Posts Tagged ‘running professionals’

Last week was a bad week..  You can tell by my half-hearted attempts at blogging.  Furthermore, the politics of my job got a little crazy.  That’s all I am going to say.  It was rough, mentally, last week.  That being known, I still managed some good runs.

I think my new mantra is “make it yours”.  It seems to make sense for my life on a few levels…

Anyways..

This week, I was hoping for “peace and serenity”.  Little did I know that if I wanted a beverage out of the fridge, I would only have to walk to the dining room to get it.  I have been living off of microwaved burritos and cheese cubes all week.  Don’t get me wrong, they are perfect “late night meeting” dinners, but I have an entire bag of broccoli I want to roast!!

 

 

That being known, no work was done on the floor Monday night.  I had a Council meeting so I didn’t get home until 9:00 PM.  Tuesday night Jared and I started on the grouting of the kitchen floor.  Grout smells like raw fish.  So naturally, I helped a bit, got grossed out (and frustrated) and Jared finished the floor alone.  I feel bad, but I think its allowing him to be very proud of his work.

 

We still technically aren’t allowed on the floor.  The grout needs to set for 48 hours.  We then need to put some sort of “top coat” on the grout to ensure it is water tight.  There is still a “film” of grout on the tiles that picks up our sneaky footprints.  Oops!

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Learning to take your blessings (runs) as they come

I am one of those people that wears their heart on their sleeve.  I do everything with conviction and dedication.  I am one of those people that think your job should be connected to who you are.  I am one of those crazy people.  Short of making this ultra fabulous blog my full time job, I could not imagine my life without running (crazy) and working in a community like I do.  When I was in grad school, I interned in my “home town” (which, for people outside of the Burgh, all of these little municipalities have much identity).  With my current job, though I don’t live there, I feel deeply connected to it, its people, the culture, and the future it can hold.

I’ll stop myself before the rant begins.

I just have had some really good, hard runs lately.  Running at 5:30 am is truly a blessing in disguise.  While there are times I want more balance (good runs at 7:00 am instead of speedy runs at 5:30 am), I realize the past few months of this crazy work schedule have really paid off.  I have been able to strike my balance successfully. 

I am excited to plan groundbreakings in the Borough, work on planning around development, all of those good things.  I am excited to get faster running, and now spring fever is hitting me, I can’t wait to plan my next half marathon.

Thank goodness its Saturday!

 

With Jared having night class on Friday nights, I tend to come home and “relax”…  Meaning: dinner is on my own.  I try to spend my time going through Google Reader and getting caught up on everything for the week. 

 

Last night, though, I spent the majority of my time reading the PA Labor Relations Act.  If you’ve been following along, you know that last month my Council had to terminate a union employee.  Well, we haven’t heard anything from the union regarding the termination, so we have been kind of left in the dark.  No word of arbitration in about a month.  It’s bizarre. 

 

Around 8:00 PM I decided it was Friday night I probably should not be so concerned about work on such a night.  Dedication, eh?

 

Andrea asked how I was going to find time for 2-a-days.  Good question/point.  I’d like to think I’m a particularly good example of someone that doesn’t have time for 2-a-days.  Or maybe in my mind I don’t…  Here is generally what my work schedule is during the week…

4:00: Alarm/coffee/blog

5:00:  Leave for gym

5:30: Arrive at gym/run/lift/etc

6:30/6:45: Shower/leave for work/stop at Grocery store for breakfast

7:15: Arrive at work/work/work

4:00: Office closes, staff leaves

4:30: Assess if I have night meetings.  If I do…

6:00: Night meeting generally starts

9:00/10:00/11:00:  Get home

There is a small window of opportunity for me to get in another run..  This occurs between 4:00 & 4:30.  The good thing being that I don’t always have night meetings, but when I do, they are long

 

 

Thursday night, I made a delicious Panini.  I used a piece of Naan that we bought from Costco and cut it in half.  I put spinach, tomato, and two squares of Cabot cheese on it and let the Foreman do its thing.

 

 

I like the Foreman because it leaves marks without all kinds of butter.  And since my tastes are somewhat child-like, I like Panini’s because of the grill marks. =)  The Naan was the perfect “bread” for this.  Not too thick that it didn’t toast like “regular bread”, not too thin like a wrap.  It was perfect.

 

Today I am on a mission:  I have a nice gym session planned where I hope to cover six miles on the dreadmill, and afterwards I am hoping to lift…

 

The real part of this mission, however, is to find & purchase diploma frames to put in my office…  Also, Jared sent me something special yesterday at work.  I have to go into the office anyways, so I am excited to share with you all what he sent!

Hi Everyone

Expect a series of posts this week regarding my reflection on 1/2 marathon training.  I am just way too excited about it, and I’ve got a lot to say.  Everyone at my job is asking me about it, Jared told me I’ll do fine, my fellow bloggers have sent their words of support, and I know I can finish, finish with a time that I feel good about, and I cannot wait to cross the finish line.  I’m going to spend some time this week calculating the time I hope to finish by.

Early in the training (week 1-4)

Early in the training, I was concerned more with my work-week (M-F) training than my weekend training.  I could sleep in on the weekends and not miss a run or risk being late for work.  I had been sleeping in a lot during the work week and feeling very frustrated with myself, coupled with the hills, I wasn’t feeling totally confident.  The hills around my house are tough (excited to see what my newly-running sister says), and I had the frame of mind… “Well if I can’t run 3-5 mi training runs on these hills, I will never be able to finish the half”.

Middle of training (weeks 5-7)

Jared and I ran the Run Around the Square.  I still haven’t checked my finish time.  I guess it’s not that important to me at this point probably because a.) I know my side stitch threw my real time way off and b.) A 5k time is never a half marathon time.  But I noticed through this race that I ran the flat part fast and quick and the hills were good to me.  I just happened to get a side stitch going downhill.  That’s my luck though.  Also, I don’t expect my heart rate to be anywhere near 190 BPM (thanks Garmin) during my half marathon.  Though, I haven’t been able to find my HRM chest strap since the race.

Training after the race has been great.  As I’ve said, every long run distance at this point is a new distance.  So today, 13 miles is a new distance, and next week, 13.1 miles will be a new distance. See why I’m running today

My training the last two weeks has been great.  I running longer than usual during the work week (let’s not ask what time I am getting to work, but I blame it on driving Jared as well), and when the half is over, I am going to focus on getting back to where I was in college.  This won’t be terribly challenging, I’m 3/4 of the way there now.

End of training (week 7-now)

Everyone says taper, taper, taper towards the end of training, but I am feeling so good I am literally going to have to force myself to taper.  I am so close to being back to where I was during the work week that I am apprehensive to taper knowing that next week, race week, may be the time that I am finally back to where I was before the training started.  This training has done so much good for me.  I need to remember that once this is over, I won’t be done.  I can start back up where I left “off”.  I am also excited for winter runs and seeing the same people waiting for the bus along my running route.

I also need to realize that I wanted to train for a half to get myself back to where I was before, but it has evolved into much more!  I was always secretly proud of myself for losing the weight, but I guess over the past few years I felt somewhat disappointed that I let myself gain some of it back.  The motivation here is two-fold.  It’s easy (??) to not eat a lot to stay skinny, or exercise to compensate for what you’ve eaten, but it’s different when your motivation is to push your body.  That is always what my motivation has been, and that is why I am only successful when I take that approach to weight loss/maintenance/healthy living.

General Observations:

I can’t believe it took me six years of running to run a half marathon.  I was interviewed for work some time ago, and the reporter asked me what I would accomplish in a few years, personally & professionally, and aside from the obligatory Carnegie answers, I said I want to run one marathon a year.  A marathon is a lot different than a half marathon, and I get anxious to think about running double of what I am going to do today.  That still scares me.  Then again, 13 miles scared me.  I think because when I was “running at my best” I was just trying to run as fast as possible on the treadmill to make sure I got my caloric burn.  I’m not doing that anymore, so I don’t feel restricted.

Also, I realized that you cannot run on a treadmill and expect to train for a race.  Or, at least I can’t.  When I was at my best, I was scared to run on the street.  A million excuses.  I’ve heard them before. But I’m not that person anymore.

I was shocked to realize I could run, having been overweight, I got myself to the point where I could run.  Sure, it was on a treadmill, and it took dedication, and it was hard, but this feels really different.  This is just you, without knowing the incline as you are running it, pushing yourself to maintain a pace (rather than a button on the treadmill).  I’m glad I’m not that person anymore.

Running Goodies I’ve Discovered Along the Way

• Body Glide.  After an 8 mile run, horrible chafing, I invested in this stuff.  Chafing gone
• iPod holder.  Plastic ZipLocks will not keep your iPod dry
• Handheld Water bottle.. These will be great if you can prevent death grips (I discovered I cannot)
• Nike Air Pegasus.  If you were to tell me at the beginning of “this” that I would be running my first 1/2 in a shoe other than Mizuno (hell, or even New Balance), I would have laughed at you.  These are the shoes for me.  I can feel it.
• Hydrabelt.  I don’t know if I’ll be taking this with me along the route or not yet.

Combing years of experience with a new approach

I think a lot of what is driving my success right now is a combination of factors.  I have a new job which I consider a major life change and a great opportunity to change other aspects of my life.  Another factor is weight gain I’ve experienced the past 2-3 years from my other job (and let’s be honest, my body has not reacted well to birth control).  Another factor is not having a treadmill (and being okay with that) or a gym membership to put me on machines.  At this point, considering these circumstances, I have every excuse NOT to exercise when you think about it.  And some days I don’t exercise at all.  But I know that this is the right time to make these changes. Some things stay true through my running:  I need music to start.  I need at least 30 minutes in the morning to sip some coffee and prepare myself mentally.  I sweat =).  I have to run in the morning.  I enjoy Peanut Toffee Buzz Clif Bars before my runs.

At this point in the game, I don’t care if the 5-10 lbs come off.  Sure, I may not be at my ideal racing/running weight, but I am still doing it.

Told ya I was reborn, right?  =)

I’ve been inspired to write some pretty deep posts lately, mainly because I’d like to “get it all out” and help people put this blog into perspective.  I run the risk of it turning into a “weight loss blog” instead of me just blogging, stream of thought, so I’m switching gears here, trying to maintain my original focus…  running! Here are some FYI’s about me and running.

When did you start running?
I started running when I was 18 or 19. I was never fast, but I wanted to do it because I thought it was a good physical challenge. Once I tackled that, I realized it was more of a mental challenge that my body adapted to. I used the Couch to 5k plan to help me out, and once I was done with that, I never followed a training plan again, until now. I was hesitant to use a training plan, and really me running this 1/2 is on a whim, so I figured why not? All in all, I’ve been running for six years.

Why would you decide to train for a 1/2 Marathon on a whim?
Good question. I’m in a transitional time in my life. I’m living with Jared in a new house, I’ve got a new job, and in my old job I was not happy thus impacting my running there. I thought if I train for the 1/2 in the mornings and on the weekends, I will engineer my running time back into my schedule. It’s worked for the most part, though some mornings I really just miss my runs due to sleeping in =).

What has running taught you physically and mentally?
Running has taught me to develop strength. Let’s just say that I’ve been through enough in my life that I decided to shut up, deal with it, and move on. I have a big tattoo that I got in grad school (during some difficult times) that helped to remind me extra….

Physically, running has taught me simply that anyone can run. No excuses.

Who are your running buddies?
Jared and I run together when we do races. Though, I will be doing the 1/2 Marathon on my own because this is something I need to do for myself. Training for it (getting back into my groove) and running the actual race. I’m not worried about time, maybe some day, but now I’m more concerned with the process.

How do you keep time and pace?
When I first started running, I ran on a treadmill. We all know I don’t do that anymore. I have a Garmin 305. When I got my new job, I treated myself. So shoot me.

Why do you keep b*tching about your crazy schedule?
Part of it is guilt that I have such a crazy schedule that some days I cannot run. Somedays the run is all I have to keep me sane. Most of the time I get my run in, but it’s early. I’m simply being hard on myself/being proud of myself/reminding myself to be dedicated/being dedicated.
The other part of it is that I am so happy I am getting back into running, a rebirth if you will, that I just need to blog about it. No one really reads my blog, anyways!

What do you do?
I am a Borough Manager. Basically, I oversee the operations, finances (aka tax money), and overall growth of the municipality. I live in Pittsburgh, I work in one of the suburbs of the city. I love my job. I enjoyed my old job, but it was not challenging for me and I seek out challenges professionally and personally.

You half marathon is in 3 weeks, are you ready?
Let’s hope so! After my 10-miler this weekend, I could have gone more, just as long as I wasn’t fighting the up-hills!

Will you ever run a full-marathon, you know you aren’t a runner until you do so?
I don’t agree. If you run, everyday, one mile, you are a runner. I never compare myself to other running bloggers, so when I see their times, pace, distance, sure I’d love to be like that, but I do what I do and I’m satisfied with it… Good for them for having enough time in their day. Most of the bloggers I see that do that 1.) Don’t work full time or 2.) Are in their groove and I’m still getting back into mine

Does your blog help you running?
Yes and No. I don’t have a huge audience (which I am okay with), so I don’t feel the need to gloat, and I’m not one for gloating in general. I’m pretty low-key and I’d rather blog about my life in general (I think that’s more interesting) than show pictures of greek yogurt and wheatberries all day. Again, just my preference!

This is me, 18 month ago. I still felt strong and confident, despite the job unhappiness and slight weight gain from it. Booya

Matthew from Breaking the Plateau suggested I blog about my weight loss journey.

I’ll navigate this through a timeline, as that seems like the best way to do it…

Freshman YearSpring 2002: I was ending my first year of college and was at my heaviest. This was a great time in my life, college always is. I remember helping a good friend move out of her college apartment, I was moving boxes, etc., and the next day I was sore. I was always heavy at this point, but I just thought that’s how I was. But after being sore, I thought, I’m 19, I shouldn’t be sore. That was the point that I never looked back to, or I looked back to it, but wanted to focus on moving forward… I just started walking every night on the treadmill in the basement for that summer. I had spent that summer working at a daycare part time and the kids would call me “fat” or make fun of me. Well, little kids are rude, but they are also very honest. I also listened to a co-worker rave about the Atkins Diet and insult me for wanting to focus on whole health. Well, my “diet” worked for me, but years later, via MySpace, I realized it hadn’t worked for her.

Sophmore Year Late Summer 2002/Fall 2002: I was gaining momentum. I started to get bored walking and would make little run “breaks” that, at the time, were hard physically, but not mentally. That was okay, I kept remembering the soreness I felt and wanted to be physically strong. I started the Couch to 5k program. Google it. It got me running. We went on Vacation to the beach that summer and I still focused on health. It was a god focus.

Winter 2003: I kept losing weight, I took a weight lifting class at school but still focused on running. I also went to Prague in January 2003 and took a lot of my old clothes with me to throw away. I didn’t run once while I was in Prague, ate well (without being obsessed), and still lost weight. I came home and took some cardio class for school but I still ran.

Junior Year Spring/Summer 2003: I had lost, I’d estimate, about 50 lbs at this time. I worked long hours at Starbucks that summer. I would take the bus to one area of town and walk all the way down to Station Square before work. Running still, getting better, but not breaking any plateaus. This is when a co-worker (who was also a personal trainer) suggested two things to me: 1. Drink Coffee (at that point I didn’t really drink coffee) to help wake me up in the morning; and 2.) Interval train. He said to run/walk slowly increasing the intensity of both. Wow, that was good advice. We can see where my coffee habit started, too.

Fall/Winter 2004: I was really concentrating on my running at this point, but I was still on a treadmill. I also took Pilates on my off days and saw a major improvement in my running. This is class XT, I’d say. I moved off Chatham’s campus b/c it became too expensive and I would rather open my time to work. So I started a job at Blue Horse Coffee. I really needed to balance my time then. I’d also say this was the point that I was at my lightest (weight wise), happiest, but certainly not busiest.

Senior Year2005/2006: My running was on a steady schedule. Which you can find here. I was up at 6, running at 7, out the door by 8:30. It was perfect. I graduated from College and was looking forward to Grad School. I spent the summer babysitting my Cousins several hours away, my running schedule was interrupted, and it was uncomfortable to me. But I dealt with it. My parents also moved. I got Ambrose.

Grad School 2006/2007: I spent one year in grad school, started with one semester done because of my studies in college, and finished one semester early because I wanted to enter the job market. Because of these things, and all of the life changes, my running slowed down a bit, and I struggled to be in a relationship I was unhappy with. I’d say I gained a little bit of weight in grad school. I still focused on myself, though. I joined a gym for the first time, but I didn’t really like it.

The last two years 2007-2009. The last two years, were different, too. I wasn’t happy at my job, my running schedule was gone, I was underpaid, and I had a house to myself to maintain. All of these things combined, in addition to what I’d experienced in grad school, I know I gained some weight back. Part of this is due to the fact that I met Jared and his diet is horrible, part of it is birth control, part of it was motivation. Don’t get me wrong, I still ran. In fact, summer 2008 Jared and I ran a lot of races, but my mileage was lower than in college and eating the best healthy foods wasn’t always the first option.

2009 and forward: I think I’m lucky. I’ve got to experience the joys of weight loss and have been 95% effective in keeping it off. I am back training for something, and I can afford the outrageously priced healthy goodies which I do love. I am also lucky to be in a place, professionally, that I can make my own schedule.

Here are some other tidbits you may find interesting:

• I never went on a diet.  I ate what I wanted, in moderation, and I ate “low to the ground”.  My diet was packed with fruits and veggies.
• Running was not easy.  I did have a few good friends that supported me, but I also had naysayers
• I don’t talk about my weight loss to everyone
• I’m not preachy
• It’s something that happened to me, and I am moving on with it.  The biggest loser isn’t always accurate for everyone.
• Running saved my life.  Running on the road, gave me a breath of freshair