I just re-read my last post from 2009. It said something the the effect of not wanting to get out of shape for the winter, blah, blah, blah. Well, if I were a betting sort of gal and there was money on the table over whether or not I'd managed to keep myself moving throughout the cold months, I'd bet against myself.
The good thing, however, is that it's in the past. Out with 2009, in with a new year... even if it is April already. It's not as bad as it sounds though. Wen and I successfully ran our first 1/2 marathon, "the Big Sur 1/2" last November. We fell out of our routine, but not before completing the race. So far this year, we're gearing up to run the Alameda 1/2 in early June and I plan to complete the SF Marathon in July.
We decided to get back running last week, just in time for the rain. Hamster wheel, here we come! The nice thing is that it's not too hard to knock off a few miles on the treadmill... the issues comes on longer training runs, which we've not yet approached.
Wen took off on a camping trip a couple of weeks ago to Pinnacles. I decided to stay home because the evening temps are still WAY too chilly for me. It was the same weekend as the Oakland Marathon, but unfortunately, I've not been training. Still, the race kept trying to suck me in, until finally, I went on their website Friday before the race and decided that I would go register in person the next day (Saturday for a Sunday morning run). If I couldn't finish, nothing big lost.
I was excited about this race because Oakland hasn't had a marathon in more than 25 years. It was great to see the return of an organized running festival, travelling though so many different parts of the city. No one expected it to sell out, but that's exactly what happened. People lined up in the morning and soon, the 1/2 marathon was sold out followed by the full. By the time I got to the front of the line, there were no bibs left for sale. I whined a little, but to no avail.
As I got home, I decided that I still wanted to run the race as an unofficial entrant. This meant no bib, no time chip, no t-shirt, slight deviations off-course, running on lots of sidewalks, carrying my own water/food, etc. But really, I reasoned that as long as I wasn't actually freeloading anything away from the race, I would attempt to run as much of the course as I could. I started off planning to finish 13.1 miles and ended with a 26.2 mile completion (per my gps). Albeit slow, I was thrilled. I didn't barf, collapse or hurt myself, so I can only imagine that the next race (which I/we will train for) is going to be so much easier.
I told Wen the news when she arrived home from her campout and she laughed. She seemed entertained, but not completely surprised.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
A Mac 'n Cheese Day
Today came the first big storm of the season. Hurricane winds, black clouds and official weather warnings. For us, it's been a day of working at home, trying to keep the house dry (we discovered a couple of new leaks) and indulging in comfort food. Why does cold weather make me want to eat an elephant smothered in macaroni and cheese?
Okay, so my wife has already informed me that I shall not go to the gym today. There were in excess of 200 traffic accidents in Oakland by noon time and I'm not allowed to drive amongst the crazies. This fact makes all of the chips, chocolate and unmentionables I've consumed today feel all the more sinful, but I'll try not to dwell on it tonight as we watch our Tuesday programing, The Biggest Loser.
All said, however, I am now running an average of 30-40 miles per week now and I've lost 22 pounds since April! I know that I'm entitled to a "bad" day every now and then... as long as the trend doesn't carry through the winter (as it did last year).
Wen impresses me every day. Together, we're doing well. Getting stronger, more fit, more active and proud of what we've accomplished. We have 1 month until our first half-marathon and it's going to be great!
Okay, so my wife has already informed me that I shall not go to the gym today. There were in excess of 200 traffic accidents in Oakland by noon time and I'm not allowed to drive amongst the crazies. This fact makes all of the chips, chocolate and unmentionables I've consumed today feel all the more sinful, but I'll try not to dwell on it tonight as we watch our Tuesday programing, The Biggest Loser.
All said, however, I am now running an average of 30-40 miles per week now and I've lost 22 pounds since April! I know that I'm entitled to a "bad" day every now and then... as long as the trend doesn't carry through the winter (as it did last year).
Wen impresses me every day. Together, we're doing well. Getting stronger, more fit, more active and proud of what we've accomplished. We have 1 month until our first half-marathon and it's going to be great!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Still running...
This weekend, Tara and I logged around 24 miles, between running and walking. We were lucky enough to spend Saturday and Sunday in SF, which meant 7-8 miles Saturday (walked most, but ran about 2- 2.5) and around 16-17 on Sunday (about 2-3 walking). I know that over the course of Sunday I ran a half-marathon distance, although that was broken up by a little walking and about a half hour of browsing in a vintage clothes store in the Haight...
It's good to be able to just run 10+ miles without any planning. That's exactly what we did; we'd planned to run 5-6 and then Tara asked, "How would you feel about running 10?" I answered, "I feel like I would have eaten a lot more!" The night before was "running as transportation"; the fact that we were going to be late to a dance performance if we didn't get back and showered made footracing the vehicle of choice. Again, it was nice that we could run a couple of miles without thinking much about it.
It's good to be able to just run 10+ miles without any planning. That's exactly what we did; we'd planned to run 5-6 and then Tara asked, "How would you feel about running 10?" I answered, "I feel like I would have eaten a lot more!" The night before was "running as transportation"; the fact that we were going to be late to a dance performance if we didn't get back and showered made footracing the vehicle of choice. Again, it was nice that we could run a couple of miles without thinking much about it.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Running: Now with new & improved goal!
My running journey continues, and now there is an official goal: the Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay. (That's 13.1 miles, or 1.87 miles per word in the title of the event.)
Being officially registered was enough to scare my butt right out of the bed this morning for a 3.31 mile run around Lake Merritt before work. It wasn't a long run, but I was proud of myself for getting up, getting out into the 50-something degree fog, and running.
I keep waiting for this to get easier. I managed to do 10 miles relatively well a couple of weeks ago. I slapped myself on the back (or would have, could I have reached) and vowed to train for a full marathon! [Note to self: endorphins cloud judgement. Reserve big decisions for later.]
But last Sunday? It was, in a word, difficult. We aimed to go 16 miles: 12 miles of running with 4 miles of walking interspersed. We ended up doing a "1 mile walk/4 mile run & repeat" until we'd done 12 miles of running and 5 miles of walking--yes we did an extra 1 mile walk--for a total of 17 miles.
That might sound pretty good, but man, I was very close to the wall. As in centimeters from it. I hadn't eaten particularly well or enough (as it turns out) the week before, and so after the first decent hill in, oh, mile 2, my muscles started to go. First the left quad. Ouch. Then the right. Ouch ouch. Then the left calf. Ouch ouch ouch. Tara explained that because of the lack of glycogen in my muscles--it seems my body ate it because my blood sugar wasn't enough--I was having lactic acid buildup. As my muscles got depleted, they were recruiting other muscles to help out, hence the seeming "spread" of the discomfort. That's the somewhat technical explanation. Mine? Well, let's just say at one point, I said to Tara, "We have to stop and stretch for a second. My butt is made of concrete." So the quads? Tiny razors in soft, Jello-like tissue. The buns of steel? Concrete that hardened into an unfortunate shape. The good news? I pushed through it (with help from Tara, a bit of food, and some water/accelerade).
Next long run is a do-over with a twist: 12 miles straight, no walking.
Being officially registered was enough to scare my butt right out of the bed this morning for a 3.31 mile run around Lake Merritt before work. It wasn't a long run, but I was proud of myself for getting up, getting out into the 50-something degree fog, and running.
I keep waiting for this to get easier. I managed to do 10 miles relatively well a couple of weeks ago. I slapped myself on the back (or would have, could I have reached) and vowed to train for a full marathon! [Note to self: endorphins cloud judgement. Reserve big decisions for later.]
But last Sunday? It was, in a word, difficult. We aimed to go 16 miles: 12 miles of running with 4 miles of walking interspersed. We ended up doing a "1 mile walk/4 mile run & repeat" until we'd done 12 miles of running and 5 miles of walking--yes we did an extra 1 mile walk--for a total of 17 miles.
That might sound pretty good, but man, I was very close to the wall. As in centimeters from it. I hadn't eaten particularly well or enough (as it turns out) the week before, and so after the first decent hill in, oh, mile 2, my muscles started to go. First the left quad. Ouch. Then the right. Ouch ouch. Then the left calf. Ouch ouch ouch. Tara explained that because of the lack of glycogen in my muscles--it seems my body ate it because my blood sugar wasn't enough--I was having lactic acid buildup. As my muscles got depleted, they were recruiting other muscles to help out, hence the seeming "spread" of the discomfort. That's the somewhat technical explanation. Mine? Well, let's just say at one point, I said to Tara, "We have to stop and stretch for a second. My butt is made of concrete." So the quads? Tiny razors in soft, Jello-like tissue. The buns of steel? Concrete that hardened into an unfortunate shape. The good news? I pushed through it (with help from Tara, a bit of food, and some water/accelerade).
Next long run is a do-over with a twist: 12 miles straight, no walking.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Hiking Loon Lake...
This past weekend we went to Loon Lake with a few friends, and ended up doing a 14 mile (okay, 13.92 mile) hike to Spider Lake and Buck Island Lake. Aside from the "rocky road" of potentially ankle-eating fist-sized rocks, it wasn't a challenging hike for me, which means all the walking and running has helped. I didn't walk terribly fast, but I also wasn't thrashed at the end. Victory!
The gorgeous trees, blue waters, and stark granite, a lakeside lunch with Tara and Cathy, and a swim made the hike a fantastic way to spend a Saturday...
The gorgeous trees, blue waters, and stark granite, a lakeside lunch with Tara and Cathy, and a swim made the hike a fantastic way to spend a Saturday...
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Addicted
Today was great! Wen and I completed a 10 mile run together and had a great time on our urban exploration. We had planned to run 5 miles together, I'd then dump her off at a bookstore or coffee shop, complete a few more miles and go back to meet her afterward. We got to the end of our 5 miles, grabbed a water at Starbucks and just as I was ready to head out the door flying solo, she stood up, fastened her new running (fuel) belt and decided that she wasn't done yet. Woohoo!
This was great news. Great, because we finished the full 10 miles together, great because Wen had never run 10 miles before, and really cool that she finished feeling good and even commented of her own free-will that it was "fun". Yep, I heard it right!
This is in sharp contrast to the attitude of days-gone-by (by this, I mean yesterday). I guess she's finally decided that the only way to be a runner is to run - and she ran damn good today! I've always believed that people (in general) are the first to get in their own way, but they possess every ability to remove the road blocks they've erected. Something clicked today. I woke up to calming nerves over completing today's 5-miler, and I'm preparing to sleep next to a woman who's exhausted, but simultaneously on top of the world. She's an athlete in every sense of the word and I admire her determination and strength. We all need a little push every now and then, and I'm glad that we can look to eachother for inspiration. It's fun to hear her talk about how she's going to complete 26.2:) Wen might not consider herself a runner yet, but I will say that she's determined (and quite capable).
And anyway, we are never short of entertainment along the route. There's always something to keep our minds off of the fatigue or legs cramps. Today, we ventured just a little too far into the Tenderloin on our way to Civic Center, but we enjoyed animated conversations about sweet potatoe pie, met a man who thought he was on Haight street ("Hey Ladies! Welcome to the Haight!"), and compared professional signage for Asian massage parlors. We also happened upon a man talking to his previous love-interest, saying, "I know you think I still harbor some deep-seeded attraction for you, but all of that died when I found out you were a coked-up alcoholic mess". Smart man.
Last week was a fun experience too. We decided to take a long walk through part of San Francisco. As we ascended a block-long staircase carved into the concrete, Wen became increasingly convinced that I was trying to kill her, but she quickly changed her tune when we found ourselves standing on top of Telegraph Hill facing Coit Tower. Not only is the city view amazing from there, but once inside the 1933 structure, there are numerous murals on the inner walls to amuse, and displays rich with the city's history. The long elevator ride to the top wasn't great for either of us, but was well worth the experience of standing inside and marveling at this piece of the skyline that we so often admire from afar.
Afterward, we explored many of the homes overlooking the bay that are only accessible by staircase. Great for the legs, but a great deal of fun too. How do these people bring groceries home? What is the average age of the homeowner? Do any have knee replacements?
We pondered all of these things, then decended the hill and rewarded ourselves with a delicious lunch (pizza with tomato, feta and arugala) in North Beach at Decadent Cafe. It was a warm sunny day with dogs on walks, and many a newspaper lying upon table-tops at streetside cafes. We basked in our good fortune and finally pulled ourselves up from the table and on to our next adventure... which just happened to be hand-made peanut butter cups in the Castro. I promise they're the best you'll ever have.
For all of the physical pain we've embraced for "getting in shape", the time spent doing it together, the experiences, smells, smiles and sunshine have been pretty much priceless. We're addicted. Next stop: Half Marathon.
This was great news. Great, because we finished the full 10 miles together, great because Wen had never run 10 miles before, and really cool that she finished feeling good and even commented of her own free-will that it was "fun". Yep, I heard it right!
This is in sharp contrast to the attitude of days-gone-by (by this, I mean yesterday). I guess she's finally decided that the only way to be a runner is to run - and she ran damn good today! I've always believed that people (in general) are the first to get in their own way, but they possess every ability to remove the road blocks they've erected. Something clicked today. I woke up to calming nerves over completing today's 5-miler, and I'm preparing to sleep next to a woman who's exhausted, but simultaneously on top of the world. She's an athlete in every sense of the word and I admire her determination and strength. We all need a little push every now and then, and I'm glad that we can look to eachother for inspiration. It's fun to hear her talk about how she's going to complete 26.2:) Wen might not consider herself a runner yet, but I will say that she's determined (and quite capable).
And anyway, we are never short of entertainment along the route. There's always something to keep our minds off of the fatigue or legs cramps. Today, we ventured just a little too far into the Tenderloin on our way to Civic Center, but we enjoyed animated conversations about sweet potatoe pie, met a man who thought he was on Haight street ("Hey Ladies! Welcome to the Haight!"), and compared professional signage for Asian massage parlors. We also happened upon a man talking to his previous love-interest, saying, "I know you think I still harbor some deep-seeded attraction for you, but all of that died when I found out you were a coked-up alcoholic mess". Smart man.
Last week was a fun experience too. We decided to take a long walk through part of San Francisco. As we ascended a block-long staircase carved into the concrete, Wen became increasingly convinced that I was trying to kill her, but she quickly changed her tune when we found ourselves standing on top of Telegraph Hill facing Coit Tower. Not only is the city view amazing from there, but once inside the 1933 structure, there are numerous murals on the inner walls to amuse, and displays rich with the city's history. The long elevator ride to the top wasn't great for either of us, but was well worth the experience of standing inside and marveling at this piece of the skyline that we so often admire from afar.
Afterward, we explored many of the homes overlooking the bay that are only accessible by staircase. Great for the legs, but a great deal of fun too. How do these people bring groceries home? What is the average age of the homeowner? Do any have knee replacements?
We pondered all of these things, then decended the hill and rewarded ourselves with a delicious lunch (pizza with tomato, feta and arugala) in North Beach at Decadent Cafe. It was a warm sunny day with dogs on walks, and many a newspaper lying upon table-tops at streetside cafes. We basked in our good fortune and finally pulled ourselves up from the table and on to our next adventure... which just happened to be hand-made peanut butter cups in the Castro. I promise they're the best you'll ever have.
For all of the physical pain we've embraced for "getting in shape", the time spent doing it together, the experiences, smells, smiles and sunshine have been pretty much priceless. We're addicted. Next stop: Half Marathon.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Running with Walkoffs?
I'm giving running what is typically called "the old college try." The verdict is out on whether it will become easier for me, but I am committed to trying. I can walk 16 miles with little or no problems--maybe a bit of Achilles pain or metatarsal issues, but overall, it's a walk in the park, so to speak.
Running, not so much.
From the first few steps until (if we are being honest here) the next day, it's not the most comfortable endeavor. I'm only running around 3 miles at a time--with a "long" run of 5ish miles thrown in here and there. And if I harbored any illusions that I was going fast, all I need is one "At least we are going really slowly" comment from Tara to disabuse me of that notion.
Tara is all about figuring out nutrition, turing on and off enzyme switches in her body (yeah, I'm not sure what that means, either) and how to maximize negative splits. Me, I spend most of the time thinking,"Wow, this is way harder than walking. My [insert body part] feels like hell and I can't breathe."
The takeaway? If I can get up to a marathon distance eventually, so can you.
Running, not so much.
From the first few steps until (if we are being honest here) the next day, it's not the most comfortable endeavor. I'm only running around 3 miles at a time--with a "long" run of 5ish miles thrown in here and there. And if I harbored any illusions that I was going fast, all I need is one "At least we are going really slowly" comment from Tara to disabuse me of that notion.
Tara is all about figuring out nutrition, turing on and off enzyme switches in her body (yeah, I'm not sure what that means, either) and how to maximize negative splits. Me, I spend most of the time thinking,"Wow, this is way harder than walking. My [insert body part] feels like hell and I can't breathe."
The takeaway? If I can get up to a marathon distance eventually, so can you.
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