One of the things veteran parents like to tell expectant parents is that having a kid changes everything. But until you actually have a child, you don't really realize they meant EVERYTHING.
Yesterday, while out on a long run with my foul-weather running buddy (the one person I seem to be able to count on to meet for miles even when it's raining... or snowing...), and she regaled me with a tale of a child-less bride who pitched a fit about a bridesmaid bringing her newborn baby along during the wedding weekend. Because... can't you just leave a 6 week old with a sitter for two days?
(I cannot wait until bridezilla has a child of her own...)
I could fill a ream of paper, in tiny print, with hundreds of examples - big and small - of ways in which kids change your life.
Some change are wonderful. (Toddler laughter is the BEST THING IN THE WORLD.)
Some are annoying. (6:45am is now "sleeping in.")
Some just are. (Playgrounds are my new cross-training gym.)
And some changes are more unexpected than others. Sure plenty of parents go back to running and racing. I know lots of mamas who ran halfs or marathons while pregnant, just after giving birth, and have logged many, MANY training miles pushing jogging strollers.
So the biggest surprise for me, personally, is that I have completely lost my interest in the starting line. Maybe it will return some day. I'd be surprised if it didn't. I used to live for race mornings! But now I'd rather push a jogging stroller along the waterfront, stop for a coffee, and wrap up at the playground.
My miles now are for fitness and for fun. There are no track workouts. There is only play.
And while that change surprises me, it's not one I'm worried about.
Showing posts with label run life balance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label run life balance. Show all posts
Monday, November 30
Monday, November 16
Fresh air
Because I need to share this with someone who will understand...
On Saturday night my son had a bout of the cough-til-you-pukes. We got, literally, no sleep. And to add insult to injury, Hubs hopped in a cab at 4am for a weeklong work trip.
When kiddo (who finally dozed off at 3am) woke at 7, I made him breakfast then took us both out for some fresh air.
5 miles.
Hills.
Pushing 75 pounds of stroller.
A few trips down the slide at a far-from-home playground.
Finished with breakfast at Whole Foods.
I might pass out at 7pm tonight, and the laundry might never get done, but I'm feeling like a BAMR for getting out there today!
On Saturday night my son had a bout of the cough-til-you-pukes. We got, literally, no sleep. And to add insult to injury, Hubs hopped in a cab at 4am for a weeklong work trip.
When kiddo (who finally dozed off at 3am) woke at 7, I made him breakfast then took us both out for some fresh air.
5 miles.
Hills.
Pushing 75 pounds of stroller.
A few trips down the slide at a far-from-home playground.
Finished with breakfast at Whole Foods.
I might pass out at 7pm tonight, and the laundry might never get done, but I'm feeling like a BAMR for getting out there today!
Wednesday, June 10
Realizations
One of the things I've realized this week is that while the scale readings are going up (hello 600 calorie daily surplus now that I'm not the sole food source for my kid), my muscle mass is, too. And while last week's yoga challenge suffered several serious interruptions, I worked out Every. Single. Day.
The year is half over, and the fit-in-15 challenge has been a success so far. My goal was to get back into the habit of working out every day, and (clearly) I have.
That said, the whole challenge concept is starting to feel a bit contrived.
Plank-a-day just didn't work for me, but mileage goals and speed-work-each-week goals did. Yoga every day seems like a stretch. (Ha!) But the squat/pushup/plank routine was actually pretty motivating. (It helped that I could guilt my spouse into doing 100 squats with me after our kid fell asleep at night.)
I'm running out of fitness challenges I really want to do (read: am motivated enough to follow through on), so I'm strongly considering switching back to my old style of training: 5-6 days week, with 3 runs and 3 strength/stretch days.
Or maybe I'll just keep repeating the squat/pushup/plank routine every week for the rest of the year...
Stay tuned...
The year is half over, and the fit-in-15 challenge has been a success so far. My goal was to get back into the habit of working out every day, and (clearly) I have.
That said, the whole challenge concept is starting to feel a bit contrived.
Plank-a-day just didn't work for me, but mileage goals and speed-work-each-week goals did. Yoga every day seems like a stretch. (Ha!) But the squat/pushup/plank routine was actually pretty motivating. (It helped that I could guilt my spouse into doing 100 squats with me after our kid fell asleep at night.)
I'm running out of fitness challenges I really want to do (read: am motivated enough to follow through on), so I'm strongly considering switching back to my old style of training: 5-6 days week, with 3 runs and 3 strength/stretch days.
Or maybe I'll just keep repeating the squat/pushup/plank routine every week for the rest of the year...
Stay tuned...
Friday, May 15
What I wish I knew when I started running as a new mom
Last week a new mom posted a question on the message board of my running group...
As background, the question-asker is a new mom to a baby who was born premature, she's already back at work full-time, she's up for feedings every 2 hours all night long, and her question:
Oh... the things I know now that I wish I knew then!
My advice:
Go easy on yourself.
Getting back into running probably is important to you at this new juncture in your life, because it gives you a sense of control, it helps reduce your stress levels, and it gives you a few precious moments of quiet.
But it's also REALLY FREAKIN HARD to get yourself out of bed at 4am when your night of "sleep" was more like a few cat-naps.
So, yes, go easy on yourself.
Take walk breaks when you need to. Accept that a "training schedule" might not be in the cards for you right now. You will eventually feel like a runner again. I promise. But it might take a little longer than you had hoped.
Yes, some mamas are back to marathon-running within months of popping out a child. My advice?
Cheer for those other running mamas!
The success of a marathon-running mama does not diminish your exhaustion, and their distance should not be a yardstick against which you measure your own running performance. Running can be a competitive sport, but running can also be for recreation, catharsis, and fellowship.
Speaking of which...
Find a good running group.
Find a running group filled with other running mamas who understand that running schedules need to fit around nap schedules, school schedules, and swim class schedules. They have also had to deal with diaper blowouts in the running stroller, caring for a sick child the week before their 10k, and staying hydrated while running as a nursing mama.
They will be your support group, and you will forever be thankful for their wisdom and empathy.
Enlist others.
Tell your partner that fitness is important for your health. Feel no guilt about leaving your baby with family, friend, or sitter for an hour. Seriously. Your health is important to your child's health.
Invest in a good running stroller.
There will be times when you need to get outdoors, but no one else is around to watch your baby. There will be times when the weather is so gorgeous you can't imagine keeping your baby indoors, even if you have a partner or sitter available. There will be times when the whole family just wants to get outside for some fresh air.
Buy the good running stroller - you won't regret it.
When your baby is little, sing songs as you huff and puff slowly along. When your baby gets bigger, play I Spy games or have your kiddo bring a book along for the ride.
Cheer yourself on because no matter how quickly or slowly you're chugging along, YOU are running while pushing 100 pounds of baby + equipment. How many people can claim that victory?
Find all of your local playgrounds and map the running routes from home to those playgrounds. Your little one might not want to sit still "for a run" -- but sitting still "to go to the playground" is a different animal entirely.
And last, but not least...
Go easy on yourself.
Seriously. Running is supposed to be fun. Let it be fun.
If you are too hard on yourself, and running becomes a chore, you might give up entirely. Don't do that. Your child will grow out of the up-all-night phase. You'll get your groove back. In the meantime, let running be fun.
You have enough things to worry about as a new parent. Don't add running to the worry list!
As background, the question-asker is a new mom to a baby who was born premature, she's already back at work full-time, she's up for feedings every 2 hours all night long, and her question:
How do I fit running back into my life? Or is that even possible?
Oh... the things I know now that I wish I knew then!
My advice:
Go easy on yourself.
Getting back into running probably is important to you at this new juncture in your life, because it gives you a sense of control, it helps reduce your stress levels, and it gives you a few precious moments of quiet.
But it's also REALLY FREAKIN HARD to get yourself out of bed at 4am when your night of "sleep" was more like a few cat-naps.
So, yes, go easy on yourself.
Take walk breaks when you need to. Accept that a "training schedule" might not be in the cards for you right now. You will eventually feel like a runner again. I promise. But it might take a little longer than you had hoped.
Yes, some mamas are back to marathon-running within months of popping out a child. My advice?
Cheer for those other running mamas!
The success of a marathon-running mama does not diminish your exhaustion, and their distance should not be a yardstick against which you measure your own running performance. Running can be a competitive sport, but running can also be for recreation, catharsis, and fellowship.
Speaking of which...
Find a good running group.
Find a running group filled with other running mamas who understand that running schedules need to fit around nap schedules, school schedules, and swim class schedules. They have also had to deal with diaper blowouts in the running stroller, caring for a sick child the week before their 10k, and staying hydrated while running as a nursing mama.
They will be your support group, and you will forever be thankful for their wisdom and empathy.
Enlist others.
Tell your partner that fitness is important for your health. Feel no guilt about leaving your baby with family, friend, or sitter for an hour. Seriously. Your health is important to your child's health.
Invest in a good running stroller.
There will be times when you need to get outdoors, but no one else is around to watch your baby. There will be times when the weather is so gorgeous you can't imagine keeping your baby indoors, even if you have a partner or sitter available. There will be times when the whole family just wants to get outside for some fresh air.
Buy the good running stroller - you won't regret it.
When your baby is little, sing songs as you huff and puff slowly along. When your baby gets bigger, play I Spy games or have your kiddo bring a book along for the ride.
Cheer yourself on because no matter how quickly or slowly you're chugging along, YOU are running while pushing 100 pounds of baby + equipment. How many people can claim that victory?
Find all of your local playgrounds and map the running routes from home to those playgrounds. Your little one might not want to sit still "for a run" -- but sitting still "to go to the playground" is a different animal entirely.
And last, but not least...
Go easy on yourself.
Seriously. Running is supposed to be fun. Let it be fun.
If you are too hard on yourself, and running becomes a chore, you might give up entirely. Don't do that. Your child will grow out of the up-all-night phase. You'll get your groove back. In the meantime, let running be fun.
You have enough things to worry about as a new parent. Don't add running to the worry list!
Friday, October 3
Last week / this week
Sick baby
Work "issues"
Drainage problem in the basement that requires a very costly repair
This week...
Morning sunrise over the Potomac
4.5 mile run with my run group
Gelato with Hubby and Baby
(I think I liked this week better...)
Friday, August 15
(re)Becoming a Runner
I ran through my first two trimesters of pregnancy, but by 27 weeks my ligaments were too loose to keep running safely. I took several months off of running for my third trimester.
My plan was to jump right back into the game 6 weeks postpartum.
But I had an emergency cesarean birth, leaving me feeling less than bouncy.
Within a few weeks, I was speed-walking and doing strength training to rebuild my decimated core muscles. I started running again as soon as I was cleared by my doc...
I even ran a 5k.
But then my baby started waking up every 90 minutes at night, and I fell off the wagon.
Now, slowly, I'm (re)becoming a runner.
I've joined a couple of running groups.
And in the past couple of weeks, I've even attended group runs!
I'm slower. My muscles are mushier. Between child-care, cooking, commute, and work, (and naptimes. and mealtimes. and EXHAUSTION) it takes all my creative scheduling energy to cobble together 45 consecutive minutes of running time. But I'm beginning to regain my stride (literally and figuratively).
Yesterday I did my longest (or close to longest), definitely hilliest, and undoubtedly FASTEST run in well over a year.
One step at a time...
My plan was to jump right back into the game 6 weeks postpartum.
But I had an emergency cesarean birth, leaving me feeling less than bouncy.
Within a few weeks, I was speed-walking and doing strength training to rebuild my decimated core muscles. I started running again as soon as I was cleared by my doc...
I even ran a 5k.
But then my baby started waking up every 90 minutes at night, and I fell off the wagon.
Now, slowly, I'm (re)becoming a runner.
I've joined a couple of running groups.
And in the past couple of weeks, I've even attended group runs!
I'm slower. My muscles are mushier. Between child-care, cooking, commute, and work, (and naptimes. and mealtimes. and EXHAUSTION) it takes all my creative scheduling energy to cobble together 45 consecutive minutes of running time. But I'm beginning to regain my stride (literally and figuratively).
Yesterday I did my longest (or close to longest), definitely hilliest, and undoubtedly FASTEST run in well over a year.
One step at a time...
Monday, April 22
So that *other* reason I cleared my 2013 racing calendar
So... if you remember... back in March, I had been training hard to break a 24 minute 5k. My 400 meter repeats were in the 6:50 pace range, and my 800s were 7:30s. Racing should have been a piece of cake.
And then I fell off the wagon, both on my track workouts and on blogging about running.
I blamed it on home-buying and a nearly cross-country move.
Which is part of the story.
This is the other reason...
Back in Feburary, I thought my sudden crash-and-burn/lead-legs workout at the track was a symptom of overtraining. About a week later, I discovered that I was exhausted because I was running for two.
(Whew! Who knew I'd want to nap EVERY DAY for 12 weeks???)
I've been quiet on social media because it's impossible to talk about training and act like everything is normal when things are quite different! If I just pretended that I was too busy doing other things, I'd look like a slacker. If I started talking about loose ligaments and low impact exercises, clever readers would put the pieces together before I was ready to announce.
So I'm back. And blogging for two.
And while I'll keep running and lifting as long as it's comfortable (and as long as my doctor continues to give me the go-ahead), my only training goal this year is to see this little person safely into the world in November.
And then I fell off the wagon, both on my track workouts and on blogging about running.
I blamed it on home-buying and a nearly cross-country move.
Which is part of the story.
This is the other reason...
(Whew! Who knew I'd want to nap EVERY DAY for 12 weeks???)
I've been quiet on social media because it's impossible to talk about training and act like everything is normal when things are quite different! If I just pretended that I was too busy doing other things, I'd look like a slacker. If I started talking about loose ligaments and low impact exercises, clever readers would put the pieces together before I was ready to announce.
So I'm back. And blogging for two.
And while I'll keep running and lifting as long as it's comfortable (and as long as my doctor continues to give me the go-ahead), my only training goal this year is to see this little person safely into the world in November.
Sunday, April 7
Where I've been...
Despite blog silence over the past couple of weeks, I've been a busy bee!
I went to Washington, D.C. and bought a house.
(The home purchasing process is sufficient reason to take a break from blogging. Mortgage paperwork should be considered cruel and unusual punishment. Also, it's insanity-inducing to know that any one of a million little things could derail this process between now and our May closing date.)
Thankfully the trip to D.C. wasn't all work and no play.
Hubby and I met some friends for dinner and got in one run along the National Mall. I also put the hotel gym to good use. (Exercise, after all, is my favorite form of stress relief. And when you're having home-buying nightmares at 2am, why NOT go pump some iron?)
Then we took the train north and spent an all-too-brief-but-very-relaxing weekend with my family in southern New England.
On our return from the trip, I realized I have ONLY FOUR WEEKS LEFT in Pensacola. And I have a professional conference coming up. And I'm under deadline for two other academic papers. And the end-of-semester crush of grading is coming up. So, as you might guess, the past few weeks have been a flurry of non-blogging activity...
... Sorting household goods for a massive moving sale, because D.C. = downsizing.
... Revising a paper and responding to reviewer comments.
... Finalizing and printing my poster for an upcoming conference.
... Plus the day-to-day, week-to-week stuff like getting an oil change, finishing the year's tax forms, grading papers, exercising, and trying to cook every bit of food in the pantry so there's nothing left when the movers arrive.
So things are good. But hectic. "Spring break" is over, but don't worry if blog posts are intermittent in coming weeks. I'll just be buried under a mountain of moving boxes. I'll eventually dig myself out and start writing about running and travel again! (Eventually.)
I went to Washington, D.C. and bought a house.
(The home purchasing process is sufficient reason to take a break from blogging. Mortgage paperwork should be considered cruel and unusual punishment. Also, it's insanity-inducing to know that any one of a million little things could derail this process between now and our May closing date.)
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| (No, this is not the house I bought...) |
Hubby and I met some friends for dinner and got in one run along the National Mall. I also put the hotel gym to good use. (Exercise, after all, is my favorite form of stress relief. And when you're having home-buying nightmares at 2am, why NOT go pump some iron?)
Then we took the train north and spent an all-too-brief-but-very-relaxing weekend with my family in southern New England.
On our return from the trip, I realized I have ONLY FOUR WEEKS LEFT in Pensacola. And I have a professional conference coming up. And I'm under deadline for two other academic papers. And the end-of-semester crush of grading is coming up. So, as you might guess, the past few weeks have been a flurry of non-blogging activity...
... Sorting household goods for a massive moving sale, because D.C. = downsizing.
... Revising a paper and responding to reviewer comments.
... Finalizing and printing my poster for an upcoming conference.
... Plus the day-to-day, week-to-week stuff like getting an oil change, finishing the year's tax forms, grading papers, exercising, and trying to cook every bit of food in the pantry so there's nothing left when the movers arrive.
So things are good. But hectic. "Spring break" is over, but don't worry if blog posts are intermittent in coming weeks. I'll just be buried under a mountain of moving boxes. I'll eventually dig myself out and start writing about running and travel again! (Eventually.)
Monday, March 11
Weekly workout
As I mentioned last week, the quest for the sub-24 5k is being put on hold temporarily... But that doesn't mean I'm turning into a couch potato!
Last week's plan / actual:
This week's plan:
Last week's plan / actual:
- Monday plan: strength circuit + 60 min bike
Actual: Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred, level 3 + 60 minutes on stationary bike
- Tuesday: 4 mile run or swim
Actual: 3.5 mile run - Wednesday: yoga
Actual: 25 minute gentle yoga + 3 mile walk - Thursday: strength circuit + swim
Actual: 4 mile run. I looked at my swim gear bag, and realized that I felt like running. Four miles glided by easily and painlessly. - Friday: rest day
Actual: REST - Saturday: 5 mile run or hike
Actual: St. Patrick's day Prediction Run 5k hosted by McGuire's (plus another couple of miles run getting to the event). With 16,000 participants, parking is an issue best avoided! - Sunday: anything goes
Actual: 4 mile walk
This week's plan:
- Monday: strength circuit + 60 minute bike ride
- Tuesday: 4 mile run
- Wednesday: yoga
- Thursday: strength circuit + swim
- Friday: rest day
- Saturday: 5 mile run or hike
- Sunday: anything goes
Tuesday, March 5
In search of the... change of plans
The quest for the sub-24 5k is being put on hold temporarily...
My pre-race workouts were exactly as they should've been last week. But that 5k I was supposed to run on Saturday? That turned into a home loan appointment at the bank... I have no regrets about skipping the race.
Ok... maybe I have a few regrets.
I was hitting paces in the 6s during my track workouts leading up to this race, and race-day weather was PERFECT.
Unfortunately my timeline for making the big move just got moved up to May instead of July. (Read: I move in 2 months, not 4. Yikes!) So lots of pieces need to come together in the next 8 weeks. That bank appointment couldn't be postponed.
Racing has to take a back seat.
(On top of that, my right foot has been saying "go back to pool running" for a few days... It's about time I listened.)
Last week's plan / actual:
This week's plan:
My new goal for the next two months is to maintain my strength and run for stress relief.
My pre-race workouts were exactly as they should've been last week. But that 5k I was supposed to run on Saturday? That turned into a home loan appointment at the bank... I have no regrets about skipping the race.
 |
| Image by Colemama |
I was hitting paces in the 6s during my track workouts leading up to this race, and race-day weather was PERFECT.
Unfortunately my timeline for making the big move just got moved up to May instead of July. (Read: I move in 2 months, not 4. Yikes!) So lots of pieces need to come together in the next 8 weeks. That bank appointment couldn't be postponed.
Racing has to take a back seat.
(On top of that, my right foot has been saying "go back to pool running" for a few days... It's about time I listened.)
Last week's plan / actual:
- Monday plan: strength circuit + 60 min bike + stretching
Actual: Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred - Tuesday: 4 mile run
Actual: 4 mile run - Wednesday: yoga
Actual: 25 minute gentle yoga + 3 mile walk - Thursday: 3 mile run
Actual: 3 mile run - Friday: rest day
Actual: REST - Saturday: RACE DAY!
Actual: A morning appointment with our bank + an afternoon walk (Banking and a walk don't make a very sexy workout combination, but it did feel like an accomplishment to cross a major "To Do" off of the home-buying checklist... Now if only someone will put a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home for sale in DC within walking-distance of my new job...) - Sunday: anything goes
Actual: 5 mile trail run at Fort Pickens
This week's plan:
My new goal for the next two months is to maintain my strength and run for stress relief.
- Monday: strength circuit + 60 minute bike ride
- Tuesday: 3 mile run or swim
- Wednesday: yoga
- Thursday: strength circuit + swim
- Friday: rest day
- Saturday: 5 mile run or hike
- Sunday: anything goes
How are you doing on your 2013 goals?
Sunday, January 20
Can't we all just get along?
Ever get frustrated by an over-crowded gym at the beginning of January?
My, haven't we all!
But... maybe we shouldn't.
Resolutionists
In the post Attack of the resolutionists, Fat Slow Triathlete targets the angst that many of us feel as the typical January influx of newbies overrun "our" gym (only to disappear by February 1).
FST then turns the situation on its head:
Maybe by reaching out to that lost-looking newbie we can encourage another budding athlete?
Oversharing?
Continuing the "who is annoying who?" theme... Last month Gina Kolata of the New York Times asked why runners inspire extreme resentment in others. Our talk of training plans and our 13.1 and 26.2 bumper stickers apparently elicit eye rolls from the non-runners among us.
Maybe I'm too deeply entrenched in my love of running to notice when other people cast aspersions on my sweaty self, but I wondered "why anyone would roll their eyes at my bumper sticker?" I smile when I see another 13.1, 26.2, or (way to go, triathlete!) 140.6!
And then I read a Washington Post article about oversharing parents.
(Warning: do not read the last example while eating lunch...)
And something clicked.
I do roll my eyes at some outward displays of pride.
I have a particularly strong reaction to the bumper stickers: "My child is an honor student" and the flippant response "My child beat up your honor student." Both make me cringe a little (the latter more than the former, of course).
We are, it seems, all inflicted with the same diseases: pride and passion.
Fortunately or unfortunately, we're not all passionate about the same things.
That leaves us with three choices:
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| Image source |
But... maybe we shouldn't.
Resolutionists
In the post Attack of the resolutionists, Fat Slow Triathlete targets the angst that many of us feel as the typical January influx of newbies overrun "our" gym (only to disappear by February 1).
FST then turns the situation on its head:
So here's the thing ... try to swallow your irritation... our intent is to ensure that people seek out fitness no matter their perceived obstacles. The sad truth is that some of us have become the obstacles. By making people feel uncomfortable, or out of place, we chase these newbies out of "our gyms" or aways from "our parks". These people take shelter back into their comfort zones; their homes, their TV's, their foods. Not to be seen again until January of the next year.It's important that everyone exercise regularly, because new research shows that the brain benefits of exercise begin to wear off after a period of inactivity.
Maybe by reaching out to that lost-looking newbie we can encourage another budding athlete?
 |
| Image source |
Continuing the "who is annoying who?" theme... Last month Gina Kolata of the New York Times asked why runners inspire extreme resentment in others. Our talk of training plans and our 13.1 and 26.2 bumper stickers apparently elicit eye rolls from the non-runners among us.
Maybe I'm too deeply entrenched in my love of running to notice when other people cast aspersions on my sweaty self, but I wondered "why anyone would roll their eyes at my bumper sticker?" I smile when I see another 13.1, 26.2, or (way to go, triathlete!) 140.6!
And then I read a Washington Post article about oversharing parents.
(Warning: do not read the last example while eating lunch...)
And something clicked.
I do roll my eyes at some outward displays of pride.
I have a particularly strong reaction to the bumper stickers: "My child is an honor student" and the flippant response "My child beat up your honor student." Both make me cringe a little (the latter more than the former, of course).
We are, it seems, all inflicted with the same diseases: pride and passion.
Fortunately or unfortunately, we're not all passionate about the same things.
That leaves us with three choices:
- We can avoid those who don't share our passions,
- We can tone it down and stop talking about what we love in order to accommodate the preferences of other people, or
- We can fly the freak flag proudly, and (this is the important bit) be similarly respectful of those who are passionate about a subject we find perplexing.
Option one sounds like the least conflict-inducing, but mine would be a mighty lonely world if I were only friends with globe-trotting runners. Similarly, I suspect non-runners would miss out on a lot if they refused to be friends with anyone who ever ran a 5k.
While I don't and won't talk all about running all the time (so I suppose I do practice a bit of option 2), I would hope that my friends and colleagues would accept my recreational endeavors the way I accept their love of knitting, baking, bike-riding, or repairing classic cars. If it makes them happy, it makes me happy. (Just don't expect me to go hang gliding with you...)
So... I'm strongly leaning toward option three.
I will curtail my eye rolls over the honors student bumper stickers. I will suspend my beliefs about the healthful benefits of being outdoors for those who dedicate hours of their day to MMGS. And those t-shirts that proudly announce where you've been, where you're from, or where you want to go? Right on!
We all have a right to be proud of the things we're passionate about.
Let's just accept it and move on.
What's a pet-peeve you have?
What's one you'd like to let go of?
We all have a right to be proud of the things we're passionate about.
Let's just accept it and move on.
What's a pet-peeve you have?
What's one you'd like to let go of?
Saturday, January 5
Ch- ch- ch- changes
That ol' David Bowie song has been humming through my head like a CD on repeat...
For the past two years I've been telecommuting to a job in San Diego that I started way back in 2001. I stayed on, remotely, when I moved to Pensacola.
But then I also started teaching.
And consulting.
And blogging (here and on my data-insights blog about demographics and sociology).
And freelance-writing about fitness, outdoor adventures, books, and social issues.
I'm not going to whine about how it was too much work to juggle multiple priorities. To be honest, I'm an inveterate multi-tasker who likes to have several irons in the fire. I don't know how not to be busy.
But after nearly a dozen years at my "day job," I realized I wanted to put more energy into the teaching and freelancing, and... (dare I admit it?) I was freakin' tired of flying back and forth across the country for 36 hour business trips scheduled around my teaching days.
And then...
I found out we're moving. Again.
Just when Pensacola started to feel like home, we're headed for the nation's capital.
In a few months I'll be exploring a whole new world of job opportunities and running communities (and taking advantage of free exhibits at the Smithsonian).
2013, like it or not, will be a year of big changes.
So, I took a deep breath and turned in my resignation letter at the day job.
For the first time in more than a decade, I have no idea where I'll be living or where I'll be working at the end of this year. I can't plan my 2013 race calendar because I'm not sure when, exactly, the move will take place.
As a list-maker/goal-setter/contingency-planner it feels odd to have absolutely no idea what this year will hold. (Yes, I realize that life is unpredictable and we never know what a year has in store, but let's be honest - some years we have a better guess than others. And this year your guess is as good as mine...)
What I do know is that I plan to keep running, keep writing, keep reading, and keep an open mind.
What do you have planned for 2013?
Have you had to navigate a major job change? A long-distance move?
Ch-ch-ch-ch-ChangesLast month, in talking about keeping my run-streak alive, I mentioned (briefly) that I was in the middle of some big career changes. (Oh yeah, and I cut all my hair off...)
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don't want to be a richer (wo)man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Just gonna have to be a different (wo)man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time
For the past two years I've been telecommuting to a job in San Diego that I started way back in 2001. I stayed on, remotely, when I moved to Pensacola.
But then I also started teaching.
And consulting.
And blogging (here and on my data-insights blog about demographics and sociology).
And freelance-writing about fitness, outdoor adventures, books, and social issues.
I'm not going to whine about how it was too much work to juggle multiple priorities. To be honest, I'm an inveterate multi-tasker who likes to have several irons in the fire. I don't know how not to be busy.
But after nearly a dozen years at my "day job," I realized I wanted to put more energy into the teaching and freelancing, and... (dare I admit it?) I was freakin' tired of flying back and forth across the country for 36 hour business trips scheduled around my teaching days.
And then...
I found out we're moving. Again.
Just when Pensacola started to feel like home, we're headed for the nation's capital.
In a few months I'll be exploring a whole new world of job opportunities and running communities (and taking advantage of free exhibits at the Smithsonian).
2013, like it or not, will be a year of big changes.
So, I took a deep breath and turned in my resignation letter at the day job.
For the first time in more than a decade, I have no idea where I'll be living or where I'll be working at the end of this year. I can't plan my 2013 race calendar because I'm not sure when, exactly, the move will take place.
As a list-maker/goal-setter/contingency-planner it feels odd to have absolutely no idea what this year will hold. (Yes, I realize that life is unpredictable and we never know what a year has in store, but let's be honest - some years we have a better guess than others. And this year your guess is as good as mine...)
What I do know is that I plan to keep running, keep writing, keep reading, and keep an open mind.
What do you have planned for 2013?
Have you had to navigate a major job change? A long-distance move?
Saturday, December 1
Not a fitspo blogger
I wear many hats. I am a runner. A traveler. A writer. A weight-lifter. A cross trainer. A statistician by day and a sociology teacher by night. I even write about fitness and outdoor adventures for Examiner.com. (Feel free to subscribe!)
But please don't call me a "fitspo blogger" or "fitspirational." Heck, maybe I'm not even a "fitness blogger."
True: I appreciate a good salad, and my go-to breakfast is oatmeal with extra bran and flax.
True: I have not had a soda in years.
True: I work out an average of 6 days per week.
In short, I lead a fit and active life, and there are health-and-fitness blogs I adore.
But in the world of online personalities in which each blogger is trying to outshine others, the terms like "fitspo" and "fitspiration" are frequently distorted to reflect the extremes of diet and exercise.
Friends, I submit to you...
Exhibit A:
Marie Claire article, "The Hunger Diaries: How Health Writers Could Be Putting You at Risk"
Good fitness bloggers provide excellent tips on strength training, nutrition advice about getting enough protein, or suggestions for how to improve speed and endurance for long-distance events. But there is a darker side to "fitness blogging" that glamorizes disordered eating.
To be fair, there is an obesity epidemic in the United States. Some of the nation's top fit bloggers defend their work, saying:
Moreover, in a free-speech country, bloggers have a right to write about whatever they'd like.
But I have an equal right to be weirded-out by bloggers who sit down for a pre-marathon feast... then hit the gym to "work off the calories" because they "feel fat." (Running 26.2 tomorrow isn't enough? This happens with freakish regularity on certain "fit" blogs.)
I appreciate healthy recipes. (I find black bean brownies fascinating!) But I won't follow bloggers who restrict their caloric intake to < 1,500 calories per day while training for a triathlon.
There are healthy-and-balanced bloggers in the blogosphere, many of whom I love, but the terms like "fitspo" and "fitspiration," are often used to embrace the extremes.
Exhibit B:
The "fitness" pins on Pinterest are out of control. Healthy eating is a noble goal. Disordered eating is not.
The most shocking captions (selected from, literally, hundreds posted within a few hours):
But please don't call me a "fitspo blogger" or "fitspirational." Heck, maybe I'm not even a "fitness blogger."
True: I appreciate a good salad, and my go-to breakfast is oatmeal with extra bran and flax.
True: I have not had a soda in years.
True: I work out an average of 6 days per week.
In short, I lead a fit and active life, and there are health-and-fitness blogs I adore.
But in the world of online personalities in which each blogger is trying to outshine others, the terms like "fitspo" and "fitspiration" are frequently distorted to reflect the extremes of diet and exercise.
Friends, I submit to you...
Exhibit A:
Marie Claire article, "The Hunger Diaries: How Health Writers Could Be Putting You at Risk"
Good fitness bloggers provide excellent tips on strength training, nutrition advice about getting enough protein, or suggestions for how to improve speed and endurance for long-distance events. But there is a darker side to "fitness blogging" that glamorizes disordered eating.
...weight-control tips and even cover "food sabotage" (spoiling treats to avoid eating them). Weeks before the 2009 San Diego Marathon, Anderson ate some coconut mousse cake, then destroyed the rest. Younger, who wrote about netting out at 1,100 calories one day, trying to maintain her "happy weight," has described pouring salt on desserts after one bite. In a post about whether this kind of food destruction was "disordered eating," Pare recalled trashing an entire batch of cookies after craving "just one more."This theme of disordered exercise and eating is particularly pervasive on the fitspo and fitblr tagged posts on Tumblr.
To be fair, there is an obesity epidemic in the United States. Some of the nation's top fit bloggers defend their work, saying:
"The vast majority of Americans aren't anorexic or bulimic. They're overweight and have no idea how to eat healthy," says Boyle. "If they read blogs like mine, maybe they'd learn something." Anderson—who blogged about running a 5K, a 15K, and a marathon race in one weekend—says some readers have told her they've gotten hurt imitating her workouts. "I just assume people have common sense," she says.Anderson has a point. Just because one blogger can handle high mileage does not mean everyone should try it. Readers need to maintain a level of personal responsibility for their actions.
Moreover, in a free-speech country, bloggers have a right to write about whatever they'd like.
But I have an equal right to be weirded-out by bloggers who sit down for a pre-marathon feast... then hit the gym to "work off the calories" because they "feel fat." (Running 26.2 tomorrow isn't enough? This happens with freakish regularity on certain "fit" blogs.)
I appreciate healthy recipes. (I find black bean brownies fascinating!) But I won't follow bloggers who restrict their caloric intake to < 1,500 calories per day while training for a triathlon.
There are healthy-and-balanced bloggers in the blogosphere, many of whom I love, but the terms like "fitspo" and "fitspiration," are often used to embrace the extremes.
Exhibit B:
The "fitness" pins on Pinterest are out of control. Healthy eating is a noble goal. Disordered eating is not.
The most shocking captions (selected from, literally, hundreds posted within a few hours):
- "Negative Calorie Foods" (top left)
- "How to lose body fat while pregnant." (top 2nd from left)
- "7 days to skinny jeans" (top middle)
Clearly there is no such thing as a negative-calorie food.
A fit pregnancy is a lovely idea, but losing weight while pregnant... um... downright dangerous!
There are no 7 days to anything in a healthy lifestyle.
...and don't even get me started on the bones poking out of the model in the middle. Ugh.
There is nothing fit or healthy about protruding hip bones, weight-obsession, and exercise addiction... yet these images consistently show up in the "health and fitness" section.
Exhibit C:
I find #FatFluential to be the funniest thing on Twitter.
I rest my case:
You can stick me squarely in the not-a-fit-blogger camp.
I'm fit.
I blog.
But I am not a here for fit-spiration.
What's your take on the fit blogger concept? Healthy inspirations or unhealthy extremes?
A fit pregnancy is a lovely idea, but losing weight while pregnant... um... downright dangerous!
There are no 7 days to anything in a healthy lifestyle.
...and don't even get me started on the bones poking out of the model in the middle. Ugh.
There is nothing fit or healthy about protruding hip bones, weight-obsession, and exercise addiction... yet these images consistently show up in the "health and fitness" section.
Exhibit C:
I find #FatFluential to be the funniest thing on Twitter.
I rest my case:
You can stick me squarely in the not-a-fit-blogger camp.
I'm fit.
I blog.
But I am not a here for fit-spiration.
What's your take on the fit blogger concept? Healthy inspirations or unhealthy extremes?
Sunday, November 4
Beyond the controversy: Interview with a NYC marathon runner
Today thousands of registered New York Marathon runners turned their cancelled-race disappointment into hope by volunteering with hurricane cleanup, donating to disaster relief agencies, and taking part in a spontaneous 26.2 mile moving celebration of the city.
A friend of mine was among the runners who flew to NYC for the race, only to learn that the event was cancelled. I had the opportunity to catch up with D earlier today. Here's what she has to say about her experience with this year's non-marathon, including the impromptu running festival in Central Park:
You'll have to report back when you run in 2013!
A friend of mine was among the runners who flew to NYC for the race, only to learn that the event was cancelled. I had the opportunity to catch up with D earlier today. Here's what she has to say about her experience with this year's non-marathon, including the impromptu running festival in Central Park:
Beth: Can you please provide readers with a little bit of background about your connection to New York and the marathon?D, thanks for sharing your experience with us. I am truly sorry that things did not work out the way you - and so many other runners - planned, especially after months of training and all of the travel expense involved. But I am certain this is one run you will never forget.
D: I didn't start running until 2008. I was heavily influenced to run after my mom trained for and ran her first race, the NYC marathon in 2007. I didn't love running, but I loved setting goals and achieving them which is how I ended up becoming a marathoner.
My first race was the More half marathon in Central Park in 2008, which I ran with my mom. We ran it again in 2009. I also began entering the lottery for the New York City marathon in 2008... It is such an iconic marathon and I love New York City.
I moved here for a short period of time to study at Columbia University in 2009 and was heartbroken when I wasn't accepted through the lottery that year for the marathon. I cried with excitement when I found out I was going to be able to finally run it this year. Qualifying for and running the Boston marathon was probably my biggest accomplishment, but somehow New York still meant more to me.
Beth: How long did you spend training for this race?
D: I spent 5 months training. It was particularly rough this summer since it was the hottest summer in recent history in San Diego.
Beth: What was your reaction when you learned the race had been cancelled?
D: Even though I was originally conflicted about running the marathon, following the destruction of hurricane Sandy, I was still very sad and upset when I heard it was cancelled. I understood there was little to no resources being used for the marathon that could help hurricane Sandy victims, but I also knew that many people felt it was insensitive.
I understood pretty quickly that they needed to cancel the marathon, given the controversy, in order to protect the integrity of the race. The New York marathon is such an amazing event because of the support of local residents on the course. Given the controversy, if the race went on, it could take many years for the marathon itself to recover.
Understanding all this, it is still a hard pill to swallow knowing that 80,000+ people went to the Meadowlands today for the football game and that didn't create any controversy, not to mention the basketball games that have taken place this week at Madison Square Garden.
In the end, I have waited 4 years to run this marathon, I can wait one more year. I just feel terrible for the people who, because of whatever situation, will not be able to make it back next year.
Beth: For what it's worth, I've been wondering that very same thing about the Giants game... How is NYRR different from the NFL? But I digress...
Beth: Would you have been able to cancel your travel plans or get refunds if the announcement had been made sooner?
D: I also forgot to mention in my previous answer that I did originally think last Tuesday that they should have cancelled the marathon. So when they waited until Friday, that only made me more upset.
My flights and hotels were refundable. The only thing that would not have been refundable was the tickets my mom and I purchased for a Broadway show on Saturday (The Book of Mormon - by the way, it was awesome).
Beth: You’ve mentioned that thousands of runners showed up today to run anyway. What’s going on?
D: Today, there were an unbelievable amount of people running in Central Park. (My best guess is 20-25,000 people.) Many people were wearing their orange NYC marathon shirts, and many wearing their bibs also. I only ran about 10 miles, but I spoke with a number of people doing the full 26.2.
There were tons of spectators, some just cheering, many had thunder sticks or cowbells, and some had set up informal aid stations with water, Gatorade, and even gummy worms. Some people were representing the charities they had raised money for. (I noticed spectators cheering particularly loudly for Team Fox.) And many people were representing their country with shirts and flags.
To the south of the finish line, the grandstands were packed. It was completely unorganized with people running in both directions around the park, but an incredible and emotional show of solidarity of runners who came to run and just wanted to support each other.
Beth: What made you decide to run today?
D: I have always loved running in New York City. I was here with my running gear. My mom was here to support me, and she also had her running gear with her. I didn't realize there would be so many people in Central Park today. I came here to run today, because I just wanted to get out and run.
Originally we were going to run up the east side to the reservoir, but when we were surprised by all the runners in Central Park, our plans changed.
We ran towards the finish line and took some pictures when we got there. My mom stayed in the stands while I did a full loop around the park and about an hour later she took pictures as I ran past (not through - it was closed) the finish line.
We both cried a lot on multiple occasions. It was an intensely emotional experience, and I am proud to have been a part of what must have been the largest informal run ever.
Beth: People are also reporting that thousands of people are spending the day volunteering on Staten Island. Have you seen or heard of volunteering by other NYC runners?
D: I did hear about the people who were volunteering on Staten Island on the ING New York City Marathon Facebook page. But last night I heard on the news that people in general were not encouraged to volunteer, and the best way you could help was to donate money to the Red Cross. I had already done so, and was aware of the $2.6 million New York Road Runners had raised for the relief effort on Thursday night. So I decided to just spend my Sunday going for a run and enjoying my vacation.
You'll have to report back when you run in 2013!
Wednesday, October 31
Down to the wire
Alt title: Crunch month
My October entry into the New 2 U Cross Training Challenge is the latest of my entries to date. (Thank goodness for 31 day months.)
My only goal going into this month was "stay on dry land," because my last three entries into the challenge were all aquatic.
Little did I know that being airborne 3 weeks out of 4 would also complicate this month's challenge. (Anyone know of good exercises to practice in seat 13B of an MD-88?)
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have changed my schedule for the world. Attending a conference and running my way through Williamsburg, VA was pretty awesome. But my schedule was tight enough that I had a hard time fitting in basic workouts, much less getting creative. 2 mile run around the block on my lunch break? Check! Research, find, drive to, and participate in a Zumba class? ...Not gonna happen.
But with only 7 days left in the month, I realized that I couldn't let a little schedule squeeze derail my Challenge! So I did what any good blogger would do...
I asked Twitterverse and Facebookland...
... and I got several excellent recommendations:
While Lori's suggestion is a clever one, I'm not the kind of person who can skimp on sleep. I envy those who can, but I start stumbling for words when I'm sleep deprived -- not a good situation for a teaching-heavy and conference-heavy month.
So Kia and Jim won.
On Monday I did Jim's circuit of 4 x 25 push ups, crunches, and lunges. I breezed through the lunges (and yes, one lunge = one on each leg). I figured the crunches would be easiest, but I felt those because I did 'em right after the pushups (and good pushup form engages the core). But the pushups... nearly killed me!
Ok... ok. I'm being dramatic like Jim Cantore on a sunny day. But... I've never in my life done 100 push ups in one workout.
As for BodyRock.tv...
I'll admit that I was a skeptic.
I skimmed through videos and found that many focus their cinematography on sweat dripping down the instructors silicone cleavage. All I could think was:
Next month... tennis!
(We'll see how long it takes me to break the racket or hit someone 3 courts over with my serve...)
How do you balance competing priorities?
Any suggestions for an aspiring (but completely uncoordinated) tennis player?
My October entry into the New 2 U Cross Training Challenge is the latest of my entries to date. (Thank goodness for 31 day months.)
My only goal going into this month was "stay on dry land," because my last three entries into the challenge were all aquatic.
Little did I know that being airborne 3 weeks out of 4 would also complicate this month's challenge. (Anyone know of good exercises to practice in seat 13B of an MD-88?)
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have changed my schedule for the world. Attending a conference and running my way through Williamsburg, VA was pretty awesome. But my schedule was tight enough that I had a hard time fitting in basic workouts, much less getting creative. 2 mile run around the block on my lunch break? Check! Research, find, drive to, and participate in a Zumba class? ...Not gonna happen.
But with only 7 days left in the month, I realized that I couldn't let a little schedule squeeze derail my Challenge! So I did what any good blogger would do...
I asked Twitterverse and Facebookland...
- Kia (@Keyalus) recommended BodyRock.TV
- Jim (@jmacpcola) recommended a circuit of 4 x 25 each: pushups, crunches, lunges as fast as possible
- Hubby suggested tennis (maybe prompted by a birthday present he received from our family?)
- Lori CS suggested I just
suck it upwake up earlier
While Lori's suggestion is a clever one, I'm not the kind of person who can skimp on sleep. I envy those who can, but I start stumbling for words when I'm sleep deprived -- not a good situation for a teaching-heavy and conference-heavy month.
So Kia and Jim won.
On Monday I did Jim's circuit of 4 x 25 push ups, crunches, and lunges. I breezed through the lunges (and yes, one lunge = one on each leg). I figured the crunches would be easiest, but I felt those because I did 'em right after the pushups (and good pushup form engages the core). But the pushups... nearly killed me!
Ok... ok. I'm being dramatic like Jim Cantore on a sunny day. But... I've never in my life done 100 push ups in one workout.
The verdict: 100 push ups = new PR for me! (And I'm bloody sore now!)
Pros: What I loved about this workout was the simplicity. I can do this circuit in any hotel room. In any time crunch. Heck, I could probably find a way to do crunches at the airport.
Cons: Um. None. Thanks, Jim!
As for BodyRock.tv...
I'll admit that I was a skeptic.
I skimmed through videos and found that many focus their cinematography on sweat dripping down the instructors silicone cleavage. All I could think was:
"What is Kia getting me into???"I almost turned the videos off, but in the spirit of "out of my comfort zone," I persevered with a workout that I would have dismissed otherwise.
The verdict: Loved it! I fit 12 minutes of high intensity intervals in before a morning class, worked up a sweat... and... I'm gonna' be sore tomorrow.
Pros: Most of the workouts are brief and can be completed with minimal equipment in a living room or hotel room. The interval timer on screen was also a nice touch.
Cons: Um... The cleavage shots were a little excessive, and if it hadn't been for Kia's recommendation, I would've ignored these workouts forever. Also, the exercises were a somewhat complicated, and there was precious little instruction about proper form. These workout videos are not intended for newbies.
Next month... tennis!
(We'll see how long it takes me to break the racket or hit someone 3 courts over with my serve...)
How do you balance competing priorities?
Any suggestions for an aspiring (but completely uncoordinated) tennis player?
Wednesday, October 24
Behind the scenes at a 10k (interview with a race director)
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| Eric and son after the 2012 Mardi Gras Mambo 10k |
If you've ever wondered what it's like to organize a race, this interview is for you.
Eric Engemann is Vice President of Baton Rouge Area Sports Foundation and Race Director of the Amedisys Mardi Gras Mambo 10k. Eric took some time out of his busy schedule to answer my questions so readers can get a sense of what it's like to run a race (pun intended).
Beth: When did the Mardi Gras Mambo 10k get its start?
Eric: The Mardi Gras Mambo 10k started in 1999 after our local newspaper suspended what was once the Great River Road Run 10k here in Baton Rouge. Our organization, with the help of our local running club and race partner, Club South Runners, looked to fill that void with the Mambo.
Beth: What other races/events does BRASF organize during the year?
Eric: We help support about 75 different sports events in Baton Rouge annually but we are solely responsible for the Mambo, the Battlefield Cross Country Festival which is a high school/middle school cross country event and a flag football tournament series that we are just starting this year. We also serve as the volunteer coordinator for the Louisiana Marathon, which is in its second year coming up in January.
2012 Mardi Gras Mambo 10k
Beth: How long have you been working in the athletic event industry?
Eric: My athletic industry career started in college athletics at LSU, University of Kentucky and the University of Wisconsin. I started working on runs when I was at UW with the Crazy Legs Classic (8k run, over 18,000 participants) and loved it. I started here with BRASF in 2007 and got the opportunity to work on and eventually direct the Mambo as well as a number of other Baton Rouge area running events.
Beth: How did you get started?
Eric: Volunteering got me started in running events; I wanted to learn as much as I could so I grabbed a race calendar and just started showing up to learn as much as I could – those early days paid off a ton.
Beth: How far in advance do you start planning an event like a 10k?
Eric: We generally start in June for a February race but that start date is getting pushed back further and further the larger the race gets!
Beth: How many staff and how many volunteers do you need for a 5k or 10k race?
Eric: We will have four staff members and about 40-50 volunteers on site for our 10k of about 2,000 runners. Some advancements have allowed us to use less volunteers and a number of our sponsors now bring large contingents of their employees to help out in different ways as well.
Beth: What is the hardest part of organizing a race?
Eric: Definitely race week – there’s so much that has to be done in such a short time frame that it wears on you mentally more than anything.
Beth: What is your favorite part of organizing a race?
Eric: Everything else! Honestly it is a lot of fun when you can facilitate a race where people can participate for a fair price, get some great stuff, run a fun course at a distance they may not tackle very often, and help them meet a fitness or distance milestone that they have been shooting for. That’s the “good stuff” as they say…
Beth: What is the strangest complaint (or compliment) you've ever received from a participant?
2012 Mardi Gras Mambo 10k
Eric: I'm not sure if this is a complaint or compliment but we traditionally announce the age group winners oldest to youngest – we like everyone to recognize those older ladies and gentlemen who can still go fast! And I think they appreciate the recognition.
Beth: ... after reading this, I know exactly what my "retirement career" will be. Until then, I have a couple of decades of volunteering and daydreaming to do. Thanks, Eric!
Readers:
What's your "dream job?"
What else would you like to know about being a race director?
Wednesday, October 3
Re-drawing the training map
Recalculating route... (said in my best Garmin-sounding voice)
My training map needs to be re-drawn.
While I was on the road toward two autumn half marathons, my route was clear: 12 miles one weekend, 6 the next. Run up and down some hills. Sprint around the track. Repeat until fully prepared. Reduce speed to a taper before arriving at final race day destination.
Unfortunately my training took an injury detour.
Nearly two months have passed.
My training calendar, hanging on the refrigerator door, still had a series of big 12s circled on Saturdays.
Last weekend, when I was out for my new "long," run (5.5 miles) I felt strong and wanted to push the pace. I had promised myself walk breaks every couple of miles, but wanted to keep going. It took every bit of willpower to slow down and rest when I planned to rest. (This is supposed to work the other way around, no? It's supposed to be hard to keep going, so if I feel good, I should push on, right?)
When I got home, slight throb in my calf, I realized I made the right decision by walking even when I didn't want to. I took it easy, even though my heart really wanted to run sprint intervals. Those sprints - which seemed like a shortcut at the time - would have turned into a much longer detour.
That struggle, between what I think I should be doing - feel like I could be doing - and what I really can do right now, has been eating at me.
So this morning, while I sipped a cup of coffee, I tore my training calendar off of the fridge, got out my biggest eraser, and started writing out a new plan.
If I can follow directions when my map tells me to run up and down the same hill over and over again, 'til I feel like I'm going to hurl, surely I can follow my map when it tells me to slow down, back off, glide around the block, and take walk breaks.
Tonight, with Hubby, I ran a few miles through our neighborhood. Toward the end, he was feeling his oats and started a sprint toward home. I felt a tug in my calf, and chose to walk the last few blocks. I called it a "cool down lap." Because that's what the new map directions say.
Do you rest when it's "doctor's orders" or do you burn the candle at both ends?
Do you revise your training plan?
What is the longest injury recovery period you've ever had?
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| Image source |
My training map needs to be re-drawn.
While I was on the road toward two autumn half marathons, my route was clear: 12 miles one weekend, 6 the next. Run up and down some hills. Sprint around the track. Repeat until fully prepared. Reduce speed to a taper before arriving at final race day destination.
Unfortunately my training took an injury detour.
Nearly two months have passed.
My training calendar, hanging on the refrigerator door, still had a series of big 12s circled on Saturdays.
Last weekend, when I was out for my new "long," run (5.5 miles) I felt strong and wanted to push the pace. I had promised myself walk breaks every couple of miles, but wanted to keep going. It took every bit of willpower to slow down and rest when I planned to rest. (This is supposed to work the other way around, no? It's supposed to be hard to keep going, so if I feel good, I should push on, right?)
When I got home, slight throb in my calf, I realized I made the right decision by walking even when I didn't want to. I took it easy, even though my heart really wanted to run sprint intervals. Those sprints - which seemed like a shortcut at the time - would have turned into a much longer detour.
That struggle, between what I think I should be doing - feel like I could be doing - and what I really can do right now, has been eating at me.
So this morning, while I sipped a cup of coffee, I tore my training calendar off of the fridge, got out my biggest eraser, and started writing out a new plan.
If I can follow directions when my map tells me to run up and down the same hill over and over again, 'til I feel like I'm going to hurl, surely I can follow my map when it tells me to slow down, back off, glide around the block, and take walk breaks.
Tonight, with Hubby, I ran a few miles through our neighborhood. Toward the end, he was feeling his oats and started a sprint toward home. I felt a tug in my calf, and chose to walk the last few blocks. I called it a "cool down lap." Because that's what the new map directions say.
Do you rest when it's "doctor's orders" or do you burn the candle at both ends?
Do you revise your training plan?
What is the longest injury recovery period you've ever had?
Sunday, September 9
My weekend (in photos)
This weekend I worked a lot, ran a little, and took some photos.
Rather than rant about working a full day on a Saturday or rave about how good my elliptical-to-treadmill 7-miler was (recovery run!), I figured I'd share a few of the photos.
The photos are a lot more fun.
I'd include photos of my Sunday afternoon football-watching, too, but I don't want a cease-and-desist from the NFL...
Rather than rant about working a full day on a Saturday or rave about how good my elliptical-to-treadmill 7-miler was (recovery run!), I figured I'd share a few of the photos.
The photos are a lot more fun.
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| Rainbow over the bayou on Saturday morning |
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| Spotted an adorable little tree frog (I think it's a squirrel tree frog). Any critter that eats bugs is a good critter in my book! |
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| Signs of fall? Southern Tier Pumking (Imperial pumpkin ale) and a hard cider make for-class reading feel less like work and more like a relaxing afternoon |
Tuesday, August 7
Fit frequent flier
I travel for play. I travel for work. In either case I work hard to maintain a balance between obligations (social, work, or otherwise) and fitness. (I also like to sample the local beers and wines when I travel, but we'll get to that later...)
When I was in San Diego for work last week, I had the opportunity to stay at a Westin hotel, which was a switch for me. (I normally stay at another place, closer to my office. And before you start rolling your eyes about marketing masked as a "review," I should note that I am not yet cool enough to score free hotel nights for my writing...)
Of all the places I've stayed for business and pleasure travel, the Westin has 'em all beat for fitness-friendliness.
Here are just a few of the fitness perks Westin offered during my stay:
And lest you think my trip to San Diego was all fit and healthy (you know better by now, right?), I admit that I did quite a bit of beer tasting heavy drinking. It's San Diego, and San Diego is known for big, hoppy IPAs. And I am a fan of big, hoppy beers.
With breweries like Stone, Alpine, Port/Lost Abbey, Green Flash, and dozens of others, how could I not partake?
When I was in San Diego for work last week, I had the opportunity to stay at a Westin hotel, which was a switch for me. (I normally stay at another place, closer to my office. And before you start rolling your eyes about marketing masked as a "review," I should note that I am not yet cool enough to score free hotel nights for my writing...)
Of all the places I've stayed for business and pleasure travel, the Westin has 'em all beat for fitness-friendliness.
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| Westin hotels take pride in being fitness-focused |
- One of the most gorgeous gyms I've seen in a hotel, spread across two rooms that accommodated a full set of free weights ranging from 3 - 30+ pounds, multiple state-of-the-art cardio machines, and plenty of room for at least a dozen people to work out without feeling crowded.
- A fitness gear "rental" system: For $5 a hotel guest can borrow workout clothes and shoes. (Now, I don't know why anyone would travel without running clothes. Mine get packed before my business suits. But if my luggage ever gets lost, I'll keep this program in mind.)
- Fresh fruited water in the hotel lobby. Strawberry mint, cucumber, pineapple, grapefruit, lemon, and apple cinnamon were among the offerings during my stay. It was delightful to come back after a long day in the office or a long run and have a cup (or 3) of cold pineapple water waiting for me.
- Fresh fruit and healthy snacks in the hotel lobby on weekends. Forget cookies and candy (though they had those, too). Westin's snack bar was stocked with plenty of fresh fruit and mixed nuts.
- Oh, and if you prefer your workouts to be private, Westin can arrange a room with in-room fitness equipment for you.
On my way home from the trip, I had a long layover in Dallas-Fort Worth.
I finally got a chance to try the DFW yoga studio in person. The practice area, snuggled between the B and D terminals, is stocked with yoga mats and hand sanitizer. Given the hustle and bustle of the rest of the airport, the space is amazingly quiet.
While I didn't get in a full practice, it was lovely to take my shoes off and stretch out a bit after hours of being smooshed into tiny, uncomfortable chair.
In other airports I like to find a quiet corner of an unused gate for "airport yoga." A few twists, bound-angle pose, and some forward bends between flights help work out some of the kinks of cross-country travel. But, on the downside, I occasionally get strange looks from other travelers.
DFW's yoga studio solves that problem, and gave me both the room and the privacy to practice some more bold poses (that I'm sure would get me picked up by security otherwise) like downward-facing dog, cat/cow, and extended side angle.
In other airports I like to find a quiet corner of an unused gate for "airport yoga." A few twists, bound-angle pose, and some forward bends between flights help work out some of the kinks of cross-country travel. But, on the downside, I occasionally get strange looks from other travelers.
DFW's yoga studio solves that problem, and gave me both the room and the privacy to practice some more bold poses (that I'm sure would get me picked up by security otherwise) like downward-facing dog, cat/cow, and extended side angle.
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| Yoga practice area at DFW |
With breweries like Stone, Alpine, Port/Lost Abbey, Green Flash, and dozens of others, how could I not partake?
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| Sampling one of many local brews at Bottlecraft in San Diego |
I wanted to smuggle some Green Flash Trippel back in my suitcase, but TSA wouldn't let me.
How do you stay fit when you travel?
What's your favorite-of-all-time beer?
What's your favorite-of-all-time beer?
Monday, May 14
Warming up
I have something to confess.
I really did not want to be in San Diego this week.
Classes just ended, so I was looking forward to some less-than-12-hour work days.
I had re-stocked the fridge with gorgeous produce from the organic foods co-op.
I was looking forward to being home in the evenings and cooking dinner again.
I had no plans to get on a plane on Sunday night.
Then my day-job called, and my plans changed.
I can (sometimes) be an expert at reframing, but on Sunday morning, I was being a big mope. Wails of
Tantrums aside, San Diego is still home.
Work was less than catastrophic. By mid-day, it was actually pleasant to be in the office.
And then I got to run in Balboa Park. It was a glorious run. Cool weather! Great friends! Trails! Hills! All of this was followed by great dinner conversation with my friend, S.
Sure, I'd rather be at home with Hubby, watching the season finale of HIMYM (spoilers will be shot on sight!) after a lovely dinner that involved the swiss chard I'm sure will be spoiled by the time I return...
But if I have to be away from Hubby and Peanut... If I have to postpone my dream of home-cooked meals and shorter work-days... If I have to be wedged into a seat for 3 hours next to a bouncing/kicking/screaming 2-year-old...
I could certainly do worse for a destination.
I should remember:
I get to come here.
Are you ever a reluctant traveler?
(I must admit, I normally love the adventure that begins with printing my boarding pass, no matter where I'm going... Being not-so-keen on this trip was an odd break from tradition that I hope will not become the norm.)
I really did not want to be in San Diego this week.
Classes just ended, so I was looking forward to some less-than-12-hour work days.
I had re-stocked the fridge with gorgeous produce from the organic foods co-op.
I was looking forward to being home in the evenings and cooking dinner again.
I had no plans to get on a plane on Sunday night.
Then my day-job called, and my plans changed.
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| Ready for takeoff... |
"I don't wanna go!!!"reverberated through my living room. I sounded like a petulant toddler. Then I got stuck next to one on the flight. (Nothing like adding insult to injury! Or was this karma biting me in the ass? Either way, I digress...)
Tantrums aside, San Diego is still home.
Work was less than catastrophic. By mid-day, it was actually pleasant to be in the office.
And then I got to run in Balboa Park. It was a glorious run. Cool weather! Great friends! Trails! Hills! All of this was followed by great dinner conversation with my friend, S.
Sure, I'd rather be at home with Hubby, watching the season finale of HIMYM (spoilers will be shot on sight!) after a lovely dinner that involved the swiss chard I'm sure will be spoiled by the time I return...
But if I have to be away from Hubby and Peanut... If I have to postpone my dream of home-cooked meals and shorter work-days... If I have to be wedged into a seat for 3 hours next to a bouncing/kicking/screaming 2-year-old...
I could certainly do worse for a destination.
I should remember:
I get to come here.
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| San Diego skyline at night |
Are you ever a reluctant traveler?
(I must admit, I normally love the adventure that begins with printing my boarding pass, no matter where I'm going... Being not-so-keen on this trip was an odd break from tradition that I hope will not become the norm.)
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