catherine's running efforts

I though I'd get back to the gym again later in the day, but I didn't. I should have just gotten it done the first time I was there. 

I'm going on a little work trip to Colorado today, so I don't have to go to my office until Friday! Best week ever. I celebrated not having to ride the bus by running with Melody and her friends. They're all very lean. It was faster than I run when I'm by myself, but it went by really quickly. And it was fun. I'm glad they let me tag along. 6 miles, 7:50ish pace.

Then I went to the gym and enjoyed some treadmill time with Casino Royale. 4.5 miles (it was only supposed to be 4, but I had to find out if he saved the plane), 8:49 pace. Also did fake pullups/dips and tummy stuff. As I was driving home I saw Eric finishing his run, so I gave him a ride.

Remember how yesterday I said this was the best week ever? Really I'd trade the early bus ride and obnoxious upstairs neighbors to be home with Eric. Aww...

It was sunny and cool outside today. It was kind of hard to find somewhere to run - I kept coming to freeways. So I ended up running a few laps around some apartments about a mile away. I should have thrown in another lap so I would have gotten 4 miles. Oh well. 

After yesterday's wanderings through apartment complexes, I wanted to find out where Colorado Springs people run. This morning I made it to the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail only about a mile and a half after I was supposed to find it, but it felt really sketchy so I turned around after a couple of minutes. Plus I think I saw a gang member on my way out. So I did most of my out-and-back on some road. Now I'm off to see Garden of the Gods with my coworker before our meetings this afternoon. 9:11 AP. 

I'm so glad to be home! It was the first time Eric and I had been apart since we got married in January and I was kind of a wuss about the separation, so I was really really happy to see him when he picked me up at the airport this morning. Then we had an okay time at the dentist (no cavities, at least), and Eric had planned a nice trail run for us to do this afternoon. But it was raining, so we went to the gym instead. 9:13 pace on the treadmill, then arms and abs. 

We knew this was a race with a lot of fast people where neither of us would come close to winning, so I didn't have the eye of the tiger going into it. I had a vague goal of being under 21 minutes, but I knew that it was a harder course than the one about a month ago where I was just over 21, so I knew that'd be pretty unlikely. 

Mile 1: 6:48:10. This was pretty hard because it started uphill. I immediately wished I had eaten something before the race (I don't usually because I'm afraid of having poop problems). I tried to think about things other than running.

Mile 2: 6:24:24. Easier because it was downhill, but I was still feeling tired. I kept trying to tell myself that it wasn't very hard and that it was going to be over soon, but mostly I was stressing about being able to keep the pace and wondering if I wanted to puke on or eat the blue pancakes the parade-watchers were eating.

Mile 3: 7:28:82. How embarrassing. Yeah, it was a gradual uphill, but there's really no excuse for this. At some point during this mile I had the new experience of feeling like I couldn't get enough air (usually I'm limited by leg/foot soreness or the mental game but not oxygen intake), and I told myself it was okay to slow down (and that I would never do a 5K again). I wish I could have kept it together. There was also some grass running that probably slowed me down for a few seconds. But really I just decided it was too hard and that I didn't want to try anymore (even though in the moment I think I felt like I was trying pretty hard).

Last 0.1: I don't know. I forgot to stop my watch. It was nice to be on the track, though. *Way* better than the stupid grass.

Runnercard time: 21:34.1.

I was kind of bummed for a bit afterward. I'd been used to every race being a new PR, so I wondered if this meant I had stopped getting faster. I'm hoping that really I was just extra tired and it was a harder course than I'm used to.

Later - Started a 6-mile out-and-back on the Provo BST with Eric. Neither of us were feeling great, though, so we cut it short. 3.25.

Day 1 of trying to be at the gym at 5:00. Made it there by 5:30 so only got 2 miles in before I had to go back home. I'll probably go out again after work. 

With Melody's speedy crew again. 7:42 for all, so a bit faster than last time. I'm excited for when that's a fun, easy pace for me. I'm definitely not there yet, but these little jaunts into the land of faster runners have made it seem like a more realistic (though maybe distant) goal. 

Later - went to the gym with Eric to do arms and abs. 

I love my Launches. They're like little bits of heaven for my feet. I love my Kinvaras, too, but they made my calves hurt at the beginning and now I'm still afraid to wear them for more than a few miles at a time. 

Anyway, we tried that BST stretch again today, but I didn't get home in time to do the whole 6 miles before we had to come back for something else. But at least we got farther than last time. Then in between stupid online meetings we went down the street and back so that I could get an even 5.

A month or so ago we had a few nights where the carbon monoxide detector went off at about 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning. We opened the window and it stopped chirping, so since then we've slept with the window open. But last night was a little colder, so we slept with the window closed. Sure enough, a little before 3:00 the alarm went off. We opened the window and called the non-emergency police/fire number, and a little while later 4 or 5 fire/rescue guys were wandering around checking stuff. Everything was fine, so we're going to get a new detector and see what happens. When 5:00 came, I decided I'd do my run in the evening instead. Then when 6:00 came, I decided that really I *did* want to run in the morning, and I'd just drive to work instead of taking the 6:30 bus. And it was a great morning! I even got to drop Eric off at school (so domestic), and leaving at 8:30 meant that I missed most of the commuter traffic. But now I have to leave at 5:30 instead of 3:30, so I guess I'll find out if it was worth it. 

Another great morning spending a little more time at home. We lounged around until about 6:30, then saw the end of Sahara at the Cardio Cinema. It was okay. Two miles slow, with 3 .10 spurts at 6:00. And to finish getting ready for tomorrow, I'm having lunch at Himalayan Kitchen with work people and then dinner at Bajio with Eric. Ask him sometime why we can't go to Cafe Rio. 

I like this race because last year when I ran it Eric drove to all the aid stations to cheer for me. He bonded with Tigger and I realized how much I loved him. 

Anyway,  Eric and his sister Amy and I left Provo at about 7:00 this morning for the comfortable 9:00 start. The weather was perfect and we were looking forward to the race. Amy was a little bit sick, though, and I wasn't feeling like I wanted to push very hard, so I think only Eric was counting on a PR. (But it was his first half-marathon, so really anything would be a PR.)

After the first quarter mile I looked down at my Garmin and saw 6:20, so I tried to slow down. It was neat to be able to see Eric for a bit, though. My first mile was 7:27, but after that I kind of eased up and tried to think of it more as a faster long run. Also it started to be uphill, so my second mile was 8:40. I got passed by who I thought were girls 2 and 3 (really they were 3 and 4) when I stopped to drink the Gatorade at the first aid station in the middle of mile 3 (8:07), but I hung out behind them for the next couple of miles (8:05 and 8:19). Then I got passed by Amy when I stopped at the second aid station, and I spent the next few miles just running what felt comfortable (8:52, 9:12, 9:18 (some small hills), 8:37). A couple of other girls passed me around my stop at the last aid station in mile 10 (8:52), and all the water and the shot blocks I had been eating kind of made my stomach unhappy so I slowed down for mile 11 (9:18). But after a bit I felt better and even relatively rested, so I sped up just a little until the finish (8:23, 8:08, and 8:13 for .10), passing the last two girls who passed me and Amy, who was feeling über sick.

I had my old poop problem for awhile after the race, so I hung out in the bathroom while Eric (who got 2nd) and Amy ate hamburgers. But by the time we were halfway home, everyone was feeling better.

*After viewing results: I was 5/53 woman, 25/114 person. The two women ahead of me were about 3.5 minutes faster. And the awesome girl runner who chicked all but two guys was Morgan Haws.

I wonder how I could have done if I would have tried harder, but I'm happy about my 19-minute improvement over last year.

Last year and this year:

At the gym on the treadmill with Eric. I'd say it was because it was supposed to be raining, but I like the treadmill even when it's nice outside. Weird, I know. 8:49 for all. 

Three easy miles at the gym with Eric after work. Watched part of that Reba show for the first time. I kind of liked it. 

Today was kind of a weird day because I worked from Provo. I never get as much done when I'm not in my office, and by the end of the day I felt frustrated and depressed and like I couldn't possibly do all the things I'm supposed to do. But after we were done at the gym I felt completely better and like everything was going to be okay. I'm so grateful that I can exercise. It really keeps me happy.  

We (mostly just me) wanted to go to a yoga class at 6:45, so I had to run a bunch faster than normal to fit in 4 miles before the class. It made me feel good to remember that I'm not *that* slow. But then the yoga class was a pilates class instead, so Eric decided to skip it and I only stuck around until I remembered that pilates is kind of hard. 

Finally finished that BST run with Eric (and his brother Sean). We finished just before it got too dark. It was easier the third time. 

Eric and I met Allie, Melody, and Michelle this morning to run up and back on the Provo River Trail. I was nervous about the run because I always get nervous about running with people who are a bunch faster than me. But the run was great and the pace was perfect, so I'm really glad I went. The weather was nice and cool and it was a gorgeous time to be up near the mountains. Plus, Eric says that people can get faster if they run with faster people. He said it in a better way than I just typed it, though. 

I was going to go see my beloved treadmill for another 4 miles later to get 30 for the week, but all the rest of the day I've felt super tired (probably a lot because we were kept up by the upstairs neighbors' party last night), so I decided to skip it.  I'll do better next week.

Three easy miles before work. My plan is to do two more after work so I don't get behind on my 30 mile/week plan like I did last week. 

On the way to work I heard a story about this song on the radio. It sounded like she was singing about Kinvaras. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXN-_asIaYs

PM: *So* glad I got the last two miles in. Also I think maybe I should work out more. Now and again I see someone at the gym and I think, "I'd like to look like that." Not skinnier - just muscle-ier (but not scary muscles).

8:34 for everything today.

At the Cardio Cinema for the last part of Catch Me If You Can and the very beginning of The Hulk. It helped clear up some things from last night's 20-or-so minutes. Now I think Eric and I are going to have to Netflix the movie sometime. 8:34 for all, except that on days like today when it feels too easy I'm skeptical about the accuracy of the Cardio Cinema treadmills. They're pretty old, and I think the floor might be sloped in some areas.

PM: Maybe it was irresponsible because midterm grades for the online class I teach are due tomorrow and I'm not even almost done, but I wanted to go to the gym again after work (it helps me get over the work crankiness), so I tried the elliptical for 30 minutes. It was kind of weird. I'm not sure if it will really tone my arms at all.

I had to finish grading this morning, so Eric and I did our runs in the evening. He went outside since it wasn't *that* cold. I went to the Cardio Cinema because I prefer the treadmill. 

Reasons I love the treadmill: Consistent temperature, close access to water, close access to a bathroom (ask Eric where *he* pooped after 3 miles), easy to run at a certain speed, controllable elevation, and probably the only time I get to watch live TV (e.g., not Hulu).

I did *not* like tonight's movie (When A Stranger Calls). I had to avert my eyes several times and keep a hand near the treadmill bar in case I got too scared. I had to look it up when I got home to find out what happened to the babysitter. And I don't care what Wikipedia says - it's a scary movie.

On the treadmill in the hotel fitness center, 8:34 for all. I got to the hotel in Baltimore at about 5:30 local time, so I thought about running outside since it was almost warm, but I decided to do the treadmill instead. I was glad I did; it was pretty dark by the time I finished my five miles, and I was probably going faster than if I had been outside stopping for lights and stuff. 

I miss Eric and Tigger. Eight more days until I get to go home. 

I dilly-dallied around this morning and so only had time for a half mile before my yummy waffle with strawberries came. The rest of the day was pretty good (I saw my advisor, talked to someone famous (to me) about my dissertation, and found some sweet potato fries), but by the time it was time to go finish my miles I just wanted to sit in bed and feel sorry for myself. But then Catch Me As You Can came on, and since I saw the last half at Cardio Cinema on Tuesday, I was able to muster up enough effort to go down to the gym to watch the first part. Plus, my co-worker was walking on the treadmill when I got there, so it was easy to keep going (at least until I hit 4.5) because I didn't want her to out-last me. 8:34 for all. 

Another long day. I met with my advisor and talked about plans for finishing, then I went to a panel session on publishing articles. I worked on my presentation for tomorrow a little, then lunch and another meeting and then YSA interviews. A yummy Five Guys burger for dinner, but then I was so tired that I *really* didn't want to run. Eric convinced me to do just a little, so I ran a mile. Bleh.