Finally a Wednesday Run!

Tuesday I spinned. We had a sub. She cut class short by about 15 minutes. It was weird.

Tuesday night I skipped yoga. Jannelle has a kink in her neck so couldn't go, and I didn't mind a break from it.

This morning it was in the 60s and down right balmy. I put on shorts and a t-shirt and headed outside to do a quick 3. My legs got the best of me, however. I couldn't seem to just run at a normal pace. At 1.5 miles I turned around and decided to turn the run into a fartlek, wondering if going faster would help the pain. I did those intervals the whole way back. I do think it kind of helped the pain. I was certainly able to run without the tightness. I did a short cool down jog when I was back, and the pain seemed to start to creep back into my legs....

So here's a theory: My shoes just don't work for my stride at slower paces, in general. Now this doesn't explain runs where nothing hurts. The consistency isn't there. But I'm just going to start blaming the shoes. I don't know, I really don't. It's so frustrating.

The most important thing was I got a run in on Wednesday! I need to run more often than once a week and a long run, so this was good even if it was an awful run.

Maybe I'll go shoe shopping this weekend.

8 More and Not So Sore

Friday I managed a pretty decent run on the treadmill at lunch. It was a 1-mile warm-up and then I did intervals at certain speeds, with rest in between. It was my "let's practice running faster" time.

Saturday was karting for B-train's birthday...and my upper body is sore. And we only did one session!

Sunday, Casey and I ran 8. We did the same route as last weekend's 8...only this time we shaved a few seconds off the overall pace. I think I felt better this time too. And, most importantly, I'm not sore like I was last week. That is great news–means my muscles are actually adapting!

It's a gorgeous day out today. But I won't say I'll run tonight after work because I've already declared that to not work. Tomorrow is spinning and yoga. I do really want to run more during the weeks though. I'm not going to get anywhere running one day and one long run, even if I am spinning twice a week. I need to fit more running in, that is certain.

Lifting

This is it. I'm done trying to "go for a run after work" by myself. There is just nothing that will make it happen. The weather, chasing a car full of money, the promise of world peace...nothing. I've tried this enough, with all the best intentions, and it's just not meant to be.

So I'm declaring it now:

Stephanie shall henceforth no longer attempt to run after work, with the exceptions of being provoked by a friend or for track night. 

Now that that is done and over with, I can get back to my regularly scheduled program.

I lifted last night instead of running. But, it was a really good lifting session. I bumped it up. I didn't use the baby weights and did less reps if I had to using the big girl weights. I did a couple of different things I've seen people doing at the gym with the trainers too. It felt great. Plus, I felt some new back muscles pop up from yoga (I'm pretty sure they pop up overnight, right?). So I think I'm making some progress in the strength realm.

Today was spinning. I rearranged my Get a New Tooth appointment (crown) from the morning to 2:00 this afternoon. Unfortunately Erin's child poo'd so she had to leave. I guess the child care people aren't licensed to change a poopy diaper. The class was really hard, as all of Melanie's classes are. There were some kick-butt hills in the middle that had me pretty maxed out. It was all good, and I'm kind of glad my legs were fresh since I didn't run yesterday. My spins have been suffering because I'm sore from running. However, looking at the schedule, I haven't ran since Sunday and that's bad. I'm still building up everywhere though. And I don't want to give up a spin day. Maybe next week will be better.

Weekend Fun

Well, we lost our broomball championship game... awwww. But, it was a really fun game! The team we played was awesome. I'd say we were pretty evenly matched. They were friendly, but competitive, just like us. It was a great game to end on, and we did really well this season!

Sunday I ran 8 miles and it went really well! Instead of huffing at a pace slightly too fast for me, we ran at a pushed pace where I still had to take breaks here a couple of times, but I was still able to talk for a lot of it. It got so cold while we were out there! It was late in the afternoon and the sun was fading and wind picked up. I've never been cold on a run before...there's always the acknowledgement of the cold of course. But it was an odd sensation this time that I was running and cold all at the same time. :)

Today I am sore! I was sore from broomball - sides, shoulders, a bruised knee. And now I am sore from the run. My feet hurt, which is kind of different. I might need new shoes soon.

This coming weekend I think we're planning to do 8 again, then we'll do 10. And then the following week will be 6 at a quick pace. And then...it's race weekend!

Sore Achilles

Well, today my left achilles tendon is sore. So I'm skipping the run and just going to do weight training today. It makes sense, since I did a lot yesterday. I don't want to push anything into pain-mode before running 8 this weekend.

Plus... there is the broomball game. Eeeeeee!  I wish people would come watch us. I do better when people are watching - get more energy. Plus I think we need people to cheer!

A Ride Inside

Monday - rest and a night out with a couple of friends. I had intended to go home and lift.

Tuesday - spinning! Erin wasn't in the class. I really missed her!  Also the spin bikes have been moved into an arch, which I think is awesome. It felt more fun and now if you aren't in the front row you don't immediately have someone right "in your way". Or, if you're in the front row, you don't worry about your butt being right in someone's face ;)  I skipped yoga that night because my friend who I go to the class with was sick. No biggie.

Wednesday - I was going to run. I didn't at lunch. Then I didn't after work. Urban is in a very small lot, and they have "complimentary" valet at the 5:00 rush hour...but I just didn't feel like dealing with it! Isn't that horrible? Excuses excuses. I decided I'd rather run in the cold. But when I got home, I saw my bike and decided I'd rather ride! So I set my bike up on the trainer. It's been such a long time. I rode for 45 minutes while I watched a Glee episode. Picked it up during the huluplus commercials.

Thursday - I just couldn't get myself in the right place at the right time. All morning I was at the dentist getting a new front tooth. The temporary crown is on and horribly forward and sharp! The afternoon was a whirlwind. I should have lifted at least, but I was mopey.

Friday - I ran this morning about 3.3 miles. It was slow and I was tired. In the middle, I picked it up twice for .25 miles. That felt good.

Tomorrow is broomball and Sunday night is a broomball makeup game. I'm not sure what or where I'll be doing a long distance this weekend.

Breathe Right strips are amazing

Sunday, pre-Superbowl, we ran 6 miles again. This time, in hopes of being able to take some air in through my constantly stuffy nose, I wore a Breathe Right strip. Wow. Amazing. It was a strange sensation, but my nose was clear! I could breathe through it...and my voice changed. I didn't sound as – you guessed it: nasal.

During the run, I tried to consciously breathe in through my nose. And I did for a while. But the pace was a bit quick for me that day. We stopped at 3 miles to drop off our 4-legged running partner. I knew it would be hard for me to keep going at that pace. At almost 4, I had to slow down. Greg and Casey agreed to. Once my breathing was back in control, the rest of the run was a lot more enjoyable. By the end, I was giving it all I had, which unfortunately was still pretty slow.

Today I'm a bit sore, so that's good. I feel good about the progress so far!

Consistency

This past week has been a good one for activity. Thursday I did a spinning class...another hard one. Melanie is so good! Friday I ran 3 miles. I took my phone with me to figure out what pace I was going, but the app fizzled out both coming and going. Saturday we played broomball (our first loss...boo). Sunday I ran 6 miles with Greg and Casey. Heart Mini training is officially underway.

Today it's supposed to be near 50...and tomorrow near 60! I have a bit itch to get on my road bike. I have been trying to figure out how to do a bike race in the spring. It is so challenging to figure this out. All I can think of is to go to a bike shop and ask someone. It may be too late to join any teams, and it seems like you have to be with a team to race. I am pretty frustrated with the unsuccessful research I've had. I just want some dates, and to know how it works and what I have to do to prepare. I think it would be fun to try. But maybe you have to be really really good and it's not for just anyone.

I think I'll stop by Swallow Bike Works, the new shop in Loveland that replaced Cycle Sport, and see if someone there can tell me anything to guide me in the right direction.

5 Miles on the 'mill

I went to the gym last night to get in the 5 miles that I was supposed to run over the weekend but couldn't. 5 miles on the dreadmill...how was I going to make it? I had new headphones and Pandora, so I wasn't too worried.

Until my headphones stopped working.

I sweat. A LOT. And the headphones tried and tried to stay in my ears (with the help of me pushing on them about every 10 steps). But, they wouldn't. I took a break and switched out the size nubbies, thinking the smaller ones would go in further and stay put. But those were worse, nothing to grab onto. So, after a mile of fighting with them, and probably entertaining the person next to me, I gave up.

4 more miles...tempo for 3 and 1 cool-down...all without music on a treadmill.

It wasn't helping that the new guy next to me after his warmup decided to start scuffing his feet. Each step produced a squeak.

I did quarter mile repeats at one tempo, then ran a quarter mile at a slower tempo, until I got sick of that. Then I just ran. Then finally I was done.

5...miles...on...a...treadmill. I know there are people who do entire marathon training on treadmills and I have no clue how they make that happen. Though, I must say, if my headphones had stayed in my ears, I would have probably been a lot happier.

8 weeks to go

Today officially kicks off 8 weeks to go until the Heart Mini. Last week went pretty well. I did a 4 mile run mid-week and two spins. Friday I lifted. Saturday's broomball game was cancelled because of the ice but rescheduled for Sunday. We won again... we're 3 and 0!

Tonight's plan is to run at the gym on the 'mill. This will require Pandora big time. It seemed to stop working in my car. I just tried to make it work on the phone by itself and something got screwed up with my sign-in, but now it is working!

Spinning and a Little Run

I'm feeling pretty good recently with the workouts. I think part of it is the holiday food is gone, and the holiday bloat is also subsiding. Geesh.

Today I went to the gym with the hopes of running 3 miles easy before spinning. But Mother Nature poured buckets down onto rush hour traffic. I made it there in time to sign up and get a mile in before class.

I saw Erin and we chatted about running a little bit. She used to race. I'm not sure what that means, but she said she raced 5Ks with some kind of club. So I was telling her about how we're planning to do the Heart Mini and the Pig Half, but that I like 5Ks too, I'm just not fast. I don't know, looks like we might do some in the future which would be awesome!

Spinning had a nice break from pop music overload. It was older One Hit Wonder type songs. Mmmm Bop, Tubthumping, Ice Ice Baby, Rapper's Delight, the Macarena, I'm Too Sexy.... That's all I can remember. It was fun. Each new song brought a giggle and smile.

I definitely feel like I'm in training mode now which is nice. I need to adjust my schedule plan and get to work.

The New Year: here is 2012

What's a running blog without a new year post? It's the 10th already, so I had better get this one underway!

I have a lot of goals for fitness and my life activities this year. I have been reading about the Olympic marathon trials going on in Houston and it has been nothing but inspiring. One of the common interview prompts for the runners is: "Tell us about a typical day of your life." Reading about the dedication these people have to their full time jobs, families and running is amazing and humbling. I'm only a recreational runner, but the lesson is applicable to everything: You get out of it what you put into it.

When I started my own company, I quickly enjoyed the freedom of schedule. And just as instantly, I was introduced to the burdon of balance. Keeping my drive in check didn't happen this year. I forgot that no one is going to put limits on anything except me. And so, I have been operating like a go-kart with its governor removed.

Looking back on 2011, it is apparent that the many activities and hobbies I love to do have been left dusty in a closet, lonely on a shelf or waiting for me while I sleep off exhaustion. But, I think there is a shockingly simple solution to this problem. I need to work less. Then, with the right balance, which I let go so wrong these past months, I will enjoy the activities I love to do and live the life I'd like to live.

3 Miles Today...and Thoughts

Mason Half Marathon Race Report

Sunday I ran my 6th half marathon, which I have nominated as "worst prepared for" in the Half Marathon category :)

Overall, I'm happy with the day. I had no expectations, except a little bit of a worry going into the distance so ill prepared. But I looked at it as a long training run only, that I just happened to pay money for so I could do it with a bunch of people. That it was!

My first 7 miles I averaged between 10:15 and 10:30 pace. At mile 7, the wheels fell off and I had to walk hills and just take it easy the rest of the way. So my end average was 11:28.  Meh. It really is OK. I didn't expect any more given my horrible training and am still glad I got a 13.1 mile run in.

Next up: TRAINING, eating better, losing some weight, and making running fun again. Lucky number 7 is next, and I'm determined to break my 2:09:49 PR. Maybe even smash it.

8/14/11: 6 miles

This was a pain free wonderful slow relaxing 6 mile run...

8/10/11: Pain

It's been a while! Work has been getting in the way of drawing...but I hope to have remedied that with the purchase of a scanner! So now I don't have to try to cram things in early in the morning. Let the catchup begin!!

This describes too many runs for me lately. Odd lower leg pain that is sooo painful!

One of the fun things we got to do while visiting friends in Louisville was run in a park that was very near their apartment. It wound around and was hilly. There were so many people out. Later we threw the Frisbee around in this park too. It was probably a 10 or 15 minute walk from their place.

7/25/11: 3 miles

7/11/11: Treadmills

7/8/11: A 3 Mile Run