Tag: Sports

Getting twitchy

Normally, the first few days after a big race, I feel sore and achy and look forward to rest days. This time around, I have twitchy feet. I want to run so badly, but haven’t worked it out yet.

Monday was a holiday and a day off for me, so I thought I would be able to get in a very, very easy 2-3. But between physical therapy, running errands and the sudden urge to overhaul my entire closet, I ran out of daylight. I had a short amount of time when I may have been able to squeeze in a run but my guilty conscience reminded me that I have a big exam that I needed to study for. 😦

Tonight was volleyball and I wanted to run instead. However, I have never missed a game (5 years!), so I followed through. I am glad I did, it was fun and we played really well. I finally ponied up and bought new shoes, actual volleyball shoes this time. Not sure if it was because I don’t have a big race on the horizon (less fear of injury) or if it was the shoes but I was like a freakin’ jumping bean. I didn’t know I could block like that. Hopefully, that skill sticks around.

Tomorrow is my brother’s birthday (27, I feel so old) so it will be a speed race back to town for dinner with the family. Thursday is supposed to be a business mixer after work, then off to school for the big exam. So, short of dragging myself out bed at 4:00 in the morning, I have a schedule problem. No lie; I am a huge Slacker in the AM. Big time. The bed is so warm and comfy, yay for flannel sheets! Transitioning to a daily commute was hard enough.

I want to run and I want to race. I am a procrastinator when it comes to registering for races; you never know when life may throw a speed bump. There is a half locally on the 27^th that I kind of want to do, but it’s freaky expensive. There are 3 races in November I am contemplating and I am still looking for December options.

Two of the November options are Turkey Trots. The other November race sounds awesome, it’s a 7 mile trail run at a nearby state park. What makes me leery is this:

Yep, that says a 1700 foot elevation gain. I have actually done the incline portion before. Now, granted, I walked a lot of it last time, but my splits looked something like this-

And I almost took a header on the way down. Hmm, decisions decisions. There are also 3 half marathons in the beginning of 2014 I am interested in. Those will be determined around finances. I will admit it, races cost money!!!!

I hope everyone is having a good week so far! How is it almost Wednesday?

Any thoughts on what to get a 27 year old with expensive taste for their birthday? (yeah, I procrastinated that too.)

Low Tide + Running= Squishy shoes

Rock to Pier 10K

So I set out for this race this morning feeling like I usually do; a little green around the gills. Seriously, I should be past the nervousness by now. I didn’t even have a huge goal set for this race. Today’s goal was just to finish. I was really nervous about the sand, having never run on the beach, I was kind of freaking out. Also they said that the race was going to be a wave start, I had never done that before.

It didn’t help that even though we left with plenty of time we made it to the start line like 30 seconds before the gun. I wasn’t even in the chute when the starting gun went off, but luckily neither were another couple hundred people. Luckily it’s all based on your chip time, :). And as for wave starts, there were no pretty colored flags waving anywhere, so maybe next time.

The first hundred or so yards of the race were across the soft sand to get to hard pack exposed by low tide. I thought it was going to suck my shoes off, hehe. Once you got to the hard pack, it was so much easier. And a little softer than pavement, nice!! So then you just got to run along with the waves coming in at your left and making you sure you dodged clumps of seaweed or the random unattended fishing rod. Or the people who were still trying to surf through this crowd of runners.

Other than the overcast sky, the weather was perfect, about 58. Of course, I felt cold before so started out in a long sleeve shirt over my tank. At mile 2, I wanted it gone, but it wasn’t until mile 4 that I was slowing down to walk. I shoved my water bottle in sports bra and tried to lose the shirt and get it tied around my waist as quick as possible. Still took too long, next time no long sleeves! Or maybe just my arm sleeves, easier to lose while running.

Since my goal wasn’t to push it,and with my recent ankle twinges, I just took my time and tried to maintain my pace without taking another walk break. So other than the wardrobe issue, I ran the whole race:). It was nice not stressing too much, and the change of scenery was awesome too. Seeing the pier come into view at mile 5 was a great feeling, finish lines are usually that visible from far away. That was also about the time that people running the half marathon were coming back our way. So you go from feeling like “yes I ran a race this morning!” to “oh they are running more than me, now I feel lazy”. Hehe, mood swings at mile 5.

At the finish line, we left behind the sand dollars and crabs, and water getting into your shoes to cross another stretch of soft sand. Even harder when your shoes (and socks) are wet! Crossed the finish line at 58.21, Nike said 56:47 but it was being glitchy, so now I just have to wait for the chip time to be released. I am happy with that finish:)

Met up with my race photographer (my mother) at the end, where she always relays her people observations from the finish line:). It’s great having support there for you.

So now I have run my race, had a nap (slacker!), CPR done for my shoes, I think it’s time to celebrate yesterday’s birthday!!!

Welcome!!!!

Hi! My name is Falyn and this is SlackerRunner! Over the past few years, I discovered that I love to run. Hated it when I was a kid but love it now. However there was a small problem. Know what else I love? Sitting in my big, comfy chair, and Netflix, oh and pizza. Conflict ahead!!

I ran for almost three years with little to no improvement. I checked out all the sites; big names and little ones. I bought books and tried various training plans, nothing worked:( I was ready to chuck everything out the window. About 99% of the sites I researched pushed for running at least 5 days a week, some everyday…um, what?! It didn’t help that their slowest training plans at the time were still faster than me:( Talk about kicking you when you are already down.

I tried theirs, I failed, and so what’s a girl to do? I cannibalized everything I had read and learned, took bits and parts and inserted my own inherent slacker-ness and tada! Results! In less than 8 months, I had shaved 24 minutes off of my half marathon time and lost 35 pounds, woo hoo!

So if you are interested in hearing more about how I did it, or looking for place to talk about running with a little less pressure, come on back! There will be tips, random thoughts and probably some hilarity, but right now I need a break!