This runnin' thing

In my quest for a sub 22 minute 5K, I am becoming completely addicted to the sport of running. I was already addicted to this sport before, but my new goal is giving me so much motivation that I am starting to love every step I take.

This whole 3 day weekend was almost completely devoted to running. I went for 2 runs this weekend. One run was an hour on the treadmill yesterday. Another run was a 45 minute jaunt outside in the 35 degree weather. I just now came back from this run. I still have the sweaty face and red glow on my cheeks to prove it!

The rest of the weekend has been devoted to reading everything I can about the sport. It is just my personality that when I become excited about obtaining a goal, I devote myself fully to it. Sometimes the pursuit of this goal is all I can think about. Ever since my 5K, I have been thinking very hard about all the ways I can improve in this sport. Here are all the books I have read within the past couple of weeks on the subject of running:

Run Fast- by Hal Higdon
Daniel's Running Formula- by Jack Daniels
The Competitive Runner's Handbook- by Bob Glover
The Cutting Edge Runner- by Matt Fitzgerald
Runner's World Guide to Road Racing- by Katie McDonald Neitz

...and the two I still have yet to finish:

Runner's World Complete Book of Running-by Amby Burfoot
Training for Young Distance Runners-by Larry Green and Russ Pate

If you are interested in learning more about running (Yes- There is more to it than left foot, right foot for all you sarcastic people out there) I would highly recommend any one of these books. They all have GREAT information.

Just a sample of the things I am learning:

1. When you are running up a hill, it is easier to lean back than to lean forward. I tried this tip on my run today while jogging up a relatively big hill. This tip definitely seemed to decrease the effort needed to climb the hill.

2. I learned all about the different types of speed work such as fartleks, tempo runs, intervals, etc. I also learned how long and for what paces you should be running these workouts. I also learned how much speed work to incorporate into a running program for best results.

3. I learned that more mileage is usually better and will normally help you run a lot faster in races. There is only one catch to this rule though: Don't run so much mileage that your body can't recover and get stronger. This will hinder your running performances- not help them.

4. I learned that the recovery between hard workouts is more important than the hard workouts themselves. This is because the recovery period is when torn up muscles rebuild themselves and become even stronger.

5. I saw many very good training programs in these books- and online- that will help me reach my goals. It's still too early though for me to decide on a specific one though.

So as you can tell, I am getting a little bit excited about this new goal. Once time passes and I get into a regular running routine (I am hoping to build up to at least 6-7 days of running per week) I will probably calm down tremendously. Hopefully by this time, I will still stay just as motivated as I am now. I am SO excited right now about the prospect of being able to succeed in a sport.

I am also starting to love running for a completely different reason as well: just being out there feels SO good. I love having the road to myself. I love not having to worry about people constantly on top of me, trying to get around me, and running over me like I do during a crowded swim practice. I also never have to compare myself to other people, since I am usually the only one out running in my rural neighborhood.

I also love just being outside in the elements and the huge endorphin rush that running brings.

As for swimming, I'm not going to let a few members of the swim team's opinion affect how I feel about the sport. I'm still going to swim as hard as I possibly can during the meets. I'm still going to go to practice every night.

Then again, if track season rolls along and I still feel the same way about swimming, you KNOW what I am going to do...

A long training day

I just finished (about 2 hours ago) the longest workout I have ever done!

The workout was a 2:50 bike ride, followed by a :30 run. I finished tired and hungry, but still feeling strong. Because of this workout, I now know that I will definitely be able to finish the Olympic distance triathlon I have planned (for exactly 2 weeks and 2 days from today)!

The bike ride, I am sure, was at least the distance I will be riding in the triathlon (if not longer). It was so calm and relaxing being on my bike that long. I did get a little hungry half way through the ride though. I decided to eat a gel to boost my energy so I could finish the rest of the workout. Taking the gel definitely helped my energy levels!

The gel was a Carb Boom Apple Cinnamon flavor. I never took in any calories while working out before today (because I didn't really need to) but this gel was great. I got it for free as part of the samples of stuff they give away at triathlons. I am thinking about ordering more of this gel to have during my triathlon at the end of this month. I wonder if there is anywhere I can get it, besides online. I’ve never seen it in stores before.

After finishing the bike ride, my legs (particularly my quads) were SO tired, but I was able to make it through the run (without walking, none the less). The :30 run felt great! I am really starting to love running. Even though I enjoyed my bike ride, it felt great to get off the bike and run! The run felt great too, but I was eager to get home and have lunch! The Carb Boom definitely helped tide me over, but I was ready for some real food!

It was great being able to finish a workout like this. It gave me so much confidence for the Oly. I had no idea I was capable of a workout like that. I wonder what I will be able to do next year. Maybe a marathon?

Driving and Running

more graph humor and song chart memes

Hahaha! And that funny graph was from GraphJam.com, a funny website that I discovered that has all sorts of equally amusing charts. If you don't believe me, check that website out for yourself. Trust me, you will enjoy it. I just recently looked through about 15 pages of graphs from there.

Anyways, you probably want to know about my week- since I havn't spent much time blogging this week. Well, to sum it up in two words, my week has been all about driving and running. It has also about procrastinating on my summer homework, but that is a whole other story.

I will begin with the driving part of my week. As you may know, I am spending this summer learning how to drive. After much studying of my driver's manual, I went down to the DMV to take my driving test. I was afraid I wouldn't pass, never get my liscence, and never learn how to drive. I soon found out that this fear was for nothing though. Out of the 32 questions they gave me on the test, I only missed two. I then got my learner's permit!

I started driving school on Thursday, going to two, 2 hour classes. Today, I went to another 2 hour class. I had different instucters each of these different days, but they have both been good teachers. They were both ex-cops and had a lot of intresting stories to tell!

In the classes, we learned about things such as the fact that you should look ahead when steering. We also learned things such as how to drive at night and on the freeway. I still have 9 classes to go, and a few hours where I actually get in the car and drive, then I will be done with driving school. I then have to complete 50 hours of driving with my parents (10 hours at night) and then I can drive all by myself! The driving on my own will start as soon as January- you have to wait to drive on your own untill 6 months after you get your learner's permit!

So the driver's education has occupied a pretty good portion of this week. Another thing that took up a big part of the week was running. Not the kind where people run off the roads because I am going to be driving on the roads soon, but real, actual running. The kind that makes you sweaty and comes as the last part on a triathlon. I'm not going to describe this exercise any further, since you are not a preschooler and know what running is, anyway...

I was unable to ride my bike this week. The chain feel off my bike last week and I didn't know how to fix it. I got my dad to fix it later, but my bike was still making a loud, obnoxious ratting noise. I decided not to mess with my bike and am choosing not to ride it- at least untill I bring it to the bike shop for the mechanics to take a look at it.

Since my bike was being so annoying, the only thing left for me to do was run (and swim, duh). This meant that I ended up running 5 times within 4 days. Don't ask why I spent so much time running- maybe I was going for a new world record. All I know is that last week, I ran the most I have ever done in a single week. On the last day of this "running festivity" I did two runs (that is how the 5 runs in 4 days thing came about) totaling about 2 hours and 15 mins. Even with my excruciatingly slow running pace, I probably ran at least 10 miles that day!

My legs are still a little sore today, but I am recovering well. My 4 days of consecutive running were from Monday-Thursday. I ended Friday with a nice, long 4500 yd swim and 20 mins on the stationary bike at the health club. Today is a complete rest day. I start again with the workouts tomorrow. I hope my bike gets fixed for this coming week though. I need some practice so that I can do an olympic distance triathlon this summer!

In other news, not only did I do the most running I have ever done this week; I also did my biggest workout week. My workout totals seem to be getting higher and higher every week! They will stop getting bigger soon though. I don't want to end up with 20hour weeks like someone in the peak of Ironman training- that is, untill I am training for an Ironman...

Okay, here it comes. Are you ready?

Swimming: 7 hours 55 mins

Bikig: 25 mins (Hey, my bike is broken!)

Running: 4 hours 38 min (No, that is not a hallucination!)

Yoga: 1 hr 25 mins

Total: 14 hours 23 mins (Yes, you read that right!)

Ending this post with a funny GraphJam...


more graph humor and song chart memes

Week of 6/29-7/5 workout totals: Prepare to be amazed!

I normally don't do workout totals in this blog, since no one really cares, but I have to post these totals. This is the biggest workout week I have ever done! I'm sure sometime in the future, my biggest workout week is going to be even more gigantic- but as for now, this is what I have:



Swimming: 5 hours 55 mins



Biking: 5 hours 11 mins (I never did this much bicycling in a single week before)!



Running: 1 hour 27 mins (kind of puny compared to the rest, but when you do that much swimming and bicycling, you have to sacrifice something).



Yoga: 1 hr 15 mins

Total: 13 hours 48 mins!!!

I bet you didn't see that comming!

Half-marathon?

I did a nice, long run today of about 8 miles (not exactly sure of the distance, it was just whatever I could cover in about 1:45) It was a great run. It tied for the longest I have ever ran so far.

The run was really HOT though. I started running early in the morning when it was still supposed to be cool oustide. The coolness ovbiously did not happen. At eight in the morning it was already almost 80 degrees! I was dripping sweat through out the entire run.

The last two milles were really hot and difficult but I am hoping to run even farther. I know I can because if it wasn't so hot outside on today's run, I would have definatly been able to go longer. I want to do a half marathon this summer(hopefully) or fall (if I can't do one this summer.)

I have been planning on doing a half marathon since August, but swim team practice got "in the way" of training. I leave "in the way" in quotes because swim practice is definatly not an intrusion. I love every moment of it!

Since the swim team practices are fewer in the summer (4 days a week instead of 6) and I have a lot more time in the summer to train, I have decided that now is the time when I will start training for the half-marathon. I am sick of woundering what a half marathon would be like. I just want to do it.

I have actually found another great race directory on the internet. I found it while browsing some forums while bored. It is the most comprehensive race directtory I have ever seen except for Trifind.com.

From this directory, I have found a couple of potential races I would like to run. This is all very tenitave because of the Olympic triathlons I would like to do this sumemr as well. I can only do about one race a month because I have to depend on my mom in order to have transportation to the races (I know, I am going to learn how to drive very soon!). My race scheduule is whatever is convienient to her (except for swim meets. I always get to do swim meets.)

I would like to do one or more of these races this summer/fall:
Lifeline of Ohio Dash for Donation- July 26 (only if I don't do that other triathlon I want to do planned a week before)
Columbus Half Marathon and 5K- Aug 24
United States Air Force Marathon (Only about half an hour away from where I live)-Sept 20
Dayton River Corridor Classic Half Marathon (again, only about half an hour from where I live)-Oct 12

I would love to be able to live out my dream this summer!!!

Wolves in the neighborhood!

Yesterday I went for an hour and a half run in my neighborhood. It was a great run. One of the longest runs I have done this year. I think I went about 7 miles or more. When I came home, however, I found out that there is a pack of wolves in our neighborhood. The animal control people came over to our house last night to tell us.

A PACK OF WOLVES!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT????
We found out that the wolves are still a couple of miles down the road, but they are still pretty close to our house. That is how you know you live in the middle of nowhere! When you are being threatened by wolves! I am very thankful I didn't get attacked!

You know what the funniest thing is? My mom thinks she heard strange howling noises a couple of days ago? She could be imagining the noises, but that is still kind of strange.

I guess untill the animal control people figure out what to do about the pack of wolves, I am not going to be able to run or ride my bike much in the neighborhood. Perfect, as soon as the weather gets nice, I get chased inside again by a pack of wolves! That is Ohio for you though. A very bizzare state.

I want to pet a wolf! Haha. Just kidding. I would probably run for my life if I saw one.

I finally got images to load! (I'm just not very good at figuring out how to move them)

Yesterday, I did not swim, but I ran. My parents couldn't take me to swim practice because they had to do taxes. Since I couldn't go to swim practice, I ran outside instead.

It was pretty chilly outsde, only about 45 degrees. Right now it is only about 55 degrees outsde. I am getting very annoyed with all this cold weather. It is the middle of April already!

Anyway, the run was pretty nice. I ran for about an hour, and the cool air felt nice when I was running. I kind of hurt a muscle at the top of my leg when I was running, however. It is still a little sore today but it is getting better. I have pancke-flat feet so I tend to injure myself a lot when I run. I never get very serious injuries. Just small, annoying ones.

P.S. I finally got images to load on to my blog. I think I am finallly starting to get the hang of this. All I need to learn how to do now is move images where ever I want them on my blog post.