Tag: training

#TinkRuns2024, celebrations, challenges, fitness and nutrition

I Run 2024 – February

2chicksandapen

Month 2 is complete and I’m still reaching for new milestones. I can’t even explain how excited I am about how far I’ve come in such a short time. First in-person race completed. The Hot Chocolate 5k on 2/4/24. This seems like a lifetime ago to me and why I am so glad to have this blog to reflect on. Rain and wind in the forecast but warmer than it’s been lately. I guess it wouldn’t be exciting without battling the elements. Just one week after my virtual 5k. I originally signed up for the cool swag bag and to run with friends well before I set a running goal for 2024, but it definitely puts miles in the log book and gives me another 5k time to catalog. Great start to the month and I’m content running a 5k currently as a race day event while I still focus on my 1 mile time and just improve my running overall. Longer distance races can come in time, when I feel I’m ready and my body is prepared. 20 gym pals teamed up for this run which made it so much fun! Too many pictures to post here but so many memories. Lots of celebrating at the end and maybe some great hot chocolate.

My 5k time was 37:37 on 2/4/24. I almost forgot how slow the start of a race is with all the people and the weaving you have to do to get around the swarm of people at the start area. Definitely wasn’t a straight line to mile 1. Bloody lady after a face plant before mile one was sad. An ambulance, fire truck and police car dodging runners at a cross street. Me being one of them was new for a race day. Just a day in the city on race day I suppose. So much fun with a group of friends and a repeat from 2020 for a handful of the same people. Chocolate at the end to celebrate. Can’t complain about that. Definitely cold before and after but hot during the actual race. Cute purple skirt for a little flair, a little glitter on the face to sparkle, and a great play list to go go go. Great Sunday run-day was had by all. Ready for the next one.

Maybe I’ll work my way up to 10k or 4 miler on race day, but for month two we are sticking with the 5k and hoping to build up to that half marathon I signed up for in November 2024 with a few friends. This month I will also be faced with a new challenge. Training for the DEKA Fit competition in Knoxville, TN in early March. This is a unique competition with 10 fitness segments with running built into it. A 5k will be completed in conjunction with the 10 fitness segments. Luckily I will have a partner to divvy out the work with but this will be another test of my running and overall conditioning. More to follow on this next month. Lots of interval training this month with a few longer runs built in.

My 1 mile pace was 9:57 on 2/6/24 on the air runner. Hard to believe but no outside elements I suppose.

I ran in just one state. 

I ran 19 days in a row. This seems so crazy to me because never would I ever have expected to be this consistent when I started.

I ran over 40 miles this month. A goal I scribbled on my calendar that seems like a stretch was now a reality. I did it!

I’m at a year-to-date total of 76 miles.

I did my first longer run (4.5 miles) in a vest with water. That was new and took some getting used to. The sloshing of water was definitely a new distraction.

I ran intervals with friends a few times a week and really enjoyed settling into a rhythm. I feel like my breathing and pacing is improving. Run at an easy pace. Run for longer, slower. Simple concept. Harder to apply when you live the fastest girl in town lifestyle. Walk without dropping my heart rate too much in between intervals. I felt like I could endure for a while. I didn’t test my theory for maxing out, but maybe I will in the coming months. This seems like a good approach for me when tackling large mile runs and most likely my game plan for my big races. Continuing to work on my strength in cross training as well. Added a few sprints at the end some days too. I can definitely feel a change in my endurance now that I’ve been running more. Shoulders are thinning out a bit from the running, but I’ll never have the runner physique. 

I also focused my training on 500-meter segments to better prepare for my competition next month as well as improve my run times by focusing on interval training in a 500-meter distance chunk. Then fatiguing myself with weight bearing exercises and continuing with the run/work scenario. Slightly different form of intervals that were noted above with a run/walk scheme. Just a little training shift this month I suppose. Still progress no matter which way you look at it. Every step is forward no matter which way you look at it. Unless I’m doing backwards lunges which I loathe.

This is my birth month. 52 wise/wise ass years behind me. I was aiming to hit 52 miles by my birthday this year as a mini-milestone. I was already pleasantly surprised I went over 30 miles last month which meant I was over half way to 52. I ended up with 67.75 miles by my birthday. I actually hit 52 miles on 2/12/24 and I was over the moon excited. I was definitely pumped and felt so much accomplishment just to get here, let alone achieve the goal early. So much encouragement along the way. My fit friends texting or getting together to run. My pal who gives me motivation notes to view for each mile I complete. The list goes on. I am truly one lucky girl just having the ability to run. I know some pals who would love to run but can’t for one reason or another. For that reason, I’m motivated to move because I can.

Self-discipline is something worth writing about. Not everyone has it engrained in their soul. I can’t do this subject justice exclusively in this post, but many work at it. Some need more of a checklist to stay on track. I’m definitely self-motivated. I work and rework my plan and offer myself rewards for efforts. I celebrate milestones and I try hard not to compare myself to others. My journey is unique to me. Keeping the focus on what I can control keeps me disciplined. I can always help others. I can show others how I stay on track. What I can’t do is the work for others. That’s the difference. A self-disciplined person can work hard solo. To improve themselves. No strings attached. No comparison needed. They can make the finish line without something or someone pushing them over the line.

Another footnote for this month is I’m officially signed up for my first full marathon in Savannah, GA in November 2024. 6 friends participating along side me and a few more thinking about it. Different paces but a common goal of completing the marathon. Not too far away and the same month I have a half marathon so hopefully my body can withstand both. I guess my half marathon is now my training run for the marathon. Here we are month two into my running project and I’m signed up for my first marathon. What’s next? Here’s to making memories and achieving milestones. One step at a time.

And for those who want to know why, it’s because I can and I have the will to tackle the challenge. I’ve never set my mind to running thus running 2024 was a good goal for me to take on. Time will tell how I fared. How my overall fitness was impacted. I have hope that I can endure the grueling 26.2 miles and earn my medal. Maybe I’ll make it two marathons to hit 52 miles for my year of 52. 

Since I’ve now signed up for a few races my medal rack seems a little crowded. Retail therapy to the rescue. I now have a 2024 race bib display and medal rack mounted and waiting for each and every bib and medal I earn this year. It’s gonna be a great year of running. It’s gonna be fun to flip back throught the medals and bibs at year end to reflect on my accomplishments. I can feel the success in my soul/sole already. I’m doodling on the back of each bib with my race time and splits to see how I improve in time. A fun data point to look back on in the years ahead.

The end of February also marks the start of the CrossFit Open. An annual event that I partake in. Year 8 for me. Some years are better than others but I put my best foot forward each time. 3 weeks of testing my strength in the CrossFit world while balancing running and training for the DEKA Fit competition. Never a dull moment over here. Moving. Training. Writing. That’s my agenda for the immediate future. And for curious minds, I work full time. This means I train at 6am, nights, lunch breaks, weekends and whenever my schedule allows. The balance is also part of the challenge this year.

Balancing strength training, work, family, paddle sports and running isn’t for the weak at heart. That’s for sure. Almost forgot to mention I’m eating clean to make sure my body is fueled to endure the demands I’m putting on my body. On top of that I’m making sure to take time to get a massage and pedicure at regular intervals to keep everything in sync. I’m also not forgetting to spend time stretching. A very important step to continuing to build those miles. Busy life.

Stay tuned for what’s lurking at the end of the first quarter.

#TinkRuns2024, featured, fitness and nutrition

I Run 2024 – January

2chicksandapen

I did it! 

Month one is in the rear view and I far exceeded my expectations. 34.25 miles accumulated. I ran 26 days out of 31. I even ran 15 days in a row at one point. Never in my wildest dreams did I have that as an expectation. Eleven more months to go and so many adventures are on the horizon. Who would have thought I would be so into running after 1 month. Certainly not me!

The start was bumpy. Day one running at midnight in Colorado. Cold. Dark. Unforgiving. I could have been done with one run. Just quit. That would be easy. And trust me I thought about it. Just a bizarre start to my adventure, I guess you could say. A flight home gave me time to pause and think about my game plan for the coming days. A regrouping of sorts. Time to think about my why or why nots.

I got a half mile in the next day. It was effort but nothing to jump up and down about. The next day I rested. My body was still recovering from travel. The day after I planned to run but life got in the way. I was beginning to get discouraged way too soon. Even having the realization of how hard my task to myself was actually going to be gave me a taste of humble pie. Training myself to do something I don’t want to or even like to do takes a lot of self talk. Over and over again. One step. The .11 miles running around a building at the gym to accumulate a half mile seemed tedious. The hill that seems like a mountain was on the other side of the building. I had avoided that hill many times. A mental block of sorts. All of it. Repeat the self talk. You can. You will. 

It was Friday. I was full of excuses. My body was achy from CrossFit. I asked a couple of family members to run a mile with me. No takers. It’s cold. That doesn’t sound fun. Why? That’s what I heard. I grabbed my AirPods and said I’m doing it. I just said I had to. I eventually want the words I utter to myself to be go now. No hesitation. For now I will settle for self talk because I’m trying to form a running habit. Holding myself accountable. Just this journal is a portion of accountability.

I hit 1.5 miles on that Friday. I set a small personal best for my first mile which is really what I’m focused on as I grow as a runner. Not sure if that’s the most effective focus but it’s what I’m working on at the moment. I walked some to cool down but all in all I was happy with my distance and productivity especially getting out there mid work day, alone. Battling the elements wasn’t really an advanced thought. The wind is just gross on a cold day. The wind may be your friend running one way but the way back it’s a slap in the face. Harsh as it comes. 

I ran 4 days the first week for 3.75 miles.  

I signed up for a virtual 5k. 

I ran an impromptu 5k on an air runner on a rainy day. For no reason. Who am I? I guess this will be my air runner bench mark time. I didn’t really plan to do this but I guess it’s now a data point. Go me! 7 miles accumulated in week 2. Yes, I am celebrating myself at every little milestone. 19 miles by the twentieth day of the month. Is this really happening?

I actually completed the virtual 5k by month end with a time of 38:58. I had to fight a lot of wind on this day as well. It was brutal in spots. I was excited to see my mile times were evenly dispersed when I reviewed my Apple Watch. This was a big win for me that I didn’t think was achievable. I guess this will be my 2024 bench mark 5k race time and my split times. Although I think a virtual race is slightly less significant due to it being self monitored versus say a chip time in an in person race. I did get a race bib for my 2024 collection so it does count as an official race. Still miss the hype of the crowds on race day that normally get you going faster.

My 5k time was logged after my first month of committing to running. A first and best official race time for 2024. It will be great to see where my 5k time ends up at the end of 2024. My last official recorded 5k time was 45:18 minutes back in May of 2023. A more hilly course and no training leading up to the event which means I should have improved but it definitely feels good to give myself a baseline 5k time to work on over the year. I also had an unofficial 5k park run time of 42:52 back in August of 2023. Definitely good to have some progress points to refer back to.

 I ran in 2 states (Georgia/Colorado).

 I ran in the cold.

I ran at the park.

I ran in the city.

I ran at midnight.

I ran alone most days. This is where the biggest growth is for me. Putting in the work when nobody is watching. Striving for better, solo. Getting up the courage to go alone. This can be scary at first but empowering in the long run. Getting punny here.

I ran at 6am with my crazy friend! The smile is also before the run. The red face was definitely the after look with no smile. The darkness of the photo reiterates the wee hours of the morning before the sun rises.

I ran inside on an air runner, more than once.

I ran stairs and liked it.

I learned that music can distract your mind from running if you can sing along to the soundtrack. For me this is important for pacing as well as going further before stopping. It also helps to maybe run for a song length estimating the time elapsing. This is exactly why I have a new running playlist thanks to a dear pal who keeps me on track. I also snagged a good running play list from the virtual 5k group as an added bonus.

My 1 mile best pace was 11:31 on 1/5/24.

My 1 mile pace dropped to 11:11 on 1/10/24.

Not every day was a personal best, but every day I had some sort of effort towards my goal. Writing. Reviewing. Running. Planning. Taking steps every day that will keep me on track. And don’t forget running isn’t my sole focus. I’m also active in CrossFit and paddle sports like tennis and pickleball. All of which are in full swing making me work hard to balance life and fitness goals.

I also made a visit to the local running store to make sure my feet were equipped properly for my hefty goal. Enter a new pair of shoes. My first pair of Brooks. I tried several other brands but decided on this one. We shall see how it goes. Not so excited about the color but we will see if the performance is a winner.

First run in the Brooks was decent. Cushiony but firmer than the ASICS. On we go to month two. February. The chocolate month. The Hot Chocolate 5k is on the books with friends which will be yet another 5k time to catalog. Let’s see what month two looks like for me. I’ve already come so far in such a short time. Feeling confident after month one even if the confidence is short-lived when I look at the big picture.

I also pulled the trigger on signing up for a half marathon in November of 2024. This goal is getting real, quick. Another fun fact is I’m taking pictures along the way to document my journey. And boy is my running face a sure sign of distress or pain as my friend noted. Hopefully that will change in time.

Happy to report month 1 was a success. Keep following to see where this journey leads.

fitness and nutrition

And Just Like That…

2chicksandapen

I was sucked in. Sucked in to the leaderboard. The invitation. The competition. The unknown. The opportunity itself.

What could I possibly be talking about? I made it to the national leader board for the Masters of the Masters competition. The #2 spot. Who me? Yes you! Boom. The invite hit my mailbox just before the holiday hustle and bustle went into full swing. Should I travel to compete? Should I just be happy with where I made it to? So many questions.

I was on the fence for days. Should I? Should I not? At the end of the day, I took the plunge. I went for it. I signed up for round two of competing and the training. This time in the grand state of Texas. A plane ride away. A different dynamic for round 2. 

An unknown location and facility. A new state which requires a day of travel. Sleeping in a bed aside from mine can impact my preparedness. No community cheering me on. So many variables.

I thrive under pressure. I live for new experiences. I meet new people all the time. I learn and grow when I’m out of my comfort zone. For all these reasons I said yes. Yes to the comp! Now I need to prepare for the unknown. 

I need to dial into my nutrition and commit to working hard the next several weeks. I can do it. I will do it. No matter where I end up on the final leaderboard I can say I took a big step in just showing up.

I’m not fearing the competition movements or my competitors.

I’m not giving into self doubt. I know I can do my best and be okay with the results. Showing up is half the battle.

I don’t know how to quit. That means I will push through even the hard stuff.

At my age, I’m lucky I can move to the extent I do. I’m even more happy to say I’m a competitor. I don’t worry about others judging me because if it was easy everyone would do it. Even if you are not built to compete. You can get moving.

I hope this post inspires someone to start moving to a fitter self. The first step is the hardest, but anyone can move. Look for updates next month on my big adventure. 

challenges, fitness and nutrition

Duathlon DIY-Style, and 2021’s OLW

2chicksandapen

One of my goals last year was to challenge myself to a duathlon. I ended up registering for a summer triathlon which was pushed back until next year.

I had all but given up on this goal at the end of the summer. After the race was postponed, I lost my excitement and drive to train and learn for the event. It wasn’t until a friend rallied a group of gym women around an engine building cardio challenge that I found the will to run and bike again with any kind of regularity.

I knew I wouldn’t tri this year, but a duathlon wasn’t out of the question. I decided not to register for an official race at year end. But I wanted to at least complete a “ceremonial” sprint duathlon to have a benchmark and a check mark. So I went for it one frigid December morning just after sunrise. Just me, my playlist, my essentials and my mileage counters. On my mark, get set, go.

3.1 mile run. The mist was rising off the lake. Bridges were still slippery from the chill and the dew. Three loops, making my way along. Not too fast, but not too bad

Transition to the bike. Fleece hat off, helmet on. Legs adjusting to the pedals. Skittering along. Ups, downs, loops. The sting of the cold on my face. Losing feeling in my hands as I watch the miles tick, tick, tick away. Singing along while avoiding potholes and traffic. I finally found a quarter mile loop for a soccer field off the beaten path. Rode it again and again and again for about 8 miles. Only a quick stop for a carb boost in the middle. Then back to dancing on the pedals. Saddle soreness set in at mile 8. Toe cramps began at 10. I held on to finish the 12.4 mile stretch. Ended this leg averaging 10.9 mph which is actually a decent pace. If I had been on flats the whole time it would have been quicker. Lifting and loading my bike with frozen hands was a challenge all its own.

Then the final crunch. The one you train for. The one that hurts. Off the bike and into the last run. When I trained for the tri early this year, I read about this transition and how brutal it is. The quick pace of the bike makes that last mile grueling at best. I started pretty well then it quickly deteriorated. As the mile wore on, I just willed myself forward. I passed a committee of vultures. Keep singing. Dodged piles of goose poop on the path. Keep moving. Step after step. One at a time. No stopping. Knees hurting. No breaks. Just all ahead as much as I can.

I finished. No crowds no medals no beers or cokes. No parades or high fives. No banana no T-shirt. But I checked it off. I don’t need festivities to know what I have done. Didn’t quite make it under my two hour goal, but sometimes completion is the victory in that moment. I will get that goal next time. I’ll take my imaginary participation ribbon thankyouverymuch.

A DIY-duathlon gives you a lot of time to think. My mind couldn’t help but wander as I looped around and around. As much discomfort as I felt, I thanked my body for carrying me through those 17-plus miles. My mental and physical stamina made it a successful effort. A year like this one makes me realize all the more how much these different types of health are worth.

I’ve shared many times how much I love words and wordplay here on the blog. In those bike miles, I found my mind playing with the word duathlon. I bet many people didn’t even know that was a word. Then I broke it into do-athlon. Which led to a good long think about the word “DO.” I am such a thinker, often an overthinker, and not always such a do-er. I decided in those miles that my word of 2021 will be DO. It will be my year to jump in and get things done. I’m still settling into this word and what it will mean for me. I hope you’ll read along wherever the path leads.

dare to be different, fitness and nutrition

Competition

2chicksandapen

As of yesterday I was anti-competition as in I didn’t want to sign up for anything competitive in 2020 because so much disappointment had been in my rear view this year.

No 10k in November (postponed from July). No mud run in October. No Triathlon in July. No Wonder Woman run in May, had to do virtual instead. Just a bunch of blah in 2020 and I didn’t want to waste money on events that were not going to happen and and and.

The above picture was supposed to have a Nashville backdrop and a fun girls trip but instead we went virtual. We were distanced. No crowds cheering. No hydration stations. Just overall boring.

That’s why I was stomping my feet and pouting. I had told myself it just wasn’t worth it and I could revisit in 2021 my competition goals. Tick tock the clock won’t stop. It’s September and a comp is being hosted at a local CrossFit box. Still not doing it. I don’t like one of the movements so it’s easy to say nope not doing it.

It’s the Monday of the event. My body feels good. My mind feels good. What the heck let me find a partner. I can still make the end of the year one to remember. Let’s do this. Good thing I have crazy friends who won’t turn down a bad idea on short notice! 

Here we are cramming for the event Saturday. It’s all for fun but we are also competitive in nature, well that is for our age. We should be Masters but this comp doesn’t have a Masters division so we battle for reps with the kiddos. From teens to twenties to thirties and then there is us. The oldies but goodies. The Masters. The 45 years and beyond. The achy body group. The full time workers. How will we do? Only time will tell. Until Saturday, we will be grinding it out waiting for our chance to hit the podium or die trying!

Once an athlete always an athlete. Wish us luck!