Migration

Just moving my blog from my fundraising page here.

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July 7, 2008
My body is tired from the last three days...thankfully today is rest day (Coach Rad says I make the most gains on rest days.:) I genuinely intended on running during my vacation in Cabo, brought my sneaks and gear, even my water bottle and heart rate monitor. Ha! They never made it out of my suitcase. (Swimming in the pool, scuba diving, and eating count for something though, right?) I ended up coming home Thursday feeling a bit (a lot) guilty, and a little fearful about the next team run. Our team met early on the Fourth of July in Redondo for the Annual 5K, actually, only about 7 of us showed up...but we had a good time...It's inspiring to see a large group taking over a road with pounding feet and heavy breathing. Accomplishment of the day: running my first mile in under 10 minutes (not very impressive, right?) I was excited to see photographers there, thinking I could score an action shot for this site, until I got home, logged in, and realized they emailed participants the photos based on their bib number....so THAT'S why everyone wore them on the front!!! I, regretably, wore mine on my back. Have a good laugh at me for that one. I felt a little better about my training going into Saturday's 7 a.m. run in Palos Verdes...apprehensive...but optimistic. The run went well...the first half I ran solo, my buddy absent, and the second half I caught up to some girls with a fair pace, rode their coattails so to speak, and did not quit. Running along, I was thinking we were doing 7.5 miles...when my partner Cindy informed me of the extra mile. I'll admit, I felt more accomplished at 8.5, the dripping sweat and tired joints a little more worth it. We ran it straight through (with a short stop at the aid station for a shot of gatorade) and I totally surprised myself. I spent the last week self-defeating before I even hit the road, and completely proved myself wrong. Phew! I was a well-deserved lazy bum the rest of the weekend. I experienced a bit of hip and ankle soreness following, both which have subsided...hopefully I will get in a good tempo run to work on speed tonight. In the back of my mind: 10 miles to run Saturday morning. Here's to a good Friday night birthday dinner filled with pasta! :)
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June 25, 2008
Wow, it has been FAR too long since I've blogged about running! (lucky for you I have a LOT to write about:) Three weeks ago we started our training in Malaga Cove, Palos Verdes. I was totally ready for the four miles...right up until I realized the first two were up hill. I have somewhat gotten in the habit of running the weekend mileage on Thursday, kind of a prep test, to make sure I can do Saturday's distance (hee-hee.) That Thursday, I had mapped out a route on mapmyrun.com and set out in the concrete jungle. I had just rounded mile one, still feeling stiff when a man came out of his house as I jogged by. He said "how far do you run?" Over my shoulder I said, "four miles today!" but before I could finish he was already sighing in disbelief. I had just finished telling myself that training was going so slow, that I was barely building mileage, and had a long way to go. The stranger's comments gave me a whole new attitude. It's all about perspective.
One day, I was talking to my boss about time. He asked me if the last year had gone by fast for me. I was scared to answer "yes" because if they were going fast for me now, what would it be like when I was his age? Then he told me his theory was that a year to a five year old is a fifth of her entire life. To someone older, that period gets smaller and smaller in relation to their time on earth and therefore seems shorter in comparison to the whole. I started to tally up how many miles I have run since training began (I'm currently at 62 miles) and I applied that theory to my running to give me a new point of view. My miles can seem ambitious to someone on the outside. And on the inside, a day's worth of training seems like a whole lot right now, but as I gain mileage, it's going to keep getting easier. (Whatever I have to do to keep myself going, right?)
So that Saturday, my pal Stephanie and I tackled those first two uphill miles, and finished not without aching calves. I realized that day that my mid week training was missing hills. Hills made me feel weak and inferior further realized during the next Saturday morning. We met at the Equinox gym in Rolling Hills, and spent the next hour running five miles, the first of which was up a steep hill, that practically made me collapse before we even got warmed up. The rest of the route lived up to the neighborhood's namesake, Rolling Hills. Our trainers taught us about leaning back while running uphill to facilitate easier breathing, and leaning forward during the downhill, to limit the impact on the knees. I'm still working out my running form and the whole leaning thing is tricky, especially when you feel like you might end up rolling down the hill, which on some days wouldn't be a bad thing.
From that day on the week just went sour for me. My new next door neighbor backed into my car and my mid week training wasn't going well. I expected bad days. I just wanted to redo the whole week. My Tuesday run seemed like a weak attempt, I felt crampy and achy, not to mention was totally overheating at 6:30 p.m. I decided I needed to start my evening runs at 7:30 p.m. or run at 6 a m. which I did on Thursday. Thursday was a little better, but not enough to make me feel ready for the weekend run. We met at good'ol Neptune's Fountain in Malaga Cove at 8 a.m. The sun was already blazing with no sign of the overcast we enjoyed the weekend before. We ran west on Palos Verdes Drive for six and a half miles. It is a fact that we have the best training location in Los Angeles...nothing could top conquering the first massive hill and being rewarded with the beautiful ocean views that cheer us on at the top. Unfortunately, the hot sun kept me from performing my best. My energy had been completely zapped at about the half way point. I ended up walking more than I wanted, but finished the miles in an hour and twenty minutes. I was really disappointed in myself. Up until that point, I felt like I was moving in straight forward motion. After that run it was like I had taken five steps back. Starting out this week, I wondered what it was going to feel like to hit the pavement again. With the rising temperature, I was advised to drink more water. I feel like I've been drinking so much water I may be putting a dent in our reserves and contributing to our drought. I've been playing with fuel before runs...and hydration during. I routinely perform some yoga for healthy knees (this stuff works!) I'm just waiting for the right combination of things...to just fall into place for me. So when I set off for my run yesterday, I was unsure about how I would feel particularly after coming off the last disappointing week. When I got home after running straight through four miles as the sun went down I realized that during my seemingly bad week, I had made gains. I felt faster. Speed wasn't something I have tried to increase so far, just trying to get the distance. Yesterday and today, I felt more comfortable running at a faster pace for a longer period of time then I had before. Five steps back, ten strides forward. :)
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May 31, 2008
Training finally started last weekend punctuated by an easy run around aviation track in the rain (can't say I have ever done that before.) Coach Rad assigned a half mile before showing us some warm up moves consisting of high knee lifts on toes, lunges, the charging bull, and kicking your own butt (I'd be happy to elaborate for you with a demo!) In addition, he discussed long distance running technique. The most efficient run for long distance is a short stride, your front foot planting just beneath your body and the force coming from pushing off with the back leg. This technique takes strain off of the lower leg and smaller muscles and puts the grunt onto the larger upper leg muscles. Your arms should be moving freely, in a forward/backward motion . It's a little difficult getting all of this down right away, especially since I had been running sprints previously, but I do see it's benefits already. I haven't suffered from shin splints or sore calfs in weeks, however I do have a tired butt and hips after a good run. :) I've been sticking to my mid week schedule which hasn't been to strenuous. I cross train two days a week and run three. This past week on my Thursday 3 miler, I had SUCH a good rhythm that stopping felt like trying to halt a train. I realized at that point that those first 3 are just getting warmed up, and that I will never run less than that before quitting.
Our coaches emphasize taking it easy starting out. "It's really easy to get hyped up for the season and do early runs at way too hard a pace. This will come back to haunt you in the form of fatigue and possibly injuries. Right now, consistency and frequency are your goals." This week, we trained in Redondo Beach, 3 miles down the esplanade at 8 a.m. I found a pace buddy to run with, Stephanie, who I chat with during our runs which helps pass the time and keeps us at a good pace to go the distance (She also has this expensive GPS watch that beeps at every mile :) After our run, we met at the Village Runner in Redondo for a shoe clinic. Those interested could get analyzed and fitted for marathon appropriate shoes. It was nice to find out my old New Balances were the right type of shoes for me (moderate stability)...but I got sold on a pair of Nike Zooms, which I am dying to take out for a run. Short of a belt with multiple water bottles (yep,) I am completely geared up and ready to go in moisture wicking, non cotton, running apparel. ;)
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May 26, 2008
Why is it important to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and blood cancer research? When we say "blood cancer" we are talking about Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma. Lymphoma is often called the "Rosetta Stone" of cancer research because it has helped unlock the mysteries of several other types of cancer.
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May 4, 2008
I've been through plenty of emotions ever since signing up to run for TNT. Inspired, when I think about helping them meet the 1 billion dollar mark in the year of their 20th anniversary. Full of pride when I think about crossing that finish line. Sometimes I feel really scared. Mostly of failure. Which is pretty ridiculous, considering our training hasn't even begun. Then it starts all over again. I've noticed a cycle I go through during my runs too. I start off open minded. Surprised at how harmonious my running and breathing becomes...how easy each step feels. Before I finish the first mile I get pessimistic...wondering if I can get through my run without shin pain or a bad cramp. I ease up on the sour attitude after that, but begin to talk myself out of pushing farther. When I give in, I find that I ALWAYS feel I could've done more. I've realized now that my biggest challenge will be mental, not physical (not to undercut the effect running has on the body. ) I've never experienced a more full body workout in all the time I've spent in the gym. From the muscle in between my ribs assisting my breathing, to the many muscles of my legs. I've got to admit...it's very powerful...trekking la tierra. I've never been a big endurance runner. I ususally try to maximize my time by running sprint intervals in between my weight lifting routine. But in the last month I've found a new appreciation for the taxing workout that I completely underestimated.