Today's 9 mile run was incredibly successful - given the challenges we had to overcome. I was running on little-to-no sleep and having serious "female" issues. "Devil" was also exhausted, and had even less sleep than me. We agreed to keep it an easy, slow and steady pace.
We managed to finish a little slower than a 10 minute mile pace. The last half mile or so I really kicked it in high gear and surprised myself with how much energy I had left. I definitely left too much "gas in the tank."
As I think about the Trolley Run on Sunday, I'm amazed at how far I've come in just one year. Last year's TR I struggled to get to the finish line - wondering when would this be over! Now, four miles seems like a piece of cake. It's proof that just putting one foot in front of another, time and time again, will always take you where you want to go.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Sidelined With Back Pain
While I had *planned* to write this week about how good it felt to get back to weight lifting after a 10-day hiatus (thanks to my Vegas trip) -- today I got knocked out at the gym by some serious lower back pain. Let me explain.
It was my first exercise of the day - a deadlift from a box. Here's what they look like:
Obviously that guy is lifting a lot more weight than me. I only had 50 pounds on the bar, so about 95 lbs total. I did my first set of 8 and felt fine. It was halfway through the second set that I felt a sharp tightening and knew I was in trouble. I could barely bend over to put the weights back on the ground before collapsing. I really should have listened to my "inner voice" this morning when I woke up. I knew my back was kind of stiff when I got out of bed, and worried that I might hurt it during today's workout, since most of my exercises today involved the back. Now I'm just mad at myself, because this means at least 3 days of doing nothing -- no weights, no running. I just hope this heals fast.
It was my first exercise of the day - a deadlift from a box. Here's what they look like:
Obviously that guy is lifting a lot more weight than me. I only had 50 pounds on the bar, so about 95 lbs total. I did my first set of 8 and felt fine. It was halfway through the second set that I felt a sharp tightening and knew I was in trouble. I could barely bend over to put the weights back on the ground before collapsing. I really should have listened to my "inner voice" this morning when I woke up. I knew my back was kind of stiff when I got out of bed, and worried that I might hurt it during today's workout, since most of my exercises today involved the back. Now I'm just mad at myself, because this means at least 3 days of doing nothing -- no weights, no running. I just hope this heals fast.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
5.5 plus 2.5 equals...pain!
Friday night I cleared out my ipod shuffle and replaced every song with a new mix, 84 songs, 331.9 mb's (whatever they are), or 5 hours worth...hopefully I can do my required 8 miles before that! Of course the weather failed to cooperate, again! So I headed to the gym, forced to run 80 laps around the track, forced to watch a bunch of 12 year olds trying to emulate Mario Chalmers and his miracle 3 on the basketball court below (damn you Chalmers). After 2 miles and 4 songs consisting of Kid Rocks "Amen", SheDaisy's "Come Home Soon", Skid row "Youth's Gone Wild" and Boston's "Amanda" (I must have been in a weird mood Friday night), I really didn't think I was going to make it...mile 3 ironically enough brought "8 Mile" by Eminem and "Ladies and Gentlemen" by Saliva and finally I am off:
mile one: 8:27
two:8:18
three: 8:17
four: 8:18
five: 8:18*
The (*) represents where I hit the proverbial wall! half way through mile 5...I had to walk a lap!
mile six: 8:37
seven: 8:59
eight: 8:57
So I finished...certainly not strong...when we do this for real on June 7th somebody please remind me not to be a hero and to stay at a good pace, because Sunday everything hurts, my quads, my calves, my left knee and my right ankle! How come on our training plan they don't have "hot-tub day"???
Maybe that can be for all of us on June 8th!!!!
mile one: 8:27
two:8:18
three: 8:17
four: 8:18
five: 8:18*
The (*) represents where I hit the proverbial wall! half way through mile 5...I had to walk a lap!
mile six: 8:37
seven: 8:59
eight: 8:57
So I finished...certainly not strong...when we do this for real on June 7th somebody please remind me not to be a hero and to stay at a good pace, because Sunday everything hurts, my quads, my calves, my left knee and my right ankle! How come on our training plan they don't have "hot-tub day"???
Maybe that can be for all of us on June 8th!!!!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Vegas, Baby, Vegas!
I want to go back to Sin City...especially after cramming a week's worth of work into two days before I hit the skies for Mississippi tomorrow. Running on Wednesday after work was NOT FUN after three days of walking a few hungover steps from my room to the pool at Hard Rock. I ran 4.5 with the hubbie and dog. Needless to say, I think the pup kicked both of our butts. The remnants of the casino smoke lingered, and my lungs felt it. I hate that. After work today, I attempted to run for three miles on the treadmill which makes me want to just die...SINCE IT'S APRIL FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!! I sweated like a hog, and I am not a sweater. I think it was all of the Vegas toxins escaping my body...probably cranberry...and probably vodka.
KC Cool Runnings, I wish I could run with you on Saturday! I think I'm going to need some help on this one after all of our fun! I'll try to run alone in Mississippi to keep up with our schedule and to keep off of the pounds from the Soul Food! Good luck!
Oh, I haven't signed up officially for the race either. We should probably be okay. I'm committed too...seems I'm in it for the long haul now that I've passed the halfway point with our seven miler last weekend!
Good luck this weekend y'all!
KC Cool Runnings, I wish I could run with you on Saturday! I think I'm going to need some help on this one after all of our fun! I'll try to run alone in Mississippi to keep up with our schedule and to keep off of the pounds from the Soul Food! Good luck!
Oh, I haven't signed up officially for the race either. We should probably be okay. I'm committed too...seems I'm in it for the long haul now that I've passed the halfway point with our seven miler last weekend!
Good luck this weekend y'all!
Officially Signing Up
Has anyone officially signed up for the race yet? I haven't, but since we are more than a third of the way through the training, there's no reason not to. I'm already committed to the running schedule. With just over 8 weeks until the race, I might as well plunk down my money and go all in.
I got back from Vegas last night and just chilled at home, planning to run 4 miles this morning. But then morning came, and I slept in... but I did get out the door. I only ran 2 miles this morning. I'm going to try and do another 2 tomorrow, then 8 on saturday. Does anyone else want to run together on Saturday? I think the weather is supposed to be cold. I'd like to run sometime in the morning, but anytime before noon is fine with me.
When I get home I'll post my Danny DeVito & Rhea Pearlman picture. Here it is:
I got back from Vegas last night and just chilled at home, planning to run 4 miles this morning. But then morning came, and I slept in... but I did get out the door. I only ran 2 miles this morning. I'm going to try and do another 2 tomorrow, then 8 on saturday. Does anyone else want to run together on Saturday? I think the weather is supposed to be cold. I'd like to run sometime in the morning, but anytime before noon is fine with me.
When I get home I'll post my Danny DeVito & Rhea Pearlman picture. Here it is:
Friday, April 4, 2008
Kicking 7's Ass
Today Devil and I ran the 7 mile course I mapped out. I must say -- it was a challenge, but we kicked that route's ass! Devil was worse than sick. She really should have been home in bed. But she insisted on running, so I said "Let's go!"
The first mile was mostly uphill. I was glad to get those steep hills over with at the beginning, although there were still a few more hills along the way. We started at 9am, and both of us could see our breaths it was so cold. But running down the other side of Ward Parkway, the sun started to peek out... and after 10 more minutes, it was mostly sunny for the second half of the run. The sunshine really spiked my energy. Getting to the end of the route felt really good - and when we were done (66 minutes for me, 68 for Devil) we sat on the grass and congratulated ourselves on a job well done.
Best of luck to all of you on your long runs tomorrow -- I know you will do great!
The first mile was mostly uphill. I was glad to get those steep hills over with at the beginning, although there were still a few more hills along the way. We started at 9am, and both of us could see our breaths it was so cold. But running down the other side of Ward Parkway, the sun started to peek out... and after 10 more minutes, it was mostly sunny for the second half of the run. The sunshine really spiked my energy. Getting to the end of the route felt really good - and when we were done (66 minutes for me, 68 for Devil) we sat on the grass and congratulated ourselves on a job well done.
Best of luck to all of you on your long runs tomorrow -- I know you will do great!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
NEW 7 mile Route
This morning I decided to drive the previous 7 mile route I designed and boy, am I glad I did! I encountered closed roads, streets without sidewalks, and some MAJOR hills!! So I re-designed the route. I kept a couple of the killer hills in at the beginning, but after that it evens out. And I accounted for the road detours.
Devil and I are going to try this route tomorrow morning. Wish us luck!
Devil and I are going to try this route tomorrow morning. Wish us luck!
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