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August 2012

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Location:

Tucson,AZ,USA

Member Since:

Aug 30, 2007

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Age Division Winner

Running Accomplishments:

PR's

5K: 21:26 (2005)

4 mile: 28:10 (2005)

10K: 43:33 (2010)

10 mile: 1:13:35 (2009) (1:12:15 split in 1/2 marathon, 2011)

1/2 marathon: 1:34:31 (2011)

marathon: 3:19:15 (2013)

Short-Term Running Goals:

 

3:20 marathon - Eugene Marathon, April 28, 2013 (can I say I really want a sub 3:20? but I will be happy with 3:20-3:23) -- whoohoo!

Some good intermediate races 15K - 1/2 marathon, to gauge my fitness level (done this, hit a 1:34:35 1/2 marathon in March 2013, on a hilly course)

Going after my 10 mile PR in Fall 2013

Maybe some good 10K races after the infernal Arizona summer is over! 




Long-Term Running Goals:

I want to be one of those runners who is still running in their 80s (or 90s?).  You know the ones, who look all grisley and fit?  That is what I would like!  Until then, I just want to work hard and be as fast as I can, for as long as I can.


Personal:

50 year old, trying to defy gravity and time

Used to be faculty at the University of Arizona (biostatistics).  Currently manager of the statistics and data management group for companion diagnostics (biomarkers) at Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. (Roche diagnostics).  We evaluate protein biomarkers that can be used to direct drug therapy that would be most effective based on individual characteristics (personalized medicine).

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
304.500.000.000.000.00304.50
Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
8.000.000.000.000.008.00

1:09:xx

Such a nice day (and my last in San Diego) that I couldn't resist running a little farther than usual for a Wednesday.  SO nice! 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
14.000.000.000.000.0014.00

AM: (10 miles, 1:30:04).  Hotter than I am used too ... but really not that bad!

PM: easy 4.

Good to be home, even though it is desert here ;-) 

Comments(2)
Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
7.500.000.000.000.007.50

1:06:34.  Nice and hilly ... in a hurry, again.  This time it was because I had to get home for our internet provider to come by to see why our internet was not working (because we are out in the boonies we don't have DSL or Broadband access so we have a super fast satellite provider).  Well, after much deliberation, discussion, and major technologic sleuthing ... I had unplugged the power to the connection ;-).  duh.

Have a great day bloggers! 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
12.000.000.000.000.0012.00

AM: (~8 miles, 1:11:50).  Probably a little longer than 8, but it was 96.8F (exactly ;-)) and sunny -- whew,  my first run "back" to the full-on desert heat.   

PM: easy 4

NBC did not even cover the womens 10K!!  horrible coverage, they only cover US stuff - where the US wins or qualifies, and skips everything else.   Better coverage can be found here   or here, both have  Brit announcers (who are awesome at track and field coverage).   Even for you on Macs you can get this (despite what it says when you first open it -- you can close the pop-ups and it should work -- it worked on our iMac).

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend, I have to go drink some ice now ;-). 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
15.000.000.000.000.0015.00

2:14:26.  Might have been a little longer than 15, but it was super hilly, and super hot (96F and sunny when I finished) ... I was just so happy to be able to run this difficult of a course in the heat and feel strong.  I am so lucky.

Off to watch more live feed of the Olympic track and field - with NO commercials, and ALL the running events with no breaks!!  

Happy Sunday bloggers! 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
13.000.000.000.000.0013.00

AM: (9 miles, 1:20:11).  I wanted to run longer but I am having SI joint problems (probably all the hills).  Very painful run actually ... my usual chiro is out of town, but his office (his Mom actually, who is answering his phone while he is on vacation ;-)) gave me a referral to someone else -- I liked this other guy, but he still hasn't quite fixed the problem!

PM: 4 miles easy.


Great women's 400m hurdles race and men's 1500 m race yesterday -- since classes haven't started yet, I was able to sit in my office and watch them LIVE -- soooooo cool!! 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
8.000.000.000.000.008.00

1:09:04.  I was really worried about running today, apparently my back/leg pain is sciatica and not SI joint - I found this out after visiting the "temporary chiropractor" - he adjusted my SI joint and my sacrum (that was weird ...) and although some of my leg/back felt better, the primary pain was still there.  So, I did some stretches and the "flossing" that I have uploaded to various people over the years (here), and decided to run anyway ... it was not a great run (it hurt much of the time), but it got better as I ran further.

I was thinking on my run, "I need to get a massage, where can I go? [I sort of fired one of my massage therapists last year] ..."  - - then I remembered, I had found a new massage therapist last year -- he works with the entire UofA track and field team.  I couldn't believe I had forgotten about this!!!  What a dweeb.

I have been offered a job in industry (here in Tucson).  I am very conflicted about this.  It is a very very good opportunity, both for me personally, and also the type of job that can really make a scientific difference -- quickly.  I am lucky to be able to have to make this kind of decision ... but it is hard.  There are pros and cons to any decision like this, and I have been an academic for a very long time, it is a difficult transition to the unknowns of industry ... hmmm.

Have a wonderful day bloggers!!! 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
14.000.000.000.000.0014.00

AM: (10 miles, 1:30:01).  Hot run, my leg is a little better - and I was talking myself into taking it easy today, and then I was 5 miles out ;-) oh well.

PM: easy 4 -- I saved a tortoise tonight -- it was so cool.  It was sitting next to the road and I was so worried that it had gotten hit or was sick.  So after much deliberation, and standing there staring at it, I picked it up and put it in the bushes far from the road and finished my run, when I ran back by it was gone.  If it had still been there I would have ran home, gotten my car, and brought it home until I found a rescue group.

RUDISHA RUDISHA RUDISHA ... 1:40.91  -- what can you say?  RUDISHA! warrior indeed!

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
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~63 ... in a hurry (what else is new?)

 

So, today, I had to tie my shoe.  I stopped at this metal guardrail (because I can't quite bend over to tied my shoe and need something to prop up my foot) put my foot up and see this very messy looking web.  As I followed the messy web I see a black, long legged, spider .. I say, "oh, I wonder if it has a red dot on the tummy, oh, I see it, yes it does, and oh wow, there are some huge white things in the web too"  .... yikes - yes, a huge black widow, and her babies!!  WOW.  A day after a tortoise - how cool is that?

Upset that the first thing I said to myself after seeing the gold and silver winners of the women's 1500m final was, I wonder what drugs they are on?  

 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
12.000.000.000.000.0012.00

AM: (8 miles, 1:11:25). Was so hot today, even by Tucson standards.  I think the low was 87F ... it was 105F by the time I finished.  And sunny.  I feel kind of sick right now, so I need to go drink some cold water.

I stopped by to see CoCo and BigBoy, CoCo is very sick.  She almost died last night and is getting 5liters of saline every hour all day ... her owners have to stay with her all day.  The heat is not helping .... I stood and petted her for almost an hour.

PM: easy 4,  hopefully when it is cooler.

I have to go try to find live feed of the mens 5K and womens 800 m ... have a good day bloggers! 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
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2:17:41.  So glad to be able to run this ... I got up early, and still it was 101.2F when I finished this run -- and that is the shade temperature, it feels much hotter in the sun.  But yes, it is a dry heat ;-).   I ran the hilly "Anklam Loop" down to the community college and then ran 2 loops (~35 min/loop) on the dirt trails, part of the trail has been graded as it is part of the Pima College cross-country course ... but the other parts are pretty rocky, and it is super hilly - sort of like a golf course with rock - my favorite ;-).

I saw a young woman out feeding her goats -- so cool -- she had males and milking females, plus babies!!  I am so jealous.   AND, the best thing ever?  A group of guys from New Mexico were roasting Hatch chiles at the bottom of the 2 mile hill back up to my house.  The smell gave me strength up the hill -- I can't wait for dinner tonight, we are going to buy a couple dozen and make enchiladas!!

I hope you are all having a good day.

MEB ROCKS! 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
12.500.000.000.000.0012.50

AM: (8.5).  ~29 min wu/cd + 8 x 1` w/1` recovery.  YEA ... a mini-workout!

PM: easy 4 in the rain!!  

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
8.000.000.000.000.008.00

1:10:45.  Hilly recovery run.

I am accepting my new job today.  Because I am committed to teaching 2 courses this coming Fall I won't start full-time until December/January, but I will be starting part-time in October.  Very excited, but nervous.

Happy Humpday! 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
13.000.000.000.000.0013.00

AM: (9 miles, 1:21:45).  In a hurry, and my leg is still really sore.  What the hey?

PM: easy 4.

Shopping for a new "used" car, unfortunately, with my new job comes a little commute.  

Happy Thursday bloggers!! 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
7.500.000.000.000.007.50

1:06:44.  Nice day!  It is actually 78F in the morning these days, makes all the difference!

Got a new car today - well, Dean got a new(er) used car, and I bought his from him.  Classes start on Monday - I am not ready at all.  I have two classes this fall, one of them a new class (means a lot of prep) and my PhD class (hard class, lot of prep and just hard material).  Tomorrow is new student orientation -- so I have to "meet and greet" -- then, hopefully sneak off to get some work done!  

I think I will be starting my new job 1/2 time at the end of October, and then full-time after the end of the semester (December/January).  Exciting times ahead -- well, and a little scary! 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
12.000.000.000.000.0012.00

AM: 8 miles, 1:10:43.  Early run so I could get into work!

PM: easy 4.

I have to go get caught up on everyone's blog, I hope you are all doing well!!! 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
16.000.000.000.000.0016.00

2:16:40 ... same route as last week.  It was a little cooler, but frankly it did not really feel like it ;-).  I don't feel as sick as last week afterward, so it was definitely cooler (plus I was 30 secs faster).  

I can't believe classes start tomorrow ... I have to finish cleaning my house and then prep a little - I have to remember how to teach how to do linear algebra proofs. 

 

Happy Sunday to you all!!! 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
13.000.000.000.000.0013.00

AM: (9 miles, 1:20:59).  30:20wu/30:39cd  and 10 x 1` w/1` recovery.  Nice and hot, but not as hot as last week -- probably in the 95F range.

PM: easy 4.

 

So so so so busy this week, classes have started and things are tough at the beginning of the week.  More later!

 

Happy running bloggers! 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
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1:05:32

hot ...  big storm came through ... huge ... I had to drive through some major flooded streets!! 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
14.000.000.000.000.0014.00

AM: 10 miles

PM: easy 4.

 

So busy.  I am so busy ... 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
6.000.000.000.000.006.00

6 miles - 54 mins.

Early meeting ... all day retreat, had to drive way way way  across town.  Ran early at the site of the retreat.  multiple 2 mile loops. 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
12.000.000.000.000.0012.00

AM: 8 miles (1:13:12).  Ran to see Coco and Big Boy - Coco has recovered!  Their dog, Connor, however, was bit by a rattlesnake last night - yikes, he is in the dog hospital now. There was a story on NPR the other day that said that rattlesnake bites are almost doubled this year (in humans), compared to previous years.  I guess it is probably doubled for animals too ...

PM: easy 4.

Yup, mileage is less than I wanted this week ... but seriously, I can't believe how busy I am.  I haven't gotten a full nights sleep all week, and pretty much every waking hour is work (well, and running ;-) ).  Sometimes, you just have to do what you have to do!

Happy weekend bloggers. 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
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Yikes ... I can't believe it has been almost a week without updating my mileage ... sorry bloggers.  Life is crazy right now.

It was a year on Wednesday since I lost my Mom, work is horribly busy, and I had to run around getting a drug test for my job (I did not study at all, I hope I passed ;-) ).

I did, however, run! 

I do have a confession to make, however.  I am not doing "great" - I have not been able to start training the way I had hoped because I am having some issues due to my surgery and radiation.  My chest wall and shoulder are really messed up (not uncommon) - I think I have what is called truncal lymphedema -- where the lymph system in your chest gets inflammed and causes pain and pressure.  This is due to both the surgery to remove the cancer and then the subsequent trauma of the radiation.  It "eventually" will hopefully go away, but it makes it extremely difficult for me to both move my arm (my shoulder hurts pretty much constantly and I can't put my arm up over my head because the muscles are so tight and painful) and, worse for running, I can't take a deep breath (also because of both pain and tightness/pressure).  Sometimes (not all the time) it feels like I have asthma, because if I try to take a breath I can't actually expand my lungs enough to get any oxygen in.    I  can run -- and as long as I stay about 8:30-9 min pace (where I don't have to breath hard) I can run for a long time (although after about 2 hours in the 100F heat my side swells up) -- but, I can't really run 7 min pace or faster for a long time without pain.  I am trying to stay positive, but I will admit it makes me sad.  

I am, finally, if I can find the time, going to go to a specialist in the oncology center to see if they can help me ... but, I fear it is just one of those things that I will have to "wait and see".  This stupid stuff is just the "gift that keeps on giving".  

There you have it ... part of the reason I have not been blogging much.  I am still grateful as I can be that I can run what I can ... so I try not to complain too much.

I hope you are all doing well. 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
13.000.000.000.000.0013.00

AM: 9 miles with 10 x 1` w/1` recovery -- these are getting faster every week ... my legs are getting used to the turnover.

PM: 4 miles on the track in the dark ... very late. 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
7.500.000.000.000.007.50

running early early so I can prep for my classes.  I have to run the biostat seminar today too, so I will be teaching from 10 - 3 today ... not much time in between to change gears, even though the courses are different ... here goes nothing!!

 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
14.000.000.000.000.0014.00

AM: 10 miles, 1:30:34 -- nice and cloudy this morning -- which meant it was only 85F instead of the usual 95F -- YEA!!!

 

PM: easy 4 

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
6.500.000.000.000.006.50

Early morning meeting ... beautiful day though -- 85F is LOVERLY!!

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Easy MilesThreshold MilesMarathon Pace MilesTrack speed mileageHill mileageTotal
304.500.000.000.000.00304.50
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