Running With Perseverance

Who Moved My Finish Line? (Army Ten Miler)

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Coco

Did you ever read this book?

Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

Well, I didn’t, but maybe I should have to prepare for the Army Ten Miler this year.

I noticed soon after I signed up that the course looked different.

The last three times I ran this race, the start was on the highway that runs along the left side of the Pentagon . For this year, the start has been moved to the far end of the North Parking Lot, which means that the finish line will be that much further away!

Now, that course adjustment might not sound like a big deal, but it felt like it took forever to reach the finish line with the old course. The last stretch over the 14th Street Bridge is more than one mile of concrete with a long steady incline, no shade, and no spectators to cheer you on. There are potholes to dodge, but otherwise it’s a very tedious section of the course.

When you come down the exit ramp at the end of the bridge, you expect the finish line to be right there, but you have to make a sharp right turn and keep going. At this point, the course is narrow, flanked by barricades, and lined with crowds, but that just makes it harder to keep up your pace. For this year’s course, it looks like there are several more twists and turns before you reach the finish line. I do see a body of water along the last stretch–it could be nice if we can actually see that from the course. I will try to remember to look for it as I am pushing on to the end.

Is there a race you do year after year?

Have they ever “adjusted” the course?

Posted in Fitness | Tagged Army Ten Miler, Mind Games, Running | 3 Comments

Training Log–Army Ten Miler (Week 4)

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Coco

Welcome to my training log for my last full week of training for the Army Ten Miler on October 9, 2011. (You can see how I did during week one here, week two here and week three here).

My main goal for the ATM is to cross the finish line smiling, which is no small feat for this particular event! Based on past performance, I should be able to keep a 9:00 min/mile pace, even with my nagging ITB and piriformis issues.

My challenge this week has come from staying up late with work stuff and blog stuff, and then having to drag myself out of bed in the morning. I did it though!

Monday–Elliptical + Weights
Elliptical: 30 min “glutes” program (steep incline)
30 minute full body free weights routine:
deadlifts/military presses/push-ups
plie squats/tricep dips
lunges/bicep curls
squats/front and lateral raises
hamstring curls/extensions (Bowflex)

Tuesday–Hilly Neighborhood Run
5 miles, 47 min (avg pace=9:27 min/mile)
My first mile split was 9:00, the long hilly mile split was 10:00, and the others were right about 9:30.

Wednesday –Yoga + Weights
20 min Rodney Yee “Standing” program
30 minute full body weights routine (same as Monday)
5 min stretching/foam rolling
I was so tired this morning, I opted for some time with Rodney Yee instead of the elliptical.

Thursday–Easy Neighborhood Run
4.25 miles, 40 min (avg. pace = 9:35 min./mile)
I hit snooze too many times but decided I could still squeeze in a run. I managed to leave the house on time by skimping on breakfast (just toast) and my morning Twitter/Facebook/blog time.

Friday –Elliptical + Weights
Elliptical: 30 min forward/reverse intervals
20 min upper body weights
deadlifts/military presses/push-ups
bicep curls/tricep dips
chest press/crunches (fitball)

Saturday–Long Run
Distance: 8.5 miles
Time: 1:21
Split Times: 9:48, 9:22, 9:26, 9:44, 9:37, 9:37, 9:16, 9:29, 8:58
(That fasest mile had a long hill in it too!)
A cool front brought temperatures in the low 50s and some rain, but it was a nice run despite the weather.

Sunday–Yoga
25 min Rodney Yee program

On to week 5–my pre-race taper week!

Posted in Fitness, Training Log | Tagged Army Ten Miler, Long Run, Running, Weight Training, Yoga | 2 Comments

Requiem For R.E.M.

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Coco

I met my husband 28 years ago today. It was 1983 (did I do that math right?) and we were into “alternative” music. I liked Adam Ant and Billy Idol more than he did, but we both were fans of Echo and the Bunnymen, The Cure, New Order, Depeche Mode, Modern English, The Smiths, Violent Femmes, Psychedelic Furs, and others–including R.E.M.

Looking at all of the albums on the R.E.M. website makes me realize how much their music was a part of my high school and college life, and how many songs we adopted as “theme songs.”

Don’t Go Back To Rockville
Gardening At Night
Losing My Religion
Everybody Hurts
Talk About The Passion
It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

(My husband sent me this today to commemorate our “anniversary.” Our wedding anniversary is tommorrow–we got married 5 years and one day after we met.)

I know that over the years their music has changed and my tastes have changed (I don’t think they have any songs that would make the cut for a running playlist), so I’m not really disappointed by their break-up. I am glad that I can still find their songs on-line because I have enjoyed listening to them again. And, I’m very glad that my husband and I have outlasted another one of “our” bands.

We probably have mix tapes rotting in the basement with songs from all of these “25 Best Alternative Bands of the 1980s”–how about you?