Since I signed up for dailymile.com and my friend has been posting his (long) daily runs, I've been encouraged to add a couple more miles a week to my workouts. The problem is I don't really have extra time to devote to running and I don't want to cut down on weight training, biking, yoga or the elliptical machine.
I thought I would start adding in a few 10-minute mile runs a couple more days a week. It would pick up the pace from my average of 12:30 a mile for long distance runs and I figured it might help me increase my speed for the 5K I am signed up to do on Memorial Day Weekend.
I started out the run at 5.3 mph for a couple minutes and then upped it to 6.3 mph - and that's when I started to encounter a slight problem. See a few months ago I bought a pair of $100 yoga pants. I love them because they are comfy for yoga, weight training, bicycling at the gym and using the elliptical trainer.
When I first bought the pants, my friend told me to consider buying something with a drawstring since I've been on a workout/health food kick. She warned me that if I continued to tone up and lose weight, the pants would not stay up for more than a couple months. Now for the last couple of weeks, I've noticed they've gotten a bit loose but I just pull them back up and go on with the workout. It hasn't been much of a problem - until this morning.
As I sped up the treadmill to 6.7, the yoga pants started to slip down at a bit more rapid pace...and fortunately for me, I was the only person in the gym at the time (although there are security cameras, which the staff hopefully never review.) I held my pants up with one hand as I tried to slow down the treadmill to a walking pace with the other. In the meantime, as I was flailing around and trying not to lose my balance, my new headphones kept getting caught on the treadmill and then I had to struggle not to trip on those. Now a normal person would probably have given up the run at this point, or at least settled for a slower pace. But I was already running late with my workout since I woke up a little late, so I decided to hike the pants back up and speed it up again. I repeated the process a few more times until I completed my mile in 10:45.
I'll have to give my friend a chance to say she told me so. And on my way home from work tomorrow, I have plans to stop at the Gap outlet to get a new pair of workout pants that will hopefully stay up as I run. I need them before my Friday morning run. The $100 yoga pants are going to be relegated to yoga and other light workouts.
Showing posts with label 5K. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 5K. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Resolution No. 16 done in 42 minutes
I finished my first 5K this morning. It's something I've always wanted to do, but I've never entered one because I think I had some concerns left over from my really nonathletic days in high school when I used to be the last one to finish the mile in PE.
So when I added a 5K as one of my resolutions (No. 16) in January, I planned to enter one in July so I would have six months to train. I started out doing 10 minutes on the treadmill and my plan was to add three minutes a week to build up my time and endurance. But about six weeks ago, my mom's coworker mentioned the Wildflower Run in Morgan Hill. It sounded like a good run to start since it has a flat surface and a place that is cool in the mornings. But it was four months ahead of my plan. I immediately amped up my training. The first week I ran two miles on the treadmill. The next week I ran 30 minutes, or about 2.5 miles. Then the week after I went for 3.1 miles just to see if I could do it. I reserved my running for Friday and Sunday, but never got around to running outdoors.
I had two people tell me that running outside is a lot harder than on a treadmill. I haven't run outdoors since I was in college and the main reason I stopped was that my allergies really act up outside. One person said she thought it was easier to run outdoors because you get into a rhythm more easily than when you try to stay in the center of a treadmill.
I eventually worked my way up to 3.1 miles in 40 minutes and I've been doing that on Sundays, with a 20 min. run on Fridays. I felt well prepared for the morning run/walk. I made a mix of fast tempo songs to help pace myself and keep me motivated during the trek. I skipped the gym this morning, but warmed up with a mile walk with the dog at the park. I had a bottle of water to keep hydrated.
At 9:15, the 5K started and I encountered my first issue with running outdoors. For some reason, my yoga pants kept slipping down for the first 10 minutes on the run so I kept having to hike them up. Eventually they started staying up on their own. I have to agree with the people who said running outdoors is harder than running on a treadmill, since I had to stop a few more times than when I run inside. And my nose started running thanks to allergies. The mile markers were helpful to keep track of how far I had left and as I came up to the finish line I tried to pick up my pace. I didn't notice what time I crossed the finish line, but it was some time between 42-43 minutes - just a few minutes off my 40-minute goal.
After I finished, I walked back the way I came to meet my mom who was walking the 5K. She wasn't far back, about 10 minutes behind me. The best part of this run is the free Jamba Juice offered at the finish line, along with the oranges and trail mix. And, of course, I have my green "finisher" ribbon - perhaps my first "award" for any athletic event ever.
I am ready to sign up for the next 5K, maybe one at the end of May. Now that I have a time, I can set a goal to improve it a little with each run.
So when I added a 5K as one of my resolutions (No. 16) in January, I planned to enter one in July so I would have six months to train. I started out doing 10 minutes on the treadmill and my plan was to add three minutes a week to build up my time and endurance. But about six weeks ago, my mom's coworker mentioned the Wildflower Run in Morgan Hill. It sounded like a good run to start since it has a flat surface and a place that is cool in the mornings. But it was four months ahead of my plan. I immediately amped up my training. The first week I ran two miles on the treadmill. The next week I ran 30 minutes, or about 2.5 miles. Then the week after I went for 3.1 miles just to see if I could do it. I reserved my running for Friday and Sunday, but never got around to running outdoors.
I had two people tell me that running outside is a lot harder than on a treadmill. I haven't run outdoors since I was in college and the main reason I stopped was that my allergies really act up outside. One person said she thought it was easier to run outdoors because you get into a rhythm more easily than when you try to stay in the center of a treadmill.
I eventually worked my way up to 3.1 miles in 40 minutes and I've been doing that on Sundays, with a 20 min. run on Fridays. I felt well prepared for the morning run/walk. I made a mix of fast tempo songs to help pace myself and keep me motivated during the trek. I skipped the gym this morning, but warmed up with a mile walk with the dog at the park. I had a bottle of water to keep hydrated.
At 9:15, the 5K started and I encountered my first issue with running outdoors. For some reason, my yoga pants kept slipping down for the first 10 minutes on the run so I kept having to hike them up. Eventually they started staying up on their own. I have to agree with the people who said running outdoors is harder than running on a treadmill, since I had to stop a few more times than when I run inside. And my nose started running thanks to allergies. The mile markers were helpful to keep track of how far I had left and as I came up to the finish line I tried to pick up my pace. I didn't notice what time I crossed the finish line, but it was some time between 42-43 minutes - just a few minutes off my 40-minute goal.
After I finished, I walked back the way I came to meet my mom who was walking the 5K. She wasn't far back, about 10 minutes behind me. The best part of this run is the free Jamba Juice offered at the finish line, along with the oranges and trail mix. And, of course, I have my green "finisher" ribbon - perhaps my first "award" for any athletic event ever.
I am ready to sign up for the next 5K, maybe one at the end of May. Now that I have a time, I can set a goal to improve it a little with each run.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Resolution No. 16 set for March
I always joke with my coworkers that I don't do things if I am not good at them. And there is a little bit of truth to that. Singing karaoke - no thanks. Crossword puzzles - ditto. I stick with the things when I know I have the competitive edge.
So it's a bit out of character for me to be signing up for a 5K since I've never been much of a runner. The problem is not that I don't think I could finish a 5K at a slow pace - I work out quite a bit at the gym and walk a mile a day with the dog - but that I don't want to be the last person across the finish line. I know I will never be the first person across the finish line, but I'd like to end up somewhere in the middle of the group.
When I first started seriously thinking about a doing a 5K in January, I figured I'd do the Stinkin' Roses Run, which is during the summer. I figured it would give me plenty of time to start working up to a faster pace for the three-mile trek. I've been doing just that, using a program on the treadmill at the gym twice a week, and adding on one minute each workout. It's a program that goes 3.8 miles at the fastest pace, but is on an incline so I figured once I got on flat terrain I would be better conditioned to run at a faster pace.
But then someone my mom works with started talking about a Wildflower Walk in March. They have a group of people, most of who I know, signed up already. They talked my mom and I into registering for it. So now I have a month to prep.
Today at the gym I tried to see how long it would take me to run a mile at a faster, flat pace. I set the treadmill on a 5K run setting and it started out well. But soon the treadmill was kicking the speed up to 6.6 miles and I couldn't keep up. I slowed it down to 5.3, ran for about 10 minutes, then slowed down for a couple minutes and speed up again. I ran 1.5 miles in 21 minutes, which should be quite an accomplishment considering how out of shape I was a few months ago. But I am not sure it's enough for my competitive streak.
I'll just have to continue the training and see how it goes. And maybe I'll just plan to beat my time in the March run at the July one to fulfill my need to do everything well.
So it's a bit out of character for me to be signing up for a 5K since I've never been much of a runner. The problem is not that I don't think I could finish a 5K at a slow pace - I work out quite a bit at the gym and walk a mile a day with the dog - but that I don't want to be the last person across the finish line. I know I will never be the first person across the finish line, but I'd like to end up somewhere in the middle of the group.
When I first started seriously thinking about a doing a 5K in January, I figured I'd do the Stinkin' Roses Run, which is during the summer. I figured it would give me plenty of time to start working up to a faster pace for the three-mile trek. I've been doing just that, using a program on the treadmill at the gym twice a week, and adding on one minute each workout. It's a program that goes 3.8 miles at the fastest pace, but is on an incline so I figured once I got on flat terrain I would be better conditioned to run at a faster pace.
But then someone my mom works with started talking about a Wildflower Walk in March. They have a group of people, most of who I know, signed up already. They talked my mom and I into registering for it. So now I have a month to prep.
Today at the gym I tried to see how long it would take me to run a mile at a faster, flat pace. I set the treadmill on a 5K run setting and it started out well. But soon the treadmill was kicking the speed up to 6.6 miles and I couldn't keep up. I slowed it down to 5.3, ran for about 10 minutes, then slowed down for a couple minutes and speed up again. I ran 1.5 miles in 21 minutes, which should be quite an accomplishment considering how out of shape I was a few months ago. But I am not sure it's enough for my competitive streak.
I'll just have to continue the training and see how it goes. And maybe I'll just plan to beat my time in the March run at the July one to fulfill my need to do everything well.
Monday, January 4, 2010
The resolve continues to evolve
I've already got some feedback from some friends about my list of resolutions for 2010. I have a must-try restaurant added to my list (resolution #2,) though I'm told the going rate is $95 a person so maybe I can combine my resolution of going on a date (resolution #9) with that one and get someone else to pay for it. The same friend who suggested the very expensive Los Gatos restaurant (it's Los Gatos, of course it's expensive) also wants to suggest some new ingredients (resolution #6) for me to use in 2010. I am sure he just wants to drink me into eating seafood or something spicy, which has been a goal for about the last decade.
The only resolution I have actually gotten started on is No. 10 since the application for the fellowship for which I would like to apply is due Feb. 1. I wrote out rough drafts of two of the required essays and have coworkers reading them offer for advice. It's one of the benefits of working with a bunch of writers and journalist - they all have a critical eye and good grammar.
Though I did spend a lot of time ruminating about my list of resolutions before I posted it over the weekend, there are a few things I meant to add to the list that slipped my mind. So here is an addendum to the original listing.
16.) Enter (and complete) a 5K run/walk
Okay so some of my friends have lofty goals of running marathons, but I'd like to keep my goal a little bit more realistic since I am never going to have the time or motivation to train for something like that.
I've been volunteering for the last couple of years at a summer 5K walk/run and this year I think I'd like to participate in it rather than sitting on the sidelines. I used to run two miles a day back when I worked at San Jose State (and was in my early 20s) and this goal will help keep me motivated at the gym.
17.) Clean out the garage
My family moved into our house going on three years now...there are still boxes packed up in the garage from when we moved in. I am pretty sure at least 75 percent of the items in the garage (with the exception of Christmas decorations, photo albums and the extra refrigerator) can probably go straight to charity or the dumps. It's time to get this cleaned up.
18.) Have tulips or lilies in my garden
The best thing about the house I moved into three years ago is the eight hours of sunlight in the backyard for the vegetable garden. I've had basil and tomatoes that have thrived, but every time I plant flowers nothing much seems to happen.
For the last three years I have tried to plant tulips and/or lilies in the garden. I chilled the bulbs, planted them in winter and waited for spring each year. And waited and waited and waited. This year, I will have tulips and lilies in my garden, even if I have to buy transplants from the garden center.
19.) Make homemade pasta sauce (entirely from scratch)
Speaking of the home-grown tomatoes, this year I would really like to make homemade tomato sauce entirely from scratch. I wanted to do it last season, but our tomato crop was less abundant than usual due to the cold spring weather. And then it was really hot and I couldn't see putting the oven on for hours to roast tomatoes for the sauce. But perhaps I can come up with a way to roast the tomatoes on an outdoor grill to keep the heat out of the house. I already have plans to plant some Roma tomatoes, the perfect variety for a pasta sauce.
I am sure the list of resolutions will continue to evolve, and once again, advice and suggestions are welcome.
The only resolution I have actually gotten started on is No. 10 since the application for the fellowship for which I would like to apply is due Feb. 1. I wrote out rough drafts of two of the required essays and have coworkers reading them offer for advice. It's one of the benefits of working with a bunch of writers and journalist - they all have a critical eye and good grammar.
Though I did spend a lot of time ruminating about my list of resolutions before I posted it over the weekend, there are a few things I meant to add to the list that slipped my mind. So here is an addendum to the original listing.
16.) Enter (and complete) a 5K run/walk
Okay so some of my friends have lofty goals of running marathons, but I'd like to keep my goal a little bit more realistic since I am never going to have the time or motivation to train for something like that.
I've been volunteering for the last couple of years at a summer 5K walk/run and this year I think I'd like to participate in it rather than sitting on the sidelines. I used to run two miles a day back when I worked at San Jose State (and was in my early 20s) and this goal will help keep me motivated at the gym.
17.) Clean out the garage
My family moved into our house going on three years now...there are still boxes packed up in the garage from when we moved in. I am pretty sure at least 75 percent of the items in the garage (with the exception of Christmas decorations, photo albums and the extra refrigerator) can probably go straight to charity or the dumps. It's time to get this cleaned up.
18.) Have tulips or lilies in my garden
The best thing about the house I moved into three years ago is the eight hours of sunlight in the backyard for the vegetable garden. I've had basil and tomatoes that have thrived, but every time I plant flowers nothing much seems to happen.
For the last three years I have tried to plant tulips and/or lilies in the garden. I chilled the bulbs, planted them in winter and waited for spring each year. And waited and waited and waited. This year, I will have tulips and lilies in my garden, even if I have to buy transplants from the garden center.
19.) Make homemade pasta sauce (entirely from scratch)
Speaking of the home-grown tomatoes, this year I would really like to make homemade tomato sauce entirely from scratch. I wanted to do it last season, but our tomato crop was less abundant than usual due to the cold spring weather. And then it was really hot and I couldn't see putting the oven on for hours to roast tomatoes for the sauce. But perhaps I can come up with a way to roast the tomatoes on an outdoor grill to keep the heat out of the house. I already have plans to plant some Roma tomatoes, the perfect variety for a pasta sauce.
I am sure the list of resolutions will continue to evolve, and once again, advice and suggestions are welcome.
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