Alright so, this final post is much delayed... say two weeks.
Monday, October 8th I ran and completed my first 10K after only three weeks of training. I think I said before I've cheered at 3 or 4 different Tufts 10K's, but actually racing was a whole different feeling - similar to my first 5K - a little jittery, probably quieter than normal. The weather was beautiful though! Last year it was like 90*F, no joke. So, I am so thankful that the weather cooperated.
Two of my closest friends had mentioned that they'd like to run with me, but I wasn't so sure if this was a good idea. I generally like to run alone with my ipod, without the feeling of slowing someone else down - because I am the slowest runner ever. As the announcers started calling the 7,000 ladies (and like 10 guys) to line up I kind of started freaking out. I said something like, "Welllll, if you guys want to run with me, that would probably be ok. Actually, it's a good idea." The first two miles I think we did like 10:30's which is faster than I've been training during my longer runs. At one point I like looked back and there was what seemed like a million people behind, so that fear of being the last one diminished pretty quickly. My goal for this race was to at least make it to mile 4 without walking, so we slowed down a little bit. I think we got to 4.5 miles before I just need to walk a minute. Along the way we saw some buddies screaming, clapping and ringing the cowbell (always a nice boost). At the end of the race (a rare case with this many runners) the MC announced my name at the finish thanks to my running buddies' screaming/pointing/jumping-up-and-down antics :) - so that was pretty cool. Thanks ladies!
We finished with an 11 minute pace for an hour and 8 minutes. I figured it would take me an hour, ten minutes and was pretty happy with the time. Then in the food/water line I got rammed in leg by a freeloader's cart - almost took her cart from her!
No injuries though, success! Knees felt good, feet felt good. Lunch and a brew sounded better.
The next time (if there is one, *wink) something 5 weeks training would probably make more sense. None-the-less it can be done in three weeks.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012
Tempos and Lyrics
Friday's yoga class gave me a good core workout. We had a different instructor who emphasized different poses, so it was a good change-up.
Over a brew, I was talking to my fitness guru about what my Saturday run would be. She talked me into doing a tempo-run - run 2:30 minutes at about an 8 on a 10 point hurt-meter, then walk 1 minute. She said to do this 10 times. Sounds good to me.
In the morning, I set out and felt awesome! I think it's annoying to do a timed run with traffic lights and such (would usually do this on the treadmill), so I didn't try to keep on a set map and just went with the traffic lights. If there was a no-walk sign I just turned right or left - whichever was easier. The first two rounds of tempos were great. By the fifth one I decided it was time to circle back home, and I ended up doing eight rounds. Later I talked to the guru and she told me that she over-shot the workout anyway thinking I would do 6 to 8 on my own. Racing against yourself multiple times does get old.
Other than that, Saturday's run was pretty normal. I just ran and walked. I don't remember what music played on shuffle. I didn't almost step on a dead rat (that happened last Monday - the thing looked like it just keeled over right there on the riverwalk and I almost crushed it, gag). Best of all though, my feet did not get torn up.
I spent Sunday canning a small batch of applesauce (of which I accidently doubled the Cloves), made some pasta and watched football. Good rest day.
Today, the last Monday before race day, I ran 5.4 miles. It took for.ev.ver. (Sandlot, anyone?) I couldn't motivate myself to do this in the morning, so I started work early then ducked out in the afternoon. I went out over the Longfellow into the city, up to Gov't Center, then Park St., around the Common, down Beacon, then back over Mass Ave. I remember two songs specifically today. "Suddenly, Everything has Changed" by The Flaming Lips where I found my self singing these word in my head, "Suddenly, everything has changed. The other day I woke-up, thouggghhht I'd be a ruuuunnner today." Somewhere around the Common (nearer Arlington T-stop) I started getting bored, dodging people was getting old. I had an estimated 20 minutes left... Beacon was nice though - just a long, flat, straight stretch of sidewalk. Trees turning, brown-stone everywhere you look. Nearing Mass Ave "Back In Black" by AC/DC helped push me over the bridge back into Cambridge.
So far, I got out of this one without pain inspired hobbling. Although, if I do a deep knee bend my patellas might shoot someone's eye out.
Over a brew, I was talking to my fitness guru about what my Saturday run would be. She talked me into doing a tempo-run - run 2:30 minutes at about an 8 on a 10 point hurt-meter, then walk 1 minute. She said to do this 10 times. Sounds good to me.
In the morning, I set out and felt awesome! I think it's annoying to do a timed run with traffic lights and such (would usually do this on the treadmill), so I didn't try to keep on a set map and just went with the traffic lights. If there was a no-walk sign I just turned right or left - whichever was easier. The first two rounds of tempos were great. By the fifth one I decided it was time to circle back home, and I ended up doing eight rounds. Later I talked to the guru and she told me that she over-shot the workout anyway thinking I would do 6 to 8 on my own. Racing against yourself multiple times does get old.
Other than that, Saturday's run was pretty normal. I just ran and walked. I don't remember what music played on shuffle. I didn't almost step on a dead rat (that happened last Monday - the thing looked like it just keeled over right there on the riverwalk and I almost crushed it, gag). Best of all though, my feet did not get torn up.
I spent Sunday canning a small batch of applesauce (of which I accidently doubled the Cloves), made some pasta and watched football. Good rest day.
Today, the last Monday before race day, I ran 5.4 miles. It took for.ev.ver. (Sandlot, anyone?) I couldn't motivate myself to do this in the morning, so I started work early then ducked out in the afternoon. I went out over the Longfellow into the city, up to Gov't Center, then Park St., around the Common, down Beacon, then back over Mass Ave. I remember two songs specifically today. "Suddenly, Everything has Changed" by The Flaming Lips where I found my self singing these word in my head, "Suddenly, everything has changed. The other day I woke-up, thouggghhht I'd be a ruuuunnner today." Somewhere around the Common (nearer Arlington T-stop) I started getting bored, dodging people was getting old. I had an estimated 20 minutes left... Beacon was nice though - just a long, flat, straight stretch of sidewalk. Trees turning, brown-stone everywhere you look. Nearing Mass Ave "Back In Black" by AC/DC helped push me over the bridge back into Cambridge.
So far, I got out of this one without pain inspired hobbling. Although, if I do a deep knee bend my patellas might shoot someone's eye out.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Sleeper Foot Issue
Last Friday, I took a basic yoga class of which I highly recommend. If you haven't taken yoga before most of the time the class is pretty quiet. During a particularly quiet moment, my ankle made a bone shattering crack. Now, this happens daily - sounds awful - is completely painless, but I felt people turning their heads. On the upside, at least I didn't rip some gas.
I should have run a few miles on Saturday, but I volunteered at a 5K... does that count? Nope. The weekend was pretty much shot for fitness goals and occupied by day drinking, supporting children's charity, great music and even better weather at the Life Is Good Festival in the Blue Hills. Found a Boston band that I might start stalking, Air Traffic Controller and got in my first Dave show.
Monday, I ran 4.5 miles! That is the most I've ever tried to run in one shot and I have to say I felt pretty good about it. My foot didn't bother me at all - and I thought I was in the clear - until about the last mile. I think the endorphins over powered what tomorrow would hurt like Hell.
Tuesday, I woke up and could barely walk the blister had gotten so bad. The skin was just stretched to the max. Needless to say, there was no timed easy run today.
Today, I found the secret. Thick socks and layers of "neo-sporin". That really helped a lot over night and through today. This morning I aqua-jogged (without a belt, thank-you-very-much) for 45 minutes as there was no way an actual run was in the cards.
Tomorrow, going to try for a couple miles on the treadmill. In case, it goes bad I'll be close to the locker room and not across the river.
I should have run a few miles on Saturday, but I volunteered at a 5K... does that count? Nope. The weekend was pretty much shot for fitness goals and occupied by day drinking, supporting children's charity, great music and even better weather at the Life Is Good Festival in the Blue Hills. Found a Boston band that I might start stalking, Air Traffic Controller and got in my first Dave show.
Monday, I ran 4.5 miles! That is the most I've ever tried to run in one shot and I have to say I felt pretty good about it. My foot didn't bother me at all - and I thought I was in the clear - until about the last mile. I think the endorphins over powered what tomorrow would hurt like Hell.
Tuesday, I woke up and could barely walk the blister had gotten so bad. The skin was just stretched to the max. Needless to say, there was no timed easy run today.
Today, I found the secret. Thick socks and layers of "neo-sporin". That really helped a lot over night and through today. This morning I aqua-jogged (without a belt, thank-you-very-much) for 45 minutes as there was no way an actual run was in the cards.
Tomorrow, going to try for a couple miles on the treadmill. In case, it goes bad I'll be close to the locker room and not across the river.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Soulshine on the Charles
Well, I skipped what should have been a swim on Wednesday. I think my body needed it though because my run felt pretty great this morning! It didn't feel that great starting out, but once I got on the down-slope of the Longfellow Bridge heading from Cambridge into Boston with the sun in my face I decided not to turn around like I planned to. Also, one of my top 10 greatest-songs-ever came on, Soulshine covered by Gov't Mule (Derek Trucks on the 5-string guitar). It just makes me feel awesome - clearly not the typical fitness pick, but works for my ears. The down side to listening to this song "clear" through is that my Genius iPod now thinks I want to listen to bluegrass for the next 7 songs which I had to keep skipping through.
Yoga in the a.m.!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Tuesday ends in foot icing
Monday, 9/17 was my first "long" run... this all relative. I mapped out a 3.5 mile route from the Zesiger Center to the Esplanade and back. It was a wicked-nice morning (yep, I went there). I would rather be too warm when running outside, so if it is 60 degrees out I will generally wear long sleeves. This morning, I seem to be the only sane person wearing sleeves.
The blister that formed on my right foot yesterday from those "other" shoes definitely burst during this jaunt, but I didn't notice it until I stepped in the shower. Holy hell! I thought my foot was on fire. It eventually subsided and didn't bother me the rest of the day.
Today, 9/18 the weather seemed iffy, so I opted to do my timed easy run on the treadmill. 35 minutes on the treadmill, ick. I watched clip-after-clip of Peyton Manning throwing pick-after-pick from Monday Night Football and Tony Gonzales tearing it up (keep padding my Fantasy team please). Everything was going well until my ear-buds started falling out from the sweat streaming down the side of my head. Good thing they're the kind that hook over my ears, so they'll never fall completely out. But the quality of sound was compromised which is clearly not okay. Kept my mind of those last 10 minutes though.
My right foot did not bother me during the workout today, but has hurt pretty bad the rest of the day. Limped everywhere. When I got home I iced it for about 20 minutes and it is exponentially better now. Tomorrow will definitely be a flip-flop day.
The blister that formed on my right foot yesterday from those "other" shoes definitely burst during this jaunt, but I didn't notice it until I stepped in the shower. Holy hell! I thought my foot was on fire. It eventually subsided and didn't bother me the rest of the day.
Today, 9/18 the weather seemed iffy, so I opted to do my timed easy run on the treadmill. 35 minutes on the treadmill, ick. I watched clip-after-clip of Peyton Manning throwing pick-after-pick from Monday Night Football and Tony Gonzales tearing it up (keep padding my Fantasy team please). Everything was going well until my ear-buds started falling out from the sweat streaming down the side of my head. Good thing they're the kind that hook over my ears, so they'll never fall completely out. But the quality of sound was compromised which is clearly not okay. Kept my mind of those last 10 minutes though.
My right foot did not bother me during the workout today, but has hurt pretty bad the rest of the day. Limped everywhere. When I got home I iced it for about 20 minutes and it is exponentially better now. Tomorrow will definitely be a flip-flop day.
Peer pressure's a Bia
On Saturday, a group of us went up to Maine to cheer on two of our best gals that were competing in an Olympic distance triathlon. They did awesome! Our cheer section was a hit - we gave many sweaty passersby something to smile about on their journey over Maine highways.
Anyway, this kinda got me thinking that I need to do something this Fall to kind of kick-start my fitness habits again. On the ride back to Cambridge we were talking about races coming up: Jingle Bell Run, Yulefest.... Tufts 10k. I've cheered on many in this annual infamous women's-only 6.2 mile race through Boston and Cambridge, but I have never, not even once, considered this distance... Hell no. I'm a slow, 35 minute, 5K fun-runner, usually in costume. But we kept talking about it and the peer pressure set in.
Sunday morning I counted the days to the Tufts 10K. Three weeks from tomorrow - it is absurd for me to train for this in 3 weeks. I Googled and Googled some more for 3-4 week 10K training plans. There are none. Most were 5 and 6 weeks. You know, a sensible amount of time. So, I took a couple plans and meshed them into something I think I can tackle. It goes like this: Monday, long run - Tuesday, easy timed run - Wednesday, swim - Thursday, run - Friday, yoga (gonna need this) - Saturday, shorter faster run - Sunday, rest (football day)... and repeat. My finger slipped and hit the "Register" button. No turning back now.
And here comes the freak-out. It's Sunday, technically my rest day. I can't start my training with a rest day! Go run now. Forget that your running shoes are at the gym. Put on those other athletic shoes and go for a short one.
I hadn't ran in a while, so I decided that I'd try and do a fast-ish 2 miles just to see where I was at. I pulled the door shut and realized I forgot my watch and had no idea what time it was. F*** it, I'm outside now. Stomp the pavement.
First 2 miles of training, not bad. Blister on my foot from those "other" shoes, eh.
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