A good run despite the idiots

Well, it wasn't 8:30, but I have to say I'm pretty impressed with myself anyway. After running for an entire hour, I picked up the pace and ran 2 miles at 8:44 pace and then a 3rd at 9:30 pace. I was pushing hard and I'm sore today to prove it. But man! What a great feeling. I did have it in me. I will get that fast someday soon - when the conditions are better and I've got a little more training under my belt. This week is rest week. Now, that's not to be confused with sloth week. It just means only 4 hours of training this week - including my 5k and some speed work - shorter workouts at a faster speed. Woo hoo!

Now I can't let it go by unsaid - thank you to the 10% of the population who know that pedestrians have the right of way and actually slow down and move over when you see someone running on the street. To the rest of you, I say, WHAT THE F ARE YOU THINKING? This isn't some kind of game to see who can run the runner off the road or OVER me. It isn't a game of chicken. Obviously you're going to win, you're bigger and you have a CAR. This isn't a game of see who can go by the fastest and get the other covered in slush and crap! I mean seriously, I was already as far to the side of the road as I could get, running in slush and snow, slipping and sliding in crud and chunks of ice... GIVE ME A BREAK!

Just another reason I'm part of the "Justice for All" campaign. Look it up. It's a great movement, started by the AMA to bring awareness and yes, tougher punishments for people who don't pay attention to others on the road. Look up from you cell phone, your big mac, your radio... stop yelling at the kids, picking things up off the floor, reading a book for crying out loud! And drive! This is not the time to multi-task or sleep. This requires your full attention even if it's a drive you make every day.

Ok, I feel a little bit better now. Someday I'll tell you why I joined the campaign but today is not the day. All in all, it was a good run because I was able to overcome some pretty crappy conditions and still push myself to limits I didn't know I had.

Now, go kick some butt!

Power Workouts

otherwise known as plyometrics or jump training.....
note to self: remember to leave enough left in the tank to walk up the stairs or you'll get stuck in the basement all day!

And here I thought I was tough!

8:30

Can I really do 8:30 pace for 3 miles - at the end of a long run? The run isn't until Sunday and already I'm thinking about it, obsessing over it if you must know. Now though I'm thinking how exciting it will be to do that pace. How exhilarating to run that fast! And how cool that would be cause if I can do that then surely I can do a sub-27 minute 5k the next week! And surely I can work up to holding a 9 minute mile for 26.2 miles... Surely I can. So I put a little more into my drills this morning and I keep looking ahead to what's next. I only had a 20 minute work out this morning and I want MORE! This isn't enough time sweating, I need more sweat!

On the nutrition side of things, I'm still struggling a bit. I'm hungry, but I'm trying to watch my calories - not deprive myself, but make sure I'm eating the right things and the right amounts. It's hard! I'm stuck at 137.5 right now and I really want to get to the 120's, but I don't want to do it at the expense of quality training so it's a real balancing act. And, let's face it, I still want the sweets. That doesn't seem to ever go away.

I have no limits! I believe in my ability! Nothing will get in my way - not snow or cold or sugar :) I can do it! I can do it! I can do it!

Winter running

I had the best time running this morning! I don't usually run outside in the winter... too cold, too slippery, too dark. But this morning I found myself without a treadmill and a run scheduled so what was I to do? I put on all the cold weather clothes I own, including a face mask that I've never worn running... but that turned out to be a saviour. It was only 11 degrees outside as I headed out the door, there was a light snow falling, with several inches on the ground already, and a light wind that occasionally gusted up to 20 mph. So you can see where I wouldn't really want to go out in this!

I started out slow, my toes already like ice cubes, my feet covered with snow about 10 seconds after I got out the door. I swear about five minutes in with my feet still freezing, I was smiling. No, not smiling, grinning ear to ear! Like a little kid playing in the snow without a care in the world. It was just the best feeling! I can't remember I had so much fun running. Maybe part of it was that I got to do fartleks. Maybe it was because I had no expectations for HR or pace or distance. I was just going for a 50 minute run with gradual increases and decreases in pace throughout. I don't know why exactly and I won't even try to figure it out, but I fell in love with the sport of running today - after nearly 25 years of practice! :) Carry on friends

Accountability

I soooo didn't want to get up this morning. I am so tired - these early mornings are taking a toll. I've been trying for 5:30 so I can eat, walk the dog and get my workout in before work. I haven't made it out of bed before 6 so it's a good thing that I don't have to actually go any further than down the hall to get to work... or even take a shower... some days it's really tough to get a shower in before my first call of the day. I don't know what I would ever do if I had to actually shower, get dressed and drive somewhere to work. Working from home definitely has it's advantages.

My run went well this morning. Hills. I pushed myself to get to the end - 60 minutes because I didn't want to let my coach down or let myself down. I wanted to quit at about 40 minutes, but I kept thinking what would my coach say. She'd be disappointed. I'd have to tell her I quit for no good reason. So I kept going. Accountability. Something to be said for that. Maybe I should try that a little more at work.

I'm reading a great book about getting more out of work by putting more in, being motivated, doing your best at every opportunity. Never letting yourself down because ultimately that's who you disappoint and who pays the price. I find whenever I slack off for no good reason I feel guilty, worthless, disappointed, frustrated...

So let's just say it right now... I need to be more accountable to myself at work... more accountable to myself in my food intake. I've got the accountability in my training, now I need to put those same skills to use in the rest of my life. Be accountable. Be strong.

oh yes, my date

Well, he was very nice, taller than I expected (good thing), had hair (good thing), knew some of the same people I do although not well (also good thing) and even grew up close to the small town I grew up in (not necessarily a good thing). He could talk without spitting, didn't seem emotionally scarred, has been divorced for more than a minute (actually almost 4 years) and didn't seem like a stalker. We had a nice time at dinner, but I have to say if I never saw him again I wouldn't be heartbroken. I think we could be friends, but there was absolutely NO chemistry. I have this problem... I do this thing when I'm out on a date (yes, even the first date) where I imagine kissing the guy. Lips are very important. (Hands are another one of my favorite features, but that's neither here nor there for this discussion.) The thing is, I can't imagine kissing this guy. And well, he is going through some bankruptcy stuff with his business due to the economy and he spends all his free time in Mexico or Las Vegas. I have nothing against either place, but neither are high on my list for being very original. And he wears jewelry - you know that bracelet that Joey gave Chandler in Friends? I swear he was wearing it! So, I just don't think anything will come of it :) Ah well, probably for the best. Someone is out there waiting to sweep my off my feet like a romance novel hero, but I just haven't met him yet.

Long runs and drills

Gotta say, my run on Saturday was great. I did it REALLY easy, but I had permission and that was such a nice feeling - just relax, stay in zone 1, walk the hills. Went almost 7 miles without even trying. Then strength workout yesterday. Love the gym! Love the weights! My ass hurts! Oh man, I'm not kidding. Leg press and lunges and running up hills - I can feel the pounds melting off, but then why doesn't the scale agree?!? Today I did run drills. Now, I've gotta say drills are NOT my favorite thing, not something I normally do, but the coach says I must and I guess I am paying her for a reason. I also have to admit that the best time to date for a marathon was the year I was going to the track and running drills and speed work... so maybe there's something to this. Strong legs. Strong lungs. Strong core. I believe I can achieve! Go forth and conquer friends. It's Monday and it's going to be marvelous!

She's trying to kill me!

I swear, she is. (my coach, that is) I just finished my interval hill workout and decided it was a good time to look at my schedules for next week and the week after. Ohmigawd! Drills and techniques and power workouts and the one that really did me in - an hour and a half run with the last three miles at 8:30 pace. Are you kidding me? Did I mention I'm slow? I don't think I can do 8:30 for more than a mile - not a step more than a mile! Holy cow!

I know, wrong attitude. I need to work on that. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. Yikes!

Other than that though, I have to say, I feel pretty darn good about myself today. I ate right yesterday for a change - no extra sugar or fat. I did my work outs as planned. And tomorrow is a rest day. I don't remember the last time I was looking forward to a rest day so much. Oh yeah, and I have a date tonight. Well, sort of a date. I'm meeting this guy for dinner. We've said it's a no pressure thing, just friends. And that's truly what I want at the moment, but it will be nice to get out of the house and eat out for a change. Here's hoping he's the best thing since sliced bread and we hit it off immediately - or he's just a really nice guy who can carry on a conversation and we can truly be friends. Either way - better than some alternatives I can think of. I know, not even close to what you were thinking when you saw this was a blog about running, but it's all about life.

Until next time.... stay warm. Run fast. Be happy.

Strength isn't just for the guys

Have I mentioned I love strength training? More than running, definitely more than biking or that damned elliptical machine... It's so much fun to see your muscles transform, to get stronger, leaner... well, I hope I'm getting leaner. I haven't gotten out the body fat tester in a while and I'm kind of afraid to at the moment, maybe after a month of working with a trainer I'll be brave enough.

I did some killer stuff today, lots of pull ups (ok, they were assisted, but still!), lots of push ups (no, not on my knees, thank you very much!), some nifty leg and arm work and then abs. I'm so tired I can barely type cause my arms are sore, but it's a good sore. It was a much harder work out than my trainer had scheduled for today so don't tell, okay? Tomorrow is an easy day so it shouldn't be a big deal.

Anyway, nothing exciting going on today. Gotta bet back to work. Lunch time is almost over. Ciao

Cold hard reality

Ok, just to set the record straight, in case you haven't guessed already. I'm no speedster. I'm hoping to break 4 hours in my fourth marathon - in the month I turn 40! I've had some interesting marathon experiences so far and maybe I'll tell you all about those one day, but today...well, today was heart rate test day. Yuck! So having a coach turns out to be hard work. Who would have thought? :) I got up at 5 friggering 30 this morning to eat in time to have THREE hours before I ran. I NEVER wait that long, but that's what the coach wanted, so that's what the coach got. I admit that after I ate and took the dog out for a walk in the dark, I came back and took a nap before my run. Hey, I was tired! It's Saturday and I don't even get up that early during the week.

Anyway, I went to the gym, did my warm up of 20 minutes, then my 20 minute test, then a 5 minute cooldown. Now let me just say, I don't normally warm up for 20 minutes. That's another new thing the coach is trying to teach me. I just have one speed, slow. So we're working on that. I did my 20 minute warm up - very slowly even for me - and I have to say I was tired just doing that. Shouldn't have been cause I had a rest day yesterday, but who knows? Maybe it's brownie hang over. Then I set the incline at 1% (supposed to simulate outside, don'tcha know?) and the speed at 6.6 (or 9 mph) which is about how fast I'll have to average in order to finish a marathon in 4 hours. By around 12 minutes, I was looking for a way off the treadmill. At 14:30, I had to slow it down to 6.5 and that was enough of a mental win to get me to the end of my 20 minutes! But jeez! If I can't even go 2 miles, how am I going to make 26.2 at that pace?

Positive attitude.... like the little engine that could.... I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

I wanna go back...

To the islands.. Ah Jimmy! It’s so cold and gray here. Take me back to the Keys and Mallory Square.

I thought I’d break down and actually start a blog. Let’s see how long it will last. Maybe some of you wonderful people out there will inspire me with your stories and responses…inspire me to go faster, think clearer, be stronger, eat better J

I started training for my fourth marathon this week. So, four? What’s so special about this one? Well? I finally have a coach, someone to tell me what to do, keep me on track, help me stay motivated… someone to hold me accountable and tell me to PUT DOWN THAT BROWNIE!

I mean, for crying out loud. How many brownies can one person eat in 24 hours? Apparently a whole pan… and don’t let me kid you into thinking I couldn’t eat more if they were here. Thank God they are gone! You all do that too, right? That’s normal, isn’t it? To hear the brownies calling from the other room when you’re trying to get some work done, read a book, watch tv, do the laundry? Oh, it’s not? You mean you actually don’t hear them? They don’t talk to you? I’ve heard about people like you… you know who you are… the ones who can actually go do something else and FORGET about the brownies in the kitchen, hiding in the cupboard. I hate you!

Today is my first rest day. It was actually a pretty easy week, except my butt was killing me the other day because I started using the damn incline on the treadmill and then shoveled and walked in the snow and lifted weights. Today I’m feeling a bit lazy and wondering if I’ll gain another ½ pound courtesy of those brownies. But there’s all this extra energy coursing through my veins… wait, maybe that’s sugar…

I’ll be better the rest of the day, I promise. Now where were we? Oh yes, I wanna be there, wanna go back and lie beside the sea there…