Hills for breakfast, hold the gnats

May 27, 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
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
8.720.000.000.008.72

47F, light showers, occasional wind.  Easy run w/ form focus and a yikes-I'm-late accidental fast finish. :)  20 min. strengh, stretching & Stick.

That was some fun running. Still slow but who cares. Everything feels great.  At the very end of the run I was coming through a short-cut path next to some woods and startled 3 deer, who "ran with me" for about 25 yards. Very cool, though I was sorry to frighten them.

It is a great gift to be able to amuse oneself with so little effort.  I had to stop at the park bathroom this morning, but I told myself I could make it a quick stop, no problem.  For some reason the bow I tied on the drawstring of my running tights turned into a knot when I went to untie it.  So I'm rushing and trying to get these darn things over my hips, and it's really hurting, but the whole thing struck me as so funny.  I could not stop laughing.  Every solution that came to mind made me laugh even harder, like the thought of trying to chew through the string.  I eventually did a Houdini maneuver and got free, but then I had to get them back on again.  It's still making me chuckle.  I actually had to cut the drawstring when I came home. Hope it doesn't ruin the tights' usefulness.

I think I've chosen my fall marathon, in Victoria BC.   It is a race I've dismissed, probably because I glanced at the elevation profile, which looks quite hilly.  But yesterday I was just browsing through the top BQ'ing marathons on this list and there it was at #11!   It seems the hills are more like gentle undulations, though after 20 miles I usually think any rise at all feels like the Himalayas.  The race is very easy to get to from here, and the area is fun to visit so Support Crew will be happy.  It feels right.  And I have decided to stop thinking "this is THE race for my BQ," and switch to thinking "little by little I shall arrive." 

 

Nike Lunar Racer Miles: 8.72
Comments
From Carolyn in Colorado on Tue, May 19, 2009 at 12:06:55 from 198.241.217.15

I'm glad you had fun running this morning, with the deer running with you and then the amusing running tights episode. I'm glad you're feeling good.

That looks like a really fun marathon. Part of me wishes I could join you there, but it's not going to work out. I'm thinking we've definitely got to do a race together next Spring one way or another.

From Tracy on Tue, May 19, 2009 at 12:08:17 from 209.175.177.37

I think life is much easier when you laugh about things that other people would get all wound up over. Life is funny--and glorious!

Great run! Just out of curiosity, what is your usual easy pace? When you run easy do you usually keep track?

From Snoqualmie on Tue, May 19, 2009 at 12:28:24 from 67.171.56.164

Hi Tracy. I don't look at my Garmin a lot when I'm on an "easy" run. My McMillan target pace for an easy run is between 10:00 and 10:20, but I never hit that until I've warmed up a couple of miles. My warm-up miles are in the 11:00-12:00 range, and lately even slower.

Today was the first time I've dipped under 11:00 consistently in a run since the marathon 2.5 weeks ago. The legs are willing but not able.

I don't list my paces very much here but feel free to ask anytime. I run on hilly terrain every day so I find most of the time that tracking my pace mile by mile is meaningless, even unhelpful if/when it puts stress on what is supposed to be a non-stressful run.

From Snoqualmie on Tue, May 19, 2009 at 12:29:15 from 67.171.56.164

p.s. Tracy, are you registered on the blog? I tried to "visit" you but got dumped onto the home page.

From JD on Tue, May 19, 2009 at 12:32:23 from 64.65.159.206

Looks like a good choice for a marathon.

Nice running today. It's funny how bows always turn to knots at the most inopportune times.

From Mike Warren on Tue, May 19, 2009 at 12:59:21 from 207.50.149.221

Hey, thanks for the comment! You are hilirious, very funny story on your run today. It's nice to see someone that just really enjoys getting out. The Garmin thing, yes it was fun to run an entire marathon without looking at it. I have found looking can be really good or extremely bad. Kinda breaks your spirit when your working hard, take a look and not the results you thought. Good luck in Victoria, sounds like a very fun trip.

From Tracy on Tue, May 19, 2009 at 13:05:52 from 209.175.177.37

Thanks for the info about your paces--I'm always curious about how everyone else runs.

I do agree with you that sometimes focusing too much on pace during an easy run leads to undue stress. I find myself falling into that trap often.

And thanks for the tip about not being able to find my blog. I'm not sure why and I'm not sure what name to sign now. Any idea how I figure that out? When I search for my blog Tracy is listed as runner.

From Snoqualmie on Tue, May 19, 2009 at 13:16:03 from 67.171.56.164

When you are on your own blog, what is the url?

From Tracy17 on Tue, May 19, 2009 at 13:25:40 from 209.175.177.37

Aha! I never knew that clicking on my name went nowhere, since I never click on my own name in comments.

I feel really lame with what I had as my original blog url. So I changed it.

And now I also know how to edit a comment! Thanks!!

From rattletrap on Tue, May 19, 2009 at 13:46:49 from 70.193.166.32

Now I have this funny mental picture of you chewing through the drawstring on your tights :) I'm glad you got free before it was too late :)

From Kelli on Tue, May 19, 2009 at 16:35:18 from 71.219.85.34

Oh my goodness, you have such a great attitude!! I love reading your blog!

The knot story had me laughing because I can totally picture it!! I actually leave mine untied to avoid that problem, now I know it is real and I will be careful!!!

AND I love the I'm-late'accidental'fast'finish. You should wwrite a book, I would buy it!!! Have a great day.

Oh, and that marathon does look like a good one. I have learned that the elevation charts can be deceiving anyway. Go with your gut, you will do great and you WILL get there, I have no doubt about that.

From snoqualmie on Tue, May 19, 2009 at 22:44:38 from 67.171.56.164

Thanks, Kelli! I always love to hear from you. You're such a rockstar! :)

Rattletrap, Yeah! Imagine that. I mean, who can even get close to their bellybutton with their teeth?! I so wanted to MacGyver myself out of them, but it was not to be. Great humor value, though! I'll save that for a hard day.

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