I just can't seem to enjoy the treadmill. Five miles feels like an eternity. And I should really be running more than that! It seems like the same episode of Bones is ALWAYS on, in addition to an episode of Two and a Half Men that I can't focus on. Sometimes I catch the last ten minutes of Friends. Not that I can really see the TV. It's just a little too high for my 5'almost2" frame. Running with the ipod doesn't help much because I want to watch the scenery change around me as I listen to my music, and I don't get any of that at the gym.
Of course, nothing gets me to speed up like knowing I can get off the treadmill sooner if I finish those miles faster! But watching those hundredths of a mile tick by at what seems like a snail's pace is bordering on torture. How can I love to run so much, and hate the treadmill with almost as much passion?
Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for the treadmill. Otherwise I would not get to run quite a few days of the week. There are days when I'm just not around until dark, and as much as I really wouldn't mind running in the dark, it just seems unsafe and I feel like I shouldn't do it.
I love it, I hate it.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Four miles with a runny nose
This afternoon's run was not one of my best. My feet were dragging and my nose was running more than my legs were. I had originally planned on doing 7 miles today, but feeling under the weather, I decided to settle for four. It's important that I keep my mid-week mileage up though.
On a different note, I keep hearing that you are supposed to replace your sneakers every 500 miles. I bought my sneakers in May, and I know that I've logged over 500 miles already with all the running I did this summer. Is it really time for me to get new sneakers? Have I seriously run over 500 miles in 5 months? Whoa.
On a different note, I keep hearing that you are supposed to replace your sneakers every 500 miles. I bought my sneakers in May, and I know that I've logged over 500 miles already with all the running I did this summer. Is it really time for me to get new sneakers? Have I seriously run over 500 miles in 5 months? Whoa.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
20 miler!
Today, I hit a major achievement in my running career - I did my first twenty miler! It's incredibly exciting because finishing it means I am ready for a marathon!
I actually set out to do the 20 miler yesterday. It didn't happen though. Things were taking too much time, and it eventually got too late. I was ready for it today, though. I loaded up my audiobook onto my ipod yesterday, and took a quick drive over to Dunkin Donuts this morning for a pumpkin muffin. Gross as this may be, even though I may have been burping pumpkin spice burps well beyond mile 5, it was a subtle reminder to myself that I consumed enough energy and could get through the distance.
Miles 1-5 were exceedingly slow. I was afraid of running out of energy, so I was definitely holding back. At mile 5, I popped a few shot blocks, then at mile 6, I refilled my water. I felt done. Usually when I run this route, mile 6 marks the halfway turnaround point. This time, it wasn't even one third of the way there. I still took it pretty slow heading back, and took a bathroom break at mile 11.
I figured that this would be a good time for my Gu. I ran out of Vanilla Bean but I had "Roctane" that was given out as a free sample at the Rock & Roll Half, so I took that out. It smelled gross, but I tried to convince myself to just go with it. But it was so nasty. The next nine miles, I was tasting jaegerbombs. Definitely one of the last tastes I wanted to have in my mouth. Gross.
At mile 12, I wanted to be done, but I made the turnaround quick, not even giving myself the chance to think about it. I started to pick up my pace a little bit. I figured if I really want to be done, I'll move a little faster. My audiobook was getting interesting. I had trouble getting into it at first, but now I was getting to a good part. I stopped at refilled my water at mile 13, and thought to myself that I might be crazy for running 20 miles when I am not officially registered for an upcoming marathon right now. A second thought I had was more positive, though - The fall weather is nice because my water stays cool while I run.
Miles 14-16 were tough. I was starting to hurt, and I knew once I hit mile 16, there was no turning back, I was finishing 20 miles whether I ran it or crawled it, but it was the only way to get back to my car. After mile 16, I popped a few more shot blocks and I started to pick up the pace a little bit more. I wanted to finish before it got too dark.
By mile 17, I was running significantly faster than I had started. I couldn't feel my legs anymore, so it was nice that they weren't hurting. Around mile 18, my back started to hurt. I kept trying to reach around and massage my upper back/the back of my neck, but it wasn't doing much.
It was getting pretty dark at this point. At mile 19, I pulled out my headphones so I could be more alert and booked it. Sprinted. As fast as I could. Stretched, and went back to my car. I couldn't believe I did it.
So now what's next? Taper? After today's run, I can't freaking wait for a few shorter "long runs" that aren't so gruelingly long. But I also can't wait for a marathon!
I actually set out to do the 20 miler yesterday. It didn't happen though. Things were taking too much time, and it eventually got too late. I was ready for it today, though. I loaded up my audiobook onto my ipod yesterday, and took a quick drive over to Dunkin Donuts this morning for a pumpkin muffin. Gross as this may be, even though I may have been burping pumpkin spice burps well beyond mile 5, it was a subtle reminder to myself that I consumed enough energy and could get through the distance.
Miles 1-5 were exceedingly slow. I was afraid of running out of energy, so I was definitely holding back. At mile 5, I popped a few shot blocks, then at mile 6, I refilled my water. I felt done. Usually when I run this route, mile 6 marks the halfway turnaround point. This time, it wasn't even one third of the way there. I still took it pretty slow heading back, and took a bathroom break at mile 11.
I figured that this would be a good time for my Gu. I ran out of Vanilla Bean but I had "Roctane" that was given out as a free sample at the Rock & Roll Half, so I took that out. It smelled gross, but I tried to convince myself to just go with it. But it was so nasty. The next nine miles, I was tasting jaegerbombs. Definitely one of the last tastes I wanted to have in my mouth. Gross.
At mile 12, I wanted to be done, but I made the turnaround quick, not even giving myself the chance to think about it. I started to pick up my pace a little bit. I figured if I really want to be done, I'll move a little faster. My audiobook was getting interesting. I had trouble getting into it at first, but now I was getting to a good part. I stopped at refilled my water at mile 13, and thought to myself that I might be crazy for running 20 miles when I am not officially registered for an upcoming marathon right now. A second thought I had was more positive, though - The fall weather is nice because my water stays cool while I run.
Miles 14-16 were tough. I was starting to hurt, and I knew once I hit mile 16, there was no turning back, I was finishing 20 miles whether I ran it or crawled it, but it was the only way to get back to my car. After mile 16, I popped a few more shot blocks and I started to pick up the pace a little bit more. I wanted to finish before it got too dark.
By mile 17, I was running significantly faster than I had started. I couldn't feel my legs anymore, so it was nice that they weren't hurting. Around mile 18, my back started to hurt. I kept trying to reach around and massage my upper back/the back of my neck, but it wasn't doing much.
It was getting pretty dark at this point. At mile 19, I pulled out my headphones so I could be more alert and booked it. Sprinted. As fast as I could. Stretched, and went back to my car. I couldn't believe I did it.
So now what's next? Taper? After today's run, I can't freaking wait for a few shorter "long runs" that aren't so gruelingly long. But I also can't wait for a marathon!
Saturday, October 15, 2011
First Post
About seven months ago, I discovered something about myself: I love to run. Most people who know me know the story by now: I was taking Amy's Definitions (strength training) class at the JCC, and she was talking up the running program that she would be starting. She tried to convince members of the class to join the running group. Lauren asked me if I was going to do it. I looked at her like she was crazy. "I can't run. I hate running!" I said to her. "Really, it's fun," she said. I asked her, "Really? Are you a good runner?" She said that she is not a runner at all, and that she started from doing nothing and was able to do a 5k. Well, I thought to myself, for the past three years I've had the goal of running a 5k. It couldn't hurt to try and have a little motivation. And besides, Amy is fun and would make it enjoyable. So, I decided to join the group.
I still remember the first day. We alternated running and walking for a mile, then did some stretching. Not bad, I thought, but I definitely need to do something to supplement this workout! As the weeks went on, we began to do different drills and went outside for "long" runs, which started at about 2 miles - and felt like a lifetime! This was March. We had planned for a 5k race in April. I remember freaking out about two weeks before the race, doubting that I would be able to run 3.1 miles in a couple of weeks. Amy understood that a lot of us were nervous about the 5k, and she took us out for a practice 3 mile run. In the pouring rain. I thought she was crazy, but when I finished those 3 miles, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment! I didn't think I could run 3 miles, but I did it, and I did it IN THE RAIN. I felt hardcore. A week later, I ran my first 5k in 35:16, coming in one second after my younger sister Tara, who had run a half marathon earlier that year. My goal of the race was to finish. Hers was to beat me. We both achieved our goals. Actually, Tara started off way ahead, but by the end of the race, I came around and passed her. Then she sped up, then I sped up, and we were neck and neck for that last tenth of a mile. I couldn't believe that I finished so close to her. I was ridiculously proud of myself.
After that 5k, things happened fast. I decided that I wanted to try to run a half marathon. I hit 5 miles and was psyched. I ran a Memorial Day 10k (and came in way ahead of Tara), then really racked up the miles over the summer, sometimes getting up to 40 miles a week. I struggled to pass 7 miles for a few weeks, but once I got my hydration system set into place (FuelBelt Sprint water bottle) and hit the trail where the miles just seem to roll into the next, I did it. Then came 8 miles, 9, and then when trying for 10 miles, I found that they stopped marking the miles after 4.5. I didn't know. I kept running, waiting for the 5 mile mark to come up so I could turn around. After talking with Andrea (who has been my biggest cheerleader) I found out that I ran 11.6! A few weeks later, I ran the South Nyack Ten-Miler, then the Philadelphia Rock & Roll Half Marathon (with a PR at every mile!), and the Diva Half Marathon.
I found that in addition to loving running, I love racing. When I was a swimmer, I hated racing, because I almost always came in last. With these races, though, there are so many people, so much adrenaline, and almost no chance of coming in last. Plus, as I read all over the place now, "Dead Last Finish > Did Not Finish >> Did Not Start." I take that attitude with every race and even every run that I go out on. I know I'm not a fast runner (although given the right motivation, I'm faster than I think I am), but I'm getting faster.
As summer ended, my motivation has both increased (I want to run a marathon as soon as I'm ready) and decreased (I don't have time to run after work outside so I can either get up early or run on the treadmill, and I don't particularly love either). I'm also trying to spend some more time in the pool, cross training to prevent [more] shin splints and other injuries.
In looking to see if the NYC Marathon Tune-Up had passed yet (it unfortunately had), I came across a bunch of running blogs. Reading them, I really wanted to start a running blog of my own. I love to write, and love to run, so what could be better? Here goes.
I still remember the first day. We alternated running and walking for a mile, then did some stretching. Not bad, I thought, but I definitely need to do something to supplement this workout! As the weeks went on, we began to do different drills and went outside for "long" runs, which started at about 2 miles - and felt like a lifetime! This was March. We had planned for a 5k race in April. I remember freaking out about two weeks before the race, doubting that I would be able to run 3.1 miles in a couple of weeks. Amy understood that a lot of us were nervous about the 5k, and she took us out for a practice 3 mile run. In the pouring rain. I thought she was crazy, but when I finished those 3 miles, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment! I didn't think I could run 3 miles, but I did it, and I did it IN THE RAIN. I felt hardcore. A week later, I ran my first 5k in 35:16, coming in one second after my younger sister Tara, who had run a half marathon earlier that year. My goal of the race was to finish. Hers was to beat me. We both achieved our goals. Actually, Tara started off way ahead, but by the end of the race, I came around and passed her. Then she sped up, then I sped up, and we were neck and neck for that last tenth of a mile. I couldn't believe that I finished so close to her. I was ridiculously proud of myself.
After that 5k, things happened fast. I decided that I wanted to try to run a half marathon. I hit 5 miles and was psyched. I ran a Memorial Day 10k (and came in way ahead of Tara), then really racked up the miles over the summer, sometimes getting up to 40 miles a week. I struggled to pass 7 miles for a few weeks, but once I got my hydration system set into place (FuelBelt Sprint water bottle) and hit the trail where the miles just seem to roll into the next, I did it. Then came 8 miles, 9, and then when trying for 10 miles, I found that they stopped marking the miles after 4.5. I didn't know. I kept running, waiting for the 5 mile mark to come up so I could turn around. After talking with Andrea (who has been my biggest cheerleader) I found out that I ran 11.6! A few weeks later, I ran the South Nyack Ten-Miler, then the Philadelphia Rock & Roll Half Marathon (with a PR at every mile!), and the Diva Half Marathon.
I found that in addition to loving running, I love racing. When I was a swimmer, I hated racing, because I almost always came in last. With these races, though, there are so many people, so much adrenaline, and almost no chance of coming in last. Plus, as I read all over the place now, "Dead Last Finish > Did Not Finish >> Did Not Start." I take that attitude with every race and even every run that I go out on. I know I'm not a fast runner (although given the right motivation, I'm faster than I think I am), but I'm getting faster.
As summer ended, my motivation has both increased (I want to run a marathon as soon as I'm ready) and decreased (I don't have time to run after work outside so I can either get up early or run on the treadmill, and I don't particularly love either). I'm also trying to spend some more time in the pool, cross training to prevent [more] shin splints and other injuries.
In looking to see if the NYC Marathon Tune-Up had passed yet (it unfortunately had), I came across a bunch of running blogs. Reading them, I really wanted to start a running blog of my own. I love to write, and love to run, so what could be better? Here goes.
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