Outsmarting the heat..............................

Last week I was able to fit my runs into the early morning hours and avoid the heat, and over the weekend it was wonderfully cool.

Yesterday with the humidity it felt close to a hundred degrees. It was so very tempting to listen to the weather man and, "not go outside unless you absolutely had to." The little devil in me kept saying it was okay to skip the run, and the good girl didn't have much enthusiasm when it came to rebuttals.

What I did to combat it was call (my) Mister and ask him to rearrange his schedule and work late so he could go in late this morning and I could run before he left. Of course he worked this out because he loves to make my life easier. By doing this it really committed me to doing the run in the heat last night and getting out this morning.

Now, with another ten miles (five each day) under my shoes I am glad that I didn't listen to my inner devil. Bottom line is the only person I am cheating by not putting in the training miles is me. Will a missed run here or there cause me to not finish the marathon? Probably not. I know that there may come a time when I really do need to miss a run, for any number of reasons, and am not planning on being totally rigid to the training schedule if something really important comes up. I also know that the more I try and work things out to limit the number of missed runs the better I am going to feel about myself for sticking with the training even when life tries to get in the way.

The October marathon is one race, on one day, and yet it is much more than just that. Each step of that marathon is really going to be a culmination of all I have gone through since that very step of the commitment to walk on the treadmill fifteen minutes a day five days a week close to three years ago. My (oldest) daughter expressed my thoughts perfectly the other day when she shared with me that "she really wanted the training to be hard because that would not only make the accomplishment that much better when she crossed the finish line, but that the harder the training the more it would help her cope with future hard times."

Just like everything in life the more I put into training for the marathon the more I am going to get out of it, both in terms of enjoyment of the actual race, and more importantly in what I learn about myself and those around me that are taking this journey with me. What a gift this is turning out to be!

One more long run behind me......................................

After dinner on Saturday I drove the distance of my ten mile route. One, to check the distance, and two, so I could drop off a bottle of Gatorade in the weeds around the five mile mark. Time to get serious about this training and part of that is to practice with different methods of hydrating. Gatorade makes sense as this is what they supply on race day.

When I returned from mapping out the distance I laid out everything I would need in the morning and packed my waist pack. Water, check. Raisins, check. Crackers, check (really yummy pumpernickel sticks with only 1.5 gm of fat and 1 gm of sugar per 15). Energy bar, check. HR monitor, check. XM portable, phone, sunglasses, check, check, and check! That is just the stuff I carried with me, I also got out all of my clothes etc... As I drifted off to sleep the last words to (my) Mister were , "Make sure the alarm is set for five AM!

Unbelievably I was ready to get up when the alarm went off, and having everything set out and ready helped me to be able to wake up slowly while dressing, instead of having to fight the fog of sleepiness as I try and remember everything I want to take with me.

I headed out the door about 5:25 the roads lit by the streetlights as the sun was nowhere in sight yet. My daughter had suggested I tape and listen to a show from NPR so I started that going as I reached the end of the driveway and settled into a nice slow warm-up jog. Before I knew it the show was ending and close to an hour had passed. How great is that? The problem...I had only covered around three miles in this time. That is like a 17 minute mile pace, and at that pace I would be kicked out of the race. I will listen to the show again, just not while I am running.

Switching to my race music I naturally picked up the pace and before long I had reached my little bottle of Gatorade sitting right where I had left it on the side of the road. It was almost like meeting a little friend. I had planned to take a potty break at this time as well, but one of my favorite tempo songs was playing and I was too lazy to stop the music so I forgot about the potty break and made it to the corner (mile marker # 6) in record speed.

Somewhere around mile 7 I started thinking about my coming week. I still have two extra residents making it impossible for me to do my runs in the morning. I started playing with the notion of doing my Monday run at the tail-end of this ten mile one. I figured it would be a nice work-out and as a bonus it would give me an extra day off to rest and help out my schedule. A win-win all around. Because I had ran so slow I really had all kinds of energy helped along by all the food and drink I was consuming along the way. It was kind of like a party for one.

I made it home (the end of the ten miles) around two and a half hours after I had left, used the bathroom and headed back out for the final three miles. Just after rounding the corner from my house I saw two "chicks" walking pretty far ahead of me. This got me to pick up my pace and I paced them just prior to mile eleven. Knowing they were behind me kept me moving and when I turned back (at 1.5 of the 3 mile loop) and came back towards them a short distance from completing mile twelve I requested applause and they happily obliged me some!

I still felt strong and refreshed as I closed in on mile thirteen, though I will admit to some aches and pains in my legs and feet. I REALLY need those new shoes! As I was finishing that last mile I kept laughing at myself. Who but a crazy fool would get up at 5AM... on a Sunday morning... to run a half-marathon... JUST FOR FUN??? Which took me three hours and fifteen minutes by the way.

This got me to thinking of what I used to do for fun. Everything had to do either with food or with activities done with sitting. Not that I don't partake in those things still, but my adding this activity I have become a more well rounded person.

I am already looking forward to next week's long run. I love the idea of seeing what I have in me, how far I can go, what I can accomplish. If I am feeling this good about myself at this mileage just imagine how big my head will be when I am doing twenty miles at a time!

Tweaking my training......................

Yesterday was to be another five mile day. Because of scheduling and other projects I was not sure how I was going to fit this into my day. I ended up running three miles on my treadmill and then going for a six mile bike ride to make up the other two miles. I kept my feet pushing hard on the pedals when in motion and could feel a nice burning in my thighs by the time I reached home so I think I got a nice workout.

The funny thing is this morning I feel really refreshed and have a hankering to go for a really long run. This might be because I got more rest last night, or maybe because I was just reading some first marathon stories. More likely that not it is because today is only a three mile day and knowing I don't have to run very far has made me cocky with the possibilities of what I might be able to do.

To date the longest I have ran is around three hours. To complete the marathon will definitely take me longer than that, and I can't wait to see just what this ole body is capable of, knowing that as soon as I finish the marathon (okay, maybe as soon as I recover from having finished the marathon) I will be looking for my next challenge. After all, one can only brag so long about their past accomplishments, and we all know I live to brag!

Sucks to be (yesterday)......................................

Normally it is no big deal, but this month I am having the period from Hell! Yesterday was suppose to be a five mile track workout, in other words a speed work out. No way was that going to happen.

As it was, every step I took caused a knife like pain to cut across my lower abdomen while at the same time it felt as if my entire insides were going to fall out. I was thrilled that I was able to complete the five mile distance even if my movements were more along the lines of a tortoise than Speed Racer. Maybe speed will happen next week.

When I finished the five miles, I walked the rest of the way home munching on a sports bar (that I got in one of the goody bags from a recent race) for dinner, cleaned up, and went to bed with a heating pad on my belly. Thank goodness I have the world's greatest, most supportive husband that was willing to do all the OP care so I could go to bed early. I would not be able to keep up the increase training pace without his assistance.

I am feeling better today, and have another five miles scheduled for later this afternoon. Hopefully it will be a bit more enjoyable than the last five miles was. A girl can hope!

I am amazed.........................

Before my three mile run this morning I found an old pair of running shoes in the back of the closet to replace the ones that have died. As unbelievable as it might sound I was not bothered by the shin pain that I had on my last two runs. I could feel that the area was still a bit sensitive from the prior runs, but there was NO PAIN! It is too bad I didn't listen to my body after the first day. Then I would not have run nine miles with the problem. Will I never learn? If you are having problems with pain that you can't figure out go to a running store and have them check out your shoes.

The really great part of a short run after a long run is that it feels as if you aren't doing anything, and it is over before you even get tired. A really fab reason for adding short runs to your training. Not only do they help with long run recovers, they are a great mental burst as you feel really strong and powerful at the end of them (as compared to how you felt at the end of the run the day prior). Try it and you will see what I mean.

Five plus four equals nine...........................

Took me about two hours to complete my nine mile run. I did this on purpose figuring if I am going to end up running for five hours I need to stretch out my time as well as my mileage. And to be honest, it feels lots better to run slow than it does to run fast. I know lots of people feel differently and wood rather have teeth pulled than run a 14/15 minute mile, but I am not there (at least not) yet.

Earlier in the week, the plan had been to find a new nine mile route, but since that didn't happen I decided to run my four mile route and then do my five mile route. It worked out great from a mental perspective because I felt the same things I normally feel on these routes (okay, almost time to turn around...half done...right after this corner and I've made it) rather than focusing on the whole nine miles.

I really, really need new shoes. I can tell this because I am getting some pain in my shin and knees some distance into my runs. As soon as I get new shoes these pains will go away. It is just going to be a long two weeks until the semi-annual sidewalk sale the running store has. A little pain is very much worth the hundred bucks I will save (I buy two pair at a time so I can rotate them to make them last longer.)

I am feeling like a nap right about now, but I am going to be a good wife and stay awake for father's day. Right now (my) Mister and youngest are out on a father's day bike ride for a little bonding. We have a cook-out planned for later today. In fact the cake I am making is probably done by now (I have headphones on so I don't have to listen to the Catholic Mass on television right now). Better go get it out. Have a great day.

What a difference a couple of days make........................

It was truly amazing how much better I felt when I headed out for my scheduled four mile run today as compared to how I felt last Wednesday. It was a really good decision to take that extra day off both mentally and physically as not only did I have more energy, but I felt mentally excited to be running instead of dreading each step.

My legs were tired when I got home so I know I have not fully recovered from the trail race as of yet. Tomorrow I am scheduled to do my long run for the week, nine miles. Note to self: Find time today to do some really good stretching or your a$$ is going to ache like crazy during the last several miles tomorrow.

Pluggin away, just barley....................

My schedule for this week has been 3M, 5M, and today 5M. I have completed them, but beyond covering the actual distance I can't claim that much training has occurred.

Today my back hurt so darn much I walked most of the run. At one point I had to stop and bend over with my hands on my lower back to stop it from spasming. As I stood back up and started running again the high school track coach passed me. Talk about being vain! He is a legend in our town (with a very distinguishable vehicle) and whenever I spot him I try hard to act like a real runner. I'm surprised today he didn't pull over to make sure I didn't need 911!

I know my back hurts because my hamstrings are tight from the trail race, but I have had so many things to do that I have not had much time to stretch like I should so this is totally my fault. There is always tomorrow I guess.

Tomorrow is only a three mile day and then Friday is my day of rest. I can hardly wait!!!

Tales of the trail race........................................

Before I begin sharing race details I will fill you in on a few basics of the race.

The race is a distance of approximately seventy-eight miles through a very beautiful, very hilly forest. We camp at the end of the race and get up before the sun to drive to the beginning of the race well before the six AM start time. The race is limited to fifty teams, each having six runners and two drivers/navigators. The legs vary in distance and difficulty but each runner MUST complete a minimum of ten miles. The race is ran as a relay, as one runner completes a leg, they "tag" the next runner (or in our case pass off the bracelet) and off they go. There are a total of fifteen legs, and handicaps are given based on gender and age (and though I know they are the standard handicaps I can't explain it further because I wasn't listening when someone explained it to me beyond knowing I was good for the team because I am old).

We got word the Monday prior to the race that one of our teammates had to drop out and so after a mad scurry she was replaced. Throughout Friday all the teammates and drivers made their way to camp with the last three of us arriving just in time to head to bed around 9:30 PM. After driving for three hours and then trying to relax and sleep I will just say I ended up only getting about two, two and a half hours of actual sleep. That is why God invented coffee I guess.

My first leg was a distance of 7.3 miles and was one that I had done last year. Once one is on the trail, the way one keeps from getting lost is to keep track of the blue (painted) spots or diamonds on the trees. Unfortunately, due to going north rather than south when driving from the previous leg, our new teammate arrived at my starting point SIX FULL MINUTES before I got there! This is totally and completely amazing because his 7.1 mile leg was one steep hill up and down after another for a minimum of five miles and he ran these at a 7 minute per mile pace! OMG!!!!!

Shortly after I took off I was passed by two women that appeared to be running together. Over the next twenty minutes or so I was passed again and again until I was sure I had been passed by at least twenty teams. In one area, the path is a bit wider than your foot with a complete drop off on your left and tree after tree on your right. I moved over to let someone pass and had it not been for a well timed arrival of a smallish tree I had gone over the Cliff. Instead I was able to grab the branch and hang on long enough to let the runner pass me and then jump back onto the path. Talk about a rush!

Just as I reached the place on the trial where I had nearly gotten lost last year another runner passed me and kept going. As I was about to tell him he needed to head up the mountain I caught on that they had built in a sort of long winding stairway that you were suppose to run back and forth on instead of clawing your way straight up as I had done the previous year only to NOT SEE THE DAMN BLUE SPOTS to slide down, still not see them and claw my way back to the top TIMES THREE! MUCH, MUCH easier this year now that I know the secret!

About fifty minutes into my run I started getting passes again. "How odd," I thought, until I recognized the first two women that had passed me at the start of the race. Apparently many people got lost on that leg this year!

I finished my leg really strong in 1:23 and am thrilled with this as my goal was to do the 7.3 in under an hour and a half. I cut more than fifteen minutes off my last year's time. How cool is that?

Five legs later it was my turn again. This was a short distance of just over four miles. It also happen to be the leg that my oldest got lost on last year. Again this year the trail for this leg had been modified from it's original route, so I pinned the trail directions onto the front of my shirt and off I went, water bottle in hand.

The first part of the leg passed quickly as I sailed passed blue diamond after blue diamond. The course was pretty flat so I was on pace to make my goal of forty something minutes. The directions read, "at 1.6 miles you will cross a two track road, and then at 1.8 you will come to a second two track road at which time you will leave the trail and travel down this road for .2 and then need to stay to the right, travel an additional .something at which time you will meet up with the original trail and travel the remaining 1.4 miles to the end". Or something along those lines...

First let me say that around my home I have distances marked out so I know about how far I am running. I do NOT have these distances marked out into tenths of miles. I also have not yet learned to gauge how far I have run by the time (though I am getting better at this) as my times vary depending on how I am feeling. To make a long story short I wasn't for sure how much time should pass to reach 1.6 and then how much longer to get to 1.8.

At around fifteen minutes, a guy passed me and when I said, "Okay. You are my incentive to run fast enough to keep up with you so I don't get lost." He yelled back, "We will be turning left in just a couple of minutes." Of course I lost sight of him, but in just a few minutes I came to the second two track and turned left. In the next five or so minutes the road split off and I headed right per the directions. About five minutes later here comes the guy that had passed me, HEADING TOWARDS ME, and not towards the finish line.

For the next forty or so minutes he and I ran up and down that stretch of two track road and every little distance would go off about .2 to try and see if we could pick up the trail. We were smart enough to know not to wander too far into the woods to keep from getting turned around and really lost.

At one point he said, "Well, let's go back to that first place you went and see if we can get around the water that was there. Since he ran faster than I did, he would take off and I would follow until he decided to turn back and then I would meet up with him. When I caught up with him after we took the water hole path he said to me, "Did you find a faster way around the water?" My reply, 'Nope! I just went through it." After a not very well disguised look of "Lady you're nuts." he headed (the long way around) back to the two track (I went through the water again...call it energy conservation), and we decided it was time to go back to where we had turned left and see what we had missed.

As it turns out, we were to follow the trail another .2 and then we found the REAL two track road (apparently the first two track was not really a two track????) and from there the rest of the run was a piece of cake. The guy I ran with was nice enough that when he found out we were heading in the right direction ran back a ways to be sure I knew this, and that I was doing okay before taking off for the finish line. That was so nice of him, and I know he probably lost a little time keeping me with him when we were lost and then when he made sure I was on track. A prime example of true sportsmanship.

A few minutes after I lost sight of him, unbelievably, I was passed again! I was sure all the other teams had already finished. This guy ask how I was doing as he was passing me, and I quipped, "Fine! The only problem is my shoe is untied, but since I can't bend over (my pirirformis were so tight I was sure if I bent over I would cramp and then be stuck in that position) I am just going to run with it like that." He stopped, turned around and came back to me saying, "Would you like me to tie it for you," and proceeded to do just that! Double knot to boot! With a smile and wave he was off promising to let my team know I was not too far behind him. Can't get more nice than that now can ya?

After several minutes I was no longer lost, having been "found" by both my oldest and youngest daughters. They had ran out from the finish line to bring me back. Having the two of them was just what I needed to keep me going and get to the hand off point.

About fifty yards from the finish I think I got that "hit the wall" feeling I have read about others having when they do long races. All at once every single cell in my legs hurt and I wasn't sure I would be able to keep putting one foot in front of the other for the remaining distance. I DID IT THOUGH! I made it to the end and handed off the bracelet to the next runner.

Last year, when my oldest had gotten lost on the same leg, she was VERY upset, believing that she had somehow let the team down. My attitude when I came out of the woods was, "If anyone is pissed at me for getting lost you are doing dishes for the rest of the weekend." Of course no one was pissed, just relieved that I was okay. They understood that I did not get lost on purpose, and that I had ran my heart out trying to find my way and get to the finish line. I ran for a total of 1:49 with maybe 3 to 5 minutes of walking during that time. If you include that running I did on the other legs to go out onto the trail and scout or bring a runner in I am being conservative in my estimate of running about eighteen miles total. That is a damn fine accomplishment, and leaves no doubt in my mind that I will be able to finish the marathon come October.

When I caught my breath I took off my wet shoes and was rewarded with not one, but two blisters (not to mention ten VERY sore toes). See...

We ended up finishing the race in:

And yes, that is thirteen hours! An amazing, amazing day! I am so lucky to have been able to take part in that!

After celebrating at the finish line for a while we headed back to camp and my youngest and I decided to go soak our legs in the river to help prevent next day soreness. It was very cold and very pleasant, once my legs got numb!

I can't wait for next years race!!!!!

Now that the "official" training has begun for the marathon, my journaling seems to have gone to hell hasn't it?

The big trail relay race is coming up this weekend and I have been getting ready to be gone from the business for two entire days. This means miles and miles of written instruction so the person I am leaving in charge doesn't have any questions while I am gone. Yes I have a cell phone, but I guess I am just from the era of before we all had phones and the habit is far too ingrained to give up.

My youngest and I did get in another trail run Tuesday past. I ran for about forty-five minutes and got a great work out. Last night we took a nice slow paced hour walk with the dogs, today and tomorrow I rest and get ready to run my little toenails off on all the hills and valleys I will be traveling.

Monday, I begin to follow the marathon training as outlined on the web site. I have even been able to find area races that tie in perfectly with the schedule as outlined. For a couple I will need to run a bit longer than the race distance (like I am doing a half marathon distance on an 18 mile day run so I will take off my chip after crossing the finish, grab a banana and go do an additional five miles) but signing up will help assure that I do those longer runs. It is easier to run with a crowd around you when you are talking hours instead of minute durations.

If I don't get back to blog until Monday next, rest assured that there WILL be running going on, and I will certainly be sharing the outcome of it all on this blog ASAP! Take care and ta, ta!

Sunburst; the sequel.......................

Yup, that is the inside of the Notra Dame stadium, and not a football player in site (or at least not any in uniform). One day out of every year the stadium gets taken over by runners as they party and celebrate on the football field. Below is the story of how I did. My oldest completed her run with a new PR, completing the six mile run in under fifty minutes. How cool is that?


The day dawned slightly over-cast and muggy. The two excited racers bound out of bed at six am ready to eat up the pavement and maybe a banana or two. Fortunately for the older runner, the younger one has many anal bones in her body so all race chips were tied into shoes,all bib numbers securely in place as they headed downtown to the starting line.

Of course, before conquering the start line, the older one had to conquer the potty lines. Not only was she successful, she was thrilled to discover her first ever porta-john with a sink! Complete with water, soap, AND paper towels. What will they think of next?

After the traditional National Anthem, shared hugs, wishes for fun, and a high five or two they went their separate ways to meet up at the finish line.

The older one quickly settled in to a nice slow pace, or so it seemed until she came up on mile one with the Thought of "I can't have gone a mile already? In 9:16. Better slow down." Before she knew it, she was at mile two, in only 16 something. What was going on here? No heavy breathing OR panting. Could it be that she was getting better at this running thing?

Knowing there were still the hills to conquer she decided to slow down and work the crowds, asking the little kids if they would share their cereal with her, shouting for the dogs to put their paws together in appreciation for her efforts. And of course thanking all those that had turned on their sprinklers for watering the runners and cooling them off.

By mile three 30:35 had literately flown by. At mile four, located at the bottom of a killer hill, she was traveling at a more "normal" pace and the clock read 41: something.

Undaunted, she claimed the hill as her own and felt powerful and confident as she tackled the hill in her way, in her time, unaware of how others chose to take it on. After the hill came the loop around. After making her way back around she called encouragement to those just beginning the loop, telling them they would be there in five, only to receive shouts back of, 'Ya! Right!" as well as lots of laughter from runners and spectators.

By mile five her legs were getting tired, and seeing no need for speed, the older one relaxed into her run and enjoyed each moment as it passed. Someone beside her mentioned that they couldn't wait to see the gold dome which meant they were near the finish, so the older one decided to look for it for encouragement.

Apparently she got distracted by something more interesting, because by the time she noticed the stadium she could have practically reached out and touched it. No parking lot this year, instead the run directed the older one round to the far side of the stadium before she began her decent down onto the field for a quick sprint towards the fifty yard line to finish with a time of 1:06:32 (or something like that), and roars of, "Good job Mom" ringing in her ears. She was handed a cold wet towel, which felt as good as a cold dip in the pond on a hot, summer's day. A nice gentleman ask if he could remover her chip, but as she paused a wave of nausea over took her. She shared this with the nice gentleman, he sprinted out of her way, and she walked until it subsided. When she returned to have her chip removed the nice gentleman laughed and said, Did you notice how fast I got out of your way when you mentioned throwing-up?"

After a few shared hugs, posing for pictures, Popsicles, and a well deserved potty stop, the two runners left the stadium tired, happy,full of pride at their latest accomplishment, already looking forward to next week's race.

And guess what? The old runner even had a little bit of steam left over to jog after the bus that was to take the two back to the start of the race and their car. Now isn't that something to brag about?