I think I CAN!

Today I did 13 miles at the crack of dawn with some friends.  It was 34 degrees and boy is that COLD to me.  I had 15 on the todo list but got tired of being numb (underdressed today).  I 've got 10 on the books tomorrow so I'll do 12 instead. At least my weekend total mileage will be 25 as I had once planned.

Thank goodness for daylight savings change...I've got some built in room for the extra mileage before church tomorrow.

I hope you folks had good runs this weekend as well.

Mental note:  It is easier to run long first thing in the morning than very last thing at night.  So after church, house cleaning, sitting on a board meeting of our running club, making dinner, cleaning up dinner, baths, and bed time I hit the road.  Talk about being tired.  Sheesh. 

On the positive side, the weather has gone back to luke warm so the run wasn't canceled or cut short by the cold. Whew.

I don't know what happened but the weather was 61 degrees at 8:00 PM and I had the pleasure of running in shorts again.  I ran harder today in a training run since I don't know when.  I was dreading going out  the door..it's dark...so I decided not to go my normal route to break up the routine.  I put on my playlist that I use on 5K/10K races (faster than other playlist) and I was off.  I didn't take my garmin but I do know the mileage of my neighborhood so I think 7 miles give or take a quarter mile is about accurate.

Have you ever felt like everything "clicked".  That is what this run felt like.  I'm sure I was only 10:30 min miles but I felt like I was on fire and I was closing in on a Kenyan.  (I did mention before that I've got a great imagination).

This wonderful run came to a quick end about a half mile to my house.  My left calf muscle started hurting.  Not a really bad pain but enough for me to call it quits.  It feels like a muscle has been pulled and it's been a week into recovery....which is to say it's sore and tender to the touch but on a scale of 1 to 10 it is only a 3.5 pain.  My race is less than 3 weeks away so of course I'm a little anxious but I'm sure it's nothing.  I came home and iced it with a bag of frozen mixed veggies.  I'm actually  writing this on Tues and it's still a bit sore.  I'm hoping it will be feeling better soon.

Most importantly, I would like it to feel better by tomorrow (Wed).  I think I've mentioned my trainier Melissa (AKA Jose Bag) has really worked me hard.  Tomorrow it is turn around time....I take her out on a trail for a 3-4 mile run at a comfortable hard pace for her.  It's hard to see the HUGE smile on my face as I type this.  I'm going to love every swear she throws at me as we run up small mountain sides.  (insert evil laugh here).  Don't you just love friends?

Melissa and I hit the bike trail for a gorgeous run. This trail is on the property of manufacture that makes stems for bike tires. The owner of the company built an incredible bike trail behind the plant and lets the public enjoy running/mountain biking on the trails. The trail is challenging and technical at times. It makes for a very nice change of scenery. What I like about this trail is the fact the trail builders made a point to find every hill and then zigzagged the trail so you could hit the same hill a couple or more times. Good training!

Since Melissa has been slacking in her training we kept a conservative pace and took walk breaks when needed. I love running with this woman. Her sense of humor and great personality makes for such an enjoyable run. She has her first half marathon this weekend so we decided to do the short loop rather than the long one. I've actually not done the long loop so I'm looking forward to that.

Well, it’s taper time.  I’ve got more time on my hands then I know what to do with.  I’ll be doing a short long run on Saturday and then driving over to do a quick 5K.  The majority of our local running group is out of town for a marathon.  Per the 5K race director there are only 55 folks pre-registered.  Sweet!  Perhaps I can come home with some hardware.  I wonder how many 35-39 y/o females I’ll have to trip to secure that 3^rd place trophy. Ha!

I met up with the Galloway group down here and was able to do 6 miles with company before driving 40 min to a 5K race.  I was so stoked to find out earlier that there was not going  to be many folks so the possibility of bringing home hardware was actually there. 

I had also talked a woman (non-runner) into joining me for the race.  The entire ride up there I was torned between trying to actually earn an award or trying to ensure my friend had a good first race. 

So, in a nutshell, I almost had a PW (personal worst) but made a great memory this weekend. My friend had such a good time that she has agreeded to run another race with me in December.  Bonus.

I hope you folks had a great weekend as well.

I took Melissa back out on the trail. I've got to take a moment to brag on my little friend....she ran her fist half marathon last weekend!  Great job girl!

So I frequently remind myself that when running on a trail you've got to pick up your feet else eat dirt.  Next, if you are going to eat dirt, just fall.  Trying to save yourself just makes it hurt worse when you go down.  As we were running I found the most insignificant root and started going down.  As I tried really hard NOT to actually fall I decided to flail my arms about and move my legs every which way. I think I looked about as graceful as an exotic bird doing some type of absurd mating ritual.  Ouch.  That one hurt my pride...and knee, and hip. Sigh. 

I've missed my Sunday and Tues runs due to my work deadline.  I've been working until 11PM each night trying to finish up a document by Friday.  I wonder if my boss is aware that he is messing with my training schedule.  Thank goodness it is taper time else I'd be up a creek.  Well, if taking time off makes for a more rested body then I'm going to smoke this race.

Happy running friends!!

Today I participated in the Dirty Dasuet Duathalon....well the running portion.  My partner was to do the bike portion but decided to join me on my run (to keep me moving faster) and then do the ride.  Not so oddly enough, I found myself sweeping the course.  Oddly enough I found myself saying all kinds of negative things about how badly I stunk at running and I should reconsider what I'm doing...blah blah blah.  Isn't it weird how we can be our own worst enemy?  Anyway, I finally finished up the 5 miles and my partner (who ran ahead) was already suited up with bike shoes, gloves, and bike helmet.  I passed on the baton to her and I finally took a moment to catch my breath.  I looked down at my time and noticed that it was actually one of my better runs - 10:45 min mile on a muddy trail.  I have to remember to measure my running self using my own yard stick and not someone else’s.  I don't run sub 10 min miles and shouldn't feel so put out about being so far behind those that are running 7-9 min miles.  I drove home ecstatic of participating in the race and my respectable (for me) completion time.

On a different note, I met Amanda (don’t remember her last name) who is on the board of directors for the Breast Cancer Marathon (26.2 with Donna).  Besides the fact she was an amazing lady and very interesting to talk to she was telling me that they will have a virtual marathon for this race.  (Say what?)  Because the goal of the race is to raise $ for breast cancer they are going to have virtual participants.  You pay the money, you run (with a garmin), you send them your garmin data.  In return you get the shirt and finisher’s medal.  I know what you are thinking….why would you want to pay the $ and NOT get the marathon (or half marathon) experience.  Well, it does suck NOT get the marathon experience but it does keep my marathon maniacs stats where I want them.  I might be slow…but dang it I can run frequently and for a long time.  Hopefully there will be some bragging rights there…or so I tell myself.

Happy running friends!

Maniac #710

OK, I've got to say with all that time off last week this run felt GREAT!  The weather is back down to 38 degrees (it was 70's last week) so of course I overdressed .... again.  I'll get it right one of these days.

I did a quick 5 miles around my neighborhood before work.  Since I normally run in the evenings after the kids are in bed it was such a different experience running in the daylight hours..... dogs are barking (and chasing).... construction workers are offering their cheers (of encouragement I'm sure).  I might have to try this again sometime.

Work is still busy but I really can't blame my boss.  He's been putting in twice the hours I do and gets thrice the grief I'm sure.  So Jon, sorry for the comment in an earlier post.  You are really not too bad for a kid that finally hit 30 this year.

As for the 50 mile race preparations....I think I've got it all arranged.  I've come to the conclusion that running marathons is much easier.  You show up, bring some gu and a water bottle and go.  This time around I've got 3 goody bags packed; one for each crew spot.  Each bag contains clothes (new socks/shoes/shirt)  and food I might need at that point in the race. I'm making them cue cards on what to tell me....you're this much ahead/behind or the cut off time...You've got to make it to the next place in # miles in #:## to stay in the race.  I really hope/pray my crew is able to find the meeting spots before I get there.  Lucky for them, I'll be giving them plenty of time. :)  

I've got one more run (Wed) before my race.  I'll be out of town Friday-Monday so I'll post on the race Monday night or Tues AM.

In case I forget to post after Wed run, thanks everyone for the positive encouragement.  It has really meant a lot to me.

Happy running friends!

Hello folks! I did a very easy 4.5 miles to day with my friend Melissa (Jose Bag). We decided to hit the road instead of the trail as I had a huge fear of tripping over a twig again and becoming injured. Of course I had to laugh at the irony when I was almost flattened by a UPS truck.

 I was in the wave that started early at 5 AM in the morning.  The temps were a bone chilling 19 degrees.  Fortunately, the weather did heat up to a snowman sweating high of 37 degrees by the afternoon.  Thank you Carolyn in CO for sharing how you layer up in this cold weather.  I wore nearly everything you described and was just right for the entire race.

I had e-met a very nice woman through a mutual friend and we had decided to do the appalachian trail (AT) section of the race together.  This made up the first 15 miles of the race.  Most of this leg was either up hill, very rocky, or both. It’d be a safe we hiked about 75% of this.  I saw the most beautiful sunrise while we were on top of the mountain while doing the AT.  I wish I would have had a camera phone so I could have taken that picture to share with this report.

At mile 15 we came down and off of the AT and met our crews for the second time.  I’m going to take a moment and say my crew was absolutely amazing.  They had my shoes waiting for me to change into and a drink of some yummy Acceleraid for me to drink.  (BTW, the drink in my camel back had frozen in the drinking tube so I went about 6 miles without a drink). 

The next 26 miles were on the C&O canal tow path.  Most people hate this part as they think its sooooo boring.  From my perspective it was anything but boring.  I loved every mile of this section.  The path was decorated with incredible birch trees with their bright white bark and the river was always to the left of us providing such nice scenery. 

I picked up my first handler Susan at mile 27.  Thank Goodness!  The scenery was brilliant but my own company is dull.  It was so nice to have someone to talk to.  She kept me well distracted with corny jokes about the lone ranger and tonto, she told me stories about anything and everything.  The next thing you know it was mile 38 and time to switch handlers.  My next handler, Maria, was just as wonderful.  We traded corny jokes (of course I stole Susan’s jokes and passed them on as my own) and Maria would start singing songs from 80’s.  I joined in with my squawking goose of a singing voice and **poof** we are off the tow path and back onto pavement heading to the finish line.

OK, I’ve got to say I HATED this section of the race.  It’s cold, my camel back has frozen up again and after 42 miles of progression there are what was described as rolling hills.  OK, rolling hills?  My tushie!  I was reduced to a walk the last 6 miles or so.  I was so ticked off about this that my walk became a super sonic speed walk.  (I didn’t know that I had that in me).  About ¼ mile from the finish line the rest of my crew Charlie and Susan were waiting for me.  Seeing them there was actually more emotional for me than crossing the finish line.  We ran in together and I finished in 13:29:53.

I’ve read that you learn a lot about yourself on races like this.  I guess it is true.  I learned how incredibly lucky/fortunate/blessed I am to have so many wonderful people in my life.  I might have been the one that crossed the finish line but there were so many people that helped make it possible.  The first big thanks of course goes to God who gave me the strength and ability to go the distance.  Another big thank you to my friends, co-workers, and folks I’ve never met except on the internet who have consistently given me such positive feedback during my training. A special thanks to the ladies who ran the race with me to ensure I didn’t slow down too much and miss the cut offs.  A very big thank you to my very good friend Charlie (who often gets mentioned in this blog as Elvis) who was my crew chief during the race and made sure my ladies were where they were suppose to be when I arrived at each meeting spot.  More than that however, it was Elvis that first believed that I could do a 50 miler….even before I did.  One final thanks goes to my hubby who doesn’t understand why I want to run 50 miles but has still given up every Saturday morning to watch the kids so I can do my long runs.

The picture below is me and "the crew".  Susan, Maria, me, and Charlie.

Bartram Forest Winter Trail Run Marathon and 50K

http://wintertrailrun.net/

If you ever find yourself in Middle GA the Sat after Thanksgiving let me suggest this incredibly wonderful race. I ran this race last year but volunteered this year. I'd like to say I was being smart and resting my legs from last weeks run but the truth is that the rain almost never let up and the aid station had a pavilion. The race itself is a 5.25 trail loop that always circles back to the main aid station. (This station also had an indoor heated bathroom...nice touch).

Ignoring the fact this is a very pretty run through Bartram Forest park the selling point for this race is the incredible amounts of food. You name it, it was there: fudge, white fudge, chocolate/nutty/caramel chewy things, pretzels, PB&J, hot Grill Cheese sandwiches (cooked by me), chicken noodle soup, potato chips, beanz, gu, and that only begins to describe a portion of the food.

This was my first ultra I ever ran. I've never been to such a low key, low pressure, high encouragement race like this before or since. There is no time limit on this race...did I mention low pressure? There was a record high level of participation this year (about 60 people). I forgot to mention, the finisher awards are gingerbread men. Sweet!

I met the RD to the South Carolina Ultra Trail Runs. She puts on a similar race - low pressure, high encouragement, no time limit ultra runs as well. I'm looking forward to participating in her races next year. http://www.ultrasontrails.com/ .