Running journal

A few of you that follow my blog have done so from from day 1 in 2007 when I used another site (tp104; Louisa!). In that early blog, I'd post a snippet after every single run.

While blogging I was also keeping a running journal, as the advise I'd read from CES' Coach Jenny Hadfield and her husband/author/fellow penguin runner that a running log/journal was useful in looking back over time to see your success, to gauge what factors made some runs easier/harder than others over time, etc...

In 2006 I used one from their book, but I don't know where it is. In 2007 i used another one geared to women. This one I wrote in the entire year.

And like running, it's not always about running. When you're out on a run, sometimes it's not about the run, but sorting through life: work/love/family/etc. So too is this journal. It's mostly about running...

Click on the pics to enlarge them...

I still remember this run like it was yesterday, as a pace leader for CES Winter Warriors half marathon training program, there had been an icy storm a day or so before. We made our way from Fleet Feet/Piper's Alley over to the lakefront. As we turned onto the path there were loud, audible gasps from our small crew. Ice as far as the eye could see.


Here's another. I had a treadmill at home, but with two little ones (then 1 and 3 years old) it was still hard to get runs in without disruptions. And then there was this other "child". I look back at this and it brings back bad memories that I'd completely forgotten all about. But at the same time makes me glad I left. What took me so long?!?!?




And here I am trying out a Garmin. Ha! (Who knew 6 years later I'd be using my phone with equal accuracy. AND music, all in one.?!) and Lou, remember that chick Rebecca who would always wear her headphones and go ahead of us, and we'd have to chase her non-paying-attention self down? Hahaha! (I also have little food references here, too.)



I generally have blogged about my long runs but have nixed a running log for quite some time. I'm re-thinking and may bring this practice back. It's inspirational and also an entertaining window to my past.

Just thinking out loud. Do you journal?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

This inspiration is brought to you by expensive women's athletic apparel

Call me shallow if you want, but the clothes at Lululemon inspire me! I walked past the Lululemon store and into my gym up in Evanston last night, knowing that by this time next year I will be showing off my shoulders in one of those shirts. Not wishing. Not hoping. Knowing. And then I had a kickass chest + triceps workout, with bonus reps for my legs and shoulders. (Bonus because they're weren't on my schedule for the day.) But it's not just Lululemon, but Athleta and Title Nine, too.

Look at this cute tank top!

And this one!

And you can't beat these reusable bags. This is where Lululemon beats out Athleta and Title Nine, all day everyday.

Anyway. Find inspiration wherever you can. You might need it when the going gets tough. I'll have to re-read this at some point. Or walk by Lululemon, meander thru the aisles at Athleta, or sift through a Title Nine catalog.

Speaking of which, Lou, why don't we sign up for the Title Nine 9k? I ran it last year (and wrote about it here) and the swag bag is pretty sweet (and earned a separate blog post found here. Chicks only, let's do it!

Encouraged...

I had a rough go of the Soldier Field 10-Mile on Saturday...race report and self analysis are forthcoming. But on Sunday, a glimmer of hope parted the skies overhead as I hit the hills of the north end of Lakeshore Drive (or Lake Shore Drive, if you must.) The Annual Bike the Drive event took place on Sunday, and BB and I rode from my place to the northern end of the Drive at Hollywood, rode all the way to 57th Street (the southern end of the event's route), and back. The hills at the beginning of our ride made me pause for how it would be at the end of our ride...but something kicked in. I dug deep and pushed through those hills with something I haven't felt in awhile. My legs are strong! I can push through without saying "I can't." According to my sportstracker app, my fastest miles were at the end, and on the hilliest part of the course.

Takeaways:

I am stronger than I think I am.

What else am I capable of? Plenty more.

...I wish I had pictures to share, but in their absence, you should know that I was enjoying every single minute of the ride, wayyyy too busy enjoying life in the moment to stop and take pictures!

Excerpt from John Maxwell's The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth

"...Darren Hardy writes in his book "The Compound Effect" about the battle most people experience when it comes to weighing instant gratification against doing what's best for us:

'We understand that scarfing Pop-Tarts won't slenderize our waistlines. We realize that logging three hours a night watching "Dancing with The Stars" and "NCIS" leaves us three fewer hours to read a good book or listen to a terrific audio. We 'get' that merely purchasing great running shoes doesn't make us marathon-ready. We're a "rational" species--at least that's what we tell ourselves. So why are we so irrationally enslaved by so many bad habits? It's because our need for immediate gratification can turn us into the most reactive, non-thinking animals around.'

When it comes to growth and success, immediate gratification is almost always the enemy of growth. We can choose to please ourselves and plateau, or we can delay our gratification and grow. It's our choice."

John C. Maxwell ~ The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth

Where there's a will...

In the last 24 hours I've seen people running in spite of....

...it being too dark in the evening, wearing a head lamp on her hat. "Wow," I thought.

...it being cold and maybe not safe, paired up & geared up in the wee hours of the morning (4:45am) along the chilly lakefront. "Impressive," I mumbled.

...having one leg! running with a mechanical leg. and her dog. "Holy shit!" I exclaimed.

So...why haven't i been running lately? Yeah. Kinda hard to bullshit after seeing that.

in hindsight

so a few days ago i was mad that i'd done so well with my training this year, but that it didn't translate to an awesome marathon. after a dismal beginning earlier this summer, each month my overall pace picked up, and the same with each weekend's long run. i had two consecutive half marathon PRs, and my 16, 18 and 20 mile training runs were all pretty solid with faster times than i've ever had before. i thought this meant a guaranteed GREAT race--even though there are never guarantees with the marathon.

but taking an honest look, i have always been severely lacking in two key areas of my training: strength/core training, and stretching. i'm a lazy stretcher. for strength training, i might start, but life gets in the way and it's the first thing to drop from my schedule.

training is more than just getting the runs in. and while i did that pretty well, there's definitely room for improvement and fine tuning.

and besides, i got it EASY. I heard one runner story about a man running who had recovered from a stroke--a dude like MY age...he had to re-learn how to walk. and another runner who just had a double masectomy in AUGUST. my problems are not even problems.

done sulking and moving forward in the continuous cycle of self-improvement.

chicago! (click on the image)

">click the pic below

Thank you, Pacific Grove, California!

This week I was on the central coast of California for a work conference, chillin at Asilomar Conference Center (pronounced uh-SILL-o-marr), a California state park and beach that’s located in this “micro climate” where the temps never got into the 60’s. That’s all LOVE! (Sweet Jesus, I might have to move! -kidding) But you DO know that running in any kind of sun/heat is not my thing…that I love the fall best of all…it was running perfection that made up for the spotty internet connection, the NO TV thing, and the “rustic” room, which is code for “me no like.”

I'm so proud of my running this week. I've given every run EVERYTHING I had. Everything. I pushed myself hard. It's a good feeling to know that you did your absolute very best. You know we always make these parallels to running and real life, but it's true. Why would you not do your best? Shit's always gonna be hard, at least sometime in your life, right? But I SOOO don't wanna go through life and at the end, know that I didn't give it my all. That I chose the "easy" way out, but in the end I shortchanged myself. Life is yours for the taking. I'm taking mine, I'm gonna push myself as hard as I can to get the things that I truly want/need...I don't feel I deserve any less. And I owe it to myself.

In the words of Spike Lee: "Sho Nuff * Ya Digg?"

Here's a breakdown of my runs this week, followed by some pics from my long run:

Sunday Run: 4 miles along the coast (10:05 pace)

Monday Run: 4 miles along the coast (10:14 pace)

Tuesday Run: 4 miles along the coast (9:45 pace)

Thursday Long Run: 16 kickass miles! Here’s the breakdown:

Mile 1 10:04

Mile 2 10:24

Mile 3 10:45

Mile 4 11:02

Mile 5 11:08

Mile 6 11:06

Mile 7 11:06

Mile 8 11.28

Mile 9 10:50

Mile 10 11:50

Mile 11 11:57

Mile 12 11:30

Mile 13 11:11

Mile 14 12:03

Mile 15 11:48

Mile 16 11:35

Total: 2:59:45 (pace 11:14)

Now of course, I realize I did a terrible job at maintaining any remnant of a pace. But an 11:14 pace overall? O. M. G. I have NEVER had a run for that long at that kinda pace. I'll work on a better pace next time and just bask in the glow of my kickassery ways right now. For those of you who consistently run at the back of the pack with the 12:00 pace groups, you gotta know how big this is, right? I'm GEEKED. GEEKED enough to use the word GEEKED without feeling like one.

Anyway, here's some awesome pics to end this post:

Kicking off my 16-mile run in the "micro climate" along Sunset Drive:

Heading into Monterey along Monterey Bay on a bike trail. The sun is out and about 15-20 degrees warmer:

Moving away from the bay, the bike path wound around into a shady wooded area. So pretty, right?

These plants lined the bike path (although I took these during one of my shorter runs):

Sigh. For God so loved the world that he created the Pacific Ocean Coastline:

Farewell, Pacific Grove, goodbye, ocean! I won't forget this week, and especially that kindred soul who was here, but not here...pushing me through every run. Thank you.

This deserves an award...

Wow. Read this.