Hills for breakfast, hold the gnats

November 16, 2024

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Location:

Snoqualmie,WA,

Member Since:

Jan 31, 2008

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

Marathon PR: 4:17 at Portland Marathon, Oct. 2007

5K PR 24:37 2009

10K PR 52:58 2010

Have run 22 marathons to date.

No injuries, ever. :)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Qualify for Boston (4:05 for my age/gender) - or, perhaps, to use my desire for a BQ as a way to get in the hated speed work so I don't just get slower and slower over the years. This goal is "under (re)construction" right now, until I figure out whether it is truly what I want. :)

Long-Term Running Goals:

To continue learning about myself and about running, and to enjoy being a fit, happy runner for life. To always know why I am running and the best way to get the most (both mentally and physically) out of my runs. To keep a sense of humor and remain optimistic about myself as a runner. To enjoy running more and more with every passing year.

Personal:

Baby boomer generation. Jogged a little in my 20's and 30's. Started running seriously in 2002. Low-carb runner since January 2010.

I love long runs and cold, cloudy weather. I don't believe in "junk miles." I am an optimist. I adore dark chocolate, fog, my family, and knitting -- not necessarily in that order.

"As every runner knows, running is about more than just putting one foot in front of the other; it is about our lifestyle and who we are." -- Joan Benoit Samuelson

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00
Brooks ST3 Lifetime Miles:						891.35
Vibram Five Fingers KSO Lifetime Miles:						23.77
Brooks ST3 II Lifetime Miles:						965.17
Lunaracers II Lifetime Miles:						198.23
Mizuno Wave Universe 3 Lifetime Miles:						104.14
Asics Piranha Lifetime Miles:						536.83
RunAmocs (Softstar) Lifetime Miles:						16.23
Piranha II Lifetime Miles:						219.53

Mon, Mar 23, 2009

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
5.32	0.00	0.00	0.00	5.32

Objective: recovery. Oh so slow.

5:20 AM: 37F, wind 10-15 mph, dry.

Survey of body parts below the waist: ain't nobody happy. Loudest complainer: the calves, which are so sore that they actually woke me up at night a couple of times when I moved my legs. I might have to carry the Stick around with me all day today.

So I guess I'll be changing my blog title now. I had a little bit of dim daylight towards the end of my run and the birds are singing. I didn't realize how much I missed that. I ran well through the winter and my reward is to know, now and forever, that I can do it.

I wanted to share a little mental trick upon which I stumbled yesterday, but the race report was getting so long that I left it out. But I think it could be useful to others and I certainly will be using it again. You know how so much of distance racing is a mental game, battling self doubts and uncomfortable periods of running? Well, this is something that bolstered my psyche more than once yesterday. I don't know how I thought to do it, but I suspect there is a tiny place in my brain called The Department of Cheerful Thought. Ok, so this is what I started telling myself: "I am actually an 8:30 pace marathoner. I'm holding back right now. I could be running about 30-60 seconds faster if I wanted to. I just feel like taking it easy. 8:30 is my normal pace." In fact, 8:30 is more like my 5K pace, but pretending somehow made the true pace feel easier, even though I knew quite well it was a hoax.

Blue Nike Triax 12 Miles: 5.32

Comments

From Carolyn in Colorado on Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 11:18:27 from 76.27.89.110

I like your mental trick. You say that it was a hoax, but maybe it's actually true and you just don't know it yet.

I hope your lower extremities get feeling better. I got The Stick on Saturday evening as an early birthday present and I'll be using it to day on my left hammy.

From Carolyn in Colorado on Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 11:19:31 from 76.27.89.110

I like the new blog title too. You are very courageous.

From JD on Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 11:46:41 from 64.65.159.206

Aaannd...you're back out today, just like nothing happened yesterday! You're a machine, a courageous running animal!

I like the mental trick, I'll give a try on Sunday's long run.

From Snoqualmie on Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 11:53:14 from 67.171.56.164

Carolyn, you know I think you're right in a way. If I had picked a ridiculous number, like 7:00 or 6:30, the trick would not have worked. I may be delusional, but I think deep down inside I do have an 8:30 marathon pace in me. I'm irrationally optimistic that way. Like I still believe I can get down to 110 pounds. Really, I do. With no evidence! lol

From Dale on Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 12:05:28 from 69.10.215.11

Here's an idea of how hilly HMs compared for me with flatter HMs:

Feb 08 - 1:26. Mild hills (& 1 small monster).

Apr 08 - 1:28. Hilly

Jun 08 - 1:36. Hilly and hot.

So hills definitely slow your time potential. The Feb-to-Apr comparison is even a bit deceiving, since in Apr I was only 1 month out from my goal marathon and in much better shape, even doing a short taper for the HM. The Feb race was a spur-of-the-moment-no-taper race.

Moral of this story? Hills suck the life from your legs and the time from the clock, so your 2:02 is certainly worth a sub-2 and probably more like a 1:56 or 1:57, depending on how much you were held back in the early going by the crowds. Seems like you need a bit of luck with the weather in Eugene, stay healthy, taper, fuel and hydrate well, and just gotta believe! I think you can make it.

From Snoqualmie on Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 17:09:17 from 67.171.56.164

Good thoughts, Dale! Thanks so much for your input.

From Dale on Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 17:31:41 from 69.10.215.11

It makes a lot more sense with the corrected times....Jun 08 was a 1:36, not 1:26. The moral is the same though.....hills hurt no matter how much prep you do, so expect your flat times to be faster.

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