Electric Shock and 20 miles

Here is a new analogy for my love of track workouts....electric shock treatment. Yup, that's what it felt like on Friday. You all probably think I'm some sort of nut.....track beast, track monster and now electric shock therapy. I wonder how many negative terms I can come up with during this training cycle.

Anyway.....

MISSION:

1000m @ 4:16 TIMES 5...ugh..

#1 4:10 opps....I couldn't seem to get it right the first time on the track and I felt like I just had the shit shocked out of me....ZAAAPPPP

#2 4:21 now that's more like it but I thought for SURE I was going to yak....had to bend over.

#3 4:16 NAILED it....with another wave of yakage....

#4 4:22 I couldn't hold on but I didn't feel like puking....maybe not pushing hard enough??

#5 4:22 I was toast.... literally

Sort of Accomplished

I'm not unhappy with my results because I did work my ass off and it wore me out so bad I went home and took a huge nap. Yipes....

Yesterday was a gorgeous day and a scheduled 20 mile run and I had my first fight with Running. Yes, I got SO mad I swear I teared up. I could not BELIEVE my GPS for one thing....when I got to mile 18 I felt like I really should have been on  mile 19 and my legs were screaming for me to PLEASE stop. It was very frustrating and honestly I felt very emotional. I just couldn't push my legs to go a little faster on the last 2 miles. I was so mad but so glad to be done.

Results: 20 miles @ 8:55 total time 2:58

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Mine was exceptional as always and I am so grateful for the love of my family, Wonder Boy and all the things we have in our lives. I couldn't be more blessed.

The New Year looms....and I have been thinking A LOT about where I was in my running this time last year. Whoa.....that will be a post in itself.

Next week is Hair of the Dog 5K on New Year's Day and Wonder Boy and I will run together. Then, Saturday the local Distance Series Tune up begins for the Shamrock Marathon. Good stuff to look forward to!!!

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!

Track Beast

Ok, so the picture is a bit dramatic, but this is my mental image of track days.....facing a beast.

Gawd....track is ROUGH. I just can't seem to embrace the work that needs to be done. I'm like a whiney baby that doesn't want to go to school.

I procrastinated this one bad this week and ended up having to do my pukepeats the day after a 17 mile run. Yes friends, I did 17 miles yesterday with Running Buddy and I REALLY don't recommend hard track work after a seriously long run. Most experts would probably agree.

So here are the highlights:

-First track location.....CLOSED FOR REPAIRS...and flooded from this morning's rain. Uh oh...here's your chance to bail out!!! 

-2nd track location.....lookin' good BUT DOORS ARE LOCKED. Damn.....here's another chance to bag this run.

-Nope....just climb the fence...no one will see you fall on  your ass with your backpack strapped to your back as you attempt a 5 foot drop.

MISSION

15 min warm up (6 laps)

1200m @ 5:10 (actual time was 5:08)

1000m @ 4:16 (4:10 almost vomitted in my mouth on this lap...the horror.....)

800m @ 3:23 (3:27 oops ....went too hard on the last repeat)

600m @ 2:31 (2:20 YES!)

400m @ 1:39 (1:39...nailed it to the second)

10 min cool down (5 laps)

ACCOMPLISHED!

I was one happy mother to spit in the face of that track beast. I get such a rush of confidence when I hit all the track target times. But it doesn't last because I always come back to the track scared and nervous I will fail. Then I will be all pissed with myself.

I watched The Biggest Loser the other night (the finale) and the winner, Michelle, had a GREAT statement about her commitment to weight loss...she said "you just have to surrender yourself to the process." Well, she is right...in order for me to get faster, I have to surrender to the process it takes to GET faster. It just has to be.

I am going to whine and bitch about track for the next 14 weeks. But I know in the end...it will all pay off.

I drove away from the track smiling from ear to ear as the beast wandered off into the setting sun. I won the battle today.

I logged some big miles this week. I also got some crud from the petri dish that is my job....and I have had no voice for the last 3 days. Not good for a speech therapist. I am officially off for 2 weeks and I am looking forward to some non-rushed workouts and runs in the sunlight. Next weekend is my first 20 miler of this training cycle and I am PUMPED!

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!

Track Monster

All I can say about yesterday's track run is *Blech* I should have just bagged that workout because my heart wasn't in it. I don't know why I dread the track so bad but I just do. Joy put it best when she compared it to Dante's Circles of Hell....apparently...if I read it correctly on Wikipidia....this is a divine comedy divide into 3 parts, Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. Well, if that doesn't describe track work than I don't know what else does...

First, you enter the circle of Hell.....running your ass off for 8oo meters or more (after a warm up) just hurts like HELL.

Second, you enter the circle of Purgatory.....running your ass off 4-8 MORE times for 800 meters puts you in a painful place of temporary punishment getting ready for the final step.... 

Paradise or Heaven.....isn't it heaven when you are finally finished with all that hell??

My track work continues to follow the FIRST plan for a BQ marathon finish. So, the prescription for this week's track included 4 x 800m for 3:23 min with 2 min rest intervals.

To add insult to injury the track was FLOODED as a result of some seriously torrential downpours we had the day before so the 2 back corners of the track were impassable and required a 10 second walk through the slushy, sloppy, muddy grass (which dirtied up my shoes!! Grr....)

Running Buddy saw the ugly mean side of my rude ass....which in turn will probably guarantee me a 15 mile long run by myself tomorrow...I deserve it for my poor behavior yesterday. I pouted like a baby because I was so not motivated. The running was challenging and the track was just plain flooded which interrupted the flow of my pace. I just wasn't happy.

So blech.....I think I may try to join the local running group on Tuesday nights for track work. Maybe if there is a group of people plodding along....I will feel more motivated to get the work done.

The rest of the running story continues......have a great weekend blogger friends!~

A Turkey Trot or a Trotting Turkey???

This might be one of the dumbest posts ever...but tonight my dear friends.... I got chased by a turkey on my run. Yeah, you read it right....a FRICKIN' TURKEY!

I was 2 miles into my 6 miler tonight....crankin' a good 8 mpm pace....ZZ Top blazin' in my ear when I come upon a few "wild" baby turkeys. No big deal...I see them all the time on my runs. I really thought they were partidges or something. Who the hell knows??

Anyway, they were so cute all gathered in the middle of the street as I came running up on them. Then OUT OF THE BUSHES comes the mutha turkey and she was NOT happy. I'm tellin you this turkey was a full on big ass turkey!!  What the hell?? That turkey came after me pissed off. 

I have NEVER had such an experience. And really it wouldn't be blog worthy if it hadn't been for the fact that normally, I get chased by dogs..... and angry drivers or jerks on bikes. But a TURKEY?? AND....it chased me for about 2 min up the road with its wrinkly nasty neck and red goozle all stretched out ready to peck my freakin' leg! I really couldn't believe it was happening to me.

Ok, this really isn't the turkey that chased me....but this is EXACTLY what she looked like. That chase felt like it went on forever.

Tonight's run results: 

6 miles in 47 min 47 seconds and a trip to the gym for some core work

Weekend run results: 

51 min 10K with Running Buddy at the Army/Navy 10k (got 6th place)

1 hr 52 min 13 miler with Running Buddy in the CCCold and wind.....

Happy Monday friends...oh and a big ass shout out to Frayed Laces who scored BOSTON this weekend!! 

Pace Setter

I am so honored to be the featured Pace Setter runner this week on April and Amy's blog. Go check out my interview and also check out some of April and Amy's past posts....they are great bloggers...very funny and very inspiring. Thanks again girls!!

Ok, so tomorrow Running Buddy and I are going to run the Army/Navy 10. I am excited because this will be a race for my Running Buddy since I have already hit my 10K PR. Now it is her turn and we are both pretty excited. Although it does look to be pretty chilly.

Sunday, we will be running a 13 mile run hopefully at an 8:53 mpm pace. I am currently following the Boston Qualifying time training plan that is featured in the "Run Less Run Faster" book by Bill Pierce, Scott Murr and Ray Moss. 

Running Buddy and I had an awesome track workout yesterday. I was less than motivated but my trusty partner kept my mind focused. We ran 3 x 1600's at a 7:05 mpm pace (*gasp*). That sucked and it was hard but I hit the mark and Running Buddy was just a few seconds behind me. We did 400m rest intervals in between with a warm up mile and a cool down mile. It was a great workout and very motivating.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Thanks to all of you who keep up with my blog! Thanks again to Amy and April....

I will post race reports and details hopefully on Sunday!  Good luck to anyone who is racing this weekend too-

Epic Happy Race Report

To say that I am extremely happy with my finish time at Saturday's Race for Literacy 1/2 marathon is putting it mildly.

Here's the story in all it's glory:

Really, I had no aspirations for doing any great time on the course for the simple fact that Thursday's turkey trot was a huge PR and well, this girl just wanted to have fun on the run.

I woke up to cloudy dreary skies...but dry and it SEEMED relatively warm when I let the dog out first thing that morning. It just felt like 50 degrees and I had no doubt that I would wear shorts....and well just bundle my core like I always do.

I also couldn't help but feel just a little "weird" about the race because it was an inaugural event, it was out in a place I had no idea how to get to, I had no idea what the race route would be like, if there would be water, or how much support there would be on the course. Plus, I have been fighting a headache for 2 days and a bit of depression.

So, as I drove out to the race....and made a wrong turn....I said to myself "Self...this could be a bad day all together."

Luckily, with the help of Wonder Boy's reassurance and navigation, I was able to correct my wrong turn, loose no time on the drive and get to the race with 45 min to spare. 

When I got there, parking was plenty. I saw the venue and proceeded to get out of my truck to get my number and WHOOOAAA.....burrrr....the wind was howling off the water and it was about 5-10 degrees colder than it was at my house. 

Questions to self....Did you bring gloves? No.....Did you bring hat? No......Did you bring extra pants? No.... Will you freeze your nads off at this race? Uh...that would be a big fat YES!!!

Ok, just a tip for you all.....socks make good gloves. I had an extra pair of those.

Thank goodness I also had a windbreaker vest in my running bag.

So I sat in my truck for 40 min with the heat on as I waited for the start....watching all these people with gloves and hats and pants on. Damn. I figured I could hack the cold and wind for 2 hours right? I have been in tough conditions before. It was 45 degrees with a stiff North East wind.

I got out of the car for a warm up run and then hit the start line and my goodness...the field of runners was SO small. I figured...heck at best I could place 3rd in my age group. Hell, there were hardly any women.

The field stretched out fast and the freakiest part of the run was that at several moments on the course, I was completely alone with just traffic cones and I questioned where to go several times.

I started out very comfortable and I knew something fishy was up right away when mile marker 1 popped up and my watch said 5:45.....HA HA HA! In my wickedest wildest dreams....yeah, the course was not measured right for the first mile but it got back on target after mile 2 and I was showing 16:20 and that seemed right.

I was cruising man. I felt strong with the exception of shin pain for the first 3 miles....but it went away and never bothered me again. I figured it was from the Turkey Trot.

I hit all my mile markers just over an 8 mpm pace....I was grinning from ear to ear. I thought, if I can make it for the first half at that pace and still feel good, I may actually break my PR from Fleetweek.

Well, mile 6 came and went and I was still feeling like a champ and the watch said 49 min. Then my mind races and starts doing the math....I was on track for close to a 1 hour 45 min finish. My heart started to pound as I got very excited.

Mile 7 then mile 8 and all is still good in the legs, lungs and heart. Still doing some math in my head......

Now I'm on mile 9 and just a bit off of my goal time.....and I think ......can I pick it up for 4 more miles? Then, there was a head wind. Yuck....focus focus focus....

Then Missy and Beyonce came on the ipod just around mile 10 and I was feelin' the love! I kicked it up just a bit despite the head wind that followed me to the end.

I got to mile 12.2 at 1:38.......boy was I getting anxious....and my stomach started to churn.

As I got closer to the end....a very popular and local runner jumped out on the course and proceeded to pace me all the way to the mat and my official finish time was 1:46:16. Yipee skippy!!! I was happy but ready to barf.

Here I am ready to barf.....

Not only was my time great, I got second place in my age group....but then there were only 3 chicas in my age group!  HA HA! I missed first place by 40 seconds....but I met the girl that beat me and I shook her hand and congratulated her at awards and she said to me "you kept me going-" Aww...snap!

So, I reflect on so many things today....particulary my readiness to actually train for a Boston Qualifying time for the next 17 weeks. I think I'm ready....I think I'm in a super amazing place in my running. 

Just this time last year, I was struggling for 10 min miles.

For a girl who never believed in herself....I never believed I was pretty, or smart, or a good friend/girlfriend......I never believed I was strong or confident. I never believed I was an athelete or talented in anyway. I never believed I could......

But that is starting to change.....like maybe I believe I can do this. Maybe I am strong....maybe I am a real runner now.

Stay warm and dry on your runs my blogger pals.......

It's My Birthday......

Ok, what a treat...yesterday was my birthday AND Thanksgiving......so it was certainly a day of being grateful. I am very grateful for so many things in my life and yesterday was an awesome day to reflect on how good my life is and I was able to rest my head on my pillow last night feeling very satisfied that I am one lucky chica for having all the things I have in my life.

Anyway, I found this funny clip from Cheers called The Kelly Song....and well I'm not so diva like Kelly was on Cheers...but I love me a good song with my name in it! Anyway..it IS my birthday....and it IS all about "me!" Right?? Whatev......

Yesterday started off with a killer Turkey Trot 10K in which I PR'd big time. It was such a fun run. I met up with a few folks from our local runner meet up group and the weather couldn't have been more perfect and the route is flat and fast too so it was just right for me to get some indication of how strong I am post marathon.....and well lets just stay I surprised myself completely.

                     ME and The local runner group

 

 

I actually started the race off a bit too fast.....I latched on to this group of runners wearing bright orange T-shirts....some team I suppose, but they were movin' and scootin'. After I passed the 2 mile marker and saw 15 flat minutes on my watch I knew I was not in good company so I slowed up a bit.....my lungs were starting to burn a little along with my shins. It was a good warm up though! I knew there was no way on earth I could hold 7:30 mpms for the whole 10K.

The race went on well despite my quick start....mile 4 was 30 min even on my watch and then I found 2 ladies who were running a good comfortable pace and I followed them to mile 6. My watch showed 46 min and some odd seconds......so it was on to the last .2 which I tried desperately to speed up on....and I got a little nauseous from the pace and when I crossed the mat and through the finish line shoot....someone else must have felt the same way as me because there was a nice pile of puke to hurdle over...and I felt the urge to gag....it was scary.

My finish time was 47 min and 40 seconds......that is about 5 min off my best 10K time. It was an average 7:40 mpm. Holy moly. I'll tell ya what...I feel like a different runner since OBX. I have NEVER been a very good runner....but things are really starting to change and I am cautiously optimistic for my Shamrock training. My new mantra is to "make or break" the 3:50 BQ time for my age. We'll see......

Anyway, after the race I piddled around the house and then headed to my mom's for some seriously sinful feasting. To say my stomach was full and I was uncomfortable is putting it mildly. I had the food baby going on big time. I fell asleep on the couch with my mom's miniature pinchers at least half a dozen times....and then around 11 pm I hobbled my fat ass on home.

I had a great birthday.....Running Buddy hooked me up with cake and a cool new PINK gear bag.....my dad sent some cashola and a cool new PINK hat....my mom hooked me up with some itunes gift cards and a cool new PINK Nintendo DS...(the kid in me still loves a good toy to play with)...and Wonder Boy got me a stand for my fish tank. All in all it was just a great day.

And hell no...I ain't going quietly into my 40's....I have a half marathon coming up tomorrow and its an inaugural event....always a favorite of mine to do the "first" of anything!!!

Here is a shot of the goods from yesterday.....blessed is what I am. Hope everyone had a great Turkey Day!