Run to be Fast.

So I should start off by saying that I can't believe I have not posted in 2 months, it felt like two weeks. The reason (and I think it's a good one) is that I was suffering through a grueling 2 months of graduate coursework compressed down into half a semester. I got some really good training in this spring and passed my big comprehensive exam, but not much else! Call me Hermit. 

Anyway, I'm glad to be back and what follows is some introspection about training... 

There were two recent instances that caused me to really reflect on the little voice that tells you to quit. The first was at the MIT track when I was solidly hitting my - albeit slower than desired - paces. These past few years it's been rare for me to make it through a whole workout, much less be able to maintain even pacing through reps. Most of this was out of my control from injury, asthma, or sickness. But on this warm tuesday night I could have called it quits at two sets. After all, I wasn't going as fast as I thought I was capable of at this point in my training schedule. But instead I took my full recovery jog and started into the third set, legs aching, face hot, and came out on the other side feeling accomplished. 

The second instance that called my attention to the anti-motivation devil on my shoulder was, surprisingly, a shout from a homeless man. During what was a pleasant run around Boston with Ben ended in annoyance after this man shouted at me "you don't need to keep running, you already look good". It peeved me because 1) getting catcalled is one of those frustrating and sometimes frightening realities of being a female runner and 2) I don't run to look good, my motivations are so much deeper and to assume that I'm only out there for superficial reasons is an icy insult to any runner. There is such a deeply entrenched social stereotype about women logging miles to chase impossible beauty standards. Some days I wish I could wear a t-shirt that screams "I'm running to be fast, not skinny!". But, sigh, I'll have to settle for giving the dirtiest looks (and the occasional snot rocket) in the direction of those irritating catcallers.

Recently I've come to realize that I had become too close of friends with the little voice in my head telling me to "take it easy". I get it. Not so long ago I ignored the voice telling me "you're too sick to work", but I succumbed to the pressure to work despite being sick, and got pneumonia. Before that it was "your shins are so sensitive, stop running!", but I convinced that voice that I just needed some soft trails. That I needed some cross-training and stretching. That I was standing up too much. And then, that I needed to only run on workout days and races, it was only a tibial stress reaction (read: pre-fracture) after all. And then, 1.5 track seasons later, the little voice screamed "if you won't listen to me, I'm gonna blow your calf up to the size of a grapefruit!". It did. And I listened. Crutches, a boot, some doctor appointments and lots of rehab later, I was back.

It wasn't all a loss; I gained the superb ability to listen to the warning signs. Nagging pains are not to be ignored and this led to some good things. Stretching! Icing! Hip strengthening! Proper form! But beyond that, the little voice told me when I needed a rest day, a shorter lift, to skip that last set, that last mile, that last push which turns you from a mediocre runner to a fast runner. 

Hold up! That last one is exactly what I'm trying to do. Run fast! Guess what little voice, your reign is over. Sure, I'll take your advice, but it's gonna have to swim through the boiling fury that is my racing blood. If your message is strong enough, I'll listen. If not, well, hold on for the ride because I'm not slowing down.

4x400m NE DIII's 2010

Sincerely,
Robyn "can't stop won't stop" Runner

January Jogs

Whatever happened to JanPlan? I seem to be enduring all the bad weather without the joys of being on Mayflower Hill with little responsibility. Jokes on you, cause I'm still a student and have had some fun January adventures. I started off the month with some neuroanatomy classes with the med students. Then, an 8 day adventure on the Cape! 8 full days of science camp! In the middle of January! The best time to be on the beach!
 >>> Disclaimer: some of the previous statements were facetious. Take your pick. <<<

Given our roughly 9am-10pm schedule, I was forced to run in the mornings. Blechhhhhhhhh
But, I made the most of it. I started off the trip by being blown backwards by 40mph winds. I managed to avoid the waves crashing over the storm walls. You'd think that was the most exciting run I had, but you're wrong! I also got into a standoff with two foxes. I arm wrestled one while putting the other into a headlock until they ran away. (Or maybe I yelled and clapped my hands like a fool until they ran off, most likely raising their little fox eyebrows at me). I have no proof of the fight, so you're gonna have to take my word for it. Anyways, I managed to bring my phone out on the very last morning and snap some pictures.

Proof I ran on the beach in January

Sometimes it's fun to look back

The other major development of January was me finally giving in and seeing a doctor about my asthma, which had become intolerable, incessant, and a huge pain in my...chest. I celebrated my first indoor workout that didn't result in a wheezing fest by sending a ridiculously over-excited snapchat, picture below...

Oh and there was also this big snowstorm that happened recently. Dunno if you'd heard about it, but it was kind of a big deal. Naturally, I went for a run in it. No excuses. Some guy even took a picture of me running, a little creepy, but I was ok with it.

Running in Boston Commons during Blizzard Juno

At least it was pretty. 

Thanks for reading! I hope that my ridiculous selfies haven't deterred you yet. I seriously need more running buddies so that I can stop looking like such a weirdo!

Sincerely,

Robyn "back on track" Runner

The Ever-Elusive Trifecta

Note: I actually wrote this post back in mid-January, but was distracted by visits from friends (yay Sarah and Colleen!), friends leaving (Abbott come back!), and interview preparations (yuck, business casual).

For some reason the phrase “ever-elusive” always make me think of one of my favorite Family Guy scenes: National Geographic special on Firetrucks. (Link below in case anyone has my same sense of humor)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTYXgHTzvz0

But back to me (blogging makes me feel self-absorbed sometimes), the trifecta is a silly little thing that I use to define the major components of my life: running, research, relationships. I'm usually a solid 2 for 3 (you don't want to see me at 1/3). Yeah, yeah, I'm a perfectionist, you caught me. It’s funny because I used to get so frustrated chasing the trifecta but it seemed nearly impossible that the three could co-exist. I ran my best cross country and track times when I was an emotional wreck. I accomplished some incredible things in the lab while I was nursing/ignoring/healing a stress fracture and subsequently falling from the top to the bottom quarter of the cross-country team as a senior.

Which brings me to now: at this crossroads of injury-free training, a month of interviewing for PhD neuroscience programs, and family and friends rooting for me. Based on my trifecta theory, I start wondering where will it crack? My bet is on the running (it usually is). In this case it’s not a matter of being out-of-shape or injured, it’s my geographical disadvantage. What’s a girl gotta do to get into a race around here?!

I’ve been trying, unsuccessfully, to get on the track for nearly a month and a half now for a post-collegiate racing debut in the mile. Unfortunately, the running community down here in Balto is just so much sparser and there are practically no opportunities to race something shorter than a half. I tried to race at a U of Maryland Invitational but they “didn’t have space” for me. I call BS because I know an alum who was let in to race the men’s mile, but whatever. On the plus side, I feel like I’ve got the speed back in my legs and plan on trucking along until I can race (hopefully) in an outdoor meet in March/April.

OK – enough of my complaining. Having a lack of race opportunities is hardly cause for whining (and would be majorly insensitive of me given that my poor comrade is healing a broken leg right now). It’s just that my racing blood’s a boilin’ and I want nothing more than to get cranking on the oval. My consolation prize… it seems as though I bestowed upon Baltimore the gift of New England winter weather. Payback? I like to think so.