Tag Archives: 5K Training

6th Place: Relative Danger.

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Today was D-day for my 5K with my sister. The race started at 10:30, which meant we had plenty of morning to…get nervous! I was up until 1:00, making sure I had hot beats to jog around Ypsilanti to. Getting up at 8:30, I knew we were in trouble.

On Friday, I arrive in Michigan to 80 degree weather. By Saturday afternoon, it was 50 degrees, and rainy. And Sunday morning? Race morning? 42 degrees. Pouring rain. Dripping rain. Rain sideways. Rain upwards, downwards, blustering across the roads, flooding the race track.

As we drove to Ypsi, I realized that I was under dressed, nervous, cold, and maybe worried that I was not ready for this after all.

“Maybe they’ll cancel the race,” I said.

“I forgot my rain jacket, maybe we should turn around and go home and get it. We’ll…make it back,” I gasped.

“There’s no one here, we should go,” I chimed as we pulled up.

“I am pretty sure I can’t go.” I blurted out.

“What if I am last?” I mused.

“Then I’ll run behind you so I’m last,” Nikki said, as she basically pushed me out of the car. Before I was out of the car, my mom did manage to give me her long-sleeved shirt so I wasn’t so cold, and then Nikki and I ran into the building to find the check in. There were so many people around (although Nikki assured me this was one of the smallest races she’s run in) and we had to figure out where to get our bibs. We finally did, and managed to pin them on and find a place to stretch.

“This is the most I’ve ever stretched before a race,” Nikki said. I felt tight. I felt weak. I felt nervous. I felt cold. But alas, here we go.

We headed out to the start line with the crowd. bib on, headphones ready. Headphones on. Headphones not working. Definitely a moment of panic as I looked to Nikki, screaming in the pouring rain, “IT’S NOT WORKING. IT’S NOT WORKING.” I pushed the start button once, twice, three times…nothing. “Do you want mine?” Nikki said. And then, fourth’s a charm, and my tunes were on.

“ON YOUR MARK,” says the man, “GO.”

We were off. In my morning haste, I had also forgotten my watch. So, per usual, Nikki was boss. We were off. The rain was pouring down, and we were soaked by two minutes in. My jams were jamming, but I was running pretty slowly. But I was running. Nikki was running with me, making sure that I only walked when I really needed to, and kept alternatively singing out loud, yelling at me to run, and looking at her watch.

As we rounded mile 1, I couldn’t believe we had so much more to run. Mainly because I was freezing, wet, and already my ankles hurt. But we persevered. Or I should say, I did, as Nikki obviously could have finished no matter what. Anyways, so we got back to the beginning, as this was a lapped course, and  we had to run around it twice. There were people stationed along the route cheering for us, and I looked for my parents, who were warm in their car, and beeped at us for encouragement.

As we went around the first bend again, and I tried to trick myself into running harder, running longer, running at all. Nikki definitely kept me moving, but it was definitely hard. We hit the mile 2 marker running, and I knew that we were getting somewhere. The rain just kept coming down, and I just kept moving. Finally, about the 2.5 mile point, Nikki said, “It’s freezing, we’re cold, we’re wet, let’s go.” I picked up my pace, pushing myself as much as I could.

As we got around the final bend, I skipped through a couple jams to get myself to the end. My parents were at the finish line, cheering us on. In our matching shirts, Nikki and I finished at 41:11 minutes. It wasn’t my goal (under 40 minutes) but it was finished. I had done it. In my age group, I came in 6th place. As a sister team, we came in 4th. And Nikki and I did it together. In matching shirts. And, matching wind-burned cheeks.

Will I do it again? Well, I told Ellen I’d run one with her this summer. I definitely want to explore swimming more, and I am really enjoying going to yoga regularly. I want to work on my endurance by really focusing on 1 mile runs to run for longer. I am glad I did one, and I am excited to find a sunny LA one to do this summer.

Thanks for all your support guys! It’s made running a 5K a piece of cake.

 

 

Until the sun comes up over Santa Monica Boulevard

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Well, last night I went for my first 5k-training run outside. And it went fine, surprisingly, all things considered. Here’s my path:

As you can see, this is more than three miles, something I did not remember. I had made another path, but this almost-square was easier to follow. I couldn’t remember where the two mile and three mile markers were, which probably slowed me down because I didn’t really have mile-goals so I didn’t know how I was doing. Somewhere around Gower and Santa Monica, Sheryl Crow was just stuck in my head, on repeat, as I jogged down Santa Monica in sunglasses, sun setting over the Hollywood Hills.

I probably finished around 40 minutes. The run from Santa Monica to Sunset is entirely uphill, which I knew, but I didn’t know any other way to stay below Sunset. I thought that Sunset and Sycamore was the three mile marker, and at that point I was at 43:08, so I am guess I was around 40-41 at the actual three mile marker.

I did try to run the entire first mile, which did not happen. I blame this on my foot, which has been hurting on the arch, on my left shin, and on my two-week lapse. Nikki seems to think I can run a mile before slowing down to walk. I disagree. I work in short bursts. We’ll see…

Before I left for my run, Jeff made a comment about getting one of those running lanyards that you can put around your arm, so you don’t have to, you know, tie your key to your shoe. “Well, after this weekend, I don’t think I am going to be doing much running,” I said as I tried to finagle my key onto my lace.

“What? But…you can’t stop running! You’ve inspired me! You’re my hero!” he said. Now, everyone that knows Jeff can imagine the voice he was using — his half serious, half in jest voice, that usually ends up in him speaking in an accent (Spanish, Indian, etc.) But I could tell he was (somewhat) serious.

So maybe after this 5k, I’ll keep running. Or maybe I’ll take a break and do some serious swimming. I know my Dad is starting his 5K training, so it looks like I’ll need to at least keep it up to run one with him in the fall. We’ll see.

All I know is last night I had a cookie after dinner, and I didn’t feel a little bit bad. So maybe running isn’t the worst thing that’s happened (or been forced) into my life.

Relative Danger: a story of sorelle

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Chicks, it’s Friday. I am trying to keep my spirit up, despite the fact that apparently I am allergic to the entire state of California.

Last night was a hectic night, as are most nights at the HAP house. We’re shooting a photo shoot this weekend for Garlic, My Soul, and we had some prep cooking to do. We made doughnuts, pancakes, and muffins last night, and Corelyn spent today decorating our baked goods. Becca will be on hand for makeup and quiche-making, and Jeff will be around for man-power. Literally.

Anyways, this week has been long – and it’s been the week of 2.25 mile runs. I can’t believe I am already past 2 miles, and its killing me. I think it’s because I haven’t been to yoga in a while — too busy!! — but my shins have been KILLING ME. My sorella told me I could take a break, so this morning I dragged myself to the gym to do the elliptical machine. At 6:50, I was already late and turns out, it takes you longer to travel the same distance on an elliptical, unless you pump your legs so hard you have to hold on to the machine so you don’t fall off.

I kept an eye on the clock, and had to jump off at 7:20 to make sure I got to work on time. 1.75 miles is all I got before my time was up. It took 22 minutes in all (which actually was about the amount of time it took me to run it, so I guess I wasn’t that far behind.) I somehow had forgotten my lock (who knows where it is? I am hoping on the floor at home) so I had to go out to my car to get it then hustle back inside to get ready for work.

Needless to say, it was another crazy morning. Where’s the yoga when I need it? But when I got to work, Nikki and I signed up for the race. That’s right, folks; on the day I broke and needed a running break, I signed up to run a 5k that I’m not even sure I can do. We signed up with the team name “Relative Danger” just the right amount of truth and cheese. So cheer me on, send me shin stretches, and good vibes…I’m going to need them.

 

Girl, please excuse me…

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As I mentioned in my last post, I am lacking in some gym beats.

Luckily, after Lauren reiterated that I should listen to RadioLab (thanks again Jess for introducing me!) I have been listening away as I walk. Today I walked five miles, three of them home from M’s, and the time past so quickly because I was listening to a podcast about stress. Which, by the way, is intriguing — did you know if you are exposed to high levels of stress you will stop growing? Bodies are so cool.

OK enough on that. So Jeff and I sat down tonight after dinner to talk music. Jeff usually has the most recent radio hits mixed in with the gems from the last twenty years, so it was no problem to transfer some of those tunes to my computer, and BAM I have a new 2 hour and 30 minute gym mix, including, but not limited to:

* 10 Days Late – Third Eye Blind
* F*** You – Cee Lo Green
* Raise Your Glass – Pink
* All I Do is Win – DJ Khaled
* Uncharted – Sara Bareilles
* Caught Up – Usher
* Pump It – Black Eyed Peas
* Are You Gonna Be My Girl? – JET
* Get Out Of My Mind – Hootie and the Blowfish
* All or Nothing – Athena Cage

Monday 2 mile run, here I come.

Probably started off like me…

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So we’re on Day 5 over here, and already I am learning about the blessings and curses of a scheduled training plan. So far, running has been fine, but not great and not bad. I’ve improved from Monday to Wednesday, but my blisters are that much more developed. In fact, after running Monday night then Wednesday morning I am giving myself until tomorrow after work to run so I can give my blisters that much more time to heal. We’ll see if it makes a difference…

Monday was running for the first time, which I did at Liz’s gym. This proved beneficial because having someone potentially seeing you run makes you push yourself harder, I find.

Tuesday was a rest day, so I chose to walk for 40 minutes to keep my body moving. This was to Trader Joe’s and back, where I purchased some Brussels for dinner. The walk was good, but I got a little bored, and it was a smidge cold. I think I’ll try to make sure I have a walking partner at least on my weekend walks, and maybe finally upload my Paula Deen book on tape or some podcasts to my iPhone so I can be interested while walking.

Wednesday was my second running day, but I knew I had to run in the morning because Liz and I had yoga that evening. I got up, lugged two bags/outfits to my car, and headed to the gym just before 7:00. 19:29 later, I was done. Shaved thirty seconds off my 1.5 miles, and I am happy to report my best mile time as of late of 12:49. Definitely an improvement. Seeing results so quickly is really great and satisfying, but don’t worry – I’m not getting used to it. The blisters did resurface, however, at full strength, which was nerve-racking as I had to run again on Friday.

Wednesday night it poured, just in time for Liz and I to head to yoga. We arrived soaked, disheveled, and out of place. It’s not that we don’t walk the walk – we came in with our mats, dressed in what could pass for legit yoga gear. We just don’t necessarily talk the talk, if you will. That is to say, when the instructor said, “Now it looks like sitting might not be the most comfortable for some of us, so why don’t you lie down,” I couldn’t look at Liz, for fear of bursting out laughing. Not to mention the point where the man in front of us fell asleep during savasana. There were definitely a few times that I was in tears laughing, holding it in for the sake of not letting Liz lose it. Needless to say, next time we go to yoga it will not be to the “gentle” class. No, L, it’ll be Level 1.

Thursday I spent recooping. It’s holiday hours at work, which means I get off an hour early. I headed down to Bella Bridesmaid to try on my dress for Nikki’s wedding and then headed home for an evening of hanging out with Jeff. A few house hunters and food network later, I’m gearing up for tomorrow’s run. I’ll be headed to the gym after work, then I will be ready for a weekend away from running. Knowing that the weekend requires walking but no running, per say, is a blessing, but the curse lies in a Monday run. But let’s get through Friday, first.