You morning runners really have something figured out. You see, I've NEVER been an AM worker-outer. I just can't drag my arse outta bed. Somehow in my sleepy daze I talk myself out of it. Bed or run? Mmmm, comfy warm bed. I just can't do it, cap'n.
Ever since I began playing sports in the 3rd grade, I got used to evening practices and working out at night. Even in college if I couldn't fit in a work out between classes I'd go at midnight right before the gym closed. I know, that wreaks havoc on a sleep schedule [then again, who sleeps in college?].
Friday night in preparation for the early rise, I went to bed early, behaved myself, didn't go out...I was so proud of myself. As the alarm rang at 6 I surprisingly had no problem hoping out of bed. I was actually excited for this first team run. Unfortunately, I had to drop some dough to cab out to the Wilson Lakefront path. No way was I taking a bus this early in the AM. So, cabbie and I are driving, I'm getting focused trying to wake up my sleepy muscles. We arrive at the spot, and only 1 problem, I can't find ANYbody. For any Chicago runners, the Wilson exit off of LSD is asinine! Seriously, after driving around with the poor cabbie being oh so patient with my absent sense of direction, I decided to forget it. Though, we did find the Aids Marathon team that very nicely tried to direct me and later said I could run with them if I couldn't find TNT. Forget it. The cabbie drove me to the Fullerton exit and I ran home from there.
But back to my earlier statement, you AM runners really have something figured out. The sun was up, the weather was perfect, and I was home by 8:30 already having my 3 miles completed for the day. Already having that out of the way, I started contemplating all that I could conquer in the day. Back at my apt I wondered if I should shower up and get ready for my day, then I saw my bed.
Time: 40 min-ish
Distance: Fullerton to Ontario
Listening to: Shuffle- Black Eyed Peas, Maroon 5, Death Cab
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
First training runs
Of all the first training runs I've ever dreamed of, last night was not one of them. I met a friend for dinner at 6, just enough time to get back home for the Grey's Anatomy finale. Maybe a glass of wine and sushi wasn't the best idea 3 hours before a run, but oh well. I raced home and like any other dedicated GA fan and sat my bum on the couch for the 2 hour finale. And, what a 2 hours it was. I don't typically get emotional at movies, shoes, etc, but bring on the water works; what with Deny and Doc dying, Meredith and McDreamy and their night together [Patrick Dempsey is very hot older man].
Okay, okay, on to the run. After the finale was done at 10, I laced up the shoes and raced downstairs to the gym with only an hour before it closed. I know, I'm not supposed to be training on the treadmill, but I had to sacrifice for GA and wouldn't dare run around Chicago at 10 PM by myself. I had a nice warm up, surprising because I hadn't run in about a week and a half. I just couldn't get into a groove; breathing, stride, etc. First training runs are like the first big game of the year. You go out hard play flawless offense and defense and win the game. It sets the pace for the year. If last night would pave the way for the next 5 months of training, boy, I'm in trouble. I finished up and actually did some significant stretching, 300 crunches, 30 push-ups, and 30 chair dips.
Total running time: 30 min [need to make up 10 min in the next run]
Total distance: Pfff, too embarrassing to say
Listening to: Gnarls Barkley, thanks Dys for the reco!
For the record, I'm training for the Twin Cities Marathon on October 1st. I desperately wanted to run Chicago, but can't due to a friend's wedding in KC the night before. Don't people look at marathon calendars when planning their wedding! Jeez!
Okay, okay, on to the run. After the finale was done at 10, I laced up the shoes and raced downstairs to the gym with only an hour before it closed. I know, I'm not supposed to be training on the treadmill, but I had to sacrifice for GA and wouldn't dare run around Chicago at 10 PM by myself. I had a nice warm up, surprising because I hadn't run in about a week and a half. I just couldn't get into a groove; breathing, stride, etc. First training runs are like the first big game of the year. You go out hard play flawless offense and defense and win the game. It sets the pace for the year. If last night would pave the way for the next 5 months of training, boy, I'm in trouble. I finished up and actually did some significant stretching, 300 crunches, 30 push-ups, and 30 chair dips.
Total running time: 30 min [need to make up 10 min in the next run]
Total distance: Pfff, too embarrassing to say
Listening to: Gnarls Barkley, thanks Dys for the reco!
For the record, I'm training for the Twin Cities Marathon on October 1st. I desperately wanted to run Chicago, but can't due to a friend's wedding in KC the night before. Don't people look at marathon calendars when planning their wedding! Jeez!
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Correction
Correction to first post. This is not dedicated to me and my marathon training. Rather, it is dedicated to my patient honoree [which will soon be revealed by my mentor, which is my dear friend Barb http://runningjayhawk.blogspot.com/]. TNT pairs each runner with a person who has been diagnosed with one of the blood related cancers such as Leukemia, Myeloma, Lymphoma, etc. Reading and hearing these heart-wrenching stories serve as a real connection to TNT's mission. Talk about motivation! So, those 6 and 7 AM training runs on Saturday morning, please remind me of this.
John "The Penguin" Bingham spoke at our training kick-off. You should all read this guy's column's appearing in Runner's World and on various websites [namely waddleon.com and johnbinghamracing.com]. His columns are not only entertaining, but also very inspiring. His athletic career started as unusually as any athlete I've heard of. At the age of 43 and 240 lbs, he got the wild hair up his bum to start running. And now, probably 60 lbs lighter, he's ran more races than he could count on both fingers and toes. And, even better, he's not running at the front of the pack with the Kenyan's, he's in the middle with all of us striving for that 4:30 marathon.
So, how did I stumble upon TNT, you ask? Well, in my first marathon in Austin, TX in 2004, all I could see in front of me were a pack of runners all in matching purple dry fit tanks. Being a die-hard Jayhawk [please refer to upcoming posts], I thought great, a bunch of K-State creeps. To my surprise, and relief, they were a team that had all trained together while also raising money. I was in agony around mile 21 and caught up with one of these purple-tank-wearing-runners. We talked, walked, and crawled together for a few miles. And as we did so, she told me of her wonderful training experiences with TNT. Every 1/4 of a mile a coach would run with her to check in and encourage her. I was amazed and knew from that moment on that I would train for my next marathon with them.
So, here we are. And here's where I leave you. Training starts this week, so wish me luck. I'll let you know how well, or not so well the first run goes.
Caoi
John "The Penguin" Bingham spoke at our training kick-off. You should all read this guy's column's appearing in Runner's World and on various websites [namely waddleon.com and johnbinghamracing.com]. His columns are not only entertaining, but also very inspiring. His athletic career started as unusually as any athlete I've heard of. At the age of 43 and 240 lbs, he got the wild hair up his bum to start running. And now, probably 60 lbs lighter, he's ran more races than he could count on both fingers and toes. And, even better, he's not running at the front of the pack with the Kenyan's, he's in the middle with all of us striving for that 4:30 marathon.
So, how did I stumble upon TNT, you ask? Well, in my first marathon in Austin, TX in 2004, all I could see in front of me were a pack of runners all in matching purple dry fit tanks. Being a die-hard Jayhawk [please refer to upcoming posts], I thought great, a bunch of K-State creeps. To my surprise, and relief, they were a team that had all trained together while also raising money. I was in agony around mile 21 and caught up with one of these purple-tank-wearing-runners. We talked, walked, and crawled together for a few miles. And as we did so, she told me of her wonderful training experiences with TNT. Every 1/4 of a mile a coach would run with her to check in and encourage her. I was amazed and knew from that moment on that I would train for my next marathon with them.
So, here we are. And here's where I leave you. Training starts this week, so wish me luck. I'll let you know how well, or not so well the first run goes.
Caoi
Friday, May 12, 2006
tmt4TNT
tmt4TNT. That's what this blog is dedicated to. Me, tmt, running for TNT. Otherwise known to marathon avids as Team-in-Training. I guess TIT wasn't a suitable abbreviation for their cause. TNT is the largest endurance sports training program providing training to run or walk a whole, or half marathon. Participants get access to professional trainers, a supportive team to endure the 5 month training program with, not to mention completing the marathon with, all while raising money for the Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma research. Saturday is the kick-off party and training begins the following weekend.
Follow me in my journey to complete my second marathon uninjured and to raise money for this wonderful cause. Check out my progress over the next 5 months here at tmt4tnt.blogspot.com. Enjoy!
This is a picture after my first marathon in Austin, TX my senior year of college [2004]. The 2 hot chicks next to me are my college roomies Cindy and Lindsey. Talk about going out with a bang!
tmt
Follow me in my journey to complete my second marathon uninjured and to raise money for this wonderful cause. Check out my progress over the next 5 months here at tmt4tnt.blogspot.com. Enjoy!
This is a picture after my first marathon in Austin, TX my senior year of college [2004]. The 2 hot chicks next to me are my college roomies Cindy and Lindsey. Talk about going out with a bang!
tmt
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
