So, the race is 15 days away. Last night I went for a 3 mile run and did some stretching. Since it was a short run I decided to work on some speed. 31:15 minutes, distance 3.02, average speed 5.79 mph, average pace 10:21. I was dying for the last 3/4 of a mile. 10:21 average pace is FAST for me. I also kind of hate how there is no breeze or air movement in gym. It's stifling. But I feel good about pushing through when I'm hot, my blood sugar is a little low, I'm breathing hard, etc. I know I'm doing something worthwhile.
On Tuesday I this week I swam some laps and it helped to do something different. I felt like it was good for my lungs especially. I made it 20 minutes or so, and would have gone longer but my goggles were worthless and it was annoying.
Things to remember: make new playlists, hydrate for the next 2 weeks, extreme amounts of water. I need to do another long run. Not sure how long though. I need to shop for some new running clothes. It could be COLD in Indy. Might have to wait to see what the weather will be like before I buy anything.
Things I love: I was in pain and bought new shoes and amazingly everything is awesome again. I love that 3 miles is a "short distance" now. I love when my students ask questions like, "Miss Perry, no one will be out there with a gun trying to shoot you, will they?", "Can you bring me back some free Gatorade?"
Friday, October 22, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Run 12, 13, 14
This was seriously the best idea. There is no way I would have run this much or trained this hard if I wasn't doing this with a friend (my awesome friend Miranda). I feel strong. I feel accomplished. I feel like an actual runner and I never feel like an actual runner. I think I'll be able to do this and that's a cool, cool feeling.
Run 12
I had been sick and didn't do much for a week. Head cold. Congestion. Fatigue. Yuck. So, when I felt semi better I ran 3.08 miles at a 11:22/mile pace which took me 35:01 minutes and I felt pretty weak. But I knew the run would be bad since I had taken time off and had been sick. I had to remind myself . . . "hey wait a minute, you feel like this was a bad run, but you still just ran 3 miles, not too shabby."
Run 13
Distance 3.52, pace 10:56/mile, time 38.30. A couple days later I made it 3 1/2 and felt a lot better. I upped my pace and felt much stronger than I had during the previous run. Since I pretty much suck at cross training I did a little bicycling after, but very little, maybe 10 minutes.
Run 14
So, I had this long run hanging over me. I knew I had to do it, but I spent Sunday going to a movie and taking a 3 1/2 hour family nap (family meaning me and my 2 cats). I felt crappy afterward and had little desire to do anything. But I did. Two 5 mile runs with about a 3 minute break between them. First 5 miles: time: 57:04, distance: 5.01, pace 11:23/mile. Second 5: time 57:30, distance: 5.01, pace 11:28/mile.
It's odd that I basically ran for 2 hours. The first mile was easy. The second fine. The third was a challenge. I think mile 3 is a hump mile for me, just have to push through that. The first mile used to be hard for me, now it feels like I'm not really working at all during that first mile. Mile 4 and 5 felt strong. Music really really really helps. I need to work on a few more playlists to keep me always unsure of what song could be coming next.
Second 5 miles was pretty easy for the first 3 or so. I was in the zone. I had a playlist going that I hadn't heard in ages with a bunch of Spanish/Latin music that I really enjoyed hearing. The last 2 miles were a little brutal. I know the gel pack I had around mile 6 helped a lot, but my legs got heavy and I just felt DONE. I was a sweat machine, just drenched. "Kickstart My Heart" really helped me make the last 1/2 mile or so. That being said I still felt like I could have gone on if I had needed to.
It's pretty awesome that nothing really hurts. I can run 10 miles, for almost 2 hours and feel tight, but basically pain-free. I know I'll be sore today and tomorrow and I'll need some Biofreeze, which helps my sore muscles so much, but nothing really hurts hurts. My bad foot/ankle feels totally fine. My legs felt good (although I know cross training would still help). My lungs feel like lungs of steel. Well, my big toe on my right foot hurts. That's it though.
Anyway, thank GOD for a challenge. Thank GOD for good friends. Thank GOD for being healthy enough to do this. I'm still nervous about 13.1, but I know it's going to be awesome.
Run 12
I had been sick and didn't do much for a week. Head cold. Congestion. Fatigue. Yuck. So, when I felt semi better I ran 3.08 miles at a 11:22/mile pace which took me 35:01 minutes and I felt pretty weak. But I knew the run would be bad since I had taken time off and had been sick. I had to remind myself . . . "hey wait a minute, you feel like this was a bad run, but you still just ran 3 miles, not too shabby."
Run 13
Distance 3.52, pace 10:56/mile, time 38.30. A couple days later I made it 3 1/2 and felt a lot better. I upped my pace and felt much stronger than I had during the previous run. Since I pretty much suck at cross training I did a little bicycling after, but very little, maybe 10 minutes.
Run 14
So, I had this long run hanging over me. I knew I had to do it, but I spent Sunday going to a movie and taking a 3 1/2 hour family nap (family meaning me and my 2 cats). I felt crappy afterward and had little desire to do anything. But I did. Two 5 mile runs with about a 3 minute break between them. First 5 miles: time: 57:04, distance: 5.01, pace 11:23/mile. Second 5: time 57:30, distance: 5.01, pace 11:28/mile.
It's odd that I basically ran for 2 hours. The first mile was easy. The second fine. The third was a challenge. I think mile 3 is a hump mile for me, just have to push through that. The first mile used to be hard for me, now it feels like I'm not really working at all during that first mile. Mile 4 and 5 felt strong. Music really really really helps. I need to work on a few more playlists to keep me always unsure of what song could be coming next.
Second 5 miles was pretty easy for the first 3 or so. I was in the zone. I had a playlist going that I hadn't heard in ages with a bunch of Spanish/Latin music that I really enjoyed hearing. The last 2 miles were a little brutal. I know the gel pack I had around mile 6 helped a lot, but my legs got heavy and I just felt DONE. I was a sweat machine, just drenched. "Kickstart My Heart" really helped me make the last 1/2 mile or so. That being said I still felt like I could have gone on if I had needed to.
It's pretty awesome that nothing really hurts. I can run 10 miles, for almost 2 hours and feel tight, but basically pain-free. I know I'll be sore today and tomorrow and I'll need some Biofreeze, which helps my sore muscles so much, but nothing really hurts hurts. My bad foot/ankle feels totally fine. My legs felt good (although I know cross training would still help). My lungs feel like lungs of steel. Well, my big toe on my right foot hurts. That's it though.
Anyway, thank GOD for a challenge. Thank GOD for good friends. Thank GOD for being healthy enough to do this. I'm still nervous about 13.1, but I know it's going to be awesome.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Run 10, 11
Run 10:
Bad. Ugh. I made it 2 miles on the treadmill. I just felt weak and my sugar levels crashed. While at the gym I looked up the closest McDonalds and drove (in the opposite direction of my house) to get a chocolate milkshake.
In general, I was exhausted last week. I slept and slept and napped and slept. I took a 5 hour nap Monday after school and still slept all night. I had no energy.
So . . . . I put off and put off and put off going for a long run. BUT! I DID IT YESTERDAY AND IT WAS SERIOUSLY ONE OF THE BEST RUNS OF MY LIFE.
I ran for 1 hour and 28 minutes non-stop. 8 miles. 11 minutes a mile. I had a gel around mile 4.5 and water along the way, but it was glorious. Ran along the lake front, 4 miles south, 4 miles back north-- the against the wind on the way back north. The air was cool, the sun shining. My playlist was awesome and I felt very, very good. Around mile 6.5 I could feel my bad foot, but it didn't hurt exactly, I could just feel it. My hips got a little achy too, but nothing major. I feel good today too, not even that sore. Yay! What a good feeling.
Bad. Ugh. I made it 2 miles on the treadmill. I just felt weak and my sugar levels crashed. While at the gym I looked up the closest McDonalds and drove (in the opposite direction of my house) to get a chocolate milkshake.
In general, I was exhausted last week. I slept and slept and napped and slept. I took a 5 hour nap Monday after school and still slept all night. I had no energy.
So . . . . I put off and put off and put off going for a long run. BUT! I DID IT YESTERDAY AND IT WAS SERIOUSLY ONE OF THE BEST RUNS OF MY LIFE.
I ran for 1 hour and 28 minutes non-stop. 8 miles. 11 minutes a mile. I had a gel around mile 4.5 and water along the way, but it was glorious. Ran along the lake front, 4 miles south, 4 miles back north-- the against the wind on the way back north. The air was cool, the sun shining. My playlist was awesome and I felt very, very good. Around mile 6.5 I could feel my bad foot, but it didn't hurt exactly, I could just feel it. My hips got a little achy too, but nothing major. I feel good today too, not even that sore. Yay! What a good feeling.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Run 7, 8, 9
Run 7. I had big dreams. I was going to attempt 6 miles. Upon arriving at the gym it dawned on me the gym closes at 10pm and not 11pm on Sunday. So, I only had about 19 minutes and decided to run fast. I re-learned eating a salad before running, even 2 hours before, is still a bad idea.
Summary:
Elapsed time: 15:30
Distance: 1.50 miles
Distance climbed: 88 feet
Average speed: 5.82 MPH
Average pace: 10:18/mile
Run 8: I learned eating pasta before running, even 2 hours before, is a bad idea. This was a BAD run. My sugar levels dropped and I was powerless. I had planned to attempt 6 miles, but ran less than 3. I was just limp and completely zapped of energy. I think it was the pasta. I had even tried to eat a small portion. I need to keep to meat/veggies (no salad) if I eat dinner and then run.
Summary:
Elapsed time: 29:42
Calories: 344
Distance: 2.68 miles
Average speed: 5.42 MPH
Average pace: 11:04/mile
I went for ice cream after that run. Sugar tasted so good.
Run 9! Title: "Let's Try 6 Again"
Had to divide the run into 2 on the treadmill because it kicks me off sometimes after 60 minutes.
Workout Summary: 62:25 + 05:28
Calories: 674 + ?
Distance: 5.54 + 0.51 = 6.05!
Average speed: 5.33 MPH & 5.55 MPH
Average pace: 11:15/mile & 10:48/mile
So, I was a rock star and ran 6. Oh, and I forgot! I bought new shoes. My third pair of Mizuno's Creation and I love them. I also bought a new hydration pack for running outside. I plan a long run this Sunday. Also learned that by eating something at 3:30pm (yesterday was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich) and then napping and then running around 9pm (having a Gu pack before the run), helps me feel better. I love to run on an almost empty stomach. Last night I came home and ate some cottage cheese, a half sandwich with cream cheese, and grapefruit juice. As for how I felt, I miss a breeze when I'm running inside. Outside runs in the cool fall air will feel good. My legs felt stronger, maybe my high ropes course experience last weekend helped strengthen them. I wasn't out of breath until around 5 miles and I started to kick up my speed a tad. I know on race day I will start out SLOW and conserve energy. I had a pain in my side for the first 2 miles or so, but it subsided eventually. All in all, I felt strong and I'm surprised to say it, but I think I could have run farther if I had needed to.
Summary:
Elapsed time: 15:30
Distance: 1.50 miles
Distance climbed: 88 feet
Average speed: 5.82 MPH
Average pace: 10:18/mile
Run 8: I learned eating pasta before running, even 2 hours before, is a bad idea. This was a BAD run. My sugar levels dropped and I was powerless. I had planned to attempt 6 miles, but ran less than 3. I was just limp and completely zapped of energy. I think it was the pasta. I had even tried to eat a small portion. I need to keep to meat/veggies (no salad) if I eat dinner and then run.
Summary:
Elapsed time: 29:42
Calories: 344
Distance: 2.68 miles
Average speed: 5.42 MPH
Average pace: 11:04/mile
I went for ice cream after that run. Sugar tasted so good.
Run 9! Title: "Let's Try 6 Again"
Had to divide the run into 2 on the treadmill because it kicks me off sometimes after 60 minutes.
Workout Summary: 62:25 + 05:28
Calories: 674 + ?
Distance: 5.54 + 0.51 = 6.05!
Average speed: 5.33 MPH & 5.55 MPH
Average pace: 11:15/mile & 10:48/mile
So, I was a rock star and ran 6. Oh, and I forgot! I bought new shoes. My third pair of Mizuno's Creation and I love them. I also bought a new hydration pack for running outside. I plan a long run this Sunday. Also learned that by eating something at 3:30pm (yesterday was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich) and then napping and then running around 9pm (having a Gu pack before the run), helps me feel better. I love to run on an almost empty stomach. Last night I came home and ate some cottage cheese, a half sandwich with cream cheese, and grapefruit juice. As for how I felt, I miss a breeze when I'm running inside. Outside runs in the cool fall air will feel good. My legs felt stronger, maybe my high ropes course experience last weekend helped strengthen them. I wasn't out of breath until around 5 miles and I started to kick up my speed a tad. I know on race day I will start out SLOW and conserve energy. I had a pain in my side for the first 2 miles or so, but it subsided eventually. All in all, I felt strong and I'm surprised to say it, but I think I could have run farther if I had needed to.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Run 6
So, I didn't run my Fleet Feet run. Let me get that news out of the way. There was a Saturday night involving college football, good friends, conversation, maybe a beer or two and I just didn't want to get up early to run on Sunday. I felt bad about it. In fact I felt pretty horrible Sunday and Monday. I think it had to do with the school year starting on Tuesday and not anything that was physically wrong. Anxiety is a bitch.
So, I ran last night (Tuesday). Arrived at the gym around 9:35pm and I decided I wanted to run for an hour straight. I actually wanted to run 5 miles, but after putting in 50 minutes or so, I knew I wanted to just run to 60 minutes to see what it felt like. Then at 60 minutes I wanted to run to the next quarter mile, so here's the data:
elapsed time: 61:38
distance: 5.25 miles
average speed: 5.11 mph
average pace: 11:44/mile
It was the first time in my life I'd ever run 60 straight minutes on a treadmill without stopping. I didn't know the machine would force me to slow down at 60 minutes and I'd have to keep increasing the speed to finish the last 1:38.
OK, here's my bone to pick with people today. People need to stop asking me how fast I run things (unless they are runner friends). I will never be fast. Fast is not my goal. Running 13.1 miles is my goal. Yes, it took me 5 and 1/2 hours to run a marathon, but I still ran the damn thing. How many other people know what it feels like to run for over 5 hours and what it does to your mind and body? So, when I was in 2nd grade we had to run the mile and my gym teacher put our finish times on a name tag to show everyone the rest of the day. I was humiliated. I was slow. It took me 11 or 12 minutes to finish and the fast kids wore those name tags like medals of glory and honor. I felt inadequate. I felt like a disappointment. And I was 7! So, I wasn't fast as a kid and I'm not fast now. I've spent too much of my life beating myself up for stuff, too much time feeling inadequate (this is an internal mental complication of mine I apply to many things) to worry about what a bunch of non runners think about my speed.
My favorite mantra lately from Kara Goucher in Runner's World: "Run the mile you're in."
I still need to work on my leg strength. That's the week's goal. Over and out.
So, I ran last night (Tuesday). Arrived at the gym around 9:35pm and I decided I wanted to run for an hour straight. I actually wanted to run 5 miles, but after putting in 50 minutes or so, I knew I wanted to just run to 60 minutes to see what it felt like. Then at 60 minutes I wanted to run to the next quarter mile, so here's the data:
elapsed time: 61:38
distance: 5.25 miles
average speed: 5.11 mph
average pace: 11:44/mile
It was the first time in my life I'd ever run 60 straight minutes on a treadmill without stopping. I didn't know the machine would force me to slow down at 60 minutes and I'd have to keep increasing the speed to finish the last 1:38.
OK, here's my bone to pick with people today. People need to stop asking me how fast I run things (unless they are runner friends). I will never be fast. Fast is not my goal. Running 13.1 miles is my goal. Yes, it took me 5 and 1/2 hours to run a marathon, but I still ran the damn thing. How many other people know what it feels like to run for over 5 hours and what it does to your mind and body? So, when I was in 2nd grade we had to run the mile and my gym teacher put our finish times on a name tag to show everyone the rest of the day. I was humiliated. I was slow. It took me 11 or 12 minutes to finish and the fast kids wore those name tags like medals of glory and honor. I felt inadequate. I felt like a disappointment. And I was 7! So, I wasn't fast as a kid and I'm not fast now. I've spent too much of my life beating myself up for stuff, too much time feeling inadequate (this is an internal mental complication of mine I apply to many things) to worry about what a bunch of non runners think about my speed.
My favorite mantra lately from Kara Goucher in Runner's World: "Run the mile you're in."
I still need to work on my leg strength. That's the week's goal. Over and out.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Run 5
This is getting easier.
I had a rough day at work and didn't feel like doing anything. Sometimes when I'm down and I get to the gym all I can think about is how I'm not working hard enough or I'm not progressing. I guess I just get negative, but I'm working on that. After my rough day and long nap, I got to the gym and knocked out 4 miles.
Stats:
elapsed time: 45:41
distance: 4.01 miles
average speed: 5.26 mph
average pace: 11:23/mile
The light dinner helped, only had a salad. I picked up my pace for the last mile, partially because the gym was closing and I needed to hurry, but it felt really good. I could have run longer. At around 3 1/2 I felt like I got into a rhythm and would have liked to push it to 5. Lungs felt great. Legs still get kind of heavy and achy after 3 miles or so. I need to work on my leg strength. Lunges needed. Lifting needed.
I like feeling stronger. I really hate when I'm out of shape and feel so weak when I start up again. I know I have a long way to go still, but feeling stronger is a good.
I had a rough day at work and didn't feel like doing anything. Sometimes when I'm down and I get to the gym all I can think about is how I'm not working hard enough or I'm not progressing. I guess I just get negative, but I'm working on that. After my rough day and long nap, I got to the gym and knocked out 4 miles.
Stats:
elapsed time: 45:41
distance: 4.01 miles
average speed: 5.26 mph
average pace: 11:23/mile
The light dinner helped, only had a salad. I picked up my pace for the last mile, partially because the gym was closing and I needed to hurry, but it felt really good. I could have run longer. At around 3 1/2 I felt like I got into a rhythm and would have liked to push it to 5. Lungs felt great. Legs still get kind of heavy and achy after 3 miles or so. I need to work on my leg strength. Lunges needed. Lifting needed.
I like feeling stronger. I really hate when I'm out of shape and feel so weak when I start up again. I know I have a long way to go still, but feeling stronger is a good.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Run 3 and Run 4
Run 3. Brutal. After a rather tasty Mexican meal with my Mom we discovered both of our stomachs were frighteningly unhappy. I was down and out for a day or so, with the stomach taking 2-3 days to settle back to completely normal. After that I went for a run (on Saturday in the AM, I got up before noon to run, amazing!). But as soon as I started I felt totally zapped. I made it a mile. Instead of heading home then I tried to do something else . . and rowed for 10 minutes. So, it was better than nothing, I guess, but I was weak and drained and felt like crap-o-la.
Ran again last night (Monday). My goal was 4 miles. I ran until 2.88, got off for a water break and then ran another 1.25. So 4.13. I think the constant movement of the treadmill gets on my nerves after awhile. I need to run outside, so I signed up for a Fleet Feet historic run. It's Sunday morning and just under 5 miles. I've never done one before, but I think the run/history combo will pretty rad. Well, the run was decent last night. I ate too much dinner though. I had a large salad and a small portion of whole wheat pasta about 3 hours before my run. I really like to run with an almost empty stomach and since I like to run late (9-11pm) it's hard to plan dinner so it's filling, but not too filling. I was belching up salad after 2.5 miles. Maybe just a smaller salad was needed.
It will be interesting how I adjust to my work schedule . . today is my last day of summer!! I know myself well enough to know I won't get up before work to run. I still like to run at night, so maybe an early dinner will work and then a run around 8pm or so.
4 miles wasn't easy and although I should look at it as an accomplishment, I can't help but think that 13.1 is a LONG distance if I'm planning on running the whole thing.
My new playlist definitely helped last night though.
Ran again last night (Monday). My goal was 4 miles. I ran until 2.88, got off for a water break and then ran another 1.25. So 4.13. I think the constant movement of the treadmill gets on my nerves after awhile. I need to run outside, so I signed up for a Fleet Feet historic run. It's Sunday morning and just under 5 miles. I've never done one before, but I think the run/history combo will pretty rad. Well, the run was decent last night. I ate too much dinner though. I had a large salad and a small portion of whole wheat pasta about 3 hours before my run. I really like to run with an almost empty stomach and since I like to run late (9-11pm) it's hard to plan dinner so it's filling, but not too filling. I was belching up salad after 2.5 miles. Maybe just a smaller salad was needed.
It will be interesting how I adjust to my work schedule . . today is my last day of summer!! I know myself well enough to know I won't get up before work to run. I still like to run at night, so maybe an early dinner will work and then a run around 8pm or so.
4 miles wasn't easy and although I should look at it as an accomplishment, I can't help but think that 13.1 is a LONG distance if I'm planning on running the whole thing.
My new playlist definitely helped last night though.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Run 2
Ran again today. 3.25 miles. No breaks. Pace 11:32. Heart rate high was 168.
Went to meditation before I went to the gym. We discussed the body after group meditation and how it's important to give yourself time to settle into your body and scan your body for how it feels when you first sit to meditate. I thought a lot about the concept of being in your body while I ran too. I scanned to see how it all felt. The core feels weak, but the legs feel stronger, the lungs feel like they are working less than they had to yesterday, the neck (I had a neck injury a few years ago that bothers me when I run sometimes) felt great the whole time, the arms feel weak still. This scanning helps my mind, helps me focus, and reminds me of what I need to do to feel stronger, perhaps what cross-training I should do. Since my mind bothers me a lot while I run, I see how mindfulness in running could really help during this experience.
I'm reading Once a Runner and it's nice to be reminded that even elite athletes feel pain. It's hard. It's work. It's excruciating at times, even for them. That makes me feel like when the pain hits I am not necessarily weak, it's part of the experience. I feel it. I move on. It's temporary.
Everyday we're either getting better or getting worse. What was I today? What will I be tomorrow? Thursday? Friday? The weekend?
Went to meditation before I went to the gym. We discussed the body after group meditation and how it's important to give yourself time to settle into your body and scan your body for how it feels when you first sit to meditate. I thought a lot about the concept of being in your body while I ran too. I scanned to see how it all felt. The core feels weak, but the legs feel stronger, the lungs feel like they are working less than they had to yesterday, the neck (I had a neck injury a few years ago that bothers me when I run sometimes) felt great the whole time, the arms feel weak still. This scanning helps my mind, helps me focus, and reminds me of what I need to do to feel stronger, perhaps what cross-training I should do. Since my mind bothers me a lot while I run, I see how mindfulness in running could really help during this experience.
I'm reading Once a Runner and it's nice to be reminded that even elite athletes feel pain. It's hard. It's work. It's excruciating at times, even for them. That makes me feel like when the pain hits I am not necessarily weak, it's part of the experience. I feel it. I move on. It's temporary.
Everyday we're either getting better or getting worse. What was I today? What will I be tomorrow? Thursday? Friday? The weekend?
Monday, August 23, 2010
Run 1
75 days until the 1/2. And it's official, I'm registered. I feel better about this since I actually ran today. I ran 2 miles without stopping. The last 1/2 mile was a little brutal. My legs felt a tad heavy, but generally OK. My lungs were hurting a bit, but my lungs are usually the first thing to bounce back into fighting shape after a couple runs, so I'm not so worried about them. I did feel a tad like a weak wet noodle though. My arms aren't strong, my core isn't strong. I forgot my music too, so no Dr. Feelgood to lift my spirits. Overall, it was a decent start to this process though. I didn't feel as gross and out of shape as I thought I would. I need to tell myself that there are tons of people in the world who can't run 2 miles, so I must not be in terrible shape. I tend to get super critical of myself. Trying to stop that.
Things I know about myself and running, learned at some point between the ages of 20-30:
- I can't run well if I've eaten a large meal in the day, even hours before. I prefer to run on an almost empty stomach.
- Sometimes a little sugar is all I need to push past a wall I've reached. From my experience, most people need to take calories around 45-50 min or so. I need to around 35-40, since my stomach is usually pretty empty to begin with.
- It feels good to come home and eat a good dinner, knowing I just ran.
- My legs will get stronger. It will get easier.
- My mind is a wild beast. If I'm going to run 2+ hours, I need to plan some mind strategies. My mind can easily kill a run. Physically I might be able to go out and run 5 miles, but my mind will stop me at 2 if it decides to unleash it's wrath. This isn't because it gets bored or it tells me to stop. It's because it gets restless. It races. It spins. Meditation is helping me tame the beast. More on that later.
I'm excited to be doing this. Very excited : )
Things I know about myself and running, learned at some point between the ages of 20-30:
- I can't run well if I've eaten a large meal in the day, even hours before. I prefer to run on an almost empty stomach.
- Sometimes a little sugar is all I need to push past a wall I've reached. From my experience, most people need to take calories around 45-50 min or so. I need to around 35-40, since my stomach is usually pretty empty to begin with.
- It feels good to come home and eat a good dinner, knowing I just ran.
- My legs will get stronger. It will get easier.
- My mind is a wild beast. If I'm going to run 2+ hours, I need to plan some mind strategies. My mind can easily kill a run. Physically I might be able to go out and run 5 miles, but my mind will stop me at 2 if it decides to unleash it's wrath. This isn't because it gets bored or it tells me to stop. It's because it gets restless. It races. It spins. Meditation is helping me tame the beast. More on that later.
I'm excited to be doing this. Very excited : )
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Talking is the easy part
I need a coach. I watched the Alabama football training camp special tonight on ESPN. I need someone to yell at me a little. Maybe I need a coach to inspire me and encourage me. I don't know if I need Nick Saban, exactly, but I need speeches. I need this:
"sometime, when the team is up against it -- and the
breaks are beating the boys -- tell them to go out there
with all they got and win just one for the Gipper...
I don't know where I'll be then, Rock", he said - "but
I'll know about it - and I'll be happy."
So, as a sports lover I'm going to find inspirational quotes that maybe in the heat of a run I can turn to. This might sound trite, but it works. Ask most marathon runners and they will tell you they have some sort of mantra they recite when it gets tough. Last year I used: "I can't go on. You must go on. I'll go on." - Samuel Beckett. It helped and I might use it again, but it might not work for this experience. I might need something different this time.
So, does all of this writing, all of this talk mean I will actually run tomorrow? I'll get back to you.
Let's hope so.
"sometime, when the team is up against it -- and the
breaks are beating the boys -- tell them to go out there
with all they got and win just one for the Gipper...
I don't know where I'll be then, Rock", he said - "but
I'll know about it - and I'll be happy."
So, as a sports lover I'm going to find inspirational quotes that maybe in the heat of a run I can turn to. This might sound trite, but it works. Ask most marathon runners and they will tell you they have some sort of mantra they recite when it gets tough. Last year I used: "I can't go on. You must go on. I'll go on." - Samuel Beckett. It helped and I might use it again, but it might not work for this experience. I might need something different this time.
So, does all of this writing, all of this talk mean I will actually run tomorrow? I'll get back to you.
Let's hope so.
I've been thinking about doing things . . does that count?
So, I ran a marathon last year. People tend to think that means I am currently in shape. Ha. Hahaha. I often hear, "well, you can't be in that bad of shape if you finished a marathon last year." I understand this could be true to a certain degree. I'm obviously probably not obese or extremely overweight. I most likely learned a great deal about fitness, my body, nutrition, etc. from that experience. Yes. I don't eat fast food daily. I go to the gym from time to time. I love to drink water. I yell at my Dad when I think he should be working out more. I tell people to eat more vegetables. I would rather eat eggplant than potatoes. I love low sodium V8. So, I make healthy choices, most of the time. THAT does not necessarily mean I am in shape, the kind of shape I would like to be.
A couple of months ago I mentioned on Facebook I would like to run a 1/2 marathon in Indianapolis this fall. This sounded like a good idea while I was in France, eating baguettes, drinking wine, and consuming mass quantities of cheese. My wonderful friend Miranda decided to join me. She lives in Boise, ID and has already started training. I have been inspired my her blog, documenting her ups and downs, her commitment. By inspired I mean I think it's awesome and it's making me think I really need to get off my butt, but I haven't actually gotten off of my butt yet. Nope. Nothing. I went for some bike rides this week and they were relatively long and I felt good, breathing hard, working the legs, BUT . . as for running . . nothing. I think I might have even told people I've started running. It's a lie. I'm sorry. I felt the lie leave my mouth and knew it was sad.
You see, I've always wanted to be an athlete. My brother was an athlete growing up, my Dad was an athlete too and I always felt a little inadequate for not being one. As a kid I remember when the track coach thought I would be good since my brother was a phenom. I wasn't. I wasn't even mediocre. I hated running. I was terrible at track. I quit in 8th grade to volunteer as a peer tutor after school instead. I was terrible at soccer. I recall coaches shouting "be aggressive" when I was afraid of the ball. I was cut from the 8th grade volleyball team when all of my friends made it. I did other things instead of sports. I excelled. My parents never cared that I wasn't an athlete. My childhood scars from this are small. But I always wished I could have been competitive, aggressive, physically strong. I wanted to be an athlete. I wanted to be good. I just wasn't. And I wasn't one of those inspiring, Rudy-type kids who are terrible, but have the heart to work hard and do their best. I just wanted to go home and watch TV most days after school. The weird thing is people always think I'm an athlete. It's the large calves and broad shoulders I have, I think. Thanks, genetics.
So, time passed and eventually, I ran a 5 mile race in my hometown in 2005 and my Dad told me I was the family athlete now. That was nice. (It's not really true, my brother does triathlons now. Good job, Jeff!) Then after many experiences and for many reasons I ran the Chicago Marathon in 2009. It's a long story, but that ended up being much more bittersweet than positive. As messed up as this sounds, I'm still learning how to feel proud about that experience. If you ever want to know why, just ask.
BUT THAT WAS LAST YEAR. It's August 2010 now. After a marathon some people can't wait to run their next race or get their new pair of shoes or train for something else. I, on the other hand, didn't run for months. I ate pizza. I think I've gone running maybe 5 times since that race. If I'm going to be anything here it's going to be honest. So, I don't run anymore. I look at Runner's World covers on my end table and feel out of shape, sad, tired, fat, blah.
So, Miranda and I are running this 1/2 marathon in November. This blog is a strictly selfish way (aren't most blogs pretty selfish, anyway?) to monitor my thoughts and progress as I try to train for this. Stay tuned . .
A couple of months ago I mentioned on Facebook I would like to run a 1/2 marathon in Indianapolis this fall. This sounded like a good idea while I was in France, eating baguettes, drinking wine, and consuming mass quantities of cheese. My wonderful friend Miranda decided to join me. She lives in Boise, ID and has already started training. I have been inspired my her blog, documenting her ups and downs, her commitment. By inspired I mean I think it's awesome and it's making me think I really need to get off my butt, but I haven't actually gotten off of my butt yet. Nope. Nothing. I went for some bike rides this week and they were relatively long and I felt good, breathing hard, working the legs, BUT . . as for running . . nothing. I think I might have even told people I've started running. It's a lie. I'm sorry. I felt the lie leave my mouth and knew it was sad.
You see, I've always wanted to be an athlete. My brother was an athlete growing up, my Dad was an athlete too and I always felt a little inadequate for not being one. As a kid I remember when the track coach thought I would be good since my brother was a phenom. I wasn't. I wasn't even mediocre. I hated running. I was terrible at track. I quit in 8th grade to volunteer as a peer tutor after school instead. I was terrible at soccer. I recall coaches shouting "be aggressive" when I was afraid of the ball. I was cut from the 8th grade volleyball team when all of my friends made it. I did other things instead of sports. I excelled. My parents never cared that I wasn't an athlete. My childhood scars from this are small. But I always wished I could have been competitive, aggressive, physically strong. I wanted to be an athlete. I wanted to be good. I just wasn't. And I wasn't one of those inspiring, Rudy-type kids who are terrible, but have the heart to work hard and do their best. I just wanted to go home and watch TV most days after school. The weird thing is people always think I'm an athlete. It's the large calves and broad shoulders I have, I think. Thanks, genetics.
So, time passed and eventually, I ran a 5 mile race in my hometown in 2005 and my Dad told me I was the family athlete now. That was nice. (It's not really true, my brother does triathlons now. Good job, Jeff!) Then after many experiences and for many reasons I ran the Chicago Marathon in 2009. It's a long story, but that ended up being much more bittersweet than positive. As messed up as this sounds, I'm still learning how to feel proud about that experience. If you ever want to know why, just ask.
BUT THAT WAS LAST YEAR. It's August 2010 now. After a marathon some people can't wait to run their next race or get their new pair of shoes or train for something else. I, on the other hand, didn't run for months. I ate pizza. I think I've gone running maybe 5 times since that race. If I'm going to be anything here it's going to be honest. So, I don't run anymore. I look at Runner's World covers on my end table and feel out of shape, sad, tired, fat, blah.
So, Miranda and I are running this 1/2 marathon in November. This blog is a strictly selfish way (aren't most blogs pretty selfish, anyway?) to monitor my thoughts and progress as I try to train for this. Stay tuned . .
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