This was supposed to be a run around the block at home, but as I left work, the thunderstorm squall hit. Lightning! Thunder! Torrential rain!!! Horizontal rain! Branches blowing! HAIL!!!
I would have to rate this little squall as a top five storm I have ever driven through. It was nasty!! I thought my vehicle was going to get damaged from the hail.
So I drove through the storm to the east, and went to my gym, figuring the storm would be following me. I didn't have a problem with heat acclimation, since my gym has no air-conditioning. Yes, you heard me right! It's actually not a big deal until June through September. Then just us hard-core members show up for workouts. I really like my gym; it's very small, and just been open one year. In the little village that it is situated in, we're lucky to have a gym. I couldn't believe someone was going to give it a try. But it's been pretty successful, there's enough lifters and regulars like myself who is happy to have a local gym to work out in, regardless of AC or not.
So I ran 4.7 miles on the tread. The storm hit town and the power went out at mile 4.7 on the tread, so I figured that was my divine intervention and I was done for the day.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Heat Training
An important part of my prepping for Mohican is getting ready for the heat and humidity. I had already decided that the rest of my runs before Mo need to be in the nice nasty heat in order to get acclimated. So today's run was right after my doctor appointment. It was 97 degrees F by the bank thermometer!
I think that was a bit high, but it was in the 90's. My plan was to leave the doctor's office, run across the village to my gym, do my core workout, then run back to my car.
You know, it wasn't too bad. It was only 1.2 miles to the gym, and there was a bit of a breeze blowing. My core workout took a bit longer, it seemed, mainly because I was sweating all over everything. So I did my core workout and then ran back to my vehicle, a well executed plan!
...the espresso beans...you just chew them up. Preferably just one at a time, and then wait for the sensations to hit you!
I think that was a bit high, but it was in the 90's. My plan was to leave the doctor's office, run across the village to my gym, do my core workout, then run back to my car.
You know, it wasn't too bad. It was only 1.2 miles to the gym, and there was a bit of a breeze blowing. My core workout took a bit longer, it seemed, mainly because I was sweating all over everything. So I did my core workout and then ran back to my vehicle, a well executed plan!
...the espresso beans...you just chew them up. Preferably just one at a time, and then wait for the sensations to hit you!
Monday, May 29, 2006
I bought a treadmill today
We went north, looking for treadmills and assorted needed items for Kim for race day in three weeks...I want to be prepared, people, I do not want to drive for one hour looking for something the day before race day!
We went to Sears and I tried out the Nordic Track Elite 2900 on sale for 1599. So then we came home and I found it online, at Nordicktrack.com, for 1499, with free shipping,so I bought it!
This will be great for home workouts. I can't wait to clean up our downstairs room to make room for this (and move a TV, DVD/VCR, stereo) for my workouts.
I also bought new shorts and a new running bra, both needed, and some chocolate espresso beans, for the Mohican Race! The espresso beans should give me a little additional kick for the race!
We went to Sears and I tried out the Nordic Track Elite 2900 on sale for 1599. So then we came home and I found it online, at Nordicktrack.com, for 1499, with free shipping,so I bought it!
This will be great for home workouts. I can't wait to clean up our downstairs room to make room for this (and move a TV, DVD/VCR, stereo) for my workouts.
I also bought new shorts and a new running bra, both needed, and some chocolate espresso beans, for the Mohican Race! The espresso beans should give me a little additional kick for the race!
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Shoe Sucking Mud
I went out for a 12 mile trail run at Salt Fork State Park this morning. It was a beautiful morning, about 70 degrees. I got to Salt Fork at 8am, nobody around but the fishermen. I started out on the 'orange loop' trail which the map advertised as 12.5 miles. A good horse trail, except for the shoe sucking mud!
I hit this first patch about 1/2 hour into the run. I was trying to pick my way through this patch, when wham!!! My shoe sank and my foot came right out of it! I yelled "oh shit" and as my momentum kept going, I lost the other shoe to the mud! Now I am standing in ankle deep mud, in my socks, looking at my shoes behind me!
I just started laughing, it was so funny. I plucked my shoes out of the mud, then had to find a spot at the side of the trail to get them back on my feet. I looked at my total muddy socks. There was nothing to wipe them off on. So I just put my shoes back on and hoped for the best! And they were fine, no blisters, nothing.
This was a nice trail to run on, besides the mud. This was a little waterfall I encountered.BUT I would have to say this was nowhere near 12 miles. I finished up in 1 hour 57 minutes. My Garmin said 5.8 miles, which I also figure is inaccurate due to all the tree cover. So I am guessing maybe 8 miles.
This leaves me far shorter than I planned for the weekend, but I will take it.
I did another ice bath after I got home. Ice bath rocks! (Well, after the firs 30 seconds, they do!)
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Ogden 20K Classic Race Report
This was the 30th year of the Wheeling WV Road Race.
I ran this last year, and this year's course continued to be the same-the "easy" course. (Due to road construction, several of the killer hills were removed.)
This leaves the Bethlehem hill, which is a nice 1.2 mile uphill, and then a tiny little hill about mile 11.7.
I decided to run this as my hill workout. I didn't get over to Wheeling as early as I wanted, and then the timing chips weren't available right away.So I got a 2 mile slow run in before the race.
The weather was beautiful, maybe 60'ish and kind of humid at the start. But it seemed like a cool breeze kept blowing throughout the race, really holding the humidity back.
Although my time was about 17 minutes slower than last year, I felt I had a better race. I just felt good, and happy! throughout the entire run.
Splits:
10.09
10.20
10.20
These first miles are through a somewhat quiet industrial section of Wheeling. But what was different this year, besides no pouring cold rain, was spectators!! It was so abandoned last year, with the rain, that it was nice and surprising to see all the folks out, saying hello and cheering us on. One man offered us a cigarette around mile 3, and he then cracked up when a fellow runner quipped back that they'd be back in 2 hours!
Mile 4-- the infamous hill begins here. I kept wondering whether I should try and run it, or just assume ultrarunning status and power walk. I kept running, because I wasn't having that much difficulty. I was reduced to a small baby step turnover, but I kept my head and shoulders upright. I did turn it into a power walk briefly, but then hit a 'relative' flat spot and began running some more. Don't get me wrong, it was little more than a power shuffle. I saw so many people just fighting the hil and expending so much energy flailing their arms--it's not worth it!! Save your energy!
Mile 5- 13.53 The rest of the hill
Mile 6 11.20 The long downhill, about 1 mile downhill. I began chatting with a nice man, Mike, from the Pittsburgh area.
Mile 7- 9.46 this must be the rest of the downhill area. I lose Mike at a water station and continue on. I am feeling really strong, really good, and just so darn cheerful!
Mile 8. 10.37 We enter a bike path, which is flat, but it's not that bad. I have caught up to the walkers (there was also a 20K walk, which started 1/2 hour before us.) It seems like there are many more walkers these race, probaly due to the nice weather. It's not so lonely out there, and much easier to pick people off!
Mile 9 10.43. I take my lone gel around here, without any water, and my stomach makes some growls like that wasn't the best idea.
Mile 10 11.17
Mile 11 10.32
Mile 12 11.37
0.48 4.48
All around a good race. I saw some friends pre-race and had time to chat with them.
I didn't stick around for the free luncheon, it was still about 1.5 hours until noon, and I knew I would be home in 1.5 hours.
I got home right at noon and did my ice bath, and my legs feel better already.
I ran this last year, and this year's course continued to be the same-the "easy" course. (Due to road construction, several of the killer hills were removed.)
This leaves the Bethlehem hill, which is a nice 1.2 mile uphill, and then a tiny little hill about mile 11.7.
I decided to run this as my hill workout. I didn't get over to Wheeling as early as I wanted, and then the timing chips weren't available right away.So I got a 2 mile slow run in before the race.
The weather was beautiful, maybe 60'ish and kind of humid at the start. But it seemed like a cool breeze kept blowing throughout the race, really holding the humidity back.
Although my time was about 17 minutes slower than last year, I felt I had a better race. I just felt good, and happy! throughout the entire run.
Splits:
10.09
10.20
10.20
These first miles are through a somewhat quiet industrial section of Wheeling. But what was different this year, besides no pouring cold rain, was spectators!! It was so abandoned last year, with the rain, that it was nice and surprising to see all the folks out, saying hello and cheering us on. One man offered us a cigarette around mile 3, and he then cracked up when a fellow runner quipped back that they'd be back in 2 hours!
Mile 4-- the infamous hill begins here. I kept wondering whether I should try and run it, or just assume ultrarunning status and power walk. I kept running, because I wasn't having that much difficulty. I was reduced to a small baby step turnover, but I kept my head and shoulders upright. I did turn it into a power walk briefly, but then hit a 'relative' flat spot and began running some more. Don't get me wrong, it was little more than a power shuffle. I saw so many people just fighting the hil and expending so much energy flailing their arms--it's not worth it!! Save your energy!
Mile 5- 13.53 The rest of the hill
Mile 6 11.20 The long downhill, about 1 mile downhill. I began chatting with a nice man, Mike, from the Pittsburgh area.
Mile 7- 9.46 this must be the rest of the downhill area. I lose Mike at a water station and continue on. I am feeling really strong, really good, and just so darn cheerful!
Mile 8. 10.37 We enter a bike path, which is flat, but it's not that bad. I have caught up to the walkers (there was also a 20K walk, which started 1/2 hour before us.) It seems like there are many more walkers these race, probaly due to the nice weather. It's not so lonely out there, and much easier to pick people off!
Mile 9 10.43. I take my lone gel around here, without any water, and my stomach makes some growls like that wasn't the best idea.
Mile 10 11.17
Mile 11 10.32
Mile 12 11.37
0.48 4.48
All around a good race. I saw some friends pre-race and had time to chat with them.
I didn't stick around for the free luncheon, it was still about 1.5 hours until noon, and I knew I would be home in 1.5 hours.
I got home right at noon and did my ice bath, and my legs feel better already.
It seemed like a good idea at the time
Yes it's 443 am and I have just finished my oatmeal & raspberries. I'm leaving at 5 am to get to Wheeling about six; pick up my chip and bib and then go run for awhile until race starts at eight.
How come those plans always sound better as I blithely plan them out before execution?
It's raining too here, but that doesn't mean it will be raining in Wheeling. I think I will throw a another singlet in my other ton o'race gear that I always seem to haul around with me.
Be back later today!
How come those plans always sound better as I blithely plan them out before execution?
It's raining too here, but that doesn't mean it will be raining in Wheeling. I think I will throw a another singlet in my other ton o'race gear that I always seem to haul around with me.
Be back later today!
Friday, May 26, 2006
Revised Training Schedule
Looking at the time left until Mohican, this is the last weekend to get a long run in and have any sort of taper. Or, in other words, don't overtrain myself up to the time of the event.
I have the 20K tomorrow am.I am going to drive over waaay early and see if I can get 10 or at least 8 miles in prior to the race.
Then I will run 20 miles on Sunday, somewhere. That will give me 40 miles back to back. This is more of a confidence builder than probaly building any endurance.
We got the garden planted this am. I have tomatoes, 4 types, jalapeno peppers, Big Thai hot peppers, Red Savina habaneros, and squash planting. Our elephant garlic, which was planted last fall, are huge plants!
I keep more plants on the porch. We have lettuce, callaloo, broccoli-raab, thyme, basil, cilantro, rosemary, and chives in pots on the porch. This makes it much more easy to cut herbs for meals. It also prevents any deer from getting to these plants.
I have the 20K tomorrow am.I am going to drive over waaay early and see if I can get 10 or at least 8 miles in prior to the race.
Then I will run 20 miles on Sunday, somewhere. That will give me 40 miles back to back. This is more of a confidence builder than probaly building any endurance.
We got the garden planted this am. I have tomatoes, 4 types, jalapeno peppers, Big Thai hot peppers, Red Savina habaneros, and squash planting. Our elephant garlic, which was planted last fall, are huge plants!
I keep more plants on the porch. We have lettuce, callaloo, broccoli-raab, thyme, basil, cilantro, rosemary, and chives in pots on the porch. This makes it much more easy to cut herbs for meals. It also prevents any deer from getting to these plants.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Who Am I Kidding?
I just signed up for the Mohican 100 Trail Race June 17.
My goal is to run 50 miles at it. (Or, more like 52, to the nearest aid station.)
No more waffling, just focus on the race!!!
My goal is to run 50 miles at it. (Or, more like 52, to the nearest aid station.)
No more waffling, just focus on the race!!!
5 Day Weekend!!
Yahooo! I took Friday off in addition to Monday...how sweet!
Friday I need to get the garden planted.
Saturday I am running a 20K, the Ogden 20K Classic over in Wheeling West Virginia.
Sunday and Monday, no plans. If anyone talks me into going to Mohican that would be cool. Otherwise I will probaly run the bridle trails at Salt Fork.
I did no running this week. I was supposed to run on Wednesday, but did the elliptical instead. Which was fine, after my sudden increase in miles for my long run (from 13 to 23!!!) I did not want to risk an injury with the 20K race this weekend. I'm getting kind of antsy to run, but probaly won't even run tomorrow, just rest up for Saturday.
Friday I need to get the garden planted.
Saturday I am running a 20K, the Ogden 20K Classic over in Wheeling West Virginia.
Sunday and Monday, no plans. If anyone talks me into going to Mohican that would be cool. Otherwise I will probaly run the bridle trails at Salt Fork.
I did no running this week. I was supposed to run on Wednesday, but did the elliptical instead. Which was fine, after my sudden increase in miles for my long run (from 13 to 23!!!) I did not want to risk an injury with the 20K race this weekend. I'm getting kind of antsy to run, but probaly won't even run tomorrow, just rest up for Saturday.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
I'm still Waffling!
I should be clear about what I am waffling about:
I have the wild-eyed new goal of running 50 miles at Mohican on June 17. No, there is not a separate 50 mile race there this year. However, they will recognize the 50 milers. Less important to me, it would be more to me than I ran 50 miles at Mohican.
I think I am in love with Mohican. I have a serious love affair going on with the trails. I feel likeRobin Fry.
I ran into Diana Shivers at Walmart this afternoon, and heard that Regis was out in the car waiting for her...so I had to go talk to Regis, who did nothing but nod his head about Mohican!!!
I have the wild-eyed new goal of running 50 miles at Mohican on June 17. No, there is not a separate 50 mile race there this year. However, they will recognize the 50 milers. Less important to me, it would be more to me than I ran 50 miles at Mohican.
I think I am in love with Mohican. I have a serious love affair going on with the trails. I feel likeRobin Fry.
I ran into Diana Shivers at Walmart this afternoon, and heard that Regis was out in the car waiting for her...so I had to go talk to Regis, who did nothing but nod his head about Mohican!!!
Monday, May 22, 2006
Talking Myself Out of it
I spent at least one hour this morning figuring out how I should be able to run at least 50 miles at Mohican..then I spent about 2 hours talking myself out of it.
I'm still on the fence.
First I thought, ok, I will sign up for the 100 and just see how far I could go. The Mohican is this somewhat convoluted four loop course that you repeat. Now that I have run about half the trails, I finally understand the different colored loops!
So I look at the course map...start to the red loop, 10 miles. Red to Covered Bridge,11 miles. Then the blue loop, 4 miles. Ok, 25 miles. Then the orange loop, 17 miles, back to covered bridge. Then, if I only ran to Rock Point, 9.7 miles..that would top me out out 52 miles....
But wait remember it will warm up here, real soon, Kim, and be 85 degrees and humid!! And you hate running in the heat and humidity! It will be miserable!!
And thenI looked at the registration fee: $ 135. Oh heck no!! Not for a 30 or 50 mile run for me. Way too expensive.
ThenI looked at what mile someone could pick up a pacer. Okay, maybe I could pace someone in at mile 60 or so. But it would also be dark. And I've never even run in the dark, on a trail, before.
I'm as undecided as I was this morning.
I'm still on the fence.
First I thought, ok, I will sign up for the 100 and just see how far I could go. The Mohican is this somewhat convoluted four loop course that you repeat. Now that I have run about half the trails, I finally understand the different colored loops!
So I look at the course map...start to the red loop, 10 miles. Red to Covered Bridge,11 miles. Then the blue loop, 4 miles. Ok, 25 miles. Then the orange loop, 17 miles, back to covered bridge. Then, if I only ran to Rock Point, 9.7 miles..that would top me out out 52 miles....
But wait remember it will warm up here, real soon, Kim, and be 85 degrees and humid!! And you hate running in the heat and humidity! It will be miserable!!
And thenI looked at the registration fee: $ 135. Oh heck no!! Not for a 30 or 50 mile run for me. Way too expensive.
ThenI looked at what mile someone could pick up a pacer. Okay, maybe I could pace someone in at mile 60 or so. But it would also be dark. And I've never even run in the dark, on a trail, before.
I'm as undecided as I was this morning.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
5 Hour Trail Run
I met the group at Mohican State Park. This was the big training weekend for the folks running the Mohican 100 in June. They ran Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday morning. I joined them for the 17 mile orange loop of the course. (Or so I thought.)
When the eight of us converge, Roy (our fearless leader) announces they didn't get to the short 4 mile blue loop, so they want to run that first, then run the orange loop.
Hmm. Everyone is up to it. I'm the only female, so I don't want to wimp out. So it looks like my 17 mile run (which I thought was pushing it a bit) is now up to a 21 mile run.
Oh well!!! 21 miles it is. And off we go to the blue loop. I'm glad we did, because it was very technical and beautiful. At one point there is a vertical climb up tree roots. There are also two waterfalls on this loop; I will have to go back with a camera the next time.
The blue loop brings us back to our cars, so a quick break and we're off on the orange loop, which I ran last fall. I do remember alot of the features, although the group 'loses' me somewhere in the middle. (They took the high trail, I took the lower) so after some yelling in the woods, they find me-right on the trail. I'm glad they looked! So they put me in the middle of the pack so they can't lose me and off we go.
I ran with a nice man named Tom from Erie-he's pacing a runner and wanted to run the orange loop to orient himself. I gave Tom more than he wanted when I took the wrong fork in the path, (all the runners were spread out and out of site) and he and I did about 1 mile extra uphill before I realized we needed to find the river downhill-he was a good sport about it.
So some five plus hours on the trails, around 23 miles, beautiful weather, maybe in the 60's at the end. I just love to run on the Mohican trails. They are just nicely maintained, you get a huge difference in surfaces-technical, flat, uphills, downhills, pine needles-and it's just so lovely out there.
I think I am going to see about pacing someone at Mohican. I am going to see if my neighbor (in the next town) would like an in-experienced pacer first, then see if Tom's runner would like another pacer.
Or I will be just volunteering for the Mohican weekend.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Marietta 5 Mile Race Report
Beautiful weather this morning for the race, about 55 degrees and sunny. This is the third time I have run this race right outside of Marietta, Ohio. It's put on by the YWCA and includes a 1 mile fun run, a 5K Walk, and the 5 Mile Race, and brings alot of people out. Luckily the 5 Mile race starts first!
I wear my Garmin 201 during races, and it helps to see my pace. I actually kept slowing myself down in the first mile-it was nice and cold out, and I just wanted to pound it! but I knew if I blew the first mile I would fade in the fifth, so I kept reining myself in.
Mile 1 in 9.22, good. Having run the course before, I knew it was flat, then we dipped downhill, and then kind of slowly crept back uphill again, then the last mile was pretty flat.
The two women pushing the baby joggers passed me. I just mentally sighed, because I have no frame of reference about these women-they might be 20 year old elites out there. Besides, I was there to run my race.
One of the baby joggers stopped on the downhill and I was able to pass them! (And they never caught up to me again.) Mile 2 was 9.11.
I did a really good job of reining people in. I picked off quite a few runners. Mile 3 was 9.02. I set my sight on the man in Black Shorts ahead of me,and gradually, I moved in on him. We started up the long slight uphill, and I just got closer and closer. He finally glanced behind him at me--it probaly was my ragged breathing.
I caught him on the crest of the hill and pulled away from him and never saw him again! M ile 4 in 9.35.
Woman in Yellow Shorts was ahead of me, and she actually stopped and I was able to blow by her. Some guys were yelling closer to the finish line to push it, which really inspired me to sprint it to the finish line mile 5 in 8.57, overall 46.25!
I knew I really pushed it at the finish line because I was thinking about throwing up!! LOL! Then that passed.
Only negative for the race was there was no food available, and the only drink was Cytomax or GUH20 in little Dixie Cups. There was bottled water and pizza available for sale. Luckily, I do not rely on races to provide,so I had my string cheese, apple, and ClifBar that I had brought (and my own water!)
I stopped and picked up some water and food for the run tomorrow. I hope to plant this before the run, at a spot where the trail will intersect. Of course,the maps of Mohican are not the greatest, and I am not all that familiar with the area yet.
I'm looking forward to the run tomorrow!
Friday, May 19, 2006
Running Weekend Ahead
I'm looking forward to it!
I have a 5 mile race in Marietta, which is down on the Ohio River. Then on Sunday, I am going to join the gang who are training for the Mohican 100. We're going to run the orange loop which is 17 miles in the Mohican State Park.
It's all about the running this weekend!!
I have a 5 mile race in Marietta, which is down on the Ohio River. Then on Sunday, I am going to join the gang who are training for the Mohican 100. We're going to run the orange loop which is 17 miles in the Mohican State Park.
It's all about the running this weekend!!
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Lesson Learned
That you can be too friendly to some dogs...
I'm barely into my run, when I encounter the first 'dog' house.Today the dog who barks at me but usually stays in his yard has been joined by a puppy. They run out to say hello, jump on me, tangle in my legs and make me stop running. So I say hello, pet them, and continue to run.
And they follow me. I tell them to go home. They ignore me. I run a little further. "Go home. Go home now!!!" Nothing. I keep running and ignore them. They keep up.
I turn around and run back to their house, with my voice raised "Stay!!! Stay here! GO home!!!" hoping the homeowners will wake up (it's all of 8 am.)
I run on. They follow. I swat at them with my hat. That helps. Of course the puppy is over it in two seconds and continues to follow me. More yelling and hat swatting and I actually get them to sit in the road and continue to run. This has taken about ten minutes of my time!!
I came back the same route and they were better behaved, they just followed me fifty feet or so and then stopped.
It was a really good run. I added a side road of a valley and a hill, which added one mile to the route, so I ran 13 miles in 2 hours 30 minutes, and if you discount the time spent messing with the dogs, pretty good for a hilly route!
I'm barely into my run, when I encounter the first 'dog' house.Today the dog who barks at me but usually stays in his yard has been joined by a puppy. They run out to say hello, jump on me, tangle in my legs and make me stop running. So I say hello, pet them, and continue to run.
And they follow me. I tell them to go home. They ignore me. I run a little further. "Go home. Go home now!!!" Nothing. I keep running and ignore them. They keep up.
I turn around and run back to their house, with my voice raised "Stay!!! Stay here! GO home!!!" hoping the homeowners will wake up (it's all of 8 am.)
I run on. They follow. I swat at them with my hat. That helps. Of course the puppy is over it in two seconds and continues to follow me. More yelling and hat swatting and I actually get them to sit in the road and continue to run. This has taken about ten minutes of my time!!
I came back the same route and they were better behaved, they just followed me fifty feet or so and then stopped.
It was a really good run. I added a side road of a valley and a hill, which added one mile to the route, so I ran 13 miles in 2 hours 30 minutes, and if you discount the time spent messing with the dogs, pretty good for a hilly route!
Lessons
By Keith Pippin
Each time you run you will recieve lessons. You have enrolled in the school of ultrarunning. You may like the lessons or think them irrevelant and stupid. What yout think makes no difference, the lessons will be presented until they are learned.
When you run, there are no mistakes, only lessons. The art and science of ultrarunning is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The failed experiments are as much a part of of the successes as the combination that ultimately works.
Lessons will be presented in various forms and intensities. Each lesson will be repeated until it is learned. When you have learned one lesson you will be presented with another.
The learning of lessons does not end. There is no part of your running experience that does not contain lessons. Each time you run there are lessons to be learned.
There is no better run than the one you are presently on. Do not aspire to do better in the next run until this one is completed.
Periodically you will be tested. The test will be presented in the form of a race. This may be an announced test such as a race to be run at a future date, or it may be in the form of a pop quiz when a "Friend" calls on Friday to run on Saturday. The tests may be severe and demanding, testing you to the very limits of your mental and physical capabilities, You are the only one who will know your test score. After the test you will know which lessons require more study.
How you running affects you and those around you is up to you. You have the ability to choose-positive or negative. The decision is yours.You will live with the consequences of the choices you make.
Life's answers lie within. Life's questions can be answered from within. Running is the medium through which these answers will be revealed. All you have to do is look, listen, feel, and trust.
..You must always remember "The people dancing were judged insane by those who could not hear the music". Few people will ever hear your music. Run long and prosper.
From "A Step Beyond: The Definitive Guide to Ultrarunning"
I am heading out for a lesson this morning.
Each time you run you will recieve lessons. You have enrolled in the school of ultrarunning. You may like the lessons or think them irrevelant and stupid. What yout think makes no difference, the lessons will be presented until they are learned.
When you run, there are no mistakes, only lessons. The art and science of ultrarunning is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The failed experiments are as much a part of of the successes as the combination that ultimately works.
Lessons will be presented in various forms and intensities. Each lesson will be repeated until it is learned. When you have learned one lesson you will be presented with another.
The learning of lessons does not end. There is no part of your running experience that does not contain lessons. Each time you run there are lessons to be learned.
There is no better run than the one you are presently on. Do not aspire to do better in the next run until this one is completed.
Periodically you will be tested. The test will be presented in the form of a race. This may be an announced test such as a race to be run at a future date, or it may be in the form of a pop quiz when a "Friend" calls on Friday to run on Saturday. The tests may be severe and demanding, testing you to the very limits of your mental and physical capabilities, You are the only one who will know your test score. After the test you will know which lessons require more study.
How you running affects you and those around you is up to you. You have the ability to choose-positive or negative. The decision is yours.You will live with the consequences of the choices you make.
Life's answers lie within. Life's questions can be answered from within. Running is the medium through which these answers will be revealed. All you have to do is look, listen, feel, and trust.
..You must always remember "The people dancing were judged insane by those who could not hear the music". Few people will ever hear your music. Run long and prosper.
From "A Step Beyond: The Definitive Guide to Ultrarunning"
I am heading out for a lesson this morning.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Musings on the Long Run Schedule
I am trying to work on the long run schedule for the MMTR. I don't want to overdo it, but I do want to have enough endurance built up. I was stressing for awhile wanting to do the Buckeye Trail 50K at the end of July, but I don't know if I will be prepared for that. So, I am not going to worry about running that race.
It's alot harder finding information on training schedules for ultras than marathons.
I think I am going to keep steady at running about 12 miles a weekend, and just steadily increase from there, and add a longer run on Sundays.
My MMTR Schedule does not "officially" start until July. I think I am going to redo that, and have it start June 1, just as base endurance training.
It's alot harder finding information on training schedules for ultras than marathons.
I think I am going to keep steady at running about 12 miles a weekend, and just steadily increase from there, and add a longer run on Sundays.
My MMTR Schedule does not "officially" start until July. I think I am going to redo that, and have it start June 1, just as base endurance training.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Support
I complimented and thanked my husband last night for some comments he has made to me lately. It seems he has thrown his support behind my training for the MMTR fully. He wanted to know about my training schedule and long runs throughout the summer. He's even been telling people that I am training for the 50+ miler!
Now just to get him to crew for me.
Now just to get him to crew for me.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
I'm getting a Treadmill!!!
Sometime!!
The conversation started as I told my husband I don't see where we could fit an out of the country trip in sometime in 2006.
(I was supposed to have a vacation trip for my 40th birthday. But then the dog almost died in January, and we just haven't gotten organized to looking very far ahead.) With my on-going work issues, and impending inspections, I could just see us schedule the trip to Spain and then have to cancel because the inspectors showed up.
And with me needing to start training for MMTR soon, which will take up most of my weekends, I just can't see it.
The husband then offered to buy me a hot tub to help out with training!!
Well, I would love a hot tub, but frankly, a treadmill would be more helpful for my training. Then he said I could have a treadmill AND A hot tub!! Woohoo!!
So I need to start looking at reviews of treadmills. While I am not the biggest tread fan, I would much rather be outside, there are some bad winter days around here where it really isn't safe to be out on the roads. A tread in my own home, with a TV set to watch and music to play, that would help training tremendously.
I did go to the gym today; I did squats, which then made my ab/core workout much tougher!
The conversation started as I told my husband I don't see where we could fit an out of the country trip in sometime in 2006.
(I was supposed to have a vacation trip for my 40th birthday. But then the dog almost died in January, and we just haven't gotten organized to looking very far ahead.) With my on-going work issues, and impending inspections, I could just see us schedule the trip to Spain and then have to cancel because the inspectors showed up.
And with me needing to start training for MMTR soon, which will take up most of my weekends, I just can't see it.
The husband then offered to buy me a hot tub to help out with training!!
Well, I would love a hot tub, but frankly, a treadmill would be more helpful for my training. Then he said I could have a treadmill AND A hot tub!! Woohoo!!
So I need to start looking at reviews of treadmills. While I am not the biggest tread fan, I would much rather be outside, there are some bad winter days around here where it really isn't safe to be out on the roads. A tread in my own home, with a TV set to watch and music to play, that would help training tremendously.
I did go to the gym today; I did squats, which then made my ab/core workout much tougher!
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
If it ain't raining you ain't training
I ran 4 miles in Lake Park today after work. It started out as a really uninspiring run. My shins were tight, my thighs were heavy. I was thinking of maybe only running two miles after about 1.5 miles. (whine, whine, whine...) Then, I thought about the whole training commitment, and what is important in training for a long race--being consistent with your training schedule. And I had read somewhere, where a bad run might actually be good training, because you are pulling through the bad things. So, I decided to keep going- I mean, it IS only 4 miles, people!!
I had to duck into a restroom right at mile 3, and when I emerged, it was pouring down the rain. So off I went into the rain, now smiling, now I had no tight shins at all. It cooled off just a bit and it was a nice warm wet rain coming down. No one was on the path, the baseball players were huddled in their dugout. I savored the nice rain coming down and had a great fourth mile back to my car.
When it did promptly stop raining.
I had to duck into a restroom right at mile 3, and when I emerged, it was pouring down the rain. So off I went into the rain, now smiling, now I had no tight shins at all. It cooled off just a bit and it was a nice warm wet rain coming down. No one was on the path, the baseball players were huddled in their dugout. I savored the nice rain coming down and had a great fourth mile back to my car.
When it did promptly stop raining.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Today's Workout
A productive day:
3 mile run;
3 loads of laundry done;
trimmed the yard;
transplanted plants;
went to gym and did stretching and squats. I'm pretty tired.
Tomorrow is a day off from running and I think legs in general. The legs got a good workout in the last three days.
Monday would normally be a typical day off for me, but I have a late meeting on Tuesday, so that will be my day off instead.
I calculated my "training" for my 5 mile race on May 20 from Runner's World online. So this week is:
Monday XT
Tuesday Off
Wednesday 4 mile
Thursday XT (core, squats)
Friday 5 mile, 3 miles at 8.54 pace
Saturday 8 miles at 10.29. So that's my schedule for the week!
3 mile run;
3 loads of laundry done;
trimmed the yard;
transplanted plants;
went to gym and did stretching and squats. I'm pretty tired.
Tomorrow is a day off from running and I think legs in general. The legs got a good workout in the last three days.
Monday would normally be a typical day off for me, but I have a late meeting on Tuesday, so that will be my day off instead.
I calculated my "training" for my 5 mile race on May 20 from Runner's World online. So this week is:
Monday XT
Tuesday Off
Wednesday 4 mile
Thursday XT (core, squats)
Friday 5 mile, 3 miles at 8.54 pace
Saturday 8 miles at 10.29. So that's my schedule for the week!
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Around the Block
I went for my longest run of the year this morning, 12 miles around the block. The weather was beautiful, about 50 degrees.It was cold starting, but I warmed up quickly. I began my training as a true ultra-runner. I walked all the uphills and ran the downhills and flats. My around the block route is pretty much all uphill and downhill.
Then I came home and Dennis wanted to get the garden roto-tilling over with, so we did that for another 1.5 hours. I was tired, but the garden needed to be tended to.
Now, after lunch, I need to pot up some herbs, and soon it will be time for dinner. We're going out tonight, to a local winery-resturant, for a nice meal out. After all that gardening, we deserve it!
Waiting for me at home!
Friday, May 05, 2006
Unexpected Run
I spent about two hours at work today, then we went to a local school to help out with the "Track and Field" Day. I wore running shoes and shirts just in case!
I had a blast. I had the 200 yard dash, and was in charge of starting the runners off. In the fourth grade, which was the last heat, there was only one girl running. I told her I would run with her. I came in second! in the fourth grade class! Pretty cool!
Then, since the rest of the management team was incredulous that I was going back to work at 2pm on a Friday, I bailed with the rest of them, went back to work to pick up my PDA and leave.
So I had, an unexpected free time! What to do, what to do?
I went running. It was just such a nice run, in the local park system, 6 miles in 1.03. I had my iPod, good tunes, the weather was beautiful, about 70, low humidity, a nice breeze blowing, blue sky overhead, big pouffy white cumulus clouds-man, it was just a great day. A great relaxed run.
Then I went to the gym, as scheduled, did my whole core workout! This was a very productive training day for me!!
I had a blast. I had the 200 yard dash, and was in charge of starting the runners off. In the fourth grade, which was the last heat, there was only one girl running. I told her I would run with her. I came in second! in the fourth grade class! Pretty cool!
Then, since the rest of the management team was incredulous that I was going back to work at 2pm on a Friday, I bailed with the rest of them, went back to work to pick up my PDA and leave.
So I had, an unexpected free time! What to do, what to do?
I went running. It was just such a nice run, in the local park system, 6 miles in 1.03. I had my iPod, good tunes, the weather was beautiful, about 70, low humidity, a nice breeze blowing, blue sky overhead, big pouffy white cumulus clouds-man, it was just a great day. A great relaxed run.
Then I went to the gym, as scheduled, did my whole core workout! This was a very productive training day for me!!
Book
Wow! I just got this book in the mail yesterday-590 pages! It's a tome! It looks like some good info too, I can't wait to dive into it!!
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
6 Mile Run Today
A beautiful day for a run, in the 60's. I was rather tired, after work, but I changed clothes as quickly as a 120 lb lab and 82 lb chow/rottie dog would let me. It turned into a good run, too, so I'm glad I persevered. I still am trying to build endurance.
I ended up jogging two miles on the treadmill on Monday, I took that as a recovery day. Tuesday I did my core workout and cross trained on the elliptical trainer, since my quads were still a bit sore. They felt fine today.
I ended up jogging two miles on the treadmill on Monday, I took that as a recovery day. Tuesday I did my core workout and cross trained on the elliptical trainer, since my quads were still a bit sore. They felt fine today.
Monday, May 01, 2006
May Day
Happy May! I'm just glad April is over, it was a big stress-filled month.
I took today as a recovery day-I went to the gym and jogged two miles on the tread, then stretched for 10 minutes. My quads are a bit sore, which I am not surprised, with the hill running and squat workout of the weekend. I'm trying hard not to overtrain, which I believe I do alot, because I generally feel good and want to kick ass with all my workouts.
Tomorrow I have a 6 mile run planned. It's election day, so I plan to run to the voting polls (which is our township hall) and then run around the block. Which includes up and down a 1/2 mile hill and some good rolling country roads. It better not rain!
I took today as a recovery day-I went to the gym and jogged two miles on the tread, then stretched for 10 minutes. My quads are a bit sore, which I am not surprised, with the hill running and squat workout of the weekend. I'm trying hard not to overtrain, which I believe I do alot, because I generally feel good and want to kick ass with all my workouts.
Tomorrow I have a 6 mile run planned. It's election day, so I plan to run to the voting polls (which is our township hall) and then run around the block. Which includes up and down a 1/2 mile hill and some good rolling country roads. It better not rain!
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