Non Sequitur Box

This is the first post in a series I have planned for beginning runners. I love running, and I want to share it with other people. Step one . Just start running. When I first started running, it was in spite. My mom wouldn't let me try out for the basketball team in eighth grade, so I would run 100 laps around the basketball court (72'x42')--about 4.318 miles (though it doesn't seem that long in my memory). It was a good goal at the time (I worked up to it slowly). Step two. Increase frequency or distance if desired. Set goals. I would soon start running laps around our yard (2 acres of land, made it my goal to run 20 laps), rewarded by swimming pool time. I would run laps/sprints of our driveway (about 150 meters long) until I got tired. Later, I would be permitted to run in the neighborhood. To one end of our street and back was 1 mile. To the other end (that had dogs) and back was 2 miles. To Dollar General was a mile. To Winn Dixie and back was six mile...

In November, I read It Starts With Food by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig. I had bought this book earlier this summer, but I am just now getting into reading it. It's an informative book promoting a healthy, clean approach to eating (The Whole30). Another resource is their website:  http://www.whole9life.com/itstartswithfood/ The Hartwigs explain their rules for good food (what your food should/should not do to your body), which foods are less healthy (and WHY), which foods are more healthy, how to complete The Whole30 (30 days or more of eating protein, vegetables, and some fruit), and even has some recipes. They do not give a 30 day exact meal plan, nor do they tell you how many calories to eat each day or to weigh your food or to weigh yourself. They promote educating yourself by reading their findings (and even suggest to read opposing viewpoints), read other people's success stories (what worked/didn't work for them), and to self-experiment. I am glad they mentioned...

In October, I read Kings of the Road: How Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, and Alberto Salazar Made Running Go Boom by Cameron Stracher. It was recommended to me by one of my running friends, Matt. It was the first novel about running that I read, and I absolutely loved it. I love running, but I hated history class. I think if history class revolved around running, I would have liked it more (and I might have retained some information; I had Jack explain Watergate to me on our historical Georgetown/Rosslyn run yesterday...now I'll probably always remember what Watergate is just because it was discussed on a running route). As I read this book, I couldn't help but smile and get excited about events as they unfolded. It was like reading a book or watching a movie when you know the ending, but you enjoy re-reading or re-watching it. I kept telling my boyfriend, "Oh! Hey! Listen to this..." as I read a paragraph from the book. The book covers how Frank Shorter, Bill Rod...

On Sunday, 10 November, 2013, I ran the Veteran's Day 5k at Fairfax Corner, VA. The race was put on by Potomac River Running and proceeds went to Team Red White Blue, which I have recently started getting to know. I signed up for it the Friday before race day and ran the Nearly Naked Mile the day before the race. Preparation : No preparation for this race. I had Panera for dinner the day before, but I didn't have any breakfast food for the race day. Running on no race day fuel. Maybe a little water (?). Pre-race : I picked up my packet on race day (quick and easy). After getting everything situated (putting on my race bib and storing my race t-shirt and pin), I met up with Team Red White Blue for some pre-race photo and conversation. I was happy to see Melissa and Victor again (met them both at the Reston 10 Miler). With about 25 minutes before the race, I left for a warm-up. It was quite chilly that morning, so I ran about 2.5 miles in my sweats/gloves/headband. The cou...

  Race prep: I didn't really prepare for this race specifically. After the 10k last Sunday, I took Monday as a day for weight lifting and six short wind sprints (and climbing!). I ran 6 miles on Tuesday morning with Jack, as I was working late and went to the movies with my boyfriend that night. I ran 7 miles and lifted again on Wednesday (and some traversing, but my back was spasming that day, so no climbing). I jogged an easy 3.8 miles on Thursday. I jogged an easy 3 miles with Jack on Friday followed by some climbing. Friday night was Climb and Dine with Jack and Steph (and Kara, Novak, Mark, and others). There's something about the way Jack tells me to do things that I believe every word he says with confidence (95% of the time). On Friday night he told me to try leading a 5.9 (any feet), so I just tied in and gave it a try! I have never tried to lead anything, so this was a huge deal! I made it about halfway before I realized I couldn't make it through the arch, ...

Free photo from Potomac River Running Race Prep: I didn't do much preparation for this race. The week before I ran a quick 1600-1200-800-400 on Tuesday, and then I was sick through the rest of the week. I took Thursday and Friday completely off exercise. On Saturday morning, I went for a short 3.5 mile jog, completed a few errands, picked up my race packet in Tysons Corner (and had some delicioius Caribou Coffee sandwich and chai tea latte), went home briefly, and ate some chicken salad and Whole Foods salad bar for lunch. I continued my day by watching Dexter on Netflix and eating angel hair pasta with red sauce and cheese/herb blend (plus four pieces of spinach ravioli in pesto sauce). I also had some chocolate milk. I know, my food combinations are not ideal. Race Day: Pre-Race: I took my extra hour of sleep (after staying up until 10pm watching Dexter ), woke up at 6:15am to get ready, and ate a bowl of apple-cinnamon instant oatmeal (FINALLY finished the box I bought o...

I'm sick. Again. I swear, I've never been so sick in my entire life than I have been in the past three years. This is ridiculous! Maybe I need to move out west... Training has been going well lately. Last Tuesday I did one of my go-to workouts: 1600m, 1200m, 800m, 400m. 1600m - 6:04 Rest - 2:00 1200m - 4:30 Rest - 1:30 800m - 2:58 Rest - 1:00 400m - 1:24 I like this workout because it's easy to think about mentally (4 laps, each repeat is one lap less than the last), it's quick/speedy, and it's a good gauge for myself when trying to figure out a mile pace. Although all my times are slower than I'd have liked (by about 4 seconds each), I'm still pretty happy with the workout. I'm in the middle/end of week 5 of Todd Durkin's IMPACT! Body Plan. It's a 10 week program that works for me (this is my second execution of the program). I can feel myself getting a little stronger every week. Unfortunately, being sick is a little speed b...