Heart Rate Training

Posted on May 14, 2018June 16, 2022 by Jenna

In April I read the book 80/20 Running by Matt Fitzgerald. I had heard how great heart rate training is and it seems every runner I know has moved to it. I decided to give it a try and started May 1st. It’s been eye-opening and a challenge but I am remembering how much I love running and how I want to improve. I want to reach my goal of running a marathon. And I want to do it in under 5 hours.

I feel as if I’m starting over.

My very first heart rate training run was extremely hard. And slow. Like super slow. Like I feel I could walk faster. My average pace was 16:52! I’m usually around 10:00-10:30 in my races. After this run, I was feeling really discouraged. How would I be able to complete the Las Vegas Rock N Roll marathon in under 5 hours? If I don’t meet the cutoff time I will get swept.

But I kept going.

I am following the plan as close as I can. I have not skipped a run yet. I had to move a couple items around but I am doing it. This week marks the start of week 3 and it’s getting easier. And I’m shaving off a little bit of time here and there. This morning I averaged 15:26, more than a minute less than when I started. I am comparing the same run (Foundation 3) for these numbers.

Yesterday I did a 7-mile long run and I felt so good after. I was tired but not too much. My legs were a little tired but not too much. My first long run (6 miles) was 16:17 pace. Yesterdays was 15:57. It’s not a lot but it’s trending in the right direction. My hope is that after two months of heart rate training, I am closer to my usual training times.

My real marathon training starts in July. I hope to cut more time as the weeks go on. I really like the challenge and philosophy behind heart rate training and I want to keep doing it. It’s humbling to be back at these times. And frustrating. But I am not having any of the health issues I get when I don’t follow (dizziness, nauseous) so I want to keep at it. (Don’t worry, I have a doctors appointment coming up to have everything checked out to make sure I don’t have an underlying issue). If I can’t get my time down, I will drop down to the half and try again for a marathon.

I will conquer the marathon distance. I need to. I am driven.

Already doing heart rate training? Tell me about your experience. I am trying to trust the process but some days are harder than others.

Interested in heart rate training? Check out Matt Fitzgerald’s book and let me know what you think!*

*I am an Amazon Associate. If you purchase the book through the above link I receive a small percentage.

Hollywood Hills

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Jenna

Hollywood Hills

Back in January of 2017, we took a magical trip to the Hollywood Hills.

I say magical because we went to Harry Potter world at Universal Studios. There will be a blog post about that at a later date. For now, we are looking at the Hollywood Hills. Everyone knows the famous Hollywood sign. It was originally read Hollywoodland and was for a housing development in the 1920s. It also used to light up in sections, holly, wood, and land. I bet that was a site to see!

In 1932 a young actress climbed up the letter H and jumped to her death.

We stayed at Hollywood Historic Hotel, which was built in the 1920s. It still has a lot of the details of the 20s, which I always appreciate. The room we had was a little small, but that wasn’t really an issue for us. The bathroom was a little small, which was the bigger drawback than the room size. The walls were decorated with photos of old Hollywood and stars of days gone by. They added a nice touch. I am pretty sure the elevator is the original one so we only used that when we checked in and out. The stairs were much faster. We chose this one for the location and the uniqueness. I like to find hotels with a little bit of history and charm over the cookie cutter Hiltons and Holiday Inn types.

We drove up to Griffith Observatory on a Sunday, not realizing it was closed. Not a big deal, we walked around the observatory and enjoyed the views. I took a few photos and appreciated the architecture of the Observatory. I have plans to go back someday when it’s open because I enjoy astronomy.

I have been enamored with stars ever since I can remember.

In 1896, Griffith Griffith (what a name!) donated the land now known as Griffith park to the city as well as money with the stipulation that a planetarium, observatory, and hall be built to bring astronomy to the general public. Construction began in 1933 and was completed in 1935. The observatory closed for four years, starting in 2002, for renovations and expansion.

To keep up with my travels in real time follow me on Instagram and Twitter!

World Penguin Day

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Jenna

World Penguin Day

April 25th is World Penguin Day. I have been a fan of penguins for as long as I can remember. There is just something about those cute birds that just pull you in. Their tuxedo-like appearance, the waddle, and their sliding/diving antics. My dream is to someday photograph these amazing birds in their natural habitat.

Penguins natural habitat is in the southern hemisphere, stretching from the Galapagos to Antartica. They spend up to 75% of their life in water. They look for their food in the water and actually catch it in their beak and swallow whole as they swim!

Did you know the penguin’s unique appearance is called countershading and it keeps them safe in the water? It’s not for those fancy dinners they attend.

Each penguin has a unique call they use to find their mate and chicks. Most penguins are monogamous during mating season while some are for life. The main reason they may choose a new mate is if their previous mate doesn’t return to the nesting area. The king and emperor penguins lay one egg each mating season while all other types lay two.

Penguins aren’t endangered but we still need to raise awareness with world penguin day because the Adelie penguin populations are falling in areas where climate change is established. Adelie penguins depend on sea ice for their food, krill, with the warming Antarctic and ocean their feeding grounds are being affected. Krill depend on sea ice and the sea ice has reduced by 60% in the last 30 years. Adelie penguins are important because they eat krill and small fish while they are the food for larger mammals like leopard seals and killer whales.

Enjoy a fun little video about the cranky chinstrap penguins.

My dream job/favorite Antartic photographer’s website. Someday I hope to be half the photographer he is.

Earth and Arbor Day

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Jenna

Earth and Arbor Day

April is quite the month for those of us dedicated to helping the Earth. Both Earth Day and Arbor Day are celebrated this month.

It’s like Christmas for hippies!

Earth Day, April 22nd, started in 1970 and next year (2020) will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. This year’s theme and focus is ending plastic pollution, which is a mighty big undertaking, considering how much we rely on plastics. I’ve been trying to reduce my plastic use but it is everywhere! Even recycling all the plastic I can, some still ends up in the trash because it’s not accepted by our city.

The Earth Day Foundation wants to help with the issue of not being able to recycle all plastics. They are working on making global regulations for disposal of all plastics. They also want to end single-use plastics.

But is that even doable at this point?

I think getting better disposal and recycling will be easier than getting rid of all single-use plastics. We, as a society, have grown accustomed to single-use, disposable items, like water bottles. Reversing the trend will be a difficult task. I admit I use water bottles in very limited circumstances. And I always take my bottle home to recycle it.

All this plastic puts our wildlife and oceans at risk. We need to find solutions and alternatives to our dependency on plastics.

What can you do?

Start small by recycling what you can. Eventually, I hope we can get to 100% recycling but we aren’t there… yet. Check your cities website for what is and is not recyclable. Reduce your use of water bottles and other single-use plastic items. Get yourself reusable cups or tumblers. Look into glass containers or bento boxes for your lunches. Look for products with little or no packaging or those with packages made from recyclable materials.

Arbor Day is April 27th. In the US, the very first Arbor day was in 1872. It was started as a day to plant trees.

Fun Fact: The first recorded Arbor Day was in 1594 in Spain!

How can you participate in Arbor Day?

If you are planting a tree, be sure to choose the right tree. Look for one native to your climate. This is especially important when you live in a desert like I do. You don’t want trees that suck down water if you don’t get a lot of rain. If you aren’t planting trees you can take a tree hike and try to identify all the different types of trees you see. You can also volunteer to clean up a public place. Or just take a walk through your neighborhood and pick up trash as you go.

Some fun tree facts:

One acre of forest puts out four tons of oxygen and takes in six tons of carbon dioxide.
There are 60-200 million spaces along city streets in the US that could potentially have trees planted. Those trees could absorb 33 million tons of CO2 each year and save approximately four billion (!) in energy costs.
Want to save on your AC costs? Plant shade trees. They can save up to $175 per year!

Want to plant a tree this year? Here are a few tips.

Want to learn the basics of recycling? Get your today!

Kilauea Lighthouse

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Jenna

Kilauea Lighthouse

The Kilauea Lighthouse is located on the beautiful island of Kauai. It is also a national wildlife refuge for many seabirds, including ‘Ā, Mōlī, ‘Ua ‘u kani, and the nēnē, the official state bird. The lighthouse sits on a cliff of a dormant volcano and provides protection to the birds that live there as well as a sanctuary in the water below for honu, ‘Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua, and Koholā. The refuge helped bring the nēnē back from the verge of extinction.

The location was chosen because Kauai was the first landfall for ships coming from the west. The cliff at Kilauea was chosen because it meant the tower didn’t need to be as high, thus cutting costs. Kilauea Lighthouse was made of new, cutting-edge technology of structural reinforced concrete (which is apparently standard now).

An interesting little story from Kilauea Point National History Association site:

In 1927, the Kīlauea Point Light Station would play a role in aiding a new mode of travel, aviation. The first flight from the mainland to Hawai‘i overshot its intended destination in O‘ahu in bad weather. Lost in the night, the pilots finally spotted the double flash of Kīlauea Point, realizing they were over Kaua‘i. They circled the tower for an hour and a half, waiting for daylight. Then they made the 100 mile trip to O‘ahu.

The lighthouse went dark after the attack on Pearl Harbor and was not lit again until after the war. Soon after it was no longer necessary to man the lighthouse and in 1976 the light was turned off. In 2008 restoration work was started and completed in 2013.

The Kilauea Lighthouse looks great printed on metal, why not order one today?

St. Patrick’s Day Runs

Posted on March 19, 2018 by Jenna

St. Patrick’s Day Runs

I did three St. Patrick’s Day runs this month. I may be a tad crazy, but you already knew that. On March 11th I did the Lucky Clover 4 miler and this past weekend, the 16th and 17th, I did the Kiss Me I’m Irish Kilt run and 8k. I missed last year’s Kiss Me I’m Irish so I was excited to be able to do it again.

st. patrick's day runs The Lucky Clover 4 miler was put on by 131 events. It was in Chandler, so a little bit of a drive for me. Luckily at 5:30 in the morning, not many people were out yet. The run started at the Shops at Ocotillo and did a loop route. The route itself was pretty good. There were a couple of spots that the runners were limited to the bike lane but a lot of us had to go outside the bike lane/orange cones because we had to pass slower runners.

There were also a few spots where cars needed to pass through but they all waited until a decent break in runners/walkers, at least that I saw. At one intersection, we were crossing diagonally and the police were holding traffic. I kind of sped up so I could get through with the group ahead of me in case runners were stopped for traffic. I overheard one of the runners saying the police should have stopped the runners and let the cars through because “none of us are competing”. Ummm… speak for yourself dude because I am competing.

I am competing with myself!

I always want to be better than I was before. I want to get a PR in every race. If not a PR, I want to be better than the last time I ran this distance. Also, this was about the 2-mile mark and I had settled into a good groove. I take about 1.5-2 miles to get going. I’ve been stopped before at this point and it just messes up my race, especially a short one like this because I’d never get a steady pace going. Longer races it’s not *as bad* because I have more distance to get that pacing back.

I finished 321 overall out of 635, 40 of 80 in my age group with a total time of 47:08:19. My average pace was 11:47 per mile. Definitely not a PR but I’m happy with it considering the past year and a half I’ve had. I haven’t been running much and have only recently started training again.

Friday night I participated in the Kilt Run, which was 1km. They have been doing this the last couple of years to try to set a record. As far as I know, we did not make it this year. When I finished, I ran to my car and weaved through the parking lot to get at least a full mile in. It was fun and I’d probably do it again next year to help them try to get the record.

Saturday morning was the 8k. This year was a little different and we did two loops around Westgate. I think the course was short because my Garmin ended at 4.45 miles when it should have been more like 4.97. Allegedly I PR’d this race with a 51:07 and 10:17 pace, which vastly differs from my Garmin (51:52/11:37 pace). I finished 153 out of 266 overall, 87 out of 156 females and 14 of 29 in my age group.

Overall I enjoyed all of my St. Patrick’s Day runs and would do them both again.

My only wish is walkers were told to start last. I try to go in the middle of the pack, as I know I’m a middle of the packer. At the Lucky Clover, I couldn’t even run across the start line and had to weave around a ton of people who started out walking. The start of the Kiss Me I’m Irish 8k was similar. I was kicked by someone trying to get into the corral by climbing over the rope in order to get ahead of a ton of people by someone with a cane. I passed them on both my loops. Know your ability and plan accordingly! It’s all about respect. I am planning a race etiquette blog and will be sure to put this in there!

What races do or did you have this month?

Here’s a little video the Kiss Me I’m Irish had of me (mint green tank) finishing:

Big Island’s Black Sand Beach

Posted on February 20, 2018 by Jenna

Big Island’s black sand beach is a sight to behold.

Big Island’s black sand beach is called Punalu’u and is located between Pāhala and Nāʻālehu (Kona and Hilo). In Hawaiian, Punalu’u translate to spring dive for because there are underwater freshwater springs. Legend has it that in times of draught Hawaiians would dive and collect the fresh water.

But why is the sand black?

Black sand is made when lava reaches the ocean and cools quickly. It solidifies and then shatters into tiny fragments of lava. The results are a striking mix of black sand against the blue ocean and green trees that line the back of the beach. Throw in a blue sky and you have the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon picnic with a side of people watching. Many enjoy swimming and snorkeling here but be careful, the current can be quite strong. You may also see hammocks strung up between the row of palm trees.

What else will you see there?

Because black sand retains heat, you can often find hawksbill (‘ea) and green (honu) sea turtles sunning themselves along the shore. The turtles are endangered species and protected (both state and federal) so be sure to stay away if you see one. Try to give them about 10 feet of room, don’t block their path to the ocean, and be mindful to not disturb them. Fines can range into the thousands. Be respectful and give the turtles their space.

There are many colors of sand around the world but there is just something about the Big Island’s black sand beach that is a must see.

What color beach do you most want to see? Or have you been to any non-traditional colored beaches? Which ones and where?

Love black sand beaches? You can own a print for your own home or office. Shop now.

Coyotes 5K Wrapup

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Jenna

Coyotes 5k Wrapup

Yesterday was the inaugural Coyotes 5K. As a Coyotes fan, I hope this can become an annual thing and grow into something popular, like the Diamondbacks 5K. According to the results, there were 44 runners. I am not surprised as there was very little push or advertising for the event. As a runner that does a ton of races (every Facebook ad seems to be a different run), someone else had to tell me about this one. It was originally scheduled for November and was only mentioned on the Coyotes Foundation Facebook page (and maybe a tweet). I signed up right away and was the only registrant for a while. Eventually like two others signed up. We were notified it was being delayed until February. I opted to have my registration moved to the new date. I’ll give them props, they offered a refund if you didn’t want to move registrations. Some races will stick with the no refund policy.

I arrived about 7:20 to pick up my packet and there were only a handful of people and two vendors. We left to get coffee and came back with about 15 minutes before the race started. We gathered at the start line to get a break down of the route. It was a bit confusing because it weaved through the parking lots of Westgate but the course was well marked with different color duct tape arrows and orange cones. I give them credit for making the course clear. I was a bit disappointed in the parking lot weaving. It definitely wasn’t my favorite route.

The race itself was gun time and not chip time. With only 44 people, we mostly crossed the line about the same time so it wasn’t that big of a deal. The runners seemed skewed to the fast end. I am usually a middle of the pack runner, but I was just ahead of the walkers this race. I ended 29 out of 44 and 13 of 21 women. I think I was designed for more distance running because when I finally settled into a good pace and cadence, I looked at my watch and it was 2.9 miles, right as I rounded the corner to the finish line.

The medal was good quality and I *almost* forgot to collect it. I crossed the line, stopped my Garmin and walked over to Justin. I talked to him for a few seconds and realized I didn’t get my medal. The Paw Patrol was already walking over and was like, “Don’t forget this! You earned it”. I think that was a first for me. LOL

I would definitely do this race again but I’d love to see a few things changed. I would love for them to really push the race. It seemed kind of like an afterthought. The Coyotes Foundation pushed it a bit on their social media but they’d reach a lot more if they used the Coyotes main accounts. Or get ambassadors to push it. Have members of the running community do your advertising for you in exchange for a free or discounted entry. I’d gladly plaster social media for a free race entry.

Chip timing would be awesome but it’s not a must-have for me. I can use my Garmin and just try to beat myself but I know some people won’t do races unless they have chip timing.

The route was explained to use but I’d love to see a better route that doesn’t do switchbacks in parking lots. The Kiss Me I’m Irish and Redneck Run both start and end in the same spot the Coyotes 5k did but they run you out to the canal path nearby and around Cardinals Stadium. It’s a much more enjoyable route. The only advantage of the parking lot weave was bystanders could quickly and easily move to different parts of the course to cheer on the runners/walkers.

I’m not a race organizer, nor do I claim to know how to do it, but I have run about a million* races. I know what I like and don’t and what gets me to run a race again. Normally, this would be a no for me but I love the Coyotes and want to see this succeed. I’d do it again just because of that.

What makes you run a race again? Why do you choose not to re-run a race the following year?

*slight exaggeration

WTF Trail Race

Posted on February 5, 2018November 24, 2018 by Jenna

WTF trail race was my worst race ever.

WTF trail race went down on January 28th, 2018. Although not the fault of the race, I had a terrible time. I thought I would DNF (did not finish) and would be found on the course hours after the race had ended. I did finish, barely. It was rough. We’ve all been there though. What matters is how do we react. Do we give up or do we keep going?

I plan to dust myself off and try again. This was only my second trail race and in an area, I was not very familiar with. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect with the route. To add to it, my ears were plugged. I had woken up the day before the race with ears so plugged I couldn’t unplug them or even move my head much. I took it easy and crossed my fingers that I’d feel better on Sunday.

I did wake up feeling a bit better. My head was still a bit plugged up but I paid so I figured I’d at least go and try. And I really wanted the medal! So I got up, got ready and headed out.

I overdressed. When I was getting my clothes ready the night before, the temps at 8 am were expected to be around 50. In reality, it was already 60. I had set out pants and a t-shirt. I wish I had gone with capris. The t-shirt wasn’t bad but my legs got warm. I also wish I had remembered my headband. My hair was sticking to my face by the end.

WTF trail race stands for Winter Trail Frosty, or as the back of the shirt says, where’s the finish?

131 Events doesn’t have corrals but does do wave starts. They asked slower runners to go to the back. Knowing I was probably going to be slower than usual, I headed to the back. But more people kept lining up behind me. I heard them saying how slow they were and they wouldn’t be as fast as anyone else. Which is weird because usually, runners think they are faster and always want to line up in front! So I ended up in like the 3rd or 4th wave. I started a bit faster than I wanted (always a problem) and I wasn’t prepared for the elevation. There was a lot of climbing in the beginning. I learned with my asthma it’s better for me to walk up than run up these hills. They were a lot steeper than I realized.

At about the three-mile mark I was out of energy. I walked the next 3.25-ish miles. I had to stop and rest a few times. I would guess the combination of sinus issues, starting too fast, and elevation got to me. I just couldn’t get up the energy to run. At one point, I threw up. That was a first for me. I’ve never thrown up from a workout. Granted, it was mostly liquid (and I didn’t even have that much – I drank less than 8 oz over the course of 6.55 miles). Either way, yuck. Never want to do that again.

Once I saw the finish line, I started a slow run. I crossed the line in 1:53:16. A slow 17:41 pace.

The same company that did WTF trail race is doing a Hot as Hell in May. I plan on doing the quarter again. Now I have an idea of the route and how the race works, I can set myself up better. And hopefully, I won’t be battling my sinuses in May! I had contemplated doing the half marathon but it’s two loops of the same course and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to do that. I will stick to the quarter marathon.

I feel 131 Events put on a good event. This was their first WTF race here and using this route (they have a few other road races that have been in Phoenix area before). I liked the atmosphere and the race director was having fun MC-ing before the race. The route was well marked and easy to follow (which is important in a trail race). They had a lot of volunteers on the route to help with confusing areas. I also appreciated the brand of chips they used, as they are gluten free plus a banana. I was a little sad I couldn’t eat the cake. It looked yummy!

They also gave a choice of two styles of their shirt, which is nice. I picked the long sleeve thermal because it looked comfy. And the medal? They are huge! Aside from the Hot as Hell trail race, they have several other road races that I am putting on my calendar. Mostly because the medals and shirts are awesome.

What was your worse race and how did you get back at it?

Adjustments to Goals

Posted on January 27, 2018 by Jenna

I’ve been reflecting on the goals I’ve set for 2018 and decided I need to make a change. With limited time and energy, some things needed to go. We’ve only got a limited amount of hours each day and rather than force time for something that doesn’t currently fit in my life I’ve decided to drop it and focus on other pursuits I enjoy more.

I have determined that at this time, meditation is not meant to be in my life. I have been trying to force it into my routine and it just doesn’t work for me. I would rather spend time reading and writing than meditating. I often find myself with no good time for meditation because I can’t do it with others around (too many distractions) and if I am alone, I tend to fall asleep while meditating which kind of defeats the purpose.

Finding time and a place to comfortable meditate is causing me more stress than reducing it. I plan to focus on keeping myself in the present in general rather than meditate. It just seems to be a better fit for me at this time.

Sometimes you realize something wasn’t meant to be in your life at this time. Instead of forcing it, you have to let it go.

In other news, I did run both the 5 and 10 K over the rock n roll weekend with no ill effects! In fact, I haven’t had any issues while running! I am slower than I’d like to be but sometimes going slow is for the best. I have a quarter marathon trail run coming up and I will have to keep telling myself to go slower because for some reason I want to go SUPER fast on trails.

I have been sticking to my consistency word. I’ve been really good about my workouts. A few time I have taken an extra rest day but it was because my body (or mind) needed it and I got right back at it the next day. I’ve also been logging my food every day (except one!) and logging completely honestly. I’ve been eating really well and staying in my calorie goal. I am still struggling to hit my protein goal but I keep working at it.

How are you doing at working towards your goals? Have you reevaluated any yet?