Category Archives: running

five freaking miles

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Finally.

You would think after running 26.2, five would be no big deal. Well, I assure you, it was. I am so behind on my training schedule for the Canyonlands Half Marathon, but last night I finally got in a solid five mile run. It felt really good (especially the part when I stopped after every mile to restart the treadmill, thereby fooling onlookers into thinking I had only been on it for 10 minutes, rather than 45…the joys of an overcrowded gym and their “rules”).

It felt so good to run. I took it pretty slow, but I didn’t walk. That was my goal. Then I came home and did my Turbo Sculpt video (half of it…I’m trying to not get obsessive) and then a little Street Fusion – Street Jazz and Hip Hop just for fun.

What is Street Fusion, you ask? It’s my latest DVD purchase. I have been wanting to take a hip hop class for a while, but my schedule just doesn’t allow it, so I decided to buy a video. Tonight was the first go (videos are always risky) and I LOVED it! It wasn’t too remedial and it is all about choreography, which is totally my way of dancing. It took me back to my days of cheerleading in high school. Yes, it’s true. I know I’ve posted pictures before, but I’m going to do it again (notice the remnants of toilet paper in the tree behind me…the joys of high school). ETA: I have no idea what happened to the picture…I’ll add it again later.

And now, because it’s me, I need to leave you with my “deep” gym thoughts:

  1. I have to admit that there is something enjoyable about checking guys out at the gym. I know most of us women love to complain about how the gym can be such a meat-market, but hey, if they’re going to put it out there, I’m going to look. Too honest? Perhaps, but I’m not attached to anyone so I feel free to look. I’m not lusting or anything, just enjoying the scenery.

  2. While I enjoy checking out guys (and trust me, there are lots of different things to admire) I realized that I often create stories in my head about them, and generally, the better looking they are (in the classic, Hollywood sense) the bigger jerks they are in the stories I create. Hmm, maybe I need therapy to deal with my issues?

  3. I also check out the girls (you know, in a “why the hell are you at the freaking gym when you are so freaking skinny?” kind of way) and what I realized tonight is that I just have to let go. Some people are genetically blessed. Some people don’t have food addictions or a general aversion to exercise (every day is a battle, I swear). And when those thoughts failed to convince me that I should not hate these women, I just started thinking about how most of them probably have OCD, and that made me feel better.

take it and run thursday: basics of running

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I am part of a little online running community called Runners’ Lounge. There is also a blog by the same name. Today the blog is doing an experiment called Take It and Run Thursday and the topic is the basics of running. They have invited runners (any runners) to share on our blogs what we think to be the fundamentals of running. As such, I have decided to share a list of items that I feel are essential to beginning the long journey to the marathon. I have shared this before, but in this post, I will include links to everything, as well as a song or two. Now, the things I’m listing are the items/activities that worked for me as a non-runner. Just opinions, not science. And no, I have not been paid by any of these companies (I wish), so this is free advertising for them. These are REAL endorsements.

  1. As you start on your journey, or in preparation of it, I’d recommend a little light reading, The Nonrunner’s Marathon Guide for Women: Get Off Your Butt and On with Your Training. Besides being helpful, this book is quite entertaining and well written. It does scare you just a bit, but my experience ended up being quite a bit less painful than the author’s, which left me feeling totally satisfied.

  2. Pick a race that allows you a realistic time line for training. And in order to do that, you need to know what your time line is. For that, I’m a fan of Hal Higdon’s training guides.

  3. Shoes. This is not somewhere to skimp. Find your local running store. In Utah County, Runner’s Corner is my store of choice. You go, try on shoes, run in them. You’ll discover your footfall and the best shoes for you. And, really, they try to keep the prices as competitive as possible.

  4. For women who are at all endowed (in running, having a flat chest is definitely a great advantage): A good sports bra. My personal favorite, Champion® Vapor™ Seamless Sports Bra. I love it! No chaffing problems, as there are no seams, and it offers great support.

  5. A running buddy. Even if you don’t actually run together, you need someone who is counting on you and who is supporting you. For me, it’s the aforementioned Anne. We live on opposite sides of the country, but through my friend and yours, the Internet, we are able to share the joys of running, and keep each other going. And come marathon day for a beginning runner, having a friend to run with makes all the difference in the world. And I would go a step further and recommend trying to find someone who’s at about your pace. It made running the marathon so much more enjoyable.

  6. The Marathon Machine, as Anne likes to call it, which is known to most people as the iPod nano with the Nike+. Hands down, this was my single, most important non-necessity training tool.

  7. In order to prevent chaffing Sport Shield. (If you’ve never experienced the chafe before, you will if you don’t take measures to protect yourself). I know people swear by Body Glide, but I found that Sport Shield provides a lot more slip, thereby eliminating chaffing all together. I ran 26.2 miles and the only place I had an issue was under my sports bra on my back…a place I have failed to apply protection.

  8. Last, but not least (nor essential), a few of my favorite running songs:
    Clothes Off – Gym Class Heroes
    Find a New Way – Young Love
    Glamorous – Fergie
    Summer Love – JT
    Workout Plan – Kayne West

There are several other things I could list, but I think this is a good place to start. When it comes to apparel, I think it’s so dependent on your body, your style, and your climate that I didn’t want to put anything on here…other than I think Under Armor rocks.

Good luck in your running adventures. If you want to read more about my marathon training, just click here.

***ETA – Based on a comment from Anne, I realized that I forgot about fuel. How could I forget that? Oh…maybe because I’m way behind on my training schedule and I’ve been treadmill training. Anyway, two important things of note with fuel. First, the fuel belt: I love my Nathan Speed 4 belt. I like this better than the Amphipod and the Fuel Belt because of the amount it holds, the pockets, and the bottle holsters. Personal preference. Then there’s the fuel itself. I run with water, not energy drinks (which I thoroughly enjoy after a run, particularly Gatorade…but it’s too sweet during one) and CLIF SHOT ®BLOKS™ chews. I am not a GU fan. I think it’s disgusting (I’ve never actually tried it, but just the thought grosses me out). Fueling is something that takes some time to figure out for your body, so be patient and take it one step at time.

weight watchers weekly – week 1 redo

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I know you’ve all been missing these. I’m sure you noticed their absence, but I didn’t really feel the need to announce to the world (okay, the 100 or so of you who stop by daily) that I had become another statistic, a quitter of the WW. But, what’s the point in recording your life if you aren’t honest about it?

It’s been a while. My ankle was injured from the marathon. The stress of grad school applications got to me. The end of the semester was crazy. The holidays happened. I had to eat ice-cream daily for a week straight after the tonsillectomy. Well, my ankle is back to good, the last application goes in on Tuesday, the semester ended along with the holidays, and my throat has healed. No more excuses.

So, this morning I was back at the WW. It was painful. All that work down the tubes. Okay, not all of it, but a lot of it. I am still down 7 lbs, and those 7 lbs are gone for good. But it’s hard to think that I managed to put on 18. Yuck! 18 lbs! Okay, I’m letting go now.

I have eight weeks before my next race. If I average 2 lbs a week, I’ll be 2 lbs away from where I was at my low point. I think it’s doable. And in case you haven’t been following my workout tracker in the sidebar, you haven’t missed much. In the first 11 days of the new year, I have worked out a total of twice. But that all changes today. My goal is to PR on this next half-marathon, so it’s time to step it up!

Goals for this week:

  1. Run four days – for a total of 16 miles (I’m easing my way back in).
  2. Cross train two days.
  3. Get in three toning workouts.
  4. Follow WW’s points exactly.
  5. Drink 48 oz. of water a day.
  6. Get six hours of sleep a night (yes…that’s an improvement)

Game on!

back in the saddle

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14

Since finishing my first marathon, I have been running a total of three times. And two of those times were for races. Three times in three months…nice. With an injury, work, school, applications, interviewing, traveling, holidays, volunteering and my social life (yes, my social life beats exercise hands down…which is why I am so happy when I can combine the two), running got put on the back burner.

I decided to not be too hard on myself and told myself that I would get back into it once the tonsils had healed (which they are not entirely, but I’m clear to exercise as it’s been two weeks). So that is what I did today. Yesterday, I decided to ease my way back into things with a little Hip Hop Abs action (one of the great benefits of living alone…I can do workout videos anytime I want with no fear of mocking!)

Anyway, I’m in training for my next race, the Canyonlands Half Marathon, and I have every intention of PR-ing (I love forming my own gerunds) and if that’s what I want to accomplish, I have got to get my arse in gear. And today was the day to start. Thank goodness for treadmills.

I packed my bag this morning, and then realized that I had forgotten part of the Nike+. That was almost enough to make me not go running. I wanted my run recorded in my iPod. But, somehow I managed to get over that, and off to the gym I went right after work!

For anyone who has been through the cycle of working out, not working out, and working out again, you know just how not fun and not easy the “working out again” part of the cycle is. The excuses are endless. Discouragement and hope seem to fight it out in your head daily. Just under three months ago I ran 26.2 miles…and today? Well, 3.3 miles almost killed me. This is the battle of my life, and it’s a battle I intend to keep fighting. So I was a snail today, and every part of me hurt, and I thought my lungs were going to collapse and my heart was going to explode. I survived, and the next run will be better!

Onward and upward, right?

and they’re off

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So, we got into the Canyonlands Half Marathon. And by “we” I mean Anne, Cropstar, Jen, Allison, and me. I am so excited to be running with all of these girls, or at least starting the race with them. Not only am I thrilled to run with these girls (and finally meet Jen in person), but I am eagerly anticipating the return to running, full force…in two weeks after my throat heals from my tonsillectomy tomorrow. I think I’ve realized that training for something is the only way I stay on top of my running.

Look for running posts again in the very near future. Woohoo!!!