With a little help from the Skinny Mirror

This whole running/eating less/trying harder thing really seems to be working. While the scale continues to puzzle me because the me I'm seeing reflected in the mirror seems thinner, I am feeling pretty good about myself. I have to keep reminding myself that it's not the number on the scale it's the number of cat calls you get while running. I'm telling you, my neighborhood is seriously the best place to run if you're looking for a little positive reinforcement shouted to you from a passing car blaring mariachi music.

3/8/08 - 2.1 miles

3/10/08 - 2.1 miles
6 sets lunges

Friday I'm in Love

If one ever doubts the possibility of never being able to have sex again, one should go running on a Friday evening. There was much hooting and hollering. Nothing like a self esteem boost on a lonely Friday night.

3/7/08 - 2.1 miles

Friendly Push

I was feeling seriously unmotivated last night and while I was on the phone with Catherine I told her to tell me if I should run or if I should slack. She merely said, "You will feel better if you run." I knew she was right, so I did.

I've been a little in the gutter these past few days and it's a complicated mix of knowing that Louie is in New York hanging out with people I absolutely adore and that we are no longer together to go on trips like that coupled with the fact that I might have to cancel my Belize trip for lack of funds. I'm still trying to figure it out.

3/6/08 - 2.1 miles
6 sets lunges

The Usual

I ran by my new favorite bar tonight. I wanted to stop and have a drink. Instead I'm drinking Bailey's and coffee. This is going to seem like a bad idea when I can't get to sleep in two hours.

3/3/08 - 2.1 miles
6 sets lunges
sit-ups. several.

Book Club Run

I know it's probably a bad idea, but I feel the need to tell you about it. Book club is tonight. Normally I drive all the way back to the East Side, walk Lula and then Louie would come home and she wouldn't be alone for all that long. Now that Louie is gone, and I live alone, it doesn't seem fair to leave Lula alone all day, then get a quick walk, only to be left alone all night, not to mention the fact that I'm driving a ridiculous amount extra because of book club that I almost quit because of some personality conflicts.

So today I brought Lula to work with me. I work in an incredibly dog friendly environment given the other circumstances, so yeah, I get to bring my dog pretty much whenever I need to, but I can't bring her every day. Anyway, I brought Lula and I brought my running clothes. We went for a run, and I'm going to straight from work to book club. Now here's the part where I get judged. And Lula is going to sit in the car... Yeah. I know! But I've done it before and she's fine. She is exhausted at the moment because we just went for a long run and I think I deserve a night with the book ladies drinking wine, eating cheese without driving an extra 30 miles to do it.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I need a mid day dog walker.

2/29/08 - 2.86 miles

The Guantlet

My usual route was ridiculous tonight, I was dodging cars and kids and bicycles and where there is normally only one dirty dog cart there were two competing dirty dog carts that made me incredibly sad I was running and not on a dirty dog mission. That said, it was a pretty excellent run.

2/28/08 - 2.1 miles
5 sets lunges

Jiggle

My run last night was a little painful. I hadn't gone for a run in 7 days, but it felt like I hadn't ever run before in my life. The jiggle. Oh, the jiggle. Thankfully after about a half mile everything seemed to tighten up and I was able to think about something other than my ass.

2/27/08 - 2.1 miles

2 Runs, 2 miles, 2 Days

I don't talk about what I do for a living, mostly because while I enjoy it, and it has some definite perks, it's one of the many ways I get to keep a bit of privacy in my offline life. That said, there's a big awards show on Sunday that I'm working on, and it's stressful. So I need to run. Lula needs to run. Last night I almost convinced myself I was too sick to run, but the look on Lula's little face when I got home, and the partially shredded quilt on my bed, made me change my mind.

I think it was wamez who told me one isn't supposed to run while sick because it lowers the immune system, but I had to do it anyway. It felt great.

2/19/08 - 2.1

2/20/08 - 2.1
5 sets lunges.

Run, Lula, Run!

She really seems to have a great time on our runs. Me? Not so much. My right hip has really started to bother me and I think if it keeps up another week or so I need to get it checked out. I hate that I have just enough insurance to stay afloat, not enough to technically cover this kind of thing. Lame. Literally.

2/15/08 - 2 miles

5 sets lunges
1 set of my crazy trainer's sit-ups

Reward

Have I mentioned I've been working a lot? 10 to 12 hour days? Poor Lula has had to hold it for 12 hours so I felt like had to go for a run with her. Running for dogs is a reward not a punishment, funny that.

2 miles

5 sets lunges
40 sit-ups.

She loves dumbbells

I worked just under 12 hours yesterday. Got home at 8:30PM to a very desperate dog, and decided that fear of my neighborhood be damned, I needed to give Lula a run for her money. We did two fast miles and then when I got back to the apartment to do my arm exercises with free weights, Lula hilariously thought the dumbbells were toys. Watching a 25lb. dog try to hold a 5lb. dumbbell in her mouth was worth the price of admission, that's for sure.

2 miles
3 sets arms
4 sets push-ups

The things in your neighborhood, just your typical Saturday night

We had a major deadline this morning that kept me at work from 7:30AM to 10:30PM yesterday, so I didn't get a run in last night. It was disappointing, especially since I had the requisite stress meal of a Whopper with cheese, French fries and to cancel all that out, a Diet Coke.

So I worked this morning and came home, read my trashy book on Mary Kay Letourneau, and took a three hour nap interrupted by the happenings on my crazy ass street. At one point I think I heard my landlord chasing some people off our front steps. How they got in our gate to sleep on our steps, I have no idea.

I woke up and needed a run. I didn't expect to see people passed out on the steps of the building two doors down, much less a couple of people handcuffed and being patted down by police one block over and two blocks down. I ran down 3rd street for a block before I had to abandon that idea. I was the only person in a sea of humanity moving faster than a snails pace and at one point, I was surrounded by tiny Central American men, they were trying to move out of my way, I was merely trying to move, and Lula was trying to get tangled up with a meter, a telephone pole and clearly distressed by the amount of obstacles she was being met with. Not the least of which the constant temptation to eat the errant chicken bones in the street. Twice I had to shove my hand in her mouth and pull out a chicken bone. If that doesn't make for an exciting run, I don't know what would. It's all a matter of perception, those things didn't make me feel unsafe. They just make me feel like I'm living in Los Angeles. I was just happy the cops didn't appear to be shooting anyone or beating them with billy clubs.

2.3 miles

One set of my old trainers crazy sit-up routine
5 sets lunges.

Finally!

I'm a little ashamed to admit that I've been nervous about running in my new neighborhood. It's not so much nervous for my safety, but more because I don't really know the area very well and when I don't know something I get uncomfortable. But I left Lula home for the first time since I moved into the new place, and I figured she deserved to go for a run and I definitely needed to get some tension out of my shoulders so I put my brave face on and a warm brightly colored fleece and did some running. It felt great. I think I need to put about 20 miles inot a neighborhood before I feel really comfortable, but this was a good start.

2/7/08 - 2.44 miles

4 sets of lunges
3 sets of my 3 arm exercises
40 sit-ups

Next I'll be requesting hot water with lemon

I hadn't eaten a thing all day except a hasty bad idea handful of chocolate chips washed down with a non-fat vanilla latte, and after cleaning the apartment, loading up another car load of crap from what I've decided is the apartment version of a bag of worms, I was starving and needed a drink. Not true. That is a lie, what I really needed was to go for a run, but it was just about to start pouring, I had a date with Tara and I was feeling very sad about being done with that apartment. So I really wanted a drink. Badly.

I went to the store to drop off the stupid steam cleaner and decided I needed to pick something up to eat, also, I knew Tara wouldn't have any white wine, so I needed that as well. As I was purusing the junk food aisles I felt nothing. Not a single chip cried out to be eaten, not a single cookie, instead I heard a weird noise coming from the produce section. It sounded like, "Eat me. You want a salad. And fruit. " What?

So, I bought a spinach salad, some pre-cut pineapple and a half a honey dew melon. It was quite possibly the most satisfying meal (with the wine, of course) I've had in a while.

I seriously don't know what is becoming of me. I hope this doesn't mean I'm getting old.

Rest assured, I made up for it by ordering French fries and another glass of wine later that night. I think I canceled out the positive effects. Maybe on purpose.

Run 1

I finally went for a run in the new neighborhood. It was just starting to sprinkle when I left the apartment, and it held to a light mist for most of the run. There are a couple of nice hills in the new neighborhood, but also a couple of annoyingly long lights at two intersections. So tomorrow if it isn't pouring like the forecast suggests I might try a slightly different route and see if I can find a better timed stop light situation.

1/26/08 - 2 miles

Does having a garage sale count?

I meant to run on Sunday, I wanted to break the 10 mile barrier last week, but I accidentally got a little drunk at my celebratory El Cholo lunch, then I fell asleep on the couch and before I knew it, it was time to go pick up my new apartment keys and explore the new neighborhood. It's going to be an interesting place to live. There are some serious panaderia's on my strip and one market that intrigues me with the "Fruiteria" sign. Anyway, I didn't run. Boo.

Last night, because I didn't want to pack, or think about packing or clean or think about cleaning I went for a run. How about that for a new procrastination technique. I hope it sticks.

1/14/08 - 2 miles.

Linda Hamilton probably had a little black dog

Lula has been acting a little funny lately. Probably something to do with the mass chaos that has descended upon the apartment. Boxes are everywhere, strangers are coming in to look at my stuff, and generally I've been a little cross with her and then overly affectionate to compensate. This move is the first time I've decided to hire movers, and hopefully it won't break the bank, but mostly I'm doing it so I can save my sanity and the sanity of my friends. Also, so I can keep my exercise schedule with my little black dog. She does best when she gets a good 2 miles in and funnily and conveniently enough, so do I.

1/13/08 - 2 miles

Almost didn't run

As I was walking up the driveway to my apartment I almost talked myself out of running, then I caught a look at my reflection and realized, I am changing and I want to keep changing.

1/11/08 - 2 miles

4 sets of lunges
3 sets of sit-ups

Celebration

I got the apartment I wanted and instead of going out for a drink to celebrate I went for a run. Who knows how to party? I do?

1/8/08 - 2 miles

And for the 'little bit more' section - 3 sets of 10 girlie push-ups.

To the library

I had to return some books yesterday to the library and was going to run them over, but with Lula and the books and my already awkward running stance, I decided to just walk briskly and then run on the way back. It translates to a little over a mile each way, so I feel like I kept up my end of the 'try a little harder' bargain.

Then when I got home I did three sets of ten lunges on each leg. I'm going to try to add some more weight training/muscle building stuff like this as I go along.

I have a wealth of exercise knowledge that is going unused and I'm going to slowly add it on to the end of my nightly workouts. I used to love going to my personal trainer back when I lived in Arizona, but that is a luxury I can no longer afford, so I'm going to just do it myself and imagine her long red braid and her skinny freckly arms showing me proper form.

1/7/08 - 1.1 miles jog, 1.1 miles brisk walk, 3 sets of 10 lunges each leg

Boring

I'm bored of my route, but don't really have the energy to do too much changing. In less than a month I'll be living somewhere else, so that will surely shake up my routine.

1/7/08 - 2 miles

Jalepeno Artichoke Dip

Last night Tara came over and she brought some cheese, crackers and dip. In my crazy food dreams, that would be what heaven served, with Veuve Cliquot champagne and Honey Moon Viognier. So, tonight I pushed my run a little harder and went a little farther than I normally do, which incidentally is when I decided that would be a good New Year's resolution for me.

1/5/08 - 2.8 miles

Running keeps the sad away

I went for a fast run tonight. There's something very healing about running as fast as you can. It has something to do with survival.

1/3/08 - 2 miles

New Year

I finished out 2007 with two more runs. I did a 2 miler in Seattle before I had to rush off to the airport, then yesterday I managed another 2 milers. I'm going to try and get in a 4 miler this evening, but I'm a bit hungover so we'll see.

12/30/07 - 2 miles (Seattle - that wicked hill again)
12/31/07 - 2 miles (back to my old run in L.A.)

Christmas running

I managed to get 2 miles in on Sunday before my flight. 2 miles on Christmas Eve and then took Christmas and my mom's birthday off. 2 miles on Thursday, 4 miles on Friday and I meant to run today but didn't get to it. Hopefully I can get another four miles in tomorrow before my flight, but I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't.

12/23/07 - 2 miles
12/24/07 - 1.8 (?) miles (in Seattle with a wicked hill)
12/27/07 - 2 miles (same wicked hill, different attack)
12/28/07 - 4 miles (added another hill and an extra couple of miles)

Those miles aren't going to run themselves

The thing that I constantly have to remind myself is that no matter how much I dread the run, no matter how long I postpone the putting on of shoes and sports bra and getting the iPod charged, I always feel better after running. Exercise is a free form of therapy for me, so I need to use it.

Since my boyfriend unceremoniously dumped me on Monday, December 17th, I've decided that I need a goal to get me out of the house and back in shape. Also, I have a little black dog who needs her exercise.

So, here I am again. Not sure what I'm going to aim for this time, maybe I won't have a marathon at the end. Maybe I'll just train for the fun of it. I don't know. I just know I want to look better in 4 months than the day I got left by that dude.

Hiatus

So, I'm putting this little guy on hiatus. I won't be doing much training for the foreseeable future as I have to get my ass in gear with my career, and time is limited in my life at the moment. When I get my life sorted out, I promise I'll come back here and bore you with training details of the utmost importance.

Lame ass

I ran 1.75 miles today, walked .25. I haven't run in a while so it was not very pleasant, but not deadly either. I did it because I just know I'm going to stuff myself at El Cholo tonight.

Lunch walk

I'm having trouble getting my ass out of the kitchen on the weekdays. Something about the change in the weather has me cooking up a storm, but doing nothing in the way of working out, so today I took a walk at lunch. I might try running at lunch tomorrow. The only problem with that plan is the lack of a post run shower, so I'll have to see how it goes.

(Recap for Week 39 of 2007 - Jog 2 miles, Walk 6 miles)

Thursday, 10/04/07 - Walk 2.14 miles

Eating crow

The last time I posted here I was bragging about how I was totally going to train for LA 2008. I guess my brain shorted out because it has been probably about 2 weeks since I've gone on a run. And boy has my mood suffered for it.

It's a combination of laziness, wanting to cook in the evening and did I mention laziness?

I've sort of started up again, but one run does not a habit make. I'll try and recap the last couple of weeks in the next few hours, but I'm off to pick up my car from the shop and that's a two mile walk right there, so... yeah, maybe I am back in the saddle.

Here's the big recap - thrilling.

Sunday, 9/9/07 - Jog 3 miles

(Recap for Week 36 of 2007 - Jog 10 miles)

Wednesday, 9/12/07 - Jog 2 miles
Thursday, 9/13/07 - Jog 2 miles
Friday, 9/14/07 - Walk 2 miles
Saturday, 9/15/07 - Jog 2 miles

(Recap for Week 37 of 2007 - Jog 6 miles, Walk 2 miles)

Wednesday, 9/19/07 - Walk 2.5 miles
Thursday, 9/20/07 - Walk 2 miles

(Recap for Week 38 of 2007 - Walk 4.5 miles)

Friday, 9/28/07 - Walk 4 miles
Saturday, 9/29/07 - Walk 2 miles, Jog 2 miles

The heat wave is finally over

It might just be because the weather is finally starting to cool down and I've lost enough weight to sort of fit into the jeans I bought during marathon training 2 years ago, but I'm seriously feeling good these days. And call me crazy, but I might be up for the 2008 LA Marathon. I have to map out how I'm going to train and write and still be a functioning member of society, but I think I might be ready to do it again. Time will tell.

Thursday 8/30/07 - Jog 3 miles, walk 1 mile
Friday 8/31/07 - Jog 2.3 miles
Saturday 9/1/07 - Walk 2 miles

(Recap for week 35 of 2007 - Jog 9.4, walk 5.7)

Sunday 9/2/07 - Nada
Monday 9/3/07 - Nada
Tuesday 9/4/07 - Jog 2 miles
Wednesday 9/5/07 - Nada
Thursday 9/6/07 - Nada
Friday 9/7/07 - Jog 2 miles
Saturday 9/8/07 - Jog 3 miles

Today is Thursday, but it's my Friday

I love Labor Day. It makes me sad that summer is over, but I look forward to it all summer because it means summer is over and school will be starting soon, and I'll get a new wardrobe and people will stop being so damned lazy and get back to work making the roads less clogged at noon.

I am not actually going back to school, but I love the idea of the changing seasons. Even though in Los Angeles, the changing seasons are only marked by a few degrees difference.

I guess I don't really know how to explain why I love Labor Day so much. Maybe it's because I'm a pinko commie who thinks the Unions did some good things in the industrialization of our country. Right now, I think the Unions don't know what they're supposed to be doing except making sure their members have health insurance.

Monday 8/27/07 - 2.7 miles walk
Tuesday 8/28/07 - 2 miles run/jog
Wednesday 8/29/07 - 2 miles run/jog

I've been stepping up my speed a little bit, I still can't claim to truly run the whole 2 miles, but there is definitely more time spent at top speed.

This exercise thing just never ends

I hate that I wish I could get to a point where I don't have to exercise. Ever. Again. I hate it because it makes me a lazy layabout, which is exactly what I am.

Wednesday 8/22/07 - 2 mile jog
Thursday 8/23/07 - 2 mile walk
Friday 8/24/07 - Nada
Saturday 8/25/07 - 1 mile jog, 1 mile walk
Sunday 8/26/07 - 4 mile walk

(Recap for Week 34 of 2007 - 5 miles jog, 11 miles walk)

Technical Difficulties

It started out badly when I couldn't find my headphones and had to use a pair that only works on one side. Then after my two mile run I reached into my pocket to discover that my key had fallen out somewhere along the way. So I walked the route over again, and miraculously I found it. In the parking lot of a gas station. I'm tired.

Tuesday 8/21/07 - 2 mile jog, 2 mile walk

Still kicking a cold-thingy

I still don't feel very good, and that is being made worse by the depression I'm sinking into because of the lack of good exercise. Yuck.

Saturday 8/18/07 - 1.3 mile walk
(Recap for week 33 of 2007 - 5.3 miles walked)

Monday 8/20/07 - 2 mile walk

Christ Almighty

I keep forgetting to update this fucker. I'm on the verge of being sick so I'm grumpy as the dickens.

Tuesday 8/7/07 - 2 mile jog
Wednesday 8/8/07 - 1 mile walk (approx.)
Thursday 8/9/07 - Nada
Friday 8/10/07 - 2 mile run/jog on the beach (soooo, awesome)
Saturday 8/11/07 - Nada
Sunday 8/12/07 - Nada

(Recap for Week 32 of 2007 - 6 miles jogged, 1 mile walked)

Monday 8/13/07 - 2 mile walk
Tuesday 8/14/07 - 2 mile walk

Working off that risotto

I ate and drank way too much over the weekend, and Sunday was too wrecked to run. It was a nice little message from my aging body. I'm off to Oregon tomorrow for more drinking and over eating, so yay! My weight might go up but my will is firm, it will not stay there.

Sunday - 8/5/07 - 2 mile walk
(Recap for week 31 of 2007 - 11 miles jogged, 7.25 walked)

Monday - 8/6/07 -2 mile jog

Rode hard, put away wet

I'm so tired. I can't stay out drinking until 3:00AM any more, and that doesn't bother me in the slightest. I don't feel good.

Thursday 8/2/07 - 2 mile walk
Friday 8/3/07 - 3 mile jog, 1 mile walk
Saturday 8/4/07 - 2 mile jog

What it sounds like in my head

• You should just put on your sports bras.
• I think I'll just sit down-
  
• Just do it.
• But I just want to eat a bowl of rice.
  
• Look at the dog, she wants to go on a walk.
• PUT ON YOUR SPORTS BRAS.
  
• Wow, these really smell.
• They're fine.
  
• I'm just going to sit down-
• PUT ON YOUR SHOES.
• FUCK OFF.
• YOU ARE FAT, GO FOR A WALK.
• BE NICE.
• Fine, you aren't fat, but you'll feel fat if you just sit there on the couch while those hot dancers do their dances.
• FINE.
• FINE.

So yeah, I have a mean person living inside of me. A drill sergeant person.

Tuesday 8/1/07 - Jog 1 mile (maybe?) Walk 1 mile (around there?)
Wednesday 8/2/07 - Jog 3 miles (WOOO!) Walk 1 mile (so smug, so totally smug)

Run Down

I figure if I'm so hungry that I eat my sack lunch at 10:45am, something is amiss with my diet. I started adding protein to my morning meal by having veggie sausage links with my toaster waffles, but I'm still famished by 10:30. Now, of course, I'll be hungry again at 3pm. I have to figure out a way to get this in control because if there's one thing I know about myself, it's that a Hungry Tamara is a Grumpy and Mean Tamara.

Monday 7/30/07 - Jog 2 miles, walk 1/4 mile (or thereabouts)

Showdown - Pasta vs. Evening Run

Yeah, the Pasta won. I was kind of a lump this weekend, but did some gardening on the balcony and washed the dog, so it didn't feel like a total waste.

Thursday 7/26/07 - Jog 2 miles
Friday 7/27/07 - Nada
Saturday 7/28/07 - Runyon Canyon
Sunday 7/29/07 - Nada
(Recap for Week 30 of 2007 - 4 miles jogged, 6 miles walked, Runyon hike)

Psychosomatic

It's been a not so good week workout wise. I ran on Monday and then Tuesday I almost didn't put my workout clothes on because I was being a baby and felt a little soreness in my throat, but I did it. Then Wednesday, I felt, well, like I would poop my pants if I jogged, so I just walked it. I hope tonight I can get a two mile run in, but my mind is making shit up and I don't know what it wants with me.

Monday 7/23/07 - Jog 2 miles, walk 2 miles
Tuesday 7/24/07 - Walk 2 miles
Wednesday 7/25/07 - Walk 2 miles

The Hard Side

I lost another pound this week. And here's where I sound like a bad suburban mom comic - If you find it, don't tell it where I am. I can't help it. I am lame.

Allie and I did the hard side up Runyon Canyon. The hard side is on the right as you go in and it is much steeper, had rickety wooden steps and dogs barreling down full speed at you. It's exciting and terrifying and really fucking hard. I happen to love it, that is, when I'm not sure I'm going to stumble to my death because of a wave of vertigo.

Friday, 7/20/07 - Jog 2 miles, walk 2 miles
Saturday 7/21/07 - walk 2 miles
Sunday 7/22/07 - Runyon Canyon and walk 4 miles

Dancing into the floor

I watch too much TV. So You Think You Can Dance has filled my brain with phrases like backwards assisted arabesque, and dancing into the floor and your musicality is lacking. Except for backwards assisted arabesque, that's how I felt on my Senior Citizen Walk last night. I did the normal one mile of walk and then started to run and it felt horrible. My underwear was bugging me (ladies, avoid the thong on a jog is all I'm saying), my arms felt like they were put on wrong, my feet felt heavy and I could not get into the groove. After a 1/2 mile or so of that I said Fuck It and knowing I would be completing my promise to myself of at least walking 2 miles I stopped. Tonight I try again.

Thursday - 7/19/07 - .5 miles jog, 2 miles walk

High

It's been a long time since I've felt it, but yesterday I got a nice whiff of perfectly awesome endorphins and it felt glorious. I now bow down to the running gods and say, AMEN.

Wednesday - 7/18/07 - Run 2.5 miles, walk 1.5 miles

My abusive relationship with the scale

On Monday I decided to take the evening off and not go on a walk or a run. It had been a while since I just sat my ass down on the couch instead of struggling into the sports bra and it felt glorious. Then I couldn't get to sleep. Then when I finally got up in the morning the scale taunted me by saying I gained a pound. I weigh myself every morning. I know it's not really productive, and the human body fluctuates a lot throughout the week but I do it. And yesterday I was pissed. Then I put on my magic outfit and got two compliments about how skinny I looked. It makes no sense. Anyway, because I remembered how awesome it was to fit into every pair of jeans I owned, I went for a run. This morning, the scale told me I had lost two pounds. So, obviously I need to stop stepping on the scale, but I am compelled to. It's my best motivation.

Monday 7/17/07 - Nada
Tuesday 7/18/07 - Jog 2 miles, Walk 2 miles

Lazy Scab

I hurt some kind of hip or butt muscle and I'm not really sure how, but I refused to let it stop me from going on my senior citizen walks. I call them that because I feel really old when I'm lacing up my sneakers to go on an evening walk after dinner. It's exactly what my Grandpa would do and it's one my childhood regrets that I usually refused to go with him, not knowing he'd be gone from my life too soon. Oh, that was maudlin, sorry.

Saturday, 7/14/07 - walk 2 miles
Sunday, 7/15/07 - Hike Runyon canyon and walk 3 miles

Catch up

I neglect this thing because I'm not really training for anything, just trying to lose a little weight and now I feel like I might be fudging some of the numbers.

Monday 7/2/07 - Walk 3 miles
Tuesday 7/3/07 - Walk 4 miles
Wednesday 7/4/07 - ? I'm pretty sure I didn't get any exercise because National Holiday, hello
Thursday 7/5/07 - Walk 3 miles Jog 1 mile
Friday 7/6/07 - Walk 4 miles (maybe?)

Saturday 7/7/07 - Walk 2 miles Jog 2 miles
Sunday 7/8/07 - Walk 3 miles
Monday 7/9/07 - Walk 3 miles
Tuesday 7/10/07 - Walk 2 miles Jog 2 miles
Wednesday 7/11/07 - Walk 3 miles
Thursday 7/12/07 - Walk 1.8 miles Jog 2.2 miles
Friday 7/13/07 - Walk 1.8 miles Jog 2.2 miles

So, you can see I've been pushing in a little jogging with all of the walking and I make a point to get out there every damned day even if it's just to walk. So far not much change in the weight department, probably due to my fucked up metabolism, but it keeps me off the couch and the food out of my mouth, so there's that.

Runyon Canyon kicked my ass and shit on my dog's foot

June 9 - Jog - two miles
June 16 - Walk - 3 miles
June 30 - Walk - 3 miles
July 1 - Walk - Runyon Canyon and 3 miles

I haven't been doing much lately, but I decided if nothing else I'd at least try to get off my ass and take my dog for a long walk in the evening. It's pretty easy to listen to a book on tape when you aren't wheezing and preparing to die.

Here I am, again

I started running again. Partially because I stepped on the scale last weekend after eating a donut two days in a row and realized something had to be done, and partially because I have a dog who loves to run.

I don't know if I'm going to work towards anything organized, like say, a marathon, so for now this space will be just a repository for me to keep track of my runs. It definitely keeps me honest if I come to this space and see I haven't run for a while.

Saturday, 6/3/07 - Two mile walk with Allie and Lula
Sunday, 6/4/07 - Two mile jog with Lula
Wednesday, 6/6/07 - Two mile run/jog/walk with Lula

I'm not keeping track of my times, at least for now. Just my approximate distances and the level of intensity. That might change in a few weeks. We'll just have to wait and see.

Weeks 3 and 4 of 52: Recap

I only managed to get one run in during week 3, and this week I only got two runs in. So for the year so far, I'm six runs behind in my goal to do 30 minutes 3 times a week. Actually, for me, that's not that bad. So I'll take it.

Week 1 and 2 of 52: Recap

So the first two weeks of the new year, and already I've slacked. I ran three times in the two weeks, missing my goal by three runs. Oh well. It's been a nice change not to feel the added pressure of making all my miles and eating exactly perfectly, but I definitely do feel the difference in my body and my stress levels. Experimenting with my routine always opens my eyes to what goes into making me a happy, healthy human. Unfortunately for lazy old me, I really need to get at least three workouts in a week or I'm pretty miserable. The trickiest part is realizing that the misery during the workout is short-lived, whereas the misery of not working out lasts all week.

My back has been killing me recently and I think it's the extra weight I put on over the holidays plus the money stress that I seem to carry in my shoulders that's bringing me down. Then as I was getting dressed just a few minutes ago to go on a hike, I think I twisted a little wrong and I have a big ache in the middle of my back. I hate being 30.

Training Hiatus

So, I guess it's kind of obvious I'm not training anymore. I was beating myself up for not getting better and not being faster and not being as focused as I was last year. It made me really not enjoy my runs and so I just up and stopped running.

I made a resolution this year to be good to my body by doing at least 30 minutes of excersize 3 times a week. And yesterday I went on my first run since last month. It felt good to just go and not worry about distance. I felt good to listen to my music and get my heart pumping. And most of all it felt good to push just a little farther, but know that at any point I could stop and turn around. I was running because I felt like it and it's been a long time since I've done that.

I might not journal much over here for the next couple of months, except to keep a record of my resolution. That is most certainly a really boring read, so don't feel bad if you don't want to check in over here. If I get the notion to start marathon training again, I'll surely keep you posted, but there isn't going to be an LA Marathon for me this year.

Week 6 of 18: Cross

So, for the past six weeks, I've been struggling to complete just my runs, and have ignored the little day of the week that says I should XT. This week, I had it in me to get my bike out and go for a short ride. I only rode about 20 minutes, which is actually hardly worth it, but traffic was really heavy and I'm a little scared of riding my bike on busy streets. I puttered around my neighborhood and went up and down some big hills (still as fun as it was when I was a kid), tested myself on the street with actuall traffic going by, and then got just tired enough to call it quits.

Next week I hope to go into Griffith Park and tool around in there for a while, if I can get up early enough to avoid the scary traffic.

Week 6 of 18: 3 miles (3)

Distance: 3 miles
Course: 1 mile track, 2 miles rolling hills
Weather: Chilly/neutral, dark
Pace: 11.61

I'm trying really hard not to be too hard on myself these days. A couple of days ago, I was driving to work and I realized if someone treated me the way I treated myself, with the constant criticism, the verbal abuse and the unreasonable expectations, I would cut them out of my life (or just cut them). So, as Oprah as this all sounds, I decided I needed to change some things. I enjoy challenging myself, and I like meeting goals, but there is really no need to abuse myself if I can't quite reach the mark I set. I just need to work on it until I can. Ok, this all makes me feel way too new agey to talk about any more, so you get the drift I'm sure.

This was a tough run. I felt sluggish and tired and stiff. I just couldn't get a good smooth pace set so I was running like one of those runners you feel kind of sorry for, like they just don't have it in them, but they're trying so hard. It's good to be back in the house sitting on the couch.

Week 6 of 18: 5 miles (2)

Distance: 5 miles
Course: 1 mile track, 4 miles rolling hills
Weather: Chilly, dark
Pace: 11.85

Ah yes, considerably slower than yesterday's run. Oh well.

This is a hard distance for me. I'm not sure why. I much prefer doing any mileage over 4 miles on the weekends, mostly because I don't like being out that late at night. But, whatever. I did it.

Week 6 of 18: 3 miles (1)

Distance: 3 miles
Weather: Chilly, dark
Course: 1 mile track, 2 miles rolling hills
Pace: 10.85 per mile

First of all, I guess I should address the fact that last week didn't happen. I have various excuses for that, one being it was really cold for little old me, two being I was having serious doubts about my life and my course in it and finally I guess I was just being stubborn. I haven't worked out my life, and obviously one week isn't going to make a difference in the long run of my training. These things happen. It would be better if they didn't, but it's just one of those minor bumps in an other wise relatively smooth life.

Secondly, I'd like to congratulate wamez on his first half marathon (he's done a marathon and several other 10k/5k type runs in addition to being a cross country guy in high school). The course went right through my neighborhood, literally a two block walk from my apartment, so I walked down and watched the run and cheered for the participants. Wamez looked like he was doing pretty well, and he sailed by so fast I didn't get a picture. He's one of those runners that makes it look easy. It makes me jealous and inspired. I've never cheered for runners before (aside from my brief stint in junior high track) and I have to say it was pretty awesome. So many runners are, like me, just out there to check off a life goal and they are so grateful to have a cheering section, no matter how small it is. I got thanked more that day than I did in a month as a customer service person in retail. I wonder if there's any way to get a job as a professional cheering section.

Finally, my run, my goals and what the hell is next. I'm thinking I'm back on track for the LA Marathon, but I didn't register early so they'll add another couple of bucks onto my entry fee. Which normally I would just shrug off, but things are tight around ol' casa del Tamara and I'm feeling the holiday pinch and the mechanical failure of my magical junk bucket has me a little more concerned about money than normal. I'm going to try and stay on track and see what the new year brings in terms of luck and fortune. As for this particular three mile run. I feel like I kind of rocked it. I knew I was running fast, especially when I stumbled and almost fell face first into the pavement. I had many visions of broken teeth and collar bones in the three seconds it took me to recover. I felt strong and good for most of this run. It might have something to do with the McDonald's McFlurry and french fries I treated myself with today. (Don't judge, there are some things such as bad car news, that only McDonalds McFlurries can heal.)

One run at a time.

Week 4 of 18: 9 miles (4)

Distance: 9.5
Course: Rolling and steep hills
Weather: Chilly, afternoon
Pace: 11.97

I'm kind of shocked I ran 11.97. I felt very unprepared for this run and about half way through it I started getting some tough pain in my hips. I finished without walking, but I'm not entirely happy with my performance. I just kind of wish I could lose this extra weight already. It would make all of this a lot easier on my body I think.

Anyhoo. I'm slayed.

Week 4 of 18: 3 miles (3)

Distance: 3.2
Course: rolling and steep hills
Weather: between warm and crisp, mid-morning
Pace: 11.66

It was a great run. It always feels good to go running before a full 8 hours of eating and drinking is to commence. That's 8 hours of eating, you read right. I think if I ever eat again, I'll be pretty surprised. Wait, that's not true, I had pumpkin pie for breakfast this morning.

Tomorrow I have a 9 mile run. I'm not sure how I'm going to do that. I'll be really happy if I make it without walking.

Week 4 of 18: 4 miles (2)

Distance: 4 miles
Course: rolling hills
Weather: crisp, afternoon
Pace: 11.66

I took it relatively easy on this one. The route I take has some really amazing homes on this wide boulevard with lovely large trees and Griffith Park across the street. I really enjoyed this run. Maybe because I wasn't worried about how late it was getting or how I was going to fit in television, shower, and writing all before bed.

Tomorrow - 3 miles and lots of turkey!

Week 4 of 18: 3 miles (1)

Distance: 3 miles
Course: 1 mile track, 2 miles rolling hills
Weather: Crisp, dark
Pace: 11.36

I'm slow. I just have to get used to that. It pains me every time I have to write my pace down. But, whatever. I enjoy the workout. I'm just not built for speed.

Tomorrow is supposed to be an early day off work, but we'll see how that goes. I'd love to get a workout knocked off before dark. Then Thursday, I'll run in the morning before the cooking and hanging out begins. I'm not supposed to be thinking about those runs yet, but I'm actually looking forward to them, so I guess it's ok.

Week 3 of 18: 4 miles (2)

Distance: 5 miles
Course: Treadmill
Pace: 12.25

Considering how fucking awful this run was, I'm actually pretty surprised I came in under a 13 minute mile. I had to walk several times. I just couldn't get into a rhythm. My iPod headphone cord kept touching my arm and making me really irritated.

I'm glad this week is over.

We're still working one day at a time, so I'll see how next week goes. Typically, when I don't have to work, I get a better run in, so hopefully the holiday will work in my favor.

Week 3 of 18: 3 miles (1)

Distance: 4 miles
Course: Rolling hills
Weather: cool, dusk
Pace: 11.92

Man. This has been an emotionally rough week for me. I don't know what the fuck happened but I was paralyzed with the weight of the world. It was pretty horrible. I would come home every night and just not want to see anyone, or talk, or move, or be touched. I let it get the best of me, and instead of taking control of the situation (which, now that I'm through it, can see ways that I could have taken control) and gone for a run, pampered my body that way, instead of coddling myself into believing I was unable to do it.

Anyway, today is the first time I've run since last weekend and instead of doing one of the three milers, I decided to do the 4 miler. I've promised myself from this day forward that I'm going to meet each run as it comes instead of thinking about the whole week in front of me. Right now I'm just too easily overwhelmed to look at my training any farther than what is scheduled for that day.

It was a tough run back. I had major cramps. I couldn't find my lungs. But in spite of all that, my legs felt good. My form felt good. It just felt good to be out of the house and acomplishing something.

One day at a time.

Week 2 of 18: 7 miles (4)

Distance: 7 miles
Course: treadmill
Pace: 11.62

My only goals for this run were a. to get through it and b. to run faster than my marathon pace of 12.0 per mile. Modest, yes. But also, goals I know I can achieve are still goals.

Anyway... that's week 2 complete. 16 to go.

Week 2 of 18: 3 miles (3)

Distance: 3 miles
Course: rolling and steep hills
Weather: Crisp, dark
Pace: 11.75

I am so sore today. I took it pretty easy in terms of speed, but I think I made up for it (in my head at least) in terms of difficulty. I couldn't stomach the thought of the track, so much so that I almost didn't run. I just promised myself I would do the run at whatever pace was comfortable and worry about the rest later.

Tomorrow I'm resting. I'll do my 7 miler on Sunday, most likely on the treadmill.

Week 2 of 18: 3 miles (2)

Distance: 3 miles
Course: 1 mile track, 2 miles steep downhill/uphill
Weather: Chilly, dark
Pace: 10.98

I'm beat and I still have two runs to go this week because I pussed out on Tuesday. crap.

Nothing much to report on this run. I feel like I should have tried to pick it up on the downhill but I was feeling comfortable so I didn't. I guess I'm maybe setting a goal for the marathon. I'd like to run faster than I did last year, but I'm a little scared that I won't be able to. I mostly just want to finish again... although there's a tiny part of me that thinks maybe that isn't quite enough. I'll keep you posted.

Week 2 of 18: 3 miles (1)

Distance: 3 miles
Course: 1 mile track, 2 miles steep up and downhill
Pace: 11.0 per mile
Weather: Crisp, dark

I almost talked myself out of this run tonight, but managed to force myself to get out there. I had to change up my course but it didn't help much seeing as I've run these places what seems like millions of times.

There's one part of the run where it's a choice between running in the bike lane or on this stone/grass path that has a couple of rooty trees and serious lack of lighting on it, and for some reason at top speed I decided it would be a good idea to run on it. I stumbled just in time to whack into a tree and almost poke my eye out. For some reason, that whole little incident sort of symbolizes why I run. I run because even if I almost fall, even if I get whacked in the face and almost poke my eye out, and the path is dark, and my lungs won't fill all the way, there is still ground in front of me and my feet are still moving across it.

Marathon Course

I was just cruising around the LA Marathon site and came across the 2007 Course Map. It is so dramatically different from last year, with a start in Burbank and a trip through Hollywood. I was shocked. And now I'm a little nervous, but also kind of excited. It's a whole new marathon next year.

Week 1 of 18: 6 miles (4)

Distance: 6 miles
Course: Treadmill
Pace: 11.77

I think I have to make the switch to Gatorade on my long runs, at about half way I'm hitting some kind of wall. Whether it's just me running too fast in the beginning or me sweating out too many carbs, I have no idea. Either way at 3.1 miles I was pretty sure I was done. I slowed way down and then got frustrated because I felt like shit and I wasn't really making much progress. I keep wishing I was faster.

Monday is a rest day. Yay.

Week 1 of 18: 3 miles (3)

Distance: 3 miles
Course: treadmill
Pace: 11.0

I had dueling stitches during almost the entirety of the run. At one point I both stitches were on, I couldn't find my lungs and I couldn't get the cap off my water bottle.

I'm irritated that I have to run tomorrow. I'm not going to push it very hard.

Week 1 of 18: 3 miles (2)

Distance: 3 miles
Course: 1 mile track, 2 miles rolling hills
Weather: Crisp/Dark
Pace: 10.58

I'm not sure if that pace can actually be right, maybe I miss counted the number of laps I ran on the track? I don't know.

I felt like I was running on peg legs for the entire run. Every step kind of jarred me and made me feel like my feet were stumps instead of feet. I was supposed to have the night off from running today, but I stayed late at work for the last two nights and couldn't bear to move once I got home, so I'm paying for it this weekend.

Sweat is pouring down my back, and I guess this is probably not a very girly thing to say but it is actually one of my favorite things about running. I love the feeling that my body has recognized how hard I worked and is calling all systems to put some coolant on the works. It makes me feel like a machine, not a peg legged freak. (Not that I think people with peg legs are freaks, I would just feel like a freak if I had peg legs.)

Week 1 of 18: 3 miles (1)

Distance: 3 miles
Course: 1 mile on track, 2 miles rolling hills
Weather: Crisp/Chilly, Dark
Pace: 11.16 per mile

Honestly, I don't believe the pace on this one. I know it's not actually that fast in the grand scheme of things, but for me, this is a good one.

I got some serious, uterus clawing it's way out of my stomach cramps on mile two and I slowed way down, and almost considered calling it a draw and coming home half way through, but I kept going and just let the pain run with me. After about a quarter mile I just had a stitch so I was able to push it again and came home at a super fast speed.

Great way to start the training.

Week -1 of 18: 3 miles

I was supposed to do this run on Tuesday, but as I've said earlier this week, I've been having some motivation problems. Anyway, the treadmill called out to me, and since I'd rather miss a cross training session than a run, I opted to do the run. I also wanted to challenge myself by increasing my speed. I think I actually accomplished that. I worry when I'm running outside about pushing it too hard for some reason, it's like I don't want people to see that I'm actually really sweating and breathing heavy. Something I'll have to work on in the future obviously.

Distance: 3 miles
Course: treadmill
Pace: 11.88 per mile

Tomorrow is thankfully a rest day, which means I get to do some cooking. Hooray!

Week -1 of 18: 6 miles

dear lord this was hard.

Distance: 6 miles
Course: treadmill
pace: (don't laugh) 13.1 per mile

I'm housesitting this weekend and they have a treadmill. Which I was really excited about. I remember it being such a good workout when I used to have a gym membership. I remember how fast the miles would go by. I must have been on drugs back then, because while it was a good workout, it was pretty tough to say the miles flew by. At mile 3.5 I was about to throw in the towel. Not only did I think I was hitting a wall, but also, I think I might have been a bit bored. So I told myself if I could get to 60 minutes I could quit, knowing that if I got that far into a run I totally would have to prove it to myself that I could finish it. Which is exactly what happened. I don't really understand how I can trick myself. I guess I'm easily swayed.

I had to walk a bit, but it was only for about a minute before I convinced myself to run again. It was a rough workout. But worth it. For tonight, I get pizza!

Week -1 of 18: 3 miles

I came home last night in a bad mood. Traffic was terrible. That was the only reason. It's an hour of traffic. Every night. I wish I could crochet and drive at the same time. Or there was a really direct bus that I could take.

Anyway, I got home and plopped on the couch, announced I wasn't going running and the guilt began. I sat there for a good 40 minutes, stewing about how my commute was ruining my training, when I remembered that last year I managed it. I would manage it again this year. So at 8pm, I got up and went running. It was painful, but I did it.

Distance: 3 miles
Course: 1 mile on the track, 2 miles rolling hills
Weather: crisp, dark
Pace: 12:00 per mile

Everything hurt. It was dark and late. There was a skunk in the neighborhood grossing everything up. Sometimes I wonder why I'm doing this to myself.

Week -1 of 18: 3 Miles

That's week negative one. I'm a dork and didn't read my calendar right. oops! So I have 19 weeks until the marathon, which strangely (or not, I don't know) makes me feel so much better.

Distance: 3 miles
Weather: Crisp, dark
Course: 1 mile on the track, 2 on rolling hills
Pace: 11:45 per mile

I felt good this run, I was pushing it a little (which you can't really tell by my pace) but I didn't feel like I was over doing it. I got whooped at 3 times (yes, I counted) and I enjoyed my music. Which incidentally, I've totally taken over Tavia's comment section with suggestions, if you're reading this and have any for her go on over and give her some, mine are veeeery pop and mostly old. I'm sure she'd appreciate a different view point.

It was a great way to start this training program. And I just want to remember that in 19 weeks. 19 long and hard weeks.

Sun. Oct. 22nd

Distance: Cross Training
Time: around 45 minutes to an hour
Weather: Warm

I went for a hike in Griffith Park. I don't know if it is technically "Cross Training" but I didn't feel like digging my bike out from under all the crap that is now stored on it. So, it had to do for this last week of non "official" training.

Real training starts tonight with a 3 miler. It was supposed to start last night, but I find procrastination to be a useful motivator. (Shut up. I know that doesn't make sense.)

Sat. Oct. 21st

Distance: 4 miles
Weather: Nice, dusk
Course: Up Los Feliz to Western and back
Pace: 12:40 per mile

I was feeling a little weird about posting how ridiculously slow I ran that 4 miles, but I figured there's about 2 people reading and I know those people will only silently judge me instead of sending me mocking e-mails about how I should just call it "Bouncy walking" and give up.

Anyway, I haven't run farther than 2 miles in... months? I don't know, it's been a long time. The last time I did I got such bad cramps I had to walk for a while. This time I got a small stitch in my side on one of the upsides of the rolling hills on Los Feliz Blvd. Other than that, I felt fine if not extremely exhausted. I think I need to start with the multi-vitamin again and get the Gatorade going before these longer runs.

Today, I cross train by going for a short hike in Griffith Park.

Friday, Oct. 20th

Distance: 2 miles
Weather: Moderate, dark
Course: Up to Vermont and back
Pace: 11:30 per mile

I was looking at all the training guides to see if I wanted to do anything different this time for the marathon and had a little heart attack. The marathon is two weeks earlier than last year. So my extra two week cushion to lose some weight and get my mileage up is kind of gone. Especially if I do the Hal Higdon program, which is 18 weeks.

Gah.

I have a 4 mile run planned for this afternoon. Wish me luck with that.

Thursday, Oct. 19th

Distance: 2 ish
Weather: moderate, dark
Pace: Fuck if I know, I ran for 24 mins. 50 secs.

I don't know why I get so frustrated about not knowing how far I've run or how fast I went, but it really irritates me that I can't figure out how long that stupid track is.

It was a good run, despite all that. I didn't get any cramps (heh, I typed that 'craps' first... which, would be horrible...) and I still pushed myself a little harder than normal. This time instead of sprinting the back curve, I just 'picked it up'. Anyway, I feel good about the work out.

I've somehow managed to gain weight in the last week, and I'm really hoping it's just that body change that happens when you're rebuilding muscle and not quite shedding the fat. It's frustrating because I don't feel like I've been terrible about what I've been eating. Oh well. I just have to keep an eye on it I guess.

Mon. Oct 16th

Distance: 2 ish?
Weather: Cold, dark
Pace: unknown, I ran for 26 minutes

I thought I would try and figure out the local high school track and see if it really is shorter than a regulation track, but I screwed up my own test by not running at my usual pace. I decided to do some sprints. So I arbitrarily chose the back curve of the track to sprint each lap. I managed to do that for 5 laps before I totally cramped up and thought I might die so I slowed way down. I ended up running 8 laps, plus to the track and back... so it's two and a 1/4 miles? Maybe.

The plus side is I got really worn out and there's nothing I like more than a work out that really works me.

Sunday, Oct. 15th

Distance: 2 miles
Weather: Overcast, brisk
Route: Down to the bridge and back
Pace: 11:30

They have fertilzer all over the field by the fountain on Los Feliz and Riverside Blvds. making for a not so pleasant run in that area. That might explain why I shaved off 5 seconds. (ha.)

Tomorrow I think I'm going to run the track, give my knees a rest.

Saturday, Oct. 14th

Distance: 2 miles
Weather: Cloudy and crisp
Per mile: 11:39

I gave myself some serious stomach cramps on this one. I'm going to have to step it up in the next couple of weeks so I'll be ready to start training again.

My sister is training to do her first 5k ever. I'm so proud of her. My parents aren't what you'd call 'athletic', although early in her life my mom was really into skiing and then later in life she's been into walking. My mom might very well walk faster than I jog. Um... oh yeah, so my point is, we didn't have a lot to go by with my parents, I was involved in sports early on, but then kind of went the drugs and drinking direction in high school, my sister was an actress and a club type girl in high school. So I'm proud of her. I hope she sticks with it, but I know how hard these things can be.

I think I'm going to do the LA Marathon again. I'll decide by Nov. 11th, that's when I started training last year, so that's my deadline to decide.

Sunday run

Distance: 2 miles
Weather: Crisp

Oops. I guess I haven't been doing what I set out to do. But at least I ran. Right?

Week 1: Run 1 of 4

Distance: 2 miles
Temp: Dark and brisk
Course: Moderate (House to Vermont and back, some hills.)
Pace per mile: 11:35 (heh, I thought I was so much faster than my last run...)

I have been putting off running. I keep deciding I'm too tired or hungry or just burnt out and instead I sit on the couch and feel bad about myself. Shame spiral!

The run was good. I felt like I was pushing much harder than I did on Sunday and I either have my distances totally off or I'm just pretty out of shape. I'm guessing it's the latter. Considering I ran the marathon at about the pace I'm running now (can that be right?) I think I need to step it up. I'm also trying to be sure I don't hurt myself.

This week I'm probably getting off to a bad start because unless I drag my ass out of bed in the morning, I'm not going to get another run in. Off to New York tomorrow night!

New Goals, Same Shoes

Miles: 2
Temp: Kind of hot and sunny
Course: (Easy/Hard) Down Los Feliz Blvd. hill to the overpass and back up.
Average pace per mile: 11:45 (yikes, that's slow)

It's been a long time since I've actively tracked my runs, my last post was in May and before that I was kind of half assing it in this big black book of runs I was keeping. I've been reading JB's training blog,Gorilla Hunting, since its inception and I'm getting a little inspired to start training again. My big problem has been that I'm not sure if I want to do the LA Marathon again next year or wait a little longer and do the San Diego Marathon in June of next year. I don't have the confidence to do both, and I'm thinking I'd like to do a different course for my next marathon, but that puts my goal a long, long way away. I guess the obvious thing would be to find and train for a 10k or Half Marathon in the meantime, but I'm such a slow runner (as evidenced above) that I don't really want to be the slowest girl in the race.

I've gained a little weight since the marathon and I'd like to tone up again and lose those extra pounds. I'd also like to get my pace down to around 10:30 per mile or less. I don't think that will be too hard, but then again, I've never trained for speed before.

So for now, my goal is simply to run four times a week, for at least 2 miles until November when I have to decide whether or not I'm training for the LA Marathon. Additionally after four weeks, I'd like to add a cross training day to either do some weights, yoga, go for a bike ride or jump rope.

New Running Partner

Last night Louie went for a run with me. I am so lucky to have such a great boyfriend.

Scheduled: 2
Actual: 2
RPE: 6

He is a faster runner than I am so I was pushed a bit. I think in the long run we're both going to end up in better shape. Maybe I'll be able to get him to do a marathon with me next year.

Fingers crossed.

Los Angeles Marathon XXI

The night before:
Apparently there is much debate about whether or not an athlete should carb load before a big event. My bible (which I followed religiously) told me I should carb up all week, and if I felt like I hadn't eaten enough carbs that on the night before I should eat a particularly carby meal. Since I feel like I could never eat "enough carbs" I decided to go for a nice Italian meal. I wanted to go early (6pm is early meal time in LA, for some people it's even considered a late lunch...) and was unpleasantly surprised by the shit-tastic service we got from a normally delicious and low key restaurant. It probably didn't help that I had been sitting in the auto shop all day with my car, so waiting an hour and fifteen minutes for food was not on my 'things to do' list. I've crossed that restaurant off my list. Il Capricio - if you were wondering.

The morning of:
I woke up at 3:45AM and kind of tossed and turned until 5:30AM. I was fretting about what to wear, if I should eat, was I going to have to go number 2 during the course, etc, etc. Finally I got dressed and Louie came to pick me up. He dealt with my nerves and my non-specific directions as best as he could. I am a trial.

The Line Up:
I met Eric, Dave, Karma and Joe at the corner of 4th and Fig, which was a block away from the start line. It was freezing. I was wearing shorts. Goose bumps and white legs. Sexy.

Eric gave me some pointers and tips and before too long we heard the gun and Randy Newman's "I Love LA" playing, and we were off. Sort of. The start line is packed about a block and a half deep, so we walked until we crossed the actual start line and then Eric and Dave took off, and Karma and I puttered along.

Mile 1 through 6:
It is an amazing thing running with 25,000 strangers. You can only hear their footsteps and clothing and see the mass of heads bumping along in front of you. I did my best not to over run the first six miles, just took it slow and hydrated at every water stop. Karma had to pee at about mile 3 or 4, so I was alone running along, and at mile 6 I decided I need to pee to. I lost about 5 to 7 minutes in line for the portapotty, but wasn't about to drop trou like the crazy people and pee beside a building. When I started back up again, I picked my pace up a bit, but not too much, I wanted to make up time, but I wasn't terribly worried about it.

Mile 6 through 13.2:
People were out everywhere cheering for the runners, calling out the names they could read on people's bibs, banging pots together. I started using my iPod around here, just to pass the time. I could have done it with out, but I figured since I was carrying it, I might as well listen to it. In two places "Eye of the Tiger" which is on my iPod was being played live, but the "On Course Entertainment." I expected to feel really tired at the half way mark, but the only thing I felt was a little mental twinge. I was tired, but the mental image of doing what I had just run, except with more hills, made me a little... weary. I used the techniques my training bible taught me and that went away pretty quickly. At some point Karma reappeared, and we ran together for a while. I slowed down a bit and she kept going. Around here I took 2 more Advil and got drank/ate a Cliff Shot (the Vanilla flavor is delicious.)

Mile 13 through 19:
There were a few small hills to contend with, but nothing like what I had been training on, so that was a total relief. In fact, if anyone wants to train in Los Angeles for the marathon, I highly recommend Los Feliz/Silverlake/Echo Park. Our hills are killer. We started moving through neighborhoods I'm very familiar with on this part of the course, because of my commute to and from work, so that was nice. Running up Wilshire Blvd, there was a big cold wind blowing right in your face, then it would switch and be at your back, I almost put my wind breaker back on, but before too long we were on 6th Street and the wind was gone. At mile 18 they had a "Salonpas" pain relief station, where they sprayed some kind of Ben Gay type solution on your legs. It might be a pure placebo effect, but it felt great. Then I got just passed mile 19 and a group of my friends were there cheering me on. I was so happy to see them. Louie took a few photos.

Mile 20 through 26:
Wow. This is a blur for me because as they say, the last six miles are the last half of the marathon. You know you can finish, you just don't know how. I saw a man in the middle of the street, he had collapsed and a couple of people were trying to help him. I'm not sure if he was one of the two people that died. I kept going. I walked a few times in this last six just to give my knees some relief. I was also getting worried about my left foot. I was experiencing some numbness in the pad and two of my toes. At mile 26, Karma and I reconnected and I started to push pretty hard.

Mile 26.2:
There is no way for me to describe running up Flower seeing the finish line, knowing that the past sixteen weeks had led up to this one moment. I crossed. I got a little choked up. They took off my timing chip and I half limped to get my medal. I kind of had to lean down because the woman was so short. It felt heavy around my neck. I had finished it.

Post Marathon:
After the medal you run the gauntlet of water, gatorade, shiny blankets, cliff bars and I devoured one and a half. (Which is probably why I got a little sick when we got to the car.) Louie was there with flowers and I was ready to start planning my next one.

I can't believe how awesome it feels to do this. I love it and will do it again.

THE MARATHON

Scheduled: 26.2
Actual: 26.2
RPE: 7

I have a long post planned for this, but there are some highlights I want to remember right now.

Running the first four miles it's hard not to get caught up in the excitement and out run yourself. People are passing you, and you want to keep up, but you listen to your weeks of training and pace yourself.

The first eight miles are as easy as your 5 milers usually are. The excitement is still there and you know you've got a lot left in you.

Hearing people you don't know shout out your name is really amazing. I wish I had that in my every day life. Just walking down the street having someone say, "You can do it, Tamara!" would make me a lot happier person.

The halfway point sort of made me depressed. I knew it was going to feel that way because I know how hard running 18 miles is, but I was depressed nonetheless.

The Salonpas site at mile 18 was heaven. I don't know if what they spray on you really works, but it gives your brain the idea that you can finish. Only 8 miles to go.

Seeing my friends and boyfriend at mile 19 was so awesome. I didn't think I wanted people there to cheer me on, but I was so happy to see them, and I felt so good that mile that it was just... amazing.

It's true what they say about the last 6 miles being the last half of the marathon. I had to walk a bit those last six miles. Not as much as I wanted to, but I did walk. There was so much pain. My left foot was numb from the pad of my foot to my big and pointer toe. I thought I was doing permanent damage. My knees were in agony, but I just kept moving. Kept struggling through.

Crossing the finish line was so incredibly emotional. When the tiny woman put my medal on I got a little choked up. I haven't ever felt acheivement in that way. I usually just let success go unrewarded, but this... this felt like I... I don't know, like my work paid off, like I deserved a medal. Amazing.

Week 16: Run 2 - MARATHON WEEK

Scheduled: 3
Actual:3
RPE: 3

Awww.... my last training run. It was kind of awesome because DA saw me running and it gave me a little preview of the cheering section I'm getting for the marathon.

Tonight I do a 3 mile walk. Then Sunday, I run 26.2 miles. Check back here Monday or Tuesday for a full update on how it went.

Week 16: Run 1 - MARATHON WEEK

Scheduled: 3
Actual: 3
RPE: 4

I wanted to push this one a little harder than I normally run because I'm feeling soooo stressed about the marathon. It went by so quickly. Glad it's almost over, but also a little sad.

Marathon Week

This is it! I run the marathon on Sunday. I'm so nervous and tired and ready for it to be over with. I cannot tell you how exhausted I am. I'm supposed to be gathering strength and feeling strong, but I feel beaten down. I need to just relax and hydrate and eat right, but... those are all things I'm not that good at doing when I 'need' to do them. Forced relaxation is tough for me. I can relax just fine when it isn't 'required.'

I think I'm going to go throw up now.

Week 15: Run 4

Scheduled: 8
Actual: 8
RPE: 5

I don't know. I'm getting really nervous about the marathon. This run was HARD. I'm wiped out, I'm ready for this all to be over with. I'm glad I'm doing this, yes, but also ready for a big long break.

Week 15: Run 3

Scheduled: 3
Actual: 4
RPE: 3

This was such a pleasant run that I ran an extra mile. It was cloudy and crisp, and a perfect morning. Highly enjoyable.

Week 15: Run 2

Scheduled: 5
Actual: 5
RPE: 4

I was dragging ass on the first part of this run. But by the end I felt really good.

Week 15: Run 1

Scheduled: 3
Actual: 3
RPE: 3

It was such a relief to only have to run 3 miles last night. I was so sick of the amount of time I was spending outside in the cold running.

To continue with the litany of ailments, I think I bruised the bottom of my foot while wearing heels. I don't know for sure, but it does hurt, thankfully it didn't bother me while I was running.

Week 14: Run 4

Scheduled: 9
Actual: 10
RPE: 4

See below. I am so glad the marathon is almost here. This training... oof.

Week 14: Run 3

Scheduled: 5
Actual: 4
RPE: 3

It is safe to say I am burned the fuck out. I did this run on Sunday, after I did Run 4. I just couldn't bring myself to put running clothes on Friday night. Just. Couldn't. Do it. So, since I knew I was going to be in a slinky dress, I decided that I would run on Sunday morning instead and I would feel better about putting my body in a dress that I could not wear a bra, or even a 'sliming undergarment' (read: girdle) in.

So, I ran 4 instead of five. I ran 10 on Saturday instead of 9. It all evens out. And, I'm just absolutely tired of training. I have never trained for something before. I was on the Basketball team in high school for 2 years, and the most training we did was two weeks of practice before games started then it was scaled way back. And b-ball practice is fun, because for the most part you aren't doing line drills. You're learning plays and skills. What was my point? Oh yeah. I haven't trained for anything before. Nothing that I couldn't test out of. Have you guys ever taken a computer training course for work? I did once at this hotel I worked at when we went from what was basically a DOS based system to windows. I learned it in one hour. We had a week of training. By the end of day one, my training person told me I should stop and just help everyone else. Which... what was my point? Oh yeah. I can't test out of this training. The marathon is in two weeks. I'm nervous. But also sick to fucking death of running.

Week 14: Run 2

Scheduled: 8
Actual: 8
RPE: 4

Hmmm. A few weeks ago, at Christmas time, I thought 8 miles was sooooo hard. Now, I can do it without really blinking. I do get frustrated with the time commitment on these longer runs, but after I'm done, I'm so smug. This run felt really good, especially after not running for 4 days.

Week 14: Run 1

Scheduled: 5
Actual: Zip
RPE: NA

I have had a tough week, time wise. So I had to skip this run. I'm hoping to make it up (I allow myself make-ups, I'm not mean like a grade school teacher, "NO MAKE-UPS!), but if I don't, I'm not going to beat myself up over it.