I was Huffing and Puffing... I was RUNning

I had my first Vo2 max workout of the year yesterday and it was very cool. On schedule was 10 x 800 at a pace roughly based on my Half Marathon goal of 1:28. McMillan calculator translated this to be 3:02. Hmmm. Back before I got injured in late October, I was able to run 800s at 2:55. I thought 3:02 would be a stretch at this point, so I told myself to aim for anything faster than 3:10. Ideally 3:05-ish, give or take.

I had never done 10 800s before, just 8. Recoveries were generous at 2:30, so I knew I had to push these 800s and get into some serious oxygen debt. I wasn't nervous, but I had my doubts about being able to finish the workout. After all, I am fighting a cold off... the same one I've been fighting for about two weeks now. It just lingers.

I laced up my Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10 Wear-test shoes (which are AMAZING) and off I went. I told myself, "Just do it and let it ride. It will be what it will be!" I was ready to have fun going "balls to the wall" so to speak.

I did a 2 mile warm up jog and NO striders (done on purpose so that I wouldn't go too fast on the first one, which I tend to do). I ran this workout around a .3 mile block next to my house. I love this block because it's perfect for doing 800s-1Ks. Anyway, my first 800 was 3:13. I was happy with it because I had expected a 3:15. I knew that the ones to come would be faster and they were. So my first five were 3:13, 3:05, 3:01, 3:02, 3:09 (oh yes, getting worked over). I then changed directions and my last five were 3:07, 3:07, 3:05, 3:04, 3:06.

I looked at my finish times after every other one and told myself to run the next one like the previous one... reminding myself that it's supposed to feel that hard and to hurt a little.

POST WORKOUT assessment:
I was very pleased with this workout! It gave me confidence and I am more fit than I thought I was. I still have LOTS of work to do to get into PR shape, but I'm on my way.

I felt like throwing up during a few of the 800s, but to prevent the vomit, I just eased up a teeny bit and relaxed into the new pace. The urge to hurl would disappear quickly. When things felt rough like that, I would close my eyes for a second or two and picture myself doing striders where I work very hard at turnover AND maintaining good form. I would also think of Joan Benoit Samuelson and Dr. Jack Daniels saying: "TEN STEPS EASY-TEN STEPS HARD." Those things relaxed me every single time I felt tense and nauseous!

I walked or very slowly jogged the recoveries because I know my body and when I jog slightly faster, I don't recover fully and go into the next speed interval tired. That defeats the purpose of these Vo2 max workouts. These workouts are different from cruise intervals where you run slightly slower and get very minimal recovery (to mimic tempo running). Anyway, I controlled myself through the first lap of the block (.3 miles), settled into a groove and just let my legs work off of memory. Then for the last .2 miles, I let it go. I let it roll and pushed very hard like I would attempt to do in the late stages of a race.

When it came time to do #9, I thought about quitting and rationalized by saying that I could do 10 next time. But I thought of a few things that made me finish the last two. I thought about the 24-hour bike riding the contestants did as a team on the Biggest Loser this week and their reasons for not quitting when they easily could have. I also thought about my friend from work who committed suicide back in November and how much she loved being outside to exercise. Lastly I thought of Mickey's son, Cody, and how he may never know what it is like to run so freely, all out, with every bit of energy he's got. I ran # 9 for Dede and #10 for Cody.

Later in the day I worked with the shot put and discus throwers and just loved it! Those kids are going to do great this season and in the seasons to come. Good kids! I ended the day by taking my oldest son to Ash Wednesday Mass while my husband took my daughter and youngest son to her Orchestra recital.

This Lenten season is going to be wonderful.

Three Days Until LENT

Believe me, I am far from religious. I try to practice my religion, but am not very good at it. However, I do have a lot of faith in God and in Christ. It's the CHURCH thing that takes practice. I've been attending though, and I always do feel better when I go. There is a sense of community at church and it kind of reminds me of the community among runners. I don't know why but it does. But moving on...

LENT. For those of you who observe, you know what I mean. Anyway, I'm am giving up Facebook and Runner's World Message Boards for 40 days! I DO NOT know how I will do it... but obviously by the good grace of God, I will. Facebook is so addicting, and I've been on the RWOL Message Boards since 2006! Wow. I can't believe it.

What I'm looking forward to this Lenten season is spending time with the people I cherish and love, and doing the things I cherish and love, without unnecessary distractions. I am already so distracted as it is! I hope to be a better mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend and community member after this. That's the goal... focus on things other than myself and my wants. Try to be selfless. But I will still be running and blogging, of course!

I'll be praying a lot for Cody Johnson, Mickey and Diane's youngest son. Please include him in your thoughts and prayers. He's just so young, too young.

Fireproof - the movie... and Gran Torino

Last night my husband and I watched the movie Fireproof, with Kirk Cameron. I had heard many things about it. Descriptions that included: cheesy, over blown with religion, unrealistic.

Well, I have to respectfully disagree. In our family I am more of the 'religious' one, although I wouldn't necessarily call myself religious. Let's just say I pray more than my husband does. Not that my husband isn't a believer... he's just not very vocal or public about it. I, on the other hand, will make reference to Jesus or God or church every now and then.

So we sat down on the couch and I actually expected my hubby to doze off during the film... but he didn't. He watched wide eyed and attentively. He even caught a few things I didn't in regard to relationships with Jesus. I was surprised! (Very pleasantly surprised). In the first 20 minutes of the movie and during the real fight scene between the husband and wife characters, we looked at each other often because we could completely, completely identify with what was going on. That movie was more realistic than any movie I've seen in a long time.

Yes it makes reference to the Lord, but I didn't think it was over blown. There was some cheesy acting in there, but it's because 99% of the actors in the film were church volunteers from a baptist church in Albany, GA. For a bunch of volunteers, the acting was actually not bad at all! Overall the movie's message was so valuable. You really never leave your partner, especially in a fire. Be a hero to your spouse before you are a hero to ANYONE else. Remember how much Jesus loves you, even though you don't deserve that unconditional love at times. He never forsakes us. Now take that love... and pass it on to your spouse and to your children and to your family and friends.

Now, about Gran Torino. Wow! Another incredible film. Just an old school kind of movie. No flashy special effects. No weird music... just a very good story and great acting. Not offensive to me at all. There are people like Walt who live in my town. There are people here just like Tao. I could identify with these characters as well. And I will not give the ending away... but let me say it was better than revenge. It was redemption. It was inspiring and unbelievable all at the same time. It made me just sit, and think. Movies like this make me love Clint Eastwood.

























And finally, my sweet husband and I celebrated our young marriage on Thursday. Four years married. I am so thankful to God that he let me meet the man that I want to spend the rest of my life with... without a doubt. I feel so loved. I feel so blessed. I am so happy!