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Thursday, September 24, 2009

Marathon Training while on Vacation

Training while on vacation in New York is not easy. And my "Official Hal Higdon Training Program" is supposed to begin this weekend. Still, I think I'm doing okay. In spite of some "bad" days (think bread and wine), I've done pretty well sticking to my pre-training program. Oh, I've faltered here and there, and it would be easy to feel sabotaged before I've actually begun, but I can't buy into that. Not really. I know I'm in control and if I've made a few poor choices, it's because I made the choice. Nobody forced me to drink a half a carafe of red wine with my Italian food...or to cancel a workout because I wanted to sightsee. And if you really want to know the truth, it was all worth it. My goal is to be the best that I can be, and the best me likes her pizza and wine.

After a strong start to my new diet and running program a week ago, I missed three training days in a row: Friday (packing day), Saturday (travel day), and Sunday (sightsee day). This is when I could have felt disheartened, but I don't. It's just too beautiful here to get my spirits down about some diet, and all of the ways I am falling short of where I want to be. Phooey! I'm having a good time, and I have also since resumed running.

The Monday and Tuesday runs, and Wednesday walk were at a place called Jones Beach. No doubt about it, New Yorkers have great state parks, and this Long Island Beach is no exception. The boardwalk was designed to appear as if you're walking on a ship for miles either way. Upon entry, as if boarding an actual ship, fragrant flowers of every kind lined the walkway. Mile markers allow walker/runners to know how far they've gone. Strangely, the sandy beaches were deserted. (I've never seen our SoCal beaches deserted.) No people were walking in the sand. No surfers. The starkly calm waters and grassy dunes were made all the more lovely for it.

Beach season on the East Coast must be pretty short. I felt alone even though the boardwalk was teeming with people, busy day and night. I still felt alone with the white noise of the wind and sea, and my own thoughts about...nothing in particular. As night fell, I thought about the sliver of moon shining golden through the clouds, and how lights from distant ships appeared as isolated passing cities. I had to watch out so that I wouldn't step on any frogs which littered the ground. The task made especially difficult because I was also watching the flight patterns of planes on approach to land at JFK, the lights lining up the sky like so many stars waiting for a turn. I listened to a man singing to his little girl in her stroller, and she tried to sing along with him in "babyscreech." For all of these things, I felt grateful to be a part. And then I went out for a slice of NY cheese pizza.
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Lovely water at Jones Beach

Posted By Natalie At 12:29 PM • Comments (0) Trackbacks (2)

Friday, September 18, 2009

Goals...Seriously, now.

So, I've been running pretty regularly for about a week now. A goal to run a marathon cannot be taken lightly. It is a tremendous strain on the body, and if I'm serious I can't blow off workouts. I don't want to get hurt. When I say that my goal is "to finish," I mean I want to finish with some dignity. I don't want to fall apart with injuries, crawling through the finish line. Ideally, I'd feel good enough to want to go out dancing afterward like my friend, Doreen did one year after the San Diego Rock 'n Roll Marathon. We had trained in a group called The San Diego Running Club. It was an awesome, wonderful, motivating experience. I don't know what happened to the club after that. I should look them up. The point is Doreen had never run a marathon before in her life, but she ran the 26.2 miles at the RnR, and then went to a party in L.A. and danced all night...in heels!! I really don't know how she did this.

I've never finished running a marathon with that much spunk. I'd be happy to be able to walk out to the car without limping or moaning. Even better, I'd like to wake up in the morning and be able to get out of bed. This is why I'm taking my schedule seriously.

Technically, Hal Higdon says I don't have to begin until September 26th in order to get in all of the running I need by the Carlsbad Marathon. However, it is widely understood that one should be in basic good fitness shape. The better fitness a person has, the better the outcome. So I've been running the last couple of weeks (actually since I found out about the "freshman fifteen.") to build a better running base.

I've also put the word out to most of my old running buddies to see if I can run with them. There is nothing like a running community to help a person stay focused on a goal. That is exactly what need right now. The thing is...I'm going out of town for a while. My next few posts will be coming from The Big Apple. (Why does everything revolve around food when you're on a diet?) This next week is going to be the real test. Will I be able to follow through while I'm away from home?? How do other people stay on track while traveling? Eating NY pizza and cheesecake? Bagels and pastrami sandwiches? Nightclubs and shows with alcoholic drinks? Aaagghh!

Posted By Natalie At 2:18 PM • Comments (2) Trackbacks (1)

Friday, September 11, 2009

Goals

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Me and my daughter, Amber in May 2009
(Take note of the "Freshman Fifteen")

There are roughly nineteen weeks until the Carlsbad Marathon. Most training programs are between 18-20 weeks. And let me tell you--there are tons of schedules! At Barnes and Noble, I sat on the floor with books piled high and strewn all around. Hal Higdon, Jeff Galloway, books for runners over forty-five, books for Chi Running, and one by the Fuhrmann Institute: Run Less, Run Faster. There are books specifically for women and a book called, "The Runner's Body." By the way, I didn't even look at that one. I already know I don't have a "runner's body." Not with my "Freshman Fifteen." The week slipped by as I researched for the best training programs.

Then I called Erika. Everyone should have an Erika in her life. She listened to me for quite a while before asking, "Nattie, what's your goal? Is your goal to set a PR? Or is it just to finish?"

Amazing words: "What's your goal?"

Well, I've never been very hardcore. This will be my fourth marathon and who-knows-what half marathon, and I've never learned the exact definitions or reasons for terms like fartlek or tempo or speedwork. Hills? Not intentionally. Ever.

I approach my races as social events. A race is like a big party for me, except instead of an hor'd'erve table, we stand around Port-o-potties shivering and asking for toilet paper. During the race, I talk to my friends, stop and walk through water stations, stop to tie my shoes, stop for a piece of candy...you get the picture. I usually sign up for these races as a way to sightsee a new city. (Please note: San Francisco is not the easiest place to run through). Plus, truth be told, I like the handouts at the finish line. I really do. The big metal cape, the banana and the energy bar, and the coupons for $1.00 off the next time I buy yogurt. I don't know why, but these things are incentive, and I do like a goody bag.

So, if you're following me, this means that my goal for The Carlsbad Marathon is going to be: To finish. And if I can set a Personal Best Record, that would be an absolute bonus, like getting something extra in my gift bag.

That said, it looks like I'm going with Hal Higdon's Marathon Training Novice Program. I don't know what all of you are doing. I'd like to know because I'm always willing to try something new.

Posted By Natalie At 9:17 PM • Comments (1) Trackbacks (6)

Sunday, September 06, 2009

Freshman Fifteen

Ever hear of the term, “Freshman Fifteen?” It’s a common phrase referring to weight gained by incoming college freshmen who don’t know how to control themselves at the all-you-can-eat-dormitory cafeterias. Well, I’m wondering if there is a phrase for weight gained by the parents who are left behind. Something like that “sympathy pregnancy” weight gain fathers often experience when his wife is pregnant. I may need to start a support group. Let me know if you want to join. My college freshman daughter did not gain the “Freshman Fifteen.”

I did.

Last year at this time, I sent my first born child across the country into the unknown, cruel world for her first year of college. That sounds melodramatic, I know, but at the time, that’s exactly how it felt…like I was literally throwing her to the wolves. Who was going to make sure she was drinking enough water? Eating right? Make sure she was safe? I was a wreck and trying not to show it for her sake. I wanted her to have complete confidence that everything was going to be wonderful.

Fast forward to May 2009, and everything about her freshman year of college in Connecticut was wonderful. “Freshman Fifteen?” No. She might have gained three pounds over the course of those months. However, the beauty of being eighteen-years-old is that she lost that weight in less than three days. Me?? I gained the full fifteen pounds. And I haven’t lost it.

Summer is over now, and my darling child is going back to school—today. Her flight leaves in five hours from now. She has vowed to bring up her grades and to budget her study time better. I have vowed to lose my “Freshman Fifteen.”

You are welcome to join me in this blog as I journey toward regaining my prior fitness level. I am a marathoner! How could I have let these bad emotional eating habits creep up on me? In the next weeks, I will be making goals and discussing them here on this public forum. You are also welcome to make suggestions. There is room for improvement in anyone—freshman fifteen or not.

On this blog, I will talk about making goals and keeping them. My first goal is to run the Carlsbad Marathon on January 24th, 2010. Want to run it with me? Let’s do it! We can talk about running the Full or the Half. Personally, I prefer running half marathons. I will write about choosing a marathon schedule. Best running shoes. How to pick ‘em.

How to stay motivated. Injuries. How to prevent them and how to treat them if we do get injured. Local running communities. Where to find somebody to run with.

Let’s do this!

Posted By Running Centers At 12:38 PM • Comments (0) Trackbacks (1)

Welcome!

Welcome to The Running Center’s Blog. My name is Natalie and I invite you to follow as I chronicle my journey towards better health and fitness…cringe…by running a marathon. This will not be my first marathon. I cringe because I’m reminded of that day so many years ago when I first learned that I was pregnant with my second child. At first, came the feeling of exhilaration and awe. Such an ambitious goal! I was growing a child in my body!

Then came the cold fear, the knowledge that there was no way out. I would be giving birth to a baby in a few short months…quite publicly (a room full of strangers count as public). I suddenly remembered a lesson learned from having my first child. My God. This was going to hurt! That’s sort of how I feel now. Except I also know that like having a baby, running a marathon is a lifelong achievement. I will forever be a marathoner just like I will always be a parent. I also know that every child and every marathon is an individual experience. No two are exactly alike. This is going to take planning and preparation for the best outcome.

I invite you to follow along, if for no other reason, than to have a good laugh with me. Experiences like giving birth or running a marathon tend to be humbling to the soul. You have to be able to laugh at yourself sometimes. Feel free to offer helpful advice and comments. They will be much appreciated.

Posted By Running Centers At 12:27 PM • Comments (0) Trackbacks (1)