Boston Road Running Adventures

Gym Heaven

Earlier in the year I got a free week's membership to Sports Club LA. I used it and, of course, it was pretty amazing. I received another free week about a month or two ago but I was busy looking at schools at that point and things were really awkward with the ex who belongs so I had no interest in going. Then a few weeks ago I got ANOTHER free week's offer and the chance to invite a friend. J and I have been in gym heaven since this past Thursday. It isn't the gym so much that's amazing (although there are tons of nice machines and flat screen TVs, etc.) but it's more the locker rooms and the pool. I can't rave enough about the pool! When you get out, you don't feel like your skin is going to fall off nor is your hair going to fall out nor will you smell like the pool for the next week. I'm OBSESSED. But at the same time, I'm really put off by the gym. The members are ridiculously snobby (especially for the fact that most do not look to be in amazing shape - if I were paying $150+ per month, I better look like Jennifer Conolly/Jennifer Garner/Mia Hamm/Reese Witherspoon combined). No one really smiles or says hi. Unattractive, nerdy guys walk around like they own the world and like they're totally jacked. And these snobby people treat the workers like dirt. It's pretty disgusting really.
J and I have been attempting to take advantage of as much of the amenities as possible: free shampoo, conditioner, soap, body lotion, sauna, steam room, mouth wash...last night I forgot to put deodorant on before going to the gym, so I used the free junk they have. Free deodorant is not the way to go.  I'm going to stick with Degree tonight.  We also got a big kick out of it last night when we found the VIP locker room. Some people need to re-evaluate how they're spending their money.
Regardless of the fact that I've been in gym heaven, I wouldn't say my workouts have been too great.
Friday - Ran 3.5 miles
Saturday - Ran 3 miles, Swam over half a mile
Sunday (painful, painful hangover - first in a while) - Ran 3.5 miles
Monday - 3.5 miles (serious stomach issues), swam over a mile (only took two sets - trying for endurance)

What happened to the sun?

This week has been pretty miserable. It started off so nice with the sun and warm weather, but now it is cold and rainy and grey. The wind is rough and it's impossible to stay dry. In London, we used to call this a "wet" rain. There was so much rain you would categorize it. Wet rain is the worst because it affects your whole body - making you sore and tired. On days like these, all I want to do is curl up in a ball on the sofa, watch girly movies, and eat junk food. Instead, I'm working.
Today I have to go to a wake for a good friend's father. He's been suffering from Alzheimer's since I've been friends with D. It has been a long, painful process. It has been hard to watch the effect that the disease has had on her father and their family. It is a tragic disease that is so hard to understand. I couldn't imagine waking up in the morning and not remembering who the people around me are. I couldn't imagine having someone that I love not remember me.
I'm also left with feelings of guilt because I have not been a great friend to this friend in the past 6-ish months. I can be really bad about falling out of touch with my friends. Once I start the process, I find it really hard to reconnect - it's knowing that you're going to have to sit down for a long conversation and not knowing when to take the time, etc. It's a horrible habit I've formed, and something I really need to work on. It now has me feeling guilty as I haven't seen my friend in forever. I guess she'll have more important things on your mind.
Tuesday: 3.5 miles
Wednesday: 4.85 miles
Thursday: 5 miles at lunch, 3 miles in the evening

No time for swimming this week. Need to get back to the pool!

You know you're a runner when...

you know where every bathroom in the city is. I went for a nice run yesterday following work. I planned to run at lunch, but I forgot my socks and rather than risk it and run the mile-ish to City Sports to be a new pair, I decided to run along the Charles. I did a nice 5-ish mile loop. I headed down to the BU bridge and figured I'd run back to the Science Museum bridge, until my stomach started to feel questionnable around the Mass Ave bridge, so I cut the run short. Not really a problem, my legs were still a little shot from the Sunday's tri. I made it home this time to use our own bathroom; however, someone I know did not. My roommate went for an hour run last night and ended up having to resort to the Back Bay Station restrooms - something I have dare not entered yet. I should probably stop talking about these awkward bathroom trips so much on this blog - but I'm just glad other people experience the same things I do. And it's slightly amusing, as well.
So, I am considering doing another tri - I was really interested in doing Hyannis, but I think I'm going to have to visit (I want to, not have to) my old college roommate in NYC that weekend. So I found a smaller triathlon with a lake swim that I might do instead, also in June. But my old roommate is wavering about when we'll have a roommate reunion, so we'll see.

Triathlon by the Sea

So I competed in my first tri on Sunday - and I survived. Yay! There were some very amusing moments - including the time the swim guy commented on the ridiculous height difference between the male swimmer behind me and me, the fact that I actually needed to use a kickstand (which I actually have on my bike) to rack it, and hopping onto my bike and slipping right off - in the process almost running over the photographer at the event - oops.
I was a little disappointed with my swim. My stomach was sort of going crazy - I took the immodium too late and I was a ball of nerves. I remember thinking part way through the swim - do I run to the bathroom before running to my bike? Fortunately I was so focused on getting to my bike that I forgot about my stomach issues. The pool was pretty crowded and the girl ahead of me was slower than I am...alright, enough excuses - 5:05 for 250 yards.
The bike was as expected - slow and lots of leg work. Some rolling hills, but great views of the sea. I had fun regardless of being passed by everyone and there mom. I did hear someone say, as I rolled my bike into transition, "she went pretty fast considering that bike." I'll take it, but I don't know that it's really true. 42:19 for 10 miles.
The run was strange. I felt like I was running in slow motion. My legs obviously felt like jello. But I noticed I was passing quite a few people. One woman yelled to me "I can't run after cycling!" I yelled back "Me neither!" I really didn't feel like I was doing well at all. I also had no idea where I was throughout the run. All of a sudden, I realized I was right behind the girl who had started just in front of me. At that point the water guy yelled that we only had a half mile left. I was even able to give a little kick at the end. 26:47 for 3.5 miles.
Final time: 1:14:10. Overall, I'm pretty happy with my first tri experience. I had a lot of fun and the people there were so friendly. It makes me want to try others and I'd like to use a better bike. Oh, and I got to meet "Runner Shorts" which was a lot of fun. And much thanks to her for helping calm a lot of my fears pre-race. 

Re-Connected

Comcast finally came and restored sanity to my apartment. Not having cable and internet can really drive one crazy - I'm sad to admit. I don't actually think it was the lack of cable and internet that was making me so insane, I think it was the fact that the management in my building is attrocious and the fact that Comcast has organization. How do these companies survive? I guess Comcast has it easy because there's no real competition around here. And where I live the rent is pretty cheap considering it's in the middle of the city, so people are willing to settle.
Wednesday I went for a nice four and a half miler at lunch. It was hot, but it felt good. Yesterday I ran home from work to let the Comcast guy in and then ran back, which was about 4 and a half miles again. Really hot again - someone commented on how they saw my red face when I got back to work and they didn't understand how I do it to myself. Well, this is probably one of my favorite things to do to myself. I love coming back from a hot, sweaty run. I love feeling completely exhausted and the feeling of my skin pounding heat. Last night I hit the pool for a nice easy workout. I swam about 2000 yards: 250, 500, 500, 500, 250. For some reason I was having some trouble catching my breath in the beginning, but after the first 250 I started to feel a lot better.

Disconnected

I haven't fallen off the face of the planet - our internet and cable have been down since this past Thursday so posting has become a dilemma. To summarize what has taken place since that time: about a million calls to Comcast to fix the internet/cable, a three mile run on Friday, a four mile run on Saturday, a 2500 yard swim on Sunday (250, 3 x 750), a 3.6 mile run on Monday, and a 3000 yard swim yesterday (250, 2 x 1000, 750). I was so angry/frustrated with Comcast and our building's management last night that I took out my agression in the pool. It really helped and the swim felt great. I even threw in a lot of flip turns. I think I've really got them down now. The only problem was that this whale of a guy asked to share a lane with me. I realize this is a really mean thing to say. The only problem I had with said guy was that every time I was going past him he would create this tidal wave effect and I had to arrange my breathing pattern accordingly or else choke down a bunch of water. Good times.
Btw - the weather is now amazing. It is the perfect temperature and it's starting to show signs of summer! I can't wait to hit the beach.

Slump

This past weekend I was visiting a good friend from work in Baltimore. We run at totally different paces and Baltimore is pretty horrible for running - so I got virtually no exercise in (some walking, nothing to get excited about). It was a pretty unhealthy weekend on the whole. This week has been a little disappointing as well because my stomach has really been posing a problem. I've been running, but the runs have been short and disappointing. Either my stomach starts to bother me or I'm overly cautious because I don't want my stomach to bother me. I'm pretty frustrated, to be honest. The strange exercising makes my eating habits off and I just feel blah. I have been walking a ton recently. I decided that in May I would stop buying my monthly T pass to increase activity level and save some cash. So I now walk about 4 miles every day (2 to work, 2 home). Last night I had a GREAT swim. I felt so good. The only reason I stopped when I did was because I was going out to dinner with my roommate. I did 2750 yards overall: 250, 500, 1000, 750, 250. My last 250 was still in about 4:30. I'm really obsessed with swimming. But now I feel like I have a pool hangover. I forgot a water bottle when I went to the gym and swimming makes me really dehydrated.
I want to mention that I'm SO excited. I just got an e-mail from the tri race director and flipturns are prohibited! I really am not a fan, so this made my day.

Side Stitch

A food not to be eaten before swimming: Fritos. I was debating about when the best time would be to head to the pool today. Do I leave around 11:30 and get there closer to 12 when there might be a lunch rush? Do I wait until noon to leave to get there a little after the lunch rush and hope that it isn't crowded/won't I be starving? I ended up waiting until after noon, unfortunately this meant I got hungry and just grabbed the first thing I saw around my desk. Usually when I get back from workouts I'm STARVING for something salty. I usually buy a bag of chips and eat a few and the stash the bags. As a result, I have a lot of random chip bags. I didn't have that many before the swim, but enough that I was feeling it for a bit. Only managed to do about 2000 yards: 250,   750, 500, 500. Regardless of the stitch, the swim felt good.
Yesterday I ran 2 miles and biked about 12 in 30 minutes. I'm not the biggest fan of biking, but my stomach has been bothering me so much this week that running isn't really an option and I should probably practice the bike a bit before this tri.
Don't know how much exercise I'll manage this weekend in Baltimore, but hopefully there will be at least some physical activity.

Running Out of Fuel

I'm so hungry all of the time recently. I'm assuming that with the new swimming and the longs runs I've been doing (and all of the bathroom trips), I should be eating more. I'm really bad at eating big meals. I'm definitely more of a snacker. I need to start buying healthier snacks. I'm also thinking I should alternate what I have for breakfast (not just oatmeal or oatmeal and a smoothie). By late morning or mid-afternoon I'm completely voracious.
Yesterday was a decent run - about 4.5 miles. Today was a little painful (stomach) but I did about 3+ miles. My legs are feeling a little dead so I wasn't too upset about having to cut back. After work I swam for the 2550 again. I think it felt even better today! I added more flipturns. I got an e-mail from the tri director yesterday that mentioned you should make sure your swim time is accurate so that you get the right slot in the swim portion of the race. I originally guessed it would take me 6 minutes to do the 250 yards. I timed this today and apparently it only takes me 4:05. Good thing I checked! I'm still nervous to give this number, but whatever. I'm only concerned because it looks like this time is pretty fast (would rank high) in this race. I think I'm a good swimmer, but that good?
A friend of a friend does the Danskin triathlon every summer and apparently she rents a road bike to do it. I'm wondering if maybe I should do the same for this tri. I'm starting to feel a little more competitive and I don't want to get completely blown away because of something I could potentially control. I might call a bike store and see what the deal is with rentals. Any thoughts anyone?

Mind = Non-functioning Organ

I'm so exhausted I'm about to pass out.

Ran a little over 4 miles at lunch today. Hot. Steamy. Stomach issues. Survived.

Went to the gym to swim tonight. Ended up doing about 2570+ yards or roughly a little under 1.5 miles. This was my longest and by far my best swim to date. I felt great throughout, especially once I got into a rhythm. Toward the end I strung about 15 laps (30 lengths) together, which for me is an accomplishment because I've gotten myself into a habit of always doing 5 laps (10 lengths). Now, as a result of said swim, I will enjoy a good night's sleep.