New Shoes

So I finally broke down and bought a new pair of shoes!  It was about time - the old pair, which were my first, had logged about 300 or so miles and were starting to give me some foot pain.  It is sad to retire them, but I got a shiny new pair of Brooks Adrenalines that make me pretty excited to hit the pavement.

They make me so excited, in fact, that this morning I snuck in a run before work.  It was short, as I didn't have much time, but I logged my two fastest road miles ever.  In 80-something heat.  Hell.  Yes.  They were 10:11 and 10:06 (!) respectively.

I also had a fabulous 4th of July weekend.  No running, but the relaxation (aside from long car rides with the same group of people) was much needed.  I went to visit a friend who invited a bunch of people to his exclusive locals only beach on the north shore of Boston.  While there, I jumped off of this cliff into the ocean:

It's the part on the left.  You can't really see it, but near the jumping point is spray painted "Insanity" - seems pretty appropriate.  I also got a chance to finally go to Martha's Vineyard, which was AWESOME.  If you get the chance, you should go.  It's so beautiful!  Hope you all are running strong in spite of the record breaking heat and that you all had a happy and safe holiday weekend!

The Wall

When most runners think of The Wall, I would bet that they think of that mental block that pops up around mile 20.  Now, I've never run a marathon, so I don't know what this is like at all, and I don't pretend to.  While I was running today, I got to thinking about my own situation and realized that I've had a wall in my life for the past two years, since I picked up running.  Before today's run I weighed myself (and a good thing, because if I hadn't, I wouldn't have known that I sweated out about 2.8 pounds of water).  I weighed in at 204 pounds.  Four stinking pounds stand between being a 200-something pound woman and a woman who hasn't been in the 100-somethings since middle school.

Over the past two years, whenever I get to this point, I freak out.  I can't do it.  I sabotage myself.  I hit this mental wall that tells me I'm not good enough to break through.  I think having this revelation will really help me.  In the past, my future happiness hasn't been enough to keep me motivated.  I don't know how to be anything other than fat.  What will I do when I'm not obese anymore (that is a ways off - 184 pounds and I'm "overweight")?  Who knows.  I won't have anything to hind behind, that's for sure.  But I won't find out unless I get there, and I think it's worth finding out.

Today I ran 6 miles in 1:17:38.  That's slow, by most people's standards.  Not for me!  I'm getting faster, and I can feel it with every run.

13:36

13:21

13:45

13:31

These are my paces for 4 recent runs around the 6 mile distance.  Today's pace was 12:53.

Hope everyone has a great start to their week!

Recipe for a good day

Today was good - work was positive, I got in a solid workout, my roommate took me out for a belated birthday dinner, and my team won trivia night at the local bar. Good thing I'm an alcohol-free vegetarian, or else our winnings may have been too tempting to resist (beer and fried wings).  Really, I just play for the glory of winning.  That, and I'm pretty trivial.

After finishing my workout, I was only moderately happy. I suppose I thought I was a lot slower than I was, but I did the math and for my workout I averaged an 11:04 pace. Looking over the numbers, I am very happy! I ran two miles (5.5 mph & 5.6 mph) and then did some intervals. I thought for sure the walking in between running intervals would have brought me down a lot more, but apparently not. I did 3.75 miles in 41:30. Not too shabby! Right now, there's no way I could keep up that pace for more than 4 miles or so, but I'm working on it!

I also did some squats and lunges last night, which I am most definitely feeling in the quads and glutes today.  Tomorrow could end up being a rest day, but in all honesty, I think my body is runnable.

Also, Miss Zippy is hosting a GU giveaway - check it out here.

Forgive me bloggers, for I have sinned.

Before today, it had been over a week since I last ran. In fact, before my lunch-break run today, my last run was the half-marathon. This thought pains me! To be somewhat fair, I took the day after off, and then I hiked ~8 miles on Tuesday and on Wednesday. I worked from 9am to midnight on Thursday. I have no excuses for Friday. My parents came to visit on Saturday, but that is a lame excuse. Sunday (my birthday!), I went for a hike and swam. On Monday I wanted to go for a run SO badly, but I was stuck at work until 8:30. The school gym closes at 8 and it's not safe to run outside alone at night where I live.

Anyway, the only time I could find to run today was at lunch, so I packed up my gear and the second it hit noon, I flew down the six flights of stairs to get to the gym. Then I realized I forgot my ID, which I need to get into the gym. Woops! Back up the stairs, then back down again. It was a good, solid run. I don't think I've felt that good on a run in quite some time. I felt powerful! Perhaps it was just my long absence. I ran 3 miles in 32:45 which is SUPER speedy for me. Anyway, it made the rest of my work day considerably better.

I'm signed up to run a trail 10k on July 17th. I don't know who I think I'm kidding - I've never run trails before. This could get interesting.

Erm.. recovery. Sort of.

So it's been a few days since my first half-marathon. I planned on not running for a few days, and I've stuck to my guns. No running for the first couple of days. My back was more sore than it's ever been post-run, but it's gotten much better. Almost no pain!

Though I haven't been running, I haven't exactly been resting. I don't know what the protocol is on these sorts of things, but my work can be very physical. Monday was an office day, but yesterday and today were field work days (studying forest canopy cover), which means lots of hiking. Today we did about 8 miles. I'm not sure about yesterday, but I'm pretty sure it was about the same. With scouting trails, getting lost, and carrying packs and equipment, it's no day in the park.

It's kind of funny, because after running 13 miles, my legs felt great - take away the soreness of my feet and my back pain (oh, just those little things?), I could have kept running. My legs never got sore. Give me two days in the field, and I'm aching! Anyway, the next to days are office days, so I;m planning on a couple of short runs for tomorrow and Friday. Sunday is my birthday and I'd like to treat myself to a long run! I'm planning on running my favorite 8 mile route :)

You should all head over to Tim Wilson's blog and enter to win a pair of Mizuno shoes, a tech shirt, or a Strands goodie bag! Not many people have entered, so your chances of winning are high, but you've got to enter soon! The giveaway ends tonight (6/16). Also check out Rad Runner's awesome Arnica giveaway!

That's all I've got for now. Happy running!

Half-Marathoner!

It's over. I did it! I am a half-marathoner! I ran it in 3:07:20, which is way slower than the vast majority of people (just an observation, I'm quite proud!), but was just right for me. It's also technically a PR, and I'm excited because it's my first! In terms of the race, I had three goals in mind:

A. 3:00
B. 3:15
C. Just finish

As I watched the three hour mark pass, I just cranked it up and told myself to get in under 3:15 (the race started at 8:00 and awards were handed out at 11:15). I would have been happy with any finish, but I've got to confess that I'm quite pleased that I didn't have to default to goal C.

The race was great, and I met a few awesome people along the way. I wore my CamelBak, as I need water way more frequently than the average Joe. Aid stations were situated at 1.5, 2.5, 5, 7, 9, 10.5, and somewhere near 12, and they were a sight for sore eyes. I downed water and Gatorade going through each of them. No asthma or allergy problems, thank heavens!, and the weather was exceptional - around 60 degrees and overcast, though a bit humid. Way better than the forecast of 80 degrees and thundershowers.

Here's a brief overview of the events of the race and my thought process:

1: What the HELL am I doing running this thing? I have 12.1 miles left. I am the dumbest person in the world.
2: Met a cool girl from Vermont, made me feel better about life and running. Started a bit too fast, so I eased up and said goodbye to her. Also had to hit a toilet real bad, but there was no way in hell I was losing time on the lines. I decided to wait for the next one (mile 5).
3: Who the hell thought it would be a good idea to put this ginormous hill here? You think it's over, turn a corner, and there it goes again. I saw someone else struggling up and said to her "What goes up must come down." She flew ahead of me.
4: Where the hell is that toilet? I need to go something fierce.
5: Sweet lord, salvation! And no lines. I was in and out in 2 minutes, took some Gatorade, and powered up the next hill.
6: Met Lily and Kristin, two lovely women who gave me moral support and company for about 2 miles. They are sassy and lovely. Makes me forget about the pain.
7: We've passed the halfway point! Hit an aid station and walk up a long hill to give my feet a bit of a rest.
8: What the hell am I doing? I can't do this. Shut up, of course you can!
9: Insert a lot of mumbling and cursing about the cruel person who thought it would be a good idea to put a mile long hill this close to the end.
10: I didn't even see this marker. At this point I'm run/walking. My back is aching and my feet are cramping.
11: Met a nice woman from Florida who didn't have a chance to do any hill work. Poor flat-lander. She was a powerhouse!
12: Just one more mile right? I think I'm going to die. Okay, not really. But even though I know that I am so close, I just can't even fathom finishing. My right foot is cramping something awful.
13: 0.1 miles to go. This is where I feel like an Amazon warrior. SPRINT.
13.1: DONE! So smiley. And Lily and Kristin stuck around to watch me finish. They were so sweet!

Lessons to take away with me:

1. I don't really need to pee much when running long distances, likely because I sweat so much. The more you sweat, the more salt you lose. My forehead was like the shore of the Dead Sea. Maybe invest in some salt tabs or something.
2. I sweat a lot and dehydrate fairly easily. CamelBak is a good idea for longer distances for me, and I'm quite glad I decided to run with it. Aid stations every ~2 miles is not enough fluid for me.
3. After a race, I can't eat immediately. I downed an entire water bottle, cracked open a Gatorade, and tried to eat an orange. The orange made me gag. Stick to the fluids for the first 20 minutes, then go for a banana.
4. Stick with running socks. In fact, invest in more. I picked up two pairs of SmartWool running socks yesterday at an LL Bean outlet (they're somehow defective and thus very cheap, but can't find any flaws), and they were the most wonderful things I've put on my feet in quite some time. They weren't lying when they said no blisters.
5. Running with people makes the time go by so much nicer. I wish I had friends or knew people who ran a snail's pace - it would be nice to have someone to pass the time with. Though Lily, Kristin, and a couple of other kind folk were there with me part of the way, I spent most of the time running alone.
   

I'm in the middle, flagged by Lily on the left and Kristin on the right.

The aid stations were well stocked even for the super slow people (i.e. me), and the volunteers were great. It was especially nice to get cheered on by kids who were volunteering. So cute! My only complaint about the race is that for the last two miles, when few people were left on the course, there were no volunteers or police officers to help with traffic (the roads were only partially closed). Other than that, it was an awesome inaugural race, both for Worcester and myself!

I will take a day or two of rest, and then back to the old grindstone. Gotta keep moving!

Allergies!

My allergies have been consistently acting up since sometime last week. I don't know if it's because once triggered, my asthma doesn't allow my body to recover or what, but up until today I've been feeling like crap. Breathing has been a laborious chore, and to be honest, it's been a pain. I've relied on my rescue inhaler more times than I can count in the past few days, whereas in the past few years, I have been able to count the number of times I've needed to use it on one hand.

Sunday morning I went for my long run. I was stupid, changing my route halfway through. I ended up extending it and then getting lost. Really dumb. I was smart enough to pack my inhaler in my CamelBak, because after about 7 miles my lungs were feeling it, and breathing started to hurt. I walked a few miles in hopes that if I let my body cool down a bit and recover, I would be able to run some more. I wasn't, and I was really bummed about it. Then I got caught in a crazy thunderstorm complete with huge bolts of lightning and the kinds of thunder you can feel in the pit of your stomach. I was just about a mile home when it hit, and by the time I got home it was letting up. Figures. I was so soaked that it looked as if I had jumped in a pool. To add insult to injury, I wasn't even able to time the run because for a while my watch was MIA (but I found it this morning!).

So all in all, it was a pretty disheartening ordeal. I have my half-marathon this Sunday, and in my heart I just want to push as hard as I can, but I know that's just dumb. I started feeling better yesterday, but I still had to use my inhaler once this morning, though that's an improvement over every 4 hours. Anyway, I've focusing on my lungs, not pushing myself over my limits, and hoping I can get in at least one more solid run tomorrow. If not, that's okay too, I'll just have to let the chips fall where they may. I just want to finish my race healthily. It could mean walking part of it, but I'll take what I can get.

In other news, I got my RoadID today! I'm very excited. It's wider than I expected it to be, which is actually a little reassuring because I was nervous about it looking like some sort of bracelet and being overlooked in the case of an emergency. Thankfully, it is quite clear that it's an ID!

Road ID, Sore Calves, and Thunderstorms, oh my!

Today my run was pretty lackluster. I aimed for 5 and got in 2. I guess some days are just like that. Within the first mile my poor calves were aching. I don't usually have sore leg muscles (I have relatively weak core muscles, they're usually the first to feel it), but I supposed I've been running a lot recently. I've logged just over 21 miles in the past 7 days, which is a lot considering how poor my training was going before (anywhere from 5-12 miles/week). I ended up forgoing by 5 mile route for my 3 miler and only running the first and last miles of it. Oh, well. I've been working really hard, and I suppose some days you just have to take what you can get.

Weather over here on the east coast is going to be pretty rough for the next couple days with thunderstorms galore! I'm excited, as thunderstorms are one of my favorite things ever Right up there with puppies and science fiction novels. ANYWAY. It was supposed to rain on my run today as the forecast said 80% thunderstorms in my area... I suppose I was in the so-called "lucky" 20%. Bummer! This weekend I'll likely be able to squeeze a rainy run in, though.

I also just ordered a Road ID! I am really excited about this. I live in arguably the 2nd largest city in New England (we'll have to wait for the Census results to be sure... Send it Back!), where Massachusetts drivers are as reckless as they come. I prefer to run outside, and carrying ID is a pain in the behind but totally necessary. Even growing up in a small town on Long Island with lots of runners, I knew the importance of carrying ID. A mother of my sister's friend was struck by a vehicle that broke her back while on a morning run. She has since recovered and made a return to running (this was many years ago), but the point is that accidents can happen to anyone and everyone, even to super-safe long time runners in a small town full of runners. Most of my friends who run opt to either run on treadmills (sadists) or without proper ID (idiots).

Do you run with ID? If not, or, if like me you just don't want to have to deal with carrying a license or some other form of ID, look into a Road ID. With my purchase came a code for a $1 off coupon (it's not much, but it's something!). The code is good for 20 uses and is valid for 30 days.

Road ID coupon code: ThanksBrenna764089

Alright, time to relax a bit! I'm off to enjoy what my garden has given me. Mmm, kale and berry smoothie. So refreshing!

Breathing: Something I've Taken For Granted

In high school I was incredibly unhealthy. For a moment, put aside the fact that I was almost completely sedentary and weight 235+ lbs, I had myriad environmental health issues. I've had asthma since childhood, which I blame on being brought up in a smoking household (if you're a smoker, do yourself and everyone around you a favor and QUIT). My mom and step-dad have since quit, but it seems like one of those things that just can't be undone. Anyway, I also had incredibly awful seasonal allergies... in spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Imagine that!

Before I saw an allergist for the first time at age 15 due to an incident involving a banana nut muffin (because why would anyone go to an allergist for anything other than anaphylactic shock?), my life was completely miserable. If my asthma was under control, it was only a matter of time until my allergies kicked in, which would in turn make my asthma flare. I wasn't on any medication at the time aside from my albuterol inhaler, so these events would also lead to bronchitis, which eventually became chronic. I didn't know anything else - it was just the way life was. A few times a year it would get bad enough to see a doctor for a prescription, but most of the time I just dealt with it. My allergist informed me that I didn't know what if felt like to be healthy, prescribed me allergy meds and an oral asthma med, and life got better.

Then I moved to Massachusetts, and my dependency on my medications disappeared. I no longer had the allergies that made my asthma flare up that induced bronchitis. I was free!

Jump to four years later. It appears as though my body has caught up with the pollen here. My allergies have returned (though not in full force). I hadn't had to use a fast acting inhaler in Massachusetts, save for one (maybe two) times my freshman year until two days ago. I kept telling myself that it would all pass, but it did not. Cue asthma attack last night.

I forgot how scary it is not being able to breathe. My inhaler was no use, and I ended sitting up awake for a few hours before I got a handle on my lungs. So that sucked.

Anyway, I ended up only running 2 miles today. I was kind of bummed, but at the same time, I'm just glad to be breathing relatively easily again. SO, if you can breathe with ease, count your blessings! Wheezing is the pits.

You know you've had a good workout when...

...you look like this:

A miracle that I still somehow manage to appear happy (I kid!).

Now don't get me wrong, I am an exceptional sweater by society's standards. It could be the dead of winter, I'll be sitting in a t-shirt, and I'll still have sweat stains. However, I would consider this t-shirt a mark of greatness. I nearly saturated the whole thing! Anyway, today I killed it at the gym - I ran 3.0 miles in 34:25, which is a good time for me. Then I biked for a while, and I finished up with 2.0 miles worth of intervals, working up to 6.2 mph (super speedy!) from 5.0 mph and then back down. One of the better gym workouts I've had. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate the treadmill and gyms? Maybe not recently, but I hate them. Today was positive, though!

Also, this was my second workout of the day! After watering my garden this morning I went to visit a couple of friends I haven't seen in a while for a kayaking adventure! One friend lives on a lake, so we spent an hour and a half circumnavigating the shoreline and a couple of little islands. All in all, a pretty awesome day!

Let me leave you with some more post-workout views (because I know how much everyone loves a good sweat sodden t-shirt):

I like how the pit stain is indistinguishable from boob and/or back sweat.

This is my victorious pose!

P.S. - The back of the t-shirt reads, "Good timber does not grow with ease. The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees."

A little bit of redemption

So, like I said, yesterday's run was abysmal. Worse than that, even. Okay, I may be being a bit melodramatic. In any case, today while at the supermarket with a friend of mine, I decided to forget yesterday and keep running as hard as I can for as long as I can. I told her my plan so as to have someone to hold me accountable for my decision (because I can't hold myself accountable). I don't usually run the day following a long run, but today I made an exception.

I ran my favorite short loop, which is 2.75 miles and usually takes me around 32-33 minutes (11:30-12:00ish pace). I ran it today in 30:36! That's a pace of 11:08 and is officially the fastest run I've had since I started training for the half marathon in January. Granted it was a short distance, I must revel in the small victories.

Woohoo! Now to stretch some more and water the garden.

Happy Memorial Day, all!

Freaking Out!

My ten mile run yesterday went horribly. I planned and prepared for it poorly, and it showed. The first 3 miles were solid. The next 2 miles were shaky. Mile 6 was pretty solid, albeit SLOW. The last 4 miles would have made you want to cry with frustration and despair. It just wasn't coming together. At all. It was actually an 11 mile route, and I ended up walking the last mile, I was just in too much pain to keep going. All in all, the run was pretty disheartening, but let's recap the things I've done wrong:

• last run was a week ago (WHAT?)
• left the house at midday (wayyy too hot)
• misread temperature as 71 instead of 81
• didn't check humidity
• only ate a banana before heading out
• probably some other stupid stuff that I'm forgetting

Blisters are non-existent, which is good, but my back muscles are really sore. I think it's a combination of the distance and the fact that I was wearing the CamelBak my momma recently gifted me (which I love). It makes me sad that something that brings me so much joy (and hydration) could strain my muscles so much.

The half-marathon is two weeks from today. I need to put in some serious work.

Giveaways Galore!

A lot of awesome giveaways are going on right now!

JillWillRun is giving away 3 copies of The Ultimate Runner

Chris is giving away a headlamp and some other crap (his words, not mine).

Adam is giving away a $30 package of Scape sunscreen products.

Happy Runner Giveaways is giving away a $60 gift certificate to CSN stores.

MissZippy is giving away a sweet warm-up jacket.

Secrets of a Running Mom is giving away a running shirt & iTunes giftcard.

24... err, 23... days until my first half!

Today I really wanted to be lazy. Like REALLY. But I finally convinced myself to go for a nice run at about 6:30 pm, well after I usually head out. I was feeling strong, and felt like I was going faster than I was actually moving. I like to think it's because the first mile was one huge hill. Anyway, in spite of said hill and the rain (did I mention it was raining? And I wore my glasses. Silly, I know), I managed to run 3.75 miles at a 12:19 pace, which is WAY faster than I've been running. Tomorrow I'm going hiking/climbing, so I probably won't get a run in. Friday is my sacred day of rest. Saturday is my long run, distance and route yet to be determined. Sunday is my collegiate graduation and rest day. Wee! Life is pretty exciting.

I also tried out the new Under Armor tights my momma purchased me, which reach just below the knee. I think they're the perfect length! No chaffing, no adjusting shorts, no pain - and most importantly, so stopping or slowing down because of apparel. I also took along my new CamelBak, which is unnecessary for a run 4 miles or under (at least for me, in this type of weather), but I wanted to get a feel for it before I took it out on a longer run. It bothered my back a little bit, but I also filled it way more than was necessary for a four miler. All in all, though, it was pretty cool, and I think it will really save me when it heats up and on my longer runs. Plus, it's really nice not to have to wear shorts with pockets, not to have things in said pockets, and to have your hands free.

Did I mention that I'm just getting home now? I ran to meet up with friends at bowling alley, and when they finished I ran to the place where everyone was grabbing food. I got a ride back to campus, but after trivia night at a local bar (I convinced some people my CamelBak was full of vodka) I ran back home. And now I smell like stale sweat and I have to be up in a few hours for work. Eep!

Night all, and happy Thursday!

Four weeks until the Half!

I am visiting my parents in New York for the weekend, and I could have easily chosen not to go for my long run (10 miles). Here are some of the many reasons not to go for a run that went through my mind:

• I am sort of dehydrated
• I JUST ate
• I ate a lot of dairy yesterday, so I'll probably need to poop and I won't be able to find a bathroom
• I have my period
• I have bad allergies in New York
• My hometown is REALLY hilly (this should be a plus, but everything was just piling up in my mind...)
• I may have a stress fracture in my foot

So, did I run? Hell yes I ran. As I was leaving the house, my mom told me to give her a rescue call if need be. I appreciated it, and made a mental note not to use it. The first 4.5 miles were solid - then I had to go to the bathroom. Real bad. I found a nice wooded area, with a clear view of the street (it was the best I could find), and I took care of business. At about 6.5 miles I started getting sluggish, and the pain in my right foot started coming back. I walked for a little while to try and work it out. I decided it was nothing more than cramping, and I kept running. I couldn't make it up the last hill, at least mentally. I walked it, and then once it crested I started running again. I'm proud of myself for conquering my first double digit run, but I kind of wish it had gone better. Oh, well! I have four weeks to train and get happy with my performance.

When I got home, I kind of felt like I was going to die. My thighs are chaffed something terrible (that pain was the worst out of anything - physically I could have kept going, but it just HURT), and I was a bit dehydrated (I ran out of water at about mile 8). Later in the day my mom surprised me with a new, longer pair of spandex and a CamelBak. I love my momma.

Feel the Burn

I set out this morning for a 4-ish mile run and had a bit of a tough time. Not only did my sports bra greatly aggravate my sun burn, my my calves felt like the were on fire during the first mile. In my mind, I decided it was because I have been slacking off fairly recently, and my body just isn't used to running as frequently as I'm forcing it to. That could be the case, but it's also a load of crap. Running isn't supposed to be easy - if it were, more people would do it. So voice number two in my head just kept me moving. Near the end of the run, I also felt a strong urge to take a short cut home, justifying it by telling myself that I wouldn't have time to get where I was supposed to be by 11:00. Also crap... just run faster, kid!

Anyway, in the end, I was quite happy that I stuck with it. Although, that pain in my right foot returned near the end of the run, located just below my big and second toes, which I suppose is the ball of my foot. I also felt some strain in my second toe. I'm going to pay extra close attention to that little guy.

I shall leave you with a lovely view from my run:

Coes Reservoir

Happy Tuesday, all!

Lessons Learned

As I wrap up my final year of undergraduate education, it seems fitting to explain a lesson I've learned recently:

Sitting in the sun for a prolonged period of time with a mostly exposed back is, contrary to popular belief, not good for runners! Especially those runners who heavily really upon a tight, supportive sports bra.

Exhibit A:

This was taken Saturday evening... I'm pretty sure it's gotten redder.

How can I run when it hurts to much to put on a sports bra? I can't! If it still hurts tomorrow, to hell with it, I'm running anyway. This may not be such a bad thing, though - my calves are killing me today! They didn't bother me at all yesterday, so perhaps an extra day of rest isn't the worst thing. I also think it's time to kick up the strength workouts - I gotta get back into my groove with squats and lunges.

I've got to get through one exam and then I am D-O-N-E!

Race Schedule

I've deleted all the weight stuff on the right side... I just don't care that much. Don't get me wrong, one of my goals is weight loss, but running further/longer and racing are just more exhilarating to me, so I've posted my tentative race schedule for this year. Here is a breakdown:

06/13 - Worcester Half (13.1 mi)
This will be my first race. Ever. Crazy that my first race will be a half? Probably. I'm living life on the edge. It's all or nothing, baby! Plus, this is in my city, on the roads I run and am well acquainted with. I think it will be comfortable, and definitely doable. It's hilly, scenic, and should be drawing a good number of participants. Plus, for finishing, I get a shiny medal! Who wouldn't want to get medal in their first race?


06/27 - New Charles River Run (7.5 mi)
This one looks like a fun way to continue my race season. I looked for a race on the 20th (my birthday!), but to no avail. There were a couple of 5k races, but they were all too far away to justify such a short race. Anyway, this one looks like a beautiful course, so I'm pretty excited about that. They also have weight classes, which is pretty awesome! Sadly, the Clydesdales (men) have multiple weight classes, while the women only have one "heavier" class, which is 140+... there's no way I can compete with a 140 lb. woman, it's just not happening. Nonetheless, I appreciate the fact that they do have classes, as most races don't, and I'm sure it'll be a fun race, anyway.

07/17 - Greenbelt Trail Run (10k)
I've always wanted to do a trail run. The only time I've ever had to chance to try it was at the end of an Outward Bound course I did four years ago to prove to my parents that I could do anything, and that being fat couldn't stop me. The end of the course saw a 1.5 mile trail run that nearly killed me. It took me 40 minutes. To run a mile and a half. I was so out of shape and so embarrassed - but I finished. I want to try it again, now that I'm in [relatively] good shape. This will also be my first 10k, and it looks like a fun course. It's in a really beautiful part of the state, too!

09/12 - Run to the Rock (13.1 mi)
I wasn't able to find any decent August races, so I guess I'll be training to beat my time from the Worcester Half. This one looks like a well-attended race, plus I've never been to Plymouth Rock before. Heck, the only touristy thing in Massachusetts that I've done is stand outside a museum in Salem, and the only reason I was there at all was because I was looking for a way to kill some time during a conference. This race should fulfill a little bit of that touristy business I've avoided for four years.

09/19 - Lone Gull Race (10k)
I don't know much about this race at all, but it's right next to the beach, so I expect it will be a lovely run. That is pretty much my only justification for this one. It's good enough for me.

10/03 - Rise & Run Race (10 k)
This one is fairly close to where I live, and seems to be one of the last races of the season that fits into my schedule, so in it goes!

10/17 - Bay State Half (13.1 m)
Let's end it with a bang, eh? Three half-marathons in one year sounds awesome to me, and this loop course caught my eye. Plus, who knows when I'll get to race next?

Now, I just need a money-fairy to come and help me pay for them all...

I'm through accepting limits!

Oof... a month and a half? Sorry guys.

On my EIGHT MILE run this morning, I couldn't get Kurt from Glee singing Defying Gravity out or my head. I guess it became my anthem, in a way. Any time I wanted to quit, or I thought it was too hard or painful, I just sang along with Kurt in my head. I may have looked a little loopy near the end, but I got through it! Only near mile 6/7 did I really start to hurt. My right foot was killing me. I narrowed it down to two possible things: 1) I need new shoes or 2) I'm obese and that's a lot of weight I'm repeatedly forcing on my foot. It could also be a combination. I've never had pain before, but then again, this is the furthest I've ever run. Any other ideas, folks?


Please note that I am still happy at this point... somewhere around mile 4 or 5.

It was a good run - still slower than I'd like to see, but it's a long run for me, so I can't expect miracles. Plus, I took some time of my pace from my last long run, so that's good! I took a fairly scenic 4.0 mile out-and-back. Uphill the whole way out, downhill the whole way back. I'm fairly confident that was the best idea ever. Here's the hill profile:



After my long trek, I was sweaty (like REALLY sweaty), tired, and a bit dehydrated:




All in all, I would say today's run was a success! After my run, I ate some tasty greek yogurt to get in some much needed protein downed water like it was my job. Then I showered and ate a real meal. Mmm, bagels! I would eat bagels every day if they were healthier. I then put my thesis on complete hold (did I mention classes are over? My thesis is due tomorrow? After that I have ONE final, then senior year is over??) to go frolic in the sunshine. I put on a dress, grabbed a blanket and my book, and I set out for the campus green, wherein I allowed myself to incur a most righteous sunburn. Woops! This one may sting for a couple of days. I would show you a picture, but I've already offended you with my sweaty sports bra picture, I won't subject you to any more gross stuff today!

So much has happened since I last posted! I suppose life just got the best of me. A couple of friends and I won a $1500 grant to start an urban garden on campus, so I got to play around with that today. Watering the five raised beds we have took be about an hour... that counts as some strength work, right? The watering can is 2 gallons and gets quite heavy! In other news, my conference was ace! I knocked some people's socks off (they thought I was a PhD student... nope! I'm an undergrad), and put one PhD in his place. I was proud of myself for not being too shy about that! I just can't wait for it to be all over, you know? Then I can REALLY focus on my training.

Run hard, friends!

A Traveling Runner

Spring break has ended, and now I must put my nose to the grindstone and continue along with my life. Second half of my final semester is upon me, and I am sure that it will pain me. But before I look ahead to hours up neck-cramping time in my lab making maps of trees, let me recount the glory that was my road trip!

My friend and I set out for Washington, D.C. two fridays ago. We only stayed a night (with another very gracious and hospitable friend), and time did not allow me to take a running tour of the city. I was saddened, but only momentarily because I realized I will be back there in a month! I am returning to D.C. in mid-April to present my research at an academic conference, so I will run the city then. It'll be much warmer in April, anyway. Also, let me note that EVERYONE runs - runners were simply everywhere! I even overheard people talking about running. Weird.

After we left D.C., we headed for Savannah, where we stayed with my friend's cousin, who attends the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD, for those in the know). We stayed two nights, and I was fortunate enough to get a chance to take a nice 4 mile run around this beautiful city, but I wish I had had more time! My friend called me about 20 minutes into my run, and so I turned back a little while later to as to not hold her up. Oh well! It was still a lovely experience.

After Savannah we journeyed to visit my sister in New Orleans! After driving for so long in a car, all one wants to do is MOVE. The first couple of days in NOLA were quite rain (as is expected in that city), so we tried to refrain from doing things that required prolonged amounts of time out-of-doors, instead choosing to do things like visit the French Market in the French Quarter! Fun shopping :)

On Thursday the weather gods informed me that I would get the chance to run in mid-70 degree weather, with lots of sun. Oh, and 93% humidity. Take it or leave it. I clearly took it. I ran four miles around through Tulane and around Audubon Park (which is lovely! and the egrets were out!) before I got a call from a woman at the transportation office telling me I was parked in the wrong location and had to move my car. Why is everyone interrupting my scenic runs through beautiful cities? Oh well, at least I got a chance to run in them!

Saturday I was in Asheville, NC, but the weather was kind of poor and I sadly had no chance to run :( I would have loved to have done some hill work there - so beautiful! The Smoky Mountains on the horizon would have been a lovely component to any run, but I suppose that will have to be saved for a later date.

After walking/running all of these cities (I literally can't count my all of my blisters, some of which have their own blisters...), I've developed a bit of pain in my right shin. I'm going to give it a couple of days rest... I am REALLY hoping it's just mild shin splints and not indicative of a stress fracture or anything. I'm going to take it easy, though, and we'll see how it goes. Hopefully by that time, this Massachusetts weather will clear up - cold and rainy is no good now that I've had a taste of beautiful weather!

"Very impressive!" - 6.3 miles down!

I skipped lat week's 4.5 mile run. Bad, I know.

This week I was schedules for a 5.0 miler. Daunting. Very scary. Completely frightening. After procrastinating all morning, I suited up and headed out. Through the entire run, little pains popped up here and there, but it wasn't so bad. Around the 1 mile marker I saw a 50-something man running who would make another appearance later in my run. Around this time, I was feeling pretty good - I had some pain in my right hip, but it went away and was replaced by an unhappy tummy. Ruh-roh!

Around the 2.5 mile mark, I saw the man again and had a short conversation with him, because this time we were headed in the same direction. He's running the Worcester half-marathon as well, not shooting for a PR, just looking to cross the finish line. He asked me how far I was going today, I told him I was planning on doing 5 miles, and he responded with a "Very impressive!" I am IMPRESSIVE? I guess so! I took the compliment and ran with it.

I also got some boost of energy (well, it was more like determination - I was pretty tired) to keep running. I ran a total of 6.31 miles in 1:25. HELL. YEAH. !!

I feel pretty awesome. Just sayin'.

Also, down to 206 lbs!

PEE-ESS

This lady's running blog is hilarious, and it is definitely worth checking out! She talks a lot about pooping and farting, which I love. Can't take yourself too seriously! Anyway, she has a great giveaway going on, so if you see this before the 16th, get on over there and enter.

4.0 miles. Yikes!

Yesterday I set out for my long run, a whopping 4 miles, and the longer than any other outdoor ran I've ever attempted. I set out around noon, after it had warmed up a little (30 F) and after I had eaten some fruit. Within the first few minutes, I could already feel my quads burning, which is odd for me, as usually it's my lungs that do me in, not my legs.

I had planned out the 4 mile loop to be identical to my 3 miler up until the first mile, at which point I would take a turn and tread on completely new territory. For the first mile I kept telling myself, "it's okay to just stick to your normal route and do 3, you don't feel 100%." Then I got to the one mile mark and took the turn, because I'm not okay with giving up anymore. The run was hard, one of the most difficult in my memory, but I ran the whole way. I had to stop around the 2.75 mark to catch my breath a little (the cold makes my asthma act up) and stretch out my muscles for a minute or so, which really helped. Incidentally, I mapped out a course that was a gradual incline, so most of the last mile was a bit downhill (my legs were grateful).

I ran the 4 miles in 52:14 for a 13:04 pace. Again, a bit slower than I'd like to see, but I completed the run and that's what really matters, at least for now. Yesterday's run not only marks the furthest I've ever run outdoors, but also the longest duration that I've ever run, so even if I was slow, it's pretty exciting.

Now, as for unraveling why I may have been slow (I should be around 11:30-12:00 splits):
-I gave blood this week, and it left me feeling a little tired and weak.
-I have not worked out since last Sunday, when I did my 3.5 miler. I need interim workouts!
-I think I may have been a little bit dehydrated.
-I could have woken up earlier and eaten more.

All things I can work on! Except for the blood thing, but that is an irregular occurrence.

Cold Weather Run #2

Today wasn't nearly as bad as last week's cold-weather run Temperature-wise, it was a balmy 28 F (not sure of the wind chill - somewhere in the ones or low teens). My goal was to run 3.5 miles, which I proudly achieved! It was a little tougher physically this week, though, because I waited until later in the day and didn't give myself enough time after eating. Also, the wind was at my face for the first half of the run, which is never fun. I may also have been a little bit dehydrated. I had enough to drink yesterday, but today I wasn't doing so well with the water. Woops! My time was 44:47, so that put my pace a little over 13:00. Not what I'd LIKE to see, but let's look for the positive: 1) I didn't wuss out and completed the whole 3.5 miles and 2) I ran the WHOLE way - no walking breaks. I think that's a good sacrifice for a bad pace.

I am surprised that I'm sticking to this so well! Last week I only got in one easy run at the gym (on Thursday), so this week I have to try and be better about that. Tuesday I've signed up to give blood, so I've also got to be conscious of that. You can't workout within 24 hours of giving blood, right? I should look into that... Otherwise, it's just back to the old grindstone!

"Running" Errands

Wow! My cold-temperature run went much better than anticipated. The beginning of my training for the half-marathon has been off to a rough start, and today got me (more or less) back on track! My basic training plan is to run 2-3 days during the week nice and easy and then do one long run per week on Saturdays, increasing the long run by 0.5 miles every week. I missed my first 2.0 miler because the gym wasn't open yet and I was afraid of the cold air, then I was swamped with work last week and had to cut out the gym from my schedule.

Yesterday, according to my schedule, I was to run 3.0 miles, but I just wasn't prepared. I couldn't mentally get myself together to get to the gym and get on the DREADmill, plus I was dehydrated. I spent last night organizing my life, taking it easy and relaxing by myself, and hydrating. REALLY hydrating. Then I woke up, had a cup of tea and a clementine, and decided, "To hell with the gym with it's stuffy air and too few machines!"

I have asthma, so the cold air typically does a number on me, but I had never run outside in such cold temperatures before (22 F, when I ran past a thermometer outside a store front). Usually, come first snow fall, I am at the gym until all the snow goes away, then I make my way bake outside. Add the the asthma problems my inability to stay upright while walking in ice-free conditions (my mom has been known to call me 'Grace' for my complete lack of it), cold weather in central Mass scares me. A lot! But as of today, I had had enough, and set out to run my favorite 3.0 mile route, albeit a day late.

Like I said, it went surprisingly well! I finished in 33:47, for an average pace of about 11:15. The only times I stopped running were at lights (but I jogged in place), and then I had to do some banking (lol), so I paused my watch and "ran my errands." I hadn't noticed the effects the cold had on me until I got inside, when I started wheezing. Just have to be a little careful about that, and consciously pay attention to my breathing, I suppose.

So yeah, success in the cold! Not my favorite, but it's doable and doesn't cause too much damage. I don't think I could run much colder than this though... the wind chill was 9 F! It was bitterly cold when I started, but once I got warmed up it wasn't so bad at all, especially because it's quite sunny today. It started to get cold again near the end when I started sweating - once I acquire some funds I'll have to invest in a ColdGear UnderArmour shirt...

Oof!

It's been a rough week and a half. Last week was the second of the semester, and I already had a presentation worth 20% of my grade! It was a difficult presentation regardless of who my partner was, but I ended up getting paired with a girl who spoke very poor English, which made everything doubly difficult! Because of my attention to the presentation, I slept very poorly and only got one workout in (2 miles last Tuesday).

And now I'm behind on my fitness, and my work for all of my other classes! I figured that if I don't get back to my workouts, I'll just let them slip away completely, and then I won't get to run my half marathon, so I am prioritizing. Sure, my work is important, but I can sacrifice and hour and a half a day for this (re: for myself). Today I have decided to run outside (20 F, windchill 9 F), and I hope it doesn't come back to bite me in the butt. I just HATE treadmills. SO boring, and the gym at school is not a very good facility and has incredibly poor air circulation. I just can't handle it! So I'm off to brave the cold - I'm already all suited up. Wish me luck!

That's Better

Today I had my second run of the week. I was still a little bit sore and remembering how laborious running at an 11:00 pace was, I slowed it down to 12:00. I'm in no rush!

On Monday I had to divide up my two miles of running into four segments: 8 minutes, 3 minutes, 5.5 minutes, and then 5 minutes. Today, I managed the whole two miles without stopping or even changing my pace, which is awesome! It definitely shows that I'm out of shape, but I've still got some oomf in me.

I think I'll increase my speed on the machine by 0.1 each week to bring me from 5.0 (12:00) to 6.0 (10:00) or better by race time. That change seems gradual enough that I can achieve it! As for my outdoor runs, I'll just have to pay attention to my watch.

So fitness is going well this week, but food is going poorly! The food that I'm eating is healthy, but I can't manage to eat enough of it. Oh, the woes of being a poor college student! I get paid tomorrow though (phew!), so I can finally go food shopping and eat something besides oatmeal, rice & beans, eggs, and grapefruit (a little bit of an exaggeration, but not far from the truth). I've got to hit my nutrition ranges! I've been killing the fiber and water, though :)

Until tomorrow!

Man are my sides sore!

I forgot how great running is for your core muscles! My legs are definitely not feeling the burn, but the muscle soreness in my lower back and abs reminds me how out of shape I am. ...In a good way. Odd as it sounds, I love have sore muscles (from working out, at least). It shows that I pushed myself and that my muscles are growing back stronger than they were before.

I've got to get into a rhythm and a system where I make time for what's important (gym, cooking good meals, school, work, and socializing), which is a very difficult task. My long training runs will be on Saturday mornings. That should be fine and undisturbed because I don't work on weekends, my school work can hold off for an hour or two, and my friends are never awake early on Saturdays. Tuesdays and Thursdays are the only days where I have to physically be in class (I'm taking a directed study, and honors thesis, and two courses), and there is a perfect amount of time in between the two courses to hit the gym, get a shower in, and scarf down whatever lunch I pack with me.

Monday/Wednesday/Friday I have work and I will need to be working on my honors thesis and other school work a lot, but I should be able to get to the gym first thing in the morning before I really start my day. I can't wait for when it's warm enough for me to start running outside again and forego the gym all together! Sadly, I have asthma and the cold makes me wheeze something fierce.

Okay, Massachusetts senate race is today! Gotta go vote :)

Today running was not my friend! I knew I was out of shape but I didn't know just how bad it was. Let me tell you: it was bad. I ran 2.0 miles total, but I had to take 3 walking breaks - after the first 8 minutes, then when I finished the first mile, then after the next half mile. Oof! But let's be optimistic - my endurance may be embarrassingly low, but I got it done!

I'm already behind a little bit on my self-created schedule because I assumed the school gym would be open this weekend since students were coming back. False! I have no idea why they weren't, but in any case I had to push my start back a few days.

I am ALMOST regretting my decision to run a half-marathon, but then I thought about it, and I realized that this is my one-way ticket to being a complete badass. Also, I never complete anything I start, at least fitness-wise. This one is going to be completed.

Run on!

New Year, New Goal

So on a Saturday night, I found myself at a website listing all of the half-marathons this coming year. I don't know what prompted me to search for them, but once I was there I typed in Massachusetts. Lo and behold, there is a half in Worcester this June - the first half the city has ever held. June 13th, 2010. Since my goal is to run 10 miles by May, why not just add a 5k to that by June? I can totally do that, and paying $55 to enter a race is plenty of motivation for me to keep at it - I don't want to waste my money! I won't be able to enter until next week when I get paid, but I've already settled on it.

Funnily enough, since I started running casually 2 years ago, I've never ran a road race, even though the majority of my runs are around the 5k distance, which just so happens to be the most common race distance. Oh well, looks like I'm skipping a few steps and going straight to the half. But who knows? Maybe I'll find a shorter training race in between now and then. I've got about 6 months to go - better get crackin'!