18 posts tagged “running”
...though not necessarily in greater numbers (anyone get the reference?)
The theory homework is done and, I think, done well.
The French is studied, quizzed and tested.
I can play the B flat and E flat major scales in my sleep.
The scholarship app essay is drafted and handed to an English teacher to be checked (what the heck kind of essay is limited to 4000 characters? Not words, not pages, not paragraphs, CHARACTERS.)
Oh yeah, and I ran a mile and a half today without stopping. Another record. I noticed, too, that I am not slowing down during the course of the run. When I started running, I'd run a quarter mile in three minutes (and, incidentally, be very out of breath, whereas now I can run a half mile without breathing heavily at all), then a half mile in six minutes, and a mile in twelve minutes. I ran the mile and a half in eighteen minutes. Not exactly an Olympic qualifier (snort) but still, I like that I'm not slowing down. Perhaps a 5K in 36 minutes? I'm thinking that when I hit two miles without stopping, I'll start trying to increase my speed a little, as I'd like to be able to run a 5K in 30 minutes eventually. We shall see.
I have also noticed that in the last few weeks when I run, I breathe only through my mouth and my lips are rounded when I do so. I have no idea why, except that perhaps this makes me more aware of my breathing and reminds me to a) breathe and b) to take deep and steady breaths.
oh yeah, and I hit another goal today. Ran 1.25 miles without stopping. It was tres cool! And while I was worn out, I wasn't at the staggering-and-gasping stage, either. I suspect I might have been able to run a bit further if it hadn't been for the gale that was blustering around. Not much further, mind you, but a bit.
yay, yay, yay!
It's so neat to see the improvements in this area. Even though I was tired and a fairly out of breath at the end of the initial 1.25 mile run, I was recovered and able to run again in less than a quarter of a mile of walking. Also, I didn't have that horrible can't-take-a-deep-breath feeling. Yeah, I'm a little tired. But it was so freakin' cool to do more than a mile! My breathing is becoming more automatic when I run, too; I only have to "think" about it during the first minute or so, and then it seems to be "set" and works more efficiently through the rest of the run. This is so cool!
Perhaps 1.5 next week? Hmmm...
off to do some homework and then to to the crafts store...
the happy, if a little tired, diva
I ran a full mile.
Without stopping. Not even once.
I didn't die. Either that, or I'm blogging postmortem. :P
I'd never been able to do even .75 before without stopping, though I came close a couple of times.
Last night, I just decided that today I WOULD do .75. Enough putzing around already. Add in some PMS-y depression, and I've got plenty of fuel on which to run.
I got an indecent amount of sleep last night. The time change kicked in today, so I slept till almost noon. I got up, put in my contacts and on my running clothes, and went to my favorite running park.
The sun was shining, it was in the seventies, and there was a very slight breeze.
I stretched out better than I usually do pre-run.
I didn't bring the mp3 player; those earphones refuse to stay put and it's hard to set a decent pace if you're constantly catching the earpieces and putting them back in your ears.
I focussed carefully on my breathing, and on using abdominal support while running.
I felt a bit tired at .5, but I suspect that that was more because I usually stop and walk there.
I passed a person walking at about .75, and knew I could still go on a bit further. What the heck, I thought. Why not try to do a mile? It's only another quarter mile, and you can run a quarter mile anytime.
About a tenth of a mile from the milepost, I started sprinting, and slapped that mile post while going as fast as I could. If I could have breathed, I would have started screaming and jumping up and down.
I was completely winded, my legs were tired (though not exhausted), and I've seldom felt so proud in my life.
Mile time: 11:37. Okay, not exactly an Olympic qualifier.
Who cares? I DID IT!
And now that I know I can do it, I'll do it again on Tuesday. And Thursday. And next Sunday, I'll do a mile and a quarter.
And I should probably start on that course notebook now. Yeah, I've procrastinated on it. But I know I'll work faster and better on it because I ran. When I run, I am more connected to my body, am more focussed, can concentrate better and longer, and I swear my brain moves faster and "gets" ideas or concepts better. And I don't get as depressed and moody.
PS-I did this while wearing my old tennis shoes. I know they aren't technically running shoes, but they obviously seem to be good for running, so I am keeping them until I get running shoes that work well for me. Those wretched Nikes are getting returned; I only did a quarter mile or so in them, and I just can't run in them. I also tried wearing them around the house for a day, and even that was uncomfortable. There is no WAY I'd wear them for an 8-hour shift at work. According to Google, Fort Worth Running Company fits you personally for your shoes and has someone watch you run to determine the best type of shoe for your stride. I think I'll try going there.
has been an all-me weekend. Friday, admittedly, I had to work, but I spent all morning doing all the fun "me" stuff detailed in a previous post. Yesterday, I spent most of the day in rehearsal or working on the set for AGNFS. Again, entirely too much fun. As far as I'm concerned, spending an day singing, acting, and making a stage set look fantabulous is nirvana. Finally, I slept in today, went run/walking, took a shower, and am now on my way to see the Spiderwick Chronicles movie. Yeah, I know it's a kids' movie. The books are selling like crazy, though, and I'm craving a movie at the momen. Might as well kill two birds with one stone and a) enjoy an afternoon and b) be able to give a description of the books beyond "kid's fantasy genre" if a customer asks about 'em.
In the running department: I'm thinking that these Nikes are either going to be relegated to work shoes (we are supposed to wear dress shoes to work, but I think these might pass as they are all black) or just get returned. I'll have to check the return policy. They just aren't working as running shoes. My old sneakers felt better, and I'll run in those tomorrow. Today I couldn't get in a good run because the shoes wore out my legs. Sounds crazy, I know, but I could tell that my stride and the way my feet were landing were different from how I ran in those old tennies. How, exactly, it was different, I don't know. It was. After a mere quarter mile, I literally could not run another step. Ordinarily, I can do a good bit over half a mile before having to walk for a minute or so and then start again. I wasn't out of breath at all at the end of the quarter-mile, either; my legs and feet were...it's hard to explain...achy? Achy doesn't quite cover it. It wasn't bad pain-wise, though it did hurt. It was just that the muscles couldn't do it. Very weird. So there you have it. Katie, in her comment on a previous post, suggested a couple of brands that I should try. I'm thinking that in a couple of weeks I may go to an actual running store where actual runners work who can give me advice/recommendations based on how I run and the shape of my foot. Duh. :P
So, off to the movie. I may even write a review when I get back. And who knows? Perhaps Michaels will have finished framing that last print that I got at Christmas. If so, I'll hang the pictures when I get home, and take some pics, too.
I am going to have to move a certain fat and sleeping kitten off my foot. Exasperated by my long stretch at the 'puter, he has fallen asleep with his paws over my feet. Awwwwww!
I FINALLY went out and ran/walked again today. Between that bug I picked up, the allergies, and the sports-bra-and-running-shoes-dying thing, I hadn't been out (aside from a 5-mile walk last week) in...let's just say way too long and leave it at that, shall we?
I am tired, but I felt so much more energized post-run than I had for a while. I need to remember that while I might be busy, I am less tired and can concentrate much better when I exercise.
I finally got running shoes. Nothing fancy; they're Nike Airs. I don't think they'll be my all-time favorite running shoes, but they still feel much better on my feet than the tennis shoes in which I had been running.
I also came to the conclusion that it is virtually impossible for me to run while listening to opera or classical music. My problem is that I want to keep stopping so that I can pay better attention and listen more closely. I also tried listening to girl groups from the 50s/60s (yes, I have somewhat eclectic taste in music), and while that was better, I wanted to dance/sing along and not run to it. I also tried disco and country ONCE each. I found both to be very annoying during a run. On the other hand, I don't listen to either of those groups very often, so maybe that's just me.
After asking themaureencorps, who is in much better shape than I and exercises accordingly, what she listens to while exercising, I went to work and got two CDs. One was Pink's can't take me home, and the other (hat tip to carapiccoladiva, without whom I would never have discovered this musician) Melissa Etheridge's Greatest Hits/The Road Less Traveled. I can run while listening to both of these. Sometimes I'd rather just enjoy the sounds around me, and so I'll pull out the earphones and carry them while I run. Today I listened to Pink, and while I didn't necessarily enjoy that as I do Beethoven, it kept me going more than the Pastorale would.
Then I indulged my latest fad and went and got sashimi for dinner. Immediately post-workout, I am never hungry. After I take a shower and get changed, I am usually starved for some kind of protein. Ergo, the sashimi. Incidentally, I just learned this: sashimi is what most of us think of when we hear the word sushi. Yes, it is raw fish. Sushi (if I remember correctly) is vegetables (or is it cooked fish?) wrapped up in a style similar to sashimi. In any case, give me some sashimi and wasabi and I am happy. If you're in the FTW area and like sashimi/sushi, I cannot recommend highly enough this sushi place at Hulen and Bellaire in FTW. The sashimi is incredibly good. The customer service is really fantastic; I walked in there and ordered two take-out orders of sashimi with lots of wasabi. I was seated in front of the chefs and offered something to drink as I watched them make the sashimi. The sashimi was ready to go in about five minutes (at 8:30 on a Friday evening!), was (as I said) very good, and was quite reasonably priced. For two servings of sashimi, the total was $11. I had never been there before, but I intend to go again and actually stay for the meal. It is a small place, but lots of atmosphere. Really beautiful ceramic-ware dishes (don't know the proper names for these) and sake glasses, nice decor, etc. If I find the receipt, I'll post the name of the place.
Ow. Ouch. (breathes, then winces)
There is nothing quite like getting one's measurements for a formal dress to make one realize that working out might be in order.
Needless to say, those measurements go NOWHERE on this blog. Ever. I think I'm still in shock.
Suffice to say that I hit the campus gym yesterday. I ran on the treadmill. I did crunches, side crunches and leg lifts. I did much upper-body weight lifting, including (but not limited to) bicep curls, tricep presses, bench presses, uppercuts, and shoulder presses. I want my arms to look good in this halter-style dress, right?
Right.
I slept sooooo well last night; got 9 hours and could have gone for more if I didn't have class. I woke up and started to roll out of bed. I then made several comments that are not publishable, and which horrified the cats who were snoozing upon the bed with me.
Still, I feel really good (sore, but good, if that makes any sense). I know I focused better in class today, and my piano and voice practice were both fantastic. The music I am singing is stuff I've fallen in love with. I looked it over during Christmas break and sang through it a little, but really didn't do much with it. Today was the first day in quite a while that I did a thorough warmup and practiced for over an hour. Oh, it felt wonderful! It was the kind of practice session in which everything I picked up "clicked" beautifully. My voice and fingers felt more nimble, and my voice was clearer and very on-key and did everything I asked of it. I would have kept going for longer if I hadn't had to go to work. It was so good to be back! And, for that matter, I'm sure that the workout helped me in practice. When I work out I am more in tune with my body and know if, when and how to ask it to do certain things. Really cool.
Anyhow, just got back from work and am worn out. To bed I go! (well, perhaps I'd best feed the cats first. if not, I may become dinner!)
Bright and early on New Year's Day, several divas assembled for the Red Hot Blackeyed Pea 5K. It is considered good luck in the South to eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day. I must confess that by the time I finished the 5K the mere idea of blackeyed peas was enough to make me gag, so I guess I'm not in for as much good luck as I might have been. :P
Two of the divas are serious runners. One (me) is just starting running. The fourth walks.
It was bright and cool, in the mid thirties or so. Being the warmblooded person that I am, I was devoutly wishing by about half a mile into that I'd left my sweatshirt in my car, as I had to drag it around with me for the rest of the race. Grr. Note to self for next time!
I finished, as was my stated goal. Many thanks to Al, a runner I met along the way. He started running after he retired four years ago and found it addicting. He really encouraged me along the second half of the race when I started to get a little down. We crossed the finish line together with a time of 40:37. Thanks, Al!
I ran more that day than I usually do during 3 miles, and was quite bushed when I did hit the finish line. A good part of the tiredness was actually that I did not push myself hard enough, nor did I pay sufficient attention to my breathing. If I had concentrated on my breathing (ie, making sure that I did breathe and didn't hold my breath, that I breathed rhythmically rather than sporadically, etc) more and, frankly, pushed myself harder (rather than getting discouraged and letting myself walk more than I needed to) I would have finished with a better time. The sweatshirt REALLY didn't help, as I took it off and then couldn't find a comfortable way to carry it.
The race was along the Trinity Trails, which are really beautiful. I'd like to go out and run there again soon. The mileage is not very well marked, however, and I didn't have a watch, so it seemed to last longer than three miles usually takes me. My usual trail is marked every quarter mile, so I've been a little spoiled!
What did I learn from this race?
-start off the race dressed so that I am cool or even a little cold, because I WILL warm up quickly (I remember this for my usual runs, don't know why I second-guessed for the 5K). for example, I know that I can run a half mile in a little over five minutes. ergo, with a watch I would be able to time myself to run 6-8 minutes, walk for 2-3, repeat til end of 5K
-wear a watch, because that way even if the trails aren't marked for miles I'll have an idea how far I've gone/have to go
-focus on breathing. this is much like singing-body/breath awareness being so important.
-push a little harder; run until I am out of breath, walked 'til I've caught my breath, then run again while still focussing on my breath. i tend to be good about the breath focus thing the first time i run, and then forget about it after i walk
-at the same time as the above, don't beat up on myself for not finishing in better time, because I am still new at this and "just" finishing is better than not doing this at all.
I was pretty tired after the race. Went to noon Mass, went home, lay down for a nap. I was on call for work, which means that I call them at 330-400ish and ask if they need me to be in by 430-500. I set my alarm for 330 and lay down, as I was falling asleep on my feet. As I was drifting off, my phone rang. It was work, and they wanted me there at 330 because "something was going around." (snort. It's New Year's Day, ferpetessake. of COURSE there's something "going around." I imagine the symptoms were headaches and nausea. Morons.) By the time I finally went to bed at 1230 the next morning, I slept REALLY well.
Oh, and coffee is a truly lovely thing. Ditto classic Coke. I try really hard not to drink Coke often; I never drank it growing up (all diet sodas then). Now I don't drink sodas much anymore (a big cut down from a liter a day or so as a high school student), but once or twice a month I'll have a classic Coke and make my day. :D
And I DID rememeber to take some pics, albeit only a few. Here they are:
la maestra wants to know why the irritating race announcer will. not. shut. up.
darling little dog in a fur-collared sweater. squee!
race over. we are now proud of ourselves and very cold. la maestra is thinking her new shoes were a mistake, racheldiva is happy, ubicaritas just realized "oh, crap, she's taking a picture of me without my makeup on," and carapiccoladiva is in charge of the camera due to her vast experience with the "self portrait" function.
All in all, it was very interesting, rather fun, and something I have every intention of doing again soon. It has also pushed me to run for longer; I'd been getting a bit lazy and would run a certain distance, then walk and not bother to pick up running again.
And now off to make a to-do list, as I am leaving tomorrow morning for the northern realms.
are really noisy.
Spiderman (8) has a friend over. One might expect them to make twice the amount of noise that Spiderman usually does while playing.
Think more like five times the noise. Since about eight this morning. I have my door closed, and have gone out to grab some banana bread and water (running fuel) but returned immediately to the (relative) quiet of my room.
I think I will go for a run, and then go SHOPPING. I'm going on a trip Monday (short one) and need a few things--new sweater, possibly new boots (yay!). I am going to the Arctic Wasteland (ok, not quite that far north, but close) and strongly suspect that my cute little high-heeled dress shoes would not cut it with the snow, ice and single digit temps in which I intend to go out to dinner with my parents and sister. Ugh. Apparently when I return home, it will be in the 50s-70s so I will be so very happy!
...to run (and walk :P) my first 5K with the divas. I shall attempt to remember my beyooooootiful new digital camera and post pics at that time. In any case, it should be interesting.
My goal? Finish. ;) That will be relatively easy because walking five+ miles is for me no problem, and I walk/run 3 miles (a 5K is, if I remember correctly, 3.1 miles) several times a week. I'm not going for personal records until I can run at least a mile without having to stop and walk. I have noticed that my half mile time is improving, though; I am now running it in about 5 minutes.
And then, of course, to Mass, as it is the "Feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God." Quite a mouthful, eh? Anyhow, I wanted to go to a 7AM and fulfill my obligation that way, but evidently there isn't a single church in Fort Worth with a Mass earlier than 8 AM today, and I was not going to drive out to Dallas. Any church that usually has a 7 AM has moved it to either 8 AM or 10 AM or noon or 7 PM. Guess most people stay up so late that they aren't going to get up for church at 7 AM.
I suppose most people aren't so crazy that they are in bed by 11 or so 'cause they're running/walking a 5K on New Year's Day, when, according to my thermometer, it is THIRTY DEGREES FARENHEIT. THIRTY. Did no one get the message that this is Fort Worth, and it simply is not supposed to get this bleeding cold? (No snotty remarks from northern readers who want to tell me that where they live 30 is a heat wave in January. They don't have to put up with 105 in the summer, either.)
...I am just recuperating from Christmas, several loooooong days at work, and a car crash. (I'm fine. More later).
However, I DID get myself a digital camera for Christmas (mucho thanks to the wonderful couple who went out of town for a week and paid me for pet/housesitting) and therefore promise to post pictures to go with the narrative.
The Hair Goddess and Spiderman went to Vegas with her parents for Christmas, but will return tomorrow at which point we will open packages, sip mulled cider and possible indulge in figgy pudding (depending on whether I feel called to make it. If not figgy pudding, we may nibble on my homemade chocolate peppermint fudge (very addictive, so it's a good thing I've given most of it away). As a side note, she hopefully had a fun and relaxing time. Spending Christmas in Vegas with one's parents and an eight-year-old sounds like hell on earth to me, but she seemed to be looking forward to it. I imagine she'll have stories, some of which I may post here.
I also must post about the night I spent with one of the pet-sat dogs at the 24-hour animal hospital (dog fine, with strict orders about NO MORE &*#$!*^ bones) and her subsequent reactions, the crash (of course), Christmas (mucho pictures), the in-bleeding-credible book I got for Christmas that was EXACTLY what I needed as a singer right now, and my resumption of running after over a week's hiatus (all I have to say is "ow, remind me never to do that again.")
However, for now I intend to take a benadryl and thereby knock myself out for a good ten or eleven hours. The only physical problem (aside from minor stiffness) I have from the accident is a constant stream of adrenaline, which wears me out. On the bright side, the house (and the fish tank, and the dog, and...) are REALLY clean. :D
