The Rocket is back!

April 20, 2024

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Location:

Washington,DC,USA

Member Since:

May 01, 2008

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

One marathon: 4:08; Half marathon PR: 1:48:30; Ten-miler PR: 1:23; 8k PR: 39:00; 10k PR: 46:51

Short-Term Running Goals:

Lose 10 lbs. to get in shape to run faster and --> Qualify for Boston!

Race calendar:

May 18: Capitol Hill Classic 10k (50:23)

June 14: Lawyers Have Heart 10k (48:20)

July 12: Caribbean Sounds 10k (50:23)

July 14: Bastille Day 4-miler (30:55)

July 27: Riley's Rumble 1/2 Marathon (1:48:30)

(Stress fracture/broken jaw break)

Nov 9: Veteran's day 10k (46:51!!!)

Nov 27: Alexandria Turkey Trot 5-miler

Dec 6: Gar Williams 1/2 marathon

Dec 14: Jingle All the way 10k

February 14, 2009: Myrtle Beach marathon? (goal: 3:40!!!)

Long-Term Running Goals:

Finish a 1/2 Ironman before I'm 40 years old

Finish 10 marathons in 4:00 hrs or less by the time I'm 40 years old.

Run the JFK 50-miler

Personal:

Just another single 30-year old Argentine girl living the American dream in Washington DC and trying to run faster. Graduated from Southern Utah University in 2003, then moved to DC. I have a full-time job as research economist for an association in the transportation industry and I'm attempting to get my Master's degree in Economics from Johns Hopkins, part-time, while keeping my sanity!

More adventures in my personal blog

Favorite Blogs:

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to Ukraine's Armed Forces

Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00
Adidas Supernova Sequence Lifetime Miles:						12.00

Sun, Jul 20, 2008

400 m race pace	800 m race pace	1500 m race pace	3 K race pace	5 K race pace	10 K race pace	Lactic Threshold	Aerobic Threshold	Marathon Pace	Base II	Base I	Regeneration	Total Miles
0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	16.00	0.00	0.00	16.00

Morning weight: 140.5 lbs.

Approximatelly 17-18 miles today (but walked some of it). Got up at 7 to beat the heat, but it seems a bit better than yesterday anyway. Tried on my new Nathan hydration pack and it is AWESOME, I don't even feel it!

Ran down Pennsylvania to the mall, around Jefferson, up the 395 bridge, up the Mt. Vernon trail to Roosevelt Island, refueled my water there and had a gu (took 1 hour to get to Roosevelt Island, around 6.5 miles) then got on the very difficult, rocky, technical Potomac Heritage trail for 4 miles to the Chain Bridge, had another gu 40 mins. after the first one, crossing into DC and down the C&O Canal. On the trail I passed two very fit runner guys, probably around 35 years old, and they didn't catch up with me until Fletcher's Boathouse - that was a nice confidence boost. By the time I got to Fletcher's I was not feeling much energy, very sluggish. I started walking a lot. I know it was mental, didn't feel pain and though it is about 90 degrees, I was drinking water and having gels... I started having very negative thoughts, that I can't do it, that I'm too fat and won't be able to get any faster, I can't do anything right, etc. Then they got a little more positive, like "I should join a training group for long runs so I can keep my pace, it's the only way I'll be able to do it" (which is weird cause in my 1st marathon I trained on my own and did well - but I wasn't training for any particular time...) I walked a bit when I got to Georgetown, and ran/walked the rest of the way to the Smithsonian metro and metroed home. My weight when I got home was 139. I'm trying to think if I drank too much during the run, if maybe I should've had more gels, or why I keep boinking very often at 12-14 miles, or about 2 hours into the run. I need to focus more on my nutrition before my long runs and throughout the week, and not worry so much about gels/water during the long runs.

Overall, a better run than yesterday, but have lots to improve on.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 0.00	Weight: 0.00

Comments

From jtshad on Sun, Jul 20, 2008 at 13:45:50

Great run, and what a cool place to run! You did great and good job getting your positive thoughts back to finish it off.

From Shauna on Sun, Jul 20, 2008 at 17:21:20

Lucia, great job today! I have the same negative thoughts sometimes-you and I have a lot in common! I have a couple of suggestions: first, don't underestimate the factor heat plays in your performance. I am learning that firsthand this year. I would suggest starting your long runs closer to 5:00 or 5:30. I got out before 5:30 yesterday and started struggling at about 7:30 when it hit 90 degrees and also had to walk home. When you're running that long, your body heats up more quickly and staying cool is even more important. Also, nutrition during the week is very important, but so is fueling properly during the run. I take gels every 5 miles or so during long runs and drink water constantly, and it really helps. Aside from heat issues, I have never bonked on a long run (just in races sometimes!). You'll know you drank too much water if you can feel it sloshing in your stomach. Also, don't be afraid to slow your pace down a bit. The main goal for long runs is to just get the mileage in. Full disclosure: I sometimes have a hard time following this piece of advice!

Your running is truly inspiring: I basically chucked running completely while I was in law school (except my first marathon, for which I was severely undertrained), and I wasn't even working! The fact that you work, are in school, and still run 60 miles a week is amazing!

From Lucia on Sun, Jul 20, 2008 at 20:02:20

Thanks guys. You're right, Shauna. I keep thinking I am tough and can run in the heat with no problem, but evidently, if I want to get faster, it's better to run when it's cooler outside. Sorry to hear you had to walk home too! So you take gels that often? I'll try that next time. I get some running advice from ultrarunners and fast people who run lots and don't even drink much water in 13-14 mile runs, but, they're in a different zone than I am. Thanks for the advice!

And as for managing so many things, it's very hard. I need to focus a lot, and keep my priorities straight, and focus my "free" time in what really matters to me.

From marion on Sun, Jul 20, 2008 at 20:56:37

WOW! Your run was so cool- around all those amazing places! WOW!

From HammerinHank on Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 00:24:35

Lucia, you really have a lot of potential and you are located in a great running city. Check out the DC Road Runners Saturday Long Run (SLR) Group. They are a great group of runners who meet every Saturday morning at the Iwo Jima monument. A great support group. The DC Road Runners used to have a track workout in the early evening at Georgetown Univ. one day a week.

Check out this site: www.my-calorie-counter.com It helped me lose 23 pounds earlier this year... no problem.

Check out this site for hints on getting faster and staying injury free: www.ChiRunning.com

From Jeff (LAD) on Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 01:17:05

Shauna is right on the money, Lucia. The heat is a major factor in slowing you down, overheating, etc. Not sure what your schedule allows and the safety of the area you run in, but from mid-July through August I do a lot of night runs here after 8pm. Sounds like you're getting some good advice from these others and some good links. I'd just suggest that you get a modest carb-load meal in the night before a long run. One thing to keep in mind for your B.Q. attempt. I qualified for Boston in my first Marathon this last April, and I was totally stressed about the time so much so that almost all of my long runs were done at race pace. I overtrained by doing too many miles at too fast a pace. And I've been dealing with foot issues ever since May as a result. Stick to the plan and keep in mind that all this heat training will transfer to faster times in better conditions come fall.

From Lucia on Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 07:58:21

HH, thanks for the tips - I'm running an 8k with the DCRR; I'll ask about their SLR group. I don't have a car and the metro doesn't run early Saturdays, so I'd have to bike to Iwo Jima from Cap Hill... shouldn't be too bad, I'd be warmed up! Nice job losing 23 lbs., wow!

Jeff, running at night in my hood (aka, the Ghetto), wouldn't be a good idea... definitely better early morning... I just have to get up and go! And you're right that I need to slow down and not freak out. Thanks!

From Love2run (Christy) on Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 12:35:13

Lucia, thanks for the uplift. After yesterday I needed it, but when I read your daily entry, I felt like I was reading something I had written. I had very similiar negative thoughts and tried to talk myself out of finishing the whole 14 and then realized there is a reason I'm doing this and that is what I have to stay focused on. Also, I believe it will help for us to join a SLR group. IPods are great, but when you want to quit IPods won't encourage to keep going. Keep up the great work and

once again thanks for the support!

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