Post race exercise and complete exhaustion

I can't believe it's November... I was thinking the other day how I don't even remember where September went... WHOA... what about October?

I'll get to all things personal in another post but I am going to talk exercise right now. :)

After the race, I immediately thought what next??? What else can I start training for or set a goal... then I took a lot at my calendar and realized that I needed a break. It might sound crazy but I told myself I was not going to run for a whole month. I just knew that I had NO time and did not want to burn out. Training for an event works well for me but I know when I can't stay on schedule I feel guilty... it's like I am letting myself down. Silly?

So, the first week was pretty easy, I was still a little sore and was concentrating on just stretching. As the weeks went on, I realized how much I was starting to miss running. The problem at home was I still hadn't had time to find good places to run in Detroit. I love running outside in fall... it's my favorite time of year and the weather is perfect! I finally had an overnight in Jacksonville and got a pretty good 2 mile run in before it started to rain.

So what's a girl to do... no running routes, no gym membership (yet) and a need to get going...

I decided to try something completely different. I found a Bikram Yoga studio in Ann Arbor and headed out to give it a try. I've done Yoga before but never Bikram which is "Hot Yoga". At my studio... it's an 1 and 1/2 class in a 90 degree (F) heated room. Let me tell you, it was intense, it was Hot, I was sweating like nothing else but I really enjoyed it! I was VERY sore afterwards. I plan on going again tomorrow and Sunday (since I have a 10 day into membership). I really think this is something I want to add to my weekly workout plan.

I am glad that I read a fellow bloggers post on her Hot Yoga experience about dehydration... I was prepared for with 2 big waters and a coconut water for right after.

So, next time you find yourself in the down time, between training plans... why not take the time to try something NEW that you had been wanting to try!!!

Anyone have any other exercise classes that you have tried and loved while you were on a break???



(I apologize for the shaky writing... I have had a huge writers block and am finding it really hard to get back into my blog. I think it's because I have had way too much going on at once.)

Banff, Canada and Melissa's Road Race

After we moved into our new apartment in Detroit, Geoff and I had a few days off to buy house things, unpack and get our place in order. Thank goodness because this was a lot more than we thought it was going to be. Apparently when you have more room, you need more stuff to fill it with.

After those few days, we hopped on a plane to Edmonton to visit his family. The main goal of the trip was a weekend in Banff where Chantal (Geoff's sister-in-law), her brothers wife Andrea and myself were all running Melissa's Road Race. We signed up for the 22K which is a half-marathon. We got in on Thursday and Friday we left to make the drive to Banff.


We stopped on the way in at some small town to grab ice cream! I had Maple and it was amazingly good!



The next morning we got up bright and early to get ready for the race. Unlike the races in Cincinnati, this one started at 10am which was nice.
We ate some oatmeal and headed into town and to the starting line. There were 2 parts to the race, the 10K started running first and then we all lined up for the 22K.





Then the gun went off and off we all went. The scenery on the run was breath-taking. Snow capped mountains, turquoise lakes, a waterfall, bright yellow trees...





The course was hilly and it was windy so the time I was first aiming for went right out the window. It's ok, I focused instead on enjoying the run and taking in all the scenery. Well, until I hit the last 4K which was down and then back up a never ending hill... I was glad to finally finish!





The next morning, us girls got up bright and early for our "recovery day". We headed off to the Fairmont Hotel for a morning massage and dips in the mineral pool and hot tubs. I'm going to be completely honest... the race was fun but this day was so much better! We all decided that it was totally worth all the pain of the run just for this morning of pampering. The Spa in the hotel was the nicest spa I have ever been too!!! I felt extremely pampered.

We finally dragged ourselves out of there and met everyone for Sunday brunch before driving back to Edmonton.
A few last shots on our walk back to the car.





We had a fantastic time, I loved Banff and I ran my first international race! Not a bad little vacation! ;)

Failed run and cupcakes

Ok, so I'm going to be honest here... I'm really good at getting my training runs in. However, sometimes a run just isn't meant to be. I've had them before and this one was no different.

I had a busy weekend planned. Apartment hunting in Detroit on Saturday, catching the evening flight to Seattle to visit with Geoff's family, flying home to New York on Tuesday and then back to work on Wednesday. I decided to move my long run (6 miles) to Friday. Normally, I would lace up, head into the city and get my miles in around Beautiful Central Park. Since we have this move coming soon, I decided to finally hit up another park I was looking to run in. It was between Riverside Park and Hudson River Park.

I chose to run Hudson River Park... and it was not such a good idea. I am not quite sure what I really expected from this run except a green pretty park, with great views of the Hudson. Instead what I got was a slab of concrete running along a road, occasionally the river, past graffiti, buildings and more buildings. There was also two different sides, one for "bikers and rollerbladers" and one for the runners/walkers. I ended up running on the bikers path because all the walkers pretty much meant tourists and good luck trying to really run weaving in and out of people.

I decided to start at the top of the park (59th street) and run until I reached Battery Park. I officially started my run in this park.


I was pretty happy as I passed the Intrepid!

I started to see less river and more this...

I passed a pretty tree covered pier and then it all fell apart after that.

To be completely honest, I will be shocked if I actually got 3 miles in. It's not that this park was really so horrible but for me, compared with Central Park (which is beautiful and a pleasure to run miles and miles in) it was boring and I was really struggling.

So, when I saw a street sign for Perry, I jumped off the Park trail and headed to see something else that was on my list to see before I left NYC.

I love Sex And The City. I had to look up where "Carrie's Stoop" was located. The article I read also gave SJP's address. (Pictured here) Not only is she a girl after my own heart, but also grew up in Cincinnati. (YAY Homegirl!) The address it gave was just around the corner and SJP (sorry for being a stalker) but if this is your brownstone.. I am one jealous girl! Gorgeous.

I recognized the stoop right away and I was glad to see that I wasn't the only sucker there taking photos. (There were about 5 other people when I got there).


Of course, as I left and tried to find my way back to the park to finish my run, I can across Magnolia Bakery. I caved, bought two cupcakes and ran to the subway so Geoff and I could eat them once I got home.


Sometimes a run just isn't meant to be. Mine was a HUGE Fail, however, the cupcakes were not. Delicious! :)

Running

There are many reasons why people run (and we aren't talking about being chased here). It sounds weird, but for me, I relax when I run. I know, I originally started running in fear of gaining weight while flying. What I used to do because I felt I needed to, I now do because I want to. Growing up, I played a lot of sports. Softball, Soccer, Basketball... they were all 'supposed' to be fun except to me, they weren't. I was never the best at any sport and since these are team sports, I always put a lot of pressure on myself to not screw up and when I did screw up, I would feel horrible. That's not a fun way to enjoy something. Running for me is different. Yes, I know that I run in races and there is a winner involved... however, for me it's one place where I really have nothing to prove. To me, running isn't winning or loosing or first or last, it's a journey. I might have goals for myself but I would rather enjoy the whole experience of the run than worry about just the end. No one who comes to cheer me on or even run with me cares when I finish but more that I did.

I have officially started to train for my next race (and it really feels good to be back on a schedule). It's a 1/2 marathon in Banff, Alberta located in Canada in September and it is called Melissa's Road Race. I am very excited for this race! It's my first race in another country and the course views look spectacular. (Don't believe me? Check out the website and view last years photos... oh and did I mention this race has been sold out for weeks???).

This time training, I decided to work on speed since I will be running at a higher altitude. I'm hoping getting faster in training will in turn, help me run the course and not feel such a difference. Just in case you were curious what my training plan looks like-- here it is! (I'm doing my runs tentatively on Tuesday-Interval, Wednesday-Tempo and Saturdays-long runs)

Week 1-
T: 4x400 at 8:45 pace
W: 3 mile at 9:45 pace
S: 6 miles at 10:30 pace

Week 2-
T: 4x800 at 8:55 pace
W: 4 miles at 9:45 pace
S: 8 miles at 10:30 pace

Week 3-
T: 3x1600 at 9:15 pace
W: 5 miles at 9:45 pace
S: 10 miles at 10:30 pace

Week 4-
T: 6x400 (8:45)
W: 6 miles at 9:45 pace
S: 6 miles at 10:30

Week 5-
T: 3x1600 (9:15)
W: 4 miles 9:45
S: 10 miles at 10:30

Week 6-
T: 4x800 (8:55)
W: 8 miles 9:45
S: 8 miles 10:30

Week 7-
T: 6x400 (8:45)
W: 6 mile 9:45
S: 10 mile 10:30

Week 8-
T: 4x1600 (9:15)
W: 8 mile (9:45)
S: 12 mile 10:30

Week 9:
T: 3x800 (8:55)
W: 3 mile 9:45
S: 6 miles 10:30

Race week
T: 4x400 (8:45)
W: 2 mile at 9:45
REST before race!!!

Are any of you running a race in the fall???

Running Faster

When I first looked up training plans for my half and full marathons I was overwhelmed at the amount of different training plans. I was half expecting it. However, what I was not expecting was all the list of different types of runs included in the training plans. Long runs, Slow runs, Tempo runs, hills, repeats, fartlek, the list went on and on. Since my goal was to finish each race without injury, I only concentrated on running the distances outlined in my plans. I learned what pace was a good pace for me to start and tried to continue on that pace throughout the run. Guess I did ok, because it worked and I have both races under my belt.

With that said, I am now in between training sessions. My marathon is finished and my next 1/2 marathon isn't until September. It's a nice place to be. I went for a leisurely run in the park the other day and ran as far as I felt like (6 miles) without feeling overwhelmed because I had to get in a certain amount of running. I was able to just run and enjoy it- something I didn't really get to do in training. Just knowing that I could stop at anytime and walk away without any guilt was great!
However, I am starting to shift the way I think about my runs.

I have decided that I am going to run at least 3 times a week until my training starts.
2 short runs of about 3-4 miles and one longer run that can be anywhere from 5-8 miles.

My long run is going to be my relaxed, no pressure run BUT I am going to use my short runs to really try and step up my game. I am NOT a fast runner by any means and I am not in any rush to change how quick I can run a 1/2 or full marathon. I am interested in uping my runs for 5 K's since I would like to do a few more this year.
So I have decided to add in some tempo runs where I work on getting my time mile by mile quicker. Eventually I might add in some hill work and fartleks but my goal of running is to ultimately have fun so the last thing I want to do is overwhelm myself! Once I get going on my quest for a quicker run, I will post how it is going and what I am doing.

Do you have any advice for me? What are your running or fitness goals for the rest of the year?

ipod or no ipod.... the running debate.

When it comes to races, there are 2 types of runners... those who run with ipods and those who run without.

The Flying Pig is really a no ipod race, It's in the rules that you aren't supposed to run with one. (Yup, I know, I read that kind of stuff.) When I trained and ran for the 1/2 the whole thought of no ipod was not a big deal. I loved the crowds, the bands, the other runners talking, my friends and family cheering me on... the whole thing was amazing, kept me occupied and gave me a pretty awesome runner's high for close to the whole race. I couldn't stop smiling. In my training, the longest runs were around 8 and 10 miles, I ran them in the park and either had a friend with me or was really happy running through nature.

This year the full was a completely different experience. Training was hard, 8 miles quickly became my short run instead of long and getting through 14,16 and 20 mile runs took a combo of Lady Gaga and Black Eyed Peas. I quickly learned that after an hour, its usually your mind you are battling with (boredom) instead of your body and music can really help you get through it. My outlook really changed on the whole ipod issue. I wanted and needed the music and I knew that once I hit 15 miles.

I started a tug and pull... ipod or no? I felt guilty almost at the thought of running the race and not experiencing the race. It is what makes the race so special and what I love about it. It is why I endure months and months of hard training. It's the crowds, cheers, the medals and the tears of joy (or pain but hopefully the joy). I wanted both, so finally I decided that I was an in-betweener. I splurged on a snazzy ipod shuffle in pink (one that is small and clips to your shirt... amazing for runners), added my 5 hour Marathon playlist I had perfected to it and ran the race with one ear bud in and the other tucked into my sports bra. I was able to concentrate on the crowds when they were thick and in the final miles when I was fading, shuffling instead of running, cold from being soaked and so hungry all i could think of was cheeseburgers Lady Gaga came to my rescue and cheered me through a few miles herself.

I defintely can see both sides of the argument and while I love the feeling of running free from electronics and everyday "must haves" they are definitely a perk that can be used to get over the hills into the last stretch of the race. No matter what type of runner you are, make sure next time you run to take it all in wherever you are. (Well, unless you are running on the dreadmill...)

A few professional photos from the race

I ran 26.2 miles!!!

This past weekend was the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati, Ohio. I had been training for this race since January... training was very hard and long but once the race had approached, I wasn't sure that I was completely ready. 26.2 is a long long way to run.
(Me and my friend Kathryn who also ran the Marathon.)


The morning of the race, I was up at 4:15 in the morning to get a shower, eat as much as I could (which was a few bites of a powerbar- my nerves were getting the best of my stomach) and swallow down a cup of coffee.
Geoff drove me downtown to see me off at the starting line before heading over to mile 5 and then meeting my parents at mile 12. (Pretty much what he did for the 1/2 marathon last year) This year however it was raining and I was pretty much soaked before the race even started.













You can see me coming in the pink tank top to the left.


Mile 12 and still smiling. (Thanks to having a cheering section of friends and my family)


I stopped for a photo op with my mom!


I felt pretty good until mile 18 when I started to get a little tired. However, I had my BFF Courtney coming up at mile 20. (She had driven down that morning from Columbus -2 hour drive- to cheer me on!) Miles 22-25 were the hardest since I was tired, my legs hurt and all I could think of was eating cheeseburgers.

The finish line... or finish SWINE.


Thats me right at the finish line with my hands in the air!!! YAY I finished 26.2!!!


I stopped one last time at mile 25 at the last set of toilets and I realize that my thighs had finally had enough and rubbed raw, I was bleeding down my right leg but I was so close I was not going to stop. The crowds at the end were amazing and helped push me through to the end. Crossing the finish line was an amazing feeling. I was so happy that I had actually accomplished my goal- I ran 26.2 miles with a smile on my face. I got my medal, blanket and hobbled through the recovery zone shoving a banana and chips down my throat. Then it was on to meet my friends and family who came out to cheer me on!

Here are my amazing friends who met me at mile 6, 12 and at the finish line!


My parents were at mile 12 and the finish (along with my brother who showed up at the end.)




It took me 5 hours, 8 minutes and 32 seconds to finish the race and I have never been more proud of myself. It's good to know that when you put your mind to something, anything, even when it feels out of reach and impossible- it really CAN be achieved!

Running at 30,000 ft.

The other day as I tweeted about my Marathon training runs again (it has been a large part of my tweets lately) I noticed a lot of other tweets going on, mainly between my fellow Flight Attendants, about shoes, running, motivation, 5K's... I was very excited to see all of this because I could join in and try and help others with the little amount I know! Running on the road is very hard sometimes and as I headed out for another 7 miler I thought it was time I posted a blog post about this subject.

So... you want to run and you travel for work too? We'll here is my advice on how I got started and found a routine that has brought me through 1 mile, 5K, a half marathon and soon my First Full Marathon. :) I am in no way an expert but I think I have done a really good job at trying to balance my life and want to help out anyone else I can.

Lets get one thing out of the way first-I started running because I was really afraid of gaining weight as a Flight Attendant. With unpredictable hours and hotel/fast/airport food at every turn I wanted some sort of exercise routine to help battle this fight. I've found that I really do enjoy running and yoga so these are things I continue to do now. (I through weights in there too but it is really more of a chore for me)

1.) How to start running.
When I decided I wanted to start to run again- it took one afternoon run of just 5 minutes to completely discourage me. I was 25 and got tired and bored after only a few minutes around the park by my condo. I ended up walking for 1/2 an hour trying to decide if this was really something I wanted to try and do. I did. So I got online and found a podcast (which are FREE) on itunes to help me.
It's called Couch to 5K- Podcasts for Running. It is by a man named Robert.
There are 2 of these on there now. Roberts has music to it, the other doesn't. I put it on my ipod and had it with me at home and on the road.
Basically, it is a nine week program. Robert guides you through each run, each week, telling you when to warm up, cool down, when to walk and when to run. You build up to running for 30 minutes straight. This is what I used and I really enjoyed it. The music isn't the best but I loved having someone tell me what to do and seeing improvement each run. It got easier to run longer than 5 minutes and before I knew it I was running 1, 2 and 3 miles on my own.


2.) Find your happy place
Once I started running, I decided that I wanted to run 3 times a week. I would run 3 miles twice a week and built up to 5 miles on the other day. Some weeks were good, some were not so good. The best thing for me was to try and get as close to a schedule as possible. Run X amount on Tuesdays, Y amount on Thursdays and one longer run on the weekends. I still use this in my Marathon training (even though there are more runs) but I use it as a guide. I don't push it if I do not feel good and I adjust my distance if I need to (but only if I need to, lack of motivation is not a reason to skip). Also, I try not to feel bad or beat myself up if I miss a run... the point is it should make you feel good physically and relieve some emotional stress and baggage, not cause more. Running is not a fit for everyone though, I have learned I love it (most runs) but it does take me about a mile before I get into my running groove.


3.) Once you get some miles under your belt, sign up for a RACE!
This was the turning point for me. (There are loads of 5K's all over the place, all year long) Races aren't only about who finishes first. I use them to push myself but I also like to take in the atmosphere at races. There are no teams or sides, there are no losers (although there are winners and I think it is every person who crosses a finish line wins). Strangers hand you water with a smile, Strangers cheer you on, Runners cheer for each other, encourage each other and push each other to go farther and faster. It is one big run full of love and when I run in races, I take it all in and it fills my heart until I am smiling through every mile and every blister. I am certain even if you don't love running, you will love the races.


Some helpful hints I learned along the way-
-Water is sufficent for runs under 45 minutes. (Gatorade has calories, goal is to loose weight)
-Find some music that pumps you up. When I slack Lady Gaga and Black Eyed Peas get me through hard runs.
-Make sure to warm up with a few stretches and at least 5 minutes of walking before you run AND make sure to really stretch your legs after your run. I also walk before I stretch to let my body get back to a normal temperature. (This really helps to minimize soreness)
-If you are sore after a walk or run- a frozen bag of peas wrapped in a towel is heaven and I live on Icy Hot. Massage it into legs, feet and hips for ultimate relief!
-Make sure you run in running shoes. There are stores that will pick out shoes for your feet and you test them running on treadmills to make sure you are running properly in them. (If you start to run alot, make sure you protect your feet w/ proper footwear!)
-I frequent runnersworld.com for answers to questions, training programs and nutrition tidbits.
-I love running outside especially in parks, make sure to put on an SPF even on cloudy days.
-Remember it shouldn't be easy But that is what makes it feel so rewarding when you get through it!

Jingle Bell Run and Christmas Tree!

Living in NYC, we decided that we wanted to do a Christmas tree this year. Since space is tight, I decided to bring my mini tree up for us. I also got some stockings that say HO HO HO (which i love since HO is Geoff's last name). Here is our little corner of Christmas in my room!!!

I also ran the Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis in Brooklyn. I had never ever been to Brooklyn so I was pretty excited to run my first NYC run there. It was cold but sunny, so it made for a good morning to run. It was only a 5K (something like 3.1 miles...) and I ran it in less time that I thought I was going to. :)







As we all enter this week of holiday cheer, enjoy your time off, time with friends and family... or if you happened to be working- lets all enjoy each other... wherever you happen to be.