Today is the perfect rainy day. I woke up early to go to hot yoga with my friends Kate and Ashley. Last night, Kate had a small dinner party that Ashley and I went to, and it was wonderful as usual. Kate is a great entertainer, and she was prepared with smoked salmon (that her father smoked, of course), pork roast, and fancy cocktails. It was a great night, and I am so blessed to have such great friends. Of course, cocktails and wine do not bode well for an 8 AM hot yoga class...
Kate and I made it, but Ashley did not. I don't blame her at all... she has been working hard and deserved to sleep in. The class was waaaaaay harder than I anticipated. It was hot power fusion, so it was over 100 degrees and I could not take it. I felt like fainting and/or throwing up multiple times during the class. I had to revert to child's pose multiple times. I am in awe of Kate- she takes all these workout classes with me and Ashley and she always outlasts both of us! She is awesome!! We did bodypump on Sunday and she stayed for kickboxing while Ashley and I hobbled out of there with our tails between our legs.
After getting out of the hot, humid room I immediately felt better. As soon as I stepped outside, I knew it was going to be a great day. It was cloudy and slightly warm and humid, kind of tropical. Jeff and I took Toby for a leisurely walk through the park, and came back and made eggs for breakfast together. After lounging around for a bit and cuddling with Toby, we went to see Captain America downtown (which was SO GOOD by the way). When we came out of the theater, it was actually raining. Hmm rain in San Diego while the rest of the country seems to be having sunny weather? I guess the tables have turned! I love this type of weather. It makes me just want to curl up at home with a book and some tea. Which I think I am going to do soon!
Monday, September 5, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Sunday Funday
I finished my second AFC half marathon on Sunday! Woo hoo! That is a new accomplishment- I have never done the same half marathon twice. In fact, I am pretty sure I have never done any race twice. Oh except maybe the Father Joe's Thanksgiving 5K, which we have walked with Toby for the last 2 years. We will definitely be doing that one again this year. I am always amazed that my dog Toby can last for over 3 miles. He has such short little legs- but I think he just keeps following his nose and the adventure keeps him going.
So yes, I finished my half marathon on Sunday. It was actually nowhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be. My goal time was 2:30. I figured I hadn't trained, and I wasn't planning on running the entire thing. Well it turns out that, despite having to take a 5 minute bathroom break in the first 2 miles (I had coffee on the way to the race! And of course there was a line), I didn't do too badly! My time ended up being just short of 2:20, so without that bathroom break it could have been close to 2:15. Considering my best time is around 2:03, that's really not bad. I think the main part of the race my non-training affected was how sore I was afterward. I could tell it would be worse than normal, and on Monday I found out that I was correct. I think it had something to do with only getting 5 hours of sleep the night before (we got home from a baseball game/Dierks Bentley concert around 11 and I woke up at 4 to walk to the race buses 2 miles away). But the feeling of finishing was all worth it.
After the game, my friend Kate met me bearing gifts. She is who I want to be when I grow up (and yes, I have told her this). She may only be a few years older than me, but she is my role model. I know that might be weird. But seriously, she is the nicest, sweetest person ever, and not only that but she is an awesome hostess. Whenever I show up at her place for dinner or wine, she has a cheese plate prepped and cupcakes in the kitchen. Amazing! And of course this time she didn't disappoint- she brought homemade lemon scones. I had had coffee before my race (luckily Lestat's coffee shop was on the way to the buses in the morning, and they are open 24/7- sidenote: there was a couple on a date there, I am pretty sure, at 4:30 in the morning! What the hell??), and my stomach was a little bit iffy when I finished. I also felt kind of lightheaded during parts of the race, more overexerted than I normally feel (again, attributed to my lack of training), but I ate the scone anyway. It made my stomach hurt a little worse, but it was definitely worth it. It was delicious.
After chatting with Kate for a few minutes, I walked over to Jeff's baseball game across the bridge and watched his team, Cali's Finest, demolish the competition! It was a great game; I am pretty sure the final score was somewhere around 12-4. And how they are in the finals! Ashley and I will be going next Sunday to cheer him and the other guys on to win the championship! After his game, we showered and then walked over to Small Bar, our Sunday brunch place of choice, to meet Ashley for brunch. We were both tired from our respective athletic feats of the morning, and Ashley was hungover. The perfect brunch combination. The only thing missing was a bloody mary. How does a brunch place that specializes in bloody marys run out of them?! To be fair, I could see that lots of people that had run the race went there for brunch (in their running gear and tech shirts). So I guess we runners sucked them dry of tomato juice. I settled for a mimosa and a beer, and proceeded to walk home and pass out for 2 hours with the dog. If Toby knows how to do anything, it's nap. He is really good at it.
In addition to my 2 hour nap, I slept another 10 hours Sunday night. I woke up at 8:15 Monday morning in a daze- I really needed that sleep. I could barely pull myself out of bed even after all that sleep, I was so sore. Walking was difficult. Luckily I knew that would happen, and made no real plans for Monday, sans a dentist appointment. I ended up going to Corepower Yoga later in the day to do their Hot Power Fusion class, a class that blends regular Bikram yoga (poses) with vinyasa (flow). The room felt way hotter than normal to me, and with my soreness I struggled a lot during the class. But boy did I feel great afterward. The teacher adjusted me during class, and afterward asked if it was okay or too much. I told her that it was just enough, I really needed the extra push.
I took yesterday off from all activity (not including going to work and back, and walking Toby), and today I am going to more yoga, although not hot yoga this time. Ashley's new workplace, Fitzee Foods, offers free yoga on Wednesdays and boot camp classes on Saturdays. Their whole philosophy is centered around a healthy lifestyle, and their main business is making packaged meals that are healthy, organic, and sustainable. Pretty cool! I have tried the banana flax pancakes with agave, and those were awesome. And last night I tried the tilapia with rosemary hash, which was amazing. I can't wait to try more healthy dishes! I may pick some up tonight after yoga... Not only will the yoga help de-stress me tonight, I am treating my heart to some antioxidants- by way of red wine. Ashley and Kate (different Kate than the aforementioned, but just as great) and I will be going to Wine Steals and continuing our de-stressing post-yoga. Some girl time during the week is a must for me, it really helps me decompress. So does hanging out with the boys! But having balance is key.
I am really not sure how my running is going to go from here on out. My next race is the Silver Strand half marathon, in November. If I train, I really think I can hit my PR. But I am not sure if I feel motivated to do that. It's a flat course, so even if I don't train it won't be a terrible run. I will just have to see how I feel in the next week or two. I am perfectly happy with my hot yoga 3 days a week and my spinning and bodypump classes in between... I am getting a little too complacent with that and I maybe need to switch it up a bit. Hmm... lots of thinking to do!
So yes, I finished my half marathon on Sunday. It was actually nowhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be. My goal time was 2:30. I figured I hadn't trained, and I wasn't planning on running the entire thing. Well it turns out that, despite having to take a 5 minute bathroom break in the first 2 miles (I had coffee on the way to the race! And of course there was a line), I didn't do too badly! My time ended up being just short of 2:20, so without that bathroom break it could have been close to 2:15. Considering my best time is around 2:03, that's really not bad. I think the main part of the race my non-training affected was how sore I was afterward. I could tell it would be worse than normal, and on Monday I found out that I was correct. I think it had something to do with only getting 5 hours of sleep the night before (we got home from a baseball game/Dierks Bentley concert around 11 and I woke up at 4 to walk to the race buses 2 miles away). But the feeling of finishing was all worth it.
After the game, my friend Kate met me bearing gifts. She is who I want to be when I grow up (and yes, I have told her this). She may only be a few years older than me, but she is my role model. I know that might be weird. But seriously, she is the nicest, sweetest person ever, and not only that but she is an awesome hostess. Whenever I show up at her place for dinner or wine, she has a cheese plate prepped and cupcakes in the kitchen. Amazing! And of course this time she didn't disappoint- she brought homemade lemon scones. I had had coffee before my race (luckily Lestat's coffee shop was on the way to the buses in the morning, and they are open 24/7- sidenote: there was a couple on a date there, I am pretty sure, at 4:30 in the morning! What the hell??), and my stomach was a little bit iffy when I finished. I also felt kind of lightheaded during parts of the race, more overexerted than I normally feel (again, attributed to my lack of training), but I ate the scone anyway. It made my stomach hurt a little worse, but it was definitely worth it. It was delicious.
After chatting with Kate for a few minutes, I walked over to Jeff's baseball game across the bridge and watched his team, Cali's Finest, demolish the competition! It was a great game; I am pretty sure the final score was somewhere around 12-4. And how they are in the finals! Ashley and I will be going next Sunday to cheer him and the other guys on to win the championship! After his game, we showered and then walked over to Small Bar, our Sunday brunch place of choice, to meet Ashley for brunch. We were both tired from our respective athletic feats of the morning, and Ashley was hungover. The perfect brunch combination. The only thing missing was a bloody mary. How does a brunch place that specializes in bloody marys run out of them?! To be fair, I could see that lots of people that had run the race went there for brunch (in their running gear and tech shirts). So I guess we runners sucked them dry of tomato juice. I settled for a mimosa and a beer, and proceeded to walk home and pass out for 2 hours with the dog. If Toby knows how to do anything, it's nap. He is really good at it.
In addition to my 2 hour nap, I slept another 10 hours Sunday night. I woke up at 8:15 Monday morning in a daze- I really needed that sleep. I could barely pull myself out of bed even after all that sleep, I was so sore. Walking was difficult. Luckily I knew that would happen, and made no real plans for Monday, sans a dentist appointment. I ended up going to Corepower Yoga later in the day to do their Hot Power Fusion class, a class that blends regular Bikram yoga (poses) with vinyasa (flow). The room felt way hotter than normal to me, and with my soreness I struggled a lot during the class. But boy did I feel great afterward. The teacher adjusted me during class, and afterward asked if it was okay or too much. I told her that it was just enough, I really needed the extra push.
I took yesterday off from all activity (not including going to work and back, and walking Toby), and today I am going to more yoga, although not hot yoga this time. Ashley's new workplace, Fitzee Foods, offers free yoga on Wednesdays and boot camp classes on Saturdays. Their whole philosophy is centered around a healthy lifestyle, and their main business is making packaged meals that are healthy, organic, and sustainable. Pretty cool! I have tried the banana flax pancakes with agave, and those were awesome. And last night I tried the tilapia with rosemary hash, which was amazing. I can't wait to try more healthy dishes! I may pick some up tonight after yoga... Not only will the yoga help de-stress me tonight, I am treating my heart to some antioxidants- by way of red wine. Ashley and Kate (different Kate than the aforementioned, but just as great) and I will be going to Wine Steals and continuing our de-stressing post-yoga. Some girl time during the week is a must for me, it really helps me decompress. So does hanging out with the boys! But having balance is key.
I am really not sure how my running is going to go from here on out. My next race is the Silver Strand half marathon, in November. If I train, I really think I can hit my PR. But I am not sure if I feel motivated to do that. It's a flat course, so even if I don't train it won't be a terrible run. I will just have to see how I feel in the next week or two. I am perfectly happy with my hot yoga 3 days a week and my spinning and bodypump classes in between... I am getting a little too complacent with that and I maybe need to switch it up a bit. Hmm... lots of thinking to do!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Anticipating A Lazy 13.1
Wow, it's been over 2 months since I last posted- I am pretty lame!
I haven't posted much because I have not run much in the last couple months. Not only that, but I haven't really even wanted to THINK about running. My marathon was not only physically taxing, but it completely mentally wore me out. I kind of lost interest in running for a while, and I am sure it was because running pretty much took over my life for a good few months. I have a half marathon coming up in 2 days (the AFC Half, which was my very first half marathon a year ago), and I am not really looking forward to it. I guess I am not NOT looking forward to it either... I am just indifferent. I haven't been training for it, so I am looking at it like a leisurely run. I am going to take my time, take in the scenery along the ocean, and just pretend like it's not even a race.
Not training for a marathon has freed up my time for other things I had been wanting to do on the weekends, which is great. I have been able to go to Jeff's baseball games, which is always fun. His team, Cali's Finest, is 8-2 this season and in the playoffs! His first playoff game is right after my half marathon on Sunday, and very conveniently within walking distance from the end of my race. I have been able to go hiking, go to the beach, go to street fairs, and just relax on my days off. When I was training for my marathon, my Sundays would be spent running and my Mondays would be spent doing errands. So it's a very welcome change. Actually, Jeff's team is taking a season off from baseball so when he is done with the playoffs, I plan on making some quick weekend trips. Camping, hiking, and wine tasting (oh my!). It will be really nice to just get away with him for a few weekends.
I have still been exercising since my marathon, of course. I have just been doing everything except running (okay, a tiny amount of running maybe). I have kept up my lifting routine (taking Bodypump classes at 24 hr fitness helps keep it fun), have been training with Angela, and have been spinning with my fave teacher, Najia. Actually, funny story, she said that one of her other students googled "Najia's spin class" to find class times, and stumbled upon my blog! So funny! Najia, maybe you are even reading this now... haha :-)
The major change in my exercise routine has been getting back into yoga. Hot yoga, specifically. A little over a month ago, I decided to purchase a Groupon for Corepower Yoga. My friend Ashley makes fun of me because I have Groupons and Livingsocials for pretty much everything, BUT $59 for a month at Corepower was a pretty good deal. Usually a month by itself is $159 (a membership is a little cheaper)! Hot yoga is a whole different experience, you come out of class all sweaty and exhausted- it's gross and refreshing at the same time. Especially yoga sculpt which is my favorite- weight lifting and hot yoga go surprising well together, if you like torturing yourself, as I do.
Because I had a month unlimited, I ended up going 3 times a week. I like to get the most for my money... I am by no means a yogi, but I have tried to adapt some of the yogi lifestyle. I don't think I could ever be a vegan, or give up caffeine (no more cappuccinos from Twigg's? Not possible), but I have tried to mentally put my yogi shoes on (although I don't think yogis wear shoes...). Before when I took classes, they would just be another workout class to me, and my mind would still be running at full pace. But I have tried to really listen to my body and release my thoughts while in the classes, and I think it has really helped me deal with the stress going on in my life.
Not that there is much stress in my life at all. I have a great life and I am incredibly happy.
I just started a Corepower membership this week, as soon as my month was done. It's pricey, but for me is a worthwhile investment. I plan on taking full advantage of unlimited yoga; it keeps me grounded and makes me feel great. Well, I guess it's a combination of yoga and the awesome people (and Toby) in my life that keep me grounded and make me feel great!
Namaste :-)
I haven't posted much because I have not run much in the last couple months. Not only that, but I haven't really even wanted to THINK about running. My marathon was not only physically taxing, but it completely mentally wore me out. I kind of lost interest in running for a while, and I am sure it was because running pretty much took over my life for a good few months. I have a half marathon coming up in 2 days (the AFC Half, which was my very first half marathon a year ago), and I am not really looking forward to it. I guess I am not NOT looking forward to it either... I am just indifferent. I haven't been training for it, so I am looking at it like a leisurely run. I am going to take my time, take in the scenery along the ocean, and just pretend like it's not even a race.
Not training for a marathon has freed up my time for other things I had been wanting to do on the weekends, which is great. I have been able to go to Jeff's baseball games, which is always fun. His team, Cali's Finest, is 8-2 this season and in the playoffs! His first playoff game is right after my half marathon on Sunday, and very conveniently within walking distance from the end of my race. I have been able to go hiking, go to the beach, go to street fairs, and just relax on my days off. When I was training for my marathon, my Sundays would be spent running and my Mondays would be spent doing errands. So it's a very welcome change. Actually, Jeff's team is taking a season off from baseball so when he is done with the playoffs, I plan on making some quick weekend trips. Camping, hiking, and wine tasting (oh my!). It will be really nice to just get away with him for a few weekends.
I have still been exercising since my marathon, of course. I have just been doing everything except running (okay, a tiny amount of running maybe). I have kept up my lifting routine (taking Bodypump classes at 24 hr fitness helps keep it fun), have been training with Angela, and have been spinning with my fave teacher, Najia. Actually, funny story, she said that one of her other students googled "Najia's spin class" to find class times, and stumbled upon my blog! So funny! Najia, maybe you are even reading this now... haha :-)
The major change in my exercise routine has been getting back into yoga. Hot yoga, specifically. A little over a month ago, I decided to purchase a Groupon for Corepower Yoga. My friend Ashley makes fun of me because I have Groupons and Livingsocials for pretty much everything, BUT $59 for a month at Corepower was a pretty good deal. Usually a month by itself is $159 (a membership is a little cheaper)! Hot yoga is a whole different experience, you come out of class all sweaty and exhausted- it's gross and refreshing at the same time. Especially yoga sculpt which is my favorite- weight lifting and hot yoga go surprising well together, if you like torturing yourself, as I do.
Because I had a month unlimited, I ended up going 3 times a week. I like to get the most for my money... I am by no means a yogi, but I have tried to adapt some of the yogi lifestyle. I don't think I could ever be a vegan, or give up caffeine (no more cappuccinos from Twigg's? Not possible), but I have tried to mentally put my yogi shoes on (although I don't think yogis wear shoes...). Before when I took classes, they would just be another workout class to me, and my mind would still be running at full pace. But I have tried to really listen to my body and release my thoughts while in the classes, and I think it has really helped me deal with the stress going on in my life.
Not that there is much stress in my life at all. I have a great life and I am incredibly happy.
I just started a Corepower membership this week, as soon as my month was done. It's pricey, but for me is a worthwhile investment. I plan on taking full advantage of unlimited yoga; it keeps me grounded and makes me feel great. Well, I guess it's a combination of yoga and the awesome people (and Toby) in my life that keep me grounded and make me feel great!
Namaste :-)
Friday, June 10, 2011
Solitude Of A Morning Run
This morning I went on an early run. I like running with other people sometimes (depending on the person, haha), but this morning a solo run was just what I needed. The setting was lovely. The sun had just risen, dawn had just broken. I am thoroughly enjoying that the sun rises before 5:30 AM these days and doesn't set till 9, oh the joys of summer. The skies were a little bit gray with light rain clouds, and it had begun to drizzle when I set off on my run. I ran from my apartment, to Balboa Park's museum area, through some of the botanical garden, through some dirt trails, and back home. I passed a couple runners, but for the most part no one was out. I was alone with my thoughts, and considering the minor drama in my life right now, it was nice pound the pavement and sweat it out.
It was my first real run since my marathon, and I wasn't sure how it would go. I skipped anything involving exercise on Monday, I deserved a break after 26.2 miles the day before. But I did a light workout Tuesday and did spin class (although took it easy) on Wednesday. I didn't work out Thursday, but I could feel that my legs might still be a little tired this morning. My knees were a little bit creaky as I started out, but I completed my 4.75 mile loop, and it was hilly at that. Although I felt more sluggish than normal, I felt so good afterward. Totally worth getting up early and resisting the urge to hit the snooze button a few more times (after the 5 times I had already hit it...)
I was also maybe a little bit more light on my feet than normal because I had ordered a new running skirt the week before and was finally trying it out. I had been skeptical about them; before I started running I had no idea people ran in skirts. I could barely run in shorts without chafing. But Body Glide does wonders. I slathered myself up in some of that and, after conquering running in shorts, tried out my running skirt. So comfy. I could definitely see buying another. I bought one because runningskirts.com was having a National Running Day special, 15% off. So maybe I will wait for another deal like that. But it's so cute. Black, teal, and purple argyle. I am not going to lie, I got a couple honks from cars this morning. The skirt made my legs look rather awesome if I do say so myself. And I got a matching sports bra. I think my new exercise goal will be getting my stomach to the point where I am comfortable just wearing a sports bra and shorts (or skirt) to work out. I will probably still never do it, but I would still like my abs to look nice.
That morning run definitely set the tone for the rest of my day. I am feeling happy, and I love the feeling. Plus I earned that beer I am going to have after work today! :-)
It was my first real run since my marathon, and I wasn't sure how it would go. I skipped anything involving exercise on Monday, I deserved a break after 26.2 miles the day before. But I did a light workout Tuesday and did spin class (although took it easy) on Wednesday. I didn't work out Thursday, but I could feel that my legs might still be a little tired this morning. My knees were a little bit creaky as I started out, but I completed my 4.75 mile loop, and it was hilly at that. Although I felt more sluggish than normal, I felt so good afterward. Totally worth getting up early and resisting the urge to hit the snooze button a few more times (after the 5 times I had already hit it...)
I was also maybe a little bit more light on my feet than normal because I had ordered a new running skirt the week before and was finally trying it out. I had been skeptical about them; before I started running I had no idea people ran in skirts. I could barely run in shorts without chafing. But Body Glide does wonders. I slathered myself up in some of that and, after conquering running in shorts, tried out my running skirt. So comfy. I could definitely see buying another. I bought one because runningskirts.com was having a National Running Day special, 15% off. So maybe I will wait for another deal like that. But it's so cute. Black, teal, and purple argyle. I am not going to lie, I got a couple honks from cars this morning. The skirt made my legs look rather awesome if I do say so myself. And I got a matching sports bra. I think my new exercise goal will be getting my stomach to the point where I am comfortable just wearing a sports bra and shorts (or skirt) to work out. I will probably still never do it, but I would still like my abs to look nice.
That morning run definitely set the tone for the rest of my day. I am feeling happy, and I love the feeling. Plus I earned that beer I am going to have after work today! :-)
Monday, June 6, 2011
Rock n Roll San Diego 2011
I finished my first marathon!!!!!
It is seriously one of the best feelings I have ever experienced. It's been a day and a half, and I am still overwhelmingly elated. It's incredible.
Saturday I went with Jeff to the expo for the marathon, and it was awesome. We took the trolley down there, which ended up being a great choice. I hate driving down there in the first place, but traffic was even worse than usual. We went early and good thing we did- it was already packed. It was a huge expo, but very well-organized. According to the announcer, SD's Rock n Roll was the first one so I guess they've figured it out by now. I got my bib, my tracking chip, and my shirt, plus some Clif Shots (I have always used Gu chomps, but Clif shots taste a lot better!), and we were out of there.
I decided that since I needed to be carb-loading, we needed to have brunch at Pappalecho. They have the BEST cappuccinos I have ever had- tied with Twiggs, which is conveniently right across the street from our new apartment. I ate my entire plate plus a side of potatoes. But it's okay, because I needed the carbs... yeah... this was followed by pasta, mushrooms, and asparagus for dinner. The perfect pre-run meal nom nom nom!
The morning of the race went really smoothly, better than I could have asked for. I woke up at 4:30 to give myself time to make a little coffee and eat breakfast (Honey Bunches of Oats with soy milk- not really common pre-race fare but it's what I had been eating before my long runs, so I figured it was probably a good choice), and make sure I had everything ready. Oh yeah and the most important thing- I foam rolled. I think it saved me during the race. Jeff drove me to the start line, and it was already light outside which amped me up to run. Right before the race, I got my fill of my trashy tv stars- Ali and Roberto from the Bachelorette were there, and so was Tamra from the Real Housewives of the OC (with her boyfriend, Eddie). Um- awesome. If I had to pick anyone to see, it would have been them anyway. Jeff's mom can confirm this. I am a little obsessed with my shows...
Before the race, I got to my corral and just wanted to get going. Unfortunately, the race started by corral, which was dependent on your estimated finish time. Mine was 4:20 so I was in the middle. Instead of starting at 6:15, I ended up starting closer to 6:35. But by then I was excited and just wanted to get going! It was a beautiful day in Balboa Park, perfect for running. Finally, after bouncing around to warm up, our corral (number 17) got started.
The first part of the run was actually the same as a 10K Jeff and I did last year, the AIDS walk San Diego. We are doing it again this year. It goes around Balboa Park and then through some of the museum area. I was fully focused on my run except for one thing- even though I had used a port o potty before the race started, 1 mile in I REALLY had to pee. Like, badly. I kept waiting to see which port o potties were least crowded, and somehow they were all really crowded. Ugh. Finally at around mile 3 there were 3 people in line for 3 bathrooms and I decided now was my chance. Even though it added 5 minutes to my time, it was worth it. Better then than that mile 18 when I wouldn't be able to start back up again.
After that I felt refreshed. I ran the next 10 miles nonstop. It was an awesome run. I got to run on the 163 freeway, a road I have to drive all the time. I have never seen it without cars; it was a little creepy but really cool at the same time. It was hilly but so fun that I barely noticed. Plus a group of guys carrying a flag that said "England" ran by in their tighty whities- interesting things like that help keep the focus off the actual running part of the race.
After mile 14, things got a little more difficult. The run was just as pretty, through mission valley past the mall and to the ocean. But since I am used to half marathons, anything beyond 13.1 miles got immediately difficult. I was okay until about mile 18 and then I realized, WOW this is tough. I slowed down a lot. I walked and ran off and on, luckily more running than walking. Getting to mile 20 was hard but once I got there, I realized that it was the furthest I have ever gone at one time. That made me feel awesome. After that it got even tougher, but the race organizers planned the race well. The last 6.2 miles were right on the ocean, through mission bay and then around fiesta island. The temperature was warmer but not too warm.
I really started to struggle during the last 5 miles. I was surprised that I ended up hurting where I did- my feet, my lower back, and my knees. My knees didn't surprise me, but I figured it would be my hamstrings and quads hurting. I had brought my phone with me knowing Jeff was going to meet me at the end, and I texted him that I would probably be another hour. The response I got back seriously almost put me to tears. Let me explain. I was already emotional. I have this thing that I get emotional when I work out. It's really weird, I admit it. I remember one time I was on the treadmill and "Hoarders" was on. It was an episode in which this lady owned a barn and kept all these animals in horrible conditions. There was a goat that was pregnant and had gotten hurt months before and it wasn't treated. It's leg was torn up and probably broken. It made me tear up. I think strong feelings + crazy adrenaline pumping through my system= Amanda crying. Awesome. Anyway, Jeff texted me that I was great and he couldn't wait to see me at the finish. And it was the encouragement I needed to finish the race. So even though I walked a lot in the last few miles, I ran the full last mile and felt strong. I was soooo happy to be done, not only because I was physically exhausted, but because 16 months of training had amounted to this. I had definitely not trained as much as I should have, but I was still able to finish. It was such a great feeling of accomplishment. Yayyyyy!!!
Jeff just barely missed me cross the finish line. Not his fault- the way the spectators had to get the finish line was ridiculous. There was no parking and instead they were encouraged to take the trolley to the nearest stop- over a mile away. But he was there at the finish line and I found him, and seeing him there made my day. I walked with him back to the trolley stop (after 26.2 miles, what's another mile?), and went home to soak in the bath tub before my beer consumption began.
A bunch of friends and I went to Small Bar for some beers and food, and it was just what I needed. Having my friends there to celebrate my accomplishment made me so happy. I spent the rest of the day eating (I earned that Cold Stone ice cream!) and resting, and just feeling great. That feeling lasted through today, and I hope it will last a while longer. I had a cappuccino with Ashley and Twigg's this morning and we hung out with our dogs in the sunshine, and this afternoon I had a 90 minute hot stone massage and pedicure to complete my post-run pampering. And now I am watching the Bachelorette with Jeff and Toby (yes, Jeff puts up with it- one reason I am marrying him). The perfect ending to a perfect day. This has been a perfect weekend. I am happier than I have been in a long time and I am excited about it. I want this feeling to last, and I am confident that it will. I am going to savor this feeling for as long as I can :-)
It is seriously one of the best feelings I have ever experienced. It's been a day and a half, and I am still overwhelmingly elated. It's incredible.
Saturday I went with Jeff to the expo for the marathon, and it was awesome. We took the trolley down there, which ended up being a great choice. I hate driving down there in the first place, but traffic was even worse than usual. We went early and good thing we did- it was already packed. It was a huge expo, but very well-organized. According to the announcer, SD's Rock n Roll was the first one so I guess they've figured it out by now. I got my bib, my tracking chip, and my shirt, plus some Clif Shots (I have always used Gu chomps, but Clif shots taste a lot better!), and we were out of there.
I decided that since I needed to be carb-loading, we needed to have brunch at Pappalecho. They have the BEST cappuccinos I have ever had- tied with Twiggs, which is conveniently right across the street from our new apartment. I ate my entire plate plus a side of potatoes. But it's okay, because I needed the carbs... yeah... this was followed by pasta, mushrooms, and asparagus for dinner. The perfect pre-run meal nom nom nom!
The morning of the race went really smoothly, better than I could have asked for. I woke up at 4:30 to give myself time to make a little coffee and eat breakfast (Honey Bunches of Oats with soy milk- not really common pre-race fare but it's what I had been eating before my long runs, so I figured it was probably a good choice), and make sure I had everything ready. Oh yeah and the most important thing- I foam rolled. I think it saved me during the race. Jeff drove me to the start line, and it was already light outside which amped me up to run. Right before the race, I got my fill of my trashy tv stars- Ali and Roberto from the Bachelorette were there, and so was Tamra from the Real Housewives of the OC (with her boyfriend, Eddie). Um- awesome. If I had to pick anyone to see, it would have been them anyway. Jeff's mom can confirm this. I am a little obsessed with my shows...
Before the race, I got to my corral and just wanted to get going. Unfortunately, the race started by corral, which was dependent on your estimated finish time. Mine was 4:20 so I was in the middle. Instead of starting at 6:15, I ended up starting closer to 6:35. But by then I was excited and just wanted to get going! It was a beautiful day in Balboa Park, perfect for running. Finally, after bouncing around to warm up, our corral (number 17) got started.
The first part of the run was actually the same as a 10K Jeff and I did last year, the AIDS walk San Diego. We are doing it again this year. It goes around Balboa Park and then through some of the museum area. I was fully focused on my run except for one thing- even though I had used a port o potty before the race started, 1 mile in I REALLY had to pee. Like, badly. I kept waiting to see which port o potties were least crowded, and somehow they were all really crowded. Ugh. Finally at around mile 3 there were 3 people in line for 3 bathrooms and I decided now was my chance. Even though it added 5 minutes to my time, it was worth it. Better then than that mile 18 when I wouldn't be able to start back up again.
After that I felt refreshed. I ran the next 10 miles nonstop. It was an awesome run. I got to run on the 163 freeway, a road I have to drive all the time. I have never seen it without cars; it was a little creepy but really cool at the same time. It was hilly but so fun that I barely noticed. Plus a group of guys carrying a flag that said "England" ran by in their tighty whities- interesting things like that help keep the focus off the actual running part of the race.
After mile 14, things got a little more difficult. The run was just as pretty, through mission valley past the mall and to the ocean. But since I am used to half marathons, anything beyond 13.1 miles got immediately difficult. I was okay until about mile 18 and then I realized, WOW this is tough. I slowed down a lot. I walked and ran off and on, luckily more running than walking. Getting to mile 20 was hard but once I got there, I realized that it was the furthest I have ever gone at one time. That made me feel awesome. After that it got even tougher, but the race organizers planned the race well. The last 6.2 miles were right on the ocean, through mission bay and then around fiesta island. The temperature was warmer but not too warm.
I really started to struggle during the last 5 miles. I was surprised that I ended up hurting where I did- my feet, my lower back, and my knees. My knees didn't surprise me, but I figured it would be my hamstrings and quads hurting. I had brought my phone with me knowing Jeff was going to meet me at the end, and I texted him that I would probably be another hour. The response I got back seriously almost put me to tears. Let me explain. I was already emotional. I have this thing that I get emotional when I work out. It's really weird, I admit it. I remember one time I was on the treadmill and "Hoarders" was on. It was an episode in which this lady owned a barn and kept all these animals in horrible conditions. There was a goat that was pregnant and had gotten hurt months before and it wasn't treated. It's leg was torn up and probably broken. It made me tear up. I think strong feelings + crazy adrenaline pumping through my system= Amanda crying. Awesome. Anyway, Jeff texted me that I was great and he couldn't wait to see me at the finish. And it was the encouragement I needed to finish the race. So even though I walked a lot in the last few miles, I ran the full last mile and felt strong. I was soooo happy to be done, not only because I was physically exhausted, but because 16 months of training had amounted to this. I had definitely not trained as much as I should have, but I was still able to finish. It was such a great feeling of accomplishment. Yayyyyy!!!
Jeff just barely missed me cross the finish line. Not his fault- the way the spectators had to get the finish line was ridiculous. There was no parking and instead they were encouraged to take the trolley to the nearest stop- over a mile away. But he was there at the finish line and I found him, and seeing him there made my day. I walked with him back to the trolley stop (after 26.2 miles, what's another mile?), and went home to soak in the bath tub before my beer consumption began.
A bunch of friends and I went to Small Bar for some beers and food, and it was just what I needed. Having my friends there to celebrate my accomplishment made me so happy. I spent the rest of the day eating (I earned that Cold Stone ice cream!) and resting, and just feeling great. That feeling lasted through today, and I hope it will last a while longer. I had a cappuccino with Ashley and Twigg's this morning and we hung out with our dogs in the sunshine, and this afternoon I had a 90 minute hot stone massage and pedicure to complete my post-run pampering. And now I am watching the Bachelorette with Jeff and Toby (yes, Jeff puts up with it- one reason I am marrying him). The perfect ending to a perfect day. This has been a perfect weekend. I am happier than I have been in a long time and I am excited about it. I want this feeling to last, and I am confident that it will. I am going to savor this feeling for as long as I can :-)
Friday, June 3, 2011
Jitters!
Bahhhhhh!!!
That is how I am feeling right now. It couldn't have anything to do with my iced latte from Twigg's this morning.. T-minus 1.5 days until my marathon. The San Diego Rock n Roll starts at 6:15 AM sharp on Sunday, and I am actually feeling ready. This will probably change at about mile 18, but for right now I am savoring how I feel. Angela said that the miles will go more quickly than I think and that I should savor every mile. I am sure I will "savor" every mile... it will probably feel like every mile is taking forever!
The last month has been quite an adventure. I found my wedding dress (so happy!!) and moved into a new apartment in a lovely area called University Heights. I love being within running distance to the park, especially when the weather is as good as it has been recently. It makes me want to run. Moving is always an ordeal, and we are still unpacking, but somehow amidst everything else going on, I found a little time to train. Jeff has started running with me again too, which is always nice. The time always goes by a lot more quickly when I run with him!
This past month has been great overall, but this past week has been a rollercoaster. I am sure this happens to everyone at some point or another, but sometimes when things seem to be going really well for me, something unexpectedly flies up and hits me in the face. Figuratively, of course. Hitting me in the face literally would probably be a bit worse. Anyway, that happened this week. I thought everything was running really smoothly in my social circles, but apparently it was not running as smoothly as I thought it was. I won't go into details. The point is that I almost let it affect my mood, which would in turn affect my training and my outlook going into this race. Instead, I realized that what was happening was out of my control, and I had done everything I could to prevent it. I had done my best, and at the end of the day that's all I can do. Everyone has their own opinion and their own way of seeing the world, and I can't change someone else's outlook. But I can control mine. Epiphany! No negativity for me. I feel fantastic going into this race! :-)
My 16-week training is coming to an end, and more than anything it has taught me what to do and not do next time I want to train for a full marathon. I did some things right and a lot of things wrong. I am sure next time will not be perfect, but I know more what will work for me and what won't. I ran into a few roadblocks, mostly when it came to my schedule, but it hopefully will all work out and I will finish my race. Next time I train for a full marathon, I definitely won't be planning a wedding (one is enough for me! haha), and I hopefully won't be moving. I can't believe that in the span of 4 months I will have started planning a wedding, moved into a new apartment, and completed a marathon. I just joined a site called The Daily Mile, which is a forum for runners and other athletes looking for some advice and encouragement. I have already made a few new running friends and I am looking forward to their kind words.
I know I have said this many many times, but I am soooo thankful for those people in my life that have supported me through my training. Number one goes to Jeff, who encouraged me to take 5 hours out of our Sundays together to go on my super long runs, and who put up with me not being able to move after said runs. He also gets double brownie points for driving me to the start line on Sunday at 5 in the morning- he's a keeper! My sister, parents, and friends have been more than supportive, and I have learned a lot from both the runners and non-runners in my life.
You can tell you have ADD when you are not just thinking about the race you've been training for for months, but also what your NEXT goal is going to be. I am definitely focusing on the marathon, but my mind can't help but wander to what I will attempt to accomplish after this accomplishment. My goal for the end of the summer will be a sub-2 hour half marathon at AFC. I completed last year's at 2:03:54, and that was my very first half. So I am confident that with the right training I can meet my goal. And if not, then oh well! I will be happy with my best!
The next goal will be triathlons!
But for right now, all I can say is... I am ready to Rock N' Roll! See you at the finish line :-)
That is how I am feeling right now. It couldn't have anything to do with my iced latte from Twigg's this morning.. T-minus 1.5 days until my marathon. The San Diego Rock n Roll starts at 6:15 AM sharp on Sunday, and I am actually feeling ready. This will probably change at about mile 18, but for right now I am savoring how I feel. Angela said that the miles will go more quickly than I think and that I should savor every mile. I am sure I will "savor" every mile... it will probably feel like every mile is taking forever!
The last month has been quite an adventure. I found my wedding dress (so happy!!) and moved into a new apartment in a lovely area called University Heights. I love being within running distance to the park, especially when the weather is as good as it has been recently. It makes me want to run. Moving is always an ordeal, and we are still unpacking, but somehow amidst everything else going on, I found a little time to train. Jeff has started running with me again too, which is always nice. The time always goes by a lot more quickly when I run with him!
This past month has been great overall, but this past week has been a rollercoaster. I am sure this happens to everyone at some point or another, but sometimes when things seem to be going really well for me, something unexpectedly flies up and hits me in the face. Figuratively, of course. Hitting me in the face literally would probably be a bit worse. Anyway, that happened this week. I thought everything was running really smoothly in my social circles, but apparently it was not running as smoothly as I thought it was. I won't go into details. The point is that I almost let it affect my mood, which would in turn affect my training and my outlook going into this race. Instead, I realized that what was happening was out of my control, and I had done everything I could to prevent it. I had done my best, and at the end of the day that's all I can do. Everyone has their own opinion and their own way of seeing the world, and I can't change someone else's outlook. But I can control mine. Epiphany! No negativity for me. I feel fantastic going into this race! :-)
My 16-week training is coming to an end, and more than anything it has taught me what to do and not do next time I want to train for a full marathon. I did some things right and a lot of things wrong. I am sure next time will not be perfect, but I know more what will work for me and what won't. I ran into a few roadblocks, mostly when it came to my schedule, but it hopefully will all work out and I will finish my race. Next time I train for a full marathon, I definitely won't be planning a wedding (one is enough for me! haha), and I hopefully won't be moving. I can't believe that in the span of 4 months I will have started planning a wedding, moved into a new apartment, and completed a marathon. I just joined a site called The Daily Mile, which is a forum for runners and other athletes looking for some advice and encouragement. I have already made a few new running friends and I am looking forward to their kind words.
I know I have said this many many times, but I am soooo thankful for those people in my life that have supported me through my training. Number one goes to Jeff, who encouraged me to take 5 hours out of our Sundays together to go on my super long runs, and who put up with me not being able to move after said runs. He also gets double brownie points for driving me to the start line on Sunday at 5 in the morning- he's a keeper! My sister, parents, and friends have been more than supportive, and I have learned a lot from both the runners and non-runners in my life.
You can tell you have ADD when you are not just thinking about the race you've been training for for months, but also what your NEXT goal is going to be. I am definitely focusing on the marathon, but my mind can't help but wander to what I will attempt to accomplish after this accomplishment. My goal for the end of the summer will be a sub-2 hour half marathon at AFC. I completed last year's at 2:03:54, and that was my very first half. So I am confident that with the right training I can meet my goal. And if not, then oh well! I will be happy with my best!
The next goal will be triathlons!
But for right now, all I can say is... I am ready to Rock N' Roll! See you at the finish line :-)
Monday, April 25, 2011
Confidence
I don't know what happened over the weekend, but for the first time in a couple months I am actually feeling pretty confident about this upcoming marathon. I think it's a mixture of things. I had a great long run yesterday, had a fantastic picnic on the harbor with my boys, had an awesome workout with Angela this morning (I usually have terrible workouts post-long runs!)... but mainly I think it's knowing how many people are supporting me. Not just in running, but in all aspects of my life.
My fiance Jeff is the one I rely on the most. He is my best friend. And he has been nothing but supportive. Training takes up a lot of time on Sundays, which is the only weekend day we both have off from work. But he always encourages me to go when I say I have to take off for a 4 hour run, even if it takes up a big chunk of our day together. Knowing that he genuinely wants me to be happy and achieve my goals keeps me motivated.
My friends have also been really supportive- even if they do try to get me to drink with them the night before my long run! Haha... I heartses them.
My trainer Angela has instilled some confidence in me. Not only does she give me killer workouts (like she did today), she is a runner herself. Today she told me that before her first marathon, she never ran more than 18 miles at one time. And for any marathon she has done, she's never run more than 20 at one time. Considering I worked myself up to 19 miles, that makes me feel a TON better. Only one reason I heartses Angela!
Time to celebrate my recent workout success (and my completion of folding the laundry) by cuddling with Toby!
My fiance Jeff is the one I rely on the most. He is my best friend. And he has been nothing but supportive. Training takes up a lot of time on Sundays, which is the only weekend day we both have off from work. But he always encourages me to go when I say I have to take off for a 4 hour run, even if it takes up a big chunk of our day together. Knowing that he genuinely wants me to be happy and achieve my goals keeps me motivated.
My friends have also been really supportive- even if they do try to get me to drink with them the night before my long run! Haha... I heartses them.
My trainer Angela has instilled some confidence in me. Not only does she give me killer workouts (like she did today), she is a runner herself. Today she told me that before her first marathon, she never ran more than 18 miles at one time. And for any marathon she has done, she's never run more than 20 at one time. Considering I worked myself up to 19 miles, that makes me feel a TON better. Only one reason I heartses Angela!
Time to celebrate my recent workout success (and my completion of folding the laundry) by cuddling with Toby!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
19 miles!
So... it's been a while since my last post. I didn't realize just how busy I would be- work, friends, fiance, Toby, wedding plans- I love every bit of it. And honestly, if I have to give up something, the blog has to go first. But I am glad I have a few minutes now to just spend on writing therapy.
To share what happened with the 20 (I think it was 20) mile run that I was supposed to complete last time I wrote, it didn't happen. I had been in a running funk and I completed 14 miles. Definitely not shabby, but not what I needed. My marathon is in less than 2 months and I have yet to run 20+ miles. But today I got a little bit closer.
I ran 19 miles today!! Personal best for me. The training schedule (which I had rearranged a bit with all of the Sunday activities that have been going on lately with family and friends) called for me to run 21 miles. Do I didn't quite get there, but 19 miles is pretty damn good considering my previous best was about 16. I ran from the harbor (I have discovered a nice little park across from the airport that I like to park in and run from) to downtown, up 6th street to Balboa Park (which is no small feat, it is rather steep), over to Sarah's place to see if she was home and wanted to run for a bit with me (she wasn't home), ran trail 2 of Balboa Park (which goes through the museums) twice, and then ran back to my car and stretched. I have realized that stretching is key. It's the difference between not being able to move and slightly being able to move (haha) after a long run.
I think one reason I was in a running rut was because I was getting bored. Running for more than a half marathon just gets boring, I ran for about 3.5 hours today and it just got a little old. A half marathon is perfect for me, and I think I can really improve my time if I stick with it. We will see what happens in my full marathon, but as it is right now, I don't know if I will be tempted to do another. But today gave me a glimmer of hope. I think I am finally out of my running rut. I need to check when my next long run is, but as long as I can get to over 20 miles, I think I will be feeling a lot more confident.
The park that I ran from today (not sure of the name) is actually where I brought Jeff and Toby today for a sunset picnic. It's a cute little park, and even though it's right by the airport in a really high-traffic area, it's never too crowded. In one direction it has an awesome view of the harbor and the San Diego skyline, and in the other it has a great view of Point Loma, and even Bali Hai, where Jeff and I are getting married. I love running from there because for miles you can just run along the water, either to downtown or to Point Loma. Jeff and I both agreed that it would be a great place to take our engagement pictures :-) With Toby of course! Not only is running good for my health, but it has allowed to me to see much more of San Diego than I probably would otherwise see. And it's such a beautiful city, I want to see as much of it as I can!
To share what happened with the 20 (I think it was 20) mile run that I was supposed to complete last time I wrote, it didn't happen. I had been in a running funk and I completed 14 miles. Definitely not shabby, but not what I needed. My marathon is in less than 2 months and I have yet to run 20+ miles. But today I got a little bit closer.
I ran 19 miles today!! Personal best for me. The training schedule (which I had rearranged a bit with all of the Sunday activities that have been going on lately with family and friends) called for me to run 21 miles. Do I didn't quite get there, but 19 miles is pretty damn good considering my previous best was about 16. I ran from the harbor (I have discovered a nice little park across from the airport that I like to park in and run from) to downtown, up 6th street to Balboa Park (which is no small feat, it is rather steep), over to Sarah's place to see if she was home and wanted to run for a bit with me (she wasn't home), ran trail 2 of Balboa Park (which goes through the museums) twice, and then ran back to my car and stretched. I have realized that stretching is key. It's the difference between not being able to move and slightly being able to move (haha) after a long run.
I think one reason I was in a running rut was because I was getting bored. Running for more than a half marathon just gets boring, I ran for about 3.5 hours today and it just got a little old. A half marathon is perfect for me, and I think I can really improve my time if I stick with it. We will see what happens in my full marathon, but as it is right now, I don't know if I will be tempted to do another. But today gave me a glimmer of hope. I think I am finally out of my running rut. I need to check when my next long run is, but as long as I can get to over 20 miles, I think I will be feeling a lot more confident.
The park that I ran from today (not sure of the name) is actually where I brought Jeff and Toby today for a sunset picnic. It's a cute little park, and even though it's right by the airport in a really high-traffic area, it's never too crowded. In one direction it has an awesome view of the harbor and the San Diego skyline, and in the other it has a great view of Point Loma, and even Bali Hai, where Jeff and I are getting married. I love running from there because for miles you can just run along the water, either to downtown or to Point Loma. Jeff and I both agreed that it would be a great place to take our engagement pictures :-) With Toby of course! Not only is running good for my health, but it has allowed to me to see much more of San Diego than I probably would otherwise see. And it's such a beautiful city, I want to see as much of it as I can!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Lazy!!
Ever since the Safari Park half marathon, I have had no desire to run. At all. I don't think I have run during the week (Tuesday-Saturday) once in the last two weeks. Which is abnormal for me. I ran my 6 mile training run (the shortest one yet) on Monday. I have just been so extremely busy. Jeff and I are more than a year away from our desired wedding date (we haven't even set a date in stone!) and I feel like we are completely engulfed in wedding planning. I am not going to lie, I love it. I love planning, as most of my close family and friends know. I am not complaining. But it's not very conducive to a solid running schedule. And on top of that, I have been lazy.
I thought that after taking a vacation I would be totally ready to get back into the full swing of things. The opposite is true. I want to continue the vacation! Ugh. It's frustrating. I have still been spinning and doing yoga and occasionally lifting. But I really need to concentrate on running. The Rock n Roll full marathon is in a little over 2 months and I have yet to do more than 16 miles.
Tomorrow is supposed to be my first 20 mile training run. I am feeling optimistic. This morning was the first morning I have woken up at a reasonable time, 6:45 AM (late for me but still pretty early), and actually have not wanted to keep sleeping for another hour. I don't care how long it takes me to finish my 20 miles tomorrow, I am determined to do it. I think I will stick to Balboa Park. I haven't run there in quite a while, and after visiting the Prado (as a potential wedding venue), I realized that I miss it.
Tonight I am going out with the girls to the gaslamp for the first time in at least six months, which I am stoked about. But again, I don't know how conducive it will be to my running date tomorrow... I guess we will see! When I am determined, I can make myself do something no matter how painful (sometimes a bad thing).
I think the hardest part about training for this marathon is not the mental grit I need to finish my training runs, or the physical toll the runs take on my body, but being able to fit the training runs into my busy schedule. I don't want to give up any other part of my life. I love hanging out with Jeff and Toby and my friends, so I have to make them a priority. Hence why I tend to run at 5 in the morning (not ideal, needless to say). I like feeling busy, but this is a little much. I think it will be worth it though. I may feel differently after running 20 miles tomorrow...
I thought that after taking a vacation I would be totally ready to get back into the full swing of things. The opposite is true. I want to continue the vacation! Ugh. It's frustrating. I have still been spinning and doing yoga and occasionally lifting. But I really need to concentrate on running. The Rock n Roll full marathon is in a little over 2 months and I have yet to do more than 16 miles.
Tomorrow is supposed to be my first 20 mile training run. I am feeling optimistic. This morning was the first morning I have woken up at a reasonable time, 6:45 AM (late for me but still pretty early), and actually have not wanted to keep sleeping for another hour. I don't care how long it takes me to finish my 20 miles tomorrow, I am determined to do it. I think I will stick to Balboa Park. I haven't run there in quite a while, and after visiting the Prado (as a potential wedding venue), I realized that I miss it.
Tonight I am going out with the girls to the gaslamp for the first time in at least six months, which I am stoked about. But again, I don't know how conducive it will be to my running date tomorrow... I guess we will see! When I am determined, I can make myself do something no matter how painful (sometimes a bad thing).
I think the hardest part about training for this marathon is not the mental grit I need to finish my training runs, or the physical toll the runs take on my body, but being able to fit the training runs into my busy schedule. I don't want to give up any other part of my life. I love hanging out with Jeff and Toby and my friends, so I have to make them a priority. Hence why I tend to run at 5 in the morning (not ideal, needless to say). I like feeling busy, but this is a little much. I think it will be worth it though. I may feel differently after running 20 miles tomorrow...
Monday, March 14, 2011
Best week EVER
So many things happened this past week I don't know where to start. Well okay, yes I do...
Jeff proposed!! On our first night on the cruise, he popped the question! I am so excited, I keep catching myself looking at my new shiny ring...
We had an awesome time in Cabo- we snorkeled, parasailed, shopped, drank, and just enjoyed the sunshine. We met some great people on the cruise, we got extremely lucky. Shout out to the Boyds, we are so lucky to have met you!
Another shout out to Samantha, I am so sad we couldn't celebrate our birthdays together this year but I was definitely thinking of you and I hope you had a drink for me!
Back to focusing on running (if I must)...
Yesterday, March 13th was not only my friend Sarah's birthday but also the San Diego Safari Park (formerly the Wild Animal Park) half marathon. I didn't do much in terms of training this past week since we were on the cruise. I ran once for a mile on the cruise ship and then got worried that I would either barf or spaz out and fall off the treadmill because of the way the ship was rocking. Saturday, Najia the Ninja had a JT-filled 90-minute spin class as a birthday celebration for me and Sarah, which was awesome. So that was a good jump-start to my weekend.
Going into the race, I was not mentally or physically prepared. Physically, I was sore from spinning, and I got 5 hours of sleep. Why they decided to have a 7 AM race on the first day of daylight savings time is beyond me. We had to get up at 5 AM (it's good that we did because traffic was bad on the one lane road getting into the park). Plus I may or may not have stayed up till 11 the night before reading the bridal magazines Jeff's mom got me... Mentally, my only thought about the race was that I wanted to finish. I didn't care about my time, I just wanted to have a good run and be done with it. Sarah and our other friend Ashley and I had a joint birthday celebration planned for after the race, so that's pretty much all I was thinking about.
As it turned out, not caring worked quite well. I beat my previous best time (or as they call it in the running world, personal record) by about half a minute. The course was really hilly so I am still not sure how I did that but I got a time of 2:03:21. Yay! I think it helped that we passed the rhinos and the cheetahs coming into the finish... the cheetah was staring me down haha. I would definitely do that race again, it was probably the most fun half marathon I have run so far. It definitely helped that Jeff was there to cheer me on at multiple points during the race, it made me really happy. I think I was just so excited about being engaged that I wanted to finish and see him!
I can't wait until Sarah plans my bachelorette race. Yes, I said race. In addition to my parties (plural, because I know that will be the case), we are going to run a race to celebrate. I don't know how long of a race, that's up to her as long as it's not a full marathon!
Did I mention yet that I can barely move today? Not only was I the most sore I have ever been after a race, I worked out with Angela. And as I've explained, I always feel like jelly afterward. We did mostly upper body, but with Angela, upper body workouts are always lower body workouts too. But that's fine because other than laundry, I will spending my afternoon cuddling with our dog Toby and catching up on all the shows I missed (currently it's The Bachelor: Women Tell All). Sounds like the perfect end to a vacation to me :-)
Jeff proposed!! On our first night on the cruise, he popped the question! I am so excited, I keep catching myself looking at my new shiny ring...
We had an awesome time in Cabo- we snorkeled, parasailed, shopped, drank, and just enjoyed the sunshine. We met some great people on the cruise, we got extremely lucky. Shout out to the Boyds, we are so lucky to have met you!
Another shout out to Samantha, I am so sad we couldn't celebrate our birthdays together this year but I was definitely thinking of you and I hope you had a drink for me!
Back to focusing on running (if I must)...
Yesterday, March 13th was not only my friend Sarah's birthday but also the San Diego Safari Park (formerly the Wild Animal Park) half marathon. I didn't do much in terms of training this past week since we were on the cruise. I ran once for a mile on the cruise ship and then got worried that I would either barf or spaz out and fall off the treadmill because of the way the ship was rocking. Saturday, Najia the Ninja had a JT-filled 90-minute spin class as a birthday celebration for me and Sarah, which was awesome. So that was a good jump-start to my weekend.
Going into the race, I was not mentally or physically prepared. Physically, I was sore from spinning, and I got 5 hours of sleep. Why they decided to have a 7 AM race on the first day of daylight savings time is beyond me. We had to get up at 5 AM (it's good that we did because traffic was bad on the one lane road getting into the park). Plus I may or may not have stayed up till 11 the night before reading the bridal magazines Jeff's mom got me... Mentally, my only thought about the race was that I wanted to finish. I didn't care about my time, I just wanted to have a good run and be done with it. Sarah and our other friend Ashley and I had a joint birthday celebration planned for after the race, so that's pretty much all I was thinking about.
As it turned out, not caring worked quite well. I beat my previous best time (or as they call it in the running world, personal record) by about half a minute. The course was really hilly so I am still not sure how I did that but I got a time of 2:03:21. Yay! I think it helped that we passed the rhinos and the cheetahs coming into the finish... the cheetah was staring me down haha. I would definitely do that race again, it was probably the most fun half marathon I have run so far. It definitely helped that Jeff was there to cheer me on at multiple points during the race, it made me really happy. I think I was just so excited about being engaged that I wanted to finish and see him!
I can't wait until Sarah plans my bachelorette race. Yes, I said race. In addition to my parties (plural, because I know that will be the case), we are going to run a race to celebrate. I don't know how long of a race, that's up to her as long as it's not a full marathon!
Did I mention yet that I can barely move today? Not only was I the most sore I have ever been after a race, I worked out with Angela. And as I've explained, I always feel like jelly afterward. We did mostly upper body, but with Angela, upper body workouts are always lower body workouts too. But that's fine because other than laundry, I will spending my afternoon cuddling with our dog Toby and catching up on all the shows I missed (currently it's The Bachelor: Women Tell All). Sounds like the perfect end to a vacation to me :-)
Friday, March 4, 2011
Final Countdown
T-minus less than 2 days until my cruise to Cabo San Lucas. This week has been... taxing to say the least. I am in dire need of a vacation.
So you know how I said in my last post my goal was to run 6 miles the next morning? Yeah... that didn't quite happen. But I did run 5 miles. And considering I had no desire to get out of bed that morning at all, I think that's pretty good. I realized after my run though that my leg muscles were really tight. Tighter than they've been in a long time, despite all my stretching and foam rolling. I think it's because after my race injury, all I could do was yoga... so I did yoga (regular and hot) pretty much every day for a week. I haven't had a chance to do it in a couple weeks, and I think my body was used to having that extra time to stretch. So I decided to go to Carol P's class last night while Jeff lifted weights.
Carol P. can do the splits. That might not sound too impressive, I mean she is a yoga teacher. But she is also 60 years old. How many 60 year olds can say they can do the splits? I have a couple fave yoga teachers at 24 hr fitness and she is one of them. She likes to do "yoga fit" which I really enjoy. I get a little bit bored in the type of yoga that's just breathing and stretching. I need a little bit of a challenge. So throw some pushups, lunges, and crunches in there and I'm all over it. I also love hot yoga, but I used up my trial period at Corepower during my post-injury yoga kick.
Carol decided to focus on core yesterday. I didn't think I would be too sore; I do a lot of core strengthening exercises with Angela. But as the day went on today, I could feel the soreness penetrating more and more. Especially in my obliques (or as I call them, side abs). I love that feeling. Najia also kicked our asses again in spinning this morning, and surprisingly spinning is a really good core workout. I don't love seated climbs, but they do target the abs.
I need to feel like I have been good about working out this week before the cruise, because I know that once we get on the ship all bets are off. I will try to work out a couple of the days, and Jeff and I are going to go running Sunday morning before the cruise, but really I need to have some fun. It's tough for me to let myself take a break, but I have finally convinced myself that I really need one.
My training schedule says that I am supposed to run 4 miles tomorrow. That's not very much in the scheme of things, but I have to work earlier than normal. Not only that but it is also my 25th birthday. I'm thinking I wouldn't mind just sleeping in a little bit and forgetting about all of the bad things I am going to indulge in in the next week...
Before I end this post, I must give a shout out to my sister Katie. Not because she demanded that she be blogged about (she did), but because she is the best sister (and best friend) in the world. And she just turned 23, happy birthday to her!
So you know how I said in my last post my goal was to run 6 miles the next morning? Yeah... that didn't quite happen. But I did run 5 miles. And considering I had no desire to get out of bed that morning at all, I think that's pretty good. I realized after my run though that my leg muscles were really tight. Tighter than they've been in a long time, despite all my stretching and foam rolling. I think it's because after my race injury, all I could do was yoga... so I did yoga (regular and hot) pretty much every day for a week. I haven't had a chance to do it in a couple weeks, and I think my body was used to having that extra time to stretch. So I decided to go to Carol P's class last night while Jeff lifted weights.
Carol P. can do the splits. That might not sound too impressive, I mean she is a yoga teacher. But she is also 60 years old. How many 60 year olds can say they can do the splits? I have a couple fave yoga teachers at 24 hr fitness and she is one of them. She likes to do "yoga fit" which I really enjoy. I get a little bit bored in the type of yoga that's just breathing and stretching. I need a little bit of a challenge. So throw some pushups, lunges, and crunches in there and I'm all over it. I also love hot yoga, but I used up my trial period at Corepower during my post-injury yoga kick.
Carol decided to focus on core yesterday. I didn't think I would be too sore; I do a lot of core strengthening exercises with Angela. But as the day went on today, I could feel the soreness penetrating more and more. Especially in my obliques (or as I call them, side abs). I love that feeling. Najia also kicked our asses again in spinning this morning, and surprisingly spinning is a really good core workout. I don't love seated climbs, but they do target the abs.
I need to feel like I have been good about working out this week before the cruise, because I know that once we get on the ship all bets are off. I will try to work out a couple of the days, and Jeff and I are going to go running Sunday morning before the cruise, but really I need to have some fun. It's tough for me to let myself take a break, but I have finally convinced myself that I really need one.
My training schedule says that I am supposed to run 4 miles tomorrow. That's not very much in the scheme of things, but I have to work earlier than normal. Not only that but it is also my 25th birthday. I'm thinking I wouldn't mind just sleeping in a little bit and forgetting about all of the bad things I am going to indulge in in the next week...
Before I end this post, I must give a shout out to my sister Katie. Not because she demanded that she be blogged about (she did), but because she is the best sister (and best friend) in the world. And she just turned 23, happy birthday to her!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Najia the Ninja
I have already told you about Angela, now let me introduce you to Najia the Ninja.
Najia is my favorite spinning (indoor cycling) teacher. She is awesome. I spin twice a week (Wednesdays and Fridays) at 6 AM. Sometimes I lift weights and/or foam roll before class. So yes I get up between 5 and 5:30 AM depending on the day. I know this sounds a little bit crazy, but honestly it's 10 times better than working out after a 9 hour work day plus an hour (or more) commute each way. Working out in the morning gives me energy for the rest of the day. You may roll your eyes at that but it's true. But yes I do love my coffee, too.
Back to the point. I love spinning. Sarah introduced it to me right before our first half marathon last summer. I am not going to lie, I was skeptical. Indoor cycling? And I can't even read my tabloids while doing it? I wasn't so sure... but then I took one of Najia's classes. I think it was a combination of Najia's energy and the jelly-like feeling in my legs after the class; I loved it. I started going more frequently, and eventually I just started signing myself up for the next couple months at a time (you can do that at 24-hour fitness for $1/class... or if you are friends with the front desk guy you can do it for less than that ;-)).
A few weeks in, Najia started asking me if I was going to get spinning shoes. I wasn't sure, they were kind of expensive. But everyone, including Sarah who got a pair, told me it makes all the difference in the world. The special spinning shoes are cleats and actually clip into the pedals, whereas my running shoes had to fit under the straps. You have less cushion with the clip-ins, which makes your leg muscles work harder and more efficiently. So I invested in some shoes. And WOW what a difference. It not only helped for stability on the bike, but I could feel my legs, and the rest of my body, working harder.
According to my training schedule, I am supposed to run 8 miles on Wednesdays, but that's a lot when I also run 6 miles Tuesdays and Thursdays. So I switch out that mid-week run with spinning. It's great cross training because it works all of the lower body muscle groups in a different way than running does. Plus it's become something Jeff and I do together, which keeps us both motivated to go. Right now a big bonus of spinning is that it's indoors, and the temperature outside at 5 AM is not very conducive to running in early March.
Tomorrow I will suck it up and run my 6 miles before work. I didn't run Tuesday because I was so incredibly sore, so I am in need of a good run. I think I may need a little foam rolling action before bed, my hamstrings are still sore from my workout 2 days ago. But mostly I just need sleep. I have been a little bit stressed, but sleeping and running are two of the things that help most. So if sleeping doesn't do it, I will make sure my run takes care of it in the morning!
Najia is my favorite spinning (indoor cycling) teacher. She is awesome. I spin twice a week (Wednesdays and Fridays) at 6 AM. Sometimes I lift weights and/or foam roll before class. So yes I get up between 5 and 5:30 AM depending on the day. I know this sounds a little bit crazy, but honestly it's 10 times better than working out after a 9 hour work day plus an hour (or more) commute each way. Working out in the morning gives me energy for the rest of the day. You may roll your eyes at that but it's true. But yes I do love my coffee, too.
Back to the point. I love spinning. Sarah introduced it to me right before our first half marathon last summer. I am not going to lie, I was skeptical. Indoor cycling? And I can't even read my tabloids while doing it? I wasn't so sure... but then I took one of Najia's classes. I think it was a combination of Najia's energy and the jelly-like feeling in my legs after the class; I loved it. I started going more frequently, and eventually I just started signing myself up for the next couple months at a time (you can do that at 24-hour fitness for $1/class... or if you are friends with the front desk guy you can do it for less than that ;-)).
A few weeks in, Najia started asking me if I was going to get spinning shoes. I wasn't sure, they were kind of expensive. But everyone, including Sarah who got a pair, told me it makes all the difference in the world. The special spinning shoes are cleats and actually clip into the pedals, whereas my running shoes had to fit under the straps. You have less cushion with the clip-ins, which makes your leg muscles work harder and more efficiently. So I invested in some shoes. And WOW what a difference. It not only helped for stability on the bike, but I could feel my legs, and the rest of my body, working harder.
According to my training schedule, I am supposed to run 8 miles on Wednesdays, but that's a lot when I also run 6 miles Tuesdays and Thursdays. So I switch out that mid-week run with spinning. It's great cross training because it works all of the lower body muscle groups in a different way than running does. Plus it's become something Jeff and I do together, which keeps us both motivated to go. Right now a big bonus of spinning is that it's indoors, and the temperature outside at 5 AM is not very conducive to running in early March.
Tomorrow I will suck it up and run my 6 miles before work. I didn't run Tuesday because I was so incredibly sore, so I am in need of a good run. I think I may need a little foam rolling action before bed, my hamstrings are still sore from my workout 2 days ago. But mostly I just need sleep. I have been a little bit stressed, but sleeping and running are two of the things that help most. So if sleeping doesn't do it, I will make sure my run takes care of it in the morning!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
So... sore...
I usually get sore after long runs, but this is the first time since maybe my first half marathon that I have been this sore 2 days later. It could have something to do with the fact that it was a longer run than I have ever attempted at one time. Or it could have something to do with my trainer Angela.
Let me just explain Angela to you. Angela is about 5'4", 110 lbs, short blonde hair. And she could also probably bench press Jeff while running a marathon. Okay that might be a slight exaggeration, but let's just say looks can be deceiving. She is an awesome trainer. My entire body feels like jelly after seeing her. I only see her once every two weeks now, but she always writes down our workouts for me to do on my own during the week. She is very good about creating workouts for me that are running-centric. Every exercise utilitizes multiple muscle groups, definitely including at least one leg group. About 99% of the exercises involve the glutes (that's what she said).
Here is what we did yesterday in case anyone cares (and I may be forgetting some things):
Weighted step ups (20 lb. dumbbell in each hand)
-8 on each side
Single arm power cleans (20 lb. dumbbell)- haha while I was doing this Angela whispered to me that the guy next to me was doing the same exercise with his trainer- with 10 lb weights!
-12-15 on each side
Single arm bent over rows (20 lb. dumbbell)
-15 on each side
Bosu ball (with flat side up) squat to overhead press (20 lbs in each hand)
-12 reps
Bosu ball (with flat side up) straight leg dead lifts (20 lbs in each hand)
-15 reps
Bosu ball (round side up) single leg bridge position skull crushers (10 lbs in each hand)
-8 on each side
Side plank with leg lifts
-12-15 on each side
Rowing machine plank to pike (feet on seat, hands on box)
-15 reps
Rowing machine moving plank (hands on seat, moving seat back and forth)
-45 seconds
I did most of those 3 times (didn't have time to do a couple of them a third time) and I was DONE. I wanted to not move for the rest of the day, but unfortunately I had a couple errands to do before the cruise. Not complaining! Oh and I got a facial with my fave aesthetician, Shelby. I am sad that she will be going on maternity leave, but happy for her.
Speaking of facials, I scheduled a hot stone massage for the day after my full marathon. So if anything during the race I can keep thinking "hot stone massage, hot stone massage, food, hot stone massage." That will be sure to keep me going!
Let me just explain Angela to you. Angela is about 5'4", 110 lbs, short blonde hair. And she could also probably bench press Jeff while running a marathon. Okay that might be a slight exaggeration, but let's just say looks can be deceiving. She is an awesome trainer. My entire body feels like jelly after seeing her. I only see her once every two weeks now, but she always writes down our workouts for me to do on my own during the week. She is very good about creating workouts for me that are running-centric. Every exercise utilitizes multiple muscle groups, definitely including at least one leg group. About 99% of the exercises involve the glutes (that's what she said).
Here is what we did yesterday in case anyone cares (and I may be forgetting some things):
Weighted step ups (20 lb. dumbbell in each hand)
-8 on each side
Single arm power cleans (20 lb. dumbbell)- haha while I was doing this Angela whispered to me that the guy next to me was doing the same exercise with his trainer- with 10 lb weights!
-12-15 on each side
Single arm bent over rows (20 lb. dumbbell)
-15 on each side
Bosu ball (with flat side up) squat to overhead press (20 lbs in each hand)
-12 reps
Bosu ball (with flat side up) straight leg dead lifts (20 lbs in each hand)
-15 reps
Bosu ball (round side up) single leg bridge position skull crushers (10 lbs in each hand)
-8 on each side
Side plank with leg lifts
-12-15 on each side
Rowing machine plank to pike (feet on seat, hands on box)
-15 reps
Rowing machine moving plank (hands on seat, moving seat back and forth)
-45 seconds
I did most of those 3 times (didn't have time to do a couple of them a third time) and I was DONE. I wanted to not move for the rest of the day, but unfortunately I had a couple errands to do before the cruise. Not complaining! Oh and I got a facial with my fave aesthetician, Shelby. I am sad that she will be going on maternity leave, but happy for her.
Speaking of facials, I scheduled a hot stone massage for the day after my full marathon. So if anything during the race I can keep thinking "hot stone massage, hot stone massage, food, hot stone massage." That will be sure to keep me going!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
20 miles in 20 hours
I ran 16 miles today. At one time. I have never done it before. Up until now the most I have run at one time is 13.1 (well slightly more... if you run the outside of a race course you run slightly more than the actual mileage). I actually realized that I ran 20 hours in 20 hours. Per my training schedule, I ran 4 miles last night. I usually work out before work, but due to pouring rain and a physical need to sleep yesterday morning, that didn't happen. So Sarah and I went to the gym after work and ran on the treadmill (while watching Hoarders- it's like a moth to a flame). And then I ran 16 miles today. 20 miles in 20 hours. Kind of cool :-)
It felt great. Well... emotionally and mentally anyway. Physically it felt both great and painful at the same time. It was a beautiful day for a run. It poured all day yesterday so I was a little worried, but the blue skies came out just for me this morning. So I started in Balboa Park, ran down to the harbor, around Seaport village and the convention center, and back up to the park. Here is my route for anyone interested in running 16 miles (hah):
http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/28745524
The first 8 miles were great. I was feeling fantastic- the water was sparkling, the weather was cool but not too cool after the recent rains. Halfway through my run, I decided to eat (drink?) my chocolate Powerade energy goo. I have had the Gu brand chocolate goo before and I didn't think it was too bad. But the Powerade stuff... ugghhhhhh. It ruined the rest of the run for me. I can't even explain it. The aftertaste was worse than the actual taste- it tasted like bad tequila. I know that sounds crazy, but it's true. I don't recommend it. So after that, I got a stomachache. Figures. I think it was a combination of sore abs (I did some core exercises last night, note to self don't do that before a long run) and the bad goo. And maybe I didn't eat enough before my run this morning. But I pushed through the last 8 miles. The first 8 averaged around 9 minutes/mile. The last 8 averaged around 12... I walked the last 2 miles. My legs were done to the point of being overcooked. My ass hurt. My hamstrings hurt. My hips hurt. My quads hurt. Needless to say, I spent about 20 minutes stretching before I headed home. I have never been so happy to see my car.
After my run I was craving a diet coke. I have noticed that after good runs that happens to me. Does this happen to anyone else? So I went to 7-11 and once there decided that I wanted a Coke slurpee instead. SO GOOD. Just what I needed. And after burning around 1700 calories, I didn't feel bad at all.
I got home and foam rolled. Ugghhhh the joy and the pain. My IT band actually didn't give me trouble during the run, which makes me hopeful for the marathon. But foam rolling was a little bit excruciating. Afterward I felt fantastic. I showered and then plopped down on the couch to watch a movie with my boys. I lazed around the apartment for a good while and then cooked up some salmon, broccoli rabe, and harvest grains (gotta love Trader Joe's) for dinner. Mmmm I couldn't get enough of those grains. Good thing Jeff is on a low carb kick before our cruise, more carbs for me!
After today I am both hopeful and also a little more anxious about the marathon. I know it's still a few months away, but 16 miles was difficult. I am hoping that with training these long runs become easier. I have to say though, no matter how difficult it was, I feel like I accomplished something new today. And in training that feeling is just going to keep on coming.
It felt great. Well... emotionally and mentally anyway. Physically it felt both great and painful at the same time. It was a beautiful day for a run. It poured all day yesterday so I was a little worried, but the blue skies came out just for me this morning. So I started in Balboa Park, ran down to the harbor, around Seaport village and the convention center, and back up to the park. Here is my route for anyone interested in running 16 miles (hah):
http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/28745524
The first 8 miles were great. I was feeling fantastic- the water was sparkling, the weather was cool but not too cool after the recent rains. Halfway through my run, I decided to eat (drink?) my chocolate Powerade energy goo. I have had the Gu brand chocolate goo before and I didn't think it was too bad. But the Powerade stuff... ugghhhhhh. It ruined the rest of the run for me. I can't even explain it. The aftertaste was worse than the actual taste- it tasted like bad tequila. I know that sounds crazy, but it's true. I don't recommend it. So after that, I got a stomachache. Figures. I think it was a combination of sore abs (I did some core exercises last night, note to self don't do that before a long run) and the bad goo. And maybe I didn't eat enough before my run this morning. But I pushed through the last 8 miles. The first 8 averaged around 9 minutes/mile. The last 8 averaged around 12... I walked the last 2 miles. My legs were done to the point of being overcooked. My ass hurt. My hamstrings hurt. My hips hurt. My quads hurt. Needless to say, I spent about 20 minutes stretching before I headed home. I have never been so happy to see my car.
After my run I was craving a diet coke. I have noticed that after good runs that happens to me. Does this happen to anyone else? So I went to 7-11 and once there decided that I wanted a Coke slurpee instead. SO GOOD. Just what I needed. And after burning around 1700 calories, I didn't feel bad at all.
I got home and foam rolled. Ugghhhh the joy and the pain. My IT band actually didn't give me trouble during the run, which makes me hopeful for the marathon. But foam rolling was a little bit excruciating. Afterward I felt fantastic. I showered and then plopped down on the couch to watch a movie with my boys. I lazed around the apartment for a good while and then cooked up some salmon, broccoli rabe, and harvest grains (gotta love Trader Joe's) for dinner. Mmmm I couldn't get enough of those grains. Good thing Jeff is on a low carb kick before our cruise, more carbs for me!
After today I am both hopeful and also a little more anxious about the marathon. I know it's still a few months away, but 16 miles was difficult. I am hoping that with training these long runs become easier. I have to say though, no matter how difficult it was, I feel like I accomplished something new today. And in training that feeling is just going to keep on coming.
Why I Run
I have never blogged before so this will be a first! Many of my friends have been using blogging as an outlet, and I can see why. My e-mails tend to be rather detailed (and perhaps rather annoying to those with little patience), so this may be a good way for me to express my thoughts.
This blog will be about running, to put it simply. But it's about much more than that. Here is some background info to put things into perspective.
Two years ago, I never would have imagined that I would want to be a distance runner. Seven years ago, I would never have imagined that I would want to do anything physical. I had been heavy all my life. I was about 180 lbs. at my heaviest, which I was probably junior year of high school. I still do not know what sparked my desire to lose weight. Maybe it was the years of taunting from my peers. Maybe it was that my dad is a doctor and has always led a healthy lifestyle, and I wanted to make him proud. Or maybe I was just sick of looking at myself in the mirror and hating what I saw. But the summer between junior year and senior year of high school, I lost about 50 pounds. During senior year I lost another 30, and was at my lightest weight of 120. My mom even had to alter my prom dress at the last minute because in the month between buying my dress and prom I lost 5 pounds and it was falling off of me (the pitfall of a strapless dress, I guess).
My weight loss was a combination of healthy eating (thank you, food network and Rachael Ray!) and lots of time at the gym. I did weight training, cardio (no running- oh goodness no, I hated running), and yoga. I am not sure how I balanced completing an IB diploma, being captain of the golf team (yes, laugh all you want but I love golf), and working out, but I loved how I felt so I kept doing it. I am a very stubborn person and once I put my mind to something, I am likely to accomplish it. As a side note, not only did I lose all that weight senior year but I also ended up being valedictorian of my graduating class. Did I mention that not only am I stubborn, but also really competitive?
In college, especially freshman year, I was a workout fanatic. I went from hating working out to becoming obsessed with it (ask my friends). Yet somehow I still gained the freshman 15. 120 was definitely not the right weight for me- 135-140 is definitely more comfortable, I was looking a little "skeletor" at 120 as my friend Sarah would say. My weight fluctuated 5 or 10 pounds here and there, but as of now (6 years later) I have been around 145-150 for about 3 years. It is a happy weight for me. I wouldn't mind shedding a few more pounds (not many people would), but I am very happy and healthy. I love cooking, which helps.
The reason I got into running was because I was in a rut. I am a goal-oriented person and needed something to aim for. I had been going to the gym for how ever many years, I knew my fair share of weight lifting techniques and such. But it was all starting to get a little too routine. And as many different sources will say, switching up the workout routine is paramount to not only keep things interesting, but also to keep your muscles guessing. So I decided one day in early April 2010- hey I want to train for a half marathon. Not a 5K, not a 10K, but a half marathon. 13.1 miles. I guess I figured go big or go home, and as long as I trained properly it would be okay. Now keep in mind I used to hate running. And actually up until that day I still hated running. But I was so set on needing to do something new that I decided to try. And where better to run than beautiful San Diego, where the weather is sunny 95% of the year?
So I looked up a half marathon training guide. Here is the one I used: http://www.marathonrookie.com/half-marathon-training.html
After choosing the training schedule, the next step was to sign up for a half marathon. The AFC (America's Finest City, wow San Diego, you are so modest) half was scheduled to be in mid August. I figured perfect, I would have plenty of time to train. So I just signed up. My friend Sarah was just getting back into her workout routine too, and she said "let's do it." So we went only, paid the fee, and it was done. No going back.
I ran every couple days until the training really started. According to the website I used, it was recommended that I be able to run for 3 miles straight. I thought this would be pretty difficult but one day on the treadmill I decided to go for it. And it was surprisingly fine. And actually... fun? The treadmill isn't ideal but if I can watch Dirty Jobs and run at the same time, it's okay by me. I started my real training in June, and the time flew (or ran!) by. I was very strict with myself about my training regimen. Drinking a beer or a glass of wine once a week was okay, but the two weeks before the race there was no drinking and no junk food eating. I also signed up at 24-hour fitness and got a personal trainer. Angela is wonderful, I see her once every week or every other week. She kicks my ass and I love it. I also got into spinning classes and yoga, I now spin twice a week and do yoga as often as I can. I run and/or cross train 5-6 times a week. So I trained and trained. Pretty soon it was mid-August and time for the half.
My only goal was to finish. I didn't have a good running watch at the time so I didn't really know what my pace would be like. I figured 10 minutes per mile was pretty accurate. The AFC half is downhill for a few miles (from the Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma down to harbor), flat for most of the race (through the harbor and downtown), and then uphill at mile 11 (up to Balboa Park across the Prado). The first 8 miles I didn't stop to walk at all which felt great. But by mile 11 my legs were toast. I thought to myself "wow, really, self? You couldn't just pace yourself a little better?" But I finished. My boyfriend Jeff and dog Toby were waiting for me at the finish line, which made me pick up the pace through the last few yards. Sarah came in a little after me, and we both had no idea what our times were like. I heard the general time every mile and figured my 10 minute per mile pace was pretty accurate.
Later that day, we looked up our times online. My split time was 55 minutes. Wow. I guess the downhill helped, because 6.6 miles in 55 minutes felt pretty good. My overall time was 2:03:54 which surprised me. It was much better than I thought I could do, especially since my only goal was to finish. It was a great feeling finishing that first race, more emotional than I thought. Having Jeff and Toby there to support me was just what I needed.
My next race was the Fresno half, November 2010. Yes, I know, Fresno? But my sister is going to school there- so there actually WAS a reason to visit. Sarah and I went up there early to hang out with Katie, went to dinner with my parents, and had a pre-race beer with dinner. We had both been sick with colds the week before so we had no expectations for this race. I had been a lot less strict with my training than I had been for the first race. I figured, it's a flat race, I basically just signed up to go up and see my sister and parents, my only goal is again to finish.
Guess what time I got. I bet you won't. 2:03:54. Yep, the same EXACT time, down to the second, as my first half. Who does that?! I couldn't believe it. I think that was more impressive than beating my first time. Unfortunately, I didn't get the same time in the next race...
The next race Sarah and I signed up for was the Carlsbad half at the end of January 2011. Training was a lot better because my mom got me a really nice Garmin running watch so I could see my mileage on every run. Everyone told me it was the easiest race in San Diego, really flat and fast. That got my hopes up- under 2 hours here I come! Um, no. First of all, it was much hillier than the AFC was. Secondly, I hurt myself during the race. It was my own fault- I shouldn't have started with 8 minute miles. I strained my IT (iliotibial) band a few miles into the race, and by mile 10 I was in so much pain I could barely walk. The outside of my left knee was killing me. And there were no medics! I was considering not finishing but I am glad that despite the pain I still finished. I ended up getting a time of about 2:30 which all things considered is actually not bad. But as I said, I am a goal oriented person, so when my goal wasn't met I was disappointed with myself. But Sarah got her PR (personal record) of around 2:06! So that made up for my shortcomings a little bit.
After that half I was a little bit depressed. I went to the doctor and she told me to stay off my legs (and definitely don't run) for at least a week. I HATED it. Ugh. Not running or doing any cardio for a week was worse than the pain. But I did yoga (including hot yoga) a few days that week (if anything was uncomfortable on my knee I stopped), and it went pretty quickly. I had to slowly start running again, and foam rolling was key. If any of you run and don't foam roll- you are missing out. I foam roll on my IT band and quads as often as possible. Sarah just got me a foam roller as an early birthday gift and I love it (or heartses it as we say in Sarah language). A month later the pain is pretty much gone, but I am more cautious.
Not only was I a little depressed, I also realized that I was in a lull already with running. Not even a year after I decided to start! So I thought, hmm how do I get out of this lull? Halfs are nice but... a full marathon? My cousin Jenny is a marathon runner and it scares me. She is amazing and built like a runner- I am not. But I needed a new goal. Her first marathon was the Rock N Roll here in San Diego. It's on Sunday June 5th and I am now officially signed up. So I picked a new training regimen. Here is the one I am following, it's 16 weeks:
http://www.marathontraining.com/marathon/m_sch_2.html
I started training February 6th, superbowl Sunday. I did my 10 miles that day and it felt great. I have had to tweak the schedule and switch runs around because Sundays are my only day off with Jeff (I work Saturdays and he works Mondays when I am off), but in general I have kept to my schedule. I only run twice during the work week instead of 3 times (I spin on Wednesdays instead), but that will probably change in the spring once the sun is out later. I like running after work but I hate running in the dark. I do my long runs on Sundays generally, and see Angela on Mondays. Today is February 27th and I am supposed to do a 14 mile run, but next Sunday Jeff and I leave for a cruise to Cabo (wooo!!) for my birthday (we leave March 6th, the day after my bday), so I am switching this week's run with next week's 16 miler. Sarah and I are also doing a half marathon on her birthday, which is March 13th, 2 days after we get back from the cruise. So if I anything I will be well-rested! It's through the San Diego Safari Park (formerly the Wild Animal Park, no idea why the name changed), it's the first one they have held ever and it will be really fun. It looks hilly but we have dealt with hills before. Jeff will be doing the 5K and cheering us on at the end of our half.
Today I will run (hopefully) 16 miles. Wow. That's the most I will have ever run at one time. Luckily the rain has let up and the San Diego sunshine is out. I think I will run in Balboa park down to the harbor. Running next to the ocean is cathartic. And running through Seaport Village on a Sunday is always interesting because running through the groups of people is almost like an obstacle course. I am pumped (maybe it was the coffee I just finished)- I am feeling like it will be a good run. Time to foam roll and get going!
This blog will be about running, to put it simply. But it's about much more than that. Here is some background info to put things into perspective.
Two years ago, I never would have imagined that I would want to be a distance runner. Seven years ago, I would never have imagined that I would want to do anything physical. I had been heavy all my life. I was about 180 lbs. at my heaviest, which I was probably junior year of high school. I still do not know what sparked my desire to lose weight. Maybe it was the years of taunting from my peers. Maybe it was that my dad is a doctor and has always led a healthy lifestyle, and I wanted to make him proud. Or maybe I was just sick of looking at myself in the mirror and hating what I saw. But the summer between junior year and senior year of high school, I lost about 50 pounds. During senior year I lost another 30, and was at my lightest weight of 120. My mom even had to alter my prom dress at the last minute because in the month between buying my dress and prom I lost 5 pounds and it was falling off of me (the pitfall of a strapless dress, I guess).
My weight loss was a combination of healthy eating (thank you, food network and Rachael Ray!) and lots of time at the gym. I did weight training, cardio (no running- oh goodness no, I hated running), and yoga. I am not sure how I balanced completing an IB diploma, being captain of the golf team (yes, laugh all you want but I love golf), and working out, but I loved how I felt so I kept doing it. I am a very stubborn person and once I put my mind to something, I am likely to accomplish it. As a side note, not only did I lose all that weight senior year but I also ended up being valedictorian of my graduating class. Did I mention that not only am I stubborn, but also really competitive?
In college, especially freshman year, I was a workout fanatic. I went from hating working out to becoming obsessed with it (ask my friends). Yet somehow I still gained the freshman 15. 120 was definitely not the right weight for me- 135-140 is definitely more comfortable, I was looking a little "skeletor" at 120 as my friend Sarah would say. My weight fluctuated 5 or 10 pounds here and there, but as of now (6 years later) I have been around 145-150 for about 3 years. It is a happy weight for me. I wouldn't mind shedding a few more pounds (not many people would), but I am very happy and healthy. I love cooking, which helps.
The reason I got into running was because I was in a rut. I am a goal-oriented person and needed something to aim for. I had been going to the gym for how ever many years, I knew my fair share of weight lifting techniques and such. But it was all starting to get a little too routine. And as many different sources will say, switching up the workout routine is paramount to not only keep things interesting, but also to keep your muscles guessing. So I decided one day in early April 2010- hey I want to train for a half marathon. Not a 5K, not a 10K, but a half marathon. 13.1 miles. I guess I figured go big or go home, and as long as I trained properly it would be okay. Now keep in mind I used to hate running. And actually up until that day I still hated running. But I was so set on needing to do something new that I decided to try. And where better to run than beautiful San Diego, where the weather is sunny 95% of the year?
So I looked up a half marathon training guide. Here is the one I used: http://www.marathonrookie.com/half-marathon-training.html
After choosing the training schedule, the next step was to sign up for a half marathon. The AFC (America's Finest City, wow San Diego, you are so modest) half was scheduled to be in mid August. I figured perfect, I would have plenty of time to train. So I just signed up. My friend Sarah was just getting back into her workout routine too, and she said "let's do it." So we went only, paid the fee, and it was done. No going back.
I ran every couple days until the training really started. According to the website I used, it was recommended that I be able to run for 3 miles straight. I thought this would be pretty difficult but one day on the treadmill I decided to go for it. And it was surprisingly fine. And actually... fun? The treadmill isn't ideal but if I can watch Dirty Jobs and run at the same time, it's okay by me. I started my real training in June, and the time flew (or ran!) by. I was very strict with myself about my training regimen. Drinking a beer or a glass of wine once a week was okay, but the two weeks before the race there was no drinking and no junk food eating. I also signed up at 24-hour fitness and got a personal trainer. Angela is wonderful, I see her once every week or every other week. She kicks my ass and I love it. I also got into spinning classes and yoga, I now spin twice a week and do yoga as often as I can. I run and/or cross train 5-6 times a week. So I trained and trained. Pretty soon it was mid-August and time for the half.
My only goal was to finish. I didn't have a good running watch at the time so I didn't really know what my pace would be like. I figured 10 minutes per mile was pretty accurate. The AFC half is downhill for a few miles (from the Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma down to harbor), flat for most of the race (through the harbor and downtown), and then uphill at mile 11 (up to Balboa Park across the Prado). The first 8 miles I didn't stop to walk at all which felt great. But by mile 11 my legs were toast. I thought to myself "wow, really, self? You couldn't just pace yourself a little better?" But I finished. My boyfriend Jeff and dog Toby were waiting for me at the finish line, which made me pick up the pace through the last few yards. Sarah came in a little after me, and we both had no idea what our times were like. I heard the general time every mile and figured my 10 minute per mile pace was pretty accurate.
Later that day, we looked up our times online. My split time was 55 minutes. Wow. I guess the downhill helped, because 6.6 miles in 55 minutes felt pretty good. My overall time was 2:03:54 which surprised me. It was much better than I thought I could do, especially since my only goal was to finish. It was a great feeling finishing that first race, more emotional than I thought. Having Jeff and Toby there to support me was just what I needed.
My next race was the Fresno half, November 2010. Yes, I know, Fresno? But my sister is going to school there- so there actually WAS a reason to visit. Sarah and I went up there early to hang out with Katie, went to dinner with my parents, and had a pre-race beer with dinner. We had both been sick with colds the week before so we had no expectations for this race. I had been a lot less strict with my training than I had been for the first race. I figured, it's a flat race, I basically just signed up to go up and see my sister and parents, my only goal is again to finish.
Guess what time I got. I bet you won't. 2:03:54. Yep, the same EXACT time, down to the second, as my first half. Who does that?! I couldn't believe it. I think that was more impressive than beating my first time. Unfortunately, I didn't get the same time in the next race...
The next race Sarah and I signed up for was the Carlsbad half at the end of January 2011. Training was a lot better because my mom got me a really nice Garmin running watch so I could see my mileage on every run. Everyone told me it was the easiest race in San Diego, really flat and fast. That got my hopes up- under 2 hours here I come! Um, no. First of all, it was much hillier than the AFC was. Secondly, I hurt myself during the race. It was my own fault- I shouldn't have started with 8 minute miles. I strained my IT (iliotibial) band a few miles into the race, and by mile 10 I was in so much pain I could barely walk. The outside of my left knee was killing me. And there were no medics! I was considering not finishing but I am glad that despite the pain I still finished. I ended up getting a time of about 2:30 which all things considered is actually not bad. But as I said, I am a goal oriented person, so when my goal wasn't met I was disappointed with myself. But Sarah got her PR (personal record) of around 2:06! So that made up for my shortcomings a little bit.
After that half I was a little bit depressed. I went to the doctor and she told me to stay off my legs (and definitely don't run) for at least a week. I HATED it. Ugh. Not running or doing any cardio for a week was worse than the pain. But I did yoga (including hot yoga) a few days that week (if anything was uncomfortable on my knee I stopped), and it went pretty quickly. I had to slowly start running again, and foam rolling was key. If any of you run and don't foam roll- you are missing out. I foam roll on my IT band and quads as often as possible. Sarah just got me a foam roller as an early birthday gift and I love it (or heartses it as we say in Sarah language). A month later the pain is pretty much gone, but I am more cautious.
Not only was I a little depressed, I also realized that I was in a lull already with running. Not even a year after I decided to start! So I thought, hmm how do I get out of this lull? Halfs are nice but... a full marathon? My cousin Jenny is a marathon runner and it scares me. She is amazing and built like a runner- I am not. But I needed a new goal. Her first marathon was the Rock N Roll here in San Diego. It's on Sunday June 5th and I am now officially signed up. So I picked a new training regimen. Here is the one I am following, it's 16 weeks:
http://www.marathontraining.com/marathon/m_sch_2.html
I started training February 6th, superbowl Sunday. I did my 10 miles that day and it felt great. I have had to tweak the schedule and switch runs around because Sundays are my only day off with Jeff (I work Saturdays and he works Mondays when I am off), but in general I have kept to my schedule. I only run twice during the work week instead of 3 times (I spin on Wednesdays instead), but that will probably change in the spring once the sun is out later. I like running after work but I hate running in the dark. I do my long runs on Sundays generally, and see Angela on Mondays. Today is February 27th and I am supposed to do a 14 mile run, but next Sunday Jeff and I leave for a cruise to Cabo (wooo!!) for my birthday (we leave March 6th, the day after my bday), so I am switching this week's run with next week's 16 miler. Sarah and I are also doing a half marathon on her birthday, which is March 13th, 2 days after we get back from the cruise. So if I anything I will be well-rested! It's through the San Diego Safari Park (formerly the Wild Animal Park, no idea why the name changed), it's the first one they have held ever and it will be really fun. It looks hilly but we have dealt with hills before. Jeff will be doing the 5K and cheering us on at the end of our half.
Today I will run (hopefully) 16 miles. Wow. That's the most I will have ever run at one time. Luckily the rain has let up and the San Diego sunshine is out. I think I will run in Balboa park down to the harbor. Running next to the ocean is cathartic. And running through Seaport Village on a Sunday is always interesting because running through the groups of people is almost like an obstacle course. I am pumped (maybe it was the coffee I just finished)- I am feeling like it will be a good run. Time to foam roll and get going!
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