running

Weekly Therapy: change is not a bad word

- Mel

the week:
A lot can change in a week. As an adult, I think it is important to be able to change your mind, your answers, your direction, or the field — whatever and whenever necessary. I made some big decisions this week as result of my life (and career!) going in a new direction. I do not fear change; in fact, I needed a whole lot of it in my life! Because I suppose I fear complacency more.

Also in change: we bought some new living room furniture on a fun binge at West Elm. I’m getting a blue couch! SQUEE!

weekend:
Friday, joining the ladies for the 21+ night at the Carnegie Science Center, and then joining the Steel City Road Runners Club for a training run on Saturday morning! And then it’s back to my usual “all homework Saturdays!”

52 books, 52 weeks:
#3. Mindy Kaling’s “Is Everyone Hanging Out With Me?” A new fan (and binge-watcher) of The Mindy Project, I was hoping for continued hilarity, like her, but this book was pretty abysmal and pointless; while easy to read, I found myself skimming a lot just to finish. It felt really forced and… bluff. MEH.

seven things, seven days:
1. I have no idea how I got this subscription of Sunset magazine, but… somebody wants me to move out West? I was quite excited to see a gluten-free orange cake on the cover, however!
2. I WANT THIS HOUSE. And I’m REAL SAD that it is already contingent.
3. Stopped into my NEW JOB to meet my team and other employees, and do a little orientation. I am SO excited about this position, you guys! I start officially on January 28. AND I HAVE AN OFFICE!
4. I also completed my first peer coaching session with a classmate. This class is so hands-on and scary and intense, but the course and different coaching frameworks are so interesting.
5. We got to celebrate a little with brunch at Eden in Shadyside. I have dreams about their chickpea pancakes smothered in cashew butter!
6. No One Is Successful to Spite You: How to be Happy For Others {via PsychCentral}
7. I swear, every time I read Nicole Antoinette’s blog posts, an internal fire gets lit inside me (is that redundant?): What Makes Your Life Better, Easier, & Way More Fun? {via Life Less Bullshit}

Weekly therapy: This is not recess. Everyone is accountable.

- Mel

the week:
Winter semester (and, well, WINTER) is upon us. My first class started on Monday, and in a couple weeks I’ll begin two more. Two semesters to go! Also, this week marks the return to roller derby. Can you believe tryouts are already next week? We held our introductory meeting (in my tiny house!) this week, and I announced my final season and leaving my post as team Captain. I loved our leadership team last season, but I really needed to step down from those responsibilities to maintain extra focus on school and upcoming graduation.

weekend:
Looking forward to the Frigid 5 Miler in North Park this Sunday!

52 books in 52 weeks:
Let’s try this again, shall we?
1. Coaching for Performance: GROWing Human Potential and Purpose by John Whitmore. Recommended/required as part of my Psychology course this semester — yes, I got a head-start on my reading — this book provoked a greater interest in performance as it pertains to organizational coaching through Whitmore’s GROW framework: goals, reality, options, and will — through context of awareness and responsibility.

2. Making Sense of People: Decoding the Mysteries of Personality by Samuel Barondes. It was an quick easy read — with a lot of footnotes and references (almost 100 pages!!!) — but not very instructional in “how” to actually read people. Not required or technical reading by any means, but informational to the novice or “armchair” psychologist. I enjoyed the profiles of Benjamin Franklin and the comparisons of presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama; likewise, the expanding of the Big Five personality traits was engaging (and I followed a link to another personality quiz included in the book). Otherwise, the book left me unsatisfied.

I also started and abandoned two other books because, boring… and WOW are we dead at work right now.

Does anyone else love the movie Less Than Zero as much as me?

seven things, seven days:
1. HOLY SKATE BAG SMELL, sMEL.
2. Surprisingly not very sore after my first derby practice back… and I had to re-test my minimum skills. Won’t take a 90+ day break again!
3. We had two weather-related work delays this week, at two hours a piece. The days did not go any faster, and, well, it’s fricking freezing.
4. I put in my notice at work, by the way. MORE LATER.
5. Because of winter, I finally got to break in my new Sorel boots. These things are legit!
6. The subtle art of not giving a… well, you know. Strong language alert, so likely NSFW. {via Mark Manson}
7. Long-form, interesting and a must-read: Has Technology Killed the Jewelry Industry? {via Pacific Standard}

Running goals for 2015: UPDATED!

- Mel

I have quite a few things that I will attempt to accomplish in 2015 — graduation, a priority, and derby and personal goals. I have some running goals set for myself too. This post is about the running, however, because this year will be my first half marathon.

Let-The-Games-Begin_huge

I’ve selected a charity as well, and will be running for the National Aviary — an avian zoo here in Pittsburgh that is dedicated to education, conservation, research and respect for birds. Check out my Crowdrise fundraiser page.

I’ve set 2:20 as my goal to finish, based on my finishing times for other races. As its my first half, I hope this is not unrealistic. I’ll reassess this time, of course, as my training and season progresses.

I also plan to do 100 individual runs (not including races), which breaks down into two training runs per week. I know this might seem like not a lot of running, but I need to keep up a solid training base, alongside a crazy derby practice schedule AND doing my strength training through CrossFit. Basically I do a LOT of two-a-days, which doesn’t bother me, and still allows me to have 1-2 days of complete rest (my favorite!). Mileage-wise really depends on my (hopeful) goals to also complete a full marathon this year, but I might be kidding myself. I will also reassess this plan as my derby season progresses. For now, I will set a 500 mile goal for 2015 — which, at about 40 miles per month and 10 miles per week, I think is completely doable.

My 2015 race schedule is really up in the air, since I work weekends right now, but I would like to complete one race per month. Here is what I have on my radar… Suggestions welcome!

RACES FOR 2015
January: Frigid 5 Miler (1/11) DNS, wasn’t prepared.
February: Cupid’s Undie Run Didn’t feel like doing this one by myself. DNS.
March: Just a Short Run 5K (3/28) I am doing SWELL on my running goals! DNS.
April: Cherry Blossom 10 Miler (4/12)
May: Pittsburgh Half Marathon AND 5K (5/03)
June: Stride for Pride 5K (06/07)
July: Liberty Mile (7/31)
August: Rock Hall Half Marathon (Cleveland, 8/23)
September: Akron Relay (9/26)
October: Niagara Falls International Marathon (10/25)
November: I’ll likely do the EQT 10 Miler again Dang it, the date moved! Ugly Sweater Run 5K
December: Christmas Story 10k (12/05)

Have any fun races that I should add to my calendar? Do you struggle with or benefit from doing two sports?

Weekly Therapy: holiday detox

- Mel

the week:
Recovery is the theme of the week. I still haven’t been motivated enough to play with all my Christmas “toys.” I wasn’t able to work out for a week because of the holiday and changed schedule implemented as result of the holiday week — and it was basically driving me crazy town. No runs because I’ve either been working during daylight hours or driving around from crazy town-to-crazy town. This is the part I hate about the holidays.

weekend:
Work (duh), but we have a game night planned with our neighbors.

52 books in 52 weeks:
Did I really only read 9 books this year? That’s embarrassing. Of course, that doesn’t count all the reading for my classes and corresponding textbooks. Alas… finished “On Top of Your Game: Mental Skills to Maximize Your Athletic Performance” by Carrie Cheadle this week in preparation of the new derby season and upcoming tryouts.

seven things, seven days:
1. New Year’s Eve: asleep by 11pm…
2. And an eye sty for good health!
3. YAY! My sister from Phoenix came to visit for a night!
4. Catching up with friends these last couple of weeks of break has been so valuable.
5. I finally went to the Cathedral of Learning and visited its nationality rooms! It was so beautiful — especially that the building was still decorated for the holidays.
6. This New Year’s post from TWLOHA was like a punch in the gut. In a good way.
7. 7 Psychological Tricks to Make Your Resolutions Stick {via Time}

My not-so-year of running.

- Mel

Three months ago I would NOT have called myself a runner. I hated running — especially when it was part of a CrossFit workout or warm-up because WHY TWO WORKOUTS IN ONE SESSION?! Yet, here I am, having finished (I think) 7 races at various distances, experiencing something of a coming out party. I ACTUALLY LOVE RUNNING. Running goals are part of my plan for 2015, as I incorporate CF and roller derby into my year full of activities and intentions.

Inspired by Miss Zippy’s Year of Running post and other running bloggers that I admire around the Web, the following is a summary of my 2014.

medal hang runner wall hooks
Medal, bib and PR display from Gone for a Run

Best race experience: Finally lining up for the Hot Chocolate 15K — the race that my friends encouraged me to train for when derby season ended, and what sparked this whole experience. Bonus factor: HOT CHOCOLATE, duh.

Worst race experience: Miles 8-10 of the EQT 10-miler. Woof. I was definitely not prepared for this race. Whomp-whomp factor: HUNGRY.

Best run: Just a couple weeks ago, I did 6 miles, and I am continually in amazement that I AM RUNNING 6 MILES. Plus, I hit a 8:10 pace in the middle of that run. It was an incredible realization (and further amazement) at what my body is capable of.

Worst run: I could barely run a mile without stopping four months ago, so that’s tops. But the run that you wouldn’t really call a run that was the worst, was the Fineview Step-athon. Man, that race kicked my ass. And I got lost! But probably one of the best race endings and celebrations. Tie breaker: that time a foldable water bottle leaked down my leg during the (very cold) holiday run. Yeahhhh.

Best new piece of gear: SHOES! Holy cow, my Saucony Ride 7s have changed my life!

Worst (old) piece of gear: Headphones are the bane of my existence. Even the $50 pair that I invested in only work half of the time. At least they don’t fall out? Also, can we please stop making race tech shirts with shortened long sleeves? I’m petite, but everything is still so short on me!

Best piece of running advice: “If you run, then you’re a runner.” – comment on an internet post.

Worst piece of running advice: “I have to run 8 miles this weekend anyways, why not sign up for the 10-miler?” – myself, naturally

If you could sum up your year last few months in a couple of words, what would they be: Life changing.

Total miles: Since late September, I’ve logged 81 miles. Nothing earth-shattering in the running world, and I expect that number to explode next year. Just in November, I ran 35 of those miles. Seriously though, that’s 81 more miles than last year!

Looking ahead: I can’t wait to start my training program in a couple weeks for the Pittsburgh Half Marathon. I’m doing the Frigid 5 Miler in January, followed up by derby tryouts in the same week. The theme for this year will definitely be balance.

A Christmas Story 10k: SAY UNCLE!

- Mel

I was originally supposed to run The Christmas Story 10k at the beginning of the month, virtually on race day, while I was in Buffalo. But a different type of Mother Nature rained down on me — and I didn’t have the right gear to run. So I grasped the opportunity during a cold Friday afternoon in Pittsburgh to complete my 10k distance.

Let’s be serious though, being a native Clevelander and a fan of the movie, I was running for the swag:

christmas story race packet 10k
Say Uncle!

I originally wanted to complete a route that circled around some of the holiday decorations downtown, but I decided to save it for the holiday social run with Fleet Feet. My 6.2 miles took me mostly along the North Shore, and over the river into downtown, running around a completely empty and lifeless Point Park (creepy without the fountain going).

Is that an outlier?
Is that an outlier?

I was really happy about and comfortable with my pace, keeping each mile under 10:30. And that Mile 4 split again… holy crap! 8:30 is my target pace for a 5K NEXT YEAR, but maybe I should aim for 8:00? I want all miles to feel that good, so I will work to get there. Also, I hope I get the opportunity to run this in Cleveland next year — definitely one for the race Bucket List and a fun Christmas tradition.

RESULTS (not official, obviously — can I say that I finished first?)
Time: 1:00:33
Pace: 9:41

Weekly Therapy: “it’s not a 15-foot inflatable Rudolph, but it will do.”

- Mel

the week:
I honestly don’t know how I’m surviving this week. I am beyond exhausted after working six days straight, with events two nights in a row; now, an interview and finishing up final papers to wrap up my last class for the semester.

That two week winter school break is right within reach…

weekend:
Looking forward to three days off in a row! You bet I scheduled a 90-minute massage for my weekend.

We’re also going ice skating at PPG Place with two other couples, and attending an eggnog party Saturday night (making a gluten-free eggnog cupcake to bring!). I plan to get a couple fun runs in too — one with some derby friends and another with SCRR.

PS: for the BEST eggnog recipe, I use go by the Velvet Tango Room standard.

seven things, seven days:
1. Finishing up some Christmas shopping, but mostly finished. Bah humbug, give me a hamburger or something.
2. Our last Happiness Conspiracy was Wednesday night, and it was bittersweet. You should definitely consider signing up for the next set of workshops! This experience — and the connections — was so valuable to me. Psssst, there’s an early bird special discount code until 12/31/14!
3. One of the cats already peed on the tree skirt. I GIVE UP!
4. The holiday run for Fleet Feet downtown was SO MUCH FUN. I need more nighttime social runs in my life.
5. Still waiting for my Stats final exam grade. Don’t make me all caps something else…
6. A really amazing write-up about roller derby — and the awesome Fisti Cuffs. {via Medium}
7. The secret to learning while you are distracted {via PsyBlog}. I think I mastered this growing up the eldest of 7 children.

Weekly Therapy: excuses and mulligans.

- Mel

the week:
So, I didn’t run the virtual Christmas Story 10k last weekend. I really wanted to, but it was raining in Buffalo. I had all my winter running stuff, but was not prepared for running 6+ miles wet. And then it didn’t stop raining in Pittsburgh, but after doing some Christmas shopping, I was flat-out exhausted. I’m hoping to get a run in this week, but, you know, FINALS WEEK. I will try not to beat myself up too bad for not really doing much else outside of homework and studying.

I did eventually run my 10k this week, so more on that in a later post!

weekend:
FINALS! And a handful of holiday parties (that I’ll probably end up canceling on account of exhaustion). And working.

seven things, seven days:
1. If this isn’t a week for a massage, I don’t know what is.
2. I participated in an #instabestie gift exchange, and I was so pumped to shop for my unknown “bestie.” It’s all based on personal Instagram account, so it will be interesting what my shopper gleans from my photos. Also, we had a minimum charity gift as part of the exchange, which added more holiday cheer to the experience.
3. Oooh, my first full-time paycheck from my new position!
4. Booo, working 6 days in a row!
5. I did FRAN this week at CrossFit. HOLY CRAP.
6. And I booked a derby camp IN AUSTIN at the end of February. (YAY!)
7. I really enjoyed this list (I fell for the bait!): Alas, 7 Morning Rituals to Empower Your Day {via LifeHack}

Weekly Therapy: the final countdown

- Mel

the week:
Feeling really sleep deprived, but inspired and grateful and hopeful about a lot of things (see what some new paint and some shopping can do?!). There are three weeks left in Fall semester before a two-weekish break. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…

We legit opened up a mini bottle of champagne and toasted the end of this construction. I slept in until 9am on my day off this week. Ahhhhh.

weekend:
Off to Buffalo to do some early holiday gathering and socializing. I’ll also be running the Christmas Story Virtual 10K while I’m up there — for the full Cleveland experience, if you will.

seven things, seven days:
1. Any one else tired of their inbox this week? UNSUBSCRIBE.
2. But definitely not the reminder email about the Naked on the Run palette. MINE!
3. Received an early Christmas present at Thanksgiving — 16 (16!!!) champagne flutes. Err, I guess we have to host a brunch or NYE party now (or maybe we should have invited the neighbors over to toast our renovation). WHO WANTS MIMOSAS?!
4. Yes, I know, YELLING. I am nothing if not emphatic.
5. StitchFix WIN this week: a winter coat, black collarless blazer, lace-sleeved blouse, velvet-flocked animal print pants and another light sweater.
6. Well I guess I picked a good activity! Here’s to growing old and awesome and active! {via NY Times}
7. Benefits of being a curious person {via Huffington Post}

PNC Turkey Trot: Five miles for food! Or something.

- Mel

The 2013 Turkey Trot was the first 5K I was able to run in full without stopping (and gasping and generally dying from running). It was also the first Thanksgiving I stayed “home” for nearly my entire adult life. It was also a proud (and awful!) moment. And here I am, a year later, running a full five miles. No stopping, no gasping. No dying! WHO AM I?!

WOWS and runners! (and me in my Browns hat again)
WOWS and runners!

I’m glad my friend and neighbor snapped this, as I didn’t take any pictures this race.

I really enjoyed this course, except for that last mile loop up-and-back around Heinz field. It felt the longest, and there are a lot of people (and cars, wtf) darting between two lanes of runners and just resonated as chaos in my brain. I hated knowing the runners on the other side were almost finished, and I had no idea where the turn around point was (even though I looked at the map before the race, my brain was not processing the length). Not to mention, the course ran long (again!). I wasn’t really sure where my point would be to quicken for the finish line either.

I have pacing problems though. I seriously could not believe my pace time at my first mile (I use MapMyRun for mile updates on pace, splits, etc.). But once I was in the 9:30 zone, I was not slowing up until I finished (or my body gave up). A race is when you are supposed to challenge and push yourself a little, right? Or a lot. Overall though, my body felt good, and a couple days later, I’m ready for another couple miles.

Finished: 48:59
69th in my age group

I don’t have anything else planned for November, but that’s 4 races completed in one month!
East Nash Dash (4 miles)
EQT 10-miler (10 miles, duh)
Hot Chocolate 15k
and Turkey Trot (5 miles)
Total mileage for November: (lots of race mileage, and not a lot of training… yikes) 35.01 miles

I don’t anticipate my training changing much until January (when half-marathon training starts), since December is a cluster-you-know-what.

Next up: Christmas Story Virtual 10k on December 6.