track fan

AM: 8 miles, very hilly.  Pretty warm (90F).

Shoulder feels better today ... only hurts when I move it, instead of all the time! 

PM: easy 4. 

I had to cut it a couple miles short today because it was 101.4F and sunny.  It was hot. It was hot.  

My fault, I got up a little late and did not start this run until 9AM -- which is way too late for the summer ... errrrr .... fall ;-) 

AM: (9.5 miles).  I am up to 12 x 1` w/1` recovery.  

PM: easy 4.

It is cooling off!!  98F high today! 

easy peasy ... Wednesdays are hard days for me at work ... my classes start early, and not much time in between them to prep for the harder of my classes.  yikes.  

AM: (10 miles). last 10` hard.

PM: easy 4.

Monsoon rains have been awesome this summer ... only downside is I can trapped between flooded washes when I drive ... still ... fun, and beautiful! 

1:08:34.  Nice morning -- humid, but much cooler than usual!

AM: (8 miles, 1:13:23)

PM: easy 4.

Mileage is not increasing like I had hoped, but with my crazy schedule right now, I am very happy with whatever I can get!  

I hope you are all doing well! 

2:10:43.  Hot ... hot ...  but I can't complain, it has been worse - and I did not get out until 10AM, which a couple of months ago would have been deadly ;-).  

AM: (10 miles, 1:29:32).  Ran the last 10` fast.

PM: easy 4. 

63 mins or so ... slow, but actually a pleasant run!!

AM: (1:27:58).  30wu/30cd 12 x 1` w/ 1` recovery. 

PM: easy 4.

So, my faster bits are faster this week, I have been concentrating more ... I am settling in to the semester from hell, getting into the groove, so I am not quite as stressed when I run.  I am torn, at my age you really don't want time to go by quickly -- but I can't help but look forward to this semester being over with ;-).  I am so busy that I find myself holding my breath sometimes! 

1:05:03.  Very hilly, I did my "radiation run" - the hilly run that did I almost every day while I was going through radiation treatment this summer.  I am so very happy to say that today I ran it nearly 5 mins faster than I did during this time. This is a milestone week for me.  I think I am breaking out of my, not clinical but serious - non-training-induced, depression - that many of you might not have known that I have had ;-).  

I have been sad because I missed my key marathon last year (Houston) because of a stupid sinus infection, which in the end I should have just done anyway, and had I known what was to come I would have.  I missed my back-up marathon (Woodlands Marathon) because of a diagnosis of  very early stage breast cancer (I feel compelled to point out the early part - because  we need to educate people that breast cancer still in fact kills and is *not* "the best cancer to get" for many women - even though MINE was - and I am lucky indeed).  I then missed an entire 6 months of "training" and "racing" because of surgeries and treatment for said breast cancer.  I then had what would end up being unrealistic expectations at how long it takes to recover from said treatments/surgeries.  I really really thought that I would have 3 months to train for a 50K for my 50th birthday (I mean, I thought, I finished radiation in early July, I should have had July-August-September to train, no problem) -- but, I did not think that it would take well over 2 months (and counting) to recover from the tissue damage caused by the surgeries and radiation.  I am so very lucky, I will have to admit, I have been able to run every day through the whole ordeal (except for the couple weeks after surgery, of course).

Hallelujah -- this week was the FIRST week that I actually ran two runs in the same week without pain (since March after my second biopsy)!!  I think that the exercises that I have been doing for my poor abused chest and arm muscles, and lymph system, are working!!  I had NO idea, in my defense how would I have known?, how much damage is done to underlying tissue by radiation -- nor did I realize how sensitive the lymphatic system is to invasive surgery to the chest wall.  But, now I know, and when I FINALLY realized that it had only been 2 months since finishing radiation, I actually snapped out of my depressive fog, and just concentrated on making little steps in my running improvement.  I ran a little harder on my fartlek day - I ran the last 10` of my Tuesday run a little harder than my usual pace.  And, this week I felt good, this week I made small, but measurable,  improvements.  And, I think I am finally at peace with that.  

... and that, is that ;-) ... I think that I can turn 50 with the past year being done, and looking forward to better year this year ... albeit a little more slowly than I had hoped!

Happy Trails bloggers! 

AM: (8 miles, 1:12:45).  I ran by to see Coco and Big Boy today -- and give them some carrots  ... Coco actually "neighed" at me ... it was cool.  She looks so much better than she did 3 weeks ago (when they thought she might die and her temperature was sky high).  I think we ALL feel better now that it is normally hot, rather than "are you serious?"ly hot.  

PM: easy 4.

SO happy to hear of the results from Top of Utah today!!  I haven't yet heard about Tom and Kim, but I did hear the most awesome results of "our" Jake (winner!!! in 2:22:12) and through the grape-vine, I heard allie was 3rd and Rachelle was 5th!!!  STUPENDOUS ladies -- you rock big time!!

Post em up bloggers, post em up!

(happy Saturday) 

2:12:45.  Wow.  Maybe it is that it was only 80F, or maybe it is that my chest/shoulder problems are better, maybe it is the inspiration of all of our runners at TOU yesterday - but, I will take 4 mins faster than the last time I ran this any ole day! 

Hilly, sunny (but not mid 90F), I am a happy person today. 

Ritz ran a 1:00:56 in Philly today -- I am hoping that he will, despite the naysayers, be able to run a good race in Chicago!  Yes, the winner will likely run in 2:04 - 2:05, but if Ritz can run a solid 2:08 it would not surprise me - and would be great to see!!   

The CVS 5K (USA Championships) were today and Ben True and Molly Huddle took the honors (13:52, 15:30, respectively).  

I am so excited about this years cross-country championships -- there are some incredible teams shaping up!!  I love NCAA races in the fall!!

Happy Sunday bloggers, rest well! 

AM: (10 miles, ? ~1:28:xx - 1:30:xx) other than being stressed about work, I felt pretty good again today - 75F is sooooo nice to run in!  I am going to have to break out the long sleeves soon ;-) he he.

PM: easy 4 - it will be closer to 95F on this one, lest I forgot what heat feels like, but at least the sun won't be out!

I hope you are all doing well, and all our awesome FRB marathoners are recovering from this weekend!! 

1:02:45.  Whew, what a long day that was ... taught my two classes and then was in meetings until 6PM.  I had to go to dinner with Dean - with some of his work people - normally this would have been fun, but I was exhausted and getting home at 11PM was not really what I had in mind.  Oh man, when did I get so old?  AND, I am not even 50 yet ;-).

Happy Humpday bloggers! 

AM: (9.5 miles, 1:18:42).  Man oh man, I am glad to get that out of the way!  My first "stamina" workout since last February! 20:24wu/19:57cd +  1` 2` 3` 4` 4` 3` 2` 1` w/equal recovery -- on my usual hilly terrain.   Doesn't really look like much I write it down, but it is actually a challenging workout when you aren't used to running fast!  It was great though, I don't know the pace, but it doesn't matter ... I ran hard, held on when it hurt, and now I feel a little more confident about getting back into it! yea.  

PM: easy 4.

I hope you are all training hard, but taking time to enjoy the Fall!!! 

1:06:34.  Radiation run!  good day - we are heading to Phoenix to see John Ball -- it has been too long.   I am happy to say I did in fact have a little "post workout" fatigue today -- it was heavenly!!

Happy Thursday bloggers.

Update, holy cow, I am SORE.  John worked on my lower back and my hip ... and then he worked on my shoulder/arm (scar tissue from surgery, etc.).  I swear, it hurt so bad I was crying.  But almost immediately I could raise my arm above my head!!! WHOOOHOO! It has been months !months!  since I could do that!!  Yea baby! 

AM: (8 miles, 1:12:46).  This morning I had a muscle cramp near my shoulder blade!!  Yikes, I have never ever heard (or felt) anything like that before!  It is residual from the work that John did yesterday ... apparently, if you pectoralis muscles get damaged it can cause a lot of trouble not only from your collarbone to the bottom of your ribs (hence why I couldn't breath well) - but to your shoulders and even upper back.  Consequently, John worked the whole area in my upper back yesterday - today I am very sore, but still I can breath and use my arm better than I have for well over 5 months, it is like a huge weight has been lifted (literally ;-) )!!

PM: easy 4.

Off to work I go (I have to make up all the work I missed driving up to Phoenix yesterday!).

Happy Saturday bloggers.

2:16:01.  Ugh.  98F when I finished, luckily, the sun was not full out (sort of partially hazy).  Plus, because it has been "cooler" here the past 2 weeks it did not feel quite as hot as it did during the full height of summer after a month of 116F.  Still, it was hot.  

Good news was, I felt pretty good - albeit hot.  Finished strong ... and felt pretty darn good. Yea.

I had a conversation with Dean today -- our current life just isn't working.  We work all the time, and hardly ever spend any time together.  The exception was the 4 hours we spent together driving to and from Phoenix (well, and any work related social events we have to attend - like faculty recruitment dinners and the like).  Anyway -- I am making a change in my life (with my new job) -- and it may be on the horizon that Dean will have to make a change in his too ... because I am not liking him working 7 days/week  any more than I am liking me do it.  And, both of us are always stressed out, we don't sleep well because of it ... and well, "things have to change".

Happy Sunday bloggers! 

AM: (10 miles, 1:24:36).  Last 20` were at 7:30-7:40 pace (I could only "clock" the last little over 2 miles, I ran it 18:48 out and 16:08 back - rolling hills).  Ran about 85%, with the hills I mainly wanted to run a comfortably strong pace.

PM: easy 4, in the dark ... in the park ... with no moose ... or a goose ...

1:04:32.  Happy to say Dover the drafthorse is not dead!  I ran by his corral today and he was there!!  I don't know where he has been, but is most definitely is alive -- yea!!

So busy.  I will catch up soon!

Hope you are all well!! 

AM: (9.5, 1:24:32).  29:43wu/29:32cd + 12 x 1` w/1` recovery.  I have been feeling pretty good about going forward with training.  I do feel that my limiting factor right now is neuromuscular rather than lung (especially since I can now breath a little better - thanks to john ;-)).  

PM: easy 4. 

Feeling groovy ...  hope you are too!! 

1:04:46.  Radiation run ... feeling pretty darn good.   My legs are finally adjusting, again, and I feel pretty normal! yea!!

I hope you are all running well!! 

AM: (8 miles, 1:12:05).  Baby steps -- it looks like baby steps, but 40 seconds faster than earlier this month ... effort is very easy (65-70% effort), legs feel good.  I am feeling more optimistic than I have in 6 months! yea!

PM: easy 4.

I finally feel ready to make new running goals!  We are heading up to Flagstaff next week (for "someones" 50th birthday) and I plan to meet with Greg and schedule my training for the next 6 months or so.  I feel like I have a solid base now, maybe one more month of prep before I hit the track, but I feel like I can handle some training stress.

Goal:  get elite status at the Woodlands marathon (last year I missed this by 31 secs, cut-off for 40-49 year olds was 1:34:00, and I had a 1:34:31) -- now that I am 50 the cut-off is a 1:42:00 1/2.  I am talking to the race director now, trying to figure out whether they will use my race from last year, or if I need to "qualify" again before then.   It is ok, either way.  I do need to run some races as a check of my fitness level, but there are some fun ones that I want to do (like the "Chocolate 15K") - but if I have to run a 1/2,  I will need to choose a slightly different set of races.  ANYWAY -- all I want is an elite start (and good porta potty access), and if they comp my race fee it would just be gravy.   My goal is to win $$ at this race ... if I can just get into the same shape I was in last December I think this is an attainable goal - since I would have been smack dab in the middle of the masters winners.  SO -- I probably won't know until I jump into some races, but I am ready to give it shot -- My goal for last year was a sub 3:20 marathon, and based on my half-marathon, I was on the way to be able to do that --  if my body co-operates, my goal is to try for it again this year!!

There you have it.

I hope your goals are working out, and I hope you are enjoying your weekend!! 

1:16:54.  whew.  hard hard run -- very very hilly, 1/2 of it on trails and the other half on roads.  Very pretty though.  Only mid-80s, so pretty darn cool. 

The last 2 miles are straight uphill, luckily, I felt pretty strong all the way!  YIPEE!

Happy Sunday bloggers!! 

YEA!!  I am in!!  I just got invited as an elite athlete to the Woodlands Marathon  they took my 1/2 marathon time from last year to qualify me for elite status as a Grandmaster (50+ years old)!  Elite start + entry comp'd for sure, possibly housing too.  So excited.  Now I have to seriously start training!!