A story of going from being a non-runner to planning for a marathon in three years...

Monday, January 17, 2011

Weekly Workout Wround Up

January 10th - January 16th

Jan 10

5.5 miles with the last mile and a half at a super fast (for me) pace.

Jan 11


After work I went with a few other people from my running group to see the Hood to Coast movie. For those of you who have never heard of Hood to Coast it's a 197 mile relay race that starts on Mt. Hood in Oregon and ends on the Oregon coast.

The race is divided into 36 legs so you need a team of 12 people and typically each person runs 3 legs of anywhere from 3.5 to almost 8 miles. You, your team, and your van driver are up for 24 hours essentially living out of a van. You run at night, on little sleep, and, as far as I could tell from the movie, fueled by peanut butter sandwiches, GU, and the occasional hamburger.

Sounds crazy doesn't it? The teams depicted in the movie don't do a whole lot to dissuade that image. Of course, as a runner I understand their crazy and there were lots of times everyone in the theater laughed because what the participants were saying was so very true. However, the movie gave some mixed messages about running. Not training at all? Ignoring doctor's advice? Being sexist, immature frat boys at the age of 60?

Some of the stories were inspiring, others were heart-breaking, and others just made you shake your head. Overall, though, the movie does a great job of showing you just how difficult, inspiring, and life-changing running a relay of this magnitude is. Will Hood to Coast: the Movie be to the relay what Spirit of the Marathon is to the marathon? It just might be.

Jan 12

Happy birthday to me! One year older, still the same age group :-)

As part of my birthday present, Kim took me ice skating at the park near our offices.



We skated for about 45 minutes which, let me tell you, is quite the workout when you haven't ice skated in YEARS. I only fell once but it was a doozy of a fall. My left knee and my right hip were talking to me later. Still, it was a lot of fun and I counted it as my workout for the day.

Jan 13

5 miles of speedwork (including warm-up). I'm really liking this winter speedwork. Definitely gets me off my butt on those cold winter nights and helps when I can't run at lunch due to meetings and other actual work things.

Jan 14

My original plan was to do some strength training on Friday night but I ended up glued to the couch. Jason and I are watching Eureka via Netflix and, let me tell you, it will suck you in. Hence, Friday ended up being a rest day.

Jan 15

My original plan was to run 10 miles on Saturday morning but I ended up running 11 instead. I was pretty tired and sore by the end of that run, though. And of course I spent the rest of the day on my feet getting ready for and hosting my birthday party. I was HOSED by the time I went to bed.

Jan 16

I decided to go to the gym for my strength training on Sunday where I did the following workout:


10 minute warm-up on the stationary bike
Warm-up stretches
2 sets of 15 Squats
2 sets of 15 45o Push ups
2 sets of 15 Bent Over Row
2 sets of 10 Step Ups
2 sets of 8 Prone Jackknifes
Cool-down stretches


Something about being at the gym actually makes it so I can lift heavier weights than I can at home. Maybe I'm subconsciously showing off? Maybe it's all the mirrors? Who knows.

Total Mileage: 21.5
Total strength training sessions: 1

The strength training wasn't as plentiful this week but, hey, I saw a fun movie, went ice skating, and celebrated my birthday instead! I think that's a good trade off. However, I am pleased that my mileage is back over 20 for the week. Let's keep up the good work!

8 comments:

mica said...

I agree with your assessment of "Hood to Coast"! I got really annoyed by the lady who didn't follow any of her doctor's advice.

That sounds like a solid ST routine. I might borrow it!

kilax said...

Awesome week! :) I would love if the Grayslake Club starting doing speedwork. Maybe that would make me actually get out there and do it. :)

I did love sitting in the theater during the movie and knowing without a doubt that everyone there was "on the same page" (running-wise). It's not every day you get to be around people that understand the passion for running!

Unknown said...

What I didn't like about the movie was that it made it seem like runners had heart attacks. Three people in the movie had heart attacks. I wish they would have gone into detail about the history behind why. We know why of one; the husband had a genetic disease and then the older lady said later to someone else that she had triple bypass surgery so maybe bad health? It just didn't seem right that they didn't talk about it.

Anonymous said...

I loved the lady who ignored her doctor's advice. I looked her up and she was only 67 yrs. young, and she actually completed a marathon later that year against doctor's advice.
--Ken

Anonymous said...

Whoa - THAT race sounds intense!! There is one here in Indiana that is somewhat similar...starts at 8 p.m. and goes all night, but it's *just* 100 miles. I'm a clutz, and I'm sure I fall in the first 3 miles.

What a fun birthday present! I haven't been ice skating in years. I think I would even have trouble standing up on skates!

Rose @ Eat, Drink, and Be Meiri said...

I have a coupon to go ice skating. I need to hit that up!

Jessica (Bayjb) said...

Oh! I saw previews in the AMC theaters for the Hood to Coast run, damn that looks intense. And yes, ice skating after that long of time is a serious workout, and humbling experience :)

Oz Runner said...

happy belated birthday....i would love to see that movie...the closest theater is 3 hrs away...i may need to make a road trip...

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