Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Leaving Someone in Your Dust

I had an interesting conversation the other day about running a race with a friend and if you should ever leave them in your dust. I've had great races where I have felt fast and light and ran on my own. I've had races where I have struggled with injury and a friend has stuck by me even when I told her to go on without me and I've had races where a friend struggled and I stayed with him until he eventually forced me to leave him behind.  It's a tough call when you have spent weeks training but every race is different and there is no way to tell how you are going to perform on any given day.

I guess the best rule of thumb is to have those conversations before race day. I hate feeling like I am holding someone back and would be absolutely ok being left in their dust. It gets tricky when you haven't discussed it, to show up race day and either be the one slowing you both down or equally frustrating is being the one who feels like they could run a great race but don't want to take off ahead.

Maybe I'm too competitive or just maybe some people don't make finish times their priority. I'd love to just run a race to enjoy it but I know that no matter what I will push myself until I am falling apart at the end. I ran a horrible half-marathon where I was fighting through terrible knee pain and couldn't bend my right leg for the last eight kilometers, race officials asked me if I wanted a ride in, it was -26C and my friend stuck with me. I told her to go on but she didn't...I'm not sure if I could have done the same. She stuck with me for the entire painful race as I refused to quit. Yes I was proud that I finished but I also felt guilty for ruining her race day as well.

Now I am a solitary race runner. I am happy to join friends at the start line and run the first few hundred meters together but then it is every man for him or herself.  If I'm having a great race I'll see you at the finish line, if I'm having a horrible race I'll see you at the finish line because no matter what I'll finish.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Music Monday

It's been awhile since we talked about music. I started teaching spinning classes this winter and am now obsessed with new music. I love creating playlist for my classes, if you are looking for a great tool I use Mix Meister and its awesome.  I'd love to hear what your favorite workout songs are!

Here are my current top 10 (no judgement)
1. We Used to Wait - Arcade Fire
2. Cave - Mumford & Sons
3. My Body - Young the Giant
4. On the Floor - Jennifer Lopez
5. Howlin' For You - Black Keys
6. Hello - Martin Solveig & Dragonette
7. Rolling in the Deep - Adele
8. E.T. - Katy Perry
9. Blow -Ke$ha
10. Barbra Streinsand - Duck Sauce

Friday, May 20, 2011

More insanity

Well I'm three weeks into my "base building" program for the marathon and things are going well. I've been good with taking two rest days a week, which is always a problem for me and having regular massages to loosen up the old gams. Tomorrow I'll head out for a 10 mile run (16km) and I'm looking forward to it. I love all the speed work and interval training but I really enjoy the satisfaction of a nice long run.

I've been continuing on with my CrossFit obsession and am feeling stronger than ever. If you had told me a few years ago that I would enjoy throwing myself on a dirty gym floor to do burpees I would have told you to spark up your crack pipe for another hit. Here are my most recent workouts for your entertainment.


For time:
1,000 meter row
50 squat thrusters (32.5lb barbell)
30 jumping pull-ups
time: 13:12

For time:
400 meter sprint
21 wall balls (12lb ball)
21 burpees

400 meter sprint
15 wall balls (12lb ball)
15 burpees

400 meter sprint
9 wall balls (12lb ball)
9 burpees
time: 13:55

Took the medicine ball in the face on the last workout...oh well it could have been worse, I didn't lose any teeth. 


Friday, May 6, 2011

Running a Marathon!

I beleive I said earlier this year I wasn't going to participate in any races this year and I certainly wasn't going to spend any money on entry fees and traveling to runs outside of the city...my how things have changed.  I got into the New York City Marathon! After three years of putting my name into the lottery I got an email last week saying I was in. It will be my first full marathon and I'm so excited and nervous. I have this revolving emotion of pure joy then a quick slap of nausea...this must be what morning sickness feels like. So out the window goes everything I said about dialing back on the running. I need an intervention.

I have 11 weeks of "base building" before I start my training. I use a three day a week running program which incorporates two very specific cross training sessions as well. It's pretty intense but I used it for one of my half marathons and it was my best race ever. I have 11 weeks to get to the point where 15 miles feels comfortable...right now 7 miles (11km) is pretty easy, 15 miles (24km)  is doable but certainly not comfortable. Wish me luck. After 11 weeks my training bumps up to 16 weeks of the most brutal running I've ever experienced and to be honest running 20 miles (32km) four times before the marathon is freaking me out a bit.

Of course I already have this all on a spreadsheet on the fridge. Tonight is the first run of the training program...a nice slow 8km. I am going to cherish this run because the next one this week is 13km of speed work. Ugh

Brace yourselves folks there are many posts coming of me complaining of aching muscles and perhaps lost toenails. (too much?)

Thursday, May 5, 2011

State of the Union!

Well I must apologize again readers, its has been so crazy!

I mentioned last week I was adjusting my fitness program for the next 15 weeks, cutting carbs to 50%, jacking up the cardio and crossfit sessions. Well 10 days in folks things are on track and I'm down 3lbs. I can feel the lack of carbs when I go for a run but thankfully before I have to start my marathon training I will be able to bump them back up to 65%. Crossfit multiple times a week is pretty intense but I love it. Below are my last two workouts for your amusement.

Workout:
50 air squats
50 push-ups
50 sit-ups
50 burpees
50 squat thrusters (12lb dumbells)
16:33

Workout
32.5lb bar bell, 26lb kettle bell
12 minutes maximum number of rounds as possible, start with 3 reps of each and add three each time
ie. 3 sumo squat high-pulls/3 kettlebell swings, then 6/6, 9/9, 12/12...
I made it to 24 reps of each in 12 minutes which was a total of 108 of each exercise. KILLER

I followed the last one up with a 45 minute run on the treadmill which after 108 sumo squat high-pulls my legs felt like petrified wood.