Distance: 0 miles
Speed: N/A
Weight: ?
Music: WRCT, circular saw, hammer, and sand paper
Yesterday was my first time missing my scheduled run. I made it a whole week. Damn.
We're installing new flooring on the second floor, and what we thought would take a few hours took the better part of the day. I also had the joy of discovering that my 28-year old knees don't adjust to squatting, kneeling, and crawling around on the floor the way they did when I was a little shaver. And while I absolutely refuse to diet while training, I have to admit I feel a little gross about the mass quantities of cheese, taco dip, and stuffed mushrooms I consumed at Susan's Oscar party last night. Erg.
The good news is that my first slip-up hasn't sent me into a downward spiral. In fact, I'm really looking forward to my run on Tuesday. Probably because it isn't Tuesday.
Monday, February 28, 2005
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Oh the weather outside is frightful...
Distance: 3 miles
Speed: 11.56 minutes/mile
Weight: 120 lbs.
Music: Acrobatic Tenement by At the Drive-in
... but the gym is so delightful. If you've never been to Sweat in Queen Village, there are giant windows in the front of the cardio room that overlook Passyunk Ave., and it was actually a lot of fun to watch the snow while running. Plus I managed to snag my favorite treadmill for the third time straight. The running gods must be on my side.
Observations:
1. I'm not sure how I managed to improve my speed from my last 3 mile run, but I'll take it. I'd like to be able to run the BSR at somewhere between a 10 and 11 minute mile, but I'll settle for finishing it upright.
2. No side stitches today, due (I think) to my improved breathing technique. Basically, I forced myself to breathe the same way I do when I sing, taking really deep breaths then releasing them as slowly as possible. I guess jocks and choir geeks have more in common than they think.
3. There was a man running on the treadmill in front of me that completely freaked me out. If you're running on a treadmill and you misstep and hit the stationary part, it creates this terrible squeak. This guy misstepped a lot, and every time his treadmill squeaked, I thought it was mine and would get all flustered. In addition to his squeaking, about 15 minutes into his run, he began to emit these low groans. The groaning (and squeaking) got progressively louder, until he finally jumped off the treadmill and sat down on the edge of it. Then he got up, checked himself out in the mirror, and walked away. The treadmill was still running. WTF?
Have a great weekend.
Speed: 11.56 minutes/mile
Weight: 120 lbs.
Music: Acrobatic Tenement by At the Drive-in
... but the gym is so delightful. If you've never been to Sweat in Queen Village, there are giant windows in the front of the cardio room that overlook Passyunk Ave., and it was actually a lot of fun to watch the snow while running. Plus I managed to snag my favorite treadmill for the third time straight. The running gods must be on my side.
Observations:
1. I'm not sure how I managed to improve my speed from my last 3 mile run, but I'll take it. I'd like to be able to run the BSR at somewhere between a 10 and 11 minute mile, but I'll settle for finishing it upright.
2. No side stitches today, due (I think) to my improved breathing technique. Basically, I forced myself to breathe the same way I do when I sing, taking really deep breaths then releasing them as slowly as possible. I guess jocks and choir geeks have more in common than they think.
3. There was a man running on the treadmill in front of me that completely freaked me out. If you're running on a treadmill and you misstep and hit the stationary part, it creates this terrible squeak. This guy misstepped a lot, and every time his treadmill squeaked, I thought it was mine and would get all flustered. In addition to his squeaking, about 15 minutes into his run, he began to emit these low groans. The groaning (and squeaking) got progressively louder, until he finally jumped off the treadmill and sat down on the edge of it. Then he got up, checked himself out in the mirror, and walked away. The treadmill was still running. WTF?
Have a great weekend.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Tread softly and carry a big bottle of water
Distance: 2 miles
Speed: 11.34 minutes/mile
Weight: 120 lbs.
Music: Disc 1 of Silberman's Best of 2004 compilation
Following Hal Higdon's 10 mile (15K) training program, I ran 2 miles today, which felt like a breeze after Sunday's 3. I was able to increase my speed to a slightly more respectable pace, though I'm not sure I could have kept it up for another mile. I guess that's why it's called training.
Observations:
1. As I have been warned by many a runner, I was far more sore two days after Sunday's run than I was the day after it. This particularly sucks when you're on a training program that requires you to run every other day. On the bright side, while my aching body was loathe to get started on today's run, my soreness subsided quite a bit by the time I was done. I'm sure I'll feel like crap tomorrow, though.
2. I haven't figured out the water thing yet. I know I need to drink a lot of water while training, but I don't know when to drink it. If I drink a bunch of water before I start, I know I'll have to pee by mile 2. If I drink while running, I get side stitches. If I don't drink at all until after my run, my face get even redder and hotter than usual, and people assume I need medical attention. Any suggestions?
3. Matt Silberman is a compilation genius.
It's back to 3 miles on Thursday. Woot.
Speed: 11.34 minutes/mile
Weight: 120 lbs.
Music: Disc 1 of Silberman's Best of 2004 compilation
Following Hal Higdon's 10 mile (15K) training program, I ran 2 miles today, which felt like a breeze after Sunday's 3. I was able to increase my speed to a slightly more respectable pace, though I'm not sure I could have kept it up for another mile. I guess that's why it's called training.
Observations:
1. As I have been warned by many a runner, I was far more sore two days after Sunday's run than I was the day after it. This particularly sucks when you're on a training program that requires you to run every other day. On the bright side, while my aching body was loathe to get started on today's run, my soreness subsided quite a bit by the time I was done. I'm sure I'll feel like crap tomorrow, though.
2. I haven't figured out the water thing yet. I know I need to drink a lot of water while training, but I don't know when to drink it. If I drink a bunch of water before I start, I know I'll have to pee by mile 2. If I drink while running, I get side stitches. If I don't drink at all until after my run, my face get even redder and hotter than usual, and people assume I need medical attention. Any suggestions?
3. Matt Silberman is a compilation genius.
It's back to 3 miles on Thursday. Woot.
Sunday, February 20, 2005
We've only just begun...
Distance: 3 miles
Speed: 12.3 minutes/mile
Weight: 120 lbs.
Music: Disc 2 of Silberman's Best of 2004 compilation
Yikes. At this rate, the BSR will take me slightly over two hours, and the thought of running for two hours straight is more than a little daunting. A few observations after today's inaugural run:
1. Sloppy Quorn (Manwich® and Quorn™ Grounds) + running = serious indigestion.
2. Too many people I know belong to my gym. I saw two professional acquaintances today and kept my head down in hopes that they wouldn't notice my sweaty, red-faced, out-of-shape self. I think it worked.
3. Getting my favorite treadmill really does make a difference. I'm not telling you which one is my favorite.
Todd beat me back to the house, which means there may or may not be enough hot water left for a warm shower. Todd is a real runner, so he went out to Kelly Drive. I am a wuss, so I went to the gym. I read on Hal Higdon's website that some marathon runner trained entirely on a treadmill. If it's good enough for her, it's good enough for me... at least until it gets above 50°.
Speed: 12.3 minutes/mile
Weight: 120 lbs.
Music: Disc 2 of Silberman's Best of 2004 compilation
Yikes. At this rate, the BSR will take me slightly over two hours, and the thought of running for two hours straight is more than a little daunting. A few observations after today's inaugural run:
1. Sloppy Quorn (Manwich® and Quorn™ Grounds) + running = serious indigestion.
2. Too many people I know belong to my gym. I saw two professional acquaintances today and kept my head down in hopes that they wouldn't notice my sweaty, red-faced, out-of-shape self. I think it worked.
3. Getting my favorite treadmill really does make a difference. I'm not telling you which one is my favorite.
Todd beat me back to the house, which means there may or may not be enough hot water left for a warm shower. Todd is a real runner, so he went out to Kelly Drive. I am a wuss, so I went to the gym. I read on Hal Higdon's website that some marathon runner trained entirely on a treadmill. If it's good enough for her, it's good enough for me... at least until it gets above 50°.
Friday, February 18, 2005
Tramps like us, baby we were born to run
This post is a little premature, since Sunday is actually the 10-week mark for the Broad Street Run. I thought writing about it in advance might get me psyched to start training. We'll see.
I'm not sure why I chose a 10 mile run as my first organized race, but here are a few possible reasons:
1. The BSR is probably the most historically Philly (yes, I just used "Philly" as an adjective) race. I love Philadelphia – we just bought our first house here last April, and it's the first and only city I've ever called home. If you've never been here, I recommend planning a visit. How about May 1st?
2. Several of my friends and coworkers are doing the BSR, and I like the idea of solidarity, even though most of them are actually runners, and I've spent most of the winter watching Law & Order reruns rather than going to the gym.
3. Whenever I'm trying something for the first time, I like to set my goal so ridiculously high that if I fail, I can just blame it on the goal being unrealistic in the first place.
Todd is doing the run, too. He's one of those people who gets cranky when he can't run. Freak.
I'm not sure why I chose a 10 mile run as my first organized race, but here are a few possible reasons:
1. The BSR is probably the most historically Philly (yes, I just used "Philly" as an adjective) race. I love Philadelphia – we just bought our first house here last April, and it's the first and only city I've ever called home. If you've never been here, I recommend planning a visit. How about May 1st?
2. Several of my friends and coworkers are doing the BSR, and I like the idea of solidarity, even though most of them are actually runners, and I've spent most of the winter watching Law & Order reruns rather than going to the gym.
3. Whenever I'm trying something for the first time, I like to set my goal so ridiculously high that if I fail, I can just blame it on the goal being unrealistic in the first place.
Todd is doing the run, too. He's one of those people who gets cranky when he can't run. Freak.
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