Getting hailed on, that is. Glad I didn't miss out this year. The forecast for Saturday was 30% chance of showers, same as the rest of the drizzly week. I was mentally prepared to run through a few spells of light rain, so when I got to mile 14 dry & chafe-free I was pretty darn happy. Then the sky opened up in a complete downpour. Okay, that was bad enough. Then a quarter mile later hail started muscling in and taking over. My forearms and legs were bare, and that shit stung. Out loud, to no one, I asked "Seriously? Is this really necessary?" The hail lasted maybe thirty seconds all together; the rain kept going for about two miles. It wasn't a disaster, but I would've dressed differently if I'd known I would get soaked to the skin with 10k to go. I had the shakes by the time I got home and took a hot shower before the ice bath. (I've gotten over trying to talk myself out of the damn things.)
Other than that it was a pretty good run, except I got out of the car at the trail and immediately had to pee… four miles from the nearest bathroom. Good practice for the race, I guess. Last year I had to pee at the race start and didn't have a chance to go until mile 16. My overall pace was a bit slower than I would've liked, but I felt immensely strong in the second half. No long-run aches until about mile 19. I couldn’t believe it when I realized how I felt with a mile to go – light-years away from how I felt during 20-milers last year. Yay!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Hill run, and misc. rambling
I decided to do my patented four-mile hill run at lunch today. Since tomorrow's twenty miles will be on the flatter-than-flat Springwater Corridor, I figured today was the day to work the hill muscles. Plus it was sunny! Not warm or anything, but beggars can't be choosers. I know it's not exactly an ideal hill run because it's just one big up and one big down. But again, it's what I got. I could get more ups and downs if I ran uptown but then I'd be dodging people and risking jaywalking tickets left and right. (Now yes, I imagine I could outrun the average police officer. But what if he was astride a Segway?? Not worth the risk.) It's much more peaceful to run up among the ritzy houses in the West Hills, where the only people I ever see are mailmen and migrant workers pruning elaborate hedges.
*
I've been thinking about joining Portland's Team Red Lizard for a while. I put it off because: a) they are intimidating (not that I really know who "they" are); and b) I wasn't sure if I wanted to commit to training harder. This article in the Times made me reconsider, so I checked out the TRL website. As I was browsing around I found this fantastic article by their track coach Rick Lovett. It got me thinking: I am definitely still a beginning runner, racking up PRs because I've barely started training my body to go faster than a brisk walk. I ran a lot in high school and college, then took a four-year hiatus before starting to train for Yakima in fall 2007. It's been about a year and a half since then. Recent illness aside, I've definitely gotten faster. Rick's article makes me wonder how fast I could be. But it's also reassuring…in some ways it takes the pressure off. As soon as I signed up for a second marathon my thoughts went to qualifying for Boston, because it’s an exclusive marathon and a goal that’s recognizable even to people who don't run. It's nice to be reminded that *hello*, it's only my second marathon. I have years and years to get used to running and get better at it. I don't need to put all this pressure on myself and set up a potentially unrealistic goal. My goal should be to finish happy & strong. On that note, TGIF!
*
I've been thinking about joining Portland's Team Red Lizard for a while. I put it off because: a) they are intimidating (not that I really know who "they" are); and b) I wasn't sure if I wanted to commit to training harder. This article in the Times made me reconsider, so I checked out the TRL website. As I was browsing around I found this fantastic article by their track coach Rick Lovett. It got me thinking: I am definitely still a beginning runner, racking up PRs because I've barely started training my body to go faster than a brisk walk. I ran a lot in high school and college, then took a four-year hiatus before starting to train for Yakima in fall 2007. It's been about a year and a half since then. Recent illness aside, I've definitely gotten faster. Rick's article makes me wonder how fast I could be. But it's also reassuring…in some ways it takes the pressure off. As soon as I signed up for a second marathon my thoughts went to qualifying for Boston, because it’s an exclusive marathon and a goal that’s recognizable even to people who don't run. It's nice to be reminded that *hello*, it's only my second marathon. I have years and years to get used to running and get better at it. I don't need to put all this pressure on myself and set up a potentially unrealistic goal. My goal should be to finish happy & strong. On that note, TGIF!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Chin up soldier! And bonus public transport rant.
Ran a little over six miles on Tuesday. I was a bit worried because I still felt fatigue in my legs at the start, but once I got out and loosened up I found another great groove. My legs were tired but happily truckin' along on autopilot. I wonder if that's what the high mileage (y'know, comparatively) gives you – the ability to get through runs in good shape, even when you're fatigued. Yesterday it was drizzly so I ran five on the treadmill and got back up to 7.2 mph for three miles. The last half mile I went up to 7.5 - yay! I'm finally getting back to where I was six weeks ago.
Today is another five miles and another rainy day, so I'm going to try to do three miles at 7.4 - we'll see. I'm going to give it all I have. I read a quote somewhere in the wilds of the internet that the marathon is your reward for training so hard. It made me realize that with all that's been going on I really haven't been pushing. I don't blame myself, and it was probably a good idea to ease off while I was recovering from the flu. But now that I'm feeling good again I have to re-light the fire under my ass and stop tossing off runs at 6.6 mph. Even if my time goal has changed, that's not an excuse to stop trying to go faster.
*
Boat practice has really kicked into high gear this month. I ran into a little overlap last year between running and paddling, but it was only a few weeks in the very beginning of the season, so it didn't matter if I skipped a lot of practices. This year the marathon is almost two months later, which obviously makes a big difference when trying to balance the two. I've told our team manager that Saturdays are out for me until June, but that means making it to both mid-week practices. Which in turn means pulling a lot of doubles, running and paddling in the same day. It's actually not that physically challenging, because they use completely opposite muscle groups. Instead it's a mental/motivational stress thing, trying to remember to pack everything I need for both activities, fit runs in around work and practice, find time to eat, get over tiredness. Usually I end up cranky and not wanting to do one or other. Since I'm a lead this year, and one of the more experienced paddlers, I've really been trying to be positive and upbeat, which is hard when you feel pissy. Ugh. But considering I just signed up for a fall marathon I'd better figure out how to manage it more gracefully, since I'll be training all summer now.
*
Boat practice has really kicked into high gear this month. I ran into a little overlap last year between running and paddling, but it was only a few weeks in the very beginning of the season, so it didn't matter if I skipped a lot of practices. This year the marathon is almost two months later, which obviously makes a big difference when trying to balance the two. I've told our team manager that Saturdays are out for me until June, but that means making it to both mid-week practices. Which in turn means pulling a lot of doubles, running and paddling in the same day. It's actually not that physically challenging, because they use completely opposite muscle groups. Instead it's a mental/motivational stress thing, trying to remember to pack everything I need for both activities, fit runs in around work and practice, find time to eat, get over tiredness. Usually I end up cranky and not wanting to do one or other. Since I'm a lead this year, and one of the more experienced paddlers, I've really been trying to be positive and upbeat, which is hard when you feel pissy. Ugh. But considering I just signed up for a fall marathon I'd better figure out how to manage it more gracefully, since I'll be training all summer now. *
Okay, one more thing. Part of the stress of managing both activities stems from the fact that I commute by bus into work. I keep my paddle and PFD at the office, so I don't have to carry them in twice a week, thank GOD. I have to bring everything else for the day with me, though, which means trying to be focused and competent at 6:30 in the morning, pre-coffee. Some days are better than others. Anyway, I've been riding various Portland-area buses into downtown for four years. About 90% of the time, everything runs smoothly and I'm a happy camper. The bus is on-time, it's not unbearably crowded, no one is shouting into their cell phone about their genital warts (oh yes, that has happened). But that other 10%...damn. Those times make me wish I had "00" status and the attendant license to kill. I would be tough but fair in meting out justice. Last night was one of those days. Rather than re-hash it all and get my blood pressure back up, let's just say that thanks to Trimet I got an extra two-mile "cool-down" walk in a frigid wind, I learned all about why a profoundly unattractive woman is fighting with her boyfriend (FYI, he hasn’t paid his share of the rent), and got home 36 minutes late. Sigh. It's probably a good thing I wasn't armed.
Monday, April 20, 2009
It was the best of runs, it was the worst of runs. (Not that kind of runs, people.)
Luckily the long run (13 miles) was the great one. My social calendar was packed on Saturday so I ran early. The day started off cool and overcast, so I was glad I brought a jacket. I kept it on until the last three miles or so, when the sun came out enough to leave me with some awkward little tan lines. I wore my watch but was determined not to focus on my pace; my only goal was to finish in under two hours (which I did – check!). Around the five-mile mark I started getting that tired feeling I've been having. But I ran through it and by the time I headed back from Gresham I was feeling good. Actually I was feeling GREAT – I was in the zone something fierce, and the last five miles or so flowed by with hardly any effort on my part at all. And NO tightness, not even in the usual long-run spots. Plus the mountain was back from winter hiding, and looking very postcard-y, and everything was blooming and pretty and smelling pleasant, plus the bikers were out in full force (mrrrrow!). I love runs like that, and of course it was a big confidence booster.That's why I'm not letting Sunday's awful run bother me. I woke up really feeling those 34 miles in the bank already. I decided to put off my run until later in the day, hoping I'd get some pep back. But 'twas not to be. It was partially my own stupid fault too – I was dehydrated, and decided that running during the hottest part of the day would be nice, not torturous. So I was tired, thirsty, sore, really hot, and my stomach hurt. I was supposed to make it 6 miles but I only clocked 4.5. Not worried though – I'm proud that I made it to 38.5 miles the week after running exactly 0. I've also decided that I'm not a six-day a week type of runner. Too much wear and tear on the gams, plus the bother of fitting runs into my work & boat practice (& social) schedule, wrangling multiple changes of clothes in my gym bag, etc. I prefer doing longer runs four times a week versus running every day. I'm learning!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Getting better all the time
I ran 6 miles outside after work on Tuesday, risking the erratic spring weather. It was one of those sunny-raining-hail-sunny days. Luckily the hour I was out on the Springwater was dry. The sun chose to make an appearance as I was crossing the Hawthorne Bridge and staring right at it, which I didn't appreciate. But it's silly (and risky) to complain about the sun coming out, so I'll stop. Portland needs all the vitamin D it can get right about now.
I didn't have to take any walking breaks, but in the middle I slowed down noticeably before bouncing back in last two miles. My right foot started hurting, though, boo. I'm hoping it was random foot pain and not something that will start nagging. Yesterday was a rest day, which was slightly weird – felt like I was playing hooky. But I'll run every other day this week, so I milked it and did nothing but take a walk at lunchtime. I have a feeling that I'll be exhausted by Sunday.
I didn't have to take any walking breaks, but in the middle I slowed down noticeably before bouncing back in last two miles. My right foot started hurting, though, boo. I'm hoping it was random foot pain and not something that will start nagging. Yesterday was a rest day, which was slightly weird – felt like I was playing hooky. But I'll run every other day this week, so I milked it and did nothing but take a walk at lunchtime. I have a feeling that I'll be exhausted by Sunday.
*
I was impulsive this morning and signed up for the Timberline Marathon in September (view from the start line at right). I really like trail running, and hopefully this will motivate me to do more of it this summer. I've been thinking about the race and how I'll fit training into my summer schedule, plus doing some rumination on running in general. I like running, obviously, or I wouldn't spend so much time doing & talking & thinking about it. What I don’t like about marathon training is feeling worn down. I think that if I varied my activities more and ran less I would feel better. (Not a new idea I realize, but a new approach for me.) I'm going to stick with my planned schedule for Newport, but try a new approach for Timberline. Rather than strictly follow a daily schedule like I've done so far, I'm going to play this one a little looser. I think I'll have a long-run plan for weekends but let the rest of the week shape up however I want it to. I want to do more weight training and cross-training (and if I bike commute like last year, that's a solid built-in workout every day). I think I'll find it more fulfilling to have a fun, relaxing, diverse summer than to have a few minutes' faster time in a race. Guess we'll see!
I was impulsive this morning and signed up for the Timberline Marathon in September (view from the start line at right). I really like trail running, and hopefully this will motivate me to do more of it this summer. I've been thinking about the race and how I'll fit training into my summer schedule, plus doing some rumination on running in general. I like running, obviously, or I wouldn't spend so much time doing & talking & thinking about it. What I don’t like about marathon training is feeling worn down. I think that if I varied my activities more and ran less I would feel better. (Not a new idea I realize, but a new approach for me.) I'm going to stick with my planned schedule for Newport, but try a new approach for Timberline. Rather than strictly follow a daily schedule like I've done so far, I'm going to play this one a little looser. I think I'll have a long-run plan for weekends but let the rest of the week shape up however I want it to. I want to do more weight training and cross-training (and if I bike commute like last year, that's a solid built-in workout every day). I think I'll find it more fulfilling to have a fun, relaxing, diverse summer than to have a few minutes' faster time in a race. Guess we'll see!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Plans Derailed
So, I'm alive. And I made it through the half-marathon, more on that below. But I spent the entirety of last week prostrate with an awful flu. AN AWFUL, TERRIBLE, NO-GOOD FLU, just to make sure we're clear. I haven't been that sick in years. I had lots of time to think about it while holding very still in bed, and the last time I felt so totally shitty was 2002. And that was just a 36-hour stomach bug – I can't remember the last time I was laid up for a full week. It was back when my mommy would bring me OJ and cold washcloths. I'm still nowhere near one-hundred percent, but at least I'm bathed and out of my PJs.
I didn't run at all last week. Not once. In fact if you add up the steps I took around the house (and occasionally to the mailbox) you probably don't even get a tenth of a mile. Now luckily last week was my mid-training recovery week, where I was scheduled to drop down in mileage. The longest run I missed was eight miles. But. A week of forced immobility is not the same as a recovery week. Today I tried to get back on schedule and ran five miles on the treadmill. Correction: ran most of five miles. I stopped at 2.75 and 4 miles to take cough breaks (sorry everyone near me – I'm not contagious anymore, promise) and get my HR down. At this point the last thing I want to do is drag out my recovery by pushing too hard. (I'm sure it doesn't help that I ate approximately nothing last week.) But I don't feel like I can take another week off and catch back up. So I'm going to take as many walk breaks as I need, but hit the mileage. I still have six weeks to convalesce fully. Unless I get to feeling really good really fast, I'm throwing my time goals for the marathon out the window. New goal will just be to beat the current PR.
Speaking of PRs, I did manage to wrest one from Race for the Roses, despite feeling distinctly wilted. 1:50:05, and if you think that :05 haunts me, you are correct. I did decide to race without my watch and paid the terrible price. Damn five seconds. I stuck with the 8:30 pace group for the first eight miles or so, until we turned on to the out-and-back section on Naito. The pace leader (who otherwise did a fantastic job) had a tendency to hurry through water stops. I think that's fine when you’re spread out like most of the mass of runners, but there were quite a few people sticking with him, and when we came to an aid station we overwhelmed them. Since I wasn't carrying anything I was careful to get enough liquids which meant having to hustle and catch up with the group afterward. I wanted to build up a little lead on him so that I could take my sweet time at the stops. Plus I was feeling okay, like I could go faster. So I pulled away and spent the final five miles (once again) trying to outrun annoying talkers behind me. They have every right to talk on the course, good for them, whatever. It's still annoying.
I didn't finish much ahead of the pace group, maybe 90 seconds. But it was enough for a PR, so I'm happy-ish. Still bummed that I was sick, because I know I have more in me. But what are ya gonna do? After finishing I met up with Tina and Dan, who'd run the 5k (and placed in their age groups – woohoo! spinny medals!). I was feeling progressively worse and developing a fever so I headed home. Or would've headed home if the Max was running. Instead I waited on the platform for an hour until an accident was cleared. Then I headed home. After a shower I parked myself on the couch, and pretty much didn't move for six days. All-in-all, not my best race.
PS - I did race in the new Mizunos. No problemos.
I didn't run at all last week. Not once. In fact if you add up the steps I took around the house (and occasionally to the mailbox) you probably don't even get a tenth of a mile. Now luckily last week was my mid-training recovery week, where I was scheduled to drop down in mileage. The longest run I missed was eight miles. But. A week of forced immobility is not the same as a recovery week. Today I tried to get back on schedule and ran five miles on the treadmill. Correction: ran most of five miles. I stopped at 2.75 and 4 miles to take cough breaks (sorry everyone near me – I'm not contagious anymore, promise) and get my HR down. At this point the last thing I want to do is drag out my recovery by pushing too hard. (I'm sure it doesn't help that I ate approximately nothing last week.) But I don't feel like I can take another week off and catch back up. So I'm going to take as many walk breaks as I need, but hit the mileage. I still have six weeks to convalesce fully. Unless I get to feeling really good really fast, I'm throwing my time goals for the marathon out the window. New goal will just be to beat the current PR.
Speaking of PRs, I did manage to wrest one from Race for the Roses, despite feeling distinctly wilted. 1:50:05, and if you think that :05 haunts me, you are correct. I did decide to race without my watch and paid the terrible price. Damn five seconds. I stuck with the 8:30 pace group for the first eight miles or so, until we turned on to the out-and-back section on Naito. The pace leader (who otherwise did a fantastic job) had a tendency to hurry through water stops. I think that's fine when you’re spread out like most of the mass of runners, but there were quite a few people sticking with him, and when we came to an aid station we overwhelmed them. Since I wasn't carrying anything I was careful to get enough liquids which meant having to hustle and catch up with the group afterward. I wanted to build up a little lead on him so that I could take my sweet time at the stops. Plus I was feeling okay, like I could go faster. So I pulled away and spent the final five miles (once again) trying to outrun annoying talkers behind me. They have every right to talk on the course, good for them, whatever. It's still annoying.
I didn't finish much ahead of the pace group, maybe 90 seconds. But it was enough for a PR, so I'm happy-ish. Still bummed that I was sick, because I know I have more in me. But what are ya gonna do? After finishing I met up with Tina and Dan, who'd run the 5k (and placed in their age groups – woohoo! spinny medals!). I was feeling progressively worse and developing a fever so I headed home. Or would've headed home if the Max was running. Instead I waited on the platform for an hour until an accident was cleared. Then I headed home. After a shower I parked myself on the couch, and pretty much didn't move for six days. All-in-all, not my best race.
PS - I did race in the new Mizunos. No problemos.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Race weekend!
It's been too long since I raced. Glad it's here, even if it means getting up at 5 (shudder) 30 (tremble) AM (Noooooo!) on a weekend. And the Portland weather is actually going to cooperate, knock on wood: this weekend is forecast sunny with highs in the mid-60s. Of course, when we start running at 7 it will be dark and 45 degrees. Still. It's better than dark, cold, AND rainy. My friends (and fellow Newport racers-to-be) Tina and Dan are running the 5k, which starts half an hour after the half. If Tina gets near her 5k PR, she could easily be one of the top in her age group – go Tina!I'm giving myself two rest days, as usual. It's worked for me before, and given how worn-out I've been feeling it can't hurt. I checked out the course and the aid station maps. No water belt necessary, and I'm debating whether or not to wear my watch (if I forget it again, the issue is obviously moot). I don't want to obsess about my time, so I think I might skip it. There is an 8:30/mile pace group in this race, which I'm going to join at packet pick-up. 8:30 is two seconds faster than my PR in the half, so if I can stick with them I'll PR by 26 seconds (it still counts!!), and if I feel good at the half I can try for a little negative split. It would be awesome to get something in the 1:40s but I'm going to listen to my bod and not push things too much. Particularly since my schedule has me running on Monday next week.
As much as I'm looking forward to this race, I'm also very frustrated right now. I KNOW I was on track for a PR before I got sick – I ran a 13-mile training run at 8:22 and felt dandy. The desire to PR is still extremely strong, even though I had to dramatically scale back my speed in training. I'm really trying to be positive and not beat myself up over it, but dangit, I want a PR. Oh well. The noble truth of suffering is good for my spiritual health.
*
I think I need new shoes. I made the mistake of not tracking the mileage on my current Mizunos, but I'm pretty sure 500 has come and gone. I'm even thinking about running the race on Sunday in new shoes. I know, I know – bad idea. But I've been wearing the same model of shoe for three years. And it's only 13 miles, right?...
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
We're a big bunch of masochistic weirdos
I had to jog 50 feet to catch the bus this morning and my legs complained. Boo. It's ironic that I run so much in training that I can't actually run in real life when I need to.
Yesterday was typical spring weather – dreary, with rain showers all day. So I was at the gym come five to bang out six miles. The gym crowds have thinned since January but wet weather can still bring them inside in droves (course I'm part of the herd too - moo). I try to avoid doing more than four miles on the treadmill after work because once I cross the mystical thirty minute barrier I become a target for gymsters on the hunt for a cardio machine. Personally, I'd rather wait five minutes than interrupt someone else's workout. But life has taught me that not everyone feels the same. And I do start to feel guilty when someone is waiting and my workout time starts creeping up toward 50 minutes. Not guilty enough to get off the treadmill, but you know - a little twinge.
I started off easy and worked out the kinks I still have from whatever it was I did to myself two weeks ago. I did four miles at about 6.6, then bumped up to 6.8, and for the last mile put the pace back up to 7.2. I hit more kinks as I increased the pace, but once I'd been running for a few minutes they melted away. Happiness. Something momentarily horrifying happened right afterward though. I was walking toward the cool-down area and stopped to pick up an exercise mat on the floor. As I stood up I stumbled and somehow jammed my foot in a way that caused EXCRUCIATING pain to engulf the top of my left foot. I yelped and nearly fell over (in my usual graceful fashion). It hurt the whole time I was stretching, anytime I bent the foot, and while I gimped back to the lockers. I was, of course, panicked, and ready to call my chiropractor post-haste.
Once I got other shoes on though, it nearly vanished. And this morning, even wearing my running shoes, it was barely a whisper. Apparently it was just random ghostly agonizing pain. Goody!
Yesterday was typical spring weather – dreary, with rain showers all day. So I was at the gym come five to bang out six miles. The gym crowds have thinned since January but wet weather can still bring them inside in droves (course I'm part of the herd too - moo). I try to avoid doing more than four miles on the treadmill after work because once I cross the mystical thirty minute barrier I become a target for gymsters on the hunt for a cardio machine. Personally, I'd rather wait five minutes than interrupt someone else's workout. But life has taught me that not everyone feels the same. And I do start to feel guilty when someone is waiting and my workout time starts creeping up toward 50 minutes. Not guilty enough to get off the treadmill, but you know - a little twinge.
I started off easy and worked out the kinks I still have from whatever it was I did to myself two weeks ago. I did four miles at about 6.6, then bumped up to 6.8, and for the last mile put the pace back up to 7.2. I hit more kinks as I increased the pace, but once I'd been running for a few minutes they melted away. Happiness. Something momentarily horrifying happened right afterward though. I was walking toward the cool-down area and stopped to pick up an exercise mat on the floor. As I stood up I stumbled and somehow jammed my foot in a way that caused EXCRUCIATING pain to engulf the top of my left foot. I yelped and nearly fell over (in my usual graceful fashion). It hurt the whole time I was stretching, anytime I bent the foot, and while I gimped back to the lockers. I was, of course, panicked, and ready to call my chiropractor post-haste.
Once I got other shoes on though, it nearly vanished. And this morning, even wearing my running shoes, it was barely a whisper. Apparently it was just random ghostly agonizing pain. Goody!
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