Hills for breakfast, hold the gnats

December 25, 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

Wed, Jun 02, 2010

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
2.80	0.00	0.00	0.00	2.80

55F, rainy & breezy. 1 mile slow, 1 mile moderate (~9:45), remainder slow. Probably my last run before Saturday.

Oh the doubts. Sometimes I think it would be best to take some kind of drug that mimics a lobotomy during the last week of taper. See you on the other side.

Brooks ST3 Miles: 2.80

Comments

From Carolyn in Colorado on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 10:26:03 from 24.8.167.243

You've done so many marathons, I'd think this would be old hat for you by now.

Let's both try to think positively. We can do it!

See you on this side!

From CookieLegs on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 10:28:49 from 71.36.74.136

Good luck on Saturday!! What shoes are you planning on wearing?

From Metcalf Running on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 10:31:19 from 207.225.192.66

You will do great! The last week of a taper is torture!! Relax... rest... you will do great!

From KP on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 10:31:42 from 65.208.22.26

you'll do great!!

enjoy the taper.

From Snoqualmie on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 10:34:13 from 24.18.192.33

Thanks for your words, Carolyn. But actually it's just the opposite. I have been working towards a BQ for so long now, and have a bunch of experience with failure to overcome. Haven't had a PR in nearly 3 years. Part of me just wants to go back to enjoying the distance and never mind these time goals. Another part of me thinks this is the most fun goal I've ever worked towards. Uck! See what I mean? Shut up brain, shut up.

From Snoqualmie on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 10:35:34 from 24.18.192.33

CL- I'm wearing the pair of ST3's that have the least miles on them. Been saving them for marathons only. By fall I hope to have transitioned to the Piranhas for marathon distance.

From Snoqualmie Ridge Runner on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 10:51:26 from 24.16.49.114

Miserable weather getting us ready for Saturday. You've done what you can do...let er ride now!

From Dale on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 11:05:58 from 69.10.215.11

"Too many mind. No mind."

From Snoqualmie on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 12:02:08 from 24.18.192.33

Dale - I'm trying hard to remember that there is no spoon. :)

From Barb on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 13:56:04 from 196.200.54.130

Bonne chance Sno! Du courage.

From Snoqualmie Ridge Runner on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 15:42:08 from 24.16.49.114

3 of the 4 weather sites I checked said that it won't be raining on Saturday(in Newport, OR)...and the other one said only a 40% chance...come on weather guys! Be Right!!

From Snoqualmie on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 16:14:51 from 24.18.192.33

Cliff Mass says a "major" storm will go through Friday. Saturday is looking pretty good. I don't mind getting a little wet if it's going to be as high as 60F. Please no sun!! How many 60F runs have I had recently? Zero, I believe.

Merci, Barb. J'espère de grandes choses.

From april27 on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 17:47:16 from 99.188.251.180

I have a 1/2 on Saturday...I will be thinking about you! I'm just running mine to run. I wanted to do a sub 2 but with the weather (probably hot) and my training I will be happy with 2:20 or less

From Bonnie on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 21:49:15 from 128.196.228.134

GOOD LUCK SNO!!! Chilipeppers rock!

From Snoqualmie on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 22:25:06 from 24.18.192.33

Oh, Bonnie, I looked all over for my pepper pin this afternoon. Can't find it! Will look more later. It might be downstairs in my running basket. Even if I cannot touch it, I'll be thinking "smokin hot!"

From rAtTLeTrAp on Thu, Jun 03, 2010 at 12:32:40 from 72.102.134.44

Good luck! You can do it!

From auntieem on Thu, Jun 03, 2010 at 14:00:31 from 24.18.77.246

Yes! Turn off that brain! For what it is worth, you are a personal running hero of mine. You have done it so many times. I am still working at the bottom rung here, compared to you. I sooooo wish I was going to be there (one more moment of whining) to run with you and Carolyn.

From Bonnie on Thu, Jun 03, 2010 at 14:02:56 from 64.119.33.134

Don't worry Sno, Chilipeppers retain their magic no matter where they are, as long as the recipient has touched them ;-) (they're my rules I can make them up whenever I want ;-)).

From Running Donkey on Thu, Jun 03, 2010 at 14:29:22 from 208.77.153.9

You can do it Sno! I can't wait to hear (read) all about it. You ARE my running hero. I believe in you & will be sending you fast running vibes from the Ridge :)

From Snoqualmie on Thu, Jun 03, 2010 at 19:36:38 from 166.205.143.178

Thanks for all the encouraging words! I am full of doubts-- normal normal normal -- but ready to hit this thing with all I've got. I just consulted Mr. Sno and he assures me that I have indeed been running lately. For some reason I cannot remember doing that. ;)

From JD on Thu, Jun 03, 2010 at 20:13:54 from 166.183.169.153

Good luck Sno!! Have a blast!!

From nicole on Fri, Jun 04, 2010 at 00:59:03 from 67.170.27.155

Good luck! You will do great! And enjoy it and Newport (kind of my old stomping grounds, I'd love to do that marathon someday!). Can't wait to read the report!

From CookieLegs on Fri, Jun 04, 2010 at 10:03:18 from 71.32.236.69

You've been training so diligently! Hope you have great running conditions weather wise, and a wonderful marathon experience. Good Luck!!!

From Snoqualmie on Fri, Jun 04, 2010 at 11:10:00 from 166.205.143.178

Funny you should mention weather, CL. They just revised the forecast. Dry. :)

Question. We drove part of the course to see just what kind of hill it is at mile 4 & 26. Well the one at 4 is steep but only a block or two long. But on the return trip it actually starts at about 24.3 and goes at a 1-2% grade for most of the way, with an increase to maybe 5% for the last tenth of a mile. As I think I've mentioned before, I don't like marathon plans that include the phrase "insert miracle here." So.... should I try to "bank" an extra couple of minutes for a slow down at the end? Any thoughts? I am having a hard time "rolling" with this one for some reason. It's as if my brain was just looking for a problem. (Dale, I think this might be a spoon!)

From Dale on Fri, Jun 04, 2010 at 11:30:49 from 69.10.215.11

A hill at mile 26 is just mean, but.....

What slow-down at the end? You're trying to run an even/negative-split marathon, right? What's this slow-down talk! :)

Keep the effort even, so a bit faster on the downhills, slower on the uphills, most importantly even effort. Cruise to mile 20, race the rest. The late hill is just like training on your home course running leg-builder at the end of your long runs, except you'll have all that race energy and adrenaline and will be able to tackle it more aggressively. So based on your description of the course profile, you'll wind up "banking" a small amount when you run the mile 26 hill earlier in the course downhill, but I wouldn't try to bank more than what you'll get hitting your target effort on that downhill. Just get yourself to 20 and then you only have to suffer through a mildly hilly 10K, which will be a piece of cake since you train for marathons, right?

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