That just about killed me

Wow. Did I ever make a big mistake this morning. I had 20 miles scheduled, but I did not want to get up at 5:00 am. I get up at 5:00am most weekdays to run and I just wanted to get some rest this weekend and sleep in. I got up at 6:45 and headed out the door for my run at 8:00 am. Big mistake. The first 6 miles were fine. The temps were in the low 70s and my HR was reasonable (150s). HOWEVER, the temps quickly began to rise after that as did my HR. By the end of the run it was 85 degrees and I was running close to a 10:00 m/m pace and my HR was 180! Holy cow. A far cry from my first mile - 8:53/147. I literally thought I was going to drop dead. Definitely an ego crushing run. The good news is that I have run enough 20 milers and subsequent marathons to know it is all going to be just fine. Painful, but fine. :)

I got home and took an ice bath. This run left me at 56.4 miles for the week. Not too shabby considering I was scheduled for 55.

Now I am off to get cleaned up, pick up kids, then go host a wedding shower!

BTW - Greg - I am following Pfitz's 18/55 program. The LT and MP runs are very painful, but they do make a HUGE difference at the end of the season.

Boys in wetsuits rock

Hi all: Well, I should say hi to anyone that still takes the time to check in even though I have been absent lately!

It has been a crazy month, but all in all, life is good. I just got back from a great trip in Maine. My mother-in-law just bought a house right on the ocean - unbelieveable. We climbed on the rocks, looked for crabs and periwinkles, went fishing, visited Fort Williams, Portland Headlight, Two Lights, ate Red's Ice Cream (the best!), ran, and did a lot of visiting w/relatives I had not seen in many months, if not years. My kids FINALLY reached the age where they were an absolute PLEASURE to travel with. After 7 years of painful travels, I can truly say that is PRICELESS. The downside was that my mother-in-law was a mess b/c my father-in-law left her 6 months ago after being together 40 years. Crazy how life works.

I did get to see my new nephew - what a little treasure. He is 2 months old and just fabulous - a beautiful smile and fully engaged. I took him every moment I could. It is amazing how quickly that precious time goes by and the next thing you know your kids are 7 years old!! At the same time I received word that a friend/colleague lost her twin babies after going into premature labor at 21 weeks. Life can be so joyful and heartbreaking. I promise NOT to get heavy on that subject even though my heart is.

I have not kept up on my running mags since I started work, but I picked up Runner's World in La Guardia (just before we had to sprint to the next terminal dodging taxis with small children to get to our connecting flight!). There was an article re the Vibram 5 finger shoes - made me think of Keith and I was laughing out loud on the plane. Ah, the pleasures of running idisyncrisies!

I am back to work, I just got the orders to write an article today which is due by September 4! Yikes - happy Labor Day weekend to me! No complaints though really, it is good in the long haul. So I ramble and you wonder if my happy @ss is running these days. Well, yes, I am doing quite fine, thank you! Last week was a cut-back week. I missed about a mile and a half after the Brewer game, but made up for it in my 14 miler in Maine on Sunday. We hit an amazingly hilly route. I ran the first 5 with my husband and it was SLOW due to the sleep hills and trails (9:55ish), then I hit the last 9 on my own and was clicking off 9:00s to 9:10s, but ended with the last 3 miles progressively faster, last at a 7:50ish pace. Nice.

This week:

M: 6 recovery (9:35) with John in Maine

T: rest and enjoy family before we have to leave

W - 13.1 (9:24) - this was truly an amazing feat given I ran after 3 cups of afternoon coffee following 6.5 hours of travel and 4 hours of sleep the night before - we had to get up at 2:20 am to meet our flight!!!

R - rest/core (I have been slacking on the core thing!!!)

F - 12.17 with 7 at 15K pace (7:28).

We are jam packed this weekend with work/social activities, but I should log a good 20+ miler and break 55 miles for the week.

Week Recapped

This was a good week for me. Despite my sub-par (but not totally unexpected) race, my HR really dropped this week. FINALLY! Here is the breakdown:

M: rest

T: unplanned rest - exhaused and hip hurt

W: 14.1 (9:18) - last miles fastest

R: 6 (9:47)

F: 6 w/7 striders (9:10)

Sa: 6 recovery (9:49)

Su: 15 w/10 at MP (7:53). Wanted to hit 12 but I got a stitch and it was getting really hot, so I took it down a notch.

Total: 47 and change.

Next week is a cut-back week for me.

Yes, I have been a blogging slacker

My race was pretty pathetic - 46:29 - 2 minutes, 20 seconds off my "standard" 10K time. No, I have not run many 10Ks, but of the 6-7, this is one of my slowest - it may even be on par with my very first a couple years ago. Typically, when I am training as I am, I log just over 44 minutes. Conditions weren't bad enough to justify my poor time. A tiny bit humid and 69-70 degree temps. No big deal. I was just tired and still up 5-6 lbs. Disheartening. Oh yeah, and I went out WAY too fast b/c I was talking with a good friend I hadn't seen in ages (who happened to win the 5K).

My uncle and his family, who I haven't seen in 5+ years came into town so after spending the day in the heat at the local carnival (think bouncy castles and turtle races!), we went out to hear my husband's band and imbibed on a few too many brews until a few too many hours past my bedtime. Four hours later I got up for my 20. Miraculously I clicked off 16 just over a 9 minute pace with my friend Mark. I stopped at home to refill water and my knee had a bit of a glitch so I called it a day. My knees ALWAYS rebell when I do not get enough sleep.

Monday my hip hurt. It was a weird pain. Also the day of my Grandma's funeral, so it was the last thing on my mind. It was a painful, but beautiful day. I had a couple of friends show up out of the blue and it touched my heart (read: balling just before the service). I read the 23rd Psalm during the service and miraculously did not cry. My husband did the music - Into the Garden, Turn, Turn, Turn (Byrds) and Amazing Grace on the acoustic guitar. It was really special. We all (my extended family) spend the day together. I have an amazing family and some really awesome friends.

Tuesday I was absolutely spent, hip still hurt, so I rested.

Wednesday, hip still hurt - but dammit! I have to stick to the schedule! Logged 14 with very strong last miles.

Thurs-Sat ran 6 milers - easy, striders, not real eventful, but HR is FINALLY dipping down. Maybe it is a combination of decompressing some from the last few weeks, but the early am temps have been good too.

Tomorrow I log 15 with 12 at MP. Frankly I have no idea what MP is now, so I am going to shoot for 8s. If I can manage 7:45, more power to me.

Work has been stressful. I took a lot of time off for my Grandma, my son's birthday, and writing 2 articles. The billable hour can kick your @ss if life decides to throw you a wrench.

Run on friends. Sorry for being so delinquent....

Today I RACE!

I don't know about any of you, but I am pretty jazzed the Olympic Games have started! I am really looking forward to watching them. It is weird though how "unpopular" they are now compared to when I was a kid. It is a shame.

This morning I am going to run my first 10K in a year! Crazy. I am excited about it, but a wee bit nervous as I traditionally suck at that distance. I don't know why, but it is my weakest distance. And, of course, I haven't done a tempo workout in eons because I have foregone those for the track. Oh well, I do have a nice solid base so it shouldn't be too bad. And it is a beautiful morning.

I have family in from Boston that I have not seen in more than 5 years! Very cool. Should be a great weekend.

Desiderada

"Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant;
They too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
It is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
Many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the council of the years,
Gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a healthy discipline,
Be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here,
and whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God,
Whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy."

Weekly Recap

Seven weeks in the books....

M - rest

T - 5.8 (9:22)

W - 8:08 (9:26)

R - rest

F - 11.44 (8:41)

Sa - 7.11 (9:31) w/7 striders

Su - 19.25 (9:14) - major heart rate creep! It was 58 and beautiful at the start and I was clicking off 8:40s with HR in the 140s. By end it was almost 80 degrees and HR was in 170s while I was logging 9:30s!

Total: 51.7

I think I am going to run a 10K next weekend. 10K is a hard distance for me, but I am supposed to log 6 tempo and thought that would be the easiest way for me to get in a good workout.

Sorry for the picture overload, folks, but I have some great ones lately!

Thanks for all of the nice comments and e-mails re my Grandma - it was all very well needed and well received!

I had an amazing run on Thursday morning. I logged 11.5 at an 8:40 pace and felt spectacular. That is nothing short of amazing considering I have been fueled by crappy sleep, too much coffee, crappy food, too much wine and little H20. Of course life smacked me hard by Friday night (and I was in bed by 8:00 pm), but I enjoyed the run mucho. Today I ran on the trail with my husband - slow, but I taught him the beauty of striders. It was a nice time. I really love running with him. Tomorrow I log 18 to hit 50. I am very thankful to have made my mileage this week.

Work? Yeah, I didn't do much of that. :) Oh well.

It is tough. I have been having some wicked bad dreams and my poor mom is a mess. Death is so amazingly difficult - even when it is time. I have a very large, and thankfully amazing family. We all "deal" with our grief differently, but we come together like rock stars. Oh yeah, and my Grandma should win some award for having and raising 8 kids alone!! That would be the loony bin for me!!!

Happy running, my friends. And thanks - you are the best.