Like the wind

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Yesterday’s not so great run was followed up by today’s speedy run.  I felt like I was on fire.  I ran around that reservoir like I was being chased by an armed bandit!  I did 3.4 miles in 32 minutes which for me is a fantastic time.

Time and running is such a personal thing.  Throughout my half marathon training I didn’t really set time goals.  However, I learned that I could comfortably maintain a 10 minute mile pace almost all of the time.  On shorter runs I often ran a little bit faster.  In the running world this is considered rather slow.  For me it is quite a feat to go from not running at all to being able to run an entire mile in 10 minutes.

By the half marathon I felt comfortable in setting a time goal.  I thought that finishing the half in 2:30 was reasonable and gave me some wiggle room to “take it easy” so to speak.  I wasn’t competing against anyone but myself.  I was extremely proud of myself for finishing in 2:21.

I have learned to love running.  I want to improve at it now.  I want to learn more about how running affects my body.  I also want to see what my body is capable of considering I never believed that it could run.  So I do note my time, most of the time.  Sometimes I just run for the sake of running, no time goal, no distance goal.  Sometimes I abandon a goal mid-run because I’m just not feeling it.

When I start a run like I did yesterday I was excited to monitor my time.  I really felt like I was flying for the entire run.  Everything was in sync.

Another important lesson I learned from half marathon training is that a bad run is not an indication of future runs.  It is an isolated moment and for me it is usually followed by an amazing run.  I learned that one bad run does not equal failure.  One bad run does not mean I should give up.  Sounds simple, but believe me in the past I would have not only quit the bad run I would have probably quit all together.

I’m so glad that I haven’t quit running.  It has become a part of my life.  I crave it when I can’t do it.  It fits into my schedule.  It gives me just enough

A tired run

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I arranged for my mother to look after Carlos while I snuck in a run this morning.  Having worked the last two nights I was not feeling as spunky as I was on Sunday when I ran six incredible miles.  I wanted to ditch the run just a little bit, but the sun was shining and the temperature was mild so I went to my favorite spot.

Ashley Reservoir

This is a local reservoir.  It has a 3.5 mile loop around the water.  It is quite peaceful and beautiful all year round.

I set out with my music booming.  It was a slow start.  I felt a little sluggish, but the fresh air and sun made me want to continue.  I finally found my groove about half way through.  I made it back to the car in about 37 minutes.  I was so glad that I ran.  As many of my favorite bloggers remind me, “you will never regret a run.”

Since When

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We had a little overnight guest at our house this weekend much to the joy of my three year old.  I never realized how much work went into a sleepover for two relatively tiny people.  However, when my mother called about 2 hours into the sleepover I graciously thanked her for putting up with all of my and my sister’s friends on countless sleepover throughout our youth.  I wasn’t sure if I would make it through the night!

Our 5 year old guest was clearly thrown into a wild culture shock when we informed him that there was absolutely no Wii present in our home.  I showed the kids out the door to where my husband was raking a giant pile of leaves for them to jump in.  Our guest informed me within 13 minutes of his arrival that he was bored and didn’t want to be outside.

Since when do kids not like the outdoors?  We were outside from morning until dark when I was a kid often times eating our lunch outside too.

They played on the front porch for a bit before our guest declared that he was tired.  Tired? It was only 4:30 in the afternoon.  Had he worked that morning?  Since when do children utter the words, “I’m tired.”  My little guy would never ever admit to such a thing.  Even when his eyelids are nearly closed and we ask, “Are you tired?”  The eyelids fly open and he usually responds with a resounding, “NO!”

At last we got the kids to play outside for a bit before dinner.  Dinner, bath, one show and up to bed.  I read two stories before I shut the lights at about 8:15 which is way past my little guy’s usual bed time of 7pm.  Our guest announced that he was not tired and would not be going to sleep yet.  Ummm excuse me?  His mother had informed me that 10pm is not an uncommon bedtime on the weekends.  Since when do children stay up until 10pm.  It was Dance Fever and Solid Gold then to bed at 8pm on a Saturday night.  There was no Love Boat for me back then.

The kids slept just fine once they finally fell asleep.  They were up at the butt crack of dawn thanks to daylight savings.  When I asked what our guest wanted for breakfast I got, “I don’t eat breakfast.”  What?  Since when do kids not want to eat breakfast or any other meal of the day?  I made him waffles anyway and set down a big bowl of grapes.  He demolished the waffles and I do believe I saw a few grapes go into his mouth.

My husband graciously accompanied me with the boys to the college so I could go for a run.  He let the boys do their own running.  Turns out our little guest had a great time.  I did too.  I set a loose goal of six miles with the option to do less.  It was a gorgeous fall day.  The air was cool and crisp.  I set out and finished the first three miles in just about 29 minutes.  I stopped for a water break and decided to hit the trail for another three.  I finished the next three in about 29 minutes as well, a great time for me.  I felt great, like I could do another three.  Since when did six miles become almost easy?

Rain to Shine

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I don’t like rainy days.  I don’t mind snow.  Love the sun.  I even like a dry, gray day.  We have had rain for two days straight.  I miss running outside.  But I took my workout to the gym again.  I did some speed work with intervals on the treadmill and took a spin on the elliptical.  I also did some weights.  It was a good workout.

The afternoon was spent at my BFFs house so our little guys could play together.  So nice to sit and chat with my friend while our kids play like we used to when we were little.  We’ve known each other forever, literally.  She mentioned a 5K that is taking place next Sunday in her town.  By the end of the day my husband and I, and my friend and her husband were all registered.  I am so excited that my good friends and family are getting excited about races and running.  I certainly didn’t force it on anyone so it’s even better that they are doing it on their own.

I’m really looking forward to the race next week.  I was hoping to PR at a 5K in December, but I might just give it a whirl next weekend.  We’ll see what the weather does and how I’m feeling considering I am working the night before.  However, I have been feeling strong on my runs lately and I have been running just under a 10 minute mile.  I would still have to push harder than normal especially in that last mile, but I think I can do it.  The only person I ever race against is myself!

In the afternoon the sun did shine.  It made for a lovely ride home with the little guy conked out in his car seat.  I didn’t make a dent in my “to do” list but it was a wonderful day.

Colors of Fall

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It is an absolutely gorgeous fall day.  A little cold, but the sun is shining.  My day started with a very brisk run at the reservoir.  I ran 3.5 miles after bringing Carlos to school.  After school Carlos and I enjoyed a bike ride (for him)/walk around the college pond in town.  Here are some of the highlights:

The last of the foliage around the pond
A new friend
Gorgeous Fall
Me and my favorite little guy

 

It felt great to be outside all morning.  Now it is nap time!

I should mention that I am using photos from my one and only point and shoot camera.  I haven’t ventured into the SLR camera experience yet but my husband is dying to get one.  I am holding us back simply because I’m not sure that I have the time to commit to learning the camera right now. It’s only a matter of time though.

Bear With Me

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I have thought about starting a blog for some time. I love reading healthy living blogs. It is such a great forum for sharing recipes, product information, exercise tips and more. I find that most of the bloggers are positive and enthusiastic about blogging and life in general.

I am not sure what direction I am going with this blog. So far I have only written a few posts and mostly about running my first half marathon. It may take me a little while to find my groove with this. I love the idea of simply sharing my experiences as a busy woman who wears many hats during the course of the day.

I will get around to an about me tab, but for now what you should know is that I am truly intent on living a happy, healthy life. I am constantly learning. I do not hesitate to try new things. I never back down from a challenge.

If someone should find my new little blog…welcome and thank you for visiting. Please say hello and more importantly please come back because I will get the hang of this!

Temptation

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Uggghhhh I hate having so much candy in the house. Since we weren’t going to be home I didn’t bother buying candy to hand out to trick or treaters. However, my 3 year old racked up a huge bag of chocolate and sugar laden loot. Luckily he is only 3 and can’t quite remember what was in his bag or how much. So this morning after hitting up the gym for my first official speed training workout, I returned home to deal with the candy.

First I dumped it all on the table. Then I divided it into two piles, chocolate and non-chocolate. I threw all of the non-chocolate candy and a select few of the chocolate candy into a bowl and placed it up high on a shelf in the pantry. Then I put the rest of the candy in a bag with the intention of taking it to work tonight. The non-chocolate candy isn’t really all that tempting to me so it is much safer in the house than the chocolate candy.

When my son came home from school we talked about the candy rules. Candy is a treat, no candy until after lunch, one piece a day, no getting the ladder out of the basement, yadda yadda.

My son is just about the pickiest eater in the world. Now my mother would tell you that he takes after me as a kid, and he does but a thousand times worse. In a nutshell he eats chicken nuggets (the frozen kind), noodles with butter and parmesan cheese, hard boiled egg whites, peanut butter and jelly, apples with no skin…you get the point right. Ridiculous!

The child would live on popcorn and juice if I allowed it. I don’t but some days it would be easier, like tonight for instance. I served him noodles with butter and cheese because I just happened to have some left over. I also cut up one green bean, one tiny piece of roast sweet potato and one piece of roasted pear. He squirmed and avoided the plate at all costs. I told him to just eat one piece of everything. He ate the pear first in two bites. Mmmmm he said in an uncomfortable and unconvincing manner. Next was the sweet potato which he chewed rapidly, gagged and then proceeded to (TMI alert) throw up his dinner all over the table. You would think that I was trying to make him eat dog poop. He has since been bathed, dressed and tucked cozily into bed.

If he is anything like me then I take comfort in knowing that at some point in his mid-20s he will start discovering how amazing vegetables and begin trying new things. In the meantime I am stuck with the only 3 year old I know who doesn’t like pizza or cereal. What?!

What’s Next

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As the half marathon got closer I was a little worried that I would complete it and then return to my old ways of eating and intermittently exercising. So a couple of weeks before the half I began thinking what I would like to do next.  Since winter is coming I decided to register for the Northampton Hot Chocolate 5K.  I heard about it last year and it sounds like a lot of fun besides being in one of my favorite towns.  Since it is only a short race I have decided to focus on improving my 5K finish time.  My goal is to finish in 30 minutes or less.  So far my best time for a 5K was 31:09 and that was my first 5K race. I finished my second 5K in 32:07.  I was disappointed by this race.  I felt like I should have done better.

The two races were more than six months apart.  I thought I had improved. The first 5K was run on a cold rainy day on a flat course.  The second was run on a 95 degree summer day on a slightly hilly course with no water stations at all.  I worked the night before and stood in the heat waiting to start as they pushed back the starting time by almost 30 minutes.  I learned a lot from both experiences and I am hoping to use what I have learned while I prepare for my next endeavor.

The rest of October has flown by in the blink of an eye and included a 4 day trip with my little guy last week to visit my Dad in Florida.  I have maintained a long run once a week since the half marathon.  I plan to start with the speed training tomorrow.

Since I still have my sights on future half marathons I will also continue to adhere to my once a week long run which usually falls on Saturday or Sunday.  I hope to include at least one double digit run per month.  Today I completed a 10 mile run.  It was not one of my best as I worked overnight and didn’t get great rest or nutrition yesterday due to a full schedule of Halloween parties for the little guy.  I felt great for the first 6.5 miles and then my legs got really achy. I stopped for a walk and stretch.  It did help some and I was able to complete the run in about 2 hours.

This is a tentative schedule of races that I am hoping to do over the next year:

–  Northampton Hot Chocolate 5K on December 5, 2010

–  Memorial Day Half Marathon or 10K in the Berkshires on May 29, 2011

–  If I don’t do the Half in the Berkshires then I will likely do the Lake Placid Half Marathon on June 12, 2011.

–  The Providence, RI Rock and Roll Half Marathon on August 7, 2011

I said that I would never run a marathon.  Well never say never.  I shall eat my words in January 2012 when I make my way to Orlando, FL to run the Disney Marathon!!!

 

Training Plan

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I began training for the half marathon back in May.  I bought myself a Nike + and used it to track my mileage.  I set up a training schedule based on Hal Higdon’s intermediate half marathon training plan.  At first I was a little worried that it might be too demanding, but I knew that I needed to challenge myself.  I adjusted the days to fit my schedule. So armed with my Nike +, a solid training schedule, a supportive husband and son I set out on a mission to accomplish a goal.

Prior to this I had run one 5K.  I ran 1-3 times per week for exercise.  I never enjoyed running before partly because I never believed that I could run. I have been “heavy” for as long as I can remember.  My body is shaped like a pear.  I carry all of my weight below the belt, so to speak.  I have always been active and worked out intermittently for years.  I started running a couple of years ago because with an infant and a full time job I needed a form of exercise that required little preparation and could be done anywhere.  So enter running.  I hated it at first and could not go very far. After about a year and a half of running I finally entered a 5K in November 2009.  I ran alongside my very fit and fabulous sister.  She pushed me a little bit but I definitely ran at a pace that felt good.  We ran that race in the rain and cold, but I couldn’t have felt warmer with all the supporters along the way.  I crossed the finish line and something changed inside of me.  I wanted to race again.  Now I knew that I could.

I ran at least 2 times a week outside throughout the winter.  I loved running in the cold crisp air sometimes freshly fallen snow coated everything along the way.  It was invigorating.  I was anxiously awaiting spring.  I wasn’t sure when I would race again, but I knew that I wanted to.

I am inspired by my cousin who began running about 4 years ago and has since competed in many races including marathons, halfs and 5Ks.  She is now a coach for Team in Training in South Florida.  She does it because she loves it and she exudes that enthusiasm whenever I see her.  I am also inspired daily by a number of bloggers who write about not only their training and races but also the fun and creative recipes they make, and hints and tips to lead a healthier life.  I feel healthier and make better choices as a result.

So in June 2010 I registered for the Hartford ING Half Marathon.  I had already started training but I held off from registering because I wanted to make sure that I could commit to a proper training plan.  I started craving the runs.  I looked forward to spending quality time alone running at local reservoirs, bike trails or at nearby college campuses.  We had a gorgeous summer here in Massachusetts, albeit a hot one.

As part of my training I also participated in a 5K in July and a 10K in August. It was great practice.  I used the opportunities to really learn what works for me.  The 5K in July was horrible.  It was a brand new race and a bit unorganized.  We were forced to wait an extra 20 minutes in the heat before the race began.  I got too excited at the start and couldn’t catch my breath.  It was about 95 degrees out and there were no water stations.  I hadn’t yet considered how I would run longer distances and maintain proper hydration.  Since I hate running with anything in my hands I purchased a camel back before the 10K.  I also made sure to learn where the hydration stations would be during the next race.

The 10K was exciting.  It was in a beautiful town. It was a big, established race with lots of supporters along the way.  Mile 2 was all up an enormous hill or small mountain as I like to call it.  Once I made it up the next mile or so was all down hill and the rest of the race went smoothly.  I had a smile on my face the entire time.  I saw my husband and son near the finish line.  I grabbed my son’s hand and he ran over the finish line with me.  I knew at that moment that I would indeed complete the half marathon two months later.

For my own peace of mind I needed to complete a 13 mile training run before the actual half marathon.  It wasn’t called for in my training plan, but I added it in.  For my long runs I increased my mileage one mile at a time each week until I reached 13 miles since I had ample time.

The training was such an integral part of the entire process of running the half marathon.  I learned a lot about myself and my capabilities.

 

Runner’s High

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I completed my very first Half Marathon on Saturday, October 9, 2010.  I ran the Hartford ING Half Marathon.  I have been on such a high since I crossed the finish line. I know that right now would be a good place for some background information as this is also my first blog post, but I am going to save that for a bit.

It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life.  I was joined by my husband and son to the starting line.

My shy little guy with me at the starting line

My super supportive husband with me

The starting line was a bit chaotic with the marathoners and half marathoners starting all together.  It was exciting to be surrounded by so many runners and supporters along the course.  I could hear a whisper of the national anthem being sung from where I was standing in the back of the crowd.  Then the gun sounded and we were off, sort of.  I walked almost all the way to the actual starting line before I was able to begin moving at a slow jog.  We all moved through the street together for about a half mile before the course split and marathoners went one way and we went the other.

I felt great.  My breathing was steady.  My legs felt strong.  The weather was stellar, sunny, cool with a light breeze…a perfect fall day.  I was smiling.

I didn’t see a mile marker but I was glad.  I didn’t want to know where I was. I just wanted to run and enjoy every moment.  I watched everyone around me.  I reveled at the people encouraging us along the way.  I paused my music when I ran by the entertainment provided along the course.  The DJ at the 3.5 mile mark announced our position.  That was the first moment that I had any idea of my mileage.  I didn’t pay attention to mile markers again until I came upon the large arch announcing the half way point.  I let out an exclamatory shriek and did a dorky fist pump at that moment.  But seriously I felt fantastic.

This was turning out to be one of the best runs I have ever had.  The course wound through lovely Elizabeth Park.  Just before we entered I caught a glimpse of my time at the 8 mile mark.  I was at 1:28.  I did some rudimentary mental math and figured out that I was making decent time (for me).  I went into the race with the goal of finishing by 2:30.  I knew that it was easily attainable if I stayed at a comfortable pace.

Mile 10 had a time clock too.  I was at 1:50.  I couldn’t believe that I only had three miles left.  I also couldn’t believe how wonderful I felt.  The playlist on my iPod pumped out energizing music.  The shouting supporters made me smile.  I gave high fives to children who had their hands out along the way. Why doesn’t everyone do this?  I was having the time of my life.

Then mile 11 presented us with a small challenge, a steady uphill climb.  I trained on hills.  I could do this I thought.  I took it slow and kept my pace steady.  My feet were starting to feel slightly uncomfortable, but nothing major.  I focused on my breathing and I pushed on.  Then I saw the mile 12 marker and we started running downhill.  I took advantage of the decline and picked up my pace.  I could hear the rouse of the crowd getting louder.  Then I saw them all, people shouting, waving banners, signs, blowing whistles…all of them there to cheer a loved one as they crossed the finish line.  I scanned the crowd for my guys but it was madness.  I then looked up at the time clock 2:21.  I could feel tears well up in my eyes.  I threw my hands up in the air as I crossed the finish line. (just a funny aside, the crowd was going wild at this point because as I crossed the finish line so did the first marathoner.  Truly amazing that someone ran twice as much as I did in the same time.)

I think I could have kept going.  I felt amazing (does that cover every adjective to describe how I was feeling).  Throughout the race I realized that I had completed an excellent training.  I was well prepared.  Despite this I was still in some disbelief.  I just ran a half marathon – ME!