I have decided, five months after my victorious half marathon, that I am great at excuses.
I am good at the big excuses: I shouldn't run because I just had eye surgery, or I just finished a race (okay, the first is a reason, but I still didn't run, so it qualifies).
I am good at the little excuses: I'm tired, my apartment is warm and it's cold out there, I didn't eat right, I have to eat first, I'm busy and can't fit it in.
All sorts of little excuses that pile up into big lay-overs between races and getting fit for races. Now I should direct my attention and willpower (as little of it as there is sometimes) to overcoming these excuses.
It's hard to make excuses when I take my running gear to work. That helps because it's going to be the same length of time as the bus, I enjoy the scenery more, and I'm getting fit at the same time. Go me!
Now that I'm moving further away from work, I'm going to have to find new ways to avoid the usual excuses and 'reasons'.
What excuses have you come up with, or how have you overcome them?
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Victory is 2:28. So Far
I done it.
I done it ten minutes faster than last time.
To drop the (wherever) accent, I did the race weekend half-marathon in two hours and twenty eight minutes. Let me tell you, nothing is sweeter than thinking you'll never make it to the end line, finding the one thing in your head that will keep you going, and beating your realistic deadline.
As usual, here is what I learned from this race:
1. Run your own race. Don't run it with anyone. I started running the race with three wonderful running buddies from the running room. However, during the first half of the race, I had to depart their company and do my own thing. Why? Because I was achin'. They had done all the work deserving of a 2:15 finish, while I had already admitted that I did not. After 10k, I stopped playing catch-up, and was able to win on my own terms.
2. Find one thought that will keep you going. At around 7km, I struggled and panted and wasn't sure I'd even finish in 2:30, or at all, from how my knee was starting to ache. I reached deep, and thought of one thing past this race to strive for: Army. I had my army bracelet to touch and fondle, and that really kept me thinking that, if I didn't finish this, I couldn't reach far enough in me to even try the army. That, and my boyfriend: What would he think if I fell out half-way through? (realistically, I'm sure he'd know I stopped for good reasons, but my knee was the only thing hurting at that point, and I had tylenol on me)
3. Tylenol, despite what anyone else may say, is your friend while you're running a race like that. Take it with you.
4. No matter how dead you are, how dragging-the-feet you feel, you have enough for the end. Ever since about 8k to the end, I had been picking up my pace - swinging my arms faster, thinking of the sweet beer reward, making smaller goals of getting past the 2:30 bunny, all these tactics played a part in my getting ahead of my previous time. Even when I was dragging my butt at 3km out, I would still pick up my knees and keep moving. I made a conscious decision to save myself between 300m and 100m out, but when I saw that end line, and the time counting down, I decided I would not be ending anywhere after the strike of 2:30, and picked up my aching knees and thighs again to make it in. I may have felt like collapsing after I crossed the line, but damn if it didn't add to the euphoria of finishing before my deadline.
5. Again: have people at the endline. It doesn't even matter who, anymore. Even if your friends are waiting for you outside the running area, look for a familiar face. It's well worth hearing their own endtimes and tribulations and sharing your own.
6. Do the work: For all that I'm patting myself on the back, and knowing I was busy, I know my time would have been better if I'd done more of the work.
That's all for now... If I can think of more, I will add them in.
I done it ten minutes faster than last time.
To drop the (wherever) accent, I did the race weekend half-marathon in two hours and twenty eight minutes. Let me tell you, nothing is sweeter than thinking you'll never make it to the end line, finding the one thing in your head that will keep you going, and beating your realistic deadline.
As usual, here is what I learned from this race:
1. Run your own race. Don't run it with anyone. I started running the race with three wonderful running buddies from the running room. However, during the first half of the race, I had to depart their company and do my own thing. Why? Because I was achin'. They had done all the work deserving of a 2:15 finish, while I had already admitted that I did not. After 10k, I stopped playing catch-up, and was able to win on my own terms.
2. Find one thought that will keep you going. At around 7km, I struggled and panted and wasn't sure I'd even finish in 2:30, or at all, from how my knee was starting to ache. I reached deep, and thought of one thing past this race to strive for: Army. I had my army bracelet to touch and fondle, and that really kept me thinking that, if I didn't finish this, I couldn't reach far enough in me to even try the army. That, and my boyfriend: What would he think if I fell out half-way through? (realistically, I'm sure he'd know I stopped for good reasons, but my knee was the only thing hurting at that point, and I had tylenol on me)
3. Tylenol, despite what anyone else may say, is your friend while you're running a race like that. Take it with you.
4. No matter how dead you are, how dragging-the-feet you feel, you have enough for the end. Ever since about 8k to the end, I had been picking up my pace - swinging my arms faster, thinking of the sweet beer reward, making smaller goals of getting past the 2:30 bunny, all these tactics played a part in my getting ahead of my previous time. Even when I was dragging my butt at 3km out, I would still pick up my knees and keep moving. I made a conscious decision to save myself between 300m and 100m out, but when I saw that end line, and the time counting down, I decided I would not be ending anywhere after the strike of 2:30, and picked up my aching knees and thighs again to make it in. I may have felt like collapsing after I crossed the line, but damn if it didn't add to the euphoria of finishing before my deadline.
5. Again: have people at the endline. It doesn't even matter who, anymore. Even if your friends are waiting for you outside the running area, look for a familiar face. It's well worth hearing their own endtimes and tribulations and sharing your own.
6. Do the work: For all that I'm patting myself on the back, and knowing I was busy, I know my time would have been better if I'd done more of the work.
That's all for now... If I can think of more, I will add them in.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Gearing Up for the Second Half-Marathon
The heat is oppressive in Ottawa this week, with humidexes (humidexi?) of around 40C and not much relief in sight. This has a lot of runners on pins and needles because this coming weekend is the event we've been training for, the Ottawa Race Weekend. Running in the heat is little fun, but running the race in the heat is worse - we have to take extra precautions to not let ourselves get heat stroke, and we don't want to just call it off and go home like we could with another run.
I am excited to pick up my race kit tonight. I have a list of the other things I need: tylenol, for when my knees want to give out, GU gels for replenishing energy, energy beans cuz they're yummy, and water and gatorade. Maybe I'll redo my music playlist as well.
I'm trying to go through my last race experiences and remember what worked and what didn't: bring water, run the whole race course two weeks before (doing this really calmed my nerves about the hilly Gatineau portion), and hydrate before the run. Have fun, be proud of yourself, and reward yourself afterwards!
Despite recent upheavals at work, I will be taking the following Monday off, and I do plan to spend it in a cold bath.
In other news, the morning thing hasn't worked out as well as I'd hoped - I still like sleeping in. However, I have discovered that running home has psychological interest as well - I'm 'running away from work' as well as getting my work-out done so I can rest easily.
Take that, brain!
I am excited to pick up my race kit tonight. I have a list of the other things I need: tylenol, for when my knees want to give out, GU gels for replenishing energy, energy beans cuz they're yummy, and water and gatorade. Maybe I'll redo my music playlist as well.
I'm trying to go through my last race experiences and remember what worked and what didn't: bring water, run the whole race course two weeks before (doing this really calmed my nerves about the hilly Gatineau portion), and hydrate before the run. Have fun, be proud of yourself, and reward yourself afterwards!
Despite recent upheavals at work, I will be taking the following Monday off, and I do plan to spend it in a cold bath.
In other news, the morning thing hasn't worked out as well as I'd hoped - I still like sleeping in. However, I have discovered that running home has psychological interest as well - I'm 'running away from work' as well as getting my work-out done so I can rest easily.
Take that, brain!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Morning Running
I hesitate to write about this, because whenever I start writing about running, I tend to stop both running and writing.
I have had trouble recently having the energy and willpower to get out and running. When I get home from work, I have only enough energy to stumble to my couch, lie down, and stare at MST3K for at least an hour. This leads to being hungry, hungry leads to eating, eating leads to not wanting to go out and run... It's a vicious, lazy cycle.
However, I am having trouble sleeping in past 5am, because the sun is coming up and my curtains let in a lot of light. Usually, this leads to me rolling over, burying my head under blankets, and thinking, "Please oh please, just another hour."
Today, I capitalized on the situation, and rousted myself at 5am to go run. I had thought I would be starving or my muscles would be tight, or I would lose interest and head home.
Getting out was a bit cool at 4C, but once I started running, it was just fine. I was dressed almost too warmly, but in the end, a long-sleeve shirt, my running coat, and winter running pants were perfect.
Man, I can't tell you how lovely it was to be out there in the relative quiet, running beside the Ottawa river, listening to the sound of the birds greeting the morning, and watching the sun lighten the sky gently. There weren't many other runners out and I didn't have my music, but the scenery kept my attention well enough for 5km.
On the downside, my left calf started to cramp partway and my right Achilles tendon was stiff, so perhaps more stretching is needed, or it might just be how it goes when you get up and go straight to running.
I think I'd like to do more of this.
In other news, I think I recognize a paralympian on TV as someone who lives in my building. Squee!
I have had trouble recently having the energy and willpower to get out and running. When I get home from work, I have only enough energy to stumble to my couch, lie down, and stare at MST3K for at least an hour. This leads to being hungry, hungry leads to eating, eating leads to not wanting to go out and run... It's a vicious, lazy cycle.
However, I am having trouble sleeping in past 5am, because the sun is coming up and my curtains let in a lot of light. Usually, this leads to me rolling over, burying my head under blankets, and thinking, "Please oh please, just another hour."
Today, I capitalized on the situation, and rousted myself at 5am to go run. I had thought I would be starving or my muscles would be tight, or I would lose interest and head home.
Getting out was a bit cool at 4C, but once I started running, it was just fine. I was dressed almost too warmly, but in the end, a long-sleeve shirt, my running coat, and winter running pants were perfect.
Man, I can't tell you how lovely it was to be out there in the relative quiet, running beside the Ottawa river, listening to the sound of the birds greeting the morning, and watching the sun lighten the sky gently. There weren't many other runners out and I didn't have my music, but the scenery kept my attention well enough for 5km.
On the downside, my left calf started to cramp partway and my right Achilles tendon was stiff, so perhaps more stretching is needed, or it might just be how it goes when you get up and go straight to running.
I think I'd like to do more of this.
In other news, I think I recognize a paralympian on TV as someone who lives in my building. Squee!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Teh Sick Sucks
I took a week's break from running after I got home, finally lacing up on Sunday for the first of two 9k run. I felt pretty good until the last kilometer, when my knees started to wobble a bit.
Then I went out last night. Maybe I didn't dress up warmly enough (the weather is getting better, so I'm having to rethink my clothing strategy), but I came home from a knee-bruising tempo run (which reminds me, I'll have to make an appointment with my AT), made dinner and sat down to eat it... and I could feel the sick settling into my head. Really, it descended like a heavy fog.
So now I am home sick, and looking for any running magazine that mentions anything on running when you're sick.
Then I went out last night. Maybe I didn't dress up warmly enough (the weather is getting better, so I'm having to rethink my clothing strategy), but I came home from a knee-bruising tempo run (which reminds me, I'll have to make an appointment with my AT), made dinner and sat down to eat it... and I could feel the sick settling into my head. Really, it descended like a heavy fog.
So now I am home sick, and looking for any running magazine that mentions anything on running when you're sick.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Running in the Hometown
I'm back in Alberta this week. As always, running in the drier climate, with more packed snow is frustrating.
I went for a brief run with my sister yesterday; my first since I'd landed on Monday. While I had no fear that she was faster than me, I was worried by a few things.
First, the air is drier in Alberta than in Ontario, and thinner because of elevation. That means less oxygen getting to my muscles, and a constant thirst.
Also, the snow packed on the sidewalks made running more of an effort, because I would start to slip a little as I pulled my foot from the pave... er, snow. That means more effort expended in balance as well.
Lastly, my shoes were reaching their replace-by date, as I have had them since before my race in September. I had kept them going this long because Alberta has 0% provincial sales tax (PST), so the only tax was the 5% goods and sales tax, as opposed to Ontario, where the PST is 7%. In any case, I was definitely feeling my legs and knees ache for the past few runs, and decided it was time for a new pair.
Remember: Even if you aren't using your running shoes, the foam in them will degrade over time, so storing them for years in a closet will not keep them fresh and new!
So I stopped by the local Running Room this morning and got a new pair. I found a pair of Glycerin 6! The Glycerin 6 was my first pair of running shoes, and when I bumped up to a Glycerin 7, I learned a harsh and expensive lesson about using new shoes on a treadmill first.
Today, my sister and I will be going to the new fitness centre in our hometown to try out these new shoes, and hopefully not make the mistake I made the first time 'round.
I am lucky that I came home during a week of relatively nice weather; the forecast hovers around a high of 0C. Apparently the day after I leave, the mercury drops dramatically. Lucky me!
In other news, I am signed up for the St. Patrick's Day 5k run on March 13. It sounds like a fun run to do, as there are prizes for best costume, dry-fit shirts, and I know someone else who is running that race. It's about two kilometers longer than I'm supposed to run that day, but it's all in good fun.
I went for a brief run with my sister yesterday; my first since I'd landed on Monday. While I had no fear that she was faster than me, I was worried by a few things.
First, the air is drier in Alberta than in Ontario, and thinner because of elevation. That means less oxygen getting to my muscles, and a constant thirst.
Also, the snow packed on the sidewalks made running more of an effort, because I would start to slip a little as I pulled my foot from the pave... er, snow. That means more effort expended in balance as well.
Lastly, my shoes were reaching their replace-by date, as I have had them since before my race in September. I had kept them going this long because Alberta has 0% provincial sales tax (PST), so the only tax was the 5% goods and sales tax, as opposed to Ontario, where the PST is 7%. In any case, I was definitely feeling my legs and knees ache for the past few runs, and decided it was time for a new pair.
Remember: Even if you aren't using your running shoes, the foam in them will degrade over time, so storing them for years in a closet will not keep them fresh and new!
So I stopped by the local Running Room this morning and got a new pair. I found a pair of Glycerin 6! The Glycerin 6 was my first pair of running shoes, and when I bumped up to a Glycerin 7, I learned a harsh and expensive lesson about using new shoes on a treadmill first.
Today, my sister and I will be going to the new fitness centre in our hometown to try out these new shoes, and hopefully not make the mistake I made the first time 'round.
I am lucky that I came home during a week of relatively nice weather; the forecast hovers around a high of 0C. Apparently the day after I leave, the mercury drops dramatically. Lucky me!
In other news, I am signed up for the St. Patrick's Day 5k run on March 13. It sounds like a fun run to do, as there are prizes for best costume, dry-fit shirts, and I know someone else who is running that race. It's about two kilometers longer than I'm supposed to run that day, but it's all in good fun.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Yay for the Running Room!
I would like to thank the people of the Bank St. Running Room store for caring for my Garmin watch while it was missing. They hid it from prying eyes, asked who it might belong to, and cosseted it while it was alone.
Long story short, I thought I'd put my Garmin watch in my bag three weeks ago, when I apparently hadn't. The Running Room staff found it, and put out the word that a precious (and runners consider their running watches very precious) Garmin watch was missing its owner, and they couldn't understand why the owner hadn't claimed it in three weeks! However, most of my running had been indoors, and I figured it was somewhere around the house (as I usually do). Fortunately, my Garmin and I are gladly reunited, and I won't have to spend $200 in Alberta for a new one!
The run today was a long, slow 7k of wondering if I was going to finish the route. My legs were tight, and it was -14C, with a windchill to -20C, so I bundled up in four layers: a skin-tight layer, my long-sleeve half-marathon wicking shirt (for inspiration), my 'warm' layer, and the wind-breaking coat. It did the job of keeping me temperate, but I was concerned when the wind would pick up and I'd feel the chill through my entire body.
On bottom, I wore my usual outdoor running pants, but I have found that all of my regular running socks don't cover my ankles, leaving a gap where cold wind can blow and freeze my skin.
So in light of the deficiencies in my garb, I have gone and spent another sheaf of money at the Running Room, investing in a warmer winter mid-layer which can double as an early spring/late fall layer, a pair of socks that cover my ankles, and a cute pair of evaporating running gloves. All ready to hit the roads in Alberta when I go home next week!
I have discovered a slight issue with SparkPeople's nutrition and fitness plan: if I were to try and follow it while training for a half-marathon, I would fall over in exhaustion. The problem is that runners need to consume a lot more calories than SparkPeople is advising. I am thinking that I will consider the SP advice on days that I am not running, and use good sense on the days that I am.
However, tonight's meal regime is a bust: it's Superbowl night.
Long story short, I thought I'd put my Garmin watch in my bag three weeks ago, when I apparently hadn't. The Running Room staff found it, and put out the word that a precious (and runners consider their running watches very precious) Garmin watch was missing its owner, and they couldn't understand why the owner hadn't claimed it in three weeks! However, most of my running had been indoors, and I figured it was somewhere around the house (as I usually do). Fortunately, my Garmin and I are gladly reunited, and I won't have to spend $200 in Alberta for a new one!
The run today was a long, slow 7k of wondering if I was going to finish the route. My legs were tight, and it was -14C, with a windchill to -20C, so I bundled up in four layers: a skin-tight layer, my long-sleeve half-marathon wicking shirt (for inspiration), my 'warm' layer, and the wind-breaking coat. It did the job of keeping me temperate, but I was concerned when the wind would pick up and I'd feel the chill through my entire body.
On bottom, I wore my usual outdoor running pants, but I have found that all of my regular running socks don't cover my ankles, leaving a gap where cold wind can blow and freeze my skin.
So in light of the deficiencies in my garb, I have gone and spent another sheaf of money at the Running Room, investing in a warmer winter mid-layer which can double as an early spring/late fall layer, a pair of socks that cover my ankles, and a cute pair of evaporating running gloves. All ready to hit the roads in Alberta when I go home next week!
I have discovered a slight issue with SparkPeople's nutrition and fitness plan: if I were to try and follow it while training for a half-marathon, I would fall over in exhaustion. The problem is that runners need to consume a lot more calories than SparkPeople is advising. I am thinking that I will consider the SP advice on days that I am not running, and use good sense on the days that I am.
However, tonight's meal regime is a bust: it's Superbowl night.
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