Now that was fun! This morning I ran my 3rd Crazylegs Classic. Crazylegs is always near and dear to my heart as it was the first race I ever ran.
It was also fun because I really had absolutely no expectations going in. I wanted to run fast, but I knew that since it had only been 2 weeks from Illinois, I would really have to listen to my body and not do anything too stupid.
Because it was not a goal race, this morning was completely carefree. It was in the 50s and lightly raining. It was actually ideal race weather, but I was a bit bummed because the boys (my husband and 2 kids) were going to do the 2 mile walk and meet me at the finish. They went down to the start, but said if the weather was too bad, they weren't going to do it.
Crazylegs is a HUGE race. Despite the weather, there were over 18,000 participants! The good news is that a few years ago, the race directors were smart enough to implement a wave start. (The first year I did it, it took almost a mile into the race before I could hit a running stride). I was in wave E, which meant I did not have to wait too long. Before I knew it my wave was off and running! The start is slightly downhill, but it felt like we were going FAST! I promised not to look at my watch - just go by feel - but I felt I needed a check. 6:22 pace! Yikes! So I slowed down and hit the first big hill up Wisconsin Ave conservatively. Another long downhill along fraternity row. I hit the mile marker just under a 7 minute pace. Ooops. That is too fast. The good news is that my legs felt great. Shortly after the mile is Observatory Drive - killer hills. I punched on but could tell my pace slowed. The rain was POURING and there was some thunder and lightning for about 5 minutes. It then was really fun as we were splashing through big puddles and just soaked! I remembered how crazy windy it was last year and much preferred the rain and 50 degree temps this year. Today was that breakout spring day were all the buds popped out on the trees and it was fun to take it all in. As I came close to the finish and saw Camp Randall Stadium, it made me laugh as my last race also finished at a 50 yard line. I picked it up as much as I could and hit the finish at 36:36. Nice. I hung around to see if the boys would show up and drank a beer. After 30 minutes, I couldn't find them and was FREEZING, so I ran 2 miles back to my office (where my car was) and then headed home. I was soaking wet, but it was very fun. I was really pleased with my race too. I ran strong and steady and felt no ill effects from Illinois.
Oh yeah, and this was only my 3rd run this week. I have been SWAMPED at work - but in a good way, so I'll take it. I hope to log 11-12 easy tomorrow to get back up over 30 mpw. Hopefully back into the 40s next week.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
So I ended up running 3xs last week (F, Sa, Sun). Very light, very easy. Friday I shut it down after 2 as my legs were super heavy and my quads were screaming. Saturday I did 6 and all felt good, although heavy. Yesterday I was up for 8, but had the pleasure of a nice leisurely run with my husband who was not up for more than 5. So I logged a whopping 13 miles.
My legs feel good today. This week will be easy due to planned recovery + busy busy busy at work. I plan to run Crazylegs on Saturday at tempo. I hope we have decent weather - it is a FUN race!
I watched the Boston Marathon today. It was awesome and I got nothing done. I loved tracking all my running peeps laying it all out on the stretch from Hopkington to Beantown. Looking forward to some good race reports.
My legs feel good today. This week will be easy due to planned recovery + busy busy busy at work. I plan to run Crazylegs on Saturday at tempo. I hope we have decent weather - it is a FUN race!
I watched the Boston Marathon today. It was awesome and I got nothing done. I loved tracking all my running peeps laying it all out on the stretch from Hopkington to Beantown. Looking forward to some good race reports.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Slacker
So it has only been 4 days since Illinois, but I feel like a COMPLETE slacker for not getting out for a run yet. My husband wanted me to go yesterday and today with him, but my quads are still feeling pretty shredded. I realize there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking several days off, but I also have this overwhelming feeling of being a lazy slack. But alas, I know it is critical to listen to my body right now so I don't pull anything. Ugh. How long do you typically take off after a marathon?
In other news, I have been busy planning! I have a new schedule for the next 7 weeks, which includes several races. Check it out:
4/25: Crazylegs Classic 8K (just for fun with my work team)
5/02: Lake Monona 20K (effort will depend on how my recovery goes)
5/24: Madison 1/2 Marathon (goal race)
05/31: Race for the Cure 5K (for fun).
Then I am going to start Capitol Mile training and fall marathon training. I am seriously eyeing Steamtown.
Good luck to everyone running Boston Monday. I know I am going to get absolutely nothing done at work as I will be tracking everyone!! Be sure to send me your bib#. I am still praying to the weather gods that the forecasted winds dissipate.
Upate on my OTD Self! Just talked to my husband and they already had weddings and shows booked throughout October! Dammit. The October 10 gig was brand new and unconfirmed, so I jumped in and gave it the boot! AND I just registered for Steamtown. AND Chicago as a backup (weather, work, whatever, Chi-town is 2.5 hours away). May be a HUGE waste of $125 for chi-town, but I waited too long last year. Ultimate goal is Steamtown. Full steam ahead, baby!!!
In other news, I have been busy planning! I have a new schedule for the next 7 weeks, which includes several races. Check it out:
4/25: Crazylegs Classic 8K (just for fun with my work team)
5/02: Lake Monona 20K (effort will depend on how my recovery goes)
5/24: Madison 1/2 Marathon (goal race)
05/31: Race for the Cure 5K (for fun).
Then I am going to start Capitol Mile training and fall marathon training. I am seriously eyeing Steamtown.
Good luck to everyone running Boston Monday. I know I am going to get absolutely nothing done at work as I will be tracking everyone!! Be sure to send me your bib#. I am still praying to the weather gods that the forecasted winds dissipate.
Upate on my OTD Self! Just talked to my husband and they already had weddings and shows booked throughout October! Dammit. The October 10 gig was brand new and unconfirmed, so I jumped in and gave it the boot! AND I just registered for Steamtown. AND Chicago as a backup (weather, work, whatever, Chi-town is 2.5 hours away). May be a HUGE waste of $125 for chi-town, but I waited too long last year. Ultimate goal is Steamtown. Full steam ahead, baby!!!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
2009 Illinois Marathon Race Report
So I said it would take a few days, but you know me...... :)
Happy Easter. Thanks to you all for your support!
2009 Illinois Marathon Race Report
Marathon number 8 is now in the books! Woo Hoo!!! It seems so silly, but honestly every one of them has a special place in my heart. For this one, I could write a novel about the entire experience – from the date I decided to do it until I finally got home yesterday from Champaign. Fortunately for you I haven’t, but in the interest of full disclosure, I have written several pages, so proceed at your own caution. :D
As many of you know, 2008 was a tough year running-wise for me. I had a relatively hard time fitting the training in and getting acclimated to working long, stressful hours, sustaining decent mileage, and being a good mom/wife. However, at the end of the year, I think my body started getting into the grove. My paces finally started dropping some and my heart rate was relatively respectful. Yay! Maybe I will not be slow forever! :D
My friend Jessica asked me to run Boston with her and a fun group of girls. It sounded like a lot of fun and she was there to support me when I ran my first Boston. BUT….. then my sister told me she was going to train for her very first marathon – the Illinois Marathon on April 11, 2009. AND she wanted me to go with her. HECK YEAH!! I was so excited and knew it would be such a wonderful accomplishment to share with her. So I drew up a Pfitz 18 week / up to 55 miles per week schedule and commenced training on December 8.
Overall, this was a very difficult training season as the weather was simply brutal. To get my miles in, I had to get up early during the week and run before work. Because the roads were a constant mess and it was pitch black (not to mention regular sub-0 temps), I was all too often relegated to the treadmill. Yeah, I despise the treadmill. The upside was that because I was always so bored on it, I would play with the paces and often finished much faster than I started. Lo and behold, this started translating to the streets as well (when I finally got out there). Four weeks into my training, I decided to bump up the mileage a bit and run 6 days a week instead of 5. This got me to 60 miles per week at least 2x and had me in the 50s more consistently. Training clicked off well and I had no injuries.
Unfortunately, the same was not true for my sister. At a training seminar about 6 weeks before the race, she jumped up and sustained a major calf pull / strain which completely put her out of training and out of the marathon. What a serious disappointment for her. She offered to come with me anyway for support – but I encouraged her not to. While I would have loved for her to come with me, I thought it would just be so bitter sweet (to be generous) for her. And alas, this weekend was tough for her. But I have no doubt we will get another chance soon!
Leading up to the race, it was CrAzY windy around here, and the forecast showed it was only worse in Illinois. Yikes. But as race day drew closer, the weather report became more and more ideal. Yay! So on Good Friday, I hung out with the kids as long as possible and then hit the road for Champaign. I checked into my hotel and headed to the expo. Wouldn’t you know, I promptly got lost! But I eventually got there and it was a complete zoo. Yikes! I couldn’t get out of there fast enough! I grabbed a sandwich from Panera and hit the hotel to relax. I brought my computer and promptly figured out directions to the race in the morning and of course checked the weather about 30 times. It was brutal there on Friday (30 mph winds) and I kept hoping it would clear before the race. I also played on Facebook and was so energized by all of the support and comments. It was so cool because there I was, all alone in Champaign for the race, but I felt like I had my own pit crew right there. I can’t tell you how much that meant to me.
I hit the sack around 8:45 and went right to sleep. I woke at 4:30, ate breakfast and got ready to go. All in all, it was a very smooth race-day morning. Because I had to find parking, I left just before 7 to get to the race. It was very cold (28ish), but the sun was shining and it felt like a beautiful day. The pre-race activity was exciting and inspiring as always. I teared up as I saw the ladder fire trucks with the huge American flag and was so thankful to be there. Boy, I sure am turning into an unapologetic sap as I get older! :D
The start corral was a bit crazy. Instead of making people go around the front to get into the corral, people were coming right through up until just a few minutes before the start. It was crazy. Hopefully the race directors will change that next year. 8 University of Illinois men sang the National Anthem (barbershop quartet style) and it was really cool. Again, I teared up. I am so thankful / excited / emotional.
And we’re off! It was an easy start and we were running to the north, which was into a direct headwind. But it was relatively light and didn’t bother me much at all. I was hoping to average 7:45 – 7:55 paces, but more importantly, I wanted to run by feel and stay within myself. I clicked the lap button every mile, but made a conscious effort not to be a slave to the Garmin. The first several miles clicked off very nicely and I felt strong.
There were a couple of spots the wind felt tough and my breath felt a little too labored, but it was all temporary and I felt like I was in a good grove. Around mile 11, the half marathoners split off and I was thankful to have less traffic, if you will. A girl running very strong passed me and a spectator (I am assuming was her mother) saw her and was just ecstatic. She was yelling “Go Rachel, I am so proud of you!” It was really, really cool. And I decided I would try to keep Rachel in my sights and not fall too far behind her.
I hit the half at 1:42:59 (or something close to that) and realized I needed to negative split if I wanted to hit my goal of 3:25. I felt that was definitely within reach.
Just past the half, we turned a corner and saw the leaders pass by. They all looked pained, but it was great to see them and I cheered for them all. I still felt strong and was clicking off good paces. Around mile 14, there were lots of spectators – mostly girls and they cheered like crazy when I ran through. It was really great. Next thing I know, I can sense people running next to me – I look to my right and there are 3 little girls (probably 8-10 years old) carrying this big sign saying “Girl Power” with the biggest smiles on their faces. I thanked them and told them they were awesome. It was honestly the highlight of my whole race.
In the meantime, I kept Rachel in my sight and felt strong. I can do this. But around mile 18, it started getting ridiculously windy. I checked accuweather after the fact and apparently there were 15 mph sustained winds and gusts in the 20s. D@mmit. I was working really hard to keep pace and really had to focus. Around mile 19 I passed Rachel and hated every second of it. She had looked so strong and was now faltering.
Around the same time I hit the turn where I had previously seen the leaders. I saw the 4:25 and 4:30 pace groups go through and they looked so good. Yeah, you have the tailwind. No wonder those leaders looked pained!
I turned the corner where the half was and people were announcing the runners as they were coming through. We were close to mile 20 and the announcer hemmed and hawed about Madison, so I cheesed it up (as I am known for) and got some nice cheers. It was a good boost at a good time.
The next several miles were tough. Most of it was in headwinds with some big gusts – at a couple times I thought my hat was going to fly off. But I kept on as best I could. Now I was following a man in a white and orange shirt. This was the point in the race you start seeing lots of people fall to the side and start walking. I was glad I could keep going on. My quads, hammies and calves were starting to feel it though. (I think it was because I did not have as much nutrition/hydration as usual. They did not have aid stations every mile (in fact several were 3 miles apart it seemed) so I had one less gel than usual. In addition, at many stations they gave out full water bottles rather than cups. WTF? I would take 2 ungraceful swigs and throw the rest off. Big waste.).
Needless to say, it was getting painful and I so wanted to stop. But I thought of my sister. And I thought of people that have real struggles (i.e. my mother in law with cancer), and of course (truth be told) I thought of how hard I have worked and there was NO WAY I was going to wimp out now. So I kept trying to give it more and more.
Around mile 24, I turned a corner after a crazy headwind and saw I was right near the spot I threw off my fleece at mile 2. I had been very tempted to wear my Grandma’s during the race and I knew she wouldn’t mind if I threw it off. But after wearing it all morning pre-race, I decided I would mind and threw on an old one. At mile 24, I thought about picking it up and knew if it was Grandma’s I would have. But now, I was struggling just to keep going and did NOT need anything else to carry. So I passed it with a nod to Grandma and headed closer to the U of I stadium.
The beautiful thing about mile 25 is that you know you only have a few minutes to go. I hunkered down and gave it everything I had. Mile 26 was just before the stadium entrance. I gave it everything I had to finish strong (6:41 pace). The clock was turning just to 3:28 as I went through, so I knew I was 3:27:xx. Whew. Not the goal, but it was a victory, indeed.
I grabbed a water and wandered around a bit looking for food. Nothing. Apparently they did not want that on the U of I football field (makes sense). However, to get to gear check and food, we had to climb the stadium stairs. Come on, that is just cruel!! :D I got my bag and met a few fun people before I decided to head out so I could get showered and checked out of my hotel by 1:00 pm.
When I got my blackberry, I opened it and it was full of encouraging messages. Wow. I was seriously overwhelmed. I have such unbelievable friends.
I got cleaned up, headed home and was welcomed by my most crucial pit crew of all. What a blessing. I am a fortunate person.
Stats:
O/A: 205/1606
A/G (35-39): 2/89 (YAY!)
Women: 20/606
Update: Apparently the numbers yesterday were wrong. Here are the stats:
End notes: Illinois is NOT flat. It is fast, but not flat. Never ending inclines and declines, which frankly I like, but NOT Chicago flat.
Yeah, Bridget won the half. I wish I knew she was going to be there!
Greg, thanks so much for the update on the AG award. It made my drive home completely energized. ROCK!!
Happy Easter. Thanks to you all for your support!
2009 Illinois Marathon Race Report
Marathon number 8 is now in the books! Woo Hoo!!! It seems so silly, but honestly every one of them has a special place in my heart. For this one, I could write a novel about the entire experience – from the date I decided to do it until I finally got home yesterday from Champaign. Fortunately for you I haven’t, but in the interest of full disclosure, I have written several pages, so proceed at your own caution. :D
As many of you know, 2008 was a tough year running-wise for me. I had a relatively hard time fitting the training in and getting acclimated to working long, stressful hours, sustaining decent mileage, and being a good mom/wife. However, at the end of the year, I think my body started getting into the grove. My paces finally started dropping some and my heart rate was relatively respectful. Yay! Maybe I will not be slow forever! :D
My friend Jessica asked me to run Boston with her and a fun group of girls. It sounded like a lot of fun and she was there to support me when I ran my first Boston. BUT….. then my sister told me she was going to train for her very first marathon – the Illinois Marathon on April 11, 2009. AND she wanted me to go with her. HECK YEAH!! I was so excited and knew it would be such a wonderful accomplishment to share with her. So I drew up a Pfitz 18 week / up to 55 miles per week schedule and commenced training on December 8.
Overall, this was a very difficult training season as the weather was simply brutal. To get my miles in, I had to get up early during the week and run before work. Because the roads were a constant mess and it was pitch black (not to mention regular sub-0 temps), I was all too often relegated to the treadmill. Yeah, I despise the treadmill. The upside was that because I was always so bored on it, I would play with the paces and often finished much faster than I started. Lo and behold, this started translating to the streets as well (when I finally got out there). Four weeks into my training, I decided to bump up the mileage a bit and run 6 days a week instead of 5. This got me to 60 miles per week at least 2x and had me in the 50s more consistently. Training clicked off well and I had no injuries.
Unfortunately, the same was not true for my sister. At a training seminar about 6 weeks before the race, she jumped up and sustained a major calf pull / strain which completely put her out of training and out of the marathon. What a serious disappointment for her. She offered to come with me anyway for support – but I encouraged her not to. While I would have loved for her to come with me, I thought it would just be so bitter sweet (to be generous) for her. And alas, this weekend was tough for her. But I have no doubt we will get another chance soon!
Leading up to the race, it was CrAzY windy around here, and the forecast showed it was only worse in Illinois. Yikes. But as race day drew closer, the weather report became more and more ideal. Yay! So on Good Friday, I hung out with the kids as long as possible and then hit the road for Champaign. I checked into my hotel and headed to the expo. Wouldn’t you know, I promptly got lost! But I eventually got there and it was a complete zoo. Yikes! I couldn’t get out of there fast enough! I grabbed a sandwich from Panera and hit the hotel to relax. I brought my computer and promptly figured out directions to the race in the morning and of course checked the weather about 30 times. It was brutal there on Friday (30 mph winds) and I kept hoping it would clear before the race. I also played on Facebook and was so energized by all of the support and comments. It was so cool because there I was, all alone in Champaign for the race, but I felt like I had my own pit crew right there. I can’t tell you how much that meant to me.
I hit the sack around 8:45 and went right to sleep. I woke at 4:30, ate breakfast and got ready to go. All in all, it was a very smooth race-day morning. Because I had to find parking, I left just before 7 to get to the race. It was very cold (28ish), but the sun was shining and it felt like a beautiful day. The pre-race activity was exciting and inspiring as always. I teared up as I saw the ladder fire trucks with the huge American flag and was so thankful to be there. Boy, I sure am turning into an unapologetic sap as I get older! :D
The start corral was a bit crazy. Instead of making people go around the front to get into the corral, people were coming right through up until just a few minutes before the start. It was crazy. Hopefully the race directors will change that next year. 8 University of Illinois men sang the National Anthem (barbershop quartet style) and it was really cool. Again, I teared up. I am so thankful / excited / emotional.
And we’re off! It was an easy start and we were running to the north, which was into a direct headwind. But it was relatively light and didn’t bother me much at all. I was hoping to average 7:45 – 7:55 paces, but more importantly, I wanted to run by feel and stay within myself. I clicked the lap button every mile, but made a conscious effort not to be a slave to the Garmin. The first several miles clicked off very nicely and I felt strong.
There were a couple of spots the wind felt tough and my breath felt a little too labored, but it was all temporary and I felt like I was in a good grove. Around mile 11, the half marathoners split off and I was thankful to have less traffic, if you will. A girl running very strong passed me and a spectator (I am assuming was her mother) saw her and was just ecstatic. She was yelling “Go Rachel, I am so proud of you!” It was really, really cool. And I decided I would try to keep Rachel in my sights and not fall too far behind her.
I hit the half at 1:42:59 (or something close to that) and realized I needed to negative split if I wanted to hit my goal of 3:25. I felt that was definitely within reach.
Just past the half, we turned a corner and saw the leaders pass by. They all looked pained, but it was great to see them and I cheered for them all. I still felt strong and was clicking off good paces. Around mile 14, there were lots of spectators – mostly girls and they cheered like crazy when I ran through. It was really great. Next thing I know, I can sense people running next to me – I look to my right and there are 3 little girls (probably 8-10 years old) carrying this big sign saying “Girl Power” with the biggest smiles on their faces. I thanked them and told them they were awesome. It was honestly the highlight of my whole race.
In the meantime, I kept Rachel in my sight and felt strong. I can do this. But around mile 18, it started getting ridiculously windy. I checked accuweather after the fact and apparently there were 15 mph sustained winds and gusts in the 20s. D@mmit. I was working really hard to keep pace and really had to focus. Around mile 19 I passed Rachel and hated every second of it. She had looked so strong and was now faltering.
Around the same time I hit the turn where I had previously seen the leaders. I saw the 4:25 and 4:30 pace groups go through and they looked so good. Yeah, you have the tailwind. No wonder those leaders looked pained!
I turned the corner where the half was and people were announcing the runners as they were coming through. We were close to mile 20 and the announcer hemmed and hawed about Madison, so I cheesed it up (as I am known for) and got some nice cheers. It was a good boost at a good time.
The next several miles were tough. Most of it was in headwinds with some big gusts – at a couple times I thought my hat was going to fly off. But I kept on as best I could. Now I was following a man in a white and orange shirt. This was the point in the race you start seeing lots of people fall to the side and start walking. I was glad I could keep going on. My quads, hammies and calves were starting to feel it though. (I think it was because I did not have as much nutrition/hydration as usual. They did not have aid stations every mile (in fact several were 3 miles apart it seemed) so I had one less gel than usual. In addition, at many stations they gave out full water bottles rather than cups. WTF? I would take 2 ungraceful swigs and throw the rest off. Big waste.).
Needless to say, it was getting painful and I so wanted to stop. But I thought of my sister. And I thought of people that have real struggles (i.e. my mother in law with cancer), and of course (truth be told) I thought of how hard I have worked and there was NO WAY I was going to wimp out now. So I kept trying to give it more and more.
Around mile 24, I turned a corner after a crazy headwind and saw I was right near the spot I threw off my fleece at mile 2. I had been very tempted to wear my Grandma’s during the race and I knew she wouldn’t mind if I threw it off. But after wearing it all morning pre-race, I decided I would mind and threw on an old one. At mile 24, I thought about picking it up and knew if it was Grandma’s I would have. But now, I was struggling just to keep going and did NOT need anything else to carry. So I passed it with a nod to Grandma and headed closer to the U of I stadium.
The beautiful thing about mile 25 is that you know you only have a few minutes to go. I hunkered down and gave it everything I had. Mile 26 was just before the stadium entrance. I gave it everything I had to finish strong (6:41 pace). The clock was turning just to 3:28 as I went through, so I knew I was 3:27:xx. Whew. Not the goal, but it was a victory, indeed.
I grabbed a water and wandered around a bit looking for food. Nothing. Apparently they did not want that on the U of I football field (makes sense). However, to get to gear check and food, we had to climb the stadium stairs. Come on, that is just cruel!! :D I got my bag and met a few fun people before I decided to head out so I could get showered and checked out of my hotel by 1:00 pm.
When I got my blackberry, I opened it and it was full of encouraging messages. Wow. I was seriously overwhelmed. I have such unbelievable friends.
I got cleaned up, headed home and was welcomed by my most crucial pit crew of all. What a blessing. I am a fortunate person.
Stats:
O/A: 205/1606
A/G (35-39): 2/89 (YAY!)
Women: 20/606
Update: Apparently the numbers yesterday were wrong. Here are the stats:
Overall: 189 / 1619
Age Group: 2 / 79
Women: 16 / 509.
Sweet.
End notes: Illinois is NOT flat. It is fast, but not flat. Never ending inclines and declines, which frankly I like, but NOT Chicago flat.
Yeah, Bridget won the half. I wish I knew she was going to be there!
Greg, thanks so much for the update on the AG award. It made my drive home completely energized. ROCK!!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Official Results
3:27:36.
Not my goal. Not a PR. But, man, did I give it everything I had. This was my first successful marathon (this is actually 1:07 off my PR) that I did not negative split. I'm divided on the cause. I felt strong in the first half and actually refused to look at my Garmin other than the obligatory lap split. I felt I was definitely running within myself. But the winds in miles 17-24 kicked my @ss. So maybe I went out too fast...maybe just winds. Either way, I'll take it. I ran my heart out there today. Talented or not, I did what I set out to accomplish.
Since it is of course, Easter weekend, I have guests and will not have a race report for a while... but it will be forth coming.
Not my goal. Not a PR. But, man, did I give it everything I had. This was my first successful marathon (this is actually 1:07 off my PR) that I did not negative split. I'm divided on the cause. I felt strong in the first half and actually refused to look at my Garmin other than the obligatory lap split. I felt I was definitely running within myself. But the winds in miles 17-24 kicked my @ss. So maybe I went out too fast...maybe just winds. Either way, I'll take it. I ran my heart out there today. Talented or not, I did what I set out to accomplish.
Since it is of course, Easter weekend, I have guests and will not have a race report for a while... but it will be forth coming.
Friday, April 10, 2009
In Champaign . . .
I made it! It always feels weird traveling to a race on my own, but overall my travels were uneventful and I made it. It is CrAzY windy today and I am praying the winds let up before tomorrow morning. It was funny because on the way down I passed a big wind farm. I had never seen one in person before and it was a bit surreal - if not even a bit sci-fi-ish. They were HUGE and boy were they cranking away in the 28 mile winds.I checked into my hotel and headed over to the expo. I got a bit lost trying to find it and it was crazy - I cannot believe how big this race is for the inaugural running. The marathon, half, 10K and 5K are all sold out! And I believe there are around 10,000 people. Tomorrow morning should be crazy! My hotel is several miles away so I will have to get over there early to park.
I am starting to get really excited, but very nervous too (as usual). I had a complete anxiety dream last night - I was starting the Madison Marathon and a couple miles in I decided I did not feel like doing it because it was too hilly so I quit. Then 4 hours later I decided I wanted to run it so I started again. Not a fun pre-race dream. Hopefully tonight we'll be a bit more restful.
I'll keep you posted on tomorrow's events!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
This just in . . .
Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon
Mindi we thank you for participating in our races this weekend.
Your bib number will be: 593
Please print and bring this with to the Health and Fitness Expo.
Packet pickup will be Friday April 10 at the Activity Recreation Center (ARC).
Packet pickup runs from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm.
Mindi we thank you for participating in our races this weekend.
Your bib number will be: 593
Please print and bring this with to the Health and Fitness Expo.
Packet pickup will be Friday April 10 at the Activity Recreation Center (ARC).
Packet pickup runs from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Some inspiration, albeit a little cheesy
I received this in the Grand Rapids Marathon Newsletter today and really liked it, especially during taper time. So I will share....
Standing on Common Ground
This was written by a friend of mine, Michael Selman. I like his attitude. I think you will too.
You are a speck in the midst of thousands of people standing somewhere just behind a starting line. They are all there for different reasons. Each has his or her own story leading up to this moment. Some are there representing themselves. Many are there in support of other people, or other causes. A few have amazing tales of extraordinary human spirit. Just standing where they are now, they have already defied the odds. What they are about to attempt is a true representation of what can be accomplished with hope, desire, and effort.
A surprising few are actually there for the same reasons you are. But standing on common ground, at this moment, everyone has the same two goals. One is to start, and the other is to finish. In a short time, all will accomplish the first. Within the next 2 1/2 to 8 hours, most will realize the second. Only 26.2 miles away from a lifetime achievement and a ton of memories all wrapped into a medallion hanging loosely around your neck.
The marathon. It's so much more than a race, as many already know, and many more are soon to find out. The marathon. The term is used by the layperson to represent an unimaginable, monumental, virtually impossible task. And in a way it is. Once completed, even the runner says never again, while the seasoned veteran can't help but give a knowing smirk upon hearing it. But for one who believes, and trains well, for one who asks "why not" instead of saying "if only", it is within one's grasp.
The whole feel of the starting line, and the people around you is so much different in a marathon than at the shorter distances. The air reeks of Ben Gay and respect for your fellow runner. Standing on common ground, you know that running royalty surrounds you, because you know what you have had to do just to get here. You understand your own motivation, and your own desire, and you somehow wonder what stories surround you. And you wonder if anyone has the self-doubt that still nags in the background. You can't see it in their faces, but you somehow know it is there.
They say that the marathon is actually two different races. From my point of view, the first 20 miles is a result of perspiration. These go fairly easily due to the months of physical preparation, the long runs, and the lifestyle changes you have been willing to make to be in top form. The final 10K is mostly inspiration. Once the legs give out, the mind must take over, and reminders of why you started keep you moving towards the finish.
A marathon not yet run is an uncertain future, and for some of us, that's why we do it. Anything can happen when you push your body beyond its stipulated limits. And sometimes, it does. If you're lucky, it's nothing more than a couple of blisters and blackened toenails, which you can carry to the finish line. At its ugliest, it keeps the medal from being draped around your neck, and it can turn your dream into a nightmare. It's the common ground of the marathon runner.
If success was a given, the thrill of the marathon might not be. Many of us do it simply to defy those who say we can't. Others do it as a process of changing our own tapes, which for years said we couldn't. But marathon success is never guaranteed. So much can happen in those 26.2 miles ofcommon ground. Those miles can encompass a runners greatest accomplishments, as well as their most bitter disappointments. Knowing that, after all that training, you could, but something went awry and you didn't, is a tough pill to swallow. But it burns a desire to return and defeat the beast. It's not a DNF. It's a UFB. Unfinished business. You know you will return. It is the common ground of the uncommon person. The marathon runner.
Standing on Common Ground
This was written by a friend of mine, Michael Selman. I like his attitude. I think you will too.
You are a speck in the midst of thousands of people standing somewhere just behind a starting line. They are all there for different reasons. Each has his or her own story leading up to this moment. Some are there representing themselves. Many are there in support of other people, or other causes. A few have amazing tales of extraordinary human spirit. Just standing where they are now, they have already defied the odds. What they are about to attempt is a true representation of what can be accomplished with hope, desire, and effort.
A surprising few are actually there for the same reasons you are. But standing on common ground, at this moment, everyone has the same two goals. One is to start, and the other is to finish. In a short time, all will accomplish the first. Within the next 2 1/2 to 8 hours, most will realize the second. Only 26.2 miles away from a lifetime achievement and a ton of memories all wrapped into a medallion hanging loosely around your neck.
The marathon. It's so much more than a race, as many already know, and many more are soon to find out. The marathon. The term is used by the layperson to represent an unimaginable, monumental, virtually impossible task. And in a way it is. Once completed, even the runner says never again, while the seasoned veteran can't help but give a knowing smirk upon hearing it. But for one who believes, and trains well, for one who asks "why not" instead of saying "if only", it is within one's grasp.
The whole feel of the starting line, and the people around you is so much different in a marathon than at the shorter distances. The air reeks of Ben Gay and respect for your fellow runner. Standing on common ground, you know that running royalty surrounds you, because you know what you have had to do just to get here. You understand your own motivation, and your own desire, and you somehow wonder what stories surround you. And you wonder if anyone has the self-doubt that still nags in the background. You can't see it in their faces, but you somehow know it is there.
They say that the marathon is actually two different races. From my point of view, the first 20 miles is a result of perspiration. These go fairly easily due to the months of physical preparation, the long runs, and the lifestyle changes you have been willing to make to be in top form. The final 10K is mostly inspiration. Once the legs give out, the mind must take over, and reminders of why you started keep you moving towards the finish.
A marathon not yet run is an uncertain future, and for some of us, that's why we do it. Anything can happen when you push your body beyond its stipulated limits. And sometimes, it does. If you're lucky, it's nothing more than a couple of blisters and blackened toenails, which you can carry to the finish line. At its ugliest, it keeps the medal from being draped around your neck, and it can turn your dream into a nightmare. It's the common ground of the marathon runner.
If success was a given, the thrill of the marathon might not be. Many of us do it simply to defy those who say we can't. Others do it as a process of changing our own tapes, which for years said we couldn't. But marathon success is never guaranteed. So much can happen in those 26.2 miles ofcommon ground. Those miles can encompass a runners greatest accomplishments, as well as their most bitter disappointments. Knowing that, after all that training, you could, but something went awry and you didn't, is a tough pill to swallow. But it burns a desire to return and defeat the beast. It's not a DNF. It's a UFB. Unfinished business. You know you will return. It is the common ground of the uncommon person. The marathon runner.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Much better
It was cold and ridiculously windy today, but all in all, a much better day for a run. My legs were still a bit stiff, but nothing like yesterday. I started out my 12 miler and decided I would just try to keep the pace around 9s. It was 32 degrees, but 18 mph winds (gusting up to 25-30). Not as bad as I thought it may be, however, because none of last night's snow stuck to the road. :)
At mile 2ish, I ran into my friend, R.L. I hadn't seen him in a long time. I asked him what pace he was running at and he said 8s or just under. Hmm. I'll pass. But he twisted my arm and off we went. I am so glad I did. It was fun to catch up and it got me moving despite the wind. He was finished with his run right around 5 miles for me. I slowed it down a bit, but kept working moderately hard (low 8:40s). Ended up with an average pace of 8:32. I'll take it.
So my week ended with 32 miles.
M: rest
T: 7 easy (9:05)
W: 8 with 1 mile x 3 at 5K pace; 2 minute recoveries
R: rest
F: rest
Sa: 5 easy (9:05)
Su: 12.10 (8:32)
16 miles to Illinois.
At mile 2ish, I ran into my friend, R.L. I hadn't seen him in a long time. I asked him what pace he was running at and he said 8s or just under. Hmm. I'll pass. But he twisted my arm and off we went. I am so glad I did. It was fun to catch up and it got me moving despite the wind. He was finished with his run right around 5 miles for me. I slowed it down a bit, but kept working moderately hard (low 8:40s). Ended up with an average pace of 8:32. I'll take it.
So my week ended with 32 miles.
M: rest
T: 7 easy (9:05)
W: 8 with 1 mile x 3 at 5K pace; 2 minute recoveries
R: rest
F: rest
Sa: 5 easy (9:05)
Su: 12.10 (8:32)
16 miles to Illinois.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Log Legs and Taper Twinges
So I woke up this morning and was pretty fired up about the upcoming Illinois Marathon. I watched a video of the course and yes, it looks pancake flat. The weather/wind thing still has me a little nervous as you could hear the wind whipping in the video. But it was good. I planned to run my last 12 miler today. The weather is perfect (48) and I am one week out. So I went out the door and an 8:00 pace felt oh so easy. And my HR was nice and low. But by .25 in, I started getting a twinge in my R front calf muscle. Then I felt a little something in my hip, then my hamstring. Then the bottom of my foot. WTF? Admittedly it started to freak me out some. I slowed down and started worrying (and of course my HR started going through the roof). I literally had to tell myself at least 5 times that this is what happens during the taper. EVERY TIME. It will be fine. I am a veteran at this, but the taper twinges always freak me out. So I did exactly what I should have. I slowed down, cut it short at 5 and decided to do my 12 tomorrow. No need to have a super slow, freak out long run. Unfortunately the weather is supposed to be crappy tomorrow, but I needed to listen to my body first.
Then next week is rest rest rest! I only got up at 4:45 one day this week, but unfortunately I seemed to be up pretty late each night too. Time to start getting serious and getting my mind into this race. I have worked really hard. I am strong. And I am ready.
Speaking of races, hopefully Greg rocked Cherry Blossom today - good luck!
Then next week is rest rest rest! I only got up at 4:45 one day this week, but unfortunately I seemed to be up pretty late each night too. Time to start getting serious and getting my mind into this race. I have worked really hard. I am strong. And I am ready.
Speaking of races, hopefully Greg rocked Cherry Blossom today - good luck!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Well that hurt
Seriously.This morning was my last interval workout. 8 miles with 3 x 1 mile @ 5K pace with 2 minute recoveries. I got up at 4:45 am, but was slow getting out the door this morning. The howling 20 mph winds just weren't all too enticing. But I got out there and did just over 4 miles for a warmup. I was slow (9:32) and my HR was high (148). The HR was a little disappointing because my resting HR was the lowest it has been in a long time this morning. The good news was that the wind wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and it was 33 degrees. I ran my regular loops, so plenty of uphills, downhills and flats. Mix in some tailwinds, crosswinds and wicked headwinds. All in all, these bad boys HURT.
6:51 / 180 / 192
6:47 / 187 / 192
7:03 / 185 / 190
Interestingly, I looked at my numbers for this workout last season before Columbus. They were:
9:42 / 146 (3 mile warmup)
7:08 / 184 / 195
6:55 / 191 / 196
7:05 / 186 / 194
So I guess it wasn't too bad comparatively.
Now my taper starts in full swing. Approximately 35 miles to Illinois. :)
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