Yesterday Eszter, Maureen and I ventured out to our first spin class. None of us had been to one before, but we were all masochistically curious. So, why not give it a try? I know I need to cross train a LOT more. Plus, with this bloody ankle pain, I wanted to try something that would be a good workout yet keep major strain off my joints. Of course the 3 of us wander in there like a bunch of bumbling idiots... How do we move the bikes? How do I adjust the seat? I don't know what I am doing? Why am I leaning over so far? And of course... Why does this seat hurt my ass so much?! But, we somehow managed to get ourselves situated.
In a nutshell- I loved it. I broke a killer sweat and my heart rate was really high, and it felt GOOD. I don't do any speed or sprint training in my running, so it was good to really push myself. It is funny, though- I can run 17 miles, but 60 minutes on a bike and I am beat! Just goes to show, cross training is essential! My ankle felt fine- no pain at all. Very thankful for this.
After class, I knew I was sold. I want to go back as often as I can. BUT, there is ONE LITTLE issue...
My ass? My crotch? My female parts? I don't know what that spot is called, but HOLY CRAP IT HURTS! I had no idea such a random, small spot on your body could hurt so much! Sitting right now is a challenge. Walking is not comfortable. But, alas, a small price to pay for such a great workout. I am hoping that with time the pain will be less and I will get used to it... right? yes? please? maybe? I hope?
I have come to terms with the fact that this 1/2 marathon probably wont be that great as far as my time is concerned- I was really hoping to finish this race in under 2 hours. I know I can since I finished my first 1/2 in 2:03, so really, there is no question that I CAN. But, I don't want to risk pushing myself too hard and hurting my ankle even more. It isn't worth really hurting myself and missing out on the race in December. There will be plenty more 1/2s to work on my time and such. So, I will just see this race as a nice, leisurely, slow, happy jog... with cheering, spectators, and a medal at the end :)
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
17 mile run!
This past week was horrible. Just horrible. So when Friday at 5:00 came, I hit the restart button on my attitude, rebooted my karma, and started from scratch, determined to leave the negativity behind. And let me tell you, I had an absolutely beautiful weekend. I'm just gonna say it, I don't care if it is TMI, over-emoting to the public, or whatever else you may say- I have an amazing boyfriend and he makes me really happy :)
Friday night we went to one of the free shows at the Levitt Shell- a beautiful outdoor music venue in Overton Park. We went and got frozen yogurt, then sat on a blanket under the stars listening to bad, free, live music. It was my own little perfect heaven for 2 hours.
Saturday morning came way too fast, and before I was even awake enough to complete a sentence, I had set out on a 17 mile run. Ashley hurt her calf and is taking the week off, and Paige was out of town. So I hit the first 6 miles solo, then Maureen merged in for the last 11. I felt great and was going strong. When mile 17 hit, I honestly felt I could have kept going, and that is an amazing feeling. I am so proud of my distance runs- I cant begin to explain how great it makes me feel to accomplish something of this caliber. It is an amazing feeling, and I am very proud of myself!
I was feeling fine all day Saturday. I enjoyed a killer Clemson victory, ate yummy food, and shared some laughs with friends. I was a little sore here and there, but nothing I didn't think would pass with a good nights sleep and some ibuprofen.
Sunday morning brought a less than pleasant surprise. My right ankle is a mess. It is swollen and really painful. It's an acute pain in a spot right over the inner ankle bone. I favored it all day, iced it at night, and popped ibuprofen like candy. I am going to take it really easy this week and hope it is just sore from over-use. Fingers crossed it isn't anything more serious...
My first week back on WW was, well, NOT back on WW. As I mentioned earlier, I had a terrible week. And if there is one thing I am famous for, it is emotional eating. I did terribly, I know I did. I am going to face the music and still weigh in today, but I am not looking foward to it. At least I know where I went wrong so I can address it and move on.
This coming weekend is the Shelby Farms Greenline Half Marathon- I will be running it with Ashley, Paige, Maureen, Bruce, and a few others from the Thoroughbreds. It is going to be an awesome race and I am really excited for it, so I really hope my ankle gets over its little temper tantrum by then!
Friday night we went to one of the free shows at the Levitt Shell- a beautiful outdoor music venue in Overton Park. We went and got frozen yogurt, then sat on a blanket under the stars listening to bad, free, live music. It was my own little perfect heaven for 2 hours.
Saturday morning came way too fast, and before I was even awake enough to complete a sentence, I had set out on a 17 mile run. Ashley hurt her calf and is taking the week off, and Paige was out of town. So I hit the first 6 miles solo, then Maureen merged in for the last 11. I felt great and was going strong. When mile 17 hit, I honestly felt I could have kept going, and that is an amazing feeling. I am so proud of my distance runs- I cant begin to explain how great it makes me feel to accomplish something of this caliber. It is an amazing feeling, and I am very proud of myself!
I was feeling fine all day Saturday. I enjoyed a killer Clemson victory, ate yummy food, and shared some laughs with friends. I was a little sore here and there, but nothing I didn't think would pass with a good nights sleep and some ibuprofen.
Sunday morning brought a less than pleasant surprise. My right ankle is a mess. It is swollen and really painful. It's an acute pain in a spot right over the inner ankle bone. I favored it all day, iced it at night, and popped ibuprofen like candy. I am going to take it really easy this week and hope it is just sore from over-use. Fingers crossed it isn't anything more serious...
My first week back on WW was, well, NOT back on WW. As I mentioned earlier, I had a terrible week. And if there is one thing I am famous for, it is emotional eating. I did terribly, I know I did. I am going to face the music and still weigh in today, but I am not looking foward to it. At least I know where I went wrong so I can address it and move on.
This coming weekend is the Shelby Farms Greenline Half Marathon- I will be running it with Ashley, Paige, Maureen, Bruce, and a few others from the Thoroughbreds. It is going to be an awesome race and I am really excited for it, so I really hope my ankle gets over its little temper tantrum by then!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Practice what you preach
I take a lot of pride in the fact that many of my friends seek me out for advice and guidance during their times of need. And the fact that they keep coming back for makes me think that what I am sharing with them is helpful. So, why then, if I am so good at advising others, I cannot- for the life of me- follow my own damn advice!? The past few weeks have proved me the most flamboyant hypocrite on earth. I have been handing out advice to my friends and family like it's candy on Halloween, yet when it comes to my own struggles, I am proving to be weak, pathetic, and all around useless.
Why can't I take my own advice?
Why can't I take my own advice?
Monday, September 19, 2011
Cooper Young and Thoroughbreds
Friday night was the Cooper Young 4 Miler. Cooper Young is a great part of town- very young and fun. You can often find me there drinking a beer (or 8) at Young Avenue Deli, eating sushi at Do, or playing trivia at Celtic. The race course wound up and down the streets of this adorable neighborhood. Me, Paige, her husband Tal, Ashley, Maureen, and a few other friends had all signed up, and enjoyed sharing the pre-race excitement.
I set a goal of finishing in 35 minutes- that would be just below a 9 minute mile pace. I know that was a bit ambitious considering I do ZERO speed training, but I just had it set in my mind that I would and could hit this goal. I busted out of the gate and finished mile 1 in 8:12. I was proud, but also knew I couldn't hold that pace for 3 more miles. I pulled back and finished mile 2 in 9:12. It was then that the most disgusting wave of nausea poured over me and I felt like I would soon be curled in a bush in the fetal position in a pile of my own vomit. It was terrible. I had eaten a lunch that could have kept a family of 4 full for a week- and it was fighting back with a vengeance. I knew I could make it the last 2 miles, but I was hurtin'. I finished mile 3 in 8:44. I turned up my music, put my head down, and tried to just focus on the finish line in my mind. I finished with 4 seconds to spare....
Official time: 34:56, pace 8:44
Saturday was an awesome day: Farmer's Market, a Clemson victory over Auburn, and the Cooper Young Festival. Beautiful sunshine and a happy heart!
Sunday morning, I woke up at the crack of dawn to join some fellow runners for a nice 12.5 miler. My friend Bruce is part of a great running group, the Germantown Thoroughbreds. They meet every Sunday morning and do a 12.5 mile loop around Germantown, then enjoy coffee and breakfast together. Bruce has tried to get me to join the group for a run for the past 6 months, but I haven't had a chance to make it out there. I usually do my long runs on Saturday (just works better with my schedule) and Germantown is a good 30 minute drive from my house downtown. But, since it was a pull-back week in my training and I only had to do 10 miles, I figured I would go ahead and join the group. Ashley and Paige came also. I was really nervous at first because the group has some amazing runners- well conditioned, experienced, and fast. But, it was the most supportive and positive group I could have imagined! The pack surely had runners of all paces, and there was never a time that I felt I was being left in the dust. They have 4 water stations set up along the way, and even bathrooms along the route! It was fantastic!
And I got an awesome prize from Bruce for finially making it out to join the group: a BCDD tech tee! I love it! Thanks, Bruce!
I was really sore after the 4 miler, so I took my Sunday run pretty easy. I was exhausted and still sore after this 12.5 miler, so I went home and just crashed. I realized I really need to do a better job of cross-training if I am going to keep my body and mind in a healthy place. This week, it is my goal to integrate a good cross training plan... and to stick with it...
Oh, also, I am starting back on Weight Watchers today. The meeting is at 12:00. Time to regain the control I have lost. It is so easy to say, "I ran 10 miles today, I can eat whatever I want today! And tomorrow! And the next day! Nom nom nom, binge, etc!" Well, no, Amy, that is not the case. I have gained another 5 lbs on top of the 7 I gained over the spring. So, back to the scale. I know I can do it, I just have a few hurdles that I am VERY aware of that I need to work out...
Next week is a 17 miler, the next weekend is the Green Line 1/2 marathon, then I am off to Chicago to cheer on Omar and Andrew in their 1st Marathon- some pretty exciting stuff coming up! I can't wait!
Maureen, Ashley, Me, Paige, Tal
I set a goal of finishing in 35 minutes- that would be just below a 9 minute mile pace. I know that was a bit ambitious considering I do ZERO speed training, but I just had it set in my mind that I would and could hit this goal. I busted out of the gate and finished mile 1 in 8:12. I was proud, but also knew I couldn't hold that pace for 3 more miles. I pulled back and finished mile 2 in 9:12. It was then that the most disgusting wave of nausea poured over me and I felt like I would soon be curled in a bush in the fetal position in a pile of my own vomit. It was terrible. I had eaten a lunch that could have kept a family of 4 full for a week- and it was fighting back with a vengeance. I knew I could make it the last 2 miles, but I was hurtin'. I finished mile 3 in 8:44. I turned up my music, put my head down, and tried to just focus on the finish line in my mind. I finished with 4 seconds to spare....
Official time: 34:56, pace 8:44
Saturday was an awesome day: Farmer's Market, a Clemson victory over Auburn, and the Cooper Young Festival. Beautiful sunshine and a happy heart!
Sunday morning, I woke up at the crack of dawn to join some fellow runners for a nice 12.5 miler. My friend Bruce is part of a great running group, the Germantown Thoroughbreds. They meet every Sunday morning and do a 12.5 mile loop around Germantown, then enjoy coffee and breakfast together. Bruce has tried to get me to join the group for a run for the past 6 months, but I haven't had a chance to make it out there. I usually do my long runs on Saturday (just works better with my schedule) and Germantown is a good 30 minute drive from my house downtown. But, since it was a pull-back week in my training and I only had to do 10 miles, I figured I would go ahead and join the group. Ashley and Paige came also. I was really nervous at first because the group has some amazing runners- well conditioned, experienced, and fast. But, it was the most supportive and positive group I could have imagined! The pack surely had runners of all paces, and there was never a time that I felt I was being left in the dust. They have 4 water stations set up along the way, and even bathrooms along the route! It was fantastic!
Thanks for an amazing run, Thoroughbreds! I cant wait for my next run with you!
About 30 people came out for the run, it was awesome! They all had some amazing stories and were so inspirational. If a 60 year old woman can run a marathon, who am I to say I cant? It definitely planted a dangerous seed of hoping to continue with running past my race in December....
And I got an awesome prize from Bruce for finially making it out to join the group: a BCDD tech tee! I love it! Thanks, Bruce!
I was really sore after the 4 miler, so I took my Sunday run pretty easy. I was exhausted and still sore after this 12.5 miler, so I went home and just crashed. I realized I really need to do a better job of cross-training if I am going to keep my body and mind in a healthy place. This week, it is my goal to integrate a good cross training plan... and to stick with it...
Oh, also, I am starting back on Weight Watchers today. The meeting is at 12:00. Time to regain the control I have lost. It is so easy to say, "I ran 10 miles today, I can eat whatever I want today! And tomorrow! And the next day! Nom nom nom, binge, etc!" Well, no, Amy, that is not the case. I have gained another 5 lbs on top of the 7 I gained over the spring. So, back to the scale. I know I can do it, I just have a few hurdles that I am VERY aware of that I need to work out...
Next week is a 17 miler, the next weekend is the Green Line 1/2 marathon, then I am off to Chicago to cheer on Omar and Andrew in their 1st Marathon- some pretty exciting stuff coming up! I can't wait!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Feelin' groovy
Guess what I did on Saturday morning?
I ran 16 miles.
Yea, that's right. 16 miles. Booyah.
It was amazing. I felt amazing. Physically and mentally. Just... amazing.
Ashley and I set out for what was supposed to be a 15 miler at 6:30am. I was a bit worried that we would start off too strong and run too fast, then burn out. So I kept a close eye on my watch and if we ran faster than a 9:45 mile, we would pull back a little. At mile 6, Maureen and Paige merged in. Still feeling great, still going strong. My GPS seemed to be a good bit ahead of the route I had mapped out on MapMyRun, but we just went with it; my GPS hit mile 15 about 1 mile from our end point, but we were all feeling good enough to keep going for that last bit. I was feeling so spectacular, it was such a high. Paige and I sprinted the last bit and I swear, I could have kept going... what a feeling! 16 miles! We averaged a 9:59 pace- perfect. We finished in 2hrs 39 minutes.
And the best part? Out to breakfast after! We went to Blue Plate Cafe and consumed a good 3000 calories each. Eggs, pancakes, biscuits, grits... scrumptious. And well deserved. No guilt.
While Saturday was amazing and a complete ego boost and natural high, yesterday was... well... rough. I felt like I had been hit by a bus. I was exhausted, upset stomach, and just all around yuck. Not sure if that was 100% because of the run or what, but I felt like crap.
Still, I am so proud of myself, and of my friends. I love my running group. I look forward to these Saturday runs every week- it is never something I dread or worry about. I know it is going to be a positive, supportive, amazing time. What a wonderful run!
This coming weekend will be a bit easier. I have a 4 mile race on Friday night, and was supposed to have another 5k on Sunday morning, but the 5k got cancelled. So, instead, I think we may go meet up with some other running friends out in Germantown for a 10 miler on Sunday morning. A nice "easy" weekend, right?
Oh, and these flowers are pretty :)
Have a wonderful week, everyone!
I ran 16 miles.
Yea, that's right. 16 miles. Booyah.
It was amazing. I felt amazing. Physically and mentally. Just... amazing.
Ashley and I set out for what was supposed to be a 15 miler at 6:30am. I was a bit worried that we would start off too strong and run too fast, then burn out. So I kept a close eye on my watch and if we ran faster than a 9:45 mile, we would pull back a little. At mile 6, Maureen and Paige merged in. Still feeling great, still going strong. My GPS seemed to be a good bit ahead of the route I had mapped out on MapMyRun, but we just went with it; my GPS hit mile 15 about 1 mile from our end point, but we were all feeling good enough to keep going for that last bit. I was feeling so spectacular, it was such a high. Paige and I sprinted the last bit and I swear, I could have kept going... what a feeling! 16 miles! We averaged a 9:59 pace- perfect. We finished in 2hrs 39 minutes.
And the best part? Out to breakfast after! We went to Blue Plate Cafe and consumed a good 3000 calories each. Eggs, pancakes, biscuits, grits... scrumptious. And well deserved. No guilt.
While Saturday was amazing and a complete ego boost and natural high, yesterday was... well... rough. I felt like I had been hit by a bus. I was exhausted, upset stomach, and just all around yuck. Not sure if that was 100% because of the run or what, but I felt like crap.
Still, I am so proud of myself, and of my friends. I love my running group. I look forward to these Saturday runs every week- it is never something I dread or worry about. I know it is going to be a positive, supportive, amazing time. What a wonderful run!
This coming weekend will be a bit easier. I have a 4 mile race on Friday night, and was supposed to have another 5k on Sunday morning, but the 5k got cancelled. So, instead, I think we may go meet up with some other running friends out in Germantown for a 10 miler on Sunday morning. A nice "easy" weekend, right?
Oh, and these flowers are pretty :)
Have a wonderful week, everyone!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Holiday ohhhh holiday....
My favorite things about fall:
-Pumpkin flavored EVERYTHING
-Open windows and a breeze blowing through the house
-The smell of the heater being turned on for the fist time
-Hooded sweatshirts and jeans
-Making soup
-Clemson football
-Picnics
-The smell of the leaves falling and the crunch of leaves under my feet
-Cold air and warm sun on my skin
-Putting my down comforter back on my bed
-Memories of Vermont
-And my most recent addition to the list... RUNNING IN COOL, FALL WEATHER!!!
So, I ran a lot this lovely, 3-day Labor Dayweekend...
Saturday: 10 miles with Ashley and Paige. Best part- I felt like I could have kept running. I felt great.
Sunday: 6 miles with Kate. It was pouring rain, but with good company.
Monday: 8 miles with Maureen. It couldn't have been a more beautiful day- the weather was perfect!
24 miles in 3 days, not bad! (Until I think about the idea of running all that, plus 2, all at once... yea... about that....)
Let me tell ya, Mother Nature is sticking to her rules this month... Labor Day hits, and BAM, the weather cools off. It was, dare I say, COLD the past 2 days. It's wild how quickly it changed. I am really happy about this though. The past 2 months of heat and humidity have been a real test of my determination and endurance. I am glad that is all over with!
Oh, but the one thing I cant stand about fall (or the changing of the seasons, period): unpacking my clothes for that season and realizing you've put on a few pounds since the last time you wore those clothes... yikes! I have been pretty good about eating, but the past 2 weeks I have been out of control. I have thought a lot about if I should try to get back on the WW bandwagon or not. The meetings really don't work for my schedule, but if it is important to me, I will make it work. I am going to try to get back on the point system this week and see how it goes. If I need the meetings, I will work something out. But I bought too many cute pants spring to keep them hidden in the closet... (Of course, as soon as I write this, Eszter comes by with a bag of chocolate for me- I love my friends, but my pants do not!)
From this point forward, all of my long runs will be my longest run ever and a personal record. This coming weekend will be 15 miles. I am really excited for it; I am excited to get back into the mindset of each run being a huge milestone in my life and in my training.
So... three cheers for fall weather and personal records!
-Pumpkin flavored EVERYTHING
-Open windows and a breeze blowing through the house
-The smell of the heater being turned on for the fist time
-Hooded sweatshirts and jeans
-Making soup
-Clemson football
-Picnics
-The smell of the leaves falling and the crunch of leaves under my feet
-Cold air and warm sun on my skin
-Putting my down comforter back on my bed
-Memories of Vermont
-And my most recent addition to the list... RUNNING IN COOL, FALL WEATHER!!!
So, I ran a lot this lovely, 3-day Labor Dayweekend...
Saturday: 10 miles with Ashley and Paige. Best part- I felt like I could have kept running. I felt great.
Sunday: 6 miles with Kate. It was pouring rain, but with good company.
Monday: 8 miles with Maureen. It couldn't have been a more beautiful day- the weather was perfect!
24 miles in 3 days, not bad! (Until I think about the idea of running all that, plus 2, all at once... yea... about that....)
Let me tell ya, Mother Nature is sticking to her rules this month... Labor Day hits, and BAM, the weather cools off. It was, dare I say, COLD the past 2 days. It's wild how quickly it changed. I am really happy about this though. The past 2 months of heat and humidity have been a real test of my determination and endurance. I am glad that is all over with!
Oh, but the one thing I cant stand about fall (or the changing of the seasons, period): unpacking my clothes for that season and realizing you've put on a few pounds since the last time you wore those clothes... yikes! I have been pretty good about eating, but the past 2 weeks I have been out of control. I have thought a lot about if I should try to get back on the WW bandwagon or not. The meetings really don't work for my schedule, but if it is important to me, I will make it work. I am going to try to get back on the point system this week and see how it goes. If I need the meetings, I will work something out. But I bought too many cute pants spring to keep them hidden in the closet... (Of course, as soon as I write this, Eszter comes by with a bag of chocolate for me- I love my friends, but my pants do not!)
From this point forward, all of my long runs will be my longest run ever and a personal record. This coming weekend will be 15 miles. I am really excited for it; I am excited to get back into the mindset of each run being a huge milestone in my life and in my training.
So... three cheers for fall weather and personal records!
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