Still Kicking!

Hey everyone! Sorry it's been so long since I've update this thing.  With work starting and the snow falling I've been very distracted.  Well I haven't been running a whole lot lately but I did get in a 2.25 mile run last week and then proceeded to work like a fiend and ski like a madwoman!  It's going to be hard to balance how much I need to run for training and how much I want to ski!   I think I could run before I ski and be ok but there's no way I will get myself to run after skiing my legs are just too shot.

But the good news is that today I went for a very long run, the longest I've done since I've been here and I can't even tell  you how good it felt!  I just got back and I did 5.06 miles in 58 minutes! That is defiantly a record for me.  I thought it was going to feel really bad because I haven't been running consistently for the last 2 weeks.  I headed out and wanted to check out this trail I've seen but hadn't explored yet.  So I started out and I just felt so good I hit a really good stride and a fast stride for me.  When I turned onto the trail I was just in awe, it's gorgeous!  It runs right next to the Eagle River and goes all the way into Edwards.  I was feeling so good that when the trail came up next to the road I thought, "Wow it'd be great to get to that stop light down there."  That was 20 minutes into the run and I really didn't think I'd have the stamina to get down there.  I kept going and then before I knew it I had hit the stop light!  I was so excited!  I then turned around and headed back and that's when the snow started falling.  Most people don't like to run outside in the snow but I love it.  There is something so peaceful and liberating in running in a snow shower.

I went to a church service last night with some friends and we were singing these songs about the freedom you find in Jesus and liberation from sin.  I just kept thinking about how being in the snow fall makes me feel alive and free.  I think that it's a gift from God to be here right now. 

How are my ladies doing?  I think the excitement is wearing off and we're getting slack with our postings (I know I am! but I'm renewing my excitement!)

Keep Your Chin Up

Well I am still without internet at my apartment so my updates are few and far between.  Anyways last week I ran alot, did a long run this past Sunday of 3.65 miles and then woke up on Monday and had almost totally lost my voice.  I ran a quick 2.25 mile loop with 2 girls from work.  I felt ok Monday and Tuesday but sounded awful. Then Wednesday the sinuses kicked in and for the past two days I haven't felt that great, not awful but not great.  I'm hoping to get this through my system by this weekend so I can ski and get back into running.

As you may have read, Shannon got some bad news on Saturday and was pretty upset about it.  I talked to her and reassured her it's all ok.  I think we are all better off on taking it slow and seeing how our bodies respond.  I mean for all we know in 3 months I could be sidelined or Jocelyn could be too.  Yes I want to run that marathon but more than anything I want to do it with my two best friends.  Shannon and I were talking about scaling back and doing the half-marathon in May instead.  That's still a big accomplishment and then we could do the full marathon in NYC in November.  I know Jocelyn and Shannon really want to do the NYC marathon.  I think before we make any final decisions we should see how the next 2 months go, see how Shannon heals and go from there.

Shannon you have not let me down in anyway, I just want to run with you any distance you can go and same for Jocelyn!  Keep your chin up ladies it's just one day at a time!

Update!

Well it's been too long!  I still don't have internet at my apartment so it's been hard to measure my runs and update my blog.  Here's a quick recap: On Saturday I ran my 2.25 mile loop and it felt GREAT!  Nice and easy, no struggling to breath at all.  I decided the next day I would go out for a longer run.  So Sunday I did a 3.65 mile loop in about 40 minutes which is good time for me.  I then did a set of hill repeats.  A friend mentioned that the best way to acclimate is to run hills.  So I did 10 hill repeats and then called it quits.  I got a solid hour workout in and felt great.  

Monday I started training for my job and discovered that I would have one day before taking my licensing road test!  So I didn't run Monday or Tuesday because I was THE first person to test in Tuesday and I was freaking out!  Thankfully I passed and got that over and done with.  I was able to get up Wednesday and get in a quick 2.25 mile run before training.  It would have gone faster but I didn't eat anything before I went and was starving about 3/4 of a mile into the run.  I ended up grabbing some snow off a tree branch to try and curb the hunger pains, that only helped for about 5 minutes.  I spent the rest of the run debating whether or not I would pull off a tree branch and naw on it for some protein...wow here for 10 days and I'm already turning into a mountain woman!

I'm going running tomorrow morning before work and hopefully get in two long runs this weekend.  Jocelyn's gotten some new inspiration this week but sadly Shannon has gone missing!  Vegan where are you? How's the hip? WHAT'S SHAKIN!!!!!

Five Degrees

Well i've been here for about 6 days an I've run 3 times so far. I've just been running the same 2.25 mile loop. The second run was good I shaved 3 minutes off my time but it still didn't feel very easy.

Today I got up at 6:30 and went out again. It snowed tuesday night thru wednesday morning so it was my first snowy run. It was also a balmy 5 degrees outside! I bundled up and headed out. You may think me a freak but it felt so good to run in the cold again. It takes time for you body to adjust aka go numb but I really enjoyed it. I'm going to have to invest in a brighter colored vest to wear so I'm not decked out in black. Mmmmm shopping for running stuff that's my favorite!

First Run at 8100 Feet!

Well it's official I am now a resident of Colorado!  My parents and I left California Thursday evening and drove to Nevada then into Colorado the following day.  Saturday was spent moving into my new apartment and getting the lay of the land.  I am working at Beaver Creek Resort for the winter as a shuttle bus driver.  This is also where the bulk of my marathon training is going to occur.  I knew the elevation would effect me but I didn't know how much.  Yesterday I got up around 7ish and had a banana and yogart before I headed out for my run.  It's going to take me some time to scope out good routes that aren't straight uphill, but I won't have any problem finding a place to do hill repeats!

I don't have internet in my apartment yet so it wasn't until today that I got to measure how far I went.  I'm managed 2.25 miles in 30 minutes.  I didn't run the whole thing but about 90% of it and yes I was huffing and puffing!  There were a couple of times when I felt like I couldn't get any air into my lungs despite how deep or often I was breathing.  It was also a brisk 46 degrees which I am accustomed to yet.  By the end of the run though I was nice and warm and hitting my stride.  I'm hoping that in about 2 weeks my runs will get easier and I can start adding more distance to them.  For now I am going to keep running this route and depending one how I feel add more distance to it.  

Congrats to Shannon running 6 miles for the first time!  She noted not feeling so well after her 2nd 6mile run.  I think it was a lack of sodium probably.  There are lots of things you have to start to consider when you go on longer runs, when you sweat you lose salt and you need that for your muscles to function.  There are salt tablets you can take or probably some gatorade either before or after your run would do the trick too.  I had a similar experience to her's earlier this fall.  It was the first run I went for in Ukiah and we did 4.5 miles or so.  It was hot and I was sweating pretty good.  I ended up getting a migraine and feeling really weak.  I thought I was dehydrated but totally forgot about the lack of salt in my breakfast that day. 

Keep running strong ladies!

Slow and Steady 5.24 miles!

So this week has been a bit crazy.  Monday I went swimming with Dad at the club.  We do the Master's workout which is an hour long and usually pretty tough.  I had wanted to run that day too but that workout always takes it out of me so I came home and focused on study for the GRE exam.  Tuesday I took the exam and I'm glad it's over!  I think I did ok but not great.  Hopefully it's enough to get me into where I want to go!

Today I headed out for a run, I didn't know how far I was going to go but figured I'd would decide on the way.  I felt really good but about a mile in started getting really thirsty. I realized that I probably hadn't hydrated enough before the run.  I was thinking I'd make it a shorter run then around 3 miles.  Then I realized I was next to the Mendicino County offices, which as most public buildings do, have a water fountain.  So I jogged in and hydrated a bit.  Then I decided to make it a longer run.  I didn't follow an iTunes workout this time, I took Shannon's advice and just decided to run.  I focused on running a steady pace for 10 minutes then walking for 2 minutes to see how that would feel. I felt really good and felt that I was actually going at a slightly faster past.  

I tried to really focus on how my body felt while I was running. I noticed my upper back fatiguing and tried to figure out why.  I think I need to improve my posture but I also found that when my back was fatiguing I was tensing my shoulders.  I focused on relaxing my shoulders throughout the run.  I also noticed that my legs fatigued a lot faster on the concrete sidewalk so I opted to run in the road for as much of the run as I could.

I finished 5.24 miles in over an hour but I feel good about the run.  I made the miles and I worked hard.  I hit my water spot twice which was a big help!  I keep fighting frustration because I want to see improvements instantly.  My biggest lesson in this whole process is going to be learning how to be patient. I keep telling myself, "you have plenty of time to get to 26.2."  I am really looking forward to getting to the point where I can go for an 8 mile run and run the whole thing.  That'll be a 2 margarita day!

How are my girls doing?  Shannon seems to be running really consistently and Jocelyn's working hard on getting her body on board.  Keep it  up ladies!

Bonk

I went for a run on Friday afternoon and it was a pretty good run.  It's the longest run I've done in a while.  I went 4.64 miles in about 56 minutes.  Pretty good for me considering I completely bonked in the middle of the run.  I had some dry cereal before I went but I completely underestimated how hot it was outside.  We've had a real Indian Summer here with temps in the mid 80's.  I started out feeling really good.  I was trying out a new workout I downloaded from iTunes, the Intermediate 10K workout.  After the first 10 minutes you do 10 minutes of speed work.  So you run for 1 minute then rest and repeat that 5 times.  Well I don't think I ate enough or drank enough water before I went running because those completely took it out of me.  I finished them as strong as I could but I couldn't do the 8 minutes of endurance after that.  I tried but my legs felt like lead and my back was fatiguing.  I had to stop and walk and stretch a few times.  I opted out of the workout at the 30 minute mark and proceeded to jog the rest of the way home.  It was really more interval workouts because I would run and then have to walk, I think I was able to run 3 or 4 blocks then I'd have to walk again.  I started to get hungry during the speed workout and that's where I think I was having the problem.  Bonking is basically when you hit a wall and your body literally can't do anymore because you are deficient in energy.

Mentally I felt bad about it but it was still a solid hour of hard work and a good learning lesson.  I didn't run yesterday or today because I've been lost in a sea of crap called my room. I am trying to get stuff slightly organized so I can spend tonight and tomorrow focusing on the GRE.  I plan on running tomorrow morning and maybe before the GRE as well on Tuesday.  If not Tuesday then defiantly on Wednesday and Thursday before we leave for Colorado.  

As I've been going through my stuff I've come across a few things that have thrown me for a loop.  I found a magazine clipping from my Freshman year in College and it is oddly very appropriate so I thought I'd share what it says, 

At first it was "There's no way I can run 3 miles." Then, 'There's no way I can run 10." Now it's "There's no way I can run 26.2." And really, there is

I don't remember where I got it from but it's from an ad.  I think it's very fitting because I don't know how we're going to do this but I'm excited to get to where we actually do it!