Misadventures

Happy Spring break!

Thats right, this week all my runs will be taking place in the great old ROFO/OP. (River Forest/ Oak Park). Yesterday I ran 7 miles. Today I ran 3. I am sore. Yes, for the first time in all of my marathon training, I am feeling it. Not to bad, don't get me wrong. But just a little twinge here and there. The 7 miles yesterday went well, its nice that Chicago is so FLAT. But it was long and I did not necessarily enjoy mile 6. 7 was fine, 6 was what killed me. Don't ask why.

Today, after my lovely 3 mile drag (calling it a run would be very nice to what I did for a half hour), I dropped DJ off at volleyball and went down town to FLEET FEET! I am officially a serious runner. Or something like that. After getting totally lost and driving all over the North side, ( I was 3 blocks away, thought I had gone too far, so I turned back and drove down Montrose all the way back to Lake shore drive...twice) I found this stupid place. I was cursing under my breath as I walked in, I did not understand why I had to drive so far for a stupid pair of shoes. Now I get it. This dude had me try on 3 pairs, run in all of them, he studied my bio mechanics or some shit like that, it was intense. But the shoes I got are sweet. And they feel really good. So I guess it was worth it. The most exciting thing I learned is that I do not have to get a fannypack water bottle thing!! I asked the serious runner dude and he told me he ran the marathon without one, so I would be fine! That was a relief.

Tomorrow is 5 miles, Thursday is 4, Friday is 3, and Saturday should be rest, but Im going to do my 7 that day because even God slept in on Easter Sunday, right? Plus I will need my energy for the Easter egg hunt. ;)

Its going to be 70 tomorrow!!!

-kv

Speedy Gonzales. Arribarriba!

I am happy to announce that today was the first day I have officially passed another runner! Yes, that's right. Not a mom pushing her baby in a stroller. Not a fast walking old couple. An actual runner. It was glorious! Granted, he was probably going the same pace as I would be running any other day, but not today. Tuesdays are my speedy days: aka 3 miles at 25.5 minutes or under. I hit 25 today...I'm aiming for 24 in the near future, and I thought I was going to get it today, but there are these lovely beasts called hills that slow me down. The one problem with my place of residence is that it is on top of a hill, so no matter which direction you're coming from, you're going to be climbing up that mountain. Grrrrrrrr.

On a scarier note, today Katie came out of the elevator and asked me "Have you signed up for the marathon yet?!" My answer was "No..." Apparently registration is closed. I don't know what to do. I mean, I'm running this damn thing, but I don't know what to do...I guess if worst comes to worst, I'll just hop the fence and steal someone's number. Sounds like a plan to me...

...I hope not.

~A

Vitamins and Recovery

I am now officially 2 months into this mess. Its my second easy week on the schedule, which means I am not running today! The timing is perfect because playoffs for interrmural basketball start tonight and because of a few grave injuries to Team Baby Mama Drama, I will need to be in fine form this evening. I will run 4 miles tomorrow, Wednesday, Thursday, and just 3 on Saturday! It looks so calm and peaceful.

In other news I have begun taking a Multivitamin every day. A grown up one. I had bought gummy vitamins thinking that that was a sound life decision, and it was not. I went to give blood a few weeks ago and they told me my hemoglobin levels were really really scary low. Like they could not even read the amount because it was that low. This was shocking because the last time I gave blood I was able to give double red blood cells, because I had the hemoglobin levels of a muscular man. (Not sure if I was more impressed or embarrassed....). They told me to eat some red meat and try again later, but after talking to my Mom and learning that low iron runs in the family, I decided (or my mom insisted...whatever you want to call it), to start taking care of myself. So here I sit, staring at this huge horse pill I must take every day. It is helping. I have more energy, have been sleeping better, my breathing on runs is easy and low these days. I just hate taking these things! Those gummy ones were so tasty....

Happy Monday!
Katie

Marathon

I ran my first marathon! It took me a week to do it... this week I ran a total of 26 +a little miles and man is my body feeling it. It felt good during my runs, but afterwards I just feel exhausted. I think it might be that I'm not eating the right energy-fueling foods. I'm not going to lie, I'm a picky eater and a big fan of carbs...that's pretty much it. I drink V8s to supplement my fruits and veggies, but I don't think it's enough. Any running-meal advice would be greatly appreciated :)

I'm taking the day off to day to give my legs a rest, and then it's back to work tomorrow!

Wisconsin is playing Cornell right now, let's hope this game doesn't mess up my bracket like Georgetown and Kansas did...Go Badgers!

Happy March Madness

~A

Just keep running...

Hey friends!
Today was perfect. When I left to run at around 4:45 is was 63 and sunny. I was supposed to run 4 miles, but ended up doing a little over 4 and a half, because I wanted to be outside longer! The lakes are melting, the ducks are coming back, the grass is turning green, and the people of Madison are coming out of hibernation! It is beautiful!

I decided to take video of different places that I ran today, so that you can all feel like you ran along with me on this beautiful day! unfortunately, said videos are not uploading. I will work on this at a time when I do not have so much homework! But anyway, here is the route I took from mapmyrun.com.

On Sunday, I ran 6 miles again, which was great! It took less than an hour and I felt like I kept a very good pace, so I was pleased. Its nice to see that my body is adjusting back to regular movement, and I did not have trouble with breathing or heart rate at all. Monday was an easy 3 miles, and the rest of the week is just 3's and 4's, so nothing too big! The weather forcast is wonderful, so I am excited to get outside and run everyday. Of course they are calling for snow on Saturday night, but I refuse to accept that. Granted, it snowed here in April last year, so we are getting spoiled, but I will take spoiled over snow any day!

Sorry the videos did not work! I will work on getting them up soon! that or I'll take my digital camera with me for Friday's run, the quality on that might be a little better! I hope everyone is enjoying the sun and warm!

Happy St. Patrick's day!
Katie

8!

I did my longest run EVER: 8 miles! I did it Thursday afternoon. I was originally supposed to do 6, but then my dad was like "bump it up to 7" and then while running out I hit 37 minutes and was like what the heck, what's the extra 3 minutes out. I was feeling really good that day and I took a different route so naturally I was distracted. The weather that day was so bizarre. I ran on lakeshore path along Lake Mendota which was fogging like no other! It was crazy, I was running through clouds it seemed like. It was about 45-50 degrees out, but through the fog it easily dropped 10 degrees giving me a nice cool break. But instead of continuing the path to picnic point, i took it to the left and went towards Eagle Heights (where the 80 goes but you never really know where it is cuz it's so far). So I pass Eagle Heights and then get to Shorewood Hills. I should have just turned around after reading that sign. Shorewood HILLS. It should have been called the Shorewood Alps. But as tiring as it was, it sure was a beautiful sight. I was running along Lake Mendota Dr. which was a single road with hardly any traffic and the most beautiful homes placed on a cliff overlooking the foggy Lake Mendota. No wonder I got distracted from the time. I found my future house during this run. 3512 Lake Mendota Dr.-->the top room has 4 walls of windows and sky lights and is a studio. Can someone say H.E.A.V.E.N.? Then I had to turn around...I ran out of gas the last 2.5 miles of that run. I was just put-putting along. I wish I had a sign above me that said "On my 8th mile" so people would understand and not just think that I'm the slowest runner alive...oh well.

Going along with Katie's rant of intense people, I saw a guy cruisin with his water bottle belt on. I wanted to laugh at him, but then he was going at the speed of light. Damn those tiny light people. They can go so fast.

On a second rant, walkers are so stupid. Either you have the dumb 3-some of girls who walk in a line, which leaves no space on the side walk for me to run by. And they see me coming, but refuse to move so I'm left to run half in the mud and give the girl on the outside the chicken elbow. Or you have these crazy people who think it's a good idea to walk directly in the middle of the sidewalk and again refuse to move for the runner coming straight at them. And then there's my favorite. The zig-zag walking texters. They don't see you coming, and keep swaying to the left and right, so you can never predict where they're going to go and then you run right into them...awwwwkward.

Happy daylight savings!

~A

I am not intense....

I am not even close to the intensity level of some of these crazies out there. Today I was running behind a woman who was wearing:
a) ipod arm band
b) HUGGEE watch
c) heart rate monitor (over her shirt..I dont think she quite understands it...) which was attached to a watch on her other wrist (at least I think thats why she was wearing 2 watches)
d) a CamelBak. With the hose thingies going into her mouth. So she could drink and run.
e) Fanny pack butt thing.
f) Hat, intense jacket, sun glasses, intense spandex, all Nike of course.

I on the other hand tend to run with my ipod. Annnnd my keys tied to my shoelace. Thats about it. I don't understand why it is necessary to hook yourself up to 294839 contraptions to run. I get the heart rate monitor, we were required to buy one for crew last year and I get that it helps you see how hard your body is working. But I don't even like wearing that. It gets all sweaty and slides all up and down and I think that that would be one more thing to distract me.

I guess I just like working out to work out. I feel great when I'm done, and I really keep track of the numbers or stats or data all that often. I got so sick of that shit last year on the ergs, being ranked and evaluated and judged based on how good of a day you had. So I like to unhook, set a course, and just roll with it. Maybe this is a bad training strategy. Maybe that woman will kick my ass come marathon time. But all I know is today, while she was groaning and puffing and hitting various buttons to see various data, I breezed right on past her, with a huge smile on my face.

Suck it intense running people.

(ps sorry if I actually offended anyone who runs with 21387492 contraptions. I just have no idea what any of those do. Like previously stated, I am not intense.)

Happy Weekend!!
Katie

Fun Run!

IT WAS SO AWESOME TODAY!

So yesterday I was slacking...I had planned to do 6 with Alyssa early in the morning, but for some reason I could NOT sleep. I was laying in bed dreading getting up and running. It was 3:30 ish before I fell asleep, so I texted Alyssa and told her I was taking the day off. (I was already a day ahead on my schedule...). I dont know what was wrong with me, I was just psyched out I guess. I really do not like running early, and I just was not feeling the physical actvity as I lay in bed exhausted at 3 in the morning...imagine that!

This morning I woke up ready to go! I did six miles today, and I did them fast (about 55 minutes...not bad not bad!). I was just much happier mentally and physically, and I had a great time. I ran around downtown, mainly because as pretty as the Lakeshore path is, right now its muddy and gray and there is not much to look at but dirt and empty beer cans. State street was hopping, full of families and kids and street preformers and dogs to avoid. I loved it! The bad part about ending my 6 mile run by running down State street is everything smelled SOO good and I was hungry. But that is about the worst of my complaints!

I am wishfully thinking that treadmill running is over...but I have a sinking feeling I'm wrong. I mean, its March in Madison, we have at least a foot of snow left. Sigh. Keep your fingers crossed people!

Let the week begin...
Katie

Spring Fever

Today was another gorgeous wannabespring day! As I ran by melted masses of snow/mud I could catch the scent of summer's fresh cut grass and imagined the streets shaded by the tree's leaves. Ah I can't wait until summer. Not to mention new running clothes shopping! Like these: http://www.shopadidas.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3805691&shopGroup=R&cp=2019628.2039727.2020259.3878245&colorId= Yee yee!

Today I took a different route. Usually when I run on the bike path, I go west through a bunch of cute Madison neighborhoods, but today I took it east which led me to Lake Monona and the hundreds of ice fishermen. Don't they see that parts of the lake are back to liquid form? I don't get these people...they sit outside in the cold over a quickly melting lake for hours and hours. don't they have jobs? I would hope yes so that they have health insurance for when they fall through the ice and get hypothermia...

I did 6 today, goal is 4 tomorrow and then the big 7 on Saturday...ohhh boy. Wish me luck!

Enjoy the weather!

~A

ow.

HELLOOO March.

March is a great month. We got MARCH MADNESS, St. Patricks day, spring training for baseball...and hopefully I will be able to run outside regularly before this month is over. For the time being, I am still indoors. You want to know what running on a treadmill for a month and a half gives you?? Shin splints. Thats right, Bonnie and Clyde have returned.

Bonnie and Clyde (my pet names for my shin splints) have been crashing the party since my freshman year of high school when I ran cross country (that whole distance running fad only lasted one season...). But I also got them from time to time in basketball and lacrosse. Never in rowing. Probably because I was horizontal most of the time.

Anyway, all of these fond past memories with B & C have taught me some excellent coping strategies. For instance, that really cool penguin walk, where you walk around on your heels for a while. Did that one today after my run. I am also trying to stretch even more than usual, especially my calves. And I have some cute little Dixie cups full of water to give myself ice massages...However, I am looking for more tips/suggestions to help with my recent problem, because in the past the only way I can totally get rid of these two is to stop working out for a few weeks (usually that was between seasons of High School sports...) Anyone got any good tips for me or am I doomed to run like a grandma the rest of my days??

Happy month o' the shamrock shake (if you are into that sort of thing...)
kv