It seems that all of your good thoughts helped me out on the exam today. I didn't struggle as much as I thought I would have but I was the second to the last person finished. I'm hoping for an A in the course but I'l be content with a B+.
So I have one class down and one more to go. One whole month of Genetics! GOD HELP ME!!
I'm currently waiting for a pizza to arrive and doing my laundry (washing my gear for tomorrow).
I have a running related question. I've been looking at the wear on my running shoes. There isn't much wear on the heels but there is considerable wear on the forefront. Does this mean that I am a forefoot striker? And overpronation means that the strike is usually more in the heel?
I'm going to finally purchase my new shoes next week and I've been looking at the shoe reviews in one of the more recent Runner's World. In either case, I'll still head to a running store to get the right advice but it just helps to know.
Tomorrow morning is the big day. Later in the afternoon Hubster and I are leaving for the rez to spend the holiday weekend there. I want to get in a lot of hiking while I'm there so expect some pictures next week. :) If I don't write again tomorrow, have a nice holiday weekend everyone!
faster time for the treadmill, please hold the applause. hehe
Thanks to all who have wished me luck on the upcoming 5k. I'm looking forward to meeting Phil and Ann there in particular. :)
I didn't have a decent night's sleep so I felt a bit groggy all day long. I had to drag myself to the gym today to run my 5km tempo. The air conditioning didn't seem to be as cool today and during my warmup my arms became a little slick with sweat. Needless to say, I wasn't the least bit thrilled about running my little black heart out and sloshing sweat all over the place.
The Workout Mileage: 3.1 miles (5k) Type: Tempo Avg Pace: 9:02 min/mile
There wasn't anything particularly special about this dreadmill run except for the fact that I lowered my overall time and my pace from the last time I did a tempo on the treadmill. One of these days I'll get around to doing my tempo at a local track or around my route but today was one of those days of time crunch.
Hip hip Hooray for a faster time (even though I took the cheap way out and did it on the 'mill)! I still feel good about the time improvement. Were I still a beer drinkin' gal, I would have gone out for a pale ale with Hubster. hehe
The last official day of Animal Behavior class is tomorrow. *does the Mr. Peanut jump and heel click* I'll be staying up late tonight to study for the final.
I also have another bit of good news. I am going to be working in my instructor's lab for the next month and a half. This project he has me working on will have me measuring the levels of carotenoids in the blood of some bird species (think it was a quail). In most birds, the level of carotenoids (which are responsible for the yellow-orangey hues of veggies) a bird consumes can be expressed in the color brightness of certain body parts like their face or crest for example. More carotenoids means a brighter color.
However, I think he said that this bird is unlike other birds in that they are usually just a drab brown color so I have to go in and measure the levels. There's more to this project but I was just way excited that I may have not paid close attention as I should have.
I'm sitting here pretty steamed with my apartment complex management. I come riding home all sweaty from a bike ride home from the campus gym and after running 4 miles on the treadmill. All the way back I kept thinking about how good it would be to take a nice cool shower.
I get home and sling my bag off. Head to the kitchen to down some Gatorade and a cup of yogurt which will transition into my shower.
Then I notice that the water is not turning on in the kitchen. I check in the bathroom and same deal! What the fuck, man!
I call the front office and all I get is an answering machine greeting stating that the staff were in the office but unable to get to the phone. Blah. So I leave my message asking when the water was going to be turned back on.
*just now got a phone call*
They said the water will be back on in 15-20 minutes. At least it's not another hour or two but I just hate it when my skin starts to tighten and the sodium or whatever starts to solidify in white specks on my skin. Argh!
I can't wait to move out of this dump in the next couple of months!
So anyway...
The Workout Mileage: 4.1 miles
This run was particularly all about the hills. I didn't wanna do it but I'm not sure how hilly the 5k course will be this weekend and I don't wanna come in dead last if I haven't prepared. I kept my pace steady at 10:00 on zero to 1.0 inclines but lowered to as low as 10:30 when running my peaks which were set at 3, 3.5, or 5.5.
I wanted to run a little faster but thought about how much more satisfying it would be to not feel tuckered out at the end. Save for a short break after 2 miles to retrieve my towel from my bag, I ran the entire 4 miles.
I ended with 10 minutes of stretching and some bouts on the leg strengthening weight machines. I am pleased to announce that we have some toning action going on! I can see outlines of my muscles!! hehe I love muscular legs, man. They make me feel invincible. I swear I'm going to get the legs of that women on the Columbia (or was it North Face?) ads who is trail running with her kid strapped to her back. It's a pretty recent ad so I'm sure you've seen in in Runner's World. She has scary legs to die for. lol
Yesterday, I didn't do shit except for two trips to campus on my bike which adds up to 40 minutes. I cheated around 11:00 pm last night when Hubster and I made ourselves Rootbeer Floats. No wonder I'm not losing weight. hehe
TUESDAY JUNE 27, 2006 REST--though unintentional 40 min bike
I was going to walk around Papago Park this evening with Hubster but opted out of it since I was still pretty sore from some lunges and leg lifts that I did after my run the other night. So, I stayed in for the evening and headed to Micheals to get some yarn. I started on a baby afghan (crochet) for my future niece or nephew who is arriving in mid-September.
Today felt like a great day for reading about running accomplishments. Jack just ran his first 50-miler and I'm still in awe of his accomplishment. Yesterday, I recieved an email from my sister with some photos of her first marathon. Today, she sent me the link to her short online entry about the experience.
She was a part of Team in Training and they ran the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon in Alaska. She managed to finish in 4:14:45. Excellent time if I do say so myself. What knocked my socks off was the fact that she wore her hair in a tsiiyeel, which is a knot-like bun that traditional Navajo men and women wear. It is like a figure eight and the middle is usually wrapped and tied with a grip of white yarn. You can kinda see in the photo.
I guess I am going to do the same thing when I run my first marathon. :)
She is, indeed, an amazing person. I look up to her alot.
So I wasn't able to do the 6-miles that I had hoped to do last night. Instead, I followed Phil's lead and decided to taper (a small one) for this upcoming 5k that I'm doing on Saturday. Plus, I didn't get out onto the road until 9:20 pm so Hubster had to follow me on his bike. I knew I could have put in another good half mile but I already felt so guilty that I stole Hubster's time away from his computer projects so I threw in the towel.
I'm thinking of checking out the proposed 5k trail path on Tuesday or Wednesday and get a feel for the course. I haven't been doing much in terms of hill running so I'll probably get my butt kicked!
Mile 3 surprised me because I had taken off my earphones to listen to myself breathe for a while. I didn't expect myself to run so fast and it didn't feel like I was pushing it. So, yes, that was a surprise!
This coming week, my goal is to warm up at a 10:30-10:45 pace for the first mile and run additional miles at 10:00-10:05. I'm going to make my body adapt to keeping a constant pace and to reduce petering out near the finish.
In other news...this is my final week of Animal Behavior and then I am finished! For the first summer session, at least. I'm overriding into my final class of my undergraduate career--General Genetics for the last summer session. I hate that class with a passion!! The material is alright but the instructor is something else. He's one tough cookie, I tell ya!
I should know...I failed the class two times!
However, I heard the summer course is far easier because we don't have assigned homework and he has this option on the final where whatever you get on the final you get in the course.
I wish I had passed the class the first time around, or the second but hey that's life! I've done well is all of my other classes but I dont' know what it is about this course! Ugh...I just never did get cell biology. :(
Nothing special about the video that I posted. I just wanted you to listen to the song. I suppose it's my running song of the week. It's called This Modern Love by The Bloc Party. With Deene's help, I found this song from jogtunes.com. I had heard it before but didn't know who the band was.
It really helped me to keep a good steady pace during the last leg of my 3.1 mile run tonight, which is tremendous since I tend to slow down a bit near the end.
I ended up doing my usual route around the neighborhood again. I originally had planned to run the treadmill but since I couldn't seem to open the gates to the fitness room, that plan was foiled. The only reason why I wanted to dreadmill run was because I thought I was going to get up early on Sunday morning to do my 6-mile run and dreadmill running is easier on my legs.
However, all was not lost. Though a bit humid and warmer than normal for the evening, I enjoyed the run. It officially feels like summer here in Tempe. You can tell when you look at the shape of the clouds and the slight dingy-ness of the sky. Even though I complain a lot about the temperatures, I actually like this time of the year in Phoenix because the summer sky looks a lot like summer skies back on the rez. Gotta love that Popsicle-like blend of orange and red!
But about the run...
Everything was so much more laid back because I forgot my watch at home thus I wasn't checking my pace like a fiend every mile. It was quite nice.
Another unexpected thing happened. Just before 1.5 miles, I was running down this one street when I noticed a loose black and white dog zigzagging around the lane and onto the lawns. It stopped in the middle of one of the driveways and being the scaredy, cautious cat I am...I slowed down to a trot and then a walk. I eyed the dog the whole time but tried not to make direct eye contact.
He/she stayed put for a couple seconds and then made a dash towards me. For a split second, I almost pissed my shorts but then noticed that it wore it's happy face the entire time. It's dash turned into a friendly trot.
I like dogs but this dumb dog followed me for the next half a mile. I had to slow down every so often because it would sniff around a yard, notice that I was gaining distance, and then come up behind me with a mad horse-like gallop. I was sure that at any moment it would bash into my legs and send them flying up in the air.
After repeated attempts at SHHHHHHs and Scat, dog! I gave up and let it trot with me. Thankfully, there was a lad standing outside in his driveway and the dog quickly lost interest in me and went for the lad--much to my relief.
I ran the rest of my route. No pain or tightness to report.
The dog episode, though, made me miss the days of my girlhood when I used to run with my dog, Kimi, out on the vast stretches of plateau desert that reached beyond my town's boundaries. She never strayed from my side or tried to chase birds like my other dog, Ringo, did. She was a good dog. I miss her.
A) Four jobs I have had in my life: 1. Chiropractor's assistant 2. Subway sandwich artist 3. Wildlife Technician 4. Social Insect Behavior student researcher
B) Four movies I watch over and over: 1. Finding Nemo 2. Dumb and Dumber 3. The Hand that Rocks the Cradle 4. Romy and Michele's High School Reunion
C) Four places I have lived: 1. Tempe, AZ 2. Kayenta, AZ 3. Hunter's Point, AZ 4. Hoopa, CA
D) Four TV shows I love to watch: 1. America's Next Top Model (my guilty pleasure!) 2. Seinfeld 3. VH 1's Best Week Ever 4. Everybody Loves Raymond
E) Four places I have been on vacation: 1. Flagstaff, AZ 2. Albuquerque, NM 3. San Diego, CA 4. Eureka, CA
F) Four websites I visit daily: 1. my email: yahoo 2. my stat counter (hehe) 3. everyone who is linked to my blog 4. myspace (argggh!)
G) Four of my favorite foods: 1. Alaskan King Crab Legs 2. Grilled Mutton (rez style!) 3. Navajo Fry Bread (w/ salt) 4. Watermelon
H) Four places I would rather be right now: 1. Home in Kayenta, AZ 2. Flagstaff, AZ 3. a beach somewhere 4. hiking somewhere on the rez
I) Four Favorite Bands/Singers: 1. My Chemical Romance 2. The Cure 3. The Smiths 4. Alkaline Trio
I've been pretty busy for the past couple of days--from studying for the pesky exam to waking up early to complete an online homework assignment. Let me just say that looking around for and reading scientific articles is not one of the most exciting things to do at 2 am. hehe
On top of that I spent most of Thursday filling out employment applications for positions that are closing today at 5 pm. There is a slight chance that I will be leaving the Valley at the beginning of August to take a position in Window Rock, AZ--the capital of the Navajo Nation. The upside of moving there would be training at a higher elevation, around 6800 ft. I'll have to double check that. I won't say anymore about that because it's still up in the air.
I decided to slow down on the intensity of my workouts for this week. I admit that I may have increased my pace too fast. Now I have a nagging tightness in my abductors. I try my best to warm them up and stretch them before and after a run.
I was going to start the Jeff Galloway beginning marathon plan this coming Sunday but because of the tightness I'm pushing back "lift-off" until the following Sunday. I'm taking it easy for the next week. Easy means a 10:30-10:40 pace and no more than 4 miles, except for my long run which will stay at 6 miles.
THURSDAY JUNE 22, 2006 The Workout Mileage: 3.1 miles
Hubster came out with me on the route last night. He's slowly easing back into running as well which I am very ecstatic about. One of things I hope for is the day we can run a half-marathon together. :)
I almost scrapped my run again for tonight because of the same old lame excuse I have: I was just too tired. However, I forced myself out the door and Hubster tagged along mainly to make sure that I was safe and wouldn't get abducted by aliens late at night.
I took it easy. Easy pace. Easy Run.
mile 1: 10:31 mile 2: 10:41 mile 3: 10:45
overall 5k: 33:10 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2006 The workout: REST
but I did get to see my best friend for lunch and we laughed it up while eating fantabulous honey hot buffalo wings at Native New Yorker. :) We also talked about how lame we were in not having landed a summer job either. lol
I've been very fatigued lately. I feel healthy so I'm attributing the afternoon laziness to riding my bike out in the horrid heat during the middle of the day. I have class from 1:40-2:30pm so I make 2 10-minute trips to campus on my bike. The temps here are outrageously hot to some people (it's around 107-110 deg F lately) but as insane as this sounds, it's a lot cooler and thus tolerable than last summer.
I've never really been a fan of summers and the heat because as a child I was prone to becoming dehydrated and having to lie in the ER with an IV. Miraculously, I've coped with living in the hot Valley of the Sun for 6 years now. Although, I'd rather be in northern Arizona on any given day than here!
This evening we had a big baked catfish dinner and I was really full for two hours afterward. I had planned for a 4 mile run at Kiwanis Park this evening but being that my stomach was so full--I couldn't bear the thought of running, being hot, and getting nauseous from all the sloshing of food in my tummy. It was getting pretty late when Hubster and I finally decided to do the elliptical at our complex's fitness room.
To our delight, the crummy management team finally repaired the two broken treadmills. I have to add that those treadmills had been broken for almost a year!! See...CRUMMY management. I was elated because I dreaded elliptical time so I got to run.
Mileage: 2.6 miles
I was aiming for an easy 3 miles this evening just because I felt so tired. However, my right leg mysteriously almost gave out on me about four times! I don't know what happened but I figured I had to cut the run short before I biffed it hard on the belt and into the wall. lol
I did compensate by doing 6 minutes on the elliptical. Don't forget my 20-min bike rides during the day!
All in all, not too shabby.
MONDAY JUNE 19 The workout: REST but I did have to ride my bike to class. Total time: 20 min.
And thanks to Phil and Nicole who wished me luck on the exam. It was tougher than the first exam so I hope I did decent. I got a 95 on the first exam and had the same bad feeling after the exam like I have now so maybe I'll be surprised again.
This is a non-running post but at this moment, I sure am dying to be a part of a concert crowd. Preferably near the front please! I've had some of the best concert experiences with my fiance'. I've been front row for PIXIES, The Flaming Lips, Alkaline Trio, The Horrorpops, and so close for Tsunami Bomb.
I have about twenty minutes to spare before jetting off on my bike to campus for my exam. It was just weird how the concert wanderlust hit me. *sigh*
I'll leave you with quite possibly my most favorite song in the universe-- Just Like Heaven by The Cure. My treat for the day.
Exam #2 in Animal Behavior is going down tomorrow afternoon. At this moment, I still haven't gone to the gym to do the elliptical. I don't know if I will have time to, either. :(
I have to complete an extra credit quiz and help my fiance' clean up because his mother is coming to town tomorrow.
All I can say is "Boo!" to studying. And sad face. sad face. sad face.
I'm assembling a new running playlist right now. I would be very appreciative for any suggestions as to what you think are great songs for running. I'm a sucker for very high energy beats ala punk rock but really, anything goes.
I'm almost a little ashamed to admit that I actually have Paris Hilton's new single on my mp3 player. haha See...anything goes!
Stan Bindell/Observer POLACCA — Hopi just may have moved a bit closer to being represented in the Olympics.
Juwan Nuva-yakva, a former state champion runner at Hopi High School and All-American at Northern Arizona University, has reached an agreement to train at the High Altitude Olympic Training Center at NAU in Flagstaff.
Nuvayakva, who is Hopi, is training for the 2008 Olympics in the 26-mile marathon and the 13-mile half marathon.
Jack Daniels, director of the High Altitude Olympic Training Center, has trained olympians for several decades and will serve as Nuvayakva’s mentor.
The agreement calls for the training center to take care of Nuvayakva’s room and meals with some sponsors paying for some of his equipment, especially his running shoes.
Nuvayakva hopes to find more funding through corporate sponsors and also hopes that the Hopi Tribe will help out.
This could just be the beginning as the olympic level runners can be paid $1,000 or more just to race in other countries. Nuvayakva was told to have his passport ready as he could be sent to races in other countries at any time.
Nuvayakva, who has taught physical education at Hopi High School for three years, said he is excited about the opportunity and ecstatic about being housed with olympians.
“This is something I’ve always dreamed about,” he said.
Nuvayakva said his focus for the next several months will be on training as he probably won’t be in any races until October. He will be running twice a day and be involved in other training such as weight lifting.
Nuvayakva currently runs 65 miles per week as he runs six days a week. But he will run seven days a week most weeks while training at the High Altitude Olympic Training Center.
Once he is trained, if he qualifies for races he has to be ready to go to wherever the race is located.
Nuvayakva will not be the lone Native American as Alvina Begay from Ganado, Kyle Goklish from Alchesay and Brandon Leslie from Gallup, N.M., are among those in training.
While running for Hopi High, Nuvayakva won six individual state championships. He won the state cross country title twice, he won the 3,200 meter state championship three times and the one mile once in track and field. Later, he won All-American status by finishing in the top 35 at the college cross country championship.
While Nuvayakva is ecstatic about this opportunity, he emphasizes “I’m not a professional because I haven’t done anything yet.”
I actually woke up early this morning at 4:45 am although I did snooze for a bit after the alarm clock went off at 4:35 am. hehe It took me quite a while to get everything together like filling my bottles for my waist pack, finding my shoes, finding my watch, and eating to fuel up.
Fuel for the morning was: 1-1/2 large bananas and whole grain toast with peanut butter smeared on top. also had 8 oz of Gatorade.
The Workout Mileage: 6.0 miles
I ran around the residential area across from my apartment complex. I mapped out a route last night on Google Pedometer and wrote down my mile markers on a piece of paper in case I forgot where to mark my mileage time.
I think I ran decently considering that I felt sluggish throughout the whole route. This was my first morning of real running outdoors...definitely a lot harder than running on a treadmill! What I liked about the morning was that there were hardly any souls out--kind of like an eerie suburbia. I snapped back into reality everytime I heard dogs bark from their backyards.
I did feel pain near my inner ankle on my right leg after passing 4 miles. I think I definitely am overpronating on that particular side. Thank goodness for the 100 bucks that my 2nd grade teacher sent to me as a college graduation gift. I'm going to use it to buy new shoes in the next couple of days. She's primarily responsible for my involvement in running. An inspiration, I may add.
As a kid, I used to help her clean up her house and help with gardening duties around her house and she would pay me. In essence, it really was my first paying gig. Sometimes, she would invite me to come out with her on her 5-6 mile run by letting me ride her bike alongside of her. Not only was she one of the few people I saw exercising regularly but she was also very environmentally consciencious. Always a recycle, reduce, and reuse sort of person. Since I was small, I've always wanted to be like her. She was a really good role model.
Now look at me. Running and training for a marathon. AND a college graduate with a Biology degree that will enable me to combat environmental problems on my reservation.
I couldn't have done all this if it weren't for her as inspiration.
Anyhow, before I leave you with my times I have to say that I'm so excited to have gotten back in contact with her. She now lives in California and suggested that one of these days, we would run a race together. I'm super excited! :)
Mileage: 3.1 miles Overall time: 28:56 min Avg pace: 9:18 min/mi
As happy as I am about the time and the pace, it technically doesn't count because I ran on a treadmill. It won't count until I'm outdoors trying to regulate my own pace without the aid of the treadmill belt forcing me to run fast. However, I'm still excited because I think that's about the fastest I have run, EVER! Not counting high school of course, when I was a svelte gazelle. haha
I tried to be smart about the whole deal.
I fueled up with a banana and hydrated 20 minutes before my warmup. I walked for 4 minutes and moderately jogged for 5 minutes.
Then I stretched out for a good 5-6 minutes and especially tried to loosen up my inner thigh muscles. I don't know what they're called but I'm sure they're critical for speed. They've been the first to get sore after a long run and a speed workout.
I ran 5k.
Then cooled down by jogging for 3 minutes at an approximate pace of 12:30 min/mile. I walked for another three minutes.
Quickly rehydrated with water. (I forgot my Gatorade bottle at home!)
Stretched for 10 minutes.
Rode my bike home and ate a cup of yogurt and downed a cup of Gatorade within the 60-min interval needed for optimal muscle repair and recovery. (Thanks Runner's World!)
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The thing about this tempo run was that I felt like I could have gone faster but my inner thigh muscles were forbidding it. I don't think they're adequately prepared for high speed yet as this is only my second week running. I'm obeying what they say the limit is because nothing sucks as much as NOT running at all due to muscle injury.
I always listen to every indication of pain and try to evaluate it as "good" pain or "bad" pain. I want to be a fast runner and a great endurance runner but it's imperative to me to train smart.
Phil, my usual pace for a 5k is about 9:50-10:00 min/mile. FYI, hehe.
As for the title of this entry, I found myself repeating that mantra in my head as I was nearing the final half mile. I had a bit too much biology leftover in my noggin from my class that I imagined that I was a lioness and that my cubs were in danger by a predator. Saving them from death and ultimately preventing my own individual fitness (survival and gene transfer) from decreasing, I had to save those cubs!! My genes must live on!! I thought. haha
So I ran hard and fast--to save my imaginary cubs.
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SATURDAY, JUNE 17
As for today, I wanted to get up early to hike Piestewa Peak but Hubster and I ended up going swimming(leisure) last night. We didn't end up going to bed until almost midnight so waking up at 4:30 am was out of the question.
So today, I will be doing the elliptical in place of running.
I think one of my bad habits in running is getting overzealous and pushing the tempo when I really should be slowing down and keeping a slower half-marathon like pace. I pushed myself on the treadmill today and it felt great to complete the workout.
The Workout Mileage: 4.0 miles
I ran inclines of 1,2,3,3,2,1 and 1,3,5,5,3,3,1,1 at a slightly higher speed than I'm used to. Talk about pushing it. I don't know what the heck fueled me but I was a woman on a mission. I set out to do 4 miles with hills and I did it! I totally felt like I was kicking ass in there. I'm now at the point where I can run 9:40 min/mile pace comfortably. SCORE!
The only sad news I have is that I can kind of feel the familiar slight tinge of pain on my right leg again. It's right around the "cankle" area on the inside of my leg. I can sort of postulate what's causing it. Either I need to replace my shoes (10 mos old) or it's because of my oddly spaced out toes on my right foot.
I did a whole lot of running around barefoot as a rez kid. As a result my toes look splayed out when I step and I have this ginormous space between my big toe and my second toe. It's not even funny. To me, it looks freakish! When I make the effort to keep the toes together when I pound the treadmill, the tinge of pain kind of goes away but it's hard to keep my toes together for the duration of 40 minutes. I may have to see a foot doctor about this if it gets worse.
I'm not letting anything get in the way of my first marathon so it's best I take care of this early should the pain progress.
Today, I drove my car to the gym and parked in ASU's visitor parking lot. I thought that the rate was 1.00 or so an hour to park there but upon arriving to the parking toll booth, my purse was raped of all the coins it had because I was charged $4.00 to park for an hour and twenty minutes! I swear, all ASU is good for these days is raping you in the wallet.
I highly suggest you don't ever attend ASU unless you like big bullies taking away your lunch money.
I don't know what I was thinking when I changed my blog layout on accident. So, bear with me and I will have everything back up as it was again. I dread having to redo all of my links though. *groan*
I did not run on Monday or Tuesday, unfortunately, but I suppose that is ample time for my muscles to recover after it's first long run in ages. And I wasn't feeling too great either.
Yesterday, I made up my mind to run in the sun. Yes, this blistering heat that we call weather here in Phoenix. It was probably close to 100 deg F by the time I skipped out my apartment at 9:30 am. I played smart in wearing my hydropack around my waist too so I wouldn't fatigue early.
The first mile was fine. I actually ran faster than I thought I would have. I was anticipating a mile time of 11 or 12 minutes but I clocked in at 10:15. I'm sure it was a little faster than that because at the beginning I had to walk because of unchained dogs running around in the front lawn of a house.
I then walked and stretched after the first mile for 2 minutes.
I only had enough strength and sense to muster another mile because by then the heat was getting to me. Thankfully there was a park near the end of my 2nd mile because I spent a lot of time cooling off under the trees. I didn't see any other runners out so I think I was the only crazy person out that day. hehe
To end, I walked a mile and a quarter back to my apartment. I'm sure that it was over a 100 deg after I was done. I don't know how I survived, man! Along the second mile I kept thinking about how the Pima Indians and their ancestors survived the brutal heat here in Phoenix valley during the summer time before the arrival of Euro-American settlers. Of course, the great Salt River was flowing unbounded so I'm sure it was bearable to live as Desert People. Now, it's not such a great river. I'm not sure if it even flows unless we've had great precipitation!
I prepping myself to get used to running in the heat since the 5k I am signed up for is coming up in a little over two weeks.
I'm horrible. I went back to bed and didn't hear the alarm go off at 4:20 am. I don't know if Hubster tried to wake me up but I woke up by myself at six-something...almost near 7 am. I saw the bright light from outside trying to sneak into our room and I immediately turned the other way.
If this were January, I would have gotten up but in June? The heat got me before I even started.
I need to stop this nonsense though. I will run tomorrow morning or the next early. As for today, we're doing 4.5 miles on the treadmill. Let's hear it for new workout clothes! :)
Update: Mileage: 5.0 miles (!!)
Averaged a 10:00 min/mile pace. Took a walking/Gatorade drinking break after 3 miles (1 min). Then ran the rest of the workout. The new UA shirt was a dream. Usually I am drenched in sweat down my back and my sides but I was drier than a baby in soiled Pampers.
I've been idle for the past two days. I should have at least put in a good half hour on the elliptical but I think my body was worn out from it's first week of real work outs and real running. I felt really tired this evening and can't remember what time I went to sleep but I think it was 7:30 pm. I woke up to find it was 12:15 am and had forgotten to wash my face and brush my teeth.
I'm sitting here at the computer listening to some Pixies, The Cure, and The Shins. It's just after 1 am and I think I'll mosey on back to bed after this entry. I plan on running for 45-50 minutes early this morning which should equate to around 4.5 miles depending on how fast and consistent I am.
Hubster and I went to Chandler Fashion Mall earlier today to get out of the house. The main objective was to get me a set of new workout wear from Under Armour. We were quickly reminded that Saturday was a horrid time to go to the mall. Navigating through the crowd quickly frustrated me and I found myself cursing the people who hogged up the aisles with their huge baby strollers and being completely oblivious to how impolite it was.
In addition, I felt completely out of my element as everyone seemed to have stepped out from a J. Crew catalogue. Hubster was decked in his usual black ensemble and lugging around his laptop in a black bag which completely made him look like a dangerous but very handsome hacker of some sort. haha I on the otherhand was rocking my black Horrorpops t-shirt. We definitely stuck out like sore thumbs. ha
I had better get to bed now.
Oh. Ann, I'm doing the Summer Series #3 5k as well!
So I've been thinking about running the Inaugural San Jose Half-Marathon this coming October. I wanted to do the Disneyland Half but found out that it has reached capacity. Boo!
Since I've been running indoors all week on the treadmill I was thinking that tomorrow I would run at a local park. It's the weekly long run and I'm going to get up early to do it. We'll see how that goes...stupid Phoenix temps! They better not creep up on me while I'm out there.
If you have never had Pop Rocks ever before in your life then buddy, I hate to tell you that you've been living an unfulfilled life. I grew up on the things so you can imagine how delighted I was to find that the local Blockbuster was selling the things near the counter where they set out to get you with high calorie delights and sweets that would make your dentist squirm.
I couldn't pass the bugger up so I bought one and Hubster listened to my mouth sound off like an egg was frying like hell in really hot grease in there. I loved it!
So the Animal Behavior exam came and passed. I think I did decent. I can say for sure that I understand natural selection and sexual selection a lot more now.
The Workout Mileage: 3.8 Miles
I'm getting up there and no doubt, I am a happy pup. I incorporated some small rolling hill inclines on the treadmill to get a little more out of the run. I did two hills (ea last about 5 minutes) at 1,2,3,2,1 inclines. The last hill I did with inclines of 1,3,5,5,3,1--which lasted 6 minutes. This all added up to 2.8 miles.
Then I ran somewhat hard for the last mile, averaging approximately a 9:30-9:35 min/mile. It was great! I felt like I could have taken on Micheal Johnson...ok, maybe not. hehe
I'm very much looking forward to my long run on Saturday. I'm thinking it will be 4.5 miles. Not too shabby for picking up the running (consistently) a week ago.
legs, for the gazillionth time today, I said REST!!
It took so much effort on my part NOT to run yesterday. It was my scheduled day off yet my legs were itching to do a 3-miler. Alas, the Phoenix weather helped me somewhat. It was windy and looked like it was sure to rain, so I did stay in.
But TODAY! Today, my friends, I get to run and I am so ecstatic about that! I feel much like the couped up cat right now. The legs need some air.
I have my first exam in Animal Behavior today. Yipes. Better get cracking!
I was looking through some of my half marathon pictures from January a couple nights ago when I was trying to update my MySpace page. (Yes, I'm pretty lame for having such a page but I'm slightly addicted!) I posted one for some visual stimulation as my page is admittedly boring right now. heh
If you are wondering what exactly is pinned to my shirt, it says "Protect Our Sacred Mountain" and has an image of the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, AZ. It is one of four mountains that are sacred to the Navajo people and is the subject of much controversy and court battles between a number of Arizona tribes and the Arizona Snow Bowl because the Arizona Snow Bowl planned to use wastewater from Flagstaff to make artificial snow for their ski resort because natural snow fall, right now, is sparse. As you can imagine, tribal people became outraged because the act was blatant disrespect for our religion, jeopardizes our freedom of religion, and will harm our cultural way of life. You can read more about the issue if you'd like at Save the Peaks.
I personally believed that by running for this cause, I was sending some of my energy from that trying feat to help in the fight. It really did keep me going during those moments when I so desperately wanted to walk for more than a couple minutes.
There are a number of reasons why I love to run but I must say that among the top reasons are because it's a part of Navajo culture...it is who I am as a Navajo woman. Parents and grandparents regale us with stories of how their parents or grandparents woke them up before the crack of dawn to run. They ran toward the east direction because this the east is where all the good blessings in life come from. Essentially, by running this way, we are being blessed to have a better life. There are also stories of how my grandparents were forced to wake up early during the winter, run with little body coverage, and had to take an icy cold bath at the end of the run. This was all to toughen a child to help them withstand harsh physical elements.
It was also a practice done during the round-up of the Navajos in the mid-nineteenth century by the U.S. Government for incarceration in a barren environmental prison that was to be their new reservation in NM called Ft. Sumner. From Navajoland to Ft. Sumner is approximately 300 miles and my ancestors were forced to march the whole distance. This tragic period in our history is referred to as the Long Walk.
So, in order to avoid capture from cavalry, parents and grandparents trained their kids to run hard, long, and fast and to become "tough".
Sometime during my runs, I think about all of those things. I am happy that I am continuing in a tradition and I firmly believe that I am being blessed on each outing. Running to me is so much more than PRs, distances, and races (although I do love the races!)...it's a part of who I am as a Navajo.
I ran today again at the gym. I wore the t-shirt that I had slept in that night and by the middle of the run, I began to smell like cat! (I have three cats.) I was so glad that the treadmills were spaced the way that they were or I'd have ended my run early to avoid being labeled the stinky girl by flanking runners. lol
I ran and then did some light leg work on some weight machines. After three days of consecutive workouts, tomorrow is my day to rest.
Tonight, Hubster and I tried to make it to a showing of The Omen. We arrived at two theatres only to find that the showtimes we wanted were sold out. Being that we both don't drink alcohol (I took a pledge 6.5 months ago to remain alcohol free) there really wasn't much we could do to "sin" on 6-6-06. haha
We ended up renting two scary movies, The Ring 2 and Rosemary's Baby, since copies of the original Omen were all out. I sinned by eating two slices of pizza from Papa Johns late that night while being scared out of my gourd. :)
My site at the moment looks tres boring. Thank goodness I am engaged to a techie nerd who can help me spiff up the site. First off, I'm going to customize the banner and then write some detailed posts about who the runner is (me!) and my short running history. etc.
Today, I managed through a 35 minute workout encompassing tempo running and high incline walking. This all transpired on my new favorite treadmill at the gym. I have yet to name him. When I am out on the streets running, I usually run at approximately 10 minutes a mile. Today I ran 2.25 miles--all under 9:40 minutes a mile. It was so hard and I was sweating buckets by the final minutes! After a short recovery, I set the incline to 7 and then 10 and walked along at about a 18 min/mile pace.
The thing about this workout was that I set out to run the two miles relaxingly and then do the incline climbing. Only, I didn't do it 'relaxingly' and my competitive side appeared like a sudden onset of rabies and held my leisurely side captive. Man, I hate it when that happens! I need to know how to relax and take it easy when I'm supposed to.
Nonetheless, it was a good workout and I felt like a million bucks after it was all said and done.
On the days of the week that I work out at the campus gym, I work out after my Animal Behavior class is over. I usually ride my bike to campus which is a trying 10-min ride from my apartment. And in this hellish heat, I end up being that sticky, shiny girl who tries to be sneaky in wiping the sweat beads on my shorts while I should be taking notes. It's my fault any way. I really should be leaving for class 15-20 minutes before it starts but a procrastinator never learns, unfortunately. I haven't been punctual for more than 3 times in a row since high school. How sad is that!
So I bike ride to and from campus, thus adding 20 minutes of riding in the mix. Not too shabby for a day that was supposed to be easy.
Sunday Mileage: 3.5 miles
I ran on the treadmill again. Not much to report here except that there was hardly anyone there and thankfully no sorority girls in their Juicy wear blocking my view of the pool while I run. This usually happens during the regular school year. *sigh*
Not too long ago, I stopped posting to this site because it seemed like a lot more hassle to have to log into and out of this site and then log in to my regular blog and log out. yadda. yadda. yadda.
Yeah, I'm a lazy hag like that.
However, now I realize that I do need to open this site back up. Why? I will be starting to train for my first marathon real soon. I plan on running the PF Chang's Full Marathon (gulp! 26.2 miles seems sooo....sooo...sooooooo long!) this coming January. The marathon is set for January 14 or so and I turn 25 years old, a quarter century, a few days before the marathon. I figure that running and finishing the marathon will be my birthday present to myself. How much more awesome could that be?
With this great undertaking, I realize that I will need all the inspiration and advice I can gather. I've read quite a few of the running blogs linked from Bella's site and they are quite a tight-knit bunch. That type of commradery makes running that much more enjoyable, I think. So that's the reason for putting "Run Carm Run" back up. :)
I finished the PF Chang's 1/2 Marathon earlier this year and let me tell you--it was quite the thrill. I felt so invincible and so alive after that! I couldn't believe the things that my body was capable of doing...and then came the slump. I just couldn't seem to find the time to go out for a run.
Classes and studying stole much of my time and it seemed like I was getting sick in different forms month after month. First, I had a kidney infection. Then a number of colds. Then pink eye. I thought that something or someone was working against me--that idea came from my cultural background. It's something that a Navajo would think of right off the bat.
I was doing a great job of getting back into running this past May and then time seem to disappear once again because of college graduation festivities and the reception planning. Sheesh!
So now that that is all over. Here I am. This is where I am now.
The plan is to give myself two weeks to work myself back into a steady 3-3.5 miles every other day with either rest, a walk, or light crosstraining in between.
After two weeks, I will be seeking help from a personal trainer on campus to help me with strength training and toning. On the side, I have this bet/challenge against a friend that will last approximately two months. We are going to see who can lose the most body fat over the course of the summer. We haven't exactly worked out the rewarding details but we loosely decided that the loser would buy the winner a 50$ + dinner at his or her restaurant of choice. hehe Kind seems contradictory but do you know how much Alaskan King Crab Legs I could get for that amount of bones!!
I am ready to win!
So anyhow, this is my journey.
In seven months, I should have a new milestone in my life if all goes according to plan. I will be a marathon finisher!
PS: I am still fiddling around with the site design so bear with me. I will have it looking spiffy in no time!
By the way, I look forward to making new friends along this wonderful journey who love running as much or more than I do. :)
Carmen is a 25-year-old gal from the Navajo Nation. By day, I am an environmental specialist. By evening I am a runner. I thought that running a 10k and a half-marathon was a challenge but now I have my sights set to conquer the big beast--the full marathon. This is my space to jot down triumphs and follies along my journey as I train for my first marathon in January 2007.
It seems that all of your good thoughts helped me out on the exam today. I didn't struggle as much as I thought I would have but I was the second to the last person finished. I'm hoping for an A in the course but I'l be content with a B+.
