Christopher I titled this blog for you! Ha! BTW, Christopher is another co-worker of mine who is an avid runner and gives me tons of moral support. He also brings me his RunnersWorld Magazines when he's finished with them. Christopher is my go-to guy for all my running questions/dilemmas/complaints/etc...so thank you Christopher for sharing some of your running knowledge with me!
So, yes, I have been slacking a bit. It's been tough with the Holidays and all. Not to mention I was incredibly sore for almost 2 days after my 7 miler. My body ached places that I didn't know were capable of aching! I couldn't even sleep at night since I hurt from my ankles all the way up to my shoulders. So needless to say, I needed to take a few days off.
By Sunday I was having major remorse for not running and for all the food I had been eating the past week. But at the same time I felt like I had zero energy to run. And I can't believe I'm going to admit this but the only reason I did end up running on Sunday was because afterwards Brad and I were going to order a pizza!! I figured if I were going to have pizza after all the food I had been eating the past few days then I needed to drag my butt out for a run. And that's basically what happened. I put my layers on and set out for a quick 2 mile Easy Run. Yes, I know, 2 miles probably didn't even burn off the calories of one piece of pizza but it was better than not running at all! Overall the run was mediocre. I kept a pretty slow and steady pace and finished it within 20 minutes of starting.
Then I took Monday off and continued my food frenzy (had waaaay too much sushi with Mal and Catie!) instead.
Today I had a scheduled Speed Workout with Ms. Katie. I know I needed to do this and somewhere deep down inside I wanted to do this but in all honesty, I was dreading the thought of running all day long. But of course I did it since I made a commitment. And it sucked. Katie planned what she calls a "easy" workout since she said I shouldn't push myself too much with my race coming up on Friday.
Our Workout
1 Mile Warm-Up
1 Mile of Accelerators (sprint at 50%, 75% & 100%)
1 Mile Cool Down
I know it shouldn't have been that difficult but it was ROUGH. I just couldn't get into it and couldn't keep my speed up. I'm definitely not a sprinter! I felt exhausted, sluggish and was panting out of breath almost the entire time. I couldn't even carry a good conversation at the beginning and end cause I felt so tired.
Hopefully I just had an "off" couple of days. I think once all the Holiday sweets disappear at home and at work I'll start feeling a lot better. I'm definitely nervous for my first official 10K this Friday, especially with my not-so-great last couple of runs but I'm trying to keep positive about it. My goal is going to be to complete the entire run without walking which I feel pretty confident I can do. The weather here is supposed to be crazy for December- a high of 48 degrees!- which is definitely a plus and the run starts at noon so I don't need to be up and at 'em super early.
Well, I most likely won't write til after the race on Friday so...until next time!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Ohhhh Snap!
I have 2 runs to write about today!
The first one is from Monday. My run consisted of:
1 mile run
1 mile speed intervals (sprint to the refrain of a song and then walk during the verse)
1 mile run
I was hoping for another nice, easy workout and it was more difficult than I thought! To begin it was colder out than I was anticipating. The weatherman said it was going to be in the 30s but it was still only 13 degrees out, liar. Then for some reason the first mile felt like it was never ending! My legs felt heavy, I was panting and it barely felt like I was moving. After doing some thinking I'm guessing that there were 2 major things that could have affected this: 1) it was my third day running in a row 2) all those different dips and chips I had ate the night before...oops. So my workout kinda sucked, not gonna lie, but at least I tried right?!
Due to the results of my Monday run, I decided to take Tuesday off. Instead of running I cleaned like a madwoman! And wrapped all my Christmas gifts! And then to top it off last night I made over 60 chocolate dipped snowman pretzels! That was pretty nightmare-ish itself...but I think they ended up turning out pretty good. Take a look!
The first one is from Monday. My run consisted of:
1 mile run
1 mile speed intervals (sprint to the refrain of a song and then walk during the verse)
1 mile run
I was hoping for another nice, easy workout and it was more difficult than I thought! To begin it was colder out than I was anticipating. The weatherman said it was going to be in the 30s but it was still only 13 degrees out, liar. Then for some reason the first mile felt like it was never ending! My legs felt heavy, I was panting and it barely felt like I was moving. After doing some thinking I'm guessing that there were 2 major things that could have affected this: 1) it was my third day running in a row 2) all those different dips and chips I had ate the night before...oops. So my workout kinda sucked, not gonna lie, but at least I tried right?!
Due to the results of my Monday run, I decided to take Tuesday off. Instead of running I cleaned like a madwoman! And wrapped all my Christmas gifts! And then to top it off last night I made over 60 chocolate dipped snowman pretzels! That was pretty nightmare-ish itself...but I think they ended up turning out pretty good. Take a look!
Now, onto the main event! Today's run. Well folks, I was able to do it! 7 whole miles completed!!! WOOO HOOOO! Sorry about the excitement but I literally just finished about 15 minutes ago. And overall I feel great about it especially considering I was not wanting to go. It was my mother who made me (so thanks mom!). She told me I'd feel good about it once I was done and she was right, like always.
So the run started out a bit rough. I didn't know how I was going to last 7 whole miles. I even began to tell myself that as long as I could do at least 6 miles that'd be good enough for the day. It was sunny out and 33 degrees! Best running weather I've had in weeks! We got a little snow yesterday but with the warm temps it pretty much had all turned to mush by now. So mile one eventually ended and two and three also seemed to drag. Then magically I felt awesome. Mile four, five and six seemed almost effortless. BUT I will note that I was running at a very slow, comfortable pace (11-12 minute miles) ensuring myself that I'd be able to finish this. It was during that time that I decided to definitely go for that seventh mile. I recalculated my route a bit (which ended up being a tad short forcing me to run up 2 hills for the additional distance!) and hit 7.0 miles as soon as I stepped foot into my driveway. I was so relieved, proud and thankful to be home.
I had a few discoveries during today's run too. I decided what color to paint my nails this weekend, I noticed I didn't spit on myself one time and I really enjoy running to Pandora's Taio Cruz Station. I've also been trying to focus on my running form when I can remember...I easily get caught up in my feelings of wanting to die as I'm panting up some hill. Katie has been telling me and encouraging me to try and run on the balls of my feet more. It'll supposedly make me go faster (which we all know is the major thing I need to work on improving). So I've been really trying to focus on doing that a few minutes here and there. It's funny though cause I do notice a difference in my stride when I run on the balls of my feet but then the second I stop focusing it I'm back to landing on my heels again!
You guys will also be pleased to know that I shredded two whole articles of clothing for today's run! I had one less top on and one less pair of pants. Overall, I think it was a wise choice. I had to take my gloves off at the end of mile one cause my hands were already so hot.
Ok, I gots to go do some laundry, last minute touch-up cleaning and get some snacks for my mom and Chris who will be here in a few hours. Then the Christmas celebrations begin!
I'm planning on taking Thursday off as a recovery day and will try and do a Easy Run Friday (we'll see though cause that breaks my rule of running on Fridays!! ). But in case I don't write before Saturday, Merry Christmas to everyone!! I wish you and your families a happy holiday season!
Until next time!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Back On the Wagon!
After a brutal run last Sunday and 5 days off of running, I've jumped back on the wagon! I know, I shouldn't have taken 5 whole days off but I just couldn't bring myself to run in the negative temperatures we had early on last week. Then Wednesday we had to cancel our Speed Workout so that was 2 missed runs for me. BUT to redeem myself a little bit, I did do some cross training last week- Pilates one night and Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred DVD another night. It felt good to get some strength training in and it made me not feel as bad for skipping out on my runs!
So yesterday (Saturday) was my first run outdoors in almost a week! I was planning on just doing my 2 mile Easy Run to ease back into things and ended up doing just under 3 miles. It was day and night from my run last weekend! No icy streets/sidewalks, no tumultuous winds and no rain/snow. It was sunny and a balmy 14 degrees out there. I should also note that Friday night was my friend's Holiday Party so that was another reason I was really preparing myself for another brutal run. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it. It was really peaceful and easy compared to my last couple runs outside. No big revelations were had during this run but I definitely needed this to help me get into it again.
Because I had such a pleasant running experience Saturday, when I woke up and saw the sun shining today I decided to go on another run. Brad wanted to go do some Antiquing so I decided to do a 20 minute Hill Workout that I saw on runnersworld.com this past week.
My Workout:
1 mile warm up
Run up the hill, walk for 60 seconds, run back down the hill and repeat 3 times
It was a quick, simple routine that wore me out! Running hills are supposed to help increase my strength so we'll see what kind of results I see in a few weeks. I'm gonna try and do hills at least one time a week adding another repetition each week.
With my week off, busy schedule and the holidays approaching I'm planning on trying to keep up with my running by doing more of these 20 minute workouts from runnersworld.com, especially ones to increase my speed, strength and endurance. Then I still want to try and fit in my 7 miler one of these days. Hopefully before my first 10K which is only a week from Friday!!
Oh! And my outfits! Very similar to what I normally wear when running outside:
Running tights
Windbreaker Pants
Tall Socks
Dri fit tank
L/S dri fit shirt
Lightweight hoodie
Fleece
Dri fit hat- Saturday and Headband- Sunday
Gloves
Shoes
Alright, my apologies for my brief running hiatus. I'm just not hardcore enough yet for the negative temps...maybe one of these days! I'll be better this week, I promise.
Until next time!
So yesterday (Saturday) was my first run outdoors in almost a week! I was planning on just doing my 2 mile Easy Run to ease back into things and ended up doing just under 3 miles. It was day and night from my run last weekend! No icy streets/sidewalks, no tumultuous winds and no rain/snow. It was sunny and a balmy 14 degrees out there. I should also note that Friday night was my friend's Holiday Party so that was another reason I was really preparing myself for another brutal run. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it. It was really peaceful and easy compared to my last couple runs outside. No big revelations were had during this run but I definitely needed this to help me get into it again.
Because I had such a pleasant running experience Saturday, when I woke up and saw the sun shining today I decided to go on another run. Brad wanted to go do some Antiquing so I decided to do a 20 minute Hill Workout that I saw on runnersworld.com this past week.
My Workout:
1 mile warm up
Run up the hill, walk for 60 seconds, run back down the hill and repeat 3 times
It was a quick, simple routine that wore me out! Running hills are supposed to help increase my strength so we'll see what kind of results I see in a few weeks. I'm gonna try and do hills at least one time a week adding another repetition each week.
With my week off, busy schedule and the holidays approaching I'm planning on trying to keep up with my running by doing more of these 20 minute workouts from runnersworld.com, especially ones to increase my speed, strength and endurance. Then I still want to try and fit in my 7 miler one of these days. Hopefully before my first 10K which is only a week from Friday!!
Oh! And my outfits! Very similar to what I normally wear when running outside:
Running tights
Windbreaker Pants
Tall Socks
Dri fit tank
L/S dri fit shirt
Lightweight hoodie
Fleece
Dri fit hat- Saturday and Headband- Sunday
Gloves
Shoes
Alright, my apologies for my brief running hiatus. I'm just not hardcore enough yet for the negative temps...maybe one of these days! I'll be better this week, I promise.
Until next time!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
We Need to Talk, I'm Having Second Thoughts...
First of all, CONGRATS to my Uncle Gerry who is running the Honolulu Marathon today!! How exciting and what an awesome accomplishment!! So proud of you :) I hope to one day tackle a marathon myself...but that day will be in the distant, very distant (after today's run) future.
Now, I didn't get a chance to attempt to do my 6 miler yesterday (Saturday) because of a few reasons:
1) I worked from 8-2
2) I went out for pizza after working all morning
3) It was raining, hard, ALL DAY
4) I was exhausted
5) I finished doing all my Christmas shopping instead!
So as I was preparing for bed last night, I knew what awaited me first thing in the morning. I was hoping that the rain would stop and it would turn to snow since it was supposed to transition earlier in the day but never did.
When morning came it was 24 degrees and lightly snowing but we definitely didn't get as much snow as the weather peeps were anticipating. So I put my layers on- I wore everything I had on during my last workout with the addition of my fleece, my hat instead of headband, and some newly purchased Adidas Windbreaker Pants.
And well, today sucked. All around. The first mile felt good. I even had thought to myself how peaceful this is and wondered why don't more people do this. THEN like a flash of lightening it hit me. All of a sudden I wasn't running through deserted trails but it was like somebody turned the open roads into a gigantic Slip 'N Slide. I spent the next mile shuffling my feet more than running. And it was at that time that my calves really started cramping up. By the time I reached my third mile I felt like I entered a wind tunnel! I probably looked and felt like I was running slow motion through mounds of tapioca pudding on a sheet of ice with giant sand bags on top of each of my feet. It was awful. And by this point I was so far away from home that I couldn't just turn around and call it quits. I had three miles until I'd be home again.
Miles four and five got progressively worse. My thighs were screaming, calves were aching, big right toe was burning and the only thing that was running at a steady pace was my nose. This is when I was really contemplating breaking up with my Winter runs. Why was I doing this to myself? Have I gone crazy?! Nothing about my adventure today was enjoyable except for those very few short minutes at the beginning. If the weather is like this on Race Day I'm doomed.
So I've seriously been having major doubts about myself. And I'm not looking forward to next weekend when I'm supposed to do a 7 (S-E-V-E-N!!) miler. It's been 2 hours since I finished my run and I'm still freezing. The one, ONE, positive thing that happened today was that I did my first ever 6 mile run (or shuffle!). It was 5.98 miles to be exact and even though it felt like I was out there for a good solid 4 hours, I was only out there for 1 hour and 19 minutes.
Alrighty, well I'm hungry. We'll see where my mixed feelings take me this week. At least next up is a 2 mile Easy Run. That should be doable.
Until next time...hopefully!
Now, I didn't get a chance to attempt to do my 6 miler yesterday (Saturday) because of a few reasons:
1) I worked from 8-2
2) I went out for pizza after working all morning
3) It was raining, hard, ALL DAY
4) I was exhausted
5) I finished doing all my Christmas shopping instead!
So as I was preparing for bed last night, I knew what awaited me first thing in the morning. I was hoping that the rain would stop and it would turn to snow since it was supposed to transition earlier in the day but never did.
When morning came it was 24 degrees and lightly snowing but we definitely didn't get as much snow as the weather peeps were anticipating. So I put my layers on- I wore everything I had on during my last workout with the addition of my fleece, my hat instead of headband, and some newly purchased Adidas Windbreaker Pants.
And well, today sucked. All around. The first mile felt good. I even had thought to myself how peaceful this is and wondered why don't more people do this. THEN like a flash of lightening it hit me. All of a sudden I wasn't running through deserted trails but it was like somebody turned the open roads into a gigantic Slip 'N Slide. I spent the next mile shuffling my feet more than running. And it was at that time that my calves really started cramping up. By the time I reached my third mile I felt like I entered a wind tunnel! I probably looked and felt like I was running slow motion through mounds of tapioca pudding on a sheet of ice with giant sand bags on top of each of my feet. It was awful. And by this point I was so far away from home that I couldn't just turn around and call it quits. I had three miles until I'd be home again.
Miles four and five got progressively worse. My thighs were screaming, calves were aching, big right toe was burning and the only thing that was running at a steady pace was my nose. This is when I was really contemplating breaking up with my Winter runs. Why was I doing this to myself? Have I gone crazy?! Nothing about my adventure today was enjoyable except for those very few short minutes at the beginning. If the weather is like this on Race Day I'm doomed.
So I've seriously been having major doubts about myself. And I'm not looking forward to next weekend when I'm supposed to do a 7 (S-E-V-E-N!!) miler. It's been 2 hours since I finished my run and I'm still freezing. The one, ONE, positive thing that happened today was that I did my first ever 6 mile run (or shuffle!). It was 5.98 miles to be exact and even though it felt like I was out there for a good solid 4 hours, I was only out there for 1 hour and 19 minutes.
Alrighty, well I'm hungry. We'll see where my mixed feelings take me this week. At least next up is a 2 mile Easy Run. That should be doable.
Until next time...hopefully!
Friday, December 10, 2010
My Name Is NOT Speed...Yet!
Wednesday night I had my second Speed Workout with Katie at the Pettit Center. And to be honest with you, I was dreading it all...day...long. I've just had a super busy week and the thought of having to run real fast was nauseating. BUT since I made a deal with Katie I had to do it. That's the great part about running dates, you can't easily back out without looking like an ass so it forces you to go. Katie has been running for yearssss and you'd definitely be able to tell by how awesomely fit she is! She's been a friend of mine for a couple years now and has been part of my running journey since day 1! So thank you Katie for putting up with all my complaints, my slow pace and answering all my zillions of questions. You're the best!
Now, I was a little more eased when actually going to Pettit this week since it wasn't my first time. But when I got there it felt like it was just yesterday that I was there for my first Speed Workout (which was ridiculous!). Seriously, there's nothing more intimidating than being a beginner runner going to train at the same place as real Olympic athletes as well as having to train with kids half your size who can easily lap me on the track!
But anywho, here's a quick recap of Speed Workout #1:
1 mile warm up
3x800s w/400 walks in between
1 mile cool down
My times (roughly...can't remember exacts):
4:28
4:38
4:44
Overall, it sucked. Katie kicked my ass. I don't think I've ever ran that long/fast in my life. BUT I did it AND I finished all my laps without walking. Definitely a successful work out.
Now back to Speed Workout #2. Recap:
1 mile warm up
2 sets of 3x400s w/400 walks/jogs in between
1 mile cool down
TOTAL: 19 laps around the Pettit Center = 5.33 miles
My times:
1st set- 1:57
2:06
2:13
2nd set- 2:06
2:11
2:10
Katie, again, managed to kick my ass. But it's all good. I need somebody like her to push me, motivate me and praise me when I finish! She's the perfect running mentor/coach. My favorite parts of our work out are the warm up and cool down, ha. But seriously, it's nice to be able to jog next to somebody and chit chat. Never before could I actually do this! In the past, even while just jogging, I'd be too out of breath to hold a conversation and now I can. For an entire mile! Woo hoo! Sorry...it's the little things that excite me. And given how much I was dreading our work out, in the end I'm so glad we did it. It felt amazing once we finished. A nice sense of accomplishment.
So now it's Friday. The soreness has pretty much worn off (I was extremely sore yesterday- mainly in my calves and arms) and now I'm bracing myself for my 6 (S-I-X!!) mile jaunt tomorrow. I'm also hoping Mother Nature cuts me a little slack this weekend but supposedly we're going to get another 4-6 inches of snow by Sunday...yippee...
Ok, until next time!
Oh! Almost forgot, for those of you who are wondering this is what I wore:
Running tights
Tall socks
Dri fit tank
Dri fit l/s shirt
Light weight dri fit hoodie
Headband
Shoes
I was able to shed a few of my layers since the Pettit Center is 40 degrees!
Now, I was a little more eased when actually going to Pettit this week since it wasn't my first time. But when I got there it felt like it was just yesterday that I was there for my first Speed Workout (which was ridiculous!). Seriously, there's nothing more intimidating than being a beginner runner going to train at the same place as real Olympic athletes as well as having to train with kids half your size who can easily lap me on the track!
But anywho, here's a quick recap of Speed Workout #1:
1 mile warm up
3x800s w/400 walks in between
1 mile cool down
My times (roughly...can't remember exacts):
4:28
4:38
4:44
Overall, it sucked. Katie kicked my ass. I don't think I've ever ran that long/fast in my life. BUT I did it AND I finished all my laps without walking. Definitely a successful work out.
Now back to Speed Workout #2. Recap:
1 mile warm up
2 sets of 3x400s w/400 walks/jogs in between
1 mile cool down
TOTAL: 19 laps around the Pettit Center = 5.33 miles
My times:
1st set- 1:57
2:06
2:13
2nd set- 2:06
2:11
2:10
Katie, again, managed to kick my ass. But it's all good. I need somebody like her to push me, motivate me and praise me when I finish! She's the perfect running mentor/coach. My favorite parts of our work out are the warm up and cool down, ha. But seriously, it's nice to be able to jog next to somebody and chit chat. Never before could I actually do this! In the past, even while just jogging, I'd be too out of breath to hold a conversation and now I can. For an entire mile! Woo hoo! Sorry...it's the little things that excite me. And given how much I was dreading our work out, in the end I'm so glad we did it. It felt amazing once we finished. A nice sense of accomplishment.
So now it's Friday. The soreness has pretty much worn off (I was extremely sore yesterday- mainly in my calves and arms) and now I'm bracing myself for my 6 (S-I-X!!) mile jaunt tomorrow. I'm also hoping Mother Nature cuts me a little slack this weekend but supposedly we're going to get another 4-6 inches of snow by Sunday...yippee...
Ok, until next time!
Oh! Almost forgot, for those of you who are wondering this is what I wore:
Running tights
Tall socks
Dri fit tank
Dri fit l/s shirt
Light weight dri fit hoodie
Headband
Shoes
I was able to shed a few of my layers since the Pettit Center is 40 degrees!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Baby, It's COLD Outside!
After making a poor decision last night (well 'poor' depending on how you look at it- I got conned into going to Build-Your-Own-Burger Night) instead of doing my 2 mile Easy Run. Then knowing that I have my work Holiday Party tonight, I had to do the unthinkable this morning...get up and run before work. It was pretty brutal, not gonna lie. My alarm went off at 5:45AM. I checked the temperature. It was a whole whopping 13, yes 1-3, degrees out. That's when I began to have a major dispute with myself...should I or shouldn't I. I knew if I didn't go that only left me with one other day to run this week, Friday, and I'm very anti workouts on Fridays for some reason. Cause then I have a Speed Workout and my Long Run already scheduled for other days. So I went to the bathroom during this argument going on in my head and then I actually got back into bed where I laid for about 2 minutes when I remembered my blog! I had to run! Cause now other people can log my workouts! So I did it.
I put on my layers, making the appropriate changes/additions as a result of Saturday's run, and was sweating by the time I put my shoes on.
What I wore:
*L/S shirt
*Tank
*Another L/S thermal like shirt
*Hoodie
*Fleece
*Running tights
*Workout pants
*TALL socks (the pink ones from the 'Fun' Run!)
*Hat
*Gloves
*Shoes
*Bright orange running vest
But the second I stepped outside, I felt my whole body tighten and freeze up. And I again, couldn't believe I was about to do this. But I did. And it was rough. I felt stiff. A little constricted from all the layers. And my hands were actually cold. Usually I end up taking my gloves off cause my hands get hot, not this time. And even after running for a few minutes, I felt heavy. Like I gained 20 pounds over night (I shouldn't have had that burger!). I also felt like I was moving really slow, which I kinda was...but I didn't seem to have it in me to go any faster. But I stuck it out and did my 2.04 miles in 22 minutes.
Obviously once I got inside and stripped off the layers I was really happy with myself. Just the fact that I did it, before work, in our coldest temperatures yet was quite the feat for me. And now I can have dessert at the party tonight without feeling too guilty about it. Yes, I know. I need to not eat crap if I ever want to see results. I'm working at it. But I love food! So at least I try and do it in moderation.
So overall, today was on 'okay' run for me. Could have been better but at least I did it. Next task for the week, my second Speed Workout with Katie...I'm already scared just thinking about it!
Until next time!
I put on my layers, making the appropriate changes/additions as a result of Saturday's run, and was sweating by the time I put my shoes on.
What I wore:
*L/S shirt
*Tank
*Another L/S thermal like shirt
*Hoodie
*Fleece
*Running tights
*Workout pants
*TALL socks (the pink ones from the 'Fun' Run!)
*Hat
*Gloves
*Shoes
*Bright orange running vest
But the second I stepped outside, I felt my whole body tighten and freeze up. And I again, couldn't believe I was about to do this. But I did. And it was rough. I felt stiff. A little constricted from all the layers. And my hands were actually cold. Usually I end up taking my gloves off cause my hands get hot, not this time. And even after running for a few minutes, I felt heavy. Like I gained 20 pounds over night (I shouldn't have had that burger!). I also felt like I was moving really slow, which I kinda was...but I didn't seem to have it in me to go any faster. But I stuck it out and did my 2.04 miles in 22 minutes.
Obviously once I got inside and stripped off the layers I was really happy with myself. Just the fact that I did it, before work, in our coldest temperatures yet was quite the feat for me. And now I can have dessert at the party tonight without feeling too guilty about it. Yes, I know. I need to not eat crap if I ever want to see results. I'm working at it. But I love food! So at least I try and do it in moderation.
So overall, today was on 'okay' run for me. Could have been better but at least I did it. Next task for the week, my second Speed Workout with Katie...I'm already scared just thinking about it!
Until next time!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Mission Accomplished!
Well folks, I did it...kinda. I ventured out for my first 5 mile run in the snow this morning around 10AM. At the time it was 31 degrees, there was probably 4ish inches of snow on the ground and the snow was still falling. I felt good. I really had been hyping myself up for running in the snow since about Wednesday.
What I wore:
Nike running tights
Yoga pants from college (not a good idea)
Nike Dri Fit Tank
Nike Dri Fit long sleeve v-neck
Champion hoodie
Nike fleece
Nike hat
Exhileration gloves
Ankle socks
Nike shoes
I thought my layering was pretty good. I wanted to add another layer of pants since when I ran in just the tights last weekend I could barely feel my legs. But I quickly learned that my choice in a second layer of pants was all wrong. Well the type of pant I chose at least. By mile 3 my pants were hanging half way off my 'rear end' (I'll try and keep things clean!) and I was caring about an extra 5lbs of water weight at the bottom of each leg. Not to mention that the pants were an old pair of sorority yoga pants from my senior year of college with the word "LUSH" clearly printed on the back. So I can only imagine how much of a hot mess I looked like trying to hold my pants up and run in the snow.
Now the reason I said, "I did it. Kinda." is because I didn't run the entire 5.34 miles. I had to take a couple little walk breaks when I'd approach unshoveled hilly bits. BUT I did only do this when my thighs were screaming at me to stop. Overall, I'd say I walked 9-10 mins of my 74 minute adventure (so not too bad in my book AND it was the first time I'd ever tried to run anything beyond 4 miles!).
So, I'm not happy with the time it took me to accomplish this goal. But I had to do what was safe. I slowed my pace down a ton as I trudged through the unplowed/unshoveled sidewalks. Because most importantly, I wanted to make sure I finished and didn't give up half way through because of exhaustion. But believe me, there were minutes when I thought I should just stop at the Taco Bell and call Brad to come pick me up.
Things I learned today:
*Get a new pair of pants
*Wear thicker and taller socks (my ankles were freezing!!)
*I have a new appreciation for those that rise early and shovel/plow!
*I'm pretty good at leaping over puddles
*I'm not so good at spitting without it ending up back on myself (2 for 4)
*5 miles isn't so bad!
Really running in the snow isn't awful. I for once was "that girl" that everyone driving by me probably thought to themselves "she's crazy." I only saw one other person running while I was out there and he looked way more professional than me (the wardrobe thing really screwed me up!).
My first long run is accomplished. Now I wait a week until I tackle the next long one. Until then I'll fill you guys in on how my easy run and 2nd speedwork workout goes in the upcoming week.
Until next time!
What I wore:
Nike running tights
Yoga pants from college (not a good idea)
Nike Dri Fit Tank
Nike Dri Fit long sleeve v-neck
Champion hoodie
Nike fleece
Nike hat
Exhileration gloves
Ankle socks
Nike shoes
I thought my layering was pretty good. I wanted to add another layer of pants since when I ran in just the tights last weekend I could barely feel my legs. But I quickly learned that my choice in a second layer of pants was all wrong. Well the type of pant I chose at least. By mile 3 my pants were hanging half way off my 'rear end' (I'll try and keep things clean!) and I was caring about an extra 5lbs of water weight at the bottom of each leg. Not to mention that the pants were an old pair of sorority yoga pants from my senior year of college with the word "LUSH" clearly printed on the back. So I can only imagine how much of a hot mess I looked like trying to hold my pants up and run in the snow.
Now the reason I said, "I did it. Kinda." is because I didn't run the entire 5.34 miles. I had to take a couple little walk breaks when I'd approach unshoveled hilly bits. BUT I did only do this when my thighs were screaming at me to stop. Overall, I'd say I walked 9-10 mins of my 74 minute adventure (so not too bad in my book AND it was the first time I'd ever tried to run anything beyond 4 miles!).
So, I'm not happy with the time it took me to accomplish this goal. But I had to do what was safe. I slowed my pace down a ton as I trudged through the unplowed/unshoveled sidewalks. Because most importantly, I wanted to make sure I finished and didn't give up half way through because of exhaustion. But believe me, there were minutes when I thought I should just stop at the Taco Bell and call Brad to come pick me up.
Things I learned today:
*Get a new pair of pants
*Wear thicker and taller socks (my ankles were freezing!!)
*I have a new appreciation for those that rise early and shovel/plow!
*I'm pretty good at leaping over puddles
*I'm not so good at spitting without it ending up back on myself (2 for 4)
*5 miles isn't so bad!
Really running in the snow isn't awful. I for once was "that girl" that everyone driving by me probably thought to themselves "she's crazy." I only saw one other person running while I was out there and he looked way more professional than me (the wardrobe thing really screwed me up!).
My first long run is accomplished. Now I wait a week until I tackle the next long one. Until then I'll fill you guys in on how my easy run and 2nd speedwork workout goes in the upcoming week.
Until next time!
Friday, December 3, 2010
The Background Story
Ok, so recently my friend Vanessa and I did something crazy- we signed up for The Great Lakes Running Series consisting of 5 Winter Runs (runs are held at the end of each month from November - March). Last Sunday, the 5K Elf Run, was the first of the series. Overall, not bad. Got a new PR (30:24) even with the temperatures only in the 20s. It was sunny out and the roads were clear (meaning- no sight of snow yet!). So weather-wise it was a great start to the series (minus the bouts of hatred I had for myself when I felt like dying or couldn't feel my thighs anymore).
So now a little clarification, I am not a runner. Yet. Up until recently I actually despised the idea of running. If every piece of exercise equipment were full in the gym except for the treadmill then I'd forfeit the workout and go home. In high school gym class we never really had to "run" the full mile...we'd jog a big while chatting with friends and then walk a lap, jog a bit, walk, etc. So honestly the last time I actually had ran a full mile was probably in the 8th grade and I can guarantee you I hated every minute of it. Throughout college and now my "adulthood" I found tons of enjoyment in taking workout classes like Zumba, Group Strength, Pilates and Spinnning but never did I ever consider 'going for a run.'
THEN before you knew it, I began to see things in a different light. Maybe this is all results of me turning into a cougar (26!!) this past spring and realizing that I want to find a new hobby that doesn't cost much money, is good for me and that I can keep up with. So this past fall I did the unthinkable- signed up for the Tosa Fest 5k with my friends Katie and Harley (who BTW are avid runners! ). I was terrified! The run was in 2 weeks and I couldn't even run a mile without stopping. But because I had paid for this thing and had constant support and motivation from my friends I began training for my first 5K. I started small and with something that seemed easy for me- try to run for 2 full songs without stopping and then I'd up it to 3 songs, 4 songs, etc. I'd try and run every other day when possible and finally the Wednesday before the big Saturday run I completed my first 3.14miles ( I actually ran the race route that Wednesday before so I had no surprises while en route on race day). This was HUGE for me since my ultimate goal for my first race was to be able to complete it without walking and now I've done it so now I just need to be able to do it again...
Well, I was able to do it with my first race coming in at 33:33. It was rough, not gonna lie, but it was nice having Katie and Harley stick with me for the moral support. And the best part was when the finish line was in eyesight along with our friends cheering us on (oh, and the beer tent!). Race 1 complete.
Onto Race 2! The second race I did, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K, was a mere 2 weeks after my first one. So not much time for any major improvements but my goal was to run this next race feeling more comfortable. Harley, being a good sport, ran this run with me again. This event wasn't chip timed due to the large crowd it drew (over 10,000 people!) but it was an amazing run to participate in and witness. I mean, we were coming up on our second mile and people were still just crossing the starting line to begin the race! I achieved my goal- finished the race feeling much better (but def still room for improvement) and knocking about a minute off of my time.
Race 3! The third race I did, the Lakefront Discovery Run 5K, with my friend Vanessa (and this was her first race! I successfully converted her to becoming a runner with me about a month prior to the run!) held on 10.30.10 (a month after my second race). This was going to be a "fun run" since being so close to Halloween we were encouraged to dress in costume. Our "costumes" consisted of tall socks, tutus and sweatbands. I'll see if I can post a pic later (still learning how this whole "blogging" thing works...). Now not gonna lie, I was pretty intimidated to run with Vanessa even though it was her first race. This girl is super fit! She seriously is Superwoman. Every morning she gets up at 4:45AM, goes to a Bootcamp Class, gets ready for work, works, goes home, makes dinner, squeezes in a run when she needs to and then plays with her 4 year old daughter til bedtime. I get exhausted just writing about it! Vanessa did great and I was able to stick with her! My new race time was 31:33!
And just 5 days ago I completed my 4th race which I discussed way up at the beginning of this entry. Now having 4 5Ks and a solid 3 months of regular runs under my belt, I'm taking on a new challenge: a 10K! It's the Run Into the New Year 10K on December 31st. I figured what a great way to end 2010!
So now it's time to get serious. Not only do I need to increase my mileage in the next month but by tomorrow we are expected to have 7" of snow on the ground making my Saturday run my first run in the snow...eeek! Oh yeah, this whole idea of running being an inexpensive sport has also started to take a little toll on my bank account. You need quite the gear to run comfortably and safely in this much colder weather! Hopefully my investment in these new running clothes keeps me motivated to keep up with my winter runs!
Alright. I promise you all my blog entries will not be this long! And I'll get more into depth what my training schedule is like, how I feel, what I was able to accomplish, etc. in my upcoming blogs. I just needed to write this first really, really long entry to give you a bit of my background.
Thanks for reading and remember I'm not a writer, so don't judge my writing skills! Ha!
Until next time!
So now a little clarification, I am not a runner. Yet. Up until recently I actually despised the idea of running. If every piece of exercise equipment were full in the gym except for the treadmill then I'd forfeit the workout and go home. In high school gym class we never really had to "run" the full mile...we'd jog a big while chatting with friends and then walk a lap, jog a bit, walk, etc. So honestly the last time I actually had ran a full mile was probably in the 8th grade and I can guarantee you I hated every minute of it. Throughout college and now my "adulthood" I found tons of enjoyment in taking workout classes like Zumba, Group Strength, Pilates and Spinnning but never did I ever consider 'going for a run.'
THEN before you knew it, I began to see things in a different light. Maybe this is all results of me turning into a cougar (26!!) this past spring and realizing that I want to find a new hobby that doesn't cost much money, is good for me and that I can keep up with. So this past fall I did the unthinkable- signed up for the Tosa Fest 5k with my friends Katie and Harley (who BTW are avid runners! ). I was terrified! The run was in 2 weeks and I couldn't even run a mile without stopping. But because I had paid for this thing and had constant support and motivation from my friends I began training for my first 5K. I started small and with something that seemed easy for me- try to run for 2 full songs without stopping and then I'd up it to 3 songs, 4 songs, etc. I'd try and run every other day when possible and finally the Wednesday before the big Saturday run I completed my first 3.14miles ( I actually ran the race route that Wednesday before so I had no surprises while en route on race day). This was HUGE for me since my ultimate goal for my first race was to be able to complete it without walking and now I've done it so now I just need to be able to do it again...
Well, I was able to do it with my first race coming in at 33:33. It was rough, not gonna lie, but it was nice having Katie and Harley stick with me for the moral support. And the best part was when the finish line was in eyesight along with our friends cheering us on (oh, and the beer tent!). Race 1 complete.
Onto Race 2! The second race I did, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K, was a mere 2 weeks after my first one. So not much time for any major improvements but my goal was to run this next race feeling more comfortable. Harley, being a good sport, ran this run with me again. This event wasn't chip timed due to the large crowd it drew (over 10,000 people!) but it was an amazing run to participate in and witness. I mean, we were coming up on our second mile and people were still just crossing the starting line to begin the race! I achieved my goal- finished the race feeling much better (but def still room for improvement) and knocking about a minute off of my time.
Race 3! The third race I did, the Lakefront Discovery Run 5K, with my friend Vanessa (and this was her first race! I successfully converted her to becoming a runner with me about a month prior to the run!) held on 10.30.10 (a month after my second race). This was going to be a "fun run" since being so close to Halloween we were encouraged to dress in costume. Our "costumes" consisted of tall socks, tutus and sweatbands. I'll see if I can post a pic later (still learning how this whole "blogging" thing works...). Now not gonna lie, I was pretty intimidated to run with Vanessa even though it was her first race. This girl is super fit! She seriously is Superwoman. Every morning she gets up at 4:45AM, goes to a Bootcamp Class, gets ready for work, works, goes home, makes dinner, squeezes in a run when she needs to and then plays with her 4 year old daughter til bedtime. I get exhausted just writing about it! Vanessa did great and I was able to stick with her! My new race time was 31:33!
And just 5 days ago I completed my 4th race which I discussed way up at the beginning of this entry. Now having 4 5Ks and a solid 3 months of regular runs under my belt, I'm taking on a new challenge: a 10K! It's the Run Into the New Year 10K on December 31st. I figured what a great way to end 2010!
So now it's time to get serious. Not only do I need to increase my mileage in the next month but by tomorrow we are expected to have 7" of snow on the ground making my Saturday run my first run in the snow...eeek! Oh yeah, this whole idea of running being an inexpensive sport has also started to take a little toll on my bank account. You need quite the gear to run comfortably and safely in this much colder weather! Hopefully my investment in these new running clothes keeps me motivated to keep up with my winter runs!
Alright. I promise you all my blog entries will not be this long! And I'll get more into depth what my training schedule is like, how I feel, what I was able to accomplish, etc. in my upcoming blogs. I just needed to write this first really, really long entry to give you a bit of my background.
Thanks for reading and remember I'm not a writer, so don't judge my writing skills! Ha!
Until next time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)