Genuflecting No More

Prologue:  I was raised Catholic - so Catholic, I had 10 brothers and sisters (no twins, all from the same parents and yes we had TV), so Catholic - I went to Catholic school for 8 years, so Catholic that there was a time I went to church every day and liked it, so Catholic that my friends thought my Dad was a priest, so Catholic that my Mom lived in a convent and almost became a nun before she met my Dad .... you get the point.

At the start of a taekwondo class (and at the end) the highest-ranking belt tells us to face the flags and bow, face the instructor and bow, then the next high-ranking belt tells everyone to face the high-ranking belt and bow. 

Today, I was the second highest ranking belt in class although I went through the motions and told everyone to bow to the highest rank belt.  I did not.  Although I caught myself doing a kind of head nod, I did not bow.  (No one notice I didn't bow - because they were all bowing :) Why you ask - or I ask since I think I'm the only one that reads these - the man who was the highest-ranking belt broke two ribs of my friend because his ego got in the way when she was beating him in sparring. 

As I walked home from class I thought - he did not deserve my respect.  Bowing is respect.  But I have no respect for this man- if you want to call him a man, more of a boy, no control.  Granted I never liked him.  Call it intuition or not, either way he did live up to what I expected from him.  He can try and beat me up because he has a higher rank but really - I believe I can whoop his ass and look forward to sparring (sparring is my least favorite of my training).  Alas, the instructors won't let him spar with the women anymore perhaps because men can't break ribs?

The thought of not bowing made me think of my teen years when I was forced to go to church by my parents and before I used to sneak out of mass.  I refused to genuflect.  I refused to genuflect to the alter, I refused to bow my head at the name of Jesus.  I look back on it now and realize, I was not mad at Jesus, he had good teaching and all-around nice guy, however I was mad at the church - I had lost or should I say threw away my respect for the church.  Still have no respect for it.

Anyway, as a child you do things impulsively and then many years go by and you realize - you know, that explains alot.

I'm One with the Trail

Bad News:

I lost my watch so I'm guestimating my time.

Good News:

Sunday I was suppose to run 5 miles, my hubby guessed where the 2.5 mile turn around was, we ended up running 5.94 miles.  Awesome!  about 12 minute miles

Bad News:
I fell on the trail today.  I was halfway through my 3.25 jog and woop there I go.  Scrapes on my leg and hands, it hurts and cleaning it was nasty but I kept jogging .......

Good News:
I still kept to my 11 minute mile.  Not bad.

Since I lost my watch I'm debating whether to get an ipod touch.  I've always wanted one but it may be a waste of money, since most people tell me you need a service to really get use out of it. Hmmmmm.....

I ROCKED IT!!

After a couple of months of running 12 minute miles I was at my wits end on Tuesday.  Everyone I know seems to run 9, 10 and even 7 minute miles.  Granted this is my first year running ever, I know I've done a 10.5 minute mile but I have not been there in months.  Close to tears I call my sister.

Two things changes for me this morning:

First, my sister reminded me that it is not the time but the finishing I should be focused on.  I must admit I would come out strong and then be so wiped by the time I headed back that I ended up walking most of it.

Second, I took a slightly different path because I was curious about a trail I had not been down before.  While on it, my mind turned to wow so this was paved once and this trail looks under used and why did they put a fence there to separate the McMansions from the rest of us :).  When I got back on to my normal trail, I was surprised to find most of my running was done.

So now I think it is time to start switching my routes occasionally to keep the mind active while running.  OH I FORGOT TO MENTION ..... I RAN A 10.8 minute mile for 3.25 miles. WOO HOO!!!!

Vacation This Week

I went on vacation this week in the mountains and I forgot my running sneakers.  I didn't run but I hiked and walked and went tubing (which is work in some ways).  This morning I am all in disarray because today is our big moving day.  I can't find any clean clothes and we are preparing the house still for the movers arrival (lots of lifting).  I like to think that because I am constantly moving, it is contributing to my physical well being but not doing alot for my mental.  I will say this moving is taking a toll on me and maybe if I could conquer the stress of moving, it will help me with the mental aspect of running.

96% Humidity

I'm not sure if it was correct but my thermostat said 96% humidity.  I ran up to 17 minutes with my interval training and then I was lucky to run 1 minute.  I hit a wall hard.  Strangely enough I ran 3.24 miles in 37.2 minutes, even with my erratic running in the end.  This makes me believe that I was running a pretty fast pace in the beginning.  I wonder what it would have been if I was able to keep the running up.

An acquaintance of mine started running after she swore she would never run further then her 25 minutes a day.  She loves working out, taekwondo, P90X and now running.  I told her in June that I was training for the Disney half marathon and if I could do it she could.  That I hate running but I'm doing it.  No no she said, I could never run that far.  I bumped into her yesterday and she is now running back to back 20 miles a day, 7 minute miles, and will be running her first marathon in October.  (She lost a toenail and is losing another one .... weird.)  I feel quite confident that she thought, damn if Joanne is doing it should be easy for me :).  I know that is true and I'm happy for her but feel she is stealing my thunder.  Sigh, I still persist.


I thought of her on my run today, thinking that perhaps I can push myself out of my boundaries and make the get past my 5 mile wall that I have not past.

3.24 miles in 37.2 minutes
11.43 minute mile

Starting a New Training Program

Since my foot got me off track for a bit, I needed a new plan to keep me motivated and goal oriented.  I found a half marathon training program the Marathon Rookie website.  I copied it over to a spread sheet and put in dates instead of Week 1, Week 2, etc. I like it this way because I seem to be able to visualize what is going on in my life during these months.  This week is:

Monday: Rest
Tuesday 3 miles
Wed:  rest
Thurs:  3
Friday: 3
Sat: Rest
Sunday: 4

So I did a bit more then 3 miles today, I did 3.24 in 38 minutes.  The last half mile I felt really sick, like wanting to throw up sick.  When I got back I saw it was 70% humidity.  It had just rain and the temperature was 80, so steam was coming off the road and I guess it was hard for me to take.  Luckily I was in my last half mile.  I thought of George S. Patton, "....the body is always tired..."

And I guess I will see you tomorrow for my next 3.24 miles.

Running in the Heat

As most of you know this summer has been a scorcher.  I've decided to take it easy.  My girls are showing their sheep at the fair and we just moved into a new house.  I am frazzled.  I've decided to just run a couple of miles every other day.  I continue to go to taekwondo which we do some running there as a warm up.

Starting next week I hope to get up before the sun to run.  We'll see.  I almost think I need a week to recover from this week.  Alas, with the new house I think we will be constantly moving for a month.  I want to go away for vacation but when the hubby is stressed he gets sick.  Of course, if I don't get away, I'm going to go insane, so what do I do?

Running in Humidity

I stepped outside and I could feel my skin tingle, it was humid out.  As I started my run I could feel the thickness of the air.  In less then 15 minutes into my run, a drip of sweat came down the side of my head.  In less then 30 minutes, it was dripping in my eyes.  I didn't expect to do well.

My accomplishments today ..... mmmm, I ran 4 miles in humid weather.  I was able to do 5 continuous intervals of 5/1.  I figure when I get up to 7 intervals I will be able to do the 5 miles again.

My obstacles:  I ran slow, 4 miles in 51 minutes.

My mantra was take it easy and it appears I did.  I'm disappointed that I seem to get worse and worse with each passing day.

I just read the Runner's World magazine, link below, that said that for each 5 degrees above 60, can slow your pace by 20-30 seconds.  Wow!

I've been looking up tips of hot humid running and I found these sites pretty good:
Runner's World: Beat the Heat - this one relates to me the most.
Cool Running: Hot Weather Running
Tips for running in the hot humid weather

Ran 4 miles, not so well

I ran four miles yesterday in 50 minutes.  That's pretty bad.  I was hoping for 46 minutes maximum.  My instructor at taekwondo wants to start jogging Monday and Friday mornings at 6 am.  I'd like to make it but I don't think I can get up that early in the morning.  Plus there is another mom there who would like to run with me but I think she is a slow runner. 

I've also attached the BeeWell Music to this Blog.  I'm going to try it out.  Supposedly you can download 5  songs per week to go with your running.  I think they're free.  If it works out I'll keep it.

Lastly, my foot seems to be doing better.  The orthopedic said that the tendon was too stiff, so every chance I get I've been stretching it.  And I try not to sit on my foot anymore but keep it on the floor so that it is flexed most of the time.  The mornings are the worse but this morning.  Not so bad.

K, so my kids are harassing me.  I think I should try more pictures on this blog.

4 miles in 50 minutes
12.5 minute mile ..... not as bad as I thought. :)

BeeWell Challenge at BeeWell for Life

I just joined .....

BeeWell Challenge at BeeWell for Life

It looks like a great program. Not only does each mile help Breast Cancer Research, it gives you tools to keep track of your progress, recipes, and calorie intake. No I'm not getting money from this site. ;-), I really don't make anything from this blog. I'm just trying to bring tools to help you to keep running and just letting you know what I'm up to. :)

3 Week Hiatus - Can I start up again?

I know I haven't written in a while. I was continually having foot trouble. I took three weeks off to rest it but it didn't improve. I finally went to a foot specialist. He said it's just sore and I can still run. He told me to stretch before and after running. I was just stretching before. He said to continue to ice it and I can soak it too.

So after 3 weeks of not running I went out into this hot summer to run. I was nervous because well I didn't know how fit I was. In those three weeks I also had a summer cold. Go figure, nothing during the winter but sick as a dog in the summer. I didn't know if I should go back to the couch to 5K or do my normal 5/1 run/walk split and for how long or what. Everyone was telling me I'll have body memory.

I had to make a decision if I was going to start up again. It's not easy, there was too many unknowns. I decided on 2 miles and do 5/1 and see where it takes me. I decided this run is to see how my body does and determine a plan of action afterward. My hubby asked if I wanted him to run with me, I said no, I need to find my rhythm.

Although my breathing was regular, I felt my stride was irregular, my steps were heavy and cluncky. I know that sounds funny but that's the best way I could describe it, cluncky.

I'm happy to say, even though I need to work on my rhythm, I was able to do 3 sessions of 5/1. My last one was straight up a hill that's pretty steep so I broke it up. That part of the run I usually break up. I'm ready to do 3 miles I believe, 4 miles by next weekend and maybe 5 miles again by the following weekend. So I might be a bit behind schedule but I think I can catch up.

5 miles to Start the Week

I ran 5 miles today. First time! It took me 58.5 minutes which is just under a 12 minute mile. I am learning about 50% of running is mental, 25% cardio, 15% leg strength and 10% dealing with injuries.

So anyway, I'm working on mental. Before I start I told myself, I am in it for the long haul, I need to relax while I run. Run like I am taking a stroll. I feel it worked, I ran 8 sets of 5 run/ 1 minute walk and it wasn't until the last half mile which is all uphill that I could not do my set of 5/1.

On a side note, last week I bought a wicking shirt to keep from getting over heated. Last week I had a terrible week. I think it was because of the heat. So now I have two challenges: hills and heat.

Wednesday I want to work on speed. I read that if I want to run an 8 minute mile then I should run the first mile as 8 minutes then take it easy for the rest. Keep doing that until you can build on it. I want to be down to a 9 minute mile. 8 minute would be awesome but I think I would be pushing to hard and I would give up.

5 miles in 58.5 minutes
11.7 minute mile

Four Miles by Myself

Today I ran the 4 miles I usually run with Gordon. Again my goal is to reach the end in a mentally fit state, which I was able to achieve. I was also able to keep a 5/1 run/walk schedule for most of run. It wasn't until the very end where I am going completely uphill that I ran 3/1 then 1/1. Unfortunately, it took me 47 minutes to run it, which was a bit under 12 minutes a mile.

On a happier note, I walked the dog for another half hour, right afterward. I was not exhausted and I could probably kept running a further distance, so on that sense I was pleased.

I will need to be able to run/walk for 3 hours possibly even 3.5 hours. My sister told me she was able to run/walk a 10 minute mile and sometimes a 9 minute mile. So my goal this month is to get my time better for the 4 miles. I've been stretching my legs (one leg forward, one leg back) in the hopes of lengthening my stride. It is still my belief that the hills are slowing me down. I wonder if I were to run a flat course will I be able to run further or is all the hill training working the wrong muscles.

One last note, yesterday in Taekwondo, I got hit in the knee while sparring. I have a big black and blue today. As I ran I decided to wear a flexible knee brace - or bandage or such thing. I don't know if I needed it but I didn't have problems with it while I was running. I thought I should note that. I am finding that injuries are being used as excuses not to continue. Since you are playing a sport, I believe now that some sort of injury is inevitable but if we use that as an excuse then we would never get anywhere. I think that would be an easier out. I don't know if this is true. I have never been one for sports and I don't know why this year is different but it is. I would love to talk to athletes and see how often they get injuries .... at least when they started out did they get alot.

4.08 miles in 47 minutes
11.5 minute mile

Endurance and Mind Set

So yesterday, my goal was to run my 5K route without feeling close to tears at the end. I changed a couple of things:

I have been starting off my run with 10 minutes, walk 2, and then trying the run 4 walk 1. It just wasn't working out. I read that if I start breaking up the run walk sessions right from the beginning I should be able to last longer throughout the run.

So, I ran 5 walked 1. (I started off with a 1 minute walk because it is up a steep hill and that wears me out) I was able to keep up the 5/1 interval for 4 intervals then I dramatically dropped to 2/2 as I was going uphill and my goal is to be mentally fit by the end of the run.

Wouldn't you know it .... I beat my time! 33.5 minutes I am so happy, I feel re-motivated that I can do this! I was smiling not crying at the end. I could walk the stairs to my door without having to sit for a bit. I'm ready for my 4 mile run tomorrow.

The second thing I started doing was check my pulse while walking. I've been reading about how keeping your pulse at different levels can help improve my running. I'm still learning about it but working on it.

I found a Heart Rate Training Zone Calculator at BrainMac. There are a lot of ads on this site but if you can get past that, there is a lot of interesting info and it will tell you what heart rate you should be working in. I think I was about in my 70-75% training zone and can probably step it up.

I think I'm going to start looking for watches that will check my pulse and be an alarm that goes off for my 5/1 run/walk interval.

Taekwondo today.

5K in 33.5 minutes
10.8 minute mile

A walk and a run

yesterday I walked my 5K route, although I'm starting to believe it's more then 5K. It took me an hour. Not bad. This morning I ran/walk the route. I made it in 36 minutes. I'm not too disappointed considering I haven't ran in a week but my mind was more focus then it has been before I took a break.

I did not mention the sneakers I finally bought. They are Asics - Nimbus Gel and they're very cool (pic below). I went to a store, Potomac River Runners, specifically for runners. They specialize in gait analysis. So first they had me stand on something that checked the size, width and arch of my foot. Then she picked out a pair of shoes for me. She told me when I put them on they should feel like slippers. They did. Then she had me run on a tread mill where she watched my legs to see whether they were over or under-pronating. They weren't. She had me try on some other sneakers but these still fit the best. So those are the sneakers I have and I use them only for running.

Lastly, my heel has been hurting, for about a month now. I'm not sure what to do about it. I tried soaking in epsom salt, which relieved some of the pain but I still have it. If anyone out there have suggestions, let me know.

Took A Break

On Sunday, April 25, I ran 4 miles with my hubby. I was miserable. I could barely climb the stairs to our house. I didn't want to run anymore and I had no motivation. I called my sister, and complained. She said to me, "so take a week off, you have time. Take a week."

And so that's what I did, I took a week off. Today, I walked the 5K. It took me an hour. My legs and lower back hurt but I think I'm ready to run again. This week, I plan on signing up for the Twilight 4 mile run in June and then there is the 10K in August.

I hope I've found my gusto again.

Running twice today

I ran this morning. I can't seem to get into a regular running pattern. I've been trying to start with a 10 minute run with a two minute walk ... which I've been able to do ... and then 4 minute run 1 minute walks but I seem to run 2 minutes and give up. Is it mental? Is it physical? And if so, is it my lungs or my legs? I'm guessing mental since nothing seems to hurt however my body feels fatigued. I think I'll need to do some research on that.

Tonight I promised the kids I will take the kids out to try a 5K. I told them if they could run a 5K in under an hour, I will sign them up. Gordon said he'd run with them. The entry fee is $30 ($5 for my youngest), so I don't know if I want to spend $95 for one run. Well, we'll see tonight if they can run it and then I'll decide.

By the way, I've been having a pain in my heel. I put extra cushioning in my shoes but once I take my shoe off I'm still in pain. I'm not sure what to do about it. I'd like to try Epsom salt at night while watching TV but I never do. I will try to make an extra effort today.

2.93 miles in 32 minutes
10.9 minute mile

Running after my first race

I ran in the rain ... but of course.  I think I was 5 pounds heavier then when I started and I did HORRIBLE.

I ran the first 10 minutes but went downhill from there.  I think I was feeling depressed, kind of a mid-life crisis thing going on, and so my will to run was down.  I told myself I needed to just get through this run, make 3.1 miles and I'll try again Friday.  Funny enough I made it in 36 minutes, even with all the walking I did. 

So there is another 5K coming May 8th that our dojang is sponsoring; My girls want to run it and they want to run the 5K.  They've never done it, so this Friday they are going to see how long it takes them to do the 5K with me.  I think if they can do it under an hour we are going to do it.  I'll let you know how it goes.

5K in 36 minutes
12 minute mile

My First 5K

I'm so proud of myself.  It was a cold morning 33 degrees and the wind picked up and the clouds rolled in.  There were about 240 participants I came in 159th place. :)  Not bad for my first run.  I didn't run the whole thing but I ran most of it.

When we started out running it was so quiet, you hear only the feet hitting the pavement.  No one talked to one another, it was so weird and yet so cool.  I wore two shirts, a sweatshirt and a hat and my hands were freezing for most of the race.  I don't think they warmed up until the very end, which is good because I was afraid I would have to stop and take off my sweatshirt.

Tip:  Check your shoelaces before running.  That's right, I stopped because at the very beginning of the race my shoelace came untied.  There was a water stop, I didn't take any thinking, oh it's just 5K, but my sister said I should practice taking a drink so I know how to do it during the half marathon.  It seems there is a science to grabbing water and running.  Next time perhaps.

My official time was 33:27.something , so  a 10.8 minute mile (woo hoo! best time)

Below is a picture of my friend and my hubby.  His teeth is chattering in the picture and was at the beginning of his present cold:

FIRST 5K DONE!

Just finished my first 5K. I think I did it in 33 minutes but the official time will be posted later. I'll write more tomorrow. Need shower.