Mind vs body

This is so true.  I've noticed as I run it's my mind saying I can't keep going wayyy before my body does.  How to conquer the mind....better figure that one out.

 

2 miles

Recently Harry told me to change how I'm doing my runs.  I still have to do a pretty good mix of run/walk and he recommended I:

Start the treadmill in the mid 3's on mph and walk 5 minutes to warm up.

Get OFF the treadmill and stretch.

Get back on and start over, this time at a running pace (anything less than 4 mph should be walking anyways) and start at a run, not a walk.

 

I did it this way today and it was way better.  My legs don't hurt and I kicked serious ass on my run.  I did my two miles, sweated like a sonofa and worked really hard.  I haven't quite made it half a mile at a time on running but I'm getting close.  I felt like the first mile came and went quickly but the 2nd one seemed to take forever. 

 

BUT, I kicked ass on my mile time.  Wednesday's mile pace was 17:58.  Today's pace: (drumroll please...)

16:13!!!!  Wooo!

 

I had to take some extra time at lunch to get my full 2 miles in.  It's getting to where I can't fit it into my lunch hour, between going to the gym, changing, running, changing and getting back to work.  I have other options.  I could run after work at the gym and drop Mason in the daycare.  My problem with that is that he gets really sad when I pick him up from the sitters and then drop him somewhere else and disappear on him again.  I hate doing that.

The other option is to use the jogging stroller I have and run with him.  I'm totally intimidated by that.  I feel like I'm not strong enough yet.  And I don't want it to slow down my half-marathon training.  I have a very specific goal and a very specific timeline to accomplish it.  But then again, if I run with him and the stroller and train that way the half-marathon without it will be even easier, right?  I think I need to suck it up and just run with it at least once to see if it's really as horrible as I'm thinking.  It probably isn't.  Too bad it's still 98* at 7:30 at night...We'll have to get up early...I'm getting up at 5 these days anyways.  Guess I should throw him in the stroller and go.  We'll see.

Here's today's FitSnap.  GO me.

Thoughts from today's trek

As I was changing to go do my run I caught a glimpse of myself and thought "Damn, these workout clothes sure don't flatter anything."  But then I reminded myself that #1-who cares and #2-they're tight for good reason.  I'd rather have lumps & bumps than chafe.  Yowza.

For the first half mile I was pulling my pants up over and over and over...so maybe some new pants are in order.  For the last half of my run they stayed up miraculously...maybe the pants fairies smiled upon me so I wouldn't moon the poor folks around me.  Still, maybe new pants are in order.

Halfway through my run two things happened that caught my attention.  First, the lady cleaning the machines handed me my towel that had fallen.  Thank you for that!  I was dripping!  I definitely needed that towel but didn't want to stop my run to grab it.  Huge help.  BUT THEN she sprayed and wiped down all the machines around me.  So, for the rest of my run as I'm huffing and puffing...I was huffing and puffing cleaner.  My nostrils still burn.  Maybe don't clean the machines around the runners...especially since I was the only one on a treadmill so leaving two on either side of me that you'd wipe down later (with mine anyways) isn't that big a deal, right?

Used my cordless headphones for today's run.  LIFE CHANGING.  So much better than a cord going whap whap whap as I run.  Not nearly as distracting!  Bueno!

I cut my overall average mile by 36 seconds today from Monday.  I only beat my overall time on my mile and a half by just about 1 minute but I'm happy with shaving the mile time.  Unfortunately it's still well over my race time from Lamoille, but I'm thinking the difference between running outside and running on a treadmill has something to do with that.  At least I hope so.

Did seem to pull a muscle in my left leg.  About halfway up my quad, towards the right hurts like a bitch.  It's targeted to about a 3 inch section and only hurts when I stand up.  Will have to watch it and see what it does.

Next run is Friday and it's 2 miles.  Then 3 on Saturday morning with a coffee date reward with Jackie when I finish.  Looking forward to it. :)

 

 

Vegas, baby!

Once upon a time there was a little sister.  She was sweet, kind, smart, fierce and... she was a RUNNER.  Oh yes, she ran.  She ran for fun.  She ran to unwind.  She ran to relax.  She ran for "me time". 

One sunny day in June she got a grand idea and shared it via email with her big sister.  It festered and festered in big sister's head.  Big sister asked questions, thought it over and fell right..into...the trap!  And then was born...

Girls Weekend!  Vegas Baby!  And yes, you CAN do a half marathon.

Meet my little sister, the runner.

 

 

So, I'm officially training, under the confident eye of my little sister.  She's put together a plan, made me a training calendar and is behind me every step (get it?!) of the way.  This is no simple training calendar either.  We're talking motivational pictures, blurbs of running advice, a full schedule of how long to run which days...all the way through till our HALF MARATHON in VEGAS in NOVEMBER. 

 

Let me explain something.  I'm the queen of procrastination.  You read how I "forgot" to train for that Lamoille 5k and then "all of a sudden" it was time?  Yeah, that's a common thread.  Here's the thing.  I'm good at letting myself down.  I do it all the time.  I make excuses.  A lot.  But here's what's important.  I want to run.  For fun, for relaxation, for me time.  I want to run because I want to be healthy and fit.  In high school I had a friend who used to go running with her dad.  She loved it.  I want Mason to love fitness and being healthy.  I want it for me.  I want it for Mason.  I want it.

 

With Katie behind me, kicking my tush, I'll get there.  I've officially got NO doubt. ;)  Look, I even completed my first day of training yesterday.  See?  The smile, the sweat.  It happened.  And it hurt soooo good. :)

  

 

Lamoille Canyon 5k...and beyond.

 

What do you do when you've signed up for a 5k and train for about 2 weeks, DON'T train for the following 2 months and then realize all of a sudden with an "oh shit" moment and matching facial expression that this 5k you'd signed up for with such gusto is THIS WEEKEND? 

You push down the "oh shit" and you do it anyways.  You make jokes about dying in Lamoille Canyon being at least a pretty way to go.  Tell your sister that you want your son to go to Princeton (because why  not?)  and play for the Atlanta Braves (because have you met me?!), though not necessarily simultaneously.  You make a carpool plan, you lace up your shoes, you hydrate and you do your damned best. 

That's what I did.  I made a lot of jokes, to hide the apprehension.  I packed our overnight bag and my run bag because we were staying at my parents house the night before the race.  The thinking was that if we stayed there Mason could sleep in when I had to leave at 5:30am to head to the canyon.  (He, of course, woke up pretty much right when I left...sleep in...hah.  Oh well, more playtime for Grandma & Grandpa.)

I laid out my "flat runner" and posted her to facebook, complete with hashtags. (#flatrunner, #becauseIcan, #runForfun)  I went to bed early and then spent the entire night getting up with my darling toddler every couple hours because he was super needy all night, even though he'd previously gotten back into the habit of sleeping all night.  Not that night. 

I rode out with Jackie, a lifelong friend...literally; she's known me since I was a bambino.  We got to the canyon, put on our race numbers, sunscreen, bug spray and brave faces.  We met up with my cousin Mercy who runs 5 miles for fun in the mornings.  She's not intimidating at all.  Thin, runners body, big smile, cute little running outfit.  (Good thing I love her, otherwise I'd have to hate her!) 

We loaded the bus and waited until "go time" and then laughed and joked and talked about the beautiful view as the bus took us 3 miles up into the canyon and dumped us out. 

All of a sudden it was time.  Overall I did better than I expected.  I ran more than I thought I would/could.  I didn't die.  I learned to use landmarks.  I'd tell myself to push it and run until the next sign or pole or large rock.  And I did it.  Don't get me wrong, I walked too.  Some of those hills probably learned new words from me as I cursed them and huffed and puffed.  But I did it.  And what really got my goose, I placed 2nd in my age group.  I purposely haven't asked how many of us there were in my age group.  I don't want to know.  I placed.  I got an award.  There's a little medal hanging with my race bib on my bib holder.  I finished.  THAT was the goal.  Goal achieved.  I did it.

Mom, Dad, Grandma Peggy & Mason were waiting at the finish line.  I ran into the Lamoille Grove and spotted them and it was awesome to see them there cheering me on.  We hung out and waited for Katie to finish the half marathon (way to go kiddo!!) and then Mason and I headed home.  Home where I begged him to nap and begged my legs to stop cramping.  I'm really proud of myself for finishing, for not giving up and for going in the first place.  Having not trained it would have been so easy to just not go.  But I want this.  So I did it. :)

 

Flat Runner

 

Race Shirt & Bib

 

Road selfie!

 

How gorgeous is this run?!

Crossing the finish line with a time of 48:35. 

That's just over a 16 minute mile.  My goal was a 15 minute mile but I didn't train so I'll take a 16!

My 2nd place award!

 

Mercy and I at the end. Love that cousin of mine!

 

 I have a picture of Katie and I at the end too but this darn blog won't let me add it.  I'll put it on the post about my sweet little sister doubling as my running coach.  Stay tuned. ;)