Little Miss Runner Pants

SOOOooooo... sarah, over at junk miles just turned me onto this race nike is putting on...

the Nike Human Race 10k.

how have i not heard about this!!?!

apparently nike is celebrating runners and (our)their sport by putting on the world's largest running event... a global connection for all us athletes!

you can either sign up to run it in one of the 25 host cities (which... AUSTIN will be one of them. and can i just say how fan-fugging-tastic it is that i'll be living in a city that hosts stuff like this?! nobody ever chooses kansas city to do stuff. st. louis, or more often chicago is the closest place to participate in things like this for those of us in the midwest. its crap!)

*ahem*

anyway.. OR you can just run it wherever you are... down your street, in the park, WHATEVER!

however if you DO choose to race in a host city there will be live concerts after the race and various "elite Nike athletes" will be racing as well, but the only one of those i've ever heard of is Lance.

(of the Armstrong variety. yup.)

anyway, just thought i'd do my part to spread the news and see if anyone in the Austin area wants to run as well!!?!

:)

happy hump day people. NOW GO SIGN UP!

Posted by a.maria at 02:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

its funny that no matter who you are.. what your age is... how fast, often, or far you run...

that in the end... we all have the same experiences concerning the run, and eventually we all learn sort of the same things.

this weekend in KC we were hit with some major storms. luckily no tornadoes ripped through my actual area, but the winds associated with the strom system were outrageous. sunday afternoon i contemplated, momentarily, running in severe wind gusts, but.. after riding in them saturday thought better of it.

instead, i mapped out a route and told myself monday. i'll run monday instead.

well.. yesterday was monday.

and i did not want to run.

it was still windy, my legs were sore from biking and crossfit, and... i have a new puppy! i wanted to play with him!

but i sort of have this whole half-ironman thing coming up so i thought it MIGHT behoove me to stick to the plan.
which i sort of did.

it was a 9 mile run that i needed to get through and because i am loathe to carry water with me when i run, i made my half-way point 0% and coach's house... drove over and dropped off a water bottle... drove back home, and then started off on my run.

and it.

sucked.

my legs were like lead. i couldn't breathe. i was fighting a FIERCE head wind, i'd forgotten that i'd mapped out a specific route so i was running in the wrong direction, and it was all just a very miserable experience.

at about 35 minutes into my not-mapped-out-route i was having that all-too-frequent conversation in my head that revolved around DNF'ing my HIM, probably not even surviving the swim... beating myself up for not being able to have a good swim/bike/run all in the same week...

because i mean HELLO! if i can't get one good workout in each sport per WEEK, how do i expect to do it all in the SAME DAY!?
this is so stupid. why the hell did i sign up for this?

and generally feeling sorry for myself.

the funny thing was... through all this...

i kept running.

"well no shit AJ. you were on a RUN!"

no...
no, see for me it doesn't work like that.

or up until this point.. it hasn't.

typically when i'm feeling that pathetic i talk myself into just taking a break. i'm doing horribly, i'm SO SLOW anyway... i might as well just walk.

but yesterday as i was verbally punching myself in the face i realized at the same time holy shit. i haven't stopped yet.

and that small realizaton. that small victory over myself, the mental fortitude to just-keep-going... that brought me right out of my funk, and... i wont say i then enjoyed the run... but it didn't suck.

and i sort of learned something that probably i should have learned a long time ago...

first of all..
when other people are running.. and their kicking my ass... and they're making it look easy.

its not ACTUALLY easy!

i'd convinved myself a long time ago that my 11:30-12:00 pace, which was my la-dee-da pace, which i thought was SO HARD... i'd convinced myself i was running just as hard as everyone else.

its just that everyone else's la-dee-da pace is... ya know...

WAY FASTER!

but i realize.. ya know what... its not.

the difference is, not everyone else is running la-dee-da. some other people are kicking their own ass up hills, around curves, over bridges and down sidewalks. they're struggling, and pushing, and THEY DONT STOP when it sucks.

they don't stop.

and i realized this... and it was like... AH HA!!!

i think i've sort of worked myself up into a false-sense of suckiness when it comes to the run, because my attitude towards the whole thing has been so far off.

that being said... i'd like to say that this realization made for my FASTEST RUN EVER! but alas.. it did not.

however i ended the run feeling like i'd grown a little as an athlete. that i'd pushed myself the way i should have been doing FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS and while i'm sure i'll continue to verbally, or mentally, sucker punch myself in the gut every now and again...

i feel like finally running and i MIGHT just start to be friends!

Posted by a.maria at 07:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

i didn't want to run today.

i didn't, i didn't, i didn't.

i stomped and moped and pouted around my house for almost two hours, trying to figure a way to get out of my run.

i mean... i rode three hours yesterday!

a really really good ride, mostly windy, lots of rolling hills, and i did really well. i hung in, i climbed hard, my cadence was up...

t'was just what it needed to be.

AND I DID NOT WANT TO RUN TODAY!

hmpf.

but i did.

i sucked it up, thought of everyone else out there getting in their miles, and said f*ck it. lets run.

on my schedule today i had my first 8 miler.

but my schedule, i decided, is NOT THE BOSS OF ME!!!... so i said maybe it'll be my first 8 miler..... but then again!!?!

MAYBE NOT!

having had a few weather/motivation issues this past week(s...) i realized i haven't run since LAST tuesday. so i figured i'd go until i got tired and...

then i'd come back!

(i personally loved my plan.)

taking off i actually felt pretty good. i was having no knee/shin/foot issues, the temp was perfection... i was enjoying my run.

as i passed one park after another i seemed to gain energy, and it wasn't until i was juuust about half way back that i started to really feel the speed.

i mighta sorta over-done it a bit. i had that omg. bathroomBathroomBATHROOM! feeling in the pit of my stomach but as i was just about to talk myself into walking the rest of it home, some chick with a really great ass turned the corner ahead of me and i was suddenly motivated to gut it out.

i thought for .76th's of a second that i might actually catch her, but... that ass had a reason for being.

the chick could RUN!

finally i made it home though and... as much as i'd wanted to bail, take a nap, do laundry or fold socks instead...

i had a good run.

6.5 miles in an hour and some change. roughly a 10 minute pace. and i'll take that any day!

Posted by a.maria at 02:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

sooo....

i have a small weetle confession to make.

i..
think i'm scared of running outside.

*sigh*

ever since i started training for my HIM this year... its been cold. and cold, for me, means... treadmill.

and while most people would hem haw and complain, actually... i feel like it's kind of been a good thing.

when i'm on the treadmill... i go faster.

i crank it up to eleven (which in my case is actually seven) and i make myself go. GO. and then after a while when i'm dying, i dial it down. and then back up, and down and up and down...

but i dial it down to a pace that's still pushing me to go. to get faster. to RUN.

in the real world?! when i dial it down?!

i dial it d-o-w-n.

and with no bright numbers looking up at me, its easy to talk myself into that slower pace. to take a break. to focus on what hurts, the fact that i'm kinda tried and... peter out.

i NEVER peter out on the treadmill. i just. keep. going.

i don't know what it is... (outside of the fact that i'm always comparing myself to the folks running next to me) its just that i know as long as that ground keeps going, my legs will too.

and i don't really have that luxury outside. if i stop mid-trail i know i'm not going to smash my face on the ground and go shooting backwards into the woods, ya know?

it just ain't gunna happen that way.

so... that's my problem. that's my confession that makes absolutely no sense. who in their right mind chooses to run indoors?!

nobody!

but i'm scared of being slow again. i'm scared this speed i have is a fluke. that without people playing racquetball to watch and distract me, without a moving ground to run on, without the knowledge that there are people behind me, that can see me...

i'm scared i'll lose all this and be slow.

and i've worked so hard for the last few months to not be slow. i really don't want to have to start all over again come spring.

UGH!
what am i gunna do...!?!!

Posted by a.maria at 03:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

those of you that have been reading this blog since the beginning might be the only ones to truly appreciate this next bit of news... but...

my run today!? i ran at a SEVEN!

SE. VEN.

seven!!

on the treadmill! me! seven!

and i didn't fall down, i didn't collapse and i didn't die!

i dunno folks, but i think i'm getting faster. i've never not died above a 6 before.

and that was a SEVEN!

no way!

Posted by a.maria at 01:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (17) | TrackBacks (0)

i'm basically the sh*t. running's next big thing. goddess of all things athleticly related.

there's just nothing else to be said.

this morning i joined TNT for their 10 mile run today and the numbers went something like this:

mile 3 -- 32 minutes
mile 5 -- 54 minutes
mile 7 -- 1:18 minutes

when i hit mile 7 i started doing math in my head, realized my pace was staying pretty constant, and i then preceded to get really really excited.

i also may or may have not gotten really really confused, because math, while running?
i don't recommend it.

20 minutes later, still high off my speed-tastic related fumes, i realized i missed a turn.

son of a....

i turned around, took another wrong turn, hit a bridge i knew i should be no where near, and finally realized effer. i have to no idea where i am.

my only recourse was to head back to mile 7 and try and the whole thing over again.

eventually, after my little 40 minute excursion, i re-joined the trail and then kicked it up a notch to finish my last 3 miles to make it back.

in the end, 13+/- miles (i'm guess "plus".. given the pace i'd maintained for the previous 7 miles) -- 2:23:18

an 11:01 pace for roughly half-mary distance.

like i said.

amazing. running goddess extraordinaire. i might as well be sponsored at this point, i'm practically breaking world records.

i pretty much own this running thing!
:: evil cackle ::

HA!

Posted by a.maria at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

2.8611 miles
31:40 minutes
11:04 pace

i know, right?

w-o-w.

*ahem*

aaaand, thats all i got.

Posted by a.maria at 07:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

okay so...

is it cheating, if... say...

on your schedule you have a :60 minute run to do.

and... because you were partaking in some jolly good times with a friend that may or may not have included a drink or possibly two of alcohol... you slept in a little late.

and... because it's august and lets pretend you live in a city like.. oh i dunno.... kansas city... it's already hot.

at 8 am.

so... while preparing for yourself a water bottle with delicious gatorade type fluids inside of it you come up with a fantastic plan.

and... that plan involves stashing your water bottle behind a bush, and performing two 15 minute out and backs, so that you're taking in delicious gatorade type fluids every half hour.

but... while running, you decide to alter the plan, and run out for 20 instead. because you're awesome and think that the heat's not even bothering you yet, so.. why turn around?

which... sort of causes you to go into a downward spiral somewhere around 30 minutes because at this point your hot and need delicious gatorade type fluids but your still 10 minutes out.

so that by the time you do find your drink, your inner left arm is chaffing on your skin, you're trying not to let it touch so are running with what looks like a broken chicken wing, your 2 minute lets just go faster. we'll get there quicker, i swear its a good idea moment of mental poopery has made your shins hurt and you notice, after taking a swig of what now you're sure is the sweet nectar of the gods, you're swaying to and fro in some sort of wow. its really hot out here realization and you decide to...

call it quits.

lets say all this happens.

and.. lets say... after arriving back at your air conditioned place of dwelling, the fact that you ran :40 of :60 minutes hits you, and you start to feel guilty.

so... later in the day, you decide to make up for it and go for a :30 run, hoping that it sort of counts as a total of a :60 minute run, because... well because thats what you were supposed to do.

um...

is that?... um..

is that cheating? that scenario there?

i mean... i didn't do it. i would never.. i mean. it wasn't me.

but.. just. out of curiosity. ya know... would it be cheating? if that were what i did?

i just wanna know.

Posted by a.maria at 09:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBacks (0)

i am currently on the brink of donning my running outfit for the second time today, to travel around town for approximately one-half hour in an 11-11:30 minute/mile jogging type fashion.

i just thought you all should know.

ta-ta!

******* (after-run edit)

scratch that. make it 10:41 minute/mile pace.

grand master champion of all things running?!

ooooh yeah.

i'm back!

Posted by a.maria at 06:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

one of the first rides i ever went on was mid-september last year... i was sort of late to the tri-party, what can i say... and 0% was kind enough to ride with me.

in our little group, whenever someone new wants to test out their feelings on "the bike" we head down to the downtown airport. it's this maybe 4 mile loop that's completely away from traffic and stoplights.. its almost like its own little island.

so, there i was. it was a tuesday night and i was on, like i said, maybe my 2nd or 3rd week of "serious riding".

(serious riding to be translated into... i got on my bike about once a week for more than 2 weeks in a row. it was a big deal back then.

*ahem*

still is.)

i was nervous about riding with people and for the most part sort of liked to go at it on my own. but 0%'s a chatty chick, so i thought sweet. she'll talk. i'll ride. it'll be good, i can just concentrate on keeping up!

as we started the ride i mentioned being a little hesitant to ride with her, and she said something along the lines of "don't worry. i'm not interested in going hard, i'll just cruise with you"... although i seriously doubt she used those exact words.

anyway... all i remember, is that i was almost dying. here she was, next to me, chit-chatting away, as though hardly working, if at all, and i'm busting ASS to try and keep up. at one point i looked down and we were going...

now brace yourself. because this number will surprise you..

we were going fourteen miles per hour!!!

i remember distinctly saying to myself shit. i hope she just leaves. i can't do this. there is no way i can make it around this loop at this speed. i'm GOING. to DIE.

yeah. 14mph around a 4 mile loop. i = rule!

anyway, i bring this up because last night, after declaring that i was DUNZO!!! with riding 20 minutes into our ride (clearly, i am a force to be reckoned with on the bike. WATCH out!), 0% and i turned around to head home. as we passed one particularly nice section of the ride i pulled up next to her and we talked a bit about.. just whatever.. and i happened to look down at my bike computer, and started to laugh.

our easy ride, no big deal, conversational pace, that i was actually capable of keeping up... was just over 19.

for you long time riders out there.. that ain't nuthin. especially considering that wasn't exactly my AVERAGE for the ride... sure. its not all that much to write home about....

but in that moment last night, as i rode past my old running trails, waved to the constant riders passing by, and enjoyed a short, yet much needed ride, i had a wave of contentment sweep over me. and it was kinda nice.

afterwards i parked my bike in the 0% garage, donned some running shoes, and hit the pavement for this seasons VERY FIRST BRICK! (yeahhhh.. slap me the next time i wonder why my run is so slow in triathlon!)

i was actually expecting a much more horrible experience than i had. 0% had given me a little route to run, i had to go for :40 minutes, and... that was it. i just ran.

(and.... i kinda walked a bit too. not gunna lie.)

when i returned from my run and stopped my watch, i'd made it 37:23 minutes and counted that as DONE.

this morning i mapped out my route on gmap-pedometer and i apparently covered just over 3.5 miles and ran at a 10:40 pace!!

i have no idea how that happened. but i will TAKE IT!

i'm not too sure about this whole running and biking... AND crossfit thing, during the week...

but so far so good. and at least for today.. i'm a happy camper.

Posted by a.maria at 09:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBacks (0)

ew. i think a gnat just flew up my nose.

gross.

*ahem*

ANYway.. i just spent a good 15 minutes writing a fantastic post about this morning's 5 mile run and... my internet crapped out on me.

awesome.

SO, because i no longer have the patience to get into any sort of detail, i'll just bullet point it for you...

... er. i'll dash mark it for you. cuz my shortcut keys aren't working either.

-- 5 mile run on post, 11am
-- my shins hurt in a way that haven't hurt in a LONG. TIME. this was not pleasing to me.
-- infact, i would go out on a limb and say this was down right torturous and quite uncomfortable and, if i had my say, i would definitely nominate myself for a shin transplant.
-- i ran into some super-secret-you're not allowed-part of post and there were a lot of boys in uniform driving past while i ran.
-- this made for a rather speed 2-4 mile run.
-- which then in turn made for a NOT speedy 5th mile run.

-- heh. whoops. i guess i need to work on my pacing, eh?!

-- overall time, 55:08.... 11 minute miles. taking into consideration this was my long run time at the END of marathon training last year, and i'm still at the BEGINNING, this year... i've decided progress has been made.
-- i sweat a lot. i need a new way to carry my ipod.

and..... thats all i've got for the day.

Posted by a.maria at 07:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

well.. its been ten days, and army guy has come and gone. it was an interesting week and a half, and i learned a lot. not just about him, not just about me.. but also about jumping into things maybe a little too quickly, and... how its probably somewhat sweet to be so naive, but.. probably in the long term, not for the best.

yesterday night, at about 5pm, army guy and i parted ways. we decided, rightfully so, that it'd probably be best to go at this in a "no strings attached" kind of way, and just see what happens as it all plays out.

at the best, most optimistic, we'll come back together to make a go of it again. at the worst, and more realistic, we'll be friends. either way, i'm glad he came. and, honestly... i'm glad he went.

10 days is a really long time!

but.. he's a terrific guy. superbly sweet, strong and handsome. truly the whole package for someone who's...

*ahem*

for someone who's probably a little less set in her ways!!

one thing i did find interesting though, and thought a lot about, especially on the latter part of today's run, was an observation he made...

in the middle of a bit of a rough patch last week i went out for a run. by the time i got back things had settled and i wasn't really sure what the argument had even been. army guy noticed as much.. i think throughout the week... and it dawned on him, and really on me, that i'm a person who's mood is a bit dependent on her... i dunno. health. exercise. whatever.

it really affects me. which is weird.. i never thought i'd ever be that kind of person. but it struck me today.. i kind of am.

the end of his trip was one helluva ride. having had to spend the past almost year worrying about his deployment, his life, what kind of conditions he's been in... it takes a toll. having him here was... super weird. and the ups and the downs, plus the knowledge of what he's been through...

emotionally, today, i've just felt drained.

as i went out for today's scheduled :30 easy run... i could feel myself all tensed up. somewhere around 3 minutes in i looked at my watch though, and realized wow. 3 minutes. thats all it took.. and i already feel like THIS...

my body had completely relaxed. i felt myself mellow out, i stopped worrying about what all had happened and i just enjoyed my run.

by the time i hit the halfway point i felt light again, and realized it was probably true.

i have become the person that needs to do. not to sit, and eat, and drink, and play.. but get out there and go, and push, and be.

and i thought to myself, ..THIS. this is how its supposed to be.

because my tuesday night runs are based on time and not distance, i didn't really know anything about my run except how long it took. by the time i got back i'd decided...

ok. it might be about feeling good, but i wanna know how fast i went!!!

for whatever reason i just felt strong out there today, so i pulled up google's pedometer map and found that my route was just under 3 miles.

i quickly did the math and realized...

2.937 miles
29:40 minutes
10:06 pace

i don't know what all that means, but there's definitely gotta be something said for that kind of a result...

not even i can argue with that!!

me and army guy. just before goodbye.

Posted by a.maria at 06:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (16) | TrackBacks (0)

yesterday i made the mistake of impressing upon Army Guy the importance of my training schedule. after having skipped monday's jump rope-lunge-run series of hell at crossfit, last night i faced missing a half-mary training run as well.

and that is just not okay.

army guy, being of the "i only run when i have to" school of thought, really didn't see this as a problem. however, because apparently i really enjoy absolute misery, i made it very clear to him that yes. i could skip tuesday's scheduled run..

but ONLY if i made up for it today.

and then pushed today's run to tomorrow.

(.... or friday.)
either way though.. i was very clear. I. MUST. RUN.

this evening, however, we've got plans. the 0% family, a slew of KCM folks, Army Guy and i are all..... going to Platte County's Demolition DERBY! which means tonight... i shant be running.

Army Guy, also being of the "just wake up early and do it" school of thought, decided the only way around this little hang up was to... wake up early and do it.

apparently last night i wasn't thinking clearly because for Lord only knows what reason, i agreed to this charming little plan... and set my alarm for 5:20am. Army Guy promised to shove me out of bed when the alarm went off and... great. i was set.

this morning however... when 5:20am actually rolled around, and i slowly turned towards Army Guy to mumble "i don'wanna run"... he was already up. out of bed. risen and shined and proclaiming "HEY! time to wake up! you gotta RUN!"

.............i loathe army guy.

before i really even knew what was going on i was dressed, out the door, ipod in ear, heading out for my run. unfortunately however, my body was not really having it. what was supposed to be a :30 easy run sort of turned into this shuffling of feet, yawning, one-eyed-open, stumbling around walking situation that i decided had to count because its just not normal for me to be active that early in the morning and... 30 minutes is 30 minutes.

at least in week two of The Plan.

by the time i got home i was almost awake.

army guy, on the other hand, was dressed, having coffee and enjoying the morning out on the deck as i blew past, showered, and quickly changed for work. as i walked out of my bedroom, expecting to have to rush around to find breakfast, make lunch and drive to work for the day i found that he had packed me a lunch, poured me some juice, found my stash of zone bars and was ready to go.

now THIS i could get used to.

i wolfed down some food, handed army guy the keys, climbed in the passenger seat and went right back to sleep as he shuttled me to work, made sure i arrived on time, and promised to be back at 3 to pick me up.

i'm not really sure what i did to deserve such treatment.. but outside of it being a very early start to my day, it was sort of nice to be taken care of this morning... especially without even having to ask.

so.. hip-hip for soldiers, and waking up so. damn. early!

-----------
so its lunch time and i just pulled out my bag'o'food...

apparently, not only do soldiers get up early, but they eat a lot too. i've got a tupperware full of tuna with chopped up red and green peppers, 4 slices of bread for i guess.. two sandwiches. i've got several slices of tomato, some lettuce, both wrapped seperately, with two packs of string cheese, grapes and a nectarine.

good lord. that kid knows how to eat.

Posted by a.maria at 06:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBacks (0)

so a few weeks ago, when i signed up for the boulder backroads half, i did a little searching online and found a training schedule i actually liked.

of course.. i didn't bookmark it to my computer or write down what site it was, but..

i did infact find one that i liked.

somewhere at home i printed it out and because i am a highly responsible runner in training, i've look at it enough to know that my weeks will look something like this:

sunday -- crossfit and long run
monday -- crossfit
tuesday -- swim (mayyyyyybe!) and relatively easy run
wednesday -- crossfit and runs with fartlek things in them.

which will be new to me, so i'm highly interested in how this is will play out.

thursday -- swim (mayyyybe!) and group ride (mayyyyybe!)
friday -- crossfit
saturday -- group ride

and then sunday i get to start all over again.

yesterday was week one of this fantastic little gem of a plan, and it called for a 30 minute recovery/easy run.

being that it was day one of The Plan, i'm not entirely sure what it is i was recovering from.. maybe monday's workokut?... but easy run it said, so easy run i did.

right off the bat, let me just say, that i've missed training for "the run".

as much as i love having a club to go out and ride/swim with, meet up at races, socialize and what have you... the run is still just mine. i haven't morphed into a lover of training partners on my run...

somewhat out of necessity. since.. there's no one to run with...

BUT! even if i had my choice, i do love the mental aspect of being out there on my own.

so. with an easy 30 minute run under my belt, and another on tap for this evening, i am happy to announce that the Boulder Backroads Half-mary Training...

HAS BEGUN!

huzza!

i have a feeling.. it's'a gunna be good!

Posted by a.maria at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (15) | TrackBacks (0)

ya know whats funny?

is that now-a-days, a week consisting of only two crossfit workouts, one trip to the gym and a couple of 40 minute runs...

actually qualifies me as a slacker.

whats up with that!!?!

between last week's trip to NY, a bogus "recovery" day from my tri, and this weekend's trip to see family.... i feel a bit like a cow.

its truly amazing how quickly i can fall out of my regular routine. and down right scary how fast my body can atrophy into twice its normal size.

i kid you not.

so while i can't make any promises about this weekend's caloric intake, i can hereby declare that come monday morning, i'm up and at'em once again.

running. biking. swimming... and crossfitting galore.

because its full blown summer here folks. and if ever there were a time to get and stay in shape.. now would be it.

have a safe and cool weekend -- i'll catch'ya on the flip side!

aj OUT!

Posted by a.maria at 05:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

ok. that might be a slight exaggeration.

depending on the day that could be a down right lie.

but last night... it was a true statement.

i have no stats, because i was without a watch, but i'm pretty sure i was hauling ass.

in between all my stops to walk.

which is pretty much how it goes when your me, but last night... it was fun.

and if thats what training for this half will be like... that is okay by me!

Posted by a.maria at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBacks (0)

so i think its about time i start living up to the name of this blog again.

i've been giving it a lot of thought, and... the time has come. i've finally found a race i want to train for.

the Boulder Backroads half-marathon!!

okay, okay.. i know what you're thinking. Liver Guy made sure i knew....

mountains.
elevation.
no oxygen.

but the way i see it.. that's a good thing! it'll be that much more... FUN! and... EXCITING! (read: hard. and miserable. weeeee!)

but, what's done is done. i've signed the waiver, and paid my way.

all i gotta do now is run....

and that's never been a problem, before... right!?

yeah. i'm totally screwed..... HOW FUN!

Posted by a.maria at 07:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBacks (0)

the first annual MINI DU at LAKE DOO DOO was held yesterday at Heritage Park with all my favorite tri-friends.

0% was there. Banker Chick. Really Tall Chick and MU Girl. Good At Everything Girl of course made an appearance as well as Babysitter Girl.... and then there was me.

resident runner pants extraordinare.

it was a good, really fun group of girls. the split was almost 50/50 for newbies and old pros, and although i did have a few jitters in the beginning, i was mostly excited for our fun little du-venture.

we started out across the dam, 0% giving us an idea of what its like when 600 people crowd together on a small lane of road. apparently the triathlon and the duathlon start at the same time, so immediately i had images of myself being passed by a bunch of wet people smelling like goose poo.

(incidentally, for those not familliar with Heritage Park, its... gross. the lake, or... pond rather, is full... CHALK FULL, of goose poo. you can smell it just standing in the parking lot. its disgusting. and very well known.

hence the reason so many of us choose to make heritage a DUathlon, rather than a TRI.)

like i said, images of goose poo smeared athletes running past me in a wave of stink filled my mind and... i definitely grimmaced a bit.

you'll just have to be fast. you'll have to be super fast. and just beat them all. you can do that. um... no problem!

the group started out at a reasonable pace. the idea was to run/bike/run the course, and our first leg called for a 2-mile run.

keeping in mind that the midwest had a burst of winter activity these past few weeks... i haven't run in. well... a while.

somehow, amazingly enough, i was able to keep up with the group and was rewarded by a bit of a side stitch, but nothing major. by the end of our run i knew two things...

that wasn't as bas as it could have been

and...

i really need to work on my run!

after our quasi-somewhat-sorta transition (that involved me losing the clicker to my car, scrambling for keys and having to take a time-out to put pig-tails in, which prompted someone, i'm guessing MU girl, to say "if you're still in transition at this point... thats bad". *ahem*)... we were off!

and this is kind of where things started to sort of um... fall apart.

immediately out of the park, there are hills. not long, big, gradual hills, but short, steep bursts of omg this sucks.

three of them. one right after the other.

so i??? took off. bolted. i flew down the first hill in some sort of an attempt to gain enough speed where rounding that first hill wouldn't kill me.

yeah. it didn't work.

i passed Good At Everything Girl, 0% and MU chick on the down, only to be passed by them all on the up.

@($#*%*!!

i hate the bike.

down... up. pass... get passed. down.. up.

up.

up.

omg, i'm never getting up this hill..... EVER!

and just as soon as the hills began, they ended. i was back in the park, biking up a false flat, and the suck-ti-tude was over. i was now by far the last one sucking wind through the park and was slowly realizing...

um. i sorta gotta poo.

NOT. GOOD.

my stomach started cramping up. my pace slowed way down, and i knew i was in trouble.

half way through the park though, it all sort of went away. i thought it had passed, and i was in the clear. at just about the point where we exit the park for loop two, i caught up to the group and was ready to go again.

hills, hills, and more hills.

but my legs were spent. i didn't have near the gusto i had in the beginning, having blown my entire load on that first go-round, and by the time i got back into the park, i really wasn't feeling well.

i mistakenly thought water would be helpful at the time, took a swig, and then dropped the bottle while trying to get it back in the cage.

ohhhh son of a @#*)$%(#$)!!!

and from that point on, it was just one piercing cramp after another.

sadly to say... i DNF'd the DU at DOO DOO. the other girls went ahead and finished a third loop, ran another few miles and completed the adventure.

i.. on the other hand... did not. instead i found a bathroom, then curled up in my car, and awaited their return.

it wasn't pleasant. 0% hung back from the run and made sure i stayed alive and eventually i was feeling.... almost normal.

all in all... it wasn't so bad. it was a training day, and thats what training is for. all the good, all the bad... all the poopy stuff comes out in training. saturday Really Tall Chick and i plan on doing it again, and by the time the actual DU at DOO DOO rolls around, i'm certain i'll be ready.

the first annual mini du at lake doo doo was complete. and regardless of anything else.. i survived. and thats definitely a step in the right direction!





runner pants and 0% after the doo






the doo doo crew

Posted by a.maria at 07:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBacks (0)

it is.

beautiful.

outside.

its gorgeous. and i haven't been able to say that about the weather in almost two weeks. this is major.

this is spring. and i am SO. READY!

being that its mid-april and my first race has been pushed back to something like May 20th, i now have ample time to plan, and i think its about time i verbalized my goals.

(oh, but first... MY NEW CAR! i look um... tiny. either that or my car is GIANT. one of the two.. )

GOAL #1: legit pull-ups, June 1st.

i've been working, hard, toward this goal for some 8 months. i've come a long, long way, and i know i can do it, and have it be real, with just a few more weeks work. so that's my first mission.

my second goal is my first race. the Heritage Park Duathlon which consists of 2 mile run, followed by a 11.5 mile bike, and a 3 mile run.

i know that might sound easy. i know that might sound like, pffft. she's got it. no problem. but there are some serious hills. and this'll be my first official multi-sport event. ever.

to say i'm a little nervous would be a huge understatement. so....

GOAL #2: Heritage Park Du --- just finish! (and maybe not be the last one in!!?!) May 20th.

i need to start running. its something i've started to enjoy again, but am having trouble finding time for on a regular basis. so...

GOAL #3: run to *and from* crossfit at least once a week (3.5 mi each way), and start sunday runs with Really Tall Chick this weekend. mileage TBD.
(and buy new shoes. this week. cuz otherwise i think my shins might actually morph into rusty razor blades and kill me in my sleep.

i'm just sayin...)

ok, weight wise.... and i know this is a hot-topic, but... i'm currently running around with, according to Tanita (the skanky ho.) 133.8 pounds of some sort of mixture of fat and muscle. granted this is several.... as in many... pounds lighter than i was LAST summer, when i felt all svelte and chic... but i'd like to see that number drop.

GOAL #4: 128lbs and holding steady by the end of the summer.

holding steady being key.

okay what else?
the swim.

this is an interesting one. i plan on doing two, if not three triathlons this summer. none of which have a swim distance of more than 500m so i'm sort of unsure how to prepare for this. do i swim more and more and more, or try and get my 500m faster and faster and faster? or is that the same thing?

dunno. either way...

GOAL #5: swim two days a week and work up to swimming 300m sets by my first triathlon. June 3rd or 16th. not sure which yet. (ok seriously i need to get that worked out. that should be like, goal # 1a.)

and last, but not least... the bike.

the beast.

i am still just so not comfortable with this thing yet. the problem is to get better, i have to ride. and i've become some sort of an expert in finding reasons why, huh. i think i have plans tonight. guess i just can't ride!! so.

GOAL #6: ride. my bike. --- PERIOD! i've got group rides on tuesdays, thursdays and sundays. it scares me to death, but my goal is to, by the first week of may, be in a routine where i ATTEND THEM ALL. all summer long.

(i'm going to hate this goal in about 3 weeks.)

and i think thats it.

or well, thats not it, but... thats all i can think of. for now anyway. so to recap (this is more for me than for you. you can be done reading now. i know this gets boring!)

GOALS:
pull-ups -- June 1
heritage park du -- May 20
run to/from gym and sundays -- all summer, to begin this week. (groooooooooan.)
128#s -- end of summer
swim 2x's a week, 300m sets -- mid-June
ride my vachockta bike -- just... ever.

yeah. i think that works.

right. so... i guess i'll just go get started on that then, huh!!?!

Posted by a.maria at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (14) | TrackBacks (0)

i'm busy and scatterbrained this week. i have a lot going on, a lot under the surface. a lot on top of the surface. i'm kind of everywhere right now and some might say i'm on the cusp of having too many balls in the air...

but i have two things to say.

one.... i'm loving it.

and two.... thank you.

i had a really good run this week. wednesday i got my garmin out for the first time in... a long time. figured it was about time i figured out how slow i'm actually running, so i can stop convincing myself i'm still running's next big thing, and...

turns out maybe how slow was the wrong choice of words. i ran pretty fast.

for me, i ran pretty damn fast. and somewhere, right around the 2.5 mile mark, i started to get all kinda dorky mushy proud of myself.

i was running to crossfit. its just over 3 miles away and on nice warm days.. i like to run there. and its exhausting, crossfit after running, but...i try my best not to miss it. i try, not just because its a good work out. not just because i am so close to that damn pull up, because i desperately want to have visible triceps or i might have found something i'm actually better than other people at... (balance. i might be better than some at balance. which isn't saying much but damn if i won't take it!)

i like to go there because of all the other people that go there.

my crossfit people. my kcm people. my friends, fellow athletes, amazing inspiring really supportive people that i like to surround myself with. people i feel i finally belong with... i like to go there to be with them.

but on my 2.5 mile run... looking down at my garmin, checking my pace and seeing it still, still hovered around 10:30, i knew they wouldn't get it. i knew being proud of a 10:30 run, the kind of proud i was, the kind of disbelief sappy proud... i knew they wouldn't get it.

because they didn't know me then.

they wouldn't know what it means. they wouldn't understand how far i've come. how much i've worked to be a better athlete... a better person.

and for a split second i thought... damn. if only i had someone to share this with.

and thats when i thought of you. my RBFamily. my friends, fellow athletes, amazing, inspiring, supportive people that would get it. that have been there, and that will understand my pride in a 31:27 3-mile run.

and i just felt thanks.

i felt thanks. and i didn't know how to say it then, and i guess i don't really know how to say it now... besides just saying... thank you. for inspiring me. supporting me. listening to me rant and rave and coming back for more.

regardless of how amazing and fantastic the people in my life are right now... you've been there from the beginning.

and i just wanted to say thanks.

Posted by a.maria at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (21) | TrackBacks (0)

crossfit workout of the day...

four rounds for time:
400m row
400m run

i mean really. seems a little overboard on the cardio side to me, don'cha think?!?! jeez....

Posted by a.maria at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

in all the time i've been running.. which is something like 21 months now (wow sad. i really am still the newbie!).. i've never been one to run with someone.

i mean, i've done it. and sometimes i've enjoyed it... but to be perfectly honest, i've just never really.. i dunno. needed it. i'm just a loner! i like running by myself, its kinda nice. i can clear my head out, enjoy some music and be on my merry way.

i don't need someone to run with... i'm with me! and i like it that way!

but ya know what?!?

that's a load of crap.
i mean really.

and proof of that, for me, came yesterday. in the shape of Bank Girl, and our after-work run.

Bank Girl is somewhat new to running. a lover of all things bike, Bank Girl has recently shown some interest in the sport and seems to have this idea in her head that i might be someone fun to run with.

i dunno where she got that idea from, but.. being that i'm "training for a half-marathon" this month, i need all the reasons to run i can get!

so yesterday, around 5:15pm, i met up with Bank Girl at her all too lovely home for a "slow jog". slow being a relative term as i had a definite fear that the run would consist of me sucking wind just trying to keep up.

but.. surprisingly enough... it didn't!

bank girl and i seemed to have been a perfect match. right from the get-go our pace was exact. i never once felt like she was holding back just so i could keep up, nor did i feel like she was holding me back from my regular speed-demon-esque ways.

or lack there of...*ahem*

it was actually a perfect run. we chatted, we laughed. we ran up hills, we ran down them. we stopped at crosswalks and sped through intersections...

we were little running partners. and i loved it.

on the way back to her house sometime after our turn-around, bank girl needed to slow down. and then later... she needed to stop. and to me? that was no big deal.

i could have kept going, sure. i kinda wanted to keep going just to enjoy the company and get a few more miles in... but she needed to rest, and i was fine with that.

and thats when i got to thinking...
maybe i've been giving this whole running partner thing a bad wrap. maybe i've been scared of a situation i just created in my head... maybe before, i was just too proud to say "when". too embarrassed to admit i needed a break or that i couldn't keep up. i told myself i didn't like running partners as a way to just avoid the situation completely.

to me... i never knew. i never knew it was no big deal. slowing down, speeding up.. thats part of it. that's the together part of running together... and...

that's a good thing! that's something to look forward to.

running partners might just be brilliant. running partners might put a whole new fun spin on things and... i don't know about you, but..

i could get used to that!

Posted by a.maria at 01:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (18) | TrackBacks (0)

i loathe running.

i really do, i hate it. i hate it in that way that every once in a while i completely love it, so i want to get better at it, but i never do get better at it, so i still just really hate it.

and i avoid it, make excuses not to do it, find reasons to put it off and just down right skip it...

i do. and i'm really good at it.

but yesterday enough was enough.

sometime during the day yesterday i made the decision to run to crossfit. i figured i'd just get it outta the way. go home, change clothes, hit the road. so i pulled on my shorts, grabbed my long sleeve-really doesn't match-but dammit i don't care-t-shirt, popped in the i-pod and started pounding the pavement.

and it was weird.

for at least the first mile, if not more, i was resigned to the fact that in a few minutes, i'll have to walk. i can't keep this up, there's no way. i'm not sure, but i think i'm going too fast... i'll definitely burn out here in a few steps..

but the thing was... i didn't.

i kept waiting for it, waiting... i'd get a little glitch in my shin, my knee would feel... i dunno. something. and i'd be sure..

and then nothing.

somewhere around HyVee i realized i was almost there. i was half-way up a somewhat unimpressive hill and had energy to spare. i was about to make it all the way with no problem....
i'd dodged all the pot-holes, hit all the green lights, passed a hot dude running the opposite direction and didn't trip and fall...

i was practically there! footloose and fancy free!

by the time i got to crossfit i was... obviously.. congratulating myself.

i was so proud. without shame, proudly announcing i ran from home and did not walk... i was excited as could be.

until... i saw the clock.

5:14pm.
i ran 3.4988 miles in.... i did some quick math and...

36 minutes.

thats a little over a 10:15 pace.

and i ran that!

and thats when i knew.

i loathe running. i hate it. i really do, but not because i'm not good at it. not because i'm slow, not even because it hurts and i'm lazy and i don't want to do it.

i hate it, in that way that i love it, because its so true. its so true.

i hate running because i can get better. everyone, anyone can get better. but there are no short-cuts. there are no easy outs, no ways to fake your way through. and there's not much in life that gut-checks you in quite the same way.

i ran that. 36 minutes, i did that. but not without work. not without a lot of work, and thats when it hit me.

running faster, being fit... these people i look at that make it look so easy, so natural...
sometimes, sure, part of it's that, but.... sometimes, ya know what?

it's not.

behind the slimmed down bodies, the rock hard abs and the toned and tanned legs are hours and weeks and months of work.

yeah sure the past few weeks have been... unsound. nutrionally. training. i've been a big fat trash heap.

but for once, and finally.. thats not the norm! thats not who i am, or how my body works... and just look at the reward.

3.4966 miles in 36 minutes. for me?? thats huge!

for once it all just kind of hit me. its not about i can't, i'm not built that way, and woe is me.

its just not. its about work. and sacrifice. and dedication. and realizing brownies and ice cream do not a meal make.

and i hate that. i hate running for proving that to me.

but ya know what? i hate it, in that way that i love it. and realizing that...

it felt pretty damn good.

Posted by a.maria at 01:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (29) | TrackBacks (0)

that's not so secret...

its really hard to get back on the bandwagon after you've been gone for a while.

i let myself go this weekend... really let myself go... and damn if i'm not having a hard time remotivating myself to get in line. i'm going to have to b*tch-slap myself silly this weekend.

and it starts tomorrow, with a 5:30am wake-up call and a trip to the gym.

this chick needs some cardio... stat.

... good thing i have this half-mary to train for, eh?!

sheesh....

Posted by a.maria at 07:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

i ran outside yesterday. in our "heat wave" of 45 degrees.

man its been a long time since i've run outside.

i started from my apartment and headed out to a teeny tiny little loop across the street from my complex.

in my head, i was going to do four loops. i had no idea how far that'd make my run... not far, i knew that much.. but four seemed like a nice reasonable number, so off i went.

sometime during my second loop i noticed a car full of boys pull into the lot. i'm not entirely sure what they were doing (obviously. i was focused. kept my head straight. didn't stare) but of course i did glance over enough to determine if they were cute or not.

they were.

at that point my shins were screaming at me, my thighs were feeling every step, and i thought maybe it'd be a good idea to turn around and run my last two laps the other way. counter-clockwise.

and what a fine idea it was. one third of the way around a very cute not married boy seemingly my age was walking towards me. with a couple dogs in tow.

so i picked it up a bit. smiling and nodding a -- hi there. i'm not at all flirting with you. i'm running. i'm a runner. don't mind me, i just think your dogs are cute and in no way does the fact that you're walking in the opposite direction of me affect my previous running plan. -- nod.

at this point... i was definitely feeling it. it was getting cold, i wanted more than anything to walk a bit, but i heard a whistle (and lets be honest. as un-PC as it might be.. who doesn't love being whistled at?!!!) and knew there was no way i'd be stopping to walk.

not long after, i noticed guy with dog walking back towards the complex so, naturally, i ditched my fourth loop to run back too.

oooh. wonder where he lives?!

unfortunately for all parties involved, he turned into his building. i figured it might be a little weird if i followed him in, so i turned down to mine, stretched out a bit, and called it a day.

chasing after boys on my weekly run...

*sigh*

some things never change.

..... damn if i don't look forward to training season!

Posted by a.maria at 09:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (26) | TrackBacks (0)

owie.

*sigh*

this weekend was my first weekend back to marathon (or in my case half-marathon) training and full on triathlon training.

first official week. weekend...

and i'm not gunna lie. it kinda sucked.

but in that sort of sick and twisted way that made it still enjoyable.

KC MultiSport, my preferred multi-sport club in the greater kansas city area (heh. i love plugging) has started a saturday morning 2-hour spin opportunity for those athelets out there foolish enough to want to participate.

and foolish i was.

although not until after a good rehaul of my usual weekend routine.

saturday mornings 0% and i usually swim... thursdays are reserved for KCM's spinning hour of death, friday is crossfit, saturday swim, sunday cross, monday rest. but with the upcoming season of triathlon seemingly weeks away (perhaps months. i'm prone to over-exaggeration. it happens.

i mean no i'm not. what? shut up....)

*ahem*

anyway...

with the upcoming season of triathlon and my complete incompetence on the bike, i figured a 2-hour spinning session saturday mornings might be worth taking a look at. so i bumped the swim to friday night, spun... span? spinned?... saturday morning, and saturday night, at a little ladies night soiree, made the mistake of verbally outlining my future weekend plans.

"yeahhh.. i think i'm going to run on sunday's after crossfit. i really need a long weekend run day, so i think that's my plan"

Tall Curly Girl chimed in with "oooh! me too! we can run together!!" mirrored by Homework Girl's enthusiasm and i knew i was in trouble.

oooh sh*t. training partners. that doesn't bode well for my lets-pretend-to-be-in-training-without-actually-doing-any-training training plan.

bollocks.

sunday morning at crossfit i'd all but forgotten my need to run after class (not really. but i was trying) and almost thought i was going to get away with not going until 0% mentioned meeting up at the gym later in the day.

damn 0% and her endless energy supply. how will i ever procrastinate through my training with her around?!

but, without having the "i'm too busy" excuse to cop-out with i showed up... and ran.

5 minutes into my run i was exhausted. my legs were tired, my shoulders hurt from that morning's crossfit workout

(i did 100 push-ups sunday. one. hun. dred. among other things, but... 100!
i just wanted to throw that out there.)

and i realized, just like every time before...

there's no short cut to training... especially the run. every time i start, i have to start all over again. and as frustrating as that is. as much as i wish the biking and the swimming would automatically make me a 10 minute miler, i know it doesn't.

but at the same time.. there's something almost comforting in that knowledge.

i get to rebuild my relationship with running this year. with training in general. and maybe, hopefully.. i'll do it the right way.
so this weekend was step one.

a long, tiring, somewhat painful step, but a step.

and, lets face it... every great journey begins with a step!

Posted by a.maria at 01:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBacks (0)

its official. i'm in. the Olathe Half-Marathon, March 31st, with actual for real training starting next week.

little miss runner pants is back in full swing.

bigger, badder, and better then ever.

*wink*

Posted by a.maria at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBacks (0)

kinda forgot to mention i've got a 5k turkey trot this morning... i'm about ready to leave here in a bit, knock it out in roughly 30 minutes (HA! one can dream.) and then get my thanksgiving on.

hope everyone out there has a great turkey day.

and in the spirit of the season....

i love you all, and i'm thankful for each and every one of you!

(no really. i am. y'all rock. have an awesome day!)

Posted by a.maria at 07:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

so it occurs to me, as i sit here in my office attempting to ween myself off of my coke addiction... (mmmm. coca cola classic. sweet nectar of the gods....)

i've got a race in a few weeks, and i haven't even started training for it!

BUGGER!

apparently, with the move of jobs, the move of living spaces and the general chaotic mess i've found myself in lately, the fact that i'm running the 17th Annual Thankgiving Day 5k, which is something like 3 weeks away...

has completely slipped my mind.

until just now.

son of a.....

*sigh*

i don't know if you've noticed lately, but uh... my running?
my training these past few months?

yeah. pretty much non-existent.

three miles sounds like an eternity.
running a 5K?
pure asinine torture.

that this will occur thanksgiving morning?

well. thats just dumb.

but, never one to turn away from a dumb idea... running a 5K in seventeen days is, i guess, what i'll be doing!

hoorah for already paid entry fees!

awesome.
thanksgiving day 5k... here i come!

Posted by a.maria at 09:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

i need to run 3 miles today. right now.

but i don't wanna.

i don't wanna, i don't wanna, i don't wanna.

its steamy muggy hot and rainy out, my shins hurt and i don't wanna.

i don't WANNA!

but its 10:25, and i leave for the gym in 5 minutes, and i am stuck in i don't wanna vs. i gotta mode.

we'll see what happens.....

--------------

ok. i attempted pull-ups, per my IRONWORX coach guy dude.. i still can't do them.

and then....

i ran.

2.84 miles/ 29:06 =

noooo. ok. this can't be right. that = ..... no. nope. i'm not even WRITING it because i know its not right. thats impossible.

i did however stop every half mile to stretch my calves/shins, as my shin splints WERE SCREAMING AT ME. so maybe catching my breath helped me run so fast?

but noooo... def'ly can't be right.

anyway. i'm thinking i need to take some time out to ice my shins tonight.. if anyone else out there has any bright ideas for my shins, lemme know!

Posted by a.maria at 09:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

blue shirt = soccer boy
hat = radio boy
other chick (red hair/blue shirt) = co-worker (also known as ballerina girl. she looks hot! go her!)
gray shirt = ME!!! not looking like a total freak when i run! its miraculous!

Posted by a.maria at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)