Cool Runners - October
 

Hello everyone, I thought I'd start the new monthly thread.

I had a good run this evening with running club, it was pretty short because a lot of people raced yesterday, but I kept it pretty fast which was what I needed after doing the half slowly yesterday. I was really surprised this morning how fresh my legs felt - usually they let me know even if I walk 13, so to run/jog a half and not feel it at all felt pretty good!

I realised this morning that I'm meant to be tapering now, but depending whether I need to visit my grandmother at the weekend, I'm more and more tempted to do one more longish run before scaling back, but I might cut back my mileage a bit during the week to compensate, so my overall mileage does go down to about 75% of normal, even if my long run isn't much shorter. Decisions decisions.

I ran 30 CONSECUTIVE minutes
 

I have not been posting here much because my progress has been regress. I wasn't enjoying it like I did earlier. The triumphs seemed far apart. I started C25K in June, but I was not too dedicated. The first six weeks, I was fine, then I lost interest. Why kill myself when I can do 40 minutes on the elliptical, burn as many calories and not feel like my lungs are going to explode?

Tonight, finally, after 4 freakin' months, I did it!! 30 in a row.

I am a runner.

Helen, whatever you decide about your taper, I'm sure your body will handle it -- you running queen, you!!

onthetee -- yay you!!! That's fantastic!! :cheer2:

I did a tough track workout with the kids tonight, where we alternate sprints and recovery jogs for 25 minutes. You don't get much recovery between sprints, so it pretty much kills you. Then I walked the cross country course with my husband to mark it for our home meet. I'm TIRED!

I am thinking next time I will taper less. I didnt respond well and it occurs to me that ALL of my PR's have been on tired legs. I'll see sunday! I was reading the RW article and that is kind of how I feel now, sluggish, not revived.

October! Where does the time go.

onthetee - Way to go, that is awesome!

I've been plugging along. Joined the YMCA over the weekend so I am super excited about that. I'll be doing other cardio in addition to running now (spin, elliptical, swimming, etc) so I think I'll just hang out where I am with the mileage while I'm adding new stuff in. The cross training should be good for my cardio endurance. Plus I plan to get back to weight training and yoga with more regularity. May give pilates a go again, after begin a yoga nut for a while I found that pilates was not as much to my liking, but maybe a new class and new instructor will do something for me.

Now that I have treadmills available I decided to see if I could knock out a 9 min mile, and I did :) It felt like I was pushing and I definitely couldn't do much more than a mile at that pace right now, but I was still pretty impressed. My fastest 5k has me at a 10 min mile pace.

I just found out about a 5k for homecoming at the UW here, might sign up for that. I’ll have to keep my football partying in check the day before though. :p

Hope everyone is having a good week.

3.25 miles for me today... feeling like I am finally getting back into running properly :)

Good for you tee - it's so hard to resume something once we slip, so well done!!

Everyone else, have a great day!

Heather :D

Netball, cycling and weights for me today, my trainee said to me at lunch time "you do realise you're meant to do less during the taper, don't you..." the netball was only 20 minutes though, and not too strenuous, but I will probably only do the normal length run tomorrow rather than adding a few extra miles before the start.

Hello again. Greetings from the land of the lazy, excuse giving, fell off the wagon world! Wow what a waste of two weeks! But I am back, and the past two days have been SO MUCH BETTER!

Funny story. I hurt my back last week, so I sat out for a week. Finally, after I couldn't take it anymore I called the dr. who didn't have any appts. So I decided to walk on my treadmill just to get my legs moving before they atrophied :) I get on there and it was like my back started to unknot, so I started to run and the spine jiggling almost completely undid all my pain! Moral of story, sitting on your butt apparently hurts me more than running does!

Ran 1 miles yesterday at 12:30 pace and today I ran 1.25 miles at a 12:00 pace. I could have gone faster or longer but I think I am going to try the 2 on 1 off approach and add in a 1/4 mile each day now that I feel good. Still trying to work up to 5k. I also did weight training today for the first time in 2 months *blush* and man that makes all the difference. I am going to start going back to the gym 2-3 times a week and the other days I'll use my treadmill.

I am moving at the end of the month onto post (where the gym is) and I will be adding in some water exercise then. I'm pretty excited to be back on track!

Yay for being back on track, Heather and cakses!! :cheer2:

I ran 2.5 miles tonight with my team. Felt pretty good, even though I almost tripped and fell on several roots in the woods. Cross country running is scary sometimes!!

Ennay, put down the Runner's World article, it will only mess with your mind (I should know:))

Ran my short little 3 miles today - at least with the shorter mileage, it's easy to get up and get it done first thing in the morning.

Cakses and Heather, very glad to hear you're back on track. And onthetee - a big WOOHOO :carrot: to you for reaching the 30 minute mark!

Now, I just need to figure out what to pack for the weekend - at this point, I'm considering bringing so much that it may be easier to figure out what I'm not taking! At least I know that the only truly critical items are the shoes and the running bra (both of which are going into the carry on luggage)...everything else is replaceable in a pinch.

Thanks everyone - I'm going to arrogantly speak for Cat here as well as myself: THANK YOU for all your support - it's great to be back to it! :lol3:

Cat - feel free to :kickbutt:!

Heather :D

BTW Rachel...take what I sent you about the pace calculator with a grain of salt. I am just now starting to fit the normal curve. Before I got pg I was much slower on short distances than predicted and much faster on long distances than predicted. I had a nearly flat pace curve.

It would be very hard to pack for this weekend...even I dont know what I am wearing to race yet.

I did one of my least favourite running club routes today, it's 7.2 miles and has a couple of really evil hills. Still, I got round it OK, but I'm glad to have got it out of the way for another month or so. still trying to work out my running plans for the rest of the week, I don't know whether I'll have to go to see my grandmother in hospital, or whether my sister and her fiance are intending to come to stay with me, so it's all a bit up in the air. I hate not being able to plan when I'm going to run.

I might be wrong, but I am guessing you do not have a two year old....

Today is a walk day, and I am not as sore as I thought I would be after 2 days of running, so I am guessing the lifting is helping. Tomorrow I will attempt 1.5 miles and I think I should make this just fine. I seem to do better at the gym - I push myself a little harder than when I am at home and no one can see me :)

I have 9 months until my hubby comes home for leave, so I am hoping to be as svelte as possible, and I can't wait to take him for a run and be able to keep up or at least hold my own for a bit!!!

:rofl:

Another 3.25 miles for me today - that's the first time back to one day off between runs in weeks; feels good... a little sore, but good! :lol3:

Heather :D

Arms....What do you do with yours?

I saw a woman running today that looked like she was throwing round house punches. I always try to use mine to propel me forward. I try to keep my shoulders square and not take my energy side to side in anyway.

Did the runner I saw today know something I don't? It just seemed like she was wasting power.

Well, my left arm is holding the dog's leash and constantly tugging at him to stay at my side rather than in front of me (so I don't trip on him). My right arm hold my flashlight (I run at 5 AM).

You're right there, and to be honest I'm not likely to acquire one either...

I've just got my info through for Amsterdam and starting to get a bit twitchy about it. I know that I should be OK to do both Amsterdam and New York, but I'm worried about going into Amsterdam if my mind is thinking I'll ease off to preserve myself - if I'm not prepared to push myself should I be running it at all? I can switch to the half right up to the day of the race, but I'm still a bit undecided.

I'm planning to run into work tomorrow, with the comparative lack of running I've done over the past week or so I'm hoping not to get too carried away because I'm meant to be doing a longish one on Saturday, other people's plans willing.

Arms...I try not to do too much with them... I shake them out everyonce in a while to relax them. I try not to have them using any energy or tension. The only thing I can guess is maybe she was trying to get an upperbody toning thing in at the same time? Save your time and go do pushups after.

Helen - which race matters more to you? NY? I have a good friend who quite often runs marathons during her training for a marathon. She sees it as an opportunity to do a long run with full support. BUT she would not taper leading up to the first one, she would just treat it as a long run. Long run pace (well truthfully she probably goes out harder than most long runs, but not quite marathon pace...maybe 20-30 seconds per mile slower). I dont think there is anything wrong with doing the distance, but RACING both could be a problem.

I cant remember...are you pacing someone in NY? Will NY be able to BE a race for you?

No, NY won't be a race for me, but I'll have to be alert the whole way round because I'm guide running a wheelchair again and need to be able to shout at other runners and make sure they don't get trampled underfoot. It should be OK, but I think it's my head trying to talk me out of it more than that my body isn't capable of it. I'll see how I feel on the day I suppose.

Re arms or any gait or stance issue, I'm on the "don't fix what's not broken" bench. Even among professional runners there's no one right way to hold ones body-- look at how different even the best distance runners look from one another.

Well I did a 1.5 mile run today, the longest one since getting hurt. sped up in the middle sort of do get it done faster, so the first 1/2 mile was 12 min pace, the middle 1/2 mile was 10:30 pace and the last 1/2 mile was 12 min pace again. It felt pretty good and it was easier to sort of divide it into 3 sections and focus on each of those instead of wondering how much longer I was going to last. I find I am more comfortable at the 10:30 pace because I can really stretch my legs out and run, but I can't keep it up for long yet. The 12 minute pace I can do for a lot longer but it's like a fast jog and sometimes I trip :) I am a klutz!

Did weights again today and that is truly helping with my soreness issues. My hip is still a bit sore, but way less bothersome than it has been in the past. I think I am going to keep this running schedule for October and see how it works.

Well, I haven't been able to run since Tuesday because of really long after-school things, and the same will be true tomorrow. I can't wait to run Saturday -- I'm itching for it.

As for the arms question, my husband and I are really big on getting our cross country runners to make sure they're not crossing them in front of their bodies at all. They should be slightly bent and hanging loosely at the sides, but if you're crossing them in front you're wasting energy. Our girls tend to do that, especially during hill sprints. You definitely have to pump them a little to get up hills, but front and back, not side to side in front of you - that's inefficient.

Hi ladies - stopping by for one last post before the Portland marathon. I spent tonight packing like a fiend - I think I've packed running apparel and play apparel for all weather conditions known to mankind. As to the race itself, I am feeling a combination of excitement, nerves, and all-around just feeling ready to have the big day arrive. Ennay, I am really looking forward to seeing you Saturday at the expo. As for the rest of you, you'll have to wait to hear from me again until I get back to Chicago.

I'll be sure to post a full race report when I get back to Chicago. But, just want to say a big THANK YOU in advance to everyone who posts here, it's been so nice to have a group like this to come and visit for advice, inspiration and shared experiences. I'll catch up with you all next week!

Rachel, I'm so excited for you!!! I can't wait to hear all about it!

And I'm jealous that you and ennay get to meet! I'd love to meet you guys one day!

Good luck Rachel - thinking of you!! :cheer:

HAve a good flight Rachel and I will see you tomorrow!

I think we will have a damp cool run. BUT if you were staying in chicago it would be unbearably HOT for a marathon so its really better here! (see how I try to psych myself up for a marathon in the rain)

I can not believe it is only 2 more days:o...did my last run this morning.

Rachel and ennay - Good luck!

cakses - Good to hear your getting back on track and healing up.

I try to keep my arms pretty lose when I run, I only really use them to propel me when going up hills. I do hold the dog leash in one hand but he's pretty good at keeping pace with me (unless there is something he just HAS to stop and smell) so I don't usually have to spend too much energy on that.

alinnell - It's very dark out when I run in the am now (also at 5) but I can't stand to hold things or have my hands actively occupied while running. Is it a regular flashlight, or is there some kind of flashlight that attaches to your forearm or something? I was thinking maybe I should get one of those lights you strap to your head, like spelunkers wear.

Perfectly average 3.5 this morning. Flying out for the weekend so no running till I get back, maybe Monday if I'm not dead tired.

Ennay and Rachael, that is so cool that ya'll are meeting up! Rachael, good luck to you in your marathon, I know you will do great and I can't wait to hear all about it! :)

Cakses, glad that you are doing so well, sounds like you are well recovered! I know what you mean about breaking it up.

Onthetee, my arms are on my stroller handle lol. Well, not my arms, my hands, but there you go. I will try to notice what I do without the stroller in a couple of days.

I wanted to see how far I can run in the amount of time I usually run. I don't know how long the track is that normally run at, so I usually just time it and don't worry about it. But I have a 5k coming up at the end of the month and was wondering how long it took me to run a mile. I timed it today on a different track(with stroller) at 12 1/2 minutes...I'm assuming I'll go faster without the baby. I did 1.5 miles today. I could've done a little more, but I was pressed for time.

Good luck to both of you!

I'm planning to do just one more long run today and then I really will start to cut back before Amsterdam, I'll be back later no doubt with an update on how it went.

Right, I'm officially tapering now with another long run under my belt - just under 22 miles. It's a bit longer than they advise two weeks before, but I took it fairly steady and hopefully won't have any ill effects. I decided that my main problem is confidence rather than freshness, so I wanted to get a morale boosting run under my belt, as the confidence will probably get me through the last part of the mara better than having slightly fresher legs. Because of various factors my last three long runs before this had been 17, 17 and 13. Adequate, but not really giving me the belief that I can carry on past 20 which has always been my stumbling block. So I decided that today's goal was to get past that marker to remind me that I can do it. The pay off is that I'm planning a sharper taper than usual as I've got more to recover from.

Hello,
I'm wondering if any of the "Cool Runners" here are members of the Cool Running website? Maybe that's the basis for the name of this thread. I've registered because I plan to start the C25K program in November. They have a thread specifically for people that are runners and doing WW which is great because I'm doing WW. I've been reading some of the posts here and there on Cool Runnings and the "experts" say "run for fitness and diet for weightloss". This was in response to a poster doing the C25K for 5 weeks and not losing wt. One person basically said you will not lose weight running. The responses were interesting bc many assumed the poster was relying soley on running to lose and not watching her diet. I think that's a weird jump to make. Anyways all that to ask what do you think about the "run for fitness and diet for weighloss"? I'm asking because initially when I start the C25K program that's all the exercise I will do. I may determine it will be the only exercise I will do for the duration because I'm self aware. Meaning if I try to do too much I will burn out and not exercise at all. That's where I'm at now ,not exercising, and I don't want to keep returning there. Its become a never ending cycle.

Not sure how I feel about that phrase... I think there must be some truth in it, but they certainly work together. I doubt I would lose a whole lot of weight, and not steadily, if I relied solely on running. On the other hand, I started running to enhance my weight loss, after about 10 weeks, and it has certainly helped A LOT! I do strength training too - and the combination of diet, cardio and strength is the winner for me, for sure. :)

What's everyone else think?

Heather :D

Oh ennay, something else I remembered. My running magazine this month had an article in it about the Hood to Coast thing, I hadn't realised what it involves, it looks like a fantastic experience!

Good luck ladies on your marathon today in Portland! It's nice and cool up here in Olympia, so I am guessing you guys will be cool as well.

I didn't lose any weight for the first couple of weeks on C25K, but man did I lose inches galore. I also wasn't dieting properly (I was doing one extreme or the other, 1200 cals which wasn't enough or eating like an idiot). But now that I am focusing on what I am eating and portions of that food, the weight is coming off as well as the inches. I started C25K in July, and to date I have lost 13 pounds and 25 inches overall. So running works!

It is...and completely crazy! I think more than the marathon it made me feel like a runner.

Cakses - thanks! Marathon is tomorrow, today would have been perfect as it is cool and cloudy but NOT rainy. At this time tomorrow if all is going well I should be more than halfway done!

So from all the books on what to do the day before the marathon: "Rest, take it easy, you may be tempted to do some extra sightseeing or chores, dont!"

Reality: dh went off for a 4 hour bikeride, dd had her first accident in months requiring a change of bedding and ds has been screaming non stop since 5 am.

Hmmm....something tells me that is not "optimum"

Helen - good run, I dont think I'll do a 3 week taper again, all I did was gain weight and I dont feel any more rested, I feel off my game. I am also not going to try carbo loading again. All of my attempts to shift my diet to a 60-70% carbs resulted in binge fest 2007. I feel like I am MORE hungry and need more food to sustain my activity the last few weeks. Like I used to be able to do 10 without fuel, now I feel the need for something.

I'm glad I am doing a shorter taper. At least I have a reason and a theory in my head for why I'm doing what I'm doing, based on what I feel like I need. If it doesn't work, I won't do it again, but I hate slavishly following a plan (e.g. the three week taper) if I'm not sure it's actually what will work for me physically and psychologically.

The first mara I did, the carb loading went badly wrong. A load of people were suggesting various high GI type carbs, I went mad on them because they were things I hadn't eaten for ages before that, and then found that they were too sugary and I couldn't really stomach them. The second time I was a lot more restrained and it seemed to work a lot better.

Good luck again!

Yeah thats what happened to me...I feel sick from the extra carbs and bloated. I was just trying to shift my diet a little, but it really didnt work for me. Hopefully I didnt screw myself up too badly. I went from really confident 2 weeks ago to pretty shaky today. I know I can finish, but I dont feel strong.