Chug-along-chica!

Hooray!  This is my first blog.  So after hosting the Sasha and Sarah and their five adorable  miniature olympic marathoners I got all inspired to run.  I was particularly pleased to learn it is weekly miles and not miles per run that really affect your health. i.e. I can run 2 miles 6 days a week and it is better than if I ran 3 days for 4 miles each. This is good.  I can do a mile in the morning--even if I am sick or sleep deprived, no excuses--and then finish off with a mile in the evening with my 3 boys.  I followed this formula yesterday and today.  I ran 11 minute miles for my runs, then 1/2 a mile with my 6 year old (Sam) and a quarter with Joey (4), and Adam (2).  I wasn't originally going to let my 2 year-old run, but he screamed bloody murder when he discovered that he wasn't getting to do what his brothers did.

I am surprised how well my boys did.  They really enjoyed it.  The key to getting Sam to run is trying to pretend that I can't keep up with him.  They are all falling asleep faster and sleeping a little longer, I think.  Major bonus.

On a personal note, we have been doing family readings together that have been helping our family feel close.  I am happy. 

For a long time I have been trying to figure out a way to enjoy spending time with my kids more.  This feels like a breakthrough.  I never knew little kids could run, too.  I think it is a fabulous legacy to give your children--health, vitality, and good habits.  Happy happy happy.

Morning mile at 11:20.

Ran a good mile with my six year-old (Sam) this evening.  I can't believe how fast he is improving!  I thought he wouldn't be able to run a whole mile yet.  He made me work to keep up.  I wonder if he was going faster than my own run.  One tricky thing is that he runs in bursts.   So he jogs a long for about half the time, and then takes off like he is trying to ditch me the rest of the time.  It's funny.

I'm going to take tomorrow off because I have a 4.2 mile race on Saturday.  Wish me luck!

Lybi

I was really nervous about doing this race.  For one thing, I know that I am not nearly as trained as I could be--I've only been running for about 2 months.  For another thing, I've got baggage about being in a "race" from my high school experience.

A little background. maybe . . .

I started running with the cross country team when I was a freshman in high school. I ran as hard as I could every single practice.  My coach used to say I had a lot of "heart"  (code for "no talent").  I never ever allowed myself to walk or slack off in practice.  During practices, I would outperform many of the lazier, faster runners.  At races, I would also do my very best, and always come up last--like maybe second to last, but very often dead last.  The best time I ever got was on a very weird course where many of my teammates got horrible times--very short, very steep hills, one after another for 3.1 miles. 

I was on the distance team in track. I mostly ran the mile.  One time I ran the 2 mile.  Here comes the trauma.  There were only 8 girls running and I  . . . well, let's just say that I ran that last 2 laps all by myself.  Everyone clapped and some even stood up when I crossed the finish line.  Why?  Pity? Impatience to move on the next event?  Or maybe they could tell that I really was pushing myself, even though I was alone.  I think that was the race when I decided that I just really sucked as a runner, nevertheless, I was still going to do it.  Let's keep the humiliation to a minimum, though--no road races since I graduated 12 years ago.  Today was a big step for me.

Post race analysis:

Goal #1 Complete the distance without stopping to walk:  GOAL MET

Goal #2 Come in under an hour:  GOAL MET

Goal #3 Extra Credit if I could come in under 50 minutes:   HOOOOOORAAAAY!  I did it!

Goal #4 Don't be last:  GOAL MET  Actually, I fared much better than I thought I would.  I was 6,299th out of 9,461.  If you only compare me to women, I was 2,260th out of 4,114.  Yea!  That puts me squarely in the middle.  I could do cartwheels over this, if I wasn't so sore and tired.  Thank goodness for all those out of shape ladies who were really just supporting the Pat Tillman Foundation.  Just think how well I did compared to all the people who sat and watched TV all day, though.  :)

Goal #5  Have fun:  GOAL MET!  I was running with my best friend, Shae.  We talked and laughed much of the time.  We also got into a water fight at every water station.  This, of course, was all part of the master plan to keep morale up and avoid overheating, right?  I also whooped and whistled given the slightest provocation and gave every single specatator a high five that would accpet one.

How I felt physically:

Before the race: "I can't believe I have to go to the bathroom again already!"  Dread.

Mile #1  Ouch.  Little stiff. We had been at the front of the starting line, so that whole mile was nothing except getting passed by everyone around us.  We held our pace though.  I brought up the oxygen-deprived bird story, Sasha.

Mile#2  Some long uphills.  We started to pass some people.  We did well on the uphills, I think.

Mile #3  Needle-like crampy pain on the left side of my back (this is a common problem for me these last few runs).  Feels like it is coming from between the ribs.  Slowed down a little--it went away after a good half of a mile

Mile #4  Relaxed, comfortable, some sweet long downhill.  Passed a lot of people.

The last little bit was strange.  I was saving a little bit to really kick it in the last hundred yards.  However, it was so congested at the finish line that everyone stopped and shuffled to the end.  My real time should probably be a least 30 seconds shorter.

Immediately after the race:  Pretty good, still had some energy.  Thinking "uh-oh, maybe I should've run faster."  I felt much better about my effort when I almost fainted while taking off my shoes. He he he.

Several hours later:  Tender--hip and knees complaining.  Hobbling and avoiding getting off the couch unless forced.  Still proud.

Anyway, the time to beat for next year is 49:56 (pace=11:54).

My legs felt better after taking my little boys for runs this evening.

Happy Easter, Everyone!

Lybi

Morning mile on treadmill at 11:15.

This evening, I tried to run a fast quarter and almost died around the 300 yd. mark.  I don't think I've ever sucked wind like that.  I've definitely noticed that my cardiovascular system holds me back much more than my legs.   I can run pretty far at an extremely slow pace, but if I go faster than 5.5 miles an hour, my breathing gets panicky.  What's the best way to strengthen cardio system? 

I'm not as sore from the race on Saturday as I thought I would be--just a little bit in the quads, and just a little less energy than usual.

Long day.  My grandpa's funeral was today. : (  I enjoyed the services, but still feel emotionally wiped out. 

Yesterday I never got around to running, so feel a little blah about that.  This morning I intended to run 2 miles while pushing a cantankerous non-jogging stroller.  I made it 1.5 miles.  That's still better than nothing, nevertheless, I felt lame.  Battling a little discouragement.  Why am I so tired?  I've been getting good sleep. . . . I do have a very sore throat, but it doesn't seem to be progressing into a real illness.  Oh well, just keep on keeping on, right?  Ying and yang. 

This evening I really enjoyed taking my 6 year old for a run.  He did a good mile at what seemed a pretty confortable pace to me--probably about 12 min.  I feel so proud of him that I didn't even think about getting tired or wanting to stop. 

Half a mile with my four year-old.  He looked really comfortable.  I didn't have to encourage him to keep running at all.  His pace is getting faster, although I can't tell exactly how much.  I am just surprised how well he is doing because he's always been my little guy with the least amount of strength.  He was diagnosed with mild low muscle tone and needed physical therapy to learn how to walk (at 18 months) and jump.  Now he is able to run a good 800!

A mile and a half by my self in the rain.   Ahhhhh it was so beautiful.  You have to be in the desert to really appreciate rain.  Everything is so still and muffled by the pattering drops.  It smells good, it sounds good, it feels good (if it's not to cold).  Yum!  I actually didn't want to stop when I finished.  Let's see, the last time I felt like that during running was  . . . NEVER.   

I wonder if part of the reason I felt so good today was that I started out super slow and sped up as I went along.  Usually I do the other way around.

Just a quick family jog to Kinkos and back.  Not too impressive.  However, I practiced the piano for 6 hours today, and if anyone on the blog can beat that, I'll eat my laptop.

Hey look at that.  I like green.  Especially on mile markers. 

I just finished 2 miles on the treadmill at 22:48.  I tried starting REALLY slow (4 miles an hour) and gradually increasing the pace to 6.5 miles an hour by the end.  I like the switching of speeds.  It almost feels like I use different muscles when I speed up a little, and I don't notice the fatigue.  I am pretty happy that I didn't labor with the breathing as I got faster.  I could still run with my mouth closed until I got up past 5.5 miles per hour--which was around the 1 mile mark.

You know another thing I like about running on a treadmill?  I watch movies on a little portable DVD player.   You know, the kind that you can put in your car?  Well, they fit perfectly on the little book rest on the treadmill.  One of the hardest things for me during running is what goes on in my head.  Without a distraction, I usually end up staring at the little screen, watching each .01 of a mile tick by.  Or if I'm at the track, I start doing infuriating fractions.  "Look, I've already done 3.25 laps and I'm going for 8.  That means I've only got 19/32nds left to go (get a pencil and paper--it's right) . . . now I've done 3.5 laps . . . ."  Good grief.  Talk about neural fatigue.  I've got to get some really great music to listen to--I bet that would help.  What do you guys think about while you run?

Aw man!  My milage is slipping.  I'm having a hard time juggling everything in my schedule right now, but I thought I'd get on and at least be accountable.     What is a good goal for me to shoot for in terms of weekly mileage at this early stage of my training?  I want to run a 5K at the end of May.  On a good day I go about 2 miles, in general.

One mile with my 6 year old.  2 miles on the treadmill, 5-6 miles per hour.  My goal for this week is to have at least 10 miles total.  I will try to do that for 3 weeks in a row and then bump it up to 15 miles.  This is on the advice of some guy on the blog named Bill.  Which of the three Bills I have no clue.  However, any one of them probably knows what he is talking about . . . ergo I go and do.  My goal by the end of may is to run a 5K in under 30 minutes.  Half an hour to just schlepp myself  from point A to point B.

For accountability purposes I think I'm going to start blogging my piano practice.

Piano: 1 hour

1 Mile with the Fam.  I had my 2 year-old piggy back for the last half.  Now my arms are so sore I can hardly reach up and touch my nose.  Kids are really good for cross training (he he).

1 Mile on Treadmill.  I took it really easy because I was sore and still a little weary from yesterday's run.

Piano practice:  50 minutes

2 Miles on the treadmill. I ran in the morning, for a change, and felt surprisingly perky at the end. I'm just a little tight/sore in the hips. Is it important to stretch? Before, after, or ever?

Piano: zilch

I traveled to Colorado today to see my sister's new babies. I'm going to try to run at this extremely high altitude tomorrow. Wonder what'll happen . . .

Today I met my goal for running 10 miles this week, so I feel good about that. Two more weeks like this one and I'll be ready to start increasing my milage. I am in Colorado Springs right now, which is at a very high elevation, so I was expecting to feel worse tham I did. I am visiting my sister. I took all 6 of her kids running today. I like running with other people, and all my nieces and nephews liked it. My sister seemed to really appreciate it too. I would take some of them out, then come back around, drop off the tired ones and get some other ones. He he he. My 13 year-old niece did the whole distance with me, and my 6 year-old niece went a mile.

I didn't notice the elevation as much as I noticed the hills. Nothing here is flat. You either go steeply downhill or steeply uphill. I am trusting everyone on the blog that speed doesn't really matter at this point--just consistently running the miles--because I have to admit a well-trained snail could've passed me today. However, I did the distance and had fun, made some memories with the fam. Then I stretched afterwards, and it felt really delicious. I think I'm going to be an after-stretcher from now on (thanks for the tip, Maria).

I like to end with a question, because then I get more feedback. What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you while running? (Remember to keep it family friendly, guys!) Mine was running a track race with my shorts on backwards. I was notified after the first lap of the 1600 by a teammate. Oops. Or how about how your spit thickens when you run, so that if you try to spit it clings. Man, I hate dangling!

Piano:40 min.

I had to sprint to the bus stop to get my son off the bus.  Does that count?

Piano: at least 1 hour

I'm still huffing from finishing my 2 miles (incline at 1) on the treadmill.  I started out at 4.5 mph which felt really  . . . I felt like I was pounding a lot.  I had a tiny bit of pain in my knee and shins at this speed.  I ran the bulk of the run at 5.3 mph.  I finished at 6 mph which feels good on my legs--I strike more on my mid-foot than heels at this speed.  However, I definitely breathe harder.  I felt exhausted, but I was exhausted before I started.  I haven't been getting enough sleep.  Piano concert pressure--life returns to normal (such as it is) a week from today.  Yea!

Piano: 4 hours in rehearsal, 45 min. with my piano teacher, 1 hour on my own

Time to go stretch.

Oh yeah!  I have a major complaint!  I've gained weight since I started running.  What gives!?

Nice little run on the treadmill.  Incline 1 speed 5.0 for the most part.  I REEEAALLY didn't want to do it today, but thank goodness I just did it anyway.  Remember how exhausted I was yesterday?  Well, a certain two year-old was up a  million jillion katrillion times in the night so I was in a blithering daze all morning until I got a nap after my run.  Now I feel fine.  Running 2 miles doesn't leave me tired very long anymore--maybe just half an hour or so.   Progress.

I notice that I really want to run faster when I hear a song that I like on my DVD player (in a movie soudtrack, for example).  For my upcoming race I really need to get 30 minutes of the best music for running I can find.  Any ideas?  Some of my favorites for running so far are "Walking on Sunshine" "Respect "(he he) and the theme from Crimson Tide.

Piano: 1 hour

On treadmill, same specs as usual.  Dragging a little. 

Piano: 80 minutes

On treadmill, same ol' same ol'.  Except I started the run without shoes on, just for kicks.  It was cool for about a quarter of a mile.  Then my heels started to hurt.  So I shod up and finished.  But I didn't wear socks. (Ah!)  I must be craving some change.  I've gotta get on the road tomorrow.  I feel too much like a hamster on that thing.

On a happy note. . .  I now have visible calf muscles.  So that's good, I guess.

.6 miles with my 4 year old.  He runs about 13 min/mile pace.

1.4 miles on the treadmill at 5.3 mph.  I actually was going to skip running tonight, but I couldn't fall asleep.  I had this ichy feeling in my legs.  So I am now one of the initiated . . . running post-midnight.   I think part of the reason I couldn't sleep was because I really wanted to meet my goal of 10 miles this week.  Now just one more week like this and then I can increase my mileage to 15 miles a week.    I definitely feel that running 2 miles is getting easier.  I basically feel sweatier, but not tired or sore when I finish.  BTW the high today was 101 F.  Running outside is not going to be a very pleasant option for me very much longer.  Thank goodness for the ol' treadmill.

Piano: nothing much, although I did teach my son a couple songs

2 miles on treadmill 5.3 mph, until the last 1/2 mile, then 6 mph.  Felt pretty good.  Breathed pretty hard at the end.  It is very humbling to note that 6 mph feels fast to me.  Yikes.  Oh well, at least I am getting healthier.

Piano: 1 1/2 hours practice, 1 1/2 hours in concert

*Phew* Did the concert . . . it's over!.  So glad to be free from that pressure!  

Hallelujah!