Ugh. I'm a complete blog failure - I haven't been one here since MAY. My (somewhat lame) excuse is that I had some personal things going on and I lost my excitement about a lot of things.
However, it's now almost October and I feel like I've got my mojo back. I'm at 100% and then some. Woot!
I've continued my running throughout our record-breaking, hot, dry summer, albeit only short distances. Normally, I set my alarm on weekday mornings for 3:50 a.m. so that I have time for a quick (relatively cool) run and then a walk with the dog before I have to be to work. I've had ZERO injuries (knock on wood and anything else that might help me continue this good run of good health) and have actually decreased my average pace for shorter runs (4 miles and less).
My next "big" race is the PF Changs Rock and Roll half marathon in mid January.
Anyway, I will write more soon and I will NOT let four months past before I do!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Another running induced pain?
Arg.
Just when it seems I am completely recovered from those nasty shin splints I had a couple months ago, something new crops up.
This morning when I was at the track doing my weekly speed work, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my front, upper, right thigh. Strange, I thought, I've never felt any pain previously in my thigh from running. I've certainly felt a lot of other aches, pains, strains and bruises during my running "career" but never in this spot. I continued on my trip around the track but first at a brisk walk, then a slow jog. My thigh was feeling okay so I picked it up and attempted to continue my workout. (I usually do eight trips around the track, sprinting half of the oval and jogging/recovering the other half). As soon as I picked up my pace again though, the pain started again.
Double ARG.
I cut my workout short and headed back home. I am the queen of researching all my running-related issues on the Internet so I figured I would take a few minutes at work to do just that.
What I found was that it is most likely nothing serious. What it probably is is a strength imbalance between my quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups. This is a common muscular imbalance in runners because running tends to use the hamstrings more than the quadriceps. It goes on to suggest a treatment of R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression and elevation) until the pain goes away. Then they highly recommend cross-training in the form of cycling, stair climbing and squats to help balance out the muscle groups. (Didn't I just talk about cross-training in my last blog??).
So tonite, if my leg feels okay, I will head to the gym for a session on the stairs and maybe some light weight lifting. I'm not ready to give up on my running yet!
Just when it seems I am completely recovered from those nasty shin splints I had a couple months ago, something new crops up.
This morning when I was at the track doing my weekly speed work, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my front, upper, right thigh. Strange, I thought, I've never felt any pain previously in my thigh from running. I've certainly felt a lot of other aches, pains, strains and bruises during my running "career" but never in this spot. I continued on my trip around the track but first at a brisk walk, then a slow jog. My thigh was feeling okay so I picked it up and attempted to continue my workout. (I usually do eight trips around the track, sprinting half of the oval and jogging/recovering the other half). As soon as I picked up my pace again though, the pain started again.
Double ARG.
I cut my workout short and headed back home. I am the queen of researching all my running-related issues on the Internet so I figured I would take a few minutes at work to do just that.
What I found was that it is most likely nothing serious. What it probably is is a strength imbalance between my quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups. This is a common muscular imbalance in runners because running tends to use the hamstrings more than the quadriceps. It goes on to suggest a treatment of R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression and elevation) until the pain goes away. Then they highly recommend cross-training in the form of cycling, stair climbing and squats to help balance out the muscle groups. (Didn't I just talk about cross-training in my last blog??).So tonite, if my leg feels okay, I will head to the gym for a session on the stairs and maybe some light weight lifting. I'm not ready to give up on my running yet!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Cross Training
This morning Augie and I walked 1.65 miles. Since I didn't feel that was an intense enough workout for me, I then jumped on my bike (a beach cruiser) and rode exactly 10 miles. I saw tons of runners out there and it really made me wish I had chosen to run today instead. But I realize that if I want to be a better runner, I need to do some cross training so that all my different muscle groups get used. (I also need to lose some weight but that's a whole different blog).
In addition to cycling you may find me in a yoga class, on the elliptical, on the rower, doing push ups and working on my plank. I should probably do more upper body and core workouts but hey, at least I'm doing something.
My weekly goal right now is to get in at least 20 miles of walking and running. Once I find another half marathon to do, I'll have to increase that mileage. I'm looking at the Long Beach Half Marathon, one of the Rock and Roll Half's, or maybe even a Disney run. Anyone want to join me??
I've got to get to some chores now. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
In addition to cycling you may find me in a yoga class, on the elliptical, on the rower, doing push ups and working on my plank. I should probably do more upper body and core workouts but hey, at least I'm doing something.
My weekly goal right now is to get in at least 20 miles of walking and running. Once I find another half marathon to do, I'll have to increase that mileage. I'm looking at the Long Beach Half Marathon, one of the Rock and Roll Half's, or maybe even a Disney run. Anyone want to join me??
I've got to get to some chores now. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Warrior Dash Arizona
Bored with plain old running? Need to add a little spice to your workouts? Tired of the same old 5k's? Then I highly recommend you sign up for your nearest Warrior Dash. I ran one yesterday and had a blast. It consisted of a 3.4 mile run with twelve obstacles scattered throughout the course. There was the pile of giant hay bales you had to climb over, and the vertical cargo net you had to scramble across, and the junkyard cars and tires you had to make your way through. Oh, and right near the end were two rows of fire you had to jump over right before you jumped into a large pool of mud to "swim" to the finish line. It was crazy, fun, challenging, and painful. And yes, I would do it again if I had the chance.
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| Here I am after finishing |
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| Here's my badge of honor |
Monday, April 25, 2011
Trail running
I ran in my very first trail run Saturday; the Cave Creek Trail Run which was a 10k (6.2 miles). It was really hard! I've hiked trails in the past, and I've done my share of running on roads, but neither of those things by themselves prepare you for running a race on trails.
Here's a picture of how the race started out>>>>
U.P.H.I.L.L.
And that was just the first of about 6 or 7 uphill climbs we had to tackle on this route.
I managed to run up this one and maybe the second and third one but after that, if the ground was headed upwards, I was walking it.
I felt like I was doing pretty good on the level areas and I felt really strong on the downhill sections. (You're probably thinking, "well, of course you did good going downhill - who wouldn't?!" Well, when you're on a narrow trail covered in loose rock of all sizes and surrounded by prickly cactus, branches sticking out over the trail and other runners, it's no easy task to keep up a good pace. So there).
So anyway. I tried to make up some time on the downhill sections and also by NOT stopping at the water station like everyone else (I was carrying my own blend of water and Gatorade). But due to my lack of training in recent weeks while rehabbing my shin splints, I started to lose steam after about 4.5 miles. I also noticed that my heart rate had spiked to 180 at one point and although I wanted to finish with a good time, I didn't want my heart to explode while doing it.
I eventually finished with a time of 1 hour 17 minutes and 49 seconds. This was shocking to me because my official time on the one and only other 10k I've run (last October) was 1 hour and 9 minutes. This race was SO MUCH harder and yet it only took me an additional 8 minutes to run it! And that has proven to me that all those hours I've spent running, and all those miles I've put in, are actually paying off. It's slow progress for sure. BUT IT'S PROGRESS.
The highlight of the day though, was meeting two of my DailyMile friends at the race: Johanna and Xavier. If you're not familiar with DailyMile, it's sort of a Facebook for athletes except you post your daily workouts there and your athlete friends post comments and give encouragement. These two have been great supporters from the start and their encouragement has kept me going when the going got tough. Finally meeting them in person proved to me what I already suspected: they are kind, friendly, optimistic, thoughful people. Not to mention good-looking! Check 'em out:
U.P.H.I.L.L.
And that was just the first of about 6 or 7 uphill climbs we had to tackle on this route.
I managed to run up this one and maybe the second and third one but after that, if the ground was headed upwards, I was walking it.
I felt like I was doing pretty good on the level areas and I felt really strong on the downhill sections. (You're probably thinking, "well, of course you did good going downhill - who wouldn't?!" Well, when you're on a narrow trail covered in loose rock of all sizes and surrounded by prickly cactus, branches sticking out over the trail and other runners, it's no easy task to keep up a good pace. So there).
So anyway. I tried to make up some time on the downhill sections and also by NOT stopping at the water station like everyone else (I was carrying my own blend of water and Gatorade). But due to my lack of training in recent weeks while rehabbing my shin splints, I started to lose steam after about 4.5 miles. I also noticed that my heart rate had spiked to 180 at one point and although I wanted to finish with a good time, I didn't want my heart to explode while doing it.
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| (Many thanks to Lisa for taking most of these photos!) |
The highlight of the day though, was meeting two of my DailyMile friends at the race: Johanna and Xavier. If you're not familiar with DailyMile, it's sort of a Facebook for athletes except you post your daily workouts there and your athlete friends post comments and give encouragement. These two have been great supporters from the start and their encouragement has kept me going when the going got tough. Finally meeting them in person proved to me what I already suspected: they are kind, friendly, optimistic, thoughful people. Not to mention good-looking! Check 'em out:
I also got to meet Xavier's friend Rodan, and Johanna's son Kane, who were just as nice. :)
So I would consider my first trail run a success. My lower legs were sore the next day and I needed extra sleep, but I didn't do too bad for a 50 year old newbie runner. Next race: WARRIOR DASH!!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday blues
Went for my first outdoor run yesterday since getting and recovering from shin splints. I was so excited to be headed out for a run again AND to be wearing my brand new Brooks Ghosts for the first time. I was SURE it was gonna be an awesome run. How could it not be with all the cross training I've done over the last three weeks on top of giving my legs a break from running itself?
But it was not to be.
I started off strong and at a fairly good clip but it wasn't long before I realized the sun and the heat were going to do me in. Granted it was "only" 81 outside at that point but that sun beating down on me felt like a giant heat lamp above my head.
I immediately started sweating and feeling like my body just couldn't cool itself fast enough. I wear a heart rate monitor when I run and it showed that my heart rate was way above where it normally would/should be (and it stayed high for an hour or so after my run). Obviously my heart was having to work quite a bit harder to keep my muscles moving AND to try to keep my core cooled. Here is a detailed explanation of what my body was dealing with that I found on marathonguide.com:
"Overheating is the result of inadequate cooling; when the body cannot keep up with the demands of evaporation of water from your skin. When the body heats up internally, it starts to sweat and sends more blood to the skin where it is cooled by coming into contact with the relatively cooler skin. However, while running, your body's demand for oxygen to the muscles means less blood will flow to the skin and this is when overheating occurs. And thus begins the tug-of-war within your body. Either the blood (and oxygen) goes to your muscles to keep up with the pace demands and you start to overheat because less blood is going to the skin for cooling - OR - the blood goes to the skin for cooling, but less blood goes to your working muscles meaning you'll be forced slow down. "
Boy was I forced to slow down. I probably ended up walking half of the 4.2 miles. I was SO disappointed! But today I have a whole new outlook. #1, I learned a valuable lesson, and #2, by reading further about overheating I learned that you can actually acclimatize yourself to the warmer weather after running in it consistently for about two weeks. Carefully, of course. Don't push too hard, drink lots of fluids, wear a hat and sunblock, and monitor your heart rate so you know how hard you're actually working. Don't be afraid (or ashamed) to slow down or walk.
It's all about listening to your body and knowing when to back off, change plans, or go to the gym instead.
But it was not to be.
I started off strong and at a fairly good clip but it wasn't long before I realized the sun and the heat were going to do me in. Granted it was "only" 81 outside at that point but that sun beating down on me felt like a giant heat lamp above my head.
I immediately started sweating and feeling like my body just couldn't cool itself fast enough. I wear a heart rate monitor when I run and it showed that my heart rate was way above where it normally would/should be (and it stayed high for an hour or so after my run). Obviously my heart was having to work quite a bit harder to keep my muscles moving AND to try to keep my core cooled. Here is a detailed explanation of what my body was dealing with that I found on marathonguide.com:
"Overheating is the result of inadequate cooling; when the body cannot keep up with the demands of evaporation of water from your skin. When the body heats up internally, it starts to sweat and sends more blood to the skin where it is cooled by coming into contact with the relatively cooler skin. However, while running, your body's demand for oxygen to the muscles means less blood will flow to the skin and this is when overheating occurs. And thus begins the tug-of-war within your body. Either the blood (and oxygen) goes to your muscles to keep up with the pace demands and you start to overheat because less blood is going to the skin for cooling - OR - the blood goes to the skin for cooling, but less blood goes to your working muscles meaning you'll be forced slow down. "
Boy was I forced to slow down. I probably ended up walking half of the 4.2 miles. I was SO disappointed! But today I have a whole new outlook. #1, I learned a valuable lesson, and #2, by reading further about overheating I learned that you can actually acclimatize yourself to the warmer weather after running in it consistently for about two weeks. Carefully, of course. Don't push too hard, drink lots of fluids, wear a hat and sunblock, and monitor your heart rate so you know how hard you're actually working. Don't be afraid (or ashamed) to slow down or walk.
It's all about listening to your body and knowing when to back off, change plans, or go to the gym instead.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
I'm not ready.
Ugh. I gave the ol' shins a run last night on the treadmill and it didn't go so well. On about every 5th or 6th step with my left foot I could feel pain even though I was taking it pretty easy. It sucks. Even with ten days off I'm still not healed. I certainly don't want to undo whatever healing has been done but I'm SO ready to be out there running again.
Sorry, I know I'm whining but this really has me down.
Yes folks, I'm throwing a pity party and YOU'RE invited!
(Oh, and bring a side dish).
Sorry, I know I'm whining but this really has me down.
Yes folks, I'm throwing a pity party and YOU'RE invited!
(Oh, and bring a side dish).
Sunday, April 3, 2011
I'm ready!
Or should I say I think I'm ready. To run again, that is.
It's been exactly eleven days since I last ran and developed shin splints. Yesterday was the first day I could actually walk without feeling any pain in my left shin and today it still feels great so I think I'm ready to give running another go. I've spent eleven days icing it, stretching it and giving it less strenuous workouts in the form of cycling and the elliptical. I've also been using a foam roller to roll my calf muscles since I read that sometimes shin splints can develop due to overly tight muscles in the calves.
My plan is to run a couple miles on the treadmill this evening and see how it goes. Keep your fingers crossed for me please!
And I'll finally get to wear these awesome new running shoes I purchased last weekend:
Some even better news is that it appears that Augie has also healed. YEA! Prior to my own injury, he hadn't been able to run with me for about five weeks due to a broken toe and then a muscle strain. About a week ago we started our morning walks again - slow and brief at first, then adding more distance and speed. He may be out of shape but he appears to be healthy again.
Hopefully my next post will be to tell you how I haven't lost any of my running fitness and that my new shoes made me run faster than I ever have.
A girl can dream, can't she? =)
It's been exactly eleven days since I last ran and developed shin splints. Yesterday was the first day I could actually walk without feeling any pain in my left shin and today it still feels great so I think I'm ready to give running another go. I've spent eleven days icing it, stretching it and giving it less strenuous workouts in the form of cycling and the elliptical. I've also been using a foam roller to roll my calf muscles since I read that sometimes shin splints can develop due to overly tight muscles in the calves.
My plan is to run a couple miles on the treadmill this evening and see how it goes. Keep your fingers crossed for me please!
And I'll finally get to wear these awesome new running shoes I purchased last weekend:
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| Brooks Ghost |
Some even better news is that it appears that Augie has also healed. YEA! Prior to my own injury, he hadn't been able to run with me for about five weeks due to a broken toe and then a muscle strain. About a week ago we started our morning walks again - slow and brief at first, then adding more distance and speed. He may be out of shape but he appears to be healthy again.
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| Cruisin' the 'hood |
A girl can dream, can't she? =)
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Cruisin'
After about 2 miles I made a left onto the Western Powerline Trail which is a wide dirt path that crosses east/west through neighborhoods and past parks in the East Valley. I stopped briefly to say hello to this friendly guy......
I didn't have any goodies to offer him so he didn't stay long.
I continued my journey and saw lots of runners (boo! I wish that was me!), a couple other cyclists, some people walking their dogs, and parents out with their kids.
When I arrived at downtown Gilbert (after about 4.5 miles), I decided to turn around and head back. The words of my oh-so-wise boyfriend kept ringing in my ears: You should just ride (or run) around the block because if you don't and you get a flat or injure yourself, you're gonna have a loooong way to walk back home. Can you imagine never venturing farther than a mile from home because you're so worried about what might happen?
Thank you baby.
So I headed back towards home. My path took me along the southern edge of the Riparian Reserve and since I have never explored that area before, I decided to make a quick detour and see what it was all about.
It was so pretty and peaceful there! Acres of meandering paths, lakes and trees full of all kinds of birds, and the smell of spring. And to think that you can find it right in the middle of a busy city. When I was ready to leave however, I found myself a bit lost. So I cruised around and enjoyed more of the ambiance until I finally stumbled upon the gate I had entered through.
All in all it was an uneventful ride (shear luck, huh Randy?). I am so glad I got out there and spent an hour exercising and taking in the sights, sounds and smells of Gilbert, Arizona.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Ouch
It looks like I have shin splints. Here's the definition of the condition that I found on WebMD:
Shin splints are a condition that causes pain and sometimes swelling in the front part of the lower leg (shin) . The pain is most likely from repeated stress on the shin bone (tibia) and the tissue that connects the muscle to the tibia. They are common in people who run or jog.
Yep, I guess that about sums it up. I suppose I should consider myself lucky to only have it in my left leg. That should mean only half the healing time, right? Everything I've read says that treatment of this condition would include rest, ice, some stretching and maybe even looking at getting new running shoes. Guess what? I got new running shoes on Saturday. Who knows when I'll be able to take them for their first test run though.
In the meantime, I apparently don't need to give up exercising altogether. I can do low impact sports such as swimming (yuck), the elliptical (so-so), cycling (hurts my butt and my knee) or walking (yawn). Or there's yoga (smile!).
Here's how Augie recommends treating an injury......
Hopefully I don't have a bad case and will be able to resume my running shortly. I've got two races coming up that I need to train for: the Cave Creek Trail Run on April 23rd and the Warrior Dash on April 30th. So I think that in order to make sure I'm ready to run those two races, I'll be extra cautious right now and allow my leg plenty of time to heal. In the meantime, you can find me slowly walking the streets of Gilbert with my gimpy dog Augie, who is also still trying to heal.
Shin splints are a condition that causes pain and sometimes swelling in the front part of the lower leg (shin) . The pain is most likely from repeated stress on the shin bone (tibia) and the tissue that connects the muscle to the tibia. They are common in people who run or jog.
Yep, I guess that about sums it up. I suppose I should consider myself lucky to only have it in my left leg. That should mean only half the healing time, right? Everything I've read says that treatment of this condition would include rest, ice, some stretching and maybe even looking at getting new running shoes. Guess what? I got new running shoes on Saturday. Who knows when I'll be able to take them for their first test run though.
In the meantime, I apparently don't need to give up exercising altogether. I can do low impact sports such as swimming (yuck), the elliptical (so-so), cycling (hurts my butt and my knee) or walking (yawn). Or there's yoga (smile!).
Here's how Augie recommends treating an injury......
Hopefully I don't have a bad case and will be able to resume my running shortly. I've got two races coming up that I need to train for: the Cave Creek Trail Run on April 23rd and the Warrior Dash on April 30th. So I think that in order to make sure I'm ready to run those two races, I'll be extra cautious right now and allow my leg plenty of time to heal. In the meantime, you can find me slowly walking the streets of Gilbert with my gimpy dog Augie, who is also still trying to heal.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Angels on earth
I love dogs. Dogs are loyal in a way that humans can never be. And their unconditional love is priceless.
They dance with joy when we come home, put their heads on our knees and stare longingly into our eyes. It's like getting the love and loyalty we so richly deserve and so rarely receive. Dogs are our unending source of kisses, cuddles, slobber, and laughs.
And they have the particularly appealing characteristic of being unable to speak. This leaves us the chance to fill in the blanks with what we need/want to hear. I've heard Augie say things like "You're the best and smartest human in the world, mom", "You're perfect in every way and you never make bad choices", and "You smell so great after you work out".
Of course, he's probably thinking none of these things but since he can't talk I can continue to go on believing that that's what's going through his canine mind. And even though he's "only a dog" (as some unfortunate people seem to think), I admit that his love for me can put a pep in my step and lift my spirits on days when nothing else can. All the dogs I've shared my home with have had this effect on me. Sometimes I feel like I simply can't do enough in return, even though I shower them with love, food and plush beds. It just seems like they still deserve more.
One of my favorite quotes about dogs is:
"He is your friend, your partner,
your defender, your dog.
You are his life, his love, his leader. He will
be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat
of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of
such devotion." ~Unknown
So on this Monday, a day when I'm feeling a bit down and a little beaten up by the world, I want to say THANK YOU AUGIE. For reminding me of what's good and pure. And for meeting me at the door like I'm a Noble-Peace-Prize-winning-Olympic-champion-superstar when I get home today at 4:30.
They dance with joy when we come home, put their heads on our knees and stare longingly into our eyes. It's like getting the love and loyalty we so richly deserve and so rarely receive. Dogs are our unending source of kisses, cuddles, slobber, and laughs.
Of course, he's probably thinking none of these things but since he can't talk I can continue to go on believing that that's what's going through his canine mind. And even though he's "only a dog" (as some unfortunate people seem to think), I admit that his love for me can put a pep in my step and lift my spirits on days when nothing else can. All the dogs I've shared my home with have had this effect on me. Sometimes I feel like I simply can't do enough in return, even though I shower them with love, food and plush beds. It just seems like they still deserve more.
One of my favorite quotes about dogs is:
"He is your friend, your partner,
your defender, your dog.
You are his life, his love, his leader. He will
be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat
of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of
such devotion." ~Unknown
So on this Monday, a day when I'm feeling a bit down and a little beaten up by the world, I want to say THANK YOU AUGIE. For reminding me of what's good and pure. And for meeting me at the door like I'm a Noble-Peace-Prize-winning-Olympic-champion-superstar when I get home today at 4:30.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Late for Lent
So I'm a week late for lent this year. I think I got distracted by life and simply forgot to put some thought into which of life's goodies I should give up and then actually make it happen. I hope that doesn't make me a bad Christian. But I'm starting today (better late than never, right?) and will extend "my" Lent seven days past the official Lent period so that I still get my forty days in.
And I will be giving up chocolate.
This will be difficult for me because not only do I have a major sweet tooth, I have a mouth full of them. All 32 are, in fact, sweet teeth. I'm not even sure my major organs will be able to continue to function without rich, milk chocolate included in their daily diet. But no matter, I'm going to follow through and my body will just have to find a way to adjust. I heard that some people are giving up Facebook for Lent. That's just crazy! I like to think of myself as a strong person but give up Facebook?? You'd have to be Ironman strong to do that.
But seriously, not only is Lent a time of self-denial, it is also a season of soul-searching and repentance. And a season for reflection and taking stock. I do those things pretty regularly but will be more conscious about doing them during this time.
What have you given up for Lent?
And I will be giving up chocolate.
This will be difficult for me because not only do I have a major sweet tooth, I have a mouth full of them. All 32 are, in fact, sweet teeth. I'm not even sure my major organs will be able to continue to function without rich, milk chocolate included in their daily diet. But no matter, I'm going to follow through and my body will just have to find a way to adjust. I heard that some people are giving up Facebook for Lent. That's just crazy! I like to think of myself as a strong person but give up Facebook?? You'd have to be Ironman strong to do that.
But seriously, not only is Lent a time of self-denial, it is also a season of soul-searching and repentance. And a season for reflection and taking stock. I do those things pretty regularly but will be more conscious about doing them during this time.
What have you given up for Lent?
Monday, March 14, 2011
Aug's Blog
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr. I'm really becoming frustrated. My mom says that my broken toe still isn't healed enough for walks or runs. It's been about 3 weeks since I got to run with my mom and at least two weeks since she took me for a walk. I'm a boxer! I need to rev up my engine every day! She even scolds me when I go out in the backyard and do a few boxer burns around the grass. The worst part is I haven't been able to spend any time with my girls Lulu and Matti 'cause mom says when we jump and spin and tumble it makes my toe even worse. I'm hating, hating, hating life right now!!
It also sucks 'cause the weather's gotten really nice; mornings are in the 50's and the days are up in the 80's I heard mom say. She tries to hide the fact that she still goes out and runs but I can smell it on her shoes when she's sneaks back home. I can smell exactly where she's been and who else was out there. I think she's mean for leaving me behind. I'm a tough boy! I don't care if I have some pain and discomfort! I just wanna race the wind and jump over trees and do my Secretariat imitation again.
I think I'll practice not limping and see if mom falls for it. I'll do anything to go for walks and runs again....
It also sucks 'cause the weather's gotten really nice; mornings are in the 50's and the days are up in the 80's I heard mom say. She tries to hide the fact that she still goes out and runs but I can smell it on her shoes when she's sneaks back home. I can smell exactly where she's been and who else was out there. I think she's mean for leaving me behind. I'm a tough boy! I don't care if I have some pain and discomfort! I just wanna race the wind and jump over trees and do my Secretariat imitation again.
I think I'll practice not limping and see if mom falls for it. I'll do anything to go for walks and runs again....
Friday, March 11, 2011
Half of a century
I will turn 50 tomorrow.
I've decided that in honor of my 50th birthday I will run for 50 minutes.
I tried to find a way to make it a more impressive run but I know I can't run 50 miles or 50 kilometers (31 miles). So then I started trying to finagle the numbers by using some math; March 12th (3+12=15.........15 miles? Nope); Born in 1961 (1+9+6+1=17.........17 miles? No way); 50 blocks? I guess it would depend on what you consider a block but it sounds too complicated for a Saturday morning run. 50 strides? That sounds more like it!
But no, I'll go for the 50 minutes and I'll spend the majority of that time thinking about how blessed I am to be able to walk, let alone run. And how blessed I am to have my health, my job, my friends, my family. And how blessed I am to have not been in the path of that tsumani.
50 minutes should get me between 4.5 and 5.25 miles, depending on how I'm feeling and how much I want to push myself. Whatever the distance is, I'll be happy with it.
And later in the day I'll go out for a nice dinner with my boyfriend and my family and I may even have dessert.
(And yes, AARP has already discovered it's my birthday and has already been in touch with me!)
I've decided that in honor of my 50th birthday I will run for 50 minutes.
I tried to find a way to make it a more impressive run but I know I can't run 50 miles or 50 kilometers (31 miles). So then I started trying to finagle the numbers by using some math; March 12th (3+12=15.........15 miles? Nope); Born in 1961 (1+9+6+1=17.........17 miles? No way); 50 blocks? I guess it would depend on what you consider a block but it sounds too complicated for a Saturday morning run. 50 strides? That sounds more like it!
But no, I'll go for the 50 minutes and I'll spend the majority of that time thinking about how blessed I am to be able to walk, let alone run. And how blessed I am to have my health, my job, my friends, my family. And how blessed I am to have not been in the path of that tsumani.
50 minutes should get me between 4.5 and 5.25 miles, depending on how I'm feeling and how much I want to push myself. Whatever the distance is, I'll be happy with it.
And later in the day I'll go out for a nice dinner with my boyfriend and my family and I may even have dessert.
(And yes, AARP has already discovered it's my birthday and has already been in touch with me!)
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
To Sally
I heard some news today that really made me stop and think about how blessed I am to be healthy and to have another day on this earth. Sally Meyerhoff, a champion marathoner and qualifyer for the Olympic trials, died when the bicycle she was riding hit a truck. She was 27 years old.
To hear that someone so young, so talented and so full of life has had their life cut short is sobering. So today I dedicated my short run to her memory. My plan for today didn't take me far but I ran hard and I ended up with my fastest time to date. I'll give Sally half the credit for that and credit myself the other half.
RIP Sally and thank you for being such an amazing runner and woman.
To hear that someone so young, so talented and so full of life has had their life cut short is sobering. So today I dedicated my short run to her memory. My plan for today didn't take me far but I ran hard and I ended up with my fastest time to date. I'll give Sally half the credit for that and credit myself the other half.
RIP Sally and thank you for being such an amazing runner and woman.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Dear cashier;
Why do you give me my change back all cattywampus? When did you lose so much respect for our currency that you think it's okay to have some bills upsidedown and backwards and others face up? And why do you put the coins on top of the bills? By the time I get my hand back near my purse to put the change away, most of it has fallen into my lap or onto the floor.
And another thing, when did people stop saying "you're welcome"? The most common response I get now when I say thank you is "no problem". No problem?? It better not be a problem - it's your job!!
Maybe we need to offer Cashiering 101 classes. Or maybe I just need to get over it and worry about the bigger things in life. Like how I'm going to find the money to fill my gas tank. I bet if I look on the floor near any cash register I'll find a bunch of change that other cutomers have dropped; that should help.
P.S. I'm loving my new treadmill! More on that later.....
And another thing, when did people stop saying "you're welcome"? The most common response I get now when I say thank you is "no problem". No problem?? It better not be a problem - it's your job!!
Maybe we need to offer Cashiering 101 classes. Or maybe I just need to get over it and worry about the bigger things in life. Like how I'm going to find the money to fill my gas tank. I bet if I look on the floor near any cash register I'll find a bunch of change that other cutomers have dropped; that should help.
P.S. I'm loving my new treadmill! More on that later.....
Friday, March 4, 2011
Spinning my wheels
I'm getting a new treadmill tomorrow!!! Well, it's not new new but it will be new to me. I've never owned my own treadmill before, only used the ones in gyms. But I figured since it looks like I'll be living in this God-forsaken hot, dusty desert for a while longer, I better find a way to continue my running even when it's 115 degrees outside.
Most runners have a love/hate relationship with treadmills. They hate them because it just doesn't compare to running outdoors. You tend to feel like a hamster in a wheel just running and running but never getting anywhere. The love comes into play when, for whatever reason, you CAN'T run outside. It may be the bad weather, scheduling, the lack of a babysitter, or any number of other reasons. For me the main reason will be the HOTTTT temperatures in July and August when it may not even drop below 85 at night. At least in my house I can keep it at 75 or so and put a big ol' fan in front of me.
So we hate having to run on a treadmill but love being able to run on a treadmill.
I've heard of people who actually do their training for a marathon on a treadmill and do 20 miles or more. Crazy, huh? I doubt I'll be doing that but it sure will be nice to be able to put in a few miles here and there.
It will be interesting to see how well it works with a crazy boxer and four mischevious cats in the house with me. I bet that'll make for an interesting blog or two. =)
Most runners have a love/hate relationship with treadmills. They hate them because it just doesn't compare to running outdoors. You tend to feel like a hamster in a wheel just running and running but never getting anywhere. The love comes into play when, for whatever reason, you CAN'T run outside. It may be the bad weather, scheduling, the lack of a babysitter, or any number of other reasons. For me the main reason will be the HOTTTT temperatures in July and August when it may not even drop below 85 at night. At least in my house I can keep it at 75 or so and put a big ol' fan in front of me.
So we hate having to run on a treadmill but love being able to run on a treadmill.
I've heard of people who actually do their training for a marathon on a treadmill and do 20 miles or more. Crazy, huh? I doubt I'll be doing that but it sure will be nice to be able to put in a few miles here and there.
It will be interesting to see how well it works with a crazy boxer and four mischevious cats in the house with me. I bet that'll make for an interesting blog or two. =)
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
I smell a fartlek!
Ok, I'm much too old and mature to make silly jokes about the word fartlek. But I will say that I was so fond of the term that I bought a sticker that simple says fartlek and I put it on my car. Non-runners probably won't have a clue what it means and I'm guessing it will provide them with a couple entertaining minutes of immature jokes when they read it while sitting behind me at a red light.
Yesterday was a gorgeous day for running; sunny, warm and with clear blue skies. So I put on my running gear and I headed out for a four mile run.
The reason I mentioned fartleks is because I did some of them during my run today. It has been said that beginner runners like fartleks because they involve speedwork but are not as demanding as traditional interval training. Yep, that's me - a beginner and hates anything demanding.
So I incorporated some fartleks into my run. It was fun because it was a change from just plain ol' running which, I admit, can get kind of boring at times.
Yesterday's run took me along the Western Canal Powerline where I got to see horses, goats, geese, ducks, and a smattering of dogs. It also took me across three major road crossings all of which luckily had signaled crossings. Usually I'd have to wait anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute to actually cross the roads so after that brief break, I'd fartlek for a couple minutes. It felt good. =)
Unfortunately my run wasn't quite as wonderful as it could/should have been on such a nice day. I felt really hot and was sweating a lot even though it was only 75 out. And my heart rate was higher than it normally is for a run of this length - in the 170's instead of the 160's. I'm sure if I was one of those lean runners it would take much less work to propel my body around at 5 mph.
Here's one last photo from yesterday.........
Today I will be doing a workout at the gym. Maybe the elliptical, maybe cycling, maybe the stairs, maybe all three.
I'll let you know how it goes and if I still feel the urge to fatlek.
Yesterday was a gorgeous day for running; sunny, warm and with clear blue skies. So I put on my running gear and I headed out for a four mile run.
The reason I mentioned fartleks is because I did some of them during my run today. It has been said that beginner runners like fartleks because they involve speedwork but are not as demanding as traditional interval training. Yep, that's me - a beginner and hates anything demanding.
So I incorporated some fartleks into my run. It was fun because it was a change from just plain ol' running which, I admit, can get kind of boring at times.
Unfortunately my run wasn't quite as wonderful as it could/should have been on such a nice day. I felt really hot and was sweating a lot even though it was only 75 out. And my heart rate was higher than it normally is for a run of this length - in the 170's instead of the 160's. I'm sure if I was one of those lean runners it would take much less work to propel my body around at 5 mph.
Today I will be doing a workout at the gym. Maybe the elliptical, maybe cycling, maybe the stairs, maybe all three.
I'll let you know how it goes and if I still feel the urge to fatlek.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Aug's Blog
Hi, it's me, Augie. I finally get a chance to write my own blog 'cause mom's planted on the couch watching the Academy Awards. Not really sure what that is but she seems to be pretty intent on watching it instead of walking me.
So I just wanna tell you all about my fun weekend with Matti and Lulu. They're mom's boyfriend's dogs and we usually get to visit each other on the weekends. Matti's butt smells different than Lulu's, but they both smell good. We run and jump and spin and growl and roll in the dead grass. Lots of times Matti grabs my cheeks and pulls really hard but I like it. Sometimes both girls gang up on me and wrestle me to the ground and I like that too. Who wouldn't, right? So we play and play and play until we get really thirsty then we race to see who can get through the dog door first and get to the watering hole in the kitchen. (Weird that a watering hole is in a house instead of outside). Lotsa times we've gotten stuck in the door because two or more of us get there at the same time. So there's lots of commotion and noise and I'll hear mom yelling waaa wa wa waaa wa AUGIE waaa wa waaaaaa. I've learned that if I stop and look at her she stops making the noise.
I have lots of toys too. If the girls are coming over mom puts most of them in a cabinet 'cause she doesn't want the girls to know how rich we are I guess, I don't know. But we still have some fun things to play with like a strap from an old toy, a tennis ball with no fur, and a big shredded thing that used to be a rope. We'll growl and tug and pretend to fight over the toys until mom or the boyfriend say the waaaaa waaa wa thing again.
I love our weekends. But after a while I'm ready for the girls to leave. I'm the strongest boy in Gilbert (mom said so) but I need some naps and downtime too. So they all head to the door and I get one last sniff of their butts to remember them by. I know they'll be back next week and until then I know I'll see them in my head when I go to sleep.
I have lots of toys too. If the girls are coming over mom puts most of them in a cabinet 'cause she doesn't want the girls to know how rich we are I guess, I don't know. But we still have some fun things to play with like a strap from an old toy, a tennis ball with no fur, and a big shredded thing that used to be a rope. We'll growl and tug and pretend to fight over the toys until mom or the boyfriend say the waaaaa waaa wa thing again.
I love our weekends. But after a while I'm ready for the girls to leave. I'm the strongest boy in Gilbert (mom said so) but I need some naps and downtime too. So they all head to the door and I get one last sniff of their butts to remember them by. I know they'll be back next week and until then I know I'll see them in my head when I go to sleep.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Retirement
I'm so excited!
It's time for me to replace my Saucony Progrid Ride 3 running shoes. I figure I have about 400 miles on them and according to most "experts", that's right around the number of miles you should expect from a running shoe. Continuing to wear running shoes after they have started to wear out and break down is simply asking for an injury.
I'm considering getting a brand new pair of the exact same shoe simply because I love them so much. Part of the love is because they have been a great shoe for me and have provided miles of comfort, support, cushioning, and stability. But I have to admit that a good part of that love is because of where they've gotten me.
Those Saucony's have taken me from a walker to a jogger to a runner. They've taken me along sidewalks, roads, dirt paths, hills, and around and around the track at the local junior high school. And they've gotten me through a couple 5k's, one 10k and most importantly, to the finish of my FIRST HALF MARATHON.
I would definitely consider donating them to a worthy charity if I didn't love them so much. But since I do have such strong feelings for them, I will instead give them a place on honor on the top shelf in my closet. I won't be giving such special attention to all my running shoes when I retire them, just these......the first pair that helped make me a runner.
Can we have a moment of silence please......................
It's time for me to replace my Saucony Progrid Ride 3 running shoes. I figure I have about 400 miles on them and according to most "experts", that's right around the number of miles you should expect from a running shoe. Continuing to wear running shoes after they have started to wear out and break down is simply asking for an injury.
(Don't ya just love the pretty pink laces I put in them?!)
I'm considering getting a brand new pair of the exact same shoe simply because I love them so much. Part of the love is because they have been a great shoe for me and have provided miles of comfort, support, cushioning, and stability. But I have to admit that a good part of that love is because of where they've gotten me.
Those Saucony's have taken me from a walker to a jogger to a runner. They've taken me along sidewalks, roads, dirt paths, hills, and around and around the track at the local junior high school. And they've gotten me through a couple 5k's, one 10k and most importantly, to the finish of my FIRST HALF MARATHON.
I would definitely consider donating them to a worthy charity if I didn't love them so much. But since I do have such strong feelings for them, I will instead give them a place on honor on the top shelf in my closet. I won't be giving such special attention to all my running shoes when I retire them, just these......the first pair that helped make me a runner.
Can we have a moment of silence please......................
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Done.
I completed my first half marathon! After five months of training I was finally able to run 13.1 miles. My official time was 2 hours, 27 minutes and 22 seconds which averages out to 11:22 minute miles. My "normal" running pace (when I'm not in a race and not running more than 10 miles) is about 10:40.
The Lost Dutchman Half Marathon course is what I would consider a hilly course made up of gentle rolling hills from start to finish. I was handling them pretty well (and running negative splits) until about mile 5 when it became a steady uphill climb until the turnaround point at mile 6.5. Obviously, mile 6.5 through 8 was then a nice, easy downhill run where I was able to let my legs relax and loosen back up a little. But it was also at this point that the rain started falling. Running in the rain isn't a whole lot of fun but luckily I had worn a cap and that kept the rain from beating directly on my face. The temperature at this point was probably about 50 degrees but I had already been running for over an hour so I wasn't cold.
Around mile 9 is when I started feeling slightly fatigued. (In past runs, when I've gone over 9 miles, which has only been twice, I think I've become fatigued because I haven't fueled my body properly. This time, I feel I did eat the right things and the right amounts - I carb loaded the night before and had a half of a bagel with peanut butter at 5:00 a.m. and then ingested two GU's during the run. I really think today's fatigue was because of the hills and because my legs just weren't prepared enough for them).
So, I struggled a little bit with the last couple miles but I hung in there. I think my excitement was what kept me going towards the end mostly because I knew I was really close, but also because this was the farthest I had EVER run in my whole life. Even during my training runs I had never gone further than 10.5 miles.
The highlights of my race were:
* Seeing my mom at mile 4.75. My mom is 78 years old and sometimes has a difficult time getting around. For her to make the effort to find a place on the course where she could park, then stand there in the cold and the rain waiting for me to finally run past was a HUGE deal to me. It's something I'll never forget.
* Seeing my wonderful boyfriend Randy at mile 12.5. He has also had some recent physical issues but he did what he had to do and drove out there just to root me on during the last leg.
* Having my sister Lisa there to encourage, support and cheer me on in my very first half marathon. It was really nice to have her there from start to finish.
*And lastly............but most obviously.........finishing!
Here I am at the finish with my medal:
Even when you think you are totally prepared and with months of training behind you, you never quite know what race day will bring. You could develop an injury, get sick, have a wardrobe malfunction, forget your bib, get a flat tire on your way there, have a family emergency, forget your socks, or still be standing in the porta-jon line when the starting gun goes off. So yes, I am extremely thankful that I was able to finish and to finish with a pretty decent time for a new, 49 year-old runner.
Tomorrow I get a day off. =)
The Lost Dutchman Half Marathon course is what I would consider a hilly course made up of gentle rolling hills from start to finish. I was handling them pretty well (and running negative splits) until about mile 5 when it became a steady uphill climb until the turnaround point at mile 6.5. Obviously, mile 6.5 through 8 was then a nice, easy downhill run where I was able to let my legs relax and loosen back up a little. But it was also at this point that the rain started falling. Running in the rain isn't a whole lot of fun but luckily I had worn a cap and that kept the rain from beating directly on my face. The temperature at this point was probably about 50 degrees but I had already been running for over an hour so I wasn't cold.
Around mile 9 is when I started feeling slightly fatigued. (In past runs, when I've gone over 9 miles, which has only been twice, I think I've become fatigued because I haven't fueled my body properly. This time, I feel I did eat the right things and the right amounts - I carb loaded the night before and had a half of a bagel with peanut butter at 5:00 a.m. and then ingested two GU's during the run. I really think today's fatigue was because of the hills and because my legs just weren't prepared enough for them).
So, I struggled a little bit with the last couple miles but I hung in there. I think my excitement was what kept me going towards the end mostly because I knew I was really close, but also because this was the farthest I had EVER run in my whole life. Even during my training runs I had never gone further than 10.5 miles.
The highlights of my race were:
* Seeing my mom at mile 4.75. My mom is 78 years old and sometimes has a difficult time getting around. For her to make the effort to find a place on the course where she could park, then stand there in the cold and the rain waiting for me to finally run past was a HUGE deal to me. It's something I'll never forget.
* Seeing my wonderful boyfriend Randy at mile 12.5. He has also had some recent physical issues but he did what he had to do and drove out there just to root me on during the last leg.
* Having my sister Lisa there to encourage, support and cheer me on in my very first half marathon. It was really nice to have her there from start to finish.
*And lastly............but most obviously.........finishing!
Here I am at the finish with my medal:
Even when you think you are totally prepared and with months of training behind you, you never quite know what race day will bring. You could develop an injury, get sick, have a wardrobe malfunction, forget your bib, get a flat tire on your way there, have a family emergency, forget your socks, or still be standing in the porta-jon line when the starting gun goes off. So yes, I am extremely thankful that I was able to finish and to finish with a pretty decent time for a new, 49 year-old runner.
Tomorrow I get a day off. =)
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Why I Run
Today, I was asked by a coworker why I run. Actually, his exact wording was "why the hell would you run when you have a car"? I've been asked this question many times and each time I seem to give a different answer. I guess that's because there are many reasons why I run.
- I run so I can eat. I discovered that running burns a ton of calories and that runners need carbs to fuel their runs. And I love my carbs!
- I run so I can think. All that time out there on the roads with no distractions like t.v. or the computer, gives the mind a lot of time to simply think.
- I run because running requires discipline and honesty. If I don't put the work in, it will be obvious in my performance.
- I run because I like the muscles that now show in my legs.
- I run because no other type of exercise has made me feel more alive.
- I run for the challenge. I really want to see my pace get faster and my distances get longer.
- I run because it's a wonderful antidepressant.
- I run because wearing out a pair of running shoes is a cool thing to have done and getting to buy a new pair is exciting!
- I run to keep my dog healthy and happy (he joins me on most of my runs).
- And if I'm being totally honest, I run because I like to be a part of a minority that non-runners think are crazy.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Countdown
It's only six days until my first half marathon and I don't feel ready. For those of you who don't know, a half marathon is 13.1 miles. The furthest I've run at one time is 10.5 miles and those 10.5 miles were tough. I've been (more or less) following an official 16-week plan to get me ready for this race. And I started way more than 16 weeks ago so you would think I'd be way more than ready.
Maybe I can blame my age or the fact that I'm probably 10 to 15 pounds overweight. I can certainly put part of the blame on the things I eat. I would guestimate that I probably eat healthy 84% of the time. Its that 16% that screws up my performance and my training.
So what's the worst thing that (in my mind) will happen on Sunday when I attempt to run 13.1 miles? I'll have to walk part of the course. That may not sound so bad to some people but to someone who has been training for over five months, it's not the desired outcome.
But who knows, maybe I'll surprise even myself and run the race from start to finish. I guess only time will tell.
One thing I know for sure: I WILL FINISH THE RACE. And I will collect my very first medal when I do.
And I'll probably wear the medal to bed that night.
Maybe I can blame my age or the fact that I'm probably 10 to 15 pounds overweight. I can certainly put part of the blame on the things I eat. I would guestimate that I probably eat healthy 84% of the time. Its that 16% that screws up my performance and my training.
So what's the worst thing that (in my mind) will happen on Sunday when I attempt to run 13.1 miles? I'll have to walk part of the course. That may not sound so bad to some people but to someone who has been training for over five months, it's not the desired outcome.
But who knows, maybe I'll surprise even myself and run the race from start to finish. I guess only time will tell.
One thing I know for sure: I WILL FINISH THE RACE. And I will collect my very first medal when I do.
And I'll probably wear the medal to bed that night.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Yoga
Yoga is fun. Fun and challenging. There are times when I'm holding a pose that's fairly difficult (for me anyway) and in my mind I'm begging the instructor to END IT ALREADY. At those times I'm not so fond of yoga. But in the end, I feel good and I'm always glad I did it.
I recently bought a yoga DVD called "Yoga for Athletes" for those times I can't/won't get to the gym. On the one hand, doing the routines in the comfort of my own home is great; I can dress however I want, do it at any time of the day or night and don't have to worry about what the person behind me is thinking of the size of my butt. But on the other hand......CATS AND DOGS! I can't even count the number of times I have to tell Augie to "GO" or push a cat off of me. Apparently laying on the floor makes you fair game. At one point I was making my best effort to breathe correctly, find my happy place and hold a Downward Facing Dog, when Augie decided to stand underneath me and lick my face. When I tried to scold him, he got nervous (but stayed where he was), turned around and started licking his junk. Then he wanted to kiss me again. UGH.
Ultimately it ends up still being a good workout - just slightly less peaceful than I think yoga is supposed to be. =)
I recently bought a yoga DVD called "Yoga for Athletes" for those times I can't/won't get to the gym. On the one hand, doing the routines in the comfort of my own home is great; I can dress however I want, do it at any time of the day or night and don't have to worry about what the person behind me is thinking of the size of my butt. But on the other hand......CATS AND DOGS! I can't even count the number of times I have to tell Augie to "GO" or push a cat off of me. Apparently laying on the floor makes you fair game. At one point I was making my best effort to breathe correctly, find my happy place and hold a Downward Facing Dog, when Augie decided to stand underneath me and lick my face. When I tried to scold him, he got nervous (but stayed where he was), turned around and started licking his junk. Then he wanted to kiss me again. UGH.
Ultimately it ends up still being a good workout - just slightly less peaceful than I think yoga is supposed to be. =)
Monday, February 7, 2011
Arg
Yesterday's long run was a disaster, at least in my mind. It started out okay, I was feeling pretty strong and was going along at my usual pace listening to some upbeat songs on my iPod. Having done some pre-planning, I had hidden a bottle of Gatorade and an apple-cinnamon flavored GU at mile 5 knowing I was going to need some additional fuel to help get me through the 12 miles I was hoping for. I stopped for about 2 minutes while I ingested the Gu and drank several mouthfuls of Gatorade then off I went on the second half of the run.
Around mile 7 - 7.5 I started to feel heavy and worn out. It was warmer than I expected (about 63) and I was sweating pretty good too. According to my heart rate monitor my heart rate had also increased a bit even though I had slowed my pace a tiny bit. I drank the last of my water around mile 8.5 and that's also when I started having to walk some of my route. I would walk for a couple minutes then would start running again but I felt reeeeeally heavy and sluggish. I discarded my plan to run 12 miles and headed home at that point which would make it only a 10.5 mile run including my .5 mile cool down.
As soon as I arrived home I drank many ounces of Gatorade and water which tells me that I most likely didn't drink enough while I was out there. (I wear a Nathan fuel belt that has two 10 ounce bottles for fluids). But was that the cause of my sluggishness? Or did I fuel incorrectly before and/or during the run?
I will definitely be searching the Internet for advice from the experts on how I should be fueling my runs in the future. If I want to continue long distance running - which I do - I will definitely need to resolve this issue. And I hope I can do that before my first half marathon scheduled for February 20, 2011. A meer 13 days away......
Around mile 7 - 7.5 I started to feel heavy and worn out. It was warmer than I expected (about 63) and I was sweating pretty good too. According to my heart rate monitor my heart rate had also increased a bit even though I had slowed my pace a tiny bit. I drank the last of my water around mile 8.5 and that's also when I started having to walk some of my route. I would walk for a couple minutes then would start running again but I felt reeeeeally heavy and sluggish. I discarded my plan to run 12 miles and headed home at that point which would make it only a 10.5 mile run including my .5 mile cool down.
As soon as I arrived home I drank many ounces of Gatorade and water which tells me that I most likely didn't drink enough while I was out there. (I wear a Nathan fuel belt that has two 10 ounce bottles for fluids). But was that the cause of my sluggishness? Or did I fuel incorrectly before and/or during the run?
I will definitely be searching the Internet for advice from the experts on how I should be fueling my runs in the future. If I want to continue long distance running - which I do - I will definitely need to resolve this issue. And I hope I can do that before my first half marathon scheduled for February 20, 2011. A meer 13 days away......
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Slacker
Felt like goofing off today instead of running. I obviously don't yet have the hardcore discipline I'd like to have when it comes to my training.
However, I did feel guilty enough about that decision to really pour myself into house cleaning this morning. Now the house smells and looks wonderful!
I will now spend the rest of the day with my boyfriend Randy playing miniature golf, maybe seeing a movie (any suggestions?), and stopping somewhere for a yummy lunch.
Augie will spend the day playing with Randy's dogs, Lulu and Matti. He loves those girls and they really give him a run for his money. It's great cross training for him!
Tomorrow I will do my weekly long run - hopefully 12 miles but I'll be pretty happy with anything over 10.
Until then....
Have a wonderful Saturday everyone!!
However, I did feel guilty enough about that decision to really pour myself into house cleaning this morning. Now the house smells and looks wonderful!
I will now spend the rest of the day with my boyfriend Randy playing miniature golf, maybe seeing a movie (any suggestions?), and stopping somewhere for a yummy lunch.
Augie will spend the day playing with Randy's dogs, Lulu and Matti. He loves those girls and they really give him a run for his money. It's great cross training for him!
Tomorrow I will do my weekly long run - hopefully 12 miles but I'll be pretty happy with anything over 10.
Until then....
Have a wonderful Saturday everyone!!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
What's a girl to do
Brrrr. It was only 27 degrees outside when I got up at 4:10 am. Decided it didn't sound like much fun to run in that temperature so Augie and I just went for a quick walk instead. I'll do my run after work when it (hopefully) warms up to 50 or so.
Ever heard of the Snot Spot Glove? You put it over your regular glove and it gives you a place to wipe your snot while you're working out.
Anybody who spends any time outside in this cold weather, and especially athletes, know what a problem nasal dripage can become. For a runner like me, my options are: keep sniffling to keep it from dripping down my face, blow snot rockets (not for the faint of heart and a method mostly used by men), wipe my nose on a sleeve (again, a method mostly used by men) or get the Snot Spot Glove.
I just thought it was kind of cool that someone actually set about trying to find a solution to that problem, and actually came up with a pretty good idea. And you can get them for only $9.99.
But since I really don't want to add another item to my list of things to put on when I'm going out to do a run, I guess for now I'll continue with my sniffling.
Ever heard of the Snot Spot Glove? You put it over your regular glove and it gives you a place to wipe your snot while you're working out.
Anybody who spends any time outside in this cold weather, and especially athletes, know what a problem nasal dripage can become. For a runner like me, my options are: keep sniffling to keep it from dripping down my face, blow snot rockets (not for the faint of heart and a method mostly used by men), wipe my nose on a sleeve (again, a method mostly used by men) or get the Snot Spot Glove.
I just thought it was kind of cool that someone actually set about trying to find a solution to that problem, and actually came up with a pretty good idea. And you can get them for only $9.99.
But since I really don't want to add another item to my list of things to put on when I'm going out to do a run, I guess for now I'll continue with my sniffling.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
The Monster
I'm kind of jealous of the rest of the country.
While they're being hit with what the news channels are calling a "monster storm", we're getting some wind, a few sprinkles and daytime temperatures in the 50's. Brr.
When I lived in the mountains of Colorado, I actually looked forward to those big, crazy, cold storms. I loved stocking up on groceries, filling up our gas tanks, loading up on firewood and hunkering down with loved ones. I loved having to clear the driveway of the falling snow every few hours because if we didn't, it would pile up too much and then we couldn't move it at all. And if the power went out, I loved having to light candles and have a fire in the wood stove to keep the house warm. Maybe it all seemed "fun" to me because I knew it wouldn't last forever. Usually we were only inconvenienced for a couple days.
I clearly remember one storm in the winter of 2006 when we lost power for 4 1/2 days and got almost six feet of snow. That wasn't quite as much fun to experience mainly because our house was on a well and a well doesn't provide water to a house without electricity. Showering wasn't a huge issue because we could drive to a friend's house for that; it was finding a way to get water to the three horses and two goats stuck down in the barn.
But of course, we survived that storm and every other crazy storm that winter brought our way.
If you're one of the millions of people who are in the throes of this "monster storm", I hope you have all the food, warmth, water and love you need to get you through.
While they're being hit with what the news channels are calling a "monster storm", we're getting some wind, a few sprinkles and daytime temperatures in the 50's. Brr.
When I lived in the mountains of Colorado, I actually looked forward to those big, crazy, cold storms. I loved stocking up on groceries, filling up our gas tanks, loading up on firewood and hunkering down with loved ones. I loved having to clear the driveway of the falling snow every few hours because if we didn't, it would pile up too much and then we couldn't move it at all. And if the power went out, I loved having to light candles and have a fire in the wood stove to keep the house warm. Maybe it all seemed "fun" to me because I knew it wouldn't last forever. Usually we were only inconvenienced for a couple days.
I clearly remember one storm in the winter of 2006 when we lost power for 4 1/2 days and got almost six feet of snow. That wasn't quite as much fun to experience mainly because our house was on a well and a well doesn't provide water to a house without electricity. Showering wasn't a huge issue because we could drive to a friend's house for that; it was finding a way to get water to the three horses and two goats stuck down in the barn.
But of course, we survived that storm and every other crazy storm that winter brought our way.
If you're one of the millions of people who are in the throes of this "monster storm", I hope you have all the food, warmth, water and love you need to get you through.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Stats
Up at 4:05 to do a 3.5 mile run with Augie before work. His leg seemed to be feeling fine during the run so I think we're back on track. I'm so happy to have my running partner back!
And to continue my whine (not wine) from yesterday, I woke up still feeling discouraged about the lack of improvement in my running times. I decided to look back over the running stats I have saved on Runkeeper.com to hopefully find something to make myself feel better. For those of you who don't know, Runkeeper is an app you can download onto your smart phone which will track your runs by GPS, then it calculates your pace, elevation change, splits, etc. There are charts and graphs and all kinds of cool stuff (if you're into that kind of thing).
I chose one longer run from each month going back to September and compared them to last weekend's seven mile run. You know what I found? My pace has improved! And my heart rate has even dropped a little. There aren't huge diffferences in the numbers but there are definitely consistent improvements and that's all I needed to see.
It's so great to know that all the effort, all the time, all the MILES have made a difference. Nobody wants to continually apply themselves to something and not have it pay off somehow. I mean, that's the whole point right? Now that I have the proof that I'm making progress, I feel more motivated than ever.
And to continue my whine (not wine) from yesterday, I woke up still feeling discouraged about the lack of improvement in my running times. I decided to look back over the running stats I have saved on Runkeeper.com to hopefully find something to make myself feel better. For those of you who don't know, Runkeeper is an app you can download onto your smart phone which will track your runs by GPS, then it calculates your pace, elevation change, splits, etc. There are charts and graphs and all kinds of cool stuff (if you're into that kind of thing).
I chose one longer run from each month going back to September and compared them to last weekend's seven mile run. You know what I found? My pace has improved! And my heart rate has even dropped a little. There aren't huge diffferences in the numbers but there are definitely consistent improvements and that's all I needed to see.
It's so great to know that all the effort, all the time, all the MILES have made a difference. Nobody wants to continually apply themselves to something and not have it pay off somehow. I mean, that's the whole point right? Now that I have the proof that I'm making progress, I feel more motivated than ever.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Back in the saddle
I did my run yesterday! It wasn't the 10 or 11 miles I was shooting for but it was seven, and seven is much better than none.
During a conversation with my sister later I told her I had "only run seven miles" and that I was frustrated about not being able to run further and faster. She reminded me that I have come a long way and I have increased my distances and times. Of course, she's right.
Back in October I ran my first 10k race (6.2 miles) and finished with a time of 1 hour and 9 minutes. I ran that race as hard as I could at the time and felt it the rest of the day.
Yesterday I casually ran 7 miles in 1 hour and 14 minutes.
So the progress is there, it's just very slow progress. But what do I expect at the age of 49 and having never really been a runner before in my life? I expect huge results, that's what I expect!
The conversation was somewhat of a reality check for me and made me realize I need to quit expecting my body to respond like it may have 20 years ago and just be happy with the fact I CAN RUN. And I do run even on days when it would be easier for me to sit on the couch.
During a conversation with my sister later I told her I had "only run seven miles" and that I was frustrated about not being able to run further and faster. She reminded me that I have come a long way and I have increased my distances and times. Of course, she's right.
Back in October I ran my first 10k race (6.2 miles) and finished with a time of 1 hour and 9 minutes. I ran that race as hard as I could at the time and felt it the rest of the day.
Yesterday I casually ran 7 miles in 1 hour and 14 minutes.
So the progress is there, it's just very slow progress. But what do I expect at the age of 49 and having never really been a runner before in my life? I expect huge results, that's what I expect!
The conversation was somewhat of a reality check for me and made me realize I need to quit expecting my body to respond like it may have 20 years ago and just be happy with the fact I CAN RUN. And I do run even on days when it would be easier for me to sit on the couch.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Finding the drive
I've lost some motivation.
For some reason not being able to run with Augie this week has made me lose some of my drive to run at all. Maybe it's because I do better when I have a set schedule that in my mind I have to stick to and with Augie in rehab, that schedule was put on hold. I know that may just sound like an excuse, and maybe it is, but I'll be the first one to admit I'm not the most ambitious person on earth. Or even in Gilbert. The only reason I go in to work day in and day out is because I know I have to and because it's on my schedule. Running in the early mornings was always on my agenda too until Augs hurt his leg. And because HE knew it was on our agenda, he helped me make sure it happened. Now I kind of feel like I'm floundering.
At least I've still been working out this week. It's not like I quit exercising altogether. I just haven't been doing as much running as I think I should with my first half marathon coming up in 23 days.
So the plan is to do a long run tomorrow morning - anywhere between 8 and 11 miles depending on how I'm feeling. But that's only if I can get out the door without feeling horribly guilty because he's looking at me sad and confused because he doesn't get to go too.
Hopefully by Monday morning, Augie's leg will be 100% better and we can go back to our "normal" life.
For some reason not being able to run with Augie this week has made me lose some of my drive to run at all. Maybe it's because I do better when I have a set schedule that in my mind I have to stick to and with Augie in rehab, that schedule was put on hold. I know that may just sound like an excuse, and maybe it is, but I'll be the first one to admit I'm not the most ambitious person on earth. Or even in Gilbert. The only reason I go in to work day in and day out is because I know I have to and because it's on my schedule. Running in the early mornings was always on my agenda too until Augs hurt his leg. And because HE knew it was on our agenda, he helped me make sure it happened. Now I kind of feel like I'm floundering.
At least I've still been working out this week. It's not like I quit exercising altogether. I just haven't been doing as much running as I think I should with my first half marathon coming up in 23 days.
So the plan is to do a long run tomorrow morning - anywhere between 8 and 11 miles depending on how I'm feeling. But that's only if I can get out the door without feeling horribly guilty because he's looking at me sad and confused because he doesn't get to go too.
Hopefully by Monday morning, Augie's leg will be 100% better and we can go back to our "normal" life.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Guilt
Augie is still limping. He's limping less than he was a couple days ago but it's still a limp. I've decided to keep his activity down for a full week to let whatever the problem is heal. But I feel so guilty getting all dressed and ready for a run and then having to look at his sad face as he realizes his mom isn't taking him with her. I just can't do it when that's all he really has to look forward to each day.
So I'm headed to the gym after work for a quick run on the treadmill.
I figured if I go to the gym before I go home he'll never know that I cheated on him.
I sure hope his foot gets better soon so I can have my running buddy back.
So I'm headed to the gym after work for a quick run on the treadmill.
I figured if I go to the gym before I go home he'll never know that I cheated on him.
I sure hope his foot gets better soon so I can have my running buddy back.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Warriors
My sister Lisa and I signed up for the Arizona Warrior Dash today.
The Warrior Dash is a crazy 5k course with obstacles thrown in for good measure. For example, while you're trying to complete a run of 3+ miles, you must also jump over fire, climb over giant hay bales, scramble under barbed wire through a giant mud bog, and crawl through dark tunnels. We happily paid $50 for this experience.
Yep, $50.
And get this; one of the Rules & Guidelines states that "Urinating or defecating on or anywhere near the course is strictly prohibited". That should give you an indication of the types ofidiots participants this event typically gets.
But hey, we do get a t-shirt, a warrior helmet and a free beer at the end of the day.
And I've been wanting a warrior helmet my entire life.
The Warrior Dash is a crazy 5k course with obstacles thrown in for good measure. For example, while you're trying to complete a run of 3+ miles, you must also jump over fire, climb over giant hay bales, scramble under barbed wire through a giant mud bog, and crawl through dark tunnels. We happily paid $50 for this experience.
Yep, $50.
And get this; one of the Rules & Guidelines states that "Urinating or defecating on or anywhere near the course is strictly prohibited". That should give you an indication of the types of
But hey, we do get a t-shirt, a warrior helmet and a free beer at the end of the day.
And I've been wanting a warrior helmet my entire life.
Monday, January 24, 2011
RIP kitty
I had to run without Augie this morning. He's had a slight limp for about a week and I selfishly kept taking him out on runs with me. (I know, I'm a bad mom. But I enjoy his silent company and I feel safer having him along especially during my pre-dawn runs). But today I decided that he will get as much time without exercise as he needs to heal and get healthy again. So I gave him a treat and headed out the door alone at 4:17 am.
As much as I complain about the stops Augie has to make on our runs, I admit I secretly (shhhhh, don't tell) welcome the chance to stop running for a minute and catch my breath. When he's not with me I don't let myself stop and I have to say, it's tough.
Anyway around mile 2.5, I came across a dead cat that had apparently been hit by a car and was laying in the road. Even though it was already dead, I felt it needed to be taken off the road so it's body wouldn't suffer any more damage. I picked it up and moved it to the grass next to the sidewalk. If that was one of my cats, I would hope someone would do the same for her/him. Then I headed back on my way wondering if the cat's owners would ever know what became of him or if they would always be left to wonder.
Maybe it's better to not always know the details of those things.
As much as I complain about the stops Augie has to make on our runs, I admit I secretly (shhhhh, don't tell) welcome the chance to stop running for a minute and catch my breath. When he's not with me I don't let myself stop and I have to say, it's tough.
Anyway around mile 2.5, I came across a dead cat that had apparently been hit by a car and was laying in the road. Even though it was already dead, I felt it needed to be taken off the road so it's body wouldn't suffer any more damage. I picked it up and moved it to the grass next to the sidewalk. If that was one of my cats, I would hope someone would do the same for her/him. Then I headed back on my way wondering if the cat's owners would ever know what became of him or if they would always be left to wonder.
Maybe it's better to not always know the details of those things.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Day one, blog one
Hi. I'm Terri and I've decided to join the world of blogging. My life is really nothing exceptional, just thought I would join the 21st century and blog about the things I experience and think about on a daily basis.
I suppose a good place to start would be with an explanation of my blog title....
I became a huge lover of the fun, simple and inexpensive flip flops when I moved to Arizona in March of 2008. I get quite a bit of joy from putting on a pretty pair of flip flops and painting my toenails a vibrant color. This was something I couldn't do much of while living in the mountains of Colorado for 16 years.
In the summer of 2010 at the age of 49, I decided to take up running (hence the Saucony name in the title), mostly because I rescued a boxer named Augie who needed a LOT of exercise. Our journey began with long daily walks, which turned into walk/jogs, jog/walks, walk/runs, run/walks and eventually evolved into plain ol' runs. I now officially have the running "bug" and am well on my way to running my first half marathon (on February 20, 2011) and maybe, just maybe, a marathon later in the year.
That's me in less than a nutshell. More to come later. Let the journey continue....
I suppose a good place to start would be with an explanation of my blog title....
I became a huge lover of the fun, simple and inexpensive flip flops when I moved to Arizona in March of 2008. I get quite a bit of joy from putting on a pretty pair of flip flops and painting my toenails a vibrant color. This was something I couldn't do much of while living in the mountains of Colorado for 16 years.
In the summer of 2010 at the age of 49, I decided to take up running (hence the Saucony name in the title), mostly because I rescued a boxer named Augie who needed a LOT of exercise. Our journey began with long daily walks, which turned into walk/jogs, jog/walks, walk/runs, run/walks and eventually evolved into plain ol' runs. I now officially have the running "bug" and am well on my way to running my first half marathon (on February 20, 2011) and maybe, just maybe, a marathon later in the year.
That's me in less than a nutshell. More to come later. Let the journey continue....
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