The Newbie Chronicles: Volume 2: Blogging

Why blog?

I started this blog some months ago to write, generally.  I didn’t have a whole lot of direction. Every other year or so I tell myself I’m going to write more. And I do, for like a day.

This “blog” floundered for a while. I wrote about um, nothing. And then I started running, and my running blog was born. It was something to write about that seemed worth recording. Plus, I’d been reading tons of other running blogs. So I had something to relate to.

Things I love about run-blogging.

• Accountability. I have readers, or at least I maintain the delusion that I do; therefore, by saying something on the internet to my “readers” (hehe) I raise my level of accountability to do what I said I would, or at least try. So that helps.
• Community. The run-blog community is awesome. There’s so much to learn from other bloggers, and their commenters, and their comments on my posts. Feed back is awesome, reassurance that you’re not the only one that sometimes finds running hard is seriously awesome, and encouragement is the bomb.
• History. Blogging my journey gives me the opportunity to record it and review it. It helps to go back and recall that, yes, this was hard before, it didn’t all of the sudden become difficult today. It’s good to read back and recall great runs when it’s getting difficult, and to see how much I’ve progressed over time.

What my run-blog is not

• Photos. Sorry photo lovers, but as you may’ve noticed pictures are few and far between on this blog. I have never been an obsessive picture-taker. Despite the fact my camera was in my purse for a month, I never took a single picture. whoops. Therefore, if you want to read my blog, you’re really going to have to read. Occasionally, I’ll throw some pictures in, but mostly, this is words.
• Enduring positivity. Running and training are hard. Yes, it’s important to remain positive through out the journey. However, sometimes it sucks, and those are the times that blogging helps the most. It allows you to write out the problem and work through it. Again – accountability, community, history.
• Money/Publicity. My goal in blogging is mostly personal. Record my journey, get some feed back, maybe make a few internet friends along the way. I’m not looking to massively increase my readership, or pass myself off as some sort of expert. Yes, I do post my links on twitter; however, my twitter is dominated by runners whom I don’t know at all – thus working toward my goal of feedback. Very few real-life friends know I even have a blog.

Running is exceptionally new to me. And the lifestyle change it’s forced, which I welcome wholeheartedly, does not match up with the person I’ve been, or have been perceived to have been, for most of my life/real life relationships. If 2011 was about anything, it was about recreating what it means to be ME. And so far it’s working out great.

As weird as it sounds, I’m very grateful to be able to document this transformation and share it with a bunch of strangers – and a select few real lifers. Thank you bloggy buddies!

My Apologies

Sorry dear readers, I've been MIA.

Between birthday festivities, other weekend obligations, the heat, and generally not feeling well, I barely even turned on a computer this weekend. So lack of blog posts resulted.

I think the ick was from heat/dehydration and mostly allergies. I didn't really have an issue with allergies until I was well into my 20s so I'm kind of baffled by them, and a huge baby. I think I am allergic to my cat :( but, you can bet your bottom dollar she's not going any where. Anyway, some generic brand allergy meds seem to be helping (along with clean sheets, mmmm). I did do some running this weekend, but it was crappy, and I don't want to talk about it.

So, I was back at it today, and thank goodness. A nice cool day for a run. Mid 60s, light breeze, mostly cloudy. Good running weather. I set out for an easy 3 miles. I like that "easy" pace for short runs is getting closer and closer to the pace i'd like to be able to run a half at. :)

Mile 1: 10:26
Mile 2: 10:25
Mile 3: 10:25

YO! I wasn't even on the treadmill!! I personally think there's a difference between running 3 miles @ 10:25 average pace with this sort of split as opposed to 3 miles @ 10:25 where your splits are 10:05, 10:25, 10:45. I don't know if it really means I'm a stronger or faster runner. But, I do think it means I'm getting better at being a runner. I'm becoming more in tune with my body, what a pace feels like, and keeping my pace consistent toward the end of the run when you're more likely to slow down and get a bit tired. And I'm totally cool with that kind of progress.

Honestly- I think running this morning with no music helped. I wonder what I thought about on my run? Sometimes, it's like dreaming. You just catch snippets of your thoughts later, without really remembering everything haha.

Three Thing Thursday!!!

Happy Thursday ya'll!

1. B.I.R.T.H.D.A.Y  wooo. My bday is on saturday! :) I kind of can't believe I'll be 29 - I certainly don't feel like I'm 29. Tomorrow I'm having drinks with friends after work to celebrate. I'm actually planning on keeping the weekend pretty low key, I am training after all ;)

2. Training - yesterday I did my first speed workout of the plan. 400s. I haven't done 400s in many many weeks. I ended up doing them on the TM in the afternoon because I'm ridiculous and drove around two 2 different tracks y'day AM and didn't know where to park/if i could really use them/how to get in with all the fences? So next speed workout, i'll cut the crap and just use UAlbany's track. I mean, I do work here, so I'm pretty sure I'm allowed to use it. Now i just need to find it.....

3. Natalie wanted me to do a post about her being in England. So - Natalie is in England, visiting the fam, being whisked off to London by her parents, kissing giant teddy bears, refusing to bring one back for me (rude), and generally continuing on her marathon training (right?!?!??!) and I've noticed my blog hits from the UK have gone up considerably since she moved her stalking-self across the pond. I'm sure she's drinking tons of tea, and eating crumpets or something. and by crumpets i mean Percy Pigs. She went to the cadbury factory outlet, I resisted, this time, having anything brought back for me. But dang, they make some good chocolate. And I will tell ya, the stuff that comes from there is way, way, way better than the cadbury chocolate you buy in rite aide.

My Training Plan Started!!!

Yesterday! woo! Mondays are strength and stretch days according to my plan. I'm using an intermediate half marathon training program from Hal Higdon - I'll post more training plan related details at a later date. It adds in an extra day of running that what I usually do (up to 5 days/week from 4), so we'll see how that goes for a few weeks. If it's too much on the legs/ITband then I'll turn one of those days into xtraining.

I was a little irritated with myself yesterday because I'm a morning workout-er, and I slept through morning workout time. However, I redeemed myself by coming home in the afternoon and doing a pretty intense upper body and core workout at home. I'm sore today, so I did something right! :)

Today was the first run and dang oh dang was it humid. 92% humidity. 0 fun, 0 funny. I even added in a hill. That was torture. However, I kept telling myself, push through this now, and you will be so much stronger when the summer temps fade into fall. That worked :)

3 miles at 10:49 average pace. yes, slow - however, tuesday's are easy runs. Also this 10:50ish pace seems to be my normal "its super freaking humid out and i hate this" pace. Yes, still whining about the humidity. hahah.

I am really excited to get going on this plan. I bought a ridiculous amount of healthy groceries to aid in my getting speedy. However, this weekend will involve some indulgence- it's the last birthday I will ever have where I turn another age older. ;) I'll be 29 on saturday, and for the rest of my life.

The Newbie Chronicles: Volume 1: Background

I think that providing a bit of background about myself will help to set the stage for my perspective on these reflections. So here’s some “about me.”

I am not now, nor never have I been, an athlete. I never played sports growing up. I took dance lessons for a few months. But I was like 4. It wasn’t my thing. I’ve always been a nerd. I’m cool with it. I read incessantly. I have played piano, viola, mallet percussion. I was in color guard. Don’t judge too harshly! We were a competitive field guard, running around doing tricks and throwing sabers and rifles in the air. My freshman year of high school we were the best in the North East! WOO! go ‘pool!

Anyway, I remember in high school thinking about wanting to join the track team. However, I never vocalized my desires and I was quite intimidated by the prospect of being on a team. Everyone else had been involved in sports since they were young, they were all in great shape, they all knew each other. I never got the guts to go for it.

Which brings me to my next point – a certain level of social anxiety (self-diagnosed, haha). I suppose you wouldn’t think it if you knew me, as I seem pretty out going. But, new situations and new people really make me nervous. For example, they moved all the weights around at my gym a week or two ago. I’ve yet to use them. I’m terrified of walking around looking like I don’t know what I’m doing! (side note: I’ve been going to this gym since 2006). Hopefully tomorrow I’ll put that fear to bed.

I am not competitive by nature. And, quite frankly, I don’t really get it. It’s just not who I am. When I see soccer players taking huge dives to stop a ball the first thing through my head is “why would you do that?! it hurts!” as opposed to “wow! great play” see – not competitive. Unless, of course, I’m trying to prove something to myself….

Why running? Well, anyone can do it. Right? Running doesn’t take a special skill. You don’t have to pay for classes. You need a pair of shoes and some determination. Also, I can do it by myself. That is very much a reason that I run. As I’ve learned more about the sport, I’ve set new challenges for myself. I enjoy running. I’ve even taken to ditching my music every now and again on outdoor runs. Sometimes it just annoys me. I can’t concentrate on what I’m doing.

I am no expert. I AM, however, pretty awesome at researching things. I have spent considerable time reading blogs, articles, books and chatting with people I know who are real life runners to find out what I can about the sport. It has led to some information overload (another post), but I’ve learned a LOT. A great deal of it has been exceptionally useful.

So now you know what I’m not. I’m not a social butterfly. I am not an athlete. I am not a competitor.

I am a runner. I will give myself that. I’ve adjusted my lifestyle, and am continuing to do so, to accommodate this recent love I’ve found for running. I look forward to it. I love it, I hate it, I want it, I need it. I crave the structure of training for an event. And I wonder how far this obsession will take me.  That, I feel, is enough to classify myself as a runner – even if I’m still just a newbie.

Running Relief

This morning it was 58* with nearly 0 humidity. Sunny, even a bit cool. PERFECT.

I woke up this morning with the intention of doing a tempo run on the treadmill (history shows I'm absolutely horrible at packing myself outside. I regularly run one mile :10-:20 slower/faster than the previous. Uh, that's a huge change in pace. Unless it's a long run, but still, my variation from mile to mile is extreme.)

I had a bit of trouble getting out of bed. Yesterday was long freaking day. And, Dinah has settled into a new sleeping pattern that makes her doubly cuddly (i didn't know that was even possible). I fished around blindly for my blackberry. Squinted my eyes, held it two inches from my face, and check my RW quote of the day email, and the weather (regular morning routine). As soon as I saw that the temp was still below 60, I ditched those treadmill plans. I needed to conquer this 3 mile loop that's been plaguing me the last 2 weeks.

I set out from my apartment. I give myself the first half mile to get warmed up before trying to push the pace. I felt like I was just plodding along, but I was, miraculously, holding a fairly steady 10:00ish pace. WHOA. It felt good. I kept at it. I kept looking down and seeing my garmin pace occasionally in the 9s. I love that. Honestly, I was pushing, smiling, flying. At mile two I stopped briefly, I burped, and it did not come up unaccompanied (likely from having eaten like crap y'day). I have never puked from working out (yet), and I really didn't want to start today. I chilled in the shade for like :30 to catch my breath and make sure my belly was ok, then I took off again. The traffic lights cooperated and I was able to cross the street and head towards my apt for that last .03 (I always end up having to run away from my apartment due to the annoying .03 miles shortness of the straightaway I finish on.).

Mile 1: 10:11 (H.O.L.L.A! huge smile!)

Mile 2: 10:12 (who is this girl, keeping pace?)

Mile 3: 10:17 - I didn't actually see this mile split till I was home because I pushed the stop button too fast, but I was really impressed with my consistency.

3mile average: 10:14!! YAY! My last two treadmill tempo runs have had average paces of 10:08 and 10:06. And that's on the treadmill, usually with only a .5 incline. (sometimes 0 incline. cheater, cheater). So, I think 10:14, outside, on that dang loop that's been crushing my soul for 2 weeks is freaking awesome.

Feeling much much better about running today :)

Keep your eyes peeled this weekend for Volume 1 of "The Newbie Chronicles"

Frustration

This is a really crappy time to be frustrated with my running. My training plan starts on Monday, and I'd really like to go into things on a positive note.

I'm struggling lately. Managing hydration in hotter/more humid temps is one challenge. Dealing with hotter/more humid temps, in general, is another (not totally separate) challenge. Jess @ BlondePonytail did a really awesome post yesterday about running in the humidity. I found it quite informative, even though I already kind of knew that acclamation needed to occur, and running in the hot can make you slower/feel like you have to work 80billion times as hard. The review was nice, succinct, informative, and I like charts.

In addition to running being sucky in the humidity, so is my attitude. Which helps nothing - unless I'm trying to participate in a vicious cycle of miserableness. I don't really want to play that game anymore.

I'm trying to keep my emotions in check. You don't run one half marathon and then become Kara Goucher (if only). Progress takes time. However, my frustration has led to some reflection over the past few days (hence the scantily-clad blog this past week - I've been thinking, not writing).

The result is, over the next few weeks I'm going to do a series of posts on some reflections of what I've learned so far this year: catching the running bug, joining the blog community, what this blog is really about (get some direction, gurl), blog/fitness idols, fitness information overload, and how clueless I am in general about many running/fitness related things. I think the process should be quite helpful (at least to me) and perhaps to some other newbies out there.

Stay tuned.