treadmill

by

Bring on March!

March is supposed to be the windy month but it seemed to me that it was February this year!

February Update:

  • 2 Races – one 4 miler and one 7K
AJH got 2nd place...we won a lunch bag which matches the race shirt

AJH got 2nd place…and I got 3rd!!

  • I finished knitting a pair of socks
3rd pair

so what if it took almost a year…

  • I played tennis every Monday…that’s 4 times in one month!
  • I did a better job of following my half marathon training plan by adding an extra day of running…
in Jan, I was worried about my foot & only running every other day

in Jan, I was worried about my foot & only running every other day

  • This month I ran 84 miles! The most miles in a month since 2011!
???????????????????????????????

Nisky Bike Trail – one of my favorite places to run

  • I tried to eat fruit and vegetables everyday!
salad potluck 2-2013 005

love mandarin oranges & craisins in my salad

  • I even used the treadmill several times when the weather wouldn’t cooperate.
dreadmill

ipad & water required

  • I read quite a few books. In addition to my YA fixation (I finished Insurgent & started Matched), I read 3 Joy Fielding mystery thrillers.

joyf1

  • I did not do any yoga…I did not use the exercise bike during lunch…I did not see my mentee… oh well, there’s March!

Hope we have nicer weather in March (and an early spring!!!)

MonthMarchWd

GOALS

  • Complete my 6th Half Marathon (and 1st since the 2012 injuries)
  • Take a running break to heal my aching foot (only a week or 2…next race is a 5k on Mar 30 or a 5 miler on April 14)
  • Do yoga instead each week
  • Continue tennis once a week
  • Sign up for another half marathon
  • Continue to eat healthier

Happy Running! How was your February running? Anything new planned for March?

runner-sig

by

3 Things Thursday: Winter, Diet & Anna

running-cartoon

Reverse the roles: my hubby is the women & I am the guy

1. The forecast again was for snow yesterday and rain today so although I had worked 11 boring hours at the bar exam on Tuesday, I dragged myself to the bike trail (it was nearby) and ran (sorta) 6 miles.  It was late and I was extremely tired but I just had to do it.

It was getting dark when I arrived so I brought a flash light. Then it got really dark (there are no lights) and kinda creepy to be alone on this trail.

dark run

So after 3 miles, I got back in the car and finished my run under the street lights of Delmar.  I am so glad that I did it.  On Wednesday, I woke up to snow.

feb27

It quickly turned to rain and my run turned into 3 ugly miles on the treadmill after work.

2. In the theme of healthy eating, my work had a Salad Bowl Potluck lunch yesterday. Everyone brought a salad ingredient and you just added what you wanted to make a big salad.  It was fun.

salad potluck 2-2013 005

so yummy!

It would have been even more healthy if I didn’t have this snack before lunch.

ccbread

I was happy until I read that it had 480 calories and didn’t really taste that good.

And I went out to dinner with friends…at a Lebanese restaurant. The food was great, too. (The waiter took a liking to us and gave us free appetizers and free coffee.)

phoenicians

lebanese

I had Mixed Schawarma (and took 1/2 home)

3.  Anna from Russia is Back in the USA for a short vacation.  She arrived in NYC on Tuesday. She is going to DC and then returning to NYC.  I plan to see her next Wednesday.  Can’t wait!!

DSC02743

here we are last May at the NY Botanical Gardens

Happy Running!  Are you as ready for spring as I am?  Are you a healthy eater?

runner-sig

by

The Countdown is On!

shm bib

THREE MORE WEEKS = 2 MORE LONG RUNS!

Week 9 Update:

  • Mon-  Tennis
  • Tues – 3 mile run on the TM at work
  • Wed – 5 windy cold miles after work
  • Thurs – REST 4 miles on TM after work
  • Fri – 4 miles after work REST (on a nice sunny non windy day)
  • Sat – REST 11 MILES
  • Sun – 11 MILES REST (BTW: the storm was an bust!)
dreadmill

twice in one coldy windy week

Week 10:

  • Mon-  workin at the Bar exam, Tennis after

weather2-25-13

  • Tues – workin at the Bar exam, 3 miles afterwards??
  • Wed – 6 miles after work
  • Thurs – REST
  • Fri – 4 miles after work
  • Sat – REST
  • Sun – 12 MILES…oh my!
loose sneaker

toe spacer & bunion pad didn’t work…tried skipping the top eyes when lacing

Happy Running! Anyone training for a big race?

runner-sig

by

Welcome October…Welcome Fall!

September was a pretty busy month even though it didn’t go as planned.

This is what I had hoped:

  • Higher weekly and monthly mileage totals – not really but I had good intentions
  • Lower my 5K time – actually I did but not by as much I would have liked
  • Lower my 10K time – nope because I changed my mind & didn’t run the 10K
  • Start yoga – nope here too
  • Join a gym and work out – well, I didn’t really think this would happen

about 8 of those miles were walked 😦

But let’s focus on the good things that happened in September.

  • I ran in four races.

showing off my medal from the 4.4 Chase Away Leukemia race

  • I finished a 5K in less than 30 minutes.

doing it at the MPBA 5k

  • The weather cooperated and we had some more boating weekends.

cool but sunny day on Lake George

  • I started my weekly tennis contract and am enjoying it.
  • I stayed in my friend’s house on Schroon River 2 more times (for running, mah jongg). Love it there!

view from the house

  • I got a surprise visit from my friend in Russia.

at the NY Botanical Gardens

  • I am enjoying the foliage in the Northeast.

Hiking on the Indian Ladder Trail at Thatcher State Park

  • I rode my bike (1x)

at the Nisky bike trail along the Mohawk R.

  • I used the treadmill once.
  • I won a healthy receipe contest at work AND I won $25 gift card to Walmarts (from The Happy Runner).

this was my prize at work

For October, I am going to go out on a limb and try to:

  • Higher weekly and monthly mileage totals (that means long runs on the weekend)
  • Run at a more consistant & faster pace
  • Start yoga
  • Join a gym and work out
  • Lose weight
  • Eat healthy

Happy Running!  How was your September?  Anything different planned for October?

by

Weather Woes


I HATE RAIN!!

Yes, I do.

I will deal with it today because last night, I purposely did not watch TV:

I plan to use the treadmill at work (on the dark, stuffy behind the curtains of our gym stage) and watch TV on my iPad.

Tomorrow and Sunday, I am going back to Chestertown for a weekend of mah jongg playing.

and I baked it myself & used freshly picked apples

When the mah jongg ladies take a break to play tennis, I was planning to go for a run (and preferably a long one.)

me running in Chestertown

Rain does not fit into my plans!

I know I will have a great time with my friends but adding a run would make it perfect (Besides I will feel less guilty about all the food consumption.)

Happy Running!  Anyone else a rain wimp?

by

More Injury Advice from SUAR

SUAR’s the best so I’ve stole advice that I need right now and maybe you do or will too.

7 tips to not let injury defeat you:

  1. You are not alone. Remember that many, many people are feeling exactly how you are feeling right now. It is incredibly frustrating and sad to not be able to do what you love to do and that feeling is universal. Just knowing others feel like you do helps. Yes.
  2. Feel athletic. Find something, anything that you can do that make you feel athletic. It will not be running, but it will be something. Try to not compare it to running, but just see it as the thing that will help you get back to running eventually. Be in the moment. When you are on the elliptical, don’t judge the fact that you are not running out on the open road. Just be on the elliptical, get your heart rate up, sweat and feel your body. Know that running is there for you when your body is ready. Look forward to that day. Biking and walking has been this for me.
  3. Have hope. Know that this temporary. Stop reading stuff online, that is usually worst case scenarios and will not help you mentally. When I had my hip stress fracture, I looked at online forums and found all sorts of awful scenarios -people who never could run again, those who had to have surgery, you name it. Chances are very good these scenarios will not be you. So true.
  4. Get perspective. You are a strong and capable runner. You have a an injury. Injuries heal (unless there is some extenuating circumstances). I had to remind myself that cracks in the bone heal if I give it time and if I rest. It did heal. It took four months, then I was running the Boston Marathon with no pain. It’s been 5 months today and I am healing…so slowly.
  5. Ignore those people who don’t understand. Confide in other runners, even if this means on line friends like me. Read chapters of books that talk about injury like Zen and the Art of Running, Running with the Mind of Meditation and Brain Training for Runners. Most running books have a section devoted to injury because most runners get injured at some point. I have.
  6. Get help. If you are really down and depressed consider seeing a sport’s psychologist even just one time. I had a friend/fellow bloggerwho did this last year when she was injured and very down about it. She just went once, but it really put her in the mind space to be able to see beyond the injury and to move out of that dark place. I think I can get through this myself …I hope I can.
  7. Focus on the gifts in your life outside of running. They are still there. Friends…family…work…

You are a runner even if you can’t run right now. This is the best line in her advice.

I decided that after running on the treadmill at PT yesterday, I am going to venture outdoors – either walk/running on a track or a dirt path.  I can’t wait!!

Happy Running!

by

Yay, It’s May!

April has ended…still no tennis or racing but things are improving.

I met ALL my Goals! (See below.)

April Goals:

  • Continue PT 1-2x per week. Check. 2x/week
  • Do exercises on my own, as well 1-2x per day. Check. 2x/day
  • Use exercise bike and/or treadmill at work everyday. Check.
  • Go biking outdoors 1-2x per week. Check.
  • Lose that limp. Check. Well, almost. I can still feel it but not evident to others.
  • Run (on the treadmill) at least a few steps. Check.  I can do a 2 min run, 1 min walk for 20 min.

my new BFF

As you know, May is my favorite month.  I have a lot of fun things planned even if they do not include racing.  I even have some new goals.

May Goals:

  • Continue PT 1-2x per week.
  • Do exercises on my own, as well 1-2x per day.
  • Use exercise bike and/or treadmill at work on days with no PT.
  • Go biking outdoors 1-2x per week.
  • Go for walks outside.
  • Run outside (at least a few steps or maybe on a track.)
  • Hit a few tennis balls (maybe practice serving or volleying)
  • STAY POSITIVE!!

    Welcome, May!

 

Happy Running!  Any exciting goals for May?

by

Change or No Change

I thought things had changed a lot since last April and then I went to the hairdresser.

Change:

Last April, I was getting excited to run my second half marathon (13.1 miles).
This April, I am excited to run 2 minutes on a treadmill and I look forward to biking on the weekends.

April 2011

April 2012

 

Last April, my hair was long (and then I cut it.)
This April, I have continued to keep it shorter.

April 2011

April 2012

No Change:

I got my hair cut before going on my annual Florida vacation.
I am wearing the  SAME OUTFIT. (What are the odds of that??)

Happy Running!  What has changed with you since last year?

by

Walking at Work

Yesterday a bunch of us at work walked for 45 minutes as part of “Turn a Working Lunch into a Walking Lunch.”

I guess it’s ok since I can’t run.   When the weather is nice, it’s more enjoyable than the treadmill (except that I can RUN on the tm.)

This was my first walk on pavement…I usually either lean on a shopping cart or walk on a treadmill.

Our group (-3)

 

 

I walked slow. Very Slow. My foot hurt!! It was swollen afterwards.  But it was worth it … doing something others were doing…I almost felt normal 🙂

Also we just got this email:

Join us for the next 10 weeks in the WalkingWorks® challenge – a friendly walking competition between April 30th and July 8th.

Employees will form teams and compete to see which team can walk the most miles. To keep things fair, the total miles walked will be the average number of miles walked by each member of your team. You can track your personal and team progress online, and will receive weekly e-mail reminders and tips to help you stay motivated. The team that averages the most miles will win a prize!

The first 60 people to register will receive a FREE pedometer and a FREE participant guide with instructions for tracking the number of steps you walk each week.

I’m pretty sure my department is joining.  So I will be walking! And I want my team to win!! (Yes, I am competitive.)

Happy Running!  Do you also walk?

 

by

Running on the Treadmill

I have never enjoyed running on the treadmill.  I have never been good at it.  It’s not just the boredom but I find it difficult. 

I run at a slower pace.  If I speed up, I feel like I will fall off.  

I kinda run like this.

I have a shorter stride on the treadmill.  Otherwise, I feel like I will go off the front. 

I do NOT look like this!

I get tired faster. 

I feel like this!

And they seem to run at different speeds.  The same speed on the treadmill at work feels SO MUCH FASTER than the one at PT.  Is that possible???

I could go on and on about my treadmill difficulties. 

In the past, I have only used the treadmill when I could not run outside (rain, snow, etc.) Well, now  it’s the only place I can run. 

Things will have to change!!!!

PT guy J remarked that on Monday, my stride was too short and my gait was choppy. “You must be nervous because of your ankle. We’ll have to work on that.”

Only part of  my problem was related to  the injury. How can I explain that I suck as a treadmill runner!

Happy Running!  Anyone else have treadmill issues?