Training Day 90: Great News! No Runners' Diarrhea!

Date: 31 May 2008 / Distance: 6.02 mi plus cross training / Time: 51:26 (run) plus 60:00 (cross train)

I've been a lazy bum this week.  On Thursday, I was supposed to run 3 miles and on Friday, I was supposed to do cross training.  Today, I had an optional 3 miler.  Out of extreme guilt, I made up all the workouts I missed by jamming everything into a single day.  I'm not sure exactly what was prompting my guilt.  I'm not sure if I felt like I was cheating myself or if I felt like I was not being a good team player or if I felt the running gods were frowning down on me.  In any case, feeling guilty stinks and I'm ultimately happy I jammed everything into a single day.  I'm pretty pooped though.  I started with a one hour tennis lesson and then I combined my missed 3 miler with today's 3 miler.  The run today wasn't terrible, I hit my stride at about mile 2.5.

Next weekend, Joel and I are visiting Rachel in Sacramento.  I don't think she's going to let us off the hook -- she's asked us to bring our tennis racquets and workout clothes!

Day 90: Long Run Cut Short

Today was supposed to be a 6-8 mile run. I always just go for the high end of the range that the schedule suggests, so I was planning on an 8-miler. However, this morning I was feeling really dehydrated and just kind of off overall. I went to the gym to run, and right off the bat settled on a 10-minute mile pace, thinking that if I went slow enough I could push through all 8 miles. After 2 miles I had to slow down to a walk and drink some water. After 2 more miles, same thing. After the 5th mile, I actually got off the treadmill and went to refill my water; and after 6.75 miles total I finally decided to call it a day. I finished up by walking about half a mile and then headed home. Still an OK day overall; I don't feel like a total failure because I did still adhere to the schedule, but I'll probably up next week's run (4-6) to an 8-miler to make up for it.

3 months down, 4.5 to go! :)

Day 89

Warm-up: jumprope! 300 reps. I love jumproping!
45 minutes of yoga
1-mile jog with a reluctant pup; sometimes all he wants to do is get home and go back to bed as soon as possible
More stretching

My abs still kind of kill from all the plank poses I've been doing. I was reading this one lady's ab workout plan and she recommended doing two sets each of plank and then side plank on either side for SIXTY SECONDS AT A TIME. Doesn't seem like that long until you actually try it. I did sets of 30 seconds and then my wrists started to hurt really bad and my whole body felt really shaky.

The weather has been gorgeous this past week. I'm seeing more and more runners out and about on the sidewalks, which makes me feel inordinately happy and gives me the urge to run up and forcibly high-five them.

Training Day 88

Today was my cross-training day, so I biked over the gym and climbed aboard the good old elliptical trainer. Serendipitously, there was a brand-new issue of US Weekly waiting just for me on the usually-sparse magazine table. I decided to try the personal trainer/aerobic cross-train setting on the Life Fitness elliptical, and I selected Level 15 (of 25). It was a pretty tough workout--much more intense than my usual elliptical sessions. I was on the machine for 45 minutes but it actually felt a lot shorter because my virtual personal trainer kept giving me different commands like "focus on pushing with your arms" or "maintain a speed of 6.0 or greater" or "pedal backwards using only your lower body." I like that kind of thing because it's not such a monotonous workout. I did skip my strength circuit, however--I just wasn't feeling it today. Tomorrow I have the day off, so I'll probably do some yoga and jump-roping and then take my pup for a short jog. This week really flew by--I hope my whole summer vacation doesn't pass as quickly!

Why, God, why?!?

oh. my. g.

WHAT THE HECK IS THIS?!?!????


and WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?!?!!!!!!!!?? :(

Larger picture is here, be warned it is nast-ay...

I'm not dead, nor have I fallen off the face of the planet

I'm sorry I've been so incredibly slack. Between the floor refinishing and then my neice's wedding, I've been busy and out of the net quite frequently. I've also slacked off on the training, but I'm getting back to it now. I've been on the treadmill a little... seems like I'm freaking starting over from scratch. Plus, now the kids are out of school, which makes everything that much more difficult. But no excuses, I'm getting back on the horse. Congratulations on your consistent training and all the milestones you've reached -- I look forward to reaching a few here soon.

Day 87

Well, the "as fast as I can" part turned out to be not that fast at all:

Mile 1: 8:20
Mile 2: 8:10

I started out too fast and by the end of Mile 1 I was already feeling like I couldn't do another. Basically the whole second mile was utterly miserable, I literally could not go ANY faster, my legs felt awkward, clumsy and heavy, and I couldn't catch my breath--I was practically wheezing by the time I reached my house. This is one of the only times I've felt like barfing after a run.

I may have also made it harder on myself by not warming up, plus that's just the fastest I've ever run, period, so obviously it was going to be a bit harder. But I know it was mostly that I started out too fast; I've been running on the treadmill so much lately that I'm out of practice in pace-setting and just depend on the machine to set my pace for me.

In other news, I found my jumprope! Which I thought I had lent to someone and lost forever. So I'm very excited about that. I did some jumproping and ab work yesterday and my abs totally kill this morning. Love it!

Training Days 85 and 86: Double 4 Milers

Date: 26 May 2008 / Distance: 4.00 mi / Time: Approx 34 or 35 min.

Date 27 May 2008 / Distance: 4.03 mi / Time: 34:58

Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend.  The weather has cooled down significantly in San Diego.  It's still sunny, but there is a very cool breeze blowing off the ocean.  Joel and I had friends in town this past weekend so our training schedule was blown off course again.  It wasn't too bad though.  We rode 8 miles on the boardwalk and swam in the pool quite a bit.  At this point, I'm back on track!  Based upon the blogging entries, it looks like a few of us have been blown off of our training courses -- Life is Busy!  :)

Training Day 85

My workout today:

Warm-up: bike ride to the gym--harder than it sounds since it was suuuuuuuuuuuper windy
Run: 4 miles @ 36:09
Cooldown: 1/2-mile walk
Strength circuit

The schedule for Wednesday calls for only a 2-mile run. I'm going to hit the sidewalk and try to run it as fast as I possibly can. Then this Saturday is another 8-miler--I hope I can actually do it again! :)

Days 78-84

Not too much to report from this past week--basically a repeat of the previous week.

Monday: we got home from SF at around 4pm, and I was unable to skip my run--I felt too guilty. Unfortunately I was still pretty hung over from the previous night, so running 4 miles made me even more dehydrated. Probably not the best move. I skipped my strength training.

Tuesday: 30 minutes of yoga. Several hours of sitting around.

Wednesday: 3-mile run, strength circuit. I didn't watch the clock much on any of my runs this week. We had super high winds again this week, so I ran on the treadmill all week.

Thursday: 1 hour of yoga. Getting really bored of my DVD; I think I may have to order a more advanced program. Either that or start going to Pilates at the gym.

Friday: 30 minutes of cross-training, another 3-mile run, strength circuit. I wanted to race myself for the 3-miler but I was just kind of struggling this week--feeling really tired and sluggish most days. I ended up running it in 26-something, so definitely didn't approach my PB of 25:18. Maybe next week.

Saturday: 4-mile run. It was actually nice and cool outside in the morning so I thought I'd run outside. But on emerging from my house I realized it was raining pretty hard, and I just didn't feel that hardcore at the moment. So I headed over to the gym after all and ran around a 37:00 4-miler.

Today I'm taking the day off and planning to watch movies all day. Although I don't feel like I'm pushing myself very hard at all, I'm a little concerned that I'm not eating as much as I should be to compensate for the increased intensity/amount of exercise I've been getting. Not like I'm depriving myself--at all!--but I think I need to incorporate more protein and iron into my diet. I'll work on that this coming week.

That's pretty much it. Hope everyone is having a lovely Memorial Day weekend!

Training Day 81: Sweaty 4 Miler! Sorry Lady!

Date: 22 May 2008 / Distance: 4.00 / Time: 34:13

Sometimes, I actually really love running on the treadmill.  I'm able to set a single pace for the entire run.  After the first mile, I get into a groove and I let it flow for the rest of the run.  Ever since my haircut, I have not been able to put my hair back into a ponytail.  My short hair swings free - to and fro and every which way.  This is a little gross but I've noticed that some of my loose locks will absorb the sweat on my face and my neck.  While I'm running, my sweat-laden hair swings to and fro, propelling small beads of sweat around me.  Imagine a wet dog shaking water out of his fur.  That's what I look like.  (Of course, to a MUCH lesser degree.  I don't have fur all over my body, thank you very much)  Normally, I don't care or notice because no one is running within close proximity to me.  However, today, a lady was running on the treadmill right next to me and I forgot my workout/sweat towel.  I noticed some sweat beads flying in her general direction.  I hope she was not hit.  How embarrassing! 

Training Day 74 - 80: Where Have I Been?

Date: 16 May 2008 / Distance: 4.02 mi / Time: 35:06

Date: 17 May 2008 / Tennis / Time: 60:00

Date: 18 May 2008 / Swimming

Date: 20 May 2008 / Distance: 9.96 mi / Time: 89:14

My training schedule is all bungled up!  Sorry!  I've had to shift the schedule because I've been out of town.  I will try to get back on schedule next week though.  I ran my 10-miler on Tuesday with Joel.  I was excited; I've never run 10 miles before.  We ran along the boardwalk so I had a great view of the ocean.  I saw a pod of dolphins playing around.  They were jumping into the air and surfing waves.  Watching dolphins is always a great diversion.  I started feeling the long run around mile 8 or 9.  My hips started feeling a little sour.  Otherwise, I think the run went very well and I'm confident I'll be able to finish the half marathon (so long as I keep to a 9 - 10 minute mile).  Woo hoo!

Day 77

Since it was a recovery week, my long run was only 4 miles:

Warm-up: bike ride to the gym
Run: 4 miles @ 36:16
Cooldown: 1/2-mile walk

I was supposed to walk 2 miles, but...I didn't. haha! Instead I went swimming.

Tomorrow I'll probably skip my run--I think this will be the first one I've skipped--because I'll be busy celebrating my graduation! But I'll do a lot of walking around Berkeley and SF to make up for it!

Day 76: combooooo

Yesterday I did an hour of yoga. I really needed it--my right hamstring-or-whatever is 98% better, which is a big relief. Today it was already in the mid-90s by noon, so I went to the gym for my combo day:

30 minutes on the inclined elliptical on the cross-training setting
3-mile run--didn't watch the time
1/4-mile or so cooldown
strength circuit

Tomorrow I'm really going to try to get up super early so I can beat the heat and run outdoors. I really miss my outside runs; I feel like I'm cheating somewhat when I run on the treadmill, and it definitely doesn't feel like as intense of a workout. But, the overnight low is only in the 60s, so we'll see how warm it is when I get up.

It's only been 4 days, but I'm already having the best summer ever! *dies of relaxation*

Training Day 74

Yesterday was my first day of ~summer vacation~ and I was feeling super lazy. I ended up doing about 30 minutes of halfhearted yoga. Today I ran 4 miles at the gym at a leisurely ~38:00; then I came home and gardened for about an hour and a half in the afternoon sun. I was so glad to be gardening that the 90+ degree heat hardly bothered me. And my lovely husband brought me home some super-soft dried pluots and fresh and AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS strawberries from the farmer's market, so I'm about to gorge myself on fruit. Hope everyone's having a great week!

Training Day 73: 3 miler and Core

Date: 14 May 2008 / Distance: 3 mi / Time: 24:05

I think my post-8 mile recovery regimen of drinking a ton of water and eating bananas worked!! I'm able to move! I don't feel terribly crummy! Thank goodness. For the 10 miler this weekend, I'm going to guzzle a ton of gatorade and eat 100 bananas.
Today, I ran on the treadmill and completed a quick upper body strength workout. The girl that was working out next to me was watching a poker match on her personal cardio-tv. She was really into it -- she was laughing out loud and saying things like, "You've got to be joking!" and "I can't believe it!" and "Oh man!" Whenever I watch my cardio-tv, I usually try to suppress the urge to laugh out loud or make remarks. Next time, I'm going to let it all out.

Training Days 69 - 72: Big Mish Mosh

Date: 10 May 2008 / Tennis / Time: 60:00
Date: 11 May 2008 / Cross-training and Strength / Time: 60:00
Date: 12 May 2008 / OFF /
Date: 13 May 2008 / Distance: 8.25 mi / Time: 75:07

OY! The 8-miler was a tuffy this morning! I ran on the boardwalk with Joel this morning. The route had few inclines. Before we ran, I made Joel promise that he would run a 9-10 minute mile. hee hee. He kept his promise. The run went well, I thought the pace was reasonable. At mile 5.27, my iPod battery went dead. As soon as the music went dead, I started focusing on the aches and pains in my body. My hips felt pretty sour. Based on ssssaffron's experience, I'm dreading the recovery period. I'm just going to drink water and eat bananas like it's going out of style today.

Day 72

Went to the gym for my 4-mile run today. My legs are still a bit tight and sore from Saturday; I'm coming to detest the smell of Icy/Hot. I did my strength circuit after the run, and the lying leg curls in particular were really difficult--the back of my right knee hurts pretty bad. Not sure if it's the hamstring or what. Anyway, we're supposed to hit 100+ degrees this week, so I will be running at the gym until further notice!

Training Day 70: 10-mile run!

Wow--I can't believe I did it! I actually felt awesome almost the entire time--partly, I think, because I ate a big dinner of tofu and veggies over a bunch of brown rice last night, plus a big bowl of cereal for dessert and an apple at like 10pm. It was a carb frenzy. This morning I had two cups of coffee and went to the gym to run. I ran at zero incline which I think also made the run easier, but incline or no incline, 10 miles is a looooooooong way to run! I stayed at a 9:15 mile for most of the run, and completed the run in just under 94 minutes--forgot to check the exact time--which is pretty much right on track for the 2:00-2:10 finish in October! Miles 1-6 were actually pretty easy, I felt really strong and energetic and light on my feet, and drew some extra energy from the superstar softball game that was on one of the TVs. Miles 7 and 8 were relatively easy, too, because I pretended to myself that I was only going to run 8 miles. Mile 9 was pretty hard, but I listened to Nelly's Country Grammar twice during that mile and almost started doing the arm-flail to the beat that Running Girl mentioned in a previous post. Mile 10 I ran at a 10:00 pace and my body was getting very, very tired. Still, I did feel like I could have kept going--so now I know that the half marathon is definitely possible! And I'm going to eat like 5 plates of spaghetti the night before! ♥

Day 69!

Just boring cross-training :| I read an article about The Hills in Rolling Stone and watched Oprah do an expose on sandwiches while I did a 45-minute cross-training workout on the elliptical, a 5-minute cooldown, and my strength circuit. woo woo!

Tomorrow I'm going to attempt my 10-miler. I'm really nervous. Ahhhh!!!!

Have a great weekend all! :)

Training Day 68: A DELIBERATE SNUB! HUMPH!

doot dee doo!  wee wah wee woo.   bee bop do wap!  pffft!  thbtbt!  poo poo!  pee pee!

I skipped my cardio workout today.  la la!  I went shopping instead!

Training Day 67: Back to my Regular Route

Date: 8 May 2008 / Distance: 4.02 / Time: 33:28

After a long break, I decided to run my normal training route with the big houses, beautiful landscaping and the lunching construction workers.  In San Diego, we experience "May Gray" and "June Gloom".  Basically, our mornings start out either cloudy or foggy and then by 1:00 pm, everything burns off and it's back to sunny San Diego again.  The cool mornings make running more bearable, which explains why I saw a ton of runners and walkers out today.  I've decided to run my 8 miler this weekend.  Hope it stays gloomy for my run!  ha!

Day 67

Ran at the gym again today:

15-minute warm-up on the elliptical
Run: 4 miles @ 35:18
1/2-mile walk

Tomorrow's the last day of classes; I have two take-home finals to complete this weekend and then I'll be DONE with school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At least, until September. bleh.

But for now--YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Training Day 65: 3 Miles on the Treadmill

Date: 6 May 2008 / Distance: 3 mi / Time: 25:46

Training was uneventful today.  Because it was so gray in San Diego, I decided to run on the treadmill and watch the Colbert Report.  After my run I did my normal Bosu core strength workout.  I can't believe we're almost done with our first phase of training!!!

TD65

Warm-up: 30-minute cross-training workout on the inclined elliptical
Run: 3 miles at 25:31! Sweet!
Cooldown: 1/2-mile walk
Strength circuit

I've been slacking on my stretching, I dunno why. I did do an hour of yoga yesterday but today hardly stretched at all. I guess I'll go do that.

Training Days 63 & 64: Tennis and a Race!

Date: 3 May 2008 / Tennis / Time: 60:00

Date: 4 May 2008 / Distance: 8K (or 4.97 mi) / Time: 38:00

Joel and I ran in the Union Tribune 8K Race for Literacy on Sunday.  My body felt pretty wrecked after the race.  I don't think I prepared for it well enough.  I wish I drank more water in the days leading up to the race and I wish I had gone to sleep the night before at 10 pm.  Oh well!  I'm happy I completed the race.  My new shoes felt great!  Because of the race, I was not able to complete the long 8 mile run.  I haven't decided if I'm going to jump straight to the 10 miler scheduled for this weekend yet.  We'll see how my training runs go this week.  Today, I'm just going to take it easy.  Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

Training Day 63

I usually do yoga on Thursdays, but instead I went to the movies; Friday I wasn't feeling well, so I skipped my usual cross-training and weights and instead read a book all afternoon and ate two candy bars before bed. This morning I was feeling back to normal for the most part, so I hit the gym ready to make up for my laziness:

Warm-up: 30 minute "cross-training" session on the elliptical trainer
Run: 8 miles @ 74:40
Cooldown: 1-mile walk
Strength circuit & stretch

Yeah--I was at the gym for about 3 freaking hours! I was really dreading this 8-miler, and while it was hard and my body was starting to protest a bit by the 8th mile, it was far easier than I had psyched myself up for. I'm so glad there's only a 10-miler left to go before we can taper and relax a little (and then start all over again, of course!)

Tomorrow I may go to a yoga class at the gym, or just do some yoga at home, and other than that I'm planning to take it pretty easy. Tonight I'm just going to go for a long walk so my legs don't seize up as an after-effect of the run. And I'm going to hydrate like a mother--according to the scale I lost about 3 pounds in sweat from my workout today!

New Shoes! Yippee!

Date: 27 April 2008 / Distance: 4.04 / Time: 35:18

Date: 29 April 2008 / Distance: 3.78 / Time: 32:10

Date: 2 May 2008 / Distance: 4.04 / Time: 34:39 

I screwed up my training schedule during my trip back to Maryland.  This week is pretty much a wash.  I ran twice while back east.  The weather was pretty crummy and I actually had a bunch of people to visit.  I'll jump back onto my schedule beginning next Monday.  I'm supposed to have an 8 mile run this Sunday, but I have to skip it because I'm running in the 8K Race for Literacy in San Diego.  Wish me luck!  Hee hee -- as promised, check out my new shoes!

Donate Your Old Sneakers!

Hey all:

If you have old sneakers you want to get rid of, check out "Nike Let Me Play - Reuse-A-Shoe".  The donated shoes are ground up and used to make sport surfaces all over the world.  You can drop off your shoes at designated store locations or you can mail them in: 

Nike Let Me Play

Nike Recycling Center

c/o Reuse-A-Shoe

26755 SW 95th Ave.

Wilsonville, OR 97070

I'm on my way to the post office now!