Brick?

I'm not really sure if today's workout would technically count as a brick because there was around three hours between my run and my bike ride.  It's okay, though, because I still feel like a total bad ass for running three miles AND biking three and a half today:).  Faith is still a sicko so I was solo once again.  It's odd how quickly I've gotten used to having a daily running buddy after years of running solo on week days!!  This has been a very active week for me and it has left me feeling pretty energized and looking forward to a good long run on Saturday;).  Wish you could be there with us, Jody!!  

 

Aerial Yoga

So, I had my first aerial yoga class today.  But, first, let me tell you about yesterday!!  Faith has been ill with a cough and the chills so she's wisely opted to rest.  Yesterday, I ran a fast 3 miles at 9:15 pace which was followed by some body work.  After that, I headed to my first Pilates class.  My abs were already fairly well worked from the Socks class so Pilates was a killer workout!!  We did a decent about of core work and then spent the second half of the class doing some good arm work.  Basically, all my muscle groups were well worked yesterday!!

Today, Faith was on rest again, so I opted for a longer 5 mile run which I did in a 10:10 pace - nice and slow as compared to my recent Wednesday night Red Lizard runs.  Then, I went to aerial yoga - which was both awesome and a little scary.  First of all, all the moves involved either a set of straps with three handles of varying lengths and/or a sort of fabric sling - both of which are securely hung from the ceiling.  A lot of the moves are done with one foot on the floor which allows for some really great stretching as the sling naturally sways.  I even had one successful inversion - the instructor could tell that I was super nervous so she really helped me through that one since I was the only newbie:).  The rest of the class was kind enough to clap for me once I'd completed the move which was both nice and welcoming.  Overall, it was different but in all the right ways.  I'm looking forward to more and I'd really encourage you to give it a try if you ever get the opportunity.  

Fitness Class

Aerial Yoga

 
All the strength training talk from Jody and Faith was inspiring me right about the time that a Groupon came up for the Diva Den.  The place is near my house, the Groupon was $32 for a month of unlimited classes and they had class that I was interested on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday around 5:30.  So, I bought one!  Then, when I was exploring their website, I found another deal for a week's free pass.  Add it all up and I have pre-registered for SIX weeks of classes!  


Tonight was the first class and it was called Sock It To Her.  Basically, there were eight of us in a big class room with eight poles and no shoes.  It was primarily a leg workout with particular focus on the inner and outer thigh areas but I can already feel that we did some good stuff for the abs too!  I'm impressed by how shredded my legs feel in just a thirty minute workout.  


Tomorrow, I'll be going to a 45 minute Pilates class and then Wednesday will be a 45 minute aerial yoga class.  I'm very anxious to see what the heck aerial yoga is all about...  stay tuned for updates on the other classes. 

Austin Marathon Project

Have you noticed that for each required element in marathon training, you have to drop a hundred bones (pardon the expression)? Nothing seems to be less than $100 - good shoes, entry fees, plane tickets, and, optionally, coaching. At least GU is cheap. And since our next marathon requires no travel on my part, I dropped some cash on a training program this morning instead.

I've been debating in my mind whether or not to join - it's cheaper to just train on my own and join free running clubs in town for the longer runs - but in the end I decided that this particular program will be worth it.

The "Austin Marathon Project" is being sponsored by the Texas Running Company, which is, like me, a newcomer to Austin this summer. Because it's new, the group is small, the coaching will be tailored specifically to the individual runners, and they are very enthusiastic. I had a great time running 5 miles with the half marathon group this morning, and am planning on bumping it up so I can run with the full marathoners soon. ALSO! There are Wednesday afternoon track workouts and core workouts, which sounds HARD but also FUN.

Also, it sounds like they are planning on doing a progression like Hal's with the step-back weeks, so hopefully it will align perfectly with my beautiful training calendar.

Since I won't have Jess and Faith to keep me company on the long runs ahead, I'm looking forward to meeting some new runners... but they will have some big five-fingers to fill!

Biking!

My fellow bloggers, Faith and Bones, are both accomplished bikers.  Faith doesn't drive so she does the vast majority of her commuting (both work and personal) by bike.  Jody and her boyfriend Eli have biked the McKenzie River Trail which is a 26 mile trail with several highly technical stretches.  I, however, have not been on a bike much since I was 15 years old.  

About two years ago, I decided that I wanted to start biking again to add a cross training  element to my running.  So, out we ran to the bike shop and bought two bikes.  Which have pretty much sat uselessly in our garage ever since.  After a trip to the bike shop last night to have my tires filled and get some advice, all that changed today!  

As Ty and Onya headed out on their three mile run, I was right beside them on my bike!  It was wonderful - it felt really good.  Growing up, my step-dad and I did a lot of biking.  I fondly remember the beat up, faded blue pouch on his handlebars where we could stow our books on the way to the library or the little treasures that we found along the way.  As we passed a bunch of fallen apples, I really wished that I had something like that so that I could bring some home to the chickens.  Once that childhood memory was triggered, I found that I was reliving some of the joy that I had as a youngster biking.  My mom never joined us so it was something that was just for the two of us and it was a special bonding time whether we were out running errands or on a ride for fun.  My step-dad, as seen below, was a man ahead of his time with the bike commuting thing!  

Joe and Jess dressed up for Halloween - he was dressed as a member of Devo and I was a witch;). 

That little tangent down memory lane aside, I'm really excited to incorporate biking into my regular exercise.  After a three mile run at lunch plus tonight's biking, my legs feel good but tired - just the way I like them:). 

Red Lizards!!

Last night, I did the Wednesday run with the Red Lizards for the third time.  They are a super friendly group and their unofficial Wednesday night motto is 'no runner left behind'.  The route starts at the Fulton Pub (YAY!!) and heads down to the Waterfront then turns south.  When the trail ends, we run along the railroad tracks and then cross the Sellwood bridge and continue to the Oaks Pioneer Church where there's one of Portland's famous bubblers.  There, people drink, catch their breathe and wait for the slower runners (me) to rejoin the group.  We then continue through a small park and then onto a mile-ish long dirt trail that ends up at Oaks Bottom - where the second break and regrouping takes place.  We then head out of Oaks Bottom towards the Springwater Trail and take the Springwater back to the Oaks Pioneer Church for the final break and regrouping before retracing our path back to the Fulton Pub. 

I must say, this is a group of generally fast runners.  Or, fast as compared to ME anyways!!  This run always ends up being a great mid-length tempo run for me - at least taking into account where my running is at the moment.  Here are my splits:

Mile 1 - 9:35
Mile 2 - 9:24
Mile 3 - 10:00 (trail)
Mile 4 - 8:58
Mile 5 - 9:09
Mile 6 - 8:35
Overall - 55:06/9:18 pace

The best part of this run might be the beer and burgers at the Fulton Pub at the end!!!  There are usually at least 6 and up to 20 or so runners who stay afterward to socialize, eat and drink.  It is a good time of comparing races and running experiences. 

Upcoming posts:  biking and fitness classes

Shorty Shorts

So, I'm currently obsessed with shorty shorts for running.  I've seen a couple of really well built women wearing them and I am toying with the idea of getting some.  They look super comfortable but I'm hesitant...  I mean, I'm just not as fit as some of the women who I've seen wearing them.  BUT, what better inspiration?  Or would it just trigger depression everytime I see them in the drawer and pass them over? 

Hmm...  to shorty short or not to shorty short?!?!  Stay tuned. 

Pumping Iron

I'm on a strength training kick this week. My inspiration (aside from Arnold, of course) is a conversation I had with Faith on our way home from the Eugene Marathon. We both felt like now that we had run the marathon, it was time to "get in shape" - how crazy is that! We had just completed an epic 26.2 run, finishing strong, and I felt out of shape. So, for this marathon, one of my goals is to maintain total fitness, not just running fitness.

I like the simplicity of the routine recommended by Hal. It's a quick six exercises that you could do at home or at the gym, and I've added a seventh. It only takes about 30 minutes. My plan is to do these two or three days a week, right after the shorter runs of 3 - 4 miles.

Strength Training, for running:

1. Chest - bench press or push-ups, 2 sets of 12
2. Back - rowing, 2 sets of 12
3. Shoulders - overhead press, 2 sets of 12 (my addition)
4. Triceps - overhead pull, 2 sets of 12
5. Biceps - curl, 2 sets of 12
6. Abs - crunches, 3 sets of 15
7. Legs - lunges, 2 sets of 12

Is anyone else inspired to get pumped up this marathon season?

Solo Run

Faith stayed home sick today so I ran my three miler on the Waterfront solo.  It was lonely but it also make me push myself.  After years of one minor injury after another, I am happy to say that I have finally gotten to a point where I am strong and durable enough to play around with speedwork.  Generally, the only kind of speedwork that I do is a tempo run.  Before Helvetia in June, I did do four weeks of track work but that's all that I've ever done.  Depending on how training for Austin goes, I may try to sneak in some track workouts during the last four weeks before I taper.  Anyway, today's three miles at 27:25 (9:08)counts as a speedwork day for me!! 

Long run??

It was a rough morning...  between the rain and the monster hangover, I did NOT want to run.  At all.  Much less a long run.  After sleeping in, Ty dragged my lazy butt out for a compromise run...  as in, I compromised by going at all and he compromised by running in slow motion and only 3.5 miles.   

Amazingly, I not only made it all the way home but I even feel TONS better for having done it!!  Now I'm all showered with a cup of tea and football!  Soon, chicken enchiladas will be coming out of the oven...  but that's better suited for my other blog:).  

Rest days...

...are the BEST days:).  After five straight days of running for the first time in a month or more, a day off feels pretty darn fantastic.  My knee was niggling me a little bit yesterday - nothing serious - but just a reminder to be careful and take rest days 'seriously'. 

It's raining, it's pouring...

Hello, RAIN!!!  The rain started last night and is still going.  We are supposed to have some breaks today but, looking at the extended forecast, it seems as though it is here to stay.  I must say, it is a welcome change from running in the heat of the summer.  And, I can't complain about MY waterfront path clearing out and becoming more private again. 

Today's lunchtime run will mark five days in a row.  I'm very glad to be back in my routine.  I'm golfing in a tournament on Saturday so this weekend's long run will have to be moved to Sunday...  which means that I'll be running five days in a row again next week.  Hopefully, though, I can get back into the M-Th plus Saturday routine again after that.  I find that I just feel best when I can get in five runs a week.  Otherwise, I start to feel sluggish and just less healthful overall.  It'll be nice to start this round of marathon training feeling strong, healthy and itching to train. 

Running in Texas

I have to admit that I underestimated a little bit how hard it would be to adjust to the climate of Texas. The heat here is brutal! No place is this more apparent than when I am running.

Yesterday, for example, I decided to check out Shoal Creek trail, which conveniently begins from Eli's work. I probably only made it a mile before I was ready to turn around, and this was the DOWNHILL half. I was completely exhausted, and barely ran 2.5 miles before walking it in.

Running here, you sweat like you have never sweated before. My running shoes are literally soaked with sweat when I get home from a run (sexy, I know). I have no stamina in this heat whatsoever, afterward I have to drink more than twice the amount I would have in Portland in order to feel hydrated.

My plan for survival is to include gatorade on all my sweaty outdoor runs, even the short ones, and to train on the treadmill if I have to run mid-day. Already since arriving, the average daily temperatures have gone down from 102 to 92; my hope is that when training begins in earnest it will be in the 70s and 80s, and it will be lovely.

Oh, but the perk of all this hot weather? Outdoor swimming as cross-training.

Week 1 of Pre-Training

Faith and Jess randomly showing up at Krista's birthday drink last night at the Muddy Rudder in the same 2010 Eugene Marathon shirt!!! 

I admit it - I've been lazy lately.  Today is my first week of 'pre-training' since marathon training doesn't officially start until October 18th.  Which gives me one month and 3 days to improve my fitness so that the real training is as productive and enjoyable as possible.  So far this week, I've logged 3 miles on both Monday and Tuesday - which doesn't sound like much but I did race a 10k on Sunday so my legs are a bit on the tired side.  Today, Faith and I are aiming for a four miler...  which will hopefully not be quite as slow as the last couple of days have been!!  My goal during pre-training is to get back in the habit of running Monday - Thursday with a long run on Saturday. 

~Jess - runoregon.net

AAUUU-YEAH-STIN!

So pumped for this round of marathon training! Even more pumped for my marathon outfit! I'm so excited to train with my awesome runner girls! BALLOOOOONS!

Signing up and booking my flight next Friday, y'all!

26.2, BITCHES!!!

I'm registered!!! That is probably the earliest I have ever registered for a race in my life - before training has even started! Can't wait to virtually kick ASS this training season with you ladies.

-jody

p.s. this group blog idea is a winner, i love it

Bright Idea!

This was Faith's bright idea...  but, being the impatient type, I had to set it up as soon as I got back from our latest run!!  The best ideas truly do come about while on the run;). 

The purpose of this blog is for the three of us - Faith, Jody and me - to post about training for the 2011 Austin Marathon.  We trained and ran the 2010 Eugene Marathon together before Jody ditched us to more to Austin with her beloved. 

I'll let each of us tell our own stories in our own way and time.  In the meantime, if you've stumbled across this blog, you are in for quite a treat!!  And, to Faith and Jody, welcome to our little corner of the world!!! 

~Jess