Tag: mlfitness

3 Hour Throwdown

Days like today I’m actually thankful I don’t have a significant other or kids. I spent 3 hours today exercising. I run 5 miles to the gym – in 90 degree weather mind you despite the fact that we had a cold snap last week. Then did an hour of yoga at the gym and ran 5 miles back home. 

3 hours of just exercise and I love it. It made me really think about kicking into full marathon training gear because I have the time for it.

I should also note and it thought of @365to30 today at yoga. Our yoga teacher today was a substitute who I have never seen before and she was bangin’. Seriously I spent most of class looking at her body. I actually later asked her how tall she was because yoga looks so different on people of different heights and our poses were similar (hers was way better, but our form was similar). She was 5’8, lean, but still had big boobs, a butt and hips, but everything else on her was lean and softly muscular. Seriously watching her move through poses was beautiful. She said she hasn’t taught since before the summer and she felt out of practice and was nervous. I would have never guessed. I really liked her class, lots of new stuff with a lot of strengthening. I sweated most of the class.

Oh and I signed up for a 5K on campus next Sunday which will be fun. I’m addicted to races and finish lines so it will be a nice way to keep up my momentum as aI gear up for my second half marathon on 10/30!

10.10.10

In honor of 10.10.10 I am going to run 10 miles today. I’m actually going to run 5 miles to the gym go to yoga class and then run 5 miles home.

Alos congrats to all our awesome tumblring Chicago marathoners – you rock!

Sidenote: this is my 400th post!?

Texts From a Former Student

Student: Question. When did you start running? I’m on day seven ahaha and I need inspiration.
Me: In January – I hated running until like late March. don’t give up – push through!
Me: The weather now is perfect. Are you running outside, inside, on a track?
Student: I’ve been running outside. More to look at. And I really like running in the evening but thats not gonna work today.
Me: Yeah I prefer running outdoors. You should find a 5K in nov/dec and sign up for it. Having a race will help keep you motivated!
Student: Ah so true! thanks! I’ll let you know how this goes haha
Me: Keep me posted – I’m here to cheer you on 🙂

*Note – If you would have told me a year ago I’d be getting asked for running inspiration I would have though you were crazy, but this is my life. This student isn’t the first one either. It’s just funny because she worked for me in Summer 09 and randomly texted me today out of the blue.

Back in Business

After taking Monday and Tuesday off I got back to running yesterday. Only did 3 miles to ease myself into it. I’ve really become someone who hates running on the treadmill. I’m going to try and keep it to only short distances.

After my 3 miles I went upstairs to stretch and use a foam roller. I rarely see people using the foam roller at the gym and OF COURSE the one time I want to use it some touchy feely couple were “using it” – AKA laying down playing with it. WTF. I was really irritated and left after I finished stretching.

So here’s hoping that I can use the damn foam roller today.

I’m skipping WIW this week because these are the only numbers I care about.  (Can someone tell me what the split means – is that the halfway point? – I need to learn more about splits in general and how to track them etc).

Please note my “unofficial” time that I kept on my ipod that did not include the bathroom break was 2:11:54

Oh and another NSV – my mom insisting on buying me some clothes while I was home because my stuff is getting stupid big. I fit EVERY pair of 12s I tried on and most medium shirts. Say what?

Me and FasterStronger before the race!

Race Day In Review

  • Despite not getting as much sleep as I would have liked on Saturday night I was up and ready to go Sunday.
  • It was COLD on Sunday morning and I debated wearing compression tights instead of compression shorts – but I had never run in the tights before and I didn’t want to try anything new.
  • Get to the park and use the potty before there is a line.
  • Texting with FasterStronger to find out her whereabouts – oh and I’m a creeper and texted her a picture of me since I’m still faceless on here.
  • Drink like a bottle of water because of nerves.
  • Meet up with FasterStronger and her friend. I loved their cute outfits for the race. We drop our stuff at gear check, take our pre race energy gels and make our way to the start.
  • We go to the 11 minute corral – the race starts with the seeded runners who got to wear black bibs, I kinda had to pee, but I ignore it because I know I will sweat it out and the lines are long.
  • The race starts with silver confetti and we pretty much stand still for 2 minutes until out group gets to the front.
  • Right out the gate I feel good, cold, but good. I am a concerns about having to pee already since it’s COLD out. However I really don’t want to lose time stopping so I vow to push through and hope to sweat.
  • After my first mile I see I’m running a sub-10 pace which is exciting, but I also don’t want to over do it so I try to keep myself around the 10 min pace as much as possible.
  • See FasterStronger and have our awesome High 5.
  • While running I see 2 ladies with homemade shirts that say “a DIVA is a female version of a hustler” – I am immediately mad that I didn’t think download that song and put it on my playlist.
  • I spent a lot of the run looking at what everyone was wearing (I’m such a girl). LOTS of pink and black. I see a number of women with iRUNLIKEAGIRL gear on.
  • Like I mentioned I also was in awe of all the women themselves and how different every single one of us were.
  • Around mile 4 I see ladies in line for port-o-pottys, but I decide not to stop despite the fact that I have to go and I’m still not sweating. Plus I just drank a bunch of water with my 2nd energy gel.
  • By mile 6 all I can think about is having to see and decide I MUST stop. I know my pace will pick up if I pee so I try not to stress out about losing time.
  • Finally right before mile 7 I see pottys and only 2 people in line. I pause my Nike+ sensor so I can track my time minus the bathroom break.
  • Get in and out pretty quickly and feel MUCH better, unpause Nike+ sensor.
  • I pick up my pace quite a bit to try and make up for some time and believe it or not after a mile or so I catch up with a few ladies I recognized from the pack I was running with (one girl was running with just a sports bra and had quite an ample bossum [I should have just worn a sports bra – I mean it was all women, who cares] and one girl had a camel back and awesome tights on)
  • Next thing I know it’s mile 10 and I still feel good. Still around a 10 minute pace.
  • Finally like mile 11 I start to sweat – it had been so grey and cloudy all morning. I’m starting to get really tired and notice people starting to pick me off.
  • Mile 12 we get feather boas and tiaras (I opt out of the tiara). I keep telling myself to push through and keep up my “suicide pace.” I muster the strength to run full force and pick off a bunch of people
  • The last mile of the race was not scenic – we ran through like a truck depot/parking lot which was hella awkward.
  • I finally see the finish line in sight. Sadly the crowds were as loud and crazy as I hoped (however throughout the race I enjoyed seeing dad and kids cheering and holding signs for moms).
  • Crossing that finish line was a beautiful thing.
  • I RAN THE WHOLE DAMN THING. I only stopped to pee. No walking, no jogging, all running. I’m pretty much I ran in the 9:15-11:55 min/miles range the whole time.
  • My legs felt STRONG – I remember looking down at my quads as I ran and being impressed with myself – my ankles were a bit mad at me for running the whole time, but they got over it.
  • After the race it was time for medals, champagne, roses, food, pictures, and stretching.
  • Met back up with FasterStronger to recap the race, chat, celebrate and then say out goodbyes.
  • Try to keep moving and walking because once I sit I know it’s going to be hard to get moving.
  • Meet up with my aunt for brunch, head home for a shower and 2 hour nap before my flight back where I slept most of it.

I am so proud of myself. I had a great race. It’s interesting to surround myself with you fitblrs and hear about people running half-marathons, full marathons, ironmans like it’s NORMAL. WE ARE NOT NORMAL. So at first training and even running this half I was like “no big deal” because honestly I forgot doing a half was impressive! I’ve gotten so much love and support from friends, colleagues, students, etc – plus all the fantastic messages I got from you guys (especially when I get loved on my by my “tumblr crushes” – I get so excited). I’m looking forward to my next half on halloween weekend, then after that Triathlon training I’m coming for you!

I just went at it with a tennis ball

My quads were SO tight today. I’ve given myself a tennis ball massage (google it) on the floor to massage my muscles. Usually I’ve worked my shoulders and back on the floor using a tennis ball – trying massage my legs effectively with the tennis ball was more of a challenge. However I came up with a solution.

I stood against a wall with the tennis ball between the wall and me (I stood facing the wall, with my side to the wall, and back to the wall). Good lord it hit the spot. I’m sure I looked ridiculous rubbing myself up and down against the wall but I don’t care it felt great! I do think I need to invest in a foam roller or a big strong masseuse!

Just took a HOT shower and rubbed my legs down with icy hot. Still hoping to catch some major Zzz’s tonight so I also took a tylenol pm.

Race recap tomorrow I swear.

Beauty in All Sizes

Just woke up hella sore after my 2 hour nap and need to pack up and head to the airport – where I will limp around I’m sure.

I have so much to say about today’s half and I will write a full post tomorrow, however I must take a minute to share what stuck out the most was how beautiful, unique, and amazing each runner was.

Running alongside nearly 3,000 other women was surreal. There were all shapes, sizes, ages, colors, abilitities, etc and we all had the same goal. Each runner was strong and graceful and determined. I really almost cried while running thinking about this sisterhood of runner I had the honor of being a part of even if for a short time. While I ran not only did I want to do well and achieve my goals, but I wanted everyone around me to do the same. 

As I was running I also thought of all you tumblr ladies (and gents) and how inspiring and BEAUTIFUL you each are. Love your body and love yourselves because you are a gift to each person who knows you.