Medievalist Running in Circles

My running partner

2012-03-08T07:57:00.001-05:00

I tend to run alone, and that is usually fine. Running is often really good "me time" and I do great thinking while I’m on the road. I have rarely found someone who I can get into a running groove with, or someone who wants to run when I do. And that is normally no problem, but since running is sometimes my favorite part of the day, it would be nice to share those precious moments with someone.

I do have a semiannual running partner, my dear friend Jenny, who just visited in Florida for a mini-vacation! We met in 2009 and worked together for two summers. When we met, she was a swimmer and I was a runner, and we managed to rub off on each other in a very good way! Since then, I ran with her for her debut marathon (MCM 2010), and paced her for part of her BQ (MCM 2011), and she has got me swimming in the pool!

She is now a very dear friend of mine, and aside from running she is just very important to my life. So, I visited her and her family for a few days, and one of the greatest, purest delights was been the fact that we were able to get in some good runs in together.

This was the trail that we did some of runs on. Slightly sandy/gravely, no traffic to deal with, and just very pretty. Very different structure from my DC runs. My runs normally do go by fairly quickly, and I’m back before I know it, and returning to my busy life. But these were runs of swapping stories and remembering distant (and distance) runs together. We’ve run together up and down the East Coast: in NY, DC, and Florida. I’m sure we’ll expand westward and perhaps even out of the US at some point in some sort of destination race. But for now, we were content to have those little moments: an hour of sweat and stories.

In some ways, we are an unnatural pair. We are separated by over a decade, she has a family of her own, and I am just starting out in the professional world, she was trained as a swimmer, and I as a runner. She is a Floridian and succeeds in the heat, whereas I, the Yankee, thrive in cooler weather. But as polarizing as some of those opposites are, we are a pair that makes sense to us.

I had a fabulous trip. It felt like spring training. Nice weather, a mini vacation with not much to do other than train and relax. I have managed now for over a week to consistently get 8 hours of sleep, which is something I am finally learning how to do. You would think it would be so easy to just do that: after a day of running around (literarily), grading, reading, driving, and everything else, sleep would come naturally. But I’m not always good about it. Either I stay up too late, or wake up in the middle of the night. Yet lately, I have hit a groove in the sleeping realm, which I feel strangely proud of. And given that I am entering a cycle of back-to-back-to-back races, good sleep is absolutely essential. Race 1 is Saturday: Four Courts Four Miler. I am so excited. My last race, (my rust-buster Love the Run You’re With) was almost 4 weeks ago, and I am looking forward to getting out there in better weather conditions, with another month of good training under my belt, and testing out the wheels!

Me and Jenny in Jupiter, FL

I’ve gone on and on for a while, so it is time for me to close. But it’s a good sign – I am happy and have a lot to chatter about. And I was sad to get on the plane today and hug my running partner goodbye. I know it will be awhile before I see Jenny again, but another road awaits us, and the knowledge of another path will keep us running until we run into each other again.

The gift of time

2012-03-01T21:46:00.005-05:00

I am on Spring Break from Mount Saint Mary's this week, which is a relief. I get 6 hours back just from not having to drive up there, plus all of the time spent into teaching, preparing for class, etc. The time off has really been a gift. My whole Tuesday and Thursday have been completely different, because instead of getting everything done in DC by 2:30 (when I leave), I have the entire day, plus, I am truing to get ahead in writing my lectures.
Now, today, March 1st, the weather is beautiful in DC (yesterday, it poured on Leap Day, so I think this was our reward for getting through that). So beautiful that I actually have been working outside for most of the day.
I feel incredibly fortunate. Among many other reasons, I really do think I was meant to work in the academic profession. The flexibility of this job is tremendous. I started grading this morning at 7AM - I didn't need to punch a clock or report to anyone.

Shannon Rowbury doing a nice job demonstrating what I did today

At 9, I mentally punched out and went for a 4 mile run. I also did a bunch of drills too - something that doesn't always fit into my schedule, but today it did. High knees, grapevines, butt kicks, and even this hurdle walk thing (obviously, I am fortunate that the track I use has hurdles nearby). And I was back at home by 10AM and back on track with grading.
Tonight, I did work later than 5, but I did it out of my home today. And obviously there are drawbacks to this too. Your work does come home with you, you never really feel "done," but there are many many advantages to this system too.

Sun, iced tea, and a good book - who could ask for anything more?

Exhibit A: the picture. Being on break meant I could sit outside on my teeny porch and work outside. Outside? Fresh air? Heck yes! I was playing my Motown and grooving to the Supremes while reading about fifteenth-century Italy. That's what everyone does on a sunny day, right? I really was smiling - I just felt content. The weather was terrific, I was getting good work done, and things just felt in sync.
There are some parts of grad school that are lonely and dreary - I will admit that. But today, I definitely felt the perks - the independence, the good reading (which all reading is good reading, right?), and the flexible schedule.
And by the by: 158.5 miles for February and 174 for January. I hit a new swim PR on leap day: 40:25 for my 2000 yard swim. Now if I can get my 10k run to match that time, I'll be all set!

Working on speed at the track and trails

2012-02-28T21:19:00.001-05:00

This month, I have really been honing in on speed, both on the track and in my tempo runs. Next month, I have 3 races:
3/10: Four Courts 4 Miler
3/17: National Half Marathon
3/25: Scope It Out 5k

The goal race for the month is not actually the half, but the 5k the week after. The half might serve more as a workout than a race. It is my goal this year to crack into the 19s for the 5k, and I am hoping to get to that point very soon.

I have had 2 tempo runs lately that went really well. 2 Saturdays ago, I did a 10 mile run with 6 miles averaging 7:12 pace (finishing around 7:00 for the final mile), and it felt great. Doing these tempo runs on the trail with marked miles and no road interruptions has been terrific. I feel like I finally understand how to do them now. I'm not perfect (and sometimes I blow up with them...read on) at them yet, but much better than I was at them a year or two ago. This Saturday, it was a 10 mile run with 5 miles of tempoing. I started at 7:10, then 7:00, 6:52, 6:36, and then errrrrk (you have to hear a car screeching), 7:01 for the last mile. I definitely went out way too fast in that fourth mile, but at least I am learning how to really stretch myself in these runs. The thing that was funny was that between last Saturday and this Saturday, a huge tree fell and blocked part of the trail. So when I got to that part, I stopped my watch, and had to swing over it (practically like getting over the saddle of a horse), and then keep running. An unexpected obstacle! But seriously, I keep learning a lot about how to do good tempo runs. I've heard that it takes 2 years of consistent running to really hone in. So, if the tempo runs are just starting to come together now, that means a few good years ahead of me as I continue to learn how to do them.

And then my true love of the week - Tenacious Tuesdays on the Track! Every Monday night, I go to bed so excited about the track workout that awaits me the following morning. The time I spend on the track is one of the highlights of my week. I tend to have the track all to myself, which is definitely helpful. It is my private time, and generally tends to be a little victory for me that gives me a boost for the entire day. And this is one of those moments when I am really grateful for the flexible schedule that comes with academia. Each Tuesday morning, I get up, work for an hour at home, then go to the track, and then continue on with my day. I don't have to get up super early, but because I teach later in the day, I have the time in the morning to do the workout. Anyways, cycle 2 of spring training is coming to a close this week, so this is just a quick summary of a few of those workouts.

2.5 mile warm-up; 4x1 mile; 2.5 mile cool-down (2 days after a 5k race). Start the miles at 7:05 and cut-down 5-7 seconds per interval; 500 meter jog between intervals; 2.5 mile cool-down. 7:00, 6:57, 6:47, 6:39. Total: 10 miles

2.5 mile warm-up; 2 x 1.5 mile workout, 2 x 800; First 1.5 mile is composed of 3 continuously run 800s. It is easy, hard, easy. 2 lap jog; The second 1.5 is hard, easy, hard. 1 lap jog between intervals. 2.5 mile cool-down. The goal is to keep the 1.5 rolling along evenly (even though there are pace changes), so on the first one, make sure to ease up enough the last two laps so that is about the same time as the first two laps. Total: 10 miles

This was my best go at this workout ever (I've done this one probably about half a dozen times):

2 x 1.5 mile: 3:25, 3:13, 3:25
3:13, 3:25, 3:13
(so, a little fast, but was able to be fairly consistent with the switches - certainly much more than I have in the past with this workout)
2 x 800: 3:13, 3:10

2.5 mile warm-up; 2 x 2 mile, 2 x 800; The 2 miles should be run evenly. Aim to run 13:50 for the first, jog 2 laps, and 13:40 for the second; jog 2 laps. On the 800s, aim for 3:20, 3:17. 1 lap jog between each. 2.5 mile cool-down. Total: 11 miles
This was today's workout, and I was really proud of it. I did the 2 sets of 2 miles in 13:41 and 13:31 and man, felt tired. I regrouped and recouped, and then did the 2 x 800 in 3:21 and 3:14.

Now, this made for a great month of speed that I hope I can apply in next month's races. I feel like I'm really learning to apply myself/stretch myself/push myself with these workouts. They are going faster than I could have anticipated, and by the time the next workout rolls around, I am rested and ready to go! Seriously, those runs are some of my favorite hours of the week. It's like a little victory for me. And so even if a class doesn't go perfect, or research is a bit slow, I have that win to remind me to keep at it!

Great days are here

2012-02-25T22:03:00.000-05:00

Last week was pretty stellar (and yet was so busy that I haven't had time to write about it).
Now, I do not want this to be read as me bragging. But, shared joy is the best kind, right? That's my philosophy, at least, and I have felt joyful.
I found out last Tuesday that I am returning to my summer job as Academic Dean of a gifted children's camp in Santa Cruz, CA. I have been working for this program for years (this is year 7!), but last year was my first time on the West Coast. I absolutely loved it, and am so pleased and grateful that I have been given the opportunity to return again. So, from June to August, I will be in sunny beautiful Santa Cruz. I am very excited and very much looking forward to another year with the program.

Just in case anyone forgot how beautiful Santa Cruz is...

And if that wasn't enough. And I was pretty happy to begin with - I had thoughts of California dancing in my head. I got an email from my department chair asking to meet with me to talk about next semester. In the meeting, he asked me if I would teach an upper level history class at our university.
I was beyond thrilled. Only advanced graduate students ever get to teach classes of their own at my school, and I never thought I would get asked to teach a class. The chair said that they were particularly excited to have me teach. Me? I feel like I have spent a good chunk of my grad experience looking up to the big dogs - people who really seemed to have it together, and I always hoped that I would get to that stage at some point. And apparently now, the department feels comfortable assigning a class to me.
I am really excited about getting the opportunity to teach at my own university. This is going to be excellent. And it is a relief too - because it shows that the people who know me best in academia feel that I can take the full reins of a class. It is a great moment in my (young) career.

A few years ago, my dear friend Jenny sent me a poem she wrote as a means of assurance when I was going through a rough patch:

Life is funny sometimes,
Life is great,
Life throws you a curve
to test your strength
Enjoy your victories
remember your lessons
Great days are here
Sometimes, we just have to look for them!

When she first wrote that, I couldn't believe it. I felt like I had trouble finding great days. But great days are here, and for that, I am grateful. My running is going well (more about that in a separate post), my school stuff is going well, and I have good family and friends to support me. Great days are here, and I am enjoying the victories too.

A different kind of thinking

2012-02-20T22:37:00.000-05:00

On Friday morning, I was in my university's pool, putting in another 2000 yards and staring at that black line. I was planning some of things I was going to accomplish for the rest of the day as I was doing my laps. After school, I was back in the weight room, getting my session in, and while I was pumping up (you have to hear Arnold saying it), I had a thought:
"I think differently depending on the type of exercise I'm doing."
Is this true for others?
Before I get slapped with the crazy sticker, let me explain.

When I am running outside, I am on beautiful trails, or near the National Mall, or the Capital Crescent Trail. All places filled with distractions - tourists, monuments, runners, various buildings, etc. So, when I run, my thinking is very fluid. Something will move me to contemplate something or remember an old event of friend, and I'll run with that thought (pun intended) for a while, until the next distraction comes along. There's a nice ebb and flow between random thoughts (like recalling old memories) and things (like my dissertation) that need careful consideration. When I am done running, I can't necessarily recall of those tangential things that have come to mind. But my head is clear, and I am ready to move on with my day.

When I am swimming, there are no distractions. No people, no buildings. Just that black line. The black line does not inspire creativity or spark any distractions. It is unchanging and it is in my line for vision for 2000 yards. So, when I swim, as I'm going back and forth, my thoughts are more rhythmic and precise. I can plan my day out clearly, I can outline ideas for a meeting or a paper. Nothing gets in my way, as I am counting laps carefully - there is no room for fluffy thoughts in the water - only precision. This was why I called my swim the "swim to modernity" as I was preparing for my comprehensive exams - I ran through the AD timeline in my head 0-2000, in 25 year intervals. And I get so much planning done underwater!

And I have different thoughts when I am weightlifting in the gym. Now, if you've seen me - I am not a force to be reckoned with. I can't bench a jillion pounds or max out (whatever that means), but I do enjoy weightlifting (and strength/core work) 2-3 times a week. I think it makes a better, stronger runner. My back is stronger, my legs are stronger, and maybe my arms are even stronger (although they are more scrawny than anything). But, when I am in the weight room, I tend to be the only girl there. And I am surrounding by a bunch of hulking guys in wife-beaters, grunting their way to muscular glory. I am not grunting, but I am working hard. And I've gotten a heck of a lot stronger. In most of the free weight exercises, I have doubled the weight I used when I started doing this three years ago. But, if you've seen me lately, I'm not preparing for the Olympia competition either. I always feel a little sheepish in the weight room - like I need to prove myself. I can prove myself on the road - I can run fast, place high, and no one doubts what I am capable of. And in the pool, I am starting to at least not appear like I am drowning. But, in the weight room, I am sure that I do not look like I can do much damage. So, half of the thoughts in my head go into drill sergeant mode:, "Come on, come on! Lift! Lift! more, more! You call those curls?! Come one!" But at the same time, I am eyeing all of the guys in the gym, who are probably doubting that I have any physical capabilities. And my thoughts when I see them are "Oh yeah? You think you're so tough?! Come on, let's go! I'll see you on the track and put you to shame." Okay, a bit intense (or insane.

But I've proved my point, right? Those are three very different frames of mind. So, I am really curious - does anyone else think differently during different kinds of workouts?

Day-Glo, me say Day-Glo

2012-02-17T21:55:00.001-05:00

Day-glo comin' and me want to run home.

You know you could find me in the fog, in the snow, the rain, the dark, anywhere!

I have never had a running vest, and I've been contemplating getting one for a while. Finally last week, I broke down and got this nice orange Saucony vest. It even comes with a removable flashing light to clip on. And nice side pockets too for my phone and keys. It arrived on Wednesday, and I tested it out on Thursday morning's 8 mile run. It was a little drizzly outside, and the vest was perfect. It packed heat in well, kept me warm and dry, and illuminated me for well, all of DC to see! I'm sure my parents are happy, because now I've acquired a few pieces (pink visor, pink winter jacket, and now this) of running clothes that ensure drivers on the road see me.

And in other news. The weeks are just flying by! With teaching, I am just finding the time going by so fast! I am starting to develop a routine in terms of preparing lectures, putting together power points, and figuring out a good lecturing style. I found this video on the Reformation, which I used to open class on Tuesday - so yes, I also like to inject a little humor here and there too. And I'm starting to master the driving part - 140 miles roundtrip twice a week! It turns Tuesday and Thursday into pretty fast-flying days. By the time I get home at 9PM, I am pretty beat and before you know it, the week is over.

And with that, I am just trying to keep my head down and plug away. Plug away on my dissertation proposal, plug away on teaching, and plug away on running and training. It seems like that is the best way to go -- head down, focused, and making sparks fly in the way they should.

Love the Run You're With 5k - Rust buster 2012

2012-02-12T14:42:00.002-05:00

Like the fall, I am having a spring racing season with a bunch of shorter races - no marathon - all about getting fast. I have been training regularly since the beginning of January, and wanted to test my fitness so far. So, this morning, I ran the Love the Run You're with 5k by Pacers on Pentagon Row. I volunteered at this race in 2010, but had never done it. Sarah set this race up in my schedule as a "rust buster:" a race to just get out there and hammer it out as best as I can. My training has been pretty consistent, but again, have only been following a formal schedule for 5 weeks. Last fall, my rust buster came after 10 weeks. But I was trying to remind myself that I've gained good fitness and have been consistent with training. I was not planning on running a PR (20:23), but was hoping to just stay sub 21 minutes.

It's funny, when Sarah scheduled this race, she said, "Maybe you'll have a 60 degree day, or have to deal with the pain of the a 5K and 20 degree weather :)""
Well, she hit the nail on the head with the latter. This morning, it was 25 with 22mph winds! This made the windchill about 15. This was a lot colder than we've had in DC, and a heck of a lot windier! I had on 2 shirts, tights, and gloves, plus a jacket and another pair of pants that I was going to wear for my warm-up and then strip down. So, I trotted it out in my 2.5 mile warm up, and found it pretty hard to move! The wind was insane, and I'm not exactly big enough to push back with the wind. I was hoping that in the race, I could tuck behind someone and have them block me a bit.
I found a buddy of mine before the race and we chatted, shivering away, anxious for the gun to start. He said that he was hoping to run under 21 as well. And then we were off - thank goodness! The first half mile had such a steep climb - it definitely took a lot of work to get up that hill! I got through the first mile in 6:38, which felt really fast. I had looked around earlier and recognized some of the elite runners, who were way ahead of me, but I knew I had to be in the top 10 women. There was a turnaround at the halfway point, and as awkward as it is to fly (or in my case, awkwardly stumble) around a cone in a 180 degree turn, the turnaround meant I could count the number of women in front of me. I figured that I was in 7th or 8th. I passed a couple of women at mile 2, and had slowed to 6:50 for the second mile. I figured that that was the hardest one, and that I probably still had a little gas left. And I worked really hard to pass some men and women and moved up to fourth place. Wow! I even caught up with my friend, Caldwell, who ran sub 20 last fall, and passed him. Finally, the downhill was waiting, and I tried to just fly down, but some girl buzzed by and I could not go any faster. But, I was still really excited as I crossed the finish line: face frozen but still a big smile.
20:41 (6:40 pace)
5th woman (out of 961)
33rd person overall (out of 1454)
This was great! That was the highest place I've ever finished at a DC race. I didn't catch my split at mile 3, but it must've been around 6:35 pace, so I was really motoring toward the end. When I did my rust buster in the fall, it was 80 degrees, and I finished in 21:02. This time, it was 60 degrees colder and I showed great improvement! And while it wasn't a PR, when I texted Sarah to let her know how I did, she said that she was pleased, and that the effort was close to my PR time. And she said "Good things are in store for some better weather racing!"

I also came in 2nd in my age group (actually, 5th, technically, because the top 3 open winners were also 19-29), which meant at $15 gift certificate to Pacers. And because it was a Valentine's Day themed race, they had different bibs for those who were single/in a relationship. I was the fastest single lady! I feel like that's a nice little title - something to impress the fellas, right? And they gave me a little hand towel for that. The giveaway was a blanket (a nice change from shirts) - so now I have a fleece blanket with the race theme (see above) on it. Definitely nice to have something toasty to wrap about today.
They had a nice after party too, so I even had a mimosa! Lots of celebrating to do! They even had karaoke after, and I sang "You can't hurry love" - that was a first.
So, the 2012 spring racing season is on and off to a good note. Can't wait for more races in the spring!

Perception/Aging

2012-02-02T08:06:00.003-05:00

Do you remember when you growing up, and you thought a particular class or grade was hard? For example, algebra was the hardest thing EVER and when you were in the middle of it, you thought nothing could be harder than dealing with (i) - that imaginary number or freaked out when your answer suggested a negative square root (I did). And then you finished that year, with only some battle scars, onto the next challenge. There are a number of classes throughout my years in school: math, science, Latin, that just seemed like the hardest thing ever. And while many of those classes still have horrific memories attached to them, they are also in the past and I am on to bigger, better things.

It's not just hard classes that stick in my mind like that. I remember starting new jobs and the first weeks of a new job: learning the new system, meeting all of the new people, and wondering if it was all ever going to click/feeling completely overwhelmed. I remember that especially when I started as academic dean of my summer academic camp. It all felt so whirlwind, and then eventually, things clicked and it worked. The bar constantly keeps getting raised, and it seems like a new challenge is always waiting in the wings. And that is a good thing - I like challenges, and while it seems tough in the beginning, knowing that I've gotten through previous challenges successfully gives me the optimism that I need to work my way through the next one.

I am in the middle of trying to clear the bar again. I am in my third week of teaching a history class (my first class of my own) at Mount Saint Mary's University - a dream come true. I've been wanting to teach for so long, and now I am! It is really exciting and I am loving it so far. It takes a lot of time to prepare my lectures and get everything ready for class, but it is great. One of my favorite things about teaching European history (specially medieval or early modern (1400-1850) is that since it is typically less studied here in America, students don't know a ton about it beforehand. So, part of what I get to do is surprise them with all of these interesting things. It's a ton of work, but I love it - which is good, since this what I want to do as a career!

The thing that I was most nervous about with the new job was not the job itself, but actually the commute. I live in DC, and the university is 70 miles away. This is the first time I've had a car in DC, and the first couple of times back and forth was absolutely terrifying. I don't have a ton of driving experience (I've never needed a car), and so to go from driving my parents' car to the mall at home to almost 300 miles a week (I teach there twice a week) was a big leap. White knuckles and sweaty palms for sure. When I first started, the semester seemed so long and looming - I couldn't believe how much driving I was going to do. But now, a few weeks in, I am settling into the routine and starting to think "Oh, it's not so bad."

It is funny how our perception on the difficulty things can change as we age. And even when the challenges seem hard now, I am sure in a few years we'll all be thinking "That wasn't so hard."

Peaceful Tempo on the Capital Crescent Trail

2012-01-29T20:47:00.002-05:00

Today ended week 3 (hardest week of a 4 week cycle) of my first cycle back.
Monday: 2000 yard swim, strength/core training
Tuesday: Track workout: 2.5 mile warm-up; 2k cut-down (8:40); 2 lap jog; 4 x 1200. 5:15, 5:12, 5:02, 5:12 500 meter jog between each; 2.5 cool-down. Total=10.5 miles
Wednesday: 3 miles AM, 6 miles PM - 9 miles = first time doing doubles in a long time!
Thursday: 2000 yard swim, strength/core training
Friday: 5 miles
Saturday: 9 mile run with 4 miles of tempo
Sunday: 12 miles
Total: 45.5 miles
Highest mileage in a while! The whole week went pretty well. I have been keeping all of my 2k swims under 45 minutes, so I am glad to be consistent with that. Not looking to do anything with those swims right now, other than to supplement my running, but I do like to try to get a little faster as I progress.
Now, to make a long story short, my tempo run did not happen yesterday. There was an issue getting out to the marked trail (I am so bad with directions), and must've missed the entrance to the trail (it's far off from the regular road) on one side (I am used to entering on the Bethesda side of the Capital Crescent and I tried to enter on the Silver Spring side, which is closer to where I live). I swear, I am not a dope - I just mess up directions and finding stuff. So, I just ran 9 miles easy instead, and said that I would include the 4 mile tempo in my Sunday run. So...
I went out to the Bethesda side today, and I swear, the weather we had this weekend was perfect running weather. Yesterday it was in the 50s and today in the 40s. God was smiling down on the runners, I'm sure - it was absolutely gorgeous. So, my plan was to run a 2.5 mile warm-up, 4 miles of tempo (starting at 7:40 and working my way down to 7:20), a 2.5 mile cool down, and then just 3 miles easy to get in 12 altogether. As soon as I started my watch for the 4 mile tempo, I felt so alive and great. There was even a big bridge (read: hill) within the first mile, and I just felt like I was flying - and I was - 7:19! This was faster than what I was supposed to finish, but I think with Saturday's bloopfest, I was so anxious to do my tempo run! Got through the second mile in 7:14, and I just felt like I kept passing people - no one was going to beat me today (even though I'm sure no one else thought I was trying to pass anyone). With 2 miles left, I knew I still had more and more in the tank - 7:00 for mile 3! As I was going down my second bridge, a biker was coming up and looking at the view over his shoulder - coming too close to me! I barked out "Look forward!" and he veered out of my way. I was on fire and that little bit of adrenaline really did it for the last mile 6:46! So, I averaged about 7:05 overall for the tempo. Was really pleased - a very solid first tempo for the year.
And the reason that I wrote that it was a peaceful tempo was that it was so quiet. Even though there were people on the trail, it was very quiet and even my head (where there is always a lot of chatter) was quiet too! It was probably the most relaxed I had felt all week, and maybe that's why it went so well!

Dealing with fear, Spamalot, track

2012-01-24T11:58:00.003-05:00

What are you afraid of?
I'm not thinking of things like spiders or snakes, but the other things that aren't hiding under the bed, but crawling around in our heads.
I am in the very early stages of researching a topic for my dissertation. I have some ideas in mind, but no matter what, I am staring down at the starting line of a very long project. We just a department workshop on Friday to talk about the proposal - the document I have to submit (and get approved by a whole bunch of people) - and I am not going to lie, it freaked me out a bit. Because from here on out in the PhD program, things are a bit nebulous and murky. While I have goals about what I want to do and when I want to finish, it is a very imprecise and uncertain thing. And I am a big planner: I like certainty and schedules, and it is a little hard to just have to trust the process.
And I do have some fear with this - it is a tall order and it is definitely something I have never done before. I remember have some fear and skepticism with the marathon - but it was a 6 month process leading up to the big day, not years and years. Everything so far has gone on track with my program, so I should not worry too much. But I still have reason to worry - people don't just crank out PhDs.
So, I am acknowledging my fear - fear of the unknown, but I am hoping that in saying it out loud, I can manage it a little better than keeping it bottled up.
A few friends of mine who are in the program stayed at school working pretty late on Friday. When I was walking home at 10, a little freaked out from the day, I played "Find your grail" from the musical Spamalot. Not only is the song great, but the medieval references are just great - plus, it goes on an on about achieving your goals and saying "you won't fail."
Life is really up to you,

You must choose what to pursue,

Set your mind on what you find,

And there's nothing you can't do.
Pretty uplifting and a nice reminder that all big dreams are accompanied with some fear and doubt.
Today, our mini cold spell had broken - the ice was gone, the sun was out, and it was a beautiful day - perfect for a track workout. Quite the opposite of last week's workout: cold and rainy.
2.5 mile warm-up; 2000m cut-down (start at 7:05 pace and get faster with each lap); 2 lap jog; 4 x 1200. Aim for about 5:15 to start and cut down 2-3 seconds per interval, 500 meter jog between each; 2.5 cool-down. Total=10.5 miles
I remember when I first started working with Sarah 2 years ago, I was not always steady with the 2k cutdown. It is a nice way to start the workout, but I used to have a hard time getting a little faster with each lap. Much better this time: I did the whole thing in 8:40 (6:58 pace) and started at 7:05 pace and managed to work my way down. The 2 lap jog is always great - long enough to almost feel like you're starting fresh and hitting the reset button. I was really happy with how the 4 x 1200 went: 5:15, 5:12, 5:08, 5:02. A little too fast at the end, but I felt good, and managed to average under 7 minute pace for the entire workout.
When there is a bit of fear and doubt, a workout like that is a good reminder that things take time and I can succeed. I couldn't have done a workout at this pace a year ago, but here I am today, feeling like I could've pushed a lot harder!

Olympic Trials and First Track Workout of 2012

2012-01-19T08:22:00.001-05:00

I was planning on writing a long recap of the trials, but Michelle Hamilton's article on Runner's World did such a nice job. I'll also include this picture, which was my favorite from Saturday. I loved it because you can see both the pain and exhaustion of the marathon and the pure joy in them knowing they are going to the Olympics. All I'll say is this: both the men's and women's races were terrific. No one really ran uncontested, and it took a lot of effort to make the team. It was hard to watch both Dathan Ritzenheim and Amy Hastings come in 4th with looks of disappointment. So close to an Olympic berth, yet it didn't happen for them. But both still set PRs on a challenging looped course. I am very excited about the marathon teams - I think they are going to do a fantastic job representing America. Can't wait to watch their Olympic preparations and race in London!
On Tuesday, I had my first track workout of 2012. First time putting on my racing flats since December 11th, and I was excited. Even though it was 40 out and pouring rain, I was undeterred - I could not wait to get back to speed workout. It always brings a big thrill, and I always get psyched for these workouts. So, this was the task of the first one (and this was a new one for me):

2.5 mile warm-up; 2 x 2 mile tempo on track. The goal is to be pretty
even for each set. So, aim to run the first 2 mile in 7:05 per mile, jog 800 meter recovery, and
aim for 6:55 per mile for the second 2 mile. 2.5 mile cool-down. Total=9.5 miles
Soaked by the time I got to the track, I changed into my racing flats. And I hopped up and down a few times on the track -- all alone, and ready to go. And with the click of my watch, I was off for the first set. I ran 7:03 for the first mile and negative-splitted to finish for 14:03. I was pretty pleased - I haven't done any long sets of spadework like that for a while. And while 7:01 pace is not 5k or 10k pace, it was a good effort. While it had poured during my warm up, it had calmed down a bit during the first set. But during my 2 lap recovery, it started pouring again - not the worst thing - I had gotten hot, and this cooled me down a little. And it stopped by the time I was ready to toe the line! When I started, I felt great but after I hit my first mile in 6:55 perfectly, I was wondering how much effort it would take to repeat or better that. But I did feel good, and it wasn't until the last half mile that I felt tired but kept trucking. And I got through the second 2 miler in 13:43 - a strong negative split! I was really pleased. While in a month or so I'll be hoping to run faster than that, this was a great rust-buster workout. Looking forward to doing many more of these this year!

Looking Toward Houston

2012-01-12T22:06:00.000-05:00

The Olympic Trials for men and women are on Saturday in Houston, and I am so excited. I won't there, but will be watching the recap on NBC eagerly. I cannot wait! I got into running in Fall 2008, and didn't start following professional runners until Spring 2009 with the Boston Marathon. So, the Olympics and Olympic Trials leading up to 2008 meant nothing to me - I had no idea that the trials existed. I never had favorite athletes as a child - I never followed a particular team. But in the 3 short years I've been running, I started to follow the professional sport quite avidly. I reading all of the running news daily, and I know the athletes and their stats pretty well. Needless to say, not only am I excited to watch the Olympics in London, I am excited to watch the trials. I have been reading about all of these tremendous athletes who are well known just by their first name: Ryan, Meb, Desi, Shalane, Kara, Magda, Deena. It is so hard to pick who is going to win or make the cut. I think this is one of the beautiful things about this sport - you don't root against anyone. You want these people to succeed because on some small scale as a marathoner, you understand their desire and quest. But, if I had to pick...(w/predicted times)
Men:
1. Ryan Hall (2:08:15)
2. Mo Trafeh (2:08:47)
3. Meb Keflezighi (2:10:11)
(and runner up: Nick Arciniaga)
Women:
1. Desi Davila (2:23:04)
2. Shalane Flanagan (2:25:48)
3. Kara Goucher (2:25:57)
(and runner up Magdalena Lewy Boulet)
We'll see what happens on Saturday. But I am already so inspired by all of these athletes - both those who are hoping to punch their ticket to London and those whose dream come true is to qualify for the Trials. They have put in so much time, effort, dedication, heart, sweat, you name it, into getting to this start line. I just hope they enjoy their journey to the finish!

Promise in Starting Fresh

2012-01-10T21:54:00.001-05:00

I am back in DC after a nice 3 week stint in NY. Although, not for long - I am heading to Chappaqua to visit some family over the long weekend. But I'm getting ahead of myself!
This week is off to a good start for a few reasons.
School starts again at my university, which means I am officially a PhD candidate (was a PhD student until now)! And I love the beginning of school - there is always such promise and potential in the beginning of the semester, and I love it. It was a weird feeling though - since I am done with coursework of my own, I did not go into a classroom as a student this week for the first time since I was 5. I am going in as a TA - 4th semester doing this, and for one of my professors who is great -- a class on Medieval Britain. And we got off to a good start.
Yesterday also started my first cycle of training for my spring racing season! I am going to be doing a bunch of 5ks and 10ks this semester, along with the RNR DC Half Marathon on St. Patrick's Day. So, the training will be similar to what I did this fall, but we're looking to alternate running 4 days a week and 3 days cross training, with 5 days a week running and 2 days cross training, so slowly easing back into more running. We haven't set my race schedule yet, but it'll be probably another month before my first race of 2012. My training is off to a good start. On Monday, the first thing I did was a 2000 yard swim in 43:45 - pretty good for almost a month away from swimming. I then went straight to the weight room for about 45 minutes - I am starting to up the weights that I use - hopefully this will make a difference!
And today I had a good run: the task was 20 minutes easy, 20 minutes moderate, 20 minutes harder, 20 minutes easy for a 10 mile run. I haven't done any real speed work in about 6 weeks, so this was a good get-back-into-it workout. The weather was perfect today (50 degrees and sunny - it snowed yesterday though!) and little wind. Sometimes at the 20 minute mark, I have a hard time picking up the tempo, but I did a good job - averaged 7:26 pace for 5.4 miles in 40 minutes. For the first go at speed for 2012, I am pleased. Week 1 is off to a good start!
And today - 1/10 marks one year of going gluten free. Now, there really should be an asterisk next to it - I have not been exactly perfect with my diet, and I also have learned through the past year about foods that are right for me and the foods and kinds of eating I need to watch out for. I found my post from last year on this day. I was optimistic and nervous at the same time. A year has now gone by, with some progress, but also a lot of room for improvement. I hope I can check back in a year and see more improvement.
But at the end of the day, I do like the idea of starting anew. There is hope in the sense of another chance or getting another go at something. We don't necessarily get a clean slate, but we certainly gain the opportunity to write (or re-write!) our own story.

8 + 4 = 12 in 2012: Resolutions and Goals

2012-01-03T12:57:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year everyone! I spent New Years in Long Island visiting a friend from college (Holy Cross) - whom I hadn't seen a few years. We had a great time, but now that vacation is almost over, it is time to settle down and put some goals and resolutions out there.

And therefore, I present my goal of 8 + 4 = 12 in 2012.
8 = the number of hours of sleep I really need to aim for. My trainer has been trying to get me to get 8 hours for a while, and I just haven't been able to cut it. I thought I would be able to do it this fall, but, with comps, it just didn't happen. But now that the stressful semester is over, I am going to aim for 8 hours of sleep per night. At the minimum, 7. I need to cut out the computer before bed, and just hit the sack!
4 = the bottles/glasses of water I am going to drink per day. I am not great about drinking water throughout the day. Coffee yes, water, no. And I'm not saying I'm cutting the coffee, but I need to up the water!
I expect that both will help me on the road to my 2012 goals:
school wise:
Have a good semester at Mount Saint Mary's teaching my very first college class
Get my dissertation proposal submitted and approved by the fall
running wise:
*Improve on tempo runs
*Be consistent with cross training
race wise (A and B goals)
5k: B: 19:59, A: 19:45
10k: B: 40:59 A: 40:30
Half marathon: B: 1:31:59 A: 1:30:59

There is no marathon goal. I am 99% positive I will not run a marathon this year. I met with Sarah, my trainer/coach last month, and we had a long talk about my long term goals. I think I can be a lot faster than my 3:27 marathon, but most likely I jumped into the marathon too fast. I ran my first marathon at age 22 - many serious marathoners don't debut until much later. And by age 24, I had already run 6 marathons. I hadn't even run 6 halves or 10ks at that point. I really want to succeed in distance running, I need to take each distance seriously and wait a bit before stepping back into the marathon, and certainly before trying to do 2 marathons a year. So I am going to wait, and eventually when I want to return, I am going to be aiming for something like a 3:15 or better. But I am going to be patient and the marathon will be waiting for me down the road.

My next training cycle of shorter distance racing starts on Monday. Just aiming to get some decent mileage in before then!

Closing the Door on 2011

2011-12-27T13:09:00.000-05:00

Everyone is recapping 2011, and it's my turn too.
I've run just over 1800 miles. My goal was to run 2000, but it became apparent at the start of the year that running 2000 miles a year may not be the best, given the ITBS that flared up at the end of 2010. So, I cut out some running and substituted a whole lotta cross training: biking, rowing, swimming, elliptical. I didn't always track that mileage, but I know that the double sessions I was doing 3x a week in preparation for Boston really added up!
I ran 12 (ish) races:
February: Freezeroo 8 miler - 57:40 First race post ITBS, and a big sign my plan for Boston was working
March: National Half Marathon: 1:34:37 - PR and qualified for NYCM
April: Boston Marathon 3:27:00 - 9 minute PR and a major triumph
May: Medved Lilac 5k, Rochester - 20:45 - PR, AG winner
June: NY Mini 10k - 46:07 - worst time in a while, but my mom ran her first 10k!
September: 9/11 Memorial 5k - 21:02 - 2nd fastest 5k, and in 80 degree weather - rust-buster race of the fall
Clarendon Day 5k 20:23 - New 5k PR
October: Boo! Run for Life 10k - 42:48 PR - AG winner, first time running a negative split
(Unofficial) 5k track race - 19:57
Marine Corps Marathon: Ran the first 10 miles, jumped out, jumped in to pace my friend Jenny to a BQ
November: Veteran's Day 10k - 41:26 - New PR
Philadelphia Half Marathon + LoopPhest: 1:32:35 - Shiny new PR
Race with Grace 10k: 42:15 - 2nd fastest 10k, and 4 days after Philly
December: Jingle All the Way 8k - 33:31
States Run in: MD, VA (and DC), NY, MA, RI, FL, CA
Races volunteered at: 5
I went gluten free in January, and am starting to show improvement in my bloodwork.
I changed topics in my research, from medieval witchcraft to medieval pilgrimage and piety.
I spent the summer as the Academic Dean of a gifted program in Santa Cruz, and enjoyed my first West Coast experience.
I finished my classes as a PhD student.
I passed my comprehensive exams - one of the biggest victories of the year.
This time last year, it felt like everything was falling apart. And in January, I took it as an opportunity to rebuild - rebuild my body, my diet, my training, everything. The first part of 2011 just felt so hard, and I just had to trust the process. I set out and made a list of goals, and wished I could achieve them - but I was definitely unsure if they were doable. I remember getting up early and walking to the pool in the dark in the morning before school, just hoping it would all come together. And I think that is why I am ultimately so pleased with how 2011 went - things happened because of hard work. I didn't win the lottery or a sweepstakes - everything I "won" came from hard, tenacious work. And that's why 2011 was a good year.

Dreams

2011-12-17T20:45:00.000-05:00

In dreams, we enter a world that is entirely our own. JK Rowling, Harry Potter
I don't dream about running much. A friend of mine who played field hockey in college dreams about it all of the time, but I don't dream about running. My dreams have been a lot more vivid lately, but nothing about running. I did have one dream where I got a teeny little dog - most fun one in a while, although it will be a long time before I am ever a dog owner. Because, moneywise, being a grad student with a dog would be - ruff!
Anyways, I don't have dreams about running, but I do dream about running. I don't necessarily fall asleep easily -- too much spinning around in my head. I always thought that as I picked up running and trained more, I would just crash at the end of the day. But that isn't always the case. So, in a way to relax and prepare for sleep, I think about running. But this isn't just about visualization: I fantasize about training for big races - what would it be like to stand in the same race as Magdalena, Deena, Desi, Shalane, Kara. I pretend that I am running in an attempt to break 3 hours in the marathon, or even bigger, qualifying for the Olympic trials. And all of the dreaming and imagining does the trick. Boom, asleep. I may be crazy, but it is fun to pretend. Does anyone else pretend like that?
I flew home to Rochester on Saturday night. I volunteered to get off my afternoon flight and got two free roundtrip tickets in exchange! Pretty excited about that - and I had nothing going on Saturday, so I was completely content to just sit around the airport, watch planes takeoff, read and RELAX! I even got bumped to first class for my flight home, which was fun - nice to get a little pampered.
And now I am at home for a few weeks - wahoo! I am on the schedule of easy running, easy does it. No schedule until January - just get out there, do some runs, some xt, some weights, and just enjoy the holidays! I was planning on running 10 miles on Sunday, but once I got on the road, I felt tired, so I shortened it to 7 instead. And right now - no problem! My dad and I went to the pool yesterday, and we each got in 2000 yards - felt good to get back in the water.
There is not much else to report! Just getting excited for Christmas. My brother came home from college yesterday, so my whole family is back, which is a good feeling.
Can't figure out a clever way to sign off, so ta ta it is!

My love affair with the pen

2011-12-15T08:23:00.001-05:00

I took a detour from writing about running to writing about writing. This is draft one – may come back to this when I get further into the dissertation:

I’m in the middle of a 20-year love affair with writing. What I couldn’t illustrate with images as a child, I could certainly depict with words. And a tradition was born.

I think I love writing because all of me goes into writing. My handwriting is my own and no one else’s. It is messy, frantic, and even sometimes illegible. “I’s” and “t’s” go undotted and uncrossed – or dashes fly by two letters too late. My eagerness to splash words across the page surpasses any desire for perfect penmanship. Heaven forbid I die before my notes are transcribed – no one will have the patience or even the capability to read them.

When I handwrite, I must hold the pen funny – I certainly press hard – the ink from the page collects and makes a black mark on the outside of my right pinkie – a stain that grows throughout the day.

As a child in the car, I always carried books in the car to lose myself in. I ended up being so engrossed that I barely know my way around my hometown now – because I never looked up until age 16. But I also sometimes would carry along a notebook as well, so I could write things down – ideas, stories, lists, anything. The blank pages represented promise, not fear. They promise a future, not a void. And as a researcher now, my notebook has exploded into a set of notebooks – ringed, spirals holing all of my thoughts. I can read over a hundred books in a summer, but the best way to manage my thoughts on them is to write my notes down. If there was a way to transcribe your brain, I am doing what I can in these notebooks. And sometimes, I clutch my computer in the same way, eager to clack away at the keyboard. The cursor says “go” even my brain is trying to say “no.” My fingers fly frenetically. My pen flies. I love underlining, bolding, capitalizing, all ways to emphasize the bajillion thoughts.

When I take notes, I don’t just take notes in the margins, but I use marginalia – truly going back to my medieval roots. Signposting and drawing out those little or big, related or tangential ideas.

I love the sheer idea of being a writer – completely in the throes of writing. Mentally, I am not here. I am writing in a café in Paris, carefully scripting out my ideas while sipping coffee that was brought to me by a garçon named François. As the coffee swirls, and the caffeine stimulates my mind, my eyes gaze off into the distance, perhaps the distant past or the far-off past. No one else is in my head. I dictate the rhythm and flow – sometimes to a steady beat, others more limpid and fragmented. I salivate at the possibility of writing in many genres: poetry, free-verse, haikus, prose, the expository essay. I can manipulate the words in many ways. I count out syllables in my head for haikus: marveling how the word “refrigerator” occupies all five syllables for a haiku line. I can rhyme and reason.

I can, I can, because I say I can. My writing is not a recipe, dictated by measuring cups and separating three large eggs. It is not regulated by time or limit: “must be read by” or “ready-made in 30 minutes or less.”

My love of the pen, the scrawling, sprawling ink, allows a multitude of vocabulary terms to describe all my thoughts and beliefs, facts and fictions, all things fortuitous and delicious.

Why yes, I do love writing words like delicious, lugubrious. I have a ravenous appetite for this stuff. It is an insatiable, unquenchable love for being in a scriptorium, equipped with the mighty stylos.

Double Header Race Report: Girls on the Run 5k and Jingle All the Way 8k

2011-12-13T10:12:00.000-05:00

A little behind in blogging land. While the Philadelphia Half was my last formal race for 2011, I still had a couple races left on the calendar:

2 weekends ago, I ran as a running buddy at the Girls on the Run 5k in DC. It is a program for girls ages 8-13 who meet twice a week and prepare for a 5k at the end of the season. They have coaches and a lot of sessions about body image, girl power, and building confidence. It is a really great program, but I didn't hear about it until midway through the season. So, I signed up to be a running buddy and run alongside one of the girls. The race was really cute: they had a mini festival beforehand with music and face painting for the girls. I was paired up with a little 9 year old name Nina, who had never run a 5k before. She said she was really nervous and asked if it would take a long time. I didn't know her at all, so I had no idea how long it would take. We got into line, and then we were off! About 5 minutes in, she asked if we were almost done. I said, no, we still had a while to go (you can't lie to a child about this stuff - this not even like "are we there yet in the car" - she has to get there herself!), but that she was doing great. And she was - Nina even ran up the hills, and we talk a couple of walking breaks as necessary, and took water at the water stops. I kept cheering her along, yelling words of encouragement: anything to keep her going. After 2.5 miles, her face started to tense up and she looked really uncomfortable. "My stomach hurts," she said - and I felt so bad. But she was so close, so we walked a little bit, and then started jogging again. Right before we hit 3 miles, she asked if we were almost there, and I pointed where the finish line was - that she could actually see it, and that we were going to get there. She ran to the finish line, and we finished in about 37 minutes. It was a very fun race. Nina got a medal, and I was very proud of her. I told her a lot of people who are much older than her have never done a 5k, and that she just did it. It was a great race, a great program, and something I hope to be involved with in the future.

Then this past Sunday, I ran in the Jingle All the Way 8k. This race (in its 7th year) had been a 10k for the first 6, but now that so many people were involved, it couldn't be held in West Potomac Park anymore, so it got shortened to an 8k and moved to Freedom Plaza in downtown DC. I have a special place in my heart for this race. Not only was it my fourth consecutive time running it, but this race as a 10k was my first race ever in 2008. I ran 55:04 back then, and was definitely an inexperienced runner - was jumping onto the sidewalk trying to jockey for some space, wore my Mickey Mouse watch instead of a stopwatch, all the markings of a newbie. So, I like to return to this race each year, in part because it's fun (they give you jingle bells to tie to your shoes), and to reflect on how far I've come in just a few short years.
But since the race wasn't on my formal calendar, I didn't give it much prep. I did a short workout on Tuesday to just remind the legs of some speed, but that was it. Even went to a Christmas party Saturday night and had no problem enjoying some Christmas spirit(s) too. Which is funny, given that I just wrote about my "dry" rule. But, I was just going out with no big expectations in mind. I was hoping to just run sub 7:00 pace. I did my 20 minute warm-up, and while it was cold, the sun was out, which was nice (there was really nasty weather the past 2 years). The new course had a lot of hairpin turns, so I thought that those would slow me down a bit. There was a 20 minute delay with the start, so I actually ran into a Barnes and Noble to stay warm. And then they had everything ready, and we were off! I went through the first mile in 6:38, and I was like, whoa, that is really fast (faster than 10k pace), and I don't know if I'll be able to hold it. Things spread out fairly quickly, and again, I was amazed just how many people were ahead, clocking a really fast pace. The second mile was in 7:02, which had included a couple of those hairpin turns, which felt like I was grinding to a halt trying to go around a cone. Okay, try to find a happy medium. Then I hit mile 3 in 6:30 - my goodness, can I make up my mind on this? There were 2 girls about 50 or so yards in front of me, and I really wanted to pass them. I had almost 2 miles to catch up to them. Then, mile 4 in 7:03 - this was not an in and out workout (Hard/easy) - what was this?! I was starting to get closer to those two girls, and had passed some guys as well. Finally, I was able to pass them fairly aggressively and was determined to just go fast enough that they wouldn't be able to react. I covered the .98 mile in 6:20 (at least I knew how to keep picking it back up, right?), and crossed the finish line very happy about my overall performance.
33:31 (6:45 pace)
25/3024 women
8/832 age group.
I have made significant progress in my running in just 3 short years, and this race was certainly a testament. It was also a testament to what you can do when you don't get too worked up about it either. It was all about going out and having fun, and I did. It was a great way to end my 2011 racing year. Will start dreaming about 2012 soon enough!

In the in-between phase

2011-12-08T18:34:00.001-05:00

I am at an in-between phrase right now with a couple of things:
I turned in my last big paper a week ago. It was a big relief to have it done - it was the last major project I had to do this semester as a student. And on Wednesday, I attended my last two classes ever. It was a weird feeling. I went straight on from undergrad to grad school, so, I have been going to classes continuously, well, for 20 years if you want to stretch it all the way back to elementary school. And finishing coursework means I am ready for the next step of researching and writing my dissertation proposal. I enjoyed my last classes - definitely ended on a positive note.
But it certainly puts me in an in-between phase. I've started to do some reading for the next step, but that work really won't take off until January. I still have some TA responsibilities and grading to do this semester, but my time as a traditional student is over. How strange!
And with the Philadelphia half ending my official racing season and training, I am at an in-between stage with running too. I am doing an 8k race on Sunday (Jingle All the Way - 4th year in a row), but I've certainly lightened up my training. I'll be meeting with my trainer, Sarah, on Monday to discuss plans for the spring. But any sort of formal schedule won't kick in until January, so now, the plan is just to run (and train) happy:
Monday: 2000 meter swim + weights
Tuesday: race-week track workout. I really like this one, because it is not terribly long, but it gets your legs going and reminds you of your speed (and that most of the paces are faster than race pace). 1.5 mile warm up, 6 x 150 meter strides, 1 x 1200 (5:09), 500m jog, 2 x 800 (3:18), 400m jog in between, 4 x 400 (92, 90, 91, 89), 2.5 mile cooldown = 9 miles (normally, the warm up and cooldown are 2.5 miles, but I shortened it a little this time.
Wednesday: 6.4 mile run in the rain - there are few things more exhilarating than a run through inclement weather.
Thursday: No school - Feast of the Immaculate Conception. 6.8 mile run downtown, including a loop around the Capitol. I don't always do my runs around the central part of the city, but had some extra time on my hands, and decided to just enjoy a beautiful sunny day in our nation's capital.
Friday: 7.2 mile run - another sunny day (and the beginning of the week was gray and rainy, so this was definitely a treat) in DC.
While I am definitely someone who enjoys a schedule, it is also fun to live a slightly less-regimented life!

Relieved - Good Numbers

2011-12-05T20:36:00.001-05:00

Not to sound overdramatic, but on December 3, 2010, I got a phone call from the doctor that changed my life: I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. It felt like the rug was pulled out from under me. It was just hard - the doctor keep referring to it as a life sentence, and it definitely felt like that - a gluten jail. And I worked to change my diet, but even in the summer, when I had bloodwork done, it showed virtually no change. I felt like a big failure. My number was way over 100 (goal is to first break through and get below 100 and eventually get down to about 20). I wasn't being hyper-vgiliant and addressing the issue of cross contamination. So, I went back to the drawing board, ditched Kix cereal and a couple of other things. And over Thanksgiving break, I had bloodwork done again. I called today, and had to wait all day for the GI specialist to call back. To say I was nervous was an understatement: I was gripping the phone all day waiting and waiting. I was in class from 4-6, and had resigned myself at that point that I was missing the call. And when I walked out of class, I saw a voicemail from the doctor's. My breath quickened in anticipation of the news. Please tell me that I had improved, please, please, please, I had really tried - let me get below 100.

98.

I finally showed some improvement! After 11 months on the new diet, with continual steps to modify the diet, I had showed some improvement! And yes, there is still a lot of work to be done to get my number down to 20, but I had improved.
I am very relieved. Last December and January, things just seemed so bleak. And I know now that getting handed this kind of diagnosis is not really the end of the world - a lot of people have to deal with a lot more challenges. But, it was hard to keep perspective and keep the faith. I would well up going to the grocery store or the mall - walking by aisles and stores with now-taboo products. I don't get upset going there anymore. Sure, the smell of a cinnamon bun or Blue Moon Beer still are a little tantalizing (after all, I still have a nose, eh?), but no more tears.
I am making a new life for myself. It may not have been what I anticipated, but I am figuring it out. And I am not doing it alone. The only way that this has been possible is with a lot of support from friends and family. My parents especially have had the brunt of it - they've had a lot of frustrated and upset calls from me in the past year, yet they have helped me tremendously. Some key friends too have just offered so much support - it was not a solo effort.

The journey ahead is still unknown, but today I can say thank you for improving health - something not to be taken for granted.

With bated breath...

2011-11-29T22:46:00.001-05:00

As a historian, if I had to pick a tense that I am normally in, it is the past. Always looking about a millennium behind me, and maybe taking some time to be in the present as well. I can also be in-tense. Ba-boom! Lame joke. But, I would not describe myself as one who is always looking ahead to the future. Maybe it's because I am working on a degree with an indeterminable end date. Maybe it's because I don't know what the next few years will look like. But anyways...
With bated breath, I am looking ahead and looking forward to next semester for a couple of reasons:
It will be the first semester that I can work on my dissertation proposal. I have been doing a little reading now, but next semester, as a PhD candidate (as opposed to PhD student), I can start really honing in on my topic and some of the major questions I have. On the bus to and from Philadelphia, I read a dissertation on a topic similar to mine, and it got me so excited. I wanted to raid the author's bibliography (nerdy, I know) and work on my reading list! But I have to wait a little while longer, because...
I am finishing up my last seminar paper ever. Now, I am going to be writing for the rest of my life (and hopefully some day will write a running book as well as a medieval one!), but this is the last formal in-class assignment I'll ever have, besides the dissertation. It is due by Saturday morning, and I just want to finish. I have finally gotten into a good rhythm on it, and I just need to accept the fact that the next few days are going to be very long as I work out the remaining sections of the paper.
I am also looking forward to next semester because...
I am going to be teaching a class of my own! In October, I interviewed to be an adjunct at Mount Saint Mary's University, and I got the job! I will be teaching an early modern survey course twice a week. I have served as a TA at my own school for 3 semesters now, but this will be the first time that I will have a class of my own. I get to design the syllabus, the booklist, the assignments, everything. I cannot wait. I just sent in my booklist to the bookstore. It is interesting to teach while still being a student. I remember years when I bought 12 books for a class. I only made mine get 8 - it is just hard when you know how tight money can be. I think overall it is going to be a great experience, and I know that I'll learn a lot! My own early modern professor told me that I would ultimately learn more from teaching next semester than I did during the comps process in that field. And it's true - when you have to get up in front of a group of students twice a week and account for the material, it really ensures that you know what is going on!
So, there are some great things to look forward to. And I am very excited about the holidays as well - I love Christmas. It is just that the last few weeks of the semester are always hard, especially when the really really good things are just around the bend!
But I'll also turn to the past for a minute: this was my favorite picture from Philadelphia.

Making Up the Rules

2011-11-26T22:11:00.001-05:00

Last year, Runner's World did an interesting article on elite runners' lucky race charms.
I have some lucky race traditions too:

Since March 2009, I have put a small rosary in my key pocket for every race.
Since March 2009, I have always worn small gold "V" earrings that my parents gave me when I was little in races.
Since June 2009, I have worn my pink visor in every single race.

But I've also created some rules about races too:

I try not to have to set the alarm the day before a race - I like to sleep in and wake up naturally, especially since race day tends to be an early morning.
The day before, I do a 20-30 minute shake out run. No watch, no pace expectations. 6 x 150m strides for 5k-half marathon races.
No drinking alcohol 48 hours before a marathon, 24 hours before a shorter distance (this was ignored in December 2010 at the Jingle All the Way 10k, when I had already achieved my goal 10k PR for the race, opted to drink 2 beers the night before, and still knocked off 10 seconds).
I can only drink coffee in the morning the day before a race: 1-2 cups. Normally, I drink coffee all day, but not the day before a race.
I don't quite have a set curfew, but I like to try to be in bed by 9-9:30.
I drink 1 bottle of gatorade (size varies according to the distance) the afternoon/evening before.
I call my parents and my friend Jenny the night before.
In the morning, I drink Raspberry Royale tea and eat a bowl of Gorilla Munch cereal (the gluten-free equivalent to Kix cereal).

I'll admit, I am not so good at having rules about after the race. I now at least do a 20 minute cooldown for races between 5k-half marathon. I try to take a nap afterward, but I tend to be so wound up that it only works half of the time.

Do you create any rules about running or racing?

A Thanksgiving Tradition: Race with Grace 10k

2011-11-24T15:43:00.001-05:00

Since I started running, I have a few races that have become tradition. It's very fun to return to the same course year after year, seeing the same people, racing on the same course, aiming to better my time, remembering the past races (I am a historian after all!). The Thanksgiving Day Race with Grace 10k in Rochester is one of those traditional races for me.
I was a little apprehensive about how I would feel, given that it was so soon after Philly. I had been moving rather stiffly for a couple of days after. I did a 6 mile run on Monday that eventually helped. I took Tuesday off as a complete rest day (first one since Halloween), and did my 3.4 mile shakeout around my house on Wednesday. I told myself that I would just aim to run my best and just enjoy the whole thing. It has been 6 months since I've run a race in Rochester, and it is definitely fun to run in my hometown.
First thing I was grateful for - a 9AM start. That was the latest start I've had in a while - even with Boston's 10:20 start, you have to be ready for the bus at 7. So, I was pretty excited to "sleep in" until 6:45. The sun was starting to come out, and after a small breakfast, did a 2 mile warm up around town. It is so funny, being at home in Spencerport, rather than Rochester - just how quiet things can be. I have never been in DC at Thanksgiving, but I am sure things were bustling -- not here. So quiet and peaceful.
I got to the race with enough time to spare and do a couple of strides. The announcer said how beautiful of a day it was (and it was true - the weather tends to be pretty dreary), said a prayer, and we were off!
I felt pretty good, and I actually got through the first mile in 6:34. Whoa, a bit fast - was not aiming to PR. I had run my 10k PR on 11/13, my half PR in Philly on 11/20 - it just seemed unreasonable to try to do it again on 11/24. I did want to run at least faster than my Philly 10k split (43:17). I got through 2 miles around 13:28 - still holding a fast pace, but unsure what the rest of the race was going to look like. I was running primarily with guys - someone shouted I was in 12th for the women, and I was just trying to hang on. I hit three miles in 20:12, and the 5k in 20:56, but unlike at the Veteran's Day 10k, I did not think I could do a negative split. While the sun was out, it was also fairly windy (12 mph), which is always an underestimated challenge. I saw the 11th woman in front of me, and worked my way to get right behind her and whoosh - 3 women blew past us! And kept going and going - they clearly had a second wind. I kept at it, just worked on passing a few guys. So, if you look behind me, you will see an older guy (65), who was ahead of me for a while, and I was very determined to eventually pass him. It took a long time, but I finally did. Maybe it is the same idea as being chicked - I didn't want an older guy passing me. So I kept going and going, and finally passed him. The nice thing about doing a race like this is knowing the course. And so, as I returned to the church parking lot, I was very relieved to see the finish and that final .2. I could hear my parents cheering, and I made my way to the end.
42:15
15th woman
5th in age group
89/1011 overall
I was really happy - that was my second fastest 10k ever, and 2.5 minutes faster than my race here last year.

Here is me with my parents at home after. It was a nice way to start the day and to continue my (somewhat new) Thanksgiving tradition. We had a great day as a family, and it has been a nice weekend in general.

Phenomenal: Philadelphia Half Marathon 2011

2011-11-21T09:02:00.001-05:00

I had wanted to run Philadelphia for about a year. A couple of my friends ran it last year, and really loved it. In May, when I decided to do a season of fall racing (w/ no marathon), I worked it out with Sarah that the Philadelphia Half Marathon would be my big race for the fall season. I started my training June 13^th for this season – Sarah had me on 6 4-week cycles of “5k to half” training. My races leading up this one included:

9/10 – 9/11 Memorial 5k – VA – 80 degrees, 21:02

9/24 – Clarendon 5k – VA – 20:23 (PR)

10/16 – Boo! Run for Life 10k – DC – 42:48 (PR)

10/25 – Unofficial 5k on track -- DC– 19:57 (not certified distance)

11/13 – Veteran’s Day 10k – DC – 41:26 (PR)

I cross trained MWF, did a track workout every Tuesday, a medium run on Thursday (6-8 miles), a tempo run on Saturday, and a long run on Sunday (12-15 miles). And preparing for comps too – and to be honest, running was what probably kept me sane during that process.

Friday night, I went out to dinner with my friends to celebrate comps (there was a master’s student who took his, along with another PhD candidate and good friend of mine) – 16 people in all. It was a lot of fun, and a good way to loosen up for the race. This is me with my friend Brian - the other PhD candidate, who is also a Benedictine monk and priest. I was very glad that were able to share in the comps experience and celebration together.

I did a small shake-out run (20 minutes) took the bus from DC to Philly on Saturday – I was so pumped. I didn’t spend a lot of time at the expo, but dashed over quickly to Philly LoopPhest (a gathering of a bunch of runner bloggers form all over the country) for a fun dinner. It was nice to meet people from my running world. I stayed with a friend, got to bed early, and could not wait to get up and run this great race.

I didn’t sleep well, but I also woke up a few minutes before my 5:15 alarm, so I took that as a good sign. I had a little breakfast and then did my 2 mile warmup through the quiet streets of Philadelphia. Actually, I couldn’t get over how quiet it was – and then as I approached the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, it was very clear that 20,000 people were up and ready to run!

I was able to get my bag checked and everything taken care of pretty smoothly. I was in the maroon corral (2^nd corral), and was pretty excited by how close I was to the start. I talked with a nice guy next to me for a couple of minutes while we waited for the start. I could not wait. I had written on my split card "Philadelphia Half: Half No Fear" - I was going to put it all in the race. And the gun went off!

The crowds in Philadelphia were phenomenal. And I went through the first mile at 6:59 - perfect. The miles clicked off so nicely, right at 6:59 pace. The people were cheering, and since our names were on our bibs, they were actually cheering my name. I felt like a rockstar. There were drums at mile 2, and I just love running to drums - something rhythmic about that, and I just felt like I was keeping time alongside of them. I bumped into a friend of mine at mile 3 who was aiming to run a 3 hour marathon, so we just said hi and I let him go, as he was aiming to run each half slightly faster than my one half. At mile 5, I was still hitting my splits absolutely perfectly, and I was so excited. I told myself that at mile 10, I would pick it up. I got through the 10k at 43:17 (6:57 pace). I couldn't wait for the next 4 miles to go by, so I could really kick - I felt like I still had a lot in me. But then, I hit the hills. I knew that I would need to save some for the hills, but oh my goodness, these hills were hard. And I do a lot of running on hills, but probably not a lot at 7:00 pace. It was so hard, and then it would flatten out. And then up again. I was pretty nervous - this was hard, and all of my thoughts of picking it up at mile 10 went out the window - I just needed to stay close to this pace. Even though it was hard, the crowds just kept cheering. At mile 9, we were going up a hill, and turning, and doing the two together felt so hard. I couldn't believe how tired I was. Just keep moving, but 4 miles to go seemed far. I hit mile 10 at 1:11 - about a minute behind my goal time. I was aiming for 1:31:45 as of last week, but before that, the goal was between 1:33-1:32. So, I told myself that I needed to do everything I could to stay in the 1:32s. I finally regrouped at mile 11 - 2.1 miles didn't seem so bad at this point. And I felt like I could try to pick it up a little. They kept showing arrows indicating that eventually the half and full marathoners would split off, but they just kept coming - wouldn't we ever finish? Around 12.5, I picked it up again, determined and excited. Finally, the Parkway opened up and I could see the finish. There were so many people cheering for us, and things had spread out enough that people were trickling in - not like Boston, when as many as 20 people are finishing every second. They announced my name as I was coming down the wire, and bam, it felt like I was flying. I gave it my absolute all at the end, put my arms up in the air as I came in, so tired yet exhilarated.

1:32:35 - a 2 minute PR (7:03 pace)

Overall: 273/9421

Gender: 57/5901

Division (24-29): 20/1460

Age grade: 71.1%

I have never finished so high in a major race like that - top 2% overall. And I have moved from just running these events, I am racing them - working to pass people and putting it all out there. It all paid off - all of those races and tempo workouts, made it come together on this big day. I was so excited. After I did my cooldown (2 miles, and they were slow - I was done!), I actually bumped into a few friends, which was nice to share in the excitement. I even watched one friend run a 3:00:01 marathon - wow! How amazing!

After I left the race, I found a Dunkin Donuts (DC doesn't have DD - and I love their coffee so much), and just sat with my coffee and took it all in. I wrote "half no fear" on my card, and I really did my best to not be afraid of pushing and put it all there. There was no doubt in my mind that I put everything into that race. As I walked around town, with my cape around me, I received numerous congratulations from people - this city really supports its runners.

I took the bus back a few hours after, and even just sitting on the bus, my legs hurt. But it is that great kind of running hurt - a soreness that reminds you of what you've accomplished. And my medal says it all - the theme of the race was "Best time of your life," and not only did I run the best half marathon of my life, I just loved loved the whole experience: it was absolutely phenomenal.

Oh yeah, that running thing

2011-11-15T08:13:00.000-05:00

First of all, thank you everyone for such nice comments after my post on finishing comps. I am still relieved and so happy: floating on cloud 9. It's funny, typically after a marathon, the high lasts for about a week, but slowly things return back to normal (generally about the same time the soreness finally goes away!). This time around, it is over a week after the orals, and I am just relieved. As I said in the last post, it was the culmination of so many months of intensive work, and really, the result of all of my grad work so far. Of course, people keep asking "Now what?" Well, the next step is come up with a dissertation topic, write a proposal, and then spend years researching and writing. The next step is more uncertain, but it is all my own research, and my choices about what I get to read.
I had a meeting with one of my professors on Wednesday to discuss what I am going to read for the rest of the semester, and she said "Congratulation, you are now a grown up." Meaning that no longer will my professors dictate all of my reading, but I will be doing it myself. And we spent time picking out some good books to discuss in this next month - it is like going on a shopping spree! Nerdy, I know. And then that afternoon, I met with my advisor to discuss some potential topics. She said, "Look at you! What a transformation! Such relief!" And yes, I have been walking around more relaxed and happy than I have in...eons. And we chatted, and she (I am a TA for the undergrad class she teaches) on Friday observed me teach my section. Which that was nerve-wracking - not as bad as before comps, but again, for the second time this month, my advisor was watching me in action, as a teacher. Afterwards, she had some good feedback for me and we stood outside our department talking. And it felt almost as if we were talking colleague to colleague, not student to teacher. People say that that happens a little after PhD comps - that the faculty recognize that you have gotten over this big hurdle, and that you are just one step closer to being to their level. And while I still have years and years of work to do to get there, it is an assuring feeling to move up to that level.
But oh yeah, that running thing...(like how it even took me half a post to get to it?)
I did continue to run and train through comps, although as I've said before, my cross training was a bit half hearted. The past 2 weeks, with a little more time on my hands, I was able to take to the pool twice - wahoo! Both last Monday and Wednesday, I was able to do my 2000 yard swim. And it felt so great. I have actually made some good progress with my swimming. There have been a few times now when I've gotten my 2000 yards in under 45 minutes, which is great. It's taken about 10 months to get to this point, and it is pretty exciting. No triathlons any time soon, but it certainly has been good training for me.
When this semester ends, I look forward to having a little more time for some of the ancillary things that have fallen by the wayside. Like drills, more core work, plyometrics, etc. While I don't think I've suffered by not doing them, I know that adding them back in will help. I've recently recommitted to doing my IT band physical therapy exercises. It was this time last year that I first started having knee trouble. Things have been smooth since I had physical therapy at the New Year, but after the Boston Marathon, I stopped doing them. Rcently, I have gotten back in the habit of doing them. One, it helps just as a precaution to make sure that each leg individually is strong (all of the exercises are single leg). Two, they really challenge your sense of balance, which is really key to good running. After all, you are always just on one leg when you're running!
This morning, I did a 7.5 mile run with 6 x 400 thrown in - just to get a little turnover before Philadelphia. Sarah said to aim for between 1:36-1:38 - faster than race pace, but not so hard that I couldn't do it after Sunday's race. I think my excitement about both races translated well into some fast 400s: 1:35, 1:34, 1:32, 1:33, 1:33, 1:29! I was pretty excited - even though that is so short in comparison to the half, it is a bit faster too...
...And speaking of pace: I met with Sarah yesterday to rehash the 10k and plan for the half. Months ago, we thought 7:05 pace was a good goal pace. But after the half, we are moving it to 7:00 pace. She thinks that I can even push it in the final 5k and aim to go under 7:00 pace. The big thing is to get over the fear of going fast. These numbers may seem fast, but I am capable of doing running at that pace. No fear here! I kept over 100 books in my head for comps, I can keep 7 minute pace for a half marathon. And if that's the case, I'll be Phlying in Philly!