I wanted to run yesterday because of the amazing Indian Summer weather we've been having (low 70s and sunny when in November it can be 45 degrees with a bone-chilling rain), but I started to feel nauseous during the work day and it didn't let up when I got home. I tried lying down for 30 minutes, but the half-hour turned into almost 3 hours of sound sleep.
I got myself to the office this morning, but 90 minutes later, I was heading home with more nausea. Slept 2 more hours before heading back to an important work event. I almost turned around a couple of times but pressed on.
Started to feel slightly better during the event and when I got home, I thought I'd try to run. I stayed close to home in case I needed to turn back. But the run went great. I was a little slower but I figure that was just left over sluggishness from the bug I'm fighting.
Because the event went later than my normal work day, it was getting dark by the time I went out to run. I don't usually run in the dark anymore; now I know why. Too many streets don't have lights. Started really slowly just to see how my stomach would react and then opened it up a little bit. A little slower than usual, but I was glad to finish without tossing my cookies.
Mile 1 (12:02)
Mile 2 (10:57)
Mile 3 (10:46)
Mile 4 (10:44)
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
My knees need a lube job
Before I get into today's run, let's talk election day. My husband and I hit the polls 15 minutes before they opened at 6:30 a.m. and we were still 50th in line. After a 15-minute delay (because the election official had car trouble), the line started moving. In only 30 minutes we were through the line. So beginning to end = 1 hour.
I have never had to stand in line before. And you know what? It felt good. I was glad to be there in line with my neighbors. It was great to see such a great turnout. I was thrilled to see so many people exercising their right to vote. No matter who wins the presidency, we all win because democracy wins when we all vote.
On to my run...
My sister, who has a couple of marathons under her belt, says that water is like an oil/lube job for her joints. Without it, she feels her knees a lot. Apparently, me too.
I usually drink 60 to 80 oz of water per day. Since last Thursday, I've been averaging 20 to 40 and my knees were talking to me at the beginning of the run. They calmed down about a mile into it but my body told me over and over in other ways that it was pissed I hadn't been drinking enough H-2-0.
Here's a little of that "conversation."
Only a quarter mile into the run.
"Uh-oh, I am really thirsty. Maybe I should turn around and get a bottle of water."
"No, I don't run with water bottles anymore. I can stop at mile 3 at the store and buy a bottle."
"OK, but I'm really thirsty."
"Stop thinking about it. Look at the beautiful foliage -- the reds, the vivid yellows, bright oranges...wow I'm thirsty. I haven't even hit a mile yet."
"Come on focus on the beautiful day. It's November and 70 degrees and sunny. Who cares about water. This is awesome."
"I care about water. My mouth feels like a desert. Isn't there a park somewhere close with a drinking fountain?"
"Focus on your chirunning form. Yes, that's it. Relax your ankles, relax your lower legs...hey is anyone watering their lawn or flowers. Maybe I can get a drink off their hose."
And on it went for 3+ miles before I reached a store to buy a water. I felt better once I got water but my knees were whispering -- loudly -- by the end of the run.
I was sure my numbers would be slower than I even planned. I wanted to do a warm-up mile at 12 minutes with the rest at 11 or 11:30. The first mile was 11:31 and the rest were around 10:35.
I feel great 6 hours later, although there's a really slight tightness in my right knee. We'll see how it is in the morning.
I have never had to stand in line before. And you know what? It felt good. I was glad to be there in line with my neighbors. It was great to see such a great turnout. I was thrilled to see so many people exercising their right to vote. No matter who wins the presidency, we all win because democracy wins when we all vote.
On to my run...
My sister, who has a couple of marathons under her belt, says that water is like an oil/lube job for her joints. Without it, she feels her knees a lot. Apparently, me too.
I usually drink 60 to 80 oz of water per day. Since last Thursday, I've been averaging 20 to 40 and my knees were talking to me at the beginning of the run. They calmed down about a mile into it but my body told me over and over in other ways that it was pissed I hadn't been drinking enough H-2-0.
Here's a little of that "conversation."
Only a quarter mile into the run.
"Uh-oh, I am really thirsty. Maybe I should turn around and get a bottle of water."
"No, I don't run with water bottles anymore. I can stop at mile 3 at the store and buy a bottle."
"OK, but I'm really thirsty."
"Stop thinking about it. Look at the beautiful foliage -- the reds, the vivid yellows, bright oranges...wow I'm thirsty. I haven't even hit a mile yet."
"Come on focus on the beautiful day. It's November and 70 degrees and sunny. Who cares about water. This is awesome."
"I care about water. My mouth feels like a desert. Isn't there a park somewhere close with a drinking fountain?"
"Focus on your chirunning form. Yes, that's it. Relax your ankles, relax your lower legs...hey is anyone watering their lawn or flowers. Maybe I can get a drink off their hose."
And on it went for 3+ miles before I reached a store to buy a water. I felt better once I got water but my knees were whispering -- loudly -- by the end of the run.
I was sure my numbers would be slower than I even planned. I wanted to do a warm-up mile at 12 minutes with the rest at 11 or 11:30. The first mile was 11:31 and the rest were around 10:35.
I feel great 6 hours later, although there's a really slight tightness in my right knee. We'll see how it is in the morning.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Holy Global Climate Change
Another beautiful day -- mid-60s, sunny and it's Nov. 2! OK, I'm all about the environment and making things better, but as someone who is really not into either cold or snow, there are some positives of global climate change here in Ohio.
Headed to the track today to try some form intervals. I haven't done anything but put in road miles for maybe the last year. I decided to use a friend's training program for a half-marathon.
15-minute slow, warmup
8 by 200m with 100m jog in between
15-minute warm down
4 miles total. Felt good. Don't know if it was the workout or just the euphoria of running in shorts and T-shirt in November. Best of all, it's supposed to be like this for at least another 5 days.
Headed to the track today to try some form intervals. I haven't done anything but put in road miles for maybe the last year. I decided to use a friend's training program for a half-marathon.
15-minute slow, warmup
8 by 200m with 100m jog in between
15-minute warm down
4 miles total. Felt good. Don't know if it was the workout or just the euphoria of running in shorts and T-shirt in November. Best of all, it's supposed to be like this for at least another 5 days.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Happy trails to me
Yesterday was such a beautiful day -- 68 and sunny! On the last day of October! In Ohio!
I have only run trails once in my life, so yesterday was my second try. My boss asked me to go run by a local dam -- for business reasons I won't bore you with -- and then we headed to a nearby trail in the woods. I'd never been there before but the fall foliage is gorgeous and I figured it'd be fun.
I've said before I'm not very good at paying attention to what's around me when I run but when you are surrounded by foliage of gold and orange and yellows and reds, you can't help but notice. Fortunately, they were all at my feet. I didn't dare take my eyes off the trail, especially not after climbing our first steep hill and a tree root rose up and tripped me. The tree roots and rocks were lethal, and these trails never saw a flat area -- just steep uphill and then steep downhill.
We enjoyed the run, but we'd probably have enjoyed it a lot more if we hadn't thought we got lost along the way. It's hard enough to run vertically up or down with slippery fallen leaves at your feet, tree roots and rocks doing their darndest to see you do a face plant but it's worse when you fear you missed the cut off for your trail and took up the trail that's 5 times longer. And in another hour the sun will start to go down. I thought the trail was 1.06 miles, so when we had hit 1.3 miles I got a little concerned.
Luckily, we were on the right trail (it was actually 1.6 milesand made it back to the car long before the sunset. As we stretched out afterward, I lay on my back and looked up to see the most beautiful blue sky framed by awesome golden leaves. Ohio may not have the mountains or the beach but wow, fall and spring rock.
I have only run trails once in my life, so yesterday was my second try. My boss asked me to go run by a local dam -- for business reasons I won't bore you with -- and then we headed to a nearby trail in the woods. I'd never been there before but the fall foliage is gorgeous and I figured it'd be fun.
I've said before I'm not very good at paying attention to what's around me when I run but when you are surrounded by foliage of gold and orange and yellows and reds, you can't help but notice. Fortunately, they were all at my feet. I didn't dare take my eyes off the trail, especially not after climbing our first steep hill and a tree root rose up and tripped me. The tree roots and rocks were lethal, and these trails never saw a flat area -- just steep uphill and then steep downhill.
We enjoyed the run, but we'd probably have enjoyed it a lot more if we hadn't thought we got lost along the way. It's hard enough to run vertically up or down with slippery fallen leaves at your feet, tree roots and rocks doing their darndest to see you do a face plant but it's worse when you fear you missed the cut off for your trail and took up the trail that's 5 times longer. And in another hour the sun will start to go down. I thought the trail was 1.06 miles, so when we had hit 1.3 miles I got a little concerned.
Luckily, we were on the right trail (it was actually 1.6 milesand made it back to the car long before the sunset. As we stretched out afterward, I lay on my back and looked up to see the most beautiful blue sky framed by awesome golden leaves. Ohio may not have the mountains or the beach but wow, fall and spring rock.
Friday, October 31, 2008
My mind is messing with me
For once I wasn’t tired when I got home to run but still had a bit of trouble getting out the door. I don’t know what’s up with me. I look forward to running all day and then when it’s time, I just want to lie down. And I’m not even tired. There’s a pattern here. When I’m at work, I want to be running. When I’m supposed to go running, I want to lie down. When I’m meditating, I can’t stop the chatter in my head. When I’m writing, my brain is empty of ideas -- much less actual words. It’s like whatever activity I’m set to do, my brain goes in the opposite direction. What’s up with that?
4 miles yesterday. Sunny skies, temps in the upper 50s. Just beautiful. Felt great throughout the run. No walk breaks lately. Lovin' it all -- weather, foliage, running, breath rate
4 miles yesterday. Sunny skies, temps in the upper 50s. Just beautiful. Felt great throughout the run. No walk breaks lately. Lovin' it all -- weather, foliage, running, breath rate
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Cold Snap
Two weeks ago, I was enjoying a warm autumn, still wearing T-shirts and shorts. Oh what a difference a week or two makes in the Midwest. Today, with the windchill, it was 35 degrees at 4 p.m. OK, it could be worse. I could be in Vermont where they just got 9 inches of snow! In. October. You poor, poor people.
I already miss my shorts and T-shirts. But I was lovin' the run. Four miles and it felt great. I had to keep trying to slow myself for fear I was going out too quickly.
I'm really trying to slow down for the first mile and then let myself open it up a bit -- all relative terms since I'm very slow. But less slow today. I really don't want to get caught up with my times because I'll start to care about them. And I need to keep my ego out of this and just enjoy the run. That's why I just deleted my times.
The run in a word: Awesome!
I already miss my shorts and T-shirts. But I was lovin' the run. Four miles and it felt great. I had to keep trying to slow myself for fear I was going out too quickly.
I'm really trying to slow down for the first mile and then let myself open it up a bit -- all relative terms since I'm very slow. But less slow today. I really don't want to get caught up with my times because I'll start to care about them. And I need to keep my ego out of this and just enjoy the run. That's why I just deleted my times.
The run in a word: Awesome!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Lovin' It
Today's run was a lot like a great drive off the 18th tee -- it keeps you coming back for more. It was an awesome run! I can't say it any other way.
I'd been feeling pretty punk (female stuff) and even had taken a 90-minute nap. I really debated heading out to try to run, but it was sunny and 60 degrees and since the high later this week is supposed to be 40, I figured it was now or never.
The whole run from beginning to end was so amazing. It was pretty much effortless. A great 4 miles. I felt like I was smokin' but I'll never know since the Garmin died in the first half mile. No matter. I'm just happy it felt soooo good. I just felt like I was cruisin'. Even my heart rate felt great.
This was definitely an Even the Russian Judge Liked It run.
I'd been feeling pretty punk (female stuff) and even had taken a 90-minute nap. I really debated heading out to try to run, but it was sunny and 60 degrees and since the high later this week is supposed to be 40, I figured it was now or never.
The whole run from beginning to end was so amazing. It was pretty much effortless. A great 4 miles. I felt like I was smokin' but I'll never know since the Garmin died in the first half mile. No matter. I'm just happy it felt soooo good. I just felt like I was cruisin'. Even my heart rate felt great.
This was definitely an Even the Russian Judge Liked It run.
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