OMG, it is getting hotter and hotter and hotter, no matter how early I go running in the morning. Clearly I am not meant to be running in the summer months. I knew today would be a short run because I have places to go and people to see this morning. I'm pleased to say, despite the heat, this was a relatively easy two miles. It would have been easier if it had not been so bloody hot all ready. Gah!
I could have gone another mile in the amount of time I had, but it was really hot. I cannot do much in this kind of heat.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
rough time of it
I cannot even tell you how much I did not want to run this morning. Oh, sure, my mind was in it, but my body was a less-than-willing participant. Nevertheless, I dragged my tired butt out there and forced myself to move.
I added a very little distance on to my route. I think I mentioned all ready that I'm trying to add a little at a time to see what each addition is, mileage wise. I'm a little surprised my addition only added about 1.8 onto the route. It felt more like .3! My mind was telling me it wanted to reach five miles today, but it just was not meant to be. Anyway, it's not how far or how fast I went, it's that I went at all that matters.
Now then, about the run. Walked two, ran two, and then settled into a 1:1 for the rest of the run. I was feeling flat out exhausted and it took a lot of mental work to get through the route around the lake.
It's safe to say there was absolutely nothing I enjoyed about this run. It sucked. And it was bloody hot out there, even though I started at 740a. I was pouring sweat. Gah, I hate Florida.
Go me, though, for getting out there when I flat out did not want to go. It might have actually gone better if I had eaten more than a handful of pretzels before I left, but that would have just made it later (hotter) in the day, and I would have been less inclined to get out there and pound out a few miles.
I set a goal for myself on the Nike+ site earlier this week: run 40 miles in 4 weeks. That should be a simple goal to knock out, and I imagine, if I can stay motivated, that I can bang it out in three weeks instead of four. I'm all ready at 7.3 miles, and only three days into the goal. Time will tell! I also signed up for a challenge on the Nike+ community: to run a 45' 5K by July 12th. Well, I beat that today. But in order to win the challenge, I have to beat out the other participants. I don't see that happening; this morning, I'm in 11th place in the challenge. No doubt there are only eleven challengers! Wow! Actually, there are 33 people signed up for this challenge, so far!
I added a very little distance on to my route. I think I mentioned all ready that I'm trying to add a little at a time to see what each addition is, mileage wise. I'm a little surprised my addition only added about 1.8 onto the route. It felt more like .3! My mind was telling me it wanted to reach five miles today, but it just was not meant to be. Anyway, it's not how far or how fast I went, it's that I went at all that matters.
Now then, about the run. Walked two, ran two, and then settled into a 1:1 for the rest of the run. I was feeling flat out exhausted and it took a lot of mental work to get through the route around the lake.
It's safe to say there was absolutely nothing I enjoyed about this run. It sucked. And it was bloody hot out there, even though I started at 740a. I was pouring sweat. Gah, I hate Florida.
Go me, though, for getting out there when I flat out did not want to go. It might have actually gone better if I had eaten more than a handful of pretzels before I left, but that would have just made it later (hotter) in the day, and I would have been less inclined to get out there and pound out a few miles.
I set a goal for myself on the Nike+ site earlier this week: run 40 miles in 4 weeks. That should be a simple goal to knock out, and I imagine, if I can stay motivated, that I can bang it out in three weeks instead of four. I'm all ready at 7.3 miles, and only three days into the goal. Time will tell! I also signed up for a challenge on the Nike+ community: to run a 45' 5K by July 12th. Well, I beat that today. But in order to win the challenge, I have to beat out the other participants. I don't see that happening; this morning, I'm in 11th place in the challenge. No doubt there are only eleven challengers! Wow! Actually, there are 33 people signed up for this challenge, so far!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Product Review: Clif Builder's Bars
During my marathon training, I posted some product reviews of various types of fuel over on my main blog. My reviews included Power Bar Gels and Luna Gels and Sports Beans and PowerBar Gels (two flavors). I think I also wrote about sports drinks, but I'm not going to search for those links (I like G2 or Powerade).
Anyway, I tried another product today that I love: Clif Builder's Bar, Peanut Butter flavor.
The bar appears to be small*, but actually takes several bites and several minutes to consume. It tastes almost like a candy bar. Hooray! It's chocolate covered and is granola-like consistency inside. It's delicious. Not something I'd crave if I were craving, say, a Peanut Butter Twix or something similar, but wonderful for a pre-run snack. Wash it down with a little water or G2, and you're good to go.
Good, crispy consistency. Great taste. A great bar. I highly recommend it.
*upon reviewing the Clif site, I think the bars I have are sample size, as the calorie count on the bar I consumed this morning is half of what is listed for that flavor on their site. This would make sense because I received these as samples at the expo before my marathon.
Anyway, I tried another product today that I love: Clif Builder's Bar, Peanut Butter flavor.
The bar appears to be small*, but actually takes several bites and several minutes to consume. It tastes almost like a candy bar. Hooray! It's chocolate covered and is granola-like consistency inside. It's delicious. Not something I'd crave if I were craving, say, a Peanut Butter Twix or something similar, but wonderful for a pre-run snack. Wash it down with a little water or G2, and you're good to go.
Good, crispy consistency. Great taste. A great bar. I highly recommend it.
*upon reviewing the Clif site, I think the bars I have are sample size, as the calorie count on the bar I consumed this morning is half of what is listed for that flavor on their site. This would make sense because I received these as samples at the expo before my marathon.
just a quick stress relieving run
I was very angry and upset this morning. Instead of comforting myself with food, I laced up and pounded out a couple miles. This is tremendous progress for me, because wouldn't comfort food have been so much easier and tastier? I'm proud of myself for running out my aggression instead of eating.
I was planning to run a short run anyway, but I had to take care of some financial stuff first, which took far too long (and lead to my rage), and made it too late in the day to want to go run. If you're unfamiliar with Orlando in May, it is bloody hot out there. Even at 9am. Too hot for running. But, I went out at around 850a. Because of the heat, however, I only did a short run.
Details then: walked 2, ran 3, walked 1, ran 3, and then settled into a 1:1 ratio. I kept a consistent pace, as you can see, until my cell phone rang. It was an important call, and I had stepped wrong on my left ankle, so I was happy to walk for several minutes for the phone call and ankle hiatus.
All in all, I'm pleased with today's run. In the miserable heat.
I was planning to run a short run anyway, but I had to take care of some financial stuff first, which took far too long (and lead to my rage), and made it too late in the day to want to go run. If you're unfamiliar with Orlando in May, it is bloody hot out there. Even at 9am. Too hot for running. But, I went out at around 850a. Because of the heat, however, I only did a short run.
Details then: walked 2, ran 3, walked 1, ran 3, and then settled into a 1:1 ratio. I kept a consistent pace, as you can see, until my cell phone rang. It was an important call, and I had stepped wrong on my left ankle, so I was happy to walk for several minutes for the phone call and ankle hiatus.
All in all, I'm pleased with today's run. In the miserable heat.
Monday, May 4, 2009
surprising
(Disclaimer: the graph Nike+ is showing me on their site looks nothing at all like the graph it puts over here when I grab the code. This graph is completely inconsistent. The other is very straight. I wonder which I should believe?)
I am rather shocked at how consistent this morning's run ended up being:
It certainly didn't feel that consistent. My first two minutes, of course, were walked. Then, I ran three, walked one, ran three, walked one, before settling into a run two walk one pace for two miles. Of course I was aiming for that elusive 38 minute 5K and, of course, didn't come close to it. One of these days I will surprise myself, I will! As mile 3 approached, though (and my time reflects this), I struggled to maintain even a one to one ratio. It was beastly hot already, at only 830a. Ugh, it's miserable in Florida in the summer (and it's not even summer!).
I went a slightly different route to see if it made a mileage difference, and it did. It added not quite .2 mile onto the route. I wanted to add additional mileage onto it, but am curious to see what each addition actually adds, so I'll be adding one addition per run. I need to get this loop back up to five miles, especially if I'm planning to re-join TNT in August to train for the Disney marathon again, which I am planning to do.
I may have to start researching shoes. The bottoms of my feet have been hurting. It could just be a lacing issue, though, so I'll play around with that. Also, it could just be my body complaining because it would rather go back to bed in the mornings!
I am rather shocked at how consistent this morning's run ended up being:
It certainly didn't feel that consistent. My first two minutes, of course, were walked. Then, I ran three, walked one, ran three, walked one, before settling into a run two walk one pace for two miles. Of course I was aiming for that elusive 38 minute 5K and, of course, didn't come close to it. One of these days I will surprise myself, I will! As mile 3 approached, though (and my time reflects this), I struggled to maintain even a one to one ratio. It was beastly hot already, at only 830a. Ugh, it's miserable in Florida in the summer (and it's not even summer!).
I went a slightly different route to see if it made a mileage difference, and it did. It added not quite .2 mile onto the route. I wanted to add additional mileage onto it, but am curious to see what each addition actually adds, so I'll be adding one addition per run. I need to get this loop back up to five miles, especially if I'm planning to re-join TNT in August to train for the Disney marathon again, which I am planning to do.
I may have to start researching shoes. The bottoms of my feet have been hurting. It could just be a lacing issue, though, so I'll play around with that. Also, it could just be my body complaining because it would rather go back to bed in the mornings!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
with great sloth comes crappy runs
I don't know why I expect the runs to get easier if I refuse to run regularly. Here's this morning's run details:
Distance: 4.4mi
Duration: 1:03'25"
Pace: 14'24"/mi
Calories: 729
I have completed 70 workouts for a total of 383.69mi. My average pace is 14'30" per mi.
So, let's talk about how inconsistent this run was. Overall, I think it was pretty good, because I pushed myself really hard during the first mile and leading into the third mile. As usual, I walked the first two minutes. Then, I ran five minutes. Five. That's a lot for me. I was debating with myself about whether or not I should push myself to run a full mile yet or not. In the end, I decided not to because I wanted to the full loop around the lake, and if I ran a mile at the beginning, there was absolutely no way I'd be able to do the entire loop, and I would have to double back. I don't enjoy the first mile and a half of the route, so doubling back and covering that same ground is not appealing to me at all. So, it was walk 2, run 5, walk 2, run 4, walk 2, run 2. In between mile one and two, I kept it at a 2:2 ratio. I was already lamenting having blown my wad in the first mile.
Then, I became aware of the duration, and I decided to try to push hard to do my mythical 5K in 38 minutes goal that is apparently only achievable in races longer than 5K. At around 28 minutes, I made myself run for five minutes. It was killer, and I knew it wouldn't make a difference; that the 5K in 38 minutes was not going to be possible. But, mile 3 registered as a ridiculously fast (for me) 8'40". That's blazing fast for me. Mile one was also pretty quick at 12'27". But I think 8'40" is now my fastest mile... let me see if Nike+ tracks that data... yes, it does, and it still has me as a 10'26" as my fastest mile, so maybe I'm misinterpreting all this data. That wouldn't surprise me at all.
Anyway, because I blew my wad early in the run, the end of the run was brutal, and it was very difficult for me to even do a 2:2 ratio.
Best part of the run: after I crossed the bridge, which means I was about 1.8 miles from home, a real runner came zooming up from behind me. This was as I finished 2 minutes of running and was beginning 2 minutes of walking. You could tell he was a real runner just by looking at him. And as he passed me by, he said, "Great job! Keep it up!" I needed encouragement so badly at that exact moment, and there he was, offering it to me! The running community is so wonderful. Then, .3 miles later, another runner approached (running the opposite direction). And as he passed me by, he said, "Good work! Keep going!" Verily, I needed his encouragement, too.
Yes, yes, I reciprocated praise to both of them. I'm nothing if not a great cheerleader for others. I'm just not so great at cheering myself on.
It was also a bit too warm to be running, at the late, late hour of 745a. But, I had to wait for my stomach to be sad before I could leave my house. I knew it was destined to be upset this morning and prefer it to be angry before I run. I was glad, however, that I remembered to wear my sunglasses.
There's a 5K coming up in a week or so. I really wanted to sign up for it, but... still unemployed. That'd be a totally frivolous waste of $19. This being unemployed nonsense is really screwing with my motivation to run.
Distance: 4.4mi
Duration: 1:03'25"
Pace: 14'24"/mi
Calories: 729
I have completed 70 workouts for a total of 383.69mi. My average pace is 14'30" per mi.
So, let's talk about how inconsistent this run was. Overall, I think it was pretty good, because I pushed myself really hard during the first mile and leading into the third mile. As usual, I walked the first two minutes. Then, I ran five minutes. Five. That's a lot for me. I was debating with myself about whether or not I should push myself to run a full mile yet or not. In the end, I decided not to because I wanted to the full loop around the lake, and if I ran a mile at the beginning, there was absolutely no way I'd be able to do the entire loop, and I would have to double back. I don't enjoy the first mile and a half of the route, so doubling back and covering that same ground is not appealing to me at all. So, it was walk 2, run 5, walk 2, run 4, walk 2, run 2. In between mile one and two, I kept it at a 2:2 ratio. I was already lamenting having blown my wad in the first mile.
Then, I became aware of the duration, and I decided to try to push hard to do my mythical 5K in 38 minutes goal that is apparently only achievable in races longer than 5K. At around 28 minutes, I made myself run for five minutes. It was killer, and I knew it wouldn't make a difference; that the 5K in 38 minutes was not going to be possible. But, mile 3 registered as a ridiculously fast (for me) 8'40". That's blazing fast for me. Mile one was also pretty quick at 12'27". But I think 8'40" is now my fastest mile... let me see if Nike+ tracks that data... yes, it does, and it still has me as a 10'26" as my fastest mile, so maybe I'm misinterpreting all this data. That wouldn't surprise me at all.
Anyway, because I blew my wad early in the run, the end of the run was brutal, and it was very difficult for me to even do a 2:2 ratio.
Best part of the run: after I crossed the bridge, which means I was about 1.8 miles from home, a real runner came zooming up from behind me. This was as I finished 2 minutes of running and was beginning 2 minutes of walking. You could tell he was a real runner just by looking at him. And as he passed me by, he said, "Great job! Keep it up!" I needed encouragement so badly at that exact moment, and there he was, offering it to me! The running community is so wonderful. Then, .3 miles later, another runner approached (running the opposite direction). And as he passed me by, he said, "Good work! Keep going!" Verily, I needed his encouragement, too.
Yes, yes, I reciprocated praise to both of them. I'm nothing if not a great cheerleader for others. I'm just not so great at cheering myself on.
It was also a bit too warm to be running, at the late, late hour of 745a. But, I had to wait for my stomach to be sad before I could leave my house. I knew it was destined to be upset this morning and prefer it to be angry before I run. I was glad, however, that I remembered to wear my sunglasses.
There's a 5K coming up in a week or so. I really wanted to sign up for it, but... still unemployed. That'd be a totally frivolous waste of $19. This being unemployed nonsense is really screwing with my motivation to run.
Monday, April 20, 2009
after 4 weeks of excuses, I hit the pavement this morning
I told myself it was a two lap minimum, which can be stretched to two miles. I think two miles is the minimum I should allow myself to complete. But, getting up at 510a and running in the dark means I don't leave the neighborhood, for safety. My run was really slow, but that's okay; I have not run in four weeks.
Here the run:
I actually had a good strategy. I always walk the first two minutes to warm up. Then, I ran three walked one for the first lap. During the second lap, I sometimes walked two, and sometimes ran two. I took many peoples' advice and slowed my run down. I can jog an 11 minute mile, but I kept it at a 13 minute mile today. I was looking for duration, not speed. I have not set my ratio at a 3:1 before. I'd like to get my ratio higher than that before the fall. And, my current goal is to be able to run more than a mile without having to walk. I'm pretty sure I could do that right now, but I have not pushed myself beyond .6 of running. So, I think my real goal is to run two miles without having to walk. That seems like a good goal.
Here the run:
I actually had a good strategy. I always walk the first two minutes to warm up. Then, I ran three walked one for the first lap. During the second lap, I sometimes walked two, and sometimes ran two. I took many peoples' advice and slowed my run down. I can jog an 11 minute mile, but I kept it at a 13 minute mile today. I was looking for duration, not speed. I have not set my ratio at a 3:1 before. I'd like to get my ratio higher than that before the fall. And, my current goal is to be able to run more than a mile without having to walk. I'm pretty sure I could do that right now, but I have not pushed myself beyond .6 of running. So, I think my real goal is to run two miles without having to walk. That seems like a good goal.
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