June 30th, 2010
We finally got a break today: 67 degrees with low humidity and a breeze. I mentioned to my 3:20 forum friends how funny it is that in the Spring, I’d have thought 67 was uncomfortably hot. Now, it’s heavenly.
So…yesterday I did 8 w/hill sprints (been a long time since I did those) and today was 10mi with six 2-min fartleks. It took me a couple to get to speed and I avoided looking at the Garmin till after each one was over, so paces are goofy: 6:58, 6:55, then 6:35, 6:32, 6:40, 6:37. Recoveries went from 1:28 to 1:47 (one longer when I stopped to get a drink). All in all, a fair 12 minutes of speed, not fabulous but good for getting back into it.
More Sleepy Thoughts
Since that last post about sleep, I’ve been reading more on the subject; its recovery properties, athletic articles, regular people articles and I am kicking myself in the head for not paying attention sooner. This small thing is no small thing. Though I can’t imagine why I ever thought it was.
Going from 6 to 8 hours is huge! When you do the math, two hours comes out to 8% of a day, that’s a substantial chunk of life. Now, I can see that time being more valuable spent awake than asleep if I had kids or a big fancy job, but I don’t. I’ve been spending that 8% putzing around! What. A. Waste.
Of course, it’s very much a work in progress – adding 2 hours is a lot so I’m currently in the lie-there-forever-before-falling-asleep stage. Last night, this was exacerbated by an hour of helicopters buzzing around and then some sporadic waking, so I still only got 6-6½ hours. But I’m ok with this, life changes take time and that is something I’ve got plenty of.
Oh, and here’s an unexpected bonus about going to bed early: I’m eating less. Getting my ass on the bed by 9pm for 10pm shut-eye means 3 less hours to snack. And since I’m on this scarily healthful kick of fruit salad for dessert and evening snack, I have a feeling optimum race weight is going to find itself with little or no input from me. Add to this: improved recovery, alertness, motivation and mood elevation…what’s not to love?
Well, ok, what I don’t love is it makes me feel old going to bed so early, but this will change when it gets cooler in the Fall. For now, they say to stick to a rigid schedule, which makes sense, so I’ve picked 10pm to sleep and 5:30am to rise, eventually 6am if weather permits.
Who is this stranger inhabiting my body, anyway? Honestly, I’ve no idea. I’ve heard she’s a close relation to this bad girl…not sure I believe it, though.
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Happy sleeping Flo
I’m off to bed. I love sleep!
ok, that picture is awesome.
Fear not, I am younger than you and I’m in bed by 10:30 almost every night.
I didn’t know you were such an early to bed gal. That makes me feel much less grandmotherly. Good.
Sleep is my best friend!
I try for 10 o’clock most nights when I’m getting up to run the next morning. A little later if it’s an evening run the next day. I don’t always succeed. Thanks for the reminder of how important it is to get enough sleep!
if i had my way i’d be in bed by 1030 every night. even when i was still in college that’s what i wanted. sadly i always seem to have a lot of work to do so i need that 8% of my life for non-sleeping stuff.
and i woke up this morning and was almost cold. i didn’t realize that it was going to get cooler so i was like, “christmas morning!” haha
10pm, even on weekends. The chick in the photo at the bottom is giving me the “come hither” stare. I’m afraid.
Glad you are experiencing a break in the weather and getting to enjoy the nice temperatures during your workouts. I also am one of those people who is in bed before 10:00 most nights. I just can’t hang like I used to!!
I try to be in bed by 8:30 every night. I do much better when I succeed.
I think we’d have partied well together back in the day.
Glad to hear so many of you are into sleep! I’m honored to join your club.
RTI, too funny, though at that age (21ish), there’d have been nothing to be afraid of. Now is when you should worry.
Troy, I’m sure you’d have been an excellently fun partner in crime (and now you’ve an 8:30 bedtime…my how we change).
I was up until 3am last night and awake @6:20. Problem? All signs point to yes.
Good luck on getting on track. I’m with you on hating the stage where you lay awake for what seems like forever.
What, you didn’t go out for a run? ;-) For the record, I’m not hating the lay awake part right now because I know it’s a necessary evil. If I was up at 3am though, I’d be hating it sumpin’ bad.
Wicked photo! 9:30 or thereabouts is my time for bed. But I get up super-early so I’m not doing that well, sleep-wise.
I try and get to bed at least by 10 – but always feel much better when I get a little more sleep. I wake at 5:30.
You might be getting even cooler temps (I am from WI). This morning it was 51 when I ran – it was BEAUTIFUL. It was such a relief after the past couple of weeks when the morning temp’s were in the high 60′s and the humidity was high.
My sis and I are in bed by 10pm usually. We used to stay up much later when we went to school in NY but we would start nodding off, especially linds. Haha she would be asleep on the table with all our friends around
I love the 80′s picture!
You SO nailed the late night snacking thing. I’ve been trying to get to bed about an hour earlier than I was (so, 9:30ish instead of 10:30-11), and I was so guilty of that really craptastic eating right before bedtime. It’s motivation to keep getting to bed early when you’re passed out at the time when the late night munchies take hold.
Yeah, this is major! I’m shocked that I couldn’t eat as much if I tried, since the time before bed is now so abbreviated. And it’s not like you want to eat more the next morning, that seems the same. Really cool.
Might have to buy cookies again since there’s only so many I’ll be able to stuff my face with.
On second thought, I’m interested to see how the fruit thing plays out.
Wow, picture! I bet you are aren’t afraid to show you at YOUR high school reunion, huh? (LOL, joking). You were still cute as a button, but just not the svelte (sp?), athletic babe you are today. Sleep- interesting topic, as I am currently having some major, serious issues in this department. It is not uncommon for me to only get 3 hours! Yeah, I lay down and my mind spins forever until I drift off about 3 hours later, only to wake up one bazillion times. FUn stuff, huh? Have you heard or tried melatonin? My mom is trying to force-feed it to me, so just curious.
Lol! I was so not cute as a button! I’ve definitely had my share of reunion revenge, no worries about “joking”…that photo sucks! Which is why I put it up there. :-)
LOVE melatonin, but only the sublingual kind, the regular tablets don’t work for me. I’ve been using it some to get into this new sleep schedule and it works great. Also, I just ordered this to help further. I hope you get it resolved because you NEED sleep, Rebecca. I would kill someday or cry all day if I only got 3 hours.
My tips: get in bed an hour before sleep time and read or listen to music, just wind down. If your mind starts to race, fight it! Consciously try to think of emptiness. Also, relax your face, really make your jaw, your cheeks go slack. You’ll be shocked how much tension you carry there and it really helps to loosen it up while you’re laying there.