I went ahead and removed my Donna marathon post because some folks with too much time on their hands have regressed to junior high school and think it's "rad" to use my photos for evil intent. Such a waste of perfectly good oxygen I have to share with them....anywho SO! That being said, I will no longer post pics on this blog--but those of you who know me well can follow up on my Facebook for my race photos. Love you guys:)--keep reading.
I have taken a couple of days off running, and I will do an easy 3-5 tomorrow. Saturday is the big day, and I am still determining if I should run with or without the Garmin. All of the group, it appears, is doing this race. I am getting excited!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Reflection/Gate River Run
It was a year ago I started this blog. I had documented my fun time at the Gate River Run National 15K Championship. I have always run this race with friends, and we made it kind of a party in Asics, lol. We would stop and take photos, indulge on whatever the onlookers had to offer, and just chat it up with the folks around us. I miss my girls. They have moved away.
This will be the first time running this race alone. This was the only race I tolerated running with friends, so this will be new territory for me. The Gate is my absolute favorite local race, without a doubt. It coils you through the nicer Jacksonville neighborhoods from the start downtown. You have a beautiful view of the St. John's river for part of it, and it provides the challenge of climbing Jacksonville's bridges. The last hurdle, the Hart bridge, is lovingly called "The Green Monster". When you descend off the bridge, you are literally catapulted to the finish in Jax Stadium--where the Jaguars play. See why it is my favorite race? Who doesn't want to see themselves finishing on the HUGE big screen?
I have suffered from tendonitis for the last few days, but today was beautiful and I felt good. I went for an "easy" seven-miler. When I got going, and it took awhile, I decided to step it up and see how I could do casually while working it a little harder. I didn't want to eject lungs, or anything like that--I just wanted to see where I was pace-wise in a race capacity at a distance smaller than a marathon.
My Garmin said 9:12 min. mile--one second faster than my five mile PR. I also knew I could push it harder. I know the race route very well, and I know one big part of it is getting proper placement at the start. So, taking the bridges into consideration, I should be able to do well at the Gate. I can do this for two more miles. That is all I have to do.
I am getting excited. This is the first race I will actually "race" since.....well, hell....who the hell knows when?
This will be the first time running this race alone. This was the only race I tolerated running with friends, so this will be new territory for me. The Gate is my absolute favorite local race, without a doubt. It coils you through the nicer Jacksonville neighborhoods from the start downtown. You have a beautiful view of the St. John's river for part of it, and it provides the challenge of climbing Jacksonville's bridges. The last hurdle, the Hart bridge, is lovingly called "The Green Monster". When you descend off the bridge, you are literally catapulted to the finish in Jax Stadium--where the Jaguars play. See why it is my favorite race? Who doesn't want to see themselves finishing on the HUGE big screen?
I have suffered from tendonitis for the last few days, but today was beautiful and I felt good. I went for an "easy" seven-miler. When I got going, and it took awhile, I decided to step it up and see how I could do casually while working it a little harder. I didn't want to eject lungs, or anything like that--I just wanted to see where I was pace-wise in a race capacity at a distance smaller than a marathon.
My Garmin said 9:12 min. mile--one second faster than my five mile PR. I also knew I could push it harder. I know the race route very well, and I know one big part of it is getting proper placement at the start. So, taking the bridges into consideration, I should be able to do well at the Gate. I can do this for two more miles. That is all I have to do.
I am getting excited. This is the first race I will actually "race" since.....well, hell....who the hell knows when?
Sunday, March 1, 2009
March Is In Like A Lion
I first want to mention that my Clydesdale husband completed a 35-mile ultra marathon entirely on the beach--from the Atlantic Beach jetty to the St. Augustine Beach jetty. It was 80 degrees. There was also a strong headwind and some soft sand he had to balance against the tidepools. He finished under 7 hours, and I am so in awe and wonder. Go Bob!
So I embarked on an eight-and-a-half miler with a 25 MPH headwind the first five-and-a-half. I was blown all over the place, and the gusts were so insistent, I had to wear a bandanna on my face like a convenience store thief. I worked very hard to get to the turn-around so that I could have the wind at my back. I got a good kick going on the way home, and I felt strong. I have another 8 tomorrow with a much faster runner, so maybe she will intimidate me to get a little more out of my comfort zone. I have this personal goal to acquire 1000 miles this year--and I have been a slacker as of late.
So I embarked on an eight-and-a-half miler with a 25 MPH headwind the first five-and-a-half. I was blown all over the place, and the gusts were so insistent, I had to wear a bandanna on my face like a convenience store thief. I worked very hard to get to the turn-around so that I could have the wind at my back. I got a good kick going on the way home, and I felt strong. I have another 8 tomorrow with a much faster runner, so maybe she will intimidate me to get a little more out of my comfort zone. I have this personal goal to acquire 1000 miles this year--and I have been a slacker as of late.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tempo Runs KICK ASS
So I joined Facebook FINALLY, and oh what an anthill I disturbed! I don't know whether to be overjoyed or dubious. I was able to make some apologies for past indiscretions, and I was able to reconnect with people I love. I can see how it can become an addiction, but I am so busy and distracted, I think I will be o.k.
I embarked on a 3.5 mile tempo (accelerated) run today. I modified it. I made it even faster. I did the 3.5 at an 8:15 pace--I felt fantastic, and I was still able to sing along to "Smack My Bitch Up"--Prodigy. I think this is the fastest I have run in awhile, and it plants the seeds of speedtraining inside my psyche. Who wants to be fast versus who wants the longest distance without blowing a brain artery? I really need to incorporate the speed training back into my schedule, and my crosstraining has fallen by the wayside.
I have my last mary in May. If I do the triathlon Bob wants me to do, I am introducing all the other shit I have given up BACK into my schedule. Where the hell am I going to find all of this? I have to add a 20-mile cycle into the weekend with a long run on Sunday.
Whatever. I always figure out a way. I miss explosive training.
I embarked on a 3.5 mile tempo (accelerated) run today. I modified it. I made it even faster. I did the 3.5 at an 8:15 pace--I felt fantastic, and I was still able to sing along to "Smack My Bitch Up"--Prodigy. I think this is the fastest I have run in awhile, and it plants the seeds of speedtraining inside my psyche. Who wants to be fast versus who wants the longest distance without blowing a brain artery? I really need to incorporate the speed training back into my schedule, and my crosstraining has fallen by the wayside.
I have my last mary in May. If I do the triathlon Bob wants me to do, I am introducing all the other shit I have given up BACK into my schedule. Where the hell am I going to find all of this? I have to add a 20-mile cycle into the weekend with a long run on Sunday.
Whatever. I always figure out a way. I miss explosive training.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Donna and Things
I had a 15-hour sleep-a-thon last night! Thank goodness I have an understanding husband. We went to the Donna Expo today; and much to our dismay, we discovered we were assigned to the last corral AGAIN. WTF??? The woman who wants to run with me got assigned a faster corral and she put a slower finish time. Go figure. No worries. I am going to hide my bib.
I feel good, weather looks iffy. There is a 35% chance of rain. NICE temperate everything else...not too hot, not too cold. I am thinking this may be doable.
I feel good, weather looks iffy. There is a 35% chance of rain. NICE temperate everything else...not too hot, not too cold. I am thinking this may be doable.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Decision Time
After a good race yesterday--finished seventh out of 47, I awoke and did a quick 3.66 at just a sub-nine/8:45 minute mile. FELT fantastic. But the nature of this beast is if I am going to crash before the weekend. I have had a change of plans--a faster runner wants to run the full with me. I only hope I don't hold her back. Decision made. I am running 26.2 with Donna and friend on Sunday. Pray for me. I want to finish healthy. She is so much faster. I am intimidated.
I never know when the mono sleep is going to hit. I slept 13 hours Saturday night.
I never know when the mono sleep is going to hit. I slept 13 hours Saturday night.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Winter Beaches Run Today
I did what I said I wouldn't do this year--another beach run. Bob was going for the ten, and he wanted me to go with him. I was going to catch some rays, and I just awoke from a 12-hour post mono slumberfest. I haven't run or worked out in three days. I can't wait to SHAKE THIS DAMN BUG.
Bob said I may as well run it, and I was not too keen about it. I injured my tendon last year doing the ten-mile. For some reason, sand and I don't a nice runner make. Bob enjoys the beach, says it "cushions" his stride. It is the opposite for me, usually I have a hard time navigating the eddies and inconsistencies.
I decided to do the five mile, and I did a mile warm-up to "feel out" how I was going to run. Was I going to race? Or was I just going to run? I just decided to do whatever my legs told me to do. I hit mile one at 8:38, and I panicked a little--but then I just told myself I wasn't going to look at any more mile markers, and I didn't. I kept my eyes downcast, and just enjoyed the beautiful weather. The sand was smooth, and I sailed through the race with minimum effort--finishing in 46:00...tying my five-mile PR.
Bob is adamant I don't go for the full marathon next weekend. I may have to concede and do the half. I guess I am putting all my marbles in the Pittsburgh Marathon. I got to be better by then, right? RIGHT???
Bob said I may as well run it, and I was not too keen about it. I injured my tendon last year doing the ten-mile. For some reason, sand and I don't a nice runner make. Bob enjoys the beach, says it "cushions" his stride. It is the opposite for me, usually I have a hard time navigating the eddies and inconsistencies.
I decided to do the five mile, and I did a mile warm-up to "feel out" how I was going to run. Was I going to race? Or was I just going to run? I just decided to do whatever my legs told me to do. I hit mile one at 8:38, and I panicked a little--but then I just told myself I wasn't going to look at any more mile markers, and I didn't. I kept my eyes downcast, and just enjoyed the beautiful weather. The sand was smooth, and I sailed through the race with minimum effort--finishing in 46:00...tying my five-mile PR.
Bob is adamant I don't go for the full marathon next weekend. I may have to concede and do the half. I guess I am putting all my marbles in the Pittsburgh Marathon. I got to be better by then, right? RIGHT???
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