Weekend Things

This weekend's eating was ok. I was a bit more mindful of it at least. At home, things were good. Friday night we had Mexican which was tons of calories I'm sure. Saturday morning I had eggs, then we had Chipotle, then there was a lot of walking around downtown for Bockfest. I think I had three, maybe four beers. We ate at a pretty delicious Belgian restaurant: chicken, a waffle, and salad.

Sunday morning, I got up around 7:30 and headed to the grocery. Casey and I were going to run 10 miles, and I needed something to eat other than eggs. I had a bagel with cream cheese. Bagels are so filling! Seems to be a good pre-long run breakfast for me.

The run was really rough. I went back and forth between feeling like I had a lot of energy and like I had little energy. We got through the 10 though. I was really struggling during certain parts. But Casey helped greatly to pul me along.

Our splits (determined by my pace of course) were as follows:
1 - 10:06
2 - 10:32
3 - 11:03
4 - 10:57
5 - 10:59
6 - 10:52
7 - 11:15
8 - 10:57
9 - 11:13
10 - 11:42 (ug!)

So, not a stellar performance, but comparing to the two 8s we've ran, I suppose it wasn't far off.

What is WAY different however, is how I felt afterwords. I felt terrible. We had some Ovaltine then I took a shower. I could have stayed in the shower for 15 more minutes to warm up. I was chilled to the bone, which is common for me after a cold long run. But then I just didn't feel good. After eating, I slept for 2 hours, which finally made me feel better. It just really wiped me out!

Very glad we finished the 10!!! :) On a good training track for sure.

8 Miles - the Same Route

Sunday Casey and I ran 8 miles, the same route as last week. Only this time I think it went a little better. We shaved some time off of the pace and I think I felt better overall. I still couldn't breathe on the hills. But Casey kept me pushing.

We were on a 10:30 overall pace until the hills on the way back. I slowly watched that goal slip away. It made me feel pretty crummy, but in the end, I still was happy that I didn't do any worse than the previous week.


Our splits were as follows:
1 - 10:09
2 - 10:44
3 - 10:10
4 - 10:18
5 - 11:07
6 - 10:55
7 - 10:53
8 - 11:16


My allergies are a mess. I'm so tired of it. I've been taking Allegra for almost 3 solid weeks now? at least 2 solid weeks, and nothing has changed. I was optimistic it would. This morning I was so worn out from them, I felt like I was sick. That typically only happens when it's the height of ragweed season. I guess I'll ask the allergist for something more. I am most bothered by the fact that I think it's effecting my breathing and running ability. My throat felt so tight when I was running on the hilly parts Sunday. That just can't be normal.

This weekend we're supposed to run 10. It's sooooo great being this consistent!!!!

8 Miles from Sun to Dusk

Sunday sun and brisk air; what a perfect day for 8 miles!

The day started as lazy one. I didn't really feel like running, and wasn't sure if Casey's ankle was going to cooperate for a run. However, it worked out that we went, and I'm so glad we did. 

After some "it's ok if we slow down" pace coaxing from Greg and Casey, I decided if it really was alright by them, then yes I really didn't want to run at a pace where I struggled to breathe for over an hour. Greg only did 1.5 miles with us. He wasn't up for the distance that day. Casey and I continued along, up and down some rolling hills. My legs cramped early, but worked it out by around 3. 

We crossed a busy road into another neighborhood that ended up having quite a few rollers! I hadn't even thought about hills. I knew we weren't going to take the very hilly route, but didn't anticipate having to deal with hills. Most of the way out was a net downhill. My watch later showed our quickest paces in 3 and 4 miles, and during them I chatted easily about work as we wound through the neighborhood. It was awesome being able to chat and enjoy the run. Coming back was more difficult :) Casey reminded me of some spinning terms/mental games and helped me to push myself through. I would have stopped if I had been alone. Before we crossed back over the busy road, I took a breather and coughed a bit. My throat only tightened up towards the end of the hilly stint, so that was good.

On the way back, I was spared with some more slight downhills, but even the slight uphills got me. Our last miles were over 11s, but the net pace ended up being 10:45.


Our splits (determined by my pace of course) were as follows:
1 - 10:20
2 - 10:44
3 - 10:18
4 - 10:00 (downhill)
5 - 11:17
6 - 11:03
7 - 11:11
8 - 11:12

The last two and half miles I froze my ass off. I have never been cold while running before. I clearly just didn't have enough layers on my arms for the amount that the wind picked up. The thought of a hot shower certainly was motivating!

I'm really happy with how I did. And I'm so thankful to not have been out there struggling by myself. I feel like I'm improving. Today I'm sore in muscles, but not in joints or IT band. The broomball game on Saturday was an added setback to my muscles, but I think the run helped overall. Tonight I will stretch and lift. Tomorrow is spinning!

My Spinning Instructor is Pregnant!

Oh nooooo!!!

Thursday's instructor, whose class people were literally fighting about getting into at the front desk this morning, is preggers. She was really winded today and said she'd explain that later. So while we were cooling down she announced she is expecting her fourth child. FOURTH. Amazing and inspiring because this lady is fit as anything. But I'm also a bit selfishly sad because I am going to miss her while she's out. She is by far my favorite instructor. Maybe she'll still teach even while pregnant. I know you can still ride a bike for a while, having to adjust your lean for the belly. And, probably like running, you just have to watch your heart rate, which she trains by so I'm sure that would be no problem. Then maybe she'll just walk around and instruct from the floor if she is uncomfortable on the bike? I don't know. I would much rather that than not have her! Then she'll be on maternity leave....  Listen to me. It's ok. I'm sure the sub will be awesome.

Yesterday I tried to run after work. Why oh why do I keep trying that? It never goes well. It had started to rain, but wasn't crazy cold, so I put on a heavy sweatshirt and went out. But my legs did their cramping thing and walking was ch-chi-chilly, so I bagged it at a mile. Figured I'd just go all out today.

So before spinning, I ran a mile, then spinned for 45 minutes (class was a good interval one and I pushed), and then I ran 2 miles after class. Now, these two miles were sllooooow, but my heart rate was up and breathing was smooth. So it felt good.

I felt really good actually. I felt a bit tired by the end, as expected, but I think...and it's cautious think...that my breathing might have been better! I have been taking Allegra since Sunday. While I'm still very congested, I didn't feel my throat close up while I was running. We'll see. I'll give it another week before calling anything and taking next steps.

Tonight...REST and stretch. It feels so good to have a great workout in already today and not have to worry about fitting something in in the evening. Tomorrow, I'm going to run very easy and lift. Saturday is our broomball championship game!! So I want to be fresh for that. Sunday...we need to go longer...maybe 8? There are only 4 more weekends until the heart mini. Woohoo!!

Monday update

Workouts last week were good...but I didn't run as much as I hoped to. But that's OK. I'm getting a better feel for making everything work with my schedule.

Monday I didn't do anything. I was le tired.

Tuesday I spinned. It was good. The bike setup is different now in the room and I liked it.

Wednesday...I didn't do anything again. I really should have lifted.

Thursday morning I spend a couple hours at the dentist. So that evening, I got my bike out and rode on the trainer for 45 minutes. It was nice! I miss my bike! I can't wait to ride outside again, though I am nervous about trying to make that all work. I would like to find people to ride with again. Cycle Sport is gone...maybe Montgomery Cyclery or Trek will start up some group rides in the spring.

Friday I ran easy 3.3 miles. It went pretty badly on some fronts, but I'm sore from it too, so I guess I did some work. I was just not able to go very fast. I felt winded. After about 1.5 miles, I did two .25 mile pickups around 8:30 - 9:00 pace. I walked in between them. Then I slogged home the 1.5 miles. I guess the pickups were more beneficial than I thought they'd be, the way my hammies are yelling at me today.

Saturday our broomball game was cancelled. So I didn't do anything.

Sunday I ran 3 miles. It took me a lot to get out there. It was sunny, but crispy cold. I just went up and down the street because mentally, that sounded like a better idea than an out and back. It would go by fast. It did for the most part, and I felt soooo smooth! It was strange. Unfortunately, I didn't have very good expectations, so I didn't take my watch out with me...because I didn't want to get so down about the shape I'm in. Now I kind of wish I had so I can know if I really was quicker or if it was just an illusion. Right after my run, I hopped in the shower and got in to more cold weather clothes for broomball. I took 2 Benedryl pills before the game because my throat had closed up so much during the run. I knew that I wouldn't be able to breathe heavily during the game the way everything was acting up. I think it helped. I meant to wear a Breathe Right too, but forgot.

And now it's a new week. I'm back to taking Allegra this week and I might pop some Benedryl's at night if I don't have much to do. I'm hoping to see some improvements, or I'm going to ask my allergist for new medicine the following week. The more I think about things, the more I think my breathing is really messing things up.

Plan tonight is to lift and do core work. My legs are sore! I will do a run before spinning tomorrow though.

Another 6 Miles and Breath Rights are Awesome

Before the Superbowl party time kicked off, Greg, Casey and I ran 6 miles in beautiful, sunny and warmish weather. We changed up the route a bit, splitting the 6 in two 3's. The first 3 allowed our 4 legged running partner to come along. Max enjoyed the trot and fresh air, and he helped us impress some little kids that were outside playing as we ran past. "They are running soooooo fast!" one of them exclaimed. Aw...thanks, kid. I'll remember that when I feel slow. ;)

After the first 3, we were at 10:07 pace. I had a hacking incident around 2.5. I was struggling to breathe, even though I was wearing a new amazing discovery: a Breathe Right strip. Wow those are awesome. After I put it on, I could breathe through my nose and my voice didn't sound so nasal. I had to make myself breathe in through my nose while running because I just never do that. Eventually though, I was sucking as much air in through my mouth like a fish out of water. The pace was too fast for me Sunday. My breathing couldn't keep up.

After dropping Max off and having a nice little break, we started out again. But I didn't last long before my breathing was out of control again. My throat felt as if it had shrunk down to the size of a straw and was tight. I tried breathing through my nose again, thinking I could pull in more air that way, but that resulted in a snotty sniff thanks to the cool temps getting all of that flowing. So, somewhere around 4, I stopped. I offered the watch to Greg and Casey, but they insisted that we could just slow down a bit and it would be OK.

The new pace was way better. I tried to not be disappointed in the fact that I couldn't make it happen this weekend. But man, it was nice to be able to chat a little and feel like I was on a relaxed run. Around mile 5 I could feel that I was losing it again though. Breathing was getting hard. I tried to recover on a downhill before the long gradual incline. I slowed down a lot. In the last stretch, I pushed as hard as I could, but I felt soooo crappy not being able to breathe well. It wasn't a pain kind of thing, it was more of a crummy feeling. Hard to explain.

So, we did 6. I'm very happy with it. And, as it was pointed out to me again, it was a pace that we were doing before after a lot more training. I'm frustrated with my breathing because I don't have much explanation for it. I've been heavier and in worse shape. But maybe I'm pushing myself harder now than I have in the past, and in a month or so will see the results? I also know for a fact that my allergies are way worse than they've been in a long time. Despite the shots, I'm getting worse. So, in order to try to remove that as a factor, I'm going to start taking Allegra again and see if it does anything.

So, it was a really great run even though I had my frustrations. I still know I'm doing the right thing by training and having someone to push me makes all the difference. I'm still looking forward to what can happen by March 18th and then again in the beginning of May. Here's to another week of working really hard!

And....Breath Right strips are awesome!

Catching up

Sunday was a day of catching up in a few ways: 

1. If I had written this post on Sunday, it would have been catching up on this blog.

2. I caught up on some drawing which was great.

3. I played "catch-up", or "don't lose them" with Casey and Greg on our 6 mile run.

We set out to do 6 miles in some very windy but sunny weather on Sunday. When we had trained* for the half marathon back in the fall, I couldn't really keep up with Casey and Greg. They waited for me sometimes...other times I just watched a gap grow, all the while struggling (a lot) mentally and physically. And my slow pace, which kind of dictated the runs' pace, was not good for either of their knees and ankles. 

So, needless to say, before our 6 on Sunday I was a bit nervous, but also determined. I was determined to stay with them as long as I could. That was my plan. I would just f-ing run. Just go. Just keep moving and get through it no matter how crappy I felt. I want to run with people dammit. I miss it so much. I was nervous that I wouldn't be able to do this for longer than a half mile or so, and that I wouldn't be able to train with them because it just wouldn't work.

We started out and the little hill just outside the neighborhood sapped me a bit, like hills do. (I really need to figure out how to work on this). I had no idea what our pace was, but I just kept looking ahead and kept my steps quick to keep the pace. It got hard. Any slight incline would send my breathing into a sprinting rate: In-out-in-out, all too fast. And I had the fun allergy hack going on here and there as well. I have gotten pretty good at timing my coughs and sucking in wind through whatever is in my lungs so that it doesn't throw off my breathing too much. But it is difficult. We turned onto a road that at its end would be our turn around, and I was hurting. By the time we were at the end, I had to stop. Casey said we were at 10's. Fuuuuuuuuuuck. 10s. 2.5 miles at 10s and I felt like I was in a goddamned race. I was so disappointed in myself. Casey and Greg both assured me I was doing great. But it was so hard for me to accept my reality.

I decided I would keep trying to keep up with them, realizing I would have to take breaks every so often, and hoped they would be OK with that. This was only 2.5 miles. It was only going to get harder. I hoped Casey wouldn't back off the pace out of pity. I just wanted to see what would happen. And I wanted to be able to keep the run good for everyone. I thought about spinning and pushing in class. And I thought about broomball and how hard I breathe during that with no break. Surely those things are making me better. I could keep going here. I even used some yoga mantra a few times. I am a runner. I am strong. This is what you want. I am a runner...

We continued on and found a lost dog, Falco. That added a big break in the middle of the run before we were off again after delivering him to his owner. At one point we were on a road with the wind at our backs and I felt really strong and smooth. It was awesome, a taste of how running used to feel most of the time. Again, no concept of what pace we were at, but I felt like I should take advantage of the smoothness and go as quick as comfortable. I'm not sure if we sped up or not. A bit later there were more hills, and with my breathing already maxed out, my legs just gave up after this and I had to stop again to catch my breath. Then we were in a home stretch of sorts...just over a mile to go. More slight hills and wind, I stopped briefly a couple more times. I tried to push as much as possible, while listening to sounds come out of me that I wasn't familiar with. I sounded horrible. Casey stuck with me the final stretch, which was very helpful, and my body went a bit tingly as I saw my car indicating the finish. 

I'm pretty sure I had nothing left at the end. I sat down for a bit - it just sounded good. Then we walked. We totalled 6.2 miles with an average of 10:15 miles.

Casey pointed out to me earlier that when we had been training together for his first half, we didn't do our long runs at this pace - they were more like 10:40s. But he also had a lot of knee problems running that slow. I don't think it was his natural pace. Today he and Greg both said that the 10ish pace felt good. So unless they were lying about it, I'm really happy that this was OK for them. By all things I've read and practiced, a long run is OK to be a minute to a minute and half slower than your pace. So 10s would be about right for those 8:30-9:00ish guys I suppose.

For me, I am elated that I got through it all. That was the best 6 mile effort I've ever done. I have never ran that long at that effort before in my life. I think I was so motivated to make the run work for everyone that I finally learned how to push in running. I was totally mentally OK with pushing as hard as I could for as long as I could to keep up, then take catch my breath breaks when I needed. I suppose it isn't a conventional approach to the long run. But I don't care anymore. I'm throwing out everything and starting over. I'm just going to run faster so I can...run faster and have more fun.

And today...I'm not even that sore... My knees don't hurt at ALL. My lower outside calves were already sore from broomball and are still sore. But...that's it. So strange. Perhaps I'm on to something here. 

* what we did wasn't really training and shall not be repeated again.