Today's Run (or Technology Bites)

Today was a free run day--run where it made sense. I would have loved to say that I did amazing things. I did not. But I did go.

First off, 83 degrees before sunrise is just madness. When I wake up with a sheen a sweat, I am not the picture of motivations.

Secondly, the GPS on my phone was wonky. I can (and do) fix it by going in to Runkeeper later, but I don't do as well without the immediate feedback. I know I made good time at the beginning, but pooped out the second half. All in all, only a minute faster than I usually do.

Tomorrow is a rest day--completely. Mister is keen to try a recipe for vegan French toast, so I got that going for me.

The Empress Has No Clothes (or At Least the Wrong Ones)

In theory, running should involve an able body, decent shoes, and a place to go, right?

Ahahahahahahaahahahahahahahaha … ::wipes tears:: Yeah, I thought that was funny too.

Some things are worth the price. Paying more for shoes I sort of get. Your feet are part of your toolbox, so it makes sense to support them.¹ Going to a place where I was actually fitted was pretty awesome, and it did make a difference in my runs. Likewise, the sports bra was worth the investment.

As for the rest, I guess it’s a good thing I do most of my running in the dark. Right now, I tend to grab a random t-shirt or tank top² and either a knit skort² or a pair of shorts.³ That I have upgraded to socks specifically designated for running is a step up.⁴

Again, I’m seeing a distinct parallel between running and parenting.When I think about the things I bought for my kid when she was a baby, I would ditch about half to two-thirds of it in retrospect. This seems to me to be the same thing--there’s money to be made off my inexperience and insecurity.

Unfortunately, I’m beginning to feel the pressure the more I look and the more I read. I am also overwhelmed with my ignorance and budget constraints.⁵ At some point, I’m going to need a fellow Amazonian to take my hand in Target or somesuch and play What Not To Wear.⁶

Other thoughts while looking at women’s running clothing:

• I know I’m a girl, but I like other colors besides pastels.
• I know I’m a big girl, but I like other colors besides black.
• Why are there no pockets on women’s clothing in general? Gah!

Because we all know, it doesn't matter what you do as long as you look good, right?

¹ I won’t tell anybody that I spent my first two months running while wearing Reebok Freestyles. Except that I just did.
² I have read in two separate places that wearing cotton raises one’s n00b quotient in the running world.
³ I won’t tell anybody that this is a pair of maternity shorts that I can’t seem to let go because they are so comfortable. Except that I just did.
⁴ That I got them in bulk from Costco is evidently a step down.
⁵ Wow! This is EXACTLY like parenting!
⁶ Sample dialogue: “Yes. No. Oh, HELL NO!

Today's Run (or Ow! and Wow! But, Really, Ow!)

Training day--17 minutes walk/run then walk home. Eleven seconds faster than on Monday.* Found my groove pretty quickly and settled in. Came home to my family who seemed to fall into their own school day rhythms, which is comforting on many levels.**

As for tomorrow, we'll see. I'm really feeling yesterday's weight training. By "feeling," I mean my thighs/obliques/arms are screaming at me. During the run, it was fine, if a little achy around the edges. However, walking from the garage to work (and during my shifts and up stairs) is uncomfortable. I guess that means tomorrow is a forced rest day.***

Friday I'll do a free run (no timer, just running when I feel like it). On Sunday I'm scheduled to run 1.5 miles.

A little less than two months to go.

* I blame a stall on doggie poop.
** My husband is awesomesauce.
***Maybe I could get a little walk in. I really love the solitary time. Plus the dog was so glad to go this morning. Plus I'll be going out to eat tomorrow evening.

Today's Workout (or Thanks to George Lucas I Still Have My VCR)

On advisement of counsel,* I decided to mix up things by tossing in some weight training instead of running several days in a row. I dug up an old VHS tape I still had and went at it.**

Um, not as satisfying as I would like.

I got a good workout, yes. (I'm feeling it in my shoulders.) But several things I didn't like include:

• It's 50 minutes long, which is tough to work into my schedule beyond the mornings I am off. I really need 30 minutes at the most.
• It involved a lot more thinking that I like to do first thing in the morning.
• On a walk/run, no one can get a hold of me. *** The solitary time is a huge mental reset.

When I was in the middle of things, Miss came in, talking away as is her habit. Mister tried to keep her contained, but after a while I asked her to join me. I wasn't able to concentrate well, but at the same time, I want Miss to see that making one's body strong is important.

I've been thinking of some possible solutions. I'm going to raid the library/Netflix to test drive some workouts that would better fit into the schedule. I'll also look for videos that I can do with Miss (although trying to do yoga with her was less than peaceful). I may also consider walking in the morning, and doing these kinds of workouts in the evening when I can think better; trickier to time, however, between dinner and bath and going over homework.

My brain is still in the mode that thinks good running comes from just running. I know mixing it up will make for a better run in the long term.

* You know who you are.
** Thanks to George Lucas not rereleasing the original Star Wars in the cinematic form we remember as kids, we held on to our DVD/VHS player. A boon, really, since I still have some old Disney videos that Miss is now discovering.
*** Not entirely true. I carry my phone with me, which I also use for my GPS and to listen to music/NPR. In a pinch, I could get a call.

Race Fever

I can't stop looking at races!!!

Here are my general requirements:

• Is it a simple 5K? (Longer races will come, as will trail runs, but let me stick to my level for now.)
• Is it relatively local?
• Does it fit within my sticky schedule?*
• Does it give me a unique experience?
• Does it support a charity that means something to me?
• Can I afford it?

Like many areas in my life, I like to window shop and create wish lists.** Right now, the wish list includes:

• Something superhero/comic book related.
• Something involving a tutu, like this.
• A night run, like this.***
• The Color Run. ***
• A run I can do with my dog, Belladonna, since she's out with me every morning. (This one looks okay, but awfully short.)
• Eventually, a team run with coordinating costumes.
• For now, obstacle courses scare me, so I'm not entirely keen on trying a zombie run yet. I'd like to work toward it, though.

I'm sure the list will grow, as my world tends to be filled with people who love to tempt me. I'm already planning on two 5Ks in December. I've been nosing around for a Veterans Day run, but none that do it for me. Sunday runs are tricky, as we do go to church (and Mister is a lay reader). World Run Day is at least cheap and easy, if kind of boring.

Feel free to spam me with shiny races to consider. But let me at least finish one before I go to far.

I think I'll start a Pinterest board ...

 

* As I mentioned before, I have to work every other Saturday. For another year, my husband has Naval Reserve duties. This usually brings it to one weekend a month, unless I can either figure out childcare or a way for the Girl to participate.

** My Etsy Wish List is a huge self-soothing activity.

*** I can't do this one this year due to schedule conflicts.

Today's Run (or Beginning of the School Year)

Training day--15 minutes solid run/walk followed by 15 minutes walking home--a blend that works well for me. Made okay time, but felt sluggish getting going. I feel like I stay more in the groove if I run a little every day. At the same time, shouldn't I be allowing my body to rest in between? Maybe it's a sign that I'm not pushing myself hard enough.

I took the day off so I could get Miss settled in her first day of school. I could have put off my run until later, but I wanted to know how it fit with the new schedule. We did okay, all things considered. I think I'll be secure with the whole flow next week.

In a related note, I've discovered that reading about running is a little like reading about parenting: if I read cover-to-cover, I get overwhelmed by the feeling of UR DOIN IT RONG. Better to skim, find pearls, listen to supportive friends, and trust my instincts.

Guest Blogger: John Hodgman (or This Explains Everything)

"These sports are the opposite of the second type of sports, THE SPORTS OF SOLITARY PERSONAL PERFECTION. These are intensely physical sports that are profoundly antisocial and nerdish. While I cannot actually participate in these sports, I can certainly understand them, because you are not forced to talk to or work with anyone else, no one ever sees you naked, you get to wear goggles, and, as in most nerd pursuits--including ROMANCE--your true opponent is really yourself.

"For example, there is very little difference between an obsessive weight lifter and a man who spends his day painting lead figures of orcs.

"Just as there is little difference between the Ironman triathlete and the man you breaks the world high score in GORF: Both require that the participant endure endless hours of completely isolated training, never seeing his or her family, in pursuit of a goal that may be personally transcendent but is ultimately arbitrary and meaningless. At least GORF doesn't make your heart explode.

"Other sports that fall into this category are ...

• RUNNING FOR NO GOOD REASON
• GYMNASTICS
• NON-BAR BARCHERY
• BOWCASTING
• FREE DIVING
• RUNNING ON A TREADMILL LIKE AN ANIMAL"

--That Is All. Penguin Books, LTD. New York: 2011.