JustSimply’s BodyBlog

It’s the "motto/slogan" of the Bulldog 50K.  I had the pleasure of doing the event this past weekend.  AWESOME event!!! If you live on the west coast and you are an ultra runner (I’ve seen posts so I know there are some here) you should really try this event.  It is held in Calabasas, CA at the Malibu Creek State Park.  This is a 2 loop course for the 50K.  You can also opt to do one loop (25K).  It is known for its challenging hill.  And I say hill as in only one (although there are some rolling hills also).  But the Bulldog Mountain is an awesome 4-mile climb of about 2500 ft. of elevation (not BHS…if you’ve done that one but still a good climb).  If you do the 50K you get to climb the Bulldog twice…sweet!!  This was my first year doing the event and I hear the weather was nice for this run … at least for the 1st loop.  It started to heat up during the 2nd loop but nothing extreme, unless you’re not from these parts . 

Just wanted to pass the word on for those ultra runners looking for a challenging but fun event….give this one a look.  http://www.trailrunevents.com/bd/index.htm

edit:  Forgot to ask…anyone doing Javelina this year?

Yes!!!! Sooo overdue.  I’m going home just for fun.  Last week was…hard.  Work, which is already busy, was crazy.  I worked through lunches, after hours and went in last night for a minute to get all ends neatly tied (don’t want to leave anyone with a mess when they are already so swamped). I only got 3 official workouts in.  But it’s over and I’m looking forward to this vacation.  My girlfriend is getting married and I’m ready for some relaxing fun afterward (busy helping before).  My sister has checked out the gym for me and we have our schedule set.  So except for the days of traveling (tomorrow and the 2nd) I shouldn’t miss a day. 

Also, I had my first Zumba class today.  I’m not really one for aerobic classes, but a friend kind of roped me into it.  It was so much fun and I could actually feel it in my abs and calves.  I was wandering if I was doing something wrong to feel it in my calves, but the instructor said no, we’re on our toes/balls of feet a lot so….I thought I had rhythm (and I DO…but I guess it’s slow rhythm..lol) but I need a little more to keep up with these classes.  Well, I’ll definitely go back.  Maybe twice a week.  Gotta try it if you haven’t.

Seems I making a little progress…nothing to write home about but it does spark excitement.  It appears this time around it’s a little easier.  The effort isn’t easier; I still don’t jump out of the bed in the morning or crave tuna. But I feel the process is easier, the worrying about "is it going to happen and when" is gone.  There have been recent blogs about the hard work ladies here have put into achieving their physiques.  It took more than desire but desire strong enough to fuel action and discipline.  And as one lady said you can’t complain about not looking like her if you’re not willing to eat, workout, rest, etc like her (paraphrased).  After reading about 3 different blogs like this I realized it’s all about reality based expectations.  I think I’ve finally made up my mind about what I want and what I’m willing to do.  And coming to that "place" makes it easier.  Facing the reality of the situation takes a ton of pressure off.  

I don’t envision being a size 4.  Not that a size 4 isn’t possible, but my dedication isn’t there to achieve or maintain it at this point.  I don’t envision being a size 6 by summer’s end.  But I do envision being a size 6 by the end of the year and I feel as if I can achieve that easily at just the pace I’m going now.  And this pace is doable for me. When I hit that "right" pace when I’m running I feel as if "I can go like this all day".  That’s where I am in my fitness now….jogging at "my pace" and yes, I’m totally convinced, I can do this all day….all day. 

I’m trying to get this plan together.  I almost feel like I’m making excuses…whining…and maybe I am (so feel free to call me on it).  I really want this weight down…or rather size…the actual “weight” means little; I want to look fit and have definition.  This means putting in time with the weights; that’s the only way to get the look I want.  But I also have Javelina100 coming up in October which I’ve also convinced my running partner to sign up for and this means putting in some serious time running. I claim my time, as a working single parent, is limited.  I usually get my workouts done in two sessions: a.m. and during lunch. 

The gym on the base (free membership for me) doesn’t open until 5 a.m. So I’m there from 5 – 6.  I go home to get ready and get to work about 7:15ish (and to make sure my son actually gets up for school).  I go to the gym again during my lunch break.  I do this M-F.  I have every other Friday off.  On ”off” Fridays my workouts are not a problem…I have the whole work day to get in whatever workout I need. 
Prior to 6 weeks ago, to build up my running endurance I ran in the a.m. and during lunch and then long runs on Saturdays.  I was then able to enter an event every couple of weeks to maintain.  My next possible event isn’t until August which means to maintain I have to put in some time running and I have to do it consistently.  But as I stated earlier to get the look I want I have to lift.  So this weekend I came up with a plan. 

I need to keep my weekday workouts to 1 hour or less due to schedules (aka work). I can give a good hour in the a.m. but really should limit my lunch workouts to about 35-40 minutes.  If I drop my running down to 3 days during the week and use the other 2 days for shorter aerobic workouts, I could complete my longer lifting workouts (lower body and chest days) in the a.m. For example on the days that I work lower body, I would lift in the morning and do maybe 30 - 40 minutes on the stepper at lunch.  Days that I work my shoulders, I could run 5 miles in the a.m.  The only problem is that I should be training for Javelina.  5 milers are good workouts, but when training for an ultra they are not so good.  I’ve convinced a friend to do the ultra also so I have to be ready.  

So why is this post just a possible excuse? Well, my son is 16…it’s not like he can’t be left alone.  I could possibly squeeze another hour of running after work on most days.  Also there is a 24- hour fitness in town that’s only like $30 bucks a month which would allow me to go to the gym from 4-6 in the a.m. and then I could still use the base gym at lunch.  But I feel like I spend ½ of my free time in the gym or on the trails already.  Sure I like it and yeah, it’s fun, but I’m not sure if I want all my free time to be this.  

I’ve kind of talked this out (or typed it out) for myself.  This is where the rubber meets the road.  I either want it bad enough ………or I don’t.

Yes, it’s been that long.  I’ve been missing in action, but I haven’t been idle.  I’ve had the opportunity to participate in 4 ultras this year and 1 marathon…so the year has been good so far.  The hardest was Calico’s 50K in January; nothing like a hilly trail ultra to wake me up to the reality of my fitness. I knew I had a busy schedule planned this year so I headed to the trails to cram some training.  Because I waited so late, was so out of shape for ultras and am already a "back of the pack" runner, my focus and most of my extra time was spent on running and not so much on weight lifting (and it shows…lost a little muscle definition…not that I had a lot). But it paid off. 

In April I was able to do two 50-milers, American River (AR50) April 4, and Leona Divide, April 18.  This was my first year doing AR; they said it was flat…."they" lied (lol).  When I got back home I asked if memories where dying with age??? It turns out that they meant flat "compared" (lol)…all things relative.  Leona was…Leona.  I had done it years ago and it was as hard and pretty as I remember.  It was hot this year, but otherwise just as I remembered.  The cut off for AR was 13 hours I finished just under 11:45.  Leona’s cutoff was 13 hrs and I finished right under 12:32.

This month I’ve managed to do the Wild Wild West trail marathon, May 2 (more of a training/time on my feet run). It was awesome; the prettiest run I’ve done to date.  I used this as my prep for Bishop’s 100K, May 16.  This was the first year they offered the 100K; they usually have a 20-miler, 50K and 50-miler.  This is always the toughest run for me…although I’ve yet to complete a 100 miler; attempted one…DNF (so my experience in the ultras are limited).  But I have a love/hate relationship with the Bishop run.  It is a hard course so I hate it; but because it’s hard I always feel great when I finish.  Bishop’s cutoff was 19 hours I finished under18:24. 

I have a gap between now and my next two runs (which are more training/time on my feet runs…next big "I want this" ultra isn’t until Halloween).  I’m hoping that I can use this time to get stronger and leaner.  Hauling all this weight I’m sure plays a part in it taking so long for me to complete these runs.  I’m not fast but I think about 10 lbs of fat loss and some added strength could only improve my fitness and therefore time. 

Well that’s the latest and greatest. And I’m still simply luving life.

Ruby

Wow, I just love this time of year. Cool air all day long, leaves falling in the yard, getting wood together for the fire place, Friday High School football games (love to cheer for my son) and Sunday football. (love to cheer for the ‘boys) ..what can better?  So here I am listening to India and Corrine, working at a nice productive pace (accept for this break to surf the site…I felt so good I had to share…lol). I’m enjoying life. 

After a pretty rough month, it seems that Fall is just what I needed to feel like my old self.  I still miss my mom,(it’s only been a month) but I accept that at least she’s pain free (working hard to get over the selfish "I want her here forever" thing).  I’ve also come to realize that I’ve ended up with a better vehicle than I had before the accident and didn’t have to acquire a car note to get it.  Although I never forgot how good life is, seems that things got too busy for me to appreciate that fact sometimes. 

But this time of the year makes me slow down and enjoy life…summer is such a busy time.  I think I’m of the mentality that as long as it’s daylight I should be doing "something" and the extended daylight during the late spring and summer just allows me to go, go, go.  Darkness says, "it’s time to be home".  The cool weather says "light the fireplace".  And football, no matter how exciting the game, is always a relaxing time.  Yeahhh Fall!!!!

Simply Luving Life

Wow, it has been a minute or at least it seems.  But I’m back and ready to get at it.  I should be in town at least thru November (woo hoo).  I missed logging workouts, checking progress pictures and reading blogs.  Got some catching up to do.

I had to go out of town unexpectedly last week.  I didn’t get back until late Tuesday night and I didn’t work out Wednesday…playing catchup.  I got in some 1/4 mile repeats for my cardio this a.m.  Now I have to go out of town next week on travel.  The hotel that we (co-workers and I) stay is nice but the gym is extremely small.  It only has aerobic equipment (3 pieces if my memory serves me correctly..lol).  Getting up early to run will not be a problem. The treadmill has always been available in the past if I go in about 5.  But I have to figure out what to do for strength workouts.  I think that if I take some 10 lb dumb bells I may be able to work something…maybe throw in some pushups and ab work..who knows.  I’ll think of something before Tuesday.

Well, this week I’ve started preparing for my 50K that’s coming up the 1st Sunday in December.  My best time in this particular event is 6:24 (2006).  It would be too cool to beat that this year.  My general game plan is MWF will be my easy run/walks (9&1’s), TuTH will be my tempo, hills, repeats, etc (harder) w/o and Sat I’ll cover my long runs.  Of course, there will be weeks that this will change but this is the basic structure.

So this week is about assessing where I am.  I’ve done two easy runs and a mile-repeart run.  I’m almost pleased.  I mean, if I had started about 3-4 weeks ago and this is where I was, I would be please.  But that’s not the case.  I figure I’m about 3-4 weeks behind the curve.  I’m cool with it.  I mean if I don’t beat the time this yr, nothing drastic happens.  15 weeks (from Sunday coming up) is right around the corner, but it’s also just long enough to burn out if I push too hard.  If I increase my pace at the normal "take it up a notch" rate, I will just hit one 20-miler before my event and that really is border line.  But who knows.  I did my mile repeats yesterday at an easy pace (assessing) and my 9&1’s I can take up a notch also and still be comfortable.  I’ll have to see where I am with my tempo and/or hill repeats tomorrow (leaning toward tempo).  And then this weekend I’m going to have to find some time to get me a rough plan together depicting where I can possible be pace and distance wise at every given week. 

I’m all excited; it feels really good to be planning/training for a run again.  I haven’t done any events since December 2007.  This 50K was the only event in 2007 and I didn’t train for it at all.  I just wanted to get my "five-year finisher" sweatshirt and my time reflected that mentality.  But I was pleased to just finish…that and to see the look on the faces of those who knew I had not trained.

Well, it’s time to start training for my annual local ultra.  The run is the 1st Sunday in December and I would like to beat my best time of 6:24.  Close to 6 would be great.  I am trying to figure out how I can merge this in with weight training considering my time constriants.  One of the reasons I train in the a.m. and during lunch is because that’s the only time I really have.  I’m not worried about my long runs.  Saturday mornings are good for that.  But I need to squeeze some good mid distance tempo runs in during the week. 

One of the options is to do weights MWF, run two-a-days (1-hour)Tues/Thurs and then my long run on Saturdays.  Another option is to run in the a.m (the only time I know I can get the tread for an hour), but I can do 5 1-hour runs (or whatever is needed) and then do weights during lunch.  I like this option because it allows time for me to do tempos, repeats, hills, whatever and be consistent with the running.  But my lunch is iffy sometimes.  I normally can count on 3 days but sometimes it’s so busy at work….. No matter which option I choose the lunch workout is not always a sure thing.  I have to decide if I want to take that chance with weights or running.

Well, I guess I better decide quickly.  Tomorrow’s work out is only a few hours a way.  Gotta go pack meals and clothes…AND get some sleep.