I am totally back! Not quite where I was before I tweaked my hip, but I am working back up to it. I'm taking my runs slowly now, gradually increasing distance. And stretching and IT-band-rolling and icing for hours after workouts (spread out). It is definitely helping, thank goodness.
I'm excited to finally sign up for the Fleet Feet CREW RnR Half Training program tomorrow! And my first run with them should be a "long" one for 3.75 miles downtown on Saturday morning. This half is in November (my first), so I have plenty of time to work up to that distance and work on speed, so I can achieve my sub 2:30 goal. But really, I secretly want to do it in sub 2:20 because that was my little sister's time of her first half last year, which also happened to be the Rock and Roll half (the one held in San Antonio the week after the one in Savannah). :)
In the midst of all this summer training, I signed up/plan to sign up for a few races in the next month:
The first one is next week, as a celebration of the first week of summer: The Welcome to Summer Virtual Run 5K/10K, hosted by Toni at www.runninglovingliving.com. It's FREE and open to anyone that would like to do it! Plus she is giving out prizes just for participating. Since it's a virtual race, you can participate from anywhere in the world! I highly suggest this one. Plus you have a week span to do it (6/18 to 6/25) and you can choose either the 5K, 10K or both. I'm sticking with the 5K for now. I think 6 miles would be pushing it at this point.
The next one will be a "destination" race for me... I put that in quotes because it's only in Atlanta and I'll be going up there for work that week, so it's not really for pleasure. :) This one is the 2012 Decatur-DeKalb YMCA 4-Miler on July 14. I'm going to be running in it with my coworker who is also an avid runner, but waaay faster than me. Plus there are hills so I am sure those will kick my butt too.
The following Saturday, July 28, a few of my buddies from the Moms Run This Town Savannah chapter and I will be participating in the Hot Mama Half Marathon and Half Relay. Another virtual one where we get to do this on our own. I am running the relay with Cori! I can't wait! This one should be good. We get some medals (aka" bling" – ugh, I hate that word!) for this too!
Then that is all for the summer, until fall comes. Then there may be some local races here that I may want to do, given I can afford it. haha The 3 races listed above cost me a total of about $21!! Woohoo!
Oh, there is also going to be a Watermelon Crawl on July 4th, but it's not really a race, just an excuse to get out of the house early and run a 6'er or an 8'er with a group of running fools on Independence day! There'll be watermelon at the end, so that's a plus :) This one is also FREE!!
Happy running!
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
Gulfstream 5k: sub-30 5k GOAL!
I have not updated in a while. I have lots of running logs to update/post but, if you really want to see my progress, just check out my dailymile.com profile: here
I've been out of town a lot in the past 2 weeks so keeping up with my running and Bikram has been tough. I've been tried and drained. What I did manage to do while I was away was OK. My first Bikram class after over a week was TOUGH. I felt like collapsing ON THE FIRST POSE. A simple side bend. OMG. I was dizzy and lightheaded and close to blacking out for the first half of the class (the standing poses). I managed to not keel over, at least. The Savasana pose (corpse/relaxation pose) was my savior. The 2nd half of the class (floor poses) was fine. I am going back tomorrow night.
In running news, I FINALLY did a 5k in under 30 minutes! It was the Gulfstream 5k. It was one of the coolest courses I've ever run! For those that don't know, Gulfstream is one of the largest companies in the area - they make business/luxury jets. Joel's dad and bro work there, as well as a few of our friends. The 5k was pretty much an employee and family ONLY race. Joel's dad decided not to run this year, so we had to pretend to be "cousins" with one of our friends to get registered into this super-VIP 5k race.
The first part of the race was ON A RUNWAY!! A plane actually took off while we were running (in the next runway over)! So awesome! Then the course weaved through parts of the huge campus and the last yards before the finish line took us though a hanger where people were working on planes... a pretty cool way to end the run (and it was closed off from the sun, haha).
As I got near the finish line, I was so STOKED to see the clock say 28:XX... it certainly motivated me to kick harder on those last few strides. I completed the race in 29:05 (according to my watch)!!! Go me!!
My previous fastest 5k time this year was 30:05 (Shamrock Run)... a full minute faster!
I've been out of town a lot in the past 2 weeks so keeping up with my running and Bikram has been tough. I've been tried and drained. What I did manage to do while I was away was OK. My first Bikram class after over a week was TOUGH. I felt like collapsing ON THE FIRST POSE. A simple side bend. OMG. I was dizzy and lightheaded and close to blacking out for the first half of the class (the standing poses). I managed to not keel over, at least. The Savasana pose (corpse/relaxation pose) was my savior. The 2nd half of the class (floor poses) was fine. I am going back tomorrow night.
In running news, I FINALLY did a 5k in under 30 minutes! It was the Gulfstream 5k. It was one of the coolest courses I've ever run! For those that don't know, Gulfstream is one of the largest companies in the area - they make business/luxury jets. Joel's dad and bro work there, as well as a few of our friends. The 5k was pretty much an employee and family ONLY race. Joel's dad decided not to run this year, so we had to pretend to be "cousins" with one of our friends to get registered into this super-VIP 5k race.
The first part of the race was ON A RUNWAY!! A plane actually took off while we were running (in the next runway over)! So awesome! Then the course weaved through parts of the huge campus and the last yards before the finish line took us though a hanger where people were working on planes... a pretty cool way to end the run (and it was closed off from the sun, haha).
As I got near the finish line, I was so STOKED to see the clock say 28:XX... it certainly motivated me to kick harder on those last few strides. I completed the race in 29:05 (according to my watch)!!! Go me!!
My previous fastest 5k time this year was 30:05 (Shamrock Run)... a full minute faster!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
2011 Savannah Bridge Run 5k and Runs since then (sadly, not too many)
The 2011 Savannah Bridge Run took place shortly after we moved back to Savannah. I can't remember if I did a "training run" before the race or not... Anyway, I ran the 5k race in 32:41, honestly it was better than I thought I'd do considering the lack of runs beforehand. This event is somewhat dear to my heart as it is one of the first races I've done and trained for, and is also the race that I have done the most. They have some of the best post-race parties: with yummy Brunswick stew and free beers!! Plus a lot of my friends have run it too. It's a great race. I posted some photos from this race in the Race Photos tab.
I only ran once after that in Dec 2011. And so far 3 times in 2012! My goal is to run at least every other day, with longer runs (eventually) on the weekends. I need to get in half-marathon shape by November!
Since Liam is in daycare now, I can use my lunch breaks to get a run in because I would not be able to otherwise. It's pretty awesome.
+++
1.
Wilson Bridge Trail
November 13, 2011, Sunday
7:46am
4 miles
44:10, 11:02 pace
2.
Savannah Bridge Run 5k
December 3, 2011, Saturday
8:19am
3.1 miles
official times: 37:19 (chip), 10:31 pace
3.
Newport (my Neighborhood in Savannah)
December 14, 2011, Wednesday
12:19pm
3.1 miles
32:03, 10:20 pace
4.
Tom Triplett Park
January 2, 2012, Monday
late morning
3 miles (approximate, I forgot my GPS watch)
n/a time unknown
5.
Newport
January 6, 2012, Friday
12:18pm
3.1 miles
33:25, 10:47 pace
6.
Newport
January 10, 2012, Tuesday
12:30pm
3.1 miles
33:25, 10:47 pace (NOTE: Exact same time as last run!)
I only ran once after that in Dec 2011. And so far 3 times in 2012! My goal is to run at least every other day, with longer runs (eventually) on the weekends. I need to get in half-marathon shape by November!
Since Liam is in daycare now, I can use my lunch breaks to get a run in because I would not be able to otherwise. It's pretty awesome.
+++
1.
Wilson Bridge Trail
November 13, 2011, Sunday
7:46am
4 miles
44:10, 11:02 pace
2.
Savannah Bridge Run 5k
December 3, 2011, Saturday
8:19am
3.1 miles
official times: 37:19 (chip), 10:31 pace
3.
Newport (my Neighborhood in Savannah)
December 14, 2011, Wednesday
12:19pm
3.1 miles
32:03, 10:20 pace
4.
Tom Triplett Park
January 2, 2012, Monday
late morning
3 miles (approximate, I forgot my GPS watch)
n/a time unknown
5.
Newport
January 6, 2012, Friday
12:18pm
3.1 miles
33:25, 10:47 pace
6.
Newport
January 10, 2012, Tuesday
12:30pm
3.1 miles
33:25, 10:47 pace (NOTE: Exact same time as last run!)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
The inaugrual post!
This is going to be a blog about my personal journey to get back into shape and the obstacles I face. A thank you goes out to Rene, a fellow December 2009 mommy and runner! She has a blog that I follow where she documents her Adventures in Running. Her blog motivated me to start this one! I initially posted my musings on weight-loss, running and health issues on my art blog, but it obviously did not belong there.
This is my back-story:
I started running in 2006, when a friend and his girlfriend invited Joel and I to do a Sweetheart/Valentine's Run 5K. I had never considered running a race, so I figured, WTH, and signed us up. Unfortunately the race course was totally screwed up and my pseudo-finish time was somewhere in the 23 minute range! Not bad for a beginner, right? haha Well, I "finished" before Joel (my husband, the former high school cross-country star). Needless to say the race was a flop for both of us, but it motivated me to sign up for more races and in turn, keep trying to beat my previous 5K time and also eventually run longer distances as well. During this time we also went to the gym regularly, too.
In 2009, I got pregnant, but somehow ran 5K PRs in my first trimester. I stopped running after pregnancy symptoms set in (not morning sickness, but fatigue and general laziness), but continued to walk and do light exercise until I was unable to see my feet. After I had Liam in December of that year, I was so busy with baby that I had no time for myself. But after we got into a routine with our lives with a baby, it actually was not that hard to get back into running, other than dealing with the fact that I had all this extra weight to run with - which was just motivation to do it more often. We did a few 5Ks in 2010, but one was not even chip timed and another had course issues which interfered with Joel's final time.
Later in 2010, we moved back to the DC area. I signed up for a half-marathon in November 2011. I was excited to be able to run and train in an awesome area. But my first run after a hiatus from running turned out to be my last of the year, as I experienced severe cramping and mild knee pains after that run. I decided not to run again until I was able to see a doctor. I had an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon who told me that my knees were perfect, but the cartilage was rubbing together which was causing pain. He also said that if I wanted surgery in my future, that I should continue to run. That news almost brought tears to my eyes. Almost as if someone had told me I only had a few months to live. (Well, not that bad!) He suggested I stop running and find other methods of working out. I bought a rowing machine and use it whenever I can. I gave my 1/2 marathon registration to a friend in Savannah. Also, we do not have a gym membership up here because we are stuck in a stupid contract with our former gym in GA! So needless to say, it's been a little bit of a challenge to stay in shape.
It was not until recently that I have been persuaded by friends to get a second opinion from a physical therapist. I am also trying to work out my legs to strengthen them to support my knees when running. I have not yet seen a physical therapist, but I hope to visit one soon so that he/she can help me manage and lessen the pain I may feel in my knees from running. And that is where I am today!
This is my back-story:
I started running in 2006, when a friend and his girlfriend invited Joel and I to do a Sweetheart/Valentine's Run 5K. I had never considered running a race, so I figured, WTH, and signed us up. Unfortunately the race course was totally screwed up and my pseudo-finish time was somewhere in the 23 minute range! Not bad for a beginner, right? haha Well, I "finished" before Joel (my husband, the former high school cross-country star). Needless to say the race was a flop for both of us, but it motivated me to sign up for more races and in turn, keep trying to beat my previous 5K time and also eventually run longer distances as well. During this time we also went to the gym regularly, too.
In 2009, I got pregnant, but somehow ran 5K PRs in my first trimester. I stopped running after pregnancy symptoms set in (not morning sickness, but fatigue and general laziness), but continued to walk and do light exercise until I was unable to see my feet. After I had Liam in December of that year, I was so busy with baby that I had no time for myself. But after we got into a routine with our lives with a baby, it actually was not that hard to get back into running, other than dealing with the fact that I had all this extra weight to run with - which was just motivation to do it more often. We did a few 5Ks in 2010, but one was not even chip timed and another had course issues which interfered with Joel's final time.
Later in 2010, we moved back to the DC area. I signed up for a half-marathon in November 2011. I was excited to be able to run and train in an awesome area. But my first run after a hiatus from running turned out to be my last of the year, as I experienced severe cramping and mild knee pains after that run. I decided not to run again until I was able to see a doctor. I had an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon who told me that my knees were perfect, but the cartilage was rubbing together which was causing pain. He also said that if I wanted surgery in my future, that I should continue to run. That news almost brought tears to my eyes. Almost as if someone had told me I only had a few months to live. (Well, not that bad!) He suggested I stop running and find other methods of working out. I bought a rowing machine and use it whenever I can. I gave my 1/2 marathon registration to a friend in Savannah. Also, we do not have a gym membership up here because we are stuck in a stupid contract with our former gym in GA! So needless to say, it's been a little bit of a challenge to stay in shape.
It was not until recently that I have been persuaded by friends to get a second opinion from a physical therapist. I am also trying to work out my legs to strengthen them to support my knees when running. I have not yet seen a physical therapist, but I hope to visit one soon so that he/she can help me manage and lessen the pain I may feel in my knees from running. And that is where I am today!
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