Speeding up!

I'm a slow runner - I admit this.  Yesterday I went for my 30 minute run and decided that I need to run faster, so I did - 10:34 minute miles (see proof below)... Annie didn't mention this in her post, but she's averaging 8:30 minute miles... and Wendy is averaging 9.... so I've still got a waaaaaaaays to go... good to have something to aspire to!

Two days until Turkey with the crew! I absolutely need to continue my 5x a week training plan (we'll be gone a week), so tune in for my complaints about oppressive heat :)

Signed the slightly faster turtle,

Liz

Something is working

Yesterday I had a great four mile jog.  My first mile was almost as fast as my last, which is never the case.  My last mile is always much faster.  Must have started with a good song.  I was pleased with my average pace of around 9 minutes…until I heard that Annie ran seven miles at 8:30 average pace.  Almost twice as long and faster!  Speedy little Tasmanian devil!

The thing I am trying to be the most conscience of is not running two days in a row.  That alone seems to be reducing/eliminating my shin splints.  I have also noticed that all of my pains/injuries are on my right side, so I am doing private yoga classes to sort out some of the imbalance and switched the hand I hold my iphone in while jogging and it is helping. 

All of the heart rate monitor chit chat is making me curious and I am feeling left out of the excitement.  Now that Annie has one that communicates with the iphone, I think I will have to break down and get one too. 

Funny story for the day.  My keys were stored in the little interior pocket in the back of my shorts.  They were making noise, so I adjusted them.  I guess I adjusted them right out of my shorts because there were no keys in there when I got home.  Of course I did an embarrassing search through my shorts to see if they weren’t caught in the built in underwear right in front of my door (on a main street).  TG that Liz and Marc have a back up set and weren’t cruising the canals in their boat when I needed them.   

Photo of Wendy, Liz and Annie post running on Sunday

First outdoor run of the season

I have to admit, I'm more of a treadmill girl than an outdoor running kinda girl. Mostly because I don't like being cold and I seem to always live in places where it gets cold. But obviously this race I've signed up for means I'm going to have to run outside so I better get used to it!


So on Sunday I decided to try my luck at running around Vondelpark. Last time I tried this was September last year and I made it half the way around before I had to come back home because I was shattered. You can imagine my surprise when I made it around the park not once, not twice but THREE times on Sunday morning! I even have proof, in case you don't believe me ;)

http://nikeplus.nike.com/plus/activity/running/detail/2018057458?external_share_id=A514AB00-BB84-4F5D-8DEB-315C63219F8E

I must say I was very happy with that result. It was lovely weather for it and I wasn't even that tired afterwards. But it wasn't all fun and joy - my right foot cramped up again (I don't know what that's about, I really hope it's not the new shoes). I also got a stitch during the second lap but I ran through both issues coz I'm hardcore. Also, I almost ate a very large insect that decided to fly straight into my mouth on the home stretch. I'm glad I managed to spit it out within a nano-second of it getting in my mouth because it was big enough to probably have been some sort of bee. Not cool.


This week we're going to Turkey and I'm still debating whether to take my running gear with me. I'm not sure about this working-out-while-on-vacation business but if Liz and Marc are taking theirs... Ahh, we'll see!


Laterz ladies!

Two weeks in...

It's been a few days since I've posted.  Here's what I've been up to - the sprints on Thursday left me a bit sore, but Friday I decided to do a workout video for my cross training.  I did level 2 (of 3 levels) which involved a bunch of lunges and squats in addition to upper body and abs.  On Saturday when I had to go for the 3 mile run, I was in a sorry state (Wendy would say: "broken").  I managed to run the whole thing though, which proves that I'm getting more fit (I think).  Thank goodness for me that Sunday was a rest day - I needed it!

I also discovered that some of my comrades are super runners, but I'll let them post about that.

Other stuff from the weekend: watching the opening games, shopping, Ethiopian food, Dark Knight, sorting through pictures (Berlin has been posted for you Google + users), dim sum, boating and more Olympics.  Good weekend.  I also slept in until I could sleep no more... ahhh.....

Happy Monday,

Liz

New shoes bandwagon

While in the US, I got new shoes and since we've seen pictures of Wendy and Annie's new shoes, I'll show you mine too.  I'm a New Balance girl.  New Balance shoes make my feet oh-so-happy, especially when coupled with SmartWool socks.

Yesterday I did my form run and form sprints.  Per my snazzy GPS watch, when I run sprints I run a 7 minute mile.  I have no idea how those marathon winners can possibly keep up a faster pace than that for so long.  I'm completely stumped.  Additionally, on my run which has a target heart rate goal of 60-75% I kept going over the 75% - angry beeps ensue, so I had to slow it down a bit... continuing my 11ish minute mile pace, ugh.

Signed the turtle,

Liz

Running a half marathon - a good excuse to go shopping!

I've needed some new running shoes for quite some time but the very thought of trying to find a pair that fit (I have very small feet) in Amsterdam (they have very small boutiquey shops here) filled me with dispair. Pushing my way past hundreds of tourists only to be told that they don't have my size really wasn't floating my boat.

So finally last weekend I made it my mission to go shoe shopping. I tried looking up some running shoe (loopschoenen) shops and found a couple of tiny stores dotted around Amsterdam on google maps. So with all that new information, I headed straight for the Nike store (because I know where it is).

Nike must be having a big marketing drive at the moment because everywhere I look I see posters advertising their new Lunarglide+ running shoes. So being a true consumer, I bought a pair. I did actually try them on and they felt great - a good fit and a lot lighter than my old pair. And of course, since they are compatible with the Nike+ sensors, I had to buy one of those as well.

My new Nike "Lunarglide+" running shoes + sensor

I was pretty excited about trying out my new shoes and sensor so I gave them a go on Sunday evening. So far so good!

Then, just like magic, my new heart rate monitor arrived at work on Monday so now I'm fully loaded and ready to go!

My new Wahoo Blue HR heart rate monitor

Now onto the more serious stuff. I tried running 10km on Tuesday and all I managed was a measly 5.2km before I got a horrible stitch and had to stop. But today I pushed hard and ran the full 10km in a record 51:57! That's a full 4:38 faster than my last attempt at 10km! I'm very pleased :)

Ok, I think that's enough for now. Plenty more to come... Go ladies go!!! :)

Return of the Fat Kid

Growing up, I spent a lot of time being The Fat Kid and The New Kid. In both instances, one soon learns the wisdom of (1) not calling too much attention to oneself; and (2) only doing things that one knows one is good at (mostly to avoid circumstances in which one fails miserably and so does not achieve (1)).

This ethos, combined with non-sporty indian genetics (we can't all play cricket), meant that I avoided all kinds of exercise. I wrote my own notes to the teacher, forging my folks' signature (unsuccessfully) trying to save myself from Phys. Ed. class. I faked injuries, and one time I even tried telling the teacher that it was against my religion (I'm Catholic; she didn't buy it).

Anyhoo. Fast forward a few (quite a few) years and although my legs grew and my waist didn't and I now tend to only hang out with New Kids (we are the new black), I've never really acquired the taste for kicking my wimpy genes and breaking a sweat. I tried to tell my friends that the last time I did a charity run (15 years ago), I spent the whole time at Starbucks until the wheelchair participants passed me. They think I'm joking. I'm not.

I just had a baby, so my spare time is like the sunshine in Amsterdam - you keep thinking its coming, it's really not, you learn to be happy anyway. I also really really like the kid, so I tend to hang out with him a lot. Again, not super conducive to half marathon training.

So will the Fat Kid grow up, against the odds? Time will tell!

Still no rain...

Tuesday = cross-training, so I dutifully biked home as fast as I could to maintain my 60-75% heart rate target.  Upon arriving home, I saw this going on in the park across the street.  I <3 good weather.  We picnicked outside until dark (10:30pm ish).  SO nice not to have rain! 

Wear your sunscreen,

Liz

Disguised like a real runner

My new super florescent running shoes make me feel like a real runner.  As if wearing decent, matching running clothes make me a casual jogger (which is absolutely what I am).  I am convinced that other more serious looking runners gave me the nod today solely based on my scary florescent shoes (no pun intended, but now I think it is funny).

BBQ torture

The advantage of the recent flood of sunshine is that it is even more exciting to run outside.  Especially with the long days.  The downside...all Dutch people flock to the parks to take advantage of the weather too.  They lounge around.  They BBQ.  They drink.  It is soooo tempting to steal something off the grill and keep running...and maybe steal something else to wash down the BBQ.  I would do this, but as previously noted, I am not a fast runner, so that might not be my most stealth move of all time. 

I have to avoid parks and just run by the canals.  The BBQ is far too tempting.  The distraction might be slowing down my pace too.  At least it is nice to think that is why I appear to be getting slower! 

Sun!

I considered waxing poetically about the gorgeous weather in Amsterdam since yesterday (so welcome since  Norway was SOOO cold), but I won't bore you.  Instead, I'll share a picture I took while running yesterday along the Amstel canal (yes, it's the very same that Amstel named it's beer after).

Yesterday was a straight 30 minute jog, and it was glorious outside, but I'm running around an 11 minute mile pace... terrible.  In the upcoming weeks, you'll get to see my speed transform (hopefully).

Enjoy the vitamin D,
Liz

The training plan makes me rebel

So maybe my blog should be all about the ways I want to follow the bible (Marathons for Mortals) and how I simply can’t help but break the rules!  Better yet, there should be an opposite addition or plan for me and then I would be completely in line with perfect Liz that will run in the rain and on vacation!  So yesterday was rest day.  Obviously I  did an hour and a half of yoga.  To be fair, I will definitely rest on Tuesday due to meetings and I will rest every other day it rains….

Wrap-up week one

It's Sunday, I've made it though the first week (5 sessions) of training. 3 of my five sessions have been while on vacation. I never exercise while on vacation, so this is a major signal I'm taking this thing seriously. The reason I don't train, especially while on vacation in a new city, is that I often do lots of walking. While in Milan with my mom, her pedometer said 15 miles one day and 11 the next. This leads to sore feet. Norway has been similar with copious amounts of walking + training, so my feet and legs are more weary than normal. It's also downpouring in Norway.

In a week and a half I'm off to Turkey for a week of sun. I'll train there too, and probably complain about running in the heat :) That's the silver lining of all this chilly weather- perfect for running.

From Norway with love,
Liz

Let the fun begin

Like Annie said, we let our crazy friend Liz bully us into doing this half marathon.  That being said, I have accepted it and love the idea of training regularly and trying something new.  I am also treating the book like a training bible...well sort of since I started modifying it on day one (Monday this week).  To be fair, I took a redeye back from NYC Sunday night. 

I also did my first race a few weeks ago.  It was a 500 meter swim and 5k run.  My only goal was not to die.  As I am blogging, you can see that I was successful!  Slightly better than surviving.  I am a decent swimmer, but a slow runner.  All the speed I gained in the swim was lost as people ran past me like I was standing still.  So, I should work on my pace a little bit!

I consider the rain and my shin splints to be my biggest enemies in this new challenge.  After playing tag with the rain all day (going out in jogging clothes for a run and then turning around at the first drop of rain twice), I finally persevered with a 3.8 mile jog.  I also put my shorts on backwards the second time I attempted to jog today, but that's a whole different story!

First week continues...

Thursday was running for 30 minutes followed by run-form drills. Run-form meant big long strides as though you're sprinting. I channel Claire Decker from high school cross country. She had long beautiful strides and was sooooo fast. Marathoning for Mortals tells me "your form will carry you through". Since I'm treating the book like gospel, I'm doing my exercises.

We're in Norway for the weekend, so we ran somewhere new. This also marks the first time I've ever run on vacation - all sorts of milestones here! Friday was cross training. Woke up at 7 to do some weight training in the hotel gym, then we stuffed ourselves full of tasty free hotel breakfast (Oslo is SO expensive and set off for the day. I'll tell you, I need to weight train more often, I am sore today!

 Since our blog has zero photos, here's a pic of what's going on outside right now as we take a train then boat to Bergen:

OMG... what have I signed up for??

A few months ago, I could barely run 5km. My dad signed me up for a 5km run in Santiago and I panicked, literally. 5kms. I know you're all dying to know how it went... well, I survived, let's just put it that way. 5kms is a long way!!!

Fast forward a few months and somehow Liz has managed to convince me that running 21.09km is a good idea. I'm not quite sure how I ever let this happen but I'm doing it. Let the suffering begin!

As per Liz's instructions, I also started my 'training' on July 16th. I've been going to the gym about 2 to 3 times a week so 30 minutes on the treadmill wasn't so bad. Actually considering how bad the weather has been in Amsterdam recently, I'm really glad I've got a gym membership - unlike Liz, you wouldn't catch me dead running with a rain jacket getting soaked. I. Don't. Think. So.

Back to the gym tomorrow for some more training. I'll put some numbers up when I figure out minute miles instead of minute kms ;)

Training day #2

To give a quick background of my training, I read the book Marathoning for Mortals by John Bingham and Jenny Hadfield which my brother graciously lent me.  It's a terrific read and very motivating.  The appendix of the book contains several training schedules for walk/running, run/walking and running.  I've chosen the run schedule and am following it accordingly.

Day 2 of training was 30 min of cross-training at a moderate pace (60-70% heart rate).  A good potion of those reading know that I have no car and therefore bike 30 minutes each way to work.  To be efficient, I thought I'd wear my handy heart rate monitor and bike home from work on gear 1, pedaling hard to achieve my heart rate target.  This worked splendidly, except my 30 minute commute only took 23 minutes, so I biked around the aforementioned park a few times until I hit 30 minutes.  So efficient!

It only down-poured for 3 hours yesterday, so maybe (just maybe) we'll have some nice weather for a change.

Fingers crossed,

Liz

PS - Today's a rest day, but watch for the other ladies to start posting... 

Training begins...

Yesterday, July 16th training for the Amsterdam 1/2 Marathon began... I signed up for the event and registered for a 10 min per mile time.  We'll see if that's reasonable over the next few months.

In Amsterdam, it currently feels like we're in the middle of the biblical story about Noah's Arc... it's been down pouring for over two weeks straight.  The weather will clear up for a few hours and then the sky will open up again.  It's also around 60 degrees... not sure they understand that it's supposed to be summer here!

From about 3pm on yesterday it was raining with the intent to drown everything, but day one of my schedule said 30 minutes of running.  Since I don't belong to the gym here, I decided to just wear my rain jacket and run around the outside of the park I normally run in (as good portions of the park resembled a lake).  It turned out to be not so bad (soggy and cold) though I was running an avg 11:51 minute mile... eep!  Yes, I'm  crazy slow, but have to start somewhere!

Tonight = cross-training!

Stay dry,
Liz