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!

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.

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.

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!

"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!

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...

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!

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'!