Women Run the World events at Skirt Sports are now every other month so last week was this month's event.
It was a touch different in terms of format - we didn't have a speaker (well, kinda) - we had food!
No, seriously. We had Amy Kimoto Kahn, who runs the Easy Peasy Japanesey blog and wrote the cookbook, "Simply Ramen." She spoke a bit on her background and then demonstrated "sushi tacos," an even simpler way of doing hand rolls.
Amy talking. Slightly smaller crowd as we had a $5 sushi fee.
Cheat note: for the tuna, you don't need sushi grade. Yellowfin from Whole Foods works just fine. Freeze and chop!
The best part of all of this, of course, was the food.
Appetizers. Some edamame/hummus mixture on a honey rice cracker. SO GOOD.
Close-up of one of my sushi hand roll/tacos. This one was with crab. I may have eaten many ...
Dessert. Some adzuki bean/coffee custard thing. Taste was good, but texturally it was hard for me to eat.
While I've liked past events with the speakers and the nuggets of information, this was a super nice change up, especially with the food.
Why I Run.
This is a current blog prompt for a Skirt Sports challenge, but it's actually quite timely for me so I'm running with it. So to speak. Ahem.
There's a lot of talk in sports - particularly the solo ones - okay, maybe just triathlon - about "finding your why." Finding the reason(s) why you do what you do.
For a lot of people it's simple. For my health, for those who can't, to prove the naysayers wrong, to podium, etc.
For me, however ... I've honestly struggled with this. I figured out "why IRONMAN." While I'm still not sure I actually want to do a stand-alone marathon, I absolutely love the Ironman marathon. Sure, both I've done have been in the six-plus hour range, but it's me. I know I can spend an insane amount of time on my feet. I also know that because I've made the run, I know I'll make the finish line ... and that finish line is one of the most amazing feelings ever. So I do the training to be able to swim and bike to get me to that run.
(This also means that I'm not sure if I ever have the desire to actually race a 140.6 because that means the marathon part won't be fun.)
But that's only Ironman. One measly distance ... that's a super expensive time commitment, so I don't do it often.
I genuinely enjoy racing, too. I like the competition of yes, technically other people, but really, just yourself. I like the atmosphere. The training part is what's harder. (We've had this discussion here.)
That all being said ... I look at my tentative race schedule there on the sidebar and I wonder. I wonder if even half of it will come to fruition.
************
I started running post-college.
I ran in sports pre-college and even for things during college, but throughout most of high school and college, hockey ruled my life.
That's me with the puck, trying not to lose it. I am a very defensive defenseman, so I didn't carry it often.
After I graduated, I moved back home and still played a little puck, but ice time was expensive and shh, I didn't really have health insurance so hockey probably wasn't a good idea. That summer, summer 2005, the neighborhood decided to put on a Fourth of July 5K. I'm still not 100% sure my reasoning, but in any case, I decided to run it. I did it with my dad, who would walk it.
It was hard (mostly because knowing Colorado as it is, it was probably 90-something degrees and the race is 300 feet up and then back down), but I did it, in 35:17.68.
I recall getting a job, getting health insurance, playing hockey ... but also going to the gym fairly regularly. I also decided I wanted to run it again, and this time do better.
Coming to the finish line. 7.4.06.
I achieved that goal, in 31:31. I still didn't necessarily think of myself as a runner (probably), but hey, not too shabby for my second-ever 5K, eh?
2007, I got talked into doing my first triathlon, so my race season expanded, from one to five. The early season 5Ks didn't go so well (particularly my third year at the neighborhood race - back in the 35s), but I completed my first sprint tri, and a little over a month later, set my 5K PR of 26:27, which still stands to this day*.
2008, Brandon came along, and I got a running buddy. By this point, I really enjoyed racing (as evidenced by the NINE races I did that year. from this point on, the least amount I'd do in a year was seven), and now I had someone else to join in on the fun with ... at least in terms of running.
I did the same triathlon again (alone), and it was terrible.
Body-language wise, you can tell I hate my life at that moment.
Because I had to. SkirtChaser race, 2008. Also my first official running skirt even though the shorties weren't long enough and it chafed the ever-living crap out of me that day. Skirt has improved things IMMENSELY over the years. I also kind of wish I had never gotten rid of that visor ...
From there, things progressed. A four-miler that fall. My first 10K, olympic triathlon, and half-marathon in 2010. First 70.3 in 2011. First 140.6 in 2013. And so it went, and I kept running.
************
Unlike many runners I know, I've never run that many miles in a year. The most was 488.23 in 2013, also known as IMAZ training. For this reason, I sometimes wonder if I am a true runner, or if I just do it at this point because
a.) I like racing; and/or
b.) if I want to do multisport, running is part and parcel.
Running impostor syndrome, possibly? Knowing me, it's likely.
************
Which brings us to today. (Quite literally, as it stands.)
The initial goal was to do IM Wisconsin this year. That got shelved due to finances; it's fine. New plan was to keep rolling, keep training, maybe get fast** again.
But now it's March. I haven't officially signed up for anything. The HR training I was doing I learned I wasn't doing correctly AT ALL, so that's four months gone. With the first technical running race on the schedule in about 6 weeks, I should start cranking up the miles (which, kind of) and the speed. And I really should get more focused on the bike. And swim more than 1200 in the pool.
And ... I'm just not sure if I want to.
I don't hate running. I don't think I love it, but I definitely don't hate it. Maybe I miss being faster, and I make too many excuses as to why I'm not. Oh, it's where I live. I don't live around a lot of hills anymore so that's why I'm not as strong as I was back when I lived in the south metro. I ran better when I was blissfully ignorant of how hard it was supposed to be.
Knowledge is power? Knowledge can also be crippling.
************
So, why do I run? Why do I race?
I started because it sounded like a good idea, something to do. I kept doing it because I liked the finish line. Maybe after over 100 of those, it's lost a bit of its luster for me. Maybe I need to reassess my goals and clear anything off my race calendar that doesn't sound FUN.
Maybe I need to just stop dwelling inside my head and go out for my planned run.
Because, after all, at this point, I ultimately run because it's a part of me. Because I've been doing it for 13 (14? I never get year math right ...) years. Because I know that even if I walk away from it for a few weeks - like I have before - something internally will pull me back, even if it's not consistent.
I run now because running has wormed its way into my blood.
* dang it.
** well. fast for me.
Another month down ... and it didn't go quite as well as I'd hoped it to, but I almost hit all my goals. Onward!
Swimming: 7564.4m (4.7 mi)
Cycling: 40.9 mi
Running: 32.65 mi
Lifting: 11 sessions (2:08)
Other: one curling session (:60), one stint race volunteering (2:00), two walks (8:00), two yoga sessions (:32)
Not a lot of curling this month, but that's because one or both of us was gone for almost every Sunday and stuff was cancelled due to snow and/or the Olympics. (woo gold!)
I volunteered at the Ralston Creek Half-Marathon/5K. Racing Underground mentioned in their emails that they still needed volunteers ... and volunteering means a free race entry (which I will probably use for Barkin' Dog) ... so I signed up. I helped out with directing parking pre-race and then handed out medals to the half-marathoners. So really, I was out there for more like six hours, but I just counted the two. And a sunburned face.
I didn't actually go on two really long walks; what I did was hang around Disneyland/Disney California Adventure for two days and that is a fair (probably under-) estimation of the time spent on feet. 28, 29k steps each day.
As to my actual February goals, they were to swim at least 5000m, ride 50 mi, and run 30 mi. As you can see, I hit two of the three. I got close to riding, too, despite not riding my bike for about two weeks in there. Almost all of those miles were done in the last 10ish days of February, but hey, I made a valiant effort!
I had a weird malaise mid-month ... and I'm not exactly sure why. I don't know if I'm struggling finding purpose in training since I haven't officially signed up for anything yet, or what. I have had a bit of renewed vigor the past week or so, though, and I'm seizing on to it as tight as I can.
Going forward with March ... I'm actually stopping the HR runs. I was curious as to why it didn't seem like I was progressing and my research told me ... I didn't actually start doing the whole process correctly. Instead of feeling like I just wasted the last three months ... I'm choosing to go forward with a different path. My legs clearly want to run fast, but I have absolutely no lungs. I had better lungs when I was doing hockey training and sprint work ... so I'm going to go back to a bit of that. Plyometrics, agility training, short sprints. All things to build up my lungs. Since Brandon bought new hockey skates and we'd ideally like to try picking that up again ... it'll also help in that realm, as well.
I've been enjoying planning week-by-week, so I'm going to stick with that.
My mileage goals are a bit up from last month (and I actually hit my swim goal so as long as I equal what I did in February I'll be good) - 7500m in the pool, 75 miles on the bike, and 40 miles running. Wish me luck!
In my January recap post, I mentioned the possibility of doing run camp with Katie and her Team Amazing Day people. I promised if she didn't fill it up, I'd take one of the open spots, so, well, I took it.
Run camp was a completely different experience from SMASH camp - mostly in that it was a lot less crazypants - but that doesn't mean it was better or worse. I actually really enjoyed the low-key nature of it and the wide range of abilities there.
Camp started Thursday, February 8, with a shakeout run up in Boulder at Tom Watson. It wasn't long and I didn't even do the whole thing - ran out and then walked back - but enjoyable.
On the way back.
We then all went to Modern Market for dinner, and then I drove back home.
This is where my day got fun ... before I left for Boulder, our neighbor smelled gas and called Xcel out. Apparently it was coming from (so we thought) this chimenea thing that we inherited when we bought the house - valve was loose. Well, I got back from Boulder at around 8, 8:30pm ... and Xcel was back in front of the house. Thankfully I got back, because what was actually wrong? The gas line that was installed when two owners previous converted the fireplace over from wood-burning decided to start leaking. We're not sure if the pipe is corroded or what, but yeah. So we no longer have a working fireplace or chimenea for the foreseeable future. It was also good that I got back because due to the leak, Xcel had turned off our gas. If they had been gone when I got back? No gas until early the next week (when I would have been out of town anyway). The Xcel guy was super helpful, getting our gas back on, getting the pilot lights on our water heaters relit ... and helping with a leaking faucet on the outside of the house (because of course Brandon was out of town for all of this).
That whole story is to say that I didn't even get showered and in bed until around 10:30pm. And I had to be up early enough to be up back in Boulder at 8am the next day ...
... I did wake up, thankfully, but quite tired. Friday, February 9, was hill day. We went for a shakeout run in the fog first.
Next was the actual workout. Katie found a hill off 51st (near Boulder Reservoir) for us to do repeats on - four rounds of 30/60/90s (30 seconds up; walk/jog back, 60 seconds up; walk/jog back and so on). This is definitely a workout that I can take with me and do on a hill we have nearby. The 90s started getting super hard by the second round, though ...
Photo courtesy Katie. Doing hill repeats in the fog.
After the run, we had a bit of time to grab some food (and for me, sweet, sweet coffee) before heading over to RallySport for some swim instruction. I was super happy to be able to swim in the outside pool (with snow! and steam so that I couldn't see the other end! #triathlete) for my warmup before my one-on-one instruction (which was first).
Took this after I was done, but this is where I swam.
I got some good drills and tips from Katie that I'll use going forward and I might actually hire her for some separate instruction (because we know I need it). I didn't swim too much after (as I'm not swimming much right now), but it was awesome.
Katie doing her thing on deck.
Post-swim, I actually hopped on over to Skirt Sports to buy some longer pants (a new Tough Girl, actually), since I sometimes don't know how to dress for the weather. Oops. (It was colder than expected that day.) I then joined everyone over at Protein Bar for some lunch and then it was back to Rally for a run mechanics session with Charlie Merrill. The session was good ... but I do feel I didn't get all the gait analysis that some others did since I went first. Everyone who went after had their stride changed up a bit and I didn't. I know what's wrong and what I need to change, but I don't know. I just felt I missed out some.
After that session, Katie talked to us some about both success and sports nutrition, with good nuggets of information shared during both segments.
We had an optional group dinner at Roost Longmont (which I went to) ... after which it was snowing for half of my drive back home. It also meant that after showering, another day back in bed by 10:30.
Saturday, February 10, was long run day. We met at Katie's at 7am (which meant I had to leave my house just before 6 thanks to the snow). The run was 60-90 minutes, depending, and I went 60. I also put on the HR for the first time all camp, which meant that I did 4.28 miles in that hour.
It was teens and snowing. Weeeee!
We all got back to Katie's, got some coffee, I changed clothes ... and then it was off to find more food (and, in my case, more coffee and to fill up my gas tank) before back to Rally with a session with Erin Carson. I know I've mentioned Erin on here before; she's awesome. Brandon was actually landing at DIA during this session ... but I told him I'd pick him up after it since I did NOT want to miss it. I did, however, skip out of the little strength routine Katie was leading everyone through after Erin's bit so I could fight through the snow and ice to the airport.
While I was doing that (in shitty, shitty conditions), everyone else was swimming more. I got Brandon, we went home, ate something ... and very seriously considered not going back up to Boulder for the final session that day. However, we fought the crappy roads (the storm had moved east - which is weird for Colorado - so while Denver roads were fine driving up that morning and got terrible in Boulder ... everything was terrible driving to DIA ... and driving back, Denver was shit while Boulder was okay) back to Rally for a session with sports psychologist Julie Emmerman. Julie had a really good interactive session regarding comfort zones which made us think quite a bit.
Katie had gotten some delicious Kim and Jake's for us to enjoy afterward, so we had our cake and drove back home.
There was officially a final run Sunday morning, which I was going to skip anyway to go curl ... but I had to skip all of it in order to catch a flight, as we were meeting my brother and sister-in-law and their two kids in California to crash their trip to Disneyland.
All in all, run camp was great, and I regret nothing for going. I really do enjoy the camaraderie of camp and I should probably try to do more!
Given other stuff I've posted this year, you probably already guessed this, buuut ...
... I'm baaaaack!
Yep, back as a Skirt Sports Ambassador Captain! If you look over to the sidebar, I have a new code - 306Geis - which is good for 15% off any full price item over at Skirt Sports. They're tracking referrals this year (use my code! it's good all year!), but if I'm going to get something out of it ... I have no idea what that will be. If anything. But if you use it, YOU benefit from wearing awesome comfy Skirt. And if you don't like Skirts, their capris are super comfy and awesome. AND THEY HAVE POCKETS, which is seriously the greatest thing ever.
But I won't be upset if you don't ... because you gotta wear what you like to wear. Just know that I like Skirt. And have been wearing it for a decade now ... and exclusively for running for eight years. EIGHT YEARS, man, it's crazy how time flies ...
First things first ... as you might have noticed ... new look 'round here! Got bored with things and decided to change it up. It was one of my goals, if you recall. I'm also going to not blog in as tiny of a font. I may go back and edit old posts. Maybe. I'm also kind of lazy (and, more accurately, my newish laptop is a bit touchy), so probably not. Who knows.
Anyway, we're already through January. I know, right?
Swimming: 4200m (2.61 mi)
Cycling: 34.68 mi
Running: 26.22 mi
Lifting: 13 sessions (3:36)
Other: one bowling session (:45), five curling sessions (5:30), one elliptical session (:25), one rowing session (:15), two yoga sessions (:32)
The month started off decently well ... and then Brandon got sick and I think I got a touch of sickness from him and it all kind of went downhill from there. I haven't swam or ridden my bike in about two weeks. Of course, last time I tried to swim, I almost puked in the pool, so there's that. Running was going well (slow, but well) up until the last week or so. I got back on the ECFit lift party train ... before missing a session ... so I got back into lifting thanks to the TIU dailies (also the reason I have so many lifting sessions). Those daily lifts have saved my butt when it has come to getting in SOMETHING as opposed to nothing.
Curling is still a thing. We grumble slightly, but it's a thing.
February, I have small goals. Instead of planning the whole month out in advance like I've been doing, I'm going to do it week-by-week. That will allow for a bit more adventure (which I'd like in my life).
I would also like to hit a few mileage goals - at least 5000m in the pool, 50 miles on the bike, and 30 miles running. Obviously I'd like to hit way more than all of that, but that is the bare minimum I want to see.
I am probably doing run camp (or ... most of it ...) with Katie and the Team Amazing Day peeps in early February which will also include a bit of swim instruction. We'll see.
I am definitely going to Disneyland alongside (but not technically with) my brother, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew ... which will mean a lot of walking around and not training. Which will be awesome.
February is usually kind of a miserable month, but who says it has to be? Let's change that internal narrative ...
As a fun thing this year for being a Skirt Sports Ambassador*, we get to do challenges to earn fun things. So, you might see a teensy bit more Skirt-related things on here. Don't worry, I won't spam you, because selling isn't my style. Besides, if you've been following for any length of time, you know I've been wearing Skirt for ages and ages - way longer than I've been an ambassador.
Free Verse Skirt
When your first Skirt
Is not actually a skirt
But a shirt
It seems like it might be
Impossible
For a collection to grow.
But.
Alas, no. It is entirely
Possible,
For I am
Proof positive that it
Can.
Silly, really, how a
Simple race shirt
(thanks 2007 Tri for the Cure)
(my first tri, by the way)
Can start an
Obsession, just due to knowledge of a
Thing that
Exists.
Silly, really, how a need to feel
Pretty can grow into a
Spiritual Movement, or
At the very least,
Sisterhood.
The race tee in question.
* As an ambassador, I get a discount. As an ambassador captain, I get a tiny allowance. As the new ambassador year rolls out, I'll get a new discount code to share, which, if you use it, will end up being good for me. Somehow. Not sure of details yet. And good for you, because you'll be in super comfy Skirt. And if you're a male of the species? They make stuff you can wear too. Like the super soft neck gaiters they make in collaboration with BoCo. The husband loves his and wears it proudly.
