Thanks to our enthusiastic and energetic friend C.S., J. and I are sore BEYOND belief--(read: Yes, C., we admit we're wimps). So sore that it's 2 days later and J. is still using his soreness as an excuse to not feed the dogs--seriously. (Don't worry about the pups--they're eating thanks to me.)
Aside from that--I highly recommend a Body Pump class for those of you who are afraid of the weight room. Great music (kudos to the play list C.). No tricky dance moves (no dance moves at all--especially good for me). You can pick the weight you need. Fairly easy to follow. Great workout--and fun!
C. and other Pump attendees went out of their way to make J. and I feel welcome (and kick our butts). For the record, I was there for the whole class, J. showed up for the last 20 minutes. He says he won't go back--he's skeered. I'll be there--Tuesday night @ 5:30, RPM to follow.
Downside . . . I have to use the handicap bar in the bathroom stall I'm so sore. Upside . . . C. says it will make me faster on the bike (pressure's on).
6.26.2008
12--ahem 10.5 (does that count?)
It just wasn't a good weekend for training--period--even back in sweet home Alabama. After a Sunday of lazing around (and letting the temperature rise to an extremely uncomfortable and humid 96 degrees), J. and I set out--optimistic that this long-awaited and postponed training run would be everything we thought it would be. However, forgetting to drink enough water (total of only 2 cups of water and 2 cups of coffee) would doom my long-run success.
J. putzed along beside me while I sputtered and came to an absolute halt at mile 10.5--yes only 1.5 miles to the car--but no amount of motivational talking (or even bees at this point) could have made me run the rest of the distance. We walked--SLOWLY--back. Delirious and thirsty beyond belief I downed 32 ounces of watery Gatorade--disastrous. (And I'll spare you the nitty gritty of the rest of the miserable night). Lesson learned . . . drink water before you run . . . especially if it's 96 degress outside.
Downside . . . 1.5 miles short. Upside . . . survived.
J. putzed along beside me while I sputtered and came to an absolute halt at mile 10.5--yes only 1.5 miles to the car--but no amount of motivational talking (or even bees at this point) could have made me run the rest of the distance. We walked--SLOWLY--back. Delirious and thirsty beyond belief I downed 32 ounces of watery Gatorade--disastrous. (And I'll spare you the nitty gritty of the rest of the miserable night). Lesson learned . . . drink water before you run . . . especially if it's 96 degress outside.
Downside . . . 1.5 miles short. Upside . . . survived.
6.22.2008
Bee-utiful Mississippi
It's official. The Chicago Marathon training schedule is well underway and this weekend marks the second long run (12 miles). J. and I devised a plan to get our run in even though we'd be spending the weekend in Mississippi for a wedding. We got into town (a very small town) on Friday afternoon and were a little alarmed when we passed a fellow runner toting a very large stick (apparently the dogs out here aren't very friendly). The location of our hotel was slightly suspect as well. No worries--we can go out to the state park! (I'd done a little research on the area and found out there was a 6-mile nature trail--we could just run it twice . . . ). In pre-long run tradition, we skipped the alcohol, ate light, and didn't attend the post-rehearsal dinner bar-hopping (or bar hop as there appeared to only be one bar in town).
Fresh and sort-of-well-rested we were ready for our almost half-marathon distance training run. With bagels, gatorade, and a map in hand we took off in search of this state park . . . many wrong turns and hour later we finally found it (and decided that Mississippians must think street signs and accurate maps are overrated). We slipped our money in the honor box and headed down a road toward the "Opossum Trail."
Enter "Deliverance" theme music here . . . J. and I exchange glances, but optimism and determination prevail and we head out.
The trail starts out nice enough--a wide-enough-for-a-car dirt path meandering around what appears to be a fishing pond. We're up the first hill and all of a sudden it narrows to a steep poison-ivy covered "trail." The thought of knee-highing for 12 miles while trying to spot snakes and dodge poison ivy starts to dampen our spirits. Just as we decide it may be better to try and run on the paved park roads, a bee starts to swarm. The casual swat didn't deter this sucker. It dive-bombed and circled me the entire run/race back to the car. The few fishermen lazing by the pond stared knowingly as we came tearing back down the hillside we'd just gone up.
Downside . . . the 12-miler was postponed. Upside . . . I got in some unanticipated speed work.
Fresh and sort-of-well-rested we were ready for our almost half-marathon distance training run. With bagels, gatorade, and a map in hand we took off in search of this state park . . . many wrong turns and hour later we finally found it (and decided that Mississippians must think street signs and accurate maps are overrated). We slipped our money in the honor box and headed down a road toward the "Opossum Trail."
Enter "Deliverance" theme music here . . . J. and I exchange glances, but optimism and determination prevail and we head out.
The trail starts out nice enough--a wide-enough-for-a-car dirt path meandering around what appears to be a fishing pond. We're up the first hill and all of a sudden it narrows to a steep poison-ivy covered "trail." The thought of knee-highing for 12 miles while trying to spot snakes and dodge poison ivy starts to dampen our spirits. Just as we decide it may be better to try and run on the paved park roads, a bee starts to swarm. The casual swat didn't deter this sucker. It dive-bombed and circled me the entire run/race back to the car. The few fishermen lazing by the pond stared knowingly as we came tearing back down the hillside we'd just gone up.
Downside . . . the 12-miler was postponed. Upside . . . I got in some unanticipated speed work.
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