This week I had a nice little 10 mile run. Last time, when I ran our 10 miles I was hating it the whole way. But this week it actually felt pretty good (until around mile 9 when I was just "done").
It is MUCH easier to run with Bill now that I am pacing a bit faster. Before I think it was always a struggle between us, because he always wanted to go faster, and was slowing down to be with me, and I was always going faster than I felt comfortable with. I think I have realized that a lot of running is mind games for me. Perhaps I should have been training faster awhile ago. But then again, perhaps I've done this the right way and I am just reaping benefits.
At any rate, one thing I DO know is that I need to slow down in the beginning miles. So for the next week, I am going to concentrate on negative splitting my runs.
I KNOW I need to do this, because every time I have run this way I am AMAZED with my time. Every time I run like I am used to running (fast at first, then slowly trickling off in the last miles) I feel tired.
When Bill and I got to mile 9 and he asked me how I felt, I could only say "Eh." I explained to him; I wasn't feeling awful, but I felt tired. Not tired like sleepy, but tired like physically tired. I told him I could keep pace for the last mile (which I did) but that if this was the marathon, and I still had 2 miles to go, I would be walking them. He pushed me up the last hill, telling me to keep my form (which I did) and that if I kept my pace (which I did) I would be happy with our result.
We ended with a 1:33:18 for 10.2 miles, which calculates out to a 9:08 pace. Now, I KNOW, with my past results I should have been ecstatic about this. But I told Bill, "You know, I think if we would have started out slower, we could have ended up with a faster pace." He agreed.
So the next few weeks I am going to experiment with negative splits and see what happens. Who knows, maybe I am some weirdo who DOES have to push the pace at the beginning. I doubt this, but I guess I'll find out in the next few weeks. I am chalking it up to a big experiment. Isn't that what training is for anyway? :)
Monday, February 23, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Late Posting
I have been bad, and not posting lately. It has been a bit crazy, and I haven't been doing so well on my running schedule this week due to work and travelling.
But on Valentine's Day, Bill and I DID start the morning with a nice, romantic, 15 mile run. Haha.
I was not looking forward to running nearly 3 loops of Central Park, so I decided that we should run the West Side Highway bike/jog trail. I forgot how much I hate running it until we were running. Ok. Ok. It wasn't as bad as it was in the summer, but it still is pretty boring.
Here is why I hate it:
1. It is flat the entire way (much like Eastern) with NO turns (much like Eastern) so it is BORING.
2. It is right next to the Hudson, so there is tons of exhaust from boats and helicopters.
3. It is right next to the West Side Highway so there is tons of exhaust from trucks and cars.
4. The sun beats down on you since there is no shade, so it's HOT.
5. Even though running down the west side of Manhattan sounds like it would be beautiful and scenic, it really isn't.
The cool this is that if you think about it, it is kind of cool to run all the way from the Upper West Side alllllll the way to the bottom tip of Manhattan. At least, that is how far Bill and I made it before we had to turn around.
I was so hitting the wall after we turned around. And it was agonizing, because you can tell EXACTLY where you are on the trail (because it is marked every mile and also because you see the streets going by..."We are only at 42nd!!!! We have 57 freaking blocks to go!!!").
Despite all of that, we finished our 15 miles with a 2:22 (about a 9:28 pace). I felt like I was dying at the end and doing like 11 minute miles, but apparently I wasn't.
I think I am getting fast.
I was aiming for a 9:50 pace, which is what the McMillan running calculator says is at the upper range of what I should be training at for my long runs. It FELT like a 9:50. So I guess that's good! We'll see about this week. I have a feeling I might be a little slower due to my less-than-stellar ability to stick to my workout plan this week. :)
But on Valentine's Day, Bill and I DID start the morning with a nice, romantic, 15 mile run. Haha.
I was not looking forward to running nearly 3 loops of Central Park, so I decided that we should run the West Side Highway bike/jog trail. I forgot how much I hate running it until we were running. Ok. Ok. It wasn't as bad as it was in the summer, but it still is pretty boring.
Here is why I hate it:
1. It is flat the entire way (much like Eastern) with NO turns (much like Eastern) so it is BORING.
2. It is right next to the Hudson, so there is tons of exhaust from boats and helicopters.
3. It is right next to the West Side Highway so there is tons of exhaust from trucks and cars.
4. The sun beats down on you since there is no shade, so it's HOT.
5. Even though running down the west side of Manhattan sounds like it would be beautiful and scenic, it really isn't.
The cool this is that if you think about it, it is kind of cool to run all the way from the Upper West Side alllllll the way to the bottom tip of Manhattan. At least, that is how far Bill and I made it before we had to turn around.
I was so hitting the wall after we turned around. And it was agonizing, because you can tell EXACTLY where you are on the trail (because it is marked every mile and also because you see the streets going by..."We are only at 42nd!!!! We have 57 freaking blocks to go!!!").
Despite all of that, we finished our 15 miles with a 2:22 (about a 9:28 pace). I felt like I was dying at the end and doing like 11 minute miles, but apparently I wasn't.
I think I am getting fast.
I was aiming for a 9:50 pace, which is what the McMillan running calculator says is at the upper range of what I should be training at for my long runs. It FELT like a 9:50. So I guess that's good! We'll see about this week. I have a feeling I might be a little slower due to my less-than-stellar ability to stick to my workout plan this week. :)
Monday, February 9, 2009
Things I Did Right
These are the things I have been doing right in my running which led to an AWESOME race on Sunday.
1. Got a LOT of sleep this week.
2. Started cross-training with weights religiously, concentrating on form and pushing myself.
3. Ran with a "zen" attitude.
4. Kept a positive attitude.
5. Had an attainable goal.
6.. Ate a 200 calorie breakfast of Cheerios an hour and a half before the race.
7. Picked a friend to beat.
8. Drank Gatorade instead of just water during the race.
9. Pushed myself up the hills without overdoing it.
10. Concentrated on keeping my back shin parallel to the ground as I was running (to keep good form/get a good stride).
11. Sang "Merry Happy" by Kate Nash over and over in my head (to keep a good rhythm).
I actually think that the first 3 are the most important because they are what were most different than what I usually do.
All I know is that I woke up very determined to get a PR on my half marathon in the Bronx this weekend. Not JUST a PR either. I needed to break the 2 hour mark. To do this, I decided that I needed to feel like I did during the Staten Island Half (where I got that PR...2:01.13). I remembered that I felt like I was putting forth a hard effort that I could probably sustain for the whole thing, but definitely NOT holding back too much in those first few miles. This is different from everything that I have learned, but now I'm wondering if it is just MY perception of what "holding back" means.
After the first mile, I looked at my watch: 8:43. Whoa! Slow down, sister! So I did. Or at least I thought I did. The next mile: 8:24. Seriously, girl, slow down. Next mile: 8:05.
In the Marine Corps marathon this is when I started beating myself up. This time I was just like "Ok. Whatever. Just see how it plays out. This is a practice race, and if you die and can't finish, you die and can't finish. Your body knows what it's doing..." (see this article...especially the second paragraph).
Well, it worked. I didn't die until mile 10. And even then, I only got down to 9:20. Plus, I psyched myself right back up and concentrated on hitting the next mile at a sub 9...which I did!
And I finished with a 1:54.38. Best. Time. Ever.
It made me wonder if I should modify my training pace. But according to McMillan's cool training calculator it actually looks like I'm right on track with my long runs hitting a 9:44-10:44 pace. How is that possible?
Well, anyway. I am happy :)
1. Got a LOT of sleep this week.
2. Started cross-training with weights religiously, concentrating on form and pushing myself.
3. Ran with a "zen" attitude.
4. Kept a positive attitude.
5. Had an attainable goal.
6.. Ate a 200 calorie breakfast of Cheerios an hour and a half before the race.
7. Picked a friend to beat.
8. Drank Gatorade instead of just water during the race.
9. Pushed myself up the hills without overdoing it.
10. Concentrated on keeping my back shin parallel to the ground as I was running (to keep good form/get a good stride).
11. Sang "Merry Happy" by Kate Nash over and over in my head (to keep a good rhythm).
I actually think that the first 3 are the most important because they are what were most different than what I usually do.
All I know is that I woke up very determined to get a PR on my half marathon in the Bronx this weekend. Not JUST a PR either. I needed to break the 2 hour mark. To do this, I decided that I needed to feel like I did during the Staten Island Half (where I got that PR...2:01.13). I remembered that I felt like I was putting forth a hard effort that I could probably sustain for the whole thing, but definitely NOT holding back too much in those first few miles. This is different from everything that I have learned, but now I'm wondering if it is just MY perception of what "holding back" means.
After the first mile, I looked at my watch: 8:43. Whoa! Slow down, sister! So I did. Or at least I thought I did. The next mile: 8:24. Seriously, girl, slow down. Next mile: 8:05.
In the Marine Corps marathon this is when I started beating myself up. This time I was just like "Ok. Whatever. Just see how it plays out. This is a practice race, and if you die and can't finish, you die and can't finish. Your body knows what it's doing..." (see this article...especially the second paragraph).
Well, it worked. I didn't die until mile 10. And even then, I only got down to 9:20. Plus, I psyched myself right back up and concentrated on hitting the next mile at a sub 9...which I did!
And I finished with a 1:54.38. Best. Time. Ever.
It made me wonder if I should modify my training pace. But according to McMillan's cool training calculator it actually looks like I'm right on track with my long runs hitting a 9:44-10:44 pace. How is that possible?
Well, anyway. I am happy :)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Hill Climbs
WOW. I actually got out of work at a real time last night, and SO DID BILL!!!
Even though it was really really cold and very windy, we did hill climbs last night. Now granted, it was probably the easiest hill workout I've ever done, but it was still good.
Since LOST was on last night (and I'm a freak who is totally addicted), I planned the workout for Riverside Park instead of Central Park. Even though it is only closer by 3 long blocks, it DOES make a difference in timing :)
So we did a nice 1.7 mile warmup all the way up to where the park "ends" (it doesn't really end there, but you have to go up steps and walk to the street to continue on into the park again). There are two sets of steps that go up to the street. They are not short steps, but long, wide steps...each has about 7 ft of depth. The steps are a sharp, fast incline, and we ran up them, fast, 6 times. It was rough, and I sort of started to sound like Stephi Graf (isn't she the one who used to grunt when she played tennis?) because I was really pushing myself.
After the hill climbs, we did a nice little cool down for the 1.7 miles back.
It felt nice to run outside during the week...even if it was cold and windy.
Today I am picking up my packet/race number for our second half marathon in the Grand Prix – the Bronx half marathon, which is on Sunday. It is the only one of the five that is on the "mainland" of the United States, which I think is funny.
Even though it was really really cold and very windy, we did hill climbs last night. Now granted, it was probably the easiest hill workout I've ever done, but it was still good.
Since LOST was on last night (and I'm a freak who is totally addicted), I planned the workout for Riverside Park instead of Central Park. Even though it is only closer by 3 long blocks, it DOES make a difference in timing :)
So we did a nice 1.7 mile warmup all the way up to where the park "ends" (it doesn't really end there, but you have to go up steps and walk to the street to continue on into the park again). There are two sets of steps that go up to the street. They are not short steps, but long, wide steps...each has about 7 ft of depth. The steps are a sharp, fast incline, and we ran up them, fast, 6 times. It was rough, and I sort of started to sound like Stephi Graf (isn't she the one who used to grunt when she played tennis?) because I was really pushing myself.
After the hill climbs, we did a nice little cool down for the 1.7 miles back.
It felt nice to run outside during the week...even if it was cold and windy.
Today I am picking up my packet/race number for our second half marathon in the Grand Prix – the Bronx half marathon, which is on Sunday. It is the only one of the five that is on the "mainland" of the United States, which I think is funny.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Catching Up
It's weird. I haven't really missed a TON of workouts...but I feel like I have. I was looking back at my calendar, and really, I only missed one running workout last week. Unfortunately, this did happen to be a hill workout, which I could have really used. I also missed two cross-training workouts. In the big scheme of things, I guess this isn't a big deal. I mean, really, this tends to happen every marathon season for me somewhere along the line. I didn't even miss my long run, which tends to happen as well.
This week I missed a Monday night workout (which was designated as "rest or cross-training"), but I got right back on track last night. Tonight I have a speed workout, and I have already decided that if for some reason I can't get home in time, I will do the substitute on the treadmill. Not ideal, of course, but better than nothing.
The real thing I am catching up on is sleep. It's funny, but I didn't realize how much I wasn't sleeping until I started sleeping again. Now I feel like I am in hibernation each morning when the alarm goes off. My body just does not want to stop sleeping :)
So this week, I am concentrating on one thing...catching up on sleep. I have trained for enough marathons to know that this is just as important (if not more so) than the actual training.
This week I missed a Monday night workout (which was designated as "rest or cross-training"), but I got right back on track last night. Tonight I have a speed workout, and I have already decided that if for some reason I can't get home in time, I will do the substitute on the treadmill. Not ideal, of course, but better than nothing.
The real thing I am catching up on is sleep. It's funny, but I didn't realize how much I wasn't sleeping until I started sleeping again. Now I feel like I am in hibernation each morning when the alarm goes off. My body just does not want to stop sleeping :)
So this week, I am concentrating on one thing...catching up on sleep. I have trained for enough marathons to know that this is just as important (if not more so) than the actual training.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Not My Finest Run
I think that I should probably not run when I am overly stressed. It is a fine line to walk, because sometimes a run is a great stress reliever. But when I am really really stressed, it is probably not a good idea.
I say this, because after not really getting to work out as much as I wanted last week (only 2 days of running during the week and NO cross-training) my ten mile run on Saturday was pretty much crap. I mean, my time wasn't really that horrible (1:44, without stopping my watch when I stopped for an extremely long GU and water break, and once when Bill's phone was ringing). But I just felt awful.
I think some of this can be attributed to the fact that my heart monitor was too tight. I need to find that happy medium. Last week, it was too loose, and I had to keep reaching up under all of my clothes to pull it up during the race. But if it's too tight (like it was Saturday) it makes me feel sick to my stomach.
But besides that, I think I was just too stressed to run. 10 miles seemed like forever long, which is funny because 13.1 seemed like nothing last week.
This is not good. Because I also feel like a huge tub of lard, since I didn't get to work out much during the week.
This week is not shaping out to be any better. It is 6 o'clock (the time I used to go home) and I am waiting for changes to a presentation that is supposed to go out tonight. Yay! (Sarcasm). So, since I will be working late (again) I will be exhausted again when I get home. It's not even like I could have worked out early this morning SINCE I GOT UP AT 6:20 TO GO TO WORK EARLY!!! And I will probably order an unhealthy dinner to eat at my desk while I am working (not many healthy take-out options).
I seriously contemplated not even doing the marathon because it seems like this is pretty standard for my new team at work to work these hours.
Awesome.
I say this, because after not really getting to work out as much as I wanted last week (only 2 days of running during the week and NO cross-training) my ten mile run on Saturday was pretty much crap. I mean, my time wasn't really that horrible (1:44, without stopping my watch when I stopped for an extremely long GU and water break, and once when Bill's phone was ringing). But I just felt awful.
I think some of this can be attributed to the fact that my heart monitor was too tight. I need to find that happy medium. Last week, it was too loose, and I had to keep reaching up under all of my clothes to pull it up during the race. But if it's too tight (like it was Saturday) it makes me feel sick to my stomach.
But besides that, I think I was just too stressed to run. 10 miles seemed like forever long, which is funny because 13.1 seemed like nothing last week.
This is not good. Because I also feel like a huge tub of lard, since I didn't get to work out much during the week.
This week is not shaping out to be any better. It is 6 o'clock (the time I used to go home) and I am waiting for changes to a presentation that is supposed to go out tonight. Yay! (Sarcasm). So, since I will be working late (again) I will be exhausted again when I get home. It's not even like I could have worked out early this morning SINCE I GOT UP AT 6:20 TO GO TO WORK EARLY!!! And I will probably order an unhealthy dinner to eat at my desk while I am working (not many healthy take-out options).
I seriously contemplated not even doing the marathon because it seems like this is pretty standard for my new team at work to work these hours.
Awesome.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Back on Pace
Sunday was the Manhattan half marathon. I was kind of nervous because I was using it as a training run. Even though I usually have the best intentions to stay on pace during "training run" races, I usually end up racing them. It is also the longest mileage I have run since October, so I wanted to make sure I took it easily enough that I wouldn't get injured. I was also worried about this, because I swear, I get injured more when it is freezing cold out (or below freezing cold out, as it was on Sunday...14 degrees). I wanted to stay just below a 10 minute mile.
Turns out that I am actually a pretty good pacer again! My first mile was a 10:06. I stayed around that pace for the first six miles and then kicked it up to high 9:30s and low 9:40s. I actually felt really good the entire time.
I also think that my cross training is REALLY paying off. I say this because I have only had one real hill workout. Well, the hills were not bad at all...not even Harlem Hill! I don't usually feel that way until after months of serious hill training. I have to attribute it to the fact that I am really pushing myself on the cross training. My muscles in my legs are WAY developed (I noticed this as I was doing elliptical on Friday and happened to glance in the mirror.) Plus, my arms may not LOOK muscular, but I think they are getting there. I am actually able to do multiple push-ups (with good form) in a time period of 30s, when at the beginning of the year I could only do 3. (I know! My arms are so out of shape!)
So yay! Even if my waist isn't whittling away (which it isn't) and I'm not losing weight (I might be gaining...gulp) I can tell things are changing in my performance.
It also helped to have Bill with me for the first 7 miles. (And poor guy waited around in the freezing cold for me to finish, after he had finished his 8 mile run. What a stellar husband!)
Oh yeah, I finished with a 2:09:09, which is a 9:50 pace...but I'm not going to dwell on that too much, since I wasn't racing.
When I was finished I felt like someone tossed me out of a moving garbage truck, but I think it might have just been the cold, because I'm fine today.
Tomorrow is a hill workout AND it's supposed to snow. Yuck.
Turns out that I am actually a pretty good pacer again! My first mile was a 10:06. I stayed around that pace for the first six miles and then kicked it up to high 9:30s and low 9:40s. I actually felt really good the entire time.
I also think that my cross training is REALLY paying off. I say this because I have only had one real hill workout. Well, the hills were not bad at all...not even Harlem Hill! I don't usually feel that way until after months of serious hill training. I have to attribute it to the fact that I am really pushing myself on the cross training. My muscles in my legs are WAY developed (I noticed this as I was doing elliptical on Friday and happened to glance in the mirror.) Plus, my arms may not LOOK muscular, but I think they are getting there. I am actually able to do multiple push-ups (with good form) in a time period of 30s, when at the beginning of the year I could only do 3. (I know! My arms are so out of shape!)
So yay! Even if my waist isn't whittling away (which it isn't) and I'm not losing weight (I might be gaining...gulp) I can tell things are changing in my performance.
It also helped to have Bill with me for the first 7 miles. (And poor guy waited around in the freezing cold for me to finish, after he had finished his 8 mile run. What a stellar husband!)
Oh yeah, I finished with a 2:09:09, which is a 9:50 pace...but I'm not going to dwell on that too much, since I wasn't racing.
When I was finished I felt like someone tossed me out of a moving garbage truck, but I think it might have just been the cold, because I'm fine today.
Tomorrow is a hill workout AND it's supposed to snow. Yuck.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Manhattan Half
Nothing much to report on the running side. Basically I had to skip running on Tuesday because I got to work late (grrrrr) and I did my cross training workout last night. I hope that all of this cross training will pay off. I am really trying to do all of the exercises with perfect form and push myself on flexibility, which can be pretty excruciating at times.
Tonight I have a 4 mile run with Bill.
But what I am really looking forward to is my first NYRR race of the year, which is this Sunday. Of course, I am not going to RACE it, per se, but I am going to treat it as my long training run for the week. And it's going to be a toughie. The half marathon course is two full loops of Central Park (hills! hills!) and one lower loop of Central Park. Not only is it going to be hard, but it is going to be BORING. I am going to have to really make sure that I run it nice and easy, and not get caught up in all of the other runners who are racing it. Perhaps I will start in a slower corral than the one I am scheduled for (which has my pace as an 8:35).
I am especially looking forward to seeing what the t-shirt looks like. :) Last year the Grand Prix shirts were the coolest shirts by far, of all the races that I ran. They were very bold and graphic. Each one had an outline of the borough it was run in and big blocky white type. The ones I saw from the year before were cool too.
Anyway, Bill's not running with me on this one, but he IS running the one on the 8th with me, which is in the Bronx. I think it's weird that the first two boroughs are so early in the year and almost right on top of each other. The next one is Brooklyn, which isn't until the last week of May, and then I think the Queens one and Staten Island are in August and September. Oh well, whatever. It worked out well for me and my training, and I'll have 2 of my 9 races finished by the first week of February.
Tonight I have a 4 mile run with Bill.
But what I am really looking forward to is my first NYRR race of the year, which is this Sunday. Of course, I am not going to RACE it, per se, but I am going to treat it as my long training run for the week. And it's going to be a toughie. The half marathon course is two full loops of Central Park (hills! hills!) and one lower loop of Central Park. Not only is it going to be hard, but it is going to be BORING. I am going to have to really make sure that I run it nice and easy, and not get caught up in all of the other runners who are racing it. Perhaps I will start in a slower corral than the one I am scheduled for (which has my pace as an 8:35).
I am especially looking forward to seeing what the t-shirt looks like. :) Last year the Grand Prix shirts were the coolest shirts by far, of all the races that I ran. They were very bold and graphic. Each one had an outline of the borough it was run in and big blocky white type. The ones I saw from the year before were cool too.
Anyway, Bill's not running with me on this one, but he IS running the one on the 8th with me, which is in the Bronx. I think it's weird that the first two boroughs are so early in the year and almost right on top of each other. The next one is Brooklyn, which isn't until the last week of May, and then I think the Queens one and Staten Island are in August and September. Oh well, whatever. It worked out well for me and my training, and I'll have 2 of my 9 races finished by the first week of February.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Kill the Hill
It's funny...Bill and I were discussing my training strategy Monday morning and the things that I need to do to improve my time as well as have a good race. I divided it into the mental as well as the physical. Bill had a theory that I needed to push myself more on the physical. I got really mad at first (but stepped back from myself, took a deep breath) and explained to him logically that I DO push myself. He was like "yeah but do you push yourself to your limits?" Now, to be fair to Bill, this is a fair question. I do tend to get into a workout rut, and I did notice that when I was training with Roncker's I would finish a race and be like "Oh wait, I can run that fast?" And then decide to push myself harder in practice, which wasn't even really that much of a push for me. But I convinced him that I was dying at the end of every hill and speed workout during Team in Training, and that most times I was really questioning whether or not I should even be in the advanced group because I was left in the dust so many times. (It truly is embarassing to be the last one up the hill when you are giving it your all).
This conversation probably happened because we were getting ready to do our first hill workout for the Flying Pig.
For our training I have interspersed a LOT of hill workouts. This is totally what I was lacking last time I trained on my own.
Yesterdays was 3 repeats of Harlem Hill. I know. It sounds wimpy, but it was actually quite difficult because Harlem Hill is a killer. It didn't help that we were running the hills clockwise, which I think is tougher.
This consisted of running FAST up the first hill, recovering on the downhill, running FAST up the hill around Lasker Pool (which is forever winding and long) and recovering across the 102nd Street Traverse to do the whole thing again (and again).
At the first hill I took off and Bill was like "What?! THIS is how fast you run?" He did catch up to me on that first hill, but I think the rest of the time he thought I was crazy. It was also the first time that I finished a workout significantly in front of him. At the end of the speedy part, my HR was up to about 179 each time, and then it would drop to 130 during the recovery.
I was very very very tired. But I also felt like I pushed myself and that I had a good workout, and that I was that much closer to being better at the Pig.
PLUS I convinced Bill that I can continue working on the physical part of my marathon as is, because I DO push myself :)
The whole workout (including a short warmup) was 5.1 miles and we finished at 48 minutes. I think that this is actually pretty good, considering that we walked a good portion of the recovery.
Hill workouts stink, but they do always make me feel good at the end.
This conversation probably happened because we were getting ready to do our first hill workout for the Flying Pig.
For our training I have interspersed a LOT of hill workouts. This is totally what I was lacking last time I trained on my own.
Yesterdays was 3 repeats of Harlem Hill. I know. It sounds wimpy, but it was actually quite difficult because Harlem Hill is a killer. It didn't help that we were running the hills clockwise, which I think is tougher.
This consisted of running FAST up the first hill, recovering on the downhill, running FAST up the hill around Lasker Pool (which is forever winding and long) and recovering across the 102nd Street Traverse to do the whole thing again (and again).
At the first hill I took off and Bill was like "What?! THIS is how fast you run?" He did catch up to me on that first hill, but I think the rest of the time he thought I was crazy. It was also the first time that I finished a workout significantly in front of him. At the end of the speedy part, my HR was up to about 179 each time, and then it would drop to 130 during the recovery.
I was very very very tired. But I also felt like I pushed myself and that I had a good workout, and that I was that much closer to being better at the Pig.
PLUS I convinced Bill that I can continue working on the physical part of my marathon as is, because I DO push myself :)
The whole workout (including a short warmup) was 5.1 miles and we finished at 48 minutes. I think that this is actually pretty good, considering that we walked a good portion of the recovery.
Hill workouts stink, but they do always make me feel good at the end.
Long Run
Saturday was my first "official" long run. (I figure that 6 miles is not really considered a long run). Luckily, it was with friends and that made the time just fly by and the pain seem non-existent. My goal on my long runs this season is going to be nice and easy...getting in the miles comfortably and building endurance, not speed. This is what the goal was supposed to be last marathon season, but I never listened to Coach Ramon when it came to that, and just ran all of my long runs at a medium to medium-fast clip. But everything I have read about marathon training plans is that your long run is NOT the time to do this...those are what your medium runs are for during the week. So that is one thing I am tweaking with my training (more on that in a later post).
I met Gina at the park for a slippery 2.5 miles (okay, Garmin says 2.56, but I swear it is really 2.7 miles...) around the full bridal path loop. There were times when it was so icy that I lost my footing. Luckily I never lost it enough to actually fall down.
Did I also mention that it was fah-reezing out? 11 degrees, but luckily not very windy. I was wearing tights underneath pants, a tank under a long sleeve tech shirt under my sugoi speedster under my jacket, a pair of glove/mittens, my fleece headband, and I had my hood pulled up (with ponytail sticking out of the ponytail port, of course). I told Gina that people were laughing at me on the way to the park. She pointed out that even the crazy guys you see on the coldest days running the loop in shorts were not out today. True. And what does the dry-cleaning lady know anyway?
The funniest thing that happened was when we were crossing the 102nd street traverse. I felt like something was down around my butt. Suddenly I also felt like my movement was impeded by what could only be my tights sliding down my legs. I cracked up and told Gina "My tights just fell down my –" as I was feeling in the back to pull them up. "Wait! It's my pants! My pants fell down!" And after that, it just kept happening.
We finished our loop and met Bill for the full 6-mile loop (he got a later start with training than I did, so I recommended that he NOT do our 8-9 mile run).
It was nice, and the three of us were all chatty the whole way, which made the time just fly. Plus, I love running with Gina because she keeps me on pace. AND we had matching green garmins that were happily chirping along the entire way. How cute.
Afterwards? I felt like I ran 6 miles, not 8.5 (or 8.7). NICE.
I met Gina at the park for a slippery 2.5 miles (okay, Garmin says 2.56, but I swear it is really 2.7 miles...) around the full bridal path loop. There were times when it was so icy that I lost my footing. Luckily I never lost it enough to actually fall down.
Did I also mention that it was fah-reezing out? 11 degrees, but luckily not very windy. I was wearing tights underneath pants, a tank under a long sleeve tech shirt under my sugoi speedster under my jacket, a pair of glove/mittens, my fleece headband, and I had my hood pulled up (with ponytail sticking out of the ponytail port, of course). I told Gina that people were laughing at me on the way to the park. She pointed out that even the crazy guys you see on the coldest days running the loop in shorts were not out today. True. And what does the dry-cleaning lady know anyway?
The funniest thing that happened was when we were crossing the 102nd street traverse. I felt like something was down around my butt. Suddenly I also felt like my movement was impeded by what could only be my tights sliding down my legs. I cracked up and told Gina "My tights just fell down my –" as I was feeling in the back to pull them up. "Wait! It's my pants! My pants fell down!" And after that, it just kept happening.
We finished our loop and met Bill for the full 6-mile loop (he got a later start with training than I did, so I recommended that he NOT do our 8-9 mile run).
It was nice, and the three of us were all chatty the whole way, which made the time just fly. Plus, I love running with Gina because she keeps me on pace. AND we had matching green garmins that were happily chirping along the entire way. How cute.
Afterwards? I felt like I ran 6 miles, not 8.5 (or 8.7). NICE.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
So Hungee
Last night I gave myself a killer workout. It was my version of a cross-training run...a 3 mile run on the treadmill at 7mph followed by my dvd workout for core and strength training. I felt awful sweaty afterwards, but also like I really pushed myself, which is a good feeling. I think I must have really burned a lot of calories though, because I was SO VERY HUNGRY all night. My stomach kept growling and wouldn't stop. And I felt like I was eating enough food. I mean, immediately after my workout I had one of those 100 calorie sugar free jello pudding things. Then after my shower I made myself some pasta with red sauce, which I had with some bread. As my stomach kept growling and growling I decided to top it all off with dessert...cake flavored ice cream! Yum!!! (It only has 4g of fat, so its ok :). I also woke up hungry.
But now that I have had a granola-ey breakfast I am ok.
Anyways, now I have an appalling story.
My friend at work has been training for the PF Chang's marathon this upcoming weekend. She had her last group run last night (in the FREEZING cold). She said that she was wearing tights and as she was walking up the steps from the subway after her workout, some little boy that was behind her told his mom "Whoa! That lady has a fat *ss!" She turned around, appalled, and the boy was in the middle of falling down. He looked directly at her and said "Hey! I almost fell down because I was looking at your huge *ss!"
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT LITTLE BOY'S MOTHER???
I know that I am pretty judgemental about things like this, and I don't have children and all of that stuff, but really? I NEVER would have been allowed to say that and get away with it. And I NEVER would have had the... nerve (see, I can't even use "bad" language in my blog) to say something like that out loud, let alone, I would NEVER say that to anyone's face.
The worst thing is, that this girl is skinnier than I am, and I would never say that I have a fat *ss.
What a little jerk.
But now that I have had a granola-ey breakfast I am ok.
Anyways, now I have an appalling story.
My friend at work has been training for the PF Chang's marathon this upcoming weekend. She had her last group run last night (in the FREEZING cold). She said that she was wearing tights and as she was walking up the steps from the subway after her workout, some little boy that was behind her told his mom "Whoa! That lady has a fat *ss!" She turned around, appalled, and the boy was in the middle of falling down. He looked directly at her and said "Hey! I almost fell down because I was looking at your huge *ss!"
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT LITTLE BOY'S MOTHER???
I know that I am pretty judgemental about things like this, and I don't have children and all of that stuff, but really? I NEVER would have been allowed to say that and get away with it. And I NEVER would have had the... nerve (see, I can't even use "bad" language in my blog) to say something like that out loud, let alone, I would NEVER say that to anyone's face.
The worst thing is, that this girl is skinnier than I am, and I would never say that I have a fat *ss.
What a little jerk.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Jillian is TOUGH
Last night was cross-training. I am kind of actually regretting that today though, because tonight I have a 4 mile run. The temps are supposed to go down to single digits and the windchill is in the negatives. Yesterday it was 40. Hmmmm. I really should have switched those two nights.
In addition to watching the Biggest Loser last night (so sad! I almost for real cried.), I also did a Jillian Michaels workout.
I always feel a little bit like a loser doing her dvd because I only use my 5 pound hand weights AND the workout is only 20 minutes long. I feel that way until about 2 minutes into the workout. NO WONDER all of those people on Jillian's team lose so much weight. Like Bill said "Can you imagine doing this 8 hours a day?"
Her whole workout is based on circuits. You do 3 minutes strength, 2 minutes cardio and 1 minute of abs, repeating that for 20 minutes. There are two reasons (I think) that this is so hard.
First of all, you have NO REST in between. Not even 5 seconds. She just moves from one section to the next. She says in the video, that this is because if you want a good workout and you're only going to work out for 20 minutes you can't waste any of those minutes.
The second reason is that the strength exercises combine weight lifting with dumbells with strength exercises that use your body. So, instead of doing just overhead presses, you do overhead presses combined with squats. She says that this is because the weight lifting alone does not burn enough calories.
It is also good because she is really into calistenics, which Runner's World is always touting the benefits of.
Now I am using this as primarily a strength training program (not to lose weight) and it is working. I have done this video twice and I can already feel the difference (I KNOW, that is crazy). It reminds me of Ramon's crazy cross-training runs. But that is also why I love this workout. And I am only on level 1. I hate to see what is on level 2 or 3.
That is why, if I was on the Biggest Loser, I would need Jillian as a trainer...not Bob. I think I work best when someone is pushing pushing pushing me.
Yeah, and I am REALLY contemplating running on the treadmill or elliptical tonight. It is so cold.
In addition to watching the Biggest Loser last night (so sad! I almost for real cried.), I also did a Jillian Michaels workout.
I always feel a little bit like a loser doing her dvd because I only use my 5 pound hand weights AND the workout is only 20 minutes long. I feel that way until about 2 minutes into the workout. NO WONDER all of those people on Jillian's team lose so much weight. Like Bill said "Can you imagine doing this 8 hours a day?"
Her whole workout is based on circuits. You do 3 minutes strength, 2 minutes cardio and 1 minute of abs, repeating that for 20 minutes. There are two reasons (I think) that this is so hard.
First of all, you have NO REST in between. Not even 5 seconds. She just moves from one section to the next. She says in the video, that this is because if you want a good workout and you're only going to work out for 20 minutes you can't waste any of those minutes.
The second reason is that the strength exercises combine weight lifting with dumbells with strength exercises that use your body. So, instead of doing just overhead presses, you do overhead presses combined with squats. She says that this is because the weight lifting alone does not burn enough calories.
It is also good because she is really into calistenics, which Runner's World is always touting the benefits of.
Now I am using this as primarily a strength training program (not to lose weight) and it is working. I have done this video twice and I can already feel the difference (I KNOW, that is crazy). It reminds me of Ramon's crazy cross-training runs. But that is also why I love this workout. And I am only on level 1. I hate to see what is on level 2 or 3.
That is why, if I was on the Biggest Loser, I would need Jillian as a trainer...not Bob. I think I work best when someone is pushing pushing pushing me.
Yeah, and I am REALLY contemplating running on the treadmill or elliptical tonight. It is so cold.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Garmin Runs
Hmmmm. I think my Garmin plays into my obsessive-compulsive tendencies. It was actually making me a little bit crazy this weekend.
This weekend I had two runs...my "long" run on Saturday (which was 6 miles) and a recovery run on Sunday (which was 4 miles SLOW). Both were in Central Park, and both included lots and lots of hills, which I think is a good thing, since I am training for a very hilly marathon.
On Friday I was getting very antsy about my plans to run the Manhattan Grand-Prix Half marathon, which is on the 25th. I felt woefully unprepared. My quads, hamstrings and calves were sore from all of my running during the week. Also I was feeling VERY slowly. According to my Garmin, Bill and my pace from our 30 minute run was about an 11:34...yowsa. I was also thinking I may have overpromised myself that I could do 6 miles.
Then, I talked to Gina, who is running the Miami Half on the same day. She also has been less-than-vigilant about her running workouts. I figured, if she can do it, I can do it.
Then I ran on Saturday, and although it hurt later that evening, while I was running I felt great. I was thinking "Wow. Running is fun. Why do I have such a hard time wanting to do it in the winter if it makes me feel this great? I'll have to remember this!"
BUT (and here's the Garmin obsession thing) while I was running I was obsessively checking my pace. I started with like an 11:23 (kind of made me freak out). On the downhill in the first mile though, I was at a 9:36 (ok, better). Most times I looked at my watch it was somewhere in the 10 or 11 minute pace range. This made me mentally freak out. In my head I was crying "I'm so out of shape!!! I don't FEEL like I'm going that slow!!!" But then I kept trying to say to myself "It's ok. You ARE out of shape. You'll get back to your 9:15s soon enough." On Harlem hill I looked at my pace and it was like 15:46. WHAT?!!! REALLY?! I mean I know it's a big hill, but...
Luckily, this was near the end of my run. I checked my time (56 ish) and was like "Wait a minute, I'm almost finished...if I'm running 11 minute miles on average I should have a LOT more minutes."
I stopped the clock at 58 something for 6.05 miles. That's a 9:35 pace. And my watch said 11:56 in the pace area.
OHHHHHHHHHH.
Duh. 11:56 is the pace that I was walking RIGHT THAT INSTANT.
Then I felt like an idiot because that is probably the same thing that happened the other night when Bill and I were running.
Whew.
I feel better about the half on the 25th now.
Oh yes, and the reason that I don't have accurate splits etc is because I am still trying to figure out how to make my ANT stick work with all of the drivers I had to install on my mac. (Grrrrr). But hopefully I will figure that out soon.
I do find it interesting that my pace is THAT SLOW on Harlem Hill.
This weekend I had two runs...my "long" run on Saturday (which was 6 miles) and a recovery run on Sunday (which was 4 miles SLOW). Both were in Central Park, and both included lots and lots of hills, which I think is a good thing, since I am training for a very hilly marathon.
On Friday I was getting very antsy about my plans to run the Manhattan Grand-Prix Half marathon, which is on the 25th. I felt woefully unprepared. My quads, hamstrings and calves were sore from all of my running during the week. Also I was feeling VERY slowly. According to my Garmin, Bill and my pace from our 30 minute run was about an 11:34...yowsa. I was also thinking I may have overpromised myself that I could do 6 miles.
Then, I talked to Gina, who is running the Miami Half on the same day. She also has been less-than-vigilant about her running workouts. I figured, if she can do it, I can do it.
Then I ran on Saturday, and although it hurt later that evening, while I was running I felt great. I was thinking "Wow. Running is fun. Why do I have such a hard time wanting to do it in the winter if it makes me feel this great? I'll have to remember this!"
BUT (and here's the Garmin obsession thing) while I was running I was obsessively checking my pace. I started with like an 11:23 (kind of made me freak out). On the downhill in the first mile though, I was at a 9:36 (ok, better). Most times I looked at my watch it was somewhere in the 10 or 11 minute pace range. This made me mentally freak out. In my head I was crying "I'm so out of shape!!! I don't FEEL like I'm going that slow!!!" But then I kept trying to say to myself "It's ok. You ARE out of shape. You'll get back to your 9:15s soon enough." On Harlem hill I looked at my pace and it was like 15:46. WHAT?!!! REALLY?! I mean I know it's a big hill, but...
Luckily, this was near the end of my run. I checked my time (56 ish) and was like "Wait a minute, I'm almost finished...if I'm running 11 minute miles on average I should have a LOT more minutes."
I stopped the clock at 58 something for 6.05 miles. That's a 9:35 pace. And my watch said 11:56 in the pace area.
OHHHHHHHHHH.
Duh. 11:56 is the pace that I was walking RIGHT THAT INSTANT.
Then I felt like an idiot because that is probably the same thing that happened the other night when Bill and I were running.
Whew.
I feel better about the half on the 25th now.
Oh yes, and the reason that I don't have accurate splits etc is because I am still trying to figure out how to make my ANT stick work with all of the drivers I had to install on my mac. (Grrrrr). But hopefully I will figure that out soon.
I do find it interesting that my pace is THAT SLOW on Harlem Hill.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Riverside Run
Since Bill has been getting home at a reasonable hour this week (KNOCK ON WOOD) I actually decided to derail my cross-training plan for the evening and switch it up with today's workout, which was a 30-minute run (I think Bill was more interested in running than doing Jillian's workout video).
This was good, because I had another quite stressful day, and running always helps...especially when it is an easy run and especially when I can chat with Bill the entire run.
It also gave me a chance to try out three new Christmas presents...
The first, was my Garmin, of course. It's actually quite intuitive, which kind of surprised me because when I was reading the manual I was feeling quite overwhelmed (like "I will never be able to remember all of this stuff!) I think it is also fascinating to see what my heart rate is. I have a very low heart rate. It is usually about 60 beats per minute. Last night, my resting hr was more like 80 bpm...but when I ran the stairs in Riverside up to Grant's Tomb it was 181 bpm. So I just find that fascinating. (Those stairs are crazy hard, but I think they will be good practice for the Pig). I think I will have to make the monitor a little looser than I had it though. It was kind of uncomfortably tight.
I also got to wear my new workout pants, courtesy of Mom and Dad. Nothing extremely special there except that they actually fit me, they are long enough for a tall girl like me so that I don't look like I am wearing high-water pants and they are extremely comfy. All good things.
That was combined with my other new favorite thing...my Sugoi Speedster 2. I am so glad that my parents got this for me, because I really wanted it and I never would have bought it for myself. This is how Sugoi describes it:
I love all of my new Christmas presents! Who says that adults can't get toys for Christmas?
This was good, because I had another quite stressful day, and running always helps...especially when it is an easy run and especially when I can chat with Bill the entire run.
It also gave me a chance to try out three new Christmas presents...
The first, was my Garmin, of course. It's actually quite intuitive, which kind of surprised me because when I was reading the manual I was feeling quite overwhelmed (like "I will never be able to remember all of this stuff!) I think it is also fascinating to see what my heart rate is. I have a very low heart rate. It is usually about 60 beats per minute. Last night, my resting hr was more like 80 bpm...but when I ran the stairs in Riverside up to Grant's Tomb it was 181 bpm. So I just find that fascinating. (Those stairs are crazy hard, but I think they will be good practice for the Pig). I think I will have to make the monitor a little looser than I had it though. It was kind of uncomfortably tight.
I also got to wear my new workout pants, courtesy of Mom and Dad. Nothing extremely special there except that they actually fit me, they are long enough for a tall girl like me so that I don't look like I am wearing high-water pants and they are extremely comfy. All good things.
That was combined with my other new favorite thing...my Sugoi Speedster 2. I am so glad that my parents got this for me, because I really wanted it and I never would have bought it for myself. This is how Sugoi describes it:
- Form fitted hood with sleek funnel neckline and self bound finish
- Pony tail port in hood
- Ergo Sleeve
- Smart Glove folds back into cuff
- 1 side pocket with stretch crossover opening
The Speedster2 hoody has a sleek funnel neckline that gives it a unique style with a purpose. Perfect for colder climates, the hoody has built in hand warmers for extra protection when needed, as well as a pony tail port in the hood. The fitted style of the Speedster2 makes this flattering hoody live up to its name.
I love all of my new Christmas presents! Who says that adults can't get toys for Christmas?
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