A Case of the Runs

Track Repeats, Repeated

2013-06-17T09:45:00.002-07:00

I have a 5K in a couple of weeks, and just as I realized a few months ago before said 5K was postponed, I'm nowhere close to the level of speediness that I would like. Why do I always come to this realization so close to race day?

I have only done three 5Ks, because I find them highly unpleasant. This is probably why I never joined Cross Country in high school -- well, that and feeling like death if I ran anything over 400 meters. The 5K distance is short enough to make me feel like running as fast as I can, but long enough so that I can't really sustain that kind of effort for very long. Then, it ends up hurting, in a way different than long distances, but hurting nonetheless.

At this point, ANY kind of speedwork would help my confidence, so I headed out to the track for the first time since January to do the same workout, 6 x 400 meter repeats with a walk/jog lap in between.

My goal this time was to hit 1:35 - 1:42. I have a very specific rationale for this time range, but I'll share that in a later post.

Laps (Jan /vs/ Jun)
1 - 1:48 / 1:26
2 - 1:45 / 1:39
3 - 1:46 / 1:39
4 - 1:39 / 1:39
5 - 1:35 / 1:36
6 - 1:38 / 1:36

Needless to say, I'm pretty pleased that I clearly did better than last time, in spite of running less and carrying around a bit more weight (working on that *grumble*) than that time. It's also pretty clear that I went out way too fast on the first lap -- my lungs were pooped, and I wondered how I'd get through the last five. By the last one, I felt like I was giving it what I had, only to have the same result as the lap before, when I felt I was slacking a little. I should add that "The Ukrainian" came along with me this time. At first I had to convince him to program his Garmin properly and not just "wing it," and by the end, I think he may have started to realize how much one can learn from doing drills like this. He's never really done anything like this and probably isn't used to full exertion over a short distance, so I generally ran faster than him -- unheard of. Having him there MAY have led me to push a bit more...

It's quite possible that the key to long distance goals is meeting short distance goals, so as much as I can, I am going to do more of these types of workouts.

Spirit of the Marathon II, Review

2013-06-13T08:44:00.003-07:00

In 2008, I saw Spirit of the Marathon and was SO pumped! At the time, I had only run one marathon and was training for my second.

My relationship with running these days is mixed. I have been in what I hope is just a "down" period, in which I've been running one or two times a week, tops, 3-5 miles. When I do run, I still enjoy it, but long runs are fairly out of my interest at the moment, as if my body is following a "when the going gets tough, forget it" mantra. Hmmm.

However, I keep hoping my "high" will come, maybe once I get used to being out of the home 13 hours a day commuting to work+working (though at least includes exactly 1 hr and 20 minutes to work out + shower + prep).

I was able to view the sequel yesterday, courtesy of Fathom Events (thank you!!). Even though getting to this movie on time required me to shorten my total workout + shower + prep time to about 1 hour flat, I ran just over 4 miles on the treadmill so that I wouldn't be attending a movie about running without having done said activity.

Review:

The movie started right on time (no previews, etc.), which was great, because I barely got there on time anyway. The opening scene involved stunning shots of Rome right before their 2012 marathon was beginning -- the view of the Coliseum, seeing runners in the corrals, all the anxious running shoes shuffling on the ground... yeah, it apparently gave "The Ukrainian" a chill, reminding him of the "nervous excitement" he gets right before the start of a race.

Without giving too much away, this sequel covers the stories of some interesting people:

- an Italian pizzeria owner who is a seasoned marathon runner

- a 72-year-old marathoner, cousin of the pizzeria owner

- a first-time marathoner, mom, and co-owner of an Italian running store

- Julie Weiss, who ran 52 marathons in 52 weeks: I actually met her at an LA Marathon training run a few months ago... she's just as energetic in real life!

- a retired cross-country coach

- an elite female runner from Rwanda

- an elite Ukrainian(!) runner/Olympic hopeful

Like in the first movie, there are guest appearances by greats like Hal Higdon, Paula Radcliffe, Jeff Galloway, Bill Rodgers, etc. There was some talk about the increase in women in marathoning, including how they broke into the sport, etc. Those who saw the first movie will probably feel some deja vu, but luckily, it's brief.

The Rome Marathon seems really awesome (though really warm!!)!

You will definitely feel inspired to run after watching this movie, seeing people at different skill levels with different life circumstances come together for a really awesome athletic event. There were different touching moments and a broader world-view that I feel makes this sequel surpass the original.

Trailing the movie was a 10-minute short called This Water is Beautiful, in which Josh Cox shared why he runs for team World Vision. This definitely was a way to feed off of the inspiration of the main film and get people to run for a cause!

As for the effect the film had on me, well, I have already been working on getting back out there again, ever since National Running Day last week. Plus, since I'm at a new job, everyone knows me as the marathoner -- so, as much as I can, I have to keep trying, right?!

For more information on the film, please visit:
www.marathonmovie.com

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FTC Disclaimer: I was provided passes to view Spirit of the Marathon II but was not otherwise compensated to write a positive review.

Adidas Crazyquick Running Shoe

2013-06-10T11:22:00.000-07:00

Due to flat feet and other issues, I need to wear stability (or motion control, ideally) shoes when I run, and while I have found one that is relatively light, it does have some clunkiness when I'm using them during shorter runs or other workouts.

Perhaps that's because I need a different shoe for short runs and other exercises, so I was glad to try the Adidas Crazyquick Running Shoe, which became available on June 1.

From their PR:

"Crazyquick features a never before possible, skin-like fit with a stretchy Techfit upper that provides the most natural run. The Techfit stretches in areas where your foot needs extra flexibility and the Aquatech print provides support exactly where it’s needed. The outsole is split down the middle allowing for quicker horizontal movements."

First of all, love the color of the shoe (it comes in a few colors, too)! I don't get to wear colorful shoes very often, and it really just puts an extra pep in my step just to see how awesome these look.

More importantly, how do they feel? In a word (and a qualifier), quite comfortable. I was concerned that these don't come in wide-widths, but it is flexible enough to accommodate the (weird) shape of my foot without being squishy. I also didn't feel any huge chunk of shoe under my "lack-of-arch," which often bothers me during anything I do that's not running.

As expected, the shoes are light and make me feel fast. I often feel so clunky in athletic shoes, most likely because my feet themselves are a bit clunky. However, these give me flexibility in my step and don't make me feel like I have bricks tied to my feet.

While I can't really see myself wearing these on long runs, they are definitely better for quick movements, like when I do Insanity, or when I'm going for a brief run. They also aren't bad for wearing when I go out! Hah, maybe I'm becoming one of *those* people who uses exercise outfits as street outfits, lol.

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FTC Disclaimer: I was sent a pair of these shoes to review but was not otherwise compensated to provide a particular type of opinion.

National Running Day - Giveaway

2013-06-05T08:40:00.002-07:00

UPDATE, 6/10/13 --

Giveaway is over, and the winner is #2, Stu! I'll message you with the code.

Keepin' it real here: There didn't seem to be a lot of entries for this one, though I did check other blogs with similar giveaways with that similar issue. Believe it or not, I actually pass up on a lot of giveaway and review opportunities... mostly because I'm busy but also because I try to only host giveaways that interest my target audience, so... noted for the future!

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Happy National Running Day!

Looking back, I've actually hosted a giveaway on this runners' "holiday" before. I've even done something new and different on this day before.

So today, I decided to do both of these things again. It has been quite a while since I've actually run during a morning workout. Something about the one-hour commute to the gym/work really sucks something out of you, ya' know? But on this June day with the gloomy clouds in the sky, forgiving me for not putting on sunscreen yet, I took my pepper spray and went for a run... in Downtown, LA.

This run was nothing ambitious -- hills, stairs, and traffic lights probably didn't allow me to fit in much during my 45-minute jaunt, but it just felt good to be running recreationally and seeing some of my favorite Downtown sights -- my relative's restaurant, all the big offices, bars, fancy restaurants, etc. I ran by businesspeople, commuters, homeless people, tourists, police officers, but sadly, not really many other runners. Hmmmm.

I was SO good that I followed up the run with a hit of protein powder (after showering and getting suited up for work, of course).

Now, the part that you've been waiting for... the giveaway. I have a free entry code (one time for any open heat in the continental U.S.) for the Spartan Race, which "is on a mission to get you active, healthy, excited about change, and return to our ancient roots where running through woods, getting dirty, and facing adversity was part of everyday life." Definitely something new and different, for those of you who haven't tried these races.

The Spartan Race hosts different types of events across the country:

To enter, just leave a comment below! Leave a second comment if you share this giveaway on your blog or other social media (with a link to the share). Max two entries per person, please!

I will draw a winner at random on Monday, June 10th at 12 PM PST!

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FTC Disclaimer: I was sent a complimentary race code but was not otherwise compensated to provide any particular type of opinion on the Spartan Race.

Larabar ALT Bars

2013-06-04T13:47:00.000-07:00

On my never-ending quest to try energy/meal replacement bars, I was excited when the folks at Larabar sent me their new ALT line of bars.

These ALT bars contain 10 grams of protein in about 240 calories, much of which is pea protein. This is good for people who are avoiding getting vegan protein through soy products.

The four flavors I tried were Cinnamon Apple, Lemon Pound Cake, Peanut Butter Cookie, and Pumpkin Pie. All of them were delicious (particularly the peanut butter one)!

Here is a texture shot. As you can see, it resembles regular Larabars (reviewed here). It still contains dates and nuts. The difference comes when you take a bite -- it's actually slightly crunchy, probably from the peas. Don't worry, you can't taste peas at all (and even if I could, I love peas, so hmmm). I feel like the addition of peas actually cut down on the overall sticky-sweet taste that regular Larabars can have.

Also, I actually prefer this texture more than the regular Larabars. Plus, they are more filling, due to the protein.

Definitely give these a try!!

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FTC Disclaimer: I was sent a sample of these products to review but was not otherwise compensated to provide a positive review.

The Seven-Minute New York Times Magazine Workout

2013-05-31T14:30:00.003-07:00

I'm sure many of you have heard of a recent New York Times Magazine article about a seven-minute workout that claims to "prolong endurance."

From the article: "...it fulfills the latest mandates for high-intensity effort, which essentially combines a long run and a visit to the weight room into about seven minutes of steady discomfort."

You'll need a mat and a sturdy chair for this workout. I had a wall and staircase near me, which I used instead of a chair. The seven minutes consists of 12 moves, each done for 30 seconds with a 10-second break. The break is just long enough to prepare for the next movement. Along with proper form, you should be aiming for 80% intensity/discomfort.

To make things easier, Lifehacker actually made a neat iPhone app for it (here's a web version).

So I tried this workout, six times. In a row (that's about 42 minutes, maybe a touch more). I wanted to do one more, but as I may have mentioned on here, I don't have a lot of time to work out these days, so I couldn't fit in another second. And frankly, I was getting a little bored of repeating 12 moves over and over.

The workout overall is not too strenuous on the joints yet kept my heart rate steadily up and made me sweat. It's definitely challenging, particularly for beginners -- consider how difficult it can be to do "rotating push-ups." By about the third go-around, doing push-ups for 30 seconds was an effort for sure.

I definitely feel like most of my major muscle groups were hit in this workout. The distribution of upper body, lower body, and core was pretty even. There is a little cardio thrown in, as well.

Do I think this will improve my endurance? No... but maybe because I'm an Insanity gal. I was never winded, though it did get difficult in the "holding" moves (wall sit, plank, side plank, etc.) after a while. Also, if I had to guess (because my heart rate monitor is currently out of batteries), I think I may have burned about 300 (most likely fewer) calories doing this workout -- again, pushing to 80% effort. So while this is a good thing to do to target muscles and make yourself more "even," I don't see this as a miracle weight-loss workout or anything. This isn't what it's claiming to be, though.

But seven minutes is definitely accessible to most people, and because you don't really need equipment, it's do-able in most places. You could easily add this to your current routine and feel good that you've trained muscles that you may normally overlook.

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Link: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/09/the-scientific-7-minute-workout/?ref=magazine

PROBAR CORE Protein, FUEL Bar, and BOLT Energy Chews

2013-05-28T06:45:00.000-07:00

I recently received a generous amount of samples from PROBAR, featuring some of their newest products.

The first were these chews, a USDA Organic energy chew called "BOLT." BOLT comes with 10 easy-to-digest organic gummies for quick energy; they are high in Vitamin B, caffeinated with organic yerba mate, use all-natural sugars (agave & tapioca), and are flavored with organic acai, pomegranate, and blueberry powders. They come in at around 90 calories/serving. I was eating these during the marathon this past weekend (the orange one), and they were very tasty (and portable)!

Up next are these FUEL bars, which are fruity and contain chia seeds for hydration. These contain around 140 calories each and are good for healthy snacking!

Finally, the protein bars: CORE, which is their gluten-free, Non-GMO, vegan protein bar, packs 20g of protein, a chia & flax seed blend, 100% plant-based ingredients. It comes in four flavors (cookie dough, mint chocolate, brownie crisp, and peanut butter chocolate). CORE has a dairy-free chocolate coating. It's a bit high in calories (~290), but it's similar to the Clif Builder's bars that I like in terms of protein content. I think PROBAR's actually tastes a lot better, though...

So the kicker is, I gave my Powerbar-eating boss a sample of each, and she gobbled them up astonishingly quickly. Given that these are much more natural, I feel like I've done a good deed!

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FTC Disclaimer: I was provided samples of these products but was not otherwise compensated to provide a positive opinion.

Mountains 2 Beach Marathon

2013-05-27T13:47:00.003-07:00

EVENT: Mountains 2 Beach Marathon
DATE: Sunday, May 26, 2013
LOCATION: Ojai/Ventura, CA
RACE BEGAN: 6:10 am
FINISH TIME: 04:42:30

The short version:
I came in pretty much exactly 20 minutes slower than last year (the race used to be called "Ojai 2 Ocean" but was renamed this year.

The long version:

I signed up for this race because "The Ukrainian" wanted to, and I did fairly well last year. However, after LA Marathon two months ago, I've run a handful of times, maybe five. One was a 5-miler -- I was tired but consistent. Then, a 12-miler, which was tough due to heat, and I spent the last two miles feeling like I was needlessly torturing myself. A week later, I attempted to repeat this 12-miler, but halfway into it, I decided that I was suddenly "done" with running and that there is no reason for me to keep wasting my time and money on something I no longer enjoyed. "The Ukrainian" and I walked the rest of the way home.

Race day kind of crept up on us. My stomach was still kind of iffy from some food I had the Friday before. I only ate a third of this stuff, and although it was delicious, I remembered the reason I don't eat heavy curries.

I spent most of Saturday resting. By the time we headed to Ventura to pick up our bibs, traffic became horrendous, so by the time we settled, it was nearing dinnertime -- at least, the ideal time to dine for people who need to wake up at 3:00 AM the next morning.

The expo was small but bigger than last year's. Clif was the title sponsor of the race, which is pretty unheard of, and they even had a sample booth (albeit a truncated version) at the expo.

For dinner, we went to The Habit grill, which is pretty much a fast-food joint. The veggie burger that I got was pretty huge, but down the hatch it went, along with about a third of those fries.

In the morning, we walked to our shuttle, which was supposed to depart at 4:00 AM, but the buses were actually quite bustling by 3:45, so we were on our way even sooner. We waited nearly two hours at the high school, and I crouched on a curb after using the port-a-potty while the crowds were still thin. My lower back was quite unhappy with that. See, my lower back is starting to feel the effects of me no longer being 21, so lately, any deviation from normal posture sets it off.

#BostonStrong headband from my sister.

About five minutes before the race began, my stomach suddenly rebelled, but it was too late. We started about ten minutes late to accommodate those still waiting in line for the restrooms. A few minutes in, my Garmin reset itself due to being "full," so I had to delete and restart it while running. I was using my Garmin to utilize my "run 8/walk 1" Galloway-esque strategy, the same one I used the year before and in two other marathons was decent results (i.e., lack of pulling muscles).

The course is a gradual downhill, so up until Mile 14 or so, I wasn't even feeling tired nor ache-y. I kept thinking to myself that if I could just keep this up, this marathon that I did not train for wouldn't be so bad after all. Somewhere between Mile 15-16 or so, it felt like a whole different race -- suddenly, I felt tired and ache-y, even though I was fueling -- and about a mile past a course restroom, my stomach decided to, um, feel a terrible sense of urgency. It was so bad that I started walking and was trying to scope an area... and by that, I mean a bush. But being without toilet paper deterred me from the idea, and maybe 6 minutes later, I was able to shuffle around again.

Meanwhile, there had pretty much been no cloud cover that morning, so the heat was starting to become a real issue, which is why I was being careful with my hydration and electrolytes. But frankly, the lack of training was kicking me in the butt. I was being very conservative, backing off each time my legs got tight so I wouldn't cramp/twitch, which would inevitably result in pulling a muscle.

Those last few miles were as long as I remember from last year. I had no idea how much time had elapsed, assuming I was close to 5 hours, even. Once I reached the final turn-around, I started running, passing people who had passed me maybe 6 miles ago. I saw the 4:40 pacer and was surprised, so I kept going until I saw "The Ukrainian" cheering from the side during that last quarter of a mile. I kept going, passed the 4:40 pacer, and at the very least, had a satisfying finish because I wasn't limping or walking.

My final time was 4:42 (the 4:40 pacer had started in a wave behind me, apparently), which is sadly better than my LA Marathon time when I had actually trained.

As for the aftermath, I don't think I've ever been as hurt/sore after a marathon before, and if you're keeping track, this was my 14th one. I'm pretty sure I'm going to lose a toenail or two, and I definitely worry about running around between train stops tomorrow.

I'm not really signed up for anything else this year, besides a 5K that was supposed to take place in February but was postponed until July. Part of the reason is that we're going on a big trip at the end of the year, hoping to buy a home, etc., so race fees and miscellaneous travel expenses need to be cut. Also, I am kind of having this "been there, done that" feeling when it comes to local races. I'm hoping to do #15 early next year -- just so that if I do end up taking a break from marathoning (I will still sign up for shorter distances), I will be able to say I've done 15 instead of 14. Maybe if I take a break, I will start missing it and will come back stronger than ever.

One can hope.

Lucy Pack N Dash Ultimate Tank and Capris

2013-05-24T09:47:00.001-07:00

Hi, everyone! Apologies to anyone who is offended by my lack of posting. ;)

I will admit that my schedule has limited my social media and blogging presence, though I think the deeper cause was that I just didn't have anything interesting to share.

I recently was able to review a couple of items from Lucy's activewear, particularly their "pack n dash" line. I have heard of the Lucy brand and seen a couple of stores in some malls, but this is my first time seeing their items up close.

The "pack n dash" line is for runners and comes with all sorts of interesting features for them -- holes in the front of the tank for easy bib-pinning. In addition, the tank is adjustable (see the draw-strings) and comes with three pockets in the back (for gels and the like).

The capris have three pockets -- one on each thigh (sort of like jeans), and a zippered one in the back. It also has these sort of belt-like loops that will help keep a belt pack (like an iFitness belt!). The calf part is kind of tight on my calves, though, due to the material. Maybe it's my naturally large calves or the stiff material, but it was a little uncomfortable there, and also in the crotch area (haha). Stretchier, softer materials are usually my preference. Plus, I found the article itself to be a bit heavy, though I imagine that makes it really sturdy!

Overall, these are stylish and quality pieces of clothing that are probably great for most runners. I find the fabric a little thick for my liking (I tend to overheat easily), but I'd definitely wear them for less intense workouts, shorter runs, or even for fashion, lol.

And with that... I'm running a marathon this weekend -- raw, unmotivated, and rather undertrained. Expect to see me back here pretty soon!

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FTC Disclaimer: I was sent these items for review but was not otherwise compensated to provide any particular type of review.

Aftershokz Sports Headphones

2013-05-07T17:13:00.000-07:00

Ever feel like you're doing yourself a disservice by running with earphones on? With all the dangers of running outdoors, I don't turn up my headphones too loudly, but I still worry about plugging sound out from my ear(s). If not for safety, then for the sake of the cilia in my ears...

I was sent these headphones to review, which are different in that they don't actually go inside your ear.

From their representative: "Instead of traditional headphones that cover the ears and earbuds that nest inside ear canals, AfterShokz’s ultra lightweight and durable wraparound headband stays securely in place during rigorous sweat sessions and is equipped with transducers that rest outside the ears to send sound via little vibrations that travel from the cheekbones to the inner ears (bypassing the eardrums completely). An in-line control box offers complete functionality so users can keep mobile devices safely tucked away during activity—power the unit on/off, adjust volume levels, play/pause/advance music and make/take phone calls seamlessly."

Here's what they look like, nestled under my unkempt hair.

The unit stays on because it wraps around the back of your head and hooks atop your ears. I haven't had any problems with this, and it even has a mic!

The packaging... it comes with a case!

This is definitely not for train commutes, though... I like plugging my ears up from any and all sounds on there (although I probably shouldn't!).

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FTC Disclaimer: I was sent a review unit of Aftershokz and was not otherwise compensated for providing any particular type of opinion.http://www.aftershokz.com/

Permission

2013-04-24T11:00:00.002-07:00

I think I’m in a rut, a really long rut. I have been in a rut for so long that I’m not even sure it can be called a “rut” anymore. While I’m at it, “rut” is a weird word when used so many times in a paragraph, isn’t it?

In particular, I’m in a running rut ( < < see, weird word.)

I’m not sure when it started, but I think a couple of events were catalysts to it. The first was training for the Santa Barbara International Marathon with the intention to come in at or around four hours. I used a training program and stuck with it better than I had stuck to programs in the past, only to experience not one, but two, full-on cramps sometime in the second half of the race. I had some better performances in the next two marathons after that, training not nearly as much and using a run/walk strategy. However, that strategy failed me during my most recent marathon, which actually involved me properly training. Sadly, my frustration with that Santa Barbara performance was probably the early part of my downfall.

The second catalyst – moving out on my own. Ironically, I moved into an active community, but I was much more dedicated to my long runs when I lived in a neighborhood that wasn’t active and could get a touch sketchy. Part of this was because it took a while for me to discover the local paths, and I’m sure the second part of it had to do with the fact that I was enjoying my newfound freedom, including the freedom to sleep in, and exercise/eat on an unstructured schedule. While I’d still run, the mileage decreased – partly due to my Santa Barbara results and partly because I had a lot of races that were like forced long runs for which I had to rest/taper. I’d say that these results of these races were generally pretty good to mediocre. Then, I started doing Insanity (and other videos) and found that it seemed to get me just as fit in a fraction of the time. Summer came, and I started running even less, due to the heat that didn’t let up until around my wedding.

During the last week or so before the wedding, I (along with the other 25% of my building) was told that my job at work was being eliminated. I was told that I took the news really well – too well. I was so embarrassed that for a long time, I didn’t tell anyone about this except my soon-to-be husband, at the time. Also, I didn’t want people to pity me during a time that’s supposed to be joyful. So, that day when they sent me home early to “deal with it,” the first thing I did after people-watching at the mall was put on my gear and run. The first song that came on my iPod was “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson.

I’ve still been running several times a week, though lately, perhaps because I’m in heels all day at my new job or because I’m hiking through train stations and hills to get to and from it, my legs have been heavy and stiff a lot. Rather than keep pushing through that, I am finally giving myself permission to do other exercises, maybe even to take it easy for a bit. With all the changes over the past few months – marriage, new job/routine, future planning, etc., I have been working out just as hard from the get-go, and I think that was a mistake, when my schedule now literally comes down to minute-by-minute most of the time. Meanwhile, I’ve been eating out of stress, and my gut is paying the consequences.

I will always love running and will definitely continue to do so, as my marathon is coming up next month. The lack of “Upcoming” races on my sidebar is somewhat disturbing to me, but I’m convincing myself that I’ve just “been around” the local races and am a bit in penny-pinching mode. I’m giving myself permission to just go with the flow and stop being obsessed about “having it all,” because I can’t.

I can’t expect to have the same gusto for running that I did when I completed my first marathon at 21 years old, now that I’m 28 and have marathon #14 ahead of me.

When I found my new job, I set a goal to remain for five years. Yes, I've been in the real workforce for seven years and have held four? five? jobs. However, I can’t expect that I’m going to have some great career, no matter how much I think I “deserve” one after everything I put into my education; after all, I do want children, and I don’t think those things would be compatible for some time.

I can't keep stressing out over the fact that we can't really afford the type of home in the type of place in which we would like to live, even if this is another thing I felt like we "deserved" because we have stellar credit, saving ethic, and have put a lot into our jobs. The market is a bit cut-throat and oversaturated (ahem, with foreigners wiring cash/carrying suitcases full of it, cough), so I have to grit and bear the smell of dog urine and the noise of neighbors at my apartment complex for a bit longer.

I can’t wish for better relationships with friends and family, and while there is always more I can do, perhaps love is truly unconditional. And the ones who are meant to be by your side are the ones who are willingly, well, there.

I can’t be perfect, whatever that means. I want my fries and sleep sometimes, and maybe I don’t want to be great company all the time. I will do what I can and enjoy, knowing that sometimes, going the extra mile isn’t quite worth it.

And if that’s a rut, then well… here I am.

Watching Boston Marathon

2013-04-15T15:11:00.002-07:00

It was just a few days ago that I wrote this post, as my sister was getting ready to head to Boston for the marathon. Once the tracker said she finished, I moved away from my phone, only to find out later that there was some sort of attack at the finish line. I had a huge sinking feeling but knew that I wouldn't find out anything until my sister was able to get to her phone/a computer, so I waited.

Thankfully, she, and other family members who had traveled with her, is/are fine. Yet I still have this deep feeling of sadness for everyone -- runners, spectators, volunteers -- whose days were pretty badly dinged by this incident.

Why someone would want to hurt people while they are in the middle of accomplishing a dream, an athletic feat, is beyond me. Then again, why someone would want to hurt innocents at any time is always beyond me.

Some people out there today didn't get to finish their dream marathon. Others might never get to run in the same way again.

Marathoners, and the running community at-large, can sometimes be competitive and rude in starting corrals, but in times like these, they are some of the most compassionate flocks out there.

Review: Itzy Ritzy - Wet Happened? Bag

2013-04-14T18:12:00.003-07:00

Where do you store your smelly gym clothes when you're on the go?

My sister reviewed this bag a while back, though at the time, I was pretty happy just stuffing my "used" gym clothes in plastic bags until I got home and then airing out the bag before re-use (yes, I re-use things to the point of no return, including plastic bags).

Now that I commute by train to the gym daily, I have decided that plastic bags aren't really the best storage anymore. What if sweat leaks into my giant turtle-shell of a backpack? What if it smells terrible? All legitimate concerns, right?

So I "splurged" on Amazon for this bag (they come in different sizes), and I've been using it for a month and a half.

My sweaty gym clothes go right in there, and after a couple of weeks, I usually throw it in the wash. However, I've noticed it does not accumulate odors over time. So far, I haven't experienced any leaks, smelled anything bad, or had really any issue with it whatsoever... and... it's environmental.

Supposedly, this will even keep on-the-go diapers contained... not like that's pertinent at this point, unless I wind up taking my niece out somewhere.

I intend to use this for bathing suits and other such "wet" things, and I know it will work well. No more plastic bags for me! I may get the snack-sized bags....

Going to Boston

2013-04-11T19:34:00.000-07:00

Not me, of course... but my sister, M.

I was going to write this post next week, thinking that the Boston Marathon was next weekend. However, it was brought to my attention that it was THIS weekend.... shows how much time (i.e., little) I have these days.

This is me, in Boston, this past June. I even ran around the Logan airport so that I could say that I "ran in Boston."

Back in the day, M and I had finishing times that were in the same realm. She was the one who encouraged me to start running races in the first place, after I had spectated quite a few of hers.

Our first half-marathon!! (circa 2006)

After doing it enough times, we both learned about running and training, and we both started improving. Well... I improved somewhat, but she totally had her eyes on the Boston "prize." To me, it seemed totally out of the realm of possibility for most people, but she has proven that enough dedication can get you there. She BQ-ed at Ojai2Ocean last year (though I never updated my post to say that she actually did BQ, as it was uncertain at that time).

While not all of us will get to that start line, I'm sure we all have that "Boston" goal in our lives. At one point, that goal was running a half-marathon... a marathon... finishing school... etc.

To follow along her Boston journey, go over to her blog!

Pro Compression Socks Review

2013-04-10T15:41:00.000-07:00

I purchased these (on Active GearUp) for $25, which is half of the conventional price. Having seen a lot of buzz about this brand, I decided to get a neon green pair. If you’re new here, green is my favorite color (even if I have to settle for neon shades of it). I used to have a green cell phone and laptop, but these days you can still see me with a green iPod case, Nalgene bottle, and commuter tote bag.

As you can see, I wore them to LA Marathon (to go with the St. Patty’s Day “green” theme). It was not my first time wearing them, as I had done a few training runs in them.

I like the tightness, which is very similar to CEP’s (the Zensah argyle one I have is not nearly as tight, though I still use it). What I don’t really like is that it seems way too long for my calf. I have to fold the top seam down, and then pull it over my knee when I get tired of that. I think this may had adversely affected my calf during LA Marathon, but I will never know for sure.

Overall, I do like these, though I think I will be using them for recovery from now on due the the length issue.

Catching Up (I'm a Horrible Blogger)

2013-04-06T15:37:00.001-07:00

It appears that I have not been keeping up here as much as I’d like. This is not really like me at all, so shoot.

Blogging:

Since the marathon, I’ve been totally, as they say, “flying by the seat of my pants,” and I generally don’t fire up the computer at home anymore. The downside of me finally having a smartphone is that it has eliminated the need to use computers as much.

Workouts:

Despite the schedule, I’ve managed to keep up with my fitness routine. Besides the extra movement I get from all the walking between transit lines and during the mandatory hour-long lunch, I’ve been doing a little Insanity, elliptical trainer, weights (mostly of the upper-body nature), and running 3-4 days a week, usually for about 40-50 minutes. Yes, I’ve been running by time now, as I only have 55 minutes of gym time (yes, it’s that calculated) – plus, I usually opt for an indoor track over the treadmill. Said indoor track requires 14.5 laps/mi, and the air is pretty stale for most of the lap, though still more bearable than the treadmill for some reason. Also, for the most part, I’ve been working out Saturday and Sunday if time allows. One would think that all this activity has made me into a super-ripped person, but in order to keep up with everything, I think my lunches and dinners have grown in volume, and not always nutritious volume.

As you can see on my sidebar, I have another marathon next month. Actually, it’s more like two months away, but it IS technically in the next calendar month. I’m not going to worry for a couple more weeks, when I assume the fitness I got from training for/running LA Marathon has faded.

Bread:

I randomly decided to make this bread recipe from Jacques Pepin, and I must say, it was pretty easy (albeit a bit long, waiting for rising)!

Other:

“The Ukrainian” and I have also been pretty busy with “project get out of apartment.” Although I have to wake up pretty early now, the lead-footed folks upstairs always seem to wake up even earlier, weekends included, vacuums included.

Birthday:

I haven’t really been out of town since November, when we went on our honeymoon. Summer is going to be super-busy at work, and my new-employee status means no vacations until Fall. Thankfully, I get a day off for my birthday, so we have a little getaway planned in a couple of weeks. On a related note, I remember feeling “old” when I was in my early 20s… looking back, I have no idea why I ever thought that. About to hit 28, married, calling a day off a “getaway,” getting excited about bread and monetary paperwork… yeah, now I really feel old. I’m sure I’ll take that back in the future, though.

Random cat photo!

Los Angeles Marathon 2013

2013-03-18T19:59:00.000-07:00

EVENT: Los Angeles Marathon XXVIII
DATE: Sunday, March 17, 2013
LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA
RACE BEGAN: 7:30 AM
FINISH TIME: 04:49:45

Since I've done this race six times now (this entry, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, and 2007... whew!!), I am going to reflect rather than talk about course details, which you can catch... maybe... in my past recaps.

Compared to last year's solid finish in this race, I am pretty disappointed with my performance in the LA Marathon this year -- particularly because I had actually been putting in some legitimate training. I can't really pinpoint what happened -- recent illnesses, new routines, etc.? -- but when it comes to races, it sometimes just comes down to random little things that can negate weeks of training.

Or, I guess it was an unlucky 13(th marathon) for me.

First of all, I guess I was out of it. Even after having this photo snapped of me at the expo, I failed to notice that I was not in a seeded corral, like I had in previous years. Had I noticed "The Ukrainian"'s bib number, I would have seen that he had a letter in front of his number.

So on race morning, while I was shivering at Dodger Stadium, waiting for the race to start, I became agitated with the fact that I'd be starting in the general corral... even more agitated when I overheard people whose previous marathon times were slower than mine. I used my Ojai time (4:22), registered within the first hour that the race registration opened, and definitely felt I was within the top 10,000 times to qualify for a corral. I concluded that they messed up, but I am at fault for not noticing this at the expo.

Anyway, that kind of started my morning off on the wrong foot, so to speak, and as expected, the starting area was very hectic. Still, I only had to wait six minutes to cross the start line, dodging a bunch of people like expected. The weather forecasts had stated that there'd be a marine layer, but it broke up early, and I was definitely sweating a lot in the first half. It was kind of muggy.

I was using my walk/run strategy (a variant of Galloway) that has already worked twice for me, but even in the first half, I felt like the miles were going slowly, I was tiring quickly, and my legs were a bit tight. I was drinking a lot to offset this -- water and sports drink that I was carrying. Still, I thought things were going pretty well until after Mile 20, as most runners probably experience. I was spent by then.

I was smiling at this finish-line shot, somehow. Check out my green-ish St. Patty's Day socks.

Around Mile 22, while I was dragging, my calf seized up all of a sudden -- no warning twitch, no nothing. Trying to prevent pulling it completely, I stopped in my tracks and calmly massaged my calf. The bulging muscle subsided and then swelled again. I waited until it completely stopped before attempting to move over to the side, where it started happening again. Luckily, I was able to prevent what surely would have been a limpy ending. I credit my not freaking out.

However, I couldn't run anymore. Every time I tried, I felt I was about to pull something, so I had the frustrating task of walking the last four miles as quickly as I could. The last two times I used the run/walk method, I was able to keep myself from this fate, so I don't really know what happened this time. As I approached the end, I couldn't even run in front of all those spectators without worrying about injuring myself in front of everyone. I did manage to kind of run the last .05 mi or so (only because I was desperate to break 4:50), but it was really disappointing to finish this way.

Given that my next marathon is in two months, I am not letting this less-than-ideal result bother me too much. I think I've become accustomed to things not going as planned, and since I just started a new job, I am reminded of how amazing people think marathoning is, regardless of finish time. Not like I'm trying to be complacent, though!

Plus, I really love LA Marathon, regardless of the somewhat painful logistics and tough course. People from all walks of life seemingly come out to run or cheer, and on-course aid is so, so plentiful. Plus, I love LA in general, for things like these:

Red Velvet pancakes from The Buttermilk Truck, which had alluded me for years.

Angel City Brewery beer flight.

As for my journey to my next marathon... that hasn't been fully decided yet. To be continued, I guess.

How to Set Yourself Up for (Marathon) Failure

2013-03-16T09:39:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to the LA Marathon, which is ~~less than a week away~~ tomorrow (took too long to get this post live, so hmmm)! Having skipped my last long run last weekend, I definitely have some anxiety.

I don't know how tomorrow will go. I feel like I've been on a "how to fail" marathon regimen, going something like this:

1) Get sick for 50% of the month before the race.

The first was a cold that I caught on the subway... the second from "The Ukrainian" two weeks later. Awful, awful. Although I'm mostly well now, I don't know if my lungs sustained any "permanent damage." In addition, and maybe unrelated, my skin has been incredibly dry lately... even with lotion.

Same with my lips, but there's these cute cake-flavored Chapsticks for that. I have to be careful with new lip products due to random allergic reactions I can get, but this one seems to be fine (as well as calorie-free, ha ha). I was sent this party kit with it, which I'm hoping to utilize at some point when I'm less busy and more healthy. Mmmm, cupcakes.

ChapStick® Velvet Cupcake and Cake Batter varieties are available now until approximately March 31^st exclusively at Wal-Mart, CVS and Walgreens nationwide.

2) Start a new job, new routine, and then endure daylight savings time to boot.

My routine results in swollen feet and legs daily, along with less sleep. (Does anyone have any recommendations for comfy heel-ish work shoes that come in wide-widths that don't look hideous??) However, I do enjoy the new gig and am looking forward to all of its challenges. Everything definitely seems more rushed now, and I've definitely been falling behind on all things blogging.... but hopefully, that will pass.

3) Cut exercise time.

Okay, so I did do a 17.5-miler, a couple of 12.5s, and a 20, so maybe this can be called "tapering." My new schedule results in less workout time, though I have spent the majority of those times running (3-4 mi) and such.

4) Obsess about other things besides running.

"The Ukrainian" and I decided to finally do something we've wanted to do for a while, which is start an herb garden on our balcony. Since I took so long to write this post, I will say that we did get some growth and will be transferring the little guys to their new "beds" when we're supposed to be carbo-loading.

Racing used to be something my life would work around, but it seems as though I now just plug it in wherever it will fit. My race schedule is definitely barren this year... although on my side bar, check out my next marathon coming in.... aggh... two months?!

Be back soon with a race report!

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FTC Disclaimer: I was sent a sample of Chapstick and was not compensated to provide a positive opinion.

Stupid Smarch Weather

2013-02-28T17:01:00.000-08:00

February is a naturally short month, but it really did seem to fly by more quickly than usual this year. The majority of this month was cold (by California standards), but as it's ending, it feels like early summer outside.

Homer: "Stupid Smarch weather!"

"The Ukrainian" and I have been pretty busy getting his old unit rented, filing taxes, and other boring things. Additionally, we've been training for LA Marathon, which is just a few weeks away! We did a 12.5, 17.5, and 20-miler so far, which puts me way ahead of my training patterns over the past year or so, sadly. Other than that, I've been running some 3-5 milers a couple of times a week and workout videos. In a totally uncharacteristic move, I actually attended an official LA Marathon training run and had a good time running with like-minded folks!

Near the end of the month, my sister got married! She's the oldest of us sisters, so now everything feels more sequential now that the eldest three are married. Her wedding and reception had a "Princess Bride" theme. I've said this before, but the best part about having a bunch of sisters is the new brothers-in-law that I'm getting... Okay, so that's not the best part, but it's fun nonetheless.

My niece (the littlest girly munchkin in the pic) is a party animal!

Finally, might as well spill that I'm starting a new job on Monday. February has been a month of transitioning off of the old job, which made it kind of unpleasant. I'm tentatively going to be taking the train to the new office, and I'm also going to have to join a gym and start going regularly again since I won't be able to work out at home as often. This will result in me being at home a lot less often, though I will do my best to keep up with the blog.

I'm hoping March will be a little more laid back, besides the new routine adjustments. =)

Walnut "Cheese" Spread

2013-02-25T05:29:00.000-08:00

I recently had the opportunity to participate in a California Walnuts "virtual dinner party" and found this wonderful Walnut "Cheese" recipe from chef Aida Mollencamp.

This is actually a wonderful recipe, because it leads to a tangy, cheese-like spread that is dairy-free!

Everything basically gets whirled together in the food processor, so it really couldn't be easier. I had everything on hand, even the walnuts (although I was sent more walnuts to work with).

The toughest part of this recipe is planning ahead the 12 hours that it takes to soak the walnuts in water. I ended up soaking mine for nearly 24 hours, simply because of my schedule. I'm not sure if it really needed 12 full hours... maybe there is something that can be done to decrease the soak time?? I also found the smell of soaked walnuts wasn't exactly pleasant at first, though it doesn't affect the end product.

However, I did realize much later that the canola oil I used was rancid... don't do as I do. Otherwise, it's quite good! Had to make it again.

Once the soaking is done, the recipe comes together in a matter of minutes! I find that the miso adds enough salty flavor, so only add salt after you've tasted it.

Here's the completed spread. Although there are options to do so, I did not make it into any variations (e.g., cheese log), because I normally like to eat things out of a tub. =)

This really does taste good on crackers, raw veggies, or mini pita bread.

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FTC Disclaimer: I was sent a sample of California Walnuts to try but was not compensated to provide a positive review for those or any of their chefs' work.

LA Chinatown Firecracker 30 mi Bike Ride

2013-02-23T14:59:00.001-08:00

EVENT: Los Angeles Chinatown Firecracker Bike Ride (30 mi)

DATE: Saturday, February 23, 2013
LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA
RACE BEGAN: 09:05 am
FINISH TIME: approximately 02:30:00

Last year, I ran the Los Angeles Firecracker 5K AND 10K run. My friends and I decided to "catch 'em all," so "The Ukrainian" decided to join us. I was originally signed up for the 10K (I learned that doing both is not that fun, haha), but the race coincided with my sister's wedding.

No fear, I switched us both to the 30-mile bike tour taking place the day before. The longest bike tour I had ever done was around 20 miles, but the thought of another 10 miles was a bit daunting.

I trained for this tour -- once -- in the gym on an upright bike, riding for 60 minutes (about 17.5 miles).

On race morning, we took the train to Chinatown. I got nervous as I saw everyone in their expensive road bikes and gear -- felt like a fraud, ha ha. The race started with the lighting of firecrackers and one of my worst fears -- riding in a mob of people. It went fine, though.

The first few miles were a very tough climb. People were walking their bikes up the hill -- yes, even the fancy bikes (mine is a hybrid bike, much cheaper and not nearly as light/fast). I'm proud to say I did not have to walk my bike the entire time... yay for barre DVDs for strengthening my quads!

Around Mile 9.5, there was a rest stop with trail mix, peanut butter, gels, water, orange wedges, and sports drink. I had a little peanut butter, trail mix, and sports drink and decided to continue on, since we were definitely taking longer than imagined -- partly due to hills and partly due to waiting at traffic lights. Yes, we rode with traffic. This was super scary, particularly in some parts. Even more scary was going down very steep downhills with many, many potholes.

I kept imagining myself being clipped by another cyclist, despite my best intentions, or losing control and showing up to my sister's wedding all scarred. I kept a somewhat conservative pace in the scarier parts, since this wasn't even a timed event.

The most interesting parts were Griffith Park and the bike path near the LA River, which was a path I never thought I'd take. After what felt like an eternity (the second half went by WAY faster than the first), "The Ukrainian" and I crossed the finish line, high-fiving boy scouts.

I was trying to assess the effort that it took to ride 30 (hilly) miles versus running, and unfortunately, they don't compare. Although it was tiring, I feel more beat up after a 7+-mile run than this 2.5 hour schlep on my bike. I don't mean to offend anyone, but I guess I have always been intimidated by cyclists. I shouldn't have been -- I outlasted many of them. This was a boost for my self-esteem and some sort of affirmation that I am fitter than I thought. On that note, I think I will finally try spinning classes soon -- due to a gym and job change (yep! more later, perhaps), I will have access to spin classes, and maybe I won't find it as painful as I did the first and only time I took a spin class, back in college.

Anyway, enough rambling. Here's the goodie bag... the highlight was the Biscoff spread!!! Tastes like cookies!! I know this product is sold in my area, but I never bought any because I couldn't justify in my head buying something that unhealthy. Hah, I will eat it if it's free, though! (Not pictured: a package of Corn Thins I ate before the ride because I was hungry!)

There was also adequate course support to tell us where to go, so thumbs-up! I will be back next year, hopefully to run. Here's my Snake medal to add to my dragon medal... atop the awesome drawstring bag they included! Happy Lunar New Year!! Gotta catch 'em all!!

Review: Physique 57, Volume 1

2013-02-07T09:49:00.000-08:00

I think it's about time that I review the Physique 57 Volume 1 set of DVDs that I got during the holidays!

The reason I was interested in this set in the first place is that I've read a lot of hype about it. Physique 57 is a barre-type exercise program. I've tried The Bar Method and some of its associated home videos before. The in-person classes are fairly challenging, but I ended up reselling the DVDs because they just seemed too easy after a while.

After cycling through the three discs for about a month now, I definitely don't think these are "easy." It definitely works up a sweat, and I definitely get to the point of failure. Although the barre-method is a non-impact way of getting in shape, I definitely don't like for it to be a snooze. This seems to give me the best of both worlds -- focused toning with no impact and even a bit of cardio.

Here is my summary of each:

Classic Workout (~57 minutes), recommended 2-3x/week - In this video, you go through an arm segment, two thigh segments, a seat segment, an ab segment, and what I like to call a "pelvic" section (although it's more like lower back, it calls for a lot of pelvic thrusting...). Nice stretching at the end.

Pros
- Complete body workout; challenging; different than other barre moves
- Only requires a chair, mat, cushion (I use a pillow wrapped in a towel), included playground ball, 3 + 5 lb weights, and a chair
- Decent music
- Token male in the background, lol

Cons
- Tanya Becker is pretty cheezy and annoying in this DVD (e.g., "No more jiggle. Nuh-uh. Not for you!")!!!!
- I don't have 5 lb weights, so I use 3 lb for everything...
- Playground ball doesn't seem sturdy like the one in the video. I don't put my full weight on it.
- A little fast/advanced for newbies, which gives me room for improvement. If I hadn't done barre before, this would be an even slower process.

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30 Minute Express (~30 minutes), recommended once a week - This is like the 57-minute version, except shorter. Includes a short arm segment, a short thigh segment, and a short ab segment.

Pros
- You feel like you get a pretty good workout in the allotted 30 minutes
- Only need a chair, ball, weights, and mat... no cushion (I fumble with it too much).

Cons
- Tanya is annoying again
- Not very different from the 57-minute version. If I had the time, I'd rather do the full version and include the seat/lower back/other work.

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Arm & Ab Booster (~30 minutes), recommended once a week - This is hosted by Shelley, not Tanya. Approximately half of the video is arms (mostly in plie) and the other half abs.

Pros
- Challenging, maybe too much so in the ab portion... I have to take brief breaks because she doesn't really give you any
- Only requires a mat, playground ball, and weights
- No Tanya

Cons
- I felt there isn't enough arm stretching... I'd say barely enough ab stretching, either, but I guess that's what 30 minutes gives you
- She keeps making you think you are getting close to finishing when you aren't, many times... excruciating!
- See comment above in the "Pros" section

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As for results, I have been in maintenance mode, so I don't have any dramatic weight-loss shots for you. However, I'm fairly certain this has kept the muscle tone in my abs, arms, and legs. Additionally, I think all the thigh work has helped a bit with my endurance in running. I think I only do the videos once a twice a typical week, but I was suddenly able to go from needing to walk during my runs to getting through 17 miles without needing to walk. There's something about getting your legs to shake in failure during these videos that gets you through fatigue during running. I experienced the same effect doing Bar Method, but I think this one will keep me guessing for a while.

At some point, I'd like to try Volume 2, but I've read that it's harder, and I haven't mastered Volume 1 yet. In short, Physique 57 is not really great for beginners to the at-home barre method who haven't attended any live classes.

I Did Not Run Surf City

2013-02-05T08:01:00.001-08:00

This year, I decided not to run the Surf City USA Half-Marathon again. I did this race in 2008, 2009, 2010 to earn my "Longboard Legacy" status, and even last year, 2012 for the Beach Cities series.

Surf City has always been a nice race to run -- in fact, I've PRed on this course more than once. However, it is kind of expensive for a half-marathon, and frankly, I get bored running the same course so many times.

So just like in 2011, I sat this one out while "The Ukrainian" ran. He wanted to try the full marathon and finished at around 3:37 training just a few long runs with me.

On Saturday, the day before the race, he and I did marathon packet pick-up. Since we had the morning shift, it was hard to tell how many people would never come to pick up their bibs, but I did hear a lot of people were too sick to run.

Sunday rolled around, and while "The Ukrainian" waited in the car before his race, I started my shift at 4:45 AM to help coordinate volunteers. I was scrambling around until 11 AM, so I think I had a little mini-marathon of my own. I'm still amazed to see races run so well, because it really takes a lot of manpower and a lot of organization to deploy that manpower. And when you are sitting in the front of the expo in a volunteer shirt, everyone assumes you know everything about everything and asks you everything as such. Fortunately, I've participated enough times to at least get most of them.

I was a little sad not to be running, but less than is typical. The 5K that I had coming up next week has been "postponed," so my first race of the year s now a 30-mile bike tour in a couple of weeks. I've done a 20-ish mile one before, but this upcoming one is hilly, and I'm coming into is fairly untrained. Then, about three weeks later... LA Marathon 2013. I've been getting some long runs in (12.5, 17.5) and will have to plug in my 20-miler two weeks before... great.

For now, I think I caught something on the Metro or the expo, so I don't think I'll be running until the latter part of the week. That's enough to make me anxious, but oh well. I guess it's for the better that I helped run Surf City instead of actually running it.

Track Repeats, a Decade Later

2013-01-26T10:58:00.000-08:00

While I've been doing a whole lot of running over the past six or so years, I haven't *really* been back to the track. Once, I did 14 miles on one as part of a long run... And other time, I walked around one for 15 or so miles, as part of Relay for Life.

In fact, these were all on the same track -- my high school's. (As I've mentioned, my running started in high school when I joined Track and Field).

Eleven years ago!

I don't like purposefully driving anywhere just to run, unless it's a race. This is probably why I don't really go to the gym often, unless I'm already en route to someplace else. And that's what ended up happening while visiting my parents. While I come by every week, it's usually later in the day or after I've already done some other workout.

With my Garmin finally back in action lately, I took to the track with a simple goal of doing six quarter-mile repeats, with a "rest lap" in between. I'm almost embarrassed to post my times, because not only am I extremely rusty at running in general... but my personal best for this distance is actually 1:02, more than a decade removed.

1 - 1:48

2 - 1:45

3 - 1:46

4 - 1:39

5 - 1:35

6 - 1:38

This was HARD. First off, it was kind of raining during the first three intervals, and the track was wet from the night before. By the end of the first interval, I didn't want to do anymore, but I had to silence the wimp in me.

These were definitely not my best effort. I felt myself slowing down at some points, even though I am pretty sure I could have maintained my speed. I think I am no longer used to "full-throttle" and need to strengthen that mind-body connection that will push me through those times when I otherwise would pull back at the first sign of fatigue. And somehow, I actually improved as the laps went on, sort of. After the last two, I had to catch my breath and not vomit by the end of them. As soon as I finished, it suddenly started to pour.

I do want to do this more often, though I specifically came out because I have a 5k in a couple of weeks, and my current pace is slower than slow. Although not impressive (in distance or speed) by some standards, this was a mind-strengthening experience that really did make me feel spent. I went to the gym afterward for the first time in a long time and could barely handle lifting weights that used to be easy for me. Gotta work on that, too, I suppose.

Incrediwear Arm/Calf Sleeve and Socks

2013-01-22T13:31:00.002-08:00

We're having a January heat wave down here in Southern California. If you have read my Race Reviews, you might already know that heat is my enemy, particularly when it comes to running in it. But even getting into a hot car with a somewhat non-working air conditioning system is enough to disgust me.

Prior to the last few days, though, it was cold -- at least in relation to normal conditions in these parts. This means running in sub-40-degree weather sometimes. East-coasters and foreigners, yes, I will cry you a river.

Yes, I've kept up with running... blogging about it, not so much. My average weekly mileage has jumped from 4 to a "whopping" 25-26. Admittedly, this is "only" about 3-4 days of running per week, but it has so far worked for me in terms of not burning out or injuring myself. *knocks on wood*

Anyway, on some of my "cold" weather runs lately, I've been able to try out a couple of products from the Incrediwear website. First up is this arm/calf sleeve:

I thought it was definitely interesting to use a common sleeve for both your calf and arm. I haven't really had a lot of fun wearing arm sleeves, particularly because I tend to fiddle with them a lot when I run. However, there are times when the weather is half cold and half warm that I particularly want to wear them... especially because I'm paranoid about unnecessary sun exposure. At any rate, I have generally used this Incrediwear sleeve on my calves because I like having something to guard my shins from when I accidentally kick myself while running (you know you've done it!) or when I worry about random dogs or plants near the ground maiming me. These aren't really something I'd wear for compression or cramp prevention because they aren't supportive in the same way as other ones I've tried, but I would totally wear them for the sake of protecting my legs during shorter runs, recovery, pre-run, or just because they do give the illusion of warmth when I want to wear shorts.

I also tried their Incredisocks. These are probably the only "manly-looking" running socks I've tried, but I actually like them a lot. I'm not sure if they actually kept my feet warm during runs in the cold, but I did notice a lack of rubbing/blistering, along with sweat and odor control. These socks are on the thin side, which I consider a good thing.

As I am running more, I am starting to remember how fun and useful it is for me to try and review different products, and admittedly, I'm still quite far behind in posting all of them. Since I've been out of the "training a long way" game for a bit, I have stupidly caused myself painful chafing and bonking due to forgetting to bring enough fuel for the duration. I'm sure I'll get back into the swing of things soon... sometimes, the right gear helps.