Not last!

Race finished....not last....mission accomplished! The 10-miler was more and less than I expected. There were many more participants than I had envisioned. Starting a race with more than a thousand people was something I had never experienced before. It was humid, it was hard, but I did it. I finished in 2 hours, 2 minutes and some change.

I met my goal of keeping my own pace in the beginning of the race and I managed to not get caught up in the excitement of running with others faster than my pace. As it turns out, my beginning pace was the pace (about 12 minute miles) I maintained throughout the remainder of the race. I was not fast by any stretch of the imagination. I had hoped to finish in under 2 hours --but now that's my goal for next year's race.

I expected to have to pull out all my reserves in the last 2 miles of the race but unexpectedly I struggled between miles 1 and 3 as well. In training, I enjoy getting into a groove on longer runs and getting lost in thought, however, this is hard to accomplish when there are so many other people around and bands playing loud music every few miles or so. (I like my own MP3 selections.)

The spectators and volunteers were great! There were more groups than I could count. I saw quite a few familiar faces and for once I was not concerned with what I looked like as I passed by them.(frazzled, exhausted, red-faced and sweating like a pig) One of my coworkers, who is a perpetual cheerleader in life, was on the sidelines encouraging me onward both times that I passed her on Rivermont Avenue. The students in front of Randy Mac were awesome. One group formed a line and high-fived me as I passed by-I needed that at the 6 mile mark!

My favorite encourager by far was my 6 year old son. He stood just inside the barricades, a few yards before the finish line. Before crossing the finish line, I went over and high-fived him....I wanted him to run with me across the finish line but I wasn't sure if that was against the rules.

I had victory in finishing and reaching my goals. (Also, I had victory in the last 1/4 mile as a gentleman, who I surmise was in his 70s, started to pass me and I gathered every bit of strength I had left to "sprint" and keep ahead of him--my husband referred to this man as my "Octogenarian nemesis." My husband blogged about the 10-miler from his point of view. I could not have gotten this far without my husband's support and encouragement--he is truly my greatest cheerleader!

My legs felt like lead for the rest of the Saturday and Sunday. They were sore when I ran a short 3 miles this morning....but the addiction continues.

My goals for next year's 10-miler:
1. Finish in under 2 hours
2. Train for heat and humidity
3. Lose 30 lbs

My goals for the next 6 months:
1. Work on mile times to work towards 9 minute miles
2. Do more speed work
3. Run in some 5Ks to work towards goal #1

No rain delay - running in the rain

When I heard that the remnants of hurricane Hannah would bring us rain, I saw it as an opportunity to try my first run in the rain. Although this was my first "rain run" it was not my first foul weather run. When I was in Boone this past Christmas, I enjoyed a 2 mile run on the Blue Ridge Parkway in the sleet and snow.

I ran the 10 miler course again today with the temperature in the mid 60s and a nice, steady rain. The first 4 miles were not bad at all, although I warmed up more slowly because normally I am warmed up 1 mile into a run and today it took 2 miles. I added only a visor to my regular running attire. I did make sure to wear my smartwool socks, knowing that wool wears better than cotton when wet. (I learned that lesson backpacking in downpours in the back country in Denali Park.) I also applied vaseline to known and predicted friction spots.

Things I learned today:
1) My rain soaked shorts "grew" longer after 5 miles.

2) My inner upper arm is a friction spot --I will remember next time as pain creates change.

3) I prefer running in the rain to any running on days with temps over 70 degrees.

4) Trying to avoid puddles is not worth the extra effort especially after 5 miles.

5) Running in the rain requires less water than hot days but more nutrition. Although I drank 2 liters of fluid (1 propel & 1 water) after finishing, I was jonesing for food after 6 miles.

6) I missed my MP3 player, but it was not as bad as I thought.

7) Running with a partner is a good practice in rain or shine.

8) I ran slower in the rain.

9) It is best not to run until there is at least some daylight.

9) I can do this!

withdrawal

I have not run on the road in 4 days and I am going through withdrawal. My dh was out of town for these days and as a result I have not been able to run. I took the kids to the Y several days so I could run on the treadmill on Thursday and take a spinning class on Saturday. I missed getting to the Y on Friday b/c of work and sitter arrangements. I HATE running on the treadmill as it is long and tedious and I guess b/c of my plodding running style it is awkward and hard on my feet. I did speed work but it seemed to take forever--the treadmill is soooooo boring.

The spinning class was interesting. I have taken cycle express classes (30 minutes) before but this was a 75 minute class. I liked the workout but the next day my backside felt bruised from the horribly uncomfortable seat. It is hard to have a 3 day weekend and not be able to get in a long run. Oh I am so addicted to running, I feel sluggish when I do not run.

I also wish I had more time to get in other workouts. I want to get back into strength training/weightlifting. I used to do this when I was younger. Maybe it is time to add some equipment here at home.

My amazing husband!!!

I have always known what a brilliant and incredible man, friend, husband, father, creative talent and soul my husband is and here is further confirmation from a friend of his who blogged about their recent trip to Indy.

Scott's blog entry about Andy

Will it always feel this way?

This week I managed to get in a little over 24 miles. This is the longest I have run in a week so far. The first long run was 9.39(a weird number, but just how the route worked out) on Tuesday. I felt like I could run a mile or two longer but I did not have time to do that and still get to work on time. My pace was 12 minute miles. I did make one mistake in that I ventured off my regular route in order to add miles and so I had just mapped out the extra online but did not know what it really looked like. I turned a corner onto one of these new streets and was faced with a steep long hill. I had wanted to make this a flat, long run. Oh well, I finished it. I ran a shorter run in the middle of the week, but it seemed longer due to the higher temp and humidity. At the 4 mile mark, I knew I did not want to run any further than I had planned.

Today, I met my friend to run the entire 10-miler course. It already felt warmer than I prefer at about 71 degrees. When I ran a portion of this course 2 weeks ago, I felt great about it. Today, I was already feeling strain at about 3 miles into the run. I am so glad that I have run the entire course before my first try at the 10 miler because I was not prepared for the hill in the part, just before the 5 mile line. I finished in 2 hrs, 4+ minutes with three water break stops.

Also, I discovered some hot spots to take care for on my feet. I certainly do not want blisters. I am also experimenting with different undergarments to deal with a chaffing problem. My friend tells me Vaseline is my best bet. I guess I will feel like a greased pig before each race and long run.

Whenever I stretch into my new longer runs, I am wiped out for the rest of the day. I am ravenously hungry and I feel like I could sleep for hours in midday. I try to eat healthy choices with good protein, fruits and veggies. Also, I try to have long runs on days when I can catch a nap and not have to do any long stints of sitting. I am wondering will it always be this way when I run after all long runs?

Running withdrawal

When I looked at the date of my last entry, I did not realize how long it had been since I "blogged." I have been just trying to keep up with work.(I started back last week-already behind!)

Already, I am a bit behind on my runs too. I don't like to go 2 days in a row without running. My hubbie was out of town working at GenCon for 5 days. My mother-in-law came came in town to help through Saturday, but since then I have not been able to get in a run since the 5K race on Saturday. (running withdrawal) In running this 5K, I improved my time (to 30:47)to break just under 10 minute miles -a PB for me. I was expecting better since earlier this week I ran 3 miles in under 29 minutes. I guess I do differently when competing. My friend, who I have run part of the 10-miler course with, did very well as she won the masters' award (She is coming back from a bad injury which has taken over a year to recover from.) I had a 3 goals for this race: 1) better my time 2) test out nutrition and prepping routines and 3) beat another female runner I know. I accomplished all 3.

My plan is to have a nice, long run tomorrow (8.5-10 miles). Since it is registration day at school with afternoon & evening hours, I can take lots of time to run in the AM. I plan to get in a couple of easier runs mid-week and then run the 10-miler course Saturday with my friend.

Dragging, training, and soreness with YIKES less than 8 weeks to go!!!!

I slept in a bit this morning ('til 5:45 instead of 5:15 AM). However, I did not feel like running, I felt like crawling back into bed. I donned my running atire and then laid on the couch for a minute trying to convince myself to run. After dragging myself off of the couch, I drove to my usual running spot. My feet and right knee are a bit achy.

Today I ran speed sprints which were not easy. Actually the speed work was not bad, it was the recovery that seemed long and hard. Overall, I was more sore today from running speed sprints during my 5 miles than when I ran the slower 8 mile long run a few days ago. Tomorrow morning's run will be short because I am meeting a friend early Saturday morning to run 8 miles of the 10-miler course. She is an avid runner of 30 years whose PBs include mile paces in the 7 minute range. It makes me nervous to run with her. Add to that, I am nervous about running the hilly Langhorne Rd. section of the 10-miler and it makes me anxious just thinking about it. Oh well, I have got to attack these hills sometime...might as well be now.

I haven't figured out how to work in training and running time in the warm weather once I go back to school. I don't think I will have time in the mornings to run long runs while still having time to get ready for work and drop my son off. I am getting 2 longer runs in each week and they usually take me 1.5-2 hours each. I either have to run really early (before 5 AM) or run in the evening after dinner or the boys bedtime. I don't know if I am up for long runs in the afternoon heat, but the thought of running after dinner doesn't seem like a good choice either.