Not being a fan of New Year's resolutions, when it turned 2011 I decided to log some fitness goals for the year. I truly had no idea how well I would progress since I chose these goals two weeks after foot surgery and I couldn't predict my recovery. Well, I'm pleased to say that I've recovered exceptionally well from a bunionectomy and dislocation repair, even though I'll need similar work on my left foot. But that'll keep until after marathon season.
Accountability is half the battle with goals (and resolutions, for that matter) and while I won't bore my readers with all my goals I will report on my success or failure in achieving certain ones. I'll assign a letter grade to better define how I'm doing.
Pay better attention to diet. Some of that comes naturally for me the fitter I become; I just crave junk food less and less. That said, sweets are killer for me, and it doesn't help when my husband likes to give me candy (no complaints, mind you!). Specifically I have been drinking more water and eating more protein. Supplements are still a sticking point. I'm reluctant to have a multi-vitamin at the same time I down a calcium and a Vitamin D pill. So that has been spotty at best. B.
Run another marathon. Haha! Check with me in mid-October after the Bay State Marathon I'm scheduled to run. Incomplete.
Compete in different races/different places. Traveling across Upstate New York to race has become a series of mini-vacations for me, yet another reason to mix things up. For 2011, I have signed up for these new races: Delta Lake Triathlon, outside Rome; Cayuga Lake Triathlon, outside Ithaca; Turning Stone Half-Marathon. A.
Strength train twice a week. I love lifting weights, but when it's sooooo nice outside, I'd rather be on my bike. Still, I'm needing to work on my hamstring strength if I intend to race a strongly as possible this year. A.
Swim four times a week. This is tough to do around work and end-of-year kid schedules. The best I've done is three times a week. C.
Run 35 miles a week. This week past I got to almost 30 miles, and I've deliberately built gradually from my post-op layoff or else risk injury. When I'm gearing up for the Oct. 16 marathon, however, 35-mile weeks will become a must. I'll likely drop one bike a week to make up that distance. B.
Rest every 10 days. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I have one thing to say about that: F.
With 7 months to go in the year, I'll check back in and see how I'm doing.
More than running (but not much more).
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
A Little Help for My Friends
Last Sunday, I experienced something completely different for me--I volunteered at the Mountain Goat instead of running it. This 10-mile jaunt up and down some of the toughest hills in Syracuse is one of my favorite races. This year, nearly 3,000 runners participated, but not me.
I sat this one out because I didn't know how well prepared I would be after my Dec. 16 foot surgery. I was able to complete the entire course on April 16, during one of the Goat training runs, but it wasn't exactly in a stellar time. Still, once I knew I could run the 10-miler, the early (less expensive) registration deadline had passed.
I felt sad, but got over it and my husband and I signed up to direct traffic for the race. At first, we thought we would be at the entrance to Thornden Park, at about mile 7.5. But we got moved to mile 6.5 to what I consider the toughest portion of the race--near the crest of the Colvin Street hill near Lorraine Avenue. It really was awe-inspiring watching runners as they approached, adjusted and eventually conquered that hill. My hat's off to every one of you!
It also was fun watching my friends go by (sorry that I missed some of you), and cheering them on. Now I know what it feels like to be able to give, instead of receive, encouragement.
I have always made it a point to thank volunteers at all the races I have run. We really enjoyed helping out on Sunday, and now I realize even more how vital volunteers are to all the races. I know my running friends love to run races. But I would encourage every one of you to look at your calendar and identify a race you aren't running; then sign up to help out. You'll be glad you did!
Anyway, now that April has passed (though it feels like November this morning), here are my training numbers for the month. They aren't quite half-ironman training numbers, but I'm getting there:
Monthly totals:
Swim: 17428.70 Yd - 4h 57m 57s
Bike: 205.21 Mi - 14h 34m 05s
Run: 75.55 Mi - 11h 56m 18s
Strength: 6h 04m
Sport (mostly yoga): 6h 24m
I sat this one out because I didn't know how well prepared I would be after my Dec. 16 foot surgery. I was able to complete the entire course on April 16, during one of the Goat training runs, but it wasn't exactly in a stellar time. Still, once I knew I could run the 10-miler, the early (less expensive) registration deadline had passed.
I felt sad, but got over it and my husband and I signed up to direct traffic for the race. At first, we thought we would be at the entrance to Thornden Park, at about mile 7.5. But we got moved to mile 6.5 to what I consider the toughest portion of the race--near the crest of the Colvin Street hill near Lorraine Avenue. It really was awe-inspiring watching runners as they approached, adjusted and eventually conquered that hill. My hat's off to every one of you!
It also was fun watching my friends go by (sorry that I missed some of you), and cheering them on. Now I know what it feels like to be able to give, instead of receive, encouragement.
I have always made it a point to thank volunteers at all the races I have run. We really enjoyed helping out on Sunday, and now I realize even more how vital volunteers are to all the races. I know my running friends love to run races. But I would encourage every one of you to look at your calendar and identify a race you aren't running; then sign up to help out. You'll be glad you did!
Anyway, now that April has passed (though it feels like November this morning), here are my training numbers for the month. They aren't quite half-ironman training numbers, but I'm getting there:
Monthly totals:
Swim: 17428.70 Yd - 4h 57m 57s
Bike: 205.21 Mi - 14h 34m 05s
Run: 75.55 Mi - 11h 56m 18s
Strength: 6h 04m
Sport (mostly yoga): 6h 24m
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