<p>My 5K was a FAIL. The heat and humidity got to me more than I expected, and I could only come up with 28:29, which is not very good for me. My daughter got out ahead of me, looked good, and stopped dead before 2 miles to wait for me since she blew up. I finished about a minute ahead of her. It was a tough day. The sun was beating down on us on the uphill stretch from 2 to 2 3/4 and it just was NOT fun. Oh well, I didn’t puke in front of my new co-workers, and I wasn’t even self-conscious about hanging out afterwards with them wearing just a job bra and skirt. It was too hot to even wear a singlet. In 2009 I ran 25:15 at this race. It was 62 at the start that year (unusual) and I was 3 years younger. :)</p>
<p>MOWC, your ‘fail’ sounds like quite an accomplishment, what with heat and humidity! You stuck with it. You done good. And remember, a stinker every once in a while makes the victories that much the sweeter. You got the work out of the way – enjoy your 4th! :-)</p>
I guess it’s all relative, MOWC – I’d be thrilled with a 28:29 for a 5K! As it is, I just keep plugging away; some days are better than others. At least it gets my heart rate up and going! I use those Arc machines on my non-running days – I usually leave a puddle of sweat under the machine, and always know I’ve gotten a workout.
D, who is now working at Boston Children’s, sent us a link to the article about the differences in various diets. Keeping the carbs down is key for me. H is still losing weight – but complaining about how hard it is. I have ZERO sympathy – he’s losing weight without doing any exercise, and he’s definitely not starving.
And I just saw the article about coffee + lower incidence of skin cancer. I celebrated by having another cup of coffee! (Of course I use sunblock, too …)
When I was much younger, I hiked up Mt. Washington – with my parents! I was working at a summer camp in ME, and on a day off I drove to NH to meet my folks. This was during their hiking phase. They also went through the running phase, the biking phase, the golf phase, the travel phase … Now they’re 84. My mother (a life-long asthmatic) is very frail, and not able to do much. My father is still in good shape, though.
I actually went to the gym this morning, even though it’s a holiday. I must be turning into a gym rat or something. We’re hoping to catch the Boston Fireworks tonight – from the (less crowded) Cambridge side. Hopefully the weather will cooperate.
Happy 4th to all!
<p>MOfWC, you did well. I could never run in that kind of heat. Congrats on finishing! Hopefully now you will get to enjoy some good food and fireworks!</p>
<p>The Bobby Jones quote about Jack Nicklaus, “He plays a game with which I am not familiar…” must apply here!</p>
<p>I can only imagine a 5K in 25 or 28 or 30 minutes. I did mine yesterday in 44:28. MOWC’s average pace on a epic fail was faster than my average for the bits I ran yesterday! So I guess it’s all relative… :)</p>
<p>I think just going out and running (or doing any exercise) in mid-summer Dixie heat elevates it above the epic fail line. That’s no joke to exercise in that heat and humidity.</p>
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<p>The trick is not so much losing weight without exercise. About 10 years ago, I dropped a quick 25 pounds without lifting a finger to exercise. The problem is keeping it off without exercise and some lean muscle. I really think that making a regular routine of enjoying exercise has been the key for me. Not the least of which is that getting more fit has been the “reward” for losing weight. I didn’t exercise last time and there was nothing to keep me focused after losing the weight. Sooner or later, I started thinking, “Oh, I can have a Snapple or a Coke every once in a while, now that I’ve lost the weight…” Big mistake…</p>
<p>I went out for a bit this morning and it was raining and quite comfortable. I went out at noon and it’s in the upper 80s, humid and very sunny. It felt oppressive in the car until I turned up the AC. I imagine that it’s a lot hotter down south.</p>
<p>Performance drops with heat and humidity - that was seen at the recent Boston Marathon. I can’t see any problems not making a goal when the conditions are very unfavorable.</p>
Thanks, all. I’m OK with not making the goal. It’s just amazing that I am slowing down so much as these years go by! (Moi???). It was SO hard, although everyone looked pretty awful. I was 7 of 28 in the age group which isn’t too bad for being 2 months short of the next age group! The winner of my age group is national class and ran 20:59. Amazing. I guess I should have made my move on her sooner!
<p>MOWC - i know your streak is important to you, but IMHO if you took some days off, you might get faster. I think the rest is more important than training/nutrition for my old body.</p>
<p>I ran my 5k with 16 year old daughter today. We both finished in 22:03. Today was one of those days that I think I could have made it under 20 but felt it was more important to coach my daughter along. Plus I’ve never felt right about beating my kids in anything, including Candyland!</p>
I didn’t know you were about to turn 40!
I’m the same age as Jack Benny. 39.
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<p>Very, very nice.</p>
<p>Yeah- I’ve run under 20, but I’m not a great 5K runner and that isn’t my priority. The mileage will pay off in the longer races. </p>
<p>In other news, my son just bought $3000 bicycle wheels for racing. I knew that was coming. He can’t stand to be at a disadvantage. Glad he’s off MY payroll!</p>
<p>Here’s my personal hero - my 87 yr. old MIL - doing part of her routine. She “pumps iron” while she’s there as well. By the way, she has it set at the highest resistance.</p>
<p><a href=“Lil on rowing machine - YouTube”>Lil on rowing machine - YouTube;
<p>That’s awesome. Not only is she doing it, but it looks like she has pretty good form on that rowing machine, too.</p>
<p>10 miles, average pace around 9:07. It wasn’t as tiring as I expected - I could probably crank out another two but I have stuff to do this evening.</p>
<p>Legs are in very good shape - muscle soreness high on the front legs. I’m not sure if that’s from the tennis practice yesterday or if it is from all of the running or a combination of both. Playing only two sets instead of three on Sunday probably got me off to a good start.</p>
<p>I only need another 13 miles to get to 40 this week with three days to go so that should be fairly easy as I don’t expect any life-type-things to bother me for the rest of the week.</p>
<p>wip2- very cool!</p>
<p>iDad- 40- I can only wish! Actually, I wouldn’t want to go back there.
BCEagle- VERY nice. Congrats on the 10 miles. I wonder if you will be sore tomorrow.</p>
<p>After this week, I have five weeks to train for the 5K. I found this page on training for a 5K to improve your time though it is an 8 week program though I can just start at the fourth week. It’s interesting to see how many rest days there are in the schedule.</p>
<p>[Hal</a> Higdon Training Programs](<a href=“http://www.halhigdon.com/training/50934/Intermediate-5K-Training]Hal”>Intermediate | Hal Higdon)</p>
<p>Yep- Hal puts in rest days. My daughter used his marathon training schedule.</p>
Sorry about the disappointing 5K, MOWC. Goes without saying, that your fail, is probably close to my PR, but everything truly is relative. And I can understand your disappointment, although it sounds more like it was heat related than anything else.
I had my own major fail workout today, or rather non-workout.
Because of the holiday, the afternoon class people showed up in the morning making for very crowded conditions. In addition, the instructor was my least favorite, Mr. Vain.
Somehow between all of that and the combination of the particular exercises, very large classes, hormones?, I have no idea, but I became completely overwhelmed, felt very vulnerable and emotional and ended up leaving after round one.
It wasn’t the exertion or the workload – I just felt super uncomfortable. I ended up awkwardly waiting in the car for the person I carpooled with to complete the workout.
Still not sure what exactly what was going on, one of those days, I guess. But I suspect it also had a little something to do with the fact that I am playing personal cheerleader and motivator-in-chief for a number of people in my life and at that moment felt like there was no one cheerleading me…
Went on to enjoy a beautiful and relaxing day, however, with sugar-free strawberry margaritas poolside, so it’s all good.
Hope everyone had a happy, safe and enjoyable 4th!!
<p>We’re cheerleading you CJane. “You are an animal!” 
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<p>Your workouts are so hard that it would be surprising if you didn’t bail on one every once in a while. I don’t know how you do them.</p>
<p>I never even started my workout this afternoon. I got started putting together a new bed: lifting a queen mattress and box spring off the old frame. Assembling a new frame, headboard, footboard. And, putting the queen box spring and mattress back on it. By the time I got done heaving mattresses and box springs around, it was way past time to start the fire and do my Bobby Flay flank steak – which was incredible.</p>
<p>CJane, I’m cheering for you. Tomorrow is another day! Kick back, relax, enjoy the colorful skies. :-)</p>