Posts Tagged ‘5k’
12/11/11 – Updates and Procrastination….
Posted by admin in Reflections, Try This! on December 11th, 2011
When I left off, I was working on the 5K. However, as I reflect on my performance in Oct and Nov of the past two years, I find that life has a way of really getting in the way during these two months. I am now recovered from a very busy and emotionally draining Oct., and November’s celebrations and holiday are done, too 🙂
Now, back to work. I realized that I have yet to get my running videos from Travis. I took him a thumb drive that was too small (I think it is about 10 years old – do any files equal less than 128MB anymore?), and that was the last time I tried to get the videos. Since I have reminded myself, I will focus on getting the videos from him this week or next week when my winter break from work starts (Hooray!).
With the videos I will begin a new regimen of running. The running is very difficult in VFFs in the winter due to the cold and wet conditions combined with the Raynaud’s Phenomenon, which causes my fingers and toes to go numb with the slightest chill. I find that running on wet pavement in the winter causes my toes to go numb really quickly, which leaves my feet feeling like big blocks of wood that are propelling me along. I will say that when I ran a 5K (more like walk/jog) on Thanksgiving day, my feet were numb within 1/4 mile, but at mile 2, the feeling began to return to my toes as my body heat increased. It was a very pleasant finding that I have been unable to compel myself to replicate :-/
I am continuing to work with Melissa, and we have had to scale back my workouts due to my lack of motivation (read: I do not go to the gym unless she is with me). I am also in the process of changing to a gym that has a TRX device. My first TRX workout was last week, and it was such an amazing change of pace. I will write more on the device later. To balance out the TRX workout with my regular workout (the only way to workout lower body large muscle groups is squats and lunges on the TRX, and my right knee is currently rebelling against those two moves), I am doing a regular non-TRX workout this week. I did go to the gym one time between my workouts with Melissa last week due to my interest in the “new” TRX workout. Yes, it was rather like a kid with a new toy. My new plan is to workout once between training sessions with Melissa followed by a yoga class the next day to help increase flexibility. If I can get back into the workout habit, then Melissa can up my routine, and I can start rebuilding strength. Yay!
Motivation is slowly coming back. The biggest factor is that I just turned 35, and my thighs look more like 35 year old thighs than 25 year old thighs, which is not how I want my thighs to look. I mean Cher looked awesome at 65, but I think I read somewhere that she spent 3 hours in the gym each day. I guess there’s something to look forward to. At least I won’t be bored in retirement, and I could wear a thong leotard and dance on a Navy ship with all of the sailors. Now, that’s a good retirement plan…..
9/15/11 – Another 5K (practice run, not race) and a Workout with Melissa
So, I gave myself three days of recovery before trying the 5K again. Now, that I know I can definitely run the whole distance, I was determined to do it with my 9min, 30 second mile pace that I can do when training at a 1.5 mile distance. I knew I could run faster than that stupid 10:18 pace on Sunday. I mean, I’m wearing Five Fingers – come on!
I walked down to the flat waterfront park area so that it would mimic the relatively flat terrain at Greenlake. Plus, there are no crosswalks and lights to mess up your pace, either. I was really going to show the clock!
I started out the first mile with a great pace just over 9 min per mile. Half way through the second mile I was up to 9 min 30 seconds. No problem. See, I knew I could do this! Then, I got to the start of mile 3: Pace up to 9min 55 seconds. YIKES! I can still beat this! Now my goal has become to finish with ANYTHING under a 10 min pace.
Let me just say that the third mile kicked my ass. I ran the whole way, but it was really tough. I did knock 14 seconds off my race pace, though, to finish at 10 min, 4 seconds per mile. Woohoo! I knew I could go faster.
My new focus is improving my time on the 5K. I am also working on leg extension while running. I think if I get my legs extending back, then I will have an automatic decrease in time or increase in speed due to more efficient propulsion forward. However, leg extension is hard. It requires a lot of strength in your hamstrings and glutes as well as flexibility in your hip flexor and quads. This is going to be another big push of exercise and stretching. My quads are super sore from the run when I was trying out the extensions.
I told Melissa all of this, and she, that same day, gave me a bunch of hip and glute exercises to help facilitate this goal. Man are they killer!!! Boy is she great!
I am going to get my video from Travis on Tuesday of next week. I will then post the video and his notes, which will elaborate on all of this.
What a great week of running and working out so far. Woohoo!
9/12/10 – Aflac Iron Girl 5K: I Ran the Whole Thing! Plus, a VIDEO!!!
Posted by admin in Training (running, cycling, etc.) on September 18th, 2010
OMG! As the valley girl would say, I ran the whole thing! All 3.1 miles!
It was a beautiful, overcast, 60 degree Sunday morning. Although rain had been forecast, not a drop was falling. I was all set with my new stability shoes and my racing chip attached.
I had never run in a race before. I’ve been to several of my husband’s races, but it is very different when you are the participant. The mass of people exuded an energy that is so infectious that you cannot help but feel excited and exhilarated. To say the very least, I was pumped!
After arriving an hour and a half early (b/c they said to), we finally got to line up according to our average mile time. I chose the end of the 10 minute mile as I have been clocking around 10:40 seconds per mile in training (but that was only running 1.5 miles with walking in between). I hoped I had not chosen incorrectly.
After the national anthem where no one sang, which I thought was so weird (Tangent: I love singing the national anthem, and I figured that being surrounded by a bunch of women, I would get a great chance to sing in an impromptu chorus. Nope, no one sang.), the Aflac duck screamed the start, and we were off!
My heart was racing as I wondered if I would be able to run the entire 3 miles. Then, I decided right there in the chute that I would run the three miles. I weaved through the clump of women as we all began to find our paces. The first mile was cake. Then, in the middle of the second mile, I started getting tired. That’s when the mind over matter became very real for me.
It was my determination to keep going, not my physical prowess, that kept my body jogging. I had one thought, “I want to be able to tell everyone that I ran the whole thing!” I did not want my first race to be me wimping out half way through!
Thus, I kept that mantra in my head the rest of the way, and it worked!!!
Now, as I hit the chute for the finish, it was about 150 or 200 yards until the finish line. I decided to sprint this last part because it wasn’t that long, and I figured I might as well. So, off I go. In my mind, I was running like the wind. I had Chariots of Fire in my head. Dun dun dun dun dun dun dun, dun dun dun dunnnnnn….. I could feel that I was really extending my legs and making huge strides toward that finish line!!! Boy was I looking good in my head!
So, when I finished and found my husband, he told me that he had videoed my finish. I was so excited!! I could see how good I really looked! Yay!
Here’s the video – I’m in the pink hat:
Alright, I couldn’t help but laugh my ass off at this video. I looked nothing like I was picturing! Where’s my awesome extension??? What about the speed? Where did that sway back come from???
Man, I’ve got some work to do. However, let’s not lament here. There is a lot of good stuff to say. For example, when comparing my first ever run video from April, I definitely have a lot more extension than I had then. I’m just not at an olympic athlete range like I was picturing myself as being. So, all is not lost.
Overall, my finish stats were good! Especially considering how spotty my training was.
I placed 371 out of 1371 – that means that out of the total 1371 ladies who ran, I finished before 1000 of them! Not bad 🙂
In my age group, 30-34, I came in 65 out of 255! I was in the top third! Also, not bad 🙂
My time was 32:50, which is an average pace of just under 11 minutes per mile. Woohoo!!! I maintained my estimated pace!
I enjoyed this race so much that I think I’ll try to find another one, and soon! I’m going to stick with 5K for a little while longer to make sure my feet are ready. This race did not cause any symptoms in my left foot, which is awesome. I am so relieved!
Anyway, onto training!!!