luluorange’s Training Blog

My husband and I decided to take a walk. The same 5 mile walk we did last week, feels quiet different being 20 degrees hotter. On the way back, we picked a uphill path instead of walking up the Santa Monica stairs, boy, it kicked our butts!! It feels good just to be out, I realized I am going to miss the beach here for a week since I am going out of town tomorrow.

Workout:

• Type: Walk
• Date: 04/27/2008
• Time: 09:00:00
• Total Time: 1:20:00.00
• Distance: 5 miles
• Average Pace: 16:00/mile

Today is my long run day and I was determined to hit 10 miles. The weather is warm, even as I am heading out, it was already 10 degrees hotter than usual. I have a lot on my mind, it’s been kind of a crazy week at work and I am going on a business trip again for a week starting Monday. No knowing what next week will bring as far as work out is concerned, I will do my best to keep my running schedule on track.

I started out today at a moderate pace and my body feels good, but my mind is all jumbo up with issues, problems at work. After mile 4, before I know it, I was just in a zone and I couldn’t remember what I was thinking about; now… that’s good therapy. There are just things you have to let go because you a) didn’t cause it b) have no control over what people do; hence, continuing to let it marinate in you mind is just not healthy. And running… is the best way I know how to leave it all behind.

My right hip and hamstring was a little sore getting past mile 8, but I took big strides and try to stretch it out as I ran and the soreness went away. As I was running back towards my car, I thought about my 1/2 marathon in October, I told my self just add 3 more miles and it’s a 1/2, see, it’s not too hard.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 04/26/2008
• Time: 07:00:10
• Total Time: 1:36:09.00
• Distance: 10.2 miles
• Average Pace: 9:26.04/mile

Saturday run, I decided to take it easy on Saturday morning. I usually get up early and get my workout in by myself, my husband happened to be up this morning early and asked if he could tagged along. I was happy to take him on my running route for a walk. He really enjoyed it and was at awe how beautiful the beach is early in the morning. We had a great time.

Workout:

• Type: Walk
• Date: 04/19/2008
• Time: 21:25:16
• Total Time: 1:18:00.00
• Distance: 5.02 miles
• Average Pace: 15:32.64/mile

I took the advantage of my first day off in 11 days and went for a long run. From my travel last week, I got a good few days rest as far as work out is concerned, putting my body through a long run shouldn’t be too much of a challenge today. I struggled a bit at the end, and had to walk some of the distance. I didn’t not run as fast as I would have liked but overall was just happy to be out and running.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 04/18/2008
• Total Time: 1:41:16.00
• Distance: 10.05 miles
• Average Pace: 10:04.03/mile

Between flying, and driving 180 miles to my destination. Not looking forward to the rest of the trip fitness-wise. I am supposed to finished the job in two and half days, so work hour will be long, which will not leave a lot of room to do anything else. I told myself that this will be a good chance to really rest for a few days and not to stress about it. I did manage to do a short run on a pretty uncomfortable treadmill located in a small “gym” at the Holiday Inn Express I stayed. I just felt so out of my element and didn’t really stay with my run. Well… guess I’ll just have to make it up when I get back in town.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 04/11/2008
• Time: 21:09:59
• Total Time: 00:27:28.00
• Distance: 2.62 miles
• Average Pace: 10:29.37/mile

I told myself that 5 miles will do, I needed to just get a breath of the ocean air. I have to get to the office by 9:30 for a conference call, so time is of essense. As I ran, the normal nagging discomfort at the beginning of the run did not appear (strangely…). I tend to struggle a bit at the beginning of every run, until about after mile one. Today, I was just in a zone, every joints in my body are loose and I felt strong. I decide to not worry about the mileage and just run until I get tired. I actually walked the last 1/2 miles and with the cumulative time recorded on my watch, I must have been running fast while I was running.

The best part is, I still got in on time for my conference call, yeah! Talking about having the best of both world.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 04/08/2008
• Time: 10:55:32
• Total Time: 1:18:25.00
• Distance: 7.9 miles
• Average Pace: 9:56.03/mile

Since I am going out of town for a business trip. Watching the news and weather this morning on the treadmill, I got a little worry. Since my destination is Oklahoma, a severe storm hitting the heart of Oklahoma this week. Oh, joy!!! I just hope there won’t be too much delay to my schedule…

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 04/07/2008
• Time: 07:43:12
• Total Time: 00:41:02.00
• Distance: 4.47 miles
• Average Pace: 9:10.46/mile

that’s what I do when I can’t sleep. Knowing full well that my early morning run would be completely sabotaged because I was up for half the night. Crazy…

I read a guy’s blog (not on Sweat365), talking about the resentment he feels towards his family and friends and even spouse who doesn’t quite understand his fitness quests and goal to a healthy lifestyle. That seeing people around him not making exercise, and eating healthy, as a priority in their own lives really upsets him, and he feels that this hinders his own goal and progress.

To a large degree, I can relate to that, hence, I keep to myself about my goals and inspiration because I tried to spread the words but it never sticks. My company provides snacks and soda (peanuts, red vines, and jelly beans) for free in the employee lounge. Guess what, I have observed a visible overall weight gain of my fellow co-workers over the past year, it’s not pretty. The innocent hand full of snacks all day long could add as much as 500 calories if not more. People don’t even think how long you have to run to burn off 500 calories and what kind of fitness it takes to do that…I used to be upset about this, but I am over it now.

At the end of the day, I only have control of what I do, I am not responsible for anyone else. As much as it pains me to see people around me to be oblivious about how unhealthy they are, the only thing I can do is to use them as a good example of “what not to do” and focus on my goals and my own way of living.

With that…I hope I sleep better tonight

pulling out of my garage at 6:10 in the morning in darkness does not encourage me to run outside.
For weeks since the day light savings time change, I have been going to the gym to get my run in.
We are finally getting some real day light in the morning, so I decided to head to the beach this morning.
I am so glad I did, being out there, getting in my zone, let my todo list and everything else just melt away for a little while. It’s a gift.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 04/01/2008
• Time: 08:20:05
• Total Time: 1:12:00.00
• Distance: 7.45 miles
• Average Pace: 9:40.65/mile