8/31

Today's Plan: 5K Race
Finally, my first race day was here. Outta bed at 6, had my first cup of coffee and a shower. We got there shortly after 7 and registered. The parking highly amused my husband (a onetime fireman) when we were told to park at the fire station. Apparently there is a well trod path between the fire station and the brewery.
The race was in the same town that we boated to yesterday, as it was all a part of Harbor Fest.  I work in the town, and yesterday I saw quite a few people I know. I was amazed that today I knew no one except the owner of the brewery when I registered. Apparently, my clients are not runners! And yes, it started and ended at a small craft brewery: much to the enjoyment of my husband. After wandering aimlessly, and making friends in line for the bathrooms, it was finally time. A half marathon was also slated for the day, and they got sent off first. Then, we lined up. Next to me were two outgoing ladies who kept me entertained as we waited for the gun. In front of me was a dad with 2 kids, a girl and a boy. They started in front of me and finished in front of me. Can't beat youth. But I can beat my best time. My first mile was 9:05, and then entire run was 29:18. The entertaining ladies were behind me on the run out and kept me moving to stay in front. After the turnaround, they caught me and we ran together, encouraging each other. They managed the last hill better than me and finished just ahead of me. It was a fabulous race. Cresting the first hill and seeing the rainbow of tshirts stretched out in front was invigorating. Hitting the turnaround was cause for thanks, and climbing the last hill was, well, painful but over quickly and then the race was finished. I saw the young girl after and asked if she beat her brother. She hadn't, but she did beat dad.
Things I learned from my first race: I went out too fast, I couldn't find my pace tempo that I'd been practicing because I was going to fast for it. Not knowing the course ahead of time means uncertainty in pacing: always ask where the turnaround is (not where I had thought) and where the finish line is (it's not always the starting line!). Runners are a gregarious bunch willing to share experiences and always cheer each other on. I can't wait to do it again.

8/30

Today's Plan: Fun!
I thought of taking a run this morning, but knowing the day ahead of me, I chose not to. We took the boat out with some friends and ran it downriver. You know it's been a long day on the water when the sun is one side of the river on the way out and on the other on the way home. It was gorgeous out there. The ocean was an incredible green and on the way back the sun was at the right level to bathe everything in golden light. What a beautiful world we live in. We traveled down to ocean front town's Harbor Fest, and got to taste chili and chowder from restaurants all over town. One restaurant required a mile walk (there and back) so that helped work off all our samples! Good weather, good friends and a good day.

8/29

Today's Plan: Weights and Stretching
I know, you're saying "but wait, 2 days ago you ran 1 mile at race pace, then yesterday you ran 2 miles at race pace, why didn't you do 3 miles at race pace today??" Seeing as how I am preparing for a 3m race on Sunday, that would be a logical progression. Who wants to be logical? I hadn't done my weights at all this week, and I definitely needed some stretching in my lower body to make Sunday easier.

8/28

Today's Plan: training at race pace
So today was 2m at race pace, with a 40sec break in between.  Again, I warmed up half a mile, then continued immediately into the first lap. It was a personal best for me, 9:35. Second mile was a bit harder, if only because I had to start all over again after the rest (I know, I know, what a thing to complain about). At the half mile mark, I was 22sec behind my first mile, but I managed to make a bit up and ended only 11sec behind, then continued home for the last half mile. Gotta say, it was an excellent way to start my day.

8/27

Today's Plan: ride
I forgot to mention my third training partner: deer flies. I don't know about your corner of the world, but up here we got a bumper crop. We also have moose flies--like the deer, but 3 times bigger. (I don't know the actual name of these flies, moose just seems appropriate.) I have to say, trying outrun deer flies certainly improves your time.  My horse is particularly sensitive to flies, she has been hiding in the barn for most of the last month and I have shoveled the proof. Riding with flies is an exercise in futility. Her head is swiveling and shaking. and her attention is definitely not on anything  I'm asking her to do. This morning I thought, well, it's 6:45. She should be fine. Popped her bridle on, climbed on and out the road we went. Up the hill was fine--until we hit sunlight at the top. I think the flies knew we were coming, because they swarmed. I felt so bad that I hadn't put on her face mask. Good thing is, they thinned as we went back into the shade, and stayed in it. We did get in a good ride by staying in the shade, but even dappled light had flies hiding in it. I have learned my lesson.

8/26

Today's Plan: run at race pace
So I stopped dithering, and decided that I needed to practice my target race pace. Distance I can do, but I need to work on consistent speed. I ran a half-mile to warm up, then sped up to my target pace. After a mile, I slowed down for the last half-mile. Astonishingly, I actually posted my fastest 2mile time to date. Next I go for 2 miles with a half-mile warm up and cool down!

Getting out there

Sometimes we get caught in our own problems and forget how good our lives are and how much freedom we really have. Right now just getting to work is a challenge in a half dozen countries, including Ukraine, Iraq and Israel. I can't even imagine it. Trying to sleep in Gaza right now must be all but impossible. But sometimes someone comes along and is brave enough to change things. There is a young woman in the West Bank who decided to run on the roads. No one runs outside a gym in Palestine. For good reason. The farthest run she could go on was 2K or 5K. Beyond that there were walls or she would have to cross Israeli check points, which include metal detectors, and the need for id. And lines. That will ruin a good run. But she did it. She started a running club and even got to run in a half marathon in Bethlehem-they had to loop the city twice to make it long enough. As we struggle with work and family and bemoan the lack of time we have to run, we need to think about her and realize that if we truly want to get out there, we can. Her favorite run is 2.5k to a winery, where she touches the gate and turns back. Sounds like a wonderful goal to me.
(the article I am sourcing was in the Sept 2014 issue of Runner's World)

8/25

Today's Plan: Nothing!
After a particularly vigorous weekend, I'm taking today off. I generally take one day off in every six, but, for anyone playing along, you might have noticed I have not taken any breaks since 8/15. Guess I just got on a roll. We are now within a week from my first race. Am I nervous? Heck yeah. I haven't run with others since high school. Have competed since then either. Last week my husband asks if I might win. Hah! I am hoping not to disgrace myself.  I have been dithering over the best way to train the week before an event. Don't want to wear myself out. Don't want to lose any fitness by not training enough. Am I making a big deal out of an insignificant race? Heck yeah. But since I am hoping it will be the first of many, I want a good experience.

8/24

Today's Plan: run a set course with a set time
I have this loop around my house, roughly 5.5 miles. It is exceedingly hilly so I either come back over the Mountain, or I gradually climb over the course of a couple miles with some steep and some laid back hills. I've been thinking of this Loop all summer, not sure that I could accomplish it. It might be helpful here to point out that I don't walk during my runs. If I had to stop, then I didn't accomplish  the goal.  When I ran my 6.3m on the local rail trail, I saw an old friend that I hadn't seen off FB in a year or more. I didn't stop, just said hi and kept going, otherwise I couldn't have said I ran the whole trail between Gardiner and Augusta. Goals are important, I need a reason for the run. Doesn't matter if it's distance, time, interval, I like to have a purpose when I walk out the door. Today's run was actually rather slow, it had a dual purpose. Could I do the Loop? And could I  maintain the same pace throughout, uphill and down? Picking a pace and retaining it is hard, even a slow pace--I kept trying to speed up. Strangely, I thought it would be easier to end on the Mountain, even after 4 miles, rather than the up/down/up/up/down/up section. It's really a triangle, so after 2.5m, I reached the tipping point: it was no longer easier to go back than to continue. Climbing the Mountain after that run was just about the hardest thing I have done so far. But I did it, and my miles were within 30 seconds of each other. Except for the Mountain climb. It is distinctly possible a turtle could have beat me to the top.  So now I have to conquer the other way. And I figure when I can loop it twice, I'll be just about ready for a 1/2 maration.

8/23

Today's Plan: RUN!
I love that well worn feeling from a good run. 3.77 miles.My thighs were feeling it after. I did a loop run, which involves my local gravel pit. I think I may watch to many mystery shows--it always seems to be the hapless runner that finds the body. Every time I descend into the deserted pit, I feel a bit apprehensive. Of course, the worst thing that happened is the weeds have grown up since the last time I came and it took a bit to find the road back OUT of the pit!  Then  I rode the horse. And helped my husband shoot skeet--excellent workout for my arms, pulling back the arm to reload.  I will sleep well tonight.

8/22 B

I did manage to dawdle around long enough that I couldn't do my yoga this morning. But I did convince myself to do it when I got home. I am a do it yourself kind of person. I don't go to a gym (how is it possible to find the time??) and I guess I'm a bit solitary when it comes to exercise. I like being able to do it when I want and where I want.  So I have a few dvds. That is how I learned yoga, and a bit of kickboxing as well. I have been practiced yoga for, well, a very long time. I no longer really need the DVDs, I can put together my own set depending if I want strength or flexibility training. If I don't get around to doing it, I get cranky. It stretches, relaxes, twists and gives me peace of mind. I highly recommend it if you haven't tried it. For a runner, it helps with breathing when the road gets tough. Yoga also works the core, essential to running. I just read that wearing even a slight heel can significantly shorten the Achilles.Yikes! I love my heels. Downward dog is a great way to compensate for those lovely wedges I wore today.

8/22

Today's plan: yoga
I am sitting on the couch trying to get the ambition to get up and do said yoga. If I delay just a few more minutes I won't have time...hmmmm

8/21

Today's plan: weights, yoga
So the weights went well, I added an extra rep- ran it thru after doing the first two. And Burpees. Oh, how we love our burpees, right? I started small, just doing the squat, plank, squat and stand up when I first decided I should try these.  I did those with the first 2 reps and then graduated to a pushup and jump for the last. That was fun :) The yoga was preemmpted. I hoped it would never  happen, but finally someone got around to challenging me. I did the ice bucket challenge tonight, and it was, um, refreshing?

8/20

Today's plan: Ride
So I put the pesky beast to work today. I have been riding longer than any other sport I do or have done. My mother got hooked when my brother wanted riding lessons and from then on we always had horses. At a young age I had aspirations of trick riding, and would race around the ring on a patient mare. The biggest problem I had was that she was an exceptionally well trained horse, and as I jumped off at a canter and ran to a bucket to hop back on, she stopped. She had been trained to slow down as a rider slipped and stop completely if they came off. My current horse, a Welsh Cobb Thoroughbred, is not nearly as well trained. But she is my girl. We've been together for 6 or so years and while we squabble occasionally, we have a great relationship. Today we went out and played on the road, as early in the morning there are both less flies and less cars. The neighbors are doing a drainage project, and the large Cat with a bucket was an eyebrow raiser, but other than that, we had a lovely time.
This afternoon I took the puppy for a walk. She was my training partner early in the spring, we would walk out a mile and run back. Once I started running out and back, she had to be left at home: she simply wants to sniff too much! Today she got to sniff to her heart's content.

8/19

Today's Plan: 1m, wt lifting
I think I mentioned this yesterday, but fluidness in your planning is a good thing. Since I hadn't actually hit my 3m goal yet this week, I decided to try again today instead of the mile sprint. Last night as I lay in bed, unable to sleep due to an excess of green tea, I found American Ninja Warrior again. At some point, I was inspired to think that not only should I go for the long run, but I should climb the mountain while I was at it.  I live in the country,so I have long winding roads to run. And hills. Some of which deserve a capital H. And then there is the mountain. The first time I ran it from top to bottom, I used my tracker to verify the distance. I was disappointed that it was only .95m. I really wanted to say I ran a mile straight up! Guess I need to find a bigger mountain.

8/18

Today's Plan: 3m
One thing I have learned in my years of exercise addiction, you must allow for change. Setting a plan in concrete and trying to follow it without fail is a sure way to heartache. Mother Nature in particular has a way of  putting paid to the best laid plans.Yesterday I had plans to see a friend and exercise. Saturday we called it off as the weather was not promising.  Yesterday morning I got up and saw a patch of blue sky. Dang weathermen, I cursed. Well, I might as well get a run in. At the farthest point in my run, the skies opened up. Dang weathermen, I cursed again. I hate it when they are right. My point being, this morning I felt lazy. So I did yoga instead of the 3m. Then when I got home tonight, I felt more energized, so I did a 2.5m run. Don't waste time feeling guilty, sometimes you have to adjustyour plan to how you feel. In the end, I did more today than originally planned. That's a win.

My father's Genes Running On

I have run off and on -mainly off- since high school. I ran track and cross country because my dad and brother did. I never threw my heart and soul in it, although I enjoyed it greatly. College -and the freedom that came with it- put a stop to my running. A few years ago I discovered that running is one of the few things that actually convinces my body to lose weight. But, again, not enough to take it seriously. Then my brother picked up running again, and I thought, why not? (There's that competitive streak) This time, it's sticking. I guess I'm a late bloomer. I didn't pick up football until my late thirties, but don't bother me on a sunday in the fall! That was my husband's doing, but genes then kicked in. I watch more football now than my husband.  My dad loved sports, as his dad loved sports. He played sports in college, ran until being a farmer took the time, and watched all sports on tv. I have fond memories of watching the World Series with Dad (and I don't like baseball), and  the Olympics were always watched in my parents house. And now mine. Dad would watch several games at once, when a commercial came on he would switch to the other game until a commercial came on and he would then check out the first.  Occasionally, being such a great fan,  he even watched through his eyelids. When I told my mother that I had my first 5k coming, she thought that was great. Then pointed out that Dad did 10ks so I had a bit further to go. So, a goal for next year.

8/16

Today's plan: Yoga
As I was going out for the day with a friend, I decided to do my yoga early in the morning. Morning is not the best time for me to yoga, my muscles scream in protest that early. But I was moving along, ignoring the morning news as I forced my run shrunken limbs to lengthen, when I heard a "thunk". Twisting my head in downward dog, I see a fuzzy black butt, tail wagging furiously. Apparently we needed a very specific toy, so my mini schnauzer dragged out the entire toy bin in front of the couch and was tossing them left and right (the thunk was a bone). I went back to my yoga, my pose shaking slightly as I tried not to laugh. Several thuds later, we were both done.

8/15

Today's plan: 3mile
Ran out of time, but got 2.7m in and made it to work only 2 minutes late!
American Ninja Warrior. What a way to inspire one's self.  Watching them, I know I can never do what they do, but at least I can be the very best at what I CAN manage.The feats that these athletes manage make me think that if they can beat the warp wall, at least I can run another mile.   Or another. So watch away and think what you can do. And, man, it looks like FUN!

8/14

Today's Plan: 1mile sprint followed by weight training
Plan went smashingly until I ran (literally) into a bee--or wasp. He didn't introduce himself, just left his stinger in my arm and bounced off. Still managed a personal best mile, especially since I started UP an 800yd hill. Yes, I know that means I finished down the hill, but first I went up!!

44th Birthday

So today is my 44th birthday and I have decided that I should chronicle the journey I am on. It is not just to fitness, although that is certainly part of it. I have been exercising in various ways for over 20 years. But running, fits. And I hate cardio. Who knew?
I started running to lose weight, that 10lbs that never leaves. But now when I lose a pound it is incidental. Running fits my competitive nature, and lets me push myself even though right now I'm just pushing myself out the front door early in the morning.