After a Few Stellar…

… BIKE RIDES last week, I figured it was time to buckle down and really concentrate on running a 5k.

And I mean RUN.

Because I know that I am able – I need to put the 5/1 [running/walking] intervals aside and work at being able to go the 5k distance.

So I started this morning. JUST A LITTLE OVER A MILE [1.12], but it felt good. Just the kind of challenge I needed and to make things interesting, I was trying to beat the rain moving into the area.

I accomplished both. Go me.

You know what I love most about training for a 5k/10k?  I don’t have to spend eleven-ty bagillion* hours thinking about running and how I’m going to fit it into my schedule.

I got up, had breakfast with my family and immediately I knew that I was going to go change and run.  A mile.  Just a mile.

Fifteen minutes later I was back home and stretching out.  Now I feel energized and I hear thunder in the distance…

Good Spring Morning to YOU too!

*Is TOO a word.

Destination Run…

… cause you know – that’s what I do in my spare time.  Think of places that might be cool to run and make it happen!

FYI? That’s not exactly true at all.

I try to find safe places for me to run.  When I was on a training run last Summer before the WHISKEY REBELLION 5k, and while I was running on the sidewalk – nearly got run over by a car that was coming out of a blind alley.

Needless to say – it makes me think twice about where I run.

Late last Summer, I did a show at SOUTH PARK THEATRE and there’s a long paved running path that cuts directly through the park.  It’s 2 miles long, so it would be a good 4 miler.  Relatively flat.  Heavy foot and some light bike traffic. [Folks around is always a good thing.]

I don’t know what got into me – Spring Fever maybe – but I felt so good when I woke up that after I had my coffee and breakfast, it just popped into my head that this was going to be a glorious day weather-wise.  I knew I needed to get a run in – so? Why not??

I’m not joking when I say, it was a difficult run.  I probably shouldn’t have attempted it for a number of reasons – but I did FEEL fine when I left the car in the parking lot.

It was about 11 am and there is little or no shade cover [trees don’t have leaves yet – but they’re working on it].  It was already about 74 degrees, clear sky – just a glorious day.

However, I’m not sure if it was a combination of YESTERDAY'S BIKE RIDE and the antibiotics I’m on for another few days – but as soon as I got about .25 miles out, I wanted to turn back.

Now – let me just say right now – I warm up slow.  It takes me about a mile to get in my ‘groove’.  Knowing this, I try to push through and let my breathing catch up to the physical requirements I’m asking my body to perform.  This is normal for me every time I’m out there.

After 1.25 miles – I needed to add a little more walking.  I wasn’t able to run more than 3 minutes without needing to walk.  [My training is 5/1.]  I walked when I felt like I needed to and it seemed to help.  This worked for a while, and I was working hard to push through to 1.5 miles, knowing that I wasn’t going to make the full length of the Park – but that I felt I could manage the 1.5 miles back to the parking lot.

I played games with my body – looking a head to find objects to ‘run toward’.  “Just make it to the end of that guard rail and you can walk. Run to the Stoplight and you can walk.”  For the most part, the distractions worked.

I noticed that I was starting to feel CHILLED.  I looked down and the hair on my arms was standing straight up and I had goose bumps.

THAT WAS NOT NORMAL.  I’m sweating and running directly into the sun.  FULL SUN.

I HAD LESS THAN A .25 MILE TO GO and I walked most of it quickly.  I headed to the car to get my fitness drink and find a place out of the sun.  I didn’t want to stop walking – I wanted to walk slowly and cool down. 

Which is exactly what I did.  I don’t know if my current medication was giving me issues with severe dehydration or the beginnings of heat exhaustion.  I’m just thankful that I was close enough to my car* and that I turned around at 1.5 miles out.

Once I got fluid into me, I was fine.  I am fine.  But I tell ya – sweating profusely and having chills is one FREAKY feeling.

Tomorrow?

We rest…

*I was parked next to the police station – which if I hadn’t felt better after the fitness drink, I would’ve made my next stop before driving home.  I might’ve been born at night, but it wasn’t last night.

Happy Spring…

… from the MONTOUR TRAIL!

I decided since the weather was so beautiful today that it would be a wonderful day to get out the bike, throw it on the back of my VW and head to the trail.

I was looking forward to it and headed to Route 50 and Route 980 trail head to ride my favorite route – towards McDonald.

I got one mile down the trail and it was closed for construction. MAJOR CONSTRUCTION.  I just turned around and rode another 4.5 miles in the other direction.

Not a lot of folks on the trail during the middle of the afternoon – more bikers than runners.  But it was an amazing, 80 degree day and I found myself singing while riding along.

3.79 MILES OF SPRING AWESOME SAUCE.

It made me smile…

St. Paddy’s Day Run…

… began with me deciding to get my behind out of my warm bed and head to the North Shore at the PGH MARATHON HEAQUARTERS FOR THE TRAINING RUN.  I’m a wimp – I signed up for the 3 miler.

The first time I DID THIS KIND OF TRAINING RUN it was a quick 2 miler out on the North Shore section of the THREE RIVERS HERITAGE TRAIL.

Part of the reason I wanted to participate this morning was to actually being in Pittsburgh and possibly – if I was feeling up to it – attend the PITTSBURGH ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE.  I’ve never been and in the training run info, they said that we could park there and walk into the City.

It’s always busy on parade days in Pittsburgh.  When I checked in for the run, I was surprised to see maps on the table outlining the different mileage routes.  We weren’t going to be running on the trail – but actually IN the City!

I don’t know about other runners, but I wasn’t in my  ‘indomitable runner mode’ willing to navigate a route on City streets WITH crowds because THIS was PARADE DAY**. [Part of the route took us right up Liberty Avenue.]  Unlike the first training run I participated in, there weren’t going to be folks who were along the route telling us which way to go.

Still, I lined up with my 3 miler group.  We walked out to the road and they started to run.  FAST.  A faster pace than I knew I could maintain.  I realized I needed to make a split-second decision, I could either have a miserable run through the City trying to ‘find the route’, ‘fight the crowds’ and ‘keep up with my group’ or cut away and run the trail route alone.

That’s what I did – I crossed the street and hopped on the trail.  3.41 MILES OF TRAIL with plenty of folks out running and biking*.  I was able to take my time – enjoy the morning, the sun on the river and the view of the City.

It didn’t matter to me that I wasn’t able to keep up with my GROUP.  I don’t want that kind of pressure – when I looked around at the other runners at the Start for the training run, I know I’m the oldest and slowest.  Doesn’t matter to me.  I’m there.  That’s what matters.

I was really blessed this morning with a beautiful run along the river, watching the City I love come to life for a fabulous St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

*I believe I saw STEELER JAMES HARRISON out for a bike ride on the trail – I passed him.  If it wasn’t him – no matter, it was my motivation for this morning’s run…

**Also, VP Biden was in town for the PARADE. Extra security, extra folks on the streets.

It’s Not How Fast You Run…

… it’s that you went.

I am still not feeling well. Nagging sinus drainage and sore throat.  I made an appointment to see my doc on Monday morning.

I’m tired of feeling good two weeks of the month and feeling lousy the next two.

This is the fourth month in a row – it’s obviously a pattern.

But we’ll get it sorted all out.

The good news is that no matter what – I got a 2.03 MILE RUN in this afternoon.

The weather was splendid – nearly too warm for the black gear that I was wearing.  Time to switch to lighter colours!

I’m also hoping to get a bike ride in this week and a 3 MILE TRAINING RUN this Saturday. But it’s St. Patrick’s day and I’ve never seen the Pittsburgh St. Paddy’s Day Parade… it’s just a walk across the bridge.

OH.

There’s green beer being served after the training run…

It’s Been over a Week…

… since I ran or even did more than a modest amount of exercise.

I’m not going to make excuses. It gets old.  But I am fighting a sinus thing again – sore throat.  That makes four months in a row…

However, I refused to ignore the beautiful weather today.  If I wasn’t going to commit to run, I was going to go out and at least walk.

2.27 MILES TO THE POST OFFICE with little stops along the way to take a few photos.

Oh the Spring FLOWERS in bloom!

Good news on the racing front – I’m meeting with someone tonight to sell my HALF MARATHON bib and I have registered for the PITTSBURGH MARATHON 5k.

I feel much better about it, but still a little disappointed that I won’t be training as hard as I was.

However, I did look and the GREAT RACE 2012 has opened their registration!  I really want to do the 10 K ROUTE again.  It’s always good to have something in the works to look forward to racing.  Believe me, the 10k is a challenging race, it will make me work over the Summer.

I admit it – I’m addicted.

365 Days of Running…

… well, not exactly.

Today marks a year since the beginning of my Running Career!  And what a year it has been.  FROM THE VERY FIRST time to THIS AFTERNOON'S QUICK TRACK RUN, they’ve all been special and I don’t want anyone to think that I regret a single step.

421 MILES OF STEPS!

I’m more fit [and fabulous] than ever in my life and that’s what’s most important at this stage in the game.

That being said, let me say this:

I'm NOT going to continue with the Half Marathon training.

I could give you a list of reasons, they all would make sense and you'd nod your head in agreement.  Believe me, I'd appreciate the affirmation.

What it boils down to is this for me -- I have got WAY BIGGER FISH to fry in the next few months.  I'm doing a TWO WOMAN SHOW OPENING THE SEASON FOR SOUTH PARK THEATRE.  It’s an expanded version of the ‘Afternoon Cabaret’ that Krista Kaley and I did in 2006.

I owe it to myself, Krista and the PAYING audience to choose one or the other. 

Could I do 11 shows [including a Matinee Performance the day of the Half Marathon]? Yes. 

Should I?? NO.

I've been sick for at least 10 days every month since the middle of December – of the past 90 days, 30 of that was spent on medication.

Do I BELIEVE that I can do 13.1 miles?  Yes – ABSOLUTELY.

I'll be honest here -- I don't like training outdoors in the Winter.  I prefer running outside -- but not below 45 degrees.  I have arthritis in my knees and in my back, including scar tissue build up from where I had my back surgery.  I can run through the stiffness, but why should I when I can run indoors on the elevated track?

I feel disappointed in myself – but the other side of it is – I really REALLY feel pressured.  It's not FUN right now because I don't feel 'right'.

Will I be disappointed if I never run a Half Marathon?  NO.  I have already done way MORE than I ever thought I'd do... and I'm proud of that.  Several of my friends said it best this week:  'Just getting off the couch and going out for a run is a victory'.

I am going to sell my bib for the HALF marathon OR if anyone knows of a Marathon RELAY team who needs an extra [slow] runner to do a short 2-4 mile leg, SHOW ME THE WAY.

The other option that I’m considering is doing the PGH MARATHON 5K* – which is Saturday, May 5th. It was my first race last year – I found out that they’re giving medals this year!! There’s something special about crossing the same Finish Line that the Marathon runners cross. 

I am by no means down and out. I am simply revising my current training schedule.  I’m still planning to run 3 days per week, continue cross-training and am always looking for opportunities to pick up a ‘destination’ run when possible.

It’s all about being healthy and saving my life…

*If anyone else wants to get in on the Pgh Marathon 5k with me – I’d love it!!

Quick Run…

… not only because I was short on time – but because of this:

They were working on part of the trail building a new overpass near Bebout Road in Peter’s Township.

So my run was cut short – but still FOR A CHILLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON ON THE TRAIL, it wasn’t a bad outing.

Better than running in circles on the elevated track at the gym!

There are Days…

… when it feels as though you need to be stealthy and stalk a workout.

Today was one of those days.

I headed to the gym to really get a little cross-training done.  Mostly arm work – I wasn’t really dressed in my running gear, but out of habit, I jumped on the treadmill to warm up.

I started out at a good slow walking pace.  I picked it up a little.  And then a little more.  Next thing I knew – I was running intervals and WORKING TO GET A MILE DONE.  Certainly NOT what I’d intended.

Then I decided to split my upper arm cycle time into two 8 minute sessions.  The closest machine was the bike.  I hopped on and did a QUICK SPIN before I went back and finished my second 8 minutes on the upper body cycle.

A good stretch out – including the FOAM ROLLER OF PAIN to work out the knots of my IT BAND PAIN. There wasn’t even any crying! This is a very good thing.

So yeah – snuck that work-out right past the Spidey Senses!!