Still down and a little out

Well, clearly Saturday didn't work out. It looks like things are on the upswing and until then, I've been paying more attention to nutrition and the things I'm putting in my body and working on getting stronger. Happy Monday.

Recovering (Again)

MW: 133
Days to Race: 213
Distance/Time: 1.7 mi/ 25.35

It's been a while and I'd like to think I have a good reason for taking a week off (and not an excuse). The condition that keeps biting me in the ass struck again at the end of last week, requiring rest and recovery. A week can seem to go by so quickly (hello, vacation to Hawaii) or so slowly like this past one. It's frustrating to know your body's capabilities and yet be completely wiped out for a period of time. Especially when your legs are screaming to be allowed to go outside and play. There is no magic pill that will bring you back to where you were, only time and care and my least favorite thing: patience.

Yesterday was the first day that I tried to get back out there. I lasted 10 minutes of jogging before I had to walk. It's funny how two months ago, 10 minutes would have been a miracle, something to celebrate, but that day, it was a kick in the rear. So, today, I strapped my sneakers back on and tried again. Instead of expecting myself to be even close to the top of my game, I broke my run down. 5 minutes running, 2 minutes walking and then repeating the process. It wasn't pretty, but it was better than yesterday. Tomorrow, I'll reach for a DVD and Saturday, I'll strap those shoes on again and shoot for a bit further.

Early run benefits

MW: 136.2
Days to Race: 220
Distance/Time: 2.57 mi/36.07 min.

One of the benefits of running so early in the morning is that by the end of the day, I feel pretty fresh. I even forget that I'd run and start thinking of other healthful things I can do that evening. Do I ever actually do those healthful things? I refuse to answer that question, but the opportunity is there and I'd like to think that at some point, I'll start to think that exercising twice a day isn't taboo, but more like brushing your teeth.

I'd hoped that today's run would put me in the mood to start planning an even further run, but despite my improvement over Tuesday (1.5 minutes faster!) I'd like to have at least one more 2.5 run. Finishing today, there was less in my tank than there usually was after a run.

Later on, I know these super early mornings will have to become regular, but I'm looking forward to sleeping in for the next week.

5:30!? Are you serious?

MW: 137.4
Days to Race: 222
Distance/Time: 2.52 mi/37.24

On the plus side, I got my run out of the way before the expected high-90's. It was humid, but pretty bearable. That said, I had to wake up at 5:30 to do it. If you know me at all, then you know that I am not much of a morning person. Not only that, but I'd only gotten a few hours sleep last night and my dreams involved burqas and dogs being kicked thanks to the Thousand Splendid Suns that I just had to stay up finishing.

Anyways, my alarm was a shock not just to me, but also to my cat, who had taken up residence on my chest. So, not only did I have to get out of bed early, I also missed kitty cuddle time. She didn't care too much, though, as my getting up means food is imminent.

So, I finally got out on the road and was pounding pavement by 6AM. Ran a little bit further this time and while I still wish I could pick up my pace a little, I know that speed will come with time. And I've never been a speedy person in the first place. Right knee is a little twingy, I'll have to keep an eye on it.

Woke up hurting, ran anyways

MW: 136.7
Days to Race: 224
Distance/Time: 2.2 miles/30.08

Yesterday, I power-walked through Longwood Gardens for 3 hours. I felt pretty good until I woke up this morning. It felt as though someone had put their pointer fingers over a hot fire to get them blazing hot and then stabbed them through the middle of my calves. I was tempted to take the day off. Let myself rest up and get started again tomorrow morning, but as a television show I once watched said: if you do something often enough, it will become a habit. So, off I went.

Towards the end, I realized that I really wanted to finish this run in under a half hour. I had 30 seconds to go and thought I could just pick up the pace and really push myself. And I flew. I was probably going about as fast as a normal person on a slow day, but this dumpling was rolling faster and longer than she usually did. One look at the start of this post will tell you I did not reach my goal, but that's okay. I'm still happy with the result and proud that I pushed myself toward a personal best.

No, I haven't been swimming (Part II)

MW: 136.4
Days to Race: 226
Distance/Time: 2.2/31.17

Last time, I came back drenched with sweat, today, I came back drenched with rain. Today's run was delayed due to thunder and lightning, but after work there was only a constant rain. So, I strapped on my shoes, put on a top that would stay opaque and just went for it.

No I Haven't Been Swimming

MW: 135.6
Days to Race: 228
Distance/Time: 2.2 mi./30.52

Crossed the 2 mile mark! Despite all the "wickiness" of my clothes, I was still completely soaked with sweat. Wicking clothing is designed to pull the sweat off your body. Parts of my body that I didn't even know could sweat were dripping (though the more I think about skin and pores, the more I think... duh!).

Suicide Hill Is Not The End

Run 1: Saturday, July 6, 2013
MW: ?
Distance/Time: 1.76 mi/25 min

Run 2: Monday, July 8, 2013
MW: 137
Distance/Time: 1.84 mi/26.15 min

Days to Race: 230

I visited my parents for the weekend, which also meant I got to go running in their neighborhood. Without intending to, that meant I was going to be doing some hill work as their neighborhood streets go up and down sometimes gently and other times not so much. It is the sort of neighborhood that has a high hill on which all the fancier houses use to rest. Even when I was little, riding my bike all the way up there for the brief thrill of plummeting back down was too much effort. I'd always avoided that Suicide Hill. But not on that day.

Halfway through my run, I was steadily getting one foot in front of the other as I climbed up and around the bend. As I neared the top, I felt a brief moment of joy at my accomplishment. It was quickly deflated, though, when I realized that there was no break at the top. No resting moment. I still had a ways to go and after this, there was no option but to keep going (or give up, which was not going to happen). So, my run continued. Suicide Hill was not the end, nor was it the beginning. It was simply there to be climbed.

Today, my run was pretty straightforward. Still going further and longer, though my goal is to clear the 2 mile mark. I'd thought I might have done it today, but apparently not so much. Time to start mapping some new runs.

Back-to-Back

MW: 136.7
Days to Race: 234
Distance/Time: 1.68 mi/21.24 min

I usually don't run two days in a row. Every book I read states how important rest days are. And by rest, I don't necessarily mean doing nothing, but rather working on flexibility or strength (I like my yoga and Pilates DVDs). But, tomorrow is not going to work as a running day, so I needed to make an exception. So, I didn't push myself too hard and ran this week's course more as a matter of fact.

I was going fine, chugging along when another runner passed me by. She was very nice in our brief greeting, but what caught my attention was that my feet were hitting the ground far more often than hers were and yet she was moving at nearly twice my speed with much less effort. Part of it is probably the fact that she had about 3 extra inches of leg, but I also noticed that her strides were longer too. My general running movement is more of a bouncing shuffle. It's ridiculous and combined with the mouth breathing, I'd be embarrassed if I wasn't wearing my lucky Phillies cap (and too focused to really care how I look). And after spending so much time running alone, figuring out how my body moves, it was nice to see how someone else managed to be a bit more efficient. So, one of my next steps will be to focus on lengthening my stride.

Also, Happy 4th!

The Magic Mile

MW: 135.6
Days to Race: 235
Distance/Time: 1.68 mi/22.14

Felt good finishing this run. I think next time I'll shoot for a full 2 miles. Not only that, but I'm hitting that magic mile more often. The magic mile, to me, is the point where the running actually becomes fun. You feel strong, powerful and even on the nastiest day, things start looking up. I can tell when I'm getting fitter because of how long that magic mile stays (and it can stay for longer than a mile). It means setting the bar low and exceeding it because you want to, not just because you can.

Pushing it

MW: 136.2
Days to Race: 237
Distance/Time: 1.68 miles/20 minutes

My goal was to run for 15 minutes, but when I checked my watch at the point I was going to end, I saw I had 3 minutes left and still some energy to burn. So, instead, I hit 20 minutes and feel good about it.