So much for my wanting to keep looking for a better-feeling pair of shoes...
This morning, the kid and I decided to race each other. She loves to brag about how fast she is (according to her she was the only girl who received an award for making the President's Physical Fitness time for the one-mile run). And I am all about proving what great shape I am in. So I decided we should put our speed and my seemingly inferior Gel Enduro 6s to the test at the local track.
We started off running just under 100 meters/yards (however a typical track surrounding a football field is measured). I figured there was a pretty good chance she could beat me here, because I am not that fast when it comes to sprints. (Actually, I am not that fast no matter what the distance is.) But I ended up edging her by a few seconds without pushing myself to the limit, as she seemed to be doing.
After we had a chance to catch our breath during a short walk, I asked the kid if she wanted to race once around the track. Based on our sprint and the fact that I am better suited for longer distances, I was thinking I had this one in the bag.
I thought wrong.
I really had to push myself to keep up with her. In the end, because I was kind of winded, I decided to slow up just a bit, and she won. I was both impressed with and surprised by her.
After that, we (well, mostly I) ran a quarter mile a few times and timed each other. I completed my first quarter mile in 1:53, my second in 1:50, and my third in about 2:00, taking breaks in between. Jordan ran her quarter mile in just over 2:00; she seemed much more content timing me.
Based on Jordan's complaining and her pretty much stopping between runs, it appears as if she is not ready to join the cross-country team (not that she wants to). But I think she did pretty well for an almost-8 year old. As for me, I did manage to get in just over 1.25 miles. Pretty pathetic, but running nonetheless.
As for the shoes: When I first starting walking to the track, the shoes felt uncomfortable. But once I started running, they felt fine. These shoes are no Gel Enduro 5s, but hopefully they won't embarrass me too much. :-)
Showing posts with label track. Show all posts
Showing posts with label track. Show all posts
Friday, August 12, 2011
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Running around an indoor track
Over the weekend, I took my daughter to a birthday party at the Oxford Athletic Club in Wexford. While she was playing games, I ran around the track. At the club, 10 laps equal one mile, versus only 4 laps on the local outdoor track; yet I actually found this run to be less boring than on the outdoor track. Being around others has always been a good motivator for me; I don't want people to think I am slow or out of shape, so I am sure that helped keep me going. Running in the AC certainly did not hurt!
A big downside of a short track, at least for me, is I have trouble keeping track of how many laps I have run. I am pretty sure I ran only 8, not 10, when I thought I had completed my first mile. I just don't see how I could have run a mile in just over six minutes, even though I was running at a pretty decent pace, obviously without any hills. But when I correctly counted laps later, the about eight minutes seemed much more accurate, if not disappointing.
I ended up running about three miles (maybe two laps shy). I threw in a fast lap a couple of times as well as a few slower ones for good measure. It was a nice change of pace, and, more importantly, it was good to get another run in just over a week after my last one.
A big downside of a short track, at least for me, is I have trouble keeping track of how many laps I have run. I am pretty sure I ran only 8, not 10, when I thought I had completed my first mile. I just don't see how I could have run a mile in just over six minutes, even though I was running at a pretty decent pace, obviously without any hills. But when I correctly counted laps later, the about eight minutes seemed much more accurate, if not disappointing.
I ended up running about three miles (maybe two laps shy). I threw in a fast lap a couple of times as well as a few slower ones for good measure. It was a nice change of pace, and, more importantly, it was good to get another run in just over a week after my last one.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Running around the track
Today, I finally took advantage of the school taxes I have been paying all these years and ran around the high school track. I had forgotten just how boring running around (and around) an oval can be. Better than the track at the gym (something like 12 or 14 laps for one mile), for sure, but completing 12 revolutions to run three miles is a lot more challenging than I had remembered.
Who would have thought I would miss the hills on my normal run? But I did, because they not only make the run interesting, but they also provide the ebb and flow; just when it gets really tough, you have a downhill to help you out. Despite the high humidity (a recurring theme), because of the absence of hills, I felt as if I was cheating. Or, at the very least, not doing a regular run.
When I had completed my three miles, which also included two 110 yard (or is it meters) sprints, I considered running the bleachers. I was tired, but my thighs were not begging for mercy, a sure sign of a good run (with hills).
In the end, I think it was good to try the track. I am sure my body appreciated the softer surface, and it did provide a change of venue. I am not eager to do it again soon, but I do plan to come back. Who knows? Maybe I will try a barefoot run next time.
Who would have thought I would miss the hills on my normal run? But I did, because they not only make the run interesting, but they also provide the ebb and flow; just when it gets really tough, you have a downhill to help you out. Despite the high humidity (a recurring theme), because of the absence of hills, I felt as if I was cheating. Or, at the very least, not doing a regular run.
When I had completed my three miles, which also included two 110 yard (or is it meters) sprints, I considered running the bleachers. I was tired, but my thighs were not begging for mercy, a sure sign of a good run (with hills).
In the end, I think it was good to try the track. I am sure my body appreciated the softer surface, and it did provide a change of venue. I am not eager to do it again soon, but I do plan to come back. Who knows? Maybe I will try a barefoot run next time.
Friday, June 4, 2010
End of the season run
Today was my kid's last day of school for the year, which also makes it my last day of running my regular route. :-(
But I am happy to report I ended the "season" on a high note. I am guessing I ran a little over four miles; since my run took about 40 minutes and I tend to average about a nine-minute mile, that seems about right.
I felt pretty good throughout the run. I don't remember my knee hurting at all, and perhaps my running backwards down a couple of the steeper hills helped. Of course, I was hot and very sweaty with the high humidity again, but I did not feel awful as I did when I ran earlier this week. Could it be that I am getting used to it?!
The timing of my run probably was a factor. I typically run around 2 p.m., or just before, but because today was a half-day for the kids and I was already at school, I began my run at just after 10 a.m., with about two bites of a pop-tart and a generous-sized mocha in my belly. Not ideal, but it is what it is.
I am glad that I had a pretty productive week of exercise, definitely one of my best this entire school. I really think running steps in between regular runs gave me an edge. And as crazy as it sounds (at least to me), my thighs seem toner today than they did earlier this week.
I am such a creature of habit, and now I won't have my running route/routine. I really should have run a 5k race by now. But, alas, I did not, so I just have to hope I can get a run in around my very hilly neighborhood when I can. Maybe I will try the local track. We'll see.
Fingers crossed.
But I am happy to report I ended the "season" on a high note. I am guessing I ran a little over four miles; since my run took about 40 minutes and I tend to average about a nine-minute mile, that seems about right.
I felt pretty good throughout the run. I don't remember my knee hurting at all, and perhaps my running backwards down a couple of the steeper hills helped. Of course, I was hot and very sweaty with the high humidity again, but I did not feel awful as I did when I ran earlier this week. Could it be that I am getting used to it?!
The timing of my run probably was a factor. I typically run around 2 p.m., or just before, but because today was a half-day for the kids and I was already at school, I began my run at just after 10 a.m., with about two bites of a pop-tart and a generous-sized mocha in my belly. Not ideal, but it is what it is.
I am glad that I had a pretty productive week of exercise, definitely one of my best this entire school. I really think running steps in between regular runs gave me an edge. And as crazy as it sounds (at least to me), my thighs seem toner today than they did earlier this week.
I am such a creature of habit, and now I won't have my running route/routine. I really should have run a 5k race by now. But, alas, I did not, so I just have to hope I can get a run in around my very hilly neighborhood when I can. Maybe I will try the local track. We'll see.
Fingers crossed.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Some background
Throughout my childhood, I was pretty active. Over the years I took dance lessons, ran around our yard, and did aerobics. During high school I discovered running, and though I was not particularly fast, I ran on the track team my freshmen and senior years. Sometime during college, a competitive streak kicked in. I can't quite explain how or why it happened; I just remember running around the track in the IM building and feeling compelled to lap a few people each time. If there was a guy I could pass, all the better.
Running was a great way to let my mind wander and/or figure things out. Running was also free (save for the shoes), which was important for a poor college student.
Towards the end of college, I ran in my first 5K. I remember getting beat by my then-preteen cousin. I just could not get through the entire 3.1 miles of that race or the next few without walking a few times, which really bothered me. For whatever reason, I started running less and less. Then, in 2000, four years after I moved to the Burgh, I decided it was time to get serious about running again and start to run in some 5ks. (Note that when I first wrote this post, I thought I had run in my first Burgh 5k in 2001. Thanks to Google listing my time for the Race for the Cure, I discovered 2000 was the year.)
The subsequent posts chronicles some of those races as well as my general experiences with running over the years. It is worthwhile to note that I last ran in 2002. I got pregnant at the end of that year and pretty much stopped running, save for a brief stint in 2006. Until this fall, 2009. More on that in a future post.
Running was a great way to let my mind wander and/or figure things out. Running was also free (save for the shoes), which was important for a poor college student.
Towards the end of college, I ran in my first 5K. I remember getting beat by my then-preteen cousin. I just could not get through the entire 3.1 miles of that race or the next few without walking a few times, which really bothered me. For whatever reason, I started running less and less. Then, in 2000, four years after I moved to the Burgh, I decided it was time to get serious about running again and start to run in some 5ks. (Note that when I first wrote this post, I thought I had run in my first Burgh 5k in 2001. Thanks to Google listing my time for the Race for the Cure, I discovered 2000 was the year.)
The subsequent posts chronicles some of those races as well as my general experiences with running over the years. It is worthwhile to note that I last ran in 2002. I got pregnant at the end of that year and pretty much stopped running, save for a brief stint in 2006. Until this fall, 2009. More on that in a future post.
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