So I did my 5K this morning and decided to incorporate my 2 mile training run into the 5K. It worked out great! I walked the first half mile and then started m run using iSmoothRun, on my iPhone, to record my 2 mile training run, then walked the last mile+ of the 5K. The best warm up and cool down walks, ever! I felt like I wasn't doing very well. Lots of people were passing me, and I was passing some people, but I kept comparing my speed to other people's. I gotta learn to get beyond that and only compete with myself. As it turned out, my pace improved a bit over my last run on my own, and I am doing fine and am right on track. I came in 12th in my age group! Okay... there were only 12 people in my age group! I don't mind being last in my group, just not dragging my ass in last, overall!
Of course, I am starting this running thing all over again, and I'm not fast. I know that! I didn't even run the entire 2 miles - I took walk breaks. I don't aspire to be particularly fast, just fast enough. Fast enough to be able to keep up in the couple of races I have that there is a time requirement and fast enough to not come in last place, unless I choose to. I also have a lot of anxiety running with a group. What it I don't fit in, what if I AM last, what if look funny (I tend to prefer to blend in). When we got to registration, I was looking around and thinking "my running tights look too tight" "I look ridiculous" "these people all look like real runners and I look like a poser" and other similar things. Then, John told me that he turned around to help me find the registration area, and when he turned back he couldn't find me, because I looked just like everyone else in the room. Hmmm... maybe I did blend in! I WAS wearing my DetermiNation training shirt - the first time I've worn it to a race! Yay!
This is the main reason that I want to try to do at least one "competitive" run each month. The only way for me to get past the anxiety of running with a group of runners is to practice. I have anxiety in any group/social situation already that I deal with and I train on my own, preferably in the dark. I'll be working hard in this area, as well as training to run.
That said, my next public run is the Feet and Friends Fighting Colon Cancer 5K in 3 weeks. Next training run is Monday, so I'll catch ya then.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Improvement in just one run!
Okay, it wasn't great improvement, but improvement just the same. I wasn't able to run yesterday because I had my final physical therapy appointment at 7:00 am and then we were busy doing "homeowner" stuff in the evening. I planned to get up this morning to do it, but slept through the alarm a bit and didn't have time, so I did it tonight. Next run is scheduled for Saturday. That one will be right on time!
It seemed a little more difficult today, but my pace improved by 1/10 of a mile. I didn't see anyone outside while I was running - which is why I waited until it was nearly dark out! A couple of cars passed me, but that was it. I looked back at my run log from last year, and I wasn't running any faster then, so I'm confident that having a running coach will help that a lot this year.
I signed up for the Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Mini-Marathon in July and am very excited for that! It's actually only about 5K, but you have some of the experience of the Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon on a shorter course. I've booked our hotel about a mile from the start of the race so it should be very convenient! I have also decided to to a Century bike ride in Chicago in August. It's a ride around the perimeter of the city and I'll be doing that with John. Guess I know what some of my cross-training will be, huh! The ride isn't actually scheduled yet, but they've been doing it 10 years so I'm hoping that it is going to continue. I'm really looking forward to it.
Well, there isn't much else to report on today. I'm adding a link to Hanson's Coaching Services to my side bar. That's where my coach, Luke, works. I'll report back on the weekend with a summary of my first week back on the road (and maybe something more entertaining, as well)!
It seemed a little more difficult today, but my pace improved by 1/10 of a mile. I didn't see anyone outside while I was running - which is why I waited until it was nearly dark out! A couple of cars passed me, but that was it. I looked back at my run log from last year, and I wasn't running any faster then, so I'm confident that having a running coach will help that a lot this year.
I signed up for the Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Mini-Marathon in July and am very excited for that! It's actually only about 5K, but you have some of the experience of the Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon on a shorter course. I've booked our hotel about a mile from the start of the race so it should be very convenient! I have also decided to to a Century bike ride in Chicago in August. It's a ride around the perimeter of the city and I'll be doing that with John. Guess I know what some of my cross-training will be, huh! The ride isn't actually scheduled yet, but they've been doing it 10 years so I'm hoping that it is going to continue. I'm really looking forward to it.
Well, there isn't much else to report on today. I'm adding a link to Hanson's Coaching Services to my side bar. That's where my coach, Luke, works. I'll report back on the weekend with a summary of my first week back on the road (and maybe something more entertaining, as well)!
Monday, March 26, 2012
Long time without running, but I'm back in the game!
Wow! It's been months since I've been on here. First, I was letting the colder months get the better of me and slacked off over the holidays with the intention of getting back to it at the beginning of the year. Then... I injured my back and was told no running, no Zumba and no yoga. Not even yoga! Somehow I ended up with severe pain resulting from a sacroiliac joint dysfunction and nothing I did was comfortable.
I couldn't sit, stand or lay down without pain that, at times, brought me to tears. After a couple of doctor visits and a couple of ineffective prescriptions for pain meds, I got into the Spine Center at University of Michigan Hospital and saw a Physical Therapist. My PT quickly became my new BFF and gave me lots of homework to increase my flexibility and strength, which I did without fail most days. Finally... relief! But she wasn't about to let me do more than the exercises that she prescribed and I wanted to heal, so I did as she said. The Cork Town Race came and went, without me running it, which was very disappointing to me. Last week she gave me the clearance to start running again, but I felt like I was going back to square one with my training.
Luckily, about the same time, I signed up with a running coach - a benefit that I get through the ACS DetermiNation program. And an AWESOME benefit it is! My new coach, Luke, got my information and learned what I did before and what I've been doing lately (nothing) and set up a program for me to get me back on the road. Today was my first day out and it felt really good!
My performance wasn't great, but not so bad, considering, I guess. My pace was slow, and he has me doing 2 miles, 3 or 4 times a week at a comfortable pace until my next 5K on April 21. Well, I have a 5K this weekend, too, but I'll not be running that one. I'll walk it, as that will be one of my off days for running. I'm looking forward to seeing the improvement that the upcoming weeks (and months) will bring, but right now I'm just taking it 2 miles at a time.
Here is my race schedule for the rest of the year. I am planning to add some in - at least one a month, so I can get some competitive runs under my belt before my big ones in October, so this list will be growing as time goes on, but I thought I'd share what I have on the calendar right now:
March 31 - April Fool's Run - Clarkston, MI
April 21 - Feet and Friends Fighting Colon Cancer - Ann Arbor, MI
May 6 - Cinco de Mayo Race - Mexicantown, Detroit, MI (shouldn't that be Seis de Mayo?)
July 22 - Rock and Roll Mini Marathon, Chicago, IL (hopefully)
October 6 - Fall Colors Mackinaw Bridge Race, St. Ignace to Mackinac City, MI
October 21 - Detroit Free Press/Talmer Bank Half Marathon, Detroit MI and Windsor, ON Canada
I need to get to work on finding a few more races to fill in June, August and September!
Stop back here on Wednesday and I'll check in after my next 2 miles. I was so excited to run today - AND get to wear my Runner Girl necklace for the first time in AGES - I know I'll be following the program that Luke set up for me so I can feel this great and wear it again in a couple of days. Yes... I can be bribed to run with jewelry - and it's jewelry that I already own!
I couldn't sit, stand or lay down without pain that, at times, brought me to tears. After a couple of doctor visits and a couple of ineffective prescriptions for pain meds, I got into the Spine Center at University of Michigan Hospital and saw a Physical Therapist. My PT quickly became my new BFF and gave me lots of homework to increase my flexibility and strength, which I did without fail most days. Finally... relief! But she wasn't about to let me do more than the exercises that she prescribed and I wanted to heal, so I did as she said. The Cork Town Race came and went, without me running it, which was very disappointing to me. Last week she gave me the clearance to start running again, but I felt like I was going back to square one with my training.
Luckily, about the same time, I signed up with a running coach - a benefit that I get through the ACS DetermiNation program. And an AWESOME benefit it is! My new coach, Luke, got my information and learned what I did before and what I've been doing lately (nothing) and set up a program for me to get me back on the road. Today was my first day out and it felt really good!
My performance wasn't great, but not so bad, considering, I guess. My pace was slow, and he has me doing 2 miles, 3 or 4 times a week at a comfortable pace until my next 5K on April 21. Well, I have a 5K this weekend, too, but I'll not be running that one. I'll walk it, as that will be one of my off days for running. I'm looking forward to seeing the improvement that the upcoming weeks (and months) will bring, but right now I'm just taking it 2 miles at a time.
Here is my race schedule for the rest of the year. I am planning to add some in - at least one a month, so I can get some competitive runs under my belt before my big ones in October, so this list will be growing as time goes on, but I thought I'd share what I have on the calendar right now:
March 31 - April Fool's Run - Clarkston, MI
April 21 - Feet and Friends Fighting Colon Cancer - Ann Arbor, MI
May 6 - Cinco de Mayo Race - Mexicantown, Detroit, MI (shouldn't that be Seis de Mayo?)
July 22 - Rock and Roll Mini Marathon, Chicago, IL (hopefully)
October 6 - Fall Colors Mackinaw Bridge Race, St. Ignace to Mackinac City, MI
October 21 - Detroit Free Press/Talmer Bank Half Marathon, Detroit MI and Windsor, ON Canada
I need to get to work on finding a few more races to fill in June, August and September!
Stop back here on Wednesday and I'll check in after my next 2 miles. I was so excited to run today - AND get to wear my Runner Girl necklace for the first time in AGES - I know I'll be following the program that Luke set up for me so I can feel this great and wear it again in a couple of days. Yes... I can be bribed to run with jewelry - and it's jewelry that I already own!
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