Not cool, Runner 4

As you could probably could tell from my post about my dad yesterday, I've been in kind of a sobby mood recently. It's a combination of the holiday season, and the fact that I'm generally an extremely optimistic, upbeat person, but sometimes tears just build up. If I don't have a legit reason to cry, I get a leaky face. No one likes a leaky face.

So I got home from work last night determined to either kick my run's ass, or cry out my (basically nonexistent) sorrows on said run. (Ever cried on a run? It's one of the most cathartic things if you can really get it going, but it's difficult...endorphins + sadness don't work well together.)

I fired up 'Zombies, Run' and headed out to do my Week 1, Workout 2 training run. The story now is that I'm safe in the township now, and the doctor is training me to be a 'runner', i.e. go out into the zombie lands to retrieve things for the humans. They mentioned at the beginning that I might have a surprise or some company during the run, but after about 10 minutes I forgot all about it. 

I ran the route with the big hill behind my house, taking a couple of extra side streets to get some more distance. It is pitch black out there with no streetlights, so I was wearing a headlamp. It was also freezing out, so my breath came out as fog, lingering in the air in front of me (also where my headlamp was aimed) and making for an extremely spooky atmosphere.

So I'm in the last 10 minute "free form run", where you can do whatever you like, and getting all into my Taylor Swift tunes (don't you dare judge me) when all of a sudden in my left ear I heard a zombie sound. Just as I was saying "oh god no" and picking up speed, the 'zombie' yelled, 'BOO!' then started giggling. It was just Runner 4, playing a little prank on me.

NOT FUNNY

Once my heart resumed normal beating and I finished planning Runner 4's slow death in my mind, I ran (wee wee wee wee) allllllllll the way home. 

Here's the summary (I laughed when he told me to pick up sports bras for the girls).

Moving Right Along

After Saturday's 'getting chased by imaginary zombies' run, I was appropriately sore on Sunday. You know when your quads are so sore that your legs do a sort of mini-collapse and bend backwards when you walk rather than being able to support you? Yeah, I was that.

However, I was still feeling good about getting back on the exercise wagon. I went for brunch with a friend (Jewish deli...no bagel? Impossible...I had half of one). We then decided to go to the movies to see Silver Linings Playbook (quite good, mainly because I want to hump Bradley Cooper's leg). 

I got home at around 5:30, feeling bloated from popcorn and salt and kind of wanting to go to bed. BUT I DIDN'T. I put sweatpants and sneakers on, and did a fast walk up and down the 6 floors of my building, doing jumping jacks at each set of stairs. It took 30 minutes exactly, and I was so glad I did it.

Yesterday was supposed to be a run day, and as luck would have it the Patriots were on Monday Night Football. I mishmashed my plans of running and cooking dinner at home with going to a friend's house for sushi, and ended up going to her house, running in her neighborhood (which happens to be my old neighborhood and one of my favorite running places), and picking up sushi on the way back to her place. 

The run this time was less scary...I (Runner 5) am in the township now, which is safe. I worked with 'the doctor' on training in the township (see training plan below: the 'run for 15 seconds' thing was frustrating, but probably the best way to start). I liked the way it was set up (a little different than C25K), because by the time you get to the 'free form run' at the end you're all warmed up and wanting to move:

I'll tell you this: the spicy tuna and spicy scallop maki, beer, and football combo at the end was about 200 more satisfying after having worked for it. 

Ras na hEireann 5K Quick Recap

This was my second time running this race (and my first anniversary of meeting Miss Tobey, my favorite running buddy these days!). The course is a bit hilly (esp now that they changed it up a little to avoid the clog-up that happens on the bike path), but it’s a really fun race. Everyone dresses up, bagpipers play for you along the route, and this year there was even a nice trio sitting on their stoop playing guitars and singing. Lovely.

I wasn’t planning on breaking any records, especially as my foot/feet have continued their not-so-cute trick of falling asleep when I run. I just went at it normal speed, taking walk breaks no longer than 1-2 minutes when needed. In the end I finished in about 41 minutes, which is right in the middle of my past race times.

However, if I could just take a moment to brag about my little brother…he finished 16th overall, with a time of 17:30 or some stupid shit like that. Best part is the fact that the first place girl was hot on his heels (you can see her in the picture). Apparently she passed him briefly and he was like, “um, NO.” Game on. Nice finish, Chrisr! Worst part is that he is a loser when it comes to dressing appropriately for themed runs. Geesh. (ps your quads look like curtains…very impressive)

Reasons why I ruled last night

I had FLARP (fantastic ladies’ awesome running practice) planned with my friend Tobey. Both she and I are competitive and would therefore never cancel FLARP for weather purposes, so I knew there would be no excuses.

Seeing as it was hovering around 23F and windy enough to blow your socks off, we discussed the possibility of only doing 2 miles, but secretly we both knew we’d do 3. And you know what? At the end of 3, when we had just run the final bit uphill with wind in our faces and I had a legit line of snot running from my nose to my ear (which was frozen), we got to our cars and at the same time both sighed, “awesome.” Because it really was.

My feet kept falling asleep while we were running (why does that happen? I don’t like it) and I had to stop a couple of times to wake them up. I’ve tried different shoes, tying them looser/tighter, different socks…what else? It happens after about 2 miles. At the end I ran the final 1/4 mile with both feet completely dead. It was scary (I kept thinking I was going to take the biggest digger because I couldn’t see or feel the little bumps on the sidewalk) but BOOM. Did it.

We did concede to skip the 5 minute cool-down walk in light of the weather, which made my feet wake up while I was driving. That was not awesome.

When I got home, somehow I didn’t feel tortured enough, so I found a 35 minute ballet barre workout to do. HARD, especially on just runned-on (ran-on?) legs, but awesome.

Hot shower, hot meal of mushrooms, onions and a black bean veggie burger and warm bed.

The end.

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FLARP

I first met Tobey last March, when my friend Mego (my usual race buddy) introduced me to her on the morning of the Ras na hEireann U.S.A. 5K last year…here are the three of us getting ready to race (Tobey is in the middle).

Tobey (who has the most endearing dimples way up high on her cheeks) almost immediately declared herself to be ‘the most unfun person in America’, but I charmed her with my absurdly inappropriate humor and decided she would be an excellent work-in-progress at the very least.

SO ANYWAY, cut to a year later and Tobey has become a friend. She’s also a great motivator and supporter of my running and fitness goals. When she read about my mileage goal this year of 350 miles (after she scoffed at the small number), she asked if I’d like to start meeting her one or two nights a week to run at the office park where she works to run a few miles. Anyone else who wanted to run would be invited as well.

I’ve always been a solitary runner for the most part, so I was curious to try out running with a partner. I see women running together and chatting, and I always think it looks awesome. However, I was worried that Tobey (who runs fast) would be miles ahead of me and I would be left behind, all

However, Tobey was a true gentlewoman and kept her pace to match mine (thank you again, Tobey) and it was fab.u.lous. We decided that our running group, even if it was just two people, obviously needed a name, and Tobey suggested FLARP*:

Fabulous Ladies’ Awesome Running Practice

Done.

First FLARP meeting in the books last night, 3 miles run in icy slush. It was a completely different experience than running alone, namely in that all of the little issues you seem to hone in on with your body/legs are much more muted with conversation. I’m also terrible about running or walking in a straight line (I typically use whoever is next to me like a bumper to keep me on track), so I felt like my core had a good workout trying to balance and not to knock poor Tobey off her feet with an unintentional shoulder check.

*FLARP was absolutely named after the goo in the plastic can that makes farty noises.

5:50 am: alarm went off

I hit snooze, and then wondered what strange sensation I was feeling. Hmm…I had felt it before, but this time it was completely unplanned…

I needed to run.
 

Before I could change my mind, I quickly changed into my running clothes and downed a half cup of coffee. Check for motivation? Still there. I dashed out the door, expecting a cold wind in my face as I hurried across the parking lot to the gym. What I found instead was a still, eerily quiet morning that was shrouded in fog. It could have been a movie set. Lest I miss the major hint being thrown at me by Ms. Nature (she hates the gym), my ipod informed me that it would not be working this morning due to a lack of charging on my part. In my opinion, the gym without music is completely insufferable.

Decision made. I ran back inside and ditched my headphones, ipod and water bottle. Went back outside and headed towards the start of my 2 mile hill run.

You guys…wow. There was no one around; I could feel the silence. The only sound being made was my feet hitting the ground and my breath panting to the beat of an internal song only I could hear. I’ve heard people describe the whisper of falling leaves but today I heard it, really heard it, for the first time. Their slow, fluttery fall to the ground reminded me that things are so much bigger than me and my imaginary problems. In fact, to even entertain the thought that I might have problems at that moment beyond getting to the top of each hill seemed ludicrous. The problem is that I haven’t been slowing down and stopping to truly appreciate what is around me. To actively engage my senses…all of them…and to actively disengage my mind. I need to focus more on hearing and less on speaking. More on seeing and less on trying to show.

I was lucky enough to complete my first mile without any cars passing by or other worldly sounds breaking into my reverie. About halfway through my second mile, I heard a school bus coming. My first thought was that not only would it be loud as it got closer, but the smell of burning diesel would be sure to invade my nose and give me an insta-headache. Instead as it passed by, I heard the sound of laughing children and was reminded that every day doesn’t have to start with a yawn and a countdown to Friday.

I’m thankful for my run this morning because it reminded me that although any run makes you feel better afterward, running outside is SO. MUCH. MORE. It’s a recharge, an opportunity to think things out and create in your mind, and to cultivate the relationship you have with your own body. With every mile I run I can feel my confidence growing and my worries fading. Therefore I will run more miles.

HIILLLLLL YEAH

I did some minor exploring, and found the PERFECT 2 mile hill/climb route directly behind my building. It’s quiet, and the houses are huge and pretty and nice to look at. Even better is that they are far away enough to not hear my breath just wailing away out of my mouth. I think at one point the hill was so steep I was moan-breathing. So hot.
First mile: 205 ft elevation up to 385 ft, which is a gain of 190 ft and a 3% grade increase.

First mile picture summary:


Second mile:
Pure downhill bliss. Steep enough to give the quads a nice burn, but not so steep as to hurt my knees or shins.  

Second mile picture summary:

p.s. Do a Google image search for ‘excited face’. Happiest bunch of fools you’ve ever seen.

Yeah, but...

When my alarm went off this morning, I was full of buts:

…but it’s cold in here (turn the heat on for 5 minutes, wimp).

…but the cat is on me (if you can’t lift a 9 pound fuzzy thing you have bigger problems).

…but my calves are SO SORE from being on my tippy toes at belly dancing (take 5 minutes to stretch…eventually they will touch the floor).

…but I’m tirrrrrrrrrred (make some coffee).

…but I have a meeting at 9 (plenty of time and you know it).

When all was said and done, I put on my big girl pants sneakers and walked my ass over to the gym. I ran a little over 2 miles. I felt amazeballs afterwards. I was no longer tired, cold, having a cat on my chest, or unable to straighten my legs. I made it to my meeting with time to spare, and I felt all the more productive because of my great start. I’m going to tell myself to shut my trap more often.

Chillin' on a dirt road...

Hey y’all. I just returned from a quick trip up to Canada to see my family for Canadian Thanksgiving…(perfect times!!!)…more to come on that later.

I have to leave again tomorrow for a couple days (surprise work trip to Jersey of all places)…but I wanted to leave you with this picture of the most AMAZING road I was lucky enough to run on while I was away. 2.5 miles both days up there…made the turkey taste a whole lot better. C25KT2 Week 3 in the books.

Subtle Nuances

This is a somewhat edited gchat conversation (took out unnecessary parts) I had with my brother this morning (who runs marathons in like 10 minutes and was my inspiration to run in the first place):

For reference, here is chris demolishing boston at mile 12 this year

Chris: how’s your running going?
i signed up for a 4 mile on thanksgiving in somerville(what i heard: “i have a broken hand and a bruised heel, yet i’m still going to run on a day when everyone else eats all the foods in the land. nbd. and YOU?)

me:  oh nice. i think i’ll be ready for at least a 5K by then

(what i meant: sorry, buddy. there’s no way i’m running 4 miles on thanksgiving. i have a turkey to cook and the foods to eat…alllll of the foods)

Chris:  you thinking about the jingle bell run in december in somerville?

(what i heard: just because you think you’re sly with that response doesn’t mean i’m going to stop casting bait. run, sister…RUN!)

me:  uhhh…no. have never thought about it

(what i meant: moving on…)

Chris:  i run in the morning so i can be a lazy drunk ass the rest of the day

(what i heard (in human talking to doggy voice): doesn’t that sound FUN?! you LOVE to be a lazy drunk ass!!!)

…5 minutes later…

me:  ok fine you just inspired me…signed up for the turkey classic road race  

(what i meant: happy, jerk butt?)

Chris:  cool.

(what he meant: i wiiiiiiiiiinnn, sucka!!!)

(what he was doing in his head, which is what he ALWAYS does on water slides):

Boston's Run to Remember 5 miler

Doing it. Sunday. Wearing a bright blue Finkle #5 t-shirt. As in Ray Finkle. As in, “Laces OUT, BITCH!”

Will I win? Doubtful (but…maybe). Will I enjoy it? Yes. (Mainly afterward). Is answering your own questions annoying? Only if you’re Kate Gosslin or one of the Real Housewives doing an interview.

My Garmin Forerunner 405 and I had sex, and now we are in love!

Did I say that loud? (Yeah, you pretty much yelled it)

I received an unexpected awesome surprise for my birthday…a 405! Last night, after a day of anticipation, it was fully charged up and so was I. I left the headphones at home, lest 405 feel unappreciated. I assured him that he would be the only technological thing I’d be strapping onto my arm for the evening.

We set off into the sunset cloudy evening with no particular destination in mind. I headed towards an old favorite route. 405 implored me to skip my usual turnoff to go home and keep on going on a bigger, hillier route. The conversation was flowing, the drinks winds were strong, and we were really feeling each others’ vibes.

After about 2 miles, the rain began in earnest, and then 405 and I really began to get our swerve on. We ran and ran and ran through it, feeling ferocious and unstoppable. It was exhilarating…pure magnificence.

When all was said and done, 405 and I had loved each other hardcore for 43 minutes to the tune of 3.4 miles…further than I’ve run in over a year! No pain, just love and tenderness.

The real double rainbow hit when I got home and uploaded the run into my computer. I ‘watched’ myself do the whole route, with little graphs showing my heart rate, speed, and pace. It was like running porn.

I’m totally gonna ask him out again…

Best/Worst Game EVER

• I realized after having my conversation with myself this morning that due to plans tonight I would not be able to run outside in this BEAUTIFUL weather -200 points
• So I went up to the gym at work at lunch time instead. +250 points
• I ran almost 2 miles, although I could/should have gone further. I was simply bored of that stupid treadmill. -20 points(for wimping out)
• I did my Latin ass workout that I ripped out of a magazine. I looked ridiculous doing it…ridiculously HOT, that is (thoughts totally count as reality). +100 points
• Followed it up by not 10, not 20, not 30 but 45 push-ups!!! +45 points
• Continued on to do full ab workout without resting in between exercises. +100 points
  
  Score update at the half: 275 points

• Took some time to stretch to the full version of Purple Rain. +25 points
• Decided 45 push-ups weren’t enough, so I tacked on another 15 for a clean 60. +15 points
• Spotted a jump rope (picture a bird noticing a worm in the ground, head tilt and all) and decided to try it for 5 minutes or so. +25 points
• Realized within 3 jumps that apparently jumping up and down is infinitely more intense on my bladder than running and I legit PEED MY PANTS. AT WORK. -350 points

EPIC JUMP ROPE FAIL. FINAL SCORE -10 POINTS
Luckily for me and everyone else here, there is a shower and I was done with my workout so I was able to return to my office with some dignity. But I knew…I totally knew.

Why is it...

…that I can essentially run 3 5Ks per week, but when I do it in a formal race it feels so much harder and further?

…that I feel so alone while running with hundreds and sometimes thousands of people but not when I’m actually running all by myself?

…that I find it acceptable to wear tight stretchy pants with a fitted shirt in front of a whole city, but feel insecure wearing leggings and a long sweater at work? Same legs, different place, no?

…that it’s somehow okay for guys to blow snot rockets in a race without looking around to see who is right behind them (it was me by the way) and know that I’ll be okay with it? (I was, for some reason)

I’m baffled and amazed by all of these concepts.

Ras na hEirann 5K is in 2 days!!!!

I’m excited because this is the first 5K I’ve properly trained for. My shins have been barking up a storm (and by barking I mean screaming and attack-biting), but I’m going to fix myself up with some Motrin beforehand and have at this run.

In light of the horrible tragedy going on with our Japanese friends right now, I plan to devote my first mile to thoughts of hope and healing for them and their beautiful country.

Dear C25K,

It’s been a mere 9 weeks, but I feel as though I’ve known you forever. Last night marked my final run of your program (I did 3 miles in 36:59 mins) and I felt like a superstar being able to run the whole thing. The first half of the run was primarily uphill, with a slow gradual incline that made me hate whoever created the town of Natick. Then I made it to the pinnacle and coasted back down, happily moving forward and smiling while doing it. Except when the wind LITERALLY stopped me in my tracks and actually blew me backwards a bit. That part sucked.

After I got home, I said a bittersweet mental goodbye to you, iced my shins, and proceeded to do this:

MAN I feel like a million bucks.

p.s. If you see the old guy on Charles street could you please let him know that I was not telling him he was my bitch and I was going to own him; but rather was speaking directly to the hill. (Yes, I did that. Out loud.)

Ohhhhhhhhhh pretty!

I feel as though I could easily run a marathon if the whole thing was along this path. 

Good thing it’s probably not real. I’m totes not ready for 26.2…yet.

Jogging vs Running

I know I’m not the only one out there who bashfully ducks my head down and politely disagrees when someone says ‘oh, you’re a runner.” In my mind, a runner is tall and lean, somehow a combination of bony and chiseled. A runner has a powerful stride, constantly bringing to life a still picture from an Olympic-speed 50 yard dash. A runner is focused, wears spandex, and thinks of nothing but their next PR and the feeling of their ragged breath jarring their lungs as they pound out the miles.

However, consider the alternative. When I think ‘jogger’, I think of someone wearing 80’s-style gray sweatpants (yes, with elastic ankle bands) and a matching gray hoodie, shuffling down the street and waving to the neighbors. A jogger is a little paunchy in the middle, and is either jogging to make up for a meal they ate the night before or one they’re going to have the night after. The jogger jogs because they want to hold on to their high school glory days, when they barely made the varsity team but proudly wore the jacket anyway.

My mental descriptions are neither here nor there, but I think while I was out running (yes I said running) on Sunday I discovered the physical difference.

When you are jogging (which is what I’ve almost always done), you are merely picking up your feet and putting them back down. You move forward, but only because your stride is somewhat circular. Breathing can be labored, but it’s not really that bad. In essence, I’ve been holding myself back by doing this, playing the safe card.

I’ve started to notice lately that I’ve been doing more running, actually taking the extra step of pushing myself forward. Rather than rolling off my toe, I’m launching myself forward (barely, let’s not get ahead of ourselves). I’ve always been afraid of going too fast (skiing, roller-blading and sledding all make me nervous), but I’m now finding myself confident in my stride. I know that each foot will magically find its hold, and that with each push-off another one can be right behind it, and that’s ok.

I won’t fall. I can run. I am a runner.

February Week 3! (aka weekend weigh-in)

Goals to actual results breakdown:

1. Lose weight every week: CHECK

• I lost 2 pounds!!!

2. Finish C25K: IN PROGRESS (SO CLOSE TO FINISHED!!!)

• Finished W8D3 today, 2.75 miles running (3.1 with warmup/cooldown)

3. Do a non-running workout at least once: CHECK and CHECK

• Did 8 miles on the bike and 10 minutes on the rowing machine

4. Only drink 2 times during the week: CHECK

• Defeated Saturday like a champ, drank Monday and Tuesday

If only I had more arms and a bigger back…I have so much patting to do!

Running buddy and other babbles

Yesterday I did C25K W8D2 (2.75 miles or 28 minutes), and for the first time since starting running I ran with a buddy. I invited my friend Beth, who I ran a 5K with last year. We run at about the same pace but she’s slightly faster than I am, so we separated at the race and she finished 5 minutes before I did.

I was kind of worried about running with someone…I think that for races I prefer to run alone, mainly because I don’t want to hold anyone back. However, whenever I see a couple of girls running and talking I think, “that looks awesome”, followed by, “I wonder how they talk without gasping and dying?”

So I took Beth for a test run (haha get it?). We did 2.5 miles (took a little over 31 mins), with a big hill in the middle that we had to go up, and then got to run down. The verdict? Kind of weird but somewhat freeing to not have my tunes on because that’s generally how I keep my pace. There’s still quite a bit of snow and ice on the sidewalks so we couldn’t really run next to each other, but Beth was kind enough to let me run in front. That was awesome, because I HATE running behind someone. I constantly feel like I can’t keep up, even if I can. Stupid mind games. Also, the conversation was limited due to the front/back thing combined with the gasping for air thing and loud traffic.

All things considered, I think I’m a fan. At least sometimes.

What are YOUR thoughts on running with a buddy?