It’s good to know that although in my last post, I lamented over not blogging enough, I proceeded to go a full month without blogging again! I’m starting to sound like a broken record, whining “I’m busy!”
So let’s focus on what’s been going on. I started the Running Room 10K clinic on October 10th, which is 20 days ago. The hectic training schedule has us running five times per week – ouch! At first, the distances were pretty small. A 5K, a couple of 6Ks, and mostly 3Ks. Pretty manageable, right?
But now we’re starting to get into the real work. On Sunday, I went for my first 8K run – my longest run yet. I’m happy to say it was relatively easy. I’ve been going to the Running Room for their group runs, and it’s really helping. Not only am I meeting new people, I’m also getting a good idea of pace and timing. I’m running with a group that runs a little bit slower than my normal pace (I’m usually a little too out of breath, which I think means I run too fast when I’m alone). But now we’re running a long run on Sundays, and at least two 6K runs each week – plus another two to three 3K runs.
Next week, we’re also starting on hill training, which I hear is killer. You have to run up a hill at around 85 percent of your maximum speed – several times in a row. I’m not quite sure I’m ready for that, but I guess I will be whether I want to or not! It’s apparently a great way to improve your time.
So how is everything else going? One big change since last month is that I’ve quit my gym and the whole family has joined the YMCA. It’s been pretty good so far. My schedule has made it tough to get to the gym, but on Saturday mornings, we’ve been going. The kids are in a program, Mike works out, and I do a spinning class and then a 3K run on the treadmill. At 11, I pick up Chris and take him to swimming, and Andrew’s in the pool then as well. I’m anxious to try more of the classes at the Y, which I’m hoping to do starting in November.
I’ve also been struggling a bit with my first injury! That little pulled muscle in my leg kept getting worse. Finally, my chiropractor discovered it was actually a pulled muscle in my glute that was causing the pain. I’ve been stretching it out and going to athletic massage therapy to fix it. It’s still ever-so-slightly sore, but much better.
I also discovered that my running shoes – now nine months old – had given out. The Running Room recommends changing your shoes every three to six months, and now that I’m running distances, it’s even more important. I went to the Running Room last night to get evaluated and fitted for new shoes – and, oddly enough, ended up getting exactly the same pair I got last time! I did a 6K in the new shoes this morning, and I sure could tell the difference. I guess the shoe thing isn’t just a marketing gimmick after all.
So I’m pledging right now to try and update my blog more frequently – once a week, if possible. There’s so much for me to discover, and write about, and read about, when it comes to running. I know I’m busy with work, but I’m planning to make a few simple changes next month (like letting go of a small – but time consuming – client) to free up a bit more time and eliminate some stress. Let’s hope it works!
Happy trails…
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Worst blogger ever
I’m officially the worst blogger ever. Wasn’t the whole point to the running/blogging journey to chronicle my efforts in attempt to one day publish the whole story? If I keep this up, there won’t be any story to publish!
I blame work. My friend Michelle and I have talked about this at length. When you’re a professional writer (particularly in the trade magazine business, where we both work), by the end of a long day, you’re far too burnt out to write anymore. I’ve spent the last few weeks writing copy for my first issue of a 12-page newsletter (on the ever-exciting topic of warehousing), and starting the copy for my first issue of a manufacturing magazine. By the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is write!
And yet, paradoxically, it’s the very thing that makes me not want to write that will one day (hopefully) get my book published. By having real writing credentials (however lame they may be), I’m ever-so-slightly more likely to get a publisher or agent to talk to me.
Ooops… this blog entry is on hold while I go deal with a screaming toddler.
Now I’m back. Chris decided to get himself tangled up in his toy car in the basement. And, like his dad, when Chris gets hurt, he gets very, very mad. Both kids are quiet now, as is their dad, who’s working on his computer right now.
But back to the purpose of the blog… how’s the running going? September has been a very strange, in-between sort of month. I’m not training for anything specific, as my 10K clinic doesn’t start until October. Our schedules have been completely up in the air, as Andrew adjusts to JK, Chris adjusts to pre-school, and I adjust to having them in daycare. It’s all starting to work itself out, but it’s also highlighted where I need to make changes.
Let’s start with the running. Technically, I guess the running is going far better than anything else. With the kids in daycare and the crazy drop-off times, most weeks it seems like all I can do is run! I’ve been running anywhere from 4 to 5 times a week, about 5K per run.
I do need to get back on a specific training schedule to increase the length of my runs, but I figure that will come with the clinic. For the next week and a half before the clinic starts, I’ll just keep steady. You’re supposed to start the 10K training with a good base of 5K training, and I really think I’m there.
But there are two other areas of fitness that need some changing. The first is the gym. It looks like it’s time to switch gyms. While I really like running, I also love spinning, and doing muscle classes, and just generally cross-training. And my gym is fantastic, and I had a blast all summer getting to know some women who went there. Andrew got to know their kids in the gym’s daycare, and we all had fun. (We even went to a birthday part for one of the kids!)
The problem is our new schedule. Andrew is in school Monday, Wednesday, and every other Friday. Chris is in school Tuesday and Thursday. And with drop off-times of either 9:10 or 9:00, I simply can’t make it across town to a 9:15 or even 9:30 class. The gym is just too far away. I find I’m roaring into the classes incredibly late, and it’s disruptive to the class, it’s hard on me, and I’m stressed whenever I get to the gym. Sooner or later, I’m going to end up with a speeding ticket or getting into an accident on my way to the gym. And I don’t want that to happen.
That means we’re on the hunt for a new gym after all. Now that the kids have settled down, I think we might be going to look at the YMCA after all. My friends who go there say it’s fantastic, and the kids can do their swimming lessons there. Mike can also get into shape there, which is helpful! We may go have a look today.
Finally, there’s one other tiny issue that’s cropping up these days. I may have my very first injury! (And no, I’m not as happy about that as I sound) I recently started seeing a new chiropractor. For 7 years, I had seen the same chiropractor and the same massage therapist. Together, they helped with my neck and shoulder pain (basically caused by poor posture – when you’re 5’11” at 13, you’re bound to have posture issues!) and were great.
Last spring, my chiropractor had a baby and basically closed her practice. My massage therapist moved away to Waterloo. I decided to see if I really did need their help, or was I just being crazy.
I really needed the help. By this fall, I was a mess. So I found a new chiropractor, at a clinic that also offers massage therapy. The new chiropractor is very thorough, and has been working to adjust my hips – something the old chiropractor never did. But in putting my hips “right,” my body can’t seem to adjust and I’ve pulled my inner thigh muscle. It’s an area that’s never bothered me before, but boy is it bothering me now.
It’s actually not stopping the exercise though. It hurts when I move the muscle, particularly after sitting for a while. But it doesn’t hurt as much when I run, and I can’t even feel it at all when spinning. So the chiropractor’s advice is to keep doing what I’m doing, and she is trying to work it out. (Unbeknownst to her, I’m also taking anti-inflammatories, and I think that’s what’s really doing the trick.) But it is an area to watch in the future.
So what’s on the schedule for the next few weeks? I’m leaving tomorrow morning to go to Houston for work, where I will evidently be insanely busy for a few days. It’s a boring trade show, and it appears a thousand PR people want nothing more than to be my best friend so I’ll write something about their sensor (or other “fantastic” product.) The hotel where I’m staying is supposed to have a gym, so hopefully I will get to do a run or two on the treadmill while I’m away. It’s certainly better than nothing!
When I get back, it will be Thanksgiving weekend (and our wedding anniversary, and Chris’ birthday….) and I will soon start the 10K clinic. So I’ll just keep holding it steady until the 10K training begins.
Happy trails…
I blame work. My friend Michelle and I have talked about this at length. When you’re a professional writer (particularly in the trade magazine business, where we both work), by the end of a long day, you’re far too burnt out to write anymore. I’ve spent the last few weeks writing copy for my first issue of a 12-page newsletter (on the ever-exciting topic of warehousing), and starting the copy for my first issue of a manufacturing magazine. By the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is write!
And yet, paradoxically, it’s the very thing that makes me not want to write that will one day (hopefully) get my book published. By having real writing credentials (however lame they may be), I’m ever-so-slightly more likely to get a publisher or agent to talk to me.
Ooops… this blog entry is on hold while I go deal with a screaming toddler.
Now I’m back. Chris decided to get himself tangled up in his toy car in the basement. And, like his dad, when Chris gets hurt, he gets very, very mad. Both kids are quiet now, as is their dad, who’s working on his computer right now.
But back to the purpose of the blog… how’s the running going? September has been a very strange, in-between sort of month. I’m not training for anything specific, as my 10K clinic doesn’t start until October. Our schedules have been completely up in the air, as Andrew adjusts to JK, Chris adjusts to pre-school, and I adjust to having them in daycare. It’s all starting to work itself out, but it’s also highlighted where I need to make changes.
Let’s start with the running. Technically, I guess the running is going far better than anything else. With the kids in daycare and the crazy drop-off times, most weeks it seems like all I can do is run! I’ve been running anywhere from 4 to 5 times a week, about 5K per run.
I do need to get back on a specific training schedule to increase the length of my runs, but I figure that will come with the clinic. For the next week and a half before the clinic starts, I’ll just keep steady. You’re supposed to start the 10K training with a good base of 5K training, and I really think I’m there.
But there are two other areas of fitness that need some changing. The first is the gym. It looks like it’s time to switch gyms. While I really like running, I also love spinning, and doing muscle classes, and just generally cross-training. And my gym is fantastic, and I had a blast all summer getting to know some women who went there. Andrew got to know their kids in the gym’s daycare, and we all had fun. (We even went to a birthday part for one of the kids!)
The problem is our new schedule. Andrew is in school Monday, Wednesday, and every other Friday. Chris is in school Tuesday and Thursday. And with drop off-times of either 9:10 or 9:00, I simply can’t make it across town to a 9:15 or even 9:30 class. The gym is just too far away. I find I’m roaring into the classes incredibly late, and it’s disruptive to the class, it’s hard on me, and I’m stressed whenever I get to the gym. Sooner or later, I’m going to end up with a speeding ticket or getting into an accident on my way to the gym. And I don’t want that to happen.
That means we’re on the hunt for a new gym after all. Now that the kids have settled down, I think we might be going to look at the YMCA after all. My friends who go there say it’s fantastic, and the kids can do their swimming lessons there. Mike can also get into shape there, which is helpful! We may go have a look today.
Finally, there’s one other tiny issue that’s cropping up these days. I may have my very first injury! (And no, I’m not as happy about that as I sound) I recently started seeing a new chiropractor. For 7 years, I had seen the same chiropractor and the same massage therapist. Together, they helped with my neck and shoulder pain (basically caused by poor posture – when you’re 5’11” at 13, you’re bound to have posture issues!) and were great.
Last spring, my chiropractor had a baby and basically closed her practice. My massage therapist moved away to Waterloo. I decided to see if I really did need their help, or was I just being crazy.
I really needed the help. By this fall, I was a mess. So I found a new chiropractor, at a clinic that also offers massage therapy. The new chiropractor is very thorough, and has been working to adjust my hips – something the old chiropractor never did. But in putting my hips “right,” my body can’t seem to adjust and I’ve pulled my inner thigh muscle. It’s an area that’s never bothered me before, but boy is it bothering me now.
It’s actually not stopping the exercise though. It hurts when I move the muscle, particularly after sitting for a while. But it doesn’t hurt as much when I run, and I can’t even feel it at all when spinning. So the chiropractor’s advice is to keep doing what I’m doing, and she is trying to work it out. (Unbeknownst to her, I’m also taking anti-inflammatories, and I think that’s what’s really doing the trick.) But it is an area to watch in the future.
So what’s on the schedule for the next few weeks? I’m leaving tomorrow morning to go to Houston for work, where I will evidently be insanely busy for a few days. It’s a boring trade show, and it appears a thousand PR people want nothing more than to be my best friend so I’ll write something about their sensor (or other “fantastic” product.) The hotel where I’m staying is supposed to have a gym, so hopefully I will get to do a run or two on the treadmill while I’m away. It’s certainly better than nothing!
When I get back, it will be Thanksgiving weekend (and our wedding anniversary, and Chris’ birthday….) and I will soon start the 10K clinic. So I’ll just keep holding it steady until the 10K training begins.
Happy trails…
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
The 31K and other assorted tales
Where do I begin this update? First of all, I realize I haven’t written about my training since I ran my 5K at the end of August – and it’s already almost mid-September. I knew September, with all its changes, was going to be hectic. What I didn’t realize was just how hectic it would be.
Even exercise has taken a bit of a backseat these past few weeks as our family struggles to adjust to a whole new world. Andrew, who’s 4 ½, is starting Junior Kindergarten. Chris, who is almost 2, is starting pre-school. They have started three days a week at a new daycare. I’m lucky that the daycare is run by two fantastic moms from our pre-school, so at least the boys have friends and know their caregivers. But it’s been hard on two boys who have been home with mom practically forever. (Including a trip to the doctor on Andrew’s first day for what appeared to be a panic attack.) And even harder on their mom, who’s used to caring for them herself.
What else about mom? Well, mom finds she may have bitten off more than she can chew at the moment. Going back to editing a bi-monthly magazine. A newsletter contract for a new industry she’s never written about. Taking over as president of the pre-school. Finishing up a few other writing assignments. Wrangling with clients over late payments. Trying to get the house organized. Trying to stay sane.
But this blog is supposed to be about running, not me whining about being busy! Let’s face it: everyone is busy these days. I don’t know too many people who aren’t juggling a thousand things. The real question is, how’s the running going?
The honest answer is, it’s going, but not as much as before. Since I’m not specifically training, I haven’t been getting out as much as I’d like (or to the gym as much as I’d like). Right now I’m looking on any training as a victory. I managed to get out for a short 3K jaunt this morning after dropping the kids off in various places, and I might actually get to the gym in time for spinning tomorrow! I think in a few weeks, I’ll have it all figured out.
I also decided to stick with my existing gym for a little while longer. While we debated joining the Y as a family, I feel like it’s just too many changes and too much to pile on to an already overloaded schedule. We may decide to join in January, or even later, but for now, why mess with something that’s working?
The good news is that I signed up for the 10K clinic at the Running Room! It starts on October 10th (my little niece’s first birthday!), and goes until December. This way, I can figure out what works with the new schedule, and get my trip to Houston (for work – my first time traveling on business in five years!) out of the way before that starts. It’s also after Thanksgiving weekend, which will be busy at it happens to include my sixth wedding anniversary and Chris’ second birthday. I’m really looking forward to the clinic, and I know it’s just my next step of running a marathon.
Which brings me to one more thing… the 31K Walk for Grace. Last Sunday, I embarked on a 31K walk through Bronte Creek to raise money for pediatric brain tumour research at Sick Kids. The event was in honour of Grace Stanley, a little girl who passed away last year from this dreadful disease. (I know I’ve written about this before, but it bears repeating.) The 31 kilometers represented each month of Grace’s all-too brief life on earth.
My heart aches constantly for Grace’s mother and father, having to live the rest of their lives without their little girl. I don’t know how they feel – I can’t even begin to fathom the depths of their grief. I’m wracked with a sympathy for them that I can’t possibly express. All I can do is try to help them honour their daughter and raise funds for this cause – and hope that no other family has to go through what they have gone through.
So I walked. With two other people I had just met that morning, I walked for a total of six hours in the pouring rain. And those of us who participated in the event (which also had a 5K and 1K walk) raised more than $20,000 for Grace’s fund! It was physically demanding, but, as one of my walking partners put it, walking 31 kilometers is nothing compared to the 31 months that Grace lived. (She fought the cancer for almost half of her life, being diagnosed with a brain tumour at 15 months.)
When I got home (after a hot bath), I stumbled down the stairs to the couch. I then hugged my babies so tight, and told them a little about what I had done at the walk. I told them I walked not only for Grace and all the other kids at the hospital, but I walked for them too. I walked to ensure the phenomenal doctors at Sick Kids have the funds they need to continue their life-saving research.
And for now, that’s about it. I’m still piled with work, and I’m in the process of trying to re-organize my office and deal with the mounds of paper that’s collected over the summer. I’m surrounded by piles as I write this, so I guess it’s time to get back to work. Tomorrow, I’m off to the gym for a spinning class, and then will run on both Friday and Saturday. What will next week’s training bring? Well, that’s another story…
Happy trails…
Even exercise has taken a bit of a backseat these past few weeks as our family struggles to adjust to a whole new world. Andrew, who’s 4 ½, is starting Junior Kindergarten. Chris, who is almost 2, is starting pre-school. They have started three days a week at a new daycare. I’m lucky that the daycare is run by two fantastic moms from our pre-school, so at least the boys have friends and know their caregivers. But it’s been hard on two boys who have been home with mom practically forever. (Including a trip to the doctor on Andrew’s first day for what appeared to be a panic attack.) And even harder on their mom, who’s used to caring for them herself.
What else about mom? Well, mom finds she may have bitten off more than she can chew at the moment. Going back to editing a bi-monthly magazine. A newsletter contract for a new industry she’s never written about. Taking over as president of the pre-school. Finishing up a few other writing assignments. Wrangling with clients over late payments. Trying to get the house organized. Trying to stay sane.
But this blog is supposed to be about running, not me whining about being busy! Let’s face it: everyone is busy these days. I don’t know too many people who aren’t juggling a thousand things. The real question is, how’s the running going?
The honest answer is, it’s going, but not as much as before. Since I’m not specifically training, I haven’t been getting out as much as I’d like (or to the gym as much as I’d like). Right now I’m looking on any training as a victory. I managed to get out for a short 3K jaunt this morning after dropping the kids off in various places, and I might actually get to the gym in time for spinning tomorrow! I think in a few weeks, I’ll have it all figured out.
I also decided to stick with my existing gym for a little while longer. While we debated joining the Y as a family, I feel like it’s just too many changes and too much to pile on to an already overloaded schedule. We may decide to join in January, or even later, but for now, why mess with something that’s working?
The good news is that I signed up for the 10K clinic at the Running Room! It starts on October 10th (my little niece’s first birthday!), and goes until December. This way, I can figure out what works with the new schedule, and get my trip to Houston (for work – my first time traveling on business in five years!) out of the way before that starts. It’s also after Thanksgiving weekend, which will be busy at it happens to include my sixth wedding anniversary and Chris’ second birthday. I’m really looking forward to the clinic, and I know it’s just my next step of running a marathon.
Which brings me to one more thing… the 31K Walk for Grace. Last Sunday, I embarked on a 31K walk through Bronte Creek to raise money for pediatric brain tumour research at Sick Kids. The event was in honour of Grace Stanley, a little girl who passed away last year from this dreadful disease. (I know I’ve written about this before, but it bears repeating.) The 31 kilometers represented each month of Grace’s all-too brief life on earth.
My heart aches constantly for Grace’s mother and father, having to live the rest of their lives without their little girl. I don’t know how they feel – I can’t even begin to fathom the depths of their grief. I’m wracked with a sympathy for them that I can’t possibly express. All I can do is try to help them honour their daughter and raise funds for this cause – and hope that no other family has to go through what they have gone through.
So I walked. With two other people I had just met that morning, I walked for a total of six hours in the pouring rain. And those of us who participated in the event (which also had a 5K and 1K walk) raised more than $20,000 for Grace’s fund! It was physically demanding, but, as one of my walking partners put it, walking 31 kilometers is nothing compared to the 31 months that Grace lived. (She fought the cancer for almost half of her life, being diagnosed with a brain tumour at 15 months.)
When I got home (after a hot bath), I stumbled down the stairs to the couch. I then hugged my babies so tight, and told them a little about what I had done at the walk. I told them I walked not only for Grace and all the other kids at the hospital, but I walked for them too. I walked to ensure the phenomenal doctors at Sick Kids have the funds they need to continue their life-saving research.
And for now, that’s about it. I’m still piled with work, and I’m in the process of trying to re-organize my office and deal with the mounds of paper that’s collected over the summer. I’m surrounded by piles as I write this, so I guess it’s time to get back to work. Tomorrow, I’m off to the gym for a spinning class, and then will run on both Friday and Saturday. What will next week’s training bring? Well, that’s another story…
Happy trails…
Saturday, August 25, 2007
The 5K
27:35!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, I felt that deserved some exclamation points. This morning, I ran the 5K race I’ve been training for – and lamenting over – all summer. My friend Val told me not to worry about my time. She said the adrenaline of the race and running with all those people would make me run faster. Was she ever right! As I approached the finish line, I almost couldn’t believe my eyes – I was still in the 27 minute range!
I crossed the finish line at 27:35, beating my previous best time by almost two minutes!! I know I was only competing with myself, but boy, did I ever whoop my own ass!
The race was down on the waterfront trail in Burlington, which is a beautiful run. The weather was hot and humid, with a steady rain for most of the run. Actually, I think the rain really helped, because it kept me pretty cool.
Mike and the boys ventured down with me to cheer me on. He took them to the playground at Spencer Smith Park while I ran. They waved to me as I trotted by, and when I was running back, about to cross the finish line, they cheered me on. It was enough of a push to keep going – I didn’t want them to see me slow down!
I was, however, struggling, particularly toward the end of the run. I couldn’t figure out why it was so hard, since I’d been running 5K for a few weeks now. Once I saw my time, though, I figured it out! I was averaging about 32:30-ish on my 5Ks this summer – which means today, I was running faster than I’ve ever run in my life. Maybe I’m not as sluggish as I think. And maybe I can do this marathon thing after all.
I know there’s still a long road ahead of me. On Monday, it’s time for me to reevaluate my training and start moving toward the next goal. I still need to conquer nutrition, I need to settle on a new training schedule and I need to figure out what I’m going to do about the gym/YMCA conundrum.
But for today, I’m just going to bask in the glory of my “victory.” I had a goal (to run my best-ever 5K), and I achieved it. I’m going to have a nice supper, a glass of wine, and take this time to relax. There’s plenty of time to get back to training on Monday.
Happy trails…
Yes, I felt that deserved some exclamation points. This morning, I ran the 5K race I’ve been training for – and lamenting over – all summer. My friend Val told me not to worry about my time. She said the adrenaline of the race and running with all those people would make me run faster. Was she ever right! As I approached the finish line, I almost couldn’t believe my eyes – I was still in the 27 minute range!
I crossed the finish line at 27:35, beating my previous best time by almost two minutes!! I know I was only competing with myself, but boy, did I ever whoop my own ass!
The race was down on the waterfront trail in Burlington, which is a beautiful run. The weather was hot and humid, with a steady rain for most of the run. Actually, I think the rain really helped, because it kept me pretty cool.
Mike and the boys ventured down with me to cheer me on. He took them to the playground at Spencer Smith Park while I ran. They waved to me as I trotted by, and when I was running back, about to cross the finish line, they cheered me on. It was enough of a push to keep going – I didn’t want them to see me slow down!
I was, however, struggling, particularly toward the end of the run. I couldn’t figure out why it was so hard, since I’d been running 5K for a few weeks now. Once I saw my time, though, I figured it out! I was averaging about 32:30-ish on my 5Ks this summer – which means today, I was running faster than I’ve ever run in my life. Maybe I’m not as sluggish as I think. And maybe I can do this marathon thing after all.
I know there’s still a long road ahead of me. On Monday, it’s time for me to reevaluate my training and start moving toward the next goal. I still need to conquer nutrition, I need to settle on a new training schedule and I need to figure out what I’m going to do about the gym/YMCA conundrum.
But for today, I’m just going to bask in the glory of my “victory.” I had a goal (to run my best-ever 5K), and I achieved it. I’m going to have a nice supper, a glass of wine, and take this time to relax. There’s plenty of time to get back to training on Monday.
Happy trails…
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Panic on the streets of Burlington…
As race day approaches, I find myself panicking more and more. Try as I might, I can’t seem to improve my time on the 5K. I can’t even break 32 minutes, although I came in just over the 32 minute mark last night.
Part of the problem is I just feel like I can’t run that fast. When I push myself really hard, I run out of breath and am forced to slow down. Then I slow down too much, which affects my time. I know I need to do some more research on this, but with being away in Montreal last week, it’s been difficult. My best bet would be to go to one of the group runs at the Running Room, but since Mike has hockey tonight (when there’s a run), it’s not an option. And the next group run isn’t until Sunday – a day too late. The race is on Saturday morning.
So what do I do? First, I am going to give myself a bit of a break. I’m only competing with myself, after all, so who cares if I can’t beat me? I know that’s not really a “winning” attitude, but I only care about my time because I want to beat my own personal best time. It’s not like I even care if I come in last! (If I ran that 5K in 28 minutes, I’d be so happy, I wouldn’t care if I was 10 minutes behind everyone else!) I already know there are millions (billions?) of people in this world who can run faster than I can. (There are also billions who are smarter, better looking, make more money and have better behaved kids! If I cared about all those things, I’d never leave the house in the morning.)
I guess what I’m figuring out is that if I don’t beat my best time, it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. I know I’ll have sucky times on the 10K, the half marathon and the marathon too. The point is that I’m going to finish this race and continue working my way up to running a marathon.
Well, there’s probably a lot more for me to talk about today, but I’m overloaded with work and shouldn’t procrastinate any more. (I know… wasn’t I supposed to cut back on work this summer? Just wait until September!) I only wanted to fit in one more update before the race on Saturday.
Happy trails…
Part of the problem is I just feel like I can’t run that fast. When I push myself really hard, I run out of breath and am forced to slow down. Then I slow down too much, which affects my time. I know I need to do some more research on this, but with being away in Montreal last week, it’s been difficult. My best bet would be to go to one of the group runs at the Running Room, but since Mike has hockey tonight (when there’s a run), it’s not an option. And the next group run isn’t until Sunday – a day too late. The race is on Saturday morning.
So what do I do? First, I am going to give myself a bit of a break. I’m only competing with myself, after all, so who cares if I can’t beat me? I know that’s not really a “winning” attitude, but I only care about my time because I want to beat my own personal best time. It’s not like I even care if I come in last! (If I ran that 5K in 28 minutes, I’d be so happy, I wouldn’t care if I was 10 minutes behind everyone else!) I already know there are millions (billions?) of people in this world who can run faster than I can. (There are also billions who are smarter, better looking, make more money and have better behaved kids! If I cared about all those things, I’d never leave the house in the morning.)
I guess what I’m figuring out is that if I don’t beat my best time, it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. I know I’ll have sucky times on the 10K, the half marathon and the marathon too. The point is that I’m going to finish this race and continue working my way up to running a marathon.
Well, there’s probably a lot more for me to talk about today, but I’m overloaded with work and shouldn’t procrastinate any more. (I know… wasn’t I supposed to cut back on work this summer? Just wait until September!) I only wanted to fit in one more update before the race on Saturday.
Happy trails…
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
One day at a time
How do you improve your time for running a 5K? Well, you just…
Actually, I apparently have no idea how you improve your time! I’m incredibly frustrated with my running these days. I’ve practically abandoned both my training schedule of 10-and 1s (not to mention practically giving up spinning) in favour of running 5Ks straight through.
My best time on a 5K was 29:39, and that was my first (and so far, last) race in March. These days, I’m lucky if I run the 5K in 32:39. Most of the time, I’m falling somewhere in the late 32, or 33 minute mark. No matter how hard I seem to run, I can’t seem to break that time. (I’m hardly even hearing from my good buddy Lance Armstrong on my iPod anymore!)
I don’t know if it’s the heat these days, or if my energy levels are a bit lower, but I seem to be struggling a bit with these runs. I’m still huffing and puffing, particularly at the beginning of the run. I’d say I’m running at least three times a week (5K each time), and according to my Running Room training log, I’ve already run more than 32 K in the past two weeks. I’m still keeping up with the muscle workouts and doing the odd spin class – I really should be in better shape, right?
The ends of my runs tend to be much easier than the beginnings. When I hit the 3 or 4K mark, I could probably keep going for longer than 5K (albeit at my now-normal snail’s pace.) But the first few! I must look a fright running around my neighbourhood. I wonder if it means my endurance is better than my power/strength.
My 5K race is now a week and a half away. I’ve started to resign myself to the fact that I won’t be beating my best time for this race. I’m still running it, so that alone is a small accomplishment. And I’m going to sign up soon for the 10K clinic, which starts at the beginning of October.
This week I will have to work very hard to keep up with my training. We’re on our way to Montreal to visit family, and I know it will be tough, but I’m planning to run both Thursday and Friday morning. I won’t want to… I’ll want to sit around drinking coffee and chatting. But what’s a half an hour out of my day? With the race so close, it’s not the time to start slacking off, is it?
Once the trip is over next week, there are only a few weeks left in the summer and then things start to get really busy. I think when I get back, I’ll focus on training for both my upcoming race and the 31K Walk for Grace at the beginning of September. Once those two are done, I can re-evaluate my training and focus on the next goal. It’s just like running – one step at a time!
Happy trails…
Actually, I apparently have no idea how you improve your time! I’m incredibly frustrated with my running these days. I’ve practically abandoned both my training schedule of 10-and 1s (not to mention practically giving up spinning) in favour of running 5Ks straight through.
My best time on a 5K was 29:39, and that was my first (and so far, last) race in March. These days, I’m lucky if I run the 5K in 32:39. Most of the time, I’m falling somewhere in the late 32, or 33 minute mark. No matter how hard I seem to run, I can’t seem to break that time. (I’m hardly even hearing from my good buddy Lance Armstrong on my iPod anymore!)
I don’t know if it’s the heat these days, or if my energy levels are a bit lower, but I seem to be struggling a bit with these runs. I’m still huffing and puffing, particularly at the beginning of the run. I’d say I’m running at least three times a week (5K each time), and according to my Running Room training log, I’ve already run more than 32 K in the past two weeks. I’m still keeping up with the muscle workouts and doing the odd spin class – I really should be in better shape, right?
The ends of my runs tend to be much easier than the beginnings. When I hit the 3 or 4K mark, I could probably keep going for longer than 5K (albeit at my now-normal snail’s pace.) But the first few! I must look a fright running around my neighbourhood. I wonder if it means my endurance is better than my power/strength.
My 5K race is now a week and a half away. I’ve started to resign myself to the fact that I won’t be beating my best time for this race. I’m still running it, so that alone is a small accomplishment. And I’m going to sign up soon for the 10K clinic, which starts at the beginning of October.
This week I will have to work very hard to keep up with my training. We’re on our way to Montreal to visit family, and I know it will be tough, but I’m planning to run both Thursday and Friday morning. I won’t want to… I’ll want to sit around drinking coffee and chatting. But what’s a half an hour out of my day? With the race so close, it’s not the time to start slacking off, is it?
Once the trip is over next week, there are only a few weeks left in the summer and then things start to get really busy. I think when I get back, I’ll focus on training for both my upcoming race and the 31K Walk for Grace at the beginning of September. Once those two are done, I can re-evaluate my training and focus on the next goal. It’s just like running – one step at a time!
Happy trails…
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
F@%k you, Lance Armstrong
For my birthday last year, my very thoughtful husband gave me a very cool gift: a Nike+ iPod adaptor and a gift certificate for Nike+ running shoes. It’s basically a special adaptor that fits into your iPod Nano and your running shoe, and it tracks your training. It allows you to set different run lengths (you can choose distance, time or number of calories you want to burn) and it saves the data from every run for you to upload online.
It’s a fantastic little tool that has helped me immensely. When I go for a run, I set it to either the time or distance I want. A woman’s voice comes on from time to time to tell you how you’re doing so you don’t have to constantly keep your eyes on your iPod. For instance, when I’m doing a 29 minute run, this chick comes on and says things like “You’ve completed five minutes,” or “two minutes remaining.” At the end of the run, she comes on and says, “Congratulations. You’ve completed your goal of…”
So what’s Lance Armstrong got to do with it? Well, to backtrack a little, last Wednesday, I decided to do a “practice” 5K run. I would set the iPod to the 5K distance and run the whole thing without stopping to see if I’ve improved my time at all on the 5K. (My record is 29:39).
Off I went on the run. At the end of the 5K, the usual gal came on and said, “Congratulations. You’ve made it to your goal of running five kilometers. To end the workout…” I quickly checked my time, and it was wretched! It was 32:40!!!! I was incredibly disappointed with myself.
But I barely had time to register my disappointment when another voice came on. “This is Lance Armstrong,” the voice said. “Congratulations. You’ve just run a personal best mile at [and now I can’t remember the time, but it was somewhere in the 10 minute range].” (I didn’t use my iPod for my best run, which is why the time isn’t in there.)
Yeah, f@%k you, Lance Armstrong. I thought. Sure, you can run a marathon in 2 hours, but do you have to completely mock me?! I seem to recall hearing something a few years ago about Lance Armstrong working with Nike while he was training for the New York City marathon, but it sure took me by surprise!
But there’s a lesson to be learned in Lance’s words. I think it’s that I’m just not trying hard enough. I seem to assume that just getting out for a run – no matter how slowly I run – will magically improve my time. It won’t.
So now I’m kicking up my training a notch. I have less than a month until my race, so I plan to do at least one 5K “practice” run a week. This week, I’ll do that run on Thursday. I’m also going to push myself a bit harder while running. One thing I’m doing is playing with my speed. At certain intervals (probably between lampposts), I’m going to run as fast as I can. I did that at last night’s run, and it already improved my time. I ran about 4 ½ kilometers in 29 minutes, and that’s including doing 10-and-1s. If nothing else, I need to be more aware of how quickly (or, rather, how slowly) I’m running.
Training this week is again a bit strange with our busy schedule, but I ran last night, and I’ll be running outside both Wednesday and Thursday this week. Today was the usual Tuesday muscle class, and I’ll go to spinning on Friday.
Yesterday, I got my first copy of the Running Room magazine, and I have to say, I found it inspiring. I read tales of marathon runners who started running in their late 60s! If they can do it, I can certainly manage to run a marathon before I’m 35.
Happy trails…
It’s a fantastic little tool that has helped me immensely. When I go for a run, I set it to either the time or distance I want. A woman’s voice comes on from time to time to tell you how you’re doing so you don’t have to constantly keep your eyes on your iPod. For instance, when I’m doing a 29 minute run, this chick comes on and says things like “You’ve completed five minutes,” or “two minutes remaining.” At the end of the run, she comes on and says, “Congratulations. You’ve completed your goal of…”
So what’s Lance Armstrong got to do with it? Well, to backtrack a little, last Wednesday, I decided to do a “practice” 5K run. I would set the iPod to the 5K distance and run the whole thing without stopping to see if I’ve improved my time at all on the 5K. (My record is 29:39).
Off I went on the run. At the end of the 5K, the usual gal came on and said, “Congratulations. You’ve made it to your goal of running five kilometers. To end the workout…” I quickly checked my time, and it was wretched! It was 32:40!!!! I was incredibly disappointed with myself.
But I barely had time to register my disappointment when another voice came on. “This is Lance Armstrong,” the voice said. “Congratulations. You’ve just run a personal best mile at [and now I can’t remember the time, but it was somewhere in the 10 minute range].” (I didn’t use my iPod for my best run, which is why the time isn’t in there.)
Yeah, f@%k you, Lance Armstrong. I thought. Sure, you can run a marathon in 2 hours, but do you have to completely mock me?! I seem to recall hearing something a few years ago about Lance Armstrong working with Nike while he was training for the New York City marathon, but it sure took me by surprise!
But there’s a lesson to be learned in Lance’s words. I think it’s that I’m just not trying hard enough. I seem to assume that just getting out for a run – no matter how slowly I run – will magically improve my time. It won’t.
So now I’m kicking up my training a notch. I have less than a month until my race, so I plan to do at least one 5K “practice” run a week. This week, I’ll do that run on Thursday. I’m also going to push myself a bit harder while running. One thing I’m doing is playing with my speed. At certain intervals (probably between lampposts), I’m going to run as fast as I can. I did that at last night’s run, and it already improved my time. I ran about 4 ½ kilometers in 29 minutes, and that’s including doing 10-and-1s. If nothing else, I need to be more aware of how quickly (or, rather, how slowly) I’m running.
Training this week is again a bit strange with our busy schedule, but I ran last night, and I’ll be running outside both Wednesday and Thursday this week. Today was the usual Tuesday muscle class, and I’ll go to spinning on Friday.
Yesterday, I got my first copy of the Running Room magazine, and I have to say, I found it inspiring. I read tales of marathon runners who started running in their late 60s! If they can do it, I can certainly manage to run a marathon before I’m 35.
Happy trails…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)