The weekend went well for me! Here is a little recap!

Sunday: I woke up around 6:30 to a temperature of 1 degree. Ughhh! These single-digit mornings are killin’ my mojo! I knew that a long run outside would be miserable. I was still pretty burnt from my -2 degree run with Speedy Gonzales the day before, so I packed up my gym bag and decided that if I was going to run, I was going to at least be hot and miserable instead of cold and miserable. So, off I went to battle the treadmill. I did about 13.5 miles on the treadmill at an 8:49 pace for a total of 2 hrs. Slow and easy. I listened to music for the first time while running; it was nice, but is not something I need when running outside.  After those 13.5 miles, I hopped on the elliptical for 20 minutes to cool down.  Came home and put on my CW-X tights and let me say, my legs felt GREAT not even an hour later. The compression alleviated all soreness and fatigue!

Monday: A great 75 minutes of yoga! The instructor really focused on stretching and opening the hips. I felt very loose and limber aftewards.  Came home, made a delicious lunch of roasted veggies and brown rice and then my and my boyfriend headed out to hike the mountain in our town! Call us crazy, but despite the 25 degree temperatures, it was a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky and we just couldn’t pass up the opporuntity to go on a hike.  It was a great hike, albeit icy and windy at the top. There were some parts on the descent where I basically slid down the trail on my butt and there was one major spill, but other than that it was a blast! It was cool because we were the ONLY people at the top of the mountain!

Today was a nice, slow 9 miles. It was 6 degrees out when I left at 6:30 and I knew that going slow would make the run a bit more bearable. Cold weather and running fast just don’t mix very well. I finished in 1 hour and 14 minutes. Felt good, except for my face and butt which were so cold I thought they were going to fall off.  I got my fingers crossed the weather is a bit warmer for the marathon, maybe like 20 degrees? haha

How do my cold-weather homies get motivated for cold runs and stay warm?

Negative…temperatures!

Holy moly! My run with the group this morning was at 8:30 and it was -2 degrees. IT WAS COLD! Plus, I was running with the guy who runs and ultras so we ran FAST! Needless to say, it was an intense 8.5 miles.  It was completed in 1 hour and 8 minutes. Fast for me. But as always, I loved the challenge and I know it would not have been so painful if it was warmer, even like 15 degrees warmer.  Seriously, my butt still felt cold 4 hours later!  I had to go to work right after the run..and let me tell you, it felt great to come home, put on sweats and eat a big bowl of steaming oatmeal doused in agave.

Anyways, I feel a bit burnt out and am apprehensive about my long run tomorrow. I still haven’t decided on the distance. I want to do over 12…but I’m lacking motivation. I think the cold is really starting to get to me, because this morning was really tough and I can’t imagine doing double what I did today in the same temps.

Why I run…

I figured out why I run. Because you tell yourself your gonna do it and YOU do it! No one else tells you to, no one else pushes you and no one else sets the bar. YOU run..YOU accomplish your goal. Yesterday before I left for my 6 mile run I told myself and I was going to set a PR. And I did it. 47 minutes and 45 seconds. 7 months ago it took me an hour to run 6 miles. I was so happy and what is interesting it that I didn’t feel the need to share this accomplishment with anyone else…because I did it for me and only me.

The days are slowly getting longer here in New Hampshire. I’m beyond thrilled to have it be dusk @ 5 instead of pitch black. I’m already dreaming about the cool Spring runs after work. I hit the gym this morning for strength training.  I’m actually starting to look foward to these sessions and wishing I had more time than just an hour. I can already see myself becoming stronger! It is quite empowering.

Although, I did learn this morning that I need to be eating more. I became very woozy at one point and had to sit down. I could tell it was from lack of engery. I’ve decided that I’m going to try 100% harder to do something I’ve been trying to do for years: I’m going to view food soley as fuel. No more feeling guilty for eating more than my peers or even for a cookie, because it is fuel and it gives me the engery to run faster, stronger and longer.

A rainy day…

Mondays are my day off(yay!) and today happened to be a rainy day(In January, in New Hampshire – better rain than snow I say!).  My boyfriend and I decided to go out for lunch at a little veggie internet cafe.   I got a delicious fafita wrap stuffed with grilled veggies, tempe, avacado, salsa and vegan cheddar.  Now, the reason why I don’t have a picture of said deliciousness is because I was too distracted by the fella’ who decided to make convo with my boyfriend and proceeded to spew multiple conspiracy theories and asked us if we worked for the FBI. My camera only made things worse.  I wish I was joking, but this really happened.

I did snag a picture of the wrapper of the delicious cookies we ate. The reason why there is not picture of the actual cookie is because we inhaled them. If you have never had a Liz Lovely cookie, you are missing out!

Dinner was simple: veggies roasted in coconut oil over brown rice. YUM!

Mondays are my prescribed “rest days”. I put that in quotations because it is impossible for me to not move in a physically challenging way, yet I know my body needs these days of rest since I’ve been running for less than a year and probably did too much too soon(Hello shin splints)! I usually stick to yoga on my rest days, sometime a class or an OnDemand program.  Today was an OnDemand. I did the Yoga Fitness Plus and let me tell you, Elise Gulan kicks your ass! My leggies were shakin’ likes leaves! 

I’m ready to start the last week of January too! Bring on February(my birthday, 1st marathon and last full month of winter!)

Apparently..

Well, it would appear as if I’m not the best blogger….how long has it been since my last post?! Annnyyyways, lets forget about that little blunder…

The past few weeks have been eventful.  I ran 23.5 miles two weeks ago in 3:40. Fairly slower than what I was shootin’ for, but DAMN the route I chose was super hilly! I had never ran the route before and I now know that driving over hills is not a good way to determine how steep they are. Ha, I’m a smarty pants!

My Saturday runs with the running group have been going GREAT! I’m super stoked about them and all the interesting people I meet.  Last week I ran 7.5 miles with a guy who has done two 50 mile ultras and one 100 mile ultra! He really pushed me because his normal pace is about 7:30…mine is about 8:30ish! WOO! It was intense but I was so happy for the challenge and also the chance to talk with a guy who has alot of experience with ultras and trail running. He gave me some great ideas for trail runs/races in the Spring and I hope to get into trail running once the snow melts in the Spring!  And this week I ran with a fella’ who is trying to organize a team for the Reach the Beach 200 mile relay in NH! SWEET! I told him I’m on board 110%. I was really interested in this run but don’t know many people in the area so I was worried about putting together a team. I was thinking about posting my info if any teams needed another member. That is still an option if this falls through, but I’d love to run with a group of people I know beforehand.

I’ve also jumped on the Amazing Grass bandwagon!  Seriously, this stuff is really “amazing”! It blends up  perfectly!! No grittiness, no yuck aftertaste and it lends a very interesting fruity undertone to my smoothies! Plus, I love the little pep I feel after drinking it! It is loaded with sweet green foods, antioxidants like Maca and Acai and digestive enzymes. Plus, the serving sizes are only a tablespoon! That is great because it really lasts for awhile, so it is a great bang for your buck! LOVE IT! I’m spreading the word about how great this stuff is

I also read this book:

I really enjoyed it! It si great to read a book that supports the benefits that a vegan diet can have for athletes. I really enjoyed the nutritional tips(going to sprout buckwheat!) and the strength training exerices are great; I like that they are tailored for endurance athletes!  He really touts the benefits of strength training and that was just the kick in the butt I needed. I’m a cardio-lover at heart; I can’t stand just lifting weights….but I know I need to in order to improve my running and prevent injury, so I’m suckin’ it up and taking Brazier’s advice!

I’ve also become the proud owner of a pair of CW-X Stabilyx running tights! I’ve worn them on a 5 miler, an 11 miler and a 16 miler today! I gotta say, my legs feel great right now for running 16 miles in 10 degree weather!  I do feel lights when going up hills too! Either way, I know they are good quality and will last awhile and that is what I need: good quality gear that will last me!

I will try and be a better blogger too

ohhh lordy

Yesterday I partipated in my first group run! Yayy! It was a great 6 mile run and I loved talking to people while running. Plus, everyone was so nice and made me feel welcome. This is something I am really looking foward to because I have a good feeling it will open up some doors for me that will lead to amazing running and non-running opportunities!

The title of this post refers to my grueling 23.5 mile HILLY run this morning! OHMY! When I started out it is just 7 degrees so I bundles up with a scarf, headband, hat and 2 sets of gloves! I was doing a 6 mile out and back route twice…and it was a new route too. I had driven it a few weeks ago and hills don’t look nearly as menacing when you drive versus running. I felt pretty confident but after 6 miles(where I took a quick breather) at the turn around point I knew this was going to be intense! I ran back to my apartment which equaled 12 and refueled & went to the bathroom.  I felt pretty good going back out but when I turned onto the backroad I started to fade. This backroad was hilly to the extreme; up and down up and down.  The only plus was that it was quiet, minimal cars and the mountain was breathtaking.  17.5 miles I decided to turn around a 1/4 mile sooner than planned. My hamstrings were getting really tight at this point, I think from the hills and cold.  Miles 17.5-23.5 were tough, I walked a few times and walked up a HUGE hill but I told myself I would give myself the hill to walk up if I ran the last 2 miles and I did! So overall I am quite pleased. I finished in 3 hours and 39 minutes.  I feel good too! Other than my sore/tight hamstrings, the rest of my body feel relaxed.  I am glad that I ran for so long in preparation for the marathon.

The cold is such a nuisance though! I know it affected my hamstrings and I couldn’t carry any water/food with me because it FREEZES! No lie. If I bring my waterbottle the water inside freezes. So, I think towards the end I was getting dehydrated and I was hungry too.  Spring can’t come soon enough!

wooo yoga tomorrow

This is good!

Whew! Just got back from a 5 miler and I’m feeling GREAT! I set two new PR’s this week! I did my first sub-40 minute 5 miler @ 39:20 and my first sub-50 minute 6 miler @ 49:51!  Saaaaweeeeettttt!   I love running because it is all about progression: the hills on both these routes left me running at a snails pace(if thats possible) and winded 6 months ago..but during the last 6 months I have felt myself slowly run those hills with more speed and less gasping which brought me to this week when I soared up the hills and set two new PR’s! I’m sure any runners out there can agree as to how AWESOME of a feeling this is

Man oh man has my stomach become a bottemless pit recently! No meal fills me up! And I stuff my face before I even think about taking a picture!   I have been LOVING these english muffins:

Extremely flavorfull, moist and hearty! I have been toasting them up and then smearing them with PB and apple butter!  I love Food For Life products! During the semester I survived off of PB&J using their breads. I love the fact that the grains are sprouted, making the nutrient and vitamins more available and digestible by your body and they got a great fiber/protein ratio that fills me up better than regular bread! Go out and get some!

Stay warm everyone!!

When snow strikes!

Well, the snow forced me to go to the gym this morning to run on the treadmill! When I woke up, this was a the site that greeted me:

And when you factor in the 30 MPH wind gusts, my plan to run 20 miles outside was canceled. So, instead of risking my life running in those conditions, I decided to risk my life and drive to the gym to run on the dreadmill.

My plan was to go for 20 miles. It was going as well as it could, there was a baseball camp there so their shenanigans kept me occupied. I was running a pretty consistent 8:34 pace and felt good, i.e. minimal shin pain. Around mile 11 I was starting to get annoyed with the fact that I was moving and not going anywhere.  And then around mile 12.5 I discovered a new running malady: chafing. Yea, I felt the beginnings and the pain, but I didn’t think much of it till I looked down and saw blood. Yuck. So, I called it quits at 12.75 miles, which was about an hour and 50 minutes. Not what I was going for, but I’m proud of myself for not pushin’ and making the chafing worse and I was able to get the stains out of my shorts(very important!). I’m pretty sure it is the gym/treadmill atmosphere and not my shorts that caused it. I’ve never had this problem before when running outside in the same shorts. The lack of air circulation in the gym makes my sweat stick to me and my clothes and I think the moisture was what called the chafing.  Anybody have any anti-chafing tips?!

One of the reasons why I prefer running outside vs. indoors(obviously) is because of the unexpected sights that greet you.  For instance, I would of LOVED to have been running when I saw this, but instead I was driving home from the gym:

Just a couple turkeys taking a morning stroll on the snowy/icy roads…Clearly making me look like a wimp for not running outside

Everyone enjoy their Sunday!

Welcoming 2010

The year 2010 is upon us and I’m excited for what it has to bring! Of course, it didn’t exactly start out on the right foot….Let’s back up to about  2AM in the morning when I was awoken by my boyfriend banging around and causing a raucus and my subsequent insomnia. Turns out our heater was leaking…BAD! Like, gallons of water was leaking out and all the banging around my boyfriend was doing was his attempt at cutting the tops of gallon jugs to catch all this water.  This water was also leaking through the ceiling an pooling in the kitchen. Perfect.  Fortunately our landlord was about to call a plumber ASAP and the problem was fixed with a screwdriver in about 5 minutes. So, that was a relief, because I really wanted my boyfriend to come to my 5k race today which leads to the other way I rang in the New Year…

There was a local 5k being held and I was excited for the opportunity to set a new PR.  The course was hilly, but since this is New England and I eat hills for breakfast, I wasn’t too concerned.  This race was great! Everyone was so friendly and welcoming and it was a great atmosphrere to be in to get myself prepared for the marathon. I finished in 23:46 which was awesome because my goal was to finish in 25:00 or less! My average pace was 7:40 too!!! Plus, I was awarded a sweet medal decorated like a cookie for being 1st female in my age group. I enjoyed the experience too because it made me feel a bit more a part of the community. I only ended up in the area for college since I’m sticking aroung post-graduation, its nice to feel like I’m resident instead of college trasplant.  Here are some pics for the race:

So, this race taught me a few things to prepare me for the marathon:

1. EAT! I’m used to waking up eating a piece of fruit and then running. If its a long run over an hour, I bring some dried fruit and everything is hunkydory. With this race, and with the marathon, I have a huge window of time between wake-up and the race, meaning I need to eat enough food during that time to sustain me. I was unsure about how much I should eat before the race, therefore I ate less than I needed and was hungry the whole run.

2. Don’t be self-consious. This was should hopefully work out on its own as I continue to race more.

3. Buy new running tights even though they are expensive and I am broke or wear shorts with my tights. My running tights are see through. I learned this today when I was flipping through the pictures my boyfriend took. You can clearly see my butt…and the wedgie I had as I crossed the finish line.

4. I totally ROCK uphills! This is my strength and I need to own it!

Well, I hope everyone else was happy with their first day of 2010!

shake shake shake

So, this morning it was 4 degrees out.  The last time I went running when it was a single digit  I came back looking like Jack Frost, so instead of catching hypothermia, I chose to do some yoga and pilates from OnDemand(Comcast).  Let me take a moment to say “HOLY CRAP!” The pilates left me shaking like a leaf.  I thought my leg and ab muscles were going to implode! You think you got bomb abs, then you do Pilates and realize you are weakling!  I love the challenge though

Right now I’m waiting for my rice to finish cooking so I can eat dinner. Does anyone else love rice but HATE how long it takes to cook?!  I’m cooking 3 cups and its been 2 hours since I put it on! My stomach has been a bottemless pit all day so this is quite distressing!  haha

Sorry about the short post!