Quotes

I have been feeling pretty down on myself lately. But that is another post for another time. Instead, lets talk about running! #shocker

Today I had a 45 min run planned with 10 x 30second intervals at 5K pace followed by 1:30 easy effort. There was a warm up and cool down in there too. Yes, it rained. Yes, it took me 15 minutes to talk myself out the door but I am so glad I did.

A well-known local runner near where I grew up always said “Wet soles cleanse the soul.” Maybe it wasn’t his original statement, maybe it was. Whatever, I love it and think it’s so true.

Todays run was chilly! I rocked my ear warmers, gloves and thick socks for todays run.

post-run stretch + funky socks

Before I stretched and rolled like a good little runner I also rode my bike ( on my trainer) for 30 minutes. It was a good way to help shake out my legs and get some more cardio in. Cross training is what’s up.

Tonight I went to my local book store in search of a few books on sports psychology. I need to up my mental game. Really I went there looking for a book that said “Do this to be a fast as hell runner” but oddly enough found no such book. I did find a book with different quotes about running. Loved them all!

I also picked up a book that was titled “Boston Marathon: How to Qualify!” I mean, there is an exclamation point in the title, how can it NOT be the perfect book.

I looked through a few of the chapters but there was also a page on the top qualifying marathons in the country.

Steamtown is actually ranked pretty high. wah, I hope that doesn’t mean I have no chance at ever getting in….

I am off to scare away the rest of the trick or treaters rest up for tomorrow’s run. It’s the return of the hill tempo repeats. EIGHTOFTHEMHOLYHELLIALREADYHAVEANXIETYABOUTIT

gm

Halloween, Brownies and WODs

I won’t lie, I don’t love Halloween.  Actually… I really dislike it.  Don’t get me wrong, I love candy and seeing little kids dressed up in monkey and lobster costumes.  I even enjoy the occasional doggy bumble bee.

But as I have gotten older I feel like Halloween is more about scary, zombie killers or who can wear the least amount of clothing.  Maybe I am boring and don’t know how to have fun but whatever. Wearing little to no clothing or being scared out of my mind just isn’t appealing to me!  In any case…

Happy Halloween 🙂

The past few days I have been glued to the tv watching all the news coverage on the hurricane. It’s so devastating. I don’t even know what to say about it….

I did make brownies though!

I even spent a ton of time with my babies dogs that think they are human children.

I have’t gone back to CrossFit yet because I am still focusing my efforts on running.  But, I am trying to work on my strength without completely paralyzing myself the next day.  That means a lot of body weight exercises coupled with running.

Yesterday I ran for an easy 30 minutes.  I really wanted to nap instead of run in the rain but once I got out there it wasn’t so bad.  Running in the rain always sounds like a horrible idea but once I get started I always end up enjoying it.

I also completed an at home WOD that made me realize just how out of shape I am.  Woof

I am embarrassed it took me as long as it did.  I am going to definitely focus more on incorporating these types of workouts into my schedule more often.  I am determined to knock a few minutes off the time for this one…

Hope everyone that is dealing with storm damage stays safe…. I have power so you are more than welcome to come stay with me for a few days 😉

gm

Fur ball and Weather closing

This weekend was the epitome of relaxing.  Actually, I would probably call it lazy.

Friday afternoon I took the pups on a long walk.  The crisp air and crunchy leaves definitely help make my favorite time of the year THAT much better.

Saturday J and I braved our local walmart!  It was definitely a mad house with everyone prepping for Sandy.  We sucked it up because we had NO food at the house, I even waited in the deli line for almost 20 minutes.

On customer 49, we are 60. #woof

Other than food shopping and bringing in the outdoor furniture, we didn’t do any other storm prep.  I guess we are just hoping for the best!

Sunday morning I impatiently waited for the sun to come up and headed out for a run.  Just about 13 miles and I was pissed when I finished.  My average pace was 8:10 for 45 minutes then 7:55 for 55 minutes.  I wasn’t pissed about the pace, more about how it felt.

Will that pace ever not feel like it’s so hard.  I don’t expect it to ever feel easy, I am just waiting for it to not feel like I am dying the entire time.  What gives?!

Once I was done running J and I hit the road.  We drove about 2 hours to visit a special friend…

That little 6 week old fur ball is the newest addition to our family!  We have to wait 2 more weeks to bring him home but I can’t wait!

I even got to meet his cousin, G…aka Gigilo…. aka coolest name EVER

I made the trek to work at the early hour of 5am… After being there for a little over an hour I got the call that the site was shut down due to the impending weather.  Woah, that place never closes.  This shit is legit.

If you are in the path of the storm I hope you stay safe! I am going to part enjoy my day off and part try not to freak the F out

gm

Geeking Out

Earlier today I was chatting with a friend about the NYC Marathon.  She is (so awesomely) running this year and we were talking about how amazing it will be.  I feel like I get emotional watching any race let alone a race, in my opinion, in the greatest city every.  New York is no joke and to be out there running with 39,999 other people is just so amazing to me!

I just found out that the requirements to get into the New York City Marathon recently changed.  The times are insane.

I was almost wondering if I could qualify for entry with my (to me) “fast” half marathon time of 1:42.  HA.  yea right.

In my opinion these times are CRAZY and it isn’t even the most elite race I could think of.  Maybe because the times are so incredibly far-fetched for me?  When I think of qualifying for any race and running something that is an elite field, I automatically think of Boston.  Boston’s times dropped 5 minutes this past year.  If I would have tried to qualify last year, I would have been in no problem since the requirement for my age group was 3:40.

Luckily for me there is one more year that New York Marathon is participating in a lottery drawing.  I was convinced to enter the lottery because, why not?!

That would be the most epic year of running if I got to run NY ANDDDD Boston all in the same year?  I would probably crap my pants.  seriously.

I feel like I should probably comment that I don’t think every race will be fast and amazing and allllll that.  But for some reason I am fascinated by how fast these times are getting.  That just means that there are normal, everyday people out there that are SO incredibly fast.  Times that I bust my ass and train so hard for come to them so easily.  I get all geeked out over it and think it’s awesome!

You know what else I have been geeking out over lately?  Athlinks.com

I don’t know if I ever mentioned it here before but it’s awesome.  It is a database that stores pretty much any race you ever ran in.  Times, dates, locations…you name it, it’s there.  I love being able to look back and see where I was in good shape, where I definitely could have trained harder, races I ran with friends and races where I showed improvement.

What do you think about the times for all of these big marathons?

Anyone ever go to athlinks and stalk themselves, or others? 😉

gm

Around the Internet

There has been a lot of interesting things I read on the internet this past week.  If you are anything like me and you’re always looking for something that catches your attention thats not pinterest or twitter you will hopefully appreciate these!

Shut up and run  made a post about the 20 things no one tells you about running.  LOVED this.  Go check it out if you have a chance.  My favorite?

19.  Running performance is as much, if not more, about mental strength as your physical strength.

Hungry Runner Girl posted this from a blog she reads.

My Favorite?

1. Thou shall not compare thyself to other runners.  A mile is a mile.

Another interesting article I found from this girl I am also a fan of. 

10 things winners do differently.  There isn’t one point that I love more than another, I just love them all.

Hopefully you take the time to check these out! They are pretty good reads!

gm

2 WODs and no sleep

Yesterday was the first time I was both allowed to and had the motivation to do a strength workout.  I find that it is so hard to push myself with weights when I am alone.  I definitely can’t wait to start going to CrossFit again.

I knew that since I haven’t lifted in a while I didn’t want to kill myself.  But I still wanted a workout that would push me and make me sore.  After I did 45 minutes of cross training yesterday I did this workout.

3 Rounds
10 push ups
15 russian twists
10 shoulder press
15 knees to elbows
10 pull ups

 

2 rounds
10 push ups
25 crunches
10 upright rows
15 russian twists

I won’t lie… it wasn’t that awful.  Actually, I think I kind of wimped out.  I mean, today my chest is really sore but next time I will add more variety and even make it a little longer of a workout.  Still, if you are looking for a quick workout that targets your chest and a few other muscles in your upper body, that’s a good one.

After work I went and taught a CrossFit class.  After the class was over I was told that it was a compliment when everyone is cursing my name while working out.  Oh.  I didn’t know.  Well, I guess it’s safe to say that I got a LOT of compliments because of this workout 😉

I am actually itching to try this.  Since I am avoiding lifting legs still, this is  a perfect workout that targets my upper body and my abs.  I am thinking this weekend I will hopefully give it a try.  Although, after seeing the class complete this last night, I might be scared of it!

Last night at about midnight, while I was sleeping ever so peacefully, my neighbors decided it would be fun to call every emergency service vehicle to their house.

Yes, I know that’s only one cop car.  But about 2 minutes after I took this picture 4 fire trucks, 3 ambulances and 2 more cops showed up.  I was too freaked out and still half asleep to remember to snap a photo.  I guess the neighbors thought they smelled an electrical fire in their house?

Ok, I should preface this by saying that I am not a fan of those neighbors to begin with.  They have a cute little beagle that they tie up outside ALL day and never give any attention too.  The dog barks NON stop and after other people complaining, their solution?  Oh, just put a muzzle on the dog while he is tied up.  It’s horrible.

So the fact that they thought their house was on fire?  Scary and I am glad everything is ok.

BUT, the fact that 8 emergency service vehicle were outside my house running and talking loudly from 12-2 am, NOT ok and now it’s their fault I am tired and have a case of the crank.  The end.

If you try any of those workouts let me know what you think!

gm

Race Recovery

After Sundays craptastic run I have been thinking a lot about the recovery portion of running a marathon. I mean, even Monday I was so exhausted.  I keep saying “I’m not sure what my deal is, what’s wrong with me” but I do know what’s wrong with me… I am not really understanding the recovery portion of running a marathon.

I think, ok, it’s been 2 weeks since I have done any kind of long or intense workout, I should be ready to go.  Well, mentally I am definitely ready to take on some serious killer workouts.  Physically is a different story.

After reading anything and everything I can on what do to after a marathon, these are the most common tips I have come across.

In the first hour:

• Make sure to get some food in your system.  Carbs, protein, sugar….just get some calories in you
• Lay with your feet up (preferably on a wall) for 10 minutes.  This helps get the blood moving which will help jump-start the recovery process
• Move!  Make sure to walk around after you finish.  Stretch and move!

** Lucky for me I did none of that in my first hour.  I sat, cried and had no appetite. Go me.

Next 72 hours:

• Move some more.  Go for long walks.  Swim.  Get the blood flowing to help promote recovery
  
• Eat well.   Remember you aren’t planning and long runs anytime soon so no carbo-loading necessary
• Sleep.  Your immune system has just been shot from the long, hard work you put into your race. Make sure to get enough sleep and rest to help prevent yourself from getting sick
• Stretch/roll/massage/combination of them all!  Treat your muscles nice.  They just carried you 26.2 miles so be as kind to them as they were to you

** I was really good at the moving, rolling and sleeping part.   Eating well?  That’s another story..

Next few weeks:

• Let cross-training be your friend.  Spin, swim, elliptical, walk…just make sure they are all done at an easy effort.
• One general rule of thumb is one rest/easy day for each mile run.  I, personally, hate that rule.
• A majority of what I have read says to give yourself at least 14 without an intense or long run.  That doesn’t mean no running, it just means take it easy.
• For the average runner it can take 2-3 weeks to finally start feeling yourself, so give yourself that time.

I think I am below average because even at 2 weeks out I just do not feel myself.  I am going to definitely be more aware of how I feel (and start being better friends with my foam roller) and pray I get that running groove back soon!  I had a shitty run Sunday but I am trying to not let it get me down.  I need to remember the next few “hard” runs are going to feel tough and that’s ok.  That doesn’t mean I am out of shape or anything, it is just going to take time for me to get back into the swing of things.

I read this from Shalane Flanagan’s blog here:

” Athletes should never underestimate the power of recovery.
While my mind and competitive spirit are raring to go, my body is not quite there yet.”

So much goes into training for a race.  The day leading up to race day you train mentally, physically and emotionally.  For a marathon, that is typically 16-20 weeks.  It took a long time to build up to the point where you are able to run for 3+ hours so recovering from that won’t happen over night.  It won’t take as long as the building phase but it will definitely take time.

I think I wrote this post just so that I can get down on paper have written proof that the way I feel isn’t because I suck, it’s because I am still coming off a tough race.  Hopefully this helps at least one of you as much as it helped me!

And, for no reason at all, a photo of me face timing with J the dogs this weekend.

gm

Cheering is no joke

Since I wasn’t able to participate in the race I decided to wake up early and get my run over with so I can focus on my friends and family racing.

The only time I was able to run would be before the sun comes up.  That left me with the treadmill.  Safety First.

I ran a 10 minute warm up and 50 minutes at 8:00 pace.  I made the incline at 1.5% to try to make it as similar to being outside as possible.  Let me tell you…the entire time I was running I was so glad I wasn’t racing later in the morning. It was a shitty shitty run.  I mean, I did it but it sucked.

I sweat more than normal, my breathing was super labored, I couldn’t find a rhythm.  It sucked.  But, whatever, it was over and I could focus on the task at hand….CHEERING!

We got to the start nice and early and met up with two friends that were also running.  Unlucky for me, I didn’t get to catch any photos of my old roomie and this was her first half!  She kicked ASS but I am pretty bummed I have no photo evidence.

Once the runners started I got to hang out with these guys to cheer our faces off!

Let me tell you…. Cheering is no joke.   The way the course was set up, mile 12 and the finish were close to each other so I bounced back and forth trying to cheer people on with a mile left and scream them into the finish.

I am so proud of everyone that ran today!  Although I didn’t get to run with them I tried my best to let them know that I was pumped for them and I wanted to pay back all the cheering and support they give me all the time!

One thing I did learn this weekend?  Cheering is NO joke. I am so tired.  I mean, I may or may not have complained about how tired I was.  Ha. I didn’t even just bust my ass and run a race, I was a cheerleader.  Let me tell you, I have a much better appreciation for the screaming, cowbell shaking supporters!

Congrats to everyone that raced this weekend!!  You’re all super kick-ass.

gm

That time I wasn’t allowed

Let me explain…

Saturday morning bright and early I headed down to meet my mom so we can get some shopping in before heading to the Runners World Half Marathon expo.  After we scratched the shopping itch we headed over to gawk at running celebs and pick up our race bibs.

We also sat in on a seminar about how every runner can get better.  More on that later…. But while listening to the speakers we had lunch.  Clearly a lunch of champions.

At the expo we spotted running celebs like Matt Long, Bart Yasso, Amby Burfoot…and we even got a glimpse of my new idol Shalane Flanagan.

Amby Burfoot

After a day of completely geeking out on all things running I got an email from my coach.  The email I was dreading actually. He said it would be best for me to not participate in the 1/2 marathon.  WAHHHHHHH. 😦

I was the most bummed ever.  He said he would rather me not run for a few reasons.  I have a few goals I am working towards so I need to focus on the big picture.  With the marathon being only 2 weeks ago, participating in a race situation wouldn’t be best for my training.  He said, from a coaching standpoint, it would be best for me to run the scheduled stamina run which was only 60 minutes rather than a 2 hour easy, long run.

That was bittersweet news for me.  I wanted to do whatever my coach thought was best and the idea of running fast and longish was awesome.  But at the same time I was really looking forward to running with my friends and family on a course that was organized by the greatest running source ever.

I stuck to my schedule and decided that I would do what my coach wanted and that would allow me to finally be a cheerleader for all the people that are always a huge support to me!

Payback time 😛

gm

Colors

Today I got to get out and sweat some!  I have been really easing back into the running since the marathon so when I saw that today my schedule had me doing tempo repeats I was pumped!  Sure, it was shorter repeats but I still had at least 45 minutes of faster running to tackle!

The weather was perfect.  Shorts and a long sleeve.  Slightly overcast. Teeny tiny breeze.  Autumn at it’s finest.

For some reason I was lovin’ on my outfit today.  And not the outfit I wore to work, my running outfit!

Rogas? Check
Steamtown T? Check
New Mizunos? Check

the only thing is….I think that T-shirt whispered “95 seconds” a few times… I’m not sure?

I was loving the orange!  I don’t know..it just made me happy, kind of like that run!

The workout wasn’t too complicated but I didn’t want to screw it up so just in case, I wrote it out on my hand 😛

please notice that braid.. I’m getting good!

I swear I was smiling ear to ear the entire time I ran.  It was the kind of run that was hard but not too hard and everything just felt perfect.  I was happy to be running and to just be alive.  cheesy but true.

I ran a little faster than I was supposed to but, like I said, I just felt so good!

After I finished running I took advantage of the warmish weather and walked the pups.  The trees near me are awesome and it just so happens that my favorite tree on today’s walk… ORANGE

I even had myself convinced that my favorite color might be orange.  It’s not. I think it’s pink.  No..yellow, definitely yellow.  NO GREEN, I forgot about green…

Is it bad that I don’t have a favorite color? I just like colors in general? The more colorful the better!

What’s your favorite color?

gm