Tag Archives | 5k

Jingle Bell Run with Tara & Jord

By on December 14, 2010 in 5K, friends, R2P4, running

Y’all know that Sunday, I reluctantly participated in the Jingle Bell Run with Tara and Jord.  Well, actually, if you read my blog often and know how much of a sissy I am about running in the rain elements, you might not have known that I actually participated, since you might have expected me to wimp out.  I almost did!

I woke up at 5:30, heard the deluge pounding my bedroom window, and almost rolled over and went back to sleep!  Seriously – it was raining hard.  In Seattle, we get a lot of light, drizzly rain and very little hard rain like that.  I don’t have rain gear.  I don’t like being wet, and I really don’t like being wet and cold!

I dragged myself out of bed with the consolation that I didn’t have to run.  I gave myself permission to totally bail on the running-in-the-rain part of the day, and decided that seeing my girls was still worth the treacherous trip slightly dicey drive into the city.  After all, we had brunch planned!  A late celebration of Tara’s birthday – how could I miss that?!  I texted Jord on the way to pick her up (at a red light, Mom, don’t worry!) with this message: “I love u guys but if it’s raining this hard, I’m wimping out! OMW.”

We picked Tara up at 7am and parked near the starting line of the run around 7:15.  Due to a random snafu with my race packet (which Jord had tried to pick up the day before!), we had to head to the registration area to get my packet and then headed back to the car to stash all our stuff.  And then…we waited!  The run didn’t start until 8:50.  It makes me happy to run with these women who are totally on board with my let’s-get-there-so-early-it’s-insane MO.  (I hate being late.  No, I mean…really, really hate it!)

We claimed a great spot inside Westlake Center and hung out there until about 10 minutes before the gun.  We made our way to the start line and were soaked within 5 minutes of standing there!  I swear the last 5 minutes went by so slowly…we were all screaming (internally, of course) at the announcer to quit jibber-jabbering and get on with it already!  And finally they did – the air horn sounded and we were off.  Did you know that Seattle’s Jingle Bell Run is the largest in the country?  Neither did I until Sunday; and let me tell you, as we headed up the first hill that extended for the first .75 miles of the run (seriously, who do I need to kick for that one?!), that entire stretch of road up the hill was a sea of runners.  It was pretty cool to see!

It was still pouring rain (did I mention how much I hate running in the rain??) and windy, so we were thankful that it was 58 degrees on Sunday!  Once we turned into the express lanes tunnel, the wind died down and no more rain landed on us for about 2 miles or so (that’s how much of the run I’m guessing was in the tunnel).  Except for the parts of the tunnel where there was a drainage crack in the roadway above – then it was like running through a mini-waterfall!  The first mile or 1.5 miles of the run was the hardest for me – my legs just take a while to get warmed up and that’s where I have to be mentally strong – it’s early yet, my legs are fine, yes they’re burning, it’ll go away, no I don’t need to walk – you know the drill, right?

Anyhow, I wasn’t convinced I’d run the entire thing.  Between my whiny bad attitude about the weather and the fact that I’ve focused more on general fitness the last few weeks than on running, I just didn’t know how the run would feel.  And I won’t lie – it felt hard!  Especially because downtown Seattle is littered with these evil things…you may have heard of them…they’re called…*gasp* – HILLS.  Ack.  I rarely train on hills (note to self: this is why it’s important to train on hills!), so making it up those puppies was tough, but the reward was running down the other side.

The best part of this race, besides the fact that I got to run with Tara and Jord who did not say one word about my incessant weather complaints, was the fact that the last .25-.5 miles was downhill across the finish line.  We put on the after-burners and sped up for that last stretch, which felt great!  I doubt we were running much faster than maybe 6 or 7 MPH for that last little bit, but for me that is flying!  And Tara found the race results yesterday, and my time was 36:12 – that’s a PR by 34 seconds!

So, moral of the story?  Shut up and run, Valerie.  Have fun with your girls.  Quit being a wimp about the weather.  Because when you do, who knows?  Maybe you’ll end up with a PR out of the deal!  And even if I hadn’t, the chance to run and spend time with these girls?  Priceless.

Comments { 7 }

Frustration & 5K Recap

By on August 31, 2010 in body, R1P4, running

Recently I blogged about Rest Days and how I am getting better about taking them and not letting them turn into the first step down the slippery slope to a whole restmonthspentonthecouchwithbenandjerrys.  And, you know, I really am feeling like all of this activeexerciseyathleticalness is developing into a lifetime habit, rather than a soicanloseweight kind of thing.  (Annoyed by the mushingmultiplewordsintoone? Sorry I’m not sorry.)

So that’s all wonderful and is really the whole point of everything I’m doing these days.  Developing habits, changing my life.  NOT focusing on losing weight for its own sake, but to better my life.

But being sidelined because of an injury is frustrating to me right now, in a way that rest days have never been.  Especially because it follows on the heels of my best 5K ever and because I can’t pinpoint when the heck I injured myself!

To back it up a bit, I have struggled with repeated ankle injuries since high school, and I’m sure I made it all worse when, instead of following doctor’s orders and staying off my feet (RICE, people!) for two weeks, I’d always be back on the court (basketball or volleyball) pretty much as soon as I could walk.  I used so much BenGay and Advil as a high school athlete, it’s a wonder my liver is still speaking to me.  Fast-forward to adulthood, and until a few years ago I was constantly spraining, rolling, straining – you name it – both ankles.

I think running, which I took up in 2006, helped strengthen my feet and legs a lot, and my ankle injuries have been pretty much nonexistent since I started running.  Until Sunday evening.  After my awesome 5K.  In which I ran a PR of 36:46.  Which is nearly 3 minutes faster than my previous PR.  (If you weren’t annoyed by the mushingwordstogether maybe you are now by the extremely short sentences???)

I. Felt. Great.  It was a tough last quarter mile or so, but even though I went out faster than I intended, I wasn’t sucking wind (okay, maybe just a little) too badly by the end.  And I felt strong physically.  Like I could’ve run further.  Which was good, because I was planning on taking the plunge Monday morning and running 10K (or 6.2 miles) with this hotass and this other hotass.  My local running partners in crime.

But Sunday night my ankle started to feel sore.  I went to bed assuming it would be fine by morning, but when I woke up at 4:30 (curse my husband’s effing alarm!), it felt worse – like I had sprained my ankle.  Only I didn’t.  Sprain my ankle, I mean.  Unless I did it while sleepwalking or in an otherwise unconscious state.  So I texted Tara and Jord and reluctantly backed out of our planned run for the morning.  Which pissed me off, and made me feel like I was letting them down (I know. Dumb. I wasn’t. I get that.).  And I am really, really disappointed.

So, this post is basically all about me having a pity party, but also bragging about my PR.  And, asking y’all to keep your fingers and toes (all appendages, really) crossed that my ankle is fine tomorrow, so I can get out there and do a long run like I need to so I am prepared for my 10, which is in 13 days.

Have you gone through an “injury” while training for an event?  How in the world do you get through it without going stir crazy?

Comments { 10 }

My Running Story (in a Nutshell)

By on August 28, 2010 in hope/inspiration, running, weight

I wrote this post for another blog and realized it was a perfect “nutshell” of my story with running and weight loss.  Which I now, because of Tara, want to just call my Life Changing Journey. Because, really, it’s not just about weight loss – it’s about changing your life; reclaiming your life; realizing who you are and what you’re passionate about and making that the focus of your life.

In any case, I realized that I don’t know if I’ve ever told this story all at once here on my blog.  For those of you who are new to running and/or this healthy living thing, I hope this post gives you hope and inspires you to take your first (and next, and next) step.  It’s not about running, really – that’s just what it was about for me.  Whatever activity you love, that makes you feel strong and free and athletic – that’s what it’s about for you.

I also hope knowing that I was nearly 300 pounds when I started gives you hope that you can do this.  Everyone can.  You have the strength inside you to change your life.  You just have to take the first step.  And you know what?  Now’s as good a time as any to do that.  Saying “tomorrow” is futile, because tomorrow never comes – all you have is today.  So start today; right now.  And share your story here, because the people who read this blog are nothing if not supportive.  They will cheer you on.  They will push you.  And they will celebrate every little and big victory with you.

I began running in 2006 when I started my weight loss journey.  At my heaviest, I tipped the scales at 298.6.  One day I bent over to tie my shoes, and when I straightened back up, I was breathless and lightheaded.  That was one of many “aha moments” when I knew I had to do something about my health.

I started by working out with a trainer and completely overhauling my eating habits.  I shopped for and cooked whole, healthy foods, stayed away from sugar (for the most part), and cut down on white starches.  After I’d lost about 20 pounds, I started running.

How I came to running is a whole story in itself!  I had always hated running, or so I thought.  Growing up, I thought running was all about speed, and since I wasn’t fast, I thought I wasn’t good at it.  I also had terrible running mechanics as a teenager, so the running I *did* do for my other sports (basketball and volleyball) left me with excruciating shin splints.

But by 2006 I was nothing if not practical (as a recent law school grad my analytical skills were top-notch!) so I thought, “what’s the most efficient way to burn calories?”  My answer was running, so that’s what I did.  The first time I tried to run ran on the treadmill, I couldn’t make it one minute without gasping for air and feeling like I was going to hack up a lung.  But I persisted and slowly, slowly, slowly built my running intervals up from 60 seconds to 90 seconds…then 2 minutes, to 3, to 5, and so on.  In September 2006 I crossed the finish line of my first 5K ever, having for the first time run the entire distance without a walking break.

I have never looked back.  In the three months I had been running, I went from running for utility to running because I could; because it felt like freedom; because it reminded me of my inner athlete.  I had come to love running and I have loved it ever since.

Fast-forward to the present, I am continuing on my journey to a healthy life and running plays a huge role in that for me.  I am down to 215 pounds from my high of 298.6.  Even better, I have muscle definition in my legs and arms and am well on my way to achieving a fit, healthy body that can carry me into old age gracefully.  You know those old folks you see out jogging?  That’s how I want to be.  I don’t want to grow old and “give in” – I want to embrace every year of my life and live it in as strong and healthy a way as I can.

In a few weeks, I’m running a 10K for the first time in my life.  I’m excited, because it’s the Iron Girl 10K around Greenlake in Seattle, and that’s the same event as my first 5K ever.  It feels fitting that this next milestone have a connection back to the first running event I participated in; that’s where I realized I loved running, and I look forward to loving it for many years to come.

Comments { 12 }

Sunday’s 5K & Weekend Recap

By on May 24, 2010 in Uncategorized

Hi all!  For a few days I’ll post my blogs at both blog locations to account for any who are slow to realize that I’ve moved to my own URL.  Check out this post for more details!

Weekend Recap

I had a crazy weekend!  I mentioned last week that I had to work Saturday; I was at a conference all day long.  I wore heels, too, which was a huge mistake both generally (ow), and because I had the 5K the next morning.  (Note to self: no heels the day before a run!)

After the conference, I went to my sister’s and picked her up for her first night out since her 9 week old baby (the youngest of her four children) was born!  My sister is my best friend and a total rockstar, and we had an awesome night out with a few other friends.  Our evening started with dinner with just us two and our close friend who we’ll call Leila.  Actually, that is the Lebanese name my grandfather christened her with when we were growing up together!

I had a chance to talk with them about things with my husband, which was so great.  You know, I’m always hesitant to talk about struggles with him with almost anyone; I don’t ever want to be one of those women who talks smack about her husband.  On the other hand, I do think it’s valuable to have a trusted friend or two who you can share those struggles with to get perspective and feedback, kind of like y’all provide for me here.  So we did that, and it was great.

Side Note: For those of you who are praying folks, please say one or two (or a thousand) for my sister, who is going through a really difficult time right now.  Thanks.  :)

We ended up out late and I had a few drinks, which for a lightweight like me is all it takes to feel it!  It was fun, but again, not the best choice the night before a run.  I wouldn’t change it if I could because I so rarely get that kind of time with my sister.  But, next time, we’ll do better with our timing.  Oh, and my food choices (and drink choices, for that matter) were pretty darn great, so I feel good about that!

Sunday’s 5K

I almost didn’t make it to the 5K on Sunday due to alarm clock malfunction user malfunction the effing snooze button!  Thankfully I had one of those I-have-an-event-to-get-up-for-and-I-need-to-be-well-rested-but-I-can’t-sleep-deeply-for-fear-of-not-waking-up-so-I’ll-wake-up-every-hour kind of nights, so when I did wake up 45 minutes late, my husband encouraged me (and offered to get up and drive me there, good man!) to get up and dash out the door to make it to the run after all, which I did.  With plenty of time to spare, as it turned out, since the start time was later than I thought it was.  Whew!

I started off strong at about a 12-minute per mile pace, which is pretty fast for me.  I slowed it down to about 13 minutes per mile and walked for one minute after the halfway point so I could drink my cup of water without spilling it all over myself!  I could definitely feel the late night, drinks, and heels of the day before and my pace showed it, too.  I finished in 40:52, and the interesting thing?  My Garmin says it was 3.2 miles, not 3.1!  I loved running outdoors with the Garmin now that I have it sort of figured out, and I can’t wait to accumulate more workout data with it.

Towards the end of the race I caught up with a guy and jogged with him for a while, he was in his 50s and had been encouraging his employees to set goals in life and be healthy.  As a result, he somehow got “roped” into the 5K (his words) and felt like he pretty much had to do it to lead by example!  I said, “Yeah, ‘do as I do, not as I say’ isn’t a real effective leadership method, huh?” and he laughed.  I left him behind a few minutes before the finish line but enjoyed chatting with him.

Next I jogged up to a woman I had set as my target of who-not-to-get-beat-by, a la Tara.  I told her that she was my gal and her pace had been inspiring me all race long!  She ran faster than me but did walking intervals, and every time I passed her, I cheered!  Every time she passed me, I couldn’t let myself slack off or she would leave me in the dust.  I thanked her for being an inspiration, and then about .2 miles short of the finish line, I took off.  I upped my pace to about 5.5 or 6.0 (hard to tell when not on the treadmill) and was sucking wind like a bagpipe as I crossed the finish line!  They called out the finishers’ names as we crossed the finish line, which still thrills me every time!

I didn’t take any photos, but I’ll post them when the official photos are online.

I know a lot of you were running this weekend, too – how’d it go?  I’m going to catch up on your blogs today and tomorrow so I can hear all about it.  Please comment at the new blog so we can get everyone migrated over to there!

Comments { 12 }

Monday Run Report

By on April 12, 2010 in Uncategorized

Happy Monday, y’all!  I hope you’re all rested and ready to meet the challenges of the week ahead.  To start my week, I want to recap my run from yesterday.  As you may remember from this post, Sunday I was scheduled to do my “long” run, which is currently 3 miles.  I decided to get down with my bad self and run a 5K, which is 3.1 miles.  The setup: it was sunny, windy, and about 55 degrees.  I ran on Alki Beach, which is flat and paved (and also insanely packed when the weather is nice), and where I have run a couple of actual 5K events before, so I know the exact route for that distance.  Here’s what it looked like:

Only imagine this scene with a bazillion people milling around!

My intention for this run was to go really slow and steady.  And even thought I was super excited to run in the beautiful sun and just to be outdoors, I was also feeling kind of low energy.  So I gave myself permission to stop and walk pretty much anytime I needed to.  Then, as I started running, I remembered what I shared with some friends a couple weeks ago about how the first 10-15 minutes of a run, for me, are always the hardest.  Once I get through that part, running almost starts to feel easy.

So my next “bargain” with myself was to just get to the halfway point – then I could walk if I wanted.

Every time a great song came on my iPhone, I caught myself speeding up and consciously slowed down – I really wanted to run at about a 15 minute pace.  (That’s roughly the pace I’ll have to run the 10K in order to finish within the 90 minute time limit.)  Just after the halfway point, I ran into a friend from my old book club, which gave me about a 2-3 minute break since I stopped to chat and coo at her new baby.  Then I started running again with the mindset that if I just wasn’t feeling it, I could walk if I needed to.  I wasn’t worried about speed – I just wanted to finish 3.1 miles and see how it felt.

Well I’m sure you’ve probably guessed by now that, with the exception of that short social break, I ended up running the whole 3.1 miles without stopping.  The last 90 seconds were the toughest, but by then I figured I could do just about anything for 90 seconds so it would be silly to stop running then!  And my time as I crossed the “finish line” of my 5K?  45 minutes on the nose.

How did I feel?  During the run I felt great!  Just after, I was tired, so knowing that I was meeting a friend for a walk and dinner about an hour later, I gave myself an hour to sit and relax knowing that I wouldn’t get too stiff since I’d be walking again soon.  I felt a little twinge in my right knee towards the end of the run, so I’ll be watching that this week to see how it feels with my other workouts and shorter runs.  Today, the morning after, my hips are a bit sore but otherwise, I’m just feeling slightly stiff and slightly sore – exactly how I should feel after back-to-back, challenging workouts.

The best part about my run yesterday was following through on my training plan.  Keeping promises to myself is something I struggle with, so every kept promise to myself is like gold.  The next best thing was knowing that all I have to do in the next 5 months is double what I did yesterday, both in distance and in time, and I will be able to finish the 10K without a problem.  THAT is definitely within my reach.

Running always provides me with ample time to think, too, and I’ll be sharing some of my thoughts from yesterday with you all this week as I write through them for myself and get them down “on paper.”

How was your Sunday?  What did you do this weekend to step towards your goals?

Comments { 9 }