What's happened in the past 10 months, you wonder? Let's see...
(NOTE: both my camera and my regular computer have been temporarily put out of service, so the pictures, which would make my blog oh-so much more entertaining are missing...will add later.)
January 7 - Ran (kinda) the DisneyWorld HALF Marathon. Five months pregnant. Had to stop to pee FOUR times because bebe was leaning on my bladder. Also, was running in my very snazzy, but not-easily-removable Mulan costume, which made bathroom pitstops excessively time consuming. (see pregnant Mulan here.)
Made for a long and grumpy run....I was slated to run the Goofy Challenge. (Which means I would have run the full marathon on Sunday, following the half marathon on Saturday.) But, I was very tired, and I opted out of the 3am wake-up call for the full marathon.
The bad thing about that decision is/was that, unlike normal races, after which everyone dispurses and goes their seperate ways, in Disney World, everyone walks around wearing their medals, so it was a big bummer to see everyone in their medals when I didn't run the full race. My friend Bob, who ran the half with me, kept pointing out that I was pregnant and that naturally imposed a few physical limitations....but it was still disappointing. (This was Poor Bob's first half marathon, and I believe his first race ever, so he was SUPER-excited to have finished the half...a frame of mind that made it difficult for him to fathom why I was annoyed for having ONLY finished the half. He was very very patient with his irritable pregnant compadre.)
April 20 - Gave birth to beautiful bebe girl, Fallon!! A wonderful, magical perfect little creature!
April 26 - Found out I got picked to run the NYC Marathon on November 4th! Hurrah!! Motivation, one would hope, to get myself back on the workout-wagon....in 6-8 weeks.
May 29 - Approved to work out again. Did not feel very ready for this....I had a c-section, and my tummy still seemed pretty fragile. The doctor said I should maybe take it easy on the abs, but everything was is a-ok. Hmmm...am I wimpy?
June 16 - My first run (jog) after Fallon was born. I remember this because it was Father's Day weekend, so my new bebe was spending the weekend with her dad and his family. As often happens to me after taking a break from running, while I was running, I felt amazing--like I was born to run forever! Then, as is typical, the next 3-4 days, my entire body was sore.
Week after June 16 - My second run (jog) after bebe was born...much harder. Felt like the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz trying to move my body....for most of my runs this summer, I felt like this, and I just kept having to give myself a pep talk--A little of Nike's "Just do it" and I had to keep reminding myself that every time I do it, it will get better and easier....even if at the time it was difficult, slow and frustrating.
Sometime in June - Signed up for the 2013 Goofy Challenge (in January) determined to cross it off the running-bucket-list. Bob is going again this year....this will keep me motivated because, now that I am not pregnant, I have a strong desire to beat his time! ;)
July 23 - Started back at work post-bebe....not as scary asI had built it up to be in my mind....actually a fairly smooth transition. Running outside is no longer a frequent possibility because now when I'm not at work, I have the baby. Restricted to mostly treadmill workouts. I know I should start strength training, but when I only have small windows of time when I can workout, running seems to take top priority.
August 1 - A little less than a year after finding out I was pregnant, I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight....while this is really a nice feeling, except I was a bit over my ideal weight last summer, so I know that pre-pregnancy weight is not exactly my "ideal" weight....still have about 15 more pounds to lose....goal to to lose them by NYC Marathon (November 4).
August 23 - The NYC Marathon announces that they are doing away with bag check. Just the biggest marathon ever. In the world. But, heck....who needs supplies?? Seriously...WHAT??
August 29 - Signed up for the Baltimore Marathon on October 13...mainly so I know I will get a long run in before the NYC race...And, also so I can run a race that bebe can come watch me finish.
September 8: Started back at my second job working retail. I do this mainly for social reasons, since my office is very small (only 7 people) and I don't know a whole lot of people in this area. Also for the discount on clothes! ;) But it definitely takes away from training time....especially since the store I work in has been short staffed, so I've been working more hours than I originally intended.
September 18: Went to my first spinning class in almost a year...forgot water bottle and towel, so a 45 minute workout felt very long. After, I felt great though--Gumby legs and all!!
That brings me up to about now...getting down to crunch time to fit in some long runs before my marathon(s), and trying to get back on the blogging bandwagon....
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Reevaluating [or finding] my motivation
I'm having a lot of trouble with my motivation to work out and stay in shape lately. In the past, and I'm sure in the future (post-baby-birth in late April), I've been extremely motivated by the little number on my scale every morning. It's one of the reasons I bought a high-priced scale. The accuracy of that number could make or break my day....and also push me to work out on days I might not be feeling it.
But now, my weight is going up regardless of what I do, so the numbers that normally light a fire within me aren't there. I realize I'm growing a human being right now, and that requires a certain amount of additional calories, fluids and consequently, poundage. But, it's hard to stay motivated to work out when I know the scale numbers are just going to go up regardless. Also, as someone who enjoys "pushing herself," it's frustrating to workout when I am not allowed to do that. I have to make sure my heart rate doesn't go too high, and my body isn't overstraining itself. A big hunk of the fun is gone with these limitations.
My races are not motivating me either....Not even the fact that the "Goofy Challenge is ONE WEEK away! I haven't been training properly, and I know, if I finish the marathon, it will be some sort of miraculous occurrence. (Although that hasn't been preventing me from selecting my Disney-themed running attire! Still motivated by race-day fashion. :)) I know there's a large contingent of runners who love running events regardless of their finish time. But, I'm a very competitive person. Not so much with other runners, but with myself. I like to run an event because I like trying to beat my old PR, or get under a certain time. I don't like running races knowing that I won't be able to push myself the way I want to. I enjoy running regardless, but again, it's becoming frustrating when my body won't do what I'm accustomed to making it do.
Running outdoors is hard, because I'm more apprehensive about becoming dehydrated. (and I've needed a LOT of extra water during my normal workouts now.) Also, my workout clothes are becoming more and more uncomfortable, so it's easier to either be on the bike in spin or on my treadmill where, if I need to make a wardrobe adjustment (and/or a quick pit-stop....because I need to pee a lot more often too) I can pretty easily.
As I mentioned, I have the Goofy Challenge coming up in eight days and I am not ready. Usually when I say I'm not ready for a race, I mean I'm a few long runs short of confident. But this time, I really mean it. I'm not ready....I can finish the half. The full the next day will be another story. Not sure exactly what shape I'll be in....especially since, I plan on walking around Disney World all day Thursday and Friday, then racing on Saturday and Sunday....Sunday (& Monday) could both end up being quite brutal. I'm obviously not going to be running the entirety of both races....more like a very slow run/walk combo. I hope to finish both, but that might not be feasible.
These are my last races before my bebe-induced race sabbatical. I'm already excited about running post-bebe, and choosing a "comeback" race afterward! But, in the meantime, I need some tips on how to stay motivated to keep working out. How do you keep yourself motivated? And how do I keep myself going, even though I'm gaining pounds and inches? Any advice will be helpful!
But now, my weight is going up regardless of what I do, so the numbers that normally light a fire within me aren't there. I realize I'm growing a human being right now, and that requires a certain amount of additional calories, fluids and consequently, poundage. But, it's hard to stay motivated to work out when I know the scale numbers are just going to go up regardless. Also, as someone who enjoys "pushing herself," it's frustrating to workout when I am not allowed to do that. I have to make sure my heart rate doesn't go too high, and my body isn't overstraining itself. A big hunk of the fun is gone with these limitations.
My races are not motivating me either....Not even the fact that the "Goofy Challenge is ONE WEEK away! I haven't been training properly, and I know, if I finish the marathon, it will be some sort of miraculous occurrence. (Although that hasn't been preventing me from selecting my Disney-themed running attire! Still motivated by race-day fashion. :)) I know there's a large contingent of runners who love running events regardless of their finish time. But, I'm a very competitive person. Not so much with other runners, but with myself. I like to run an event because I like trying to beat my old PR, or get under a certain time. I don't like running races knowing that I won't be able to push myself the way I want to. I enjoy running regardless, but again, it's becoming frustrating when my body won't do what I'm accustomed to making it do.
Running outdoors is hard, because I'm more apprehensive about becoming dehydrated. (and I've needed a LOT of extra water during my normal workouts now.) Also, my workout clothes are becoming more and more uncomfortable, so it's easier to either be on the bike in spin or on my treadmill where, if I need to make a wardrobe adjustment (and/or a quick pit-stop....because I need to pee a lot more often too) I can pretty easily.
As I mentioned, I have the Goofy Challenge coming up in eight days and I am not ready. Usually when I say I'm not ready for a race, I mean I'm a few long runs short of confident. But this time, I really mean it. I'm not ready....I can finish the half. The full the next day will be another story. Not sure exactly what shape I'll be in....especially since, I plan on walking around Disney World all day Thursday and Friday, then racing on Saturday and Sunday....Sunday (& Monday) could both end up being quite brutal. I'm obviously not going to be running the entirety of both races....more like a very slow run/walk combo. I hope to finish both, but that might not be feasible.
These are my last races before my bebe-induced race sabbatical. I'm already excited about running post-bebe, and choosing a "comeback" race afterward! But, in the meantime, I need some tips on how to stay motivated to keep working out. How do you keep yourself motivated? And how do I keep myself going, even though I'm gaining pounds and inches? Any advice will be helpful!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Secrets, secrets are no fun....Secrets, secrets...
....make it VERY difficult to write a blog!
A few weeks ago I got a very nice email from a fellow blogger, and subsequent friend, wondering why I hadn't posted in a couple of months. I've been off the radar, and it was really nice to know that someone was noticing! In theory, I should now have tons of extra time to be writing my blog!--my commute has gone from one hour each way down to 15 minutes round-trip. But I've been sitting on some delicate personal information since August, and I wasn't quite ready to blog about it. Now--finally--I'm ready to put fingertips to keyboard and share some big news: I'm pregnant!
I'm having a baby at the end of April. It was a complete surprise, and I've been very slowly telling people in my life and coming to terms with it myself. When I first found out, I was completely panicked and shocked. I had just moved into my own apartment (sans sibling-roommate) in a new neighborhood, and just started a new job, with a lot of new colleagues....I felt as if my life was on a new and fresh trajectory. To say that motherhood was not in my immediate plans would be a massive understatement. Not to mention that I was signed up for FOUR marathons and one half marathon between October and January. Some of which, like the Goofy Challenge next month, I was/am not willing to compromise on running.
I knew I didn't want a romantic relationship with the baby's father. We had dated briefly last summer, before he accepted a contracting job in Iraq. He left the country and was gone for nine months, during which my romantic feelings for him faded, but his seemed to intensify. He returned to the states in July and was here for just a few weeks before his employer sent him to Texas (for an indefinite period of time.) I knew I really "wasn't that into him" anymore when he came back. But I also knew he had been alone in Iraq for nine months, pining away, and I felt a bit guilty. In hindsight, I realize that sounds pretty ridiculous, but at the time, it made sense. To his dismay, my feelings didn't magically change once I found out I was pregnant.
I seriously weighed my options for a few weeks, but somewhere deep inside me, I knew I couldn't see myself terminating the pregnancy. I'm not against abortion legally, but for myself, I couldn't see that happening. Also, I had spent the summer applying for jobs and interviewing all over the place--everywhere from Jacksonville, FL to Lake Placid, NY, and I ended up accepting a position a mere ten minutes from my family. I also serendipitously rented a 2-bedroom apartment, instead of a 1-bedroom, thinking I could have an office or a spare bedroom or something. So, when I considered my situation, I was actually in the best possible position for something like this to happen. I mean, if I had accepted a position in Lake Placid, and was hundreds of miles away from my family, I might have been less confident with my abilities to handle the situation.
Also, even though I'm not romantically involved with the dad, I know he will be a very loving, generous and participatory father. He wants very much to be involved, and he is extremely frustrated that he is stuck in Texas and can't be close by for doctor's appointments and pregnancy milestones. His family lives in Maryland, and they are also very excited and eager to be involved. So, I feel confident that this baby will have plenty of people to love and care for it, even if I will be raising it on my own.
Selfishly, the first things I thought about when I found out were the races I'd signed up for, some of which require travel, and one of which was (and is) the Goofy Challenge in Disney World. I worried I might not be able to participate in or finish some (or any!) of my scheduled races. (Also, being the Disney-phile that I am, I was REALLY upset that I knew I'd be in WDW and unable to ride all of those rides that said " not safe for pregnant women or people prone to seizures."--which means, most of my favorite rides will be out of the question...cry, cry.) I immediately googled pregnant runners to find blogs and first-hand accounts of women completing full and half marathons during their pregnancies. After reading several accounts of pregnant runners, I thought it was pretty obvious that this would be a feasible task. But, the more I talked to people, the more people discouraged me from running long distance races, especially in my first trimester, when I was more prone to a miscarriage.
WebMD.com. Furthermore, I have found just as many medical professionals with opposite opinions. I was really disappointed with her, because, as a first-time pregnant person, I have very little idea of what's completely normal and what is abnormal/what I should worry about.
I talked to my mom, who is a nurse, but not a runner. She had her doctor look at my bloodwork and give me some information more specific to me. She assured me that he would understand my plight, being a runner himself, and also being the father of five girls--hence knowing how difficult and opinionated girls can be. As it turns out, my bloodwork got a big thumbs down. My only race in my first trimester, the Baltimore Marathon was out. The doctor said I could do the half, but that my red blood cell count was too low to be attempting the full. He said he worried about having enough oxygen for both me and my fetus, and was worried that I might have a heart attack. The two words "heart attack" were enough to get me to downgrade to the half for Baltimore. (A race report is forthcoming.)
The next race on my calendar was the Richmond Marathon in Richmond, VA. I decided to not run that at all. That was a bit easier decision, as I was planning on running it & traveling there by myself. It had also been really inexpensive to enter the race, so I didn't feel like I was losing too much of my financial investment. Lastly, I signed up for Richmond specifically so I could get a PR, since it is known as a flat and very fast (and very pretty course.) It was not a "bucket list" race by any means and, if I wasn't going to be at a performance level I was happy with, the point of running the race would be completely missed.
The last two races on my agenda, before ze bebe forces me to take a brief sabbatical, were the Las Vegas Marathon, which I downgraded to a half and ran this weekend (another race report is forthcoming....spoiler: a badly organized event!) and the Goofy Challenge, taking place in under a month. Both of those were/are races that I've been looking forward to for a long time. I know my time won't make me proud, but I still would like to race them this year, as scheduled, and not put them off for another time. My friend Bob will be running the DisneyWorld Half with me...and closely watching me during the Full. Bob is almost as protective of me and ze bebe as my own mom, so I know I'll have a watchful eye on me in FL.
Anyway, so now that the cat is out of the bag, blogging will be much easier. (It's so difficult to stop writing, because now I feel like I have TOO much information to share in one post!) I was kicking myself for not having posted pre-race poetry for the past two races! (I still might have to...I can't help myself! :))
A few weeks ago I got a very nice email from a fellow blogger, and subsequent friend, wondering why I hadn't posted in a couple of months. I've been off the radar, and it was really nice to know that someone was noticing! In theory, I should now have tons of extra time to be writing my blog!--my commute has gone from one hour each way down to 15 minutes round-trip. But I've been sitting on some delicate personal information since August, and I wasn't quite ready to blog about it. Now--finally--I'm ready to put fingertips to keyboard and share some big news: I'm pregnant!
I'm having a baby at the end of April. It was a complete surprise, and I've been very slowly telling people in my life and coming to terms with it myself. When I first found out, I was completely panicked and shocked. I had just moved into my own apartment (sans sibling-roommate) in a new neighborhood, and just started a new job, with a lot of new colleagues....I felt as if my life was on a new and fresh trajectory. To say that motherhood was not in my immediate plans would be a massive understatement. Not to mention that I was signed up for FOUR marathons and one half marathon between October and January. Some of which, like the Goofy Challenge next month, I was/am not willing to compromise on running.
I knew I didn't want a romantic relationship with the baby's father. We had dated briefly last summer, before he accepted a contracting job in Iraq. He left the country and was gone for nine months, during which my romantic feelings for him faded, but his seemed to intensify. He returned to the states in July and was here for just a few weeks before his employer sent him to Texas (for an indefinite period of time.) I knew I really "wasn't that into him" anymore when he came back. But I also knew he had been alone in Iraq for nine months, pining away, and I felt a bit guilty. In hindsight, I realize that sounds pretty ridiculous, but at the time, it made sense. To his dismay, my feelings didn't magically change once I found out I was pregnant.
I seriously weighed my options for a few weeks, but somewhere deep inside me, I knew I couldn't see myself terminating the pregnancy. I'm not against abortion legally, but for myself, I couldn't see that happening. Also, I had spent the summer applying for jobs and interviewing all over the place--everywhere from Jacksonville, FL to Lake Placid, NY, and I ended up accepting a position a mere ten minutes from my family. I also serendipitously rented a 2-bedroom apartment, instead of a 1-bedroom, thinking I could have an office or a spare bedroom or something. So, when I considered my situation, I was actually in the best possible position for something like this to happen. I mean, if I had accepted a position in Lake Placid, and was hundreds of miles away from my family, I might have been less confident with my abilities to handle the situation.
Also, even though I'm not romantically involved with the dad, I know he will be a very loving, generous and participatory father. He wants very much to be involved, and he is extremely frustrated that he is stuck in Texas and can't be close by for doctor's appointments and pregnancy milestones. His family lives in Maryland, and they are also very excited and eager to be involved. So, I feel confident that this baby will have plenty of people to love and care for it, even if I will be raising it on my own.
Selfishly, the first things I thought about when I found out were the races I'd signed up for, some of which require travel, and one of which was (and is) the Goofy Challenge in Disney World. I worried I might not be able to participate in or finish some (or any!) of my scheduled races. (Also, being the Disney-phile that I am, I was REALLY upset that I knew I'd be in WDW and unable to ride all of those rides that said " not safe for pregnant women or people prone to seizures."--which means, most of my favorite rides will be out of the question...cry, cry.) I immediately googled pregnant runners to find blogs and first-hand accounts of women completing full and half marathons during their pregnancies. After reading several accounts of pregnant runners, I thought it was pretty obvious that this would be a feasible task. But, the more I talked to people, the more people discouraged me from running long distance races, especially in my first trimester, when I was more prone to a miscarriage.
WebMD.com. Furthermore, I have found just as many medical professionals with opposite opinions. I was really disappointed with her, because, as a first-time pregnant person, I have very little idea of what's completely normal and what is abnormal/what I should worry about.
I talked to my mom, who is a nurse, but not a runner. She had her doctor look at my bloodwork and give me some information more specific to me. She assured me that he would understand my plight, being a runner himself, and also being the father of five girls--hence knowing how difficult and opinionated girls can be. As it turns out, my bloodwork got a big thumbs down. My only race in my first trimester, the Baltimore Marathon was out. The doctor said I could do the half, but that my red blood cell count was too low to be attempting the full. He said he worried about having enough oxygen for both me and my fetus, and was worried that I might have a heart attack. The two words "heart attack" were enough to get me to downgrade to the half for Baltimore. (A race report is forthcoming.)
The next race on my calendar was the Richmond Marathon in Richmond, VA. I decided to not run that at all. That was a bit easier decision, as I was planning on running it & traveling there by myself. It had also been really inexpensive to enter the race, so I didn't feel like I was losing too much of my financial investment. Lastly, I signed up for Richmond specifically so I could get a PR, since it is known as a flat and very fast (and very pretty course.) It was not a "bucket list" race by any means and, if I wasn't going to be at a performance level I was happy with, the point of running the race would be completely missed.
The last two races on my agenda, before ze bebe forces me to take a brief sabbatical, were the Las Vegas Marathon, which I downgraded to a half and ran this weekend (another race report is forthcoming....spoiler: a badly organized event!) and the Goofy Challenge, taking place in under a month. Both of those were/are races that I've been looking forward to for a long time. I know my time won't make me proud, but I still would like to race them this year, as scheduled, and not put them off for another time. My friend Bob will be running the DisneyWorld Half with me...and closely watching me during the Full. Bob is almost as protective of me and ze bebe as my own mom, so I know I'll have a watchful eye on me in FL.
Anyway, so now that the cat is out of the bag, blogging will be much easier. (It's so difficult to stop writing, because now I feel like I have TOO much information to share in one post!) I was kicking myself for not having posted pre-race poetry for the past two races! (I still might have to...I can't help myself! :))
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| Only a few weeks...no bump yet (& even if I did, my amazing Ravens hat would distract the eye from the tummy!) |
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| Oct. 2, 2011 - 8 wks. Clothes are too tight, so these are my "Will my boss notice?" pictures. |
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| Mid-Nov. 2011 - 14 wks. The jig will be up soon. |
Monday, August 22, 2011
Back in the saddle....
....even though the metaphorical saddle might still be a little tight-fitting. My fitness situation is definitely on the upswing. For the past two weeks, I've gotten up before 5:30 am to work out at least three days a week. (and a few of those times, I actually made it to my gym for a class!)
I've also finished a couple of new runs around my neighborhood. Well....the first one, I didn't exactly "finish" per se, because I dropped my directions and got lost....so I ended up running thirty minutes in one direction then turning around and running back--much more boring than the originally run I had planned, but at least I got a solid hour of work in.
My second run was better, at least directionally. The road I now live on goes in one big loop, for about 4.8 miles, so if I stay on that road, then I knew I couldn't possibly get lost. It was a challenging run though. My new neighborhood, I'm finding out, while not mountainous, is quite hilly. I've been running lots of ups and downs....hopefully that will help me get ready for the infamously hilly Baltimore Marathon (in under two months....yikes!) I can tell this running-sabbatical I've been on this summer has really taken a toll on my cardiovascular skills. I still felt good at the end of my run, but I definitely could feel the run being more challenging than I'm used to.
That's one of the problems with stopping a workout regimen and then trying to begin again: I want to be at the same level of performance I was in the early spring, and instead, I'm having to work much harder to get back there. It's slightly frustrating, but I keep trying to tell myself that my muscles remember and they will adapt, I just have to keep plugging away.
The second problem with trying to get back into my routine is the feeling of impending injury. I am by no means a hypochondriac, but I am aware of the dangers of over-training, and of doing "too much, too soon." I've had tendinitis in my knee before, as well as ITBS and some weird foot-issues from running too far before I was ready. Knowing all this makes me acutely aware of any sort of weird or random pains I might be feeling during my runs. I don't want to be a sissy (I mean, I do have to get my butt ready for the marathons I have planned this fall/winter) but at the same time, I don't want to try and "push through" a pain that maybe is significant, or my body trying to tell me something. So far, so good....knock on wood. I've had some minor pain in my calf....but hopefully it will disappear and I'll be able to push through.
Last "growing pain" of getting pack in the saddle: weight gain, even though my diet and my exercise regimen is improving. I hope/know it's probably muscle weight coming back on, but it's still very discouraging to be working hard again, and see the numbers on the scale going UP and not down....Its frustrating.
But, at least it feels good to be back in my routine, and to be working on my fitness goals again. My new job right now is incredibly busy until after Labor Day, but hopefully in September, I can ramp up the effort even more, and prepare as much as possible for my upcoming marathons!
To help motivate me in my preparations, I've picked out my running costume for the Rock & Roll Las Vegas Marathon in December....obviously will need to add sneakers, sports bra, and brunette hair!
I've also finished a couple of new runs around my neighborhood. Well....the first one, I didn't exactly "finish" per se, because I dropped my directions and got lost....so I ended up running thirty minutes in one direction then turning around and running back--much more boring than the originally run I had planned, but at least I got a solid hour of work in.
My second run was better, at least directionally. The road I now live on goes in one big loop, for about 4.8 miles, so if I stay on that road, then I knew I couldn't possibly get lost. It was a challenging run though. My new neighborhood, I'm finding out, while not mountainous, is quite hilly. I've been running lots of ups and downs....hopefully that will help me get ready for the infamously hilly Baltimore Marathon (in under two months....yikes!) I can tell this running-sabbatical I've been on this summer has really taken a toll on my cardiovascular skills. I still felt good at the end of my run, but I definitely could feel the run being more challenging than I'm used to.
That's one of the problems with stopping a workout regimen and then trying to begin again: I want to be at the same level of performance I was in the early spring, and instead, I'm having to work much harder to get back there. It's slightly frustrating, but I keep trying to tell myself that my muscles remember and they will adapt, I just have to keep plugging away.
The second problem with trying to get back into my routine is the feeling of impending injury. I am by no means a hypochondriac, but I am aware of the dangers of over-training, and of doing "too much, too soon." I've had tendinitis in my knee before, as well as ITBS and some weird foot-issues from running too far before I was ready. Knowing all this makes me acutely aware of any sort of weird or random pains I might be feeling during my runs. I don't want to be a sissy (I mean, I do have to get my butt ready for the marathons I have planned this fall/winter) but at the same time, I don't want to try and "push through" a pain that maybe is significant, or my body trying to tell me something. So far, so good....knock on wood. I've had some minor pain in my calf....but hopefully it will disappear and I'll be able to push through.
Last "growing pain" of getting pack in the saddle: weight gain, even though my diet and my exercise regimen is improving. I hope/know it's probably muscle weight coming back on, but it's still very discouraging to be working hard again, and see the numbers on the scale going UP and not down....Its frustrating.
But, at least it feels good to be back in my routine, and to be working on my fitness goals again. My new job right now is incredibly busy until after Labor Day, but hopefully in September, I can ramp up the effort even more, and prepare as much as possible for my upcoming marathons!
To help motivate me in my preparations, I've picked out my running costume for the Rock & Roll Las Vegas Marathon in December....obviously will need to add sneakers, sports bra, and brunette hair!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
How I spent my summer vacation
Hello strangers! Its the middle of August, and I haven't posted since June....so sad. Where have I been? Well, not focusing on fitness, that is for sure!
I always used to say that odd-numbered years were lucky years for me, but I think I need to change that thinking--odd-numbered years are years of transition for me. I was born in an odd year, graduated high school and college, moved out of my parents house into my first apartment, had a devastating break-up with my first serious boyfriend (besides my college bf), bought my condo, changed jobs....all in odd-numbered years. And 2011 did not upset the trend.
Last December, my younger brother Brian, who was also my roommate and co-owner of my condo, mentioned that he would like to move in with his girlfriend Tyler this summer. Tyler is a teacher, so summer was the best time for her to move. Also, it made more sense for her to move into our condo, and for me to move out, then vice versa. It was more emotional than I thought it would be, I must say. As much as having a roommate can be irritating, and having a sibling-roommate can be even moreso, since we actually say what we feel (and yell and argue and bicker), I knew I'd miss having Brian (and Tyler) around every day. I'd grown accustomed to them being there when I got home, and having someone to tell about my day. It was a tough change.
But at the same time, I also saw the move as an opportunity to look for new jobs outside the radius of my condo. My current job had been stifling for a long while. I was barely making enough to pay my bills, and the increases in my (rather pathetic) insurance costs and metro fare outweighed any salary increases I'd received. I did the math, and basically I was losing money every year, with the insurance increases. Aside from the ridiculously large gobs of vacation and sick time my organization dispersed, the benefits were terrible. I worked for a non-profit, for a cause I truly care deeply about, so that I suppose should compensate for a lesser salary than average. Still, I was doing the same exact things I'd done since I started the job in 2007 (odd year). I kept asking to be involved in more projects and to get more responsibility, but ultimately the organization is very bureaucratic, and it was a constant struggle for me to get new projects and then to maintain any sense of responsibility for them. I rarely got a sense of satisfaction from a job-well-done because I hardly had any responsibility or accountability in my position. It wasn't a fool-proof job, but it was easy and it wasn't satisfying, and there was no where for me to go if I stayed.
We had a position open in my department in February that we finally hired for in May (the first mid-level position available since I was hired, and since the economic strife began across the country.) When I was passed over for that, with no real reason, explanation or constructive criticism from my boss, my motivation to do a good job and to try hard really took a hit. I barely wanted to show up at work, let alone do a good job. To add insult to injury, my boss approached me about taking on "extra responsibilities" as a "learning experience." (Basically, he told me I would be "allowed" to do the same work as the girl he hired instead of me, except without a title change or a pay increase. It would be solely for my benefit and for me to gain experience. Having worked with him and for him for almost four years, I felt like this meager offer was too little, too late. My brother called it a "pig in a poke," a Brian-ism that made me laugh.) I wasn't motivated, but at that point, I didn't have another offer on the table, so I agreed, and did my best to take on these duties and find a way to make it work. (After all, if I was stuck there for another 6-8 months, I wanted to say I had the experience, and I actually still wanted to participate in a more hands-on way.) However, the idea of having to stay there after getting rejected definitely motivated me to find another position--as fast as possible. I had been applying for jobs ever since February, since I knew I'd have to move out of my condo in a few months. But, the rejection really lit a fire within me. I applied every day to every job--no matter where--that I was even remotely qualified for. I came home from work every day and immediately started applying for jobs, or researching places I'd have an interview with, or toiling over hand-written thank-you notes. At a point when I felt miserable going to work, I felt like any moment spent NOT applying for jobs or networking or working towards that goal in some way was a moment wasted. I didn't take time off work, even though I had about four weeks of vacation hoarded away, unless I was interviewing.
Second only to finding a new job was the slight panic brewing in my brain over finding a new place to live should I be forced to stay at my current job. Whether or not I got a new job, I would still need to move, and by May the clock was a-tickin'. When I first started looking, I was a little sticker-shocked by the cost of 1-Bedroom apartments in and around DC. I probably shouldn't have been, but my mortgage payment (including HOA
One day, in late May, I took off work to look at apartments and have a phone interview (for a position in very-rural-Wisconsin). After my phone interview in the morning, I spent the day with my mom trolling about DC tracking down apartments. The very last apartment I found that day was The Fleetwood, a beautiful building in a great location in DC for a reasonable price. It was historic (which I adore!) and cheap and--best of all--would not be available until the end of July, buying me some time to make a decision. The only catch was that I had to put down a $1000 security deposit to hold the place for me until August. After much deliberation, I decided to do it. It was an expensive security blanket, but a security blanket nonetheless. I would at least be able to check one "transition to-do" off my list, and knowing it was on hold for me would keep me from worrying about being homeless. As my brother pointed out, if I didn't get the position I'd interviewed for in Wisconsin, this would be something to ease that rejection-feeling a bit and to be excited about. Also, he noted that if I was able to quit, I'd get paid out for vacation time, and that would cover the loss on the security deposit. With those thoughts in mind, i signed the check.
As fate would have it, Wisconsin did call. They flew me out for an all-day interview. While I had some reservations about the weather (snow, snow & more snow), the cost of living was fantastic--especially compared to the ridiculousness of DC! And I could easily live within walking distance of my office and the very-small downtown area, thus eliminating any need to drive in the snow. Also, flights in & out of Milwaukee from Baltimore and DC were amazingly cheap! So, I wasn't worried about getting home, it would be easy and inexpensive. In fact, by my flight home after the interview, I had talked myself into a complete change of lifestyle: Leaving a major metropolitan area in favor of a small, rural, cold-weather midwestern college town.
However, I did not end up making that change. You know how when you're single you never seem to be able to find fun, handsome single men, and then, the minute you start dating someone, all of these fun handsome single men seem to appear out of thin air?? Well, that's exactly how my job search went. The day before I left for Wisconsin for my interview, I got a call for an interview in Reston, VA (a town about 10min from where I was currently living.) The week after my Wisconsin-in-person interview took place, as I was carefully handwriting thank you notes, and continuing to apply for other positions, I got calls for five different interviews, mostly in the mid-atlantic, midwest and northeast. So, I was waiting for a response from Wisconsin, but at the same time I was hoping for a NO, only because I wanted to see what the other opportunities had to offer. Fortunately (at least in hindsight) Wisconsin turned me down, in one of the nicest and most self-esteem boosting rejections I've ever had.
I had mixed emotions, because I was anxious to go on the other interviews, but I was also anxious to have the whole tiring process be over. I hadn't been working out--At all! I had been stressed and tired (interviewing is not physically strenuous, but it's emotionally and mentally draining, and after an all-day interview, it's hard to be motivated to do anything except vegetate on the couch....and emotionally overeat.) Also, I had to keep applying for jobs, and following up with thank-you notes and research for the next interview, etc. It was a strange and stressful July. In one week, I went on four different interviews in four different states (well, fortunately one was in DC, so not technically a state.) I had two rental cars, visited four airports, slept in three hotels and hand wrote 27 thank-you notes. (This was the same week I also ate two big macs in one day. I felt gross afterwards, but it was strangely satisfying. UGH)
I also had to explain to my boss, without lying TOO terribly about why I needed to take off a week all of the sudden. I hate lying, and I'm not exceptionally good at it. I felt like a medical excuse was a bad idea. I wouldn't be knowledgeable about any sort of medical procedure to even attempt to lie about it. I mean, let's face it, if someone has something medical done that requires a week off from work very suddenly, they generally know a lot of details about the problem and the procedure. I ended up saying I had to move out of my apartment, and my sister was moving out of her college apartment, and my dad was moving and I was the only family member with the vacation time to accommodate all the moves. (All of that, in some way, was/is partially true, and is somewhat understandable....at least, it was to me.)
That same week, the week of a four interviews, I got three job offers....THREE JOB OFFERS!! THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I got the call from the first employer, I went bananas. That one, which was actually the one I ended up taking, called me when I was still at work the Friday before. I could barely contain myself. I ran around my building, telling the select few people who knew I was applying/interviewing. I jump up and down, I went to the Starbucks across the street so I could call my mom. I was ecstatic! I was so relieved to have an exit plan for my job. I felt like a million bucks! It made the week of interviewing less stressful, because I already had at least one option--and one I was really excited about. It also made every interview have a stronger sense of urgency, because I needed to let the first place know my final decision. I needed every potential employer to make a decision immediately, if not sooner!
Thankfully, two of them got back to me within the week. I called the third place, after my interview and explained my predicament, and they were very understanding and told me their hiring process has been delayed because of various summer vacations, so I have to withdrawal my name from the running for that one. The last place, I did not hear from in time, but they ended up not hiring anyone and deciding to revamp the position. (So, I was very glad I didn't hold out for that.)
The best moment ever (probably one of my top eleven of 2011) was being able to resign from my job, and tell my boss--who didn't promote me--that I had not only one opportunity, but THREE. He was very kind, and actually offered me some much needed and wanted advice on what he thought the pros and cons of each position would be. It was probably the best time I've had resigning from a job ever. Immensely satisfying is a terrible understatement.
I ended up taking the position in Reston, VA, which if the traffic is good, is still an hour away from the Fleetwood and my beautiful downtown apartment. Although a few people, my old boss included, thought I should consider keeping the apartment and commuting in and out of the city everyday, I was very keen on living close to my new job. I hate commuting with a passion, and in Reston, you get a lot more bang for your buck in the housing. I was able to get a 1000 sq. ft. 2BR apartment for the same price as my one bedroom downtown. I lost my $1K on the security deposit on the beautiful Fleetwood, and my complex now doesn't have nearly as much pizazz, but it's seven minutes from my office, and I have so much space and extra time now that I really don't know what to do with myself!
I started my brand-new job last Monday, and so far it's fantastic! I have responsibility and my boss does not seem to hesitate to give me more, or put me in charge of projects. I've been enjoying it, and I'm excited to see where it takes me. I'm waiting for the other shoes to drop, but hopefully it won't and things will stay fantastic. (Fingers crossed!)
I also started my new workout routine. Throughout the very busy and almost surreal month of July, I did nothing physical aside from lugging a suitcase from interview to interview. Last week, I woke up and made it to the gym at 6 am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. (Victory!) I hit a few spinning classes and I tried to run in the park by my new apartment, but I quickly found out that the park has no jogging paths....just hiking trails--fun, but not so good for training. Another bit of excitement: I got my treadmill back in apartment! My former roommate-brother, vetoed the treadmill-in-the-living-room decorative scheme at my old place, but now that I live by myself, I've reincorporated it, and I think it's definitely a great addition. I've only run on it twice so far to test it. It doesn't feel (to me) like I'm going to fall through the floor, so I hope it won't bother my downstairs neighbors too much/at all. Should I give a knock before I work out and ask them if it's a terrible racket?
Anyway, all of this is a very long way to explain what's been happening in the past month and a half since I last posted. Tomorrow, August 15, is the start of the two month countdown to my first marathon of the fall. I'm nervous because I feel further behind in training than I would have liked to be. But, at the same time, I had a lot of change going on--accompanied by a lot of emotions. (Both with job changing and with moving--I was surprised how difficult it was for both me and my brother, who usually isn't too emotional, to move apart. It was nice to know we had grown close as roommates, but it was hard to leave, and it still is hard to watch "our house" become "their house.") I'm hoping now, that my commute has been reduced by 45 minutes each way and my gym is in between my home and my office, I'll be able to supercharge my workout, and get back into fighting shape by October 15, and in time for marathon season.
If the rain (and hail?!) holds off, I have a new 6.5 miles run I'd like to try in my new neighborhood....I'll let you know how it goes!! Glad to be back on the blog-o-sphere!
I always used to say that odd-numbered years were lucky years for me, but I think I need to change that thinking--odd-numbered years are years of transition for me. I was born in an odd year, graduated high school and college, moved out of my parents house into my first apartment, had a devastating break-up with my first serious boyfriend (besides my college bf), bought my condo, changed jobs....all in odd-numbered years. And 2011 did not upset the trend.
Last December, my younger brother Brian, who was also my roommate and co-owner of my condo, mentioned that he would like to move in with his girlfriend Tyler this summer. Tyler is a teacher, so summer was the best time for her to move. Also, it made more sense for her to move into our condo, and for me to move out, then vice versa. It was more emotional than I thought it would be, I must say. As much as having a roommate can be irritating, and having a sibling-roommate can be even moreso, since we actually say what we feel (and yell and argue and bicker), I knew I'd miss having Brian (and Tyler) around every day. I'd grown accustomed to them being there when I got home, and having someone to tell about my day. It was a tough change.
But at the same time, I also saw the move as an opportunity to look for new jobs outside the radius of my condo. My current job had been stifling for a long while. I was barely making enough to pay my bills, and the increases in my (rather pathetic) insurance costs and metro fare outweighed any salary increases I'd received. I did the math, and basically I was losing money every year, with the insurance increases. Aside from the ridiculously large gobs of vacation and sick time my organization dispersed, the benefits were terrible. I worked for a non-profit, for a cause I truly care deeply about, so that I suppose should compensate for a lesser salary than average. Still, I was doing the same exact things I'd done since I started the job in 2007 (odd year). I kept asking to be involved in more projects and to get more responsibility, but ultimately the organization is very bureaucratic, and it was a constant struggle for me to get new projects and then to maintain any sense of responsibility for them. I rarely got a sense of satisfaction from a job-well-done because I hardly had any responsibility or accountability in my position. It wasn't a fool-proof job, but it was easy and it wasn't satisfying, and there was no where for me to go if I stayed.
We had a position open in my department in February that we finally hired for in May (the first mid-level position available since I was hired, and since the economic strife began across the country.) When I was passed over for that, with no real reason, explanation or constructive criticism from my boss, my motivation to do a good job and to try hard really took a hit. I barely wanted to show up at work, let alone do a good job. To add insult to injury, my boss approached me about taking on "extra responsibilities" as a "learning experience." (Basically, he told me I would be "allowed" to do the same work as the girl he hired instead of me, except without a title change or a pay increase. It would be solely for my benefit and for me to gain experience. Having worked with him and for him for almost four years, I felt like this meager offer was too little, too late. My brother called it a "pig in a poke," a Brian-ism that made me laugh.) I wasn't motivated, but at that point, I didn't have another offer on the table, so I agreed, and did my best to take on these duties and find a way to make it work. (After all, if I was stuck there for another 6-8 months, I wanted to say I had the experience, and I actually still wanted to participate in a more hands-on way.) However, the idea of having to stay there after getting rejected definitely motivated me to find another position--as fast as possible. I had been applying for jobs ever since February, since I knew I'd have to move out of my condo in a few months. But, the rejection really lit a fire within me. I applied every day to every job--no matter where--that I was even remotely qualified for. I came home from work every day and immediately started applying for jobs, or researching places I'd have an interview with, or toiling over hand-written thank-you notes. At a point when I felt miserable going to work, I felt like any moment spent NOT applying for jobs or networking or working towards that goal in some way was a moment wasted. I didn't take time off work, even though I had about four weeks of vacation hoarded away, unless I was interviewing.
Second only to finding a new job was the slight panic brewing in my brain over finding a new place to live should I be forced to stay at my current job. Whether or not I got a new job, I would still need to move, and by May the clock was a-tickin'. When I first started looking, I was a little sticker-shocked by the cost of 1-Bedroom apartments in and around DC. I probably shouldn't have been, but my mortgage payment (including HOA
As fate would have it, Wisconsin did call. They flew me out for an all-day interview. While I had some reservations about the weather (snow, snow & more snow), the cost of living was fantastic--especially compared to the ridiculousness of DC! And I could easily live within walking distance of my office and the very-small downtown area, thus eliminating any need to drive in the snow. Also, flights in & out of Milwaukee from Baltimore and DC were amazingly cheap! So, I wasn't worried about getting home, it would be easy and inexpensive. In fact, by my flight home after the interview, I had talked myself into a complete change of lifestyle: Leaving a major metropolitan area in favor of a small, rural, cold-weather midwestern college town.
However, I did not end up making that change. You know how when you're single you never seem to be able to find fun, handsome single men, and then, the minute you start dating someone, all of these fun handsome single men seem to appear out of thin air?? Well, that's exactly how my job search went. The day before I left for Wisconsin for my interview, I got a call for an interview in Reston, VA (a town about 10min from where I was currently living.) The week after my Wisconsin-in-person interview took place, as I was carefully handwriting thank you notes, and continuing to apply for other positions, I got calls for five different interviews, mostly in the mid-atlantic, midwest and northeast. So, I was waiting for a response from Wisconsin, but at the same time I was hoping for a NO, only because I wanted to see what the other opportunities had to offer. Fortunately (at least in hindsight) Wisconsin turned me down, in one of the nicest and most self-esteem boosting rejections I've ever had.
I had mixed emotions, because I was anxious to go on the other interviews, but I was also anxious to have the whole tiring process be over. I hadn't been working out--At all! I had been stressed and tired (interviewing is not physically strenuous, but it's emotionally and mentally draining, and after an all-day interview, it's hard to be motivated to do anything except vegetate on the couch....and emotionally overeat.) Also, I had to keep applying for jobs, and following up with thank-you notes and research for the next interview, etc. It was a strange and stressful July. In one week, I went on four different interviews in four different states (well, fortunately one was in DC, so not technically a state.) I had two rental cars, visited four airports, slept in three hotels and hand wrote 27 thank-you notes. (This was the same week I also ate two big macs in one day. I felt gross afterwards, but it was strangely satisfying. UGH)
I also had to explain to my boss, without lying TOO terribly about why I needed to take off a week all of the sudden. I hate lying, and I'm not exceptionally good at it. I felt like a medical excuse was a bad idea. I wouldn't be knowledgeable about any sort of medical procedure to even attempt to lie about it. I mean, let's face it, if someone has something medical done that requires a week off from work very suddenly, they generally know a lot of details about the problem and the procedure. I ended up saying I had to move out of my apartment, and my sister was moving out of her college apartment, and my dad was moving and I was the only family member with the vacation time to accommodate all the moves. (All of that, in some way, was/is partially true, and is somewhat understandable....at least, it was to me.)
That same week, the week of a four interviews, I got three job offers....THREE JOB OFFERS!! THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I got the call from the first employer, I went bananas. That one, which was actually the one I ended up taking, called me when I was still at work the Friday before. I could barely contain myself. I ran around my building, telling the select few people who knew I was applying/interviewing. I jump up and down, I went to the Starbucks across the street so I could call my mom. I was ecstatic! I was so relieved to have an exit plan for my job. I felt like a million bucks! It made the week of interviewing less stressful, because I already had at least one option--and one I was really excited about. It also made every interview have a stronger sense of urgency, because I needed to let the first place know my final decision. I needed every potential employer to make a decision immediately, if not sooner!
Thankfully, two of them got back to me within the week. I called the third place, after my interview and explained my predicament, and they were very understanding and told me their hiring process has been delayed because of various summer vacations, so I have to withdrawal my name from the running for that one. The last place, I did not hear from in time, but they ended up not hiring anyone and deciding to revamp the position. (So, I was very glad I didn't hold out for that.)
The best moment ever (probably one of my top eleven of 2011) was being able to resign from my job, and tell my boss--who didn't promote me--that I had not only one opportunity, but THREE. He was very kind, and actually offered me some much needed and wanted advice on what he thought the pros and cons of each position would be. It was probably the best time I've had resigning from a job ever. Immensely satisfying is a terrible understatement.
I ended up taking the position in Reston, VA, which if the traffic is good, is still an hour away from the Fleetwood and my beautiful downtown apartment. Although a few people, my old boss included, thought I should consider keeping the apartment and commuting in and out of the city everyday, I was very keen on living close to my new job. I hate commuting with a passion, and in Reston, you get a lot more bang for your buck in the housing. I was able to get a 1000 sq. ft. 2BR apartment for the same price as my one bedroom downtown. I lost my $1K on the security deposit on the beautiful Fleetwood, and my complex now doesn't have nearly as much pizazz, but it's seven minutes from my office, and I have so much space and extra time now that I really don't know what to do with myself!
I started my brand-new job last Monday, and so far it's fantastic! I have responsibility and my boss does not seem to hesitate to give me more, or put me in charge of projects. I've been enjoying it, and I'm excited to see where it takes me. I'm waiting for the other shoes to drop, but hopefully it won't and things will stay fantastic. (Fingers crossed!)
I also started my new workout routine. Throughout the very busy and almost surreal month of July, I did nothing physical aside from lugging a suitcase from interview to interview. Last week, I woke up and made it to the gym at 6 am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. (Victory!) I hit a few spinning classes and I tried to run in the park by my new apartment, but I quickly found out that the park has no jogging paths....just hiking trails--fun, but not so good for training. Another bit of excitement: I got my treadmill back in apartment! My former roommate-brother, vetoed the treadmill-in-the-living-room decorative scheme at my old place, but now that I live by myself, I've reincorporated it, and I think it's definitely a great addition. I've only run on it twice so far to test it. It doesn't feel (to me) like I'm going to fall through the floor, so I hope it won't bother my downstairs neighbors too much/at all. Should I give a knock before I work out and ask them if it's a terrible racket?
Anyway, all of this is a very long way to explain what's been happening in the past month and a half since I last posted. Tomorrow, August 15, is the start of the two month countdown to my first marathon of the fall. I'm nervous because I feel further behind in training than I would have liked to be. But, at the same time, I had a lot of change going on--accompanied by a lot of emotions. (Both with job changing and with moving--I was surprised how difficult it was for both me and my brother, who usually isn't too emotional, to move apart. It was nice to know we had grown close as roommates, but it was hard to leave, and it still is hard to watch "our house" become "their house.") I'm hoping now, that my commute has been reduced by 45 minutes each way and my gym is in between my home and my office, I'll be able to supercharge my workout, and get back into fighting shape by October 15, and in time for marathon season.
If the rain (and hail?!) holds off, I have a new 6.5 miles run I'd like to try in my new neighborhood....I'll let you know how it goes!! Glad to be back on the blog-o-sphere!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Revamping the "Long Run" & some long-run recaps.
When I first started training for my first half marathon back in the summer of 2009, 13.1 miles seemed like a very long distance to run. I was positive something quite horrific would happen during the race, and I'd end up having to walk/limp across the finish line--or worse, be picked up by the paddy-wagon, earning a bright scarlett "DNF."
My longest training run was ten miles. I found this out when I discovered the magical helpful website mapmyrun.com. Despite the excessive and annoying pop-up ads, I could map wherever I ran throughout my community, and also, find some runs of other people. Mapmyrun.com was a fantastic resource, especially since I was not familiar with any good running locations in my neighborhood. My neighborhood has great sidewalks, and good places to run, but I never would have discovered the "Hilly Miller" without mapmyrun.
The Hilly Miller is a 6.82 mile run that I can easily do from my front door. (re: I don't have to drive to a start point.) It's also, as one might assume, very hilly, which helps if one is training for a notoriously hilly race....which I was. (As I've mentioned before, Baltimore has some monstrous hills!) It was a good loop that I could shorten (to as little as four miles) or lengthen (to as much as eight or ten miles) as necessary. Also, it's 60-70% shady, which becomes rather important when you're training in the humid sticky summer months. In short, I love the Hilly Miller. I ran three loops around it during my longest run training for the marathon. In fact, almost any time I set out on a "long run" now, I don't even think about it, and I'll head straight along my old familiar Hilly Miller course.
Here's the problem: The Hilly Miller is getting suspiciously and unfortunately too easy. Though it's just as Hilly as ever, tackling the same hills ever time is becoming the norm. It's not a challenge anymore. It's really not even a "long" run anymore....I probably should be doing it at least two times a week, and then doing an actual LONG run on the weekend. This makes me nervous....uncharted running territory?! (Although, I am moving out of my condo in late July/early August, and thus will be forced to change my routine anyway.)
Here's a quick recap of my last few Hilly-Miller runs:
Run #1. I just bought my first fuel-belt (not a fanny pack, but the kind with the water bottles in it.) My boss just completed a half-ironman, and he swore by them during his training. I hated it. Does anyone run with these? (And enjoy it?) Because I was carrying four bottles around my waist (32oz. total) I didn't drink that much before my run, even though it was a particularly hot and humid day, and I set off bright and early (around noon.) The stupid fuel belt is not adjustable....admittedly something I should have considered before purchasing it, but that I didn't think would matter much. I thought it'd be fine hanging low on my hips, since my fanny pack is fine that way. Wrong. The stupid belt kept shifting around, so I'd always end up running with a bottle in my crotch--Not fun! After a half mile, I was tempted to take it off, but I knew I would be thirsty, and I told myself I could manage it for a 6 mile run. Maybe after a few miles, I'd stop noticing it so much....Wrong again. It continued to annoy me through my entire run. It was frustrating that I had to stop and walk every time I wanted water, and I also needed two hands to fenangle the water bottle back into it's elastic holder after getting a sip. It was not, as I had envisioned, a quick sip-and-keep-moving kind of operation. This was three weeks ago, and it was the first and last time I've run with this cursed belt. It was not an enjoyable or efficient run. It will have to be a pretty sweltering day before I try this silliness again.
Run #2: Clarence Clemmons had just had a stroke and been hospitalized. The run went by easily and quickly, listening to Born to Run, 10th Avenue Freeze Out, and Cadillac Ranch over and over and over....
Only minor discouraging moment was when I passed a high school runner (he had to be on the cross-country team) with 3% body fat, running with a weighted vest. I've contemplated getting a weighted vest from time to time.....I'd probably like that much more that four bottles of water banging around my waist. I think they are pretty expensive, but it'd be an interesting experiment.
Run 3#: Lazy lazy run....the run was good. I ran faster than usual. I felt great! I had no where to be, and I should have just kept running.....but I didn't. Sigh....I cut things off at 7 miles, and headed home. Not a good motivational story....but, at least I got a solid 7 miles in before I crashed on the couch to watch my DVR-ed episodes of "House."
My longest training run was ten miles. I found this out when I discovered the magical helpful website mapmyrun.com. Despite the excessive and annoying pop-up ads, I could map wherever I ran throughout my community, and also, find some runs of other people. Mapmyrun.com was a fantastic resource, especially since I was not familiar with any good running locations in my neighborhood. My neighborhood has great sidewalks, and good places to run, but I never would have discovered the "Hilly Miller" without mapmyrun.
The Hilly Miller is a 6.82 mile run that I can easily do from my front door. (re: I don't have to drive to a start point.) It's also, as one might assume, very hilly, which helps if one is training for a notoriously hilly race....which I was. (As I've mentioned before, Baltimore has some monstrous hills!) It was a good loop that I could shorten (to as little as four miles) or lengthen (to as much as eight or ten miles) as necessary. Also, it's 60-70% shady, which becomes rather important when you're training in the humid sticky summer months. In short, I love the Hilly Miller. I ran three loops around it during my longest run training for the marathon. In fact, almost any time I set out on a "long run" now, I don't even think about it, and I'll head straight along my old familiar Hilly Miller course.
Here's the problem: The Hilly Miller is getting suspiciously and unfortunately too easy. Though it's just as Hilly as ever, tackling the same hills ever time is becoming the norm. It's not a challenge anymore. It's really not even a "long" run anymore....I probably should be doing it at least two times a week, and then doing an actual LONG run on the weekend. This makes me nervous....uncharted running territory?! (Although, I am moving out of my condo in late July/early August, and thus will be forced to change my routine anyway.)
Here's a quick recap of my last few Hilly-Miller runs:
Run #1. I just bought my first fuel-belt (not a fanny pack, but the kind with the water bottles in it.) My boss just completed a half-ironman, and he swore by them during his training. I hated it. Does anyone run with these? (And enjoy it?) Because I was carrying four bottles around my waist (32oz. total) I didn't drink that much before my run, even though it was a particularly hot and humid day, and I set off bright and early (around noon.) The stupid fuel belt is not adjustable....admittedly something I should have considered before purchasing it, but that I didn't think would matter much. I thought it'd be fine hanging low on my hips, since my fanny pack is fine that way. Wrong. The stupid belt kept shifting around, so I'd always end up running with a bottle in my crotch--Not fun! After a half mile, I was tempted to take it off, but I knew I would be thirsty, and I told myself I could manage it for a 6 mile run. Maybe after a few miles, I'd stop noticing it so much....Wrong again. It continued to annoy me through my entire run. It was frustrating that I had to stop and walk every time I wanted water, and I also needed two hands to fenangle the water bottle back into it's elastic holder after getting a sip. It was not, as I had envisioned, a quick sip-and-keep-moving kind of operation. This was three weeks ago, and it was the first and last time I've run with this cursed belt. It was not an enjoyable or efficient run. It will have to be a pretty sweltering day before I try this silliness again.
Run #2: Clarence Clemmons had just had a stroke and been hospitalized. The run went by easily and quickly, listening to Born to Run, 10th Avenue Freeze Out, and Cadillac Ranch over and over and over....
Only minor discouraging moment was when I passed a high school runner (he had to be on the cross-country team) with 3% body fat, running with a weighted vest. I've contemplated getting a weighted vest from time to time.....I'd probably like that much more that four bottles of water banging around my waist. I think they are pretty expensive, but it'd be an interesting experiment.
Run 3#: Lazy lazy run....the run was good. I ran faster than usual. I felt great! I had no where to be, and I should have just kept running.....but I didn't. Sigh....I cut things off at 7 miles, and headed home. Not a good motivational story....but, at least I got a solid 7 miles in before I crashed on the couch to watch my DVR-ed episodes of "House."
Thursday, June 23, 2011
R.I.P. Clarence....
Since I heard about his stroke last Monday, I have been running to the sounds of the E Street band in the background. (I actually already run to the sounds of the E Street band on a regular basis, but this was more intentional.) I am a huge and long time fan. In college, my boyfriend and I were lucky enough to get backstage passes to "The Rising" tour concert in Greensboro, NC, and that was the first time I saw Clarence Clemons in real-life. At 6'4" he was already towering twelve inches over me, but in addition to that, he was walking up a high-incline treadmill, which made him that much taller and intimidating. He nodded hello as we walked past (gaping at him like the awestruck fans that we were) and I almost peed my pants with excitement!
I have seen him perform with the E Street Band twice since then, and both were spectacular shows. It's very sad that he's gone. In a statement following news of Clemons' death, Springsteen said:
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