My husband that is.
Let me first give you some very pertinent information. I am very competitive. It doesn't matter what the stakes are, what the game is, etc. etc. It gets me into trouble a LOT. I remember one time when I was little, my family and another family we were friends with went to play putt-putt. I was such a sore loser (so was my friend Greg though, it wasn't just me), that no one wanted to play putt-putt with us again. Bill (aforementioned husband) will not play Scrabble with me for the same reason.
So here I am, nagging Bill to run. You would love it, I say. At the marathon post-party for my running group, Coach Joe and I almost convinced him to run in the Hyde Park Blast group.
Last night we go for a run. And he kicks my butt. So I acted all sore about it. I was really really trying not to. I was thinking how stupid I was being, but I couldn't help being mad. He asks me if I'm okay. We have found out throughout the years that it is just better to get it all out in the open if something is bugging us. So, unlike a sane woman, who would just say "yeah, I'm fine" I tell him that I am mad.
In fact, I said something like this. "I'm just annoyed. You kicked my butt. I have been training for like over a year, and you haven't even run in a year. It is just so unfair. I mean, I want you to do well. I mean I want you to like running. It's just frustrating."
He very nicely explained that he is just good at running. He very nicely told me that I am a long-distance runner and we only did two miles. He also very nicely pointed out that he would be sore tomorrow and I would be fine. (I guess me being a sore-loser is no surprise to him by now).
I took a shower and I was fine. That is a great improvement from the time it usually takes me to cool down from my stupidness. I just wish I could GROW UP. Errrrrr.
(Oh, and btw, I am very glad that Bill is a good runner. I am just a prat :)
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Excuses Excuses
So, yesterday I had a crap day at work. I was angry the whole mile walk home, and then I REALLY realized how angry I was when I started talking to my husband. So needless to say, I didn't feel like running last night.
It's funny though because active.com recently published one of the Penguin's first article's called "Miles to Go" on their website. It was the first article I have ever read from the Penguin, and I thought 'Wow, that's how I feel about running'. It made me want to read more. But the original point I was getting to, was that he mentions how when he is feeling awful, he goes for a run and it makes him feel better. Usually that is true for me. And I think it might have made me feel better last night too, but instead I opted to stuff my face with comfort food, go back to the hotel, and watch my favorite British show on Channel 4.
That means I have to run tonight. It is difficult, having Bill here visiting. It makes me want to just laze around and talk. I guess I take those things for granted when I am at home, so if I were at home, I would probably have gone out for a run. The thing that cracks me up though, is that it is not like by running I am choosing NOT to spend time with him. He brought workout clothes and bought a new pair of running shoes before he left so that he could run with me here. I guess I was just feeling lazy and sorry for myself last night. :)
It's funny though because active.com recently published one of the Penguin's first article's called "Miles to Go" on their website. It was the first article I have ever read from the Penguin, and I thought 'Wow, that's how I feel about running'. It made me want to read more. But the original point I was getting to, was that he mentions how when he is feeling awful, he goes for a run and it makes him feel better. Usually that is true for me. And I think it might have made me feel better last night too, but instead I opted to stuff my face with comfort food, go back to the hotel, and watch my favorite British show on Channel 4.
That means I have to run tonight. It is difficult, having Bill here visiting. It makes me want to just laze around and talk. I guess I take those things for granted when I am at home, so if I were at home, I would probably have gone out for a run. The thing that cracks me up though, is that it is not like by running I am choosing NOT to spend time with him. He brought workout clothes and bought a new pair of running shoes before he left so that he could run with me here. I guess I was just feeling lazy and sorry for myself last night. :)
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Er, uh, ERG
So, I checked out the gym in the hotel on Saturday. After getting over a small disappointment that there were no free weights or weight machines, I was ecstatic to find an erg machine that wasn't ancient!
If I wanted to build up my arms and shoulders here was a great way to do it.
Since I haven't REALLY been on one of these machines seriously since my college rowing team days, I decided to do a workout based on time and not distance. So I set the clock for 30 minutes.
I always find it funny that you can be in superb shape for one sport but as soon as you switch to another, you start to realize how out of shape you are. I was dying. My back is just not used to getting that kind of workout. The funny thing is though, that most of rowing is in the legs (ask any rower) which is contrary to what most people think. So it was easy enough to go fast, with lots of resistance on the machine...but at about 11 minutes I was having a hard time bringing the bar up to my abs. I told myself I would take a 30 second break at 15 minutes. But then it got to 14 minutes and "Funeral for a Friend" was on my ipod and I thought 'no, you can take a break when the song is over' (knowing full well that by then, I would just finish the workout, since I think it is one of the longest rock songs ever). I got my second wind, and I guess I tricked myself mentally to finish the workout.
I also learned a valuable lesson: I should probably add some cross-training into my running training!
If I wanted to build up my arms and shoulders here was a great way to do it.
Since I haven't REALLY been on one of these machines seriously since my college rowing team days, I decided to do a workout based on time and not distance. So I set the clock for 30 minutes.
I always find it funny that you can be in superb shape for one sport but as soon as you switch to another, you start to realize how out of shape you are. I was dying. My back is just not used to getting that kind of workout. The funny thing is though, that most of rowing is in the legs (ask any rower) which is contrary to what most people think. So it was easy enough to go fast, with lots of resistance on the machine...but at about 11 minutes I was having a hard time bringing the bar up to my abs. I told myself I would take a 30 second break at 15 minutes. But then it got to 14 minutes and "Funeral for a Friend" was on my ipod and I thought 'no, you can take a break when the song is over' (knowing full well that by then, I would just finish the workout, since I think it is one of the longest rock songs ever). I got my second wind, and I guess I tricked myself mentally to finish the workout.
I also learned a valuable lesson: I should probably add some cross-training into my running training!
Friday, May 25, 2007
A New PR!!!
So, Beat the Banana was fun, but a LOT different from any race that I've been in.
First of all, this was a very non-competitive fun run. They didn't even have a clock, so I'm glad that I had my running watch with me. We met at the South Bandstand in Hyde Park, but they didn't have roads closed off or anything. In fact, when the woman at the starting line was going over "rules", one of them was "watch out for people and bikers along the course".
EVERYONE wore their t-shirts. Which to me, is really funny . My friend Jen, wanted to wear her Hyde Park Blast tee in the race last year (because they are so cool, and because my company designed them, and because she happened to be the Client Team on that project) and my boss Richard was like "no, no, no, only amateurs wear the race shirt the day of the race". I kept thinking about that when I was watching all of these people in their bright yellow "Beat the Banana" shirts. I shoved mine into my backpack and put it in the tent with all of the other backpacks. But then I realized that if I didn't wear it, I would be the only runner NOT wearing one. And despite my track record of being a non-conformist, there are just some times when you have to conform.
It was a good thing, too, because otherwise I would have gotten lost in the shuffle. Because people work out and run and walk and bike along these paths, it would have been hard to tell who was in the race. And all of the yellow shirts made it easy to spot where the course was.
So I was dying! I felt so tired, and sneezy, running through all of the polleny trees and plants. And I felt like it was HOT (it was only 74). I was trying to do a 9 minute mile. It was hard to figure out though, because they don't mark the miles here, only the kilometers, and I was trying to do the math in my head, but it just is not one of my strong points. It has been really hard for me to get out of my 11-minute mile pace that I was running for the marathon. I thought for sure it wasn't going to happen. I felt like (and the calculations in my head told me) I was doing about a 10 minute mile.
At the last kilometer I looked at my watch and SWORE it said 26 something, but I don't think it did, because I finished with a 26:43! Yay! A new personal record for me!!! (That's an 8:35 mile pace!) I know I'm not breaking any world records, but for me that is AWESOME!
Since Bill wasn't here to buy me ice cream (that's his thing...whenever I get a PR we get whatever kind of ice cream I want. I usually go for Dairy Queen) I got a banana milkshake at dinner tonight.
Oh yes, and now I also have a bright yellow t-shirt that says "Beat the Banana" (and the banana was FAST).
Muskles
My legs are like solid rocks! I guess that is what happens when you run like a crazy-woman. I mean, I should have kind of expected that, but I LOVE it!
And I never really believed my friend (who also happens to run) Jen, when she said running builds up your abs. But after the marathon my abs (along with everything else) were killing me. Now, I don't have a washboard stomach like she does, but I am definitely slimming down. In fact, I lost an inch and a half off of my waist from January. I know this does not sound like a lot, but for me it is. I have had the same waist size since the end of high school, which was (holy cow) 10 years ago!
My arms are definitely more defined. That, I guess was the most surprising to me. My arms just do NOT get definition. And my arm muscles are sad. When I used to go to the gym to lift on the machines I would have to do my should presses on a setting of 15 pounds. In the meantime I am watching 14 year old girls and skinny women in their late 60s lift 45 pounds on the same machine. But every time I went on a 10 plus mile run, at around 9 or 10 miles sometimes my arms would feel like they were going to fall out of their sockets. My husband was like "duh, you've been moving your arms back and forth for almost 2 hours!" I guess it makes sense if you think about it.
Anyway, I am loving it!
Tonight, I run the Beat the Banana in Hyde Park (London, not Cincy...much flatter) and tomorrow I hit the gym for weight training.
And I never really believed my friend (who also happens to run) Jen, when she said running builds up your abs. But after the marathon my abs (along with everything else) were killing me. Now, I don't have a washboard stomach like she does, but I am definitely slimming down. In fact, I lost an inch and a half off of my waist from January. I know this does not sound like a lot, but for me it is. I have had the same waist size since the end of high school, which was (holy cow) 10 years ago!
My arms are definitely more defined. That, I guess was the most surprising to me. My arms just do NOT get definition. And my arm muscles are sad. When I used to go to the gym to lift on the machines I would have to do my should presses on a setting of 15 pounds. In the meantime I am watching 14 year old girls and skinny women in their late 60s lift 45 pounds on the same machine. But every time I went on a 10 plus mile run, at around 9 or 10 miles sometimes my arms would feel like they were going to fall out of their sockets. My husband was like "duh, you've been moving your arms back and forth for almost 2 hours!" I guess it makes sense if you think about it.
Anyway, I am loving it!
Tonight, I run the Beat the Banana in Hyde Park (London, not Cincy...much flatter) and tomorrow I hit the gym for weight training.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Little Miss Healthy
(I call myself, as I finish my chocolate croissant for breakfast). But seriously, I think big city life is so much more conducive to a healthy lifestyle. At least for me, the fast food queen.
I drink about 2 litres of water a day and always have fruit at least once a day. I don't even really want soda anymore (not to mention that whenever I have had one here, my body is so not used to the caffeine, that it keeps me up all night). I have cut down on potato chips (even though they have really great varieties here, like thai chicken and curry, and parsnip and mature cheddar). I don't eat a lot of fried, which henceforth has been my favorite food group. I think places like Pret which are ubiquitous here, help with my want of healthy foods a lot.
I also am feeling a lot more motivated to work out.
AND...there's all the walking. I did a mile to work this morning, which means I'll walk at LEAST another mile today. Plus whatever I do tonight (ok, which tonight I think will actually be resting since I have Beat the Banana tomorrow).
It's kind of nice. I'm sure when I get home I will reign again as fast food queen though, I have no self control when it comes to that. Let's hope that I can keep this up though (as much as possible).
I drink about 2 litres of water a day and always have fruit at least once a day. I don't even really want soda anymore (not to mention that whenever I have had one here, my body is so not used to the caffeine, that it keeps me up all night). I have cut down on potato chips (even though they have really great varieties here, like thai chicken and curry, and parsnip and mature cheddar). I don't eat a lot of fried, which henceforth has been my favorite food group. I think places like Pret which are ubiquitous here, help with my want of healthy foods a lot.
I also am feeling a lot more motivated to work out.
AND...there's all the walking. I did a mile to work this morning, which means I'll walk at LEAST another mile today. Plus whatever I do tonight (ok, which tonight I think will actually be resting since I have Beat the Banana tomorrow).
It's kind of nice. I'm sure when I get home I will reign again as fast food queen though, I have no self control when it comes to that. Let's hope that I can keep this up though (as much as possible).
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Whoo-hoo for me!
Despite my lack of motivation, I have run ALL THREE nights this week (if you count the week as starting on Sunday). And I think the sheer repetitiveness of just getting out there and doing it is breaking up my running funk.
It is also actually getting warmer out. Yesterday when I ran it was 70 degrees out! Now I know that this is nothing to you Cincinnatians who are braving 80 plus degree weather, but seriously, I have been wearing sweaters to work every day! This makes me happy because I remember the Hyde Park Blast from last year and the heat was killer. I knew that running in 50 degree weather wasn't going to help me that much.
So last night I did hill repeats again to work on building up my sprinting capability. I did 6 repeats (I made sure I counted accurately this time). I think I am going to have to find a better hill to practice on. Or maybe I will just have to do more repeats. I will not say that this time was easy, but I felt great the entire time. I guess I will be able to better guage that tomorrow when the pain sets in.
I realized last night too...I will still have 2 weeks of training once I get home! That should give me more than enough time to get ready for the race. Hurrah!
Tonight is a no-running night. I am moving into my hotel which I think will be enough of a work out for me. I already lugged one of my suitcases and a backpack .77 miles to work so that I can check-in at lunchtime. The other suitcase is the one I am worried about. It is the one that always gets that bright orange HEAVY label on it at the airport. And one of it's wheels are broken (thank you, Charles de Gaulle). So I guess it will be a weight-lifting night.
It is also actually getting warmer out. Yesterday when I ran it was 70 degrees out! Now I know that this is nothing to you Cincinnatians who are braving 80 plus degree weather, but seriously, I have been wearing sweaters to work every day! This makes me happy because I remember the Hyde Park Blast from last year and the heat was killer. I knew that running in 50 degree weather wasn't going to help me that much.
So last night I did hill repeats again to work on building up my sprinting capability. I did 6 repeats (I made sure I counted accurately this time). I think I am going to have to find a better hill to practice on. Or maybe I will just have to do more repeats. I will not say that this time was easy, but I felt great the entire time. I guess I will be able to better guage that tomorrow when the pain sets in.
I realized last night too...I will still have 2 weeks of training once I get home! That should give me more than enough time to get ready for the race. Hurrah!
Tonight is a no-running night. I am moving into my hotel which I think will be enough of a work out for me. I already lugged one of my suitcases and a backpack .77 miles to work so that I can check-in at lunchtime. The other suitcase is the one I am worried about. It is the one that always gets that bright orange HEAVY label on it at the airport. And one of it's wheels are broken (thank you, Charles de Gaulle). So I guess it will be a weight-lifting night.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Beep Beep
Yesterday I actually really really wanted to run. And the temperature was just perfect! I was a little chilly the whole time, with a light breeze. I also decided to shake things up a bit and not do my straight out-and-back run. I ran up to one of the main streets by where I work and totally had the intention of turning left, heading up to Angel/Islington, which is where I usually run. When I got up to the street though I thought, 'hey, why don't I check out where my hotel is?' so I turned right.
It always amazes me in big cities how one block is all blighted and gross, but just two blocks away is where the really really rich live. I mean, that is sort of an exaggeration of what I saw, but I went from youth-hostel-land, to posh-urban-yuppie-land. No trash on the streets! No creepy internet cafés or hole-in-the-wall "restaurants" called things like STAR burger. I am now really really looking forward to moving into Holborn and AWAY from King's Cross even more.
Anyway, one thing that HAS been annoying me on every single one of my runs (come on, you knew I couldn't be all sunny skies, I have been so negative about running lately) are the people on the street. A lot of them crowd the sidewalks, walking, no SAUNTERING five across and not moving when they hear someone behind them...which, I originally thought was just because they couldn't hear me, but come on! I can hear people behind me when I am running and I have my ipod playing! So then I have to either WALK behind them until traffic clears, or go around them if traffic is clear. They never do move for me. The worst though, are the people who are walking TOWARDS me. They SEE me, and they see that if they continue walking the way they are, side by side, that I will have no other option than to stop completely and let them pass. Not because I am a runner, who is taking up some weird amount of space, but because I am a person who occupies some width on the sidewalk. To make it worse, they look at me defiantly, like I am doing something wrong.
OK, OK, so there were actually 3 people last night who moved to the side when they saw me coming. For that I am grateful.
Bill says that this is probably why people only run in the park. At first I agreed, but then I was like, wait, I saw at least 6 runners on runs last night, and I always see runners on my runs. I remember them because they always run with backpacks (I think they actually run to and from work.) Oh well, I guess that is just something I will have to deal with. I can't bear to run in the parks by me because they are so small I would just end up doing a million loops for 30 minutes, which is unbearable. :)
It always amazes me in big cities how one block is all blighted and gross, but just two blocks away is where the really really rich live. I mean, that is sort of an exaggeration of what I saw, but I went from youth-hostel-land, to posh-urban-yuppie-land. No trash on the streets! No creepy internet cafés or hole-in-the-wall "restaurants" called things like STAR burger. I am now really really looking forward to moving into Holborn and AWAY from King's Cross even more.
Anyway, one thing that HAS been annoying me on every single one of my runs (come on, you knew I couldn't be all sunny skies, I have been so negative about running lately) are the people on the street. A lot of them crowd the sidewalks, walking, no SAUNTERING five across and not moving when they hear someone behind them...which, I originally thought was just because they couldn't hear me, but come on! I can hear people behind me when I am running and I have my ipod playing! So then I have to either WALK behind them until traffic clears, or go around them if traffic is clear. They never do move for me. The worst though, are the people who are walking TOWARDS me. They SEE me, and they see that if they continue walking the way they are, side by side, that I will have no other option than to stop completely and let them pass. Not because I am a runner, who is taking up some weird amount of space, but because I am a person who occupies some width on the sidewalk. To make it worse, they look at me defiantly, like I am doing something wrong.
OK, OK, so there were actually 3 people last night who moved to the side when they saw me coming. For that I am grateful.
Bill says that this is probably why people only run in the park. At first I agreed, but then I was like, wait, I saw at least 6 runners on runs last night, and I always see runners on my runs. I remember them because they always run with backpacks (I think they actually run to and from work.) Oh well, I guess that is just something I will have to deal with. I can't bear to run in the parks by me because they are so small I would just end up doing a million loops for 30 minutes, which is unbearable. :)
Monday, May 21, 2007
Motivation Drain
It is SOOOOOO difficult for me to run. I get up in the morning on the weekends, go back to sleep, and promise to run in the evening. After walking around all day, I get back and vow to run on Sunday. On Sunday, even when fully dressed in my running clothes, I still contemplate going back to bed. What is going on with me?!
I remember sometimes it was 6am on a Saturday in January, eighteen degrees out and snowing horizontally and I just got dressed and jumped into my car, sometimes even bearing incredibly slick, not cleared off roads to go run in the middle of the street because that was the only non-slippery path. (I didn't mean to sound like "I used to walk 2 miles to school...")
My runs aren't even all that satisfying. I find myself looking at my watch every 2 minutes or so, thinking 'it isn't time to turn around yet?'
I don't know what the deal is. Maybe since my next goal is a 4.1 mile race it just seems less satisfying. I think my goal though, should be to build up my speed again. Get back to that 8:45 minute mile pace I had in the last 5k I did (as opposed to my 11 minute mile marathon training pace). I just find it really hard to work towards that goal. I need to kick it back in mentally.
I did find out that the hotel I am moving to this week has a gym though. So that's good!
Tonight I DRAGGGGGGG myself out after I get home to do another 3 miler.
I remember sometimes it was 6am on a Saturday in January, eighteen degrees out and snowing horizontally and I just got dressed and jumped into my car, sometimes even bearing incredibly slick, not cleared off roads to go run in the middle of the street because that was the only non-slippery path. (I didn't mean to sound like "I used to walk 2 miles to school...")
My runs aren't even all that satisfying. I find myself looking at my watch every 2 minutes or so, thinking 'it isn't time to turn around yet?'
I don't know what the deal is. Maybe since my next goal is a 4.1 mile race it just seems less satisfying. I think my goal though, should be to build up my speed again. Get back to that 8:45 minute mile pace I had in the last 5k I did (as opposed to my 11 minute mile marathon training pace). I just find it really hard to work towards that goal. I need to kick it back in mentally.
I did find out that the hotel I am moving to this week has a gym though. So that's good!
Tonight I DRAGGGGGGG myself out after I get home to do another 3 miler.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Those London Runners are FAST
So I was eavesdropping on the tube (I know, horrible horrible me, but at rush hour it is extremely close quarters so how can you not eavesdrop?) and I heard this middle-aged man talking about his upcoming 5k this weekend. He said he was going to try and do 15:30, which is what he did last year. Because with a new baby (he has five children apparantly) he hasn't gotten to train as much.
Now, WHAT?
It's just me and my husband and our dog, and I can barely make enough time to run.
Especially that fast!
My boss was telling a similar story at work. He is running a 10k this weekend. He is going to try and do around 34 minutes. He has been training, but not as hard as he would like to.
In the marathon book I am reading they were saying that marathons seem to be the popular thing to do now, and it is not uncommon for much slower runners to run them.
I thought they meant people like me, NOT people who do 7 minute miles the whole time. They are SERIOUS about running here. Even the "celebrities" who just ran the marathon for "fun" were coming in at 4 hours or less. That's why I was so wary when I came back and everyone kept asking me what my time was. NO ONE asks me that at home, except people who are close to me. They are all like "oh, it's so amazing you did a marathon". Here, they were all like "wow that's great you did a marathon. Oh well, you will get a better time next time." How demoralizing!!!
I like how in the states I am considered a runner because I RUN. I get off the couch and instead of watching TV all night, go out and run. Not because I qualified for Boston for the gazillionth time.
:)
Now, WHAT?
It's just me and my husband and our dog, and I can barely make enough time to run.
Especially that fast!
My boss was telling a similar story at work. He is running a 10k this weekend. He is going to try and do around 34 minutes. He has been training, but not as hard as he would like to.
In the marathon book I am reading they were saying that marathons seem to be the popular thing to do now, and it is not uncommon for much slower runners to run them.
I thought they meant people like me, NOT people who do 7 minute miles the whole time. They are SERIOUS about running here. Even the "celebrities" who just ran the marathon for "fun" were coming in at 4 hours or less. That's why I was so wary when I came back and everyone kept asking me what my time was. NO ONE asks me that at home, except people who are close to me. They are all like "oh, it's so amazing you did a marathon". Here, they were all like "wow that's great you did a marathon. Oh well, you will get a better time next time." How demoralizing!!!
I like how in the states I am considered a runner because I RUN. I get off the couch and instead of watching TV all night, go out and run. Not because I qualified for Boston for the gazillionth time.
:)
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Beat the Banana
Oh yeah! and I DID end up finding a lot of running stuff. The distinction here, is that races are not called "races" or "road races" but "events". So I was searching in the completely wrong way.
I signed up for the most absurd one I could find which is called "Beat the Banana". (I like the picture of the runner on the website).
The description of the race says: The events, which involve participants trying to catch a runner dressed as a banana, will be held in cities from Bristol to Liverpool.
It is a 5k, and the funniest part is that when I signed up I had to tick off boxes promising that I was in good health and that I would not try to trip or slow down the banana in any way!!! Lol!
I signed up for the most absurd one I could find which is called "Beat the Banana". (I like the picture of the runner on the website).
The description of the race says: The events, which involve participants trying to catch a runner dressed as a banana, will be held in cities from Bristol to Liverpool.
It is a 5k, and the funniest part is that when I signed up I had to tick off boxes promising that I was in good health and that I would not try to trip or slow down the banana in any way!!! Lol!
Oh Yeah, the Pain Comes TWO Days After
I guess I forgot, you know, having a week off of running and all. I mean, I'm not limping around or anything (well, maybe I am, I have a tendency to have concerned co-workers come up to me and ask "are you LIMPING?" in a shocked way, to which I answer, "what? Oh, I guess...I added more mileage to my runs last night.") but I do feel a little strain in the back of my calves. Oh yeah, I guess hill repeats do that.
Last night I did my circuit training. 30s of each excercise, 30s rest.
Here are the circuits I did:
Shuttle Runs
Rowing Abs
Bunny Jumps
Sit-Ups
Cycling with Raised Abs
Leg Scissors
Tricep Dips
Push Ups
Squat Thrusts
Push-Ups (from knees)
Straddle Jumps
Squats
I must admit, I felt a little funny doing all of this in my flat. I guess though that I will feel even sillier once I transfer to a hotel next week. I'm hoping the hotel has a gym, but I can't tell from their website, which means they probably don't.
Tonight is 3 miles. I am working to build up my speed!
Last night I did my circuit training. 30s of each excercise, 30s rest.
Here are the circuits I did:
Shuttle Runs
Rowing Abs
Bunny Jumps
Sit-Ups
Cycling with Raised Abs
Leg Scissors
Tricep Dips
Push Ups
Squat Thrusts
Push-Ups (from knees)
Straddle Jumps
Squats
I must admit, I felt a little funny doing all of this in my flat. I guess though that I will feel even sillier once I transfer to a hotel next week. I'm hoping the hotel has a gym, but I can't tell from their website, which means they probably don't.
Tonight is 3 miles. I am working to build up my speed!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Repeat, Repeat
So last night I tackled Penton Rise. It was either 6 or 7 times. I lost count and I think I may have done 7, but just to be on the safe side I will say I only did 6.
I find that when doing hill repeats I tend to space out. I don't know if this is a good thing or not. I guess it is good when it comes to racing, because I don't really think about the hill. I should probably be concentrating on my technique a little more though, when I am actually practicing. For example, I tend to run on my toes when I am going up a hill. I talked to one of my coaches about this and asked if it was wrong, and he said "well, it's not really wrong, you're just making yourself work harder." Yeah, well hills are hard enough...I don't need to be a martyr.
I hate to admit it, but it seemed like a kind of wimpy hill. It looks impressive from far away, but running it I only started to really feel it in my calves after the 5th (or 6th) one. And I actually feel fine today. So I don't know what to do...
My plan was to run every other day and do some sort of resistance training on the other days, working out 6 days a week, taking one complete day of rest...which is kind of ridiculous, since I WALK EVERYWHERE. I mean I walk .77 miles to work every day (thank you mapmyrun.com) plus walking back, plus walking a mile to dinner and a mile back every night. Wow, I guess I shouldn't worry about my legs turning to mush I guess. I didn't realize I was walking that much until I just put it all down here.
OK, so I guess I will just plan to do my normal walking and my resistance training tonight. I miss the gym!!! Resistance training stinks when you could be loading up a machine with weights and seeing how strong you are :)
I find that when doing hill repeats I tend to space out. I don't know if this is a good thing or not. I guess it is good when it comes to racing, because I don't really think about the hill. I should probably be concentrating on my technique a little more though, when I am actually practicing. For example, I tend to run on my toes when I am going up a hill. I talked to one of my coaches about this and asked if it was wrong, and he said "well, it's not really wrong, you're just making yourself work harder." Yeah, well hills are hard enough...I don't need to be a martyr.
I hate to admit it, but it seemed like a kind of wimpy hill. It looks impressive from far away, but running it I only started to really feel it in my calves after the 5th (or 6th) one. And I actually feel fine today. So I don't know what to do...
My plan was to run every other day and do some sort of resistance training on the other days, working out 6 days a week, taking one complete day of rest...which is kind of ridiculous, since I WALK EVERYWHERE. I mean I walk .77 miles to work every day (thank you mapmyrun.com) plus walking back, plus walking a mile to dinner and a mile back every night. Wow, I guess I shouldn't worry about my legs turning to mush I guess. I didn't realize I was walking that much until I just put it all down here.
OK, so I guess I will just plan to do my normal walking and my resistance training tonight. I miss the gym!!! Resistance training stinks when you could be loading up a machine with weights and seeing how strong you are :)
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Race Registration
With the ease of everything on the web, I am surprised how difficult it is to find races online. London is a huge city for runners, so you think that this would be easy. I also tend to be a whiz at finding just about anything online. I take it as a challenge and find whatever anyone is looking for (sometimes I have even surprised my tech-saavy husband). HOWEVER, I have NOT been able to find a lot of races in London. I started by looking for "5k London" and "10k London". That pulled up the marathon, and a bunch of races in September. Well, I am only here until June 15th. Runner's World says it has a comprehensive database of races and I checked it out. No races in May, a couple in June. A lot of these races actually fall on weekdays, which I found pretty interesting. Most of them really aren't road races either...they take place in parks.
I assumed that these were really the only races in London, but the other day I saw an ad in the tube for a "city versus city" run, that looks kind of fun. It is a 10k where you sign up for Glasgow, Liverpool, or London and run in that city's corresponding race. The winning city is the city with the best average time for all participants. Unfortunately, it is on a Sunday that I have other plans.
I KNOW there are other races out there!!! My boss is running in one that he says is a "huge running festival" in Northern London this weekend. I'm thinking that the groups and meet-ups would be a good source of information, but unfortunately they all meet while I am still in work.
Oh well, looks like I will have to keep plugging away with my super-searching skills.
I assumed that these were really the only races in London, but the other day I saw an ad in the tube for a "city versus city" run, that looks kind of fun. It is a 10k where you sign up for Glasgow, Liverpool, or London and run in that city's corresponding race. The winning city is the city with the best average time for all participants. Unfortunately, it is on a Sunday that I have other plans.
I KNOW there are other races out there!!! My boss is running in one that he says is a "huge running festival" in Northern London this weekend. I'm thinking that the groups and meet-ups would be a good source of information, but unfortunately they all meet while I am still in work.
Oh well, looks like I will have to keep plugging away with my super-searching skills.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Recovery Run
So, running 3 miles this weekend seemed a little pointless. It was actually pretty hard to get motivated to get up and do it. My ipod wasn't working either, since I hadn't charged it in so long, but it was ok, because I was only gone for 20 something minutes :) For that amount of time I could entertain myself by singing songs in my head.
I also scouted a new hill for me to run on Tuesday. That is when I am going to do some hill repeats. Hill repeats are always greeted with a mixed sense of dread and relief for me. I hate to admit it, but sometimes I actually ENJOY them. I mean, there is something rewarding about them. AND they are over with rather quickly. It kind of reminds me of pulling a band-aid off really quickly. And call me a masochist, but when my calves hurt that badly the day afterwards, I feel like I actually worked my muscles hard and I kind of like it.
My hill that I found is called Penton Rise, and it has an ascent of 53 feet over .17 miles. (So it is no Cliff Street in Eden Park, but I am also training for a much shorter distance). It will have to do for now until I find more daunting hills. By the way, I think it is funny that streets with huge hills tip you off to it in their names: Penton RISE, CLIFF street.
I also scouted a new hill for me to run on Tuesday. That is when I am going to do some hill repeats. Hill repeats are always greeted with a mixed sense of dread and relief for me. I hate to admit it, but sometimes I actually ENJOY them. I mean, there is something rewarding about them. AND they are over with rather quickly. It kind of reminds me of pulling a band-aid off really quickly. And call me a masochist, but when my calves hurt that badly the day afterwards, I feel like I actually worked my muscles hard and I kind of like it.
My hill that I found is called Penton Rise, and it has an ascent of 53 feet over .17 miles. (So it is no Cliff Street in Eden Park, but I am also training for a much shorter distance). It will have to do for now until I find more daunting hills. By the way, I think it is funny that streets with huge hills tip you off to it in their names: Penton RISE, CLIFF street.
Friday, May 11, 2007
It's a Mental Thing
First of all, I am amazed at how quickly my body has recovered. I no sooner had written my entry "Ow Ow Ow" when my legs really did feel better. I was able to walk all over the city of New York on Wednesday, tackling steps and everything! :)
So yesterday I went to Waterstones, which is basically the British version of Borders and I couldn't resist getting a book (on sale!) that was part of a series called "Teach Yourself To"...I picked up "Teach Yourself to Run a Marathon". I know, I know, I just ran a marathon, but that doesn't mean that I can't learn anything new. Besides, I am obsessed.
Already I am scoping out hills to practice repeats on in my neighborhood. Which brings me to today's title.
I started to feel a little anxious about the Hyde Park Blast. I mean, there are a TON of hills and it is usually sweltering that time of the year. I am just not used to running like that. But then I thought, 'you know, when I started marathon training, it was painful to run even 3 miles'. Also I remember amazing myself by saying that I was training mostly in the Hyde Park area. I mean my FAVORITE place to run is in Eden Park, which has no lack of hills. I decided that it is all a mental thing. (Well, not ALL). Because when you train properly, it is all up to you in your head, to get past whatever it is you are trying to get past.
On the day of the marathon, I was not asking myself if I could do 26 miles. I knew I could do it. The difficult part will be coming up with my own training program.
It starts tomorrow! 3.5 easy miles as part of my recovery (no sprints or repeats yet!)
So yesterday I went to Waterstones, which is basically the British version of Borders and I couldn't resist getting a book (on sale!) that was part of a series called "Teach Yourself To"...I picked up "Teach Yourself to Run a Marathon". I know, I know, I just ran a marathon, but that doesn't mean that I can't learn anything new. Besides, I am obsessed.
Already I am scoping out hills to practice repeats on in my neighborhood. Which brings me to today's title.
I started to feel a little anxious about the Hyde Park Blast. I mean, there are a TON of hills and it is usually sweltering that time of the year. I am just not used to running like that. But then I thought, 'you know, when I started marathon training, it was painful to run even 3 miles'. Also I remember amazing myself by saying that I was training mostly in the Hyde Park area. I mean my FAVORITE place to run is in Eden Park, which has no lack of hills. I decided that it is all a mental thing. (Well, not ALL). Because when you train properly, it is all up to you in your head, to get past whatever it is you are trying to get past.
On the day of the marathon, I was not asking myself if I could do 26 miles. I knew I could do it. The difficult part will be coming up with my own training program.
It starts tomorrow! 3.5 easy miles as part of my recovery (no sprints or repeats yet!)
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Recovery
I am already suffering from post-marathon blues. Like, what? No more fun 12 mile runs with the group? It is even worse, because Coach Joe sent out an email saying they are meeting for a recovery run tonight, AND a team karoke night on Thursday. Ptttt! I will only be singing to myself in the shower (oh wait, bath, I don't HAVE a shower) at my flat in London. Boo! I want to see my group again!
But, Coach Joe also sent a good tip to us. Walking backwards down steps. This may just save me. My legs are total mush and people are looking at me funny today as I walk up and down the steps. I think I look like a newborn colt who is just standing up for the first time. NOT graceful at all. My quads are KILLING me.
However, I am looking into joining a "meet-up" for runners in London and hopefully doing a road race or two while I am there the next few weeks. Even though the description of most of these meet-ups is like "we're really more into drinking than running". They all meet for a couple of miles and then hit the pub. And this is different from the Cincinnati groups, how?
I went to Los Portales last night for dinner and saw a girl wearing her medal. I almost went up to her and congratulated her, but she was gone before my margarita was. I wore my medal all day Sunday...even to Target and to dinner! Everyone at work was like "uh, why aren't you wearing it all week? I would be if I ran a marathon!"
I thought about it, but I think I would have a hard time getting through security at the airport.
But, Coach Joe also sent a good tip to us. Walking backwards down steps. This may just save me. My legs are total mush and people are looking at me funny today as I walk up and down the steps. I think I look like a newborn colt who is just standing up for the first time. NOT graceful at all. My quads are KILLING me.
However, I am looking into joining a "meet-up" for runners in London and hopefully doing a road race or two while I am there the next few weeks. Even though the description of most of these meet-ups is like "we're really more into drinking than running". They all meet for a couple of miles and then hit the pub. And this is different from the Cincinnati groups, how?
I went to Los Portales last night for dinner and saw a girl wearing her medal. I almost went up to her and congratulated her, but she was gone before my margarita was. I wore my medal all day Sunday...even to Target and to dinner! Everyone at work was like "uh, why aren't you wearing it all week? I would be if I ran a marathon!"
I thought about it, but I think I would have a hard time getting through security at the airport.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Ow Ow Ow!
I look ridiculous today...
Even though I took today off, I trudged downtown anyway to meet my husband for lunch (it was worth it :) but, it was kind of funny when he had to literally PULL me out of the booth. No, I cannot walk. But it was still totally worth it. And between the ice, the Aleve, and my wiccy magic muscles bar I am going to try out in a few minutes, I think I will be okay.
Also, my toenails did NOT fall off ALL SEASON!!!! Hurrah! I really really think that clipping them super short and painting them is what saved them...a good tip I will have to remember as long as I run. However, they are a gross brownish yellow color. At first I thought that this was from the nail polish I had been using, or some sort of gross fungal infection, but the truth is, that I've had both of those and it looks nothing like that. Bill thinks that it is because my toes have been constantly banging against my shoes for an extended period of time. Anyone else ever get anything like this?
One more question...when I got finished yesterday, I had a ring of salt around my mouth. And all day my skin tasted extra salty. I realize that this was because I was sweating like crazy, but just wondering...does it mean I had too much salt before the race? too little? too much or not enough water? I will never figure out all of these weird things that happen to your body during a marathon!
As for my reward... well I went to Tiffany's today and have a lovely new pendant. And it seems that I am not the only one who rewarded myself for the marathon. Apparantly at least two other people visited Tiffany's today with the same idea. At least that's what the saleslady said. So how did you all reward yourself for yesterday's massive mileage? And if you didn't reward yourself...you should! 26.2 miles is a huge feat! (at least I think so)
Even though I took today off, I trudged downtown anyway to meet my husband for lunch (it was worth it :) but, it was kind of funny when he had to literally PULL me out of the booth. No, I cannot walk. But it was still totally worth it. And between the ice, the Aleve, and my wiccy magic muscles bar I am going to try out in a few minutes, I think I will be okay.
Also, my toenails did NOT fall off ALL SEASON!!!! Hurrah! I really really think that clipping them super short and painting them is what saved them...a good tip I will have to remember as long as I run. However, they are a gross brownish yellow color. At first I thought that this was from the nail polish I had been using, or some sort of gross fungal infection, but the truth is, that I've had both of those and it looks nothing like that. Bill thinks that it is because my toes have been constantly banging against my shoes for an extended period of time. Anyone else ever get anything like this?
One more question...when I got finished yesterday, I had a ring of salt around my mouth. And all day my skin tasted extra salty. I realize that this was because I was sweating like crazy, but just wondering...does it mean I had too much salt before the race? too little? too much or not enough water? I will never figure out all of these weird things that happen to your body during a marathon!
As for my reward... well I went to Tiffany's today and have a lovely new pendant. And it seems that I am not the only one who rewarded myself for the marathon. Apparantly at least two other people visited Tiffany's today with the same idea. At least that's what the saleslady said. So how did you all reward yourself for yesterday's massive mileage? And if you didn't reward yourself...you should! 26.2 miles is a huge feat! (at least I think so)
Sunday, May 6, 2007
THANK YOU!!!
YAY! I did it!
Thank you...
"Team Emily" (which includes my husband, parents, and my other "alcoholic" friends)...you know you have a support team when your friends don hot pink shirts bedazzled and puffy-painted holding signs to cheer you on 7 times during the course!!
Mom, Dad and Bill, you peeled my disgusting socks off afterwards as I implemented the cool "hold your legs up" trick, you made sure my space blanket didn't fly away in the wind and you took me to IHOP
Coach Joe and the Running Spot Team, you are an inspiration and I was able to make it through the whole thing because of you! It is so cool to know that you have a team of coaches chasing you around the course with encouragement, aspirin and anything else you may need.
The Running Spot Group, we all went through this together and it was great to see everyone finish, and even greater to share a beer with you all tonight at our "after-party"
The woman holding the sign in Eden Park that said "Your Hair Looks Great", it made me laugh
The guy in Eden Park with the sign that said "You are all heroes" which almost made me cry right there on the course
The guy dressed as the Burger King on Hyde Park Square YOU made me laugh even harder
Amber, Crystal and Eric, whose blogs inspired me and let me know that I am not the only crazy runner out there who does funny things while I run (I may shadow box, but I guess some of you yodel :)
Bob Roncker, your training program has helped me to love running, I NEVER thought last year when I struggled through the Hyde Park Blast that I would be running a marathon this year
Uh, all of YOU GUYS, by that I mean THE READERS!!! You have inspired me to do my best, picked me up when I was having a bad day, offered me great advice, and let me know that you are all out there struggling with me through all of those long runs. When I started this blog, its main purpose was to keep me on my training schedule (because I would have something else that made me accountable) I never dreamed of the support I would get from the readers. YOU are all TRULY AWESOME. You have made my day many times!
This of course is NOT the end of the marathon entries. These are just my post-race ramblings for now.
Anyway, congrats to all that finished. You are amazing!!!
Thank you...
"Team Emily" (which includes my husband, parents, and my other "alcoholic" friends)...you know you have a support team when your friends don hot pink shirts bedazzled and puffy-painted holding signs to cheer you on 7 times during the course!!
Mom, Dad and Bill, you peeled my disgusting socks off afterwards as I implemented the cool "hold your legs up" trick, you made sure my space blanket didn't fly away in the wind and you took me to IHOP
Coach Joe and the Running Spot Team, you are an inspiration and I was able to make it through the whole thing because of you! It is so cool to know that you have a team of coaches chasing you around the course with encouragement, aspirin and anything else you may need.
The Running Spot Group, we all went through this together and it was great to see everyone finish, and even greater to share a beer with you all tonight at our "after-party"
The woman holding the sign in Eden Park that said "Your Hair Looks Great", it made me laugh
The guy in Eden Park with the sign that said "You are all heroes" which almost made me cry right there on the course
The guy dressed as the Burger King on Hyde Park Square YOU made me laugh even harder
Amber, Crystal and Eric, whose blogs inspired me and let me know that I am not the only crazy runner out there who does funny things while I run (I may shadow box, but I guess some of you yodel :)
Bob Roncker, your training program has helped me to love running, I NEVER thought last year when I struggled through the Hyde Park Blast that I would be running a marathon this year
Uh, all of YOU GUYS, by that I mean THE READERS!!! You have inspired me to do my best, picked me up when I was having a bad day, offered me great advice, and let me know that you are all out there struggling with me through all of those long runs. When I started this blog, its main purpose was to keep me on my training schedule (because I would have something else that made me accountable) I never dreamed of the support I would get from the readers. YOU are all TRULY AWESOME. You have made my day many times!
This of course is NOT the end of the marathon entries. These are just my post-race ramblings for now.
Anyway, congrats to all that finished. You are amazing!!!
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Marathon Questions
Since I have no previous marathon experience, I have thought of a few stupid marathon questions.
1. Just how easy is it for the crowd to see the runners in multiple places during the race? In London, this was super easy because of public transportation. In Cincinnati, I'm sure roads are closed. :(
2. Is it stupid if I wear my finishing medal all day? I feel like I will deserve it. :)
3. Will I really feel like partying that night? I would love to (especially since I have cut out alcohol and soda for an entire week!!!)
4. How will I feel the next day? I took the day off, which I think is a good move, but sitting around on the couch for an entire day is not exactly my style.
5. Since I don't get massages regularly, I am not going to get one before the race...but how about after?
6. OK, since this is my first race I am NOT going to worry about pace too much, but come on, there are pace clocks everywhere. I don't want to freak out if I am going too fast in the beginning, but the fact of the matter is, that every race I do, I pace at LEAST a minute faster per mile than my training runs...so for the marathon...what?
7. Just how hungry am I going to be afterwards?
8. Everyone keeps emphasizing warm clothes for the finish. In the London Marathon I saw people wrapping themselves in those foil-looking blankets...won't we be extremely hot afterwards?
That's it I guess...
For now.
Tomorrow I am hopping on a plane to journey back home and REST until the marathon. So no more posts until Saturday. :(
1. Just how easy is it for the crowd to see the runners in multiple places during the race? In London, this was super easy because of public transportation. In Cincinnati, I'm sure roads are closed. :(
2. Is it stupid if I wear my finishing medal all day? I feel like I will deserve it. :)
3. Will I really feel like partying that night? I would love to (especially since I have cut out alcohol and soda for an entire week!!!)
4. How will I feel the next day? I took the day off, which I think is a good move, but sitting around on the couch for an entire day is not exactly my style.
5. Since I don't get massages regularly, I am not going to get one before the race...but how about after?
6. OK, since this is my first race I am NOT going to worry about pace too much, but come on, there are pace clocks everywhere. I don't want to freak out if I am going too fast in the beginning, but the fact of the matter is, that every race I do, I pace at LEAST a minute faster per mile than my training runs...so for the marathon...what?
7. Just how hungry am I going to be afterwards?
8. Everyone keeps emphasizing warm clothes for the finish. In the London Marathon I saw people wrapping themselves in those foil-looking blankets...won't we be extremely hot afterwards?
That's it I guess...
For now.
Tomorrow I am hopping on a plane to journey back home and REST until the marathon. So no more posts until Saturday. :(
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
What's Next for Runnergrrrl?
Well, I thought I would be joining another training group, this time for the Hyde Park Blast. HOWEVER, I just found out yesterday that after the marathon I will be returning to jolly olde England for 6 weeks! This will become my true running test. Will I be able to keep it up on my own? Who knows. I hope so. But I am definitely one of those people who thrive in a group. And let me tell you, if my husband decides he doesn't want to go to the gym when we get home, I have a really hard time going by myself. So we'll see.
It will also be kind of hard to train for the Blast without blasting through all of those hills in Hyde Park during the training. Although there are hills here, the real Hyde Park is no match for our Cincinnati version. Not to mention that today our high is supposed to top off around 67, whereas I heard yesterday in Cincinnati was more like 80.
Oh well, I will definitely keep on running. I have no excuse. It is only 4.1 miles!!!!
AND, I've decided to keep the blog. I KNOW it says that it's about marathon training, but I guess that will just have to change to more all-encompassing running. Not as exciting, but I don't care. :)
It will also be kind of hard to train for the Blast without blasting through all of those hills in Hyde Park during the training. Although there are hills here, the real Hyde Park is no match for our Cincinnati version. Not to mention that today our high is supposed to top off around 67, whereas I heard yesterday in Cincinnati was more like 80.
Oh well, I will definitely keep on running. I have no excuse. It is only 4.1 miles!!!!
AND, I've decided to keep the blog. I KNOW it says that it's about marathon training, but I guess that will just have to change to more all-encompassing running. Not as exciting, but I don't care. :)
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
My Last Run Before the Marathon
My last run is tonight! The schedule says that we are supposed to run tonight, rest Wednesday and get a few miles in on Thursday, but knowing my body (which I have found a LOT about during my training) I know that tonight needs to be my last run.
I just said goodbye to my husband at Victoria Station this morning, and as we were walking to the tube I said "it's funny, but for my last run tonight I am not going much more than we are walking right now." He said that I probably felt like "what's the point?" which I sort of feel like, but on the other hand, I feel like this last run will help me get my pent-up energy out.
My last few runs have been at a faster pace than I usually take, since the mileage is dropping off and my body is so rested. I have felt great! And I feel like it is just enough to get my pent-up energy out and relax me mentally a little bit, but not overstress me, or make me concentrate too much on things like pace. It is nice to just really enjoy and relish the run without thinking too much. I am not worried about dropping the mileage off. I trust Coach Joe and countless others who have run tons of marathons. And if I have the energy that I have had in my past few runs that only reaffirms my belief in the taper. My body can do it. I have programmed it to, and I feel like the 20 miles was in me without rest, so imagine what I can do with rest!
I feel calm about the whole thing. Right now. :)
I just said goodbye to my husband at Victoria Station this morning, and as we were walking to the tube I said "it's funny, but for my last run tonight I am not going much more than we are walking right now." He said that I probably felt like "what's the point?" which I sort of feel like, but on the other hand, I feel like this last run will help me get my pent-up energy out.
My last few runs have been at a faster pace than I usually take, since the mileage is dropping off and my body is so rested. I have felt great! And I feel like it is just enough to get my pent-up energy out and relax me mentally a little bit, but not overstress me, or make me concentrate too much on things like pace. It is nice to just really enjoy and relish the run without thinking too much. I am not worried about dropping the mileage off. I trust Coach Joe and countless others who have run tons of marathons. And if I have the energy that I have had in my past few runs that only reaffirms my belief in the taper. My body can do it. I have programmed it to, and I feel like the 20 miles was in me without rest, so imagine what I can do with rest!
I feel calm about the whole thing. Right now. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
