I've Lost My Mind!

Greetings, readers. It's been a while, but a lot has gone on during my hiatus. Long story short...I am in the early stages of training for the Wildflower 1/2 Ironman on May 1, 2010! I was inspired by some former running buddies from the marathon team, and my new tri-friend (and former high school classmate) Scott. Thanks to Scott, I have a box full of new gear and goodies. I'm quickly realizing this sport requires A LOT of goodies.

The training season started 2 weeks ago, and so far I've logged a couple of swim workouts (including first group swim). Due to lingering illness, I will miss the group run tomorrow morning, but I plan to get back on track this Sunday if all goes well. I decided to train with TNT again, since I had such a positive experience with the summer marathon team raising funds and logging miles!

I'm really excited to get more involved in swimming and cycling. I was getting so burned out on running toward the end of the summer/post-marathon, and it's nice to look forward to a workout schedule again. I know I am a nicer, less stressed, more productive, and overall better person when I'm active and working toward a physical goal.

I will be updating much more frequently and no doubt logging every last detail about new purchases, training milestones, and overall triathlon adventures.

The current "To Do" list:

1) Purchase new running shoes
2) Purchase bike
3) Start logging some miles
4) Get my nutrition plan together

**If you are looking to donate to a worthy cause, check out my fundraising page!** http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/wildtri10/jenshaw1

Happy Sunday

A nice 5 miler and brunch with the girls in Hermosa today!

Revelations:

-I need new running shoes

-I need to stretch everyday

-Even though I feel creaky, I'm happy to be alive and able to run...

Solo Run = Happiness

I love training with my friends. They keep me motivated, engaged and sane on long runs. You might understand then, why I was a bit nervous about running solo last Saturday morning for the first time in a long time. My usual running partners were out of town/busy, so I peeled myself out of bed at 5:45am to tackle a beach side run on my own. Originally, I was hoping to cover about 10 miles. I ended up running a little over 6. You might think I was disappointed, but this run ranks as one of my best ever. Usually I gauge the success of a run by the mileage - the higher, the better. Not the case on Saturday. For the first time since the marathon, I felt strong - really strong. AND I enjoyed myself. I did a couple of things differently. First, I was relaxed. No pressure to keep up/talk/dish about my day. Second, I brought my ipod along. I'm now seriously thinking about using it for the half marathon in a few weeks (especially because I am running the race on my own). Third, I ditched the new running shorts and sleeved shirt ensemble for my spandex to-the-knee pants and sleeveless jersey. Usually I am uncomfortable in any situation without sleeves, but it made such a difference during my run. I'm willing to shed the self-consciousness for comfort at this point!

Moral of the story: sometimes running alone is just what the doctor ordered. I forget how great it can be to be lost in one's own thoughts without any expectations or pressure. (Running along a beautiful stretch of beach doesn't hurt either)!

My splits definitely reflect the surplus of energy:

The Elusive Long Run

I am writing this from the lovely state of WA, where I am enjoying the "working" part of my vacation. My plan is to write and run, and I've been mildly successful with both. My primary frustration at the moment is my lack of motivation in getting a long run on the books. I've logged about 27.5 miles since the marathon. However, the most mileage I've accrued in any one run is about 5. I've read MANY articles on post-marathon recovery and how one should go about rebuilding their base. Some people take an entire month off...others start jogging 3 days after they complete their race. Either way, it's time for me to start with my Saturday long run schedule again.

The good news: TNT alumni runs are beginning! Anyone interested can return to practice in PV on Saturday mornings at 7:30am. This will definitely help with my motivation issues.

The bad(ish) news: I am registered to run the Disneyland Half Marathon on September 6th! I have about 9 weeks to build up my base again. According to the adapted TNT training schedule, I should have ideally logged 8 miles over the weekend, and should embark on 10 next weekend. Let's hope some other TNT folks will be up for joining me on a longer route...

On another note, the Garmin continues to be awesome, especially the wonderful online world of Garmin Connect. I know many of you who read this have known about the wonders of the Garmin products for some time, but I still won't hesitate to share my excitement! :)

Goals for the week:

-log 25-30 miles by Saturday night

-incorporate some cross-training into my schedule (and not just talk about it)

-make yoga a priority next Monday

In Love...

with the new Garmin! How did I ever live without this before?? I'm still learning some of the tricks and advanced options, but so far this is a fantastic tool. I highly recommend taking advantage of the Costco.com sale if you are thinking about getting one. (Caution: the sale ends July 5th). I also tried the HR monitor this morning for the first time. I was initially concerned it would irritate me, but I barely felt it. Mind you, the run was only 3.5 miles. Something tells me that after 16, you'd definitely be aware of the strap wrapped around your torso.

Other than a few aches and pains (left knee and right ankle), I am feeling good about beginning a schedule to maintain/increase my fitness for the Disneyland Half Marathon on September 6th. Ongoing TNT alumni runs on Saturday mornings will be a big plus, as I motivate myself to keep up the weekly long runs. Next step: adapting the marathon training schedule to the mileage necessary for the half. I'm guessing this will seem like a breeze compared to the last 5 months!

New Toy!

My Garmin 305 arrived yesterday! I have yet to set it up, but I will definitely be trying it out tonight or tomorrow morning (if I run in PV). Stay tuned...

17.6 and Counting...

This past Saturday morning, I made it through 17.6 HOT miles during my run with the Team in Training group. It was a beautiful morning, but the temps rose fairly quickly and I drank close to 50oz of fluids during the process. As much as I hate to get up early on Saturdays to make our 7am start time, I'd gladly get there at 6am if it meant avoiding the heat! Overall, I made it through much quicker than I originally anticipated...feeling pretty good in the end.

The first 8 miles were strong (minus the fact that I tripped at an intersection and cut my hand/bruised my knee). It was more embarrassing than anything, since the intersection was packed with cars, bikers, and other runners. I suppose it could have been worse. Needless to say, I will never hesitate at a yellow light again!

Miles 14-16 were the most difficult. At times it felt like if I stopped, I would just lock up and fall over. This forced me to run (or hobble) the entire time, except for 2 aid station breaks. My shoes also felt like they no longer contained padding after a while. It seemed like I could feel every little pebble as I ran along. I'm thinking about buying another pair, just to rotate. On the positive side, I think my new knee support wraps helped minimize the knee pain I typically feel (though not eliminating it altogether). Thankfully, right around 16 miles I caught a sudden second wind and was able to finish stronger than previous, shorter runs.

The first thing I did after finishing (besides stretch) was limp over to the market across the parking lot and buy some nice cold chocolate milk. The first thing I did when I got home was sit in a bath of freezing water (which was completely worth it).

Screaming Peacocks!

Yesterday we ran 14 miles, again in Palos Verdes (land of the never-ending hills). Our practices now begin at 7am, which means a 5:30am alarm for me. After a week of work, this can be a rough endeavor, but completely worth it after the fact. I was very conscious during the last week of hydrating and stretching more, which I think paid off in a big way. I tried Nuun for the first time, after reading a great post on www.bananasauce.com. I am definitely a fan! I also tried Jelly Belly Sports Beans and don't think I will use them again. They were WAY too sweet, in my opinion.

Due to IT band/knee issues, I ran by Road Runner Sports and picked up an IT band compression wrap. What a difference! No IT band pain post-run and very little during. Now I just need to tackle the kneecap pain (which is the worst post-run, resulting in a strong burning sensation).

I also tried to incorporate a run/walk strategy during part of this long run (5 min run/1 min walk). I am not completely sold, but might try it again for our 16-miler next Saturday. I tend to feel better when I just push through, even if it means significantly slowing my pace to recover at times.

Below you will find a link to the course, which included a tour of the Palos Verdes Golf Course. The best part of running (unless you are moving along with an annoying partner or group) is the solitude in the early morning. The area around the course was particularly peaceful and lush. Shortly after getting into my groove around mile 2, I heard a terrifying noise that sounded like a child screaming. After another half mile I heard it again. Thankfully someone pointed out the local peacock population, and this their typical mating call.

Shoes, a Belt, and the Missed Mile

Just returned from a 12-miler* and I feel pretty good... especially compared to last week. I think there are a few good reasons for this. First, I bought new shoes yesterday. They are awesome, and make all the difference in the world. Second, I bought a fuel belt. At first I thought a 4-bottle belt would be WAY too much... but it was perfect. I was much more attentive to drinking water during this run, and the hydration helped with my overall energy and mood.

The course today had some amazing scenery along the bluffs of Palos Verdes Estates. *On the way back my running partner and I made a wrong turn through a neighborhood and ended up cutting almost a mile off the run. So technically, we ran around 11.4 miles. Close enough to 12 for me! (With warm-up, we were practically there anyway).

I'm partially hidden, on the right...

Pacific Northwest

It has been a wonderful few days in the Bellingham area. Despite the VERY cool temps, the winter scenery is beautiful...definitely worthwhile to venture out. I stocked up on some cold-weather running gear, which was necessary for my 3 miler this morning.

We also discovered an awesome new whole-foods-like grocery store (but much cheaper). It has a huge selection of bulk grains, legumes, spices and specialty health foods. I wish we had this in So Cal! Made some great turkey chili tonight with supplies from the new find.

Equipment Deals

Over the weekend, I picked up this watch at Costco, for less that half the retail price! It only seems mildly complicated, and I can't wait to try it out on my next road run (which should be today).

My goal today is to contact a nutritionist that was recommended by some of my co-workers. I have limited knowledge about nutrition planning for endurance training. I've avoided large amounts of carbs for so long, I have to be re-trained...