Hills for breakfast, hold the gnats

Week starting Jun 06, 2010

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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
6.820.000.000.006.82
Brooks ST3 Miles: 2.62Asics Piranha Miles: 4.20
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
0.000.000.000.000.00

Being home is always a great relief to me, since I am not a fan of travel in general.  But I do miss the ocean, and having other people cook.  ;)

The worst thing, however, is some sadness and anxiety we've had.  When we were about 2.5 hours from home my cell phone rang and it was the pet/house sitter.  She hadn't wanted to frighten me or ruin my vacation, but my outdoor ("Cat Who Must Be Obeyed") was last seen Saturday night.  He's still not home this morning.  Our hope is that someone took him in (or stole him, depending on your point of view). He's a stunningly beautiful cat, and may have been extra friendly to someone in our absence.  If that's the case, he will soon be free, since trying to make him an indoor cat inevitably leads to howling and protest-peeing.  I'm trying not to think of the other possibility, which involves coyotes. 

I've been walking since the marathon, and the legs are pretty weak but improving rapidly.  One of our friends from Newport, a member of my running club who totally nailed his marathon, is on the blog now, but doesn't have an entry available for comment just yet. He is DaveL.  Up and running! Please say hello when you have a chance.

ETA- The official marathon results are up, and I was shocked to see that I placed 14 out of 37 in my age group.  I would expect to be much further back on a fast course like Newport.  Not a great day overall for the menopause set.  

Comments(13)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
2.620.000.000.002.62

48F, light rain.  Recovery run/walk.

Leg recovery index (1-5):  Soreness 0, Perceived muscle strength 1, Monkeys per leg 5.  

Brooks ST3 Miles: 2.62
Comments(9)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
4.200.000.000.004.20

The Cat Who Must Be Obeyed is back!  All signs indicate that he has been held captive in someone's house all week.  He's quite well -- not starved, hurt, or otherwise traumatized.  He certainly hasn't spent the week fighting for survival in the woods.  

I guess I'll try not to complain ever again when he wakes me up at 4 AM to go outside, because that's the sort of behavior that probably won him his freedom. I hope he drove them crazy with howling and peeing all over. I hope he ruined their furniture and kept them up every night.  I have tried many times to make him an indoor cat, so I know what he's capable of when confined.

It was about 4:15 AM when our two other cats leapt off the bed and went thundering down the hall.  I was half awake anyway, but that brought me fully awake and into a sitting position.  Then I heard the unmistakable meow on the front porch.  Words cannot express my happiness!  But I am also so angry at whoever took him.  What I have been through this week is pure misery. As much as I complain about his imperious ways, this is the best, most affectionate, dearest cat I've ever had.

Oh, and I also had a little run this morning.  Almost completely irrelevant...   ;) 

Here is His Majesty, safe at home:

IMG_0521

And the wake up crew, who alerted me to his return:

IMG_0520 

Asics Piranha Miles: 4.20
Comments(13)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
6.820.000.000.006.82
Brooks ST3 Miles: 2.62Asics Piranha Miles: 4.20
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