12 miles

Every Monday I feel like the biggest retard. Who DOES this to themselves?! I was so nervous before my run today, but 12.24 miles are done. It took me 2 hours 35 minutes to complete 12 miles and a quarter. It was slow, but I’m happy I didn’t die and that I completed 12 miles! Especially with all the hills around here. I’m really getting tired of hills. I mean literally tired.

The whole second half of my run I kept thinking I was a crazy person for willingly doing this to myself as I had to walk up more hills. It felt like I walked a lot. I don’t feel so retarded once I’m done with a long run, but golly geeze do I feel tired and hungry! I’m not quite walking like a normal person yet today. My feet hurt the worst. Finally got a couple blisters and my feet feel like I’ve been standing all day. I’m happy the only thing I had planned today after my run was sitting on my bum watching season 2 of Gilmore Girls eating a ginormous subway sandwich and zucchini muffins. Ahhh. This is the best part of running. Being DONE with running. If nothing else running always makes me especially grateful for being still with my feet up eating good food.

I went with my hydration pack for the first time. I put about 16 oz of water in and took one 110 calorie gel thing in my pocket. I really liked having the water with me. The sound of the sloshing would have bothered me a lot if I didn’t have music blaring in my ears drowning out the sound, but it wasn’t very heavy and I liked having water there to drink whenever I wanted it, which turned out to be rather frequently. I don’t usually drink when I run and I was surprised that I drank most of it. I was afraid it would make my stomach feel funny, but taking sips whenever I was thirsty only had a positive effect on how I felt overall- so I kept doing it.

After the initial gag at the flavor and texture, the gel thing didn’t make me sick either. It was supposed to be vanilla (the only flavor that didn’t come with caffeine) but it really didn’t taste like vanilla. It was like having to take medicine and turned out to be another aspect of my run that I wanted to be over with as soon as possible once I tasted it. I don’t remember what it tasted like other than tangy and gross. I guess that would be the potassium and sodium making it a deliciously tasty treat. But it helped.

Despite hating everything during the run itself I love knowing that a couple weeks ago I didn’t think I could take one step further than the 10.46 miles I did with my brother and now completing 12.24 miles today and feeling like if I HAD to I could have taken maybe 2 steps further. Today is twice as far as my long run in week one. My shorter runs still feel hard, but my time is getting better. That part I love. I’m always a fan of progress and improvement, which I guess is the only reason I keep at this because otherwise it just hurts.

Week 6

After my first 8 mile run I finally felt like I could do this marathon thing. I take it back. Good grief running is hard! On Christmas Eve morning I went 10.46 miles with my brother and I wanted to die. My pace was horrible (13 minute something  a mile avg pace) but to make myself feel better I remind myself that’s including the time I had to stop to use a portapotty (awful), time we took to stop and shake rocks out of our shoe, and 2 miles of it was sucky mud. Sucky meaning suck your shoe off as you run through it, although I’ll give it the other meaning too. It was so hard and my legs got burned out faster than I would have liked and when we finished with the sucky mud we still had 5 miles to go. That’s what I get for planning a route that included a lap around Contra Loma reservoir after 3 days of rain. Actually, my original route had 2 laps around the reservoir, but we nixed that idea once we hit the mud and used my brother’s phone that had a handy ap that was keeping track of where and how far and fast (or slow) we were running to complete the 10 miles a different way.

This Monday I went 8 miles and felt pretty good until the last few miles it got hard, but not nearly as hard as the 10 miles were the previous week and I kept with my just under 12 minute average mile pace. I went at 0530 in the cold dark because I was going to be leaving to spend the day in SF with my best buddies that morning. We took BART into the city and walked everywhere we went- my legs and feet were so tired at the end of the day! The next day (new years day) I had to do a 3 mile run. My right knee was hurting, my legs were sore, I wasn’t watching my diet as carefully with it being new years eve the night before so my stomach wasn’t feeling so great with the cheese cake and snacks I had that night, I was still super tired, everything in my body seemed to hurt, my endorphins never kicked in and those 3 miles were the hardest 3 miles I’ve ever run since starting this thing. I thought I was the biggest idiot for agreeing to this. I was sucking wind and wishing I was back on the couch as soon as I started…and I started DOWNHILL. Hopefully tomorrow’s 4 ¼ mile run will be more enjoyable. My legs are still tired but not as sore as they were yesterday. Today was a rest day and I haven’t even been doing my strength training on my off days the last 2 weeks. I’ve been so tired! I bought some iron supplements today. I don’t plan to take them every day, but I think taking them maybe at least once a week as well as a few other days at certain times will help with some things.

This coming Monday I get to go 12 miles and I’m freaking out remembering how hard 10 miles was. I couldn't imagine going one step further than I did. On our 10 mile run on Christmas eve we had a water fountain we stopped at on our route not quite half way through and I still haven't run with water or food. I got a hydration pack to wear on my back for Christmas, so I think it’s time to see how that feels running. I bought a couple Power Bar brand activity energy gels (non caffeinated, 110 calories, vanilla flavored with some potassium, sodium and carbohydrates in it- they sound like a condensed gatorade). They recommend one every 45-60 minutes of activity along with water. I plan to use one after about half way through my run on Monday and I’ll see how I feel with it. If I like it I’ll keep with them since they seem like the easiest thing to consume on a run. They had bars, jelly beans and gummy blocks, but I figured I didn’t want to have to chew forever to get something down. A lot of them also had caffeine in them, which I’m too afraid to even try. I’m hoping that these gels will help keep me from feeling so awful towards the end of my long runs. My legs get to the point where they just don’t want to go and when I do slow to a walk they hurt so bad for a few steps until they loosen up and adjust to the walking pace. The beginning of my long runs are always pretty good. The ends are always pretty awful. Mondays aren’t exactly my favorite anymore.

I’m surprised at how well my feet have been doing. Still no blisters. They don’t hurt as much as they did when I first started, and they hurt even less after my last 8 mile run than they did after my first 8 mile run. After my 10 mile run I had a sharp pain whenever I stepped on my left heel just right that lasted a few days and worried me at first, but eventually faded away after about a week. I didn’t do anything special for it and still ran every day I was supposed to. I think it was just some bruised tissue in there.

Week 4 updates

I’ve mostly been updating with just the long runs, which are important, but I haven’t really been keeping you up to date with my daily experiences. My training schedule is 4 days of jogging a week (Monday, long run, Tuesday a shorter approximate 3 mile run, Wednesday rest (I do upper body strength training) Thursday a shorter approximate 4 mile run, Friday rest from running, work with hand weights, Saturday 4 mile run, Sunday rest). Later in my training some of the 4 mile runs will turn into 5 or 6 mile runs. When I first started I would be wiped out and feeling like I never wanted to leave the couch, especially on days where I had to go to work after, but now I’m able to complete my run and go to work feeling fine. (2 of my running days usually land on days I work and I wake up a couple hours earlier than I usually do to get my run in).

I thought I’d be sore today after my 8 miles yesterday, but aside from my muscles getting tired faster and my feet still being tired I’m not that sore. It took me a tad longer to complete my 3.4 miles today than it did last week.

I’m doing well with the “rules” I gave myself. I haven’t skipped one running day since I started this thing. I can see improvement. It’s fun to see how much more quickly I recover at the end of a run (I don’t feel out of breath any more at my front door, unless I sprint the last stretch which sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t) and how much further I can go now before walking compared to a month ago. Yesterday was my first big milestone in this experience because I have never jogged much further than 6 miles before I started training and that was far for me to go, so the distance I’ve gone in my long runs before now I had already done at some point in my life. I was a little apprehensive before my run yesterday, and I almost wanted to cry at the end of it because I finished it with the same pace I did 6 miles the week before and it showed me that I could do something I’ve never done and I was capable of going a distance I never thought I’d go. I was so proud of myself. For the first time I felt like I could do this if I keep working at it. I’m starting to feel like a real jogger and not just a wannabe.

I’m letting myself eat whenever I’m hungry…which I still feel like is a lot. I’m making progress with my rule of not feeling guilty about it and I think I’m happier that way. I haven’t lost any weight, but I haven’t gained any weight either. I just remind myself that I’m not doing this to lose weight- I’m doing it to be able to run further and complete a marathon. I’m already a healthy weight, so even if I feel that I have some flab I’d prefer not to have I’m not going to worry about it. And in order to not hate my life during this time, I can’t be starving myself.

I took my pulse before going to sleep last night and it was 46-48 BPM. I always like trending my pulse at rest. So far that’s the lowest I’ve gotten it. It was 50 when I woke up this morning and 54 right now.

I kind of miss dairy. I discovered silk vanilla light, which I absolutely love though. It has more calcium, less sodium and less calories than a glass of skim milk and I think it tastes way better. Rarely would I drink a glass of plain milk, but I really enjoy the vanilla flavored silk. I use it on my cereal too. I can’t really use it in cooking or other things since it’s flavored, but I was very pleased with that as a substitute for my cereal…and just drinking. Really surprised how much I like it. I still don’t have a replacement for my cheese and yogurt, so I’m just doing without. When I’d normally have cottage cheese and fruit, I’m just having fruit and leaving cheese out of stuff I’d normally put it in.

Before my 8 mile run yesterday I ate a banana and 2 costco rolls with a bit of blackberry jam on them for breakfast. After my run I had a bowl of life cereal (with my vanilla silk light) and took a shower. Then I ate a piece of baked salmon, a bowl of brown rice and spinach. I went Christmas shopping and on my way home I was starving and decided I couldn’t even wait for water to boil to make 3 minute ramen once I was home, so I was going to stop at Safeway and get my favorite sandwich there, but then realized part of what made that sandwich so delicious was the marinated mozzarella cheese, so I went to subway instead and got the cold cut combo foot long with all the veggies on honey oat bread and no cheese…and a macadamia nut cookie. I inhaled the first half of that sandwich so dang fast. Haha. I thought I would die before I could eat it. I ate the other half a while later and continued to be hungry rather frequently and ate something every couple hours or so until I went to bed.

I will say this: I am glad that my brother convinced me to train for a marathon over the holidays. It’s not like I indulge every day, but probably for the first time in a long time if not ever I feel no remorse what so ever for any goodies that I do eat. It’s a good feeling. Haha.

8 miles

Today is the start of week 4. I just got back from jogging 8.14 miles. My feet are tired. In fact, that was the most difficult thing to run through was my feet hurting. Sure my legs were tired and sometimes it was hard to breathe, but for the most part if I’m not going up hill my lungs feel pretty good. I might have to get some shoes with better arch support, but at least I don’t get hot spots or blisters.

8.14 miles! That is the furthest I have ever jogged in my entire life…and I’m just now starting to feel the gnawings of a hunger that will soon turn ravenous if I don’t eat soon.

It took me an hour, 36 minutes and 50 seconds giving me an 11:54 per mile average pace. Not bad for me! I keep thinking I have my Christmas angels with me lately. Next week I’ll be home at my parent’s house and plan to go 10 miles. Depending on the route I choose, the terrain will be a little bit flatter, but they still have some pretty good hills too. I need to figure out my route still.

I still haven’t run with water or “fuel” or food of any kind. I haven’t really needed to, but I know I have to start soon. And it’s something I worry about since I’ve never done it before and I’m not quite sure what to try first. It’s strange for me to have my lungs still feel good and my body be tired. Usually it’s the other way around.

Starting week 3

Mondays=long run days! Today I went 6.2 miles. I really regretted my hot chocolate and ice cream I had last night somewhere between mile 2 and 3 this morning though. It wasn’t anything emergent, even if I had a bathroom I don’t think I could have gone but the pain was enough to keep me from running and if I wasn’t exercising I probably wouldn’t have even had a problem. I felt like my intestines were on fire and I had to walk for just over a half a mile. I was so mad. I was contemplating cutting my route short and trying again later or doing my long run tomorrow since I was walking so much more than I wanted to. My legs, feet and lungs were fine and it was one of the few flat parts of my route! I don’t mind walking up hill but it’s against my rules to walk downhill or on a flat part on my jogging routes around here. So so so mad and irritated at my burning bowels. I really wanted to know that I could do 6 miles decently before I move on to 8 miles next week. That’s when I decided I might have to make some dietary adjustments. It’s not the first time on a run that I’ve had uncomfortable cramps that have forced me to a walk when otherwise I could run. This makes me sad. I’ve always been a little sensitive to milk products, but nothing debilitating enough to keep me from eating it. I eat dairy every day. I’ll have to be more attentive at taking my calcium pills now, but if it helps me feel better when I run I guess it will be worth it so I’ll start there and see if it helps.

BUT despite the burning and the walking way more than I should have, my discomfort eased away and I finished my 6.2 miles with a 11:50 a mile average pace! I was stoked, and not expecting that with the .6 miles I walked where I normally wouldn’t have. Once I started jogging again I kind of zoned out I guess and before I knew it I was coming up to my turns and passing places I usually would stop to walk for a bit at. I almost missed my turn off one street because I didn’t expect it so soon. It felt amazing to just keep going! Even though I’m trying not to focus or worry about my time I always want to at least finish with a 12 minute mile average pace, and usually I’ve been slower than that around 12:30. This was the first time since starting my training 2 weeks ago I’ve done it. I’m getting better and I can feel it.

After I finished my run I didn’t exactly want to keep running but I wasn’t gasping for air (in fact I was breathing pretty comfortably) or completely exhausted. My feet seem to be adjusting to my shoes ok and I haven’t had any serious blisters like I did a few weeks ago. I’ve got a nice callous on my left big toe.

Recent about nothings

For the first time ever I put peanut butter on my vanilla ice cream with a bit of chocolate syrup. Why oh why have I never done this before? So good.  Also good: peanut butter on celery, apples, bread, graham crackers, a spoon, bananas. I guess I eat a lot of peanut butter. It surprises me that I’m just now thinking to put it on ice cream.

My multi vitamins expired in May. The nurse in me says just throw the bottle away and get new ones, I wouldn’t give meds (even if it’s just vitamins) that expired to my patients, why take them myself? The economical person in me says there’s a bajillion left! Surely they haven’t lost all their potency in 7 months? The reasonable person in me says I can afford a new bottle of MVI’s. The cheap person in me says, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY LEFT! I’m still taking them…for now.

There was a blood drive in my town today. I really wanted to go donate and was planning to after I went to my little meeting with a trainer at the gym I just joined. I sadly decided against donating because I didn’t want to feel horrible during my jog later today especially having to work after. I guess I’ll hold off donating until after the marathon in May with all the running I’m going to be doing between now and then. I haven’t donated since just before I moved here a year and a half ago. In fact, the last time I donated my cell phone rang in the middle of my bleeding, but my purse was on the floor next to me and I couldn’t reach it. I said, “That’s my phone…” hoping my phlebotomist would hand me my purse so I could answer it, but instead she did a little dance and said she liked my ring tone and left it where it was. It was the assistant to my now boss who left a message wanting to set up an interview. I called her back from the snack/recovery table once I was bandaged up and scheduled a day and time for my interview. What a happy happy day. I left that blood bank elated.

A few months ago I made a weird decision to not cut my hair until something significant happened to me. It hadn’t been cut since February this year and was already overdue for another cut. Now it is longer than I’ve had it probably since high school.  My favorite length is just around or below my chin. I’m not sure what caused me to make this decision, maybe I was getting bored and needed some motivation to make something happen but regardless of the reason the decision has been made. The significant event wasn’t anything specifically, but I would know if it was significant or not. If nothing else then I can at least look forward to a haircut any time after May 4 once I complete my first (and possibly last) marathon. In the meantime, you may call me Sampson.

Week 2: personal reminders

Rule # 1: Don’t skip a running day.

My training schedule has 4 running days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday). It’s been raining here lately so I’ve been stuck on a treadmill. I’m tired of it already. It’s dumping buckets again today, but I can’t imagine myself getting back on a treadmill right now so I’m probably just going to put on my old running shoes and get soaked. I only have to go 3 miles today, but for some reason 3 miles on a treadmill seems like it takes so much longer than 3 miles outside.

Rule # 2: Eat when you’re hungry

Whenever I exercise a lot, I am ALWAYS hungry. Like I can eat a meal and feel full then not even an hour later be ready for another one.

Rule # 3: Don’t feel guilty about it

Also, whenever I exercise a lot I’m more aware of what and how much I eat. I’m afraid that because I AM hungry all the time if I eat all the time I’m going to take in too many calories and I wind up not eating enough making myself feel even worse. So to let myself not entirely hate this process of training for a marathon, if it’s a healthy food choice I’m going to eat whenever I want so I’m not completely ravenous like I was when I did INSANITY. Also, I’m not going to be as strict with myself in regards to dessert. Rule # 3 so far is the hardest for me, because even though I’m trying to follow rule #2 that keeps me feeling better physically, I still can’t quite shake the feeling that I shouldn’t be eating so much.

Rule # 4: Drink more water

I don't really have any commentary on this one

 

 

It sounds like the rain has eased up a bit, so I think I'd better head out before it gets worse.