Quick Fuel

Now that I'm running more often, and for farther distances, I decided I needed to try some quick energy options that I could consume before, during, or after a run.  Most of the time I run first thing after waking up (whether that's at 4am or 9am) and I don't feel like eating breakfast before working out.  I can't, however, run on a completely empty stomach either.  I tried the Jelly Belly Sport Beans because, let's face it, jelly beans just sound fun and delicious.

My verdict?

They have a fruity but slightly odd taste if I eat them before working out, but during or after a run they taste like juicy heaven in my mouth.  I'm sure by that point my body is craving energy from carbs and needed electrolytes, which is why they seem so delightful.  I usually eat just one pack (100 calories, 19g sugar) and that seems to keep the shakiness away that I used to feel.  I've tried the Fruit Punch and Lemon Lime flavors, and so far Lemon Lime is my favorite.


Next up to try: Clif Shot Bloks

Lessons Learned

So the past couple weeks have been tough on my training schedule.  I was swamped with work and also traveled 18 hours round trip in my car to visit my family.  They live near the Pennsylvania/New York border, south of Buffalo, and man was it cold!  While up there I planned to run outside for my long run of 5 miles, until it decided to snow and cover the roads with a nice slippery sheet of ice.  My running shoes have zero traction, so I had to run inside on a treadmill instead.  Ugh.  I made it 3 miles  and almost died of boredom.  After that I said a little prayer of "thank you" for the fact that I live in southeast Virginia, where the coldest it's been lately has been maybe 40 degrees.  I had a great time visiting my family, but when I returned, I had lots of work and 22 very anxious fourth graders waiting for me.  Once we got out for winter break, I proceeded to sleep 12 hours straight from sheer exhaustion.  I think my body was trying to tell me something.  


I didn't run again until this past Saturday, when I went a little over 4 miles.  The main problem?  My iPod lied to me.  I got the new little iPod Nano (so cute!) as an early Christmas present from my hubby, and I never calibrated it beyond entering my height and weight.  I found out my mistake when I returned to my house.  It said that I ran 4.9 miles and I was pretty happy with that.  But part of me felt this nagging suspicion that I didn't run quite that far.  I hopped in my car to drive around and check the mileage, and sure enough, I only ran 4.2 miles.  Wamp wamp.  I learned my lesson though, and I will definitely be calibrating the darn thing before I use it again.  After that run, my knees hurt SO BAD, and I knew it was because I didn't run at all last week.  Another lesson learned.  I realized that I'm going to have to stick to my training schedule if I'm going to pull this race off.  


I started the week off right by taking my dog for a walk on Sunday to stretch mine and his legs.  Yesterday I took a rest day since my knees were still sore, and this morning I met a friend to go for a run outside.  We started out on our 2 mile course, and after about 5 minutes a nice, cool rain started coming down.  It actually felt really refreshing!  We ran from a local high school down to a river dock, which was neat to see, even on a stormy day.  At the end of our run, we ran into another friend who was walking her dog, so it was nice to stop and chat for a bit.  My legs felt much better today, and I plan to go for a 3 mile run tomorrow.  


I will stick to my schedule, and I WILL run 7 miles THIS SATURDAY.  Sounds scary, but I know after those first couple miles I will find my stride.  




My mantra: I can do this, and I will.  

A Run With History

I returned to the Yorktown Victory Center today for another run.  It was about 40 degrees and a bit windy, but the sun was shining and the water on the York River was bright blue and glistening.  I stopped to take a few pics during my run, and I also walked around a bit afterwards to take some more.  It's become my favorite training spot, because I love running amongst the historic sights.  It keeps my mind focused elsewhere besides the throbbing pain in my legs.  All in all, I felt good while running, and I completed 4.2 miles.  Very pleased!  Here are some of the sights/views I enjoyed while passing through:

Yorktown Victory Monument - Commemorates the victory over the British in the concluding battle of the Revolutionary War.

Part of the running path near the York River

View of Riverwalk Landing from the pier

Nelson House - Home of Thomas Nelson, the Governor of Virginia during the Revolutionary War, Commanding Officer of the Virginia Militia, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

And then there's just me!

Very happy I met my goal of 4 miles for the day!

So not cool, PF

Planet Fitness apparently had the brilliant idea to create "Free Pizza Mondays" on the first Monday of every month.  I've never experienced this marketing ploy before, and let me tell you, I never will again!  Do you know how difficult it is to keep running on a treadmill when the delicious scent of piping-hot pizza is wafting through the air?!?!  I couldn't decide if it made me hungry or slighting nauseated.  Then, when I went into the locker room to grab my bag, a woman was CHOWING DOWN on 3 pieces!  Sooooo not helpful!  I literally ran, grabbed my things, slammed the locker shut, and power walked to the front door, where I had to pass the 20 or so boxes full of forbidden goodness.  Cruelty, I tell you!  I tried to remind myself that I was going home to make some delicious, home-made beef stew...

But really. Beef Stew?  Come on.

No Pain, No Gain (and other cliches)

Yeah, yeah, we've heard it all before.

No pain, no gain.  


Pain is weakness leaving the body.  


Feel the burn.  


Mind over matter.

Blah, blah, blah.  I've heard these annoying statements so many times.  I've also been told the whole line of needing to "push through the pain".  Well, I've definitely never pushed myself to do much of anything when exercise or fitness is concerned.  If it becomes painful, annoying, or frustrating...I stop.  Well now that I'm attempting to take this half marathon training seriously, I realized that I'm going to HAVE to push myself to make any progress.  I can't just stop when something becomes uncomfortable.

Tonight, I hit a physical and mental block after about 15 minutes of running on the treadmill.  My legs ached, my stomach hurt, I felt like I might vomit, and my mind kept wandering to thoughts like:

"You can't do this."
"You will never finish 13.1 miles.  You can't even finish 2 miles without stopping!"
"You can just stop and walk.  It will feel so much better."

But then I started remembering the moments I've spent running in races.  I never quit during a race because:

A.  I paid to participate.
B.  People were cheering me on.
C.  I wanted to have the best time possible.

I started to realize that I need to treat every workout like a race, at least in the sense of persevering.  I told myself to basically shut the hell up, and I also told myself that I could run for much longer than 15 minutes.  I ignored the ache in my legs and the queasiness in my gut, and proceeded to crank up the speed.  I ran for 28 minutes at a 10:30 pace, and I DIDN'T STOP!!!  I know this may seem like a small feat to many, but for me it's a big deal.  I always take little walking breaks, and I finally proved to myself that I don't need to.  After about 20 minutes, my legs felt better and my stomach stopped hurting.  Magic!


So from now on I will be keeping this in mind, no matter how cheesy and cliche it might be:

Attack of the Leaf Blower

Sundays in my training schedule are designated for cross-training or rest.  Since my legs felt pretty decent after my run yesterday, I decided to go for a bike ride.  It also helped that it was an absolutely B-E-A-utiful 70 degrees and sunny kind of day.  One of the many reasons I love living in Virginia.

Since I didn't feel like packing my bike into my teeny, tiny car and heading to a trail, I biked for about 35 minutes near my house.  I live in a relatively quiet residential area, so I don't have to worry too much about being the annoying biker who gets in the way of traffic.  I do, however, have to worry about leaf blowers.  While riding past a house, a guy was blowing the leaves out of his yard.  I don't know if it was the wind, or the fact that he quickly changed directions, or just bad luck, but right as I passed his house, a tornado of leaves swirled around me.  I just about had a heart attack!  Did he do it on purpose?  I hope not.  Did it scare the crap out of me?  Yes, indeed.

I did enjoy my ride, and the scenery was beautiful.  Check out the marshy area that I passed as I rode over a small bridge.

I only had two other minor mishaps happen during my short ride.  My stupid pant leg kept getting stuck on my water bottle harness, and I also ate two bugs.

*Note to self for next time:  Wear my running tights or capris, and bike with my mouth closed.

Better Late Than Never

People who knew me in high school are aware that I was far from being a jock or athlete.  The closest I came to it was tap dancing, which definitely doesn't count.  I was into the arts and getting straight As.  Basically, I was a nerd.

When I went to college, I started taking yoga and kickboxing classes, playing intramural volleyball, and working out at the rec center.  I began running around my small college town for a couple miles at a time.  I never figured it would turn into anything.  I just liked the feeling of staying active and working off the ice cream I enjoyed wayyyyyy too much.

When I moved to Virginia, I loved the beautiful weather and the fact that I was basically always running at sea level.  I signed up for my first 5K back in 2008, and I felt pretty badass when I completed it.  Since then I've run a variety of 5Ks, 8Ks, and 10Ks on and off.  I've never been consistent with my training though.  I would do great for a few months, and then quit and turn into a lazy couch potato.  

Last year I ran the Shamrock 8K in Virginia Beach, and afterwards I was talking with some friends about running the half marathon someday.  I mentioned that it's on my bucket list, and it's something I would love to be able to check off and be proud of.  I never gave much thought to it afterwards until about a month ago.  

A friend of mine sent me an e-mail at work with the link to the Shamrock Half, and she told me that she remembered me talking about it and she was holding me to it.  I immediately started to panic.  I thought, "Can I really do this?  I've never ran more than 6 miles!  EVER!  And sometimes I don't even like running!"  I replied and asked her if she honestly thought I could handle it.  She sent back a training schedule for beginners that actually seemed reasonable, and I decide then and there that I needed to just suck it up and do it.  

So now it's official.  I registered last night for the Shamrock Half Marathon on March 18, 2012 in Virginia Beach!!!   I'm nervous and scared, but mostly excited and freakin' pumped to see what I can do!  I had an awesome 3.5 mile run this morning at the scenic Yorktown Victory Center.  I even tackled some pretty awesome hills!  

I wanted to start this blog to keep track of my progress.  Feel free to check back to see how I'm doing, and enjoy laughing along with me as this will definitely prove to be embarrassing and amusing at times.  ;)