As someone who has completed a full marathon (and couldn't walk to prove it) and enough half marathons to loose count on occasion (7. I think 7), I know a few things about working out. I love yoga, dancing like a fool is so fun and runners high are great. Achieving fitness goals and working out are things to be proud of. I'm totally for being active, taking care of oneself and having a healthy lifestyle, especially now that I am a parent.
But god people, I so. don't. care. about your workouts.
You signed up for a race? Awesome! You can fit into a smaller size after working on that for months? Wonderful! Quit smoking 3 years ago? Rock on! Hell, even I've posted about getting stuck in my sports bra, because flailing around like a T-rex is hilarious.
But: Mention you got up at 4 am again to use your favorite treadmill at the gym? Ran 4.13 miles on run keeper? Announce you're 17 days into your wheat grass/acacia berries/organic unicorn hair-diet lunch? Instagramed the kettle bells that were "torture but OMG soooo worth it?" And posted some little workout quip along the lines of sweat is fat crying leaving your body- all within 12 hours?
STFU.
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Deliver us
So after my sister got me into running, after watching a few of our races my mom got into it as well. And she's really annoying about it. Don't get me wrong, I am so glad she takes care of herself (because the longer she takes care of herself the less I'll have to take care of her) and as a sorta runner I get the rush and love for it. But she's still really really annoying in bragging about it and not realizing how much of a production running (race day and as regular exercise) really is.
By this point I've pretty much accepted it and I just let her go on and on, smile and nod at appropriate intervals and do what I can behind the scenes to make things go as smoothly as possible. But sometimes, I can find a way to quiet her down for a while.
In 2012 she and I both ran the Savannah half marathon and she wanted to dissect every. single. part. of the race with me. But every race, runner and experience is different and she just couldn't understand why I couldn't recall some thing or provide any insight to her experience. She was going on and on about the sights on the course so surely I must have seen them and experienced them the same way she did too.
mom: Oh that's that really pretty historical church! Do you remember that?
me: No not really.
mom: You must have! It was between miles 8 and 9 and there were all these pretty branches leading up to it. You must have seen it on your run.
me: I'm sure it was there, but I don't really remember seeing it mom.
mom: But it was there between...
me: Hey, mom, do you remember that one church that looked like a boarded up gas station around mile one? Real creepy looking and it's name was the deliverance church of something or other.
mom: Oh yeah! That was really creepy looking.
me: Yup. Well that's the church that I remember.
She was quiet for a little while after that.
By this point I've pretty much accepted it and I just let her go on and on, smile and nod at appropriate intervals and do what I can behind the scenes to make things go as smoothly as possible. But sometimes, I can find a way to quiet her down for a while.
In 2012 she and I both ran the Savannah half marathon and she wanted to dissect every. single. part. of the race with me. But every race, runner and experience is different and she just couldn't understand why I couldn't recall some thing or provide any insight to her experience. She was going on and on about the sights on the course so surely I must have seen them and experienced them the same way she did too.
mom: Oh that's that really pretty historical church! Do you remember that?
me: No not really.
mom: You must have! It was between miles 8 and 9 and there were all these pretty branches leading up to it. You must have seen it on your run.
me: I'm sure it was there, but I don't really remember seeing it mom.
mom: But it was there between...
me: Hey, mom, do you remember that one church that looked like a boarded up gas station around mile one? Real creepy looking and it's name was the deliverance church of something or other.
mom: Oh yeah! That was really creepy looking.
me: Yup. Well that's the church that I remember.
She was quiet for a little while after that.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Lucky Number 7
So on Sunday March 16, Mike and I ran a half marathon. Yes, that's right, we both ran it! My weightlifting preferring, super strong husband decided that he would run a half marathon and I said I would do it with him.
Me, well, I didn't train very much (turns out that's pretty much my MO), but I still finished at 2:22 something. Not my best time, not my worst time, and I hurt like a mofo the next few days but I fully expected that. I knew I wasn't going to win the thing, But I also knew I wasn't going to be in last place either, and hell, this one makes number 7 for me. SEVEN! Sometimes even I have a hard time believing I've done that many. I keep saying I'm going to do another marathon, but finding the time to train (for real) is difficult with the full time job and grad school. Maybe one day. Meh, we'll see.
But because that race was my 7th, I was much more excited for Mike's race and experience than my own. I knew he would finish before and that I wasn't going to match his pace, but I knew he would finish and I couldn't wait to see him at the finish line. His time was 1:49: something and I'm pleased as punch for him!
Yay running!
Me, well, I didn't train very much (turns out that's pretty much my MO), but I still finished at 2:22 something. Not my best time, not my worst time, and I hurt like a mofo the next few days but I fully expected that. I knew I wasn't going to win the thing, But I also knew I wasn't going to be in last place either, and hell, this one makes number 7 for me. SEVEN! Sometimes even I have a hard time believing I've done that many. I keep saying I'm going to do another marathon, but finding the time to train (for real) is difficult with the full time job and grad school. Maybe one day. Meh, we'll see.
But because that race was my 7th, I was much more excited for Mike's race and experience than my own. I knew he would finish before and that I wasn't going to match his pace, but I knew he would finish and I couldn't wait to see him at the finish line. His time was 1:49: something and I'm pleased as punch for him!
Yay running!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Year of the
So with as big of a year that I had in 2012, I'm not exactly planning anything super huge for 2013. I won't be done with school, no big exotic trips, and no huge announcements for myself. (No, seriously no. Even if and when something happens to put me in the family way that's nobody's business but mine and my husband's.)
I'm cool with 2013 being fairly uneventful.
Though, I haven't put my money where my mouth is yet (meaning I haven't paid), but I'm planning to run a half marathon in April and full marathon in October. The full I'm a little freaked out about, but the half, ehh, as long as a I train it'll be fine. So there's that. You know, I never thought I would consider running a half marathon not that big of a deal.
Look like 2013 is the year of the run for me. I guess that's something!
I'm cool with 2013 being fairly uneventful.
Though, I haven't put my money where my mouth is yet (meaning I haven't paid), but I'm planning to run a half marathon in April and full marathon in October. The full I'm a little freaked out about, but the half, ehh, as long as a I train it'll be fine. So there's that. You know, I never thought I would consider running a half marathon not that big of a deal.
Look like 2013 is the year of the run for me. I guess that's something!
Monday, November 5, 2012
Savannah Here I Run!
So, y'all I ran my 6th half marathon on Saturday. I finished with a time of 2:17:15, not my best time (2:05:00), but not my worst time either (2:28:something). I wasn't trying to win the thing, I didn't come in last, so I'm nothing but happy with it.
I signed up to run the the marathon in Savannah like I did last year, but I just wasn't training for a marathon right. With starting grad school and the two library jobs at the same time, I wasn't really making an effort to train for a full. I didn't want to do a marathon unprepared knowing that if i did I would hurt just as much* as I did last year, so I decided to drop to the half distance when I still had the time to do that training right.
Except that I didn't train for the half that well either, what with the working (almost) full time and going to grad school full time. I still got some but not nearly enough practice runs in to stay in runner shape, but the longest long run I did was 7 miles. But! This was my sixth, so even though I knew it would hurt, (and it does**) I still knew I could still finish. There wasn't a mental hurdle for me to cross, and that was good.
And I have to say, I love race day. I love the energy, the excitement just before the starting gun (or air horn in this race) goes off. I love the yells, cheers and signs of support from the crowd. I love how complete strangers support each other through the race, pushing each other on and offering words of encouragement I'm not a super fan of the hurting afterwards, but eh, comes with the territory. Like I said, I'm very happy overall!
Six halves! Go me!
*I couldn't walk. My husband (then fiance) had to carry me to the bathroom, and due to our strict closed door policy, I was sooooo screwed when I was done because I had to figure out a way to get to the sink to wash my hands, and then not only get to the door but somehow open it just so he could carry me back to bed.
**Not nearly as bad as last year though. I can still walk, which my husband has stated he likes it when I run halves better than a full since he doesn't have to carry me.
I signed up to run the the marathon in Savannah like I did last year, but I just wasn't training for a marathon right. With starting grad school and the two library jobs at the same time, I wasn't really making an effort to train for a full. I didn't want to do a marathon unprepared knowing that if i did I would hurt just as much* as I did last year, so I decided to drop to the half distance when I still had the time to do that training right.
Except that I didn't train for the half that well either, what with the working (almost) full time and going to grad school full time. I still got some but not nearly enough practice runs in to stay in runner shape, but the longest long run I did was 7 miles. But! This was my sixth, so even though I knew it would hurt, (and it does**) I still knew I could still finish. There wasn't a mental hurdle for me to cross, and that was good.
And I have to say, I love race day. I love the energy, the excitement just before the starting gun (or air horn in this race) goes off. I love the yells, cheers and signs of support from the crowd. I love how complete strangers support each other through the race, pushing each other on and offering words of encouragement I'm not a super fan of the hurting afterwards, but eh, comes with the territory. Like I said, I'm very happy overall!
Six halves! Go me!
*I couldn't walk. My husband (then fiance) had to carry me to the bathroom, and due to our strict closed door policy, I was sooooo screwed when I was done because I had to figure out a way to get to the sink to wash my hands, and then not only get to the door but somehow open it just so he could carry me back to bed.
**Not nearly as bad as last year though. I can still walk, which my husband has stated he likes it when I run halves better than a full since he doesn't have to carry me.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Dog's Day Out
Last week Mike was vacuuming the house for Jeanne and Matt's and kids visit,when I heard the phone ring. I didn't recognize the number, but I asked my husband to stop for a second and picked up the phone. The caller confused me at first by starting the conversation with telling me she was around the corner, but she had my full undivided attention when she told me our dogs were loose. Turns out the fence gate had been slightly open and they had escaped, and we were none the wiser.
I thanked the caller profusely and promptly told my husband the girls were loose, to which he immediately ran out the door to find them. I grabbed my shoes, their leashes and followed suit. It probably only took less than 60 seconds to reach them, but it was a long 60 seconds. Because even though I knew everyone was ok and that it would be fine, it's still a moment of panic when you realize that your beloved dogs aren't where you thought they were and you didn't keep them safe.
The caller and girls were right where they said they were, and they both looked as happy as clams with big, tongue lolling goofy grins on their faces while they they sniffed the other dogs (who were probably the same dogs they had seen and had escaped the yard to get to). And when they saw mommy and daddy running towards them they got even happier, enjoying their escape, none the wiser they had scared the ever living crap out of.
As I was sprinting towards the girls (and I am not a sprinter, I'm a distance runner) it took me about 15 seconds to realize that the caller had called the home number on Bailey's id's tag that she always, always wears. I used to scratch her name and my cell number on the back of her licence when we lived in Kentucky, but it was pretty crude id. Once we moved to North Carolina and got settled, I got her an engraved one with her name and our contact information. Bailey's also micro chipped, but that would only come in handy if she was taken to a shelter and they scanned her. Jules has an id tag as well, but she doesn't wear it all the time (oh believe me, she does now), and she also wasn't micro chipped either until 2 days ago. So we're even more lucky that the girls stayed together when they escaped, or else we might have not gotten them both back.
Anyway, once we reached them, we leashed them up and took them the short walk back home. They pranced all the way back. Of course they did. Of course they did.
I thanked the caller profusely and promptly told my husband the girls were loose, to which he immediately ran out the door to find them. I grabbed my shoes, their leashes and followed suit. It probably only took less than 60 seconds to reach them, but it was a long 60 seconds. Because even though I knew everyone was ok and that it would be fine, it's still a moment of panic when you realize that your beloved dogs aren't where you thought they were and you didn't keep them safe.
The caller and girls were right where they said they were, and they both looked as happy as clams with big, tongue lolling goofy grins on their faces while they they sniffed the other dogs (who were probably the same dogs they had seen and had escaped the yard to get to). And when they saw mommy and daddy running towards them they got even happier, enjoying their escape, none the wiser they had scared the ever living crap out of.
As I was sprinting towards the girls (and I am not a sprinter, I'm a distance runner) it took me about 15 seconds to realize that the caller had called the home number on Bailey's id's tag that she always, always wears. I used to scratch her name and my cell number on the back of her licence when we lived in Kentucky, but it was pretty crude id. Once we moved to North Carolina and got settled, I got her an engraved one with her name and our contact information. Bailey's also micro chipped, but that would only come in handy if she was taken to a shelter and they scanned her. Jules has an id tag as well, but she doesn't wear it all the time (oh believe me, she does now), and she also wasn't micro chipped either until 2 days ago. So we're even more lucky that the girls stayed together when they escaped, or else we might have not gotten them both back.
Anyway, once we reached them, we leashed them up and took them the short walk back home. They pranced all the way back. Of course they did. Of course they did.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Peak
me: Oh my god, I'm 30.
mike: It's really not that bad.
me: Can it be my 2nd 29th birthday?
mike: But don't you want to hit your sexual peak?*
me: What? Oh yeah, that's right, a woman's sexual peak is supposed to be in her 30's isn't it.
mike: Yep. (grinning)
me: OH!!!! My running peak is supposed to happen in my 30's too! Oh, that's good!
mike: Yes. That's where I was going with that.
*it's ok honey, we're married.
mike: It's really not that bad.
me: Can it be my 2nd 29th birthday?
mike: But don't you want to hit your sexual peak?*
me: What? Oh yeah, that's right, a woman's sexual peak is supposed to be in her 30's isn't it.
mike: Yep. (grinning)
me: OH!!!! My running peak is supposed to happen in my 30's too! Oh, that's good!
mike: Yes. That's where I was going with that.
*it's ok honey, we're married.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Do the math
Last Saturday I did the first long run of my training plan (8 miles) in the afternoon, a couple of hours before I had to to go work. But unfortunately, I'm a bit out of shape,* so I knew it would be a tough run. It takes my body a few weeks to adjust to running conditions after a break, and so I've come to expect a certain degree if tummy trouble post (long) run the first few weeks of training.
Fortunately, the stomach pain dissipates within a few hours of it happening, and altogether disappears once my body gets used to running distances again. Unfortunately, I didn't time my run and work schedule up very well last Saturday, because I was hurting pretty bad when I walked into work that day.
me: (doubling over in pain) Ugh, I don't feel so good.
coworker: Are you pregnant?**
me: Yep. Thirteen months along and counting.***
coworker: Huh? Months?
me: Yep. Then I straitened up, and walked directly to the bathroom.
So yeah, I've decided to stop denying being pregnant (because no one believes me anyway) and just being snarky with people. And while the snark didn't stop my pain right there, it did make me feel a little better in a way.
*I barely worked out pre-wedding. Weirdest bride ever.
**Seriously, I'm so tired of people assuming I'm pregnant, implying that I will be soon enough, then looking at me with a knowing smile when I staunchly deny it, when it's really none of your fcking business in the first place.
***too tired to deny, but not tired enough to snark.
Fortunately, the stomach pain dissipates within a few hours of it happening, and altogether disappears once my body gets used to running distances again. Unfortunately, I didn't time my run and work schedule up very well last Saturday, because I was hurting pretty bad when I walked into work that day.
me: (doubling over in pain) Ugh, I don't feel so good.
coworker: Are you pregnant?**
me: Yep. Thirteen months along and counting.***
coworker: Huh? Months?
me: Yep. Then I straitened up, and walked directly to the bathroom.
So yeah, I've decided to stop denying being pregnant (because no one believes me anyway) and just being snarky with people. And while the snark didn't stop my pain right there, it did make me feel a little better in a way.
*I barely worked out pre-wedding. Weirdest bride ever.
**Seriously, I'm so tired of people assuming I'm pregnant, implying that I will be soon enough, then looking at me with a knowing smile when I staunchly deny it, when it's really none of your fcking business in the first place.
***too tired to deny, but not tired enough to snark.
Monday, July 2, 2012
It's Fun to Stay at the YMCA
Our gym was bought out by another gym a few months ago, and eventually raised our rates. We were (ok, Mike was) ok if a small rate hike meant we got an new perk, ie: a pool, a track, or even if the classes were included in the membership and not extra like we (he) were paying now. But the only upgrades we got were new lockers* in the locker room and towel service. Oh, they also removed the tanning booths, (which is actually a good thing, but the point here is that something was removed but the rates went up)
In short: the raise hike wasn't really worth it, so we started looking for a new place. (it kinda felt like cheating on our gym though) All I really need is a treadmill and some classes, though my dream gym has an indoor track. (oh, UK Johnson Center, how I love and miss thee terribly) We checked out 2 places, the YMCA and a place really close to us.
We looked at the Y closest to us first and it has everything we both want. It's almost the same price as what we're (ok, once again Mike's) paying now, but, the classes are included (one's taught by a former Panther!) has an indoor and outdoor pool, (polliwog here I come!) includes childcare (one day we'll need this), and, the clincher for me, an outdoor and indoor track (my runner's heart just skipped a beat!). All in all, a nice place, at a price slightly lower that what we're paying now, with more stuff than we're getting now.
The 2nd place we looked at was close to our house, and the reason we checked it out is because it's super cheap. It's fine, pretty much the exact same thing we already have (minus the fancy pants lockers and towel service of course), at 3/4th the price. But. The place had a sign posted that the parking lot has has a lot of break ins recently. There are tanning beds** (also extra even on top of the classes) and the recycle bins are adorned with a Pepsi logo.*** Not to mention the sales guy was pushy since they work on commission. And even if he didn't need to work on his sale tactics,**** (which he did) he he rubbed me wrong way regardless by pointing out what women's problem areas are one too many times (my ass is fine, thankyouverymuch) and then generalizing how women act and feel about those problem areas.* I wouldn't have felt comfortable working out there if my husband wasn't there with me to keep an eye on me. Which, no. (and that's exactly what I said as soon as we walked out of there)
So we're going with the Y for seemingly obvious reasons. Mike and I are even thinking of taking some swimming classes to lean how to be better swimmers. After all, we don't want to be stuck in the polliwog level for all times!
*These new lockers have a built in set your own combination lock, and there's no way to use your own lock anymore. Which is not confusing at all. No one has to go to the front desk since they were locked out of their locker and have someone bring the one master key for the entire place for an entirely new lock system that no one knows really knows how to use yet. Oh, and there's no other way to open the lockers since the hinges are on the inside. No, not confusing at ALL.
**Overall I don't get tanning booths at gyms in general. It seems odd that a place promoting healthy living provides skin cancer in a box.
***We are solidly Coke people. Not to mention, soft drink + workout = fail.
****Once he figured out he wasn't going to get a sale from us that very moment, and were not going to bring him any new business either, we were not worth his time. I was all too happy to have him push us out the door.
*once again, keep my tush out of it. Pointing out that my "problem area" (which is fine) is going to get checked out by the clientele which makes women very self conscious; did exactly that. Made me very self conscious right there and uneasy about the possibility of getting checked out as we were getting the tour.
In short: the raise hike wasn't really worth it, so we started looking for a new place. (it kinda felt like cheating on our gym though) All I really need is a treadmill and some classes, though my dream gym has an indoor track. (oh, UK Johnson Center, how I love and miss thee terribly) We checked out 2 places, the YMCA and a place really close to us.
We looked at the Y closest to us first and it has everything we both want. It's almost the same price as what we're (ok, once again Mike's) paying now, but, the classes are included (one's taught by a former Panther!) has an indoor and outdoor pool, (polliwog here I come!) includes childcare (one day we'll need this), and, the clincher for me, an outdoor and indoor track (my runner's heart just skipped a beat!). All in all, a nice place, at a price slightly lower that what we're paying now, with more stuff than we're getting now.
The 2nd place we looked at was close to our house, and the reason we checked it out is because it's super cheap. It's fine, pretty much the exact same thing we already have (minus the fancy pants lockers and towel service of course), at 3/4th the price. But. The place had a sign posted that the parking lot has has a lot of break ins recently. There are tanning beds** (also extra even on top of the classes) and the recycle bins are adorned with a Pepsi logo.*** Not to mention the sales guy was pushy since they work on commission. And even if he didn't need to work on his sale tactics,**** (which he did) he he rubbed me wrong way regardless by pointing out what women's problem areas are one too many times (my ass is fine, thankyouverymuch) and then generalizing how women act and feel about those problem areas.* I wouldn't have felt comfortable working out there if my husband wasn't there with me to keep an eye on me. Which, no. (and that's exactly what I said as soon as we walked out of there)
So we're going with the Y for seemingly obvious reasons. Mike and I are even thinking of taking some swimming classes to lean how to be better swimmers. After all, we don't want to be stuck in the polliwog level for all times!
*These new lockers have a built in set your own combination lock, and there's no way to use your own lock anymore. Which is not confusing at all. No one has to go to the front desk since they were locked out of their locker and have someone bring the one master key for the entire place for an entirely new lock system that no one knows really knows how to use yet. Oh, and there's no other way to open the lockers since the hinges are on the inside. No, not confusing at ALL.
**Overall I don't get tanning booths at gyms in general. It seems odd that a place promoting healthy living provides skin cancer in a box.
***We are solidly Coke people. Not to mention, soft drink + workout = fail.
****Once he figured out he wasn't going to get a sale from us that very moment, and were not going to bring him any new business either, we were not worth his time. I was all too happy to have him push us out the door.
*once again, keep my tush out of it. Pointing out that my "problem area" (which is fine) is going to get checked out by the clientele which makes women very self conscious; did exactly that. Made me very self conscious right there and uneasy about the possibility of getting checked out as we were getting the tour.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Missing the Point
The day after the marathon, this girl walks in to breakfast in her sweats. Well, she was sorta in sweats.
--hushed tones--
mike: Is...is that girl not wearing a shirt?
--we all look over--
lb: She has something on, it has a hood I think? But it seems to stop at her midriff.
me: So, she's wearing a sweatshirt that exposes her stomach? I thought people wore sweats to cover up? She's sorta missing the point of the sweatshirt.
lb: She is completely missing the point of that hoodie!
me: Yeah, the only reason you wear a something like that in the first place is to show off. That her "problem areas" aren't a problem.
lb: Agreed. She's totally showing off.
mom: So, is she not wearing a shirt?
me: I don't think so.
lb: Because then what would be the point of that sweat shirt?
--hushed tones--
mike: Is...is that girl not wearing a shirt?
--we all look over--
lb: She has something on, it has a hood I think? But it seems to stop at her midriff.
me: So, she's wearing a sweatshirt that exposes her stomach? I thought people wore sweats to cover up? She's sorta missing the point of the sweatshirt.
lb: She is completely missing the point of that hoodie!
me: Yeah, the only reason you wear a something like that in the first place is to show off. That her "problem areas" aren't a problem.
lb: Agreed. She's totally showing off.
mom: So, is she not wearing a shirt?
me: I don't think so.
lb: Because then what would be the point of that sweat shirt?
Monday, November 7, 2011
My First Marathon
I did it! I really did it! I ran/walked 26.2 miles through Savannah, GA on November 5, 2011 .
Holy crap I DID IT!!!!
My official time was 5:06:22, and it being my first, that makes it a personal best for me. And I am ridiculously proud of myself.
I started out way to fast so I couldn't keep my pace for the entire race. I was keeping a really good pace of about a 9:30 mile, but at mile 14 I knew I had to start walking. I tried to start back up running every so often, but my legs were so tight and my feet were so tired that I could never manage more than a quarter of a mile running and never picked my pace back up.
But I kept going. I kept focusing on moving forward, walking long strides, and never stopping. Because I knew if I stopped, even for a second to stretch or go to the bathroom, I wouldn't have been able to keep going. And really, I just wanted to finish. I think I had just passed mile 26 when i saw my sister in the crowds, running towards me and then she fell in step with me. And it was almost too much for me, being so close and in so much pain. But she told me I could do it. That I would be done in 2 more minutes, and I could do anything for two more minutes. And even though I had been telling myself over and over through the race, I can do this, I can do this, hearing someone else tell you that makes it more believable.
In the post race glow (also known as sweat) with my finisher's medal around my neck and wrapped in my mylar blanket I was leaning on Mike to help me walk back to the hotel. I gleefully exclaimed that now that I have done a marathon, I never have to do one again and that I can actually say I prefer to run halves. Which is true. Training for a marathon is hard and I don't know if I can manage that every year. But then today a coworker asked me how was my trip and what was my time, and all that other race stuff. I told her my time and that it was a personal best for me. And then, the next thing out of my mouth was: "but I'll do better on my next one!"
Holy crap I DID IT!!!!
My official time was 5:06:22, and it being my first, that makes it a personal best for me. And I am ridiculously proud of myself.
I started out way to fast so I couldn't keep my pace for the entire race. I was keeping a really good pace of about a 9:30 mile, but at mile 14 I knew I had to start walking. I tried to start back up running every so often, but my legs were so tight and my feet were so tired that I could never manage more than a quarter of a mile running and never picked my pace back up.
But I kept going. I kept focusing on moving forward, walking long strides, and never stopping. Because I knew if I stopped, even for a second to stretch or go to the bathroom, I wouldn't have been able to keep going. And really, I just wanted to finish. I think I had just passed mile 26 when i saw my sister in the crowds, running towards me and then she fell in step with me. And it was almost too much for me, being so close and in so much pain. But she told me I could do it. That I would be done in 2 more minutes, and I could do anything for two more minutes. And even though I had been telling myself over and over through the race, I can do this, I can do this, hearing someone else tell you that makes it more believable.
In the post race glow (also known as sweat) with my finisher's medal around my neck and wrapped in my mylar blanket I was leaning on Mike to help me walk back to the hotel. I gleefully exclaimed that now that I have done a marathon, I never have to do one again and that I can actually say I prefer to run halves. Which is true. Training for a marathon is hard and I don't know if I can manage that every year. But then today a coworker asked me how was my trip and what was my time, and all that other race stuff. I told her my time and that it was a personal best for me. And then, the next thing out of my mouth was: "but I'll do better on my next one!"
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Savannah
me: Hey Lb, where's convention this yeah? Savannah?
lb: nope, Jacksonville.
me: Oh. I think I'm always hoping that it will be in Savannah. So I'm just going to keep suggesting it on the off chance that I may be right one year.
lb: You do that.
Turns out, Savannah is too expensive for convention. So I won't be going there for that anytime in the near future.
However: I am going to go there this weekend. Because I'm running my first marathon there at 7 am Saturday morning..
Which me luck! Epp!
lb: nope, Jacksonville.
me: Oh. I think I'm always hoping that it will be in Savannah. So I'm just going to keep suggesting it on the off chance that I may be right one year.
lb: You do that.
Turns out, Savannah is too expensive for convention. So I won't be going there for that anytime in the near future.
However: I am going to go there this weekend. Because I'm running my first marathon there at 7 am Saturday morning..
Which me luck! Epp!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
blarg
What I did 3 hours ago: ran/walked 12 miles.
What my brain and body are doing now: muuuuuugh.
I'm not even mentally here enough to be bored.
What my brain and body are doing now: muuuuuugh.
I'm not even mentally here enough to be bored.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Tough Enough
I'm trolling the facebooks and the ad on the side is for once is not wedding related. Instead, it's for some mud race. Now I get this type of race isn't just splashing through some mud puddles and hoping over a few fallen logs here and there. But the ad for it pissed me off, because it was presented like this:
Are you too tough for marathon running? How about 10+ miles of running through mud fire and obstacles?
Excuse me, but marathon running is not for the weak. (Look at me, I haven't even done one yet and I'm already defensive of it.) Getting dirty while running doesn't make you any tougher, it just means you get dirty. So my reaction to the ad was: hey asshole, running a marathon is dedication and discipline. Running through fire is stupidity.
Are you too tough for marathon running? How about 10+ miles of running through mud fire and obstacles?
Excuse me, but marathon running is not for the weak. (Look at me, I haven't even done one yet and I'm already defensive of it.) Getting dirty while running doesn't make you any tougher, it just means you get dirty. So my reaction to the ad was: hey asshole, running a marathon is dedication and discipline. Running through fire is stupidity.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Marathon Reality
I just signed up to run my first Marathon. November 5, 2011, Savannah, Ga. It's a Rock and Roll series race, so it should be a lot of fun.
Umm, yeah, I'm nervous. But hey, I'm going to do it!
So. Savannah, here I run!
Umm, yeah, I'm nervous. But hey, I'm going to do it!
So. Savannah, here I run!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Runner Crazy
Mike and I ran a 5K this morning and finished in 27:10. Which averages us at a few seconds over a 9 minute mile, woot! I ran it harder than I would have liked, but I think I did that because I knew it was only 3 miles. That's the pace that I wanted to do my half at, but I also know I couldn't keep the pace I ran this morning up for 13.1 miles. The day after my half I hurt. Which I fully expected considering how much I had hurt right after the race. But I realized when I woke up in the morning that I must block the hurting part out, because other wise I wouldn't keep doing these things! And, another part of it is that I get the runner crazy now.
My sister ran her 2nd marathon on a slight stress fracture. She went to a doctor who told her she couldn't do any more damage by running her marathon, and as long as she took 6 weeks off after the race she would be fine. So she decided to run it anyway. I thought she was nuts and asked her not to run. But she ran it, took the time off to heal after, and completed 4 more after that. (That's 6 total. Yeah, 6.)
I decided I'm going to do a marathon. (whether I do one fall '11 or spring '12 is still up in the air for the moment). But I am going to do one, and before I'm 30. I've been discussing my running schedule a bit with dr soc, and while he doesn't want me to do a marathon, he knows I'm going to do it anyway and will be my support staff day of. I told him about Amy's stress fracture and her running anyway, which freaked him out, and he turned to me and said: "promise me you won't do that."
And I couldn't answer him. Because I know now. If the doctor told me I wouldn't do any more damage and said I was good to go, you bet your ass I would run. I self diagnosed my shin splits and I still ran my 2 halves last year. Shin splits are not a stress fracture so not even the same thing. But I taped my legs, popped some pills and ran through the discomfort, because not running something I had been training for didn't even cross my mind.
The runner crazy is not something everyone gets. But once you do...good luck ever getting rid of it!
My sister ran her 2nd marathon on a slight stress fracture. She went to a doctor who told her she couldn't do any more damage by running her marathon, and as long as she took 6 weeks off after the race she would be fine. So she decided to run it anyway. I thought she was nuts and asked her not to run. But she ran it, took the time off to heal after, and completed 4 more after that. (That's 6 total. Yeah, 6.)
I decided I'm going to do a marathon. (whether I do one fall '11 or spring '12 is still up in the air for the moment). But I am going to do one, and before I'm 30. I've been discussing my running schedule a bit with dr soc, and while he doesn't want me to do a marathon, he knows I'm going to do it anyway and will be my support staff day of. I told him about Amy's stress fracture and her running anyway, which freaked him out, and he turned to me and said: "promise me you won't do that."
And I couldn't answer him. Because I know now. If the doctor told me I wouldn't do any more damage and said I was good to go, you bet your ass I would run. I self diagnosed my shin splits and I still ran my 2 halves last year. Shin splits are not a stress fracture so not even the same thing. But I taped my legs, popped some pills and ran through the discomfort, because not running something I had been training for didn't even cross my mind.
The runner crazy is not something everyone gets. But once you do...good luck ever getting rid of it!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Half Wrap Up
So, I just found out my results.......
2:05:00 on the dot! That's a 3 second improvement and I have a new best time!
So I didn't finish under 2 hours, but I'm super ok with that. My overall pace was a 9:35 mile, which is about right and what I figured since I knew I ran a 10 minute mile the first 3, a 9 minute mile the next 3, and then a 10 minute here, a 9 minute there.
We were literally trying to outrun the severe weather that was sweeping towards the east. The race day weather contingency plan was that the race would go on rain or shine, but if there was thunder and lightning the start would be delayed. If the delay lasted long enough so that the time span on the road closures ran out, the race would be shortened to a 10k. Fortunately, mother nature wasn't slated to throw a tantrum until 10 am, so most people would be finished or close to it by then. It's actually just starting to really storm this minute, so looks like all of us runners caught a break on that one.
Not that the weather was beautiful.. By no means did we have optimal running conditions. There were a few rain showers and some wind, which blew (oh! pun! hehe!), but it wasn't pouring the entire time so I didn't feel soaked, and I wasn't running head first into the wind all the time either.
This might be the worst shape my body has been in after a race though. I'm physically tired which is to be expected. But this is the first time I've gotten blisters on my feet. My 10 mile training run I got two small ones on both arches and they hadn't healed fully. So I re-irritated the area and now I have a big 'ol blood blister, but just on one, so phew. It's not pretty, but walking isn't an issue, so it should heal in time. My toes hurt a little but I expected that since that's status quo for me. However, my sports bra, which I've never had any problems with, decided it would choose today to chafe. So that's not the most pleasant feeling. My final post long run woe is my sentiments towards the training gels: Oh running gels, you are my running's friend but my intestine's foe. (I went with a carb boom this time, so it's mainly discomfort and not the feeling of my intestines being shredded)
But, hey, I just ran and finished my 5th half marathon. Fifth! I have a new best time! I'm still going to do a marathon next spring, and I'm ready for that. Go me!
2:05:00 on the dot! That's a 3 second improvement and I have a new best time!
So I didn't finish under 2 hours, but I'm super ok with that. My overall pace was a 9:35 mile, which is about right and what I figured since I knew I ran a 10 minute mile the first 3, a 9 minute mile the next 3, and then a 10 minute here, a 9 minute there.
We were literally trying to outrun the severe weather that was sweeping towards the east. The race day weather contingency plan was that the race would go on rain or shine, but if there was thunder and lightning the start would be delayed. If the delay lasted long enough so that the time span on the road closures ran out, the race would be shortened to a 10k. Fortunately, mother nature wasn't slated to throw a tantrum until 10 am, so most people would be finished or close to it by then. It's actually just starting to really storm this minute, so looks like all of us runners caught a break on that one.
Not that the weather was beautiful.. By no means did we have optimal running conditions. There were a few rain showers and some wind, which blew (oh! pun! hehe!), but it wasn't pouring the entire time so I didn't feel soaked, and I wasn't running head first into the wind all the time either.
action shot dr soc took of me a few seconds before I crossed the finish line
This might be the worst shape my body has been in after a race though. I'm physically tired which is to be expected. But this is the first time I've gotten blisters on my feet. My 10 mile training run I got two small ones on both arches and they hadn't healed fully. So I re-irritated the area and now I have a big 'ol blood blister, but just on one, so phew. It's not pretty, but walking isn't an issue, so it should heal in time. My toes hurt a little but I expected that since that's status quo for me. However, my sports bra, which I've never had any problems with, decided it would choose today to chafe. So that's not the most pleasant feeling. My final post long run woe is my sentiments towards the training gels: Oh running gels, you are my running's friend but my intestine's foe. (I went with a carb boom this time, so it's mainly discomfort and not the feeling of my intestines being shredded)
But, hey, I just ran and finished my 5th half marathon. Fifth! I have a new best time! I'm still going to do a marathon next spring, and I'm ready for that. Go me!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Oh, yeah...
In the midst awaiting my friends' new baby boy arrival (welcome little man!) and the bubble of tulle excitement of ring shopping, I don't remember if I mentioned that I'm running a half marathon tomorrow morning.
I've been training since January and I've had minimal pain and issues. Usually it was just due to me over doing something the day before or a clothes mishap. (You'd be surprised how often I get stuck in my sports bra.) Anyway, I'm hoping to take 5 minutes off my time and finish just under 2 hours. Totally doable, but we shall see!
So, yeah. About that: wish me luck!
I've been training since January and I've had minimal pain and issues. Usually it was just due to me over doing something the day before or a clothes mishap. (You'd be surprised how often I get stuck in my sports bra.) Anyway, I'm hoping to take 5 minutes off my time and finish just under 2 hours. Totally doable, but we shall see!
So, yeah. About that: wish me luck!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Mommy Dearest
I was talking w/my mom on the phone after my interview and I was telling her about the MIA printer cords. She completely understood the horror story daap flashbacks, but then I think went into mom mode and tried to fix the problem*.
mom: Well what kind of printer is it? What kind of cords do you need?
me: It's an hp something or other. I don't know the model number off hand. Mike has an hp as well but not the same model because we already tried to swap cords and his wouldn't fit my printer.
mom: Hmm. Ok, we'll I'll just bring all the cords we have here when we visit in a few weeks and maybe one of those it the right cord.
me: Mom! No, I can get a printer cord here, it's fine. And besides, why would we have spare hp cables laying around the house? (my dad used to work for Lexmark, and hp is a competitor. Talk about printing with the enemy.)
mom: Good point. Ok, yeah, you can fix this printer thing on your own.
--The conversation continues about something else and eventually turns back to the when they visit--
mom: We don't need to get a hotel do we?
me: No! I have a 5 bedroom house (yep), you even have your choice of room color, green or orange. And they both have a bathroom close. Why would you think that?
mom: I don't know. Anyway that's good.
--yadda yadda yadda--
mom: I'll also bring all yours and Amy's gel packets that are here.
me: I have those too. We have running stores here too. I went and got my supply for this spring.
mom: Ok well I'll bring them anyway.
me: Mom...do you think I live in the middle of nowhere? It's not impossible for me to get stuff.
mom: No, I don't think that... It's just....
me: It's ok mom. Bring the gels, I'll eventually use them and I know you don't, and they keep a while. This way you can stop hauling them around with you every time one of us runs a race.
mom: Oh good. I'm tired of doing that.
me: Ok, good. Amy and I can both get things where we live. Now you just have to stop buying them, ok?
mom: Yeah, I'm tired of that too.
me: see, problem solved.
* I love my mom and I think we have a pretty good respectful relationship as far as mother/daughters go. But you have to admit she's a little nuts! I blame the asian.**
** dr soc hates it when I pull the race card, especially if I refer my mom as a "crazy asian," Something about his social equality phd. I also think he fears/wonders if I'm going to go nuts like my mom. Let's face it the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Yet he's more than ok with our kids claiming asian/mixed on a scan-tron, especially if that means they get scholarship money. And besides, I think marrying a half asian (slightly crazy or not) gives him more street cred as a sociologist. So there!
mom: Well what kind of printer is it? What kind of cords do you need?
me: It's an hp something or other. I don't know the model number off hand. Mike has an hp as well but not the same model because we already tried to swap cords and his wouldn't fit my printer.
mom: Hmm. Ok, we'll I'll just bring all the cords we have here when we visit in a few weeks and maybe one of those it the right cord.
me: Mom! No, I can get a printer cord here, it's fine. And besides, why would we have spare hp cables laying around the house? (my dad used to work for Lexmark, and hp is a competitor. Talk about printing with the enemy.)
mom: Good point. Ok, yeah, you can fix this printer thing on your own.
--The conversation continues about something else and eventually turns back to the when they visit--
mom: We don't need to get a hotel do we?
me: No! I have a 5 bedroom house (yep), you even have your choice of room color, green or orange. And they both have a bathroom close. Why would you think that?
mom: I don't know. Anyway that's good.
--yadda yadda yadda--
mom: I'll also bring all yours and Amy's gel packets that are here.
me: I have those too. We have running stores here too. I went and got my supply for this spring.
mom: Ok well I'll bring them anyway.
me: Mom...do you think I live in the middle of nowhere? It's not impossible for me to get stuff.
mom: No, I don't think that... It's just....
me: It's ok mom. Bring the gels, I'll eventually use them and I know you don't, and they keep a while. This way you can stop hauling them around with you every time one of us runs a race.
mom: Oh good. I'm tired of doing that.
me: Ok, good. Amy and I can both get things where we live. Now you just have to stop buying them, ok?
mom: Yeah, I'm tired of that too.
me: see, problem solved.
* I love my mom and I think we have a pretty good respectful relationship as far as mother/daughters go. But you have to admit she's a little nuts! I blame the asian.**
** dr soc hates it when I pull the race card, especially if I refer my mom as a "crazy asian," Something about his social equality phd. I also think he fears/wonders if I'm going to go nuts like my mom. Let's face it the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Yet he's more than ok with our kids claiming asian/mixed on a scan-tron, especially if that means they get scholarship money. And besides, I think marrying a half asian (slightly crazy or not) gives him more street cred as a sociologist. So there!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Training Buddy
I am a runner. And when I was training for my first half marathon in 2008, I would take my puppy Bailey with me. (And you would be correct in assuming that my puppy was (and still is) a compleate chick magnet) She would run right behind me, staying close in Clifton traffic, and then, without fail, have to poop at 3 miles. How she knew I don't know. Anyway, running was a good way to get some of her energy out, which she has a lot of. More when she was a puppy. But then knee-gate happened, so I lost my 4-legged running buddy.
She hasn't run with me since.
Well, I need to run outside to train for my spring half. I need to walk my dogs (another blog on that battle for another day), and Bailey needs the exercise for every one's sanity. So I decided to try to run with her again. But just like I'm training and can't expect to do, let alone run, 13.1 miles just like that, I have to train my dog's body to run too. We did one of our normal walk paths so I knew she could at least handle the distance. She managed to keep up with me though, like I knew she would, but I wanted to ease her back into the running thing. (I did forget that Bailey runs behind me and needs a few pep talks here and there, otherwise she pulls me back.)
I barely broke a sweat but this run was not about me and my pace work. It was about getting my dog to run again. (and exhausting her in the process, not going to lie). And my Bailey girl worked it! In fact, she worked so hard, that when we got home and she did her post run spaz (I've never figured that out. She'll be exhausted, yet will literally bounce off the furniture and run up a wall if it's in her path the second her leash is off), she lapped up all the water, ran around Jules, and then threw up. Just like a human who's worked too hard throws up. It was only a little bit and most of it wasn't on the carpet so it wasn't as disgusting as it could have been.
She is tired, otherwise she would be at the back window barking her head off at the guys replanting the trees in the backyard area. Instead, she's curled up on the couch whining in their general direction.
So....success?
She hasn't run with me since.
Well, I need to run outside to train for my spring half. I need to walk my dogs (another blog on that battle for another day), and Bailey needs the exercise for every one's sanity. So I decided to try to run with her again. But just like I'm training and can't expect to do, let alone run, 13.1 miles just like that, I have to train my dog's body to run too. We did one of our normal walk paths so I knew she could at least handle the distance. She managed to keep up with me though, like I knew she would, but I wanted to ease her back into the running thing. (I did forget that Bailey runs behind me and needs a few pep talks here and there, otherwise she pulls me back.)
I barely broke a sweat but this run was not about me and my pace work. It was about getting my dog to run again. (and exhausting her in the process, not going to lie). And my Bailey girl worked it! In fact, she worked so hard, that when we got home and she did her post run spaz (I've never figured that out. She'll be exhausted, yet will literally bounce off the furniture and run up a wall if it's in her path the second her leash is off), she lapped up all the water, ran around Jules, and then threw up. Just like a human who's worked too hard throws up. It was only a little bit and most of it wasn't on the carpet so it wasn't as disgusting as it could have been.
She is tired, otherwise she would be at the back window barking her head off at the guys replanting the trees in the backyard area. Instead, she's curled up on the couch whining in their general direction.
So....success?
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