Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Shorter Days, Longer Runs


I've been noticing something's different lately when I walk out early in the mornings - It's dark.

The days are getting shorter, but my runs are getting longer.

It's harder to get out of bed at 5, so often I'm waiting until 5:30. Even 5:30 was pushing it this week.

In order to run 8  miles before I head home, get ready for work, and then commute in, I have to get up pretty damn early. Or start picking up my pace.

Which leads me to think I may need to transition out of the morning runner in to the evening or lunchtime runner again here soon.

Which reminds me that in 6 weeks, it's race day.

[Anxiety starting to build]

Friday, August 19, 2011

Now Training Gets Serious.

Week 11 of 18.

No more staying up late, drinking beer and eating light. 

Training now gets serious.

I need lots of water and tons of sleep.

More food and bring it often.

The foam roller and fuel belt are my best friends.

I'm tired of my running playlist from overuse.

I'm going for calorie consumption, with some limits.

The Wednesday mid-week run this week is the same distance of our Saturday long run the first week: 8 miles.

Saturday's long run is 18. It is the 3rd longest run I'll do before race day.

Scary to think training's already at that point.

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Run Because... [motivation we all need]

Run because you have to. Run because you love it. 
Run because you want to be fast. Run because you want to be skinny. 
Run to find some quiet time. Run to sweat. Run to eat. 
Run hear your heart pound in your ears. Run because you're a runner. 
Run because you gotta keep the streak. Run because you don't know why the hell you're running. 
Run because you fought with your partner. Run because your job is shitty. 
Run because you got no money. Run for the sunrise. Run for a race. 
Run because it's impossible. Run because it's easy. Run instead of doing the laundry. 
Run instead of watching TV. Run because no one else understands. 
Run because the cool kids do it. Run because you're tired of talking. 
Run for numbers. Run for feel. Run to prove something. 
Run because it f-ing hurts. 
Or don't run...If you got something better to do.
 [Borrowed from i <3 to Run's facebook page]

Monday, August 01, 2011

Darth Vader does Yoga

In the spring, I discovered a yoga studio with the help of GroupOn.

It's a few blocks away from my place, which is quite nice. There are classes that start shortly after I usually get home from work. You can pre-register online to save your spot in the class which is ingenious.

After trying out a few classes, I found a vinyassa flow class with an instructor I liked quite well.

I was enjoying getting back in to a routine of yoga practice - finding my inner self and all that good stuff - until he appeared.

On the outside, he appeared to be your average man in his early thirties. He sat next to me in the seated position as we relaxed and waited for practice to start.

The instructor welcomed us to practice and then asked us to start lengthening our breath. That's when I noticed something wasn't right. Instead of the sound of even tempered, rather quiet breathing, I heard heavy, labored breathing. Like that of Darth Vader.

Certainly DV couldn't continue like that for an entire class. Maybe he was warming up?

Nope.

I tried my very best to block him out and enjoy the practice.

Exactly a week later, the same thing happened. I should have memorized what he looked like the first time, then I could have avoided this!

A week later, I try setting myself up at the far end of the room from him to no avail. DV can fill the entire room with his breath.

So I've stayed away for awhile - partially because marathon training has picked up but mostly because I can't enjoy a yoga practive with DV.

I plan on going back to yoga tomorrow. We'll see if the dark side still rules practice.