I think living in a place where we have long, cold and snowy winters, really makes me more appreciative of sunshine and warm(er) temps, especially since it just snowed 2 days ago. I went outside to do my Couch to 5k workout. I am on week 3 day 1 which consisted of run 90 seconds, walk 90 seconds, run 3 minutes, walk 3 minutes for about 20 minutes.
Some muddiness and puddles from the melted snow.
Spring flooding of the River.
I bundled up a bit, because the temps are just in the mid 40s and it's pretty windy out. Otherwise, the sun felt amazing and the air smelled like Spring. The ducks were swimming in the river, the geese were squawking and strutting around, and the robins were flying back and forth. I felt like I was in a Cinderella movie or something and we were seconds away from bursting into song.
Bundled up, but loving the sunshine.
Today was my day off, so I had the whole day to do what ever I felt like. I slept til 9. I was in a baking mood and ended up making a brown sugar and cinnamon coffee cake and a loaf of bread. I also cleaned the house and did wash. I know, I know. I'm a wild woman! I also am reading Game of Thrones, the first book. I am borrowing it from the elibrary and only get it for 7 days. I have only 4 more days and am not even 20% of the way through. I may have to just buy the book myself.
I've had a long hiatus from running. Jomo really hasn't been running all that much since the marathon in October. I didn't realize how much those 26.2 miles took out of me, physically and emotionally. I was completely empty of any desire to do any activity...unless you count snacking on the couch cardio.
I recently started running again. I started the Couch to 5k program, because I can't just run for fun. I have to have a program to follow. I use the free app right on my phone so I don't even have to think about when to run or walk. The nice lady just tells me, "Run now" or "walk now". I don't even wear my Garmin. I need a break from being obsessed with time. I just want to enjoy being out there again. I finished week 2 today.
I've also been trying different exercises. I've found a love for Zumba. I've always enjoyed it, but there is a class on Tuesday nights that is just SO fun. I rearranged my work schedule just so I could go to it! I can't believe how much I sweat and how many muscles I can feel working!
During my 6 month running hiatus, I have also gained 20 lbs. It's pretty depressing, but I just kept eating like I was training for a marathon when I was doing little to no activity. Now I am trying to work it back off.
I did Weight Watchers for 3 months. I signed up on my birthday, Dec. 30, after wanting to make a change with my eating habits. There was a 3 month deal for only $18, so I figured why not?
I lost a couple of pounds, but ended up gaining another 5. I just couldn't get into it again (I had done it years ago and lost 50 lbs). So, at the end of the 3 months I cancelled it and started using the free program, myfitnesspal, again. I deleted my old account and made a new one - sort of like a fresh start for myself. I'm jnmolina if you want to "friend" me. I have managed to lose 5 lbs so far.
Wanting to change and actually doing it is so hard for me. I'm trying not to make too many changes at once so I don't become overwhelmed. I'm also trying not to put too much pressure on myself to work out. I become sort of obsessed with it. That's why I'm not bringing my Garmin on runs or even keeping track of my miles so I don't become obsessed with the numbers.
I'm planning races again too. I haven't done any in 6 months. I just did a 5k yesterday and walked it with 2 friends. It was pretty fun, even though it started raining down on us right after mile one! I have a few more I'd like to do: an 80's themed 5k in June, the Iron Girl in August, and a half marathon in September. It feels good to finally be looking forward to working out again!
Every since I ran my marathon over a month ago, I have just not been into working out at all! I went to a spin class - which I always love. I went to a new class called body combat - which was aMAzing! I even ran once or twice...or once. But that's it.
I blame the marathon. It's the only logical answer. I read blogs where the writer ran a marathon and feels great, is already running again, and has another marathon in a couple of weeks.
I ran my marathon and I never, EVER wanted to do it again. Ever!
Accurate face of pain of how I was feeling.
The actual race passed quickly. I wasn't in pain until around 16 miles. And even then, I knew I would finish. I walked more than I wanted, but I wasn't really negative self talking. I just kept telling myself that I will Never have to do this again once I finish. That is really what got me through that race.
I was in pain for a couple of days, but I have a job where I am running around for 8 hours so that helped work out the tightness pretty quickly. I made myself wait to run, but then I never started running again. I went once for three miles. It was hard. The whole time I couldn't believe I ran 26.2. Why is this so hard?!?!
I love running, really! I love the freedom, the quiet, the battle with myself, and the feeling of becoming stronger physically and mentally. But lately, I guess I like sitting on the couch more. I know the gym class schedule by heart so I can go right after work, but I've done it twice. Why? Why have I become such a bump on a log?
Today is Monday. I know most people hate Monday's, but I like them. It's the start of a new week, a fresh beginning. I am setting the goal to work out 3 times this week any way I want, as long as I get some cardio in.
I hope everyone has a great and successful week as well!
Do you get in work-out slumps? What helps get you out?
I've spent the last few weeks wondering what to do now that I've finished my first marathon. I have no running schedule to keep. It feels...weird.
During my marathon I told myself, "NEVER AGAIN!" After my marathon I asked myself, "When can I do the next one?"
I waited about a week and a half to run again. I figured I would go to the gym and just do a couple of easy miles on the treadmill. I started to run on the random setting. I felt very stiff and slow. After about half a mile I stopped running and reset the treadmill program to no incline. I walked a bit before giving another go at running. I made myself go to a mile before quitting again. I couldn't push myself any faster than a 13 min/mile, which was pretty discouraging. I left the gym with a pretty low ego. I mean, I had just ran 26.2 miles! How could I not even get to 2?
I tried running again today. It was a beautiful fall day - sunny and chilly. I told myself to just take it easy, no pressure, if I have to walk a little that's fine.
Right before I started running again. I love fall!
I took off. I glanced at my watch, because I was a little out of breath, and was only at about a 13 min/mile. I felt a little disheartened again, but just kept going. After just over a mile I decided to take a walk break. I walked for about half a mile.
I knew I could run the rest of the 1.5 miles home. I put my favorite song on repeat, Daddy Yankee's Limbo, and just took off. I felt good. I was starting to get a little out of breath again and saw that I was at a 10:30 pace. I slowed down a little and felt comfortable at about an 11:00 pace. It felt good to finish strong!
But, now what? It's hard for me to work out without some kind of plan to follow. I need some kind of race to work towards. I'm going to have to use the next couple of days to figure out what I want to do.
How long do you wait to run after your marathon? Do you always follow a training plan or just work out for fun?
I've been training for 3 months (and four years) for this moment; the moment that I crossed the finish line after running 26.2 (26.44) miles. It happened October 6, 2013 at the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon. I am finally a marathoner! It was worth every sacrificed weekend and sore muscle. And now that I've had a good night's rest, I would definitely do it again. I mean, not tomorrow or anything, but in a couple of years when I've forgotten how much pain I'm in right now.
The start was at 7:30 at Grafton High School. My husband and father in law drove me up there to watch me take off. They dropped me off at the start and went to find a parking spot. While I waited, I immediately got in line for the port a potty. I was jealous of all the guys walking into the woods to relieve themselves, but glad they were leaving the line, thus shortening it for us ladies.
The start line.
I found Kevin and his dad on the way to the start. They had run into his cousin who was running it too! He was already lined up at the start by the time I got there so didn't see him.
Before the start with Kevin.
I was pretty nervous about doing this. I kept trying to push the negative self talk out of my head, but the distance was still so unreal to me. Could I really do it? Is it possible? Would this be the first race I didn't complete?
When I lined up at the start, I found the 5:30 pace group led by Gary. He was pretty awesome and told us about his first marathon in 1980 (the year I was born!), his races in South Africa, and Mt. Kilamanjaro, and the time he had to be carried off Comrades after running 10 minute miles for 56 miles!
My view from the start line.
We started pretty fast for the pace group. By mile 7, I was only at 1:25 instead of my anticipated 1:31. I had fallen back from Gary, but I was concentrating on keeping him in my sight so I had something to keep me going.
There were some pretty funny race signs I wish I had taken pictures of, but I didn't want to stop. One sign had an arrow to the right saying,"finish line 18 miles" and another to the left saying. "Green Bay 96 miles". And right after that there was a sign that said, "Run faster. Kick off is at noon" Only in Wisconsin!
The race course was beautiful and pretty flat, like promised in the course description. There were hills, but they were gradual rolling hills and nothing like I have to run on around here. I passed a lot of people when I was running up them, which helped the self-esteem.
The actual race itself passed pretty quickly, except the last 2.2 miles. The first half of the race I stayed pretty steady. I was at a 2:45 at 13.1, which would have been perfect to finish in 5 and a half hours if I held that pace.
I had gotten teary-eyed a couple of times, once at the start as I crossed the starting line and a couple of times on the way while people were cheering. Right at the half way point I looked up to a group cheering and I saw Becky!! I almost started crying again! She ran with me a bit and encouraged me and asked if I was okay. She came back mile 16 and 18 to help me through. It distracted me from my pain for a little bit at least.
Mile 16 - courtesy of Becky
Mile 18 - snack break with Becky
At the mile 21 water stop they had a cardboard, broken brick wall for us to run through. Again, I teared up. I only had 5 more to go. There were people cheering the whole way and a couple of them even had snacks for us! One family was handing out breakfast bars, another had bunt cakes, and another had licorice! I just took some licorice.
At the top of the hill on Lakeshore Drive, just a couple of miles from the finish, I knew where I was! I charged down the giant hill and was running at about an 11:30 pace towards the finish at Veteran's Park and gradually slowed down and then walked. It seemed so far away! I decided to take one more gel since it had been about 6 miles since my last one. Hopefully, the caffeine in it would propel me to the finish.
I started my shuffle to the end. I had to start swinging my arms first before my legs would follow. I would run for a few minutes then walk a minute. I finally made it to 25 and a half and started running. There were people all along the walk way who had finished and were cheering me on. Our names were on our bibs and everyone was yelling, "Go, Jordan!" and "You're almost there!". I was tearing up again. It meant so much to hear the encouragement of the other runners who had already finished. They knew how much I was hurting and they knew what I had been through to get to this point.
I crossed the finish line right under my goal time of 6 hours at 5:57:56! I got my medal and tin foil blanket and hobbled to find Kevin.
Here is my finish that Kevin taped. I have a video from mile 18 that Becky filmed, but I can't figure out how to save it off of Facebook.
Today, I am SO sore!! I feel like I have a 6 pack of abs, my quads are screaming, and my left ankle is throbbing, but I am a marathoner! Yesterday, I said I would never do this again; that it wasn't worth it. I lied. It's worth it. It may be a while until my next full, but I loved it and it's everything everybody hypes it up to be.
I can't wait until next weekend to cheer Becky, Heather, and Marin on at the Chicago Marathon!! It's going to be a blast!
What was the best part of your first marathon? Did you think you would ever run a second one?
I close a lot at work, so I usually sleep in. This results in me crawling out of bed later in the morning and not going running until around noon. Today, I waited until about 2 to get in my four mile run. I knew it would be hot, but I was more worried about the humidity. The problem with the high humidity is that besides feeling like you are running through a sauna is that the sweat doesn't evaporate off of you so you never cool off.
Temps before and after my run.
My goal was just to get in the miles and take it slow...which is my goal for the whole summer.
I went a hillier route, but it's quieter and along the river. There is a giant hill that I hate. I hate to run up it, I hate to bike up it, and I really hate to walk up it, because then that means it defeated me!
This is half way up the hill. I totally paused to take this picture! The billboard at the very top is for McDonald's ice cream. I cannot tell you how gross that sounded when I came huffing up to the top!
I walked a lot and I took extra breaks at the traffic lights. I just couldn't slow down. It's like my body was rebelling and trying to run as fast as possible to get the run over with!
With only over a mile left, I saw my friend Robin waiting at the bus stop. I stopped to talk to her for about 5 minutes until her bus came. She thought I was sunburnt, because I was so red. I laughed and told her I had sunscreen on. My face was red because I was so hot!
I managed the rest of the run home. As soon as I got in the house, it started raining! It really didn't look that dark out, but what do I know? I have a degree in math not meteorology.
I was really surprised that the humidity was only at 62%, according to my Garmin. I think it's a liar.
Despite all of my whining, I am having a much easier time adapting to the heat this year than last year. Last summer, I was doing around 14 minute miles, because I was so overheated!
Is it humid by you? How do you handle the heat and humidity of summer?
I've stopped blogging for a while. I got a bit busy with life. I got married June 15, 2013! It was our ten year anniversary of being together. We decided to keep it simple and small and had our families come to Vegas with us to tie the knot.
We all had a blast! I would definitely go back, but I was ready to come home.
I decided to start this new blog site for a couple of reasons
1. My other blog is Food, Running, and Other Ramblings at www.sbr4evr.blogspot.com. It's kind of a mouthful.
2. I like this name better. My married name is now Molina and makes a catchy nickname of Jomo that my sister in law gave me.
3. While I will still write about everything, my main focus is running. I like to tri, cook, eat, etc. But, I think I write mostly about running...and not running...avoiding to run...you know.
I started marathon training (for my first marathon) the week I left for Vegas. The marathon is in October. I also have a Tri in August and have to figure out how to fit in the swimming and biking. I hope you join me on my journey!
