Forward-Thinking Madness

Along Upper Tampa Bay Trail

My typical weekend run, which should be around 4 miles, was cut to 3.4 today. I just didn’t have it in me. I ran a good first mile and a half, and then I got a little sidetracked. Plus, I couldn’t help but to see the giant notice letting trail-goes like myself know that starting 3/1/2010, to park at the Channel Park Trailhead and at the Wilksy Trailhead (Upper Tampa Bay Trail), you will have to pay $2. (Or you can purchase a year-long pass for $50.) I understand the need to raise capital for upkeep of the trail, but those of us who are already financially strapped can’t justify paying $2 to run the trail when we can run at other places for free. (My gym membership is $56 a month!)

Running Under Linebaugh, Upper Tampa Bay Trail

I will just go back to parking down at the first Trailhead instead at Channel Park, which hopefully will remain free. But to run up to where the bridge is on the trail and then back again…well, I would need to continue upping my mileage into the 5-6 mile range.

Bridge Near Linebaugh, Upper Tampa Bay Trail

So, I began mapping runs around my neighborhood, and exploring new places to take my weekend runs. If I am going to pay to run, I want some excellent scenery.

P.S. I need to buy a SpiBelt . The armband that I purchased for my iPhone last year is just far too annoying. I just need to shove my damn phone & keys into a lovely SpiBelt and then run, without worrying about it shifting about. My iPhone is so heavy on my arm it’s distracting at times.

Mizuno Wave Creation 11

Yes, I know this was not in the budget until April, but I went to buy new insoles for my old running shoes (Mizuno Wave Rider 12′s) and the store I went to was having a weekend sale – 20% off certain brands of shoes, including the Mizunos, to celebrate the Gasparilla* weekend here in Tampa. Anyway, instead of buying insoles at $35 that would have to be put in a new pair of Wave Riders at around $90, I bought a pair of Mizuno Wave Creation 11′s for $108 (they retail for around $130.) I feel a bit guilty for breaking the bank yet again (last month it was spinning shoes), but I think these will be well worth it and will help my nagging right knee injury. I ran five miles last Saturday and only two and a half on Wednesday, due to my knee. Ran only a mile last night (a slow, crappy mile), so looking to just run a couple tomorrow to start breaking in the shoes, and being careful with the injury. (I wouldn’t call it an injury just yet – it’s more like a pre-injury state. If I’m not careful right now, it could be come a full-blown injury, hence why I am resting today. I’m aiming to add lower-body strength training to my weekly regimen to power up my quads & hamstrings, which will in turn help support my knees.)

A friend of mine, Jen, is going to start her 5k journey tomorrow, so I will be rooting her on! She’s doing the C25k program (I downloaded a C25k app to my iPhone a couple weeks ago because I think it will help me get faster) and I know she’s going to do great.

I stopped in at Starbucks earlier today and there’s a young chap who works there that recently started running as well. He commented that he is slow, only running a mile in 9 minutes. I had to do an internal little cough because I was like, my fastest mile is only around 10 minutes! (I was not built for speed, that’s for sure, with my lousy bio-mechanics.) I did give him a little warning though as it seemed he was building his mileage too quickly – that can lead to injury if you just dive in and start thinking you can run five or six miles right away.

I purchased John Bingham’s book, “No Need for Speed: A Beginner’s Guide to the Joy of Running” last weekend and so far so good. I definitely don’t have a need for speed – my goal is to just keep running and enjoy it. There’s nothing wrong with a 10-minute mile, and there’s nothing wrong with an 11-minute mile (and so on and so forth.) As long as you’re out there enjoying yourself & staying fit, just keep running! Or jogging, wogging, or even walking. Maybe one day I’ll get fulfill my dream of completing a marathon, but I will always have that nagging voice in the back of my head (my physical therapist from last year) reminding me that I was not built for distance running.

*Gasparilla: series of running events every February in Tampa, including the Half & Full Marathons. I wanted to run the 5k this year, but I didn’t train as seriously as I needed to. I’m not running another 5k until I can beat 30 minutes.

Alix and I visited the Tampa Museum of Art on Saturday 2/13/10. Just a note if you’re planning on visiting and a bit budget-conscious like myself, the second Saturday each month offers free admission. I enjoyed the Matisse exhibition as it outlined the development of some of his works, from concept to final product. I left wishing the museum was larger – I have a feeling that the entire museum isn’t quite open yet as it took barely an hour to explore and see every work. I’ll post more photos soon.

I’ve talked myself into it again – overcoming my fear of swimming in the open water. I’m going to try to do my first sprint-distance triathlon (a goal I had last year), but the first matter to take care of is the swimming lessons at the Y. And yes, hopefully they cater to the timid type. I am not as bad as I used to be, obviously if I was able to swim two Ironman distances last month, but that was over a course of am month in a training pool that did didn’t even get to 6 feet. So, you must see my dilemma. After I finish the swimming lessons, I’ll gauge my ability to survive in the open water (ha) and then go from there. In the meantime, I’ve registered for one 5k in April, and want to run the same 5k I ran in March of 2009 (my first one.) Maybe I will be ready this spring? Or perhaps it won’t be until the late summer/fall. Either way, I’ve re-opened this goal. (Oh, and I need to save for a bike – that’s rather important.)

There really must be something “in the air” lately. No, it’s not pollen or something tangible. I feel strangely errant and out of touch with everything around me.

Today was the last day of the challenge – I swam my last 1/2 mile & ran 3.1 miles. I must say that was a difficult last run because the wind was blowing and it was very cold (well, it was cold for Florida.) I’m proud of myself for completing the challenge and going beyond the expectation that I began with: to just finish one. Instead, I finished two: 4.83 miles of swimming, 224.6 miles of cycling and 52.5 miles ran. (I still cannot fathom how anyone could finish one Ironman in a day.) My body definitely feels a bit battered, but the funny thing is that I don’t want to stop. It helped to have a goal to reach (and I didn’t want to fail as I paid $28 to participate), so I am hoping I can remain just as motivated in February. I’d like to run the same 3k that I ran in March, 2009, but this time run a much better time.

So that’s my goal for February: train for my first 5k since September.

(The things I’ll remember most from this month: trying to learn how to clip in my new cycling shoes, the nasty taste of a Power Bar Protein Plus bar (eew), learning to run in the cold (my eyes would not stop watering), free impromptu swimming lessons at the pool, how swimming goggles make you look extremely goofy, learning that chlorine will heal ezcema, learning to push myself beyond what I thought were my limits, and the onset of nausea after you’ve been working out for two hours.)

Down to the wire, but I am on target to finish two triathlons in a month. I’m tired…haven’t taken a rest day since last Friday. My knees are screaming at me and my rear end is sore from sitting on different stationary bikes this week for miles & miles (I know, TMI.) All I need to do tomorrow is swim a half mile and run around 4 miles.

Back in town and day twenty four equaled 21.5 miles of cycling and 1450 yards of swimming. I’ve been trying to make my swimming more efficient but my underlying fear of the water keeps me from getting any faster. And what of a new addition to the family? I broke my January budget an purchased a pair of Shimano RD86 shoes for spinning. (And once I get a bike of my own I’ll be able to use these as well.) So no, I’m not pregnant (lol) – my “family” is my family of gym and sports gear. Oh, and I have a cat too.

Signing off for a night of relaxation.

I’m meeting up with my sister & niece this weekend in Orlando – leaving tomorrow afternoon. It will nice to get away, sans computers & my mundane life. I’m going to relax. It’s a requirement. (But the hotel does have a fitness center and I must log miles on Saturday. I can’t slack completely.)

I finished swimming requirement of 2.4 miles yesterday – this is cause for celebration, or for more swimming torture as I head back to the pool tomorrow to exceed the 2.4 miles. I finished last week with 93% of one triathlon. I’m behind on…cycling/spinning. So, you know what I will be catching up on this week.