No, it's not the clothes that make a runner. Really, who cares what anybody else is wearing? It's not like there's a uniform. Used to be you’d say all you need is a pair of running shoes but that's not even true anymore. I loved the latest issue of Runners World and their Fastinista article and I found it intriguing that so many women were in an uproar over it. As if what you wear determines whether or not you are a serious runner. Guess what? I'm serious about running. I mean, hello? I hired a running coach!
And I wear skirts! There I said it. And you know what? I'm proud to say it.
Sure all I need is a running bra (things aren't as perky as they used to be and need support), a shirt or tank, shorts (probably compression because again, things aren't as perky as they used to be), socks, and shoes. And I would be happy with that. But some people have ton of shoes (Choose or running) and some people have a ton of purses or whatever it is they collect. I happen to collect running attire.
Here's how I look at it: picking what I'm going to wear to run helps me get in the right mind set for my run.
On Tuesday, I got to do 8x1’ intervals @ 7:45 pace. I was going to wear a plain black skirt and at the last minute decided to wear my pink, plaid skirt. Why? Because I wanted to be strong on the run and the plaid reminds me of Highland Warriors. I felt like I was dressing for battle and it put me in the mind set to run hard and I did those intervals @ a 7:30 pace!
Yesterday's run was supposed to be easy so I put on a blue skirt that I like a lot. It's a little more snug than my others and it tends to ride up if I push too hard or if my stride lengthens but it's fine if I go easy. So I put that skirt on and it reminded me not to go hard.
On Saturday, I will wear my Athleta skirt for my 19 miler. It has 5 pockets! 2 in the front, 3 in the back (one zippered). It's my long run skirt and I when I put that on, I know I'm going to be running for a while. I can store food, my id, money, S-Caps, keys and still have room for things I start with but don't need as it gets lighter/warmer (gloves, running light, etc.). It makes me feel prepared and ready for anything out there. It's my adventure skirt. Kind of like Indy's Fedora. When he puts that his hat on, you know fun is about to happen. Same with my skirt!
Color works the same way for me. When I ran those back-to-back half marathons in April, I consciously chose to wear black & white the first day (the planned buy-the-book easy long run) and orange on Sunday (the day I raced and won!) because orange is a fast color (red is too!) and I wanted to give my body/mind the okay sign to run fast. For me, green is a lucky color and that's what I plan to wear a green top and socks for the Santa Rosa Marathon when I go for my 4 hour goal.
Most of the time though, I choose wild colors when I want to be seen. Whether it's by cars (I have an outfit that's green & pink that I call my watermelon outfit…no car is going to miss seeing me in that!) or spectators. I learned during the Lost Dutchman Marathon that your outfit can get you a lot of attention and a lot of support that you might not have had otherwise. When you are at mile 24 or 25 and starting to drag, that extra cheering goes a long way!
One of my coworkers told me today that they recognize me on my morning runs in the dark by my outfits. So be it! I’d rather be me and have my own style then look like one of the crowd. I don't wear cycling club kits because I don’t want to look like everyone else, so why do it on the run?
So yeah, I wear skirts! I wear pink! I wear whatever I think will help me get the most out of the run I have planned for the day. It doesn't mean I'm taking my runs any less seriously than someone in a shirt and shorts. It just means I want to have fun. Isn't that why we run in the first place?
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
A Duck in a Shooting Gallery
"You're going to rock this marathon :) I hope you're shooting for sub-4!"That’s a note I got in an email from my coach, Jason, after I gave him the scoop on my 5K. I have to say that it made me smile. If you saw this post back in May, you’d know that my A+ goal, my dream goal, was 4hrs for the Seattle Rock & Roll Marathon. My more realistic goal for it was 4:10 and that's what I was shooting for. Of course, the marathon didn't happen so it’s a moo point (Sorry, threw in a little Joey/Friends reference there).
When I plugged in the 5K time to the McMillan calculator, it came up with 4:02 and change. And I know I didn't run that 5K all out so I feel like I'm on target to hit that 4 hr goal. Not easily, of course. But I feel like I'm capable of it now and I plan on only getting stronger and faster in the next few weeks. I know Jason has some very, very interesting workouts planned for me. I hope I don't regret telling him I live in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains!
The Santa Rosa Marathon is just a little over 6 weeks away and I am already getting excited about it. I'm just heading in to my favorite part of marathon training: the long runs. Anything 17 and over makes me a happy runner girl. 15/16 are good runs, pleasant runs but longer ones make me feel like Wonder Woman. :)
I am going to say right now that my A goal for the Santa Rosa Marathon is 4 hrs. That’s what I’m doing my training runs based on (as far as pace/time per the McMillan calc for around a 3:55/4 hr finish).
My A+ goal? I'm going to leave that up in the air for now and throw that out there as I get closer. Right now, my A+ goal is like a duck in a shooting gallery and it's just waiting for me to shoot it down. And that, my friends, is a total kick. Seeing that A+ goal time lowering is a wonderful validation of the work you've been doing. That ability to see your progress is one of the things I love most about running.
One more quote…
"It is the illusion that we can go no faster that holds us back." ~Kenny Moore, American athlete and journalist
Monday, July 4, 2011
Freedom 5000 Recap
I had never done a 4th of July run before and when I found out I was going to be in town and I had no plans for the morning, I decided to sign up for the Freedom 5000 in Claremont, CA. I asked Jason what he thought about me racing it and we decided it was too soon after the Seattle Rock & Roll (and my 15 miler on Saturday) to race it all out. We decided I would treat it like a tempo run (8:15-8:30 miles). That was the plan anyway. My last 5K was in April 2009 and I finished it in 51:31. So, I was pretty sure I would get a PR during this. Barring a major mishap, of course.
I picked up my bib at Memorial Park on Saturday and I saw that people had already staked out their spots for the parade. I figured that parking would be a hard to come by in the morning so I decided to ride my bike over. Not only would it be better parking wise, but it would help me warm up for the race. And maybe tire me out a little so I wouldn't be tempted to race all out.
I woke up at 5 and ate my favorite breakfast (orange juice, a banana, and yogurt & grapenuts) then got ready for my race. I left my apartment at 6:30. It was only 9 miles over to the park but I wanted to get there early to watch the 1K fun run and then do a good warm up. I got there in plenty of time and locked up my bike & helmet and headed over to the start.
The kids were a riot. So much energy and enthusiasm. The cutest was this little guy who stopped in the middle of the street to inspect a man whole cover w/ his father lamenting about how he’d lost focus. Not often a kid gets to play in the street and he took full advantage of it. Good for him. :) After the kids headed out, I did a standard warm up and then ran a mile to get the legs ready to roll. Then it was 8 (and warm!) and time run!
This wasn't a chipped race so when the gun went off, I was a little confused about where the start line was. After a few seconds I hit start on my Garmin and moved out with the crowd of 1,352 (1,088 runners and 264 walkers). It was a mess at the start but eventually, I got into some open room and settled in. They were calling out our splits at each mile and at mile 1 my split was at 8:30 which was about where I should be. The next mile had a lot of downhill and I was feeling great. As I went by, they called out my split – 15:58. Oops, too fast! I remember thinking “I’m going to be in trouble with Jason!”. But the last mile had a little uphill so I figured I would naturally slow down a little. Everything still felt good. I was a little hot but I knew it would be over soon so just kept going. Then we rounded the corner for the last .1 and I saw a woman in front of me. I thought to myself “She looks like she’s in my age group, reel her in.” So I picked it up and did just that. Crossed the line in 24:59. Done! And a PR. A little faster than expected but a good, solid effort and my tempo run for the week!
Later when I checked the results, I saw that the woman I’d passed WAS in my age group. Ha! That finishing kick was well worth it! So here are the stats: 4/51 for my age group, 48/552 for women, and 223/1088 overall. Not a bad way to spend the 4th of July. I think I’m going to have to do this more often.
I finally rode home about 10 am and it was dang hot by then. Still, rather ride than drive. And anyway, it made eating 4th of July food much less of a guilty pleasure. :)
Hope you all had a fantastic 4th of July!
I picked up my bib at Memorial Park on Saturday and I saw that people had already staked out their spots for the parade. I figured that parking would be a hard to come by in the morning so I decided to ride my bike over. Not only would it be better parking wise, but it would help me warm up for the race. And maybe tire me out a little so I wouldn't be tempted to race all out.
I woke up at 5 and ate my favorite breakfast (orange juice, a banana, and yogurt & grapenuts) then got ready for my race. I left my apartment at 6:30. It was only 9 miles over to the park but I wanted to get there early to watch the 1K fun run and then do a good warm up. I got there in plenty of time and locked up my bike & helmet and headed over to the start.
The kids were a riot. So much energy and enthusiasm. The cutest was this little guy who stopped in the middle of the street to inspect a man whole cover w/ his father lamenting about how he’d lost focus. Not often a kid gets to play in the street and he took full advantage of it. Good for him. :) After the kids headed out, I did a standard warm up and then ran a mile to get the legs ready to roll. Then it was 8 (and warm!) and time run!
This wasn't a chipped race so when the gun went off, I was a little confused about where the start line was. After a few seconds I hit start on my Garmin and moved out with the crowd of 1,352 (1,088 runners and 264 walkers). It was a mess at the start but eventually, I got into some open room and settled in. They were calling out our splits at each mile and at mile 1 my split was at 8:30 which was about where I should be. The next mile had a lot of downhill and I was feeling great. As I went by, they called out my split – 15:58. Oops, too fast! I remember thinking “I’m going to be in trouble with Jason!”. But the last mile had a little uphill so I figured I would naturally slow down a little. Everything still felt good. I was a little hot but I knew it would be over soon so just kept going. Then we rounded the corner for the last .1 and I saw a woman in front of me. I thought to myself “She looks like she’s in my age group, reel her in.” So I picked it up and did just that. Crossed the line in 24:59. Done! And a PR. A little faster than expected but a good, solid effort and my tempo run for the week!
Later when I checked the results, I saw that the woman I’d passed WAS in my age group. Ha! That finishing kick was well worth it! So here are the stats: 4/51 for my age group, 48/552 for women, and 223/1088 overall. Not a bad way to spend the 4th of July. I think I’m going to have to do this more often.
I finally rode home about 10 am and it was dang hot by then. Still, rather ride than drive. And anyway, it made eating 4th of July food much less of a guilty pleasure. :)
Hope you all had a fantastic 4th of July!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Random Thoughts - Seattle Weekend of Fun
My Seattle Rock & Roll weekend was one of my favorite running vacations! I had so much fun and checked everything off my Seattle to-do list. It was a jam-packed 4 days and I'm tired. But in a good way. These are just some random thoughts from the race and the weekend:
*While the Rock & Roll was fun, I probably won't do another one. I think I like smaller, less crowded runs. I didn't get to see as much as I would like since I had to make sure I didn't run into anyone.
*I did feel a little jealous/bitter when I saw the other marathoners before the start. Just a little. Then I gave myself a little kick in the backside and told myself to move on. I never looked back after that.
*This was the first time I followed a pacer and I didn't really like it. She didn't run even splits and it was too hard dodging the other people running with the pacer. I think I could have run a little faster or a little easier if I hadn't had to dodge so many people, especially around the aid stations.
*I carried Gu Brew with me and had a gel right before we started so I didn't have to use any of the aid stations. I like this a lot and it's what I've done the last few halfs that I've done. Definitely going this way in the future. Added bonus: it also means I didn't contribute to the trash along the route!
*I enjoyed the bands along the route and could have stopped to listen to a few of them. I thought the cheerleaders did a great job. I especially liked the zombie cheerleaders near the finish. They cracked me up. So appropriate.
*I really like the zen-ness of running a marathon and training for one. But I have to say that running a half marathon is a total kick. You feel like you put in a great effort but you aren't so spent after that you can't do other fun stuff.
*27,000 people ran the marathon and half marathon and everything went like clockwork for me. I was in and out of the registration fast, gear check in was quick and picking up my bag after was even quicker. There was plenty of food and water both before and after (even if it was a little plain). Probably the longest I had to wait was for the photo with my medal. Should have skipped that though – I blinked!
*People complained about the hills afterward. I didn't think it was very hilly. A few small ones and some really good downhills (which my quads reminded me of the next day) but mostly flatish. This was the least hilly race I've done so far this year. It makes me happy to know that I am doing so well with hills. I kind of like them. :)
*I think I pissed some people off because when they asked if I ran, I would say “just the half” or “only the half”. I need to stop doing that. But hey, the half marathon is a fun run for me!
*My 10K split during the half was 55:28 which is a PR for that as well. Does that count? My best 10K time was 55:56 which I did just last November. And I ran my little heart out in that Turkey Trot! That's pretty cool, eh? So fun to see how much I'm improving in such a short time. Thanks Jason! Can't thank you enough for all the help you've given me.
One last thing...Things don't always turn out the way you plan but if you can accept what happens and go with the flow, you may find yourself having an amazing adventure. Life works in mysterious ways sometimes.
*While the Rock & Roll was fun, I probably won't do another one. I think I like smaller, less crowded runs. I didn't get to see as much as I would like since I had to make sure I didn't run into anyone.
*I did feel a little jealous/bitter when I saw the other marathoners before the start. Just a little. Then I gave myself a little kick in the backside and told myself to move on. I never looked back after that.
*This was the first time I followed a pacer and I didn't really like it. She didn't run even splits and it was too hard dodging the other people running with the pacer. I think I could have run a little faster or a little easier if I hadn't had to dodge so many people, especially around the aid stations.
*I carried Gu Brew with me and had a gel right before we started so I didn't have to use any of the aid stations. I like this a lot and it's what I've done the last few halfs that I've done. Definitely going this way in the future. Added bonus: it also means I didn't contribute to the trash along the route!
*I enjoyed the bands along the route and could have stopped to listen to a few of them. I thought the cheerleaders did a great job. I especially liked the zombie cheerleaders near the finish. They cracked me up. So appropriate.
*I really like the zen-ness of running a marathon and training for one. But I have to say that running a half marathon is a total kick. You feel like you put in a great effort but you aren't so spent after that you can't do other fun stuff.
*27,000 people ran the marathon and half marathon and everything went like clockwork for me. I was in and out of the registration fast, gear check in was quick and picking up my bag after was even quicker. There was plenty of food and water both before and after (even if it was a little plain). Probably the longest I had to wait was for the photo with my medal. Should have skipped that though – I blinked!
*People complained about the hills afterward. I didn't think it was very hilly. A few small ones and some really good downhills (which my quads reminded me of the next day) but mostly flatish. This was the least hilly race I've done so far this year. It makes me happy to know that I am doing so well with hills. I kind of like them. :)
*I think I pissed some people off because when they asked if I ran, I would say “just the half” or “only the half”. I need to stop doing that. But hey, the half marathon is a fun run for me!
*My 10K split during the half was 55:28 which is a PR for that as well. Does that count? My best 10K time was 55:56 which I did just last November. And I ran my little heart out in that Turkey Trot! That's pretty cool, eh? So fun to see how much I'm improving in such a short time. Thanks Jason! Can't thank you enough for all the help you've given me.
One last thing...Things don't always turn out the way you plan but if you can accept what happens and go with the flow, you may find yourself having an amazing adventure. Life works in mysterious ways sometimes.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Rock & Roll Half Report - Run Easy & PR
How do you run a PR at a Half Marathon you aren't "racing"? I don't know, but I did it!
I signed up for the Seattle Rock & Roll Marathon last November. I had the first 6 months of 2011 all planned out and the R&R Marathon was going to be the icing on the cake for a spectacular 1st half of the year. Everything was going as planned until I tweaked my calf at the beginning of June. After talking it over with my coach, Jason, I decided to drop to the half marathon and run it for fun. I'd just taken time off, missed key long runs, and I wanted to make sure my calf didn't have any more issues so no running hard. And honestly, after taking 10 days off, when I started running again, I thought I'd lost my speed and I felt sluggish.
Anyway, I went into this weekend really relaxed. I didn't taper. I didn't rest the day before. I didn't worry about carbo loading. This was basically going to be a medium long run on my way back to building up for the Santa Rosa Marathon in August.
The Day Before
I flew up to Seattle on Friday morning. My flight arrived a little after 1 and I went to my hotel first to check in and drop off my bag and then headed to the expo. I wandered around the expo for a couple of hours to check things out. I shopped and picked up some samples, met Scott Jurek (He signed my bib! Woo!), and then headed back to the hotel. Then I walked down to the corner deli and got a turkey sandwich and ate it while I laid out my clothes, bib, chip, etc. I went to bed about 9 and set my alarm for 4.
Pre-Race
I woke up before my alarm and ate my breakfast: orange juice, a banana and 2 mini bagels. I watched a little TV, got ready and headed down to the lobby to catch the shuttle to the start. I was on the first shuttle that left at 5 and the shuttle took us as close to the start as he could get. Turns out that was a little more than a mile from the Start so we had a little walk to get there.
Once there, I waited around for a while then dropped off my gear bag and started my warm-up. The plan from Jason called for a 14 mile run so I did a standard warm up and then ran for a mile. When I finished, everyone was heading into the corrals and I headed for the 2hr half corral which happened to be corral 15. The corrals went off 1 at a time with about 45 seconds between them so by the time we actually started I was starting to cool down. But the excitement was building. There was a lot of energy around me and a lot of it was nervous energy. But not for me. Since I had no expectations, I wasn't nervous at all. Just raring to go so I could experience my first Rock & Roll!
The Half Marathon
Finally, our corral was ready to go and they counted us down and then we were off. And there was just a mass of people everywhere. I'm not sure how anyone can go out too fast with so many people around.
I'd decided to stay with the 2 hr pacer for this race. I'd run a 1:59:23 half in April on a really hilly course so I thought I could do a 9:10 pace for this run. But if I wasn't feeling it, I could slow if I wanted to. I was going to go by feel and listen to my breath. No heavy breathing!
The first 8 miles went by in a blur. There were some great bands and some very enthusiastic cheerleaders and spectators. But mostly I just worked on holding myself back and staying behind that pink 2:00 sign. I had noticed the pacer wasn't running even paces and when she dropped behind me after mile 8, I gave up on her and just kept going at the pace/effort I was at. I never saw her again. I think it was kind of frustrating running with the pacer because of the group around her. It felt crowded and I kept having to dodge people in the aid stations as they dodged left and right to get water or cytomax. I was carrying my own Gu Brew so I never used the aid stations. Once I dropped the pace group, it was much more relaxing and easier. I don't think I will do that again! Well, maybe in a smaller race. But I think I would have been more evenly paced on my own.
Back to the race...There was some hill in mile 9 and my calf did twinge a little on the steep part but nothing to worry about. I still felt really good so I decided to treat this like a fast finish long run. I picked it up a little but still not so I was running as hard as 10K pace or my tempo pace. I was still trying to run relatively easyish. Miles 10-12 were at a good effort. The biggest thing that happened was that they tried to send me on the marathon course because of my bib color so I lost a few seconds figuring out which way to go. Finally, for the last mile I thought "oh hell, I'm going for it" and picked it up to tempo effort. And then once we hit the .1, I picked it up a little more til I saw the finish line. Then it was all out, baby. I gotta say, I love that feeling.
I crossed the line and remembered to stop my Garmin and looked at my time - 1:57:32! A PR! Woo!
Post-Race
I got my medal, went thru the photo line, then got some grub and a cape. Went over to the UPS trucks and picked up my gear bag to get my jacket, then I sat down to eat and just watch everything. The Seahawks/Sounders band gave a great performance on the steps of Qwest Field so I watched them for a while. But then I started to get really cold and hungry so I decided to head to the train and back to the hotel. When I got to the Tukwila station, I headed over to the Pancake Chef and had some eggs, bacon, and pancakes. So very yummy! And they had Boysenberry, Strawberry, and Maple syrup. Score! So of course I had to have a pancake w/each. The perfect breakfast after a half marathon. :) Then I went back to the hotel to put my feet up and warm up.
Racing was done for the weekend. Bring on the sightseeing!
Here are the official results. My official time was 1:57:26 so a 1 min 57 sec PR.
Both my coach and I are really curious to see what I could do if I really raced a 1/2 marathon. I know I have a faster one in me. But that wasn't the goal for this one. I didn't want to run hard and then have to take time off to recover since I'd already missed almost 2 weeks of running this month. I am happy with the way I ran it. I am ecstatic that I still got a PR! And I'm really excited to see what I can do at the Santa Rosa Marathon! Big things are coming. Jason's Year of the PR is happening for me. I hope it's happening for you too.
I signed up for the Seattle Rock & Roll Marathon last November. I had the first 6 months of 2011 all planned out and the R&R Marathon was going to be the icing on the cake for a spectacular 1st half of the year. Everything was going as planned until I tweaked my calf at the beginning of June. After talking it over with my coach, Jason, I decided to drop to the half marathon and run it for fun. I'd just taken time off, missed key long runs, and I wanted to make sure my calf didn't have any more issues so no running hard. And honestly, after taking 10 days off, when I started running again, I thought I'd lost my speed and I felt sluggish.
Anyway, I went into this weekend really relaxed. I didn't taper. I didn't rest the day before. I didn't worry about carbo loading. This was basically going to be a medium long run on my way back to building up for the Santa Rosa Marathon in August.
The Day Before
I flew up to Seattle on Friday morning. My flight arrived a little after 1 and I went to my hotel first to check in and drop off my bag and then headed to the expo. I wandered around the expo for a couple of hours to check things out. I shopped and picked up some samples, met Scott Jurek (He signed my bib! Woo!), and then headed back to the hotel. Then I walked down to the corner deli and got a turkey sandwich and ate it while I laid out my clothes, bib, chip, etc. I went to bed about 9 and set my alarm for 4.
Pre-Race
I woke up before my alarm and ate my breakfast: orange juice, a banana and 2 mini bagels. I watched a little TV, got ready and headed down to the lobby to catch the shuttle to the start. I was on the first shuttle that left at 5 and the shuttle took us as close to the start as he could get. Turns out that was a little more than a mile from the Start so we had a little walk to get there.
Once there, I waited around for a while then dropped off my gear bag and started my warm-up. The plan from Jason called for a 14 mile run so I did a standard warm up and then ran for a mile. When I finished, everyone was heading into the corrals and I headed for the 2hr half corral which happened to be corral 15. The corrals went off 1 at a time with about 45 seconds between them so by the time we actually started I was starting to cool down. But the excitement was building. There was a lot of energy around me and a lot of it was nervous energy. But not for me. Since I had no expectations, I wasn't nervous at all. Just raring to go so I could experience my first Rock & Roll!
The Half Marathon
Finally, our corral was ready to go and they counted us down and then we were off. And there was just a mass of people everywhere. I'm not sure how anyone can go out too fast with so many people around.
I'd decided to stay with the 2 hr pacer for this race. I'd run a 1:59:23 half in April on a really hilly course so I thought I could do a 9:10 pace for this run. But if I wasn't feeling it, I could slow if I wanted to. I was going to go by feel and listen to my breath. No heavy breathing!
The first 8 miles went by in a blur. There were some great bands and some very enthusiastic cheerleaders and spectators. But mostly I just worked on holding myself back and staying behind that pink 2:00 sign. I had noticed the pacer wasn't running even paces and when she dropped behind me after mile 8, I gave up on her and just kept going at the pace/effort I was at. I never saw her again. I think it was kind of frustrating running with the pacer because of the group around her. It felt crowded and I kept having to dodge people in the aid stations as they dodged left and right to get water or cytomax. I was carrying my own Gu Brew so I never used the aid stations. Once I dropped the pace group, it was much more relaxing and easier. I don't think I will do that again! Well, maybe in a smaller race. But I think I would have been more evenly paced on my own.
Back to the race...There was some hill in mile 9 and my calf did twinge a little on the steep part but nothing to worry about. I still felt really good so I decided to treat this like a fast finish long run. I picked it up a little but still not so I was running as hard as 10K pace or my tempo pace. I was still trying to run relatively easyish. Miles 10-12 were at a good effort. The biggest thing that happened was that they tried to send me on the marathon course because of my bib color so I lost a few seconds figuring out which way to go. Finally, for the last mile I thought "oh hell, I'm going for it" and picked it up to tempo effort. And then once we hit the .1, I picked it up a little more til I saw the finish line. Then it was all out, baby. I gotta say, I love that feeling.
I crossed the line and remembered to stop my Garmin and looked at my time - 1:57:32! A PR! Woo!
Post-Race
I got my medal, went thru the photo line, then got some grub and a cape. Went over to the UPS trucks and picked up my gear bag to get my jacket, then I sat down to eat and just watch everything. The Seahawks/Sounders band gave a great performance on the steps of Qwest Field so I watched them for a while. But then I started to get really cold and hungry so I decided to head to the train and back to the hotel. When I got to the Tukwila station, I headed over to the Pancake Chef and had some eggs, bacon, and pancakes. So very yummy! And they had Boysenberry, Strawberry, and Maple syrup. Score! So of course I had to have a pancake w/each. The perfect breakfast after a half marathon. :) Then I went back to the hotel to put my feet up and warm up.
Racing was done for the weekend. Bring on the sightseeing!
Here are the official results. My official time was 1:57:26 so a 1 min 57 sec PR.
Both my coach and I are really curious to see what I could do if I really raced a 1/2 marathon. I know I have a faster one in me. But that wasn't the goal for this one. I didn't want to run hard and then have to take time off to recover since I'd already missed almost 2 weeks of running this month. I am happy with the way I ran it. I am ecstatic that I still got a PR! And I'm really excited to see what I can do at the Santa Rosa Marathon! Big things are coming. Jason's Year of the PR is happening for me. I hope it's happening for you too.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Making Lemonade
The Rock & Roll Seattle Marathon is in 5 days. I will not be racing it. Instead I will be switching to the half marathon and running it for fun.
I am a little disappointed. I had such high hopes for this marathon. Sigh. But it wasn't meant to be I guess. My calf decided that for me. Sure, I could run the marathon and I’m pretty sure I would finish. Mostly sure. I mean, I've done 3 already and nothing could be as bad as the first when I was having cramps in both calves! But I think I will be smarter to not push my calf. Live to run another day. Because I’m not just in this for a race but for life!
So instead of being bitter and walking around like I'm sucking on a lemon, I've decided to make lemonade! Here’s what’s positive about this change:
*I'll get to spend as much time at the expo as I want.
*I'll get to sample any food/nutrition they have there.
*I don't have to worry so much about nutrition and carbo loading before it.
*I'll be good to go for some sightseeing on Saturday.
*I'll be much more open for adventure/hiking/cycling on Sunday.
*I'll be able to run right away so I can look for a trail to run on Monday and do some exploring.
*I'll still get a medal and a shirt.
*I'll be able to take pictures along the course since I'm not worried about time.
*If I find something cute to wear at the expo, like green compression socks or a sweet skirt, I can wear it for the half.
*Scott Jurek is going to be at the expo and I hope I get to meet him!
*My friend Toni won't have to wait so long for me if she can get off work to come watch the race.
So basically, I can break all the rules about pre-race rest & nutrition and race day nutrition and clothing. It’s kind of freeing. :) And I'll have more time for and be in a better place for checking out the Seattle area! I've never been there before so I can’t wait.
I would not have chosen this path. But since I had to take this detour, I'm going to enjoy all the sights and sounds that Seattle has to offer. The thing I love most about running is what an adventure it is. You can't do much better than that for a hobby that lets you explore your world in the best way possible…by foot.
I am a little disappointed. I had such high hopes for this marathon. Sigh. But it wasn't meant to be I guess. My calf decided that for me. Sure, I could run the marathon and I’m pretty sure I would finish. Mostly sure. I mean, I've done 3 already and nothing could be as bad as the first when I was having cramps in both calves! But I think I will be smarter to not push my calf. Live to run another day. Because I’m not just in this for a race but for life!
So instead of being bitter and walking around like I'm sucking on a lemon, I've decided to make lemonade! Here’s what’s positive about this change:
*I'll get to spend as much time at the expo as I want.
*I'll get to sample any food/nutrition they have there.
*I don't have to worry so much about nutrition and carbo loading before it.
*I'll be good to go for some sightseeing on Saturday.
*I'll be much more open for adventure/hiking/cycling on Sunday.
*I'll be able to run right away so I can look for a trail to run on Monday and do some exploring.
*I'll still get a medal and a shirt.
*I'll be able to take pictures along the course since I'm not worried about time.
*If I find something cute to wear at the expo, like green compression socks or a sweet skirt, I can wear it for the half.
*Scott Jurek is going to be at the expo and I hope I get to meet him!
*My friend Toni won't have to wait so long for me if she can get off work to come watch the race.
So basically, I can break all the rules about pre-race rest & nutrition and race day nutrition and clothing. It’s kind of freeing. :) And I'll have more time for and be in a better place for checking out the Seattle area! I've never been there before so I can’t wait.
I would not have chosen this path. But since I had to take this detour, I'm going to enjoy all the sights and sounds that Seattle has to offer. The thing I love most about running is what an adventure it is. You can't do much better than that for a hobby that lets you explore your world in the best way possible…by foot.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
3 Legs - No Limits
I have been running on Tuesdays and Thursdays forever. Ok, just the past 2 years or so. Someday, I will be able to say forever and it will be true! Anyway, back to the story…
Every Tuesday & Thursday, I would see a man and his little brown dog running on the trail. Sometimes we would be going in same direction but usually we would be running in opposite directions. The little brown dog was never on the leash when I met them on the trail and he would run back and forth chasing rabbits or stopping to smell stuff. Normal dog stuff. When I would go running by him, he would often run with me a little. I’d look down and see him smiling up at me as if to say “Hey, this is fun!”
Now, I usually do tempo runs on Tuesdays or Thursdays and sometimes fartleks. So there would be days when I would be flying down the trail (at least in my head) and then this little dog would go zipping by me and look over his shoulder at me and I could swear he was encouraging me to run faster. I saw the challenge in those big brown eyes! I would laugh at how effortless he ran and how hard I was working and couldn't keep up with him. He'd definitely put me in my place but yeah, I would pick it up a little after seeing him.
But then a few months ago, I stopped seeing them. No dog and no owner. Then a couple months ago, I started seeing the owner but not the dog. I would wave to the owner or say good morning but I didn't ask him about his dog. I almost didn't want to know why he wasn't running with him anymore.
Well, today I saw the little brown dog out with his mom. Not where I usually see him. But he was running around checking things out and since it was dark, I didn't recognize him til he was a few feet from me. Then I saw that he was running with just 3 legs. He'd lost one! But he was still grinning and I think he was happy to see me. :)
I asked his mom what had happened and she said they'd found a cancerous tumor in his front leg and they'd had to remove it two months ago. I told her I was glad to see he was out and about and she laughed. Probably wondered how I knew her dog! But she was also probably laughing because I don't think that little dog knew he shouldn't be running and having fun. It's just what he does and who he is. He’s a dog. He runs. He enjoys a little freedom. He doesn't know anything else. So he has no limits. Missing a leg is not going to stop him from doing what he does best: being a happy dog.
I thought about him for the rest of my run. What would it be like to go thru life without putting limits on what you can do? To be so happy to just be and do what you love no matter what? I have to think it would be amazing.
Last week, I talked about how you might be influencing people you aren't even aware of. That little brown dog certainly gave me something to think about today and he'll never know.
Every Tuesday & Thursday, I would see a man and his little brown dog running on the trail. Sometimes we would be going in same direction but usually we would be running in opposite directions. The little brown dog was never on the leash when I met them on the trail and he would run back and forth chasing rabbits or stopping to smell stuff. Normal dog stuff. When I would go running by him, he would often run with me a little. I’d look down and see him smiling up at me as if to say “Hey, this is fun!”
Now, I usually do tempo runs on Tuesdays or Thursdays and sometimes fartleks. So there would be days when I would be flying down the trail (at least in my head) and then this little dog would go zipping by me and look over his shoulder at me and I could swear he was encouraging me to run faster. I saw the challenge in those big brown eyes! I would laugh at how effortless he ran and how hard I was working and couldn't keep up with him. He'd definitely put me in my place but yeah, I would pick it up a little after seeing him.
But then a few months ago, I stopped seeing them. No dog and no owner. Then a couple months ago, I started seeing the owner but not the dog. I would wave to the owner or say good morning but I didn't ask him about his dog. I almost didn't want to know why he wasn't running with him anymore.
Well, today I saw the little brown dog out with his mom. Not where I usually see him. But he was running around checking things out and since it was dark, I didn't recognize him til he was a few feet from me. Then I saw that he was running with just 3 legs. He'd lost one! But he was still grinning and I think he was happy to see me. :)
I asked his mom what had happened and she said they'd found a cancerous tumor in his front leg and they'd had to remove it two months ago. I told her I was glad to see he was out and about and she laughed. Probably wondered how I knew her dog! But she was also probably laughing because I don't think that little dog knew he shouldn't be running and having fun. It's just what he does and who he is. He’s a dog. He runs. He enjoys a little freedom. He doesn't know anything else. So he has no limits. Missing a leg is not going to stop him from doing what he does best: being a happy dog.
I thought about him for the rest of my run. What would it be like to go thru life without putting limits on what you can do? To be so happy to just be and do what you love no matter what? I have to think it would be amazing.
Last week, I talked about how you might be influencing people you aren't even aware of. That little brown dog certainly gave me something to think about today and he'll never know.
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