Hills for breakfast, hold the gnats

Week starting Nov 30, 2008

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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
24.987.000.000.7532.73
Blue Nike Structure Triax 11 Miles: 21.60Red Nike Structure Triax 11 Miles: 11.13
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
5.066.000.000.0011.06

Objective: Some MP miles, marathon rehearsal of clothing (if weather is as predicted) & gels on the run.  4 miles easy + 6 miles MP + 1 mile easy. Tapering; one week to CIM.

Weather: high 40s into low 50s, light fog and mists- gorgeous morning.

I was about 10 seconds off the marathon pace this morning. I decided not to push any harder but just concentrate on relaxing, keeping the cadence up and running form. I still feel kind of heavy; maybe I put on a pound from TG dinner and the continual aftermath of attacking the pie.  (I made my family finish it yesterday while I was out xmas shopping.) I rarely weigh myself but even a small weight gain or loss seems to make a difference on my small frame.  

What a great day for the Seattle Marathon!  This weather is just about my favorite for running, with the tiny exception of the sun coming out near the end of my run (I prefer clouds).  But I am so glad for the volunteers and the runners in Seattle this morning.  I'm sending good wishes to the only blog member I know of who is running it today: have a good race Saamijeff!

Blue Nike Structure Triax 11 Miles: 11.06
Comments(2)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
6.500.000.000.006.50

Objective: Easy w/ cadence drills, tapering

Weather: 40s F, partly cloudy w/ starry patches

15 min core & weights

I am distraught this morning.  My father-in-law, whose emergency surgery I reported about 3 weeks ago, suffered a pulmonary embolism yesterday and is in very bad condition.  He has spent most of the past 3 weeks in the hospital, with complications from the surgery that removed most of his colon (necrotized).  He has been in poor health for so long, years really.  What reserves could he have to fight for his health?  The cardiologists are trying to decide whether another surgery is even possible.  

On top of my sorrow and anxiety for him, my mother-in-law and my husband, there is the comparitively frivolous sadness that I will not get to run my marathon.  In comparison to  what is happening, and what may happen in the next 24 hours, missing a marathon is as inconsequential as dropping a big ice cream sundae one has constructed, but it is bringing me to tears nonetheless.  Or maybe the whole mess is doing so.

Blue Nike Structure Triax 11 Miles: 6.50
Comments(8)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
4.300.000.000.755.05

Objective: Moderate w/ extra effort on hills, and fast finish (last .75 @ VO2max). Tapering.

Weather: 47 F, cloudy, calm, heavy mist (not quite rain) 1st mile only

15 core & weights, last day for any leg work

My sincere thanks to everyone who left comments yesterday.  I think I have recovered somewhat from the trauma of yesterday's news. My FIL is still hanging on but remains unconscious.  We talked with my MIL last night, who declares -- with some temper -- that everything threatening my FIL right now has come by his own actions: he did not follow the diet he was supposed to follow, he pulled out his tubes, he refused to walk the halls after his surgery, etc.  At the same time, we know that certain medical procedures were neglected by his nurses, such as putting on the leg massaging socks that might have prevented the first blood clot from forming.  I can tell MIL is struggling terribly with her emotions over this situation.  My DH seems pretty stable, but he is coming down with a cold; the body will sometimes express what the mind cannot.

During the past 24 hours, I have come to the conclusion that I must strive to "let go" of the outcome this week.  FIL may leave us today, tomorrow, next week, or not for years to come.  I have to continue to carry out my marathon taper and travel plans as if nothing is happening, and yet be ready for anything to happen.  I have to accept my own lack of control, not something I am very good at.  But it's going to drive me crazy if I keep thinking "I'm not racing," then "I am racing," back and forth, back and forth.  I've got to find a way to just float through this, que sera, sera

Red Nike Structure Triax 11 Miles: 5.05
Comments(4)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
4.040.000.000.004.04

Objective: easy

Weather: low 40s F, cloudy but dry

15 min core & pushups 

Just an easy jaunt today. I don't feel energetic in the least, probably due to life circumstances and the 2 nights in a row of 7 hr sleep.  (I think I really need 7.5 minimum.) 

The fact that nothing has changed w/ my FIL's condition is somewhat heartening.  I guess he could still slip away but it doesn't seem like a crisis anymore.  But we are geographically far away and I don't know what quantity of information we might be missing.  No news is good news?

Blue Nike Structure Triax 11 Miles: 4.04
Comments(5)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
5.081.000.000.006.08

Objective: Last Run Potluck: mostly easy w/ 1 mile @ MP, 2 very steep hills and 4 x 1 block strides

Weather: low 30's F, part foggy, part starry

Everything holding steady.  I threw in a bunch of little extras to bolster my psyche.  Legs feel good. Spirits are up a bit. My FIL was conscious for the first time yesterday, but he may have another blood clot in his arm.  I am ready for whatever may come. 

Thanks again to everyone on the blog. I am so encouraged by having this support and by reading others' blogs.  This is my last entry before the marathon.  Happy running, everyone.

Red Nike Structure Triax 11 Miles: 6.08
Comments(11)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
24.987.000.000.7532.73
Blue Nike Structure Triax 11 Miles: 21.60Red Nike Structure Triax 11 Miles: 11.13
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