Happy Monday! So I intended to post a few days ago with pictures of all of my favorite winter running equipment. I still intend to do that, however, unfortunately the past few days have been a bit interesting and I now no longer have a computer because our apartment was broken into. While I am angered and disappointed that someone went to the lengths of breaking into my home and stealing my stuff, as well as my roommates, there's really not much else to do but to go on (and have a glass of wine). So the cold weather gear post will have to wait, but it looks like we're getting more snow here so I think it will still be timely when I do post.
Saturday we went for a 14 mile run - the farthest I've ever run! And surprisingly enough, I felt great. Right about at mile 12 I was a little lethargic, but I picked up the pace and felt fine. The incredible thing is I wasn't sore the next day and I also had no achilles pain during or after the run. I drank my usual chocolate soy milk (so amazing) and did a fair amount of stretching afterward, as well as ate some pineapple. Things seem back to normal so keep your fingers crossed for me!
A good friend (thanks Paige!) sent me information about a webcast of a live Harvard discussion that happened last week and I was able to listen to it as it was broadcast. Harvard has created a group on campus called "Harvard on the Move" and for the kickoff they invited author of Born to Run, Christopher McDougall; Daniel Lieberman, professor of human evolutionary biology and department chair of Human Evolutionary Biology in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard; and John J. Ratey, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. They spoke about how the human body was built to run and run for long distances. Here's the link, if you're interested: http://www.youtube.com/harvard#p/a/u/0/HxHhUhIXwHs
If you haven't read Born to Run, I would recommend it. It's not the best piece of literary work, however, it's non-fiction and has many interesting anecdotes about running and the people who run some of the longest races in the world. It's definitely entertaining if nothing else. Another great running book is one I recently finished, Once a Runner. This is more of a focus on short distances (one-mile and two-mile) but is an interesting fiction account of what it was like as a running in the 70's. I've always been fascinated by Prefontaine and this book definitely captured his spirit in it. I also recently watched two running movies: Saint Ralph and Without Limits (about Prefontaine). Can you see a theme?
Hope everyone has a great week - I failed to wake up on time this morning so I'll be running 4 miles tonight. I think it's supposed to be 17 degrees.
Have a good one!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
25 and counting.
This weekend I turned 25 and can't believe how time has flown. I joked with someone on Saturday that I swore by 25 I'd be married and have kids, however, I was 13 the last time I thought that was actually realistic.
On Saturday we had out team run and it was definitely cold, but I am getting used to cold weather running. I think I'll be in a bit of shock when it starts warming up, but that's still 2 months out. We ran 13 miles in the hills of Newton and I think this was the first time that I've run Heartbreak Hill fatigued. I've been having some Achilles soreness on my right leg, but nothing terribly painful as of yet - I unfortunately think this is a product of insufficient stretching and dodging ice on my Thursday run (Lauren and I had literally the worst run of our lives that morning). Saturday was also a bit icy, but not nearly as bad and I had a secret weapon (thanks to Lena!) to help me. I will post about this "secret weapon" and my favorite cold weather gear later this week.
Back to my soreness, coach Rick gave me some great advice to work through this hopefully short-term problem. First, he told me to stay away from anti-inflammatory drugs (I had taken some 30 minutes before talking to him, haha). He's absolutely right though in his advice because drugs mask the pain, which could then cause me to further injure myself. He saif that pineapple and papaya are actually natural anti-inflammatories - can't argue with that! Second, he told me to take it easy on my runs and avoid hills. I couldn't do that Saturday, but will definitely do so during the week. Finally, I should be very regimented post run. Light stretching and ice (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for an hour or so). This should be done immediately after running. This definitely brings me back to my days of softball and the many injuries I had to nurse. I'll keep you updated on how this goes.
So this week, aside from a WONDERFUL birthday with great friends, was especially exciting because thanks to my donors I've reached my minimum fundraising goal! Thank you so much for your support everyone! I still have a bit to go, but I'm not going to stop until marathon day hits so I hope to surpass my goal :)
I took the day off today to rest, relax and rejuvenate - although it's about 2 degrees outside right now so I'm currently hibernating. I have a massage later today (thanks Kasi!) that couldn't come at a better time because that 13 miles kicked my ass.
Have a great Monday!
On Saturday we had out team run and it was definitely cold, but I am getting used to cold weather running. I think I'll be in a bit of shock when it starts warming up, but that's still 2 months out. We ran 13 miles in the hills of Newton and I think this was the first time that I've run Heartbreak Hill fatigued. I've been having some Achilles soreness on my right leg, but nothing terribly painful as of yet - I unfortunately think this is a product of insufficient stretching and dodging ice on my Thursday run (Lauren and I had literally the worst run of our lives that morning). Saturday was also a bit icy, but not nearly as bad and I had a secret weapon (thanks to Lena!) to help me. I will post about this "secret weapon" and my favorite cold weather gear later this week.
Back to my soreness, coach Rick gave me some great advice to work through this hopefully short-term problem. First, he told me to stay away from anti-inflammatory drugs (I had taken some 30 minutes before talking to him, haha). He's absolutely right though in his advice because drugs mask the pain, which could then cause me to further injure myself. He saif that pineapple and papaya are actually natural anti-inflammatories - can't argue with that! Second, he told me to take it easy on my runs and avoid hills. I couldn't do that Saturday, but will definitely do so during the week. Finally, I should be very regimented post run. Light stretching and ice (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for an hour or so). This should be done immediately after running. This definitely brings me back to my days of softball and the many injuries I had to nurse. I'll keep you updated on how this goes.
So this week, aside from a WONDERFUL birthday with great friends, was especially exciting because thanks to my donors I've reached my minimum fundraising goal! Thank you so much for your support everyone! I still have a bit to go, but I'm not going to stop until marathon day hits so I hope to surpass my goal :)
I took the day off today to rest, relax and rejuvenate - although it's about 2 degrees outside right now so I'm currently hibernating. I have a massage later today (thanks Kasi!) that couldn't come at a better time because that 13 miles kicked my ass.
Have a great Monday!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
why i'm running.
Today was a bit different than the normal long run Saturday's. Our coach was out of town, running a marathon in Phoenix, so instead we had a team meeting. I was really looking forward to seeing everyone on the team since this is the first time (since out initial meeting) that we were together and not going out for a run, which usually includes many others from the various teams in the coalition. We were able to share our fundraising strategies and successes and check in on our training.
Also a part of the meeting was talking about Jumpstart and the program, for those that it's new to. As we were talking I started thinking about the reasons I'm running and why I so badly wanted to be a part of the team. I'd like to share a few thoughts on that topic.
Going to a Jumpstart session is absolutely one of my favorite things to do as a Jumpstart employee. I am beyond impressed by the corps members and how passionate and thoughtful they are - it's really incredible to watch. When I went out to a session last spring, I saw something that almost put me in tears. It was a corps members birthday and, without remembering she had done so, she mentioned that it was coming up to the child she works with a few weeks back. At the end of the session, the child's mother came to pick her daughter up and was holding a large gift bag. She spoke little English and walked over to the corps member and handed it to her saying "happy birthday". It was clear that the corps member was totally caught off guard and the little girl just sat the smiling as she saw her mentor pull out a huge teddy bear.
That story always sticks out in my mind when I think about Jumpstart and the impact it has not only on the preschoolers but also the corps members and the families of the children in Jumpstart. The program builds a sense of community and every one is working toward the same goals - the desire to see every child succeed in school and life.
So when I think about why I'm running, I think about this story and how I can contribute as someone who can't make a direct difference in the classroom. I also think about my own goals and how when I look back on this experience, I can say that I can do just about anything I set my mind to. I've always wanted to run a marathon and admittedly I thought that it really would never come to fruition, that it was more of a passing thought, that I would have on my list of to do's forever. I'm learning a lot about myself through this experience - how I'm blessed to have so many wonderful and supportive people around me, how far I can test my mind and body, and how to be disciplined and dedicated. I'm running because I can only hope I'm going to help make positive changes for others; I can certainly tell it's making positive changes in me.
Today's 12 mile run was a bit dicey with the snow, but all in all it went well. Thanks to Lauren who ran the second half of it with me! I'm looking forward to this three day weekend since I have a lot to catch up on and can't wait for tomorrows rest day :)
Have a great weekend!
Also a part of the meeting was talking about Jumpstart and the program, for those that it's new to. As we were talking I started thinking about the reasons I'm running and why I so badly wanted to be a part of the team. I'd like to share a few thoughts on that topic.
Going to a Jumpstart session is absolutely one of my favorite things to do as a Jumpstart employee. I am beyond impressed by the corps members and how passionate and thoughtful they are - it's really incredible to watch. When I went out to a session last spring, I saw something that almost put me in tears. It was a corps members birthday and, without remembering she had done so, she mentioned that it was coming up to the child she works with a few weeks back. At the end of the session, the child's mother came to pick her daughter up and was holding a large gift bag. She spoke little English and walked over to the corps member and handed it to her saying "happy birthday". It was clear that the corps member was totally caught off guard and the little girl just sat the smiling as she saw her mentor pull out a huge teddy bear.
That story always sticks out in my mind when I think about Jumpstart and the impact it has not only on the preschoolers but also the corps members and the families of the children in Jumpstart. The program builds a sense of community and every one is working toward the same goals - the desire to see every child succeed in school and life.
So when I think about why I'm running, I think about this story and how I can contribute as someone who can't make a direct difference in the classroom. I also think about my own goals and how when I look back on this experience, I can say that I can do just about anything I set my mind to. I've always wanted to run a marathon and admittedly I thought that it really would never come to fruition, that it was more of a passing thought, that I would have on my list of to do's forever. I'm learning a lot about myself through this experience - how I'm blessed to have so many wonderful and supportive people around me, how far I can test my mind and body, and how to be disciplined and dedicated. I'm running because I can only hope I'm going to help make positive changes for others; I can certainly tell it's making positive changes in me.
Today's 12 mile run was a bit dicey with the snow, but all in all it went well. Thanks to Lauren who ran the second half of it with me! I'm looking forward to this three day weekend since I have a lot to catch up on and can't wait for tomorrows rest day :)
Have a great weekend!
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