Duh, Duh, Duh

I ran some hills this morning, and I feel pretty darn good about it!  This is the first time I have ever made an effort to "run hills" in any of my training programs.  I just always avoided it.  But now, I can see how they do make a difference!  I noticed it last week, when I was running my two 5 milers, and my 14 miler.  Erin was a source of inspiration for me--thank you!  In one of her blogs, she said she was not going to walk, and kept telling herself to keep moving.  I decided this was what I was going to do, and I did it for these two 5 milers.  I would have done better on the 14 miler, except for the gut cramps.  Phooey.

Anyway, this is what helped me run farther:  telling myself I could not walk, that I was doing ok, and my hill work.  I actually ran up the hill today and forgot what I was doing until I realized I had reached the top.  How do you forget that you're running up a very steep hill?  I guess my body just took over!  It was still tough, but I can feel the difference in my legs, and it gives me a big boost of confidence for the upcoming half-marathon this Sunday.  I feel about as ready as I can be, and with a few more short runs this week, I am concentrating on getting my breathing down to a calm rhythm in the first few miles.  They are always the toughest for me, especially with the adrenalin and fear coursing through my system at the start of a race.

One more thing--another duh moment.  I was watching The Spirit of the Marathon yesterday--watch it if you can.  Groups of people were in training together, and the documentary  showed people running with their bottle belts.  It took me awhile, but I realized the runners with one bottle had the bottle turned so it was ON THEIR BACKS.  Oh, idiot Sue.  I thought my bottle was supposed to rest on my hip!  No, it goes on my back! So, I promptly stood up, strapped on my belt, and ran back and forth in my living room.  And guess what?  The bottle didn't move!  DUH!  Now to just figure out how to gracefully reach around, grab the bottle, and drink while still running.

I'm probably not going to use it this weekend, but I will train with it, and run with it in October for the Des Moines Half-Marathon.  I guess I won't be gifting this to C-Joy after all.  Does anyone have a piece of ocean front property they want to sell me? ! :P

I Am My Own Worst Enemy Part Deux

I got a lecture from Bud this afternoon, when I got home from work and debated not running at all while I ate some cherry cheesecake.  It's sticky and gross out again, and I can't whine enough about being tired of running in this weather!  I just didn't want to run at all.   Especially as it was already almost 5 o'clock.

So Bud said, "Get out there and run up that hill three times and just get done with it!"  I didn't really have a choice:  continue to eat my cheesecake, not run, and have to confess to Bud, or put down the cheesecake, put on my running gear, and run for 30 minutes with a tummy full of cheesecake?  Oh, the guilt.

I went out and ran.  Kinda.  I walked halfway up the first nasty hill, since I was not warmed up, and trotted up the rest of it, and turned the corner to continue up the incline.  Then it was down the hill, and up another one.  I turned around, and trotted down that hill, then stared up at the super big hill I had to get through.  Trot, trot, trot.  Wipe face off with shirt.  Trot, exhale heavily, squeeze sweat out of the back of my hair, and get up that damn hill!  

I turned the corner, then ran down the earlier hill, grabbed some water, then started up the hill again.  This time I just turned around and trotted back down, then ran up again.  Trotted down again.  Get the picture?  Yep, it was as fun as reading about it!  I didn't run my 5 miles of hills; I think it was more like 3.  

I'm a bit freaked out about the half marathon in two weeks.  I guess the nervousness is good.  The one race I wasn't nervous for I totally tanked and took forever to finish.  Bud and I are going to drive the route, so I can have nightmares about getting lost and being waaaay in the back of the pack.  Ever try those mind games to get you in the zone?  Oh, I have.  I think I have to try a little harder.  It will help to have some familiar faces near the end, so I will have to run  harder and finish with a smile on my face.

This week:  a 13 miler, some speed work, and some short runs.  Hoping to get the long run over with early in the week. 

 

 

 

 

First Speed Work Run Recap

Yesterday was my first official "speed work" run of 4 miles.  What speed work entails is this:  you run at your regular pace, then pick it up and run much faster for a short time or distance, then slow down again to your normal pace, then do it again.  My goal was to do it twice per mile.

I started out later than usual, so it was warm outside, although the humidity was waaaay better than Saturday.  Can I just say that speed work is really hard?!  I started out running slowly, then picked up the pace for about 1/10th of a mile, running from one post to the next as fast as I could without hacking up a lung and passing out.  I had to stop and walk afterwards, until I could start slowly running again.  I had never really tried speed work before in a concentrated effort, and I can say it wiped me out!

Now this morning, I can definitely feel it in my legs.  They feel pretty wobbly and slightly sore.  Speed work is only supposed to be done once a week, and my training program alternates it with hill work every week.  After talking with my fellow co-worker, M, who is also training for the same half marathon (his first!), he explained why you should only do it once a week.  It's killer on your legs!  Hill work is also speed work in disguise, so that's why it alternates with regular speed work.  You run up a hill as fast as you can, then either trot or walk down, then do it again.  It makes the "fast twitch" muscles in your legs break down, so when your body rebuilds them, they are stronger.  This helps you run longer and faster eventually.

Today is my one day off from my training program.  Tomorrow morning, it's an early morning for my 8 mile run.  I have to mix up my training each week, since my job is not a regular 9-5 M-F work week.  I will not want to run 8 miles after work later this week, so it must be done tomorrow!  For now, it's mowing the yard, finishing a book, then going to work this afternoon.