I Just Wanted To Be Athletic - And Now, I Am! (comments welcome)

[kimwim8]

Hey girl. So what's the plan this week? Gonna run a few "kim"s? You know they are really great runs.

Sorry, I know you're not happy with how things are going right now. And just remember that the warmer weather is hard to get used to. Once it cools down again in a few months, you'll be that rock star runner that's in ya!

 

[corinnak]

Sorry, Kim - no Kim's this week. I'm doing 3 milers Tuesday, Thursday and one of the weekend days.

I got out there this morning and it was better than the run on Tuesday. Walked less. Beginning to get into the groove of whatever the "Happy Pace" is now.

And today, I decided that while I do enjoy the 10K distance, I do think that if we are going to talk about running "A Corinna," that really does describe a run in which you meant to go a certain distance and for whatever reason, end up doing some extra distance. My 3 miler today ended up being a 3.3 miler. And I walked less of it and felt better overall. So it's coming back, as it will. In the future, I really need to not just slack off completely for a couple of weeks.

 

[kimwim8]

I love that idea for a "Corinna" run! Great job out there today, girl. I agree that taking a few weeks off isn't the best idea as far as endurance goes...but maybe you needed it to find the love for running again? Or maybe you just had to do it. Either way, it's a good and bad thing and you're back out there doin' it.

 

[postesf]

HI Corinna! Sorry to hear your 5K was not very pleasant. I'm afraid that will be me this weekend. 1 month...no training and yet I expect to beat my previous time? Plus it's warmer now and there is dense smoke from a wildfire on the coast. It's just not looking good.

I'm really glad to hear you're getting back into the swing of things! Yay! Keep on trucking girl!

I'd like to see new pics too! Bring em on!

Stacie

 

[corinnak]

Sooooooo.....here I am again, visor in hand, swearing to do better in the future at posting here.

And so, I have decided that it might be helpful for me to swear off the Ego Trip that is SPEED for a while. Just not be concerned about it. I'm giving myself most of the summer off from formal Speedwork - I will pick it up again in August. For now, I am going to concentrate on other measures of success with running. Such as Distance. Hills. And most importantly, Enjoyability. I am not even going to mention time or speed again until August. And if I do, would someone throw one of these: at me?

I thought about different ways to quantify and rate my runs for enjoyability, and thought of different scales I might use.

Grades A-F - everyone understands them, but there's connotations.


Numeric 1-10 - Could work, but doesn't everyone have a 1-10 scale?

Numeric - -3 through +3 with zero as the baseline. But I don't want an average run to be a zero!!!

Colors - Red-Ultraviolet - Could work, but I think I'd put purple and ultraviolet for the best and red for I injured myself and limped 4 miles home. But who wants to have a Blue run?

Food - this is possibly the most twisted. Could I really rate a run as good as a brownie hot fudge sundae? Or as bad as moldy asparagus? And would that just be totally unhealthy and perpetuate a fixation on food? Hard to say......

Anyone else have any ideas?

I ran 3.6 on Monday and 3.5 today, and they were OK runs, but it's tough with the warmer weather and that training gap and all. I can tell when it's summer because when I come inside, the house feels pleasantly cool. In the winter, I go inside after a run and suddenly I'm sweltering. Oh, there's also the part where I don't freeze my bum off in the first 10 minutes of the run. That's also an indicator.

In other news - the dog is now able to get his splint off. I'm not sure where we go from here. It could be back to full time cone. I'm going to see if the vets would go for consistent sedation, crating and keeping him on a leash at all times for a bit - I think his paw got really itchy in there, cause he had been leaving the bandage alone before. Don't know. Man, what a time we've had with this dog. I feel ill-equipped. Which makes me wonder who, exactly would be well-equipped.

 

[deekaypee]

Lots to catch up on...

Heart of the City? Isn't that the name of a schmaltzy comic strip? It sounds like a yucky event beyond your performance. Not that your performance was yucky, per se, I just know you were disappointed in it.

A "Corrina" run. I don't know that I've ever had one of those. Something to work toward, I guess. Although...wouldn't that violate the spirit of the best of the Corrina runs? (And it's only the good runs that I would want to name after you, because you're so darn sweet.)

Yay for the splint-free puppy. Poor puppy paws. I'm so sorry the little guy's had it so rough, as have you and your family, with his injury.

I think your decision not to focus on time or speed right now is just the thing for you. Enjoyability, yes. (I'm currently looking for mine, so I'm looking to you for guidance. You're probably better than a GPS for this situation.) As for your evaluation scale, hmmmmm. I'm immediately attracted to the food idea, possibly because I'm hungry. You could have hot and spicy runs; meat and potato runs; the all-liquid diet; and so on. Maybe that's not enough of a "ranking," though and too descriptive. I'm less enamored with the letter grades or numerical scale. They just don't seem that fun to me.

Other options: A scale based entirely of chocolate, a variation of your food theme? A thrill-ride scale? One related to sex? (Was it a "Harry Met Sally" performance?) I think the possibilities are endless--and choosing so much fun! You'll definitely need to let us know what you decide!

 

[corinnak]

Debra, I see now I was not very clear about this - the dog is able to take his splint off - himself. Against doctor's orders. I only wish he could have it off for real - they are talking another 2 weeks. Well, week and a half now. And then they'll look at it again. I'm taking him in tomorrow to have it put back on. And to add insult to injury, today in the car on the ride home from school, he got ahold of a piece of plastic cutlery from a drive through snack for the kids. I know - that's what I get. Anyhow, I heard him chomping on it and ask the kids who then notice "OH! He has my knife!" So he didn't eat most of it, but he did get a little 1/2" long splinter of the edge. Not good. The vet said to give him some food to cushion and hope for the best. Call them if he starts throwing up. I hate that wait and see business. Why, oh why are we having such a hard time with this dog?

Ah, the Heart of the City - don't make be go back there!!!!! Seriously, I'm over there a couple of times a week and that is what they are calling their suburban revitalization project. You're right - my performance wasn't the only thing sub-par about that race. The worst part - seriously - was that as I was struggling along, running slower than I wanted to think about at the time crazy2: I know, but it's a perspective from a previous run...), slogging up hill after hill with inadequate training, they kept saying "You're doing great!" Come up with another cheer, people. In retrospect, I can see that for that day, for that course, I was doing great by doing the best that I possibly could with it. But given that I had chugged through a 15K the previous month at a faster overall pace crazy2, it was an unwelcome distraction, leading me to judge the quality of my performance. Of course what's a good cheer for race spectators? "You're almost there!" is not good except in the last 50 yards. "Looking Good" would have led me to think "Red as a beet and drenched with sweat must be IN this season!" I guess, in all, my favorite cheers to hear are "Way to go!" and also "All right!" and even "Keep on going!" I suppose everyone has different preferences. When I volunteered for the TC marathon last year, I looked at the spectator's guide and it included a list of good and not so good things for spectators to shout.

FAVORITE CHEERS!

Clap, shout, and show your support for participants
—it’s always welcome. Save the “You’re almost
there!” cheer until the very end—a few miles is still
a long way for someone who has been running for
hours. Here are some favorites.
• Keep smiling!
• You’re looking
awesome!
• Running smooth!
• You can do it!
• Way to wheel!, or run!
• One stride at a time!
• Way to focus!
• Stay relaxed!
• Keep it up!
• Welcome to St. Paul!
(when appropriate)
• Call out something
unique about a runner
(bib #, the color or a
logo on their shirt, etc.)

OK, a bunch of these are good suggestions. A few of them, though, make me want to punch the spectator's guide, even. "You're looking awesome?" Come on. One time I ran by a neighbor I don't know well - this is just in the neighborhood, mind you, not an event - and she calls out to me "Looking strong!" Or something like that. I thought that was nice.

Wow, this has devolved!

And yes, Debra, I think you can't actually work toward running farther than you planned to run. They are tricky things, "Corinnas" And you are too sweet to say that I am so darn sweet. It's like a candy shop in here.

I'm going to think about what adds to enjoyability. For the most part, I was thinking that increased endurance would help. Running at that happy pace - having a happy pace. It sounds like I'm talking about not pushing myself on a run, and I guess that might be some of it for now. Though pushing can be enjoyable at times, too. Think. Think. Think.

I like your scale ideas. I'm going to keep pondering. Just a heads up - I may not actually choose a scale, but thinking about it added some enjoyability to my run this morning.

 

[kimwim8]

Wow, C. I'm sorry for the Skippy issues. He's quite a spunky one, isn't he?

I look forward to a "Corinna" again someday. And I still feel like it's the perfect run to be named after you.

 

[corinnak]

Kim - I hate to say it, but I don't think this is the time for you to be running a "Corinna." Just stick with the plan. But you knew that. I'm really not usually so impetuous but sometimes I get carried away with the running. You wouldn't think it to look at me!

Today was a good run. Another of my 3.5 loop. The exciting parts this morning were:

1. Running past a bunny rabbit who didn't startle or bolt but just watched me run by. Not sure what it means, but it was pretty cool.

2. I bought a new song for the shuffle based on hearing it on the radio at the Chiropractor's several times and always saying "I need that song." I finally figured out what it was and listened to it on this run and it was the PERFECT "happy pace" song. "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz It is not one of those make-you-run-faster songs, so it seemed to me to be PERFECT for this stage in my running development.

2.5. Anyone else start to sweat at the exact same place in a run every time you run it? Kind of weird. I always feel a little proud when that first trickle of sweat starts. But then if it tickles, that's more annoying.

3. The second cross-walk light on the route turned to "walk" just as I was approaching the button!

4. I did a really good job of chugging up most of the hills. I did walk when I needed to, but it seems like I'm needing it less. There was the last part of the biggest hill that I did walk, and it felt good, so it was the right thing to do.

5. I remembered what comfortable exertion feels like. It seems like I've been pushing it for so long now that I had kind of forgotten that zone where it's work, but it's not full-out hard, and it feels really great. I gotta remember that phrase "Comfortable Exertion." I am sure that it's some % of heart rate or some number on someone else's chart.

6. I got a call from DH and was able to tell him where to find some shoes he wasn't able to locate. And from that I knew that I might just see them on their way to camp as I was running back.

7. I DID see them, and the little guy was waving from the back seat. I gave a big wave and an ASL "I Love You" sign.

8. I got up that long, slow last BIG hill by enticing myself from one landmark to another. Just to the fire hydrant. Just to that part of the fence. Just to that tree. Just to the street sign. Ahhhh. Walk across the street (for safety ) and it was sooooo nice to run all the way up that hill again. Very rewarding.

8.5. I halfway decided to do the Marathoning for Mortals half marathon training program. Based pretty much on Debra's mentioning it on someone else's thread. There's a basis for you - Debra KNOWS the distance. And I think a decision half-made in the midst of a run could be good.

9. I finished up the run and did some extra walking to cool down. I think it's maybe extra important when it's warm out - or maybe that's an excuse. I walked away from the house a ways and as I walked back, there was this delicious breeze that was just perfect. I closed my eyes and savored that breeze.

10. I keep meaning to mention this, but I have been using these $25 sunglasses I bought at the Minnie expo on the basis that they were supposed to be anti-fog, which at the time really appealed. I had been running in quite cold weather and when the lenses on my sunglasses would fog up, they'd freeze that way. Very annoying. So I got these and didn't use them until it got hot, of course. But I must say, they are really nice. They don't fog up at all until (Yeah, until) I get home and am stopped and stretching. They are not completely fog-proof, but I guess they pretty much meet my needs. I used to think that $10 was a lot to pay for sunglasses, but I have a few pairs for running and these are the least expensive of them, so I'm glad they're working out.

And that was my rather enjoyable run this morning. Brought to you by the Summer of No Speed.

I updated my Facebook status to say:

Corinna would like to thank Garmin, Nike, Moving Comfort, Mac's iPod division, Propel, Nathan, Road ID, Underarmor and especially Claritin for the lovely run today.

I haven't decided on a scale for ratings. I may just go with the more organic method of picking a smilie that sums the whole thing up.

Today's Run:

 

[kimwim8]

C, You're the best.

I love hearing your thoughts, and I loved every one of these today.

 

[corinnak]

Thanks, Kim. Just trying to cultivate a little running glee.

This is birthday weekend here. My younger son's birthday is tomorrow, as is my step-dad's. And DH's birthday is on Monday. So it's a lot of cakes in not that much time. Well, two, really, but I do tend to do one fore DS and then another for DH.

The crazy invalid dog spent the party in his crate with a cone on his head - we gotta keep that bandage on just one more week, baby. Doggie class this afternoon, too.

And then we are back to performances tonight for half the family, anyhow. I am just glad rehearsals are over now.

Zero running today. I was figuring on tomorrow, though I am told I am the lector at church and there's another show in the evening. Actually, come to think of it, I did MWF last week. Maybe I'll just do that again this week. It can be tough to squeeze in on the weekends.

 

[deekaypee]

Can you push yourself to have a happy pace? (Yay for finding songs that you just enjoy running with/listening to!)

Okay, got the visual on the doggy deeds now. Very clever boy, he is! Free, he needs to be free! And poor pup just wants some variety in his diet, too. He sounds like he's a handful, but I bet your family just loves him (hopefully not to pieces).

I have to say, I love your lists of favorite cheers. Me, I prefer "you're doing great" or "you're looking awesome" to "keep going--you can do it," which I always suspect means I look really, really, really bad. No one would ever say "keep smiling" to me. Because I don't do happy.

This might speak badly of me but at one of DOOD's marathons I shouted at him something to the effect of "C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, you're a minute slower than you should be!" He laughed, because that's so us (he was going for a PR). But was running near firefighters who looked horrified and said, "That's harsh, man!" We still laugh about it--and yes, he did PR.

I also enjoyed your detailed list of your 3.5 loop. Comfortable exertion--still working on that one. And I'm always working on the hills, so it's great to hear that you ran up yours, and that the landmark bargaining is an effective strategy.

You have Facebook? I have an account, but don't think I've done more than log into it. Too little time, too many interests.

Happy birthday to all your loved ones! And have a great week! We miss you at Ohana, but I don't think things are going to slow down for you until....well, never! Maybe the fall?

 

[kimwim8]

So, how did birthday weekend go? I'm sure you all had a great time!

 

[corinnak]

Dag Blam it, my running has fallen by the wayside again. I have been walking the invalid dog more - I've had about as much of the sedating as I can take, and getting out and seeing the world a bit does him good. Tomorrow should be the day that the big splint comes off. I hope, hope, hope.

Kim, the birthday weekend was good, but a little crazy-busy. We did go to see the boys in the play on Sunday night. The party on Saturday was a huge hit. And I baked a cake on Friday night (well received) and another very different cake on Monday for my DH's birthday. No cake-sharing in this house even though the birthdays are 1 day apart.

Debra - I don't know if you can push for a happy pace. Depends on your definition of happy, I guess. Probably not - I believe a happy pace must develop over time and you have to ALLOW it rather than PUSH it. It's a theory.

That is so funny about your DOOD and your urging him to run faster - It sounds like he's no frail, fainting flower!

Sometimes landmark bargaining is the only way I get through stuff. In running and in life!

Hey, have you guys ever seen Garfield Minus Garfield?

 

[postesf]

Hi Corinna! Just popping in to say Hello!

I really enjoyed you list there of your good run!

Sorry to hear about all your doggy troubles.

Stacie

 

[kimwim8]

Hey, have you guys ever seen Garfield Minus Garfield?

What is it? (guess that makes my answer no! )

 

[corinnak]

I keep getting distracted!

Garfield minus Garfield is a website that showcases the Garfield comic strip, but with Garfield removed. The result is often actually FUNNY. Which is amazing considering that Garfield with Garfield hasn't been funny in years.

http://garfieldminusgarfield.net/

Disclaimer: This race report contains no photos. I have some, but I can't seem to find the right cable to transfer them from the camera. Stupid Olympus uses a different connector than the Sony's do.


So this morning was the annual 4th of July Paul Revere Run. I had been hoping to be ready for the 10 mile this year, but sadly, no. It was not to be. So yesterday, Austin and I went over and registered - pre-registration was not up online. OR I should say, what was up appeared to be last year's form, which I hesitated to try to register with.

Anyhow, They had plenty of t-shirts for us and everything, and while last year for the free gift, I got a much loved Asics shoe-wallet, this year, I opted for the Asics water bottle.

This morning, I got up bright and early, but not early enough. The alarm was set for 6 pm and not 6 am. And it was 7am when I woke up and realized that we should be heading out in 15 minutes. Though we ended up with plenty of time. Also a first, the kids and the dog all stayed in their respective beds all night last night!

It was a kind of a chilly morning - just perfect! My concession to the cool weather was that I wore the shirt with sleeves rather than my WISH race shirt. Incidentally, it is now a tradition for me to have an uncharged Garmin for this particular race. Good thing I wasn't doing the 10. Last year I had the same issue. Oh well. I just used my regular stopwatch once again. I am not going to write a moment by moment recap of this race. Austin did comment that it was the weirdest Start he'd ever experienced, as what happens is that everyone watches the 10 mile runners go by and then they sort of back you up and it's hard to tell where you're going to end up in the group. Or even where the actual start is, if you're more toward the middle or back. I didn't hear so much as a pop-gun or a shout of "START" but when the people ahead of me started running, I did, too.

I had planned to run it nice and easy, happy pace and all that. I was fairly happy with my comfort level on this run. I was not taking it slow and gentle - I was in that exertion zone with various levels of comfort. I ran all but a few steps near the water station at the turn around. That was one goal that I had had in the back of my head.

There was a group that I ran behind for a little while - 4 of them in red shirts that said, on the back "The best times in life are when friends become family and family become friends." Awwwww. I couldn't agree more.

So I chugged along and then there were the leaders coming on the other side of the street - a whole pack of young men without shirts on running very fast. I started watching for Austin and eventually I saw him. Tried to take a picture - unknown whether it will turn out or not, and waved. Then a little while later, there are my adorable kids and incredible husband and crazy dog! It's SOOO nice to see them out cheering for me, though this morning, mostly they waved and smiled. Then on to the turn around for some water. Walked a few steps as it is a hairpin turn with cups of water. Then running back towards the kids again! More waves and I thanked them for coming down to see me - it really does mean a lot.


Skip to the end - I felt like I had been doing really well with the pace, and can't believe I even spent my time worrying about it when I said I wouldn't, but I was expecting to be a lot slower than I was last year and it seemed like I actually wasn't. So I ended up running the last about 3/4 mile at a somewhat hard but maintainable pace, and finished a minute faster than I'd done it last year! The first few moments afterward, I KNEW I had not run this at the happy, "just for fun" pace cause I felt that familiar "I'm going to be sick" sensation, but I walked around and it passed. Met up with Austin again (He'd finished a good 10 minutes ahead of me) and walked back to the car.

As I was about to pull out of the parking place, I look at the windshield and....DUDE, are we fogging up the windshield? Yeah. We are. Not sure if it was from perspiration or exhalation, but with the windows down, the problem was reduced and I was able to drive safely.

So there it was, another awesome 4th of July "Fun Run." And it was a heck of a lot better than my last "fun run," so YAY!!!!

 

[kimwim8]

CONGRATS on a great run, C! I'm so proud of you!

I'm a little sad there are no pictures, but I tried my best to use my imagination. Seriously, though, you have done so well with your running and stay with it (which is more than I can say).

Hope you're have a great time!

 

[corinnak]

Kim,
Thanks for always having a comment for me. Yeah, I must have packed the data cable for the wrong camera. Pretty much, you could just go back and look at last year's pictures - it's the same course.

We are having a really good time so far this summer. Eating too much food, of course. I gotta cut that out. The weather is perfect and it's great to spend time with friends and family and crazy dog.

 

[deekaypee]

Loved Garfield minus Garfield! It made me laugh out loud, which is more than Garfield straight does.

"The best times in life are when friends become family and family become friends."

Sweet quote. I'm definitely on board for the former. It's so great that your family comes out to support you. No wonder those t-shirts mean so much to you. Do you have future runners in your kids?

As for your run, I'm always amused, if slightly perplexed by those non-start starts. I suppose it keeps things relatively stress-free. No gearing up for the gun. You seemed to handle it, as with all your races, in stride. I'm so glad you didn't boot, though, as it might have taken the gilding off the finish.