Denouement

Ran 5 easy, with 4 striders.  I noticed recently that my stretching causes me to breath hard and its not very relaxing at all.  I still stop and stretch after one mile and stretch again when I get home.

I went to Dr. Brady yesterday.  He worked on the same as last week, Right calf, foot and ham.  He did electro-acu on my calf this time and it hurt like the devil, even when he took the needles out.  I guess I am just a wuss.  I couldn't feel any calf tightness while running this morning, though I am sure there's some.  I sure hope I don't get any knots during the race.

Ave pace 7:45

weight

Shoe totals: Red sox: 57.25, Brooks Defyance (Blue): 475.75, Asics Stratus 2.1 (Purple) 114.35, Mizuno WaveRider (aqua) 126.03, Brooks Defyance-new (Blue): 5

No run as part of taper.  Not running sucks.

I ran the start of the St. G course with Clyde, Josse, Marcie, and Ericka.  We all wanted 3 except Clyde.

I went to Samurai 21 with Josse, Ericka, James and his wife Alison, and Clyde and Mik'l.  Had a great time.

We went to the blog party in the evening and had a great time getting to know new bloggers and getting to know my older blog friends better.

Succint version:

In second place til 19th mile, then took the lead, then was passed at about 25.5 miles to get second place.

Starting detailed version:

My hotel gave me a 2:15 wake up call on accident!!!! And I couldn't fall back asleep until 4am, then I woke up at 4:15.  Nice :(

I took the 4:40 shuttle, made it just in time to ride up the bus with the SF running group.  It rained all the way up the course.  Bad sign.  The flags at the start indicated a stiff headwind (flags straight back) another bad sign.  I warmed up .5 miles, then stretched, went potty twice but knew I was in trouble because it was a zero start morning when I toed the line.  Adam RW and Craig Green were with me for our 2:45 pace group.  By the time the race starts, the flags are still showing a bad headwind, but the flags aren't as stiffly back.  For some reason, I don't decide to adjust my target splits (2:44 pace target), because in reality I was going to try to go lower than 2:44.  This was a bad strategy.

I don't have all my splits because Adam's watch was more reliable than mine so I relied on him.

First mile 6:16 (target was 6:34) too fast! I wore a trash bag to start because it was still a steady cold rain, but I took it off after about .5 miles because the wind was too stiff and I felt like a sailboat getting pushed the wrong way.

2nd mile: 6:21 (too slow, target was 6:16), my socks are already wet through

3rd mile: 6:08 I don't get my elite bottle but just grab a cup of water/gatorade to take a swig.

4th mile: 6:05

5th mile: took a gu, plan was to alternate gus every four miles and elite bottles every four miles, so drink lots of water every four miles, and take a gu every four miles with just a swig or two of water from cups.

6th mile: 5:55 I think I need to go potty dang!

7th mile:  I go potty right before the start of Veyo, I notice my clothing is already way soaked through. (Adam waits for me faithfully outside the portapotty)

8th mile: Veyo, and I push it too hard, trying to catch the pack we had

9th mile-11th:  Start to feel bad, can't turn over legs to get the right pace for miles

12-13th mile - have a cramp, focus on breathing

14th mile - start to feel a little better, but I feel just like last year, my legs are already really sore.  This isn't supposed to happen because I am better trained this year!

15th -17th miles - start of steeper downhill, kick it into higher gear and just begin to rein in Kara Bankhead who is in front of me.  Her and I both take a portapotty break at mile 16, so I don't loose much ground on that one.

18 - reining Kara in

19 - uphill part, I pass Kara, she doesn't put up a fight

20 - now I am in the lead, Adam is rearing to leave me but I feel so dead legged I am hoping he'll stay with me, I need to go to the bathroom again!!!!

21 - I have a motorcycle leading me in, Adam leaves me at about 21

22 - at 21.5 I squat behind a guard rail, hoping I didn't give anyone behind me a show.

23 - 24 at this point I think I am keeping pace and so grateful to be leading, but legs are tired

25 - my legs are like bricks and I am slowing.  Trying to keep a fast turnover, but fading

26 - at about 25.4, I hear a guy cheering for a girl as I turn onto Main street, look back and see a new girl who looks oh so strong.  I say crap under my breath and I just let her pass me.  Should I have put up a fight?  She was going about 2 min per mile faster than me, and it was not an aerobic issue, it was a lactic acid build up, where my legs were not cooperating with my inward drive.  Still, I didn't surge much when I saw her.  She looked so strong and I felt so weak.  After I turned the corner onto the last straightaway, I find some juice for a somewhat pathetic kick, but it was a kick nevertheless.  It looked like a 2:50:40 finish, and the official time was 2:50:40.

Ok, so an assessment.  Overall, I am pleased with my time and my effort for the race.  The conditions were awful (rain and headwind the whole time, heavy clothes, heavy shoes, blue lips), Everyone's times were slower, so I guess I can't be an exception.  I didn't race for splits after mile 8, but just raced it.  Racing for place was a nice change, but the conditions that made this necessary were unpleasant.

So here's where I think I went wrong:  I met or exceeded my splits for the first 8 miles despite the weather and the potty break.  I should have started out 10 seconds per mile slower at the start, and not pushed Veyo so much.  I went out too fast 1-8, felt horrible 9-13, kicked it in gear from 14-23, then pettered out gradually from 24-26.  The race was mine to lose and I lost it.  So though overall the race went well, I made a strategic mistake at the beginning, and I wish I could have put up a better fight when my competitor came up on me.  I need to learn how to not die the last two miles.  I didn't die this bad at Ogden, so it may be the downhill miles of St G trash the legs so bad, there's no avoiding it.  Still, I feel like I have more to learn. . .

I think this might be it for me and St. G.  I feel like the course beat me instead of me beating it.  So in a way I want to come back to redeem myself, but it is tangential to my goals.  It will not be an OTQ race, and I need to train for the OTQ races and not get distracted by this race, even though it is the biggest marathon around. 

I had an ice cream cone after, got blue lips from being frozen, had a massage, then got a way sick feeling, and went to my hotel for a shower before the awards.  Came back for the awards.  Had a hamburger, fries and Dr. Pepper with Tyler and Kellie S for lunch, shared a bacon cheeseburger, fries and a big piece of chocolate cake from Outback for dinner, had more of that cake for breakfast Sunday morning, then had a big Coke for the drive home.  Got the bad eating out of my system for sure.

My pity party is officially over!!!  I raced hard and went for the win and came up a little short, but I didn't hold back and I learned alot.  And I am ready for another go at the marathon distance.

No run today.  Legs way sore and stiff but not as bad as last year.

A big goose egg again today.  Last year I tried to run on Tuesday and couldn't go faster than 11 minute pace, could not really flex my muscles.  Today I played hide and seek with my son and ran in the yard, up and down my 15% grade driveway, and up and down our rock stairs without more than just general soreness.  I feel about the same as I felt a day or two after Hobble Creek. Sore but not too sore.

I want to run so bad tomorrow but my work is crazy so I need to spend some time there.  Plus I need to not run at least until Thursday to make sure I really want to run.  It's like having a baby, once I start running I can't turn back, so I need to enjoy my freedom while I've got it.

No run again today.  Only minor soreness left.  Maybe tomorrow.

 Well. . .I got out and ran.  Made the mistake of wearing old shoes (my Defyance with 475 miles).  I felt like I had dead legs the first .5 mile, felt like I had just run a marathon.  Then in the second half, I could feel a distinct pain in my right mid ham, and soreness in my left quad.  I stopped and stretched at one mile.  Not a good sign if your ham hurts when you are stretching your calf.  So I turned around after stretching, but let myself add another mile at the end since the soreness in my ham had lessened.  My left achilles area started to hurt in the last 1/2 mile of the run.

I thought today would be an easy 5 and my legs would feel fresh from no running.  :)  I've still got some things to learn. 

ave pace 8:48

weight 122 (sigh of relief - I have almost finished off that solid chocolate bar that was part of the St. G prize)

Shoe totals: Red sox: 57.25, Brooks Defyance (Blue): 478.76, Asics Stratus 2.1 (Purple) 141.05, Mizuno WaveRider (aqua) 129.03, Brooks Defyance-new (Blue): 5

Felt much better this morning.  Still fatigued.  Ham still sore right in the middle.  Both achilles areas are sore after the run.  Have Dr. Brady appt this morning, so will feel better in a couple of hours.

ave pace 8:22

weight 122.5  had snow crab, a baked potato with double sour cream, no butter, salad w/lf dressing and one piece of sour dough bread (hold the butter!) for dinner last night.

Shoe totals: Red sox: 57.25, Brooks Defyance (Blue): 478.76, Asics Stratus 2.1 (Purple) 141.05, Mizuno WaveRider (aqua) 134.08, Brooks Defyance-new (Blue): 5

Met the SF group which ended up being Doug, Ali and I (we are all bloggers, see how the blog makes you so dedicated?!?).  We picked up Dave and Bob and a new girl Shelly at the 6:30 spot then went out toward Leland.  I hung back with Bob and Dave to visit a bit, then had to catch up with Ali and Doug before they gained too much, so I ran about 1/3 mile at about 6:15 pace to catch them.  That's enough excitement for one day.

My legs felt better, less acute soreness, still marathon cobwebs, though.

ave pace 8:14

Shoe totals: Red sox: 57.25, Brooks Defyance (Blue): 478.76, Asics Stratus 2.1 (Purple) 141.05, Mizuno WaveRider (aqua) 134.08, Brooks Defyance-new (Blue): 15.38

Quick run started before 4am because I have a ton of work to get done between now and 5pm Wed evening.  Legs are feeling more "present".  No bathroom break, a Monday Miracle.

ave pace 7:43

weight: 123 those dang sugar cookies, I ate about 6 when all was said and done.  I made them reduced fat (substituted half the fat with ff sour cream, and used egg whites only).  Frosting was full fat though.  What should my sugar cookies penance be today?  I think I'll start my ab workouts again.

Shoe totals: Red sox: 57.25, Brooks Defyance (Blue): 478.76, Asics Stratus 2.1 (Purple) 147.06, Mizuno WaveRider (aqua) 134.08, Brooks Defyance-new (Blue): 15.38

Oh dear, lots of work and not enough hours in the day.  I wanted to run with Josse this morning, but that plan got derailed by work.  I ran on my own from Salem.  I had already put in a couple of hours of work before running, but it was still pitch dark during my whole run.  Because I had been up for a couple of hours and didn't get enough sleep, I didn't feel so hot at the start of the run, did a hilly loop.  Bit the asphalt--fell about 1.9 miles into the run, scraped my knee and elbow, laid on the asphalt trying to decide whether to cry and just turn around (I hate falling while running!) or just keep going.  I kept going.  Pace picked up toward the end.

One more day of heinous work then will still be working alot for another week, have a project backed up waiting for me to begin it.  Maybe I should take up another job, like . . . ok I just sat here thinking of a better job and came up blank. I guess I like my job still ;)

Ave pace 8:06

weight 122

Shoe totals: Red sox: 57.25, Brooks Defyance (Blue): 478.76, Asics Stratus 2.1 (Purple) 147.06, Mizuno WaveRider (aqua) 134.08, Brooks Defyance-new (Blue): 22.82

scant 4 hours of sleep.

Woke at 3am, in car by 3:14, off to work.  Do some work then meet with Sasha and Jeff.  It was very dark on the trail and I felt like death (third night in a row of 4-4.5 hours of sleep will do that to you).  Felt better toward the end.  Nice to get back up to Provo and run with people who can talk running the whole run through without getting bored ;)  Running geek club!

ave pace 8:15

 I survived mini tax season!  Extended returns were due today.  I need to learn to not make it such a last minute scrunch.  Boy was this week stressful.  But it's done.  Phew!

Watched 1/2 of Run, Fat Boy, Run, a movie about a guy who decides to run a marathon in a desperate attempt to woo back his past fiance.  It is way funny.  Maybe can watch the rest tonight.

Shoe totals: Red sox: 57.25, Brooks Defyance (Blue): 478.76, Asics Stratus 2.1 (Purple) 147.06, Mizuno WaveRider (aqua) 144.18, Brooks Defyance-new (Blue): 22.82 

Slept in until 5:32 then ran with Marion.  We warmed up for just over a mile, then started into a 3 mile tempo, with negative splitting and about 10 min pace as a goal.  Well, we chatted too much in the first mile (I was running with Marion, so between the two of us there was a whole lot of talking going on!).  Mile 1 - 10:43, Mile 2 - 10:18, Mile 3 - 9:36.  So great negative splitting.  Marion really turned it on the last mile, doing surges, hand slapping and a kick at the end.  Very nice!  It's always fun to get together with her, she's a hoot.   Good job Marion!

2 miles on my own after.  The morning seemed to get colder and colder as I ran.  I should have worn gloves.

Weight 124

Shoe totals: Red sox: 57.25, Brooks Defyance (Blue): 478.76, Asics Stratus 2.1 (Purple) 154.31, Mizuno WaveRider (aqua) 144.18, Brooks Defyance-new (Blue): 22.82 

Slept in  until 7:20!

Was planning on going to work and running in the afternoon, but my daycare had a sick child, so I ran after helping my boys with their breakfast.

Ran 4.09 in Woodland Hills.  Nice and hilly.  I am excited to do a longish (18 mile) run tomorrow.  It will be my first hard workout after the marathon.  Not hard from an effort standpoint, just because it's so long.  I am excited to get back into training, but need to ramp up the miles gradually.

 I feel like I am coming down with a cold, but I don't feel that poorly, just stuffy nose.  Took some Zicam.

ave pace 8:36

weight 124

I met Ali at 5:45.  We ran almost 2 miles before meeting the 6am group, then we ran toward Leland then to Osborne's.  Ali had to turn around then I had 6 miles on my own, but I got to stop and chat with Clay (such a nice guy!).  The run seemed so long after all this shorter mileage, but I am excited to get back into training.  I am thinking to do a 6 mile progressive tempo next week as my first post marathon workout.  How does that sound?

We are going to the Scarecrow Festival as a family today.  Should be fun.

ave pace 7:54

weight 122

Shoe totals: Red sox: 57.25, Brooks Defyance (Blue): 478.76, Asics Stratus 2.1 (Purple) 154.31, Mizuno WaveRider (aqua) 144.18, Brooks Defyance-new (Blue): 40.83 

 I ran thru Salem to SF and back.  Watch ran out of juice so I mapped the run on the course tool, but didn't save it since its a variation of what I normally do.

"All the mavericks in the house put your hands up!

All the plumbers in the house pull your pants up!"

weight 123

Shoe totals: Red sox: 57.25, Brooks Defyance (Blue): 478.76, Asics Stratus 2.1 (Purple) 154.31, Mizuno WaveRider (aqua) 144.18, Brooks Defyance-new (Blue): 40.83 

I ran in the afternoon.  Afternoon runs are so tough for me, I am so acclimated to the early morning run.  I ran from Macey's toward the lake (through Lake Shore) and back.  It was windy, sort of in my face, sort of crosswind on the way out, and opposite on the way back.  I didn't have much time 10 miles if I messed around, 11 if I didn't so there was no messing around.  All miles were between 7:20 and 7:35.  Listened to music, then was glad I switched over to npr because there was an interview with Madeline Albright (sp?) that was interesting to listen to.

Ave pace 7:30

Shoe totals: Red sox: 57.25, Brooks Defyance (Blue): 478.76, Asics Stratus 2.1 (Purple) 154.31, Mizuno WaveRider (aqua) 144.18, Brooks Defyance-new (Blue): 40.83 

Couldn't sleep well. Dang!  A little stressed.

Ran with Ali.  It was colder than normal 29F, but not too windy, but it seemed like we pushed it as much as yesterday but ave pace was 8:19.  It's so hard to run in the cold.  Ok, whining over.

Ali made me laugh so hard today when we were talking about how I would mess up my daughter's hair if I had any.  She cuts hair, so she'd know. 

weight 124

Shoe totals: Red sox: 57.25, Brooks Defyance (Blue): 478.76, Asics Stratus 2.1 (Purple) 154.31, Mizuno WaveRider (aqua) 154.47, Brooks Defyance-new (Blue): 51.92 

Met up with KellieS and ran a pretty little road loop.  We discussed elusive family-life balance.  It was nice to meet up with her.  We met up with Mack at around mile 6, then dropped Kellie off after about 7 miles, then I ran another 3 or so with Mack, then 1 on my own.  I love my girlfriends.  I sure miss Mack and hope she has a speedy recovery.

Ave pace 8:25 (my pace was actually faster with Kellie than after I dropped her off).

Ran with Ali and Jerry.  Jerry's a guy from Woodland Hills who's been saying he might come out for a long time but finally did.  He just qualified for Bosten at St. G. 

We ran from Salem to Payson and back.  We made a pit stop in the Payson hospital.

 Had fun political conversation.  It will be nice when the presidential election is behind us, though.

Ave pace 8:01

weight 123

Shoe totals: Red sox: 57.25, Brooks Defyance (Blue): 478.76, Asics Stratus 2.1 (Purple) 154.31, Mizuno WaveRider (aqua) 164.49, Brooks Defyance-new (Blue): 51.92 

Met with the SF group.  I wanted to do a 6 mile progressive run, 2 miles tinman tempo (6:35-6:40), then two marathon pace, then two 10Kish pace, but that didn't quite happen :

I warmed up with the group for 6 miles, then stopped at Osborne's.  I had two cups of gatorade (I didn't pack gu) but it was the yellow kind- I don't like that flavor.  Too many high school servings of that ruined me for life.  Well, I took a pit stop then started the tempo at mile 4 marker in the SF marathon course.  Mile 1 is slight down hill for 2/3 of mile then flat - 6:45ish, too slow, I wanted the next mile to be 6:45ish since I have to go up Zephyr hill, but I hit a 7:03 and I knew this workout wasn't happening.  "The workout that wasn't".  I guess I still have the marathon in my legs.  So I ran up harry's hill, but when I turned around I thought I'd do some more tinman tempo miles just to try to catch the SF group so I wouldn't have to pass the mean dogs on my own.  So I hit 6:20ish for my first mile, then 6:30 for the second and a tad more until I caught Beth and Aubrey.  I ran with them to Osborne's (another 3 oz of gatorade), then I had to leave them and do the loop around the golf course on my own to get the 18 miles I had planned.  I started to feel sick while at about 2 miles away from my car, and felt progressively worse until I got to the car.  It wasn't lower abdominal sickness, but more on the esophageal end of things.  I don't think I'll partake of that variety of gatorade again -- bleh.

 So a less than stellar start to "speed" if you can even call this day a speed workout.  I think I can start speed at 3 weeks after a standard marathon, but perhaps 4 weeks is better after St. G.  I remember being quite sluggish on my first tempos after St. G last year too.  Perhaps the issue is that my body has forgotten the fast pace, or doesn't like to suck wind when that wind is cold (about 30F).  Perhaps I just have to get acclimatized to speedwork again.  It is way stinky to do speed on my own.  I am not sure I can do it on my own...........

Ave pace 8:14

weight 120 (no I didn't puke though I felt like it.  I did have a rich dinner last night, perhaps that contributed to my stomach issues)

Shoe totals: Red sox: 57.25, Brooks Defyance (Blue): 478.76, Asics Stratus 2.1 (Purple) 183.44, Mizuno WaveRider (aqua) 164.49, Brooks Defyance-new (Blue): 51.92 

Ok, I have time to post my run.  A VERY EXCITING 10 mile run to start out the week.  Ok, it wasn't exciting at all but at least I was able to average under 8 minute pace.  Listened to some NPR and switched to music when I couldn't take it any more.  Can't wait for Nov. 4th so we can all move on.

ave pace 7:53

weight 123

I went to Dr. Brady's.  He has us note our top three injuries/sore spots.  Here's mine in order:

  Right ham:  been sore for about 9 weeks, but slowly getting better. 

Left ham:  has been acting up since the marathon but this was the first time he worked on it, says its way tight.  I feel it toward the end of long runs and when I stretch.

Right foot:  Pain at the very top of the ball of my foot, where my toes meet up with the ball. This has hurt since marathon race day, but it is just mildly sore and getting slowly better.  This is also the first time he worked on this (prior two visits after the marathon were focused on my right ham and both calves since they were tight/sore from the race). 

I bought a foam roller, about 8" in diameter, which I am to roll on, and I am to heat my hams and my foot, and massage my foot and return and report in two weeks.   Good times.  I am grateful I have the time and funds to see a doctor, it really helps me keep my body going with my mileage.

I ran about 3.5 miles, with three strides, and then I met MacK and ran 5 with her, and then ran enough at the end to get 12, with three more strides.  I went up and down Salem Canal road more times today than I care to in a week.  My strides felt pretty good.  Maybe my legs might come back to me.  Hams and foot feeling better after being worked on yesterday. 

8:19 ave pace, 6 strides total.

weight 123.

Met with KellieS and Ali in SF.  We had great conversation. Ali was cracking me up again.  Really she is hard on my bladder :)  We did a 6 mile loop around the riverbottoms, then we dropped Kellie off at her car and I asked Ali if she wanted to do the loop again, but she didn't think that sounded fun, but she gave me the tour of North SF and we got in 12 anyway.

 Thanks for the St. G. stuff Kellie!

Ali's cutting my hair for a special Halloween haircut -- it will be way scary.

ave pace 8:12

weight 124

Went to bed early and "slept in" until 5:40am because I have been feeling so tired.  There's something about more than 70 mpw that wipes me out.  

am: ran 6.5 easy

ave pace 7:55

pm:  ran 6.01 at noon, from Bishop's storehouse to the third hill, through the SF neighborhoods back to bishops, and I did 8 strides in the last 3 miles. Even the strides make me tired, but I am hoping that doing two sets of strides this week woke my body up, I am telling it that there's other speeds besides easy, and I need to expect to do them. 

ave pace 7:35

Paul and I are in the middle of watching the Godfather Part 2, a long movie (editted).  So went to bed a little late.

Met Ali at 5:30.  Jerry was supposed to show but it turns out he had a sick child.  Also thought one or the other of a certain Salem couple would show, but they didn't.  So it was just Ali and I.  We ran out to ALA and back.  Ali almost ran into trailer that was parked along the highway it was so dark.  It was shorts weather, though, so glorious of an end to October.  It was 51F when we started but it got colder as we went.

Ave pace 8:30

weight 121 - bring on the chocolate!  Watch for me posting halloween pictures.  It should be really scary.  Really.

testing picture

sad but true!