This past weekend I had a race. It was a learning experience, but then again, every time I race, I learn something new.
It was my hometown's Goffstown Gallop. It's a 5.2 mile course over "rolling hills". Haha. I should preface this by saying I haven't been pushing myself mileage-wise the last couple of weeks and didn't even get in a long run the previous weekend. I had tighness in what I think is my piriformis muscle. So I played it safe...and rested....and avoided hils. I also think I did myself a disservice by running early in the morning. It's much cooler in the morning, although very humid, and while the race wasn't late in the day, the sun came out right before the start.
Next time, I swear on a stack of bibles that:
1. I will not slack off before a race.
2. I will do hill workouts.
3. I will mix up the times that I run as my schedule allows.
I finished the course in 57:14. At this speed, I would have won an award after my next birthday. But because of what I've learned AND will apply in the future, I will be faster. I'm no speed demon but I know I can be better. I had to walk up the ahem, rather large hill in the middle of the course and also near the end where we were in full sun. I WILL be faster next time.
Training starts for my next race in 3 weeks. Bring it!
Monday, June 25, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
Why Run
3.99 miles in 46ish minutes. I say "ish" because I don't run with a gps, smartphone or even a watch. Not yet.
Why do I run? I run for so many reasons.
I run to prove to myself that I can.
I run to keep my sanity.
I run as a way to sort my mind, organize my day and meditate.
I run for the challenge.
I run for happiness.
I run because I am able-bodied.
I run to be a better wife, partner & mother.
I run to prove to others that it's possible.
When I started running, I was at my first bootcamp class. Warm-up was running laps in the parking lot where class is held. Run? Around the parking lot? I did, a little at first and then a bit more. By the end of the session, I was running between about 1.5 miles at home and I could easily finish the running warmup at the beginning of each bootcamp class.
I joined a gym and ran my first 5K. Not a great race but it was done and in the books. I continued running on a treadmill at the gym through most of the winter.
In late February, due to a mild winter, I was able to get some runs in outside and wishing I could continue to do more runs rather than go to the gym. I had joined a Facebook running group around New Year's and saw that there were many member who run early, like in the dark early. I tried it and loved it. I took safety precautions like wearing a reflective vest and running in a well-lit area. I also have access to a main road that has a sidewalk and there is plenty of commuter traffic that I don't get the heebies all the time. To boot, I was having awesome productive runs. I was barely eeking out 3 mile runs at the gym or in the afternoon but in the morning, I ran with ease. I got stronger and my confidence grew.
My long runs are getting longer. My short runs used to be my long runs. I now run between 3.5 and 4 miles on a weekday and 5 to 6.5 on the weekend. I'm running a local 5.2 mile race in a little over a week and a 10K in September. I'm entertaining the idea of a half-marathon in November. I have plenty of room for improvement as a runner but I'm here. I am a runner.
Why do I run? I run for so many reasons.
I run to prove to myself that I can.
I run to keep my sanity.
I run as a way to sort my mind, organize my day and meditate.
I run for the challenge.
I run for happiness.
I run because I am able-bodied.
I run to be a better wife, partner & mother.
I run to prove to others that it's possible.
When I started running, I was at my first bootcamp class. Warm-up was running laps in the parking lot where class is held. Run? Around the parking lot? I did, a little at first and then a bit more. By the end of the session, I was running between about 1.5 miles at home and I could easily finish the running warmup at the beginning of each bootcamp class.
I joined a gym and ran my first 5K. Not a great race but it was done and in the books. I continued running on a treadmill at the gym through most of the winter.
In late February, due to a mild winter, I was able to get some runs in outside and wishing I could continue to do more runs rather than go to the gym. I had joined a Facebook running group around New Year's and saw that there were many member who run early, like in the dark early. I tried it and loved it. I took safety precautions like wearing a reflective vest and running in a well-lit area. I also have access to a main road that has a sidewalk and there is plenty of commuter traffic that I don't get the heebies all the time. To boot, I was having awesome productive runs. I was barely eeking out 3 mile runs at the gym or in the afternoon but in the morning, I ran with ease. I got stronger and my confidence grew.
My long runs are getting longer. My short runs used to be my long runs. I now run between 3.5 and 4 miles on a weekday and 5 to 6.5 on the weekend. I'm running a local 5.2 mile race in a little over a week and a 10K in September. I'm entertaining the idea of a half-marathon in November. I have plenty of room for improvement as a runner but I'm here. I am a runner.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Blocked
I am stuck. I am blocked. I have reached a plateau. I am determined that this is temporary, however. My hope is that this journal will give me forward momentum to move past this current challenge. Maybe along the way, it will also give inspiration to others.
Last summer, I started a weight loss journey. After two pregnancies and many years of not being kind to my body, I made a decision to change that. One step at a time. Journies are made one step at a time, not one giant leap. Small changes in daily habits beget larger, more visible changes. My weight was at a very uncomfortable 204. I was not comfortable in my skin. I had issues with moving, including playing with my kids. It's this lack of motion which is the start of sliding down that slippery slope of obesity. I was to be turning 39 in a couple of months with two young kids and I didn't like where I was.
I started walking. Trying to make healthier food choices. I read a lot on exercise and diet. I was feeling better but it wasn't clicking yet. I signed up for a bootcamp class. I got my ass handed to me every week. I knew that to get the most out of class, I had to show up and put in 100% every time. I did this, built my confidence and my fitness. I started running. In the beginning, I could only run to the end of my road (0.3 miles) before I lost my breath. I joined a gym. I lifted weights. I did yoga once every two weeks. I made progress.
With this committment, I am now a much healthier 178. I am a runner. I love running. It is my therapy. For those of you who say you could never be a runner, I used to think the same thing. I did sports from fifth grade on through college. I hated running. Running was something I did to get by on the team. My longest run to date is 6.6 miles. I am not a fast runner but I'll get there eventually. I'll be training for a 10K this summer. It's my birthday gift since it includes a weekend at the Cape. I attend a Vinyasa yoga class once a week. Yoga balances my running and gives me strength. Strength in mind and my body. I'm capable of doing at least 20 "real" pushups and I have started jumping rope. Jumping rope was an obesession for me in grade school.
With all of these accomplishments, I am stuck. I am stuck at 178. I have lost 26 pounds and down 3 sizes but I have a goal weight. A goal of 146. A goal to lose 32 more pounds. I know I can do this. I will move through this block and reach my goal. Don't get me wrong, it's not just about the number on the scale or smaller clothes. It's about following through, breaking through and showing my kids what a healthy lifestyle looks like. Something is missing. My hope and intention is to use this journal as a tool to find the missing piece or pieces.
Last summer, I started a weight loss journey. After two pregnancies and many years of not being kind to my body, I made a decision to change that. One step at a time. Journies are made one step at a time, not one giant leap. Small changes in daily habits beget larger, more visible changes. My weight was at a very uncomfortable 204. I was not comfortable in my skin. I had issues with moving, including playing with my kids. It's this lack of motion which is the start of sliding down that slippery slope of obesity. I was to be turning 39 in a couple of months with two young kids and I didn't like where I was.
I started walking. Trying to make healthier food choices. I read a lot on exercise and diet. I was feeling better but it wasn't clicking yet. I signed up for a bootcamp class. I got my ass handed to me every week. I knew that to get the most out of class, I had to show up and put in 100% every time. I did this, built my confidence and my fitness. I started running. In the beginning, I could only run to the end of my road (0.3 miles) before I lost my breath. I joined a gym. I lifted weights. I did yoga once every two weeks. I made progress.
With this committment, I am now a much healthier 178. I am a runner. I love running. It is my therapy. For those of you who say you could never be a runner, I used to think the same thing. I did sports from fifth grade on through college. I hated running. Running was something I did to get by on the team. My longest run to date is 6.6 miles. I am not a fast runner but I'll get there eventually. I'll be training for a 10K this summer. It's my birthday gift since it includes a weekend at the Cape. I attend a Vinyasa yoga class once a week. Yoga balances my running and gives me strength. Strength in mind and my body. I'm capable of doing at least 20 "real" pushups and I have started jumping rope. Jumping rope was an obesession for me in grade school.
With all of these accomplishments, I am stuck. I am stuck at 178. I have lost 26 pounds and down 3 sizes but I have a goal weight. A goal of 146. A goal to lose 32 more pounds. I know I can do this. I will move through this block and reach my goal. Don't get me wrong, it's not just about the number on the scale or smaller clothes. It's about following through, breaking through and showing my kids what a healthy lifestyle looks like. Something is missing. My hope and intention is to use this journal as a tool to find the missing piece or pieces.
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