« September 2005 | Main | November 2005 »
October 30, 2005
Weather Extremes and Close Encounters
Can it snow one day and be 70 degrees the next? Well, that's what happened this weekend. Backing up, on Friday, I ran for 45 minutes (I'm back to running 6 days/week). It was slightly windy, but comfortably warm.
I heard it might snow on Saturday, but I didn't believe it. I slept in until 9:45 because Brad was at practice. I wanted to run right away, but ended up watching "Message in a Bottle." I turned on the tv for the brief moment that I was tying my shoes and ended up not running until 11:30 and going through quite a few tissues. I was only doing a 35 minute double, so I felt like I would have plenty of time in between runs. It was quite cold on the run and I wished I had worn something over my ears.
In between runs we did a slew of errands. While we were helping a friend pick out a snowblower at Home Depot, it began snowing hard. Go figure. So, Brad and I did our second run as bundled up as bundled up can be. We were very wet and frozen. I do love running while it's snowing, so I'm not complaining, just surprised our first snow happened so early. It didn't add up to much -- probably because the ground was too warm.
Today we woke up (loved the extra hour of sleep) to a very warm day. I could have easily done my workout in shorts, but wore spandex because I can't get rid of the tightness in my hamstrings. I did a 15 minute warmup and cooldown and a 20 minute hard effort (7:20/mile pace). I don't have a defined pace at this point because marathon pace is too slow (8:23?) since it's the same pace (or slower) as my daily runs. Last time we went by my predicted marathon pace according to Daniel's Running Formula. I obviously ran a lot faster than that, but it was only for 20 minutes and it felt comfortable.
On my cooldown, I almost got run over by a car while crossing a side street. I didn't need to stop at any of the side streets to cross. Rather, I just made sure there weren't any cars running. Nothing was coming, so I crossed the street, and just as I was almost across, a car came right at me (on the wrong side of the road mind you). In those 2 seconds, I sprinted and jumped to safety. The driver looked horrified, but kept going on his merry way. I was so angry, but no one was around, so I didn't have anyone to talk about it with. I'm just glad Brad wasn't with me, because he would have chased after the guy :-)
Posted by Caitlin at 07:39 PM | Comments (3)
October 27, 2005
Marathoner?
My last entry is title-less because I forgot to put one. I wish I was a trend setter because then everyone would do what I do and no one would have to try and think of titles. I have to admit though, that I love people's titles, it's just that I'm not known for being creative myself.
When can you call yourself a marathoner? How many marathons does it take? Do marathons have to be your main focus? I don't really know, but I think training for a marathon is one of the best decisions I could make as far as running (mind you I've only run one). I find myself more motivated and excited about running than when I'm training for a 5k. This is ironic because I'm definitely more of a 5k runner than a marathoner. I think spring marathons are perfect for me because it's what's going to get me out the door on those cold days of winter. I just wish there were more spring marathons around here to choose from, like the fall, which has tons of choices.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, I ran for 60 minutes. Tuesday's run was wet, while Wednesday's run was windy. Today's run had perfect weather. I ran for 45 minutes and then did 6 strides on the grass at the middle school. Have I mentioned that I love strides after a run? I find them so relaxing. On the other hand, I don't like them nearly as much before a run, because if I'm doing them before a run it means that I'm about to do a workout or a race. Those strides are more anxious strides.
If I'm still following the same schedule as far as days off (Brad, hun, you're slacking here), then tomorrow will be another day off. My hamstrings are rather tight, so I should spend a significant amount of time stretching. I hate stretching, even when I'm sitting in front of the tv. I really need to stretch on a regular basis before I end up getting hurt. Part of the problem is that I always forget to do it (most likely because I hate it so much).
Posted by Caitlin at 07:43 PM | Comments (3)
October 24, 2005
I better try and make this short because I'm exhausted. We got up early both Saturday and Sunday, so now I'm paying for it. At this point, I don't think we have any plans for this weekend.
On Saturday, we went to Connecticut to close the beach cottage. We went early enough that I couldn't do my workout before. It was a very cold and wet day. During my 18 minute warmup, it wasn't that bad. Things got worse after my first hill. I did the same workout as last weekend (3 sets of 30 second hills- easy; medium; hard). First, it started raining harder and second, the hill wasn't steep enough. I was doing a different hill than last week because it was getting dark and I didn't have time to drive to the other one. I tried to compensate by running the hills harder and then running back down faster than I would have on the steeper hill. Also, I went right into my 18 minute cooldown without resting. All that probably made no difference (except for increasing my risk of injury), but it made me feel better.
On Sunday, I was at Franklin Park for the Mayor's Cup. I got to see Alison, P., and Mary, and meet Megan for the first time. I was freezing since I was in running clothes, but it was too difficult to run in major mud and watch my husband race at the same time. I ran for 45 minutes after his race with Sarah, who I met through Mary. Franklin Park is definitely a favorite place to run. There is so much energy there, especially at meets because everyone is doing their warmup or cooldown.
Today was my usual day off. This week starts an increase in mileage from the past couple of weeks. I'm still resting a little bit, but my runs will be more like 60 minutes. With Daylight Savings Time this weekend, I'm a little nervous about what this will mean for my winter running. I was used to running in the dark everyday in Northampton, but there aren't any streetlights here. I don't think my reflective vest and 2 blinking lights are going to cut it. I may have to invest in a headlamp too. I'm going to be one cool runner.
Posted by Caitlin at 10:50 PM | Comments (1)
October 21, 2005
Ronald McDonald
Believe it or not, but for the last couple of days, I've looked just like Ronald with his big red lips. My lips are so chapped and dry, that I've licked them too many times to moisten them and now I have a red ring around them. I had to carry chapstick in my spandex pocket while running, so I could apply it immediately when I felt them getting really dry. Luckily today, it's much better.
The last two days I ran for 45 minutes again. On Wednesday, I ran around in the same neighborhoods as I did on Tuesday, but went a different way. I'm trying to find more neighborhoods to keep me away from all the cars. It seems like all my regular routes are on busy streets. I've done lots of exploring since we moved, but you really have to know your way around before you can make runs out of neighborhoods where all the streets connect and look the same. Also, as it's getting darker earlier, I'm going to need to find safe places to run in the dark. Too bad, there are just about no streetlights anywhere.
Yesterday, I did a downhill loop that I thought was 45 minutes, but was actually only 35 minutes so I ended up adding on. Since I felt really good and like I was running fairly fast, I went over to the track to time a lap. I probably shouldn't have done that because I was only running the same pace I always run. How disappointing. Why did it feel like I was moving? Oh well.
Today is another day off. I better not get used to it, because it's not going to last much longer.
Oh, and I'm pretty sure I don't have 23 posts yet, so I can't play tag today.
Posted by Caitlin at 09:54 PM | Comments (4)
October 18, 2005
More Than Anticipated
It's hard to write an entry when you don't have much to say, but it's also hard to let too many days go by without writing something. So, on to the big excitement...
Let's see -- On Sunday I ran for 45 minutes. I was surprised at how well I felt after my hill workout on Saturday. Monday was my day off from running, but I got a massage. I made sure to hydrate before and after so I wouldn't wake up screaming in the middle of the night with any more of those awful charley horses. Today I ran for - you guessed it- 45 minutes, because I'm following the same exact schedule as last week. My run was nice because I ran around in neighborhoods that I've only run in once before. I've been running faster on all my runs because 45 minutes seems so much shorter than the usual 70 minutes. It feels nice to run fast as long as I'm not running too fast.
Right now I'm waiting for Brad to come home from practice and for the Domino's delivery person to knock on my door with my pepperoni, green pepper, and onion pizza. Mmmm...I don't know when the last time I had Domino's, but I'm truly excited (and happy to not have to cook). I'm also sitting here feeling guilty because I just told my sister I won't be going home for my niece's 4th birthday in November. It's just too hard to drive almost 2 hours (more when there's traffic) for a short party and then have to drive back. I can't make a weekend of it because Brad's racing. I just feel sad that I'm going to miss out on so many things now that I moved. I guess I'll just have to get used to it.
Posted by Caitlin at 08:30 PM | Comments (1)
October 15, 2005
Foaming at the Knee
When I woke up this morning it was STILL raining. I decided to wait a little bit before heading out the door to see if things cleared up. They didn't, and things seemed only to get worse. I finally made myself go when Brad called me to say he was on his way home from his workout (hill repeats at Heartbreak Hill).
I drove to the school where I work to park my car. That way I could run to the hill I was going to do my workout at instead of doing an out and back warmup and cooldown. I warmed up for about 19 minutes and did lots of drills and strides to be fully loose. I skipped stretching because I didn't really feel like sitting in puddles. It was a relatively warm rain. I tied my jacket around my waist because I ended up being too warm with so many layers on.
My workout was 9 x 30 sec. hills with the jog back down for recovery. It was split into three sets (no extra rest between sets) of easy, medium, hard. I call it level 1, 2, and 3 because the pace gets progressively harder and never is easy. The last one is practically all-out. I was annoyed because while I wasn't struggling at all, I could never get as far at each level as I did in my first set. Brad always gets farther, but my excuse could be that as the workout went on, the street became more and more flooded.
I cooled down for 19 minutes. On my cooldown, I began noticing that my knees were very sudsy. I also noticed that where my jacket met my spandex there was more suds. Weird. I guess no one driving by noticed because I didn't get any honks. I just got a new washer and dryer, but maybe I have to put my clothes through an extra rinse cycle. I remember this happening before in high school or college and that the group I was with had to stop running because we were laughing so much. I don't know. I think your clothes have to be pretty soaked for it to happen and I don't think I've ever been as soaked as I was. Luckily I brought a towel to sit on in my car.
I'm still resting (it's only been a week), but this workout was to keep the legs moving. Last fall, I started my marathon training from practically scratch. I started with short pick-ups before I started doing 3 minute hills. This time, I have a whole year of 50+ miles/week. While I'm not in great shape now by any means, we want to rest enough to keep me fresh, but not lose too much of what I have. We have to sit down and figure out a basic outline for the marathon, but haven't had time to do it yet. Right now resting feels good.
Now that the "bad weather" is approaching, Brad and I spent a lot of time today getting our basement ready for treadmill running. We now have a stereo, TV, and DVD/VCR combo set up right in front of our treadmill. I couldn't make it through my runs just staring at the wall. At my Dad's we also visited each other or I'd sit nearby and read. I guess our next mission will have to be to get something to sit on because we don't have a coach downstairs like at my Dad's.
Gosh, this entry was probably my longest ever. Sorry if I rambled at all. I can't help it. In the last couple of days, I've gotten really excited about running Boston, which is good considering I barely made it out the door on Thursday for my run. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Posted by Caitlin at 08:20 PM | Comments (2)
October 13, 2005
Sucking It Up
I haven't been writing, because things have been pretty uneventful. Monday was a day off from running. I took my sister back to college and we got stuck in a lot of traffic. It was nice to catch up with her since I don't see her as much anymore. I helped her bring her stuff back into the dorm which made me feel so old. It's been 6 1/2 years since college (undergrad).
On Tuesday I ran for 45 minutes and I felt awful. I'm not sure why my legs have been so dead lately. Then, Brad took me out to dinner for my birthday since we didn't get to see much of each other on Monday because he was working. I had a delicious meal and was lucky enough to have leftovers to bring to work the next day. I love when I don't have to make lunch in the morning.
Wednesday's 45 minute run was an ordeal. I got home from work late and didn't want to run in the rain again (which is weird because I actually like running in the rain). Somehow I convinced myself that it was ok to take another day off. I poured myself some soda, put some peanuts in a bowl, and sat at the computer trying to think of what to say to Brad in an e-mail about why I wasn't running (since he's my "coach"). He must have known what I was about to do because he called me right then. After telling him I definitely wasn't running, the guilt started to gnaw at me. Brad said that he was going to suggest I also take Friday off. As soon as he said that, I said I had to go, and ran upstairs to get dressed since it was getting dark. My run wasn't the best, but I was just happy that I managed to get out the door.
I'm not working today because schools are closed due to Yom Kippur. I got three extra hours of sleep. I did another 45 minute run, but it was somewhat better than my other runs this week. And yes, it is still raining (now 7 days in a row). My plans for today include cleaning up around the house, unpacking at least one box, paying bills, going to the bank, and reading some of my book. I also have to have my rings appraised for insurance. I really do not like the idea of taking my rings off and giving them to someone, but I'm sure they'll be safe. I better get going before I run out of time to do all these things...
Posted by Caitlin at 12:21 PM | Comments (3)
October 09, 2005
Oh, the Drama
Thank God the rain has finally stopped. I don't mind running in the rain, but I don't particularly like standing around at races in the cold rain or driving on the highway in the rain. I did a lot of both of these things this weekend.
Brad and I got up at 5:15am to go to the B.A.A. Half-Marathon in Boston. I was sooo tired that I couldn't even keep my eyes open. It was raining a lot at first, but the rain lessened before the race started. I wasn't freezing at first, but got very cold about 20 minutes into the race. I hung around with Alison, P., and Blondie. This was my first time meeting Blondie. It's interesting to put a face to the name. I expected her to have really long blond hair, but it's actually short.
The drama began when Brad didn't appear at the finish. As more time went by, I started to get nervous because I knew that even if he slowed down tremendously, he should have finished. I checked at the medical tent (Am I neurotic or what?), but he wasn't there. Eventually, Alison, Blondie and I started running the course backwards since we were going to run for 30 minutes. We didn't see him, of course. I went back to the medical tent where they were able to track him down. He was on the "sweeper bus" and got back to the finish area about 2:40 into the race (I think?). Mind you, had he finished, he would have been around 1:10 or so. That meant I was quite worried for a long time. It turns out he strained his hamstring just past mile 7. It wasn't a good day for a PR, but he was running well place-wise. I have to thank Alison, P., and Blondie for being there during the drama, and Mary for patiently checking in to see if we were ready to run since she was soaking wet and cold from her own run. I'm just sorry we couldn't run with her.
When we got back from the race, we slept for 2 hours. Then, I drove to my Mom's in Northampton for my birthday dinner/party. It was nice to be able to hang with my family for a while. Brad didn't come because he's working tomorrow. He wanted to, but I'm not a big birthday person, so I didn't think it made sense for him to drive 2 hours to a party only to go back a couple hours later. I'm staying here tonight and bringing my sister back to college on the way home. Tomorrow is a day off from running, which is too bad since there are multi-colored leaves all over the ground here. It's absolutely gorgeous here. Maybe I'll go for a walk.
Posted by Caitlin at 09:42 PM | Comments (2)
October 08, 2005
Oh well
I've already moved on after my sub-par performance. The weather wasn't going to allow a SB (season best) today. It was pouring when the race started. I was faster through the first mile (6:48) than 3 weeks ago in my last 5k. However, my second mile was something like 7:07. This course is much harder than the course from 3 weeks ago, but considering I'm in better shape, I thought I'd run about the same time or hopefully faster. So, I ended up with 21:40. One of the top guys told me he ran almost a minute slower than he did a couple weeks ago. That made me feel a lot better. Whatever. I got good prizes and had fun. I also got to catch up with a lot of former teammates. After the race we went to a former teammate's wedding. This was our first wedding since we got married a year and a half ago. It was tons of fun. We're home now and exhausted from the day's happenings. Now we get to get up at 5:15 to go to the B.A.A. Half-Marathon which Brad is running while I get to see a few bloggers.
Posted by Caitlin at 11:40 PM | Comments (1)
October 05, 2005
EASY
I knew today's workout was going to be really easy and it was. After warming up for 20 minutes I did 8x200 in 51 seconds with 1 minute rest. I had to make myself run the right pace because the purpose of the workout was to run race pace. I know it was only a 200, but it felt ridiculously slow. Hope that bodes well for my 5k on Saturday. I cooled down for 10 minutes which only gave me about 5 miles. I wish I had more to write about, but I don't. I'm tired and really want to go to bed. The next couple of days I'll just be running 4 miles or so and then I have a busy weekend. I'll write again when I have more to say.
Posted by Caitlin at 07:55 PM | Comments (3)
October 04, 2005
Dentist Woes
Today I was "home" in Northampton for that all too familiar trip to the dentist. I take good care of my teeth, but they stink anyways, so I make numerous trips to the dentist. Just saying the word dentist brings on anxiety. I can never get out of that office soon enough. Before I went to the dentist, I got up early and ran for 50 minutes in Look Park. It was very fall-like and I enjoyed being one of a couple people there this morning. Normally I like lots of people in there to keep me occupied (especially if I stop by and do a few loops during a long run), but I'm more about a peaceful run early in the morning. This park is fun to run in because it brings back so many memories from going to camp as a little kid, being a camp counselor, and of course, it was where my high school cross-country course was. Even though the park isn't very big, it's definitely a favorite place to run.
Posted by Caitlin at 08:44 PM | Comments (0)
October 02, 2005
Lots of Running and Sleeping and Cool Animal Sightings
It seems like all I did this weekend was run or sleep. I'm actually reducing my miles this week, so I'm not sure why it feels like I ran so much. On Saturday morning I woke up at 11:00! Who sleeps until 11:00? I don't think I've done that since college. I actually woke up at 7:00 when Brad got up to go to his practice. He was making a lot of noise, so I didn't think I'd fall back asleep. Well, I did and when I woke up I was in a panic and headed right out the door for an easy 35 minutes. When Brad got home soon after, he wanted to take a nap because he hadn't gotten the sleep I did. I felt left out, so I took one too and slept for 2 hours. I know it's ridiculous, but I must have been extremely sleep deprived. In the evening, we ran in the woods for 45 minutes. The soft surface felt great on the legs.
Today I only slept until 8:30. I dropped Brad off at the woods for his long run and went to the track for my workout. I was psyched to be at a better track than the one I have to use for my Wednesday workouts. On my 15 min. warmup I saw 15 turkeys! How cool is that! As I was running down a path, they were running ahead of me. It was quite the sight! Eventually, they went into the woods and that was the last I saw of them. My workout was a 3 mile tempo run. I did it in 21:08, which was 25 seconds faster than when I did it last month. Hopefully that means my 5k this weekend will be 25 seconds faster (wishful thinking)! I cooled down for 15 minutes. Brad and I cleaned for the rest of the afternoon. We've been in this apartment for over 3 months now and we're still unpacking. In the evening we ran yet again for 45 minutes. This time we did numerous loops around the grass fields of a local college. We also had a 2 min. extension on a path in the woods. On our first loop we saw a fox!
Tomorrow is my day off from running and after work I'm going home (meaning to my old home in Northampton). I have a dentist appointment on Tuesday. I scheduled it for that day because my school is closed due to Rosh Hashanah. I think it's about time I find a dentist out here, so I don't have to make the drive home. I also have to stop at the mall and see if I can find something to wear to a wedding this weekend. This is the first wedding we're going to since we were married a year and a half ago.
Posted by Caitlin at 11:02 PM | Comments (2)