350 double speedy sprints on the stairs - 63 minutes
16 repeats of 100m (a timed mile 6.20)
32 laps in the pool (just over a mile) 23 minutes.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Take a deep breath and just do it!
I was out there for 2 hours and 40minutes this morning. I went through a ton of emotions - it started to pour so heavily this morning. It was windy and gusty and the lightning was scary. I ran in the rain for 7 miles before I was literally being swept off my feet by the wind. I run by the water most mornings so there isnt much place to hide. I was soaked to the bone and could not stop shivering. I ended up stopping for 40 minutes under a shelter nearby. There was a very kind man who was a worker of some sort who ended up keeping me company and making small talk. I was thankful to have him around - it was 4am and I think he sensed that I was uncomfortable being alone - he even offered me his mobile to make a phonecall. Very very nice.
I prayed out there on the run this morning. I prayed a lot, after a while, prayer came naturally and in rhythm with my breath. I also just let go and gave it over to God. And my last 5 miles were my strongest. As I ran them at 10K race pace and felt my body fatigue and my breathing get really rapid. I thought, "This is what it's all about. This is what God has made my body capable of doing. Use it." I was so happy after the run. I was beaming. It is one of those days where I am hyper aware of everything and everyone around me. There is so much beauty in the world if you know where to look for it. Life can indeed be beautiful, if you give it a chance (even if its only for a few minutes)!
Just over 14 miles.
(Logged in 7.5 miles in 63 minutes yesterday at noon)
I prayed out there on the run this morning. I prayed a lot, after a while, prayer came naturally and in rhythm with my breath. I also just let go and gave it over to God. And my last 5 miles were my strongest. As I ran them at 10K race pace and felt my body fatigue and my breathing get really rapid. I thought, "This is what it's all about. This is what God has made my body capable of doing. Use it." I was so happy after the run. I was beaming. It is one of those days where I am hyper aware of everything and everyone around me. There is so much beauty in the world if you know where to look for it. Life can indeed be beautiful, if you give it a chance (even if its only for a few minutes)!
Just over 14 miles.
(Logged in 7.5 miles in 63 minutes yesterday at noon)
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Food, food, food, food!!!
I could not sleep last night AT all! What is it that occupied my head space, you ask? Well, food...I know...I know....
Anyone who knows me, knows how obsessed I am with food. I think most runners are. Our lives revolve around how food affects our stomach, how long to run after food, what food to eat/avoid before a long run, what causes our stomach's to churn, etc etc. Most of us also have insatiable appetites. I am always hungry. I went through a phase a few years ago when I did not know when I was hungry - and a result of which I lost too much weight and looked absolutely awful. On top of that I was a vegetarian. Yes, you can all laugh since those were the saddest days of my life (no joke!!). Aditi without bacon and joy of fatty, spicy pork is a very very sad girl. Life, for me, is a journey of inclusion rather than exclusion, especially when it comes to food.
Anyway, at about 9pm yesterday, I decided I was too hungry to sleep and it was too late to eat since I badly wanted to have a good run this am (yes, I like running a little more than I like food and besides, I hate eating unless I have run before). I jumped out of bed all happy at 2am because it was FINALLY a reasonable (!!) hour to run and I could FINALLY eat after my workout. My legs were springy for once so I took advantage of it and did a tempo run. Goodtimes, all my nervous energy was channeled into it this morning and now my mind is still.
Here it is - try it if you want but I should warn you - if you truly are honest with yourself and do this "all-out", it will leave you breathing very hard but it feels great afterwards. I know I do, except my face is going to be flushed all day - small price to pay :-)
3 mile warm-up - 25 minutes
3 mile tempo (not quite all-out) 22 minutes
8 by 200 metres (1 mile) 6.24 minutes
500m slow recovery jog.
10 by 70 metres intervals.
1.5 mile cool-down.
Food tastes so good when it is earned in this way :-)
I should add, this post is written with Nutella being eaten straight from its jar while I decide what to eat for breakfast.
Happy Diwali!
Anyone who knows me, knows how obsessed I am with food. I think most runners are. Our lives revolve around how food affects our stomach, how long to run after food, what food to eat/avoid before a long run, what causes our stomach's to churn, etc etc. Most of us also have insatiable appetites. I am always hungry. I went through a phase a few years ago when I did not know when I was hungry - and a result of which I lost too much weight and looked absolutely awful. On top of that I was a vegetarian. Yes, you can all laugh since those were the saddest days of my life (no joke!!). Aditi without bacon and joy of fatty, spicy pork is a very very sad girl. Life, for me, is a journey of inclusion rather than exclusion, especially when it comes to food.
Anyway, at about 9pm yesterday, I decided I was too hungry to sleep and it was too late to eat since I badly wanted to have a good run this am (yes, I like running a little more than I like food and besides, I hate eating unless I have run before). I jumped out of bed all happy at 2am because it was FINALLY a reasonable (!!) hour to run and I could FINALLY eat after my workout. My legs were springy for once so I took advantage of it and did a tempo run. Goodtimes, all my nervous energy was channeled into it this morning and now my mind is still.
Here it is - try it if you want but I should warn you - if you truly are honest with yourself and do this "all-out", it will leave you breathing very hard but it feels great afterwards. I know I do, except my face is going to be flushed all day - small price to pay :-)
3 mile warm-up - 25 minutes
3 mile tempo (not quite all-out) 22 minutes
8 by 200 metres (1 mile) 6.24 minutes
500m slow recovery jog.
10 by 70 metres intervals.
1.5 mile cool-down.
Food tastes so good when it is earned in this way :-)
I should add, this post is written with Nutella being eaten straight from its jar while I decide what to eat for breakfast.
Happy Diwali!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Passion
Everything in life affects my running and so I am trying to put my focus towards my passions. I have been struggling lately with feeling stressed, pulled in many directions, feeling unsettled and having too much on my plate. It has denied me a great deal of the pleasure I get from my passions because I am so crunched that I am literally running through life. I realized last week and this week, that I must "slow down" mentally especially and be back in the moment so that my passions can bring to my life what they have and what they can. They are my sanctuary, they are my joy. I am so glad to be reconnected with that. Instead of focusing on the things that I have to do or stressing about them, I am drawing the line and putting the joy back in my passions. I have been anxious about alot in life lately and it has made me feel like running for the hills, but instead of running for the hills proverbially, I am literally running in the hills to let it all go. I am finally finding a bit of reprieve. This is the reason why I have started running long again lately. I am so blessed that all I need is my feet to feel whole again.
Not an exceptional run this am AT all. Its a public holiday here and it was too crowded - too many people being obnoxious this morning (one very stoopid boy tried to run alongside me - *rolls eyes*)
Just 11 miles this am - took 2 walk breaks because I just did.not.want.to.go.on!
Not an exceptional run this am AT all. Its a public holiday here and it was too crowded - too many people being obnoxious this morning (one very stoopid boy tried to run alongside me - *rolls eyes*)
Just 11 miles this am - took 2 walk breaks because I just did.not.want.to.go.on!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Felt like a huge whale this morning. 2 hours later, I feel a little bit more normal.
450 stair sprints. 90 minutes
47 freezing minutes in the pool. I havent had a nice long swim in a while and I definately felt it - swimming fitness is so different from running fitness. I never quite got comfortable in the water - it was much too cold and now I have a runny nose - *great*! 60 laps.
450 stair sprints. 90 minutes
47 freezing minutes in the pool. I havent had a nice long swim in a while and I definately felt it - swimming fitness is so different from running fitness. I never quite got comfortable in the water - it was much too cold and now I have a runny nose - *great*! 60 laps.
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