I'm a runner. I'm a sprinter more than a long distance runner. Sometimes I miss a run and, like the New Balance "love/hate" commercials, that sweaty make-up run feels oh soooo good! My absolute fave: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJFsE4bz_SQ
I wish today was like that...and it would have been had I actually gotten up at 6:00 this morning for my 10 miler. This weekend I slept in and since I'm watching Grams this weekend I didn't want her to wake-up early and think she was all alone. My grandmother is 92 years old and she has trouble remembering sometimes.
So after I made her breakfast, I waited my requisite 1.5 hours and then told Grams I was going out for a long run and would be back. It was 10am. I checked weather.com and the fitness forecast called for mildly comfortable. I figured as long as I could be back by noon I'd be okay. Hell no! It is freaking hot here in the Central Valley!
I wasn't out for more than 15 minutes and I was already regretting not getting up at 6am this morning. I'm in the Central Valley where there are no trees or shade and if you are going for a long run it is either on pavement or by the canal. As I am running alone, naturally I would want to wait until the roads were a little busier lest something befall me -- like a heat stroke!
I ended up cutting my run short and rather than feeling like a wimp - I just plain ran stupid today!
When you are training for a long race and are having your longest run yet, you want to mimic race conditions as best you can. So today's route was a little under four (and yet still at goal pace?!). I'm going to be smart and run the extra 6 to 8 tomorrow EARLY!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Slowly, surely I will prevail
I saw my Dr. Kelly today for my routine adjustment. When I not "in-training" I normally get a monthly adjustment of the neck and back; however, when I'm training and pounding out the miles those monthly visits sometimes turn into two or three.
Anyway, Dr. Kelly asked me how my training was going and I just laughed. It is going...I mean I'm running but lately haven't been feeling that well and only ran one day last week. This week, I'm feeling a bit better and hope to push out some quality runs on Thursday and Saturday. Saturday will be tricky because I'm taking care of Grandma this weekend which means I'll have to pound out the mileage early and be back in time to prepare an 8am breakfast.
I feel more prepared this season (physically) than previous seasons. The only thing that has proven to be a challenge is the fundraising but I know this and for all my Bay Area California friends -- I'm planning some fun events so stay tuned!
It is challenging, yes but I like a challenge and I need to be out there with my fellow teammates because we all are helping to fight cancer....one grueling, painful, long mile at a time!
Anyway, Dr. Kelly asked me how my training was going and I just laughed. It is going...I mean I'm running but lately haven't been feeling that well and only ran one day last week. This week, I'm feeling a bit better and hope to push out some quality runs on Thursday and Saturday. Saturday will be tricky because I'm taking care of Grandma this weekend which means I'll have to pound out the mileage early and be back in time to prepare an 8am breakfast.
I feel more prepared this season (physically) than previous seasons. The only thing that has proven to be a challenge is the fundraising but I know this and for all my Bay Area California friends -- I'm planning some fun events so stay tuned!
It is challenging, yes but I like a challenge and I need to be out there with my fellow teammates because we all are helping to fight cancer....one grueling, painful, long mile at a time!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Don't wimp out on me! Make a donation today!
Happy Spring!
Today was officially the first day of Spring and, in good ‘ole California, the weather seemed to agree! Not only did we have a 60 degree day in the East Bay, we also had a small earthquake on the Calaveras fault. I emailed my Team in Training mentor asking if we were still going to have practice and the answer was yes because there are NO WIMPS on our team as we all raise funds to help fight blood cancers!
After two months of training, our mileage is increasing and the workouts are getting tougher! For instance, we started hill repeats! A hill repeat is when you run up a relatively steep hill (ideally as fast as you can) and either walk or run back down only to do it again! There are times when it feels like that hill never ends and you just want to walk, but when that happens I look up or listen around me and hear everyone else. I hear words of encouragement and the sense of community as we’re really there to provide hope and strength to the family and patients dealing with blood cancers – and I need your help!
Your tax deductible donation will help improve the quality of life of patients and their families from helping with the medical bills to the simple things we often take for granted such as transportation costs for treatments!
Your tax deductible donation will help fund the ongoing research to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma.
Your donation will go to a reputable charity that is a member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau member and that devotes 75% of every dollar directly to their mission: curing blood cancers!
Your help is wanted and needed. Please consider making a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society today by completing the form below and returning your check in the enclosed self-addressed stamped envelope. If you prefer to use a credit card you may do so online at the following address: http://www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/tabsaveofgiants.
Today was officially the first day of Spring and, in good ‘ole California, the weather seemed to agree! Not only did we have a 60 degree day in the East Bay, we also had a small earthquake on the Calaveras fault. I emailed my Team in Training mentor asking if we were still going to have practice and the answer was yes because there are NO WIMPS on our team as we all raise funds to help fight blood cancers!
After two months of training, our mileage is increasing and the workouts are getting tougher! For instance, we started hill repeats! A hill repeat is when you run up a relatively steep hill (ideally as fast as you can) and either walk or run back down only to do it again! There are times when it feels like that hill never ends and you just want to walk, but when that happens I look up or listen around me and hear everyone else. I hear words of encouragement and the sense of community as we’re really there to provide hope and strength to the family and patients dealing with blood cancers – and I need your help!
Your tax deductible donation will help improve the quality of life of patients and their families from helping with the medical bills to the simple things we often take for granted such as transportation costs for treatments!
Your tax deductible donation will help fund the ongoing research to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma.
Your donation will go to a reputable charity that is a member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau member and that devotes 75% of every dollar directly to their mission: curing blood cancers!
Your help is wanted and needed. Please consider making a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society today by completing the form below and returning your check in the enclosed self-addressed stamped envelope. If you prefer to use a credit card you may do so online at the following address: http://www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/tabsaveofgiants.
Hill repeats?! Ahh, no problem!
I finally remembered my password to blogger. I'm not used to using this site and have been lax in updating my training progress.
Well tonight, as the title suggests, I had hill repeats. The hill...that hill...was approximately 200 meters and, if you could imagine, was shaped like a flat "f" or the symbol from Heroes! You started out on a small incline and then suddenly the incline changed. It went up and up and broke and then went up some more!
Your (okay me) breathing hard and shallow, pumping your arms and keeping your knees high. You don't dare look up because to look up would be self destructive. You only keep your eyes on the ground or on the butt/back in front of you as you chase them down!
You reach the top and...the light comes out and shines down on you (oh I was dreaming for a moment, sorry)...you reach the top and you SUCK AIR! You try (okay I tried) to keep a light jog one around the hill top but you end up walking in order to get your breathing back to normal.
You run back down, again never looking ahead only at the grand or at the butt/back in front of you. Your form is different on the run down. You keep your hips slightly low and your barely try to touch the ground with your whole foot. You want to be fast and light until you realize the faster you go down the sooner you have to turn around and run back up!
It was FUN and even though everyone else is hating it as much as you do -- you can't help but notice the smiles and determination because we all are running for someone.
Tomorrow is a rest day - thank heaven! Saturday is a long run day. :D
Well tonight, as the title suggests, I had hill repeats. The hill...that hill...was approximately 200 meters and, if you could imagine, was shaped like a flat "f" or the symbol from Heroes! You started out on a small incline and then suddenly the incline changed. It went up and up and broke and then went up some more!
Your (okay me) breathing hard and shallow, pumping your arms and keeping your knees high. You don't dare look up because to look up would be self destructive. You only keep your eyes on the ground or on the butt/back in front of you as you chase them down!
You reach the top and...the light comes out and shines down on you (oh I was dreaming for a moment, sorry)...you reach the top and you SUCK AIR! You try (okay I tried) to keep a light jog one around the hill top but you end up walking in order to get your breathing back to normal.
You run back down, again never looking ahead only at the grand or at the butt/back in front of you. Your form is different on the run down. You keep your hips slightly low and your barely try to touch the ground with your whole foot. You want to be fast and light until you realize the faster you go down the sooner you have to turn around and run back up!
It was FUN and even though everyone else is hating it as much as you do -- you can't help but notice the smiles and determination because we all are running for someone.
Tomorrow is a rest day - thank heaven! Saturday is a long run day. :D
Friday, February 8, 2008
Push it
It is 9:47 pm and I'm recalling that first run with Team in Training when I should be sleeping for a group run tomorrow morning. I push it too hard sometimes. Perhaps if I didn't I wouldn't be having the back pain I'm feeling now.
Somehow, I managed to throw out her back while...get this...making her bed Thursday morning! Yes! I bent over to tuck the sheets in ala-military style and that was it! I felt like someone was pulling me forward preventing me from standing back up. After a few deep breaths I managed to straighten up - but wow! I haven't hurt my back like that in a long long time. In fact, the last time (car accident aside) was when I was first moving into my apartment and trying to connect a 100lb mirror to a wardrobe by myself.
Anyway, this pain is nothing when compared to everything else! For those who know, pushing it too hard is not uncommon for me. I'll run a little harder, a little faster because I'm in training.
Somehow, I managed to throw out her back while...get this...making her bed Thursday morning! Yes! I bent over to tuck the sheets in ala-military style and that was it! I felt like someone was pulling me forward preventing me from standing back up. After a few deep breaths I managed to straighten up - but wow! I haven't hurt my back like that in a long long time. In fact, the last time (car accident aside) was when I was first moving into my apartment and trying to connect a 100lb mirror to a wardrobe by myself.
Anyway, this pain is nothing when compared to everything else! For those who know, pushing it too hard is not uncommon for me. I'll run a little harder, a little faster because I'm in training.
I'm training for a purpose.
I'm training for The Ave because I believe in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's mission.
I'll push it because I'm raising funds for Leukemia & Lymphoma and I don't want to let them down.
I'll push it because I'm healthy and if my running helps put a smile on an honoree's face then that is all I need to know.
I'll push it and keep pushing it until my legs no longer function and I'm out of breath - but even then I'll push it more because I'm running for a purpose:
You can help push me too by making a tax-deductible donation today by clicking here: http://www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/tabsaveofgiants
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