Tips for a Wanna-Be Long Distance Runner

As I said in a previous post, long distance running is just not my thing. I've been trying to iron out some of the kinks that prevent me from getting the distance I desire. The first thing I had to do was decide what my problems were and go from there.

I've been doing a lot of trial and error things lately and I think I've found a few things that work pretty well. I hope one or two of these tips can aid in getting you underway to beating the long distance rut!

1. Make it interesting. One of my biggest problems is boredom. Running outside is a little easier to get distracted by the run because of the scenery around. Going down different streets and getting somewhat lost totally helps with passing the time. As for running on the treadmill - that's where the boredom kicks in. Try people watching. Basically just look around and (i know this is bad) judge what people are doing. Make up stories about them in your head, look how ridiculous they're shirt looks. Maybe even envy their fresh new Nikes. Anything to get the run off your mind a bit.

2. Create a killer playlist. I don't know about you, but when I'm down to crappy playlists that I've had forever, it definitely puts a damper on my run. I'm unmotivated, I don't want to be there and I find myself being okay with running a little less that day because my song choices are just not up to par. Spend some time before you hit the gym making a playlist that's going to make you want to keep going.

3. Run for time, not distance. I know this seems like a bit of contradiction because I'm supposedly giving you tricks to go a longer distance. However, If you're constantly focusing on how far you've gone you may get a little discouraged. Instead, say to yourself, "Today I'm going to run for 15 minutes at ___ mph." Don't look at the mileage until those 15 minutes are done. If you're still not satisfied after the 15 minutes, say "I'm going to run for 7 more minutes at the same pace". You'll be surprised with how far you can go with a little goal setting.

4. Gradually increase your time and speed. Try doing a day-by-day schedule. If you're just starting out, maybe decide that Monday you'll run at a speed of 5.5 for 15 minutes. Tuesday push that to 17.5 minutes, and then Wednesday maybe to 20 minutes. After increasing the time, stay at that time and increase the speed. By gradually doing this, you'll be setting goals day by day and meeting them as you make them. Make sure not to set goals that are too unrealistic.

5. Run the length of songs. This is one I just tried the other day. It's basically one step up from tip #3 ties in with tip #2. Rather than running for time, run for the length of songs. So, for example, run 3 songs lengths at 7.0, 2 songs at 7.5, one song at 8, then 2 songs at 6.5. You'll be really surprised at how far you've ran when you're focusing on the songs rather than the length or time you've ran.

6. Try not to get discouraged. This is a big one for me. I often get something in my head and automatically either want it so bad (when it comes to clothes, shoes or food) or want to achieve it right away if it's a goal. You have to remember that things like this do not just happen over night. You can't wake up one day and say, "Hey! You now what? After not training one single day, I'm going to run a marathon today!" Great goal, don't get me wrong, but things like that take time and effort to achieve. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day.

These things have really been helping me lately and I hope it gives you some inspiration to try them out and start succeeding in getting past the wanna-be stage and into the "I AM" stage. I'm personally still in the wanna-be stage, but patience is a virtue!

Here's a song to jump start that killer playlist!

What are some of your workout/running tips?

One Year

This past weekend the boy reached our one-year mark! I can't believe it's been over a year already. Time really flew right on by.

He took me on the most well thought out date! He started by bringing me a dozen red roses, the first type of flowers he ever got me. Dinner consisted of sushi - the place where we had our first dinner-date. (BTW, we got the Fireball Roll and it was so good. I literally could not get enough of it. Definitely one of the highlights of the date!) The next place he took me was the place I took him back in the day: Sayville Park. It's this park that has a playground, picnic benches, and a small "beach" and little dock. We got there just in time for the sunset and it was absolutely beautiful.

After freezing our butts off, we went and got some Starbucks, one of our frequent date spots and also our first real date. Then we went people watching at a 711, then back to the spot we used to go to chat before he met the parents and was "allowed" to come in. Last but not least, he gave me the movie we went to after Starbucks on our first date:

What a funny first date that was. Hah. Poor movie choice on my part. Not bad at all, just a little awkward for a first date. Anyway, he also took me on a mini shopping spree to Dick's Sporting Goods and I picked out pretty excellent items if I do say so myself. 2 pairs of shorts, a T-shirt, a Nike pullover, a sports bra and a pair of pants! He knows me too well ;)

Last night I took him out to a nice dinner at another one of our favorite Italian places. It was absolutely delicious. Of course, we drew out our anniversary like we do with all presents and holidays and made it a 2-day thing. We need to stop doing that! It was an amazing 2 days though - I could not have asked for anything better!

One of my gifts to him was a mix tape (CD). Corny, I know, but it was awesome. Here's one of the songs that was on it:

Kind of a funny/joke song. Everyone hates this song but he completely loves it!

SOOO not a distance runner

Let me start off by saying that I envy you. And by "you" I mean the people that can run at a decent pace for miles and miles without getting bored or out of breath. This is the complete opposite of what I can do. I run for about 5 minutes and I'm already itching to get off the treadmill. Then I'm onto the the next cardio machine for a limited time before I'm bored again. It's a vicious cycle. It really is.

Not only do I get bored, but I get out of breath relatively quickly! I was a gymnast forever, so it's all short sprints or getting your heart rate up quickly for a short amount of time then coming back down and recovering. Distance was never really my thing. However, now that I am no longer a gymnast, I'm really trying to train myself to become that distance runner I so desperately want to be. Will it ever actually happen? Debatable. It's a work in progress.

In order to try to combat my treadmill boredness, I've been trying out interval training. All of the changing the speeds/inclines and what not  seem to keep me more on my toes (for the most part). Plus, it gives me more of that quick high speed, low rest and recovery that gymnastics gave me. A little comfort never did anyone wrong, right? Eh, it works. I guess that won't reeeealllyyyy get me to that super-duper-marathon-runner status that I want. Like I said: work in progress.

Interval Pyramid Workout 
Today I did a 30 minute interval/pyramid workout. I really liked this one today. The speeds weren't terrible and it gave me a bit more of the running for a longer period of time (kind of...).

Minutes                    Speed
0-3                                 4
3-5                                 5
5-7                                 6
7-9                                 7
9-10                               8
10-13                             4
13-15                             5
15-17                             6
17-19                             7
19-21                             6
21-23                             5
23-25                             4
To wrap up my 30 minute treadmill workout, I did a 5 minute quick sprint, quick recovery interval that included running at 8.0 for 30 seconds then walking at 4.0 for 30 seconds. I ended with a 5 minute cool down after that.
Total miles: 3.0

See? 30 minutes to do 3 miles? I need to work on that.

Here was my favorite song from my workout today:

First of the New Year

It's been a while since I've posted! I keep meaning to, but things just get in the way. One goal for 2012: blog more. However, I'm not going to make this post about the New Year's Resolutions I might not keep. I have a few resolutions tucked away, but they'll be for me. I don't want to put all of these goals for the new year on here because there will probably be a few that are a little outlandish. I don't want to be a failure to all of you! So in the planner (that I don't have just yet) they will go!

Anyway, here's a little photo re-cap of the last couple weeks of 2011!

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Gingerbread House

Christmas

New Year's

It really has been an amazing couple weeks since being home. Other than work, everything has been perfect. Hanging with friends and family, relaxing, eating delicious food. Everything. I couldn't ask for better friends or family. I can't believe how fast this break is going! It's unreal.

 As for the rest of my day? Researching a few things (mayyybbeeee part of my resolutions), cleaning my room, going to the gym, then hanging out, probably re-painting my nails. Obviously online browsing for some of these things and maybe these as well. I'm obsessed.

I have not yet read The Hunger Games, but I heard it was absolutely fantastic from many people. I'm almost thinking of picking it up and seeing what all the hype is about. I haven't decided yet. Anyway, here's a song that is apparently from the soundtrack. It's T Swift and The Civil Wars. It sounds very Civil-Wars-esque rather than TSwift-esque. I think I like it.

What are you doing today? How were your holidays?

Coming to an End

We are slowly, but surely coming to the end of the semester. It's been quite a challenging semester in more ways than one. With school work, extracurriculars, work, and social life (or lack-there-of), I've just been taking things day by day. Honestly, at this point that's all I can do. That's all any of us can really do: take one thing at a time, work your butt off and hope that all of your hard work pays off. There's no use in worrying about things you can't change. You can't change them, so why dwell on it? Work on what you have to do for the next day, work hard and that's all anyone can ever ask.

To mentally get by I've just been de-stressing by working out. It's the cure to any stress. Promise. I've really been into interval training lately. I tend to get really bored by the treadmill. The monotony sort of gets to me after 10 or so minutes, so the constant changing the pace really keeps me on my toes. Here was today's workout:

Minutes                              Speed
0-1                                      4.5
1-2                                       8
2-3                                      4.5
3-4                                        8
4-5                                      4.5
5-6                                      8.5
6-7                                      4.5
7-7                                      8.5
8-9                                      4.5
9-10                                    8.5
10-11                                  4.5
11-12                                    9
12-13                                  4.3 (That .2 really makes a difference!)
13-14                                  10
14-15                                  4.0
15-16                                   8
16-17                                  4.5
17-18                                   6
18-19                                  4.5
19-20                                  4.0
All of this comes out to about 2 miles. After this I did my everyday ab routine which I will post very shortly! I finished my workout with 5 minutes on the treadmill at 6.0. I sweat away all of my troubles! It was excellent.


Well, now it's off to clinical. Then dinner and studying my butt off for my 2 tests tomorrow. One day at a time.

Here's my new favorite workout tune:

I posted the full version, which I wasn't going to do. But if you haven't watched it yet this gives you a good excuse! 

Winding Down

The semester is winding down and I, as well as everyone, have a ton of loose odds and ends that need to get done. This weekend: finishing two papers and starting on a third as well as studying for a massive test I have on Monday. It's been nonstop go-go-go this whole week; I barely had time to even think! Hey, but that's life, right?

I cannot even begin to display my my excitment for Thanksgiving "break"! I have a jam-packed day on Monday, but I'm going home that night after clinical, so I don't mind at all. I cannot wait to sleep in my own bed in my own house, have my wonderful mom make me delicious treats and meals and hangout with my sister. I can't wait to spend time with my family, the boy, and some friends that I haven't seen since the summer.

After being home for just about a week with [nearly] nothing to do, it's going to be hard to go back to nonstop work and finals-prep, but I do have a couple things to look forward to: ugly sweater party and good friends.

Anyway, I hope you all have a superb weekend!

Just Some Randoms

1. I had a fantastic weekend. The boy came up and we spent the whole time just laughing and enjoying each other's company. It was so nice to have him here after not seeing him for a couple weeks.

2. Everyone should go see The Ides of March. It was absolutely excellent! Ryan Gosling and George Clooney were amazing as ever in this film. It was action packed, there were twists and turns, and definitely kept my interest. So worth the money!

3. Thanksgiving is so soon, but not soon at all. It's really only a little over 2 weeks away, and I'm actually going home even sooner than that, but I just have so much to do until then that it feels like the much needed holiday will never get here. I can't wait for everything about it.

4. New York Chinese food is way better than Pennsylvania Chinese food. Hands down.

5. I really love soup. It's one of those foods that when I'm hungry, I never say to myself, "I could really go for some soup." However, I've had it twice in the past two days and I could not be more satisfied with it. I've officially decided: soup is the perfect meal no matter what point of day. (Okay, maybe not for breakfast).

6. Mat Kearney radio on Pandora is perfect. Comforting and chill, yet upbeat and positive. go make yourself a free account [if you haven't already], and put him in your playlists. You'll be instantly satisfied.

7. I'm sick of coughing. I'm sick of being sick. And I'm sick of being tired.

8. Speaking of tired, I'm exhausted. Physically, mentally, emotionally drained. Okay, I'm done playing the wining card.

9. I have a ton of work to do tonight and I don't want to start any of it. I will, but I don't want to.

10. I need there to be about 30 hours in a day. Don't we all?

How was your weekend??