Intervals FTW!

Did 7 miles through the Hillcrest and Downtown areas this afternoon. I employed to interval technique I used when coming back from a foot injury in June. I'd run 5 minutes and then speedwalk for 1 minute.

I certainly wasn't fast, but I finished them with pretty consistent splits, averaging between 10:32 and 11:42 per mile with all the walking. While I hate not maintaining a sub-10:00 mile, the really great thing about this is that I'm not in any pain. There is general soreness, but my hip isn't screaming out at me.

I'll definitely employ this technique at Carlsbad, and possibly for all races until I get more experiences with long distance running. I'll be experimenting with different intervals, like 5/1 v. 9/1, and see what works best.

Carlsbad is January 25. I think I'll try to increase mileage until January 11, and then taper a little bit. Something like this...

12/29 - 1/4: M-XT, Tu-4, W-XT, Th-5, F-XT, Sa-10, Su-OFF

1/5-1/11: M-XT, Tu-4, W-XT, Th-5, F-XT, Sa-12, Su-OFF

1/12 - 1/19: M-XT, Tu-4, W-XT, Th-5, F-XT, Sa-8, Su-OFF

1/19 - 1/25: M-XT, Tu-4, W-XT, Th-4, XT, Sa-OFF, Su-RACE!-13.1.

XTing will consist of spinning classes and weight training.

I'm really looking forward to this! Glad that my body is finally cooperating. :)

Oh my

Just realizd the Carlsbad 1/2 is in a month... I've barely been hitting 13 miles a week TOTAL, and haven't gotten anywhere close to double digits on a "long" run.

Taking the new 859's out for a spin. Looks like the 1/2 will be more an exercise in walk/run intervals than actual racing strategy... Oops.

All systems go(ish)

The return to my usual exercise regimen has been mostly successful thus far.

I've been taking three to five spin classes a week, which, intitially, was a quite literal pain in the ass. I've since toughened up and look forward to buying some padded cycle shorts this weekend.

Weight training has also been making an appearance, though I only manage to fill about 40 minutes when doing a full body lift (I do everything at once, three days a week), so I'm pretty sure I'm missing out on some good exercises. I'm too shy to ask for help, though, so hopefully what I'm doing on my own is adequate.

I've increased my miles to 3 to 4 at a time, three days a week. I ran the ol' Torrey Pines hill last night (in the dark) and my hip is screaming today. Since the next four races I'm signed up for are generally flat, I may forgo the hill routine for a while until I build of mileage, endurance and leg strength.

Anyway, things are looking up!

Just so October doesn't feel totally left out...

A quick post.

I've spent my month traveling to Vegas, Santa Cruz and San Francisco.

Vegas looked like this:


Santa Cruz looked like this:


And San Francisco looked like this:


Due to injury, I was unable to run Nike SF. I rolled over my fundraising account so I could do the Lavaman Triathlon in Hawaii, but have since been invited to the wedding of my most favorite couple ever and will have to hold off on completing on event with TNT until Rock 'n Roll San Diego in May 2009.

Yep, I'm back on the marathon training bandwagon!

I took a good two weeks off of working out in the middle of the month, but I'm back with a vengance. My gym trips have consisted of a lot of spinning classes, a smattering of hip-hop classes (cross training?) and not nearly enough lifting sessions. I've logged mileage on the treadmill (omg boring kill me now) and just ventured out to Balboa Park last night for my first outdoor run in three months.

I'll try and update this a little more often since I'm actually able to train now. I'll also try and make sure I don't go sidelining myself again. Being on the DL blows.

Still alive, I swear!

Apologies for not updating! I've moved into a new apartment, so I've been dealing with new-apartment type things.

Physical therapy is going well. Actually, I haven't been in 3 weeks because I can't afford the $85.00/session charge, but I've been spending time on the bike, in the pool and stretching out my hip flexor. I may splurge on a visit in a week or two. I'm feeling much better and have increased my workouts to:

-10min elliptical warm up
-30min stationary bike ride
-10-20min arm bike

I think I'll begin incorporating some lower body weight lifting. I'm also starting to walk to the gym (it's only a mile away), and haven't noticed any ill-effects from that. Looks like a jog is in my near future. :)

From the DL to the Sidelines to the Geriatric Center

Sunday morning I got to live out my secret dream of being a cheerleader! Felicia and I woke up at the crack of down to cheer on Tauni and Julie in the America's Finest City Half Marathon. Tauni and Julie actually woke up way before dawn at 4:00 a.m. Word has it they tossed and turned all night, and that Tauni even had a sinus infection going into the race. Hard to believe though, since both of them KICKED BUTT! Seriously. They ran amazing times (Julie in 2:16 and Tauni in 2:49) in the oh-so-typical hot San Diego summer heat. Here we are at the end of the race, after the runners collected their medals:



(my sign is only funny if you visit www.icanhascheezburger.com)

Tuesday I went to my fourth physical therapy appointment. My therapist has begun using low frequency ultrasound waves to help reduce pain. The method, along with his mayofascial (I think that's what it's called, but I could be making that up) technique, is working wonders. The worst part about it is trying to make conversation with the ultrasound technician who has her hands way too close to my lady parts. Of course I would injure a body part that is prone to inducing awkward moments.

I essentially begged my therapist to clear me for walking, and I took advantage of that privilege tonight! I grabbed Robert's old iPod and went on a three mile walk around Tierrasanta while listening to Britney Spears, The Cranberries, the Batman Forever Sountrack and Dashboard Confessional. The kid had some interesting taste...

Other than that, I'm moving into my new apartment this weekend and hopefully wrapping up my personal statement for law school applications! As much as I love living [rent free] with my parents, there's a time in every young woman's life when she realizes the value of having complete and total privacy to walk around her home naked whenever she wants. I can't wait!

Training related!

Forgot to share this yesterday.

I went to 24-hour Balboa to get in a pool workout. While warming up on the arm bike (omg torture kill me now), I noticed a woman jogging barefoot on the treadmill. Yes, I said barefoot on a treadmill that dozens of dirty shoes run on every single day.

In the middle of my pool run, I saw a man wrap himself in a green towel, put on a faded black t-shirt and step back into his black dress socks and loafers. He then proceeded to walk through the entire gym and out to the parking lot like that (yes, I peeked through the fence to follow his progress).

Perhaps I should introduce those two. Opposites attract, right?