| 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: |
|
Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
|
|
| | Easy Miles | Marathon Pace Miles | Threshold Miles | VO2 Max Miles | Total Distance | | 45.50 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 46.00 |
|
| | Easy Miles | Marathon Pace Miles | Threshold Miles | VO2 Max Miles | Total Distance | | 8.46 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 8.46 |
| Objective: recovery/easy Weather: High clouds, low 40's F
Woohoo! I'm running again! What a lovely morning, with all the fall colors and crisp air. A bald eagle went right over my head a couple of blocks from home. My only problems were a lot of phlegm (head cold nearly gone), weak legs, and becoming easily winded. I took short walk breaks whenever I felt too breathless, mostly on the hills. My plan for the week is to take it easy and run by time Monday through Saturday.
| | Comments(4) |
| | Easy Miles | Marathon Pace Miles | Threshold Miles | VO2 Max Miles | Total Distance | | 3.24 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.24 |
| Objective: easy/recovery Weather: 40sF, windy (bf 3-4), light drizzle 15 min abs and wts.
Feeling a bit stronger today, though still noticeably weak and breathless. I just took it really slowly and enjoyed the ride. Very dark; I need to get new batteries in the headlamp. Seems so soon; I think I just did it about 2 months ago. But I do like a nice wide beam.
As my strength returns this week, I'll have to start pushing my wake up time back to the 4:30 neighborhood. It's only been a couple of weeks, but I got spoiled fast. My main strategy for early waking is: no thinking allowed! I have an extremely persuasive slacker living in my brain, and she can talk me out of a run in less time than it takes to hit "snooze." When the alarm dings (I have a Zen Alarm, love it), the only goal is to sit up. Don't think, just sit up. "If you can sit up you can 'git up." After a few seconds of sitting, I can progress to walking and after that it's in the bag. But still, no thinking! Not even that great motivational speech you made up the night before. Slacker will shoot it full of holes without breaking a sweat. Just move. If I must allow myself a thought, it shall be "you can have a nap later." Sometimes that's a lie, but Slacker doesn't have the day planner, she only knows about slow breathing and warm beds. So this week is Get Back To Routine week, except for the workout details since all runs will be slllllow for now.
| | Comments(5) |
| | Easy Miles | Marathon Pace Miles | Threshold Miles | VO2 Max Miles | Total Distance | | 6.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 6.00 |
| Objective: easy w/ form drills Weather: High 40s F, cloudy. Wet streets but no more rain. 15 min abs & weights I found myself a bit overdressed this morning. My house was cold and it fooled me. I do wear layers but find them difficult to remove with the watch, hat and reflective vest pinning everything down. Chances are I'll usually get too cold and end up going back and forth, wasting time with each clothing adjustment. Anyway, I believe I also expected to be running a little more slowly but I felt great. So that's good news. My form drills today were focused on arm swing and on anti-shuffle gait. (I am teaching myself to bring my foot up higher in back.) Those are good drills to throw in when I want to keep the workout in "easy" mode. Head cold still hanging on a bit, but not affecting my energy level. :) Just loads of mucus and frequent sneezing.
| | Comments(3) |
| | Easy Miles | Marathon Pace Miles | Threshold Miles | VO2 Max Miles | Total Distance | | 5.90 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.90 |
| Objective: easy Weather: High 30s F, clear, lots of moonlight, 1 patch fog, frost on cars, light breeze (Bf.1-2). 20 min core & weights
Legs felt good this morning. Today's mileage was nearly the same as yesterday, but 2 minutes faster overall time. I tackled "the big hill" (coming up from Crestview) the first time since before my marathon and felt pretty good, not too winded. Yesterday I mentioned my form drills. I wanted to add that I have received my most helpful form tips from a book called Programed To Run by Thomas Miller. I had pretty dreadful form before the book, so there was plenty of room for improvement, but I still think it is a terrific method. For what it's worth (and possibly for amusement), there is one form tip I actually received from the guy who gives my daughter horseback riding lessons. He is always talking to her about "collection." It means the horse's limbs, stride, movements are well under control at all gaits. What amazes me is that my tiny 11 y.o. is supposed to have some control over this, with nothing but her thin legs and two little strips of leather. Anyhow, I started to think about "collection" last year (in terms of human running) and realized that a lot of the time I was running with a kind of careless floppiness. I think about that from time to time ("Are you collected?") and it seems to be helpful.
I am so happy to be getting back to my normal speed. Today was still an easy day, but I did find myself moving faster at that effort level. Running faster is just more fun, plain and simple.
| | Comments(3) |
| | Easy Miles | Marathon Pace Miles | Threshold Miles | VO2 Max Miles | Total Distance | | 6.20 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 6.20 |
| Objective: easy Weather: 40s F, continuous light rain, some fog, light breeze (Bf. 2). Not very comfortable today with the rain. Light nylon jacket w/ gortex lining was a little too warm at times, but mostly I dislike the bulk. One sweats enough that one ends up wet under the jacket anyway, but it does block the wind. The worst moments were after a bathroom stop, when I had start up again with wet clothes - br. Smartwool leggings under my running skort worked well. Shoes and socks stayed dry. I'm still contemplating the Sealskinz waterproof socks for those big downpour days I know are coming, but I'm just not convinced they would be comfortable enough at long distances. If anyone has a "dream jacket" they'd like to tell me about, I'd love to hear. I've got 3 and dislike all of them. Might take tomorrow off and try a long run Saturday. I'd really like to shake this cold for good.
| | Comments(2) |
| | Easy Miles | Marathon Pace Miles | Threshold Miles | VO2 Max Miles | Total Distance | | 15.70 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 16.20 |
| Objective: Endurance w/ hills & variable speeds. Second week of recovery.
Weather: 40s into 50s F, calm, mostly cloudy firt 12 miles w/ patchy fog, then sunny last 4 miles. The fall colors have become even more beautiful since I last ran in daylight a week ago. A lovely morning.
This was a run with lots of highs and lows. My original plan was to run 3-4 miles easy, then do 10-12 miles at MP+30-40 seconds, and a few miles slowly at the end to cool down. During the warm up it became clear that if I went through with that plan I was not going to last 16 miles, which was my priority. The energy just wasn't there. So, it was on to plan B! Hills, hills, hills, but whatever pace(s) felt tolerable. I went to all the hilly places (Heights, Bandera/Palisades, Deer Park) and ended up doing a few miles here and there at the pace I originally planned for this run, MP+30-40 sec. At other times, I felt the lows of fatigue and my lingering cold, and slowed significantly. During a relatively flat half mile, I got in that bit of MP running; I just felt like it, so I did it. I am thinking of all my friends who are running races this weekend. Best wishes and I hope your runs go well.
| | Comments(4) |
| | Easy Miles | Marathon Pace Miles | Threshold Miles | VO2 Max Miles | Total Distance | | 45.50 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 46.00 |
|
|
|
| Debt Reduction Calculator |
|
New Kids on the Blog
(need a welcome):
Lone Faithfuls
(need a comment):
|