Breaking The Tape

on July 26, 2009

I have discovered a great site for tracking your cardio. It’s called Breaking The Tape and I am obsessed! Not only can you input all your workouts and do bar graphs for the week, month, or year, but you can set it to automatically tweet your workouts! Awesome.

I went on a lovely 6 mile run today. This means I ran a 14.0 mile/week, which is a great improvement. I’m going to officially start training for my 15K in September next week, and I hope to get up to 20 miles/week ASAP.

I rocked the running skirt and knee sleeves today:

I do really like the knee tape, but when it’s 95 degrees outside and you’re sweating like a piggy, the tape comes off!

Before I left, I had Brazil Nut Butter and toast:

One thing that I’m getting frustrated with is my longer runs are REALLY slow. I ran 6.0 miles in 1:02 minutes on Thursday, and my first mile this morning took me 10:20. Of course, I think the heat is definitely a factor.

I need to remember that the focus right now is getting my mileage base back up. After 2.0 months (April to June) with basically no mileage, it’s a challenging just to gain my base back. Speed will come with time and I need to try not to focus so much it.

6.0 miles is 6.0 miles, whether you walk it or sprint it!

Here are my statistics:

Duration: 1:00:09
Distance: 6.0 miles
Calories Burned: 480

I came home, stretched and iced the knees, and made a yummy bowl of oatmeal!

My oatmeal contained:

1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1 sliced banana
Toppings: 1 tablespoon flax, 2 tablespoons coconut, and blueberries

Little spoons rule!

The Husband and I are off to the Farmers’ Market. We’re making a real effort to buy local produce after seeing Food Inc. It’s a sunny day outside so I think it’s going to wearing a hat! 🙂

Have a great day!

{ 29 comments }

Carolina John July 26, 2009, 7:07 am
good job getting the milage up! you'll be hitting 20 mile weeks in no time.
Angel July 26, 2009, 7:17 am
You always inspire me to exercise. 😀
Niki July 26, 2009, 7:26 am
I feel the same way about being slower after my injury! I was off for about 3 months with torn ligaments in my ankle and I am now so much slower than I used to be. But at least I can rack some longer miles up again!! Question- I know you have probably said this muliple times but I guess I missed it, what training plan are you using for you 15k? I am starting half marathon training in 3 weeks and am probably going to use the FIRST plan but am still open to some others!
roseyrebecca July 26, 2009, 7:30 am
I'm jealous that you're going to a Farmer's Market even though I just went to one yesterday!!

It's true: 6 miles is 6 miles and you'll build your speed back up so no worries!!

Have a great day!
Danielle C. July 26, 2009, 7:31 am
Good job on the mileage, you are right that your speed will improve!

I love little spoons too, I admit to using a baby spoon awhile ago to eat ice cream (watching my niece and nephews who are no longer babies, no idea why there was a baby spoon in the drawer). It makes the food last longer and me to eat slower to use a little spoon.
Mica July 26, 2009, 7:32 am
I've been getting really bummed out about how slow my running is right now. I was just rereading my Half race report from April, and now I don't think I could hold those paces. Not to worry though–I'm 85% sure that it's the summer heat and humidity, and in your case, coming back from an injury. I'm sure that once the weather cools a bit (Does that happen in Florida?), we'll all be faster. 'Til then…we'll just be plodding along.

Wow, that was a long comment.
BOBBI McCORMICK July 26, 2009, 7:33 am
great job on the run!! Have fun at the market 🙂
NYgirl@heart July 26, 2009, 7:34 am
Caitlin!
I know how you feel! I wrote about this while I was training for my 15K too…how my longer miles are so much slower and how frustrating it is…and now that I'm injured it's going to be worse. Also–you know that the heat effects your speed!! You just ran 5 miles in under 9 minutes last week remember?? You rock girl!!
Stacey July 26, 2009, 7:41 am
Ohhhh farmers markets sounds like a great idea! Have fun in the sun 🙂
Paige@ Running Around Normal July 26, 2009, 7:43 am
I need to find some knee braces. I'm up to 5.5 miles now, and my knees aren't very happy with me. What brand do you use, Caitlin.

Good job with the 6 miles! 😀
runnerskitchen July 26, 2009, 7:52 am
Running 6 miles is Running 6 miles – no matter how slow you go 🙂 I'm coming back from injury and I know how frustrating it is to run at a slower pace that you used to. You KNOW you can run faster, it's just going to take a little time to get back there. Have a great Sunday!
Allie July 26, 2009, 7:59 am
Great job on the 6 miles! Endurance first, speed second! The heat is Definitely affecting your times! I have been running 9.30 pace in the a.m. Yesterday I sruggled with a 10.00 minute pace in the heat…

I LOVE Breaking the Tape! Thank you! I just signed up. I can't figure out how to add your shoes though…Any tips??
Andrew July 26, 2009, 8:05 am
Running slow helps your endurance…. I swear!

Check this out: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NHF/is_6_21/ai_111890088/
Mandy July 26, 2009, 8:06 am
I use a little spoon to eat my oatmeal, too 🙂 And ice cream! haha

Yeah you're doing awesome on your mileage!!! Give yourself some time… you'll get back up on your speed!! You always have great motivation and determination… you will have NO problem!
Carol July 26, 2009, 8:23 am
Congrats on completing the 6 miles, but you ran that far on a single piece of toast and some nut butter?! That didn't look to be a lot of fuel. Do you take stuff on the run with you, besides water? Remember, the body is a machine, and you're not going to get very far without some fuel in the tank.
I am jealous of the farmer's market…my car is dead, so I can't get to our local one until it's up and running again. Well, I could, but it would be about a 6 mile walk to get there, and then hauling all the goodies home. I don't do transit very well!
Have a great day.
leslie July 26, 2009, 8:28 am
definitely agree that 6 miles is 6 miles, no matter how fast you are! i'm sure your speed will come with time! you're doing a great job being patient as you build back the miles.

i love that little spoon. 🙂
Gina July 26, 2009, 8:30 am
You are doing great! And to me, running 6 miles in an hour is fast! I usually run 11 minute miles 🙂
Justine July 26, 2009, 8:37 am
Great job on the 6 miles this morning! And I definitely know how you feel about feeling slower lately. I took some time off after I pulled my hamstring (slow, very low mileage for about 2-3 months after that) and now that I'm back to running more regularly, most of my runs have been at a slower pace. However, I'm sure the heat & humidity here in Houston is a factor in it all too. I'm telling myself the same thing as you…it's all about building the mileage again and the speed (if you can call my pace "speed") will come back! Just keep up the hard work!
Matt July 26, 2009, 8:39 am
You don't need to worry about speed on your long and easy runs. Long runs are all about getting your body used to running for time and distance, not speed. You just need to get used to worry about spending that time on your feet. Speedwork is what is going to make you faster. Once you put all the workouts together, you will see and improvement.
Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point July 26, 2009, 8:51 am
niki – im just going to make on up 🙂 i'll post it!

paige – http://www.rei.com/product/704436

allie – no idea… ill try to figure it out

carol – i dont need more than pb and toast when im doing a run under 7 miles. if it's over 7, i take shot bloks.
Mel @ She Runs Brooklyn July 26, 2009, 8:51 am
That's right, no matter the speed, you completed it 🙂
Rebeca @All Vegged Out July 26, 2009, 8:54 am
Ohhh Breaking the Tape sounds cool!

I'm so proud of you for focusing on the "right" things- mileage and taking care of your body, your body will thank you in the long run!
Deva July 26, 2009, 8:57 am
Your mileage is impressive! I am working on building mine back up, and I understand being slower. I took a break from running to try out lifting, and while it is quicker to build back up, I still feel like I'm going too slow!
Nina July 26, 2009, 9:13 am
Caitlin, good job on getting to 14 miles! You'll get to 20 before you know it. Do you have pain afterwards wearing just the kneesleeves?
Island Girl Eats July 26, 2009, 9:16 am
Could you put gauze under the knee tape to make it stay in place? Just a thought!
Amy July 26, 2009, 9:27 am
I'm working on the saaame thing (building mileage), but in the pool..there's a lot of flailing involved right now as I get back into it 🙂
Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point July 26, 2009, 9:43 am
nina – as long as i ice, it's cool!
Kelly Blechertas July 27, 2009, 7:06 am
Kudos on going to the farmer's market! DH and I buy every ounce of our produce that we can at our local farmer's market. It's fantastic, fresher than the grocery store, and cheaper!
We love it!
jeff July 27, 2009, 12:51 pm
thanks for the website shout, caitlin. i noticed a flurry of sign-ups over the last few days and had to track down where they were being referred from!

give me a holler if you have any questions or comments about the site.

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