Week Four: Disney Princess Half Marathon Training

Week Four

Monday – yoga

Unlike Shakira, my hips do lie. They like to pretend they are okay and don’t hurt, until move from sitting to standing, or standing to sitting, or any combination of moving. My hips were really tight so I asked the yoga instructor for poses that might help stretch out my hips and lessen the tension. She showed me a few moves, but they didn’t really help. Throughout the whole class, I felt uncomfortable, like I couldn’t settle into the pose because I was too tense and concentrating on the fact that I was in pain. I did benefit from the hamstring stretching and some lower back twisting, but I didn’t feel like I got the best workout from this class. Just lots of frustration. Hopefully next week will be better.

Tuesday – rest

Wednesday – run

My first time running at lunch. I ran on the trail behind my work.

It's a very pretty trail

I started feeling pain in my left hip/lower back in my right calf. I think my hip/back pain issues are making me over compensate and causing my right calf pain. I find myself limping and I seem to drag my right leg a little. I need to get it looked at by a different chiropractor because after a year and a half, mine obviously hasn’t helped me.

30 mins - 1.78 miles  (16:49/mi)

Thursday – rest

I took a bicycle maintenance class at EMS in Northborough. It was worth driving through the snow and sleet to get there. (Yes, I know it’s still October.)

Friday – run

Horrible, horrible run. Or lack thereof I should say. My co-worker brought a treadmill into work, which is awesome, because now I don't have to run in the cold on my lunch, OR wait til night time when I'd rather relax.

But for some reason this was just a horrible run. Halfway through, I realized that the treadmill was on an incline. I'm sure that this is better for me when I run, but adding that to my current hip/lower back pain, it hurt. I tried fixing the incline so was that zero, just so I could run. But it would not go down. I put the incline up; it went up. I tried to put the incline down again; it stayed up. There was no winning this battle so I just slowed down and took more walk breaks. It was kind of defeating but at the same time it will make me appreciate the good runs when I have them. Or so they say. Whoever “they” is, I'd like to meet them and push them in the snow.

30 mins - 1.56 miles (19:13/mi)

Saturday – hike rest

Speaking of snow, I was supposed to go hiking with a group of friends, but Mother Nature decided that she had other plans for us. She dumped 6 inches of snow half way up the mountain, with more presumed at the summit, before Saturday. Then she dumped more on Saturday afternoon. Needless to say we did not hike. Instead I went shopping and then came home to snuggle up under blankets and comforters and relax. That didn’t last long. We lost power at 6:50PM and I took the opportunity to catch up on some blog ideas I’ve had. I seem to sit down to write them, and get distracted by other people’s blogs!

Sunday – long run

This was the run the almost didn’t happen.

I got up early (not because I wanted to, but because the damn plows woke me at 1am, 4am and 7am) and decided that since I didn’t have power, I’d head over to the gym, do my 2 miles, shower, then hit up Panera or Starbucks for breakfast and free Wi-Fi. That plan didn’t work out so well.

I had to turn around and go a different way. Then, I had to cut through a shopping plaza because yet another road was closed. Finally, I got to the gym.

No Power

Instead I went to Panera and used their Wi-Fi for blogging purposes. Next thing I knew it was lunchtime. I grabbed lunch, and then headed home. I was thinking about trying to run outside, even though there were tree limbs and power lines down everywhere, but most of the snow had melted in my complex area, and the roads were clear and free of debris and danger. The only thing stopping me was lack of shower. But I was reminded that since our water is hooked up to gas and not electric, the gas heats the water as well and our water stays hot even with the power out! HOT SHOWERS!!! Score! So I decided to suck it up and deal with running in the cold. And I bundled up for a short run.

I can only imagine how much more I’ll be bundled on longer runs. Hell. It was Hell.

This was a “rest week” long run. Thank God. My body needed a break. My back, hip, and calves have been hurting a lot all week. Not the entire time, just whenever I run. Today was no different.

2 miles – 36:11 (18:07/mi pace)

10/24-10/30

118 days until the Disney Princess Half Marathon!

If you don't love EMS, you should.

I did it again. I went into an EMS store unprepared. On Thursday night I signed up for a bike maintenance class at my local EMS. Even though I haven't been riding lately, and probably won't ride outside again until the spring, I still wanted to go to a bike maintenance class. I had been meaning to go to a class like this since I got my bike in April 2011. As you can see, I don't procrastinate or anything. During a newbie night event a few days before my triathlon, I watched someone change a flat. Thank God I did not get a flat during my triathlon, because I still had no idea how to change my flat. I figured my luck might not hold out for two seasons in a row, so I needed to learn how to change a flat. Or at least watch someone do it again.

I am a member of a meet up group called CHAOS. They are all about doing outdoorsy (and indoorsy) crazy things. I'm not all that crazy when it comes to adventure type things, but when I saw an event pop up for a bicycle maintenance class, I sure as heck decided to be crazy. A member of the group, Jeff, works at the new EMS in Northborough,MA. He graciously offered to give the members of CHAOS, as well as EMS customers, a chance to attend this bike maintenance class for no charge.

Even though the weather was uncooperative, giving us snow in October, a few of us still showed up. In fact, one of the employees, Stephen, from the Marlborough store was there for the class. He works at the Northborough store now and even though Jeff taught the class, he still had a few helpful things to add here and there. Seriously, if I haven’t said it before (and I have, you just might not have been paying attention) EMS is pretty awesome.

Jeff showed us how to change a tire, front and back, how to tighten brakes, check for worn brake pads, fix minor problems with the gears, and bike cleaning do’s and don’ts, among other things. He was extremely patient and listed to all of our questions. He answered everything and was crazy good at what he does. An EMS employee told me later, that when the Northborough store was opened, they only hired the best of the best because they wanted good quality employees who know what they are talking about. That’s good to know! The next time I need a tune up for my bike, or I’m having problems with it, I’m bringing it to Jeff at EMS in Northborough!

In addition to the bike maintenance class, I was searching for some hiking supplies since I was supposed to go hiking this weekend. Thanks to 6-10 inches of snow half way up the mountain, that didn’t happen. However, on Thursday night, I didn’t know that yet, so I talked with yet another EMS employee, Ed, about hiking gear and what I might need to bring with me. Yet again, another amazingly positive experience! Ed was extremely helpful. He informed me of the right types of materials to wear while hiking and found some pants that might be helpful for me not only during the hike, but also for outside runs during the winter. While I was in the dressing room trying things on, he kept searching for things for me and brought me more things to try on. He was on his game! After I had decided on the pants, we talked about jackets, fleeces, outerwear, and other things that could keep me warm in freezing weather. He helped me look for gloves, then went down a list of things I might need for a hike. I’m pretty sure that if, in the future, I gave him a date, time, and place I was going to be, he’d have an entire outfit with gear waiting for me by the time I got to the store.

I’m definitely impressed with EMS and their customer service in the stores. Their employees are not only knowledgeable, but they are also active in their respective sports so they have the experience behind the knowledge. I definitely stand behind EMS and their products.

In fact, I just joined the EMS Affiliate program and I am waiting for them to review my application. If all goes well, I'll be an affiliate and you can get all your gear through me!!

So seriously folks, if you have an EMS in your area, check it out. If you don’t, come visit Massachusetts and check out my local stores. The people in there are fantabulous and they are worth the trip!