Last Thursday, Garmy and I went to the gym to calibrate. It turned out to be a relatively painless experience, and I thought the instruction booklet explained it well. After 1 mile on the treadmill, my Garmin was showing 1.3 miles. I guess that's not quite so much when you are looking at just one mile, but over several miles, that extra 0.3 really adds up and ends up making it look like I ran much farther than I truly did. So, I did another couple miles after calibrating and called it a night.
On Saturday the group met at the Running Spot. When I say group I mean the whole group, not just the half that I belong to now that we are divided by pace. Luckily, I was able to get a parking spot. It was really cold (I think about 25 degrees) when we started, and it only got colder as the day progressed. Maybe our coaches are trying to thin the group out a little and get people to quit, because they sent us on one of the worst runs ever. It was about 8 miles through Eden Park and Mt. Adams, the two most hilly areas in the city. I was feeling kind of tired that morning, but I still managed a 9:50 average pace. (Which is really quite good considering the hills/mountains we had to traverse.) Lindsay was in Chicago for the weekend, so she was not there. I started out with Holly but soon ran out ahead of her and lost her at a traffic light after about 1 miles. So, I ended up running most of the run alone. When it comes to longer runs, I always prefer to run with others, but it was so cold and I was so out of breath on Saturday, I don't think it would have made that much of a difference. I was pretty wiped out after that run, so I skipped spinning on Sunday and spent the day cleaning.
I was off for MLK day on Monday and I promised myself that I would get a run in. I set out with the intention of doing one of my ususal 5.5 mile loops. After about 1 mile, though, I was feeling pretty good. Since I didn't have anything else going on that day, I decided to add on and ended up running 7. I was pretty proud of that, but I did use it as an excuse last night to skip working out once again. Oh well, not every week can be a hard week. I have only been resting one or two days a week since December, so I decided since we are cutting back on mileage this week, I will take it easier on the workout front as well and next week I will be back in full force.
Tonight's group run is at the Running Spot (again... for some reason the other group gets to meet in the more fun and different locations while we are stuck at the same place ever week.) The e-mail says we we have an "enjoyable" hill workout. Hm, sounds like an oxymoron to me. We'll see how it goes. I need to get a good workout in to make up for skipping yesterday. I just wish it wasn't so cold.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Garmin in a Fog
Last Saturday we met for our group run at Lunken. Rather than the boring, flat run I had half hoped for and half dreaded, we ran way from the airport down Eastern Ave and then up Delta. I think we ran about 6.5 miles, and about 1.5 of those miles were uphill. My memories of Delta were of trying to make it up during mile 17 of a 20 mile run last year. It was not easy. This time, though, it felt easy and my legs felt light. Thankfully, it was at the beginning of our route. Once again, I somehow managed to run some pretty fast miles and I pulled away from my running buddy, Holly. Apparently, my increase in speed even caught the eye of our head coach who asked me if I had picked up my pace. I think my fastest mile during that run was 8:42. For me, that is blistering.
However, that is my Garmin Forerunner time, and after last night's run, I have realized that "Garmy" has a little problem. (Garmy is the name I gave my device. The computer program that uploads that data from the Garmin asks you to give it a "friendly name.") I bought the foot pod separately after getting the watch and heart rate monitor as a birthday gift. The instructions say it is about 97% accurate without calibration. Well, why would I spend the time calibrating. 3% plus or minus was not going to bother me. Last night our run called for 5 miles in O'Bryonville. Lindsay and Holly were both there, and I did manage to keep my pace to a more reasonable level so we could all run together. When we got back to the store, though, Garmy said I had run 5.4 miles, and Lindsay's Garmin Forerunner 305 said we had run 4.9. The Forerunner 305 uses GPS technology rather than a foot pod, so it is more accurate. Apparently my foot pod was a half a mile over?? After doing some online research, foot pods can really vary from person to person depending on your form and stride. So, I guess I am going to have to take the time to calibrate, after all. Tonight my plan is to go to the gym and use the treadmill to calibrate. Hopefully that will resolve my problems and I will get more trustworthy data from now on.
As I said, Last night was a group run. On Monday I got 5.5 miles in on my own. Tuesday I rested. So far, so good. If I can just get Garmy to cooperate, I think I'll be right on target.
However, that is my Garmin Forerunner time, and after last night's run, I have realized that "Garmy" has a little problem. (Garmy is the name I gave my device. The computer program that uploads that data from the Garmin asks you to give it a "friendly name.") I bought the foot pod separately after getting the watch and heart rate monitor as a birthday gift. The instructions say it is about 97% accurate without calibration. Well, why would I spend the time calibrating. 3% plus or minus was not going to bother me. Last night our run called for 5 miles in O'Bryonville. Lindsay and Holly were both there, and I did manage to keep my pace to a more reasonable level so we could all run together. When we got back to the store, though, Garmy said I had run 5.4 miles, and Lindsay's Garmin Forerunner 305 said we had run 4.9. The Forerunner 305 uses GPS technology rather than a foot pod, so it is more accurate. Apparently my foot pod was a half a mile over?? After doing some online research, foot pods can really vary from person to person depending on your form and stride. So, I guess I am going to have to take the time to calibrate, after all. Tonight my plan is to go to the gym and use the treadmill to calibrate. Hopefully that will resolve my problems and I will get more trustworthy data from now on.
As I said, Last night was a group run. On Monday I got 5.5 miles in on my own. Tuesday I rested. So far, so good. If I can just get Garmy to cooperate, I think I'll be right on target.
Friday, January 11, 2008
3 hours 40 minutes
That's what my marathon time would have to be in order to qualify for Boston. So, I'm only looking at shaving about 1 hour off my current time. While its fun to fantasize about qualifying for Boston, its not something I'm really set on. If it ever does happen, that would be great, but if not, there are lots of other fun marathons all over the world that don't require a fast time.
So, I've been slacking pretty badly with this new blog. However, I have not been slacking with my runs. This past December was much better than December 2006. I was able to run on a fairly regular basis, and I definitely worked out on a regular basis. I'm into spinning now, so I'm going to try and keep going once a week. January has arrived, though, and last week I got the last bike (i.e. the worst bike that is pretty much broken next to the 300 lb man that may have go into cardiac arrest at any minute.) I forgot that January is "resolution month" for most of the world, and all those people that stopped going to the gym suddenly crawl out of the cracks and invade group fitness classes.
Last Saturday was the official start of the Flying Pig training group. I was really excited to get an e-mail from Erik (training buddy from the fall marathon group) asking if Lindsay and I would be running with the Spot again. We both said yes, but I never got a response from Erik, and I didn't see him last week. I was really excited though, because Lindsay and Holly, friends from the last training group, were both there. We had a timed five mile run to help divide the group into two more manageable parts.
Okay, a brief rant about the group size: last year, the training group had a cap, and once that number was reached, no one else could sign up. This year, though, it looks like someone is getting greedy, because there seemed to be over 200 people that showed up last Saturday, and it was ridiculously crowded. Also, I don't know how safe you can really be with a group that size. I think that if it would have been my first training group, I would have quit after seeing how many people were there. Its mean to think it, but I can't deny that I hope some people will drop out. I just think the giant group is unmanageable.
Anywho, the cut off for the timed run was 47:00 minutes. If you were under that time, you would be in one group (the "faster" group.) Over that time, and you're in the slower group. As I've said before, I'm not fast. Ten minute miles are my friend. Somehow, though, while training for the Thanksgiving 10k, I really got speed into my brain. I don't know if its that, the spinning classes, or a combination, but somehow I have trimmed about 30 seconds off my mile time. I doubt my marathon pace is going to be 9:30, but I think it will be faster than my 11 minute miles last year. The down side to my new found speed - my buddies in the group fall behind me and I find myself running alone. This is kind of defeating the purpose of running with the group. I need to adjust my mentality back to "marathon" and hopefully I will be able to run this Saturday without going all out (like I did last Saturday and again this past Wednesday when we ran another 5 miler.)
Tomorrow we meet at lunken for 6-8 miles. I used to love Lunken because of its flatness, and the positive connotation I had with it being the first place I ever ran five miles without stopping to walk. The more I run there, though, the more I hate it. Its just boring, and I've come to learn that flat run does not always equal enjoyable run. We'll see how it goes.
I got a Garmin Forerunner for my birthday. It tracks speed, distance, heart rate, and calories burned, which I think is pretty sweet. You can then upload your workout info online. I think there is a way to link it, so I will try that next time and see if I can connect it to my blog.
Well, I think that's all for now. I will try to be more diligent about my blogging in the future, and I'm sure I will have more to write about now that Flying Pig training has officially begun.
So, I've been slacking pretty badly with this new blog. However, I have not been slacking with my runs. This past December was much better than December 2006. I was able to run on a fairly regular basis, and I definitely worked out on a regular basis. I'm into spinning now, so I'm going to try and keep going once a week. January has arrived, though, and last week I got the last bike (i.e. the worst bike that is pretty much broken next to the 300 lb man that may have go into cardiac arrest at any minute.) I forgot that January is "resolution month" for most of the world, and all those people that stopped going to the gym suddenly crawl out of the cracks and invade group fitness classes.
Last Saturday was the official start of the Flying Pig training group. I was really excited to get an e-mail from Erik (training buddy from the fall marathon group) asking if Lindsay and I would be running with the Spot again. We both said yes, but I never got a response from Erik, and I didn't see him last week. I was really excited though, because Lindsay and Holly, friends from the last training group, were both there. We had a timed five mile run to help divide the group into two more manageable parts.
Okay, a brief rant about the group size: last year, the training group had a cap, and once that number was reached, no one else could sign up. This year, though, it looks like someone is getting greedy, because there seemed to be over 200 people that showed up last Saturday, and it was ridiculously crowded. Also, I don't know how safe you can really be with a group that size. I think that if it would have been my first training group, I would have quit after seeing how many people were there. Its mean to think it, but I can't deny that I hope some people will drop out. I just think the giant group is unmanageable.
Anywho, the cut off for the timed run was 47:00 minutes. If you were under that time, you would be in one group (the "faster" group.) Over that time, and you're in the slower group. As I've said before, I'm not fast. Ten minute miles are my friend. Somehow, though, while training for the Thanksgiving 10k, I really got speed into my brain. I don't know if its that, the spinning classes, or a combination, but somehow I have trimmed about 30 seconds off my mile time. I doubt my marathon pace is going to be 9:30, but I think it will be faster than my 11 minute miles last year. The down side to my new found speed - my buddies in the group fall behind me and I find myself running alone. This is kind of defeating the purpose of running with the group. I need to adjust my mentality back to "marathon" and hopefully I will be able to run this Saturday without going all out (like I did last Saturday and again this past Wednesday when we ran another 5 miler.)
Tomorrow we meet at lunken for 6-8 miles. I used to love Lunken because of its flatness, and the positive connotation I had with it being the first place I ever ran five miles without stopping to walk. The more I run there, though, the more I hate it. Its just boring, and I've come to learn that flat run does not always equal enjoyable run. We'll see how it goes.
I got a Garmin Forerunner for my birthday. It tracks speed, distance, heart rate, and calories burned, which I think is pretty sweet. You can then upload your workout info online. I think there is a way to link it, so I will try that next time and see if I can connect it to my blog.
Well, I think that's all for now. I will try to be more diligent about my blogging in the future, and I'm sure I will have more to write about now that Flying Pig training has officially begun.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Another Sunday, another weekend without my planned long run. With winds gusting up to 37 miles per hour and temperatures in the 20's, I just wasn't up to facing the elements to run outside. So, I took it to the gym, where the longest I was able to force myself to run on the treadmill was 5.5 miles, and that was only because "Cesar Milan: Dog Whisperer" was on TV.
I do not enjoy the treadmill. It's boring, and I stare at the seconds ticking by. Outside, I can motivate myself by thinking about upcoming downhill segments of my run, or distract myself with some element of scenery. On the treadmill, I have to force myself not to count the seconds until I can lower my speed or incline. So, my planned 8 miles were cut short. Today's workout was a video at home. I have a full body circuit workout DVD from Prevention that I've been using lately. Its not too bad. I don't know what's more amusing about it, the instructor Chris Freyteg, who looks like she had botox while being goosed, or the Prevention fitness director who somehow used her corporate power to get a spot on the DVD, and flails around in the background looking totally out of sync. All I know is, when Chris says "jack it" during the jumping jacks cardio session, I laugh every time like a 13 year old boy.
On tap for tomorrow: 6 miles. I will, I will, I will. Also exciting, my gym is offering a 90 minute holiday spin this coming Saturday. Should be a good way to get a jump on those extra Christmas calories I'll be consuming. I can't wait for the Flying Pig training to start. I'm really exciting to see if my two friends from the fall marathon group, Erik and Lindsay, come back. They said that they would, and I'm really hoping that they do. One of the worst things about training groups is that you make running friends, but then never see them again once the group is over. Lindsay and I ran Chicago and Columbus together. After running 26.2 miles or countless training runs with someone, you can develop a pretty strong bond.
Well, I think that's about it for tonight. Happy trails...
I do not enjoy the treadmill. It's boring, and I stare at the seconds ticking by. Outside, I can motivate myself by thinking about upcoming downhill segments of my run, or distract myself with some element of scenery. On the treadmill, I have to force myself not to count the seconds until I can lower my speed or incline. So, my planned 8 miles were cut short. Today's workout was a video at home. I have a full body circuit workout DVD from Prevention that I've been using lately. Its not too bad. I don't know what's more amusing about it, the instructor Chris Freyteg, who looks like she had botox while being goosed, or the Prevention fitness director who somehow used her corporate power to get a spot on the DVD, and flails around in the background looking totally out of sync. All I know is, when Chris says "jack it" during the jumping jacks cardio session, I laugh every time like a 13 year old boy.
On tap for tomorrow: 6 miles. I will, I will, I will. Also exciting, my gym is offering a 90 minute holiday spin this coming Saturday. Should be a good way to get a jump on those extra Christmas calories I'll be consuming. I can't wait for the Flying Pig training to start. I'm really exciting to see if my two friends from the fall marathon group, Erik and Lindsay, come back. They said that they would, and I'm really hoping that they do. One of the worst things about training groups is that you make running friends, but then never see them again once the group is over. Lindsay and I ran Chicago and Columbus together. After running 26.2 miles or countless training runs with someone, you can develop a pretty strong bond.
Well, I think that's about it for tonight. Happy trails...
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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