First, I ran 43 miles last week! Woo hoo! Yeah, I know, not a crazy accomplishment, but I was pleased. Overall, it was a good week of training. 5 days of running, one long run (12 miles), 4 good maintenance runs, and an average pace of 7:53. I do need to be careful though. Some days I'm still only getting 4 hours of sleep and 6 hours of sleep is a good day. Translation: I'm tired. And realistically, an average pace of 7:53 is probably too fast. I like to run fast. It's not always the smartest way to train, but I'm a sucker for a fast clip. I can easily be persuaded to run slower, however, if I have other people to run with. When I'm at work I've been trying to run with other people for two reasons really. The first being, I love social running. The second being, it helps me slow down. When I run with other people, I don't think about pace at all. So, I had a great week, but I'd like to see my average weekly pace decrease to about 8:15ish to help prevent long term burn out.
Totally off the beaten path, but burning on my mind, is this whole fat ballerina controversy. In case you haven't heard a New York Times critic singled out ballerina, Jenifer Ringer, as having "looked like she'd eaten one sugar plum too many." The picture on the left was taken during the performance he was critiquing. I don't know about you, but it doesn't look to me like she has a sugar plum problem. For whatever reason, this whole controversy is bugging me, which is interesting because I don't usually think much about weight or ballet. Seriously though, look at that picture. That looks hard to do. Some are arguing that because ballet is an art, it therefore means ballerinas should expect that type of criticism. And, I don't know, maybe that's true to a certain point, but look at her...she's not fat. Also, I can't imagine a ballet dancer being able to do what she's doing in that picture and be fat. Maybe I'm just being overly sensitive because I'm pretty sure I'm not as thin as her, and I don't want think that I have a sugar plum problem. (Note to self, no more sugar plums.) What do you think? Does the critique bother you or should it be expected in her line of work?On another completely random note, do any of you read Kara Goucher's blog? Holy cannoli, is she fast. I mean, I knew she was fast, but reading how she's running 2.5 months after the birth of her son is just nuts! The lady is speed demon! I can't wait to read how she does in her January half marathon.
6 comments:
Yes, the critique bothers me a lot. As a pediatrician, I can say it is those types of comments that lead to eating disorders. Yes, there a re many things involved in developing an eating disorder, but having a warped sense of what is fat doeasn't help! As a mom to only boys it is these types of things that almost give me a sense of relief that I do not have a girl. I suppose I am also a bit sensitive to it because I did struggle with an eating disorder myself in college and med school.
Great mileage and times!
yes, I don't know what that reviewer was smoking to think that.
For the cookie glaze, it's a cup of powdered sugar, one tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons of milk, and a teaspoon of vanilla. Mix it up, and if its too thick, add a tiny bit of milk at a time to thin it. Once the cookies are cooled, I take a cookie, hold it at an angle over the bowl, and smooth some glaze over it with a spoon, so the excess drips off into the bowl. You can sprinkle sugar over it before it sets, and you can even add food coloring to the glaze if you want. Have fun : )
How about doing a couple runs a week fast, and then not wearing a watch or not allowing yourself to see the pace on the treadmill (you can cover that and just set the pace by feel). I know for me, teh only way I run slow aside from when I run with people slower than me (which I do now) is to not wear a watch, focus on high cadence and small stride..
About the fat ballerina....I completely agree with you. She is not fat, and she appears to do an amazing job. Ballet is art, so the performance rather than body should be judged, no?
I read Kara's blog and I was, too, shocked to read about her current paces. But if you think about it, she is no different than you; both of you are almost as fast as you were prebaby, just different prebaby speeds. Not to mention that running is not your FT job.
I'm going to start eating sugar plums if it results in looking like that!
Yeah, she is so fast. And now she's doing Boston!!! Can't wait to hear about it.
Wow...I wish I had that problem. You are so fast. I don't know how you do it with just having a baby! I would be tired!
looking at the picture of that ballerina, she looks like a pretty amazing athlete to me! Nice job on the running! your miles AND paces are incredible. I have the opposite problem....I gravitate towards slow runs and speed is my biggest weakness, but I figure if you don't at least sometimes run the way you enjoy to run it takes the fun out of it. Stay healthy!
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