Running on Empty

Twenty miler

2009-09-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

TWENTY MILES!

20 miles. That is the distance that I ran Sunday night, my longest in training, not to mention, ever. It was definitely awesome, painful, thought-provoking, sickening, and amazing all wrapped at once.

The past few weeks have been crazy with work and life. My Team in Training duties with the Nation's Triathlon consumed most weekends, race weekend (September 12-13) in particular. Work was busy with a last-minute trip to Cleveland and then a personal trip to Ohio for work...all in the span of 4 days. I definitely had low expectations for a long, long run the night after a wedding and 6 separate airplane trips. Did I mention that I am a nervous flyer too?

Anyways, my fantastic friends organized a 20-miler for me from course to race/running support and post-race food. SB mapped out the route and then she, NL and TE took turns relaying me through the course. All in all I completed the distance in just over four hours. The last 2 were absolutely rough..I was wondering if I would actually be able to do it as I dragged myself and my sickened stomach up North Capitol street to the endpoint. Ugh! But....TWENTY MILES!

EE was amazing and cooked a fantastic dinner, leant he her shower and even a clean change of clothes! I am grateful to all of them and humbled by the experience.

Everyone claims that if you can do 20 you can do 26.2. Here's to hoping that is true!

Mile 23 of the Marathon dedicated to breast cancer

2009-09-23T13:51:00.001-07:00

For anyone planning to watch the race in Chicago, Mile 23 might be a great place!

“Join Bank of America and Susan G. Komen for the Cure at Mile 23 as they salute the strength of breast cancer survivors everywhere and remember those we have lost. Dedicated to breast cancer survivors, their families and those running on behalf of finding the cures, this stretch serves as a race day tribute. Show your support with Komen for the Cure and breast cancer survivors everywhere by lining the streets dressed in signature pink or just by lending your voice to the cheers of the masses.”

Nation's Tri : done and done

2009-09-18T13:17:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was the TEAM in Training Nation's Triathlon. For four months I have been a part of a coaching staff of 7 for this great event to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. All together we helped coach 160 DC Triathletes from the DC Area across the finish line and were part of a collective group of 560 that raised 2.4 MILLION dollars for LLS. It was an inspiring weekend!

Here are some of the photos:

Fundraising Total $3445 and counting!

2009-09-18T10:46:00.000-07:00

thanks to the generous support of my friends and family I have raised more money that I could have ever hoped! Although the online total says $2755 offline donations brings the actual current total to:

$3,445!

This is absolutely amazing but I am not done yet! There are still THREE WEEKS to go until race day and I hope to keep going.

thanks to everyone who has donated so far!

Once again, my online fundraising site: http://www.active.com/donate/komenvirtualteam/Cina

It's Official!

2009-09-18T10:36:00.000-07:00

My Chicago Marathon runner packet came in the mail last night.

I will be RUNNER #23332

I will take the palindrome as a good luck sign.

At this year's race, Spectators can electronically track runners along the race course by receiving real-time updates via e-mail or text message throughout the race. Updates will be received as runners cross the 10K, halfway (13.1 miles) and 30K checkpoints, as well as the finish line.

To register for Runner Tracking, please go HERE.

A three hour tour, a three hour tour...

2009-09-10T14:17:00.001-07:00

Ever since my failed attempt at eighteen miles I have been stressing about it. This weekend is going to be VERY busy with the Nation's Triathlon from pretty much start to end with no time to run. I knew I only had one chace to get it done.

I decided to set out for a three hour run since I have no real way to measure 18 miles other than google maps. Three hours means ten minute miles...probably pretty generous for a long run. I feel like I run really slow for anything over two hours but who cares. Three hours is a serious run!

I am still in desbelief that I actually made it. Sure, I had to walk a few times. Yes, my stomach did it's usual crampy dance...but I still clocked in a solid three hours. Amazing! Maybe this marathon thing really is happening!

The true test will be 20 miles on the Sunday evening after a wedding in Ohio. If I can do that I can do anything! i am already recruiting friends to run parts of it with me. 18 miles alone was a lot. 20 might put me over the edge!

Altitude training

2009-09-10T09:45:00.001-07:00

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to spend time in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The family of one of my best friends from college has a place there so five of us took it over for the long weekend. It was a great few days of catching-up, laughter, dancing, food, drinks, pool-time relaxing and running. Yes. Running!

Since graduation from Denison all of my closest friends have taken up endurance sports to some degree. It is hard to count the number of 5ks, 10ks, marathons, half marathons, etc. that everyone has signed up for. It is fantastic as it always means that someone will be up for a run on rare weekend getaways.

LC and I had the ambitious plan to run Eighteen miles last Saturday in the heat and altitude. KL mapped out a great ten-mile loop and everyone signed on to run or bike at least a portion of it. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, as were the hills! A combination of heat, altitude and stomach cramping left me at just about eleven miles. Although disappointed I have to remember that ten miles is still no small feat. I even decided to AWARD myself extra points for the extreme conditions. I also decided to REWARD myself with a margarita, or three.

TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS!

2009-09-02T11:45:00.000-07:00

$2,005!!!

As of today, I have raised just over $2000 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure! I am completely overwhelmed by the generosity of friends and family alike.

thanks to everyone who has taken part in my fundraising efforts in memory of my mother, Mary Hannah Herold.

With just about 38 days to go until the Chicago Marathon I am well on the way to surpassing my goal! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

If you would still like to donate, it is not too late! Please visit my fundraising site today!

Nine miles down, many to go!

2009-09-02T11:25:00.000-07:00

Ever since returning from New Hampshire I have made a conscious effort to start really following my training schedule. You would think that with swimming and biking out of the picture I would have lots of free time to run, run, run.

As always, life gets in the way. But it's ok! I will never be one of THOSE people who obsesses about getting every mile in, accounting for every new fastest mile or split. I am simply content with fitting my runs into my busy life and getting on with it.

Last Sunday I was supposed to run 14 and did. Accomplishment! I have been blessed with many supportive friends who are going above and beyond their friend duties to help. I ran with TE/LE from their new neighborhood this time around. TE went with my first and we did about nine miles through Columbia Heights/Rock Creek Park/Dupont/Shaw. I started to get a nasty blister around mile 6 and was able to patch it up before heading out for 5 more with LE. It was tough but I made it through and then rewarded myself with goodies from the Bloomingdale Farmers Market afterwards.

This week's schedule:
4 miles on Tuesday (Check!)
9 miles on Wednesday (check! Did it this morning!)
5 miles Thursday.

Pretty good, eh?

Maine/New Hampshire

2009-08-31T17:31:00.000-07:00

Timberman Ironman 70.3

2009-08-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

Well, it's done!
This weekend was the Timberman Triathlon, a half-ironman race. It consisted of a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike and a 13.1 run.

We got up to Lake Winnipesaukee on Friday evening just in time for check-in and packet pick-up. It is gorgeous up here! Ted found us a great rental house with a view of a lake and at the top of an insane driveway...hills are to be a theme for the week!

Race morning started off at 4:30...way too early! We had to leave the house early enough to get parking at the race site and we barely made it. Traffic is tough here as there is one entrance to the park and very limited parking on-site.

The actual race started 45 minutes late due to a car-accident somewhere on the bike course. Most of the local police and fire personnel were at their posts to control traffic and had to be temporarily taken away. Once things started we got to the beach just in time to see Ted off on his early wave.

Liz and I were in the same wave (pink caps!) and got to start together which was nice. We even swam together for the first bit of the race. Awesome! My swim went pretty well...the usual scrum at the start and a few kicks to the side but nothing too terrible. That is until the men's wave behind us caught up. All of a sudden yellow caps were everywhere as men swam over and around me. I kept my cool though and did much better than expected, considering my lack of swimming this training seaso. I got out of the water in just about 43 minutes.

The bike was ok. There were some hills for sure, even one called the "Marsh Hill Monstah" with a woman ("Simplicity the Clown") dressed up like the Devil on the side cheering everyone on. I am sure I could have gone faster but my legs just were not having it. I kept having to try and stretch out but the pain would go in/out. My stomach wouldn't take in solid foods very well but liquids and clif shot blocks/gels seemed to be fine. My time was 3 hours 36 minutes.

The run was a rough one...did way more walking than I would have liked, considering that the run has been my main focus. It was hot and hilly and two loops-it took a lot to keep going after running past the finish line at 6.5! It was nice to see friends time and time again on the out-and-back course though. I stopped and walked every water/gatorade stop which was a good thing. The last few miles my back really started seizing up which was no fun! Never have I been so happy to see a finish chute! Total run time was 2:21.

All together, I finished the total 70.3 miles in 6 hours and 47 minutes. Looking forward to my next one where I hope to improve on my previous times. Now on to the Marathon!

Longest run to date

2009-08-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

Today I ran just about 15 miles.
I went a route that I hadn't mapped out before and forced myself to run for 2.5 hours. Surprisingly enough, I made it!

Last week was a little rough for training because of shin issues. I took it nice and easy and had planned to run 15 (or as far as I could manage) on Sunday morning. That plan got thwarted by a migraine that manifested itself at 4 am so instead, I took it easy. Had some Exedrin migraine, slept in, watched a little TV and then headed down to Georgetown for a baptism/luncheon.

This morning it was on.
I set the alarm for 5am, ate a quick breakfast and then went out.
Generally speaking, I felt pretty good. There were occasional twinges in my knee/pains in my shin but it went away. My stomach even behaved itself too! I was amazed. I ran with my old busted fuel belt and then carried a third bottle in my hand so the hydration was pretty good. I ate a gel on the Key bridge and managed to keep it down as well.

I tried using electrolyte tablets for the first time as well. I think that Hammer Endurolytes will become a mainstay for long, hot endurance days.

Here is a link to sort of where I went. Hard to account for some of the weird twists/turns off the roads.

Next stop....TIMBERMAN!
6 days and counting...

Susan G. Komen founder receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

2009-08-13T06:53:00.000-07:00

Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Founder Given Nation’s Highest Civilian Honor for Work to Save Lives and End Breast Cancer ForeverWASHINGTON, D.C. – August 12, 2009 – Calling her a catalyst to ease suffering in the world, President Barack Obama today honored Susan G. Komen for the Cure® founder and cancer advocate Ambassador Nancy Goodman Brinker with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Brinker, whose promise to her dying sister, Susan G. Komen launched the global breast cancer movement 27 years ago, received the Medal of Freedom for her leadership in building Komen for the Cure into a global force for change for people with breast cancer.

“One of the last things Suzy Komen did before she died was to have her sister Nancy make her a promise,” Obama said. “Nancy promised that she would prevent other families fighting breast cancer from suffering the way that her family had. What began as a shoe box with $200 and a list of friends has become a global Race for the Cure; a campaign that has eased the pain and saved the lives of millions of people around the world. In the months after making that promise, Nancy lay awake at night wondering if one person can really make a difference. Nancy’s life is the answer.”

Brinker is currently founding chair for the organization and Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control for the United Nations’ World Health Organization. She is a leading advocate for cancer control programs in the United States and around the world.

Under her leadership, Komen has built more than 120 Affiliate organizations in the United States and three abroad, with a presence in 50 countries, and has invested more than $1.3 billion into research and outreach programs since inception. Still, she notes, there is more to be done.
“We are, clearly, facing a global cancer crisis,” Brinker said. “Cancer is already killing more people than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. It will affect one in two men and one in three women in their lifetimes. Too little attention is being paid to the human suffering and the social and economic impacts of this disease, here in the U.S. and especially in countries with few resources to combat it.”

Brinker accepted the honor in her sister’s memory, and on behalf of 1.5 million Komen supporters worldwide. “For years, Komen’s friends and advocates have put in the long hours, and done the hard work, to raise awareness and end suffering from breast cancer,” she said.
She was one of 16 recipients of the honor at the White House today.

“Nancy G. Brinker’s unique passion and determination have been a blessing to all those whose lives have been touched by breast cancer,” the Medal of Freedom citation said.
Doing everything she can to end breast cancer foreverNancy Brinker’s story began in Peoria, Ill., with a promise to her sister, Susan Goodman Komen, that she would do everything she could to end breast cancer forever. Susan Komen died of breast cancer in 1980, at the age of 36, after a three-year battle with the disease. Brinker was diagnosed with breast cancer just two years later at age 37.

“At that time, you didn’t talk about breast cancer. There were no 800-numbers, no Internet. Our government didn’t spend much on breast cancer research. There were few major breast cancer centers. That’s the world we faced when Suzy was diagnosed. It’s a world I watched her suffer in, and it’s a world she wanted us to change,” Brinker said.
Determined to keep her promise, in 1982 Brinker launched what was then called the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation from her living room in Dallas. The name was changed to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in 2007.

Brinker overcame initial resistance to her efforts. “We found that potential sponsors didn’t want to be associated with cancer, especially a cancer of the breast. Papers didn’t want to print the words ‘breast cancer.’ It was very much an uphill battle,” Brinker said.
Nevertheless, she persevered, and in 1983 the first Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® was run around a Dallas shopping mall with about 800 people. Today, more than 1.5 million people run annually in Komen Race for the Cure events in more than 120 U.S. and 14 international cities. This October, Komen will hold its first Race for the Cure around the Giza Pyramids in Cairo.

Along the way, Brinker pioneered the concept of “cause-related marketing” and established the color pink as the iconic representation for breast cancer. Today, almost 300 global and national companies are Komen sponsors, providing funding to help fulfill the organization’s promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever.

In 2001, Brinker was named U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, where she enlisted the aid of the U.S. State Department, local women, health professionals and non-governmental organizations in what she terms “global health diplomacy” to raise awareness for breast cancer in that country.
From there, Brinker and Komen launched an international breast cancer initiative, focused on low- to middle-income countries and building a presence in 50 countries in high-need areas, including Africa, Central and South America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Later, Brinker served as U.S. Chief of Protocol from 2007-2009, where she continued to engage world leaders in the need for global cancer control.

FUNDRAISING kickoff!

2009-08-12T13:55:00.000-07:00

Today I oficially kicked off my fundraising for the Susan G. Komen Marathon for the Cure.
My website has been up and running for a while but I've been dragging my feet somewhat on the actual 'ask'.

I'm not afraid of fundraising as I have done it many times before for Team In Training. I guess my problem is that it is really personal this time. I have no doubt that I will make my goal of $2500 but it is time to get serious!

Letter written? Check.
Email list compiled? Check.
Facebook group created? Check.

On a roll!

thanks to everyone who has supported me so far, both financially and emotionally. I really appreciate it!

Running Voices

2009-08-12T12:26:00.001-07:00

JM sent me a link to the New York Times Health Section.
It is really amazing....inspirational stories from people training for marathons.

Check it out if you get a chance!

Shin Splints?

2009-08-12T07:58:00.000-07:00

I bought something new yesterday to help with some minor shin pain that has been creeping up on the right side. It's called 'Shin Ice' and looks something like the picture to the left. It is basically a neoprene sleeve with an icepack that runs along where the shin should go. I am hoping that it starts to help! I have been trying out the RICE method for injuries:

R-rest

I-ice

C-compression

E-elevation

I really hope that is helps! Shin splints can be treated and it is possible to keep training with them, as long as they don't develop into something worse. So far, so good!

Long run, long swim. Long bike? Not so much!

2009-08-12T07:50:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday called for a 12-mile run. And I actually did it! Thanks go out to SB for agreeing to come with me for most of it. Could not have done it without her! I felt generally pretty good, or as good as you can feel in opressive heat and a long distance run. My right shin has started to bother me again but I made it through the run which was all I had hoped for.

Monday evening I accomplished another goal..a long swim. I swam 1800 meters (nearly the race distance) in a new indoor 50-meter pool near my house. I was generally happy with it and am at least confident I can swim the 1.2 miles in NH. It may not be pretty but it will get done.

The bike is causing me the greatest anxiety. Even though I have a gorgeous brand-new bike I have not been getting enough miles in on a weekly basis. I am definitely nervous about that portion of the race. I am planning on swapping the saddle out for my old one this weekend and maybe even putting the aerobars on as well....anything to make the 56 miles just a little more comfortable. In either case, I think I have oficially begun to panic about this race. Gulp! 11 days.

RIP, bike rack

2009-08-06T11:01:00.000-07:00

My bike rack was stolen last week.
Right off my car, right on Connecticut Ave. Crazy!

I filed a police report today after my friend 'Nancy Drew" saw what she thought was this very rack on a car in Dupont Circle. Figures that it would be on another Jetta as well.

I'll be watching out for it now. I figure that the thief has to have some connection to the red line...red bike rack, stolen from Van Ness on the red line and spotted in Dupont. Also on the red line. Time to call Dick Tracy.

NJ State Triathlon

2009-07-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

The ladies post-race!

Awkward swim exit shot.

The group pre-race.

NEW JERSEY STATE TRIATHLON

This past Sunday was the NJ State Triathlon at Mercer County State Park near Princeton, NJ. It has become an annual tradition with friends from DC as well as my sister who lives in Morristown, NJ. This was my 4th year racing at this wonderful event and I love sharing the experience with friends/family. We had a great day despite some scary thunderstorms in the early hours that held off long enough for everyone to finish.

I was happy with my results in the Sprint even though my total time was a couple of minutes slower than the previous year.

Swim (500 meters) - 11:44
Transition 1 - 2:50
Bike (11.5 miles) - 38:05
Transition 2 - 2:08
Run (3.1 miles) - 25:48

Total time = 1:20:33 which good enough for 11th place out of 70 in my age group. I'll take it!

Scary to think that my Half Ironman is less than a month away. Gulp.

Rain, rain go away!

2009-07-24T07:04:00.001-07:00

This week has been pretty light in training....due to laziness. And maybe weather. But let's call it tapering. Yeah, tapering! I've got what will hopefully be my first real triathlon of the season on Sunday in Mercer County Park in NJ. Real because the last triathlon I signed up for turned into a duathlon thanks to crazy rains in Philadelphia a few weeks ago. Although given my lack of swim training, a duathlon is sounding pretty good right now.

Anyways...last night I decided to go for a run with my friend Kelly. We have both been recently introduced to trail running and thought it would be fun to go together near our apartments. The weather was a little shaky all day (I actually got caught in a monsoon on the way to work and got soaked) but it was looking nice again when we started. 15 minutes into the run it started to rain. HARD. The trail we were on turned into a river and then there was a loud crack. A TREE fell down right next to us. I screamed and ran down the trail. Maybe that is what I need to imagine from now on...lightning and trees falling in front of me to get my motivation on! Whatever works, right?

So...NEW JERSEY STATE TRIATHLON this Sunday.
Team in Training practice tomorrow morning in Maryland.

Wish me luck!

Rolling on...

2009-07-20T12:39:00.000-07:00

I know I have been slow on the updates recently....no good excuses there.
I have been doing well with my training, at least the running variety.

I must admit though that I have not done every run on my schedule. At the moment I am up to three runs mid-week (3 miles, 6 miles, 3 miles) and a long run of about 12 on the weekend. I've been trying to balance the run training with the swim/bike also required for my edited triathlon season and it has been tough. The swim has been the biggest loser in this case but I can't stress about it too much. The swim is so small in proportion at these events that I am considering it a lost cause and moving on with my life.

This past weekend was a good one for my bike/run. Between TNT practice (week seven!) and a nice ride afterwards with one of my fellow coaches I probably got close to 40 miles down. Sunday I did my first trail run...up/down hills and across rivers for just about two hours. Not bad at all!

Time to get serious with everything-updating, fundraising and training!
88 days to go!

Double workout days

2009-06-17T09:11:00.000-07:00

Jumping into a marathon training program is tough enough without having to think about triathlon training too.

After's Sunday's terrible swim result I vowed to kick the training into high gear this week. I took a little spin on my new bike Sunday night when we got back into the city which was great. Monday I rested (so sore from the swim! forearms, triceps, shoulders, back, legs....).

This morning I actually made it to the pool! I managed to get in 1200 meters (3/4 of a mile) before hitting the nearby track for a 3 mile run. I'm definitely on a roll!

Tonight will be reserved for some much-needed rest.

68 Days...

2009-06-16T11:31:00.000-07:00

Apparently Timberman is a mere 68 days away.
Sixty Eight! How is this possible?

This year has totally gotten away from me and now I am just over two months from my third Half Ironman. I am definitely the least prepared that I have ever been at this point to do such a race. I have a lot of ground to cover between now and August!

My frightening consistency stays true for the Half Ironman distance. Much like my ability to stick right around the three hour mark for olympic-distances, my Half time is apparently 6:42.

TIMBERMAN 2007
swim - 48:36
T1 - 3:22
Bike - 3:33:10
T2 - 2:44
Run - 2:15:06
Overall - 6:42:56

MOOSEMAN 2008
Swim - 39:05
T1 - 3:00
Bike - 3:41:21
T2 - 2:41
Run - 2:16:21
Overall - 6:42:26

We'll see what happens this year. All bets are off!

Chesapeake Bay One Mile swim

2009-06-15T11:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the Chesapeake Bay One Mile swim.

The one miler is a subset of the big one...the famous 4.4 mile swim from Sandy Point State Park to the marina on the other side of the Bay Bridge near Hemmingway's restaurant in Stevensville, MD.
Although I have great respect for the 4.4 mile swimmers, there is no way I would ever be able to enter that lottery let alone make the swim! Great job to all that can and did.

Given my lack of swim training this season one mile was more than enough for me. The race didn't get going until 10:30 which was a nice change of pace. We also had lots of time to relax before suiting up and getting in the water which was much appreciated. I knew that it would not be one of my easiest races ever but I managed to complete it nonetheless. Certainly not my fastest one mile or the prettiest but when there isn't a bike or a run at the end it doesn't really count. Right?

Anyways...the race was set up in a triangle on the south side of the bridge. There were 5 bouys going out, one more to turn around after the swim towards the bridge and then 2 or 3 more on the way back in. I would have liked to have seen more and maybe in a color other than that of swim wave 2's cap color but that is just me. The sighting problems, lack of training and crazy, choppy water made it a difficult day. I had a few usual kicks to the head, leg, stomach as well as an in-water battle with a swim wave foe who kept getting off-course then correcting himself by swimming over/into me and doing it all over again. The fourth time he did this I couldn't resist the temptation to give him a hard kick myself and keep going. I lost him after that by either swimming off course myself or getting far enough out of his range.

I thought I was doing pretty well until I made the mistake of glancing at my watch on the last straight-away. Soooo slow. Oh well, no bother. It was an experience and a good training day I guess! I can only get better from here! And really, the swim at Timberman is just .2 miles longer....not that much distance to gain over the next couple of months. Come to think of it, I probably swam over 1.2 miles yesterday with all the re-routing I did to stay on course. Gold star!

Up and Running!

2009-06-15T11:19:00.000-07:00

Now that my MARATHON TRAINING has officially begun it is time to get this blog up and running, along with myself.

Last week was Week One of my 17-week marathon training program. Coincidentally it was also the first week of Team In Training for the Fall triathlon team that I am helping to train for the Nation's triathlon on September 13. It somehow seems fitting that these two endeavors started at the same time as I expect that much of my summer/fall will be dominated by trying to balance both along with a semblance of a social life...for good reasons all around!

This week marks six months since my mom lost her battle with cancer on December 28, 2008. It's been a long and hard time for me, definitely the toughest period in my life so far. I am grateful to my friends/family for their amazing support but nothing can really help the sadness/anger/regret that I feel on a daily basis. although I am taking on a lot with the Komen Team training, coaching, Timberman training, etc. I am hoping that in some small way it is going to help me deal with the loss in my own way. Jumping into an intense training program may seem insane to most people...but then again, I don't really care what most people think.

Walk to Empower

2009-05-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

Forgot to post these...a few photos from the Walk to Empower, a fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness in DC on Mother's Day.

Everyone walked in memory of my mom which was really sweet.
Thanks again to all of my awesome friends for participating!

Almost go-time

2009-05-29T07:17:00.000-07:00

It’s hard to believe that the marathon is just over four months away!
I’ve spent the past month or so slowly getting back into training after a relatively stagnant hiatus. It was nice to have some down time but it is also really hard getting back into a routine! I am starting to stress a bit about the idea of simultaneously training for a half ironman AND a marathon but everyone else seems pretty confident in my abilities. My main goal is to stay healthy and try and remain relatively injury-free. Easier said than done I guess!

Last weekend was great. I rode about 35 miles on the new bike (see below) on Saturday and then ran about nine miles in Rock Creek Park on Sunday. This week even marked my return to the pool yesterday morning with a 1000 m swim! Not too bad I guess. The after-effects were the hardest part as I found myself trying to eat for an army all day! Need to slowly work myself back into good eating habits as well. All in good time.

This weekend should be nice and relaxing! I’m heading back up to New Jersey for some quality time with the family. I’m bringing the bike up and hope to get in a ride with my dad at some point, probably a run as well. Marathon training kicks off on June 9th!

Happy Friday!

My new ride!

2009-05-22T08:33:00.001-07:00

Recalibration

2009-04-14T16:07:00.000-07:00

I recalibrated the nike+ tonight.

I think I am a little closer to where I want to be.

Tonight's run was a short one. I ran the 1/2 mile needed to calibrate the sensor and then did a loop from home that was just under 3 miles...or 2.81. The new Nike+ reading for that distance came to 2.94 in just about 28 minutes. We;ll see what it says for my longer run tomorrow.

Happy Easter

2009-04-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

Wonderful Easter weekend up in NJ!

I had a GREAT run Sunday morning. I did just under 6 miles on one of my favorite loops near my Dad's house. It is a beautiful route on mainly dirt roads past horse farms, large country estates, properties that my Dad has for sale, the future home of a former NJ Devils Captain...and one unfortunate golf course. It is not an easy run as no matter which direction you take from our house there are HILLS. Still, I made it through the whole run without stopping to walk, including up the "Dip of Death" on Spook Hollow Rd.

GMaps says the route is 5.66 miles.
Nike Plus says I did 6.06 in 57:42. Clearly something is off. I am going to go for a short run tonight (probably in the rain) and will try to recalibrate it so that it becomes a little more accurate.

While in P'ville I also had the opportunity to go to the local Y with my dad. It was crazy crowded on Saturday morning so he was able to sneak me in past the front desk without incident. It was fun to be back at the place I spent so many nights during high school swim days. The place has definitely changed for the better with a brand new pool and an expanded workout facility. It is huge! I got to workout with my Dad which was a lot of fun. He has been doing really well in getting to the gym at least a couple of times a week and I am very proud of him!

We had a delicious Easter dinner at Guya's Sunday evening. The weekend was a little drama-filled after Arianna spent hours on a gorgeous lamb-shaped cake only to have Jack, Guya's Jack Russel Terrier, jump up onto the kitchen table and eat it's head. No joke! I don't know that I have ever seen A so mad...with the exception of that time we woke her up in Switzerland to the tune of "What's the Story, Morning Glory". She's knows what I'm talking about. Anyways..it all got fixed in the end by a few more hours and another box of cake mix. This time the cake was protected on a higher table.

Cherry Blossom 10 Miler

2009-04-09T11:46:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was the Cherry Blossom ten miler. Another race that I wasn't entirely prepared for! It is a sign of spring in DC though and I am glad that I did it. This event has a history of being plagued by terrible weather and cold, rainy races but this year was gorgeous. The blossoms were actually in peak the week of the race as evidened by the photos to the left.

Gorgeous!

I ran the entire ten miles with EL which was great. I think we helped each other out a lot. I am really glad that I raced despite some sore legs for the start of this week. I am definitely ready to officially start my pre-training now!

I went out this week and bought Hal Higdon's book Marathon.

I am hoping it gives me extra inspiration as I get closer to the start of training. I think I'll be following his novice training program so it is good to get an idea of what I'm in for! The basis of the program is 2 short runs, a medium run and a long run per week. The basic schedule might look like 3 miles Tuesday, 4 Wednesday, 3 Thursday and then 6 on Saturday. Starting this week I'm shooting for 4 runs a week to get into the habit. So far so good this week! With Sunday's Cherry Blossom and runs on Tuesday and Wednesday I am well on the way.

It feels good to have a minor success so far.

Shamrock!

2009-03-24T19:17:00.000-07:00

Done and done. 13.1 miles.

Now time to get serious with this running thing!

Two weeks till the Cherry Blossom ten miler!

On a roll!

2009-03-11T19:00:00.000-07:00

This has been a good week for me.

I got in runs Sunday, Tuesday AND Wednesday! Today's run was just about six miles according to my Nike+. I've been feeling great too which is what really counts. I even signed up for a St. Patrick's Day 8K this weekend! I still have a long way to go until the half marathon even though the time is winding down. T minus eleven days! It's not going to be my best effort but I know I'll get through it and hopefully have some fun too.

It's going to be a long process but it feels good to start making some progress. Sometimes time off from something makes you appreciate it even more. That is definitely the case now. I actually feel great and am excited to get back into a training groove. And with EXACTLY six months to go till Chicago there's no time like the present.

MARCH!

2009-03-01T06:23:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe that it is already March!

seriously, where does the time go?

After spending much of the last three months on a running/exercise hiatus it is really hard to find the motivation to start up again. You'd think that a half marathon in 21 days and a ten-miler at the beginning of April would do it. I keep finding excuses...it's snowing outside (today). It's too cold (all last week). I'm too tired (every day). Ugh. This needs to stop!

I once read that you need 21 days to get into a habit. 21 days of repetition will help jump start whatever it is you are trying to do. For instance, I used to be horrible about 'losing' my keys in my apartment and making my bed every day, in that order. I wrote a post-it on my door and made myself hang my keys on a hook above the light switch every day and make my bed every morning. It worked. I know do both without fail. Hopefully the same will happen with starting up a running routine? I figure that the 21 days until Shamrock will help me. It's worth a try.

I'll get right on it...after a stopover at my grandmother's for coffee and homemade muffins. Maybe running in the snow before lunch with my dad will be fun. I'll keep telling myself that anyways.

Happy March! T minus one week till Daylight Savings Time!

Stress Test

2009-02-24T11:33:00.000-08:00

These past few months have been stressful for many reasons.

I know that I have a history of stress mismanagement. Case in point: getting ready to go to college the summer after High School graduation. Although I was thrilled to go away to school the mere thought of it left me so stressed that I started to feel physically ill and was convinced that I was having a resurgence of heart problems. As a kid, I had open heart surgery to repair a hole between my left and right atria know as an Atrial Septal Defect. It it completely fixed but every now and then I am convinced that something is wrong.

A recent visit to the doctor in turn sent me to the cardiologist. During a routine visit she let me know that my heart was producing extra beats.
The cardiologist put me through a series of tests:

EKG
Electrocardiogram
blood tests
24-hour Holder monitor
Another EKG
and finally...yesterday's Exercise Stress Test.

If you're not familiar with a stress test it is basically a doctor-monitored workout on a treadmill. The patient is hooked up to wires and a belt to monitor heart rate while the doctor checks blood pressure and breathing rate and periodically increases both intensity and incline.

The good news in my case is that my extra heartbeats disappeared with exercise, exactly what is supposed to happen. Even though my 24-hour monitor showed a number of extra beats, the electrocardiogram was also normal..another good sign! The cause of my extra heart beats could be related to my surgery but it could also just mean that my heart has its own unique rhythm (or as SB says, it "marches to it's own rhythm!). Either way, I'll take it. After months of worrying I am finally cleared to return to my normal exercise routine and am in fact encouraged to do so.

It looks like the Chicago Marathon is a definite go!

2009-02-19T10:19:00.000-08:00

I sometimes wonder how I survived three seasons of spring triathlon training.
I am finding it so hard to motivate nowadays to do much of anything, let alone workout in the cold. I know there are some other factors in the question this time affecting my mood, motivation, etc. but seriously...it is tough! Gone are the days where I went to 5am swim practice and then hopped my bike on the trainer or ventured out for a run on my own after work.

Usually a race on the calendar is enough to at least get me out for a portion of the workouts. The Shamrock 1/2 is just four weeks from Sunday and I am seriously behind in my preparedness for it. I haven't run since last Sunday's short three miles at home (although I did go to yoga on Tuesday night with EE). I need more! Officially signing up for Chicago is definitely something. Although the race is months away it is always looming in my mind. I think about it often and even question my sanity daily. Can I really run 26.2 miles? Can I stay relatively injury-free and find the time to block off runs? Have I totally lost my mind? Hopefully the answer to all of those questions will be YES! (Well, maybe not that last one).

I am slowly moving out of workout hibernation mode. Last week I even got back in the pool and am planning another swim for this Sunday. I am also going to squeeze in a run while in DC this weekend. I'll probably even register for another race or two and sign up for a yoga class sometime next week. Baby steps all the way.

I'm also looking at other sources of motivation.

1. IPod and Nike +
I have gotten out of the habit of running with music because music players are totally illegal during triathlons, and for good reason. Riding a bike on open roads is dangerous enough! you don't need to add any more distractions. Still, I have come to appreciate the benefit of music on one's mood and psyche. Just today on my commute I read about a study that found the following:

"Listening to music boosts endurance. When subjects listened to upbeat music, they exercised 15 per cent longer than when they sweated in silence. Synchronizing with tunes may stimulate euphoria-inducing endorphins and interfere with body signals that communicate fatigue and discomfort to the brain, says investigator Costas Karageorghis, Ph.D., of Brunel University."

I definitely believe it. Walking into my office building today I was in a great mood (despite an early morning dentist appointment) as one of my favorite songs played through my headphones. This might be something worth looking into! Making the investment in a Nike + system for my iPod should help with running motivation. By securing the transmitter to my shoe not only will I get real-time updates on distance and speed. I'll get the added benefit of an extra push. The "power song" feature is a good one, as is the idea of downloading fitness podcasts and exercise mixes from a variety of sources. Now I just need to decide on what my favorite power song will be...

2. Nutrition
I would never consider myself a vegetarian...it is just not in my blood. Living on my own I do find myself eating much less meat than I did while living at home with my parents. It is not a conscious choice, maybe just one made out of economics or convenience. Let's face it..meat is expensive, relatively time-intensive when it comes to preparation, and finally, kind of hard to cook for just one. I know that protein is essential to any diet, let alone one of an endurance athlete. I am always looking for other sources of protein and new recipe ideas.
This is a good article from Runners World Magazine about running vegetarian/adding more protein to your diet.

Ideas include:

More Beans!

* Black beans, which are great in a burrito, or pureed as a dip with tortilla chips.
* Garbanzo beans, which can be added to a stew, soup, or chili, or eaten in hummus.
* Edamame, which are a great source of protein and can be eaten alone or added to a salad or a stir fry.

Adding protein to every meal!

* Quinoa ( a high protein grain) with spaghetti sauce with TVP in it
* Corn tortilla with black beans, salsa and soy cheese
* Lentils and rice with slivered almonds
* A smoothie made with soy milk, soy yogurt, and/or peanut butter (soy butter for me!)
* A trail mix with cereal, roasted soy nuts, sunflower seeds, and/or dried fruit

Lots of new things to think about!
Hopefully I'll find my motivation this weekend. I know it's out there.

Presidents' Day Weekend

2009-02-17T08:13:00.000-08:00

I spent the long weekend up in NJ visiting my family.
I left early Saturday morning and made it to my grandmother's by 9:30...just in time for breakfast! While the French toast was delicious it didn't exactly make me want to run that am. Lunch set me back further as did the red velvet cupcakes /homemade saltine candy that my sister/cousin were cooking up. Sometimes you need to just put food and family first! I felt like I ran though as I spent most of the afternoon in running tights and wicking shirts but eventually put them to use in cleaning the horse stalls with my dad.

Sunday morning I offered to cook brunch for my family so Guya and I made an early-morning run to the grocery store for supplies. I made 2 quiches (ham/mushroom and spinach bacon), fruit salad and some cinnamon rolls and still managed to get in a short 3 miles. Better than nothing! The really nice thing about running at home is the quiet. I was out for 30 minutes and only saw 4 cars in addition to a couple of deer, a fox and a few squirrels. It was a gorgeous, cold day and I am definitely glad I put in the effort.

Three miles is a start. I am still very wary of 26.2 in the distant future but I know I can do it. I just need to keep thinking of my mom and her strength. We spent much of Monday sorting through her closet/drawers which was extremely difficult. No matter how much you tell yourself "it's just clothes" it really is quite personal. Seeing things that she wore at particular events was the toughest part. I managed to pick up a fee things to hold on to which I hope will eventually bring some comfort, including a Nike pullover and a Lilly Pulitzer breast cancer awareness scarf that I plan to carry with me in Chicago. Ultimately I know that it is not the clothes that will make me remember her but it helps to have the little piece in my life.

And so it begins

2009-02-13T14:18:00.000-08:00

I sent my credit card form into Susan G. Komen today along with my Chicago Marathon confirmation number. It is official! I am signed up. I even began my fundraising page on active.com.

As part of the program I will be on the 'Virtual Team" for Chicago. This means I will train on my own but will have access to a training program from active.com and the Team. I'll also get a training t-shirt as well as certain incentives if I meet different Fundraising goals. The minimum for Chicago is $2200 which will get me a race singlet to wear on October 11th.

I am definitely very excited (and also very nervous). I think this will be just the thing I need to start getting focused and get off the couch. I had a couple of runs this week that went really, really well, including a 10-miler last Saturday with my friend KL who was in from Colorado. Neither of us had been running long at all but somehow cranked it out with few side-effects. It definitely gave me the confidence I'll need to carry me through the Yuengling Shamrock 1/2 Marathon in March.

I've started tracking mileage on the left of this site which should be a neat thing to see progress. I am definitely interested in how many miles I will run over the course of the next eight months!

And so it begins.

I don't know where I'm running now, I'm just running on

2009-02-12T19:39:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was a big day.

I decided to do something I never thought I would ever do...register for a Marathon.

There are lots of things I never thought I would do.

A triathlon.

A ten-miler.

A half-marathon.

A half-ironman.

A 186-mile team running relay.

But a marathon?!?!

If the past few years have taught me anything it's that I need a goal to push me ahead. Without the next big event on the calendar I know that I will lose all ambition and drive. It may sound ridiculous but a triathlon isn't scary to me anymore. Neither really is a half-marathon. A marathon on the other hand is absolutely terrifying and might be just the thing I need to break me out the rut I have been in ever since my mom got sick for the last time.

This is why I have decided to run the Chicago Marathon in her memory and raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. It's going to be a long road with many ups and downs but I am up for the challenge. It's the least I can do really.