Well here it is...marathon weekend. I've been getting well wishes left and right, assuring me I'll get my time....I'm realistic in knowing that getting my BQ time is going to be really tough. I need to cut 30 seconds off every mile so we'll see how it goes. I'm hopeful that running with a pace group or having fans (including 1 of my students) will help me attain my goal
If I hit my goal I will be over the moon excited. If I don't I will look at it like a job interview that didn't result in getting the job. It will be a learning experience and I'll try again.
I'm at the point of over thinking and superstition...take coffee for example. I wanted a cup the other day and almost did it but then thought, "if I have this cup and don't get my BQ time I'll blame it on that cup of coffee and my not waiting until the marathon to experience caffeine in over a month. If I don't have the cup of coffee and wait until marathon day and I don't hit my number I'll think, perhaps going without coffee for a month and re-introducing it on race day was what ruined me".
I need to relax, trust my training, and do my best on Sunday.
"Ask yourself 'Can I give more?'. The answer is usually: Yes. Paul Tergat, Kenyan
professional marathoner
Friday, April 25, 2014
Sunday, April 20, 2014
I Can't Wait For My Boston Marathon Eve.....Soon, I Hope!
Tomorrow is the 118th running of the Boston Marathon. Obviously there is a lot more attention being paid to this year's race and everyone is hoping it will go off without incident.
I am so excited for all those running....ok, ok, I'm jealous! I totally wish I was there. I hope to be in their position next year.
I found a "cool" video of the Boston Marathon course (cool depending on your version of cool ha ha) Boston Marathon Course In 8 Minutes
My entire focus right now is my race in 1 week....I'm still on the fence thinking I want it here and I don't want it here. I'm not the only one focused....regulars at the restaurant I work at asked me about my running a lot this weekend...some because they know I'm a runner and there's a lot of attention placed on Boston and they wondered if I'd be running it and some because they know I've been in training for another marathon that's coming soon. I like how these people I "know" (know in terms of they come into the restaurant often and we've developed a friendship of sorts) about my love for running and genuinely seem to care/be interested in it. Some are in awe, some think I'm crazy, some are excited, some read my blog! I relish the well wishes and hope the next time they come in I'll have good news to report back!
Qualifying for the Boston Marathon is something all serious marathoners strive for....getting there must be an incredible feeling that I hope to experience soon! I hope all those running tomorrow have an amazing race where the only big news will be PRs!
To help get me there I'm going to remember this quote from Ryan Hall, "I don't think about the miles that are coming down the road, I don't think about the mile I'm on right now, I don't think about the miles I've already covered. I think about what I'm doing right now, just being lost in the moment."
I am so excited for all those running....ok, ok, I'm jealous! I totally wish I was there. I hope to be in their position next year.
I found a "cool" video of the Boston Marathon course (cool depending on your version of cool ha ha) Boston Marathon Course In 8 Minutes
My entire focus right now is my race in 1 week....I'm still on the fence thinking I want it here and I don't want it here. I'm not the only one focused....regulars at the restaurant I work at asked me about my running a lot this weekend...some because they know I'm a runner and there's a lot of attention placed on Boston and they wondered if I'd be running it and some because they know I've been in training for another marathon that's coming soon. I like how these people I "know" (know in terms of they come into the restaurant often and we've developed a friendship of sorts) about my love for running and genuinely seem to care/be interested in it. Some are in awe, some think I'm crazy, some are excited, some read my blog! I relish the well wishes and hope the next time they come in I'll have good news to report back!
Qualifying for the Boston Marathon is something all serious marathoners strive for....getting there must be an incredible feeling that I hope to experience soon! I hope all those running tomorrow have an amazing race where the only big news will be PRs!
To help get me there I'm going to remember this quote from Ryan Hall, "I don't think about the miles that are coming down the road, I don't think about the mile I'm on right now, I don't think about the miles I've already covered. I think about what I'm doing right now, just being lost in the moment."
Friday, April 18, 2014
I'm like a pregnant woman waiting to give birth....
I feel like a woman about to give birth...I know it's coming and I'm as prepared as I can be. I even have my "marathon bag" packed. I have all the necessities: backup ipod, warm sweats for after the race, a 2nd race outfit (including shoes) in case of some freak wardrobe malfunction with my current race outfit or shoes, water, towel, plastic bags to contain my nasty race clothes, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch...like I said, all the necessities! ha ha
Now, I wait....
The marathon is nine days away. Part of me want it to be here NOW so I can be done with it and figure out my next move in running (be it train for another marathon to try to get my goal-possibly hire coaches or get pumped about Boston 2015..who knows). I also want to to be here now because I really want to have a beer, junk food, and coffee..I've been without since March 22nd. The other part of me would like some more time to continue strengthening my hamstrings and do more speed work. One way or the other, it's coming and I need to get my head ready. While I'm prepared to not make my BQ time I'm still hopefully. Getting your BQ time is really tough, but it's a goal...you have to work to achieve your goals. I need to trust my training and do my best.
"A winner is someone who sets their goals, commits themselves to those goals and then pursues their goals with all the ability that is given to them. That requires someone who beleives in themselves, who will make self sacrifices, work hard, and maintain the determination to perform at the best of their ability." -C. Leeman Bennett:
Now, I wait....
The marathon is nine days away. Part of me want it to be here NOW so I can be done with it and figure out my next move in running (be it train for another marathon to try to get my goal-possibly hire coaches or get pumped about Boston 2015..who knows). I also want to to be here now because I really want to have a beer, junk food, and coffee..I've been without since March 22nd. The other part of me would like some more time to continue strengthening my hamstrings and do more speed work. One way or the other, it's coming and I need to get my head ready. While I'm prepared to not make my BQ time I'm still hopefully. Getting your BQ time is really tough, but it's a goal...you have to work to achieve your goals. I need to trust my training and do my best.
"A winner is someone who sets their goals, commits themselves to those goals and then pursues their goals with all the ability that is given to them. That requires someone who beleives in themselves, who will make self sacrifices, work hard, and maintain the determination to perform at the best of their ability." -C. Leeman Bennett:
Sunday, April 13, 2014
It's Taper Time!
It's funny how my friends now say, "how's training?" instead of "how are you?" Part of me thinks, they are just asking like I ask, "how are you?" and expect to here, "fine" but I reply like they speak "running" and understand what I'm going through ha ha This shows that I've been running a lot and it's taking over my life. ha ha
Well, here I am 2 weeks from my 2nd marathon. I'm REALLY hoping I this marathon will give me the time I need to qualify for Boston, but I have to say I'm VERY nervous it won't happen. I think that while it's a negative attitude to have it's also very realistic to think this way. Training this time around was MUCH harder for me and while I saw better times/splits I don't know if I saw the numbers I needed to see to consistently cut 30 seconds off each mile for 26 miles. I will continue to eat right, rest enough and train appropriately. My mental will continue to get in my way, but I'm working on it...hopefully the taper will help that.
Tapering is a wonderful thing. I've made it to the highest part of my training and I'm coming down enjoying much shorter runs and getting my head ready for the race ahead. I'm in a place where a 12 mile run is like a stroll in the park. Once you get your 20 miler done every run is a pleasure. ha ha
Speaking on my 20...
Week 15 in the training program I follow is the toughest with the most mileage. (40 miles total) When I trained for Chicago I feared week 15. Training for this marathon I feared it again, but for different reasons....hindsight-I knew what I was in for during week 15 and I just wanted it done.
I mapped my run and tried to get my sister in law to run it with me....she wasn't having it! She did accompany me on the 1st five miles which was incredible. She talked, I listened-I've never been a good simultaneous runner/talker. I ran my pace and she acclimated her pace to me. I'm sure I was slowing her down but I had 15 miles after she left so I needed to go on my speed. Having someone to run with is a HUGE help and makes the run "easier" but it can also be tricky. When I run with someone I perseverate on my speed....am I going to fast? too slow? etc. Since my sister in law wasn't training I was okay with going my pace.
My 20 miler was on a much chillier day than I expected it to be with very strong winds. Sure, you can call strong winds "resistance training" I call it hell on earth! Add that to all the debris on the sides of the roads from a winter full of snow. The sides of the road are like sand traps...again you can call it resistance training I call it rocks in my shoes, but when a car is coming you don't have much choice. I felt like I was on a beach going up hill for most of my run. There were points the wind blew sideways and it literally moved me! Regardless of the winds, debris, and cooler than expected temperatures I did great on my 20 miler. My head was in it and I stayed positive the entire time. I was sore and tired after , but I was expecting it to be much worse. With the mileage increasing lately on my Saturday runs I stopped going to my Sunday yoga class, but the week of my 20 (the week I'd expect to be the most sore and tired the next day) I went to yoga and felt great....granted I was noisy and made some grunting painful noises going into certain poses, but I did it. (Sorry to everyone who had to listen to me in class that day ha ha)
During your training you are putting your body through a lot of physical demands and your body responds with eating...it has to. I can honestly say I'm hungry ALL THE TIME! The night of my 20 miler I woke up around 3:30am. What woke me? My stomach growling! NOTHING wakes me up...including my 10 alarms that go off each morning (no lie, 10) so to have my growling stomach wake me was a big thing. I will often times tell my chiropractor some things I've eaten in a single sitting or day and I think he's either impressed by my abilities or grossed out ha ha.
Here's a for instance....Wednesday I had some friends for dinner. I went to buy tilapia for dinner and saw Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Kix were on sale so I bought both. The Kix I planned to eat now and the CTC to eat after the marathon as I consider it junk food and I'm off junk food (among other things like anything fried-even tho I stay away from it usually, alcohol, and caffeine) until after the marathon. I made tilapia, grilled asparagus, artichokes sauteed in garlic and olive oil, and jasmin rice. I was done with my entire plate and my friends had about 1/2 a plate to go. I informed them I was still hungry so while they finished dinner I ate four...yes FOUR bowls of Kix....the only reason I stopped eating was fear of being judged by my friends ha ha. (they wouldn't judge me tho)
As you increase your mileage your body needs the food, but I'm trying to be careful as this is my taper and during your taper you are cutting back on the work load and even though my body has gotten used to more food and burning it off quickly less running = less/slower burn. While weight gain happens during this time I don't want to gain too much as it will slow me down and keep me further from my goal of 3:40:00.
Here's a list of ways to know you are tapering...I think I can relate to 90% of these....
You Know You're Tapering When....
Well, here I am 2 weeks from my 2nd marathon. I'm REALLY hoping I this marathon will give me the time I need to qualify for Boston, but I have to say I'm VERY nervous it won't happen. I think that while it's a negative attitude to have it's also very realistic to think this way. Training this time around was MUCH harder for me and while I saw better times/splits I don't know if I saw the numbers I needed to see to consistently cut 30 seconds off each mile for 26 miles. I will continue to eat right, rest enough and train appropriately. My mental will continue to get in my way, but I'm working on it...hopefully the taper will help that.
Tapering is a wonderful thing. I've made it to the highest part of my training and I'm coming down enjoying much shorter runs and getting my head ready for the race ahead. I'm in a place where a 12 mile run is like a stroll in the park. Once you get your 20 miler done every run is a pleasure. ha ha
Speaking on my 20...
Week 15 in the training program I follow is the toughest with the most mileage. (40 miles total) When I trained for Chicago I feared week 15. Training for this marathon I feared it again, but for different reasons....hindsight-I knew what I was in for during week 15 and I just wanted it done.
I mapped my run and tried to get my sister in law to run it with me....she wasn't having it! She did accompany me on the 1st five miles which was incredible. She talked, I listened-I've never been a good simultaneous runner/talker. I ran my pace and she acclimated her pace to me. I'm sure I was slowing her down but I had 15 miles after she left so I needed to go on my speed. Having someone to run with is a HUGE help and makes the run "easier" but it can also be tricky. When I run with someone I perseverate on my speed....am I going to fast? too slow? etc. Since my sister in law wasn't training I was okay with going my pace.
My 20 miler was on a much chillier day than I expected it to be with very strong winds. Sure, you can call strong winds "resistance training" I call it hell on earth! Add that to all the debris on the sides of the roads from a winter full of snow. The sides of the road are like sand traps...again you can call it resistance training I call it rocks in my shoes, but when a car is coming you don't have much choice. I felt like I was on a beach going up hill for most of my run. There were points the wind blew sideways and it literally moved me! Regardless of the winds, debris, and cooler than expected temperatures I did great on my 20 miler. My head was in it and I stayed positive the entire time. I was sore and tired after , but I was expecting it to be much worse. With the mileage increasing lately on my Saturday runs I stopped going to my Sunday yoga class, but the week of my 20 (the week I'd expect to be the most sore and tired the next day) I went to yoga and felt great....granted I was noisy and made some grunting painful noises going into certain poses, but I did it. (Sorry to everyone who had to listen to me in class that day ha ha)
During your training you are putting your body through a lot of physical demands and your body responds with eating...it has to. I can honestly say I'm hungry ALL THE TIME! The night of my 20 miler I woke up around 3:30am. What woke me? My stomach growling! NOTHING wakes me up...including my 10 alarms that go off each morning (no lie, 10) so to have my growling stomach wake me was a big thing. I will often times tell my chiropractor some things I've eaten in a single sitting or day and I think he's either impressed by my abilities or grossed out ha ha.
Here's a for instance....Wednesday I had some friends for dinner. I went to buy tilapia for dinner and saw Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Kix were on sale so I bought both. The Kix I planned to eat now and the CTC to eat after the marathon as I consider it junk food and I'm off junk food (among other things like anything fried-even tho I stay away from it usually, alcohol, and caffeine) until after the marathon. I made tilapia, grilled asparagus, artichokes sauteed in garlic and olive oil, and jasmin rice. I was done with my entire plate and my friends had about 1/2 a plate to go. I informed them I was still hungry so while they finished dinner I ate four...yes FOUR bowls of Kix....the only reason I stopped eating was fear of being judged by my friends ha ha. (they wouldn't judge me tho)
As you increase your mileage your body needs the food, but I'm trying to be careful as this is my taper and during your taper you are cutting back on the work load and even though my body has gotten used to more food and burning it off quickly less running = less/slower burn. While weight gain happens during this time I don't want to gain too much as it will slow me down and keep me further from my goal of 3:40:00.
Here's a list of ways to know you are tapering...I think I can relate to 90% of these....
You Know You're Tapering When....
- you're constantly hungry.
- you're having dreams that you show up to the race start in your underwear or without your running shoes.
- you're cranky from not running.
- you find yourself frequently saying, "after the marathon..."
- you're reading a lot of motivational quotes about marathons.
- your friends/significant other/co-workers run in the opposite direction when you mention the word "marathon."
- you keep flip-flopping between wishing the race was tomorrow and thinking it would be great to have a few more weeks of training.
- you keep asking people for recommendations for your marathon song playlist
- you visit the starting line area to visualize race day.
- you've completely lost focus at work.
- you're convinced you've gained 10 pounds since you started tapering.
- you feel sluggish and like you could run forever...all during the same run.
- you've planned out three possible outfits for the race and keep asking running friends for opinions on which one to go with.
- you have random bursts of energy when you want to reorganize your closets or kitchen pantry.
- you've studied the course map enough that you've memorized where all the porta-potties will be on the course.
- you research celebrity marathon times to see what famous people you could beat.
- you've tried every race time prediction calculator on the Internet.
- you've vowed to not eat pasta for at least a month after the marathon.
- you obsessively check the weather forecast for race day.
"The answer to the big questions in running is the same as the answer to the big questions in life: Do the best with what you've got." -Dr. George Sheehan
Saturday, March 29, 2014
"Relish the bad training runs. Without them it's difficult to recognize, much less appreciate, the good ones." -Pat Teske
So today was the last run for week 14 and I ended it with a "14 mile" run.
On Monday I enter the dreaded week 15. Week 15 is the most running you do in a single week. 5 Monday, 10 Wednesday, 5 Thursday, and 20 Saturday!
Today was a rainy, cold day and while I wasn't dreading my run I wasn't jumping for joy to do it either. I really enjoyed the route I took and planned my hydration better so I didn't have another repeat of last week. I took it easy and didn't care about my watch constantly beeping to tell me I was behind my 8:20 pace. Even though I wasn't on pace I was consistent and felt great-I was having a great running day (despite the rain and cold).
At mile 10 or so I started to realize how wet and cold my shoes and clothes were but figured I only had 4 miles to go so I'd be fine. At mile 11 I started to get excited because I was a 5K away from a warm shower. As I turned onto a road to begin my final 3 miles it happened-A ROAD CLOSURE! I thought maybe it was just closed to cars and I could sneak through on foot-NOPE! There was no way around it so I continued the only way I could realizing this detour would add at least 2 miles to my run. While I was feeling good I didn't think I had 2 extra miles in me especially when I took into account my final 2 miles were uphill (with a few flat parts). I decided the only way I could get this done was continue on with this detour (because I had no other option) and then when I hit 14 miles on my watch I'd simply call my brother to pick me up because he lives a block away from me. I considered walking the last 2 miles home but thought, "I'm warm because I'm running, if I stop running to walk I'll get cold really quickly since I'm soaked".
Thankfully my 14 mile run ended at the base of the 2 mile hill I'd have to climb had it not been for my new genius plan. After I stopped my watch I reached into my running belt to retrieve my phone from the ziplock bag I protected it in and hit the home button so I could call my brother....that's when things got interesting. I looked down at my phone and it said, "your phone has been disabled for 58 minutes." I was shocked then realized what must have happened. Somehow I must have hit the power or home button which made the keypad to put your password in appear and with the jostling from my run I must have hit several wrong passwords attempts to eventually lock myself out...I must have done it a lot for it to lock me out for 58 minutes. (I wanted to take a screen shot-damn lockout!) At first I laughed then thought, "shit, I can't call Scott...how am I going to get home?" I had not choice...I was walking the hill. I decided to walk up the steepest parts, but I started to get REALLY cold-I was shivering! I took the hill up a good 3/4 of a mile and when I got to a flat part I realized I had to run because walking was making me colder and running would warm me up and get me home sooner. My legs felt like I was running on 2 broken tibia while wearing lead weights on my feet. I wanted to die! (Side note before I get to what happened next: since my brother and his family live a block away I often see them while I'm running and they beep at me to say hi) As I'm "running," so I can get warm/home quicker, I hear someone behind me honk and whistle and I think, "SCOTT! I'm saved!" I turned with childlike excitement thinking I'm saved when I realize it's not my brother....it's just some creep. (Note to all readers...this tactic does not work to pick someone up...I know, I know you'd think it would, but it doesn't. I have been honked/whistled at tons and I've never dated anyone who's done it to me ha ha) Despair set in again since I was still freezing and in some decent pain. I pushed it as best I could yet the distance didn't feel like it's ending. I heard my phone ring and filed with hope as I saw it's my mom. I went to answer thinking she could help rescue me....turns out you can't even answer calls when your phone is disabled so I had to press on.
I guess I'd appreciate this feature if my phone had been stolen, but I was wet, cold, exhausted, and in pain so I hated this feature today. Eventually I made it home and my phone finally allowed me to try to unlock it-successfully this time! Regardless of everything that happened, I still felt like it was a great run!
"Relish the bad training runs. Without them it's difficult to recognize, much less appreciate, the good ones." -Pat Teske
On Monday I enter the dreaded week 15. Week 15 is the most running you do in a single week. 5 Monday, 10 Wednesday, 5 Thursday, and 20 Saturday!
Today was a rainy, cold day and while I wasn't dreading my run I wasn't jumping for joy to do it either. I really enjoyed the route I took and planned my hydration better so I didn't have another repeat of last week. I took it easy and didn't care about my watch constantly beeping to tell me I was behind my 8:20 pace. Even though I wasn't on pace I was consistent and felt great-I was having a great running day (despite the rain and cold).
At mile 10 or so I started to realize how wet and cold my shoes and clothes were but figured I only had 4 miles to go so I'd be fine. At mile 11 I started to get excited because I was a 5K away from a warm shower. As I turned onto a road to begin my final 3 miles it happened-A ROAD CLOSURE! I thought maybe it was just closed to cars and I could sneak through on foot-NOPE! There was no way around it so I continued the only way I could realizing this detour would add at least 2 miles to my run. While I was feeling good I didn't think I had 2 extra miles in me especially when I took into account my final 2 miles were uphill (with a few flat parts). I decided the only way I could get this done was continue on with this detour (because I had no other option) and then when I hit 14 miles on my watch I'd simply call my brother to pick me up because he lives a block away from me. I considered walking the last 2 miles home but thought, "I'm warm because I'm running, if I stop running to walk I'll get cold really quickly since I'm soaked".
Thankfully my 14 mile run ended at the base of the 2 mile hill I'd have to climb had it not been for my new genius plan. After I stopped my watch I reached into my running belt to retrieve my phone from the ziplock bag I protected it in and hit the home button so I could call my brother....that's when things got interesting. I looked down at my phone and it said, "your phone has been disabled for 58 minutes." I was shocked then realized what must have happened. Somehow I must have hit the power or home button which made the keypad to put your password in appear and with the jostling from my run I must have hit several wrong passwords attempts to eventually lock myself out...I must have done it a lot for it to lock me out for 58 minutes. (I wanted to take a screen shot-damn lockout!) At first I laughed then thought, "shit, I can't call Scott...how am I going to get home?" I had not choice...I was walking the hill. I decided to walk up the steepest parts, but I started to get REALLY cold-I was shivering! I took the hill up a good 3/4 of a mile and when I got to a flat part I realized I had to run because walking was making me colder and running would warm me up and get me home sooner. My legs felt like I was running on 2 broken tibia while wearing lead weights on my feet. I wanted to die! (Side note before I get to what happened next: since my brother and his family live a block away I often see them while I'm running and they beep at me to say hi) As I'm "running," so I can get warm/home quicker, I hear someone behind me honk and whistle and I think, "SCOTT! I'm saved!" I turned with childlike excitement thinking I'm saved when I realize it's not my brother....it's just some creep. (Note to all readers...this tactic does not work to pick someone up...I know, I know you'd think it would, but it doesn't. I have been honked/whistled at tons and I've never dated anyone who's done it to me ha ha) Despair set in again since I was still freezing and in some decent pain. I pushed it as best I could yet the distance didn't feel like it's ending. I heard my phone ring and filed with hope as I saw it's my mom. I went to answer thinking she could help rescue me....turns out you can't even answer calls when your phone is disabled so I had to press on.
I guess I'd appreciate this feature if my phone had been stolen, but I was wet, cold, exhausted, and in pain so I hated this feature today. Eventually I made it home and my phone finally allowed me to try to unlock it-successfully this time! Regardless of everything that happened, I still felt like it was a great run!
"Relish the bad training runs. Without them it's difficult to recognize, much less appreciate, the good ones." -Pat Teske
Monday, March 24, 2014
It's All Relative!
We all know the phrase, "Someone's got a case of the Mondays" from "Office Space," but I'm happy to say that when you are 14 weeks into marathon training that is NEVER a phrase you will utter for Mondays are the best!
For most training programs Monday is your short run. Today was a GLORIOUS 5 mile run, a quasi quick and easy run. The only problem with your Monday run is fear...today for a good chunk I thought things like, "I can't wait until 2.5 miles cause I'll be 1/2 way done." from that thought came, "holy crap 5 miles on race day means I still will have 21.2 miles remaining....I might die." (or something along those lines ha ha) When I start to think like this I think about my favorite Friends episode when the girls are playing the guys in a game called, "It's All Relative." I repeat this phrase when I find myself getting overwhelmed by things like a 5 mile run because it IS all relative. Take the weather recently...we had a 60 degree day and were breaking out our flip flops....if it were early September and we had a 60 degree day we'd be looking for our Uggs. It's All Relative!
No 5 miles ISN'T a lot when you are thinking about the full distance of a marathon, but when you are exhausted from life in general and add on to it the physical and mental demands of training, 5 miles can be a killer.
We all have something going on that has us exhausted and/or pulled in a million directions with a million things to do, but the key is to take things one at a time and not get overwhelmed with things out of your control. If you are like me you need to prioritize and remember you can't be everywhere at all times for everyone and yourself so you do what you can do and be okay with that. I'm trying to do that right now and it's not always easy!
Author's Note: I'm writing this post on my couch at 7:00pm fighting to keep my eyes open because everything has my burnt out, but I also know that I have too much to do to go to bed at 7:00pm Grading papers and getting my spare room prepped for the painter will have to wait until tomorrow ha ha
You need to prioritize. If you can't get to everything or do everything, that's okay. -Julie Chen
For most training programs Monday is your short run. Today was a GLORIOUS 5 mile run, a quasi quick and easy run. The only problem with your Monday run is fear...today for a good chunk I thought things like, "I can't wait until 2.5 miles cause I'll be 1/2 way done." from that thought came, "holy crap 5 miles on race day means I still will have 21.2 miles remaining....I might die." (or something along those lines ha ha) When I start to think like this I think about my favorite Friends episode when the girls are playing the guys in a game called, "It's All Relative." I repeat this phrase when I find myself getting overwhelmed by things like a 5 mile run because it IS all relative. Take the weather recently...we had a 60 degree day and were breaking out our flip flops....if it were early September and we had a 60 degree day we'd be looking for our Uggs. It's All Relative!
No 5 miles ISN'T a lot when you are thinking about the full distance of a marathon, but when you are exhausted from life in general and add on to it the physical and mental demands of training, 5 miles can be a killer.
We all have something going on that has us exhausted and/or pulled in a million directions with a million things to do, but the key is to take things one at a time and not get overwhelmed with things out of your control. If you are like me you need to prioritize and remember you can't be everywhere at all times for everyone and yourself so you do what you can do and be okay with that. I'm trying to do that right now and it's not always easy!
Author's Note: I'm writing this post on my couch at 7:00pm fighting to keep my eyes open because everything has my burnt out, but I also know that I have too much to do to go to bed at 7:00pm Grading papers and getting my spare room prepped for the painter will have to wait until tomorrow ha ha
You need to prioritize. If you can't get to everything or do everything, that's okay. -Julie Chen
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Hindsight Is 20/20
Hindsight is 20/20...obviously, but it's really annoying. ha ha
Time and time again I am being bombarded with this issue....
I love my Brooks Trance 11 & 12 so when I went back for shoes for this marathon I thought it would be easy...just pick up the newest Trance in stock or if there wasn't a new model get the 12s again. That plan was fine-until I did that! My favorite shoe store told me it had changed slightly, but I thought it would be okay and they didn't have any 12s in my size. I started to train with them and found myself complaining week after week to my chiropractor about shin and ankle pain. I started to look online for my old shoe without any results. Apparently I wasn't the only one affected my this shoe change. By this point EVERYONE was sold out of them and fear set in. I didn't want to go to a new brand of shoe and risk anything. I wanted my tried and true running shoe. Finally, I called Brooks and complained about the new model AND I asked them to, "call me if they happen to find a pair laying around the office" (<---no lie, I really did this ha ha) I started to call random running stores with the hope someone, anyone, had a pair in my size. I was in luck, I found a store that had a pair!!! As I sat on the phone in shock I thanked her profusely...she interrupted my thanking to share that she also located another 2 pair at their other store and she told me she'd get those for me also.....Needless to say I bought her a best friends necklace to share with me ha ha! Had I known a new model was coming out and would be changing my perfectly good shoe I would have stocked up. It felt a little like the Seinfeld "Sponge" episode trying to get my hands on any and hoarding them ha ha Seinfeld Spongeworthy Clip
Today I will be taking my new running shoes out for a training run with a girls running group from the town I teach in (they are training for a 5K in town the day before my marathon so I, sadly am not able to do the race, but I will train with them and go cheer them on on race day). I'm super excited to run with this students are share my love of running with them...although after my run yesterday it could be ugly.....Perfect segue into my next hindsight is 20/20 story....
As I have made it VERY clear, I have not enjoyed a lot of my training for this marathon. Between my attitude, the cold/snow, injuries, the time of year etc. it has not been a pleasant experience. I've been following my training program pretty closely, but nothing like my 1st training. (That DNF post I made during my Chicago training is laughable now since I find just getting out for the run a success...finishing the exact mileage isn't killing me.) So perhaps yesterday's run didn't go well because leading up was kind of a mess. It was my birthday on the 14th so I gave myself a week in which I could eat as I pleased and worked out as I saw fit. (I did do all my runs, but I skipped yoga, skipped my ab challenge I've been doing, and I didn't lift that week) add to it I was fighting off some illness. The 15th was supposed to be a long run of 12 miles....being the day after my birthday party I only did 7. My other runs for that week were pretty spot on because I knew I needed the miles for a big 18 mile run on the 22nd. Yesterday's long run was the 18-a fairly big one in the training program I follow. A few things happened on my "18" mile run to which hindsight would have been helpful....
1) runners should NOT drink venti vanilla lattes prior to an 18 mile run...ya just shouldn't ha ha. At mile 4 I was beyond hating myself and just wishing I'd puke so I had an excuse to stop running.
2) While it is not NEARLY as hot as the summer training where I stashed water and Gatorade SEVERAL places along my route an 18 mile run is an 18 mile run and you need to stay hydrated regardless of the temperatures.
3) In the 2nd grade I played "The March Wind" in "Eating Chicken Soup With Rice" and I remember running around the stage with blue fabric representing the craziness of the weather in March.....(Please see photo below ha ha) I experienced said craziness yesterday. Sure, it looked beautiful out, but the wind was AWFUL. It was in my face the entire run. Anyone who had the "pleasure" of seeing me last night enjoyed my lovely wind/sun burned face. (in hindsight I'd also wear sunblock) Doing the 18 miles was scaring me so adding in the wind made this run so much harder-I was exhausted. (PS please don't forget that it is hill central where I live....great for training, but so tough) Some people say, "Wind is great resistance training!" Sure, but this was no ordinary wind...again please see the "Eating Chicken Soup With Rice" photo below ha ha (I don't know how hindsight could have changed the wind, but it was pertinent to add to the story to better understand the disaster that was my run)
4) My watch....my awesome sister in law is an athlete (and by athlete I mean she's run the Boston Marathon-among other marathons, and did the Lake Placid Ironman weeks before her wedding and did an AMAZING job) to thank me for watching me niece and nephew a few times she got me a sweet Garmin running watch. I love and hate this thing equally. This watch is exactly what I needed. It tells me just what I want without overwhelming me and making me over think running. At the same time I perseverate on this watch though I really try not to. I have preset my pace so it alerts me if I'm going too fast, too slow, or if I'm on pace. I'm trying to get a feel for my pace, but I am a very inconsistent runner. (my inconsistency in running is part of the reason I'll be running with a pace group for the marathon....I'll get into that later) Due to some hearing surgery I had a few years ago I have sonic hearing so even with my ipod on I hear this watch go off to alert me if I'm on pace, ahead of pace, or behind pace....I can't not look when I hear it beep at me. I have to say I've been ahead of my pace (8:20) a lot recently....well that is on my shorter runs. Yesterday, I was doing great...then the winds really started to take a toll on me. I swear, in the beginning, my miles were sub 7:50 with a constant "ahead of pace" alerting me on my wrist, but as the miles and wind pressed on I think I saw my watch flash, "girl, I don't even know if you are picking up your feet" at the end. ha ha The watch REALLY started to make me feel badly about my pace so I stopped looking at it. In hindsight, I should have just run without caring about my speed. Long runs aren't meant to be run at race day pace. I have to admit, this run REALLY made me start worrying about my ability to qualify for Boston. (Tho last night, while whining about my run, my friend Amy told me I will qualify if I just change my attitude...she might be right) If hindsight wasn't 20/20 and I knew now if I'll be able to maintain an 8:23 min mile and stay with my pacing group and qualify for Boston this whole training thing would be easier and I'd be a lot more pleasant since worrying all the time would end! Damn you hindsight!
“To paraphrase Oedipus, Hamlet, Lear, and all those guys, "I wish I had known this some time ago.” -Roger Zelazny
Don't Forget To Share My Blog AND "Like" My Blog Page On Facebook-Blog: My Name Is Kelly, And I'm A Runner
Time and time again I am being bombarded with this issue....
I love my Brooks Trance 11 & 12 so when I went back for shoes for this marathon I thought it would be easy...just pick up the newest Trance in stock or if there wasn't a new model get the 12s again. That plan was fine-until I did that! My favorite shoe store told me it had changed slightly, but I thought it would be okay and they didn't have any 12s in my size. I started to train with them and found myself complaining week after week to my chiropractor about shin and ankle pain. I started to look online for my old shoe without any results. Apparently I wasn't the only one affected my this shoe change. By this point EVERYONE was sold out of them and fear set in. I didn't want to go to a new brand of shoe and risk anything. I wanted my tried and true running shoe. Finally, I called Brooks and complained about the new model AND I asked them to, "call me if they happen to find a pair laying around the office" (<---no lie, I really did this ha ha) I started to call random running stores with the hope someone, anyone, had a pair in my size. I was in luck, I found a store that had a pair!!! As I sat on the phone in shock I thanked her profusely...she interrupted my thanking to share that she also located another 2 pair at their other store and she told me she'd get those for me also.....Needless to say I bought her a best friends necklace to share with me ha ha! Had I known a new model was coming out and would be changing my perfectly good shoe I would have stocked up. It felt a little like the Seinfeld "Sponge" episode trying to get my hands on any and hoarding them ha ha Seinfeld Spongeworthy Clip
Today I will be taking my new running shoes out for a training run with a girls running group from the town I teach in (they are training for a 5K in town the day before my marathon so I, sadly am not able to do the race, but I will train with them and go cheer them on on race day). I'm super excited to run with this students are share my love of running with them...although after my run yesterday it could be ugly.....Perfect segue into my next hindsight is 20/20 story....
As I have made it VERY clear, I have not enjoyed a lot of my training for this marathon. Between my attitude, the cold/snow, injuries, the time of year etc. it has not been a pleasant experience. I've been following my training program pretty closely, but nothing like my 1st training. (That DNF post I made during my Chicago training is laughable now since I find just getting out for the run a success...finishing the exact mileage isn't killing me.) So perhaps yesterday's run didn't go well because leading up was kind of a mess. It was my birthday on the 14th so I gave myself a week in which I could eat as I pleased and worked out as I saw fit. (I did do all my runs, but I skipped yoga, skipped my ab challenge I've been doing, and I didn't lift that week) add to it I was fighting off some illness. The 15th was supposed to be a long run of 12 miles....being the day after my birthday party I only did 7. My other runs for that week were pretty spot on because I knew I needed the miles for a big 18 mile run on the 22nd. Yesterday's long run was the 18-a fairly big one in the training program I follow. A few things happened on my "18" mile run to which hindsight would have been helpful....
1) runners should NOT drink venti vanilla lattes prior to an 18 mile run...ya just shouldn't ha ha. At mile 4 I was beyond hating myself and just wishing I'd puke so I had an excuse to stop running.
2) While it is not NEARLY as hot as the summer training where I stashed water and Gatorade SEVERAL places along my route an 18 mile run is an 18 mile run and you need to stay hydrated regardless of the temperatures.
3) In the 2nd grade I played "The March Wind" in "Eating Chicken Soup With Rice" and I remember running around the stage with blue fabric representing the craziness of the weather in March.....(Please see photo below ha ha) I experienced said craziness yesterday. Sure, it looked beautiful out, but the wind was AWFUL. It was in my face the entire run. Anyone who had the "pleasure" of seeing me last night enjoyed my lovely wind/sun burned face. (in hindsight I'd also wear sunblock) Doing the 18 miles was scaring me so adding in the wind made this run so much harder-I was exhausted. (PS please don't forget that it is hill central where I live....great for training, but so tough) Some people say, "Wind is great resistance training!" Sure, but this was no ordinary wind...again please see the "Eating Chicken Soup With Rice" photo below ha ha (I don't know how hindsight could have changed the wind, but it was pertinent to add to the story to better understand the disaster that was my run)
4) My watch....my awesome sister in law is an athlete (and by athlete I mean she's run the Boston Marathon-among other marathons, and did the Lake Placid Ironman weeks before her wedding and did an AMAZING job) to thank me for watching me niece and nephew a few times she got me a sweet Garmin running watch. I love and hate this thing equally. This watch is exactly what I needed. It tells me just what I want without overwhelming me and making me over think running. At the same time I perseverate on this watch though I really try not to. I have preset my pace so it alerts me if I'm going too fast, too slow, or if I'm on pace. I'm trying to get a feel for my pace, but I am a very inconsistent runner. (my inconsistency in running is part of the reason I'll be running with a pace group for the marathon....I'll get into that later) Due to some hearing surgery I had a few years ago I have sonic hearing so even with my ipod on I hear this watch go off to alert me if I'm on pace, ahead of pace, or behind pace....I can't not look when I hear it beep at me. I have to say I've been ahead of my pace (8:20) a lot recently....well that is on my shorter runs. Yesterday, I was doing great...then the winds really started to take a toll on me. I swear, in the beginning, my miles were sub 7:50 with a constant "ahead of pace" alerting me on my wrist, but as the miles and wind pressed on I think I saw my watch flash, "girl, I don't even know if you are picking up your feet" at the end. ha ha The watch REALLY started to make me feel badly about my pace so I stopped looking at it. In hindsight, I should have just run without caring about my speed. Long runs aren't meant to be run at race day pace. I have to admit, this run REALLY made me start worrying about my ability to qualify for Boston. (Tho last night, while whining about my run, my friend Amy told me I will qualify if I just change my attitude...she might be right) If hindsight wasn't 20/20 and I knew now if I'll be able to maintain an 8:23 min mile and stay with my pacing group and qualify for Boston this whole training thing would be easier and I'd be a lot more pleasant since worrying all the time would end! Damn you hindsight!
“To paraphrase Oedipus, Hamlet, Lear, and all those guys, "I wish I had known this some time ago.” -Roger Zelazny
Don't Forget To Share My Blog AND "Like" My Blog Page On Facebook-Blog: My Name Is Kelly, And I'm A Runner
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