Fit(ter) in 15: April recap

Sigh. Not much to recap here, I'm afraid.

April was a solid F-minus for the plank-a-day challenge. I can blame a sick kid, a sick me, seasonal allergies, and a week of conference travel, but I also really wasn't digging planks as a challenge. I just didn't put the effort into the fit(ter) in 15 challenge this month. (Have I mentioned that planks are boring?)

That said, by month-end my running was more or less back on track, including a decent run in America's Finest City, followed by a relaxing afternoon at the beach.

Morning motivation

Today, as I hobble around the house and wince every time I even look at the stairs, I'm not feeling terribly motivated...

Source: Uploaded by user via Melissa on Pinterest

(Whoops. Homer Simpson's "Trying is the first step towards failure" isn't exactly the motivational message I was looking for...)

It's good to remember that not everything in life is supposed to be easy... Here are some of my go-to reminders:

"It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default."
J.K. Rowling

Source: losing-every-extra-pound.tumblr.com via Heidi on Pinterest
"Failure's not an option. It's a step."

"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."
Haruki Murakami

What motivates you after a setback?

Heartbroken (expletives redacted)

Today Hubby and I packed our towels and goggles and headed toward the pool. The weather was perfect for pool time: warm, dry, and sunny. I was looking forward to swimming laps the way I normally look forward to happy hour on a Friday evening.

When we arrived, the parking lot was ominously empty. This sign was posted on the locked gate:

Closed for the season

Seriously?

This is FLORIDA.

It's 80-something degrees outside today and will be hot until Thanksgiving. What "season" are they talking about?

But these are first world problems. I'm bummed, but I'll survive.

Trying to make the best of the situation, Hubby and I went home, changed clothes, grabbed our Speedminton rackets, and headed to another park.

We were both feeling sort of stiff at the start, so we did some dynamic stretching to loosen up. We sent a couple of volleys back and forth, and just as I started thinking "it's a gorgeous afternoon, maybe Speedminton is more fun than the pool anyway..."

I felt a pop.

**string of expletives redacted to spare sensitive readers' eyes**

My right calf feels like someone is jabbing a knife into the soft part.

My pf-ing foot had finally started to feel better. I was going easy on the return to running (which is partly why I was headed to the pool in the first place). I had even started to plan for two fall half marathons.

But clearly something is still wrong in my southern hemisphere.

Now if you'll excuse me...

I have some more cussing to do, and I am incapable of writing more at the moment without including the F-bomb. So I'll spare you the expletives and yell where only Peanut and Hubby can hear me.

I quit

Last month I mentioned that I volunteered to help lead a marathon training program.

All summer long, I've been logging long runs to make sure my legs are ready. I would wake up at 5am to run 14 miles in the heat when I could have slept in and gone kayaking. I attended the first volunteer meeting and left feeling elated.

I was psyched (if a bit scared)!
I would to DO THIS. I would give up 17 weeks of my life to help other people cross that finish line.

Fast forward to July. The final, detailed volunteer briefing and first run drew near, and I realized I needed to be in San Diego for work that week.

Damned day job!

So three weeks before the kickoff, I emailed the (paid) program coordinator to explain my snafu. I offered to come in on any other day/time to learn the ropes on pacing plan, meeting place, routes, etc...

In response: crickets chirping.

Undeterred, I sent a second message outlining my schedule problem, providing evidence that I am both a seasoned running group leader and a dedicated volunteer, and again requesting a makeup meeting.

In response: Absolutely! I'll set up a meeting...

Progress!
Unfortunately no meeting materialized.

So again (starting to get discouraged) I sent a third reminder that I really needed to get the volunteer training before the program started.

Again I received a note saying "Sure thing. I'll schedule a meeting." But then I heard nothing more...

Until yesterday...
I opened my inbox to find a "Why weren't you at the first meeting?" note from the program coordinator.

My blood pressure spiked.

This must be a joke, right?
I contacted this person repeatedly to explain my schedule situation. I received responses (albeit incomplete ones), so I know my emails didn't get lost in the ether.

This person can't really be implying that I'm the flake?
The program involves fewer than a dozen volunteers and the coordinator is paid to keep track of things like this. This is not a problem of my emails getting lost in the masses.

When my frustration level subsided to a low simmer, I sat back and took a long hard look at my reasons to continue with this program vs. reasons to bow out. The list looked something like this:

To run:

• sense of accomplishment for completing another 26.2
• giving back to the running community
• following through on my word to volunteer
• not throwing in the towel just because of a few unanswered emails

Not to run:

• lack of organization and follow-through on the part of the paid organizers
• serious differences in training philosophy (learned after materials were distributed via email last week)
• the training schedule would prevent me from running in any other races until December
• and... if I bow out, I can spend 17 weeks training based on my schedule and pace needs, not someone else's

I know that last one sounds selfish, but it's not a small thing. I was willing to give up hours every weekend for the running. But we hadn't even run yet, and already I was getting the runaround. (In addition to email miscommunication, earlier meetings were cancelled or rescheduled day-of-meeting). I'm not willing to sacrifice both my training and my sanity.

As I sat there and stared at my list, I realized that I feared quitting mostly because I don't want to be labeled a quitter - by you, dear blog reader, or by the organizers. And that made my decision much easier.

I wrote a very polite note saying, in short:

I QUIT.

This may well go down as the least motivational post in Yes, folks history... and for that, I apologize. But the moment I clicked "send," I felt relief.
I have no regrets.
And I'm going to enjoy sleeping in this weekend.

How do you decide when to soldier on and when to pull the plug?
Have you ever spent hours obsessing over a seemingly simple decision?

New-to-me cross training meets skull crushers

As I mentioned earlier this week, the clock has been ticking on my March deadline to meet the (Just) Trying is for Little Girls new-to-me cross training challenge.

I received some excellent cross training suggestions:
Viper suggested jumping rope.
Jamoosh recommended rowing.
Sarah said cycling.
and
Kathy told me to go take a hike.

All of those are excellent recommendations, but part of the challenge is to get out of my comfort zone and "try something new." I have jumped rope, rowed, cycled, and hiked before... But I haven't been on a rowing machine in 2 years and I haven't jumped rope since grade school. Do those count as "new?"

I am quickly realizing that I have tried lots of cross training activities over the years, and am running out of "new" ideas. Can a blast from the past count as long as it's new to my current routine? I think I need a ruling from Kim on this topic... But in the meantime, I wanted to stick with the letter of the challenge. So I broke out the stability ball.

Hubby bought a stability ball when we moved to Florida. I often use the ball instead of a chair, but I have not used it for actual exercise. This morning I figured out why I have not used it for exercise... but we'll ge to that.

I decided to try two exercises: stability ball crunches and tricep extensions (an exercise sometimes referred to as "skull crushers" -- you can read that as none-too-subtle foreshadowing).

The crunches were a success. I will likely be adding those to my workout rotation. My abs could use a new challenge and the stability ball forced me to work minor muscles that get no action when I'm on a mat.

The tricep extensions, on the other hand, were a complete disaster. The exercise should look like this:

Image source

The picture makes it look easy, no?

Livestrong.com warns:

Remember to use some caution when exercising on a stability ball, as it can become unstable quickly if you don't maintain proper form. Keep your feet in a comfortable, stable position on the floor for most of the exercises and don't bounce around too much. Also, make sure the ball is inflated properly as per the manufacturer's instructions. It should have a slight bit of give as you sit or lie on it.

Let's just say: they're not kidding. I am pretty sure I had "proper form," feet flat on the floor, and wasn't bouncing. But when I was attempted the tricep exercise, the ball rolled out from under me and nearly dumped me on my head!

(Fortunately my butt hit the ground first, and through a combination of core strength and luck I managed to not crack my head on the tile floor or drop a weight on my skull...)

But imagine how ugly that could have been! I can just picture the fallout: "Sorry, I couldn't make it to class today. I broke my neck and my nose when I fell off a giant bouncy ball in my living room." I'm pretty sure my reputation (not to mention my spine) would suffer.

So the verdict on this one is: I like the crunches, but will not attempt any arm exercises on the stability ball again!

What's your favorite strength-training activity? Least favorite?

How to run BEHIND the sag wagon

First things first.
Read the pace chart included in the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans guidebook:

When we left our hotel at 7:45am to get to get to our corrals, you can imagine our surprise* when we saw NO ONE THERE. In fact, crews were breaking down the starting area. Hubby, I, and at least 2 other ladies were told by a race official; "Run over the timing mats and just get going."

Ok.

The whole thing - marathon and half - started at 7. As we covered the first mile, well BEHIND the sag wagon, we (briefly) considered throwing in the towel. The police were re-opening roads, and the only way we could find the course was to follow the trail of discarded sweatshirts and gloves. I tossed my feather boa on the road, having already cast aside all hopes of this being a fun run, and ran flat-out. With the roads re-opening, we either had to catch the pack or call it a day.

But the wave starts took a long time, and we knew we'd catch up with the walkers by mile 2 at the latest.

I flip-flopped between emotions. Confusion. Fury. Despair. Acceptance. Fury. Defeat. Humor. Fury.
(Do you notice a pattern here?)

Then I rounded a bend, and the walkers were in sight.

We crossed the 1-mile marker. I looked at my watch: 7:16.
Shit!
Not only was I going to have a 3-hour half marathon time on the record (I resigned myself to clock time at this point) but I was going to blow up spectacularly by the end...

All those rules:

• You can't "bank time" in a race.
• You shouldn't go out too hard, you'll regret it later.
• Keep your pace steady and work on negative splits.

I live by those rules.

My 7:16 first mile of the course... the Rock 'n' Roll group thinks I ran it in 62 minutes. (My splits for the race are hilarious.) But I know I ran it in 7:16, and I would pay for it later...

... or would I?

(more to come, including a "real" race report, when I'm recovered from the race, 3-hour drive back home, and the day's calorie deficit.)

Do you have any "so late you might as well have stayed home" stories? Please share and help me feel better about this fail.

*Two points of note: 1 - Our hotel was less than a tenth of a mile from the start. We dropped by to watch the elites take off, went back for one last "potty break," and returned to find that everyone left without us! 2 - There was 1 other page in the booklet that listed a 7am start time, but the pace-group wave start timing chart (page 14 of the booklet) was so detailed, we never even saw the "marathon and 1/2 start at 7am" note on page 8. At least we weren't alone in our confusion! Our fault? Their fault? Both? You decide...

Race Report: Double Bridge Run (15k and 5k)

The start:
The Double Bridge Run begins in downtown Pensacola, and is point-to-point. Runners need to wake up extra early, drive to the beach, and then shuttle-bus to their start area.

Image Source

Shuttles for 15k runners are only available from 5-6am, so if you are not an early bird, run the 5k (shuttles 6-7:30am). 5k runners get to sleep in. (I was a 5k-er last year, and loved the race. I greatly regret running the 15k this year... but now I'm jumping ahead.)

The bad:
Let's start with the fact that my race results don't exist. Granted, this was not the run of my life. (I'm not too proud to admit I had gastro-intestinal issues today.) But I FINISHED.

It took some fortitude to get up at 4am, realize I'd spend most of my pre-race hours in a port-o-potty, and still run.

I want it on the record, damnit!
If I wanted to "just run" 9 miles this morning, I could have slept in!

Also, the finish area was over-crowded, as was the post-race venue. I am pleased to see a local race gaining traction. But given how big this race has gotten, I think it's time to rethink some of the logistics, including (I'm sure you knew I'd get to this) more port-o-potties! The lines were 30-40 runners deep before the 15k began.

And make sure those loos are stocked with TP!

Years ago I learned to bring my own TP to races. I carry some at every race. But it still irks me when I need to use my own.

This is such a simple thing, but so many races skimp on loos. Why?!?

The other stuff:
Not having post-race shuttles is an annoyance, but tolerable.
Boarding the buses was actually a breeze. No lines. No waiting. That was a bonus.

Headwinds are an issue.
This is not a "fast" course. In the morning, winds blow in off the water. The route points runners right into the wind, with no trees or buildings for relief. (They don't call it the "Double Bridge" for nothing...) From what I understand, the headwinds were worse this year than usual. Even the winner was more than 3 minutes slower this year than last year on account of the wind.

The good:
The Double Bridge Run is an iconic Florida race. How many times in your life will you get to run the "3 mile bridge" and see this sign?

As a driver, I find this sign amusing.
As a runner, it takes on a whole new meaning.

Also, the crowd support for the last mile was fairly impressive. While Pensacola is a runner's town, it is not a spectator-haven, so having good crowd support for the home stretch was a pleasant surprise.

The finish:
The post-race feast included a respectable spread of bananas, oranges, cookies, and assorted chips in the finish area, plus red beans and rice and cold beer at the after-party.

Have I mentioned that I'd rather have my race results than a few slices of orange?

All things considered, I'd run in the 5k again, but I'm pretty sure I won't sign up for the 15k next year.

Have you ever had to contact a race organizer to post or correct your race results?
In a decade of running, this is a first for me!

Good. Bad. Weird. Wonderful.

Good: Finished 2 runs today.
My legs are slowly starting to feel less like lead and more like legs!

Bad: I'm home alone in Florida and my San Diego friends are at a holiday party. Without me.
Florida FAIL.

Weird: I bumped into a former student at a group run tonight. Met his mom, too. Good for them for exercising! But weird to meet a student when I'm wearing schlubby old running clothes and my hair is a hot mess. (See "Bad" below.)

Good: Discovered a free yoga class in my neighborhood. Score!

Bad: The humidity is so intense, my house keys collect condensation as soon as I step outside. (Just imagine what's that's doing to my hair. Even ponytails can't survive sauna conditions. Not ideal running weather, either...) Florida fail again!

Weird: On my morning run, there was a pig rooting around in a neighbor's lawn.
Yes.
A pig.
I do not live in, on, or anywhere near a farm.
I still have no idea where the pig came from or where he was going.
The weirdest part: I stopped to stare. Another runner passed and didn't notice at all. (Seriously, dude. How do you not notice a 150 pound PIG on the side of the road??? If a third neighbor hadn't also noticed the little porker, I'd have worried for my sanity.)

Wonderful: Just as I was starting to be really bummed out about sitting at home alone (Hubby's away for work tonight), missing my California friends, this song came on World Cafe:


If I have to be stuck home alone, finding good new music is a consolation prize I'm willing to accept.

What song(s) are on "repeat" on your playlist right now?
Any other good/bad/weird/wonderful events today?

Twelve sucky miles

Some runs are amazing and make you glad to be alive.
Others are like today.

Sunday.
Long run day.
SUCKED THE BIG ONE.

I intended to take it easy, but short of walking, no amount of slowness was making the run feel any better. Maybe I was dehydrated? Maybe Friday's hill workout was tougher on my legs than I thought? Regardless of the reason, I was just glad when it was over.
The good: I finished the mileage I intended to.
The bad: I was waaaaay slower and more miserable than I've been on a long run in years. No amount of telling myself "Just enjoy the weather. It's gorgeous outside!" made it feel better.
The ugly: My foot started cramping as soon as I got home. Ouch!
The consolation prize:

Hubby made a Bloody Mary for me to sip while I sat in an ice bath (after properly hydrating with lots of water, of course). Allegedly pickle juice helps prevent muscle cramping. While I can neither confirm nor deny that home remedy, I wasn't about to turn down a dose of pickled okra in one of my favorite post-run "recovery drinks." (What? It's loaded with electrolytes! That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!)

The funny thing...?
Sitting at brunch with Hubby after we cleaned up and changed into presentable clothes, I felt more relaxed than I have in ages.

Maybe sometimes the joy in running is that it makes simple things, like sitting and resting, feel better by comparison.

How do you deal with unpleasant runs?

Win some, lose some

Regular readers will know by now that I am happy to share my successes with you (like fast 5ks and taking home medals). In this blog I generally focus on the bright side of life (there is enough depressing news on television already). In large part, that's where the Thursday thanks series comes from.

But no life is always wine and roses.

Into every life, a little failure must fall. This weekend, in particular, was a win some / lose some kind of weekend. Friday was epic. Saturday morning was an epic fail. Friday I took home a medal for 3rd female in the CFC 5k. Saturday I received notice that my research paper did not win an award I was seeking.

Friday I was thinking:
"Hooray! I won third place!"

Saturday my thoughts were clouded by:
"Second place is the first loser."

Important side note: I have always HATED that phrase about second place.

But for the first time, I finally understand it. (Note: it is not lost on me that I was tickled pink to be third in one event, but bummed for second in another. In running, third place is still medal-place. In research awards, you don't get to put "almost-but-not-quite" on your resume.)

Fortunately, as with races, there are plenty more conferences to attend and awards to compete for.

And, as with races, I had better start putting my game plan together right now to be ready for the next one.

So I'm off to start plotting my next research project!


How do you deal with disappointing news? Do you sulk? Start planning your next attempt? Find a different hobby to distract you? All of the above?

Cheater cheater pumpkin eater!

Quiz Question: How do you place third in a marathon?

A - You outrun all but two other people.

B - You take a bus for 10k of the 26.2, and conveniently hop back onto the course right before the finish line (making sure to do so only after runner 1 and 2 have passed, because cheating to win would be too obvious).

C - You find a way to get some obscure IAAF rule changed so that only people with your last name are eligible for third place.


So, folks, which of these things actually happened last weekend at the Kielder Marathon?

Source: The Telegraph. For original story, see link below.

If you guessed B, you are correct!

According to The Telegraph, Rob Sloan (age 31) initially expressed shock at the allegations of cheating. In fact, to make things more surreal Sloan...

"was seen boasting to reporters minutes after completing the event. He described the race as 'absolutely, unbelievably tough'. When his placing was brought into doubt, he was indignant. 'I’m upset and angry that someone wants to cast these aspersions. It’s laughable, is what it is,' he insisted."

No, dude. Laughable is your attempt to claim a marathon was "unbelievably tough" when you skipped six miles of it, hid in the woods, and jumped back on the course when you thought the coast was clear!

After race organizers launched an investigation, Sloan finally admitted to taking a bus to finish.

He has now been disqualified from the race and stripped of his medal. The race organizers have issued a press release summarizing the event.

What sort of penalty do YOU think there should there be for this kind of cheating? Suspension from running events? A fine? Tar and feathers?

Lunk head?

When I first saw the Planet Fitness segment on the Daily Show this week, I thought "this has to be a joke. There can't really be a gym that sets off a siren if someone grunts while lifting weights." That's just obnoxious. Who would pay to work out in a gym that sets off alarms for infractions?

Watch for yourself:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Plight of Muscled Americans
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook

I kept thinking that it all must be some big Daily Show joke. If such a gym existed, it wouldn't also claim to be a "judgement free zone." Right? That would be... absurd.

If setting off a "Lunk™ Alarm" isn't passing judgement, what is?

Um...
Apparently it's true. Quoted directly from the Planet Fitness website:

As the most innovative health club brand in the United States, Planet Fitness is known for a lot of things – our absurdly low prices, our Lunk™ Alarm, and most of all perhaps, for our Judgement Free Zone® philosophy, which means members can relax, get in shape, and have fun without being subjected to the hard-core, look-at-me attitude that exists in too many gyms.

Wow.

Just wow.

Have any of you been to a Planet Fitness, or any other gym with bizarre rules and regulations? Is there something I'm missing that helps this all make sense?

100th blog post

Today I've reached one of the critical blogger milestones: the 100th post.

I fretted over what to write, since this post seems momentous. (But then again, it is really just like every other post...) Should I write something reflective? Should I gush about the blogger community? Should I write a retrospective on all the years I've been running, or how much my life has changed (or not) in the past 100 posts?

In honor of this special occasion, and in the spirit of keeping things simple, I decided to take a brief look back at the blog so far.

Superlatives, flops, and things I've learned:
The (surprisingly) most popular post so far has been my book review of Bad Shoes and the Women Who Love Them. The popularity of this post is, at least in part, thanks to Pete at Runblogger, who Stumbled the post and has been generating regular traffic ever since. (Thanks Runblogger!)

The second most popular is Running in the Buff... Don't even get me started about the weird search terms that have generated traffic for that post. The popularity of Running in the Buff made me wonder if I should start blogging about nudity more often. (It generates traffic!) But seriously, I've seen Avenue Q. I should not have been surprised by the search results.

(Viewer caution: The Avenue Q video contains no nudity, but is NSFW)

The post that I had the most fun writing, but flopped royally, was Spitting Mad (about running etiquette, especially not spitting on your fellow runners). I expected at least a few "eww gross" comments, but instead got silence. *crickets chirping* Then again, Yes, Folks. I Run Like A Girl was only a baby blog then. Even my family wasn't reading it yet. (I do wonder if Spitting Mad would get more traction today?)

The most controversial post, by far, was Sexist New Rules (about the swap to women's world records now only counting in women-only races). This post blew up into a raging debate on my facebook wall, with dozens of comments on both sides of the argument. To everyone's credit, the debate was heated but civil.

My thanks to all who have been reading along with me so far. I look forward to sharing the next 100 (miles and posts) with you!

Sexist new rules

This morning I learned that the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF), the record-tracking agency for all things running, just ruled that only:

"World Records for women to be recognised in women only races. The IAAF shall keep a separate list of “World Best Performances” achieved in mixed Road Races.”

Their logic: women run faster in co-ed races, so those should not count toward record setting. (So by this logic all marathons should be run on closed courses with no hydration support or cheering crowds, right?)

According to Running Times, the only issue remaining to be decided is

whether the rule will be applied retroactively. USATF’s Glenn Latimer seems to think so, and that Joan Benoit’s 2:24:52 at the 1984 Olympics will become the American record. In this case, note also that Paula Radcliffe’s 2:15:25 would no longer be the world record, as she had male pacemakers during that race (as did Deena Kastor when she ran 2:19:36). The Road Race Commission member also thinks existing records set in mixed races will be thrown out.

I have never heard anything so sexist or ridiculous in the running world.

Tracy, over at Go, Tracy, Go! wrote a much more eloquent analysis than I can right now. (I'm almost too mad to type.) So for more details, please see: Tracy's post.

Am I overreacting, or is this ruling unfair?

Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Short but sweet

I am pleased to report that the Friday Fail was only a one-day occurrence. I spent Saturday resting. After all, when my body yells, who am I to ignore it?

Today 6 miles on the treadmill were a piece of cake.

And that run was a much-needed brain break.

Tomorrow I start a new job teaching at a community college. (I've had my current job since 2001... So this is my first new job in ten years.) Much like the night before a race, I am looking forward to the big day but also have what feels like race-day anxiety. (Cue pacing around the room, anxiously tapping pen against desk, and double checking my gear bag for the 15th time.)

Maybe I should stop stressing about my lecture notes and go out for another run?

Friday fail

Last night I couldn't fall asleep. I lay awake until 11... 12... 12:45.
Still, when the alarm clock went off at 6:15am, I had every intention of getting out of bed and going for a run.

But there was thunder. And lightning. Even the birds, who normally sing a raucous symphony outside my bedroom window, were staying in this morning.

I hit snooze. Repeatedly.

At 7:15 I finally crawled out of bed and turned on the coffee maker. It took another 40 minutes for the coffee to kick in and for me to build up the momentum to get out the door.

It took another 20 minutes for me to throw in the towel and turn my morning run into a morning walk.

This morning my get up and go got up and went.

As I walked back home along the bayou, I wondered:

• Was it the weather? The air was so still and oppressive that the only ripples on the bayou were from two passing fishermen in their boat. There wasn't a breath of a breeze, just humidity and heaviness. But I've run in this before...
  
• Am I dehydrated? I have been drinking plenty of water, and no alcohol. Dehydration can't be my problem...
  
• Maybe my sleepless night is to blame? One night of insomnia has never beaten me this badly before...
  
• Maybe three weeks in a row of "hard" training has finally caught up with me? I usually do two hard weeks (two workouts a day, extra lifting, walking and yoga for "rest"), one "recovery" week of once-a-day exercise, and a moderate-intensity week. Maybe three weeks straight of 2-workout days was pushing it?
  

Or maybe I'm just making excuses.

I'll get on the stationary bike to make up for my lack of morning motivation. But the truth remains, today's run is a FAIL.