Dreaded Treadmill
I ran 9 slow miles on the dreaded treadmill. I have had no hope of staying with the first week of the schedule while traveling this week but I at least needed to get in some miles and the only wayI could really gaurantee it was to hit the gym. Ugh, I hate the treadmill. But I survived and somewhere around an hour when I had to restart because of the time limit on the machine I was actually feeling like I could run forever. I do set it at a .5 incline but I have no idea what people mean when they say you can run faster on the treadmill. I have always run slower and it is always harder.
Hi from Florida
Today has been, well, an okay day. It started out excellent. I sat by the pool and the beach getting work done and really feeling like this project was almost coming to an end. Then I came up to shower (I hate beach stink and I went in the ocean to cool off) and change bathing suits and it started to storm. Not only did it start to storm but they started testing the PA system in the hotel. Now I don’t know how testing it once doesn’t mean it is tested but this continued for 3 hours. So I couldn’t nap, couldn’t work, couldn’t go outside (bad thunder and lightening) and about went nuts. I was also waiting for a phone call this whole time but every time I took a step I felt like I was in the Verizon commercial because I kept going no signal. But the storm has stopped and the day is looking up. I think I may try to run a few more miles and get in strides given the post-storm cool. Tonight I am off to dinner with friends which should be fun.
Oops, I left out the run. Before the pool/beach thing I actually went for a run. I ran 4 miles which was ok since I didn’t sleep last night and so didn’t get out until 7:30. If I thought TN was humid I must have forgotten what FL was like. I actually ran out along the road and then had the brilliant idea to run back on the beach thinking it would be cooler on the other side of the dunes with the wind blowing. My calves ache now and not a good ache. My feet were also not feeling the sneakers sinking into the sand and felt yucky. But besides my body revolting it was a bit idealistic. I just wished I was flat, could run with bikini, and could jump in the water to cool off every 5 minutes.
Yesterday, I ran 6 with the Y girls. They were making fun of me for wearing a cotton shirt in this heat but dry-fit has been chafing me to death lately.
Oh I had dinner with daddy yesterday night (I am having serious chronological issues in this post). He was amused by my hair. I think maybe he just used to have so much fun teasing me about having Chelsea Clinton hair and now that I have virtually none he had to come up with something else to be mean about. Don't worry it didn't take long...
It's Monday and I am tired
I need to start sleeping. I haven't had trouble falling asleep (well I always do the night before a marathon) in a long time but lately it has been real bad. I got in a 6 mile run holding 9:15 min/miles this morning. That is slow but I have plenty of excuses: (1) it was 8am and already hot, (2) I was super tired and running on 4 hrs sleep, (3) it was hilly, (4) I am dealing with a lot of stress... so I am not going to complain too much about the time and just be glad I got the miles in. I am going to bike now and read some Advanced Marathoning and then back to work.
Today I went to Home Depot to get 2 types of lightbulbs. They had neither. Then I went to Publix to get 3 items (all pretty standard). Nope all out of all 3 BUT they did have one of the lightbulbs I needed. This was a VERY successful trip.
Blah Sunday
No running today. I hope to get in a good elliptical workout and perhaps some more bike reading later but first I really need to get back to work. I have pretty much spent the past 2 hours procrastinating and I actually like this work. I think I really need a morning run to get me going.
I ran 40.2 miles this week (Sunday-Saturday). Not quite the 42 I was shooting for but I am pretty pleased. I also signed up for the Firecracker 5K (and signed up all of our houseguests as well). This is going to be a busy week for me so I am not sure what will happen with running. Tomorrow I have a full day of meetings and a research call and then Tuesday morning I will run with the girls before heading to the airport to go to Florida. I am just tagging along on Mr. DoubleU’s business trip which is actually to my motherland. I thought mom and dad were going to be out of town but it appears that dad will make an appearance for dinner Tuesday. Wednesday I will get to see my “oldest” friend too which is exciting. Hopefully I will also get in some good running, beach time, and finish this research project while we are there. We’ll come back Friday and then we are welcoming a house and a half full of guests who are rotating through for the following week. I almost wonder if people come to visit so they can see if TN is really as scary as it sounds. Oh and our house is right on the park where they have the big Fourth of July festivities so we are throwing a party in the middle of this. A little bit of fun and excitement for me as I ponder what to with my overeducated and underutilized self.
Time for a Diet Mountain Dew (DMD) which closely trails Propel in the favorite fluids list.
Proud
I am very proud of myself today. Before I tell the story I should mention yesterday. For someone who has been, well, pretty much bored for the past 6 months, the past couple of days have been a bit hectic. I also have seen the return of some anxiety issues I have and haven’t slept so well this week. Oh and I think I mentioned before I was having just an awful week. I got in an easy 5 miler early yesterday morning which while slow felt good because it was the first time in a while I felt like running wasn’t a struggle and perhaps just maybe I felt like I was becoming a runner again. Then I had a busy day running around and by the time I got home around 4 my sleep deprivation had me practically collapsing. My recumbent bike was supposed to be delivered yesterday by UPS Ground (makes me so mad) and I was happy to see it wasn’t sitting on the stoop. But I had a bunch of things to get done around the house and a couple phone calls to return. While returning one of the calls however the UPS man showed up. I have to say he really went above and beyond. He tried to leave it on the stoop but when I opened the door and tried to look all cute (hard considering I chopped my hair) and helpless (always easy) he actually agreed to help me take it into the garage. You see the exercise room is a floor down from our front door and the package was 150 pounds and there was no way I was getting it down there myself, or even with my husband for that matter since we are sans dolly. Anyways at first he made me try to help him which resulted in him swearing quite a bit about how it was heavier than the limit (150 pounds) but he also decided it might just be easier to move it himself on the dolly. Unfortunately, as a result of trying to help I threw out my back yet again (and unfortunately for the guy I was cashless so no tip for his effort). I am starting to think I might have a done something really bad one of these times because not only does my back hurt but my stomach hurts. I know, I need some core training. So I now have a recumbent bike (and my awesome husband even assembled it last night) but I also have a really painful bike.
This morning I wanted to get in a 12 mile run. Unfortunately, I took a nap yesterday evening waiting for my husband to get home from his business trip and then I couldn’t fall asleep last night and didn’t get up as early as usual. Mr. DoubleU and I decided that we would go to Percy Warner and that way he could get in a bike ride and I could run and we both could take advantage of the shade. Fortunately, it was also quite a bit cooler than it has been today and actually almost completely overcast. Ever since we moved here I have wanted to do the 11.2 mile run at Percy Warner but have not gotten up the courage. Ordinarily this morning would have been the perfect opportunity, but my back was really aching and I was having an aversion to food since last night and felt low on energy. Nonetheless, I got to the top of the big hill around mile 3 and decided hey no better day than today and I really need these miles in the training bank. So I did it. And actually it wasn’t nearly as bad as I anticipated. That mile 3 hill is the worst and the rest kinda feels like my old Boston training runs in the Stanford hills and Portola Valley. There is nothing flat about the run, lots of rolling hills which after a while takes a toll on your body and your time, but this all keeps the run interesting. I am not a huge fan of flat-flat running anyways. The run today even felt better than the 10 mile run earlier this week but then the lower humidity, shade, and slower pace probably helped. I finished around 1:45 and didn’t walk at all which is impressive considering when I do the 5.8 miler I usually walk for a minute at the top of the big hill to get my heartrate down. A little bummed I won’t be doing the Providian/Saturn relay this Fall (in part because they moved it to the Spring) because I feel almost ready to take on one of the Skyline legs.
We went to Pei Wei for brunch/lunch on the way back. I don’t like Chinese food but I humor the husband sometimes… especially when I am craving salt. The highlight was killing a beetle by dousing him/her in soy sauce…a little inhumane? I spent the rest of the day running around the house doing various long overdue tasks like deep cleaning and sealing the granite in the kitchen (and just generally cleaning the kitchen), a ton of laundry, cleaning out the craft room because we just aren’t working on our “projects” so I might as well pack them up and get them out of view (including all my running medals).
Time for a bike "ride"… this week’s Economist is the best in a while (in case anyone cares!)
Heat Diet
I ran a slow 4 this morning with the Y girls. It was hot and just miserable. We tried to run through the soccer field sprinklers and they shut off right as we tried to run into them. We thought we were on candid camera.
Not sure if other outdoor exercisers have this problem, but I am "suffering" from a loss of appetite I attribute to running in this heat. Sweet foods have been especially not appealing...and usually I crave Subway cookies and the like. I guess it will be good for me!
Lessons learned
1. Do not go to Publix when you are hungry.
2. Do not get your hair cut after running 10 miles in heat and humidity.
Umm, I could officially now get away with entering the men's division.
Bad Day
I am back from my run. Actually been back for a while but I have been dealing with crap. Can I say I have had a bad last 24 hours? Lets start with this morning:
5:45—Wake up (without alarm) and am so proud of myself. Begin morning hydration. Get ready to get out the door by 6. Hmm, where is my Garmin? Look everywhere for my Garmin. Did I throw it out? Why do I always think that when I can’t find something? I am such a pessimist. But, where could it be? Grr… You see the Garmin was my wedding present from Mr. DoubleU and despite the fact that I didn’t use it for the first 15 months I had it I would feel horrible if I lost it. Besides I have grown pretty attached to it in the last couple of months and I think it really improves my training. I pick up my old running watch and head out the door because it is now 6:20 and getting hotter by the minute. Ahh, there is my Garmin. SUCCESS. Sidenote: I didn’t wear it for the first 15 months because when I got it it was broken—missing a screw to hold the watch to the band. Before moving I decided it would be a good idea to finally get it fixed and took it to Safeway where 2 bucks (and nothing is 2 bucks in California) and 10 minutes later it was good as new. Ridiculous, huh? I am LAZY. I also just didn't think I needed a fancy watch and didn't realize what I was missing.
6:20—I head out the door and run into my neighbor returning from his run. He remarks: “it is real hot out this morning”. Not a good start for a 10 mile run.
Mile .6: Pass the tennis courts where I see some old bald guy trying to look cool and totally whiffing at an overhead. Hah, he turns around and sees me and looks all sheepish.
Mile .8: I come across a running group I now aspire to join someday. Wow are they fast. I have only ever had running partners who are slightly slower than me (see I am lazy) and well I think it would be great to have someone to push me. They must leave from the Y around 6:15 too which would be perfect. I will have to keep that in mind.
Mile “1.6”: Darn, I have lost at least .3 miles in the dense shade of the trails. How do I know? The mileage is marked for the past 1.2 miles and when I started this section the watch read .75. Maybe I would’ve been better off without the Garmin because I promised myself I would run until the watch said 10.00 (I don’t like fuzzy numbers and don’t want to give myself an out).
Mile 3.33: Am I really only 1/3 of the way there? Did I really write once that I liked heat and humidity? Why did I choose the course with so many hills?
Mile 4.0: Potentially a turnaround point. I stay strong and skip it.
Mile 4.5: Running down a main street now so I am trying to at least look strong in case anyone I might know is driving by. Good thing I don’t know many people here.
Mile 5.2: Silly me, my shoe is untied. I am going to need to stop for a second and tie it and take a swig. Big bummer. Good thing I have to cross the street anyways. And while I am at it might as well run through someone’s sprinkler. Disclaimer: I stopped my watch for about a minute total on this run I am guessing. I took a total of three walking water breaks because I have trouble drinking out of a bottle while running (funny no problem drinking from a cup).
Mile 6.2: Realize I just missed a turn. Grr, but at least now I can be sure I will get in a whole 10.00 miles.
Mile 7.0: Last big hill.
Mile 8.4: I must have lost some more mileage somewhere on the Garmin because I thought this was 9 miles… and that darn promise I made to myself, I am going to have to run around the field on the way home and I already feel like a cripple. I only have about 20 miles on my new sneakers and I just switched from Asics to Mizunos--I am not sure how my feet and legs like my new shoes.
Mile 9: This isn’t too bad. At least the park is nice and shady.
Mile 10.01, Time 1:30:14: I had been trying to push it to come in under 90 minutes but I didn’t have a lot of push left. It was my lucky day though because the grounds crew was working on the sprinklers on the soccer fields and I got to drench myself. Good thing too because I was pondering jumping in my neighborhood swimming pool with all my clothes on which I don’t think my neighbors would have appreciated.
Finish + 20 minutes: I decide I am going to download my recent runs so I can try to figure out what mileage I may have missed on today's run, analyze today's run, and also get some cool satellite photos from the runs, bikes, hikes in the parks last week. Well keeping with the bad past 24 hours I break the tip of the cord that plugs into the Garmin. Fortunately, Mr. DoubleU is a bit of technology collector and a packrat so I am hoping he has a plug that will work somewhere.
Training for a marathon during the TN summer is starting to sound like a BAD idea.
Back to the Humidity
The past two days have reminded me of the differences between the home I left (CA) and the place I now call home (TN). It has been so HUMID. I am usually a non-sweater (or rather just a salter) but that was certainly not the case this morning.
Yesterday I didn't get out of the house until too late as I was still feeling the effects of my illness from Sunday. I only got in 5 miles and I had to stop a few times to drink and get my heartrate back down. This morning I ran 6 miles with the girls and it felt pretty good but I am sure it would've been better if we had left before 8:30. Time was just under 52 minutes which was decent given the heat. I also did it without drinking which I like to do when it is 6 miles or less but I think I need to rethink that philosophy (and as you can see from Monday's run I am not consistent). I am hoping to get in a 10+ mile run tomorrow morning.
Sunday Update
Our trip was incredible.
Unfortunately, after the long trip home yesterday (including the longest part, sitting in the Vegas airport), I am a little under the weather today.
I woke up real early after only 5 hours of sleep and then took a long nap later in the day but still feel in a fog and like I might be coming down with a fever/flu.
Oh well, my training begins again tomorrow and I just plan on crosstraining this afternoon.
I did buy myself a going back to work
present today though and I am very excited.
In college I did probably 90% of my course reading on one of these.
I’ll post a few pictures but I think I am going to skip the whole trip rehash. You’ll have to call me to get that since I can hardly keep my head up right now.
Goals for this week:
Put in one 12 mile run
Weekly total (Sun-Sat so only 6 days left) >= 40 miles
Sign up for a race
Hiking the Narrows at Zion NP:
JDoubleU and the Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon NP:
North Rim - Grand Canyon NP
(and a shot of me with my favorite bevie):
Hello from the Las Vegas Airport
I ran two more times this week for a grand total of 3 runs and about 10 miles. Pretty pathetic but I do horribly with elevation.
We are sitting in the Las Vegas airport. Actually we have been sitting here for about 4, maybe 5, hours. We miscalculated and thought we were going to be able to standby on an earlier flight. Big bummer and its making for a long, boring day. BUT we have heard some very amusing conversations. First there was the girl who must have called everyone in her phone to tell them how she had been bumped off 3 flights to Chicago, her parents sucked because they weren't going to pick her up at the airport at 11pm and drive her to go out with her friends (ok so one of the phone calls was actually to her parents who she told not to pick her up), that the police had been called to the house this morning because the maintenance guy she had called to bring over an AC/heat filter (I assume like the $1 ones you pick up at Home Depot and install once a month??) had been dumb and used his key to bring it inside when nobody was home, …ok you really had to be there but the whole story that she kept repeating and repeating included a swear every other word. Then there was the girl who also called everyone in her phone to tell them about her random hookup the night before. I could go on but the plane is here and my battery is about to die. But there was another good moment when the lady behind us was watching the Stanley Cup and trying to figure out why Carolina was wearing red instead of blue (she then told her daughter how she went to UNC and they always wear blue so this must just be a substitute outfit).
Pictures and trip recap to come.
Checking in from Utah
This has to be short as the internet connection I am using is being quite temperamental. I took yesterday off from running but did quite a bit of walking. This morning I did 3 miles at 5000 ft elevation which I thought was impressive but when we were biking we saw some runners who must have been doing something more severe. We biked about 9 miles out to the end of Zion Scenic Drive from our hotel. It looked to me like it was downhill (I have bad depth perception in sunglasses) but fortunately on the way back it turned out that it was actually almost all uphill going out--that may explain why it felt like I couldn't bike (which I can't but this was really bad). On the way back we stopped for some shorter hikes. Tomorrow we are doing the Narrows. I'll try to write more on that later.
Not so good
I didn't end up doing so well with my goals. I ran 37.5 miles this week. Turns out my 37.5 miles last week was actually for an 8 day week (I had a little error, which shows my total incompetence, and was supposed to be tracking Sun-Sat not Sun-Sun). The 37.5 miles this week was for a 7 day week so at least I improved. :) Maybe I will try for 40 once I am back from vacation (where I am guessing there will be minimal running). Did mediocre on the other goals. Definitely left earlier but Wednesday I had a little hesitation about whether I was going to do a group run at night or an early run and ended up leaving around 8am. I felt like I was running faster and was definitely pushing myself but my watch hasn't been too accurate on the mileage (so my 37.5 is conservative) so I can't really tell what my pace has been. I guess that is a downside of running on the shady trails I am going to have to live with.
I am going to try to run a bit at least on vacation but with the elevations we are traveling to it might be difficult. Next Sunday I would like to do a 10+ miler.
Another week
I ran 6 miles yesterday in about 50 minutes. I am sort of guessing at the mileage because my watch said 5.4 and I had run a slightly
shorter route with a group and they had said it was 7 miles. I was trying to run fast but I didn't feel very loose. I did pass some guy on the yellow trail who said "you are going really fast this morning"--so I would like to think I was going faster than 9 minute miles. This morning we did about 5 miles. I didn't wear a watch but I don't think it was very fast. We stopped a little early to chat with two "injured runners." The older woman has been sidelined for 10 months with a stress fracture. We had also earlier been chatting about stress fractures. So this brings me to the number one reason why I run: because I can. This might sound dumb but I run because whenever I can't run I am miserable and realize just how incredible it is to be able to run.
So I have had some questions about our trip. We are leaving Saturday for 8 days in the Wild West (well really just the Southwest). Saturday night we are going to try to get in the "wild" part partying in Las Vegas. Sunday we will drive to Zion. I am very excited to get in some good hiking. Wednesday we will leave for Bryce. We are going to do some horse back riding and mountain biking which should be fun. Friday on our way back to Vegas we will stop at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and stay in a cabin on the rim. Saturday it is back to Vegas and home. I hope to post some pictures when we get back.
And I almost forgot: I signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon!!!
Week in Review
I got in a SLOW 5.1 miler this morning. Actually it was more like 2 miles run, walk a mile, and then 3.1 miles of hilly running. I felt like crap so I was glad I did as well as I did. Also didn't get out early enough and the sun was really bearing down on me. I ran a total of 37.5 miles this week and crosstrained 4-5 days so I am pleased. In college I would run 70+ miles a week every now and then but 37.5 is a record for the recent history (since Boston last year at least). I want to run a Fall marathon and while I was holding out hoping that I would be able to coordinate schedules better with an old running buddy I think I need to bite the bullet and sign up for one so I can have a more concrete goal. My goal #1 for this week is to get 40 miles in and since we are taking off for vacation Saturday afternoon that is going to need to happen in 6 days. My goal #2 is I want to start running more quality miles which I will qualify as miles in less than 8:30 (well I would prefer sub 8:15 training miles but those are difficult right now). My goal #3 is I want to get out the door before 6:30am except when running with a group.
Now I have a question I would like all my NUMEROUS followers to help with and I will try to keep it PG-13. Can muscles be supple? I said yesterday how the humidity makes my muscles supple (in this context thinking it meant: loose/long but easy to be torn) and was told that adjective could only modify a part of female anatomy. Actually they made fun of me and my supple muscles for the rest of the day like a bunch of 13 year old boys. Can muscles be supple?
Update
I survived.
It was slow but I really only walked about .2 miles (.1 at the top of the hill and .1 trying to psych myself up at the start). The boys enjoyed their ride and even did a loop around the mansions of Belle Meade. Off to the
Loveless Cafe. Tonight we are going to a Ray Charles tribute at the
Opry. Sounds like today will involve lots of healthy food.
French Fries
To prevent everyone from thinking I was a slacker I decided I should probably take a second to blog. Actually I have been a slacker. Thursday we did a 2 mile warm-up and then ran drills. Wow, I am not sure if it was drills or the lunges that followed or maybe the fact that we did them out in the tremendous heat, but I am now having trouble doing everyday tasks like sitting on the toilet. Yesterday, I spent 80 minutes on the elliptical trying to work it out but it didn’t really help. I probably should have gone to the gym and used the bike. I can’t wait until we get one of those for our new home gym.
Now I am waiting for the boys to wake up. We have a friend in from out of town for the weekend and we are going to take him to PWP for a bike/run combination (boys bike, Jamie attempts to run). Given the hills and my current situation I am not sure if that won’t end up a bike/walk combination. Oh and to add to the soreness I spent the evening downing the most ridiculous plate of French fries. Probably the tastiest I have ever had. Our friend is recently single and a mutual friend had recommended Cabana for its tremendous scenery—he was totally dead-on. There was this girl at the table next to us who was probably my age and sporting what I think was a nice set of silicon and topped off with a small piece of fabric wrapped around her neck that was not doing much to cover anything up. The fabric was also shinny green and everyone was just staring. I saw this guy walk past and so obviously look down the fabric and then get this goofy grin on his face. It was priceless. What was better was the fact that it was 3:1 women and every woman there looked and dressed in some variation on this girl. I think Paris Hilton was sitting behind us. So what did I do? Sit there and eat a plate of the most delectable fries… a big plate, but the menu said they were fried in non-trans fat oil so of course they didn’t count. We followed this up with a trip to a smokey honky tonk where the music was a bit disappointing. The run today should be interesting.
