It's Biggest Loser night.....yes.
Tonight we will see one of their first workouts. The ones where usually someone pukes, passes out, or falls off the treadmill. Tonight we will see who truly wants to put in the hard work verses the ones that thought they did. We will see who has passion and who doesn't.
I have never puked after a workout or race. Though, once after a 5k I thought for sure I was going to heave all over the place. I have never passed out. The closest I have ever come to that is when I got my first IV back in 1996. The second time was last week when I hit my nail so hard it ripped of the nail bed. No treadmill falls either. Though I know people who have...... Guess I'm not so tough after all.
I do however have the passion, if that's what you want to call it. I suppose I do all these running, tri's, duathlons races for a reason. What is that reason? Sometimes I can't answer that. Today was one of those days.
It's was supposed to be Happy Long Run Tuesday. A 9 miler was on the schedule. Last long run was 7. I haven't run longer than 7 since July. Combine that knowledge with the fact I'm on day 22 of consecutive workouts, my hamstrings are still tight from dead lifting 40 lbs over and over on Friday, (thanks Donna) my right calf has been a rock for over a week and my left shin is slowly rearing it's ugly head. Take all that and add a pinch of I haven't slept well in awhile and I have a lot on my mind that is stressing me out. Nope the 9 miler was not in any way smooth. It was hard. Not just the last few miles but every mile. But I got it done. With a pace of 10:05. I had to stop a few times to get water, blow my annoying nose. I have exercise induced rhinitis. And just try and get the legs loose. They never loosened up. I questioned myself why? Why am I yet again training for another "Goofy" challenge. Why do I put myself through all the soreness, pain, metal and physical endurance? Because it is now who I am. This is what I do. This is what defines me. This is what people know about me. I am the athlete. The tall blonde that can out swim, bike and run most Mom's my age. This is my passion.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Looking for Answers
I watched one of my favorite shows last night. The Biggest Loser.
Many times I wanted to cry listening to their stories. Probably not for the reasons you would think.
Most of the contestants have had a tragic death in their immediate family. I have been fortunate. I have yet to deal with anything so painful. They turned to food to ease their pain. It then became an addiction. One of the contestants had alcoholism run in the family. He made the statement that he was born with an addictive personality. Instead of alcohol, he chose food. One person just cried asking why? Why can't I say no? Why does my body say yes?
My husband rolls his eyes in disgust that these people would allow themselves to get this large. I asked him if he had any sympathy for these people. He said no. Wow, that hit a nerve. I may not look like these people, but I surely feel some of the things they feel. I completely understand why they have gotten so large. I completely understand the pain. I understand asking myself why? I have a war with myself everyday about food. Lucky for me that I am an athlete. Otherwise I would be one of those people. It's the sport that keeps me in check. If only I ate the way I should then I could be thinner, faster, stronger and better at racing. But for some reason at 2 pm. Those cookies look, taste, smell better than anything else in the world. Until I eat them and I get an upset stomach for eating so much and get mad at myself because once again I failed.
I eat way way way too much food. Too much junk and salt to be exact. I bet I could eat exactly what these Biggest Loser Contestants eat in any given day. I look forward to seeing their transformations. I look forward to the inspirational advice that is given by Bob and Jillian. I look forward to seeing them achieve their goals. I look forward to the pain they will feel at their many many workouts. The weight doesn't just fall off. You have to work at it and it isn't easy. Trust me.
My workouts will not change. My mindset however is going to have too. Otherwise I will crack soon. Something has got to change.
Many times I wanted to cry listening to their stories. Probably not for the reasons you would think.
Most of the contestants have had a tragic death in their immediate family. I have been fortunate. I have yet to deal with anything so painful. They turned to food to ease their pain. It then became an addiction. One of the contestants had alcoholism run in the family. He made the statement that he was born with an addictive personality. Instead of alcohol, he chose food. One person just cried asking why? Why can't I say no? Why does my body say yes?
My husband rolls his eyes in disgust that these people would allow themselves to get this large. I asked him if he had any sympathy for these people. He said no. Wow, that hit a nerve. I may not look like these people, but I surely feel some of the things they feel. I completely understand why they have gotten so large. I completely understand the pain. I understand asking myself why? I have a war with myself everyday about food. Lucky for me that I am an athlete. Otherwise I would be one of those people. It's the sport that keeps me in check. If only I ate the way I should then I could be thinner, faster, stronger and better at racing. But for some reason at 2 pm. Those cookies look, taste, smell better than anything else in the world. Until I eat them and I get an upset stomach for eating so much and get mad at myself because once again I failed.
I eat way way way too much food. Too much junk and salt to be exact. I bet I could eat exactly what these Biggest Loser Contestants eat in any given day. I look forward to seeing their transformations. I look forward to the inspirational advice that is given by Bob and Jillian. I look forward to seeing them achieve their goals. I look forward to the pain they will feel at their many many workouts. The weight doesn't just fall off. You have to work at it and it isn't easy. Trust me.
My workouts will not change. My mindset however is going to have too. Otherwise I will crack soon. Something has got to change.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Day After Day
I'm feeling it. The sluggish feeling you get when your body tells you, "um, excuse me, do we really need to work out again?" I have worked out 14 days in a row now. I don't consider this to be too much. Right now the volume of each workout, especially the runs are low. The mileage is still only about 1/3 of what it will be in a month or so. So maybe I do have a hard workout day but it's followed by a nice 3 miler with an added mile of walking tacked on.
But this morning in spin I could feel that my body was tired. My legs a bit sore from my hilly fast 3 miler yesterday. My transverse ab dominis still a bit tweaked from last Wed training class. My neck muscles tight. We hit AT right off the bat and the class was an aerobic endurance day. Well I decided that I do plenty of aerobic endurance. So after hitting my AT of 154 today I kept it 10 beats below whatever zone we were supposed to be in. What I thought would be a somewhat easy class turned into a sweat pouring, puddle on the floor workout. Another sign the body is tired and working harder than usual to keep a certain pace.
I'll make an effort today to take it easy. Eat well and hopefully if there is someone in my corner, a good nights sleep. Because tomorrow is not a rest day nor are the next 6. As the mileage increases I will probably have to back off on a swim or spin during the week just to get a day of rest. But for now all systems are go. Other than feeling tired and a bit sore I'm eager to keep going.
But this morning in spin I could feel that my body was tired. My legs a bit sore from my hilly fast 3 miler yesterday. My transverse ab dominis still a bit tweaked from last Wed training class. My neck muscles tight. We hit AT right off the bat and the class was an aerobic endurance day. Well I decided that I do plenty of aerobic endurance. So after hitting my AT of 154 today I kept it 10 beats below whatever zone we were supposed to be in. What I thought would be a somewhat easy class turned into a sweat pouring, puddle on the floor workout. Another sign the body is tired and working harder than usual to keep a certain pace.
I'll make an effort today to take it easy. Eat well and hopefully if there is someone in my corner, a good nights sleep. Because tomorrow is not a rest day nor are the next 6. As the mileage increases I will probably have to back off on a swim or spin during the week just to get a day of rest. But for now all systems are go. Other than feeling tired and a bit sore I'm eager to keep going.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Power House
"You are in a different category."
"You have to do things differently."
"Don't listen to what I'm saying, it doesn't apply to you."
"You need to take it to the next level."
"You aren't losing weight? You're gaining? Well you're in marathon training. Totally different."
"You are a power house. I don't think I'll be able to get used to it."
I received everyone of these remarks today. Within an hour. During my personal training class. It's our 5th class and things are now different. Our trainer has now realized that I can do pretty much anything. Not because I claim to be that tough, but because I have total focus. If she asks me to do something I do it. Not half assed, not while whining, not while looking at the clock. I do everything she asks and I do it well. Now, I pay for that. She stepped it up a notch today. While the class did regular planks, myself and the one guy in the class did planks but with a raised leg. When we did laps around the gym to get to LT, I had to lap the class twice while sprinting in order to get the heart rate high enough. While squatting against the wall, I had to spread my legs out wider and add weights to my legs. She expects the class to be sore tomorrow and wants to know on Friday if we were. I can tell you right now I won't be sore tomorrow. I would already start to feel it.
Question is do I fess up and tell her on Friday?
"You have to do things differently."
"Don't listen to what I'm saying, it doesn't apply to you."
"You need to take it to the next level."
"You aren't losing weight? You're gaining? Well you're in marathon training. Totally different."
"You are a power house. I don't think I'll be able to get used to it."
I received everyone of these remarks today. Within an hour. During my personal training class. It's our 5th class and things are now different. Our trainer has now realized that I can do pretty much anything. Not because I claim to be that tough, but because I have total focus. If she asks me to do something I do it. Not half assed, not while whining, not while looking at the clock. I do everything she asks and I do it well. Now, I pay for that. She stepped it up a notch today. While the class did regular planks, myself and the one guy in the class did planks but with a raised leg. When we did laps around the gym to get to LT, I had to lap the class twice while sprinting in order to get the heart rate high enough. While squatting against the wall, I had to spread my legs out wider and add weights to my legs. She expects the class to be sore tomorrow and wants to know on Friday if we were. I can tell you right now I won't be sore tomorrow. I would already start to feel it.
Question is do I fess up and tell her on Friday?
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
How Slow Can You Go?
I know that after running for the past 7 years now that I have had my ups and downs. Training for races sometimes goes well, sometimes not so well. The races themselves.....you just never know. When I least expect it I have a great race. Other days when I think I've done everything right..... the race doesn't. I have been fortunate never to have DNF'ed. But I have come close.
SO this training season my main focus seems to be to figure out how to run slow on the LSD days. Which right now are on Tuesdays for me. This is my fifth time training for a marathon. You would think that I would have an understanding of why and how you are supposed to run slower on your long runs than you plan to run on race day. Up to 90 seconds slower per mile. For some reason I struggle with this. I'm not sure if it's because I don't run fast enough on the other days or if I just run so slow that I can't run any slower without tripping!
My body is all legs. Long, strong, thick with an extra layer of fat that I'm working on shedding. You would think I'd be fast. But I learned way back in high school that I am not fast and never will be. Really if you watch those that run fast most of them are not tall. Not all legs. They are average to short, lean and very proportionate with their bodies. I am non of this. Thus I am slow. How do I learn to go slower?
Today was my first test. I had to run 7 miles this morning. Soon that will be a short run, but for now it is considered my LSD. My goal....to hit the 10:30p for most of the run. That is 1 minute slower than I plan on doing Disney. How did it go? Have a look.
Mile 1: 9:29 (crap, must have been the electrolyte tablets I just took)
Mile 2: 10:10 (getting there, but man that felt really slow)
Mile 3: 10:18 ( mile 3, I'm not huffing, puffing, can still breathe through my nose)
Mile 4: 10:16 ( I found my niche, 10:15 pace seems to be my comfort zone)
Mile 5: 10:35 (ah ha, got it. Finally only took 5 miles)
Mile 6: 10:01 ( got to excited I guess and sped up)
Mile 7: 9:44 ( I know, I was ready to go home)
Total: 7 miles in 1:10:30 10:04p.
This was not the 10:30 I was looking for. This is going to be harder than I thought. But I had a light bulb moment today. I finally realized why you are supposed to train this way. Today's run was the first in a very long time that I didn't feel zapped at the end. I didn't feel out of breath, I didn't feel like I was pushing my limits. I just ran. And I finished happy. Not exhausted. Bingo. All I want to do is finish happy in Disney. So my LSD runs will be happy runs. Whether the pace be 9:45 or 10:45 doesn't much matter. Just finish happy.
SO this training season my main focus seems to be to figure out how to run slow on the LSD days. Which right now are on Tuesdays for me. This is my fifth time training for a marathon. You would think that I would have an understanding of why and how you are supposed to run slower on your long runs than you plan to run on race day. Up to 90 seconds slower per mile. For some reason I struggle with this. I'm not sure if it's because I don't run fast enough on the other days or if I just run so slow that I can't run any slower without tripping!
My body is all legs. Long, strong, thick with an extra layer of fat that I'm working on shedding. You would think I'd be fast. But I learned way back in high school that I am not fast and never will be. Really if you watch those that run fast most of them are not tall. Not all legs. They are average to short, lean and very proportionate with their bodies. I am non of this. Thus I am slow. How do I learn to go slower?
Today was my first test. I had to run 7 miles this morning. Soon that will be a short run, but for now it is considered my LSD. My goal....to hit the 10:30p for most of the run. That is 1 minute slower than I plan on doing Disney. How did it go? Have a look.
Mile 1: 9:29 (crap, must have been the electrolyte tablets I just took)
Mile 2: 10:10 (getting there, but man that felt really slow)
Mile 3: 10:18 ( mile 3, I'm not huffing, puffing, can still breathe through my nose)
Mile 4: 10:16 ( I found my niche, 10:15 pace seems to be my comfort zone)
Mile 5: 10:35 (ah ha, got it. Finally only took 5 miles)
Mile 6: 10:01 ( got to excited I guess and sped up)
Mile 7: 9:44 ( I know, I was ready to go home)
Total: 7 miles in 1:10:30 10:04p.
This was not the 10:30 I was looking for. This is going to be harder than I thought. But I had a light bulb moment today. I finally realized why you are supposed to train this way. Today's run was the first in a very long time that I didn't feel zapped at the end. I didn't feel out of breath, I didn't feel like I was pushing my limits. I just ran. And I finished happy. Not exhausted. Bingo. All I want to do is finish happy in Disney. So my LSD runs will be happy runs. Whether the pace be 9:45 or 10:45 doesn't much matter. Just finish happy.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Training Smart
Been over a week since I've blogged. Not that I haven't wanted to but really there isn't much to say or report.
The biggest news of the week is that Goofy training started. I've chosen to do the Hal Higdon novice 1 again. Last time I did novice 2 and really I should be able to handle the next level with all the years I have been running. But I'm taking my approach a bit differently this time. My goal is to finish the Goofy training with my left leg in tact and not in pain 24 hours a day. SO in order to do this I need to do the least amount of running possible with the most bang for your buck. I have very specific workouts now. Each run has a purpose. There will be no running the same thing day in and day out. I also will be doing a ton of cross training. Swimming and spin class will be a staple of this training for the next 4 months.
So each week goes something like this...
Monday: Fast pace run and spin class
Tues: Long slow distance run
Wed: Swim and circuit/strength class
Thurs: Recovery run
Friday: Swim and circuit/ strength class
Sat: Marathon pace run
Sun: REST
Now of course I'm still playing around with what works out on which days. But all these workouts will take place. I'm not sure as the mileage goes up that I can run fast and do spin right after. But I can't really change that run to Wed or Fri because that is too many running days in a row. A recipe for disaster according to my shin.
My fast paced runs will be a minimum of 30 secs faster per mile than marathon pace. Hopefully as I get in better running shape I'll be able to hold down a 45sec- 1 minute increase in pace those days. LSD run will be 1 minute slower per mile than marathon pace. Recovery run is based totally on heart rate. Keeping it in the top of zone 2 and hitting zone 3 towards the end of the run. And the biggie the marathon paced run. I'm shooting for 9:30 pace. This is much faster than I have ever run a marathon before. But after running a 9:00 m/m for a 1/2 marathon during triathlon training, I believe that I should be able to hold anywhere between 9:30 and 10 for Disney.
The biggest news of the week is that Goofy training started. I've chosen to do the Hal Higdon novice 1 again. Last time I did novice 2 and really I should be able to handle the next level with all the years I have been running. But I'm taking my approach a bit differently this time. My goal is to finish the Goofy training with my left leg in tact and not in pain 24 hours a day. SO in order to do this I need to do the least amount of running possible with the most bang for your buck. I have very specific workouts now. Each run has a purpose. There will be no running the same thing day in and day out. I also will be doing a ton of cross training. Swimming and spin class will be a staple of this training for the next 4 months.
So each week goes something like this...
Monday: Fast pace run and spin class
Tues: Long slow distance run
Wed: Swim and circuit/strength class
Thurs: Recovery run
Friday: Swim and circuit/ strength class
Sat: Marathon pace run
Sun: REST
Now of course I'm still playing around with what works out on which days. But all these workouts will take place. I'm not sure as the mileage goes up that I can run fast and do spin right after. But I can't really change that run to Wed or Fri because that is too many running days in a row. A recipe for disaster according to my shin.
My fast paced runs will be a minimum of 30 secs faster per mile than marathon pace. Hopefully as I get in better running shape I'll be able to hold down a 45sec- 1 minute increase in pace those days. LSD run will be 1 minute slower per mile than marathon pace. Recovery run is based totally on heart rate. Keeping it in the top of zone 2 and hitting zone 3 towards the end of the run. And the biggie the marathon paced run. I'm shooting for 9:30 pace. This is much faster than I have ever run a marathon before. But after running a 9:00 m/m for a 1/2 marathon during triathlon training, I believe that I should be able to hold anywhere between 9:30 and 10 for Disney.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Sore....ing To New Levels
I'm still moving forward, though it might be less painful to walk backwards down the stairs. I feel like I ran a marathon on Wednesday. My legs with special mention of the knees and inner thigh are on fire. The kind of pain that when you sit to go to the bathroom you have to support yourself with your hands on the counter. Getting up.... even harder. Happy I am to have a small bathroom and have the counter to rely on.
This is exactly what I need. Why do I feel this way? It's from my new modified personal training class. I didn't think I would ever be this sore from class. At the time I knew I was getting a good workout I just didn't know how good. Or the other way to look at it is that yes I'm an endurance athlete, but holy crap, I'm way out of shape. I have muscles deep within that carry me through my endurance type events but I don't have the strength in those same muscles to leap, squat, lunge, shuffle, kick at high speeds or with resistance and weight. If I did I wouldn't been so damn sore! This is my first lesson. This class will make me stronger. It will most definitely make me faster. Everyone watch out. I may not be able to walk faster than you today. But give me three months and I'll blow you away.
This is exactly what I need. Why do I feel this way? It's from my new modified personal training class. I didn't think I would ever be this sore from class. At the time I knew I was getting a good workout I just didn't know how good. Or the other way to look at it is that yes I'm an endurance athlete, but holy crap, I'm way out of shape. I have muscles deep within that carry me through my endurance type events but I don't have the strength in those same muscles to leap, squat, lunge, shuffle, kick at high speeds or with resistance and weight. If I did I wouldn't been so damn sore! This is my first lesson. This class will make me stronger. It will most definitely make me faster. Everyone watch out. I may not be able to walk faster than you today. But give me three months and I'll blow you away.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Forward
My motto for the day and future days....
You can't go back. You can only move forward.
I need to stop thinking about what I did or more often what I didn't do...yesterday, last Monday, last week, back in July so on and so on. I need to not worry about what I ate yesterday, last Monday, last week, back in July so on and so on. I can only change what I do from this minute on.
Believe it or not I heard this motto on my soap opera as I ate my healthy lunch. I just stopped eating and thought for a moment. Exactly. That's exactly how I should live each day. I have had one of those days that everything just seems to make sense. I have learned a lot today. And no it wasn't all from my soap opera.
Early in the morning I headed to the gym to drown, which is what I told my husband. I have only hit the pool twice in a month. Not so good. But, it's official, I finally got into the "it's like riding a bike" mentality. I remembered how to swim and with some kind of form. Now I have gotten a bit slower, but still about 1:15 mins faster per 400m than I was when I first started a few years ago. I did 3, 400m and 300m of kicking. All the 400's were under 9 mins. Certainly not fast but I'm not concerned with speed right now. For now it's about maintaining the sport through Jan. and using it as active recovery from running. After swimming I tried something new. My new modified personal training class. This class takes place in the large gym next to where I usually take spin class. My father was in that spin class I'm sure laughing at the sight of all 16 of us. We will be doing mostly polymetrics....what are those you ask?
Plyometrics (also known as "plyos") is a type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements, and improve the functions of the nervous system, generally for the purpose of improving performance in sports. Plyometric movements, in which a muscle is loaded and then contracted in rapid sequence, use the strength, elasticity and innervation of muscle and surrounding tissues to jump higher, run faster, throw farther, or hit harder, depending on the desired training goal. Plyometrics is used to increase the speed or force of muscular contractions, providing explosiveness for a variety of sport-specific activities.
All I know is that even on the first day I got in a good workout. Heart rate was up in all zones and I expended about 600 calories in 45 mins. Almost identical to a spin class. Lots of core work. Lots of sweat and lots of work. Exactly what my routine is missing. After class I spent some time with one of the trainers who is also a certified nutritionist. Told her my issues and what she recommended.
So for the next month I have a goal. I am making some dietary adjustments. I am taking in a ton more protein. I am taking fish oil. And I am taking a daily vitamin that really is a AM and PM combo. This should help me sleep better and give myself more energy to take on all these challenges I will face in the next 4 months. I'm giving it a month so see if I become super woman.
There is no more looking back.
You can't go back. You can only move forward.
I need to stop thinking about what I did or more often what I didn't do...yesterday, last Monday, last week, back in July so on and so on. I need to not worry about what I ate yesterday, last Monday, last week, back in July so on and so on. I can only change what I do from this minute on.
Believe it or not I heard this motto on my soap opera as I ate my healthy lunch. I just stopped eating and thought for a moment. Exactly. That's exactly how I should live each day. I have had one of those days that everything just seems to make sense. I have learned a lot today. And no it wasn't all from my soap opera.
Early in the morning I headed to the gym to drown, which is what I told my husband. I have only hit the pool twice in a month. Not so good. But, it's official, I finally got into the "it's like riding a bike" mentality. I remembered how to swim and with some kind of form. Now I have gotten a bit slower, but still about 1:15 mins faster per 400m than I was when I first started a few years ago. I did 3, 400m and 300m of kicking. All the 400's were under 9 mins. Certainly not fast but I'm not concerned with speed right now. For now it's about maintaining the sport through Jan. and using it as active recovery from running. After swimming I tried something new. My new modified personal training class. This class takes place in the large gym next to where I usually take spin class. My father was in that spin class I'm sure laughing at the sight of all 16 of us. We will be doing mostly polymetrics....what are those you ask?
Plyometrics (also known as "plyos") is a type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements, and improve the functions of the nervous system, generally for the purpose of improving performance in sports. Plyometric movements, in which a muscle is loaded and then contracted in rapid sequence, use the strength, elasticity and innervation of muscle and surrounding tissues to jump higher, run faster, throw farther, or hit harder, depending on the desired training goal. Plyometrics is used to increase the speed or force of muscular contractions, providing explosiveness for a variety of sport-specific activities.
All I know is that even on the first day I got in a good workout. Heart rate was up in all zones and I expended about 600 calories in 45 mins. Almost identical to a spin class. Lots of core work. Lots of sweat and lots of work. Exactly what my routine is missing. After class I spent some time with one of the trainers who is also a certified nutritionist. Told her my issues and what she recommended.
So for the next month I have a goal. I am making some dietary adjustments. I am taking in a ton more protein. I am taking fish oil. And I am taking a daily vitamin that really is a AM and PM combo. This should help me sleep better and give myself more energy to take on all these challenges I will face in the next 4 months. I'm giving it a month so see if I become super woman.
There is no more looking back.
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