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Me. That’s who. Sillies! Who else would I be?
My two races for this year are:
May 4, 2008 Heels & Hills Half Marathon
November 2, 2008 New York City Marathon
I’ve deferred the NYC race 2 years now…that’s close to $300 in registration & processing fees down the tube. I’m NOT deferring another year. In my most fabulous year of 2005, I had a new motto. No more excuses. Somewhere along the way I kind of forgot that. I made lots of excuses and bought some new pants as a result. I still have those ‘skinnier’ pants in my closet, hanging in the back, mocking my thighs. Shirts I can’t wear because the girls have gotten a bit hefty.
I made effort over the holidays, going to the gym 5 times in the two weeks I was off (5/14 ratio…not too bad for a heretofore slacker). I have my shuffle packed with high-energy songs, and even Nick has remarked how I’m a different (read: better) person after I’ve run.
I’m not going to try to keep a food journal just yet. That’s too tough to update multiple times per day. I’m also not going to reveal my current weight, because frankly, I am deeply ashamed. But I will keep a running total of weight lost per week, as well as exercise totals daily, with a weekly recap. I have my trusty Excel spreadsheet with formulas, calculations, etc. all ready and waiting to go. Based on the training plan I will follow, I will run over 1,000 miles this year in traning for both of these race. *baby steps baby steps baby steps* Gotta start somewhere, right!
Catching up for yesterday:
Gym: 15 minutes on treadmill warm up, 60 minute step/kickboxing/abs class. (Yes, I am sore today.)
Weight: -0
Miles to Date: 4
Daily Kick in the Butt: Even if you fall flat on your face at least you are moving foward. -Sue Luke
“You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can’t know what’s coming.”
Frank Shorter, 1972 Olympic Marathon Champion
Tonight I finally ran the entire workout. Well, did a 5:1 run for 25 minutes with 4×1 minute pickups. And the pace reflected the running and the picking up. My legs did cramp a little, but it wasn’t bad enough to make me stop.
I definitely felt the pace. I did briefly feel that I was going to throw up. I still have never puked because of running. But what doesn’t kill you make you puke only makes you stronger. Tonight’s total average pace was 13:22. More than one full minute faster than previous average paces. Average running pace was 12:44. I love my Garmin (rockin’ it old school with the 201) and all the little breakdowns it can do. I still don’t take advantage of all the features, but I’m learning.
“Hunker down, keep your eyes fixed ahead, and run like hell.”
Paul Spangler, runner who set 85 national age-group records
At what point did I think 2 miles was going to be a long distance to run? Two years ago, I would have been ‘Pshaw! 2 miles! That’s nothing!’. Now I’m thinking “Woo Hoo! I ran 2 miles!
That’s what I did last night. We went to the Cooper Aerobics Center for a presentation, and so we did our run at 6:15 pm instead of 7 pm. There’s a track that winds around the facility. For some reason, I was the only one from my group that showed up on time (one girl came later for the presentation), so I had my coach all to myself. I hope he wasn’t too frustrated with me. Except for last Thursday’s run which was a really good run for me, I’ve been having a horrible time with my calves cramping up and my ankles hurting. It’s probably the extra weight I have on my ass, which, despite working out and eating better, doesn’t seem to be budging. Hellooo…fat butt go away! I don’t like you and don’t want you anymore. Buh bye.
My frustration last night almost led to tears, but I didn’t think my coach would appreciate it. It also makes today’s Daily Kick in the Butt more fortuitous.
“In running, it doesn’t matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack or last. You can say, ‘I have finished.’ There is a lot of satisfaction in that.”
Fred Lebow, Romanian, racing pioneer in American and abroad
So, as good as last Thursday’s run was, last night wasn’t so great. My calves were taut, and not in a good way. I tried to push through it, but my legs felt like lead. And to top it off, when I got home, I got all dizzy and sick feeling. I haven’t felt the room spin in a good long while, and I can do without that feeling for a good long while more.
Marathoning can be dangerous. Proper nutrition is essential, and should be as much a part of the training as running.
“No doubt a brain and some shoes are essential for marathon success, although if it comes down to a choice, pick the shoes. More people finish marathons with no brains than with no shoes.”
Don Kardong, 1976 Olympic marathoner
Tonight we added 5-30 second pick-ups to our 20 minute run. It was the last scheduled 20 minute run of the class. We actually ended up doing 25 minutes. Instead of running on the street, we ran on the track. My Garmin croaked, so I don’t have an accurate count of the number of miles we did, but based on our previous pace and the increased pace tonight, I think we did about 1.8 miles.
On Monday night, my legs were hurting from my ankles about up to mid-calf. Tonight during the first part of the run, they got sore again. Then, when we started the pick-ups on the track and I ran faster, they didn’t hurt as much! That’s a strange solution…run faster. Whatever works…
“If you race merely for the tributes from others, you will be at the mercy of their expectations.”
Scott Tinley, triathlete and author
“Sweat cleanses from the inside. It comes from places a shower will never reach.”
Dr. George Sheehan, writer and philosopher
I went to my runnng class again tonight. A 20 minute run, probably about the same distance as last Thursday. But I hurt. From my ankles to the middle of my shins was cramping and stiff. So I stretched during and afterwards. I know it’s all due to building back up to a level of activity. So I just have to keep at it, building up strength.
My foot still hurts. I can’t decide if it’s strain or something else. Some days it feels better than others. In fact, this morning I thought “Wow, it’s really feeling better.” We’ll see how it feels tomorrow after tonight’s run.
Several people I know ran the Boston Marathon today. Despite weather conditions, they all did very well. Great job!
Quote Today:
“I just run as hard as I can for 20 miles, and then race.”
Steve Jones, (when asked about his race plan, after he had won the “Chicago Marathon” in the then world’s best time)
That’s my group. Several nice ladies are in my group. Last night we did a 20 minute run, 4:1 (run 4, walk 1). We’ll build up our running time each week. Our average pace was 15:42. My foot hurt like hell when I got home. I iced it down and it feels somewhat better this morning.
“Perseverance: is not a long race; it is many short races one after another.”
Walter Elliott, Catholic priest
“Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years that they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance is merely the demonstration of their championship character.”
T. Alan Armstrong
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”
— Steve Prefontaine
Destination Unknown 
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