Kate's Queen City Notes

I was hoping to get back outside for my run today, but I had to abort the mission. It’s forty degrees, but rainy. I don’t have proper gym clothes yet, so my cotton shirt and pants would have gotten really water-logged. I opted for the treadmill and no chafing.

The run felt just a little rough. I’m pretty sure it was due to my dinner of duck fat fries and beer last night. That was not one of my better life choices. I blame it on the half-off drafts. Oh, and I have discovered a product called Body Glide. Go ahead and laugh like I did upon hearing the name. Apparently, distance runners have various chafing issues. This product is supposed to resolve them. I only have problems with this on my long runs, so I will test it out this weekend. I just want to know who invented this and if it’s just glorified Vaseline as I imagine it is.

Total Miles logged: 52.7

Days until the pig: 104

Miles run today: 3

Average pace: 5.3 mph

I neglected the blog yesterday, but I did run. It was above freezing, so I ran outside for the first time in my training. It was also the first time I took my FiveFingers outside. I ran three miles along the Ohio river. It was beautiful. Here’s a little snap shot.

The run outside felt great. My FiveFingers performed well, but I did notice that the balls of my feet were a little tender after the run. I think I will have to build-up toughness. I’m hoping for more days above freezing, so I can get outside more often.

Today I did 9 miles. It reminded me of my flights to Manila. I would eat a little, nap a little, watch a movie, eat more, read a book, only to realize that the flight isn’t even half over. I watched Jersey Shore. I watched Teen Mom. I watched the Soprano’s marathon; I would have been watching the Soprano’s marathon the whole time, had I only known. Through it all, I was still running. I felt pretty good until the last two miles. I had to repeat my mantra,this too shall pass, over and over again for the last mile. But, I made it. It wasn’t pretty, but I did it. This generally sums up what I hope for the Pig. It won’t be pretty, but I just want to finish.

Total Miles logged: 49.7

Days until the pig: 106

Miles run today: 9

Average pace: 5.2 mph

My three miles felt great. I ran at lunch again. I might need to suffer through hauling all my shower stuff to the office just to continue this. I had my fastest pace yet of 5.4 MPH.

In the next week or two, I’m going to The Running Spot to get fitted for new shoes, get socks, and some running clothes. I hate spending money on clothing that I only wear to sweat in. I have avoided doing this for years. I think it’s time to bite the bullet. I don’t have the proper attire to go on long winter runs. My cotton t shirts aren’t going to cut it. I’m just hoping to get out of there with spending less than 300 dollars.

Total Miles logged: 37.7

Days until the pig: 108

Miles run today: 3

Average pace: 5.4 mph

Whew. My run today felt good. I ran during my lunch hour. While those lunch run are annoying to coordinate, clothing, shoes, make-up, hair products all wedged into my work bag; they feel great. I have never really enjoyed morning exercise. I like it because it frees up my evenings, not because my body is pleased to run right out of bed. Too bad The Pig starts at 630am.

I lost two pounds between 8am this morning and 1pm. I guess that five pounds of water I’ve been retaining for the past two days is on the retreat. Good riddance!

Total Miles logged: 34.7

Days until the pig: 109

Miles run today: 5

Average pace: 5.1 mph

My three mile run today felt like death. I tried to do hills while retaining five extra pounds of water weight; it was a horrible idea. My God. And I thought my 8 miles was bad. I felt like spent the night making out with a salt lick, but I’m pretty sure my misery is due to hormones. On the bright side, I felt pretty whipped on Sunday after my eight mile run, but I wasn’t sore at all on Monday. So, my body complains while doing the run, but doesn’t seem to be any worse for the wear the following day. Good to know. 

Total Miles logged: 29.7

Days until the pig: 110

Miles run today: 3

Average pace: 5.1 mph

Yesterday, I ran eight miles. I had previously been maxing out at six to seven miles. It hurt. I felt pretty good until mile five. The last three miles were pretty miserable, but I endured. I watched “Teen Mom” on MTV; it was nearly as awful as the last three miles of my run. While watching Teen Mom, all I could think about is this is why so many children are growing up to me less than successful adults. It engaged too much of my mind to be mindless TV. While the people on Jersey Shore were generally behaving far worse than the moms, they are at least only making a mess of their own lives. Net, no Teen Mom while running.

My lungs are particularly vulnerable to breathing cold air. I had pleurisy a couple years ago from biking in sub-freezing temperatures. As a result, I can’t take my runs outside until temperatures get above 32 degrees. I hope this starts to happen in February. I really need to get the feeling of running on uneven pavement, and downhill.

Lastly, I made the poor choice of looking at the marathon map. Ack! That’s a long way. I mean that’s 26 miles; the same number of miles I ran all last week! That makes me a little sick just thinking about it. I need to not look at the map again for a while.

Total Miles logged: 26.7

Days until the pig: 111

Miles run today: 8

Average pace: 5.4 mph

I watched the Jersey Shore while doing my 5 miles today. I just feel dirty thinking about it. This run felt better than all the others before it. I am curious about what my 8 miles tomorrow will feel like. I ran in my FiveFingers and my calves feel a little sore today. I’ll see how it goes tomorrow.

Total Miles logged: 18.7

Days until the pig: 113

Miles run today: 5

Average pace: 5.4 mph

I think the treadmill at my apartment is set differently than the treadmill at the office. My office runs felt more challenging. It might also have something to do with how I entertained myself while on the treadmill. At the office, I was listening to to podcasts or reading my Kindle. On the treadmill at my apartment, I was watching mindless TV. I think the mindless TV allowed me to focus my mind a little more on carrying on my run. I will keep track of this from this point forward.

I’ve had a couple of blisters, but they are minor. I just need to keep an eye on them. I’m not worried about them in their present state, but I worry about what they can turn into.

I went skiing last night for the first time this winter. I decided to sign up for a four week pass alone. I don’t know many other skiers who were available at the last minute during which I signed up for the sessions. I have discovered that I like being by myself while flying down the side of a mountain. I have also discovered that season matters when attempting to purchase skis and boots. I could have purchased used boots and skis last July for about eighty dollars. After several phone calls, I determined that I could buy some used boots and skis for about three hundred dollars. Note to self, shop for skis and boots this June and July.

Total Miles logged: 13.7

Days until the pig: 114

Miles run today: 3

Average pace: 5.2 mph

My run today felt better than Monday and Tuesday runs. I don’t know if that’s because I ran at lunch vs first thing in the morning, or my body is whipping itself back into shape. It might have helped that I was listening to This American Life. I find that reading makes me feel restless on the treadmill.

Total Miles logged: 10.7

Days until the pig: 115

Miles run today: 5

Average pace: 5.1 mph

My run today felt better than the run yesterday. My calves were just a little sore from wearing the FiveFingers. I think my body is just relieved to be back on a workout schedule. Vacation was nice, but I was starting to feel sluggish for lack of physical activity. I did yoga yesterday afternoon and realized that I need to work that into my regular routine. Not only has my balance deteriorated, but my ham strings were really tight. I’m thinking I will cross train with yoga as part of my Monday work outs.

I realized something this morning. My running shoes are old. I should probably get new ones since, I will be logging lots of miles on them. Further, I own very little technical clothing. I think I will need to strategic items for my outdoor runs. While I will shoot for days with milder weather, those days will be few and far between from now until March. While this will most certainly be a physical challenge, I think the mental challenge has a higher probability of causing me to fail.

Total Miles logged: 5.7

Days until the pig: 116

Miles run today: 3

Average pace: 5.2 mph