Archive for August, 2008
-
I’ll start with a recap of last week. I fit in 3 four mile runs and the 15 miler – one 4 mile run and the long run were on “vacation”* so I consider that a success. Plus one of the other 4 milers was completed before 4:40 a.m. I am my own hero for all of that. I didn’t get in the 7 mile medium-long run, though. There just wasn’t time.
The 15 mile run went well. I ran it next to the beach (on a sidewalk, see aerial photo) for a little less than half of it. I started in Hampton Beach in New Hampshire. After 6.5 or 7 miles I saw signs indicating that I was in Massachusetts! It’s not that impressive when you look at a map, but it felt that way when I wasn’t expecting to cross a state line. I listened to the Pheddipidations podcasts on the last half of the run. I wasn’t sure I would like to listen to “talk” while running, but I did. I thought I did well with this run although the weather was really ideal so who knows how my next one in Missouri will be.Speaking of my next run, this week I need to do 4/8/4/16. I might have a jury trial Monday. Running the 16 miles right the day before will be interesting – like I said in the last “why do I run” post, when I am really stressed I tend to put running aside, so I may have to move stuff around on my training schedule to accommodate work. But maybe the jury trial will go away.* Is taking Thursday, Friday and Monday off a real vacation? I really hate to call that vacation… Plus it was all with family. Not Hawaii or something. Hence the quotation marks. -
Why I run
I rarely think about why I run. Normally the questions are when, where, and how long.
It started in high school. My older brothers were in cross country and track. I think I envied that. At night in high school I started running. My main objective was to see how far I could keep running. The distance I could go began to grow. But it didn’t become a habit. Another part of the reason was that I felt I needed to lose weight.
At college, I got into it more often, especially after break-ups. Maybe during those times I needed an outlet for the emotions. Part of it was feeling like I needed to get in shape and that now was the time… It probably says something about me but I truly haven’t figured that all out. All I know is that right before law school started I really got into it. During my first year in law school I put it to the side and for the remainder of law school to today I haven’t taken a long-term break from it. And this is why:
1. I want to get faster/ stronger / run farther, and push myself. I remember the first time I ran seven miles. I thought it was so huge. I felt great, and like I had accomplished something I never thought I could do before. It just gives you a sense of pride knowing that you pushed yourself and you achieved more than you thought you could.
2. Most of the time I feel better afterwards. My mind wakes up after a run. My mood is better. If my stomach has been a little iffy because I’ve eaten junk or feels off for no known reason, a run just cleanses that out.
3. For whatever race I have coming up. Sometimes I don’t want to run. Sometimes I don’t feel better after a (bad) run. But I have to put in the miles to get there – and I’ve dreamed of finishing a full marathon (and even Boston someday) for a while now.
4. To lose weight / shape up. This is just about always a reason in the background. It’s worked pretty well in the past.
5. Stress. Ironically running gets put aside when I am really stressed. I get time to think things over during a run.
6. It’s just my preferred mode of exercise. Tennis needs a partner. Biking I just don’t like. I can’t swim. It’s one of those things you can do just about anytime, anywhere, without tons of equipment. Unless it’s a long run in which case you need tons of gear if you are me.
7. It really makes my HDL level shoot up. At one point in the spring my HDL was in the 90s. My family’s history with heart disease makes it important that I stay active. A couple of times when my dad was in the hospital for a triple bypass I ran, thinking about him.
8. A little vanity I guess. When you’re training and you can tell people how much you ran a few hours ago … it’s just fun.
9. This really should be the number one reason: the extra food I can eat. It’s ok to eat some cheetos or copious amounts of jelly beans when you run a lot.
I was going to do a number 10 but the jelly beans are calling me.
-
4 a.m.
I think I might have to make friends with that hour this week. On Thursday the flight leaves at 7:20. I have approval from the boyfriend that we can leave the house at 5:30. So, to fit in a run that day I will need to leave the house for a run at 4. It will leave me with about 50 minutes to get ready … which hopefully will be enough. There is always last minute stuff though. So, we will see how THAT goes. At least I can nap on the plane? Or maybe I will get myself a special treat at Starbucks – an iced coffee. Mark if you are reading those are hints….
I am excited because I downloaded some podcasts to carry me through my next long run. I downloaded This American Life (heard a lot of good stuff), Phedippidations, stuff from NPR – Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me, and Car Talk, and… drum roll… VH1′s The Best Week Ever!
-
Scheduling it all in.
Call me a convert: I think the foam roller is working. At least, it is less painful to roll on it now. There is a really tight knotty spot on my left knee that will not go away though. I have been trying to use it a couple times a day or at least once. My ibuprofen intake has also gone up. That is a preventative measure really… I’m just scared my knees are going to put me out of commission again. I’ve noticed that I rarely feel pain on an outdoor run… I wonder if there is something about treadmills that is affecting my gait in a bad way. Which is totally ironic because I shifted to treadmill running because I was scared my IT band would bother me in the middle of an outdoor run (far from my home/car). I’ve also been wearing patt-straps on both legs to prevent a flare-up.
Speaking of patt-straps on both knees, I must have looked like a gear junkie on my run today. I didn’t see anyone else with as much on as me. I had my garmin, my ipod & headphones, my patt-straps, my visor, and a water belt. I really felt like a huge dork, and not in the cute dork way. See http://fooberry.com/ for cute dorkiness.
This week I did 4/7/4/13. I missed one of my 4 milers I planned in the last post. I have to say my 13 miler wasn’t that much fun. The first 6 miles were good. There was a mental block after that. I was really slow. I guess it got a little hotter or I just got bored, probably both. I got out there at around 7:30 which is later than I like to start a long run in the summer, but it was pretty mild weather, but after 12 miles it probably needs to be 50 to feel “mild”. I pushed it off until I won the battle in my head about whether I could put off this run to some other time. It was great to have it over with though.
Now, the real dilemma is this next week. It is supposed to be 3/7/4/15. Not too worried about the 3/7/4… but I’ll be in New Hampshire this weekend and it is going to be a challenge to find a 15 mile stretch where I can go. Hopefully I will think of something. The next couple of months of running in the plan is not effing around.
-
this week's plan
Just for my future reference, here is this week’s plan:
4/4/7/4/13 (WTFSS). Foam roll, foam roll, foam roll
p.s. It is really damn hot out.
About Me
My name is Michelle and I like to write about running, food, and fitness in general. Check out my About Michelle section for more!
