I ran at 5:00 today and it was almost spring-like outside. It was pretty breezy, but downright balmy compared to the last several weeks. I ran one of my favorite runs, a ladder run where I start out at an easy pace and increase the pace each mile for four or five miles. I really enjoy the feeling of the tempo picking up each mile.
I didn't go too fast today, but I ran the negative splits for 5 miles and then took it easy on the last two miles coming home. It felt really good. Even though I am not a very fast runner, it feels like I am flying by the last couple of intervals because of the increased pace. I like to alternate an ladder run with a tempo run each week. I don't particularly enjoy tempo runs, but they do help with speed and race confidence. The only reason I don't like them is because it is hard for me to maintain race intensity when I am running alone. In a race, I thrive off of the challenge of keeping up with faster runners.
Tomorrow we are supposed to go tubing, so that should be fun. Hopefully the tube course will still have snow after the warm day today and the rain we are supposed to get tonight.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Fun Run....
I used to laugh when I saw something advertised as a 'Fun Run'. I couldn't imagine those two words going together. I grew up thinking of running as punishment. All the sports I played used running as a punishment. I saw nothing fun about it.
Somewhere in my brain that all changed last year. During the last few weeks of marathon training I had turned running back into something less than fun. I think my collapse on the long run was as much mental as physical. I am even more impressed with those that complete a marathon than I already was. What a great display of mental and physical toughness.
Today I went out for my first run since Sunday and it was fun again. I definitely made the right decision to bail on the marathon this year. I am looking forward to my next run and my next race, as long as it is a half marathon or less! I also think I am going to get one of those bumper stickers that says "My sport is your sport's punishment".
Somewhere in my brain that all changed last year. During the last few weeks of marathon training I had turned running back into something less than fun. I think my collapse on the long run was as much mental as physical. I am even more impressed with those that complete a marathon than I already was. What a great display of mental and physical toughness.
Today I went out for my first run since Sunday and it was fun again. I definitely made the right decision to bail on the marathon this year. I am looking forward to my next run and my next race, as long as it is a half marathon or less! I also think I am going to get one of those bumper stickers that says "My sport is your sport's punishment".
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Why do I run?
This question was flowing through my mind a lot on Sunday while I was suffering through my run. I first started running because it took me too long to walk my four miles and I wanted to speed that up. I also had some encouragement from some guys on a weight watchers board, but the reality was I wanted to finish my workout faster and burn more calories.
Somewhere along the way, I started to enjoy the run itself. I can't really pinpoint it, but I think it was when I ran a mile without stopping the first time. It felt like I had accomplished something and physically, I felt great. As my distance increased, I got encouraged to enter a 5K and last March I ran three of them. I liked the fact that it was a competitive event without a lot of egos. After the race, everyone was smiling and having a good time no matter how fast (or slow) they ran. As more weight came off and my distances went further, I looked for new challenges. First I stretched the races out to 8K's and 10K's and finally a couple of half marathons. I felt great while training and running them.
Marathon training was always a little different for me. It seemed to put me on a much more rigid schedule and took a lot of family time away. I mean, I might as well take up golf if I am going to be gone out on a run for half a day on Sunday. I became uptight about making each training run. Basically, running became a job instead of a hobby. I think all that came to a head on Sunday when I crashed. Why was I running a marathon? It was the 'next logical step' in my running was the best answer I came up with. Well, now I realize that I want to get back to running for fun. I have a good enough base that I can stay in half marathon shape year round and enjoy races when they come up.
I am very happy that I didn't get injured in this and lose my ability to run for a few months. I am going to spend this week reviewing my goals for the year and making sure they are in line with 'fun running'. I want this to continue to be a lifestyle and not a short term obsession that I burn out on....
Somewhere along the way, I started to enjoy the run itself. I can't really pinpoint it, but I think it was when I ran a mile without stopping the first time. It felt like I had accomplished something and physically, I felt great. As my distance increased, I got encouraged to enter a 5K and last March I ran three of them. I liked the fact that it was a competitive event without a lot of egos. After the race, everyone was smiling and having a good time no matter how fast (or slow) they ran. As more weight came off and my distances went further, I looked for new challenges. First I stretched the races out to 8K's and 10K's and finally a couple of half marathons. I felt great while training and running them.
Marathon training was always a little different for me. It seemed to put me on a much more rigid schedule and took a lot of family time away. I mean, I might as well take up golf if I am going to be gone out on a run for half a day on Sunday. I became uptight about making each training run. Basically, running became a job instead of a hobby. I think all that came to a head on Sunday when I crashed. Why was I running a marathon? It was the 'next logical step' in my running was the best answer I came up with. Well, now I realize that I want to get back to running for fun. I have a good enough base that I can stay in half marathon shape year round and enjoy races when they come up.
I am very happy that I didn't get injured in this and lose my ability to run for a few months. I am going to spend this week reviewing my goals for the year and making sure they are in line with 'fun running'. I want this to continue to be a lifestyle and not a short term obsession that I burn out on....
Monday, January 19, 2009
21 hours after hitting 'the wall'
Still having some IT Band pain on my right knee today and a lot of general soreness in my legs. I do yoga tomorrow (if the snow holds off), so hopefully I will be able to run some on Wednesday. I slept well on my decision to skip the marathon this year, so I am even more certain that it was the right choice.
I may try to do some long runs next fall and see if I can build up to an 18-20 miler then. Right now, I am going to adjust my schedule to be a little more relaxed. I think I am going to shoot for 25-30 miles a week with the occasional 35 mile week thrown in. That should keep me ready to run a half if I find one and in good shape for any 10K or 5K races.
I am considering running one of the Green Valley races in order to get my 'one race a month' goal for this year, but the timing doesn't work out well with the kid's basketball games. I'll have to see if there is anything else available. Right now it appears that I can still hit all my 2009 goals except for getting my 26.2 sticker.
I may try to do some long runs next fall and see if I can build up to an 18-20 miler then. Right now, I am going to adjust my schedule to be a little more relaxed. I think I am going to shoot for 25-30 miles a week with the occasional 35 mile week thrown in. That should keep me ready to run a half if I find one and in good shape for any 10K or 5K races.
I am considering running one of the Green Valley races in order to get my 'one race a month' goal for this year, but the timing doesn't work out well with the kid's basketball games. I'll have to see if there is anything else available. Right now it appears that I can still hit all my 2009 goals except for getting my 26.2 sticker.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
A funny thing happened on the way to the 18 mile marker...
Cruising along on my 18 mile run today I discovered that there is a limit to how far I can run. It is 16.75 miles. Actually, I made it 18 miles but after 16.75 I wouldn't call it running. I now understand the 'wall' others refer to. This is an experience that I personally do not care to experience again.
I haven't decided if I just don't have a high enough overall mileage base or if maybe I'm not meant to run a marathon. Either way, I am glad to have found out about this at home instead of in a race. I feel confident I could run/walk the marathon, but I really have no desire to do that right now. I felt kind of like Forest Gump when he quit running. He was done. So am I, at least for now. I don't mean done with running, but done with pushing to see how far I can go.
I may change my mind at some point and try again, but right now I am at peace with the fact that I am going to focus on half marathons and shorter runs from this point on. I started this journey to lose weight and I have accomplished that. Along the way I discovered running and I am thankful for that. Today I discovered that I can take something I enjoy like running and make it into something I loathe. I don't want to do that. I want to enjoy running. I will continue to enjoy running, just at distances less than 16.75 miles!
I haven't decided if I just don't have a high enough overall mileage base or if maybe I'm not meant to run a marathon. Either way, I am glad to have found out about this at home instead of in a race. I feel confident I could run/walk the marathon, but I really have no desire to do that right now. I felt kind of like Forest Gump when he quit running. He was done. So am I, at least for now. I don't mean done with running, but done with pushing to see how far I can go.
I may change my mind at some point and try again, but right now I am at peace with the fact that I am going to focus on half marathons and shorter runs from this point on. I started this journey to lose weight and I have accomplished that. Along the way I discovered running and I am thankful for that. Today I discovered that I can take something I enjoy like running and make it into something I loathe. I don't want to do that. I want to enjoy running. I will continue to enjoy running, just at distances less than 16.75 miles!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Great weather for Yoga....
Today's cool temps made it a perfect day to get back to yoga class. I needed it too! I had felt my muscles tightening up over the last few weeks and it felt great to stretch them out. I told our instructor, Karen, that I was starting to have some IT band issues. If I am still having them on Sunday, it won't be her fault! We stretched out the IT bands big time and worked hard on core strength and our quads.
Almost every issue of Runners World has at least one article on core strength and/or flexibility. The exercises almost always are something we do in yoga. I am convinced that practicing yoga long term will really improve my running and lengthen the number of years that I can run.
I've mapped out one 18 mile route for Sunday, but I may tweak it. It will have some pretty big hills in it but there just isn't much of a way for me to avoid that and stay near the house. It really kind of amazes me how far 18 miles is when you map it out. In my mind, I plotted out what I thought was about 12 miles and it was only 7 when I put it on the mapmyrun.com site. Hopefully the temps will rise to the mid 40's on Sunday and the showers will hold off. I really want to get this run in.
I will be glad when the Swamp Rabbit Trail is completed. It will make long runs a little more enjoyable because you will be able to avoid traffic. You also will have the option of point to point runs if you want. The city seems to be moving very quickly on the parts they are responsible for, I hope the county catches up quickly. I know it will be difficult to find funding in this recession, so I don't expect much work to be done anytime soon.
Almost every issue of Runners World has at least one article on core strength and/or flexibility. The exercises almost always are something we do in yoga. I am convinced that practicing yoga long term will really improve my running and lengthen the number of years that I can run.
I've mapped out one 18 mile route for Sunday, but I may tweak it. It will have some pretty big hills in it but there just isn't much of a way for me to avoid that and stay near the house. It really kind of amazes me how far 18 miles is when you map it out. In my mind, I plotted out what I thought was about 12 miles and it was only 7 when I put it on the mapmyrun.com site. Hopefully the temps will rise to the mid 40's on Sunday and the showers will hold off. I really want to get this run in.
I will be glad when the Swamp Rabbit Trail is completed. It will make long runs a little more enjoyable because you will be able to avoid traffic. You also will have the option of point to point runs if you want. The city seems to be moving very quickly on the parts they are responsible for, I hope the county catches up quickly. I know it will be difficult to find funding in this recession, so I don't expect much work to be done anytime soon.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wow, less than 30 days...
Something close to panic set in as I glanced at the sidebar on my blog and saw the countdown is now less than 30 days away!
I have to keep reminding myself that I am right on schedule according to my training plan. I think I'll feel better after Sunday's 18 miler. Once that is in the books, hopefully I won't feel like 20 is impossible!
I got my five easy miles in today, and I did take it easy. It felt pretty good though. The key to Sunday will be starting out at slow pace. I always have a hard time doing that, even when I am not in a race.
It was not as cold as I had expected, though when I hit a head wind it did give me a little chill. Despite the coming cold temperatures, it looks like Sunday will be pretty good in the afternoon if the slight chance of showers holds off. I have some decisions to make on my route and I am having a tough time. I generally don't like doing a double loop, however I don't want to get too far from home either. I would also like to find some extended flat segments, but that just isn't very likely in my neck of the woods. I am going to hit mapmyrun.com tonight and see if I can put something together that is simple enough for me to remember... I can easily see me missing a turn and thinking I am about to be done only to find myself two miles short!
I have to keep reminding myself that I am right on schedule according to my training plan. I think I'll feel better after Sunday's 18 miler. Once that is in the books, hopefully I won't feel like 20 is impossible!
I got my five easy miles in today, and I did take it easy. It felt pretty good though. The key to Sunday will be starting out at slow pace. I always have a hard time doing that, even when I am not in a race.
It was not as cold as I had expected, though when I hit a head wind it did give me a little chill. Despite the coming cold temperatures, it looks like Sunday will be pretty good in the afternoon if the slight chance of showers holds off. I have some decisions to make on my route and I am having a tough time. I generally don't like doing a double loop, however I don't want to get too far from home either. I would also like to find some extended flat segments, but that just isn't very likely in my neck of the woods. I am going to hit mapmyrun.com tonight and see if I can put something together that is simple enough for me to remember... I can easily see me missing a turn and thinking I am about to be done only to find myself two miles short!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
8 Mile Tempo Run....
Got the tempo run in today. Not quite the overall pace I wanted, but 5 miles was at a solid pace. My knee flared up a little at about the same mile. Afterwards, I put my knee support on and it felt great. I am going to run with it tomorrow and see how it goes.
I popped a GU 15 minutes before the run to see how that felt. It was awesome. I am going to get a bunch of them for my long run on Sunday.
It was nice and cold for my run, but I dressed for it and really enjoyed the crispness. At times I find myself yearning for the hot, sweaty summer runs. I know that when summer gets here I will be longing for cool runs... But right now, I like the idea of being able to throw on shorts and shirt and cut out.
I popped a GU 15 minutes before the run to see how that felt. It was awesome. I am going to get a bunch of them for my long run on Sunday.
It was nice and cold for my run, but I dressed for it and really enjoyed the crispness. At times I find myself yearning for the hot, sweaty summer runs. I know that when summer gets here I will be longing for cool runs... But right now, I like the idea of being able to throw on shorts and shirt and cut out.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Maybe Friday on Yoga...
I didn't have time to hit yoga today, so I put in 45 minutes on the elliptical. It felt good, I have not been on the elliptical in months and I enjoyed it. Whatever issue I had with my knee yesterday was non-existent today, so I plan on running tomorrow. I am scheduled for an 8 mile tempo run. I'll do my best for 8 miles, not sure about the tempo part.. :)
So far I've signed up for the Reedy River 10K and I am going to sign up for the Cooper River Bridge Run soon. Not sure about any other races yet as those take care of March and April. I still may do the Shamrock Fun Run on 3/21 just because I enjoyed it last year and I would like to see if I could PR there.
So far I've signed up for the Reedy River 10K and I am going to sign up for the Cooper River Bridge Run soon. Not sure about any other races yet as those take care of March and April. I still may do the Shamrock Fun Run on 3/21 just because I enjoyed it last year and I would like to see if I could PR there.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Only six?
My schedule called for six miles today and it struck me how far I have come since I started running when I had to think about how to shorten my normal loop to hit six miles. I don't say this to brag, but it was just one of those moments when I realized how I could never have imagined that I would have to 'cut back' to six miles. Of course, just when a case of the 'big head' sets in, reality tends to catch up and between miles four and five my right knee developed an odd pain. It kind of felt like it was under the kneecap on the outside half of my knee. It wasn't too bad and I ended up putting it out of my mind after about a half mile. I popped some advil when I got home and have felt pretty good the rest of the day. I have yoga tomorrow and if it even slightly bothers me on Wednesday, I'll do some cross training or take the day off.
I'm working on a shopping list and I just realized how much GU I will need between now and the end of the marathon. I think I am going to do an online search to see if it is cheaper in bulk!
I'm working on a shopping list and I just realized how much GU I will need between now and the end of the marathon. I think I am going to do an online search to see if it is cheaper in bulk!
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