As previously mentioned, I took four days off running and visited New York for a college friend's surprise birthday party/to hang out with Boulos. There was a LOT of drinking during those four days, which led to me buying a pack of cigarettes and smoking nearly the whole thing. Obviously, my return to running on Monday was full of hacking.
I planned to run about five times around the running path on Monday, which I think I accomplished, but I had to stop and walk twice. Smoking is bad for you, kids. Today, I ran about 3.1 miles around my neighborhood (the 5k I'd mapped, though I ran farther this time and the damn map STILL tells me that I only ran 3.09 miles). With only about 6 minutes left, I had to stop and walk due to a cramp -- but I did better today. I plan to do sprints on Friday. I'm loving the sprints but I made the mistake of doing them twice in a row last week and my legs were KILLING me. However, I seem to have quickly shed a couple pounds around that time, so I'm going to keep them in the rotation.
It's really funny, but every time I take a few days off or smoke, I feel certain I am going to fail at my next run. Not, like, have to walk for awhile, but somehow wind up on the ground in agony, unable to move, halfway through. Maybe if I keep running for a year or so, I'll consider myself a runner. Ha.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Homebody
Just to make sure you all don't think I've fallen off the face of the earth, here I am. I have not run for a while now, which is unfortunate, as I'd finally jumped the hurdle that was week 4, but alas, the blizzard we had was immediately followed by a two and a half week bout with sickness, lame. I'm on antibiotics, and getting rather restless, so I decided I had to do something tonight! I did some yoga which made me feel a lot better.
I have a HUGE weekend ahead of me, since Amanda will be here, and we have all sorts of fun times plans! So, I am going to stick with the yoga to get myself moving again, and hopefully prevent me from actual injury when I head back to the gym next week. It's going to be tough to decide where to pick up, it's been so long, not sure I can jump in to week 5, but I might. I am hoping to do some more outside workouts now too, since it's getting to be SO beautiful out! So, don't worry, I haven't given up! I will keep moving, and sticking to what feels right, and what stays fun!
I have a HUGE weekend ahead of me, since Amanda will be here, and we have all sorts of fun times plans! So, I am going to stick with the yoga to get myself moving again, and hopefully prevent me from actual injury when I head back to the gym next week. It's going to be tough to decide where to pick up, it's been so long, not sure I can jump in to week 5, but I might. I am hoping to do some more outside workouts now too, since it's getting to be SO beautiful out! So, don't worry, I haven't given up! I will keep moving, and sticking to what feels right, and what stays fun!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Update on Post-Program Activities
So on Friday, I had to run. I was planning to drink all day on Saturday so that wasn't going to happen, and I figured I'd feel like poop on Sunday. However, I had to make a few stops on the way home and I wound up not running til about 9 pm. I was kind of frazzled by this but it actually turned out really well because I did not want to run in the (rather secluded) park, so I decided to try a route that is roughly 5k and consists almost entirely of busy streets. I'd seen it suggested on a running site, though oddly it had been removed so I had to re-map it myself.
And I did it in about 34 minutes! Woo! It was a good run.
I took the weekend off for the drinking and the recovery, and today I decided to try interval training, or sprints. I downloaded a podcast that I found via Google and basically did 10 sets of a 30 second sprint followed by a 90 second recovery walk/jog (I did walks for about 1/3 of them and jogged slowly for about 2/3). It was really fun! I think I'm definitely going to be doing these often because time just passes more quickly during them, plus I really like running at a speed closer to "full speed." Unfortunately the podcasts consist of bad house music. I may have to just make up my own interval type training somehow, eventually. After the 20 minutes of intervals (plus the warm-up), I ran a bit more to make it five times around the track and thus about three miles again.
So far, so good! I haven't been slacking off. Although I plan to take off 4 days this weekend (Thursday through Sunday) because I will be in New York with Boulos, eating and drinking and being lazy. Vacation!
And I did it in about 34 minutes! Woo! It was a good run.
I took the weekend off for the drinking and the recovery, and today I decided to try interval training, or sprints. I downloaded a podcast that I found via Google and basically did 10 sets of a 30 second sprint followed by a 90 second recovery walk/jog (I did walks for about 1/3 of them and jogged slowly for about 2/3). It was really fun! I think I'm definitely going to be doing these often because time just passes more quickly during them, plus I really like running at a speed closer to "full speed." Unfortunately the podcasts consist of bad house music. I may have to just make up my own interval type training somehow, eventually. After the 20 minutes of intervals (plus the warm-up), I ran a bit more to make it five times around the track and thus about three miles again.
So far, so good! I haven't been slacking off. Although I plan to take off 4 days this weekend (Thursday through Sunday) because I will be in New York with Boulos, eating and drinking and being lazy. Vacation!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
First Post-Program Run
So, today I set out with my sister -- who I think I will call The Machine from now on, as this was her second cardio workout of the day on apparently super-achy legs due to some moves she did yesterday, plus it was supposed to be "low-impact" and my pace kept her heart rate perfect for that. I'm sure my heart rate was a lot higher (I hope). She joined me for 20 minutes and then ran home while I completed my last ten.
First of all, it is BEAUTIFUL outside today. It was nearly 60 degrees F here! I think that's like 23 degrees higher than my last run on Monday. I don't even have appropriate clothes for this; I have to get like capri yoga pants and a long-sleeved Tshirt or two. I wore a hoodie that was probably a little too warm.
I decided to run to an '80s mix I made for week 8, which means that after the 5 minute warm-up, it was only 28 minutes long. I thought I'd just run for 2 minutes of the cool-down song and then segue into another song while I actually cooled down.
The thought, "Hey, I've completed the program, I don't need to run the full 30 minutes" totally crossed my mind. But luckily I was able to answer that with, "Um, how about you prove that you can do it?" I was running on the same sidewalks as I normally do in order to keep track of distance, but once my time gets a little better, I need to move on. The same run again and again is BORING. So I got near the end and was on the cool down song. Then I decided I wanted to beat my best distance, so I ran that 2.99 or so. But I still had about a minute and a half left on the song, and I decided, hey maybe I can actually run 5k tonight. I ran for the whole song and made either 3.08 or 3.1 (an actual 5k!!), this running map doesn't quite let you zoom in enough to be sure. So basically, I ran a 5k in about 32:30! YAY!!!!!!
First of all, it is BEAUTIFUL outside today. It was nearly 60 degrees F here! I think that's like 23 degrees higher than my last run on Monday. I don't even have appropriate clothes for this; I have to get like capri yoga pants and a long-sleeved Tshirt or two. I wore a hoodie that was probably a little too warm.
I decided to run to an '80s mix I made for week 8, which means that after the 5 minute warm-up, it was only 28 minutes long. I thought I'd just run for 2 minutes of the cool-down song and then segue into another song while I actually cooled down.
The thought, "Hey, I've completed the program, I don't need to run the full 30 minutes" totally crossed my mind. But luckily I was able to answer that with, "Um, how about you prove that you can do it?" I was running on the same sidewalks as I normally do in order to keep track of distance, but once my time gets a little better, I need to move on. The same run again and again is BORING. So I got near the end and was on the cool down song. Then I decided I wanted to beat my best distance, so I ran that 2.99 or so. But I still had about a minute and a half left on the song, and I decided, hey maybe I can actually run 5k tonight. I ran for the whole song and made either 3.08 or 3.1 (an actual 5k!!), this running map doesn't quite let you zoom in enough to be sure. So basically, I ran a 5k in about 32:30! YAY!!!!!!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
C25K COMPLETE!!!!!!!!!
Well, I've finished the program! I managed to make it through today's run, making it a full 3-run week! Almost exactly 13 weeks after beginning this (tomorrow would be exactly 13). Haha, 9-week program. But given my struggles with week 7, I'm kind of surprised it's only been 13 weeks!
This run was not the smooth, excellent run of Saturday. My legs were useless again at the end and I made it 2.84 miles, not my best.
Oh well. I have to double check when the Cheetah Run 2010: Save Chester 5k is, but I think I have about a month. I should register for that soon. My sister suggested integrating sprints, which sounds interesting but is a concept I need to figure out (how long the sprints should be/how long the walks in between should be, blah blah). I'm thinking I'll do two 30-minute runs a week with a day of sprints in between. And I'm only using my own playlists from now on. I love Carli, but I am SO OVER the week 9 podcast. Although I want to download "Fighter" by Christina Aguilera, that song is awesome.
Well, I plan to still write here, maybe not after every run, but I'll be seeing you around here!
This run was not the smooth, excellent run of Saturday. My legs were useless again at the end and I made it 2.84 miles, not my best.
Oh well. I have to double check when the Cheetah Run 2010: Save Chester 5k is, but I think I have about a month. I should register for that soon. My sister suggested integrating sprints, which sounds interesting but is a concept I need to figure out (how long the sprints should be/how long the walks in between should be, blah blah). I'm thinking I'll do two 30-minute runs a week with a day of sprints in between. And I'm only using my own playlists from now on. I love Carli, but I am SO OVER the week 9 podcast. Although I want to download "Fighter" by Christina Aguilera, that song is awesome.
Well, I plan to still write here, maybe not after every run, but I'll be seeing you around here!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Watch Out, Week 9. You're Going Down!
At last, I do not feel like a decrepit, old, out of shape loser after a run! My legs feel good (well, slightly achy but nowhere NEAR Thursday) and I feel great. And I made it further than last time (well, my playlist was about 30:30, but remember that I added 30 seconds to my last run anyway).
I don't know if it was the cold, PMS/start of my period, lack of sleep, too much food/alcohol and not enough exercise last weekend, the temperature... wow, there are so many variables. All I know is that I still have a bit of a cold, but I had to blow my nose less during this run, probably because I just got back at about 8:45 and it is 37 degrees out there! I didn't have to put my hood up at all during this run, it was great. Also, I slept really late today so I caught up on some zzzzs.
The run itself was pretty fantastic. I think I worked on my pace a little better -- didn't start off too fast and paid attention, slowing down anytime I felt out of breath or like I was starting to get tired. I think the run ended up more evenly paced. I also adore the mix I ran to -- it's all lady singers and some of my favorite songs. So that helped.
I just mapped my route and it looks like I made it 2.99 miles in 30 minutes and 30 seconds. Not too shabby! Wow, if I complete this cheetah 5k in 30 minutes or less, that would be awesome. I guess that's my new goal for March -- complete week 9 on Monday (fingers crossed, but I feel really good about this) and work up to 3.1 miles in 30 minutes.
I don't know if it was the cold, PMS/start of my period, lack of sleep, too much food/alcohol and not enough exercise last weekend, the temperature... wow, there are so many variables. All I know is that I still have a bit of a cold, but I had to blow my nose less during this run, probably because I just got back at about 8:45 and it is 37 degrees out there! I didn't have to put my hood up at all during this run, it was great. Also, I slept really late today so I caught up on some zzzzs.
The run itself was pretty fantastic. I think I worked on my pace a little better -- didn't start off too fast and paid attention, slowing down anytime I felt out of breath or like I was starting to get tired. I think the run ended up more evenly paced. I also adore the mix I ran to -- it's all lady singers and some of my favorite songs. So that helped.
I just mapped my route and it looks like I made it 2.99 miles in 30 minutes and 30 seconds. Not too shabby! Wow, if I complete this cheetah 5k in 30 minutes or less, that would be awesome. I guess that's my new goal for March -- complete week 9 on Monday (fingers crossed, but I feel really good about this) and work up to 3.1 miles in 30 minutes.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Week 9 Redux, Day 1: Feels Like the First Time, Feels Like the Very First Time
I hope the crude title offends no one (I am not talking about Week 1 Day 1 when I refer to the first time). But I just got back from starting off my second take on Week 9 and OUCH. Oh my god. I actually LIMPED half the way home. The cherry on top of that shitty sundae was the skinny bitch who ran very speedily right by me while I dragged my left leg behind me, obviously an hour into her run and moving at a pace about 5x what I manage to pull off at my fastest. I hate her. (Also she nearly killed herself darting into traffic when she got the no walk sign because she just couldn't slow down. F YOU FAST RUNNING GIRL.)
Okay. I'm not actually in that shitty a mood, but seriously my legs hurt so badly. I extended my cool down walk by an extra four minutes so that I could sit down without collapsing, crying, giving up on life and begging my dog to end it all for me. My calves, my shins, my left foot and my hamstrings all ache. My left side hurts about ten times worse than my right -- which is usual for me and probably an indication that my form is bad, I'd guess. However, I would like to point out that my quads do not hurt, and that I was babysitting and wearing leggings yesterday and the kid decided he wanted to lay on my lower legs so I could raise them and make him "fly," you know -- that move. And when I lifted my legs with him on my calves, I could see my quads clearly defined through my leggings. I am officially hot shit. Maybe not as hot as running girl whose dust I ate, but still pretty hot.
Tonight, I decided to run to my own mix. I love Carli, but one week of the Week 9 podcast has been enough for me. Plus I had this intense plan to psych myself out -- new music with no clearly defined midpoint, and I began my running route kind of backwards so I couldn't keep such intense track of how much distance I still had.
This worked, kind of. Still, at about the same point I had to walk during my last run -- I could vaguely keep track of about where I was -- I got stomach cramps, leg aches, etc. I had to slow down to probably my slowest "running" pace yet. I looked like the old folks who speedwalk in malls before the stores open, but with a tiny extra hop to each step. Frankly, it was embarrassing. However, I never actually slowed to a walk. When the cramps disappeared and my breathing felt more under control, I forced myself to speed up gradually. Then one of my favorite upbeat songs came on (I timed that one incredibly -- btw it was "This Modern Love" by Bloc Party) and I knew I could make it to the end. At 30 minutes, I wound up with one short block left to match my distance from 2 runs ago. I ran an extra 52 seconds to meet the distance. Given the way my legs feel, on Saturday I will be stopping at exactly 30 minutes regardless of distance.
I hope that walking my dog later helps work out this soreness. I need a personal masseuse if I am going to keep with running. At least until I'm in better shape. Is getting in shape worth this? Are the cheetahs worth this? I honestly don't know. I'm gonna guess that not feeling like an out of shape asshole is worth this.
Okay. I'm not actually in that shitty a mood, but seriously my legs hurt so badly. I extended my cool down walk by an extra four minutes so that I could sit down without collapsing, crying, giving up on life and begging my dog to end it all for me. My calves, my shins, my left foot and my hamstrings all ache. My left side hurts about ten times worse than my right -- which is usual for me and probably an indication that my form is bad, I'd guess. However, I would like to point out that my quads do not hurt, and that I was babysitting and wearing leggings yesterday and the kid decided he wanted to lay on my lower legs so I could raise them and make him "fly," you know -- that move. And when I lifted my legs with him on my calves, I could see my quads clearly defined through my leggings. I am officially hot shit. Maybe not as hot as running girl whose dust I ate, but still pretty hot.
Tonight, I decided to run to my own mix. I love Carli, but one week of the Week 9 podcast has been enough for me. Plus I had this intense plan to psych myself out -- new music with no clearly defined midpoint, and I began my running route kind of backwards so I couldn't keep such intense track of how much distance I still had.
This worked, kind of. Still, at about the same point I had to walk during my last run -- I could vaguely keep track of about where I was -- I got stomach cramps, leg aches, etc. I had to slow down to probably my slowest "running" pace yet. I looked like the old folks who speedwalk in malls before the stores open, but with a tiny extra hop to each step. Frankly, it was embarrassing. However, I never actually slowed to a walk. When the cramps disappeared and my breathing felt more under control, I forced myself to speed up gradually. Then one of my favorite upbeat songs came on (I timed that one incredibly -- btw it was "This Modern Love" by Bloc Party) and I knew I could make it to the end. At 30 minutes, I wound up with one short block left to match my distance from 2 runs ago. I ran an extra 52 seconds to meet the distance. Given the way my legs feel, on Saturday I will be stopping at exactly 30 minutes regardless of distance.
I hope that walking my dog later helps work out this soreness. I need a personal masseuse if I am going to keep with running. At least until I'm in better shape. Is getting in shape worth this? Are the cheetahs worth this? I honestly don't know. I'm gonna guess that not feeling like an out of shape asshole is worth this.
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