Spooky

Did 6 tonite in 73:23 or about 12:14 min miles.

A moratorium on friday drinking must be declared

Because it effs up any decent Saturday running. I didn't go at all on Sat thanks to shots called redheaded slut (which I referred to all night as redheaded stepchild). And today I was just too damn grumpy. I did get out around 5 and did my 3.5 route slow and easy. But no long this weekend. Maybe I will try tomorrow night for a long.

8 Miles

And oh my goodness, those last two were kind of rough! But I did okay, time was 1:40:43, 12:36/mile, so I am definitely on pace to finish this thing in under three hours, assuming all my training goes as well. I was proud of myself this run because at no time did I walk through any of my run intervals, or any part of them. I might have been going slow, but when my interval timer said to run, I was running.

I do have to say, I am feeling pretty darn good, I really think the strength training is just making all the difference in my running. I really hope I can hang on to that and work it into my daily routine and not give it up after my hip starts feeling better. My hip is sore, but it's not horrible.

So, overall a good run and a good week.

Treadmill Miles: 6

Outside Miles: 13.6

Total: 19.6

The Usual

I did three miles on the treadmill on Thursday and Friday. Forty minutes. That's right, FORTY. I just was feeling like some slow treadmill miles, I wanted to go easy on my hip. My PT has me doing strength training again, and I am really hopeful it will stick this time. So, I have been working my core and gluts pretty hard, but I will say my hip is definitely back to just feeling like my regular aggravating hip, rather than the twisted painful thing it had become, hurting all the time. Now it just fusses at me like it always does. But I'm hopeful that I can keep up with the strength training and maybe get it stop fussing altogether.

Anyways, and I did three outside today which went very well. Time was 36:44, 12:16/mile.

So shall I run, or shall I fall?

That's Trevor Hall, one of my new favs that K introduced me to. Tonight I did a slow and easy 3 during Js practice. It was relatively easy in that I didn't feel any need to stop and I felt I could have kept going after I stopped. So that's good news. Tomorrow I will rest and then get in a long on Sat, which will be a challenge given its Lo's annual bday celebration tomorrow night.

About a mile and a half

But I'm counting it dammit, because part of that distance was jogged. Its always a problem when bf and I plan to run after work and we don't go directly to the running spot. Too many ways to get tired or sidetracked. Case in point, tonight, we goofed around until it was dark, then jogged .75 miles to a restaurant to get dinner.

Caught in the rain

I went out after work tonight on a lovely cool evening around sunset. Did my 3.5 mi route and was trying to get it done in 38 min, but I came in at 39:30 which I think is 11:20 min miles. I would like to get that route in 38 min or under 11 min miles. I think that will help me get Vegas done in 2.5 hours. I caught the beginning of a good rainstorm in my last half mile which was beautiful and perfect. Although fat dog didn't enjoy it so much.

2.6

And much better. Time was 31:21, 12:04/mile. I'm glad I went, I had almost talked myself out of it, and finally was able to convince myself to go only by doing a shorter distance than usual. But tomorrow is almost certainly going to be a treadmill day, since we are supposed to get up to six inches of snow here, so I didn't want to waste the opportunity to go outside today.

Best workout ever!!!

Yesterday bf and I did a 5.8 mile hike in the mountain preserve. Its about 800 feet elevation climb on really rocky trails (loose rocks). We ran about 1/3 of the way up and most of the way down. It took 1.5 hours to get up and we ran down in 45. I was dead-ass-tired beat. Then we grillled up an awesome dinner and sat in the hot tub. So awesome.

3 Slow

Did a very slow and easy three today. It was all good. This week hasn't been the greatest as far as time, though. I hope next week is better.

Stats for the week:

Treadmill: 2.5

Outside: 14.5

Total: 17

6 long

I did an ugly 6 today. And also 2 on thurs. I registered for the race though, so I'm in. Dec 4 is coming awfully quickly.

Galloping Goose

It got done. I would not say I did well. My time was 1:20:26, which was fine, I suppose. It was another dirt trail, and I have come to the conclusion that dirt trails are both harder and slower than my usual running on pavement and that this accounts for my slower times.

But the point is that promises were made and promises were kept.

It was me and blonde girl again (I kid you not, the same blonde girl was there, with her same friend, I recognized them at the start line), although I was ahead of her for much of the race and beat her again. But there were also two people who were not at all far ahead of me, so I didn't feel quite so much like I was the only one going this slow, since I wasn't. Near the finish line I saw this park ranger guy and I said to him "there is one more back there" (thinking that it was just me and blonde girl again at the finish), and he goes "no, there are four or five back there". Now, I am not going to say that didn't make me feel pretty good! It did.

So, it wasn't the unmitigated and amusing disaster that the last race was, but I didn't do as well as I know I can do (I guess maybe I never do at races), but I am happy that I did what I said I would do.

I talked to blonde girl and her friend after the race, they asked me if I was going around doing all the 10K's I could find, and I said hell no, I was training for a half and these were the ones that fit in. They were way impressed that I was training for a half marathon, which I found somewhat amusing. They also agreed that the dirt trail courses are just tougher than running on pavement (I told them how easy the Vegas course is supposed to be, and that all the Rock and Roll races I have done are on pavement), which did make me feel better about my less than stellar time.

Anyhoodle, it's done now, and I'm glad. I don't think I'm a big fan of the 10K. Next week, it's eight!

My Bum Hip

I did 2.3 miles today, after going to my physical therapist. Man, that stupid hip felt a million times better right after the appointment, but then I went running and it wasn't a quarter mile in before I felt it slip again. Damn! It's okay though, I'll just keep going in and getting it adjusted until it's better. He also told me to start icing it after runs, and I can totally do that.

Tomorrow is the Galloping Goose 1oK, which is my long run this week. Then next week I have to jump it up to 8 miles.

Like being pecked to death by a duck

As dad once said to me about running on a treadmill. I went back down to that damn fitness room today because it was freakin 37 degrees out today. As much as I tried, I couldn't muster enough courage to go run in that. So this dude hogged the treadmill the entire time I was in there, so I tried the elliptical and I have to say it was not fun. It said for short intense workouts so maybe it was some special kind but I could hardly get it moving at all and the damn thing kept telling me to pedal faster. So I did a 30 min program and then did it halfway again so about 45 awful minutes but I did break a sweat and get the heartrate up, felt some burn in my ass and most importantly had an awesome new playlist that I made for bf to pass the time. Nuff said.

Less than ideal conditions

Today started with a bang. Went to airport, almost missed my flight. Gate was closed but thk goddess they let me on, sans breakfast. Flew 3 hours. No food on plane. Drove 3 hours. Had new hot n juicy burger at wendys (delicimoso, I highly recommend). Got to tiny northern minnesota town where there's work to be done, and where its also freezing (45 degrees and light rain). Went straight to dinner, had delicious indian taco. Running outside in dark and cold was out of the question. It was 9pm. Ventured down to "fitness room" which as usual contained exactly one treadmill, a bike, and some lame weight equipment. Dark and in basement, nobody around. Would swear I'm the only staying here. Windows looking out over what I cannot see due to lights so for all I know I'm putting on a show for someone. Ipod dead. TV remote nowhere to be found. Have exactly 5 tunes on blackberry, one of which is "dirty picture" by tao cruz/kesha. Basement inspection reveals a couple hooligan boys in pool next door. Treadmill faces corner opposite door, so I turn on tready and dirty picture and watch myself in window and dead tv reflection to be sure nobody comes in behind me. Identify towel rack on floor to be used as weapon in the event. Notice old sweat stains on tready and utter lack of towels or water in room. Imagine all the grody germs on this particular piece of equipment. Resolve not to touch it ever again. Unable to reset machine, start jog at 50 min and some random miles. Resolve to get to 80 min. Get down with dirty picture and end up doing 37 min, probly 3 mi. Better than anticipated given todays travel, taco, and lingering intestinal troubles.

Whenevr u r gone I just wanna be witcha
Pls don't get me wrong I just wanna see ur pitcha

A recovery run of sorts

So last week I had this awful bug that today was confirmed to be some sort of bacterial infection I picked up in Africa. So as much as I tried to catch up after being gone for so long it was for naught. But today I'm back in the saddle and bf and I did a good 4.5 mile hike. It took almost 2 hours which is a bummer even though we ran some of the way down. It was a decent elevation gain and very rocky ground. So anyhoo there ya go. Mari we can't all be as cool as you. I leave tomorrow for Minneapolis and have packed my running gear.

Who can go the distance?

From The Long Run, which made it on to my running playlist recently. I did my stupid seven miles, and I did well. Because god hates me, I think I am getting sick again, so I wasn't too confident about this run, but I did well. Total time was 1:27:01, 12:26 per mile.

I checked my Garmin at the 6.2 mile mark, and I did the 10K today at 1:17:20, much better and much more in line with what I thought I could do. And the good news is, I got the course map for my 10K next week, and it is flat flat flat! So, I should be able to match today's time, which will be good.

It was really cold out, and I realized when I got to the trailhead that I probably should have worn sleeves. But it warmed up, and by halfway in I couldn't see my breath any more and I wasn't cold, so all was well.

Sucking it up

God, my running has sucked this week! I did three miles today, two on Wednesday, and that's it! And now I have to go do seven miles tomorrow, which will surely suck. When I went to run at the hotel treadmill on Wednesday night, I discovered that my Ipod had been left on and at some point had played until the battery was dead. Now, having run the worst race ever without my Ipod, not having one has certainly ceased being an excuse to not go running outside (my Ipod was again dead this morning for reasons unknown, since I did plug it in last night, but I still did my three miles outside, albeit rather grumpily), but I would still rather stick sharp things into my eyes than run on the treadmill without it, and thus, no running got done Thursday or Friday. I have no excuse for Tuesday. Monday was actually a planned rest after my long run, but that was the only rest day that was planned.

Anyways, so I am preparing for an extra miserable long run tomorrow, so anyone who actually reads this blog should prepare for an extra whiny post about it.

A good time

BF and I did the Gateway Loop trail after work tonight. Ran probably half the way up and all the way down, it took 45 min and I'm guessing was 3-3.5 miles. A decent workout and really something to look forward to after work instead of dreading the tready. I could go the rest of my life without running on a treadmill. Although I do love my gym.

And the bad follows the good

I got out there around noon today intending to do my 3.5 mi route. My body, however, disagreed. Vehemently. I took a walk break after a quarter mile and the rest went about like that. I quickly decided that 2 would do just fine on this sunny fall day.

The deed is done

The commitment is made. I am registered for Vegas! Now I just need to get my flight and hotel worked out and I'm all set.

I did 3.5 today, only 2R/1W intervals, because I wanted to take it easy, as my quads are pretty tight from the hills yesterday. Time was 43:29, 12:26/mile. Next week I scheduled myself to do seven miles. I think I might drive down to City Park to run those.

Stats for the Week:

Outside Running: 15.3

Treadmill: 3

Total: 18.3

Here we come to a turning of the seasons

At last, at long last!! I returned home at noon today after traveling for over 30 hours straight. It was wonderful to come home to the cooler fall weather. I am hellishly impressed with myself that I went running at 530, and I got to go outside. I did my 3.5 mi route at what felt like a pretty good pace. Its time to get serious people!!! Only 2 mos to Vegas!

It was the best of races, it was the worst of races

Things did not start out well. When I woke up it was snowing quite hard where I live. But I checked the weather where the race was (about an hour north) and it said they would just have rain and cold, not snow, so I figured I would just make the trip and see what happened.

Twenty minutes into the drive I realized I had left my Ipod at home. I pouted some, but then decided I would just have to get through it. I did consider only running the 5K at this point. The drive there only made me worry more, it was really snowing hard and the wind was blowing it everywhere and it was still dark, so visibility was very poor. Not a good start to the day.

Anyhoodle, so we finally get there and locate the start line (which was not marked and we only found it after much meandering around). Once I was at the start line, I realized I might have a pretty serious problem, that being because the weather was so awful (it was indeed raining, and it was indeed very cold), the only people who were there were hard core types, who typically run pretty fast.

And then there was me.

So, we finally start off and things are going okay, although I am immediately at the back of the pack. Some guy on a bike is riding with me, and we are chatting it up, which was fine, and at some point I said "yeah, I'm sure I'll be at the back for the duration of this race" (I think he had asked me how I was doing, and I told him I run in intervals), and he was all "okay, then you're my girl." At that point, I realized he was a volunteer of the race, who was to ride his bike through the course, at the back, and in this way the rest of the volunteers would know when to pack it in, after he passed (I'm sure there is some official name for this person, but I have no idea what it is). He dropped back behind me after telling me I was his girl, and I didn't see him for a while.

So, about a mile in, I look back thinking perhaps some other people had joined late, and who happened to be as slow as me..... but no. The only person behind me was the guy on the bike. At that moment, I really started to appreciate that old Kris Kristofferson song, about freedom being just another word for nothing left to lose..... because people, I had nothing to lose. This was when I also realized that I was having a pretty good time, and a pretty good run! I was doing perfectly well! Twelve minute miles, and things were going fine! I was just last.

The first four miles were perfectly wonderful. The course was nice, and I enjoyed myself despite the cold and despite the lack of tunes. We ran through this farm and there was a big pumpkin patch and other stuff growing, and it was really pretty. At one point I looked over and realized I was about five feet from two huge black cows. While they gave me a start at first, I was glad to see that there was something on the course that would move even slower than me. Probably.

At the first water station:

Water Lady: "Oh, you have your own"

Me: "Yeah, well, when you run this slow, you have to carry your own!"

Water Lady: (awkward laughter), "you are doing great!"

Then, about four and a half miles in, things started to get kind of awful. The entire two last miles of the course were huge hills that I quite literally could not run up. I ditched my interval timer and adopted a strategy of running downhill and walking up hill. And this was fine. It was right around this time that I passed someone. This poor girl was young, blonde and pretty slim. She probably had no idea just how bad her race could get until she got passed by the middle-aged chunky redhead. There was no triumph, as I could feel nothing but sorry for her.

Things managed to get worse from there. I passed the second water station and about a quarter of a mile up from that is a place where you just had to turn around and come back. So, I get there, turn around and pass the second water station again. The ladies at that water station were evidently too busy packing it up to tell me that I had turned the wrong way. And keep in mind, I had no earphones on, if they had hollered at me, I would have heard them. They did NOT. So, I am running through this freakin' parking lot and I'm thinking "geez, I really don't remember going through a parking lot before", and meanwhile the poor girl that I had passed was now following ME, because the water ladies evidently did not bother to correct her either! And keep in mind, there is NOONE around, we are literally the only two people on the course, the other runners were not even in sight and had not been for at least two miles.

Eventually, right when I was about to turn around on my own and go back to the water station to ask directions, bike guy shows up again, and directs me through some grass to get back on the trail. And now I have the last mile, three quarters of which is up a huge and monstrous hill, that goes all the way up to the finish line.

So, for the first time in any of the races I have done, I walked through the finish line. And Rachael, may the Goddess bless her precious heart, who had gotten up early with me, driven an hour through the snow and then stood for longer than that watching everyone finish up the race, was there at the finish line, cheering me on. She was chilled to the bone, but she stayed there and waited for me.

Ultimately, I finished in 1:21:32, 13:09/mile. Not a great race for me, although the only other timed 10K I have is the one I completed while doing the half marathon last year, and I did beat that time by four minutes. So, still a personal best! And I came in second-to-last. Blonde girl never did catch up, mostly due to the fact that she didn't seem to be able to walk very fast, and when I was walking, I was walking like I walk, which is kind of a hustle, and I was perfectly accustomed to walking up hills and was still able to do it in good enough time. She and the friend she came with practically ran to their car after the race, I think she was pretty embarrassed, poor thing. It did not, of course, even occur to me to be embarrassed and in fact, I was thinking that the race director should be embarrassed to have such low participation! I mean, I know the weather was bad, but I've never done a race where I was the only slow "penguin" type runner, there have always been at least a small group of us.

I have another 10K scheduled in two weeks (since I told myself I would do two this year), and I am just hoping to god for a flatter course and better weather, although I honestly don't see how it could possibly be much worse than today, there is truly nowhere to go but up from here.

But enough of that! There were good things about this race and learning experiences to be had! To wit:

1. We stuck around after the race for the raffle prizes and I won a $10 gift certificate to my running store!

2. It was kind of a nice experience going without my Ipod. I actually talked and interacted with the volunteers on the course, rather than feeling like they were annoying distractions. That was nice.

3. There was literally zero stress with this race. Even at the beginning, I had no nervousness or anxiety at the start line. With the weather being what it was, I had already decided that all I needed to do was finish, and I quit worrying about anything else. It was very freeing, and I'm hoping that it is a sign that my goal in doing more races this year (getting more accustomed to the experiences and the distractions, etc. and not letting my nerves get the better of me and fall apart) is working. The more I do, the more accustomed I become to them and the less stressed I am, which can only be good for my next half marathon.

4. I wasn't last. And I got it done, so really, I won.

3 Tready

I did three on the tready yesterday. I have determined that my hip hurts more when I run on the treadmill than when I run outside. It must have something to do with having to stay running straight on that belt. I always assume that I look perfectly fit and normal while running, but I must really look more like this:

This is why we do it

Yesterday J and I hiked Table Mountain, potentially one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. Its a giant plateau framing capetown and striking in its beauty. There is no better way to experience this wonder than to climb every sweaty step. It took 2.5 hours and 3500 ft increase in elevation. It was definitely one of the most difficult hikes I've done in my life. It was probably 5-6 miles, much of it quite steep and rocky. The views from the top were stunning. J was a real trooper and somewhere along the way has gotten stronger and faster than his mom. So this is why we run - so that we are in strong physical condition to be able to enjoy the physical challenges and adventures that life presents. Only 5 of us out of our group of 50 had the courage to do it.

5.5

For the long. A very good run. Add "St. Elmos Fire" to the list of running songs that make me embarassingly happy. Total time was 1:07:34, 12:17/mile. Next week is my first 10K!!

Stats for the Week:

Total and Outside Running: 15 Miles

Capetown

I did 2.5 yesterday and abt 3 today