Last night marked the very first Trail run of the NMTC spring series. It was cold and wet, but a great run. My steady pace of training this spring helped me to shave off almost six minutes from my time last year. Insane. Just think if I do actually train all winter..... Getting under 30 minutes would be a thrill for any of these 5ks. Running in the mud with all the hills really makes your pace take a hit. According to my watch, I managed to maintain a 9:17 pace which is not too shabby. The official results haven't been posted yet though.
The good news is that the knee feels good. It was really sore after my Monday night 8 mile jaunt. I thought I was done for sure. I had to stop several times while I was running to try to stretch the IT band. It didn't help. I iced really good that night and the next day, and it seemed to go away. I think I got really lucky there. I took a chance running last night, but I knew the soggy trail would be fairly forgiving. I'm going to rest until Sunday when I'm scheduled for 9 miles. I'm going to have to get a bit creative in picking my route. Maybe I'll try to stay on the SHT or something. I think all the pavement running is starting to get to me.
The rest should also help with this swine flu that I seem to have acquired. It sucks. My throat is pretty raw and my stomach won't stop turning. I slept for a few hours before the race last night and I think that's what got me through. Today I'm taking some sick time just so I can try to sleep this off. I have to work this Saturday and I don't want to have to drag myself through a public event feeling like crap the whole time. It's just not fun.
Here's to feeling better very soon!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Hanging in there
I did a tiring 7 miles on Saturday. I love using my trusty Garmin watch to track my mileage and pace. However, I always feel like I'm working really hard to maintain the 11-13 minute miles that my watch frequently tells me that I'm running. I went out with NP and he had his watch on too. I asked what his pace was reading and it was almost two minutes faster than what mine was reading...despite us running side by side. Strange. I guess the moral of that story is that I'm usually running quite a bit faster than my watch is actually reading...relief.
I had planned to do 5 this morning, but I slept in. I got zero sleep last night due to a nasty combination of caffeine and contemplating my future. It sucked. I am now shooting for getting through this day. My goal is to take the dog out for an easy 4 after work. I think I'm going to head up to enger tower and check out the early flower buds. I'm thinking that might help to cheer me up.
I've never been able to function in a holding pattern. I'm not sure why I was thinking that I would be able to do that now, but I can't. I need to formulate some new goals and get them done. The sooner this money thing is over...the better off I'll be.
We're closing on our refinance deal on Thursday with a new low rate of 5.25%. It's pretty exciting except that it will add the closing costs onto the principal balance. Which means I'm stuck for a little while longer.....hmmmm.
I had planned to do 5 this morning, but I slept in. I got zero sleep last night due to a nasty combination of caffeine and contemplating my future. It sucked. I am now shooting for getting through this day. My goal is to take the dog out for an easy 4 after work. I think I'm going to head up to enger tower and check out the early flower buds. I'm thinking that might help to cheer me up.
I've never been able to function in a holding pattern. I'm not sure why I was thinking that I would be able to do that now, but I can't. I need to formulate some new goals and get them done. The sooner this money thing is over...the better off I'll be.
We're closing on our refinance deal on Thursday with a new low rate of 5.25%. It's pretty exciting except that it will add the closing costs onto the principal balance. Which means I'm stuck for a little while longer.....hmmmm.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Updates
Fail. I trusted my Tuesday workout to some one else and it turned out to be a huge fiasco! A co-worker of mine kept pressuring me to do an interval work out. So I skipped spin on Tuesday so I could go to a track to do repeats after work. Well what do you know, there was a track meet on two different tracks that we tried to go to. I was pretty bummed. It threw my entire week off, okay that's being a bit dramatic. I was not happy with the situation though.
Wednesday took me back to boot camp. It was a good class because we go to go outside again, finally, after a long winter. It was great to be down on the lakewalk to watch the sunrise. The 80 step ups didn't feel quite so bad....not really.
On Thursday I ran to the gym and back to make up for my skipped gym visit on Tuesday. I had always figured that it was about 5 miles to the gym and back, but now I'm thinking it's closer to 5.5. And those hills were a bear. I was tired all day after that one. Just think, I used to knock that out like it was no big deal. Funny.
Friday.....I couldn't drag myself out of bed this morning. I tried...a few times....and failed. I stayed up a bit late last night making some bean soup (not really a great idea since it didn't turn out that good anyway). That probably played a part in my excessive tiredness.
Tomorrow will be 7 on the Munger trail. NP and Shae will be coming along. Hopefully it will be another good trip.
And Sunday...I will be at the gym at some point to make up for my laziness this morning.
On a side note....both of my co-worker who had signed up for the half are now injured. They were both going all out with their training. I was starting to feel really stupid for only running three days a week. But now....I couldn't be happier with my conservative training plan. I hope their injuries don't set them back for too long because it would be really cool to have some company out there. I'm just seriously glad it's not me. The last thing I need is another injury!!
Wednesday took me back to boot camp. It was a good class because we go to go outside again, finally, after a long winter. It was great to be down on the lakewalk to watch the sunrise. The 80 step ups didn't feel quite so bad....not really.
On Thursday I ran to the gym and back to make up for my skipped gym visit on Tuesday. I had always figured that it was about 5 miles to the gym and back, but now I'm thinking it's closer to 5.5. And those hills were a bear. I was tired all day after that one. Just think, I used to knock that out like it was no big deal. Funny.
Friday.....I couldn't drag myself out of bed this morning. I tried...a few times....and failed. I stayed up a bit late last night making some bean soup (not really a great idea since it didn't turn out that good anyway). That probably played a part in my excessive tiredness.
Tomorrow will be 7 on the Munger trail. NP and Shae will be coming along. Hopefully it will be another good trip.
And Sunday...I will be at the gym at some point to make up for my laziness this morning.
On a side note....both of my co-worker who had signed up for the half are now injured. They were both going all out with their training. I was starting to feel really stupid for only running three days a week. But now....I couldn't be happier with my conservative training plan. I hope their injuries don't set them back for too long because it would be really cool to have some company out there. I'm just seriously glad it's not me. The last thing I need is another injury!!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
S U C C E S S That's the way we spell success!!!!
My mom's favorite cheer from high school. She still does it on occasion. Luckily, there are no splits or back flips involved.
I finally feel like I've had some success in my running. I did six with NP and the Shae Burg on Saturday. We ran on the munger trail, as planned. It was perfectly clear and proved to be a great location. My pace was pretty slow with company, but I continued on for my third and fourth mile solo since NP only wanted to do four miles. I was much faster on my own which was somewhat encouraging. I still haven't gotten my running log off my watch, but I'm guessing my pace around 11 minutes average. Pretty slow.
I took Sunday off, as usual, but ran 5 on Monday. For some reason, I got insanely little sleep on Sunday night to my plan to get up early to do 5 before work crashed and burned. However, when I got to work I realized I had to attend a Tiger Cub meeting that evening. I was screwed. I regret it ever single time I opt for staying in bed over getting up for my work out. So, I ended up taking two hours off in the afternoon to go home, run, shower, and eat dinner before my 6:30 tiger club meeting. It worked out great. I tried a new route that took me down third street, up 40th/Haines road to Skyline and back home. It was almost exactly five miles. I maintained a 10 minute average, even with a giant hill in the middle of the route. I was around 9s on most of the flats as well. I can't tell you how relieved I was. Prior to this run, I felt like I was throwing all this effort at something that was doing no good. Now that I know that 9 minute miles are really not that far off, I feel a LOT better.
Tonight, a co-worker of mine had conned me into doing some interval work on the track. I'm not too excited about it, but it should be a good time.
I finally feel like I've had some success in my running. I did six with NP and the Shae Burg on Saturday. We ran on the munger trail, as planned. It was perfectly clear and proved to be a great location. My pace was pretty slow with company, but I continued on for my third and fourth mile solo since NP only wanted to do four miles. I was much faster on my own which was somewhat encouraging. I still haven't gotten my running log off my watch, but I'm guessing my pace around 11 minutes average. Pretty slow.
I took Sunday off, as usual, but ran 5 on Monday. For some reason, I got insanely little sleep on Sunday night to my plan to get up early to do 5 before work crashed and burned. However, when I got to work I realized I had to attend a Tiger Cub meeting that evening. I was screwed. I regret it ever single time I opt for staying in bed over getting up for my work out. So, I ended up taking two hours off in the afternoon to go home, run, shower, and eat dinner before my 6:30 tiger club meeting. It worked out great. I tried a new route that took me down third street, up 40th/Haines road to Skyline and back home. It was almost exactly five miles. I maintained a 10 minute average, even with a giant hill in the middle of the route. I was around 9s on most of the flats as well. I can't tell you how relieved I was. Prior to this run, I felt like I was throwing all this effort at something that was doing no good. Now that I know that 9 minute miles are really not that far off, I feel a LOT better.
Tonight, a co-worker of mine had conned me into doing some interval work on the track. I'm not too excited about it, but it should be a good time.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Pain in my Ass!!
I'm sore again, but I still got up and went to Pilates this morning. I've been really good about keeping my commitment to getting in three days a week at the gym so far. It's nice not to have to worry about going 12 days in a row at the end of the month! Today it's my butt and my stomach that are pretty sore. I'm walking like I have some serious medical condition...but no, just a sore ass. It's great.
I'm planning on six miles tomorrow morning. I knocked out four yesterday morning. It was okay, but it felt like it took forever. Tomorrow I might head over to the Munger Trail. It has been a bit warmer up here the last few days so I'm hoping that would take care of any snow that's still clinging to the trails. Out and backs work good for my longer runs because NP can come along with the Shae Burg and not worry about completing the full distance.
I've also been thinking about a route that would take me down to 40th Ave W then up 40th/Haines Road to Skyline. I could then either come down 24th Ave W or back down through the park. I have no idea how far that would be. I may need to clock it in the car beforehand so I know how much time to plan on.
Otherwise I'm really looking forward to Easter Dinner. I'm sure it won't help much in my quest to lose ten pounds, but it will be tasty! I'm still debating on getting NP an easter basket...
Happy Easter everyone!!
I'm planning on six miles tomorrow morning. I knocked out four yesterday morning. It was okay, but it felt like it took forever. Tomorrow I might head over to the Munger Trail. It has been a bit warmer up here the last few days so I'm hoping that would take care of any snow that's still clinging to the trails. Out and backs work good for my longer runs because NP can come along with the Shae Burg and not worry about completing the full distance.
I've also been thinking about a route that would take me down to 40th Ave W then up 40th/Haines Road to Skyline. I could then either come down 24th Ave W or back down through the park. I have no idea how far that would be. I may need to clock it in the car beforehand so I know how much time to plan on.
Otherwise I'm really looking forward to Easter Dinner. I'm sure it won't help much in my quest to lose ten pounds, but it will be tasty! I'm still debating on getting NP an easter basket...
Happy Easter everyone!!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
High Knees are the Devil!
So yeah, taking the winter off is the worst decision that I make every year. Getting back in shape has been a bear!
My calves were feeling better after last weeks stair torture in Boot Camp so I decided to run up the hill on Monday night for my three mile jaunt. It was horrible. All the pain I had experienced before came rushing back to my calves. They were obscenely tight and ached for most of the night. Luckily I talked NP into giving me a calf rub. That helped a lot. I was very nervous that I would be in pain the next morning, but they seemed to loosen up just fine. And spinning the next day was fine.
This morning, I had a strong urge to stay in bed, but I got up and went to boot camp. There was no stair torture, but plenty of high knees, mountain climbers, and lunges. I'm just glad she didn't think to throw burpees in there just to watch me crumble. To think this was all so easy just nine months ago. Man, I'm such a dumb ass sometimes!
Tomorrow I am tasked with a four mile run. This will be a test for me to see if I can get up early enough to squeeze that in before work. It will also be interesting to see if I have the guts to run up the hill again. I'm not sure that I could live through another day of calf pain, but the hills are so important! It would be great to get a glimpse of the view from Enger Tower too!!
For now, I am trying to make it through the rest of the day without getting too sore.
My calves were feeling better after last weeks stair torture in Boot Camp so I decided to run up the hill on Monday night for my three mile jaunt. It was horrible. All the pain I had experienced before came rushing back to my calves. They were obscenely tight and ached for most of the night. Luckily I talked NP into giving me a calf rub. That helped a lot. I was very nervous that I would be in pain the next morning, but they seemed to loosen up just fine. And spinning the next day was fine.
This morning, I had a strong urge to stay in bed, but I got up and went to boot camp. There was no stair torture, but plenty of high knees, mountain climbers, and lunges. I'm just glad she didn't think to throw burpees in there just to watch me crumble. To think this was all so easy just nine months ago. Man, I'm such a dumb ass sometimes!
Tomorrow I am tasked with a four mile run. This will be a test for me to see if I can get up early enough to squeeze that in before work. It will also be interesting to see if I have the guts to run up the hill again. I'm not sure that I could live through another day of calf pain, but the hills are so important! It would be great to get a glimpse of the view from Enger Tower too!!
For now, I am trying to make it through the rest of the day without getting too sore.
Friday, April 3, 2009
You can do it!
I'm trying to gear myself up to get up early tomorrow to squeeze in a five mile run before I work a long shift to educate the public on recycling do's and don'ts. Can I? Will I? Should I? I think I need to. I've been eating like crap this week. Running motivates me to take better care of myself and I really need to. Plus this crazy increase in my work load has got me all stressed out...which running helps dramatically. I'm hoping that I find it in myself to crawl out of bed by 6:45 tomorrow. I'm going to take the dog with me so that should be fun. Hopefully she doesn't crap out on me half way through....but she will. It's okay, she give me more of an excuse to stop and take walking breaks.
I ran on Thursday morning and was actually making some pretty good time. My calves were sore as hell from running stairs on Wednesday so I decided not to run any hills. Being on flat ground made everything SO much easier. I was even breaking 9 minute miles (fast for a chubby midget)! The WWT should be equally as flat and will hopefully bring the same result. As I increase my mileage, I will have to head down to the Munger trail for some good scenery. Yay.
Otherwise, I'm just looking forward to the end of a long crappy week. I keep finding myself in the middle of these life contemplation moments. I think it's spurred by other people. I don't know, maybe they see something in me that makes them want to ask what I'm going do, where I'm going to end up. How is this story going to play out. It's all just overwhelming.
I ran on Thursday morning and was actually making some pretty good time. My calves were sore as hell from running stairs on Wednesday so I decided not to run any hills. Being on flat ground made everything SO much easier. I was even breaking 9 minute miles (fast for a chubby midget)! The WWT should be equally as flat and will hopefully bring the same result. As I increase my mileage, I will have to head down to the Munger trail for some good scenery. Yay.
Otherwise, I'm just looking forward to the end of a long crappy week. I keep finding myself in the middle of these life contemplation moments. I think it's spurred by other people. I don't know, maybe they see something in me that makes them want to ask what I'm going do, where I'm going to end up. How is this story going to play out. It's all just overwhelming.
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