darrrrk

I was working a little late today and of course now that it's fall it gets dark earlier, so I started being all "I can't run tonight, I don't have my glow in the dark running vest." But then of course I saw the illogic of that, since I've never actually had it, and I've been running for two winters.  So, I dropped the excuse and went to the free parking place on the Charles.

I was a little nervous when I parked because there was a sign that said "No parking after dark. Violators will be towed." Of course it was dark by then, but there were other people there, so I decided it was probably an empty threat.  It was really dark during the run, and hard to see the path and all the ruts and such.  I decided I could do the slightly shorter route, going over the Weeks Footbridge.  In total it was about 2.65 miles in 27 min 24 sec, or a 10 min 20 sec mile.  I did have to hesitate briefly to cross the street, but prob only like 5 sec, and I was a little slow running down the steps by the river, but again prob only like 5 seconds added there.  Well, with warming up and the pauses and such, I probably was running around a 10 minute mile for some of the run. I felt like I was doing pretty well.

My two year Runaversary will be next Friday.  So hard to believe!  I ordered two overpriced sports bras and a pair of running tights - exactly the same as the ones I have, but black instead of grey.

I talked to someone who's in the EdD program, and apparently the Pedagogy of the Oppressed isn't a gag gift.  They actually talk about it in class.  Gag.

New Kicks!

I actually wore out a pair of running shoes and had to buy new ones!  Like, the treads were genuinely looking worn down, not like "I left them at the Pioneer Inn and didn't want to wait until they reached me in the mail."  I went to Marathon Sports on my lunch on Friday.  The sales people there are supposed to be the best; and IDK if that's really true, but the guy really got into watching me walk back and forth, and then brought up one pair of Aasics, one pair of Brooks, and one pair of Saucony's.  After trying all of them on, def liked the Saucony's the best.  They felt like they had more padding on the ball of the foot, and the way they rolled, made me naturally spring forward.  And with my running, I need all the help I can get.  They do have a lot of very bright yellow on them, which I guess will be good for evenings since winter is coming, but not my favorite.  I also finally got a vest thing for running after dark.  Eww, but with the way people drive around here…..

So today I went climbing in the morning and then didn't feel like going anywhere to run.  So, I just did my little 5K here.  It's been ages since I've done it!  The new shoes felt a little funny at first, shorter in the back, maybe less support?  But I like the rock to them.

It's a beautiful fall day out, everyone was outside, enjoying it before winter comes.  Running felt slow and difficult, and when I got back I walked up my street.  But then when I looked at it I went 3.08 miles in 31 min and 49 sec, which is a 10 min 20 sec mile, and it's actually kind of hilly here, so I was running faster than I have been.  Yay me!

In other news, the EdD program sent me a book last week.  I thought it was going to be the Student Handbook, but it turns out that it's Pedagogy of the Oppressed.  The first sentence is "While the problem of humanization has always, from an axiological point of view, been humankind's central problem, it now takes on the character of an inescapable concern."  I don't even know what that means, except that someone needs to lay off the thesaurus.  And frankly, I don't care.  I hope the whole program isn't full of readings like this, because if it is I'm not doing it.

Nor'Easter

We've been having a nor'easter for the last couple of days, rain and wind like crazy!  It's been so nasty out.  Today there was a little break in the action that allowed me to go to Weight Watchers at lunch (down 2 pounds!  Awesome!  Empty stomach, bladder and bowels partly to thank for that one I'm sure) but by the time work was finished it was raining out again, so I went to the gym.

It turns out that you have to pay 3x the membership fee for the classes that they're offering!  No way.  The schedule isn't even good.  I did a rather dull 30 minutes on the treadmill, mostly at a 10 1/2 minute mile.  Of course, by the end of the cool down, it was pretty much exactly 5K.

I read in an online article that running on a treadmill is less exercise than outside because you don't have to break the air. So, you should run at a bit of an incline to make up for it.  Of course, I didn't follow that advise, but it does make sense.

My two year Run-a-versary is coming up!  Craziness!!  I was thinking about new cute running tights from Athleta (surprise) but now I'm considering some new uber expensive sports bras from Athleta instead.  I have one from there that I really like.  Don't want The Girls bouncing down to the knees.

Way Post-10K Run

I actually felt pretty good after the 10K race!  So good that I decided a fall foliage hike of Monadnock was in order - Wednesday was supposed to be beautiful and I am on Staycation this week, so I thought it would be perfect.  Well, apparently Wednesday was beautiful in the Boston area, but at Monadnock it was rainy and the top of the mountain was covered in clouds.  Every now and then there would be a break and it was an awesome view.  But, the way down was hell because all the granite was slipppppery!  I did a lot of butt scootching, and slow balancey crab walking.  Then I got annoyed with myself and was like "trust in your feet!" which was a huge mistake because my feet slid right our from under me and I landed on the rock on my ass and it really hurt.  So, I've been nursing a sore butt since then.  I decided today I needed to get back to running though, even if it was just a shorter one.

I went to Fresh Pond and did one lap plus an extension.  I was going to do exactly 30 min, but then I decided to do exactly 29 min, because I was back to the start point and had already been sort of jogging around.  In total I went 2.68 miles, so a little slower than my 10K time :)  It started raining when I was running.  IDK, it said it was supposed to be nice out today too.

Apparently my life has been too free of stress for the past year or so, and so I applied to the Doctoral Program in Higher Ed at Northeastern - it's an on-line Ed.D., not a real Ph.D. or anything.  "A program for working professionals" is how they market it.  I found out yesterday that I was accepted!  I hear there are a lot of papers the first quarter.  I don't know if that will make me need to run more, or cut into running time?  Well, my mom has 4 kids and only 1 is currently a doctor.  She's probably bringing down the percentages at the JCC :)

Tufts 10K for Women

Woo Hooo!  Totally nailed the race!  And by nailed it, I mean I ran the entire thing in one hour, six minutes and five seconds, which is a 10 minute and 39 second mile. I'm not going to lie, I was completely psyched with myself for going that fast, even though yes, I was in the bottom 40% of the runners.  But whatever, it was way faster than I expected to go.

I wound up running with this other woman from Team in Training, and I think she kept me running at that pace.  At first I was thinking it was going to be too fast, but then as I got running I realized that it actually was fine, I wasn't breathing that hard and that although I was tired I was OK.  It was pretty cool being out there with 8000 other people running, and not having to worry about stopping at any of the streets or anything.  I did pass a few people again, and of course a ton of people passed me.

Now I'm on the couch with all the free snacks that I got at the race, eating.  I'm not gonna lie, a lot of them are not that tasty.  "Simply Sprouted Tortilla chips" taste like cardboard. And that squeeze yogurt?  No.  I did finally get to try Boom Chicka Pop, and I think I'll stick with the microwaved.  Fruit Squishims? Maybe I'll hold on until tomorrow for them.

Short Run

Two days until the Big Race!  I have my number, my Tufts 10K shirt (which is really pretty see thru, also I think designed by a man), and so I'm ready for the big day.  I decided to get in one last run before the race, partly just to have one last run and partly because I've been a total bum all day (and ate pad thai last night, and then pancakes. And then today I had a burger and fries.  Not really a weight watchers weekend so far.)  Anyhow, I decided to make it a shorter run, but a little faster.  I went only 2 miles, from my house, up to Ball Square and back.  I even walked up my street.  In the end it was slightly less than 2 miles, about 1.95 and it took me just under 20 minutes.  So, about a 10 minute mile. I was running a little slower at the start to warm up, and I had to pause a couple of times at roads (though not really stop), so I'm going with 10 minute mile for most of the run.  Not bad for me for a short run!

The Team in Training coach was saying that you should kick your feet back as you are running.  Which I was trying to do, and it does work!  If I was in better aerobic shape I could run faster.  Ha! I guess that's pretty much the story for everyone.  Anyhow, next entry will be the 10K - hope I can run the whole thing :)

Slllloooooowwwww

Really pokey run today, but I decided that was allowed since The Big Race is coming up in just 5 days and I don't want to do anything to hurt myself.  I did the free parking run on the Charles, parked a little further down because traffic was nuts, and I didn't think I could get over for the first parking lot.  I wound up going 3.5 miles in 38.5 minutes, which is an 11 minute mile.  It felt just fine, I think if I pace myself like that on Monday I should be able to run the whole race at that speed.  I should look at the map and learn where the mile marks are so that I know about where I am for pacing (though they usually have signs.)

I got my Team in Training race shirt in the mail a couple days ago!  It's actually kind of a cheep piece of crap, and the logo is right on my boobs.  I guess they put it higher so that you can pin your number below, but seriously….  I'm pretty sure it was designed by a guy.

I was supposed to do my last long run, 6 miles, on Saturday.  Instead, though, I sat on my couch all day and read Gone Girl.  Really lame.  I tried to make up for it on Sunday by going to Boot Camp, climbing, walking a mile and 3/4 for lunch (round trip), and doing yoga class.  All of which left me feeling tired by the end.  It's not a 6 mile run though.

Old South Church

It was rainy and gross out today and so I decided to hit the gym again for a run.  The big race is getting really close, just 13 days away, so I wanted to make sure to get in my cardio.  I did treadmill fartliks, started slow because I had a bit of a headache, then bumped it up to 5.6 mph until minute 5, then did one minute sprints, with one minute rests between them.  I started with 6 mph and then 6.1, 6.2, etc, all the way up to 6.8, which once again had me going faster than a 9 minute mile!  I did 10 minutes at 10 minute mile or faster, then slowed it down some.  In the end I did 30 minutes, 5K, which is how far I always go on the treadmill.

I found a new Weight Watchers meeting that's at the Old South Church in Back Bay.  The church that we meet in was built in 1875, we meet upstairs.  It's a pretty amazing building!  And there's a baby Jesus tucked in his manger waiting for Christmas to come in the room where we weigh in.  Wonder how our forefathers would feel about it?  Anyhow, the leader was pretty dynamic, she did a good program, and it's convenient - it's at 12:15 so I can walk over for lunch.  Of course, then no more WW runs, but I can live with that.  Hope I'm down tomorrow :)