at long last, a triumphant long run report!
last night i was able to find my watch, but my nike plus receiver was still at large. so i made a plan to run a 3.25 mile loop from my house, continue on to run the 10.25 mile loop to the golf course, and then finish up with the 3.25 mile loop i started with. when i charted it out on gmaps pedometer, it would total roughly 16.75 miles.
before my run, i drove to the entrance of the golf course to stash 2 bottles of water. i also stashed one on my porch. i had 4 full bottles on my fuel belt but i always get nervous that i don't have enough water and there was only one place along my route to buy water and that was at safeway. and we all know how i feel about safeway! i packed 4 gus with the idea to stop and walk every 45 minutes to take one. i also planned to take 10 second walk breaks somewhere between each gu. (thanks wendy for your tip)
so off i started in the semi-darkness. the first mile kinda sucked as it included a hill, but once i found the other side, i was running pretty smoothly. i did my 3.25 loop, got back to my house and peed. while it was annoying to have to stop i felt confident that i was properly hydrated.
so off i went again. there was another small uphill portion but for the most part, the next 2.5 miles would be nice and flat. which would be good because the first half of the golf course was a long, slow climb. by the time i got there, i was not even halfway through my bottles, so i didn't have to refill. onward i trudged. up, up, up. before i knew it the worst of the hills were behind me and i could cruise the slow, descent down.
somewhere along the way i reached the halfway mark and i assessed my situation. i wasn't spent, but it also didn't feel like a walk in the park. my spirits were high, but i knew i wasn't going to just fly through the second half. but i pressed on.
i made it to the entrance of the golf course, and found my water bottles totally unfucked around with! while i'd heard of people doing this all the time, i'd never done it myself because i was always afraid someone would find my bottles and put drugs in them or something. stupid, i know. but you have those thoughts when you are raised by a paranoid, overprotective mother.
anyway, at this point, i was relieved to run a nice flat stretch of road. during this time a couple thoughts ran through my head. i tried to do the math of how far i'd run and how much longer i had and what time it was now and what time i wanted to finish , but my brain started to get really confused. then for some strange reason, i thought of where i was on 9/11. . i remember that day very, very vividly. i remember the second i heard the news and everything that happened afterward. i don't know why i started thinking about it, but i did. then my mind started to prepare for the uphill climb back up to my house, where i would reach
13.5 miles.
the idea of stopping then didn't even occur to me. i was tired, sure, but i knew i only had 3.25 miles left to go. even if i had to walk half of it, i'd still try. so up another hill i climbed and down again i went. when i got to the turn around point i was fucking spent. at that point i'd cleared about 15 miles, a valiant effort indeed. i took my final gu and a took a long walk break to figure out how i was gonna finish the last 1.6 miles. i was just sooo tired. and my legs were really starting to not like me.
but then wendy's voice said to me, "your mind is stronger than your body". she appeared out of nowhere, hovering in the air, with her arms crossed looking really stoic, looking kind of like a genie. then i heard anne's motherly voice, whispering in my ear "you can do it". she was sitting on my shoulder like one of those good angels. then i saw jen and maritza on the race course, with a big sign cheering and yelling like they were on crack. then i heard marcy, swearing and cursing at me to finish. i saw neese on the sidelines, meditating and calm, sending me good vibes. and i saw jess and bcg at the finish line with huge pitchers of cold, frosty beer in each hand. i was mentally high-fiving people left and right, amy, teacherwoman, josie, gina. what a coincidence that bobby brown's "every little step i take" came on my ipod. i felt sooo invigorated!
and it was very appropo that rihanna's "umbrella" came on as i rounded the corner to finish the last quarter mile home! i felt so much more energized at mile 16.5 than i did at 15! mind over matter, people. mind over matter.
while i couldn't take splits at every mile, i took splits at distances i knew.
split: (total distance): split time: (total time)
1.625: (1.625) 20.53 (20.52)
1.625 (3.25): 19.08 (40:01)
2.5 (5.75): 27:54 (1:07:56)
5.25: (11): 1:02: 26 (2:09:23)
2.5: (13.5): 31:47 (2:41:10)
1.625: (15.125) 20:08 (3:01:18)
1.625: (16.75) 21:21 (3:22:44)
ave pace: roughly 12:00
so finally, one grrrreat long run in the books. the plan is to run an 18 miler next week, then a 20. the last week in september i'll be in carmel, so i'll probably cut back to a 10 miler. then do another 20 miler the week after that. and officially my taper will begin.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Thursday, September 06, 2007
shuffling things around
the long run today? didn't happen. but let me explain:
1. i got home really late last night. totally unintentionally. i had dinner with a friend that just ran late.
2. this morning, i had some last minute changes to a freelance project i thought was finalized earlier this week.
3. i helped my mom with an errand on her lunch hour.
even after all of that, i thought i could still drive to sf to take advantage of the cooler temps, but by the time i got done with catching up, i realized it would just be a big hassle. so i waited for it to get cool here and ran an easy 5. no watch or nike plus. all i know is that it was breezy, cool, and FAB-U-LOUS!
i tackled a few hills using the new visualization technique i learned about earlier this week. and it worked!! i felt like there was a team of people helping me up the hill rather than the burden being solely on me! i imagined i was a car on a roller coaster ride and a chain was tied to my belly button. and as i ran, i imagined the chain getting shorter and shorter as i got closer and closer to the top. and in my head i heard the "click, click, click, click" sound rollercoasters make. i couldn't WAIT to get to the top to throw my hands up in the air and go "wheeeeeeeee" down the other side. maybe it sounds cheesy, but it TOTALLY worked!
and my long run isn't totally canceled for the week . i have friday night off and saturday morning until 3 off, so for the first time in months, i can do my long run on saturday morning like most of the world!! yippee!! it also gives me time to find my watch and nike plus receiver. how i keep misplacing those two things i'll never know.
1. i got home really late last night. totally unintentionally. i had dinner with a friend that just ran late.
2. this morning, i had some last minute changes to a freelance project i thought was finalized earlier this week.
3. i helped my mom with an errand on her lunch hour.
even after all of that, i thought i could still drive to sf to take advantage of the cooler temps, but by the time i got done with catching up, i realized it would just be a big hassle. so i waited for it to get cool here and ran an easy 5. no watch or nike plus. all i know is that it was breezy, cool, and FAB-U-LOUS!
i tackled a few hills using the new visualization technique i learned about earlier this week. and it worked!! i felt like there was a team of people helping me up the hill rather than the burden being solely on me! i imagined i was a car on a roller coaster ride and a chain was tied to my belly button. and as i ran, i imagined the chain getting shorter and shorter as i got closer and closer to the top. and in my head i heard the "click, click, click, click" sound rollercoasters make. i couldn't WAIT to get to the top to throw my hands up in the air and go "wheeeeeeeee" down the other side. maybe it sounds cheesy, but it TOTALLY worked!
and my long run isn't totally canceled for the week . i have friday night off and saturday morning until 3 off, so for the first time in months, i can do my long run on saturday morning like most of the world!! yippee!! it also gives me time to find my watch and nike plus receiver. how i keep misplacing those two things i'll never know.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
long run eve
if you missed my new list of mantras, check out yesterday's post. you're bound to find one you can use. also feel free to add to the list!
in true comeback style, i logged an energetic 6 miler last night after work, and an hour of crosstraining this morning. i meant to get to spin class at 6 am this morning but after MH's moroccan birthday feast last night, 6 am was so not possible. (can you believe he's NEVER had moroccan food!? or seen real, live belly dancers? the hookah, though, he was very familiar with. and we got to try a new flavor: orange blossom) i managed to get out on the stationary bike at 10 am to eke out 10 miles on the alpine setting. then i went another mile on the tread climber. i'm hoping i can squeeze in yoga class between my errands tonight.
i've got a TON of errands that need to be done in the next two days PLUS my long run (of an undetermined length. i'm shooting for anywhere between 12-16 miles.) long run preparation can take so long sometimes, especially since i have to do laundry (can't run without the fave gear) and if i do drive into the city (either tonight or tomorrow am) i've got to pack all my nutrition essentials, dry clothes etc. etc. etc. plus i've got stock up on more gels. i've also decided to give shot blox another try. i'll have to compare sodium and caffeine contents closely at the store.
so enough blogging, got to get moving! happy hump day, peeps! oh and here are a few pics from last night. i wanted a shot of the belly dancer but i felt skeevy about taking pictures of her while she was dancing. there already was this nasty man totally entranced and drooling throwing his money at her. besides him, there was a family of about 6 and a whole group of what i assume were college students, holed up in a large corner booth, enjoying about 3 hookahs. but the food was a-mazing. and any meal ending with baklava and mint tea is alright by me!
in true comeback style, i logged an energetic 6 miler last night after work, and an hour of crosstraining this morning. i meant to get to spin class at 6 am this morning but after MH's moroccan birthday feast last night, 6 am was so not possible. (can you believe he's NEVER had moroccan food!? or seen real, live belly dancers? the hookah, though, he was very familiar with. and we got to try a new flavor: orange blossom) i managed to get out on the stationary bike at 10 am to eke out 10 miles on the alpine setting. then i went another mile on the tread climber. i'm hoping i can squeeze in yoga class between my errands tonight.
i've got a TON of errands that need to be done in the next two days PLUS my long run (of an undetermined length. i'm shooting for anywhere between 12-16 miles.) long run preparation can take so long sometimes, especially since i have to do laundry (can't run without the fave gear) and if i do drive into the city (either tonight or tomorrow am) i've got to pack all my nutrition essentials, dry clothes etc. etc. etc. plus i've got stock up on more gels. i've also decided to give shot blox another try. i'll have to compare sodium and caffeine contents closely at the store.
so enough blogging, got to get moving! happy hump day, peeps! oh and here are a few pics from last night. i wanted a shot of the belly dancer but i felt skeevy about taking pictures of her while she was dancing. there already was this nasty man totally entranced and drooling throwing his money at her. besides him, there was a family of about 6 and a whole group of what i assume were college students, holed up in a large corner booth, enjoying about 3 hookahs. but the food was a-mazing. and any meal ending with baklava and mint tea is alright by me!
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
f*ck you marathon! you're my bitch, now!
lately, i've been feeling pretty unmotivated about a lot of things in my life. and that who-the fuck-cares attitude has trickled into my running.
i've decided that enough is enough.
if i'm gonna turn things around, i'm gonna start with the one thing i've always had control over; my running and my attitude. because dammit, no matter what i've said in the past, or how i've acted, i really do fucking want this marathon. i just didn't want to be that jackass newbie who after a month of not really training thought they could just waltz in at the 11th hour and pull it out of her ass.
but even so, i decided that i am not going down without a fight. even if by some freak force of nature the marathon isn't mine come race day, it won't be because i quit. my legs will have to physically fall off. my heart will have to beat out of my chest. and my lungs will have to collapse. but it won't be because i quit! if i can stand, i can run. and i will. i have 46 days to fucking prove myself. and i will.
i didn't come THIS far to quit now. i didn't run my mouth to everyone and their mother about it to just quit. i don't feel shame a lot in my life, but man would i feel it if i quit. especially if i didn't even give myself the chance to try!!!!!!
i scoured the internet for running mantras. here are some good ones that i think will help me:
• it’s worth it.
• aren’t we runners the lucky and the blessed!?
• it’s harder when you think, so just run!
• i am never down. i am either up, or getting up.
• FUCK YOU, stupid hill! You’re my bitch, now! ( i really like this one!)
• The night is dark
The night is long
Be with me God
And make me strong.
• it does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop. - Confucius
• screw it, run through it.
• it feels good to show some courage. - Joe Namath
• every mile is the marathon.
• keep running you’ll feel better after, trust me
• tough times don’t last, tough people do.
• failure is not an option.
• SMILE!
• i am a warrior!
• it hurts up to a point and then it doesn’t get any worse. - Ann Trason
• if oprah can, i can,
There’s now way out but up.
• I read a trick for hills. They said to imagine that there is a rope dangling down the hill which your can hook onto, and “they” will tow you up the hill. Now when I get to a hill, I think “Thank heavens it’s a hill. I can rest while they haul my buns up.”
• this is not a dress rehearsal. this is IT.”
• some people run to get in shape......we get in shape to run!
• don’t fear moving slowly forward...fear standing still.” - Kathleen Harris
• pain is nothing compared to what it feels like to quit.
• losers look what they are going through. winners look where they are going to.
• action cures fear.
• at some point it doesn’t get any worse.
• it’s supposed to be hard. this feels good!
• heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads – David Thoreau
• the only way to be who you want to be is by being what you haven’t yet been.
- Sally Edwards
• i am my own hero.
i've decided that enough is enough.
if i'm gonna turn things around, i'm gonna start with the one thing i've always had control over; my running and my attitude. because dammit, no matter what i've said in the past, or how i've acted, i really do fucking want this marathon. i just didn't want to be that jackass newbie who after a month of not really training thought they could just waltz in at the 11th hour and pull it out of her ass.
but even so, i decided that i am not going down without a fight. even if by some freak force of nature the marathon isn't mine come race day, it won't be because i quit. my legs will have to physically fall off. my heart will have to beat out of my chest. and my lungs will have to collapse. but it won't be because i quit! if i can stand, i can run. and i will. i have 46 days to fucking prove myself. and i will.
i didn't come THIS far to quit now. i didn't run my mouth to everyone and their mother about it to just quit. i don't feel shame a lot in my life, but man would i feel it if i quit. especially if i didn't even give myself the chance to try!!!!!!
i scoured the internet for running mantras. here are some good ones that i think will help me:
• it’s worth it.
• aren’t we runners the lucky and the blessed!?
• it’s harder when you think, so just run!
• i am never down. i am either up, or getting up.
• FUCK YOU, stupid hill! You’re my bitch, now! ( i really like this one!)
• The night is dark
The night is long
Be with me God
And make me strong.
• it does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop. - Confucius
• screw it, run through it.
• it feels good to show some courage. - Joe Namath
• every mile is the marathon.
• keep running you’ll feel better after, trust me
• tough times don’t last, tough people do.
• failure is not an option.
• SMILE!
• i am a warrior!
• it hurts up to a point and then it doesn’t get any worse. - Ann Trason
• if oprah can, i can,
There’s now way out but up.
• I read a trick for hills. They said to imagine that there is a rope dangling down the hill which your can hook onto, and “they” will tow you up the hill. Now when I get to a hill, I think “Thank heavens it’s a hill. I can rest while they haul my buns up.”
• this is not a dress rehearsal. this is IT.”
• some people run to get in shape......we get in shape to run!
• don’t fear moving slowly forward...fear standing still.” - Kathleen Harris
• pain is nothing compared to what it feels like to quit.
• losers look what they are going through. winners look where they are going to.
• action cures fear.
• at some point it doesn’t get any worse.
• it’s supposed to be hard. this feels good!
• heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads – David Thoreau
• the only way to be who you want to be is by being what you haven’t yet been.
- Sally Edwards
• i am my own hero.
Monday, September 03, 2007
back among the living
and running...
i was feeling like utter crap up until yesterday, with saturday night being the worst. my fever had returned and my head felt like it was going to explode. after an evening with ice packs on my head and neck, i decided to finally call in sick at work and spend sunday recooperating. best. decision. ever.
i now feel like a practically normal person. FINALLY, after friggin 2 weeks.
so before the butt crack of dawn (4:15!) i woke up to get my arse to the gym. i managed to eke out a mere 2.5 miles before i had to pack it in to go to work. the plans are to run 5-6 tomorrow am, spin wed am, and attempt a long run on thursday. i'm banking on 10, hoping for 12, working for 14. friday it's yoga and saturday calls for an easy 5.
i'm quite scared as to whether my body is ready for this marathon, considering that the month of august has been almost a total wash. the schedule is supposed to go:
this week: cutback
next week: 18 miler
next week: cutback
last week of september: 20 miler
then begin 3 week and 2 day taper
god, i'm royally fucked, aren't i? shit!
any advice or suggestions? i know i can't "cram" in the miles at the last minute, but it still is possible, isn't it?!
i was feeling like utter crap up until yesterday, with saturday night being the worst. my fever had returned and my head felt like it was going to explode. after an evening with ice packs on my head and neck, i decided to finally call in sick at work and spend sunday recooperating. best. decision. ever.
i now feel like a practically normal person. FINALLY, after friggin 2 weeks.
so before the butt crack of dawn (4:15!) i woke up to get my arse to the gym. i managed to eke out a mere 2.5 miles before i had to pack it in to go to work. the plans are to run 5-6 tomorrow am, spin wed am, and attempt a long run on thursday. i'm banking on 10, hoping for 12, working for 14. friday it's yoga and saturday calls for an easy 5.
i'm quite scared as to whether my body is ready for this marathon, considering that the month of august has been almost a total wash. the schedule is supposed to go:
this week: cutback
next week: 18 miler
next week: cutback
last week of september: 20 miler
then begin 3 week and 2 day taper
god, i'm royally fucked, aren't i? shit!
any advice or suggestions? i know i can't "cram" in the miles at the last minute, but it still is possible, isn't it?!
Saturday, September 01, 2007
glad my credit card is tucked safely away
this comes as a poster as large as 16" x 20".
there must be a better way to cure my insomnia other than googling eric bana.
Friday, August 31, 2007
i ask myself why?
yesterday, when i was trying to motivate myself to run, i asked myself the question: why are you running this marathon?
and i kinda came up blank.
i mean i have plenty of reasons why i RUN, but why i want to run a marathon? hmmmm...
i'm not running for charity. i'm not running with anyone or for anyone. i didn't just overcome some huge hardship, and i didn't just reach a new decade in my life.
the only thing i got was, i just do. it's just something i've always wanted to do. maybe just for the bragging rights. maybe just because it's hard and i just want to conquer it. and that all sounded kinda juvenile! like my life isn't hard enough that i have to add this "diversion" to make it interesting. and when i thought of it like that, it sounded kinda frivolous. petty. selfish, even.
i mean i guess we all kinda know running is a selfish endeavor. and for normal people, with families and lots of responsibilities i can see how the outlet for "me" time is warranted. but for the most part, i'm pretty much a spoiled brat. so why do i need the "excuse" to run?
i'm not quite sure where this is all coming from all of a sudden. all i know is i came up blank when i asked myself why i'm running this thing. except for that i just want to. which makes it sound like i want this like i want ice cream. or new shoes. i thought for sure training for this marathon would enlighten me about myself and life more. and i guess i'm feeling just as clueless about things now as i did in the beginning.
oy! it sounds as if i need to get out of my head and into reality! i guess i'll hit publish now, and reread it later to see if i really should just take it down. i sound totally mental.
and i kinda came up blank.
i mean i have plenty of reasons why i RUN, but why i want to run a marathon? hmmmm...
i'm not running for charity. i'm not running with anyone or for anyone. i didn't just overcome some huge hardship, and i didn't just reach a new decade in my life.
the only thing i got was, i just do. it's just something i've always wanted to do. maybe just for the bragging rights. maybe just because it's hard and i just want to conquer it. and that all sounded kinda juvenile! like my life isn't hard enough that i have to add this "diversion" to make it interesting. and when i thought of it like that, it sounded kinda frivolous. petty. selfish, even.
i mean i guess we all kinda know running is a selfish endeavor. and for normal people, with families and lots of responsibilities i can see how the outlet for "me" time is warranted. but for the most part, i'm pretty much a spoiled brat. so why do i need the "excuse" to run?
i'm not quite sure where this is all coming from all of a sudden. all i know is i came up blank when i asked myself why i'm running this thing. except for that i just want to. which makes it sound like i want this like i want ice cream. or new shoes. i thought for sure training for this marathon would enlighten me about myself and life more. and i guess i'm feeling just as clueless about things now as i did in the beginning.
oy! it sounds as if i need to get out of my head and into reality! i guess i'll hit publish now, and reread it later to see if i really should just take it down. i sound totally mental.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
i tried, really i did.
i got up at 4:30 to start getting ready for my 6 am, 16 miler. i certainly wasn't in the mood, but damnit i haven't missed a long run yet and i wasn't about to start now when it counted the most.
but once i got out there, i just blech, didn't have it. i've run through a sinus infection before (my first half marathon to be exact) but i remember it being pretty miserable. and after 2 miles, i wasn't feeling so hot and i figured it would just be best to pack it up and go home.
i've been feeling pretty crappy the past 10 days, minus the day of my 5k, and don't know whether it's because i'm sick or because my head is in the crapper. probably a combo of both. so on the drive home i resolved to not let this get me down and do whatever it took today to make me feel good.
which so far has included taking a long, hot shower and shaving! i've made up a pretty face and donned a dress i bought a month ago but haven't yet worn because i haven't had the occasion. the plans also include a pedicure, a waxing, a haircut, a nice healthy lunch alone with a long way down by nick hornby. by then, i should be ready for a nap. or a movie.
happy thursday, peeps!
but once i got out there, i just blech, didn't have it. i've run through a sinus infection before (my first half marathon to be exact) but i remember it being pretty miserable. and after 2 miles, i wasn't feeling so hot and i figured it would just be best to pack it up and go home.
i've been feeling pretty crappy the past 10 days, minus the day of my 5k, and don't know whether it's because i'm sick or because my head is in the crapper. probably a combo of both. so on the drive home i resolved to not let this get me down and do whatever it took today to make me feel good.
which so far has included taking a long, hot shower and shaving! i've made up a pretty face and donned a dress i bought a month ago but haven't yet worn because i haven't had the occasion. the plans also include a pedicure, a waxing, a haircut, a nice healthy lunch alone with a long way down by nick hornby. by then, i should be ready for a nap. or a movie.
happy thursday, peeps!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
feeling better and feeling bad
feeling better: thanks to everyone's comments to my last post! i knew that once i posted my fears, not only would i feel better just getting them off my chest, but that everyone with much more wisdom and experience than me would help me put things into perspective. i'm taking everyone's advice: have fun and just enjoy the experience. i mean i will never again have a FIRST marathon!!! yippeeeeee!
feeling bad: my mucous issues have turned into a full fledged sinus infection. blech. i hate those goddamned things. i'm currently on antibiotics. i haven't run since my 5k on friday (where i PRed, thank you very much) but i can't bear to bag my 16 miler tomorrow. the plan is to start it and if i feel like utter poop, i'll stop.
feeling bad: i finally, officially broke things off with MH last night. (and you're probably thinking, wait, what was all that talk before about not getting involved with him? yeah, well i'm human and in my whole course of dating i've not been one to fend off the advances of a latin lover very well) so breaking things off a few months later definitely made it harder than if i had stopped things cold to begin with. and i think i was a little too honest with my reasons for why i don't think he's the one for me. when i got home i was like fuck, why am i so stupidly honest? i think i could have spared him hurt feelings. i wasn't trying to be cruel, just honest, but sometimes i have to remember it might be better to just be kind.
feeling bad: my mucous issues have turned into a full fledged sinus infection. blech. i hate those goddamned things. i'm currently on antibiotics. i haven't run since my 5k on friday (where i PRed, thank you very much) but i can't bear to bag my 16 miler tomorrow. the plan is to start it and if i feel like utter poop, i'll stop.
feeling bad: i finally, officially broke things off with MH last night. (and you're probably thinking, wait, what was all that talk before about not getting involved with him? yeah, well i'm human and in my whole course of dating i've not been one to fend off the advances of a latin lover very well) so breaking things off a few months later definitely made it harder than if i had stopped things cold to begin with. and i think i was a little too honest with my reasons for why i don't think he's the one for me. when i got home i was like fuck, why am i so stupidly honest? i think i could have spared him hurt feelings. i wasn't trying to be cruel, just honest, but sometimes i have to remember it might be better to just be kind.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
my irrational fears
ok so it's almost september! and after that it's october! which is the month i'm running my first marathon ever! i mean i like signed up for it many many many months ago. i've been dreaming about doing this for years now. and the closer the day comes i get a little more anxious. it's weird. it's almost like i don't want it to happen because there's something exciting about just having the dream. i'm sorta kinda afraid of what the reality of it will do to the fantasy of it. and i kind of like saying i'm gonna do a marathon. the idea of actually really doing it, still scares the crap out of me.
i still have my 16, 18 and 20 mile training runs to get through, so without having done those i can't really fear whether or not i will finish. my confidence come race day will depend heavily on how those training runs go. but part of me also wonders how in the world is doing one 20 mile training run enough to prepare me for 26.2!!! that's a whole 10k longer than my longest training run?! and isn't 20 miles where people hit "the wall"?! who the hell thought up my stupid training schedule and thought it was gonna be enough!?
so far in all of my long runs, i've never had to use the bathroom. #1 or #2. but i'm afraid my bowels will decide to go into overdrive come race day. or i'll be all hopped up on hormones from my period that i'll be bloated, cranky, and tired. during training i usually give myself a break during that time of the month but what if marathon day just happens to fall during that time of the month!?! ugh. i'm no longer on birth control so messing around with my cycle is out of the question, but the guilty catholic in me fears god's wrath for having used it in the past. not so much for the pre-marital sex mind you, but the use of artificial birth control. and if that whole paragraph was t.m.i., sorry.
another fear i have is that i'll run out of bodyglide. that my legs will chafe down to the bone. i mean really, can bodyglide really last an entire 5 plus hour marathon?? and not only run out of body glide but can my body really handle running on gu for 5 plus hours?! i've run for 3 hours on gu and done fine, but can i last for nearly double that time on just gu alone?
i really want to enjoy this experience, but part of me just wishes this was over with already. i'd like to resume a normal life where i don't have to worry about stuff like this!
i still have my 16, 18 and 20 mile training runs to get through, so without having done those i can't really fear whether or not i will finish. my confidence come race day will depend heavily on how those training runs go. but part of me also wonders how in the world is doing one 20 mile training run enough to prepare me for 26.2!!! that's a whole 10k longer than my longest training run?! and isn't 20 miles where people hit "the wall"?! who the hell thought up my stupid training schedule and thought it was gonna be enough!?
so far in all of my long runs, i've never had to use the bathroom. #1 or #2. but i'm afraid my bowels will decide to go into overdrive come race day. or i'll be all hopped up on hormones from my period that i'll be bloated, cranky, and tired. during training i usually give myself a break during that time of the month but what if marathon day just happens to fall during that time of the month!?! ugh. i'm no longer on birth control so messing around with my cycle is out of the question, but the guilty catholic in me fears god's wrath for having used it in the past. not so much for the pre-marital sex mind you, but the use of artificial birth control. and if that whole paragraph was t.m.i., sorry.
another fear i have is that i'll run out of bodyglide. that my legs will chafe down to the bone. i mean really, can bodyglide really last an entire 5 plus hour marathon?? and not only run out of body glide but can my body really handle running on gu for 5 plus hours?! i've run for 3 hours on gu and done fine, but can i last for nearly double that time on just gu alone?
i really want to enjoy this experience, but part of me just wishes this was over with already. i'd like to resume a normal life where i don't have to worry about stuff like this!
Friday, August 24, 2007
race report: surprise! surprise!
ever since my last 5k time of 31:10, a PR, i might add, i've been itching to see if i have what it takes to run it in 30. but ever since i started working at the hotel, races were pretty much out of the question because i work in the mornings on the weekends. so i was stoaked to find one on a friday night in sacramento!
but with temps in the high 80s and tons of sun, the weather was much more suited for the beach than a race. nonetheless, i was still excited to be among my brethren runners. i wish i could bottle the adrenaline and excitement of race day! being surrounded by so many runners just makes me swell with pride. like i'm part of this great big "something". cheesy, i know, but it's the truth.
my goals for the race were to #1. not die in the heat (i'm so not accustomed to it) #2 definitely pull it off in 33 and #3. aim for 31, with wild hopes of doing it in 30. i sat in the my air conditioned car for as long as i could. i decided to pin my number on my belly instead of over my chest. and i tied my timing chip to my left sneaker, rather than my right. it's odd because i'm very superstitious but something told me to do it this way, instead of my normal way.
i made sure to hydrate like a mo'fo' all day yesterday and today. so i peed like 3 times in the hour and a half before the race. but once i started i swear to bob, my throat felt sooooo dry! i chalked it up to mucous issues, as i'm not fully well yet. i tried to not let it distract me. i knew there was a water stop somewhere along the course, so i just kept imagining i was in an ice castle with pools of ice cold water everywhere.
the first mile was tough. i made sure not to line myself too far back with the walkers like i did last time. but maybe i was too far up because i ran the first mile in 9:24!! what is it with me running sub 10:00 miles lately?! i was definitely feeling it, so i told myself to back off just a bit. my mouth was still parched and i had no idea where this blissful waterstop would be. at the halfway point, i finally spotted it and slowed to a walk to gulp down some agua. i was breathing hard and very very hot. i imagined i must be red at this point, which for someone as brown as me, means it's hot! but i just told myself, "it's supposed to feel uncomfortable. it's supposed to feel this way. this feels good!"
i chugged along to mile 2: 10:00. at this point, i'm doin 'the math and i know i have to run the next 1.12 miles in a little over 10 min. i'm seriously doubting i can. i'm hot! i'm breathing really hard! and did i mention i'm hot!!? but i pressed on. whenever i felt like stopping to walk, i said, "just keep running, pull back if you have to, but just run" and whenever i felt hot, i'd just repeat my mantra, "this feels good!" i probably repeated those three words like 100 times in the last mile, while i wondered just how much further i had!! my brain was racing just as fast as my feet were! finally i saw the 3 mile marker! i glanced at my watch: 9:59, overall time: 29:24:37.
HOLY SHIT! i just might fucking finish this 5k in 30 minutes! all thoughts flew out of my head and i just gunned it finishing in 30:12:28!!!!
ok so technically it's not a SUB-30, but i'll still take it! especially on a hot day like today. especially when i haven't even been training specifically for speed. i crossed that finish line and felt like a total bad ass!!!! i totally surprised myself. and that's what i love about running. it reveals to me just how much i underestimate myself and just how much i really am capable of. today wasn't so much a physical victory as it was a mental one. with the power of positive thoughts, i was able to trick my hot, uncomfortable, body into crossing that finish line faster than i ever have.
this feeling right now is one i'll definitely carry with me on marathon race day!
but with temps in the high 80s and tons of sun, the weather was much more suited for the beach than a race. nonetheless, i was still excited to be among my brethren runners. i wish i could bottle the adrenaline and excitement of race day! being surrounded by so many runners just makes me swell with pride. like i'm part of this great big "something". cheesy, i know, but it's the truth.
my goals for the race were to #1. not die in the heat (i'm so not accustomed to it) #2 definitely pull it off in 33 and #3. aim for 31, with wild hopes of doing it in 30. i sat in the my air conditioned car for as long as i could. i decided to pin my number on my belly instead of over my chest. and i tied my timing chip to my left sneaker, rather than my right. it's odd because i'm very superstitious but something told me to do it this way, instead of my normal way.
i made sure to hydrate like a mo'fo' all day yesterday and today. so i peed like 3 times in the hour and a half before the race. but once i started i swear to bob, my throat felt sooooo dry! i chalked it up to mucous issues, as i'm not fully well yet. i tried to not let it distract me. i knew there was a water stop somewhere along the course, so i just kept imagining i was in an ice castle with pools of ice cold water everywhere.
the first mile was tough. i made sure not to line myself too far back with the walkers like i did last time. but maybe i was too far up because i ran the first mile in 9:24!! what is it with me running sub 10:00 miles lately?! i was definitely feeling it, so i told myself to back off just a bit. my mouth was still parched and i had no idea where this blissful waterstop would be. at the halfway point, i finally spotted it and slowed to a walk to gulp down some agua. i was breathing hard and very very hot. i imagined i must be red at this point, which for someone as brown as me, means it's hot! but i just told myself, "it's supposed to feel uncomfortable. it's supposed to feel this way. this feels good!"
i chugged along to mile 2: 10:00. at this point, i'm doin 'the math and i know i have to run the next 1.12 miles in a little over 10 min. i'm seriously doubting i can. i'm hot! i'm breathing really hard! and did i mention i'm hot!!? but i pressed on. whenever i felt like stopping to walk, i said, "just keep running, pull back if you have to, but just run" and whenever i felt hot, i'd just repeat my mantra, "this feels good!" i probably repeated those three words like 100 times in the last mile, while i wondered just how much further i had!! my brain was racing just as fast as my feet were! finally i saw the 3 mile marker! i glanced at my watch: 9:59, overall time: 29:24:37.
HOLY SHIT! i just might fucking finish this 5k in 30 minutes! all thoughts flew out of my head and i just gunned it finishing in 30:12:28!!!!
ok so technically it's not a SUB-30, but i'll still take it! especially on a hot day like today. especially when i haven't even been training specifically for speed. i crossed that finish line and felt like a total bad ass!!!! i totally surprised myself. and that's what i love about running. it reveals to me just how much i underestimate myself and just how much i really am capable of. today wasn't so much a physical victory as it was a mental one. with the power of positive thoughts, i was able to trick my hot, uncomfortable, body into crossing that finish line faster than i ever have.
this feeling right now is one i'll definitely carry with me on marathon race day!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
back in the saddle
by bedtime last night i was feeling muuuuuuuuch better. i can breathe freely and the icky feeling is gone. all that's left is one final ball of mucus that keeps bouncing between my sinuses and throat. i really, really, really wish i had loogie-hawking abilities.
so this morning, feeling much more like myself, i mounted the spin bike and got to work. the instructor uttered the word "intense" and i braced myself. his technique was different than my usual spin instructor: less talking, less cuing, but more reminders about form, and better music. he also kept saying things like "push it! push it real good" and "aloha!" and "up your resistance, please. thank you, thank you very much". it was like spinning with elvis.
he also turned off the lights, so at 6 am it was pretty dark. but by the end of class, light started streaming in through the windows and i caught a glimpse of myself. and was actually kind of pleased. glistening sweat on any body looks pretty good in the semi-darkness.
i might get a run in with MH this morning, if he gets his butt up at a decent hour. as of late, he's been my slacking off partner, instead of workout partner, but damnit if i'm not gonna try to get us both back on track again.
so this morning, feeling much more like myself, i mounted the spin bike and got to work. the instructor uttered the word "intense" and i braced myself. his technique was different than my usual spin instructor: less talking, less cuing, but more reminders about form, and better music. he also kept saying things like "push it! push it real good" and "aloha!" and "up your resistance, please. thank you, thank you very much". it was like spinning with elvis.
he also turned off the lights, so at 6 am it was pretty dark. but by the end of class, light started streaming in through the windows and i caught a glimpse of myself. and was actually kind of pleased. glistening sweat on any body looks pretty good in the semi-darkness.
i might get a run in with MH this morning, if he gets his butt up at a decent hour. as of late, he's been my slacking off partner, instead of workout partner, but damnit if i'm not gonna try to get us both back on track again.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
hey! who fart-leked?
i confess. it was me.
this morning when i woke up, i was definitely feeling better. not stellar, but better. i could actually breathe through one nostril and the congestion in my chest felt much looser. i figured since i was well hydrated and nourished, (i've been drinking honey laced hot water like it's my job and eating lots of homemade soup) i'd take a stab at a "long run". on the treadmill, just in case i needed to stop in a hurry.
the schedule had me down for 8, but i went into the gym happy to log at least one mile. so i took the first mile, nice and easy: 13:45. i felt pretty good at that point and when kanye west's stronger played i pushed it a little further: 12:29, 11:06. i took a walk break then ricky martin's cup of life came on and i turned up the heat: 10:53 and finished strong with kid rock's bawitdaba: 9:24.
so it wasn't a long run, but it still felt good to push my legs and lungs. i slowed when i felt like it, and kicked it up when the tunes got good. and i had to snot into my towel only 3 times the entire time! don't worry i gave the treadmill a good cleaning when i was done!
i'm resuming meds, and my regular get-well regimen hoping that friday can be a healthy, fun, fast day.
this morning when i woke up, i was definitely feeling better. not stellar, but better. i could actually breathe through one nostril and the congestion in my chest felt much looser. i figured since i was well hydrated and nourished, (i've been drinking honey laced hot water like it's my job and eating lots of homemade soup) i'd take a stab at a "long run". on the treadmill, just in case i needed to stop in a hurry.
the schedule had me down for 8, but i went into the gym happy to log at least one mile. so i took the first mile, nice and easy: 13:45. i felt pretty good at that point and when kanye west's stronger played i pushed it a little further: 12:29, 11:06. i took a walk break then ricky martin's cup of life came on and i turned up the heat: 10:53 and finished strong with kid rock's bawitdaba: 9:24.
so it wasn't a long run, but it still felt good to push my legs and lungs. i slowed when i felt like it, and kicked it up when the tunes got good. and i had to snot into my towel only 3 times the entire time! don't worry i gave the treadmill a good cleaning when i was done!
i'm resuming meds, and my regular get-well regimen hoping that friday can be a healthy, fun, fast day.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
poop, poop, poop
that is how i feel.
and i signed up for a 5k this friday night. looks like a PR is out of the question. hopefully by the end of the week i'll be able to breathe. without coughing. and snot dripping.
let's hope this is the last time i get sick before oct 21. because that countdown in my sidebar is ticking away pretty quickly! 2 months exactly! holy shiz!
and i signed up for a 5k this friday night. looks like a PR is out of the question. hopefully by the end of the week i'll be able to breathe. without coughing. and snot dripping.
let's hope this is the last time i get sick before oct 21. because that countdown in my sidebar is ticking away pretty quickly! 2 months exactly! holy shiz!
Friday, August 17, 2007
2 memes in 1
i think i contracted ebola on the bus, because since then i've felt like poop. the muscle soreness went away in a day, but some bug has my throat scratchy, my nose drippy with snot, and i'm draggin' ass i'm so tired. so...with no new workouts to log, here are my answers to 2 memes that have been floating around:
Jobs I've Held:
courtesy clerk at safeway
hostess/waitress/bartender
resident assistant
desk receptionist in my dorm
graphic designer
Movies I can watch over and over:
about a boy
bring it on
princess diaries
home alone
shawshank redemption
My guilty pleasures:
how can you have pleasure with guilt?!
Places I have lived:
northern california
washington, d.c.
bethesda, md
Shows I enjoy:
project runway
american idol
so you think you can dance
house
good eats on food network
almost everything on tlc
workout on bravo
Places I've been on vacation:
nearly everywhere in california
lake tahoe
las vegas
houston, tx
new orleans, la for mardi gras
nyc
upstate new york
boston, ma for st.patty's day
miami, fl
myrtle beach
the caribbean
hawaii
Favorite Foods:
homemade filipino food, especially luscious pork fat
any homemade authentic cuisine
greek food
steak
barbecue
ahi tuna steaks
dungeness crab
watermelon, white peaches, cold, cold grapes, lychees, mangoes
kettle cooked potato chips
beer
Websites I visit daily:
go fug yourself
dooce
gmail
your blog
Body parts I've injured:
my newly bruised toe
i broke my left arm falling off the monkey bars in second grade right before our trip to hawaii.
i had many mishaps with the exacto knife in design classes in college and took big chunks of flesh out of my fingers. no blood, just chunks of flesh.
Awards I've won:
i graduated second in my high school class, graduated summa cum laude from college, and won a second place tae kwon do trophy in college. i guess i'm only good enough for second place!
i think i won "best hair" in junior high. does that count for anything?
Nicknames I've been called:
i used to get called by my last name a lot. but other than that, i don't like nicknames. but i like giving them to OTHER people. HA!
--------------------------------
How many teeth do you have?
i don't know, how can you count them? all but my wisdom teeth.
Have you ever had braces?
ugh yes. my brothers on the other hand had perfect straight teeth without any help!
Name and tell us a bit about a pet you had as a child.
we had two little birds when i was really young, pixie and dixie. so when you use one of their names and the street i lived on as a kid to get my porn name you get pixie rose.
Where were you born?
redwood city, ca
How many siblings do you have?
2 younger brothers, one a year younger, the other 5 years younger than me
What was your high school's mascot?
an indian. i know, so wrong.
What was your favorite Halloween costume (either childhood or adulthood)?
one year in college my bff and i went to the thrift store and bought white lacy dresses, handcuffed ourselves to each other and went as lesbian brides. that went over very well at parties.
What's your favorite smell?
babies, post-it notes, scotch tape, new computer smell, new car smell
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
i'm proud that i've stopped trying to live up to other people's expectations. i am so much more comfortable being me nowadays.
Do you put the TP on the roll so that it feeds from the bottom or the top?
however it goes on, but usually i just plunk it on the tank.
Have you ever broken anything?
my car has been dented several times in the 4 years i've owned it. i have issues parking.
If you could travel anywhere, and the budget was not a factor, where would you go?
everywhere: greece, costa rica, all of europe, australia, the Philippines. you said budget wasn't a factor.
What is your dream job?
to be a perpetual student. or to get paid to travel and eat food.
What is your most embarrassing moment?
i tend not to get embarrassed easily. i have no shame. or i shun such moments from my memory so i don't have to think about them ever again.
What is your worst fear?
being alone.
i'm afraid of what life will be like without my parents or my aunts and uncles.
i used to be afraid of ghosts until 5 years ago when the ghost of my grandpa visited me the morning he died. now i feel like he's protecting me.
What year did you graduate high school?
1996
What was one of your new year's resolutions for 2007?
to run a marathon
There you go. You guys know the drill: You are ALL tagged! Copy the text, paste it into your post, and answer the questions with your own, original tidbits of interesting info, and pass it on if you so desire. Happy meme-ing!
Jobs I've Held:
courtesy clerk at safeway
hostess/waitress/bartender
resident assistant
desk receptionist in my dorm
graphic designer
Movies I can watch over and over:
about a boy
bring it on
princess diaries
home alone
shawshank redemption
My guilty pleasures:
how can you have pleasure with guilt?!
Places I have lived:
northern california
washington, d.c.
bethesda, md
Shows I enjoy:
project runway
american idol
so you think you can dance
house
good eats on food network
almost everything on tlc
workout on bravo
Places I've been on vacation:
nearly everywhere in california
lake tahoe
las vegas
houston, tx
new orleans, la for mardi gras
nyc
upstate new york
boston, ma for st.patty's day
miami, fl
myrtle beach
the caribbean
hawaii
Favorite Foods:
homemade filipino food, especially luscious pork fat
any homemade authentic cuisine
greek food
steak
barbecue
ahi tuna steaks
dungeness crab
watermelon, white peaches, cold, cold grapes, lychees, mangoes
kettle cooked potato chips
beer
Websites I visit daily:
go fug yourself
dooce
gmail
your blog
Body parts I've injured:
my newly bruised toe
i broke my left arm falling off the monkey bars in second grade right before our trip to hawaii.
i had many mishaps with the exacto knife in design classes in college and took big chunks of flesh out of my fingers. no blood, just chunks of flesh.
Awards I've won:
i graduated second in my high school class, graduated summa cum laude from college, and won a second place tae kwon do trophy in college. i guess i'm only good enough for second place!
i think i won "best hair" in junior high. does that count for anything?
Nicknames I've been called:
i used to get called by my last name a lot. but other than that, i don't like nicknames. but i like giving them to OTHER people. HA!
--------------------------------
How many teeth do you have?
i don't know, how can you count them? all but my wisdom teeth.
Have you ever had braces?
ugh yes. my brothers on the other hand had perfect straight teeth without any help!
Name and tell us a bit about a pet you had as a child.
we had two little birds when i was really young, pixie and dixie. so when you use one of their names and the street i lived on as a kid to get my porn name you get pixie rose.
Where were you born?
redwood city, ca
How many siblings do you have?
2 younger brothers, one a year younger, the other 5 years younger than me
What was your high school's mascot?
an indian. i know, so wrong.
What was your favorite Halloween costume (either childhood or adulthood)?
one year in college my bff and i went to the thrift store and bought white lacy dresses, handcuffed ourselves to each other and went as lesbian brides. that went over very well at parties.
What's your favorite smell?
babies, post-it notes, scotch tape, new computer smell, new car smell
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
i'm proud that i've stopped trying to live up to other people's expectations. i am so much more comfortable being me nowadays.
Do you put the TP on the roll so that it feeds from the bottom or the top?
however it goes on, but usually i just plunk it on the tank.
Have you ever broken anything?
my car has been dented several times in the 4 years i've owned it. i have issues parking.
If you could travel anywhere, and the budget was not a factor, where would you go?
everywhere: greece, costa rica, all of europe, australia, the Philippines. you said budget wasn't a factor.
What is your dream job?
to be a perpetual student. or to get paid to travel and eat food.
What is your most embarrassing moment?
i tend not to get embarrassed easily. i have no shame. or i shun such moments from my memory so i don't have to think about them ever again.
What is your worst fear?
being alone.
i'm afraid of what life will be like without my parents or my aunts and uncles.
i used to be afraid of ghosts until 5 years ago when the ghost of my grandpa visited me the morning he died. now i feel like he's protecting me.
What year did you graduate high school?
1996
What was one of your new year's resolutions for 2007?
to run a marathon
There you go. You guys know the drill: You are ALL tagged! Copy the text, paste it into your post, and answer the questions with your own, original tidbits of interesting info, and pass it on if you so desire. Happy meme-ing!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
a rude awakening
hey, did you know that san francisco has a lot of hills?
yeah, so did i.
but i severely underestimated just how hilly those hills actually are. which makes for a very craptastic 14 mile run. which could potentially make for a craptastic marathon. *sigh*
the one good thing about san francisco is that the weather is almost always runner friendly. which meant i could wait until after rush hour traffic to make the trek to the city. i packed my bags, a cooler filled with post workout nourishment and made the hour drive to union square. i parked in a garage and started donning my running gear when i realized that i had forgotten my headphones!!! argh! there was no way i was gonna go 14 miles with no tunes or cues from my nike+. luckily niketown was right there. though i had to go into the store totally geeked out in my nike visor, nike sunglasses, and nike tank, in full running gear complete with my hydration belt. then i plunked down $30 for overpriced nike headphones.
i decided that it would be a good idea to start running the actual marathon route so that i would be mentally and physically prepared to handle the course. i know from experience that running in a new place wigs me out because my brain has no visual references to tell me how far i've gone and how much more i have to go. plus i knew that if i didn't get any real hill training in, it would be a very real possibility that my legs would crap out on me. i followed the map from the race website as best as i could, and prayed that none of the roads i would have to run would be too dangerous during normal non-race, non-closure conditions.
so niketown is where i started. the first couple miles i weaved in and out of mobs of pedestrians, rushed through intersections and tried not to get run over. once i hit the embarcadero though, it was pretty smooth sailing. long flat blocks and i made nearly every green light. fisherman's wharf was a little crowded but not the clusterfuck i anticipated. from there i ran along the marina right into a fierce headwind. by that point i was about 5 miles into things. i started to tire so i took a gu and a walk break. i bought a water at little stand and refilled my bottles.
next came the stretch towards the golden gate bridge and the famous mile 7 with the bad ass hill. i ran through chrissy field and at one point missed my turn and ended up at fort point. so i doubled back and found "the hill". mother bitch! bikers dismounted their bikes, but damn if every single runner powered up. i was not one of those runners. i did my best but man, it was a no go.
and actually all of the presidio pretty much sucked ass. after that hill, came another. a long slow sucky ass hill. basically miles 7-10 were a combination of running, walking, whining, doubting, and near crying. i just could not will myself to run. my legs from my knees down were not happy. tight calves, tight soleus, rickety knees. all i could do was concentrate on just moving forward and enjoying the views of ocean and million dollar homes.
and while for every uphill there is a downhill, i don't much enjoy downhills either. but at least i was back to running. once out of the presidio, i ran in the bike lane on el camino del mar. and for the first time i was in a part of the city i'd never been before. i cursed every damn tree, every house. i was so tired. and my legs were seriously spent.
but i trudged on. because i saw the ocean! and a block before i reached ocean beach, right at mile 11, i spotted my oasis. BURGER KING!! just in time because i needed water and food. even though i had 2 gus by this point, my stomach was rumbling. and i figured if eating on the run was good enough for dean-o, it could be good enough for me. i popped into the BK for a bottled water and a small fry. yes, a small fry. i figured it had salt and simple carbs.
i popped a few tasty morsels in my mouth and held onto the bag for dear life. only 3 more miles to go through golden gate park. this is where the route got tricky because the map stopped naming roads through the park and i had to go by landmarks. the dutch windmill, the golf course, spreckles lake. and if i got lost, all i had to do was head for the panhandle and the japanese tea garden.
the last three miles were a pathetic attempt at running. my mind was long gone, my spirit pummelled and defeated, my legs tight, sore and pathetic. i ran when i could but mainly i walked. during this time, i just tried to pull myself together. figure out what i could learn and what i could do to make the next longer runs not suck so much. and therefore make finishing the marathon a reality.
i decided that i would run all my remaining long runs along the actual route. i also decided that it was imperative that i take my nutrition and hydration much more seriously. this is all stuff i already knew and should have been practicing already, but the thing is is that when i started thinking too seriously about this marathon thing, i would totally wig out, start to doubt my abilities and it would just spiral into total freakout, meltdown. so i'd been taking a more laidback approach, focusing on just one run at a time. this run however was a very rude awakening. and i'm hoping that the next month and a half before my taper is enough to be prepared.
because i ran from point to point, i had to get back to my car. my plan was to take a cab, but i quickly figured out that sf is not so much a cab kind of city. luckily it is a bus city. and after walking a mile further, i was able to find out what muni line i needed to take to get me back downtown. it gave me time to stretch though i didn't realize if i had just walked a block further i could have bought a gatorade at a gas station.
about 3 or 4 stops into my bus ride, someone actually came down to sit next to me. seriously dude? i have been running for the past 3 hours and you choose ME to sit next too. i mean sure my nips were at full salute since it was chilly in my wet tank, but seriously, i could not have looked or smelled that good. though after a quick glance around the bus i realized i wasn't the dirtiest person on the bus. ah, the joys of the city.
after traversing down haight, we finally made our way downtown where i made a beeline for a hotdog stand for a salty jumbo pretzel and a vitamin water. the pretzel ended up being a smart purchase because the swath of parchment paper made it was the perfect size to shield my chest and offending nips! i scarfed the pretzel down during the 4 block walk to the garage where my other treats awaited me. i threw on a long sleeve shirt and dug out my accelerade and grapes. by this point i felt totally bloated from all the liquids. once i had my fill, i grabbed my bags and headed for the gym.
for a spin class.
just kidding! who do you think i am?! i headed to a sf branch of my gym for a much needed shower. there was NO way i was gonna drive home in nasty running clothes. although i do have to say that my new running skirt was dry as a bone! but it felt ever so good to get into a warm shower, dry off and get into my jeans, dry socks, and my warm hoodie. by the time i changed it was about 5 pm. my original plan was to have dinner at a greek restaurant downtown but i realized that even after eating dinner, i would be stuck in rush hour traffic during the ride home. so i called my tita who lives in sf to see if she was home, and she was! score! she offered to make me fried chicken so it didn't take much twisting of my arm to forego gyros and hummus for homemade goods. and green tea ice cream! WOOT!
so now here i am, well fed, more rested, watching MTV with my cousin waiting out the traffic. i am definitely going to have to eat better and drink more before my long runs. because i'm realizing now that the only time i peed today was this morning. once when i woke up and once before i left for sf. also, i was under the wrong impression that because i have been stuffing my face the past 2 weeks that i wouldn't need to "carbo-load" before my run. dumb. dumb. dumb.
from here on out people, my training is gonna have to be different. much more serious. much more focused. let's hope it's not too late to pull this marathon outta my ass!
splits:
1: 12:04
2: 12:04
3: 12:09
4.19: 14:45 (i thought i hit the splits button but didn't)
5:10:56
6: 12:59
7: 13:22
8: 14:14
9: 14:39
10: 15:27
11: 14:32
12: 12:49
13: 13:19
14: 13:31
T: 3:06:51
15:14:56 (walk to bus)
yeah, so did i.
but i severely underestimated just how hilly those hills actually are. which makes for a very craptastic 14 mile run. which could potentially make for a craptastic marathon. *sigh*
the one good thing about san francisco is that the weather is almost always runner friendly. which meant i could wait until after rush hour traffic to make the trek to the city. i packed my bags, a cooler filled with post workout nourishment and made the hour drive to union square. i parked in a garage and started donning my running gear when i realized that i had forgotten my headphones!!! argh! there was no way i was gonna go 14 miles with no tunes or cues from my nike+. luckily niketown was right there. though i had to go into the store totally geeked out in my nike visor, nike sunglasses, and nike tank, in full running gear complete with my hydration belt. then i plunked down $30 for overpriced nike headphones.
i decided that it would be a good idea to start running the actual marathon route so that i would be mentally and physically prepared to handle the course. i know from experience that running in a new place wigs me out because my brain has no visual references to tell me how far i've gone and how much more i have to go. plus i knew that if i didn't get any real hill training in, it would be a very real possibility that my legs would crap out on me. i followed the map from the race website as best as i could, and prayed that none of the roads i would have to run would be too dangerous during normal non-race, non-closure conditions.
so niketown is where i started. the first couple miles i weaved in and out of mobs of pedestrians, rushed through intersections and tried not to get run over. once i hit the embarcadero though, it was pretty smooth sailing. long flat blocks and i made nearly every green light. fisherman's wharf was a little crowded but not the clusterfuck i anticipated. from there i ran along the marina right into a fierce headwind. by that point i was about 5 miles into things. i started to tire so i took a gu and a walk break. i bought a water at little stand and refilled my bottles.
next came the stretch towards the golden gate bridge and the famous mile 7 with the bad ass hill. i ran through chrissy field and at one point missed my turn and ended up at fort point. so i doubled back and found "the hill". mother bitch! bikers dismounted their bikes, but damn if every single runner powered up. i was not one of those runners. i did my best but man, it was a no go.
and actually all of the presidio pretty much sucked ass. after that hill, came another. a long slow sucky ass hill. basically miles 7-10 were a combination of running, walking, whining, doubting, and near crying. i just could not will myself to run. my legs from my knees down were not happy. tight calves, tight soleus, rickety knees. all i could do was concentrate on just moving forward and enjoying the views of ocean and million dollar homes.
and while for every uphill there is a downhill, i don't much enjoy downhills either. but at least i was back to running. once out of the presidio, i ran in the bike lane on el camino del mar. and for the first time i was in a part of the city i'd never been before. i cursed every damn tree, every house. i was so tired. and my legs were seriously spent.
but i trudged on. because i saw the ocean! and a block before i reached ocean beach, right at mile 11, i spotted my oasis. BURGER KING!! just in time because i needed water and food. even though i had 2 gus by this point, my stomach was rumbling. and i figured if eating on the run was good enough for dean-o, it could be good enough for me. i popped into the BK for a bottled water and a small fry. yes, a small fry. i figured it had salt and simple carbs.
i popped a few tasty morsels in my mouth and held onto the bag for dear life. only 3 more miles to go through golden gate park. this is where the route got tricky because the map stopped naming roads through the park and i had to go by landmarks. the dutch windmill, the golf course, spreckles lake. and if i got lost, all i had to do was head for the panhandle and the japanese tea garden.
the last three miles were a pathetic attempt at running. my mind was long gone, my spirit pummelled and defeated, my legs tight, sore and pathetic. i ran when i could but mainly i walked. during this time, i just tried to pull myself together. figure out what i could learn and what i could do to make the next longer runs not suck so much. and therefore make finishing the marathon a reality.
i decided that i would run all my remaining long runs along the actual route. i also decided that it was imperative that i take my nutrition and hydration much more seriously. this is all stuff i already knew and should have been practicing already, but the thing is is that when i started thinking too seriously about this marathon thing, i would totally wig out, start to doubt my abilities and it would just spiral into total freakout, meltdown. so i'd been taking a more laidback approach, focusing on just one run at a time. this run however was a very rude awakening. and i'm hoping that the next month and a half before my taper is enough to be prepared.
because i ran from point to point, i had to get back to my car. my plan was to take a cab, but i quickly figured out that sf is not so much a cab kind of city. luckily it is a bus city. and after walking a mile further, i was able to find out what muni line i needed to take to get me back downtown. it gave me time to stretch though i didn't realize if i had just walked a block further i could have bought a gatorade at a gas station.
about 3 or 4 stops into my bus ride, someone actually came down to sit next to me. seriously dude? i have been running for the past 3 hours and you choose ME to sit next too. i mean sure my nips were at full salute since it was chilly in my wet tank, but seriously, i could not have looked or smelled that good. though after a quick glance around the bus i realized i wasn't the dirtiest person on the bus. ah, the joys of the city.
after traversing down haight, we finally made our way downtown where i made a beeline for a hotdog stand for a salty jumbo pretzel and a vitamin water. the pretzel ended up being a smart purchase because the swath of parchment paper made it was the perfect size to shield my chest and offending nips! i scarfed the pretzel down during the 4 block walk to the garage where my other treats awaited me. i threw on a long sleeve shirt and dug out my accelerade and grapes. by this point i felt totally bloated from all the liquids. once i had my fill, i grabbed my bags and headed for the gym.
for a spin class.
just kidding! who do you think i am?! i headed to a sf branch of my gym for a much needed shower. there was NO way i was gonna drive home in nasty running clothes. although i do have to say that my new running skirt was dry as a bone! but it felt ever so good to get into a warm shower, dry off and get into my jeans, dry socks, and my warm hoodie. by the time i changed it was about 5 pm. my original plan was to have dinner at a greek restaurant downtown but i realized that even after eating dinner, i would be stuck in rush hour traffic during the ride home. so i called my tita who lives in sf to see if she was home, and she was! score! she offered to make me fried chicken so it didn't take much twisting of my arm to forego gyros and hummus for homemade goods. and green tea ice cream! WOOT!
so now here i am, well fed, more rested, watching MTV with my cousin waiting out the traffic. i am definitely going to have to eat better and drink more before my long runs. because i'm realizing now that the only time i peed today was this morning. once when i woke up and once before i left for sf. also, i was under the wrong impression that because i have been stuffing my face the past 2 weeks that i wouldn't need to "carbo-load" before my run. dumb. dumb. dumb.
from here on out people, my training is gonna have to be different. much more serious. much more focused. let's hope it's not too late to pull this marathon outta my ass!
splits:
1: 12:04
2: 12:04
3: 12:09
4.19: 14:45 (i thought i hit the splits button but didn't)
5:10:56
6: 12:59
7: 13:22
8: 14:14
9: 14:39
10: 15:27
11: 14:32
12: 12:49
13: 13:19
14: 13:31
T: 3:06:51
15:14:56 (walk to bus)
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
i expected this
finding new trails to run is one of the best things about living where i do. even though i log a good amount of miles on the treadmill, i love getting my shoes dirty in the great outdoors. i rarely enjoy running along city (or in my case) suburban streets. i'd heard good things about rockville hills park, less than 10 minutes from my house. so off i went, planning to log an easy 5 miles.
easy they were not. and 5 i did not log. the trails were rocky, windy, and at places very narrow and right along the edge of the hill. the scenery and views were AMAZING but this was not the ideal location for me to get in my first few miles after a 2 week hiatus. about a mile into the run i realized the terrain was too rough and in places too steep for me to get in a good easy workout. so i turned back. along the way i ran into a super buff chick and her 3 super buff dogs! for awhile i also ran behind a man who at one point stopped, dropped, and pounded out some pushups. holy christ! i hope i'm that fit when i'm in my late forties!
once back to my car i decided i couldn't just call it a day, so i drove to the lagoon to finish out the rest of my run. and even though the terrain there was familiar and flat, my legs just weren't feeling it. neither was my brain. i managed to eke out another 2.25 miles, though.
so it's a pathetic re-entry into training, but it's to be expected. i'm very much looking forward to yoga tonight. i think my muscles need it. especially before i attempt my 14 mile long run tomorrow. yeah, we'll just see how THAT goes.
easy they were not. and 5 i did not log. the trails were rocky, windy, and at places very narrow and right along the edge of the hill. the scenery and views were AMAZING but this was not the ideal location for me to get in my first few miles after a 2 week hiatus. about a mile into the run i realized the terrain was too rough and in places too steep for me to get in a good easy workout. so i turned back. along the way i ran into a super buff chick and her 3 super buff dogs! for awhile i also ran behind a man who at one point stopped, dropped, and pounded out some pushups. holy christ! i hope i'm that fit when i'm in my late forties!
once back to my car i decided i couldn't just call it a day, so i drove to the lagoon to finish out the rest of my run. and even though the terrain there was familiar and flat, my legs just weren't feeling it. neither was my brain. i managed to eke out another 2.25 miles, though.
so it's a pathetic re-entry into training, but it's to be expected. i'm very much looking forward to yoga tonight. i think my muscles need it. especially before i attempt my 14 mile long run tomorrow. yeah, we'll just see how THAT goes.
Monday, August 13, 2007
where i've been
 |
| GBW 2007 |
i've been doin' a lot of partyin'. and eatin'. and drinkin'. but not a lick of running.
in my defense, dc was insanely humid and this northern california girl has lost all tolerance for crappy weather. i packed all my gear to run, totally excited about running on my old trails again, but holy crap was it ever so hot and humid. i was out one night at 1 am and it was ridiculously swampy. i don't know how i ever trained for my first half marathon in that sauna last summer. my hat goes off to all you swampy runners. that shit is bru-tal!
i did find other ways to sweat though. my college bffs and i made our annual trek to dewey beach for some fun in the sun. i had my fill of crab cakes, tacos, thrasher fries, grotto pizza, and buckets of corona. then we danced it all off at the rusty rudder.
see? totally sweaty! so sweaty i had to wring my shirt out when we got back to the hotel. gross!
this is what $8.50 in french fries looks like. i swear i didn't eat them all myself, but i'm embarrassed to admit that i probably could have if i really wanted to.
i also spent some time back in the city, visiting other friends and my old office. i made it to the portrait gallery which opened late last year after years of renovation. i also did some major shopping, including a new running skirt!
but after a week, i was ready to get the hell outta there and get home. it surprised me how much my visit back made me realize moving was the best possible thing for me. i really had my doubts in the beginning. and surprisingly even though i'm back at home with the 'rents and waiting tables, i'm happier now than i have been in years. it's taken 8 months, but i think i'm FINALLY ready to start what i moved to california to do. START MY LIFE OVER AGAIN.
which happily coincides with my 29th birthday! festivities included a huuuge cookout, bowling, and karaoke! karaoke at a place called "uncle bong's pizzeria". how could you NOT have fun at a place like that?! our crew of about 30 took over and we had the best. time. ever. eventually our d.d.s got us alcoholics home in the wee hours of the morning and even managed to stop and get some late night mexican takeout.
so as you can see, a workout is in serious order. in fact, i probably shouldn't stop running until i hit next tuesday. but my, oh, my, is it ever so hard to get back on the wagon!
oh i almost forgot, here's a picture of my toe exactly a week after the ice-block incident!
Friday, August 10, 2007
whew!
got my stuff. thank GAWD!
i do want to post about my vaca, but i'm too busy unpacking and preparing for my birthday fiesta!! woot! truth be told i've been celebrating for about a week now, so the culmination of the actual day on sunday will no doubt tire this old lady out!
and for the record, this is my last birthday. i'll be 29 until no one believes me anymore. :)
i do want to post about my vaca, but i'm too busy unpacking and preparing for my birthday fiesta!! woot! truth be told i've been celebrating for about a week now, so the culmination of the actual day on sunday will no doubt tire this old lady out!
and for the record, this is my last birthday. i'll be 29 until no one believes me anymore. :)
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
i'm hoooooooome!
with my feet firmly planted on california soil, i can happily declare i'm home! but my luggage? not so much. mother bitches! i never check baggage but with the new liquids rule, i basically had no choice because i require excessive amounts of hair product and lip gloss. so i turned my bags over to tsa. and now look what happened!
i get ansty at the baggage carousel. i worry that someone will walk off with my bag and i'll be forced to confront them (or worse not realize someone has walked off with my shit). i worry that my bag will have busted open and all my dirty undies will be spilling out. and then i worry that my bags are in bolivia instead of sacramento, california. they've tried to assure me that they're on the next flight in, but who knows.
i was smart enough to carry-on my laptop and my custom orthotics for my running shoes, but not my actual shoes. my digital camera however is lost with the luggage, so pictures of my beautiful bruised toe will have to wait til later.
i bet you can't wait! (and say a prayer to the gods of lost luggage that my things make it safely back to me!)
i get ansty at the baggage carousel. i worry that someone will walk off with my bag and i'll be forced to confront them (or worse not realize someone has walked off with my shit). i worry that my bag will have busted open and all my dirty undies will be spilling out. and then i worry that my bags are in bolivia instead of sacramento, california. they've tried to assure me that they're on the next flight in, but who knows.
i was smart enough to carry-on my laptop and my custom orthotics for my running shoes, but not my actual shoes. my digital camera however is lost with the luggage, so pictures of my beautiful bruised toe will have to wait til later.
i bet you can't wait! (and say a prayer to the gods of lost luggage that my things make it safely back to me!)
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