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Tag Archives: oiselle

Running for a Team

October 13, 2013 By in Running Tags: , , , , , 13 Comments

Putting on the Oiselle team singlet for the first time last week made me realize I was part of something bigger.  After a year away from my college team and college sports I had began to miss the general team aspect of running.  Though I am a member of the Tidewater Striders down in VA Beach, I’ve spent (unwillingly only 3 months in the last year actually in VA).

Tidewater Striders Singlet :-)

Tidewater Striders Singlet 🙂

As most endurance sports are running is one of the most individualized sports out there.  Only you can determine how fast you will cross the finish line.  You can have a coach or someone pushing you but nobody controls your legs except for you.

That being said I have missed being a part of something bigger than myself.  I’ve missed the team atmosphere.  I’ve missed lining up with my college team in a box ready to start a race.  I’ve missed prerace speeches.  Every aspect of collegiate and team running I have missed.  Not that every Oiselle teammate could run every race together (I know that I tend to run far more races then the average runner…) but I do know that if I ever see another teammate I can always count of them.

oiselle

As someone who has been part of a team (with swimming or running), it is finally great to be part of something greater than myself.  As I said running is one of the most individualized sports there is.  You run the race by yourself.  Only you can determine how fast you will run on a given day.  You can have people pace you, give you advice, coach, ect. But when the clock starts it’s you and you alone.

crosscountrystart

Can you pick me out? ha.

But then zoom out of the scope of a road race, cross country race or any other sort of race.  Yes, you are running alone but you are running in a community.  You are with people also running alone but also running together.  Runners are some of the most supportive people both on and off the course.

During the off season of cross country in college (ie: when I was not injured) and after college, I tended to do a lot more road races than the average person.  If I lived in an area that had more races then I would still do that.   I don’t race often because I expect to PR every time I race, I race because I love the running community.  In VA, I loved to see and talk to my friends every weekend.  Similar to a giant social gathering in college, for me running road races allowed me to catch up with people throughout the week that lived 45 minutes away.

crosscountry

Wow was this a while ago.

Since I don’t do a lot of speed work and save money in other areas of my life, racing every weekend is something I love to do.  I enjoy that running is such an individualized yet social community.  Whether you are on a team (YAY Osielle) or you are not, you are still apart of great community.

So after putting on the Oiselle singlet last weekend and realizing that I was no longer just running by myself, I have come to realize just how much I enjoy the team aspect of running.

Questions for you:

Do you run for a team?

What is your favorite race outfit? 

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An Actual Feel Good Training Week (75 miles)

September 30, 2013 By in NYC training cycle, Running Tags: , , , , , , 16 Comments

I’m not sure why writing this weeks training log was so difficult.  I was just not motivated to sit down and reflect on my week of training.  I’m not sure why because it is one of the more productive weeks I’ve had in the last month.  I didn’t have to take another hit of low mileage because of an injury nor did I run a ton of garbage miles.  In fact, none of mile felt bad.  With the exception of the 10k I did a couple of days ago I felt really good. 

Training for the week:

Monday: Elliptical (easy)
Tuesday: 13.5 run (8:24 pace) felt easy and smooth
Wednesday: 10.61 (8:31 pace)
Thursday: 11.26 untimed
Friday: 11.55 untimed
Saturday: Zero Prostate 10k Race (40:25) total miles: 13
Sunday: 15 Mile Long Run
Total: 75

 

Thoughts about this week:

Since I am still not at the status that I can run the day after a 20 miler on Monday I decided to cross train.  It was easy and felt good.  My gym plays Spanish techno at full volume so there isn’t a need for me to even bring headphones.  I just watch the Ellen show on TV and listen to beats drop.  I was shocked at how good I felt the entire week except for Wednesday.  It was hot that day and I left a little bit later than usual.  Other than that my runs were pretty simple and there isn’t much to say about them.

Here is a quick summary of my 10k race on Saturday.  It was 85 degrees and in the sun.  I haven’t been doing speedwork so I didn’t expect a 10k to feel that pleasant.  I finished in 40:25 which is about a minute slower than my PR (which was done on an absolutely flat course and in perfect conditions).  I’m not disappointed with it and I’m glad to get some speed in after my arm and then my knee.

I had planned to do another 20 mile long run yesterday but since I was out of town and did a 20 last weekend I decided to shorten it.  I’m at a training point right now that 15 mile runs don’t take as much out of me as they used too.  It’s nice because I know I’ll have energy to bounce back today.

Training plans for next week:

If I can get another week similar to this one I’ll be pleased.  Tim’s family is actually coming down for his flight school graduation this week (!!!), so it’s going to be a very exciting and busy week.  We are hoping to do a 10k this weekend (the once every other month race in Del Rio).  We shall see though because his graduation is far more important than that.

Questions for you:

How was your training last week?

How is the weather where you are?  

Final Arm Updates

August 30, 2013 By in NYC training cycle, Running, Training Tags: , , , , , , , , 23 Comments

After weaseling my way into an appointment with an “elbow specialist” orthopedist I have some exciting news.  Although the ER told me that I was able to run with a fractured elbow I wanted to get a specialist to look at it if I could get an appointment.  If you look dead center in my arm you can see a bruise and cut…that’s all I got.  So much pain for no showing.

meoiselle

I did not claim to have the most serious fracture injury but I have always claimed that I am a bumbling bafoon and an already injury prone runner. I need no help from others to injure myself.

That being said today at the orthopedist I have been cleared to fully return to running and he removed my soft cast. I will be able to run the Rock and Roll half marathon this weekend. That being said I’m not going to race like there is no tomorrow.  I’m going to run and see where it takes me.  Maybe a 1:30 race (that would be amazing) or maybe a 2:00 hour race.  I have absolutely no idea where the race will go. Either way I plan to finish the race at the same injury level as started.  I won’t be swinging my elbow and keep it as safe as possible.

The doctor thinks I’ll be fully healed in less than 4 weeks from the initial break last week. I am feeling very blessed for everyone’s well wishes and the fact that it wasn’t more serious. This week has been a while range of emotions and a wakeup call that you can train as carefully as possible but there is always the unexpected.  I have a few exercises I must do daily involving rotating and moving.  The best thing I can do is continue to progress the movements I can do safely.

So the big question is how was I able to get away with a temporary cast for 6 days and now be running again with a fractured radial head?

I have strived since my only stress fracture 2 years ago to get enough calcium and keep my bones strong.  I have consistently gotten enough calcium and I don’t have brittle bones because of it. I honestly drink 2-3 cups of milk daily, enjoy cheese, dairy and yogurt.  That being said after I was struck I fell on my elbow onto the ground.  I did not fall onto something that shattered or displaced my bone (knocked it out of alignment).  I’m extremely lucky that it just created a small crack which creates pain when I rotate the wrist and fully extend the arm.  It could have been much worse.  

Though I’ll probably mention arm updates occasionally I prefer to put this one in my rear view mirror. I am considering this a minor speed bump in my training and hopefully able to overcome this rather quickly.  This isn’t a stress fracture or leg injury.  Quite honestly it’s a minor broken bone and there is absolutely no reason for me to be worried about my training. 

So here is hoping this is my last injury related post and I’m off to pick up Laura from the airport and Heather tomorrow.

Adorable

Adorable

Questions for you:

What are you up to on Labor Day?

Do you get enough calcium? 

Flying High

August 2, 2013 By in oiselle Tags: , , , , 36 Comments

It’s no secret there are few brands that I would want a “sponsorship” or to represent.  Actually two running brands come to mind.  There is also always Wawa Gas Station Coffee but for some reason I don’t think they sponsor runners.   In the beginning of the summer Oiselle announced that they would be taking new birds to their flock.  Ever since falling in love with the brand a few months prior I was all over that.

(In fact I could very well have been the first person to apply). 

So after realizing I had roughly two months to do summer activities I let that simmer in the back of my mind.

So why Oiselle?

First, it’s no secret they do make some of the cutest running clothes.  Long sleeves with fingerholes, their runderwear doesn’t ride up my butt and the scarf that I own goes to work with me more then stilettos.  Oh and their sports bra (that strappy bra) is one of the few that I feel comfortable running in without my goods broadcasted.

No goods.

When I first started talking to Jen nearly 6 months ago (wow), I immediately knew how down to earth and great she was.  She asked one day if I wanted to run together not mentioning the fact that she was a 16:XX 5ker.  Just casually run while she is pregnant.  I was completely floored when I started asking her about races, PR’s ect. Every female I have come across from their race team is like that.  They are nice, modest and truly inspirational females and I wanted immediately to be apart of that.  I wanted to be apart of a community that had similar interests to me (running, life, ect) as well as a similar mantra.

When I was accepted yesterday I was completely thrilled that I will join such a great group of women and hopefully take my running to a new level.  In a period where I cannot tell you where I’ll be in the next few months (VA…Texas…who knows), I know that country wide I’ll be able to find some local birds. I cannot wait to represent Oiselle.

Fueledbymush today

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