Well, today was the day. I ran my last mile while pregnant. Afterwards I saw a friend of mine. He asked me why today was the day, was I going to induce labor or was something wrong? The simple answer is that the baby now weighs about 4 lb. 5 ounces (I had an ultrasound today, which is how I know this), I've gained 20 lb., and my ligaments/joints are starting to loosen. I'm 32 weeks pregnant. Surprisingly, running actually felt pretty good and wasn't even slow. Part of me says that if I'm enjoying it, I should keep running the occasional mile. The mother in me (wow, that's weird to say) is saying that it's time to take more precautions. So, today was the day. As Meg said, it is sort of bittersweet. In this case, the sweet far outweighs the bitter.
After my mile, I walked for a few minutes then did some weight lifting. It's always awkward to lift in a gym that you're unaccustomed to. For instance, I usually do about 50 lbs. on the tricep pulldown at my regular gym (all I ever do on campus is walk or run. Brendan and I go to a local gym together, where I do other cardio and weights). On campus, I think I had 22 or 27 lbs. on the tricep pulldown. The tension is just different from machine to machine. It's also disorienting not to know where things are in the gym. I'm sure I'll learn the layout better over the coming weeks. It was nice that Meg could keep running and I could work on my upper body. It's a convenient setup.
For the next 3 months or so this blog probably ought to be called "Joanna Walks" or "Joanna Waddles." It's not that I plan to do nothing, it's just that the mix has to change. For a while, you'll get to read about my progress with walking, prenatal yoga, weight lifting (mild), and perhaps the elliptical machine. Yay for fitness during pregnancy! And hopefully the weight will come off afterwards without too much of a fight...
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Saturday, March 8, 2008
A great cold weather run
My husband and I just got back from a wonderful vacation in sunny Las Vegas. Just a few days ago I was lounging by a pool in a tank top sipping a milkshake. Today I was bundled up in a long-sleeved shirt, a zip-up hoodie, a scarf, gloves, and a winter coat. Needless to say, I'm anxious for spring. All that is beside the point, though.
Meg and I were scheduled to run today. Since today was officially the last day of my vacation, I slept in, left my house in time for lunch with a friend, then went to two meetings (I couldn't really miss them) on campus. In all of my vacationing, I failed to take a snack with me for the afternoon. Having neglected that, I was too hungry to want to run at 4pm. Consequently, we replaced our regular run with a different type of winter run....a drive to the coffee shop. Rather than run, we enjoyed warm beverages and baked goods. And it was great. Thank you Meg for a great "winter run" to end a great week of vacation.
Just for fun, here are a few pictures from our trip (to Vegas, not the coffee shop!). This is part of the south strip at night. You can see New York-New York, the MGM, and Paris.
Here we are basking in the sun!
I love this picture! I took it because I have a picture just like it, except taken during the day and in front of the real Eiffel Tower, from 2002.
Here I am with the Coke Bear, in the Coke Store on the Strip. The store is three stories of Coke merchandise. I know it sounds absurdly commercial, but they do have fun and sometimes whimsical things.
Our last night in Vegas we went to a French restaurant, Mon Ami Gabi, for dinner. We ate on the patio overlooking the Bellagio fountain so we could watch the light and water show. Near the end of our dinner I asked for more decaf. In response, the waiter picked up, along with all the other dishes, both my coffee cup and the cream pitcher. So this is me, clinging to the remaining sugar dispenser, mourning the premature loss of my coffee cup. He did come back with a "fresh cup" (his words) for me a few minutes later.
And finally, here is Brendan with the Bellagio fountain show behind him. What a perfect evening!
Friday, February 22, 2008
News and plans
Welcome back to the blog! I'm aware that I've been on hiatus since sometime late in the fall, making this my most overdue posting ever. Consequently, I have several big updates, so bear with me if this gets a bit long. I'm going to use sub-headings because I like structure just a little bit too much.
Some mandatory changes to the schedule
In September I told my fabulous friend and running partner to expect some changes in my running habits...because I am pregnant! We didn't tell family or friends about the pregnancy until Thanksgiving, but I did tell Meg because she's fabulous and she needed to know, for her sanity and my safety. Before I get into the implications of this development, let me first say that she's been incredibly supportive and enthusiastic about the impending birth.
At first I was very aware of my heart rate and tried to keep it in check. I was unsure what was safe and what was too much, and consequently probably veered into the over-cautious in my attempts to be mindful of baby. I also started limiting my long runs to 4-5 miles, again in an effort to keep my calories balanced and keep myself and the baby hydrated enough. Then for a while eating became difficult. I just wasn't taking in enough calories in a day to warrant burning a few hundred by running. So even initially, before many people knew I was pregnant, it had some impact on my life as a runner, but I kept running. I didn't keep a log of miles through most of the late fall, so I can't say with any certainty how regular my runs were.
Over winter break I transitioned to walking several days a week (which I've been doing with a great walking partner since last spring) and doing more cross-training. When Meg got back from winter break I started to work running back into the mix one day per week. So far that combination has worked well for me. I feel like I've been able to maintain a reasonable level of cardiovascular health (my pulse on Monday was 64!!) and have controlled my weight gain fairly well. For the purposes of a church project, not this blog, I've kept a record of my activity since the end of December. I'm hesitant about posting it here but I'm going to. Here goes:
12/30/2007, Walking, 2 miles
1/3/2008, Walking, 25 minutes
1/4/2008, Walking, 2 miles
1/8/2008, Walking, 30 minutes
1/10/2008, Walking, 30 minutes
1/12/2008, Running, 3.7 miles
1/14/2008, Yoga, 60 minutes (prenatal yoga is hard!)
1/17/2008, Walking, 30 minutes
1/19/2008, Elliptical/Biking, 32 minutes
1/22/2008, Walking, 30 minutes; Elliptical, 24 minutes; Weight lifting, 10-15 minutes
1/24/2008, Running, 35 minutes + 5 min cool down
1/25/3008, Running, 35 minutes + 5 min cool down
1/28/2008, Elliptical, 20 minutes; Weight lifting, 10-15 minutes
1/31/2008, Walking, 25 minutes
2/7/2008, Walking, 30 minutes; Running, 45 minutes
2/9/2008, Yoga, 45 minutes
2/12/2008, Walking, 30 minutes
2/14/2008, Walking, 30 minutes
2/15/2008, Running, 40 minutes
2/21/2008, Walking, 30 minutes
2/22/2008, Running, 20 minutes; Walking, 20 minutes
Clearly I ran earlier today. In general, running still feels good. It's easier now to run than it is to walk quickly. People definitely stare at me when I run, but that's ok. People seem surprised when I tell them I'm still running. I have two lines of commentary on this. First, pregnant women need to be physically active! I keep meeting women who say they ate what they wanted during their pregnancies and used pregnancy as an excuse to do nothing. Not cool. Second, people need to understand that it isn't 1950 anymore. It's perfectly safe for pregnant women to work out. That said, there are some catches. For instance, it is not recommended that pregnant women run if they weren't runners before the pregnancy. Certainly there can be complicating physical factors with any pregnancy. I'm not advocating that any pregnant woman work out without first discussing it with her OB, but in general, it's pretty safe. It is also possible to take it too far. Running too much late in pregnancy can result in low birth weight babies, so caution is required. I was just told, for instance, to keep my runs to 3 miles each and no more than 3 times per week. So even for healthy runners, there are limitations as the baby grows. For those of you who are concerned, my winter running has been almost exclusively on an indoor track, for safety's sake.
I thought about renaming this blog "Running Round" but decided that frequent name changes aren't my style. Anyway, for the time being I'll keep chuckling about the responses I get, and will continue to direct naysayers to an article in this month's Runners' World. Paula Radcliffe is officially my current running hero.
An education in winter running
As we got into the winter season in earnest I saw a whole new side of running. It started out with an innocent looking runners' catalog in my mailbox. I thought it would sell a wider range of clothing, but similar in its nature, to what I saw in the local Target and Dick's. Not so. I had no idea how much gear is made for serious winter running. For example, you can buy cleats, essentially, so facilitate running on the snow or ice. Special high-end runners' shoes are made with less mesh, to protect your feet from the cold. There are special gloves, made out of technical fabric. Who knew? Then of course the catalog did sell the range of products I expected: tights, vests, hats, etc. Basically, if you like to run in the cold, there are companies out there that can outfit you (for a hefty price, I might add) for any weather condition. Going into the winter, Runners' World also published a guide to dressing for the elements. It outlined how many layers you should have on your upper and lower body for various temperature ranges. They also host a bulletin board on the topic, for those of you who are interested.
I also learned that among people willing to run in extremely cold weather, there is an appreciable range of education, common sense, and experience. On the high end is my TNT coach. I see him on a fairly regular basis, geared up and leaving for his noon run. Even on days when I'm grumbling about walking from my office to the gym to walk on the indoor track, he has a huge grin on his face as he begins his outdoor run. On the other end of the spectrum are the college-aged guys who run in 15-20 degree weather (I live in the Midwest--it's cold) in shorts and cotton t-shirts. Granted, sometimes they are running very quickly (probably for survival, upon realizing the folly of their ways), but there is no excuse. I watch them and hope that if they keep up with running enough to take it seriously, one day they'll discover the running catalog described in the previous paragraph.
The next race
At some point this winter Meg and I started to discuss our next race. I briefly considered doing the Chicago Distance Classic again, but decided that it is too close to my due date to adequately prepare. A more realistic race has been chosen: the Indianapolis Half-Marathon in October. Having a race on the horizon keeps me motivated. It will also help me transition back into running with more enthusiasm once the baby is born. I've heard great things about this course. Plus, the entry fee is pretty low. I'm already excited about it!! I know it's only February, but I'm excited. At the moment I don't feel like much of a runner. Even if I weren't pregnant, I've done only one race and I'm not currently training. I think training for Indy will help me feel more like a real runner again.
Team in Training News
Finally, I'm VERY happy to report that a friend of mine has decided to train for the Chicago Distance Classic with Team in Training!! She will begin training in early May. She thought I put her on a TNT mailing list to encourage her to sign up. Not the case, as I told her! I didn't even have her correct address at the time. Even after discovering that I didn't sign her up for the team information session, she decided to attend anyway. I'm proud of her for making this commitment, to herself and to a great cause. Yay Erin!!
Some mandatory changes to the schedule
In September I told my fabulous friend and running partner to expect some changes in my running habits...because I am pregnant! We didn't tell family or friends about the pregnancy until Thanksgiving, but I did tell Meg because she's fabulous and she needed to know, for her sanity and my safety. Before I get into the implications of this development, let me first say that she's been incredibly supportive and enthusiastic about the impending birth.
At first I was very aware of my heart rate and tried to keep it in check. I was unsure what was safe and what was too much, and consequently probably veered into the over-cautious in my attempts to be mindful of baby. I also started limiting my long runs to 4-5 miles, again in an effort to keep my calories balanced and keep myself and the baby hydrated enough. Then for a while eating became difficult. I just wasn't taking in enough calories in a day to warrant burning a few hundred by running. So even initially, before many people knew I was pregnant, it had some impact on my life as a runner, but I kept running. I didn't keep a log of miles through most of the late fall, so I can't say with any certainty how regular my runs were.
Over winter break I transitioned to walking several days a week (which I've been doing with a great walking partner since last spring) and doing more cross-training. When Meg got back from winter break I started to work running back into the mix one day per week. So far that combination has worked well for me. I feel like I've been able to maintain a reasonable level of cardiovascular health (my pulse on Monday was 64!!) and have controlled my weight gain fairly well. For the purposes of a church project, not this blog, I've kept a record of my activity since the end of December. I'm hesitant about posting it here but I'm going to. Here goes:
12/30/2007, Walking, 2 miles
1/3/2008, Walking, 25 minutes
1/4/2008, Walking, 2 miles
1/8/2008, Walking, 30 minutes
1/10/2008, Walking, 30 minutes
1/12/2008, Running, 3.7 miles
1/14/2008, Yoga, 60 minutes (prenatal yoga is hard!)
1/17/2008, Walking, 30 minutes
1/19/2008, Elliptical/Biking, 32 minutes
1/22/2008, Walking, 30 minutes; Elliptical, 24 minutes; Weight lifting, 10-15 minutes
1/24/2008, Running, 35 minutes + 5 min cool down
1/25/3008, Running, 35 minutes + 5 min cool down
1/28/2008, Elliptical, 20 minutes; Weight lifting, 10-15 minutes
1/31/2008, Walking, 25 minutes
2/7/2008, Walking, 30 minutes; Running, 45 minutes
2/9/2008, Yoga, 45 minutes
2/12/2008, Walking, 30 minutes
2/14/2008, Walking, 30 minutes
2/15/2008, Running, 40 minutes
2/21/2008, Walking, 30 minutes
2/22/2008, Running, 20 minutes; Walking, 20 minutes
Clearly I ran earlier today. In general, running still feels good. It's easier now to run than it is to walk quickly. People definitely stare at me when I run, but that's ok. People seem surprised when I tell them I'm still running. I have two lines of commentary on this. First, pregnant women need to be physically active! I keep meeting women who say they ate what they wanted during their pregnancies and used pregnancy as an excuse to do nothing. Not cool. Second, people need to understand that it isn't 1950 anymore. It's perfectly safe for pregnant women to work out. That said, there are some catches. For instance, it is not recommended that pregnant women run if they weren't runners before the pregnancy. Certainly there can be complicating physical factors with any pregnancy. I'm not advocating that any pregnant woman work out without first discussing it with her OB, but in general, it's pretty safe. It is also possible to take it too far. Running too much late in pregnancy can result in low birth weight babies, so caution is required. I was just told, for instance, to keep my runs to 3 miles each and no more than 3 times per week. So even for healthy runners, there are limitations as the baby grows. For those of you who are concerned, my winter running has been almost exclusively on an indoor track, for safety's sake.
I thought about renaming this blog "Running Round" but decided that frequent name changes aren't my style. Anyway, for the time being I'll keep chuckling about the responses I get, and will continue to direct naysayers to an article in this month's Runners' World. Paula Radcliffe is officially my current running hero.
An education in winter running
As we got into the winter season in earnest I saw a whole new side of running. It started out with an innocent looking runners' catalog in my mailbox. I thought it would sell a wider range of clothing, but similar in its nature, to what I saw in the local Target and Dick's. Not so. I had no idea how much gear is made for serious winter running. For example, you can buy cleats, essentially, so facilitate running on the snow or ice. Special high-end runners' shoes are made with less mesh, to protect your feet from the cold. There are special gloves, made out of technical fabric. Who knew? Then of course the catalog did sell the range of products I expected: tights, vests, hats, etc. Basically, if you like to run in the cold, there are companies out there that can outfit you (for a hefty price, I might add) for any weather condition. Going into the winter, Runners' World also published a guide to dressing for the elements. It outlined how many layers you should have on your upper and lower body for various temperature ranges. They also host a bulletin board on the topic, for those of you who are interested.
I also learned that among people willing to run in extremely cold weather, there is an appreciable range of education, common sense, and experience. On the high end is my TNT coach. I see him on a fairly regular basis, geared up and leaving for his noon run. Even on days when I'm grumbling about walking from my office to the gym to walk on the indoor track, he has a huge grin on his face as he begins his outdoor run. On the other end of the spectrum are the college-aged guys who run in 15-20 degree weather (I live in the Midwest--it's cold) in shorts and cotton t-shirts. Granted, sometimes they are running very quickly (probably for survival, upon realizing the folly of their ways), but there is no excuse. I watch them and hope that if they keep up with running enough to take it seriously, one day they'll discover the running catalog described in the previous paragraph.
The next race
At some point this winter Meg and I started to discuss our next race. I briefly considered doing the Chicago Distance Classic again, but decided that it is too close to my due date to adequately prepare. A more realistic race has been chosen: the Indianapolis Half-Marathon in October. Having a race on the horizon keeps me motivated. It will also help me transition back into running with more enthusiasm once the baby is born. I've heard great things about this course. Plus, the entry fee is pretty low. I'm already excited about it!! I know it's only February, but I'm excited. At the moment I don't feel like much of a runner. Even if I weren't pregnant, I've done only one race and I'm not currently training. I think training for Indy will help me feel more like a real runner again.
Team in Training News
Finally, I'm VERY happy to report that a friend of mine has decided to train for the Chicago Distance Classic with Team in Training!! She will begin training in early May. She thought I put her on a TNT mailing list to encourage her to sign up. Not the case, as I told her! I didn't even have her correct address at the time. Even after discovering that I didn't sign her up for the team information session, she decided to attend anyway. I'm proud of her for making this commitment, to herself and to a great cause. Yay Erin!!
Friday, November 16, 2007
Long overdue
Today I ran for the first time in over two weeks. I think that's the longest I've gone without a run since March. I expected it to hurt, but it really didn't. It felt good.
Meg and I went to Meadowbrook today to get some miles in before dark. We ran one full loop, then 0.85 down one side of the loop and back, for a total of about 3.5 miles. The highlight came at the end. To finish the run, we ran east back past our cars to the trail head, where we'd agreed to finish the run. When we got there, we turned around to face a magnificent sunset. The sky was streaked with color, the darkest of which was a deep red grapefruit color stretching some distance up from the horizon. Upon turning to the west we both wondered aloud at the sky. It was really something.
And the weather--it is pushing Thanksgiving. It was in the mid-40s when we started the run, probably cooling off a degree or two while we were out. The wind was mild through the day, but had picked up some by the time we met. For the first time, I felt like I really needed pants and a long sleeved shirt. My new running pants made their debut! I don't think they're quite like the spandex tights that everyone wears, but I like them. It was certainly better than wearing shorts! I also wore my new long sleeved shirt, the one that made its debut on the choose-your-own-adventure run. I was cold when we started and never did get hot exactly, but it was manageable. Soon, though, I'm sure I'll campaign to move indoors until the spring thaw. For now, I was just grateful for the run, and the time to catch up with Meg!
Meg and I went to Meadowbrook today to get some miles in before dark. We ran one full loop, then 0.85 down one side of the loop and back, for a total of about 3.5 miles. The highlight came at the end. To finish the run, we ran east back past our cars to the trail head, where we'd agreed to finish the run. When we got there, we turned around to face a magnificent sunset. The sky was streaked with color, the darkest of which was a deep red grapefruit color stretching some distance up from the horizon. Upon turning to the west we both wondered aloud at the sky. It was really something.
And the weather--it is pushing Thanksgiving. It was in the mid-40s when we started the run, probably cooling off a degree or two while we were out. The wind was mild through the day, but had picked up some by the time we met. For the first time, I felt like I really needed pants and a long sleeved shirt. My new running pants made their debut! I don't think they're quite like the spandex tights that everyone wears, but I like them. It was certainly better than wearing shorts! I also wore my new long sleeved shirt, the one that made its debut on the choose-your-own-adventure run. I was cold when we started and never did get hot exactly, but it was manageable. Soon, though, I'm sure I'll campaign to move indoors until the spring thaw. For now, I was just grateful for the run, and the time to catch up with Meg!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
A choose your own adventure run
Meg and I planned to meet after work on Monday to run. After I got to work I realized that I had left my sports bra at home. Considering that I've owned only one good one this whole time, I decided that my forgetfulness was a sign from the universe that it was finally time to buy a new sports bra. So Meg and I headed to Target after work to get some gear. Target was great for our summer running gear--good selection, good prices. For fall/winter gear, not so much. I bought a long sleeved shirt, but that was it. Off to Dick's it was.
At Dick's, we both found running pants and I found the sought-after sports bra. Meg also picked up a great pink shirt. It was finally time to run. The only problem was our need to change into our running clothes. The only good running trail we could think of that had a decent bathroom nearby was at Parkland.
At Parkland, we used the women's locker rooms near the gym. From there we had to get to the trail. We couldn't drive over, as the parking lot is closed for road construction. We needed to run to the trail head. We had some issues finding our way through Parkland and to the main road. We ended up running through some grass, walking through buildings, and running along the road that circles the college. We finally got to the college's entrance and crossed the street, only to find no sidewalk leading down to the trail. We cut through the DMV lot and across the back lawn of some business that I've never been able to characterize in any detail. At last, we'd reached the trail!
I don't know how long the trail is. It took us about 25 minutes to run. The trail goes through what looks like an old golf course for some time, then follows a railroad track for a few yards, then joins a path that circles a local lake. I didn't know until our run that the path does indeed entirely circle the lake. It's really nice actually--no back-tracking, nice view. Overall, it's a nice trail. I wouldn't want to run it alone (I don't think any woman would), but with a friend it's a nice option for a run.
We ran back to the trail head then back to the college (following a slightly more direct route this time). I loved the run. The weather was perfect for my newly purchased long sleeved running shirt. It was a trail we hadn't run together and I hadn't run in about a year. It was also fun running through, and on, the still-under-construction road to get to and from our cars. Good times.
At Dick's, we both found running pants and I found the sought-after sports bra. Meg also picked up a great pink shirt. It was finally time to run. The only problem was our need to change into our running clothes. The only good running trail we could think of that had a decent bathroom nearby was at Parkland.
At Parkland, we used the women's locker rooms near the gym. From there we had to get to the trail. We couldn't drive over, as the parking lot is closed for road construction. We needed to run to the trail head. We had some issues finding our way through Parkland and to the main road. We ended up running through some grass, walking through buildings, and running along the road that circles the college. We finally got to the college's entrance and crossed the street, only to find no sidewalk leading down to the trail. We cut through the DMV lot and across the back lawn of some business that I've never been able to characterize in any detail. At last, we'd reached the trail!
I don't know how long the trail is. It took us about 25 minutes to run. The trail goes through what looks like an old golf course for some time, then follows a railroad track for a few yards, then joins a path that circles a local lake. I didn't know until our run that the path does indeed entirely circle the lake. It's really nice actually--no back-tracking, nice view. Overall, it's a nice trail. I wouldn't want to run it alone (I don't think any woman would), but with a friend it's a nice option for a run.
We ran back to the trail head then back to the college (following a slightly more direct route this time). I loved the run. The weather was perfect for my newly purchased long sleeved running shirt. It was a trail we hadn't run together and I hadn't run in about a year. It was also fun running through, and on, the still-under-construction road to get to and from our cars. Good times.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
A three-run transition
There have been three runs since my last post. Things have been incredibly hectic here, so updating the blog has obviously fallen a bit behind. I'm here to catch up!
On Wednesday 10/17 Meg and I did a two-loop, 3.7 mile run at Meadowbrook. This past Wednesday the plans got FUBARed along the way, so we moved locations to my subdivision. It was about 50 degrees when we left my house. The wind was blowing, making us both lament our decision to forgo ear warmers. Even though it was cold, we had a great time! It was fun to introduce Meg to my running route here. And as every fall/winter runner will tell you, there is something inherently rewarding about running in the cold until you're not cold anymore. If we were halfway reasonable people we would have stayed in and brewed hot tea. But we're runners, so we ran. And we had a great time. We put in about 35 minutes.
This morning we headed to the indoor track on campus to run. There was a 40% chance of rain and it was in the low 50's again, so we decided it was time to find a warm, dry place to run. Who wants to run on wet leaves? The indoor track is 200 m, or 1/8 mile. We ran three miles with a short break between each mile. Nothing crazy. It was a nice, easy, Saturday morning run. I think for me, this was the first time in a while that I've done two runs within a few days of each other, so for me it felt more like getting back into the swing of things than it felt like a traditional Saturday run. During training, Saturdays are reserved for long runs, after all! Anyway, the track was nice. There was just one other runner, a sprinter, on the track. I think we'll use the facility more through the winter.
These three runs have been a transition into running in the cold and coping with unsafe running weather. I realized that I need some long-sleeved running shirts. All I have are the few things I bought to train for our half-marathon. So, Target, here I come again! It's weird to think of running indoors until spring, but it's approaching the time to face that reality. I'm sure we'll get a few more outdoor runs in; we haven't even had a frost yet, after all. Yet we're both fully aware that summer, and warm weather, are gone for the year.
Over a cup of coffee after our run we talked more seriously about our next race. We're planning to run the Indianapolis half-marathon next October. I am SO excited!! We're thinking the weather should be reasonable, and the entrance fee is really cheap. We also heard good things about it from one of the guys at Body & Sole (I finally got new shoes!). Meg might run another race in the spring, and we both might do 5ks or something through the winter/spring/summer. Picking our next race, and thus our next training season, makes me so happy. I am so excited to do this again.
On Wednesday 10/17 Meg and I did a two-loop, 3.7 mile run at Meadowbrook. This past Wednesday the plans got FUBARed along the way, so we moved locations to my subdivision. It was about 50 degrees when we left my house. The wind was blowing, making us both lament our decision to forgo ear warmers. Even though it was cold, we had a great time! It was fun to introduce Meg to my running route here. And as every fall/winter runner will tell you, there is something inherently rewarding about running in the cold until you're not cold anymore. If we were halfway reasonable people we would have stayed in and brewed hot tea. But we're runners, so we ran. And we had a great time. We put in about 35 minutes.
This morning we headed to the indoor track on campus to run. There was a 40% chance of rain and it was in the low 50's again, so we decided it was time to find a warm, dry place to run. Who wants to run on wet leaves? The indoor track is 200 m, or 1/8 mile. We ran three miles with a short break between each mile. Nothing crazy. It was a nice, easy, Saturday morning run. I think for me, this was the first time in a while that I've done two runs within a few days of each other, so for me it felt more like getting back into the swing of things than it felt like a traditional Saturday run. During training, Saturdays are reserved for long runs, after all! Anyway, the track was nice. There was just one other runner, a sprinter, on the track. I think we'll use the facility more through the winter.
These three runs have been a transition into running in the cold and coping with unsafe running weather. I realized that I need some long-sleeved running shirts. All I have are the few things I bought to train for our half-marathon. So, Target, here I come again! It's weird to think of running indoors until spring, but it's approaching the time to face that reality. I'm sure we'll get a few more outdoor runs in; we haven't even had a frost yet, after all. Yet we're both fully aware that summer, and warm weather, are gone for the year.
Over a cup of coffee after our run we talked more seriously about our next race. We're planning to run the Indianapolis half-marathon next October. I am SO excited!! We're thinking the weather should be reasonable, and the entrance fee is really cheap. We also heard good things about it from one of the guys at Body & Sole (I finally got new shoes!). Meg might run another race in the spring, and we both might do 5ks or something through the winter/spring/summer. Picking our next race, and thus our next training season, makes me so happy. I am so excited to do this again.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
autumn
This is a two-for-the-price-of-one special.
A few weeks ago Meg and I decided to meet on Mondays after work to do a quick run. We also said we would continue to run on Saturday mornings when we could. Last Monday we met for our first scheduled run. It was great! We ran about 3.7 miles then went for ice cream. It was a beautiful day and a great run. We met again yesterday for another 3.7 mile quick run. Yesterday late afternoon it was a bit cool outside if you were sitting without a jacket. That, my friends, makes for perfect running weather. We took it easy and enjoyed the time to catch up, the amazing weather, and the exercise. I'm so glad Mondays work for both of us. I have the best running partner ever--I missed her!
Otherwise I've been walking with M a few times a week and occasionally in the evenings with my husband. I was also really active this past weekend with other things, including planting new annuals (asters), re-organizing our master bedroom closet, and attending a football game. For a while I felt bad about not running 4 days a week and cross-training a fifth day. Instead, I feel like I'm being active but doing other things, and still running and walking at least a few times a week. Honestly, I'm really enjoying the mix!
A few weeks ago Meg and I decided to meet on Mondays after work to do a quick run. We also said we would continue to run on Saturday mornings when we could. Last Monday we met for our first scheduled run. It was great! We ran about 3.7 miles then went for ice cream. It was a beautiful day and a great run. We met again yesterday for another 3.7 mile quick run. Yesterday late afternoon it was a bit cool outside if you were sitting without a jacket. That, my friends, makes for perfect running weather. We took it easy and enjoyed the time to catch up, the amazing weather, and the exercise. I'm so glad Mondays work for both of us. I have the best running partner ever--I missed her!
Otherwise I've been walking with M a few times a week and occasionally in the evenings with my husband. I was also really active this past weekend with other things, including planting new annuals (asters), re-organizing our master bedroom closet, and attending a football game. For a while I felt bad about not running 4 days a week and cross-training a fifth day. Instead, I feel like I'm being active but doing other things, and still running and walking at least a few times a week. Honestly, I'm really enjoying the mix!
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