Week 1 Wrap-up!!

Last week was an interesting one. I was lazy on Monday, so I didn't start my exercise week until Tuesday. That's okay though. I feel that I was pretty productive despite the small setback. 

Instead of trying to post a daily blog or even a few times a week, I think that it is more practical to do a weekly recap.  I outlined Tuesday's workouts, so I'll continue with Wednesdays! 

I was introduced to the idea of fatiguing my muscles (to become stronger) by doing two-a-days.  I'm only adding in one two-a-day per week right now, and MAN did it kill me.  I realized that I need to make sure I take in plenty of calories before my second workout to guarantee that I have enough energy to get through it with a mple energy.

Wednesday

AM: 3.6 mile hilly run in the neighborhood- Usually this is a pretty effortless run for me, so I thought it would be a good start. 

PM: 45 minutes weights, 10 mile elliptical warm-up, 4.4 mile treadmill run.  I was EXHAUSTED after the 45 minutes of weights.  The 10 mile elliptical warm-up wasn't bad, because I completed it at an easy pace.  The 4.4 mile DREADmill run was pretty hellish.  I recently lost my heart rate monitor that attaches to my Garmin watch, so I have no clue how hard I was really working. 

Thursday

I was SORE from Tuesday & Wednesday's workouts, but trucked away anyhow.  It was only my 3rd day working out this week, so I was determined to have a strong workout.

45 minutes weight training

20 minutes elliptical warm up

2 mile dreadmill run 

20 minute elliptical cool down

Friday & Saturday: OFF! I had intended for only Friday to be my off day, as we took a day trip to Tahoe.  We weren't planning on spending the night but after putting $3 into the slot machine I won $70 and we decided to get a room.  We had a few cocktails and drove home Saturday afternoon.  Unfortunately Kevin got called into work, so we skipped the 4 mile run that we had slated since it was EXTREMELY windy when he got off work and the gym was already closed.  That's okay, sometimes the body needs more rest so it was probably for a reason

Sunday: 10 mile run around the hilly neighborhood.  I did a REALLY good job keeping it at a slower pace (9 min mile).  It is advised that you do your "long run" 60-90 seconds slower per mile than your "race pace," so that is exactly what I was aiming form.  Anywhere from 9-9:30 min miles.  For some reason anything slower than 9 min miles feels like I am FORCING myself to run slooooow, and I feel like my form starts lacking.  Well, right at mile 4.2 I rolled my left ankle (this has been happening way too often which means I need to start paying attention to my form).  I yelled some obscenities, shook it off, and finished the remanining 5.8 miles.  Probably wasn't the best idea, but I was DETERMINED to get my 10 miler in as we have a half marathon coming up on February 5th.

My weekly total was only 25 miles this week, but that's okay because I know that I will have much stronger weeks in the near future. :)

Happy trails!! 

New Year. Fresh Start!

ALRIGHT... I know that I have been extremely lazy about keeping a blog. My only excuse is that school started.  I went through a lot of hurdles in the end of 2011- and am ready for a fresh start, and year.

A friend (a fellow runner whom I look up to very much) challenged me to run 1500 miles this year.  Since I am about to purchase a road bike, and my next BIG goal is to completely a triathlon (and eventually a Half Ironman) I think that this is a very good goal.

I am keeping track of my runs this year on runkeeper.com... the link is http://runkeeper.com/user/Nicolie83

I TRACKED about 800 miles last year, and a lot of my miles weren't tracked at all so I am quite confident that I surpassed 1000 miles in 2011, which makes me very happy.  There's no reason that I can't step it up to 1500 this year.

I am also going to be more cognizant about tracking my workouts for the week.  My first workout of the year (today, January 3rd) was:

45 minutes weights

10 minutes elliptical (warm up) 

5 mile run (~45 minutes)

More later :) 

The Adventures of Bikram Yoga

Ever since the marathon my muscles have been achy, sore, and just not right-- this is typical though, I exerted my body in a pretty serious manner for the first time and my 27 year old joints & muscles need some TLC.  After years and years of scoffing at yoga... trying it once or twice, and absolutely hating it, I decided to give Bikram yoga a try-- through word of mouth, I heard that the owner of Sunrise Hot Yoga is an avid runner and SWEARS that it has improved his balance, form, and speed immensely.  I'm not too worried about the speed aspect, but REALLY need a stretching routine and some balance wouldn't hurt either as I have been tripping more often. I thought that this type of yoga would be more beneficial to me because the heat (105 degrees... YIKES!) and fast pace style of the class (90 minutes, 26 different poses each repeated twice) turn THIS type of yoga into a cardio AND stretching workout... just what the doctor ordered. :)

For $20, at Sunrise Hot Yoga (a charming little studio in Old Fair Oaks) you get two weeks of UNLIMITED sessions! You can go 2x a day if you like (that'd be a bit crazy)... or what they recommend, EVERY day.  At first I thought this would be a bit excessive, but yoga does not put the same type of strain on your body as running or any other high impact work out.  In fact, it is recommended you go as many days in a row as possible for the first few months in order to reach really good flexibility and then you can reduce to 3-4x per week for maintenance.

My first class was yesterday at 5:30 AM (crazy, I know).  It was extremely challenging and a lot of the poses hurt... not in a painful way, but a challenging "my muscles are elongating and stretching" way.  I got dizzy close to the end of the class because you sweat a LOT (90 minutes of 105 degree heat and moving around, yikes!)-- but quickly revitalized myself with a V-8.  I walked out with my skin glowing, feeling softer and I felt calm and relaxed.  I went back for an afternoon class today and it got a bit easier.  I'm going back tomorrow and then Saturday morning.

I'm not sure if I am completely "SOLD" on the hot yoga idea... a) It's expensive b) It's REALLY time consuming... 90 minutes yoga + running 4-5 days a week + weights 3x a week!? How is this possible when I am at school 4 days a week and studying 23048 hours!? I guess we will see :)

Hope all is well!

Post-race FOOD :)

I am tracking what I am eating two days prior to the marathon, and a day prior to to see how I feel energy wise on race day and can tweak my intake/keep the same for future races depending on how well it works out.  

Breakfast

1.5 cups Special K with Blueberries Cereal (no milk)- 160 cals

Iced latte with skim milk - 45 cal

Snack

Caribbean Passion Jamba Juice, regular size - 360 cals

Lunch

Smart Ones Angel Hair Pasta - 240 cals

Snack

1 full egg - 70 cals

3 egg whites 60 cals 

can of green beans 80 cals

Snack

Popcorn- 100 Cals

Dinner

Stuffed spinach shells - 400 cals

Broccoli- 60 cals

Daily total: 1575

Perfect for not working out at all today :)

T-2 DAYS!!

In 48 hours I will be 3 hours in to my very first full marathon EVER! EXCITING! 

I was so preoccupied with school and tests the past week that I didn't have time to get nervous at all... but now that I have nothing to do except think about Sunday and what I need to do to prepare, I am incredibly nervous.

I'm the type of person who needs a to-do list, or else I go insane. I like schedules!! 

To do list for today:

*Wash & clean out the Camry

*Go to Sports Authority for new headphones...I-pod ear buds just don't cut it.

*Load up the ipod with more music

*Organize all running clothes 

*Pack 

*Make sure that I take in PLENTY of fluids and carbohydrates today

*Gentle stretching and foam rolling

*RELAX

I'm antsy, and just want to work out and run off my nerves but this has been a really low-key work out week and it has been VERY trying for me to not add in weight to my routine.  However, I have followed all of the "taper rules," (much to my dismay) so ensure that I am as rested as possible for Sunday morning's run!! 

I hope that you guys have a great weekend :)

Stressbox.

The stress of having four tests next week is getting to me... one is a three-unit Chem exam... and NO ONE in the class understands one of the units. Meh.  Another is a lab exam... stressful, but not as stressful as the unit exam. I also have a Cultural Anthropology test on 7 chapters (none of which I have read, of course- Chemistry is too demanding and Anthro has gone on the back burner)... and finally, on Thursday, I have a 200 point cumulative final exam in Chemistry.

Mark my words: I WILL NEVER, EVER, take a science class in summer school again.  It is beyond me why I have to have 5 semesters of Chemistry for a B.S. in Dietetics. I understand General Bio, Anatomy, Systemic Physiology.... but basic chem, Chem 1A, 1B, O Chem and Biochem!? A bit redundant.  Oh well.

Needless to say, my 3 mile run tonight was not nearly enough to pacify the stress that is consuming my life right now.  Why do I like to run!? Is it because I think that it helps me run from my problems? No, I think that I have a passion for running because it is MY time... I am in control of my mind, and can let it wander and think about things that are pleasurable to think about (not Chemistry at this current point in time).

I want to work through the night, but I feel like I am running in circles because I will NEVER finish all of this work to the level that I want to.  8 miles in the AM, and then only 9 miles next week before the marathon.  It is going to be a blessing that I am running so few miles next week because of time constraint but also irritating because I need a positive outlet for my frustration!

Goodnight all :)

I have been slacking... :(

Yikes, I hadn't realized that it has been nearly 3 months since I have posted... which is quite pathetic, because the purpose of starting this blog was to chronicle my 18 week journey of marathon training. I won't lie, life caught up to me, and one of the last things I feel like doing after a 5-6 hour day at school and another 5-6 hour day studying at home + training is writing in a blog.
It's been a ridiculously tough 8 weeks.  I got bitten by the "motivation bug" so to speak, and piled way too much on my plate this summer.  Training for a full marathon is a lot more mentally and physically challenging (and rewarding!) than I had originally anticipated- and juggling that with the demands of chemistry and my busy work class (Cultural Anthropology) has been a true test of my sanity and patience.  I have had very little time to socialize with my friends, no time to pleasure read, and VERY limited time to watch my TV shows (Curb Your Enthusiasm and Dexter).  I'll try to catch up on each aspect of my summer by subject... I'll dedicate the remainder of this post to my training- and catch up on school when it is finally over on Thursday.

TRAINING
I tallied up the time I have spent training per week, and when it was heavy training (~44 miles per week, plus strength training and cross training @ the gym) I was dedicating about 10-12 hours of running and exercise per week.  On one hand, I loved it because I pushed my mind and body to greater limits than I thought either could reach.  It is absolutely AMAZING to figure out what the human body and mind is capable of.
I did have some fall backs during training, but not much.  I am proud to say that I stuck to my schedule almost 100% except for the fact that I had to skip one weekend long run due to the loss of a family friend (life happens, you can't let training control your life), and I made up the mileage throughout the following week.
I suffered from a bout of shin splints so I cross-trained through a couple of my mid-week runs a few weeks ago.
After my 20 mile long run almost two weeks ago, I thought that I damaged my sciatic nerve which is more annoying than anything-- it turns out that I just have a cluster of knots in my lower back (probably due to running AND stress) that I have been able to mostly work out with my foam roller, Advil, and a heating pad :)
A few weeks ago, during the most intense training, I felt that I was INSANE for doing this and told myself that I'd probably stick to half marathons.  However, now that I am in the final stretch before the race (9 days!), and tapering, I have already decided to run another half marathon, 10k, AND full marathon in March of 2012.  Surprise, surprise!
The emotions that training provides are indescribable, but it is no wonder that people get a "Runner's High" and addicted to the sport.  It's not for everyone, but I am so thankful to have found it. :)

I have so much  more to share, and promise to post more frequently as thoughts come to my mind. Thank you all for reading and have a wonderful weekend :)