Let’s Base Build

Posted on January 1, 2013 by

I was up earlier than I probably should have been this morning and surprisingly it wasn’t as cold as they said it would be so I went out for my first run of the new year.

20130101-141955.jpgI need to start my running base again before I can start training for anything. In fact, I promised to not sign up for anything more than a 5k until I have that base built and I feel confident in it.  I didn’t run much through December simply because I just didn’t feel like it.  And because I am not a natural runner (meaning I haven’t been running my whole life) a lot of my issues in 2012 were related to if not ‘overuse.’ It’s time to train smarter and really do it right. So I researched the heck out of safely building base mileage and then how to train off of your base mileage. To say the least it was overwhelming, but I think I have an idea on how to go about it.

Here’s what I came up with for this week to start the base of my base building (if that makes sense).

Week 1 – 1 mile run 4x and 2 cross training sessions

Run 1 – an easy run.  That was today’s run just ran a little came home and stretched. Strenuous it was not, but it felt good.

Run 2 – a speed run. 30 seconds faster than my easy run.

Run 3 – another easy run.

Run 4 – a slow run. 30 seconds slower than my slowest easy run (from now on this will be turtle pace)

If you are wondering why such low mileage it’s because I’m trying to build a solid base and to build it safely. And to be honest, I’m not even sure my body is built for a 4 day a week running program so I’m going to try to train my body to be okay with doing it; we’ll see what happens.  Yes, I’m experimenting with my body and not worrying too much about pace…yet. For now it’s about retraining the way I run/train.  And I feel in order to do that lower mileage to start is the way to go for me.

Anyone ever start from complete running scratch and have to retrain themselves how to train?  How’d it work out? Any Tips?

Posted in Building Base Miles, Education, New Beginnings | 2 Comments

Fearless Friday – The Monday of the Last Day of the Year Edition

Posted on December 31, 2012 by

It’s the last day of 2012 and I’m about to get real…real real people….

I stopped blogging because somewhere I lost my voice.  I lost the reason why I was doing this. I blogged to blog not because it was of value to myself. I compared what I was doing to everyone around me.  I lost myself in thinking I had to post about every run/workout that was of significance and not the day-to-day issues that come along. I felt to be relevant I had to ‘keep up’ with those blogs that ‘everyone’ reads. I felt an oddly enormous pressure to be as good of a runner/blogger/athlete as everyone else who was blogging in a similar genre. I began to feel like I wasn’t good enough, yup I allowed complete strangers on the internet to make me feel lost (hard to admit given my self-esteem is not something I’ve ever really struggled with). Well…

I’m not them and that’s okay.

I’ve taken the last few weeks to think about if this is something I wanted to continue or if it’s just something that isn’t good for my mental well-being.  The truth is, I want to do this but on my own terms. I want to remain me and stop absorbing so much of everyone around me.

I’m at a unique place that I feel is under represented. I just turned 30 (woah), I work full-time, I’m not a beginner athlete or even a beginning runner, I’ve never been over weight but I’m carrying an extra 10 lbs. I wish I wasn’t (go ahead and cast stones I’m still a thin girl and we have our issues too), and I’m not running crazy amounts of races nor am I crushing world records/personal records…I’m somewhere in between it all and I think few speak from this place. I’m also coming off a weird year filled with injury and professional and personal let downs. I’m finally learning what it means to keep an open heart and mind. To be comfortable and feel safe in my own skin.

2013 is going to be the year of me and just me. Less taking care of everyone else and more focusing on myself. Finally truly opening my heart and embracing everything that is me….

Posted in Fearless Friday | 2 Comments

Busy Weekend & An App Find & Not Much Working Out

Posted on October 23, 2012 by

I’ve been busy….

Over the weekend I turned brunette for the first time in 29 years…please excuse my exhausted looking self, it was late (who knew it took almost 2.5 hours to change your hair color!?). I’m undecided on how I feel. It’s so very very different and needs some time to get use to.  I went to Harvest Hoopla (i.e. tasted a bunch of hard ciders at Pemberton Farms, a local market and garden center). I found a few I liked and was introduced to the one pictured.  It’s a fall cider by Woodchuck Cider.  It has a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg and kinda tastes like a cold mulled cider. It’s interesting. There was also mead and honey at the hoopla but being allergic to honey meant no tasting either.  But I’m not sure I could have because after tasting probably 10 or so ciders I had a healthy enough buzz. Lastly I hung out with Norma.  She was tired. I was tired. We spent quality time on the couch.

Do you guys know the PicFrame app?  I’m probably the last one to have found it, I’m forever changed. Try it if you haven’t, it’s well worth the $0.99.

All of that to say, I haven’t been working out or eating very well the past few days.  And that’s not okay.  Yes, it’s good to have fun and do fun things but I gotta get back on track.  Being busy is an excuse.  I kicked off what I hope to be a healthy week with a rest day yesterday.  But today it’s back at it…

I was up WAY too early this morning and obviously being compulsive I checked the weather. Why I do this I don’t know because I have a firm policy on weather – it’s going to do what it does regardless of what the report says.

Seriously, before 4 am? What’s wrong with me?

Since I have a running date tonight I decided to make a salad to go with the soupy MG made for lunch this week, package some snacks for the week, make breakfast and watch the news…

Veggies and egg scramble with gluten-free toast and juice. YUM.

I think that’s a good start.

How do you get back on track?

Posted in Busy, Food, Healthy Living, Life | Leave a comment

Fearless Friday: Why Am I Blogging

Posted on October 19, 2012 by

I have a love hate relationship with blogging. I’m fiercely private and I struggle to share my life, any part of my life, on the internet. Heck I even struggle with sharing myself in real life. I started blogging when I was injured last summer as something to do. And as a whole, I’ve enjoyed it. But I get in phases where I feel like ‘why am I doing this again.’

I think when I started this I had different intentions. I liked what I was reading and wanted to emulate a bit, imitation is the highest form of flattery, but now it feels very inauthentic and at times forced. People out there are fearless in sharing their failures and their successes and I’m just not. Maybe you could argue that I’m not comfortable with me and to be honest, I wouldn’t argue back. I guess I’m not sure I’m a blogger. I love that there are bloggers out there I want to be. I love that there are bloggers out there that make me spitting mad. But I don’t ever want to be a blogger that is putting stuff out there that isn’t me or is just out there for the sake of putting stuff out there.

And so I wonder, will I ever be comfortable blogging?

Ever had a moment where you had no idea why you were blogging? Ever thought about the direction of your blog and if it was going where you wanted it to?  What’d you do?

Posted in Blogs, Fearless Friday | Leave a comment

5 Random Things

Posted on October 18, 2012 by

I’m too tired to actually formulate cohesive thoughts so you get 5 random things….

  1. An update from yesterday’s post about The Bill Rodger’s Running Center Closing, I got a nice email back from Charlie.  This folks is what makes them the best…they are personal and appreciative of everyone who patronized them.  Forever my favorite running store.
  2. I need to stop eating so close to bed time.  It ALWAYS keeps me up. While there are no conclusive studies that prove eating before going to bed will make you gain weight, there are a few studies out there that state eating before bed keeps you awake because your stomach is full and blood needs to be rushed in to help digest it.  I believe it.  I never sleep well if I sleep close to bedtime. Do you eat before bed?
  3. The new Running USA survey is out.  If you have some time, fill it out and be apart of the stats.  If you are wondering why you’d ever want to do this, the survey ‘examines how patterns in corporate, consumer and running behavior have changed over the last decade and what to expect for the future of running – both the sport and the industry.’ Want to see past results?  Check them out here.
  4. There is a great article in the NYT about Mary Wittenberg, the CEO of the NYRR.  Read it. Care to weigh in on the discussion?
  5. I’ve signed up for 2 races before the end of the year, The Talking Turkey 6 mi. cross-country race I ran last year in Holyoke and Somerville’s Jingle Bell run which is a 5k. Nothing too strenuous. I need to get planning for 2013.  How far out do you people plan out your races?
Posted in NYRR, Planning, Running, Running Stores | Leave a comment

Bill Rodgers Running Center Is Closing

Posted on October 17, 2012 by

In Boston there are really 2 choices when it comes to good running shops, Bill Rodgers Running Center and Marathon Sports.  I’ve always been a Bill Rodgers girl.  Mostly because EVERY time I was there I felt like family.  Well, sad news friends.  The Bill Rodgers Running Center is closing.

I feel like my ice cream slid off my cone folks…In fact I was am so upset about this I wrote them a nice email and will be sure to stop in before the end of the month, when they are slated to shut the doors for good. EVERY pair of running shoes I bought, I bought from this place, with the exception of a pair of crummy Adidas shoes I got from Marathon Sports along with free shin splints.  And that crappy pair of Adidas shoes I bought from Marathon Sports was why I never went back there…bad experience and bad shoe recommendation. But not from Bill Rodgers’ store. They got it right EVERY time with the best advice. Every time I was in there I was well taken care of and it was such a warm experience. I loved chatting about an upcoming race or just shooting the breeze about running. In fact when I was last there, Charlie and I talked about our next race which happened to be the Bix7 for both of us.  Small world. I loved that about the Bill Rodgers Running Center and I’m going to miss it terribly.

Check out the article on Bill Rodgers causing a running boom and the interview with Bill and Charlie Rodgers from Runners World.

Anyone think I could convince Charlie to come with me next time I need a new pair of shoes?

Posted in Reviews, Runner downs, Running Stores, Shoes | Leave a comment

Technology – 2 Jessica – 0

Posted on October 16, 2012 by

We live in a technology driven society, however I live in a try to just play nice with technology world. I’m not being funny, I’m completely serious.  Sometimes I can’t even operate the tv remote (and heaven forbid you have one of those set ups that has 3 remotes…I’ll just read a book if I house sit). I’m lucky I know how to use my Garmin and I don’t even use it to its full capacity by any stretch of the imagination.  I’m just not good with technology (largely due to my own disinterest in it) and I’m okay with it until something happens and then I all out think technology is messing with me….

For some reason yesterday’s post didn’t post, it was set on a scheduled thingy because I actually did it Sunday. I have no idea why, but it didn’t post. I probably didn’t hit the publish button or whatever or set it for some time zone I’ve never heard of. Stop judging.  And of course I was too annoyed last night to figure out why or even post.

Flash to this morning, I woke up early, around 4, and laid in bed until almost 5. I didn’t really want to run, though these days my miles are so low it’s laughable and skipping it seems pointless.  But I got up, put on my yellow reflective vest (it’s that time of year),  checked the weather and I was out the door. 

20121016-072705.jpg
Lovely weather right?

I get outside and it’s raining, like noticeably raining.  Thanks for nothing iphone weather app. I don’t mind the rain but I would have like to have on different clothes, specifically different socks.  I knocked out 3 miles in a slow but nice pace while I cursed the app. Thankfully there was no blistering on my feet otherwise I’d be fist fighting someone.

In an attempt to not let technology completely win today, I’m posting a video! And yes, I can handle this thank you very much (okay I posted and then had to repost…make it it technology – 3 Jessica – 0 and commence laughing).  If you don’t know this song, download it and put it on repeat when you run, when you cook, when you get out of the shower…trust me, it’s that good.

 

Someone please tell me they fight with technology too or am I really the only bozo out there that can’t seem to get on board?

Posted in Blogs, Rain, weather | 2 Comments