5k, final race!

last night i ran the last 5k in the series.  i really wanted to finish the race strong and, hopefully, have my best time.  i did both!!

no friends could make the race either to run with me or cheer, so it was oddly a pressure off situation on that front.  then!  i saw her!  in the second race i had overheard a pair of friends talking about their race pace and this man said of his friend, "she's great.  she does an 8 minute mile."  so in race two i used her as my pacer and chased her fancy newton running shoes for three miles.  she was back this week and i used the same strategy.

i started to feel disheartened after the second mile marker because this woman is a very effective racer.  she runs well for the first two miles and then kicks it in the ass for the last mile.  she walked off and left me last night at the second marker, and i was sure my hopes of beating my own pr were dashed.  my shoulder was aching a bit, but otherwise i felt really good, especially in my legs.  och, but my brain was just everywhere.  closing in on the last half mile i just snapped out of it.  "yvette, you feel great.  what the hell are you saving it for?  run faster." and so i did and i started to pass a bunch of people in that last half mile, which i have never done.  this course has a stupid wide U-turn in the last 150 meters and two (!!!!) different idiots trying to cross the race course (they were not racers) almost took me out.  i actually grazed one of them as i made the final turn and he yelled at me!

at that point i was angry with those jackasses, but when i saw the clock at the finish line, my brain straightened out again...  "forget them!!  sprint for it!!" and so i did.  just having the ability to break into a sprint in the last 50 meters made me feel like i accomplished something.

i don't know what is next.  maybe i should just be happy about this for a bit.

5k, take three.

seeing as i am running the fourth race tomorrow, i suppose i should report on the third, right?

i was slow.  yes, i know you cannot expect to have a better race every single time, but it was disheartening none the less.  it was a generally difficult run all around.

first, it was really hot for an april evening.  hot enough that i was in shorts and a tech tee and before reaching mile one i wanted to take my shirt off.  my feet were also sweating like crazy, which makes me very very grumpy.

second, i was really sore because i over did it during the week.  that monday i ran hill repeats as the middle mile of a 3 mile work out and then on wednesday i did 7 miles, with a lot of downhill. (downhill is hard for me, i get scared.)  on thursday i could barely lift my legs to get dressed and walking down stairs was a nightmare.  i was still sore when i work up on friday, so i knew i was going to suck at the race.

finally, i was running on my new shoes.  i like my new shoes, but we are still in our period of adjustment, and the race was only the third time i had worn them.  this week i think i have settled into them a bit more and i have been focusing on my running cadence, which has helped me in so many ways, not the least of which is reducing my calf strain.  someone has a nasty habit of landing a little too far forward on her foot and this makes for very angry calf muscles when running distances.

tomorrow is the last 5k in the series.  they were a useful experience, but i am ready to not spend my friday evenings in crystal city for awhile.  i started running as an experiment of sorts, and having a standing date with a race has taken away some of my freedom to play around with the running experiment because i need to save something for fridays.  last week when i did the 7 miles, at the end i asked myself..  okay...  do you have another 5k in you?  the answer was, yes, i could run 10 miles.  i have 10 miles on the brain now and i will be glad to have the chance to try it out soon.

at this point i have not signed up for any other races until the fall when i have one 10k on the books.  i am very tempted to sign up for one next month in ohio when i am visiting my family.  the cleveland marathon, half marathon, and 10k are the weekend i will be home, and that 10k is looking appealing.

5k fridays, week 2.

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tree pollen is giving DC a nice coating of greenish yuck and makes running less than enjoyable sometimes.  this week after working all day and suffering from the pollen all week, i really did not want to run a race.

that said, i did the race, felt fine (perhaps too good, maybe i didn't kill it out there) and didn't slow down from the previous week.  i shaved 14 second off my time, probably from a combination of already knowing the course and starting out in a better position.  i didn't have to spend the better part of the first mile clawing my way through people, so i wasn't as tired by the time i reached mile 2, which is when i will start to get shoulder pains if i start any run too hard or tired.  no shoulder pain at all this week!  yay!

i learned two funny things.

first, drinking from a cup while running is hard.  i don't usually drink while running because i don't do crazy distances.  with the allergies this week i took a cup and as soon as i had it i realized i had no idea how i was supposed to do anything other than get it all over my face.

second, men running next to women are just like men driving next to women on the highway.  there were two men about my age running together who run at my pace. if i passed them, they immediately sped up in order to pass me and then paired up together again in front of me and slowed down.  this happened with the same  two men three or four times.   nice, fellas.  nice.

5k, part one

this doesn't make me a real runner, you know.

last friday i ran my first 5k race and achieved the two goals i set for myself.

1. finishing.

2. finishing in under 30 minutes.

it was strange and much more different from just running than i thought it would be.

the most obvious difference is that there are a lot of people at a race, and they are all trying to do the same thing you are doing.  i don't really like large groups of people all together in one place.  i find it a bit overwhelming.  but on the other hand, they are a nice distraction from the fact that you are trying to run really fast and not fall apart.  my brain will give out before my legs do, so having the stupid tee shirts of the people around you to read is a great diversion.  i did my part to create an amusing spectacle for others by wearing a flower in my hair.

one of the things a close friend is often marveling at when she is at races is how different the people are who are there running.  it is very interesting to see who is running beside you and how they are doing it.  i followed a darty little kid for the first mile while weaving through the pack because everyone yields to a moppy-haired 10 year old. (thanks, kid!)  for a bit, i was running next to someone who reminded me of my father.  my favorite runner was a huge burly generously tattooed fellow wearing a bandana, shirt with the sleeves cut off, and moving generally like how you imagine a refrigerator would if it could run like all hell.

i signed up for a four week series of races, so back at it in two days.  in the spirit of having goals for myself, this week i want hang on to my time.  i finished with a much better time than i was expecting, but until i replicate it, i consider it an outlying data point.  i will be satisfied if i don't add more than a minute to my time.  goal number two is to finish stronger.  i was beyond dead at the finish line last week.  i want to give it my all again but not be a zombie.  full report if i don't puke/faint/die.

two librarian looks

hello, wall.  you are in my way.

my students will sometimes suggest alternative careers for me to pursue when i become tired of being their professor. the two most popular choices are librarian and kindergarten teacher. (what does the later say about the maturity level of college students today?) they say librarian because i am a huge nerd and apparently i dress like i should be sitting at the reference desk.

so today i present two of my librarian looks.

this first one goes back to monday the 13th.  i snapped the picture on my way out the door and as you can see, the wall and i had a disagreement about who got to stand where.  ha.

blouse: odille for anthropologie via ebay.

sweater vest: handknit by me in Cascade Eco+ from a pattern published in knitscene magazine. 

skirt: maeve for anthropologie

tights: ralph lauren

shoes: ASOS

necklace: value village thrift store.

grey on a sunny day

this look has a lot of textures going on that you can't fully appreciate in the photo.  the tights are brown herringbone with sparkle gold shot through.  the skirt is brown corduroy with a wooly center plaid panel, and the blouse is printed swiss dot.  (printed with landmarks of europe!)

the second librarian look was what i threw together this past wednesday.  we had awesome weather in the 60s this week, and i could break out one of my lighter dresses.  

most days it seems like i am obsessed with anthropologie.  this outfit was very modcloth heavy.

dress: about the artist dress (recently returned to modcloth)

belt: modcloth

hair flower: forever 21

necklace: hotcakes design purchased at trohv.

tights: mystery lace tights from college???

shoes: poetic license via modcloth.

you will notice an important accessory has returned!!! 

right there on my right wrist is my RoadID. after weeks and weeks of being super ill, i am now back on the road running!  i made it out to run 5 times since sunday.  today i didn't set my nano to a time or distance target, i just listened to radiolab and ran until i felt myself getting tired and my form getting sloppy.  i ran for 48 minutes and made it just over 4 miles.  huzzah!

Happy new year!

this is how i ran it the new year.

the flood

it has been raining steadily from sunday to the present.  today may be a bit drier, but i am not holding my breath.  my kingdom for an ark!

week 2, day 3
thursday september 1

i ran.  i know i did.  i remember doing it, but my life has been such a mad rush that i remember almost nothing about the running.  i was thinking about lesson plans, and the prospect of chewing out a student really filled my brain.  my side stitch nagged me in the very first interval, but it went away quickly and i managed to finish up feeling pretty good.

that's all folks!

week 3, day 1
monday september 5

Happy labor day! i went to the Maryland State Fair on Sunday and then the rains came, so I missed my chance to run.  i dodged the rain drops and managed a Monday evening run.  this was my first week of 3 minute runs, and i have to say, i did shockingly well.

i was afraid that i would burn out and not make it, but just the opposite happened.  by the time i finished, i was feeling good enough to keep running.  i think because the runs are longer and there is less switching between walking and running, i was not tiring myself out with the change of form and pace.

i didn't run more, instead i kept my cool down walking pace up for longer.  i am now afraid of injury because i had some serious issues last week with my right side hip/butt.  i think i had an angry piriformis.  it felt very similar in location to a sciatica flare up without the actual nerve pinch.  i went swimming on saturday and let it rest on sunday which seems to ave been enough to calm down things again.


week 3, day 2
friday september 9

i have had the longest and most taxing week.  just when i needed running to keep from punching anything, it has rained and rained!  wednesday and thursday were to wet to be out, and i was super busy friday, but i decided at about 9:30 last night that it had to happen.

earlier in the day, i had lunch with my friend N and she is training for a 10 miler while planning her wedding.  part of her training is to run a less-awesome 10 miler before the actual 10 miler she is trying to make a good time for all before entering wedded bliss.  (let's not even talk about how she is crafting 100% of her wedding decor and making the food for the party as well) obviously after a delicious vegan lunch with this amazing woman, i had to go running at 10pm on friday.

it was really really good.  i ran really well.  earlier in the week my friend db was telling me about the awesome times when he is running and it feels like your heart and feet sync up and you could run forever.  that didn't exactly happen for me (far too soon for that!) but at the end of my run, i relly wanted to keep going.  it was great.

mixed emotions

Week 1: Day 3

Thursday August 25

Very difficult today.

It seems like when I peel away one layer of distraction, another one then appears!  Feeling more secure in my route, the actual running was fine for the most part.  I am still working on form, of course.  The thing that got me today was the weather.

It was very sunny when I took off, and about halfway in, it started to rain.  But it remained sunny.  I couldn’t really keep my sunglasses on my face because it was so wet, but if I took them off, I couldn’t see anything.  I just tried to stay loose and continuously push up the glasses.  It stunk.

To make matters worse I had three near-falling incidents.  Some things are very slippery when wet.  Namely, manhole covers, yellow “no parking” paint on curbs, and the inset plastic grips that are installed in handicap access ramps at corners.  That last one was very surprising for me.

Stitch in my side came around the 6^th interval of running,  At least I can say that today, I did not hate running so much.

Week 2, Day 1

Sunday August 28

I have been so lazy.  I didn’t do my strength training interval workout on Wednesday because my neck was in knots and Friday I was just too busy.  Adding the running to the strength training has been difficult.  I was on 3 days per week of strength/cardio and now I am 3 days per week of c25k.  1 day off just doesn’t seem to be cutting it for my body yet. 

Must find balance.

The actual running was better and worse today.  I took a friend with me, and he was doing the week 1 routine so we walked together at the beginning and end and more or less ran in proximity to one another during the intervals.  It was nice to have someone else out there.

I say it was better and worse today because I think my form is improving, but switching up the intervals showed me I was running too fast.  I know that is all mental.  I walk very fast in every day life.  People comment on it without fail.  Because I walk so fast, I feel like I should be running a lot faster than I walk, which is not feasible at this point.  At least not a lot faster. 

The good news is that after the 2^nd interval of running I managed to correct myself and the new pace helped.

Week 2, Day 2

Tuesday August 30

Happy Birthday to me.  I didn’t have any birthday cake, but I did do my strength/cardio workout yesterday and my running today.  Don’t worry, I had some Utz potato chips, so it is not as if I did not indulge on the big day

I thought I was in for a disaster, but it managed to correct itself.  I had the worst stitch in my side (ever!) on the very first running interval.  It nagged me in the 2^nd, but somehow it went away and I did the rest of my run with little difficulty.  I even enjoyed the weather and being outside despite the running.

For the first time while running, my tighter left hamstring acted up enough for me to notice.  It is very obnoxious when I am doing strength/cardio interval work.  I must figure out what it will take to get it to loosen up and join the party.

oh, dear.

things have become mighty dusty around here.

on sunday my aunt and i were talking about how i never blog anymore.  it was a great way to let her and other family members know what i am up to, but i have been up to too much to have time to blog about it!  maybe i just don't have enough of that look at me! impulse.

the same day we had that talk, i started running for the first time in my life.  i hate running.  i hate the idea of running.  running is something you do when being chased by a lion. or a bear.  or a maniac with a chainsaw.  (i abhor chainsaws.)  given i hate running so much, i think i am going to be prone to whining about it as i try to become good at it, so i think i will whine here.

pre-game
several of my friends are doing or have completed the c25k program, and they have recommended it highly.  the idea of building up to actual running appeals to me.  so for about a month i have been staying serious about my strength training and shopping.

the shopping was completely justified.  i needed the equipment.  i hate shorts, so i had to go out and buy some.  i also replaced the circa 2004 ipod mini with a new (to me, i bought it refurbished) ipod nano so i could do the c25k podcasts.  finally, new shoes.  i had already workout shoes, but i only wear them indoors on carpet so my terrible carpet doesn't get any more terrible.

sunday: week 1, day 1
i made it.  and it sorta sucked.  i decided to run on the residential streets in my neighborhood because there is less traffic.  this was great for avoiding cars but a really bad idea for day one of my training.  we have hills.  lots of hills.

the many hills paired with my overcompensating to ensure i not land on my heel made my calf muscles scream.  after a lot of stretching and a hot bath, i lived to tell, but a new route was needed.

happily, i underestimated how much distance i can cover so the path was a little convoluted, but it was a nice boost to my ego after several "oh, $%&*! i am going to face plant down this hill!" episodes.  that brings us up to today...


tuesday: week 1, day 2
today i chose to run into DC and through downtown tkpk to get back home.  the terrain was much flatter, but there were so many distractions.  plus more car encounters.  those paired with uncooperative headphone wires and my ID constantly trying to creep up out of my sports bra made today....interesting.  i had a really hard time keeping my eyes on target far enough ahead.  i think my posture was all over the place.

i worked on my foot strike to reduce the calf soreness, but i am certainly not there yet.  my toes became numb halfway through.  i also learned i can take a short cut in my route to shorten it (i was done about 1/3-1/4 mile from home) that will avoid downtown tkpk during the morning flock to the metro.

i was much happier with my hamstrings stretches post run. Old Lefty is still being a jerk and won't loosen up as much as Righty.  I have my eye on you, buddy.

so, i made it.
and i restarted the blog.  all in one day.  i will get around to cleaning up the rest of the blog page on the weekend maybe.