Bad Run, Decent Time

Contrary to my previous post …

There are good runs and there are bad ones. When it’s bad … es no bueno. My usual routine before my long run when it comes to mapping a run is either set out on a route that has been recommended to me or go to MapMyRun.com, make a few twist and turns and write down the directions. Then, off I go without much of a clue in how the run is going to pan out. Needless to say, the verdict was not in my favor this time.

Let me start with some positivity since there isn’t a great deal of it that pours out of this past long run. I was a little more than a mile into my 11-mile run when I saw an older man running in my direction. He was obviously a veteran runner with his spandex running outfit and long, lean physique. To my surprise, he slowed up when we crossed paths and asked if I wanted some company. “Sure, I’d love company,” was my response. We chatted about running, races we’ve competed in and the Boston Marathon for about two miles. He’d run Boston twice roughly 20 years ago and he was going to try and qualify again next year. Of course I asked for advice being a relatively new runner and a virgin Boston marathoner and like everyone else he had heard countless things about heartbreak hills before he faced Boston for the first time. So, he concentrated on those and during the race he worked to conquer them. Around mile 20 when the hills were evening out he realized that he still had another six miles to go … something he did not concentrate on. I guess that goes for most things in life … don’t focus on the tough parts or one thing in particular … keep your eye on your bigger goal and all else will become just a part of the race (figuratively and literally).


Anyway, he left just short of three miles into my run and I was on my own for the next eight. It started out with rolling hills here and there, nothing to speak of, but I made a turn and it was for the worst. Maybe I wasn’t hydrated well-enough and maybe I just wasn’t in the moment but the steep inclines got the best of me that day. I walked for a minute or so about three times, feeling pretty terrible for a majority of the run. If I didn’t know any better I would have thought I was pulling a 30 pound wagon behind me with lead in my shoes. My average pace ended up being 8:27. I’m more than satisfied with that considering how I felt.

I wasn’t going to do anything on Sunday but I knew a recovery workout might work in my favor. A run outside didn’t seem too appealing, especially after the day before, so I went to my apartment’s fitness center and did an hour on the elliptical. I didn’t push any limits but I was worked hard enough to break a decent sweat. Time passed quickly as I watched the end of the Louisville basketball game (Chris is a huge UofL fan). They won in the last seconds! Then I watched the USA hockey game. Very exciting but a disappointing finish to the game. Oh well – I’m proud of our boys.

Tonight was another elliptical night. I think my knees appreciate a break from the constant pounding. Again, it was an hour-long workout and this time I worked a lot harder.

I’ll post again soon but in the meantime, happy running! We have Daylight Savings Time to look forward to!!!! YAY! :-)

Another Day, Another Dollar, Another Diet

Today was a new day in a few ways. It was the first day of the work week, it was the first day to another week of training and it was the first day of my renewed diet. Work went well today, training was successful and my diet is off to a good start! I came to realize that throughout my race training I had the mentality in more times than not that I could eat whatever I wanted since I was working out. This is not the case. Yes I'm running but I can only get better if I feed my body nutritious meals as well. My iPod touch came the other day and I am loving it. I downloaded the calorie and nutrition counting app so I would be better disciplined and more conscious of what I am putting into my system. Drastic changes aren't my goal ... just a little healthier in hopes I will continue to feel great during my runs. Protein is going to be core to my diet and then I'll incorporate a fair amount of GOOD carbs since I need that energy.

Typically I head straight for the elliptical on cross-training Mondays, but today I had a laundry list of things to accomplish right after work and didn't get home until after dark. My apartment fitness center is surrounded by windows and I've turned into a paranoid runner and person in general, especially at night. I hear horror stories and d take them to heart. I would never want to think that it couldn't happen to me because who's to say that it can't. After dark I hang up my laces. When 5pm rolled around I went to Target and walked around aimlessly trying to find the best birthday present for both of my nieces. I'm going to their birthday dinner tomorrow at a hibachi restaurant in Raleigh and am giving them my gifts then. After leaving there I had to go to the grocery store. Needless to say I got some good walking in during my adventures, but I didn't want that to be all the exercise I got today. After blowing the dust off my P90x workout DVDs I popped Kenpo in my laptop and worked it out! I actually had fun; I always feel like a hardcore when I'm kickboxing but then I look at my reflection in the sliding door and realize how uncoordinated I am. Let's just hope I never get into a fight! :-) It was a decent 40 minute workout and is definitely beneficial for the core and legs, not to mention a great calorie burner!

I took yesterday off since Chris and I were traveling back to Raleigh from Louisville. It was a nice visit and is always fun to see everybody. We took the opportunity to sleep in on Sunday and then visited with his grandparents for a bit before heading to Bass Pro Shop (Chris' play place) and then Jimmy Johns for some grub! Nine hours later we pulled into our complex and called it a night. No time/desire for running.

Don't forget to check out my weekly training schedule on the side bar! Also check out the poll to the left and share your opinion!! Talk to you soon!!

It's Raining, It's Pouring ... My Workout Just Got Boring

Flash flood warnings and storm threats prevented me from venturing outside for my seven to eight mile "quality" run this evening. Bummer. My previous planned was to run to an extremely steep and intimidating hill (about two miles from my apartment) and do some hill workouts and then run home. It sounds pretty horrible but I was actually looking forward to it. It's something new and a workout I've been thinking about doing for awhile. Since it was pouring too intensly for that, I changed right when I got home from work and headed to the fitness center at my apartment. A fast-paced forty-five minute elliptcal workout allowed me to break a good sweat, feeling like I got a sufficient workout. Even though I don't mind the elliptical, I'd rather the feeling of covering some ground and not being stationary. Oh well - you adapt and move on! FYI (because I don't think I've said it yet) I took yesterday off after running my long run on Sunday.

From experience ...
On another note, one of my biggest challenges lately have been drinking enough water. For some reason I get on these soda kicks - or anything with flavor. It is diet soda at least, but still ... not good when you are running and working out as frequently as I am. Drinking water has been a forced action for me lately. When I do get enough of that good ol' H2O I feel significantly better when I'm training; I even feel lighter. If you don't consume enough water, your body holds onto all the liquid it gets because it basically doesn't trust that it will get much more throughout the day (the simpler way of putting it). Well, put two and two together - that makes you bloated and gives you the feeling of carrying extra unnecessary weight. Soda also contains a great deal of sodium, which causes bloating as well.

That leads me into the fun fact I wanted to share with you! Next time you hit the pavement, max out at the gym or get a good sweat with a small home workout - grab a beer afterwards to rehydrate! Yup - a beer! "According to a research, a glass of beer is far better at rehydrating the body than water after exercise. The sugar, salt and bubbles in a pint may help people absorb fluids more quickly, the study claims." (Source) FoxNews only claimed it was slightly better than drinking a glass of water but hey - ever little bit helps, right? (Source) This makes sense when race organizers offer beer once you cross the finish line. I've heard that some races even offer a beer during the race but I can't imagine that. Beer isn't something that I would want to push me to the finish line; however, I would run faster to get to the finish line for that beer ... for the hydration of course! :-)

Hopefully the rain takes a hike so I can possibly fit in that hill workout tomorrow. If it's not raining too hard I have no problem running in the rain - even makes me feel like I'm working a little harder. But today was just too ridiculous to do anything outside. If I do get to do it, I'll definitely be sharing and hopefully I'll even get the chance to snap a picture of this monstrous hill to share as well!

Talk to you soon! Have a great night!

Pain, Pain Go Away ...

Even though yesterday was supposed to be a short three- to four-mile run, I took it easy and stuck to some core work. My ankle is still bothering me, so much so it was hard to walk up and down stairs. I've been doing a bit of research and I think it's just a form of tendonitis (and a result of overuse) so I'll continue to monitor it and I'll start to ice it. For core work, I did several exercises on the exercise ball and a couple sets of push-ups.

Today I am slated for a "Tempo" six- to seven-miler. The pain in my ankle is nagging and I'm fairly certain it would come back with bells on if I went on a run. I'll have to play this one by ear. After work if the pain has not subsided completely, then I will have to resort to another form of exercise with not as much pressure and pounding. I was thinking of doing an elliptical/bike workout and then possibly a P90x DVD. Even if I am miraculously feeling better, I doubt I'll be able to make it a tempo run; but I'd be happy if I can hit the pavement at all. Missing a run, especially one that's longer, will be a tough call for me to make. I hate feeling behind in training as a rookie racer. But I keep reminding myself that if I push it too hard now, then my ankle injury might force me to take even more time off and that's not what I want or need. I hope to recover enough to still hit my long run numbers (14 miles) this week - THAT, I will not miss.

I'll be talking to you later tonight. :-) Time for work!

Lazy Labor Day

Training called for a light three to four miles yesterday. Usually I try to listen to how my body feels and make a good judgment call on whether or not I should run the day after my long run. I had a achy and pulling feeling kind of pain on the inside of my right ankle. It began about halfway through my long run Saturday and got worse throughout the day on Sunday. My brother-in-law's sister (Ashley) speculated it was probably from overuse so I decided it was probably best to take it easy and not do much of anything. It was a good decision I guess because today the pain subsided. Sometimes, it's just that simple. Rest.

I fit in a 35-minute elliptical workout this Labor Day evening. Lazy is one way to describe the holiday for me and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I've created a routine of doing the elliptical on Mondays when I'm supposed to do some type of exercise besides running. Working out on the elliptical allows me to break a good enough sweat, not to mention I really enjoy it. Reading is a hobby of mine so I like to take whatever book I'm into and read it during my workout.

I'll be updating my training schedule for the week tonight too. Give that a look if you want. I'm going to cut this one shot so I can get some sleep. Catch up with me tomorrow though!

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. I certainly did ... surrounded by family. :-)