Thursday, February 28, 2008

These are the last few weeks before my goal race, the Shamock Half Marathon, which is on March 16th. Actually, as I get closer to my last long run, there is such a great feeling of relief. There’s no longer a question as to “if” I can do it, I can, no doubts for quite some time. The time investment in training is huge, it’s almost a part-time job. Running in the cold has never bothered me before, and it really doesn’t bother me now, but getting out the door on those frigid blustery nights has gotten tougher and tougher. That’s what makes the taper so attractive, the training eases up, and the push to get out the door is not so imperative.

Just now, on my mid-week hill workout, I ran into some buddies that are training for the marathon. The glee in their eyes was contagious as they said “Let the taper begin!”. I’ll have a good group to do this last long run with, all different levels, both old friends and new friends. After that, it’s really just me. the rest of the time is very solitary, quiet and inward.

Friday, January 25. 2008

The last couple of weeks have had one setback after another. First there was the trip out west, and that put my training back. Then I got sick in a big way. It started out as a whopper of a cold, but all in the sinuses. Woo told me last year rhat is it’s in the head, go out and run, I just couldn’t do it. I went 6 days without running. That’s the longest I’ve gone without running in 4 years. Then when I sit the road again for the first time, I just had no strength. The next day wasn’t much better. And ohhhhh was the next time cold. It was one of the twwo coldest runs I’ve ever done. The wind was brutal, it felt like your sking was being ripped off you. My legs never did warm up on that run.

I made myself get out there this week and put in the miles. Come Thursday, I was pretty tuckered again. Antibiotics always wipe me out a tad bit. Today is my last pill, so maybe I’ll have a great rebound shortly. More to come….

Saturday, January12, 2008

Okay, it’s getting better. I whined for the last 3 days, and now I’m getting my focus back. No one likes whining, no one listens to whining, it just gets tuned out. I had a good run today. Initially tough, good in the middle, and great at the end. It feels good to be getting it back. That’s a relief.

Five tomorrow with Fred in the morning. It’ll be good. Showing myself everyday that I can do this. Just a momentary, lapse. We all have them.

Week of January 7-11 2008 (should have been a lucky one!)

This week, I just haven’t felt like running. We were away for a long weekend, lots of travel, too much food, too much sitting, too much rain. I came back home completely out of sync with my body and mind. There has not seemed to be a rhythm to my week, just could not get a grip on productivity. So consequently, I just couldn’t get into running. It happens. But, the lack of running and motivation, has lead to chronic psychosomatic symptoms of everything from torn ligaments to psoriasis. Not fun. It’s time to get my groove back and hit the roads. Time is ticking away, and goal races don’t get run by whining.

Check out the “Training” tab for the new Half-marathon team info

August 18, 2007

Tonight was my favorite race of the year, the Moonlight 4 Miler. It’s a great distance and so much fun to run at night. Plus, there’s ice cream after the race, just the thing for a sweaty summer night. The best part was that I got my very first, first place finish! I ran almost 4 minutes faster than last year as well. I really am very tickled about my time and performance in this race!

After the first race 7/9/07 ———– Coming to the finish line 7/23
July 23, 2007 - Cul de Sac 3

I did not feel great going out to the race and did not feel like racing when I got there. I was tired and feeling a definite lack of confidence. I didn’t really chat much with the group before the race, just said “I don’t have another PR in me”.. My feeling was just to run and get it over with. The night was blessedly mild again, nothing like the stiffling 95 degrees of the first race. We lined up at the start and I ran still not feeling like it. The first mile was not fun, I struggled to keep my form, there was too much bounce in my step. My heart just was not in it at all. At about the 2 mile mark, Chris and freind passed my yelling greetings as they went. None of the energy wore off on me. I thought, “If I can just make it to the last turn, then the end is not far”. So I gave it more energy and turned to look at the time clock as I went up the hill. Well, blow me down, I was doing really well, so I sprinted the last stretch, amd what do you know? Another PR, and by 34 sec. These PRs sure feel good, especially in the middle of the summer.
July 17, 2007 - Cul de Sac Races

This is a series of races on 3 consecutive Mondays in July. The weather couldn’t be less condusive to racing, temps are often 95 - 100 and the humidity ia absolutely tropical at 7 pm. That seems to be half the fun. By the end, everyone is pouring with sweat and slimy to boot!

The first race, July 9th, it was indeed just that, 95 degrees at race time. I put it in my mind that I was just going to run hard, after all it was only a 5k, and I could endure anything for 30 minutes. I started out hard and kept it up, several times feeling like I just wanted t walk off the course. I threw water on myself at one of the water stops, but it just added to the sweat pouring down me and did nothing to cool. I PRed, cutting 2 min/20 sec off my times from last year, which was very exciting. Last year I had just missed placing in my age group by 1 sec, so I thought this year I would surely place with my time. Nope, didn’t happen. The race is more popular, more runners, more people in my age group, more faster runners in my age group.

The second race, July 16th, was much cooler. I thunderstorm was just pulling out of the area, and the temperature was about 83 at start time. Again, another PR, this time taking about13 sec off last week’s time. But still no placing in my age group! Ah well. These legs just are not going to get much faster I’m afraid. When I look at the “big picture” I am really doing terrific for myself. I am running the fastest I have ever run and keeping my endurance up with long hard runs. Generally not competitive by nature, there is the tiny hint that really just wants to be in the top 3. That just is not going to happen, so, I need to keep the focus internal and not external. Which really is fine.

This is Rosie. She is a serious haus/beast.

“How do I know this? you might ask.

Well, this photo was taken immediately after she ran a half marathon.

and she’s smiling.” — Annie & Andrew

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