Hills for breakfast, hold the gnats

December 24, 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

Fri, Nov 14, 2008

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
8.59	0.00	0.00	0.00	8.59

Objective: General aerobic w/ negative split and form drills.

Weather: High 30s F, dry :) and mostly calm, thin layer of clouds with moonlight coming through.

15 core & weights

A nice run today. The first thing I saw when I went out the door was a little family of racoons in my driveway. I know they can be a nuisance for many, but I just love them. There was very little traffic this morning and the neighborhood was unusually quiet. Maybe it was just the absence of raindrops pattering; I've gotten used to that. ;)

For my form drills I concentrated on a different aspect of form for a block or two and rotated through a sort of list: cadence, arm swing, belly breathing, heel lift, posture, toe push off, etc. And by the way, does anyone know what this means: "sinking into the hips?" It was a line from Marathon Woman by K. Switzer where she talks about having to "sink into the hips" in the latter part of a marathon when exhaustion is setting in. I don't have time to go find the exact quote, but that phrase has always stuck with me and I cannot figure out what "sinking into the hips" is supposed to mean. Maybe I'm too literal. If anyone has insights on that I'd love to hear about it.

I want to address something today from yesterday's "comment" section, because I feel it is so important. Jefferey and I were talking about mandatory national service for youths and he asked me for further details. There is quite a lot on the internet about it, but I like the perspective of this op-ed piece. Regardless of your political party, this is an issue pertaining to our precious Constitution. I hope I'm not out of line in bringing up a political topic here. (And btw, another public Congratulations! to Jefferey and his family on the arrival of their new baby girl!)

I'll be volunteering at the local Turkey Trot tomorrow, then one last super-long run on Sunday, which will be 3 weeks from my marathon (CIM). I don't think I'll taper until the following week however; I'd like to see how a shorter taper works for me and I have nothing to lose since the main goal for CIM is Have Fun, and Run Negative Splits.

Red Nike Structure Triax 11 Miles: 8.59

Comments

From Carolyn in Colorado on Fri, Nov 14, 2008 at 12:08:02

So you were dry today and I was wet. That's a switch.

I read the op ed you linked to. This is an issue I had not heard about before. We'll have to see whether this was just a pipe dream he put forth during the campaign, or whether something actually comes of it. As it is, my kids are already required to do something like 20 hours of community service in order to graduate from high school. In the spirit of full disclosure, I am an Obama supporter.

From Dale on Fri, Nov 14, 2008 at 13:03:04

Hmmm....interesting perspective on volunteerism. I really hadn't considered the ramifications of making it compulsory. I think I'm still for some form of "mandatory" service to our country; IMHO, too many people take the rights and privileges as American's for granted.

From Solemate on Fri, Nov 14, 2008 at 13:54:41

So glad you were dry today.....

I didn't think that Obama meant mandatory volunterism (they don't go together very well,do they?) for everyone, but kinda a throwback to the old ROTC which paid for college tuition. Instead of just the military option, you would have other options of service to the country and the reward would be tutition compensation. Most of our schools require 'service' hours for high school graduation. I am not convinced that is a bad thing - I think too much is taken for granted by today's youth no matter what geographic or economic spectrum they fall into.

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