While checking my email inbox one day I noticed an email from one of the bootcamp instructors. It was an open invitation to all veterans to join in the Half Marathon/Marathon training program they were going to start doing on the weekends. It was free and would be open to people of all experience levels. The design was set up so that no one would be left behind. People of different levels could run at their own pace.
Knowing that the Macon AR is going to have 8 miles of running with a backpack, I knew this was a key opportunity to train for distance running. I forwarded the email to Emma and asked if she was up for it. Then promptly emailed the instructor back with all of the information to get started, with the HUGE disclaimer that I am NOT a fast runner. By the end of the week I had a go from both Emma and the instructor.
We run on Saturday mornings. We started out with only (and I say "only" with a slight roll of the eyes and flick of the hair) 3 miles. We add a mile each week. Right now we just finished 5 miles today! Wahoo! Go us!
That's how we decided to do the Half Marathon. 13 Miles baby! Yeah!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Raging Results
After a full month of bootcamp (my first bootcamp without injuries) I went through the PT Test again so I could see my improvement. Here's the break down for all those interested in what 4 weeks of bootcamp can do.
What a difference a month makes!
What a difference a month makes!
Friday, December 28, 2007
AR- It's Not a Dirty Word
So after I had begun the process of serious training again I needed my goal. The first weekend after bootcamp I decided to settle down and do a little search for different races. Emma and I had browsed through a few schedules before but hadn't really settled on anything.
One of the sites I stumbled across was for the USARA (US Adventure Racing Association). I was hoping I could find something similar to the Muddy Buddy with a twist. Turns out an adventure race is just the thing. There are various lengths of adventure races (AR). The one we chose is defined as "Endurance: a four- to twelve-hour race, featuring limited navigation and orienteering."
If you want to read more about what AR is follow this link: http://www.racingwithgiants.com/NonFramesSite/Intro%20to%20AR.html
So after we examined Emma's schedule we chose the May race in Macon so it would fit into her schedule better. I started looking at various training plans and found out that I was already doing the perfect thing for Month 1, getting my out of shape butt into shape. Month 2 will be the same. It's in Month 3 that things get really interesting but I can't share all my surprises just yet. :-)
One of the sites I stumbled across was for the USARA (US Adventure Racing Association). I was hoping I could find something similar to the Muddy Buddy with a twist. Turns out an adventure race is just the thing. There are various lengths of adventure races (AR). The one we chose is defined as "Endurance: a four- to twelve-hour race, featuring limited navigation and orienteering."
If you want to read more about what AR is follow this link: http://www.racingwithgiants.com/NonFramesSite/Intro%20to%20AR.html
So after we examined Emma's schedule we chose the May race in Macon so it would fit into her schedule better. I started looking at various training plans and found out that I was already doing the perfect thing for Month 1, getting my out of shape butt into shape. Month 2 will be the same. It's in Month 3 that things get really interesting but I can't share all my surprises just yet. :-)
Fartilek's 50 and Other Tortures
Turns out that because I joined during the holiday bootcamp the camp was filled with vets. Since we were all old dawgs that meant new tricks. Week 3 is usually the hardest week of workouts. Well this time around, every week was week 3.
The first week I remember thinking, "Thank God I survived! What the heck is next week gonna be like?" By the middle of the second week I was back in the swing of things though. I have to say the cold weather was actually pretty nice to work out in, it did cause a wee bit of confusion though. When your legs feel tingly is that because they're numb from the cold or numb from the pain? Still haven't figured that little mystery out.
So everyone always asks what we actually do at bootcamp. I'll give you an example of a typical workout called Fartilek's 50. For those who don't know a Fartilek is a short sprint. In this work out we do our normal warm up and then we sprint to a new location in the park. When we get to that location we do 50 repetitions of pushups, dips, squats, situps or whatever else the instructors feel will work similar muscle groups. Then another sprint to the next location for the next round. You do this all through the park for 45 minutes. Finally you do a cool down stretch and jog back to your car. That's pretty typical.
By week 3 and 4 I was feeling pretty good. Work was kicking my butt, so I couldn't go as often as I wanted to, but it was awesome!
The first week I remember thinking, "Thank God I survived! What the heck is next week gonna be like?" By the middle of the second week I was back in the swing of things though. I have to say the cold weather was actually pretty nice to work out in, it did cause a wee bit of confusion though. When your legs feel tingly is that because they're numb from the cold or numb from the pain? Still haven't figured that little mystery out.
So everyone always asks what we actually do at bootcamp. I'll give you an example of a typical workout called Fartilek's 50. For those who don't know a Fartilek is a short sprint. In this work out we do our normal warm up and then we sprint to a new location in the park. When we get to that location we do 50 repetitions of pushups, dips, squats, situps or whatever else the instructors feel will work similar muscle groups. Then another sprint to the next location for the next round. You do this all through the park for 45 minutes. Finally you do a cool down stretch and jog back to your car. That's pretty typical.
By week 3 and 4 I was feeling pretty good. Work was kicking my butt, so I couldn't go as often as I wanted to, but it was awesome!
Birthday Bootcamp
So after I finally convinced myself that I could run again I decided to sign up for another bootcamp. Because irony is a running theme in my life, of course the day it started was on my birthday, and the Monday after Thanksgiving.
4:30 AM- The alarm clock rings. Holy mother, this is early. Snooze? No! I will get up! After I hit snooze :-P.
5:00 AM- I’m up, I’m up…jeez…no need to beep at me. Doth my eyes deceive me?!? Did the drought decide to end on this very day? It’s pouring out. Okay, I’m not going to melt. I can do this.
5:30 AM- At the Bootcamp gym. I see all of my fellow veterans. They’re all instructors now and are tone and buff. L One day…that will be me. I watch as the new recruits get “the speech”. Haha…suckas!
6:00 AM- Yeah!! We’re doing the Fitness Test inside first because of the rain. Dry…warm…comfy. Who-ah!
6:30 AM- You want me to run a mile after that?!? In the immortal words of Melissa Manchester, “It’s my birthday and I’ll cry if I want to!”
6:45 AM- 11 minutes 27 seconds :-P. I blame the rain.
8:00 AM- I’m the early bird at the office. Looking gorgeous in my black Nicole Miller dress I bought off of eBay. I’ve already done my workout for today…sweet!
9:00 AM- Client sessions all day. I’m lucky the clients I work with are all older men. Even on my drowsiest of days I still have a bit more spunk than they do.
6:00 PM- Time to get real work done now that the client has left for the day. What the bleep went on here while I was gone!!??
11:00 PM- Finally headed home. Eh…a consultant’s life.
12:00 AM- That’s one birthday for the record books. Adult birthday’s are…uh…interesting.
4:30 AM- The alarm clock rings. Holy mother, this is early. Snooze? No! I will get up! After I hit snooze :-P.
5:00 AM- I’m up, I’m up…jeez…no need to beep at me. Doth my eyes deceive me?!? Did the drought decide to end on this very day? It’s pouring out. Okay, I’m not going to melt. I can do this.
5:30 AM- At the Bootcamp gym. I see all of my fellow veterans. They’re all instructors now and are tone and buff. L One day…that will be me. I watch as the new recruits get “the speech”. Haha…suckas!
6:00 AM- Yeah!! We’re doing the Fitness Test inside first because of the rain. Dry…warm…comfy. Who-ah!
6:30 AM- You want me to run a mile after that?!? In the immortal words of Melissa Manchester, “It’s my birthday and I’ll cry if I want to!”
6:45 AM- 11 minutes 27 seconds :-P. I blame the rain.
8:00 AM- I’m the early bird at the office. Looking gorgeous in my black Nicole Miller dress I bought off of eBay. I’ve already done my workout for today…sweet!
9:00 AM- Client sessions all day. I’m lucky the clients I work with are all older men. Even on my drowsiest of days I still have a bit more spunk than they do.
6:00 PM- Time to get real work done now that the client has left for the day. What the bleep went on here while I was gone!!??
11:00 PM- Finally headed home. Eh…a consultant’s life.
12:00 AM- That’s one birthday for the record books. Adult birthday’s are…uh…interesting.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Working My Way Back
I finally recieved the go ahead to start running again. Knowing that bootcamp would probably push the limit of my recovery I just started jogging some routes around my house.
My neighbors mentioned that if I followed this one route it would be a 5k. After building myself up to a two mile jog with only minimal huffing and puffing, I decided to give it a shot.
What you can't tell from this map is that at about the 2 mile marker there is a huge hill! You also couldn't tell that from my neighbor's description. For 1/2 a mile it is nothing but up hill. Blah....it conquered me. But don't worry...I'll be back!
My neighbors mentioned that if I followed this one route it would be a 5k. After building myself up to a two mile jog with only minimal huffing and puffing, I decided to give it a shot.
What you can't tell from this map is that at about the 2 mile marker there is a huge hill! You also couldn't tell that from my neighbor's description. For 1/2 a mile it is nothing but up hill. Blah....it conquered me. But don't worry...I'll be back!
Muddy Buddy Blues
I was soooooooo jazzed after the race! I went straight back to bootcamp and was ready to hit the road running again.
I was sore all over, but having never run a race of that magnitude before I thought it was all just normal. After only a week of bootcamp I had torn my groin and was fully limping around the office. Ice...heat...rest...tylenol. I did the regiment and in a month I tried to return again. I lasted 3 days before I tore my groin again (or as Emma likes to call it "I ripped my crotch").
It was time to visit the doctor. After 2 visits I was referred to an orthopedic because they believed it might be something more serious than a muscle tear. An X-ray revealed what looked to be a hairline fracture on my tibula right in the ball of the hip joint. The doctor was worried that if it hadn't healed the bone would collapse. Since after 2 months I was still limping he advised no more running until after an MRI.
Two doctor's visits later I checked out okay! What they thought was a fracture was actually an old growth line. Jeez...all that for a silly old growth line?!? Always better safe than sorry though.
I was sore all over, but having never run a race of that magnitude before I thought it was all just normal. After only a week of bootcamp I had torn my groin and was fully limping around the office. Ice...heat...rest...tylenol. I did the regiment and in a month I tried to return again. I lasted 3 days before I tore my groin again (or as Emma likes to call it "I ripped my crotch").
It was time to visit the doctor. After 2 visits I was referred to an orthopedic because they believed it might be something more serious than a muscle tear. An X-ray revealed what looked to be a hairline fracture on my tibula right in the ball of the hip joint. The doctor was worried that if it hadn't healed the bone would collapse. Since after 2 months I was still limping he advised no more running until after an MRI.
Two doctor's visits later I checked out okay! What they thought was a fracture was actually an old growth line. Jeez...all that for a silly old growth line?!? Always better safe than sorry though.
Muddy Buddy Atlanta 2007
June 25, 2007-
Dearest Friends & Family,
The big day was yesterday!!!! My friend Emma and I ran our 10k obstacle/relay race! Wahooooooo!!!! We were in the 9th wave so our race started at 9AM on what was later to be the hottest June day on record!!! EEEKKKK!!!
I biked for 3 legs of the event and ran for 2. I only had one wipe out on the bike! (It wouldn't have been fun if I didn't wipe out at least once!) The obstacles weren't too bad, just lots of walls to climb. I think the snake I ran into on the course should count as an obstacle as well (I hurtled over him and yelled back to the girls behind me a warning call, and watched 10 girls run around screaming as I kept plunging forward....Mother Nature loves me!). The mudpit was our final obstacle right before the finish line. Some jerk actually mixed gravel in with the mud so that is where most of my damage comes from. I'm a little cut up.
But, for our official finish time: 57 MINUTES 35 SECONDS!!!!! We finsihed midway in our category! Wahoo!!! Not bad for our first type of event like that! The link has the AJC article to read and I've attached the pictures we took. I look gross but who cares!!! I finished the Muddy Buddy!!!!
http://lpe.ajc.com/gallery/view/metro/0607/0624race/
Thanks everyone!
Dearest Friends & Family,
The big day was yesterday!!!! My friend Emma and I ran our 10k obstacle/relay race! Wahooooooo!!!! We were in the 9th wave so our race started at 9AM on what was later to be the hottest June day on record!!! EEEKKKK!!!
I biked for 3 legs of the event and ran for 2. I only had one wipe out on the bike! (It wouldn't have been fun if I didn't wipe out at least once!) The obstacles weren't too bad, just lots of walls to climb. I think the snake I ran into on the course should count as an obstacle as well (I hurtled over him and yelled back to the girls behind me a warning call, and watched 10 girls run around screaming as I kept plunging forward....Mother Nature loves me!). The mudpit was our final obstacle right before the finish line. Some jerk actually mixed gravel in with the mud so that is where most of my damage comes from. I'm a little cut up.
But, for our official finish time: 57 MINUTES 35 SECONDS!!!!! We finsihed midway in our category! Wahoo!!! Not bad for our first type of event like that! The link has the AJC article to read and I've attached the pictures we took. I look gross but who cares!!! I finished the Muddy Buddy!!!!
http://lpe.ajc.com/gallery/view/metro/0607/0624race/
Thanks everyone!
Where I Started
About a year ago today I started out on my journey to train for my 10k obstacle course. I started out not even being able to run a whole mile. Heck, I couldn't even run a whole 1/2 mile. I sounded like a freight engine ramping up..."chug, chug, chug, chug". It was evident that running was something I had never done before.
By March I had run my first mile. Wow! That was an accomplishment. Then, my friend Emma decided our first moment of truth had come. I ran my first 5k. I finished in just under an hour. Yes, an hour. But I finished! Yes, a 5 year old did beat me. But hey, this was one lean, mean 5 year old.
Then it was time to get into serious race shape. I had been going to a trainer but I needed to crank it into high gear. The race was only getting closer. That's when I joined bootcamp (http://www.operationbootcamp.com/).
Four weeks of none stop working out and hard core dieting and I was whipped into shape! Then we started doing bricks at the gym. What are bricks? Run for 5 min then bike 5 min and keep rotating. It helps with training for events where you switch back and forth between events (such as the Muddy Buddy).
Finally, the day of reckoning came....
By March I had run my first mile. Wow! That was an accomplishment. Then, my friend Emma decided our first moment of truth had come. I ran my first 5k. I finished in just under an hour. Yes, an hour. But I finished! Yes, a 5 year old did beat me. But hey, this was one lean, mean 5 year old.
Then it was time to get into serious race shape. I had been going to a trainer but I needed to crank it into high gear. The race was only getting closer. That's when I joined bootcamp (http://www.operationbootcamp.com/).
Four weeks of none stop working out and hard core dieting and I was whipped into shape! Then we started doing bricks at the gym. What are bricks? Run for 5 min then bike 5 min and keep rotating. It helps with training for events where you switch back and forth between events (such as the Muddy Buddy).
Finally, the day of reckoning came....
How It All Got Started
I have been asked many times how I got the idea to train for all of these crazy races. When I look back at everything I don't know how crazy it actually was though or even that surprising.
In college I had wanted to start running but I always had an excuse for why I was too busy or had something "more interesting" to do. Secretly I was always envious of the joggers I'd see around campus and wanted to join in the fun.
After I started working I learned the true meaning of busy. With my 80-90 hour work weeks it didn't take long before I felt like work was consuming my entire life. I needed something for myself again. I needed something to make me proud of me...not of proud of my work, or proud of my belongings...just me. I realized running was what I was going to use to accomplish this.
Why running? Well aside from the obvious health benefits, there is the endorphines it gives you to help you smile through even the toughest of days, the toning to look gorgeous in all my business suits, the challenge, and most importantly, the feeling of accomplishment which no other activity has other given me.
Why an obstacle course? I quickly realized that just telling myself I'd start running wasn't enough to get me out there. There needed to be a deadline...a goal. I needed something that would force me to reach a certain point. That's when my friends got involved and started suggesting different races.
A 5k? Eh...30 minute race to boost my self esteem? Not quite there. A 10k? Eh...60 minute race to boost my self esteem? Longer, but no dice. How bout a marathon (26.3 miles)? Wooooaahhhh there Nelly!! I haven't started running yet. Let's make sure I can live through a mile. Ok...so I like the distance of a 10k but there has got to be something more challenging than just a run. How about a 10k obstacle course? OMG!!! That's it! It'll add the twist that I need. I will have to train across the board to get into shape for it and it's something not that many people actually have the ability/stamina to do. If I can do this, I know I've made a significant change for the better.
So it was decided, my first race would be the Muddy Buddy Atlanta on June 24, 2007. A 10k obstacle course with running and biking.
In college I had wanted to start running but I always had an excuse for why I was too busy or had something "more interesting" to do. Secretly I was always envious of the joggers I'd see around campus and wanted to join in the fun.
After I started working I learned the true meaning of busy. With my 80-90 hour work weeks it didn't take long before I felt like work was consuming my entire life. I needed something for myself again. I needed something to make me proud of me...not of proud of my work, or proud of my belongings...just me. I realized running was what I was going to use to accomplish this.
Why running? Well aside from the obvious health benefits, there is the endorphines it gives you to help you smile through even the toughest of days, the toning to look gorgeous in all my business suits, the challenge, and most importantly, the feeling of accomplishment which no other activity has other given me.
Why an obstacle course? I quickly realized that just telling myself I'd start running wasn't enough to get me out there. There needed to be a deadline...a goal. I needed something that would force me to reach a certain point. That's when my friends got involved and started suggesting different races.
A 5k? Eh...30 minute race to boost my self esteem? Not quite there. A 10k? Eh...60 minute race to boost my self esteem? Longer, but no dice. How bout a marathon (26.3 miles)? Wooooaahhhh there Nelly!! I haven't started running yet. Let's make sure I can live through a mile. Ok...so I like the distance of a 10k but there has got to be something more challenging than just a run. How about a 10k obstacle course? OMG!!! That's it! It'll add the twist that I need. I will have to train across the board to get into shape for it and it's something not that many people actually have the ability/stamina to do. If I can do this, I know I've made a significant change for the better.
So it was decided, my first race would be the Muddy Buddy Atlanta on June 24, 2007. A 10k obstacle course with running and biking.
Welcome Family & Friends
So after the last several months I have had so much support from each of you about all of the running and working out I've been doing to train for different events. This blog is set up so I can keep a training journal to share my successes (and failures) with everyone. I'll be uploading information each week so everyone can see my progress and upcoming events. Check in from time to time to see how I'm doing!
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