 |
| Pre-race. I'm on the left. |
First of all, Hello running friends! I miss you! I've been a very bad blogger, but you've all been there so let's just forgive me and move on. Splendid.
As of December 18th, 2010 at 9:30 AM (MST), I have officially run my third race. Clearly, I can now go pro.
Clearly, I can now run a six minute mile without breaking a sweat.
Clearly, I weigh 95 pounds and my diet consists of only rice, beans and vegetables.
Clearly, I have arrived.
.......
................
........
....Oh wait, I lied.
Today was in fact, a BUMMER. Let me explain. Problem number one lies in the fact that I have no monitoring device. I have no shiny Garmin on my wrist and no Nike chips in my shoes. I do have an ipod, but the app I downloaded most definitely does not work (I know I'm slow, but a 30 minute mile is a bit ridiculous, right?!). So basically I have no way of training efficiently. I base my times off of MapMyRun, a stopwatch and a hunch (ex. I feel like I was running pretty fast today. Must have been a 9 minute mile kind of day). This is a very ineffective way of doing things and I do not recommend it. Basically, I may be much slower than I thought.
Problem number two: I came down with a cold last week. Perfect. And the fun little thing about being an asthmatic is that most head colds turn into chest colds... AKA BRONCHITIS. So although yesterday I was feeling springy and almost 100% over my cold, today I woke up with four pounds of phlegm in my chest and a wicked cough... cough cough.
And so I head to the Jingle Bell 5K ready to rock it, thinking that I clearly run 8 minute miles. I end up coughing my way through the first mile, and spending the next two miles wincing away my chest pain and desperately trying not to vomit due to lack of oxygen. Already phlegmy asthma lungs covered in new phlegm just don't work they would they are supposed to. I couldn't run fast if my life depended on it.
....Oh wait, I lied.
Today was in fact, a BUMMER. Let me explain. Problem number one lies in the fact that I have no monitoring device. I have no shiny Garmin on my wrist and no Nike chips in my shoes. I do have an ipod, but the app I downloaded most definitely does not work (I know I'm slow, but a 30 minute mile is a bit ridiculous, right?!). So basically I have no way of training efficiently. I base my times off of MapMyRun, a stopwatch and a hunch (ex. I feel like I was running pretty fast today. Must have been a 9 minute mile kind of day). This is a very ineffective way of doing things and I do not recommend it. Basically, I may be much slower than I thought.
Problem number two: I came down with a cold last week. Perfect. And the fun little thing about being an asthmatic is that most head colds turn into chest colds... AKA BRONCHITIS. So although yesterday I was feeling springy and almost 100% over my cold, today I woke up with four pounds of phlegm in my chest and a wicked cough... cough cough.
And so I head to the Jingle Bell 5K ready to rock it, thinking that I clearly run 8 minute miles. I end up coughing my way through the first mile, and spending the next two miles wincing away my chest pain and desperately trying not to vomit due to lack of oxygen. Already phlegmy asthma lungs covered in new phlegm just don't work they would they are supposed to. I couldn't run fast if my life depended on it.
And so I ran an embarrassing 30 minute 5k. I know many of you run 15 minute 5ks so please don't laugh. I'm fragile. And I have bronchitis. Probably. So there.
So here's the plan. With any and all Christmas money I get this year (got to love the grandparents) I'm buying a Garmin. Then, I am going to COMMIT to 2-3 days of speed work a week along with my regular workouts. I am not going to focus on distance for now because my knees just aren't ready for it. My goal is to run two more 5Ks in January and at least a 10K in February (if my budget will allow). I'm also going to drink a lot of vitamin C so that I never get sick again.
The end.
So here's the plan. With any and all Christmas money I get this year (got to love the grandparents) I'm buying a Garmin. Then, I am going to COMMIT to 2-3 days of speed work a week along with my regular workouts. I am not going to focus on distance for now because my knees just aren't ready for it. My goal is to run two more 5Ks in January and at least a 10K in February (if my budget will allow). I'm also going to drink a lot of vitamin C so that I never get sick again.
The end.
Oh my, Havens. I commiserate with your pain. At least you survived and that in itself, is splendid.
ReplyDeleteI love my garmin. You can go anywhere with it and just run. Also, I think the 5k you did was great. I wouldn't even think of running if I had something in my chest.
ReplyDeleteLOVE my Garmin! I think it's the best big girl purchase I have made! Hope you get over your chest mess soon! :)
ReplyDeleteGarmins are fun, but it sort of takes away from the au-naturale beauty of running. Suddenly running become more of a scientific-number-analysis kind of obsession and less of a I'm-going-to-run-based-on-how-I'm-feeling hobby. While it is a great training tool, I'm actually jealous that you run without one!
ReplyDeleteI run with a Garmin but only to analyze after I'm done. I don't look at it at all while I race. There is NOTHING wrong with a 30 minute 5K. I've been racing for three years and it took a long time before I got down to a 28 or 29 minute 5K.
ReplyDeleteTry sprints and a stopwatch to get faster :)
Great job!
If you went out there and gave it your all, it's nothing to be embarrassed about. We all have off days.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of goals and training plans, remember your love for the sport above all else. If you love to lace up your shoes and get out there every day, you will naturally excel.
Aw, I'm sorry girl. ::hugs::
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, one of my goals before I die is to run a sub-30 5k.
Ok, crazy - 30 minute 5k?? That's awesome!!! In my wildest dreams i don't think i could ever run that fast! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd i hear you on the Garmin...i'm desperately wanting one too. Although it will just confirm how slow i am. ;)
PS. Which 10k are you thinking about running in February?
I feel lost without my garmin. Which I forgot at my last 5K. And ran a 29:35. Feel your pain.
ReplyDelete