5K in 29:11 last night, which is 1:43 faster than the last time I ran, a week ago. I thought I was gonna puke for sure. I think I'm not going to challenge that PB too hard for now.
Bear in mind that your running time may be increasing due to muscle gains, which could also contribute to weight gain. In my first few months of bike commuting, I packed on at least five pounds, and the pants I outgrew attest to the fact that most of that was ass and thigh muscle. The scale may get less informative as you get more badass.
Stick figure women have never done it for me, unless they look like they could also beat me at arm wrestling. Comfort yourself with the knowledge that you're a) hot in a far more interesting way and b) capable of fireman-carrying those 90-lb swizzle-sticks down the emergency stairs should the building catch fire.
Indeed, I had this "aha" moment last summer when my summer law firm group was doing a Habitat for Humanity day. One of my friends, who is a very thin woman, and I were carrying these huge boards up a couple flights of stairs to the top level of the house we were helping build. She was thinner, sure. But I was stronger, while she was struggling to hold up her end of the board.
I still fail at beating dudes in arm-wrestling, though, last I checked (over the holidays with young pup amouravski).
Damn straight. (I don't run because I suck at running and I hate it. I lift weights and ride bikes. The smallest I've ever been in my adult life was a size 8, but I have also never in that time been unable to carry around an average-sized dude on my shoulders. Can only win arm-wrestling the below-average-sized dudes, alas.)
Also, stick-thin female law students not that much a mystery. Most are neurotic and competitive and like to make a big show of how much work they are doing to keep things under control. Hence "omg, I made 500 flashcards today and all I ate was a carrot and some Diet Coke, my life is sooooo hard but it is sooooo worth it!" The exceptions make it tolerable. I am grateful for the large and vibrant night program at GMU, mostly populated by people too busy to be that annoying.
You might also be getting out of the heart rate fat burning zone and into the cardio zone as you improve your time. I had a similar experience a few years ago when I started running 5Ks on the treadmill.
I have decided to start measuring my time in classic rock songs. "War Pigs" is 10:40. "Freebird" is 9:07. "November Rain" is 8:58. "Kashmir" is 8:29 (with a 10:00-mile pace, as said). "Stairway to Heaven" is 8:02. "L.A. Woman" is 7:49. "You Can't Always Get What You Want" is 7:31. I'm almost from Black Sabbath to Skynyrd. If I can make it to the Rolling Stones, I'll be awesome.
First: I love the geekery that is involved with you measuring your progress to classic rock songs.
Second: I wouldn't trust the scales at gyms (or Doctor's offices, for that matter)...those things are not callibrated as often as they should be for the amount of use that they get.
Comments 17
"...most women in law school are fucking stick figures. Not all, but most. Ally McBeal, really not an exaggeration. Another one of life's mysteries.
Mood: speedy"
Reply
Reply
Stick figure women have never done it for me, unless they look like they could also beat me at arm wrestling. Comfort yourself with the knowledge that you're a) hot in a far more interesting way and b) capable of fireman-carrying those 90-lb swizzle-sticks down the emergency stairs should the building catch fire.
Reply
I still fail at beating dudes in arm-wrestling, though, last I checked (over the holidays with young pup amouravski).
Reply
Also, stick-thin female law students not that much a mystery. Most are neurotic and competitive and like to make a big show of how much work they are doing to keep things under control. Hence "omg, I made 500 flashcards today and all I ate was a carrot and some Diet Coke, my life is sooooo hard but it is sooooo worth it!" The exceptions make it tolerable. I am grateful for the large and vibrant night program at GMU, mostly populated by people too busy to be that annoying.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
(Or something at the top of the highest mountain! Must climb it to find out! BRB!)
Reply
Reply
Reply
Second: I wouldn't trust the scales at gyms (or Doctor's offices, for that matter)...those things are not callibrated as often as they should be for the amount of use that they get.
Reply
Leave a comment