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.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
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.
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!
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!
Friday, October 30, 2015
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.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
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.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
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.
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.
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.
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