I got some bad news on Wednesday night. I found out that my stepmother has lung cancer and my grandma has liver cancer. They were diagnosed on the same day. Obviously, not great stuff to hear.
Yesterday I was feeling sort of blah and realized I was using this news as an excuse to not do the 7-mile run on my training plan. I could have run yesterday morning before going to campus, but I didn't. I could have run when I got home, but didn't. Last night at about 6:00 I was sitting on the coach, eating watermelon, and trying to talk myself into going for my run.
I thought about my grandma and how she coped with life's problems. Sort of the WWGD (what would Grandma do) question...I can't say that my grandma would have run seven miles, but she would have kept moving. Whether it was mowing the grass or fixing something around the house, she just got the job done. My job yesterday was to run seven miles, so I ran my seven miles. I got the job done.
The funny thing was that as I was sitting on the couch deciding whether to run, I ate a lot of watermelon. To be specific, I ate half a watermelon. After running about half a mile, I realized I had eaten WAY too much watermelon. My stomach started cramping and I actually had to double over a couple of times! It was my own dumb fault, so I vowed to run through it, and I am glad that I did. The stomach pain went away after about four miles.
I have been doing an excellent job sticking to my training plan. I feel like I'm sort of in a groove, so let's hope that lasts! Today marks 100 days until the Fox Cities Marathon!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
A dozen miles
We got 12 miles done this morning. It's a hot one (although breezy), so I'm glad we got an early start (7 a.m.). I felt great throughout the run and after--no aches and pains and lots of energy. I felt like I had another 5-6 miles in me today. Maybe this marathon thing really is do-able.
As for this week, I've got some 6 and 7 mile runs--and then next weekend Jessica and I will do 9 on either Saturday or Sunday to taper for the half-marathon the weekend after.
On rest days, I need to find a way to cross-train. I don't want to bike because biking is scary for me. I am clumsy on the bike and fall a lot. I am honestly afraid of hurting myself. I could do the spin bike inside but that's boring. I could swim but it's a hassle to find a pool open when I want to swim. I may buy a pool pass for a pool close to our house. The only issue is that lap swim is only from 12:15 to 1 on weekdays. I can't always make that time, but sometimes I can. I really would like to find a way to get outside on non-running days this summer!
Have a great week!
As for this week, I've got some 6 and 7 mile runs--and then next weekend Jessica and I will do 9 on either Saturday or Sunday to taper for the half-marathon the weekend after.
On rest days, I need to find a way to cross-train. I don't want to bike because biking is scary for me. I am clumsy on the bike and fall a lot. I am honestly afraid of hurting myself. I could do the spin bike inside but that's boring. I could swim but it's a hassle to find a pool open when I want to swim. I may buy a pool pass for a pool close to our house. The only issue is that lap swim is only from 12:15 to 1 on weekdays. I can't always make that time, but sometimes I can. I really would like to find a way to get outside on non-running days this summer!
Have a great week!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Sub-par is only good in golf
I had a sub-par run tonight. It started out great. In fact, I felt great for about 2 1/2 miles. Then things went downhill quickly. Obviously, I survived--but in retrospect, I am wondering if I didn't drink and eat enough today to get through. Or maybe I did drink and eat enough but just not the right things at the right time. It's okay though. There will be better days. I'm not too worried about it.
It's crazy how things work. I felt worse after 4 1/2 miles today than I did after running 11 miles a couple of weekends ago. Some days you feel like you can run forever. Some days you wonder if you are going to be able to make it home. So tonight I came home, had a good dinner, and tried to get hydrated. I probably should have done an ice bath, but I didn't.
We will be running 12 miles on Sunday. It is supposed to get up to 90 degrees, so we plan to go early. We are doing a half marathon on June 24 (also a Sunday) which starts at 7 a.m., so this is about as close to a test run as we can get.
It's crazy how things work. I felt worse after 4 1/2 miles today than I did after running 11 miles a couple of weekends ago. Some days you feel like you can run forever. Some days you wonder if you are going to be able to make it home. So tonight I came home, had a good dinner, and tried to get hydrated. I probably should have done an ice bath, but I didn't.
We will be running 12 miles on Sunday. It is supposed to get up to 90 degrees, so we plan to go early. We are doing a half marathon on June 24 (also a Sunday) which starts at 7 a.m., so this is about as close to a test run as we can get.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Tempo Run
Today I did a six mile tempo run. Why? Because my iPhone Smart Coach told me to. I've decided that the best strategy for me in training for this marathon might be to take it day by day and do the run it tells me to without looking ahead too much. I am thinking that this may keep me from being intimidated by the four months of training ahead of me.
After my run today, I took a look at my phone to see what was in store for tomorrow. It's another six mile run but at an easy pace.
A tempo run is a run that is faster in the middle but slow at the start and end. Bill ran with me, so I was more accountable to keep the quicker pace in the four miles in the middle. By the end of the fast part, I was ready to slow down! I don't do a lot of running where I really push the pace. I need to get used to that.
After my run today, I took a look at my phone to see what was in store for tomorrow. It's another six mile run but at an easy pace.
A tempo run is a run that is faster in the middle but slow at the start and end. Bill ran with me, so I was more accountable to keep the quicker pace in the four miles in the middle. By the end of the fast part, I was ready to slow down! I don't do a lot of running where I really push the pace. I need to get used to that.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Recommended: Smart Coach from Runner's World for iPhone
I just got an iPhone. Obviously, this doesn't make me unique or cool in any way. Everybody and their uncle has one. However, I will tell you about a free app I LOVE. It's Smart Coach from Runner's World. Read more here:
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-321--13476-0,00.html
I've used this feature online before, but it's great to be able to use it on my phone and simply have each day's workout laid out for me. It takes into account things like your current race time, how hard you want to train, and how many hours you've been running. It then spits out a training plan for your desired race. Another fun feature is that it does a countdown...110 days until my marathon!
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-321--13476-0,00.html
I've used this feature online before, but it's great to be able to use it on my phone and simply have each day's workout laid out for me. It takes into account things like your current race time, how hard you want to train, and how many hours you've been running. It then spits out a training plan for your desired race. Another fun feature is that it does a countdown...110 days until my marathon!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Shared Passions and Common Ground
As of today, my father-in-law is registered for the Pigman Half-Ironman triathlon in August. He actually ran the Dam to Dam 20k yesterday.
My father-in-law (Bill) is one of my favorite people, but he and I don't have a ton in common. He likes to hunt, and obviously that ain't my bag. He loves a good steak, and I'm a vegetarian. He likes ultimate fighting (as do my husband and mother-in-law) and I really don't get it--I've tried. However, we get along quite well and I enjoy his company a lot. In particular, he has a great sense of humor and I appreciate that he can take a joke like a pro. He can dish it out but he can take it too (as they say).
Where we do have common ground is with running and triathlon stuff. He may not get my need to not eat meat, but he gets my need to run a marathon. And it gives us something that we share and something to talk about.
The reason I bring this up is because running is a hobby or passion that many people share. Although running can be a very solitary activity, interacting over running is a social thing. I may be at a party where I feel out of place, but if I can find someone who enjoys running, we can have an enjoyable and surprisingly lengthy conversation. It's a good thing for me, especially since I am not always the best conversationalist.
I'm sure this isn't unique to running. I don't meant to imply that people who run are "above" others in any sense because they have a shared love of running, or that you should limit interactions with people who don't run. If you are a knitter, and you meet another knitter, you might have a sudden sense that that person "gets" you in a certain way. I often have that feeling when I realize someone I've met is obsessed with their pets (like I am, admittedly). It's just a matter of being passionate about something and discovering you share that passion with another person.
One thing I don't like is when runners continually post the length of their run on Facebook. This is my pet peeve. I am also annoyed by people who continually spout their running statistics. You ran a half-marathon in 1:28? I don't really care. Your run today was 3.2388 miles in 26 minutes. So what? I find this is usually in sort of a bragging sense and it's also self-indulgent to think that others care about your specific statistics. What links runners is not your stats and numbers. In fact, that what separates us. You may win a race, whereas I am in the middle of the pack. Our specs may be quite different, but that's not the point.
We all have goals, and sometimes I think it doesn't really matter what are goals are. Our secretary at work recently lost a lot of weight (more than 50 lbs) and has started walking. She did a four mile local race a few weeks back. She could never have done this a few years ago. She came into work on Monday and posted the results on her office door. It wasn't about how fast she was. It was about doing it. Is that really that different than me doing a marathon in August?
When she was telling me about her four mile walk, I mentioned I was doing a half-marathon in June and a marathon in September. I hope it didn't come off as me trying to top her achievement. That wasn't how I intended it AT ALL. In fact, what I meant was that I understood. Her doing this race is really not different than me doing a marathon. It doesn't matter how far or how fast. It matters that it's your goal and you get it done. I really think the feeling is the same whether you're trying to qualify for the Olympics or you are finishing your first 5k.
My father-in-law (Bill) is one of my favorite people, but he and I don't have a ton in common. He likes to hunt, and obviously that ain't my bag. He loves a good steak, and I'm a vegetarian. He likes ultimate fighting (as do my husband and mother-in-law) and I really don't get it--I've tried. However, we get along quite well and I enjoy his company a lot. In particular, he has a great sense of humor and I appreciate that he can take a joke like a pro. He can dish it out but he can take it too (as they say).
Where we do have common ground is with running and triathlon stuff. He may not get my need to not eat meat, but he gets my need to run a marathon. And it gives us something that we share and something to talk about.
The reason I bring this up is because running is a hobby or passion that many people share. Although running can be a very solitary activity, interacting over running is a social thing. I may be at a party where I feel out of place, but if I can find someone who enjoys running, we can have an enjoyable and surprisingly lengthy conversation. It's a good thing for me, especially since I am not always the best conversationalist.
I'm sure this isn't unique to running. I don't meant to imply that people who run are "above" others in any sense because they have a shared love of running, or that you should limit interactions with people who don't run. If you are a knitter, and you meet another knitter, you might have a sudden sense that that person "gets" you in a certain way. I often have that feeling when I realize someone I've met is obsessed with their pets (like I am, admittedly). It's just a matter of being passionate about something and discovering you share that passion with another person.
One thing I don't like is when runners continually post the length of their run on Facebook. This is my pet peeve. I am also annoyed by people who continually spout their running statistics. You ran a half-marathon in 1:28? I don't really care. Your run today was 3.2388 miles in 26 minutes. So what? I find this is usually in sort of a bragging sense and it's also self-indulgent to think that others care about your specific statistics. What links runners is not your stats and numbers. In fact, that what separates us. You may win a race, whereas I am in the middle of the pack. Our specs may be quite different, but that's not the point.
We all have goals, and sometimes I think it doesn't really matter what are goals are. Our secretary at work recently lost a lot of weight (more than 50 lbs) and has started walking. She did a four mile local race a few weeks back. She could never have done this a few years ago. She came into work on Monday and posted the results on her office door. It wasn't about how fast she was. It was about doing it. Is that really that different than me doing a marathon in August?
When she was telling me about her four mile walk, I mentioned I was doing a half-marathon in June and a marathon in September. I hope it didn't come off as me trying to top her achievement. That wasn't how I intended it AT ALL. In fact, what I meant was that I understood. Her doing this race is really not different than me doing a marathon. It doesn't matter how far or how fast. It matters that it's your goal and you get it done. I really think the feeling is the same whether you're trying to qualify for the Olympics or you are finishing your first 5k.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Saturday morning run
Jessica and I ran nine miles this morning. It was a good run for me. It wasn't incredibly fast, but it was comfortable and I felt like I could have run forever. I think everyone who runs has days like that. Everyone who runs also has days when they feel like crap after a mile, but so goes life.
I am convinced that you can do a lot to make sure that you are going to have a good long run---you can eat right, stay hydrated, sleep well, etc---but there's always some intangible that you just can't account for. Sometimes you do everything right and have a crappy painful run. This always means that there are days when you don't prepare well but run great. However, I choose to control what I can, so I try to do what I need to do to be able to enjoy my run rather than muddle through it.
If you are interested in track and field, the Prefontaine Classic is today:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/story/2012-06-02/prefontaine-classic/55338876/1
I am convinced that you can do a lot to make sure that you are going to have a good long run---you can eat right, stay hydrated, sleep well, etc---but there's always some intangible that you just can't account for. Sometimes you do everything right and have a crappy painful run. This always means that there are days when you don't prepare well but run great. However, I choose to control what I can, so I try to do what I need to do to be able to enjoy my run rather than muddle through it.
If you are interested in track and field, the Prefontaine Classic is today:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/story/2012-06-02/prefontaine-classic/55338876/1
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