In these last few days leading up to the marathon and Mayor's Walk, we are tapering off training. We are resting and doing the things we need to do to be in optimal condition to go our chosen distance.
Here is one simple tip I learned from friends at a relay this summer. And it's the perfect week of event thing to do: trim your toenails! That's right. Trim them right down to avoid blistering, bruising, and potential loss of nails.
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
Monday, September 28, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Perspective
A friend was planning to do the Mayor's Walk with me on October 4th. Unfortunately, she had outpatient surgery, which resulted in about 20 stitches, and the doctor telling her it wouldn't be a good idea. The stitches come out just before the event.
My friend was bummed. We did the event together last year - the first time either of us had participated. We were looking forward to doing it together this year - 12 months of fitness training and miles walking/paddling/biking/elipticalling (I know, that's not a word!). She felt badly that I might have to do it without a walking partner; I told her it was fine, I would use it as my pace training that day.
She laughed. She reminded me that last year we stood there at the start on the bluff near UofP, with our eyes toward downtown and nearly cried. It looked so far; it was drizzly; it was only our second event and it was an overwhelming site. Now here I am saying "it's my pace training for the week."
Things do change. With training and persistence, things improve. And it's important to look at my accomplishments sometimes, too. It's too easy for me to look at what didn't go as planned, e.g. "darn, I only did 17.5 minute miles today; what happened?" or "wow, I didn't stretch enough and my right shin and big toe are so cramped." Those may be true. But it's also true that, while completing the 10k at 2 hours and 9 minutes last year was great - this year I'm aiming to complete it in under 1 hr 42 minutes.
Keeping perspective is important. And friends can help do that.
My friend was bummed. We did the event together last year - the first time either of us had participated. We were looking forward to doing it together this year - 12 months of fitness training and miles walking/paddling/biking/elipticalling (I know, that's not a word!). She felt badly that I might have to do it without a walking partner; I told her it was fine, I would use it as my pace training that day.
She laughed. She reminded me that last year we stood there at the start on the bluff near UofP, with our eyes toward downtown and nearly cried. It looked so far; it was drizzly; it was only our second event and it was an overwhelming site. Now here I am saying "it's my pace training for the week."
Things do change. With training and persistence, things improve. And it's important to look at my accomplishments sometimes, too. It's too easy for me to look at what didn't go as planned, e.g. "darn, I only did 17.5 minute miles today; what happened?" or "wow, I didn't stretch enough and my right shin and big toe are so cramped." Those may be true. But it's also true that, while completing the 10k at 2 hours and 9 minutes last year was great - this year I'm aiming to complete it in under 1 hr 42 minutes.
Keeping perspective is important. And friends can help do that.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
training matters
I know training is important. But some days I just don't want to get out the door. Or I realize I didn't leave enough time to warm-up and stretch and then do the training and have enough time to get back, shower, change and get to work on time.
Then I think, that's okay, I'll skip the stretching. I'm doing pretty well and it'll be okay. Or, I'll cut the warm-up short or - if I'm only scheduled to do 5k, well, it's just 5k, I don't need to warm up.
My body generally reminds me a few minutes in that I need to do these things. Gently if I listen the first time; loudly a couple hours or one day later if I ignore it. So I've learned to listen to my body.
And I've learned to listen to those around me. A friend was recently talking about a walk she did and how she realized a ways into it that she needed to do some more training before doing a half marathon. She's in good shape but more achey than I am and with a couple other issues after our walk because she's not training.
I notice. My training is definitely decreasing my hurts and increasing my speed of recovery from tired or achey muscles. I can do this. I am doing this.
.
Then I think, that's okay, I'll skip the stretching. I'm doing pretty well and it'll be okay. Or, I'll cut the warm-up short or - if I'm only scheduled to do 5k, well, it's just 5k, I don't need to warm up.
My body generally reminds me a few minutes in that I need to do these things. Gently if I listen the first time; loudly a couple hours or one day later if I ignore it. So I've learned to listen to my body.
And I've learned to listen to those around me. A friend was recently talking about a walk she did and how she realized a ways into it that she needed to do some more training before doing a half marathon. She's in good shape but more achey than I am and with a couple other issues after our walk because she's not training.
I notice. My training is definitely decreasing my hurts and increasing my speed of recovery from tired or achey muscles. I can do this. I am doing this.
.
Monday, September 14, 2009
The Signs Are Up!
I set out on a quick 4 mile run this afternoon. I am really enjoying the "Taper" part of training where the miles decrease every week instead of increase! Anyway... today I was in a funk. I needed inspiration. I even posted to Facebook begging my virtual friends to send me some energy, but I just was not feelin' it today.
Alas, what so we do as runners? We run. So, instead of commiserating about my fowl mood. I ran. Part of my runs usually include the Waterfront, and today was no different. Except, today, I noticed new banners on the lamp posts. PORTLAND MARATHON BANNERS!?!?!? At this moment, all at once I felt all of shock, fear, excitement, panic, sadness and elation all at once. It is coming so quickly! It will be here before we know it! It seemed that this one moment zapped all my pain and anxiety and, for today, I finished my run with a smile on my face.
After October 4th my pain, fear, sore muscles and anxiety will have passed and I will miss it. I have evolved in these past 5 months of training. I am different. I am better. I am making a commitment to savor my last weeks of training and the wonderful feeling that comes with accomplishing a goal.
Happy training!
Alas, what so we do as runners? We run. So, instead of commiserating about my fowl mood. I ran. Part of my runs usually include the Waterfront, and today was no different. Except, today, I noticed new banners on the lamp posts. PORTLAND MARATHON BANNERS!?!?!? At this moment, all at once I felt all of shock, fear, excitement, panic, sadness and elation all at once. It is coming so quickly! It will be here before we know it! It seemed that this one moment zapped all my pain and anxiety and, for today, I finished my run with a smile on my face.
After October 4th my pain, fear, sore muscles and anxiety will have passed and I will miss it. I have evolved in these past 5 months of training. I am different. I am better. I am making a commitment to savor my last weeks of training and the wonderful feeling that comes with accomplishing a goal.
Happy training!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
inspiration is a two-way happening
Last week I took my distance training day off - on the advice of my doctor because of pain in my Achilles tendon; but still. I took it off. I did a one-mile stroll with a friend the next day. Then I missed my pace training 2 days later; same reason. I did the 4 miles of the pace training, but at regular speed - not speedy speed. That was this last Monday.
On Tuesday I did my strength training and regular walking (several short brisk-ish walks totalling an hour scattered in between my jobs).
Then it was Wednesday and time for my hill training (in preparation for the half marathon in Seattle; I don't need it for the Portland Mayor's Walk!). I was concerned about my heel and feeling a little frustrated about missing the distance day and not doing the pace training. And doubting myself. Not wanting to do it - up and down the hill to Mt Tabor several times.
I distracted myself by checking my email. Which turned out to be the perfect anecdote to my funk. There was the following email from my dragon boat / half-marathon walking / whitewater rafting friend :
I went out with a smile and walked up and down the hill. And without any pain in my foot but with a renewed sense of "I can do this."
Thank you, Karen, for your perfectly timed counter-insprational note. And I did feel better for having done it.
On Tuesday I did my strength training and regular walking (several short brisk-ish walks totalling an hour scattered in between my jobs).
Then it was Wednesday and time for my hill training (in preparation for the half marathon in Seattle; I don't need it for the Portland Mayor's Walk!). I was concerned about my heel and feeling a little frustrated about missing the distance day and not doing the pace training. And doubting myself. Not wanting to do it - up and down the hill to Mt Tabor several times.
I distracted myself by checking my email. Which turned out to be the perfect anecdote to my funk. There was the following email from my dragon boat / half-marathon walking / whitewater rafting friend :
Hi Dot... every now and then I check in on your writing [on your website, The Writing Vein] ... and I love reading what you write! I also just wanted to tell you that it inspired me because I'm getting to the point where I think about going out for a run/walk or walk and I don't want to... but you remind me that I will feel better if I go and do it. Thank you for that!...oh, and she's a MissFit Alliance Race for the Cure teammate, too.
I was just going to go do the 1/2 Marathon without training but think I'd better get out there and get my feet in condition!
Don't forget the Race for the Cure on the 20th!
I went out with a smile and walked up and down the hill. And without any pain in my foot but with a renewed sense of "I can do this."
Thank you, Karen, for your perfectly timed counter-insprational note. And I did feel better for having done it.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Run-Reading
Thanks to Andrea for getting the blog going! I have sort of a funky practice that I thought I’d share here in the spirit of Run Around for Write Around.
I read while I run. I run-read. It’s safer than it sounds and pretty much a requirement for my process, both writing and marathon training.
That is to say, running in the morning, as I do, helps me sweep away my cobwebs, sharpen my pencil and add focus to a day that will involve working a day job before getting a lick of writing in. Running sustains me for a multitask sort of day. Similarly, reading short stories, novels and nonfiction, which I do throughout my day, opens my imagination, forces my mind to make connections it wouldn’t necessarily make, and inspires me to hit the page.
So, efficiency expert that I am, I do both simultaneously. I read-run. I run-read. I check out audiobooks from the library (reserving dozens at a time because availability fluctuates and you want to have a good variety on hand), download them all to my computer and upload one to my iPod at any given time, then run-read. I delete files as I go (off my computer and iPod both) and consider that upholding my end of the covenant. I don’t consider this blasphemous to traditional reading, either. I listen to unabridged versions, no exceptions, and preferably ones read by the author. Reading this way, I feel tied to the tradition of oral storytelling and it's super stimulating, no matter what genre the material. I’m an aesthetic reader and an aesthetic writer and listening to stories this way lets me see clearly what may work or not work on the page with my own writing. Furthermore, I'm able to read 80% more than I would otherwise. Not too shabby.
If for no other reason, read-running keeps my brain active on something other than wondering what the hell I’m doing running up Balch Creek at 6:30AM with a sore shin.
I read while I run. I run-read. It’s safer than it sounds and pretty much a requirement for my process, both writing and marathon training.
That is to say, running in the morning, as I do, helps me sweep away my cobwebs, sharpen my pencil and add focus to a day that will involve working a day job before getting a lick of writing in. Running sustains me for a multitask sort of day. Similarly, reading short stories, novels and nonfiction, which I do throughout my day, opens my imagination, forces my mind to make connections it wouldn’t necessarily make, and inspires me to hit the page.
So, efficiency expert that I am, I do both simultaneously. I read-run. I run-read. I check out audiobooks from the library (reserving dozens at a time because availability fluctuates and you want to have a good variety on hand), download them all to my computer and upload one to my iPod at any given time, then run-read. I delete files as I go (off my computer and iPod both) and consider that upholding my end of the covenant. I don’t consider this blasphemous to traditional reading, either. I listen to unabridged versions, no exceptions, and preferably ones read by the author. Reading this way, I feel tied to the tradition of oral storytelling and it's super stimulating, no matter what genre the material. I’m an aesthetic reader and an aesthetic writer and listening to stories this way lets me see clearly what may work or not work on the page with my own writing. Furthermore, I'm able to read 80% more than I would otherwise. Not too shabby.
If for no other reason, read-running keeps my brain active on something other than wondering what the hell I’m doing running up Balch Creek at 6:30AM with a sore shin.
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