I think I can…I think I can…

So after this week…I’ve officially been registered for 4 races over the past few months…three, yes THREE, of which I didn’t even get to run in!

1-a 5k on the 4th of July

My running partner’s grandmother passed away the morning of…enough said.  We had more important things to attend to than a silly lil race.  Although, my friend DID want to still run it…you know, get out the anger and sadness…unfortunately she had so little sleep and just couldn’t function.  So race #1 was nixed.

2-the Pasadena Marathon

This is the race I began training for in the first place!  FOUR months of training to be exact.  Anyway, wildfires raged on all sides of Los Angeles and we found out at 4am the morning of the race, that it was canceled due to the poor air quality.  Of course it was the right decision for all involved…and horrific that so many lost homes…it still however, doesn’t diminish the disappointment we felt after training for our first half. Bib and timing chip in hand…a lovely pasta meal the eve before…and then to lose it two hours before race time.

3-Palm Desert Turkey Trot

So in my wallowing sadness in the wake of the Pasadena 1/2, I opted to eek in at the very least, a 5k, until I could find something else to do…or hear back about the rescheduling of the 1/2!  Then, kind of funny but not, I ended up getting a darn cold about a week ago!  I mean really…REALLY? lol I swear….maybe someone up there just doesn’t want me to run I tell ya! Anyway, it was POURING rain the night before when I went to bed with the sniffles so I figured it best to skip it on account of wanting to still run a 1/2 before Xmas.

So that leads me to a week from today.  I am now registered for the City of Angels 1/2 here in LA on 12/7/08!  Of course it’s cost me a small fortune lol…the cost of the Pasadena 1/2 (no refund! wtf!?) plus the cost of not one, but TWO days of work (I work on Sundays), and the cost (late registration costs) of the new 1/2.  But by golly…i’m determined! My friends are looking at me like i’m insane…but they just don’t get it.  I need goals…I need to run!  And the fact that I worked my little tush off for four months to do said run…I WILL run a 1/2 before 2009!

And with that…i’m already booked (cross your fingers that nothing happens…again, sigh…to prohibit me from running any of them!) for two (and looking at another) races in 2009: the Ragnar Relay (12 person relay covering 178 miles in 2 days!) and the Napa to Sonoma 1/2 in July (what gal doesn’t want to be rewarded with WINE after a long run?!).

So here I am on Sunday night…looking forward to one week from now.  I’m just hoping that my screwed up training (or lack there of) over the past few weeks doesn’t hinder me!  I haven’t run more than 8 miles at a time in the last 3 weeks!  Ick. So y’all better cross your fingers for me…so I can get up that hill!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/28/2008
• Time: 13:30:00
• Total Time: 00:40:20.00
• Distance: 3.21 miles
• Average Pace: 12:33.14/mile

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/24/2008
• Time: 10:49:00
• Total Time: 1:40:00.00
• Distance: 7.2 miles
• Average Pace: 13:53.33/mile

So I made two new friends yesterday at the gym lol.  Went to take my usual yoga class and there were these two guys who I have seen in there a few times…anyway, I couldn’t stop internally laughing at them as they struggles and cursed “oh shit…oh shit” under their breath with each pose.

So after the class…I took it upon myself to ask one of them if they new how to breathe.  Apprently…that’s a big NO.  The problem with yoga at the gym is that, I find anyway, that they are more geared toward people who have a basic grasp on yoga poses, breathing, etc.  Just as the people in the step or spin classes have a basic grasp.  Problem is, they don’t really go over proper breathing with you as they do in classes at yoga studios…so while the yoga is great, half of what you need to know as a beginner tends to be missing.

So I explained the whole breathing through the nose…keep the damn mouth closed!…and that when we are ‘flowing’ through moves, each move has a corresponding in or exhale.  This wave of OHHHHHH splashed across their faces…was hilarious.  They had NO idea there was a technique to it.  I felt like I helped out a bit!  Now, they can focus more on the breathing…which will allow the moves to come more free and less of a struggle. lol  Whew…a good deed. Love spreadin the exercise vibe!

Workout:

• Type: Flexibility
• Date: 11/21/2008
• Time: 08:30:00
• Total Time: 1:00:00.00

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/20/2008
• Time: 08:00:00
• Total Time: 00:27:00.00
• Calories: 118
• Distance: 2.25 miles
• Average Pace: 12:00/mile

Workout:

• Type: Strength Training
• Date: 11/17/2008
• Time: 15:25:00
• Total Time: 00:20:00.00

Workout:

• Type: Flexibility
• Date: 11/17/2008
• Time: 12:00:00
• Total Time: 00:20:00.00

So after my 1/2 got canceled the other day per the damn fires here in Los Angeles, I decided to get my butt in gear and register for another event.  The City of Angels 1/2 is on 12/7 so it’s only three weeks away…kind of confusing when I tapered down for the one this past Sun in Pasadena…so now I think i’m going to take it fairly easy during the week but mix in a few hill days as well as maybe an 8 and a 10 mile run on the two Sats before the race…

Today I just ran intervals of 5/1’s for a 5k…normally I like 1/1’s so I kind of pushed myself…

Wish me luck. lol

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/17/2008
• Time: 12:00:00
• Total Time: 00:35:00.00
• Distance: 3.06 miles
• Average Pace: 11:25.71/mile

So I trained and trained and trained for 4 months to run my very first 1/2 marathon today at the inaugural Pasadena Marathon…and it got CANCELED due to poor air quality.  Damn fires.  So sad.

Of course, i’m glad they did so on account of our health…currently my house is sitting in the “burgundy” zone…there is green (good air), yellow (moderate particles, orange (not good for sensitive people), red (unhealthy), and burgundy (bad ass air!).  Currently Pasadena is sitting in orange…yesterday it had a rating of 91 and today it’s 191…MUCH worse.  My house…226.  Oh yeah…staying indoors.

So as of now…i’m waiting to see if Pasadena a) reimburses, b) reschedules, or c) negotiates a discount for another upcoming run. Then, once I hear, later this week based on the aforementioned info…i’ll then register for the City of Angels 1/2 on 12/07/08.  Only sucky thing…I have to take off yet ANOTHER day of work to run it AND because it’s so close…it’s late registration now which ups the cost.  Grrrr.

I’m determined to run.

So technically, my schedule has me RESTING today and tomorrow before my half marathon at the crack-ass of dawn on Sunday but I just couldn’t help myself and went and did a wee bit of yoga at 8:30 this morn.

I did a class on Wednesday morning and was almost MORE tight after the fact than I was going in…but i’ve been so tight in my upper back lately that I feel it’s done more good than harm.  I also did an easy 30 minute run on Wednesday night, skipped Thursday, and then did the hour of yoga this morning…it concentrated A LOT on the hammies.  Now i’m just hoping it wasn’t a counterproductive thing to do right before a run…any thoughts?

From now on i’m planning on doing the yoga at least twice a week on Wed/Fri to mix in with my running…I think this is going to help in the long run! But for now…just need to get thru Sunday…wish me luck!! And did I mention there’s a record high of 96 or so in Pasadena on Sunday?  Lordy…help me now. lol

Workout:

• Type: Flexibility
• Date: 11/14/2008
• Time: 08:30:00
• Total Time: 1:00:00.00