Tag: #GOTRDC

Training Check In – Week 9

Training Check In – Week 9

by drkarimoran ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Its been 1 month since my first training check in!  This training month has been interesting.  I’ve been traveling 3 out of the last 4 weeks, which makes scheduling my runs and workouts seem like a jigsaw puzzle to say the least.  As a result, I’ve been pretty lenient on my strength and cross training.

Badger and I got to run in the hot, hot heat & humidity of Georgia on vacation:

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Did I mention it was really, really HOT!  I just had to let Badger jump in the fountain to cool off.  By “had to” I mean, I couldn’t really stop him from jumping in!  My sneaky little boy.

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Our last days in Georgia were spent with friends in Athens.  Badger was a big hit there, not just for his general awesomeness, but for his resemblance of the university mascot.

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More importantly, I was able to spend time with this beauty, she lives on the other side of the globe and I miss her soooo much!

kariJess_athesn

After a week of vacation, it was time to go back to work. My first week back, we were out at Stanford University, so I had a few great runs in the beautiful CA sun, with some HILLS!  Yes!
kari_PaloAlto

Last week, I went to San Diego.  It was a VERY short trip and I had a lot of work to do.  I managed to get a short morning run in before hurrying off to meetings.  I didn’t get to snap a photo on my run, but I had some time before my flight home, so I went to the bluffs to watch the sunset.  Even now, looking at the sunset pics almost brings me to tears.  I miss the ocean (the one that the sun sets into).

Kari_SD

Each week, I’ve surpassed my goal mileage anywhere from 2 – 10 miles.  Some of my cross training days were converted to easy run days for convenience.  I’m cutting back on extra runs and putting cycling back in this week.  My shins have been sore again this week, so I’m letting them take a little extra time.  Although my mileage is up, I haven’t been happy with my speed.  I wanted to run a 1/2 marathon this year under 1:45:00.  I don’t think Nike Women’s is going to be that race. I haven’t had many hills to train on.  The only thing going for me is that I will probably be faster in the ideal running conditions (50s-60s deg F, as opposed to 90sF and high humidity) and high adrenaline.  So, I’ve decided just to push myself to my limit and be happy with my performance.  I will try to find another race in November or December to go for my goal time.  …Perhaps I should really make time for my strength and cross training!

Checking in – 5 weeks into training

Checking in – 5 weeks into training

by drkarimoran ♥ 4 Comments

Check in time!  I’ve been training for the Nike Women’s 1/2 marathon for 5 weeks now!  I can’t believe how time flies!

I’ve been building my mileage, finding parks that double as 1/4 or 1/2 mile markers, all with my buddy Badger.  Overall, he’s a good running partner, although sometimes he loses motivation.  I thought that we were hitting his maximum mileage, but today he was still pulling the leash when I tried to start walking after 9 miles (on our 8 mile endurance run)!

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Lesson learned: trails keeps Badger motivated!

I’ve been keeping up with my scheduled runs, but have been a little relaxed on my strength training workouts.  I typically put them off until the weekend (+surrounding days).  I need to find some balance (errrr, motivation) to get them in.  I’ve substituted my ‘recovery run’ days as prescribed by the NWM app, with riding my bike to work.  Initially, I thought this would be good to get in cardio without stressing my shins.  Well, the extra cross training has been great because my shins don’t even hurt anymore!

In a nutshell, every week has 2 cycling days, 2 quality run (i.e. hills-if I can find them-, interval, tempo, or fartlek), and one long run day.  I should also add 2-3 strength days as double days.  This allows me to get in my rest days (2/week 🙂 and prepare my body for multiple workouts in a day, which it will need to do for Ragnar.

I am slower than my goal time, which sucks.  I am think that I should be faster and should be stronger.  I know this is not the case.  The reality is I would like to be faster, but there I took some serious time off.  I will be faster when I get there.  Its hot. Its humid. I’m worried about my dog. I often try new routes, which often ends with me being lost.  Except for the absence of hills here in DC, I think my race will be much better- a planned/obvious route, and cooler weather.  I am most grateful because my body feels strong.

Viva la run!

Viva la run!

by drkarimoran ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

GOTRDC

In my post about community, I revealed that I will be running the Ragnar Relay DC to support Girls on the Run DC.  Well, its official now!  I’m running with 11 new friends to support this amazing non-profit.  I first heard of GOTR through the DC Rollergirls.  I volunteered with DCRG to cheer and monitor a 5k run by the organization.  I’ve been looking for a way to be involved but unfortunately my work and travel schedule do not allow me to participate at the times and consistency that they need.  I saw on their website that there is an adult running team, SoleMates, who support of GOTR through charity runs, and happen to be looking for Ragnar participants. I have wanted to do a relay like this for years!  I want to run Hood to Coast, I tried to join a Ragnar trail team, all of these have not worked out for me.  I have no idea what to expect, so I did not want to captain, but most of my friends are in the same boat.  So, I signed up for SoleMates.

GOTR DC serves all eight wards in the district, which is very important!  Approximately 1800 girls participate, from elementary school running clubs to middle school track clubs.  In addition to learning about running, being active, and enjoying a healthy lifestyle, GOTR teaches about leadership, approaching life and decision making with intention, to stand up for oneself and others, to nurture physical, emotional and spiritual health, and more.  It is a system level approach to life that builds confidence in the girls.

Contributions made in support of SoleMates are incredibly important to the organization.  All of the donations that I help raise, will go directly to the girls. 70% of the participants require some sort of financial assistance.  Wards 7 & 8 have approximately 40-50% children living in poverty- ref here.  Donations made through my page will allow girls that live in poverty to learn confidence and how to effectively use their voice to advocate for themselves and their peers.  Please consider donating through my page: Viva la run!

I will be documenting my training, progress, team events and the likes with tag #vivalarun

In case you missed it- Donate Here: https://www.raceplanner.com/donate/Viva-la-Run 

Community

Community

by drkarimoran ♥ 5 Comments

This year, my training has been completely solo.  I worked out at the gym by myself, I run by myself, now I work out at home by myself.  It is very convenient.  I can do things on my schedule, move them around as I please, mix and match to fit my travel schedule.  The freedom is nice, I have had a lot of time to spend with my family and the results have been paying off.  But something is missing.  As I read my notes to my wonderful trainer at Alaris Fitness, I realize that all year I have been plagued with lack of motivation.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not the type of person to actually not do my workouts, I have only missed about 5 workouts in about 30 weeks, some of which were exchanged for other activity.  I had fallen into a rut of enjoying the process too much, without something to look forward to, including the positive influence of relationships.  Since NW1/2M training started a few weeks ago, I have more motivation, but my team is still nearly 3000 miles away.

Having community and being a part of a team have been important parts of my life, and those relationships get you through the toughest times.  I personally also have added motivation when you are putting your energy into something that is greater than yourself.  On a recent phone interview, I realized that this is something missing from my life RIGHT NOW!  My training has been for me, and I that is about to change!

After I realized that I wanted to rebuild my community, I decided I wanted something to push me and something to give back to my local community, I joined two teams to fulfill this.

OiselleTeam

To push myself I joined the team Oiselle Volée. Oiselle is a small company that designs and creates women’s running apparel.  They focus on making a quality product for women’s body.  Which sound like something that all apparel companies should do, but it is surprisingly difficult to find piece of clothing, athletic or business, that I don’t have a complaint about the fit or function.  The team manifesto starts with Build a Sisterhood, and goes on to list ways in which you push yourself to be the best you you can be.  Push myself, check. Added bonus: the team manifesto expresses my feelings towards women’s issues such as eating to fuel performance, expressing yourself, and being fierce in what you do.  I’m sure I will have more to say when I receive my manifesto and start assimilating into the team.

GOTRDC

To give back to my local community, I’ve joined the SoleMates, the adult charity running group to support Girls on the Run DC (GOTR).  GOTRDC is a nonprofit whose vision is, “… a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.” BOOM.  So I joined a team of with 11 other local women to fundraise and run the Ragnar Relay DC.  My minimum contribution will cover a tuition scholarship and shoes (and a little more) for a girl in DC to participate in the after school program, which ends with a 5k.

I’m really excited about my new community, and looking forward to meeting and getting to know my new teammates!  Follow for updates on both!