Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Shamrock Nerves
Just once I'd like to feel ready for a race. Unfortunately, I'm staring down the barrel of the Shamrock Run this Sunday wondering why on earth I talked myself into this!?! I've been on exactly two runs in a month. The first was my little two miler, the second was about 4 and involved a lot of huffing and puffing. The Shamrock is 4.9. WHY didn't I sign up for the 5k? Ack! In addition to my runs I've been doing a lot of walking in prep for walking the Eugene Half Marathon in May, but how much does walking really help for running a race? I'm guessing not much. I've been comforting myself with the idea that I can always walk part of the race if I really need to, but in looking over the website tonight I see that no walkers are allowed. I'm really hoping that doesn't mean the Leprechauns blow whistles at you and point if you need a breather, because if it does I might as well go straight to the Beer Garden and skip that pesky running altogether. I don't even like beer, but hey. Once again, I am so over my head. All I really wanted was the sweatshirt!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
She's back
I feel like I lost an entire month of this year to sickness. One after the next we were sick in my house and this darn bug is hard to shake. This week I finally woke up and felt like I had the strength to go for a run. For most people this would result in putting on shoes, lacing them up, and having a nice little jog in the spring sunshine. Unfortunately, this is not how my disfunctional brain normally operates.
Even though I wanted to run, I didn't. Please don't ask me why. If I could figure that part of me out I would be fit, thin and my house would always be neat. My children would always put the lid on the toothpaste and I would have systematically taught them self discipline so that no one ever fails to clean up after themselves. The reality is that I'm a bit lazy and I struggle against it constantly. Well, actually that's not true. A lot of the time I just give in to it. haha!
So anyway, I spent all morning yesterday trying like mad to talk myself into going for a run. I had just about given up when *ding dong* the doorbell rang. It was Tricia, my running partner and great encouragement. She brought me a half marathon training plan, pulled from a magazine, and off she went. It was exactly what I needed. I stood there in my messy, oversized pajama pants and a giant t-shirt, hair every which way and zero makeup and thought, what the heck am I doing?!? So I threw on some running pants and my shoes, yanked my hair into a pony tail and hit the road. I ran 2 miles and felt like the queen of the world. 2 miles isn't much, but it was perfect for my first day out all month. I didn't have to walk, I found my groove, and I felt so darn good when I was finished.
Why do I fight myself so hard sometimes? It's like I have a self destruct mode or something, I don't know. I guess the important thing is that I keep picking myself up and dusting myself back off.
Even though I wanted to run, I didn't. Please don't ask me why. If I could figure that part of me out I would be fit, thin and my house would always be neat. My children would always put the lid on the toothpaste and I would have systematically taught them self discipline so that no one ever fails to clean up after themselves. The reality is that I'm a bit lazy and I struggle against it constantly. Well, actually that's not true. A lot of the time I just give in to it. haha!
So anyway, I spent all morning yesterday trying like mad to talk myself into going for a run. I had just about given up when *ding dong* the doorbell rang. It was Tricia, my running partner and great encouragement. She brought me a half marathon training plan, pulled from a magazine, and off she went. It was exactly what I needed. I stood there in my messy, oversized pajama pants and a giant t-shirt, hair every which way and zero makeup and thought, what the heck am I doing?!? So I threw on some running pants and my shoes, yanked my hair into a pony tail and hit the road. I ran 2 miles and felt like the queen of the world. 2 miles isn't much, but it was perfect for my first day out all month. I didn't have to walk, I found my groove, and I felt so darn good when I was finished.
Why do I fight myself so hard sometimes? It's like I have a self destruct mode or something, I don't know. I guess the important thing is that I keep picking myself up and dusting myself back off.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Winter is not so fun for running
I thought I was going to be the tough! one who ran outside all winter long, but it seems I'm the wimpy one who avoids going out there when it's wet and cold. I have these really cool running gloves that I've only worn twice, too. Bummer. Gotta break those babies in!
I've been walking some, once outdoors but mostly on the treadmill where it's warm and there are people to chat with. Today I schlepped along for an hour at a pretty good clip. I'm trying to figure out how to mix walking training into my running. I don't want to give up running to train for the Portland to Coast, but I definitely need to train for it. I need to come up with a plan, but for now I just keep going where the wind takes me. I have to really kind of get inside my own head when I walk ~ mind over matter type deal ~ as I find the walking a bit yawnish. I'm working at it, though.
So I'm signed up for several things, all of which are way over my head and I better get crackin' on the training. March 15 I'm running the Shamrock Run 8k in downtown Portland. Something about it just really appeals to me ~ looks like a party in the streets. The only problem with said party is the running 8k part. haha. I really need to be training for this because of that shin splint thing. I need a kick in the pants, though, as I keep thinking about training but not really doing it.
I've been walking some, once outdoors but mostly on the treadmill where it's warm and there are people to chat with. Today I schlepped along for an hour at a pretty good clip. I'm trying to figure out how to mix walking training into my running. I don't want to give up running to train for the Portland to Coast, but I definitely need to train for it. I need to come up with a plan, but for now I just keep going where the wind takes me. I have to really kind of get inside my own head when I walk ~ mind over matter type deal ~ as I find the walking a bit yawnish. I'm working at it, though.
So I'm signed up for several things, all of which are way over my head and I better get crackin' on the training. March 15 I'm running the Shamrock Run 8k in downtown Portland. Something about it just really appeals to me ~ looks like a party in the streets. The only problem with said party is the running 8k part. haha. I really need to be training for this because of that shin splint thing. I need a kick in the pants, though, as I keep thinking about training but not really doing it.
Monday, February 2, 2009
A quiz
What do you get when you combine steep hills, freezing temperatures, tippy parking spots and gorgeous views? The Zena Road Races!
I followed my friend Christi and her daughter out to the Spring Valley Community Center on Sunday morning in 32 degree temperatures. The skies were clear and blue, but baby it was coooold outside. Parking was along the road with not much shoulder before the gravel dropped off into ditches, so we pretty much parked at an uncomfortably steep angle. The good news is that my car did not roll over into the field below.
I went to this run with two goals: 1) to finish. and 2) to come home without shin splints. The finishing part I thought would be a breeze because I had elected to run the 3 mile race rather than the 6 or the 9. I knew it would be hilly, but I was pretty surprised by the reality of those hills. Not once did I wish I had done the 6 mile ~ 3 was just fine by me! Christi, Amanda and I stayed together through most of the race, although Amanda left us in the dust as she cheerfully zipped to the finish line without looking winded (little turkey).
I was pretty happy with my finish time. They clocked me at 33:11:3. 11:04/mile. Considering those hills, I'm perfectly happy with that. Out there mid-race and halfway up a hill I thought to myself, "You know, a 14 minute mile would be okay on this!" So obviously 11:04 was a happy surprise. :)
No shin splints ~ this is good, but the best part of the day for me was seeing my friend Annette and hanging out with her a little. It was a lot of fun ~ hope to do it again!
I followed my friend Christi and her daughter out to the Spring Valley Community Center on Sunday morning in 32 degree temperatures. The skies were clear and blue, but baby it was coooold outside. Parking was along the road with not much shoulder before the gravel dropped off into ditches, so we pretty much parked at an uncomfortably steep angle. The good news is that my car did not roll over into the field below.
I went to this run with two goals: 1) to finish. and 2) to come home without shin splints. The finishing part I thought would be a breeze because I had elected to run the 3 mile race rather than the 6 or the 9. I knew it would be hilly, but I was pretty surprised by the reality of those hills. Not once did I wish I had done the 6 mile ~ 3 was just fine by me! Christi, Amanda and I stayed together through most of the race, although Amanda left us in the dust as she cheerfully zipped to the finish line without looking winded (little turkey).
I was pretty happy with my finish time. They clocked me at 33:11:3. 11:04/mile. Considering those hills, I'm perfectly happy with that. Out there mid-race and halfway up a hill I thought to myself, "You know, a 14 minute mile would be okay on this!" So obviously 11:04 was a happy surprise. :)
No shin splints ~ this is good, but the best part of the day for me was seeing my friend Annette and hanging out with her a little. It was a lot of fun ~ hope to do it again!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Portland to Coast
I just registered this morning for the Portland to Coast Relay and I'm partly very excited and partly very terrifed. If you had told me two years ago that I'd be doing this I'd have thought you were insane, but here I am.
Most PTC teams have 12 members. Ours has 8. Why? I'm convinced it's because we're nuts, that's why. Honestly, I don't know. Gluttons for punishment? As a result of the smaller group, we each walk 3 legs of the race rather than two. I've been given the go-easy-on-her legs of the race and I'm not complaining one bit about that.
My first leg is 5.69 miles and very flat and easy. My second leg is 3.75 miles and also easy. My last leg (why'd it have to be the last one?) is 7.72 miles and described as "hard". It's up and down the whole way, but no huge hills to climb, just lots of rolling stuff.
I've got a lot of training to do!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Shin Splints
I knew going into the 10k that I wasn't as prepared as I should be. I had only run 6 miles once before with considerable soreness afterward. My 10k went really well, but I was so sore that week! As the pain subsided I did a little research and I really think I have shin splints. Darn it. It's my own fault ~ I think I'm the classic "too much too soon" scenario. I tried to run about 5 days after the race, thinking I could work out the soreness, but it actually was pretty painful. Since then I've been sidelined, trying to let myself recover fully this time. I think I'm just about all better and I've come out the other side with a new commitment to stretching, not pushing myself quite so hard (don't like that one a bit), and hydrating more. I'm not going to beat myself up about this, just learn from it and move forward. I've been anxious to get back out on the road, so hopefully this week I can venture out a little.
I'm supposed to run a hilly 5k next weekend at the Zena Road Runs and I'm really hoping I'll be ready for that. I may have to force myself to walk parts of it, which really burns me, but I know I have to be smart. I'll see how this week goes.
I'm supposed to run a hilly 5k next weekend at the Zena Road Runs and I'm really hoping I'll be ready for that. I may have to force myself to walk parts of it, which really burns me, but I know I have to be smart. I'll see how this week goes.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Great Book
I'm not even remotely seriously considering a marathon at this point, but I picked up this book based on the reviews and really loved it. I'm not recommending it as a training guide ~ goodness knows I'm not qualified to do that ~ but it's a great read. You know how they say you ought to laugh so many minutes per day? This will help.
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