I was reminded today of a quote that a friend once shared. It goes something like this:
Somewhere out there, another runner is training while you are not. He will beat you in your next race.
I know that's not exactly the quote, but it captures the essence.
I wasn't feeling great after work today -- seems like that's the norm these days -- and I was tired because I was wide awake at 3:30am and barely got back to sleep before having to leave for work. I met up with my sister and was able to grind out 5 miles outside in the cold, but fresh, air, but I didn't really enjoy much of it (the run, not the company). I had the thought that I'd get some laps done in the pool afterwards, but through most of mile 5 I was convincing myself that would be a bad idea because it was an almost certainty that I'd just sink to the bottom of the pool.
I went anyway. It wasn't so bad.
I did about 1000 yards and was thinking I'd wrap it up and get out of the pool. Then I noticed the guy in the lane next to me was still swimming. He started just before I did.
My friend's quote popped into my head... I imagined the guy in the next lane was a woman in my age group in my next triathlon.
I kept swimming.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
It all caught up to me
-- all the sleepless nights and work frustrations and everything else that has felt out of whack lately -- and I crashed hard Friday night. I was asleep before 9:30pm. I did wake up a couple times in the night, but by the time I got out of bed Saturday morning, I was looking forward to my first real long run in a long time.
15 miles. It was a beautiful morning for a run -- about 40*, getting cooler as I ran, and sunny.
My legs were feeling it by the time I finished yesterday, but I got out for an easy 6.2 miles this morning and that helped to work out any leftover kinks.
Even though all the other stuff is still out of balance and a bit troubling, and it all caught up to me this weekend, at least my running worked.
15 miles. It was a beautiful morning for a run -- about 40*, getting cooler as I ran, and sunny.
My legs were feeling it by the time I finished yesterday, but I got out for an easy 6.2 miles this morning and that helped to work out any leftover kinks.
Even though all the other stuff is still out of balance and a bit troubling, and it all caught up to me this weekend, at least my running worked.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
They can't all be good...
8 miles this (later) afternoon that were harder, colder, suckier than I have had in a long time.
But it was 8 miles.
Outside.
After a long workday that started before 7am.
On feet that were really hurting.
So I still consider it something to be grateful for today.
But it was 8 miles.
Outside.
After a long workday that started before 7am.
On feet that were really hurting.
So I still consider it something to be grateful for today.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
layers
I ran my long run of the week yesterday morning at the shore. It was 10* with a -1* windchill at the start of my run.
I wore tights (thin), pants (thin), a tank, 2 long-sleeve (sort of thin) shirts, my fleece, a hat and gloves. More layers than I've worn since, probably, my first winter running a few years ago. My face felt chilled as I started, but that leveled out quickly. I was cursing the 2 shirts by mile 3 because the WNW wind was sort of blocked by houses as I was heading north, and I was too warm.
Then I made the turn around mile 4 and cooled off a little as I felt the wind come across my right side. Ahh. That's better. Shirt situation will be ok.
I ran by my house at about mile 6, grabbed a sip of water, and gave my dad my ballpark time I'd finish. My plan was to run about 12ish miles, and my dad would pick me up near my brother's house.
In the 30 seconds I was in the house, the wind, of course, decided to switch.
As I headed south out of the house and down the island, I now had the cold wind -- blowing about 10ish mph on average with higher gusts -- right in my face. Fantastic. I tried to tune it out and I focused on the crystal-blue, sparkly, calm ocean.
It turned out that the cold didn't really bother me. I made my way to the 12.5ish mile mark and saw my dad. Asked him if he'd mind if I finished out 13, and naturally he said, do it.
So, in all my layers, I finished my 13 miles -- and took note that at the end of my run, the temp was about 14* with an above zero windchill.
It was sunny, it was crisp, it was a little challenging, but it was a good run.
I wore tights (thin), pants (thin), a tank, 2 long-sleeve (sort of thin) shirts, my fleece, a hat and gloves. More layers than I've worn since, probably, my first winter running a few years ago. My face felt chilled as I started, but that leveled out quickly. I was cursing the 2 shirts by mile 3 because the WNW wind was sort of blocked by houses as I was heading north, and I was too warm.
Then I made the turn around mile 4 and cooled off a little as I felt the wind come across my right side. Ahh. That's better. Shirt situation will be ok.
I ran by my house at about mile 6, grabbed a sip of water, and gave my dad my ballpark time I'd finish. My plan was to run about 12ish miles, and my dad would pick me up near my brother's house.
In the 30 seconds I was in the house, the wind, of course, decided to switch.
As I headed south out of the house and down the island, I now had the cold wind -- blowing about 10ish mph on average with higher gusts -- right in my face. Fantastic. I tried to tune it out and I focused on the crystal-blue, sparkly, calm ocean.
It turned out that the cold didn't really bother me. I made my way to the 12.5ish mile mark and saw my dad. Asked him if he'd mind if I finished out 13, and naturally he said, do it.
So, in all my layers, I finished my 13 miles -- and took note that at the end of my run, the temp was about 14* with an above zero windchill.
It was sunny, it was crisp, it was a little challenging, but it was a good run.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
exhale...
Work's been doing everything it can to kick my ass. I'm working hard to not let that happen.My weight's been pissing me off, but as of today, I'm feeling more centered about it, so I'm not gonna rant about it anymore.
The fact that I still don't know what race I want to focus on for the Spring is aggravating me. For now, I'm just gonna keep running and swimming (and maybe eventually I'll get back on the bike, too) until something hits me to focus my training on...
I got up before 4:30 am today to get to the gym and get a run in before work since I knew I'd be getting home from work late. As I was getting home around 5 o'clock, the sunset was taking shape. I grabbed my camera, walked out onto my porch, and soaked it all in -- the vibrant colors of the sky, the crisp freshness of the air, and the silence of the area around me...
...and I exhaled.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Confusion update
I always weigh myself in the morning. I weighed 2.5 pounds less this morning than I have the past several days.
That's a good thing, because it means I weigh the same today that I did last Monday.
But the weight fluctuation is weird.
That's a good thing, because it means I weigh the same today that I did last Monday.
But the weight fluctuation is weird.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Confusion.
Either my scale is broken, or my metabolism is. My scale says I've gained a ridiculous amount of weight in the past couple of weeks. As of this morning, that stupid thing claims I've gained something like 4 pounds in two weeks. Maybe more -- I forget. I'm up 9 pounds since the Marine Corps Marathon. I weighed as much this morning as I did 2.5 years ago when I started running. (And at this point, there's no hope for me in the Blogland Weight Challenge! Grr!)
I'm confused. I'm still running -- almost 38 miles this week (and 1500 yds of swimming!). I'm even eating better in the last week or so. In theory, I should have lost weight this week, since I'm back at work and drinking more water and not eating all the Christmas cookies and stuff.
I seriously thought about calling the doc for a physical. I'm going to wait one more week. If I gain more, I'll need some answers. It doesn't make sense.
On my run today, I was thinking about whether the fact that I'm not doing any true speedwork these days is the reason for this weight gain... Most of my runs last week were primarily slow. Then I ran 12 miles on Friday evening and kept them pretty slow (although it was dark and cold, so I did speed up a bit at times) and then decided to experiment with some LHR-type running this weekend. Saturday's 5.2 and today's 6 milers were run at an average of 10:15 and 10:29 pace to keep my HR under 143.
I know LHR training has proven to be productive for so many people, and I was really thinking I'd try it for the next couple months. Problem is, I'm fairly certain my speedwork is what helps me keep my weight in check. So now I'm trying to decide what's more important -- struggling through the difficult LHR training and keep gaining weight (or, at least, maintain my weight), OR start getting some speedwork back into my weekly running and try to drop some pounds.
Maybe all this weight gain is my body in winter hibernation mode. Seriously. I do feel like I gain a few pounds in the winter every year. Just not this much.
So far, I can still fit in my current clothes. Thank god, 'cause if this weight gain forced me to go clothes shopping, it would put me over the edge.
I'm confused. I'm still running -- almost 38 miles this week (and 1500 yds of swimming!). I'm even eating better in the last week or so. In theory, I should have lost weight this week, since I'm back at work and drinking more water and not eating all the Christmas cookies and stuff.
I seriously thought about calling the doc for a physical. I'm going to wait one more week. If I gain more, I'll need some answers. It doesn't make sense.
On my run today, I was thinking about whether the fact that I'm not doing any true speedwork these days is the reason for this weight gain... Most of my runs last week were primarily slow. Then I ran 12 miles on Friday evening and kept them pretty slow (although it was dark and cold, so I did speed up a bit at times) and then decided to experiment with some LHR-type running this weekend. Saturday's 5.2 and today's 6 milers were run at an average of 10:15 and 10:29 pace to keep my HR under 143.
I know LHR training has proven to be productive for so many people, and I was really thinking I'd try it for the next couple months. Problem is, I'm fairly certain my speedwork is what helps me keep my weight in check. So now I'm trying to decide what's more important -- struggling through the difficult LHR training and keep gaining weight (or, at least, maintain my weight), OR start getting some speedwork back into my weekly running and try to drop some pounds.
Maybe all this weight gain is my body in winter hibernation mode. Seriously. I do feel like I gain a few pounds in the winter every year. Just not this much.
So far, I can still fit in my current clothes. Thank god, 'cause if this weight gain forced me to go clothes shopping, it would put me over the edge.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Why I run.
Yesterday was a rough day.
*6:45am meeting
*I had to bring cupcakes for a coworker's birthday, and the pouring rain complicated the transport
*I have a student teacher (sort of) who started yesterday, who is supposed to be mainly observing me, but she keeps trying to teach my lessons or give the kids the answers, and she doesn't.ever.stop.talking. All day long -- today, too.
*In the middle of my day, I had to put out a fire that had nothing to do with the class I was responsible for at the moment.
*I had to run our academic team meeting, while "hosting" the coworker's birthday celebration.
*The two times I had any down time yesterday was when I went to the bathroom -- and the student teacher followed me down the hall for one of those trips.
*I got at least 3 different paperwork tasks I was to do that got piled up on my desk because I never got 5 minutes to address them
*I had to have a difficult conversation with my newest student (the one who's confined to a wheelchair)
*and on, and on, and on.
I was exhausted when I got home. It was cold, dark, and rainy. What did I do? I laced up my shoes, drove over to my sister's, and fired up her new treadmill.
I started with a slow pace -- about 9:50ish -- and just ran.
I watched an old home video that was in the VCR. I looked around the basement, and out the tiny window that lets you see the tires of the cars in the driveway. I talked to Rocket, my sister's Boston who sat next to the TM the entire time. I listened to my ipod, and eventually even sang along to the tunes.
With each passing mile, I could feel the stress of the day leave me.
My sister and nephews come home when I was around mile 4. She asked how far I was going. I told her, until I feel like stopping.
When I hit mile 7, I cranked up the pace. Worked from an 8:13 to an 8:00 to a 7:56 pace for that mile. The three year old came down and asked when it was his turn, so I decided to stop at 8 miles. I did that last mile nice and slow.
When I stepped off that treadmill after more than an hour of running, I felt better than I had all day.
And that's why I run.
*6:45am meeting
*I had to bring cupcakes for a coworker's birthday, and the pouring rain complicated the transport
*I have a student teacher (sort of) who started yesterday, who is supposed to be mainly observing me, but she keeps trying to teach my lessons or give the kids the answers, and she doesn't.ever.stop.talking. All day long -- today, too.
*In the middle of my day, I had to put out a fire that had nothing to do with the class I was responsible for at the moment.
*I had to run our academic team meeting, while "hosting" the coworker's birthday celebration.
*The two times I had any down time yesterday was when I went to the bathroom -- and the student teacher followed me down the hall for one of those trips.
*I got at least 3 different paperwork tasks I was to do that got piled up on my desk because I never got 5 minutes to address them
*I had to have a difficult conversation with my newest student (the one who's confined to a wheelchair)
*and on, and on, and on.
I was exhausted when I got home. It was cold, dark, and rainy. What did I do? I laced up my shoes, drove over to my sister's, and fired up her new treadmill.
I started with a slow pace -- about 9:50ish -- and just ran.
I watched an old home video that was in the VCR. I looked around the basement, and out the tiny window that lets you see the tires of the cars in the driveway. I talked to Rocket, my sister's Boston who sat next to the TM the entire time. I listened to my ipod, and eventually even sang along to the tunes.
With each passing mile, I could feel the stress of the day leave me.
My sister and nephews come home when I was around mile 4. She asked how far I was going. I told her, until I feel like stopping.
When I hit mile 7, I cranked up the pace. Worked from an 8:13 to an 8:00 to a 7:56 pace for that mile. The three year old came down and asked when it was his turn, so I decided to stop at 8 miles. I did that last mile nice and slow.
When I stepped off that treadmill after more than an hour of running, I felt better than I had all day.
And that's why I run.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Cold, drizzly miles
6 of 'em.
I realized in the middle of them that although there was ZERO sunshine while I ran -- it was cold, grey and drizzly -- taking in the fresh air and being outdoors for an hour-ish run did for me today what I needed it to... It rejuvenated me, it gave me a little bit of calm, it powered me.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Hmm. Cool, but I still need my sunshine. I'd like some right now, actually...
I realized in the middle of them that although there was ZERO sunshine while I ran -- it was cold, grey and drizzly -- taking in the fresh air and being outdoors for an hour-ish run did for me today what I needed it to... It rejuvenated me, it gave me a little bit of calm, it powered me.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Hmm. Cool, but I still need my sunshine. I'd like some right now, actually...
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Year end summary 2008
I wanted to do a year-end summary of my running, but my computer isn't cooperating to get all the stats I want. Or maybe I just don't know how to work the program. Whatever. Here's what I came up with:
January: 167.6 miles. Icicle 10miler 1:31:37 (ran with Alexis and Larry)
February: 158.6 miles. no races
March: 200.7 miles. Adrenaline 5k 23:33 (PR! 3rd in AG! This is a fast race, too!)
April: 172.7 miles. no races.
May: 100.7 miles. NJ marathon (grr - tough day: 4:15:17). Also had about 2 weeks off of running due to displaced cuboid bone in right foot after marathon.
June: 158.2 miles. Tuesday Cooper River series 3.65 mi race 30:08 (2nd in AG, 9th female OA). Lake Compounce HM (ran/walked with Trevor and Tim 2:25:xx).
July: 170.5 miles. HH Firecracker 5k 23:51. BOMF Midnight Madness run (8.5ish miles with a bunch of friends -- not sure about time)
August: 198.1 miles. Kings Grant sprint tri (.25mi swim, 10 mi bike, 5k run 1:10:03 total race time). LBI Dog Day 5 mi race 41:15.
September: 191.4 miles. Endless Summer sprint tri (.25mi -- probably more 'cause of rough ocean --swim, 8.64 mi -- stupid distance -- bike, 5k run. I forget what my time was -- results were so messed up because of the early-in-race course change.)
October: 136.5 miles. LBI 18 mi run (grr - tough day here, too. 25+ mins off my PR. 3:10:15). Marine Corps Marathon (ran with Larry -- to enjoy, not for time -- 4:23:xx).
November: 123.4 miles. Philly HM (ran with Aimee. PR! 1:52:08).
December: 141.7 miles. Haddon Heart Run 5k (1st place AG! not even close to my pr, but done in the middle of a 12 mi long run. 24:35).
Highest mileage month: March 200.7
Lowest mileage month: May 100.7
Highest mileage week: Last week of Aug/First week Sept. 51.6 miles
Lowest mileage week: second week in May (post 26.2, cuboid problem) 7 miles.
Total races: 14
2008 total miles run: 1411.1 (a mileage pr, for sure)
Obviously I was swimming and biking throughout the year, too, but I didn't log those miles as diligently. I'll be better about that this year.
The good thing is, I'm already getting more swimming done in the year because I joined the gym with a pool. I'd like to get at least one swim in per week during the winter months...
Today's 14 miler (which I intended to be 12, but it was so nice I felt like pushing it a bit) was my longest run of 2009 so far. :D
Overall, 2008 was a year of good mileage, some PR's, and some good running lessons learned.
January: 167.6 miles. Icicle 10miler 1:31:37 (ran with Alexis and Larry)
February: 158.6 miles. no races
March: 200.7 miles. Adrenaline 5k 23:33 (PR! 3rd in AG! This is a fast race, too!)
April: 172.7 miles. no races.
May: 100.7 miles. NJ marathon (grr - tough day: 4:15:17). Also had about 2 weeks off of running due to displaced cuboid bone in right foot after marathon.
June: 158.2 miles. Tuesday Cooper River series 3.65 mi race 30:08 (2nd in AG, 9th female OA). Lake Compounce HM (ran/walked with Trevor and Tim 2:25:xx).
July: 170.5 miles. HH Firecracker 5k 23:51. BOMF Midnight Madness run (8.5ish miles with a bunch of friends -- not sure about time)
August: 198.1 miles. Kings Grant sprint tri (.25mi swim, 10 mi bike, 5k run 1:10:03 total race time). LBI Dog Day 5 mi race 41:15.
September: 191.4 miles. Endless Summer sprint tri (.25mi -- probably more 'cause of rough ocean --swim, 8.64 mi -- stupid distance -- bike, 5k run. I forget what my time was -- results were so messed up because of the early-in-race course change.)
October: 136.5 miles. LBI 18 mi run (grr - tough day here, too. 25+ mins off my PR. 3:10:15). Marine Corps Marathon (ran with Larry -- to enjoy, not for time -- 4:23:xx).
November: 123.4 miles. Philly HM (ran with Aimee. PR! 1:52:08).
December: 141.7 miles. Haddon Heart Run 5k (1st place AG! not even close to my pr, but done in the middle of a 12 mi long run. 24:35).
Highest mileage month: March 200.7
Lowest mileage month: May 100.7
Highest mileage week: Last week of Aug/First week Sept. 51.6 miles
Lowest mileage week: second week in May (post 26.2, cuboid problem) 7 miles.
Total races: 14
2008 total miles run: 1411.1 (a mileage pr, for sure)
Obviously I was swimming and biking throughout the year, too, but I didn't log those miles as diligently. I'll be better about that this year.
The good thing is, I'm already getting more swimming done in the year because I joined the gym with a pool. I'd like to get at least one swim in per week during the winter months...
Today's 14 miler (which I intended to be 12, but it was so nice I felt like pushing it a bit) was my longest run of 2009 so far. :D
Overall, 2008 was a year of good mileage, some PR's, and some good running lessons learned.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
A wacky start to 2009
Last night was a long night -- a friend's party, fireworks at midnight, and then a funny string of events after I left for home around 2am...
Driving over the bridge from Philly to home, I saw a friend of mine standing at the base of the bridge. No winter coat, about a 9* windchill temp, shivering. I made him get in the car. He was w.a.s.t.e.d.!
I tried to figure out where his girlfriend and buddies were, but I wasn't sure if they were already home or still at the bar. His slurring and inability to put together a complete sentence didn't help. My friend didn't have his keys, so I couldn't drop him off at his/his GF's house (she wasn't answering) or his parents' house. I thought we should try to go back and pick everyone up at the bar, but since we couldn't get a hold of them, we didn't know where they were. So he crashed at my house. I got him settled on the sofa, and I went to bed. That was 3am.
At around 5am, he drunkenly creeps/stumbles up to my room, gently wakes me up, and proceeds to mumble something about a guy and his daughter being here to buy my house. They want to know how much I'm asking. What? Go back to sleep, D. No, they were here and want to know how much you want for the house. It's not for sale. No one's here. Go back downstairs and go to sleep. He stumbles down the stairs and back to the sofa.
10 minutes later, same thing all over again. D, I still need to sleep. No one's here, the house isn't for sale. He asked how much you want for the house. I told him it's not my call, I'd talk to you. D, no one's here. Go back to sleep. 150? 175? It's for his daughter -- she's 22 and just graduated from college. How much should I tell him? Tell him 200. Now go back to sleep. He stumbles down the stairs again and back to the sofa.
At some point I'm pretty sure I heard him fall off the sofa.
I wake up at around 9am and he's moving around. Swears he's not hungover, and amazingly remembers me picking him up on the bridge and clearly remembers the people coming to buy the house. I am now convinced he's still drunk. I asked him if he ever heard from his GF or friends. Nope. I walk up to get coffee and bagels, and he falls back to sleep.
After a while, I'm ready to get out of the house. With the temps around 25* or colder, I bundle up and head out for a run. I started 2009 with a cold, windy, sunny 5 miler, and even though I was tired from the long night, I enjoyed soaking in the sunshine and breathing in the crisp air.
D was awake when I got back, and we started piecing together how he got separated from everyone else last night. He finally heard from his girlfriend, and we laughed about the events of the evening/early morning as I drove him home.
What a wacky start to 2009!
********************************************************************************
Dressed for the party!
Shivering with the party host and watching the fireworks on the waterfront.
Happy 2009!
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