Day 3, Week 9: A speed work FAQ: Get faster by running faster

So, you know, speed work this morning on the treadmill.  No big deal.

Big deal: Commencing

No, really, it was a big deal, and for a few reasons.  First, it's a big deal because I actually got up and did the workout.  What I wanted to do most in the world this morning at 5 AM was stay all snuggled up on the recliner with a dog next to me and a hot mug of coffee in my hands.  And then the dog abandoned me (the jerk) to go sleep with the hubbs upstairs so I decided to get off my keister and get moving.

A second reason it was a big deal is because I crushed the hardest part of this workout.  I had to do a 1000, 2000, 1000, 1000 workout with 400m rest intervals.  It was that 2000 I was dreading.  I experience the weirdest mental anguish at the though of running over 1200m on the treadmill during speed workouts, you see...so to mange this one I just convinced myself that the first 1000 would be a nice little warm-up for that 2000m interval.  And it pretty much was, because I sailed through that sucker of a 2000m.  In fact, I ran a little over 2000m because I was in such a nice running groove I forgot to keep track of where I was in the interval on the blinky little treadmill oval.

A third reason this workout was yooge is because of this picture:

Surfed right through that interval, baby.

And a fourth is because the dog came back downstairs while I was treadmilling and put on his super-duper sad "why are you running on the treadmill without me when we could be running together outside you big fat human jerk" face and aimed it at my back while I was running.

This will cost you one pair of underwear.

Enough about this workout's yoogeness.  Let's talk about speedwork itself.  I get asked a lot about these workouts, so I put together a little FAQ for your viewing pleasure.  (Note: Please remember I am bad at writing FAQs, but I don't really care because I like writing them.)

What is a speed workout, anyway?

Well, it's also known as a track workout where you run certain distances at a much faster-than-normal pace (otherwise known as "my lungs are about to burst" pace) around a track.  But these days you don't need to find a track to do these--you just need a GPS watch and a safe place outside to run or, like me, a treadmill inside on which to run.  The GPS watch is so you can keep track of your distances and get a kink in your neck from looking at it constantly.


Why would you want to torture yourself doing speed work, anyway?  Running is hard enough as it is, isn't it?

You'd think so, but stupid runners such as myself would like to make running even harder by running fast for short time periods!  This is so we can get faster for races so we can done faster so we can go home and sleep before anyone else.  And to get our medals and post-race bananas faster.


Do I have to do speed work to get faster?  

Well, I can only answer this question by telling you the story of the time I really really REALLY wanted to run a half marathon under 2 hours.  I kept running longer and longer distances at a slow pace during training and then tried to run fast during the race and it NEVER EVER WORKED.  I didn't even come close to breaking two hours until I started adding speed work into my training mix.  At first it was a few 400s, then I found a plan with speed work every week, and then ker-BAM I broke that 2 hour barrier, baby.

So my answer, I guess, is this-you don't have to do them, but to get faster in races, you gotta run faster during training.


OK, I get it - to get faster, run faster.  But what if I don't have time for speed work in my current training plan?

Make the time.  Seriously.  Change up an easy run into a 6 x 400m workout.  Replace that 6 miler with a tempo run.  Or just magically add a day to the week and do it then-easy peasy.


Now, back up and explain all these numbers you keep tossing around.  Like what the heck did you do this morning with all your 1000s and 2000s???

OK.  Sorry.  I just love tossing numbers out.  Like I said in the first part of this post, I did a 1000, 2000, 1000, 1000 workout with 400m repeats.  Don't let those numbers intimidate you, unless you like being intimidated by runner lingo like that.  Here's what happened during the workout:

1) I ran a one mile warm-up.
2) I ran 1000 meters (0.62 miles) at a 7:53 pace and hated every minute of it because I had a side-stitch going on.
3) I walked for 400m (0.25 miles) at whatever the hell pace I wanted.
4) I ran for 2000 meters (1.24 miles) at an 8:13 pace and sailed right through that sucker.
5) I walked for 400m again at whatever pace tickled my fancy.
6) Repeat steps #2 and #3 without the annoying side-stitch.
7) Jump off the treadmill before the cat jumps on and demands rubs.

All of the track workouts are usually in meters, but they have this awesome new thing called "Google" where you can type the conversion in the search bar and WHAMMO you have it in miles. The wonders of modern technology-who needs conversion factors, anyway?  They also usually specify how log your recoveries are as well, either in minutes or in meters.

By the way, common speed workouts like this are 8 x 400 (this means you run eight 400m repeats), 4 x 1200m (run four 1200m repeats), and 3 x 1600m (run an entire mile really really fast three times).


Wait...how do you know how fast to run, crazy woman?

It's dictated to me by my training plan (Run Less, Run Faster).  Most training plans will be nice to you and give you some pace reference to follow (i.e., 10K pace, 5K pace, half marathon pace, I have a side-stitch and am just hanging on pace, etc.).  If you don't have a training plan...you should.


I don't have any more questions.  How can we end this post?

I'll put an annoying list of supposed learnings right below this so people will know to click away now.  I will also put in a random picture of my cat.

Post over.  Scram.

Just so many learnings today:

• I'm getting rather fond of taking stupid pictures on the treadmill.  You have been warned.
• To get faster, you have to run faster.  There are no shortcuts.  Sorry.
• Speed work is hard.  But when you cross that finish line and collapse after hitting your time goal, the pain and suffering will taste like sweet, sweet victory.
• Halfway through the workout I realized I had my tank top on inside-out.  This is what happens when you get dressed in the 5 AM dark.
• When I listed out what happened in the workout I left out all the trips to the bathroom.  You're welcome.

Tomorrow's workout: Probably a 3 mile easy run to shake the naughty out of the dog.  We'll see.

Day 2, Week 9: Working out with pets in the house: (Un)helpful tips

This morning's workout was Cathe's Total Body Tri-Sets, which nearly killed me with its cornucopia of different annoying versions of push-ups.  It's a good thing I had the cat there to inspire me with all his hard work and effort, or else I never would have gotten through the workout.

Hyooman.  Chest to floor, slacker.

Hyooman push-ups...so laughable.

If you couldn't tell, I do my weight workouts in the comfort of my crappy little living room.  It's not very big, but I make it work--you have to use the space you have to get those workouts done.  I also have to make it work around four crazy animals, all of whom are under the age of two and think my workout time is play time.  So, how do you work out with young playful animals around?  Let me give you some of my helpful non-helpful tips:


Tip One: Locate the animal who has been nominated as supervisor and get into his good graces by smothering him with kisses.  That way he'll let you cheat on your push-ups later.

Tip Two:  Take selfies with the animals to put off doing all those pesky push-ups.

Tip Three: Scatter equipment about the floor to make it look like you have already worked out to fool any animal that might want to jump on you during push-ups or while doing your box jumps.

Tip Four: Never stop moving during your workout.  Someone is always waiting for you to stop long enough to demand rubs.

Hyooooman...need rubs now.  During push-ups.

Tip Five: Smiling dogs will always think you're playing during plyometrics/HiiT and try and knock you over and jump on your box step.  Never trust them when they're in your workout area.  EVER.

Dog be like "I did it once and I'll do it again lolololol"

And finally, Tip Six: Always share the joy of a good recovery.

Learnings:

• Can you tell I didn't have a lot of time to post today?  Yeah, you can tell.
• Can you also tell I hate push-ups?  I do.  I really really do.  Especially soldier push-ups.  Buh.
• It's a rare workout in the living room that is animal-free.
• It's never a good workout in the living room that ends with a cat hanging by its claws from your shoelaces.

Tomorrow's workout: Treadmill Tuesday! Lots of 1000m repeats with a 2000m thrown in just for laughs!  And tears!

Day 1, Week 9: Sycamore Pumpkin Run Chaos--Taco Dogs Everywhere

The workout on the training plan was for 15 miles.  That didn't exactly happen today because of two reasons:

1) I ran a 10K race this morning way faster than I should have run it, and
2) While the wedding food last night was amazing, it wasn't so amazing waking up early and running a race.  Or 9 more miles after that.  Ugh.

The 10K race, as I mentioned yesterday, is one I like to do with the dogs in costume because, you know, dogs in costume plus running = all sorts of awesome.  Here's a nice pre-race picture for you where neither of the dogs is looking at the camera because we simply gave up trying to get them to look at the camera.  If you take our dogs anywhere but home, the attention deficit starts ramping up to 11 and you can forget about getting their attention at all.

It was in the 30s at the start, hence the hat and gloves.  But holy cow did I warm up that taco costume nicely by mile 2.  The gloves came off at mile 3, and it was all I could do not to rip my hat off by mile 4.  It was only the thought of how crazy my short hair gets when it's been shoved in a hat that stopped me; I didn't want to hurt anyone with the sight of me, after all.  So I sucked it up and ran with my large taco dog, who of course didn't pull me at all like he normally does and upstaged me at every spectator spot.  It was all "OH LOOK AT THE CUTE TACO DOG....and a taco running with him" every. single. time.

The hubbs sacrificed his morning to go to this race with me, mainly to look after the small taco dog while the large one and I were on the course.

But his other job was race photographer, which he dutifully did even though small taco dog took off after his brother at the end of the race and caused the hubbs to fall, tearing up his knee.

This is the EXACT MOMENT all taco hell broke loose for the hubbs.

I heard the commotion and looked back to see the hubbs on the ground and small taco dog running around freely about the course.  So I did what any dutiful wife would do--keep running until I hit the finish and then go check on him.  Priorities, people.

The other thing I had to deal with during this race besides rogue taco dogs and falling husbands was what was going on with my stomach. A combination of last night's wedding food and me having to pee right before the race yet not hitting the port-a-john caused a huge knot in my stomach at mile 2. This knot didn't let up until 3 hours after I got home.  It also prevented me from doing the last 9 miles of my scheduled run, as I kept starting those miles but kept having to turn back after about a quarter of a mile to use my own indoor facilities.  So I decided to listen to my body and stay near a toilet for the rest of the evening.

What did large taco dog do for the rest of the evening?  His usual "it looks like I'm guarding the house with the cat but it's really just a ruse so I can eat the cat's head when he least expects it" activities.

The cat's head is never safe.  

Small dog came home and held his favorite gator captive to tell him all about the fun chaos he caused this morning.

I didn't have time for holding gators captive- I had to look at my splits and say bad words because I ran this way too fast...and I'm feeling it now.

Race day learnings coming your way:

• That costume was not aerodynamic at all and provided you with no peripheral vision.  Sorry, all you runners that I cut off without seeing you today.
• I am so bummed about not finishing the scheduled workout for today.  But my legs are not.
• Small taco dog also slipped his collar after the race started and bolted towards the course again.  Troublemaker.
• You know that runner rule that says "don't eat food that isn't familiar to you the night before a race?"  Yeah, that one is there for a reason, kids.
• Everyone should have a captive toy gator to which to tell their troubles.  The world would be a much nicer place, I'm sure.

Tomorrow's workout:  Upper-body weight goodness.  And I may do some miles to make up for today's loss of mileage due to gastrointestinal crises.  We'll see!

Day 7, Week 8: Weights, a Wedding, Pizza and Tacos.

I got my Cathe on again this morning with my usual Total Body Giant Sets workout.  I know I teased everyone yesterday with the idea that maybe I might so something different for my Saturday weight workout, but nope--I really wanted to do the barbell routines in this workout.  Sorry if I got anyone's hopes up there.

The cat, as usual, was unimpressed.  The dogs, as usual, were doubting my sanity.  A lot of runner people I know have doubts about weight lifting in general.  But I truly believe (especially after my last training cycle where I suprisingly placed first female in a duathlon) that strength has a place in increasing your overall fitness and in making you a better runner.  Plus, I know it helped a lot in making the "after" photo look like it does in the picture below.

So, in sum: Weight lifting is good for you.  Do it.

Anyway, after all that lifting goodness, I had to get all spruced up for a lovely fall wedding straight out of the pages of Pinterest.

See, I told you--PINTEREST.

You don't have to tell me twice to take a selfie.

What's a wedding selfie without some devil hands?

It was once of the nicest weddings I've ever attended, but we had to leave before the dancing started because the I will not allow the hubbs to dance in public and be a danger to others and because we had to get home and prep for a race tomorrow-a local 10K that is an annual tradition 'round these parts.  It's called the Sycamore Pumpkin Run, and last year the pups and I got into the Halloween spirit and dressed in costumes that captured the essence of spookiness that is Halloween--we were pizza.

The spookiest damn pizza you've ever seen.

This year we are running as another popular food item.  Below is a preview for you; I promise tomorrow there will be so many pictures like this but, like, with me actually racing with the large dog outside that you will want to puke up that very same food item. 

We love learnings:

• I'm blogging tired again.  Please excuse any nonsensical writings.
• Everyone should own a barbell.  Really.
• I just realized that those two photos of me were taken 10 years apart. 
• Barn weddings are my new thing.
• Seriously-tomorrow's post is going to be a taco dog extravaganza.

Tomorrow's workout: Running taco dogs.  And lots of pictures of them.

Day 6, Week 8: Taking the large dog running > holes in my drywall later.

The training plan this morning said "10 miles at MP (marathon pace)." And then, after reading that, I died.

Just kidding.  I'm alive, I promise.  But I always freak out at workouts like this during the week, like I completely forgot that I was training for a marathon or something.  It's because I'm a moron, as I'm sure I've stated before.

I always think that I can't do workouts like this.  I was all "GAWD I don't know if I can do ten WHOLE miles at MARATHON pace for crying out loud these training plan people are INSANE" even though I will have to run 26.2 miles at that VERY SAME PACE in December.  After noting this incongruence, I then rolled my own eyes at myself and proceeded to petulantly stomp upstairs to get dressed.  Large dog followed me just in case I might be putting on running clothes and did his best pathetic if-you-go-running-I-want-to-go-too pose.

Patheticness Factor: 1000

As I was wondering what to wear, I looked outside and saw the wind.  It was hard not to see, because the trees were bending right in front of it and it looked very cold and very hard to run 10 miles at marathon pace in.  It's at that moment that I considered my options:

1. Scrap the run and go have more coffee in the recliner because...hey! More coffee!
2. Do the run later when the wind dies down this afternoon...*checks weather app*...and it's not going to die down this afternoon. *insertbadwordshere*
3. Suck it up, buttercup, and get out there and do as many miles as you can.  And take the large dog with you because misery loves company.

Seeing that option #3 was pretty much my only option because doing the run later is always a lie for me and the small dog had already claimed the recliner as his for the rest of the morning, I got dressed for a freaking cold and windy run using my usual running fashion sense.

I got the large dog in his running gear and off we went, running the same one mile loop eight times.  We have to do the same loop because that loop is a dog-free zone (except for the large dog, of course). You see, I live in the country and everyone has dogs that run off-leash, sometimes causing me to have to decide which leg I'm going to let them have if they catch up to me while I'm being chased.  This mile through town isn't one where I have to worry about having to force the large dog to make that same decision.

To make the run more bearable, I decided on a wind-coping strategy: slow down.  If you look at the mile route up above, you'll notice that I end up running in all directions (NSEW) at some point.  Since the wind was coming from the west, I decided I would slow down when I was running into the wind, and speed up when it was at my back or coming from the side.  It worked, because check out these sexy splits:

Now, I know what you're thinking.  You're thinking, "ZOMG your marathon pace is around a 9 minute mile???  Are you a crazy woman?"  While the crazy is obvious, my marathon pace is not, alas, a 9 minute mile.  It's a 9:20 min/mile pace.  So way to go me for running too fast.  As usual.  Only this time it was too fast in 18 mph winds, because I am a moron.  But the cat sure seemed impressed when she was watching us run.

Hyooman faster than I thought.  Will note that in plan to
kill her when her usefulness ends.

And I even know something else you're thinking.  You're thinking, "How many pictures of her damn animals does she need?"  

He asks me that same question all the time.

You're also wondering why I only ran 8 miles instead of 10.  Well, that's because I took too long farting around trying to decide if I was actually going to do the run that I got into a bit of time crunch. But the run got did, even if it was 2 miles short.  Remember, some workout is better than no workout.

And also remember that making the large dog happy and wearing him out is better than having him chew holes in the drywall later.

Post learnings comin' at ya:

• When I tell myself I can't do a run at a certain distance or pace, it's pretty much a lie.  Just like my "I'll do that run after work" lie.
• If you ever run with large dog into the wind, he stops pulling you like a sled dog and makes you, like, actually run without assistance.  The jerk.
• Running a one-mile loop 8 times by the same houses in the neighborhood sure makes the neighbors start questioning your sanity.
• The dogs tell me that drywall is an acquired taste.

Tomorrow's workout: More weight-lifting goodness.  Maybe I'll get crazy and do a different workout than I usually do on a Saturday.  Stay tuned!

Day 5, Week 8: Watch out for the phone dump.

One might say this is an alternative post rather than a real post.  I don't have time today to sit down and write my usual lengthy facetious garbage for you, so instead I decided to do a phone dump of the day, caption all the pictures with something insanely funny (hopefully), and hope for the best.  Enjoy!

When your day starts by being woken up by the small dog squeaking
his squeaker toy over and over and over you get a little crazy.

Hyooman.  Been getting yooge too.  Only not with
weights.

When's the best time for kitty rubs?  During squats, of course.

Recovering from his workout of eating all the dog food.

If I didn't include a pic of her in this post she may kill me in
my sleep.

The view of the "rock garden," as I call it, from my office.

Thumbs up for the rock garden!

Thumbs down for still being at work until 6 PM almost most nights
this week.

The joy of learning is below:

• I take way too many pictures.
• But my pictures are just too awesome to stay trapped on my phone.
• I'll write a real post tomorrow, I promise.

Tomorrow's workout: A 10 mile run at marathon pace.  I know, I was all like WHAAAA???? too.  

Day 4, Week 8: Runner Hassles & Bad Morning Run Outfits

Surprise!  I did a run this morning instead of weights!

Since I had to work super late last night I got up a tad late this morning, so a shorter workout was in order.  Hence, a 3-miler out in the 30 degree (!) weather at 5:35 AM darkness was had by all.  Well, not all.  Just me and the large dog.  Who was obviously quite pleased about this.

When I came inside I got hassled by the hubbs for the state of my running outfit.

The dog is so excited by my outfit he's gone all blurry.

The cat hassled me with his face.

Hyooman. This my "your clothes hurt me" face.

As a runner, I often get hassled a lot about a variety of things.  Let us count the ways, shall we?

1) Running in the cold.  Yes, I run in the cold even though I have a treadmill.  Why?  Because runs over about 8 miles on the treadmill start fragmenting what's left of my sanity.  I'd rather risk losing fingers than lose what's left of my grip on reality.

2) Running in the cold AND snow.  If you're running out in the country like I do and the snow starts falling, it's all quiet and beautiful and one-with-the-universey.  But after that snow has sat for a few days being dirtied up by passing traffic and getting packed into snow speed-bumps on the road, it then becomes a huge pain in the patootie.  But I'd still rather strap on the Yak Trax and get the run done outside than get on the treadmill to nowheresville.

3) Running in the rain.  Yes, if it's raining I go out and run.  I haven't melted yet.  I fact, I've hit some damn fine PRs in the rain.  My first marathon was run completely in the rain.

That shirt came to my waist at the start.  This is mile 25.

4) I'm ruining my knees.  No I'm not.  My knees are stronger than ever, especially since I strengthen the muscles around them.  My curse is shin splints, not bad knees.

5) You run alone??? You're going to get abducted!  Hasn't happened yet, and there's been plenty of opportunity for the cows and horses I see all the time to hatch a plan.  Maybe they're waiting for opposable thumbs or something before they grab me.  I do try to mix up my times and routes, though, to foil any nefarious plans those farm animals may have.

6) Oh-running is why your thighs are so huge.  Seriously?!?  Don't make me come over there.

7) You run?  But you don't have the body of a runner.  Alright.  That's it.  I'm coming over there. 

Learning is fun--here it comes:

• My mother once asked me if I got dressed for running in the dark after seeing me come home from an early morning run.  For reals.
• Speaking of mothers, she's the only one that can say #s 6 & 7 and not walk away injured.
• Really, never utter #6 & 7 to a female runner.  Unless you want to find out how those kickboxing classes she's taking are going.
• Basically, for me running outside > running inside > not running at all.  So quit hassling me about weather already.
• By the way, that running vest rocks (Brooks), even if my tights were all Saggy McSaggerson.

Tomorrow's workout: Weights for reals, I promise.

Day 3, Week 8: More facetious garbage masquerading as running tips

I did NOT want to do my speed workout this morning.  Well, let me clarify that statement a bit-I wanted to do speed work; I just didn't want to do the workout on the training plan: a 4 x 1200m workout.  My legs felt sufficiently recovered from the long run on Sunday, but I just didn't want to run for 3 little circles on the display four times really really fast.  I would have gladly done twenty-five 400s instead of those four long-ish repeats.  But the cat wouldn't let me out of those 1200s.

Hyooman.  Get out of my office and onto the thing
where you run to nowhere.

So I did the workout, and I have to say it wasn't the best 1200m repeat workout I've ever done.  I had a splitting headache for some reason and just wasn't feeling it.  And by "not feeling it" I mean "kinda phoning it in."  It all began with me taking 25 full minutes of manufactured slowness to get into my treadmill duds, turn on the treadmill, get my headphones on, and turn on the treadmill. Then I kept having to stop during repeats to do various things way more important than running the repeat, such as blow my nose, pick up a foam roller that fell off a shelf in another room, tell the hubbs several times he needed to get up, and change the track on my headset when I could have easily done it while still running by actually touching the phone literally right in front of me.

Intensely pathetic, I know.  I even left evidence of this patheticness on my Garmin.

Now, that doesn't look *too* pathetic until you look at this:

See all those little downward spikes?  There's evidence of my phoning-it-in-ness.  But I can still take comfort in the fact that I did actually do the first repeat without stopping.  I guess.  And the speed work was sufficient as to call the animals to me after it was all over.

What can I say--if you sweat it, they will come.

So, as you can see, I went through the motions this morning.  But what about those of you that don't want to go through the motions on those days when the run you should get done isn't exactly tickling your running fancy?  What should you do?  Well, here are some things I've tried in the past:

1) Shorten the workout.  Chop off some miles or repeats if you feel the need.  For example, I could have done only 2 or three repeats this morning instead of all four.  But I know that during my marathon I would have irrationally blamed any suffering I would have experienced on not doing those last two repeats and then sat down in defeat at mile 15 or something.  So this doesn't usually work for me.

2) Lengthen the recoveries (if your workout has recovery intervals). Extend your recoveries by a little bit to give yourself a little mental boost by thinking things like "I got an extra 30 seconds of walking NOW I CAN TAKE ON THAT NEXT MILE REPEAT MUHAHAHA!"  This doesn't work for me, however, because all I think is "GAWD I can't believe those 30 seconds are up already and I have to, like, RUN now."

3) Insert recovery intervals/walk breaks.  Have to run a bajillion miles and not want to shorten the run?  Insert some short walk breaks in each mile.  If I choose to do this, I usually do 4 minutes of running an 1 minute of walking.  Unless the marathon has broken me and then I end up sobbing while walking for 4 minutes and shuffle-running for one minute.

4) Tell yourself you'll do the workout later.  Do this only if you'll, like, actually do it later.  I used to do this all the time until my brain finally realized it was always a big fat lie and that was just my way of saying "I just want to sleep in and drink coffee before getting ready for work."  And then when I got home from work I'd get into running clothes and fall asleep in the recliner. 

5) Do the workout you want to do.  Screw the training plan--sometimes you just gotta do your own running thing, amirite?


And now it is time to summarize the learning from this post:

• The cats pretty much run the place.  They let the dogs think they're in charge.
• I'm awesome at phoning in a run.  No one does it better.
• After the cool down on the treadmill I spend the next 5 minutes trying to get animals off the treadmill and away from my sweat.
• Those tips for getting your workout done started out halfway serious but they devolved in facetious garbage rather quickly.  You're welcome.

Tomorrow's workout:  It's all cold and stuff outside now so weights it is tomorrow.

Day 2, Week 8: Running is as boring as you make it.

This morning I woke up pretty stiff from my long run yesterday.  My Achilles tendons were particularly cranky this morning, but a bit of stumbling about the house in search of coffee loosened those suckers right up. 

As I was having my coffee, I was told that it was time to get my arse out of the recliner and get to lifting the heavy weights.

Hyooman. Get out of my chair.

So I did.  I was going to do Total Body Tri Sets from Cathe's Low Impact Series, but I was a tad short on time so I did Ramped Up Upper Body again from her Strong and Sweaty Series and skipped all of the exercises she does with the resistance bands except all those crazy shoulder circles during the shoulder segment.  (You always have time for a workout! Make the time you have work for you!) Since the dogs were asleep upstairs with the hubbs, the male cat was in charge of supervising the workout.  And that was fine with me, seeing as he kicked me out of the chair to begin with.

"Hyooman.  I sees you.  No slacking."

You know what's funny about lifting weights?  I never ever hear anyone talk about how boring they think it is.  I always, however, hear people talk about how boring running is.  "How can you run for hours and hours and not be bored???"  Well, first of all, I believe running is as boring as you make it.  Second, you gotta find what keeps your mind as well as your legs moving, and don't be afraid to switch it up because, you know, variety and all.  Here are some things I do to make my runs less boring:

1) Listen to the right music.  And by "right" I mean "whatever is right for you."  What's right for me is upbeat senseless pop music and driving full-force techno.  Two of my fave finish line songs?  Katy Perry's E.T.  and Temple by BlasterJaxx.  Some might call this weird...I like to think of my musical tastes as highly diversified.

2) Podcasts!  I have recently come to the love that is podcasts, and while political podcasts are generally my go-to listening pleasure, there are two others that I love: Criminal with Phoebe Judge and this one to which I am currently binge-listening at every opportunity because who doesn't like creepy stories that are based on truth?

3) Unplug once in a while, will ya?  I run in the country all by my lonesome, where usually I just have cows, a few horses, and the random farm dog that chases me down the road for company.  On the more gorgeous days, sometimes I turn off whatever it is I'm listening to and just listen to the world around me, taking in the gorgeousness and peacefulness.

Well, I unplug until a car almost hits me or a dog starts chasing me, anyway.  Then I definitely need some auditory therapy.

4) Get chased by goats.


Oh the learnings:

• How can you be bored by running when there is always a chance you can get chased by farm animals?
• No matter how crazily I dress to be seen, a car will always not see me and almost hit me.
• Lore freaking rocks.  Go listen to this ear crack NOW.
• Don't judge my musical tastes.  I see you over there, Judgy McJudgerson.
• Have you figured out yet that I do only Cathe workouts?  If not, I just let the cat out of the bag for you.

Tomorrow's workout: Speed, baby.  A 4 x 1200m workout.  I'm hoping for no side-stitches--fingers crossed!