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By kilax, March 13, 2011 12:42 pm

My next race is the Fools 5K on April 2nd. This is the week of the Rotary Shamrock Shuffle (5K) on March 13th.

Day 505 | March 7, 2011: 5 m run (mile repeats)

After reading about Mica and Erin‘s mile repeats I felt inspired to try them for the first time!

I did a .5-mile warm-up (@6.5mph/9:14mm), then three mile repeats (@7.5mph/8:00mm each) with 2:00 minutes of recovery (@6.5mph/9:14mm) between, then a 1-mile+ cool-down (@6.5mph/9:14mm). The workout felt good – not too taxing. I definitely felt more tired as the mile repeats progressed, but it was manageable. I hope this is a sign I may PR at my 5K on the 13th (Sunday)!

Distance: 5.0 | Time: 42:31 | Incline: 1.0

Day 506 | March 8, 2011: strength

Steven and I did Level 2 of The 30 Day Shred. It’s still kicking my butt. Whenever we do Level 2, about halfway through we both comment on how we can feel the sweat dripping down our faces. It’s intense!

Day 507 | March 9, 2011: cross

Originally I was going to run, but I am a bit sick of the treadmill! To the recumbent bike I went…

I was reading the April issue of SELF and there is a great article in there about a woman who feels like she needs to hid her binge eating from her husband. Check it out here.

Recumbent Bike Time: 45:00 | Distance: 7.49 | Set on “Manual,” Resistance Level 5.0

Day 508 | March 10, 2011: strength class + 6.15 m run

In the evening I attended my second Essential Fitness strength class with seven other Grayslake Running Club (GRC) Members. Whoa. It was an intense 45-minute workout. Some of the same moves as last week, but a lot more plank-ups (or whatever they are called – when you go up and down from one arm to the other in plank). I need to work on plank and my push-ups!

A few people were teasing me during the workout, because they knew I was meeting a few other GRC people afterward for a run, and would probably be exhausted. But two people from the class came and ran a mile (one woman who hadn’t run in 10 months because of plantar fasciitis – it was her first run back!) with us! And I didn’t feel too awful while running, but I definitely didn’t feel my best. I was happy I had three other people there to distract me during the remaining 5 miles!

Distance: 6.15 | Temp: 35° |  Time: 57:57 | Avg Pace: 9:25 | 1: 10:13 | 2: 9:31 | 3: 9:11 | 4: 8:54 | 5: 9:17 | 6: 9:27 | 7: 1:20

Day 509 | March 11, 2011: 15.1 m run

I just was not in the mood for this run. I was mentally tired. I ran 3 loops through my neighborhood. I tried to enjoy the warmth and sun (upper 40s!) and zone out to podcasts.

It went okay. But I kept having little burps from lunch and my chest/throat hurt. And some weird callous on my left foot is bothering me – it’s right where I land from supinating so bad.

But the good news is that the pace was slow and easy. I felt like I could have gone 5 more miles, and actually considered it!

The other good news is that I used this run to start to test out some new headphones I received to review – and guess what? I will have two pairs to give away! Watch for a review and giveaway to come!

Run stats: I wore my orchid Asics Cumulus 12s. I started with capris, and long-sleeved wicking top. At mile 5, I grabbed gloves and a jacket and wore them for the rest of the run. I stopped at the house at mile 5 and 10 to take GUs (chocolate then vanilla) and drink water (about 18 oz overall). The second time I stopped, I checked my phone and had a urgent messaged about a sick family member, so I stopped for longer than I intended!

Distance: 15.1 | Start Temp: 47° |  End Temp: 40° | Time: 2:28:43 | Avg Pace: 9:50 | 1: 9:35 | 2: 9:34 | 3: 9:54 | 4: 9:56 | 5: 10:01 | 6: 9:53 | 7: 9:52 | 8: 10:03 | 9: 9:52 | 10: 10:15 | 11: 9:38 | 12: 9:44 | 13: 9:39 | 14: 9:48 | 15: 9:51 | 16: 1:00

Day 510 | March 12, 2011: yoga

Oops, have you noticed the lack of yoga in the last few training reports? Not cool! I did the Yoga Works Beginners DVD in the morning, and the stretching felt really good.

Hmm, when do you think Jen will invite me to a yoga class again? Ha ha!

Day 511 | March 13, 2011: 1 mile warm-up and 5K

In the morning I ran a one mile warm-up then the Rotary Shamrock 5K Shuffle with my friend Terry from the GRC. Full report to come tomorrow!

Week Summary: 30.35 miles

Another good week of running. And kind of with the support exercises. I am looking forward to next week being a more low key week.

When I woke on Saturday up my ankle was bothering me (on the inside, below the bone) – in the same spot it ached for a few months after the marathon. I talked to a friend with a medical background, and he thought it is an irritated tendon (maybe start of tendinitis?), since I compress my ankle when I land on the outside of my foot. I gotta ice and massage that ankle!

Link to share: In a few issues back of Runner’s World, there was a great piece by Peter Sagal about how running helped his lose weight, but he is terrified of gaining it back. It’s a great, quick read, you can find here. It really got me thinking about how obsessed runners are with weight, and sometimes, healthy eating.

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By kilax, March 12, 2011 1:36 pm

I was wrong.

A few people told me the Malt-O-Meal site said the Maple & Brown Sugar flavor was available in my area. One of the places listed was Target. I was doubtful, because our Target always has Original and Chocolate. But, we checked it out. Lo and behold, they do have Maple & Brown Sugar. Now they just don’t have the other flavors. Whatever… I guess if they carry this one now then I don’t care! Man, Target makes me crazy!

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By kilax, March 12, 2011 8:02 am

Tomorrow I am running a local 5K, and one of the Grayslake Running Club members offered to come pace me, and help me PR.

Hells to the yeah. A 5K PR for me would be an easy conversational run for him. Count me in!

Is that cheating though – purposefully having someone pace you to run a 5K?

The Guy in the white shirt is a pacer
Photo Credit: Greg Kellerman

In my mind, having one specific faster person pace you for 5K seems a bit different than following a pace group for a half marathon or a full marathon, or running with someone with the intent to push each other to a goal time.  But, elite marathoners sometimes have pacers at their races (check out a Runner’s World thread discussing it here) – someone to keep them on track and block some of the wind. Of course, their goal is to win entire races, not necessarily PR at the recreational level (like me).

But one of the benefits of running with other people is that it makes you run faster. And in the end, it’s your legs that run the whole race. So I think pacers are okay.

But what do you guys think about pacers?

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By kilax, March 11, 2011 5:33 am

Do you pay attention to/keep track of your blood pressure? It is a health concern for you? Are you within the healthy range (at or under 120/80)?

From here.

My blood pressure is usually slightly over 120/80. I often have a reading between 135-120/80ish. I don’t worry about it, because I exercise so much, but I do wonder why my blood pressure isn’t lower. I know I am a highly anxious person and wonder if that has any effect. I have an annual appointment in April, and am anxious to see if my blood pressure has gone down since last year.

This week, I read a really interesting study* which concluded that having a blood pressure reading above 120/80** may not actually indicate a risk for hypertension and development of life-threatening problems. Researchers studied two decades of blood pressure data and found that those above 120/80 were not more likely to die prematurely than those under 120/80. The study found that:

Among people over 50, the most meaningful predictor of poor health was the systolic blood pressure — the first, or upper, number given in a blood pressure reading. In this older group, a systolic pressure of 140 or higher was most predictive of mortality. Among people under 50, it was the diastolic pressure, or second number, that was most predictive. In this group, a diastolic pressure of 100 or more was most predictive of poor health. In younger people, having a systolic reading of 200 or higher was also predictive of higher mortality.

The article suggested that maybe people slightly over 120/80 should focus on health conditions other than their blood pressure, and that doctors intervening could cause more risk than harm (maybe they mean if people starting taking blood pressure medication or something?). Blood pressure guidelines are being discussed by the eighth National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure this year.

*From from researchers at the Veterans Affairs Health Care System in Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota.
**The blood pressure guideline set in 2003 by the seventh National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.

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By kilax, March 10, 2011 5:27 am

I think I need new work pants. Mine literally fall off if I don’t wear a belt.

But I don’t want to shop for pants. Even though I know I like the pants at Banana Republic (I even have a gift card to there!) and Erin has recommended the pants at The Limited… I just don’t feel up to pants shopping. It’s not as fun as shopping for workout clothes or cute tops. It’s hard work. It can be upsetting. No matter how much you tell yourself to just buy the pants that fit, you secretly hope you will fit in to a certain size (even though you know the sizes change from store to store!). And the dressing room mirrors… yikes, they can be harsh!

Ugh, sometimes I feel like I am barely female*. I can’t seem to figure out how to dress nice (I mean, look at that picture!), do my hair, or make an effort to be put together. I’m barely in to fashion, wear the same things for days in a row, and hate to shop. As soon as I get home at night I change in to sweatpants! And I wear sneakers to work! And avoid buying pants that fit!

Why do I always dress for comfort?

And why am I am comfortable this way?  Why doesn’t it bother me that I am not more feminine?

You know, at my review for my first job, my boss took me aside and told me I needed to dress nicer. I did look like a slob. I wore slacks and a untucked button-down every day. And I was quite overweight. I didn’t take care of myself.

I feel like I have improved a lot, but could still make a lot of changes.

But at the same time, I am kind of  fine with me the way I am. Right now anyway.

Do you like to shop for clothes? Do you feel “put together”?

P.S. What do you think of the new “Yoga with your Pets”** concept?

*Not for anatomical reasons, mind you.
**I made that up.

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By kilax, March 9, 2011 12:46 pm

I saw this can (among many others) in Union Station this morning. They have probably been there for some time, I just didn’t notice them.

I think it’s really interesting the cans are called “Landfill Can” (and most are located by recycling cans). I wonder if this will make a difference? Will people be encourage to recycle when they see the dump truck image on the can?

Or are we just going to have huge landfills in the future, like in Idiocracy?

The Metra train I ride travels by a landfill each morning. On windy days the smell of the landfill breezes in to the train car. And makes me gag. What’s worse is that people live very close to this landfill. Can you imagine that?

I am not much of an environmentalist (I drive a car with not-so-good gas mileage) but I love the great outdoors and do what I can to avoid excess trash. Steven and I recycle as much as we can. And we would probably have a lot less garbage if we composted.

Are you big on recycling?

I am really hopeful that in the future, manufacturers will become smarter and more efficient with product packaging. It makes me crazy when I buy something (usually electronics) and it has 23098 plastic pieces in it, and my fingers get cut (plastic cut, like a paper cut) trying to open it.

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By kilax, March 9, 2011 5:29 am

One of the things I love about living in the Chicago suburbs is the diversity of things to do, see, and EAT! If you’re open to new adventures, you’ll never get bored.

Okay, that is the good part.

Here is the annoying part. I live within close proximity to many different grocery stores – ALDI, Garden Fresh and Target (my favorites) as well as Dominick’s, Jewel (avoid if possible) – but sometimes cannot find the things I want to buy. So I have to ask my family to pick them up for me in Iowa.

In frickin’ Iowa!!!

HyVee is a grocery store chain in Iowa and other parts of the midwest, but not Chicagoland. They have a huge “health” selection with more vegan options than I have seen out here in Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s! What gives?! I thought we were supposed to be the progressive big city.

And funny thing, the product I often ask my mom to buy for me isn’t a vegan specialty. It’s Maple and Brown Sugar Malt-O-Meal – my go-to weekend breakfast treat.

We have Malt-O-Meal out here, but I never see that flavor! I found this ALDI imitation (Millville brand above) last weekend.

I made it Sunday morning with high expectations (still have to try the Chocolate).

Blech. It is NOT the same.

I just think it’s ridiculous that I have a plethora of grocery stores around me and cannot find some products. Seriously, we pick up items in Iowa, and sometimes even drive to Woodman’s in Kenosha, WI (which is actually closer to our house than Chicago).

And yes, we have tried talking to the grocers about carrying certain items. That never seems to work for us.

So… this kind of turned out to be a rant. Oops!

I will say, there are definitely many items I buy here that cannot be bought in Iowa. It just seems silly that I cannot find the simple things, like Maple and Brown Sugar Malt-O-Meal, here.

Are there any products you like but cannot buy near your home? What are they and how do you procure them?

We used to love the Nueva Cucina Mexican Rice Mix. When they stopped selling it at Target, we started buying it on Amazon! Since then, we have moved on to other rice mixes (and really, we need to make up our own). When I was at Whole Foods with Jen two weeks ago, I found the mix, but it was not the same. Good thing I only bought one box (when I brought it home, Steven asked why I didn’t buy more, ha ha).

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By kilax, March 8, 2011 11:07 am

As you may recall, our favorite food from our culinary trip to NYC was the bagels. Simple, awesome, bagels. I fear that Steven and I will be haunted by those bagels for life – how will we ever find any as awesome? We can’t rely on Gina and Steve to send them to us all the time (can we? CAN WE?!?!!??!).

Steven and I were discussing this dilemma and came to the conclusion that we have not tried many bagels in the Chicagoland area, especially from small bakeries. It’s time to get out there. It’s a tough challenge, but we’re up to it!

Let the bagel quest begin.

First stop? New York City Bagel Deli.

Funny thing – I walk by this place every morning I go in to the office, and never thought twice about it. I went in this morning and was honest about why I was there.

I told the cashier I just got back from NYC and wanted to see how their bagels compare. He told me (in a NYC accent?) that their store has the only “NYC” bagels in Chicago. I told him my NYC friends were skeptical, because NYC Bagel Deli doesn’t use NYC water to make the bagels*. He told me it’s expensive, but they import the water from Long Island. Ha ha ha.

So I bought three to try – poppy, sesame and cinnamon raisin – the same ones Gina and Steve sent us last week!

We actually still have a cinnamon raisin one at home to compare the one I bought today to! Just from the look and feel of these though, I don’t think there is going to be much to compare. They are smaller and firmer. We’ll see… the quest may have to continue…

Who makes your favorite bagels? Which place should we try next?

And please don’t say Dunkin’ Donuts. Yuck. I bought one of their bagels in December and it was so dry and hard I took one bite and threw it away. And I do not throw food away!

*Gina says the myth is that the NYC water is what makes the NYC bagels so good.

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By kilax, March 8, 2011 5:43 am

Ah, napping. One of my (and Data’s!) favorite pastimes.

Sometimes I feel like napping doesn’t get the credit it deserves. That it’s only beneficial for the very young or the very old. But I don’t think that’s true!

I read an article on the NY Times blog yesterday (read here) about the importance of napping for N.B.A players (and sometimes N.H.L. players) on game day*.

Because their schedules have them up very late at night for games, interviews and traveling (sometimes not in bed until 3:00 am), and up early in the morning for practice (around 9:00 am), they don’t always get a full night’s sleep – and a full night’s sleep for them is 9 hours.

So they take a pregame nap in the afternoon, for about 20 minutes to two or three hours. According to the article:

Czeisler [known as the N.B.A. “sleep doctor”] said that players who got nine hours of sleep were more likely to react quicker, remember plays better and generally maintain their health more consistently. He said that biologically, the body rests best at night or in the midafternoon, enhancing the value of a nap.

Sounds good to me! Now, how can I apply this to my life? I get about 6-6.5 hours of sleep a night… do I get to take 2 hour naps the days before races? Or how about a nap or two every weekend?

Do you ever take naps? Do you feel like there is stigma associated with adults taking naps? If you are an athlete, do you nap more in the competitive season?

The other day I was talking to some running club friends and telling them how there is nothing better than getting up at the butt crack of dawn on a summer day, doing a long run, then coming home and taking an hour nap (after showering and eating). It feels so good!

*I am not sure how often the N.B.A. players play, or if they take naps on non-game days.

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By kilax, March 7, 2011 11:35 am

When will all of this snow be gone?!?!

(Yes, he got up there on his own)

Soon, Snow Cat, soon.

Thankfully, there is not much snow here. A lot of it has melted. All that is left are these big ugly piles of it.

Is there much snow left (if it was ever there!) where you live?

It feels like spring is on its way – it’s getting lighter earlier, there have been birds singing early in the morning, and I can actually see (ugly) grass! Even though I struggle when we move back in to Daylight Savings Time (next Sunday) I will appreciate the extra light in the evening.