Author Archive for Toots

10-10-10

Published by Toots on 18 February, 2010, at 23:34, in events, random stuff and training. 3 Comments

The number. The date. It’s official, I am registered to run the Chicago Marathon. Finally!!!

Let the training begin! Ok, maybe not…it’s still too early.

Let the running continue! ;-)

Still running 3 to 4 times a week, really just “maintaining” and keeping it to short, easy, fun runs. I’ve had excellent running weather and my little Punxsk8erdude has been able to join me on my runs more frequently. I enjoy running with him even though he always feels he must race me to the end and of course he always “wins”….

Still hitting the gym twice a week for strength workouts focusing on my upper body and core which up until this past year I had totally neglected. I still have quite a way to go to where I want to be, but I swear it’s making all the difference in the world for my running, in a good way of course! I’ve also recently purchased the Jillian Michaels’ Banish Fat Boost Metabolism DVD. I’ve only done the “routine” twice and even though I survived all 7 circuits, it totally wiped me out both times. I’ve only been able to fit that in to my couch potato time once a week. I’m curious about her the “Shred” workout too, maybe we can trade off DVD’s sometime, Sally?

The recovery.

Published by Toots on 5 January, 2010, at 23:28, in random stuff. 0 Comments

Yeah…3 weeks later I’m still in “recovery” mode. I have not run at all since the marathon. I think about it all the time, I just have not had time – the holidays sort of got in the way. I have been working out twice a week at the gym though…mainly upper body workouts…and  I’m “fueling” like I’m still running…heh.

Ok, I digress. Maybe I’ll run tomorrow.

No, really, there is a mountain there!

Published by Toots on 20 December, 2009, at 21:37, in events and random stuff. 4 Comments

El Cerro de la Silla

Cloudy rainy weather and smog kept the mountains and hills that surround Monterrey hidden from sight for almost 2 whole days. It wasn’t until marathon morning that the sky finally cleared up and El Cerro de la Silla along with all the other mountains became visible making the marathon start quite scenic. It was beautiful…just like I remember from over 25 years ago when I used to spend every summer there with grandma. Unfortunately smog and pollution have since taken over and one can go days without being able to see the beautiful mountains. I caught myself saying one too many times, “there’s a moutain there”, “no really, there is a mountain there”…. Yes, sadly, the pollution is that bad.

Now, the marathon, on the other hand is definitely a must! (Yes, despite the bad air quality!). It is by far the cheapest, best organized, most scenic, best schwag, evaaaah! Let’s see, for under $20 (more like $14 depending on the exchange rate) you get:

1. registered

2. wind jacket

3. pasta dinner (and dance! a DANCE! lol! Ok, since I ended up being the only one running, we decided to skip this)

4. a sweat towel

5. finisher medal (very nice!)

6. finisher long sleeve technical shirt (also very nice!)

7. recovery snack bag ( you know, the usual…water, sports drink, fruit…)

8. recovery meal (beans, rice, and tacos…gotta love it!)

9. since ARCA is a major sponsor, they also provide you with a snack bag full of ARCA snack products

10. a scratch a win ticket (all you have to do is answer a trivia question – I won an LG stereo!!! Thanks, Lumpy for lugging that thing around for me!)

Continue reading ‘No, really, there is a mountain there!’

A 3H40 Urban Run

Published by Toots on 24 November, 2009, at 00:07, in training. 3 Comments

No Speedy Gonzalez action going on here…it took me a solid 3 hours and 40 minutes to finish my 20 miler. However it was a good steady solid urban run. I enjoy these…they take me forever with all the “stop and go” action, but they are like sightseeing trips and I end up making many interesting discoveries along the way that I would have otherwise missed if I were driving or riding in a car. Tomate accompanied me (en velo) for the first half on my “out and back” route, then I flew solo on my return. Along the way, I…

discovered a flamenco world music “hole in the wall” tapas bar (must return here properly attired)

came across a Jamaican Jerk BBQ stand

inhaled the delightful aromas of a hidden little mom & pop bakery I’d never seen

accidentally almost crashed the tail end of a 5K (was wondering why there were so many cops)

encountered many cyclists

was chased by a dog

stopped to potty way too many times ( I think I overhydrated)

ran across the hallowed ground in front of The Alamo

hit a million + traffic lights

stopped to waive at all the kiddos on the Brackenridge Park Choo Choo Train as I waited to cross to the other side

discovered San Antonio has a lot more water fountains than I thought

discovered I like Clif Shot Blocks (trying out some free sample I got)

ran alongside many fellow runners following a similar (but much shorter) route as mine

got the biggest toe blister EVER at around mile 18…no way I was stopping NOW! (have you seen the movie, Run Fat Boy Run? Yeah, that kind of blister…except mine was on my toe.)

Finished.

I’m sure there was a lot more, but it’s all fuzzy now.

Strengthening and Tightening Up

Published by Toots on 10 November, 2009, at 00:50, in training. 0 Comments

I’ve incorporated 3 days of strength and core training to my marathon training this time around. At first I thought it might be too much, but once it became part of the routine, it’s actually been beneficial. I haven’t really lost much weight at all but I’ve certainly lost inches all around and I feel good during and after my runs – not as sore or as exhausted, pretty strong actually…. I may hold back some during these next couple of high mileage weeks…I’ll see how I feel. Anyway, thought you may want to know what it consists of. It’s pretty basic, but I’d never done anything like it and I really needed it. Check it out:

Day 1 (Mondays):  core & upper body weight training – 2 or 3 sets/15 reps each

chest press, overhead press, chest fly, rear fly, lat pull down, ball crunches, bicycle crunches, hip lifts, and swimmers

Day 2 (Tuesdays):  core & lower body weight training – 2 or 3 sets/15 reps each

lunges, leg extensions, leg curls, leg press, abductions, adductions, ball curls and booty lifts, ab crunch machine, rotary torso machine, roman chair lifts (especially proud of these, could hardly do them when I started back in June)

Day 3 (Thursdays):  1set/25reps each – “point of exertion” (short but very tiring workout – I usually add some core to this workout)

chest press, shoulder press, lat pulldown, leg extension, leg curls, abductions, adductions

Still running.

Published by Toots on 10 November, 2009, at 00:31, in events, gear and training. 0 Comments

I’m still running. I’ve missed a handful of runs but for the most part I’ve been able to keep up with the training. The weather has taken a turn for the better. Not as many time constraints. No injuries. No problems. No issues. Well except for the emotional ones, but the way I see it, running is therapy.

This past weekend’s 18 miler seemed like a breeze. Did I just say that? I’ve never been able to say that. Anyway, it started with the USAA We Salute Our Veteran’s 5K which I believed I PR’d in. I still don’t have my official time but according to my Garmin it was 26:50. That’s pretty fast for me so I was very pleased. I’ve been able to slice off about a minute on this exact same race for the last 3 consecutive years. Also, this was my last race as a 35-39 Female so I think I ended this age bracket era on a good note and am so looking forward to racing in a new age bracket. ;-)

After the 5K, I came home, had a late breakfast, took a short nap, then ventured on to complete the other 15 of my 18 mile weekend long run. I didn’t map a route. I just put on the Garmin and started running one way until the street ended then turned back and zig zagged through my neighborhood, and looped around Woodlawn Park a couple of times. I hardly stopped, except to drink from a couple  of water fountains and the one quick potty stop by the house to don my reflective vest. I ran the whole 15 miles with my Ipod and don’t really remember much except that I was totally lost in the music (I know, not very safe, but it was sooo working for me – children, don’t try this at home). Before I knew it I was done.

Nerstrand anyone?

Published by Toots on 18 October, 2009, at 10:42, in events. 1 Comment

Anyone??? Did anyone run this afterall?

Half way to Mexico.

Published by Toots on 11 October, 2009, at 20:40, in training. 0 Comments

Just finished week #9…9 more to go! :-D  I’m still having great runs and yesterday’s 10 miler was no exception. Mother Nature cooperated and gave me the most wonderful running temperatures, 60’s with partly sunny skies (I’ll take that over 80 + degree weather anytime!). My boys came along for the ride – on their bikes, of course. When I was done, I wasn’t even tired and quite honestly I could have continued for a couple more miles. I’m hoping week #10 is just as good.

I have not mentioned that I have been strength training 3 times a week since June. I set up a routine with the help of a fitness instructor who showed me how to properly use dumbbells and some of those gym contraptions that look like torture machines. I have 3 different weight training routines: one is all upper body and core, the second is all lower body and core, and the third is more like circuit training where I combine it all in a short but exhausting routine. It’s pretty basic but it’s one of those things that if somebody does not put it down in writing for me I don’t feel accountable for doing it. That plus I got all measured (arm, forearm, chest, waist, hips, thigh, calf) and had to go for a followup (so I actually had to put these routines into action to show something for it). So, I went for my followup last week and even though I have not really lost any weight, I have actually lost inches especially in my arms and thighs…my calves on the other hand grew – I’ll blame that on the running. :lol:

Anyway, I attribute all the great runs I’ve been having to all this extra strength training I’ve been doing that I have never really incorporated during marathon training before. Also, since I started strength training and got into doing it routinely, I haven’t had to go to the chiro for my back. Go figure.

I have a bad feeling.

Published by Toots on 11 October, 2009, at 20:17, in random stuff. 0 Comments

Do you ever have one of those days when everything seems to be going well. You have a good day spent with friends and family not necessarily doing or celebrating anything special, just being and living in the moment forgetting all your woes and worries? But (there’s always a “but”) every little once in a while you get that feeling that it must be a dream. That  it’s too perfect. Later you just sit there and reminisce and wonder if it really happened or if it was just a dream and afraid that you may actually still be dreaming and dread what you might wake up to? I’m having one of those days. There’s been such an uneasiness about today and I just can’t pin point it. You know, that gut feeling that the weight of the world might come crashing down upon you at any minute and there will be nothing you can do to stop it….

If you’ve never failed, you’ve never lived.

Published by Toots on 4 October, 2009, at 12:44, in quotes and random stuff. 0 Comments

Just a little motivation to think about….