I was off work today for President's Day, but Leo had to work, as did almost everyone else I know, so I was pretty much on my own for the day. I had this great plan to get some shopping done and get some warm weather clothes for Argentina, but as usual the day did not go as I planned. I managed to drag myself out of bed at 7:30 to do a 5.75 mile run through Delhi (= lots of big hills.) I felt pretty good, but I sometimes I can't shake the brain fog when I haven't had any coffee in the morning. There were some flurries falling, but the weather was not too bad. I was glad to get my run in earlier since later this afternoon the snow was falling hard and sideways. I met a friend for lunch and actually drove to the mall and turned around and went home. I was so tired, I knew shopping was out of the question. I did stop by the Running Spot to see if they had anything good left at the clearance sale. I got a sweet Triks running skirt that is actually quite flattering for 50% off. I really resisted the running skirt when they first came out, but after trying one I really liked it. They are really comfortable and cuter than most of my running shorts.
As predicted, there was tons of ice last Wednesday, and I had to forgo the group run for a fabulous six miles on the treadmill at the gym. Even with my person TV, MP3 player, and lots of people to look at, I still spent most of the time staring at the clock wishing I could just stop. I managed to force myself to do the miles, but only at 5.8 to 6.0. Its so weird, because I can do a 9:30 mile without thinking about it outside, but on the treadmill I'm doing 10 minute miles and its excruciating. Who knows, I got it over with and got the miles in. Last Saturday, the group met at Lunken. We ran down Eastern and back. Eastern is not my favorite place to run, but I will take that over the Lunken loop. It was a gorgeous morning and I felt good enough to push myself a little. It was a cut back week, so we were only doing 7 miles. (Of course, there was an optional add on at the end, but I have a mental block about adding miles on at the end of a run when I see everyone stopping.) I averaged a 9:15 mile, which I am really happy with. I also got to meet a few new people. Lindsay didn't show up and Holly wasn't feeling well enough to keep up, so I got to chat with a few new people. It was one of those runs that makes me remember why I started running. I ended feeling great physically and mentally.
On Sunday I was determined to get into the spinning class at the gym. Since 15 minutes early wasn't enough last time, I drug myself out of bed at 8:30 slightly hung over so I could get to the gym by 9:20. That's 40 minutes before the class starts, and I thought there was no way it would be full. Once again - wrong. Seriously, the peole must get there at 8:00 a.m. Either that, or someone is letting them sign up ahead of time and not sharing that information with the rest of the gym members. I was pissed but made myself stay to do 30 minutes on the elyptical and lift weights.
In all, it was an okay weekend. At least now I feel 100% healthy again and ready to resume my normal training schedule. Hopefully that will still be possible this week since I have a training for work that lasts Wednesday - Friday and is off site. We'll see.
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Monday, February 18, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Lost and Found
It's been a rough week, most of which I've spent recovering from this nasty cold. I am finally feeling relatively normal again, but I had to cut way back on my training. Still in denial about being sick, I decided to run last Wednesday with the group. As if that idea wasn't bad enough, earlier that evening we had a happy hour after work for someone who was leaving the company, and I decided to drink a coke and rum. Hmm, alcohol plus illness plus a six mile run. Why did I ever think this would equal feeling better?
We met at Newport for a run across the bridge and through downtown. After one mile I did experience a strange phenomenon and felt better for a brief period. It didn't last, though, and by the end of the run I was dragging. I got home and could barely keep my eyes open before falling into bed. I woke up on Thursday feeling worse than ever and broke down and made a doctor's appointment. The doctor said a had an upper respiratory infection secondary to the cold virus, so no antibiotics for me. He did give me a nasal spray and decongestant, though. I was slightly disappointed not to get an antibiotic. I wanted a guarantee that I would feel better for Saturday's run, but I did not get one. When I woke up on Friday I was still feeling pretty sketchy and needed more rest, so I took a sick day and stayed in bed. The extra rest helped a lot, and on Saturday morning I was ready to attempt a long run.
On Saturday we met at the store in O'Bryonville. I was happy to see both Lindsay and Holly were there also, and the weather was not too bad (upper 30's.) The head coach for this group was out of town, so one of the other coaches, Joe F, who headed up the fall marathon training last year, was filling in. During the fall marathon training, it seemed like every other run was in Norwood. What do you know, Saturday's run took us through Norwood also. It wasn't too bad, though. We got to run all the way down Erie as opposed to up Erie, which is always a plus. The worst thing about the run was the last 1.5 miles involved running past the store and then coming back. Maybe if I had been feeling 100%, I could have overcome that temptation to stop, but I was not. I made it 10 instead of 11.5, but all things considered, I think that was pretty good. I averaged a 10:30 mile the whole way, which is only 30 seconds off my goal pace.
Today is Tuesday and I haven't worked out since then. I had thoughts about spinning on Sunday, but I also had a lot of cleaning to do, and I didn't want to spend all my energy at the gym and then not clean. I think cleaning counts as a semi-workout anyway, and a full workout if it involves scrubbing the floor. Yesterday again I had every intention of doing my regular 5 mile loop from home, especially since they were predicting nasty weather for today which meant no outside workout. It was bitter cold, though, and I have let myself get out of the groove. Leo and I went out for Indian and then hit the grocery store where the rest of the world was preparing for armageddon/white death.
White death did come last night, with lots of ice. I could have made it to work on the bus, but the freezing rain was coming down hard, and there was a coat of ice over everything. I didn't really feel like ice skating to the bus stop, and I knew the bus wouldn't be on time, so I decided to work from home. My plan is to go to spinning tonight. Hopefully the weather will keep some of those people in so I can get a spot in the class. Tomorrow is a group run at the store again. I am hoping some of this ice will melt before then, otherwise I am condemned to the treadmill, and I haven't come up with a playlist yet that can get me through 6 miles inside.
We met at Newport for a run across the bridge and through downtown. After one mile I did experience a strange phenomenon and felt better for a brief period. It didn't last, though, and by the end of the run I was dragging. I got home and could barely keep my eyes open before falling into bed. I woke up on Thursday feeling worse than ever and broke down and made a doctor's appointment. The doctor said a had an upper respiratory infection secondary to the cold virus, so no antibiotics for me. He did give me a nasal spray and decongestant, though. I was slightly disappointed not to get an antibiotic. I wanted a guarantee that I would feel better for Saturday's run, but I did not get one. When I woke up on Friday I was still feeling pretty sketchy and needed more rest, so I took a sick day and stayed in bed. The extra rest helped a lot, and on Saturday morning I was ready to attempt a long run.
On Saturday we met at the store in O'Bryonville. I was happy to see both Lindsay and Holly were there also, and the weather was not too bad (upper 30's.) The head coach for this group was out of town, so one of the other coaches, Joe F, who headed up the fall marathon training last year, was filling in. During the fall marathon training, it seemed like every other run was in Norwood. What do you know, Saturday's run took us through Norwood also. It wasn't too bad, though. We got to run all the way down Erie as opposed to up Erie, which is always a plus. The worst thing about the run was the last 1.5 miles involved running past the store and then coming back. Maybe if I had been feeling 100%, I could have overcome that temptation to stop, but I was not. I made it 10 instead of 11.5, but all things considered, I think that was pretty good. I averaged a 10:30 mile the whole way, which is only 30 seconds off my goal pace.
Today is Tuesday and I haven't worked out since then. I had thoughts about spinning on Sunday, but I also had a lot of cleaning to do, and I didn't want to spend all my energy at the gym and then not clean. I think cleaning counts as a semi-workout anyway, and a full workout if it involves scrubbing the floor. Yesterday again I had every intention of doing my regular 5 mile loop from home, especially since they were predicting nasty weather for today which meant no outside workout. It was bitter cold, though, and I have let myself get out of the groove. Leo and I went out for Indian and then hit the grocery store where the rest of the world was preparing for armageddon/white death.
White death did come last night, with lots of ice. I could have made it to work on the bus, but the freezing rain was coming down hard, and there was a coat of ice over everything. I didn't really feel like ice skating to the bus stop, and I knew the bus wouldn't be on time, so I decided to work from home. My plan is to go to spinning tonight. Hopefully the weather will keep some of those people in so I can get a spot in the class. Tomorrow is a group run at the store again. I am hoping some of this ice will melt before then, otherwise I am condemned to the treadmill, and I haven't come up with a playlist yet that can get me through 6 miles inside.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Snow
My first post. Such high expectations to live up to (my own, of course.) This blog is mostly to record my running adventures, but I can't promise I won't digress now and then.
One year and forty pounds ago, I started running. Well, it wasn't quite that simple. Through high school, college, and beyond, I had gained weight and become less and less active then I once was. In high school I had done a few 5ks and never forgot the feeling of accomplishment I had after finishing. Last year I had reached a point of deep unhappiness with various aspects of my life: myself and my job. I decided to start changing what I had most control over - myself. I was so out of shape, I could barely run for two minutes without having to walk. So that's how I started, run two, walk two, run two, walk two. Until finally I built up enough endurance to run for 30 minutes. Cincinnati has an annual Thanksgiving Day 10k race, and I thought "why not?" I discovered a training group at the local running store and jumped in with both feet.
I was able to finish that 10k last year in 62 minutes. I was so nervous and terrified of not finishing, but when I did, I knew that I couldn't stop there. I discovered an eclectic, eccentric group of people who never made me feel out of place or awkward, even thought I wasn't fast. It was the first time in my life when I was able to participate in a sport with a group of people and really, truly enjoy myself. So, after that 10k I joined for the full year of training groups in 2007. I completed the Flying Pig Half Marathon, and then, despite an injury that initially set me back, I completed both the Chicago and Columbus Marathons. (Chicago 2007 survivors - we deserved more than a finisher's medal.)
Over this past year, the weight slowly came off, and I gained confidence and knowledge. Last month, one year later, I ran the Thanksgiving Day 10k again. This time, I finished in 56:55. It's still not really "fast," but I'm really proud of that time. This year, I wasn't afraid of not finishing. I was proud of myself for starting.
So, here I am in December, the most difficult running month of the year for me. There are no training groups, and its dark and cold. Not conducive to getting the mileage in. I've been doing pretty well so far, though. When I can't run, I go to spinning class at my gym. I'm also taking this time to try and get some more strength training in. (Especially upper body, since I have to wear a strapless dress in my friend's wedding in June.) Today was a spinning day, because it snowed, sleeted, and is now raining. It's supposed to snow again tomorrow, and I had a long run planned. I hope to at least get a few miles in using my yax trax. They are like magic - fitting over your running shoes and providing amazingly good traction on snow and ice. That's the goal for tomorrow.
Goals for next year? I plan on running the full Flying Pig Marathon in May. I'm going to enter the lottery for the New York City Marathon, but if I don't get in, I'll do Columbus or some other close marathon. My Columbus Marathon time this year was 4:53. I'd like to get down to 4:45 (which I know is entirely possible) and then maybe 4:30 in 2009. Every time I started training for something this year, I said "it seems impossible to run that far. I just can't imagine it." But every time, I made it, often surpassing my own expectations. So, we'll see what's in store for 2008. I think its going to be a great year.
One year and forty pounds ago, I started running. Well, it wasn't quite that simple. Through high school, college, and beyond, I had gained weight and become less and less active then I once was. In high school I had done a few 5ks and never forgot the feeling of accomplishment I had after finishing. Last year I had reached a point of deep unhappiness with various aspects of my life: myself and my job. I decided to start changing what I had most control over - myself. I was so out of shape, I could barely run for two minutes without having to walk. So that's how I started, run two, walk two, run two, walk two. Until finally I built up enough endurance to run for 30 minutes. Cincinnati has an annual Thanksgiving Day 10k race, and I thought "why not?" I discovered a training group at the local running store and jumped in with both feet.
I was able to finish that 10k last year in 62 minutes. I was so nervous and terrified of not finishing, but when I did, I knew that I couldn't stop there. I discovered an eclectic, eccentric group of people who never made me feel out of place or awkward, even thought I wasn't fast. It was the first time in my life when I was able to participate in a sport with a group of people and really, truly enjoy myself. So, after that 10k I joined for the full year of training groups in 2007. I completed the Flying Pig Half Marathon, and then, despite an injury that initially set me back, I completed both the Chicago and Columbus Marathons. (Chicago 2007 survivors - we deserved more than a finisher's medal.)
Over this past year, the weight slowly came off, and I gained confidence and knowledge. Last month, one year later, I ran the Thanksgiving Day 10k again. This time, I finished in 56:55. It's still not really "fast," but I'm really proud of that time. This year, I wasn't afraid of not finishing. I was proud of myself for starting.
So, here I am in December, the most difficult running month of the year for me. There are no training groups, and its dark and cold. Not conducive to getting the mileage in. I've been doing pretty well so far, though. When I can't run, I go to spinning class at my gym. I'm also taking this time to try and get some more strength training in. (Especially upper body, since I have to wear a strapless dress in my friend's wedding in June.) Today was a spinning day, because it snowed, sleeted, and is now raining. It's supposed to snow again tomorrow, and I had a long run planned. I hope to at least get a few miles in using my yax trax. They are like magic - fitting over your running shoes and providing amazingly good traction on snow and ice. That's the goal for tomorrow.
Goals for next year? I plan on running the full Flying Pig Marathon in May. I'm going to enter the lottery for the New York City Marathon, but if I don't get in, I'll do Columbus or some other close marathon. My Columbus Marathon time this year was 4:53. I'd like to get down to 4:45 (which I know is entirely possible) and then maybe 4:30 in 2009. Every time I started training for something this year, I said "it seems impossible to run that far. I just can't imagine it." But every time, I made it, often surpassing my own expectations. So, we'll see what's in store for 2008. I think its going to be a great year.
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