Diary of a Running Mom

Moving My Blog

I think I'm going to move to blogger. It's free and it seems to be more user friendly. Bare w/ me, while I figure it out. My new address will be: http://mommyrun.blogspot.com/

10k Race Report

Yesterday I ran my first 10k that I actually trained for and ran it like a race. Really, it was the first time that I ever ran anything like a race.

On the way there I gave myself a pep talk, "You're problem is never running too hard. You are much more likely to hold back. So don't hold back today. You trained for this and you're ready to run your a$$ off!"

It took 1 1/2 hours to get there and the whole time I kept picturing myself flying down the course and getting butterflies in my stomach.

I've run this loop in Central Park a million times. That actually made me a little nervous because it's quite hilly and I'm so used to running it at a much slower pace. The fastest I've ever run it nonstop and timed it is a 10:49 pace.

We started with my favorite part of the course, I've described it as the paved road on he way to hell hill. By the end of the first mile I was already at the top of the worst hill. It sure was nice to have have that out of the way early.

I had no idea what time I was doing. All I knew was that a mile into the course I was still running in a huge pack of people. Usually by this time, it's really thinned out because most of the runners are ahead of me.

The first two miles I just kept thinking, I don't know if I can keep this up. But I kept telling myself, "You trained for this. You can do it."

It was freezing cold outside (well for me anyway). It was about 30 degrees and windy. I was breathing hard the whole way, I could hear it through the iPod. Sometimes my throat felt so tight I wasn't sure if I could keep breathing. I skipped the first 4 water stops. I figured it was only 6.2 miles, and I was afraid if I stopped I wouldn't make my goal.

I kept thinking that putting all this pressure on yourself to run faster is sure not as fun. "Maybe Boston isn't worth it," But then I would say, "No way you're slowing down! You better give this everything you've got or you're gona be so disappointed in yourself. You trained for this. And besides, you have to do this to give hope to all the other running moms who want to get faster."

Yeah I really give myself a lot of pep talks. Good thing I had the iPod or I really would have driven myself crazy.

By the last two miles, I started looking at the mile markers. The worst was behind me, I had already run all but one big hill. I was doing a 9-9:30 pace and I started thinking, "I'm really gona do this!" Then I just got this huge smile on my face and I just couldn't wipe it off. I ran the entire last two miles with this big silly grin on my face.

The last mile, I was really tired. I was finding hills in the Park that I had never noticed were there. But I kept telling myself, "Run like you haven't just ran 5 mile and you don't still have a mile to go." and "Just a few more minutes to the finish." Then that grin would come back and on I'd go. Those long progression runs sure paid off! I recommend those.

I was barely even able to pick up the speed for my usual Kenyan Dash to the finish line. I had run so fast, I barely had anything left.

For the rest of the day yesterday I kept thinking about whether it was worth it. My stomach was killing me all day, I was so tired, it seemed no amount of sleep or food could revive me and I had the worst headache. AND...there's always the fact that even though I kicked a$$ out there to the point of exhaustion, I still only finished in the 51st %.

BUT, if me, myself and I and all my past running selves were the only ones out there running, I was the winner by far.

Never been so nervous about a 10k!

This year I decided that instead of doing a marathon, I was going to focus on running consistently and trying to get faster. I've been doing this since August, have lost 15 pounds and have been feeling pretty good.

So at some point during this training schedule, I decided that I would race a 10k. I've never done that before. I've run many many many 10ks, 5ks, half marathons, just to run them, but they were always either fun runs or counted as training runs towards a marathon I was training for.

Stephanie helped me put together a really kick a$$ training schedule. I had long runs of up to 10 miles, I learned about what pace you should train at based on what your goal race pace is, I had hill training on Monday, speed training runs on Wednesday, long runs on Saturday and lots of ez runs, cross training, weight training and ab workouts in between. Man I've been kicking a$$$$$$$$$$$!!!

Well Sunday is the big day. I'm racing a 10k loop in Central Park that I've run a million times, only I'm trying to do it in under an hour (about a 9:30 pace...a minute per mile faster than the fastest I've ever done this particular hilly loop).

Suddenly I am so freaking nervous! I already have my outfit picked, I've been carb loading all wk, I've made sure to hydrate and not to drink any alcohal this week, I've been getting as much rest as possible, and yet I feel a little silly for being this nervous about a 10k, so I'm trying to tell myself I'm really not nervous LOL.

Then of course something always comes up race wk...for some reason I keep getting my monthly visitor...only it's at least twice a month that she comes to visit so I'm feeling a little drained, then I did this progression long run about a wk and a half ago and my shins r still recovering from it (no problem, I have compression socks!), oh and my alarm clock broke, so I have to make sure and get an alarm clock today so I get to try it out tomorrow rather than on race morning.

OK fine, I'm nervous and excited. Just thought I'd share. Now I have to do good because I told you all about it so I'm even more nervous. ;-)

Proof that Running is More Mental than Physical

Lately, I have been experimenting with running a little and I have come up with these two proofs that running is more mental than physical.

1)

Lately on all my runs I get so tired for the last two miles.

It doesn't matter how far I'm running...I could be running 2 miles or 20 miles. Whatever distance it is, for the last two miles I am just so tired and feel like I can't go any more. I'll even start getting physical signs, like shins, knees, hips & quads will start hurting or the other day I started having pain in my chest and shortness of breath and I thought I was having a heart attack.

BUT as soon as I get through those last two miles, I have this feeling like I can run all day. I don't know if I feel really high from accomplishing the goal for that day, or if I just got through the mental hard part.

2)

Music. I asked a friend of mine to help me with a training plan for a 10k. The goal is to run a 10k in under 60 minutes (something I've already accomplished in the training plan, btw).

In this training plan, I was supposed to do speed workouts of half mile repeats at 8:30 pace. I could not for the life of me, complete this. I could do half mile repeats at 8:45. I could do quarter mile repeats at 8:15. But I could not bring myself to run for a full half mile at an 8:30 pace.

Finally, I updated the iPod. The iPod served to block out the thoughts in my head that told me I couldn't do this or I would have a heart attack or fall of the treadmill and guess what? Once I had the music blocking out the negative thoughts, I did it 3 times in one run! And I've done it since then without music, but only because I had already done it and knew I could.

All proof that running is so much more mental than physical.

The lesson: If you believe you can do it, then you can do it!

Multi-Tasking

I really admire women who are good at multi-tasking. I am not one of them.

But I'm working on it.

Earlier this summer, I was so inspired. I just wrote and wrote all day long. When I wasn't chasing E-man around or doing boring old bookkeeping work, I was writing. But I felt like such a hypocrite writing about running and barely ever actually running.

Now running is going great! I've been running my a$$ off...literally! Today I managed to do a 10k in under 59 minutes...a PR for me by more than 5 minutes! While I'm running I think of all kinds of things to write about. But by the time I'm done doing all the necessary things that must be done in a day, I'm so tired, the only writing that gets done is in my dreams.

This weekend I attempted multi-tasking.

E-man's dad was out of town and I was determined to prove that I could do it all. I managed to keep E-man happily occupied (even took him to the park to play for a couple hrs and did some rock climbing together), scrubbed down the house, got in a 10 mile run and made breakfast, lunch and dinner. Wow I was proud of myself! But no writing.

Still I am determined to get the hang of this. This morning, I went to the gym, then went to the office and got some work done, then came home and took E-man to the park, came home and did some housework and now...I'm writing.

The problem is, multi-tasking for me is like cleaning the stove. The more I try to do it, the more there is to do. I get the top cleaned and now the oven and walls around the stove, look dirtier than ever! Same with multi-tasking. The more I get done in a day, the more I remember all the things I'm behind on.

I guess that's life, right? If we had it all figured out, we'd probably be done with our journey here on earth.

So what do you need to get done in a day in order to have that feeling of accomplishment?

To Sign Up For My First Official Ultra or Not...

I'm thinking of running a 50 mile ultra marathon. It just seems like the most sane thing to do, considering all the less sane things the mom of a toddler can come up with.

So I decided I would start by putting together a training plan and following it for a couple of weeks, just to see how it feels before I actually sign up.

This past week, I followed the training schedule perfectly. I got in all the runs I was supposed to do without much pain.

Saturday I almost didn't run. I planned to take the weekend off because my shins were bothering me, but my mental state required that I go for a run. Skipping my medication for two days straight was just too much of a hazard. So I went for a 3 mile ez run, thus finishing my weekly miles.

Anyway, I'm running along Saturday and as I naturally begin thinking of how much longer I have to go, I start looking around at the beautiful fall scenery and think, "No one is forcing me to be out here. I can turn around at any point and run or even leisurely walk back home. I am out here of my own choosing." And what a great thought that was. It made me want to run more. And it got me to thinking,

"Do I really want to sign up for a race where I will then be forced to go out and follow a training schedule in order to complete said race?'

I think I enjoy running better when I'm not under the pressure to do some specific race. I'm just running for the enjoyment of it, pushing myself every day to do better and taking a day or two off when I need it.

But as I said before, running an ultra still might be the sanest thing I could do at this point in time.

Runners High

Sometimes I feel so high from running, I wonder if some kind of drug was slipped into my Gatorade.

Today for example, I did what I guess you would call a tempo run. I ran a warm-up mile at a 10:20 pace which is already a fast warm-up pace for me. Usually I warm-up at an 11:00 minute mile. Then I decided I was on a roll, so I would finish the 5k at a 9:30 pace. Once I had to stop for a minute and walk to catch my breath and drink some water and it took a lot of determination to finish 2.1 miles at this pace, but I just kept telling myself how good I would feel when I was finished.

I kept saying to myself, "Just ___ more minutes and you can do whatever you want for the rest of the day." Which isn't completely true because I have to work today, but hey it got me through the run.

And feel good I did when I was finished. Whhheeewwwww I felt good! I walked for 5 minutes to recover, then I got on the bike and did a couple miles of hills while I listened to the instructor in the spinning class yell at her "students." Man was I glad I wasn't in that spinning class!

She was yelling so loud and energetically and calling people out, I kept thinking that she was going to look out the door of the room and start yelling at me to bike faster. I even had an answer prepared to give her. I was would say, "1) If I wanted your advice I would go to your class and 2) You have now idea what you're talking about. I can do whatever I want because I just did a 5k PR."

Yeah I was high. I was looking around the gym, seeing everyone working their butt off or pretending to work their butt off or being yelled into working their butt off and all I could think was, "I already worked my butt off. Now I get to sit here and watch you all."

Then I got in the shower. This morning when I got up I was dreading going to the gym and had no idea what I was going to do for a workout. And for some reason I was dreading the shower part after. I just wanted to go straight to the office. But I got in the shower after that 5k run and I just wanted to stand there all day under that drip of a shower. I was looking at the cream and green tiles on the walls and this one green tile just looked so beautiful, I couldn't stop looking at it.

I just stood there with the water running over me looking at that green tile.

It reminded me of when Claire and her friends get high in "Six Feet Under." Everything just looks so beautiful and amazing. Come to think of it there are a lot of scenes with people getting high in "Six Feet Under." But not to get off the subject.

So anyway...cheers to 30 minutes of running that provides hours of feeling high afterwards without any bad side affects.

PS. For you nerds out there, whether or not the runners high really exists is apparently a matter still under investigation by scientists. 

Sometimes A Foiled Plan Is The Best Thing That Can Happen

This morning I woke up just in time to drink some coffee & throw E-man in the stroller for a 30 min train ride to the gym. The local train was taking forever, so got on the express train which stops about half a mile from the gym, ran to the gym, down the stairs (because their elevator never works) and planted the stroller in front of the daycare room. I had four whole minutes to sign him into daycare, grab a towel, mat & weights and find a place in the hopefully not to over-crowded strength training class.

I was greeted by a closed door and a sign, "No daycare on Labor Day."

So I parked my already sweating self in front of the receptionist, counted to ten, and thankfully for his sake and mine, chose rationality over rage.

"Do you have another gym nearby with a daycare that's open today?"

And what do you know, the answer was, "YES!" Wooohooo!

So I took the "5 minute walk" to the other gym and turns out, this gym is incredibly superior in appearance, features, and friendliness to the gym I normally frequent. It was also only a block away from the train-stop which I had gotten off at.

I missed the strength training class but I found a huge floor that was completely unoccupied where I was able to do my own free weights workout from a printout I had brought with me without having to worry about looking like a fool.

They had not one, but two floors of all kinds of fancy cardio machines including several varieties of step machines that they don't have at my gym.

The "babysitter"...that's what they call her at this gym rather than "daycare" at the other gym was so sweet, friendly and loved my son. My son also got along great with the other kids of which there were plenty to play with, but not too many that it was overcrowded.

And then came the best part of all, after I was starving from running all over queens, lifting free weights and 30 minutes of intense cardio, I happened upon this diner that made the best omelet. It was made of egg whites, avocados, tomatoes and muenster cheese. So much tastier than the dunkin donuts egg sandwich I usually get after my workout at the other gym.

I still can't get over how much friendlier the Forest Hills neighborhood is which is only about a 10 minute walk away from the Key Gardens neighborhood.

The lesson of today: Oh what doors counting to ten and asking a rational question instead of going into a fit of rage can open!

September Fitness Goal

My August running goal was such a success that I'm thinking of making a tangible fitness goal for every month.

The reason for the success of August was that it was reasonable (only 2 miles more than my current PR) and yet it was challenging (I hit that PR only once and usually don't come close to it in a month).

Now for September's fitness goal: do some form of speed training workout once a week.

Here are the speed training workouts I'm familiar with: http://www.running-mom.com/speed-training-workouts.html.

If you know of any others, I'd love to hear them!

Now if only I could figure out how to manage motherhood, writing, housework and everything else, we'd be okay.

The Very Overdue Remaining 29 Things

29) When running a race you didn't train for at a pace that puts you right between a turtle and a snail, it's all about what you wear. Dress as ridiculously colorfully as possible!

28) Make sure you know where the finish line is so you don't have to take your tired, wobbly legs all over Brooklyn in search of the Beer Garden that doesn't seem to be where it's supposed to be on the map.

27) Speaking of Beer Gardens, one with seats is preferable. Who wants to stand, even for a beer, after they've just run 30 miles?

26) Come to think of it, a beer garden is just not a good place for the finish of any long distance run. Better to finish at home where there is ice and a comfortable place to put up your feet and a pile of menus to order from.

25) Stretching done by someone who knows what they're doing feels incredible after a long run!

24) Compression pants/shin-sleeves look and feel crazy, but wow do they help to avoid pain and muscle soreness during a long, long run.

23) Raisins and spinach. Apparently they help relieve soreness. There must be an Indian curry recipe out there with these two ingredients! I'm still looking for it.

22) A friend who is not afraid to make a fool of herself driving through all of Manhattan and Brooklyn honking, shouting and singing to entertain you while you run...well if you've never experienced this, you should add it to your bucket list.

21) If said friend has a cooler full of Gatorade, a massive bag of potato chips and another bag full of all kinds of other goodies and snacks in the trunk of her car, giving you a portable, customized fuel stop, why would you ever want to run a race that you didn't organize with your friends again?

20) Speaking of organizing your own race, a benefit of such is that you can make the starting point wherever you want it to be, even your own front door. Just don't forget to also plan the finish point...refer back to #28.

19) Marshmallows apparently give you instant energy.

18) Considering that the fastest long distance runner I know personally (and I'm talking winner of a 50 mile race) is the one that taught me that Marshmallows is great for running fuel, I have now decided that all specialty running foods sold to amateurs like me is a gimmick and I will now buy whatever I want to fuel my run. Jelly beans, potato chips & snicker bars anyone?

17) Sometimes it's good to try new things. Other times it's good to stick with what you already know you like. (Refer to previous blog post on Frito pie.) Spinach and feta cheese omelet is still my all time favorite post-run meal.

16) What

15) was

14) I

13) thinking?

12) There are some really great advantages to modern technology. For example, the ability for all your friends who cannot be with you in person to text, twitter, facebook, email or call non-stop with their encouragements.

11) I so need a Garmin!

10) I love my friend, Roxanne. She is predictably unpredictable.

9) Natalie will put my mapping skills to shame, always has a spare friend to bring along if you don't have enough of your own and knows all the best, funnest races and runners. In my head, Natalie is my cross-country road trip buddy.

8) Wendy got me into running. Thanks Wendy. No, I really mean it. She knows I mean it. ;-)

7) Stephanie is a great coach! She had the perfect thing to give me, be it marshmallows, Excedrin, 5-hour energy or Nuun, whenever I needed it. She also knew when to get me to pick up the pace and when it was time to take a break. If you need a great fitness coach, Stephanie is your gal! Oh and I loved her egg whites with cheese!

6) Michelle, Michelle...what would I do without my friend Michelle? Ever meet someone who is just so dam "happy" all the time that you want to punch them? I NEVER want to punch Michelle.

5) My friend Jill is still my favorite person to drink beer with. I also don't know a person more generous than she is. Thanks for the shoes! ;-)

4) My niece is a born runner. She just doesn't know it yet.

3) Sometimes people do exactly what you expect of them and it is great. Other times they surprise you and that is even better. Sometimes you surprise yourself. And that is freaking awesome!

2) Vodka heals all aches and pains. Actually I'm pretty sure I already knew this!

1) If you are going to run your years in miles, be sure to do it with a group of rocking friends! Thanks Wendy, Jill, Natalie, Michelle, Stephanie, Aliyah, Roxanne and all my friends online! You made the experience memorable! See, I'm still writing about it 3 months later.