Welcome to my blog My name is Liz. And I like to run. In DC. But you may have figured that out from the title of my blog.
I love to run, bike, hike and swim. In 2010, I finished my first sprint triathlon and my first marathon. This blog documents my training journey, as well as how I find a way to balance work, a social life, and a healthy lifestyle.
Upcoming Races Race for Grace 10K:
10-24-11
Hot Chocolate 15K:
12-3-11
Blue & Gray Half Marathon:
12-11-11
|
One of my goals for the year was to join a running club. Not only to meet people, but also because I feel like my running hasn’t improved much lately. After all, my half marathon PR still stands from my first half in 2008 – about a year after I started running!
I researched clubs and found one that had great reviews. I went to my first training run on Saturday morning.
Fact: Running clubs cost money.
I never knew that running clubs cost a pretty penny. But I know this goes towards things like course support, a customized training plan, and professional coaches and will be worth it. However, this will probably stop me from joining a gym in the meantime.
Fact: When clubs advertise a variety of ages and skills, they ‘re not lying.
At Saturday’s session, there were a ton of pace groups. From speedy BQ’ers, all the way to walkers. People were young and old. However, it was mostly women.
Fact: Pacers rule.
In my last training cycle, I decided I would follow the school of thought that advocates long runs at a pace about a minute slower than your goal marathon pace. In reality, I would start out slow but finish running at or faster my goal pace. With the pacer, I don’t have to worry that my pace is too slow or too fast. I just zone out and trust the training.
Fact: Running with people rules.
I can’t believe I wrote that. I’ve always been a major loner when it comes to working out. I really have no good explanation for why I always wanted to run alone. Looking back, I obviously was getting bored with solo long runs since I turned to audiobooks for entertainment. With the running club, I talked to people the entire time (which is much easier when you follow the long-slow-run pace!) and had so much fun.
Fact: A running club can push you to new heights.
Well, I don’t exactly know if this is true yet. I do know that on Saturday I ran 8 miles with the group, which sadly is the longest I have run since my last half marathon. And I do know that I wouldn’t have run that far on my own. When I was on sports teams as a kid growing up, I always pushed myself to please the coaches and to keep up with my teammates. I’m hoping that will apply here as well.
Fact: Following a new training plan is exciting.
I’m still anxiously awaiting my training plan from the coaches. I’m supposed to get in a few days and I can’t wait to get started. I’ll be sure to share the highlights once I’ve started.
If you’re in a running club, what’s your favorite thing about it?
If you’re not in a running club, what holds you back from joining? I never wanted to drive somewhere to run. Plus I worried about it being too hard to talk and run at the same time.
This post is a first in a series about some of my favorite Rock Creek Park trails. Please click here for more information.
Trail name: Deer Mountain
Highlights of this trail: deer sightings, feeling cool running over a fallen tree, no horses allowed.
Cons of this trail: fear of falling when running over a fallen tree, parking is difficult certain times.
Entrance Location: Put in 2020 Park St NW into your GPS. Park on the street. Walk over the bridge to reach path.
Distance: 2 miles
Technical Comments: You’re mostly on dirt. The tricky part is crossing the fallen tree or going under it.
Dog Suitability: There are no horses on this trail (a big plus). You will often run into other dogs near the houses. The two points of concern are crossing the driveway and at certain points you are somewhat close to the road.
Description: Neil and I named this part of the park Deer Mountain because this is where we have seen the most deer (especially at “off peak” times to see them). This trail is not very rocky, but you will be going up or down most of the time.
After crossing the bridge and entering the trail, you will reach a fork in the road. Veer to the right (opposite of where Leela is pointing). You’ll go right along side a fenced off mansion. With a pool. Be jealous. 
At the top of the hill past the house, veer to the right. After that, you are essentially following a large loop that will bring you back to the house.
Once you reach the original fork in the road, head to the right instead of going back to your car.
There is a dried up creek, which you can cross going over a fallen tree.
You will cross a driveway, and get jealous of more rich people.
Then take a sharp right to go up a very steep hill. Keeping up a decent pace on this hill is a challenge!
At the top of the hill, you can take a left to loop back around towards where you started. Or, you can keep going straight (as I did in the map above) and turnaround when you start getting close to the road again. Then, on your way back you can turn right for that last loop.
Here is what it looks like in the summer – amazing.
I mentioned that during the period of my life known as “moving hell” I did not work out much AT ALL. I really hate feeling so out of shape. I miss my 8-10 hour workout weeks. But I’m not stupid enough to go from a week of no workouts straight back into high intensity workouts.
This week, Neil was sent back to DC for work. Being a single-dog mom threw another wrench into my workout plans. Not only did I have double the dog-walking, but Leela’s stupid separation anxiety makes it hard to leave her for runs.
Aside from that, I have been more tired this week with my return to the working world and had some difficulty getting my lazy ass up in the mornings.
Here is how I’m slowly, but surely, getting back into my fitness routine.
Start small
For my first week back to regular workouts, I’ve been promising myself to do at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. I did take one rest day because my stomach was acting like a mofo, but otherwise this has been working well. I usually end up doing a little more. While I would like to be doing more, this is all I’ve had time for this week. This also ensures that I don’t push myself too hard and end up injured.
Find the open time
With Neil out of town, I found the best time for me to workout is after work. I put it on my to-do list like I would any other appointment. Even if I’m tired after work I find this helps get my butt into gear. Next week, with Neil back, I’ll probably switch back to morning workouts so I can hang out with him at night.
Make it convenient
I’ve made working out much easier this week by setting up the bike trainer in our living room and putting my weights out. This way I can workout while I watch TV. If I’m going to waste an hour of my life watching Real Housewives, I might as well do something good for myself at the same time.
Engage a friend
My friend Ashley and I are planning on doing something active every weekend, like a walk or a hike. I’m also sure that Lauren and I will start running, biking and skiing together in the near future. Plus, I joined a running club which starts this Saturday! Committing to be active with other people will certainly get me moving.
How do you get back into gear after a workout hiatus?
A few months ago, I started reading the Thrive cookbook by vegan Ironman Brandon Brazier. It’s a really great cookbook with some delicious vegan recipes. Coincidentally Vega Sport, which is Brazier’s line of products, contacted me around that time to review their Sports Performance System.* I received a package from Vega filled with gels, bars and shake mixes. I am not going to be a vegan anytime soon but I like the idea of at least reducing my dairy and egg consumption.
I have no idea if traditional gels and sports drinks are vegan or not. To me, the main differentiator about the Vega Sport items is that the ingredient lists are filled with words I actually recognize. Examples: quinoa, pumpkin seed butter, pea protein.
The sports line has 3 lines of products: prepare (pre-workout), sustain (during workout) and recover (post-workout). Because of my lack of serious training in the last 1-2 months, I am only reviewing one of each of the products here. I’m excited to try more as marathon training begins.
Prepare
- Pre-workout Energizer: Lemon Lime Flavor. When it comes to runs under 10 miles on weekdays, I have a tendency to not eat anything beforehand. I don’t want to have to wake up any earlier than necessary to get the run done. I know, bad Liz! To take the pre-workout energizer, you mix it with cold water and drink 20 minutes before working out. This is a positive for me because my sensitive stomach needs an hour to digest food. It is only 70 calories. I like that you can tell it is all natural by the coloring, but I did not like the taste of this. For me, it tasted like watered down Gatorade.
![IMG_3174[1]](http://lizrunsdc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/IMG_31741_thumb.png "IMG_3174[1]")
Sustain
- Endurance Bar: Acai Berry Flavor. This bar came in a mocha flavor, but I decided I should taste test the berry flavor because I am 99% more likely to like anything chocolate. It was surprisingly good, but not quite as tasty as the chocolate. Obviously. I ate this while on a trainer workout on my bike. While it was fine on the bike, this would probably be too heavy for my stomach on a run. At 190 calories and 30 g of carbs, I’d say this would be a decent mid-workout treat.
Recover
- Protein bar: Chocolate Coconut Flavor. This bar was very delicious and chocolaty. Neil had a bite and we both agreed it tasted like a brownie. It is 240 calories with 15 grams of protein. I ate this after a 4 mile run, and while I wouldn’t normally need this many calories post-short-run, it did keep me full for hours. During marathon training it can be difficult for me to eat something within (the recommended) 30 minutes after my long run. After all, I’m focused on stretching, foam rolling, and taking an ice bath and a much needed shower. A bar is a perfect solution for this problem.
Do you remember to eat after a tough workout? What’s your favorite recovery food or drink?
I have two giveaways to share on this post. First, follow Vega Sport on twitter or on facebook. Enter a comment here and you will be eligible to win a free tub of Vega Sport Recovery.
Second, Vega is hosting a pretty awesome giveaway on their site. Information is below, but if you win the grand prize I think you should take me on the trip with you:
Vega Sport Sweepstakes
Enter to win the Vega Sport Sweepstakes with over $30,000 in prizes!
Sweepstakes Entry Period: January 3rd – March 31, 2012
Enter @ www.vegasport.com/sweepstakes
One Grand Prize
Vega Sport Adventure Trip for 2:
Cycle, raft and explore your way through Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama for 15 days
$5,000 in Vega Sport product
($15,000 value)
Ten Runner Up Prizes
$1000 in Vega Sport products
Twenty Finalist Prizes
$200 in Vega Sport products
Five Weekly Prizes (per week for 11 weeks)
1 Vega Sport product
Weekly prize winners will be announced weekly via social media!
*Samples were free, but opinions are my own.
Week one in Denver has been pretty friggin’ awesome. I’ve had fun with friends (so happy that fellow former DC blogger Lauren is here!),
explored parks and the biggest dog park you have ever seen,
and started a fun, new job. It has a completely different culture than my old company, in all the best ways.
After horrible run #1, my running has also gotten better.
There are two major adjustments that have affected my running in Denver: the altitude and the dryness. The altitude challenge seems to be getting better slowly but surely. My “comfortable” pace (i.e. my nice and slow pace where I can talk or sing while running) has dropped from about 9-9:15 min/miles to 9:40-10 min/miles. I am confident that will readjust itself after another few weeks. At least that is what Dr. Google tells me.
The dryness has been bit tougher. The first few nights we were here I woke up in the middle of the night coughing my lungs out. On my first run, my lungs were in a lot of pain. We finally got a humidifier and it has made a world of difference. I still need way more water than I did at sea level to be happy, but that I can deal with.
Have you ever run in high altitude?
P.S. I’m hoping to get back into a regular blogging schedule this week now that I’m settled.
P.P.S. I’m still working on changing the blog name and will hopefully switch it over by the end of the weekend!
P.P.P.S. I was working on a series of posts about trail running in Rock Creek Park that I will also be posting in the near future for all my DC friends.
It has been exactly one week since my last day of work in DC and a lot has happened.
The good: I had a last crazy weekend out in DC. Thanks to my friends for coming out. And an especially big thank you to our NYC friends Colleen, Dave and James who drove down and were the most fun people ever.
The bad: Hangovers. I am too old to hang like I used to.
The ugly: My purse got stolen Saturday night (but it was my fault for leaving it unattended). Luckily nothing important was in there.
The good: We made the drive across the country in one piece. Our stuff made it in the POD in one piece a few days later. We ate Kansas City BBQ along the way.
The bad: We saw snow was on its way to Denver so we cut our road trip down from 3 days to 2 days. I’m happy we got it over with, but I also have a newfound hatred for farmland. The dog was bored too.
The ugly: We made it before the snow! But woke up the next day to a few inches of snow and no shovels. Oops.
The good: I did my first Denver run this morning!
The bad: I hadn’t worked out in a full week.
The ugly: The altitude + icy sidewalks + not working out in a full week = slowest 3 miles on record.
The good: This was my view on the run. And this is where I live now.
While most people made new year’s resolutions last week, the change from 2011 to 2012 is not as momentous to me as the change from DC to Denver. (By the time you are reading this, we’ll be on the road!). Here are some goals I have for the upcoming year in my new town.
- Try CrossFit. I think CrossFit is really, really intimidating. I also know a few CrossFit people who act like they have joined a cult, which annoys me. But I think it is probably an awesome workout. I don’t know if I’ll like it but I think I should at least give it a try to push myself out of my comfort zone.
- Run a sub-4 hour marathon. I will break this time in 2012. Hopefully at this race.*
- Do my first 70.3. At this race.*
- Join a running club. I’ve seen first-hand how the CAR mafia girls improved with the help of their running club. Not only do I want to get faster, but I want to meet new people. Two birds with one stone. The main reason I’ve never joined a club is pure laziness – I hate the idea of driving somewhere to go run. Time to get over that.
- Run more than 867 miles. That’s how much I ran in 2011. Since I started running in 2007, I’ve managed to up my mileage every year. 2007 – 361 miles, 2008 – 478 miles, 2009 – 516 miles, 2010 – 725 miles. Maybe I can break 1000 in 2012.
I’d say, outside of these fitness-related goals, the theme for 2012 will be to try new things. New restaurants, new trails, new friends. Everything will be new. So my main new-city-resolution is to say yes to as many new things as possible.
*I was going to wait until I was in Denver to sign up for races, but after the craziness of the last few weeks I need races to look forward to. They keep me sane.
This week is full of lasts: my last week of work (yay!), my last co-worker lunch and happy hour, and a last swim at Wilson High School with Nyema.
I started swimming at Wilson when I got my stress fracture. At some point, I discovered Nyema was quite the swimmer and we started going regularly together on early mornings.
This time we met after work, swam for 30 minutes and then relaxed in the hot tub. Post-swim, we got dinner at Panera with Neil and her husband Jamal. I’m going to miss Wilson – free access to a nice, Olympic size swimming pool – but I will certainly miss our friends more.
Saying goodbye was sad. Nyema was one of my first new friends in DC, meaning we have known each other for over 5 years. In the last few years we bonded over weddings, buying houses at around the same time and, most recently, fitness. Nyema encouraged me to try new yoga classes and we did a race together.
 old school picture I can say with complete confidence that without Nyema I would have spent much less time in the pool in the last year. Thanks for getting my butt in the water Nyema!
We have plans to train for the Tough Mudder in Colorado in June, so even though we will be far apart we’ll still be pushing each other in the fitness department. Thank you facebook, g-chat and text messages for making it less sad to leave good friends behind.
In the weeks coming up to our move, people asked us if Leela had any sense of what is going on. Fellow dog freaks asked if she was excited for the move. It wasn’t until we really started packing things up that she started acting funny.
On our biggest packing day, when we were stuffing all of our things into boxes, it started. Leela, who usually has to be in the same room as one of us 24/7, hid under the ottoman in the living room. She also was shaking for about 30 minutes straight. She refused one her favorite treats (an ice cube).
Last night we had to swing by our house to grab a few things we left behind. We brought Leela because we thought she might want to see the house one last time because we’re dog freaks.
She was on edge the entire time and started shaking like a leaf again. On the car ride back to my parents’ house Neil remembered an important bit of her history that I had completely forgotten. We found her at the humane society and her back story was that her previous owners moved to an apartment that was not dog-friendly. They didn’t take her along. Is it possible that she remembers her first owners packing up their place, and then being left in a pound?
Sometimes I wish dogs could understand more than 5 words of English so she knows we would never, ever leave her behind.
Today Neil and I, with the help of family, packed up the entire contents of our house into a sixteen foot pod.
Before:
After:
This week has been bittersweet for me. Packing is stressful, exhausting and an overall pain in the ass. I look back to when I thought I would have all the time in the world to pack and workout and see friends this week and laugh. How can someone train for an Ironman while doing the same thing??
I really love our little house and will miss it dearly. It will always hold a special place in my heart as the first house we bought together, where we brought Leela home, where we got engaged (on the front porch!), and where we spent our first 2 years of married life.
At the same time, now that the hardest part of the move is over I am getting more excited by the minute. We have one more week in DC – and unfortunately one more week of work – before we begin the Denver chapter of our lives.
Hopefully now I will be back to normal blogging (and for the love of god normal exercising). I can’t wait to start my new life – and new training plan – and share it with all of you.
|
|
![IMG_3174[1]](http://lizrunsdc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/IMG_31741.png "IMG_3174[1]")
