Monthly Archives: January 2012

The one with the blisters…

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Not blisters on my feet- believe me my toes have had their fair share of rough times since I started running more…. and they have adapted well- especially since I switched to the Brooks Adrenaline running shoe. If you havn’t tried Brooks- you should!! Back to the blisters- they are actually on my hands…. which I know seems weird but I have this habit of holding the handlebar on the treadmill… maybe because I am so used to pushing a stroller but it feels normal to me… second nature. Needless to say as the pace increases so do these blisters on my hands!! I feel like I am back in gymnastics just after a bar routine!

Anyways- enough whining…. today was a day that I was dreading… anaerobic threshold day…. basically pushing your body to its breaking point in hopes to increase muscle and endurance and train your muscles to run faster… so here was my workout today…

      2 mile warm up,
      4 minutes at 9.0 mph (6:40 Mile) 3 minutes EASY jog
      4 minutes at 9.0 mph (6:40 Mile) 3 minutes EASY jog
      3:15 minutes at 9.0 mph (6:40 Mile) 3 minutes EASY jog
      3:15 minutes at 9.0 mph (6:40 Mile) 3 minutes EASY jog
      2:00 minutes at 9.0 mph (6:40 Mile) 3 minutes EASY jog
      2 miles cool down
    So after 8 miles and 61 minutes I as drenched in sweat but actually felt really great- I think that is the surprising thing about running- you think you can’t do it but your body is stronger than you think… I think most running is mental…
    Song of the run: “Shake it” – Metro Station
    Distance: Anaerobic Threshold workout 8 miles- 61 minutes
    Quote of the day: “You cant run away from your problems… but you can run your problems away”
    P.S. stay tuned for giveaways soon…. :)

The one with the night tooth…

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Was a little hesitant about today…. running 5 miles only 18 hours after running 10 miles… but it actually went very well. Two episodes into Entourage season 7 and so far I must admit that the older Entourage seasons were better…. but we will see. It is a gorgeous 40 degrees here in MN right now and if I had thought about it- I should of ran outside! Glen and Addie are in our backyard skating on the ice as I write…. what a great day!

So I have always been a very type A person- borderline OCD and so I never really understood the idea of yoga…. what- you mean you just stretch and hold… what kind of workout is that? I need to sweat and be tired to feel like I accomplished something. But after a lot of convincing by my chiropractor, accupunturist, friends and others I am going to give yoga a full out try. A friend recommended the Sculpt Yoga DVDS from Core Power here in MN- so I went and bought them. To be honest- I never stretch- I mean never- not before a run- not after… and yes I know it is amazing that I dont get hurt- I cant explain it either. So- I am going to try to become a yogi- I know it will help running and my well being- if only I can be patient enough to do it :)

Now to my last new item…. background info- I have ground my teeth at night for like 20 years and have worn a mouthguard for about 15 years…. yes it is very attractive and my kids call it my “night tooth” :) When I got pregnant the muscles in your body changed and I developed very mild TMJ….. and then after I had the kids it went away. Well…. as luck would have it- it is back (no pregnancy involved!) and it is bad this time….  my jaw clicks and pops and hurts!! I am going to see someone about it but in the mean time a oral surgeon friend of ours suggested that I may be clenching my jaw when I run and therefore should wear a mouthguard….. well- not only do I clench when I run- I noticed that I clench all the time…. so as if wearing a mouthguard at night was not bad enough- I just ordered one for when I run too…. a “running tooth”- how sexy!

 

Song of the Run: “Animal”- Neon Trees

Distance: 5 miles- 40 minutes

Quote of the day: “Sometimes people just need a high five….in the face…. with a chair….”

The one with the surprise…..

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After a busy weekend selling cookbooks at TwinsFest, I was thrilled to get on the treadmill and sweat all the stress off. Today was my long day this week which some times can be daunting but today it was just relaxing. I finished up my season one of Parenthood and started with season seven of Entourage, so far they have been great choices to kill time on the treadmill! Today was one of those days for me when you feel inspired to run… over the weekend Glen and some teammates went to visit Jack Jablonski and see first hand his progress … I think it was inspiring for both parties…. it is stories like Jacks that make you thankful that you can run… and it is his determination that led to us donating part of the proceeds of the Twins Wives Cookbook sales at Twinsfest to Jack…. hopefully every little bit can help this amazing young man… I think his is going to do big things!

In other news… I read in a Runners Health book that a recent study found that when they substituted energy bars, beans, gels with raisins it had the same energy releasing effect during the run… so today I tried it… 5 miles into my 10 mile run I munched on a few small handfuls of raisins and I have to say that it may have worked… I did not hit a wall nor get the “tired legs”… so maybe they are on to something here…. give it a try- it is a lot cheaper and healthier :)

Last but not least- I am thrilled to announce that I just signed up for the Lululemon SeaWheeze half marthon in Vancouver this summer. Glen convinced me to do it… first because I LOVE lululemon and second because I want to do races in places all over the world. I am a little nervous because I have never even been to Canada and I am going alone but I believe that you learn more about yourself and you grow more when you push yourself outside your comfort zone…. heres hoping!

One VERY last thing…. Glen and I are in talks with the Twins to do something that I think will be amazing and lots of fun…. stay tuned for more details…. :)

Song of the run: “Set Fire to the Rain”- Adele

Distance: 10 miles- 81 minutes

Quote: “The perfect day: Going to bed with a dream…. waking up with a purpose…”

The one where I beat myself up all day…

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I decided to title each post like they used to on one of my all time favorite shows “Friends”…. each episode was entitled “The one….” so in honor of Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, and Joey I called this one “The one where I beat myself up all day….” I hate days like this- the type A- over motivated side really takes over and makes days where I am supposed to run and instead run out of time- very hard. Today for instance I was supposed to run 5 miles and instead my day was spent cleaning, parenting, feeding, and packing…. and now I am out of time. It is hard to find the time to run when your spouse is gone a lot. I know I shouldn’t beat myself up because some times life gets in the way but I really want to be the best runner I can be and when I waste a day it is tough…. make me feel lazy even though I don’t think that I sat down once today. Oh well- tomorrow is another day and I am sure I didn’t damage my endurance too bad by missing this one day….

I suppose you are wondering why I always say I was “supposed to” run a certain distance…. seems a little odd that I sound like I am answering to someone… but as a matter of fact I kind of am… My cousin Bekah Metzdorff is a running coach at Hamline University and also helps coach individuals in any type of race you are looking to pursue. She is the one who has all my workouts set up and even though I am a very self motivated person- if you really want a kick in the pants to run- hire her or another running coach because when you have to answer to someone and admit you didn’t do it- it is a very tough pill to swallow. She works with a company called Fitness Design and it is all done online- she enters in the workouts and your enter in your progress. Her email is rebekah.metzdorff@gmail.com if you are interested…. trust me… motivation is guaranteed!

 

Song of the run: No run- but the song in my head all day…. “Rumour has it/Someone like you” by the Glee cast

Distance: … :(

Quote of the day: “Prayer… When life gives you more than you can stand….Kneel…”

P.S. Here is a picture of us all dolled up for the Diamond Awards last night…

Day one…

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The sweat is literally running down my temples as I write…. 5 miles in 40 minutes and it went well. To be honest- not all days go well… some are really hard and when you cannot find the reason it makes it even tougher. I know this first hand because for the last two years I have been struggling with chronic sinus infections which would totally wear me down and make running really hard but about a month ago I had sinus surgery and so far so good… and you would not believe how exciting that is! Today was a treadmill run- like most runs are for me in the winter- and when I run on the treadmill I forgo the music for shows…. right now I am breezing through season one of Parenthood and loving it… but I am near the end and need some suggestions on what to numb my mind while I run in place all winter long….

Before the sweat starts to get the on keyboard- I am off to clean up…. and I mean really clean up- tonight I get the pleasure of heading to the Diamond Awards where my husband will be dressed in a dashing suit and accepting the awards of “Pitcher of the Year” and “Most Improved” for the Minnesota Twins…. to say that I am proud would be an understatement…. Glen and I have had a bumpy road in baseball and at times have not understood God’s plan in it all but it is nights like tonight that really remind you that he is in charge and does in fact know what he is doing….

 

Song of the run: LMFAO- Party Rock (even though I was on the treadmill- its a good starter song!)

Distance: 5 miles : 40 Minutes

Quote of the run: “Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory”. – William Barclay

 

P.S. The Diamond Awards are on FSN- North tonight at 7pm central if you want to watch :)

My hope….

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Hello blog world…

I have to admit I have tried this blogging thing before and it did not work out so well but I am giving it another shot while writing about something that I love…. To know a little more about me and my running journey click on the “About me…” link above- its really fascinating stuff :) I am a mom like many of you reading this and am trying to juggle my affair with running with raising kids and being a good wife. Anyone can run… I believe we were built to run. I hope to inspire others to hop off the couch and get out there. I also hope I remember to blog :) The plan is to write after I run… share how it went- what I am feeling and just share my runners high…. I hope you will come along and help inspire me as I train to run the NYC marathon in November… my first marathon… scary!