Numbers. With 7 weeks to go until the Buffalo marathon, it is now all about the numbers. I am not a numbers girl... formulas, math, it generally means nothing to me. Normal logic doesn't typically work with me, and when I'm terribly mad or upset, you may describe me as somewhat irrational. My husband, on the other hand, who has his degree in Engineering and Management from a well respected Engineering school in upstate New York, is all about the numbers. He is logical, rational, realistic, and most of the time, makes perfect sense. So, when it comes to running, I try to take his advice and pay attention to the numbers. I hate to turn running into one of the things that I hate most, but when you're running miles on end, knowing the numbers and appreciating the numbers can really make a difference in your confidence and sometimes it can even make a difference in your endurance.
7... 7 weeks until the Buffalo marathon
38... I have run 38 miles total this week, 18 miles this morning.
140... I need to run 140 miles in the next 4 weeks before I can taper.
194... I will log 194 more miles before competing in the marathon on May 29th, 2011
10... Aiming for 10 minute miles in order to reach my goal of 4 hours and 30 minutes. (I actually need to run about a 10:18 min/mile pace)
25... The number of pounds I gained with my pregnancy.
49... About 49 days until the race... a little less.
6...This will be marathon #6 for me.
8...I am now wearing a size 8.
12... I was a size 12 a week after the baby.
3... I go through 3 pairs of shoes for each marathon that I train for (Brooks Adrenalines)
5... The amount of miles I typically run with Lucia during the week, this week I towed her along on an 8 miler.
5.5... It took me about 5.5 months to lose 25 pounds after Lucia was born.
2000...The amount of calories I try to eat in a day (I try not to eat more)
165... My average heart rate on my long runs.
59...My average resting heart rate.
35... To date I have lost 35 pounds, 10 pounds more than what I gained, 9 months post-baby.
9...The number of marathons I will have completed by January 8th, 2012... also the number of marathons I will have completed before Jason and I plan on trying for a little brother or sister for our princess.
2... I've got two more days of rest until I run again.
Numbers... I really don't like numbers.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
"I simply remember my favorite things..."
Two months from now I will be running my 6th marathon. Two months to go!
Training is going much better this time around. I managed to do all of my training runs for the Disney Marathon, but I was slow. Now I can finally say I'm getting faster. Today I ran 17 miles in 2:46:13 which is an average pace of 9:47 min/mile. I hit the 13.1 mark at exactly 2 hours and 5 minutes, only 2 minutes slower than my best half marathon time pre-Lucia!
This week I logged 36 miles total, next week I will be up to 38 miles with an 18 mile run on Sunday. That's a lot of miles, and I still have a lot of training left. I have three long runs left; 18 miles, 19 miles, and 20 miles. And while I am so looking forward to tapering in May, I am enjoying running more than ever! But with all the miles I've been running, I need a little bit of help from my favorite things.
Things I can't live without when I'm training for a marathon:
1) My Garmin GPS watch- I had an older version with a touch bezel, but it didn't seem to pace me like my new one. Now I have the Forerunner 310XT, it doesn't have a touch bezel so I can run with it in the rain, and I can sweat on it, and I can probably throw it in the washing machine and it would still keep my pace. It does the perfect job of keeping me on track!
2)My ipod shuffle- On the playlist- Everything from Katy Perry's 'Firework', to The Who's 'Baba O'riley'. But the song that keeps me really moving is 'Come sail away' by Styx.
3)Ballenga socks- Love them, and my feet love them.
4)Orange flavored low-calorie Gatorade- I've always been a big Gatorade fan, definitely my sport drink of choice, but their new products are great! For some reason though, the only flavor I can really stomach is Orange. The fruit punch totally makes me sick, must be the red dye.
5)My treadmill- Seriously, the treadmill is a life safer when you have a small child. I prefer to run outside, but sometimes, I just can't. So when it's too much of a hassel to take Lucia out in her jogger, I can always set her down in the play-pen and hit up the treadmill.
6)My husband- He is the designated treadmill fixer-upper. With as many miles as I run, the treadmill needs to be tweaked about once a month, and he always makes sure it's running well for me. Plus, now he's running (yep, training for the Syracuse Empire marathon in October). I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I couldn't possibly be able to enjoy my favorite hobby without him. He is my number 1 fan and motivator, and I can't thank him enough for that.
7) The alligator that hangs out by the sidewalk on Westbury Park Way at the end of my 6 mile route- I call him Leather-face. Leather-face has been hanging out a little too close to humans ever since the weather has gotten nice. He's a pretty big guy, I'd say about 7-8 feet long, and pretty thick... and he's pretty scary. So when I'm finishing up my route and I hear him hissing at me (yes, gators hiss, well, I guess that's the best way to describe it) I speed up quite a bit. There's nothing like a big gator to trick you into running a negative split. Chomp, chomp.
8)My ipad- I use my ipad for a lot of things having to do with my runs. But my favorite is the Runners World app. Love, love, love it!
9)The Nike outlet store- I can always use more running clothes. I'm a bit partial to the LiveStrong stuff, and they have so many cute new things now. There is nothing glamorous about running, especially marathon running. After finishing 26.2 miles no one looks good, but there's nothing wrong with trying;)
10)Glide- This stuff is literally a running essential. It comes in a deodorant-like stick. You use it on your body, your thighs, underneath your bra, etc. It prevents chaffing. I usually have to use it on my lower back where the tag of my shorts rubs up on me for miles and miles. If I forget a little bit of glide, I pay for it the second I hit the shower, and ooohhhh does it sting.
11)My BOB baby jogger- I can't live without my BOB, I would recommend it to any mother runner (or father runner). When the weather is nice enough, and it fits into Lucia's schedule, I love taking her with me for short 3 to 4 mile runs. She loves it too. I usually make a trip to the playground out of it, so I think she is starting to associate my running with an award (which I guess, can't be a bad thing).
12)My baby- I love my little Lucia. While I get sad thinking about her growing up so fast, I'm getting really excited about the day that she can finally run with me. She is just such an inspiration for me. I do it all for Lucia.
So, these are a few of my favorite things, all of which contribute to the runner that I am. I'm hoping that these favorite things will be enough to help me make it through the next two months, and maybe get that PR that I'm aiming for. I'll let you know how it goes.
Training is going much better this time around. I managed to do all of my training runs for the Disney Marathon, but I was slow. Now I can finally say I'm getting faster. Today I ran 17 miles in 2:46:13 which is an average pace of 9:47 min/mile. I hit the 13.1 mark at exactly 2 hours and 5 minutes, only 2 minutes slower than my best half marathon time pre-Lucia!
This week I logged 36 miles total, next week I will be up to 38 miles with an 18 mile run on Sunday. That's a lot of miles, and I still have a lot of training left. I have three long runs left; 18 miles, 19 miles, and 20 miles. And while I am so looking forward to tapering in May, I am enjoying running more than ever! But with all the miles I've been running, I need a little bit of help from my favorite things.
Things I can't live without when I'm training for a marathon:
1) My Garmin GPS watch- I had an older version with a touch bezel, but it didn't seem to pace me like my new one. Now I have the Forerunner 310XT, it doesn't have a touch bezel so I can run with it in the rain, and I can sweat on it, and I can probably throw it in the washing machine and it would still keep my pace. It does the perfect job of keeping me on track!
2)My ipod shuffle- On the playlist- Everything from Katy Perry's 'Firework', to The Who's 'Baba O'riley'. But the song that keeps me really moving is 'Come sail away' by Styx.
3)Ballenga socks- Love them, and my feet love them.
4)Orange flavored low-calorie Gatorade- I've always been a big Gatorade fan, definitely my sport drink of choice, but their new products are great! For some reason though, the only flavor I can really stomach is Orange. The fruit punch totally makes me sick, must be the red dye.
5)My treadmill- Seriously, the treadmill is a life safer when you have a small child. I prefer to run outside, but sometimes, I just can't. So when it's too much of a hassel to take Lucia out in her jogger, I can always set her down in the play-pen and hit up the treadmill.
6)My husband- He is the designated treadmill fixer-upper. With as many miles as I run, the treadmill needs to be tweaked about once a month, and he always makes sure it's running well for me. Plus, now he's running (yep, training for the Syracuse Empire marathon in October). I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I couldn't possibly be able to enjoy my favorite hobby without him. He is my number 1 fan and motivator, and I can't thank him enough for that.
7) The alligator that hangs out by the sidewalk on Westbury Park Way at the end of my 6 mile route- I call him Leather-face. Leather-face has been hanging out a little too close to humans ever since the weather has gotten nice. He's a pretty big guy, I'd say about 7-8 feet long, and pretty thick... and he's pretty scary. So when I'm finishing up my route and I hear him hissing at me (yes, gators hiss, well, I guess that's the best way to describe it) I speed up quite a bit. There's nothing like a big gator to trick you into running a negative split. Chomp, chomp.
8)My ipad- I use my ipad for a lot of things having to do with my runs. But my favorite is the Runners World app. Love, love, love it!
9)The Nike outlet store- I can always use more running clothes. I'm a bit partial to the LiveStrong stuff, and they have so many cute new things now. There is nothing glamorous about running, especially marathon running. After finishing 26.2 miles no one looks good, but there's nothing wrong with trying;)
10)Glide- This stuff is literally a running essential. It comes in a deodorant-like stick. You use it on your body, your thighs, underneath your bra, etc. It prevents chaffing. I usually have to use it on my lower back where the tag of my shorts rubs up on me for miles and miles. If I forget a little bit of glide, I pay for it the second I hit the shower, and ooohhhh does it sting.
11)My BOB baby jogger- I can't live without my BOB, I would recommend it to any mother runner (or father runner). When the weather is nice enough, and it fits into Lucia's schedule, I love taking her with me for short 3 to 4 mile runs. She loves it too. I usually make a trip to the playground out of it, so I think she is starting to associate my running with an award (which I guess, can't be a bad thing).
12)My baby- I love my little Lucia. While I get sad thinking about her growing up so fast, I'm getting really excited about the day that she can finally run with me. She is just such an inspiration for me. I do it all for Lucia.
So, these are a few of my favorite things, all of which contribute to the runner that I am. I'm hoping that these favorite things will be enough to help me make it through the next two months, and maybe get that PR that I'm aiming for. I'll let you know how it goes.
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