Running on trails last Sunday revealed my kryptonite. HILLS. Ironic, isn't it? If you don't know, my last name (thanks to that whole marriage thing) is Hills. Yet I hate them. Clearly I need to become more awesome as running uphill in order to live up to my new namesake.
Today I hopped on the treadmill for an 8 mile run. Every fiber of my being encouraged me to run at a 1% incline like I always do. I kept it there for a warm-up mile and from then on out, I ran the first half of each mile at a 3.5% incline. The second half was back down to 1 or 1.5% incline. The first one or two felt okay and then I was really struggling. Total stats:
Although my stats says I ran a 9:41 pace, most of the run was actually closer to a 10:00 pace for the first seven miles. The last mile of my run was like dessert. I felt like I really earned a super speedy downhill mile where I got to feel awesome and pretend I am fast so I booked it at at 8 minute/mile at 2% DECLINE.
Just for the record though, that will never, ever qualify as an actual dessert. Seriously, slap me if I ever say that running is truly dessert. Tonight's was hot chocolate with whipped cream. Amazing.
If you're married (or plan to get married in the future) did you /would you take you husband's last name?
I absolutely get why people don't. If I had multiple degrees or was more established in a career I probably wouldn't have, but it didn't matter much to me and I know it meant a lot to Tim. I didn't realize how much I would like it, to be honest.
Does the ambient temperature around you make any difference in your choice of desserts?
Not too much. If I want hot cocoa in the summer, so be it. Same goes for ice cream in the winter.
Today I hopped on the treadmill for an 8 mile run. Every fiber of my being encouraged me to run at a 1% incline like I always do. I kept it there for a warm-up mile and from then on out, I ran the first half of each mile at a 3.5% incline. The second half was back down to 1 or 1.5% incline. The first one or two felt okay and then I was really struggling. Total stats:
Although my stats says I ran a 9:41 pace, most of the run was actually closer to a 10:00 pace for the first seven miles. The last mile of my run was like dessert. I felt like I really earned a super speedy downhill mile where I got to feel awesome and pretend I am fast so I booked it at at 8 minute/mile at 2% DECLINE.
Just for the record though, that will never, ever qualify as an actual dessert. Seriously, slap me if I ever say that running is truly dessert. Tonight's was hot chocolate with whipped cream. Amazing.
If you're married (or plan to get married in the future) did you /would you take you husband's last name?
I absolutely get why people don't. If I had multiple degrees or was more established in a career I probably wouldn't have, but it didn't matter much to me and I know it meant a lot to Tim. I didn't realize how much I would like it, to be honest.
Does the ambient temperature around you make any difference in your choice of desserts?
Not too much. If I want hot cocoa in the summer, so be it. Same goes for ice cream in the winter.
I think I would take my husband's name, unless I suddenly became famous/well-respected for some reason. You know, when I finally win the Nobel Peace prize for perfecting the art of doing nothing important.
ReplyDeleteI have been known to want ice cream in winter quite often, so I'd say no...temperature does not affect my dessert choice. What probably does affect it is hormones.
I wish I could stand to run on a treadmill. I don't mind a walk/run workout, I rather like it, but I can't just run for miles on end. :) Good for you. As for the temps and hot cocoa, my very fun boy Kade (who is now 9), used to disappear daily. We'd find him over at my neighbors every time. Apparently he would go to her house two and three times a day, asking for hot cocoa, in which she'd happily give hiim some. It was July. In Phoenix. :) Too funny.
ReplyDeleteI JUST changed my last name - the "Mc" comes from my maiden name McLean so I like still having a part of it on here as I don't go by it in 'real' life at all.
ReplyDeleteI liked my last name more than Colin's but he really wanted me to take it and I like having the same last name as my son :)
I'll take ryan's name when we get married, but I feel the same way that if I was established in some way, I'd use my maiden name, at least professionally. I definitely want ice cream year round and would drink hot chocolate if it wasn't super hot out. I'm not picky, i just always want dessert :) I'd say you earned that decline at the end of the run for sure!
ReplyDeleteIt's so funny you are talking about your married last name, because I just had a conversation with my co-worker about how I can't wait to get a new last name (when lol I get married- obviously not any time soon) and she said well what if you don't like your married name, and I said well I guess I will just change my whole name to something else completely lol
ReplyDeleteI took Mike's last night. It's a good solid last name. My maiden name is very German.
ReplyDeleteI don't do hot chocolate in the summer unless I'm cold. It makes me sweat! I will do ice cream in the winter though.
My maiden name (Miller) was jut an Ellis Island name anyway, so I didn't feel bad about changing it when I got married. At least my new last name has Seinfeld jokes built in.
ReplyDeleteRunning could be dessert...if there are aid stations with Oreos and coke on the route. :)
I think it's important to change your last name. To me it just signifies unity.
ReplyDeleteAnd running is NEVER dessert. Running just equals EXTRA dessert.
Ya maybe it makes me totally old fashioned and anti feminist, but I have to agree.
DeleteFunny, I thought the whole "marriage" thing united my husband and myself, not our last name. Though they both start with the same letter ;-)
DeleteI would take their name if it fancy. My man's last name is Zajac, hella fancy!
ReplyDeleteI cried when I did it, but I took his last name. I was feeling so sad that my dad only has a sister and only had a daughter so his last name dies with him. My mother-in-law didn't give her daughters middle names so that when they get married their maiden names will become their middle names. I kinda like that, but I also love my middle name and wasn't willing to give that up. It was really important to my husband though, I think it really is to most men. I only had one semester of college left when I got married and made sure my diploma had my maiden name on it. My Master's Degree will have my married name on it though.
ReplyDeleteI definitely eat ice cream in the winter but can't imagine hot chocolate in the summer but I kinda want some now that I've read your post!
My husband has a cousin who took her hubby's last name. A year later she changed it back to her maiden name. She couldn't handle having 'given up' her identity of who she was/known as.
DeleteI didn't until we were married a year. One day shortly after we moved to AK, I promised him I would run an errand, but being new to the area, I got lost and couldn't get to it. So instead, I went to the SSI office and changed my name. I picked him up from work and handed him the piece of paper showing the official change. He was pretty stoked and forgot all about that errand I was supposed to do. That afternoon, he wanted to go to the DMV and our bank to officially get our licenses (we had been there for two weeks by then).
ReplyDeleteI always joke that he was so urgent about the other stuff so I couldn't change my mind about the name change.
Oh and I like ice cream more in the winter than in the summer. I've had many -40F runs where I come home, take a hot shower, then hit the ice cream. YUM! I'm not a big cocoa fan at all.
ReplyDeleteIt's not too late to consider changing your last name.
ReplyDeleteI wore a heart rate monitor for the first time ever during a trail race on Saturday. I set it to beep every time it exceeded 148 bpm. I was amazed how every single time I got to a hill that dumb watch started beeping. Even if I walked the hill! I think that is my kryptonite too.
I changed mine right away mostly because I really don't like my maiden name. Nothing against my family, but it's always mispronounced and easy to turn into jokes. Easy decision for me.
ReplyDeleteI didn't change my name. For one thing, I had an established career and the state board of pharmacy forever and always recognizes the first name you registered with them - meaning I'd have a personal name and a professional name - and for another thing changing your name is a big pain in the behind. Not everyone realizes I didn't change my name, though, so I answer to both last names.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun blog you have here. I couldn't comment on your weight loss page but that is remarkable. Good for you. My readers at www.runtolose.net would love this blog. It's inspiring what you have been able to do. Your race wins are impressive too.
ReplyDeleteI understand the hills thing. I recently sold my treadmill (moving AZ-CT) and hadn't ever inclined it as much as when I showed it off to the buyer. Who ever takes that thing to the top and runs I do not know? :)
MMMM...I love whipped cream with hot chocolate. So good!
ReplyDeletetreadmill inclines = worst enemy. no, my worst enemy is the wind. ok, indoor worst enemy = treadmill inclines. outdoor worst enemy = wind. there we go.
ReplyDeletei've never had a treadmill with declines, but dude, that sounds awesome. if i had one of those i would run at a decline every single time. i'm a lazy cheater when it comes to hill workouts.
ANYWAY, the point of all of this is that i am super impressed by your workout. 3.5, ugh. you go, girl.
I think I win the whole last name competition. I'm getting married in may and my fiance's last name is Coffin....like the kind dead people lay in haha. It'll definitely take some time getting used to that. And the temperature outside definitely affects what I eat for dessert. No ice cream in the winter for me, I'm already freezing.
ReplyDeleteI hate the decline on the treadmill. I always feel like I'm going to crash into the console. I'm special.
ReplyDeleteI did take my husband's last name and it was pretty much a lateral move from a really confusing/long Swedish last name to a confusing/long Italian last name. A lose lose.
way to kick butt on that hilly treadmill style run! :) and i like that u blasted the pace home those last few miles...keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteoh, the temp i'm in totally changes wat kind of food i'll want, mostly dessert. i love ice cream but usually i'm WAY too cold in the winters to dive into it. :P
I can eat icecream anytime, any weather. I drink coffee all year too, more iced coffee in the summer tho.
ReplyDeleteI changed my name when I got married. I didn't want to, and my husband REALLY wanted me to. I had a really cool hard to pronounce French last name, and changed it to Little, not big but Little. At least I don't have to spell it over the phone and such.
Dean and I talked about it and I won't be changing my name when we get married. He absolutely does not care and said he would take my name if I wanted him to :) Most of the reason is because (a) I was called by my last name in high school because there were so many Christina's and I'm still known by it and (b) I want to carry it on in my dad's homour! When he passed away I kinda made that decision :)
ReplyDeleteDessert - I will always eat whatever I want regardless of temperature BUT summer does make me want ice cream more :)
Great job on the hills!! When I got married I changed my last name and I don't regret the decision.
ReplyDeleteI would have to stop reading your blog if you actually considered that dessert. I refused to read another blog ever again after the blogger referred to a 2 mile walk as "dessert". Ice cream in winter - hell yes. Hot chocolate in summer - no. I'm not a huge hot chocolate person anyway though, I'd really prefer just the cup of whipped cream. I took my husband's name, my maiden name was Miller, there are enough of those in the world already. What was your maiden name?
ReplyDeleteNice work on the treadmill run!! :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd,I didn't change my name. My husband is not from the US, and where he grew up, women do not take their husband's name, so it was a totally bizarre thought to him. In retrospect, it's annoying with the kids since we have different names.
weather definitely does NOT make a difference to me. i dotn think i could live without ice cream during the winter. also...you ran half mile uphills!?! that is nuts! way to go. amazing!!
ReplyDeleteOh I really hate hills. They are like my arch nemesis. But lately I have really been trying to train on them and they honestly make flat running dare I say easy? Nice work because 3.5% is no joke!!
ReplyDeleteI definitely think the weather effects my cravings for desserts and food in general. Whenever it is cold I want warm comfort food and when I am hot I crave slushies, smoothies, and icecream. :)
I'm SO lucky, my hubby doesn't care for his last name. His bio father wasn't around to raise him (that man's loss). Hubby almost changed his name to mine. I have always wanted to keep my name. I can't imagine changing it for several reasons, including WHY should I have to.
ReplyDeleteI've actually had more women upset with ME for not changing the name I go by than I have ever had men even comment upon.
I had a heck of time getting the marriage certificate though. The woman at the courthouse said, "YOU FILLED IT OUT WRONG" and yes, she yelled at me. I find it funny that in a county of 50,000+ people that I must have been the ONLY one to keep her own name and yet in the home county of 5,000 I don't think it anyone would have batted an eye lash.
Maybe it helps that I don't dwell too much on what other people think of what I do in my life? When women complain of having to change everything when they get married, I just remind them that they have a choice and I didn't have to change anything. It really is a custom from gentry/rich people in England and Europe and from women being property. It's not the norm through out the world.
I love training on hills, but I hate them in races. Mainly b/c I live on flood plain flat lands, so I rarely get to practice hills. Now that we have a treadmill in the house I am going to work on hills--mix in some in the "sport training mode" and try to do some running at inclines. WE have the treadmill and bike trainer and rollers set up in front of the television--great set up!
I like hot cocoa in winter, ice cream occasionally all year round.
Obviously I took Allan's last name but I still use my full name (first, middle, last, and new last) for everything. Not sure why but I just didn't want to completely get rid of my maiden name.
ReplyDeleteMy sister loooves hot chocolate. I like it as long as I get to put marshmallows in it!
I was thrilled to change my name for the hubby, but every woman for their own :-)
ReplyDeleteboo. i want a treadmill...so jealous!
I was never planning on changing my from Johnson to Steinberger. After being married two years I got sentimental during his second deployment and changed it. He didn't care at first if I kept my maiden name, but I think he really loves that I'm a Steinberger now. I still can't sign it! My first. And is all nice and pretty and Steinberger looks just as messy as it sounds!
ReplyDeleteI was never planning on changing my from Johnson to Steinberger. After being married two years I got sentimental during his second deployment and changed it. He didn't care at first if I kept my maiden name, but I think he really loves that I'm a Steinberger now. I still can't sign it! My first. And is all nice and pretty and Steinberger looks just as messy as it sounds!
ReplyDeleteI am with you. I dread hills! I am married and I changed my middle name to my last name and then added his. If that makes sense?? I knew I would always take my husbands last name and I always hated my middle name so this was the perfect scenario.
ReplyDeleteOh and temp for me deftly factors in. I don't like eating ice cream when it's cold out. Its hot chocolate for me :)
I struggle to enjoy hills, also :)
ReplyDeleteI prefer hot drinks ... Right through the summer.
Both our soon-to-be daughters-in-law are keeping our last name, and I was surprised to see how happy that made ME!
Barbara
My Running Shortz
My married name is Heinz. So of course everyone wants to know if I'm related to the Heinz Ketchup Family. Yep, that's why I live in this small no-name town in Western Pennsylvania and work as a legal secretary in a small law office, because I have a claim to the ketchup kingdom........
ReplyDeletenew post please :) ....and just to add, I'll eat any dessert, any temperature or time!
ReplyDeleteIce cream is my favorite dessert! I changed my name - it was a little funny to do it, but I also liked it for what it symbolized. I wanted to keep my maiden name in some form, so I switched my middle name to that and I think I was actually more upset about that because I liked my middle name :)
ReplyDeleteAnd hills on the treadmill - you go girl!
I have a love hat relationship with hills. They are such good training but they are hard. I am running a hilly race tomorrow. I did take my husbands name when we got married but I do miss my maiden name!
ReplyDelete