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!
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