November: 9.25 miles

I remember the days just this last summer when running 9.25 miles in a single run was effortless and felt great. I haven't officially thrown in the towel just yet, but it has been two weeks since my last run. I may not run again until next summer. Call it a winter hibernation.

At any rate, I doubt there will be any posts on this blog until late June or early July. See ya then! Good runs to all.

Just when I thought I couldn't possibly run any slower...

I went out and ran twelve minute miles. I admit there was some walking included with that *run* to get that pace, but yowzers! I'm not even sure if that pace is still considered running.

I felt really great the other day and decided to go for a run during the afternoon. I can't remember the last time I ran in the afternoon. I took the baby with me in his jogger so this was quite a big deal for me. Not only was I out running in the afternoon, but I was also pushing my close-to-30 pound baby in the jogger, too! It wasn't a long run and it was pretty slow, but I felt awesome afterward.

I felt so good that I decided to rake the back and front yards. While raking the front yard, a friend in the 'hood ran by. She was pushing her son in the jogger and running with her two large dogs. Did I mention she is 13+ weeks pregnant?? Holy smokes. It totally burst my bubble and I really wish I hadn't seen her. Of course, she smiled and waved to me as they passed. Ugh.

I'm not an overly competitive person, but man oh man do I have my moments. That was one of them. I must keep running, no matter how slow the runs become...

October: 29.5 miles

My goal this month was to log at least 40 miles, but I just wasn't feeling it. I haven't run in over a week and my last run was horrible. I had gone out for 3 miles but stopped after 2.25 and walked my tired a$$ home. I haven't felt well these last four weeks and the cold mornings are not helping to motivate me. We'll see what happens in November (if anything!). I may need to go into hibernation and not run for awhile...

slowing down

Wow, did I run slow this morning...

M and I have been running together (with the jogger) for several weeks now but this morning he and our son stayed in while I went out in the 40 something degree weather for a little run. I decided to run an old favorite loop that is approximately 4 miles. This particular loop was a staple during marathon training. If nothing else, I made sure I got in this loop as a minimum. The first 2.25+ miles of it I used to run in less than 20 minutes. This morning it took me 24 minutes and I didn't even run all of it. I took a little walk break up the big hill to slow down my heart rate and another one later on in the run. My total distance was 3.34 miles and I averaged just over an 11 minute mile pace. Good grief. Wasn't I just running 8:20s not that long ago??

Portland Marathon

The next best thing to running in a race is being a spectator at one. We spent this morning cheering on friends at the Portland Marathon. For some, it was their first running of Portland but I think all had run at least one prior marathon.

We first staked out a spot near mile markers 7 and 11. It is the dreaded out and back portion of the course that takes you two miles down the industrial (read: non-scenic) part of Portland and back. Not so much fun for the racers, but great for the spectators because we get to catch them twice and we also get to see the elite runners as well as the 5 hour runners. Thomas wore his Halloween costume, a purple dragon, and it was definitely getting some attention from the runners. We also held up signs for our friends, waved pom-poms and rocked out with a cowbell. It was great fun!

After seeing the last friend pass mile 11, we jumped back into our car and drove across the river to the next viewing/cheering point. We found ourselves on the bluff in North Portland around mile marker 20. Again, we cheered on our friends as they each passed us by. They all did a fantastic job out there this morning! They were confident, strong, relaxed and looked to be having a great time. One friend even ran a Boston Qualifier this morning -- kudos to Carolyn! She totally rocked it. Another friend's husband finished in 2:37 and some change, also a BQ. Do you realize how fast one has to run (and sustain this pace for the entire 26.2 mile duration) in order to finish in that time?? I can't even run a single mile in 6 minutes.

I haven't run Portland, but it's on my list to run someday. I love that we are the same age, Portland and I. Maybe in two years when we are both 37 years old we'll meet up for a 26.2 mile run around town.

September: 61.5 miles

This was my lowest mileage month since last August 2005. Wow. Many reasons, but the short of it is that the miles just weren't there. I have a new game plan for October.

August: 82.75 miles

I wish I could have run more this month, but it's good enough. The 82.75 miles is still more than some people and better than those who don't run at all. Or so I tell myself.

Hood to Coast

The annual Hood to Coast relay was this weekend. It is the largest relay in North America and the 12 person teams cover a total of 197 miles. Each member runs 3 legs of the race which range from 3+ to almost 8 miles. It kicks off Friday morning atop Mt. Hood and finshes Saturday in Seaside, Oregon.

Friday night we stood at a nearby park to cheer on the runners. I realized then that it was my first time actually cheering for runners and not being somehow involved in the running. Kind of a cool experience. My 15mo clapped, blew kisses and waved at the runners. One guy even stopped to give him a "high five". It was fun but I stood there feeling envious of all these runners and not being a part of it myself.

However, when I crawled into bed that night I was glad to not be on some gravel road in the dark running by myself or trying to catch a few zzzzs while traveling down the road in a van full of sweaty, smelly people... Maybe next year.

Happy Feet! - part deux

Happy Feet likes the new shoes! Got out for a second short run today -- 3 miles at a 9 minute mile pace with one of my dogs. Bela is totally wiped out.

Happy Feet!

I bought new NIKEs today and I'm so excited to try them out. They are the same shoe as before, but a half size larger and in a new color. In honor of the new shoes, I thought I'd post a toenail update. There are additional photos in the archives (May 2006) if you want to see just how far this toenail has come.

May 2006
The pointer toenail was purple. No soreness or lifting at this point, just an undeniable color change in the nail. The big toenail is disgusting. Having fallen partially off, it's a mess. Original trauma was in February and some of the new nail has come in, but I wasn't able to cut all of the old nail off because it started to bleed. Yuck.

August 2006
The pointer toenail has fallen off and a new toenail was waiting below! It's shorter than I'd normally keep it, but it's a toenail! Complete and absolutely normal. The big toenail is also looking good. There is a ridge about halfway down the nail. The cuticle side of this ridge is totally normal and smooth; the other half of the nail is bumpy and still weird. But, it's growing in and it appears that it'll all look normal and healthy in the end. [Note: I say this because M also lost his big toenail during a marathon and it has not grown back in normally. It's been six years.]

July: 89 miles

This is the second month in a row that I did not log 100 miles. So what's a girl to do? Change her goals! I didn't say it, but my goal this month was to actually log around 75 to 80 miles. It's tough to get the miles in when you aren't running long runs anymore so somewhere around 75 to 80 miles is a more attainable goal for me right now. Yes, no long runs. My runs are generally between 4 and 6 miles these days. This is the sort of mileage I'd like to continue running for the long haul just to keep the blood pumping and myself healthy so when when I'm like 80 years old and my grandchildren want to run the local 5K, I can run it with them.

my addictions: running & coffee

I love running. I love coffee. My favorite way to start the day is to have a good run followed by a hot cup of coffee. Very little beats this. It really sets the mood for everything else I do that day. We were on vacation this week in the high desert of Central Oregon and where we stayed wasn't conducive to either running or grabbing a cup of coffee from a local coffeeshop. I was only able to get in one *run & coffee* this week while away. And I had to drive 20 minutes to get there.

As much as I enjoy being *away from it all*, it sure feels good to be home where I can step out the door for a run and Starbucks is just six blocks away.

My sub-5 minute mile!

So what if I wasn't running this sub-5 minute mile!?

I had planned to go out for a short run this morning with the jogger. I had everything ready to go only to find the jogger seat full of water. A sippy cup sat in the seat, leaking all night long. Not wanting to sit the baby in a pool of water and really wanting to get some exercise this morning, we went for a bike ride.

This morning's ride was only 8 miles, but took us all over the neighborhood and several miles were on the local rails-to-trails path along the river. On that path, there are mile markers every half a mile so I decided to time myself. With the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic last weekend (we saw some cyclists finishing Saturday evening -- 200 miles in 10 hours!) and the Tour de France going on, I wanted to see how *fast* I could pedal a mile.

So I timed myself and my one mile was cycled in under 5 minutes. Granted, I was on a mountain bike and pulling a 2-seater Burley with my 27+ pound baby riding along. But maybe 5 minutes is okay. It surely sounds fast.

However, those STP riders we saw finishing in 10 hours were averaging 20mph or 3 minute miles. That's a pretty good clip and to sustain that for such a long period? Amazing. I also can't help thinking that some people actually run one mile faster than I can bike it. Wow. I think my neighbor down the street is one of them and maybe J.P.'s spouse. Yowzers.

recovery run

Last week I ran a half marathon on July 4th and the next day went out for a short 3.25 miles with one of my dogs. It's called a recovery run. They are meant to be shorter in distance, slower in speed and they provide a great stretch following a big effort. I felt amazing on this recovery run. Every part of my body felt really strong and I felt like I could run forever. It was the first time I had run the day following a race, but definitely something I will do again.

This morning's run was also a recovery run of sorts, but not the same as last week. This morning's run was 2 miles and felt very slow. It was work. This recovery run though wasn't the day following a big running effort. Instead, it was the day after a bike ride so I'm not sure if that's really a recovery run. Different muscles and all, you know?

I took my 14mo son out yesterday afternoon for a 10 mile bike ride. I hadn't pulled the bicycle trailer before and it really wasn't bad except for hills. One climb in particular was pretty steep. In fact, the ADA signage posted at the bottom of the hill indicated the grade to be greater than 12%. Gears were shifting and my heart was pumping, but I pulled him up that hill. That was work in the 2:30pm sun.

Using those different muscles yesterday made the run this morning tough and it was only a 10 mile ride! This weekend is the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic. Two hundred miles. On a bicycle. I've known people who've done it in the past and my neighbor is riding it this year. Two hundred miles. On a bicycle. Color me impressed.

Foot Traffic Flat Half Marathon

This morning I ran the Flat Half Marathon out at Sauvie Island. I ran this in 2003 but it was a much smaller race that year. This year's event included a full marathon as well as a half marathon for walkers. Friends and I ran the half marathon. I knew it was going to be a good race for everyone and that there would be many PRs. I think every one of us got a PR today. The weather was perfect for running and the course is super flat.

I haven't seen official chip times yet, but by my watch I finished in 1:54:40 (in 2003, I finished in 2:32 -- full sun and a hot day made for slow conditions!). Not a huge distance PR for me (I finished the Race for the Roses Half Marathon in April this year around 1:57), but it's still a PR and I'm happy to have run under the 1:55 mark. Maybe next time I'll go under 1:50. I knew my friends would all finish somewhere around 1:45 to 1:50 so I had planned to stay with them as long as I could, but they were ahead of me after half a mile. I passed the 4 mile mark in 33 minutes and knew I needed to slow it down. The 7 mile mark was passed in 58 minutes flat. Not slow enough. I knew there was no way I could maintain that pace and after mile 10 I began to incorporate some short walk breaks. It was a tough finish, but it felt awesome knowing I had a new half marathon PR. Also, the plus to finishing after all your friends is that everyone is there waiting for you!

M and our little guy were at the finish (along with other spouses and babies) and we all sat in the grass and ate some island strawberry shortcake. It was a great way to stretch, catch my breath and enjoy the start of a nice 4th of July day.

This run ends my streak of races this year. Since the baby was born last May, I have run a 10K, a 15K, four half marathons and a full marathon. My times have greatly improved over the last year and though I plan to continue running in the coming months, my mileage will likely decrease. I'm playing things by ear, but I have no other races planned at this point for 2006. Just lots of good easy runs for awhile...

[ETA: Official chip time of 1:54:21 for an average mile of 8:43. I finished #161 out of 506 total females and #35 out of 107 in my age group. I'm very pleased.]

June: 97.25 miles?

I'm always a bit disappointed when I don't log 100 miles for the month. I have been sick all week so I haven't run since Monday morning. I got out for 4 this morning, but they were slow and painful. I was coughing so hard at times that it just wasn't much fun. I'm a little concerned about a half marathon I have coming up, but maybe this forced taper is a good thing. Sometimes they are and can result in a PR so who knows. I just need to lose this cold first!

If I can find the energy, I may go out for the extra 2.75 miles later today. I just hate being so close...

summer sizzle

Got out for 14 good hilly miles this morning with the marathon training group. This is good for several reasons. It got me out there to do the miles. I got it done before the weather is too warm since we're heading for 90 today and 100 tomorrow. And I got to meet up with a friend I haven't seen in months. All in all, a very good run.

Ahhh, now I can kick back and enjoy this warm, sunny weekend...

1000 miles!

It has taken me almost exactly one year to reach 1000 miles, but this evening's run put me over that mark at 1005.25 miles. I remember my first run after having our baby. It was five weeks post-delivery and the total duration of my "run" was about 15 minutes. This wasn't even a continuous 15 minutes of running. It was something more like 4 minutes of running alternated with 1 minute of walking. It was painful. It was slow. But I had missed running all those months and just couldn't wait to get moving. It sure feels great to be regularly running again!

[I even found a $5 bill on the sidewalk tonight! I don't think I've ever found something of value while on a run.]

Happy Running!

Running makes me a happier person. No question. I hadn't run since the half marathon, but got out this morning for a quick 3.5 miles in 31:13 (8:55 pace). It felt great to get a good stretch and feel the sweat drip from my ponytail...

adidas Helvetia Half Marathon

This morning I ran the 6th annual Helvetia Half Marathon. I ran this in 2002 in preparation for the Chicago Marathon and I'm pretty sure at the time I swore I would never run this one again. It's incredibly hilly, the field is sizeable and composed of both runners and walkers, and I remember the weather that day in 2002 as being really sunny and warm. Being a rural race, there is very little chance for shade.

Having said that, I registered two days ago and showed up to run this morning.

Tough, tough course. I was actually having a really good race up until mile 9. At that point, the hills were pretty much over and so was I. All the folks I had passed on hills soon began to pass me. The sun peeked out briefly late in the race for me and there was a lost dog that distracted me (I tried to get him to follow me and he did for about a mile.), but I finished strong in the stadium and that felt good. Overall, it's a well-organized event and a good one for beginning runners to do, but the hills on the course will knock you out. Oh, the hills...

Chip time today: 2:00:23. I wish I could have cut that time by 24 seconds to get under the 2 hour mark, but it was still a good run for me. My time in 2002 was about 2:20.

[edit: I just checked my 2002 Helvetia Half Marathon time and it was actually a 2:32:31. I knew it was a slow one; the sun and hills totally took it out of me that day. Yesterday's race was a full 32 minute improvement. Yippee for me! It feels great to see progress like this. Maybe I will have to run this again someday to see if I can improve even more!]

trail running (with the jogger!)

I've been mixing up my runs lately and trying new things in a quest to keep it from becoming mundane. Tonight I ran 4 trail miles with the jogger. It's an old fire lane that is very rocky and essentially up for 2 miles and then back down for 2 miles. Seemed a little bumpy for the baby, esp. in the first mile, but he did fine overall. My jogger weighs 21 pounds and the baby is an additional 25 pounds. Needless to say, it was a tough run. I definitely earned that beer afterwards!

marathon training group run

I knew I'd have some motivational problems with getting out the door this morning for 12 miles solo, so I joined the local marathon training group run. Approximately 25% of the route was on streets and the other 75% on a trail. This particular out-&-back route is pretty much straight up and straight down. It felt great to cover the 12 miles in 1:45 to average an 8:46 minute mile. My legs are covered in mud and I feel great!

May: 100 miles

Yes, I did it. Two runs today just so I could log 100 miles for the month. M thinks I'm crazy, but it's something I needed to do and it feels great. No run for me tomorrow!

new running pal

Another great motivator for me is to find new people to run with. This morning Thomas and I met a woman and her baby from our neighborhood for a nice run. It was great to meet her! We have a number of similarities and are a really good match for running together. We ran 5.25 miles at just under a 9 minute mile pace. Hopefully we'll meet up for another run again soon!

This morning's run put me at 95.75 miles for the month which means I'll be out circling the neigborhood this afternoon/evening to get those extra miles. I need to hit 100 miles for the month.

motivation?

Every few months I look for something new to motivate myself to run. Sometimes it is an upcoming local race, sometimes it is changing who I run with. I find that making some changes every once in awhile helps to keep things interesting.

Yesterday I tried a couple of new things on my long run. Instead of heading out the door to run the entire distance by myself, I took my son with me for the first half. M was home so I estimated my time for the first half and we did a hand-off halfway through my long run. I thought this worked really well. I enjoy taking him with me and 5 miles is about his limit.

The other new thing is tied into this first one and that was to run loops. I always run a single loop because to me it's all over once I see the finish. Mentally, I stop.

Yesterday's run was composed of two different 5 mile loops. The first through the neighborhood with a nice flat stretch in the middle miles and the second on a hilly route. The break between was very brief. M was waiting for us and came right out to retrieve our son so I didn't have to stop for more than a minute. Maybe it was this little distraction at the "finish" that helped me to continue on for a second loop?

It was a really great run.

trail running & toe update

Ran 7+ hilly trail miles this morning and I think all the downhill loosened up the toenail because tonight most of it came off. I couldn't take all of it off because some of it is still okay and pulling on it is causing it to bleed. Ugh. It's bumpy, multi-colored and not a pretty sight.

I need new running shoes.

Yes, the toe adjacent to the big guy has also suffered some trauma (though this was weeks ago). It's purple and will likely fall off eventually also. The third toe over was just trimmed too short.

The run was good though. Initally had planned for 5 miles but we ended up doing 7.25 miles total. The group pace was comfortable, but the hills were a workout!

5 miles

Five miles with the jogger in 42:47. Whoo hoo!

something is clicking

Two things are clicking: my left knee when I walk up stairs and something with my running this week. I think it's due to my runs with the jogger, but it may also have to do with running in the afternoon versus the morning. Anyway, I finished my 6.5 miles this afternoon in 56:35 which is an 8:42 minute mile pace. I hope these faster runs this week continue!

resistance training

I ran my usual 4 mile route this morning in 31:08. This is the first time I've run this route in under 32 minutes. A full minute is pretty substantial and I'm feeling awesome! I'm crediting this faster time to the runs I've been doing with the baby jogger. With the weather warming up, I've been doing some of my runs in the late afternoon pushing the jogger. The additional resistance, particularly on the route we run which curiously always has a headwind regardless of direction or time of day, must be paying off. [note to self: must continue training with jogger.]

my big toe

Since early February, my toenail has been changing colors. Over half of the nail has now separated from the nail bed, but the rest of the nail remains intact and there's no sign of this thing coming off any time soon. The white area is thicker than the normal nail from almost the cuticle to the end of the nail. I've been keeping all nails short since January, but this one in particular is kept really short so nothing happens to it. I would hate to return from a run and take my sock off to find no nail on this toe.

Note: This ugly toenail does not keep me from wearing sandals. Pedicure, yes. Sandals, no.

April: 77 miles

I'm glad this month is over. I'm blaming the low miles on my back problems earlier this month. I wasn't able to really run for over a week and even then they weren't good ones. Fortunately the pains have passed. I'm looking forward to a fresh start beginning tomorrow. New month, fresh miles starting again from zero...

Marathon Monday!

Today was the 110th running of the Boston Marathon. For many, this is the pinnacle of years of dedication, sacrifice and countless hours of hard work. It's a goal many aspire to achieve. I love watching the marathon event televised live. The stories of these runners are amazing and truly inspirational. My goal is to run Boston in 2012. I have a lot of work to do in order to realize this goal, but I know with proper training and time I can be there, too. I will be 40 that year and this will be my gift to myself. Look for me in six years!

http://www.bostonmarathon.org/

Race for the Roses Half Marathon

I ran the Race for the Roses Half Marathon this morning. My official time was 1:57:08. This is a PR by about 11 minutes for me so I'm very pleased with the finish. I was worried going into the race because my back has been giving me problems this week (no running this week equals no blog posts this week) but it was fine today. It started to bother me the final two miles so those were tough, but overall it was good and I still feel fine.

The weather for this morning's race was perfect. Temperature was around 45*, cloudy with a little sun and not a drop of rain. You can't ask for too much more here in Oregon.

The route was fairly flat since it was all run downtown (Portland), but it crossed the river at the beginning and again at the end so there was the one bridge to go over. There's also a good hill early on at the south end of downtown, but pretty flat otherwise. I don't care for out-n-back courses, but miles 8 to 11 were an out-n-back and it was actually kind of nice to see and cheer on the front runners.

Chipotle was a sponsor so they had burritos at the finish line. Yum. Nothing quite like running 13.1 miles and topping it off with a chicken burrito at 9am.

I hadn't run this race before and I don't know that I will again. I have my favorites and this one just didn't rank up there due to the course winding all over downtown and the out-n-back. There were about 1400 in the half which made for a nice size field and it was chip-timed so that alleviated some of the bottlenecking early on. Organization was good and overall it was a good experience, just not a terribly exciting one.

At least I got my sub-2 hour half goal. That feels pretty good.

March: 100.5 miles

I didn't feel like running this morning, but having almost hit 100 miles for the month, I had to go. I got 3.5 miles in at an 8:45 pace. This put me over the 100 mile mark. I love that even when I don't feel like running or when I feel like I'm struggling during the run, I'm still consistently running faster than I was even six months ago. Progress is good.

missed run

I hate to miss a run. I've fallen into a pretty good routine of running days and off days, but today I missed my scheduled run. I hadn't missed one in months. The problem was the sun. It came out yesterday which was an off day and I couldn't resist. I took the baby out in the jogger to run a quick 3.5 miles in the afternoon sunshine. Something was right because I still managed an 8:30 pace while pushing nearly 45 pounds (jogger + baby). I paid for it today with a little soreness, but I haven't been sore following a run for quite some time so it was a welcome change. It feels really good to know I ran hard and still managed a good time while pushing the jogger.

today's run

I went out for a quick 5 miles this morning with the baby. He loves to go with me. We ran the Springwater Trail which is so smooth and flat and makes pushing the jogger so easy. I don't typically run this route by myself because it just doesn't feel safe to me. However, with the beautiful weather today, everyone was out enjoying the trail. The baby waved, giggled and screeched at many of the people who passed by us. If they were running, they were moving slow enough for him to see and wave to. If they were on a bicycle, they were a colorful blur that he also enjoyed. We both had a great time!

group run

It's been months since I've run with a group. My own running group slowly began to fizzle after we ran the Run Like Hell Half marathon in October. Some were due to injuries, others due to the increased mileage. Training for a marathon requires many long distance runs and if you aren't training for one, why else would one want to meet up for a 20 miler in the rain? Needless to say, many of my long runs in January and February were run solo. Which is okay because I do enjoy the solitude and having total control of pace and route.

However, this morning I joined the UrbanMama runners. It was great to run with a group again! It was my first run with them and it was especially nice to put faces with the names and personalities I've come to know online. We ran an extended waterfront loop at a comfortable pace to log just over 4 miles.

running down hills

I love running up hills. Unfortunately, what goes up must come down and this is where I have problems. In races, I easily pass people running up hill but those same people will pass me on the other side. It's very frustrating because I feel like any ground I may have gained is so easily lost at that point. I've been browsing the internet looking for words of advice on this matter. On my run this morning, I consciously made an effort to employ some of these tactics and really concentrate on my form and footstrike. I think it really helped and the down hills were run much faster and easier. I'm going to continue to work on this and see if it makes a difference in my next race.

It feels great to easily run 5 miles in under a 9 minute mile pace. All these miles I've been logging have really started to pay off both in terms of pace and in my own physical fitness. Running is so addicting!

Portland Shamrock Run 15K

The Shamrock Run in Portland is one of my favorite races of the year. It really kicks off the running season and everyone comes out for it. There's something for everybody to participate in which makes it really family-friendly. This morning I ran the 15K with some friends. Yesterday I questioned why I would sign up for a 15K so soon after a marathon, but I'm glad I went out there this morning.

I finished the 15K in about 1:23 so just under 9 minute miles on a hilly course. Decided to forgo the shorts and wear tights instead but kept the striped socks on. I received a lot of compliments on the socks (note to self: must wear these more often) and heard many cheers directed at me. "Go Stripes!" It was fun and really great to get out there and run it with friends. J.P. really kept me going in the final stretch. I couldn't let her get too far ahead of me! As always, the clam chowder at the finish was yummy and the Widmer beer was a special treat.

running again!

I managed to get my sick self out for a super slow 3.25 miles this afternoon with the baby in his jogger. Now that he's tipping the scales at 23 pounds, I'm pushing nearly 45 pounds. Our run included a brief period of some heavy, pea-sized hail (hooray for the weather cover on the jogger). Just another strange occurrence in our weather these last two days -- snow, hail, etc. -- you name it, we've pretty much had it. Looking forward to a 15K this weekend, but also beginning to wonder if maybe this is too much too soon? It's a long climb initially and surely my legs will be screaming at me, but there is the promise of hot clam chowder and a beer at the finish line... Yum!

Napa Valley Marathon

I was one of the 1400+ finishers this morning of the Napa Valley Marathon. It was a long, wet, cold, and very windy 26.2 miles. My goal was 4:20 and I missed this by almost 10 minutes. Gun time today was 4:29:30. A slight disappointment, esp. when the first half was going so great (mile 13 in an even 2 hours), but I'm feeling pretty good anyway. Around mile 16, the winds kicked up and they were brutal! The cold temperatures and non-stop rain didn't help. It never let up. Ever. It was raining when I woke up this morning at 5am and it's raining now.

I wore a plastic poncho at the start, but was already soaked before the race began. At mile 6, I dumped the poncho because it was a nuisance. At mile 10, a man ran up alongside me and asked if I were cold. Yes! He said he was about to lose his own poncho and asked if I wanted it. It was a thinner and better poncho than the one I had worn so I accepted. He took it off and even tried to help me put it on while we were both running. What a guy. My hero today, that's for sure. I wore it all the way to the finish line. I'm not sure I would have made it without that used yellow poncho.

Everyone was waiting at the finish line. I loved coming around the last corner to see M and our baby. He has been wonderfully supportive in my training. He is my greatest cheerleader. Absolutely fantastic. I am so lucky.

The marathon was followed by a great lunch with beer and wine tastings. A good dinner, some Ibuprofen, and a glass of wine all does wonders, too. Tomorrow I look forward to a mud bath and a massage. Much deserved, for sure.

* As for the marathon itself... Fantastic support the entire marathon route. The aid stations were fully stocked with water, gatorade, an assortment of GU flavors, oranges, bananas, and vasoline. Since the finish was at a high school, warm showers were available. The finishers medals are unlike any of my others (very nice!), post-race support was wonderful, the race shirt is a nice-looking long sleeve tech. shirt, and the backpack they give you is a special treat. In all, a fabulous marathon that I would recommend to anyone. If it hadn't been raining, the scenery along the route would have been even more beautiful and a great distraction.

strange dream

I had a dream last night that I was in the middle of the marathon and my body suddenly stopped moving forward. My arms and legs were moving and I was trying to move them faster and faster, but to no avail. Other runners were passing on my left and right and I was just stuck there, moving as fast as I could, but not moving forward.

I'm not feeling anxious about the marathon, but I must be somewhere deep inside to have a dream like that.

February: 102.25 miles

Woo-hoo! Another month with over 100 miles logged.

My foot with the removed sliver was really sore yesterday afternoon. I looked at it again and after much squeezing and a few choice words, the remainder of the removed sliver came out. Altogether, this sliver was about 5/8" to 3/4" long. No lie. It immediately felt better.

last weekend training run

I ran my final weekend training run this morning. I finished 9 miles in 1:18 (an 8:40 pace). It felt great to finish on a high note. The tapering has been mentally tough so this morning's run gave my confidence a much-needed boost. I'm looking forward to running the whole 26.2 miles one week from today!

It looks like my purple toenail is going to be hanging around for awhile. I drained it last night so now much of the soreness has faded. I read that it takes about 6 months to grow a new nail. As if this wasn't enough, yesterday I got a huge sliver on the bottom of my other foot. It was deep! I feel a pinch with every step on that foot. I thought it might bother me more while running, but it wasn't bad. I can deal with the purple toenail and the removed sliver, but please nothing more until after the marathon!

With today's run over, I now have just a couple of easy and short runs this week until the big one next weekend!

a marathoner's badge of honor?

I've heard if you haven't lost a toenail due to running, you aren't running enough. I've also heard you aren't really a runner until you lose one.

For the past two weeks, my left foot's big toe has been sore. Any and all pressure applied to the nail is painful. It doesn't hurt while running or walking, but hurts when I press on it with my shoes off. I've kept all my toenails really short these last few months and my shoes are a good fit with ample room in the toe box, but it seems to be inevitable after miles and miles of running.

I removed the dark nail polish this evening to find a discolored toenail. It isn't black, but more of a red-purple sort of color. M lost one on his big toe after running his first marathon. It grew back, but it isn't the same. He thinks there is a blister under my toenail and it will definitely fall off at some point. Ugh, I'm definitely not looking forward to that.

I had planned to have a pedicure after the marathon, but now I'm not so sure that's a good idea. The toenail is definitely lifting and I wouldn't want it to become infected. I just hope it hangs on until after the summer sandal season.

google search: how to run faster

I have friends in California who have been training to run this marathon with me. Several months ago D sent me an e-mail recapping a race she had run over the weekend. It was a great race for her and she averaged an 8:30 pace (or somewhere around there, my memory is failing me here but I remember it being fast). I don't even recall the distance, but I'm thinking it was somewhere between 5 and 10 miles. I was floored.

I immediately got on the internet and google'd how to run faster. I'm not a competitive person, but I have my moments. While running around the neighborhood, I'll pick up the pace if I see a person ahead of me just to see if I can catch and pass them. And when I hear a friend has run a faster pace, I want to know how and when I can do the same.

Yesterday I received an e-mail from her. She ran a 10K over the weekend at a 7:40 pace (what?!?!). Again, I'm googling how to run faster...

4 faster miles

Whew! Four miles in 32:24 this morning (8:06 pace). I need to work on maintaining this speed for longer distances. I haven't incorporated speedwork into my training, but plan to add it to my running routine after the marathon. Maybe in a couple of years with more speed training I can qualify to run the Boston Marathon. My goal is to run it in 2012. Sshhh, don't tell anyone. It's a secret goal.

final long run

Today I ran my final long run. For the next three weeks, I will be tapering in preparation for the marathon.

This morning's run was a long and painful 22 miles. I felt great the first two hours but then I started feeling really sick to my stomach. I seriously considered calling home for a ride which I hadn't done before. I thought I might vomit so I walked for a few blocks and that helped, at least temporarily. I managed to pull it together mentally (after all, this was the last of my long runs) and finished my run. It's been a few hours since I finished, but I still feel a little sick. It wasn't the best of my runs and the pace was slower than I would have liked, but I got it done and can now enjoy some lower mileage weeks.

Today's run was completed in 3:42:40. I'm certainly not going to win any awards at that pace, but it's all about the journey and not the destination, right? Four weeks ago I ran 20 miles at a 9:30 min. mile pace so I know I'm capable of having a much better run. I'm hoping the excitement of the marathon will also push my time. My (realistic) goal at Napa is 4:20. Of course, I have a secret goal to finish faster than that but we'll see how the day plays out.

Let the taper begin!

4 fast miles

Fast is relative. Prior to the baby, I averaged 10 minute miles. I knew this wasn't fast but it was a comfortable pace and I always ran at this pace. After the baby, I started running with a group and my pace increased.

Even with the increased pace, I always seem to run the same pace. It doesn't matter if the route is hilly or flat, short or long. It makes no difference if the sun is out or if it's raining and windy. Being sick doesn't seem to make a difference either. I have been consistently running more or less the same pace for the last couple of months.

But something was different this morning. My run was faster. I ran my 4 miles in 32:33 (8:08 pace - hooray for me!). Could it have been the new shoes? The quick bite this morning that was different than what I normally eat? I need to identify whatever it was and keep doing it!

short vs. long runs

I find long runs to be more enjoyable and, dare I say, easier than shorter runs. My marathon training schedule has three short runs during the week and a long run every weekend. This past Sunday's long run was 16 miles and I averaged a 9:34 min. mile. I have a cold, but the sun was out and the run felt pretty good. This morning's run was 4 miles, but I only ran 2.5 miles and it was tough. I averaged just under 9 min. miles, but I don't think it was due to the faster pace and I wasn't sore from the weekend run. It was just a hard run.

I think it's mental. I'm much more relaxed on long runs. I know I have a long way to go so I settle into a comfortable pace and simply enjoy the run. I also take a mile or two to find my rhythm so the short runs feel like they are over just as I'm getting warmed up.

Why did I start running?

I read an online running website for tips, running news, and to check into the discussion forum. Someone recently posted the question Why did you start running? For me, it's simple.

Runner's legs. Yes, I am serious. This is why I started running and why I continue to run. I doubt I'll ever have them, but this is what I strive for.

Post-baby, there are additional reasons why I run. I run to have something for myself. I run because it keeps me fit like nothing else does. I run to clear my head. I run so that when our kids are running around, I'll be able to keep up with them. I run because I love the feeling of accomplishment, particularly after a long run. I run because I can.

And, I run because I want to be the 70+ year old lady still running local races and having a ball.

100 miles!

I haven't always enjoyed running, but took up the habit about 10 years ago. I've been running off and on since. I enjoy the local organized running events and have run everything from an 8K to a full marathon. I am not a fast runner, but I do what I can and I get myself across finish lines.

Once I was given the thumbs up from my doctor to resume physical activities such as running, I started again. I say *started again* because this was post-baby and also after a couple of years of not really running. I ran a little here and there, but I had gained some weight and wasn't really exercising like I needed to before I got pregnant. So, I started running again.

I also signed myself up to run a marathon!

I surrounded myself with some good running friends who really kept me on track (okay, not literally on a track) and they helped me establish a great training rhythm. I keep a running log online to track my mileage. It has been my goal to run 100 miles in one month and I finally did this in January!

My monthly mileage totals since I started running again...

June 10.25
July 29.25
August 44.50
September 70.25
October 88.00
November 89.50
December 95.25
January 120.75

testing

1-2-3

[edited 2/1/2006. Thanks, Julie, for giving me a little push to get something on here. Now, go run or something would you!]