Running!

I ran 7 injury free miles Saturday. I even had a couple sub 12 minute miles there near the end. I was pleasantly surprised. I ran with a couple of friends, who are faster than me of course, and I managed to keep them in sight for most of the run.

Today I was able to squeeze in a "quick" 3 miles in between classes. Fueled by my fast miles on Saturday, I was determined to see how fast I could run (my own version of speed work). I was rewarded on mile 1 with a 10:04 pace, but it went downhill from there.

I run on this ~1.8 mile loop around my neighborhood. About 1 mile of it is flat, the .8 is hilly. So I was able to keep ~10 min/mile pace for that first minute, which was almost all flat. I paid for it on the next mile, which dropped to a 12 minute mile. Even with the hills, this is not a reflection of my smart running. It's a reflection of my lack of impulse control. I KNEW that I wasn't able to keep a 10 min/mile pace over 3 miles with HILLS. But I decided to try anyway.

My last mile was an 11:20. I probably could have kept an 11 minute pace for all 3 miles if I didn't decide to try and kill myself in the heat.

Better planning is needed in the future.

Breakthrough!

4 miles on mixed terrain in my Vibrams, and no calf pain! I think I've finally gotten acclimated to my "toe shoes", at least on flats and moderate hills. Had the same ankle discomfort on this run as I did on Saturday, but this one went away (or maybe my ability to ignore it has increased) after about 2 miles. I did stop and stretch it at least twice.

Unlike Saturday, these miles were sub 13s (yay!) and I'm hoping to be back around 12s by the end of April. Also, the trail I ran was the one around my development. I ran the whole thing, twice. I was very excited. I haven't been able to do that in quite a long time.

Tomorrow is cycling and/or swimming. Training is back in session!

Sanity

I wasn't planning a run today. I was planning a swim. I really should have gotten one of those in, but that's a different story.

But running brings my sanity. Brings me balance, brings me peace. And if there was a week I needed balance and peace anymore than this one... well, it hasn't been for a long time.

In between my Anatomy & Physiology lab and lecture, I ran home to get lunch, and decided to run. It was only 3 miles (all under 11:30, BTW) but it was a little of what I needed.

If you don't run, I can't explain to you, convince you, that running can bring me peace, can bring me balance, can help me find my sanity. But it can. I can lose myself in my music, in the cadence I feel in my steps. In the commands I give my muscles. Just me, the outside, and the forces I apply/are applied on me.

I am stronger for it. And this is it. One of the things that is going my way. One of the blessings I will be counting everyday until there are too many to recite. I have (mostly) injury free running. I can take this with me anywhere, everywhere.

I can create my own peace, if only for a few miles.

Training

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.

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:

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

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...

Thwarted 1000 or How Yas Found Out She's Not Completely Screwed

On Monday I went to the gym to attempt a 1000 yard swim workout. I get there and there's this lady putzing around the pool. Checking things, going into a storage room I'd never noticed before. Bringing out a garbage can full of something.

Shit! On the way over I thought to myself, "Self, I hope your swim isn't going to be interrupted by an aquarobics class." But it was. Although these people were super nice and didn't try and kick me out 15 minutes before the class began. They would have been in for a fight.

While I was doing my 100 yd warm up I talked to the instructor to find out when the class started. I had about 15 minutes to get some sort of workout in. This is when my warm up turned into a timed 500.

I finished in 13:02. This included the slow 100 yd warm up AND about 5-10 seconds of talking to the instructor to assess my pool situation. 13:02! It was probably closer to 12:55.

While this might be slow to some of you all, this makes me super happy. My form didn't all go to crap. My endurance, for at least 500 yds, wasn't gone. I was a bit tired, but not exhausted and I wasn't dragging the last few laps.

Now just to get back to 1 mile and sign up for the OC International...

Not at 100%

The title says it all. I tried to run Saturday. Didn't start until 11am. It was sunny, and a bit hot. Ran for 5 minutes and got a side stitch. I thought (hoped) it was due to heat and hydration. So I bailed and walked.

Went out to support my triathlon team at their mock tri, and to do some running, and to eat the hot breakfast. (Ok, I was most motivated by the hot breakfast.) I was able to complete 5 intervals of a 5 min run/1 min walk. By the end of the last interval, I couldn't ignore the pain in my side. I was running at Back Bay, in comfortable, overcast weather, with a full 20 oz bottle of water.

Now I know I'm not completely healed. I've had side stitches due to running too fast. I've had side stitches due to insufficient hydration. This hurt much different, and much more, than either of those.

I'm back to taking it easy. The last thing I need is for something else to go wrong.

All Cleared

Today the doctor gave me the right answer. I can swim, bike, run, climb, dance, whatever. I also interviewed a college student for babysitting.

I'm so very excited. Granted, I haven't made up my mind about where thanksgiving is this year, but if I'm in Southern California, I'll be racing the Turkey Tri. I'm already sure Nike Women's will be a disaster, but I have high hopes for the races I've got my eye on next year.

Training will start tomorrow. I hope I can run any miles at all.

The DL

When it rains, it pours. Two surgeries in one year are two too many. I hate being on the DL.

At the beginning of August I ran the last of the Peter's Canyon Trail series. Beat the two previous race times. And then I stopped running. Stopped doing any training, really.

This was also around the time I scheduled my gallbladder surgery. Surgery that I would not have had now if I didn't need to change insurance polices.

I was equal parts disappointed, bitter and defeated. I really wanted to race the Pacific Coast Sprint Triathlon, but the earliest time I could schedule surgery was Sept 8th. Pac Coast was out, so was the OC International Triathlon, due to a no swimming for 6 weeks post-surgery order. 1 mile is not something that I can just go out and do. A 25 mile bike ride, sure. My lady parts might hurt, and it might take me almost 3 hours, but it'd get done. A 6 mile run, cake! I can walk at any time during the 6.2 miles.

But a 1 mile swim? With no training. Even with a wetsuit it wasn't going to happen.

But now I'm (semi)-back. I'm ready to run. I've jumped on the trainer once or twice. I'm not supposed to swim until Oct 20th, but I'm going to get clarification on that from the doctor tomorrow.

Did I mention Nike Women's 1/2 is on October 17th? And I haven't been able to train for it? But if I can finish it pregnant, I can finish it without training for it.

Hopefully I'll finish the 1/2 in less than 4 hours.

I'm an Endurance Athlete

No really, I am. The proof? Tonight's run.

My trail running group canceled our Thursday night run due to thunderstorms. This really bummed me out for a few reasons.

1) I was really looking forward to seeing if I could run 6 miles.
2) I ate today thinking I was going to run 6 miles (read: ate my calories before I burned them off)

I set out to run around the lake, twice. One lap is ~5K. I ended up with negative splits! How you ask? We'll, this is what I believe happened

A) I was warmed up. (run/walking 2 miles will do that to you)
B) I got past the dreaded 20 min/2 mile mark. (I've always had this, have you?)
C) I embraced my slower pace.

I think C is the most important. I really don't like being at a 13+ min/mile. I really don't. It was where I was when I first started running. I was trying to run faster than I my body can. I'd get running craps and ankle/IT Band/hip issues. This run was different. Like the longer distance runs of old. On the back 5K, I was warmed up, mentally in the run and had no unplanned walk breaks. These 3 things were missing from the first 5K.

As to why I'm an endurance athlete, after the first 2 miles, I felt like I could go forever. Well, at least for 4 more miles, maybe 6. I got into a good groove, although I really need to change the music on my shuffle and make it more shuffley, and started loving the run.

I did help that 3 guys waved/said hi to me on my run. Encouragement is always welcome.

Peter's Canyon - Training Addition

There is a reason my group trains for the Peter's Canyon Trail Races on Thursday evenings. You see, the actual races are on Thursday evenings. As I've learned in the past, something that you can run with ease in the earlier (read cool) hours of the morning turns into a trail of terror on a hot summer afternoon.

This was my Peter's Canyon run. High temps + hills + my longest run in over a year = 1:35 for 6.3 miles. Yes, they were hilly. Yes, they were hotish. And yes, they were disappointing.

Last time I ran this distance, my time was just over an hour. No it wasn't Peter's Canyon, but sometimes I can't get that through my head. Just like when I "ran" La Jolla. Everyone told me it was hilly, but I wasn't ready for a 2:45 1/2 marathon, the climb up Torrey Pines be damned!

After I had time to digest the, well, time, I realized it wasn't all that bad. After all, it's the longest distance I've run/walk in a while (I walked up some of those hills. If you've been there, you know which ones. I'm not a mountain goat.). I'm ~15lbs heavier than the last time I actually raced a 1/2 marathon, 30lbs heavier than my lightest, or as I call it my fighting, weight.

I figure my pace can only get faster and my distances longer.

Goal Setting

As I set off for an unscheduled run today (the weather was too good not to get out), I started setting end of the year goals in my head.

1) run the trail around my development at any pace.
2) run the trail around my development at a 10 min/mile or faster.
3) do things that make me happy

I'm pretty sure there were more things, but those are all I can remember. Probably something about races and getting out and meeting people, I'm sure.

I can cross #1 off my list. I ran 1/2 the trail, even part of the hills, without realizing it. So I willed myself to finish. Seriously. Anytime my conviction was starting to fail, I just thought of putting one foot in front of the other.

I wasn't even supposed to run today.

Strong and Fast

No, it's not my last track workout, it's a heartbeat. And it's not my heartbeat, although mine is strong...

It's my baby's heartbeat.

Now the cat's out of the bag (or house and I know how hard it is to catch a cat that doesn't want to be caught.) Some of my faithful (unless you've given up on me) readers already knew.

So here's the real reason behind my 2:49:31 La Jolla finish. And my gallbladder attack, although that was probably going to happen sooner or later. And my 3 hour Laguna Hills 1/2, but I didn't really train for that one. I think the longest run I had after my gallbladder incident (leading up to the 3 hour race) was 5 miles.

I'm not completely blaming the bean for being slow. But (s)he is a great scapegoat. You'll all meet bean at the end of the year, or the beginning of next year. It was poor planning, getting preggers during the season, but it is Cali and there are races year round, so the complaining is over, for now.

So there will be less running, (more because of my tweaked knee earned during the 3 hour 1/2, then the pregnancy), and no bike riding (due to a mandate by my coach) but more swimming.

Maybe the first thing this bean will give me, other than a trip to the ER and a want to remove my gallbladder, is an appreciation for swimming.

Run!

This morning I went for an easy (very easy) 3 mile run. It.was.awesome! I'm excited. Although I'm slow and probably being overly cautious, I'm happy I can run again. Even if it's just 3 miles.

The other exciting thing? CAF was able to get my race packet for Iron Girl! They sent it to me, so now I have my bag, my CAF jersey, my Iron Girl shirt, even a CAF visor and race belt!

I didn't get one of those commemorative Aflac ducks, but I was just going to give it to my mom anyway, so that's cool. Also, I think we'll be getting them at the 5K in Del Mar next month.

I'm excited to try riding my bike tomorrow.

Swim!

Yesterday was my first actual training session since the gallbladder debacle. It was even coach, and more importantly, Jeremy approved!

I didn't keep up with the people in my lane, but I wasn't trying to push myself too hard. I was trying to make the distances without pushing too hard. It felt great!

I may have to swim more if biking and running are a no go.

I was going to try a nice, easy 30 min run today, but the day has gotten away from me. I need to leave around 3pm to pick up my aunt for Tri la Vie's celebration party tonight. Yes I know, I didn't do the tri, but I'm going to celebrate with my peeps anyway.

Lost in Peak Week

(photo credit: Ashley Kyser)

So I'll admit it, I bit of more than I could chew this week.

For those of you who don't know, I'm quitting my job to go back to school. CAF inspired me about 6 months ago and my company put me in the right mindset to leave.

Being the good worker bee I am, I'm trying hard to tie up everything I can before I hand this off to anyone. I'm also trying to get ready for Iron Girl (my first stay-over race!) and that comes with it's own headaches. At least with running if you have your shoes and a sports bra, you're pretty much golden. Even if you forget them, you can usually go out and buy more, although I don't recommend running 13.1 miles in new shoes. But just pop in and pick up a bike? I know people do, rent them I mean, but still...

It started off slow, with a swim/run, then exploded into a 1.5 hour hill repeat, 45 minute hard run, 30 mile bike + 2 mile run and ended with a 7 mile run. I did miss a swim workout, which isn't the sport I should miss, really it's not. But with Jer's family coming into town, Friday night wasn't mine and now Monday night isn't mine either. I could be, if I'd cancel my spa appointment, but I'm not going to, so I accept it.

I also volunteered my aunt and myself to make our tri team shirts bigger. The style that was chosen ended up being discontinued, running small and not having an XXL pattern (this would be an XL in normal patterns) so my aunt spent most of her Saturday sewing on the panels of material I cut out and pinned on the sides of the shirts. Once they get printed, I'll post a pic. I also ripped out all the seams, but my aunt did most of the work.

Saturday night also was a surprise party for my friend Audrey. She was having a hard time coming to terms with the 3-0, I think it was good for her. It also helped me realize how far I've come in terms of weight loss. I'm pretty hot (and very tan) if I do say so myself!

Heat + Sore/Heavy Legs + Hills = Running Fail

This morning, instead of going for my "long" 5 mile run (1/2 marathon next Sunday) or racing the Newport Beach Tri myself, I went to cheer on my Tri Sisters from Tri la Vie. (It's basically the same group of women who were in TriDivas for anyone who follows).

Let me say, I do like being a spectator for Sprint Triathlons. I love being a spectator for the athletes. I don't know if the random people telling me that I look strong, I have sexy legs (Carlsbad 1/2, they were telling everyone), only a few more miles (which I never tell people unless I know EXACTLY how many more miles are left) know how they pick me up and make me want to run or bike (I never quite here anything but yelling during the swim.)

There is one Sis that I'm especially proud of. After having a freak out, hyperventilating moment at the lake (and apparently during the first part of the swim) she powered through, got out of Back Bay and finished her race.

Due to all this cheering, I have a very hoarse voice and I didn't go running until about 1pm. It was about 87 degrees. I decided to run Santiago Canyon, thinking I could refill my bottles from my original hydration belt, at Cook's corner if I needed to. I needed.

In reality it was a run walk. I'm not very proud of my 13 min pace, but I know it's the best I could hope for given hills, the heat and no shade. I actually ran across the road to run in the shade on the way back.

The only reason I even went out at 1pm, was because I didn't want to wait until 8pm and Monday is supposed to be even hotter! I guess it was a good test drive for Iron Girl. Vegas may be that hot at 10 am on May 9th, when I get out on the run course. (First wave starts at 6:30. The waves aren't up yet, but I'm guessing I'm at least wave 3 or 4 with at least 10 minutes between waves, which puts my start about 7-7:10 IF they start on time.)

My biggest fear is overheating. I sweat so much as it is, how much more cooling power does my body have? They will have sponges every aid station on the run. I plan on using those to their fullest potential.

In summary, I suck at running in the heat and I'm already worried about Iron Girl. That is all.

Stud or Crazy

I went to a free Boot Camp workout this morning at the Spectrum, then decided to ride 2.5 hours, Santiago Canyon, a hill repeat (so I guess it's just a hill if there wasn't any repeating) then back to the house and a cool down around the neighborhood.

Am I a Stud or just Crazy. You decide.

I'm supposed to run 5 or 10 miles tomorrow. We'll see how that goes...

The Boot Camp was lots of work, but tons of fun and might be the strength training that I've been looking for. It does meet at 5:30 in the morning, which is a turn off.

Santiago Canyon was beautiful and I had a great time. Yes, people, mark this date down on your calendars. Yasmin actually enjoyed of her bike ride. The weather was great. Sunny, a bit hot, but comfortable. I made it from my house to Chapman in under an hour. The trip back took longer, but it always does. There is more uphill that way. At least that's what I'm telling myself.

Annoyed and Disappointed

Thursday:
Annoyed - I didn't have cash to park at a local Junior College and I didn't want to risk the machines not taking credit cards. I didn't want to waste that time. Little did I know I would be wasting more time.

Disappointed - Woodbridge HS had track practice. RSM Intermediate was finishing up track practice AND had already locked their bathrooms. I'm all for using my car as a changing room, but even I have limits. And getting naked in front of middle schoolers isn't only past my limit, but possibility an arrestable offense.

I ended up at home, running my mile repeats in my neighborhood. I did get to stop by the store and pick up groceries for dinner before I got all stinky, so that's a win, but I didn't get to start my workout until after 5, which was a bummer.

Annoyed - I need to remember that mile repeats should push your running ability, but not kill you. As in, if I run a 10 min pace for a 5K, I probably can't hold an 8:45 min/mile. The under 9 min pace killed me. I could barely hold it for a quarter mile. I don't think quarter mile sprints are going to increase my endurance or mile time...

Wednesday
Annoyed - Got out of work late, headed to the Post Office, not thinking that it would be crazy. It's not like Christmas time, people just need to drop off their taxes, but no, it was crazy. So I nixed it, when to Whole Foods to pick up cupcakes for a birthday celebration, then headed to check out hydration belts. I came home with a hydration belt, that I'm thinking about returning, and new shoes, which I wore today for my run.

Disappointed - Rushed back home from the running store, threw on my swim suit, grabbed my wetsuit, trislide, and headed over to the lake. Jumped into my wetsuit and got into the water, but it was too late. I was pulled out, due to sunset, about 5 minutes before the end of my hour. The lifeguards had been whistling at me and I hadn't noticed. It was kind of ironic that the person that might get our group kicked out of the kick ass venue was actually a person who pays the lake association fee. Nice huh.

I now love swimming in my wetsuit. The full body girdle look is nothing compared to how fast I feel in the water.

Down and Out and Fuel Belts

Well, out anyway. And not that kind of out, I mean out of blogland.

I haven't been keeping up with this lately, and I even had a really good post in my head about my run on Friday. A PSA, if you will, and I'll get to that in a bit.

Much has been going in lately, training and otherwise.

Thursday I found out that it wasn't just the bike, I'm actually getting stronger on it. Yay me. The Cannondale does make things a bit easier, though.

Friday see below. I did get rained on a bit, but only for 10-15 minutes. It was a nice overcast run.

Saturday swam. Didn't get as good of times as I think I should have and my left shoulder is starting to hurt. I'm not sure if that's the same shoulder that hurt last year or not, I'll have to post chase myself to find out.

Sunday I went on a hike/walk at Crystal Cove. I didn't realize I had basically done the whole thing before during the Pac Coast Tri, but I didn't have time to enjoy it like I did on Sunday. It was a beautiful day. I went with my friend Anissa and we saw tons of birds and a bunny!

PSA:

If the longest run you did the week before was 5 miles, and it was your only run that week, don't try to pull out a 10 mile (or really a 9.5 mile) hilly run as your first (and only) run of this week.

It isn't pretty and your thighs (both hamstrings and quads) will scream at you later.

Also, I'm looking for suggestions on fuel belts. I have an Amphipod runlite 4 (meaning it comes with 4 bottles) but one of my holders, maybe more, doesn't keep the bottles well. They pop/slip out.

I finally broke one of the bottles when it fell out 4 weeks ago and on Friday's run I lost a bottle that didn't snap in completely. I can pay 10 bucks for 2 new bottles or buy a new belt. I've looked at more of Amphipod's belts and found a full tilt that carries 40 oz in 2 bottles plus more storage than my current belt has.

The other one I found was their profile lite 32. Carries 32 oz water, storage much like what I already have.

These pictures were taken from Amphipod's website, in case anyone wants to know.

Suggestions? Keep in mind that I push all of the bottles on my current belt to the back. I hate hitting them with my arms when I run. Anybody?

If I decide to get a new belt, I'll have an old one for sale/trade/free...