LSR

167 Days to Race

Today was my first official Long Slow Run (LSR). It wasn't really all that long--only three miles, but I did have to slow down. After two weeks of having to run faster than race pace it was very weird to have to force myself to slow down. The object of a LSR is to finish the distance however you can. They also want you to slow down because the longer (timewise) you are active the easier it will be to add more distance later.  This training schedule I'm following doesn't really settle into a pattern for another couple of weeks. Soon, though, I'll be doing short fast runs of three miles.  I won't lie, though. It was nice to have to tell myself to slow down rather than to tell myself to pick it up.

It was a beautiful morning as well. A bit windy, though. I walked down to my local park that has a running trail and started making laps. Laps are boring, yes, but I had the park to myself at first. The birds, wind, squirrels. . . Anyway, it was peaceful. Then the other people started showing up. They were all walkers, which is fine, don't get me wrong, but they wouldn't move over for me to pass. I'd say, "On your left" and they would just stare at me. The worst was an older man who was walking his dog on an extendable leash. He'd hear me coming and let the dog have more leash so he could trip me up. So, there was some rope jumping involved today as well.

I generally don't like morning runs. But, as it is Easter, I thought I'd better fit it in before all the family obligations start setting in. That sounds negative and I don't mean it to be. I like being with my family. Running just doesn't fit in well with visiting.

I also went out today wearing my new Road ID. It is going to take a bit of getting used to but I like it anyway. I'm just not accustomed to wearing something around my right wrist (the left one is already taken by my Nike +). I hope I never need it, but I like knowing that I don't have to carry id anymore. I'll just wear it. Check out their site. It isn't very expensive and my family and I have peace of mind.

Bits and Bites

169 Days to Race

Some successes to report. When I stepped on the scale this morning I saw the smallest number I've seen since 1994. I'm still not quite sure I believe it. Eight more pounds and I'll be at the weight I told myself I had to see before I'd allow myself to pierce my nose. It now looks like I'll actually have to DECIDE if I really want to do it.  I thought I had picked some random unattainable number. It's just a bit scary.

I also (this is kind of gross) lost my first toenail last night. Runners say that toenails are for sissies, and I knew it would happen eventually, but now I look down at my bare toe and wonder what to do. Summer is practically here and I will want to wear open toed shoes. I live in flip flops for heaven's sake.  How am I supposed to paint a nail that isn't there?

Ugh, anyway, I just did another fast two mile run. I ran outside. Too hot! Too windy! But I still did it at a 10'49" pace and managed another negative split. I just hope I have enough energy left to babysit my niece and nephew tonight!

Fartleks Blow

171 Days to Race

Today was my first real day of speed training. I ran 20 minutes of fartleks.

Go ahead.

Laugh.

I know it is a funny word.

Out of  your system?

Okay, so fartleks are a kind of interval training. I ran a five minute warm up at 4.5 mph. I can't believe I now think of that as an easy run. Anyway, after that I ran four sessions of four minutes at 6 mph and then one minute of "recovery" at 5 mph. Remember last week when I was hoping to be able to run an 11 minute mile? 6 mph is a 10 minute mile. I'm hoping to run the race at about 4.7 mph.

So, yeah. Fartleks suck.

I'm proud of myself for being able to do what I did today. But I don't have to like it, right?

Tomorrow is ANOTHER rest day. This training program sure is starting out slow. . .

Warrior Dash!

173 Days to Race

I’ve been out of touch for the last few days. Last Thursday was supposed to be a rest day but I decided to go ahead and do Friday’s run. I knew I would have to get up really early to run on Friday because I had to leave early to drive to the Dallas area.  I don’t like early runs. Don’t know why, exactly, but I’m always super tired the rest of the day if I do that. I envy those people who say that a morning run energizes them.

I’ve slept since then, but my running log says that I ran just over two miles and managed another negative split.  Evidently nothing interesting happened on that run or I’d remember it, right?

But to the fun stuff. WARRIOR DASH. So. Much. Fun. 3.24 miles of slippery mayhem. Up and over 15 foot walls. Army crawls through mud under barbed wire. Mud pit at end. . .

I’m so glad I participated and can’t wait until the next one.  I’m bruised from head to toe and sore from top to bottom, but that should count as my 3 mile fast run, right?

My sister is on my left in each of these before and after shots. . .

30% Insanity

178 Days to Race

Today was supposed to be another fast and easy two mile run. Rather than run this one for time, I decided to head to my gym (the one I pay for rather than the one at work) and use their high end treadmills to run some hills. I have a treadmill at home but it is so old it doesn’t even have a display to tell you your incline. The ones at work are more advanced but don’t have the ability to do a negative incline. Why should I suffer through hills if I never get to run back down?

Anyway, I walk in the gym and go straight for the biggest baddest treadmills they have. Not the nice friendly ones that would have worked just as well. The ones with the hand grips up high that go up to a 30% incline.

30%?

 Isn’t that called rock climbing?

I think, “How hard can it be to figure this machine out? I’ve seen people on these things who look like they couldn’t manage to turn on a light switch!”

WRONG

I finally find the hill program and (thankfully) it asks me what I want to be my maximum incline. I don’t remember what number I put in but I know that it was TOO DAMN HIGH! I did know enough to run more slowly, but I couldn’t make a mile of that program. Too much uphill and not enough down.

I found the cool down button while swearing under my breath. Didn’t have enough breath to swear out loud! Found the manual button and ran the remaining distance at a normal pace.

I know I need to run some hills, but today was really awful.  There has to be another way. Runners around here run bridges—good solution unless you are, like me, terrified of heights. The most popular bridge to run is one I can’t even stand to drive over.

Tomorrow is another rest day. I'll take it.

First Day Success

179 Days to Race


Yesterday's training session went very well. I ran just over two miles at a pace of 10’56”. Not bad for me, really. I even managed to run a negative split! (Second half faster than first half.) That’s supposed to be a good thing and propel you to run a personal record (PR). I don’t know or even really care if that is true. I’m running my first marathon. I’m guaranteed to run a PR if I finish.

When I got home I enjoyed my own ceremony to celebrate the start of a new training program. It's a bit kindergarten, but I put a sticker on my calendar. It's blurry because my phone's camera isn't great, but still. I have my first gold star!

When I decided to identify as a runner—just saying I’m a runner is still a new and foreign concept to me—I ordered a subscription to Runner’s World. I’m learning all kinds of cool things about running. I was introduced to the wonders of BodyGlide (one word) to keep from chafing and read reviews of running shoes before I bought my newest pair. But the main thing I like about getting this magazine every month is the feeling of community and the inspirational stories I find.

Today is supposed to be a rest day. Rest days are hard. It sounds crazy, but you keep feeling that you aren’t doing something you should be doing. I know intellectually that my body needs rest, but emotionally I want to go out and pound the pavement. I do tend to think of my feet kicking and pounding the ground as a way to beat the stress out of my day. Nice, I think. But, back to point. I’m going to use my rest days to focus on those who inspire me.

When I subscribed to RW I received a special deal. I got a training log and a “Complete Runner’s Guide” as well. In the Runner’s Guide there is a story about a woman, Margaret Davis of Azusa, CA, who ran her first marathon at age 79. Her current goal (at age 85) is to qualify for the Boston Marathon. She says that she needs a 5:30 (what I hope to be able to run) and her current best is a 5:37. 

I want to be Margaret Davis when I grow up.

An Introduction to My Crazy Goal

180 days until race

I've been running a little over a year now. I started off with the Couch to 5K program. I was about 100 pounds overweight. Through the course of that running program I discovered that I have exercise induced asthma, got that treated, lost about 60 pounds, and dropped from a size 20 in denial still wearing an 18 to a size 10/12.  I've now run several 5K's, a 5 mile race, a 10K, and two half marathons.  I'm set to run the Warrior Dash this weekend.  AND I'm starting my training for a marathon today.

Why do I call this a crazy goal?  Well, first off there is the fact that I broke my ankle ten years ago and my orthopedic surgeon told me I'd never run a marathon.  There's the fact that the marathon I've registered for is in October in Portland, Oregon, and I'll have to do my longest training run in the Southeast Texas Summer heat. And there is the fact that Portland is hilly, and, well, this area is FLAT!

Today I need to do a two mile fast run. My sister is going to run this one with me. She's in better shape than I am and runs as well. She refuses to consider running a full marathon, though. I'm still a slow runner. I'm going to shoot for a "fast" run of eleven minute miles. Last week I ran my fastest ever mile at about ten minutes. I don't think I could keep that up for two miles, however.