I realized on Friday that I really need to have a training log. Whether I actually keep this site up to date, or I write it down, you know, on actual paper in an actual book, I need something.
I decided to do another timed 500 swim Friday night. 13 minutes even. But is this faster or slower than my last timed 500? I checked this blog, and I couldn't find anything. I know I didn't write anything down. So I went to my last resort, Facebook.
I knew I'd posted the time somewhere, that mini-blog was my last resort. Amazingly enough, I found it. Posted on January 17th, 13:02. So I was faster, but not by much.
The thing about a training log, I can't compare apples to apples. Did I do 200 yard warm up before both time trials? I don't know. Would that extra 200 yards (or less) have made a difference in my time, maybe. Tired arms are tired arms. But I'll take the faster time at face value and let it motivate me to push harder.
Now on to running.
Ran 5 miles in under an hour on Saturday. (59 minutes and change) Started at Peter's Canyon and ran down Jamboree about 2.5 miles, then back up. This path has a slight slope and, of course, we ran down the first half. I was wearing my Vibrams and my calves are still talking to me today. I'm not sure if this is poor stretching after, poor nutrition, and/or not enough running in the Vibrams, but I'm thinking I need to get "normal" running shoes for Ragnar. I don't think I'll be able to suit up and run all my legs of the race with calves that feel like these.
2.28.2011
2.08.2011
Game Day: Surf City 1/2 Marathon 2011
So I finally get to the start line of the Surf City 1/2 Marathon and I'm racing under an assumed name. I waited too long to register for the race and had to get a bib from someone who wasn't able to run.
Not that I WAS able to run the whole 13.1, but you all know me. I'm not the smartest when it comes to whether or not to race injured.
I knew I wasn't going to "race" the race. I hadn't trained. I couldn't run the whole thing. I was just out there for a supported run, to push myself and see what distance I could pull out, and to think.
I've got a lot of things going on in my life. Having a baby, being a single parent, going back to school, trying to train, etc, etc. I know, I know, all of us have lots going on in our lives. Mine may be busier than some, but not as busy as others. (I'm lucky to be in the place I am now in regards to THAT particular situation.)
I didn't have the bean this weekend. It also happened to be a close friend's birthday and there were plans on both Friday AND Saturday. Crazy I know, but I wasn't racing (although Ali the Runner was. We had a great time and she PR'd!!!) so I decided to take part in all the festivities (Ali didn't. She was the smart one).
Anyway, back to my life. This is where I digress but then get back to the run report, because there wasn't a race. I want to go back to school to be a Prosthetist. To do this I need one more class, Anatomy & Physiology. I went to 2 schools in my area to petition for said class and finally got in! This was after I resigned myself to the idea that the universe was trying to tell me something. I let go of my strangle hold on the idea that I HAD to get into this class THIS semester. If I didn't my WHOLE plan was never going to happen. I would miss my milestones and not even be able to attempt being a Prosthetist.
I decided to embrace the fact that I was probably not going to get into this class. What did that mean? Yes it meant I'd be putting off my chance to get into the Prosthetics program, but more importantly, it meant I could stay at home and see the bean grow up for 6 more months. I chose to focus on the fact that I had this wonderful opportunity. To spend time with my child.
Then I got into the class. So I get to spend time with the bean AND move my plan forward. It was, for lack of a better term, a sign.
The thing about signs is once you experience one, actually experience it not just notice it on the side of the road and keep cruising on by, is that you are open to accepting other signs.
Back to my race. I decided on a run/walk strategy. First I ran 1 mile and walked 1 minute. When I wasn't able to recover sufficiently from that, I ran 1 mile and walked 2 minutes. When that stopped working, I ran 1/2 mile, walked 1 minute, then I ran 1/2 mile, walked 2 minutes, finally I ran 1/2 mile, walked 3 minutes. This all worked up to mile 9. After that I walked it in, well, until I got into the finishers chute. You HAVE to run when that many people are watching!
This was the best part of the race, I made a plan, stuck to it, and didn't beat myself up over the fact that I couldn't run the whole race or that I wasn't doing as well as I wanted.
As I was just running the course, not racing it, I was able to actually take it everything that was happening. The overcast weather, the racers, the music. The music was key. My shuffle spoke to me and I listened. The play list it generated gave clarity to a situation I'd been struggling with for a while. It gave me the clarity to realize I had a decision to make, the courage to make it and the resolve I needed to follow through on it.
It did almost take the whole 13.1 miles (and 3 hours, 11 minutes) to realize the universe was sending me another sign. But I got it. Thank you.
Not that I WAS able to run the whole 13.1, but you all know me. I'm not the smartest when it comes to whether or not to race injured.
I knew I wasn't going to "race" the race. I hadn't trained. I couldn't run the whole thing. I was just out there for a supported run, to push myself and see what distance I could pull out, and to think.
I've got a lot of things going on in my life. Having a baby, being a single parent, going back to school, trying to train, etc, etc. I know, I know, all of us have lots going on in our lives. Mine may be busier than some, but not as busy as others. (I'm lucky to be in the place I am now in regards to THAT particular situation.)
I didn't have the bean this weekend. It also happened to be a close friend's birthday and there were plans on both Friday AND Saturday. Crazy I know, but I wasn't racing (although Ali the Runner was. We had a great time and she PR'd!!!) so I decided to take part in all the festivities (Ali didn't. She was the smart one).
Anyway, back to my life. This is where I digress but then get back to the run report, because there wasn't a race. I want to go back to school to be a Prosthetist. To do this I need one more class, Anatomy & Physiology. I went to 2 schools in my area to petition for said class and finally got in! This was after I resigned myself to the idea that the universe was trying to tell me something. I let go of my strangle hold on the idea that I HAD to get into this class THIS semester. If I didn't my WHOLE plan was never going to happen. I would miss my milestones and not even be able to attempt being a Prosthetist.
I decided to embrace the fact that I was probably not going to get into this class. What did that mean? Yes it meant I'd be putting off my chance to get into the Prosthetics program, but more importantly, it meant I could stay at home and see the bean grow up for 6 more months. I chose to focus on the fact that I had this wonderful opportunity. To spend time with my child.
Then I got into the class. So I get to spend time with the bean AND move my plan forward. It was, for lack of a better term, a sign.
The thing about signs is once you experience one, actually experience it not just notice it on the side of the road and keep cruising on by, is that you are open to accepting other signs.
Back to my race. I decided on a run/walk strategy. First I ran 1 mile and walked 1 minute. When I wasn't able to recover sufficiently from that, I ran 1 mile and walked 2 minutes. When that stopped working, I ran 1/2 mile, walked 1 minute, then I ran 1/2 mile, walked 2 minutes, finally I ran 1/2 mile, walked 3 minutes. This all worked up to mile 9. After that I walked it in, well, until I got into the finishers chute. You HAVE to run when that many people are watching!
This was the best part of the race, I made a plan, stuck to it, and didn't beat myself up over the fact that I couldn't run the whole race or that I wasn't doing as well as I wanted.
As I was just running the course, not racing it, I was able to actually take it everything that was happening. The overcast weather, the racers, the music. The music was key. My shuffle spoke to me and I listened. The play list it generated gave clarity to a situation I'd been struggling with for a while. It gave me the clarity to realize I had a decision to make, the courage to make it and the resolve I needed to follow through on it.
It did almost take the whole 13.1 miles (and 3 hours, 11 minutes) to realize the universe was sending me another sign. But I got it. Thank you.
2.05.2011
Weak Muscles, Strong Heart
Spinning was awesome and horrible at the same time. What I learned?
1. I'm still having trouble pushing myself to discomfort.
The burn is where the work happens. If you don't push your limits, you won't get faster/better.
I need to get into the mental game of training.
2. My muscle strength is my limiting factor.
In running and biking, my muscles are what cause me to stop/slow down. My knee hurts, I
can't handle the burn, but cardiovascularly, I'm good. I feel like I can go so much longer.
The disconnect really does a job on my head.
1. I'm still having trouble pushing myself to discomfort.
The burn is where the work happens. If you don't push your limits, you won't get faster/better.
I need to get into the mental game of training.
2. My muscle strength is my limiting factor.
In running and biking, my muscles are what cause me to stop/slow down. My knee hurts, I
can't handle the burn, but cardiovascularly, I'm good. I feel like I can go so much longer.
The disconnect really does a job on my head.
2.03.2011
Run, then Swim
On Saturday I ran my first 5K since the 1/2 marathon. It wasn't super quick. It was in my Vibrams. It was on hills. I'm pretty sure I have the Vibrams and hills to blame for the fact that my calves only started to calm down on Wednesday.
The run was ~40 min (I forgot my watch and only had a clock and my memory to rely on). I ran around Lake Mission Viejo, the easy way. A few minutes after I started a fellow runner came up and jogged with me. He wanted to know all about my Vibrams and how I liked them, etc. Since I'm fairly new to these shoes, I gave him my honest opinion with the caveat that I'd only worn them a handful of times.
He ran with me about 1/2 way around the lake. It was nice to have someone to chat with on my route. This is one thing I like about the running community, in general, I've found runners to be some of the friendliest and most helpful people. We talked about races we were training (or trying to train) for, hydration issues, fuel issues, why we run, etc. It was a fun time all around and I only walked once, on the hill from Vista del Lago. It was a planned walk. That hill kicked my ass before I took time off and it still does now.
On Tuesday I found myself with some unplanned downtime so I headed to the gym to do a swim workout. I devised a pyramid workout:
Here's the note I got:
Dear Yas,
I can still pull out a 1000 yd workout with sprints in less than 40 min. I still feel good. Challenge me next time, why don't ya.
Sincerely,
Your lungs and muscles
Duly noted body. I will find a harder workout for you next time we hit the pool.
Tonight is spin. I'm getting back into a work out groove, little by little...
The run was ~40 min (I forgot my watch and only had a clock and my memory to rely on). I ran around Lake Mission Viejo, the easy way. A few minutes after I started a fellow runner came up and jogged with me. He wanted to know all about my Vibrams and how I liked them, etc. Since I'm fairly new to these shoes, I gave him my honest opinion with the caveat that I'd only worn them a handful of times.
He ran with me about 1/2 way around the lake. It was nice to have someone to chat with on my route. This is one thing I like about the running community, in general, I've found runners to be some of the friendliest and most helpful people. We talked about races we were training (or trying to train) for, hydration issues, fuel issues, why we run, etc. It was a fun time all around and I only walked once, on the hill from Vista del Lago. It was a planned walk. That hill kicked my ass before I took time off and it still does now.
On Tuesday I found myself with some unplanned downtime so I headed to the gym to do a swim workout. I devised a pyramid workout:
100 yd warm up
200 yd skills and drills,
4x 25 yd RI: 10 sec
2x50 yd RI:15 sec
2x100yd RI:20 sec
2x50 yd RI:15 sec
4x25 RI:10 sec
100 yd cool down
200 yd skills and drills,
4x 25 yd RI: 10 sec
2x50 yd RI:15 sec
2x100yd RI:20 sec
2x50 yd RI:15 sec
4x25 RI:10 sec
100 yd cool down
Here's the note I got:
Dear Yas,
I can still pull out a 1000 yd workout with sprints in less than 40 min. I still feel good. Challenge me next time, why don't ya.
Sincerely,
Your lungs and muscles
Duly noted body. I will find a harder workout for you next time we hit the pool.
Tonight is spin. I'm getting back into a work out groove, little by little...
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