Aside from the new nephew, highlights from the past month are as follows:
-OMG Hammies Feb. 27: Even before I left the gym that morning, my hamstrings were killing me. Reflecting back on that day, I remember doing some hamstring curls, squats...the usual stuff. What really got me, though, were the last two exercises of the day. First, jump squats. Ouchie. Then, one-legged "deadlifts" (for lack of a better term) where i balanced on one leg, holding weights in my hands and bent at the waist, bringing the weights to the floor and back up, using my other leg as a lever. O...M...G...I felt my hamstrings for 4 days after that. No joke. Which brings me to...
-Mason Brutality on Feb 28: The group run was scheduled for Mason. The Mahans were late. 20 minutes late. Okay, no big whoop. As Dan and I trotted off along the course, the sign at Mason Jr. High said, "7:20 19 degrees." Hm.
The first few steps felt like my hamstrings were going to snap, but they seemed to loosen up around 2.5 miles. With temps in the teens and nothing to block the relentless wind, running through flat, suburban Mason felt like running along Lake Michigan in Chicago in January. Thinking I was going to run 12 that morning, I packed a Gu, but ended up taking it at around 5 miles. About 6 miles into the run, I stopped at the Jr. High to use the restroom. Bad idea. My hamstrings revolted. I tried to stretch them, but they felt like I had just run a marathon. I ventured out to add on, knowing I would never make 12. I did a mile out, then turned around and ran back for a total of 8. That was enough. After dodging ice patches all morning it was time for coffee and dry clothes. Post-run breakfast was at IHoP, effectively alleviating some of the morning's abuse.
-Knee probs: Following my OMG Hammies issues in late February, the knee probs showed up around the first week of March. After a 5-mile run in Amberley with the group, my knees were screaming. I told Trainer Doug about the knee pain, and he noticed that my knees turn in - especially my right knee when doing lunges. This isn't entirely news to me but I'm not sure how to correct it. So, I've been running shorter, slower, and icing post-run.
-6-mile run in Sarasota: Ah, the Sarasota lifestyle. Get up, walk to get Starbucks, walk back to the resort. Walk, walk, walk. I was a little bummed that we didn't have the Sarasota half marathon to look forward to this year, so I made a point to get out and revisit some parts of the course on my own.
On St. Patrick's Day, I got up early and got out the door around 6:45. It was in the 50s (read: perfect running weather) and still dark out, but I felt perfectly safe running on my own, since most of the area's seniors are up and about at that time of the morning. I ran from our resort on Lido Key to St. Armand's Circle, then to the Ringling Causeway. I saw a few herons along the way, admired the hibiscus and listened to the tide. It was awesome. I lingered on the causeway to take in the sunrise, and was punished by my knees shortly thereafter. Running through the pain seemed to work, and I made it back to the resort by 8:30, woke up Dan, and we walked to Starbucks and back. Chalk up another 2 miles for the day. The highlight of our trip, for sure.
-The Bomb Bars: Sometimes when we go on vacation, we load up on bars. These often replace meals, as we're generally so busy we forget to eat. Blueberry Crisp Clif constituted several lunches for me while in Florida. I can't be bothered to hunt down lunch when I'm reading "The Shack" on the beach. And when we stumbled upon a Whole Foods in Sarasota, I bought an Odwalla Almond Sweet and Salty bar. To sum up, Blueberry Clif and Odwalla Almond are the bomb(s).
-Westchester run 3/22: Returning from short-sleeve weather in Florida AND a week of navigating by the iPhone, our run in Westchester slapped us upside the head. First, it was in the 30s. Second, the Mahans were late (AGAIN) due to getting lost somewhere in Butler-Warren Ohio. The iPhone map was no help. After moments of "intense fellowship" in the car (as Dr. Wiley would say), we found the start (Caribou Coffee) and i sent Dan off to run. It would have been great to sit at Caribou all morning, relaxing and drinking coffee, but I managed to get outside and do 5. Dan was going to do 18, but cut it down to 14.
-One training session a week: Per my UA agreement, I'm on my own for one workout a week now. I'm adjusting.
-Heart Mini: I did the 5K, Dan did the 15K. It rained on us both. Brunch afterwards was delish. It was one of my slowest 5Ks in recent memory, but whatevs. Pics from brunch follow:
Kathy flipping pancakes & Dan eyes the casserole I baked
Boston-Bound Crew
The Illinois Half is just 2 weeks away. Since I slacked on registering, I am now enrolled in a lottery to get registered for the half. If I don't get chosen, I'll run the 5K. The racing season has begun and I'm looking forward to Illinois.
-OMG Hammies Feb. 27: Even before I left the gym that morning, my hamstrings were killing me. Reflecting back on that day, I remember doing some hamstring curls, squats...the usual stuff. What really got me, though, were the last two exercises of the day. First, jump squats. Ouchie. Then, one-legged "deadlifts" (for lack of a better term) where i balanced on one leg, holding weights in my hands and bent at the waist, bringing the weights to the floor and back up, using my other leg as a lever. O...M...G...I felt my hamstrings for 4 days after that. No joke. Which brings me to...
-Mason Brutality on Feb 28: The group run was scheduled for Mason. The Mahans were late. 20 minutes late. Okay, no big whoop. As Dan and I trotted off along the course, the sign at Mason Jr. High said, "7:20 19 degrees." Hm.
The first few steps felt like my hamstrings were going to snap, but they seemed to loosen up around 2.5 miles. With temps in the teens and nothing to block the relentless wind, running through flat, suburban Mason felt like running along Lake Michigan in Chicago in January. Thinking I was going to run 12 that morning, I packed a Gu, but ended up taking it at around 5 miles. About 6 miles into the run, I stopped at the Jr. High to use the restroom. Bad idea. My hamstrings revolted. I tried to stretch them, but they felt like I had just run a marathon. I ventured out to add on, knowing I would never make 12. I did a mile out, then turned around and ran back for a total of 8. That was enough. After dodging ice patches all morning it was time for coffee and dry clothes. Post-run breakfast was at IHoP, effectively alleviating some of the morning's abuse.
-Knee probs: Following my OMG Hammies issues in late February, the knee probs showed up around the first week of March. After a 5-mile run in Amberley with the group, my knees were screaming. I told Trainer Doug about the knee pain, and he noticed that my knees turn in - especially my right knee when doing lunges. This isn't entirely news to me but I'm not sure how to correct it. So, I've been running shorter, slower, and icing post-run.
-6-mile run in Sarasota: Ah, the Sarasota lifestyle. Get up, walk to get Starbucks, walk back to the resort. Walk, walk, walk. I was a little bummed that we didn't have the Sarasota half marathon to look forward to this year, so I made a point to get out and revisit some parts of the course on my own.
On St. Patrick's Day, I got up early and got out the door around 6:45. It was in the 50s (read: perfect running weather) and still dark out, but I felt perfectly safe running on my own, since most of the area's seniors are up and about at that time of the morning. I ran from our resort on Lido Key to St. Armand's Circle, then to the Ringling Causeway. I saw a few herons along the way, admired the hibiscus and listened to the tide. It was awesome. I lingered on the causeway to take in the sunrise, and was punished by my knees shortly thereafter. Running through the pain seemed to work, and I made it back to the resort by 8:30, woke up Dan, and we walked to Starbucks and back. Chalk up another 2 miles for the day. The highlight of our trip, for sure.
-The Bomb Bars: Sometimes when we go on vacation, we load up on bars. These often replace meals, as we're generally so busy we forget to eat. Blueberry Crisp Clif constituted several lunches for me while in Florida. I can't be bothered to hunt down lunch when I'm reading "The Shack" on the beach. And when we stumbled upon a Whole Foods in Sarasota, I bought an Odwalla Almond Sweet and Salty bar. To sum up, Blueberry Clif and Odwalla Almond are the bomb(s).
-Westchester run 3/22: Returning from short-sleeve weather in Florida AND a week of navigating by the iPhone, our run in Westchester slapped us upside the head. First, it was in the 30s. Second, the Mahans were late (AGAIN) due to getting lost somewhere in Butler-Warren Ohio. The iPhone map was no help. After moments of "intense fellowship" in the car (as Dr. Wiley would say), we found the start (Caribou Coffee) and i sent Dan off to run. It would have been great to sit at Caribou all morning, relaxing and drinking coffee, but I managed to get outside and do 5. Dan was going to do 18, but cut it down to 14.
-One training session a week: Per my UA agreement, I'm on my own for one workout a week now. I'm adjusting.
-Heart Mini: I did the 5K, Dan did the 15K. It rained on us both. Brunch afterwards was delish. It was one of my slowest 5Ks in recent memory, but whatevs. Pics from brunch follow:
Kathy flipping pancakes & Dan eyes the casserole I baked
Boston-Bound Crew
The Illinois Half is just 2 weeks away. Since I slacked on registering, I am now enrolled in a lottery to get registered for the half. If I don't get chosen, I'll run the 5K. The racing season has begun and I'm looking forward to Illinois.
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