track fan

1:59:13.  Ran on my "flat" trails.  It had been a few weeks since I had run here ... I missed it.  It has rained so much the last couple of weeks that it was green today (little tiny "grass" on ground)-- but the trees are still bare and the cactus are nearly blooming yet.  I did see my first lizard ... it is not going to be long until it gets hot and the snakes come back out.  Today was spectacular, about 65F and sunny, still snow on the mountain tops.  Very pretty.   

I read a very good article by Pete Magill in Running Times.  It basically talked about how he coaches his athletes for 5Ks (he is 47 years old and just ran a 14:49 5K on the road).  Very interesting - he does a lot of things similar to Greg, the main one, and what he focused on in the article, was training people to run by effort and not time.  Based on this, when I ran my 20` hard today, I focused more on how hard I could run for 20 mins and less about how hard I was running.  It was fun.

I hope you have a wonderful day with your families today bloggers!

AM:(8 miles, 1:10:42).  Super fast finish run ;-)  I am serious, that is what Greg calls it.  Basically, I ran my hilly route and ran the last 5` (actually the last 6:15) at faster than 5K effort.  Very refreshing ;-).  My miles will be lower this week because I am going to be jumping into a 5K for a workout this weekend.  Not my idea, definitely not my idea (I hate 5Ks).  Not a PR course, likely a small PR, but not really a "solid" 5K since I am not really in 5K shape (and, I hate 5Ks). 

PM: (4 miles easy).

Busy day.  Busy week.  I have to get a lot of work done in the next couple of days because I need about 4 days to review grants - I will be heading to DC for study section (where we get together and rate grant applications) next week - yucky since because of DST they are now 3 hours ahead instead of the 2 hours they were last month when I was there.  Drats.

Have a wonderful day bloggers!  Hope is warm and sunny for your runs this week. 

1:01:19. Wow. I can't believe how fast this was. There were about 20 people out on the trail today. Dean thought they might have been part of an elder hostel group -- the cars in the parking lot were from all over the country. I felt bad because they were coming down the trail from "my" mountain and all stepped out of my way - and then after I turned around (at an insane split for this run) they all had to step out of my way again. It was good to see them out enjoying the beautiful day! Today will be our first day in the 80s. I am sad to see the "winter" end, even though there were some beautiful wildflowers in the wash(s) today.

I will have one more month of training, one more race (after Sunday) and then my "season" is over. I am not really expecting any more big things this year, I am happy with how the training (and my racing) has gone and am thinking really good thoughts about a good marathon next year. I will keep thinking 3:25 yea, 3:25 year, and maybe it will happen ;-). Anyway, after this weekend my next 1/2 marathon (Eugene?) will be more fun and less stress - since I am not really betting on any more PRs this year. I will enjoy my last months of racing/training, but am looking forward to some enjoyable base running too. Greg is coming down in April, and we will run and discuss the upcoming year, and maybe make some big picture plans based on how things went this year. I just am SO happy to be healthy and have had such a good year.

Oh, I forgot to tell you about what John was telling Dean and I last weekend. There is a USA throwing center in Phoenix (where the world and US throwers -- shot put, discus and hammer -- go to train, John works on their athletes, I am pretty sure for free). Some people bemoan the lack of support for up and coming distance runners. Compared to these guys (and women) runners have it MADE. The silver medal holder in the discus (on the womens side) can't even afford a new pair of shoes -- she was at a meet last week (where she won and threw an American record indoor) and the Nike rep was making fun of her shoes that were all taped up and scuffed. She said, "I can't afford a new pair". I am thinking about writing Stephan Cobert -- surely they are worth a Cobert bump?

Happy Hump Day bloggers!

AM: (7 miles, 1:01:15). Another beautiful run up the Yeatman trail. Not as many folks as yesterday, but still more than I am used to seeing. So, today I saw three types of wildflowers. One is a butter color, very delicate looking (I would say buttercup, but smaller than a true buttercup), the second is a similar looking but more deep orange and a little larger, and a new one (this week) is a deep blue/almost purple that kind of looks like a small daffodil. Very cool!

PM: (~3.5 miles easy).

Have a good day bloggers, may all your miles be sweet! 

Wildflower 1

Wildflower 2

I need to look at the third one again tomorrow.

43:57.  Hilly run, likely longer than 4.5 but I like to underestimate my mileage (and I was supposed to run 40 mins)  so I am logging it at 4.5.  I hardly ever run this route because it is too short for most of my runs and there are better routes for longer runs.  But, I like this one, it is very challenging with all the hills and it has some nice views.

Have a great day bloggers! 

32:01 (16:24/15:36). Decided to run down to the track (downhill) and then back up.  Pretty surprised to have negative split like that, even though it was a short and easy run.  I kept saying "trust" (trust your training, trust  your instincts, trust your body) - I think I might write this on my hand tomorrow ;-).  

 Off to try to finish my grant reviews.  I looked at the roster for the other people who will be at the review next week (about 25 people from many disciplines, mainly physicians, radiologists, physicists, and 2 statisticians including me) - these are grants studying uses of nanotechnology in cancer detection and treatment.  The other statistician is a VERY famous guy (well, in our small world he is very famous) - when I told Dean who it was he laughed really hard and said, "I can bet that is pretty intimidating isn't it?" - thanks a lot honey, it wasn't until now ;-).

I can't wait to see how everyone did in their races today!!  I am sending lots of positive energy your way!!!