Category Archives: Running

Food, Practicing, Running

“Cheat” night

Tonight we went to Pi in the Central West End for some (long awaited) pizza.  Chris and I split a deep dish pizza…I love the crust there.  It’s corn meal based, and is just uniquely delicious and crunchy.  When we go we usually split a pizza and a salad–the salads come in a large size, perfect for sharing.  Tonight we had the Bada Bing, and the pizza was a mix of the South Side Classico and the Western Addition (half and half, not some odd combination).  We left feeling completely stuffed and happy!

The rest of the week should be okay, especially with such an easy Monday (thanks again Columbus Day!).  I’m most excited about my first 5k race on Saturday and my chamber music rehearsals (for the Chamber Project Concert) on Sunday.  I’ve been working hard for both–I ran 2 miles STRAIGHT today (NO walk breaks), and of course I’ve been practicing.  We are playing three pieces:  Beethoven Trio for Flute, Violin, and Viola; Ravel Introduction and Allegro; and Mozart Clarinet Quintet.  (I feel like there is just too much punctuation in that sentence, but I’m currently quite tired and don’t feel like looking it up.  The Beethoven is the only one I haven’t played before and is therefore most difficult.  There is a really neat variation movement I am looking forward to, among other parts.  I just love Beethoven variation movements (I’m sure my readers can think of many–Eroica, Op 18 #5 for starters).

 

Running, Teaching

Thursday teaching marathon

I made it through another Thursday!  They are getting easier…today was 7 students at the school then 5 at home.  Two cancellations today (yes, I have 14 on Thursday’s schedule.  Yes.)  Now I’m done teaching for the week, except for a teaching “interview” I have tomorrow afternoon at a school. A couple of my students really impressed me today with their practicing during the week–some practiced 5 or 6 days, yay!  A couple did none though 🙁  Perhaps someday I will have only students who practice 5 to 7 days a week…

After all that teaching I even managed to get to the gym.  I wanted to do a three mile run tonight, and I managed (wasn’t sure how I would feel as I’m still recovering from Sunday’s race).   I am  trying to run more without having to take walk breaks.  I did intervals of 9 minutes running/1 minute walking until I hit the 3 mile goal, then I walked another mile waiting for Chris to finish up.  It occurred to me last night driving home from the gym (walked 3 miles) that most folks don’t work out 6 days a week.  I didn’t until this year.  It feels great!

 

Running

One last L & C post

I’ve been walking on air all day!  I am just so excited that I completed my race, and faster than I thought.  I remember when I looked at my watch and thought, “hey, I bet I can do this in under 3 hours”, and that kept me running much more than I wanted to for the last couple of miles.  So happy to have reached that goal (though impromptu 😉 ). 2:57:33.

Tomorrow is my first meeting with my new trainer.  I’m still a bit sore from the race (legs improving, left shoulder hurting a ton for no apparent reason but must be related) so I’m hoping it’s a fairly easy session…I learned that he ran the race as well (a bit faster than me, I looked it up and he was under 1:30) so at least he’ll understand.

I’m planning a couple shorter races to finish out the year, and then it’ll be Phoenix Rock n Roll Time.  I am so amused by myself–a few months ago I was laughing (kindly of course 🙂 ) at people who were crazy enough to run and now I’m totally psyched to keep going.  Funny how that works!!

One thing I forgot:  Here’s an up close photo of the medal I received for finishing the race (now hanging on my bedroom dresser mirror).

Go me!!

(The “One Final Journey” refers to the fact that the race was bought out by the Rock n Roll people and will be elsewhere next fall, so it was my first and last Lewis and Clark Half.)

A
Running

Lewis and Clark

1 Comment

I did it!  I completed my first half-marathon.  I don’t know my official time yet–right around 3:00, I think. (Edit:  Chip time was 2:57:33.)

It was an early start.  I arrived at the site by 6:00 am, and it was very cold out, about 40 degrees.  I met up with my (former) trainer Joe, his wife Michelle, and a couple of other clients of his.  We lined up together, and the race officially started at 7:15 am.  I don’t exactly remember, but I think it took 10 to 15 minutes before we were really moving.

I ran/walked the first 7 1/2 miles with Michelle.  The course was nice and flat for the most part, and once we were moving the weather felt great.  There were just a couple hills, one in particular which took us up to Highway 364 and across the Missouri River.  I left Michelle behind then and it was downhill or flat the rest of the way.  After the tenth mile I started to get excited–I had never run so far before, but I was still feeling good and I knew I would make it.  I pushed ahead and even managed to sprint for the finish line.  I didn’t get my official time when I finished–I think several other people were finishing at the same time and things were really hectic.  The results should be posted online in a day or two.

Proud to be done!

I’m incredibly sore right now, but I am feeling great that I made it through the race.  I was really doubting my ability the past few weeks but I did it!

Running

Lewis and Clark Half-Marathon

I am so nervous!  Tomorrow is my first race ever, and I’m feeling completely overwhelmed and underprepared.  I feel a bit like a fraud as I will probably not be running more than half of it (walking the rest, not driving or something 😉 ) but I need to focus on the positive:  it’s still a long walk, great exercise, and will be a big accomplishment.

It’s been a crazy week leading up to this.  My personal trainer got a new job as a car salesman, so I will be switching trainers.  I am so sad to lose him as I have accomplished so much with his help (including this race, which was entirely Joe’s idea.)  I have an appointment with a new trainer on Tuesday–if I don’t like him there are many other options at the gym.  I have about four months left on the contract, so that’s plenty of time to work with another person.  I am eager to be challenged in a new and different way.

So, before the race you pick up what is called a “race packet.”  For this race, it is a drawstring plastic bag that was filled with fliers, burt’s bees samples, a long sleeve “tech” t-shirt (which Joe decided to decorate for me…a parting gift I suppose!  Picture will come later, after the race as I am told  it is bad form to wear the shirt beforehand), and my race number.  My number is 5001.  I guess that means at least 5000 people are in the race!

I am supposed to arrive by 6:00 am tomorrow…that’s VERY early for me.  I will need to leave the house by 5:30 to do that, so I’m not only stressed about the actual race, I’m totally stressed about getting up early!  Also, it’s supposed to be in the 30’s at that time, in the low 40’s by the race start, so I think I need to add a jacket over my outfit.  I hope that doesn’t get too annoying–I am able to double tie the sleeves around my waist, so I think that should work…

My time won’t be anything impressive.  My goal is to keep ahead of 15 minutes for each mile, so 13.1 x 15 minutes is 3 hours and approximately 16 minutes.  My longest training run/walk was 10 miles, and I finished in just under 2:30, so it’s just a bit longer then.

Wish me luck!  I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow 🙂

Practicing, Running, Teaching

Sunday night blues

Okay, I’m ready for Monday morning now.  I was moping around a few hours ago feeling that “end of weekend” blues, but now I’ve packed my lunch, prepared the coffee maker, reviewed my lesson plans, and decided (mostly) what to wear tomorrow.  I’m ready to face the children!

A few weeks ago I was SO excited to start my new jobs, now I’m working hard to get energized for tomorrow.  I have a list of activities I want to do, and I’m hoping to get through at least some of them…there is one student in particular who tries to derail the class, and I am having difficulty figuring out how to deal with him.

I suppose I’m actually pretty stressed due to my upcoming half marathon (will be walking half or so!)–it’s one week from today.  I’ve never run in a race before, so I’m a bit nervous about all the actual race details in addition to the actual running of the race.  I hope I do okay and make it through!

I’m also stressed because Chris is taking an audition tomorrow.  He’s been working hard for it, but auditions are always such a crapshoot (trying to be in an orchestra is the most difficult thing to do).  I hate that I am really busy all day tomorrow and won’t have a chance to talk to him until evening.  Not that it would be better to sit around stressing and having nothing to do, but I would feel more supportive somehow!  I know I’m being ridiculous.

Usually writing my blog entry makes me feel better and organizes my head, but not tonight.  I guess my brain is just a jumble due to the stress–this is actually my third try tonight.   They say third time’s the charm?

Readers:  I always welcome more ideas on how to encourage/make students practice.  I need to communicate with the parents (these are my class students, not my private) more about the importance of home practice.  I made the mistake of assuming that the returning students had a practice routine, and that was a big mistake on my part.  When will I learn?