I've missed a few days, so here's an update.
Friday (the 21st):
40 minutes
Saturday:
50 minutes
Sunday:
1.5 hours
Monday:
rest day
Tuesday:
am - 30 minutes
pm - weights: 2 x (12 lunges, 8 calf raises, 12 yoga ball squats), 2 x (12 push ups, 20 curls, 20 military presses), 30 crunches on the ball, 2 x 12 back raises, 30 crunches on the floor
Wednesday:
16 minutes easy
4 x (3 minutes hard, 4 minutes easy)
16 minutes easy
Thursday:
40 minutes
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Why We Run
When I talk to people about my quest to run farther and faster, both runners and non-runners ask "Why?" I don't mind - it's a good question. Depending on my mood, I have several stock responses.
Some are profound:
"Because I can"
"To test my limits"
"To connect with nature"
Some are smart-ass:
"Because it's faster than walking"
"Because I can't fly"
"Because it's cheaper than therapy"
While there is truth to all of these answers, none of them explain completely why I run. I don't think I even really know the full reason. It has a little to do with the physical: I usually feel good during a run, I feel fantastic afterward, and I feel like crap when I take time off. It has a little to do with the mental: I can gather my thoughts and work through problems (I wrote most of my thesis during runs). And it has a lot to do with the emotional: running has helped me heal after the difficult events in my adult life, from my mom's heart surgery to complicated relationships.
While part of my desire to run very long distances has to do with wanting to achieve things few others can, mostly I run for myself.
Now, why do you run?
Some are profound:
"Because I can"
"To test my limits"
"To connect with nature"
Some are smart-ass:
"Because it's faster than walking"
"Because I can't fly"
"Because it's cheaper than therapy"
While there is truth to all of these answers, none of them explain completely why I run. I don't think I even really know the full reason. It has a little to do with the physical: I usually feel good during a run, I feel fantastic afterward, and I feel like crap when I take time off. It has a little to do with the mental: I can gather my thoughts and work through problems (I wrote most of my thesis during runs). And it has a lot to do with the emotional: running has helped me heal after the difficult events in my adult life, from my mom's heart surgery to complicated relationships.
While part of my desire to run very long distances has to do with wanting to achieve things few others can, mostly I run for myself.
Now, why do you run?
Friday, March 21, 2008
50 Mile Race Training Plan
The following is my new plan. I thrive on structure like this, so it may not be for everyone. I posted it for two reasons: (1) to hold myself accountable and (2) to provide another perspective for others looking to train for a 50-miler.
Scroll down and across to see the whole thing. Also, if anyone has any suggestions to make the spreadsheet prettier, please let me know!
Scroll down and across to see the whole thing. Also, if anyone has any suggestions to make the spreadsheet prettier, please let me know!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Beyond Sore
Most people who know me know that it is quite unusual for me to take more than a day off in a row. This week I took three.
Using every trick in the book - ice, elevation, rest, walks, and lots of drugs - I tried to get my quads to speak to me. Instead, they screamed anytime I did anything. Sitting down on the toilet was most amusing because I had such a hard time getting back up. You know the worst thing? Walking down the stairs. I had to do it like a baby. A big baby who wimpered a lot.
As a result of not running (or doing much more than walking the dog and riding my bike very slowly to work), I became VERY grumpy. Last night was a real low-point. Thank goodness no human was home, especially the one who lives there, because he would have had to deal with my shitty attitude. I plopped down on the couch and read the rest of Ultramarathon Man, which really revived me. And then Dave made me an omelet. My hero!
This morning I couldn't take anymore of this not-running stuff. I headed out the door at 5:20am for a 30 minute jog in the warm and windy Virginia spring weather. It wasn't so much a jog as a shuffle/glorified walk. But it was wonderful.
Using every trick in the book - ice, elevation, rest, walks, and lots of drugs - I tried to get my quads to speak to me. Instead, they screamed anytime I did anything. Sitting down on the toilet was most amusing because I had such a hard time getting back up. You know the worst thing? Walking down the stairs. I had to do it like a baby. A big baby who wimpered a lot.
As a result of not running (or doing much more than walking the dog and riding my bike very slowly to work), I became VERY grumpy. Last night was a real low-point. Thank goodness no human was home, especially the one who lives there, because he would have had to deal with my shitty attitude. I plopped down on the couch and read the rest of Ultramarathon Man, which really revived me. And then Dave made me an omelet. My hero!
This morning I couldn't take anymore of this not-running stuff. I headed out the door at 5:20am for a 30 minute jog in the warm and windy Virginia spring weather. It wasn't so much a jog as a shuffle/glorified walk. But it was wonderful.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Hooray!!
My chip time at the 2008 Shamrock Marathon was 3:45:21.
I was the 508th runner, the 112th female, and the 23rd female age 20-24.
The following are some splits from the race's website (I haven't yet figured out how to get them off my watch, which I also forgot to stop at the end).
6 miles - 49:08 (8:12)
13.1 miles - 1:44:43 (8:00)
18 miles - 2:30:19 (8:23)
26.2 miles - 3:45:21 (8:36 - my overall pace)
While I did not reach my ultimate goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon, for which I would have needed under 3:40:00, I did have a blast. I also feel as though I gave it my all, pushing hard through 15-20 mph winds.
I learned a ton from this race, as I do from almost every run. I learned that Dave and my mom are the ultimate "race crew" and "support team". I learned not to trust the pacers (the man holding the 3:40:00 sign ran the second two miles almost a full minute faster than pace - bastard). I learned instead to run my own race, which is advice Dave gave me and to which I should have paid better attention. I learned that going out too hard will always come back to bite me. I learned that there are always low points, and they will always end. I learned that I need to do more squats and lunges. I learned that my love for running continues to grow with each run and each race.
This week will be easy, as my quads are sore sore sore. But I'm looking forward to the next race in three weeks!
I was the 508th runner, the 112th female, and the 23rd female age 20-24.
The following are some splits from the race's website (I haven't yet figured out how to get them off my watch, which I also forgot to stop at the end).
6 miles - 49:08 (8:12)
13.1 miles - 1:44:43 (8:00)
18 miles - 2:30:19 (8:23)
26.2 miles - 3:45:21 (8:36 - my overall pace)
While I did not reach my ultimate goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon, for which I would have needed under 3:40:00, I did have a blast. I also feel as though I gave it my all, pushing hard through 15-20 mph winds.
I learned a ton from this race, as I do from almost every run. I learned that Dave and my mom are the ultimate "race crew" and "support team". I learned not to trust the pacers (the man holding the 3:40:00 sign ran the second two miles almost a full minute faster than pace - bastard). I learned instead to run my own race, which is advice Dave gave me and to which I should have paid better attention. I learned that going out too hard will always come back to bite me. I learned that there are always low points, and they will always end. I learned that I need to do more squats and lunges. I learned that my love for running continues to grow with each run and each race.
This week will be easy, as my quads are sore sore sore. But I'm looking forward to the next race in three weeks!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Butterfly City
Two days from now I will be (hopefully) past the halfway point of the Shamrock Marathon.
I woke up this morning - a rest day - full of nerves. It only got worse at work when everyone asked me "So, are you ready?" Gosh, I hope so. My co-workers have been very sweet, though, with their questions and encouragement. My lifestyle is so different from most of theirs, and we are always asking each other for more information. My favorite question came yesterday: "Are you going to win?" Well, no. I explained that I wouldn't even be close to the winning time. Her disappointed look said "Why do it if you're not going to win". I hadn't even thought about it that way.
Dave, Mom, and I are driving down to Virginia Beach tomorrow afternoon, eating out, and spending the night. Hopefully I can keep my meals down!
Send fast thoughts, please.
Tuesday's workout:
45 minutes easy
Wednesday's workout:
40 minutes easy
6 x 20 second strides
Thursday's workout:
30 minutes easy
4 x 20 second strides
I woke up this morning - a rest day - full of nerves. It only got worse at work when everyone asked me "So, are you ready?" Gosh, I hope so. My co-workers have been very sweet, though, with their questions and encouragement. My lifestyle is so different from most of theirs, and we are always asking each other for more information. My favorite question came yesterday: "Are you going to win?" Well, no. I explained that I wouldn't even be close to the winning time. Her disappointed look said "Why do it if you're not going to win". I hadn't even thought about it that way.
Dave, Mom, and I are driving down to Virginia Beach tomorrow afternoon, eating out, and spending the night. Hopefully I can keep my meals down!
Send fast thoughts, please.
Tuesday's workout:
45 minutes easy
Wednesday's workout:
40 minutes easy
6 x 20 second strides
Thursday's workout:
30 minutes easy
4 x 20 second strides
Monday, March 10, 2008
My Big Oops
This morning while I was on my way out the door, already wearing my bike helmet and backpack (that's right, I'm very cool), I looked at the mailing Dave had gotten from the Shamrock Sportsfest. "Hmmm," I thought, "Why would they have the expo on the same day as the race?" So I read a little bit more and noticed - DUH! - the race is on SUNDAY not Saturday, as I've been thinking for seven months.
I was freaking out all morning, worried that I wouldn't be able to get another hotel reservation. One of the clinic ladies and her major attitude wasn't helping either. Of course, everything was fine - I did find another room. Now, hopefully, we will be able to work out our work schedules and have our animals babysat. What a doofus!
Friday's workout:
3 miles
6 x 20 second strides
Saturday's workout:
1 hour 30 minute run
Sunday's workout:
1 hour run
3 x (12 push-ups, 15 curls)
Back series
150 crunches
Today's workout:
2 miles easy
4 x 1200m at tempo pace with two minutes of rest
2 miles easy
I was freaking out all morning, worried that I wouldn't be able to get another hotel reservation. One of the clinic ladies and her major attitude wasn't helping either. Of course, everything was fine - I did find another room. Now, hopefully, we will be able to work out our work schedules and have our animals babysat. What a doofus!
Friday's workout:
3 miles
6 x 20 second strides
Saturday's workout:
1 hour 30 minute run
Sunday's workout:
1 hour run
3 x (12 push-ups, 15 curls)
Back series
150 crunches
Today's workout:
2 miles easy
4 x 1200m at tempo pace with two minutes of rest
2 miles easy
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Oh, Grains, How I Love Thee
In our kitchen cabinets we have the following grains: brown rice, oats, millet, barley, quinoa, bulgur, cous cous, and polenta (the last two may not count). And I want more. I've recently "discovered" how wonderful and versatile these grains are, cooking them for dinner and snacks. My favorite thing these days is to come home from work, take a walk with the dog, feed her, and feed myself with one of the above complex carbohydrates. They are best served (in my opinion), hot with soymilk and maybe with the addition of dried fruits or nuts. I could eat them plain, though. And I could eat many, many servings. If you haven't tried the more obscure kinds - I'm still looking forward to making amaranth and sorghum - please give them a shot. They don't require any more effort than a simmer and a stir.
Tuesday's workout:
3 miles
6 x 20 second strides
3 x (1 minute plank, 25 crunches)
Wednesday's workout:
35 minutes easy
15 minutes at tempo pace
35 minutes easy
15 minutes at tempo pace
2 miles easy
Today was a rest day.
Tuesday's workout:
3 miles
6 x 20 second strides
3 x (1 minute plank, 25 crunches)
Wednesday's workout:
35 minutes easy
15 minutes at tempo pace
35 minutes easy
15 minutes at tempo pace
2 miles easy
Today was a rest day.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Twelve Days and Counting
It's hard to believe that the race is coming up so soon. While I've been cheating by running more miles than I should, I still feel as though I'm going to be out of shape. Funny how that works: I've been racing for ages, and I still haven't learned.
Friday and Saturday were my first days working at the running store. It was easy to jump back in to fitting people, but I'm worried that I may become too burnt out. Also, I started working there to support my running habit, but since I'm only working on Saturdays and most races are on Saturdays, I have to choose between the two. My plan is to wait it out for a few months, see how it goes, and request off whenever I want. I'm trying to remember the following: I am the one who decides to feel stressed out. So if I'm stressing, I need to make changes to fix it. No one else can do it for me.
Thursday's workout:
3 miles
6 x 20 second strides
Friday's workout:
3 miles
4 x 20 second strides
Saturday's workout:
3 miles
3 x (12 push-ups, 12 military presses, 8 back rows)
Kansas State back workout
150 crunches
Sunday's workout:
2 miles easy
2 x 10 minutes at tempo pace with 3 minutes rest
30 minutes easy
Monday's workout:
3 miles
3 x (12 push-ups, 12 shoulder raises, 15 curls)
K. State back workout
Friday and Saturday were my first days working at the running store. It was easy to jump back in to fitting people, but I'm worried that I may become too burnt out. Also, I started working there to support my running habit, but since I'm only working on Saturdays and most races are on Saturdays, I have to choose between the two. My plan is to wait it out for a few months, see how it goes, and request off whenever I want. I'm trying to remember the following: I am the one who decides to feel stressed out. So if I'm stressing, I need to make changes to fix it. No one else can do it for me.
Thursday's workout:
3 miles
6 x 20 second strides
Friday's workout:
3 miles
4 x 20 second strides
Saturday's workout:
3 miles
3 x (12 push-ups, 12 military presses, 8 back rows)
Kansas State back workout
150 crunches
Sunday's workout:
2 miles easy
2 x 10 minutes at tempo pace with 3 minutes rest
30 minutes easy
Monday's workout:
3 miles
3 x (12 push-ups, 12 shoulder raises, 15 curls)
K. State back workout
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