Sunday, September 16, 2007
Weekend Warrior
After a week of fighting the stomach flu and a burtal workload at the office I got back out there this weekend with a 5 mile attack of the track of the gym Saturday and a 1.5 hour bike ride on Sunday. Legs, pathetically, feel like rubber now but in a good way of course :)
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Down - for the moment.
Stomach flu that kicked in last weekend has totally kicked my ass and kept me out of the gym/off of the road (and pretty much glued to my couch) since last weekend.....uhg, another obstacle. And i feel my motivataion dwindling a bit as work and classes and plans for my upcoming trip are seemingly more urgent and getting more of my attention these days. Must reverse this ASAP:
1) Feeling better today - tomorrow start up again, and have a good weekend. Dont need to run 15 miles (and shouldnt frankly) but do need to get off my ass and back out on the road. (I weirdly miss my bike...I am taking this as a good sign)
2) MUST finilzie and then sign up for 2008 races! THis will truly motivate me!
“People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.” Zig Ziglar quotes
1) Feeling better today - tomorrow start up again, and have a good weekend. Dont need to run 15 miles (and shouldnt frankly) but do need to get off my ass and back out on the road. (I weirdly miss my bike...I am taking this as a good sign)
2) MUST finilzie and then sign up for 2008 races! THis will truly motivate me!
“People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.” Zig Ziglar quotes
Friday, September 7, 2007
Lacking Endorphins I Think!
Been a crappy week running-wise which is a shame after such a great race on Monday! I let work (WORK!) get in the way....sigh. I definitely notice a huge change in myself these weeks when I let my running slip. I seem to have "work out and eat well" tied together nicely but unfortunately I also have "slack off and eat crap" happening on the reverse end so that doesn't do much for me. My entire mood really does shift as well when I'm not working out and I find that everything kind of just turns to shit - I can't handle stress as well and I manage my time much poorly....
None of this is a shock as we all have heard the benefits of exercise go far beyond just psychical, but to notice just how much it impacts directly me is pretty interesting; I stop running and the wheels really do come off!
I will get back out there tomorrow - am looking forward to it - and I am making a pledge to myself that working out is as much a priority for my day to day as brushing my teeth - no exceptions, no letting it slip, no letting other crap get in the way. I owe it to myself - before I park my ass in a desk chair for 8 - 10 hours five days a week, to take the time to devote to something I actually care about each day (how novel). Some people have religion, some people have TV, some people have music....I have this.
None of this is a shock as we all have heard the benefits of exercise go far beyond just psychical, but to notice just how much it impacts directly me is pretty interesting; I stop running and the wheels really do come off!
I will get back out there tomorrow - am looking forward to it - and I am making a pledge to myself that working out is as much a priority for my day to day as brushing my teeth - no exceptions, no letting it slip, no letting other crap get in the way. I owe it to myself - before I park my ass in a desk chair for 8 - 10 hours five days a week, to take the time to devote to something I actually care about each day (how novel). Some people have religion, some people have TV, some people have music....I have this.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Around Cape Ann 25 K
Around Cape Ann 25 K
Time: 2:18
Pace: 8:53
Weather: Sunny and hot - 80's
Course: HILLLLLLLLY
This was a great race for me. I have run it 3 times now so I knew what to expect – hills, LOTS of hills, and pretty much no let up at all the entire way. The final ¼ mile is a lovely hill that’s long, windy, and I swear pretty much a 90 degree angle….I remember thinking after my first marathon that I was so grateful I did that race b/c it really prepared me to run 26.2 miles unlike any other race or long run could.
I was nervous about this weekend’s race, having not run much at all this summer due to sheer exhaustion from 3 marathons in a 12 month span….aggressive, too aggressive for me at this point I guess and I burned out a bit. The past few weeks I have been fighting my way back and feeling pretty good but still was unsure of what this race would do to my under-trained legs. Running with Barbara, we cruised through the first mile and then slowed down realizing how hot it was - sunny in the low 80’s at 9AM – but the wind helped a bit and the frequent water stops (some race-official and many others just local people out enjoying the day with us runners!) were a huge help along the way. I chased down a skinny blonde woman and dusted her at mile 6 (my favorite race-day activity) pretending I was my athletic idol Desiree Ficker chasing down Kate Majors at the Timberman race 2 weeks ago, and kept up a solid pace the rest of the race. I was psyched with my finish time and for the first time in months actually felt like a runner again!
Notes from the race:
Desiree Ficker “hold ice cubes in your hands” trick works to cool you down fast
Pre-race: 2 hrs - English muffin w/ pb, 1 hr – Lara bar; felt really good out there on that.
Need sun block –shoulders fried!
Running watch WAY off….must calibrate ASAP.
Time: 2:18
Pace: 8:53
Weather: Sunny and hot - 80's
Course: HILLLLLLLLY
This was a great race for me. I have run it 3 times now so I knew what to expect – hills, LOTS of hills, and pretty much no let up at all the entire way. The final ¼ mile is a lovely hill that’s long, windy, and I swear pretty much a 90 degree angle….I remember thinking after my first marathon that I was so grateful I did that race b/c it really prepared me to run 26.2 miles unlike any other race or long run could.
I was nervous about this weekend’s race, having not run much at all this summer due to sheer exhaustion from 3 marathons in a 12 month span….aggressive, too aggressive for me at this point I guess and I burned out a bit. The past few weeks I have been fighting my way back and feeling pretty good but still was unsure of what this race would do to my under-trained legs. Running with Barbara, we cruised through the first mile and then slowed down realizing how hot it was - sunny in the low 80’s at 9AM – but the wind helped a bit and the frequent water stops (some race-official and many others just local people out enjoying the day with us runners!) were a huge help along the way. I chased down a skinny blonde woman and dusted her at mile 6 (my favorite race-day activity) pretending I was my athletic idol Desiree Ficker chasing down Kate Majors at the Timberman race 2 weeks ago, and kept up a solid pace the rest of the race. I was psyched with my finish time and for the first time in months actually felt like a runner again!
Notes from the race:
Desiree Ficker “hold ice cubes in your hands” trick works to cool you down fast
Pre-race: 2 hrs - English muffin w/ pb, 1 hr – Lara bar; felt really good out there on that.
Need sun block –shoulders fried!
Running watch WAY off….must calibrate ASAP.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Hard 8 + Hard 8 = Trouble!
Had - for the first time ever - the beginnings of what I fear will quickly become shit splints...shit!
This was inevitable I guess, I didn't think I was ramping up TOO fast but perhaps I am.
I did 2 hard 8's yesterday and today...I will focus on swimming/biking the next few days and get in one easy paced run before the race this weekend....uhhhg can be a little disappointing but I am catching them early so best to deal with it now.
The long road back continues!
This was inevitable I guess, I didn't think I was ramping up TOO fast but perhaps I am.
I did 2 hard 8's yesterday and today...I will focus on swimming/biking the next few days and get in one easy paced run before the race this weekend....uhhhg can be a little disappointing but I am catching them early so best to deal with it now.
The long road back continues!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Sweatin' in the City
In the 90's this weekend in NYC with about 180% humidity, or so it seemed, but I was able to get out and have a few good workouts this weekend - 13 mile run on Saturday and a 2 hr. bike ride on Sunday. The run was tough - I was about .5 miles into it and realized this would easily be the hottest day I've run all summer...uhg. But I gutted it out - it wasn't pretty (and it wasn't fast!!!) but I got it done. Today's bike ride was fun - thanks Mike for coming along! - but it clearly highlighted the need for BIKE SHORTS. Went straight from the bike to Paragon Sports for some relief - my ass will thank me on the next ride!
Sweaty and hungry but glad to have gotten in a few good workouts this weekend....I'm coming back!
Sweaty and hungry but glad to have gotten in a few good workouts this weekend....I'm coming back!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Slow Day
3 days in a row of hard 6's followed by a "rest day" - but it was so nice out I had to attempt the bike again (I am getting much better!) so not a total rest day yesterday. Could explain why I was turtle-slow this morning, cut my easy run to a VERY easy 3 miler and called it a day.
13 tomorrow, longest run since the marathon....should be interesting!
13 tomorrow, longest run since the marathon....should be interesting!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Resolution
I resolve to start using this blog for its intended purpose!
I resolve to start using this blog, period!
I am newly motivated in my running and newly obsessed w/ the idea of triathlons - perfect time to get into this blog, I have the momentum, just need to execution!
This week is my 3rd 30+ mile week in a row of running after a VERY sluggish summer. In thinking back I realize this may have been less about me being lazy (as I assumed and was beating myself up about for the past few weeks) and more about me needing a physical and mental recovery from a year in which I did 3 marathons - a lot for me! So this break, while annoying to me while I was in the midst of it, actually may turn out to be the best thing I could have done for myself and my running (even the LBS I packed on this summer -not cool at ALL - are falling away as quickly as I gained them now that I am running again).
So in addition to building up my miles I am adding in biking and swimming to my routine due to my new found OBSESSION with the idea of doing a triathlon! I'm also toying with the idea of adding yoga into the mix as well since i m SO bad about stretching....a lot of plans and i need to find a way to work all of this into my already packed schedule, as well as really lay out my goals for this next year in terms of races, so I can plan properly....a little overwhelmed but excited as well. I feel like me again these past few weeks as I have been hitting the pavement, and I expect good things to come form this.
I am back.
I resolve to start using this blog, period!
I am newly motivated in my running and newly obsessed w/ the idea of triathlons - perfect time to get into this blog, I have the momentum, just need to execution!
This week is my 3rd 30+ mile week in a row of running after a VERY sluggish summer. In thinking back I realize this may have been less about me being lazy (as I assumed and was beating myself up about for the past few weeks) and more about me needing a physical and mental recovery from a year in which I did 3 marathons - a lot for me! So this break, while annoying to me while I was in the midst of it, actually may turn out to be the best thing I could have done for myself and my running (even the LBS I packed on this summer -not cool at ALL - are falling away as quickly as I gained them now that I am running again).
So in addition to building up my miles I am adding in biking and swimming to my routine due to my new found OBSESSION with the idea of doing a triathlon! I'm also toying with the idea of adding yoga into the mix as well since i m SO bad about stretching....a lot of plans and i need to find a way to work all of this into my already packed schedule, as well as really lay out my goals for this next year in terms of races, so I can plan properly....a little overwhelmed but excited as well. I feel like me again these past few weeks as I have been hitting the pavement, and I expect good things to come form this.
I am back.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Pocono Mountain Marathon
May 6, 2007
Time: 3:50:02
Pace: 8:46
Splits: 1:55 @ 13.1
Marathon: I really enjoyed this race (and not just b/c of the PR!). The course is downhill for much of the race and is being promoted as a "fast" course, whoever there are rolling hills as much as there flat stretches, and a few steep drops (esp. around mile 9) combined with decent uphill climbs at miles 18, 22, and 24 all combine to make this the toughest course of my short marathoning career. Well organized - water stops every 2 miles, etc - and small but enthusiastic patches of spectators, along with a spirited finish around the local high school track all make for a great marathon experience. Highly recommended.
Personal notes: Well I PR'd so can't say much negatively about this one! Some things to note:
Time: 3:50:02
Pace: 8:46
Splits: 1:55 @ 13.1
Marathon: I really enjoyed this race (and not just b/c of the PR!). The course is downhill for much of the race and is being promoted as a "fast" course, whoever there are rolling hills as much as there flat stretches, and a few steep drops (esp. around mile 9) combined with decent uphill climbs at miles 18, 22, and 24 all combine to make this the toughest course of my short marathoning career. Well organized - water stops every 2 miles, etc - and small but enthusiastic patches of spectators, along with a spirited finish around the local high school track all make for a great marathon experience. Highly recommended.
Personal notes: Well I PR'd so can't say much negatively about this one! Some things to note:
- Winter training is a bitch. I really hated most of it.
- Looking forward to more speed work heading into the next marathon - I think it will really help.
- My watch was off! Distance was off and pace may have been too - both slower than reality. So I ran more during training than I should have! I guess it helped but must get that adjusted soon.
- Food day before: bagel (b), pb&j (l), Gatorade and bananas (s), pasta w. red sauce and 1 meatball (d).
- Food on race day: 2 waffles w/ pb, 2 hours before race; sipped Gatorade 2 hours before race (didnt drink much between 6 - 8AM start); Gatorade and Power Gel at start; 4 gels during race every 4 miles starting mile 10.
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