Running alone

I know that one of the benefits of the MM group is making friends and having someone to train with in a "cross motivational" environment. I am finding, though, that I train better alone.

I either get stressed out trying to keep up, or I hold back and don't do as well as I possibly could when I am with someone else. I feel very guilty if I feel like I have kept somene else from "running their race" if they run with me as I am slow and don't have much running stamina yet. On the other hand, I might slow down if I'm with someone perceived to be slower than me (not too many of those folks out there!) and I don't run as much.

It seems when I am alone I can "do my thing" -- run when I feel like it, walk when I feel like it, set the pace I am comfortable with. I just can't help but feel that I am imposing on someone else when I try to partner up.

I am the same way when I bike with my husband. He's so much faster than me, I really feel guilty when he stays with me as I know he doesn't get the workout he'd get if I weren't along. In some ways it's good as I try to "go faster" but generally, it just stresses me out.

Now, socially, it's is an entirely different proposition. I love to interact with people and look forward to all the social opportunities and getting to know new people. The night at Macaroni Grill was great, and I enjoyed the opportunity to know Micah, Sheila, Stephanie, Matt, Clark, Jana, Robin and Mark a little better. I hope we do that more often. I am still planning on a get-together at my house -- probably in early August. Post marathon, I always throw a Halloween party and the whole group will be invited.

So all of this said, I still want to meet Kelvin at the track on Tues and Thursday. I just want him to feel like he can run the way he wants and leave me behind. I still look forward to seeing folks on Saturday and perhaps partnering up for some of the mileage. I just hope folks will understand, though, if I lag behind or get ahead and will recognize I just need to "do my thing."

Mama's got a new pair of shoes!

I love to cycle and want to build my base miles. I'm just not too motivated on Sundays, though, after that LSD on Saturday. So, I have decided to ride my bike to and from work a few days a week, but I still want to go to the Ridgeland track to wog after work on Tues and Thurs. So, I needed a pair of shoes at home and a pair to keep in the car. Time to go shopping!

When I got my first pair of running shoes at Fleet Feet I was shocked to get a size 11! I mean I wear an 9 dress shoe and think that is PLENTY BIG ENOUGH! With the 11s it looks like I have boats on my feet. I must say, though, after over 200 miles I love those size 11s. So when I went today to get a second pair, I just went straight for the 11s -- to heck with vanity! I just have to face the fact that I have BIG FEET. (We won't mention what bra size I had to get!)

So, I've devised this plan:
Monday morning -- Wog 3-4 miles in a.m before work. Drive to work with bike on back of car and a change of clothes for work on Tuesday, biking clothes and gear, and running duds (and shoes) for Tuesday evening.
Monday evening -- bike home (19 miles -- long way home to get in a few extra miles).
Tuesday a.m. -- bike to work (14 miles -- direct route). Shower and change into work clothes stored in car.
Tuesday p.m. -- Change to running duds stored in car, drive to Ridgeland and wog. Drive home with bike on back of car.
Wed. a.m. -- sleep in a little. Drive to work with bike on back of car and a change of clothes for work on Thursday, biking gear, and running duds for Thursday evening.
Wed. p.m. -- bike home as on Monday p.m.
Thursday a.m. -- bike to work as on Tuesday a.m.
Thursday p.m. -- Run at Ridgeland as on Tuesday p.m.
Friday -- OFF
Saturday -- LSD
Sunday -- Recovery walk

Hopefully this is not too much...I feel good on a bike and it's a fairly easy ride to and from work. I have not increased any running time, just bike time. A couple summers ago I was riding to and from work almost every day. This plan just has me riding one way four days a week. Of course, I have business travel and some weeks won't be able to. I did bring my bike today, though and will ride home and then ride back tomorrow morning. Can't do it on Wed., though as I have to go to Arkansas.

Travelling is hard on the training schedule

No misadventures on my trip to Albany. I got in a brisk walk for 2 miles Monday before I left and then Tues evening I wogged 3 miles around Albany College -- sure felt old seeing all those young, energetic college students! The weather was nice, though -- a little warm, but low humidity. Wednesday was spent travelling back home after a half day meeting, so no XT :(
Tonight I headed to the Ridgeland track, expecting to really be able to run the straights and get in a good 4 miles. It was such a pretty evening, but I felt horrible and only managed to walk 3 miles with very little running. Kelvin was there and I feel like I really held him backas he was a nice guy and stayed with me. Sorry, Kelvin!

Just feel blah...no energy, queasy stomach, generally yucky. Glad tomorrow is a rest day. Hoping to be raring to go on Saturday!

There was an article in People mag about some women who had lost 100 or more pounds -- they all, it seemed, took up running as their exercise! At any rate when I looked at their diet plan, I thought, oh....I really need to do better at the eating part of this makeover!

So, I'm thinking about trying Nutrisystem out for a month to see if I can kick start my weight loss again. Seem to have stopped at 20 lbs. I know I am not eating right, but just can't seem to get motivated to do that. I'm kind of a picky eater -- only like the stuff that's full of fat or sugar -- LOL! I have used Nutrisystem in the past with good, although temporary, results. Maybe the combination of Nutrisystem and all this exercise will really get me going on my 100 pound goal. Who knows one day I might be on the cover of People magaize -- LOL alot!

Lost in Shreveport and other adventures

Sure missed everyone Saturday. It was lonely out there by myself, but I did wog 9.5 miles.
It started off pretty rough, though. I wogged the first mile around the block by my Mom's so I could come in and go to the bathroom before starting out for the place they were holding the 5K. That worked as expected, except I had on race-ready shorts...forgot that my cell phone was in the back pocket and proceeded to drop it in the commode. #$%^&!! YUK!

So now, I don't have a cell phone to use. Oh, well. Turns out my sweet, sweet husband had already ordered me a new cell phone for Mother's day. He must be clairvoyant!

I proceed back out, headed out of Mom's subdivision to get on the main road that will take me up to the 5K. I got on the wrong street...wogged 1.5 miles out of my way and knew that I would be late for the 5K start. As I am headed back to get on the right street, I saw my husband on his bike with the dog running along side. He said I looked like somene with Alzheimer's wandering in the neighborhood. I would have hit him, but he agreed to get the car and give me a ride to the event.

So, I got to the event on time. The 5K was to benefit a residential home (Holy Angels) for the mentally and physically handicapped. It was a great turnout and a lot of fun. The route was through a very nice neighborhood. There were these two ladies in front of me, and I guess they got it in their heads that they were going to "beat me". Everytime I ran , they ran. If I got within 5 yards of them, they ran. I suppose it could have been coincidence, but they kept looking over their shoulders, seemingly to see what I was doing. Don't know why...I didn't know them. But I kept in mind that we need to run our own race, so I did what I could and did not try to get ahead of them (although it was somewhat tempting!)

Along the course there was a two piece jazz combo playing in one of the yard about a mile in and another 6 piece band playing in another yard at mile two. Then when you got back to Holy Angels there was a band, and food and drinks galore. I didn't stick around as I still had to walk back to Mom's to get in the mileage, but did get a banana and some gatorade. Next year I'll get in the other miles FIRST so I can stay after the 5K and enjoy the party. I'm also going to get some of my sisters (I have 6) to do it with me!

I got lost, again, coming back to Mom's. I have no sense of direction. Turns out I left through the side of the Holy Angels property and didn't realize it. Fortuneately there was a policeman directing traffic and she set me straight. Even with my misadventures, by the time I walked back to my Mom's house, I was still a mile short (since I rode in the car to the event rather than wogging as I had planned), so I walked around her neighborhood.

The first 5.8 miles was a pretty fast pace for me -- just under 90 minutes. The walk back to Mom's was a little slower (18 minute mile), but I felt pretty good until the last mile or so when my hips started to hurt -- and my back. I've been cyling on XT days, but think that I might have to start doing some weight machines -- particulary for the back. I don't usually have back problems, but last Saturday in Raymond and then this Saturday as I got to the last mile or two my back started bothering me.

Today was great. A nice Mother's day with my Mom, 4 of my sisters and one of my brothers. Got back from Shreveport around 6 and even worked in a 12 mile bike ride.

Headed to Albany, NY tomorrow, but will be back Wed. night. Should be able to get in the miles at the hotel fitness facility.

Hope everyone has a safe week. See you on Saturday.

Wagging away 20 pounds in 200 miles

On March 27, I had walked 100 miles since the end of January. That took 2 months. Now less than 6 weeks later I've wagged (more walk than jog!) another 100 -- and I've lost 20 pounds since we started. Feeling pretty good!

I was such a wimp on Saturday, though. I wogged with Amy Ward and we did 40 second jog, 2 minute walks for 5 miles. When we started up that last hill, though, I was whipped. Put a fork in me! So I walked the last mile. To Amy's credit, though, she plugged on with the intervals. I am really proud of her, and thank her for letting me be her running buddy on Saturday. I am a little disappointed in myself that I didn't push on through with the intervals to the end.

After the 10K, I walked through town and headed to Clinton up Clinton-Raymond Road. My husband picked me up along the way, so I was able to get in the extra two miles, but did not do the hills again on the Port Gibson Road.

My hips sure were sore that day and the next, but are okay now. Going to head to the Ridgeland track tonight to wog. Want to be able to keep up with Amy, so I think I need to work on increasing my running interval.

Won't be with the group this Saturday. Will be in Shreveport visiting my Mom. There is a 5 K run about 2.5 miles from her house, so I plan to wog to the event, wog the event and probably walk home . That, plus the starting mile around the block to "take care of business," will get me the 9 miles. Geez that seems like a long way!

Hope everyone has a good week.

Patience of Job...and a sore hamstring

Thanks to Kelvin I really got a good workout yesterday. I met up with him at Ridgeland High and wogged 4 miles. Kelvin showed me how to jog the straights and walk the curves of the track. He was very patient with me, and I was a bit of a wimp on some of the circuits. He claims that I didn't hold him back because he was struggling with his hammy, but I'm not so sure. I do appreciate the workout buddy, though. First time, other than one of our first Saturday walks in Clinton that I've had someone to workout with.

Running the track was nice! No hills and there was a bathroom very close by which, per usual, I had to take advantage of after a mile.

When I got home to check the Garmin I found I had actually run two of the miles! Woohoo!. I can sure feel it in my legs today! Glad it's a day off.

Looking forward to tomorrow. So what's the plan? Do we just blow on through the finish and continue on for another couple of miles? What's the route?

I'm baaaack!

.... but I'd rather still be in Colorado!


It was a perfect weekend. The weather was gorgeous, and Isaac is adorable. Got to spend all day Saturday with him, and we had a blast. Evidently we just missed 2 feet of snow on Monday, but by Friday it was all but gone.

Saw lots of wildlife including a beautiful fox (didn't have my camera handy) and a herd of 10 deer who meandered through our yard (did have my camera.) In fact on Monday morning as I was dusting and vacuuming the house, I looked up to see a deer looking in the window at me! Then she stamped her foot at me, trying to get me to go away. Pretty cheeky!

Did not run while I was up there. Too hard to breathe just walking! We walked a little on Saturday, but my husband was carrying Isaac in a backpack so we didn't go too far. On Sunday, though, after the kids left we walked 6.55 miles. I am counting the fact that we descended 400 feet, and then had to walk back uphill those same 400 feet (8100 feet to 8500 feet) as running and figuring the altitude climb surely is worth the .45 miles to make 7! In fact, with all the uphill and down hill our total ascent was 1700 feet! I sure was out of breath! I was surprised, too, my thighs felt very "mushy"and by 5 miles felt the "bonk." I think, if I'm going to be able to hike in the mountains like we'd like, I'll have to start cross training on the stair master.

Fortunately, I bought a Camelback "Alterra" water belt as I sure got thirsty -- all that breathing through my mouth in the dry air! It's pretty nice, and I recommend it to anyone who is doing long mileage without available water stops. It fits against the small of your back and holds 24 oz. You drink through a tube that clips on the front of the belt. Wish we had brought a power bar or something to eat, though.

I didn't get any exercise in yesterday -- unless you count lugging the carry-on through the Denver and Houston airports -- but did do 4 miles today so I'm back on track.

I have missed you guys and am glad I am here this Saturday for the Cannonball Run and the additional miles. I'll be trading altitude for humidity, and I am not sure which is worse!