in need of a positive run

After two incredibly crappy runs, I desperately needed a good run. Tonight was the bridge run. I was very apprehensive, given recent left leg/right ankle issues. I bandaged my right ankle and crossed my fingers. It was a very good run, and I am mostly pleased overall.

I walked the uphills and ran the downhills. My average pace wasn't spectacular, but since my left leg really didn't complain at all, and my bandaged right ankle didn't force me to stop, I'm pretty pleased.



I felt great throughout, and great at the end. That is a spectacular feat in and of itself.

Now for the complaint. I ran with a local running group (I'm out of town, and thus not with my people). These people are amazing runners, as was demonstrated by how many times they each lapped me. But, I work very hard at not comparing myself to others. For every single person that passed me by, I offered positive reinforcement; I am nothing if not a great cheerleader during runs. Almost none of them offered me positive reinforcement in return.

Kids, I give what I require in return. So when I'm huffing and puffing and loudly proclaiming things like, "WAY TO GO! KEEP IT UP! GO GIRL! YOU'RE AWESOME! GREAT JOB!" it's not just because I want to encourage you. I require positive reinforcement. Running is ridiculously difficult. It seems to me, if you're doing something hard and you see someone else working hard too, you should occasionally cheer them on. When I run at home, without fail, when I am passed by other runners, they always cheer me on. Even when I'm not training with my team. These people here were wholly unsupportive as I ran. And that sucked.

But, regardless of the almost complete lack of positive reinforcement (after the third time of me cheering some on, they did reciprocate), I think I had a great run. Not my best run, but pretty fucking great.


It doesn't look steep, but I promise it is!


nearing the top


thumbs up for a great run!


the other side

I did one full lap, then went almost to the end of the bridge (I knew if I got off the bridge, I'd quit prematurely), then went back to the top and back down, for a lap and a half. I then did repeats until I hit my goal of one hour, which worked out to four miles.

in which I give up and call for help

I'm on vacation. I have to train. Saturday night, I participated in a midnight 5K race. It was awful. I seem to have/be developing an injury in my left leg. During my race, my left leg started screaming 6 minutes into it, and screamed the rest of the race. It sucked.

With much apprehension, I strapped on my shoes this morning and hit the road. It's a mile up the road to a nice shopping plaza. I planned to go there, run around the plaza, and come home. I was shooting for three miles, which should have taken me about 45 minutes.



This morning, I felt pretty okay for the first mile. But boy, once my leg started screaming after that first mile, it screamed loud and long. And so I walked. Slowly. Very slowly. And limped. And... called my husband to have him get out of bed and come retrieve me.

Crappy ass run.

We came back to the condo we're staying at on the beach and changed into swimwear. We then walked that mile back up to the same intersection I had run to, only on sand. It worked my leg muscles differently than walking on hard surfaces does. And, my left leg continues to hurt. Only now my right ankle, my weaker ankle, the one I had issues with all last year, started hollering too.

My fucking body is betraying me, and it's only September.

TNT first Monday night training

I went to training with my Osceola team tonight. We started with pain-inducing ab exercises. OMG! Killer crunches. And I can generally crunch without problem. Good god, my coach is an evil, sadistic man! I would have much rather run an extra mile than do some of those exercises!



We all ran together at a really slow pace. And... for the first time ever... I ran a full mile without walking! Now, to be completely honest, I did have a 15 second stop when my shoe had to be re-tied, but other than that, I ran a full mile without walking! GO ME! Of course, that made me flat out exhausted and not much good for the second mile, but my overall pace wasn't too terrible. We only did two miles and thirty minutes due to weather. We run in rain, but not in lightening.

2009: first TNT training

Saturday was the first training with my Osceola Team in Training team. I'm the mentor for the Osceola team, even though I'm not an Osceola resident. The Osceola team only has 10 people on it, whereas the Orlando (Orange/Seminole) team has dozens and dozens of people, probably 50 or so.

We met up in Buenaventura Lakes, which was only about 15 miles from my house, which was actually closer than where the Orlando team trained (Altamonte Springs). Coach talked to us and taught us some stretches, then had us run two laps around the park. Each lap was half a mile. I picked up the rear of the pack with two girls of similar stature to me. I had spoken and or emailed with both of them, and anticipated them having some confidence issues with running, as I had last year and continue to have when I forget to not compare myself to others. I think they were trying to prove themselves, even though I talked to them about running ratios and the importance of not comparing themselves to, say, the girl in the coordinated running outfit who's been running her entire life. We ended up running the entire first lap without walking! That's half a mile. I was pretty proud of myself, too!

For the second lap, I kept us on a walk two run one ratio. I could tell they were tired. I was feeling the heat. Good lord it's hot out there in summer! I cannot run in that heat. As much as I hate early mornings, I hope our training sessions start earlier soon.

After the second lap, Coach had us all stop, hydrate, and he talked to us about form.

For the third and fourth laps, Coach ran with us, keeping pace with each of us individually to talk to us about form and to see how we were doing. Truth is, he may have had more to say to other people than he did to me. That's not to say I don't need the help, but I'm a repeat marathoner, and I suspect he spent more time talking with the first timers.

Anyway, for the third and forth laps, I think I did a 1:1 ratio. I was ahead of the two girls I ran with earlier, but we ended up pretty much keeping the same pace.

Overall, it ended up being a very good pace for me and a very consistent run.


I'm excited to not get up at the crack of dawn tomorrow to run. Instead, I'll be joining the Orlando team for their Monday night training. They literally train 2 blocks from my place of employment, whereas the Osceola team trains a good hour away from my place of employment. Seems like a no brainer to me!

friday 5a

I was pleasantly surprised to see some of my neighbors up and walking the 'hood this morning. That will make it so much less scary for me to be up so farookin early in the morning, running in the dark.



For the first ten minutes, I did my 1:2 ratio, settled into a 1:1 ratio, and pulled out an additional 2 minutes of running at minute 26. Only had to do 30 minutes this morning. That's about two miles.

Tomorrow is the first team training. An easy 3 miles. Looking forward to meeting the rest of my team.

630p: slightly cooler, but still too hot

Dear Self:
Why don't you get out of bed in the morning, when you prefer to run? You'll adjust to getting up a little earlier. And it'll be so worth it to not have to run in the evening, when it's too bloody hot and all your neighbors are out staring at your fat ass as you pretend to be a runner.

K thx bai.



Recap by minute:
0-1: walk
1-3: run
3-4: walk
4-6: run
6-7: walk
7-9: run

Then, my 1:2 morphed into a steady 1:1 ratio, until minute 22, when I ran for 30 seconds and followed it up with 90 seconds of walking before settling back into a roughly 1:1 ratio again.

I stayed inside my neighborhood because the sky was ominous; I didn't want to be far from home in case of lightening. Lightening is not my friend. The storm front gave a merciful breeze, but it was still too hot.

I'm pretty pleased that my overall pace today was 14'38" since yesterday's was 15'24". I like to see dramatic improvement! I'll like it even more when my overall pace is in the 13' category.

hey dumbass: when you haven't run in a month and a half, running in the heat of the day is idiotic

Granted, I have not run since July 6th, but I have been walking in the evenings for much of July and some of August. Now, it's time for marathon training to kick into gear again. And so, I run.

Since I have to be to work at 7a, it's really hard for me to get up early and get my morning run in. Hopefully, since I ran in the heat of the day today, that'll motivate me to get up in the morning. It was too farookin hot to be running this afternoon. And it won't be much cooler in the evening.



I was only required to do thirty minutes today. Obviously, that's all I did. I might have done a full route around the lake had it not been August in Florida. God it was hot.

Details in minutes:
0-1: walk
1-3: run
3-4: walk
4-6: run
6-7: walk
7-9: run

Then, my 1:2 ratio completely fell apart. Compounding my problem: since I only had to do thirty minutes, I ran without water. Moron. Never again. I require water.