Spring Training

To say the least, I've been slacking. I've made excuses: busy at work, cold and wet outside, treadmills are boring, no training buddy. Meanwhile, I've gained 7 stubborn pounds and 1.5 inches on my thighs! Thankfully, the rest of me seems the same measurements, but I'm definitely feeling softer.

The big issue is that I'm adjusting to my new career and ambitions, new house, and enhanced social life. This had led to many lunches and dinners out, and delicious beers and cocktails. Then there's the caloric granola that I sometimes eat in the morning. It's not that breakfast is bad, but I'm starting the day eating for pleasure and not necessarily need. It's not that eating for pleasure is bad, but I'm lacking the key moderation. Sometimes I'm not hungry in the morning, but eat anyway. Same goes for sizable dinner and drinks after a heavy lunch.

I'm using the Runner's World iPhone app to set a new training schedule, and hoping that if I start small, I can get back into half-marathon condition. I started this morning, 2 days later than intended, with a morning 2 miler. Jon came with, and did an inaugural run in FiveFingers.

Almost at work, so I'm ending this post for now.

Drinking Game? Maybe not...

I've been slowly not-adjusting to the new Weight Watchers. It's still the same basic system, where you count points (PointsPlus) and it's deducted from your daily/weekly allotment, but it's all calculated differently. Most of the real-foods I eat haven't changed in cost (proteins and fats mostly the same, whole grains just a little more), and fruits and a good number of vegetables are free! This, plus I get more to deduct from per day. What's the killer, though, is that now my 12 oz beer costs twice as much as eating a banana! A glass of wine? Three times! And the banana is now free! It's almost like they want me to stop drinking and just eat healthy!

So last night an out of town friend told me of a drinking game that she and her friend were planning on playing. It included large quantities of alcohol and - gasp - cheap, tasteless, light beer was the only way to survive the game.

I realized then something that my Weight Watchers leader, Phil, has said that he made the choice years ago in favor of food over alcohol. Last night, I realized I've made the same choice. No matter how much I like to feel tipsy, if I'm not drinking something that tastes good, that I enjoy, I'll save those calories for something I *will* enjoy - something that looks like the glass cupcake necklace I have around my neck.

Plus side - I find that I can easily cure a sugar hangover with a brisk run!

Still Not Repaired: First Run Post-Race

I just got in from my gym after a 22 minute jog on the treadmill. I had to stop after two miles when my quads started sharply hurting. It seems that my need for sleep lately may be because I'm still recovering from the 13.1 last weekend! My plan this week is to get another massage, and try to relax as much as possible (despite the fact we're moving this weekend, OMG!

More tales of recovery as the week progresses...

Las Vegas Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon

I'm just two days back from the Las Vegas Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon. This was my first race of this distance, and was a belated birthday gift to myself. I'm still rather beat up from it, but I'm so glad to have done it. It was a great event.

I feel like I'm still short of time and energy to share all that went on with this event. It wasn't just a race, because I see this as an amazing step on a long journey. I've fought, kicking and screaming and at times, just quiet determination, to get to where I am today. The race was a rite of passage. Even though I've now run a distance greater than the distance between my home town (suburb) and the nearest urban area, I feel like I now should be striving to run farther. It may be a type of insanity - or liberation (or both?)

Last year, medical issues and profound loss seriously thrashed me. This year, I picked up the pieces, got back on track with weight loss (I have lost about 130 lbs in the past 3 years), and started training for distance. This race was my celebration of accomplishments in a tangible way. For the first time in my life, I've reached a point where I can do something I've never been able to do before.

My race time was 2:15:21, which was my conservative guess time. I wanted to do faster, but at 2000 ft above sea level (Las Vegas' elevation), I think I was having trouble getting the oxygen I needed to do so.

Other than the race, I really enjoyed the weekend in Vegas, and really enjoyed our stay at the Wynn. I indulged in a post-run spa experience, which I can only believe has made my body feel SO much better than it would have otherwise.

I'm taking the week off of exercise (maybe stretching/yoga), and plan to get back into a regular fitness routine. I, however, am done with racing til spring (I think!) I'll keep this blog posted (for my 2 readers!)

Changes in Plans

Wow - long time no post! I've been in New York since last Wednesday, when my husband and I were called out here due to his grandfather's health being rather precarious at the time. This meant that I had to cancel birthday plans as well as my plans to run the Seattle 1/2 Marathon, which was to also be my birthday celebration.

Luckily, fitness wise, my 1/2 marathon dreams are still in the running - I am scheduled to run the Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Marathon next weekend.

Of course, as I usually do the week of my birthday, I am coming down with a head cold, and am laying low, being whiney, and craving a burrito (where's a good burrito near Scarsdale?!)

I was ab it ambitious when I logged onto Blogger today - so I think that's it for the update. I guess a bit of recap - I've been able to do up to 9 mi (including yesterday) so I think I'm in good shape for the 1/2. I'm still debating on following through with the Bikilas, but I've come this far, so why not?

OK, more rest awaits!

The Last Month of Training

I'm already less than a month from the Seattle 1/2 Marathon, and training is getting more challenging in both mileage and otherwise.

The biggest issue is getting the exposure protection handled.Salomon Women's Fast III Jacket is a recent addition to my gear, providing some easy on/off for windy, cool mornings. It does some rain protection, but it's not to be counted on. I've also (shock!) switched to my Brooks Women's Adrenaline GTS 10 from my awesome, totally recommended Five Fingers Bikila. This is mostly due to warmth and friction, as that I've had some nasty little blisters form lately that have made the long runs a little hard to deal with.

Training in conventional shoes again have my knees aching a bit. Then add that I've started going on hills in the dark (mainly because the routes are better lit), I'm hurting a bit. My training schedule up to the race, as provided by the Runner's World SmartCoach app on my iPhone, is as follows:

11/01-11/07
Tues 5 mi @ 11:10 pace
Thurs 4 mi @ 11:10 pace
Sun 5 mi @ 11:10 pace

11/08-11/14
Tues 3 mi @ 11:03 pace
Thurs 6 mi w/ 1 mi warm up, 4 mi @ 9:33 pace, 1 mi cooldown
Fri 2 mi @ 11:03 pace
Sun 6 mi @ 11:03 pace

11/15-11/21
Tues 2 mi @ 11:03 pace
Thurs 7 mi w/ warm up, 3x1600m (1mi) @8:56 w/ 800m (1/2 mi) jogs, cool down
Fri 2 mi @ 11:03 pace
Sun 9 mi @ 11:03 pace

11/22-RACE DAY
Tues 3 mi @ 11:10 pace
Wed 3 mi @ 11:10 pace
Thurs 5 mi w/ w/ 1 mi warm up, 3 mi @ 9:33 pace, 1 mi cooldown
Sun 13.1 mi @ 9:42 pace

Phew! I've got a lot to work on. I'm starting to do some work on the treadmill just when the weather is particularly awful. I'll consider this race the end of the season for me, then it's back to doing cardio/weights/yoga until spring!

Tracking Progress

When I first started running, I purchased the Nike + SportBand, which is a slim-profile USB pedometer that syncs to your computer, can be used by 3rd party software to track your runs, and allows you to access the Nike+ community website and tools. It's a great, low-cost, beginner's tool, but it's also inaccurate for tracking mileage, and doesn't keep you from over-extending yourself, as that it has no heart-rate monitor.

After buying a separate heart rate monitor, that didn't sync to my computer, I eventually gave in and sprung for the Garmin Forerunner 405CX GPS Sport Watch with Heart Rate Monitor It's huge for my wrist, and the chest strap is a little awkward as that though I'm medium for a woman, I'm not one-size-fits-all. It is, however, fairly accurate at tracking my mileage, and I have no complaints on the heart rate monitor. It does, however, require regular charging, and recently, I've found that twice it was uncharged when I was ready to go on my run, and the last time I grabbed my seldom-used Nike+ Sportband, and found that also uncharged.

This led me to grab my trusty Casio Women's Baby G Watch BG169WH-2V. I've had my current watch for about two and a half years now. I purchased it before my Hawaii vacation with the family, loving the fact that it was good for 200 meters (a dive watch, though the display leaves a bit to be desired for that purpose.) It has the handy function of being able to switch time zones, use it as a stop-watch, and also as a timer. I'm sure there's other functions I don't even use it for. It has the time and date right up front. It's clunky and durable, and candy colored (mine's orange). It's also a great stand-in for a training watch, as that if you can plot your route and mileage (I use http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/), you can plan your splits, and your target pace. It's not as automatic, but it turns out my Baby G is a great standby. I've used this twice for a run - once in Hawaii recently, and once at home - and it gave me at least a good idea of my pacing. If only I had written it down when I got back. That's the big draw-back. No automatic syncing!