Deva by Definition

Vlogging Half Marathon Training: Week Seven

A few Things:

1. I definitely made a shout-out to my sister.

2. I got a couple text messages while making this video, and didn't realize the mic picked up the sound of my phone going off - that is the honking noise you hear twice in the video.

 

 

Half Marathon Training: Week Six

Just a Few things:

1. I definitely put a shout-out to Meghann for her awesome PR at her half marathon this weekend.

2. The post I reference in the video is this one, about how I am an athlete.

3. I sound shaky because I am cold. We keep our house on the chilly side and when filming this video, I was waiting for the space heater to warm up our living room!

Enjoy!

 

Definition, Self: An Athlete

When I run, I am not very fast. I ran my first 5k in 35 minutes, my second in 37. My fastest runs have an average pace between 10:30 and 11-minutes per mile. That is faster than I was in September – much faster, if I am being honest, but for many, that is slow. And yet, I call myself an athlete – why?

Based on the definition from the Free Dictionary, an athlete is “A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility, and endurance, that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive contexts.” By this definition, I would consider myself an athlete.

The athletic traits I have may or may not be natural, and they may very well be acquired, but through hard work and training I have become faster, I have become stronger, more agile, and I have developed my endurance. Remember, just a few short months ago I considered three miles to be a long run, and now I am routinely running five or more miles at a stretch.

Through long runs and minor speed work, I have made myself faster, going from averaging a twelve-minute mile to averaging closer to ten-and-a-half minutes per mile. I have increased my endurance, now rarely taking walk breaks during runs, and running farther than I have ever run before. I am training my body and pushing it harder than I ever have, and I am seeing results like never before.

Continuing strength training has only enhanced my athletic abilities, giving me stronger calves, quads, and a good deal more upper body strength. Through discipline I have developed my strength, speed, and endurance, and through a well-written training plan I have ensured my dedication to my training, often waking up before the sun to go run or to go lift. I have developed a better understanding of my body’s limits, and then I have asked my body to go farther than I have ever asked it before, and the gains I have made have been amazing, especially in speed. A nearly two-minute per mile gain from October until now. Maybe in October I wasn’t pushing myself hard enough, or maybe, through hard work and continued running, I am getting better at running. I know I am getting faster and I know that my early morning runs are getting easier, even as they are growing longer and more challenging.

So, sure, I may not be able to bench press my body weight, and I may not be able to run a mile in single-digit minutes, but I am getting there through hard work and dedication. Maybe I will never be able to run a mile un under ten minutes, but I will know that I tried my hardest. I may never run a marathon, but I don’t think you have to run marathons to prove your athleticism. I may never bench press my body weight, but I will be strong, and I will remain dedicated to my sports, and for me, that is enough.

I am an athlete, and I am proud of it.

Vlogging Half Marathon Training: Week Five

A few things: 

1. This week was crazy. Really Crazy. 

2. I am really excited to run 9 miles on Saturday

 

Goal-Setting: February

It seems like it was two months ago when I set out to write my goals for January. Amazingly, it was not - January went by slowly, it seems, and now it's time to set out my goals for February. It's a short month (but this year we get that leap day), so my goals may seem small, but I hope they're relatively attainable.

Looking back on my January goals, I'd say I did well with them all. I stuck with my half marathon training plan, missing one run, and rearranging two. Housekeeping was kept up and our house has been kept at "company ready in thirty minutes" since the first weekend in the month. Reading the news once a day became WAY easier when I discovered Zite. Now, I'm moderately informed about what is going on in the world, locally, and in politics.

Goals for February have been hard to determine. Between running, house upkeep, and other things, it seems like I hardly have time to sit down, read a book, or plan things out! So, with that being said, my goals for February are:

Make time to relax. I've been pushing myself to the max the past month or so, and I'm finding at the end of the day, when all I want to do is curl up with The Boy and watch "Rome," that I am finding more and more little tasks to fill my time. When bedtime comes, I've barely had a chance to sit down and decompress. So in February, I am taking time out every night to sit down, read a book, watch TV, or see what is new on the internet.

Get A Library Card. I love to read. So much, in fact, that it doesn't surprise The Boy when I start a book and finish it just a few short hours later. What does surprise The Boy is that we've lived in our house for almost two months, and I still have yet to get a new library card. I'm quickly running out of books in my shelves to read and have made it my goal to get to the library this month, get a card, and check out a nice stack of books. I already can't wait to explore my new library.

Eat More Protein. I know that running for endurance, I need to keep my glycogen stores up, but I also know that for muscle recovery, I need to ensure I am eating enough protein. As I mentioned in my Top Five post about fueling to fend off post-run hunger, I've found that higher-protein snacks keep me satisfied for a longer period of time, especially after a long run. My goal is not to eat a specific amount of protein each day, but to ensure that my meals include a protein along with my carbs, fats, fruits, and veggies. I anticipate a lot of Greek yogurt and eggs in my future.

What about you - what are your goals for February?

Top Seven: Gear For Running

I originally took up running when I was thirteen. That was nearly half my lifetime ago. When I originally began running, I used the most basic of gear: running shoes, shorts, old cotton tees, and comfy sports bras.

Over the years, as my running habit has grown, I’ve become more enthralled by some of the still-basic, but more advanced running gear. I’ve acquired gait-specific shoes (I pronate), tech tees, cold-weather pullovers, running tights, shorts, capris, and pants, and even running-specific apps for my iPhone.

With that in mind, I’ve definitely discovered that there are a few articles of my running gear that I reach for more often than others – whether it’s an article of clothing or accessories. Here is a list of my most-recommended running must-haves.

1. My SPIbelt. I wear this every time I am running outdoors, and love it. I use it to carry my inhaler, energy gels, change for water, even my keys. It took me a little while to figure out how to wear it so that it wouldn’t shift, but once I got the hang of it (low, with the pack on one of my hips), I completely forgot I had the SPIbelt on. If you need to carry things with you while running, I definitely recommend this pack!

2. Tech tees. I have a small collection of tech tees and don’t know how I ran without them. They are incredible at wicking away sweat to keep me dry and comfortable on a long, hot run. I’m far more comfortable running in a tech tee and shorts than I ever was running in cotton.

3. Running tights. Ever since the weather got colder, I’ve discovered a great affinity for cold-weather running tights. Mine are from Reebok, and I can tell a difference in how warm I am when I wear the tights, versus when I wear pants. If you run outdoors in cold weather, I definitely recommending picking up a pair.

4. My RoadID. I bought this a few weeks before my my first 5k. I was running outdoors more and more frequently, and carrying ID in my SPIbelt, while doable, didn’t seem to be the most practical option. I love that my ID is right on my wrist while I’m out running, easily accessible to first responders should I ever need help. I feel safer knowing that all my information is right there on my wrist, and I encourage anyone who enjoys outdoor activity to invest in a RoadID.

5. The Nike + GPS App. I don’t have a Garmin, so instead, I use the Nike+ GPS app on my phone to track my pace, mileage, and routes while out running. I put my phone into an armband holder, press play, and get to running. It definitely helps me to push myself and get out there, and I love watching my cumulative mileage total continue to increase. I even use the app while on a treadmill at the gym! For $1.99, it was a great investment and I get excited every time I set out for a new run – to see where I go, where I’m fastest, and where I need to improve.

6. A reflective vest. I do a lot of running really early in the morning, when the light is dim and visibility is low. To increase my visibility, I wear a reflective mesh vest. I also work hard to ensure I have awareness of where I am, looking around and scanning my surroundings often, and not running with headphones. While I do take my phone with me, when I’m running outside, I don’t run with tunes.

7. A pullover. I love pullovers for layering in the cold weather. They help keep me warm, and if I get too hot, well, I have them layered over a tech tee, so I can pull them off or roll the sleeves up! My pullovers are from UnderArmour and Reebok, and both are designed to wick moisture away from my skin, helping to keep me warm when temperatures drop below thirty.

Well, there you have it, seven favorite items of running gear. As you can see, it includes things for comfort and safety, as well as fun. As much as it is important for me to get my mileage in (especially while half marathon training), it’s equally important for me to be safe.

What is some of your favorite athletic gear?

Vlogging Half Marathon Training: Week Four

Just a few things:

1. I typically run in a pullover, tee, and tights.

2. My asthma was acting up today, so the video is a little shorter and more random than normal.

If you missed any previous videos and want to go back and look:

Vlogging Week One
Vlogging Week Two
Vlogging Week Three

As always, if you have any questions – please leave them in the comments!

Top 5: Foods While Half Marathon Training

All of the running involved in my half marathon training is making me hungry. On days I run, I often find myself looking to eat the contents of my refrigerator, and this has meant some higher grocery bills in an effort to satisfy my hungry runner's appetite. If you looked in my refrigerator and pantry right now, you would see a variety of foods intended to keep us both happy and full. Some of my favorite snacky foods are ones that are high protein, but I'm enjoying my cookies, granola bars and chocolate as well. That being said, here are my top five foods (and drinks) for keeping post-run hunger at bay.

1. Greek yogurt. I love Greek yogurt, especially Fage 2%. It's creamy, thick, and high in protein, and is delicious mixed with some cacao nibs, honey, and shredded wheat. I like to keep this on hand for breakfast, snacks, or as part of lunch. The combination of fat and protein definitely help keep me full and it's versatility (I love using it like sour cream), keeps me from getting bored!

2. Cottage Cheese. I tend to be hit-or-miss on cottage cheese. When I want it, I really want it, and when I don't, I really don't. Lately, I've been on a big cottage cheese, especially as a snack. I buy the lowfat kind and enjoy some whenever I feel like some cottage cheese. I like it plain, but I've also used it combined with or in place of ricotta in lasagna and stuffed shells!

3. Almonds. I used to keep almonds or walnuts on hand all the time, and stopped. I don't know why I did, because almonds are one of my favorite snacks whether I am training or not. One ounce is really portable, and a small handful holds me over when I get hungry between breakfast and lunch.

4. Mini Pretzels. I love pretzels. They're salty, crunchy, and fun to dip into melted cheese, peanut butter, and hummus. On days that I want something salty, pretzels are my first choice. Tortilla chips are my second. I love them!

5. Gatorade. I know it's not necessary, but as someone who sweats a lot while running, I find that having regular Gatorade or G2 available - especially while training - is essential. It helps to keep me hydrated, and I can definitely tell a difference after runs when I don't have some Gatorade, compared to when I do. My beverage of choice is water, but after a long or a particularly grueling run, I reach for Gatorade.

While I know the list is a little dairy-heavy, that's what I've been reaching for most since starting to train. Greek yogurt and cottage cheese help keep me satisfied after a run, without making me feel weighed down or sluggish. I reach for the others less often, but still frequently enough to include them on our weekly grocery list, where they weren't before.

What are some of your favorite snacks to help with post-workout hunger?

Vlogging the Half Marathon: Week Three

Just a few things:

1. I’m a little chatty in this video

2. I really like sleep!

Vlogging my Training: Week Two

No notes to add – but if you want me to talk about something specific, please let me know!