Excellent week of running. Finished up the 3rd week of the countdown with an 8.6 mile long run! I spent last night re-reading the Galloway book so I decided that for my long run I would stick to a plan - I did the first 4 miles as 4 minute run, 1 minute walk....the last half I did 6 minute run, 1 minute walk. Felt great!!!
I did start the run feeling nervous...I'm not really sure way - sometimes my mind doesn't work on logic. But I took a deep breath and just did it. It only took a few minutes to get rid of the butterflies.
My leg is a little sore so I'm icing it but nothing horrible.
Oh - and it's not the triple berry GU that is 2x the caffeine...it's Jet Blackberry. Delicious.
We're heading out on our road trip early tomorrow morning. I'll be sitting in the car for close to 24 hours...I'll be sure to do some light stretching at every stop we make.
I'll be in Florida all of next week but I will be getting my runs done for sure.
Have a great week everyone!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Week 2 DONE
Yes! I'm plugging along...after a run down feeling week - I managed to get my required runs in. And my long run today was GREAT. 7.3 miles strong!! I ran more then I walked. I kept within my pace time frame.
I did try something different which I think worked so I will continue to experiment with. I drank 2 servings of coconut water about 30 minutes before my run - chock full of potassium. Then about 3 miles into my run I tried a new flavor GU gel (well, new for me!) - Triple Berry 2x Caffeine. Tasted great! And gave me the push I needed. My digestion held up too :)
What I'm working on now is coming up with a good diet plan so I can continue to fuel the body but at the same time drop some poundage. And since I don't eat meat - this is becoming a pain in the ass. I logged a sample daily meal plan on sparkpeople - I entered in the foods I normally eat during the school year since they're easy for me...and of course, it's the stuff I like to eat. Came to only 840 calories. WTF???? So I played around and added a few things but I'm only coming up to 1250 calories but it looks like a lot of food. I don't know - I'm going to keep playing with it. Or maybe I'll just increase the quantity of the foods I entered in. I do know that although the calories are too low - I did manage to distribute my carbs, protein & fats properly.
That's all for now. It's hot as balls so I'm going to jump in the pool and splash around like a little kid.
I did try something different which I think worked so I will continue to experiment with. I drank 2 servings of coconut water about 30 minutes before my run - chock full of potassium. Then about 3 miles into my run I tried a new flavor GU gel (well, new for me!) - Triple Berry 2x Caffeine. Tasted great! And gave me the push I needed. My digestion held up too :)
What I'm working on now is coming up with a good diet plan so I can continue to fuel the body but at the same time drop some poundage. And since I don't eat meat - this is becoming a pain in the ass. I logged a sample daily meal plan on sparkpeople - I entered in the foods I normally eat during the school year since they're easy for me...and of course, it's the stuff I like to eat. Came to only 840 calories. WTF???? So I played around and added a few things but I'm only coming up to 1250 calories but it looks like a lot of food. I don't know - I'm going to keep playing with it. Or maybe I'll just increase the quantity of the foods I entered in. I do know that although the calories are too low - I did manage to distribute my carbs, protein & fats properly.
That's all for now. It's hot as balls so I'm going to jump in the pool and splash around like a little kid.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Week 1....and other stuff
I started the 16 weeks of training (even though there were 17 weeks - I wanted a week of wiggle room for the unexpecteds). Although I have been running relatively consistently anyway - I felt that this would provide me with a little chart that I could use to cross off the days as I complete them.
This is an "easy" week. It was more of a mental challenge to stay on that damn treadmill for more than 5 minutes. I really hate the treadmill. BUT there is one positive aspect of it - when I do run outside, the same length that would be torture on a treadmill doesn't seem as horrible outside.
I also have this really great idea (if you know me - you know that when I say I have an idea it's probably something not as easy as I make it sound!). I want to take my treadmill from my bedroom and move it to the garage/studio so I open up space in my bedroom - and when it's raining, snowing, icy, etc - I can open up the garage & run. What's not easy about this? Well - the treadmill weighs about 5 million pounds so we have to get it from the 2nd floor to the back of the backyard. It also requires a re-org of the garage/studio. Chris paints out there so the back 1/2 is his studio the front half is crap.
Oh - and I saw Food, Inc. last night. Let's just say that the mental lunacy that I was trying to keep at bay was pushed to the limit last night. Which means that although I had cut out all meat except free-range chicken & fish out of my diet quite a few years ago - I will now be cutting chicken out too. There is some gross shit going on out there - know where your food comes from. Luckily, Trader Joe's has a good selection of low political involvement food...we're also joining the produce co-op so I'm sure I'll be getting creative with kale.
I don't like to get all preachy about the humane treatment of animals - you eat what you want, I'll eat what I want. BUT the next time you go buy your USDA Grade A beef or Tyson chicken breasts - think about where it came from. Don't fool yourself thinking it came from some little family farm like on Charlotte's Web...
This is an "easy" week. It was more of a mental challenge to stay on that damn treadmill for more than 5 minutes. I really hate the treadmill. BUT there is one positive aspect of it - when I do run outside, the same length that would be torture on a treadmill doesn't seem as horrible outside.
I also have this really great idea (if you know me - you know that when I say I have an idea it's probably something not as easy as I make it sound!). I want to take my treadmill from my bedroom and move it to the garage/studio so I open up space in my bedroom - and when it's raining, snowing, icy, etc - I can open up the garage & run. What's not easy about this? Well - the treadmill weighs about 5 million pounds so we have to get it from the 2nd floor to the back of the backyard. It also requires a re-org of the garage/studio. Chris paints out there so the back 1/2 is his studio the front half is crap.
Oh - and I saw Food, Inc. last night. Let's just say that the mental lunacy that I was trying to keep at bay was pushed to the limit last night. Which means that although I had cut out all meat except free-range chicken & fish out of my diet quite a few years ago - I will now be cutting chicken out too. There is some gross shit going on out there - know where your food comes from. Luckily, Trader Joe's has a good selection of low political involvement food...we're also joining the produce co-op so I'm sure I'll be getting creative with kale.
I don't like to get all preachy about the humane treatment of animals - you eat what you want, I'll eat what I want. BUT the next time you go buy your USDA Grade A beef or Tyson chicken breasts - think about where it came from. Don't fool yourself thinking it came from some little family farm like on Charlotte's Web...
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Skirts
I think the running skirt I bought was made for either A) people who don't actually run in them or B) people with no thighs.
I had a feeling this one wasn't going to work out too well for me. The skirt part is fine - it's the shorts underneath that are not. They are too loose and at a weird length...and given the fact that I do, in fact, have thighs - this created a fashion disaster. My hand was basically up my skirt the whole 4 miles trying to stop the skirt from riding up. And the more I sweat - the harder it was to pull them down.
So now I know this will just not work.
My new sneakers, on the other hand, are awesome! I didn't get the same pair I had been running in but I got ones that are very similar just a little lighter. I'm getting the back of the left ankle bleed but that will go away once they're broken in a bit. I remember my last pair having bloody socks for about 2 weeks straight.
About 16.5 weeks to go. I'm feeling quite nervous. I'm sticking to my schedule...I'm eating well. I'm not in self-sabotage mode. But this is a huge thing to attempt to tackle - and I have a major fear of failure.
I've been slacking off with writing, I know. Don't worry - as the training gets harder - and November 7th gets closer - you'll be hearing a whole lot of potty mouth from me. I promise.
I had a feeling this one wasn't going to work out too well for me. The skirt part is fine - it's the shorts underneath that are not. They are too loose and at a weird length...and given the fact that I do, in fact, have thighs - this created a fashion disaster. My hand was basically up my skirt the whole 4 miles trying to stop the skirt from riding up. And the more I sweat - the harder it was to pull them down.
So now I know this will just not work.
My new sneakers, on the other hand, are awesome! I didn't get the same pair I had been running in but I got ones that are very similar just a little lighter. I'm getting the back of the left ankle bleed but that will go away once they're broken in a bit. I remember my last pair having bloody socks for about 2 weeks straight.
About 16.5 weeks to go. I'm feeling quite nervous. I'm sticking to my schedule...I'm eating well. I'm not in self-sabotage mode. But this is a huge thing to attempt to tackle - and I have a major fear of failure.
I've been slacking off with writing, I know. Don't worry - as the training gets harder - and November 7th gets closer - you'll be hearing a whole lot of potty mouth from me. I promise.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Women's 10k!
Awesome day!
Got to meet a few Team McGraw teammates! Nice to finally meet in person.
Didn't really have too many jitters - went to bed repeating to myself that I CAN do it and I WILL do it.
An amazing experience to run with over 8,000 women! The weather was great and the vibes were all good.
I took very few walk breaks - ran the first 2 miles straight except to slow down for a few sips of water. I was a little worried since my leg started a minor throb walking to the race from the car. But it held strong - not pain free but minor...until Mile 5. That's when the discomfort really kicked in. I changed my stride and it helped for a bit and then I just gritted my teeth, turned up the music and went the rest of the way. Iced it as soon as I got home...then took a hot shower and it really loosened up.
So fun!
I needed a race like that. And I will most definitely be doing it again next year.
I am woman - hear me roar!
Got to meet a few Team McGraw teammates! Nice to finally meet in person.
Didn't really have too many jitters - went to bed repeating to myself that I CAN do it and I WILL do it.
An amazing experience to run with over 8,000 women! The weather was great and the vibes were all good.
I took very few walk breaks - ran the first 2 miles straight except to slow down for a few sips of water. I was a little worried since my leg started a minor throb walking to the race from the car. But it held strong - not pain free but minor...until Mile 5. That's when the discomfort really kicked in. I changed my stride and it helped for a bit and then I just gritted my teeth, turned up the music and went the rest of the way. Iced it as soon as I got home...then took a hot shower and it really loosened up.
So fun!
I needed a race like that. And I will most definitely be doing it again next year.
I am woman - hear me roar!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Crappy Ass Run
Horrible. The WORST both mentally and physically. And sadly, there is nobody to blame but myself. Here's what I learned: I'm out of shape, I'm not young anymore, I'm not consistent, I'm a quitter.
The out of shape thing and the consistency part go together. I'm out of shape because I'm not consistent. I'm not consistent because I let EVERYTHING get in my way. So I get a pink slip and instead of using that to fuel me - I use that as an excuse to be a slacker.
I'm not young anymore. I stayed up too late last night and drank too much. Drank too much the night before a run...and a run on the heels of me being a slacker. Woke up early to make sure I would have time for a little caffeine, some fluids and a bit of bagel. Didn't leave enough time to sit in the bathroom for 30 minutes with non-stop poop. So now we're running a bit late and there is no immodium in the house and no time to stop. I'm just going to hope for the best.
Get to the race and my stomache is cramping and rolling. I get my tag and bag of goodies and walk over to the t-shirt table. So I'm hungover and feeling like crap and the guy says, "Extra Large?" Um, no. Thanks for adding to my misery. I think I can fit into a medium. At this point - Chris was wise enough to just walk away from me because he knew an all out meltdown was close by. We tag up and head outside where it's gotta be like 100 degrees with blazing sun and "Cotton Eye Joe!" CRANKIN. Is this for real?
I decide that I'm just going to walk the race but you know that everyone started running so I have to run too. I'm not even to mile ONE and I feel like I'm going to barf, poop, pass out -you name it. But what am I going to do - just stop?? So I keep going. There are NO water stops along the way. WHO THE FUCK SET THIS RACE UP?? IT'S 90DEGREES OUTSIDE! Luckily - some residents and business owners started handing out cups of water or hot bottles of water. Thank you! Every time I jogged my belly rumbled so I walked. And sweat. I really think I was on the edge of dehydration (and yes Coach - I DID just read your blog about running smart in the heat but I'm an idiot). I pass the family cheering section - all I wanted to do was yell "Why are you even wasting your time cheering for me??? LOOK AT ME!" But it's not my kids' fault I'm an idiot.
This race will not end. It's 5k but I swear it felt like 20k. Finally - I see the finish line WAY up ahead. I see Chris (hasn't run in 2 years but finished in like 30 min) & Liz (probably finished in like 15 minutes) yelling to me & waving - I yell at them to just stop. 15 feet from the finish line I hang a left and head to the car crying. What's the point of crossing that line - I saw the clock. I know my shitty time. And I don't need to be crawling over that fucking line.
Not good. Not good at all.
I have never quit anything but a job. I don't like it. I feel like a loser.
So now you know I am weak. But also know that I'm committed to something and begged people to donate to me so it's time to get my shit together. 160 days - it's time to kick it into high gear.
The out of shape thing and the consistency part go together. I'm out of shape because I'm not consistent. I'm not consistent because I let EVERYTHING get in my way. So I get a pink slip and instead of using that to fuel me - I use that as an excuse to be a slacker.
I'm not young anymore. I stayed up too late last night and drank too much. Drank too much the night before a run...and a run on the heels of me being a slacker. Woke up early to make sure I would have time for a little caffeine, some fluids and a bit of bagel. Didn't leave enough time to sit in the bathroom for 30 minutes with non-stop poop. So now we're running a bit late and there is no immodium in the house and no time to stop. I'm just going to hope for the best.
Get to the race and my stomache is cramping and rolling. I get my tag and bag of goodies and walk over to the t-shirt table. So I'm hungover and feeling like crap and the guy says, "Extra Large?" Um, no. Thanks for adding to my misery. I think I can fit into a medium. At this point - Chris was wise enough to just walk away from me because he knew an all out meltdown was close by. We tag up and head outside where it's gotta be like 100 degrees with blazing sun and "Cotton Eye Joe!" CRANKIN. Is this for real?
I decide that I'm just going to walk the race but you know that everyone started running so I have to run too. I'm not even to mile ONE and I feel like I'm going to barf, poop, pass out -you name it. But what am I going to do - just stop?? So I keep going. There are NO water stops along the way. WHO THE FUCK SET THIS RACE UP?? IT'S 90DEGREES OUTSIDE! Luckily - some residents and business owners started handing out cups of water or hot bottles of water. Thank you! Every time I jogged my belly rumbled so I walked. And sweat. I really think I was on the edge of dehydration (and yes Coach - I DID just read your blog about running smart in the heat but I'm an idiot). I pass the family cheering section - all I wanted to do was yell "Why are you even wasting your time cheering for me??? LOOK AT ME!" But it's not my kids' fault I'm an idiot.
This race will not end. It's 5k but I swear it felt like 20k. Finally - I see the finish line WAY up ahead. I see Chris (hasn't run in 2 years but finished in like 30 min) & Liz (probably finished in like 15 minutes) yelling to me & waving - I yell at them to just stop. 15 feet from the finish line I hang a left and head to the car crying. What's the point of crossing that line - I saw the clock. I know my shitty time. And I don't need to be crawling over that fucking line.
Not good. Not good at all.
I have never quit anything but a job. I don't like it. I feel like a loser.
So now you know I am weak. But also know that I'm committed to something and begged people to donate to me so it's time to get my shit together. 160 days - it's time to kick it into high gear.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
It's been a while...
Sorry y'all. I haven't really had much to say. I'm just plugging away but not really feeling like I'm making much progress. I'll just keep at it.
So I've been sticking to my weight training - I've got a decent routine so it's going well. And of course I'm sticking with my running. I've lightened up a little bit on the distance - didn't want to push it too much while I was waiting to get to the physical therapist. Since I was ahead with my training anyway - I decided to play it safe and go back about 2 weeks. So really - I just cut my long run back about 2 miles. Maybe it wasn't the right move but for me it feels like the right move so I'm happy with my decision. I'm also sticking with the 4 min run, 2 min walk - pretty easy and I feel like I could go on forever.
I went to the physical therapist last night for the first time. I basically got electro-shock therapy to my ass. Kind of weird...little electric things were put on my butt cheek and my hamstring - then he cranked them up AND put a heating pad on me. Sat like that for a bit - and then he stretched me out. I'm really flexible and the pain can really only be reproduced while walking or running (or standing for a long time) so I'm not feeling too good that my insurance is going to cover additional visits. Cheapos. But I was given some specific stretches and I've got the foam rollers to use at the gym so we'll see what happens. I do have another appointment tomorrow night so...
Oh - and the one thing I learned was that there is no way I should be using the elliptical now. Fine with me since I don't really care for it anyway but apparently it's not good for my hips.
Also - I got a new iPod for Mother's Day!! Yeah! I loved my old one but in comparison it didn't hold much music. Plus now I also have a radio for those times when my music just isn't cutting it. I really do have quite eclectic taste in music. And now I can also listen to audiobooks - never have before but I'm going to give it a try.
I've got a local 5k coming up Memorial Day. Should be fun - Chris is going to run with me...and Liz too I think. We're going to run past Chris' cousin's so they will cheer us on while watching the kids then we'll all go back there for some beers and BBQ.
After that I've got the 10K Women's run in Central Park. Should be awesome to run with a few Team McGraw teammates!!
As of right now there are 180 days and I'm SCARED. Truly scared.
So I've been sticking to my weight training - I've got a decent routine so it's going well. And of course I'm sticking with my running. I've lightened up a little bit on the distance - didn't want to push it too much while I was waiting to get to the physical therapist. Since I was ahead with my training anyway - I decided to play it safe and go back about 2 weeks. So really - I just cut my long run back about 2 miles. Maybe it wasn't the right move but for me it feels like the right move so I'm happy with my decision. I'm also sticking with the 4 min run, 2 min walk - pretty easy and I feel like I could go on forever.
I went to the physical therapist last night for the first time. I basically got electro-shock therapy to my ass. Kind of weird...little electric things were put on my butt cheek and my hamstring - then he cranked them up AND put a heating pad on me. Sat like that for a bit - and then he stretched me out. I'm really flexible and the pain can really only be reproduced while walking or running (or standing for a long time) so I'm not feeling too good that my insurance is going to cover additional visits. Cheapos. But I was given some specific stretches and I've got the foam rollers to use at the gym so we'll see what happens. I do have another appointment tomorrow night so...
Oh - and the one thing I learned was that there is no way I should be using the elliptical now. Fine with me since I don't really care for it anyway but apparently it's not good for my hips.
Also - I got a new iPod for Mother's Day!! Yeah! I loved my old one but in comparison it didn't hold much music. Plus now I also have a radio for those times when my music just isn't cutting it. I really do have quite eclectic taste in music. And now I can also listen to audiobooks - never have before but I'm going to give it a try.
I've got a local 5k coming up Memorial Day. Should be fun - Chris is going to run with me...and Liz too I think. We're going to run past Chris' cousin's so they will cheer us on while watching the kids then we'll all go back there for some beers and BBQ.
After that I've got the 10K Women's run in Central Park. Should be awesome to run with a few Team McGraw teammates!!
As of right now there are 180 days and I'm SCARED. Truly scared.
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