Trash and Drivers

This was another week of weather ups and downs in the Midwest.  My Tuesday and Thursday training runs were on the treadmill.  I think once the time changes (on March 10), the weekday runs may be a little more doable outside. The sun won't be going down, along with the temperature, as I get toward the end of the runs.

My Saturday and Sunday runs were outside. Hurray! It was a little cold, and even worse when running into the wind, but it was tolerable. Due to construction in our town that will last all through this training cycle, I'm cut off from my favorite route. I could take a detour to get to some of my favorite places, but the traffic is heavier than usual on those roads, and local drivers apparently have forgotten how to drive safely. There has been a significant increase in accidents, and as a runner I don't want to take a chance! So, on Saturday during my longish run, I meandered around some different roads. I have come up with some decent routes for the long runs coming up soon.

I noticed two things this weekend that bothered me - trash and drivers.

As I run, I look ahead a little bit, at the ground though because I don't want to trip and fall again. I don't know if it's the time of year or if people are just getting worse, but this weekend I noticed a lot of trash as I was running. There were diapers (yuck!), garbage bags, fast food remnants, and so much more. One of the worst things I saw were those plastic holders for bottles/cans. Those are so dangerous to wildlife. They can get all tangled up in them or get stuck. This is what I'm talking about:



I try to pick them up whenever I can. I found that when I am wearing my pack that holds water bottles, I can hang these on the strap. When I get home, I cut them up before discarding them in the recycling. I may need to start carrying a garbage bag, but that  might slow me down a bit :)

Another thing I noticed were the drivers and how much worse they have been lately. As I mentioned above, with the major detour in our town, there has been a significant increase in the number of accidents. I guess people are in so much of a hurry that they forget to pay attention?  I am always so cautious when crossing a road. Drivers ignore the fact that I have the walk light, especially when they are turning left onto the road I am crossing. If it's the least bit dark (even on a cloudy day), I wear all sorts of  things that light up, so I'm very visible. It doesn't matter. At one intersection I counted five cars that turned left, ignoring the sign that "pedestrians have the right of way", while I was trying to cross at crosswalk, with the walk sign.

The other time I was almost hit (this weekend) was at the driveway of a YMCA. People were leaving a church service that is held at the local facility. One car was driving slowly to the exit, I was in the crosswalk, and I knew I had plenty of time to get across, even if they didn't stop at the crosswalk like they should.Well, this car actually SPEEDED UP and blazed through the end of the driveway onto the road. The driver did not even look to their left, which is the direction I was coming from. If a car had been on the road, they would have been hit. I yelled to get her attention, and as she hurried by she mouthed "sorry".

When I run, it's always facing traffic and as far off the road as I can get - never over the white line into the roadway. I can't tell you how many times vehicles cross over the white line on the side of the road, almost as if they are trying to hit me intentionally. It's becoming unsafe to run due to drivers. Are they distracted, bad drivers, or actually trying to hit runners? It's hard to tell anymore.I've become much more vigilant lately.

When the weather improves, my Saturday runs will hopefully be on some trails. I have to drive to get there, but I think that will be safer than dealing with the local drivers. I'm hoping people get out of their winter funk and start paying attention when driving!



No excuses/Gotta Run

Why Run?

Finally outside
Following my training plan, I run four days a week. It was great to be able to do three of those outside this last week!

The two runs during the week are after work. This time of the year they may start out with the  temperature fairly decent (for the Midwest anyway), but as soon as the sun starts to dip, the temperature rapidly cools and the wind seems to pick up. It can get unpleasant, especially at the point in the run when I'm sweating! It was wonderful to sip on some nice warm tea after these runs this week.

Saturday's run was 16 miles. It was the first run at that distance in quite a while, as it's early in the current training cycle. I thought it was warm out, but the wind picked up towards the middle part of the run. To keep myself going, I try to do an out and back run as much as possible.This means that when I was starting to get tired and a little chilled, I was 1/2 way through my run. I HAD to finish one way or another, since I was 8 miles from home. Running seemed to be the quickest way home!

Unfortunately, today it was just too windy to run outside. I didn't feel like getting blown off the road! The treadmill workout kept me on track. Soon I will be running exclusively outside (I hope). I want to start running some more trails, but the ones in the area have been flooded, or just extremely muddy. I don't want to take a chance on getting injured. There will be plenty of time to get more trail running before August.

Why?
During one of my weekday runs, I ran into a non-running friend. She asked me what race I was training for. I hesitated a bit before answering. Yes, I'm following a training plan with the intention on finishing my first ultra marathon in August. And, I have signed up for a few other races along the way (and a few after the August race). But, I'm not running because I'm in training. A training plan keeps me motivated, but I would be running even if I didn't have a race coming up. The only difference might be I wouldn't run the same distance or outside during less that optimal weather. I answered with "I'm always training for a race because I love to run". I enjoy the wildlife I see on my runs. It's fun to see other people out running, walking, riding their bicycles - whatever gets people outside. 

Races are fun, because there I can talk with other crazy runners like me. If they have an expo, I enjoy seeing new products. It's a fun way to add to my shirt collection, too! I rarely buy new running shirts, because I run in the race shirts. Most races also benefit a worthwhile charity. But, races are just the extra bonus I get from being a runner.

No excuses/Gotta Run

Training is hard!

Another week has gone by. Unfortunately, this week was not a good weather week. We had ice, wind, whatever. I don't mind cold weather and have plenty of cold-weather gear, but I just can't handle the cold wind anymore. As far as ice, I'm not taking any chances on a fall. At my age, it would take too long to recover from a broken bone. I plan to keep running until I can't anymore, and I want that "I can't" to be decades away!

With the ice and the accompanying road emergencies, I did not make it to the fitness club for the planned strength training. However, I have a DVD with specific yoga programs for runners. Some are for off days and are more intense, and some are for recovering after a run. I started with these again this week since I was a little more housebound than usual. Even one of my cats likes to do yoga! It is already helping - I don't feel as sore, and I think I stand a little taller :)

I managed every scheduled run this week, albeit on the treadmill. I was able to break in the Altra shoes a little more. They have a different heel drop than I am used to, and all the time on the treadmill was the perfect time to try them. I didn't have any issues, but if I had and I was running outside, it would have been a little difficult to stop and change shoes!

One thing I have noticed since I have been sticking to my 4-runs a week schedule is that I am constantly hungry - and I do mean constantly! At this point my goal is to maintain my weight while building strength and endurance. I certainly don't want to gain weight though. I started back on MyFitnessPal this week to track my food. I want to make sure that not only am I eating the correct amount of calories, but the right kind of food.

Even though I've been running for a little over twelve years (I was a late starter), I find that actually sticking to an all around training program is a lot of work; more than I expected. With a long trail race planned in August, I am taking training more seriously than ever before. Also, last year was a bad year for me in terms of running, so I'm trying to make this a much better year. In addition to actually running, there is strength training, nutrition, and recovery. With two jobs and lots of other things that make up this thing we call life, it can be daunting at times. I am trying, for a change, to put these training needs at a high priority. It makes the rest of life work a little more smoothly.

Here is hoping for better weather soon. Running 13+ miles on the treadmill is not fun, but it's better than no run at all.

Gotta run/No Excuses

One of my favorite yoga poses

Silly Cally!

Training and Treadmill Thoughts

Another week is in the books. It was a crazy Midwest weather week, including a temperature change from 60 one evening to a windchill of 0 the next morning. Due to this crazy weather,  training this week included a mixture of indoor and outdoor runs.

Tuesday and Thursday I rushed home from work for my week-day long runs. On Tuesday I was set to run indoors, then realized it was actually warm (for the Midwest in February) and the wind was tolerable. Toward the end of the run the temperature started to drop, the wind picked up, so my cheeks were a little red by the end! Thursday's outdoor run was much better, with a little rain but warm temperatures. Two days of outside running felt wonderful.

I'm not anti-treadmill; in fact I'm just the opposite. I think it's a great tool when circumstances make an outdoor run not possible, for whatever reason. It can be weather related, health related, time related, or anything else. My advice to anyone is to not think of using a treadmill as a failure, or not a "real" run. It's a good way to stick to a training plan and keep on going. I believe a run is a run, and better than no run at all.

One thing I have realized as I have matured is that running doesn't have to be something to suffer about. I don't mean that training should be easy. In order to get better, I need to push myself. What I mean is that if I feel the weather is too cold for me, I should not feel it's a training failure to use the treadmill. Some runners may look down on others as "fair weather" runners or even not a "real" runner, but I am my own self and will do what works for me. A few years ago I had a cold virus and continued to run outside (because isn't that what "real" runners do?) during an spate of unusually cold, windy spring weather. These were the types of runs where the cold/wind takes your breath away and can make your chest hurt. As I was at the peak of marathon training, these were 18-20 mile runs. I ended up with bronchitis and lost three weeks of training. It wasn't worth it just to prove I was a "real" runner. Not so coincidentally, my running partner also ended up with bronchitis.

Another use of a treadmill is for hanging wet running clothes :) Since it was wet on Thursday, I used my treadmill as a running clothes drying rack!

This weekend I had to run Saturday morning, instead of the warmer afternoon, because of family obligations. I felt it was too cold and windy in the morning, so I put on a good movie and got my miles in on the treadmill. Sunday was a shorter, on tired legs run, and again I ran on the treadmill. And I don't feel like it was a failed training weekend. I was able to break in some new, different brand and heel drop shoes on Saturday without the worry that I'd have no way to stop and change them if I had issues. And I accomplished my scheduled miles.

So far, the running plan is working. I have completed every training run I have scheduled. I know circumstances in the future might cause me to make adjustments, but it's a great beginning. Also, by running four days a week, I'm not feeling any unusual muscle strain. I'm taking my non-running days more seriously this time!

I haven't been as faithful to the strength training. Sometimes life just gets in the way. My goal over the next few weeks is to find a strength training schedule that works for me, and add it in a more concrete way to my training schedule. I find if it's written down and I can cross it off as I accomplish the goal, it keeps me motivated.

On to another week!

No excuses/Gotta Run

Training Plan and execution - the beginning

Plan

From the reading I've done about training for an ultra trail marathon, learning to run on tired legs is important.  Many of us are busy with life and cannot always spend an entire Saturday executing a long run. One way to gain the experience of running on tired legs is to run a medium to long run on Saturday, and then a shorter run on Sunday. As a more "mature" runner, this works well and gives me the rest days I need.

Execution

This was the first week of concentrated training on tired legs. Due to the weather (hello Polar Vortex), I've been running on the treadmill this week. Sticking to the plan, I ran on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, each a medium run (7-11 miles). Saturday was a little over 11 miles. It's hard to keep it going on the treadmill, but a few good movies help! As a side note, that's why Saturday's run was a little over 11 miles. I was engrossed in a movie and didn't keep track of my mileage.  Oops!

Today was a beautiful day in the Midwest. I headed out the door, eager for a nice outdoor run. I met up with a running friend, and the plan was to run 5 miles. I figured it would be an easy run - 5 miles isn't much for us long distance, crazy runners, right? I was wrong! First of all, it was rough getting started. I could definitely feel that my legs were not fresh. In fact, for the first mile I had doubts I could even do 3 miles, let alone 5. Luckily for me, as the run continued, my legs warmed up and I was able to enjoy the run. In fact, it felt so good to be out and about, I ended up going a bit extra, and my friend went even further.

Takeaway

I honestly thought that doing back to back runs on the weekends wouldn't be as difficult as it turned out to be. I'm used to doing two to three 20-mile runs when preparing for a marathon. So, I figured I would need to do two or three 35-mile runs in order to be prepared for the 50-mile run. After today's first experience, I think these back-to-back runs will accomplish the goal of conditioning my body to run on tired legs. 

-----------------------------
I hope to keep up this blog with (mostly) weekly updates. Even if it's not read by many people, it is a way of keeping myself accountable.This is going to be a fun journey, and I hope some readers come along for the ride!

No excuses/Gotta run

And So It Begins - Again

It's amazing how time flies.  It's now February and that ultra marathon is even closer!  Since the last post listed steps one through five, I'll start here with the next steps.

Step Six - Make a plan (and stick to it)
After buying a book and reading some of it (I'll get to more of it, I promise), I created a plan.  This plan was a combination of a few I looked at and some I have used over the years. The plan includes training runs, a few races, and strength training. I have learned a lot (I hope) over the years about training and training plans. For example, I know that I need more recovery days than a younger runner.  I know what days of the week work better with my work schedule for long training runs. I built the plan around those parameters.

The number one thing I have learned is to be flexible. I was aware of a few events I have between now and the race, so I incorporated those. For example, I took a trip to Austin, Texas in January. I knew that running was not a top priority on the trip.  So, I planned training runs before and after the trip, and didn't feel like I was failing when I didn't do any Texas runs. I did a LOT of walking though! If something unexpected comes up during the rest of the training, I will adjust as needed. I have learned that missing a training run here or there makes no difference in the grand scheme of things.

I have a few favorite races during the year, so I adjusted my plan to accommodate those distances. So far I have managed to stick to the training, even through the bitterly cold weather. That's something else I have learned - it doesn't matter if I have to run on the treadmill; a run inside is better than no run at all. The important thing is getting running time on my feet.

One thing I have been inconsistent with is the strength training. I included that in the plan, but I have skipped many sessions during the first month. I am going to make that more consistent starting now!  I know that strength training, especially core, helps me run better. That is particularly important as I age and it takes longer to build those muscles.

One part of the plan is lacking, and that is nutrition. My training runs will gradually increase in miles/time, so this will be very important. I have noticed that as I mature, I run out of fuel during long races. I will feel great the first several miles, then suddenly feel like I have no energy. With a 50-mile trail race, fueling my body will be critical. I have stomach issues if I eat much at all the day before and day of the race and that is also detrimental. Any suggestions are appreciated!

Step Seven - Enjoy the Process
I believe this is the most important step. Training for any race, but a long race in particular, takes significant time and dedication. If I didn't like the process, it would be very difficult to pull myself out of a bad run, and to keep going when there are so many other things happening in my life. It's not about the goal, it's about the journey.  So, here are a few stories of the journey so far. I technically started on New Year's Eve!

New Year's Eve Midnight Special 5K
This year the weather was warm, almost too warm. The wind began to pick up, but it didn't feel cold at all.  I enjoyed running in the dark and seeing the different ways people lit up their clothes.

Hangover Classic 5K
This race was exactly 12 hours after the Midnight Special. The weather was cooler, and wind made it feel even colder.  Since I rarely drink, I wasn't hung over :)  It was so much fun seeing some of the costumes people wore. I think the people wearing fuzzy bathrobes over their running clothes were the smartest!

Dave's Ten Miler
This race was in mid January, the week before the big freeze.  Even then, the weather was so bad, there was some doubt the race would be held. They lifted the road emergency just in time for the race.  It was very cold and the wind was brutal. We ran in a pattern that was a series of rectangles. Running against the wind was very cold and I felt under dressed. When the wind was to my back, I was too warm and felt over dressed. It was back and forth - too warm and perspiring, then turn into the wind and my wet gear would freeze and I'd be too cold. Nevertheless, I finished. I was surprised at how many people were able to make it to the race. There was even a Yeti :)

I hope to keep posting my jouirney.  Until  next time . . .

No Excuses / Gotta Run