not ready

not ready

not ready

not ready....

ahem

I know this much is true:  I've been keeping up with my long runs on Sundays.  However, during the rest of the week and without fail, I miss at least one "shorter" run.  That's pretty flippant of me to think, "Well I KNOW I can run three miles.  I shall skip today.  Who's up for the bars?" [Semi-kidding.  Although I am graduating in < 3 weeks....]  Who defies the advice of professional training advice?  This girl. 

Bum knee still an issue.  I went running last night and I tried to stretch whilst running.  [Makes no sense - I just didn't want to stop!] And in the process of this ridiculous endeavor, I managed to semi-pull my left knee.  Or is it my right?  I feel like they switch back and forth, which one hurts, which one doesn't.  They must be scheming.

I also think a lifetime of wearing flip-flops/ballet pointe shoe/ old house slippers has destroyed my alignment.

Alright.  No more complaining.  Just keep running.

Also - Corey Gray better have a SOLID excuse for her complete lack of blog posts....

CLEARLY

well - this blog has definitely taken a back seat, and i hate to say it - my training hasn't COMPLETELY been my top priority.

excuse #1: went to japan - was in a jet-lagged, crazy sleep cycle for the days following.  messed with my running.

excuse #2: week after japan - my senior-year-defining-PR-project-life-crazy-stressful-proposal was due, and those nights when i was at the journalism school until 3 a.m. working SEMI interfered with running (semi - i DID run...just not has much as I should have)

excuse #3: my bum knee is acting up.  in my opinion, effing up my knee is not a good thing.  if that means less mileage, so be it.

HOWEVER - it is a BEAUTIFUL Easter sunday, and I am looking forward to a nice, long run.  I might have to do some walking stops, but whatever.  It happens.

Training for a half-marathon is entirely out of my comfort zone and I am trying my best.  I already know - this will not be the last time I train for a race, and I already know things I'll do differently next time (for example: having a local training buddy.  i mean - if corey and I were there with each other, running and training IRL (in real life....) - things may be different)

Still fun.  Still love to run.  Still looking forward to Nashville in three (eekkk!!!) weeks.  Haven't given up yet.

wonder

does running around like a crazy person - trying to get a proposal done/pack for Japan - count in 1/2 marathon training?

I hope so - cause then I'm golden.

Ran 6 miles Sunday.  Hoping to get a run in this evening, but no promises.

Break from running while I'm in Japan, but I think I'll be ok, considering we walk 8-10 miles every day around Tokyo.

So yeah...

Keep it up. Keep it up...

windy

Ran five miles yesterday.  It wasn't horrible.....but it wasn't amazing, either.

The weather is improving and that just pumps me up even more.  Since I don't have a backyard or a porch, and since my dogs aren't here so I can't take them for a walk, a nice run is one of the best ways to enjoy a nice day on my own.  (duh-ish statement...but whatevs.)

Dear world,

Just keep the nice(r) weather coming, and I'll keep running and this whole thing will continue to come along nicely...

the hills

I have had a couple of the longesssst days ever over the past few days and motivation/time to run has been hard to come by.  Finally, at 10:00 pm last night I found some time, and I did a two mile hill run/sprint on the treadmill and a bunch of ab work after that. 
I think I am starting to believe that running this is possible... I can't believe how comfortable it has become to run three miles.  We still have a looooong way to go, but I [think] we can do it!

Guess I'll try again today...

sad face

only ran 3 miles today - not 3 1/2.  [when did that become a bad thing?! that used to rock!]

i just couldn't do it.  i had a million things going on tonight.  i was cold.  tired.  not feeling it.  so i just ran straight home instead of adding that extra distance.  oh well.

try again...

best i ever had

sunday's run = the single best run of my life

the weather was perfeect 52 degrees - no wind. i had slept in super late so i was energized and pumped to actually accomplish something.  i had A LOT on my mind, so the run became my sanctuary.  planned on doing 5 miles....ended up doing 6.5.

crazy! but awesome...

today, another 3.5.  hopefully it will stop rain/snowing so i can do outside.  these days, treadmill = no soap.

1/2 marathon only two months away! can't believe it, but i'm pumped...

Dance forever...

Alright.  I took a couple of days off last week (I still worked out at the rec, just avoided running) to allow my knee to get better, which (along with ibuprofen...) has helped tremendously.  I'm back up to following the schedule: today was a quick two mile run (17 minutes) and then I did a weights circuit.

I completely agree with Ang on the power of new music.  I refilled my iPod with Chris Brown, Jay-Z, and Kid Cudi the other day and my past two workouts have been fantastic as a result. 

So far, training for this half-marathon has seriously improved how I feel day-to-day.  While I expected a general moral improvement due to the endorphin-overload I've been giving myself everyday, I have been one of the happiest people this semester, and I believe running has a lot to do with that.

Yaaayyy.

and go

According to my training schedule [which I've been keeping to, might I add!!] - Mondays = stretch & strengthen.  For me, stretching is easy and enjoyable, but strengthen?  What does that even mean?  WELL - I just found out that Netflix streams exercise videos RIGHT to your COMPUTER!  [Technology - it still gets me sometimes....] so I did a full-body strengthening video via my MacBook and it was hard.  And I'm going to be sore tomorrow.  But it was fun!

And I realized- a refreshened iPod with new music is a true incentive to keep working out.  So - if over the next few weeks, I feel defeated or unmotivated or unable to do this whole 13.1 miles, my first solution will be to download new music and hopefully, it'll pump me up.

3.5 mile run tomorrow.  I hope the 7+ inches of snow that is covering Bloomington doesn't slow me down...

snow

I had a great run today.  Planning to run four miles, I was feeling the pace, the mix on my iPod, and my overall state-of-mind and I went for 4 1/2.  I think I could've gone five today!

It was hovering around 32 degrees - it lightly semi-snowed/rained the whole time - but my awesome running gear kept me warm, and so did my sustained, elevated heart beat [kind of the definition of exerciese....]  I'm so pumped up - this is one of the first times I've truly believed I can do this.  If I just keep up with my training schedule, those 13.1 miles will be conquerable!

It's kind of cool, though.  A year ago, if I was driving around on a cold, semi-snowy Sunday afternoon and I saw someone running, and would've thought, "That person is crazy.  They should be inside drinking hot chocolate."  But today, I was one of those crazy people!  People can change for the better, I believe.  This will make me better.

hey-o

running update for the week:

-sunday night - i had pretty much given up on running for the day because I was too tired and REALLY didn't want to get off the couch/be non-lazy.  Then my roommate came home at 11:30 p.m. and said "don't you have a 1/2 marathon to train for? - shouldn't you run in preparation for said 1/2 marathon?"  the kid had a point.  fast forward ten minutes, the two of us were running in 19 degree weather, trying not to slip on al ofl the ice, at a very late hour.  it was fun though - he was probably slowing down for me, but i was proud of keeping up with (ah!!) a boy!  it was a good run.

-monday night - 3 miles on the treadmill.  same old same old.

-thursday afternoon - 3 1/2 miles of my usual route, and then some.  good run.  even though it was 29 degrees.  I keep going because I know it will only get warmer.... I hope...

Up Up & Away

This week's runs (2-4 miles, 4x) provided some new challenges.  Like Angela, I'm starting to wonder if we have enough time before the race to get up to the mileage we need to run the whole thing... this should be interesting.  I'm also getting nervous that my left knee, which I injured in softball moons ago is starting to get junked up again.  I don't know what a stress fracture feels like, but I think it might be close to what's going on here.  I'm spending a lot of time core/balance training/strengthening with the ball, and doing low-impact things like the elliptical or bike on my cross training days.  Don't worry nurses, I'm taking a calcium supplement, getting plenty of sleep, and eating oodles of really healthy things... only time will tell what's going on with the knee.

Regardless (segway: my studio professor was having a conversation with my team the other day and he started a sentence with "irregardless,"... I looked at him quizzically and said "regardless?"... he said "payback's a bitch."... it was funny... I don't usually correct my professors, but studio is different), running makes me feel superfly.  I've had no trouble making time in my daily schedule to run (even though I'm taking 18 hours and volunteering at the hospital 4-8 hours a week...), if anything, knowing that I have to spend thirty minutes to an hour working out makes the rest of my day organized and more productive.

I love how easy running a mile is today compared to what's in my memory cave from running it every year in grades 5-8.

Other thoughts:  when I used to look at Anthropologie or J.Crew during my internet free time,  I've found myself recently looking at work out clothes and training tips... hmm... what am I turning into? 

Today's song o' the run: Up Up & Away, Kid Cudi

punch

I cross-trained today in the form of cardio kickboxing.  The class was fun, but it actually wasn't that hard.  If anything, it really warmed me up becuase I think I could've run a mile or two afterward!  I went with my friend who is also training for a half-marathon, although she's a bit smarter - hers isn't until September.  April will be here before I know it and I keep asking myself, "Am I going to be ready?"  Well- that question will only go so far.  I have to just go out there and run.  You can't cram for a long distance race.  [This kind of goes against everything I believe in because I LOVE to procrastinate.]  I have my workout schedule nicely written into my day planner, and if I take the whole 13.1 miles week by week, it doesn't seem as bad.  However - it's all relative.  And I've only just begun...

-a

2/2

I started running on a regular/semi-regular basis a year and a half ago.  Before that, I would elliptical it at the gym and before that, I never really exercised.  I was a dancer growing up, but beyond the requisite running the track in middle school PE, I have never been an athlete.  A summer of swim team is the most sport and athletic competition I have ever put myself through and while I semi-regret this (I'm tallish and could've been a rocking volleyball player/basketball superstar....ish) - it is what it is.  I took piano lessons and ballet/tap/jazz.  Cultured? Perhaps.  Athletic? No soap.

Therefore - a race is not something I have ever committed myself to, and I'm excited I put myself up for the out-of-my-comfort-zone challenge.

Today's run - 3 miles.  It was above freezing, so I ran outside and it was a good time.  I even decided I would sprint anytime I went uphill - I figured I should challenge myself because I ran my "usual" route around campus.

Tomorrow night - cross training in the form of cardio kickboxing.  Wish me luck- it'll kick my butt.

SUPER excited for Corey/birthday/friendship weekend.  We will run together.  It'll be fab.

-a

here we go, here we go, satellite radio

Ran four miles this morning on the track at the gym... thankfully, last year, KU expanded its rec center to include a 1/4 mile track--woo, 16 laps! Much easier on the knees than treadmilling-it.

I know running marathons/half marathons is hard (for most people, I'm not counting the super-human DEAN KARNAZES who ran a 135 mile "ultra marathon," and 50 marathons in 50 days... but otherwise, yes, running is difficult). When I was getting tired this morning around lap 12, I convinced myself to only run 1 one more lap, pretending that I would be done at that point. After I ran that lap, I told myself if I ran one more, I could skip doing abs for the day. Lap after lap, I bribed myself. It's working for now, but when I get up to running 8-9 miles, self-bribery/motivation may not be as effective... but I really don't know what to expect, I've never run that far.  Cute boys on the track also help to motivate my spirit.

The reasons why I want to run this half-marathon are similar to the reasons why I want to be an architect: Slightly vain, yes, but these are my reasons.

RUNNING REASONS:
1. To say, "I did that," forever after the race.
2. To get a slammin' bod.
3. To see how far I can push myself, how much endurance I have, how much I can take. And to become a more effective human athlete.

ARCHITECT REASONS:

1.  To point at a building and say "I did that."

2.  To help people.

3.  To see how far I can push myself, how much endurance I have, how much I can take (as it relates to the hells of architecture school). And to become a more effective human designer/worker bee.

The Black Eyed Peas seriously help keep my pace.  I should right them a fan letter.

-C

bee's knees

i just had an awesome run - 4 miles, 40 minutes with the first few minutes of that warming up with a brisk walk.  even though i had to do it indoors, on a treadmill (bleh...would rather be outside.  but NOT when it 13 degrees, like it currently is) it was just a super-enjoyable way to cap-off a semi-stressful thursday (two words: copy error.  this may mean nothing to you, but I had just dropped off a print order for 1500 ads when my professor called me, noticing something whas slightly wrong - despite the six-person proof/edit team.  it all got fixed, but it took a 30 minute run-around, me acting like a crazy person to get the situation under control. sigh).

this de-stress, relax, wind-down will continue this eveing - 30 rock & real housewives.  heaven.

more of the same tomorrow - work/meetings/yadda yadda - but here's to hoping my run is as great as today's.

ALSO - i realized "bombs over baghdad" has a great beat to set my pace to.  i played it on repeat three times in a row and probably could've run the whole time to outkast.  what other songs have that tempo?  i must investigate....

-a

Imma be

This past week I have kept my schedule of running/working out/yoga-ing, and it feels fantastic.  I strained some muscle in my forearm from a weight lifting conditioning class the other night, but other than that I haven't been lacking in motivation.

I am definitely beginning to see how running is all mental... today was difficult.  I hit two miles and I was spent, so I did weights for twenty minutes, stairmaster for five, abs for fifteen... anything to avoid the track again.  Major attention deficits this morning led to a choppy workout, if you mapped my path through the rec, it would probably look like it was my first time indoors.  So after my tour of the facilities, I ran another mile.  Reluctantly.

Training is fun, but every time I leave the rec I think to myself, "guess I'll try again tomorrow..."

I don't know why I have that thought, but I hope by the tomorrows in April I will have the endurance to run 13.1 miles without breaking to switch to abs, weight machines or stair climbing.

Imma be Imma be, Imma Imma Imma be a runner...

-C

and so it begins....

I will not bore you with the mundane details of my beyond busy, jam-packed week.  Work, class, PR-campagin planning, volunteering, and getting that whole post-grad job defined the last five days – all stressful and exhausting.

But today's run was a nice break.  3 1/2 miles - 33 minutes.  Good exercise and a good mental break = exactly what I needed.  But my lovely little jog is the tip of the proverbial iceberg that is training for 13.1 miles.  Oye.

There's a lot going against me - I'm only going to get busier this semester.  It's cold in Indiana (Lame). I'll be in Japan for 10 days only five weeks before the race, and I don't think I can run the streets of Tokyo (Do Japanese people run for exercise the same way American people do?  Something to look up....) I am not a natural athelete.  So why am I throwing myself into this whole challenging endeavor?

Running a long distance race is on my bucket list.  I've never been to Nashville.  And more than anything, I'm excited for the friendship-strengthening experience that will be our "training together apart" and raceday side-by-side fun with one of my best best best friends Corey Beth Gray.

So I'm down.

-A

Let it begin.

Feeling it coming in the air,
Hear the screams from everywhere,
I'm addicted to thrill,
Its a dangerous love affair,
Can't be scared when nickels down,
Got a problem tell me now,
Only thing that's on my mind is who gonna run this town tonight,
Who gonna run this town tonight,
We gonna run this town.

-C