Windy 10

I worked from home today which meant that I got to run outside (and have pho for lunch).

It was very windy today. The kind of gusts that make your hair bitch-slap you in the face, if you had long enough hair.

I ran up, and walked back down, the block that our house is on. It's about a 10th of a mile long with a gradual but definite slope up. The wind blew at me sideways, hard, so I had to fight it going up and got no benefit coming down.

I did the run up 10 times and am proud that I powered up the last one. The wind was so strong at times that I didn't feel like I was moving at times.

Today's workout falls into the what-doesn't-kill-you-helps-you category because it was not fun. Not even with "Fresh Air" for company.

Hm. Maybe that's why...

Ho-hum

No "Family Feud" because the treadmill TV channels only played CNN, MSNBC and ESPN. How do you run to Lou Dobbs or hockey?

Tummy was growling because salads don't fill me up.

Tired before I started the run because I got four hours of sleep the night before.

It all lead a ho-hum treadmill run. Am glad that I worked out though because I'd probably feel even more out of it without the exercise.

I'm going to need to talk to the gym people about making sure they have my "Family Feud" fix ready for me.

1377 steps climbed

Jean, Lee and I did the 62-floor climb yesterday and while we don't have the official times yet, I'm sure we rocked it. By that I mean that I don't think we were the last ones to finish.

Actually, we may be last. All the other climbers seemed young, fit and athletic. We were definitely in LA.

Leland finished first, as he usually does at physical events with me. He is motivated by the desire to get it over with as soon as possible. He may not train for it and is pained afterwards, but his willpower to finish is impressive!

Jean powered up the steps in front of me. I think she was giving me the thumbs up sign whenever we passed each other but I was a bit oxygen-deprived so she might have been giving me the middle finger for roping her in on the climb.

I much prefer running to stair climbing. However, if anyone wants to climb the Empire State Building, CALL ME!

A step forward

I made it to the gym the last two days, happy to be breaking out a sweat again! I think my Monday post of despair was caused by lack of exercise and a PMS outbreak.

Yesterday, I 'laddered' about 4 miles. Today, about 2 miles.

My right calf continues to be leaden through the first 2 miles of every run but the pain eventually works itself out. No residual issue that I know of but I'm on the lookout for any weird pains.

I think I'm addicted to sweating. I don't get that runner's high (I tend to fall asleep on the bus ride home after every workout) but I definitely feel different emotionally when I haven't worked out in a while.

A step back

Was suppose to go for a long run (still at 3 miles until mid-May) this weekend but with no running partner (Shannon was busy getting ready for Austin's 3rd birthday party) and achy calves, I flaked.

I am nagged by thoughts of how little progress I've made in the last five years since I've started running. I know that what progression I've made is due to hard work and dedication. I also know that what progression I wanted (and still want) to make is due to the lack of more hard work and dedication.

But how much more is necessary to make a significant change in my running, body, health? I tell myself to be optimistic but the reality is that I'm bummed with how little I've improved.

Tomorrow is the start of another training week. Am feeling, for the first time in a long time, like "who cares?".

1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 192, 238, ...

The sunny, bright day had given way to misty fog when I went out for a run + stairs workout.

The plan: run 3 miles to the stadium and complete a full round of stadium stairs then MUNI back home to a takeout dinner that Lee was going to order for me.

The reality: ran 1 mile to the stairs on 16th, completed 700 steps up (and more harrowing down...I dislike going down much more than going up) and ran the 1 mile back.

It wasn't the easiest workout but I didn't feel like I was going to kneel over in agony. A tight back and very heavy calf; if those pains are all I'm going to feel on Saturday then my body is a rock star!

After today's workout, I'm not worried about next week's stair climb. Just have to be careful not to overwork the back.

Still have not sunk my teeth into a lemon square and I'm having a wicked craving for sugar + butter + eggs right now. Will some kind soul out there deliver a dessert item of some sort?

Denied

Me at the cafe: A lemon square and Earl Grey tea, please.
Cafe guy: Okay.
...
Cafe guy: Tea! $1.75.
Me: Ah...okay, thanks. (thinking, where's my lemon square? I NEED that lemon square.)
Cafe guy: Thanks.
Me: Grmpf. (thinking, wow, I was just denied my sugar rush of the afternoon.)

Sure, I could have asked again for my sugar fix but I didn't want to seem desperate (which I was) and didn't want to hold up the line. I walked away with my tea and 200 calories lighter for not inhaling the yummy dessert.

I fared better at the gym. I did a ladder workout on the treadmill.
15 minute / mile pace: half mile
13 minute / mile pace: one mile
12 minute / mile pace: half mile
11 minute / mile pace: half mile (WOOT!)
20 minute / mile pace: half mile

Tomorrow, I'm going to get me a lemon square.

Super quads

It was an amazingly beautiful and hot weekend, even in the Sunset where the powers that be normally deem us immigrants unworthy of decent weather.

I did a short run with Shannon on Saturday. Bless her heart, she walked with me when I pooped out towards the end of the 3-mile run. It's amazing how soon my body forgets how to move; it was only a week off!

Did about an hour on the elliptical machine today as prep for next weekend's LA climb. Definitely got a workout. I felt my quads expand, like a cartoon character's, with each step.

Am enjoying the workouts but haven't been able to kick this latest bout of illness entirely. I'm still coughing, with phlem (globs of it...glad you're reading this?) and a sore throat. What gives?

How time flies

It was good to get back into the gym today. Finished a 2.5 mile run on the treadmill. Was surprised that the 12 minute / mile felt...well, not slow but not as fast and difficult as it did a few weeks ago.

I pushed to a 11 minute / mile pace for a half mile. It was not bad. We'll have to see how well my back reacts to that pace. I have had problems with running so fast before; it resulted in back spasms and weeks of rehab time on the couch.

Bean bag

It has been one heck of a week. I succumbed to a hacking cough, dangerous amounts of mucus that almost drowned me and all-around achiness this last week. I got this second cold from Lee just as I was free of the first one.

After a week of giving over my body to the cold demons, I am finally feeling better. I don't think the copious amounts of drugs I inhaled helped me get better but it was fun to be just out of it for a few days.

Today, I was able to put in a short 1.5 miler. I jogged really slowly, up and down the hills of the Inner Sunset. I jogged slow enough to have walkers pass me and enjoyed the fact that I wasn't clogged up or achy or coughing violently.

Am looking forward to getting back to the workout regiment again. My body feels/looks like a beaten up bean bag.

OH, one really good thing that happened last week: I won a lottery spot to this year's Nike Half Marathon race! I will be running it on my 36th birthday!

19:06.4

I made the climb up 52 flights of stairs in 19:06.4 minutes!

I had expected to take about half an hour to complete the climb and was pleasantly surprised to finished it so "quickly." The fastest time was 8 minutes!

I knew the event was going to go well when the DJ played Phil Collins during the warm up. Phil's genius has been alarmingly overlooked. Always a good sign when he's recognized.

I had a strategy going into this race--walk a flight of stairs, jog up the next flight of stairs, repeat. By the time I got to the 3rd floor, my strategy changed to "just keep moving." The jogging part, even for that one flight of stairs, was killer.

I moved into a slow and steady pace, stopping for water three times and wondering what motivates me to do these types of events only once. The time and flights of stairs passed quickly while the burn in the thighs lingered. I'm not feeling much soreness tonight but am anticipating some gimping come Monday.

Of the 814 finishers, I finished 88th in my age group and 544th overall. I had a good enough time at this climb that I'll be flying down to LA next month to do another one!

I've created a team for the LA climb; we're the Vertically Challenged team. Please consider donating to the American Lung Association, which this event supports: https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=260748&lis=0&kntae260748=4E13E137CDB34A139A2EB16D66A9D3AB&supId=0&team=2756145&cj=Y

1,200 steps

I hit the StairMaster today, putting in my one and only training session for a stair-climbing charity event this Saturday.

Once I found out about the event, I spammed some folks in the area seeking cohorts. Only Leland has signed up to go with me. Okay, I signed him up but he agreed to do it! Really!

We will be climbing 52 floors (1197 steps) to the top of the building, earning us a gorgeous view of the city. I think all we'll be thinking about at the top is "The elevators better not be broken."

The workout today wasn't bad. It wasn't easy but it was doable. I did have trouble staying erect. There were times when I was leaning waaaay into the display, almost at a 40-degree angle. Not sure why that happened. To keep up with the pace?

Had another salad for lunch. Yeah, salad. Not.

One second

How can each second drag on for so long?

That was what I was thinking as I ran my second mile at a 12 minute / mile pace. I would stare at the digital number on the panel and then stare some more and then some more and then finally, the second passes.

In one second...I can glace glance at the display, look away and look back again 3 times. I can take about 5 puffs of air. I can take a full body inventory of pain points. I can wonder how long a second takes 30,000 times.

Good run, although not as comfortable as last week's workout. I experienced severe strain / pain in the problem calf after the first mile. I did some stretching and made up my mind to finish the second mile at the faster pace.

I finished the workout, soggy from sweat and proud that I pushed past the pain. Was it the right thing to do? We'll find out at Thursday's run!

Thanks, Rachel

It was a beautiful, sunny day. I wanted to stay in bed and enjoy the wonderful weather from under the covers. Alas, after several failed attempts, Lee finally got me out of bed and off we went--he took out his bike and I put on my running shoes.

We agreed to meet at a brunch place 3 miles away. I was a bit apprehensive about the run during the first few blocks; my usual doubts dogging each step.

During my nemesis mile, that first mile, I struggled with the negative buzz in my head and the dullness in my calves.

By the end of the first mile, though, all that training with Rachel kicked in. My breathing evened out. My pacing stabilized. I took in the sun and bopped to the music. I enjoyed myself.

Rachel taught me what I needed to do so that I can enjoy running. The track workouts, the long runs, the push-ups, the damn lunges... Now that I'm training without Rachel for the first time in years, I truly appreciate what a wonderful trainer she is.

Thanks, Rachel! I'll try to do you proud this running season.

Woot!

It was a woot (stolen from Mojo; my definition of woot is the feeling of childlike happiness when you say it loud and proud but I think it spawns from the Dungeons and Dragons game) running day! WOOOOOOT!

I nailed my treadmill run today.

I watched Family Feud as I warmed up and ran the first 1 or so at a very comfortable 14 minute / mile pace. For my second mile, I cranked it up to a 12 minute / mile pace and was able to sustain it! WOOT!

Yes, for many, this pace is a walking pace but for me, it's the pace that gets me schvitzing with elbows flying and stumpy legs pumping.

I didn't think I could keep it up but I did and I am proud! (Can you tell?)

Eh

Today, well, today, I just didn't have that oomph.

I left myself with less than an hour to work out before I needed to catch the bus home. I had plenty of time and yet, I squander it by doing god knows what.

I was lackadaisical about the workout. I didn't even glare at the muscle tee guys who would not share any of the weight machines.

I may have used up all my enthusiasm yesterday. Or maybe it's because I don't like doing weights. Or maybe it's because I had a salad for lunch today instead of the usual dose of fat and/or sugar I normally have.

Tomorrow, I am definitely having sugar before working out.

Sweaty and happy

Great treadmill workout today. I took my time warming up and it did wonders for the 2 mile run. I had a slight achiness in the calf but otherwise, everything felt great!

My strides landed softly, my feet felt stabilized, my breathing was consistent, my cadence was high, my heart was thumping.

I felt I could run forever, at least 13 miles. I didn't want to stop but alas, had a bus to catch and a training plan to adhere to.

I love it when I feel the sweat rolling down my back, feel my body and mind work harmoniously and know I just worked off that mongo slice of ice cream birthday cake.

Easy does it

I didn't get to my long run last weekend because I was sleeping through most of it. It wasn't due to the cold that is almost done ravaging my body. It was because I love to sleep.

And I think my body needed some rest. Good fatigue or not, my body needed some downtime, as evidenced by my sleep-athon.

Today, I hopped on the treadmill for a slow run. The calf heaviness and tightness was at a moderate level and more manageable then last week's acute pain. I kept the running (at a 14 minute / mile pace) to a 1 mile and walked a half mile before and after.

I'm surprised by how routine the Monday - Thursday workouts are now. I just have to give up my part of my favorite weekend pastime to fit in those Saturday long runs.

Hm. Maybe next weekend. I should really ease into those long runs. Wouldn't want to rush into it and aggravate the injuries... :-)

Booby-shelf muscle?

I was really good with the weight training twice this week. Now, one would think that after working with Rachel for so many years, I would know how to strength train.

Ah, one would be so very wrong. I just did what she told me to and didn't pay any attention. Without Rachel, I made up some exercises to do this week.

One of those exercises has caused this area below my right breast to feel funny...it feels like a muscle ache. But is there a muscle there? Eh?

My body is fatigued, in the very best way, from the regular workouts.

Lessons learned

It was a decent first run last Saturday with Shannon and while a little sore yesterday, I felt ready for another 2-miler on the treadmill today.

Unfortunately, about 1/2 mile into it, my problem right calf felt leaden. Another quarter mile and the calf felt like it was under a broiler. I pushed to the 1 mile mark to see if I could work through the pain.

But, I learned from last year and when the pain only escalated, I stopped running. I switched to walking up a steeper incline and the searing pain stopped. I now have ice packs on both calves.

I'm a bit puzzled as to why the pain came back / on after just a few miles on Saturday and today. I stretched, I warmed up slowly, I rested between the runs.

Will cut out the planned Thursday run and test out the calf again on Saturday with a 2-miler.

Off we go!

I am looking forward to making this my best running year yet. It's my Chinese Zodiac year and I plan on spending my 36th year staying healthy, having fun and loading up on running gear & medals!

Races:
1) Disneyland Half on Labor Day
2) Las Vegas Half on Dec. 7th
3) Nike Half on my 36th birthday! (I'm entered in the lottery for this race and hope that I win a spot)

Goals:
1) Stay healthy and train smart
2) Enjoy my time with Shannon, Elena, Grace and Michelle as we train together for our races
3) Complete a race in 2 hours 45 minutes, a 12.5 minute / mile pace
4) Look like early-Elvis rather than one-too-many-fried-peanut-butter-and-banana-sandwiches Elvis in my running costume in December

Let's run, walk, eat and shop!