Aug 22 2010

Completed: Week 5 NYCM Training

Category: Life, New York Marathon, running — GeekGirl @ 3:45 pm

I refuse to talk about my long run today. What I will say is that I will pay a lot more attention to what I put in my body, will work on recovery a lot more, and will work on staying strong mentally. My right leg tightened up the entire run and it might be time for to visit my friendly chiropractor, too. $$$

I ended with 30 miles this week. A few less than I wanted since I pulled the plug on my long run. I’m not happy with it, but you do what you gotta do.

Next week, I’d like to see something like this:

M – OFF or Yoga
T – 5 – 6.5 miles
W – 8-10 x 2:00 @ 5k pace w/1:00 recoveries
Th – 5-6.5 miles
F – 3-4 miles RECOVERY OR REST
S – 14 – 16 miles
S – 3.5 – 5 RECOVERY OR REST
Total – 35 – 40 miles

I will be playing this week by ear. I feel semi-injured. First my knee, then my heel, and now my ass/hip. I’ve got 11 weeks until New York and don’t really have time to mess up. I need to take care of things now not later.

I’m not going to get to down on myself and next week is another week, right? (I’m totally sitting here on the couch pouting.)

Aug 18 2010

Fresh Avocados

Category: Life, New York Marathon, pictures, running — GeekGirl @ 7:01 pm

avocadoes

I’ve lived in this apartment for 4 years. I never knew that I had a massive avocado tree in the back yard. Hooray! While back there talking to my landlord and picking up fresh avocados, Gio was busy eating fresh avocados that had fallen off the tree and fell open. My little dog is super classy.

Once these babies ripen up, I’m going to make some fresh guacamole. (They’re a bit hard so I need to put them in paper bag for a day or 2.)

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Today’s Run: 5.8 miles | 1:00 | 10:21 pace
This was my first fartlek / interval workout. I was supposed to do 8-10 x 2:00 @ 5k pace. Uhm…yeah. I have no idea what 5k pace is. I haven’t run one in ages and my half-marathon PR was back in February. I actually think I’m in way better shape now. According to  Mcmillian’s Calculator,  to run the time I want in New York (and based off my half marathon PR) I needed to runabout 8:50. That’s around the PR for my 5k, but that was before my pulmonary embolism.

Anyway, I decided that sounded too fast because I do not believe in my running. I decided to go 9:08. Here’s how the workout went down:

1.8 mile warm up (20:00)
2.49 8 x 2:00 @ 5k pace (9:08) w/ 1:00 recoveries (24:00)
1.5 mile cool down (16:00)

I felt like I was working hard, but not really. I DO think I should have and could have run faster. Next week, I’ll run 8:50 or so and see how I do. I’m amazed at how much better I feel running at the gym. I actually feel semi-fit. (Yes I understand that that the treadmill is not the same. However it’s either run these workouts at the gym or keep blowing up outside. So, yeah.)

Off to work on some  new projects I’m trying to roll out and then to watch some Hulu / Netflix / read. I haven’t really decided which.

Aug 08 2010

Completed: Week 3 NYCM Training

Category: Life, New York Marathon, running — GeekGirl @ 5:55 pm

Look what I got in the mail Friday. Woohoo. I can’t believe that I’m going to be making my return to the marathon in one of my favorite cities in the US.

So. Training. It happened this week and went fine. The only thing I can complain about is that I did 0 cross training. That’s not good and will improve. I promise!

I won’t go over the details again since I’ve been detailing the single runs which I like better. I ran a total of 5 runs which came to 30.4 miles. I want more, but that’s 9 more miles than I ran last week and I don’t want to overtrain or anything.

Next week is a “rest” week. It will look a bit like this:

M – XT
T –  4.5-5 EZ
W – 8 x hills :60 – :90
Th – 4.5 – 5 EZ
F – XT
Sat – 90 minute Progression Run
Sun – 40 – 50 Recovery/Rest
Projected Total ==> 25 – 30ish

I’m supposed to run on the lower end of the mileage since it’s a rest week. I’m just going to play it by ear, though. I don’t want to be a number whore, but I’d like at least 30. The week after that I’m going to hit 35 – 40. Hmmm…Maybe I should rest then. I’ll have to ponder this.

Anyway, I’m feeling good and slowly starting to feel like I’m getting in shape. I wish my mileage was higher, but whatever.

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Today’s Run: 4 miles | 43:38 | 10:55
Boring ass recovery run at the gym. Absolutely nothing to report here. I didn’t even have music since my iPod  decided not to work. (Maybe because I left it in the hot car for 3 days.)

Aug 06 2010

Updating Links and Other Bloggy Related Stuff

Category: Life, webstuff/blog — GeekGirl @ 2:18 am

In anticipation of my 7th year of blogging, I’ll be giving my blog a face lift. In addition, I’m going to be making a better effort to deliver more consistent content and trying to grow the blog. It’s been 7 years! I should have more readers. The content will remain the same for the most part. I just want to add more lifestyle/pictures and stuff. No biggie.

With that said, if you read or follow along and have a blog please let me know in the comments. I would love to add your link to my list AND start reading you!

Aug 03 2010

Freedom and August Stuff

Category: Life, New York Marathon, Project GeekGirl, planet finance, running — GeekGirl @ 7:11 pm

I turned in my final paper Sunday evening. With that, I’m out of school for the next month. I also worked my last Saturday at the running store last week. I will have Saturday and Sunday off this week for the first time in around a year. Wow. All this extra time is mind-blowing for me. Of course I have a ton of stuff that I would like to get done over the next month. The number one thing is cleaning/organizing. I have so much clutter. Over the next month I’m going to get rid of as much as I can. I’m just sick of looking at it. Here are some of the things that I’d like to accomplish this month:

  • Clean out closets
  • Get a dresser/chest of drawers
  • Clean living room furniture (Might do this myself)
  • Get my bike fixed
  • List my books on Half.com
  • Clean out bathroom
  • Reorganize kitchen
  • Shred all extra papers and reorganize all my papers

I’ve got a lot to do, but I think it’ll make me feel a bit better to have a nice clean, organized home.  I also have a few financial things that I’d like to take care of this month:

  • Get my finances back in order. – I stopped using my budget a couple of months ago and hadn’t updated my Networth since April. Bleh. So not like me.
  • Pay off Hospital Bill #1 – I think it’s only $200. I have to call and check
  • Consolidate a few of my accounts. They’re getting entirely out of hand.
  • 10 No Spend Days – These are hard for me because I’m not organized and tend to go to the grocery store every day.  I waste a lot of money doing this.
  • Workout a plan to start tackling my student loan debt and Hospital Bill #2
  • Shop for flights to New York for the  marathon. I’ll be staying with my friend RTB so I just need to pay for the flight and make sure I have cash for miscellaneous fun stuff.
  • I also have a couple of super-secret income generating projects that I’ll be working on this month. More deets on those as soon as I figure them out.

Of course, the usual stuff is still in place. Hit all my runs. Stretch, ice, crosstrain. All that good stuff. I also want to relax and read at least 1 good book. I miss reading books for the heck of it.

What are you up to this month?

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Today’s Run: 5.5 miles | 57:34 | 10:28 pace
This run was A.W.E.S.O.M.E. When I stepped out this morning I thought it was semi-cooler. It might have been in  my head, though. Once I made it to the beach, the wind picked up and it started pouring. That in turn made the temperature drop and I had a great run. It’s nice to see that I can run faster that I have been. As long as I stay consistent this summer I should be fine when I get to New York.

Did you run today? How was it?

Jul 18 2010

16 Weeks and Life Changes

Category: Life, running — GeekGirl @ 4:17 pm

The starting line of the New York Marathon is kind of like a giant time bomb behind you about to go off.
It is the most spectacular start in sport. – Bill Rodgers

So, we’re 16 weeks out from New York. I received my training program and I start training on Monday. I’m glad I went with a custom training plan for this one. I’m one of those that just needs to be told by someone else to run. The workouts look manageable, but I will definitely be working my ass off. The general plan looks something like this:

M – Yoga/Lift
T – 45 – 70 minute easy run (this starts at one end and keeps adding additional time)
W – Speed Work (tempos/hill repeats/intervals)
Th – 45 – 70 minute Easy run
F – yoga/lift/easy recovery runs after the first few weeks
S – Long run/progression runs/Fast finish runs
Su –  40-50 Recovery run

The mileage will range from about 30 – about 55 miles. I’ve got a lot of hard work ahead of me and have to keep things in check so that I don’t get injured or anything.

I also need to slow my paces down a lot. I’m going to be running at a snails pace. But, I need to run fast when I’m supposed to and slow the rest of the time. I’ve never really run recovery pace or anything so it will be interesting. There are some really interesting workouts on my schedule, too. I have no doubt that if I stay healthy and follow the plan that I will run well in New York.

*****

In other big news, I finally quit the running store yesterday. My last day will be the 31st.  I’m sad to no longer be working there, but it was time. I have things to do and honestly, I’m exhausted. I need to focus on school, my running, and life. Things are going to start moving quickly and I want to make sure that I’m aware and ready to take on these new challenges.  I don’t want anything to stand in the way of me getting the life I want and deserve.

Up first: My bachelor’s degree and the New York Marathon. Let’s get to it.

Jul 07 2010

GeekGirl: 1 Toilet: 0

Category: Life — GeekGirl @ 7:47 pm

low-flow-toilet

I’ve lived in this apartment for almost 5 years. In that amount of time, the toilet has clogged numerous times. Every time this happens it takes a couple of days to get the plumber out here. The dude is never in a hurry and since I rent I just accept it.

Last night, I made a late night run to the bathroom. Nothing fancy, if you catch my drift. However, being half asleep I got a bit overzealous with the toilet paper. The minute I flushed, I knew there was going to be a problem. If you flush anything over a few sheets the thing is going to clog. It sucks. Once I realized what I had done what did I do? I fucking flushed the toilet again. Why? I don’t know. Because it’s about 3 AM. Of course, the water starts rising and I prepare to break and run. I decided to just close the lid and try to go back to bed. Maybe it will drain by morning.

You know I couldn’t sleep, right? All I could think about was that it was going to take the plumber 2-3 days to get out here and omg!-do-I-have-to-pee. Again! Hell no was I going to wait for a bitchass plumber! I had to take matters into my own hands. It’s only toilet paper, right? Right. I did some internet reasearch and found a few solutions. There’s the boil some water and hope it all flushes down. I could buy something called an auger and use that to unclog it. There was an interesting solution that used soap that I considered. After much consideration – at 4 AM – I decided that the auger was the way to go. Plus, I would have one here for when this happens again.

I patiently (not really!) waited for Home Depot to open at 6. I was there waiting for the doors to open. I ran in and picked up the auger. This thing looks scary and I have no idea what to do with it. Could I possibly injure myself? Gio? Do that thing they always show on tv where the toilet water squirts in my face. (Oh hell to the no!) Panicking, I look next to it and see the KleerDrain. It costs more, but looks like something someone like me (I don’t even have tools if that tells you anything) can use. I take a risk and buy it.

I got home and ran into the bathroom ready to get to work. If I would’ve had overalls, I would have changed into those. I’ll have to be on the lookout for a pair for home improvement projects. (I love wearing specific outfits for stuff!) Anyway…it took me forever to get the thing put together. When I put the plunger thingy and pushed down on the plunger it did nothing. I was so upset. Turns out I wasn’t pushing hard enough. Once I pushed it all the way down I heard something clear. I did a test flush and…HOLY SHIT!!! IT WORKED!!

People! I unclogged my toilet myself.  I did not have to call a plumber. I did not have to call my dad. There were no tears and I did not have to go to Burger King to use the bathroom.

I feel truly empowered. Just call me Ms. Fix-It, bitches! Woohoo!!!

Jun 18 2010

Putting It Out There

Category: Life, Project GeekGirl, planet finance, this is what a feminist looks like — GeekGirl @ 8:17 pm

Every day I come home from work and rejoice if my neighbor is out. He never freaking leaves the house. If you recall, I live in a unique set up. It’s a 2 bedroom, but 1 bedroom has a private entrance. So that room is rented out to someone else and the door separating us is locked and my landlord has the key. It’s been this way for years. This was done as a temporary fix when my ex and I broke up and I was figuring out what I wanted to do.

I have no privacy. I can hear and smell everything he does and vice versa. Every burp, fart, piss, etc I hear. I honestly don’t think that’s the case for him (my neighbor) because my apartment is big. My bathroom is on the other side of the house and my bedroom is separated by his bathroom and closet. Plus, I’m hyper aware of this, so I make sure to be discreet.

I want to move. I’ve wanted to move for years. If you recall, in 2008 I tried desperately to buy a condo. Two contracts went out and both of them fell through. Last year, I just didn’t care and had lots of medical bills to pay. This year? I think I’m ready to move. I got a raise and can afford a bit of a nicer place. I love my neighborhood…hell. I love my apartment minus the fat guy living in my second bedroom. However, to get in a place this nice that is private it’s going to run me at least $1000 a month. When I told my dad about this he just sighed and said, “It’s time for you to buy a home.”

As he pointed out, in this area paying $1000 for a 1/1 is ridiculous. I can surely buy something for that or less.  I just need a little bit of patience and a lot of luck. My credit is good. I have no credit card debt. My hospital bills will be paid by the end off summer. I’ve got a bit of change in my pocket. My student loans are high, but in good standing/not up for repayment yet.  It might be time.

So…I want to be shopping for a place by September/October. If not a home of my own, a new rental. It’s time to go. I need a change and I’m tired of not having privacy. I want space. French doors. A washer/dryer of my own. I want to play my flute whenever the fuck I want. I want to play music during my early morning workouts and vacuum the floors at 8 am. Holy shit! I. Want. Freedom.

I’m stating it here. I want to move. Hopefully to a place of my own. This means the next few months need to be lean. I’d like to pay off the last of my hospital bill. I think I owe another $300. I have a doctor’s bill for about $900. I’d like to cut that in half. I’d also like to take another $2000 – 3000 with me when I’m ready to buy. That’s ambitious, but September/October I want to be shopping for a HOME.

It’s out there in the universe. Now it just needs to happen. (With my help, of course.)

Note: This works out well because I’m also watching what I eat and staying home for marathon training. The next few months might be intense, but I think they payoff on ALL fronts will be worth it. By the end of the year I’ll hopefully only have 2 classes left until my bachelor’s degree. I’ll have run New York and hopefully bought a freaking home. I’m so muthafucking ready for good stuff to happen. I feel like all I ever do is work and never see the benefits. Bring them on!

Jun 09 2010

Technology / Media Break?

Category: Life — GeekGirl @ 9:14 pm

I’m a news/social media/technology whore. I am constantly plugged in, always online, devouring more and more information. The other day, I realized that it just might be too much. Maybe I need a bit of a break. Nothing major. Maybe a weekend of no media and limited internet use. (I say limited because I do have to do classwork and work.)

I often find myself on Twitter, checking FB, doing homework, reading blogs, and checking my favorite sites all at the same time. It’s a bit too much. I need to take a deep breath and unplug. No cell. No laptop. No constant news.

Anyone else ever feel the need to do this?

May 21 2010

Dead Legs

Category: Life — GeekGirl @ 7:53 pm

The past month or so, my running has been “flat”. As noted I’ve been struggling to get up past 10 milers on the weekend. I chalked it up to me just being lazy. However, the past 1.5 weeks or so, my legs have felt like crap. Period. They feel dead and icky and have no pep to them. I had to stop and walk on my 7 miler Tuesday. I just had no more gas or anything. I also had odd muscle twitches the past month or so and a weird leg cramp one day at work. Since the blood clots in my lungs started in my legs I promised my mom that I would see the doctor.

While detailing my “symptoms” to the doctor, he suggested that I have low iron. He then took a look at my eyes and said all signs point to low iron. Bleh. We’re waiting for my blood test results, but the doctor said that I should go ahead and start taking a good multi-vitamin. Fortunately, I started doing that on Monday on my own. The weird thing? After a couple of days, my left arm stopped twitching. Hopefully better nutrition solves all my problems. I’ll wait to hear from my doctor before I start taking additional iron because I don’t want an iron overload. We’re also checking a few other things including my INR level just to make sure that I’m not clotting. (They took a bunch of blood.)

From researching on line, it seems like I should be able to run. I just need to take it slow and keep my mileage low for the time being. Unfortunately, I can’t even imagine running right now. My legs feel that bad. The next few weeks I’m going to play it by ear. I’m hoping to feel better in a couple of weeks. I can’t wait to hear the final verdict from the doc.

With all that said, I’m glad that I decided on the training plan that I did. My base mileage doesn’t need to be that high though I really wanted to average 35 miles or so. I’m not going to stress though. I’m just going to work on feeling better.

Onward!!!

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