Sunday, September 24, 2006
That Wasn't So Bad
The 20 miler that is...
I wasn't sure how the beast was going to play out when the events leading up to the run went anything but smooth. I had asked for a Fuel Belt for my birthday but did not get one so, as a last minute effort I tried to catch up with April Anne and borrow hers (since she is on hiatus). That didn't work out and then I couldn't get in touch with the host of the run to find out the route to plant my Powerade and Clifshots so I began to worry about hydration and whether I was going to be prepared. Then the morning of I was late to the meet up spot which caused a rushed and discombobulated start.
Once the running began the morning began to smooth out. I started slow in the back of the pack and found my rhythm comfortable immediately. Until it started to rain that is then I played the hot/cold game- shirt on, shirt off, sleeves up, shirt off, high beams on, well, you get the picture. Immediately I blamed the Running Chick for she has doomed all that run with her for rain on 20 milers and marathons. The miles ticked by and before I knew it she was calling back to me to remind me to eat. I took my first Clifshot at mile 7 and then another at 11. At mile 14 we said goodbye to the other runners and I watched Di speed off for her last 4 miles at MP. I plugged in my Ipod and enjoyed my collection of songs as I trudged on for the last 6 miles. I was so engrossed in the tunes that I missed my turn and by the time I realized it and turned back I had added on an extra mile and change on to the run. I took my last Clifshot and was feeling strong. A little bit later when Di pulled up next to me in my car to say I had less than a mile to go I was floored. I felt great! I felt strong and I was almost done- PHEW!!!
After a nap, a hot shower and a good lunch it was off for my birthday finale which consisted of my closest friends, Corona and a lot of laughs. As tired as I am tonight I can't help but smile- BRING IT ON MARINE CORP MARATHON... I'm ready this time...
I wasn't sure how the beast was going to play out when the events leading up to the run went anything but smooth. I had asked for a Fuel Belt for my birthday but did not get one so, as a last minute effort I tried to catch up with April Anne and borrow hers (since she is on hiatus). That didn't work out and then I couldn't get in touch with the host of the run to find out the route to plant my Powerade and Clifshots so I began to worry about hydration and whether I was going to be prepared. Then the morning of I was late to the meet up spot which caused a rushed and discombobulated start.
Once the running began the morning began to smooth out. I started slow in the back of the pack and found my rhythm comfortable immediately. Until it started to rain that is then I played the hot/cold game- shirt on, shirt off, sleeves up, shirt off, high beams on, well, you get the picture. Immediately I blamed the Running Chick for she has doomed all that run with her for rain on 20 milers and marathons. The miles ticked by and before I knew it she was calling back to me to remind me to eat. I took my first Clifshot at mile 7 and then another at 11. At mile 14 we said goodbye to the other runners and I watched Di speed off for her last 4 miles at MP. I plugged in my Ipod and enjoyed my collection of songs as I trudged on for the last 6 miles. I was so engrossed in the tunes that I missed my turn and by the time I realized it and turned back I had added on an extra mile and change on to the run. I took my last Clifshot and was feeling strong. A little bit later when Di pulled up next to me in my car to say I had less than a mile to go I was floored. I felt great! I felt strong and I was almost done- PHEW!!!
After a nap, a hot shower and a good lunch it was off for my birthday finale which consisted of my closest friends, Corona and a lot of laughs. As tired as I am tonight I can't help but smile- BRING IT ON MARINE CORP MARATHON... I'm ready this time...
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
I Needed to Pullover
Ya know that commercial, the one that says "Life comes at you fast..." I am living it. I feel like since hubby's injury in June, (no wait since Hubby was deployed Oct '04) I have been nonstop. Taxi to Dr and PT, working, caring for the family, fitting in runs.... I couldn't wait for the "kiddies" to go back to school. I could just taste those 3 hrs of ME time in the morning. Well, it's been 3 weeks and I have yet to find the ME time. Between work and work, I've haven't gotten a thing done. Something needed to change so...
Hubby took me on a Renaissance weekend for my birthday and we had lots and lots of me time . It was fabulous. We stayed at a quaint B &B in Harwich Port, MA and spent one day on Nantucket. It was restful and relaxing and just what I needed. So this week I felt I would be recharged and ready for my runs. I was slightly disappointed when I went to do my 4x 1600's and felt like I had lead legs. The times didn't improve or slow over the 4 repeats, so I guess consistency counts for something. 20 miles on the schedule for the weekend!!!
Hubby took me on a Renaissance weekend for my birthday and we had lots and lots of me time . It was fabulous. We stayed at a quaint B &B in Harwich Port, MA and spent one day on Nantucket. It was restful and relaxing and just what I needed. So this week I felt I would be recharged and ready for my runs. I was slightly disappointed when I went to do my 4x 1600's and felt like I had lead legs. The times didn't improve or slow over the 4 repeats, so I guess consistency counts for something. 20 miles on the schedule for the weekend!!!
Monday, September 11, 2006
18 Miles Whooped My Butt
Ok... as if getting up at 5:30 on a Saturday is bad enough I had a wapping 18 miles ahead of me. The plus side was that I knew I would have company along the way. So I dragged my butt out of bed and force fed myself before heading out to meet some members of the Windham Athletic Club. There were some blogger friendly folks among the mix...the every cheery AA, Di and Beth. We headed out for a 6.5 mile trail run first with a couple nice size hills, some really wet fields and as a nice suprise the loop runs right by the house that I rented when I was at UCONN 11 years ago.
Since we were going to be running on trails and I don't have a "geeky" fuel belt I carried my Powerade for this portion of the run. For the most part that worked out fine but on the way back I could feel the strain in my neck. After dropping off some of the group, had a Clif Shot more Powerade and we headed out for another 8. This time there was water planted so no lugging water necessary. About 1 mile out I wiped my runny nose with my brand new white shirt to find I had a bloody nose- UGH and YUCK! I had the same problem last year around this time of year and never figured quite out why. It's not a gushing thing, more like a runny nose but bloody... any ideas?
Anywho... we kept on grinding and found our water about mile 5, had another ClifShot, some water and back at it. My legs were definately feeling the effects from the race on Monday and my quads felt like lead. The hills were great on the glutes but not on my mental toughness. I just wanted to be done. I couldn't think of anything else to talk about, I just kept focusing on the hill which was beating me.
Back to the car with still 3 miles to be completed I contemplated calling it a day. After all, I had to get home to get ready for my neice's 1 yr bday party and I didn't want to be out of commission for the hokey pokey!! But looking at Dianna all rearing to go I couldn't say no. 3 more miles, no big deal until we went up the BIGGEST HILL I have ever seen. I was seeing red, Dianna was fearing my anger but... we made it and I made my 18 for the day. Sore body but good peace of mind that I stuck it out, met my goal and did it on an extremely tough course. I am going to kick the MCM's a**!!!! I hope you are ready David!!!
Since we were going to be running on trails and I don't have a "geeky" fuel belt I carried my Powerade for this portion of the run. For the most part that worked out fine but on the way back I could feel the strain in my neck. After dropping off some of the group, had a Clif Shot more Powerade and we headed out for another 8. This time there was water planted so no lugging water necessary. About 1 mile out I wiped my runny nose with my brand new white shirt to find I had a bloody nose- UGH and YUCK! I had the same problem last year around this time of year and never figured quite out why. It's not a gushing thing, more like a runny nose but bloody... any ideas?
Anywho... we kept on grinding and found our water about mile 5, had another ClifShot, some water and back at it. My legs were definately feeling the effects from the race on Monday and my quads felt like lead. The hills were great on the glutes but not on my mental toughness. I just wanted to be done. I couldn't think of anything else to talk about, I just kept focusing on the hill which was beating me.
Back to the car with still 3 miles to be completed I contemplated calling it a day. After all, I had to get home to get ready for my neice's 1 yr bday party and I didn't want to be out of commission for the hokey pokey!! But looking at Dianna all rearing to go I couldn't say no. 3 more miles, no big deal until we went up the BIGGEST HILL I have ever seen. I was seeing red, Dianna was fearing my anger but... we made it and I made my 18 for the day. Sore body but good peace of mind that I stuck it out, met my goal and did it on an extremely tough course. I am going to kick the MCM's a**!!!! I hope you are ready David!!!
Friday, September 08, 2006
Chasing Skirt
Ok, here it is quick... My version of the New Haven Road Race Report!
It started with a meeting in the early morning to pick AA up and bring her to the race. The car ride was great AA was the closest to Little Miss and was "it" the whole ride, she was even asked to draw the perfect pic of my van ;).
When we arrived at the race we semi quickly met up with Dianna, Jon, David and Beth. Picked up the race number and visited the portapotties and then Di was racing us off to the start. I of course ghaffed her off and took the more laid back approach which I payed for after clocking in a 9:45 first mile- ughh! David and I decided we could make up the time in the next 11 miles and started chatting with Beth about the other skirts on the course. There were some really short ones, there were some tennis skirts, but I decided I liked mine the best.
The miles were flying by as David and I talked about life, life in the military, the upcoming Marine Corp Marathon and tattoos. Soon we were on the 10k point and David told me to go on he would find me at the beer tent. The next 6.2 were not as fun and I was wishing for my music, a race day friend or some other distraction. My pace became a bit erratic going from 8:10 to 8:41 back to 8:16. At mile 8ish I passed another girl wearing a Running Skirt, she gave me a "Nice skirt" and I nodded with a smile and kept on trucking. We later met up in the beer line and she agreed that our running skirt was the best and most comfortable.
I was able to pull off a PR and ran a pace of 8:37 which I am very pleased with. Must be all the track workouts and training long with the "speedy" Running Chick. The post race festivities which included FREE Red Hook beer, Jon's truffles, David's photography and lots of shared race stories- oh and we found Danny and his gang.
So fun, we'll see more of you next year!!!! I gotta go get ready for my 18 miler tomorrow. David, I want the full report. Remember you promised me 13.1 in DC...
It started with a meeting in the early morning to pick AA up and bring her to the race. The car ride was great AA was the closest to Little Miss and was "it" the whole ride, she was even asked to draw the perfect pic of my van ;).
When we arrived at the race we semi quickly met up with Dianna, Jon, David and Beth. Picked up the race number and visited the portapotties and then Di was racing us off to the start. I of course ghaffed her off and took the more laid back approach which I payed for after clocking in a 9:45 first mile- ughh! David and I decided we could make up the time in the next 11 miles and started chatting with Beth about the other skirts on the course. There were some really short ones, there were some tennis skirts, but I decided I liked mine the best.
The miles were flying by as David and I talked about life, life in the military, the upcoming Marine Corp Marathon and tattoos. Soon we were on the 10k point and David told me to go on he would find me at the beer tent. The next 6.2 were not as fun and I was wishing for my music, a race day friend or some other distraction. My pace became a bit erratic going from 8:10 to 8:41 back to 8:16. At mile 8ish I passed another girl wearing a Running Skirt, she gave me a "Nice skirt" and I nodded with a smile and kept on trucking. We later met up in the beer line and she agreed that our running skirt was the best and most comfortable.
I was able to pull off a PR and ran a pace of 8:37 which I am very pleased with. Must be all the track workouts and training long with the "speedy" Running Chick. The post race festivities which included FREE Red Hook beer, Jon's truffles, David's photography and lots of shared race stories- oh and we found Danny and his gang.
So fun, we'll see more of you next year!!!! I gotta go get ready for my 18 miler tomorrow. David, I want the full report. Remember you promised me 13.1 in DC...
Monday, September 04, 2006
Here is a pre race photo from the New Haven 20k Road Race that April Anne, David, Jon, Jank, Beth, Dianna and I rocked today!!!! Race report to follow soon...
