Week 6 of Half Marathon Training

 

This week:

• 2 - 3 - 2 walk/run/walk -- Tuesday on Treadmill, rescheduled due to meetings for Wednesday... Was a terrible run...
• 4 MIle Run -- Friday on Treadmill -- Great run :D
• 9.5 Mile run -- Sunday on long winding country roads... 

Thoughts from this week:

Ups and Downs

This week started with the crappiest run ever.  I was supposed to walk 2 miles, run 3 miles, and walk 2 miles.  With the start of the school year, chaos, and last minute meetings, my plan for a Tuesday treadmill run went down the drain.  Instead, I had to push my run to the end of the day Wednesday which meant running on tired feet at the end of the day.  Late in the day running also meant that I had to contend with other gym-goers.  

The start of a new school year means a rush of newbs to the gym.  Watching these rookies diddle around with the machines, weights, and exercise equipment is like watching monkeys at the zoo.  While it's amazing to see youngsters dedicated to their health, it is also a little irritating that my favorite treadmill is taken by a teenager walking 1.5 miles per hour.  

By the time I got on a treadmill, I only had time to do the 3 mile run (not the 2 - 3 - 2 that I needed).  As I got into the groove, my ankle pain started flaring up -- resulting in  my ability to complete only a mere 2.68 miles.  

Disheartened, I vowed to push further on the other runs of the week.  Friday's 4 miles took a lot of mental effort.  Another end of day run, a slightly less crowded gym, and a still annoying ankle pain meant constant mental reminders of why the heck I'm doing this!  By mile 3, my ankle had loosened, the gym had cleared, and I actually felt good.  This helped pump be back up, though I was still worried about my long run.

Something about the weekend long run -- it feels like a monumental weight I carry all week.  Knowing I had to tackle 9.5 miles first thing Sunday morning was a fact that loomed like a dreaded to-do list task! (dishes, yuck!)  I just had to view it like a deposit into my running bank.

"Depositing in to my running bank"

On one of the many blogs I follow, I read about how a girl training for a marathon views all her workouts as little deposits to be withdrawn on race day.  I loved this analogy, so I borrowed it this week when I felt overwhelmed by the thought of 9.5 miles.

Random ankle pain 

Breaking in new shoes means new aches and pains for me.  One such random pain was in my ankle and really affected me early in the week.  To address this, I switched to my older trainers for a few runs AND I made sure to wear sneakers to work where I stand on my feet all day.  Both of these adjustments meant happy feet/legs for my long run over the weekend.

How was your week?  

Do you use any tricks to motivate yourself for running?

How do you get through your long runs?

9.5 mile run

Today I ran the farthest I've ever run... ever. 

I'm at the point in my half marathon training where each long run is the longest ever - so each week I surprise myself. 

Here are some sights from my run:

Lots of farm land on these quiet country roads

 
One random tree that doesn't quite belong amongst the pines and farms. 

These pine trees are so tall and thin. They are like the supermodels of pine trees. 

  

Sunlight peaking out past the pine trees. 

  
Rows of trees make the best shade!!

  

What do you see on your runs?

How did your latest long run go?

Set any personal records for length or time?

Running

Background

I've been running off and on for three years now.  I started weighing 225 pounds and could only run for 30 seconds before feeling like I might die.  To help get me started, I used a couch to five K podcast that was available for free.  It was a run/walk program. 

Since first lacing up, I've completed a handful of 5K's, a 10K and am currently training for my first Half Marathon.

I can literally run for hours without stopping -- My current personal record is an 8 mile run completed in about 2 hours.  Clearly, I don't run fast -- I just run.

Why run?

At my heaviest, I was truly unhappy and unhealthy.  I wanted a way to workout that didn't cost anything and would make me feel like I was working towards my goal of getting healthier.  My family has a scary healthy history with almost every possible risk factor -- I wanted to do anything to avoid history repeating.  

Now that I've been running regularly, I've noticed that I'm much nicer, calmer, and happier after a run.  Each run is its own battle, but afterwards I'm so... zen...  It's definitely been a therapy for me, as it helps me work through some anxiety as well as renew my self-confidence.  

Currently Training Plan

My current training plan has me running roughly 3 days a week.  Any more than this and my body starts to rebel.  Running 3 days a week gives me a bit of a break in between each run even though I'm still able to rack up some miles each week.

I adapted my training plan from an 8-week Half Marathon Training plan I found in Fitness magazine.  I piggy backed this right after a 9 week "couch to five K" adaptation which also had 3 runs a week.

Here's a pic from my most recent treadmill run

I plan to continue training after my half marathon until I hit all my goals.

Running Goals

To complete a half-marathon

To complete a full-marathon

To complete a sub 40 min 5K

To complete a sub 90 min 10K

What are your running goals?
How do you maintain your weight?
Do you run for speed or distance or both?

Leave a comment/reply and let me know!! ^_^

Spicy Cold Noodles -- Thanks Maangchi!

Made these noodles for lunch yesterday. They were delicious!! They were cold and spicy and tangy and sweet and SOOOO GOOD! I'm going to make them again today!!! And INHALE them! Chubby asian kid style ^_^ *slurp slurp, munch munch, pant pant*

I started by making the special sauce -- It's basically kimchi, kimchi juice, sugar, sesame oil, vinegar, and hot pepper paste.  

This was enough for two plates of noodles, so I used some and put some away for later. I was going to make enough for both hubby and I, but hubby has to be in the mood for Korean... (more on this later).... MORE FOR ME!! Once I made the sauce, I boiled the noodles. I got these at the Korean store closest to my location -- which isn't close -- so I know you can also find them online...

Once you boil the noodles, you drain them and run them under COLD water -- then add the sauce on top with a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds. TA DA! 

Maangchi's video and recipe will show you the way of the warrior... no fail every time! Yum Yum! Just thinking about these noodles is giving me the Kimchi Sweats!! 

Do you have a favorite noodle dish? 

What do you eat when it's hot out and you're looking for something filling?


Leave a comment/Reply and let me know!! ^_^

Kimchi Sweats

I ran this morning… even though it’s so hot out! 

It didn’t feel bad at first, but then about ten minutes into the run it started — the KIMCHI SWEATS! 

What are Kimchi sweats you say?

Well it’s a special kind of perspiration that starts out as a red face, transitions into a glistening layer of moisture on your nose, and finally climaxes in every single pore spilling gallons of the salty stuff in unrelenting currents!! 

They are called Kimchi sweats because my mom likes spicy foods but usually needs a sports towel to mop her face and neck as she eats… (There's also a special way to breathe, apparently, similar to "the food's too hot" or lamaze... but that's another phenomenon entirely) I inherited both the love of spicy foods and the kimchi sweats. 

Seriously, this is a real thing! If you don’t believe me, go to a Korean restaurant… a REAL Korean restaurant… and watch the natives eat! It needs to be a real Korean restaurant to spot the Kimchi Sweats. Not some hipster, L.A.-esque, “Korean barbecue”… I’m talking the kind of place where you’re not sure if English is understood and once you order there’s yelling in Korean in the kitchen. You’ll find the Kimchi Sweats there… just wait, you’ll see! 

As a self proclaimed and unafraid Kimchi Sweater — I often sweat like a hog. This didn’t used to be such a bad thing. I grew up in the midwest where summers weren’t too hot or too long, so the Kimchi Sweat season was super short. Sadly, I’ve spent the better part of the last decade in the south *gulp* where its rarely cold *sniff sniff*. 

It’s a shame really. Living in the south means I had to get used to phrases like, “fixin to”, “ya’ll hush”, “I might could”, and “sweet tea”. I also had to get used to suffering through Kimchi Sweats just for stepping outside the AC — for about ten months out of the year.

Take today for instance, it’s partly sunny, 79 degrees with 80% humidity, at 6 am — and it’ll easy get to 100 today, if not higher. Since it’s clear that I sweat like a running wildebeest even in the coolest coldest weather — hydration is going to be a focus for today.   

Do you suffer from the Kimchi Sweats? No Shame here -- be proud of your hard earned perspiration!!! 

Have you seen native Korean Mom's in their natural habitat? Wiping away their Kimchi Sweat between bites of Kimchi Jigae?

Leave a comment/reply below and let me know!!  ^_^

Japchae love!

Made this yummy bowl of Japchae a few days ago for lunch. 

 It was SOOOO YUMMY!

I am a firm follower of all things Maangchi, so I used this recipe. I made a few alterations -- only veggies (no beef), extra mushrooms (cuz I like 'em), and a bit of extra sesame seeds (again, cuz I like 'em). 

SOOO good and super filling. 

For those of you that aren't Point.Five.Korean, or are but (shamefully) haven't tried this dish -- DO IT! It's a great all in one dish that can be jazzed up or tweaked to accommodate Vegetarians (carrot eaters), meat lovers (sane people), or anyone following a restricted diet. 

It's also great warm, room temperature, or chilled -- making it a great thing on these 100++ degree days where the heat and humidity make your face melt off.

Also please note the size of the bowl... Yeah ... those carrot pieces are about two inches long. I like big bowls and I cannot lie.

 Knowing full well my passion for big bowls, my mother-in-law recently found me two big bowls - both white, one round and one square. I used the round one for my Japchae in the photo. She's great like that :D. Why big bowls? Growing up half korean, there were always a variety of bowl sizes in my house. Super small condiment/side dish/banchan bowls. Super huge mixing bowls. Super Deluxe Extra Big Kimchi making bowls. 

 All kinds of bowls. Some with lids, some without. Some with intricate patterns, some plain white. Some heavy, some light. Some made of metal, some made of wood, some made of "shatter-proof" ceramic.

When it came time to eat a meal that I particularly liked, I made sure to reach for the biggest bowl I could find. This love for big bowls filled with my favorite foods has rolled over into my adulthood. Big bowls of popcorn. Monstrous salads. Humongous batches of bibimbop. Big bowl lovin' comes complete with a preference for one bowl dishes. Anything that can be tossed together and munched on is a huge win in my house.


  Do you love a big bowl when you see one?
What's your favorite "one bowl" dish/recipe?

Leave a comment/reply and let me know!  ^_^

Safety Schmafety

Hello All! 

Remember back in the day when the “big” kids in school were considered responsible enough to help their peers cross the street? 

I saw a photo of a Neon Green Safety Sash and memories came FLOODING back!! 

 My sister was one of these select few – she was an elementary school safety. I remember she used to carry her cornet and safety sash on our walk from home to school. Back then, we were able to walk all by ourselves the quarter mile back and forth– something that wouldn’t fly today. We didn’t have cell phones, ipods, ipads, or other electronics. On the way to and from school we used to talk or look around or just think quietly to ourselves. We were in elementary school. Sixth graders got to be safeties. Could you imagine elementary school kids, first through sixth grade, walking home by themselves with no other supervision besides the chosen few elected mature enough to don the neon safety sash? 

 Still, I don’t remember anything eventful ever happening on our walks home. There were several kids that would all walk the same way, but no one was bullied, jumped, picked, or robbed – at least not anyone I knew of. Would this still fly today? The school safeties would be stationed on corners and would watch out for traffic. Once every other student had successfully crossed the street, the safety would then cross and finish their own walk home. Their bright neon yellow/green sashes would reflect headlights in early morning darkness and provide a blinding glare during sunny spring days. Alas, the honor of being chosen a safety was never to be mine. Not because I wasn’t mature enough. Not because I couldn’t handle the responsibilities. Not being a safety had nothing to do with me. It was simply because of rezoning and regrading of schools. You see, up until my sister’s year as a safety, all elementary schools in our district were K-6 schools. Then 7^th and 8^th grade would be at a single junior high to be followed by high school. My class was to have the distinct honor of being the first group of 6^th graders to join the 7^th and 8^th graders at the junior high – changing it forever to more of a middle school. This drove my sister MAD… As the little sister, I was nipping at the bit – trying to keep up with my sister who was a whole year older and wiser. She hadn’t had a single moment of peace past that first year she inhabited the earth. Instead, she had me – always around – always watching – always wanted to be a part of whatever, it didn’t matter. 

 So to her, the thought of leaving me in 6^th grade in the elementary school while she moved on up to the junior high sounded like a blessing of freedom. Freedom to be who she wanted without me calling her down from the clouds. Freedom to only worry about herself – instead of having to “watch out for” her ‘lil sis. Freedom to forge a new identity as a more mature adolescent without my naivety crowding her style. Instead she got a little shafted. She didn’t feel her freedom for another few years when she went on to high school and I went on to 8^th grade. To be fair, I got shafted too! Robbed of being the big kids for once. Robbed of ever being able to wear the school safety sash with pride! Robbed of all the normal 6^th grade rites of passage.


 I never ASKED to be moved up to the junior high earlier than ever before. I never WANTED to give up being the oldest kids in school just to be guinea pigs. I never THOUGHT I would be forced into a few more years in the purgatory of “younger than”. There’s nothing fun about being the smallest and youngest. Nothing. Being the youngest grade in a school means the older kids find you annoying. They don’t think you know what you're doing. They assume you’re immature, inexperienced, and have nothing to offer their established norms. This clear separation was felt by others too, so we little kids stuck together in our own little pods. That's a sure fire way to make some awesome friends though!! 

Any school safeties out there? 

Where any of you "robbed" of being the Big kid? 

 The small kid? Did you like it/hate it? WHY?

Leave a comment/reply and let me know ^_^