Good (Friday..yay!) Afternoon! This is gonna be a long post, so let’s just jump right in.
Around 11:15 I enjoyed some fruit salad.
Grapes, Watermelon and Cantaloupe. YUUUUMMM!
During “lunch” I went to the gym downstairs and did something I haven’t done in a long time. I ran intervals.
Running intervals is running at a fast speed for a short amount of time, then recovering at a slower pace. I used to do this when I was trying to lose weight (which I am not doing right now, but wanted to switch it up). This torches calories because it brings your heart rate way up (fast speed) the slows it down (slow speed) over and over again.
Intervals:
First 3 minutes – steady 10 minute mile pace (warm-up)
Next 21 minutes- 1 minute at a 7:30 minute mile pace, followed by 2 minutes at a 10:50 minute mile pace.
Next 16 minutes- 9:13 minute mile pace.
Total Distance : 4.25 miles Total Time: 40 minutes
After my run I met up with Ro (who is running the race on Monday with me) and we went and picked up our numbers. I had a total emotional moment in City Sports today while picking up my number and shirt, you guys!
Here is the deal: When I first started running, I would run down the street and see women in their Tufts 10K shirts. The thought of running 6.2 miles was insane to me. I thought to myself, “Those women are “real runners”. As I got better at running and began to enjoy it, every time I saw that shirt I would think ,”I want one of those, I want to be a real runner.” Today, when they handed me my shirt, I fought back tears (as not to embarrass myself in front of Ro and a bunch of strangers). But it hit me like a ton of bricks, I AM A REAL RUNNER!!!! OMG!
There is the number and shirt to prove it! When I cross that finish line on Monday I will consider myself a “Real Runner”. Have you ever had an experience like this?
Lunch was leftovers from last night:
Alternate View:
After my emotional experience in City Sports, I decided to create my race playlist. I think it is pretty much perfect!
Thoughts? What Song do you like to run to? My favorite is on this list: Fighter! It reminds me to use all the hard things I have gone through/am going through as fuel, and I love it for that reason. Nothing like turning a negative into a positive.
You know I celebrated Tina’s Cookie Friday!
What?! That’s not a cookie!? Oops! I had a brown rice cripsy treat and small piece of dark chocolate with a decaf coffee with half and half and cinnamon.
Well, last week when I had my Memory Card Mishap. My friend Melissa came to the rescue and took picture for me(don’t I have great friends?!). So here are some from that fun night at Harpoon Fest.
My ticket!
Melissa and I cheers-ing with our Octoberfest!
Jackie, John, Myself, Kevin and Melissa!
Silly and a little drunk!!!
Melissa and I with our souvenir cups! I love them!!!!
Well, I got some more work to do before heading out. See you later on!
You are such an inspiration…I totally want to be a real runner one day and get one of those shirts!! maybe in a couple of years
Oh and Yea “eye of the tiger!!!!”
You are a ‘real runner’! Congrats girl!
Great post! I can totally relate to this. I still don’t know when I’m allowed to call myself a “real runner.”
By the way, I love that race t-shirt. I’ve also spotted it around Boston.
Good luck on Monday!!!
I’ve run 5k’s but still don’t feel like a real runner. I set a goal to run a half marathon in the spring. I’m sure I’ll feel like a real runner after that
Good luck in the race!
My favorite music to run to is anything by Ladytron or Passion Pit. I like “Fighter” too for the same reason you do. It reminds me of all the things I’ve fought through that made me who I am today.
Have a great night!
I know that feeling of being a “real runner.” First time I felt it was when I was a Junior in high school at Brandeis University and the first time I broke the 5:00 minute mile barrier. I also felt like that after training runs when running with groups of people (even people of one or two!) and that is when I realized that I didn’t need to break a goal and that it was in me all along. It is in me when I’m up at 6:00am to run or when I’m on a long run of 16 miles/2hours or even just a 30 minute quick jog, I’m a real runner….and so is everyone else that just commits themselves to being out on those roads rain or shine.
Good work Ali. I’m sure you and Adam are doing some good training and I love to see your progress.
I never run races to music, and occasionally do it on training runs because I like to concentrate my attention to body sensing. Try “Streets on Fire” by Lupe Fiasco or “I Phantom” by Mr. Lif.
You’re a real runner! I don’t feel that distance or speed dictate who is a real runner and who isn’t…it’s a bond we all have since we love running.
One of my new favorites is “Til I Collapse” by Eminem.
Hollaback Girl, Stronger, Fighter, & Lose Yourself are on every running mix I make! Get out of my head!