start training soon

I'll start training for my next marathon next week. Looking forward to running in Central park!

monday run :(

I ran with E. on Monday, 10.30.06 near my place. It was not a good run at all. I wasn't expecting to run Monday, so I didn't eat a lot of pasta on Sunday night. I didn't eat that much period. I haven't been running that much, so I've decided to cut back on my caloried. This is the first time I've stuck with my diet regiment. It's been 2 weeks and it's working well except for the times I'm running. I was really light headed on my Monday run. I felt like I was going to collapse. I felt like vomiting. Also the right side on my abdomen was hurting. It can be lack of hydration or lack of food in my body. I'm thinking it was because of the lack of food. I stopped running and had to sit down. I'm guessing that's how it fills when you running a marathon and you've depleted your glycogen storage.

Lesson learned, eat appropriately. I do want to loose 7lbs, but I have to do it wisely.

why I run

I was listening to Phedippidations tonight, the episode on why he ran. It inspired me to write the reasons why I run. My list in no particular order:

• feels great
  
• sense of accompolishment
  
• crossing the finish line is an amazing feeling
  
• getting a PR is even more exciting
  
• want to qualify for Boston, one day!
  
• keeps me healthy
  
• keeps me fit
  
• allows me to pig out;)(that was one of the main reason, but now I've made the decision not to go for seconds, unless I have a race or a long run the next day)
  
• be a role model to Lucy
  
• special gift to myself
  
• I like it
  

how I got started in running

On a Nov Sunday morning in 2001, I woke up and decided to run. It took me 45 min to run 2 miles. Maybe it was 3, but I thought it was 2. I was sore for the next entire week. I could barely walk. I haven't exercised for a long time and my body felt it. Prior to that Sunday morning, I was depressed. I was feeling like a sloth and I decided that I had to do something about it and I did. I got up and started running. I've been running for almost 5 years, so hopefully this means this running thing will stick:). Running has changed me for the better.

monday run

time: 6:45am
weather conditions: cool and foggy, hard to see this morning
clothing: white long sleeve, with long leggings
shoes: New Balance 1010
route: with E.
distance: 4mi according to my Garmin, but I think it was incorrect
time: 41min
pace:10:15
meal before hand: 1 packet of Gu
I ran hard with E. this morning. We did some exercise my sports massage therapists showed me. I was breathing hard and sweating like mad, but my watch only showed 10:15am. I know I've been taking a break, but I can't imagine 1.5 week of not running I would be that out of shape? No way, I think the fog messed up the GPS readings or at least that's what I'm hoping. Either case, I need to start hitting the road and no more break for me:). I'm planning to siging up for a Turkey Trek race on Thanksgiving. I found a 5K. It'll get me motivated to train again. It nice just to run and not be training for anything, but the races pushes me to run harder and more regularly.

rest

I haven't updated my exercise blog in awhile b/c I've been taking an exercise break. I did go to yoga this morning. I love my Friday yoga sessions. I've also decided to not sleep that extra 10 min and get to yoga on time. It's nice not being late and rushing to yoga.

Last Saturday I did go see my sports massage therapists. He is also a personal trainer. He showed me a lot of strength training exercises. We went through them and I was sore for the next 3 days. We did a lot of lunges, so my glutes were really feeling it. It's definitely a sure sign that I need to strengthen that part of my body. I could barely tie my shoes b/c I had a hard time squatting down. So a new goal, to do strength exercises at least 2 times a week. I want to get faster. If I want to run faster and run injury-free I have to do these, no whimping out. This means sleeping earlier and getting up at 6am at the lastest. I'm writing it down, so I'm making a written commitment.

pain!

It's a pattern. Every time I run all out. I feel my old injury again. It's happened at least 3 times. It doesn't matter if it's a short race or a long race. I get the same old pain. I went to see a new sports massage therapists. The session was painful, but I feel better now. I have a dull soreness instead of a sharp pain in my butt. I know I have to build up my core muscles or I'll be in real trouble. Hmm...yoga, swimming, pilates, and strength training. I do need to cross-train. I'll have to pick and choose what I can reasonably do. Definitely yoga and strength training once a week. My sports therapists is also a personal trainer. He recommends weight training at least once a week. I think I can handle that.

I also started listening to Podcasts for the first time. I'm subscribed to a bunch of running podcasts:).

PR!

I PR at the San Jose Rock 'n' Roll marathon! I ran it in 2:14:18. My goal was 2:15. I started with the 2:30 pace group. My splits were messed up. I didn't see the mile marker for 5 and 8.

mile 1 10:52:57
mile 2 10:59:99
mile 3 9:49:16
mile 4 10:00:60
mile 5 & 6 20:45:42 bathroom, no toilet paper:(
mile 7 10:15:83
mile 8 & 9 20:09:44
mile 10 10:25:56 filled up with water myself
mile 11 10:36:64 filled up with water by someone else
mile 12 9:50:82
mile 13 9:10:38
mile .1 1:12:57 + 17.51

I think next time, I just need to fill up on water once. I knew I had to maintain an avg of 10:20 to meet my goal. I did it. I was running better than goal pace most of the way. The last mile I thought I was going to vomit. I was running so hard. I think I could have push myself a bit more the last .1 mile. I guess that'll be for next time.

I ran with E. until about mile 5 or 6. I enjoy running by myself. I just have to worry about passing and walking on my own. I like training with other people, but when it comes to race day, no chit chatting for me. It's complete race mode for me. I love seeing my splits. I need to learn how to keep my pace consistent though.

Foodwise, I had a bit of the runs. I'm not sure if it was the greasy pasta the night before or the apple and cinnamon oatmeal the morning of. I need to test that out a bit more.

Food
pre-race night of
pasta with artichoke, mushroom, olive oil
salad with ice berg lettuce, tomato, balsamic vinegarette
pre-race morning of
1 banana
2 packets of Nature's Path Apple and Cinnamon Oatmeal
Water
during race
5 endurolyte capsules
1 gu packet
1 bottle of water

hot, but not miserable hot

course, pretty good, pretty crowded, I think the bands helped and the cheerleaders helped, good crowd support

I ran hard! This is probably the hardest I've ever run for a long distance race. I was huffing and puffing for a bit and running out semi-VO2Max, if there is such a thing as semi- :).