Workout of the Day: I’m Katniss!
This is archer pose. I attempted it during my C2 hot yoga class and under my breath said, “I’m Katniss!”
Apparently, I was louder than I thought because everyone on the right side of the room started laughing.
I am Katniss, dammit. And one day, I will be doing this pose perfectly. :)
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I wasn’t planning on a second workout but I was craving a little run and decided I would just run a mile and a half - but do it up Fancy Nancy style!
I decided on running intervals but instead of doing it in an organized way, I just ran out as fast as I could go until I felt like stopping.
I ran the first mile in 8:25 and my half-mile in 3:50! I definitely stopped twice to catch my breath but it was soo fun to feel my body move in this way.
It’s humbling to see how excited I was about finishing 1.5 miles in 12:16 and how much work I have ahead of me to run this average pace.
One day it will be easy and fast. :)
Here Comes The Sun, Little Darling
First, an amazing 10K run (6.2 miles) to start the morning - everything just felt right with the world!
Then, a perfect sunny-side up egg sandwich on my pretty, new plates and half a grapefruit with black coffee for breakfast.
Hope you are having a great morning, little darlings!
Running Bunny Weekly Report: Pushing Hard Enough
The week before NYC, I ran a solid 15 miler.
I trained hard but not smart.
I sandwiched the run with two hours of hard hot yoga the day before and two hours of hot yoga the day after. I followed these three days with a hard weights workout and I knew I had pushed my right knee beyond it’s limit and the pain was a terrifying echo of the days after the Marine Corps Marathon.
I talked to John and he said something that made a lot of sense to me. At the pace I’m training, my body is not recovering as fast as it is breaking down.
I decided to only run a 5K on Saturday in NYC (so lovely!) but the eight hours of walking in New York City on Saturday and Sunday was definitely too much for me.
Training intuitively stopped me from pushing - I completed the week at 18.1 miles with two runs and four hot yoga classes.
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I started last week with more intuitive running. I reduced my hot yoga classes to two and decided to run three times - I only practiced gentle hatha yoga routines at home every day.
I love the four day running week and they serve me best at 10K distances or above - but the only thing that matters for my marathon training are my long runs.
I did a mind-numbing 4 miles on the bike for cross-training on Monday.
I ran a 10K on Tuesday (1:02).
I ran an 8 miler on Thursday (1.21).
I ran a great Shamrock Shuffle on Sunday morning…(a little over 46 minutes).
and then an additional 10 miler in 1:30!
I needed the Shamrock Shuffle - I wasn’t looking for a P.R. (didn’t get one anyway!) but my mid-week runs were feeling dispiriting and I was only craving my long runs.
During the race, the miles flew by and I was so happy to be running - something I only feel deep into my weekend long runs.
I always try to remind myself, running is not something I have to do, it’s something I want to do and that I crave doing.
It took a lot out of my knee, and subsequently my right hip, to run ten more miles yesterday for a total of 15 miles. I decided that it would be smarter to repeat 15 miles as a long run before I move onto the higher mileage - my body needs some TLC.
My total mileage for the week was 29.2 miles.
I am not going to write an elaborate plan for next week other than to say, I have a longer long run planned and I’ll get to do it in New Orleans!
Every shorter run and hot yoga workout is just icing on the cake. :D
Everyday I’m {Shamrock} Shuffling
Along with 40,000 other runners (91% from Chicago), John and I ran the Shamrock Shuffle 8K this morning (4.97 miles!).
It’s the largest 8K road race in the world and the elite corral even featured Olympians Abdi Abdirahman and Olympian hopefuls!
I hit a personal record I’ve been chasing for some time - five miles in under 45 minutes - 44:18 to be exact!
My mile splits were: 8:57, 8:44, 9:31, 8:35, 8:29.
{Edit} I thought I had hit a P.R. but the race numbers ended up being 45:59 (5K, 29:19).
I know a lot of running bloggers love to claim their Garmin numbers over chip times but chip times are more accurate - and the practice of using your Garmin numbers for race stats feels dishonest.
Your Garmin can register longer distances because of personal failure to run course tangents or weaving around other runners.
This race kicks of spring racing season for Chicago - and we have 55 days until the Fargo Marathon!
I’m off to finish a long run for marathon training. Hope your Sunday is sunny and beautiful too!
I Did It, I Did It, I Did It.
15.1 miles in 2:23:59. Exactly.
This run scared me before I started. I’m not sure why but it did. Once I start running, I remember that I’ve done this and I can do it again. I just have to keep going.
Around mile 5, the run got easy and I ranged from 8:50 to 10:05 miles.
Everything was annoying me before that mile - strollers, pedestrians, cars - but I decided I wanted to “Run Happy” and I did. No run is guaranteed and good runs are definitely not guaranteed.
The weather helped - at the beginning of the run it was 68 degrees and it cooled off to 55. There were violets growing in some little patch and the lake front seemed crowded with birds.
I’m really happy with how I did, how much I’m improving, how hard I’m working. I was always taught to be humble, but I think you can still be happy and humble.
Puppy kisses to help the soreness go away. :D
Q:You are just a tiny bottle of cute energy! I love your blog and say hi to Nigel for me. I noticed you were wearing compression socks since the Disney races and wondered if you recommend them? Do they work? Do you feel different and do you feel like they help your running?
Anonymous
Hello, and thanks for reading.
Bottle of cute energy - patent pending! :D
I have been wearing Zensah compression calf sleeves since the Goofy Challenge. When I saw them, I was pretty skeptical - were they like those Vitamin C packets or Ezekiel bread that I loved? All hype, and no real effect?
It was wonderful wearing them on the plane ride home after 39.3 miles. They felt like they were massaging my legs and I also wore them around the park.
However, I mostly wear them now because they keep my legs warm. I like to run with shorts (yes, even in 30-40 degree weather) and the sleeves make it possible. The toasty feeling is awesome!
Do I think they do anything in terms of healing? Or preventing tiredness? Or helping with fatigue?
I have no clue. If you have the money and want them for warmth or for that snuggly feeling, yes, I would tell you to get them.
There are runners who SWEAR by all compression wear but it’s tough for me to gauge whether they are helping with muscle fatigue and I don’t wear them to run with the hopes they will help me with healing after.
I compare them very much to Vibrams. A lot of people get Vibrams for shin splints but frankly, rest, yoga, and improving your stride (for example, not pulling your toes towards your face when you run) is the more ideal solution.
Sleeves won’t prevent tiredness, but endurance building runs can - however, one could argue that keeping the muscle warm does prevent problems too.
Could compression sleeves hurt your running instead of helping?
Well, if it’s good enough for the qualifying women at the Olympic marathon trials, it’s good enough for us. ;D
Lululemon Mardi Glow Run + Resolutions for Lent
John sent me a notice about Lululemon sponsoring a 5K fun run for free and I was jumping for joy because it was FREEEEEEEEEE!
I hate paying for races under five miles!
It was this evening though (and we forgot about it) so when I was able to get home, I scrambled trying to get some of our running gear out since I didn’t know what John would want.
Since we were supposed to “glow” John wore a neon yellow fleece and I went all pink. Technically, I run like this all the time and I’m sure people are like, “Look at that chick in all that pink.” To which I reply:
{Source}
We both had five milers on our marathon training plan so we ran the two miles from our home in Wicker Park to the Lululemon in Lincoln Park.
I loved seeing the sun come down and passing through a different running route - really puts a pep in your running step.
They gave us glow sticks, water, and coffee and there was a crowd of about fifty people in masks, beads, and some serious costumes.
Somehow, we ran four more miles. Yes, that would not be a 5K which is 3.1 miles. The run was supposed to be between the Lululemon store in Lincoln Park and ending at the Lululemon store on Michigan Avenue at Bloomingdale’s.
John, me, and another guy surged ahead near the lake front and our merry band kept going ahead in the wrong, or “creative” direction. Apparently, lots of people split off and the people following us were sadly, also led down the longer path.
We got to the store and when I looked at my Garmin, we had run a total of 6 miles in 55 minutes. I’ll take it!
Umm…this might have happened too. But look! The pants are marked down! I also need it for a new adventure we are planning! It has “back vents for maximum air flow!” I’m out of reasons.
We had dinner at our favorite little spot near the Magnificent Mile for a quick meal, the Soupbox, where I had a lovely fire roasted veggie soup and John had a lobster bisque, with sourdough quarters for each of us.
And then we celebrated Fat Tuesday. John is Catholic and takes this very seriously, enjoying fried homemade doughnuts as a child. No fries here, but I thought ice cream is always a good decadent treat!
Yes, you just suffered from an ice-cream and sugar headache just by looking at this picture. It’s a waffle cone (my first ever!) with vanilla ice cream, warm peanut butter and chocolate and nuts. John gave me the cherry.
We didn’t enjoy it at all. :D
It was a happy day and I had a truly “fun run” - I hope I can find more of these events for us soon because it’s a great way to stay motivated for our mid-week five to eight mile runs!
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With Fat Tuesday out of the way, here is our Lenten resolution.
We will be in bed by 11pm every night - exceptions will be made for non-negotiable deadlines, outings with friends, or if we are travelling.
However, from now until Easter there will be no staying up for just one more thing…and even if we end up staying up till the wee hours, we have to be in bed by 11.
Goodnight everyone! See you all tomorrow!
Running Bunny Weekly Run-Down: Overtraining or Overreaching?
Breakfast was a quick one - a Fage 0% and Bare Naked plain granola. Maybe it was too much protein but I finished only half of this - so filling!
It’s a sticky line between overtraining and overreaching because I have boundless energy and enthusiasm when things are going so well.
Last week, I ran 17.66 miles and this week I ran 23.2 miles, jumping from an 8 mile Saturday morning run to a 10 miler. This week, I’m running up to 25 miles, which isn’t as big of a bump.
I took four hot yoga classes which is now becoming my average number - with one two hour class. This week, I plan on making it to five hot yoga classes, and make them all intermediate.
I took TWO rest days, even making myself rest before my long run on Saturday!
I did an abs routine every day following my fitness streak.
It’s a puppy routine and I finally came up with a sustainable routine that allows me to build my strength. I’m really excited about this!
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Last week was a great training week, with only one wrench - falling hard on my right knee. The soreness and throbbing have gone away with ice picks but the scab, the evil, no-good scab, opens up every time I assume Warrior II.
I’m hoping to find some skin salves downtown to speed healing…or just try voodoo.
It’s a beautiful day in Chicago - Hope it’s gorgeous in your part of the world today!
I’ll Tumble For You + Morning Long Run
I woke up around 6 am this morning. That never happens on a Saturday. :)
I decided I might as well get up, take the dog out, and prep for my long run.
I started with a cup of coconut milk and pumpkin spice coffee so I could get some Ibuprofen into my system.
I made some peanut butter Ezekiel toast with blackberry jelly and this happened…
Nigel was on a different floor, in our bedroom with the door only partially open, and snuggling with John. HE HEARD ME OPEN THE PEANUT BUTTER JAR and ran to assume the position.
Cutie face got him the jar of peanut butter since it was almost done.
John heard the ruckus and decided to join us so he got some of the toast and coffee. Two and a half hours later we were off!
I ran my first ten miler for my marathon training this morning.
I completed ten miles in 1:41 and kept a nice 9:30-10:00 minute pace throughout. John ran nine and a half miles in 1:25 and we separated around mile 2. I didn’t get into a groove until then, but once I did, the run felt good.
Around mile seven, I took a really bad spill. My foot caught on something and I flew down the sidewalk.
The run was going great until that point but after the tumble, my knees felt like someone had kicked each of them. My tights tore and favorite Lululemon running gloves tore and I kept running through the mind-numbing pain.
I wasn’t trying to be hardcore. I decided that during a marathon, I might fall, and I need to train the brain to keep going.
I came home took off my tights and apparently my knees were bleeding - in fact, I lost an inch of skin on my right knee and a quarter inch on the left knee, with some odd swelling right underneath.
So. Sexy. :D
Since John finished fast, he went and brought Nigel to come meet me and the pupper ran a quarter mile with me! That’s like a half-marathon for him because English bulldogs aren’t supposed to run for too long. He came in and decided to do some hip openers. ;D
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Hope you had a great morning and your weekend is ouch free.
Inspiration for my Long Run
Make 2012 great and find a race!
We just signed up for our fifth half-marathon and we are training for our fourth and fifth marathons respectively. Join us!
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