The Timed Mile

One of my biggest goals of this season is to become a more efficient, faster runner. Out of the three legs of the triathlon, running is my hardest. It always seems to take the most out of me and, I am slow.

Through my training with Coach Michael, I met running coach Brenda. I was never taught how to run, I just went out and did it. Consequently, I quickly learned in my first sessions, that for me, running properly did not come naturally. My stride and form was far from ideal and certainly did not resemble that of the Kenyans who are often leading running races. My body weight was not properly distributed, my alignment all off and most of all I had no idea that like cycling, running also had a cadence.

For nearly two months now, I have been practicing and working on my form, completing often silly looking drills and gradually starting to become more comfortable. Believe it or not, my past few runs have actually been enjoyable.

So this morning I was excited for the extra fun Coach Mark and Grandison added to our Saturday morning cycling, a timed mile. I had done 1/2 mile repeats last season (my fastest ever only 4 min. 27 seconds and most averaging around 4 min. 35-40 seconds) but I have never done a "timed mile." I certainly have never seen any number lower than a nine and a half plus minute pace even in a short 5K race. It was time to put my new form to the test.

So at 7 am this morning, I jogged my way up to Monument Avenue, anxious to see if my hard work and new form would pay off. I clicked my stop watch to start and took off with images of the road runner in my head. "Lift and lean," I could hear Coach Brenda repeating in my head. As the mile continued it was harder and harder to keep form. I know my heart rate was definitely sky rocketing and, the slight uphill grade on the last 1/4 mile didn't help. At last, I reached the street sign marking the end of the mile and pressed the stop on my watch. I looked down and smiled - 8 min. 44 seconds. Its working!

Time Management

One of the biggest things I struggle with is time management. This week is no different...especially since I am a single parent this week. Single parent, you say? Yes, I am the single parent of our fur child Lulu this week while my husband is shivering in Maine on business.

Lulu, our 1 1/2 year old yellow lab, normally leads the life of luxury. She wakes in the morning and goes for her first two mile walk of the day with one or both of her parents. After the walk, while we sip our coffee and check in with the work world, she indulges in her morning breakfast. Soon, she settles at the feet of my husband who works many days out of the week from our home office. In the middle of the day, she has a few trips outside, a ball session or two with her dad during the lunch hour. At the end of the day, she greets her mom with a wagging tail, eats a little dinner and usually heads back out for the second walk of the day.


This week, like my schedule, she's had to adapt. Most days, Coach MH has me on a double workout session. So...its early to rise for me and I need to get in at least one workout before heading to the office. Because I haven't yet found the willpower to get up at 4:30 in the morning, Lulu's morning walks this week have not happened, neither have the evening ones. Instead, I've had to improvise. Thank goodness for Dog Services. Lulu gets to play with all her closest friends for the day while I work.


Yet, at the end of the day around five, or my more normal "mid-afternoon", I've left the office feeling guilty for only working until 5 and head to pick her up. She of course is eager to greet her mom but tired, worn out and ready to curl up for the evening when she gets home. No such luck for me although with the chilly temperatures outside there is nothing I want to do more than curl up and relax. After dropping her off tonight, I had to motivate to head to TG strength training, my first time. I have to admit, I was a little nervous. I've been lifting nautilus for the past 2 months, at least twice a week, but I had heard from past participants that TG strength training was particularly challenging and yummy. And it was. I am positive that my entire core and arms will remind me of every V up, push up on the balance bar and crunch of the many varieties Coach Mark and Grandison dreamed up over the short break. Yet I stuck with it and will be headed back on Thursday.


Exhausted from a busy day, with a pile of work yet to get to, I finally curled up on the couch with Lulu beside me to watch my favorite show on TV these days - The Biggest Loser. Week after week that show inspires me to achieve more and push myself to be better. This week was no different. Nicole, who unfortunately went home tonight, gave me the inspiration this week I needed. After the contestants were sent into the work world for the day and had to return to campus for their evening workout, Nicole essentially had this to say before she headed to the gym to bust out a long workout: "I know there will be days like this when I'm exhausted, when I've had a long day or when I'm just burnt out. But I know I still need to give my best and put in the workout. That's what separates the old me from the new me that I've become."


So go get it Nicole! I'll look forward to seeing your transformation in a few weeks. In the meantime, I'll be sticking with my workouts and working hard for the new me that I've become.

Saturday with the Gals

Since Naylor's, and the end of my 2007 season, Saturdays have primarily been spent at football games, catching up with things on my weekend "to-do" list and training with my husband. Lately, the two of us have either treked outside for our Saturday morning cycle at West Creek (testing our new cold weather gear) or spent time on the trainers in our basement workout room. While on the trainers, I try to pass time more quickly by watching one of my favorite TV shows or a DVD from our cycling collection (Breaking Away is my favorite). Even still, time spent inside on the trainer seems to tick away slowly.



Consequently, I was looking forward to this Saturday's workout -- the first session of indoor cycling at Maramarc. The only part I wasn't eager for? The 7 am start.



As I had hoped, this Saturday's session on the trainer flew by. Surrounded by twenty some other training partners, the hour of cadence drills and one legged spinning seemed to last only minutes. It was great to meet some new people I'll be sweating it out with over the next few months, catch up on everyone's race calendars for 2008 and even catch a glimpse of some brand new pink tatoos. Soon enough, the bike was over and we were headed to my favorite part of Saturday training with the gals.... post-workout coffee at Starbucks! A few good laughs, lots of smiling faces and plenty of time to catch up over a good cup a coffee..... it is definitely good to be back!