Slow & Steady Wins the Race :-)

9 holes of golfing - I golfed a 48!  And I putted horribly, so if I'd putted better I would have really done good!

Then did a short, easy, 8 mile bike ride (about 37 minutes) just around the neighborhood.  Sad the weekend is over already again.  I am ready to be back home.

In running news, I am very very very worried about my ankle.  AGAIN.  Very ridiculous. 

Reasons I think I might have a stress fracture - I feel it sometimes on weight-bearing.  I have a bruise that is VERY sensitive to the touch in a very popular spot for stress fractures on the tibia.  My ankle feels weird. 

Reasons it might be something else - I'm a hypochondriac (we all know its true!).  This has happened twice before this year (January and April) and after 2 weeks off I was better.  The pain level is so low, a 1.5 or something, though it does seem that I have a very high tolerance for pain when it comes to running (based on the running on a broken fibula evidence).  I am still passing the 'hop test', or being able to hop on that leg alone 5 times or more with no pain. 

I'm trying my best not to get depressed.  I have to put this in perspective.  If I can bike and golf and be active, I'm a much much happier person than the immobile person.  There will be other marathons (though I so badly want THIS marathon), I will still drive the van for H2C (though I sooo want to RUN H2C!).  I will wait it out a week or two before venturing to the doctor, especially since I am 3 hours from my doctor which makes it difficult!

I definitely think I may need a coach or some professional running my training.  Clearly I am doing something wrong.  And its NOT bad shoes or increasing training too fast, as I have been more than careful on those fronts.  However, the strength training issue IS an issue, and my reading tells me that running to the point of fatigue can cause this, and that's pretty much my favorite thing to do.  We'll see. 

20.78 miles of bike riding at the Esplanade/Springwater Corridor.  Rode down to Omsi and back, then on the corridor until I reached the bumpy part that I couldn't handle anymore!  Nice concert in the park there so it was really hard to find parking and very busy.  Quads were burning.

TT: 1:28:17   AP: 14.1 mph      TD: 20.78

Splits: 13.0, 15.3, 14.0, 13.0, 15.1, 18.1, 15.2, 11.6, 12.9, 14.0, 14.1, 13.6, 16.0, 16.6, 11.8, 15.0, 15.7, 13.4, 16.6, 15.5

My ankle maybe feels a little bit better today?  I hope its not tricking me.  If it keeps it up I'll try a run on Wednesday. 

8.37 miles of biking at the Esplanade.  Slow, strong headwind and just wasn't feeling it today.  Ankle was tricking me yesterday, its scaring me again today. 

TT: 38:18   AP: 13.1 mph

Then took Bogey on a walk. 

Blahhhh!  Walked a mile on the treadmill, tried to run for 10 seconds but pain (minor, but still) was immediately there.  Why????   Weird because it felt pretty good today just walking.  

4 miles of trail running at Forest Park with Kasey.  What a great reunion!  My ankle felt okay.  We'll see.  I wish I could trail run at every run!

What a busy week.  So sick of my spreadsheet I've been making all week, and then stuff is just blowing up at work back home too.  Came home and worked a little, then went out and did 15 miles of biking, and now back to working.  Hopefully Justin will get here soon and rescue me. 

15 miles of biking around the neighborhood.  That is an important note.  This was NOT the Esplanade.  There were hills, and lots of stop signs and turn arounds. Keep that in mind and continue reading.

TT: 58:29

Splits: 14.0, 16.3, 15.8, 15.5, 14.5, 14.0, 17.3, 15.5, 15.3, 14.3, 16.4, 16.2, 15.6, 16.4

Notice something different?  I AM FASTER!  And this is even considering the stopping!  Now while I would love to take credit for improvement, I have a different secret.  I raised my bike seat about 2 inches!  I've been meaning to do this for ages, but mostly because I thought it was aggravating my ITB, but it turns out it was hindering my speed too!  I felt much more powerful today and really enjoyed it a lot more.  I think all my 'potential energy' or something else I learned in physics but forgot wasn't being transferred.  Kind of like the fulcrum being in the wrong place in a pulley, or something else totally wrong!  My dad, who is actually likely reading this right now, is probably sooo ashamed of my lack of engineering knowledge.

 Anyway, I was pumped!

14 miles around the dog park.  Wasn't sure how far I would be able to go and really wanted to run on the dirt path so went down there even though it was a million laps (aka boring!).  My ankle is still weird.  However, the pain is so minor it seems a waste to give up on everything just because of it.  So I will persevere.  I will just keep it easy, 3 runs a week only (every other day) for now, no speed work until the feeling is gone.  Would have done a mile or so more but didn't get up early enough, was running late for golf. 

 TT: 2:16:19   AP: 9:44

Splits: 10:45, 9:53, 9:48, 9:39, 9:45, 9:30, 9:27, 9:24, 9:32, 9:23, 9:26, 9:31, 9:52, 10:21 (I let myself walk the steepest part of Hillside)

Then golfed 9 holes, a niece's birthday party, and Inception!  Walked most of golf but at 8 or so my legs were just dead.  Busy, but a great day!

9 holes of golfing today, it was horrific.  Had a temper tantrum with golf (we broke up) during holes 5 and 6.  Then of course got a par on hole 9 (isn't that how it always works?) to renew our relationship.

Did 30 minutes on the recumbent bike in the basement, after 15 minutes and the end did squats, sit-ups, etc.  Ankle still weird.  

Ankle still weird.  Its the not knowing that's killing me.

Down to the dog park, 2 loops, and back.  Did a little extra to hit 60 minutes exactly.  

TT: 1:00:01  AP: 9:49

Splits: 10:28, 9:41, 9:43, 9:30, 9:29, 10:04 (ran up Hillside today)

Then did some strength stuff and then 30 minutes on the recumbent bike while I read my book.  Actually READING a book, I can't remember the last I did that with a book that wasn't about statistics/education. 

Loops around the neighborhood with Justin AND Cooper!  How nice it is to be home. 

17.91 miles (caught up to Anya at this and called it good for 18!) at Cedar River trail with Anya and the group she's been running with.  Started at 7:30am but it was already very toasty by the end (probably around 85 already by 10).  

My ankle felt pretty good, except around mile 15.  Its weird.  On the one hand, it doesn't seem like it would be bothering me for so long if its not something to worry about.  On the other hand, I just ran 18 miles and am fine.  Wish it would just hurry up and resolve itself.  

TT: 2:44::37    AP: 9:11

Splits: 8:59, 8:48, 9:11, 9:13, 9:27, 9:13, 9:23, 8:57, 8:52, 9:22, 9:12, 9:45, 10:22, 9:04, 8:54, 8:48, 8:53, 9:03

I was sooo stiff at the end of this, especially my calves and hamstrings. 

What a great week/weekend already.  I miss being home.  Saw 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (SEE IT!), went golfing, slip n slided, and camped in the backyard!

Another lovely (90+ degree!) run at Forest Park with Kasey and her dog.  Her boyfriend and Cooper joined us too this time.  Cooper was in heaven, despite the heat.  Very technical trails and was so steep - I was breathing so hard!  Our time was 37:xx so like 11 minute miles that felt very hard.  Had to cross several fallen trees, and was very narrow single-track the whole time.  Love it!  I want to get into more trail running.  

Then did 35 minutes on the recumbent bike (in the AC-ed house!) while I read my book, plus some lunges and such.

No running, instead all I did was vomit tonight in terrified preparation for my downhill jaunt in Hood to Coast.  I read the handbook twice and if I don't die from the 1,500 foot drop over 5 miles then I will die from humiliation after I somehow disqualify my team.  There are about 500 different ways to choose from to do it.  

So tired.  Did a 1,400 foot drop run with Kasey today out on Pumpkin Ridge Road.  Did some finagling to leave a car at the top and the bottom, thank goodness.  I feel much better about H2C after this - I need to make sure that this is the pace I do though, no getting carried away.  8 has to be my max!

In other news, for the first time EVER, had my pepper spray in my hand, the top popped, and nearly sprayed today.  We were nearly attacked by some horrible dog that came all the way across the street at us and was going crazy barking and growling at us and wouldn't let us pass.  It was scary and of course its owners were nowhere in sight.  Kasey and I counteracted each other by taking completely different tactics (her being "good cop" soothing and me being "bad cop" go home!).  Need to research the right thing to do!  Luckily we made it unscathed.

Then Kasey and bf made me a delicious salmon dinner!  But now its so late and I'm exhausted and the big presentation is tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

TT: 49:03   AP: 8:17

Splits: 8:01, 8:01, 8:51 (this is the dog mile, so the stand-off was only about 40 seconds but felt neverendingly terrifying), 8:01, 8:13, 8:37 (uphill at the end)

This. was. horrible.  Horrible horrible torturous horrible.  

Back-up a step, it started out great!  Beautiful day on the Oregon coast, didn't get out as early as I'd like (8am) and it did get quite warm (to me) by 11am.  Went on Jetty and beach back roads down past the mall, then crossed and came back and went out at the mall to East Devil's Lake road.  That was nice.  Hilly, but nice.  Secluded and really hill, but nice.  Went almost to the KOA at 101, did an extra loop at Sand Point park.  Did I mention the hills?  It was rolling hills continually at best, with a few nasty death-defyers at times.  Then turned around and came back since I don't have a death wish and therefore won't be running on that section of 101.  Came back to house up past casino and hopped barrier into fancy secluded neighborhood.  Ran on the beach for about half a mile before I realized what a horrible idea that was. 

So after all those hills, by 14 my legs were thrashed.  Felt like I'd run 100 miles.  Did I mention by this time the north wind was blowing me backwards?  So from 15 on was pure drudgery horrible-ness.  I wanted to curl in a ball right there on the pavement and call my mom to come get me.  Or just stay there forever.  I wanted to cry the last mile.  Am I getting my point across now? 

Total ascent was 2,300 ft. during this run. 

TT: 2:54:58  AP: 9:12

Splits: 9:39, 9:16, 9:39, 8:53, 9:08, 9:11, 9:02, 9:04, 9:00, 8:48, 9:18, 8:59, 9:02, 9:22, 8:42, 9:56 (walked for 30 seconds through the soft sand off the beach), 9:04, 9:13, 9:38 (walked up the last hill, I couldn't take it anymore!)

Walk on the beach with Mom and the dogs, 1.5 hours of tennis with Mom, then another walk on the roads with Mom and the dogs.  Great day at the beach!

 Morning (6:30am) - On the beach with Cooper, so eerie and creepy like a horror film, the fog was sooo dense.  My face kept being completely soaked just from the air, and I could only see about 20 feet in front of me which was so bizarre.  Couldn't see the water or the houses, just plain weird!  But fun, and the tide was the lowest I've ever seen it, saw starfish and tidepools and rocks you never see!  Plus a dead seal as a bonus. 

TD: 5.28    TT: 47:36   AP: 9:01

Splits: 9:59, 8:58, 8:41, 8:42, 8:38

Evening - Planned to do 5 downhill this afternoon but decided to get right to the Hood to Coast t-shirt making (a complete and utter disaster by the way, our team is definitely going for the "vintage" (aka pieces of the design are missing) look) and Jord wasn't feeling it so by the time I got out it was almost dark.  Went until it was night.  But felt great!  Best I've felt on a run since 2 months ago when I started getting scared again.  Did 4 mini loops so I could pound the downhill, which I did (made sure to get into the 6's). 

TD: 3.01    TT: 24:09   AP: 8:02

Splits: 8:38, 7:55, 7:33 (yes sirree bob that is correct!)

BPA trail after work.  Got there early so did 1.7 before Anya got there, then ran about 4 with Anya.  Then had a little break while we had our Hood to Coast meeting (getting excited!) and then we ran 4 more as a team.  It was hillllyyyy and my legs felt dead!  Last run before H2C, its going to be epic!

TD: 5.79    TT:  53:52    AP: 9:18

Splits: 9:25, 9:09, 9:32, 9:03, 9:14, 9:29

TD: 3.90  TT: 36:03   AP: 9:14

Splits: 8:40, 8:48, 9:56, 9:35

1.5 hours of doubles.  It was hot and I was bad!

WARNING!!!!!!  This is the longest post ever.  Proceed with caution!

 Hood to Coast exceeded my expectations by far.  It was awesome.  Awesome awesome awesome.  There were ups and downs, but I LOVED IT!  Great team, great fun, great runs. I ran leg #2, which meant I had a 1,500 foot drop off Mt. Hood right off the bat.  Although I intended to force myself to not die by not going less than 8's - you can see I didn't do that (as I feared!).  Although I am suffering now (my quads and hamstrings are tiiighhhhttt!), I was good for the whole time luckily and that part didn't ruin me for later.  We started at 12:15pm at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood and ended 28.5 hours later at the beach in Seaside Oregon. 

Leg #2 - 1:13pm on Friday - 5.67 miles - TT: 40:50 - AP: 7:12

Splits: 7:25, 7:38, 7:23, 7:06, 6:57, 6:31

The first leg was great!  I was soooo pumped.  We had driven down late the night before and I woke up at 6:15 and couldn't go back to sleep I was so excited.  Picked everyone up, got the van decorated, and headed up to Mt. Hood.  Laura started us off with the big 2,000 foot drop and then handed off to me.  It was a little scary with the curves and semis flying by.  A couple times (during each leg actually) I whispered a few prayers involving not getting run over.  I passed 3 people and got passed by 4, and certainly felt that pounding from the steep decline!  Although it was quite cold (40's) up on the mountain, it was beautiful weather coming down. And do you see those 6's up there?????  My first 6's ever!!  Do I care it had a 1,500 foot drop? NOPE! :-)

Leg #14 - 10:54pm on Friday - 5.49 miles - TT: 43:12 - AP: 7:52

Splits: 8:13, 8:10, 7:53, 7:47, 7:33, 7:26

This leg was dark and on the side of the road of a highway.  It was pretty straight so I felt less like I was going to get hit by a car on this leg despite the darkness, and the LED lights helped a lot.  There was a pretty steady uphill incline on this hill that the elevation map lied about (it showed flat!).  But I powered up and passed 10 people!  I think I only got passed by 1 person.  I had forgotten my Garmin when I was waiting at the exchange so I ran back to the car to get it only to realize I didn't have the keys, to run back to get them to run back to the car and ended up having to sprint to beat Laura to the exchange.  But the last thing I wanted was to be out in the middle of nowhere in the darkness and not know how much time was left! 

After we all finished the night legs it was 3am and we had to drive an hour on the windiest road ever that was pitch black, in the middle of nowhere, and not another car on the road.  It was horrible and I thought we would never get there and was so tired.  One of our teammates had been upset with herself and her knee hurt and had been crying in a port-a-potty, another was feeling horribly sick and was hanging her head out the window almost throwing-up, and I thought I was going to kill us all on this terrible road and just wanted to sleep.  This hour was definitely the low-point of the whole race!  Then we tried to sleep in a field and it was 37 degrees and so cold and I probably slept 30 minutes.  We felt pretty bad when we had to get moving again, which was a frantic race to move because they walkied us they were ready sooner than we thought!

Leg #26 - 8:00am on Saturday - 5.79 miles - TT: 44:53 - AP: 7:49

Splits: 8:05, 7:52, 7:45, 7:44, 8:13 (giant hill), 7:00 (downhill!)

Although I had been feeling terribly tired and it was freezing outside (still 40) and I had forgotten my tights and we were all like "I don't want to run again I don't want to run again" once I started I felt sooo good.  My hamstrings were tight by now, but it was just SO GREAT.  This was my favorite leg.  The sun had just come up, the sky was perfect blue with no clouds, the moon was still up, I crossed over some rivers, I saw some horses and cows with calves, and there was just rolling countryside meadows that were so beautiful and I felt so thankful that I was out there.  After wanting to do H2C for years and not being able to do it last year because of the ankle I felt so thankful I was out there, had finished, and got to enjoy such a beautiful run.  Then the hill came and my thankfulness passed. :-)  The hill was hard, pretty long and steep, but I powered up and passed 8 people on this leg.  I got passed by 2, one of which was on an elite team and just screamed by me, it was ridiculous how fast he was going!  Then when I reached the peak of the hill it was downhill to the exchange and it was my last run so I decided I might as well thrash my legs, and I screamed down the hill.  I tried to pass the last guy but he wouldn't let me and we both kept going faster and faster (my watch read 5:30 for the last quarter mile or so!) and we sprinted into the exchange, which was really fun. 

Then we went drove to Seaside, had some crappy pizza, and waited to run in the finish with the other van.  We were sooooo tired afterwards that we ended up driving back to Portland instead of staying to sleep in real beds.  I slept 11 hours last night and was pretty dead to the world!  My hamstrings and quads are pretty sore today so I will take it pretty easy this week. 

Final Thoughts: I LOVED HOOD TO COAST!  Such a great time with some of my best friends.  Although there were obviously some low points and such snapping going on / frustration with things, I loved it.  I will definitely be submitting for a team for next year!  I'm also really happy with all of my legs.  I feel like I am definitely improving and my hard work is paying off.  I was really happy to see all of those 7's.  Perhaps I'm moving into 8's being my easier pace and 7's being my race paces?  That would be FANTASTIC! :-)  THE WILD EAGLES ROCK!!

At the beginning at Timberline Lodge:

Murdering my quads by flying down my 1,500 foot drop on Mt. Hood:

At the finish in 28:33:58 at the beach in Seaside:

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.  Felt fine today doing regular things so thought I'd head out for a run.  It was immediately horrible.  No gentle leader, the stupid retractable leash broke, so Cooper was pulling my arm off and rope burning me with the 15 extra feet of leash dragging on the ground that wouldn't retract.  It was raining.  My right hamstring hurt.  My left calf hurt.  My left ITB was there.  I was doing 11 minute miles.  Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.  Used 6 bags of ice when I got home to ice every part of both legs I could get my hands on.