ALEC: Day Six

So, today was supposed to be a 35 minute W/R (2/3). I decided to run up at Twin Peaks...you get so see all sides of the City as you run in a circle 8. It was pretty windy up there today and the fog was already starting to come towards the Peaks. I started off fine and noticed that the first interval didn't seem as hard as it has been in the past. My shins started to hurt at interval three...probably a sign that I needed to stretch more. And then at interval five, I felt a shooting pain in my left calf. I ran a few more steps and then stopped to stretch it and figured I would go on. After stretching my calf, I started up again but only got about 30 - 40 paces and the shooting pain was back and wouldn't stop. So, I decided to stop and just walk. I hate that I could not push through it, as I only had two more intervals to go. But I also wonder if that was the body saying "stop or slow down before your injure yourself". So, instead of beating myself up I will acknowledge that I need to take the time to stretch more after I am warm up. Lesson learned. Also, I keep forgetting to take Kleenex with me because my nose always starts running, especially if I am running around a lot of bushes and trees. Also, need to get some different sun glasses...the kind that wrap around the whole face. My eyes were watering to the point I couldn't see at certain times, especially when there are strong wind gusts. Until my next train...oh, and still need to go get new shoes.

Stats:
1.84 total miles
25:38 total minutes
13.58 min/mile average pace
4.30 mph average speed
336 feet elevation climb

sleep

DL: after having the run and sweat yesterday, I slept so well last night: solid and uninterrupted and deep sleep. It's a good sign for continuation. Each day I need a new motivation and reminder to carry on, and this will be it for today!

thursday

Got up and out early this morning for 3.5 miles before work. had morning smoothie: almond milk, banana, organic blueberries, flax seed and hemp protein. on to work and more miles tonight on treadmill

Keep Movin'

underway

ok, so since I paid $50 and committed to running the 10k in september, after my workshop ended at 4:30, I came home and just did all the motions to get me out the door to running on my local dirt path: changed into running clothes, sneakers, found keys and out the door. worried a bit about my knees handling the running, but that will take some time to find out. I walked/ran every 3-5 minutes and it felt pretty good. I am so out of shape that it will take me a long time to adjust! I am envisioning my thinner body when I get some more training under my belt! That's motivation enough for now! I feel good after day one. I feel a bit of pressure to conceive of a training plan without having to buy one from the marathon website. A bit of gradual increased running for at least 5 days a week, and some weight training and bike riding on other days to build up strength and endurance is what I came up with. Also, I think it would take me about 1.5 hours to run the 10k, so my goal is to be able to run for a steady 1.5-2 hours. any comments from you more experienced runners welcome!!! ox, delaney

ALEC: Day 5 Training

So, I missed yesterday's training. After having felt like I had a good run on Saturday and that my legs felt like they were getting stronger and better, I woke up yesterday morning with a major pain in my right foot. I could tell that it was coming from my thighs and calves and kept stretching and rubbing my foot all day. I decided I better hold off on training until it felt better. Last night my left foot and legs started hurting. So, I did what any athlete would do...I ran for the Ben Gay...LOL. Luckily, I think it did the trick, as my feet and legs feel better today. So, today, I will run what I should have yesterday, which is 35 minutes. I'll be off the schedule of having two days rest (should have been today and tomorrow), but I think I'll be fine. I'm driving a friend up to Santa Rosa today to visit his mom and have decided to run at Howarth Park or Spring Lake. It's supposed to rain today (can you believe that) but the Bay Area weather is always so unpredictable that I figured I might as well train in the rain so that if for some strange, strange reason it decides to rain on September 25th, I'll know how to dress and what it feels like to run in the rain.

Daily Motivation

Double duty

It's easy to think I will get in a second run in the evening.
It's easy to get ready and get on the treadmill after running in the humid conditions in the morning.
It's easy to push the start button.

It's something entirely different to keep going and finish what I started.

Happy to have done so.

8 miles in AM
4.25 miles in PM
A good day

Sunday Morning Humidity

Wanted to go 10. Only ran 8. Will do another 4 tonight on treadmill.

ALEC: Day Four Training

So, yesterday was my fourth day of training. 45 minutes of walk/run intervals (2/3). I woke up at 4:30 AM yesterday and my allergies were really bothering me. Didn't know if I would make the training or not. But by 10 AM I felt better and headed to the gym. My legs felt tight again, even though the day before they felt great. Wasn't sure how the run would go. But by the third interval, they felt okay and I was in my "groove". I mixed up the intervals:

1 - 4.5 mph
2 - 4.5 mph (2% incline)
3 - 5.0 mph
4 - 4.8 mph
5 - 4.8 mph
6 - 4.8 mph (2% incline)
7 - 5.0 mph
8 - 5.5 mph
9 - 4.5 mph

Total distance 3.21 miles in 45 minutes. Average min/mi - 14.01 (up 52 seconds from my second day of training).

My breathing seems to be getting better and my legs seem to be getting used to it. Overall, I say that I had a pretty good run. Thanks, Angelina, for putting this opportunity out there. Am enjoying the training, the commitment and pushing myself forward.

Sunday

530am wake up call. Sipping Peets coffee out of my DREAM coffee mug. House is still dark save the overhead light above the stove. Chirping birds and cars whooshing by in the distance are the morning sounds. The sky is slowing awakening as am I. My eyes are opening more and I am dreaming of being. of being better.

ALEC: Blind runner to run 100-Mile Marathon

Now, every time I want to stop, I will think of Simon.

http://www.wired.com/playbook/2011/06/blind-ultramarathon-updates/

So, today my legs and feet feel normal...it's been a couple weeks since they have felt this way due to my over lifting at the gym and then starting to train. I am hoping that this is a good sign that they are adjusting to running and the impact that I am putting on my knees and feet. Tomorrow is day 4 of training and consists of a 45 minutes walk/run (2/3) with the intent of covering over 3 miles.

I finally looked at K-Swiss shoes on the web today....boy, are they are expensive. So, due to the fact that I am conserving money right now until I start working again, I think I will rely on the good old, standard Asics, which is my current running shoes (but they need to be replaced). I have a Groupon to Lombardi Sports and they carry a lot of different Asics models. May do that later this afternoon.

ALEC: Day Three

So, today is day three of training. Same training as day two - 35 minutes of walk/run (2 min/3 min). Will be training at the gym, even though the weather will be nice today. There is a 30 minute workshop at Crunch today at noon that will be talking about keeping the knees strong and safe...it will focus on stretching and proper roller technique. So, my plan is to be training by 11:15 and then on to the workshop.

How I feel today:
Left knee isn't bothering me anymore, but now right knee and foot/ankle are. My calves are feeling really tight, which I'm sure is part of why the knee and foot/ankle are hurting. I plan to only run the planned time in my training today...no going over 35 minutes. I unexpectedly went dancing by myself the night of day two training (had the most awesome time), which I'm sure taxed my legs more than what I should have been doing (for those of you who know how I dance, I'm sure you can imagine the workout my legs got that day/night). So to keep my legs safe, I will stay within the recommended training time.

To do:
Still need to research K-swiss shoes. I also realized, after running in the outdoors, that I need some type of contraption that will hold a water bottle, keys, etc. Keys were bouncing all over in my pocket. I hate to see it, but I may be wearing a "fanny pack"...OMG, I never thought I would say that. Well, if I do end up wearing one, it will have to be stylish :)

Hump Day Motivation

daily motivation

ALEC: Second Day of Training

Well, after my first day of training using the 1/2 Marathon app, I decided I needed to up the training a little bit, as the 14 week plan seemed a little too easy for my current fitness level. That pushed me out an extra day, which is why there was no run yesterday. Today's training is a 35 minutes run/walk run. Eventually the plan gets me up to a 2 hour run/walk in week 12. I was going to go to the gym and run on the tread mill but then realized why would I want to run inside when it is 75 degrees here and I can run on the beach and enjoy the beautiful sounds of the Pacific Ocean. So, that is where I am off to. Thanks to Mark's recommendation, I downloaded RunKeeper which tracks my activity stats and location and posts to Facebook. Look for that posting later on this afternoon.

How I Feel:
Feel okay today. My legs and feet seem to feel better than on Friday. We will see how I do in the heat. I know 75 degrees is nothing for some of you, but when you are used to mid-60's, I'm sure it will have some effect on my run. Will keep myself hydrated.

Things to do:
Still need to go to the running store and look at the K-Swiss shoes. Also, because of the heat today and running outside, I'm realizing that I will need to buy a bottle holder at some point.

a great influence

"The difference between a runner and a jogger in an entry blank" - George Sheehan

George Sheehan wrote some of the most inspirational and influential notes on running & life, essentially. I feel like he wrote a lot of what i feel and was able to turn it into beautiful language. Discovering his books years ago was truly an AH-HA moment. I wanted to scream out, "YES, this is what i feel. This is IT."

Here's where you can read more GeorgeSheehan

ALEC: So, here I am....first day of training

Hello Fellow Runners/Walkers/Funners/Bloggers,

Many of you know, and some probably don't, that Angie and I have been friends for almost 20 years now (although she and I always disagree on the year we actually met, but I know I'm right). In addition, Angie, Holly and I lived together for a couple of years back in the mid-90's on Walter Street here in San Francisco. So, I am totally stoked that all three of us are doing this together, even though we are in different levels...I call us the 90 Walter Street Team!!!! (yeah!)

So, here's how I got to this point in my life of wanting to train to run a marathon (albeit, this run will only be a 10K for me). I had been working in a job that consumed my life for 16 months. When that job finally came to an end in April (saddened that it had to come to an end but grateful for the new journey and road), I decided to take some time off and really thought about things that I wanted to do and things I wanted to change in my life. I have followed Angelina's (yes, that's what I call her sometimes or LW - Little Wife) personal blog for quite a while and have always been inspired by her and what she writes about, feels, lives...she is an incredible woman (if you don't know her full story, please ask her or read about it on her blog). One of the constant themes that I get from Angie's life and blog is that we can do anything that we choose to do and that we must step up to the challenge of things that scare us. Now, I exercise 2-4 times a week (now that I'm not working) and usually alternate the days between lifting and aerobics...but training for a run will be something completely different. When I do an aerobic day it's usually 40 minutes of varied machines (3 different types of elliptical machines and the treadmill). But now to train to just run is quite a different thing. When I was a little kid, my mom always said I was a natural born runner...but that was being a sprinter. The idea of running continuously for a long amount of time has always been something that I thought I could never do or would be able to do. But now I am saying...WHATEVER, to that notion. My challenge is to force myself past my old beliefs and fears and jump into the ocean of "I can and I will". So, LW, I take your inspiration with me on this new adventure.

I must also give credit to one other person that has inspired me to do this and that is a friend of mine, Mark Rowe. He just completed his first AIDS/LifeCycle ride this past Saturday. When I met him back in November of 2010 and he was telling me about it, he said that he had never done an organized ride and that the extent of his bike riding was just for pleasure. He didn't know if he could do it but he wasn't going to let that stop him. Plus, he had to raise a minimum of $3,000 to participate in the ride and had never fund raised before...but did he let that stop him...NO WAY! So, I followed his journey of training for the ride and fund raising efforts on Facebook and his blog and have truly been blown away. Every increased challenge that came at him, he took on. And I am happy to say that he raised over $16,000 for the SF AIDS Foundation and Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center (Go Rowe, Go). Because of his commitment and tenacity, he too is an inspiration for me that I will take with me on my journey.

So...these two people have inspired me to take on challenges and that challenge for me, right now, is running the 10K. I hope you will follow us as each of us takes on a different journey but all ending at the same spot: the starting line at 7:00 AM of the Half Moon Bay International Marathon on September 25th. If you would like to just walk it, they have a 5K fun walk that does not cost anything, but you still have to register. I hope to write as often as I can to keep you updated and so you can track my progress.

Peace,

Alec

PS - I have decided to put at the end of each post an update on how I am feeling physically/emotionally right now and what tasks I need to complete.

How I feel physically/emotionally today:
Feel tired. Didn't sleep well. Work things. Legs and feet are still sore from two weeks ago after lifting more than I should have. Tried to stretch them this morning but they still feel tight. But ain't gonna let that stop me.

Tasks to complete:
Today is my first training day (I downloaded an app called Half Coach...you put in the target date, current fitness level and it creates an exercise plan for you). Today is one hour of cross-training. This shouldn't be too difficult for me as I usually cross train on aerobics day any way...but it will be 20 minutes more than what I normally do. Also, need to go to the running store on Haight and get some new shoes - Angelina is now running in K-Swiss...I have never worn K-Swiss running shoes before...only K-Swiss tennis shoes.

Marathon Draw

I'm always looking at race calendars to see what's coming up. I'm always looking to see what interesting races are out there and WHERE they are...
Well, as I was perusing the race calendar recently, I came across 2 races that peaked my interest; Lake Tahoe Marathon and Half Moon Bay Marathon. Both happened to be on my birthday, 9/25.
So....I put the word out on facebook asking people to chime in with their vote. Well, Half Moon Bay was the near unanimous decision. (a little to my disappointment as I had wanted to take in some gambling in tahoe post race!)

So, Half Moon Bay it is. And to be really honest....I am super duper excited. One of the reasons I am excited is because 3 friends have already signed up to run or walk one of the races that weekend; There is a marathon. A Half-Marathon and a 10k. I'm THRILLED that friends have been motivated to pay the entry fees and commit to a race. For each person, this is their FIRST RACE EVENT! This is my 8th marathon, but I swear, with my excitement level, it might just feel like my first.

I created this blog to be a community blog. I hope you will follow along and cheer us on in our adventure.

Stay tuned to "meet" the other participants and read their stories, rants, raves, complaints, wonderment, awe etc....