Runner's High: It really does exist.

Hello everyone,

It's been awhile since I've posted anything lately, apologies.

The weather in Bloomington has not been the most cooperative in terms of running conditions.  I don't mind a little rain during a run, I actually prefer it, but when it is heavy down pour it really puts a damper on my day.

My training schedule this past week has been a little out of whack, so in attempt to combat the weather I tried indoor run on the treadmill... I ran 2 miles and felt motion sick. During the week my mileage wasn't on schedule, so by the weekend I had to make up about 2-3 miles from the week (this week is also a tamper week to bump up the milage for the coming week.)

The long run for the weekend, I normally take a 1 minute walking break between every 3 miles, but this past run I decided to push through the pain and just run the whole thing, and around mile 4-5 I could feel the pain slowly disappear and I felt relaxed.  This is what runner's high must feel like, the spirit of Forest Gump inside of you.  It was first time I've ever experienced this type of feeling, and I'm only craving more now.

So a little update on what's coming up.  I have my finals coming up next next week, so this week I have to buckle down and start studying.... But, since its 4th of July weekend, I'm going with a couple of friends to Red River Gorge to do a little bit of camping and rock climbing.  I'll be studying during the drive and during the mornings and evenings. I've really be fortunate to have such great friends during a time when I was feeling a little down.  Needless to say, I haven't been this happy better yet content in a long time.

Have a great holiday weekend everyone, I'll post some pictures of my mini-vacation when I get back.

-MC

Caught in between a frozen dessert love triangle

Hi everyone,

It's official summer, but it's felt like summer in Bloomington for awhile now.  What the best thing to do during summer? Why of course eat ice cream!  Up until this weekend, my favorite place to go for ice cream in Bloomington was Hartzell's, but I recently went to the Chocolate Moose and got their homemade vanilla blizz with heath bar... I feel like I cheated on a girlfriend, it was so sinfully delicious.  I go out for ice cream a couple times a week, and normally I'll go to Hartzell's and pray they have green tea ice cream (I highly suggest trying it also the cantaloupe sorbet !).  

I was talked into going to the Chocolate Moose, and fortunately I got there in the knick of time before closing. I got a note saying you are the last person in line, but I felt so bad for people how came after me so I just kept passing the note back to the person at the end of the line.  I didn't want to be that guys that say, sorry no ice cream for you.  I'm not the ice cream nazi. 

It looks like I'll be in a happy, yet fat asian kid this summer.  What are your favorite ice cream places or flavor? Comment below. 

-MC

A change of flavor, and two personal bests

I'm about 45 days away from leaving this country, and I've realized that my Chinese has really gone downhill.  I've decided to blog a little in Chinese just to get more practice.

所以开始啦。。。

这暑假认识不少的中国人，尤其是中国女生。跟她们沟通有时候会有问题，因为我好久没练中文。学如逆水行舟，不进则退，所以从天开始要复习中文，否则到了南京中文更糟。

I think that's enough for today.

So this week for my marathon training, I set two PR's for the routes I've been training on.  My goal for the marathon is to average a 8:45/mile, so I'll end up a sub 4 hour marathon.  So on my 3 mile run this week, I went a little intense and ran a 7:45/mile and then on my 5 mile run not only did I not take a break, I kept marathon pace.  I'm really getting into the habit of running, granted it's killing my knees, but I'm young.

Stay cool everyone, and if you have any good routes or stretching tips please share.

-MC

Ripped Jeans and Marathon training week 2

Happy Sunday everyone,

I had a very interesting night last night, or better put an eventful weekend. I was fortunate to have a 3 day weekend this week due to midterm and what not.  I was paid to eat lunch and a watch a movie on Friday which is probably never going to happen after this job ends.  (I don't remember if I mentioned this before, but I am a program assistant for a summer Chinese intensive language program.) 

Last night made me realize what a true friend is.  Lets just say, I was being a smart ass and someone attempted to throw a drunken punch at me, luckily I ducked and dodged it.  Under the impression I was hit, my roommate tackled the drunkard and got a revenge hit for me.  It was a touching moment for me, it was the first time someone has stepped in and had my back.  Roommate love. ha.

Tomorrow will mark the second week of marathon training, the previous week had been a lot of condition running and route testing.  I'm actually looking forward to this training, it will be the longer commitment I've ever had (I'm excluding cell plans because they don't count).  Bloomington is great place to train, a lot routes to run, and the B line trail is a great place to do my long distance runs. 

Does anyone have a story of someone having your back or a commitment that you endured all the way? Please share. 

I hope everyone had a great weekend and has a great start to the week tomorrow.

-MC

Sore Knees, Sore Body, Week 1 of Marathon Training

Hello everyone, 

So the last post I mention I started my marathon training, well I'm still with it.  I think it's going to be harder than I thought.  I'm turning into an old man, my knees are constantly sore and I've been taking pills to help with the soreness.  I'm like one of those guys on the Aleve commercial :). Too bad this week was technically a conditioning week for me. I don't really start the training schedule until next week.

On a side note, I finally got a watch to help me keep pace/ actually know the pace I'm running at, and today I was kinda proud of myself a little faster than an 8min/mile. I'm setting my goal for my marathon to be under a 4hr marathon, so the pace needs to be faster than a 9:09min/mile.  

If there are any runners that read this, please comment on some of the things you do on your rest days.  I mainly swim to do my cross training, and also what about weight lifting, especially lower body lifting.  Also, suggestion on running song/playlist. I'm really into upbeat/house/techo-y songs to help keep the energy up.  

-MC

China Marathon Training

Hello hello,

It's been a hectic week for me, midterms and studying.  The most difficult part as been that I have no motivation to study, but luckily I've been pay attention in class and took good notes.  Today, will be my second to last midterm, and then I have a three day weekend.  Maybe go buy some camping stuff or a down jacket, or go to Cedar point who knows.

So from the title, I bet you can guess what I've started.  I've been considering doing a 10k or mini for a couple of weeks now, but since I've been slowly getting back into shape, I thought hell why not a full marathon.  I'm starting a 15 week training program, which I'll have to adjust for when I might be doing any serious races.

Why would I consider doing a marathon you might ask? Well if you didn't know already, I'm going to China for a year, and well I think of this year as a year to push myself to experience as much as I can before I come back to school to finish my degree and begin working.  Having all these experiences will no doubt give me an interesting conversation starter to any job interview.

Well today marks day 1 of marathon training, and only 55 days more until China.

-MC

Crazy weather in Bloomington

Hello everyone. It's been sometime since I've lasted blogged. Summer is just really getting to me or I'm just getting lazy. 

So what's been going with me recently is mainly summer school and what not. I've been going to the gym pretty religiously since summer started and well before that as well, but I've now decided to intensify my workouts by doing two works outs a day. Afternoons focuses on strength and condition and the evenings are primarily for cardio. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before but my goal is to get back into shape and get abs again all before I go to China. 

Speaking of China, I have less than two months before I'll be leaving the good old US of A, for the motherland. It's pretty exciting times. I've been looking at where to travel and sight see. Korea and Singapore were just too expensive for a couple days travel, but luckily I have a friend who is interested in maybe going to Macau later in the year so I'm looking forward to that. 

Other that school and working out, I have a job now. I'm working the flagship Chinese institute as a program assistant. The kids just all moved in, so I'll be helping them out though their 8 weeks here at IU. 

I hope everyone is a enjoying their summer and staying safe. Let me know what you're up to or have interesting summer activities to share. 

-MC