Most days, I like to jump off the Metro a stop early and walk the half mile home. It is a nice walk and the past few evenings have been nice and relatively warmer. I’ve seen quite a few runners on the sidewalks of Clarendon as I walk home and I’m always hit with a moment of jealous mixed with a little guilt that I’m not out there running too.
I’ll admit it; I am often jealous of other runners when I see them out running while I drive or walk by them. However, the thought struck me as so funny last night. Why in the world am I jealous? I had such a great, effortless run that morning. What in the world do I need to be jealous of these runners for? Plus, I had just gotten done extolling the joys of running in the morning and here I am lusting after the afternoon runs these people are taking.
Yet, these runners looked so happy in their shorts, missing the hats and gloves and other winter paraphernalia ubiquitous among the morning runners. They bounced past, cheeks and thighs red from the cold or the effort, determination in their eyes, some a bit breathless, others making it appear effortless and I was jealous. My inner 5 year old eye’s were welling up, about to spill and the tantrum was forming in the throat of my inner-toddler, “I waaannnnna run tooooo! Why can’t I run?” *Pout, pout, pout*
The jealousy doesn’t usually last too long and it rarely motivates me to go for a run (mostly because I’ve already run that day). Not a moment after a runner passed me last night; I shook my head and smiled at my own silly thoughts. “I’ve already run my run today, no point wishing I was running some else’s,” I told myself and I think I’ve almost got myself convinced.
Today’s Daily Dozen
Rest/Recovery
Cleaning and Cooking for a Party – that counts!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Morning Runner
“This is easy” I thought as I silently slipped through the early morning darkness this morning. I am finally feeling rested and recovered after two weeks of sluggishness due to my body fighting a cold virus. It felt great.
The sun is rising earlier these days and it is beginning to get lighter and lighter by the time I finish my runs. I don’t know if it is just my imagination but there seem to be more people on the streets, walking to work or wherever they are headed. I run passed them and wonder, “How many started their day off with some exercise?”
When I have a good run in the morning, a good rest of the day follows.
As I mentioned in a previous post, I know two people who are going to be training to run a marathon and both of them are evening exercisers/gym-goers/runners. I admire them for being able to get motivated after a long day at work when there are so many things vying for their time. If I am forced to skip a morning run, there isn’t a great chance that I’ll make it up in the evening.
I find too many excuses not to run after work; in the mornings, running is the only reason I’m awake.
As I ran along this morning, I thought about all the reasons I’m not an afternoon/evening runner:
The sun is rising earlier these days and it is beginning to get lighter and lighter by the time I finish my runs. I don’t know if it is just my imagination but there seem to be more people on the streets, walking to work or wherever they are headed. I run passed them and wonder, “How many started their day off with some exercise?”
When I have a good run in the morning, a good rest of the day follows.
As I mentioned in a previous post, I know two people who are going to be training to run a marathon and both of them are evening exercisers/gym-goers/runners. I admire them for being able to get motivated after a long day at work when there are so many things vying for their time. If I am forced to skip a morning run, there isn’t a great chance that I’ll make it up in the evening.
I find too many excuses not to run after work; in the mornings, running is the only reason I’m awake.
As I ran along this morning, I thought about all the reasons I’m not an afternoon/evening runner:
- After work, any time spent running is time NOT spent with Mike
- It’s warmer after work – in the summer that makes all the difference but in the winter, the difference is negligible.
- I enjoy the quiet emptiness of an otherwise busy city on an early morning.
- I’d be awake anyway, I might as well run.
I often think about the timing of when I decided to start running. It wasn’t long after I switched positions at my old company. My commuting time was cut in half and my start time was pushed back by an hour. Waking up two hours before work to go to the gym meant setting the alarm for 6 o’clock as opposed to 3:30 (I may be an early riser…but not that early!!)
If I hadn’t switched jobs, I probably wouldn’t be a runner.
Today’s Daily Dozen
3.07 miles run
30 minute walk @ lunch break
Monday, February 23, 2009
Stories
I found out a few weeks ago that two former co-workers/current friends have decided to run a marathon for charity.
They’ve chosen to run the Mayor’s Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska so I cannot be there to support them but I am excited to support them through the journey of training for a marathon. Neither one is a runner; although both have been athletic in the past, so I think that they will be able to do it physically. Their success will be riding on their mental ability to maintain consistency during their training and slog through the long, slow miles of their long runs.
It has been fun to share running tips and advice with them and I hope to get a chance to run a training run or two with them. Their enthusiasm and nervous excitement about running the marathon has served to amp up enthusiasm for my own running.
During my long run on Saturday, thinking about what was in store for them, I started to reminisce about my own beginnings. I remembered those early mornings on the treadmill before work, running up to 10 miles at a time, before I found the courage to run all my runs outside (well after my first marathon…and even second). I thought about the excitement that quickly turned to anxiety after I signed up for the marathon and realized that there was no turning back.
Also, I thought about my own marathon experience. I distinctly remember that stomach wrenching feeling within the first mile when I run through a turn on the course, looked behind me and didn’t see a single runner. For the briefest second I thought I was absolute dead last. My stomach nearly dropped out of feet before I realized how preposterous a thought it was and finally a swarm of runners came around the corner.
As I was coming up on the halfway mark in the marathon, I saw my in-laws and my FIL ran along side me with his video camera, asking me how I was doing. On tape, a bit breathlessly I say, “I’m feeling good” but in my mind I was thinking “Good…really? Did I just say ‘good.’ Wow, I guess I really am feeling good. Am I supposed to still feel good? Oh god, am I doing this right?” A minute later, a mini-roar goes up and I see Mike and two friends cheering from the sideline. The image of Mike trying to both cheer AND take pictures was comical. I did; however, feel like a rock star!
During Saturday’s long run, my body started to get tired sooner than it usually doesn’t, probably because I am still recovering from a lingering cold bug and I decided to take a short walk break to eat the Fig Newtons I had brought along with me. As I munched my fruit and cake, I smiled at the memory of the magical banana my Mom had waiting for me at Mile 22 of the marathon; a banana so magical, the mere thought of it pulled me through miles 20 and 21 and gave me the renewed energy (physically and mentally) to get through the final four miles.
I wonder if my friends will have similar experiences. What running stories will they have to tell?
One thing is for sure, just like me, crossing the finish line at the end of their first marathon will be an experience they will not soon forget. It is hard to describe and it just sounds trite when I try to explain the joy, the near-tears, the amazement, the astonishment, the fear, the exhaustion that shot through my body all at once. I thought about this on my long run and I know I had a goofy grin on my face.
As I slowly tromped along the bike path thinking about these things, I realized there seemed to be more runners out and about than usual for a cold, February morning. There were lone runners, tall and lean, gliding along almost gazelle-like, and groups of runners with their waist belt hydration systems that I assume are training for a big race together. I saw small groups of runners, in twos and threes, out for a morning running, chatting away the miles as I imagine they’ve done on nice Saturday mornings for years and years.
I wonder, how many of those runners have their own first marathon stories to share and how many of them are in the process of making them right there on the bike path as we pass?
Today’s Daily Dozen
Skipped XT today because my quads are still sore from Saturday’s long run
They’ve chosen to run the Mayor’s Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska so I cannot be there to support them but I am excited to support them through the journey of training for a marathon. Neither one is a runner; although both have been athletic in the past, so I think that they will be able to do it physically. Their success will be riding on their mental ability to maintain consistency during their training and slog through the long, slow miles of their long runs.
It has been fun to share running tips and advice with them and I hope to get a chance to run a training run or two with them. Their enthusiasm and nervous excitement about running the marathon has served to amp up enthusiasm for my own running.
During my long run on Saturday, thinking about what was in store for them, I started to reminisce about my own beginnings. I remembered those early mornings on the treadmill before work, running up to 10 miles at a time, before I found the courage to run all my runs outside (well after my first marathon…and even second). I thought about the excitement that quickly turned to anxiety after I signed up for the marathon and realized that there was no turning back.
Also, I thought about my own marathon experience. I distinctly remember that stomach wrenching feeling within the first mile when I run through a turn on the course, looked behind me and didn’t see a single runner. For the briefest second I thought I was absolute dead last. My stomach nearly dropped out of feet before I realized how preposterous a thought it was and finally a swarm of runners came around the corner.
As I was coming up on the halfway mark in the marathon, I saw my in-laws and my FIL ran along side me with his video camera, asking me how I was doing. On tape, a bit breathlessly I say, “I’m feeling good” but in my mind I was thinking “Good…really? Did I just say ‘good.’ Wow, I guess I really am feeling good. Am I supposed to still feel good? Oh god, am I doing this right?” A minute later, a mini-roar goes up and I see Mike and two friends cheering from the sideline. The image of Mike trying to both cheer AND take pictures was comical. I did; however, feel like a rock star!
During Saturday’s long run, my body started to get tired sooner than it usually doesn’t, probably because I am still recovering from a lingering cold bug and I decided to take a short walk break to eat the Fig Newtons I had brought along with me. As I munched my fruit and cake, I smiled at the memory of the magical banana my Mom had waiting for me at Mile 22 of the marathon; a banana so magical, the mere thought of it pulled me through miles 20 and 21 and gave me the renewed energy (physically and mentally) to get through the final four miles.
I wonder if my friends will have similar experiences. What running stories will they have to tell?
One thing is for sure, just like me, crossing the finish line at the end of their first marathon will be an experience they will not soon forget. It is hard to describe and it just sounds trite when I try to explain the joy, the near-tears, the amazement, the astonishment, the fear, the exhaustion that shot through my body all at once. I thought about this on my long run and I know I had a goofy grin on my face.
As I slowly tromped along the bike path thinking about these things, I realized there seemed to be more runners out and about than usual for a cold, February morning. There were lone runners, tall and lean, gliding along almost gazelle-like, and groups of runners with their waist belt hydration systems that I assume are training for a big race together. I saw small groups of runners, in twos and threes, out for a morning running, chatting away the miles as I imagine they’ve done on nice Saturday mornings for years and years.
I wonder, how many of those runners have their own first marathon stories to share and how many of them are in the process of making them right there on the bike path as we pass?
Today’s Daily Dozen
Skipped XT today because my quads are still sore from Saturday’s long run
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Rough Week
It's been a rough week for me and being active.
I've been sick or trying to recover from being sick since last Monday. Unfortunately, what started as a sore throat and fever (with accompanying dizziness) has morphed into a sore throat with congestion that migrates between my nose and my chest.
I was sick enough to stay home on Tuesday but since then I've been hanging out in that frustrating zone between sick and well - not sick enough to stay home during the day but bad enough at night that I've been having trouble getting a solid night of sleep.
I was feeling well enough to finally get in a run Thursday morning and took a slow, slooooow two mile run. My body felt exhausted during the run but I did feel better that day.
I was on the fence whether I should even attempt the long run planned for Saturday - 12 miles. I went out on the cold, but sunny weekend morning, giving myself permission to take it super slow and stop at any time. Should that mean I ran only a mile or all twelve, I told myself it didn't matter.
I ended up running the entire 12 miles and I felt decent. I was tired, like a whole body tired as opposed to an exercise tired, but I was able to get through the run and felt good about the miles afterwards.
As I ran, I wondered if I was making a mistake. Would this run set me back? I hadn't run all week, for the most part, was it smart to jump right back in to the long run, my longest long run to date p.i. (post injury). But then I felt good enough during the long run to keep going and maintain a good pace.
Today, I'm still feeling sick and my quads are a little sore but I don't think I did any harm. I think I just need to get a few nights in a row that I sleep through the night. Sleep is an amazing thing and not being able to get a decent night's rest is stretching out my sickness. It's frustrating.
Today's Daily Dozen
Get enough rest to start feeling better, permanently!
I've been sick or trying to recover from being sick since last Monday. Unfortunately, what started as a sore throat and fever (with accompanying dizziness) has morphed into a sore throat with congestion that migrates between my nose and my chest.
I was sick enough to stay home on Tuesday but since then I've been hanging out in that frustrating zone between sick and well - not sick enough to stay home during the day but bad enough at night that I've been having trouble getting a solid night of sleep.
I was feeling well enough to finally get in a run Thursday morning and took a slow, slooooow two mile run. My body felt exhausted during the run but I did feel better that day.
I was on the fence whether I should even attempt the long run planned for Saturday - 12 miles. I went out on the cold, but sunny weekend morning, giving myself permission to take it super slow and stop at any time. Should that mean I ran only a mile or all twelve, I told myself it didn't matter.
I ended up running the entire 12 miles and I felt decent. I was tired, like a whole body tired as opposed to an exercise tired, but I was able to get through the run and felt good about the miles afterwards.
As I ran, I wondered if I was making a mistake. Would this run set me back? I hadn't run all week, for the most part, was it smart to jump right back in to the long run, my longest long run to date p.i. (post injury). But then I felt good enough during the long run to keep going and maintain a good pace.
Today, I'm still feeling sick and my quads are a little sore but I don't think I did any harm. I think I just need to get a few nights in a row that I sleep through the night. Sleep is an amazing thing and not being able to get a decent night's rest is stretching out my sickness. It's frustrating.
Today's Daily Dozen
Get enough rest to start feeling better, permanently!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Strength Training
There’s something very satisfying about a hard strength training workout.
I’ve been slacking off on doing strength training lately, opting for more cardio workouts and a few pushups, crunches and squats thrown in for good measure during my lunchtime gym breaks. Today, despite a desire to continue that trend, I told myself – “Self, you need to find a balance in your activities; it is time for some real strength training.”
It was an internal mini-battle of wills as I got dressed to workout. I didn’t really want to do strength training today. I really was having fun doing my own version of circuit training. However, it has been over a week since I had done a strength training workout and it was about time.
In the end the strength training angel won the argument and I went through my bench presses, rows and overhead presses a bit unwillingly. However, during the overhead presses, my triceps started to “feel the burn,” as they say, and something clicked.
I imagined myself working out with a trainer who was pushing me through a hard workout just like you see on The Biggest Loser. “Dig! Dig! Dig! One more! Don’t you dare give up!,” I said to myself.
And it worked. I curled my bicep curls, I crunched my crunches and rocked my lunges, throwing in some jumping lunges just to make it harder. Usually, this is where my strength training workouts end but not today.
I kept going. I pushed (and huffed and puffed and I’ll even admit to a grunt or two) through tricep dips. I did running planks for another ab exercises. I ended with squats – 25 reps for 3 sets!
The only reason I ended the workout was because it was time to back to work.
And I’m glad I forced myself to go through my strength training routine. As I was telling a friend last night, you never feel bad after working out; it is just a matter of getting yourself through the door. After all the internal moaning and groaning, I should remember – strength training makes me feel powerful! Grrrrr!
Today's Daily Dozen
3.07 mile run
Strength Training @ Lunch hour
I’ve been slacking off on doing strength training lately, opting for more cardio workouts and a few pushups, crunches and squats thrown in for good measure during my lunchtime gym breaks. Today, despite a desire to continue that trend, I told myself – “Self, you need to find a balance in your activities; it is time for some real strength training.”
It was an internal mini-battle of wills as I got dressed to workout. I didn’t really want to do strength training today. I really was having fun doing my own version of circuit training. However, it has been over a week since I had done a strength training workout and it was about time.
In the end the strength training angel won the argument and I went through my bench presses, rows and overhead presses a bit unwillingly. However, during the overhead presses, my triceps started to “feel the burn,” as they say, and something clicked.
I imagined myself working out with a trainer who was pushing me through a hard workout just like you see on The Biggest Loser. “Dig! Dig! Dig! One more! Don’t you dare give up!,” I said to myself.
And it worked. I curled my bicep curls, I crunched my crunches and rocked my lunges, throwing in some jumping lunges just to make it harder. Usually, this is where my strength training workouts end but not today.
I kept going. I pushed (and huffed and puffed and I’ll even admit to a grunt or two) through tricep dips. I did running planks for another ab exercises. I ended with squats – 25 reps for 3 sets!
The only reason I ended the workout was because it was time to back to work.
And I’m glad I forced myself to go through my strength training routine. As I was telling a friend last night, you never feel bad after working out; it is just a matter of getting yourself through the door. After all the internal moaning and groaning, I should remember – strength training makes me feel powerful! Grrrrr!
Today's Daily Dozen
3.07 mile run
Strength Training @ Lunch hour
Monday, February 9, 2009
My Version of Circuit Training
I’m sorta in love with one of my cross-training routines.
Lately, on cross-training days and/or for lunch hour workouts I’ve been setting the treadmill to an interval or cross-country program, working the speed up to a nice, fast walking pace and then pausing every 10 minutes for a round of push-ups, running planks and squats. The workout seems to fly by – I’ve done three rounds for a total of 45 pushups, 60 running planks and 60 squats, not to mention almost two miles of walking incline intervals in under 40 minutes. I’ve worked by arms, my core, my legs AND my cardio fitness in one go.
I can see why circuit training is always mentioned in regards to how to get the most bang for buck in a short amount of time.
In fact, I enjoy this workout so much that I have actually been looking forward to it all day and I can’t wait for my lunch break.
Lately, on cross-training days and/or for lunch hour workouts I’ve been setting the treadmill to an interval or cross-country program, working the speed up to a nice, fast walking pace and then pausing every 10 minutes for a round of push-ups, running planks and squats. The workout seems to fly by – I’ve done three rounds for a total of 45 pushups, 60 running planks and 60 squats, not to mention almost two miles of walking incline intervals in under 40 minutes. I’ve worked by arms, my core, my legs AND my cardio fitness in one go.
I can see why circuit training is always mentioned in regards to how to get the most bang for buck in a short amount of time.
In fact, I enjoy this workout so much that I have actually been looking forward to it all day and I can’t wait for my lunch break.
"Old Route"
This weekend’s long run went so well! If I’m honest, I ran it faster than I should have but it felt wonderful to be out there Saturday morning.
I fell asleep Friday night, thinking about the different routes I could take and how to get in 10 miles. Just before I nodded off, I thought, “why not take the old route?”
My “old route” is the along the Custis Bike Trail to the W&OD south toward Alexandria and the airport. It is 10 miles from my usual starting spot to National Airport along the bike trails and I ran this out-and-back route for varying lengths every weekend as I trained for my first marathon. It was comforting during that initial training to become so familiar with the route that I knew exactly what mile I was at and how long it would take me to get home. It was the equivalent of running the “back of my hand” and I credit it with getting me through some tough and anxious moments during my training.
In fact, it wasn’t until the weekend AFTER my first marathon that I made the novel decision to turn east on the bike path and run toward Rosslyn.
Two years later and I’m still exploring the area’s running routes, rarely running that “old route” because it was so familiar. I’ve found a perfect 8 miler that incorporates Roosevelt Island and a hilly but invigorating route that takes me through Arlington National Cemetery. I’ve run to other neighborhoods – Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax. I’ve run home from work and discovered that I love to run commute. I’ve run trails and run to trails to meet up with Mike for a hike. I’ve run in DC as the early morning sun baths the monuments, memorials and museums of our nation’s capitol in soft, peaceful light – the calm before the storm of tourists who descend each weekend.
I’ve run all of these places and hardly given a thought to my old route, the one that got me to the starting line of my first marathon. It hardly seemed fair and as I got ready to run my 10-miler Saturday morning, I decided to give that old route another chance.
I know each turn and hill along the route. I know that the overpass means 1 mile down (or 1 mile to go), the straightaway allows for a speedier end to mile 2, the tennis courts mark 3 miles, mile 4 is hillier with rolling ups and down and the 5 mile turn around spot is just after I pass under that nice stone bridge. Then, I know that all I have to do is follow these spots, tick them off one by one and I’ll be home in no time.
I was relieved that all of this familiarity was still there Saturday morning, almost 2 years since I ran the same route for that last 10 mile long run before my first marathon. And I felt great!
Even as I told myself to slow down and take it easy, the “old route” had energized me more than I expected and I was running fast. I averaged 10:00 miles throughout the run when I should have been closer to 10:30, and I even ran the final mile in 9:05!
I’m still not going to running my old route as regularly and faithfully as I used to, and I am already planning a new 12 mile route for my long run in two weeks, but I know that the “old” and the “familiar” aren’t always a bad thing. In fact, they can sometimes be just the thing to reenergize my runs.
I fell asleep Friday night, thinking about the different routes I could take and how to get in 10 miles. Just before I nodded off, I thought, “why not take the old route?”
My “old route” is the along the Custis Bike Trail to the W&OD south toward Alexandria and the airport. It is 10 miles from my usual starting spot to National Airport along the bike trails and I ran this out-and-back route for varying lengths every weekend as I trained for my first marathon. It was comforting during that initial training to become so familiar with the route that I knew exactly what mile I was at and how long it would take me to get home. It was the equivalent of running the “back of my hand” and I credit it with getting me through some tough and anxious moments during my training.
In fact, it wasn’t until the weekend AFTER my first marathon that I made the novel decision to turn east on the bike path and run toward Rosslyn.
Two years later and I’m still exploring the area’s running routes, rarely running that “old route” because it was so familiar. I’ve found a perfect 8 miler that incorporates Roosevelt Island and a hilly but invigorating route that takes me through Arlington National Cemetery. I’ve run to other neighborhoods – Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax. I’ve run home from work and discovered that I love to run commute. I’ve run trails and run to trails to meet up with Mike for a hike. I’ve run in DC as the early morning sun baths the monuments, memorials and museums of our nation’s capitol in soft, peaceful light – the calm before the storm of tourists who descend each weekend.
I’ve run all of these places and hardly given a thought to my old route, the one that got me to the starting line of my first marathon. It hardly seemed fair and as I got ready to run my 10-miler Saturday morning, I decided to give that old route another chance.
I know each turn and hill along the route. I know that the overpass means 1 mile down (or 1 mile to go), the straightaway allows for a speedier end to mile 2, the tennis courts mark 3 miles, mile 4 is hillier with rolling ups and down and the 5 mile turn around spot is just after I pass under that nice stone bridge. Then, I know that all I have to do is follow these spots, tick them off one by one and I’ll be home in no time.
I was relieved that all of this familiarity was still there Saturday morning, almost 2 years since I ran the same route for that last 10 mile long run before my first marathon. And I felt great!
Even as I told myself to slow down and take it easy, the “old route” had energized me more than I expected and I was running fast. I averaged 10:00 miles throughout the run when I should have been closer to 10:30, and I even ran the final mile in 9:05!
I’m still not going to running my old route as regularly and faithfully as I used to, and I am already planning a new 12 mile route for my long run in two weeks, but I know that the “old” and the “familiar” aren’t always a bad thing. In fact, they can sometimes be just the thing to reenergize my runs.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Be Prepared
One of the things I’ve noticed about non-runners and runners who run almost exclusively on the treadmill in comparison to runners who run almost exclusively outside is the perception of what constitutes bad weather.
Fifty degrees and slightly overcast is perfect running weather. Rain usually isn’t an issue. Even cold and snow can be a good thing. However, to non-runners or runners who view the temperature controlled environment of a treadmill, these conditions are believed to be ideal.
This contradiction hit me as I was cooling down and walking home after my run this morning. I ran 3.5 miles in a light, wet snow that was hardly sticking to the ground but when it did it was mostly slush. Whenever I run in snow like this I imagine that this is what it must be like to run inside a snow globe because the wet snow resembles glitter as it falls past street lights along the bike path. The idea always makes me smile.
However, it struck me that most people wouldn’t see my run this morning as a “good” one. Most people would hear early morning run in wet snow and assume it took some massive feat of willpower that brought out to the streets this morning. Non-runners and treadmill runners may think the act of running in this morning’s conditions is impressive, or insane, or some combination of the two.
I started thinking that with the right gear I can run in just about any weather and enjoy it. To steal from the Boy Scouts, “be prepared” is my motto for enjoying running all year round.
In fact, braving the elements in running and discovering that not only can I “brave” them but can have a good run in spite, and even sometimes because, of them has given me the necessary mindset to seek out other activities in less than ideal situations. Hiking during the winter just required some additional layers. Skiing? Running tights and waterproof pants worked great this time, whereas I remember being very good last time. Inauguration in temperatures in the twenties? No problem!
Last year, I might have shied away from these things during the winter because I was afraid of the cold but I have nothing to fear from the cold. Or even the heat for that matter. As long as I have the right tools and equipment, temperature and weather do not make a run good or bad.
Today’s Daily Dozen:
3.5 miles run
Core workout @ lunch hour
Fifty degrees and slightly overcast is perfect running weather. Rain usually isn’t an issue. Even cold and snow can be a good thing. However, to non-runners or runners who view the temperature controlled environment of a treadmill, these conditions are believed to be ideal.
This contradiction hit me as I was cooling down and walking home after my run this morning. I ran 3.5 miles in a light, wet snow that was hardly sticking to the ground but when it did it was mostly slush. Whenever I run in snow like this I imagine that this is what it must be like to run inside a snow globe because the wet snow resembles glitter as it falls past street lights along the bike path. The idea always makes me smile.
However, it struck me that most people wouldn’t see my run this morning as a “good” one. Most people would hear early morning run in wet snow and assume it took some massive feat of willpower that brought out to the streets this morning. Non-runners and treadmill runners may think the act of running in this morning’s conditions is impressive, or insane, or some combination of the two.
I started thinking that with the right gear I can run in just about any weather and enjoy it. To steal from the Boy Scouts, “be prepared” is my motto for enjoying running all year round.
In fact, braving the elements in running and discovering that not only can I “brave” them but can have a good run in spite, and even sometimes because, of them has given me the necessary mindset to seek out other activities in less than ideal situations. Hiking during the winter just required some additional layers. Skiing? Running tights and waterproof pants worked great this time, whereas I remember being very good last time. Inauguration in temperatures in the twenties? No problem!
Last year, I might have shied away from these things during the winter because I was afraid of the cold but I have nothing to fear from the cold. Or even the heat for that matter. As long as I have the right tools and equipment, temperature and weather do not make a run good or bad.
Today’s Daily Dozen:
3.5 miles run
Core workout @ lunch hour
My Day on the Bunny Slopes
This past weekend we headed up to Liberty Mountain in Pennsylvania for a weekend of skiing and other fun things to do in the snow.
Saturday morning we were up early, enjoying the free breakfast at our hotel (me up even earlier for a scheduled run) and discussing the day ahead of us. Our plan was to get to the ski resort early, get our gear and join a beginner's ski lesson so that we would have the afternoon to enjoy the slopes.
We worked our way through the process of buying tickets, getting our ski boots, trying to figure out how to put them on, getting our skis, clumsily carrying them outside, finding the right ski poles and then finally getting out on the snow and coming to the realization that we have absolutely no idea what we are doing.
Prior to this weekend, I had been skiing one time, while I was in college with some friends who had been skiing most of their lives. That day, I skipped the lesson and let my friends "teach me" a few things before they grew incredibly bored and headed off for the hard slopes. The only thing that stuck with me from that day was that I fell down a lot and that falling was the only method I could work out for stopping.
Obviously, this was not the most positive experience I could have had with skiing.
Fresh off the fun we had learning to cross-country ski with my parents, I put the one experience I had with skiing out of my head and went in to this with the mindset of a totally newbie, which let's be honest, I am.
Anyway, we met up with a ski instructor, George, who took us through an hour and a half lesson, where we started out skiing without our skis and by the end we were slowly making our way down the bunny slope in lazy S-shaped turns. We "French-fry-ed" and "Pizza-ed" our way down a mountain and I am happy to report that by the end of the lesson I felt reasonably confident.
With a short break for lunch, we spent the rest of the afternoon going up and down the easy slope and Mike and I even worked our way over to the next slope with a mix of easy and intermediate.
It was a very fun day and I really enjoyed learning a new sport. Despite the cold fingers and toes, the long waits for the lift, and the next few days of soreness (what a workout for your thighs and hips!), I had a great time and erased all my previous misconceptions about downhill skiing.
I am really interested in making it back to the mountain one more time before the season ends and definitely going back next year.
Monday, February 2, 2009
(Mini) Vacation Running
This weekend we took a weekend mini-vacation to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to go skiing. Before leaving, I mapped out a run that would take me through downtown Gettysburg and several of the surrounding battlefields. I was looking forward to the novel sights and sounds of running a different route.
However, winter once again got in the way of my plans.
Pulling in to the parking lot of the hotel, I started to have apprehensions about the likelihood of my run taking place as planned because the hotel was on a busy highway with no sidewalk and very little shoulder due to the piles of snow that had accumulated because of plowing. After settling in, we walked across the street to get a snack and the ground was a solid sheet of ice in most places. I resigned myself to a no-go run, decided to sleep in and started making plans to run after we got home on Sunday.
The next morning, to my surprise I woke up with plenty of time to get in a run (without the alarm) and after laying in bed for a few minutes I realized I had no excuse not to get up and check out the hotel’s gym.
By 6:30 I was on the hotel’s only treadmill, trying to figure out how it worked. There was no manual button, only buttons for pre-programmed workouts most of them with significant inclines and speeds up to a fast walk, and none of them longer than 30 minutes. After a few frustrating minutes, I just started one of the programs, upped the speed and decreased the incline EVERY TWO MINUTES as it would try to force me through the programmed settings.
Rather than give in to the frustration, I told myself that I could make the most of it since it might actually make the indoor miles go by much quicker. Any in fact, the first 30 minutes and 3 miles did seem to go by pretty quickly. I jumped off the treadmill, did a quick set of pushups and then jumped right back on.
I set the program again and started running but I was determined to find a manual setting. The more I thought about it, the less sense it made. What kind of treadmill wouldn’t have a manual setting? This is insane. I graduated from college. I cannot let a treadmill defeat me.
And then I found, buried three deep under some category that didn’t make any sense. Satisfied that I hadn’t been beaten by a piece of machinery, I settled in for the next hour or 6 miles of running; eager to just while away the time and get the run over with.
I listened to some podcasts – Smodcast and two episodes of This American Life and just bopped along.
About halfway through that second hour, another hotel guest decided to gym me in the gym. He turned on the TV, warmed up and hit the universal gym weight machine.
And then a second guy came in to the gym. I had seen this gym peek in to the gym about a half hour early and this time he decided to stay. He climbed on the recumbent bike next to me, peddled very slow and kept throwing glances in my direction.
Ten minutes later, two more people show up. This gym consists of one treadmill, one bike, one elliptical and a universal gym weight machine so it is officially over-crowded at this point. The bike guy’s glances are getting more and more impatient.
I stop the treadmill a little less than a half mile short of the 9 planned miles and gave up on the run. I was a little bummed that I couldn’t finish out the run in relative piece and quiet but I have to respect that I had hogged the machine for most of the morning.
Oh well. At least I was able to run while on vacation and I felt great being able to start my day better than I had thought I would be able to start it. I was ready to face a day on the bunny slopes!
However, winter once again got in the way of my plans.
Pulling in to the parking lot of the hotel, I started to have apprehensions about the likelihood of my run taking place as planned because the hotel was on a busy highway with no sidewalk and very little shoulder due to the piles of snow that had accumulated because of plowing. After settling in, we walked across the street to get a snack and the ground was a solid sheet of ice in most places. I resigned myself to a no-go run, decided to sleep in and started making plans to run after we got home on Sunday.
The next morning, to my surprise I woke up with plenty of time to get in a run (without the alarm) and after laying in bed for a few minutes I realized I had no excuse not to get up and check out the hotel’s gym.
By 6:30 I was on the hotel’s only treadmill, trying to figure out how it worked. There was no manual button, only buttons for pre-programmed workouts most of them with significant inclines and speeds up to a fast walk, and none of them longer than 30 minutes. After a few frustrating minutes, I just started one of the programs, upped the speed and decreased the incline EVERY TWO MINUTES as it would try to force me through the programmed settings.
Rather than give in to the frustration, I told myself that I could make the most of it since it might actually make the indoor miles go by much quicker. Any in fact, the first 30 minutes and 3 miles did seem to go by pretty quickly. I jumped off the treadmill, did a quick set of pushups and then jumped right back on.
I set the program again and started running but I was determined to find a manual setting. The more I thought about it, the less sense it made. What kind of treadmill wouldn’t have a manual setting? This is insane. I graduated from college. I cannot let a treadmill defeat me.
And then I found, buried three deep under some category that didn’t make any sense. Satisfied that I hadn’t been beaten by a piece of machinery, I settled in for the next hour or 6 miles of running; eager to just while away the time and get the run over with.
I listened to some podcasts – Smodcast and two episodes of This American Life and just bopped along.
About halfway through that second hour, another hotel guest decided to gym me in the gym. He turned on the TV, warmed up and hit the universal gym weight machine.
And then a second guy came in to the gym. I had seen this gym peek in to the gym about a half hour early and this time he decided to stay. He climbed on the recumbent bike next to me, peddled very slow and kept throwing glances in my direction.
Ten minutes later, two more people show up. This gym consists of one treadmill, one bike, one elliptical and a universal gym weight machine so it is officially over-crowded at this point. The bike guy’s glances are getting more and more impatient.
I stop the treadmill a little less than a half mile short of the 9 planned miles and gave up on the run. I was a little bummed that I couldn’t finish out the run in relative piece and quiet but I have to respect that I had hogged the machine for most of the morning.
Oh well. At least I was able to run while on vacation and I felt great being able to start my day better than I had thought I would be able to start it. I was ready to face a day on the bunny slopes!
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