Category: Run!

A Little Predicament

My next race is now less than 5 days away. It’s actually the very first race I ran and one of my favorite races- the HOB Fun Run. Also a little nerve wracking because it’s one race where I see a lot of people I know. Performance anxiety!! This will be my fifth year running it. The first 3 years I ran the 5k and last year I was a little crazy. I ran the 10k… and then the 5k. The 10k was a PR (55:57) at the time and the 5k was run with C and her husband.

Originally my plan was to warm up for a mile, run the 10k, run the 5k. That would bring me to 10 miles and I was going to treat that as the last double digit run before the City to the Sea half. This year with my lovely GI issues (and no City to the Sea), I am torn on what to run. I want to be just as crazy as I was last year. Question is can I reign myself in, take it easy and still have fun? The way I see it I have three options-

A- Run the 10k-easy, spectate the 5k
B- Skip the 10k, run the 5k-moderatly
C- Run both and practice pacing and breathing

Thing is, the 10k has an unofficial time limit of 1:15:00. Both races have a loop course, the 5k is one loop and the 10k is two loops. The 5k starts at 9:15 and the 10k at 8:00. If I take it easy on the 10k, I am hoping that would be around 1:01-1:03 ish. Which would give me 10 minutes to stretch and hydrate. I know I can finish the miles, the question is how well and will it be fun. I have friends running the 5k as well. If I run with C and her husband, it’ll be around a 30 minute 5k- last year was 30:22- assuming I can stay with them. I also have one friend running a little slower than that, and a couple more that will be run/ walking with a stroller. So I have plenty of people to run the 5k with no matter the pace.

I am working the late registration/ packet pick up table on Saturday so I have until then to decide. So help me out!

What are your thoughts?

Ever run a race 5 years in a row?

Ever run back to back races?

Almost there…

Friday was just as crazy as the rest of the week had been but it was ok, I had cookie Friday to get me through it. 🙂 Plus for once, I had plans after work, girls night! I met ML and A for dinner and a movie after work. Dinner was at a pub like restaurant, where I took no pictures. Oops! The burger was so good I was too busy eating it and catching up with them. Then it was on the movies, we saw Maze Runner. It was good and they did a decent job of sticking to the book. Granted I read it years ago, but they hit all the points I remembered. I also indulged in movie popcorn, maybe too much, but it was so worth it.

Saturday morning started with work. While I love that the weather is finally below triple digits, I could do with out the fog increase that has accompanied the cooler weather, particularly on my commute. At one point, I could barely see 2 car lengths ahead of me. Ugh. After work, I decided to use Saturday as a rest day and just ran some errands. My legs are a little tired from the extra 6 hours or so of standing per day but it’s still awesome. I decided that it had been too long since I had rearranged the bedroom furniture so that was how I spent my Saturday evening.

With my new plan to step back on running, I am aiming for 3 days a week, 15-20 miles. This week I had hoped for 15, a 3, a 5 and a 7 mile run. Instead it was 3.5, 4.5 and 4.3. I started the second set of medication that my doctor prescribed last night and woke with a pounding headache. I don’t have time for that! I had plans to go toSLO with my mom and get some shopping done plus that 7 mile run.

We were heading to SLO because back in July, I bought her a pair of running shoes at The Running Warehouse. They were supposed to be a very early Christmas present but after a month, she decided that she hated them because the tongue never stayed in place. So that was the first stop of the morning. Probably should have checked the times because they didn’t open until 10. Oops. I told her that she had to do all the talking. 🙂 Luckily the service was great as usual. She didn’t have a second choice, so I took partial store credit and picked up a new pair of Wave Rider’s with the other part. The new version comes out in a month so this way I have a back up when I need a new pair. Plus who knows if I will like the new version. I hated the Wave Inspire update.

Then it was lunch and some more shopping. I wanted to stop at Banana Republic, I have an interview on Tuesday, so I felt I needed a new dress. My head was still pounding and I was beginning to wonder if I was going to get in any running. Once home, I put my stuff away and then took a 25 minute power nap. I had very little desire run at that point but my head felt a little better, so I headed out. I kept it super easy and walked whenever I needed. Considering how I felt for the most of the day, I’d say it was damn good run. I even had the energy to take the last hill (slowly) and hit 4.3 miles instead of the other way, 3.8. I’d call that a win. 🙂 So mileage for the week- 12.3.

How was your weekend?

Anyone else hoard shoes in advance?

Ever hated a shoe update?

A Little Running and a Little Tom

Seriously, where has this week gone? Not that I am complaining that tomorrow is Friday but how is tomorrow Friday? Yesterday felt like Monday all day long. Nobody needs two Mondays in one week.

funny quote my week all mondays except friday and saturday — This week, yes. Thanks Pinterest

I still love my new desk even if it is taking me longer to adjust than I thought. I make it to about 1 each day before I need to sit; but I have adjusted to the chair finally. I almost fell off the dang thing on Monday. Between the wheels and the higher height of the seat, I had a few rough moments. My challenge gave my coworkers a good laugh though. 🙂

Tuesday’s run was rough. Just ugh. Not sure if it was partly due to tired legs or what but lets just leave it at 3.5 miles done. Wednesday turned into a rest day. I was supposed to go to the gym but I just wasn’t feeling it and work ran later than planned so rest it was. I switched back to heels as well that day and for some reason, standing seemed easier. I am so odd.

Tonight I had no desire to run the lake path so I headed back to my town and hit up the river path. My initial warm up walk extended itself because I was a little nervous to run. My last 2 4 “easy” runs have been the opposite of easy and throw in the Ventura half and I was just afraid of another rough run. I couldn’t even decide on how many miles to run. The Slacker in me was saying that 3 would be fine, the moderately reformed Slacker was telling me to do 5. That tiny bit of fear was telling me to walk the whole thing.

I still have the 8:30/1:00 intervals set up on my Garmin, so after walking the first 9:30 I decided to stick with that and started running. I tried to focus on my breathing and take slow, deep breaths. I wanted to see if it helped any. My old rule of thumb for most runs was to never be huffing and puffing even if it meant I was slower. It worked for me last year, so let’s try it again! I noticed after a mile or so that my form was better than usual. I felt like I was running tall and it felt good. Not sure if it was an added bonus of standing more or if it was the shoes. I was wearing my Sayonaras and I try to pay a little more attention to my form in them since they are a very neutral shoe and I tend to over pronate on the right side. I was also running with Tom Cruise hands. Why??? Again, I am odd.

I walked the 1:00 interval in both miles 2 & 3, telling myself I would try to run all of 4. Sounds like a little thing but I haven’t run a solid mile in well over a month. While I succeeded, I don’t think it counts. At 3.5 miles I have to cross a street to get back to the path. I tried to run across quickly but somehow my pepper spray leaped out my belt and landed in the cross walk. I got to the curb and somehow paused both my Garmin and Nike+ app while spinning around. I must have looked funny because every car was stopped staring at me. What do I do? Leave it or bolt and get it? I waved one car on and hoped no one on the other side would run over it. I then bolted out grabbed it and ran back. Dang it, that messed with my breathing! And I finally lost the Tom Cruise hands. 🙂 I carried the pepper spray the rest of the way. 1/4 mile later, I saw NikeC running my way, so we stopped and chatted a bit. So yes, I ran all of mile 4 but I had 2 breaks. 😦

Overall, this was the least stressful run I have had in over a month. For once I didn’t feel horrible. Now just to duplicate it and still take it easy. Easy, peasy right? Ha!

How has your week been? Anyone else have an extra Monday?

Anyone racing this weekend? Long running?

Ever Tom Cruise’d it up?

Stand up!

After 6 days with no running last week, I was both itching for a run and nervous. It’s like I was thinking I would have forgotten how to run or something. After working at the Avocado Festival Saturday, I knew I had to be up early if I wanted to run before working the last shift at the festival on Sunday. Now with the exception of race mornings, I am not an early riser. At all. I love sleeping. But I forced myself out of bed and was running by 8:30. Not even that early, right? I was tired and my head is still a little rough so I had two route options- 3.8 or 4.2. 3.8 won and I felt like my legs took miles to warm up. That I could have handled, it was my damn lungs that were annoying. We rarely ever have humidity here so I didn’t bother to check it. Fail! The humidity was 70% that morning, some freak cloud system had rolled in overnight. The clouds left but the humidity lingered. Ugh. But 3.8 miles done. I checked the weather again at 3 and the weather was 102º with 9% humidity. I would have rather run in that.

I spent 5 hours working at the Avocado Margarita Festival on Saturday and 3 on Sunday. The weather was awesome in work town and the festival was packed. However I spent those hours in an old building. It needed a fan and the giant generator was right outside. It ran the entire time- so not helpful for my head. Even though after a couple of hours, I started to tune it out. It was still a good weekend and it was an amazing fundraiser and it sounded like everyone had a good time. 🙂

I worked in a restaurant for years and it was 95% standing and walking. When I started with my current organization I still primarily worked standing up. I was used to it so it was no big deal. When I was promoted and transferred locations almost 2 years ago, I went to a regular desk height counter and sat in a chair about 75% of the time. It was kind of the luck of the draw that that was the way the new building was set up. Surprisingly or thankfully, I only put on 6 8 pounds over that time. I kind of felt like I was in a hole after a while and said that it was harder for me to keep an eye on everything- I’m such a lurker. I would crack jokes that I either needed a stand up desk or a trampoline chair that I could bounce off. I found out Saturday that one customer compared me to Wilson from Home Improvement because the most he says he ever saw was from the eyes up. Then again he also thought I was a teenager when I saw him at the festival. Ha! A coworker used to say I looked like a Meerkat sticking my head up all the time from my computer.

Anyways, back in February I figured it could never hurt to ask, so I asked my boss if there was ever a chance. It took awhile and had to go through a bunch of levels but as of yesterday, I have a counter height desk!!! Woo hoo! I did a little dance when I saw it after construction and I may or may not have hugged the counter. I also have more drawers now. 🙂 Now I just have to work on keeping it looking neater than the “organized chaos” that it was before. I swear I knew what was in every pile, but now they are visible piles.

I am working my way back up to standing all day, so my legs are a little sore. Between that and volleyball yesterday, I am crazy stiff. My calves are tight and my abs are sore. I feel like I ran more than usual playing last night and I was serving a little harder than usual. I suppose it’s good news that I use my abs for my posture rather than my back right? I know I am going to be a little achy this week adjusting but I am still so excited about it. Such a nerd, I know.

We’re almost halfway!! How is your week going?

What about you? Do you sit or stand for work?

Any fun events coming up in your neck of the woods?

Fessing Up

Considering how badly I hurt after Ventura I was expecting to be in pain on Monday and Tuesday. Surprisingly, I felt fine. I only felt a couple of twinges here and there. Which was good as Monday was my first night back to volleyball. I had Monday and Tuesday as vacation days, so it was super nice to sleep in on Monday. I ran some errands and played on the computer, a nice relaxing day before volleyball in the evening. While we didn’t win, we played well. It was new team (sort of) and I hadn’t played in almost a year. I thought I was going to be more rusty but it felt very familiar.

The only downside was the niggling of headache that had been lingering for a few days. That niggling turned into a full blown migraine by Tuesday morning and I could barely walk, let alone get in my planned run. I spent Tuesday in bed in a dark room. Great vacation day right? That headache has hung around since, so I actually have not run since Ventura. I did make it to work the rest of the week though. I had to take a personality type assessment (similar to Myers Briggs) on Wednesday for a training seminar. Never take those when you have a headache. Your answers are just a little off. Oops! Oh well, at least I got a decent laugh out of it. And I think I figured out what triggered the headaches, so hopefully those will be easing. 🙂

My 6+ miles of walking in the Ventura half gave me plenty of time to think; plenty of time to fess up. Back in the beginning of June I posted my No Excuses Summer post. For the most part I stuck to it. But I shouldn’t have. My lovely GI issue flared up shortly after that and it’s now going on 3 months. Instead of stepping back and getting some rest, I turned in 2 of my highest mileage months ever. My body said one thing and my ~~head~~ ego said something else. Which led me to Ventura. I’m not even mad because honestly the writing was on the wall. My paces have gotten slower, walking breaks longer and I take a nap any chance I get- damn near everyday.

So, where am I going with this? Half marathons and I are taking a little break. I am dropping back to running 3x a week and capping my long runs around 9. I have run 4 half marathons this year, that is double any previous year so really I have nothing to complain about. But this means missing City to the Sea and that kind of pisses me off. This would have been my third year running it. I really like the course and the volunteers and this year the shirt is purple! I want that! But the race also falls 4 days after I go to USC so a smarter head must prevail. I’m not done racing though, I love races! I am just going to stick to 10K’s and under for a bit. I would love to run a half in November if I am healthy enough but I have accepted that Surf City (NikeC!) in February might be my next half.

At times I am ok with this scaled back plan and others I am irritated. But then I did it to myself. Now I have to stick to this plan and not let the lower monthly numbers play with my head. Which is what happened the last time I said I should scale back. I have the Avocado Margarita Festival this weekend so it’s going to be busy but hopefully my next post will have some actual running in it. I want to run 3 days a week not none!

Ever taken one of those fun assessment tests?

Ever run yourself into a hole or is it just my special talent?

What are you doing this weekend?

Anyone racing? (Good luck to Courtney at Don’t Blink Just Run!)