4.5 miles. 48:44. The thermometer in my kitchen reads 55, but it feels oh so much colder!
This was the first run of the season at the park in Bartlett. It's a flat course. Not a lot to look at. And the drive is a pain. Good thing there's only a month now until the half.
Actually, now that I think about it, it really is a month until the half. EXACTLY A MONTH. Good God.
The shoes were a little stiff, but then again new ones usually are during a first run. Let's hope I softened them up enough for Saturday!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The New Shoes
Blue! The new ones are blue!
Damn. I was so attached to the pink ones that it's only now that the blue ones are in my possession that I realize how much I'll miss them! We had some good times, my pinks shoes and me. *sad face*
Here's the thing. You can't buy running shoes based on color (tragically). Back when I didn't know what the fuck I was doing, I would just go to the New Balance store, pick out something that looked cool, and run in them. And inevitably the shoes wouldn't feel good and I'd quit running.
After my first half-marathon (2007), I decided I should maybe go to an actual running shoe store and have an actual running shoe store employee watch me as I actually ran. It was then that I learned that my entire adult life I'd been wearing shoes one size too big, and also that Nike Zoom Structure Triax running shoes are my match made in heaven.
The pair I bought tonight is my third. It's the same shoe every time. I just walk in, show the store person what's on my feet, and say, "I need this shoe." And then I get the shoe and it's exactly the same in every way except Nike changes the color every few months, so I never know what the hell I'm going to wind up with.
This time, it was blue.
So the above picture represents the condition of a brand new, never-been-worn pair of running shoes (in stupid blue).
The below picture represents what a pair of running shoes (in awesome pink!) looks like after about 200 miles:
And er, well, OK, I was hoping for a more dramatic contrast there. Damn that flattering flash in my living room! They're in pretty bad shape, but I guess you'll just have to take my word for it.
And here we see the comparison from the bottom. The pink shoes are shredded. And I feel deep, deep personal pride over this. I have torn those shoes UP.
I was told this evening that I should definitely not do any more long runs in my pink shoes, but I'd be OK doing a few more short ones if I wanted. But to break in the blue ones before the 12 mile (!!!) run on Saturday, I'll wear them tomorrow for a shorter run.
I have no doubt they'll feel good. Tonight, like every other time I've bought a new pair, I put them on and couldn't believe the spring in them.
But I already know I'm not going to look as good in them. Man. I really, really, really liked the pink...
Better luck next time, I guess.
Damn. I was so attached to the pink ones that it's only now that the blue ones are in my possession that I realize how much I'll miss them! We had some good times, my pinks shoes and me. *sad face*Here's the thing. You can't buy running shoes based on color (tragically). Back when I didn't know what the fuck I was doing, I would just go to the New Balance store, pick out something that looked cool, and run in them. And inevitably the shoes wouldn't feel good and I'd quit running.
After my first half-marathon (2007), I decided I should maybe go to an actual running shoe store and have an actual running shoe store employee watch me as I actually ran. It was then that I learned that my entire adult life I'd been wearing shoes one size too big, and also that Nike Zoom Structure Triax running shoes are my match made in heaven.
The pair I bought tonight is my third. It's the same shoe every time. I just walk in, show the store person what's on my feet, and say, "I need this shoe." And then I get the shoe and it's exactly the same in every way except Nike changes the color every few months, so I never know what the hell I'm going to wind up with.
This time, it was blue.
So the above picture represents the condition of a brand new, never-been-worn pair of running shoes (in stupid blue).
The below picture represents what a pair of running shoes (in awesome pink!) looks like after about 200 miles:
And er, well, OK, I was hoping for a more dramatic contrast there. Damn that flattering flash in my living room! They're in pretty bad shape, but I guess you'll just have to take my word for it.
And here we see the comparison from the bottom. The pink shoes are shredded. And I feel deep, deep personal pride over this. I have torn those shoes UP.I was told this evening that I should definitely not do any more long runs in my pink shoes, but I'd be OK doing a few more short ones if I wanted. But to break in the blue ones before the 12 mile (!!!) run on Saturday, I'll wear them tomorrow for a shorter run.
I have no doubt they'll feel good. Tonight, like every other time I've bought a new pair, I put them on and couldn't believe the spring in them.
But I already know I'm not going to look as good in them. Man. I really, really, really liked the pink...
Better luck next time, I guess.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Experiments in Running: Today's Lacked the Element of "Success"
Last week I bid adieu to my regular running park and I was all prepared to drive to another track today to get my run in...
...but...
...but...but...there's a really awesome NOVA on tonight! And NOVA is on at 7:00 and if I drove all the way out to Bartlett then I wouldn't be back by 7:00 and wah!
So I hypothesized that if I came home from work, changed clothes immediately, and went straight to the park, I could get my run in at my regular park before the sun set and thus be home in time to watch my show.
At first, all was going nicely according to plan. I even lucked out and was the last car to cross the tracks before a train came by. The way things were going I'd have plenty of time! Maybe I'd get 4 miles in. That would be good.
Then it just all fell apart, friends. For one, I didn't have time to eat before I left, and while pretty much every other runner ever will tell you he or she would never eat right before a run, I am nothing if not an anomaly. I have to eat before I run or else I will keel over dead from hunger right on the track. This is almost what happened tonight (despite a vain attempt to deflect this fate by stuffing a fistful of pretzels into my mouth on the way out the door). I was so hungry.
Two, by a mile in, it was obvious there was no way I'd make it to four miles before it was completely dark. I decided to try for three instead, but then when I hit two, it was suddenly *really* dark and there were all of these sketchy people hanging around in the parking lot and I was like, what the hell? So I stopped. Sad, because had I known I was only going to run two miles, I would have done them faster than I did.
And three, I completed my run just in time for another train to come chugging along and this time I was not so lucky. I had the grand idea that I should drive out of my way in the opposite direction so that I could cross the tracks down the line instead of waiting for the train to pass...FAULTY LOGIC. It took me forever to get home.
Today's run was a measley 2 miles in 22:58. And I don't even know what to do about my shoes because I didn't run far enough to get a feel for how they were holding up.
So much fail today. To make it for it, I should probably do stomach crunches during NOVA or something.
...but...
...but...but...there's a really awesome NOVA on tonight! And NOVA is on at 7:00 and if I drove all the way out to Bartlett then I wouldn't be back by 7:00 and wah!
So I hypothesized that if I came home from work, changed clothes immediately, and went straight to the park, I could get my run in at my regular park before the sun set and thus be home in time to watch my show.
At first, all was going nicely according to plan. I even lucked out and was the last car to cross the tracks before a train came by. The way things were going I'd have plenty of time! Maybe I'd get 4 miles in. That would be good.
Then it just all fell apart, friends. For one, I didn't have time to eat before I left, and while pretty much every other runner ever will tell you he or she would never eat right before a run, I am nothing if not an anomaly. I have to eat before I run or else I will keel over dead from hunger right on the track. This is almost what happened tonight (despite a vain attempt to deflect this fate by stuffing a fistful of pretzels into my mouth on the way out the door). I was so hungry.
Two, by a mile in, it was obvious there was no way I'd make it to four miles before it was completely dark. I decided to try for three instead, but then when I hit two, it was suddenly *really* dark and there were all of these sketchy people hanging around in the parking lot and I was like, what the hell? So I stopped. Sad, because had I known I was only going to run two miles, I would have done them faster than I did.
And three, I completed my run just in time for another train to come chugging along and this time I was not so lucky. I had the grand idea that I should drive out of my way in the opposite direction so that I could cross the tracks down the line instead of waiting for the train to pass...FAULTY LOGIC. It took me forever to get home.
Today's run was a measley 2 miles in 22:58. And I don't even know what to do about my shoes because I didn't run far enough to get a feel for how they were holding up.
So much fail today. To make it for it, I should probably do stomach crunches during NOVA or something.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
OH GOD THE PAIN
9.94 is close enough to 10 to call it 10, right?
Yes. Yes it is.
I printed off the route the group did last week, but the map was pretty small and didn't show street names, so I wrote all the street names at the bottom.
Too bad I forgot a couple of the streets. Oops!
Erin and I had to improvise some today on account of me not knowing exactly where we were going a bunch of the time. I don't even know what we did. We just ran around a lot in the general vicinity of the course from last week. And miraculously we wound up running within 0.06 miles of our target.
OK, this is what I will say...ten miles hurts. It doesn't matter how many weekly runs you do or how far your last long run was...the first time you hit ten miles in a training program, there is PAIN involved. 18,598 steps = feet hurting. 1:54:18 = mind hurting. 858 calories = stomach...well, not hurting, but hungry.
I will now go find lots and lots of food to eat and maybe go to bed for an hour or so (only the first part of this sentence is true).
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!
Yes. Yes it is.
I printed off the route the group did last week, but the map was pretty small and didn't show street names, so I wrote all the street names at the bottom.
Too bad I forgot a couple of the streets. Oops!
Erin and I had to improvise some today on account of me not knowing exactly where we were going a bunch of the time. I don't even know what we did. We just ran around a lot in the general vicinity of the course from last week. And miraculously we wound up running within 0.06 miles of our target.
OK, this is what I will say...ten miles hurts. It doesn't matter how many weekly runs you do or how far your last long run was...the first time you hit ten miles in a training program, there is PAIN involved. 18,598 steps = feet hurting. 1:54:18 = mind hurting. 858 calories = stomach...well, not hurting, but hungry.
I will now go find lots and lots of food to eat and maybe go to bed for an hour or so (only the first part of this sentence is true).
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Farewell Audubon
Off topic: Has anyone else noticed that now that Michael Jackson is dead, Beatles songs are showing up in even MORE commercials?
Yeah. Ugh.
So. There was a break in the rain today! And I did run! But God was it not fun. I was damn near dead a mile and a half in and that was only halfway to my goal.
I made it a full 3 miles in 34:10; a little slower than yesterday, but my main concern is that I did three complete loops without keeling over. I timed it perfectly, too. It started raining approximately two minutes after I got back into my car.
The time changes this weekend and with that will come a change in my after-work running schedule. I won't have enough daylight anymore to run around the track where I've been running (there are no lights to run there after dark). I'll have to drive out to Bartlett, which is a 20-25 minute drive one way. And the track there is only 9/10s of a mile, which makes it a bit more difficult to decide in advance how far to go. It's no longer 3 miles or 4. It's 2.7 or 3.6 or 4.5...
So changes are coming!
But for now I just need to concentrate on resting up for the next two days. Saturday is almost here. TEN MILES. Eek.
Yeah. Ugh.
So. There was a break in the rain today! And I did run! But God was it not fun. I was damn near dead a mile and a half in and that was only halfway to my goal.
I made it a full 3 miles in 34:10; a little slower than yesterday, but my main concern is that I did three complete loops without keeling over. I timed it perfectly, too. It started raining approximately two minutes after I got back into my car.
The time changes this weekend and with that will come a change in my after-work running schedule. I won't have enough daylight anymore to run around the track where I've been running (there are no lights to run there after dark). I'll have to drive out to Bartlett, which is a 20-25 minute drive one way. And the track there is only 9/10s of a mile, which makes it a bit more difficult to decide in advance how far to go. It's no longer 3 miles or 4. It's 2.7 or 3.6 or 4.5...
So changes are coming!
But for now I just need to concentrate on resting up for the next two days. Saturday is almost here. TEN MILES. Eek.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
And I'm BACK IN THE GAME.
Four miles. Four long, arduous, clunky, agonizing, heavy miles. But FOUR MILES. Whew!
I ran them in 45:03, keeping a fairly steady 11:15 (or so) pace. Which, um, hello? When did I get so awesome?! And I thought I was going slowly! Not bad for eight days off. (Though I would suspect that getting out of bed tomorrow morning will be more difficult than usual.)
AND my feet are starting to hurt at the end of my runs. Five miles is about my limit for running without any sort of physical discomfort (I think I've mentioned that before) but I'm thinking this foot pain might be an indicator that I need new shoes. I just got shoes in April and generally only need a new pair every nine months. But I'm running more than usual so perhaps this pair is wearing out more quickly???
If it's not raining tomorrow (which it's supposed to be), then I will try for a 3-miler. We'll see how the feet are feeling then. In the meantime, I have some Miller High Life in the fridge and yesterday's Colbert Report to watch.
And OH YES. I just entered the triple digits on the mile counter. About damned time!
I ran them in 45:03, keeping a fairly steady 11:15 (or so) pace. Which, um, hello? When did I get so awesome?! And I thought I was going slowly! Not bad for eight days off. (Though I would suspect that getting out of bed tomorrow morning will be more difficult than usual.)
AND my feet are starting to hurt at the end of my runs. Five miles is about my limit for running without any sort of physical discomfort (I think I've mentioned that before) but I'm thinking this foot pain might be an indicator that I need new shoes. I just got shoes in April and generally only need a new pair every nine months. But I'm running more than usual so perhaps this pair is wearing out more quickly???
If it's not raining tomorrow (which it's supposed to be), then I will try for a 3-miler. We'll see how the feet are feeling then. In the meantime, I have some Miller High Life in the fridge and yesterday's Colbert Report to watch.
And OH YES. I just entered the triple digits on the mile counter. About damned time!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
I am dressed and ready to go!
But I ain't going anywhere because it's raining. I thought I might be able to slip in a couple of miles in between showers but I apparently missed my window of opportunity. :(
The last time I ran was last Wednesday, meaning this is the longest I have gone without running since I've started training. When I run tomorrow, it will have been eight days! That's long enough that I've lost some conditioning and I'm sort of terrified that I'll be horrible all over again!!
The training group this week is falling back and only doing 5 miles on Saturday. Instead of running with them, Erin and I are going to forge ahead on our own and do the 10 mile run we missed last week. I'll have to see how tomorrow's run goes before deciding if I want to fit in one or two runs this week before I attempt a full 10 miles.
I did do a lot of walking this weekend...that's totally got to count for something. And I think clubbing until 3 am definitely qualifies as cross-training...
At least I'm going to keep telling myself that. Otherwise, I'd have to acknowledge how pathetically far I fell off the wagon this week. And, um, I'd rather not do that.
The last time I ran was last Wednesday, meaning this is the longest I have gone without running since I've started training. When I run tomorrow, it will have been eight days! That's long enough that I've lost some conditioning and I'm sort of terrified that I'll be horrible all over again!!
The training group this week is falling back and only doing 5 miles on Saturday. Instead of running with them, Erin and I are going to forge ahead on our own and do the 10 mile run we missed last week. I'll have to see how tomorrow's run goes before deciding if I want to fit in one or two runs this week before I attempt a full 10 miles.
I did do a lot of walking this weekend...that's totally got to count for something. And I think clubbing until 3 am definitely qualifies as cross-training...
At least I'm going to keep telling myself that. Otherwise, I'd have to acknowledge how pathetically far I fell off the wagon this week. And, um, I'd rather not do that.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
A Love-Running-LESS Day
In a very calculated move, I got my flu shot yesterday (seasonal; I'm too old for swine just yet). I usually get mildly ill from flu shots so I decided to get one on a day when I wasn't planning to run. So what happened? I felt great yesterday, but I didn't run anyway. And then I woke up this morning feeling sick. OF COURSE.
I was feeling mostly alright by this afternoon but you know...some days I just hate running. I hate it! I don't want to do it and I wonder why I put myself through this. I don't know what triggered my feelings today, but man did I not want to run.
But I kept going. I did 5 miles (!) in 58:16. It's the first time I've run 5 miles after work and the first time I've run 5 laps in my park (4 is as much as I've ever done on either count). I was dragging by the end of the third mile so to mix things up I ran the last two laps in reverse. The course is harder that way; the uphills are stretched out longer and the downhills not as steep. It was difficult. I'm tired. The first of the reunion people are coming in tomorrow so this might be the last time I run this week.
I think I'll be OK with that.
I was feeling mostly alright by this afternoon but you know...some days I just hate running. I hate it! I don't want to do it and I wonder why I put myself through this. I don't know what triggered my feelings today, but man did I not want to run.
But I kept going. I did 5 miles (!) in 58:16. It's the first time I've run 5 miles after work and the first time I've run 5 laps in my park (4 is as much as I've ever done on either count). I was dragging by the end of the third mile so to mix things up I ran the last two laps in reverse. The course is harder that way; the uphills are stretched out longer and the downhills not as steep. It was difficult. I'm tired. The first of the reunion people are coming in tomorrow so this might be the last time I run this week.
I think I'll be OK with that.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Back at it already.
Because I'll be missing this Saturday's long run, I need to run more during the work week than I usually do. Tonight I did four miles in 45:45. That kicks me over the 90-mile mark and as I was running this evening, I thought about how things have changed in the past two months or so.
And now I'll tell you about those things, via an enumerated list:
1. My lungs have caught up with me. Two miles, four miles, eight miles, whatever, as long as I keep a steady pace, I'm never out of breath.
2. I can run even when I don't feel great. I didn't sleep all that well last night and I was sneezing all day (ugh, fall allergies) and yet still I ran 4 miles today with no problems. And after a full day of work, no less.
3. My appetite has leveled off. When I first started training I was hungry all the time. I would just eat and eat and eat...but I don't get painfully hungry with no warning anymore. My body seems to have gotten used to me burning those extra calories.
4. The cross training has helped my posture. Stomach crunches are a life saver in stopping me from hunching over at the end of a run (and when sitting in front of a computer!).
5. I can stay up (a little) later and get up (a little) earlier. Weird, huh? I'm more awake when I'm awake (if that makes sense).
6. I generally feel better and have more energy. I also generally have nicer-looking legs.
So there you have it! Living proof that exercise does have health benefits. Now if I can just get my knees to adapt like the rest of me has...
And now I'll tell you about those things, via an enumerated list:
1. My lungs have caught up with me. Two miles, four miles, eight miles, whatever, as long as I keep a steady pace, I'm never out of breath.
2. I can run even when I don't feel great. I didn't sleep all that well last night and I was sneezing all day (ugh, fall allergies) and yet still I ran 4 miles today with no problems. And after a full day of work, no less.
3. My appetite has leveled off. When I first started training I was hungry all the time. I would just eat and eat and eat...but I don't get painfully hungry with no warning anymore. My body seems to have gotten used to me burning those extra calories.
4. The cross training has helped my posture. Stomach crunches are a life saver in stopping me from hunching over at the end of a run (and when sitting in front of a computer!).
5. I can stay up (a little) later and get up (a little) earlier. Weird, huh? I'm more awake when I'm awake (if that makes sense).
6. I generally feel better and have more energy. I also generally have nicer-looking legs.
So there you have it! Living proof that exercise does have health benefits. Now if I can just get my knees to adapt like the rest of me has...
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Hello Cold Weather
Ah, the first "cold run" of the season.
According to the thermometer on my porch, it was 46 when I left the house this morning, though considering the thermometer's proximity to the house, I'd say it was at least 2 - 3 degrees colder than that. Not freezing by any stretch, but cold enough that I wasn't sure what to wear...long pants or shorts, one layer on top or two... I went with shorts and two layers on top. And gloves. And man it was COLD when we first started out, but I'm trying to brace myself for the very real possibility that it could be 20 degrees colder (or more) between now and the race.
But I was fine once we got going. Perfect, actually. Eight point five miles in 1:38:34. It was a surprisingly easy run.
I'll be missing next week, though, because that's the reunion. It'll be the first 10 mile run...of all weeks to miss! It's a good thing today's run went well or else I'd be freaking out about now.
The worst part about running in the cold isn't the run itself (which is usually great once you get going) but the aftermath. Once I cool down, I can never warm back up. Right now I'm sitting her in multiple layers and wool socks drinking a cup of hot tea. And I'm FREEZING. All that complaining about the heat and now it's time to start complaining about the cold already...
According to the thermometer on my porch, it was 46 when I left the house this morning, though considering the thermometer's proximity to the house, I'd say it was at least 2 - 3 degrees colder than that. Not freezing by any stretch, but cold enough that I wasn't sure what to wear...long pants or shorts, one layer on top or two... I went with shorts and two layers on top. And gloves. And man it was COLD when we first started out, but I'm trying to brace myself for the very real possibility that it could be 20 degrees colder (or more) between now and the race.
But I was fine once we got going. Perfect, actually. Eight point five miles in 1:38:34. It was a surprisingly easy run.
I'll be missing next week, though, because that's the reunion. It'll be the first 10 mile run...of all weeks to miss! It's a good thing today's run went well or else I'd be freaking out about now.
The worst part about running in the cold isn't the run itself (which is usually great once you get going) but the aftermath. Once I cool down, I can never warm back up. Right now I'm sitting her in multiple layers and wool socks drinking a cup of hot tea. And I'm FREEZING. All that complaining about the heat and now it's time to start complaining about the cold already...
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