Change of PLans

Cell phone pic
Today I got phone call, " hey you want to go to the ranch/camping for the weekend??" Hmm??. I knew I made plans all over Seattle but they said boats ( thats right with an s two of em). Friends I have not seen in ages, and hot weather.....Summer can come and go in Seattle so I said I'm game. I left work on my lunch break and gathered up all the things you can think you'll need (in the 10 mins you're home). Then I was out the door. I even had a bit of luck at work when my boss cut me lose early. So needless to say, that race I was scheduled to do Saturday night with the new running clothes and my big TV debut is now a thing of the past. I'm going to be beaching it for the weekend. So I leave the office and hit the road and when I'm doing my mental check list I realized I had grabbed my running shoe ( even though I'll be having fun I will be running as well) BUT left them at the office. So now I'm thinking how I can run with just flip flops then it comes to me I have Tevas in the back of my car!!! Saving grace I thought but then I was thinking I could get rocks in them it would be no good but I thought I can make it work (2 miles in Tevas?? maybe). Then I remembered a conversation I had with my friends about a year ago where they informed me that the "Teva train" had passed me about 15 years ago and if I didn't have them then, I sure as heck should not have and or wear them now. So I let my better judgement get a hold of me and I was looking for a new solution to this dilemma of mine. Then could it be a sign on the side of the road that reminded me that there was a perfectly acceptable pair of shoes I could buy off the next exit... The NIKE OUTLET there to save me. You know how I talked about those gifty gifts well today was the first day to explore what kind of gift I'd be buying myself. I knew it would be in the shoe department I just had to find a pair that would fall in the gift category. For those of you wondering what qualifies, my original plan was a gift would be around 20 bucks but today the gift was 34.99. Now I am set...ish I thought to myself...self you probably need a tank top to run in. I mean I was going to get one for the TV debut anyway so I got it for the lake debut instead. Well I am now ready to hit the road and as soon as my peeps show up with my ride I'll be on the road in eastern Washington with no service of any kind. I will be sure to keep running while I am in God's country. until next time.

Rookie Runner- Out.

2.5 30mins 10 sec

Friday morning and I was up with the cruise ship that docks across the street from my house/studio. I had a great run this morning I listened to music and downloaded a new app for my phone to help me track my run. I think I love running to music it helps when you are on the road by 6am. This may sound a little different but I think my favorite person to listen to while running is John Denver. This maybe because it was a nice quiet morning and it was just nice peaceful background noise. So something cool happened to me this morning. I was out on my route and found I am not the only one that gets up early to get a workout in. My mom can attest to this- you know how all motorcycle riders give each other "the wave" when they ride pass one another. I'm sure you do, that is 80% of my motivation to get a motorcycle. Well motorcycle no more i got the runner's wave this morning. I was beside myself I mean I have run outside on the same path and no love....but get out there in the early..ish am and your arm get sore before your legs do with all the waving that was going on ( this also maybe because I got one on the beginning of my run the felt it necessary to spread the love). That, I would have to say was today's small victory that and actually getting up at 5:30am. One more thing before I head off I know what one of my gifty gifts is going to be (and its not small so its going to have to be a half way gift) sun glasses. Today I put mine on and well no shot for wearing those, they do not go with my running clothes at all, and they fog up so if anyone has suggestions on what a good pair my be do tell.

Rookie Runner-

Curve Ball

The Happy Hour Team

Not a bad Place to hang out on a Sunny day

Today I was very excited to share with you all the things I did besides working out, like: work, sleep in, hosted happy hour on my roof, drove up and down the Puget Sound... But I had a bit of a curve ball. Last night I had a couple of softball games and well I did not get home until about 10pm and after winning the league championship I was completing beat. So I declared yesterday my rest day, making today another day of running. It was a bit of a change because I had a hill workout. I thought a ten minute warm up and about 800m of running would be easy...er. Not so true I had to run longer then 100m to get my heart rate back down before running another hill so it was still a 2 mile run but with hills in it. It felt good to get in the swing of things and I even had time to hang out with some friends and watch them drink some brew. I though it would be a wise decision to stay away from the beer when I had a run planned. Well that's about if for me tonight. 2.5miles tomorrow looking forward to it.

Rookie Runner

New Plan

So, because I take a little extra motivating, I have come up with things to help me stay on track. I guess I can credit my boss for this because he is training for a big boy marathon (he completed a half about a month ago and I guess that was just not enough). So this weekend because I have to run three miles I decided to do a 5k race. Just so happens there is on Saturday night AND it is on TV so you know that means....New racing clothes:). I think that doing my run at a race will be more fun and it will switch it up a bit. This got me thinking what other races could I do along the way. So in the middle of August I have a 6 mile run to do and well there is a 10k( 6.21miles) on that Sunday. After that though its kinda slim pickings but I thought, you know, at least I have small goals and races to do to keep me going. I also think that I have a chance to get bored if all I do is run alone and in the same atmosphere. So I am now very excited about things.
Today I can defiantly feel the burn I think it may have something to do with the fact I think I am 18 and can do any activity without warming up. I'm sure the softball running combo needs to be handle a touch better, for example I get to the ball field and throw the ball for about 5 mins and call it good, no running, stretching, jumping,..nothing. I can feel it today for sure I am walking around my office like I went horseback riding last night. I think that a better plan is to realize if I do not warm up and cool down that my body will not rebound like it used to. So I should actually do a little pregame action before the softball madness takes place. Today's work out should be fast and simple it is not a standard run so I think that I'll like it a little more. We shall see it says hills and well I know I have never liked those before. I also wanted to say that after this weekend or maybe even just a rest day I plan on getting some pictures up and show you where these runs are taking place and how great my running gear is, but until then my words are going to have to be enough. I'll be checking in after my ups and downs later...literally my ups and downs. Wish me luck.
Rookie Runner-Out

Official day one 2mile- 23mins 10secs

Well Tuesday the "real" start of training. This post came late because well I am exhausted. I of course slept in this morning and had no shot as running before the daily grind. So I gathered my softball stuff because I had another game after work today. Like I said you will never have to convince me to run, even sprint 60 feet. So After a disappointing lose I headed home and walked through the door around 8pm. I sat down to write a post about how the last thing I wanted to do was go for a jog after a lose and being gone from home for 12 hours. But when I sat down and opened my lap top no words were coming to mind in fact I just thought I'm kinda stoked to run off my lose and be outside. So I shut 'er down and suited up ( which is my favorite part I have decided because it's the part where I feel like a legit runner). Well I Googled my route today to see where this 2 mile a** whoopin was going to take place. I'm not so sure I got the mileage correct because today was a good running day one of those ones where you could keep going when you are done and you even pick up the pace at the turn cause you are feeling good. So I was kind of disappointed when I added 2 mins to my time, but oh well I was running right. Tonight was a perfect Seattle night and I got to run along the pier and watch the sun go down. As all this was taking place I found myself thinking about when I make the transition to "I'm glad I started this and what an adventure its going to be" from "why the "H" do I really think I can run a what I like to call a marathon.5." So while I wait for that to take place I'm concentrating on putting a smile on and just running without thinking too much. Which to those of you who know me, that may came as a surprise the whole thinking too much bit. Off to bed to rest up and forget about the bad softball game and get ready for the two I have after work tomorrow.

Rookie Runner- out!

2 Miles in 21mins 20sec

Well, I will have you know just because two weeks ago you could run three miles and feel good afterwards does not mean you feel the same after two miles when you have not ran in about three weeks. I mentioned that I was going to do a 2.8 mile run on the beautiful Greenlake. Well I will have you know I was running behind and made it to my game in enough time to get out of the car and realize I would have had to sprint my 2.8 mile fiasco so.... I got mentally prepared for my game instead. Tonight was my first mental battle of this program. I know that Monday is a rest day so I was about ready to say, you know I'll just start on Tuesday like the program says. I have always said that going to the gym is half the battle, just to start the habit and get there. So tonight I got on the treadmill and ran a 2 mile jog because it would have the beginning of a slippery slope if I took today off. I have also learned things in this first workout:

1-New clothes were fun!! but don't look great on, yet.

2-I need to make a plan because I don't like to miss important things like the bachelorette, softball games, and happy hour with friends.

3- pace is not an easy thing to tackle your first time out. I ran my first mile at a 9.5 min pace and the second one around 11.5. I need to keep a consistent pace and not play burn out then relax and jog.

4-I hate running and like it a little at the same time.

5- I love how running makes me feel when I'm done with it.

So that was the trial run and well tomorrow I have another 2 miles to do and I will be doing those outside and hopefully before I go to the office. My goal is to run 90% of my runs outside and never run a "long run" inside. Like I said small victories will keep me going, and tonight small victory was actually just walking into the door of the gym.

Rookie Runner-

Week One's Schedule

Week 1-
Monday - Rest. Rest is an important part of any training program. (I like this day)
Tuesday - Run 2 miles easy. Run at an easy “conversational” pace.
Wednesday - Warm up with 10 to 15 minutes of easy jogging. Run 4 x Hill repeats. Run up a hill of moderate grade. Run at a pace that feels like 5K pace. Your pace will be slower, but will feel 5K pace because of the added difficulty of the hill. Run up the hill for about 100 meters. Jog down the hill and repeat.
Thursday - Rest or cross train. Rest or engage in a non-running activity.
Friday - Run 2.5 miles easy.
Saturday - Run 2 miles easy.
Sunday - Run 3 miles easy

http://www.runningplanet.com/training/half-marathon-training-program-recreational.html

I am starting today with a 2.8 mile run to see how I do ......and well because that is how long Greenlake is and that is where my softball game is tonight. This being my first day I don't really feel like I need to rest from my "long run" yesterday because I did not have a "long run" yesterday. Just a long ride home from Portland and well I think I could use the jog today. Getting all amped to leave work and begin this whole ordeal. I am mostly excited because like my sister says when you are training for a 1/2 marathon you can eat whatever you want.... I'm sure she meant with in reason. Don't think I'll start that plan until I am running more then 2 mile a day. Small victories folks that's what is going to keep me going. Well that and small gifty gifts I will be getting myself along the training program.
I have also added a mileage tracker on this blog so you can see just how far I have gone , and the link above is the link to the training program I decided to use.
Rookie Runner -OUT!

Day one!!

The shoes!! Thanks Super Jock And Jill!

The running clothes! Love them.

Well, today I start on an adventure I have protested for quite some time now. Training and committing to participate in a half marathon. I kinda like to jump on the band wagon for things and not finish them for example: I watched an Iron Man and was hell bent on doing one for about two weeks but I didn't, I also become a soccer fan right around the time of the world cup and never really watched a game after it was over. So needless to say I may not follow through on ALL my big ideas. Well Last year I said I was going to to do a half marathon in Phoenix AZ with my mom and sister. I found excuse after excuse not to do it. Whether it be work or the cost of the trip. Well NO MORE EXCUSES!! I will be doing the Rock and Roll half marathon in Denver CO on Oct 17Th 2010. I will be starting my training program today. I have done the essentials:

1-got a training program that looks fun/doable.

2-bought new running clothes so that I look cool/like a runner.

3- Started this blog to give myself some accountability.

4-Signed up so I can't back out.

5- Told My partners in Crime (my mom Jackie and sister Keri) That I am in. (They have already started training).

6-Spent more then 35 dollars on a pair of running shoes.

7-Told my place of work that I will be out of town for a weekend in Oct to run in a big big race.

8- Got the all clear from my doctor (he said the back is good to go).

9- Looking at cheap flight to Denver I think if I wait a touch longer I will have a better price.

10-Checked the Seahawks Schedule to see that they were out of town. My last excuse was all clear, they are in Chicago Hopefully beating the Bears on the 17th of October.



I am not sure that my little check list will help because I am a beginner I am really not sure what or how I am supposed to go about sticking to my training schedule. I am an athlete and have been involved in sports my whole life so I know what dedication is. I am still a little bit worried because I picked sports where the farthest you would have to run at any given time was about 60 to 120 feet. So this little 13.1 mile run is not something I can really wrap my head around. I will be posting my daily workouts and struggle that come with these so called workouts ( I know I call them workouts now but their name may change due to how tough they become). I hope you can find something entertaining and or motivating, about this little adventure of mine. I was a coach for many years so I really wanted to find a challenge for myself and 13.1 miles seems like its the one I picked. I know there will be times I want to quit this adventure so some words of encouragement are always welcome along with any tips you may have about any of this. Well I will be posting later to inform you all how run number one goes.
Until next time.
Rookie runner signing out.