was no shade. And I was getting hot. Those two miles were the hardest. By the time I finally made it to the park, I was ready to call Cruz to pick me up. I was out of energy, and I could feel that my body was just too hot. I spent a good 5-10 minutes drinking cold water and splashing on my face, neck and arms. I finally felt my body temp go down and I was felling so much better. I actually felt like I could finish this run without doing any danger to myself. So on I trekked to Dodge and back. I paced myself getting back to Campbell since there again was no water. I drank quite a bit when I got there, again cooling off my face and arms. And the temperature was dropping enough to be more pleasant.
The last 3 miles were really hard. I had water, but there were no carbs left in my body to help me keep going. And I had spent all of my energy on those two miserable miles, so I was running on empty. It became a mental exercise more than anything else. "Just run until 1st Ave. Just get to 1st. You can do it. Just a little longer." Then the same for the next half mile. "You're doing great. Just go to Stone. Just half a mile. Piece of cake." And so on, until the end. I couldn't even stretch. I just collapsed in the car and very tiredly felt very proud of myself. "No more long runs until the race. It's all easy runs from here." (I did stretch a lot later.)
That night, we spent in the emergency room with Simeon. He's fine - just a bad case of croup. I got 2 hours of sleep and then went to Flag the following morning. The morning after that, I woke up feeling like I had been run over by a semi. After a little stretching and food, I finally felt pretty good. The weekend was full of walking around, especially since I couldn't sit for more than 45 minutes or so without my legs cramping and feeling antsy. I finally felt good enough to go for a little run on Saturday morning.
When Saturday morning came, I laid in bed convincing myself not to go until I realized I'd just have to get up and get ready soon anyway, so I went. It was a huge payoff for the torture I went through a few days earlier. I ran along the southern part of the urban trail in Flagstaff (the part that goes to the fairgrounds). It goes behind a neighborhood and through the woods, meeting a house or road here or there. It was beautiful! And the temperature was perfect. Slightly cold, but great when you're running. The only issue I had was half way through my run I had a . . . *clears throat* . . . bathroom issue. And not the kind you can take care of in the woods. It caused me to walk about a mile of my run, but still I felt great and really enjoyed running in the beautiful outdoors. About a mile south of our hotel, I found civilization and quickly found a bathroom. Let's just say the last mile of my run was very enjoyable! All in all, a great experience. I think I ran about 4 miles and walked about 1 mile. I got cleaned up and felt great the rest of the day.
So, with all that said, and I know it was a lot, I have one easy week ahead of me. A few 3 mile runs and lots of stretching to get ready. Then, Saturday is the big day! I am so excited to cross that finish line, strong and happy. I start at 6:30 am and if I run 13 minute miles, which is slow but pretty realistic with water stops and the distance, I should be crossing the finish line around 9:15ish. Cruz will probably cross around 8:15ish. Here's the website for the race: http://worldcultureclub.org/Half_Marathon___5K.php
And here we go . . .
I started my run at the Children's Memorial Park. I ran along the river walk from there to Dodge, just past the Brandy Fenton Park. That's about 10-11 miles or so. It was the hardest run I've ever done. I didn't want to deal with cramps, so instead of eating a snack before hand, I ate my first serving of Gu Chews. I was going to bring the rest with me to be eaten about halfway into the run, as I always do with really long runs . . . I forgot them. I realized it about 2 miles in. Too late to go back.
It was also much hotter than I had anticipated. Good thing the river walk has drinking fountains every half mile or so. Things were going fine. I got to Campbell and was getting more tired and hot. But the cool thing about this stretch is we used to live/run over here many years back. I remembered how I would struggle to run the half mile from our apartments to the bridge without walking. And how excited I was when I finally made it to the park, about 1 1/2 miles. I was starting at Campbell, 1/2 mile before this point, so for me it was 2 miles to the park, with another 1/2 mile to Dodge. I was enjoying the pride of coming so far in my running, as I had already run about 3 miles to Campbell and was still only a little tired. Okay, really tired. And then I remembered . . . there are no drinking fountains until I get to the park.
Two miles until I have water. There was no shade. And I was getting hot. Those two miles were the hardest. By the time I finally made it to the park, I was ready to call Cruz to pick me up. I was out of energy, and I could feel that my body was just too hot. I spent a good 5-10 minutes drinking cold water and splashing on my face, neck and arms. I finally felt my body temp go down and I was felling so much better. I actually felt like I could finish this run without doing any danger to myself. So on I trekked to Dodge and back. I paced myself getting back to Campbell since there again was no water. I drank quite a bit when I got there, again cooling off my face and arms. And the temperature was dropping enough to be more pleasant.
The last 3 miles were really hard. I had water, but there were no carbs left in my body to help me keep going. And I had spent all of my energy on those two miserable miles, so I was running on empty. It became a mental exercise more than anything else. "Just run until 1st Ave. Just get to 1st. You can do it. Just a little longer." Then the same for the next half mile. "You're doing great. Just go to Stone. Just half a mile. Piece of cake." And so on, until the end. I couldn't even stretch. I just collapsed in the car and very tiredly felt very proud of myself. "No more long runs until the race. It's all easy runs from here." (I did stretch a lot later.)
That night, we spent in the emergency room with Simeon. He's fine - just a bad case of croup. I got 2 hours of sleep and then went to Flag the following morning. The morning after that, I woke up feeling like I had been run over by a semi. After a little stretching and food, I finally felt pretty good. The weekend was full of walking around, especially since I couldn't sit for more than 45 minutes or so without my legs cramping and feeling antsy. I finally felt good enough to go for a little run on Saturday morning.
When Saturday morning came, I laid in bed convincing myself not to go until I realized I'd just have to get up and get ready soon anyway, so I went. It was a huge payoff for the torture I went through a few days earlier. I ran along the southern part of the urban trail in Flagstaff (the part that goes to the fairgrounds). It goes behind a neighborhood and through the woods, meeting a house or road here or there. It was beautiful! And the temperature was perfect. Slightly cold, but great when you're running. The only issue I had was half way through my run I had a . . . *clears throat* . . . bathroom issue. And not the kind you can take care of in the woods. It caused me to walk about a mile of my run, but still I felt great and really enjoyed running in the beautiful outdoors. About a mile south of our hotel, I found civilization and quickly found a bathroom. Let's just say the last mile of my run was very enjoyable! All in all, a great experience. I think I ran about 4 miles and walked about 1 mile. I got cleaned up and felt great the rest of the day.
So, with all that said, and I know it was a lot, I have one easy week ahead of me. A few 3 mile runs and lots of stretching to get ready. Then, Saturday is the big day! I am so excited to cross that finish line, strong and happy. I start at 6:30 am and if I run 13 minute miles, which is slow but pretty realistic with water stops and the distance, I should be crossing the finish line around 9:15ish. Cruz will probably cross around 8:15ish. Here's the website for the race: http://worldcultureclub.org/Half_Marathon___5K.php
And here we go . . .
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Keep running, but you won't knock down our wall . . .
(yes - a reference to VeggieTales)
Well, the countdown continues. Last week I had my awesome run. Then, two days later, I went to the gym and decided I'd rather get 4 miles over with faster, so I ran the first two as 11 minute miles and the second two as 10 minute miles. That was tough! And I felt great afterward., The downside? I now know what gives me shin splints. It's not longer runs. It's faster runs. So, I have been dealing with shin splints again. They're not really bad, but I can't just rest since I don't want to not run for two weeks and then run 13.1 miles.
I went to Spin on Monday. It was an awesome class! Lots of hills, including an 18 minute hill to Ravel's Bolero. I LOVE that piece, and it was perfect for a long climb. I took yesterday off, and my shins are . . . there. They are still sore, but not awful. The hard thing is this is my last chance for any hard work, since I need to taper my running the week before the race. My plan is to do a long run today, with 8-9 miles. Then, since I'm leaving for Flagstaff tomorrow, I will run at least once there, but no more than 6 miles. I figure it'll be good for me since the elevation will give me a great cardio workout without having to log as many miles. Then next week is a few short runs of 2-3 miles each. Then, Saturday is the big day!
I am so excited to run this half marathon! I am also excited to start fresh after I recover. I want to back it off and work my miles and speed up slowly so I can get it up without shin splints. The rule of thumb is no more than 10% harder than the week before. That's where I originally when wrong. Then, I pushed it too hard after each injury. I felt the pressure of the race coming and my listened to my desire to run hard and long instead of easing into it. Thank goodness for fresh starts!
My pampering plan for after the Half Marathon? After a day or two, my plan is to get a pedicure and get rid of all this dead "blister skin." (Sorry for the mental image!) A fresh start all around!
Well, the countdown continues. Last week I had my awesome run. Then, two days later, I went to the gym and decided I'd rather get 4 miles over with faster, so I ran the first two as 11 minute miles and the second two as 10 minute miles. That was tough! And I felt great afterward., The downside? I now know what gives me shin splints. It's not longer runs. It's faster runs. So, I have been dealing with shin splints again. They're not really bad, but I can't just rest since I don't want to not run for two weeks and then run 13.1 miles.
I went to Spin on Monday. It was an awesome class! Lots of hills, including an 18 minute hill to Ravel's Bolero. I LOVE that piece, and it was perfect for a long climb. I took yesterday off, and my shins are . . . there. They are still sore, but not awful. The hard thing is this is my last chance for any hard work, since I need to taper my running the week before the race. My plan is to do a long run today, with 8-9 miles. Then, since I'm leaving for Flagstaff tomorrow, I will run at least once there, but no more than 6 miles. I figure it'll be good for me since the elevation will give me a great cardio workout without having to log as many miles. Then next week is a few short runs of 2-3 miles each. Then, Saturday is the big day!
I am so excited to run this half marathon! I am also excited to start fresh after I recover. I want to back it off and work my miles and speed up slowly so I can get it up without shin splints. The rule of thumb is no more than 10% harder than the week before. That's where I originally when wrong. Then, I pushed it too hard after each injury. I felt the pressure of the race coming and my listened to my desire to run hard and long instead of easing into it. Thank goodness for fresh starts!
My pampering plan for after the Half Marathon? After a day or two, my plan is to get a pedicure and get rid of all this dead "blister skin." (Sorry for the mental image!) A fresh start all around!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Personal best . . .
Every time I went outside today I wanted to just leave work and go for a run. When I got home, Cruz was getting ready to go to the gym. I decided to capitalize on this and had him take Simeon there to play. I wanted to go run. In the park. But I was a little hesitant as well, since my plan was to have an easy day today and now I was thinking about doing my long run. Cruz encouraged me with these words, "If you're feeling even a little up to it today, you should go because you never know how you'll feel tomorrow. And then it'll be done and you don't have to worry about it." Convinced he was right, I charged up my iPod as much as possible, stopped by the Running Store for some Gu Chews, and headed to Reid Park. (Thanks, Linda for the free sample you got me - these are awesome, and I'm hooked! Much better than the slimy gel stuff. And they really do work.)
The weather was perfect! And there were a ton of people out which actually wasn't as annoying as you'd think. It's quite encouraging to be out with so many other people who are exercising. And so I ran . . . three laps. That's right! I ran NINE MILES today! That's the most I've ever run in my entire life. The first few miles were a little unnerving since my shins ached a bit, as did my joints. But it went away as I finished my first 3 mile lap. Then into my fourth mile, my iPod died. It was dead when I got home today and I only had a few minutes to charge it. So, I didn't have any groovin' tunes to keep me going, and I also couldn't keep track of my mile times. But I kept going. I noticed I was behind a woman who was running just slightly faster than me, so I focused on keeping up with her for most of the second lap. I will add here that she had to have been at least 60. Yes, I was trying to keep up with a 60 year old. But it was motivating because I kept thinking, "If I keep this up now, someday that can be me." After all, that's the main motivation here - to be healthy for life, not just the next few weeks.
I quickly swapped my iPod for my phone at my car as I started my third and last lap. I was very tempted to just get IN my car and drive home, but I only have 18 days until my half marathon, and I had decided that no matter what, I was running 9 miles today. So, I kept going. My 7th and 8th miles were slow. 12:45 and 13 minute miles. The next to the last mile is always the hardest. The last one has more oomph because it's almost over. My 9th mile was 10:45, one of my quickest miles all night. (I'm a slow runner.) I got a nice boost at the end and finished strong.
Running at Reid Park in the evening definitely has it's perks. First of all, there are a lot of people around, so I never feel unsafe. And it adds to the positive feeling in the air. Everyone's doing their best and exercising, enjoying the gorgeous weather. Second, the sun doesn't wait for you to finish your run. The impending darkness was very motivating to now only keep going but to keep up my pace. And yes, there were still a lot of people out, so I still felt safe. By the end of my run there were at least 4-5 people within 50 feet of me at any given time.
The funny thing about running for almost two hours is it gives you a lot of time to think. Especially when your iPod is dead. I was thinking about how only months ago I could only run for 1 minute and then I'd walk for 2 minutes and then I'd have to convince myself to run for 1 more minute, etc. And honestly, I could have run 9 miles a while ago if it weren't for two major shin splint ordeals and busting my knee open. I was also thinking about how amazing this whole process has been, even with the injuries. I have to say it's been the second most empowering experience, the first being 20 hours of natural labor with Simeon. I have had to overcome many personal demons, including my lack of self confidence and constant negative self talk. (I've actually noticed that I rarely do it outside of running now, too.) I have grown in so many ways that are completely not related to anything physical. And it has caused me to redefine relationships around me, as any major change in life style usually does. And there is nothing quite as amazing as running farther than you've ever run before. Realizing that "THIS is the farthest I've ever run . . . No. THIS is. And THIS!" It keeps me going through those last miles. And it's really cool to feel so insanely proud of myself, and not be able to write it off as someone else's doing.
I have 18 days to go, and I can't wait to cross that finish line, strong and proud!
The weather was perfect! And there were a ton of people out which actually wasn't as annoying as you'd think. It's quite encouraging to be out with so many other people who are exercising. And so I ran . . . three laps. That's right! I ran NINE MILES today! That's the most I've ever run in my entire life. The first few miles were a little unnerving since my shins ached a bit, as did my joints. But it went away as I finished my first 3 mile lap. Then into my fourth mile, my iPod died. It was dead when I got home today and I only had a few minutes to charge it. So, I didn't have any groovin' tunes to keep me going, and I also couldn't keep track of my mile times. But I kept going. I noticed I was behind a woman who was running just slightly faster than me, so I focused on keeping up with her for most of the second lap. I will add here that she had to have been at least 60. Yes, I was trying to keep up with a 60 year old. But it was motivating because I kept thinking, "If I keep this up now, someday that can be me." After all, that's the main motivation here - to be healthy for life, not just the next few weeks.
I quickly swapped my iPod for my phone at my car as I started my third and last lap. I was very tempted to just get IN my car and drive home, but I only have 18 days until my half marathon, and I had decided that no matter what, I was running 9 miles today. So, I kept going. My 7th and 8th miles were slow. 12:45 and 13 minute miles. The next to the last mile is always the hardest. The last one has more oomph because it's almost over. My 9th mile was 10:45, one of my quickest miles all night. (I'm a slow runner.) I got a nice boost at the end and finished strong.
Running at Reid Park in the evening definitely has it's perks. First of all, there are a lot of people around, so I never feel unsafe. And it adds to the positive feeling in the air. Everyone's doing their best and exercising, enjoying the gorgeous weather. Second, the sun doesn't wait for you to finish your run. The impending darkness was very motivating to now only keep going but to keep up my pace. And yes, there were still a lot of people out, so I still felt safe. By the end of my run there were at least 4-5 people within 50 feet of me at any given time.
The funny thing about running for almost two hours is it gives you a lot of time to think. Especially when your iPod is dead. I was thinking about how only months ago I could only run for 1 minute and then I'd walk for 2 minutes and then I'd have to convince myself to run for 1 more minute, etc. And honestly, I could have run 9 miles a while ago if it weren't for two major shin splint ordeals and busting my knee open. I was also thinking about how amazing this whole process has been, even with the injuries. I have to say it's been the second most empowering experience, the first being 20 hours of natural labor with Simeon. I have had to overcome many personal demons, including my lack of self confidence and constant negative self talk. (I've actually noticed that I rarely do it outside of running now, too.) I have grown in so many ways that are completely not related to anything physical. And it has caused me to redefine relationships around me, as any major change in life style usually does. And there is nothing quite as amazing as running farther than you've ever run before. Realizing that "THIS is the farthest I've ever run . . . No. THIS is. And THIS!" It keeps me going through those last miles. And it's really cool to feel so insanely proud of myself, and not be able to write it off as someone else's doing.
I have 18 days to go, and I can't wait to cross that finish line, strong and proud!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Life's funny sometimes . . .
I went out running today. I did my "long run" on Wednesday. Today was Cruz's day. And he did an awesome job! Twelve miles. Seriously. He rocks! We went to Reid Park, and I took Simeon in his running stroller today so Cruz could really run. I don't usually run with the stroller. My plan was a definite 3 miles, but probably 6 miles. That was my plan, but then again, life is funny sometimes.
The first half mile, as usual, was difficult. I started to finally get in a groove, but it was really hard to run correctly while pushing the stroller. I don't know what I was doing differently, but everything felt wrong. And my left shin started to ache just a tad. I kept going, since this isn't that uncommon at the beginning of my runs. But instead of going away, it become more prominent. So, I walked a bit. All this while Simeon continued to whine because he wanted out of his stroller. I tried a few more times to run, but the twinge was still there. I was so tempted to run anyway, just in spite of my legs, but I knew I couldn't afford getting injured this close to our half marathon. So I walked the rest of the way.
Simeon continued whining. And he is usually happy in his stroller, waving at all the dogs we pass and just looking around. Frustrated, I decided to just finish the 3 mile lap by walking and then leave. When we got to the car, Simeon threw a big fit about going into car and I couldn't figure out why he was fighting everything so much until I stopped and listened. When he was crying "Run! Run!" He wasn't talking about me. He was talking about himself. I think when we said we were going to go run, he was including himself in that equation. That's why he was so whiny the whole time. So, I loaded everything up in the car and then took him back over to the track.
And we ran. He LOVED it! We were at the part of the trail along Broadway, where there's a little dirt path that goes up on a hill under big pine trees. He just loved running next to Mommy and checking things out. He kept pointing out other people who were running, too. I realized that while my run today didn't go well, just going out to run day after day, and being around other people who are running, walking, biking, and blading has helped instill a desire to do these things, too. He and I trotted along for almost half a mile, with him prodding me each time I started walking with an encouraging "Run, Mommy! Run!"
We turned around and headed back towards the car. We stopped to check out some pine cones. I showed how they grow on the trees and then they fall and spread seeds that grow into new trees. First he took the pine cones and kept jumping up, trying to get them back to the tree. Then he would repeat "Pine cone tree! Fall on ground. Seeds." Something may have sunk in. :) We ran the rest of the way back to the car, and honestly Simeon would have just kept going if I had let him. It took me quite a while to be able to run a mile, while Simeon can jog along with no effort at all. And he's two!
So my frustrating run turned into a sweet evening really spending time with my little boy, discovering the wonder of pine cones and the pure enjoyment of running. And was reminded of the impact my example is on my son. I would say that my run tonight was quite successful after all. Life is funny like that.
The first half mile, as usual, was difficult. I started to finally get in a groove, but it was really hard to run correctly while pushing the stroller. I don't know what I was doing differently, but everything felt wrong. And my left shin started to ache just a tad. I kept going, since this isn't that uncommon at the beginning of my runs. But instead of going away, it become more prominent. So, I walked a bit. All this while Simeon continued to whine because he wanted out of his stroller. I tried a few more times to run, but the twinge was still there. I was so tempted to run anyway, just in spite of my legs, but I knew I couldn't afford getting injured this close to our half marathon. So I walked the rest of the way.
Simeon continued whining. And he is usually happy in his stroller, waving at all the dogs we pass and just looking around. Frustrated, I decided to just finish the 3 mile lap by walking and then leave. When we got to the car, Simeon threw a big fit about going into car and I couldn't figure out why he was fighting everything so much until I stopped and listened. When he was crying "Run! Run!" He wasn't talking about me. He was talking about himself. I think when we said we were going to go run, he was including himself in that equation. That's why he was so whiny the whole time. So, I loaded everything up in the car and then took him back over to the track.
And we ran. He LOVED it! We were at the part of the trail along Broadway, where there's a little dirt path that goes up on a hill under big pine trees. He just loved running next to Mommy and checking things out. He kept pointing out other people who were running, too. I realized that while my run today didn't go well, just going out to run day after day, and being around other people who are running, walking, biking, and blading has helped instill a desire to do these things, too. He and I trotted along for almost half a mile, with him prodding me each time I started walking with an encouraging "Run, Mommy! Run!"
We turned around and headed back towards the car. We stopped to check out some pine cones. I showed how they grow on the trees and then they fall and spread seeds that grow into new trees. First he took the pine cones and kept jumping up, trying to get them back to the tree. Then he would repeat "Pine cone tree! Fall on ground. Seeds." Something may have sunk in. :) We ran the rest of the way back to the car, and honestly Simeon would have just kept going if I had let him. It took me quite a while to be able to run a mile, while Simeon can jog along with no effort at all. And he's two!
So my frustrating run turned into a sweet evening really spending time with my little boy, discovering the wonder of pine cones and the pure enjoyment of running. And was reminded of the impact my example is on my son. I would say that my run tonight was quite successful after all. Life is funny like that.
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