Category: Run!

Week 10- Rain, Tears & Consistency

2019 Race Schedule (so far):
3/24 Oakland Running Festival (Thanks BibRave)
4/28 SLO Half Marathon
8-11 Oaktown Half (Thanks BibRave)

This week was a little all over the place. I am so over the rain. Work was busy, like stupid busy. I took Monday off from running to rest my leg, turns out it was the driest day of the week.

A Target mirror gave me a rude awakening, I managed to stick to a workout plan- mostly. Now if I could just get my eating habits in order. It was a fairly consistent week that ended with a slight emotional breakdown when I thought I lost the necklace I’ve almost everyday since I was 17. I eventually found it but not before more tears than I ‘ve cried in recent history.

Other than that-

Monday- Liift4
Restarted the entire program- liked it the first time, decided to commit again.

Tuesday- Liift4
Following the plan.

Wednesday- PiYo
Rest day from Liift4, more rain, thought this would be a good stretch. Haha, this made me sweat.

Thursday-2 Miles
One last run in the twilight before the time change. The moisture in the air angered my lungs but other than that it was a decent short run.

Friday- 5 Miles
A day off from work meant I could run in the afternoon! I almost never run on Fridays so it was kind of cool. I played dodge the rain drops for a few miles and melted the other few. I also chose to run #allthehills. Why? I was feeling decent so I was looking forward to powering up the last hill and was doing so when my watch vibrated. I looked down to see “power save”. Oh for crying out loud! I stopped in the middle of the hill cursing out loud. Seriously, again?! I legit back tracked to the point I had paused my watch and ran the damn hill again. Which I did not make it all up without a walk break but then it was my second time up it. The only downside was the almost blisters my Altra’s gave me. I have to admit that they are dead.

Saturday-Liift 4, PiYo
My right leg and left ankle were feeling a little cranky so I opted for a non-running day.
I did make myself productive though and completed 2 more workouts.

Sunday-4 ish miles
I set out for my long in the early afternoon. Right as I parked my car there was a random lightning weather warning. I debated it because how likely would that be? Knowing my luck? I turned around and headed for the gym. Oh lord, I was melting. A blister was forming on my right foot and felt chafing on my left side- my butt. I was seriously overheating and thankful every time someone opened the door and the cold air puffed through. I couldn’t hack it anymore, I called it a little after 4 miles.

So 11 ish miles for the week and 4 cross training workouts. I worked out everyday this week. Who am I? Now, can I keep it up?

How was your week?

Hurts So Good

“Disclaimer: I received an Addaday Pro Roller to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!”

I fully admit I slack on recovery. Well, unless you count napping?

I know I should roll. I know I should do my PT exercises. Yet, I never do until I feel something more than a twinge. Bad Slacker. It’s not for lack of equipment. I have a regular old foam roller, a generic stick thing and a random, bumpy roller I picked up at Target one day. Yet none of them ever seemed to really do anything. Could be I wasn’t using them properly either.

Enter the Pro Massage Roller from Addaday.

First impressions was that it sure looked pretty. But did it work?

I always feel so awkward rolling, somehow it makes me feel uncoordinated. That said, I did notice that this roller can pinpoint soreness much better than my previous ones. Once I figured out the red roller was to pin point problem areas, I went to town on my shins. Not gonna lie, at first I was saying- ow, ow, ow! However after more use, it felt better each time.

I’ve used the roller on my calves, shins, hamstrings, knee, etc. Tried to use it on my feet but that’s a work in progress. I’ve even used the softer blue rollers to gently roll out my neck.

My only wish is that I could get it to dig a little deeper into my right hip/ butt area. It’s my weak spot. The roller is not a replacement for the PT exercises I should be doing on the daily but it makes a great add-on.

My calves are more often than not a little cranky but they’ve felt better since I started using the roller. And for clueless people like me, the Addaday website has a lovely page with links to tutorial videos. Score!

Also, something I discovered quite by accident is that you can move the little roller balls around. I never claimed to be gentle on things (my nickname should be Destructo Girl) so one day I tossed the roller and the handle came off. At first I freaked out a little but soon realized it just screwed on. Whew, but that means the rollers can move- sweet!

I love this little roller ( I’ve already given my other stick rollers to my mom for the tennis team) and hopefully I will continue to use it regularly and not be such a Slacker.

How do you recover?

Rambling On- 50

It’s been a while since I rambled and boy are lots of thoughts bouncing around my head.

The rain is making me cranky and fussy. Well, maybe that’s just me. The last time I was this stressed by the weather was 2 years when constant rain took out my route to work. Maybe that’s a hidden stress- constant worry that the highway is going to get shutdown for 2 months again. Well, that and that it’s effecting my running. Running in the rain is one thing but I don’t trust the drivers around here on sunny, clear days. I mean we iced over a few weeks ago and there were 15 accidents in a 2 mile stretch of freeway in an hour.

Sometimes I feel like it’s 2 steps forward and 15 back. Work, running, health, etc. I have a feeling I know what my weak spot is but can’t seem to make myself do anything about it. Which then again is the problem. Grrrr.

But in good news, I got my tax return. Paid back the room re-do, yay. I also paid off my bed. Could someone explain to me why those things cost so damn much?!?!

Oh, did I mention added some more races to the calendar? I used to race just for the hell of it, I miss that. The last few years I was focused on getting faster but did nothing but get slower and slower. I miss those naïve days of racing and want to get back to just having fun and running ALL the races.

Did I ever mention that I am part of Orange Mud’s ambassador team – The Dirt Unit?? I’ve the company for years and own 4 different packs, the handheld and multiple transition towels. Serious love. And if the damn rain ever stops, the trails might open and I can get back out on them.

I feel like there is more to say but I’ll stop there for now.

Share your random!

Week 8- Finding the Track

2019 Race Schedule (so far):
3/24 Oakland Running Festival (Thanks BibRave)
4/28 SLO Half Marathon
~~5-4 Wildflower (Thanks BibRave)~~ Canceled
8-11 Oaktown Half (Thanks BibRave)

Last week had its ups and downs. More running and exercise- yay- but some stomach issues for a few days too. Boo. But then I have been emotionally eating for a few weeks and that’s never a good idea, particularly when you have a GI disorder. So I guess you could say I brought it on myself.

I’ve also had some leg issues. I’ve been sitting in my chair at work more since the Varidesk arrived and that is never a good thing. My chair aggravates my back which then jacks up my leg. I’ll get the height right one of these days. Well, hopefully.

Monday-7.3 miles
I was feeling like a long run on a day off but not sure if it would happen. In the first few miles my calves were screaming they were so tight. More than 6 miles was looking unlikely. I kept moving forward and just figured I would see what happened. For the first time in months I was too warm- I lost my long sleeves 3 miles in. This coming from the person who finds 60* cold. It was in the low 50’s. Somehow my only gonna do 4 turned into 7.3 miles. They also ended up being speedier than my last few months of running too. Who knew?

Thursday- PIYO
I wasn’t feeling so great but didn’t want to be a slug. I also didn’t think anything too strenuous was a good idea. Good lord, my abs (or lack thereof) hurt for 2 days after this.

Saturday-10 miles
I wanted to run but didn’t want to run, you know? I am working on getting out of my head though so I headed out thinking I would just do 4 and push my long run to Sunday. Except again I kept on running. Granted much slower than Monday. My leg was a little sore but not bad, I barely noticed it and finished my run feeling pretty good. Other than once again I was in a tank top in the low 50’s. Who am I?

Sunday- 2ish miles
I put off my recovery run but finally made it out the door around 3. I was aiming for 4 but by a mile in I knew I was in trouble. My right leg was screaming at me and I couldn’t run without a limp. I turned around and headed for home. I am not going to do anything stupid but I was irritated. Grrr, where’s my roller?

19.53 miles for the week. Well, look who hit double digits. It’s been a moment, haha. I know what’s up with my leg so I am not concerned at the moment just keeping an eye on it.

How was your week?

Shipping Up to Oakland

Disclaimer: I received an entry to Oakland Running Festival as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

What’s up Oakland? I’m on my way!

Ok, not yet, the race isn’t until March but time does fly these days. Even though I races planned in the months to come, I was only officially registered for one in August after Wildflower was canceled. I was feeling a little adrift. I really want to get back to loving all the races and running all the races this year.

Enter Oakland Running Festival. This race first came to my attention earlier in the year via a race email but my March is potentially super busy so I held off. Then when the opportunity opened with BibRave last week, I jumped on it.

What first drew my eye for the Oakland Running Festival was the course- you get to run across the Bay Bridge! I may be slightly afraid of bridges but suddenly I wanted to run across that. However, the Bay Bridge is only part of the marathon course. I may be doing a lot in March but a marathon will not be one of those things. Boo.

That’s ok, the half marathon still looks awesome! It starts and ends at Lake Merritt and then takes you around town. The finish line festival sounds like it’s going to be hopping to. Seriously, the pictures they are posting on Instagram are making me hungry.

The one thing that makes me a little nervous is the start time- 9:30 AM. That’s late! I mean I love that I can sleep in a little but I usually consider 8AM a late start (although you’ll likely hear me complaining about the 6:30 start I have in April). The late start has a purpose though.

Enter the Run This Town Challenge. Run the 5K at 7:30 and the half marathon at 9:30 and earn a special bib and an extra medal. Am I crazy enough to do that? Hmmmm.

The race also offers a team relay for the marathon. Well, I should say offered- it’s already sold out.

Anyone want to join me? Use code OAKLANDRAVE19 to save $10.00.
How are you with bridges?