5.01 K @ 7'22
I'll allow you to compute the above...get your calculator if you need it...how long did it take me to do that run? UNDER THIRTY SEVEN MINUTES! Yes, indeed. I think I am probably most proud of this run of any I've done in the past 3 months. It's really set me up well for Sunday. I am not expecting to have another run this fast. This was a hill run, and for part of it I was wearing a backpack.
Part of the glamour of not driving is that I must squeeze many activities into one trip. So I did my hill run and left 1.5 K for running to my friend's place. I was going directly to work after the visit so it meant I'd have to bring my stuff with me. So I made a quick pit stop and grabbed my bag before the stretch to her place. It was my first time running with a backpack and yes, I felt like an idiot. I feel like an idiot a lot of the time though so really, I didn't care. I know I've talked about letting go of what other people think of you when you're running.
Whenever I see someone out there I always just think good for them. In fact, I saw what I believed to be a father and son out running tonight. I was so struck by it that I actually shared that I had seen them with my brother. They were true runners. Long beautiful strides and they were completely in sync. It's really amazing to me to watch "real" runners out there, they make it look so easy. Normally, I have a twinge of jealousy ever wondering if I'll get there, but today watching the pair I just appreciated the athleticism and the work that they had to have put in to get there. A few minutes after that I saw another woman running, similar to what I know I look like. Like every step is actually work, short stride, iPod in hand; and I felt a strange kinship toward her and smiled at the thought that I felt connected to anyone who in any form was an athlete.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
"Even if You're on the Right Track...
you'll get run over if you just sit there". - Will Rogers
5K @ 7'33
All right, for once I am going to say how happy I was with my pace time. So happy, in fact, I teared up a little. With just 2 runs left before race date I was pretty much ecstatic to run it in under 38 minutes. I had decided on a goal for my race which is a time of 38 minutes and 45 seconds. That means a pace of 7'45. If I manage to keep a pretty decent pace on my next 5K I may bump it down a touch. I wasn't expecting such a speedy run today, I must admit.
I have had a bit of a cold this week and an ear ache. My second one this year, as in, during 2012. I'd never really had them before. I just kept my headband firmly in place over my ear and today wasn't too windy so it doesn't seem worse for wear. The weather was perfect. Gorgeous sunny day, not too warm. Looking ahead to Sunday it's supposed to be warm, but rainy. Of course! Mother nature, you sure know how to mess with me.
In other news, the set up of the blog is gonna change a bit next week as I'm gonna be cutting back on my running because I have to pick up cycling and swimming as well in order to train for a try a tri at the beginning of August. After Sunday I will have completed three 5 K races so it's time to shake it up a bit. I will be swimming 375m, biking (yuck!) 10 k and then running a mere 2.5 k. I say mere now not having swum or biked prior to running. I am kind of excited about this and have no idea how to train for the event the race site is fantastic though, and had tonnes of tips and literally goes through the race form registration to crossing the finish line.
In addition- does anyone use resistance bands to train? I picked up a few and like using them but they only come with 6 exercises.
5K @ 7'33
I have had a bit of a cold this week and an ear ache. My second one this year, as in, during 2012. I'd never really had them before. I just kept my headband firmly in place over my ear and today wasn't too windy so it doesn't seem worse for wear. The weather was perfect. Gorgeous sunny day, not too warm. Looking ahead to Sunday it's supposed to be warm, but rainy. Of course! Mother nature, you sure know how to mess with me.
In other news, the set up of the blog is gonna change a bit next week as I'm gonna be cutting back on my running because I have to pick up cycling and swimming as well in order to train for a try a tri at the beginning of August. After Sunday I will have completed three 5 K races so it's time to shake it up a bit. I will be swimming 375m, biking (yuck!) 10 k and then running a mere 2.5 k. I say mere now not having swum or biked prior to running. I am kind of excited about this and have no idea how to train for the event the race site is fantastic though, and had tonnes of tips and literally goes through the race form registration to crossing the finish line.
In addition- does anyone use resistance bands to train? I picked up a few and like using them but they only come with 6 exercises.
Monday, April 9, 2012
I Kinda Liked That.
3.02@ 7'14
Today I stayed in bed because I could hear the wind blowing outside and I didn't want to get up and run in the wind. I puttered around dilly dallying hoping that the wind would calm down a bit before I ran. Hey, I'm a recreational runner, I don't like adverse weather conditions. I do make a deal with myself on windy days though, I run into the wind for my first half then let it blow me back. It was very windy. There is an upside to that as I don't sweat as much running into the wind, which was good today because I've misplace my beloved headband. My ear buds kept getting blown out of my ears and as you can see, my pace time was way below normal; in part because I tend to run 3 K's faster, I love those days, a 3 feels like so much less of a chore and I also credit mother nature for the other part.
I realized that I talk about pace time a lot but for my non-runner readers I'm not sure if you know what I am talking about. When I say that I have done 3.02 K @ 7'14 it means that I have done 3 K at a pace of 7'14 the pace means how long it takes me to do 1k so in this case it took me 7 minutes and 14 seconds on average per K. If you look on the map, 1 k is about the distance that I ran on Mohawk.
Today I stayed in bed because I could hear the wind blowing outside and I didn't want to get up and run in the wind. I puttered around dilly dallying hoping that the wind would calm down a bit before I ran. Hey, I'm a recreational runner, I don't like adverse weather conditions. I do make a deal with myself on windy days though, I run into the wind for my first half then let it blow me back. It was very windy. There is an upside to that as I don't sweat as much running into the wind, which was good today because I've misplace my beloved headband. My ear buds kept getting blown out of my ears and as you can see, my pace time was way below normal; in part because I tend to run 3 K's faster, I love those days, a 3 feels like so much less of a chore and I also credit mother nature for the other part.
I realized that I talk about pace time a lot but for my non-runner readers I'm not sure if you know what I am talking about. When I say that I have done 3.02 K @ 7'14 it means that I have done 3 K at a pace of 7'14 the pace means how long it takes me to do 1k so in this case it took me 7 minutes and 14 seconds on average per K. If you look on the map, 1 k is about the distance that I ran on Mohawk.
Friday, April 6, 2012
"Other People May Not Have High Expectations of Me...
but I have high expectations for myself." -- Shannon
Miller
5.54@ 7'47
Happy Easter, everybody!
On this Good Friday I ran my least favourite route which is North up Upper Ottawa. The way back is mostly a slight incline and as much as I enjoy running uphill I don't enjoy running up slope. As I've discussed, I often contemplate my blog while I run. Today I was at a bit of a loss. Perfect weather, running a normal route, mediocre pace time...but, it is Good Friday and I started thinking about sacrifice.
What do I sacrifice to run? I really came up with nothing. As I went along I came up with time, money and walking. With running you risk injury, as I've experienced. So I sacrificed walking for a few weeks and still occasionally experience pain from that. Money- I need shoes and I do invest in some proper running clothes. As for time? I give up about two hours a week to run. If I were to weigh all of these sacrifices they still outweigh the positive that I get from running.
The pain is insignificant, and had I been more assertive in pursuing proper diagnosis and seeing a Dr who would have been better able to understand the injury I would have recovered sooner. So to my readers: go to your GP, ER and walk in clinic Drs do not have a specialized enough knowledge to diagnosis. There- that sacrifice has now benefited tens of readers. The sacrifice of cash is outweighed by the physical and mental benefits of running. My blood pressure and sugars are lower when I run, those are immediate results that I can measure as soon as I get home. There are multiple other benefits, my agility has improved and I walk into far less things, I can run to catch buses faster and over greater distance and not be out of breath when I get on, and my weight hasn't significantly increased even though I eat like garbage (yes, it's not the best for my Diabetes but something I am going to start to work on this month since my exercise schedule has reached a level I am content with). I invest about $200 a year in clothes for running. Largely due to shoes. This year I've run 30 times. This means I have paid $6.67 per run. In 3 months. Technically this year I have paid a grand total of $15 for a headband. So, I have paid 50 cents per run this year. Doing this math actually made me feel pretty good about running. Before the end of the year I may have to invest in new shoes, really, that's the priciest piece of equipment. Lastly, running also gives me two hours to myself where my mind can wander and I can have a bit of peace. I often find myself focused on running or the music I'm listening to, my mind is clear. This is something I can never achieve at any other time. Meditation is NOT my thing. What I realized is that running is not a sacrifice. I gain so much more from it that I had ever expected.
I enjoyed my mini reflection today while I ran and what I've accomplished in 3 months. I've dropped my pace time by about 30 seconds and my average distance has increased by a kilometre. That's pretty darn good if I do say so myself!
I also want to take the opportunity to thank my Dad, Mandy, Sarah and Crystal for their support and donation to me for my race. There's currently a foodbank shortage so I know the money will go far to feed hundreds with the Daily Bread Foodbank. Even greater I want to thank those who read and respond to my blog. It offers me great motivation to continue.
5.54@ 7'47
On this Good Friday I ran my least favourite route which is North up Upper Ottawa. The way back is mostly a slight incline and as much as I enjoy running uphill I don't enjoy running up slope. As I've discussed, I often contemplate my blog while I run. Today I was at a bit of a loss. Perfect weather, running a normal route, mediocre pace time...but, it is Good Friday and I started thinking about sacrifice.
What do I sacrifice to run? I really came up with nothing. As I went along I came up with time, money and walking. With running you risk injury, as I've experienced. So I sacrificed walking for a few weeks and still occasionally experience pain from that. Money- I need shoes and I do invest in some proper running clothes. As for time? I give up about two hours a week to run. If I were to weigh all of these sacrifices they still outweigh the positive that I get from running.
The pain is insignificant, and had I been more assertive in pursuing proper diagnosis and seeing a Dr who would have been better able to understand the injury I would have recovered sooner. So to my readers: go to your GP, ER and walk in clinic Drs do not have a specialized enough knowledge to diagnosis. There- that sacrifice has now benefited tens of readers. The sacrifice of cash is outweighed by the physical and mental benefits of running. My blood pressure and sugars are lower when I run, those are immediate results that I can measure as soon as I get home. There are multiple other benefits, my agility has improved and I walk into far less things, I can run to catch buses faster and over greater distance and not be out of breath when I get on, and my weight hasn't significantly increased even though I eat like garbage (yes, it's not the best for my Diabetes but something I am going to start to work on this month since my exercise schedule has reached a level I am content with). I invest about $200 a year in clothes for running. Largely due to shoes. This year I've run 30 times. This means I have paid $6.67 per run. In 3 months. Technically this year I have paid a grand total of $15 for a headband. So, I have paid 50 cents per run this year. Doing this math actually made me feel pretty good about running. Before the end of the year I may have to invest in new shoes, really, that's the priciest piece of equipment. Lastly, running also gives me two hours to myself where my mind can wander and I can have a bit of peace. I often find myself focused on running or the music I'm listening to, my mind is clear. This is something I can never achieve at any other time. Meditation is NOT my thing. What I realized is that running is not a sacrifice. I gain so much more from it that I had ever expected.
I enjoyed my mini reflection today while I ran and what I've accomplished in 3 months. I've dropped my pace time by about 30 seconds and my average distance has increased by a kilometre. That's pretty darn good if I do say so myself!
I also want to take the opportunity to thank my Dad, Mandy, Sarah and Crystal for their support and donation to me for my race. There's currently a foodbank shortage so I know the money will go far to feed hundreds with the Daily Bread Foodbank. Even greater I want to thank those who read and respond to my blog. It offers me great motivation to continue.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Just Did It.
3.63 @ 7'25
I ran on a track today so no map. It'd pretty much be me drawing a repeated 400 m oval. Track running is also my 2nd least favourite form of running. For many of the same reasons as a treadmill. I feel like I don't go anywhere. At least I'm outside if I'm on a track. It was a beautiful day for a run. Slightly windy, also an issue I dislike whilst track running. Half of each round is against wind. The track near my house is near a high school so I have to shed any self consciousness and run knowing that there could be possibly hundreds of pair of eyes watching me run. In addition, an elementary school gym class joined me on the track.
Why was I on a track if I dislike it? Today's run called for sprints. So it was 3 K plus 6 100m sprints. They felt pretty good. I was really focused on doing the entire 100 m as fast as I could, it's so easy to cut it short when you're out there on your own. I liked being able to run across the finish line at full speed. It allowed for some visualization for race day. Sounds cheesy but it's supposed to work.
As nice as the weather was today I definitely did not want to get out there. I have a rule that I'm not sure I've discussed which is the 10 minute rule if I REALLY REALLY don't want to get out there I tell myself to do just 10 minutes and if I still REALLY don't want to do it then I can call it quits. I think I've only quit once.
There's a glitch on my Nike+ and after almost every run Tiger Woods comes on and tells me that I ran 250 k, makes me feel like an ultra marathoner.
I ran on a track today so no map. It'd pretty much be me drawing a repeated 400 m oval. Track running is also my 2nd least favourite form of running. For many of the same reasons as a treadmill. I feel like I don't go anywhere. At least I'm outside if I'm on a track. It was a beautiful day for a run. Slightly windy, also an issue I dislike whilst track running. Half of each round is against wind. The track near my house is near a high school so I have to shed any self consciousness and run knowing that there could be possibly hundreds of pair of eyes watching me run. In addition, an elementary school gym class joined me on the track.
Why was I on a track if I dislike it? Today's run called for sprints. So it was 3 K plus 6 100m sprints. They felt pretty good. I was really focused on doing the entire 100 m as fast as I could, it's so easy to cut it short when you're out there on your own. I liked being able to run across the finish line at full speed. It allowed for some visualization for race day. Sounds cheesy but it's supposed to work.
As nice as the weather was today I definitely did not want to get out there. I have a rule that I'm not sure I've discussed which is the 10 minute rule if I REALLY REALLY don't want to get out there I tell myself to do just 10 minutes and if I still REALLY don't want to do it then I can call it quits. I think I've only quit once.
There's a glitch on my Nike+ and after almost every run Tiger Woods comes on and tells me that I ran 250 k, makes me feel like an ultra marathoner.
Monday, April 2, 2012
"You Have a Choice...
You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your
face." -Gatorade
5 K @ 7'35
Today was ideal for a run. I know I am not looking forward to the summer heat but today was amazing. In part, I'm sure, because I also enjoyed myself on the run. I try to check my pace after the end of every song and today I had forgotten to do that. I was just out there enjoying myself. I felt really good after doing the hill run yesterday.
I have five more runs until race day and my excitement is mounting. This is technically the first run that I've actually properly trained for. The first one I didn't run the entire month beforehand and the second I trained one week prior. I think I may have also had developed diabetes by that point. Both times I wanted to run it in less than 40 minutes and failed to do so. So I'm trying to choose a reasonable time now. I could set the same one, but I think I could easily do that. There's no way I could do it in under 35 I may just do under 39. That means about a 7'45 pace time, which is what I've been trying to keep it under of late.
Here's a great video that I found kind of amazing and inspired me with regards to determination. It's a Canada-US individual tug of war.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsPIzRsUtlE
5 K @ 7'35
I have five more runs until race day and my excitement is mounting. This is technically the first run that I've actually properly trained for. The first one I didn't run the entire month beforehand and the second I trained one week prior. I think I may have also had developed diabetes by that point. Both times I wanted to run it in less than 40 minutes and failed to do so. So I'm trying to choose a reasonable time now. I could set the same one, but I think I could easily do that. There's no way I could do it in under 35 I may just do under 39. That means about a 7'45 pace time, which is what I've been trying to keep it under of late.
Here's a great video that I found kind of amazing and inspired me with regards to determination. It's a Canada-US individual tug of war.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsPIzRsUtlE
Sunday, April 1, 2012
A Weather First
4K @ 7'30
My run today was a hill run. My hill runs entail repeatedly running up and down across a highway overpass. I did try running up the escarpment and ended up crying. So maybe I will get to that again one day. The instructions on the running program I'm using says to run hard on the uphills and take it easy on the downhills. I am quite pleased with my 7'30 pace time and it felt really good. As I have written before, I really enjoy uphill runs. I like the fact that there is immediate gratification once you get over the crest of the hill and go flat or, even better, head downhill.
I obviously am a couple days behind in running as I was scheduled to do this on Friday. I woke up to a very very grey day and the sound of rain. Drats! Rain, my natural running enemy. I do not enjoy it. I often find myself uncomfortable. So, I waited until I couldn't hear anymore raindrops. Then, I hustled it out of the house. It rained a bit while I was out there but my unhappiness was neutralized by my enjoyment of running the hill. In my last half kilometre home it began to hail. Which was a first for me.
Exactly one fortnight until race day!
Sponsor me at: https://www.runningroom.com/dashboard/donations/index.php?raceId=7510&eventId=23519&memberId=UzMCPFQzUzQGYgQ1BzE%3D&item=8&guest=1
I'm only 15 dollars away from my goal!
I obviously am a couple days behind in running as I was scheduled to do this on Friday. I woke up to a very very grey day and the sound of rain. Drats! Rain, my natural running enemy. I do not enjoy it. I often find myself uncomfortable. So, I waited until I couldn't hear anymore raindrops. Then, I hustled it out of the house. It rained a bit while I was out there but my unhappiness was neutralized by my enjoyment of running the hill. In my last half kilometre home it began to hail. Which was a first for me.
Exactly one fortnight until race day!
Sponsor me at: https://www.runningroom.com/dashboard/donations/index.php?raceId=7510&eventId=23519&memberId=UzMCPFQzUzQGYgQ1BzE%3D&item=8&guest=1
I'm only 15 dollars away from my goal!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)