1. Things I learned this week: Putting off the weekend long run until Sunday afternoon isn't the best idea. Especially when you don't have outdoor running gear and have to run 99 laps on an indoor track in order to get your 9 mile run in without killing yourself on the treadmill. But that's what I did.
I paid for it Monday with achy legs, that got even more achy since I spent Monday through Wednesday sitting on an uncomfortable courtroom bench covering a murder trial for work. Hard benches, long hours sitting in one place coupled with very bad hydration (word to the wise, I've learned to limit my water intake when I'm in a courtroom all day since judges control when you get bathroom breaks) probably didn't help with recovery. So ultimately it was probably a good thing I didn't get to run.
2. But the jury took 30 minutes to return a verdict Wednesday and I got out of work at a normal hour! First thing I did? Run. I would have loved to log some miles outside, since it was 60 degrees and sunny. In Wisconsin. In March. But there were the steady 30 mile hour winds that almost blew me off the courthouse steps to contend with. So I headed inside. And the run felt good. Second thing I did (after scarfing down some dinner), I started watching Season 1 of Gossip Girl. Yes, I think I've found my new guilty pleasure.
3. Can't wait for this weekend. I'm heading down to Madison to meet up with some of my Ragnar Chicago teammates. We've got plans for a 6-mile run on Saturday followed by food and getting to know each other. I'm pretty sure there will be lots of talk about our upcoming Ragnar adventure! Can't wait.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Seroogy's Run 15K Race Report
Where do you even start with a recap for a race that was almost a month ago?
I don't know. And honestly, the details of the race are a bit fuzzy at this point. What I do remember about the Seroogy's Run 15K? It was cold. Oh so cold. We're talking maybe 7 degrees when the race started, but when you factor in the wind, it was closer to feeling like -10 degrees. Yes, below zero. So cold.
And when I went to pick up my packet there was a tiny part of me - ok, a big part of me - that wanted to switch over to the 5K distance when I saw all the other runners doing that. But then I remembered I had friends who would be out on the course suffering through 9.3 miserably chilly miles with me.
So I didn't.
I ran with my friend Krystal - the one who paced me through the miserable conditions at the Oshkosh Half last spring - and I admit, this turned into more of a just get the 9.3 miles done kind of run rather than an actual race.
The course is a simple out and back, mostly through residential areas, but there was a pretty section through an abbey, which would have been prettier had I not been freezing cold and miserable. Yes, I was freezing and miserable within the first mile.
But I kept running. Keeping a somewhat decent pace. Actually I was feeling pretty good through the first six miles. Started to struggle a little bit after the turnaround point. Took a Gu Chomp and kept running.
Then I hit mile 7.5. And we turned right, which meant we were running straight into that bone-chilling cold wind - and uphill - for the final 2 miles. Brutal. So brutal there were moments I just wanted to find a pile of snow (because of all weekends it decided to snow the day before), curl up in a ball and cry. Or freeze to death. But Krystal wouldn't let me. So I kept running.
I was losing feeling in my legs at this point. And my face. And my IT band was getting a bit cranky (you would have thought the coldness would have numbed the annoying pain). And even though I had my hand-held water bottle with me, it wasn't very useful since it had frozen. Yup. I was left with a frozen bottle of Gatorade. So I kept running.
Eventually I made one last left hand turn and I was in sight of the finish line. Of course this was the crappiest footing on the entire 9.3 mile route. But whatever. I crossed the finish line. Frozen cold. But happy to be done. Krystal and I met up with Peggy - who rocked the freezing cold race - and we went and got our cheese and chocolate. Yes. The promise of chocolate was the only thing that kept going during those last 2 freezing cold miles. And the chocolate was good. Very good.
I ended up finishing in 1:50 and some seconds. Not what I was hoping for. But it was cold. And I could have stayed in bed or dropped down to the 5K distance. But I didn't.
I don't know. And honestly, the details of the race are a bit fuzzy at this point. What I do remember about the Seroogy's Run 15K? It was cold. Oh so cold. We're talking maybe 7 degrees when the race started, but when you factor in the wind, it was closer to feeling like -10 degrees. Yes, below zero. So cold.
And when I went to pick up my packet there was a tiny part of me - ok, a big part of me - that wanted to switch over to the 5K distance when I saw all the other runners doing that. But then I remembered I had friends who would be out on the course suffering through 9.3 miserably chilly miles with me.
So I didn't.
I ran with my friend Krystal - the one who paced me through the miserable conditions at the Oshkosh Half last spring - and I admit, this turned into more of a just get the 9.3 miles done kind of run rather than an actual race.
The course is a simple out and back, mostly through residential areas, but there was a pretty section through an abbey, which would have been prettier had I not been freezing cold and miserable. Yes, I was freezing and miserable within the first mile.
But I kept running. Keeping a somewhat decent pace. Actually I was feeling pretty good through the first six miles. Started to struggle a little bit after the turnaround point. Took a Gu Chomp and kept running.
Then I hit mile 7.5. And we turned right, which meant we were running straight into that bone-chilling cold wind - and uphill - for the final 2 miles. Brutal. So brutal there were moments I just wanted to find a pile of snow (because of all weekends it decided to snow the day before), curl up in a ball and cry. Or freeze to death. But Krystal wouldn't let me. So I kept running.
I was losing feeling in my legs at this point. And my face. And my IT band was getting a bit cranky (you would have thought the coldness would have numbed the annoying pain). And even though I had my hand-held water bottle with me, it wasn't very useful since it had frozen. Yup. I was left with a frozen bottle of Gatorade. So I kept running.
Eventually I made one last left hand turn and I was in sight of the finish line. Of course this was the crappiest footing on the entire 9.3 mile route. But whatever. I crossed the finish line. Frozen cold. But happy to be done. Krystal and I met up with Peggy - who rocked the freezing cold race - and we went and got our cheese and chocolate. Yes. The promise of chocolate was the only thing that kept going during those last 2 freezing cold miles. And the chocolate was good. Very good.
I ended up finishing in 1:50 and some seconds. Not what I was hoping for. But it was cold. And I could have stayed in bed or dropped down to the 5K distance. But I didn't.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Reading Recap: February
Two months of 2012 are already done? Geez. Where's the time go?
Since there wasn't a whole lot of running this month, I guess I spent the time reading. Because I did read. In fact I finished four books in February for 1,437 pages. That brings me to a total of seven books and 2,341 pages. Pretty decent progress towards my 40 books goal for the year. For those keeping track at home, by the end of February last year I had finished five books and 1,652 pages. And nine days into the month of March I started the beast that was Les Miserables. And we all remember how that turned out.
Any way. Back to February 2012 and what I read:
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Ziegesar
50/50 by Dean Karnazes
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
Cutting for Stone was the main one this month. I had heard so many great reviews from friends. But honestly? I thought it was good. But it was long. And the middle kind of dragged and there were parts where it was just too much in-depth medical detail that I thought could be summed up or chopped out of the book completely. Don't get me wrong. It was a great story. There were just parts where I wish the story would have moved along a little quicker. I'd still recommend to friends, but just with the warning that I didn't think it was as amazing as some of the reviews made it out to be.
The Dean Karnazes book was good. I wish there was a little bit more detail about the actual marathons he ran instead of the pages and pages of detail he went into about training pointers. But then again, I guess that was kind of the point of the book. An interesting read, but not necessarily a must read for runners in my opinion.
And I can't seem to go a month lately without some fluffy, trashy young adult material. Yes, Gossip Girl falls into that category. Spoiled rich kids who can drink and smoke and sleep with whomever they want. But it draws you in. And just a warning, the second book of the series will show up on the March recap. Catching Jordan was better. Throw together a high school girl who is the star quarterback who is vying for a scholarship to a Division I program and a love triangle with her and two boys. Fluffy. But good.
At this point I'm not sure what March will have in store. Probably depends on what the library can get me.
What did you read this month?
Since there wasn't a whole lot of running this month, I guess I spent the time reading. Because I did read. In fact I finished four books in February for 1,437 pages. That brings me to a total of seven books and 2,341 pages. Pretty decent progress towards my 40 books goal for the year. For those keeping track at home, by the end of February last year I had finished five books and 1,652 pages. And nine days into the month of March I started the beast that was Les Miserables. And we all remember how that turned out.
Any way. Back to February 2012 and what I read:
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Ziegesar
50/50 by Dean Karnazes
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
Cutting for Stone was the main one this month. I had heard so many great reviews from friends. But honestly? I thought it was good. But it was long. And the middle kind of dragged and there were parts where it was just too much in-depth medical detail that I thought could be summed up or chopped out of the book completely. Don't get me wrong. It was a great story. There were just parts where I wish the story would have moved along a little quicker. I'd still recommend to friends, but just with the warning that I didn't think it was as amazing as some of the reviews made it out to be.
The Dean Karnazes book was good. I wish there was a little bit more detail about the actual marathons he ran instead of the pages and pages of detail he went into about training pointers. But then again, I guess that was kind of the point of the book. An interesting read, but not necessarily a must read for runners in my opinion.
And I can't seem to go a month lately without some fluffy, trashy young adult material. Yes, Gossip Girl falls into that category. Spoiled rich kids who can drink and smoke and sleep with whomever they want. But it draws you in. And just a warning, the second book of the series will show up on the March recap. Catching Jordan was better. Throw together a high school girl who is the star quarterback who is vying for a scholarship to a Division I program and a love triangle with her and two boys. Fluffy. But good.
At this point I'm not sure what March will have in store. Probably depends on what the library can get me.
What did you read this month?
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Three Things Thursday
1. I've spent a lot of time this week working on a story about concussions and youth sports. Makes me glad I didn't play football or any other contact sport (I played tennis in high school). Up next week? A homicide trial that will be fairly gruesome.
2. Since I'll be sitting in a courtroom all week I'm pretty sure I'll be needing to get out and run once my work days are over. Not only to stretch my legs and log the miles needed for my training plan, but to keep my sanity. Promises to be a bit of an intense week.
3. Races. Races. And more races, oh my! I'm already signed up for Runaway to the Bay (a 55-mile relay), the Capital City Half Marathon (in Columbus, Ohio), the Cellcom Green Bay Half Marathon and Ragnar Chicago. I'm toying with doing the Oshkosh Half Marathon in April again just because it fits in with my training plan and it's so much easier to run 13.1 miles with hundreds of other people rather than solo. And let's not even talk about summer and fall. So many races that I'd like to do, just not sure which ones I can. Decisions. Decisions.
2. Since I'll be sitting in a courtroom all week I'm pretty sure I'll be needing to get out and run once my work days are over. Not only to stretch my legs and log the miles needed for my training plan, but to keep my sanity. Promises to be a bit of an intense week.
3. Races. Races. And more races, oh my! I'm already signed up for Runaway to the Bay (a 55-mile relay), the Capital City Half Marathon (in Columbus, Ohio), the Cellcom Green Bay Half Marathon and Ragnar Chicago. I'm toying with doing the Oshkosh Half Marathon in April again just because it fits in with my training plan and it's so much easier to run 13.1 miles with hundreds of other people rather than solo. And let's not even talk about summer and fall. So many races that I'd like to do, just not sure which ones I can. Decisions. Decisions.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Back in the game. Really.
Last week I was feeling good. I had taken my mini break to get my head back into training mode after the not so impressive training cycle for Seroogy's 15K. I had three good runs during the week and was ready to knock out 9 or 10 miles on Saturday.
My body had other plans for me.
I was at work Friday and by late morning I was feeling like poo. A stuffy nose. But a stuff nose that wouldn't stop running. A headache. Sneezing. Oh the sneezing. And tired. So, so tired. I finished what I needed to do and headed home.
Had a low key dinner with my parents and went to bed, intending to still run on Saturday. But since I was running solo, I didn't have any set time that I needed to run. Obviously the earlier the better, but I wasn't tied to a particular time. I didn't set an alarm and went to bed. And more than 11 hours later I woke up. Still feeling like poo, actually feeling worse.
The run wasn't going to happen. Instead I caught up on episodes of Glee and Alaska State Troopers. It was another early night with plans to head over to the YMCA in the morning to do a combination of running circles around the indoor track and the treadmill in order to get my run in. But of course I needed to be done early since the Badgers were playing Ohio State.
Once again, I woke up almost 11 hours later on Sunday morning feeling like like death. Run wasn't happening. I took it easy again and told myself I could get the miles in on Monday since I would be getting out of work early. Once again, it didn't happen. Felt a little better Monday, but still not the greatest, so instead of running after work it was home, sweatpants and TV. Tuesday I felt better but thought I'd give myself one more day of rest before running. So it was more sweatpants and TV.
And today? Today I felt good. As in, I was anxious to run. My spring half marathons are getting closer and I knew I needed to get back into training mode. So even though there was a little part of me that just wanted to skip my run, I headed to the YMCA treadmill after work.
I wasn't sure how far I'd go. Or how the run would feel. So I started easy. And it felt good. And 4.2 miles later I was done. Happy to be feeling better. Happy to be back running. And ready to tackle the rest of my training plan.
66 days until the Capital City Half Marathon in Columbus, Ohio and 81 days until the Cellcom Green Bay Half Marathon. And an even 100 days until Ragnar Chicago. Let's get it done.
My body had other plans for me.
I was at work Friday and by late morning I was feeling like poo. A stuffy nose. But a stuff nose that wouldn't stop running. A headache. Sneezing. Oh the sneezing. And tired. So, so tired. I finished what I needed to do and headed home.
Had a low key dinner with my parents and went to bed, intending to still run on Saturday. But since I was running solo, I didn't have any set time that I needed to run. Obviously the earlier the better, but I wasn't tied to a particular time. I didn't set an alarm and went to bed. And more than 11 hours later I woke up. Still feeling like poo, actually feeling worse.
The run wasn't going to happen. Instead I caught up on episodes of Glee and Alaska State Troopers. It was another early night with plans to head over to the YMCA in the morning to do a combination of running circles around the indoor track and the treadmill in order to get my run in. But of course I needed to be done early since the Badgers were playing Ohio State.
Once again, I woke up almost 11 hours later on Sunday morning feeling like like death. Run wasn't happening. I took it easy again and told myself I could get the miles in on Monday since I would be getting out of work early. Once again, it didn't happen. Felt a little better Monday, but still not the greatest, so instead of running after work it was home, sweatpants and TV. Tuesday I felt better but thought I'd give myself one more day of rest before running. So it was more sweatpants and TV.
And today? Today I felt good. As in, I was anxious to run. My spring half marathons are getting closer and I knew I needed to get back into training mode. So even though there was a little part of me that just wanted to skip my run, I headed to the YMCA treadmill after work.
I wasn't sure how far I'd go. Or how the run would feel. So I started easy. And it felt good. And 4.2 miles later I was done. Happy to be feeling better. Happy to be back running. And ready to tackle the rest of my training plan.
66 days until the Capital City Half Marathon in Columbus, Ohio and 81 days until the Cellcom Green Bay Half Marathon. And an even 100 days until Ragnar Chicago. Let's get it done.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Three Things Thursday
1. For starters, I'm not dead. Just been MIA in the blog world. It's been a busy few weeks and the running mojo was missing last week. And sitting in front of a computer at night was the last thing I wanted to do.
2. Don't worry, the running mojo has returned. I've gotten a few good runs in this week. A little bit of tempo on Monday, some hill repeats on Wednesday. Add in some core and strength training and it's been good workout wise. Oh hill repeats. I forgot home much I dread you. But you do such good things.
3. I still owe you (a very late) race report from the Seroogy's 15K on Feb. 11. Now that I'm finally thawed out, I'll get to writing that. This weekend.
2. Don't worry, the running mojo has returned. I've gotten a few good runs in this week. A little bit of tempo on Monday, some hill repeats on Wednesday. Add in some core and strength training and it's been good workout wise. Oh hill repeats. I forgot home much I dread you. But you do such good things.
3. I still owe you (a very late) race report from the Seroogy's 15K on Feb. 11. Now that I'm finally thawed out, I'll get to writing that. This weekend.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Three Things Thursday: Seroogy's Edition
1. Hey guess what. I've got a race this weekend. Yup. I'm running the Seroogy's Valentine Run 15K. Honestly it was one of those races that I knew I was going to be running, but it kind of creeped up on me and all of a sudden, BAM, it's race week.
2. I'm supposed to have some race goals. Uh, how about don't die? Seriously though. I'm not really sure what I should be shooting for. Yes, I've been running, but the runs have seemed to be very inconsistent in terms of quality. One week they've been good. The next, downright awful. If I have to put some goals down on paper, I guess they'd have to be:
3. To be honest, I'm kind of ready for this race to be over. Because that closes one chapter in my running story and opens a new one. But that's a topic I'll touch on next week.
2. I'm supposed to have some race goals. Uh, how about don't die? Seriously though. I'm not really sure what I should be shooting for. Yes, I've been running, but the runs have seemed to be very inconsistent in terms of quality. One week they've been good. The next, downright awful. If I have to put some goals down on paper, I guess they'd have to be:
A Goal: 1:42, that's an 11 min/mile pace
B: Goal: 1:45. That's a pace of 11:17.
C: Goal: Don't die. Have a good time.
Of course, any result I come up with will be an automatic PR since I've never run a 15K before. And I have a feeling how I do on Saturday will be somewhat dependent on the weather. Unfortunately Mother Nature has decided that this weekend (seriously, just Friday through Sunday) is a good time to give us a taste of what winter in Wisconsin is really like.
3. To be honest, I'm kind of ready for this race to be over. Because that closes one chapter in my running story and opens a new one. But that's a topic I'll touch on next week.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Trying out the this tempo run thing
Considering the length of time I've been running, I can't believe I'm about to say this.
I don't think I've ever done a tempo run.
See I usually just run to get the miles in. I've never been too concerned about keeping a specific pace during my runs. I usually just go with what feels good. If it starts to get hard I back off.
That changed last night.
I had been battling a headache for a few days and I ended up being at work late, so instead of going to my weekly group run, I headed over to the YMCA and snagged a treadmill. Side note: Still a huge crowd that are keeping their resolutions. I barely got a treadmill. I'm glad people are making changes in their lives, but I want the gym crowd to thin out a little more around 5:30ish.
So I got on the treadmill and started to run. I wasn't feeling the best and the legs were a bit heavy, so honestly I wasn't sure what I was going to be able to do. Heck, I didn't even know how far I'd go. But a half mile in the legs started to feel good. And I told myself I was going to push it for the next two miles, try to hold a constant pace and not stop.
I upped the treadmill speed to a 10 min/mile and I was off. The first mile felt fine. The second mile felt good, although I could tell the legs were starting to feel it a bit. But I decided to keep going. So I started playing games with myself. Just go another half mile and you can slow down. 2.5 miles at the 10 min/mile pace. Go another half mile. 3 miles. Well, at this point I've got a half mile left in my run. So I up the speed to a 9:50 min/mile and tell myself, you can do it. Then you really can have a cool down. So I ran.
Four miles at 40:11. That includes the warm up half mile (which took 5:15) and 3.5 tempo miles in 34:56. And you know what? It felt good. Hard, especially that last half mile, but good. I finished it off with an untimed cool down of 0.7 miles.
I could definitely feel it in my legs today, which is why I just did a very easy 3 miles tonight. But I'm seriously going to start adding these tempo miles in. And of course I'm starting to wonder, why have I never done them before?
I don't think I've ever done a tempo run.
See I usually just run to get the miles in. I've never been too concerned about keeping a specific pace during my runs. I usually just go with what feels good. If it starts to get hard I back off.
That changed last night.
I had been battling a headache for a few days and I ended up being at work late, so instead of going to my weekly group run, I headed over to the YMCA and snagged a treadmill. Side note: Still a huge crowd that are keeping their resolutions. I barely got a treadmill. I'm glad people are making changes in their lives, but I want the gym crowd to thin out a little more around 5:30ish.
So I got on the treadmill and started to run. I wasn't feeling the best and the legs were a bit heavy, so honestly I wasn't sure what I was going to be able to do. Heck, I didn't even know how far I'd go. But a half mile in the legs started to feel good. And I told myself I was going to push it for the next two miles, try to hold a constant pace and not stop.
I upped the treadmill speed to a 10 min/mile and I was off. The first mile felt fine. The second mile felt good, although I could tell the legs were starting to feel it a bit. But I decided to keep going. So I started playing games with myself. Just go another half mile and you can slow down. 2.5 miles at the 10 min/mile pace. Go another half mile. 3 miles. Well, at this point I've got a half mile left in my run. So I up the speed to a 9:50 min/mile and tell myself, you can do it. Then you really can have a cool down. So I ran.
Four miles at 40:11. That includes the warm up half mile (which took 5:15) and 3.5 tempo miles in 34:56. And you know what? It felt good. Hard, especially that last half mile, but good. I finished it off with an untimed cool down of 0.7 miles.
I could definitely feel it in my legs today, which is why I just did a very easy 3 miles tonight. But I'm seriously going to start adding these tempo miles in. And of course I'm starting to wonder, why have I never done them before?
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