Three weeks out

The past week was not an ideal running week.

This can be translated to mean I did my long run and not a lot else. Perfect training for a half marathon, don't you think?

These guys had a lot of time off this week

What did I do? I pulled 10 miles out of the bag on Saturday. They were not great. I was planning an escape within the first mile. But I made it. And, as always, it was not as bad as I had imagined. My stomach was off for most of it and my legs were T-I-R-E-D by the end. On a positive note, the company was great (as always).

A few of the girls in my training group and I have made tentative plans to run the half together. I am a little apprehensive with this plan as I'm not sure what this might mean for my pace. The F^3 Half is not my "target" race for the year. This race went on my calendar as something different and something I couldn't do at home. But my inner competitor wants to do well. Of course, if we run the whole race at our training pace I'll only be one minute off my PB, which is awesome. So it is likely that we'll go out a little faster. But what if we don't? Every race can't be a PB. But I so want it to!!

What do you think - is it a good idea to run a race (especially a half marathon) with a few other people?

What I learned by streaking

I made the decision to participate in the Runner's World Run Streak last year. It was not my most successful endeavour.

But I learned a few things (or at least had some things I already know reinforced) from what I did do.

1. Routine is my friend

While I had my routine I was feeling good and in control.

While I had my routine I knew what I was doing and where I was going and what I was going to eat and when I was going to run.

While I had my routine running was easy.

Once I lost my routine - thank you parties and injuries - everything became so much more difficult.

Action plan:

Use my calendar to plan when I can run

Spend time each week to plan my meals

Have fun but do my work first

2. Big plans excite me but also overwhelm me

I love having a plan. A plan motivates me to get out and give things a go.

Self-doubt leaves me questioning whether I can achieve what I have planned.

Action plan:
Keep dreaming big
Break the big dreams down into smaller parts
Believe in myself

3. I am capable of more than I sometimes give myself credit for

See point three above.

Action plan:
Look back on what I have done and learn from the past - I have always achieved what I was aiming for when I truly believed in what I was seeking
Believe in myself

My recent running highlights

My first holiday race - Rudolph Ramble 8km
It was cold and it was wet. I got there way to early.
This was only a small race but I don't think it was the best organised event I've participated in.
However, I had fun! There's something about running while wearing red foam antlers that just adds something to a race. Plus, it was my best 8km time (although my first 8km race) at 51 minutes. While I don't love standing around in the cold I definitely love running in it. This time is particularly good for me as I did a 7 mile run the day before.

SNOW!!
My first Chicago snow (took you long enough, Chicago). I was super excited on Thursday when it started, so wandered around in it for a couple of hours. Not my best idea as I ended up super cold and slightly damp by the end of it.
I did 5 miles on Friday for my first snow run and followed up with 9 miles today.

Looking south on the Lakefront Path, somewhere around Millennium Park

Turns out running on snow is kinda difficult. My glutes are feeling the extra work they had to do this morning! But I love it!! I love winter. I love Chicago. And I love snow.

I also love running. 2013 is going to be an awesome running year - I am scheming big running plans for it right now.

A streak update

As I mentioned when I first decided to streak, one of my goals was to develop a running habit. My running history is littered with "rest" days.

Nine days into the streak, I was feeling good and actually wasn't having the internal debates about running. Every day was a run day. Some run days were one mile on the treadmill but they were still a run. I even tried a four mile run on the treadmill. I made it to the end but it wasn't pretty.

Day 1 - 4 miles
Day 2 - 4 miles
Day 3 - 6 (fast) miles
Day 4 - 2 miles
Day 5 - 1 mile
Day 6 - 4 (boring) miles
Day 7 - 3 miles
Day 8 - 1 mile
Day 9 - 4 miles

Day 10 (Saturday): I did five miles with my F^3 Half training group (at a much more reasonable pace than the week prior).

Saturday evening I had my office's Holiday Party. Naturally, I got frocked up - LBD and mile high patent heels. It was a great night which started with a few raspberry sangrias and continued with several cranberry vodkas.

Cranberry vodka - very tasty!

Sufficient to say, my coordination left a little much to be desired by the time my feet hurt too much to stay out any longer.

I think you can guess where this is going.

The combination of heels, too many pink/red drinks and a very steep flight of stairs resulted in an embarrassing slip on my way home. Luckily, all I did was skip two steps on the way down as I was holding onto the railing the whole time. But those two steps did a number on my ankle and leg.

Sunday through today have been run free.

I am disappointed to not be running. But I am OK (in theory) with not running due to injury (yes, silly self-inflicted injury, but injury never the less) rather than due to "I can't be bothered".

The good news is I was completely pain free today, including after a three mile walk, so tomorrow morning I will be back out there streaking.

Anyone else sidelined themselves with foolish behaviour? Please tell me I'm not the only one!

Success!

Day 4 of the running streak is done!

After weeks of not hitting four runs a week targets, I have now run four days in a row!!

This post is likely to contain an excessive amount of exclamation marks!!!

Thursday (Thanksgiving) - four miles
Friday - four miles
Saturday - six miles
Sunday (today) - two miles

Friday was a pretty standard, uneventful run. Much more comfortable than the four miles I did on Thursday. The weather had done a turnaround from Thursday and was about 15 degrees colder - and just about perfect running weather in my book.

Lakefront Path, looking South toward Oak Street Beach

I snuck in a little bit of shopping in the afternoon, despite the horrendous crowds, to get a dress to wear to a work Christmas function next weekend. I got something much shorter than I would normally go because I love my runner's legs and am proud to display them now (hopefully everyone will ignore all the bruises I have from my bike - I am so uncoordinated!!).
Saturday was my long run for the week which I did with my CARA running group. After the bike ride to join the group my legs and feet were pretty much numb. A pair of windproof running tights is definitely on the list. As is some form of foot protection. The first two miles were completely on auto-pilot because everything from the waist down felt completely disconnected from me. I still really like running with a group - I'm not very chatty but I enjoy listening to everyone else. We knocked out the six at 10:40 pace (not ideal given we're supposed to be the 11:00 pace group!) and I must confess I was tired by the time I got home. It was the first cold run I have done since moving here. I was starving when done too. I treated myself to eggs and vege hash for breakfast at a local cafe after what felt like the best hot shower ever.
Sunday was a slow two miles. Technically today is a cross-training day on the plan, so I kept the mileage low and pace reasonably glacial.

Tomorrow will be the first "big" challenge in the streak. After a glorious four day weekend, I will have to go back to work :(

I'm planning on sneaking in one mile on the treadmill in my building's gym before work. I only want to do one mile tomorrow as I'm worried about hurting myself if I go any further. The treadmill will help keep me to one mile because I detest treadmill running.

I'm going to streak

Despite my history with consistent running (specifically, consistent running and I don't have a history), I'm going to try the Runner's World Running Streak.

Why?

I am hoping that the goal of only having to hit one mile a day won't overwhelm me. I can run one mile if I'm not feeling great. I can run one mile on the treadmill without passing out from boredom. I can fit a one mile run into any day.

They say (whoever "they" are) that if you do something 21 times, it becomes a habit. And if I can get into a running habit then I'll be much better set up for doing the running that I want to do. I would love 2013 to be the running year.

I kicked off the streak with 4 miles this morning. Lovely day. Bad run. First two miles were plagued with a stitch (why?! why?! I wasn't even running fast) and a very tight left leg from hip to heel. Second two miles were significantly better and made me glad that I persisted through the first two, even though they were still pretty lacklustre.

How could I pass this up?

Post run, I had a date with the foam roller and the tennis ball (ow! ow! ow!). It think I need to add stretching to my streak too.

You win some, you lose some

Today marks the end of the second week of my official 12 week training to the F^3 Half.

I signed up to train with CARA as I was apprehensive about running through my first Chicago winter. With two group long runs on the books, I am happy about this decision (even though it hasn't really got cold yet). It's been a bit of a shift to run with others but when you're living in city where you don't really know anyone, I think it's the way to go. I joined the 11:00 pace group which is working out great.

Other than my long runs, the rest of my training has been a little hit and miss. The plan has us running four times a week - as I've previously reported, hitting these targets has been an issue for me.

I have high hopes of achieving the target this week as there are no "events" planned over the next seven days. I have the best of intentions but this sort of reflects what actually happens when I go out:

I am envious of those who can drink and run. I like beer. I like running. Beer and running do not like each other when I am involved. You win some, you lose some.

In addition to running, I have also entered the world of cycling. My new training group starts their runs about 6 miles from where I live. Given my lack of car, my options for getting there are public transit, cab or bike. Waiting around for the bus after a run is not really what I want to do. As it turns out, I do not have great biking legs. I especially don't have great biking legs after a run. Sore legs beats cold legs any day though.

Until next time...