Yes, that's right -- I'm baaaaack.
Despite my recent sedentary behavior, the running bug is alive and well inside of me (I'm sure of it!). At the very least, the Team in Training bug has kicked in full-force, which is enough to get me going!
This year I'll be training for the ZOOMA Annapolis half-marathon, which is the first weekend in June, so my training period will be extended by about a month. I don't want any lingering injuries, therefore I'm going to:
1. Stretch more
2. Get my hip/knee/ankle joints checked out by a sports medicine professional early on
3. Break in a new pair of shoes about halfway through the season
In addition to my own running, I have the honor of being a TNT Mentor this season! I'll provide guidance and support for a group of runners on the Virginia team. I've already been in touch with a few of them and am looking forward to getting to know them, as well as the rest of the team, better when the season starts with kickoff next weekend.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
13.1... Done!!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all my supporters.
To my friends and family for your donations of both money and kind words.
To my Team in Training peers and coaches for your commitment to success and for helping me believe I can do it!
For anyone reading who did not receive my race report email, the contents are below for your enjoyment.
On Sunday morning, I woke up at 4:15 AM, got dressed and tied my running shoes... shuttled into downtown Philly with my Team in Training teammates... waited anxiously at the starting line... and 2 hours, 35 minutes, and 47 seconds later, I crossed the finish line at the Philadelphia Half Marathon!!
First and foremost, I want to say thank you again for your support. Your donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on behalf of my race with Team in Training makes a real difference in the lives of the millions of patients and families who are battling blood cancers.
A few (okay, a lot of) words about the race... it was just fantastic. Philly is a great city and, although I don't have anything to compare it to, I thought the race course was really fun. And the volunteers at the water stops were all so friendly and smiley.
The first few miles took us through what I'd call historic Philadelphia, and along the Delaware River. We ran through South Street and then spent a good 2-3 miles on Chestnut Street. My parents showed up twice during the first half of the race, which was great -- seeing them definitely renewed my energy. One of the TNT staff members, Martin, also popped up a few times during the first half of the race to cheer us on.
I ran the first 8 miles with my friend Jen, a fellow Delta Gamma alumnae who also joined TNT this season. Around mile 5, we commented to each other that we were getting hungry, and lo and behold -- a guy carrying a box of Philly pretzels showed up on the sidewalk and started offering them to the runners! If it was midnight in Washington DC I'd have stayed far away from food a random guy offered me on the street (don't worry, Mom), but we were so excited to have a snack that we grabbed one right away.
Miles 7-8 or so went through Drexel's campus. They have some neat housing for fraternities and sororities, and the Sig Eps were outside their house on a corner, cheering and handing out water and high-fives. The race continued by the Philadelphia Zoo and a park, and my hips and ankles started hurting a little. But I had to get over that pretty quickly because to get through mile 9, I had to go up a pretty big hill. Before I could get too discouraged, I saw Jim -- one of our Team in Training coaches -- cheering on the sideline. He saw me approaching and ran about halfway up the hill with me, giving me some reminders on uphill running.
I was feeling better, and just before mile 10 saw my cousin Michele and her husband Josh, which perked me up for a few more minutes. Half a mile later, my legs were feeling a lot of pain, and once again a Team in Training coach (Colin, this time) showed up right when I needed him! He chatted with me for a few minutes while we ran together, then left, and just a few minutes later I ran into our third coach, Rich. He let me know what was coming up on the course in the last mile and a half, and we parted ways. A couple of other TNT chapters' (from other cities) coaches were around during mile 11-12, and they kept the good feelings going.
The last half-mile of the race was just incredible; there are no other words I can think of to describe it. The street was completely lined with spectators on both sides, at least 6 or 7 people deep, all cheering. Our names were on our race bibs, so people would say "GO LINDSEY!" or "GREAT RACE, LINDSEY!" or "GO TEAM!!!!" [Team in Training cheer] and even though I had no idea who they were, it put a smile on my face. This happened throughout the entire run, but all the cheering and love was just overwhelming at the end, and especially with all the "Go Team!" cheers, I couldn't help but get a little teary-eyed as I dug in and sped up, and ran through the finish.
I can't wait to do it again.
Finally, I have to put in a little plug for Team in Training. I went from running 0 miles (quite literally) to being able to complete this 13.1-mile race in just a few months. If you've ever thought about running but weren't sure how to get started, and if you want to be a part of a fantastic group working for a great cause, I can't recommend Team in Training enough.
Thank you all again, very much, for your support of me and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I'm so lucky to have people like you in my life!
To my friends and family for your donations of both money and kind words.
To my Team in Training peers and coaches for your commitment to success and for helping me believe I can do it!
For anyone reading who did not receive my race report email, the contents are below for your enjoyment.
On Sunday morning, I woke up at 4:15 AM, got dressed and tied my running shoes... shuttled into downtown Philly with my Team in Training teammates... waited anxiously at the starting line... and 2 hours, 35 minutes, and 47 seconds later, I crossed the finish line at the Philadelphia Half Marathon!!
First and foremost, I want to say thank you again for your support. Your donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on behalf of my race with Team in Training makes a real difference in the lives of the millions of patients and families who are battling blood cancers.
A few (okay, a lot of) words about the race... it was just fantastic. Philly is a great city and, although I don't have anything to compare it to, I thought the race course was really fun. And the volunteers at the water stops were all so friendly and smiley.
The first few miles took us through what I'd call historic Philadelphia, and along the Delaware River. We ran through South Street and then spent a good 2-3 miles on Chestnut Street. My parents showed up twice during the first half of the race, which was great -- seeing them definitely renewed my energy. One of the TNT staff members, Martin, also popped up a few times during the first half of the race to cheer us on.
I ran the first 8 miles with my friend Jen, a fellow Delta Gamma alumnae who also joined TNT this season. Around mile 5, we commented to each other that we were getting hungry, and lo and behold -- a guy carrying a box of Philly pretzels showed up on the sidewalk and started offering them to the runners! If it was midnight in Washington DC I'd have stayed far away from food a random guy offered me on the street (don't worry, Mom), but we were so excited to have a snack that we grabbed one right away.
Miles 7-8 or so went through Drexel's campus. They have some neat housing for fraternities and sororities, and the Sig Eps were outside their house on a corner, cheering and handing out water and high-fives. The race continued by the Philadelphia Zoo and a park, and my hips and ankles started hurting a little. But I had to get over that pretty quickly because to get through mile 9, I had to go up a pretty big hill. Before I could get too discouraged, I saw Jim -- one of our Team in Training coaches -- cheering on the sideline. He saw me approaching and ran about halfway up the hill with me, giving me some reminders on uphill running.
I was feeling better, and just before mile 10 saw my cousin Michele and her husband Josh, which perked me up for a few more minutes. Half a mile later, my legs were feeling a lot of pain, and once again a Team in Training coach (Colin, this time) showed up right when I needed him! He chatted with me for a few minutes while we ran together, then left, and just a few minutes later I ran into our third coach, Rich. He let me know what was coming up on the course in the last mile and a half, and we parted ways. A couple of other TNT chapters' (from other cities) coaches were around during mile 11-12, and they kept the good feelings going.
The last half-mile of the race was just incredible; there are no other words I can think of to describe it. The street was completely lined with spectators on both sides, at least 6 or 7 people deep, all cheering. Our names were on our race bibs, so people would say "GO LINDSEY!" or "GREAT RACE, LINDSEY!" or "GO TEAM!!!!" [Team in Training cheer] and even though I had no idea who they were, it put a smile on my face. This happened throughout the entire run, but all the cheering and love was just overwhelming at the end, and especially with all the "Go Team!" cheers, I couldn't help but get a little teary-eyed as I dug in and sped up, and ran through the finish.
I can't wait to do it again.
Finally, I have to put in a little plug for Team in Training. I went from running 0 miles (quite literally) to being able to complete this 13.1-mile race in just a few months. If you've ever thought about running but weren't sure how to get started, and if you want to be a part of a fantastic group working for a great cause, I can't recommend Team in Training enough.
Thank you all again, very much, for your support of me and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I'm so lucky to have people like you in my life!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Long Time, No Update!
It is officially race week! The half-marathon is Sunday and I am so excited (and also a bit nervous)!! I ran 6.5 miles this past Saturday, which was my last long run, and am just doing a couple of miles on a few mornings this week.
My ankle is feeling better but I've been having some hip pain. Strangely, it feels best when I'm running (as opposed to walking), but it does start bothering me after 8 or 9 miles, so I'll just have to push through on race day.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society cause has become more meaningful to me, as a family friend passed away last week after a long illness; he had recently been diagnosed with leukemia. He will be my "honored teammate" for the run, and I plan to write his name on my race shirt.
I am looking forward to seeing my parents, my cousin and her husband, and a few random friends from the Philadelphia area cheering from the sidelines. The Capital Area Chapter has been enjoying some delicious homemade banana bread after our long Saturday runs, so I'll miss that, but I'll hopefully manage to squeeze in time for a cheesesteak after the race is over!
My next blog update, for all 2 of you who will be eagerly waiting on the edge of your seat, will be after the race. If you think of it, send good thoughts my way on the morning of the 21st!
My ankle is feeling better but I've been having some hip pain. Strangely, it feels best when I'm running (as opposed to walking), but it does start bothering me after 8 or 9 miles, so I'll just have to push through on race day.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society cause has become more meaningful to me, as a family friend passed away last week after a long illness; he had recently been diagnosed with leukemia. He will be my "honored teammate" for the run, and I plan to write his name on my race shirt.
I am looking forward to seeing my parents, my cousin and her husband, and a few random friends from the Philadelphia area cheering from the sidelines. The Capital Area Chapter has been enjoying some delicious homemade banana bread after our long Saturday runs, so I'll miss that, but I'll hopefully manage to squeeze in time for a cheesesteak after the race is over!
My next blog update, for all 2 of you who will be eagerly waiting on the edge of your seat, will be after the race. If you think of it, send good thoughts my way on the morning of the 21st!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
I'VE REACHED MY FUNDRAISING GOAL!!!
I just hit my $2000 fundraising goal (actually surpassed it by $5).
Thank you to all my family and friends who donated to the cause. The money we raised will be used to help cancer research and finding a cure, as well as providing education and support services to patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma and their families.
Thanks again for your support!
T-17 days til race day!
Thank you to all my family and friends who donated to the cause. The money we raised will be used to help cancer research and finding a cure, as well as providing education and support services to patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma and their families.
Thanks again for your support!
T-17 days til race day!
Home stretch....
Hi everyone! My ankle is feeling better this week after a great (okay, painful, but I finished!) 8-mile run on the Georgetown end of the Capital Crescent Trail this past weekend.
Seeing as Saturday was the day before Halloween, we had the option to run in a costume. I never turn down that sort of opportunity, so I decided to be "Half Marathon Barbie". That's me in the pink; thanks to Danielle's camera (in the purple/fairy wings!) for capturing this moment. We were all freezing and ready to get on the trail already!!
Today is my fundraising deadline and I have just over $100 to go. Hoping to meet my goal ASAP!!
Seeing as Saturday was the day before Halloween, we had the option to run in a costume. I never turn down that sort of opportunity, so I decided to be "Half Marathon Barbie". That's me in the pink; thanks to Danielle's camera (in the purple/fairy wings!) for capturing this moment. We were all freezing and ready to get on the trail already!!
Today is my fundraising deadline and I have just over $100 to go. Hoping to meet my goal ASAP!!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Hanging in There!
It's been a little while since my last post! The past couple of weeks were a little tough for me because I have a small ankle injury. I haven't figured out if it's just from stress (running 10 miles), or if I may have twisted it a little on a weekday run or while playing tennis.
I was able to complete the 6-mile run on the 16th, although I did it on my own and not with the team. I took the Mt. Vernon Trail from Crystal City over the 14th Street Bridge to the Jefferson Memorial, looped it, and came back. (You can pretty much see my entire route on the picture below.)
(image from roadstothefuture.com)
Then last week, our Saturday mileage was supposed to increase to 12. However, my ankle continued to get worse, so I went to Saturday's run to discuss the injury with the coaches. I ran 4 miles on Saturday. It turns out that Jen, my DG running buddy, is also nursing an injury and will need to ramp back up like me. I'd never say I'm glad she's hurt, but I am glad that she probably will back off the mileage the next couple weeks at training, too!
This weekend we are supposed to run 8 miles on Saturday morning. I may try to do the full 8 and just turn around early if my ankle starts bothering me. Saturday is also Maryland's homecoming (GO TERPS!!), so I hopefully will keep my pace up and can get home, showered, and off to the tailgating without too much delay.
I am just over 75% of my fundraising goal and only have a few hundred dollars to go! (If you're reading this and you haven't donated... now's your chance to be a hero!)
I was able to complete the 6-mile run on the 16th, although I did it on my own and not with the team. I took the Mt. Vernon Trail from Crystal City over the 14th Street Bridge to the Jefferson Memorial, looped it, and came back. (You can pretty much see my entire route on the picture below.)
(image from roadstothefuture.com)
Then last week, our Saturday mileage was supposed to increase to 12. However, my ankle continued to get worse, so I went to Saturday's run to discuss the injury with the coaches. I ran 4 miles on Saturday. It turns out that Jen, my DG running buddy, is also nursing an injury and will need to ramp back up like me. I'd never say I'm glad she's hurt, but I am glad that she probably will back off the mileage the next couple weeks at training, too!
This weekend we are supposed to run 8 miles on Saturday morning. I may try to do the full 8 and just turn around early if my ankle starts bothering me. Saturday is also Maryland's homecoming (GO TERPS!!), so I hopefully will keep my pace up and can get home, showered, and off to the tailgating without too much delay.
I am just over 75% of my fundraising goal and only have a few hundred dollars to go! (If you're reading this and you haven't donated... now's your chance to be a hero!)
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Officially a "distance runner"!
Today was a day that I'd been looking forward to (okay, and also dreading a little bit) -- 10 miles day. In my opinion 10 miles is an "endurance distance", and running it makes me a "distance runner". I want to feel special, k?
Final result, 10 miles, with Jen, in just under 2 hours!
We ran on the Capital Crescent Trail, starting in Bethesda, MD, which I'd never been on before so it was a neat first time. The scenery is really great, especially as you get further south. (Picture to the left is from the Coalition for the CCT.)
Overall it was a good run, and I felt like my lungs could've handled another few miles. But my legs weren't in great shape, particularly my hips. I've already iced once today and plan to definitely do it again this evening. I feel very fortunate so far that I haven't suffered any injuries (KNOCK ON WOOD!! Yes, you reading this, do it too. Go ahead...... Okay, thank you). So hopefully with a little more practice and some more focused icing I'll be able to get my legs into the same shape I feel like the rest of me is in -- ready for 13.1 miles!
6 weeks to go. Next week we do 6 miles (relief!!), then bump up to 12 on the 23rd. I'm really looking forward to the actual race!
Final result, 10 miles, with Jen, in just under 2 hours!
We ran on the Capital Crescent Trail, starting in Bethesda, MD, which I'd never been on before so it was a neat first time. The scenery is really great, especially as you get further south. (Picture to the left is from the Coalition for the CCT.)Overall it was a good run, and I felt like my lungs could've handled another few miles. But my legs weren't in great shape, particularly my hips. I've already iced once today and plan to definitely do it again this evening. I feel very fortunate so far that I haven't suffered any injuries (KNOCK ON WOOD!! Yes, you reading this, do it too. Go ahead...... Okay, thank you). So hopefully with a little more practice and some more focused icing I'll be able to get my legs into the same shape I feel like the rest of me is in -- ready for 13.1 miles!
6 weeks to go. Next week we do 6 miles (relief!!), then bump up to 12 on the 23rd. I'm really looking forward to the actual race!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Halfway there!
This past weekend I was home for Yom Kippur, so I did my 7 mile long run in Salisbury. (Thanks, Mom, for driving around the neighborhood to map out a course for me!) The first couple miles were, as usual, the worst part. My mom biked along behind me and was able to keep my mind occupied with stories about everyone back home, so I wasn't quite as focused on how far I was running.
The 7 miles was pleasing, but even more so, yesterday morning I went out for my 3-4 mile run and ended up getting a little turned around and running almost 5 miles. The fact that just a week and a half ago 5 miles was a miserable experience, and yesterday morning it wasn't so bad, got me all re-energized about bumping up to 10 miles in the next couple of weeks.
(Of course, the idea of 10 miles is still a little nerve-wracking.)
I'm hoping to get my fundraising moving along again soon -- I'm almost halfway to my goal, but still have over $1000 left to raise before the race! GO TEAM!
The 7 miles was pleasing, but even more so, yesterday morning I went out for my 3-4 mile run and ended up getting a little turned around and running almost 5 miles. The fact that just a week and a half ago 5 miles was a miserable experience, and yesterday morning it wasn't so bad, got me all re-energized about bumping up to 10 miles in the next couple of weeks.
(Of course, the idea of 10 miles is still a little nerve-wracking.)
I'm hoping to get my fundraising moving along again soon -- I'm almost halfway to my goal, but still have over $1000 left to raise before the race! GO TEAM!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
5 Mile Mark!
This past weekend I hit a nice round number, 5 miles! Unfortunately, I wasn't able to run with the TNT group in Old Town Alexandria because I was in Pittsburgh for the weekend. But I still got my run in. E drove me out to his hometown high school so we could do 5 miles on the track. (We even got to see an old football teammate of his who's now a coach.) Track running isn't the most exciting thing, but I was really proud to complete the 5 miles. I also went to my first Steelers game the next day, which was a nice pseudo-celebration.
I've been taste-testing different energy formulas while I run. So far, the berry Jelly Belly sport beans were delicious but didn't give me much energy; the berry Clif Blocks were too sticky for my liking; and the lemon-lime Gu was a little tough to swallow taste-wise but gave me a ridiculous energy burst that made my 4 miles of hills totally bearable. I have a couple others to try, but so far Gu is the winner.
Upcoming weekend is a 7 mile run (!!!) and it's another messy schedule since Saturday is Yom Kippur. Not only will I be home (another missed group run...), but I'll be fasting -- definitely not going to run that day. My run will have to move to Friday, and hopefully my parents will keep me company either in the car or on their bikes! Fortunately Salisbury is very flat, so I'll be able to run on the roads instead of a track.
Incidentally, 7 miles is the number that jumped off the page of the training calendar at me on Day 1 of Team in Training. It just seems like a really long way to run. I still think that, although I'm slightly more confident now that I've done 5. I'll be sure to update when I get the 7 behind me!
On a separate note, I am 41% of the way towards my goal, and mailed in a few additional checks to LLS that I've recieved in the mail! A big "thank you!" to everyone who's donated to my run. The support is fantastic!!
I've been taste-testing different energy formulas while I run. So far, the berry Jelly Belly sport beans were delicious but didn't give me much energy; the berry Clif Blocks were too sticky for my liking; and the lemon-lime Gu was a little tough to swallow taste-wise but gave me a ridiculous energy burst that made my 4 miles of hills totally bearable. I have a couple others to try, but so far Gu is the winner.
Upcoming weekend is a 7 mile run (!!!) and it's another messy schedule since Saturday is Yom Kippur. Not only will I be home (another missed group run...), but I'll be fasting -- definitely not going to run that day. My run will have to move to Friday, and hopefully my parents will keep me company either in the car or on their bikes! Fortunately Salisbury is very flat, so I'll be able to run on the roads instead of a track.
Incidentally, 7 miles is the number that jumped off the page of the training calendar at me on Day 1 of Team in Training. It just seems like a really long way to run. I still think that, although I'm slightly more confident now that I've done 5. I'll be sure to update when I get the 7 behind me!
On a separate note, I am 41% of the way towards my goal, and mailed in a few additional checks to LLS that I've recieved in the mail! A big "thank you!" to everyone who's donated to my run. The support is fantastic!!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Pep Talk
This week has been really busy due to the Labor Day holiday, the UMD-Navy game (GO TERPS!!!), and Rosh Hashanah, but I've managed to fit in a run every day!
Today was my first 4-mile run since Saturday, though, and it went pretty well. I'm eager to get over the "first couple miles = ouch" hump, so that these daily workouts aren't as frustrating in the beginning. I've been assured by a few people that it's just a matter of time, so I will keep running!!
My mental pep talk today went something along the lines of:
"It's really early in the morning; why am I awake and running? I don't like this very much..."
"But I also don't like cancer."
"What if all I had to do was run, and less people would have cancer in the future?"
"I would run every day."
So I am.
(Go team!)
Today was my first 4-mile run since Saturday, though, and it went pretty well. I'm eager to get over the "first couple miles = ouch" hump, so that these daily workouts aren't as frustrating in the beginning. I've been assured by a few people that it's just a matter of time, so I will keep running!!
My mental pep talk today went something along the lines of:
"It's really early in the morning; why am I awake and running? I don't like this very much..."
"But I also don't like cancer."
"What if all I had to do was run, and less people would have cancer in the future?"
"I would run every day."
So I am.
(Go team!)
Saturday, September 4, 2010
4 Miles!
Hit the 4-mile mark for the first time during today's group run at Haines Point!! It was a FANTASTIC morning for a run -- around 70 degrees, breezy, and no humidity. That probably contributed to the fact that I felt pretty good at the end of my 4 miles.
The run/walk combo that I've been doing definitely also helps. I wasn't really aware that you could do that before I started training, but it's a technique used by some endurance runners. The idea is that you don't run until you're exhausted and have to walk, you run and walk at a regular pace. Since you're devoting time to recovery during the race and even when you don't NEED it, you keep a more even pace and are able to finish stronger. (Google "Galloway Method" if you want more details.)
Anyway, our TNT coaches are big supporters of the Galloway method, especially for first-timers. Today I continued with a 4 minute run/1 minute walk pace, and that's been working really well for me. I think on a hotter day I might have to cut back to 3-1.
So this morning was a fantastic combination of weather and a general good feeling in my body, making the 4 miles seem not nearly as daunting as I thought they would. Next weekend I'll be in Pittsburgh so I'll miss our group run (and will have to do 5 miles on a track... ugh), and the weekend after I'll be home for Yom Kippur and will have to figure out fitting 7 miles in on Friday morning. I'll be eager to get back into running with the group!
9.1 to go......
The run/walk combo that I've been doing definitely also helps. I wasn't really aware that you could do that before I started training, but it's a technique used by some endurance runners. The idea is that you don't run until you're exhausted and have to walk, you run and walk at a regular pace. Since you're devoting time to recovery during the race and even when you don't NEED it, you keep a more even pace and are able to finish stronger. (Google "Galloway Method" if you want more details.)
Anyway, our TNT coaches are big supporters of the Galloway method, especially for first-timers. Today I continued with a 4 minute run/1 minute walk pace, and that's been working really well for me. I think on a hotter day I might have to cut back to 3-1.
So this morning was a fantastic combination of weather and a general good feeling in my body, making the 4 miles seem not nearly as daunting as I thought they would. Next weekend I'll be in Pittsburgh so I'll miss our group run (and will have to do 5 miles on a track... ugh), and the weekend after I'll be home for Yom Kippur and will have to figure out fitting 7 miles in on Friday morning. I'll be eager to get back into running with the group!
9.1 to go......
Monday, August 30, 2010
A few firsts....
We had our first group run on Saturday morning -- 3 miles. I did it! My furthest distance ever. I do realize that on most Saturdays, I'll be saying the same thing.... but I like the idea of always going further than I have before, so I will probably keep saying it.
Anyway, the 3 miles went really well. I ran with Danielle, Jen, and a few others doing 4 minute running/1 minute walking intervals. We had a nice slow pace so we were able to chat. Loved that! It made the miles go by a lot quicker. I'm looking forward to the group runs in the future and hoping I won't have to miss any after the two consecutive weekends in September that I'll be out of town.
On Sunday I went to Pacers (a local running store) and bought a new pair of shoes and a watch. And a few more energy items-- now I have 2 types of gel, beans, and gummies. Once we start running long enough that I need them, I'll have to figure out which I like. Everyone I talk to seems to have a different favorite!
This morning I had a new workout, the "hill run". (That'll be my run every Monday from now on.) I had to run up a hill for 2 minutes, then walk down, and repeat 6 times. It was tough and I got a little discouraged, but the hills will probably get easier in a couple weeks. I'm excited for my endurance to build up so the short daily runs are a little less painful!
3 down, 10.1 to go...
Anyway, the 3 miles went really well. I ran with Danielle, Jen, and a few others doing 4 minute running/1 minute walking intervals. We had a nice slow pace so we were able to chat. Loved that! It made the miles go by a lot quicker. I'm looking forward to the group runs in the future and hoping I won't have to miss any after the two consecutive weekends in September that I'll be out of town.
On Sunday I went to Pacers (a local running store) and bought a new pair of shoes and a watch. And a few more energy items-- now I have 2 types of gel, beans, and gummies. Once we start running long enough that I need them, I'll have to figure out which I like. Everyone I talk to seems to have a different favorite!
This morning I had a new workout, the "hill run". (That'll be my run every Monday from now on.) I had to run up a hill for 2 minutes, then walk down, and repeat 6 times. It was tough and I got a little discouraged, but the hills will probably get easier in a couple weeks. I'm excited for my endurance to build up so the short daily runs are a little less painful!
3 down, 10.1 to go...
Friday, August 27, 2010
Hi, IXI!
First of all, a big welcome to any of my IXI coworkers who are visiting my blog today. My office was kind enough to allow me to take over this month's Jeans for Charity Friday with fundraising for LLS and my Team in Training run! I appreciate everyone's support!!
Yesterday morning I ran 2.8 miles, so I feel like I'm all set to do 3 with the TNT group tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to our first group run -- everyone says it's much easier in a group (even at 8 AM), and I'll get to see my friends who are training for TNT races too! I also need a good stretching routine, and I'm sure they'll focus on that before we run tomorrow.
Yesterday morning I ran 2.8 miles, so I feel like I'm all set to do 3 with the TNT group tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to our first group run -- everyone says it's much easier in a group (even at 8 AM), and I'll get to see my friends who are training for TNT races too! I also need a good stretching routine, and I'm sure they'll focus on that before we run tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Early Mornings
I ran a little over 2 miles yesterday evening and again this morning, and felt surprisingly good today considering the short time between those runs. I had forgotten how much I actually enjoy getting up early to exercise. Especially on a comfortable morning like today -- it's so nice to be up and about before all the streets fill up with traffic!
My friend Danielle, who got me involved with Team in Training, told me that something really exciting for her was being able to say "today I ran X miles and that's a new record for me". I'm not quite there yet (my personal distance record to date is about 2.5 miles in college), but am hoping to beat that on Thursday!!
Wednesdays are our cross-training day, so I'm planning on a bike ride tomorrow morning. Thursday I will try for my record-setting ~3 mile run, and Friday is OFF(!!!!) before our 3-mile group run on Saturday.
My friend Danielle, who got me involved with Team in Training, told me that something really exciting for her was being able to say "today I ran X miles and that's a new record for me". I'm not quite there yet (my personal distance record to date is about 2.5 miles in college), but am hoping to beat that on Thursday!!
Wednesdays are our cross-training day, so I'm planning on a bike ride tomorrow morning. Thursday I will try for my record-setting ~3 mile run, and Friday is OFF(!!!!) before our 3-mile group run on Saturday.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
2 down, 11 to go
Whew. Completed a 2-mile run this morning, before the temperatures rose above 80. But the humidity was rough. I forced myself to keep moving for the full 2 miles, switching from a jog to a power walk when I needed to catch my breath. My route took me around Pentagon Row, which I thought would be fun, but it made me want to stop and shop or eat (I didn't!!). Maybe tomorrow I'll stick to the more residential areas and avoid the temptation!
In the spirit of my mom's collection of "first day of school" pictures, here is a "first day of running" picture (from before I left my apartment)...
This weekend's group run is 3 miles so my goal during the week will be to go from 2 up to 3 miles without stopping.
In the spirit of my mom's collection of "first day of school" pictures, here is a "first day of running" picture (from before I left my apartment)...
This weekend's group run is 3 miles so my goal during the week will be to go from 2 up to 3 miles without stopping.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Kickoff!
This morning was the Team in Training kickoff breakfast meeting, and the official start to my half marathon training! I got to meet Allison, my mentor, and the others in our group. One of the other girls in the group has no running experience, like me, so it's good to know that I'm definitely not alone.
Three of my friends from the WDC Delta Gamma alumnae group are doing Team in Training as well! Danielle did TNT last year and got us all involved, so we have her to thank for the inspriration. She's running the Disney half marathon again. Katie is running at Disney too, and Jen will be doing the Philly half marathon with me.
Because the Philly event is in late November and the other two races this season are in January, the Philly group will be pushing ourselves a little harder. I'm definitely nervous looking at the mileage numbers on my schedule (in 4 weeks there's a 7 mile run!), but am trying to keep in mind that once I start running more frequently, my endurance will build.
My training calendar starts tomorrow with a 2 mile easy ("at a pace where you can have a conversation") run. Nothing about 2 miles is easy for me, so we'll see how that goes!!
Three of my friends from the WDC Delta Gamma alumnae group are doing Team in Training as well! Danielle did TNT last year and got us all involved, so we have her to thank for the inspriration. She's running the Disney half marathon again. Katie is running at Disney too, and Jen will be doing the Philly half marathon with me.
Because the Philly event is in late November and the other two races this season are in January, the Philly group will be pushing ourselves a little harder. I'm definitely nervous looking at the mileage numbers on my schedule (in 4 weeks there's a 7 mile run!), but am trying to keep in mind that once I start running more frequently, my endurance will build.
My training calendar starts tomorrow with a 2 mile easy ("at a pace where you can have a conversation") run. Nothing about 2 miles is easy for me, so we'll see how that goes!!
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