Race Day !!!!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
End of Organized Help, Time to Face Self
My 5K this past weekend went very well. I had a PR of 1hr 3min and ? sec (need to find out for certain). Jean ran with me the whole time. I didn't run the whole time, but she was with me and she kept me on the interval.
Instead of my adrenaline affecting my back, it affected my breathing. I relaxed and it got better. The race was mostly flat, with a few hills. The weather was perfect - cloudy with no rain, just the right temperature so we didn't get too hot but weren't cold. Basically a great way to end the 10week program and look forward to the future.
Now for the Next Journey - Facing Myself and figuring out how to do it on my own.
To start with, I've got the tuesday/thursday morning runs. The group goes out together but has varying speeds. I don't like going alone, but until I can get faster, I have no option if I want to go out with the group.
Developing a routine is important to me
Having accountability to people is important to me
Continuing outside run/walk is important to me - I want to be able to do road races and treadmills don't do it for me
I need to give treadmills another shot, now that running in general is possible. But I still want to do the outside bit because I know running outside is completely different than running on a treadmill.
Upcoming Races
5K with graduates of running program - Oct 25
5K with my company - Nov 7
Instead of my adrenaline affecting my back, it affected my breathing. I relaxed and it got better. The race was mostly flat, with a few hills. The weather was perfect - cloudy with no rain, just the right temperature so we didn't get too hot but weren't cold. Basically a great way to end the 10week program and look forward to the future.
Now for the Next Journey - Facing Myself and figuring out how to do it on my own.
To start with, I've got the tuesday/thursday morning runs. The group goes out together but has varying speeds. I don't like going alone, but until I can get faster, I have no option if I want to go out with the group.
Developing a routine is important to me
Having accountability to people is important to me
Continuing outside run/walk is important to me - I want to be able to do road races and treadmills don't do it for me
I need to give treadmills another shot, now that running in general is possible. But I still want to do the outside bit because I know running outside is completely different than running on a treadmill.
Upcoming Races
5K with graduates of running program - Oct 25
5K with my company - Nov 7
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Evening-Time Run / Crawl
OK a diversion from my running story to talk about this week.
It's been stressful for personal reasons and not too dead at work. I ran Monday morning 2.75 mi with the run/walk method. I haven't run or walked since then. Didn't want to go out Tuesday because I had done Sat, Sun, & Mon. Wednesday - i don't have anyone to go with and I had plans in the evening. Thursday morning i didn't go out with the group because I wanted to go to the evening run at least once during this beginning runners program. And I pretty much regret it. It was fun to see everyone, but the run was terrible for me.
For one thing, my right leg, upper portion, was sore. I figured it out this morning, it's how I get into and out of my car. I just have to figure out what's odd about it so I can figure out how to stretch it correctly so it's not sore anymore, and how to change How I get into my car so I don't continue to hurt it. That's the tough part.
For another, I had been at work all day. I don't know if the run was so difficult because of the time of day, working all day, the lack of running or walking between Monday & Today, or my sore leg. But no matter what, it was tough. We started doing the intervals but I eventually had to stop early with the running and walk longer. Then after we turned around (early), we did mostly walking with a couple of runs and a long power walking stint - Note to self, I HATE power walking. It just reminds me how slow my regular walk is.
I like the support of the group but I've gotten used to a routine and a pattern of who I run with. When it changes, it just throws me. I like the varied conversation, but it's inevitably tougher on me because my running is not up there yet.
More Later. . . .
It's been stressful for personal reasons and not too dead at work. I ran Monday morning 2.75 mi with the run/walk method. I haven't run or walked since then. Didn't want to go out Tuesday because I had done Sat, Sun, & Mon. Wednesday - i don't have anyone to go with and I had plans in the evening. Thursday morning i didn't go out with the group because I wanted to go to the evening run at least once during this beginning runners program. And I pretty much regret it. It was fun to see everyone, but the run was terrible for me.
For one thing, my right leg, upper portion, was sore. I figured it out this morning, it's how I get into and out of my car. I just have to figure out what's odd about it so I can figure out how to stretch it correctly so it's not sore anymore, and how to change How I get into my car so I don't continue to hurt it. That's the tough part.
For another, I had been at work all day. I don't know if the run was so difficult because of the time of day, working all day, the lack of running or walking between Monday & Today, or my sore leg. But no matter what, it was tough. We started doing the intervals but I eventually had to stop early with the running and walk longer. Then after we turned around (early), we did mostly walking with a couple of runs and a long power walking stint - Note to self, I HATE power walking. It just reminds me how slow my regular walk is.
I like the support of the group but I've gotten used to a routine and a pattern of who I run with. When it changes, it just throws me. I like the varied conversation, but it's inevitably tougher on me because my running is not up there yet.
More Later. . . .
Monday, September 7, 2009
Journey Started, Checking In via Blog
My journey started earlier this year and it has truly been a journey of ups and downs, even in the few months duration.
Every day is a choice
Every moment is a choice
My name's Becca. I live in North Carolina. I work in IT and I love it! When I'm not doing my real job, I volunteer in Theater. I keep myself busy so I always have "something to do".
I was ready to start a blog awhile ago and I wanted to call it "The Fat Twin" but then decided that was too negative and didn't start it. I want to think positively about this whole life changing thing. So here it goes. . .
I've always been the bigger twin, the taller, the fatter, whatever you want to call it. I've never really been ok with it - the fat part, not the tall part. Being taller is OK. I did cross country freshman fall of high school. I enjoyed the practice but hated the meets because I was horrendously slower than everyone else and it always bummed me out. In college I was too busy with theater to bother with going to the gym, the pool, the ice skating rink, etc.
Out of college several years ago, I joined a gym. I had fantastic spans of dedication when I went religiously to the gym and took the same series of classes week after week for months at a time. But time and time again I would start it and then eventually stop it. This has been going on for years.
My cousin's bat mitzvah
The prospect of career advancement
My twin sister's wedding
EVERY season of The Biggest Loser no matter what time of year it starts
January, early-mid spring, autumn
There have been a lot of opportunities for me to turn my life around and lose the weight.
April 21, 2009
I basically asked myself what the heck I was doing to myself.
Watching an episode of Biggest Loser later that evening Kirsten was doing that journal thing and said something to the effect of "I am worth it". Although the the show has not gotten me off the couch, Kirsten's comment helped me open up.
April 23, 2009
I registered for the "Run for our Heroes" 5K - no training or exercise preceding it - I just knew I needed something to do and that happened to be what I wanted to do that weekend.
April 25, 2009
The Run for Our Heroes 5K in Raleigh
I went out running like I was going to win. We weren't even around the first turn before I slowed to a walk and asked myself what I was doing out there, I wasn't ready to do it. But I kept going.
I walked the rest of the race. I had a Police Escort for a lot of the race. Eventually he asked if I would mind walking on the sidewalk so he could open the road back up. Of course I complied even though I really didn't want to. I've never felt more alone than when the roads opened back up. Then I saw a volunteer two intersections away who said that the guy shouldn't have left me and to keep powering on. I wish I had gotten her name.
The race route took me past the parking garage where my car was. I knew exactly how much distance was left because I had walked it that morning. I'm glad I didn't go to my car and give up. I wanted to finish. I turned the corner.
I walked until the last intersection and then ran as well as I could. Complete strangers began clapping for me and telling me to keep going - I was almost there. Some army group that had done the race was taking a picture in front of the finish line. I ducked around the side, and found the finish line and crossed it. 1hr, 18 min. I even made it in time to watch the awards ceremony. That was cool - they had all the different age groups - young kids to old men and women. Really neat. I didn't know to keep walking after I had finished so I was cramping up pretty bad, but at that point it didnt matter - I finished.
I'll post more of my racing adventures in another post later...
and I'll find pictures too
Every day is a choice
Every moment is a choice
My name's Becca. I live in North Carolina. I work in IT and I love it! When I'm not doing my real job, I volunteer in Theater. I keep myself busy so I always have "something to do".
I was ready to start a blog awhile ago and I wanted to call it "The Fat Twin" but then decided that was too negative and didn't start it. I want to think positively about this whole life changing thing. So here it goes. . .
I've always been the bigger twin, the taller, the fatter, whatever you want to call it. I've never really been ok with it - the fat part, not the tall part. Being taller is OK. I did cross country freshman fall of high school. I enjoyed the practice but hated the meets because I was horrendously slower than everyone else and it always bummed me out. In college I was too busy with theater to bother with going to the gym, the pool, the ice skating rink, etc.
Out of college several years ago, I joined a gym. I had fantastic spans of dedication when I went religiously to the gym and took the same series of classes week after week for months at a time. But time and time again I would start it and then eventually stop it. This has been going on for years.
My cousin's bat mitzvah
The prospect of career advancement
My twin sister's wedding
EVERY season of The Biggest Loser no matter what time of year it starts
January, early-mid spring, autumn
There have been a lot of opportunities for me to turn my life around and lose the weight.
April 21, 2009
I basically asked myself what the heck I was doing to myself.
Watching an episode of Biggest Loser later that evening Kirsten was doing that journal thing and said something to the effect of "I am worth it". Although the the show has not gotten me off the couch, Kirsten's comment helped me open up.
April 23, 2009
I registered for the "Run for our Heroes" 5K - no training or exercise preceding it - I just knew I needed something to do and that happened to be what I wanted to do that weekend.
April 25, 2009
The Run for Our Heroes 5K in Raleigh
I went out running like I was going to win. We weren't even around the first turn before I slowed to a walk and asked myself what I was doing out there, I wasn't ready to do it. But I kept going.
I walked the rest of the race. I had a Police Escort for a lot of the race. Eventually he asked if I would mind walking on the sidewalk so he could open the road back up. Of course I complied even though I really didn't want to. I've never felt more alone than when the roads opened back up. Then I saw a volunteer two intersections away who said that the guy shouldn't have left me and to keep powering on. I wish I had gotten her name.
The race route took me past the parking garage where my car was. I knew exactly how much distance was left because I had walked it that morning. I'm glad I didn't go to my car and give up. I wanted to finish. I turned the corner.
I walked until the last intersection and then ran as well as I could. Complete strangers began clapping for me and telling me to keep going - I was almost there. Some army group that had done the race was taking a picture in front of the finish line. I ducked around the side, and found the finish line and crossed it. 1hr, 18 min. I even made it in time to watch the awards ceremony. That was cool - they had all the different age groups - young kids to old men and women. Really neat. I didn't know to keep walking after I had finished so I was cramping up pretty bad, but at that point it didnt matter - I finished.
I'll post more of my racing adventures in another post later...
and I'll find pictures too
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)