My first long run was on Saturday. I woke up to an 85 degree heat index at 6:15, which quickly rose to over 90 by the time my run was complete.
I stocked my fuel belt with Gatorade, water, Gu and a salt packet (I do the salt!) and ran the few blocks from Matt’s apartment to the Inner Harbor to join a Baltimore Marathon supported course run. Like most Baltimore runs, it was hilly, with the first half on an incline and the second half back down. Despite being up hill, the first half actually felt pretty good. The sun wasn’t really up yet, so I was able to hide in the shadows of row homes. Unfortunately, I hadn’t realized my Garmin was low on batteries and it petered out before I even got started, so I’m not sure of my pace. I’m guessing between 9-9:30/miles. After a stop for Gatorade and water about half way through, I looked forward to the descent back to the harbor. Normally I relish in the downhills, but my quads were screaming all sorts of profanities at me since I’ve been trying to use them more in my stride. It was getting increasingly hotter and I know my pace slackened quite a bit. Luckily, I was running with a girl I used to play basketball with, so we kept each other going and decided that it was perfectly fine to cut the run short at 9 miles. It didn’t seem like many other people in the running group were continuing on past the 8.5 mile mark, either. With it being so insanely hot, I think I might have done more damage by attempting to eek out another mile than fitness lost by cutting it short.
Run totals (approximate): 9 miles, 10 min/mile pace???
***
After resting on Sunday, I had an easy 4 mile run this morning. The weather was much improved (only 75 with 65-70% humidity). I attempted to charge my Garmin last night, but apparently once I put my lap top into hibernation last night, it stopped charging it, so I was sans Garmin again.
My rough estimate for this morning: 4 miles, 9:25 min/mile pace
Monday, July 26, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
I should be dead right now...
... Because I wore a cotton shirt to run in this morning. According to the Baltimore Running Festival website, "Cotton kills." Now, the run fest is sponsored by Under Armour, so obviously the site is pushing their performance products, but I had to wonder just how horrible running in cotton would be. Prior to about two years ago, I had never owned a piece of anti-cotton gear. All of my trips to the gym, rugby practices, basketball games and runs were done in cotton tshirts and tank tops. So, now that I am a UA (and UA-knockoff) convert, would running in cotton kill me?
Like yesterday, the humidity was near 90 percent, so clearly I would be sweating like Joe West during a 4-hour Yankee/Red Sox day game. I threw on a loose Hanes cotton tank top with my Nike Tempo shorts and hit the road. I was hot, I was sweaty, but honestly, I'm not sure it would have been much better had I been wearing my favorite new Nike Dri-Fit Pacer tank. And most impressively, I am still alive to blog about it.
***
Prior to running before work, my mid-morning snack staple had been Greek yogurt with fruit. Now that I'm running in the morning, however, I noticed that I crave something savory around this time. Armed with two large containers of Greek yogurt that are getting dangerously close to their expiration date, I decided to experiment this morning. I added dill, garlic powder, onion powder, lemon juice and a little salt and pepper to one to make a tzatziki-esque dip for my baby carrots. Fat-free and packed with protein and pro-biotics, it is much healthier than my other veggie standby, Ranch dressing.
***
Run: easy 3 miles, 9:25 pace
Like yesterday, the humidity was near 90 percent, so clearly I would be sweating like Joe West during a 4-hour Yankee/Red Sox day game. I threw on a loose Hanes cotton tank top with my Nike Tempo shorts and hit the road. I was hot, I was sweaty, but honestly, I'm not sure it would have been much better had I been wearing my favorite new Nike Dri-Fit Pacer tank. And most impressively, I am still alive to blog about it.
***
Prior to running before work, my mid-morning snack staple had been Greek yogurt with fruit. Now that I'm running in the morning, however, I noticed that I crave something savory around this time. Armed with two large containers of Greek yogurt that are getting dangerously close to their expiration date, I decided to experiment this morning. I added dill, garlic powder, onion powder, lemon juice and a little salt and pepper to one to make a tzatziki-esque dip for my baby carrots. Fat-free and packed with protein and pro-biotics, it is much healthier than my other veggie standby, Ranch dressing.
***
Run: easy 3 miles, 9:25 pace
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
You've (got) a long way, baby
My run today was 5 miles with speedwork. I decided to make it a 3 mile tempo run, aiming for 8:10/miles. My splits were:
8:10 (go perfectionist!)
8:24 (it was mostly uphill)
8:05
While, overall, it was slower than I wanted, I'll take the 8:13 average pace. This was my first attempt at running fast in the month since the Baltimore 10 Miler. The humidity was also over 90% at 6:30 this morning, which doesn't help at all. I breathe heavy on even my easiest runs when it's that humid.
Regardless, I have major improvements to make if I'm going to be running 8:20s for 26.2 miles.
8:10 (go perfectionist!)
8:24 (it was mostly uphill)
8:05
While, overall, it was slower than I wanted, I'll take the 8:13 average pace. This was my first attempt at running fast in the month since the Baltimore 10 Miler. The humidity was also over 90% at 6:30 this morning, which doesn't help at all. I breathe heavy on even my easiest runs when it's that humid.
Regardless, I have major improvements to make if I'm going to be running 8:20s for 26.2 miles.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Marathon Training, take 2, Day 1
Today begins my Philadelphia Marathon training. I've read that voicing your goals to others helps you meet them, so I figure what better way than to post them on the internet. Maybe I'll even try to get people to read my blog this time around, instead of just throwing a link in my FB profile and thinking someone might stumble across it when they're procrastinating.
So here it goes.... My main goal is to BQ. (Boston Qualify for those of you non-marathoners). My time would need to be 3:40:59 or less, meaning I have to cut almost 20 minutes off of my first attempt.
Things going for me:
1. Philly is supposed to be a lot faster (read flatter) than DC.
2. Hopefully, I will train all through nasty summer weather for a nice, cool, runner friendly temperature race day, not training through cool temps only to run in 70 degree heat.
3. Now that I've done it once, I know what I'm getting into.
4. I will have a track, an amazing gym, sunlight and approximately 15 hours a week more to do things like run, lift and cry about how much my legs hurt.
Things going against me:
1. It's summer so all I want to do is stay up late and drink, not get up early and run.
2. Cutting 20 minutes is A LOT of time. Even over 26.2 miles. (It's 51 seconds a mile)
3. The ad for the Philly Marathon that I ripped out of Runner's World says "When you feel the sting of sweat in your eyes, Push Through". As Matt pointed out, this could also apply to the elliptical. So much for motivating me to run.
I'm roughly following Hal Higdon's Intermediate II plan, with a few adjustments and modifications of my own.
-Embedded circuits: I read about these in a Runner's World running book. Basically, you run about 2 miles, do a set of running-specific strength training exercises then run 2 miles home.
-Speedwork: I'm going to do a mix of tempo runs, mile repeats, stair running at Byrd and Yasso 800s.
-CRC Fitness classes: I am reallllly hoping that Abs class fits into my schedule so some undergrad aerobics instructor can kick my butt a few times a week.
Thanks to Groupon, I had a one month membership to the YMCA, plus I got two free training sessions. My trainer had run a 3:30 marathon in his only try, so I trust he knows something about running. He watched me run and advised me to use my quads more when I run. I apparently didn't use them at all because now that I'm consciously trying to create power from my quads, they kill. I definitely feel that my stride is a lot more powerful, but my quads have a long way to go to be able to carry me through 26.2 miles.
Today I ran an easy 4. Tomorrow is 5 miles with some speed (I think I'm going to improvise as I go).
Wish me luck!
So here it goes.... My main goal is to BQ. (Boston Qualify for those of you non-marathoners). My time would need to be 3:40:59 or less, meaning I have to cut almost 20 minutes off of my first attempt.
Things going for me:
1. Philly is supposed to be a lot faster (read flatter) than DC.
2. Hopefully, I will train all through nasty summer weather for a nice, cool, runner friendly temperature race day, not training through cool temps only to run in 70 degree heat.
3. Now that I've done it once, I know what I'm getting into.
4. I will have a track, an amazing gym, sunlight and approximately 15 hours a week more to do things like run, lift and cry about how much my legs hurt.
Things going against me:
1. It's summer so all I want to do is stay up late and drink, not get up early and run.
2. Cutting 20 minutes is A LOT of time. Even over 26.2 miles. (It's 51 seconds a mile)
3. The ad for the Philly Marathon that I ripped out of Runner's World says "When you feel the sting of sweat in your eyes, Push Through". As Matt pointed out, this could also apply to the elliptical. So much for motivating me to run.
I'm roughly following Hal Higdon's Intermediate II plan, with a few adjustments and modifications of my own.
-Embedded circuits: I read about these in a Runner's World running book. Basically, you run about 2 miles, do a set of running-specific strength training exercises then run 2 miles home.
-Speedwork: I'm going to do a mix of tempo runs, mile repeats, stair running at Byrd and Yasso 800s.
-CRC Fitness classes: I am reallllly hoping that Abs class fits into my schedule so some undergrad aerobics instructor can kick my butt a few times a week.
Thanks to Groupon, I had a one month membership to the YMCA, plus I got two free training sessions. My trainer had run a 3:30 marathon in his only try, so I trust he knows something about running. He watched me run and advised me to use my quads more when I run. I apparently didn't use them at all because now that I'm consciously trying to create power from my quads, they kill. I definitely feel that my stride is a lot more powerful, but my quads have a long way to go to be able to carry me through 26.2 miles.
Today I ran an easy 4. Tomorrow is 5 miles with some speed (I think I'm going to improvise as I go).
Wish me luck!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Marathon: 7 weeks out
I can't believe it's been 7 weeks since my marathon. I honestly thought it was six until I just counted again.
I haven't posted at all because I haven't really been running all that much since then. The one thing I was not prepared for was the long recovery. After my halfs, I'm usually down miles for a week, maybe two, but then am able to pick right back up where I left off within mere days. After my marathon, I took a few days off, but felt amazing (I was barely sore at all the next day, it was awesome), but did a lot of crosstraining and definitely came back too strong too early. Coming off of that high, I wanted to be amazing and fast and run PR's in all of my other distances. I knew I was in the best shape of my life, but my body had different ideas. Running was painful and while mentally I wanted to keep pushing, I just couldn't do it. Couple that with the fact that it's SPRING (my favorite time of year to run after the cold winter) and I was upset that I was hurting a lot.
I eventually cut back, scrapped my plans for a spring half in favor of a 10k. I'm trying to take it easy and work in more cross-training. I have a half relay with Brooke on May 23 and the Baltimore 10 miler on June 19. My big goal right now is to do really well in that. In my mind I think I have this ability to be super-fast. It's just finding the right training balance that will actually get me to that point.
Marathon Recap:
I ran in 4 hours (4:00:08). I was completely amazed and so proud of myself at the end. After a cold, wet winter, it was unseasonably warm. While the rest of the world told me how lucky I was to have such a nice day, I would have traded the 70s for 50s. I didn't want to complain, after all I had been through, it could have been much worse. It was definitely a shock to my system though after doing the majority of my training runs in freezing temps. I think that had it been cooler (or had I remembered at Mile 21 and not 23 how amazing a cup of water to the head felt), I would have broken four hours. But I'm in no way upset with my time and know that NEXT race (there will be one), I will go under.
I ended up running with a girl, Jen, from my flag football team from about Mile 9 to Mile 13 and then for the last 4-5 miles. It was amazing to have her support at the end. I would have tanked a lot harder had she not been there. My splits were decent, steady 9 minute miles for the first 20 and then a really slow final 10k (my final pace was 9:10). I know that in future races, I'll be ready for the wall and my splits will even out. The first half of the race is great, and I encourage all of my running buddies to run at least the half. You go through so many awesome places in DC and it goes by incredibly quickly. I did look forward to the second half, though, once the half-marathoners finished and the crowd thinned out. It was kind of surreal to go around the back of RFK with only a handful of people. I thought to myself "so this is it, I'm half way done". Miles 13-18 went by very quickly. I like to credit this to the fact that during my second pass of the Capital, I heckled some Tea Partiers. Armed with a large anti-Obama poster, I proclaimed "Go Obama" as I ran by. Someone across the street heard me, and began retorting with his Republican rhetoric. I came back with "Are you really going to yell at someone running a marathon?" to which the marathon spectators cheered. Ironic since the protest was over health care. Maybe if more Americans could run marathons, we wouldn't be in such sad shape as a country. Shortly after, I saw Matt, Matt and Mackenzie. There was a race photographer about a half a mile later. My mom remarked that she thought that picture was taken from the first half of my race, I explained I was 16+ miles in at that point, but my glee from supporting my president made me look good. Miles 18-20 were along the SW waterfront. Highlights included running over 395 where a plethora of cones blocked the on-ramps. I found it amusing at the lengths they took. The waterfront miles were flat and pretty. My best race pictures were along the river before approaching Nationals stadium. The last 10k was tough. The course was flat, but it was really sunny and hot, with no breeze, no shade and very few spectators. I had lost Jen at mile 13, but as my pace slackened, she caught up to me. As we navigated the final hills, she pushed me to finish strong. At the last water stop (Mile 25), a volunteer yelled as people ran by "Only 10 minutes left!" As we passed, he exclaimed, "but not you two, you're going a lot faster than that!" I did finish the last .2 miles strong, frantically trying to get under 4 hours. I wish I could have gotten in 9 seconds faster, but over 26.2 miles, 9 seconds is really nothing. I heard Brooke yelling for me at the end, and she hung out with me while I gathered my water, pretzel and Powerade.
I wore my medal around DC as Matt, Matt, Mackenzie and I went to Free Rita's Day and carried it in my purse for the next week. I wear my shirt to the gym a lot, especially on days I'm feeling extra lethargic.
The fact that I've run a marathon still hasn't sunk in, and maybe it never will. While it is certainly an incredible feat that so few people can boast accomplishing, to me, it was just another challenge. Lined up next... getting faster so I can go under four hours next time and then someday BQ-ing. Zack asked me if I was going to go for 50/50. It would be cool, although I did start in the one place that is not a real state.
I haven't posted at all because I haven't really been running all that much since then. The one thing I was not prepared for was the long recovery. After my halfs, I'm usually down miles for a week, maybe two, but then am able to pick right back up where I left off within mere days. After my marathon, I took a few days off, but felt amazing (I was barely sore at all the next day, it was awesome), but did a lot of crosstraining and definitely came back too strong too early. Coming off of that high, I wanted to be amazing and fast and run PR's in all of my other distances. I knew I was in the best shape of my life, but my body had different ideas. Running was painful and while mentally I wanted to keep pushing, I just couldn't do it. Couple that with the fact that it's SPRING (my favorite time of year to run after the cold winter) and I was upset that I was hurting a lot.
I eventually cut back, scrapped my plans for a spring half in favor of a 10k. I'm trying to take it easy and work in more cross-training. I have a half relay with Brooke on May 23 and the Baltimore 10 miler on June 19. My big goal right now is to do really well in that. In my mind I think I have this ability to be super-fast. It's just finding the right training balance that will actually get me to that point.
Marathon Recap:
I ran in 4 hours (4:00:08). I was completely amazed and so proud of myself at the end. After a cold, wet winter, it was unseasonably warm. While the rest of the world told me how lucky I was to have such a nice day, I would have traded the 70s for 50s. I didn't want to complain, after all I had been through, it could have been much worse. It was definitely a shock to my system though after doing the majority of my training runs in freezing temps. I think that had it been cooler (or had I remembered at Mile 21 and not 23 how amazing a cup of water to the head felt), I would have broken four hours. But I'm in no way upset with my time and know that NEXT race (there will be one), I will go under.
I ended up running with a girl, Jen, from my flag football team from about Mile 9 to Mile 13 and then for the last 4-5 miles. It was amazing to have her support at the end. I would have tanked a lot harder had she not been there. My splits were decent, steady 9 minute miles for the first 20 and then a really slow final 10k (my final pace was 9:10). I know that in future races, I'll be ready for the wall and my splits will even out. The first half of the race is great, and I encourage all of my running buddies to run at least the half. You go through so many awesome places in DC and it goes by incredibly quickly. I did look forward to the second half, though, once the half-marathoners finished and the crowd thinned out. It was kind of surreal to go around the back of RFK with only a handful of people. I thought to myself "so this is it, I'm half way done". Miles 13-18 went by very quickly. I like to credit this to the fact that during my second pass of the Capital, I heckled some Tea Partiers. Armed with a large anti-Obama poster, I proclaimed "Go Obama" as I ran by. Someone across the street heard me, and began retorting with his Republican rhetoric. I came back with "Are you really going to yell at someone running a marathon?" to which the marathon spectators cheered. Ironic since the protest was over health care. Maybe if more Americans could run marathons, we wouldn't be in such sad shape as a country. Shortly after, I saw Matt, Matt and Mackenzie. There was a race photographer about a half a mile later. My mom remarked that she thought that picture was taken from the first half of my race, I explained I was 16+ miles in at that point, but my glee from supporting my president made me look good. Miles 18-20 were along the SW waterfront. Highlights included running over 395 where a plethora of cones blocked the on-ramps. I found it amusing at the lengths they took. The waterfront miles were flat and pretty. My best race pictures were along the river before approaching Nationals stadium. The last 10k was tough. The course was flat, but it was really sunny and hot, with no breeze, no shade and very few spectators. I had lost Jen at mile 13, but as my pace slackened, she caught up to me. As we navigated the final hills, she pushed me to finish strong. At the last water stop (Mile 25), a volunteer yelled as people ran by "Only 10 minutes left!" As we passed, he exclaimed, "but not you two, you're going a lot faster than that!" I did finish the last .2 miles strong, frantically trying to get under 4 hours. I wish I could have gotten in 9 seconds faster, but over 26.2 miles, 9 seconds is really nothing. I heard Brooke yelling for me at the end, and she hung out with me while I gathered my water, pretzel and Powerade.
I wore my medal around DC as Matt, Matt, Mackenzie and I went to Free Rita's Day and carried it in my purse for the next week. I wear my shirt to the gym a lot, especially on days I'm feeling extra lethargic.
The fact that I've run a marathon still hasn't sunk in, and maybe it never will. While it is certainly an incredible feat that so few people can boast accomplishing, to me, it was just another challenge. Lined up next... getting faster so I can go under four hours next time and then someday BQ-ing. Zack asked me if I was going to go for 50/50. It would be cool, although I did start in the one place that is not a real state.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Countdown: Less than 24 hours
So here I am, one day before my race. The weather is forecasted to be gorgeous.A high of 70 for the day, but hopefully mid 40s-high 50s while I'm running. No rain, no wind, low humidity.
I’m so excited, I feel like I did the day before we went to Disneyworld when I was 10. It’s awesome to think that at this time tomorrow, I will be a marathoner.
I am definitely nervous, but am trying to block all of the negative thoughts out of my head.I did three runs over 20 miles, and two more of 18. I ran 22 miles after three of the toughest weeks I’ve ever run, and then came back the next day and raced a 5k. I did weekly speedwork sessions and strength trained. I trimmed over an inch off of my waist (I have well defined abs!) I’m so ready. I know I can do it and hopefully as fast as I think I can.
My race strategy is going to go like this: run a comfortable 4 hour pace (or maybe even slightly more) for the first 8 or so miles.When the big down hill section comes, I’ll try to make up some time and let gravity help me with my pace. For the second half, I’m going to try to stay steady as the course flattens.With a nice river to look at, and a ghetto area to keep me motivated to run fast, I know I’ll be ok. ran my last three long runs in negative splits, so I don't expect tomorrow to be any different.
I’ve decided against wearing my Garmin. I get kind of obsessive about checking it, plus I’m afraid of it chafing my un-gloved wrist. I just want to run my race, and if that happens to be faster or slower than my plan, I don’t want to be freaking out about it every couple minutes. That will only make it worse.
I'm going to wear an orange Under Armour tshirt shirt with my green Nike Tempo shorts. I'm planning on writing "Don't stop believin" on the back. I think it's perfect.
It's one of my favorite songs, and reminds me of other great accomplishments (like Rugby Nationals) and nights at Bentley's and C-Stone that I wouldn't exactly call accomplished, but enjoyable all the same.&
It's a great motto for a marathon, don't stop believin you can do this, Meredith!
-The band is Journey, and I can't think of a better way to describe four months of training.
-Finally, I hope it will elicit comments from other runners. Maybe it will even inspire someone to keep going (at least in the "I better run faster than that Journey girl" sort of way.)
I'm at work now. One of our vendors brought in bagels, which happens to be the most amazing thing ever for the day before a race. I've had two, but I'm kind of bageled out at the moment. Immediately after work, I'm going to get my packet. I'm supposed to try to meet up with Brooke but I really just want to get in and out.... and maybe buy a 26.2 sticker to promptly apply to my car post-race tomorrow. Speaking of post-race, it's also free Rita's Day so I plan on definitely hitting that up. It will be an amazing post-race treat.
So far, the only thing that hasn't gone my way is that Maryland game is tonight at 9:40. I want to be in bed by 10, so I won't get to watch it. Watching sports gets me really wound up, so I know it's a bad idea to try to watch it before I go to bed. I'll have enough going through my head without the Terps adding to the excitement.
Wish me luck :)
I’m so excited, I feel like I did the day before we went to Disneyworld when I was 10. It’s awesome to think that at this time tomorrow, I will be a marathoner.
I am definitely nervous, but am trying to block all of the negative thoughts out of my head.I did three runs over 20 miles, and two more of 18. I ran 22 miles after three of the toughest weeks I’ve ever run, and then came back the next day and raced a 5k. I did weekly speedwork sessions and strength trained. I trimmed over an inch off of my waist (I have well defined abs!) I’m so ready. I know I can do it and hopefully as fast as I think I can.
My race strategy is going to go like this: run a comfortable 4 hour pace (or maybe even slightly more) for the first 8 or so miles.When the big down hill section comes, I’ll try to make up some time and let gravity help me with my pace. For the second half, I’m going to try to stay steady as the course flattens.With a nice river to look at, and a ghetto area to keep me motivated to run fast, I know I’ll be ok. ran my last three long runs in negative splits, so I don't expect tomorrow to be any different.
I’ve decided against wearing my Garmin. I get kind of obsessive about checking it, plus I’m afraid of it chafing my un-gloved wrist. I just want to run my race, and if that happens to be faster or slower than my plan, I don’t want to be freaking out about it every couple minutes. That will only make it worse.
I'm going to wear an orange Under Armour tshirt shirt with my green Nike Tempo shorts. I'm planning on writing "Don't stop believin" on the back. I think it's perfect.
It's one of my favorite songs, and reminds me of other great accomplishments (like Rugby Nationals) and nights at Bentley's and C-Stone that I wouldn't exactly call accomplished, but enjoyable all the same.&
It's a great motto for a marathon, don't stop believin you can do this, Meredith!
-The band is Journey, and I can't think of a better way to describe four months of training.
-Finally, I hope it will elicit comments from other runners. Maybe it will even inspire someone to keep going (at least in the "I better run faster than that Journey girl" sort of way.)
I'm at work now. One of our vendors brought in bagels, which happens to be the most amazing thing ever for the day before a race. I've had two, but I'm kind of bageled out at the moment. Immediately after work, I'm going to get my packet. I'm supposed to try to meet up with Brooke but I really just want to get in and out.... and maybe buy a 26.2 sticker to promptly apply to my car post-race tomorrow. Speaking of post-race, it's also free Rita's Day so I plan on definitely hitting that up. It will be an amazing post-race treat.
So far, the only thing that hasn't gone my way is that Maryland game is tonight at 9:40. I want to be in bed by 10, so I won't get to watch it. Watching sports gets me really wound up, so I know it's a bad idea to try to watch it before I go to bed. I'll have enough going through my head without the Terps adding to the excitement.
Wish me luck :)
Monday, March 8, 2010
Musings on the gym...
(FYI, I wrote this last week but am just getting to posting now)
The past three weeks, all of my work outs (save the long-runs) have been done at the local county Rec Center. I like the gym, it’s small, family oriented and I never have to worry about a gaggle of frat guys hogging the weights when I want to do my reps of 10 lb bicep curls. I do get frustrated on the treadmills, though. There are 9 in the gym and usually a few are free, but I always worry that they’ll fill up and I’ll get kicked off after my half-hour time limit. (Even my shortest runs are at least 4 miles, which at a recovery pace takes me about 35-40 minutes. Yesterday, during a 9 mile sprit work out, I was on for about 80.) Getting kicked off has yet to happen, and I question whether the teenage guy supervising would actually ask me to get off, but I try to be accommodating all the same. This fear, as a result, has caused me to loathe treadmill walkers. Training for a marathon, I need to run. Burning a few calories by walking could be done just as easily on an elliptical. Recently, as I was nearing my 30 minute limit, I noticed that all of the treadmills were taken. I still had another mile to go and worried that I wouldn’t be able to get it in. Luckily, the woman next to me got off and a man in khaki shorts hopped on. I’m really glad I didn’t get off for him, I would have been really angry that my precious treadmill spot had gone to a guy who looked like he was about to go out for a Sunday drive. I finished my mile and went to stretch, and saw him over there only a few minutes later. Ugg, I hate to sound elitist, but I really feel like I need to be on a treadmill more than him and others like that.
Alternately, when I see high school girls rock the elliptical it takes me back to my days at the Towson Y. I spent hours there with my friends, doing cardio, lifting weights and kicking imaginary adolescent boy butt during cardio-kick classes. I remember one middle-aged man asking my friend Abbie and I what we were training for. Our response? Prom. Part of me wants to reach out and make sure these girls are killing themselves at the gym to be skinny, but the other part applauds their healthy lifestyle and working in exercise now. I remember meticulously counting calories and not getting off of a machine until I hit a certain amount. I have a vivid image of one of my classmates hopping on an elliptical and asking “so if I burn 3500 calories, that’s a pound, right?” My gym motivation has changed since from being purely aesthetic to being physiologically sound for sports or an event, but those ideas have yet to leave me.
I’ve been a gym rat (or when I don’t belong to a gym, a running fiend) for at least 8 years now for various reasons (losing weight, training for sports, training for races) and I can’t imagine functioning without the calming effect a hard workout has on me. After a tough day at work, I can’t wait to go home and pound the pavement. Whenever I’m in a bad mood, I know that sweat and endorphins will make me feel a whole lot better than a tube of chocolate chip cookie dough.
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