The ellipitical: Not a treadmill but not quite a bike

Today's Workout: 50 minute elliptical, 1.5 mile run (to test out the knee)

I know some of you are reading this saying... wait, I thought you weren't running until Monday to rest your knee? Well, I admit I'm HORRIBLE at doing what I know I really should do. Don't be like me please. Also, two other things happened that made me decide to run:

One: I wanted to see if my knee ailment was REALLY Iliotibial Band Syndrome or just a minor tweak. Still not sure which one it is, but I'm a known hypochondriac so I always have to check.

Two: I just got a super cute running skirt, my first running skirt, that I wanted to try (and I really, really couldn't resist). Tell me you would be able to just let this skirt sit there and not test it out..

Athleta Swagger Skirt: looks super cute on. No, those aren't my legs that's the model photo. Would be nice though if they were mine!

So far it passed the 1.5 mile test, shorts didn't ride up, but I'll put it on gear reviews once I run a longer distance in it.

Now that I've got the whole skirt-testing thing out of my system I promise I won't run for a few days. Seriously this time.

I did do a long elliptical session today though because I actually had the time for once and nothing in particular to do. The elliptical is strange to me and I don't really know how to describe the motion. Its not quite running and not quite biking.. its somewhere in between. I do like the resistance settings and I feel like I give my quads a good work out, but its just not the same as running. I definitely don't sweat as much either, even when I put the resistance up high. I'd say the cardiovascular benefits are less than when running (wonder if there's a study on this.. there must be. Thats the evidence-based practice side of me coming out- I need some proof!).

Even though I normally dread the elliptical, today wasn't so bad. I stayed on longer than I planned and got in a really good workout, partly because I had energy and partly because I couldn't stop reading Harry Potter Book 7 on my Kindle. Yes, in addition to being obsessed with Disney World I am also a huge HP fan. And yes, I read the books as they came out and am now almost finished re-reading them all.

 As I'm writing this I realize that I must sound incredibly weird. But I'm sure I can't be alone in my love of HP! Besides, there's absolutely no fun in using the elliptical unless you are watching TV or reading. For me I prefer reading books about things that aren't real, but that I wish were. If only this place existed in real life....

 

My sisters and I at the Harry Potter Wizarding World in Universal Studios, Orlando. Yep, that's Hogwarts.

My sister in the middle loves HP as much as me, and my sister in the hat probably couldn't wait to get the hell out of there.

Butterbeer in Hogsmeade.

The butterbeer was amazing, sadly no real beer in it though.

Glad I got to share with you my weirdness, it would have come out at some point anyway. I really will take a break from running now that I know how awesome that skirt is. I'll also keep foam rolling and using the wonderful Stick on the ol' IT Band. I'm definitely hoping and praying this goes away ASAP because I have a pretty packed race schedule coming up. People were practically giving away organs to get into the Brooklyn Half Marathon this May, so I seriously don't want to miss that one. But we'll see what happens. Fingers crossed! Keep you posted.

TGIF! Enjoy the weekend.

Anyone have any races planned for the weekend? Tell me about em!

Running with Penny and Sheldon...

Today's Workout: 3.6 mile run with speed intervals

...Not literally, of course. I totally wish. I'd actually love to see what Sheldon would look like running. Not Jim Parsons, but the actual character. I imagine it would look something like Pheobe from Friends running. I know you've seen that episode!

Really though I just watched them on TV while I ran on the treadmill today... like a hamster on a wheel. It was dark already when I decided to run after school and since I have big problems with running outside in the dark... treadmill it was. Not a bad run actually, especially since my knee was acting up a bit after my run on Saturday. Felt good today, thankfully. Or it could have been having the shenanigans of this show keeping me motivated and entertained....

What do you do when you run on the treadmill? Music? TV?

I added in some speed intervals (6x400 at 5K pace) into my workout today. Now that I've finished my first half and am no longer following a super strict training schedule (Mr. Hal Hidgon's plan), I think its time to work on improving my speed and try to get some PRs. I am running the Scotland Run10K on April 7 and am hoping to improve my 10K time in that race.

Also I want to wear a kilt in the spirit of Scotland but have no idea how to sew and don't know where to get one since its not Halloween. Any ideas? I really want to pretend like I'm Scottish. Ive had haggis, I know the deal. I am Irish though, isn't that close enough?! (kidding!)

Anyway, speed workouts will be added into my workouts a lot more often in the next few weeks and months. They are  fun and mix up the monotony of the dreadmill. I also think I deserve to move up a bib color, NYRR, and want to prove that to you!

Speaking of NYRR, today the registration for Brooklyn Half Marathon on May 19th opened. I signed up because I've heard its a great race. My friend Jessica also signed up for it so I'll have some company for this race! This will be nice since my company for the NYC Half was my iPod and the 10 seconds I saw Karl in Times Square. So amazingly the BK Half is nearing capacity though even though it's only been open for 9 hours or so. Incredible! Glad to see running is becoming more and more popular though and love that people want to be healthy :) Spread the love, runners!