Home bound
Tired of running town to town
Tired of my heart turned upside down
Now my life's a smile not a frown . . .
You got my soul singing my soul singing . . . from Soul Singing by The Black Crowes
Yesterday I ran my long run. No big deal and nothing really blog worthy about that fact. Last few years I've been doing a long run about every week of the year except in the summer months then maybe it was one every few weeks. This past fall though I started doing the 3 hour run sometimes twice a week and well, that just didn't work out so well for me. Not saying it wouldn't work for some people but for this late-to-discover-running-thirty-eight-year-old-mother-of-two-who-once-shattered-her-pelvis-and-still-a-bit-crooked it just didn't pan out.
But I do so love the 3 hour run. It is what gets my "soul singing".
Okay, not totally true. I really, really hate the first hour of the 3 hour run. I will procrastinate the heck out of starting it and then for the first seven miles I think about not doing it, cutting it short and sometimes just calling this whole running thing quits. I obsess during those early miles about every little thing: I might be too cold, this or that hurts, I am running too slow, I am tired, my outfit is all wrong, the hills are, somehow, steeper today than they were last week, I hate all my ipod music, and nothing feels quite right. But then I am at Walgreens and run in, pee, have Gu, some water from their fountain and I return to the sidewalk feeling better than when I started and now with a "can do!" attitude. For that second hour I run a little too fast and only worry a little about how much that is going to hurt me in the final hour.
Usually in that second hour I stop to buy Gatorade and the man behind the counter at the gas station on Johnson Ferry and Roswell Road alternately will either call me crazy, tell me I am beautiful or suggest that I should run to his house in Lawerenceville (which according to him is 24 miles from the store)and be his wife. On days when I look a little miserable he offers me a ride to his house in Lawerenceville. I don't know his name and he doesn't know mine but for once a week for over the past two years he has been a staple of my 21 mile weekly run.
By the end of the second hour or beginning of the third I usually have a low point. Sometimes, when I don't have it, I worry. I worry because that means catastrophe could be just around the corner. Like earlier this year when in the middle of mile 20 my ankle started hurting and it took me over 20 minutes to limp the final mile home. Agony.
So there is a little bit of comfort when the discomfort comes. Sure I have a bit of a pity party when it arrives but then I get "done" with myself and dig in. I know the best is about to come once I climb out of the valley of darkness. I know this is all self created but getting to triumph over adversity once a week really does help me deal with everything else that comes my way in the rest of my life. So yeah, basically, the long run helps me cope. Once upon a time Ritalin was the drug that made me right; now running is that drug. But that is a boring story for another time.
I love arriving at mile 17. Four miles to go. And now, it is mostly downhill until the final mile and half and at that point I won't care about running up a hill or three. It is always (unless catastrophe strikes) in the those final 30 so minutes that my soul starts its song. Sure I am spent, my hips a little achy, my hamstrings beyond annoyed with me and it would be completely impossible for me to make a sudden movement right or left but it is like my body is locked into running and it isn't going to stop until I get home. I love everything and I am so freaking happy! And it is so funny because at this point I am running on the same road I ran out on and only a few hours earlier I really, really hated this road and everything in the world. Funny how much your perspective can change on a three hour tour.
And always, always-- no matter if it is my regular 21 or I went crazy and ran 25 miles-- I run as hard and fast as I can manage up the final hill to my house. And, I will admit, many times to throwing up my arms and inwardly, okay sometimes outwardly, cheering for myself. And nearly every time as I get to my house I think about cartwheeling across my lawn to my front door. But, again, I am not too sure about my coordination for any movement other than running. So of course, I just slow down and walk happily into my house. But the cartwheels, or if I am really ambitious, the aerials? In my mind I did them. That is how I feel. And I guess if you have never cartwheeled or done an aerial or a flip then you just don't know how awesome and cool that feeling is: that spinning, for a split second, sideways, upside down and all round through the world feeling. That is how I feel after a long run.
But now I am sad.
The major artery that makes my perfect 21 mile run possible is closed. They are taking the bridge out on Sewell Mill Road. It will be out until June. They have a detour but if I follow it puts my run over 22 and I will have to run along Roswell Road. And that means I will have to switch sides just so I can be on the sidewalk to get to Old Canton (which a small portion of right there doesn't have sidewalk). That's no good. Never mind that is a just an ugly stretch to have to run along. Plus, I really like running down Providence Rd and Bill Murdock Rd and past the neighborhood I grew up in before I moved to Roswell. I always have a new memory from when I was little pop in my head. It is a nice little surprise and a great diversion.
So I've been searching for a new route. I tried one out yesterday. And it was too long--just over 23 miles. I was thinking though if it worked out I could just do it every 2 weeks and do a 16 mile run on the week in between.
The route took me from my house in East Cobb to Historic Roswell and back. But the Roswell stretch of Shallowford Road has no sidewalk and the soft shoulder is scary. Too many big trucks never mind the big hills. The hills though would be find if I had sidewalk. But running up that big of hill and having to look at the ground so I don't twist my ankle and fall into incoming traffic is just too stressful. Then the coming back along highway 92 is just sucky. 92 is always a wind tunnel. So this route is, sadly, no good.
For me a good running route-- from my house-- will be side walked and it needs to be a big loop that forces me to do the run (if I have to run past my house or have the opportunity to cut it short I probably will.) It also needs to have places I can stop to pee and get water. I don't like having to carry stuff and this is the suburbs; I can't just pee in someone's front yard. But those are just the basics. Ideally a good route will be somewhat scenic. Running along a 4 lane road past strip malls is not scenic in my opinion.
So I am still searching. I haven't looked into a route that will take me out towards Marietta or Woodstock so that could be an option. . .
Showing posts with label the long run. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the long run. Show all posts
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Saturday 20: Tour de Roswell
I couldn't motivate for this run.
It was my last 20 miler before I taper for the GA ING marathon that is on March 29th. I don't have huge goals for the marathon. Sure, I'd love a pr but I am running it because I want to be one of those people that run it every year. Like those that have run the Peachtree every year except I will be way cooler than them because the ING marathon is 20 miles longer. Also, I keep hoping that eventually this will be a good marathon. Practice makes perfect, right?
I had planned to run 21 on Friday. My East Cobb loop from my house. But my calf muscles were being very uncooperative; tight, heavy, needed a rest day. It happens. I could have run through it but my Dad said he would watch the kids Saturday morning so why have an uncomfortable run if you don't have to I figured? I like running to feel good and it just wasn't feeling good for me Friday. I was bummed though because I do like to stick to my plans.
The past few weeks I have had some fantastic, near epic runs. Like I mentioned in a previous post, the running has been good. Very good. I also knew that I was pushing hard and that it wouldn't last. But i could see the taper looming so I just wanted to keep pushing as hard as could until then. But this week my body pushed back and pretty much told me to f-off Friday morning. I wasn't surprised but it did bum me out.
After last Friday's 24 mile run with Kate I ran again Saturday morning. Just a short run on treadmill before yoga but the 7:39 pace I average was pretty aggressive for me the day after a long hard run. Then I did yoga. And then I did yoga on Sunday too. Then I drank lots of beer because it snowed and that is what you do when it snows in Atlanta. I think it is like how in Key West they hunker down in the bars when a hurricane hits and drink themselves under the table.
Then Monday I decided to switch my usual 12 mile run to Wed and do my treadmill intervals instead because it was cold and windy and I knew I would get enough cold on my bike ride Tuesday. This was a mistake and I knew it would be. But nevertheless I got my treadmill intervals done. My calves were fatigued and I ended up bailing on the cool down portion of the workout and cutting out a mile and half.
Tuesday was the 47 mile bike ride to the Capitol and back. I definitely pushed too hard on the ride back. I was just thinking about what I was capable of that day not what else I had planned for the week. Also, since I've only been riding like once a month the past few months, really a 47 bike ride is a long ride for me. It is hard effort and I just forgot to think about it that way.
Wednesday I ran in the Alps on Brett's long run route. Just kidding but that is how it felt. I thought I ran on hills but apparently Woodstock is hillier than East Cobb or Roswell. I cried uncle after 11 miles. I swear the entire run felt harder than any of my 24 miles I ran last Friday. Lesson in hubris for sure.
Thursday I did an easy 6 miles on my tiny hills and then an hour of yoga. I thought that was a pretty good recovery day but I found out Friday morning it wasn't enough. So I bailed on Friday's run getting in only 3 miles for the day. It happens.
So Saturday I was gung ho and determined. But my run did not start out stellar. Again my calves were saying, no please, no running today. I thought about listening to them but then decided they needed to HTFU and I hobbled on my way. Around 6 miles they got with the program and the run was went great, easy even.
But when it was going poorly at the start I decided that I would just treat it as a run around Roswell and take pictures with my camera phone. So here is my photo journey. Sorry the photos are kinda crappy. It was cloudy, misty even for the first 2 hours, so the light was really bad. Plus, my phone sucks. Not to mention, I was running.
The road ahead. This was the start of my run when I knew it was going to hurt a little and I was trying not to be mad about it.
Goats at the end of the first mile. They are cute but boy do they stink!
I took this picture for my friend Anne and my friend Neal. Anne because I know she likes the goats and Neal because he says stuff like; "I don't think I can come to yoga on Saturday. I need to take my dad to the goat sale."
Mile 2. Starting to feel better for the moment because I get to run down a long hill. Yippy for downhills.
Stopping to cross. See the cyclists (probably Roswell Bikes group) heading out to do the North of 92 loop of the Roswell 40 (or mile high ride).
Then I didn't take pictures for a few miles because I was having the I think I am going to bail argument with myself.
But then I got to run down a big hill and then up an even longer hill and my calves gave up the ghost and got with the program. I rewarded myself with a Gu and some water at Texaco. I didn't take any pictures there either because there were lots of day laborers hanging around and they were already looking at me like I was crazy.
Canton St. Mile 6ish. Feeling great now! Bad hills are done! Finally decided that I will see this run through.
Naylor Hall on Canton Street. My friend Elizabeth grew up in this house so I always think about her and playing there whenever I run past it. Now it is a place people rent to have their weddings at.
Trail at Roswell Area Park. Trail one of two on my route.
I run here a lot when my kids have gymnastics.
Church that I like. Mile 9 or so. Blurry because I was running. I wanted a picture but I had just passed a couple with a jogging stroller and didn't want to have pass them again so I snapped it as I went by.
I hate this part of the run. I try to cut as much off as I can by running through Blessed Trinity's campus but still gotta do my time on 92. I also call it the foresake it or bake on it road or-- depending on the time of year-- the wind tunnel. It was both on Saturday.
Isn't it ugly?
This is back in the neighborhoods I run through. Miles 12, 13 and part of 14--or something like that.
Right behind me is a friend of mine from high school's old house but if I were to go down this driveway I would be standing at the end of the lake that my parent's house is on. In the summer, when I do this run and it is 90 degrees, I often think that I could just swim the 1/4 mile down lake and be done. It takes me less than 6 minutes to swim a 1/4 mile and at this point I have an hour left of my run. Even if I cut it short I still have to run almost 3 miles to get back to my parent's house where my car is parked. So sometimes I am tempted but haven't done it yet. The lake creeps me out. And besides, what would I do with my shoes?
Back out on 92 waiting on the light to change. I need to run down to the Leita Thompson park to add on some miles.
The Leita Thompson Trail.
This is picture isn't from Saturday but one of the trail from last year. The pictures I took of the trail Saturday were all too dark.
And this is--usually-- the best part of the run. I save it for last even though technically the uneven terrain and hills and turns make it the hardest part of the run. But it is the most fun part.
After I run on the trail I head back on 92 and then back towards my parent's house where they have either bought my kids McDonald's or given them too many cookies and as much Coke as they want. It will be hard to keep up with them for the rest of the day.
Just a few more miles to go. . .
I have to run down this hill and then back up to add on a few more miles so I get to 20 today.
As I start down the hill I pass my friend Shannon. I see her too late to get a picture. She is training for the ING half and the Country Music marathon. I think that she looks good.
Instantly I regret that I didn't look happier when we passed. I am in a sour mood about the hill because I should have, and usually do, run the extra miles at the Leita but the fountains were not turned on and it was getting hot so I had detour and make an extra and unplanned stop at CVS to use their fountain. Buggers! Blasted thirst.
Finally, the last mile.
This is not T-Pain's house.
Neither is this one.
But he does have a house that is off this street. I am just not sure which one it is.
Yeah! Almost done. Starting to sprint now!
Now it is taper time. Again! I can't believe it. 3 weeks until I get to do the Tour de Atlanta.
P.S. I am going to see The Pogues live tonight! Been almost 20 years since I have seen them live. So excited! They are my favorite band.
It was my last 20 miler before I taper for the GA ING marathon that is on March 29th. I don't have huge goals for the marathon. Sure, I'd love a pr but I am running it because I want to be one of those people that run it every year. Like those that have run the Peachtree every year except I will be way cooler than them because the ING marathon is 20 miles longer. Also, I keep hoping that eventually this will be a good marathon. Practice makes perfect, right?
I had planned to run 21 on Friday. My East Cobb loop from my house. But my calf muscles were being very uncooperative; tight, heavy, needed a rest day. It happens. I could have run through it but my Dad said he would watch the kids Saturday morning so why have an uncomfortable run if you don't have to I figured? I like running to feel good and it just wasn't feeling good for me Friday. I was bummed though because I do like to stick to my plans.
The past few weeks I have had some fantastic, near epic runs. Like I mentioned in a previous post, the running has been good. Very good. I also knew that I was pushing hard and that it wouldn't last. But i could see the taper looming so I just wanted to keep pushing as hard as could until then. But this week my body pushed back and pretty much told me to f-off Friday morning. I wasn't surprised but it did bum me out.
After last Friday's 24 mile run with Kate I ran again Saturday morning. Just a short run on treadmill before yoga but the 7:39 pace I average was pretty aggressive for me the day after a long hard run. Then I did yoga. And then I did yoga on Sunday too. Then I drank lots of beer because it snowed and that is what you do when it snows in Atlanta. I think it is like how in Key West they hunker down in the bars when a hurricane hits and drink themselves under the table.
Then Monday I decided to switch my usual 12 mile run to Wed and do my treadmill intervals instead because it was cold and windy and I knew I would get enough cold on my bike ride Tuesday. This was a mistake and I knew it would be. But nevertheless I got my treadmill intervals done. My calves were fatigued and I ended up bailing on the cool down portion of the workout and cutting out a mile and half.
Tuesday was the 47 mile bike ride to the Capitol and back. I definitely pushed too hard on the ride back. I was just thinking about what I was capable of that day not what else I had planned for the week. Also, since I've only been riding like once a month the past few months, really a 47 bike ride is a long ride for me. It is hard effort and I just forgot to think about it that way.
Wednesday I ran in the Alps on Brett's long run route. Just kidding but that is how it felt. I thought I ran on hills but apparently Woodstock is hillier than East Cobb or Roswell. I cried uncle after 11 miles. I swear the entire run felt harder than any of my 24 miles I ran last Friday. Lesson in hubris for sure.
Thursday I did an easy 6 miles on my tiny hills and then an hour of yoga. I thought that was a pretty good recovery day but I found out Friday morning it wasn't enough. So I bailed on Friday's run getting in only 3 miles for the day. It happens.
So Saturday I was gung ho and determined. But my run did not start out stellar. Again my calves were saying, no please, no running today. I thought about listening to them but then decided they needed to HTFU and I hobbled on my way. Around 6 miles they got with the program and the run was went great, easy even.
But when it was going poorly at the start I decided that I would just treat it as a run around Roswell and take pictures with my camera phone. So here is my photo journey. Sorry the photos are kinda crappy. It was cloudy, misty even for the first 2 hours, so the light was really bad. Plus, my phone sucks. Not to mention, I was running.
The road ahead. This was the start of my run when I knew it was going to hurt a little and I was trying not to be mad about it.
Goats at the end of the first mile. They are cute but boy do they stink!
I took this picture for my friend Anne and my friend Neal. Anne because I know she likes the goats and Neal because he says stuff like; "I don't think I can come to yoga on Saturday. I need to take my dad to the goat sale."Mile 2. Starting to feel better for the moment because I get to run down a long hill. Yippy for downhills.
Stopping to cross. See the cyclists (probably Roswell Bikes group) heading out to do the North of 92 loop of the Roswell 40 (or mile high ride).
Then I didn't take pictures for a few miles because I was having the I think I am going to bail argument with myself.
But then I got to run down a big hill and then up an even longer hill and my calves gave up the ghost and got with the program. I rewarded myself with a Gu and some water at Texaco. I didn't take any pictures there either because there were lots of day laborers hanging around and they were already looking at me like I was crazy.
Canton St. Mile 6ish. Feeling great now! Bad hills are done! Finally decided that I will see this run through.
Naylor Hall on Canton Street. My friend Elizabeth grew up in this house so I always think about her and playing there whenever I run past it. Now it is a place people rent to have their weddings at.
Trail at Roswell Area Park. Trail one of two on my route.
I run here a lot when my kids have gymnastics.Church that I like. Mile 9 or so. Blurry because I was running. I wanted a picture but I had just passed a couple with a jogging stroller and didn't want to have pass them again so I snapped it as I went by.
I hate this part of the run. I try to cut as much off as I can by running through Blessed Trinity's campus but still gotta do my time on 92. I also call it the foresake it or bake on it road or-- depending on the time of year-- the wind tunnel. It was both on Saturday.
Isn't it ugly?
This is back in the neighborhoods I run through. Miles 12, 13 and part of 14--or something like that.
Right behind me is a friend of mine from high school's old house but if I were to go down this driveway I would be standing at the end of the lake that my parent's house is on. In the summer, when I do this run and it is 90 degrees, I often think that I could just swim the 1/4 mile down lake and be done. It takes me less than 6 minutes to swim a 1/4 mile and at this point I have an hour left of my run. Even if I cut it short I still have to run almost 3 miles to get back to my parent's house where my car is parked. So sometimes I am tempted but haven't done it yet. The lake creeps me out. And besides, what would I do with my shoes?
Back out on 92 waiting on the light to change. I need to run down to the Leita Thompson park to add on some miles.
The Leita Thompson Trail.
This is picture isn't from Saturday but one of the trail from last year. The pictures I took of the trail Saturday were all too dark.And this is--usually-- the best part of the run. I save it for last even though technically the uneven terrain and hills and turns make it the hardest part of the run. But it is the most fun part.
After I run on the trail I head back on 92 and then back towards my parent's house where they have either bought my kids McDonald's or given them too many cookies and as much Coke as they want. It will be hard to keep up with them for the rest of the day.
Just a few more miles to go. . .
I have to run down this hill and then back up to add on a few more miles so I get to 20 today.
As I start down the hill I pass my friend Shannon. I see her too late to get a picture. She is training for the ING half and the Country Music marathon. I think that she looks good.
Instantly I regret that I didn't look happier when we passed. I am in a sour mood about the hill because I should have, and usually do, run the extra miles at the Leita but the fountains were not turned on and it was getting hot so I had detour and make an extra and unplanned stop at CVS to use their fountain. Buggers! Blasted thirst.
Finally, the last mile.
This is not T-Pain's house.
Neither is this one.
But he does have a house that is off this street. I am just not sure which one it is. Yeah! Almost done. Starting to sprint now!
Now it is taper time. Again! I can't believe it. 3 weeks until I get to do the Tour de Atlanta.
P.S. I am going to see The Pogues live tonight! Been almost 20 years since I have seen them live. So excited! They are my favorite band.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Band War
Steph invited the kids and I to join her and her girls at the Lassiter Battle of the Band.
Steph has a thing for marching bands. She was in the band in high school. I wasn't. I am not musical. At all. I did once have a boyfriend my senior year of high school that played sax in the marching band. But really, other than that, I don't remember much about my high school marching band. But that might also be because I didn't attend many football games. Spectating has just never been my thing. I get easily bored. I prefer to do, not sit.
And speaking of not sitting, this morning I did my long run. It went off well--21.5 miles and no severe foot pain! Just the regular long run pains. I was actually happy to have them.
I thought. This? This is normal.
So I am relieved I got it in and I am over the hump and able to move on with training for (some) fall marathon without a nagging or permanent injury.
And, I actually had my highest running mileage week since last April, gosh, maybe even March. Partly, of course, this is due to the race last Sunday but overall this week I managed 58 miles running (4 days total), 121 miles cycling (4 days total), and 3.5 miles swimming (3 days). I am planning on dropping the bike mileage and replacing it with more running. As much as I don't want to do it I think higher running volume is what is going to get me faster. I hope at least. It has worked before. 50 mpw just seems to be keeping me the same. Gonna have to make another go at those 70 mile weeks. Ugh. It is gonna hurt. I just know it.
Oops. Sorry. Digression. This post is about the band wars. . .
So anyway, after I finished my run I asked the kids if they wanted to go see a battle of the bands.
It surprised me that Beau knew I was referring to marching bands as he started marching and pretending to play the drums.
Carmella wasn't so sure she wanted to go but Beau talked her into going to "the band war"-- as he called it. 
Like Beau, I was thinking it was going to be a bit more intense. You know like a Bring It On sort of thing but instead of cheer off's there would be march off's. But no. It was all very organized and pedestrian. Maybe march off's happen in the finals. We still have our wrist bands and can go back any time we want today.
But we will probably not since I am already tired from having to walk up and down the bleachers. I am all marched out, to say the least.
Steph sat all the way at the top of the bleachers. Sure the view was great but it wasn't easy going back down.
Anyone who has ever run a marathon understands exactly what I am saying about going down stairs afterwards (up really isn't a problem for me).
Can you say Tin man?
I've posted this before but it cracks me up so much that it bears re-posting just in case anyone missed it last time:
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
These Little Piggies
Okay. First. Word has gotten back to me (yes, Lala is my source. Never her tell her anything. She doesn't keep secrets.) that apparently my blogs of late have been very boring because of all this "running crap."
The Mainstay complained that I give too much blow by blow (read he is jealous because I can finish my races). Pookie just thinks it is boring (read: she is jealous because her older, prettier sister runs faster and farther than she can) and Lala didn't say specifically what Colby's beef was but his name was thrown in the mix (read: he just wants to be a part of the family. Seriously, Cheese man you are picking the wrong sibling to side with. I am the clear favorite. I am the executor.)
So yes, today's post is another boring running post. But to liven things up a bit I've incorporated a poem with some complimentary pictures.
Next, before I show you the pictures and you judge me on how I've let things go I want you to know that there was a time when I had a regular prank caller who totally had the hots for my feet.
Cause me?
I use to have good looking feet.
Apparently.
Now, I have no idea who this person is and he hasn't called me since probably my senior year in high school but for several years he was a regular caller at my house. He would call and in a breathy voice and say " Are you wearing shoes?"
And I say "Yes."
Then he would say, "Take them off!"
And I would ask, "Why?"
And he would say, "Cause I want to lick your feet!"
And then he would hang up.
Sure sometimes the conversation would go a bit deeper as to the type of shoe or sock I was wearing and if my feet were clean or dirty but he would always tell me, before he hung up, that he wanted to lick my feet.
Wanna know why?
Cause my feet? My feet were hot.
But you know it has been oh . . . geez . . . a few years and you know you get pregnant and run while you are pregnant and then take up marathoning and before you know it the old feet aren't what they use to be.
So there.
I admit it.
I have let the feet go.
But, just so you know, there was a time.
A time when my feet were so hot I had strange men calling my house at all hours telling me they want to lick my feet.
It is true.
I swear.
Okay. Now to my little ditty. I'm sure you've heard it before. It is called This Little Piggy.
This Little Piggy went to market yesterday and bought new running shoes because the others had over 300 miles and were starting to make her legs very miserable.
That little piggy also cleaned her house, folded some laundry, and made the kids do all their homework yesterday. She did that . . . 
So this Little Piggy could stay home after her long run today and write a boring post about her long run. She also invited playdates over for her kids and fed them chocolate cake and sent them outside so they would run themselves ragged so she could write her boring blog post in peace. Magic. Really, it is a gift.
And guess what this little Piggy is having for dinner?
That's right pot roast.
This little piggy was sad yesterday because I bailed on my long run (I did run 7 miles to test out the new shoes.) and didn't make the pot roast.
So he had none. No long run. No pot roast.
And this little piggy?
Well, this little piggy cried wee wee wee for 23.56 miles today!!!! The new shoes made the sticks feel so happy that I tacked on an extra 2 miles. Boring details: Three hours, nineteen minutes, 8:27 pace. Temp at start 74 degrees. 82 at finish. Nothing to report. It was just a great run.
Oh and the piglets? Well this little piglet, while I was downstairs drawing on my toes and taking pictures of them was upstairs doing a little drawing of his own.
And yes. His friend also got a mustache. I am sure is mom is going to be so happy with me. She is on her way over now so I need to go put socks on so I can tell her I have no idea where they got the bright idea to draw all over themselves.
It is a gift. Really.
The Mainstay complained that I give too much blow by blow (read he is jealous because I can finish my races). Pookie just thinks it is boring (read: she is jealous because her older, prettier sister runs faster and farther than she can) and Lala didn't say specifically what Colby's beef was but his name was thrown in the mix (read: he just wants to be a part of the family. Seriously, Cheese man you are picking the wrong sibling to side with. I am the clear favorite. I am the executor.)
So yes, today's post is another boring running post. But to liven things up a bit I've incorporated a poem with some complimentary pictures.
Next, before I show you the pictures and you judge me on how I've let things go I want you to know that there was a time when I had a regular prank caller who totally had the hots for my feet.
Cause me?
I use to have good looking feet.
Apparently.
Now, I have no idea who this person is and he hasn't called me since probably my senior year in high school but for several years he was a regular caller at my house. He would call and in a breathy voice and say " Are you wearing shoes?"
And I say "Yes."
Then he would say, "Take them off!"
And I would ask, "Why?"
And he would say, "Cause I want to lick your feet!"
And then he would hang up.
Sure sometimes the conversation would go a bit deeper as to the type of shoe or sock I was wearing and if my feet were clean or dirty but he would always tell me, before he hung up, that he wanted to lick my feet.
Wanna know why?
Cause my feet? My feet were hot.
But you know it has been oh . . . geez . . . a few years and you know you get pregnant and run while you are pregnant and then take up marathoning and before you know it the old feet aren't what they use to be.
So there.
I admit it.
I have let the feet go.
But, just so you know, there was a time.
A time when my feet were so hot I had strange men calling my house at all hours telling me they want to lick my feet.
It is true.
I swear.
Okay. Now to my little ditty. I'm sure you've heard it before. It is called This Little Piggy.
This Little Piggy went to market yesterday and bought new running shoes because the others had over 300 miles and were starting to make her legs very miserable.
That little piggy also cleaned her house, folded some laundry, and made the kids do all their homework yesterday. She did that . . . 
So this Little Piggy could stay home after her long run today and write a boring post about her long run. She also invited playdates over for her kids and fed them chocolate cake and sent them outside so they would run themselves ragged so she could write her boring blog post in peace. Magic. Really, it is a gift.
And guess what this little Piggy is having for dinner?
That's right pot roast.
This little piggy was sad yesterday because I bailed on my long run (I did run 7 miles to test out the new shoes.) and didn't make the pot roast.
So he had none. No long run. No pot roast.And this little piggy?
Well, this little piggy cried wee wee wee for 23.56 miles today!!!! The new shoes made the sticks feel so happy that I tacked on an extra 2 miles. Boring details: Three hours, nineteen minutes, 8:27 pace. Temp at start 74 degrees. 82 at finish. Nothing to report. It was just a great run.
Oh and the piglets? Well this little piglet, while I was downstairs drawing on my toes and taking pictures of them was upstairs doing a little drawing of his own.
And yes. His friend also got a mustache. I am sure is mom is going to be so happy with me. She is on her way over now so I need to go put socks on so I can tell her I have no idea where they got the bright idea to draw all over themselves.
It is a gift. Really.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Hey Johnny! The Devil is Running Loose in Roswell . . .
You know I love some Johnny Cash.
He always has a place on my playlists.
Today was my planned long run day. My 3rd 21+ miler this month and this marathon training cycle. And already the novelty has worn off.
Don't get me wrong. I do love the 3 hour run but week after week, yeah, it gets a little old. Not to mention it is hard to get excited about running for 3 hours when it is 85 degrees. I could totally get psyched for a 3 hour run in some cool fall weather with some brightly colored leaves. But I've got about 3 months til I see that run.
As I have mentioned before, I am a morning person but the first thing I thought when I woke up at 6 this morning was "Man. I do not want to run for 3 hours."
My recovery run yesterday was pitiful. I had to walk up the big hill. Ever since Dave the Ultra runner (guy who paced me at Chickamuaga) told me I wasn't doing myself any favors by walking up hills in training I have made a concerted effort to run up every hill in training (at least when not injured). But the tight calf issue reared its ugly knotted head yesterday and I walked up one hill. (Hangs head in shame.)
Then my 2000 yd swim didn't go much better. Goggles gave me one heck of a headache and I thought maybe all the pressure was about an impending sinus infection.
But I woke up this morning with no excuses. So I got my crap together. A list, by the way, that is much shorter than the stuff I need to run, bike and swim.
I planned to do the same route I have been running from my parent's house in Roswell. Out to Historic Roswell and then looping back and hitting the Roswell area park and the Leita Thompson trail.
I was actually surprised at how well the first mile went. The first mile never goes well. Usually in the first mile I think of reasons of why I shouldn't run or how I could make it shorter. But everything felt pretty darn good. No excuses. I was further surprised that I was at my first planned rest stop a couple of minutes earlier than the previous weeks. The miles were just falling away.
Had I, unknowingly, made a deal with someone?
As I headed out down Canton St I passed a bunch of police officers in a parking lot. They were all putting on helmets and bullet proof vests. There was probably 10-15 of them. They did look a bit casual so I assumed that maybe this was a training maneuver of some sort and not a real bomb squad emergency.
I did pass a few more patrol cars but then the run was uneventful for awhile.
Well, there was this one guy who tried to pass me on the park trail. I only saw his looming shadow. His shadow was creeping up on mine as we came around a curve, just past the tennis courts. So I picked up the pace.
It just brings me down to get passed.
Also, last time a guy passed me at the park it was Camden's dad. We had raced it out for about a half mile and joked back and forth for a few minutes while running and then I realized after I turned off that the reason he was racing/talking to me was because I knew him. I can never remember his name and it is just getting embarrassing at this point. I run into him all the time and, for the record, Camden's dad is a good looking guy. You'd think I could remember the name, the face of an attractive man. At the very least, I am pretty sure he is not use to women not remembering him and must think I am just a complete moron. Which, I am but nevertheless I couldn't risk it being Camden's dad and not recognize him yet again. So for that reason and also because I don't like getting passed I could not let looming shadow guy pass me.
Note to self: Must make effort to learn name of Camden's dad so I won't have to wear myself out running too fast on long runs.
Next was the always miserable part of my run. And it wasn't fun today either but not as terrible as the first time. It was pretty hot but I maintained and I got over it.
Took my second break to refill water and ran out into some neighborhoods and then hit the Leita Thompson trail. I was around 14 and half miles at this point. Just under 2 hours. I look forward the whole run to running the trail. It is my reward. It is cool and shady in the woods. Well, relatively cool and shady. It is just nice and peaceful. I usually run two of the 2.5 mile loops and then head the 2 miles back to my parents.
All was very nice, very typical until I was coming down the hill to the dam. I had just passed these teenagers walking on the trail and was wondering why they weren't in school when I noticed right ahead of me 4 police cars. (For those that use to live here or are familiar with the park it use to be Richard G's driveway and is on the lake we use to play in-- where his spring house use to be.)
The police saw me coming and got out of their cars. I took my headphones off and stopped right next to their cars. One of them asked me if I had happened to see a man wandering in the woods carrying a pitch fork?
Now I knew this run felt hot as hell but I didn't think I had quite run straight to hell.
At least not yet.
"I'm sorry, what? A guy with a pitchfork?"
Of course, part of me, the part that giggles at everything, is thinking: Devil is loose in Roswell! News at 5.
He chuckles, obviously onto my thinking and explains that they had received a call on a guy wandering the trail with a pitchfork. It is probably just a construction worker, he said.
I told him that still wasn't very comforting to hear (I mean yes, a construction worker is probably less menacing than the Devil but still I don't want to meet anyone in the woods wielding a pitchfork. I don't care what your day job is; if you've got a pitchfork I don't want to be alone in the woods with you.)
I assured him and myself, that at least I had my trusty pocket knife!
And yes, all four of the police officers laughed at me and my trusty little knife.
And no, no one offered me a ride or said that I was in imminent danger.
So yes, I ran on.
But I decided to bail on the second trail loop and altered my route to add on the 2 lost miles on the road.
So the run worked out to be 21 miles and a little change in 2 hours and 52 minutes at an 8:12 pace. Do you see how just thinking that the Devil might be after you can make one run faster?
He always has a place on my playlists.
Today was my planned long run day. My 3rd 21+ miler this month and this marathon training cycle. And already the novelty has worn off.
Don't get me wrong. I do love the 3 hour run but week after week, yeah, it gets a little old. Not to mention it is hard to get excited about running for 3 hours when it is 85 degrees. I could totally get psyched for a 3 hour run in some cool fall weather with some brightly colored leaves. But I've got about 3 months til I see that run.
As I have mentioned before, I am a morning person but the first thing I thought when I woke up at 6 this morning was "Man. I do not want to run for 3 hours."
My recovery run yesterday was pitiful. I had to walk up the big hill. Ever since Dave the Ultra runner (guy who paced me at Chickamuaga) told me I wasn't doing myself any favors by walking up hills in training I have made a concerted effort to run up every hill in training (at least when not injured). But the tight calf issue reared its ugly knotted head yesterday and I walked up one hill. (Hangs head in shame.)
Then my 2000 yd swim didn't go much better. Goggles gave me one heck of a headache and I thought maybe all the pressure was about an impending sinus infection.
But I woke up this morning with no excuses. So I got my crap together. A list, by the way, that is much shorter than the stuff I need to run, bike and swim.
I planned to do the same route I have been running from my parent's house in Roswell. Out to Historic Roswell and then looping back and hitting the Roswell area park and the Leita Thompson trail.
I was actually surprised at how well the first mile went. The first mile never goes well. Usually in the first mile I think of reasons of why I shouldn't run or how I could make it shorter. But everything felt pretty darn good. No excuses. I was further surprised that I was at my first planned rest stop a couple of minutes earlier than the previous weeks. The miles were just falling away.
Had I, unknowingly, made a deal with someone?
As I headed out down Canton St I passed a bunch of police officers in a parking lot. They were all putting on helmets and bullet proof vests. There was probably 10-15 of them. They did look a bit casual so I assumed that maybe this was a training maneuver of some sort and not a real bomb squad emergency.
I did pass a few more patrol cars but then the run was uneventful for awhile.
Well, there was this one guy who tried to pass me on the park trail. I only saw his looming shadow. His shadow was creeping up on mine as we came around a curve, just past the tennis courts. So I picked up the pace.
It just brings me down to get passed.
Also, last time a guy passed me at the park it was Camden's dad. We had raced it out for about a half mile and joked back and forth for a few minutes while running and then I realized after I turned off that the reason he was racing/talking to me was because I knew him. I can never remember his name and it is just getting embarrassing at this point. I run into him all the time and, for the record, Camden's dad is a good looking guy. You'd think I could remember the name, the face of an attractive man. At the very least, I am pretty sure he is not use to women not remembering him and must think I am just a complete moron. Which, I am but nevertheless I couldn't risk it being Camden's dad and not recognize him yet again. So for that reason and also because I don't like getting passed I could not let looming shadow guy pass me.
Note to self: Must make effort to learn name of Camden's dad so I won't have to wear myself out running too fast on long runs.
Next was the always miserable part of my run. And it wasn't fun today either but not as terrible as the first time. It was pretty hot but I maintained and I got over it.
Took my second break to refill water and ran out into some neighborhoods and then hit the Leita Thompson trail. I was around 14 and half miles at this point. Just under 2 hours. I look forward the whole run to running the trail. It is my reward. It is cool and shady in the woods. Well, relatively cool and shady. It is just nice and peaceful. I usually run two of the 2.5 mile loops and then head the 2 miles back to my parents.
All was very nice, very typical until I was coming down the hill to the dam. I had just passed these teenagers walking on the trail and was wondering why they weren't in school when I noticed right ahead of me 4 police cars. (For those that use to live here or are familiar with the park it use to be Richard G's driveway and is on the lake we use to play in-- where his spring house use to be.)
The police saw me coming and got out of their cars. I took my headphones off and stopped right next to their cars. One of them asked me if I had happened to see a man wandering in the woods carrying a pitch fork?
Now I knew this run felt hot as hell but I didn't think I had quite run straight to hell.
At least not yet. "I'm sorry, what? A guy with a pitchfork?"
Of course, part of me, the part that giggles at everything, is thinking: Devil is loose in Roswell! News at 5.
He chuckles, obviously onto my thinking and explains that they had received a call on a guy wandering the trail with a pitchfork. It is probably just a construction worker, he said.
I told him that still wasn't very comforting to hear (I mean yes, a construction worker is probably less menacing than the Devil but still I don't want to meet anyone in the woods wielding a pitchfork. I don't care what your day job is; if you've got a pitchfork I don't want to be alone in the woods with you.)
I assured him and myself, that at least I had my trusty pocket knife!
And yes, all four of the police officers laughed at me and my trusty little knife.
And no, no one offered me a ride or said that I was in imminent danger.
So yes, I ran on.
But I decided to bail on the second trail loop and altered my route to add on the 2 lost miles on the road.
So the run worked out to be 21 miles and a little change in 2 hours and 52 minutes at an 8:12 pace. Do you see how just thinking that the Devil might be after you can make one run faster?
Saturday, August 09, 2008
I am not a Dead Head but I agree:
It is a hand-me down. There is a road. And damn, I do wish for that pebble in still water. . . or at least the still water. . .
No, I am not a deadhead by any stretch but Ripple is my favorite Dead song. For the record? Everyone should have one.
And while last week's long run's theme song was this:
Definitely (hence the lead in) this week's long run--exact same route as last week's--theme song was this:
I don't want to say the run was easy this week but yeah, compared to last week it was easy. I just had one of those runs today. There was one rough patch. I always have at least one but it was hardly a blip on my radar. I felt stronger when I finished this run than when I started it and that just rarely ever happens when you are out there running for 3 hours-- in a Georgia August, no less.
So let's compare last week's 21.56 miles to this week's 21.56 miles:
3 hours and 8 minutes vs 3 hours and change;
8:44 pace vs 8:23 pace.
Most key is the temperature:
Last week's beginning temp was 77 and finishing was 90.
This week: 63 at the start and 80 at the finish.
Also humidity, which is always the killer, was only 30% today. Last Saturday it was 57%.
There really isn't much else to say. I just had a fantastic run and didn't feel overwhelmed by the time at all. Also, best of all? I finished this run at 7:13 pace. I ran the last mile at well under marathon goal pace. So yeah. Sorry if I sound like a braggart. It is just so incredible that I had a run like that in August. I typically don't see a run like that until October. Heck, if at all. Keep in mind, overall pace is only, what? 10 seconds off my best ever marathon pace so far. So yeah, I have reasons to be happy. To be proud. Don't knock me down, bitches.
However, I cannot say the rest of the week has been such a throw down training-wise:
Sunday: Just a quick recovery run. 3.34 miles in 30 minutes.
Monday: 32.16 miles on the bike. 17+ mph.
Tuesday: 12 miles in 1:37 @ a 8:10 pace. Kids rode their bikes and I ran along side. Great run. Temps were in the high 80's and it was humid as, well some one's nasty armpit.
Later I swam and raced it out to get as much in before Aquafit kicked me out of the pool: 3500 yds with an average 1:43 100yd pace. Break down is as follows:
Warm up: 500yds 7:49
Then I had goggle issues trying to do my long set:
1st 2000 yd attempt: 500 yds-7:58
2nd--500yds--8:10 (gag)
4th attempt 250 yds: 4:06
5th attempt 1750 yds 26:45 then was thwarted by Aquafit. Whatever. Sucked.
Wednesday: 10 miles "recovery" run. No watch but about an hour 30 for the whole run. 9 minute miles. It was disgustingly hot.
Thursday: Suppose to be a swim in the morning/bike in the evening day. Bike got thwarted by afternoon thunderstorms. I should have run when it cleared up but I didn't. I was sloth.
Swim was this (so embarrassing):
I had planned to do 500 warm up. Then 100fly, 100back, 100breast, 100free with 30 sec rest in between each 100. Then repeat set. Then 1000 straight swim. Goal was 2400ish yds for the day.
Well the first set of the 400IM killed me. Boy, do I ever suck.
Here is what I ended up doing:
500 warm up: 7:39
Then the work set:
50 fly: :41
I was DYING--though I did maintain good form-- and had to take a rest. I was pissed I couldn't do the 100. I suck.
50 fly: :44
Sort shocked this was so close to the first 50-- especially considering how my form totally fell to bits about 10yds from the wall.
Most sad is that as a kid my 50 fly was under 40 seconds. I am thinking 33 seconds. Not totally sure about that. Maybe faster. I really can't remember. At any rate the fly was my stroke and I suck now.
How is at 10 years old I kicked ass in it? I swear I think I am fitter than I was at 10 but maybe not. . .
30 seconds rest
100 back: 1:36
I am always so nervous about hitting the wall that I slow down from all my looking. Not to mention my back flip turn is very rusty. Now days I see the kids flip over and do a regular turn. Old habits are hard to break.
30 sec rest
100 breast: 1:44
I HATE breast but I can't tell you how good it felt compared to the fly and back. Obviously slower than any other stroke but I was always a crappy breast stroker. I just don't have the talent to make this fast. But those that can are phenomenal swimmers.
30 sec rest
100 free: 1:21 Eh, I'll take it.
1 minute rest where I was dying and decided not to repeat set.
Instead:
500 yd easy: 8:40
1000 yd: 17:04
Friday: I had the kids' open house in the am and then had to register them for activities. So I had to wait until afternoon to get any sort of workout in--never a good sign. And well? It bit donkey bootay.
24.26 miles on the bike at a 16.81 mph.
I was so scared on this ride. It was windy and the drivers were in a huge hurry to get home. I had planned to go longer but just chickened out of it. I was very disappointed about it. Bike was not good this week. But I guess you can't have good in all three when you do all three. Run was up, swim was decent and bike was down. Way down.
Whateva.
Le week's end totals:
Run: 47 miles
Bike: 56 miles
Swim: 5900 yds (5.5 miles)
Total: 108.5 miles
No, I am not a deadhead by any stretch but Ripple is my favorite Dead song. For the record? Everyone should have one.
And while last week's long run's theme song was this:
Definitely (hence the lead in) this week's long run--exact same route as last week's--theme song was this:
I don't want to say the run was easy this week but yeah, compared to last week it was easy. I just had one of those runs today. There was one rough patch. I always have at least one but it was hardly a blip on my radar. I felt stronger when I finished this run than when I started it and that just rarely ever happens when you are out there running for 3 hours-- in a Georgia August, no less.
So let's compare last week's 21.56 miles to this week's 21.56 miles:
3 hours and 8 minutes vs 3 hours and change;
8:44 pace vs 8:23 pace.
Most key is the temperature:
Last week's beginning temp was 77 and finishing was 90.
This week: 63 at the start and 80 at the finish.
Also humidity, which is always the killer, was only 30% today. Last Saturday it was 57%.
There really isn't much else to say. I just had a fantastic run and didn't feel overwhelmed by the time at all. Also, best of all? I finished this run at 7:13 pace. I ran the last mile at well under marathon goal pace. So yeah. Sorry if I sound like a braggart. It is just so incredible that I had a run like that in August. I typically don't see a run like that until October. Heck, if at all. Keep in mind, overall pace is only, what? 10 seconds off my best ever marathon pace so far. So yeah, I have reasons to be happy. To be proud. Don't knock me down, bitches.
However, I cannot say the rest of the week has been such a throw down training-wise:
Sunday: Just a quick recovery run. 3.34 miles in 30 minutes.
Monday: 32.16 miles on the bike. 17+ mph.
Tuesday: 12 miles in 1:37 @ a 8:10 pace. Kids rode their bikes and I ran along side. Great run. Temps were in the high 80's and it was humid as, well some one's nasty armpit.
Later I swam and raced it out to get as much in before Aquafit kicked me out of the pool: 3500 yds with an average 1:43 100yd pace. Break down is as follows:
Warm up: 500yds 7:49
Then I had goggle issues trying to do my long set:
1st 2000 yd attempt: 500 yds-7:58
2nd--500yds--8:10 (gag)
4th attempt 250 yds: 4:06
5th attempt 1750 yds 26:45 then was thwarted by Aquafit. Whatever. Sucked.
Wednesday: 10 miles "recovery" run. No watch but about an hour 30 for the whole run. 9 minute miles. It was disgustingly hot.
Thursday: Suppose to be a swim in the morning/bike in the evening day. Bike got thwarted by afternoon thunderstorms. I should have run when it cleared up but I didn't. I was sloth.
Swim was this (so embarrassing):
I had planned to do 500 warm up. Then 100fly, 100back, 100breast, 100free with 30 sec rest in between each 100. Then repeat set. Then 1000 straight swim. Goal was 2400ish yds for the day.
Well the first set of the 400IM killed me. Boy, do I ever suck.
Here is what I ended up doing:
500 warm up: 7:39
Then the work set:
50 fly: :41
I was DYING--though I did maintain good form-- and had to take a rest. I was pissed I couldn't do the 100. I suck.
50 fly: :44
Sort shocked this was so close to the first 50-- especially considering how my form totally fell to bits about 10yds from the wall.
Most sad is that as a kid my 50 fly was under 40 seconds. I am thinking 33 seconds. Not totally sure about that. Maybe faster. I really can't remember. At any rate the fly was my stroke and I suck now.
How is at 10 years old I kicked ass in it? I swear I think I am fitter than I was at 10 but maybe not. . .
30 seconds rest
100 back: 1:36
I am always so nervous about hitting the wall that I slow down from all my looking. Not to mention my back flip turn is very rusty. Now days I see the kids flip over and do a regular turn. Old habits are hard to break.
30 sec rest
100 breast: 1:44
I HATE breast but I can't tell you how good it felt compared to the fly and back. Obviously slower than any other stroke but I was always a crappy breast stroker. I just don't have the talent to make this fast. But those that can are phenomenal swimmers.
30 sec rest
100 free: 1:21 Eh, I'll take it.
1 minute rest where I was dying and decided not to repeat set.
Instead:
500 yd easy: 8:40
1000 yd: 17:04
Friday: I had the kids' open house in the am and then had to register them for activities. So I had to wait until afternoon to get any sort of workout in--never a good sign. And well? It bit donkey bootay.
24.26 miles on the bike at a 16.81 mph.
I was so scared on this ride. It was windy and the drivers were in a huge hurry to get home. I had planned to go longer but just chickened out of it. I was very disappointed about it. Bike was not good this week. But I guess you can't have good in all three when you do all three. Run was up, swim was decent and bike was down. Way down.
Whateva.
Le week's end totals:
Run: 47 miles
Bike: 56 miles
Swim: 5900 yds (5.5 miles)
Total: 108.5 miles
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Saturday's Numbers: 77,57,90, 3, 21 --- and why I don't really feel like a hamburger
You know, I love a hamburger as much as the next person but vanity will always get in the way of me wanting to be one.
Thursday Joe emailed me that there was a one day showing of Ultramarathon Man that day. Friday Lala gave me an article from the Wall Street Journal that she saved for me. She said something along the lines of I hope you never want to do anything like this. It worries me that you are headed in that direction. . .
And today while I ran in this ridiculous August heat I thought about ultra marathons and Iron man's and other endurance races. And I came to some conclusions about those races and myself. Yes. Absolutely. Those sorts of ultra endurance events definitely intrigue me. But. . .
Mom you can rest easy.
See, I once had the opportunity to run with Dean when he did the Atlanta course as part of his 50/50/50 that the movie chronicles. Sure, I would have had to pay like $100 to do it and it was less than 2 weeks out from OBX but I could have done it. Both of those reasons were good enough reasons as to why NOT to do it. But those reasons are not the ones that deterred me. I didn't go out that Friday morning and run with Karnazes and his groupies because it was raining.
Me?
I am a fair weather runner.
Sure I'll suck it up if I have to and today was about as extreme as I will go heat wise and I definitely do not like the cold--25 is my threshold. Rain is doable but I certainly do not seek it out. Especially not for a training run. Race, okay. It is the cards you are dealt in that case but for training I'll switch my days around for better weather. Cause me? I'm soft. But most of all I do not like to miserable when I run. I like to feel good when I run. I don't like to be uncomfortable.
This is not to say I don't accept and deal with a certain level of discomfort when I run. Of course I do but it must be very small because I am a well known complainer, whiner, brat when I am unhappy, uncomfortable and miserable. I know this and I try to suck it up, keep it to myself, push through it but really, if you compare me to others, I'm "sucking it up" through a sippy cup.
So, when I read that Wall Street article the deal breaker for me wasn't the 548 miles over 10 days, the no sleep, the hiking, running, kayaking, biking or even the climbing and repelling. Even though climbing and repelling are two things it is unlikely I will ever do (though I have done both in the past-- a long, long time ago) since I am scared shitless of heights. Honestly, it isn't the climbing or going up part that bothers me. It is the looking or climbing down part. Makes me want to throw up. But really, that is just fear and fear? Well, you can conquer that.
So no. None of the actual disciplines or the distance of Primal Quest put me off.
What is the deal breaker?
Well, so, I am reading the article, nodding as I go along. I mean yes. It does all sound extreme but I am thinking also very cool. Life changing. You know, really embracing life. But then about two-thirds down, there it is. A comment that both Dean Karnazes and Pam Reed had in their biographies detailing their ultra-marathoning experiences at Badwater and Western States. I've heard other ultra marathoners toss it around. It seems to be what you say. It is, apparently, what happens when you run an ultra and it makes me think: well I'm never doing a 100 mile race then. I think, maybe a 50k or 50 mile. THAT seems doable, less risky. Less chance of the dreaded thing happening.
What thing?
You didn't read the article?
Okay. Well it is the statement of "Some feet look like ground beef."
I wish I could say "I just can't imagine . . ." but sadly, I can. I can't help but get a visual. I totally see the hamburger feet and I wonder, how the hell does that happen? Hamburger. Feet. Ew. . .
This idea of hamburger feet--since I first read that in Karnazes and Reed's books last year-- is burned on my brain.
It is terrible because now, when I am at Publix buying lean ground beef all I can think is really? Feet can look like this? Every time. It is ruining hamburgers for me. I mean, I'm a carnivore. I freaking love hamburgers. I tried being a vegetarian once. Made it three months. But every single day all I thought about was hamburgers and how much I missed them.
To make matters worse I am further aided in my mental vision of hamburger feet by a memory of some photographs I once saw displayed in the sculpture building at UGA. Some artist had done sculptures of the human form made entirely out of hamburger meat. I promise you. I am not making that up. It was very gross. For some reason I also recall maggots being involved. Maggots totally disgust me. More than any other bug. Are maggots a bug? Flies. . . so yes.
So you see. If say, at mile 63 of some ultra marathon I pull off my shoe and my foot looks anything remotely close to how I remember those feet sculpted out of hamburger meat looked I can promise you. I would not be running anymore. Simple as that.
Hello bicycle. Good bye running shoes.
And no body better say anything about their crotch looking like hamburger after a 200 mile ride. Aw, damn it. That doesn't happen. Right?
You know. It isn't that I have pretty feet. I don't. Ryan says stuff to me like:"Baby you're so beautiful but your feet take you down to a nine. If it weren't for them you'd be a 10+."
You feel it to?
The love.
High romance at its best.
He even buys me special foot lotion in hopes to help my feet along. I never remember to put it on them. Lotion. Such an inconvenience.
You know the saying of check out a girl's mom's ankles before you marry her? No? Well whatever, there is a saying and Ryan should have looked at Lala's feet. Sure, we've got great ankles-- oh boy but the feet. Hideous.
So really, I had ugly feet before I started running. And they really aren't that bad. Ryan just happens to be blessed with really nice feet so he is judging based on that. Bwhahaha. My husband? He has beautiful feet. Really.
Okay. In all seriousness (and all that is vain and human). I can only imagine what havoc ultra endurance endeavors wreck on the body-- not just the feet. Certainly my body has changed from running marathons but I guess I am lucky. The worst is that I lost a toe nail. AS in one. In the 10 years I have been running. And that was because I forgot to clip my toe nails before a long run and my toenail got smashed repeatedly. Eventually it fell off but it grew back. It is fine now. So other than that I have no other "scars" from running. Well, there are those monster calves but that is just genetics. Lala's got them too from running. They're fine if you like a girl with big calves and tiny ankles. What? It's a look. Some people like it. I swear. I heard that. Not making it up.
Anyway, taking the tangent, dropping it and crossing the bridge back to the main highway:
Saturday's numbers: their meaning:
77 is the temperature it was when I started my run.
57 is the percentage the humidity was during my run.
90 is the temperature it was when I finished.
3 is the number of hours it took me (plus 8 minutes for an 8:44 pace)
21.56 is the number of miles I ran.
It was hot. Somewhat-- not totally-- miserable but I got 'er done and I am happy about it--as always is the case after a long run. It's why I do 'em. Happiness is often there during the run but it is ALWAYS there after it is over. Oh, and then there is that celebratory beer afterwards . . .
So, yeah. Here I am.
Training for a half iron man and a marathon at the same time. And that? That I think is doable.
But most importantly, I will not be risking my love of hamburgers or my feet while I do it.
And that. Well that is something.
Totals for July:
Running: 164.24 miles
Cycling: 305.64 miles
Swimming: 22,400 yds
Thursday Joe emailed me that there was a one day showing of Ultramarathon Man that day. Friday Lala gave me an article from the Wall Street Journal that she saved for me. She said something along the lines of I hope you never want to do anything like this. It worries me that you are headed in that direction. . .
And today while I ran in this ridiculous August heat I thought about ultra marathons and Iron man's and other endurance races. And I came to some conclusions about those races and myself. Yes. Absolutely. Those sorts of ultra endurance events definitely intrigue me. But. . .
Mom you can rest easy.
See, I once had the opportunity to run with Dean when he did the Atlanta course as part of his 50/50/50 that the movie chronicles. Sure, I would have had to pay like $100 to do it and it was less than 2 weeks out from OBX but I could have done it. Both of those reasons were good enough reasons as to why NOT to do it. But those reasons are not the ones that deterred me. I didn't go out that Friday morning and run with Karnazes and his groupies because it was raining.
Me?
I am a fair weather runner.
Sure I'll suck it up if I have to and today was about as extreme as I will go heat wise and I definitely do not like the cold--25 is my threshold. Rain is doable but I certainly do not seek it out. Especially not for a training run. Race, okay. It is the cards you are dealt in that case but for training I'll switch my days around for better weather. Cause me? I'm soft. But most of all I do not like to miserable when I run. I like to feel good when I run. I don't like to be uncomfortable.
This is not to say I don't accept and deal with a certain level of discomfort when I run. Of course I do but it must be very small because I am a well known complainer, whiner, brat when I am unhappy, uncomfortable and miserable. I know this and I try to suck it up, keep it to myself, push through it but really, if you compare me to others, I'm "sucking it up" through a sippy cup.
So, when I read that Wall Street article the deal breaker for me wasn't the 548 miles over 10 days, the no sleep, the hiking, running, kayaking, biking or even the climbing and repelling. Even though climbing and repelling are two things it is unlikely I will ever do (though I have done both in the past-- a long, long time ago) since I am scared shitless of heights. Honestly, it isn't the climbing or going up part that bothers me. It is the looking or climbing down part. Makes me want to throw up. But really, that is just fear and fear? Well, you can conquer that.
So no. None of the actual disciplines or the distance of Primal Quest put me off.
What is the deal breaker?
Well, so, I am reading the article, nodding as I go along. I mean yes. It does all sound extreme but I am thinking also very cool. Life changing. You know, really embracing life. But then about two-thirds down, there it is. A comment that both Dean Karnazes and Pam Reed had in their biographies detailing their ultra-marathoning experiences at Badwater and Western States. I've heard other ultra marathoners toss it around. It seems to be what you say. It is, apparently, what happens when you run an ultra and it makes me think: well I'm never doing a 100 mile race then. I think, maybe a 50k or 50 mile. THAT seems doable, less risky. Less chance of the dreaded thing happening.
What thing?
You didn't read the article?
Okay. Well it is the statement of "Some feet look like ground beef."
I wish I could say "I just can't imagine . . ." but sadly, I can. I can't help but get a visual. I totally see the hamburger feet and I wonder, how the hell does that happen? Hamburger. Feet. Ew. . .
This idea of hamburger feet--since I first read that in Karnazes and Reed's books last year-- is burned on my brain.
It is terrible because now, when I am at Publix buying lean ground beef all I can think is really? Feet can look like this? Every time. It is ruining hamburgers for me. I mean, I'm a carnivore. I freaking love hamburgers. I tried being a vegetarian once. Made it three months. But every single day all I thought about was hamburgers and how much I missed them.
To make matters worse I am further aided in my mental vision of hamburger feet by a memory of some photographs I once saw displayed in the sculpture building at UGA. Some artist had done sculptures of the human form made entirely out of hamburger meat. I promise you. I am not making that up. It was very gross. For some reason I also recall maggots being involved. Maggots totally disgust me. More than any other bug. Are maggots a bug? Flies. . . so yes.
So you see. If say, at mile 63 of some ultra marathon I pull off my shoe and my foot looks anything remotely close to how I remember those feet sculpted out of hamburger meat looked I can promise you. I would not be running anymore. Simple as that.
Hello bicycle. Good bye running shoes.
And no body better say anything about their crotch looking like hamburger after a 200 mile ride. Aw, damn it. That doesn't happen. Right?
You know. It isn't that I have pretty feet. I don't. Ryan says stuff to me like:"Baby you're so beautiful but your feet take you down to a nine. If it weren't for them you'd be a 10+."
You feel it to?
The love.
High romance at its best.
He even buys me special foot lotion in hopes to help my feet along. I never remember to put it on them. Lotion. Such an inconvenience.
You know the saying of check out a girl's mom's ankles before you marry her? No? Well whatever, there is a saying and Ryan should have looked at Lala's feet. Sure, we've got great ankles-- oh boy but the feet. Hideous.
So really, I had ugly feet before I started running. And they really aren't that bad. Ryan just happens to be blessed with really nice feet so he is judging based on that. Bwhahaha. My husband? He has beautiful feet. Really.
Okay. In all seriousness (and all that is vain and human). I can only imagine what havoc ultra endurance endeavors wreck on the body-- not just the feet. Certainly my body has changed from running marathons but I guess I am lucky. The worst is that I lost a toe nail. AS in one. In the 10 years I have been running. And that was because I forgot to clip my toe nails before a long run and my toenail got smashed repeatedly. Eventually it fell off but it grew back. It is fine now. So other than that I have no other "scars" from running. Well, there are those monster calves but that is just genetics. Lala's got them too from running. They're fine if you like a girl with big calves and tiny ankles. What? It's a look. Some people like it. I swear. I heard that. Not making it up.
Anyway, taking the tangent, dropping it and crossing the bridge back to the main highway:
Saturday's numbers: their meaning:
77 is the temperature it was when I started my run.
57 is the percentage the humidity was during my run.
90 is the temperature it was when I finished.
3 is the number of hours it took me (plus 8 minutes for an 8:44 pace)
21.56 is the number of miles I ran.
It was hot. Somewhat-- not totally-- miserable but I got 'er done and I am happy about it--as always is the case after a long run. It's why I do 'em. Happiness is often there during the run but it is ALWAYS there after it is over. Oh, and then there is that celebratory beer afterwards . . .
So, yeah. Here I am.
Training for a half iron man and a marathon at the same time. And that? That I think is doable.
But most importantly, I will not be risking my love of hamburgers or my feet while I do it.
And that. Well that is something.
Totals for July:
Running: 164.24 miles
Cycling: 305.64 miles
Swimming: 22,400 yds
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Hansel and Greta Long Run
Except instead of a bread crumb trail I left a trail of snot. Now, with the collective Ewwwwwww . Seriously, there is a 25 mile route from Marietta to Historic Roswell and back marked with snot.
Gross, but I got 'er done!
It was a tough course today with lots of rollers. But it was a solid, strong run (despite the sinus issues). Legs, calves, feet felt pretty fresh. New shoes are awesome! It did get a bit ugly and uncomfortable in mile 23-24 when I had to run on the soft shoulder of the road because there was no sidewalk. It hurt and slowed me down. Generally by those last miles I like to tuck head and pound it out. The uneven terrain made that impossible.
Temperature was 45 when I started and about 70 when I finished. Changed three times before I left. Dressing for long runs has become a bit of a science experiment. Finally settled on sleeveless technical shirt, skirt, ball cap and over the calf compression socks. Out of all the runners I saw today I was the most under dressed but nevertheless I still got quite toasty in that final hour. Ended up tying the shirt to my sports bra and ran like that. Was still hot even then. Definitely not acclimated to the heat anymore. Last fall when I was doing long runs in 80-90 degree weather 70 would have have felt down right Arctic. Going to be screwed if it is hot again this year at ING.
Time came in around an 3 hours 45 minutes. Give or take. I was gone a little less than 4 hours. I am guesstimating the time by subtracting 15 minutes for the 3 times I stopped and the various traffic lights I had to wait at (about 4 major ones). My stops were: At mile 9 to pee and refill the water bottle. At mile 16 for another pee break (really more to keep an eye on hydration than out of necessity), buy Gatorade and throw away snotty mittens that had served well as a Kleenex. I stopped the last time at mile 20 to buy water and ice and have a GU. (For what it is worth this is how I do all my long runs. At this point I know I can run a marathon straight through. Subtracting time doesn't pad the run for me. Time spent running is time spent running.)
Currently I have slight sinus headache and am worried that I will be sick come tomorrow and unable to finish my planned workouts. But at the very least I am pleased to have gotten the monster run done and am looking happily at that taper sitting on my horizon.
Gross, but I got 'er done!
It was a tough course today with lots of rollers. But it was a solid, strong run (despite the sinus issues). Legs, calves, feet felt pretty fresh. New shoes are awesome! It did get a bit ugly and uncomfortable in mile 23-24 when I had to run on the soft shoulder of the road because there was no sidewalk. It hurt and slowed me down. Generally by those last miles I like to tuck head and pound it out. The uneven terrain made that impossible.
Temperature was 45 when I started and about 70 when I finished. Changed three times before I left. Dressing for long runs has become a bit of a science experiment. Finally settled on sleeveless technical shirt, skirt, ball cap and over the calf compression socks. Out of all the runners I saw today I was the most under dressed but nevertheless I still got quite toasty in that final hour. Ended up tying the shirt to my sports bra and ran like that. Was still hot even then. Definitely not acclimated to the heat anymore. Last fall when I was doing long runs in 80-90 degree weather 70 would have have felt down right Arctic. Going to be screwed if it is hot again this year at ING.
Time came in around an 3 hours 45 minutes. Give or take. I was gone a little less than 4 hours. I am guesstimating the time by subtracting 15 minutes for the 3 times I stopped and the various traffic lights I had to wait at (about 4 major ones). My stops were: At mile 9 to pee and refill the water bottle. At mile 16 for another pee break (really more to keep an eye on hydration than out of necessity), buy Gatorade and throw away snotty mittens that had served well as a Kleenex. I stopped the last time at mile 20 to buy water and ice and have a GU. (For what it is worth this is how I do all my long runs. At this point I know I can run a marathon straight through. Subtracting time doesn't pad the run for me. Time spent running is time spent running.)
Currently I have slight sinus headache and am worried that I will be sick come tomorrow and unable to finish my planned workouts. But at the very least I am pleased to have gotten the monster run done and am looking happily at that taper sitting on my horizon.
Slowly, but surely, it is all coming together . . .
Recall that last week we had terrible storms-- a tornado--blow through here. Lots of trees came down and the area is still a mess. There has been lots of clean up going on.
I just got back from dropping Carmella at school. On the way back to our house I hear this from the backseat:
Beau: Ohhhh . . . .Now I get it!
Me: What's that?
Beau: Trees fall down. And that's how you get wood sticks! Did you know that Mommy?
Me: What!? Wood? Comes from trees? I did not know that! This is totally new information for me.
Beau: See, (points to tree, explaining) that's where wood comes from. Now you know.
Me: Thanks Beau!
I love it when Beau explains stuff to me.
Wish me luck. Sucking it up for the long run today. Head cold seems better today but could just be the calm before all snot breaks loose.
I felt like tail yesterday, so we'll see. Did get a decent swim in but then laid on my behind the rest of the day. (Trying to tone down the curse words. Steph gave them up for lent and I hate for her to have to read them and then have to do a bunch a hail Marys because of me. Or whatever it is you have to do.)
I just got back from dropping Carmella at school. On the way back to our house I hear this from the backseat:
Beau: Ohhhh . . . .Now I get it!
Me: What's that?
Beau: Trees fall down. And that's how you get wood sticks! Did you know that Mommy?
Me: What!? Wood? Comes from trees? I did not know that! This is totally new information for me.
Beau: See, (points to tree, explaining) that's where wood comes from. Now you know.
Me: Thanks Beau!
I love it when Beau explains stuff to me.
Wish me luck. Sucking it up for the long run today. Head cold seems better today but could just be the calm before all snot breaks loose.
I felt like tail yesterday, so we'll see. Did get a decent swim in but then laid on my behind the rest of the day. (Trying to tone down the curse words. Steph gave them up for lent and I hate for her to have to read them and then have to do a bunch a hail Marys because of me. Or whatever it is you have to do.)
Friday, February 08, 2008
Carpe Diem. Get up off your asses
What an awesome day!
Today is Feb 8th and right this second it is a perfect 61 sunny degrees.
What are you waiting for? Get out there and run, walk or ride your bike. But do not. Do NOT sit inside on day such as this.
What?
Why I am blogging and not outside?
I'm good. I ran for 3 hours in this perfect day. 21 miles @ an 8:34 pace.
But I'm going back out now to play with my kids. . .
40/0
Today is Feb 8th and right this second it is a perfect 61 sunny degrees.
What are you waiting for? Get out there and run, walk or ride your bike. But do not. Do NOT sit inside on day such as this.
What?
Why I am blogging and not outside?
I'm good. I ran for 3 hours in this perfect day. 21 miles @ an 8:34 pace.
But I'm going back out now to play with my kids. . .
40/0
Friday, February 01, 2008
Hell. Yes!
Hot Metal and Methedrine. Or really, a little gothic angst and endorphines make for a SUPER run.
I thought I only had time for 19 miles so I cut off 2 miles mid run. I had wasted too much time making a playlist for my run and ran into some technical difficulties so I started much later than I had planned.
It worked out though. Apparently a little teenage angst is good to run to. I added some Sisters of Mercy, Sex Pistols and Fugazi. Of course I also downloaded some Billy Bragg and Wilco so no worries, I am still skippy dippy bublicious runner girl.
I didn't have Garmin (charger is broke) but I ran for 2 hours and 41 minutes. 8:28 pace. The one Gu I had worked fine. I also had some E.F.S so I mixed that and drank that for the first half. Stopped at Walgreens to pee and refilled my bottle with water. Had the Gu at 12 miles and then sipped water. Totally fine. Maybe I don't need to fuel as much as I think I do. . .
Anyway, I feel great! I even had time to shower, dress (make up and hair done too!) and eat lunch. Even time a little for quick blog before I head out to pick up the kids.
And yes, I wore the socks. My calves gave me absolutely no trouble. This was probably the most pain free run over 7 miles I've had in a while. I do have what feels like the start of tendonitis on the outside of my left foot but I've had that before so no biggie. So yeah! Good run.
Grr, spell check still down. What's up with that? 33/0
I thought I only had time for 19 miles so I cut off 2 miles mid run. I had wasted too much time making a playlist for my run and ran into some technical difficulties so I started much later than I had planned.
It worked out though. Apparently a little teenage angst is good to run to. I added some Sisters of Mercy, Sex Pistols and Fugazi. Of course I also downloaded some Billy Bragg and Wilco so no worries, I am still skippy dippy bublicious runner girl.
I didn't have Garmin (charger is broke) but I ran for 2 hours and 41 minutes. 8:28 pace. The one Gu I had worked fine. I also had some E.F.S so I mixed that and drank that for the first half. Stopped at Walgreens to pee and refilled my bottle with water. Had the Gu at 12 miles and then sipped water. Totally fine. Maybe I don't need to fuel as much as I think I do. . .
Anyway, I feel great! I even had time to shower, dress (make up and hair done too!) and eat lunch. Even time a little for quick blog before I head out to pick up the kids.
And yes, I wore the socks. My calves gave me absolutely no trouble. This was probably the most pain free run over 7 miles I've had in a while. I do have what feels like the start of tendonitis on the outside of my left foot but I've had that before so no biggie. So yeah! Good run.
Grr, spell check still down. What's up with that? 33/0
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Getting all technical and making predictions. . .
Whew, I got it done!
Here is the USTAF map and elevation of my monster run yesterday.
I took the roads off because I am paranoid. It could all be in my mind but yesterday a man in a black pick up truck passed me 3 times in the span of 4 miles. Sure he may have been lost but it seems I only notice men driving slowly past and looking at me--never women. But that is probably because the women asked for directions and know where they are going. At any rate, if I see the same car 2 times in less than 20 minutes I pull out my phone. I know that isn't a huge threat but I do call someone and give a description of the car/person so that if I go missing there will be clues.
Like I said, I'm paranoid.
But for those from the area to get an idea of the scope I started from an area close to Hwy 92 and ran out to the Lower Roswell Road area and then looped back.
Please note elevation chart.
This course was the most forgiving of the 3 24+ milers I mapped out when planning my run. Honestly, I am not really sure exactly what this chart is telling me but it looks like lots of rolling hills and few steep climbs and some nice downhills--at least that is how I remember it going. Not certain what the total climb of 1668 ft is referring to--the whole course? Or the total elevation change: 3,363 ft. Thoughts? Like maps, I'm not so good at reading charts either.
Okay, let's look at Chickamauga's elevation chart for comparison.
Can anyone by looking at these two charts tell me which course seems harder? Are they similar? It looks to me like Chickamauga is more forgiving but it could be that how the elevation is shown is deceiving. It does look like from the data that I have that I had greater elevation changes in my run. Is that right? Thoughts? Opinions?
Are you wondering why I am so preoccupied with the details of this particular run and not the others?
It is because the 24 miler is the bench mark run of my marathon training plan--and yes, I am using "plan" loosely. It is pretty much my "dress rehersal." I test out my nutrition--yesterday was 2 Expresso Love Gu's (these are the best!) and one vanilla Gu and about 50 ounces of water. For the race I will probably do 4 Gu's. I might use some electrolyte drink but they tend to give me dry mouth and make me want more water than I need.
The 24 miler is also important because the past marathons I have trained for the 24 miler generally tells me what I will do in the full 26 of the race. For example, for my first marathon I ran a 25 miler a month out. I finished it in 4 hours and 20 something minutes. I ended up running the Atlanta full in 4 hours and 8 minutes. For the OBX marathon I ran a 24 + training run in 3 hours and 45 minutes. I ran the full at OBX in 3 hours and 42 minutes a month later. I do think had it not been pouring rain I might have been faster. I can't recall if I did 24 miler for GA ING but I don't think I did.
So I am cautiously optimistic about what yesterday's 24+ miler is telling me. I finished in 3 hours and 36 minutes. An 8:48 pace. This time is of course minus the 3 times I stopped to refill my water bottle, have a GU, go potty and buy sunscreen. I always subtract the pit stop time since in a race I won't have to stop nor will have to stop at street lights. Experience has shown me that my time actually spent running is what really matters. And, for what it is worth, I think all the stopping makes it harder to get started. Just feels easier to keep going. But since I don't have a sag wagon or aid stations in training I kinda have to stop.
I should also say that yesterday was pretty much-- for me-- about as perfect weather as I could hope for--60's, breezy and sunny. This run was at least 20 degrees cooler than my other 20+ milers. Only thing better would have been if it had been overcast. Ever with the picky, I know. Anyway, experience has also shown me that I always get to have a perfect weather day for my 24 miler. Unfortunately experience also tells me that I always have horrible weather for my marathon.
So knowing all this and adding up my helter skelter training methodology I come up with a predicted marathon time of 3:35 for me. But we'll see how the rest of the training goes. I still have 30 days until the race for things to go from good to bad or from good to better.
Thoughts? Opinions? Advice?
Oh, one final post script: A big ole congatulations shout out to my buddy Joe at the Big Peach Running Company. He was the 4th American at the Chicago marathon. And get this, it was his first marathon. 2:29--very impressive.
Here is the USTAF map and elevation of my monster run yesterday.
I took the roads off because I am paranoid. It could all be in my mind but yesterday a man in a black pick up truck passed me 3 times in the span of 4 miles. Sure he may have been lost but it seems I only notice men driving slowly past and looking at me--never women. But that is probably because the women asked for directions and know where they are going. At any rate, if I see the same car 2 times in less than 20 minutes I pull out my phone. I know that isn't a huge threat but I do call someone and give a description of the car/person so that if I go missing there will be clues.
Like I said, I'm paranoid.
But for those from the area to get an idea of the scope I started from an area close to Hwy 92 and ran out to the Lower Roswell Road area and then looped back.
Please note elevation chart.
This course was the most forgiving of the 3 24+ milers I mapped out when planning my run. Honestly, I am not really sure exactly what this chart is telling me but it looks like lots of rolling hills and few steep climbs and some nice downhills--at least that is how I remember it going. Not certain what the total climb of 1668 ft is referring to--the whole course? Or the total elevation change: 3,363 ft. Thoughts? Like maps, I'm not so good at reading charts either.
Okay, let's look at Chickamauga's elevation chart for comparison.
Can anyone by looking at these two charts tell me which course seems harder? Are they similar? It looks to me like Chickamauga is more forgiving but it could be that how the elevation is shown is deceiving. It does look like from the data that I have that I had greater elevation changes in my run. Is that right? Thoughts? Opinions?
Are you wondering why I am so preoccupied with the details of this particular run and not the others?
It is because the 24 miler is the bench mark run of my marathon training plan--and yes, I am using "plan" loosely. It is pretty much my "dress rehersal." I test out my nutrition--yesterday was 2 Expresso Love Gu's (these are the best!) and one vanilla Gu and about 50 ounces of water. For the race I will probably do 4 Gu's. I might use some electrolyte drink but they tend to give me dry mouth and make me want more water than I need.
The 24 miler is also important because the past marathons I have trained for the 24 miler generally tells me what I will do in the full 26 of the race. For example, for my first marathon I ran a 25 miler a month out. I finished it in 4 hours and 20 something minutes. I ended up running the Atlanta full in 4 hours and 8 minutes. For the OBX marathon I ran a 24 + training run in 3 hours and 45 minutes. I ran the full at OBX in 3 hours and 42 minutes a month later. I do think had it not been pouring rain I might have been faster. I can't recall if I did 24 miler for GA ING but I don't think I did.
So I am cautiously optimistic about what yesterday's 24+ miler is telling me. I finished in 3 hours and 36 minutes. An 8:48 pace. This time is of course minus the 3 times I stopped to refill my water bottle, have a GU, go potty and buy sunscreen. I always subtract the pit stop time since in a race I won't have to stop nor will have to stop at street lights. Experience has shown me that my time actually spent running is what really matters. And, for what it is worth, I think all the stopping makes it harder to get started. Just feels easier to keep going. But since I don't have a sag wagon or aid stations in training I kinda have to stop.
I should also say that yesterday was pretty much-- for me-- about as perfect weather as I could hope for--60's, breezy and sunny. This run was at least 20 degrees cooler than my other 20+ milers. Only thing better would have been if it had been overcast. Ever with the picky, I know. Anyway, experience has also shown me that I always get to have a perfect weather day for my 24 miler. Unfortunately experience also tells me that I always have horrible weather for my marathon.
So knowing all this and adding up my helter skelter training methodology I come up with a predicted marathon time of 3:35 for me. But we'll see how the rest of the training goes. I still have 30 days until the race for things to go from good to bad or from good to better.
Thoughts? Opinions? Advice?
Oh, one final post script: A big ole congatulations shout out to my buddy Joe at the Big Peach Running Company. He was the 4th American at the Chicago marathon. And get this, it was his first marathon. 2:29--very impressive.
Friday, September 07, 2007
Front End Loading: My New Mentality
1 crank gel
1 Cliff shot gel
30 ounces of water
16 ounces of Gatorade
3 hours and 7 minutes of listening to my favorite songs
1 10 minute ice bath
The feeling of finishing my first 21 miler of marathon training this year?
Uh, duh! Relief!
Yeah! I did it! I got my first week of marathon training exactly where I wanted it. Maybe not so much with the pace but that will improve. I still have what? 10 weeks to improve until the Chickamauga marathon. Definitely better off than I have been before other marathons.
My new approach to training is "front end loading." I did not make up this term. I am stealing it from my good friend Deanna who often says at parties, when she is the driver, that she has to "front end load." What she means is that she is going to get her drink on--cut herself off and ride the buzz-- and still give herself several hours to get good and sober before she has to drive. This works well but you do have to know when to say when and stick with it. Point is you have a good time and still keep yourself feeling good without consequence.
So it occurred to me that I might should try this with my nutrition on my long runs. I tried it today and admittedly, it is hard to want to do it but man what a difference it made at the end of a long run.
I started out around 9:30 this morning. It was about 75 degrees and little breezy and a lot less humid. Nevertheless, I was totally dreading the run. Did not want to do it. I was tired just thinking about all those miles.
I brought with me one of those water bottles that wrap on your hand, a crank gel, a clif shot gel and 2 bucks. After the first mile I took a sip of water every 5 minutes.
Even still the first 3 miles completely sucked. They are all uphill and my calves were so heavy and tight; felt exactly like the muscle needed to free itself from my skin. I stopped in the middle of a hill and hung my heels over the curb to stretch. The muscle relaxed and felt better so I ran on. In the 4th mile I started to feel good and had picked the pace up by the 5th mile.Right before the 6th mile was my first planned stop. On long runs I usually hold out til the 7th mile to stop. I was really feeling my grove but I had to stop. I made myself drink half of the water I was carrying and had a crank gel. Totally did not want it or felt like I needed it. Refilled my bottle and ran on taking small sips every 5 or so minutes.
I continued to feel good but around 10 miles I had to stop was I had reached the last place for me to refill my water until 18 miles. So I drank half and refilled my bottle again.
Around 13 miles I had my Clif shot gel. Walked for a minute and drank some water. I think I may have waited a little too long here as I started to feel a little yucky but it could have been an emotional thing and I also really hate this particular leg of my run. It is 2 roads that are very boring and totally 4 miles. I always feel very lonely and sad but these roads are a lesser evil to my other hillier options so I suck it up. The gel must have kicked in around 16-17 miles because I started to feel all happy again.
I made myself stop before the last 5k. I dumped out the water and filled my bottle with ice and Gatorade. It was cold and delicious. I took a sip of it every 5 or so minutes of the last 3 miles. I was even able to push up the final hill before my house. Best of all, I finished this 21 miler feeling like I could have gone a few more; and that is how it is suppose to be done.
Around all the other running blogs everyone is talking about what marathon plan they are following so I figure I'll throw my unplan out there into the bunch too. I say unplan because every time I have ever tried to follow a plan I end up deciding I don't like it and do my own thing.
Goals: Running 4-5 days a week. MPW; 50-70 except taper and possible cut back weeks. Increase in mileage is roughly 10-15% of mpw; e.g. if I run 45 one week the next I shoot for 50. Base line is 40 mpw--I will try not to go below this. 1-2 cross training days.
The Plan Breakdown
The Recovery Run: 1-2 a week of 4-10 miles at whatever pace feels comfy. I just don't want to think about pace. I just want to enjoy the run.
The Speed workout: 1 a week: 3-8 miles on the treadmill--ladder or negative split runs. Any race I do will replace speed workouts. Also, speed workouts will be the first to get cut after cross training.
The 2 hour Run: Run at or close to marathon pace. (12-16 miles) For me this means 7:50-8:35 pace. I am not quite there yet but I think once it gets cooler it will not be a problem.
The 3 hour Run: 17-25 miles run 30 seconds to one minute slower than marathon pace--so 8:30-9:30 pace. Ideally, this training cycle I want something like this: 2 17-19 milers, 3 20/21, 2 22/23milers, 1 24/25 miler.
Cross training: 1 swim (1 mile) and 1 bike (20-30 miles)a week. I may need to add some weights but I am going to try without. I hate lifting. Bores me to tears and I just feel silly doing it. Cross training will be the first thing cut if I can't get all my runs in.
Race Goals:
Half Marathon: sub 1:40--ideally closer to 1:30.
Marathon: PR but really sub 3:40 and ideally 3:30.
So I still have one day left and I've pretty much met my goals:
Sunday: rest
Monday: 6 miles recovery
Tuesday: 16 miles 9 minute pace
Wednesday: 23 mile bike ride @16+ mph
Thursday: 8 miles in 57 minutes. 600 meter swim.
Friday: 21 miles @ 8:55 pace.
Saturday: Probably an easy run and a swim--maybe bike since Meme has offered to take the kids to a local b-ball game.
1 Cliff shot gel
30 ounces of water
16 ounces of Gatorade
3 hours and 7 minutes of listening to my favorite songs
1 10 minute ice bath
The feeling of finishing my first 21 miler of marathon training this year?
Uh, duh! Relief!
Yeah! I did it! I got my first week of marathon training exactly where I wanted it. Maybe not so much with the pace but that will improve. I still have what? 10 weeks to improve until the Chickamauga marathon. Definitely better off than I have been before other marathons.
My new approach to training is "front end loading." I did not make up this term. I am stealing it from my good friend Deanna who often says at parties, when she is the driver, that she has to "front end load." What she means is that she is going to get her drink on--cut herself off and ride the buzz-- and still give herself several hours to get good and sober before she has to drive. This works well but you do have to know when to say when and stick with it. Point is you have a good time and still keep yourself feeling good without consequence.
So it occurred to me that I might should try this with my nutrition on my long runs. I tried it today and admittedly, it is hard to want to do it but man what a difference it made at the end of a long run.
I started out around 9:30 this morning. It was about 75 degrees and little breezy and a lot less humid. Nevertheless, I was totally dreading the run. Did not want to do it. I was tired just thinking about all those miles.
I brought with me one of those water bottles that wrap on your hand, a crank gel, a clif shot gel and 2 bucks. After the first mile I took a sip of water every 5 minutes.
Even still the first 3 miles completely sucked. They are all uphill and my calves were so heavy and tight; felt exactly like the muscle needed to free itself from my skin. I stopped in the middle of a hill and hung my heels over the curb to stretch. The muscle relaxed and felt better so I ran on. In the 4th mile I started to feel good and had picked the pace up by the 5th mile.Right before the 6th mile was my first planned stop. On long runs I usually hold out til the 7th mile to stop. I was really feeling my grove but I had to stop. I made myself drink half of the water I was carrying and had a crank gel. Totally did not want it or felt like I needed it. Refilled my bottle and ran on taking small sips every 5 or so minutes.
I continued to feel good but around 10 miles I had to stop was I had reached the last place for me to refill my water until 18 miles. So I drank half and refilled my bottle again.
Around 13 miles I had my Clif shot gel. Walked for a minute and drank some water. I think I may have waited a little too long here as I started to feel a little yucky but it could have been an emotional thing and I also really hate this particular leg of my run. It is 2 roads that are very boring and totally 4 miles. I always feel very lonely and sad but these roads are a lesser evil to my other hillier options so I suck it up. The gel must have kicked in around 16-17 miles because I started to feel all happy again.
I made myself stop before the last 5k. I dumped out the water and filled my bottle with ice and Gatorade. It was cold and delicious. I took a sip of it every 5 or so minutes of the last 3 miles. I was even able to push up the final hill before my house. Best of all, I finished this 21 miler feeling like I could have gone a few more; and that is how it is suppose to be done.
Around all the other running blogs everyone is talking about what marathon plan they are following so I figure I'll throw my unplan out there into the bunch too. I say unplan because every time I have ever tried to follow a plan I end up deciding I don't like it and do my own thing.
Goals: Running 4-5 days a week. MPW; 50-70 except taper and possible cut back weeks. Increase in mileage is roughly 10-15% of mpw; e.g. if I run 45 one week the next I shoot for 50. Base line is 40 mpw--I will try not to go below this. 1-2 cross training days.
The Plan Breakdown
The Recovery Run: 1-2 a week of 4-10 miles at whatever pace feels comfy. I just don't want to think about pace. I just want to enjoy the run.
The Speed workout: 1 a week: 3-8 miles on the treadmill--ladder or negative split runs. Any race I do will replace speed workouts. Also, speed workouts will be the first to get cut after cross training.
The 2 hour Run: Run at or close to marathon pace. (12-16 miles) For me this means 7:50-8:35 pace. I am not quite there yet but I think once it gets cooler it will not be a problem.
The 3 hour Run: 17-25 miles run 30 seconds to one minute slower than marathon pace--so 8:30-9:30 pace. Ideally, this training cycle I want something like this: 2 17-19 milers, 3 20/21, 2 22/23milers, 1 24/25 miler.
Cross training: 1 swim (1 mile) and 1 bike (20-30 miles)a week. I may need to add some weights but I am going to try without. I hate lifting. Bores me to tears and I just feel silly doing it. Cross training will be the first thing cut if I can't get all my runs in.
Race Goals:
Half Marathon: sub 1:40--ideally closer to 1:30.
Marathon: PR but really sub 3:40 and ideally 3:30.
So I still have one day left and I've pretty much met my goals:
Sunday: rest
Monday: 6 miles recovery
Tuesday: 16 miles 9 minute pace
Wednesday: 23 mile bike ride @16+ mph
Thursday: 8 miles in 57 minutes. 600 meter swim.
Friday: 21 miles @ 8:55 pace.
Saturday: Probably an easy run and a swim--maybe bike since Meme has offered to take the kids to a local b-ball game.
But then again, maybe nothing. As tonight is my sister's bachlorette party. I've got a night of drinking and dancing and clubbing with the kittens laid out for me. I may be an old cat but I can still kitten it out when need be. Tomorrow, though, for sure there will be fall out. However, perhaps a little front end loading will be in order to avoid riding the hangover train.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Okay, I didn't run for 3 hours . . .
but that doesn't matter because . . .
Yes, I know I am a dork who just wasted 15 minutes of precious time that could have been better spent folding something, cleaning something or picking something up instead of trying to figure out how to best photograph my time on Garmin.
And yes, I know I am bragging a little here.
But I feel like I deserve the brag since I really thought I had lost my running mojo. I was beginning to think I didn't have the gojo in me to go long anymore.
I've been worried.
Down even.
I've been having boring dreams--always a sure sign of a depressed psyche. Dreams are supposed to be bizarre and intriguing, not boring. Last night I dreamed I went to the botanical gardens alone and tried on weird hats at midnight. That was the dream. Just me, some flowers and garish hats. How lame is that?
Right, sorry, tangent.
And hey, for shits and giggles here is another shot with the pace and calories (Look how much extra I get to eat today!):
Do you see that?
Average pace: 8 minutes and 29 seconds.
I couldn't believe I did that. That is a faster pace than I ran OBX--my old marathon goal pace. That is why I am bragging.This was a training run. That is the fastest pace I have ever run any training run over 20 miles in.
And I would be lying if I didn't admit that it was really hard. And it hurt pretty bad there in those last 2 miles. But those last 2 miles? I ran them under marathon goal pace--which for ING is hopefully going to be an 8 minute mile pace. But really I have no idea how I am going to do 26.2 miles at an 8 minute pace when 21 miles at an 8:29 pace was that hard. Race day magic? Let's hope so. It has happened before but it ain't going to come easy nor without pain.
So why do it then?
Sigh, I know those of you who don't like to run or have any desire to run a marathon don't, won't, can't --whatever-- understand. And those of you that do run, have a desire to run a marathon or do run marathons do understand without me having to explain it. But basically it just feels pretty cool to be a more efficient fitter runner. I want to be fast. And in certain circles, I know, an 8 minute mile is not fast. I don't run in those circles though, so for me an 8 minute marathon pace is fast.
Oh, and it is 21 miles exactly because once I hit 21 miles I pressed stop and walked the 1/4 mile or so back to my car. I was determined to get to 21 miles and once I got there I would have laid down on the sidewalk but then I know someone would have stopped to ask if I was okay and I would have had to admit that I probably wasn't.
I finished running just after 1 pm and just now at 4 o'clock I finally got around to eating something. I was feeling pretty crappy and tired but now I feel better. Amazing how food can do that. I didn't even feel hungry but just vaguely knew that lunch? Might be a good idea. And it was.
But great run overall. I needed that. And an extra thank you to Bubbles who did pick up Beau for me at school. I definitely wouldn't have made it in time to get him (I was late getting started but that is an even more boring story so I will spare you that one.)
Yes, I know I am a dork who just wasted 15 minutes of precious time that could have been better spent folding something, cleaning something or picking something up instead of trying to figure out how to best photograph my time on Garmin.
And yes, I know I am bragging a little here.
But I feel like I deserve the brag since I really thought I had lost my running mojo. I was beginning to think I didn't have the gojo in me to go long anymore.
I've been worried.
Down even.
I've been having boring dreams--always a sure sign of a depressed psyche. Dreams are supposed to be bizarre and intriguing, not boring. Last night I dreamed I went to the botanical gardens alone and tried on weird hats at midnight. That was the dream. Just me, some flowers and garish hats. How lame is that?
Right, sorry, tangent.
And hey, for shits and giggles here is another shot with the pace and calories (Look how much extra I get to eat today!):
Do you see that?
Average pace: 8 minutes and 29 seconds.
I couldn't believe I did that. That is a faster pace than I ran OBX--my old marathon goal pace. That is why I am bragging.This was a training run. That is the fastest pace I have ever run any training run over 20 miles in.
And I would be lying if I didn't admit that it was really hard. And it hurt pretty bad there in those last 2 miles. But those last 2 miles? I ran them under marathon goal pace--which for ING is hopefully going to be an 8 minute mile pace. But really I have no idea how I am going to do 26.2 miles at an 8 minute pace when 21 miles at an 8:29 pace was that hard. Race day magic? Let's hope so. It has happened before but it ain't going to come easy nor without pain.
So why do it then?
Sigh, I know those of you who don't like to run or have any desire to run a marathon don't, won't, can't --whatever-- understand. And those of you that do run, have a desire to run a marathon or do run marathons do understand without me having to explain it. But basically it just feels pretty cool to be a more efficient fitter runner. I want to be fast. And in certain circles, I know, an 8 minute mile is not fast. I don't run in those circles though, so for me an 8 minute marathon pace is fast.
Oh, and it is 21 miles exactly because once I hit 21 miles I pressed stop and walked the 1/4 mile or so back to my car. I was determined to get to 21 miles and once I got there I would have laid down on the sidewalk but then I know someone would have stopped to ask if I was okay and I would have had to admit that I probably wasn't.
I finished running just after 1 pm and just now at 4 o'clock I finally got around to eating something. I was feeling pretty crappy and tired but now I feel better. Amazing how food can do that. I didn't even feel hungry but just vaguely knew that lunch? Might be a good idea. And it was.
But great run overall. I needed that. And an extra thank you to Bubbles who did pick up Beau for me at school. I definitely wouldn't have made it in time to get him (I was late getting started but that is an even more boring story so I will spare you that one.)
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