Journey to the Marathon

Pushed Back

2008-11-14T10:31:00.002-06:00

Since I will be 1 month away from delivering baby #3 when the marathon is scheduled my guess is I'll have to push this goal off for a year at least! The blog will probably be put on a break too (not as if it has been super active lately, anyways!) - my attempts at walking with the kids and brief episodes on the elliptical are far from blog-worthy!

Good luck in the 1/2 Rock - hope it goes well!

Back to the Grind

2008-07-01T11:19:00.003-05:00

I'm officially healthy again after 4 weeks of strep and 1 week of a cold overlapping with the strep, so I went for a run this morning before work. Go me. Mr. Sports Kit says I went 3.4 miles in 45 minutes or so, which is substantially slower than I was over a month ago. Also, I wore my heart rate monitor and my heart rate was ridiculously high (around 192 for the duration of the run). *sigh* Now I have to start all over again, I guess...

May vs September

2008-06-20T08:34:00.003-05:00

So I'm debating. I know there's no way I'll be in shape for an entire marathon this September. However, next September I should definitely be able to do it. I'm just thinking about how I would train in the winter for the marathon in May if I stuck with the original goal of running the Green Bay marathon the full 26.2 miles. I'm not a fan of the cold and we aren't particularly rich where I could find a gym to belong to that has a track in it. I think if I didn't do the full in Green Bay I would do a 1/2.
Last night I did a short quick 1.5 mile run and ran a 14 minute mile. Not bad, but if I ever would remember to turn the Ipod off when my workout is done I'd get more accurate readings. For some reason I forget to end my work out on the Ipod - so I had an extra probably 15 minutes added to the 10K which I was just hanging out not running so it messed with my numbers and last night I left it on as I stretched after and before my run! I'm going to have to make myself a big reminder and stick it on my mailbox or something.
Next week's goal is to get out running at least 4 nights of the week. Even if it is only 1.5 miles.

AMAZING

2008-06-14T15:55:00.002-05:00

nothing short of amazing! The first 2 miles were pure hell and muscles I didn't know existed hurt worse then childbirth. After that it was sweet and not very painful until about now when I have sat for awhile and am getting stiff. Want to see my official results?! And Hannah's, Ranee's, Jacob's, and Bill's? Go to www.Bellinrun.com and enter our names in the 2008 results - our last name - Graf - is pretty easy, but just in case you forgot G-R-A-F! Hannah and I did most of the race together like 99% and that was awesome. We would run a block walk a few run a block walk a few. 1 hour 43 minutes was my final time! It was a great experience. I actually thought the people were helpful! It would have been easy to walk the whole way, but when everyone is pumped up in the beginning and the end it made it easy to run! Loved the hose squirts and water stuff and the misting booth we ran through - amazing. My shoes royally sucked though! Going to Rogan's and quick grabbing a pair wasn't cool! Afterward, we went to the Fox Valley Running Company and got sweet shoes that make my legs feel amazing and they were the same price as my worthless, support-less ones from Rogans. Anyways, I'm pumped for the 1/2 marathon and will do a lot more training for the Fox Cities in September!

Bellin 10K

2008-06-09T12:08:00.003-05:00

is right around the corner - on Saturday! It's so close I can just feel the shin splints and calf cramps and am not too excited. But to finish will be awesome - my first 'race' completed! I'm glad I got Ranee & Hannah to keep me going or I think it might be easy to scrap the running and just walk. Anyways, hopefully all the preparation will make this as painless as possible, but from what I hear from veteran runners it'll still suck! I was reminiscing with a high school friend who I had gym class with and she totally reminded me how much we hated running ... I still hate it ... it's just a chance to get away and yeah I'm feeling a little completely crazy for taking this up! So the goal for the Bellin is to start out and walk 1 mile, run 2. walk 1, and run 2. I'm not going to like immediately walk after running 2, but just to be okay with needing to walk if I have is great. I hope the weather cooperates and it's not a down pour like it was this entire weekend! Anyways, I'm praying for some extra strength and energy to get through this one and that my nerves would quiet down a bit - I have no idea why I'm so nervous.

2008-05-31T11:28:00.002-05:00

Thanks guys you were tons of help on the Power Song! Someone break up the tie - the power is in your hands!!
Running daily has turned into walking daily. With Jacob away for work this week I haven't had the chance to get out and run - but I take the kids to the park, which is about a mile from our house and I push them in the stroller and walk as fast as I can without having Ella fall out. I got this awesome sit and stand stroller and I probably should invest in a double stroller i can run with. We have one that pulls behind the bike and Jacob takes the kids for a walk in it, but it's really awkward and I don't think I'd get very far before Ella started beating on Bren.
So next week I'll be kicking into high gear and my goal is to get out for a run at least 5 of the 7 days.

7.2

2008-05-24T08:07:00.003-05:00

I went 7.2 miles last night. I really just wanted to see if I could do it and it turns out I can. The route was especially scenic and lovely, so that made me happy. I don't intend to run this daily, however, as once I entered town there was broken glass everywhere, and I worry about my precious angel's little tootsies. Plus it took forever. I was hoping the distance was longer, but when I measured it--alas. I also found out that the cheapo pedometer I bought sucks and doesn't work. I suppose I shouldn't have expected more from a 5 dollar gadget--but I is poor. Either way, that whole being muscular and fit thing should be happening any day now, right?

Dumb

2008-05-23T20:26:00.003-05:00

Jacob & I ventured out and took the kids for a walk and stopped at the park half way. I then realized how dumb I was in in that I never set my Ipod to workout mode! Ugh! So anyways, my latest 'run' was really a walk and it was only 1/2 of my actual walk. I calibrated finally and got that all set up to go. I also realized the weight was set at 98lbs! Clearly, I'm far from 98lbs so I changed that up, too. Next week with Jacob being in San Diego and my mom stopping by for a few days I'm hoping to at least get the kids out for a few quick walks.

Evil, Evil, EVIL Elliptical

2008-05-19T21:24:00.004-05:00

It shall be named Evil. Sorry - wasn't even an option, but totally right on the head Jamie!

I was so extremely sore that I crawled my sorry butt down the steps to Evil and decided the more I work out the less sore I'm going to feel. I plopped my sore, tired, and achey self onto the Evil One and decided I was going to get in 2 miles the fastest I possibly could. I plugged my Ipod in, turned the trainer to silent so I could just listen to my tunes, set my miles and off I went. The elliptical had recorded I went 2.25 miles before I stopped to check my Ipod out. AHHHHHHH!! IT NEVER RECORDED ANYTHING, wait it counted .15 miles. The elliptical said 2.24 miles in 25 minutes! That was TWO 10 minute miles (a little less than actually) that will never be recorded. So it looks as though my little chip is crap on the elliptical. Not cool! (I shudder to think that all that work was really only the equivalent to .15 miles in the real world)

So I'm going to start a label called LOG in which I will log my miles and info from the elliptical in here in a post and you will all have to trust me. So log: 2.24 miles in 25 minutes.

Evil Elliptical

2008-05-19T16:19:00.004-05:00

Lise-

I was tricked that way a few years ago, too. I used to use a treadmill at the University Strength Center for months, and it always read wonderful numbers to me about how awesome I was--but then my membership was up and I started running outside on real pavement--oh, the angst. But your body will begin to adjust, and the fact that you were using an elliptical at all is a sign of getting more physical, so no worries.

I think the reason I can run the 6 miles of hilly terrain is because of the platitudes I've created in my head for each jerkhead hill. Like, "Oh, Jamie, you know after this hill it's cake--THIS is the worst hill," and then I pretty much say that for every hill. :-)

I take my dog with me (tied to my waist, because for some reason I can't hold things while I run), but I need to buy him a harness, because he got off his collar about 2 miles from home and ran all the way back on the highway--leading me to bawl the whole way home, convinced he was dead by truck or bus. Anyway, the run mellows him out usually, so I'm killing two birds with one stone, really.

2008-05-19T08:58:00.000-05:00

ALSO for those of you who don't want to have to get the iPod Nano, Nike+ has an sport band now too, so you can read the data on your wrist, and then it plugs in to your computer's USB port. It's $60. Not horrible.

Route Planner

2008-05-19T08:31:00.004-05:00

I love the Nike+ kit - that online stuff is great! I'm not sure how to link my profile/history to this site though. I don't think it will let us Rock! I made mine public and tried a bunch of different things and can't get it to work. I'll have Jacob check it out tonight and see if he can figure it out! I also love my Nano. It's going to take me awhile to get used to that little wheel thingy - I loved my shuffle because you just clicked the buttons to get anywhere - turning in a circle to go where ever is hard to get used to for me. But I'm guessing it'll just take a few days and I'll get it.

Last night I used that Walk, Run, Job site to map my route and then I entered my run by distance according to the site - 1.25 miles. It was a lot off - like .4 miles off! I did the same route on the Nike+ site and it was exactly right on. So I think I'll use that route planner instead. Tonight I'm going to do extra stretching and low impact/my deceitful elliptical for an hour and then tomorrow night I'm going to push it to 2.25 miles for real. This coming weekend I'm going to get brave and go to Heckrodt and run the long mile trail - hopefully I can pull 2 laps. It's a little more hilly and curvy, but the ground is much softer so we'll see how it goes.

Take the polls on the side :) 1 is for naming my elliptical and the other one is for a good Power Song. A Power song is sweet! You determine what your power song is on your list and anytime during your workout you need a boost you hit a button and it will play the song for you! Right now it's Crazy by Gnarls Barkley

Nike+ Kit * 2 & Despising/Thanking Many

2008-05-18T23:03:00.004-05:00

I got mine, too :) I even used it today. Thanks for the extra motivation Rock and Ranee! Jacob came back from his marathon duties this morning with 2 Nike+ kits (one for each of us) and 2 Nanos! We're selling the shuffle and his video one so if you are interested in buying them - let me know!
I didn't calibrate it because I know I'm not in the shape I want to be in yet. (Yeah, I know I can re-calibrate, but still)
So under the default I ran 1.6 some miles (almost died a few times) in 24 minutes. Not bad, but let me tell you a 10 minute mile on real pavement is way different then a 10 minute mile on the elliptical. I hated that elliptical every step of my run today. It lied to me - it gave me confidence I never should have had. Heck, I was up to 4 miles on a regular work out day and 7 on my big run day. Please, 4 miles would knock my you know what to the ground. My knees are really not happy with Mr. Elliptical down in the basement. You had them fooled really really well - I would rate my soreness with the soreness of afterbirth pains! My chiropractor will be making a fortune off of me during this training process.
I want to name my elliptical so I can smash his name into the ground every step of the way - let voting/suggestions begin!
I secretly despised Ranee, Rock, and Jamie every step of my way too - I'm impressed you guys can run your distance without croaking! You guys are awesome and I want to be you!
I also secretly despised the man walking his dog behind me. I hope he knows he forced me to continue running about 1.2 consecutive miles because I didn't want to look like a wuss and stop to walk, even though my pain was beyond imagination! Even Gnarls Barkley's Crazy wasn't pushing me (it's my power song on my IPod - Rock what's yours?)
I also despised the people who ran the marathon today and finished with amazing times. (have I told you I don't care what my time is at this point - I just want to finish it) The 'winner' was of course a guy and he clocked in at like 2 hours and 10 minutes. INSANE, I tell you! I felt good knowing a number of people crossed in tears - pretty sure I'll be balling mine out when I cross. If you look at race results it is always a guy who finishes first and always 20-25 minutes faster. Ugh! I had to scroll to #70-something in last year's Fox Valley marathon to finally find the 1st place women. I'm guessing men are faster because they don't have to lug around breasts and hips and booties!
Anyways, thanks for the motivating me. Even if the reception wasn't received very positively. Really, you should feel honored if you were among the despised - you are my motivation don't stop letting me despise (and secretly thank) you!

Nike+ Kit

2008-05-17T15:17:00.004-05:00

I got my Nike + Sport kit. I didn't get the Nike shoes because i just bought a killer pair of running shoes. I stuck the chip under the laces and it didn't budge and seemed to do a great job although I didn't calibrate it, which probably messed with the readings, so I guess tomorrow I'll have to do that. It said my first run was 5.88 miles at around 10.48 min/mile. I don't believe that I actually went that far, because I checked it out on some of our mapping website links here and they seem to say from 4.3-4.7 miles, although I did take some weird paths that I couldn't quite locate on the maps. Hm. The next run will be more accurate.

In any case, I created my nike+ profile, too. I think it will be a great way to keep track of my progress, and I know Lise is planning on getting this package too, so we can still train "together" even though we're pretty far from each other. I think if Jamie and Lauren got it, that would be great, too!

Something that was annoying was that my heart rate monitor was not very dependable on this run. I'm not sure if it interfered with the chip. I guess I'll have to figure that out.

Lise, I tried to put this link on the right hand side so it's more a permanent link, but I can't figure it out for the life of me! Let me know if you know what I'm talking about :)

Upcoming races

2008-05-12T22:06:00.003-05:00

I signed up for a 5K on June 1st. My goal is to finish in 30 minutes. We'll see how it goes...I am also signing up for a 10K at the end of June. I think I might be able to do it. On Saturday I ran 4.5 miles and didn't want to shoot myself afterwards. I think that counts as success :) Anyone is welcome to join me if you have a chance!

Official

2008-05-10T22:52:00.004-05:00

If registering wasn't enough I've purchased an actual running outfit - like that kind of clingy, but breathable material. It was a Mother's Day Gift to myself and I'm loving it. It's amazing what it can all hold in place - way too much info I know, but if you've ever breastfed a baby for an extended period of time you know what I'm talking about! Now I just need to work on that sweet shoe with the pocket for the chip I want to get for my IPod and I'll be set to go. I guess I have to get the special Nike shoe, too!

Since it's Mother's Day tomorrow I was just thinking about my little kiddos and how if I can't do this for myself (running/getting into shape) that I need to do this for my kids. I want to stick around and watch them grow up, I don't want to miss out on a thing! Also, it's probably a ton more fun to have a mom who loves to take them swimming in the summer time (which requires a swimsuit), or loves to run around and play with them without getting winded and gross, and if anything it's a great role modeling type thing. I don't enjoy pushing myself to the point of death, but I've made myself a goal and I'm going to do everything it takes to accomplish it. If there's anything I want/need to pass onto my children (next to their faith in God) it is perseverance and to achieve their goals. I need to delete the word can't from my vocabulary and start using will and no more 'ifs,' either!

Registered

2008-05-09T11:16:00.005-05:00

I've officially registered for my first running 'event.' Not sure what you would call it really. I'm not really racing anyone and I really don't have any previous times to race against myself. Whatever you want to call it - I'm registered for the Bellin Run coming up on June 14th. Jacob also registered in the stroller division :)
When you register you had to decide what your goal finish time would be so you can be placed in the correct starting 'corral' and wear a matching colored number thingy. (EX: 30-40 minute finishers start in corral red and wear red bib thingies, 40-60 in a different one, and so on) I'm hoping to finish in quicker then an hour, however I don't want to be the only specific colored shirt finishing in the the 60+ minute group if I don't quite make it. So I registered for the 60+ minute group and nothing says I can't finish sooner :) I hope that wasn't royally confusing, but I'm guessing it was.
So that gives me a few weeks to see how fast I can knock down 10K! (Realistically, my goal is to just to be able to run the entire thing and finish without dieing first)

Bellin Run

2008-05-07T12:30:00.004-05:00

My time is sort of limited, so I realize this isn't 'pretty' or 'organized' yet, but I'll get on it.

In case you are interested, the Bellin Run is coming up in June - it's a 10K, and Jacob, the kids, my in-laws, & I are all going to register for it so if you're interested register and run/walk/push a stroller with us!

1 mile at a time

2008-05-07T12:19:00.005-05:00

I thought it would be cool to journal my journey to the Marathon next May and if you were interested in running it, I invited you to collaborate with me. I'm just going to use this to track my running goals and try to keep myself motivated.

Last night I reached my first small goal of a 10 minute mile on the elliptical! However, I could only pull off 1 - 10 minute, the other 2 I did were progressively longer. My next goal is to get 2 miles in 20 minutes!