track fan

2:14:04.  I ran my "flat" route for the last time for a few months.  It was overcast today, and I got out earlier than I have been (since it is hot now again) so it was more pleasant than my long runs have been for a few weeks now.  But, when I saw my schedule, I told Dean where I was going to run, and he did not like it.  There are a lot of bushes around the trails at this place, and he was worried about snakes.  You know, it is not that he doesn't love me, but he generally never worries about me, no matter where I am running alone and even late at night ... sometimes when it is really hot and get out late in the morning he worries a little, but this time he was pretty worried.  SO ... I was a a little worried too.  And then, of course, 3 mins!! 3 mins!! into the run I see a snake! It was a rattlesnake, not quite as big as the one I saw last year, but he was moving right across the trail.  I stopped until he was pretty far from the trail (I don't think he saw me) and then walked far out into the brush until I passed him, and then kept going.  The whole rest of the run I was hyper-vigilant, every stick was suspect!  The worst times were when I was climbing out of washes, they are usually pretty steep, lots of bushes and trees, and many of them have sharp switchbacks which means there are blind corners - and then, of course since it is uphill I am running pretty hard to get up - and even if I saw a snake I am not sure I could stop quickly.  The good news is that we are not prey for them, so it is not like they are waiting for you to run by, you just have to avoid stepping on them, or startling them -- which is easy to do if you scan the trail in front of you.  But, Dean is right, this trail is not good for running this time of year ... best to wait until October or so ... sigh.

Lot's of cactus are in bloom, I took some pictures during my cool-down walk -- I will post the link tomorrow.  

Have a wonderful Sunday with your families!  GOOD LUCK BOSTON RUNNERS! 

So proud and happy for all of our Boston bloggers!  Congratulations!!  Now go rest!

I am posting new flower pictures here ....

AM: (9 miles, 1:14:25).   30:52wu + strides/29:06cd.  2 mile tempo (7:16, 7:10).  My tempo range is 7:04-7:23 and I wanted to stay closer to my 1/2 marathon pace (7:20); this wasn't hard, but I was working to stay on pace. It was very hot and though I was trying to stay on the slower end of the range, I wanted to get out of the sun so I found myself speeding up a little just to be done.  I was happy to see this workout on the schedule today, I feel like I am in good shape but I just don't feel like I have dialed in my 1/2 marathon pace yet - and with less than 12 days from the race it makes me nervous.  I am so dialed in to 10K pace these days that I really feel I need to spend a lot more time at 1/2 marathon pace so I can get into the groove early on in the race.  On Thursday I have my last workout that "counts" - and while I feel like I am actually in better shape than I was last year, I am not nearly in as good of 1/2 marathon shape as I was last year.  Thursday I am supposed to part of the workout at 1/2 goal pace - and I have no idea what to expect.  So, I will assume about the same as last year and hope like heck that at mile 9 I can drop it down a notch and use some of my new found 10K speed -- haha, such that it is ;-).

PM: (4 miles easy). 

Such an exciting day yesterday!  Our fastrunningbloggers had a great day!  Paige Higgins (a McMillan Elite runner) was the first American finisher at Boston -- and was just signed by Saucony -- which means now she can train full-time and prepare for the Olympic trials!  

I hope you are all having beautiful Spring days!! 

53:43.  Beautiful day, a lot cooler this morning since a storm is blowing through.  I forgot how much nicer 66F and cloudy is from 80F and sunny!  Ran up the Yeatman trail.  Pseudo-taper is upon me ... I have a lot of aches and pains too.  Two more track workouts and one more fast finish run and the rest of the days are easy and shorter than usual.  And yet, still, aches and pains.  Funny how our mind works!

I hope you are all having a wonderful day bloggers -- run well, stay healthy!
 

AM:(14 miles, 2:02:18).  27:23wu/29:00cd 8 x 1200 w/600 recover.  Another VERY windy day!   Greg wanted me to run the first 4 at target 1/2 marathon pace (7:20 pace or 5:30/1200) and then drop down the last 4 to 10K pace (7:00 pace or 5:15/1200).  The first 4 were much harder than the last 4, I wasn't paying as much attention to pace on the last 4, I checked my 400m split and then just relaxed into the last 800 ... whereas for the first 4 I check my splits every 400 ... weird.  Overall, this was much easier than my workout on March 26, those extra 5-7 seconds a lap make a world of difference! 

5:26 (3:25) (7:16 pace)

5:30 (3:23) (7:20 pace)

5:26 (3:21) (7:16 pace)

5:25 (3:26) (7:16 pace)

5:22 (3:28) (7:15 pace)

5:15 (3:25) (7:00 pace)

5:15 (3:28) (7:00 pace)

5:11            (6:55 pace).

PM: (easy 4).

It was so funny.  Yesterday, I went into work and it was about 75F, so I was wearing a cute summer dress, sandals and a sweater.  I left work at 8PM last night and it was 45F and raining.  I was freezing!!  Today it was 55F and cloudy (and windy) when I did my workout and I think it might have snowed last night in the mountains.  I love this time of year!  By this weekend it will be highs in the high 80's again.

Have a wonderful day bloggers!

57:43.  This was probably closer to 6.5 miles, but I was only supposed to run for ~50 mins so I am calling it 6 ;-).  Easy run up the Yeatman trail.  It is raining, snowing just up the road, and about 50F today.  Pretty nice day!  

Have a great weekend!!

AM: (6 trail miles, 54:35). Easy run up the Yeatman trail. We got an early start today so I could go up to Phoenix to see my friend and ART doctor extraordinare ... I have been having a lot of trouble of late, one whole side of my body from my lower back all the way down to my 2nd metatarsal of my foot has been hurting and tight. It is a nerve apparently ... John worked a little on my hip and and leg, and it feels a lot better, but unfortunately, John thinks it is just going to be that way as long as I run ... although he did show me some stretches and exactly where I should be using the trigger point ball, so I can get some pressure release myself. Then I ran into Alvina Begay and Emily Harrison from McMillan Elite - they were down from Flagstaff to see John. Alvina is running in the USA 25K Championships in a couple of weeks and Emily will be running in a fast 10K next weekend at Stanford (Cardinal Invitational - it will be live streamed, I highly recommend watching some of this meet, it is ALWAYS one of the fastest track meets of the year, here in the US).

THEN ... my day way made complete!! Dean and stopped by BURT's house on the way home. We got to meet the whole family!!! It was so much fun!! You would not believe how buff Burt looks now that he has been doing the PX stuff!! He is much taller than I thought he was going to be, and now I know where all his beautiful girls get their good looks (from their Mom), and why his lovely wife puts up with him ;-) - he is a sweetie. Seriously, his whole family is simply awesome, friendly, fun, and very nice and welcoming. I wish we could have stayed longer, but my stick-in-the-mud Dean had to get home to work, and I had to get back to run before it got dark. We got home late because despite wonderful directions from Burt, we got lost trying to find the "faster" way home (sorry Burt, I forgot to tell you what a lousy sense of direction I have, and Dean, unfortunately, listened to me instead of his instinct). All I can tell you, is all of you who are not on Burt's "bloggers I have met" list -- it is a must do for your bucket list.

He took pictures, and all I can say, is I am not photogenic and not nearly as scary in real life (am I Burt ?).

PM: 4 easy.

One more thing ... my heart goes out to all my running friends in Nashville today -- the Country Music Marathon was diverted for runners today because they had to run for cover in LP Stadium because of the tornado warnings.  Stay safe friends!  The same weather system then moved West and hit Mississippi hard, killing at least 10 people.