Deva by Definition

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!

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!

Motivation to Run In the Cold

At the end of December, it looked like winter was finally here to stay. The nights and days were getting colder, and I even had snow accumulate on my car one night while I was at work! At that time, between holiday commitments and everything else going on, I was struggling to find motivation to go running - or just to get to the gym and workout. The cold was almost too much, and the occasional rainy day was throwing off my mojo - I just was having trouble convincing myself that running in the cold was a good idea. I put a call out on Twitter for suggestions to motivate myself to get up, get out, and workout in the cold.

Then, the day before Christmas Eve, our internet died. This post has been in the works since then, and even though it was in the mid-fifties today, cold weather is returning, and I am going to need every ounce of motivation I can get to go and workout. I'm training for a race and I need to give it my all - even if it means training in <20 degree temperatures.

The answers I got on Twitter were great, and included these awesome responses:

@deva_defined Cute outfit, tweet about my workout (accountability), eat a light (non-sugary) breakfast 2 hours before & rock out on the way!

— Jessica Zirbes(@HealthNut_Blog) December 23, 2011

 

@deva_defined The reward of finishing my workout before work and freeing up my evening is often motivation enough for me to wake up EARLY.

— laurenpeters (@laurenpeters) December 23, 2011

 

@deva_defined Wear my sports bra to bed!!Helps with motivation!

— Lindsay Wright (@lindsays_list) December 23, 2011

 

@deva_defined for winter rain Nike storm fit jacket long sleeve or core gear. Shorts 40*+ tights/capris otherwise. Thin wool socks!

— We Run This (@WeRunThisDotOrg) December 22, 2011

I loved the idea of tweeting for accountability, as well as getting a warm but lightweight jacket and some thin wool socks, along with using the workout as the reward! While I am not one to wear my sports bra to bed (though I have done it in the past), I do have other ways of keeping my workout gear nearby so that I can get out of bed and go workout on a cold winter morning, as well as other motivators. Rachel recently wrote a post about motivating yourself to go workout and it has a lot of really good ideas.

My biggest motivator is The Boy and the alarm clock. When The Boy is trying to get me up to go running, I often remind me that even if it is set for me, the clock more often than not wakes The Boy up before I hear it. I don't want him to be up for no reason if he doesn't have to. I keep my workout gear in a pile on my nightstand, and in the morning, grab it, pull it all on, and curl up under the covers for a few minutes to warm it all up. We keep our house at 65 degrees overnight and when we are not home, and the vents on our second floor are kept closed to conserve energy - it can get CHILLY in our room overnight, and I like to be warm(er) before heading out to run. That helps ease the transition from our warmish house to the cold outdoors.

Knowing that I'll quickly warm back up once I get moving helps keep me running - instead of taking walking breaks. The routes I like to run have a lot of nice scenery along them, and there has been more than one day I have watched the sun rise while running home - it's a lovely picture, and one that helps keep me moving as well.

Of course, there are days when I don't want to go outside at all - where it's in the single digits outside, or in the teens with a single-digit wind chill. There are days when it is too icy to run outdoors, and it would be unsafe for me to go, and days where snow blankets the sidewalks, creating slick spots. Those days, I hop on my treadmill with some good music, or I head to the gym to run on one of their treadmills while watching a movie. I might do Yoga in the living room, or lift weights at the gym those days as well. Granted, when I need more sleep? I reschedule my workout. I would rather be well-rested than over-tired and crabby!

What are your biggest cold-weather workout motivators?

It’s a Vlog! Half-Marathon Training Thoughts

Just a few brief things:

1. I say really a lot in this video.

2. I’m not really that defensive about liking to sleep in. I was definitely a bit nervous!

3. Maggie’s tail makes an appearance a lot.

Please leave any questions in the comments! I hope to keep doing this throughout my training!

One cold, dark morning

This morning I rolled out of bed before the sun came up, and checked the outdoor temperature. It was in the mid-twenties, breezy, and the wind chill made it feel closer to twenty than thirty.

I was not going to be deterred, and pulled out my running tights, compression shirt, a pullover, and my hat and gloves. I was going running OUTSIDE today and couldn’t wait to get outside for three miles.

When I stepped outside it was frigid and still dark. I had on my reflective vest and was not running with music on – I wanted to be aware of my surroundings and visible. I was dressed warmly, and immediately set off for my run.

While I was out, I came across several other runners, all just as bundled up (and reflective) as I was, and all of whom waved hello to me as I passed them. While I attempted to maintain a fast pace, I ultimately ended up running about 5k in 37 minutes. I maintained a pretty steady 12 minute mile pace throughout my run, as I went my normal out and back loop.

The sun was coming up over the horizon as I ran the last few blocks to the house, and was bright in my front windows as I walked in my front door. I was pleased with my run – my steady pace and my choice to run outside. I was also pretty chilly and desperate for a coffee, so after stretching and showering, that’s exactly what I made.

I savored every sip of my fresh brew, enjoying being warm in my house, on my couch, and very pleased at my commitment to my run. Even if that run did take place on a cold, dark morning. It’s not every day you get to watch the sunrise while out for a run.

Training Thoughts

When I signed up for the half marathon in the fall, I had no idea what training plan I was going to use. I looked at the Hal Higdon half training plans but wasn’t sure if they were for me. For some reason, I wanted to take more time out to train, so when my friend Erica (who is running the half with me), emailed me the training plan she used for her first half marathon, I was more than happy to see that it was an eighteen-week long plan.

Now, eighteen weeks seems like a long time – and it is – but I feel like the amount of running I am committing to during that time frame is going to be worth it come race day. I am going to be committing a lot of training time to the half, but I think in the end, I’ll be glad that I did.

I am not sure where the training plan came from, or who wrote it up, but I know that it is eighteen weeks of running five days a week, with two rest days. My long runs will be on Saturdays, and my mid-week easy runs will vary in distance anywhere from three to eight miles. I know that I am going to want to continue to weight train while also training for the race, so I am trying to figure out whether I want to combine an easy run and lifting twice a week, or lift on one of my off days. I know that I will be savoring my off days as days to sleep in a little later and recover from all the running I will be doing.

I know that many of my long runs will be done along with Erica, which will hopefully make them a little bit more fun! I’ve never run any distance over about six miles or so, so once we get into the longer runs, I’ll be in entirely new territory. I am still amazed that by week twelve, eight miles will become an “easy” run distance for me.

Along with all of the planning for training has come a lot of research. I’ve never run distances where I have to consider if I need to carb-load, or if I don’t. Based on the research I have done so far, I am still figuring out if and when I’ll want to up my carbohydrate intake, or if I’ll want to carry fuel for mid-run energy boosts.

Training during some of the coldest months in my area is going to pose challenges as well, and I am already prepared to have to balance my time running outdoors and indoors on a treadmill. Ultimately, I would like the majority of my longer runs to take place outside, even though it will involve bundling up – I prefer running outdoors.

Mostly, though, I am just having to get used to using a training plan. To knowing there are days I have to run, mileage I have to cover – all going toward the ultimate goal of running 13.1 miles the first weekend in May.

Will it be worth it? I certainly hope so.

I Did It

I registered to run next year’s Flying Pig Half Marathon.

Am I nervous? Yes. Am I already looking at a training plan? Yes. Am I beyond excited? Yes.

I have over six months to get ready. Six months to run. A lot. Six months to prepare to run 13.1 miles. Did I mention my average run right now is 2.5 miles at a stretch? I’m okay with that – because I WILL get there.

I have a lot of work to do to prepare for this challenge. I can’t wait to begin.

I AM going to run a half marathon.

Pacing with an App?

I’m sorry if I’ve mentioned this before – but I registered to run a 5k next month and as a result, have been working on running every other day – no excuses! I didn’t really run much this summer, so my base is only about two miles. I have a lot of runs ahead of me if I am going to be successful at a 3.1 mile race!

I don’t have a Garmin, but figured I could find an app for my phone that would work similarly to one, so after some searching, ended up buying the Nike+ GPS app. It’s pretty basic, but does just what I need it to do: tells me my pacing, keeps track of my mileage, and let me load it up with “power songs” from my iTunes playlist – for an extra boost when I need it.

After getting it programmed and testing it on a lunchtime walk, I couldn’t wait to go for a run to see the program in action. I got it all set up, and decided to just run a basic run – no set mileage or time, I just wanted to go out and get my two miles done. As soon as I got out on the road, I pressed play and took off…

And quickly found myself huffing and puffing. Checking my pacing showed that I was running an 11:20 mile, but I felt like I was working harder than that, so I slowed down a bit more, and ended up walking almost as much as I ran. I got home about a half hour after I set out on my run, and after two miles.

After stretching, I decided to pull up my stats for my run, and checking my pacing showed me exactly what I was doing that led to me running out of breath so quickly: I was running a LOT faster than I thought. My pacing went anywhere from 8:43 per mile, all the way up to 21:00 per mile. In short – I was going too fast, too soon.

I kept that in mind when I set out on my run this morning – another two-miler. I aimed to keep my pace slow and steady – between 11 and 12:30 per mile. I was pretty darn close to my goal pace, coming in at 12:49 per mile, and running just over 25 minutes. Yes, it is slow, but I ran the whole two miles without burning out – and for that, I am proud.

Would I consider getting a Garmin after trying this app? Maybe if I get more involved in racing and training. For now, I am happy to use a simple app to help me with my pacing, and help me power up when I am running out of steam.

Do you run with a Garmin or use an app to keep track of your mileage and pacing?

*Please note that I bought this app with my own funds and just wanted to share my experiences.

90 Minute

This weekend started with some banana French toast

I made it by soaking some country white bread in milk and egg, before cooking it in my cast-iron skillet. Once it finished cooking, I sautéed some VERY ripe banana as a topping. Yes, there was syrup. Yes, it was delicious. I ate almost every bite – I love caramelized bananas!

French toast was followed by me filling out a registration form for my FIRST EVER 5K!!!!!!

I can’t believe it has taken me over 12 years of running to register for a road race – but I found a Girls on the Run event locally that I couldn’t NOT sign up for, and made the leap – I cannot wait to get my 5k on. I am only slightly afraid that this will mean that I will be running LOTS more races in the coming year – but I am excited to give it a go! Who knows? Maybe I’ll like it!

Registering for a 5k meant that I had to go running – I’ve been bad about running lately, so I laced up my running shoes and went for a quick 2-miler in mid-forty degree temperatures. It was chilly, but I warmed up pretty quickly once I got going, and I had a blast. I can’t wait to get into the thick of actually TRAINING!

The weekend started with banana French toast. It ended with some Dogfish Head 90-Minute IPA.

 

I saw this at the grocery store while we were picking up a few things we needed for a cookout we went to this weekend. I had been eager to try it ever since I watched  Brew Masters earlier this year. I could tell just by watching a few episodes of the show that the folks at Dogfish Head take pride in their brews.

This was the first opportunity I’ve had to try the 90-minute IPA and I really liked it – it was fruity, hoppy, and refreshing! I used to think hoppy beers were too bitter, but this one was juuust right. I savored every sip. I am eager to find and try the 120-minute now!

This weekend was really fun – full of delicious eats, lots of relaxing, and some surprises! I can’t wait to see how my training and race will go.

When was the last time you did something that surprised you? What did you do?