Roni's Weigh » Running

Marathon Training Schedule Starts Monday!

roni — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:52:03 +0000

I always feel like I have to start these kinds of posts with a bit of a history lesson. I know if I saw some running lunatic post a training schedule like this I’d assume there were always an athlete. At least naturally active and would never suspect they had body image issues or have ever wanted or needed to lose weight. So for long time readers please skip over this link history. New readers… just know if you asked me 2 years ago if I would ever run or want to run a marathon I’d say maybe, 5 years ago I’d say you were crazy and 10 years ago I’d say you were freakin’ lunatic for even asking such a ridiculous question.

Some of you may not know but I was NOT an exerciser and I lost weight by just mostly "staying active" and a lot of that was dancing around my house like a nut-ball.
Then I started Thinking About It which led to me actually joining a gym and declaring myself a gym rat soon followed.
Then a friend put the running bug in my ear. (Re-reading the end of that post is exactly how I felt when I started running)
I ran my first 5k run on a treadmill and I nearly died from shock.
Then I took my running outside and even the toddler was impressed. :)
After my first 5K event I was hooked!
Then I found the Nike+ and fell in love!
Soon I was training for a relay in the Baltimore Marathon Relay
My first 40 minute run was a milestone.
Then someone called me Racing Roni and it made me examine at where I came from.
In 2008’s Marathon I ran 6 miles was SO amazing I decided to take a leap and sign up for the 2009 Marathon!
With some training I ran the 10 mile Cherry Blossom and my first ever half marathon!
My training was far from perfect but I managed to get in a few long runs like 12 miles in Chicago, 15 miles a few weeks ago and my most recent 20 mile run.
Then I crossed the finish line of my very first marathon!
Determined to keep running a part of my life, I set a goal of running 1 even a month in 2010.

After getting some wonderful feedback when I posted about registering for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon I edited my initial training thoughts. This is what I came up with. I’m not going to lie.. I’m scared to death! But I’m also looking forward to it. It’s not about losing/maintaining weight or getting to a specific size it’s about seeing what my body is capable of. For the first time in my life I actually feel like an athlete and that’s a complete head trip for me. It’s unbelievable, yet here I am posting this.

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
08/02 to 08/08	Rest	3 mi + WT	3 mi + WT	Rest	5k	Rest	6 mi
08/02 to 08/08				traveling	@ conf	@ conf	traveling
08/09 to 08/15	Rest	3 mi + WT	3 mi + WT	Rest	3 mi	Rest	7 mi
08/09 to 08/15						traveling	traveling
08/16 to 08/22	Rest	3 mi	4 mi	Rest	5 mi	Rest	5 mi
08/16 to 08/22	traveling	traveling	traveling	traveling	traveling	traveling
08/23 to 08/29	Rest	3 mi + WT	3 mi + WT	Rest	5 mi	*5k	9 mi
08/23 to 08/29
08/30 to 09/05	Rest	3 mi + WT	3 mi + WT	Rest	5 mi	BC	10 mi
08/30 to 09/05
09/06 to 09/12	Rest	3 mi + WT	6 mi + WT	Rest	5 mi	BC	7 mi
09/06 to 09/12
09/13 to 09/19	Rest	3 mi + WT	3 mi + WT	Rest	6 mi	BC	*HALF
09/13 to 09/19
09/20 to 09/26	Rest	3 mi + WT	6 mi + WT	Rest	6 mi	BC	12 mi
09/20 to 09/26
09/27 to 10/03	Rest	3 mi + WT	6 mi + WT	Rest	7 mi	BC	10 mi
09/27 to 10/03
10/04 to 10/10	Rest	3 mi + WT	6 mi + WT	Rest	7 mi	*5K	15 mi
10/04 to 10/10
10/11 to 10/17	Rest	3 mi + WT	6 mi + WT	Rest	8 mi	BC	16 mi
10/11 to 10/17
10/18 to 10/24	Rest	3 mi + WT	6 mi + WT	Rest	8 mi	BC	12 mi
10/18 to 10/24
10/25 to 10/31	Rest	3 mi + WT	6 mi + WT	Rest	9 mi	BC	18 mi
10/25 to 10/31
11/01 to 11/07	Rest	3 mi + WT	6 mi + WT	Rest	9 mi	BC	14 mi
11/01 to 11/07
11/08 to 11/14	Rest	3 mi + WT	6 mi + WT	Rest	10 mi	BC	20 mi
11/08 to 11/14
11/15 to 11/21	Rest	3 mi + WT	6 mi + WT	Rest	8 mi	BC	*PHL 1/2
11/15 to 11/21
11/22 to 11/28	Rest	3 mi + WT	6 mi + WT	Rest	6 mi	BC	8 mi
11/22 to 11/28				turkey
11/29 to 12/5	Rest	3 mi + WT	3 mi	2 mi	Rest	Rest	ROCK n ROLL
11/29 to 12/5							ROCK n ROLL

mi = Miles
WT = Weight Training
BC = Boot Camp Class
All *bolded items are events I’m running. Details can be found on my 2010 Running Goals page
Note: Will be making an effort to go to 1 yoga class a week as my schedule allows. I will add them in when I do as well as adding check marks for completed workouts.

Let the running begin! :~)

Ask Roni: Is Running Enough?

roni — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 01:36:03 +0000

Sometimes I get into some pretty interesting conversations in email. This one all started with a question Brandi left on my A 5th Birthday 7 Mile Family Filled Weekend post last week…

When you run 2 or 3 miles in the AM is that your only workout that day?? I have just started running, I have completed 2 5K’s and I can run up to 5 miles. My pace is slow. I can run at a 5.5 to 5.7 on the treadmill. I just wonder if that is a good enough workout for me?? I feel like I need more cardio or something after I do only 2 to 3 miles? I have at least 35 more lbs to lose.

Hi Brandi – I usually run 2-3 and then do weights. In my opinion that is more beneficial then cardio-ing yourself to death.

I also don’t wonder if my workouts are "good enough" I do what I can when I can and that’s all. Once I cross the line into that type of thinking (like I have to do something or minimums or whatever) it’s not fun anymore. Again.. that’s just me.

Are you weight training at all?

I have just started to weight train. I say weight train, but I am not sure really what that means. I have started doing some of the weight machines at our local YMCA. In the past I have felt like I have "this much time" away from my family so I have always concentrated on cardio. But my weight isn’t coming off as fast anymore. I heard adding weight training will help me build more muscles which will help me burn more calories when I am doing my cardio. I have almost hit the 60lbs lost, but I still have a long way to go on my weight loss. I am still just above the 200lbs mark and I want so badly to be under 200lbs.

I would love any advice you can give someone like me. I love your blog, I found it right when I started my weight loss journey about a year and half ago. I do weight watchers, I don’t go to the meetings but a friend and I hold each other accountable. We have started to run together which makes the runs so much nicer!!!

I really enjoy running!! I am not real fast but I know I am increasing my time slowly.

Thanks for emailing me back so quickly. And…I like your new haircut!

Thanks!

Well you are weight training! I started on those machines too. Here’s the way I look at it… Cardio is good. It’s raw calorie burn but you can easily counteract that with what? 1 stinking cookie??

However, weight training has a more long term effect. You build more muscle and you will naturally burn more calories all the time. Not just at the time of the activity. Not to mention some of the side effects I experienced with weight trainings is more strength, confidence, muscle tone and a better body image.

Of course both is recommended and I’m not a trainer so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Now, when it comes to weight loss I’ll say this until my dying day… It’s more about what you eat then your workouts. At least that’s been my experience. Many will probably disagree but working out or not if I’m on point (pun intended) with my food choices the scale starts to budge.

I hope that helps.

For almost a year now I have felt like I have the working out down pat. It is routine now and I really enjoy doing it. My eating has always been an issue. I am so much better about eating whole grains, vegetables, drinking my water, and really watching what I eat. But I know this is my down fall. The holidays, the parties, the celebrations —- that is where I fail every time. But I also know if I can’t learn to make better decisions I will never reach my goal! I have enjoyed emailing you so much! Thank you so much! I know you have been there and I know you understand where I am standing today. I do have one more questions. How often would you suggest a person weight train? Does a Core/Strengthening class count as weight training?

Brandi,

That is where I fail as well. It’s always been about my "diet" and I mean that the true sense of the word as "what I eat" or rather for me how MUCH I eat.

As for weight training anything where you are providing your muscles "resistance" is considered weight training, I believe. So any class called Core/Strengthening would probably fit the bill. I shoot for 3 days a week which is a common recommendation. I also try to mix it with cardio. For example, I’ll run 2 miles and then do 45 minutes of weights. That’s just over an hour workout so I don’t have to spend too much time at the gym.

According to the ACSM… "Do vigorously intense cardio 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week 8 to 10 strength-training exercises, eight to 12 repetitions of each exercise twice a week."

You got the cardio down. Now I’d just mix in 1 day of lower body machines and 1 day of upper body machines. That’s pretty much how I started. Oh! and I also try to vary the cardio now and then too. Try a spinning class or step. It could help your running too!

I stand by my philosophy that once it (all of it, exercise/eating) feels like work you won’t do it. So find a class you like that incorporates resistance or a friend that will brave the free weight room with you. I befriended a trainer. Best thing I ever did. ;) But in all seriousness don’t overwhelm yourself with a rigid schedule. Do what you can when you can. I just lifted weights for the first time today after a 2 week hiatus. Life happens. Do your best. And remember it’s your day to day choices that matter more then sticking to some program or plan religiously.

Again, hope that helps!!

— Does anyone else have any other advice for Brandi? Do you consider a morning run workout enough? How do feel about weight training?

Ask Roni _v33s1 Nighttime snacking, My Running, Not Losing Weight?

roni — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:39:21 +0000

Trying to get back into the swing of video/podcasts! I recorded 2 a few days ago and hope to get back on a regular schedule after this summer. Sorry for my long winded intro about my hair. I think I’m finally used to it. ;)

Topics included in this video/podcast…

Curbing Nighttime Snacking
My running habits
Why am I not losing weight?

Podcast Version (Audio Only)

Links mentioned in the video…

This Mornings Run: When will I learn?

roni — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:40:06 +0000

Chart taken from Nike+ web site after sync. Click here to see how I did it.

Here’s my mini recap…

It took a lot to get me out of the door this morning.
I wanted to break out of the 2 mile rut I’ve been in. (haven’t run much past that in a few weeks)
Set the Nike+ to 4 miles.
Ran the first two and then walked for a minute while I decided if I should simply turn around and go back or take the long way and face the… dun dun dun… hills.
I decide to take the hills. Mostly because I don’t feel like turning around.
Hills were killer! Had to stop and walk one of them.
Post hills I slowed down again. Maybe this was the wrong decision?!?
Naaaa I’m almost there. Let’s kick up it a notch.
Arrived back home, out of breath and feeling like a MILLION BUCKS!
I learn yet again… You never regret a run. Ever.

Ask Roni_v32s2 – Running before losing, Falling of the Wagon, Regular Slip Ups, Learning to Run

roni — Sat, 29 May 2010 00:22:17 +0000

FINALLY! Sorry for the delay. I recorded this a few weeks back and finally carved out a few hours to prep it and upload before heading hitting the open road towards Disney. I’m happily and weirdly saying that this will be my last video…. with HAIR! ;)

Topics in this video include…

Running before Losing the Weight
Have I ever Fallen off the Wagon – A kick in the butt for those that lost motivation.
Strategies for Dealing with Slip Ups
How to Start Running

Podcast Version (Audio Only)

Links mentioned in the video…

Can you run/walk/stroll 5k?

roni — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 03:20:55 +0000

For those that don’t know, 5k is just over 3 miles. It’s sounds so far doesn’t it?

3 miles.

Let’s see… that’s….

12 laps around a standard track
5,280 yards
15,840 feet
190,080 inches
less then 1/8th of a marathon (which means I ran 8 – 5ks in a row when I ran the marathon? Yikes!)
Visiting NY anytime soon? It’s about the distance from Penn Station to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. (MAN I would like to walk that this summer :)

If you would have asked me if I could run 3 miles a few years ago I would have said you were crazy. But I tried it on the treadmil. Then I ran my first 5K event. Then 6 miles. Then 10. My first half. And finally a whole freakin’ full marathon!

I hit a few walls on the way…

First there was overcoming the "I’m not a runner" wall.
Then there was the "I can’t run outside" wall.
I then ran right through the "event" wall. That’s when I got hooked. The energy of an organized running event is SO contagious. After that first 5K I knew I wanted to do it again. I almost immediately signed up for a relay in the Baltimore Marathon.
There was also the "running on vacation" wall.
Then I broke the "40 minute" wall. Soon my next event… longest run at that point, 6 miles.
The "others see you as a runner" wall was a strange one for me.
I even ran right through the "running in the cold" wall.
Last year there was the "am I really an Athlete" wall. I really didn’t think I would be able to progress past 3-4 miles and then I was able to run 9 miles, alone, in the rain, not to mention 20 miles on my own when my marathon training tanked.

It’s amazing what you can accomplish just by taking the first step and that’s what this question of the week is all about. Are you willing to take that step. Do you believe you can really do it?

I think you can and Tony the Anti Jared has come up with a great idea to get you started!

The RoniTony 5K for Kids Event!

It’s a informal commitment to run/walk/crawl/whatever a 5k on Sunday May 23. We will be putting up a Paypal account to accept donations for Action For Healthy Kids and hope you would consider not only participating but helping a worthy cause as well.

So what do you think? Can you run/walk/stroll 5k? Are you willing to take that first step with Tony and I on May 23rd?

My 2010 Running Goals

roni — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:16:32 +0000

My running history starts with my first 5k attempt on the treadmill and pretty much ends at my recent marathon experience. It’s been an insane, confidence building 18 months but sometimes I still have a hard time calling myself . . . dun. . dun. . dun. . . a runner.

Me?

A runner.

HA!

It still cracks me up. Especially considering what people have told me. :)

Anyway, what I’ve learned about myself is that I need a reason. A goal. An event. SOMETHING to motivate me. I’m like this with a lot of things. It’s one of the reasons I agree with many who say weight maintenance is harder then weight loss. While losing I had a goal. I can track my progress as I worked towards that goal. However, in maintenance my goal is to stay the same. There is no progress to track or finish line to cross. It’s just not as motivating. For me, anyway.

Right now I feel like I’m in the maintenance stage of running. I set my running goals for the 2009 here. I reached those goals. Now what do I do?

Well. . . set more goals of course! It’s the only thing that keeps me going.

This year I’m not going for distance as much as consistency. My plan is to run at least 1 organized event a month. That can’t be too hard, can it?

Naaaaaa

Here’s what I registered for so far. . .

Jan

Already Ran the 5k Resolution Run :)
Time: 30:02

February

2010 Superbowl 5K
Sunday, February 07, 2010 @ 10:00 AM
Canceled due to snow. :(

June

Survivor Harbor 7
Sunday, June 13, 2010 @ 8:00 AM
Time: 68:10 – Click here to read a short recap – I have one word for this race.. HOT

July

Salvation Army ‘Christmas in July’ 5K Boardwalk Run & Fun Walk
Sunday, July 18, 2010 @ 8:00 AM
Registered? YES! I’ll be running this one with JenIRL while on vacation!

August

Adventure Quencher: Baltimore
Saturday, August 28, 2010 @ 8:00 AM
Registered? YES!! Excited about this one.. Small change from a traditional 5k!

September

Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon
Sunday, September 19, 2010 @ 7:30 AM
Registered? YES! But I’m not sure how i’m getting there yet! ;)

October

Celebrate Your Style 5k Race
Saturday, October 09, 2010 @ 9:00 AM
Registered? YES!

November

Philadelphia Half Marathon
Sunday, November 21, 2010, 7:00 AM
Registered? YES!

December

THE FINALE!!!

The Las Vegas Rock ‘n Roll FULL MARATHON!
What can I say? I wanted to end the year with a bang.
I’ll be back to link all the other bloggers that I know are running this event. There’s tons! I’ll also be back with training info shortly.

Anyone else set some running goals this year?

I’m a Marathoner!

roni — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 03:26:12 +0000

ME?!? I can’t believe it. I did it! It was hard. It was wonderful. It was tortuous. It was emotional. It was crampy. It was freakin’ FANTASTIC.

NOT because I had the best time or the fastest run but because I did it. I did the best I could. I set a goal and I achieved it. Was I perfect? Nope. Just look at my training schedule that fell apart. Geesh I only ran 4 times in the last month!

BUT…

I didn’t use my new job, or moving or the death of my Dad as an excuse. I could have, believe me, I thought about it. But that’s what "Old Roni" would have done. You know, the "Oh, I had a piece of cake, might as well give up on eating healthy" mentality. Yeah that was "Old Roni". "New Roni" knows there is no such thing as perfection. There are just goals, choices and experiences.

Goal: Run a marathon
Choices: Set a training schedule. Did what I could when I could.
Experience: I ran a FREAKIN’ MARATHON!!!

Sorry I didn’t mean to get all preachy there. You know me, I’m always over analyzing. ;) Let me get to this Marathon! I did tweet the entire race. So I have a great pictorial journal. I’m gonna post some of those in order and mix in a few other memories in between. :)

Here’s the little guy and I walking from the parking lot. We got there, parked and enough time for a nice stroll to the start.

It’s a little blurry but here I am at the starting line.

This is when I realized my Nike+ was not working. I was, of course pissed, but hey, what am I gonna do? I had a marathon to run! So I put on the music and set off!

A few seconds in I saw the family and they snapped this great shot.

The first 5 miles I was feeling pretty good. It was all uphill and my time was spot on.

Mile 8 and still feeling great! :)

Around mile 11.5 I took a pee break. ;~P

Between 8 and 12 a few things happened. My iPod went wacky. First the Nike+ and then the iPod. All my gadgets totally failed me. lol

I also took a short walk break around 10 and saw the jump roper. Yes, you heard me, the jump rope marathoner. He was on 9 when I was on 12, I think. I love the people who do crazy stuff during races. They make it so much FUN!

Soon I saw this…

HALF WAY WHOOO HOO! and time to see the family. I knew they would be around somewhere and they were…

My Step Father snapped that. I gave everyone a big hug and a kiss. A few steps later I saw my friend and her Fiance. It was AWESOME to have so much support (not to mention you guys) :)

Around mile 15.5 I was starting to get REALLY crampy. I stopped a few times to stretch and snapped a few photos. I was in a very familiar part of the city and it was a nice, relatively flat part of the run.

Mile 17 my legs were failing. That’s really what I mean when I say crampy. To be honest I felt fantastic. I had loads of energy. I was hydrated. I was loving it (even without the music) but my legs were just not prepared for the distance. I mean I knew this was going to happen. I really wasn’t physically prepared for the milage. This is when I wished I did have more time to train.

Then I saw a women walking backwards after a water stop and I thought that was genius! It gave my hamstrings a much needed rest while still making forward progression. Well.. backward progression… well.. I mean progression. ;~P Anyway that’s when I snapped this…

Around mile 18 I saw this and I just had to say.. DUH?!?

Mile 19 I was feeling good. My legs were shot but I was ecstatic as I approached the last quarter of the run.

Here’s my time at 20.

At this point I knew most of the big hills were behind me so I was feeling really good even though my legs were NOT liking me at all. I don’t think I’ve ever been as sore during a run as I was the last 6 miles of this race.

The next 5 miles were pretty much hell. I trotted when I could then walked stretched and tried to trot again. I found energy in cheering others on and getting cheered on. Let me tell you if you EVER run in a race, ANY race. Wear you name on your shirt. People are AMAZINGLY supportive. People I didn’t know cheering me on with encouraging words made a HUGE difference. I would get motivated and give a few encouraging words to those around me that were also struggling. This is when I started to get emotional. And let me tell you holding back tears while running your 22-24 mile is not fun. It was the only time I felt out of breath. So I had to hold it back.

Then I saw this..

OMG the LAST mile. All of a sudden I wasn’t emotional. I was in a state of shock. I was going to do this. I was REALLY going to do this!

That whole last mile I ran. Well I "trotted" not stopping to walk once. Then I saw my friend again and she gave me a TOTALY boost. Then I saw the family…

…and I was ecstatic. I almost broke down again and the family had to remind me to keep running to the finish line.

To be honest, crossing the actual finish was a little anticlimactic. Maybe I was a little late but no one seemed to be cheering and since I already passed my family and friends I sort of just crossed alone and then tried to find them. But not without grabbing my medal and asking someone to snap a quick photo…

Afterwards I hooked back up with the family all I wanted to do was sit. So sit I did. :)

Then I did quite possibly the smartest thing ever. I put on the comfy slippers I asked the husband to keep in his bag.

Besides putting your name on your shirt this is my second biggest piece of advice… bring comfy flip flops or slippers. You have no idea how many people stopped me on the way back to the car wishing they did the same.

As a celebratory meal I had to pay homage to Baltimore and choose a crab cake. Not only any crab cake but the best crab cake in Baltimore. Seriously if you are every in Baltimore you must try a Koco’s carb cake. It’s a bit pricey but totally worth it!

All in all it was an AWESOME day. I did what I set out to do. I got to celebrate with my family. I came home and took the most awesome bubble bath ever. Even watched a cheesy horror flick with mom after putting the kids to bed. A perfect ending to a perfect day. Now I’m off to get some sleep. Tomorrow is Maize Quest day. A long standing family tradition! :)

Oh but first! Here’s my official race stats.

oh and one more thing then I’m done I SWEAR! I added this to my shirt this morning…

If you haven’t seen Operational Beautiful please go check it out. A few people asked me about it on the run and I met others who wished there was a similar movement when they were kids. It’s really a powerful movement.

OK, I got to go. Good night and thank you ALL for the kind words and encouragement. You have NO idea how much they mean to me and seriously how much they helped me get across that finish line. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Marathon Mania! (history, mix, map, and twitter!)

roni — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:29:50 +0000

Today I’m off to pick up my race pack. I can’t believe the BIG day is so close. I can’t believe I, the girl that "can’t run", will be attempting my first marathon in 2 short days.

BAH!

What do I mean "attempt"… Let me rephrase that…

I can’t believe I will be running my first marathon!

Before I go into any details I thought it would be fun to take a trip down memory lane. Being so new to running my entire running history is here online. Side note: another reason why I LOVE blogging. So easy to "go back in time." :)

It all started with just a thought. Some of you may not know but I was NOT an exerciser and I lost weight by just mostly "staying active" and a lot of that was dancing around my house like a nut-ball.
Then I started Thinking About It which led to me actually joining a gym and declaring myself a gym rat soon followed.
Then a friend put the running bug in my ear. (Re-reading the end of that post is exactly how I felt when I started running)
I ran my first 5k run on a treadmill and I nearly died from shock.
Then I took my running outside and even the toddler was impressed. :)
After my first 5K event I was hooked!
Then I found the Nike+ and fell in love!
Soon I was training for a relay in the Baltimore Marathon (last years)
My first 40 minute run was a milestone.
Then someone called me Racing Roni and it made me examine at where I came from.
Last years Marathon where I ran 6 miles was SO amazing I was already considering sighing up for the whole thing for this year. Which I did before the end of the year.
With some training I ran the 10 mile Cherry Blossom and my first ever half marathon!
My training was far from perfect but I managed to get in a few long runs like 12 miles in Chicago, 15 miles a few weeks ago and my most recent 20 mile run.

Wow that was a trip. I ran that first 5K exactly a year and half ago and here I am writing about preparing for my first FULL marathon.

OK on to the details!

Here’s the map (click on if for the full pdf) of the run.

I’m totally psyched to run through Baltimore. I’ve lived in the area for 9 years now and it really does feel like home. :)

I’ll be wearing this shirt…

It was inspired by a commenter (I can’t find it.) Many people have told me to have your name visible so spectators can cheer you on. I have no shame so I took it literally. :)

Next, my running mix. Many of the songs I shared before but here is exactly 5 and half hours of music. I’m hoping to finish in that time! (remember some are explicit – consider yourself warned)

One by Metallica 7:27
Blackened by Metallica 6:41
Eye of the Beholder by by Metallica 6:30
Iron Man by Black Sabbath 5:54
Three Little Pigs by Green Jelly 5:54
Faget by Korn 5:50
Sweating Bullets by Megadeth 5:27
Walk by Pantera 5:15
Uprising by Muse 5:05
Awake by Godsmack 5:04
I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas 4:49
We Didn’t Start The Fire by Billy Joel 4:49
Firestarter by The Prodigy 4:41
Let’s Go Crazy by Prince 4:39
Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John 4:39
Welcome To The Jungle by Guns N’ Roses 4:34
Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But… by Arctic Monkeys 4:31
Ball Tongue by Korn 4:29
More Human Than Human by White Zombie 4:29
I Go To Extremes by Billy Joel 4:24
Ramble On by Led Zeppelin 4:23
The Rat by The Walkmen 4:22
Barracuda Heart by 4:22
Feel the Pain by Dinosaur Jr. 4:18
Fit But You Know It by The Streets 4:12
Bread & Water by Ryan Bingham 4:07
Symphony of Destruction by Megadeth 4:07
Judith by A Perfect Circle 4:04
I Can’t Do This by Plumb 4:03
Sexy Back by Justin Timberlake 4:03
Unsung by Helmet 3:57
Mouth For War by Pantera 3:56
Only The Good Die Young by Billy Joel 3:55
Thunder Kiss ‘65 White Zombie 3:54
Bulls On Parade by Rage Against The Machine 3:51
Mr. Brownstone by Guns N’ Roses 3:49
If I’m a Man by Burning Brides 3:42
What You Waiting For? by Gwen Stefani 3:41
My Michelle by Guns N’ Roses 3:40
Anxiety by Black Eyed Peas 3:38
So What’cha Want by The Beastie Boys 3:37
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa by Vampire Weekend 3:35
Quitter by The Toadies 3:34
Chop Suey by System Of A Down 3:30
Last Caress / Green Hell by Metallica 3:30
Keep the Car Running by Arcade Fire 3:29
I’m Not Like Everybody Else The Kinks 3:28
Paralyzer by Finger Eleven 3:28
Handlebars by Flobots 3:27
Whatever by Godsmack 3:26
Guerilla Radio by Rage Against the Machine 3:26
Violet by Hole 3:24
Sex On Fire> by Kings of Leon 3:23
Higher Ground by Red Hot Chili Peppers 3:22
Pump It Up by Elvis Costello 3:18
Flathead by The Fratellis 3:17
Heart Full of Black by Burning Brides 3:16
Jesus Walks by Kanye West 3:14
Wrong by Depeche Mode 3:14
Crash Course In Brain Surgery by Metallica 3:10
Graduate by Third Eye Blind 3:10
I Wanna Be Your Dog by The Stooges 3:10
Carbon Monoxide by Cake 3:10
I’m Not Okay (I Promise) by My Chemical Romance 3:09
Mad World by Michael Andrews & Gary Jules 3:08
Breed by Nirvana 3:04
Killing in the Name Of by Rage Against the Machine 3:00
Sabotage by The Beastie Boys 3:00
Crazy by Gnarls Barkley 2:58
When Worlds Collide by Powerman 5000 2:58
Divine by Korn 2:51
Come On by The Panderers 2:49
Fucking Hostile by Pantera 2:49
Paranoid by Black Sabbath 2:48
Break Stuff by Limp Bizkit 2:47
Molly’s Chambers by Kings of Leon 2:47
Bleed It Out by Linkin Park 2:44
Everything Sucks by Reel Big Fish 2:41
Run (I’m a Natural Disaster) by Gnarls Barkley 2:40
Gloria by Van Morrison 2:38
I’m Shipping Up to Boston by Dropkick Murphys 2:34
Straight Veruca Salt 2:32
Velvet by The Toadies 2:30
A-Punk by Vampire Weekend 2:18
Gutless by Hole 2:15
Where Eagles Dare by The Misfits 2:08
Bulldog by Tracy Bonham 2:06
Shimmy by System Of A Down 1:51
United States of Whatever by Liam Lynch 1:29
Chinese Bombs by Blur 1:25
Go, Go, Go by by The Backyardigans 1:18

Notice the entire mix is in order from longest to shorted song. I though it would be fun and keep me going. I like playing mind tricks on myself. :)

Finally, twitter. I plan on tweeting through out the day and yes mid-run. I can’t promise an update every mile but I’m gonna want to take a few breaks and I know I’ll see some things I’ll want to share. So if you want to follow along follow me @RoniNoone. Oh! I’ll also be shooting the same updates to FaceBook.

This will probably be my last post until the BIG day. Wish me luck! I got to run, pick up my bib number and head to work! Have a good one!

“Now you just have to do that Twice”

roni — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:03:41 +0000

That’s what the husband says to me after returning from my morning run. It wasn’t just any morning run. It was a 13 mile morning run. Half of what I’ll be doing on October 10 for the Baltimore Marathon. Ya gotta love sarcastic husbands who say such things from the bed they haven’t gotten out of yet after you return from moving non-stop for 2.5 hours. (side note: husband just informed me he wasn’t be sarcastic he was merely stating fact. Nice right? lmao)

Chart extracted from the Nike+

I ate gonna lie… it was HARD. This was the longest I’ve run since my first and only half marathon this spring. I should be at higher distances at this point in my training but with everything going on I’m doing what I can when I can.

Before I get into the run let me tell you about my new running partner, the Ultimate Direction Fastdraw Plus water bottle. Now I’ve never carried water on a run. I’m not sure why? I guess it’s because I started with such short distances and have been building them up?? Dunno. I just never felt like carrying anything and the thought of something around my waist or on my back kind of freaks me out.

Anyway, I inquired at the running store about options and the sales women recommended this. At first I was like, "why don’t I just carry a bottle?" but then I tried it. I love the fact that it’s attached to your hand and you still have control over your fingers. It’s really simple but super easy. I switch it from hand to hand while running every mile or so just to mix it up.

So equipped with my water I head out this morning. The first 4 miles or so was ok. I felt pretty good. I’m still getting over that weird bug I had mid week so my head was a little stuffy but running-wise I was fine.

I was running on a major route here in Baltimore County that happens to be side-walked for quite a distance and just about 5 miles in I was passing a Wal-Mart. By this time I had to pee. I SWEAR ever since having a kid my bladder just ain’t what it used to be. So I headed in and used the restroom.

I also happen to pass 2 McDonald’s on this particular stretch of run and I decided to stop at the second to fill up the water bottle. I was drinking a lot as I already felt a bit dehydrated and the sun was beating me down the entire time.

By mile 9, I was hurting. My knee was starting to ache. My abs were getting sore. And my head couldn’t stop focusing on how much further I had to go. It was about this time I started to take some short walking breaks. Then I realized I could speed walk a bit. You know, increase my stride and swing my arms.

At first I was a little disappointed with myself and then I realized something. I’m still moving! Walking is NOT quitting. I’m moving forward, I’m making progress. AND I’m enjoying it. I had fun the last few miles alternating between a speed walk and a jog. Plus who really cares how I finish 13 miles? I covered 13 miles on foot and I did it just over 2.5 hours by myself AND I felt great!

I made one more stop around mile 11 to fill up my water bottle at a Starbucks (they were super nice as I had to ask for them to do it for me) and I actually ran the last quarter mile back home.

Even after my awesome run today I am still terrified about the marathon because the husband is right. I have to do what I did twice and the thought of that totally.freaks.me.out.