tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81526425358745017242011-07-30T19:14:51.980-07:00One woman's journey from the couch to a sub-four marathon.Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.comBlogger201100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-48503623217383351852010-10-26T10:22:00.000-07:002010-10-26T10:26:36.605-07:00

Been doing some hiking lately, visiting trails listed in a book I got for my birthday. (It's "60 hikes within 60 miles of San Diego.") I'm not sure I'm getting any fitter, but at least I'm getting out of the house and giving the dog some exercise.Maybe I'm not cut out for running, or maybe I just need to find a partner. I'm awfully slow. I'm not sure if it's bad genes or I'm not trying hard

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-36591418118396905182010-08-21T09:22:00.000-07:002010-08-21T09:33:37.512-07:00

I'm not dead! I just haven't, um, kept up with this blog in months and months and months.Yeah ... I keep a personal blog elsewhere, but this one was just going to be for workouts. I ran into a frequent problem of mine, which is not keeping up with a project for more than a couple months at a stretch. (This may explain a few of my issues with school as well.)I'm still running a few miles a

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-50557349845881943382010-03-24T12:34:00.000-07:002010-03-24T12:45:21.902-07:00

Well, it looks like I am not going to be doing the Seattle Rock'n'Roll Marathon, because I have taken a position in San Diego. I'll be moving down there in a couple weeks.San Diego has lots of distance sports, so I am sure I will find another race to do. (It's just as well I didn't spend the money on registration for a Seattle marathon yet.) I will keep you guys posted.I'm looking forward to

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-69538487620667384692010-02-25T13:40:00.000-08:002010-02-25T13:42:42.440-08:00

Went out of town, now I'm back. I did not run consistently when I was out of town. Sigh. I have a hard time sticking to projects like this for long.But I'm determined not to let it all go to ruin. That sub-four this summer is looking less and less likely, but there's always the second marathon in November. Besides, I get credit for effort, remember? So I'm not going to quit running. I fell

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-77588223494910908242010-01-31T23:01:00.000-08:002010-01-31T23:03:41.440-08:00

Been out of town for a couple weeks. Still out, but I'm up late, procrastinating sleep, and thought I'd let you all know. And by "you all" I mean the persons reading this blog, by which I mean "all two of you."Not that I want lots of people staring at me, but a little attention was sort of the point.Definitely need to find some running buddies when I get home. I wish I knew some good places to

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-69692423137730839912010-01-19T22:16:00.000-08:002010-01-19T22:24:59.165-08:00

So I took a walk down to the stadium yesterday, and found the entrance to the track. It's way in the back, of course. I did a lot of walking yesterday, probably added up to 3 miles at least, but that's not an official workout, just exercise.Then today I walked down there again, and timed myself on the track. After jogging one lap to warm up, I managed a faster circuit in about 2:15. As far as

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-72514136653540635962010-01-16T19:28:00.001-08:002010-01-16T19:50:00.568-08:00

So the weather has been absolutely horrible (pouring rain virtually nonstop) for the last several days. I haven't gone running since Monday. Blah. I feel really bad about it. Those running shoes of mine, by the way, are very nice and breathable, which around here also means they suck up water like big sponges.This evening, it finally occurred to me that I have an alternative to getting soaked

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-81260055535739182422010-01-11T22:09:00.000-08:002010-01-11T22:23:09.186-08:00

Went to the park and back. I really should be adding more mileage, but I just had to know if I'd gotten any faster.I experimented with pacing, switching around which muscles dominated my stride. As usual, I think I went out too fast, because by the last half mile, I was completely wiped out. I could barely stagger up the hill to my apartment. Not sore, not out of breath, no low blood sugar,

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-22588069261574592262010-01-11T14:08:00.000-08:002010-01-11T14:31:56.994-08:00

The runner's brain at work...I paid a visit to my parents (who live on the other side of town, a two-hour journey for me since I don't have a car and must rely on public transit) this weekend. I intended to borrow their rowing machine, but all I ended up doing was leaving some of my not-too-abundant workout gear at their house by mistake. Oops. I'll retrieve it in a week or so, probably.So I

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-35067100202893581212010-01-06T23:05:00.000-08:002010-01-06T23:48:21.428-08:00

I'm getting impatient with my lack of speed. Also, I like variety (read: bore easily), so I decided to try something different today.I rode my bike to the park and ran up a steep hill 10 times, then rode the bike back home. (Uphill.) Even on the switchbacks, it was definitely an incline, and the path is kind of uneven. Even if I'd been able to run faster, I couldn't really go too fast because

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-83706732957977551592010-01-04T19:40:00.001-08:002010-01-05T11:11:07.656-08:00

Run did not go well today at all. I ran out of energy in about 10 minutes and wound up walking most of the distance.I think this was partly due to muscle fatigue (yesterday was a day off, but I still walked to buy groceries etc.) and mainly due to not eating right. I'm trying to reduce consumption of refined carbs in favor of more veggies and whole foods, so I had a bowl of whole-grain cheerios

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-15700588210606090482010-01-02T13:31:00.000-08:002010-01-02T13:46:00.894-08:00

Weather today was perfect for a run: cool and damp, but not rainy. Just the way I like it. Could've done with less wind, but oh well.I tried out that "artisan bread in 5 minutes a day" recipe, and told myself I couldn't eat the pretty golden brown ball that came out of the oven until I'd gone for my run. That got me moving, albeit reluctantly. I keep finding that the hardest part of running

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-78789665276505804582010-01-01T16:29:00.000-08:002010-01-01T16:53:09.130-08:00

I just re-examined the calendar and saw that the Rock'N'Roll Marathon is in June, not July. So I have 25 weeks left, not 29. Oops. Guess I'd better get a move on.Apparently I'm not the only one who makes resolutions to run marathons in six months; there's this group called Seattle Fit which is running a program to train people. They want $120, which is not bad for six months of weekly

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-33735975638127409772009-12-30T17:45:00.000-08:002009-12-30T18:03:31.429-08:00

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

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-4958020345580936372009-12-28T23:14:00.000-08:002009-12-28T23:29:05.055-08:00

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.

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-65416695224361820702009-12-26T23:48:00.000-08:002009-12-26T23:50:45.873-08:00

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.

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-53696737761479379062009-12-25T14:33:00.001-08:002009-12-25T14:44:13.509-08:00

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

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-86239913457252873912009-12-24T13:57:00.001-08:002009-12-24T14:20:56.593-08:00

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

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-34792541670604076952009-12-23T15:57:00.000-08:002009-12-26T12:54:37.309-08:00

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

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8152642535874501724.post-45630617073025535652009-12-23T15:31:00.000-08:002009-12-23T15:57:52.383-08:00

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

Liz H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02570664006409524364noreply@blogger.com0