Jacob's Ladder

Tonight was another fun round of track repeats at TC Williams (Remember the Titans!). After a frenzied search for a parking spot, which was a total ordeal, I finally made it to the track. And since I was all hot and bothered about trying to get to the damned place, I was already warmed up too!

The plan for this evening was to run what is known as the ladder. Basically, you increase the distance for each "rep" then come back down. I checked with my intended marathon pace timing and came up with the following times for each of the different splits (Ch-ch-ch-check out my HTML table building skillz below).

Rep	Distance	Goal Time	Actual Time
400m	434m	2:11-2:19	2:10
800m	756m	4:34-4:45	4:09
1200m	1223m	7:01-7:32	6:45
1200m	1223m	7:01-7:32	7:10
800m	708m	4:34-4:45	3:58
400m	434m	2:11-2:19	1:30

Both the HTML table and my awesome splitz. 

(PS: Yes, I know there's supposed to be a 1600m rep in there, but it was lightening out and was getting dark, and I did not want my good friends Joe and Sonia to get electrocuted. Also, if you look at the garmin info, you'll note the last rep is shorter. That is because in my excitement to get a-moving, I forgot to turn on my watch. But I know I was freaking flying, so the last one is a guesstimate).

No bagel

ERMEGERD.

I just ran 4 miles and did not eat my half bagel before.

NEVER AGAIN

*pardon me while I go be ill in the corner*

Double Recap

(Written at 4pm today)

This month has been insanity.

When I'm not running, I'm volunteering, or going out on a date, or going to a happy hour, or working. I literally have 0 actual time to myself, which is why last night I decided to not volunteer and take a night for myself. 

But that's not what this blog is about is it?

The week before last, here's the rundown (hah, see what I did there?)

Monday: Booz Allen Gym like a Boss

Tuesday: 4 miles up the hill

Wednesday: 400x repeats

Thursday: Speed demon (3 miles)

Saturday's run was a hot mess. Just narsty narsty. It was the Alexandria Triangle (Garmin info below)

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This week, there was a lot of social events. First, on Monday, Pacers had another Port City run, which was and continues to be a lot of fun. Tuesday I had a really crappy day and felt sorry for myself, so I only did 3 miles and they were slow. Wednesday I had a date (GASP!) at the same time as the Hill Repeats, so I did my own Hill Repeats up Beacon Hill (~3 miles total). 

One of these days, I will actually be able to run up a hill without falling over dead.

Thursday I did not run, as I had a happy hour instead. Although there was some dancing after the happy hour ended (don't ask), so I count that as a quad workout.

And today I did 16 glorious miles up the Capital Crescent Trail. I was randomly booking it, and actually finished in just over 3 hours (full Garmin info below). I'm going to go back and see if that's a 16 mile record for me, because it might actually be. Although it was super nice outside today so I'm sure that had something to do with it.

It was so nice, in fact, that I actually found myself having difficulty breathing from the "coolness." I forgot my inhaler (dummy), and really felt like I could have used it today. But I pushed through, stopping every so often to cough like a pack a day smoker.

Also - I stopped eating at 7 last night and did not have coffee this morning (had some earl gray and soy milk instead), and did not have any stummy issues (still none). Trying to figure out if it's the coffee or if it's the eating late that causes the gastric distress. It's my 15 week experiment.

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In other news, I'm going to go buy some compression gear from my buddies Joe and Kristen. I noted right around mile 7 that my legs started to feel fatigued, and I think maybe having some tightness to keep the muscles in place will help with the long term pain.

So I get to go spend money at Pacers, which is one of my most favorite things to do. Right after I go take an hour and a half yoga!nap at Pure Prana.

EDIT (8pm)

I would just like to document that 2 weeks ago, I ran 15 miles in 3:03, and today I ran a full mile longer in just the same amount of time.

Sonia was right to be proud of me. I'm kicking ass!

Fifteen Miles and Remembering the Reason(s) why I'm doing this

Saturday's run was hard.

Not physically (well, yeah okay physically because there were some narsty hills).

But it was actually tougher mentally.

This week has been a crazy one - between dog rescuing, working, unabashed flirting, and running, I actually hit my limit and did not do speed work on Wednesday. But that's okay, because my body was saying "Hey doll, you're kind of killing us both here, so why don't you take it down a notch."

So this week's running went a little like this:

Monday - 3.32 Cross Fit Outside (which, let's face it, killed me)
Tuesday - 2.3 miles (+ a new pair of shoes! Thanks Zack at Pacers!)
Wednesday - Glorious sleeping time
Thursday - 3.12 miles (Posted below, because it was actually a total boss run)
Friday - Volunteering with Lost Dog 5k
Saturday - 15 miles

So let's pause for a second on the Thursday run, because for some reason I was keeping up with the cool kids for a mile and a half into the run (10 minute mile. Outside. What?!) Then I turned off and ran on my own, where I proceeded to wuss out and walk a lot more than I should have.

But still. Sonia is right, I am getting faster. (more on how awesome she is later).

Saturday was like "OOMPH. FIFTEEN. WHAT." At first, anyways.

Then I got a little confused at the directions (hah, shocker). So for the first five miles, I kept pausing my damned Garmin and checking my phone, like "Where the heck is this turn off for the W&OD trail?" Yes, friends, I have lived here for almost 10 years. But I had runner's brain.

Luckily, I kept running into fun runners smarter than me who were doing less than fifteen miles (like, you know, 10), who kept me pointed in the right direction. Then, I finally realized where I was going, and was like, "Okay, this is great."

Except by that point, I'd floundered for probably half an hour, and my schedule was all off. So there I was, on the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, 8 miles left to go in my run, and I started to really wish that I could just go home.

But, you know, I was way out in the boonies (figuratively speaking, you will note in the map below that I was right smack dab in the middle of Arlington County). And there was only one way to get back to my car, sitting at Gravelly Point.

On the run, I was reminded of a saying that will say, "Never give up on a dream just because it will take time to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway (Earl Nightingale)." And, in my deep dark thoughts, I realized that the eight miles back to the car would happen anyways. So I could either run them or walk them, but they were going to happen.

And guess what? Happen they did. Although I did take a little detour through Crystal City vice heading all the way back to the trail.

And even through all the stopping and starting and whining and whathaveyou, I still managed a 12 minute mile pace.

Which, let me say, when I got back to Gravelly Point, I was in no mood for life. Seriously. But, you know, my friends were hanging out there waiting for me to come back. Because they are seriously the most supportive people on the face of the planet. And I love them, although I don't know if I was that vocal about my affection after the run.

But I do, Pacers People. You guys are the reason why I continue to run. <3

Here's the Garmin data for the awesome Arlington Triangle.


Also, I was successful in staving off a migraine. I'm not sure if it was because it was cooler, or if it was because I downed a chocolate (soy) milk immediately after I got back and a nectarine, or if it was the gallon of Powerade I drank during the day, but I did not get a migraine. So thank God for small miracles.

HEY.

Fun Run and Beer

Today's run was supposed to be at the gym.

As you can see, the promise of socializing with fun runners drew me to the Port City Brewery for a Beer and Run fun run. Which is ironic as I don't drink beer, but you know, I'm single and I have to be "out there" I guess. 

And, of course, my buddy was there leading his crossfit run of doom. And because I am a pushover, I went along until I could do no more. Then got lost for a bit. Then found my way back.

All in all, it was a fun night with my buddies. 

Perfect

Today's run was perfect.

Perfect 13 miles down the Potomac.

No asthma issues, no ankle issues, no hamstring issues. Some periods up the hill where the heart rate was over 90%, but nothing too crazy.

With all of this stuff not bothering me, it was actually nice to have some real muscle struggle. Which I can totally work through. And did.

The worst part of the run was actually after the 13 miles, with the long, slow walk up my narsty hill. Because I also RAN FROM MY HOUSE LIKE A BOSS.

I'll update the post later with the Garmin info once I can make it safely up my stairs. Which may take a while because I'M SO SORE!!! HOORAY!

Anywho, time for my usual Saturday routine of laying with a bunch of ice and watching marathons of my favorite show(s).

EDIT:

Garmin Info

Round and Round We Go....

Wednesday night is Speed Work at TC Williams (Remember the Titans!)

Today I was only on the schedule to run 2 miles, since I'm trying not to go too nuts with increasing mileage while I play catch-up.

And my friends over at Pacers told me that today we were running 400m repeats. Which, if you've never run track (and, let's face it, I haven't), means 1 lap.

1 lap running hard (ish)
1 lap jog
1 lap running hard (ish)
1 lap jog

And so on and so forth.

Now running on a flat surface is just the bee's knees. So, naturally, I'm busting out 10 minute miles (and even one 8 minute mile loop). Although, as happy as I was about it, I was doing my "tough" jog at the same pace the other folks were doing their "easy" jog. But at least we finally got to run together!

Total today was just over 2 miles (you'll see I forgot to turn on my damned watch for a minute). I could have done a few more, but, like I said, the focus now is to slowly build mileage.

I will say that Mother Nature is going to be oh so kind the rest of the week, and give us some nice weather. So perhaps that'll do something with my heart rate.

And speaking of heart rate, took it VERY easy tonight, pausing after each loop. Average was 162/84%, maximum was 180/93%.

I picked up my Flovent and took my first puff of it tonight, after the run. I also picked up some more Allegra, so we'll see if that helps with any of the crap in my lungs.

I'm really getting tired of having to deal with this - at what point can I just RUN without all of this shenanigans!!!

In other news..........I really want a big, juicy steak.