Tag: slacker

Awkward recovery miles with a puppy

After Saturday’s painful PR, I took it easy on Sunday. Well kind of. I figured I could go and take Zoey for a walk. That way I could test how my calf felt but not be tempted to run. My parent’s yard is always in a constant state of revision and Sunday called for moving rocks. So I helped move a few bucketful before taking the puppy out. Strength training!

Matching's not important right? — Matching’s not important right?

After a day of playing in the yard while everyone was there (puppy nirvana), she was not having any part of a walk. We made it a little over a mile before turning around. She kept just sitting on the ground and looking at me, like- nope. The final straw was running into a family. A couple was out for a walk with a baby in a stroller and their son of around 4. The little boy stops and hides behind his dad, Zoey stops and hides behind me. The dad apologizes that the son is afraid of dogs, I apologize and say that Zoey is afraid of kids. This made us all laugh. Once the little boy realized Zoey was more freaked out by him, he relaxed. Zoey and I headed back towards the house, only to be rushed by a crazy dog thing about 3 blocks later.

Now, normally I think little dogs are cute, but this, I am not even sure what it was. It was the size of a small Chihuahua, had a ton of brown fur like a poodle and a head like a monkey. It came out from under a fence and charged us. It was so small that Zoey and I just stared at it trying to figure out what it was. As it got closer, I noticed it only had teeth on the right side of it’s mouth. Ummm, no thank you. We jogged away. A guy 2 houses down was laughing at us, so I get the feeling this dog does this a lot. The pup and I chilled a little in the grass at the school before heading home. Total puppy miles- 2.2 Puppy time- 43:18.

Today, I slept in a little before running some errands. Then I headed out for a short easy run. The first mile felt weird. Nothing really hurt but everything felt off. Not sure if it was due to Saturday’s leg issue or the fact that my new shorts are a little shorter than I originally thought. 🙂 I spent the next few miles taking it slow and paying attention to my form. I made sure to take walking breaks if I felt more than a niggle from my leg. I didn’t feel really normal until the end, and I picked up the pace just a bit for the last half mile.

I actually have a crazy week at work ahead, so I am thinking of taking a step back week. Only doing short easier runs this week. I really want this stupid leg thing to be a non-issue, so if I have to rest I would rather it be now than a month from now right before my half. So I may need to spend some time on the stationary bike in the near future. 😦

Official race times were posted yesterday and my official time was 55:40. 4 seconds faster than I had, sweet! Not so sweet was the worst race picture of me that I have seen to date. Not only did I look larger than usual, I am full on grimacing. Oh, yay.

I have really loved this 4 day weekend but where did the time go? I have to go back to work tomorrow? Boo 😦

Who else had today off?

How was everyone’s weekend?

Tiny Tempo Time

Happy Hump Day!!!!

After Saturday’s race, I was feeling a little sore and my left ankle was not the happiest camper. In an earlier post I had mentioned that I was was rethinking my training plan. While I liked the way the app worked and laid out the plan, it just wasn’t my cup of tea. It went from my Slacker to crazy a little too quickly. Plus I kind of felt like running had become work. That I had to meet certain goals at certain times. So while I was still following it I was thinking of other ideas. Going back to the original plan but with a little twist, so bring on the Slacker Reboot! But that’s for a later post 🙂

Yeah, that's how we do rain, haha — Yeah, that’s how we do rain, haha

With that in mind as well as the ankle uncomfortable-ness, I took it easy on Sunday as opposed to getting in a long run. While everyone else may have been excited about the Super Bowl, my excitement was brought on by waking up to rain!!!! Nowhere near what we needed but it was still great. I waited for it to warm up a bit so I headed out for an afternoon run. I ran right through kickoff!! Yeah, the Super Bowl’s not really my thing. This time I was prepared in full pants, my warmest long sleeve short and a big ear warmer. It was so much better than Saturday, but it was also 15º warmer. My goal was to take it easy and just enjoy the lightly misting rain. As I topped the last hill and was just shy of mile 4, the sky opened up. Overall I hit 4.31 miles. My splits weren’t the best or share worthy but I love the pace of that last little bit 🙂

Monday’s post was all about the awesome SLO Marathon and how excited I am but I did get in a run that day. It was day 1 of new plan after all. It was a very sluggish 3.5 miles on the treadmill. At least that’s how I felt. My average pace was 10:06 and as a rarity, I ran a negative split. Sweet! Now if only I could do it intentionally. I was actually supposed to do 4 miles but just wasn’t feeling it. I decided not to push it. I did a short cool down walk before leaving. I always turn my Garmin or Nike+ off before my cool down. I can’t decide if its overly prideful because I don’t want to lower my pace or if it’s silly and I am shorting myself mileage. What do you think?

Tuesday was a planned rest day and it was so nice 🙂 Today I hit the gym again after work and got in a nice tiny Tempo run. I ran 6 miles with a warmup mile and a cool down mile, with the 4 miles in between at a 9:00 pace. At least that was the plan. Warm up and cool down went according to plan, but the 4 inner miles were 9:30 pace. Oops. My ankle was a little stiff but it eased up as I ran. I was also a little tired since I randomly decided to quit soda today. I am still trying to force myself to like coffee. I am not sure how long this is going to last as I have tried numerous times before but we’ll see how it goes! I told myself I could have soda on the weekends. That would be allowed… So when is it Saturday?

I admit that I am so over the treadmill. Part of me actually wonders if it is contributing to my sore ankle. This lovely article from Runner’s World tells me I no longer have to put the incline at 2, so sweet!!! Today’s run was at .5. I rewarded myself after my run with this yummy smoothie-

It is really sad how tired I am right now. I didn’t drink that much soda anymore anyways. The Doc took away my diet soda, so I cut down to a small coke a day. My head is actually not pounding right now so at least that’s something!

How is everyone’s week?

Anyone else stop their GPS early?

Want to come run SLO? I have a discount code!!!!

I’m an Ambassador!!!!!!

Last week, I promised big news and now for the follow through. I’m the type of person who likes to check and then double-check and the check again before announcing something. I want to make sure I read something right or that it wasn’t a mistake or that they won’t change their mind, etc. Anyways, on to the news!!!!

In my goals post I mentioned that I would love to race the SLO Marathon in April. I have wanted to run the half for the past 2 years but was never able to make it work. Either illness or finances would get in the way and I would spend part of race weekend mildly pouting. So this year I was making it a priority, I was going to run it. So when it popped up in my Facebook feed that they were looking for Ambassadors for the 2014 race, I about jumped out of my chair.

I love SLO, seriously if I could live there I would. The weather is usually amazing which is good because many of my races have been run in SLO. I spend many a weekend there shopping and eating- and running. I always come home with a little less money and a full stomach. Now being that I am a steak and potatoes kind of girl I admit that I don’t branch out often, but have enjoyed some of the best hamburgers and BBQ there. I consider it a reward for a good race– or a rough week. 🙂

Healthy all week until post race reward right?

I stared at the post for a bit and then texted a friend (I needed a little encouragement) before putting together an email and submitting it. I then proceeded to stalk my own email for a week or two. I was super excited but nervous as well. Even after a few years of running I still doubt myself sometimes. But I got an email back!!!!

They asked for a bio and a picture which I promptly sent back. I then still waited a little more before posting this (I also replied from the wrong email and had a temporary panic attack). I am so excited!!!!! I now have a new focus for training and a new goal race in April. 🙂 You’ll be hearing more about the race from me in future, hopefully I can convince you to come join us on race weekend!

Oh, did I mention that Dean Karnazes ran it?

Shopping and running, a few of my favorite things

I had planned to get my long run in on Saturday morning before heading out to do a little shopping for the day. My alarm went of at 6:35, my head hurt and it was still dark. My phone said that sunrise was at 7:07 so I rolled over hoping the headache would go away. A second alarm went off at 7:08 and my head was just pounding. Bloody hormones and that’s all I’m going say about that; so I chose to sleep more.

I made myself face the day a little before 9. I got ready and headed out for some retail therapy. The plan was for window shopping, I didn’t really need anything. It’s just fun to hit SLO and enjoy the weather and the shopping and the food. The weather was great and the food was yummy as usual. Shopping was actually very budget friendly. 🙂 I couldn’t even find anything to buy at Dick’s, it was sad!!! I did buy Kimi a new blanket, and what does she do? She sleeps in the bag instead!

Shopping ran later than planned, so I didn’t get out the door running until 4:30 so the long run was not an option. Want to know a good way to run a Tempo run? Try to beat the setting sun. Great motivation. My legs felt a little tired but it was a good run. Thanks to my persistent cough, I still had to take a few walk breaks. However, it actually turned into a progression run instead of a tempo. For once each mile was faster than the one before it. Sweet! I made it back to my driveway just as the sun was dropping behind the hill. It may not have been what was planned but a solid 4 miles to end the day.

This morning I was planning on running yesterday’s 10 miler. I had mapped out a route last night- from my driveway with lots of loops, finishing by running crosstown to the high school. I was aiming to only have to do 1.5-2 miles on the track. After that the plan was to meet up with my mom who was working on the tennis courts and she would give me a ride back. Since I have been rather tired this week, still kicking that stupid sickness from last week, I figured I would aim for an 11:00 minute pace. Get the distance in but take it easy.

I had a slightly later start than planned and then when I was trying to get out the door, I found out that my mom was heading to the courts sooner than planned. Wait, she’s my ride home!!! The first three miles of my run I was recalculating in my head. Do I keep my route the same and just hope it takes her that long or do I throw in more loops and head back home. That was when I noticed my time, mile 3 had me under 31 minutes. Well, that was faster than I was aiming for. So plan B, could I maintain that pace for all 10 miles? I am faster in races but never before held that in a long training run. It would only save me 10 minutes but that just might be enough.

Why do I live is such a hilly neighborhood? Why did I plan my route by running one of the hills 3 times? Granted it wasn’t the worst but still, I must be crazy. I slowed down in mile 6 because while trying to get my long sleeved top layer off, I skillfully tangled myself in it. 🙂 Just call me Graceful. After finishing all 3 loops, it was down to the bridge and across town. I hate running across the bridge, it’s a little too on display for me. Luckily its not huge. After the bridge, there’s a few shopping centers and traffic lights before the last small hill and then the high school. With the traffic lights, I was able to test out the auto pause feature on the Garmin. Pretty cool but I felt like it was a little slow on the restart. I made it to the track at 8.5 miles and finished out the 1.5. And I was done, whew! And thankfully, my mother had waited for me.

I have no idea what happened in mile 4, barely even remember it

After lunch and grocery shopping, I joined my mother in walking the puppy. It was supposed to be short, like a mile, so I was rocking my new Wave Rider’s and skinny jeans. Bad idea. It turned into 2.5 miles and the puppy decided that she wanted to move fast today; she was dragging us. Seriously, where was this dog last week? I do not recommend jogging in skinny jeans without a proper sports bra, just don’t do it. The shoes felt great though. 🙂 The evening was finished off by the whole family going to The Olive Garden for dinner, yummy.

Training wise, I didn’t do too bad this week. 29 miles out of a scheduled 34. 5 days running. I still can’t do 6. And some of the planned runs I am unable to fit in my schedule, so I am adapting it a bit. Next week only has 5 scheduled days with my long run on Saturday, That will have to be a 2-a-day, as my first race of 2014 is that morning!! It’s a 5K that I am looking forward to.

Plus I hope to have some exciting news to share soon!!! I am waiting on one last email to confirm, I always like to be doubly sure before sharing something important. I am so excited!!!

How was everyone’s weekend?

What’s the most awkward clothing you’ve ever run in?

Skillet and Donut Holes

This “trying to be more dedicated than 3x a week plan” is really making me tired. The plan that I am following has been calling for 6 days a week. With being sick last week and my inherent Slacker-ness I have been hitting 4. Which is double what I did in December (oh the holidays) and 1 more than the Slacker Way. Who knows, maybe 5 is next. 🙂

Tonight I decided to try the Garmin on the treadmill one last time, and lo and behold, it worked!!! I was thinking that if non GPS mode was based on accelerometer technology (seriously who makes up these words?), then a lot of that is based on arm movement right? When I run on the treadmill, I wear my phone in an armband on my left arm. For whatever reasons, I’ve noticed that when I wear an armband, I don’t move my left arm as much. I have tried to correct it but not much luck. So tonight, I figured I would try the Garmin on the right hand. It was kind of awkward, I had troubles getting the watch tight, and pushing the buttons was tricky, but it worked! It matched the treadmill exactly. I still had Nike+ going on my phone just in case, but tonight they all matched. I can’t claim to understand why Nike+ works on my left arm and not the Garmin, but hopefully this will correct the issue in the future.

After yesterday’s rest day- chosen by me not the plan- today called for a 3 mile easy run. My goal was 6 miles to make up for the run I missed yesterday. After work, I got started later than I planned so 6 turned into 5. I slept kind of rough last night so I was glad that today was an easy run. Also thankful that the treadmill helps control your pace. 🙂 I wore the Wave Rider’s again and I am liking them so far. My shins and ankles were a little sore in the beginning and around mile 4, but no more than anytime I’ve changed shoes. The shoelaces are freakishly long so I will have to fix that.

I finished my 5 miles and walked a little more for a cool down. The run felt pretty good. I made sure to not push either myself or the shoes but it felt like a good workout. Which was good as a customer had brought us donut holes this afternoon. Seriously, no restraint with that yummy, glazed goodness.

I can’t wait for the time change, I miss running outside in the evening. The gym and the treadmill are great, but sometimes distracting. Tonight there were 2 women on treadmills next to me carrying on a movie trivia game. Which would have been fine if they weren’t so loud. My playlist tonight was Skillet, and they are not a quiet band. I had it pretty loud with both ear buds in and I could hear their conversation perfectly. Then there were the guys on the ellipticals in jeans and cargo pants. Isn’t there a dress code?

I stretched some before leaving. I also made nice with my foam roller tonight. Tomorrow will be another rest day then it’s a ten miler on the schedule for Saturday. I’d like to be optimistic and say I will try for a few miles tomorrow but with later hours at work and having to get my tires fixed in the AM again, let’s say rest day.

Right now, I’m being stalked by a Comfy chair thief, so it’s off to bed for me!

How is everyone’s week?

Anyone else have any random gym stories?