Running Again!

I finally got to run outside again this weekend!

I can't figure out what I want to do with running this winter...I think I've found out that Bill's job pretty much makes him come home too late to run. I mean, I guess I COULD save my running until after dinner/after Bill gets home. But a lot of times that would mean that I wouldn't get my workout in at all (because I would have to run after 11pm-ish). I also have to be realistic about this...after I eat dinner am I REALLY going to want to go out in the dark and cold and do a run?

The other option is to run in the morning.

I am NOT a morning person. Plus, when my alarm goes off for me to run in the morning I basically just reset it and promise to do my run at night. Plus, my life is a little stressful right now and I am counting my blessings when I actually do get a full night of sleep. So I don't really think I should be skimming off of that end.

But it looks like that might be the only option. So I'd better learn to be a loser and go to bed at like, ten, and wake up early. NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

It WAS nice to run outside instead of on the machines this weekend. My legs are even a little sore. I think this is because there is no way a treadmill can replicate the workout you get outside. Running outside clears my head, and I was even happy to do the 4-mile loop around the park, even though just a while ago, I was so sick of it.

Well, I am not going to worry about the running schedule thing TOO much, until after Christmas, when I start really training for the Pig. I do have a fun little run in Prospect Park (which is in Brooklyn) on Thanksgiving morning. Bill is running it with me too!

I just couldn't give up the tradition of doing a race on Thanksgiving. Even though it is only a 5-miler, it makes me feel so much better about piling on all those potatoes later in the evening. ;)

Boring

My workout life seems pretty lame and boring when I'm not training for a marathon. Don't get me wrong...I am totally and completely enjoying all of the free time, but it IS rather boring. And I have to pretty much force myself to workout.

Last night I did arm weights and crunches. I am really into testing this whole "muscle makes you lose fat faster" thing. Plus, I would just generally like to tone up. Lifting is SO BORING it makes me want to cry. So I really have to make sure that I am pushing myself as I would do in my running. Last night I was really good and did reps until I was too tired to keep form, rested, and did two more sets like that, for each weight lifting activity. Boring.

I also realized that when it comes to anything but running I am pretty much out of shape. Which is kind of sad.

I think people have a picture in their head of everything a marathoner is...lithe, strong, muscled and pretty much able to do any sport. I think most marathoners I know would laugh at this. I especially would.

One thing I am VERY happy about is that I am losing all of my weight fairly easily (well, as easy as one can do it...). I just remember that it took me 4 months to lose 18 pounds in the winter and 6 months to gain it back. I was so bummed that it would take me 4 months to lose it again.

But I have been pretty vigilant about my diet and working out for the past two weeks and have already lost 5 of those pounds. Thank goodness. I was starting to think there were not too many visible benefits to all the work I keep doing. But at least it is easier to lose all of that fat than it was last time.

I also have been scarfing granola from my stash when I'm hungry instead of cupcakes from the office kitchen. That Bear Naked stuff is actually pretty good (but not as good as cupcakes).

I was planning on treadmill tonight, but I think I'll mix it up. I got this lame (I'm thinking) video a long time ago which I've never tried out. If anything, it will be a hilarious workout.

I did look into Bikram yoga and actually found a great place RIGHT BY MY WORK that is offering 30 days for $30. That is awesome because that is how much ONE class would cost. So I'm going to try it out...but I have to figure out my life scheduling right now. Balance is NOT something that is working out for me this month (ha ha, maybe I COULD use some yoga then).

A Little Late, But...

I decided that I am going to be proud of myself for my Marine Corps Marathon time.

I am NOT trying to be a big-head or be overly braggadocious. But here's the thing. I was pretty darn disappointed with my time. I was like "Yeah, yeah, I did ok. BUT I didn't make my time goal by a long shot." (Even though it was my long shot time goal.)

And Bill just kept telling me "You dropped 26 minutes off of your Pig time. That's a minute per mile!" And I was like yeah yeah yeah.

But I just went back to look at my splits from the Pig in May, and I decided I can be proud of my Marine Corps Marathon time.

I guess that's why everyone says to keep a running log.

So anyway, yay!

On and Off of the Wagon

Well, I have been doing pretty good with my workouts...especially since I have hit some stumbling blocks.

I always find it hard to run in the fall/winter because it gets SO DARK SO EARLY. This is why I originally enlisted Bill to run with me last winter (yes, yes and also because I thought it would be cool if we enjoyed another shared activity). It is basically impossible to run in Manhattan because of all of the traffic, unless you are running in the park. 99% of the time that I am in Riverside Park at night I feel completely safe. HOWEVER, I do not think it is a good idea to run there by myself at night. Bill's been working the crappiest hours ever this week, so in addition to not ever seeing him :( I also have to plan alternate workouts for my running days (I just feel safer running with him in the park). So....I've been hitting the gym in the basement of my building and doing the much dreaded treadmill.

Yesterday was a weights day and I was all psyched to go down and use the weights machines. Trouble is, it is one of those combo type machines. Since the machine bolts were screwed down so d@mn tight, I couldn't adjust them to do "multiple" things. This may be because no one ever uses the machines. Come to think of it, I've never seen anyone use them. Or, it may be because I was doing something wrong. Bill said he's used the machines before, so I will have to have him show me sometime. Sooo...I got to do my hamstrings, but not my quads, my triceps, but not my biceps, etc etc. Now, I know how to use free weights (but for some reason hate them), but some guy was using the ones I wanted. But I am proud of myself...I went back upstairs and did my own free weights (8 pounders) while watching "The Simpsons".

So I've been sticking to my plan.

Except...

That I just scarfed down two platefuls of potato chips that I got from the kitchen at work. Dodging snacks is going to be the hardest thing...

Back into the Swing of Things

Ah, the two-week self-mandated waiting period to start working out again ended this weekend. Which means that I actually ran again this weekend! Granted, it was only 3.4 miles, but hey! It's all about starting easy again, right?

In fact, I may have to keep reminding myself that.

See, I now have a couple of goals looking forward. The first is to lose that awful 18 pounds that I put back on during the marathon season. (Really...gaining weight during marathon season always ticks me off.) Right now, most of it is a carb belly. Yes, my waist has expanded and now (unfortunatly) the two pant sizes that I dropped last spring I got right back into. :(

My next goal is to be a healthier, more well-rounded runner. This includes eating healthier (of course)...getting enough protein for muscle building, eating LEAN fats like olive oil, etc instead of the fats I tend towards, and quitting my once a week McDonald's habit :( Bill and I already started this this weekend. We planned a bunch of healthy meals for the week and went out and got groceries last night. Luckily, we are not sacrificing taste because we got a bunch of really great cookbooks that have delicious, easy, healthy food (this is how I lost all of my weight last winter). I also decided to stop snacking at work. This is really hard because we get free snacks at work and they are SO BAD. Like cheese doodles. When was the last time I wanted a cheese doodle? Well it doesn't matter, because when they're sitting out I eat them anyway. So to combat this, I brought a bag of healthy treats to work today and stashed them in my drawer. In fact, they are pretty much all of the samples of things I got from the marathon expo.

The second goal also includes stretching and a weight program. I KNOW the benefits of weight training, yet I don't participate. Since I want to go even FASTER in my next marathon I am definitely going to have to be vigilant about this. Stretching includes doing yoga twice a week so that I don't become injured.

Oh yeah, and Bill is in on all of this too, because he decided to train for the Pig Marathon with me...that's right, the whole 26.2 miles.

So I made a little weekly schedule and put it up on the fridge. It lists our workouts for every day and also what we are eating (since they coincide...like when I do a weights day we have a high protein meal).

So far, I am not doing so well (and I just started Saturday). Yesterday's workout called for weights and yoga, but when I got home from shopping I was all grouchy and didn't feel like it. I whined and complained to Bill and then didn't do it. Hmmm. Not off to a good start. But then again, I might have been a little overly ambitious with my workout plan for this week too (seeing that it IS my first week back).

I just have to remember: BALANCE.

A Perfect NY Day!

It's so funny. I complain and complain and complain about the marathon season being too long, and then the week after the marathon? I'm out on the course cheering like crazy!

This past Sunday was the New York City marathon. And one of the mentees in my mentee group was running it, so Gina and I and some other TNT friends decided to go cheer. The marathon starts LATE. The elite women's start is at 9 am and then everyone else goes out based on their corral time. It would kind of stink if you were running it, because you have to be on Staten Island by 5am because they close off all of the bridge traffic. All those people, sitting around for 5 hours, waiting to run? Yuck!

Our meeting spot was at 116th Street and 5th Avenue, up in East Harlem. It was mile 22 and we figured it was a good place to see the elites and all of the other runners too. I got there at 10:00, followed shortly by my TNT buddies. We saw a lot of the wheelchair athletes...and then? YAY! We saw Paula Radcliffe, and once again I was starstruck. And then I saw Kara Goucher!!! She is my hero! So I was super super excited.

But I have to say, even though I get a thrill out of seeing all of the superstar runners, my favorite part of watching the marathon is cheering for the normal people...people with times like mine. :) I was also so excited when I saw a Roncker shirt in the crowd. I punched Pam in the arm and was like "HEY! I USED TO RUN WITH HIM!!!" and I started waving to him wildly and he smiled and waved back and then I was like "That was stupid. If I was running a three-hour marathon there is no way I would be waving to some girl that I may or may not remember."

We all went crazy with the cowbells and with our signs and of course yelled out everyone's name on their singlet. We went REALLY crazy when we saw other TNT people. And they usually waved back or smiled. And I think I pissed some people off too. Because when people started to walk I would say things like "You can do it! You look great! Just stick with it." Some people smiled at me, some people started running, but some people smiled at me like "Shut up lady. I don't see you running 22 miles." I also saw Jim, from last season's Biggest Loser (which I love).

It was a lot of fun. We stayed till almost the very end (4:30ish?) and we were the only people left cheering. And now all of us have sore throats :)