Running Around

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Dina

I hope everyone had a happy and healthy holiday season! Mine was very low-key but full of fun.

J and I spent a lot of time admiring the lights at Disney which makes even Cinderella’s Castle prettier. (That night was so cold and I actually was able to wear my winter coat. Yes, it does get cold in Central Florida.)

I decided to run Gasparilla again. It was the most fun race I ran last year and I needed to put something on my schedule to keep my motivation up.

My training is going well but strength training has fallen to the wayside. I find that it is easy to stick to either a lifting schedule or a running schedule but putting them together something gives. The Smart Coach plan from Runner’s World has runs five days a week and I have little motivation to go to the gym on my one off day. The solution is probably to lift in the morning before work and run after. I just cannot seem to get up any earlier to actually make it to the gym. So that is something to work on in 2013.

The following are Weeks One through Three of this current cycle of half marathon training. I like that Smart Coach has pace ranges for each run based on your most current race time. Sticking to those paces has helped me feel like I am getting faster. My A goal for Gasparilla is 2:14.

Do you have a race on the schedule?

2012 OUC Orlando Half Marathon

Posted on December 2, 2012 by Dina

Going into OUC Orlando Half Marathon, I was very unsure of my training. (I vented about it here if you are interested.) I was all over the place with changing my training plan, getting sick, and feeling like I was never going to get faster.

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Like most things, it was much worse in my head.

I started the race day off by waking up at the ungodly hour of 4 AM (in which I ask myself, why do I have to live in no-mans-land Polk County which is far from everywhere?) Had my typical pre-race breakfast of peanut butter and toast. I went back and forth on what to wear because the morning was in the low 50’s, which is chilly in the land of sunshine, but went with a t-shirt and shorts. I would much rather be chilly to start and comfortable during the race than sweating buckets because I am overdressed.

I got into Orlando with few issues and was lucky to be able to use J’s parking pass to park in a lot for free. (He goes to Florida A&M Law School which is in downtown Orlando.) The lot is a half a mile from Lake Eola so I counted that as my warm-up. The bathroom situation at the start was ideal, a fairly short wait for real bathrooms (no wait on the men’s side.) I love not having to use a porta-pottie.

I fought my way into the starting corral, lined up in between the 9-10 minute mile signs. There were so many people that I couldn’t even see the start, only the back of the heads of those in front of me. I was pretty cold in my shorts but luckily the wait was only a few minutes and then we were off.

I tried to start slow, my goal was to stay at a 10:30 pace, but did get caught up the the starting frenzy. It can be so difficult at the start to not get caught up in the frenzy of moving forward but I get better at every race.

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The race route was lovely and took you through some beautiful neighborhoods in Orlando. I loved everything about it minus the very painful brick roads. The last few miles had plenty of hills with bricks which may have caused me to swear. I get so paranoid running on uneven surfaces because I am a tad bit clumsy and likely to trip over my own feet, let alone uneven brick.

A few signs of what I consider a successful half marathon:

1. Not needing medical attention (this is one that I have for everyday life too.)

2. Not needing to pee (or at least being able to hold it until the end.)

3. Not bonking

So how did I do?

I was a little slower than my goal to average a 10:30 m/m but I was able to avert a diaphragm cramp. I only am able to do this with some walking, so I walked a little.

My official time:

My official time of 2:23:29 is a half marathon PR of eight minutes! I hoped I could PR but really was unsure if it would happen. This gives me so much hope that I can drop my time even further for Gasparilla in February.

The medal:

The race shirt:

Cool towels being handed out at the finish line:

So horrible, painful brick aside, I had so much fun running half marathon number three, the OUC Orlando Half Marathon.

Losing My Run

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Dina

Training for my third half has been frustrating. Writing about this frustration may have helped but I tend to internalize self-annoyance and could not find the right words.

I have maintained a somewhat decent weekly mileage while loosely interpreting three different training plans.

Weeks 43 and 46 were both weeks that I was sick.

I had a difficult time sticking to one training plan having changed three times in fourteen weeks. The issue is that my body is capable of running five or six days a week but months of that is draining mentally. (Plus it sometimes causes my husband to claim he never sees me and that I spend more time out of the house than in it.) That coupled with all the stress of the election (as the President of the Polk County Young Democrats and being in charge of the DEC weekly newsletter) was biting off more than I could chew. So what is the solution?

I want to get faster and to do that I know I need much higher weekly mileage. For slow pokes such as myself, fitting 40 miles per week in is a serious time commitment. I need to find a better way to increase my mileage and not feeling like the only I do is run. I also want to see some results and know that will require pushing myself outside of the comfort zone of 11 minute miles when I know I can run faster. (Sometimes I feel like I’m afraid of the discomfort of running faster. If that makes any sense.)

The plan so far is run the Orlando Half Marathon this coming Saturday. I will run it with few expectations but secretly hoping to PR (2.31.38 from March of 2012). Then find a new and better fit training plan for Gasparilla Half Marathon in February.

So there it is, all the reasons why I haven’t been posting and have felt bad about my running.

Long Run Motivation

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Dina

Heading out the door for a ten mile run, when my legs are sore from weight training, I need all the motivation I can get.

Here’s to at least being faster than your slowest friend or neighbor!

Image from Fit Over Shit

Shoe Changes

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Dina

I am not a big fan of change. When I first got more serious about running and went to a running store to get fit for shoes, they recommended Asics 2150.

These shoes got me through all my early racing and training without incident. When they started to wear out I purchased the next in the series, the 2160.

No injuries or problems, so I never saw a reason to change. Until now.

I received an email from my local running store (Fitniche) that the only real running shoes I have ever worn in my two years of running were being discontinued. The good news was that they were having a sale to clear out the last model year (GT-2170). I got my butt right over to Lakeland looking to stock up on a few pairs of shoes and to put off the inevitable search for new shoes.

Sadly, they only had one pair of 2170’s in my size.

At least they were purple, so that kind of helped ease my pain.

So now I have one pair of the only running shoes I ever worn left and know I will need to replace them eventually. I did a little bit of research to find out what the replacement line is for the 2100 series and it looks like Asics has two options for a replacement. One is the GT-2000 and the other is the GT-1000. Both lines are being launched in October.

I decided to try to adapt and purchased a pair of Asics GT-1000’s.

They are literally the cutest running shoes I have ever worn and received many compliments on them. Asics teamed up with Christina Applegate’s Right Action For Women fund which provides assistance to women who are at an increased risk for breast cancer. During October, they will donate $2 for every pair sold.

After running in the GT-1000’s for two weeks, I am not entirely sure how I feel. I don’t hate them but I do notice that they have less cushioning than the GT-2170’s. This is not necessarily a bad thing but I do notice it.

Have your favorite running shoes been discontinued?

All images from trisports.ie, runpals.com, and REI

Stress And The Body

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Dina

A few years ago I was diagnosed with Graves Disease. Graves Disease is an immune disorder that results in the overproduction in thyroid hormone. There are two treatments for Graves Disease, thyroid removal or Radioactive Iodine, which is absorbed by the thyroid and destroys its’ tissue. My doctor opted for the later. In some cases where the Radioactive Iodine is administered, the thyroid retains some function. I am one of those cases. I do take medication to make sure my thyroid levels stay normal but have been lucky and I have very few issues.

I see an Endocrinologist twice a year, mainly to go over blood work (they check various thyroid levels, glucose, and cortisol.) Everything is great except my cortisol levels. They are consistently through the roof. Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal gland that is involved in many biological functions such as glucose metabolism, immune function, and regulation of blood pressure. My levels are very high and have been over a period of years and they have even tested me for Cushing’s Syndrome but I do not have it. The only conclusion is that I am stressed.

I don’t feel stressed but my body is telling a different story. High cortisol levels are no laughing matter and I need to get these levels down to ensure my continued good health.

How do you deal with stress?

Image taken from here

Matched By Ally Condie: A Review

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Dina

Title: Matched

Author: Ally Condie

Series: Matched #1

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Published Date: November 1, 2010

Matched by Ally Condie is a great addition to the ever-growing Young Adult Dystopian genre. It features a strong heroine in Cassia, who is very smart and slowly begins to recognize the truth about the world she lives in. I love to read female teen characters that have strength in their convictions and will do the right thing even when it’s hard.

On her matching day, Cassia finds out she is matched with Xander, her best friend. It is unusual but not unheard of for people to be matched with someone they already know. Cassia is given a disk with information about her match and when she views it another face is shown on the screen. A glitch like this is unheard of and it starts a chain of events that change Cassia’s life forever.

This book is difficult to put down. It really has it all forbidden love, a government that has a big secret, and a character that is put in an impossible situation. The normal awakening and awareness of self that one experiences in the teen years coupled with a forbidden love and a government that is literally out to get you, makes for an exciting read.

I am glad that the love triangle was dispatched quickly. Even though Cassia tries to imagine her perfect little life with Xander, she realizes that you cannot go back. That knowledge changes you.

This series is often compared with The Hunger Games but I think The Uglies Series is a much better comparison. There is a lightness here that The Hunger Games lacks. The dark things are just below the surface and will most likely rear their heads in books two and three.

Please join the conversation about Matched by Ally Condie on BlogHer.

If you enjoy reading about books, please find me on my new book blog All The Stacks.

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

All images taken from goodreads.

Disney and A New Restaurant

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Dina

J and I finally renewed our Disney passes. We put it off during August because it is so freaking hot here and no one wants to be outside waiting in lines sweating like a pig.

Sadly, last weekend was super busy at Disney, so all we were able to do was walk around. The great part of living here and having annual passes is if you do go on a day with tons of other people, just walking around is fine.

We were really excited to see the open parts of the Fantasyland expansion. One of the many circus-themed signs.

This area had lots of new rides and a water area for the little ones.

J in front of one of the many retro circus signs.

Cinderella’s fountain.

Inscription next to the fountain.

The castle.

J trying his luck at the sword in the stone. This picture was fun to take, I kept giving instructions like make it look like you’re straining. People may have been staring.

The sign.

I took a picture of this sign because I am five and the word nugget makes me giggle.

After walking through the crowds of people pushing strollers, we needed to eat. Of course because we left it to the last-minute we could not get reservations anywhere in the parks. We decided to go over to the Boardwalk and see what we could scrounge up.

Cat Cora has a new to us restaurant called Kouzzina by Cat Cora that looked promising. Sadly, it had a very long wait. We decided to try our luck with one of the restaurants at The Dolphin Hotel and found another new to us restaurant called Todd English’s BlueZoo. We were able to sit at the bar at BlueZoo, so no waiting required.

The bar menu’s are tablets.

The food was really good and it looks like they have some crazy happy hour specials. J and I will definitely be paying Todd English’s BlueZoo another visit.

My Attempt And Fail At Weight Training

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Dina

I am still very new at weight training. I am enjoying learning new exercises and watching my body change. As I follow The New Rules Of Lifting For Women, I am continually pushing past my comfort zone and starting to feel more comfortable lifting weights.

Having just progressed into Stage Two (finally was really starting to get bored in Stage One) there is a new exercise introduced in Workout A, the Front Squat/Push Press. It may be me but this is the worlds most awkward strength move.

My issue has something to do with my elbows and resting the bar on the front of my shoulders. I get that the bar should be in on my fingers and not the palm but it feels so uncomfortable.

I have watched a million YouTube videos and googled this move relentlessly. I even spent 30 minutes practicing in the group fitness room at the gym. I will get this move right if it kills me.

I do not look at all like this.

A few other resources I found in my obsessive internet searching

Hang Clean Front Squat Push Presses from Men’s Health

Barbell Front Press To Push Press from fitbie

Any advice on the arm and hand position on the front squat? Do you usually give-up or keep practicing until you get it right?

Second Annual Margarita Run 5K

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Dina

For the second year in a row, I ran the Margarita Run in Haines City, Florida. This race is down the street from my house and benefits Haines City Main Street. Haines City Main Street Inc.. is a group whose’ purpose is to revitalize downtown Haines City. I happen to live in Haines City, so I have a vested interest in the downtown being revitalized. (For example, can there be a place in which to buy coffee that is not a fast food restaurant?)

I was also lucky to meet-up with a great group of activists and dedicated campaign workers. Karen Welzel is running for the Florida House of Representatives in District 41 against John Wood. Karen came out to this event to show her local spirit and meet with future constituents. It was great to have people to hang out with before the race and I also got this nifty t-shirt.

This race was insanely hot. It started at 5PM when it was 90 degrees with very high humidity. The course is pretty hilly (for Florida) and has zero shade so I knew this would not be one for the record books.

The race started with a lack of bang because the starting pistol would not fire. I felt really bad for the guy who was meant to fire it because it just would not work. After four failed attempts, he went with “ready, set, go.” I don’t know if it was the lack of pistol excitement or the temperature and humidity, but I definitely took the first mile too fast. I felt good running it and thought I might be able to sustain the 9:14 pace. Turns out I am not able to maintain that pace. Sadly the too fast start made me feel like a wilted flower later in the race.

It started to get ugly on each successively more gnarly hill and I started to take regular walk breaks. Like last year, many of the runners missed a turn and ended up coming it at 2.82 miles instead of 3.10. I really did not mind because it is such a new race that benefits charity. I will give the organizers the benefit of the doubt that they can sort it out for next year.

My splits were all over the place. I think it was too hot to really race.

The race director did announce that everyone would get free entries into an upcoming race in November to make up for the miss-hap. That race actually takes place in a park where I run weekly. It has a paved one mile loop which would make it impossible to make a wrong turn.

Even with the wrong turn snafu and the complicated race layout, I really enjoyed the Margarita 5K. The race is local and the money benefits a great cause. I loved that the race allowed me to mix my politics with running. Plus there was free pizza and a vendor selling cupcakes.

Cupcakes and smoothies from Cakes 4 the Memories. J picked up two for us to share (red velvet and margarita) and both were delicious. I recommend stopping by this bakery if you are in Haines City.

All sweaty and smiley after the race.

There were campaign signs around the vendor area.

Have you ever run a race that had course issues? Do you give them another chance or never run it again?