Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Racy
On Sunday I ran the Hope and Possibility 5mi in Central Park. It was humid and disgusting (the NYRR website claims it was 70 degrees, but they're full of it), and the roomie and I continued what was a weekend trend of subway navigation failure, so we were kinda late. By the time we started the race, the walkers had already gotten on their way and we'd already expended some of our race energy.
Generally I haven't run this far without stopping to walk at some point, but I decided to run the whole thing even if it meant going dead slow. I only stopped a couple of times to grab a cup of water at a station and swallow half of it. I finished in about 59 minutes, at 11:48min/mile. Certainly not the fastest I can run, but considering the humidity and my inability to breathe, coupled with the residual soreness from cross-training, it was ok. Plus I got a shiny medal :)
Last night's workout was 5.1mi of alternating effort levels. Basically, work as hard as you can for a certain distance, then recover at a low effort level for a certain distance. By mile 3 I was ready to pass out. By mile 5 I was walking. But aside from some knee stiffness I feel fine today, so all is well. I think tonight I will do some strength exercises. Also I ordered a few new pairs of sneakers. I'm pretty sure the ones I got at the beginning of the month are contributing to a variety of aches, and while the amount of money I spent on them makes me cringe, I really need something that can carry me through. Thank goodness for Zappos free shipping so I can try a few out. And thank goodness for the internet for making weird sizes that I need available.
Generally I haven't run this far without stopping to walk at some point, but I decided to run the whole thing even if it meant going dead slow. I only stopped a couple of times to grab a cup of water at a station and swallow half of it. I finished in about 59 minutes, at 11:48min/mile. Certainly not the fastest I can run, but considering the humidity and my inability to breathe, coupled with the residual soreness from cross-training, it was ok. Plus I got a shiny medal :)
Last night's workout was 5.1mi of alternating effort levels. Basically, work as hard as you can for a certain distance, then recover at a low effort level for a certain distance. By mile 3 I was ready to pass out. By mile 5 I was walking. But aside from some knee stiffness I feel fine today, so all is well. I think tonight I will do some strength exercises. Also I ordered a few new pairs of sneakers. I'm pretty sure the ones I got at the beginning of the month are contributing to a variety of aches, and while the amount of money I spent on them makes me cringe, I really need something that can carry me through. Thank goodness for Zappos free shipping so I can try a few out. And thank goodness for the internet for making weird sizes that I need available.
Friday, June 20, 2008
So apparently moving to New York, starting a new job, and training for the most physically demanding thing I've ever done in my life is what you might call a lot to have on my plate.
Anyhow, I will try to catch up here.
The heat wave has passed, thank goodness. While I was extremely impressed with my ability to run in it, it was kind of scary and not conducive to progress. And I have no idea how I would have dealt with this week's workout if it had been 90 degrees.
Essentially, running is only partially about lifting your legs up and letting them hit the pavement again. Distance running requires a strong body to carry you through when your legs start getting tired. So we're supposed to spend part of each week doing some kind of cross-training exercise, basically something physical that doesn't involve running. This week's team workout was all about learning exercises that strengthen the muscles we need to keep going.
Picture this: it's Tuesday, you've been at work all day, and you've hustled uptown to the team meeting place. And then your coach informs you that after a warm-up run, you'll alternate 12 minutes of running with 12 minutes of cross-training. Simple, right? Certainly sounds preferable to running 6 miles. Except picture trying to run for 12 minutes after you've spent the previous 12 minutes reducing your leg muscles to Jell-o. I'm talking squats, planks, lunges, hopping, hopping another way, push-ups.... While I understand that this is useful, and that I'm far from being in the shape that I will need to be in, ow. I'm finally getting to a point where I can walk with minimal pain.
I guess it's time to pull out the strength training book again and get cracking.
On another note, we have our first race this weekend. It will be the second one I've ever run, and the first I've run in several years. It's a 5-miler. I'm actually kind of excited; I think it will be fun to be outside with all those runners and hang out in Central Park. Wish me luck!
Anyhow, I will try to catch up here.
The heat wave has passed, thank goodness. While I was extremely impressed with my ability to run in it, it was kind of scary and not conducive to progress. And I have no idea how I would have dealt with this week's workout if it had been 90 degrees.
Essentially, running is only partially about lifting your legs up and letting them hit the pavement again. Distance running requires a strong body to carry you through when your legs start getting tired. So we're supposed to spend part of each week doing some kind of cross-training exercise, basically something physical that doesn't involve running. This week's team workout was all about learning exercises that strengthen the muscles we need to keep going.
Picture this: it's Tuesday, you've been at work all day, and you've hustled uptown to the team meeting place. And then your coach informs you that after a warm-up run, you'll alternate 12 minutes of running with 12 minutes of cross-training. Simple, right? Certainly sounds preferable to running 6 miles. Except picture trying to run for 12 minutes after you've spent the previous 12 minutes reducing your leg muscles to Jell-o. I'm talking squats, planks, lunges, hopping, hopping another way, push-ups.... While I understand that this is useful, and that I'm far from being in the shape that I will need to be in, ow. I'm finally getting to a point where I can walk with minimal pain.
I guess it's time to pull out the strength training book again and get cracking.
On another note, we have our first race this weekend. It will be the second one I've ever run, and the first I've run in several years. It's a 5-miler. I'm actually kind of excited; I think it will be fun to be outside with all those runners and hang out in Central Park. Wish me luck!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Oh, And
Awesome website discovery: http://www.usatf.org/routes/search/
If you're looking for a new route.
And that last post was just for KMF. ;)
If you're looking for a new route.
And that last post was just for KMF. ;)
Hot Hot Hot
Tuesday was pretty tough because we were running up and down hills. Not steep or large hills, but hills nonetheless. Thankfully it wasn't as hot as it was supposed to be, and there was a great breeze. Also, my feet have been swelling like crazy, and the sneakers I bought in January are too small. For most people, this wouldn't be a big deal: just size up and keep going. But when you have size 11 feet (and that's narrow size 11), things get a little tricky. Whenever I've tried to get away with 12, if a store even has them, they're huge. My feet are just too narrow. By the end of Tuesday night, however, I was beginning to be afraid that I would lose a toenail, and my arthritic toe was aching like nobody's business, so I set out to the Running Store in Columbus Circle on Wednesday night. I ended up with a pair of men's sneakers that are back-laced to keep my foot from slipping. That in itself doesn't bother me; any woman with large feet knows her size in men's shoes and takes advantage of that knowledge occasionally. However, I'm still slightly unsure about it because I think they may be built a touch too wide and bulky for my dainty (albeit long) feet. Also they're the most expensive shoes I've ever bought, athletic or otherwise.
I'm in Buffalo for a wedding, so I missed my Thursday run.
I intended to get up early this morning to beat the heat, but of course I went to bed way too late. I mapped out a 5.5 mile run but I walked maybe a mile of it. The heat and lack of food intake were making my body feel funny in new ways (though I'm deeply thankful not to have been in the city for this morning's run, where it's going to reach 95 today). I have to say it's kinda lonely and demotivating to run through suburban side streets after training with 100 people and running along crowded paths on my off days. I'm becoming less and less self conscious and appreciating the community aspect of running more and more. It's something you can do by yourself but still feel like you're part of something much larger.
I'm a little concerned about the fact that I moved to a place where I walk 100x more, I'm running 3+ miles 4x per week, and yet I seem to have gained 2 lbs since I left Michigan. I need to get a handle on my daily life and figure out how to eat better. Part of the problem is the proportion of carbs in my diet should be higher for training than what I'm used to eating. I'd cut a lot of that out when I first started losing weight, and I still instinctively avoid them. Now the issue is that occasionally I'm like oooh carb binge! For the running! Balance balance. Have to remember balance. Thankfully my award money just landed in my account, so I have no excuses not to do some decent grocery shopping when I get back to the city. Honestly, it's bewildering. The other night I paid $7.39 for a container of ice cream. I don't know how people do it on a long-term basis.
I'm in Buffalo for a wedding, so I missed my Thursday run.
I intended to get up early this morning to beat the heat, but of course I went to bed way too late. I mapped out a 5.5 mile run but I walked maybe a mile of it. The heat and lack of food intake were making my body feel funny in new ways (though I'm deeply thankful not to have been in the city for this morning's run, where it's going to reach 95 today). I have to say it's kinda lonely and demotivating to run through suburban side streets after training with 100 people and running along crowded paths on my off days. I'm becoming less and less self conscious and appreciating the community aspect of running more and more. It's something you can do by yourself but still feel like you're part of something much larger.
I'm a little concerned about the fact that I moved to a place where I walk 100x more, I'm running 3+ miles 4x per week, and yet I seem to have gained 2 lbs since I left Michigan. I need to get a handle on my daily life and figure out how to eat better. Part of the problem is the proportion of carbs in my diet should be higher for training than what I'm used to eating. I'd cut a lot of that out when I first started losing weight, and I still instinctively avoid them. Now the issue is that occasionally I'm like oooh carb binge! For the running! Balance balance. Have to remember balance. Thankfully my award money just landed in my account, so I have no excuses not to do some decent grocery shopping when I get back to the city. Honestly, it's bewildering. The other night I paid $7.39 for a container of ice cream. I don't know how people do it on a long-term basis.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
So This is What She Meant...
Today was my second practice with the team. So of course once again, it was humid. And warm. Just like my mom always describes New York City summers. There was a delicious breeze while we were running, but this time the dehydration stayed with me all day. I need to learn the balance between good hydration and sloshing stomach. I tend to err on the side of too little when it comes to eating and drinking before a run. I'm the kid that the half hour rule was invented for; in fact for me it's more like an hour. But obviously I do need to fuel my body properly if I'm going to ask it to do crazy things.
On the plus side, we ran into a nice gentleman who has also never run a marathon before, and he ran with us for most of our 4-mile loop. I felt a particular rush when near the end of the loop I pulled ahead briefly to stretch my legs a bit (my quads were hurting and the roomie has shorter legs than I do). I stretched my stride and picked up the pace and it felt amazing, though soon my heart rate slowed me back down. I slowly jogged back to them, and the guy says "and now we hate you." I kind of loved that coming from a guy who I would have assumed was much more fit than I am, and who is taller than both of us (and therefore I figured he was going way slow just to hang out with us).
We had the choice of doing 4 or 5 miles this morning and I have to say I think I could have done at least 4.5, although I elected 4. In a way it was probably a good idea given my reaction to the heat. On the other hand, because the trains were weekend-wonky going to the park and we took some detours on the way home, we were on foot for over 7 miles. Not a bad start to the day.
Oh and thanks to MK for this evening's donation :)
On the plus side, we ran into a nice gentleman who has also never run a marathon before, and he ran with us for most of our 4-mile loop. I felt a particular rush when near the end of the loop I pulled ahead briefly to stretch my legs a bit (my quads were hurting and the roomie has shorter legs than I do). I stretched my stride and picked up the pace and it felt amazing, though soon my heart rate slowed me back down. I slowly jogged back to them, and the guy says "and now we hate you." I kind of loved that coming from a guy who I would have assumed was much more fit than I am, and who is taller than both of us (and therefore I figured he was going way slow just to hang out with us).
We had the choice of doing 4 or 5 miles this morning and I have to say I think I could have done at least 4.5, although I elected 4. In a way it was probably a good idea given my reaction to the heat. On the other hand, because the trains were weekend-wonky going to the park and we took some detours on the way home, we were on foot for over 7 miles. Not a bad start to the day.
Oh and thanks to MK for this evening's donation :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)