One lame thing about Seattle in the winter is how early it gets dark. It feels like the day's only half over and wtf -- the sun's setting. That makes you feel like it's nighttime and you want to wind up the day's activities, even though it's only 4 pm and you still have a lot to do.
I didn't get my butt outside when the sun was up, but I wanted to at least do a token workout today (walking around doesn't count to me, even if I'm climbing hills or carrying groceries). I can't run the Burke-Gilman trail or the parks when it's dark and I'm alone, 'cause of our wonderful crime-ridden neighborhood. So I ended up putting on these new $2.50 cotton yoga capris* I bought at Walgreens (yes, you may laugh now) and jogging around the block several times. Five circuits plus another loop to cool down took about 27 minutes, then I came back in and stretched.
Unlike in some cities, blocks here are not anything resembling a uniform size or shape. (They also tend to slope, like everything else in this region, and my block is no exception.) But I'll call it 1.3 miles.
* The experts say not to run in cotton, but I don't have a ton of technical fabric garments. So far, I haven't run in hot enough weather or long enough distance for chafing to be a serious problem. Hopefully by the time we get to that point, I'll have collected a few things. The cheapass yoga pants worked fine today. I think I want some long-sleeved shirts and a light vest with pockets, so I can quit going around in this oversized fleece jacket with broken zipper I've been using. Also, why the hell doesn't anyone make running shorts with pockets?
Total distance since beginning: 8.8 miles.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Being a lazy punk
I did not work out today or yesterday. sigh. I'm such scum.
Oh well, I still got 29 weeks left. According to the experts, rest day is when you actually improve (or when your body starts to adapt to whatever punishment you gave it previously). If resting makes you a better athlete, I ought to be great. Har har.
Tomorrow, I think I will try out that pretty Experience Fitness gym on the Ave. It's clean and not too busy and well located and $24 a month ... but it doesn't have a swimming pool. Too bad. It might still be worth it if I had a job, because I could work out without having to kid myself about the weather. But anyways, when I investigated, the front desk guy invited me to come back and try the place out, so I may as well take him up on that and time myself on a treadmill. I'm hoping I can manage a 10:20 mile. Wouldn't be much, but it'd be a small improvement.
A definite sign that one needs to go running: general frustration and dissatisfaction with one's lot. This goes away when you've run a couple miles.
Oh well, I still got 29 weeks left. According to the experts, rest day is when you actually improve (or when your body starts to adapt to whatever punishment you gave it previously). If resting makes you a better athlete, I ought to be great. Har har.
Tomorrow, I think I will try out that pretty Experience Fitness gym on the Ave. It's clean and not too busy and well located and $24 a month ... but it doesn't have a swimming pool. Too bad. It might still be worth it if I had a job, because I could work out without having to kid myself about the weather. But anyways, when I investigated, the front desk guy invited me to come back and try the place out, so I may as well take him up on that and time myself on a treadmill. I'm hoping I can manage a 10:20 mile. Wouldn't be much, but it'd be a small improvement.
A definite sign that one needs to go running: general frustration and dissatisfaction with one's lot. This goes away when you've run a couple miles.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Week 1, workout 3
Today I was unexpectedly picked up early by my folks for a ride to their house (well, it seemed early to me; I was having a slow morning). So I went running in Normandy Park instead. It was another sunny, chill day, but not as cold as previously.
I ran the path that we usually use for walking the dog, plus a couple extra blocks; it's maybe 1 3/4 (one and three-quarter) miles total, I'm not sure. There are lots of hills in that route. I spent 21 minutes out there, plus several minutes of walking and cooling down, and more careful stretching. It was a pretty easy day, but I was in a hurry to get cooled down and showered so I kept the run fairly short. I think next week I'll give intervals or sprints a try.
That hot spot on my left foot is persisting. I should try some different socks or put some lube stuff on it before I run. The problem is I don't have a perfect stride on that side; that foot angles outward a little when I walk or run, it's just a quirk in the way I'm put together. It's always been like that; I remember when I took taekwondo as a preteen, and we were told to stand at attention, I used to have to look down and adjust my feet so they were parallel. I already have pretty good running shoes, so there's not a lot I can do to improve there. Maybe different socks would help. I also want to try running on grass or track. Even for a youngster like me, pavement is jolting.
Next week may also see an increase in mileage. The experts say one should boost distance (or time spent) by no more than 10% per week, with occasional easier weeks. If I have the math right, I should reach 20-22 mile workouts by late June, which leaves taper time for July. So I'll start by adding a circuit of the park to my there-and-back trips next week. Or maybe I'll go find a real track with a measured distance.
Total current mileage: about 7.5 miles (we'll be a little conservative here). Tracking this is probably good so I'll know when to buy new shoes.
I ran the path that we usually use for walking the dog, plus a couple extra blocks; it's maybe 1 3/4 (one and three-quarter) miles total, I'm not sure. There are lots of hills in that route. I spent 21 minutes out there, plus several minutes of walking and cooling down, and more careful stretching. It was a pretty easy day, but I was in a hurry to get cooled down and showered so I kept the run fairly short. I think next week I'll give intervals or sprints a try.
That hot spot on my left foot is persisting. I should try some different socks or put some lube stuff on it before I run. The problem is I don't have a perfect stride on that side; that foot angles outward a little when I walk or run, it's just a quirk in the way I'm put together. It's always been like that; I remember when I took taekwondo as a preteen, and we were told to stand at attention, I used to have to look down and adjust my feet so they were parallel. I already have pretty good running shoes, so there's not a lot I can do to improve there. Maybe different socks would help. I also want to try running on grass or track. Even for a youngster like me, pavement is jolting.
Next week may also see an increase in mileage. The experts say one should boost distance (or time spent) by no more than 10% per week, with occasional easier weeks. If I have the math right, I should reach 20-22 mile workouts by late June, which leaves taper time for July. So I'll start by adding a circuit of the park to my there-and-back trips next week. Or maybe I'll go find a real track with a measured distance.
Total current mileage: about 7.5 miles (we'll be a little conservative here). Tracking this is probably good so I'll know when to buy new shoes.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas day: Ahhh, how peaceful.
This is the first time I think I've ever been away from my parents' house on Christmas.
It is so unbelievably, wonderfully quiet around here. Normally this neighborhood hums at all hours of the day and night, and even at 3 am, the streets are lined with parked cars and there's always drunken kids making noise, or someone running machinery, or sirens going to the latest robbery or the hospital.
Not today. The dorms are all empty, the neighborhood is near deserted, and it's as silent as an area in view of the Interstate ever gets. I was like, "Wow, I can hear the ocean ... oh wait, that's just the highway." But it's a lot quieter than usual -- normally it roars, today it's just a purr. And to crown the glory of this beautiful day, it's sunny. For those of you who don't live in Seattle, let me tell you: we really appreciate our sun here, because we see so little of it.
I could definitely get to like this. I hate the hustle of the Christmas season, but this peacefulness is quite enjoyable. I wish everyone in America celebrated Yom Kippur, then we'd have a day like this in September. I wonder if this is what Shabbat is like in some Israeli neighborhoods. How did they know how important days of rest were before they had engines and machines? (I suppose people who do manual labor all week need a day of rest for their bodies, like people who live in buzzing cities need a day of rest for their minds.)
When I lived in the suburbs, I didn't know how noisy true urban life was, or how important those moments of quiet become. Now I'm learning it.
I'm stuck between visiting the arboretum or a nearby park. I think I'll take my neglected bike out to the arboretum and walk the trails.
Not too sore today (definitely learning). I'm not sure whether it was pacing myself better, stretching at the proper time, longer cooldown, improved muscles, or maybe that yoga routine I found in a magazine and decided to try. Probably all of the above.
It is so unbelievably, wonderfully quiet around here. Normally this neighborhood hums at all hours of the day and night, and even at 3 am, the streets are lined with parked cars and there's always drunken kids making noise, or someone running machinery, or sirens going to the latest robbery or the hospital.
Not today. The dorms are all empty, the neighborhood is near deserted, and it's as silent as an area in view of the Interstate ever gets. I was like, "Wow, I can hear the ocean ... oh wait, that's just the highway." But it's a lot quieter than usual -- normally it roars, today it's just a purr. And to crown the glory of this beautiful day, it's sunny. For those of you who don't live in Seattle, let me tell you: we really appreciate our sun here, because we see so little of it.
I could definitely get to like this. I hate the hustle of the Christmas season, but this peacefulness is quite enjoyable. I wish everyone in America celebrated Yom Kippur, then we'd have a day like this in September. I wonder if this is what Shabbat is like in some Israeli neighborhoods. How did they know how important days of rest were before they had engines and machines? (I suppose people who do manual labor all week need a day of rest for their bodies, like people who live in buzzing cities need a day of rest for their minds.)
When I lived in the suburbs, I didn't know how noisy true urban life was, or how important those moments of quiet become. Now I'm learning it.
I'm stuck between visiting the arboretum or a nearby park. I think I'll take my neglected bike out to the arboretum and walk the trails.
Not too sore today (definitely learning). I'm not sure whether it was pacing myself better, stretching at the proper time, longer cooldown, improved muscles, or maybe that yoga routine I found in a magazine and decided to try. Probably all of the above.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Week 1, workout 2
I counted 30 weeks till the marathon. Okay, that sounds like plenty of time. I'm sure it'll go by quick, but it's a good amount of time to work with, I think.
I hope.
I should've gone running yesterday (most of the soreness was gone) but I wussed out, so I went today instead. I spent a while debating whether to go out with shorts, or wear pajama bottoms (I don't have real running tights or capris). I finally decided in favor of extra vitamin D, since it's a sunny day, and went with the shorts. I'd really like to buy some proper running tights or capris/long pants, but it's probably best to wait till the post-holiday sales (and no, I'm not going near any malls on Saturday, or even Sunday if I can avoid it -- I'd rather wait till the ravening hordes have dispersed and gone back to work).
So today's run:
16 minutes to the park, but I spent a minute adjusting my right shoelaces. So altogether I actually got there faster than my first try.
23 minutes returning. I walked most of it; my legs did not seem to have a lot of snap in them, the left foot developed a hot spot which may blister, and my head hurt a little from the cold, dry air. I hate thick humidity, but I also really don't like dry air at all. It's dusty and irritating and it clogs up my head. I took it easy and consoled myself that I was getting lots of vitamin D (or as much as is available around the winter solstice at this latitude) and so I enjoyed a little walk in the sun.
That adds up to ... just under 40 minutes total time. Not a great improvement (less stretching time, it's no improvement at all) but I think I will be less sore this time. My heart rate didn't get up very high but at least the muscles got some workout. I think I would've done better if I'd had long pants on, because my legs were just too cold to do anything, even after I ran enough to raise my core temperature. Also, I really should know better than to eat a Clif bar moments before a workout. I suppose I'll have to start eating bananas in advance of runs instead; that's worked for me before.
Total mileage since beginning: approximately 6 miles. I'm not sure that total mileage makes a huge difference, but as long as I'm going to geek out about numbers, why not.
I hope.
I should've gone running yesterday (most of the soreness was gone) but I wussed out, so I went today instead. I spent a while debating whether to go out with shorts, or wear pajama bottoms (I don't have real running tights or capris). I finally decided in favor of extra vitamin D, since it's a sunny day, and went with the shorts. I'd really like to buy some proper running tights or capris/long pants, but it's probably best to wait till the post-holiday sales (and no, I'm not going near any malls on Saturday, or even Sunday if I can avoid it -- I'd rather wait till the ravening hordes have dispersed and gone back to work).
So today's run:
16 minutes to the park, but I spent a minute adjusting my right shoelaces. So altogether I actually got there faster than my first try.
23 minutes returning. I walked most of it; my legs did not seem to have a lot of snap in them, the left foot developed a hot spot which may blister, and my head hurt a little from the cold, dry air. I hate thick humidity, but I also really don't like dry air at all. It's dusty and irritating and it clogs up my head. I took it easy and consoled myself that I was getting lots of vitamin D (or as much as is available around the winter solstice at this latitude) and so I enjoyed a little walk in the sun.
That adds up to ... just under 40 minutes total time. Not a great improvement (less stretching time, it's no improvement at all) but I think I will be less sore this time. My heart rate didn't get up very high but at least the muscles got some workout. I think I would've done better if I'd had long pants on, because my legs were just too cold to do anything, even after I ran enough to raise my core temperature. Also, I really should know better than to eat a Clif bar moments before a workout. I suppose I'll have to start eating bananas in advance of runs instead; that's worked for me before.
Total mileage since beginning: approximately 6 miles. I'm not sure that total mileage makes a huge difference, but as long as I'm going to geek out about numbers, why not.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Workout 1
Three days ago, I ran from my apartment to a local park and back. That was just under 3 miles total (1.4 or so there and back).
Time to park: 16:22 (that's minutes and seconds, not hours ;)
Time returning: 27:22 (includes stretching time, I forgot to stop counting there).
Two days ago, I was so sore it hurt to walk. Next time, I will warm up slower and remember to stretch at the end of the workout, not in the middle. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing: I'd read that one should stretch warm muscles, but when I tried, I found they were all wound up and twitchy and didn't want to stretch. Ow. Next time, cool down more first.
One day ago (yesterday), I was still somewhat sore and going down stairs was still painful. I decided: better not overdo it at the beginning. So I took another day off. I did walk half a mile to the store and carry 35 lbs of groceries home with me, but this is a usual activity since I don't own a car. I'd count it as crosstraining or "active recovery," not exercise.
I just realized I forgot to put my starting stats in the previous post, so here they are: I stand 5'5 1/2" (that's 65.5 inches) tall and currently weigh 140 lbs. I have not yet timed myself running a mile, but the last time I ran a timed mile, back in May, it was 11 minutes. I'd be surprised if my long-distance mile is better than 10:30 now, but it will improve. If I have the math right, to meet my marathon goal of less than 4 hours, I need to average 9-minute miles ... for all 26 of them.
Time to park: 16:22 (that's minutes and seconds, not hours ;)
Time returning: 27:22 (includes stretching time, I forgot to stop counting there).
Two days ago, I was so sore it hurt to walk. Next time, I will warm up slower and remember to stretch at the end of the workout, not in the middle. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing: I'd read that one should stretch warm muscles, but when I tried, I found they were all wound up and twitchy and didn't want to stretch. Ow. Next time, cool down more first.
One day ago (yesterday), I was still somewhat sore and going down stairs was still painful. I decided: better not overdo it at the beginning. So I took another day off. I did walk half a mile to the store and carry 35 lbs of groceries home with me, but this is a usual activity since I don't own a car. I'd count it as crosstraining or "active recovery," not exercise.
I just realized I forgot to put my starting stats in the previous post, so here they are: I stand 5'5 1/2" (that's 65.5 inches) tall and currently weigh 140 lbs. I have not yet timed myself running a mile, but the last time I ran a timed mile, back in May, it was 11 minutes. I'd be surprised if my long-distance mile is better than 10:30 now, but it will improve. If I have the math right, to meet my marathon goal of less than 4 hours, I need to average 9-minute miles ... for all 26 of them.
So It Begins
Hello world, and welcome to my blog.
I started this journal today to track a journey I have just begun.
My starting point: a couch in a Seattle apartment, December 2009.
My goal: a sub-four (under four hours) race time in the Seattle Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, July 2010.
I got the idea after flipping through a Runner's World (tm) magazine and noticing that the previous month contained an interview with the (in)famous Sarah Palin. Her PR (personal record) for a marathon is just under four hours -- a respectable time for a woman her age, but I wondered if I, a newbie 20 years younger, could do better.
The biggest local marathon of the year is in July, 7 months away. That's long enough for an experienced runner to prepare for a marathon. It might be a little strenuous for a less-than-experienced runner, and I have been warned of the dangers of overtraining, but I will pace myself carefully and trust my youthful resilience to see me through.
Palin has many advantages over me as a runner. No doubt she can afford many conveniences which make an athlete's life easier: nice new clothes, the latest monitors and gadgets, personal coaching, regular massages, you name it. She also has the advantage of being a veteran runner, and for her it's probably safe to run the trails at night alone, since she lives in a small town and she is so well known. What makes me think I can beat her best time in only 7 months of training?
There are two things I have that she doesn't. First, I have Seattle, which is a much nicer climate for running than Alaska. I may grow a few mushrooms between my toes from the rain, but at least I don't have to worry about frostbite.
Second, I'm a lot younger than she is. A fit 44-year-old is stronger than an untrained 24-year-old. But a fit 24-year-old is probably even better.
Whether or not I can make my first marathon sub-four, I know I will benefit from trying. I will get fitter, look and feel healthier, and hopefully make some new friends. So what, aside from a couple extra pounds, do I have to lose?
Accordingly, off I go. Please feel free to run alongside me. Whether you're fast or not-so-swift, I hope you will have fun.
I started this journal today to track a journey I have just begun.
My starting point: a couch in a Seattle apartment, December 2009.
My goal: a sub-four (under four hours) race time in the Seattle Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, July 2010.
I got the idea after flipping through a Runner's World (tm) magazine and noticing that the previous month contained an interview with the (in)famous Sarah Palin. Her PR (personal record) for a marathon is just under four hours -- a respectable time for a woman her age, but I wondered if I, a newbie 20 years younger, could do better.
The biggest local marathon of the year is in July, 7 months away. That's long enough for an experienced runner to prepare for a marathon. It might be a little strenuous for a less-than-experienced runner, and I have been warned of the dangers of overtraining, but I will pace myself carefully and trust my youthful resilience to see me through.
Palin has many advantages over me as a runner. No doubt she can afford many conveniences which make an athlete's life easier: nice new clothes, the latest monitors and gadgets, personal coaching, regular massages, you name it. She also has the advantage of being a veteran runner, and for her it's probably safe to run the trails at night alone, since she lives in a small town and she is so well known. What makes me think I can beat her best time in only 7 months of training?
There are two things I have that she doesn't. First, I have Seattle, which is a much nicer climate for running than Alaska. I may grow a few mushrooms between my toes from the rain, but at least I don't have to worry about frostbite.
Second, I'm a lot younger than she is. A fit 44-year-old is stronger than an untrained 24-year-old. But a fit 24-year-old is probably even better.
Whether or not I can make my first marathon sub-four, I know I will benefit from trying. I will get fitter, look and feel healthier, and hopefully make some new friends. So what, aside from a couple extra pounds, do I have to lose?
Accordingly, off I go. Please feel free to run alongside me. Whether you're fast or not-so-swift, I hope you will have fun.
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