Speed work

Compared to this weekend, where I went on two relatively long runs, today was a speed work day. It seemed easy since the distances were shorter, but now my hamstrings are pulling and I'm overall dead tired. Apparently there is no easy day when you are running. I'm just trying to stay injury free!

Tempo Run

I had to google tempo run to find out what was I supposed to do during those 30 minutes. I run faster than I usually do and am happy to report that my average per mile was 10'44". Nothing hurt, was never out of wind, it was a nice run on a perfect day.

Christmas!

My secret santa gave me beautiful winter running apparel. It's not cold enough to wear it yet, but I can't wait!

Run Rock & Run

I registered on Friday for the half marathon on March 12. Will I be ready? I believe the answer is that I will be as ready as I can. 13 miles and change. At this point, I'm good for about 3 miles. 10 to go!

Half Marathon Training Day 1

Even though I swam the punishing 100x100 yesterday aftrenoon, I was ready to go running today after a late breakfast. I was happy with how easy this first session was: 3 six minutes runs with 3 minute walks in between. I was able to run at a nice fast pace and my mile average was my best so far. I'm energized again about running. Can't wait for the 30 minute pace run on Wednesday!

Is running the sport for me?

Do I enjoy running? Unfortunately, I don't. Will I continue doing it until I reach my goal? Sure thing. Can this become a lifelong habit? Let's hope so, if my knees help, because it is a cheap way to stay in shape, and the whole world is a never ending running trail.

It's been a while!

Kind reader: do not think for a minute that I have abandoned my running!
Quite the opposite. I am now into the last week of my 5K training program. After Thanksgiving, I started running three times a week rather than every day. My knee woes have disappeared (for now) and I suspect I am not as keen to write in this blog because running is no longer a novelty to me. I believe that, thanks to the kind voice in my running app, I am now able to run for 30 minutes straight. When I say run, though, please picture a movement almost in slow motion, say Chariots of Fire but with audio books instead of Vangelis. Oh no! Scratch that! I just youtubed the Chariots of Fire trailer and they run waaaaay faster than me. It's just the music that is slow... I look with unrepentant envy at the runners that I run across, you know which ones I mean: spring on their step, flapping hair, yes, them. I am now into the second month of training for my first marathon, and a million of flat steps to go...

Dear Running gods:

It's going to be a very long winter, and I don't deal very well with freezing weather. Please help me stick to this insanity through the next six months.

Love,

Maria

I need gloves!

On a sunny fall and crisp afternoon I went back to run at the National Mall. My fists were so cold, I could not even notice whether my knees were hurting. I saw the Vietnam and Lincoln Memorial, ran along the Reflecting Pool and the Constitution [mini] lake. Lovely sights. The first mile was downhill, so I beat all kinds of speed records, but the way back was rough, like running through molassas. My legs are very tired now.

Rain Rain Go Away!

Had to run in the rain today. Happily, it was a warm afternoon. I wore a plastic windbreaker and ended up wet wet wet from head to toe, inside the windbreaker included. I am slowly progressing in distance, which I gather will not be my problem, it will be speed, for sure. 

Shakespeare ganó

No time to run today. Instead, I went to a talk given by the director of Pericles, the play I will see in Sunday. It was fantastic!

Knees

I may have found the answer to my knee concerns. A guy in youtube (that does not sound like sound credentials, I know) explained in his video that you are supposed to move your feet really fast when running, in order to minimize the time the foot is in contact with the ground and to keep your feet under your body. I was doing the exact opposite: slow long strides. Trying out the new technique, I had a flashback to old cartoons where characters would quickly move their feet back and forth in the air before taking off running. Let's see if this comical stride solves my knee woes. By the way, my youtube guru, Sage Canaday, finished 16 in the Boston Marathon this year. And even more impressively, two years ago he won the Washington Mountain Climb, a punishing 7 mile run up a mountain in New Hampshire. It hurts my own knees just writing about this race.

Alma Mater

I run during my lunch break. I have only an hour to go down to the gym, change, run, shower and be back at my desk. When I was on the 1 mile program, no problem there. On the 5 mile program, it is getting harder to accomplish. One way I am working around this constraint is cutting down on the warmup and cool down portions. I run so slowly, the whole thing is a warmup. Also, to save time, I run close to the office, so when the run is over, I'm at most a couple of blocks away from the office. This search for efficiency has led me to my Alma Mater, that good old merchant of knowlede. I am getting reacquainted with the buildings and the quads. The roads are narrow down there, with few traffic lights to impede the run. Yesterday was my third run around campus.

Summer-like Morning

A sniper was perched on the top of a building in the corner of my office this morning, so DC police cordoned off several blocks and sent us home as we we arriving this morning. That allowed me to have a nice and relaxed suburban run in a warm and sunny day, and now I'm drenched with perspiration.

I wanted to have a chance to run on grass to find out whether it is the hard urban surfaces that cause my kneecaps to bother me when I'm running. The muld pain disapears as soon as I start walking or stop running. I'll have to do further research. 

Yesterday was the first day since October 31 that I did not run. I consider it a win to have ran 15 days in a row! I'm going now for another 15.

Running in the City

When I began running (two and a half weeks ago) I would try to get to a park before I started the run part of the workout. The goal was to avoid having to interrup the run while waiting for the traffic light to change. That meant that getting there took longer than the warmup time and also that when I completed the workout, I would end up far away from the office. 

As the running distance has increased, I have been forced to become more efficient in order not to take more than my lunch break (an hour) for changing running and showering.

I have now ran two days in the city jungle, without much direction, just going wherever the pedestrian traffic lights take me. It is actually quite entertaining.

To My Kind Reader

I welcome and enjoy every one of your comments. I am unable to respond to them on this app. I would need to go to the website and reply from there. Too much hassle. Apps are weird and buggy.

5K Day 5

Lesson learned: Do not eat right before running. Not even if time flew and you forgot to eat before and you ate hungry and wondering whether you will have the energy to run on an empty stomach. The good news is that I did not decorate the environs of the White House with my egg salad and arugula sandwich. Everything stay put, but I did not feel A-OK. 

Obstacles

As with swimming, the absolute hardest thing about running is to stop doing whatever you are doing and just go running (or swimming). There is a powerful inside voice that tries to persuade you to go tomorrow instead: you are tired, too much work, something hurts, too hot, too cold, rainy. 

It took me years to tame that voice and now I never miss a swim practice unless it is absolutely impossible for me to go. 

Since I started running two weeks ago, I have not missed a day, even though the program recommends (flat out tells you) to do it every other day. I decided that because I'm currently running such short distances, I could just go running every day to speed up my training process. Today it was raining and the inside voice was kicking and screaming to stay put and skip the day. Voice silenced: run completed.

Rain, rain, go away!

This is the second time I run outside when it is raining. I shouldn't complain much, as at least, it hasn't been rainy AND cold. As anyone who knows me well will know. My sole problem with rain is getting my hair wet. I have to work the rest of the day, people! I neeeeeed to get a flatiron to keep in my purse.

PRT letting me down

Angie warned me that the running app she recommended is glitchy. She did not explain how, but I have already found out: the GPS won't record the entirety of your run and therefore stops counting distance. I guess I am already too deep into my training regime to start with another program. I could use also just use another pedometer, and I am not keeping track of how much I run, just trying to keep up with what "the coach" tells me to do. 

First Injury!

On day 3 of my 5k training, I suffered my first (let's hope last) running related injury: my forearm got hit by an incoming bike handlebar. It hurts like crazy but I can move my wrist and fingers, so it's likely just going to be a big ugly bruise. Biker hopped off his bike and went to see what trouble he was going to get into, but i just waved him away: "it was an accident." Bikes should not be allowed in sidewalks. Now I'm back at my desk icing it. I am hoping I will be able to go swimming tonight. I try to never miss swim practice.

A mile!

A mile! A mile! I ran a mile! 

The great outdoors

Do runners scout possible running routes as they go about the city?

I woke up this morning thinking that I could run around all the blocks that surround the White House. It is part of my obsession of finding routes that are not interrupted by traffic lights (and traffic). With a few minor glitches (the timing of the warm up walk), I can report that it is a very long uninterrupted loot that I will take advantage of for many weeks to come.

I had a 6 minute run, 45 second walk, 3 minute run. Piece of cake!

I hate this blog app

It just erased what I had written today as I was trying to correct a typo. Now it's gone forever. 

Day 10

Today was a good old beautiful day. Warm and sunny, not a cloud in sight. My run was equally extraordinary. It consisted of two four and a half minute runs, with a 60 second walk in between. 

I headed towards the Vietnam Memorial but it was so packed with people (Veterans day is next week, I think...), that I circunvented it and ended up at the feet of the Lincoln Memorial, then ran next to the newly renovated reflecting pool towards the Washington Monument, and finished my cooldown walk at the WWII Memorial. I love this way of sightseeing, and am finding charms in the Nation's Capital that I had not appreciated before.

I have a good feeling about being able to run a full, uninterrupted, dignified mile by the end of the week. Will the 5k be too much of a stretch?

Day 9

I ran through the Vietnam Memorial. It is as beautiful and poignant on the run as it is when you slowly interact with it. 

 

Today, it was 4 runs of 2 minutes and 15 seconds with 45 second walks in between. I can feel how it is building up the running blocks towards a mile. I am hopeful I will be able to run a fun mile by the end of this week, albeit rather slowly. 

New Plan

Coqui made a great point last night. I need to run a 5k for the experience. Makes a lot of sense. Scares me, though. I need to do this in late December, or better, early January, before I start the half marathon training.

At this point, I cannot even run a mile. But I have to build up the courage to set a goal and go through with it. 

It's funny because the mind plays dirty tricks. There is a swim meet on December 5 that I have no qualm signing up for, bum shoulder and all. But just to think about a RUN, makes me anxious. More reason to do it.

I participate in about half dozen swim meets a year. It keeps me motivated to train. Also, it builds my racing skills, which are different from my swimming skills. You need to learn how to race. I imagine it is the same with running.

Day 8

I've heard that swimmers have one underdeveloped muscle, and running has made this quite real. So far, my runs have been pain-free, except for those darn hamstrings. They are tight, not painful, but quite tight. I picture them crying for mercy when I'm running. The only remedy has been massaging them with the foam roller. You've got some catching up to do, hammies! Get with the plan!

I ran on Constitution Gardens again, around the lake or pond or lagoon there. I hope I never fall into that murky water, as my corpse not be found ever again. I even made it to the side of the WW2 memorial. This is turning out to be a great way to sightsee around the Nation's Capital! I might one day make it all the way down to the Capitol, but only when they take all that scaffolding down.

Day 7

I thought of Bill Cosby's dad as I was running today. I just kept going uphill. Not like climbing the Rockies uphill, but just enough to make me wish the "trainer" would tell me to stop running and walk for a little bit. 

Another disappointment today was realizing my "running" is just barely faster than walking. J was walking along the same route and the plan was I would finish the run and walk the rest of the way with him. I was maybe 3 blocks ahead of him when I turned around. 

51 more weeks to go until the marathon. I'm going for it!

Moratorium on Gear

As I am new to this running thing, a multitude of objects are luring me like bells and whistles.

Watches, socks, windbreakers, reflective gear, running pants, wireless earphones, phone holder, hats, sunglasses... As I discover new things, I look up how much they cost and whether they are well reviewed by users. But today, as I walked home with my fluorescent shoes, I have decided I am not going to purchase any more stuff. For now.

26 miles

I can see how I can get to run a mile. The trick is doing it 26 times in a row.

Day 6

Today was my first weekend run.

I aspire to go on long runs on weekends where I just keep going and going until I run out of suburbs. This was not it. I took the same route that J & I walk on weekends, around a beautiful, leafy, quiet neighborhood in Chevy Chase. I am still on the run 90 seconds walk 90 seconds part of the program, and although the uphills were not pleasant, I was able to do it with zero pain, and not running out of breath. I threw in two additional 90 second runs during the cool down, just to push myself a little.  

The weather was nice, and I wore my GW sweatshirt. Too warm. I have no clue how to dress for running. Trial and error.

Shoes!

Maria has proper running shoes.

I have been waiting since Monday to go to the running store situated a block from my apartment. I remember thinking, while walking past it on my way to metro or Whole Foods, that this was a store I would never set a foot in, and voilà, on a Saturday afternoon, I finally have. Chris, a runner (duh), made me walk and run to figure out what kind of shoes I needed, and then hooked me up with a pair so brightly colored, you need polarized shades just to look at them. But inside they feel as though the shoes have pillow-top pads, and it is like stepping on clouds. My new best bud Chris told me it would take two runs to break them in. I'm sure he meant two of his runs, not two of my "mini runs trying to get to a mile" runs!

Day 5

There is a pond in the National Mall, down the street from where I work. Today I learned it is called Constitution Gardens Lake. I have been trying to get there this week, but finally timed the app so I would make it down there in time for the run sections of the walk/run program. 

It was a picture perfect autumn day, sunny and crispy cool. The fall folliage at its peak. I pretended I was a runner and enjoyed my run. All is good.

366 Days

October 30, 2016. That's the date for the MCM. One leap year from today!

I am counting that with discipline and patience, and as long as I stay injury free, I will get it done, and enjoy it!!!

Waterworks

I was able to get in three swim workouts this week. 90 minutes each. On Monday, we worked on 400 IMs. A blast! And then on Tuesday and Thursday I got to work with the new coach, Steve. 

I told him up front about my shoulder woes and asked him to point out any technique deficiencies he noticed that would aggravate the problem. He said my stroke looks good, but if I strengthen my kicking, that would aleviate the upper body effort. It makes a lot of sense and I hope my running will contribute to improve my kicking. I do have a great breaststroke kick, but unfortunately it does not transfer to freestyle. 

I've started this new swim cycle with renewed commitment. I've moved, for now, to a faster lane, trying to keep up. 

Day 4

As wet and gloomy as the weather was yesterday, today it was warm and windy. Perfect, in my opinion. 

I waited after I crossed the busy streets to start the app, and it worked. However, as I am still traumatized from the app going mute on day 2, I still get worried when it is quiet for a while.

Another downside to the armband phone holder is that it makes it very hard to use the phone to take pictures. I see that the other option is a belt, and it does not convince me either. I may have to buy one or, better, borrow one to see if it works.

I was expecting some pain from running, but so far, only tightness in my left hamstring. I have also not ran out of breath yet, but this is training for a mile. Let's see what happens when I go for 5 or the half marathon.

Finalmente:

El regalo de hoy fue encontrarme con la estatua de mi admirado y añorado José Gervasio Artigas. Exiliado, como podía preverse, a una placita diminuta, apenas un triangulito, en Constitution con la 18 NW. Tiene excelente vista, hacia el obelisco y la laguna. Le canturreé un pedacito de la vidalita mientras recogía su imagen y seguía mi camino.

Running Gear

I need gear: I need real running shoes (this weekend), good socks (soon), a watch (in the future), a different kind of phone holder (I don't want to over-stress my tender shoulders), jogging pants (I only have yoga pants, not cool). I don't know how much clothes to wear now that the temperatures are dropping. What to do about rain, and god forbid, snow. Is it possible to train at night? And now that I'm trying to run a mile, I don't have to worry about water or food, but someday I will. And they say running is not an expensive sport...

Day 3

It's raining outside. It's been raining all day. Not a heavy rain but rain nevertheless. I go out for my run dressed as a very suspicious individual: black jogging pants, black running shoes, black hoodie covering my head. I fear I may be shot at, and who would blame the shooter... I complete the run with no glitches or bullet holes.

Day 2

Fully geared, I venture outside. Angie lent me her iphone holder, the type you wear on your forearm, and I soon run into problems with the app. It orders me to warm up by briskly walking for 5 minutes and then run 45 seconds, walk 2 minutes 4 times. I forgot to ask Angie or Kiki what to do when you are stuck in a street corner and can't cross the street. I decide to pause the app, restart, pause again at the next light, etcetera, until the app, or the phone, gives up and goes into mute. I had to improvise. I finish, I'm not winded and nothing hurts. I will put this workout on the win column.

Day 1

I plan to run during my lunch break, but when I get to the dressing room, I discover that I forgot my running shoes at home. Desperate times call for desperate measures and I hop on the treadmill at the gym wearing my 2-inch-heeled mary janes. I complete the workout, but PRT measures mileage through GPS, and since I have not moved an inch from the treadmill, I run zero miles according to the app, 1.2 miles according to the treadmill. Nevertheless, I would call this a success!

PRT

This is the app that was recommended to me to get me running. I downloaded it, and afterwards, my daughter Angie (who that day had completed her first (last?) marathon and inspired me to run one myself), showed me how it works.

It has training programs for a mile, 5k, 10k, half marathon and marathon. I, needless to say, will start on week one day one of the 1 mile training program. It has three sessions per week, and you are supposed to train one day and rest the next day, but since I am in excellent physical shape (for swimming), I decided I could speed this up and do the workouts almost every day, in order to complete the 12 sessions in about two weeks.

I have 52 weeks until the 2016 Marine Corp Marathon. That is my hometown marathon, the one my daughter and son-in-law, and many people I know have ran. Thirty thousand competitors make it the "people's marathon," and you have to participate in a lottery in hopes of getting a spot.

On the other hand, there is a half-marathon that will take place on March 12. One of my mentors, Kiki, is encouraging me to run it, as she (who has ran several halves) will help another newbie complete it. That leaves me 20 weeks to prepare for that one.

So the plan is to follow the PRT program for the mile and 5k in 10 weeks (it's supposed to take 16 weeks, but I'll accelerate the one mile program). That will take me until the end of 2015. Then, on January 1, I'll skip the 10K program and dive into the 10 week half marathon training program, and try to be ready for the race in March.

If I have the money and am healthy at that point, I would love to run the Missoula half marathon on July 10, mostly because it is totally flat and I've always wanted to go to Montana. That would leave me about 15 weeks to prepare for the MCM on October 30.

As you will notice, lofty plans, tight schedule, all running on dreams and prednisone vapors.

The world's worst runner prepares for a marathon

I have never felt the urge to run. Never. I have not participated in any running activity outside of tag in the playgorund. My brain is wired so after about a block of light jogging, I hear an inside voice that says: "Stop, nobody is chasing you. And if you insist on moving, just walk, woman!"

I am a swimmer. A SWIMMER. A water creature. I've been training hard for a number of years and enjoyed every minute in the water, both in practice and competition. I've had several coaches, some have been great cheerleaders, others have engaged me intellectually in the minutiae of technique. However, I plateaued. After some progress on speed (a mountain of progress in endurance), my times are not getting better and my shoulders are permanently achy. Perhaps it is a badge of honor to finally suffer from swimmer's shoulders. But it worries me, as I hope to be able to swim many more years.

For an unrelated medical problem, I have been taking a massive amount of prednisone in the past week. Among the possible side effects of this drug is "steroid-inducing mania." This may explain why I decided to train for a full marathon in a year's time.

This blog will capture this experience. If you happen to stumble upon it, perhaps, good reader, it may allow you to vicariously plan, prepare and execute a marathon without having to move an inch from your couch.