Training Session #2: 4 miles + 4 GP

My dad accompanied me to the track this morning. He did a nice 2-mile walk/run while I struggled through 4 miles with 4 GP. GP stands for Gentle Pickup. In other words, at the end of the run, you walk for a couple of minutes then slowly increase your leg turnover until you are at a pace that belabors your breathing. Hold this pace for about 100 meters, then slow down to a walking pace until you fully recover. Repeat four times.

I don’t want to make any excuses, but the humidity was unbearable this morning. Even with an occasional breeze, I could not find any temporary relief from the hot, thick air. I seriously contemplated cutting my workout short. As disappointing as this sounds, with 3 more laps to go, I resolved to stop running. Fortunately, that is when I realized that my dad was no longer on the track. So, I decided to finish up my four miles by running around the area to catch up with him. Ironically, as I left the track looking for my dad, he was returning to the track via the entrance behind me. Of course, with my headphones blaring, I did not hear him call after me, and I was on my journey around the community center in search of him. After about 8 minutes of running, I realized that my search was useless, and my best bet was to go to the track and wait for him. That’s when I found him sitting on a bench watching me with a smile on his face. I couldn’t help but smile either; after all, I finished my workout.

Training session #1: 2 miles, 7x1:00 AI, 2 miles

Day one of training. My motivation was skyrocketing. For the past three weeks, I had been running about 2 miles per workout (and sadly, that was tough for me). But today… today I am going to double that! I hadn’t felt so much motivation to run since high school cross country (four years ago).

My first two miles felt great! I maintained a 9.30 mph pace. It was comfortable, but I still felt like I was working out. My second mile marked the beginning of the AI (Aerobic Intervals). Aerobic Intervals mean that I push the pace just a little. During AI’s you want to find a tempo that feels somewhere between comfortable and "Hey, I'm workin' a little here." Then you hold that tempo for 1 minute. After that minute, I went back to my normal pace and continued my mileage. I repeated this seven times. The AI’s made the miles go by quicker, because they distracted me from the growing tightness in my quads and hip flexors.

By the end of my third mile, I didn’t think I could run anymore. My legs hurt, my breathing was labored, and it’s just so easy to stop. Fatigue is motivations quickest poison. But determination only grows stronger with fatigue. I was determined to finish those four miles. And, thank you to the man in the blue headband… you stepped onto the track in your matching blue Niket- shirt and for some reason, that motivated me to keep going. I ran about six paces behind this man for my last mile. He maintained a perfectly consistent tempo and before I knew it, I successfully completed my four mile workout.

New Directions for Cat’s Brainwave Blog: My Half Marathon

Hello Readers,

Most of you are familiar with Cat’s Brainwave as a travel blog; but since my return from The Land Down Under, my funds (or lack thereof) have limited me from continuing to fulfill my travel passion. So, while I find a job and begin to replenish my savings account, I plan to blog about another passion of mine: running.

In the midst of my post-college job hunt, I have developed a nagging itch to support a good cause. But, because my soon-to-be career will dictate my routine and schedule, I must wait to commit to an organization or community service program. In the meantime, I figured that I could participate in short term events to help support causes. My first event was walking for Relay for Life. It was an emotional but rewarding evening. My mom and I walked two miles together, quietly reflecting on the solemn importance of this event.

On one particularly lazy morning, I laid in bed with my laptop on my lap (go figure) simply reading emails and surfing the web. During my aimless browse, I happened to spot an advertisement for a half marathon in Hershey Park. I have wanted to run a half marathon for years now, but I had not found the motivation or time to actually do it. In this moment, all of my hesitation immediately dissipated at this opportunity. I could kill two birds with one stone: support a great cause while checking “Run Half Marathon” off my list of Things To Do Before I Die. My family is very receptive to my new endeavor, and I am excited to accomplish such a feat.

So, I hope you are interested in reading about my experiences through this immense challenge. I know that I will need endless support and motivation through these next nine weeks. Wish me luck! :)

THE HALF MARATHON DETAILS:
From August 2nd (today) to October 2nd, I will be training for the Hershey Park Half Marathon (13.1 miles). The half marathon takes place on Sunday, October 3rd in Hershey, PA. The Hershey Half Marathon benefits The Children’s Miracle Network at Penn State Children’s Hospital. The Children’s Miracle Network funding helps provide top-notch pediatric support for sick children. I will be following a nine week half marathon training program for beginners supplied by RunnersWorld.

For more information about the Hershey Park Half Marathon, visit http://hersheyhalfmarathon.com/.

To view my RunnersWorld nine week training program, visit http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-244--6851-2-2X5X8-4,00.html.

For more information about The Children’s Miracle Network at Penn State Children’s Hospital, visit http://www.pennstatehershey.org/web/cmn/home.

Cairns & The Great Barrier Reef

Part 1 of my two-week Australian adventure took place in Cairns (on the northeast coast of Australia). I traveled with my friend, Cait. We lucked out because the weather was beautiful! It was hot and sunny, perfect weather to be on a boat... which is exactly what we did. Cait and I spent two days living on the Kangaroo Explorer--a boat that resides on the Great Barrier Reef. We went snorkelling and scuba diving on the reef, which was absolutely spectacular. Every part was intricately decorated with different types of corals, shells and colors. When we were in the water, we literally swam within schools of brightly-colored fish. The most exciting sea creature that I swam with was a sea turtle! I was scuba diving at the time, and we came across the turtle. We approached it and scratched its shell. That must have felt like a massage for the little fellow, because he stayed by us and wiggled back and forth while we were scratching him. Scuba diving was a scary, but exhilarating experience. It is a very uncanny feeling to stay under water for a long period of time without surfacing for natural air. Descending into the water was my least favorite part of scuba-ing because I did not like the pressure in my ears. The pressure was very strong, so you needed to continually equalize (or pop) your ears during the slow descent. Once I was at the bottom though, it was great! We came across giant clams, equivalent to the size of large coffee tables. Like many parts of the reef, the clams would snap shut if you got too close or touched it! It is truly remarkable how the Reef is alive!

To give you an idea of how wonderful my experience at the Great Barrier Reef was, click HERE!

My Arrival Home

I would like to inform everyone of my safe arrival home on July 2 @ 6:00am. It took me 3 plane rides, 22 hours of flying time, and 14 hours of layover. I have taken these last couple of days battling the jetlag... and I am almost back to normal. It feels good to be home, and I can't wait to see everyone!

For a couple weeks in the last month of my trip, I traveled around Australia. I saw Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef, Cape Tribulation, Alice Springs, the Outback, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, and Byron Bay. I had an absolutely amazing time, and, to bring my memories to life, I have been making short movies that document my adventures. These movies will supplement my blog excerpts, so stay tuned for details of my travels!

Canberra

I had a lot of work to do last week and for next week. I've been very busy and stressed. So, my two friends, Howe & Matt, and I decided that we would make an impromptu trip to Australia's capital city, Canberra to clear our heads and rejuvenate for another week of work. We only live about 3 hours from the capital city, and we felt that we should see it before leaving.

Canberra was quiet and very clean. It was designed by an American architect. We took a tour of Parliament and saw the House of Representatives in a session. We walked around the entire city! Our feet and legs were numb from fatigue by the end of the day. The weather was brisk and refreshing; it felt like a beautiful October day.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day in Canberra. It was just what I needed to refocus on my schoolwork.

Check out the pictures, click here.

Cadbury Commercial

Lately, I have been very busy with schoolwork: final projects and papers. For my Advertising class, our project is to research a company, find a marketing problem, and figure out a way to solve that problem with advertising. My team chose Cadbury chocolate (it is the leading confectionery brand in Australia). We are promoting Cadbury's Dark chocolate. I was in charge are making our TV spot. I thought you all might be interested in seeing it.

Disclaimer: The advertisement would ideally have Australian actors & a picture of the chocolate at the end when "Cadbury Dark" appears... however, with limited resources and technology, I was not able to accomplish that.

Enjoy the ad! Click here.