I did my long run after all. It was 38 degrees--lovely for running, though it's going to be way different in N'Awlins. I kept my heart rate around 164-65, which is sustainable. And I did sustain it for the entire run. I felt really good about that and about the fact that, without looking at my watch, I managed to time the length of the run almost to the minutes (scheduled 1:20 and ran 1:21).
After I walked home I got out the computer and logged on to MapMyRun to find out how far I'd run and what pace. The results illustrate why I no longer wear my Garmin Forerunner: instead of running 7.35 as I expected, I ran only 7 miles, and the pace was 11:57. Of course my goal is to lay in the base miles and work on my aerobic fitness, and that's what I did. But it's a little...umm, sobering to realize that Signor William Ritter could cover that same distance in about half an hour or less.
So now I've done that, I guess the rest of the day is my oyster, so to speak. I'm tempted to ride the trainer this afternoon. I don't know if that will assist in muscle recovery or not--guess depends on how hard I ride. I have been neglecting the bike miles for various reasons.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
No Meetings, No Mileage
I got to sleep in this morning: no meetings. However, my plan to ride the trainer and meet my goal mileage on the bike for the week? Nope. They say "listen to your body"--well, sometimes--and my lower back hurts and me legs are sore. I think I need to do a good session of stretching and try out my Trigger Point quadballer. I may do a bit of upper body and core work, but no endurance stuff today. Depending on how I feel tomorrow, I may or may not do my Sunday long run. The way my weekly plans look, I do a long event on Sunday and Tuesday, so I can flip bike or run as need be.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Meetings and Miles
The day started off a tad too early. Since Jim took the day off I could not depend on his alarm to wake me. As it happened his snoring did a better job than the alarm! I was up before 6:30 and dragged my sorry self out the door at 7:30.
The reason for the early departure was a requirement that I attend some sort of workshop/briefing on Assessments in relation to our pending SACS review. I should have taken the disorganization I found upon my arrival as an omen. I was at the front doors of Wise Auditorium at 8:15. There were three people there, including Dr. Rogers, who is in charge of the review at TJC. They were trying the doors and found them locked. None of them had a cell phone except the custodial staff person, so they used it to call Campus Safety to come let us in. About that time Jeff Dawson of Media Services, who was inside, came through and unlocked the doors. When we got inside, they realized that there were no sign-in sheets because Starla Horton had not yet arrived. Now they had no cell phone at all because the custodial person had disappeared, so I had to loan them mine. They called Starla. No answer. So one of them had the bright idea to use the back of one of the handouts as a temporary sign-in sheet (as people were beginning to arrive) until Starla showed...except they had NO PEN!!! I had to lend them a pen, too! One of the ladies (whose name alas I did not know) remarked, "Well, at least one person here is prepared!"
I wish the same could be said for the presentation. I can't say the blame rests solely on Rise Knight, the presenter, though given her situation--living in Michigan and flying down here for a week here and a week there to direct SACS operations--such an outcome seems very predictable. She was completely disorganized, despite--or perhaps because of--having a plethora of over-detailed Power Point slides giving verbatim transcripts of SACS requirements. As she proceeded through these, she tried to explain some but then contradicted herself, or was contradicted by members of a committee with whom she had met only the night before. She baffled everyone with terms that had no meaning to the majority. She made reference to elements in the handouts that no one knew about (had they not flipped ahead).
The result was near-complete chaos. People were mumbling and flipping and asking questions that could hardly be heard, and Rise would try to answer only to be overriden by the dean or a committee person. I was seated next to Joan Bruckwicki, who serves on one of the SACS committees, and her eyes were closed. "She's making this sound a lot more complicated than it really is," commented Joan drily, a point with which I heartily agreed.
The thing that puzlled me out most, however, was why people were acting so confused. Didn't they understand that 90% of this had nothing to do with them? Why were they bothering to try and understand it? We preach about teaching critical thinking but I think some of my colleagues demonstrated a frightful lack of it this morning!! Anyone with experience could look at the handout and figure out that many of the points would not affect them--although Rise's presentation made it sound as if it would. (Here is where the written word outweighed the spoken one.) I had to make do with scribbling notes to this effect on my steno pad and passing them to my neighbor, Sharon.
Thankfully, around 9:50, Rise could see that things had gotten out of hand and initiated our coffee break. Once outside I walked with a colleague back to Jenkins and I could tell we were thinking the same thing: our required presence this morning was simply a bureaucratic necessity. The Powers That Be had to be able to show SACS that they had briefed the faculty directly--and what more convenient way for them than to crowd us into an auditorium?--and that the faculty had participated in the process, etc.-- noble sentiments on paper, but in reality it produced a great big mess (and a waste of time for us proletarians). Ours was not to question why but just to shut up and let the thing carry forward to its own conclusion and wait for the details later. (That's why administrative hierarchies exist: to work out the details with a small group, then delegate that group to explain it to those lower down the food chain.)
In any event, I heard the same sentiments from most of the colleagues I met around campus in the interval. Perhaps someone related something pointed to Rise, because when we reconvened she left behind all the broad strokes and simply focused on things that would directly affect faculty members. Consequently, we went through the rest of the presentation in half an hour. So now they can check off this particular box on their road to review and the rest of us can go about our business.
(Sigh.) So that was the morning!! As soon as the meeting broke up I went to the HPE Parking lot to fetch my gym bag from the car. I went in, changed into my swimsuit, and was swimming laps before 11:00 a.m. I swam a very quick 500 yards--seemed quick, unless I miscounted. I drank some water, then went on to my next 500. I took only a few seconds to swig a quick sip of water and then swam my last 500 (to make it seem as much as possible that I swam 1000 uninterrupted yards). I left the pool around 11:25, took a cool shower (those damn things take forever to heat up, if then!), then left to find lunch.
I ate lunch at my desk while I worked on my syllabus and other paperwork. I caught up a bit with Madeleine, who became a grandmother this morning. I worked a bit more, then left just beofre 2 p.m.
Upon arriving at home, I saw Jim was here. I got a briefing on his day. Big surprise: he rode at the Park! He accomplished little else. I briefed him on the morning's event, but of course he had a riposte for any instance of bureaucratic mafleasance I could possibly quote. So I changed into my running togs and decided I would at least finish out the remaining 25 minutes of running that my training plan outlined.
Before I even reached the front gate, I could tell this would not be an easy run. My legs had no energy. I thought perhaps after a bit things would improve but it never really did. And all I could think of was: "If it's this hard after a three hour break, and without even a bike ride in the interval, then how hard will it be to run during the actual race?" I did not want to think about that too much. Rather, I just slogged on, determined not to quit. I managed to run almost the entire route without walking, but ambition got the better of me before I got to the foot of Lee's Hill when I saw the time at 28 minutes and wanted to finished under 30. I quickened my pace but my HR soon hit 186 and I had to stop and walk a bit. I still made it to the mark just over 30 minutes, but it was not a pleasant experience.
Let's hope time and practice will improve all things.
The reason for the early departure was a requirement that I attend some sort of workshop/briefing on Assessments in relation to our pending SACS review. I should have taken the disorganization I found upon my arrival as an omen. I was at the front doors of Wise Auditorium at 8:15. There were three people there, including Dr. Rogers, who is in charge of the review at TJC. They were trying the doors and found them locked. None of them had a cell phone except the custodial staff person, so they used it to call Campus Safety to come let us in. About that time Jeff Dawson of Media Services, who was inside, came through and unlocked the doors. When we got inside, they realized that there were no sign-in sheets because Starla Horton had not yet arrived. Now they had no cell phone at all because the custodial person had disappeared, so I had to loan them mine. They called Starla. No answer. So one of them had the bright idea to use the back of one of the handouts as a temporary sign-in sheet (as people were beginning to arrive) until Starla showed...except they had NO PEN!!! I had to lend them a pen, too! One of the ladies (whose name alas I did not know) remarked, "Well, at least one person here is prepared!"
I wish the same could be said for the presentation. I can't say the blame rests solely on Rise Knight, the presenter, though given her situation--living in Michigan and flying down here for a week here and a week there to direct SACS operations--such an outcome seems very predictable. She was completely disorganized, despite--or perhaps because of--having a plethora of over-detailed Power Point slides giving verbatim transcripts of SACS requirements. As she proceeded through these, she tried to explain some but then contradicted herself, or was contradicted by members of a committee with whom she had met only the night before. She baffled everyone with terms that had no meaning to the majority. She made reference to elements in the handouts that no one knew about (had they not flipped ahead).
The result was near-complete chaos. People were mumbling and flipping and asking questions that could hardly be heard, and Rise would try to answer only to be overriden by the dean or a committee person. I was seated next to Joan Bruckwicki, who serves on one of the SACS committees, and her eyes were closed. "She's making this sound a lot more complicated than it really is," commented Joan drily, a point with which I heartily agreed.
The thing that puzlled me out most, however, was why people were acting so confused. Didn't they understand that 90% of this had nothing to do with them? Why were they bothering to try and understand it? We preach about teaching critical thinking but I think some of my colleagues demonstrated a frightful lack of it this morning!! Anyone with experience could look at the handout and figure out that many of the points would not affect them--although Rise's presentation made it sound as if it would. (Here is where the written word outweighed the spoken one.) I had to make do with scribbling notes to this effect on my steno pad and passing them to my neighbor, Sharon.
Thankfully, around 9:50, Rise could see that things had gotten out of hand and initiated our coffee break. Once outside I walked with a colleague back to Jenkins and I could tell we were thinking the same thing: our required presence this morning was simply a bureaucratic necessity. The Powers That Be had to be able to show SACS that they had briefed the faculty directly--and what more convenient way for them than to crowd us into an auditorium?--and that the faculty had participated in the process, etc.-- noble sentiments on paper, but in reality it produced a great big mess (and a waste of time for us proletarians). Ours was not to question why but just to shut up and let the thing carry forward to its own conclusion and wait for the details later. (That's why administrative hierarchies exist: to work out the details with a small group, then delegate that group to explain it to those lower down the food chain.)
In any event, I heard the same sentiments from most of the colleagues I met around campus in the interval. Perhaps someone related something pointed to Rise, because when we reconvened she left behind all the broad strokes and simply focused on things that would directly affect faculty members. Consequently, we went through the rest of the presentation in half an hour. So now they can check off this particular box on their road to review and the rest of us can go about our business.
(Sigh.) So that was the morning!! As soon as the meeting broke up I went to the HPE Parking lot to fetch my gym bag from the car. I went in, changed into my swimsuit, and was swimming laps before 11:00 a.m. I swam a very quick 500 yards--seemed quick, unless I miscounted. I drank some water, then went on to my next 500. I took only a few seconds to swig a quick sip of water and then swam my last 500 (to make it seem as much as possible that I swam 1000 uninterrupted yards). I left the pool around 11:25, took a cool shower (those damn things take forever to heat up, if then!), then left to find lunch.
I ate lunch at my desk while I worked on my syllabus and other paperwork. I caught up a bit with Madeleine, who became a grandmother this morning. I worked a bit more, then left just beofre 2 p.m.
Upon arriving at home, I saw Jim was here. I got a briefing on his day. Big surprise: he rode at the Park! He accomplished little else. I briefed him on the morning's event, but of course he had a riposte for any instance of bureaucratic mafleasance I could possibly quote. So I changed into my running togs and decided I would at least finish out the remaining 25 minutes of running that my training plan outlined.
Before I even reached the front gate, I could tell this would not be an easy run. My legs had no energy. I thought perhaps after a bit things would improve but it never really did. And all I could think of was: "If it's this hard after a three hour break, and without even a bike ride in the interval, then how hard will it be to run during the actual race?" I did not want to think about that too much. Rather, I just slogged on, determined not to quit. I managed to run almost the entire route without walking, but ambition got the better of me before I got to the foot of Lee's Hill when I saw the time at 28 minutes and wanted to finished under 30. I quickened my pace but my HR soon hit 186 and I had to stop and walk a bit. I still made it to the mark just over 30 minutes, but it was not a pleasant experience.
Let's hope time and practice will improve all things.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Drowning the Elephant?
I think I may be trying to drown the Elephant in wine. I have no self control when it comes to Pinot Noir (or pizza). Last night I opened a new bottle and assured myself I would have two small glasses. Four hours later, the bottle was empty. (Sigh.) That's not good for any number of reasons, but Number One reason short term is that I wake up at 2:30 or 3:00 a.m. and the Elephant starts rumbling: "What's my training supposed to be today? Uh-oh. Now I'll never get to sleep again.... Is it going to be like this from now on??" I try the embrace method: "Oh, hello Elephant! You're not scary. Kami dreams about races all the time." But it only works for a while. I have to get up and take something to get back to sleep.
Maybe if I delay my bike trainer session to late afternoon today--inevitable, really, since I have a hair appointment at noon--that will curb the desire. Now, if I could also curb my husband's desire to watch MSNBC and CNN and Fox News!! (It's not just the Elephant I am trying to drown.) My only recourse last night was to take the last disc of my audio book and listen to it (after the wine was gone). I wish we could reach some kind of agreement limiting the number of hours of that stuff he will watch. Sad thing is, if he's not watching that he's got his head plugged into talk radio! At least that's quiet(er), although he insists on keeping a running commentary on what he's hearing. "Do you know what they are saying about...?" Never mind I might have my nose buried in a book or am working on the computer, as in "If I wanted to listen to that **** I wouldn't be doing this, would I?" He acts hurt if I don't want to listen. I can't wait until the days get longer and he can work outside.....
Maybe if I delay my bike trainer session to late afternoon today--inevitable, really, since I have a hair appointment at noon--that will curb the desire. Now, if I could also curb my husband's desire to watch MSNBC and CNN and Fox News!! (It's not just the Elephant I am trying to drown.) My only recourse last night was to take the last disc of my audio book and listen to it (after the wine was gone). I wish we could reach some kind of agreement limiting the number of hours of that stuff he will watch. Sad thing is, if he's not watching that he's got his head plugged into talk radio! At least that's quiet(er), although he insists on keeping a running commentary on what he's hearing. "Do you know what they are saying about...?" Never mind I might have my nose buried in a book or am working on the computer, as in "If I wanted to listen to that **** I wouldn't be doing this, would I?" He acts hurt if I don't want to listen. I can't wait until the days get longer and he can work outside.....
Sunday, January 4, 2009
A New Week
Okay, it's the first day of a new week, and a new week that begins a new semester. It's time to get with it.
I woke up this morning and the scale told the tale: too much eating and drinking yesterday. Not just yesterday, of course, but for weeks and months. But I didn't need the scale to show me that. Yesterday I rode my TT bike on the trainer for a little while to try fit and position. It was easiest just to put on my try shorts and power top--a glorified sports bra that leaves the midriff exposed--for the even. Ouch!! I should have taken a picture of that and hung it on the refrigerator door. That was bloody awful.
I woke up this morning and the scale told the tale: too much eating and drinking yesterday. Not just yesterday, of course, but for weeks and months. But I didn't need the scale to show me that. Yesterday I rode my TT bike on the trainer for a little while to try fit and position. It was easiest just to put on my try shorts and power top--a glorified sports bra that leaves the midriff exposed--for the even. Ouch!! I should have taken a picture of that and hung it on the refrigerator door. That was bloody awful.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Justa Waitin'
Waiting....on what??? Nothing really. It's just a rest day--finding out how many ways to waste time. I cleaned the drive train on my road bike. Best to do that before the cold weather sets in and the chain lube gets all thick. Don't know when I'll ride it though.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Embracing the Elephant
Buddhists believe that one's waking mind is like a rampaging elephant: the more you try to control it, the more it runs wild. Naturally, mine has been running amok since I signed up for the Half. My OCD plays everything now in a template based on that race. That's not bad if I'm doing a run and trying to imagine how good it will feel to cross the finish line, but it's very intrusive if I'm trying to fall asleep. But I know the more one tries to control something, the worse it gets, so I am trying to "embrace the elephant", just as I will embrace the pain of training and the pain of racing. I have to take it all as a package. Easily said, I know. Living it will be another matter.
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