I just finished running 20 miles. Unlike yesterday, it was ideallic running weather - just under 50 degrees, a mild wind and a variation between cloudy conditions and a touch of sun. Perfect. My friend Mark ran the first 13.1 with me, then I did the last 7 on the trail solo. It was nice. So barring hot or otherwise horrible weather on May 25, I will likely line up for my sixth marathon to run the Madison marathon.I am enjoying everyone's input on my poll - please keep it coming.
Crazylegs was crazy. It was low 40 degree temps, but sustained winds of 20 mph and gusts of over 30 mph. 90% of the race was in a headwind and it is a tough course (lots of hills). But, alas, it was a lot of fun. My firm had a team and we all met up pre-race, where I quickly realized that I was clearly the running geek out of the crew! :) I went out for a warm up and after .6 I looked at my Garmin - pace 6:40? What?! That is not a warm-up - SLOW DOWN. I'm not sure what my problem is, but when it is cold, I seem to like to move. So I completed a very short warm-up then lined up in my corral. Just after 10 a.m., off we went! I felt really good, but looked at my Garmin as I was running up the first hill - .4 miles 5:51 pace!! Yikes! SLOW DOWN! I certainly did not feel that fast! So I slowed down and people were just flying by me. This is what happens at big races (everyone going out way too fast) and I am just not used to it.
BUT, after I slowed down I continued through the run and hit some admittedly painful spots. Painful due to the fast start, hills, wind and race pain in general. I was not mentally tough and had a lot of self-doubt. This is where the speed work really pays off for me. I really need to start up on that again next week! :)
The finish line for Crazylegs is the 50 yard line of Camp Randall - it is always a fun finish. I had an extra gear and came blazing across the finish line. My time was 36:26. This was not a very impressive time for me, but given my current training, I was perfectly happy with it. And it was over an 8 minute course PR too. :)
I waited for my husband and ran into some friends, which was fun. There was free beer and a band, but it was too darn cold for either. In addition, we had to walk a bit over 2 miles to get back to the start where my car was. I wanted to run, but my husband's legs were trashed and he was not having it. So I froze my butt off in my little running skirt as we walked back. All in all, it was a very good day though.
Weekly Recap:
M - 4.07 recovery (9:38)
T - 8.13 (9:22)
W - 4.08 progression (8:09 ave)
R - rest - I decided to spend my extra hour with my kids
F - planned rest
Sa - 8K race (36:27 - stats: OA - 977/9033; AG (30-34) - 145/1568; Gender AG: 15/683
Su - 20 miles (9:04) - last mile was the fastest.
Total: 42.3 miles
10 comments:
Glad to see you back at it. 15/683 F30-34 is pretty good. Geez, there were 683 F30-34???? That's a big race.
Already paranoid about the weather and hills for this Sunday, I was scoping out backup marathons (I'm pitiful, I know), but missed Madison. Good luck.
Is that really such a bad time? A 36-minute 8k is about a minute slower than you'd have split in your 10k PB, which I'm guessing was on a flat course in good weather. The only 8k I run all year is a hilly race in bad weather (Daniel Komen ran it in 22:34 two years before his 7:59 2-mile). My PB there is 30:16, I hit 8k en route to my 10k PB in 29:35.
Give yourself more credit. While we're at it, I'm very impressed you can go out and run 20 miles just like that.
Nice job on the 5-miler and good of your hubby to run the race as well.
As for the 20-miler, isn't nice to finish a long run with energy to spare? So much that the last mile ends up being the fastest? :-)
Nothing like a monstee headwind to throw a wrench in the gears...seriously, I agree w/ Adeel. I think you're not as out of shape as you think.
Thanks for the encouragement. And I guess I came off more negative than I felt. I was actually pretty satisfied with my race results and I think I am coming back into my own with my mileage. I just know my lack of speed work is not helping me - my lack of mental toughness was well noted in my last couple of races. My racing mojo needs a return! And of course I am up a few too many pounds which causes probably more of a mental obstacle than the very real physical obstacle. BUT, I am working on it!
I think running Madison will be big for me. I never thought I would be able to pull it off in the first season (if you will) of returning to work. BUT, I have quickly realized that I need to continue to embrace my running (even if it means significantly less sleep and more wrinkly eyes :) for my own well-being. SO it is a work in progress. And I am very happy overall. Although again, I do feel like a damn slacker over my weight gain. I have never gained this much weight before - EVER - and considering the short time period it is especially intimidating. Shoot, I am going to be 400 lbs before the year is out at the rate I'm going! :)
Seriously though, it goes to show how active I was as a stay at home mom - constantly on the run - as opposed to now where my mind is finally (over)active, but lazy behind is stuck in a chair all day.
A big change.
Thanks Adeel for the breakdown on race stats. Seriously. I'd never take the time to figure it out like you presented it. I just thought, well 15 seconds off my 10K PR per mile and it is less than 5 miles - not good.
That's the longest post comment on one's own blog I've ever seen. :)
Looks like you did pretty awesome.
So, you're kind of toasting me now on the yearly mileage... for the moment.
It is pretty tough balancing a law office, a family, and a running habit. If you figure out how to do it, let me know.
Yeah, many of her posts are shorter...
LOL. Enough already. So I like to "talk" a lot. Sheesh. I was in the office from 6 am until 9 pm tonight. I like to chat about the fun things. You people are a tough crowd.
I'd elaborate on why but I'm too damn tired. ;)
Congrats Mindi! A twenty miler after a 5 miler...I've done that after a 5k, but I would have thought those extra two miles make a big difference in leg deadness...especially after a mentally challenging race (what with the weather and all). Good week.
Sorry to have dropped off the face of the planet there for a bit (re: your last comment on my blog).
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