The past few sessions the weather has been incredibly and horribly hot. Humid and Sticky with some serious thunderstorms heading in just as we finished our runs. I've been good about starting out and finishing my first mile with slightly faster classmates managing to achieve 10:30 to 11 minute mile pace but keep slowing down on the second mile and have a longer second mile.
I can look at this two ways...
1. Positive in that I'm managing a pretty decent 1st mile time and even in the 1/2 mile split I'm doing really well and I have to keep working at it.
2. Crazy Eli mode and get completely bummed out and discouraged because I really want to keep up the 11:00 mile pace and I'm missing it and not getting the negative split.
Some thoughts on this elusive negative split.
1. I'm running really well in the first half of my runs, not overly winded but not comfortable either, managing to push it without sprinting.
2. The second half of my runs tend to include 30 second walk breaks that if I were to not take them my running pace is the pace at which I'm actually running during the first half of the run. So I'm maintaining my running pace but having to walk to catch my breath. This is somewhat about cardio endurance, which means I need to step up my weekday game.
3. I think my brain is psyching me out to think I cannot do it and therefore need to stop rather than just slowing down and push through.
4. I need to find my fourth mile in my run and that makes the negative split possibly appear.
So what do I do?
How do I find the negative?
How do I push through?
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
A poem that hit home today...
As I was driving into the office this morning it was a light drizzle that was falling while I was really wishing I was still asleep in bed.
The Writer's Almanac was on NPR with a poem that just resonated with me today. Something that isn't out of the ordinary, isn't that unusual, but all the things we really do need to consider.
Eat an orange every morning.
Be friendly. It will help make you happy.
Hope for everything. Expect nothing.
Take care of things close to home first. Straighten up your room
before you save the world. Then save the world.
Be nice to people before they have a chance to behave badly.
Don't stay angry about anything for more than a week, but don't
forget what made you angry. Hold your anger out at arm's length
and look at it, as if it were a glass ball. Then add it to your glass
ball collection.
Wear comfortable shoes.
Do not spend too much time with large groups of people.
Plan your day so you never have to rush.
Show your appreciation to people who do things for you, even if
you have paid them, even if they do favors you don't want.
After dinner, wash the dishes.
Calm down.
Don't expect your children to love you, so they can, if they want
to.
Don't be too self-critical or too self-congratulatory.
Don't think that progress exists. It doesn't.
Imagine what you would like to see happen, and then don't do
anything to make it impossible.
Forgive your country every once in a while. If that is not
possible, go to another one.
If you feel tired, rest.
Don't be depressed about growing older. It will make you feel
even older. Which is depressing.
Do one thing at a time.
If you burn your finger, put ice on it immediately. If you bang
your finger with a hammer, hold your hand in the air for 20
minutes. you will be surprised by the curative powers of ice and
gravity.
Do not inhale smoke.
Take a deep breath.
Do not smart off to a policeman.
Be good.
Be honest with yourself, diplomatic with others.
Do not go crazy a lot. It's a waste of time.
Drink plenty of water. When asked what you would like to
drink, say, "Water, please."
Take out the trash.
Love life.
Use exact change.
When there's shooting in the street, don't go near the window.
The Writer's Almanac was on NPR with a poem that just resonated with me today. Something that isn't out of the ordinary, isn't that unusual, but all the things we really do need to consider.
 |
| Wylie age 5 April 2012 |
Excerpts from "How to be Perfect" by Ron Padgett
Eat an orange every morning.
Be friendly. It will help make you happy.
Hope for everything. Expect nothing.
Take care of things close to home first. Straighten up your room
before you save the world. Then save the world.
Be nice to people before they have a chance to behave badly.
Don't stay angry about anything for more than a week, but don't
forget what made you angry. Hold your anger out at arm's length
and look at it, as if it were a glass ball. Then add it to your glass
ball collection.
Wear comfortable shoes.
Do not spend too much time with large groups of people.
Plan your day so you never have to rush.
Show your appreciation to people who do things for you, even if
you have paid them, even if they do favors you don't want.
After dinner, wash the dishes.
Calm down.
Don't expect your children to love you, so they can, if they want
to.
Don't be too self-critical or too self-congratulatory.
Don't think that progress exists. It doesn't.
Imagine what you would like to see happen, and then don't do
anything to make it impossible.
Forgive your country every once in a while. If that is not
possible, go to another one.
If you feel tired, rest.
Don't be depressed about growing older. It will make you feel
even older. Which is depressing.
Do one thing at a time.
If you burn your finger, put ice on it immediately. If you bang
your finger with a hammer, hold your hand in the air for 20
minutes. you will be surprised by the curative powers of ice and
gravity.
Do not inhale smoke.
Take a deep breath.
Do not smart off to a policeman.
Be good.
Be honest with yourself, diplomatic with others.
Do not go crazy a lot. It's a waste of time.
Drink plenty of water. When asked what you would like to
drink, say, "Water, please."
Take out the trash.
Love life.
Use exact change.
When there's shooting in the street, don't go near the window.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
8th Anniversary
8 years!
Just by the numbers this is what 8 years with Wyatt has looked like...
4 residences in two states and four towns--each very different.
1 child
2 higher education degrees --both earned by Wyatt
-2 minor body parts: appendix for me on our 6th anniversary and tonsils for Wyatt
1 Volvo Station Wagon --which until this January was our only car for 5 years
1 Trip to Hawaii
1 Trip to Canada
Numerous adventures both near and far
In our review on the way to dinner last night we realized that we have faced in 8 short years:
In sickness and in health,
In good times and in bad,
For richer and for poorer.
It's been a wonderful adventure that has only just begun. I could say all sorts of mushy stuff but the reality is this is our marriage and our life. It will never be dull, it will never be predictable, and it will never be something that is just day in and day out the same. I like that.
So we celebrated last night with a meal that was incredible at Restaurant Eve. It was a 9 course tasting meal prepared by the chef, each course selected by the chef for us, and amazingly the perfect choice for each of us. I tried two new things in the process: veal sweetbreads --unknowingly--, and bacon watermelon reduction sauce. YUM.
We had a similar meal on our honeymoon in Monaco at The Vistamar. I will always remember the amazing pear chocolate that I had at the very end of the meal.
Just by the numbers this is what 8 years with Wyatt has looked like...
4 residences in two states and four towns--each very different.
1 child
2 higher education degrees --both earned by Wyatt
-2 minor body parts: appendix for me on our 6th anniversary and tonsils for Wyatt
1 Volvo Station Wagon --which until this January was our only car for 5 years
1 Trip to Hawaii
1 Trip to Canada
Numerous adventures both near and far
In our review on the way to dinner last night we realized that we have faced in 8 short years:
In sickness and in health,
In good times and in bad,
For richer and for poorer.
It's been a wonderful adventure that has only just begun. I could say all sorts of mushy stuff but the reality is this is our marriage and our life. It will never be dull, it will never be predictable, and it will never be something that is just day in and day out the same. I like that.
So we celebrated last night with a meal that was incredible at Restaurant Eve. It was a 9 course tasting meal prepared by the chef, each course selected by the chef for us, and amazingly the perfect choice for each of us. I tried two new things in the process: veal sweetbreads --unknowingly--, and bacon watermelon reduction sauce. YUM.
We had a similar meal on our honeymoon in Monaco at The Vistamar. I will always remember the amazing pear chocolate that I had at the very end of the meal.
Monday, May 21, 2012
When I asked for John Hoover...
The world lost a little bit of light today.I first met this wonderful kid and his equally amazing parents 6 years ago in Long Beach California. Wyatt was driving and I was using Wyatt's cell to find out exactly where we should park the car near their condo. I asked for John Hoover when Carrie answered the phone, in the background I heard her say "some woman is calling asking for John" and then she got back on the phone and asked me if I was sure I had the right number! So I hung up! I called back and at this point Wyatt told me to just ask for "Hoover" which I did and John got on the phone. He gave us directions and then explained that no one really asked for him by his name anymore. If they asked for John it was in reference to their son John. :)
I was completely unprepared for the smiles and continual acceptance of everything life threw in their laps. I still remember asking to feed John still afraid of feeding babies much less this little one so fragile and so beautiful. Then he started sucking his bottle down and I realized he may look fragile but he wasn't in spirit or mind. He's been that way his whole life.
Wyatt's tribute to John Douglas Hoover II is below.
For more than 20 years, one of my most cherished friends has been my high-school best friend, John Hoover. I often tease John about his remarkable child-like whimsy that has been perpetual into his 40's. Without (often) falling into immaturity, John reminds me how to view the world through the same inquisitive, joyful, imaginative perspective as a child. The word "unique" can be defined as (adj....) exceptional, (adj.) curious, or (adj.) atypical, and John lives up to all three in a way that arrests me with laughter. This morning, I send my love and compassion to John and his wife Carrie at the news of the death of their 6-year-old son, John Douglas Hoover II. John II's loss was not sudden, he was born three months premature and perennial complications and cancer followed. John and I would usually talk about the issue only superficially; with Wylie so close to John II in age, John was always facing a nightmare that stupefied me with fear. As someone who spends a lot of time with my foot in my mouth, I never could think of what to say that couldn't be turned ominous because, while I can sympathize with John, I was too scared to empathize with him. This was never a issue, there were always fantastical stories of John II to discuss instead; John II was truly his father's son, refusing to yielding his childhood and happiness to adversity. It is my firm belief that a child's personality is learned and, from his parents, John II had nothing but love, joy and maybe a little deviousness to mirror back to the world. Whether at Disney World or in a hospital, there are only two kinds of photos of John II…those with him smiling and those with him napping. For nearly seven incomparable years, as improbable as it seems to me, the world was graced with two silly, chortling, scheming John Hoovers and now it has lost a disproportionate amount of exuberance.
If nothing else today, hug your children, hug your family, pass a little smile and love onto the person who doesn't look so happy on the bus or in the supermarket. We never know what someone is facing but it only takes a moment to be kind. We need to remember to be curious, interested, and not always typical.
I was completely unprepared for the smiles and continual acceptance of everything life threw in their laps. I still remember asking to feed John still afraid of feeding babies much less this little one so fragile and so beautiful. Then he started sucking his bottle down and I realized he may look fragile but he wasn't in spirit or mind. He's been that way his whole life.
Wyatt's tribute to John Douglas Hoover II is below.
For more than 20 years, one of my most cherished friends has been my high-school best friend, John Hoover. I often tease John about his remarkable child-like whimsy that has been perpetual into his 40's. Without (often) falling into immaturity, John reminds me how to view the world through the same inquisitive, joyful, imaginative perspective as a child. The word "unique" can be defined as (adj....) exceptional, (adj.) curious, or (adj.) atypical, and John lives up to all three in a way that arrests me with laughter. This morning, I send my love and compassion to John and his wife Carrie at the news of the death of their 6-year-old son, John Douglas Hoover II. John II's loss was not sudden, he was born three months premature and perennial complications and cancer followed. John and I would usually talk about the issue only superficially; with Wylie so close to John II in age, John was always facing a nightmare that stupefied me with fear. As someone who spends a lot of time with my foot in my mouth, I never could think of what to say that couldn't be turned ominous because, while I can sympathize with John, I was too scared to empathize with him. This was never a issue, there were always fantastical stories of John II to discuss instead; John II was truly his father's son, refusing to yielding his childhood and happiness to adversity. It is my firm belief that a child's personality is learned and, from his parents, John II had nothing but love, joy and maybe a little deviousness to mirror back to the world. Whether at Disney World or in a hospital, there are only two kinds of photos of John II…those with him smiling and those with him napping. For nearly seven incomparable years, as improbable as it seems to me, the world was graced with two silly, chortling, scheming John Hoovers and now it has lost a disproportionate amount of exuberance.
If nothing else today, hug your children, hug your family, pass a little smile and love onto the person who doesn't look so happy on the bus or in the supermarket. We never know what someone is facing but it only takes a moment to be kind. We need to remember to be curious, interested, and not always typical.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Running 102: Timed Mile
I'm now going to call the second session of my running class, Running 102 as it's just easier.
First a bit about the class for this session. I thought it might be full of all the folks from the previous session and indeed there are several of us in this one to keep growing and building our running abilities, however there are many new people and 1 guy! We have several women who are more substantial runners just looking to build on their form and several who are just new to running. The tough part is I'm still smack dab in the middle with my time so I have folks running faster and ahead of me and folks running slower and behind me but for the most part no one totally in my pace range.
Tuesday was an easy run around Lake Barton just to get into the groove and for Coach Kelly to see where we all end up in our groups so she can put us together for drills etc.The distance around the lake is .8 miles but we run it once then continue for another 3 minutes out or so at a hard pace and return just so the folks who are faster can finish a second loop and the folks who are slower can finish their first loop. Essentially we all finish our run at the same time with just different distance.
I ran with Lisa, Rebecca, and Kathy which was both great and tough. Running with Lisa means I go out hard and fast with a push to a 9:30 to 10 minute mile pace that will slow down eventually to an 11 minute pace. Staying with Kathy helps me continue on for those additional hard push minutes at the end. We did the first loop in 9 minutes which put us on pace for a 10:30 mile. Some serious hard running for me. We continued on for another 3 minutes out and then turned around running hard. After the run we did our drills with the group using the walking techniques not the running techniques. It was nice to do them slowly. :)
Thursday was warm and muggy. I had used my gift card to the running store earlier in the day to purchase a new running skirt, socks and jog bra and was wearing all of them at class. I was also running a tad late to class so when I showed up for class it was exactly 6:30 which doesn't make me ease into class very well. At least I was well hydrated! We started with a lap around the shopping center warm up taking it easy I ran with Lisa which meant I pushed it hard. We then did our active warm up of jumping jacks, leg swings, squats, lunges, sweeps, and hop twists--must say I'm getting good at the hop twists.
Coach Kelly then broke the news it was TIMED MILE day. All I could think was "well as long as it's not slower than my initial 12:30 I'm okay." It was a much harder mental game for me this time AND having a watch on was equally as tough because I had knowledge of my previous timed mile, had an instrument to track me and mock me (or so it seems) when I started slowing down--YES THAT IS WHY I DON'T WEAR A WATCH--and ultimately my own desire to be better than I was. We headed out from Adare Drive to Paynes Church Road (1/2 mile point) turned around and returned to Adare Drive. I remember from our first timed mile it seemed like the distance was incredibly long. The second timed mile the distance to Paynes Church came sooner than I expected and I was impressed with my 1/2 mile split but still took a long time to get there.
So my third timed mile went as follows: We jogged the 1/4 mile from Burke Centre Parkway to Adare Drive, grouped up and and started our run. The tough part with that is I tend to spring out with the faster folks which is great for the first tenth of a mile and then just makes the rest of my run a race against myself and my mental game. So I hung back a bit but the second group started fast too and I went with them merrily along for the first tenth and then we spread out. Interestingly I started passing folks as I got my groove going and faster than I expected was at the turn around at 5:05! Interestingly the really fast folks had turned not too far in front of me and a few made a point of smiling and cheering me on. I must look horrid when I run! I took two short 30 second walk breaks on the way back but definitely slowed down to a more doable but steady pace. I finished at 11:10. So my second half took 6:05 which is those two 30 second walk breaks and means I was still running at the faster speed. Oddly I decided to do a speed drill after going fast for 1 minute, jogging for 1 minute, going hard for 1 minute, jogging for 30 seconds and finishing with a 1 minute hard run.
We finished the Thursday class with planks and stretches. I'm thirsty but not sore. Happy with the run but the mental competition is starting and that means I need to find another challenge where I am not comfortable so I have growth and no comparison.
First a bit about the class for this session. I thought it might be full of all the folks from the previous session and indeed there are several of us in this one to keep growing and building our running abilities, however there are many new people and 1 guy! We have several women who are more substantial runners just looking to build on their form and several who are just new to running. The tough part is I'm still smack dab in the middle with my time so I have folks running faster and ahead of me and folks running slower and behind me but for the most part no one totally in my pace range.
Tuesday was an easy run around Lake Barton just to get into the groove and for Coach Kelly to see where we all end up in our groups so she can put us together for drills etc.The distance around the lake is .8 miles but we run it once then continue for another 3 minutes out or so at a hard pace and return just so the folks who are faster can finish a second loop and the folks who are slower can finish their first loop. Essentially we all finish our run at the same time with just different distance.
I ran with Lisa, Rebecca, and Kathy which was both great and tough. Running with Lisa means I go out hard and fast with a push to a 9:30 to 10 minute mile pace that will slow down eventually to an 11 minute pace. Staying with Kathy helps me continue on for those additional hard push minutes at the end. We did the first loop in 9 minutes which put us on pace for a 10:30 mile. Some serious hard running for me. We continued on for another 3 minutes out and then turned around running hard. After the run we did our drills with the group using the walking techniques not the running techniques. It was nice to do them slowly. :)
Thursday was warm and muggy. I had used my gift card to the running store earlier in the day to purchase a new running skirt, socks and jog bra and was wearing all of them at class. I was also running a tad late to class so when I showed up for class it was exactly 6:30 which doesn't make me ease into class very well. At least I was well hydrated! We started with a lap around the shopping center warm up taking it easy I ran with Lisa which meant I pushed it hard. We then did our active warm up of jumping jacks, leg swings, squats, lunges, sweeps, and hop twists--must say I'm getting good at the hop twists.
Coach Kelly then broke the news it was TIMED MILE day. All I could think was "well as long as it's not slower than my initial 12:30 I'm okay." It was a much harder mental game for me this time AND having a watch on was equally as tough because I had knowledge of my previous timed mile, had an instrument to track me and mock me (or so it seems) when I started slowing down--YES THAT IS WHY I DON'T WEAR A WATCH--and ultimately my own desire to be better than I was. We headed out from Adare Drive to Paynes Church Road (1/2 mile point) turned around and returned to Adare Drive. I remember from our first timed mile it seemed like the distance was incredibly long. The second timed mile the distance to Paynes Church came sooner than I expected and I was impressed with my 1/2 mile split but still took a long time to get there.
So my third timed mile went as follows: We jogged the 1/4 mile from Burke Centre Parkway to Adare Drive, grouped up and and started our run. The tough part with that is I tend to spring out with the faster folks which is great for the first tenth of a mile and then just makes the rest of my run a race against myself and my mental game. So I hung back a bit but the second group started fast too and I went with them merrily along for the first tenth and then we spread out. Interestingly I started passing folks as I got my groove going and faster than I expected was at the turn around at 5:05! Interestingly the really fast folks had turned not too far in front of me and a few made a point of smiling and cheering me on. I must look horrid when I run! I took two short 30 second walk breaks on the way back but definitely slowed down to a more doable but steady pace. I finished at 11:10. So my second half took 6:05 which is those two 30 second walk breaks and means I was still running at the faster speed. Oddly I decided to do a speed drill after going fast for 1 minute, jogging for 1 minute, going hard for 1 minute, jogging for 30 seconds and finishing with a 1 minute hard run.
We finished the Thursday class with planks and stretches. I'm thirsty but not sore. Happy with the run but the mental competition is starting and that means I need to find another challenge where I am not comfortable so I have growth and no comparison.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Mother's Day Weekend
I don't really buy into the whole Mother's Day thing. For the first four years Wyatt, Wylie and I went to Disneyland on Mother's Day and enjoyed being together as a family. It was more fun to have a full day to enjoy being with Wylie as mom and doing fun things rather than a day as a mom to Wylie away from him.
Last year we had just moved to Virginia and it was a quiet day.
This year I had two free nights to use at a Marriott by the end of the month and it was Mother's Day weekend. So we created a new tradition that involved an amusement park. We went to Hershey Park! The weather this weekend was fantastic and we all had fun and were completely exhausted by the end of the day on Saturday. On Sunday we explored Gettysburg Battlefield for a full day before heading home to Virginia.
Last year we had just moved to Virginia and it was a quiet day.
This year I had two free nights to use at a Marriott by the end of the month and it was Mother's Day weekend. So we created a new tradition that involved an amusement park. We went to Hershey Park! The weather this weekend was fantastic and we all had fun and were completely exhausted by the end of the day on Saturday. On Sunday we explored Gettysburg Battlefield for a full day before heading home to Virginia.
 |
| President Lincoln! Start of the Gettysburg Experience |
 |
| Day 1 Site of the Bloodiest part of the Battle complete with actual soldiers Yanks and Rebs together |
 |
| Confederate Memorial Known because of the C.S.A on top AND the round pedestal on the bottom |
 |
| Learning about the difference between a gun and cannon |
 |
| The grooves on the inside of a gun |
 |
| The front piece of a gun |
 |
| Tree Memorial |
 |
| The Virginia Memorial Day Two of the Battle |
 |
| Professional Man, Mechanic, Artist |
 |
| Business Man, Farmer, Youth |
 |
| 12th and 44th New York Regiment Headquarters Memorial Little Round Top |
 |
| Add caption |
 |
| Running from the northern agressors on day 3 |
 |
| Site of the Gettysburg Address Soldiers National Cemetery |
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Summer Running 101
Summer Running 101 starts tonight!
I'm excited because I have Coach Kelly again. I just want to keep getting stronger and better at running through the summer.
So I'm going to have someone take my photo tonight so I can post a photo of the beginning and then at the end of the eight weeks post an after photo.
I'm excited because I have Coach Kelly again. I just want to keep getting stronger and better at running through the summer.
So I'm going to have someone take my photo tonight so I can post a photo of the beginning and then at the end of the eight weeks post an after photo.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
