Okay, I'm in the thick of things now! I'm 10 weeks from my marathon, and it's getting intense. I had an easy run to start the week, then an intense speed workout (mile repeats). That was a fun one, actually. I like feeling strong and fast! I did some lunges when I got home from that one for some crazy reason, and I could definitely feel the burn from that!
Tomorrow I head out for my longest run EVER, 14 miles. Wish me luck!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Tri for Sight
The Tri for Sight was Sunday in Lexington, and it was a great race! My sister met up with me at UK’s Commonwealth Stadium before the race, which was scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. The start was somewhat delayed as we waiting for the sun to come up, and I actually didn’t get in the pool until almost 8 a.m. While we were waiting, the race director let us know that this was the second largest triathlon even in Kentucky, next to the Ironman!
It was a “snake” swim at the UK Aquatic Center, meaning we’d swim up and down one lane, then scoot to the next lane and repeat the process eight times for 800 meters. We started 10 seconds apart, but there were definitely still some traffic jams. I got nailed in the side of the head early in the race by someone coming the other direction…I think I’m still seeing stars!
Transition from the swim was LOONNGG. Running barefoot on concrete for a few blocks was not pleasant on my knees, and I was happy to see my bike! I remembered to towel off and put on some lip balm (key actions but easily forgettable), downed some Sport Beans, strapped on my helmet, and took off. The course was quite hilly, with several steep inclines. One racer and I kept exchanging places; I’d pass him on the flats, he’d pass me on the hills, and it continued in that fashion for almost all of the 18-mile out-and-back course.
The 4-mile run was no problem…at least after the first mile once I could feel my legs! It’s such a strange feeling getting off the bike and immediately beginning to run, not painful but kind of numb and heavy. We ran around the Arboretum, which made for some nice scenery. There were lots of people out with their dogs, and I passed several people out on a Sunday stroll.
My sister and pizza were waiting at the finish. Overall, the race was well coordinated and a pleasant experience. It’s probably one I’ll race again next year…but I’ll sign up early to avoid the late fees!
It was a “snake” swim at the UK Aquatic Center, meaning we’d swim up and down one lane, then scoot to the next lane and repeat the process eight times for 800 meters. We started 10 seconds apart, but there were definitely still some traffic jams. I got nailed in the side of the head early in the race by someone coming the other direction…I think I’m still seeing stars!
Transition from the swim was LOONNGG. Running barefoot on concrete for a few blocks was not pleasant on my knees, and I was happy to see my bike! I remembered to towel off and put on some lip balm (key actions but easily forgettable), downed some Sport Beans, strapped on my helmet, and took off. The course was quite hilly, with several steep inclines. One racer and I kept exchanging places; I’d pass him on the flats, he’d pass me on the hills, and it continued in that fashion for almost all of the 18-mile out-and-back course.
The 4-mile run was no problem…at least after the first mile once I could feel my legs! It’s such a strange feeling getting off the bike and immediately beginning to run, not painful but kind of numb and heavy. We ran around the Arboretum, which made for some nice scenery. There were lots of people out with their dogs, and I passed several people out on a Sunday stroll.
My sister and pizza were waiting at the finish. Overall, the race was well coordinated and a pleasant experience. It’s probably one I’ll race again next year…but I’ll sign up early to avoid the late fees!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Feeling Grateful
Monday night I had a nice swim with the TNT group. They’re headed to Disney this weekend for their big event. I remember how excited I was before Memphis in May 2006 with Team in Training. It really is a life-changing experience. I know for sure my life now is different than it would have been if I’d never participated in that. All the people I know, the things I’m doing…I can say with about 99 percent certainty that I would not be training for a marathon right now!
Speaking of people I met through TNT, Jackie and I ran an easy 6 miles or so last night. I think it ended up a little closer to 7 miles, but who’s counting? We took it off road a bit for a change of scenery. Seneca has some decent trails, and you almost always meet a mountain biker (we passed a group of three last night). There were also tons of bunny rabbits out and about!
You would think with all the miles Jackie and I have run and cycled together in the last 8 months or so we would run out of things to talk about, but that’s not the case! We like to contemplate everything from God and our place in the world to what’s going on in the heads of men we know. We play matchmaker sometimes, vent about work, and often discuss nutrition. Jackie’s a vegetarian, I have been at times, and we both are concerned with getting the best fuel for our bodies.
I’m really thankful for ALL the people TNT has brought into my life, and I’m glad that I have the ability to get out and jog, cycle, and swim a few miles. While I’m happy with what my body can do, the benefits I’ve received extend far beyond the physical.
Speaking of people I met through TNT, Jackie and I ran an easy 6 miles or so last night. I think it ended up a little closer to 7 miles, but who’s counting? We took it off road a bit for a change of scenery. Seneca has some decent trails, and you almost always meet a mountain biker (we passed a group of three last night). There were also tons of bunny rabbits out and about!
You would think with all the miles Jackie and I have run and cycled together in the last 8 months or so we would run out of things to talk about, but that’s not the case! We like to contemplate everything from God and our place in the world to what’s going on in the heads of men we know. We play matchmaker sometimes, vent about work, and often discuss nutrition. Jackie’s a vegetarian, I have been at times, and we both are concerned with getting the best fuel for our bodies.
I’m really thankful for ALL the people TNT has brought into my life, and I’m glad that I have the ability to get out and jog, cycle, and swim a few miles. While I’m happy with what my body can do, the benefits I’ve received extend far beyond the physical.
Monday, September 17, 2007
A Beautiful Day
I was a little anxious about my 12-mile run Saturday. It was only the second time I'd run more than 10 miles (the only other time was during the miniMarathon in April), I was running by myself on an unfamiliar course, and I've been feeling a little less than 100 percent lately.
BUT...it was great! The weather was gorgeous, cool even. I ran the first 3-3.5 miles or so with a jacket on, then stopped at my car to shed that layer and down a gel. I was at Bernheim Forest, and although I basically grew up next door, I hadn't ventured all the way back through the park in many years. My run took me all the way up several steep hills to the Fire Tower, which is the farthest you can go on a paved road in Bernheim.
I kept assessing the situation: lungs ok? check. Legs ok? check. Belly ok? check. Had enough water? check? I felt really good! What a relief. The only issue was the cool temps, which had my hands cold through the first several miles. My knees also tend to get a numb-tingly-stiff feeling in the cold, but it goes away. I am actually much more experienced running in colder weather than in heat, so I am highly optimistic about the progression of my training.
It's funny, because I realized that my muscles are never sore from running anymore. My joints, maybe. But I guess I've gotten up to a long enough distance and am progressing gradually enough that my muscles have adjusted. Still, I'm thankful that I now have a recovery week.
Just for fun, here's how I "accessorized" my long run this week:
-dry fit shirt Adam got free from a guest on the news
-running shorts
-the best socks ever and my Asics
-a good amount of Body Glide on the feet
-two Powerbar brand gels
-water
-Nathan hydration belt
-tons of chapstick
-three sticks of gum (Orbit. It's the best.)
-TNT shoe ID
-Goody nonslip ponytail holder
BUT...it was great! The weather was gorgeous, cool even. I ran the first 3-3.5 miles or so with a jacket on, then stopped at my car to shed that layer and down a gel. I was at Bernheim Forest, and although I basically grew up next door, I hadn't ventured all the way back through the park in many years. My run took me all the way up several steep hills to the Fire Tower, which is the farthest you can go on a paved road in Bernheim.
I kept assessing the situation: lungs ok? check. Legs ok? check. Belly ok? check. Had enough water? check? I felt really good! What a relief. The only issue was the cool temps, which had my hands cold through the first several miles. My knees also tend to get a numb-tingly-stiff feeling in the cold, but it goes away. I am actually much more experienced running in colder weather than in heat, so I am highly optimistic about the progression of my training.
It's funny, because I realized that my muscles are never sore from running anymore. My joints, maybe. But I guess I've gotten up to a long enough distance and am progressing gradually enough that my muscles have adjusted. Still, I'm thankful that I now have a recovery week.
Just for fun, here's how I "accessorized" my long run this week:
-dry fit shirt Adam got free from a guest on the news
-running shorts
-the best socks ever and my Asics
-a good amount of Body Glide on the feet
-two Powerbar brand gels
-water
-Nathan hydration belt
-tons of chapstick
-three sticks of gum (Orbit. It's the best.)
-TNT shoe ID
-Goody nonslip ponytail holder
Thursday, September 13, 2007
No Pain...
"One thing about racing is that it hurts. You better accept that from the beginning or you're not going anywhere."
Bob Kennedy, U.S. 5000 record holder and first non-African under 13 minutes; has run 14 of the 15 fastest American 5000s; U.S. 2-mile and 3000-meter record holder; winner of 12 national titles; 15 number-one U.S. rankings in the 3000 and the 5000
I’m starting to feel a little worn down. Monday night’s easy run of three miles around my neighborhood was a little less easy than I would have liked. My knees have started having little twinges of pain, and the arch of my left foot feels strained. And my back, well, let’s just say I’m overdue for a visit to the chiropractor.
Last night I had a tempo run (total six miles) and since I didn’t head out of the house until after dark, I did it at the gym. I felt really good during and right after the run, but today I feel kind of banged up. But, like Bob said, I knew it was going to hurt. I’m doing all I can to lessen the wear and tear on my body (stretching, icing, warming up slowly), and I’ve read about how to know the difference between a pain you can push through and one that demands further attention. I’m also very much looking forward to my recovery week next week!
Bob Kennedy, U.S. 5000 record holder and first non-African under 13 minutes; has run 14 of the 15 fastest American 5000s; U.S. 2-mile and 3000-meter record holder; winner of 12 national titles; 15 number-one U.S. rankings in the 3000 and the 5000
I’m starting to feel a little worn down. Monday night’s easy run of three miles around my neighborhood was a little less easy than I would have liked. My knees have started having little twinges of pain, and the arch of my left foot feels strained. And my back, well, let’s just say I’m overdue for a visit to the chiropractor.
Last night I had a tempo run (total six miles) and since I didn’t head out of the house until after dark, I did it at the gym. I felt really good during and right after the run, but today I feel kind of banged up. But, like Bob said, I knew it was going to hurt. I’m doing all I can to lessen the wear and tear on my body (stretching, icing, warming up slowly), and I’ve read about how to know the difference between a pain you can push through and one that demands further attention. I’m also very much looking forward to my recovery week next week!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Adventures in Cycling
I got a little more than I bargained for during yesterday’s “cross training.” Jackie, Molly, and I, along with Amy (Jackie’s co-worker), met up for the one-day (50-mile) portion of the Old Kentucky Home Tour bike ride.
We met at Tom Sawyer Park, hooked up with Chad, Molly’s teammate from the TNT Disney group, and set off. During the ride, Jackie went through several tubes, Amy wrecked, and my seat fell apart. Not to mention the pouring rain that slowed us down, filled our shoes, affected our vision, and felt like needles on our skin at several points. We ended up back at the park with smiles on our faces though (the hot pizza helped!), and overall it was a fun day. Especially now that it’s over!
I’m really proud of our group for staying positive and doing such a great job. We also met some really wonderful people. That’s why I love our community of local athletes; almost everyone you see is willing to help, encourage, or just chat for awhile.
This is our “after” picture, left to right: Molly, Jackie, Amy, me…and yes, that’s my NKOTB shirt…
We met at Tom Sawyer Park, hooked up with Chad, Molly’s teammate from the TNT Disney group, and set off. During the ride, Jackie went through several tubes, Amy wrecked, and my seat fell apart. Not to mention the pouring rain that slowed us down, filled our shoes, affected our vision, and felt like needles on our skin at several points. We ended up back at the park with smiles on our faces though (the hot pizza helped!), and overall it was a fun day. Especially now that it’s over!
I’m really proud of our group for staying positive and doing such a great job. We also met some really wonderful people. That’s why I love our community of local athletes; almost everyone you see is willing to help, encourage, or just chat for awhile.
This is our “after” picture, left to right: Molly, Jackie, Amy, me…and yes, that’s my NKOTB shirt…
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Yuck
I ran Wednesday evening with Katie, from the TNT Philly Team. It was a 5-mile tempo run, and I was feeling a little off. I chalked it up to the heat, since my lungs were screaming and it was over 100 degrees. Again. But it was great to get together with Katie. Her sister-in-law qualified in Louisville for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, so they' just booked their tickets for the flight to Hawaii. What an amazing experience it will be for them!
Thursday night, Jackie and I tackled some hill repeats doing a workout I read about in Runner's World. It was one of my cross training sessions for the week. I was battling nausea, dizziness, and major fatigue all afternoon, and it got better during our warmup and then much, much worse by the time we were finished. We managed some strong hills, however, but I was still wondering what's up with my body lately.
This morning I met Jackie again for my 10-mile long run. We started at her apartment near Cherokee Park and ran a loop through to Seneca and back to Cherokee. My legs felt great, my lungs were still hurting though and my energy level is still really low. We were talking about something about halfway through the run and I mentioned I'd given blood last week, and Jackie was like, "That's it! That's why you aren't feeling well!" Um, duh. I don't know why I didn't realize it sooner, but it makes sense. Hopefully I'll get recharged soon and won't suffer so much on my workouts, because it's not very fun. I feel like my allergies aren't helping at the moment, either, but at least I'm pretty sure there's nothing weird going on and that I'll be back to normal soon.
Thursday night, Jackie and I tackled some hill repeats doing a workout I read about in Runner's World. It was one of my cross training sessions for the week. I was battling nausea, dizziness, and major fatigue all afternoon, and it got better during our warmup and then much, much worse by the time we were finished. We managed some strong hills, however, but I was still wondering what's up with my body lately.
This morning I met Jackie again for my 10-mile long run. We started at her apartment near Cherokee Park and ran a loop through to Seneca and back to Cherokee. My legs felt great, my lungs were still hurting though and my energy level is still really low. We were talking about something about halfway through the run and I mentioned I'd given blood last week, and Jackie was like, "That's it! That's why you aren't feeling well!" Um, duh. I don't know why I didn't realize it sooner, but it makes sense. Hopefully I'll get recharged soon and won't suffer so much on my workouts, because it's not very fun. I feel like my allergies aren't helping at the moment, either, but at least I'm pretty sure there's nothing weird going on and that I'll be back to normal soon.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Summer Blues
I was driving along yesterday on my way to meet Molly for an easy 4-mile run when I saw one of those digital signs with the temperature: 100 degrees! Well, I was shocked and realized how unprepared I was to run in that heat. I didn’t have enough water to carry with me, I forgot my gum, I didn’t wear sunscreen…I felt like an idiot, but the weather had been so nice and cool lately that I was not expecting another day with temps above 100. Hello! It’s September now! Is summer EVER going to end?
Molly and I were very uncomfortable, but got our run in and ended up okay. My chest was tight, and I’m wiped out today from the heat. After the run, I picked Adam up and we headed to the gym, where I did a short swim workout. I’ve never been good at counting laps (I always get distracted), but yesterday was especially pitiful. I was trying to do timed 200s, and I kept clocking times that were way off. I feel I was probably swimming 150 one set, 250 another set…I finally gave up and started doing 100s, because that’s as long as I could manage to focus. The water felt great, even more so after the heat of our run.
Recently I mentioned my love of post-workout pizza. It’s still my favorite “recovery” food, but lately I’ve become partial to a small glass of chocolate milk (I use the lite Hershey syrup and skim milk). Sounds weird, and I never have been a big milk drinker, but I saw it suggested somewhere and have since become hooked. It’s important after a workout to eat or drink something within an hour to replenish your glycogen stores. Ideally, you’ll take in a ratio of 4 carbs to 1 protein. Chocolate milk is supposed to satisfy that need without being too heavy on your stomach, so I usually have it after a late workout when I’m going to be heading to bed soon. Other great snacks after workouts are cereal with milk and peanut butter & banana sandwiches. Still, nothing beats a slice of thin-crust cheese pizza…
Molly and I were very uncomfortable, but got our run in and ended up okay. My chest was tight, and I’m wiped out today from the heat. After the run, I picked Adam up and we headed to the gym, where I did a short swim workout. I’ve never been good at counting laps (I always get distracted), but yesterday was especially pitiful. I was trying to do timed 200s, and I kept clocking times that were way off. I feel I was probably swimming 150 one set, 250 another set…I finally gave up and started doing 100s, because that’s as long as I could manage to focus. The water felt great, even more so after the heat of our run.
Recently I mentioned my love of post-workout pizza. It’s still my favorite “recovery” food, but lately I’ve become partial to a small glass of chocolate milk (I use the lite Hershey syrup and skim milk). Sounds weird, and I never have been a big milk drinker, but I saw it suggested somewhere and have since become hooked. It’s important after a workout to eat or drink something within an hour to replenish your glycogen stores. Ideally, you’ll take in a ratio of 4 carbs to 1 protein. Chocolate milk is supposed to satisfy that need without being too heavy on your stomach, so I usually have it after a late workout when I’m going to be heading to bed soon. Other great snacks after workouts are cereal with milk and peanut butter & banana sandwiches. Still, nothing beats a slice of thin-crust cheese pizza…
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Finally, A Break
The last couple of weeks have been crazy, with this week being the craziest! Work has been really busy, and I've had things to do every day. I gave blood this week so I took it a little bit easier on my mid-week workouts in order to be rested for my long run today. Valerie (brave soul that she is) and I tackled nine miles. It amazes me that she gets out and does these runs just for "fun." If I'm not specifically training for something, it's really hard to get my butt out the door, especially to run nine miles! I really appreciate having a running buddy whenever I can get one, it makes the miles go by so much faster.
The weather today is great, it's so nice to finally have a break from the heat. It's looks like it's going to last awhile too...autumn may actually be coming!
Last night I got in the pool and swam for about 40 minutes. I haven't been in the water in many weeks, I can't even remember the last time I swam. But I'm hoping to do a short triathlon soon, so I need to get in the pool much more often. It is really great cross training, too, and will help me recover from my runs better.
I think Labor Day weekend came at the perfect time, I don't know how much longer I could have kept up the pace I've been at (not running pace, just living pace!). Thankfully, I'll get some rest and get a chance to catch up on some things this weekend. Happy Labor Day!
The weather today is great, it's so nice to finally have a break from the heat. It's looks like it's going to last awhile too...autumn may actually be coming!
Last night I got in the pool and swam for about 40 minutes. I haven't been in the water in many weeks, I can't even remember the last time I swam. But I'm hoping to do a short triathlon soon, so I need to get in the pool much more often. It is really great cross training, too, and will help me recover from my runs better.
I think Labor Day weekend came at the perfect time, I don't know how much longer I could have kept up the pace I've been at (not running pace, just living pace!). Thankfully, I'll get some rest and get a chance to catch up on some things this weekend. Happy Labor Day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
