Posts Tagged ‘video’

So those hip exercises I linked to in the last post are da Bomb! I honestly didn’t think they’d do much for me, they seemed too easy and I’ve never lacked in the hip-action department (let’s just say I’m a really good dancer ).

I did a sampling of them on Tuesday along with a few of these cool dynamic stretches, then I did the hip exercises before my interval session on Wednesday and by that evening, I was aching in places I didn’t know I had.  I actually woke up in the middle of the night with my hips screaming at me. This a wonderful sign! It means I really do need them. The more I think about how it all connects to the core and posture and lengthening of the stride, the more excited I am to work on it.

Revealing my Ugly
Consider this a public service announcement.  In some weird, twisted, masochistic way.

Life continues, the hamstring is getting better daily.  This week has been 7, 8 and a 9-miler today, each one picking up speed (I’m pacing to the injury, not going above whisper status).  Today I hit normal paces, so that was nice.   As for the Friday’s speedwork,  I think I’ll be pushing it to Saturday or even Sunday.  I need at least one day (better yet, two) where I feel perfect before challenging it.

On to the video…

For all you water-carrying individuals who find your bottles get harder and harder to open, this little tip from the kitchen will save your teeth and keep your bottles in tip-top shape.  Extra bonus features: a zit on my left cheek and a variety of unattractive grimaces…all yours for free!  Enjoy.

No, this is not another tired video about running drills, nutrition or hill sprints.  It’s time to get real and tackle the truly important subjects that we, as runners, must face on a daily basis in an effort to make a difference in the sport.  Like neatening up your headphone cord.

Note: I feel it’s important to remain consistent in the videos I present to you, so I made sure you get the same low quality you’ve come to expect.  You even get an added bonus with this one because I didn’t realize auto-focus was changing the lighting, so crossing my fingers…no epileptic seizures for you!   Until I get paid for this shyte, I’m not sweatin’ the particulars – it’s just fun.

Btw, if you want better quality, change the settings on the video from 360p to 480p (at the bottom of the YouTube playback window…it’ll sound way better).

Got My Insurance Bill
…via email today from the heatstroke 5K.
Hospital charges for ER + one-night stay: $34,988 (plus $600 in incidentals)
What the insurance company turns it into: $4760 (gee, somebody must know someone)
What they’re charging me: $150 in copays and another $150 for the releasing doctor to say I could leave.  The second $150 is total bullshit (I’m appealing it), as is the whole inflated pricing system.  I really don’t get the health system and never will.

The Sleep Nazi’s New Gadget
I’m loving my new-found affair with sleep – I swear, I feel rejuvenated and motivated again (thus the new video).   This is serious stuff!

So wouldn’t you know, after 7 months of nobody living above me, I finally got a new neighbor: a sweet, petite young woman who volunteered she’s “never around”…music to my ears.  That said, although she steps way lighter then the asshole did, the floors are always going to creak and I can hear stuff through the walls (not just hers).

So…I ordered this very cool white noise machine.  It’s got 1000 reviews and people love the thing – many of them apartment dwellers with my exact scenario.  Granted, I’m not thrilled about replacing sound with sound, but if it makes sleeping easier and deeper, I’m all for it.  I’ll keep you posted when I get it.

The Hot Week Ahead
It’s going to be a challenge with another heatwave of 100s and 90s.  I also pulled something in my groin on Saturday’s run which is still hanging about despite yesterday’s rest day, so hopefully it’ll be fine by the time I need to run hard, though considering the temps, we’ll see how hard “hard” is.  I had to bag my hill sprints today which bummed me out, but I’ll do them later in the week.

Be careful everyone, get out there early as you can, drink up and don’t be macho with your paces.

My Garmin Is Sexier Than Yours
I started getting a ton of traffic yesterday to my Anatomy Of A Well-Loved Garmin post.  Apparently, there’s a fetish site called Watch Girls based on women wearing large watches.  Someone on their forum linked to that post with my full name included and a note that it’s an American blog.  It’s definitely a foreign proclivity, hardly any hits from the USA but the rest of the world is well represented, and they’re still coming in droves.  Check out their Models page -- too funny!

What Happened At Yesterday’s Race
My finish time was an entire minute slower than expected.  Now esplain me this, Lucy:  just 10 days before the race, I did a 3mi tempo run in 21:06 in 75 degree temps.  That’s a pace of 7:02 compared to yesterday’s 6:59 -  just three seconds slower, same conditions.  I don’t run my tempos at 5K pace, so WTF happened yesterday?  Part of it was this:

These are 1/4 mile splits.  My first 1/4 mile was 6:25 but only because I looked at my Garmin, saw 6:16, freaked and put the brakes on.  As you can see, I kept those brakes on for the next mile!  It wasn’t uphill or anything, I was simply unsure of myself and that did me in.  I didn’t even look at my watch after that first mile, I thought I was going as hard as I could sustain.

So I tend to think it was my brain and lack of race practice that were the real culprits here.

Thus, I spent yesterday afternoon searching out summer races and came up with 6 races from June-Aug: five 5Ks and a 5-miler.  Frankly, I dread each and every one of them -- I hate racing in hot weather and these ain’t gonna be cool, but the only way to get over the dread is to face it, or to quote that overused acronym, HTFU.

A final thing worth noting (apologies to my male readers): Last year, a couple weeks after my 5K PR, I raced another 5K and much to my dismay, came in a full minute slower.  That race was 6 days before my period.   Guess what?  I’m expecting my period in 6 days.  So perhaps this was also a possible contributor to the suckage.  Hormones are so confoundedly mysterious.

Saucony Kinvaras!
I’m really not good with shoe reviews, I don’t have smart things to say like “the cushioning felt resistant yet firm while the feedback from arch to blah blah gave a smooth ride and handled blah blah…”  I’m not that observant.  But I’ll say this: I LOVE these shoes!!  Rovatti, you had it right!

Few things: I always wear 1/2 size larger in running shoes, but not in these, they’re size 9s and they feel fantastic.  I have wide-ish feet but they feel very comfortable with enough wiggle room in the toes.  And so incredibly light at 7 oz!  That’s only 1/2 oz. heavier than my racing flats, yet I think they can handle being my regular training shoes from here on in.

I didn’t notice the heel drop per se, though there’s a lot of cushioning on the forefoot and it seemed natural to be running the “new” way in them.  I took ‘em for 7 miles and could have kept going but didn’t want to go too far after a race day.

Design-wise, they have an unusual sheer fabric over the main upper mesh…it’s like running shoe lingerie.  They’re also horribly pink but that’s all the store had.

My Running Gait Video
Memorial Day means nobody was around on the street this morning,  so after my run I took some video to see how my gait’s coming along.  It’s coming along!  Not perfect by any means, but the overstriding is getting under control.  Very pleased.  Btw, I didn’t think much about gait during the race so if I get a photo worth posting, expect to see me overstriding.

This video shows 2 views, 3 speeds for each view.
Edit: for my opinion of what I need to work on from seeing this video, read the comment I made to Jim.

My Running Anniversary

Today marks 3 years from the day I ventured outside for the my first taste of the Couch-to-5K running plan.  I never in my wildest dreams would have thought I’d still be running now, much less enmeshed in it as thoroughly as this.  Life unfolds in the most wonderful, unforeseen ways.

New Video – Running Jackets!

This was a fun one to do (or rather, to edit).  In the spirit of America’s Next Top Model, I tried my best to be Fierce and there’s no question I rocked it bigtime.  I hope you enjoy the tips offered as well as the high quality fashion show.  Featured are the Sugoi Hydrolite rain jacket, and my winter running jackets, a Gap fleece and the Asics Storm Shelter jacket.

Today will be a double-hit media blitz for some of you hapless creatures.  Not only is there a new video, but I’m sending out the first edition of my newsletter this afternoon.

The Video

I was going to do a jacket video but figured I may as well start from the inside out, so today’s video is on my favorite winter base layer.  Coming next will be the jacket video and then one on winter accessories, but for now, top and tights is the focus.

Like last time, this’ll send you to YouTube in hopes you can give me a few ratings and/or comments.

If you want one of the mocks, you can find the largest selection of colors at Eastbay: mens or womens.  Btw, a couple folks have asked what size I wear in those, which is a good question.  UA runs small so while I wear Small in every other manufacturer, I buy my UA tops in Medium.  So keep that in mind.

The Adidas Supernova Brushed Tights are last year’s model so they’re getting hard to find, though Holabird has them on closeout for men for only $39.95 in all sizes.  Even without the exact items, you get an idea of what to wear out there in the elements.  Also, for the record, I don’t wear those 2 pieces only or I’d be pretty damn stinky.  I own duplicates of both items and various other tights and half-zips, but these particular pieces are my favorite combo of all.

The Newsletter

Oooh, scary, sending my first one out today.  Just wanted to give you subscribers a heads-up that I’ve changed the email it’s coming from to the new URL (girlinmotion.com without the dashes) so if, when you signed up, you found the confirmation email in your spam folder and had to mark it as “not junk”, you’ll likely need to do it again with this new address.  Sorry about that.

OK, hope you don’t get sick of so much Floness in one day.  Later, kids!