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!!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
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.
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