A quick post for a lazy Sunday

This is going to be a quick post, namely because I just started watching Lost on Netflix and am seriously addicted. I just finished episode 4 of season one and all I can do is keep wondering "what did Kate do?? And Locke is a brilliant character.

First off, wanted to give a shoutout to my buddy Bill from MIT. The Marion Star, one of the papers I work for, ran a nice article about him. I'm also excited for my college friend Theresa, who is going to be starting the Couch to 5K program and blogging about it.

I had a great run yesterday, despite my Garmin dying a mile into it. Well, great for 9 miles, anyway. Ran next to a fellow journalist for the first leg and then on the way back ended up running with a really cool older guy named Bill who had all kinds of stories. The people in my pace team are all really wonderful!

The temperature was in the high 20s, which felt like spring compared to last week. (continued)

Getting started: Couch to 5K

I actually had two people ask me about getting started this week, so I wanted to give a shout out to the Couch to 5K program (C25K).

It worked for me (mind you, I was 40 lbs heavier at the time) and I highly recommend it, and it sure beats the elliptical for cardio. Tips:

Be nice to your feet -- get a good pair of running shoes. They don't have to be expensive at this point, but designed for running.

You don't need an expensive Garmin but you'll probably want at least a cheap sports watch.

Pick out a race when you start the program and register early. That's an incentive to complete it. When picking out a race, pick a midsize one, so you won't get lost in the crowd or be one of so few that there actually is a risk of finishing last. Also, pick one that says "run/walk" so there's no way you will finish last. And always go for the ones that give you technical or tek or tech shirts instead of the normal cotton ones, they're way better. (continued)

8 miles in sub-zero temperatures

BURR It was cold this morning! Accuweather forecast for Worthington for when we were running is to the left. I repeat, burr!

A girl in my group had it right, it definitely takes a certain kind of person to get out there on these types of mornings. I never would have considered myself that kind of person, but there I was.

We did 8 miles in 1 hour and 26 minutes, giving me 23 miles for the week.

I wore my MIT jacket, a long sleeved tee and a long sleeved tech tee. I wore a pair of athletic pants over the Under Armour compression tights I bought yesterday.

Normally you start off cold and warm up quickly, but not today. One mile in... freezing. Two miles in... still freezing. Three miles in, I didn't even want to stop for water, cold drinks of any kind were not appealing in the least. I went for my Gu Chomps, and those were frozen... completely inedible!

The girls all had frosty hair and eyebrows. My Garmin couldn't take the cold, it kept going back and forth between 5 and 9 mph.

After we turned around at three I was just numb. By mile four I'm starting to get some feeling back in my chest and thighs. By mile five I can feel my arms and legs. It wasn't until mile six that I can say I was at all comfortable.

I was going to stop at six but a girl in my group talked me into doing an extra two. Why not, it took so long to get warmed up, might as well keep going!

Burr. And yes I know I lived in Maine for 2.5 years, but still, BURR!!!

Not sure on the plan for next week yet, I'm exhausted, time to curl up with a book in my nice warm bed (which it looks like I'll be sharing with two stubborn greyhounds, one of which has made a nest with all my blankets.)

Here's the beauty of going to MIT every Saturday morning: I get my run out of the way first thing, then I get all my other errands done on the way in. By noon I am done done done done done for the weekend!

New Rules of Lifting for Women

I've been a little lost lately in terms of strength training, how much I should be doing, how much of it, etc... Mostly I just want to maintain where I am and build endurance. At least, that's what the marathon training books I've read say to do.

I was doing a little reading and heard good things about this book, The New Rules of Lifting for Women. I've gotten through the first two chapters and it makes a lot of sense so far. Picked it up at Barnes and Noble tonight, had a gift card to burn.

And, it doesn't make ridiculous promises like "in just 8 minutes" or "lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks" like, oh, almost every book on the shelf. In fact in the first chapter the book stated that the program was neither quick nor easy.

That little bit of honesty sold me on it.

Warrior Dash 2011, I signed up!

I'm pumped, I just registered for the Warrior Dash in Hocking Hills on June 5. I'm in the last wave, at 5 p.m. It's going to be fun!

Link: http://www.warriordash.com/register2011_ohio.php.

Now how on earth do I train for this thing?

22 miles this week!

Today I decided to be slightly foolish and jumped two weeks ahead in my training schedule. Actually, it's more like switching to a training schedule for a marathon two weeks ahead of mine, at least for now.

Most of my pace team is training for a race circa the beginning of May. The others training for Cleveland are doing the entirety of the long runs with them, so I decided to as well. Today I was scheduled for 7. I ran 9. And felt awesome after. 

I'm deviating heavily from my training program during the week. I'm swapping a shorter run for a hills day, and another shorter run for a cross training day.  The remaining two runs I do Monday and Wednesday, with Sundays and Fridays off.

The training schedule calls for six days running, but Coach Randy said that wasn't really necessary. Maybe I'll try swimming on Fridays, once the crowd at the Y tapers off (it's already starting too).

I passed 20 miles this week for the first time since Salt Fork. Here's the graph:

I am incredibly worn down. This week was long and exhausting on several fronts. To tired to tag and link this post up, I'll finish that up tomorrow. Tonight is all about the red wine and crime dramas. Later this week I'll do a post about food. I went to Whole Foods and Trader Joes tonight, and got some goodies that I'm really excited about.

Martian Half Marathon April 2, Dearborn, MI

I just found the perfect half to do before Cleveland. The Martian Marathon is April 2. Extraterrestrial themed and only 4 hours from Newark.

Hmm, I must think about this! 

Holy runners!

My morning: 

• Get up at 6 and drive for an hour down a snowy 161.
• Wait in a long line of cars waiting to get into a high school parking lot at 7:40 a.m.
• Wait in a long line of people to check into the first post-holiday MIT workout
• Wait in a long line to use the ladies room
• Stand outside freezing waiting for my pace group to be called
• Run 5 miles
• Drink hot chocolate
• Go shopping

It was pretty awesome, all the standing and waiting notwithstanding. There are about 600 people in my marathoner in training program. 600! Our pace groups go from 8 minute miles to 13 minute miles to run/walk to walk. I love it, the energy there Saturday mornings is unreal. 

Plus they give us discounts at Fleet Feet Sports in Columbus.

I write a lot about the running gear I buy. Today I bought two new sports bras, of the straight jacket variety, at 50% off. I started to write a blog about the experience of buying them (and it was a new one), but my better judgement prevailed.

I got a ton of hydration products too. Including Margarita flavored shot bloks --- that made me happy. And 10-oz FuelBelt bottles. That made me really happy.

I am going to run a marathon

I am running the Cleveland Marathon on May 15. A marathon is 26.2 miles. And I just paid $70 for it. And checked this box:

 

I still get a little giddy sometimes when I select this option:

I'd make this another "what the #@%@ was I thinking post", but in this blog's short life there have been one too many of those. 

Exhibit A. 

Exhibit B.

Exhibit C.

I can't believe I'm actually going to do this. MIT, don't fail me! 

Race Report: First on the First, Westerville

I'm kind of a numbers wonk, so the fact that I can get all these graphs and stuff off my Garmin is the greatest thing ever.

I ran my first race with the Garmin today, the First on the First 5K in Westerville, and blew my last PR, 26:06, out of the water. It was a flat, easy out and back course and I rocked it, I finished in 24:27 and I was second in my age group. Full results here. My average pace was 7:46. Next time I'll use the lap button so I can figure out my splits.

I followed the 8:00 pacer the entire time until the very end when she slipped back (probably to finish on time since we were going a little fast). At the beginning I simply thought "oh dear god I'll never keep this up" but then I settled in. I was fine for the first 2.5 miles and then started to feel a little queasy. I realized I was way ahead of my goal pace so I started to drop back. But the guy running next to me kept urging me to keep up, and I did. Whatever was brewing in my stomach fortunately calmed down, and I finished at just under an 8:00 pace. Then they fed us yummy pulled pork sandwiches and black eyed peas.