Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Awash in Optimism
As usual, the RBF came swooping in to rescue me from my doubts and fears. Thanks to everyone for their encouragement and advice, all needed and wanted.
It’s nice to know that I am not alone in this experience of “taper brain” or “taper madness” as Hollie and Mark have called it (see comments from yesterday's post).
Between the RBF, my running partners, the new Runner World’s magazine (arrived yesterday) and an inspirational running book (also arrived yesterday) I feel MUCH, MUCH better about the whole marathon thing.
Last night’s run was just the thing I needed to give me that extra optimistic boost. April-Anne, Michelle and I met for our “chicks run in the woods” with a goal of 4.5 miles. We were still testing Michelle’s new Nike mp3 Run gadget, so we wanted to run the same exact route we did last Thursday to check the calibration.
Off into the wet woods we went – it had been raining most of the day, and it was sprinkling just a bit as we hit the trail head. The temperature was in the mid 60’s (F) and the park was mostly deserted…essentially we had the place to ourselves. There were quite a few puddles to navigate around and the roots and rocks were even more treacherous than usual with the wet leaves on top of them.
Right before mile 2, the rain started to come down just a little bit harder. At this point we were soaking wet, hats and shirts dripping big, huge droplets of water. Shoes sloshing. The puddles started to get bigger and as the rain came steadily pouring down, small river-lets of water formed and burbled down the trail. I found myself running on the side of the trail, into the prickers and trees, trying to keep my feet out of the puddles. My shins and ankles started to ache, presumably from working so hard to keep me from slipping and falling.
Eventually I just ran right through the puddles, mud splashing up the back of my legs and splattering onto my knee brace. The best part…as the run continued, I could feel myself getting more and more energetic…I was smiling to myself, wringing rain water out of my shirt and “picking a line” over all the trail obstacles in leaps and jumps. I felt like I was mountain biking, but without the bike.
It was awesome.
We finished up in 39:11 and climbed into our respective cars soaking, sopping, dripping wet. I had promised Michelle that it would be 1) fun and 2) that she would need her splash guards and mud flaps. I think I delivered on that promise.
And I smiled all the way home.
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It’s nice to know that I am not alone in this experience of “taper brain” or “taper madness” as Hollie and Mark have called it (see comments from yesterday's post).
Between the RBF, my running partners, the new Runner World’s magazine (arrived yesterday) and an inspirational running book (also arrived yesterday) I feel MUCH, MUCH better about the whole marathon thing.
Last night’s run was just the thing I needed to give me that extra optimistic boost. April-Anne, Michelle and I met for our “chicks run in the woods” with a goal of 4.5 miles. We were still testing Michelle’s new Nike mp3 Run gadget, so we wanted to run the same exact route we did last Thursday to check the calibration.
Off into the wet woods we went – it had been raining most of the day, and it was sprinkling just a bit as we hit the trail head. The temperature was in the mid 60’s (F) and the park was mostly deserted…essentially we had the place to ourselves. There were quite a few puddles to navigate around and the roots and rocks were even more treacherous than usual with the wet leaves on top of them.
Right before mile 2, the rain started to come down just a little bit harder. At this point we were soaking wet, hats and shirts dripping big, huge droplets of water. Shoes sloshing. The puddles started to get bigger and as the rain came steadily pouring down, small river-lets of water formed and burbled down the trail. I found myself running on the side of the trail, into the prickers and trees, trying to keep my feet out of the puddles. My shins and ankles started to ache, presumably from working so hard to keep me from slipping and falling.
Eventually I just ran right through the puddles, mud splashing up the back of my legs and splattering onto my knee brace. The best part…as the run continued, I could feel myself getting more and more energetic…I was smiling to myself, wringing rain water out of my shirt and “picking a line” over all the trail obstacles in leaps and jumps. I felt like I was mountain biking, but without the bike.
It was awesome.
We finished up in 39:11 and climbed into our respective cars soaking, sopping, dripping wet. I had promised Michelle that it would be 1) fun and 2) that she would need her splash guards and mud flaps. I think I delivered on that promise.
And I smiled all the way home.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
It's Too Early To Feel Nervous!
I'm so neurotic, it's starting already.
Every time I think about the marathon, I get wicked nervous. I can feel my face flush, my knees feel all wobbly and my stomach begins it's perfected gymnastics routine. I still have 12 days to get through and I can't even talk about it when people start asking me questions! EEeekkk!
To make matters worse, I've made a classic rookie mistake...I keep reading books about "other" marathon training programs. Much like dieting, the different books all offer a different approach, with different advice. So the questioning begins: "Should I take walk breaks?" "Should my longest run have been more than 20 miles?" "Is Gatorade really that bad for me?" "Did I train at a pace that is too fast?" "Should I have done some speed work?" "Was it bad to train myself to NOT stop for pee breaks?"
What have I done!?
The 20-miler I did two weeks ago went OK...I was sick, it was really windy and, well, I had my period (sorry, TMI, but the female readers will recognize that it really makes a difference in the quality of the run)...but now I'm all worried. It took me longer to finish the 20 than I wanted it to...so does that mean that those last six miles are doomed to be even longer? But it was just a training run, and I was all alone, battling a variety of issues...so the marathon should be BETTER than the 20-miler right?
And so it goes, swirling thoughts around and around in my addled brain.
Sigh. It's going to be a looonnggg 12 days.
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Every time I think about the marathon, I get wicked nervous. I can feel my face flush, my knees feel all wobbly and my stomach begins it's perfected gymnastics routine. I still have 12 days to get through and I can't even talk about it when people start asking me questions! EEeekkk!
To make matters worse, I've made a classic rookie mistake...I keep reading books about "other" marathon training programs. Much like dieting, the different books all offer a different approach, with different advice. So the questioning begins: "Should I take walk breaks?" "Should my longest run have been more than 20 miles?" "Is Gatorade really that bad for me?" "Did I train at a pace that is too fast?" "Should I have done some speed work?" "Was it bad to train myself to NOT stop for pee breaks?"
What have I done!?
The 20-miler I did two weeks ago went OK...I was sick, it was really windy and, well, I had my period (sorry, TMI, but the female readers will recognize that it really makes a difference in the quality of the run)...but now I'm all worried. It took me longer to finish the 20 than I wanted it to...so does that mean that those last six miles are doomed to be even longer? But it was just a training run, and I was all alone, battling a variety of issues...so the marathon should be BETTER than the 20-miler right?
And so it goes, swirling thoughts around and around in my addled brain.
Sigh. It's going to be a looonnggg 12 days.
Saturday, September 25, 2004
Week Ends With A Strong Dozen
Despite the nagging, annoying, lingering cold, I was able to meet my mileage goals this week. And having partners made ALL the difference.
Wednesday night, I did 8 miles by myself and actually felt really strong while I was out there. It's an interesting sensation, to be congested but to have it all clear up as soon as the running starts (vasodilation at work, I assume). Then 20 minutes after the running ends, the congestion comes flooding back. I didn't have the same shaky, clammy feeling that I got on Tuesday, but I think the Gatorade helped to hold that at bay. I got thru the run in about 71 minutes (1:11:35).
Thursday night, I met April-Anne and Michelle for another "chicks run in the woods" -- as I've come to call it. Michelle had her new fancy Nike mp3 Run system, and she was determined to find out just how much I had been fibbing about the mileage of our routes. We clocked 4.51 miles with a time of 38:52. What's a little extra .50 miles once in a while, right? I did have to eat a gel at about 2.5 miles, just like Tuesday...with no water to wash it down with - ugh! I tend to eat less when I am sick, and I am sure that my tanks were low still from the 20 miler so the need to eat didn't really alarm me.
This morning, Michelle met me bright and early for 7 of my 12 miles. While I disagree with the mileage that her Nike gadget came up with, we still did a fast 7 miles together...and had fun together as usual. It's so astonishing to me how quickly the time and miles fly by when there's someone to talk to...seems like common sense, but you just can't truly appreciate it until you've done 20 mile alone. I'm just so grateful each and every time I have a running friend along side of me.
The last 5 miles of my scheduled run went really well...all in all, the entire 12 miles were strong and confident. And with a time of 1:44:16, almost race day fast (as in actual 20K race pace...not planned race pace for the marathon). I was pleased with the result and not too tired from the effort.
At least not too tired until now...it's off to bed for a well deserved rest!
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Wednesday night, I did 8 miles by myself and actually felt really strong while I was out there. It's an interesting sensation, to be congested but to have it all clear up as soon as the running starts (vasodilation at work, I assume). Then 20 minutes after the running ends, the congestion comes flooding back. I didn't have the same shaky, clammy feeling that I got on Tuesday, but I think the Gatorade helped to hold that at bay. I got thru the run in about 71 minutes (1:11:35).
Thursday night, I met April-Anne and Michelle for another "chicks run in the woods" -- as I've come to call it. Michelle had her new fancy Nike mp3 Run system, and she was determined to find out just how much I had been fibbing about the mileage of our routes. We clocked 4.51 miles with a time of 38:52. What's a little extra .50 miles once in a while, right? I did have to eat a gel at about 2.5 miles, just like Tuesday...with no water to wash it down with - ugh! I tend to eat less when I am sick, and I am sure that my tanks were low still from the 20 miler so the need to eat didn't really alarm me.
This morning, Michelle met me bright and early for 7 of my 12 miles. While I disagree with the mileage that her Nike gadget came up with, we still did a fast 7 miles together...and had fun together as usual. It's so astonishing to me how quickly the time and miles fly by when there's someone to talk to...seems like common sense, but you just can't truly appreciate it until you've done 20 mile alone. I'm just so grateful each and every time I have a running friend along side of me.
The last 5 miles of my scheduled run went really well...all in all, the entire 12 miles were strong and confident. And with a time of 1:44:16, almost race day fast (as in actual 20K race pace...not planned race pace for the marathon). I was pleased with the result and not too tired from the effort.
At least not too tired until now...it's off to bed for a well deserved rest!
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Partners Rock!
I seem to have caught a mild cold. It’s not really that bad, but it’s enough to be annoying. And as I was checking up on my training schedule, I came across this tip from Hal Higdon:
“Research suggests that runners often catch a cold or the flu the final week before the marathon, or the week after the marathon. That's because in building to a mileage peak, they often overdo it and temporarily suppress their immune systems. Marathoners thus are more vulnerable to any viruses they might encounter. To avoid colds, try to avoid people who have them. And get plenty of rest.”
Great. At least I got mine early. Get it out of the way.
My five miles with Michelle last night wasn’t that bad. I thought I would be more stiff and sluggish following the 20 miler, especially since I could barely walk on Monday, but I felt great by the end of the run.
The start of the five miles was another story.
It was tough to get motivated to run, between being congested and just feeling plain tired from all the running…whine, whine, whine. But knowing that I had a partner waiting for me really helped. And she was crucial in getting me through the whole thing, let me tell you.
Within the first quarter of a mile, we realized that there was a cross-country meet taking place in the park – there were cones, caution tapes and girls everywhere. We were running into the “traffic” as opposed to “with”it so at least they could see us coming! The runners cleared out before we hit the half mile mark and we continued on our way.
At about the 2.5 mile mark, I started to feel real shaky – not hungry, just shaky and a little clammy. I could tell that I would never make it if I didn’t eat – so I downed a gel, droped the packet on the ground, stopped to pick it up…all while working my way through a group of girls doing their “cool-down” lap, jumping over a log and negotiating my way down a rocky hill. I started to feel better within the next half mile or so, but I was looking forward to just finishing the run.
I was so grateful for Michelle and all her stories last night. She kept me smiling and distracted with her Jimmy Buffet stories…if I’d been out there alone, I am almost positive that I would have quit at the 3 mile mark.
The power of runner partners: priceless.
5.5 miles (trails): 51:52
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“Research suggests that runners often catch a cold or the flu the final week before the marathon, or the week after the marathon. That's because in building to a mileage peak, they often overdo it and temporarily suppress their immune systems. Marathoners thus are more vulnerable to any viruses they might encounter. To avoid colds, try to avoid people who have them. And get plenty of rest.”
Great. At least I got mine early. Get it out of the way.
My five miles with Michelle last night wasn’t that bad. I thought I would be more stiff and sluggish following the 20 miler, especially since I could barely walk on Monday, but I felt great by the end of the run.
The start of the five miles was another story.
It was tough to get motivated to run, between being congested and just feeling plain tired from all the running…whine, whine, whine. But knowing that I had a partner waiting for me really helped. And she was crucial in getting me through the whole thing, let me tell you.
Within the first quarter of a mile, we realized that there was a cross-country meet taking place in the park – there were cones, caution tapes and girls everywhere. We were running into the “traffic” as opposed to “with”it so at least they could see us coming! The runners cleared out before we hit the half mile mark and we continued on our way.
At about the 2.5 mile mark, I started to feel real shaky – not hungry, just shaky and a little clammy. I could tell that I would never make it if I didn’t eat – so I downed a gel, droped the packet on the ground, stopped to pick it up…all while working my way through a group of girls doing their “cool-down” lap, jumping over a log and negotiating my way down a rocky hill. I started to feel better within the next half mile or so, but I was looking forward to just finishing the run.
I was so grateful for Michelle and all her stories last night. She kept me smiling and distracted with her Jimmy Buffet stories…if I’d been out there alone, I am almost positive that I would have quit at the 3 mile mark.
The power of runner partners: priceless.
5.5 miles (trails): 51:52
Sunday, September 19, 2004
The 20-Mile Monster
I never believe the weather reports for our area. For some reason, we live in a “weather vortex” where the weather never follows the predicted patterns. For example, if there’s a prediction for six inches of snow, we’ll only get two….even though the town three miles away received the predicted six. I may be exaggerating a little bit, but it has happened enough times that we often scoff at the weather reports and just look out the windows to see what’s going on.
I thought for sure that the weather vortex would truly only deliver rain “showers” on Saturday and not the deluge they were predicted. I envisioned a summer rain, warm and gentle-the kind of rain that is enjoyable to run in, almost refreshing. Boy, was I wrong!
Since I was sure that I would be running on Saturday morning, I ate my weight in pasta, drank copious amounts of water and made plans with my running partners as well as my coach-on-a-bike (hubby). To my dismay, at 3:00 a.m. I woke to the sound of pouring rain. Pounding rain. Sheets of it. And thunder. And lightening. I thought to myself “It will pass before my run…it will lighten up. It has to.” For the next four hours, the dogs made sure I was aware of the storm outside and I got little sleep. Each time I woke up and heard the rain, I would start to fret about what to do. Do I run for three hours in the rain? Is that even safe? Or am I being a wimp? Will my running partners curse my name if I cancel on them?
Finally, at 7:45 a.m., I made the dreaded phone calls and cancelled the run. Poor April-Anne was already on her way to my house and didn’t get my message! I felt just plain awful about the whole thing. Guilty. And let down. I had spent so much mental energy gearing myself up for the big monster run that has been looming on my schedule for months now. I just wanted to run it so I could prove to myself that it wasn’t that scary.
And now I would have to wait another day. And eat more carbs. As it was, I looked like I was auditioning for the part of Mrs. Pillsbury Doughboy – all white and bloated.
To make matters worse, none of my partners/coaches were going to be able to join me on the rescheduled run. And because of a commitment I had made, I wouldn’t be able to start my run until the afternoon (when I really prefer morning for the long ones). Sigh. At least the weather would be better – sunny, 60’s (F) and breezy.
So this afternoon, I headed out on my own to tackle the 20-mile monster. I did 2 ten-mile out-and-back routes, using my house as my “refueling” station in the middle. The first ten miles went by fairly quickly and I felt strong and comfortable. Clocked in at 1:32:27. Grabbed a new bottle of Gatorade, ate most of a CLIF bar and headed back out. By mile twelve, I was starting to get bored. I tried singing Don McLean’s American Pie in my head. I wrote this blog. I made mental notes to check up on those of you that had races this weekend. I tried to forget about the urge to pee.
Mile 14-16 were on top of a dam that sits alongside a reservoir. This is usually a decent place to run – flat, nice view, people out walking…but with the wind speeds ranging from 14-20 mph, it was a tough place to be today, without anything to block the breeze. I could feel my body being pushed sideways…and I definitely slowed down as I was being pushed backwards. Happy to have long sleeves on too!
Then the knee started to hurt. I told myself if I could just get back onto the road with the rolling hills, I would be fine. And you know what? It worked. I grit my teeth for the better part of two miles, but the pain went away once I was working up and down the hills.
Somewhere during mile 17, I felt my brain start to feel a little “fuzzy.” I’d never experienced this before, so I quickly took some PowerGel and immediately felt better.
Once I hit the 18-mile mark, I knew I would finish. My legs were feeling tired but I was still able to pick up the pace knowing that I was almost done. As I came up along side my mailbox, I stopped my watch at 3:10:15. Phew. Made it.
Oh, and that rain from yesterday? We got more rain in twelve hours than we usually get in a month. It was called a “major rain event.” So at least I wasn’t just being a baby about it.
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I thought for sure that the weather vortex would truly only deliver rain “showers” on Saturday and not the deluge they were predicted. I envisioned a summer rain, warm and gentle-the kind of rain that is enjoyable to run in, almost refreshing. Boy, was I wrong!
Since I was sure that I would be running on Saturday morning, I ate my weight in pasta, drank copious amounts of water and made plans with my running partners as well as my coach-on-a-bike (hubby). To my dismay, at 3:00 a.m. I woke to the sound of pouring rain. Pounding rain. Sheets of it. And thunder. And lightening. I thought to myself “It will pass before my run…it will lighten up. It has to.” For the next four hours, the dogs made sure I was aware of the storm outside and I got little sleep. Each time I woke up and heard the rain, I would start to fret about what to do. Do I run for three hours in the rain? Is that even safe? Or am I being a wimp? Will my running partners curse my name if I cancel on them?
Finally, at 7:45 a.m., I made the dreaded phone calls and cancelled the run. Poor April-Anne was already on her way to my house and didn’t get my message! I felt just plain awful about the whole thing. Guilty. And let down. I had spent so much mental energy gearing myself up for the big monster run that has been looming on my schedule for months now. I just wanted to run it so I could prove to myself that it wasn’t that scary.
And now I would have to wait another day. And eat more carbs. As it was, I looked like I was auditioning for the part of Mrs. Pillsbury Doughboy – all white and bloated.
To make matters worse, none of my partners/coaches were going to be able to join me on the rescheduled run. And because of a commitment I had made, I wouldn’t be able to start my run until the afternoon (when I really prefer morning for the long ones). Sigh. At least the weather would be better – sunny, 60’s (F) and breezy.
So this afternoon, I headed out on my own to tackle the 20-mile monster. I did 2 ten-mile out-and-back routes, using my house as my “refueling” station in the middle. The first ten miles went by fairly quickly and I felt strong and comfortable. Clocked in at 1:32:27. Grabbed a new bottle of Gatorade, ate most of a CLIF bar and headed back out. By mile twelve, I was starting to get bored. I tried singing Don McLean’s American Pie in my head. I wrote this blog. I made mental notes to check up on those of you that had races this weekend. I tried to forget about the urge to pee.
Mile 14-16 were on top of a dam that sits alongside a reservoir. This is usually a decent place to run – flat, nice view, people out walking…but with the wind speeds ranging from 14-20 mph, it was a tough place to be today, without anything to block the breeze. I could feel my body being pushed sideways…and I definitely slowed down as I was being pushed backwards. Happy to have long sleeves on too!
Then the knee started to hurt. I told myself if I could just get back onto the road with the rolling hills, I would be fine. And you know what? It worked. I grit my teeth for the better part of two miles, but the pain went away once I was working up and down the hills.
Somewhere during mile 17, I felt my brain start to feel a little “fuzzy.” I’d never experienced this before, so I quickly took some PowerGel and immediately felt better.
Once I hit the 18-mile mark, I knew I would finish. My legs were feeling tired but I was still able to pick up the pace knowing that I was almost done. As I came up along side my mailbox, I stopped my watch at 3:10:15. Phew. Made it.
Oh, and that rain from yesterday? We got more rain in twelve hours than we usually get in a month. It was called a “major rain event.” So at least I wasn’t just being a baby about it.
Friday, September 17, 2004
Blogaholics Anonymous
Hi. My name is Dianna and I’m a running-blogaholic.
It’s been less than 24 hours since my last post. And it’s been about three minutes since I last checked bloglines for new posts on other blogs.
If you are new to the running-blogs, consider yourself warned. It’s addictive.
When I’m out running, I think about posting. I write posts in my head, repeating the clever lines over and over again…the clever ones are few and far between so I work hard to retain those. I also think about the comments that others have left on my site or good posts I’ve read and I use those to aid my mental toughness ( or just for sheer entertainment). Then I start to feel guilty about not leaving enough comments on other blog pages. So then I start writing clever comments in my head and repeat those for a while.
I spend time mulling over the different challenges that the RBF members are facing: injuries, races, new running milestones. I fret about what I can do to help. I think about the success stories I read, which always make me smile. And there’s always some random quip or comment that pops into my head and makes me laugh.
I email my blog-friends. I send them instant messages. I can hardly stop reading or writing or checking for new mail and new posts. I’ve had to set up a reward system for myself to try to control how often I check the blogs. It’s not working. It’s makes me downright dizzy at times. More so than usual.
Maybe I should pull myself away from the computer and go out for a run to clear my head. Oh wait…that’s what got me into this mess in the first place! There must be a 12-step (step - get it?!) program out there somewhere that can save me!
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It’s been less than 24 hours since my last post. And it’s been about three minutes since I last checked bloglines for new posts on other blogs.
If you are new to the running-blogs, consider yourself warned. It’s addictive.
When I’m out running, I think about posting. I write posts in my head, repeating the clever lines over and over again…the clever ones are few and far between so I work hard to retain those. I also think about the comments that others have left on my site or good posts I’ve read and I use those to aid my mental toughness ( or just for sheer entertainment). Then I start to feel guilty about not leaving enough comments on other blog pages. So then I start writing clever comments in my head and repeat those for a while.
I spend time mulling over the different challenges that the RBF members are facing: injuries, races, new running milestones. I fret about what I can do to help. I think about the success stories I read, which always make me smile. And there’s always some random quip or comment that pops into my head and makes me laugh.
I email my blog-friends. I send them instant messages. I can hardly stop reading or writing or checking for new mail and new posts. I’ve had to set up a reward system for myself to try to control how often I check the blogs. It’s not working. It’s makes me downright dizzy at times. More so than usual.
Maybe I should pull myself away from the computer and go out for a run to clear my head. Oh wait…that’s what got me into this mess in the first place! There must be a 12-step (step - get it?!) program out there somewhere that can save me!
Thursday, September 16, 2004
I Heart the RBF!
So the marathon is four weeks away...ok...three weeks away now....but I want to take a minute to thank everyone for the following:
1) Encouragement
2) Advice
3) Pats-on-the-back and ego-stoking
4) Friendship
5) And $150.00 (US) from the RBF to my marathon charity
I continue to be overwhelmed and amazed at this unique running community. In you, I find inspiration, motivation and strength. I'm proud to be part of this "tribe."
I heart the RBF. Please accept a cyber hug from me.
Running News:
Tuesday night, April and I hit a new trail in our favorite park. It's a tough trail, more technical and perfect for mountain biking. Lots of inclines and the path gets pretty narrow in spots. It runs right along the bank of the lake, affording some great views. During the last mile or so, a coyote crossed our path which was just amazing. He'd been hanging out in an open field and just zipped right in front of us, dashing into the woods. Funny thing was I didn't even notice him until he moved. Never even saw him in the field.
Another interesting experience of note: we came out of the woods at one point up onto the road for about a quarter mile or more...and boy did it feel EASY to be running on the road. A true testament to the workout that we're getting out on the trails.
We did about 5.5 miles or so, in 50:35 (not measured at all...so really no idea). It was a great night!
Last night was a ten-miler, as this is my "peak" week for mileage before the slow, sweet taper. Hubby rode his bike along side of me out on the rail trail near our house. We decided that I shouldn't run on that particular surface any longer...it was like running on the beach, through rocky sand and my feet were sliding all over the place. My knee was very agitated from all the lateral movement! So it looks like I'll be sticking to the roads for the 20-miler on Saturday...in the rain, as the remnants of Ivan sweep through.
Non-Running News:
My friend John, the Marine in Iraq....HE'S HOME!! He's home for about five months and then will most likely head back. But we'll take what we can get, right? I'm just thrilled that he returned home to his family safe and sound!
Keep 'em moving, one foot in front of the other, people!
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1) Encouragement
2) Advice
3) Pats-on-the-back and ego-stoking
4) Friendship
5) And $150.00 (US) from the RBF to my marathon charity
I continue to be overwhelmed and amazed at this unique running community. In you, I find inspiration, motivation and strength. I'm proud to be part of this "tribe."
I heart the RBF. Please accept a cyber hug from me.
Running News:
Tuesday night, April and I hit a new trail in our favorite park. It's a tough trail, more technical and perfect for mountain biking. Lots of inclines and the path gets pretty narrow in spots. It runs right along the bank of the lake, affording some great views. During the last mile or so, a coyote crossed our path which was just amazing. He'd been hanging out in an open field and just zipped right in front of us, dashing into the woods. Funny thing was I didn't even notice him until he moved. Never even saw him in the field.
Another interesting experience of note: we came out of the woods at one point up onto the road for about a quarter mile or more...and boy did it feel EASY to be running on the road. A true testament to the workout that we're getting out on the trails.
We did about 5.5 miles or so, in 50:35 (not measured at all...so really no idea). It was a great night!
Last night was a ten-miler, as this is my "peak" week for mileage before the slow, sweet taper. Hubby rode his bike along side of me out on the rail trail near our house. We decided that I shouldn't run on that particular surface any longer...it was like running on the beach, through rocky sand and my feet were sliding all over the place. My knee was very agitated from all the lateral movement! So it looks like I'll be sticking to the roads for the 20-miler on Saturday...in the rain, as the remnants of Ivan sweep through.
Non-Running News:
My friend John, the Marine in Iraq....HE'S HOME!! He's home for about five months and then will most likely head back. But we'll take what we can get, right? I'm just thrilled that he returned home to his family safe and sound!
Keep 'em moving, one foot in front of the other, people!
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
The Forgotten Six-Miler
When I got up on Sunday morning, I was excited for an easy day of “cross training.” My friend Tamieka was visiting for the day and we had promised the dogs that we would take them out for a big adventure. We took them out into the woods for about an hour, walking at a nice, easy pace. I was feeling tired from the 5K effort the day before, but it was such a nice day that I suggested an afternoon bike ride.
Later on, as I was writing up my race report post and tallying up my weekly mileage, it occurred to me that I still had a few more miles to fit in to make my weekly total. Crap. How the hell did that happen? How did I manage to forget that I was supposed to run!? Well, I could handle a bike ride AND running too, right?
The bike ride was out on the rail trail near my house, through sand, rocks and cinders under a vibrant green canopy of trees. We toodled along, enjoying the day and soaking up the sun. Originally, I had wanted to find the five mile mark on the trail but time was running out as I still had to run and shower before dinner with the ‘rents. We turned around at the four-mile mark and took a shortcut home, cruising into the driveway with 7.25 miles on the odometer (took about an hour total).
I quickly ran into the house, changed gear, ate 1/2 a CLIF bar and refilled my Gatorade bottle before charging back down the driveway for my run. Six miles was the plan. Although technically, I was scheduled for 7 - but ssshhhh...our little secret. Besides, I made a 7 into a 5 earlier in the week, so this was progress of some sort, right?
The knobby-kneed sticks filled with lead that I call my “legs” were struggling every step of the way. It took all the mental willpower I could muster to keep at it. I was just tuckered out. But I kept focused, somehow, on my six-mile goal. I ignored all the negotiating going on in my head: “Five miles is plenty;” “If you take too long, you’ll be late for dinner-better cut it short;” “How about four now and two on the treadmill later?”
I stayed the course, did the six and managed to keep a respectable pace. Go me.
And you would think I would have slept like a rock that night, right? Nope. Couldn’t fall asleep and when I finally did, my bladder woke me up THREE TIMES. Sigh.
ONWARD to a fun-filled night, running 5.50 miles with the “girls” in the woods.
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Later on, as I was writing up my race report post and tallying up my weekly mileage, it occurred to me that I still had a few more miles to fit in to make my weekly total. Crap. How the hell did that happen? How did I manage to forget that I was supposed to run!? Well, I could handle a bike ride AND running too, right?
The bike ride was out on the rail trail near my house, through sand, rocks and cinders under a vibrant green canopy of trees. We toodled along, enjoying the day and soaking up the sun. Originally, I had wanted to find the five mile mark on the trail but time was running out as I still had to run and shower before dinner with the ‘rents. We turned around at the four-mile mark and took a shortcut home, cruising into the driveway with 7.25 miles on the odometer (took about an hour total).
I quickly ran into the house, changed gear, ate 1/2 a CLIF bar and refilled my Gatorade bottle before charging back down the driveway for my run. Six miles was the plan. Although technically, I was scheduled for 7 - but ssshhhh...our little secret. Besides, I made a 7 into a 5 earlier in the week, so this was progress of some sort, right?
The knobby-kneed sticks filled with lead that I call my “legs” were struggling every step of the way. It took all the mental willpower I could muster to keep at it. I was just tuckered out. But I kept focused, somehow, on my six-mile goal. I ignored all the negotiating going on in my head: “Five miles is plenty;” “If you take too long, you’ll be late for dinner-better cut it short;” “How about four now and two on the treadmill later?”
I stayed the course, did the six and managed to keep a respectable pace. Go me.
And you would think I would have slept like a rock that night, right? Nope. Couldn’t fall asleep and when I finally did, my bladder woke me up THREE TIMES. Sigh.
ONWARD to a fun-filled night, running 5.50 miles with the “girls” in the woods.
Sunday, September 12, 2004
Yet Another Race Report
Goshen Congregational Church 5K
April-Anne really described this race well in her post. It was so small-town America, all it needed was some apple pie to make it complete.
Not only was the little church out in the middle of nowhere, but there were unpaved roads as part of the race course. As we were lining up at the start, a half mile from the church and down a dirt road, I had to chuckle at the green spray painted start line in the dirt. The race director came cruising by us in a John Deere tractor thing with her baby all sacked out in a backpack next to her. The whole scene was hilarious.
We giggled like crazy when she told us that the sounding of the church bell would mark the sound of the race. How quaint and fitting!
The weather was perfect...it was a great day to be out running! Sunny, 61 degrees (F) and DRY.
The hills sucked. Of course. But this time, I had driven the course beforehand so I knew what to expect. Even the race application said that the finish line was at the top of the hill at the church. They weren't kidding...it was easily the steepest hill I've run up so far and it was about .10 miles long (the 3-mile mark was at the bottom of the hill). I could hear April-Anne yelling "Go Dianna!!" and all I could do was wave to her above my head. There was no way to get in that final kick on this hill...it was all I could do to pull myself up it.
I could see Dena, my arch-nemesis, ahead of me the whole time. And even though I picked up the pace during the last mile (before the last hill) she still managed to beat me by 40 seconds. Grrr. So now she's FOUR POINTS ahead of me in the points series. But at least I'm still in second place!
Speaking of second place, that was also where I placed in my age division, coming in at 23:42 and setting another PR. Who cares that there were only 51 people total registered in the race!?
I got a chance to chat with quite a few of the other runners there and really feel like I'm starting to become part of the "running community" in my area. One runner mentioned that running on flat surfaces really bothers her calves and when I started thinking about it, I realized that my knee problems may stem from running on flat surfaces (tight calves can affect knees). So now I'm thinking that my 20-miler may be a mix of road and rail trail. So I gained some valuable knowledge as well as made new runner-friends!
And to make this race even more quaint...the prizes that were awarded were cute little tea pot/tea cup things. I can't even stand the cuteness.
Weekly Summary
Mon: 12.4/1:45:13
Tue: REST
Wed: 4 ish - untimed
Thu: Rest
Fri: 5.0/46:53
Sat: 3.1/23:42 (did about .50 mile warmup too)
Sun: Walked 1 hour; biked 7.25 miles; Ran 6.0/54:27
Total: 30.5 miles
Last Week's Summary
Mon: Rest
Tues:9.0/1:23:56
Wed: 5.50/49.26 - Biked 9.51
Thu:Rest
Fri: 18.4/2:48:53
Sat: Rest
Sun: Rest
Total: 32.90 miles
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April-Anne really described this race well in her post. It was so small-town America, all it needed was some apple pie to make it complete.
Not only was the little church out in the middle of nowhere, but there were unpaved roads as part of the race course. As we were lining up at the start, a half mile from the church and down a dirt road, I had to chuckle at the green spray painted start line in the dirt. The race director came cruising by us in a John Deere tractor thing with her baby all sacked out in a backpack next to her. The whole scene was hilarious.
We giggled like crazy when she told us that the sounding of the church bell would mark the sound of the race. How quaint and fitting!
The weather was perfect...it was a great day to be out running! Sunny, 61 degrees (F) and DRY.
The hills sucked. Of course. But this time, I had driven the course beforehand so I knew what to expect. Even the race application said that the finish line was at the top of the hill at the church. They weren't kidding...it was easily the steepest hill I've run up so far and it was about .10 miles long (the 3-mile mark was at the bottom of the hill). I could hear April-Anne yelling "Go Dianna!!" and all I could do was wave to her above my head. There was no way to get in that final kick on this hill...it was all I could do to pull myself up it.
I could see Dena, my arch-nemesis, ahead of me the whole time. And even though I picked up the pace during the last mile (before the last hill) she still managed to beat me by 40 seconds. Grrr. So now she's FOUR POINTS ahead of me in the points series. But at least I'm still in second place!
Speaking of second place, that was also where I placed in my age division, coming in at 23:42 and setting another PR. Who cares that there were only 51 people total registered in the race!?
I got a chance to chat with quite a few of the other runners there and really feel like I'm starting to become part of the "running community" in my area. One runner mentioned that running on flat surfaces really bothers her calves and when I started thinking about it, I realized that my knee problems may stem from running on flat surfaces (tight calves can affect knees). So now I'm thinking that my 20-miler may be a mix of road and rail trail. So I gained some valuable knowledge as well as made new runner-friends!
And to make this race even more quaint...the prizes that were awarded were cute little tea pot/tea cup things. I can't even stand the cuteness.
Weekly Summary
Mon: 12.4/1:45:13
Tue: REST
Wed: 4 ish - untimed
Thu: Rest
Fri: 5.0/46:53
Sat: 3.1/23:42 (did about .50 mile warmup too)
Sun: Walked 1 hour; biked 7.25 miles; Ran 6.0/54:27
Total: 30.5 miles
Last Week's Summary
Mon: Rest
Tues:9.0/1:23:56
Wed: 5.50/49.26 - Biked 9.51
Thu:Rest
Fri: 18.4/2:48:53
Sat: Rest
Sun: Rest
Total: 32.90 miles
Friday, September 10, 2004
Stankified
When I first starting reading the running blogs, I used to get quite a chuckle out of Annalisa’s use of the word “stankified” to describe the odor of her post-run running apparel.
Until today.
There’s no chuckling today…just horror and disgust.
As I was getting dressed in the dark this morning, it occurred to me that I would need to wear the dorky, reflective vest. I dug it out and as soon as I pulled it over my head…damn. Almost knocked myself out with the odor. At first, I was confused. What had happened to my vest? I’d only worn it once…had some teenage boy stuffed it into his gym locker when I wasn’t looking? After he had worn it to football practice in 90-degree weather, six days in a row?
I had no choice but to wear it. It seemed that being stinky was better than being dead.
So off I went, into the dark, smelling like an old gym sock left out in the sun. Within the first quarter mile, I heard a dog barking at me, but I could not see where his was…I came to a screaming halt and quickly found the owner at the end of the dog’s leash. Phew.
Out onto the main road and under a dark canopy of trees…I always get nervous here since there’s really no road-shoulder to speak of. Sure enough, a truck came right for me and I stopped dead in my tracks, ready to jump over the guardrail to save my life. The truck swerved out of the way at the last minute. Double phew.
In the next quarter mile, Mr. Mean German Shepard came charging across his yard, barking madly to remind me who was the boss in his neighborhood. Again, the running gods smiled upon me as I was safely positioned on the opposite side of the street. Triple phew.
Jeesh…all this before the first mile marker. What the hell?!
Actually, the rest of the 5-mile run was uneventful. I had originally thought I’d do 7 miles either yesterday or today, but to be quite honest, I am TIRED. My legs feel like I have bricks strapped to them this week! I knew that the 20K on Monday would be challenging, but I was hoping to bounce back a little faster. Such the optimist.
I’ve got yet another 5K race tomorrow..damn that stupid Points Series and my arch-nemesis…I don’t think I’ll be beating her tomorrow. But she was also at the 20K (yes, she beat me there too…sigh) so I am hoping that she’s just as tired as me!
For this week, I’m just taking the miles as they come and not expecting too much. Next week, I hit the peak of my training with my 20-miler and then the taper starts (OH MY GOD!). Less than a month to go!
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Until today.
There’s no chuckling today…just horror and disgust.
As I was getting dressed in the dark this morning, it occurred to me that I would need to wear the dorky, reflective vest. I dug it out and as soon as I pulled it over my head…damn. Almost knocked myself out with the odor. At first, I was confused. What had happened to my vest? I’d only worn it once…had some teenage boy stuffed it into his gym locker when I wasn’t looking? After he had worn it to football practice in 90-degree weather, six days in a row?
I had no choice but to wear it. It seemed that being stinky was better than being dead.
So off I went, into the dark, smelling like an old gym sock left out in the sun. Within the first quarter mile, I heard a dog barking at me, but I could not see where his was…I came to a screaming halt and quickly found the owner at the end of the dog’s leash. Phew.
Out onto the main road and under a dark canopy of trees…I always get nervous here since there’s really no road-shoulder to speak of. Sure enough, a truck came right for me and I stopped dead in my tracks, ready to jump over the guardrail to save my life. The truck swerved out of the way at the last minute. Double phew.
In the next quarter mile, Mr. Mean German Shepard came charging across his yard, barking madly to remind me who was the boss in his neighborhood. Again, the running gods smiled upon me as I was safely positioned on the opposite side of the street. Triple phew.
Jeesh…all this before the first mile marker. What the hell?!
Actually, the rest of the 5-mile run was uneventful. I had originally thought I’d do 7 miles either yesterday or today, but to be quite honest, I am TIRED. My legs feel like I have bricks strapped to them this week! I knew that the 20K on Monday would be challenging, but I was hoping to bounce back a little faster. Such the optimist.
I’ve got yet another 5K race tomorrow..damn that stupid Points Series and my arch-nemesis…I don’t think I’ll be beating her tomorrow. But she was also at the 20K (yes, she beat me there too…sigh) so I am hoping that she’s just as tired as me!
For this week, I’m just taking the miles as they come and not expecting too much. Next week, I hit the peak of my training with my 20-miler and then the taper starts (OH MY GOD!). Less than a month to go!
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Un-Measured and Un-Timed
April-Anne and I met for an easy, post-race run last night. I had originally planned to take two full rest days after Monday's race, but I felt so good, I figured "Why not?"
We met at the trail where we usually run, and set off into the warm, muggy forest. The remnants of Hurricane Frances were (and still are) plaguing us with dark clouds, rain and warm temps plus an occassional thunderstorm. We were lucky enough to avoid any scary weather while we were out there, and there weren't as many puddles as I anticipated. The slippery-factor was moderate and if anything, forced us to go slow.
There was one solitary bunny rabbit who was in the same exact spot on the way out and then again on the way back. Not sure what he was up to, but his little white tail made me smile both times!
Right around the one-mile mark, I turned to April-Anne and said "We shouldn't have even started our watches." She replied quickly, saying "Well, I'm just going to turn mine off now then." And she did. I followed suit. Totally took the pressure off of us to run at a certain pace, finish in a certain time.
And the route we did wasn't a well measured route. It was somewhere around 4 miles. We did a 3.60 mile route for sure, and then added on some more. So who knows?
It didn't matter. The run was all about stretching out the legs, talking about the race and chatting about this and that. Nice and easy. Just like we planned.
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We met at the trail where we usually run, and set off into the warm, muggy forest. The remnants of Hurricane Frances were (and still are) plaguing us with dark clouds, rain and warm temps plus an occassional thunderstorm. We were lucky enough to avoid any scary weather while we were out there, and there weren't as many puddles as I anticipated. The slippery-factor was moderate and if anything, forced us to go slow.
There was one solitary bunny rabbit who was in the same exact spot on the way out and then again on the way back. Not sure what he was up to, but his little white tail made me smile both times!
Right around the one-mile mark, I turned to April-Anne and said "We shouldn't have even started our watches." She replied quickly, saying "Well, I'm just going to turn mine off now then." And she did. I followed suit. Totally took the pressure off of us to run at a certain pace, finish in a certain time.
And the route we did wasn't a well measured route. It was somewhere around 4 miles. We did a 3.60 mile route for sure, and then added on some more. So who knows?
It didn't matter. The run was all about stretching out the legs, talking about the race and chatting about this and that. Nice and easy. Just like we planned.
Monday, September 06, 2004
Five Stars
The past two days definitely rank up there for the best ever.
Annalisa and I were finally able to meet in person after months of emails, IMs and blog-reading. She's even cooler and nicer and funnier in person than she is on her blog...if that's even possible!
She arrived at my house Sunday afternoon and we headed down to New Haven to pick up our race packets and check out the expo. Then we got lost in the behemoth that is IKEA and re-fueled afterwards at a fun little coffee shop in New Haven.
Next, we were off to check into the Hotel de Steve-n-Andrea. Two of my bestest buddies live about ten minutes from the start line of the race and they were kind enough to let me impose myself, and Annalisa, upon them AGAIN this year (they hosted me last year too). Steve made fresh pasta, fresh sauce and meatballs for us for dinner. Nothing like homemade carb-loading goodness the night before a big race. We also chowed on warm, crunchy bread and salad. And three hours later, I ate a bowl of oatmeal too. Take that, Dr. Atkins!
Annalisa and I were like two little kids at a sleepover, talking and giggling when we should have sleeping. There were cars, motorcycles and fireworks screaming by the window, so serious shut-eye didn't happen right away. Not to mention the middle-of-the-night trips to the bathroom. We got enough sleep to make do, and the race-day butterflies had us both out of bed bright eyed and ready to go!
The New Haven Green was utter chaos with people everywhere. There were over 5,000 runners total for all three races - 5K, 20K and the kid's fun run. We managed to find April-Anne and Michelle, hit the port-a-potties one last time and went off to our respective race start lines. I was disappointed that I wouldn't be able to cheer Annalisa on to her finish line, but I kept my fingers crossed and wished her good luck.
It took about a minute or so to get over the start line and the first mile was typically slow and frustrating as we jockeyed for position and tried to find an opening in the crowd. By mile two, we were starting to get into a rhythm and everything felt good. The weather was fabulous - sunny skies, cool and breezy with the air warming up slightly but not too much. A gorgeous day to be out for a run.
Around mile 2.5 or so, I saw a guy come up on my left and he asked me a question about where I work...I was so excited because it was my race-day friend from last year!! He and I had run the entire race together last year and had a fabulous time. And here he was again...wearing an orange bandana to match my orange hat! He ran the rest of the race with us and we actually used him as a pacer since we had slowed down a little more than we intended to.
The race flew by...we were chatting and singing and pointing out water spots and mile markers. OK...I was the only one singing, I admit it but how could I not sing along to Bon Jovi? I smiled so much while I was out there, it just felt great. I was so excited to be with April-Anne for her first distance race and she hadn't run more than 9 miles in training so I was pumped to watch her keep her pace strong the entire time. I was just bursting with pride for her! As we got closer to the end, I kept turning to her and shouting "YOU'RE GONNA FINISH APRIL!" And she would just smile and laugh at me.
My quads were getting a little tight near the end and my knee was a little sore, but I had so much fuel left in the tanks that I couldn't help but sprint at the end. And I really sprinted - just opened up the stride and started passing people like crazy. It felt wonderful! I heard a guy say "Nice kick!" and that just made me smile again.
I hit the finish line at 1:45:13 according the the official chip-time results. That's an 8:36 pace. I was on cloud nine and turned around just in time to see April-Anne come in right behind me. There were all sorts of people at the finish line to greet us - my parents, my friends Tamieka and Joquese, and Annalisa (I'll let her tell you about her race).
After finding Michelle and her clan and drinking a frosty cold beer on an empty stomach, we headed back to Steve-n-Andrea's for lunch. The rest of the day was spent hanging out with friends, eating lots of New Haven style brick oven pizza and feeling fat, bloated and happy.
I give the two-day experience 5 stars out of 5.
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Annalisa and I were finally able to meet in person after months of emails, IMs and blog-reading. She's even cooler and nicer and funnier in person than she is on her blog...if that's even possible!
She arrived at my house Sunday afternoon and we headed down to New Haven to pick up our race packets and check out the expo. Then we got lost in the behemoth that is IKEA and re-fueled afterwards at a fun little coffee shop in New Haven.
Next, we were off to check into the Hotel de Steve-n-Andrea. Two of my bestest buddies live about ten minutes from the start line of the race and they were kind enough to let me impose myself, and Annalisa, upon them AGAIN this year (they hosted me last year too). Steve made fresh pasta, fresh sauce and meatballs for us for dinner. Nothing like homemade carb-loading goodness the night before a big race. We also chowed on warm, crunchy bread and salad. And three hours later, I ate a bowl of oatmeal too. Take that, Dr. Atkins!
Annalisa and I were like two little kids at a sleepover, talking and giggling when we should have sleeping. There were cars, motorcycles and fireworks screaming by the window, so serious shut-eye didn't happen right away. Not to mention the middle-of-the-night trips to the bathroom. We got enough sleep to make do, and the race-day butterflies had us both out of bed bright eyed and ready to go!
The New Haven Green was utter chaos with people everywhere. There were over 5,000 runners total for all three races - 5K, 20K and the kid's fun run. We managed to find April-Anne and Michelle, hit the port-a-potties one last time and went off to our respective race start lines. I was disappointed that I wouldn't be able to cheer Annalisa on to her finish line, but I kept my fingers crossed and wished her good luck.
It took about a minute or so to get over the start line and the first mile was typically slow and frustrating as we jockeyed for position and tried to find an opening in the crowd. By mile two, we were starting to get into a rhythm and everything felt good. The weather was fabulous - sunny skies, cool and breezy with the air warming up slightly but not too much. A gorgeous day to be out for a run.
Around mile 2.5 or so, I saw a guy come up on my left and he asked me a question about where I work...I was so excited because it was my race-day friend from last year!! He and I had run the entire race together last year and had a fabulous time. And here he was again...wearing an orange bandana to match my orange hat! He ran the rest of the race with us and we actually used him as a pacer since we had slowed down a little more than we intended to.
The race flew by...we were chatting and singing and pointing out water spots and mile markers. OK...I was the only one singing, I admit it but how could I not sing along to Bon Jovi? I smiled so much while I was out there, it just felt great. I was so excited to be with April-Anne for her first distance race and she hadn't run more than 9 miles in training so I was pumped to watch her keep her pace strong the entire time. I was just bursting with pride for her! As we got closer to the end, I kept turning to her and shouting "YOU'RE GONNA FINISH APRIL!" And she would just smile and laugh at me.
My quads were getting a little tight near the end and my knee was a little sore, but I had so much fuel left in the tanks that I couldn't help but sprint at the end. And I really sprinted - just opened up the stride and started passing people like crazy. It felt wonderful! I heard a guy say "Nice kick!" and that just made me smile again.
I hit the finish line at 1:45:13 according the the official chip-time results. That's an 8:36 pace. I was on cloud nine and turned around just in time to see April-Anne come in right behind me. There were all sorts of people at the finish line to greet us - my parents, my friends Tamieka and Joquese, and Annalisa (I'll let her tell you about her race).
After finding Michelle and her clan and drinking a frosty cold beer on an empty stomach, we headed back to Steve-n-Andrea's for lunch. The rest of the day was spent hanging out with friends, eating lots of New Haven style brick oven pizza and feeling fat, bloated and happy.
I give the two-day experience 5 stars out of 5.
Saturday, September 04, 2004
18.4 Miles
I took Friday (yesterday) off from work just so I could run my 18-miler and still have 1) a whole weekend left and 2) two days to rest up for the 20K race on Monday.
My husband surprised me by taking Friday off too, with the intention of riding his shiny new bicycle along side of me while I ran. As an added bonus, Michelle joined me for the first 9.2 miles.
We all met bright and early at 8:00 a.m. at the rail trail. The weather was just perfect. It was 52 degrees and dry, dry, dry! I started the run with a long sleeved shirt-what a welcome change! The shirt came off within the first three miles, but I didn't regret wearing it at all.
I felt great during the first nine miles...strong, energized, good form, good pace. I wasn't hungry. I wasn't too hot. I didn't have to pee that bad. My knee was feeling a little, tiny bit weird but nothing out of the ordinary or unusual. I was enjoying chatting with Michelle and yelling things to Jason as he passed by us.
After I dropped Michelle off at her car and headed out for the next 9.2, things did not go as smoothly as I had hoped. I stopped once for a pee-break, not because I really had to; mostly because I thought it would just get annoying if I didn't go.
When I reached the turn around point, my knee was complaining more than it had in a long time. I stopped to stretch it out and kept going. At that point, I had logged about 14 miles and I wasn't about to stop so close to the end. I kept reminding myself that it wasn't a sharp pain, just a dull, tight ache and I could work through it. My knee was just angry for being asked to run more miles than usual.
I ate a PowerGel at this point, thinking that the extra energy might help me keep the pace up and keep my mind focused. I wasn't feeling hungry though...so that was a good thing. I haven't been eating on the long runs since I haven't needed the fuel, but I know I should eat once in a while to help hold off The Wall on marathon day.
The last three miles were hard but not impossible. Looking back, if Jason hadn't been there, I'm not sure I would have been able to finish the run without walking. He was great, riding along side of me, making me laugh and smile...singing cadence for me and acting like a drill sergeant. I stopped to stretch a couple of times and he held the bike steady so I could use it to hold on to. My knee was just not behaving.
It's not terrible. It's manageable and I've been here before and survived. My pace was slow for a while, but I picked up the pace and did the last full mile in 9:04. Then I pushed thru the final .35 with the only kick I had left and was just glad to be done and taking off my shoes! Total time 2:48:53 for 18.4 miles (I stopped my watch for the stop-and-stretches).
I'm really baffled as to why it has started to hurt again after so many weeks without any problems. Nothing was different...same drugs, same brace, same supplements, same sneakers, same socks. I even stopped by Fleet Feet today to make sure I'm wearing the right sneakers and they told me I was in just the right shoe. The increase in mileage seems like a likely culprit but it's been in the 10%-increase range, so who knows. I did discover a slight ingrown toenail problem...maybe that made me run a little different?
For now, I'm icing the knee, taking more drugs and getting leg massages. I'm hoping it feels better tomorrow, and even better on race day. I'm going to the race for "fun" anyways so I wasn't looking to break any PRs or win and medals. At this point, I just want to be able to run with my friends and make it to the finish in one piece.
I'll keep you posted!
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My husband surprised me by taking Friday off too, with the intention of riding his shiny new bicycle along side of me while I ran. As an added bonus, Michelle joined me for the first 9.2 miles.
We all met bright and early at 8:00 a.m. at the rail trail. The weather was just perfect. It was 52 degrees and dry, dry, dry! I started the run with a long sleeved shirt-what a welcome change! The shirt came off within the first three miles, but I didn't regret wearing it at all.
I felt great during the first nine miles...strong, energized, good form, good pace. I wasn't hungry. I wasn't too hot. I didn't have to pee that bad. My knee was feeling a little, tiny bit weird but nothing out of the ordinary or unusual. I was enjoying chatting with Michelle and yelling things to Jason as he passed by us.
After I dropped Michelle off at her car and headed out for the next 9.2, things did not go as smoothly as I had hoped. I stopped once for a pee-break, not because I really had to; mostly because I thought it would just get annoying if I didn't go.
When I reached the turn around point, my knee was complaining more than it had in a long time. I stopped to stretch it out and kept going. At that point, I had logged about 14 miles and I wasn't about to stop so close to the end. I kept reminding myself that it wasn't a sharp pain, just a dull, tight ache and I could work through it. My knee was just angry for being asked to run more miles than usual.
I ate a PowerGel at this point, thinking that the extra energy might help me keep the pace up and keep my mind focused. I wasn't feeling hungry though...so that was a good thing. I haven't been eating on the long runs since I haven't needed the fuel, but I know I should eat once in a while to help hold off The Wall on marathon day.
The last three miles were hard but not impossible. Looking back, if Jason hadn't been there, I'm not sure I would have been able to finish the run without walking. He was great, riding along side of me, making me laugh and smile...singing cadence for me and acting like a drill sergeant. I stopped to stretch a couple of times and he held the bike steady so I could use it to hold on to. My knee was just not behaving.
It's not terrible. It's manageable and I've been here before and survived. My pace was slow for a while, but I picked up the pace and did the last full mile in 9:04. Then I pushed thru the final .35 with the only kick I had left and was just glad to be done and taking off my shoes! Total time 2:48:53 for 18.4 miles (I stopped my watch for the stop-and-stretches).
I'm really baffled as to why it has started to hurt again after so many weeks without any problems. Nothing was different...same drugs, same brace, same supplements, same sneakers, same socks. I even stopped by Fleet Feet today to make sure I'm wearing the right sneakers and they told me I was in just the right shoe. The increase in mileage seems like a likely culprit but it's been in the 10%-increase range, so who knows. I did discover a slight ingrown toenail problem...maybe that made me run a little different?
For now, I'm icing the knee, taking more drugs and getting leg massages. I'm hoping it feels better tomorrow, and even better on race day. I'm going to the race for "fun" anyways so I wasn't looking to break any PRs or win and medals. At this point, I just want to be able to run with my friends and make it to the finish in one piece.
I'll keep you posted!
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Two Days, Run-Bike-Run
I'm still here! Blogger has been uncooperative lately and I'm too impatient to wait around while it decides if it wants to work or not.
But I've been running.
Yesterday's 9-miler was, in a word, damp. I wish I could regale you with stories of a gentle rain falling as I pushed off the pavement for an hour and twenty-something minutes. But alas, the dampness I refer to came in two forms, both unpleasant. Humidity. Sweat. And not in that order, as they occurred simultaneously and lasted for the entire run.
I could have wrung out my sports top when I got home and filled up a quarter cup with liquid. And nine hours later, when I got home from work...yeah, it was still moist. Yuuucckk.
Outside of the pervading dampness, the run went well. I had to wear my fashion-for-running-dorks reflective vest since it was STILL DARK OUT when I left the house. Still. Dark. Roosters were just beginning to crow when I left the house. Seriously, roosters. I swear.
I was shocked and amazed when I passed another runner when I was out there...and then quickly disappointed when he didn't even bother to make eye contact with me, let alone wave or give me a cheery "Hello!" Sigh. Oh well.
More amazing to me was how good I felt after the run and for the rest of the day. So good, in fact, that I decided to go for a bike ride when I got home from work. The weather had completely cooled down and dried up which made perfect outdoor-activity conditions. And the hubby joined me on a borrowed bike. This is the same hubby who went rolling blading with me (running) about six months ago...and that was the last time he exercised.
We did 9.5 miles on a stone-dust rail trail. I didn't even break a sweat and hubby almost puked when we were done. Not making that up...he was really ready to lose lunch. All I could do was shake my head at him. Then we waited for a parental-unit to arrive with our car key, since ours was conveniently locked INSIDE the car. I think Lara jinxed me somehow.
And to my utter disbelief, hubby went out and bought himself a bike today. Encouraging news! There's hope for his health yet!
Today's run was a "quick" 5.5 miles with "the girls" (April-Anne and Michelle). It felt a little slow but our time was better than last week's stitch-fest, so I was happy about that outcome. I was NOT happy about the dog poop I stepped in, but statistically speaking I was probably due for such an incident. Nothing soap and water can't fix.
ONWARD to the 18-miler on Friday!
And if you kids play nice this week, I'll post a mini-race report about the New Haven Road Race from LAST year before the weekend.
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But I've been running.
Yesterday's 9-miler was, in a word, damp. I wish I could regale you with stories of a gentle rain falling as I pushed off the pavement for an hour and twenty-something minutes. But alas, the dampness I refer to came in two forms, both unpleasant. Humidity. Sweat. And not in that order, as they occurred simultaneously and lasted for the entire run.
I could have wrung out my sports top when I got home and filled up a quarter cup with liquid. And nine hours later, when I got home from work...yeah, it was still moist. Yuuucckk.
Outside of the pervading dampness, the run went well. I had to wear my fashion-for-running-dorks reflective vest since it was STILL DARK OUT when I left the house. Still. Dark. Roosters were just beginning to crow when I left the house. Seriously, roosters. I swear.
I was shocked and amazed when I passed another runner when I was out there...and then quickly disappointed when he didn't even bother to make eye contact with me, let alone wave or give me a cheery "Hello!" Sigh. Oh well.
More amazing to me was how good I felt after the run and for the rest of the day. So good, in fact, that I decided to go for a bike ride when I got home from work. The weather had completely cooled down and dried up which made perfect outdoor-activity conditions. And the hubby joined me on a borrowed bike. This is the same hubby who went rolling blading with me (running) about six months ago...and that was the last time he exercised.
We did 9.5 miles on a stone-dust rail trail. I didn't even break a sweat and hubby almost puked when we were done. Not making that up...he was really ready to lose lunch. All I could do was shake my head at him. Then we waited for a parental-unit to arrive with our car key, since ours was conveniently locked INSIDE the car. I think Lara jinxed me somehow.
And to my utter disbelief, hubby went out and bought himself a bike today. Encouraging news! There's hope for his health yet!
Today's run was a "quick" 5.5 miles with "the girls" (April-Anne and Michelle). It felt a little slow but our time was better than last week's stitch-fest, so I was happy about that outcome. I was NOT happy about the dog poop I stepped in, but statistically speaking I was probably due for such an incident. Nothing soap and water can't fix.
ONWARD to the 18-miler on Friday!
And if you kids play nice this week, I'll post a mini-race report about the New Haven Road Race from LAST year before the weekend.
