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.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
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.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Moving forward again
Last time I wrote about heading back to the basics of ChiRunning to break a couple of bad habits. Well, it's been worth it. After spending almost a week's worth of runs at the track do drills and a few laps, I headed back to the street on Sunday and had good results.
Well, Tuesday's and Thursday's runs were even better. My times are getting better, but more importantly, I'm not working nearly has hard. In fact, the last two runs I haven't had to take any walk breaks. I don't know if that's from the improved technique or my inappropriate sinus tachycardia has calmed down. Who know? Who cares?
I did have one odd thing happen on Thursday. I was planning a 4-miler and was running comfortably when at 1.5 miles, it felt like a knife stabbed me in the right hip/butt cheek. I tried to make a microchange or two, but nothing helped. It didn't happen with each step, but that was part of the problem. It was intermittent so I couldn't figure out what was causing it.
Even though I was about as far from home as I could get, I knew I had a choice -- I could stop and walk or I could keep pressing it and probably hurt myself and not run for a week or two (something I know all too well from experience with other pains.)
As much as I hate the idea of walking home, I decided to to exactly that. Actually, I tried to stretch out first to see if I could get rid of the stabbing pain. No luck.
So I started walking. I gave it a half-mile and decided to try running slowly again. I shortened my stride more than usual and gave it a little test. Hmm...no pain. So I kept going -- gently at first and then a little faster. I even managed a big hill (big for me) and now problems.
Got my 4 miles in and never felt the stabbing pain again. Still don't know what it was. I only know it's gone except for a little stab earlier today when I was teaching. I'll see how it goes tomorrow. I'd like to get 4 in again tomorrow, but we'll see.
Maybe finally, I am working with my body. Instead of mind over body, it's mind with body. I have the rest of my life to increase my mileage. And I'm now realizing it will all come a lot faster if I pay attention to what feels right.
Well, Tuesday's and Thursday's runs were even better. My times are getting better, but more importantly, I'm not working nearly has hard. In fact, the last two runs I haven't had to take any walk breaks. I don't know if that's from the improved technique or my inappropriate sinus tachycardia has calmed down. Who know? Who cares?
I did have one odd thing happen on Thursday. I was planning a 4-miler and was running comfortably when at 1.5 miles, it felt like a knife stabbed me in the right hip/butt cheek. I tried to make a microchange or two, but nothing helped. It didn't happen with each step, but that was part of the problem. It was intermittent so I couldn't figure out what was causing it.
Even though I was about as far from home as I could get, I knew I had a choice -- I could stop and walk or I could keep pressing it and probably hurt myself and not run for a week or two (something I know all too well from experience with other pains.)
As much as I hate the idea of walking home, I decided to to exactly that. Actually, I tried to stretch out first to see if I could get rid of the stabbing pain. No luck.
So I started walking. I gave it a half-mile and decided to try running slowly again. I shortened my stride more than usual and gave it a little test. Hmm...no pain. So I kept going -- gently at first and then a little faster. I even managed a big hill (big for me) and now problems.
Got my 4 miles in and never felt the stabbing pain again. Still don't know what it was. I only know it's gone except for a little stab earlier today when I was teaching. I'll see how it goes tomorrow. I'd like to get 4 in again tomorrow, but we'll see.
Maybe finally, I am working with my body. Instead of mind over body, it's mind with body. I have the rest of my life to increase my mileage. And I'm now realizing it will all come a lot faster if I pay attention to what feels right.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Two steps back
Every once in a while, we have to take a step backward to move forward. Or in my case two steps back.
I had the chance to work with a ChiRunning instructor for a short time the other week. I'd been feeling like my running wasn't as light as it should be. Turns out, I picked up a bad habit or two like bending slightly at the waist and a bit of an overstride when I first start to run.
So I backed way off my mileage and headed the track to practice drill after drill until I could feel the changes in my form. I'm always surprised how hard it is to be a beginner again, leave a watch or Garmin behind, and focus only on form rather than achievements (meaning time, speed, distance). I have absolutely no reason to have any kind of running ego, and yet I have trouble reigning in the monster.
After three track workouts, I ventured to the road yesterday and it all started to come together. I'm still slower than usual, but it's coming -- and I expect to be able to add back my mileage quickly.
Here's hoping the step backward is done and it's onward from here.
I had the chance to work with a ChiRunning instructor for a short time the other week. I'd been feeling like my running wasn't as light as it should be. Turns out, I picked up a bad habit or two like bending slightly at the waist and a bit of an overstride when I first start to run.
So I backed way off my mileage and headed the track to practice drill after drill until I could feel the changes in my form. I'm always surprised how hard it is to be a beginner again, leave a watch or Garmin behind, and focus only on form rather than achievements (meaning time, speed, distance). I have absolutely no reason to have any kind of running ego, and yet I have trouble reigning in the monster.
After three track workouts, I ventured to the road yesterday and it all started to come together. I'm still slower than usual, but it's coming -- and I expect to be able to add back my mileage quickly.
Here's hoping the step backward is done and it's onward from here.
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