Any runner/racer knows just what I mean. The taper. Ugh.
So many things running through my head this week.
1) Why do I do this to myself? This is a choice, and I've chosen this?!
2) I'm not ready. I should have run more. I should have run more hills. I should have done more speedwork.
3) I think I'm getting a cold. I have a horrible headache.
And then there is the pace group question....
Which pace group should I run with? My 1/2 pr is 2:14. I'm not there right now. I don't think. But maybe I could? Should I run with a 2:15 pacer but risk not being able, then become road kill at mile 8?
Should I go 2:20? I think that pace would push me but not too much. But isn't raceday about pushing yourself as far as you can go?
Should I go 2:25? This race is hilly. If I go 2:25 I'll enjoy myself MUCH more. But then stew about it after because at 2:25 I'll feel like I didn't try my hardest.
But....this is a comeback race after an injury & surgery. So maybe it *should* be about having fun and not worry so much about pace?
Ugh. I'm crazy.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
A new racer in the house?
Last weekend, J ran in her first race :) I worked the finish line and hubs coached the kids at the start. 890 kids showed up to race! WoW!
Here's J coming into the finish! I think those long legs are made for running! *fingers crossed* Maybe a new racer is in the house? I hope so :)
When I asked her how it was right at the finish, she said AWFUL! This smile afterward with her medal says something totally different :)
Here's J coming into the finish! I think those long legs are made for running! *fingers crossed* Maybe a new racer is in the house? I hope so :)
When I asked her how it was right at the finish, she said AWFUL! This smile afterward with her medal says something totally different :)
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
A super nasty run, a comeback and a taper
Sorry no pics on this one, just a long rambling mess!
What a crazy few weeks I've had! I think I've had just about every emotion possible when it comes to training. I had a super awful 12 mile run a few weeks back. I mean, wow man, it was horrible.
If it wasn't for my girlies pushing me along and the fact that we were way out of town....I would have packed it in at mile 6. I honestly don't remember ever having a run that bad. It was 97% humidity - which probably had something to do with it - but it was mostly awful because I had a bad work week, was super stressed, ate horribly and had an overall bad attitude. So bad in fact that even a run couldn't cure that one! WoW. Now that's bad!
After that horrific run, I took a week off. Yep. A whole 7 days without running. 4 weeks out from 1/2 marathon and just like that - I took a whole week off.
I was questioning my endurance, questioning why I wanted to do this in the first place, sick of spending so much time running, sick of getting up at 4:15 am in order to fit my run into my day, sick of spending every Saturday limping down the stairs, sick of using the whole day Sunday to recoop.....yep, overall sick of everything!
As the days ticked by, I kept getting more and more worried about the miles I was missing by completely skipping week 8 of training. But not worried enough to make myself run. It was weird - I've never, ever had such a bad attitude about running. I mean, I voluntarily went through knee surgery & 12 weeks of rehab just so I could do this!
So. It was approaching the weekend and I knew what I had to do. It was my last chance to run long before it was time to taper. I don't know a ton about training, but I do know that trying to make up miles when you're in your tapering weeks is a big NO NO.
My hubs took me out for pasta Thursday night, and I took Friday morning off from work to fit my last long run in. Oh did I mention it would be my longest run ever? And I was goin' it alone. It was time to suck it up, get my head on straight and figure out once and for all if I was going to finish out this training or quit.
After no running for a week, I planned a 14 miler - by myself. I just couldn't let that awful 12 miler be my final long run before the race. It was in my head - BAD - and I knew I had to give it one more shot or it would mess with my race day.
Well, my body must have been telling me it needed rest. My longest run ever was probably my very best training run this whole season!
I set out on a beautiful fall morning, stashed water at the 7 mile mark, and off I went. Friends are awesome to run with and a great distraction, but it's amazing how in tune I was to how I was feeling when I wasn't chattin' it up the whole run! I remembered to eat shots before I needed to & I remembered to stretch my knee out....things I usually don't remember to do.
I felt awesome all the way until about mile 13. I was ready to be done....my quads were talking (loudly!) and I was still a mile from home. I wanted to walk it. But who walks the LAST mile?! Couldn't do that. Thank goodness for Bon Jovi singing me home.
15 minute ice bath and off to work for the rest of the day. I was tired....very tired that afternoon, but somehow I made it without falling asleep at my desk!
And now....it's a one way ticket on the taper train. Oh yeah! Kansas City here I come! I'm ready :) You'll have to wait for my next post to hear me obsess about what pace group I should run with. Oh brother, that's a whole 'nother story.
What a crazy few weeks I've had! I think I've had just about every emotion possible when it comes to training. I had a super awful 12 mile run a few weeks back. I mean, wow man, it was horrible.
If it wasn't for my girlies pushing me along and the fact that we were way out of town....I would have packed it in at mile 6. I honestly don't remember ever having a run that bad. It was 97% humidity - which probably had something to do with it - but it was mostly awful because I had a bad work week, was super stressed, ate horribly and had an overall bad attitude. So bad in fact that even a run couldn't cure that one! WoW. Now that's bad!
After that horrific run, I took a week off. Yep. A whole 7 days without running. 4 weeks out from 1/2 marathon and just like that - I took a whole week off.
I was questioning my endurance, questioning why I wanted to do this in the first place, sick of spending so much time running, sick of getting up at 4:15 am in order to fit my run into my day, sick of spending every Saturday limping down the stairs, sick of using the whole day Sunday to recoop.....yep, overall sick of everything!
As the days ticked by, I kept getting more and more worried about the miles I was missing by completely skipping week 8 of training. But not worried enough to make myself run. It was weird - I've never, ever had such a bad attitude about running. I mean, I voluntarily went through knee surgery & 12 weeks of rehab just so I could do this!
So. It was approaching the weekend and I knew what I had to do. It was my last chance to run long before it was time to taper. I don't know a ton about training, but I do know that trying to make up miles when you're in your tapering weeks is a big NO NO.
My hubs took me out for pasta Thursday night, and I took Friday morning off from work to fit my last long run in. Oh did I mention it would be my longest run ever? And I was goin' it alone. It was time to suck it up, get my head on straight and figure out once and for all if I was going to finish out this training or quit.
After no running for a week, I planned a 14 miler - by myself. I just couldn't let that awful 12 miler be my final long run before the race. It was in my head - BAD - and I knew I had to give it one more shot or it would mess with my race day.
Well, my body must have been telling me it needed rest. My longest run ever was probably my very best training run this whole season!
I set out on a beautiful fall morning, stashed water at the 7 mile mark, and off I went. Friends are awesome to run with and a great distraction, but it's amazing how in tune I was to how I was feeling when I wasn't chattin' it up the whole run! I remembered to eat shots before I needed to & I remembered to stretch my knee out....things I usually don't remember to do.
I felt awesome all the way until about mile 13. I was ready to be done....my quads were talking (loudly!) and I was still a mile from home. I wanted to walk it. But who walks the LAST mile?! Couldn't do that. Thank goodness for Bon Jovi singing me home.
15 minute ice bath and off to work for the rest of the day. I was tired....very tired that afternoon, but somehow I made it without falling asleep at my desk!
And now....it's a one way ticket on the taper train. Oh yeah! Kansas City here I come! I'm ready :) You'll have to wait for my next post to hear me obsess about what pace group I should run with. Oh brother, that's a whole 'nother story.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Long Run with Some Old Friends
Bloggity blog, I'm sorry I have been neglecting you! I am in the biggest weeks of my 1/2 marathon training, very busy at work and just haven't had time to write.
Let me catch up.
Last weekend we planned on an 11 miler. My friend from high school was in town and he joined us. He's training for his first 1/2 marathon after just starting to run this summer! Awesome.
Then we asked another friend from high school to join us too! Four of us would go the full 11, then Jen would meet us to bring us in for the last 1 1/2 miles. Really great run, went by super fast! Here is a big daddy hill that we ran...whew. It's short, but it's a killer.
We were late meeting Jen, but she waited patiently, joined us and ran her farthest without stopping :) She will run her very first race next weekend! Good Luck Jen!
Russ's post run chow...
We have a few more weeks of training and then it's taper time! I am ready! Giveaway coming Monday =)
Let me catch up.
Last weekend we planned on an 11 miler. My friend from high school was in town and he joined us. He's training for his first 1/2 marathon after just starting to run this summer! Awesome.
Then we asked another friend from high school to join us too! Four of us would go the full 11, then Jen would meet us to bring us in for the last 1 1/2 miles. Really great run, went by super fast! Here is a big daddy hill that we ran...whew. It's short, but it's a killer.
We were late meeting Jen, but she waited patiently, joined us and ran her farthest without stopping :) She will run her very first race next weekend! Good Luck Jen!
Russ's post run chow...
We have a few more weeks of training and then it's taper time! I am ready! Giveaway coming Monday =)
Friday, September 10, 2010
Stop Spitting on People!
Today is a rest day for me. Ahhhhh. Rest days, I love you. Funny though how I seem to be more tired on my rest days. hmmm.
Anyway, yesterday I went out super early for a 4 miler. I've kinda been freaking out about running before 6:30am because it's still dark out (hello fall!). But I've got 5 weeks until my race - it's time to GO!
I got up Thursday morning 5:00am, got all ready to go, stepped outside.....raining. Dang it. Go? Don't go? Considering a few Saturdays ago I still ran after barfing (I know, TMI), I'm thinking a little rain shouldn't keep me inside. I did decide that my ipod should stay home though.
The run was actually great considering the following events....
It was so dark out, and with no ipod I have no choice but to stare at the ground, spacing out to try to ignore that I really just wanted to walk. Yeah, that's when it happened.
I had to spit....it's 5:30 in the morning, noone around, so I just spit. OMG I totally spit RIGHT at the feet of a girl passing me. It was like slow motion spit. I saw her but the spit was already leaving....ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh nooooooo! Luckily I didn't hit her (I don't think, but come on, it's pitch black and raining, so who knows). I said I was sorry, she chuckled because I'm sure I looked like she scared the #(%& out of me. I honestly did not see her coming until she was literally RIGHT THERE.
Karma's a bitch you know....less than 5 minutes later I stepped in dog poo in my brand new, now soaking wet and smelling like poo Saucony's. :( poo. I love dogs, but seriously people, pick up their sh... don't leave it on the sidewalk.
Have a good weekend runners! Heading out early tomorrow for an 11 miler with my regulars and some new running friends too :) Yippee!
Anyway, yesterday I went out super early for a 4 miler. I've kinda been freaking out about running before 6:30am because it's still dark out (hello fall!). But I've got 5 weeks until my race - it's time to GO!
I got up Thursday morning 5:00am, got all ready to go, stepped outside.....raining. Dang it. Go? Don't go? Considering a few Saturdays ago I still ran after barfing (I know, TMI), I'm thinking a little rain shouldn't keep me inside. I did decide that my ipod should stay home though.
The run was actually great considering the following events....
It was so dark out, and with no ipod I have no choice but to stare at the ground, spacing out to try to ignore that I really just wanted to walk. Yeah, that's when it happened.
I had to spit....it's 5:30 in the morning, noone around, so I just spit. OMG I totally spit RIGHT at the feet of a girl passing me. It was like slow motion spit. I saw her but the spit was already leaving....ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh nooooooo! Luckily I didn't hit her (I don't think, but come on, it's pitch black and raining, so who knows). I said I was sorry, she chuckled because I'm sure I looked like she scared the #(%& out of me. I honestly did not see her coming until she was literally RIGHT THERE.
Karma's a bitch you know....less than 5 minutes later I stepped in dog poo in my brand new, now soaking wet and smelling like poo Saucony's. :( poo. I love dogs, but seriously people, pick up their sh... don't leave it on the sidewalk.
Have a good weekend runners! Heading out early tomorrow for an 11 miler with my regulars and some new running friends too :) Yippee!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Weekend Wrap Up
Yes, I know, it's Tuesday. But since it was Labor Day weekend, it feels like a weekend wrap up Monday!
Much to update, I have been neglecting my blog. This training thing is getting in the way of my blogging!
11 mile run on Saturday, NO KNEE PAIN at ALL! I think I'm fixed! It feels great to say that. Every other piece of me was hurting Sunday morning (I felt about 100 years old getting out of bed!), but the knee was great. :) The run was really pretty good overall. We worked in a big daddy hill just for fun (our idea of fun? sick isn't it?!). The last mile I was out of gas, but a few stories from the ladies later, we were done!
The weather was AWESOME! You can't beat this!
The view was AWESOME! All foggy & mysterious like.
New shoes were AWESOME!
My first long run in my brand spankin' new Saucony's. 11 miles in new shoes is risky. I was worried - but they were great! No blisters, no problems at all. Saucony's seem to have a wider toe box, which I love cause my piggies need some room. But this makes them feel loose compared to my Mizuno's so I tied them pretty tight.
I think I may have tied them too tight cause my toes were feeling a little tingly. Loosened them up a bit and all was gooooooooooood. 11 miles later my feet were tired & a bit sore, but hey, it's 11 miles. I *heart* my new shoes! (I still secretly wish they were pink though) Penny showed up for our run on Saturday with the exact same pair! No, she didn't know I bought them. So now we are twinkies! Great minds think alike :)
Check out my friend's new running blog. He is smack in the middle of his first 13.1 training schedule! Thunder Road Racing
And just for a smile, I stole this from Shelly's blog:
Giveaway coming soon! :) Have a great week!
Much to update, I have been neglecting my blog. This training thing is getting in the way of my blogging!
11 mile run on Saturday, NO KNEE PAIN at ALL! I think I'm fixed! It feels great to say that. Every other piece of me was hurting Sunday morning (I felt about 100 years old getting out of bed!), but the knee was great. :) The run was really pretty good overall. We worked in a big daddy hill just for fun (our idea of fun? sick isn't it?!). The last mile I was out of gas, but a few stories from the ladies later, we were done!
The weather was AWESOME! You can't beat this!
The view was AWESOME! All foggy & mysterious like.
New shoes were AWESOME!
My first long run in my brand spankin' new Saucony's. 11 miles in new shoes is risky. I was worried - but they were great! No blisters, no problems at all. Saucony's seem to have a wider toe box, which I love cause my piggies need some room. But this makes them feel loose compared to my Mizuno's so I tied them pretty tight.
I think I may have tied them too tight cause my toes were feeling a little tingly. Loosened them up a bit and all was gooooooooooood. 11 miles later my feet were tired & a bit sore, but hey, it's 11 miles. I *heart* my new shoes! (I still secretly wish they were pink though) Penny showed up for our run on Saturday with the exact same pair! No, she didn't know I bought them. So now we are twinkies! Great minds think alike :)
Check out my friend's new running blog. He is smack in the middle of his first 13.1 training schedule! Thunder Road Racing
And just for a smile, I stole this from Shelly's blog:
Giveaway coming soon! :) Have a great week!
Friday, September 3, 2010
New Kicks!
First impressions are positive, I think we may have a wonderful life together - my lovely Saucony's and I. We will get to know each other well on an easy 11 miler tomorrow :) Happy 3 day weekend everyone!
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