Marathon Training Week 15

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Date

Scheduled Run

Actual Workout
Sunday, 10/22/11 4 miles 4 miles
Monday, 10/23/11 6 miles 4 miles
Tuesday, 10/24/11 Rest day 3 miles
Wednesday, 10/25/11 5 miles 5.5 miles
Thursday, 10/26/11 Strength training 3.5 mile interval run and upper body strength training
Friday, 10/27/11 Rest day Rest day
Saturday, 10/28/11 12 miles 15 miles

At the beginning of the week I was really struggling with my runs. I ran a sluggish 4 miles on Sunday. Monday morning was worse. I had a scheduled six mile run but from the second my feet hit the ground I wanted to quit. I felt off. I pushed on for 4 miles but then I made a decision to end the run. I wasn’t giving it my all. I was practically walking at the end. I knew that the next day was a planned rest day but I could sneak a run in if I wanted to.

I set out for a run on Tuesday after my husband got home from work. I contemplated going to Zumba, but the weather was nice. It was a perfect cool, crisp fall day. I wanted to feel the leaves crunch under my feet. I ran a 3 mile loop around where I live and just like that I felt things begin to click back into place. My pace was quicker, my breathing better, and I was moving comfortably on my feet. That unplanned short run seemed to reignite the running fire. Wednesday’s run went well. On Thursday I felt ready for a speed workout on the treadmill having been inspired by Biz’s 6 minute mile. She rocks a 6 minute mile pace for one minute. Incredible! It is amazing what our bodies are capable of when we push out of our comfort zone a little bit. I didn’t get up to 10 mph but I did get up to 9 mph for 20 seconds twice! I ended up running a total of 3.5 miles and then did some upper body strength training at the gym. Friday I rested in preparation for my long run on Saturday.

I knew that I had to get the long run done on Saturday because of the predicted snow. I stopped home quickly after work on Saturday morning and changed into my running clothes. I had a 12 mile run planned. I am so bored with running locations right now. I ran out the front door and let my legs guide me. I was in the zone. I felt like Forrest Gump! I ran and ran until I reached my favorite reservoir in the next town. Turns out it’s really only about 6.5 miles away. I ran one 3.5 mile loop around the reservoir and then back home a different way. My 12 mile run turned into 15 and for the first time since I began marathon training I was sure I could have run a marathon. I really wanted to complete 17 miles. I could have done it, but my son’s soccer jamboree was set to begin in an hour and I had to get ready. I experienced the glow of my runner’s high all day long. Seriously I wanted to tell everyone I came in contact with, “Hi my name is Aimee and I ran 15 miles this morning!” I mean come on who am I? I am the girl who “can’t” run, right? Not any more. I may not be super fast or have long slender legs, but I am proof that anyone can run.

I started this blog to document my marathon training so I could look back at the journey. Although I hoped people would pop by and give it a read I didn’t count on the support I have received through the comments left here. I am truly grateful. I read all the comments and try to respond back. I also visit the blogs of everyone who comments and I have discovered some wonderful, inspiring new blogs. Thank you so much for reading.

Winter?

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Winter decided to make an early appearance over the weekend as a fierce Noreaster whipped through Massachusetts taking down trees, branches, power lines, cable wires and utility poles leaving hundreds of thousands without power or heat. My son and I escaped to my sister’s house in the eastern part of the state which didn’t get hit nearly as hard. My wonderful husband stayed home to tend to the disaster that was our yard. He also helped out at my mom’s house. Fortunately we have a wood stove so my husband was toasty warm at night.

Our power came back Monday night. The worst of it for us was the damage in the yard, a refrigerator and freezer full of food that had to be thrown away, and flooding in our basement. We are very lucky considering how much damage and destruction there is in our area.

Of little importance is the fact that we do not have cable or Internet. My iPhone service has been questionable as well. As soon as things improve I will be back with posts.

I hope everyone is safe and warm. See you soon.

Weigh in day: Week 2

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My first weigh in was Thursday, October 13. I weighed 160.4. I planned to weigh in the following week on Saturday because of my work schedule. I really hate to weigh myself right after work. My schedule alternates every other week. However, I decided to weigh myself earlier than planned on the following Thursday morning after work instead to try to keep it consistent and I was up about 1.2 pounds. I fretted about it all day. I didn’t want to blog about it. I was frustrated and angry with myself partly because of the weight gain and partly because of my relationship with the scale.

See, the scale and I broke up about a year and a half ago. I had really had it with the scale by May 2010. No matter what I did the numbers didn’t go down. Sometimes they seemed stuck at the same weight and other times it seemed as if the numbers only went in one direction – UP! Around the time I began training for my first half marathon I put the scale away and didn’t take it out again until a couple of months ago.

My body has changed considerably over the past 18 months, but oddly my weight is only about eight pounds less. People I haven’t seen in a while compliment me on my weight loss. I dropped a clothing size and on a good day I could easily fit into a size lower than the one I’m in now. Most importantly I feel a lot better about my body.

The scale and I play games, ok ok I play games with the scale. When I used to go to Weight Watchers I would weigh myself every other day to monitor my weight. I often got lax about my diet in the first few days after weigh in and then would practically starve before the next weigh in. Really? I know better than this. It’s no wonder I never reached my goal weight.

While I was “on a break” with the scale I changed up my diet to incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and less processed foods. I no longer eat meat and cut way back on dairy. I also made exercise a regular part of my life whether training for a race or not. I added 1-3 days of strength training. I wasn’t on a diet, but my body responded very positively to the changes I had made.

I don’t want to go back to fighting with the scale. I don’t want that kind of a relationship again. However, I know that I am ready to take off 11 pounds by the holidays to put me in the 140s. The only way to know if I’ve achieved my goal is to weigh myself periodically. So rather than weigh in every week. I’m going to weigh in faithfully every other Thursday. I promise I will not sneak a peek.

I have the tools to lose this weight. I know exactly how to lose weight. If the weight isn’t coming off it’s because I’m doing something wrong. No more excuses dammit. It’s time to stop talking and start doing.

Yesterday morning was weigh in day. Annnndddd the results are…

Weigh in #2 = 160.2

No pity party here. A loss is a loss. I’m going to own it. I lost .2 lbs yahooooo!!! This is the beginning of a new relationship with my scale. If I want to see those numbers move in the right direction then I need to do the work.

Goals for the next two weeks:

  • journal my food (I suck at this, not going to lie) – every article I read cites journaling as an important criteria for successful weight loss. It is one of the main tools in Weight Watchers. I know that it works. I just can’t seem to be consistent with it.
  • stay hydrated with water and decaf tea
  • monitor portion size, weigh portions if necessary to remind myself of a real portion size – I have been getting a little heavy handed lately
  • lay off the peanut butter! – if you think my relationship with the scale is dysfunctional you should see me around a jar of peanut butter. We have no business being in the same room together most days. I think we need to “take a break!”

Next weigh in will be Thursday, November 10.

Chasing

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After my running hiatus thanks to the broken rib I am back on the road to the Disney Marathon. I am not sure what happened during those weeks off, but running is no longer the same. Prior to the accident I felt great on most of my runs. I could easily run a 5K in under 30 minutes. I regularly ran 4-5 miles without even a brief walking break. My pace was steadily improving. I longed to be out on the trail running.

Now I feel as though I am starting at the beginning. I feel like I’m moving slower than ever. I take walking breaks within the first three miles as it takes me a little longer to get my breathing under control.  The worse part about this is that I think about quitting long before my intended mileage is complete.

It has been really frustrating. I need to figure this out soon because I have a marathon to run. Then I saw this quote on Twitter the other day and it really hit the nail on the head for me.

“If fitness is your goal, not a marathon PR, you don’t need radical training programs. Let running/fitness chase you, not you chasing it.” Hal Higdon

I was never planning on winning the marathon. I registered for it to set a goal for myself, to increase my level of physical fitness and to set an example for my son that you can do anything you set your mind to and that physical activity is integral to overall good health. Why then have I been spending so much time wallowing about my running time? Why have I been chasing the running?

So what I’m slower and taking walking breaks. Big deal, I’m still running. My rhythm is off and my breathing a bit uncomfortable…and? I just took three weeks off because of a broken rib. What did I expect upon my return to running, that I would lace up my running shoes, bolt out the door and set a PR? I am different. I’m a little more cautious and more focused on how my body feels while I’m running.

I’m genuinely happy to be running again. I know from my past experience I will continue to improve again. I am firming up my training schedule to reflect the changes that have occurred both mentally and physically. When it comes right down to it, running is a mental sport. I really believe it is more mental than physical. Normally I can tune out the negative messages telling me to quit or shorten a run. They are louder right now because my body isn’t as physically comfortable with the run. I think it’s time for a new music playlist with some new tunes to distract my thoughts and keep my legs going.

Running has taught me so many things about myself. This is yet another set of lessons.

  • Listen to your body
  • You can go further than you ever thought possible
  • A bad run yesterday does not make for a bad run today
  • The human body is truly amazing
  • Even a bad run makes me feel better than if I hadn’t gone for a run
I refuse to quit this journey. Well at least not until January 8, 2012 when I finally cross that finish line and I will cross the finish line!

Marathon Training Week 14

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What a week! I feel the need to interject here that I am not a marathon coach, I have never run a marathon before and I am not in any way suggesting that anyone follow my plan. My marathon training plan is based on Hal Higdon’s Novice 2 Marathon Training Guide. However, the schedule that I set for myself has been in a state of disarray since I broke my rib. I am in the process of getting it back in order. So please bear with me. Week 14 was both a mess and a small success.

Date

Scheduled Run

Actual Workout
Sunday, 10/16/11 6 Mile Run 6 Mile Run

 
Monday, 10/17/11 5 Mile Run 30 minutes on the Arc Trainer

upper body strength training including 1st bench press

3.5 mile trail run later in the day

 
Tuesday,  10/18/11 Rest Day Rest Day

 
Wednesday, 10/19/11 7 Mile Run Nothing

 
Thursday, 10/20/11 Strength Training Nothing

 
Friday, 10/21/11 5 Mile Pace Run 15 Mile Run (not a typo)

Long walk later with Carlos

 
Saturday, 10/22/11 15 Mile Run Rest Day

 

Week 14 was all about listening to my body. It started out as planned. I had every intention of following my calendar. I hit the gym Monday morning instead of going for a run while Carlos was at school because he was supposed to have a play date in the afternoon at a friend’s house which would give me enough time to complete the 5 mile run. I did some strength training and was excited about my first bench press experience. I do want to note that I used very light weight. I was more interested in learning the proper form of a bench press. At no time before, during or after was I in any pain or discomfort. I ran comfortably in the afternoon. Unfortunately the play date was cut short at the last minute and I could only do 3.5 miles.

Monday night at work I developed a dry irritating cough. It would not let up no matter how many cups of tea, water, cough drops and hard candies I had throughout my shift. I was grateful that Tuesday was a rest day because although I felt fine by midmorning I began feeling twinges in the injured rib area every time I coughed. Fortunately, for whatever reason, the cough subsided throughout the day. I slept fine with no coughing spells before work. Then, it seemed, as soon as I walked through the hospital doors the cough was back and didn’t let up until the next day. The unit I work on is old, dry and dusty. I also think I had a touch of seasonal allergies. By Wednesday morning I was bracing myself for every cough. My back felt fine unless I coughed with even the slightest force. It felt like shocks going from my right lower back down through my buttocks. I knew before the night was over that I would not run while Carlos was at school. Instead I rested and continued to take it easy for the remainder of Wednesday and Thursday. I resumed taking Ibuprofen. I upped my intake of mineral tea and even drank not so tasty Thera Flu.

By Friday morning I felt like myself again. I wasn’t coughing. My legs felt good. I wanted to run. I didn’t care how far. I just wanted to get back out there and give it a go. I dropped Carlos off at school and drove to the reservoir. I ran six easy, steady miles before taking a break. I had nowhere to go, no plans so I decided to keep going. I completed another four miles before heading back to the car for another break and to make a decision.

I have never run a distance longer than a half marathon. I may have run 13.5 miles before, but I’m not entirely sure. The point is at this time in my marathon training I was supposed to run 15 miles. Psychologically I have needed to push past the 13.1 mile marker for a while now. On this Friday morning the running goddesses were aligned. My breathing was steady and unlabored. My legs were feeling good. I had time (just barely but I could do it). My stomach was calm. The weather was absolutely perfect for running. All of my gear was charged and operating properly. Seriously there was no reason at that moment not to go for 15.

I did it! I ran 15 miles. It was slow and took me much longer than I would have liked. The last 3.5 miles were not fun and I took a few walk breaks. I finished it though with only seconds to spare before I had to get back to the school for Carlos. I am so glad that he’s only 4 years old and isn’t embarrassed yet by his drenched in sweat, red faced mother who looks like she just stumbled out of the desert in search of a glass of water. I was a sight for sure.

I know I was all over the place with my training this week, thus the mess. On the flip side I have finally broken through the half marathon mileage and that was a huge success for me both physically and mentally. I am really looking forward to getting back on track in the upcoming week.

Five Friday Fun Facts – 10/21

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1. I love to read but sometimes I get a little ahead of myself. I have three library books on my nightstand. Want to know what they are?

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin by Kathy Griffin

I would like to finish them all by the end of November so I can dedicate the month of December to reading books about running, specifically marathon running. I’m pretty sure I will need a little inspiration and motivation at that point.

What are you reading?

2. The Disney Marathon is 75 days away. The website says, “the marathon course runs through all four Walt Disney World® Theme Parks starting at Epcot®, continuing on to the Magic Kingdom® Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ and then back to Epcot® for an exhilarating collapse finish.” Can’t wait!

3. Did you know that you should replace your running shoes every 300-500 miles. I just got a new pair. I keep the old pair for running in the rain or when it’s muddy or wet out since most of my running is on trails. This is my third pair of the same Nikes. I went to a running store and they fit me for running shoes based on my gait and how I wore out my previous pair of sneakers.

New Running Sneakers

4. I saw this the other day while running at a different reservoir

Snake!

I zoomed in to get a photo so I was quite a distance away. The snake scurried off into the woods.

5. I quit coffee! About a month ago I stopped drinking coffee. I really only drink it at work anyway. So I started bringing tea to work. I feel much less dehydrated after a night at work. I also don’t get a headache when I’m off for a couple of nights because my body is craving coffee.

My favorites at the moment are the mineral tea I bought to aid in bone healing, Holiday Chai and Vanilla Cinnamon teas from Stash. A couple of years ago my sister spent a few weeks in India and brought me a box of Indian Vanilla Green Tea. I loved it so much I contacted the company in India and ordered 4 more boxes. I’m now down to my last box. Too bad I couldn’t visit India myself to replenish my supply.

Benched

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After training for the Hartford ING Half Marathon last October I admit that I felt a little burnt out from running. I had been running nonstop for months and even continued beyond the half marathon to prepare to beat my personal record for two 5Ks. Once the race season ended I stopped running so much. As the weather turned colder I began visiting the gym more frequently. I did cardio on the Arc Trainer or Treadmill, but I also I started incorporating strength training exercises two to three times a week. I stuck to the few machines I knew and I used 5lb and 10lb free weights to do a routine I knew from a while ago. I did sit ups and stretching as well.

My body, once again shifted and changed in ways I had never seen it thanks to the strength training. I felt stronger and not as loose in certain areas. If you know what I mean!

In the spring I ventured into a local yoga studio after years of wanting to try it. I took a beginners yoga class almost every Monday for about 6 weeks. I loved it. It challenged my body in ways that it had never been challenged before. Unfortunately once the little guy finished school I no longer had the open window of time in my schedule to attend class. While my husband would have gladly assumed childcare responsibilities there were no classes when he was home in the evenings. Besides the fact that my evenings are limited due to my work schedule.  Yoga classes are a bit expensive on their own never mind having to pay someone to babysit Carlos. So I stopped going. I miss it though and hope to get back there soon.

I love running. It fit into my busy schedule at a time when nothing else really would. It provided much needed “me” time, time to think, time to not think, time to be alone, time just for myself. Running has taught me to push beyond my limits. It has proven to me that I CAN be athletic and be committed to activity.

However, as I look to the future, post-marathon, I am excited about new challenges, namely weight training and yoga. Running can be hard on the body over time. I don’t think that I will ever quit running but it might be nice to do it a little less. As I strive to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight I know that combining weight training and yoga with the running will be the most effective way for me to reach my goals.

Taking a cue from Marion at Affection for Fitness, I did something yesterday that I probably never would have done. When I finished up on the Arc Trainer I noticed this group I’ve seen many times before doing bench presses. They work out together nearly everyday of the week. I walked over and introduced myself, then boldly asked if they could give me an instruction on the bench press. I may have caught the group off guard at first, but I persisted. One of the guys set up the bench next to theirs and gave me a demonstration. Before I knew it everyone was giving me tips and different members of the group served as spotters as I completed a few reps based on their suggestion.

The group of two men and three women explained they have been strength training together for three years. They focus on different areas of the body each week day. Yesterday was back and chest. They all looked incredible and I was genuinely shocked by some of their ages.

I thanked them for their kindness, wiped down my bench and promptly hit my head on the bar! I could hear the oohs and ouches from behind. I was fine, but I’m sure my face was beet red as I turned and said my good byes. Well at least I gave them a chuckle 🙂

My gym is no frills, no trainers or classes. If I want to learn something then I must seek out the information or instruction. We are all there for the same purpose so I don’t feel funny asking people. The worse thing they can say is no. However, I know for sure that someday down the line when I look like I know what I’m doing and someone comes to me for instruction on how to bench press you better believe I will take the time to show them.

Don’t be afraid to try something new. You never know what you are capable of until you try.