With my long runs becoming longer and longer, I have taken to plotting them on Google Maps. This is a wondrous web service; right up there with email and Fandango if you ask me. Google is about 90% accurate (in my opinion) and I can finally have a way of more accurately measuring the distance of my runs, before I run them. Oh but there is one hitch. I live in Tigard, Oregon, population of approximately 46,000+. Do you think that perhaps the city could hire one damn civil engineer and implement their suggestions?!
My frustration stems from the fact that like many areas of the Northwest, not every street is labeled with a sign, sidewalks are limited if they exist at all, and little if any street lights. Add to that some streets are not through streets (with no signage). Perfect example: there is a street about 2 blocks from my house. Now from Google maps, using the satellite view it appears to be a through street, so much so that Google recommends this route. As I proceed on my run down this street it becomes immediately apparent that this is not a through street because someone never finished paving the damn street. Oh look, some kindly neighbor has decided to extend his fence across the street as well. Great! Now I have to either jump a fence to trespass on this guys made up boundary line or worse run back up the street and find an alternate route. I choose the later. Tigard police don’t give warnings. They give citations - big fat citations with matching fines.
I figure that this dead-end is a once in a blue moon kind of deal and continue on my run. But wait; there is more – as I continue to run following the remainder of my route, I again come to an unmarked dead-end, but this time there is no fence. This time there is a very deep and stinky creek that I have to traverse. WTF! I am on mile 13 of my run. My legs are shaking and now I have to do some kind of American Gladiator move to cross this damn creek! I find an aqueduct and use that to cross the creek. After completing this run and all the additional mileage as a result of my re-routing, I decide to see if the local Parks and Rec website can give me a map of available trails to use in my future runs. Well, there are some small parks and some of them are honestly very nice. Thank God! But none of the parks are linked in any way to each other. Oh there are proposals to one day, maybe link some of these trail together, but that is years and many dollars away. So to complete my blithe rant, I will continue to run in Tigard; dodging road kill & traffic, exploring dead-ends, and getting lost in my own neighborhood - over and over again.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Like a hamster on a wheel...
Running. Always running. That is my life. When is my next run? How far is that run? What elevation, incline, speed, terrain, etc? Am I sore, tired, fatigued, stiff or is it that one moment of rarity where nothing hurts and I have enough energy to think of something to clean. This training has becoming all encompassing, but I have come to the point that as much as I am sick of it – in some sick way I relish it. I love that I am getting stronger, faster and more determined than ever. Yesterday, I ran 16.29 miles – outside and up some serious hills (okay I walked up the hills). A year ago that would have been unimaginable. Now it’s only the most recently accomplished challenge. Next week 17 miles is my long run. Already I am trying to plan my next route.
Don’t get me wrong – I miss having time to seriously do my art (or at least think about creating). I miss not being able to hang out with my friends and family members because I have to prepare for a run for the next day. There are days (like today) where I am just sick of it all and would like to take a long nap and forget it. However, there is something so incredibly self servicing and freeing about this training for me. Knowing that I am preparing for a battle that is nothing less than against myself, is as fear inducing as it is exciting. There is nothing that is going to stop me short of serious injury, from doing this marathon – nothing that is except me. When people say that running is a mental game – it’s all too true. Your body could be at its peak in performance, but if your mind isn’t – you aren’t running. Too often we discount this connection. But where your head is – will determine when your feet will follow.
Don’t get me wrong – I miss having time to seriously do my art (or at least think about creating). I miss not being able to hang out with my friends and family members because I have to prepare for a run for the next day. There are days (like today) where I am just sick of it all and would like to take a long nap and forget it. However, there is something so incredibly self servicing and freeing about this training for me. Knowing that I am preparing for a battle that is nothing less than against myself, is as fear inducing as it is exciting. There is nothing that is going to stop me short of serious injury, from doing this marathon – nothing that is except me. When people say that running is a mental game – it’s all too true. Your body could be at its peak in performance, but if your mind isn’t – you aren’t running. Too often we discount this connection. But where your head is – will determine when your feet will follow.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Slacker is my name-O!
Marathon training requires allot of discipline. More perhaps than most are willing to dedicate and sacrifice their time in pursuing the goal of running a marathon. I understand this more fully now than ever. I love the fact that I am pursuing this goal and that I am able to see my progress, however slow it may feel.
August is proving my most difficult month thus far in my training. Every weekend has a social engagement, a weekend getaway, or some other event of which I have promised my attendance months previously. This normally inspires excitement and anticipation from me. I am, by nature a social butterfly. But with my long runs on the weekend becoming more and more demanding of my energy and time, I find that I am forced to breakup these runs into two separate runs to accommodate my time and energy. I fear that these mini-long runs are a poor substitute for the intensity of the true long run of 13+ miles that is scheduled for me. Another side effect is that I am missing my rest days, if not all of them during the week, then at least one. I was very excited for this past weekend. I was going to run with the Portland Marathoner Training – 5 hour group. Their run, which was scheduled at 8:00 AM, was an 18 mile run. Since they are more advanced in their training than I; I was planning on only running 13 miles.
This plan was perfect; however I decided to go for a run Friday night to make up some miles I had missed earlier in the week. When I came home about 9:30 PM, I found I could not fall asleep and was restless, but tired. When I finally fell asleep, it was 1 AM. When my alarm went off at 6:30 AM for my run with the Marathoner’s group, I was so tired, I felt nauseous. I made an executive decision. I was miss the run and meet up with the group the weekend after next. Unsure of where to run and having a commitment later that day, I completed a 5 mile run along the waterfront in downtown Portland. On Sunday, I ran another 8 miles in my neighborhood. Sunday night I was exhausted. Exhaustion, I am learning will make my sometimes less than smooth social skills even less effectual; case in point – completely forgetting at the bridal shower the bride-to-be fiancée name was Page and loudly asking what a “page” had to do with a wedding. Ouch!
Tired, I can manage. Exhaustion is something I am beginning to understand requires rest to recover sufficiently from. Gumption or sheer force of will, will only take me so far.
I am blessed to have so many wonderful friends. I wouldn’t imagine missing someone’s wedding, bridal shower, or some other once in a lifetime event. But honestly, I can not wait for September. No plans, no commitments – only running. Lots and lots of running.
August is proving my most difficult month thus far in my training. Every weekend has a social engagement, a weekend getaway, or some other event of which I have promised my attendance months previously. This normally inspires excitement and anticipation from me. I am, by nature a social butterfly. But with my long runs on the weekend becoming more and more demanding of my energy and time, I find that I am forced to breakup these runs into two separate runs to accommodate my time and energy. I fear that these mini-long runs are a poor substitute for the intensity of the true long run of 13+ miles that is scheduled for me. Another side effect is that I am missing my rest days, if not all of them during the week, then at least one. I was very excited for this past weekend. I was going to run with the Portland Marathoner Training – 5 hour group. Their run, which was scheduled at 8:00 AM, was an 18 mile run. Since they are more advanced in their training than I; I was planning on only running 13 miles.
This plan was perfect; however I decided to go for a run Friday night to make up some miles I had missed earlier in the week. When I came home about 9:30 PM, I found I could not fall asleep and was restless, but tired. When I finally fell asleep, it was 1 AM. When my alarm went off at 6:30 AM for my run with the Marathoner’s group, I was so tired, I felt nauseous. I made an executive decision. I was miss the run and meet up with the group the weekend after next. Unsure of where to run and having a commitment later that day, I completed a 5 mile run along the waterfront in downtown Portland. On Sunday, I ran another 8 miles in my neighborhood. Sunday night I was exhausted. Exhaustion, I am learning will make my sometimes less than smooth social skills even less effectual; case in point – completely forgetting at the bridal shower the bride-to-be fiancée name was Page and loudly asking what a “page” had to do with a wedding. Ouch!
Tired, I can manage. Exhaustion is something I am beginning to understand requires rest to recover sufficiently from. Gumption or sheer force of will, will only take me so far.
I am blessed to have so many wonderful friends. I wouldn’t imagine missing someone’s wedding, bridal shower, or some other once in a lifetime event. But honestly, I can not wait for September. No plans, no commitments – only running. Lots and lots of running.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Important Lesson Learned!
I had one long run last weekend. Last Saturday I was to run 12 miles. My IPod has a habit of rounding up - so in order to run 12 miles, I have to run 13.2 on the IPod. Crazy math, hunh? Well, I have another obstacle - I need to run more outside. So here was my plan. I would run about 5 1/2 to 6 miles outside in the morning before it became too hot then finish the run at the gym on the treadmill. Here was the plan:
Wake at 7am.
Leave house by 7:30am and run.
Come back to house in an hour, leave for gym.
Complete run at gym in about an hour.
Come home, shower.
Maybe run to the store or just chill out.
Here was reality:
Wake at 7:30am.
Leave house at 8:35am and run.
Heat is already 80 degrees.
Run for 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Return home - dehydrated and tired.
Shower.
Sit on couch; think about how freaking hot apartment is.
Fall asleep on couch. Wake up hours later, sweaty.
Shower.
Go to Target to buy fans.
Go to gym at 6:10pm.
Run 50 minutes, then kicked out of gym (they close at 7pm).
Shower.
Wake at 10am Sunday morning to run last 3 miles of run.
Shower.
Feel utterly drained and wasted on Monday.
Lessoned learned - run my long runs all at once or suffer the consequences.
Wake at 7am.
Leave house by 7:30am and run.
Come back to house in an hour, leave for gym.
Complete run at gym in about an hour.
Come home, shower.
Maybe run to the store or just chill out.
Here was reality:
Wake at 7:30am.
Leave house at 8:35am and run.
Heat is already 80 degrees.
Run for 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Return home - dehydrated and tired.
Shower.
Sit on couch; think about how freaking hot apartment is.
Fall asleep on couch. Wake up hours later, sweaty.
Shower.
Go to Target to buy fans.
Go to gym at 6:10pm.
Run 50 minutes, then kicked out of gym (they close at 7pm).
Shower.
Wake at 10am Sunday morning to run last 3 miles of run.
Shower.
Feel utterly drained and wasted on Monday.
Lessoned learned - run my long runs all at once or suffer the consequences.
No Candy...
I am now in training. I run any where to 4 to 6 miles four days a week with a long run on the weekend which at the moment is topping out at 12 miles. With the guidance of my running coach – found on the Road Runners Club of America website: http://www.rrca.org/. She has created for me a custom schedule to enable me to run my marathon. I am so excited to be accomplishing something, hell, even attempting something that 15 years ago I would have thought forever beyond my ability. Why the running coach? Because I saw someone wrote a freaking book on how to run the NYC Marathon. Why did they write a book on how to run one specific marathon, you ask? Cause it’s that freaking hard. So for the cost of two pedicures a month, I hired a running coach.
My running coach has confirmed for me my sinking suspension regarding marathon training and weight loss. The two do not coincide. I have to admit that I am a bit bummed. In the 2 last weeks or so I have used this as a reason to eat more than I would have normally, but I determined to put a stop to this behavior. Would it be nice to be that size 8 while running across the finish line in Central Park – Hell Yeah! But knowing that it's perhaps not a realistic goal (I am currently a size 12) I am not going allow myself to continue to gain weight just because I have this odd sense of defeat. Which is really weird, cuz I am in a freaking marathon! I need to celebrate this accomplishment. When I eat better - I feel better. A few weeks ago, I bought candy for the office (okay me, but I shared People!). And I found that I felt achy and terribly fatigued afterward. So I have made my first pledge for this race. To improve my training and overall sense of well being – no more candy till after the race – insert big gasp here! To those of you who chew only ½ a piece of gum at a time, I don’t expect you to understand. I am once of those who does eat and enjoy the entire movie size box of sour skittles before the opening credits of the movie are over. It’s weird how much more in tune I feel with my body now. It’s hard to ignore those small signs that I was so oblivious to before. The food I eat, the amount of sleep I get, the depth of my training – now all greatly impacts how I function. Now to most of you this is no great revelation. To me, it’s the first time I have really paid attention to what my body is saying. At the moment, it’s got a filthy mouth.
One day a week I am to cross-train. I have found a great class called Zumba at this dance studio called Diva Den: http://www.pdxpoledivas.com/index.html. I found this place through a Weight Watchers meeting, believe it or not. I have taken levels 1 & 2 of the Pole Dancing Classes and they are an utter blast – but I have been told not cross-training worthy. Have no fear, once this race is completed I will return to my pole! Oh, don’t be confused. I am not very good at pole dancing – I call myself the Mary Catherine Gallagher of the strip tease. That easy/flirty/sexiness that so many women have – not me. Why do I do it? The same reason kids swing on the monkey bars – its fun! And the shoe are just freaking hot!
Well I am off to shower and rest. Today is a rest day. Tomorrow - bring on the runs!
My running coach has confirmed for me my sinking suspension regarding marathon training and weight loss. The two do not coincide. I have to admit that I am a bit bummed. In the 2 last weeks or so I have used this as a reason to eat more than I would have normally, but I determined to put a stop to this behavior. Would it be nice to be that size 8 while running across the finish line in Central Park – Hell Yeah! But knowing that it's perhaps not a realistic goal (I am currently a size 12) I am not going allow myself to continue to gain weight just because I have this odd sense of defeat. Which is really weird, cuz I am in a freaking marathon! I need to celebrate this accomplishment. When I eat better - I feel better. A few weeks ago, I bought candy for the office (okay me, but I shared People!). And I found that I felt achy and terribly fatigued afterward. So I have made my first pledge for this race. To improve my training and overall sense of well being – no more candy till after the race – insert big gasp here! To those of you who chew only ½ a piece of gum at a time, I don’t expect you to understand. I am once of those who does eat and enjoy the entire movie size box of sour skittles before the opening credits of the movie are over. It’s weird how much more in tune I feel with my body now. It’s hard to ignore those small signs that I was so oblivious to before. The food I eat, the amount of sleep I get, the depth of my training – now all greatly impacts how I function. Now to most of you this is no great revelation. To me, it’s the first time I have really paid attention to what my body is saying. At the moment, it’s got a filthy mouth.
One day a week I am to cross-train. I have found a great class called Zumba at this dance studio called Diva Den: http://www.pdxpoledivas.com/index.html. I found this place through a Weight Watchers meeting, believe it or not. I have taken levels 1 & 2 of the Pole Dancing Classes and they are an utter blast – but I have been told not cross-training worthy. Have no fear, once this race is completed I will return to my pole! Oh, don’t be confused. I am not very good at pole dancing – I call myself the Mary Catherine Gallagher of the strip tease. That easy/flirty/sexiness that so many women have – not me. Why do I do it? The same reason kids swing on the monkey bars – its fun! And the shoe are just freaking hot!
Well I am off to shower and rest. Today is a rest day. Tomorrow - bring on the runs!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
So much has happened since my last post!
I took some much needed rest after my half marathon (about a month and a half). Getting back into to game was difficult, but worth the effort. Re-training is much easier than that first attempt at running seriously.
I have completed my races for both the Starlight Run and Epilepsy Run. Both were fun and I did not focus on finishing in any "record" time (for me). I have also won the lottery pick for the ING New York City Marathon for this November 1, 2009. The airfare has been purchased and the training will begin in earnest soon. I am also looking at hiring a running coach. I never - ever would have thought it necessary to hire someone to tell you to run. When I began to plot out my training schedule for the ING, I realized that I would be able to run the marathon in 2 months! Great! Awesome! But you see, my race is not for 4 months. Major freaking problem. So I became creative and figured that if I repeated every week twice, then I would be doubly ready for the race. One small nagging issue - overtraining. Never an issue for me before. Hell getting me to train was the issue before. So with the help of the Road Runner's Club of America website: http://www.rrca.org/ I have found several coaches who appear up for the job of correcting my form, training schedule and giving me that little tiny bit of additional motivation I need.
I am excited and scared, but I know that I will succeed. I just want to be sure that it doesn't take me 12 hours to finish the ING! God, if your listening, help me train so I can finish in 5 hours and I will no longer cut-off old people in traffic - well, I'll try anyway.
I have completed my races for both the Starlight Run and Epilepsy Run. Both were fun and I did not focus on finishing in any "record" time (for me). I have also won the lottery pick for the ING New York City Marathon for this November 1, 2009. The airfare has been purchased and the training will begin in earnest soon. I am also looking at hiring a running coach. I never - ever would have thought it necessary to hire someone to tell you to run. When I began to plot out my training schedule for the ING, I realized that I would be able to run the marathon in 2 months! Great! Awesome! But you see, my race is not for 4 months. Major freaking problem. So I became creative and figured that if I repeated every week twice, then I would be doubly ready for the race. One small nagging issue - overtraining. Never an issue for me before. Hell getting me to train was the issue before. So with the help of the Road Runner's Club of America website: http://www.rrca.org/ I have found several coaches who appear up for the job of correcting my form, training schedule and giving me that little tiny bit of additional motivation I need.
I am excited and scared, but I know that I will succeed. I just want to be sure that it doesn't take me 12 hours to finish the ING! God, if your listening, help me train so I can finish in 5 hours and I will no longer cut-off old people in traffic - well, I'll try anyway.
Friday, May 1, 2009
New Races on the Schedule!!!
May 30, 2009 - The Starlight Run - again, but this time with spunk!
June 23, 2009 - I am running for charity! I will be running in the Epilepsy Foundation Northwest Run/Walk. Please support me in my effort: http://efnw.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=307541&u=307541-255188066&e=2399299511
Pictures and details of each long and painful moment to follow!
June 23, 2009 - I am running for charity! I will be running in the Epilepsy Foundation Northwest Run/Walk. Please support me in my effort: http://efnw.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=307541&u=307541-255188066&e=2399299511
Pictures and details of each long and painful moment to follow!
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