It will literally not stop raining in Beantown. It's miserable. MISERABLE.
That being said, I went to the track tonight and did 6x400. Same goal of 2:05 per lap.
Here's what happened.
Lap 1 : 2:11
Lap 2 : 2:07
Lap 3 : 2:03 (!)
Lap 4 : 2:06
Lap 5 : 1:56 (!!)
Lap 6 : 1:59 (!!)
Pretty good showing, if I do say so myself.
I was pleased to see other folks at the track. It's tough weather to begin with, but by the shore like we are, the wind comes at you full force on the return straightaway. Brutal. I felt like I was running through water.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Plateful of pain
Just for my records - my starting weights for the following lifts.
Squat = 75lbs
Bench press = 60lbs
Deadlift = 100lbs
Press = 50lbs
Power clean = 45lbs (just trying to get the form right on this one, it's a toughie!)
Incidentally, power cleans are just about the most fun I have ever had in the gym.
After leaving the gym today, I went straight home and tried to cram in my run. My legs felt like lead. I made it just over 2 miles (instead of 5) and limped home. This is just a case of putting too much on my proverbial plate, I think. I won't run right after squats again.
Speaking of too much on my plate, I had an amazing dinner of steak tips and grilled corn and potato salad and Guinness, courtesy of my roommate. He's flying off to San Diego today for a big interview, and I just know he'll get the job, and I'll be so happy for him/so sad for me. This would make the fourth person I know in the past couple weeks who has gotten a really exciting new job in a very different locale.
The times they are a'changin.
Squat = 75lbs
Bench press = 60lbs
Deadlift = 100lbs
Press = 50lbs
Power clean = 45lbs (just trying to get the form right on this one, it's a toughie!)
Incidentally, power cleans are just about the most fun I have ever had in the gym.
After leaving the gym today, I went straight home and tried to cram in my run. My legs felt like lead. I made it just over 2 miles (instead of 5) and limped home. This is just a case of putting too much on my proverbial plate, I think. I won't run right after squats again.
Speaking of too much on my plate, I had an amazing dinner of steak tips and grilled corn and potato salad and Guinness, courtesy of my roommate. He's flying off to San Diego today for a big interview, and I just know he'll get the job, and I'll be so happy for him/so sad for me. This would make the fourth person I know in the past couple weeks who has gotten a really exciting new job in a very different locale.
The times they are a'changin.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Negative Nelly
I hate speedwork. I know it's good for me, and I know it'll pay off eventually, but it's JUST. SO. BRUTAL.
Intervals/speed training is the cornerstone of the FIRST program's "Key Workout #1", which I admit, I haven't gotten to since this week (week 3). I opted to do the designated speed sessions from Week 1 so I could ease in and not be too taxed - part of my plan to not go in gung-ho and get myself hurt.
So I trotted down to the track after work this evening, with my shiny new 5K PR gauging what pace I should run the 400s at (2:05)
On the books? 8x400
What actually happened? 4x400
Sucking wind every step of the way.
2:01
2:05
2:06
2:07
The problem with this pace, I found, is that it's pretty much an all-out sprint for me because my stride is so short.
So, new plan. Next week I'll add on two more 400s, then two more until I can actually do the full 8. Then we will see.
Intervals/speed training is the cornerstone of the FIRST program's "Key Workout #1", which I admit, I haven't gotten to since this week (week 3). I opted to do the designated speed sessions from Week 1 so I could ease in and not be too taxed - part of my plan to not go in gung-ho and get myself hurt.
So I trotted down to the track after work this evening, with my shiny new 5K PR gauging what pace I should run the 400s at (2:05)
On the books? 8x400
What actually happened? 4x400
Sucking wind every step of the way.
2:01
2:05
2:06
2:07
The problem with this pace, I found, is that it's pretty much an all-out sprint for me because my stride is so short.
So, new plan. Next week I'll add on two more 400s, then two more until I can actually do the full 8. Then we will see.
So much for a lazy Sunday
Climbed the Bunker Hill Monument on Sunday. All 294 narrow, winding stairs.
It was there, we were there, it just made sense
My quads are all "WHY ARE YOU SO MEAN TO US?!?!?!"
My quads are all "WHY ARE YOU SO MEAN TO US?!?!?!"
Friday, June 12, 2009
Better now
My sunburn is peeling off and it hurrrrts. I tried putting aloe on it last night and it stung so bad I screamed and had to jump back in the shower and wash it off. If the sun ever comes out again, I am buying the highest SPF spray sunscreen I can find, because 15 just isn't going to cut it this summer.
(Merry, I think you're right about the sun poisoning. Yuck!)
Anyway, last night I did a 5-miler with 3 tempo miles in the middle. And it wasn't hard at all. Either I've been selling myself short (or slow) or I need to recalibrate the ol' Nike+. Or get a Garmin.
In other news, I'm feeling the pull of the marathon bug again. When I set the arbitrary goal of "run a marathon before my 30th birthday", I didn't realize that the reality of the situation is that I'd either have to run a fall marathon this fall or a spring/summer marathon next year. More musings on that later.
Strength training progress : 5x5 bench press @ 60lbs. Definitely switching to a straight-up 5x5 program next week.
(Merry, I think you're right about the sun poisoning. Yuck!)
Anyway, last night I did a 5-miler with 3 tempo miles in the middle. And it wasn't hard at all. Either I've been selling myself short (or slow) or I need to recalibrate the ol' Nike+. Or get a Garmin.
In other news, I'm feeling the pull of the marathon bug again. When I set the arbitrary goal of "run a marathon before my 30th birthday", I didn't realize that the reality of the situation is that I'd either have to run a fall marathon this fall or a spring/summer marathon next year. More musings on that later.
Strength training progress : 5x5 bench press @ 60lbs. Definitely switching to a straight-up 5x5 program next week.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Race report and important lessons
Running as fast as I can - check. Ran the Smutty 5k yesterday with an "official" time of 28:06, six minutes faster than last year, two minutes faster than my personal best, and 50 seconds faster than my "pipe dream" goal. I feel like I put in about as hard of an effort as I could have without burning out or injuring myself. Patty also had a great showing with a time of 23:47, five minutes faster than his time last year as well.
The trouble started after the race. It was a beautiful, hot day by the lake in Newmarket. The free Smuttynose, chili, pizza, and wings were plentiful but as per usual, I wasn't hungry. I have a hard time eating after a hard run, even if I was starving before it, and that's not good. I had a small bowl of chili and a couple beers, and sat in the sun enjoying the day for a few hours. This was also a mistake. I got a horrible sunburn all over my back, chest, shoulders, and even legs. Normally I don't get any color on my legs at all and I certainly don't burn that intensely, but I'm on this stupid medication that makes me even more photosensitive than my Irishy usual.
We were supposed to go to a dinner for our aunt who had just graduated from nursing school, but about halfway there I started getting really disszy, blacking out, and throwing up. I spent the rest of the ride curled up in a ball half-concious. I got home, stumbled up the stairs, and checked my temperature and it was 102, so I took some ibuprofen and passed out at 8:30. It was kind of scary. I don't know what happened, but I do know I have to start eating better. Even if I'm not hungry, I have to eat something after I run.
So now my parents are mad at me, and I still feel like crap. Great.
All in all, I'm very happy with my performance in the race, but not at all happy with my performance in life.
The trouble started after the race. It was a beautiful, hot day by the lake in Newmarket. The free Smuttynose, chili, pizza, and wings were plentiful but as per usual, I wasn't hungry. I have a hard time eating after a hard run, even if I was starving before it, and that's not good. I had a small bowl of chili and a couple beers, and sat in the sun enjoying the day for a few hours. This was also a mistake. I got a horrible sunburn all over my back, chest, shoulders, and even legs. Normally I don't get any color on my legs at all and I certainly don't burn that intensely, but I'm on this stupid medication that makes me even more photosensitive than my Irishy usual.
We were supposed to go to a dinner for our aunt who had just graduated from nursing school, but about halfway there I started getting really disszy, blacking out, and throwing up. I spent the rest of the ride curled up in a ball half-concious. I got home, stumbled up the stairs, and checked my temperature and it was 102, so I took some ibuprofen and passed out at 8:30. It was kind of scary. I don't know what happened, but I do know I have to start eating better. Even if I'm not hungry, I have to eat something after I run.
So now my parents are mad at me, and I still feel like crap. Great.
All in all, I'm very happy with my performance in the race, but not at all happy with my performance in life.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Repeats
One of the things I thought was so neat when I started running last year, and consequently reading running blogs, was how so many running bloggers would write about their "favorite" races - the local ones they run every year. Time flies, and I am now a couple months past my one-year runniversary, and since I entered about every local race less than 5 miles last summer, I'm bound to start repeating soon.
This Sunday marks my first "repeat" race, and it is a doozy. The Smuttynose/Loco Running "Will Run For Beer" 5k was one of my most miserable and most fun racing experiences. It was scorchingly hot, hilly, poorly marked, humid, and in the middle of the morning. I ran an abysmal 35:12, most of which was walking. My friend Jenna, a first-time 5ker, came in right behind me, swearing liberally. Both my brother and my friend Claire managed decent times, but we all were about to pass out at the end. Good thing there was all that refreshing, frosty beer for us to rehydrate ourselves with. And karaoke. And chili and wings.
Needless to say, I'm excited to go back. This year, things will be different.
Just for funsies, I've set some goals. Goals other than "just finish without passing out".
Baseline goal : Beat last year's time of 35:12
Realistic but difficult goal : Beat my best 5k time of 30:00 flat
Pipe dream goal : 28:50 or less (what the FIRST plan tables say I should be running based on my longer race times, not including this recent half-marathon fail).
Speaking of repeats, I did NOT get up at 6am and head to the track. Probably should have not stayed out so late and gone to Roadhouse Craft Beer & BBQ, arguably the greatest beer bar in Boston. It was worth it for the Racer X.
I have a party to go to tonight, but I'm going to leave early and try to get to the track. I don't know what it says about me that I'd rather be running around in Dorchester in the dark than at a party on a Friday night...
This Sunday marks my first "repeat" race, and it is a doozy. The Smuttynose/Loco Running "Will Run For Beer" 5k was one of my most miserable and most fun racing experiences. It was scorchingly hot, hilly, poorly marked, humid, and in the middle of the morning. I ran an abysmal 35:12, most of which was walking. My friend Jenna, a first-time 5ker, came in right behind me, swearing liberally. Both my brother and my friend Claire managed decent times, but we all were about to pass out at the end. Good thing there was all that refreshing, frosty beer for us to rehydrate ourselves with. And karaoke. And chili and wings.
Needless to say, I'm excited to go back. This year, things will be different.
Just for funsies, I've set some goals. Goals other than "just finish without passing out".
Baseline goal : Beat last year's time of 35:12
Realistic but difficult goal : Beat my best 5k time of 30:00 flat
Pipe dream goal : 28:50 or less (what the FIRST plan tables say I should be running based on my longer race times, not including this recent half-marathon fail).
Speaking of repeats, I did NOT get up at 6am and head to the track. Probably should have not stayed out so late and gone to Roadhouse Craft Beer & BBQ, arguably the greatest beer bar in Boston. It was worth it for the Racer X.
I have a party to go to tonight, but I'm going to leave early and try to get to the track. I don't know what it says about me that I'd rather be running around in Dorchester in the dark than at a party on a Friday night...
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