This almost never happens to me, but I was starving this morning while running. It was crazy. I got home and was glad my husband was home because I was concerned I was going to actually pass out.
I'm so used to eating the same thing when I wake up, and I'm lucky that my stomach tolerates it well enough that I can eat on my way out the door or on my short drive and the fuel is there for me right away and I'm ready to run or work out.
Last night I worked kind of late, got home around 8 and ate a quick dinner consisting of two veggie burger patties on a bun (plus of course cheese, pickles and ketchup, my burger toppings of choice). Then for dessert we were out of honey so I couldn't eat my usual greek yogurt, so instead I just had a bowl of cereal with fruit. Probably a little light on my usual calories, but I was in a hurry to watch the Bachelor with our neighbor who was coming over.
Lately I haven't been running home on Wed mornings after camp because Joy is in school and it's just not as much fun without her. Plus, it's been easy to get in evening miles on Wednesdays now at the social run.
But this week is spring break, so we planned to run.
I got up and had my usual granola bar on my way to boot camp. Class was fine. A little more running than usual, about 2.7 miles or so. And then we started running on the trail. We usually run about 1.5 together, then she u-turns and I continue on my way home.
Right after she u-turned, it hit me hard. I was starving. I was seriously considering asking random strangers on the trail if they had anything to eat or if they could call my husband to come pick me up.
I slowed down (though part of me thought the smart move would be to hurry up and get home), and eventually made it home and upstairs where I decided to drink some water and lay on the floor. Everything around me was spinning. It was so bizarre. Hubby gave me a gu and another bottle of water, which I got in me and started feeling better withing maybe 10 minutes.
I've certainly been hungry sometimes on runs before, but it's usually only on a Sunday and it's never really a big deal. I've never experienced anything quite like this before. And hopefully I won't again!
I'll probably start doing my Wed. runs home from camp again pretty regularly now. It's warmer and the social runs are about to move to 6:00, which is just too early for me to leave work. And maybe now I'll eat a gu before I run or another granola bar or something.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Hills are your Friend
I have always hated running hills. This morning was our first day of hill training. I was a little surprised we didn't start hills earlier. Boston is 6 weeks from yesterday.
I did surprisingly well this morning. We had a 3 mile easy warm-up, then a one-mile hill loop five times, then two miles cool down. At the outset, I set my expectations low.
Especially after Sunday's train wreck on a long run. But when I filled out my running log at work yesterday morning, another explanation for the bad run became painfully obvious -- I'd just gone 2 straight weeks without a rest day. Admittedly, one day each week was kind of a semi-rest day, it was just going to boot camp but barely doing anything, taking it very easy. But still, that's more than two weeks without a single day completely off working out. I was due. So I took a rest day yesterday, but still wasn't sure how much I could ask of my body this morning.
I figured I'd be happy if I could push hard for two loops. But then I said 3. Then 4. And I was completely willing to dial it back on the final one, but even that one was pretty good.
And as a side bonus, my garmin seems to have recovered (and thanks to Seattle Runner Girl for reminding me that it could have crashed at innumerable worse times; at least I was able to see my total run time and distance, and even my average per-mile paces and heart rates; not bad really).
My legs are TIGHT right now, but hopefully they'll loosen up, though I'm fully prepared for a stiff and painful day. Either way, happy to have pushed so hard and run so strong on my least fave workout.
I just have to keep my nose to the grindstone. This week and next week are going to be tough. Busy at work, highest mileage of my life, and TOUGH miles. Plus my mom's coming to visit, so hopefully lots of cleaning will also happen!
But I can make it for two more weeks. So many people around me seem to be battling injuries or burning out. I am hoping I can make it. A couple more weeks, then we dial it back for a week, then one more up week.
Just keep going, keep going, keep going. I need to make some time for stretching somewhere. That might help too. Can't believe how close it's getting!
I did surprisingly well this morning. We had a 3 mile easy warm-up, then a one-mile hill loop five times, then two miles cool down. At the outset, I set my expectations low.
Especially after Sunday's train wreck on a long run. But when I filled out my running log at work yesterday morning, another explanation for the bad run became painfully obvious -- I'd just gone 2 straight weeks without a rest day. Admittedly, one day each week was kind of a semi-rest day, it was just going to boot camp but barely doing anything, taking it very easy. But still, that's more than two weeks without a single day completely off working out. I was due. So I took a rest day yesterday, but still wasn't sure how much I could ask of my body this morning.
I figured I'd be happy if I could push hard for two loops. But then I said 3. Then 4. And I was completely willing to dial it back on the final one, but even that one was pretty good.
And as a side bonus, my garmin seems to have recovered (and thanks to Seattle Runner Girl for reminding me that it could have crashed at innumerable worse times; at least I was able to see my total run time and distance, and even my average per-mile paces and heart rates; not bad really).
My legs are TIGHT right now, but hopefully they'll loosen up, though I'm fully prepared for a stiff and painful day. Either way, happy to have pushed so hard and run so strong on my least fave workout.
I just have to keep my nose to the grindstone. This week and next week are going to be tough. Busy at work, highest mileage of my life, and TOUGH miles. Plus my mom's coming to visit, so hopefully lots of cleaning will also happen!
But I can make it for two more weeks. So many people around me seem to be battling injuries or burning out. I am hoping I can make it. A couple more weeks, then we dial it back for a week, then one more up week.
Just keep going, keep going, keep going. I need to make some time for stretching somewhere. That might help too. Can't believe how close it's getting!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Sucky Run
I suppose I was due for a sucky run, and at least it wasn't during a race. I can point to any number of causes. We had 18 miles this morning, including 8 at race pace.
I think I went out a bit too fast. The weather was ideal, so that kept my heart rate low. But then my number one enemy made an appearance -- the bright sun. Ugh. It sucked my energy. We were supposed to start race pace at mile 8, and then move back to easy at 16. I only had a few miles at race pace. But my heart rate wasn't even close to where it should have been. Nonetheless, I felt wholly incapable of going any faster. Besides going out too fast, and it being sunny, I'm guessing other contributing factors were being at the wedding last night -- which meant drinking, heels, and late bedtime -- all probably doomed me this morning.
The good parts about the run, however, also existed. It felt like the miles passed pretty quickly. I'd look at my watch and wait what felt like a minute or so and then look again -- up until about mile 17, I was usually pleasantly surprised to see that actually I'd run another half mile or more (and no, I wasn't running any 4 minute miles!). I ran solo much of the time. But even if I didn't hit the right paces, at least I got another 18 miler out of the way.
I cannot believe how close the race is. 22 miles (with some race pace) this coming weekend. Then probably another 18 or so the weekend my mom is going to be visiting. Then I think it's another 18 but it includes the Dallas RNR half marathon! We'll run a couple miles easy to warm-up, then 7 or so at race pace, then we can let it rip for the last 6 -- technically it's supposed to be at half marathon race pace, but I think if we want to go faster, our coach won't care. Then a few miles cool-down.
I'm kind of pissed we're not racing the whole thing. It just feels like a waste of a race. I mean, why should I pay $100 to run a half when I'm going to have to run marathon pace for half of it, and hence no PR probably. I guess it'll be good practice for me to lock in on race pace when surrounded by others -- good practice at not going out too fast. But still feels like a waste -- a waste of money and a waste of a lackluster race posting on my racing results spreadsheet.
Anyway, I bet we start tapering after that. Probably 15 or so that first weekend in April, then 10, then Boston!!
My garmin locked up after the run today. I stopped the timer and went inside to stretch. I changed shirts so I wouldn't get too cold and I know I bumped it a couple times (and I heard it beep for losing the satellite signal). I got home and realized it was locked on the last screen -- showing my final time and miles and my last registered heart rate. I tried unlocking the bezel, nothing would work. The buttons did nothing. I plugged it in to charge and it wouldn't register that it was charging. So I spent some recovery time searching for help online, and registered a complaint with garmin customer service, which is of course closed on the weekends. Anyway, eventually the battery died and it beeped. I plugged it back in to charge and now it seems to be working fine.
The rest of the day was great -- I got to do a bunch of blog reading and book reading. Watched some tv (finally saw last week's Bachelor). I organized my closet somewhat -- mostly just moving dry cleaning and laundry to where it belonged, but I also chose my outfits for the week and hung them in the order I want to wear them where I normally keep the dry cleaning. And I cooked something (saffron black bean orzo) that I can eat for lunch a few days this week. I feel so prepared for this week to get underway. It's awesome!
It'll be great to be ready for another busy week. But hopefully after this next week, things at the new job will settle into a sustainable routine.
I think I went out a bit too fast. The weather was ideal, so that kept my heart rate low. But then my number one enemy made an appearance -- the bright sun. Ugh. It sucked my energy. We were supposed to start race pace at mile 8, and then move back to easy at 16. I only had a few miles at race pace. But my heart rate wasn't even close to where it should have been. Nonetheless, I felt wholly incapable of going any faster. Besides going out too fast, and it being sunny, I'm guessing other contributing factors were being at the wedding last night -- which meant drinking, heels, and late bedtime -- all probably doomed me this morning.
The good parts about the run, however, also existed. It felt like the miles passed pretty quickly. I'd look at my watch and wait what felt like a minute or so and then look again -- up until about mile 17, I was usually pleasantly surprised to see that actually I'd run another half mile or more (and no, I wasn't running any 4 minute miles!). I ran solo much of the time. But even if I didn't hit the right paces, at least I got another 18 miler out of the way.
I cannot believe how close the race is. 22 miles (with some race pace) this coming weekend. Then probably another 18 or so the weekend my mom is going to be visiting. Then I think it's another 18 but it includes the Dallas RNR half marathon! We'll run a couple miles easy to warm-up, then 7 or so at race pace, then we can let it rip for the last 6 -- technically it's supposed to be at half marathon race pace, but I think if we want to go faster, our coach won't care. Then a few miles cool-down.
I'm kind of pissed we're not racing the whole thing. It just feels like a waste of a race. I mean, why should I pay $100 to run a half when I'm going to have to run marathon pace for half of it, and hence no PR probably. I guess it'll be good practice for me to lock in on race pace when surrounded by others -- good practice at not going out too fast. But still feels like a waste -- a waste of money and a waste of a lackluster race posting on my racing results spreadsheet.
Anyway, I bet we start tapering after that. Probably 15 or so that first weekend in April, then 10, then Boston!!
My garmin locked up after the run today. I stopped the timer and went inside to stretch. I changed shirts so I wouldn't get too cold and I know I bumped it a couple times (and I heard it beep for losing the satellite signal). I got home and realized it was locked on the last screen -- showing my final time and miles and my last registered heart rate. I tried unlocking the bezel, nothing would work. The buttons did nothing. I plugged it in to charge and it wouldn't register that it was charging. So I spent some recovery time searching for help online, and registered a complaint with garmin customer service, which is of course closed on the weekends. Anyway, eventually the battery died and it beeped. I plugged it back in to charge and now it seems to be working fine.
The rest of the day was great -- I got to do a bunch of blog reading and book reading. Watched some tv (finally saw last week's Bachelor). I organized my closet somewhat -- mostly just moving dry cleaning and laundry to where it belonged, but I also chose my outfits for the week and hung them in the order I want to wear them where I normally keep the dry cleaning. And I cooked something (saffron black bean orzo) that I can eat for lunch a few days this week. I feel so prepared for this week to get underway. It's awesome!
It'll be great to be ready for another busy week. But hopefully after this next week, things at the new job will settle into a sustainable routine.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Crazy Good
I ran an easy 7 this morning and probably started off too fast. But I couldn't help it, I feel like I'm the happiest I've been in a long time.
I worked really late last night, on a Friday night, and I loved it. I feel like my career mojo is back. I've come on at my new job at one of the two busiest times of the year. And I like being a team player, being challenged, having a lot of work and enjoying it! I walked out with the VP who is my boss. I tried to explain to him the rules that I was taught at a big firm about who leaves when. Basically, the most junior attorney has to stay the latest. When there's something big going on, you get to go home at night in order of seniority. Not so at my new job! He insisted I not stay any later.
I have tons of work to do, and I'd love to work all weekend in some ways and get a bunch done. But he said he's not going to have me burning out after my first week.
It was such a busy week. Not only was there all kinds of learning new stuff at work, but there was also meeting a bunch of new people, plus trying to do actual work, plus a 55+ mile week of training, plus plans every night last week, plus a sick husband at home (just another upper respiratory infection, ugh).
But as I was running this morning, I couldn't get over how great and happy I felt. If only hubby felt better, it would all be perfect right now. To top it all off, my mom's coming to visit in a couple weeks, my fave race ever is coming up next weekend, we have a dear friend's wedding to go to tonight, it's all good. Or it's all gouda as the AC would say!
I'm just ignoring the fact that now, as we're FINALLY watching the Lifetime Amanda Knox movie we've had on the DVR for weeks, I happened to see that they're making a movie about Wills and Kate. Something like "the royal love story." Between this and their wedding website, ah, I just have to keep reminding myself that it's okay not to have a back-up plan. I'm happily married, and the man I always thought I'd marry deserves the same. Kate should get to marry him, it's not fair to her for him to be just waiting to see if I'm ever single again.
One other interesting thing is brewing in the back of my mind. On Wed night, I went to the social run and did about 5 easy miles. Afterward, usually hubby joins me and running friends for dinner, but since he was sick, I was on my own. There was a huge group that stayed afterward to eat and drink, and I got to have dinner with my most favoritest bestest running coach ever. I was telling her about the job and all, and how one cool thing I'd noticed was that, as I was being introduced around my floor, I discovered several other runners. Most of them aren't marathoners, but some have done one, some used to run, some run a bit now.
Anyway, my coach said, hmmm, White Rock Relay? That's our local marathon. I've never actually run anything other than the marathon there (which I've done about four times), but they have a half marathon and a 5-person relay, where each person runs about 4-6 miles. Hmm...
I think I could find 4 others pretty easily, even if I tried to do attorneys only. The woman with whom I work most closely just ran 39 minutes yesterday morning. She's just starting out, and doesn't love running, but I bet she'd be up for it. One time running came up in a conversation and I said I'd done about 10 miles that morning. She was like, wow, you could eat almost anything. She's limiting her calories to 1300 per day, but maybe she adds some for exercise. I know she's watching what she eats a lot. She's lost 13 pounds so far. Last night we shared some candy. Unfortunately, I wasn't prepared to work late at my new job -- so I lacked my emergency food supplies. I was starving by about 7:00 and I'd eaten all my food. So she and I raided a co-worker's candy dish. I chose a little thing of whoppers, she got milk duds, and we split them. I've liked working with her a lot. Very lucky! It's also great because she really knows what she's doing and is so generous with her time and instruction.
Anyway, bottom line is that life is very, very good. Better than ever! 18 miles tomorrow morning, which should be fine -- except it includes 8 fast miles. That might make it very tough. Plus the wedding tonight. Either way, I'm enjoying a completely awesome weekend!
I worked really late last night, on a Friday night, and I loved it. I feel like my career mojo is back. I've come on at my new job at one of the two busiest times of the year. And I like being a team player, being challenged, having a lot of work and enjoying it! I walked out with the VP who is my boss. I tried to explain to him the rules that I was taught at a big firm about who leaves when. Basically, the most junior attorney has to stay the latest. When there's something big going on, you get to go home at night in order of seniority. Not so at my new job! He insisted I not stay any later.
I have tons of work to do, and I'd love to work all weekend in some ways and get a bunch done. But he said he's not going to have me burning out after my first week.
It was such a busy week. Not only was there all kinds of learning new stuff at work, but there was also meeting a bunch of new people, plus trying to do actual work, plus a 55+ mile week of training, plus plans every night last week, plus a sick husband at home (just another upper respiratory infection, ugh).
But as I was running this morning, I couldn't get over how great and happy I felt. If only hubby felt better, it would all be perfect right now. To top it all off, my mom's coming to visit in a couple weeks, my fave race ever is coming up next weekend, we have a dear friend's wedding to go to tonight, it's all good. Or it's all gouda as the AC would say!
I'm just ignoring the fact that now, as we're FINALLY watching the Lifetime Amanda Knox movie we've had on the DVR for weeks, I happened to see that they're making a movie about Wills and Kate. Something like "the royal love story." Between this and their wedding website, ah, I just have to keep reminding myself that it's okay not to have a back-up plan. I'm happily married, and the man I always thought I'd marry deserves the same. Kate should get to marry him, it's not fair to her for him to be just waiting to see if I'm ever single again.
One other interesting thing is brewing in the back of my mind. On Wed night, I went to the social run and did about 5 easy miles. Afterward, usually hubby joins me and running friends for dinner, but since he was sick, I was on my own. There was a huge group that stayed afterward to eat and drink, and I got to have dinner with my most favoritest bestest running coach ever. I was telling her about the job and all, and how one cool thing I'd noticed was that, as I was being introduced around my floor, I discovered several other runners. Most of them aren't marathoners, but some have done one, some used to run, some run a bit now.
Anyway, my coach said, hmmm, White Rock Relay? That's our local marathon. I've never actually run anything other than the marathon there (which I've done about four times), but they have a half marathon and a 5-person relay, where each person runs about 4-6 miles. Hmm...
I think I could find 4 others pretty easily, even if I tried to do attorneys only. The woman with whom I work most closely just ran 39 minutes yesterday morning. She's just starting out, and doesn't love running, but I bet she'd be up for it. One time running came up in a conversation and I said I'd done about 10 miles that morning. She was like, wow, you could eat almost anything. She's limiting her calories to 1300 per day, but maybe she adds some for exercise. I know she's watching what she eats a lot. She's lost 13 pounds so far. Last night we shared some candy. Unfortunately, I wasn't prepared to work late at my new job -- so I lacked my emergency food supplies. I was starving by about 7:00 and I'd eaten all my food. So she and I raided a co-worker's candy dish. I chose a little thing of whoppers, she got milk duds, and we split them. I've liked working with her a lot. Very lucky! It's also great because she really knows what she's doing and is so generous with her time and instruction.
Anyway, bottom line is that life is very, very good. Better than ever! 18 miles tomorrow morning, which should be fine -- except it includes 8 fast miles. That might make it very tough. Plus the wedding tonight. Either way, I'm enjoying a completely awesome weekend!
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