Tuesday track night went better than it has been going recently. I had a little nap at the studio in the afternoon, and I really think that helped for me to not have the dragging, "I just want to lay down" feeling I have been having at track. It also helped that Christen and Shaun decided to come. I think the fresh faces made it more exciting.
The four of us warmed up a mile. Then after a lot more chit-chat, I pushed everyone out onto the track. There were jokes of me being team captain. But it was 6:25 already! I didn't want to be a stickler on the time, but I also wanted to get out of there at a decent time. Plus Erin was making dinner for us.
Shaun attempted to stick with Roman for some 800s, but only lasted 300. He's never done a track workout, so it isn't at all surprising that he didn't know what kind of pace he could hold. Later it looked like he was running 400 of the 800 Roman would do, so that was good. It's so amazing how fast Roman is. Shaun was definitely faster than me and Christen. He's probably somewhere around Greg's pace. So next time, when Greg is there, the two of them will probably make a good pair.
Christen stuck with me. I could tell she was struggling with the last one, but she agreed that it was a good workout. She has just recently started running again. We did 400s, all at a very consistent 1:53. I did an extra one at the end in 1:47. Felt pretty good about that. Overall it was a good workout. The marching band (or more likely, a section of the marching band) was practicing marching on the field while we were there. It took me back a little bit to those fun drills in the sun - practicing heal-toe 8 to 5 over and over and over to the beat of the electronic metronome. Soooo boring! :) It also made me think about how I still would really really like to volunteer for a local high school's band...Kings seems to be a similar caliber and style of band as what I was in, so maybe I could be of use there.
Anyway, Wednesday's run was good despite my shitty leg soreness, as reported :) After my legs finally loosened up a bit, it was just my breathing to contend with, which was pretty terrible. It makes me look forward to fall, or whatever break from humidity we might get any time soon. I couldn't suck in the air quickly enough.
Speaking of fall... the Cincinnati Half Marathon is October 23rd and I'm super excited about this being a next goal for me and Casey. I am enjoying the 5Ks, but distance is my love. Upon making the decision to do it, I finally feel settled again with my running and just in the right place, for lack of better words. Woohoo! It's going to be awesome!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Monday Spinning and a Nice 9:20 paced 3 miles.
Monday's class was pretty great. We're back to full classes again, courtesy of the Women's Network meetings about getting old and fat, and how to combat the latter. Our classes, consequently are filling up with new, middle aged women, who just don't seem to be trying very hard. At least they aren't chatty kathys . It does make getting signed up a bit harder though, when I forget to get my name on the list. When I got to class, Karen told me I'd have to go easy on her. This would be her second class, back to back, and that she was already tired. I told her that I couldn't make any promises, as this would be my only spinning class of the week. I really had intended to push hard during the class.
It was a familliar score, one that we have used many times but not in quite a while. Which makes me think of something... Isn't it funny how you get used to the transistions in a given mix? You learn to expect the next song, after an exact space of time passes. It fascinates me that I know what song will be coming on, in a completely mixed up selection of music... anyway.
It was a routine with a few hills, one long gradual and one short and steep, and several long, faster than comfortable flats. Normally we follow up our heavy hills with these fast flats and I need 30 seconds or more to catch my breath. I made it a point of not taking much rest between my hard pushes, and I could really tell how much more drained I felt at the end of class. I think this is something I am going to start working on. Karen said she was happy with the work level of the class... She was sweating.
This morning I had my usual run with Steph. She and I scaled back a little this morning since she was having shitty leg pain, and I discovered a crick in my neck. It was 3 miles, not too warm, but still humid. 9:20 pace for 28:00 3 miler. We talked about trying to find another goal to focus on, and Steph mentioned a half marathon in October. Sounds good to me. I think I can prepare for 13.1. Heck, I've run nearly half that distance already ;)
I'm going to be taking a few days off of my routine, which is unfortunate with my new drive. Ah well, It'll be good times. Headed to NY for a long weekend with members of my WoW guild. There will be lots of bad food, beer, no real exercise and beer. Guess I'll have to work it off next week. Woot
It was a familliar score, one that we have used many times but not in quite a while. Which makes me think of something... Isn't it funny how you get used to the transistions in a given mix? You learn to expect the next song, after an exact space of time passes. It fascinates me that I know what song will be coming on, in a completely mixed up selection of music... anyway.
It was a routine with a few hills, one long gradual and one short and steep, and several long, faster than comfortable flats. Normally we follow up our heavy hills with these fast flats and I need 30 seconds or more to catch my breath. I made it a point of not taking much rest between my hard pushes, and I could really tell how much more drained I felt at the end of class. I think this is something I am going to start working on. Karen said she was happy with the work level of the class... She was sweating.
This morning I had my usual run with Steph. She and I scaled back a little this morning since she was having shitty leg pain, and I discovered a crick in my neck. It was 3 miles, not too warm, but still humid. 9:20 pace for 28:00 3 miler. We talked about trying to find another goal to focus on, and Steph mentioned a half marathon in October. Sounds good to me. I think I can prepare for 13.1. Heck, I've run nearly half that distance already ;)
I'm going to be taking a few days off of my routine, which is unfortunate with my new drive. Ah well, It'll be good times. Headed to NY for a long weekend with members of my WoW guild. There will be lots of bad food, beer, no real exercise and beer. Guess I'll have to work it off next week. Woot
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Asha for Education 5K
Official Time: 29:25, a 9:30 min per mile.
It was a humid morning. The sun was hot. Casey and I warmed up, which I am very glad happened. But my legs still started in a bad state. The first mile felt very smooth and I was trying to settle into a breathing pattern. The first mile went by in 8:45, which I was happy with...but it was awfully difficult. I was trying to ignore my stiff legs which were hurting pretty bad. My shins were yelling at me. Everything was tight for some reason. The course wound its way through the park, and each elevation change was painful, especially the downhills. I knew I was slowing down and urged Casey to go on, because it was getting pretty ugly for me. There was a pretty significant downhill before we turned to go up hill and head back to Mason-Montgomery Road. I winced in pain with each foot strike. Damn legs!
After passing the two mile marker, I slowly realized I only had a mile left! As painful of a race as it was, it was flying by pretty quickly. We were climbing a long hill that really wasn't that steep, but for me that day, it was pretty bad. I saw a woman on the hill walk. Then she started running very slowly again and I passed her. I decided I wasn't going to let her pass me back. This became the goal for the remainder of the race. I figured since it was sucking so bad, at least I could maybe "race" someone and have some fun that way. I heard her breathing behind me – it was just as erratic and awful sounding as my gasps. I'd hear her close the gap and would speed up a little. I hoped she didn't have too much left in her because if she decided to start really running, I didn't think I could go much faster than I was going.
In the last .25 miles, she started her kick. We rounded a corner and I saw her shadow. Crap! I started the slow communication process with my legs to go faster, and they finally started moving a bit. I was pretending that Casey and I were running the usual Wednesday morning route and were doing the final push. It hurts, but I can always do it. She and I were side by side for a moment, but I managed to somehow stay right in front of her. It felt like a LONG push. I thought I was going to puke. I crossed the line 2 seconds before her, according to the race results. I don't know how much she cared about it, but I was very glad to have beaten her. Even though I didn't run as fast as I had wanted to, that was a very fun way to end it. And now that I think about it, I've never done that before – "raced" someone across the line.
Overall, I'm disappointed with my time. But it was hot, and hillier than I thought it would be. We'll see what the next race course has in store for us...and I would really like to come close to my PR of 26:36. I think I might start doing Yasso 800s at track again. Even though those are used for marathon training, I think the long pushing is really beneficial for me and my breathing. It always seems to be more about my breathing than my legs.
It was a humid morning. The sun was hot. Casey and I warmed up, which I am very glad happened. But my legs still started in a bad state. The first mile felt very smooth and I was trying to settle into a breathing pattern. The first mile went by in 8:45, which I was happy with...but it was awfully difficult. I was trying to ignore my stiff legs which were hurting pretty bad. My shins were yelling at me. Everything was tight for some reason. The course wound its way through the park, and each elevation change was painful, especially the downhills. I knew I was slowing down and urged Casey to go on, because it was getting pretty ugly for me. There was a pretty significant downhill before we turned to go up hill and head back to Mason-Montgomery Road. I winced in pain with each foot strike. Damn legs!
After passing the two mile marker, I slowly realized I only had a mile left! As painful of a race as it was, it was flying by pretty quickly. We were climbing a long hill that really wasn't that steep, but for me that day, it was pretty bad. I saw a woman on the hill walk. Then she started running very slowly again and I passed her. I decided I wasn't going to let her pass me back. This became the goal for the remainder of the race. I figured since it was sucking so bad, at least I could maybe "race" someone and have some fun that way. I heard her breathing behind me – it was just as erratic and awful sounding as my gasps. I'd hear her close the gap and would speed up a little. I hoped she didn't have too much left in her because if she decided to start really running, I didn't think I could go much faster than I was going.
In the last .25 miles, she started her kick. We rounded a corner and I saw her shadow. Crap! I started the slow communication process with my legs to go faster, and they finally started moving a bit. I was pretending that Casey and I were running the usual Wednesday morning route and were doing the final push. It hurts, but I can always do it. She and I were side by side for a moment, but I managed to somehow stay right in front of her. It felt like a LONG push. I thought I was going to puke. I crossed the line 2 seconds before her, according to the race results. I don't know how much she cared about it, but I was very glad to have beaten her. Even though I didn't run as fast as I had wanted to, that was a very fun way to end it. And now that I think about it, I've never done that before – "raced" someone across the line.
Overall, I'm disappointed with my time. But it was hot, and hillier than I thought it would be. We'll see what the next race course has in store for us...and I would really like to come close to my PR of 26:36. I think I might start doing Yasso 800s at track again. Even though those are used for marathon training, I think the long pushing is really beneficial for me and my breathing. It always seems to be more about my breathing than my legs.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Ok, So....
There has been lots of lifting, lots of Spinning, and especially lots of running to note, that have come and gone without a peep on here. Also, perhaps not coincidentally, I have plateaued on my weight loss. I've only lost 2-3lbs since being back from Greece, and held consistantly in the low 190s. One day I weighed in at 189, but I think that either the scale was out of balance, or that I had sweated out all of my water weight that day. Alas, I weighed in today at 192. Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of what I've accomplised over the last 9 months. 46 lbs is a long journey, but I'm not seeing much or any progress any more. And that gets discouraging. My lifting has pathetic, suffered from either lack of motivation, sleep, proper nutrition, or a combination of all of these things. I don't think it's muscle gain balancing out fat burn. Also, work has been pretty crappy lately. People have left the company, but the work load is the same or greater. Now all of the load is being carried on 6 shoulders instead of 8. On top of this, almost all of the work load increase I have seen I have little to not interest in. So.....
I'm back, and will be updating this blog as often as I can to stay accountable for my work.
I'm hardly focused, but I want to try to regain what I had before Greece.
I'm going to try to lock down my eating/snacking again. It's relaxed.
I want to push my weight down in the 180s - my high school weight.
I need to get my lifting going strong again. Be it through diet correction, or finding a partner.
This past weekend I ran a 5k, along with Stephanie, at the Corwin Nixon park in Mason. It was a charity thing for ASHA, an organization that donates the proceeds to the education of children in India. I can feel pretty ok about that if nothing else. I feel pretty comfortable compairing this run the first race. The weather conditions were about the same (sunny, very humid to start, and very hot in the sun). It was hilly, not as rolling as idlewild, nor as aggressive, but still hilly. When I started off, I felt like I was holding back a bit this time. I wanted this as I really felt like I burned myself out off the line at idlewild. It was an 8:45 first mile. The second mile came to a close after the biggest of the hills. I'm really glad I held off pushing really hard the first 1.5, becuase when I got to the top of this hill, I was really starting to feel the strain. I had saved up what I needed to get up this hill efficiently. When I rounded the corner it was 18:20. I guess my last 1.1miles were completed in 10:10 - a 9:24 pace. I finished as hard as I could... gaining that I-want-to-vomit feeling I get when i've just pushed as hard as I could. It was my second 5k and I can be pretty proud about finishing 33 second faster pace than my first race: 9:45-9:12, or 30:06 to 28:31. The next race I would really like to finish sub 9 pace.
I'm back, and will be updating this blog as often as I can to stay accountable for my work.
I'm hardly focused, but I want to try to regain what I had before Greece.
I'm going to try to lock down my eating/snacking again. It's relaxed.
I want to push my weight down in the 180s - my high school weight.
I need to get my lifting going strong again. Be it through diet correction, or finding a partner.
This past weekend I ran a 5k, along with Stephanie, at the Corwin Nixon park in Mason. It was a charity thing for ASHA, an organization that donates the proceeds to the education of children in India. I can feel pretty ok about that if nothing else. I feel pretty comfortable compairing this run the first race. The weather conditions were about the same (sunny, very humid to start, and very hot in the sun). It was hilly, not as rolling as idlewild, nor as aggressive, but still hilly. When I started off, I felt like I was holding back a bit this time. I wanted this as I really felt like I burned myself out off the line at idlewild. It was an 8:45 first mile. The second mile came to a close after the biggest of the hills. I'm really glad I held off pushing really hard the first 1.5, becuase when I got to the top of this hill, I was really starting to feel the strain. I had saved up what I needed to get up this hill efficiently. When I rounded the corner it was 18:20. I guess my last 1.1miles were completed in 10:10 - a 9:24 pace. I finished as hard as I could... gaining that I-want-to-vomit feeling I get when i've just pushed as hard as I could. It was my second 5k and I can be pretty proud about finishing 33 second faster pace than my first race: 9:45-9:12, or 30:06 to 28:31. The next race I would really like to finish sub 9 pace.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Coming Soon....
Official PR post from Casey and Stephanie for the 5K we're about to run.
Also,
Casey's new promise to update regularly!
Back in a few hours.
Also,
Casey's new promise to update regularly!
Back in a few hours.
Friday, July 23, 2010
5K tomorrow!!!
To Casey,
This is what I know concerning tomorrow's race:
1. Greg's job sucks, but that's another story.
2. The course is "relatively flat" but please be aware that there are some hills. Small and nothing like the one in Idlewild, thank god.
3. It's going to be hot. I hope you're drinking a lot of water today.
4. I'm going to beat you.
5. Number 4 probably isn't true.
6. I'm going to try to beat you. Which means I'll probably have a heat stroke.
7. If we happen to be going for the finish line at the same time, I will signal the monkeys to come down and peck at your head so I can win. I am that ruthless.
8. It's going to be fun!
9. You're going to PR!!!! :) (yes "PR" is a verb and noun.)
This is what I know concerning tomorrow's race:
1. Greg's job sucks, but that's another story.
2. The course is "relatively flat" but please be aware that there are some hills. Small and nothing like the one in Idlewild, thank god.
3. It's going to be hot. I hope you're drinking a lot of water today.
4. I'm going to beat you.
5. Number 4 probably isn't true.
6. I'm going to try to beat you. Which means I'll probably have a heat stroke.
7. If we happen to be going for the finish line at the same time, I will signal the monkeys to come down and peck at your head so I can win. I am that ruthless.
8. It's going to be fun!
9. You're going to PR!!!! :) (yes "PR" is a verb and noun.)
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Track and Wednesday Four
Track Tuesday:
1 mile warm up
4 x 400, walking 200 in between repeats:
1:53
1:49
1:51
1:51
1 mile cool down, 10:20 pace
Wednesday:
4 miles in I don't remember what and the watch got reset while in my bag, but it was under 10 pace.
Rough morning. Legs were a little stiff but loosened. Breathing was difficult. Thanks for putting up with me, Casey.
Week is looking pretty good running-wise. I'm not eating all that well. Hmmmm. Really need to get to the grocery store, also known as my most favorite place on the planet.
1 mile warm up
4 x 400, walking 200 in between repeats:
1:53
1:49
1:51
1:51
1 mile cool down, 10:20 pace
Wednesday:
4 miles in I don't remember what and the watch got reset while in my bag, but it was under 10 pace.
Rough morning. Legs were a little stiff but loosened. Breathing was difficult. Thanks for putting up with me, Casey.
Week is looking pretty good running-wise. I'm not eating all that well. Hmmmm. Really need to get to the grocery store, also known as my most favorite place on the planet.
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