Group exercise

I found out tonight, why I don't like running with non-runners. They talk when you don't want to.

So this co-worker and I have been going down to the gym at work every day this week. Tonight was a tempo run. 1 mile warm-up, 3 miles at 9:05 pace and 1 mile cool down. Sure I can do that easily but I wanted a good workout, nothing too strenous. So this co-worker got on the treadmill next to me. She & I were talking a little bit during my warm-up. It was at my conversation pace of 6mph or 10 min/mi so that was OK. Then I bumped it up to 6.6mph or 9:05 min/mi. First mile was OK. Then second mile I started to get a bit winded. I would have to pause every 3rd word. Finally I told her no more talking for me, you can talk but I'm not answering. So then she would talk but she would say things like "you know?" or point out a picture in a magazine. Then expect me to answer or look over. And if I didn't then she would just stare at me until I gave some sort of response like a nod of the head or something. Then she asked me how many miles am I doing today. I told her 5. And then she asked how many calories is that? I finally said, why are you asking me questions when I said I can't talk anymore? Luckily, she got the point and I was able to finish my 3rd mile in silence.

When I ran the last time with a runner person (not Luke), we were quiet. Not totally the entire time, beginning we were talkative but not so much so but then we fell into a comfortable silence and then it was just us running side by side concentrating on our own steps & breathing.

But we're still pushing each other. Or at least, I'm pushing her more than me. :-) It's nice to have that feeling again! To be helping someone, giving them advice.

We did weights on Tuesday and we're doing weight machines again tomorrow. This is awesome. I'm actually a bit sore. We're 8 inches apart in height but yet she can do double the weight I can on the machines. Though she does have 100 lbs on me too, I think. But I do 40 lbs for the hamstring curl, she does 80. Although I do 100 & 85 lbs for a leg press and she does 115.

I also downloaded an app today for my iPod Touch to help me lose some weight. This month, I kinda gained weight it seemed. Not too much, just 5 lbs but I want to lose a total of 10 now. And I would like to start keeping a record of how much I eat and the calories that I put in my mouth. It'll be interesting to watch.

Categories: tempo run, weight, weight training

It's been too long since I talked about running

Tomorrow evening I finish my Old Chicago World Beer Tour #2. Only took me 2 years to finish 110 beers with driving 40 miles one way for it. HAHA. It'll be good.

I've been swimming this week for cross-training purposes. I got in the pool on Tuesday, did some laps and spent a total of 30 minutes in the pool. I was expecting to be more sore on Wednesday but nada. Was in the pool again tonight. Only spent 20 minutes this time but that was because Zach in the next lane swam 22 laps in a row and totally showed me up. I can only swim 3 laps in a row. I blame the fact that I have no goggles. So I'm buying goggles this weekend or next week.

Next week cross-training will be biking. My legs will be more sore after that. I like the recumbent bike better. I can read or watch tv better and it's easier on my ass. I go for like 7 or 8 miles on that in 30 minutes. It's a pretty good sweat workout.

I'm hoping to lose 10 pounds. It'll help with the running, if I'm more svelt. I don't want to lose it for the body image but to help me run. So maybe it's not the weight I want to lose but instead the bulk around my hips, thighs and stomach. We'll see if it happens. I highly doubt it. Three years ago I was 15 pounds less than what I am now but I was also younger too. I don't know what I did to lose it but I did. I think it was the working nights and driving an hour to work.

I'm also doing a few sets of weights after running on the treadmill. Nothing too big and fancy. Just working the tricep (a problem area), the hamstring lift (I need to make that stronger for running) and free weights curls for the biceps (my skinny arms need to get stronger).

I saw an orthopedic last week. He told me that I'm incredibly flexible which is why I'm having problems with my wrists. But he said what will help me with that is strengthening up the forearm. So I have to look into getting a squeezy thingy for those muscles. I can work those at home. This guy I know just does it while he's watching tv and his forearms are HUGE. So I'm hoping that will keep my wrists good as I have a cyst back in my bad one and my one good wrist is painful as of late.

I'm also training for the St. Jude Children's Hospital Half Marathon for later on this year. It'll be in December. Someone from work motivated me enough to get excited about the stupid thing. It's in Memphis. Here's a map of the route. I have a regimen to follow for 16 weeks. I started it this past Monday and I only run 3 times a week. That seems way less that what I should run to me but I up my long run mileage by a mile each week. It has tempo runs (which is slightly faster than your estimated HM pace) and speed work (in which you run like a mile fast - mines is at 8:06) and easy/long runs done at a pace slower than your HM pace (mine is 10 minutes). I've never really done those before. I always just ran a straight steady pace which might be why I only run at that pace.

I got this schedule from Runner's World. I subscribed to it 2 months ago and it's been really helpful. I totally look forward to it every month. It has good articles about running, shoes, strides, food, etc.

For the past two Friday's, I've been running at lunch because I usually end up staying until 7pm to get our weekend classified sections out. I can't explain why but it sucks. Luckily, because tomorrow is my WBT finish, I'm leaving at 5pm, I don't care and I'm not running. It's a rest day for me! With a 6 mile run on Saturday. :-)

I've been planning my camping weekends for this summer. I'm totally looking forward to Alton/Grafton and then sometime to Wisconsin. I also plan an overnight trip to Springfield. It's been way too long since I've been to our state capital. I like Abraham Lincoln a lot. My dad is also going to come up here for a week of camping in August. I'm excited about that. He's actually staying in Sycamore too so he'll be close to me! Unfortunately, since all my vacation time is all ready locked in, I can't take any of those days off but I'll find stuff to do with him during the week. May lose out on a few training days. We'll see.

I swear, if I see one more story or hear of another newscast or commercial about the iPhone (which is all I'm seeing on NBC tonight), I'm going to scream. I can't even go to some of my favourite geek sites because all they have are links and articles about this iPhone. How not to be jealous of the iPhone, how to make your phone look like the iPhone, how the iPhone stands up to other phones, finding Wi-Fi spots with your iPhone, how the lines are building for the iPhone launch, the fact that the iPhones are arriving and being unpacked. I want to stage a sit-in in protest over this hype that they are having over this new device. I'm sick of it. SICK. OF. IT. People were complaining about the overexposure of Paris Hilton. Well, how about this iPhone?!?! I'll end on that note.

Categories: camping, iPhone, orthopedic, Runner's World, speed work, St. Jude Half Marathon, swimming, travel, weight, work

iDo

I also got an appointment with Midwest Ortho to look at my hip. Hopefully they'll tell me what to do to make it not hurt after running! I ran yesterday at 4.5 miles and it hurt but only after I quit running. Today, I ran 4.5 miles but it started huring WHILE I was running. Even afterwards while stretching, something wasn't right. And it's not the muscle. It's the joint. I know it is.

So last week, Bob won an iPod shuffle. Got it through Lee's Summer Fitness Challenge. He gave it to me. Every week they are giving away iPod shuffles (week 1 - 1 iPod shuffle; week 2 - 2 shuffles; week 3 - 3 shuffles; etc.) and one iPod Nano each week. I was really wanting the Nano just so I can get the iPod + Nike thing and then when I run outside it'll keep track of how fast and far I'm going and how many calories I'm burning. That'll be awesome. But I'm happy with the shuffle. For now. I had iTunes put random songs on it and most of it turned out for good running today. Today, in fact, was easy running, even with the pain in my hip. 4.5 miles in 41:08. Not too shabby. I couldn't tell if that was because of the running I did yesterday, the not being sick anymore, or the music helping me along. In any case, I own an iPod brand mp3 player now. I guess I should delete the above icon now huh? :-)

Speaking of October 8th, I gotta remember to register for the Autumn on Parade race soon. This one is gonna have hills. :-/ And water only provided at the 2 mile mark. Gotta remember to bring my own little bottle then. But all racers are guaranteed a shirt! Awards for the first 3 male and female in each age group. I'm starting to look at clothing to wear for the cooler weather. I'm thinking at least long running tights. My thighs were red in the last race from the cooler weather.

Tomorrow is weights and bike. I like the bike, I just sit, listen to music and work out my legs. It's kinda fun. :-) BTW, I'm 3 pounds away from my goal weight. Then what?

Categories: Autumn On Parade 5k, iPod, orthopedic, weight

running

I saw Jack at the Y. That was a surprise. He said that the Godsmack tickets came in. He was on one side of me while Bob was on the other. Thanks for the well wishes Jack! Means a lot! I'll let you know how I do. :-)

After all the bad stuff that I ate this weekend, I was still weighing myself every day and for 5 days straight, I stayed under 140. In fact, I now weight 137. So I did finally lose weight. Not a lot but I'm consistently under 140. My calves look A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, if I do say so myself. And I'm starting to get defintion in my stomach. So it's finally come to fruition now. Bob and I are doing weight machines on Tuesday and Fridays. This Friday though I gotta head up to Rockford to pick up my packet. Then buying a new running outfit, brand name at that too! Gotta make it look pretty too! Treat myself for doing this! One accomplishment. And then I'll be doing weights that evening. I got an email reminder about it today and I finally realised that it's gonna happen! I'm just now starting to get a little nervous. I know I'm gonna finish so I just want to hit my goal of under 30 minutes. Which I should have no problem doing. It's gonna be 75 degrees on Saturday so it'll be a little chilly that morning but I'm still going to wear a racer tank top. Now I just have to figure out what to eat the night before.

I went down to do recycling after running and the only one that I know of is down by the dorms. Wow. Worst idea ever. Why didn't I do this BEFORE students came back? That was when I realised that I'm glad I don't live on that side of town anymore. I quite enjoy living on the more grown up side that's for sure. Though I miss Pita Pete's so I went there afterwards to pick myself up a pita. Also, I picked up a NIU id holder to put my YMCA pass in it. I realised that if I put it in my bag, it usually falls to the bottom and since I put my shoes and clothes in there, I have to bring everything out just to find it. Plus when I go running outside, it'll be nice to have that on me in case anything happens; which knowing my luck things will happen!

Off to do laundry since I can't do it tomorrow. Stupid.

Categories: weight