Last Week!

This was the last week of class and blogging - and it was...sort of successful. I didn't exercise quite as much as I would have wanted to last week, but I blame it on class/work/homework. I am looking forward to being done with finals (and work...next week is my last week!) so I can focus on exercising again. It's going to be a very active summer!

Week 13

These past few weeks have been much better. I have had more free time (no tests or papers) so it was much easier to make sure exercise was a part of my daily routine. I didn't do any yoga last week, but did running and Burn 60 classes. It always seems to take a few days to see the results, but sometimes the lag makes it seem like all the work is for naught!
This week is going to be a little different, as my schedule is going to be a lot busier. I am teaching dance two times this week, so I will get a little bit of exercising in from them but it will be in a much lesser amount. I just need to keep balanced how many calories I am intaking compared to burning. Much easier said than done!

Week 11 - Back on Track

After our discussion last week, I had a renewed vigor for running. I'm now at a happier mental state because I'm getting my yoga, interval training, and running workouts in instead of just worrying about trying to run when I really don't want to. Although my initial goal was to run 2 half marathons, the true goal is/was to stay in shape and have exercise as a part of my daily regimen. I am happy, and I have even lost a few pounds over these past few weeks where I have been getting different types of workouts!

Week 10 - ....

I thought after a week or two I'd be back running again post-race. But I'm still a little burned out, and it's been a month! (where that time went, I have no idea). I just don't have the drive to make it fit into my schedule like I did before. I top off at about 5 miles right now, and yoga and Burn 60 are just way more fun and appealing. So, I can't say that I'm running in a way that I'd like to be, but I am happy that I'm moving, exercising, and staying healthy. And that's really what my original goal came down to, I just thought that running was the end-all be-all. (Mainly because that meant pasta was no longer a restricted food)
I'm proud I ran a half marathon, and would love to do the full marathon next year. I'm content that I'm staying in shape and balancing exercise and diet, and am hoping that I am giving myself a good foundation for dance team try-outs in the coming months.

Week 8 - Challenges

This week's assignment is to write about barriers that come up... well, the one glaring me in the face right now as it's almost 1 AM are midterms/papers/projects/everything that always seems to happen at the same time. And on top of that there's work, but that's another story. That all puts a serious damper on my sleep, nonetheless my exercising.

But, I have one incentive that keeps me going - walking the dog. If I don't walk Widget, she goes insane and tears up pretty much anything that's not concrete. And I don't mean like a walk around the block. We went for a walk this morning, a hike in the afternoon (not from me, sadly) and we went to the park in the evening. She's not ever totally tired out! I used to run with her, but since I started doing longer runs, I couldn't keep up with her. She can run 8 miles and look at me when we get home like she'd like to run 8 more.

So even on days I don't get in the work out that I may have liked, I at least am getting out, getting my heart pumping, and burning some calories. That's all I can ask for when 24 hours just are enough to get everything done.



Look closely... see what I mean about crazy?

Week 7 - Keeping motivated

Post-race, keeping up my regiment is not quite as easy. I have less drive to run long distances, and am much more likely to call it a rest day and not workout at all. And these 2 pounds that I seemed to have a never-ending tug of war with are tending to appear more and more consistently on the scale each day.
So, to get out of my funk I went to a Burn 60 class last night. I hadn't been in a while because of my focus on distance running...I fell in love again. It's just the most incredible class, and a great workout. I'm back on track - with a positive outlook, and an outlet to focus on again.
I simply need to reframe and adjust what I'm doing - no more "long distance runs," but shorter runs in the neighborhood, longer runs on trails with my dog, and Burn 60 classes here and there to get my arm workout in (my arms died last night!)

If anyone is looking for a great workout, I cannot speak highly enough about Burn 60. You'll leave feeling like a train wreck but in a fit, healthy sort of way :) Here is the website: burn60.com. Go to the schedule on the tabs at the top to find a time that works for you, and just show up 15 minutes early to get a spot. If you'd like a partner, I'd love to go with you!

Week 6 - Success!

I successfully completed my first half marathon this past Sunday! I finished it in 2:09:59 - right around what I expected to do. Whoever said that if you can just do 10 miles beforehand then you're good to go (only like every training website I looked at) failed to mention the pain that accompanies miles 10-13.1! But all in all, I am happy with simply completing my first race.
So this means my first goal is completed - I finished a half marathon! But now the daunting task of my second goal, finishing it under 2 hours, looms ahead of me. 10 minutes sounds like a piece of cake in the whole scheme of 2 hours... but then I put it into perspective that it's essentially shaving off 45 seconds from each mile. I am having trouble fathoming doing that for 3 miles nonetheless 13! So perhaps this goal is out of reach, but it is still something to strive for, and something I will do my best to achieve.


Here are my race details:

Half Marathon
Runner Details Race Results
Bib: 2492
Name: Julie Dragicevich
Gender: F
Age: 23
Hometown: Westlake Village, CA
Overall: 1087 out of 2979
Women: 386 out of 1636
F 20-24: 42 out of 102
Age/Grade: 50.65% Place: 1146
Finish: 2:09:59 Pace: 9:55
Tag Time: 2:09:59
Gun Time: 2:12:29
Split Times
10 Km: 1:00:06 Pace: 9:41

Week 5 - Barriers

Barriers
1. My own mentality - I've always been athletic, which occasionally leads me to believe I can do things without proper training.
2. Physical - going from running less than 2 miles at a time to 13.1 miles has been a bit of a shock to my muscles!
3. Continuing to train after the first race - I'd like to run another race after my first one this upcoming weekend.

The whole point of doing a half marathon for me is to maintain and/or get in shape. I definitely can see that my personal drive is waning already, so I need to continue to push myself and keep my end goal in mind.

Week 4 - Support

I know that I work the best under two conditions:

One, if I have a deadline, I am more likely to push myself to achieve my goals.

Two, if I have other people doing the same activity as I am, I will compare myself and try to be better. Being the youngest child and only girl, it's the only way I know!

So, that's why I am running the half marathon with 3 other people. My boyfriend Rob, my non-blood brother Nik, and his (real) sister Kira. Nik and Rob are bigger, stronger, faster, and Kira is a better runner than I am. What better company than that?!

It's not so much that I want to beat them, but more that I just want to hold my own. And I know the best way for me to do that is to train appropriately, and to make sure that my body can handle the distance. The speed will happen on its own, and I know that I will push even harder when it's race time. The other 3 can definitely finish the race, and that's my goal at this point. Kira ran 11 miles this past weekend, which gave me the inspiration to run longer than I might have otherwise. I ran 10.5 miles yesterday, leaving just 2.6 miles more for race day. This will be my longest run before the race - from now on I am going to do 6 miles or less to make sure I am fully healed for the 21st. (That seems like a long time from now, but I had some serious trouble walking today!)

Week 3 - Inspiration

Competition = Inspiration

I'm a pretty active person, and I always have been. My boyfriend, however, has been relatively sedentary up until last year. That seems like a huge disincentive to work out, since it's not as natural for him to want to exercise. But he does, and quite consistently after a full 8-hour work day. I told him I wanted to run a half marathon, and suggested he do it with me. He was not thrilled about it, and he gets terrible shin splints. So a few weeks went by, and he didn't commit one way or another.

Then, he decided he was going to do it, and ran 5 miles the next day. I was a little annoyed, as I had been running for a few weeks and we ran the same length that day?! That doesn't seem right... I must not be pushing myself hard enough. If he can fit it in his schedule, push himself that much, and work through the pain, well I certainly can increase my length a little than I had been. He is up to 7 miles now, past the halfway point. He has far more barriers than I do, and he doesn't complain - so I can do it too.

Week 2 - Motivation for Change

Motivation

The deepest motivation for me is that I've always been interested in fitness and being in shape. When I graduated from college, I also graduated from being on a dance team. Trying to find the time and energy to exercise now that I don't have practice built into my schedule has been tough! I work the best when I have a goal in sight - so training for a half marathon with a set date is as close to having a practice regiment as I can get.

A further motivation is that I want to try out for professional dance teams in July. I know that the chances of making them are quite slim, but I know that one thing I can control is my weight and image. Whether or not I make it, I will know that I went into the auditions putting my best foot (and stomach!) forward.

Week 1 - My Goal

My Goal

My goal is to run two half marathons - one in February, and one in April. For the first one, I just want to cross the finish line to prove to myself I can do it. The second one is where I have the most work and training to do. I want to finish the 13.1 mile race under 2 hours. This means averaging 9 minutes/mile.

My Current Status

I have 5 more weeks to train. Each week I try to run a mile farther than the previous week's longest. Today I ran 8 miles, averaging about a 10 minute mile. I'm focusing more on the length than the speed at this point, and probably will do so throughout January and February. I run 3 times a week, once doing the increasingly longer run, and the other two average around 4-5 miles each. Two days I do an interval training class, and the other two days are rest days. My schedule is as follows:

Monday - Shorter run (4-5 miles)

Tuesday - Burn 60 (interval training)

Wednesday - Longer run (8+ miles)

Thursday - Rest

Friday - Burn 60

Saturday - Shorter run

Sunday - Rest

The Future

I want to maintain the schedule I have. I think it is a good balance of rest and running, as well as getting an alternative workout in. It was easy during break - no class, no homework, and I was getting plenty of sleep. Now, however, staying on schedule will really test my resolve. Especially if I want to shave off 1 minute/mile before April, since that will actually take a different type of mentality than I have right now. But for now, I want to focus on getting my endurance up, regardless of the speed. Taking in it small steps will help me stay on task and not get disheartened.