The Training Blog of mickieblueeyes

I am one happy camper!!! First I have to thank my husband, and two wonderful boys, for coming with, and supporting me. And, for putting up with all my wining, and all the time I spent running this year. Also, thank you all for your support and encouragement.

Now for the details. It was a beautiful crisp day in Tahoe. I was not really looking forward to my run, as I hadn’t done much the past couple of weeks. I felt like total crap this week, and I was sure I would flop today. Five years ago, when I ran this race I did it in 2:19:56. I hadn’t trained for it, at all, and the farthest I’d ever run, up to that time, was eight miles. But, I was teaching aerobics then, and was about 10 pounds lighter.

The first couple of miles of this race are up hill, on pavement. I was happy that I held a 10 minute pace for the first two miles. Then we were off onto single track trail. By then we were spread out, and I was behind about 3 gals running the same pace as me. I felt suprisingly well, and held my 10 minute pace up to mile six. I was trying to be a little braver on the downhills. Usually, I am being so careful not to trip, that I think I waste too much time.

Then came THE HILL!!! I knew, from before, that I could walk it faster than I could run it, and I actually passed one of my pacers. I always try to really speed walk, if I’m going to walk at all. At the top it was downhill on pavement. WOAH!! I was hoping there was a run away truck ramp at the bottom, because I wasn’t sure I could stop. Back onto single track dirt trail. We went quite a way down hill, and it felt great. But by the time I had gotten to mile eight I had lost seven minutes, somewhere.

Here’s where things went downhill, and I don’t mean in the good way. My hip flexors started to hurt bad. The track we were on is my least favorite part of the run. It’s a pretty hard packed, dirt road with rocks about fist size everywhere you put your foot. It’s painful. I started walking that too. I started to get bummed out, because I didn’t think, there was anyway, I get finished in 2:20 like I wanted to.

Then all of a sudden I see mile marker eleven. I looked at my watch, and I was at 1:57. I thought if I could just get going again, I might be close to my wishful goal, of 2:20, and if not, I certainly would make it by 2:30.

The Good Lord gave me the strenght to get those last two miles in, and by golly I finished in 2:21:44. Which was really more than I expected.

I won’t know what the official results are for quite sometime. But I am really happy today.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/05/2008
• Time: 15:17:52
• Total Time: 2:21:44.00
• Distance: 13.1 miles
• Average Pace: 10:48.65/mile

Well that was it. It’s all downhill from here. I made 12 miles at a decent pace, although I don’t have a runners high. I have a runners OMG I’m tired. My actual total time out on the road was 2:41. I had to stop and stretch a few times. I always stop my watch when I stop so I’ll know what my actual pace is while I’m running. If I walk I keep the clock going. Even if I have to stop during my half I’ll still be close to my goal which is to finish in 2:30. It won’t be easy. The course I’ve been running is relativley flat with a gradual grade. The half course has some pretty steep hills. But I CAN DO IT!! I WILL PERSEVERE!!(I can’t spell) And of course I’ll let you know how it goes.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/28/2008
• Time: 11:14:40
• Total Time: 2:13:01.00
• Distance: 12 miles
• Average Pace: 11:05.43/mile

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/26/2008
• Time: 10:41:39
• Total Time: 1:02:15.00
• Distance: 6 miles
• Average Pace: 10:22.84/mile

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/25/2008
• Time: 12:39:53
• Total Time: 00:51:01.78
• Distance: 5 miles
• Average Pace: 10:12.24/mile

This morning I woke up, and felt like I was trying to get sick again. Scratchy throat, achey all over, feeling a little funny in my sides. Crap! I took today off, but I hate doing this. I know it’s not much, but I’ve gained about 3 lbs., just since I haven’t been fully busting my butt. Why is gaining weight so easy, and losing it so damn hard?

This year it has been hard to gain a better fitness level, and everytime I take a break, it feels like starting over again. I’m afraid that by taking it so easy these past weeks, my run is going to be miserable. It sure seems like those days, when I am full of enery, and just have a great work out, are few and far between. I’m suffering PMS for a week, then cramps for a week, which only leaves me two good weeks. When I happen to get sick, or hurt my back it always happens on the two good weeks, leaving me only a couple of good days.

Does anyone else have this going on or is it just me?

Then I think about my mom, who had rheumatoid arthritis, from the time she was 16, and had pain everyday of her life, until she died at 73. She never complained. How can I be such a winer?

Well tomorrow’s a new day maybe I’ll feel better then. Oh probably, but the onset of PMS is coming. LOL

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/22/2008
• Time: 10:09:10
• Total Time: 00:41:02.00
• Distance: 4 miles
• Average Pace: 10:15.38/mile

Well after 9 days off, I went back to my home town, of about 1,000 people, and did The Annual Pinenut Festival Fun Run. There weren’t very many people there, so I was the first place overall woman. I outran some young whipper snappers, (who I’m sure don’t log the miles I do) which was good for me, since I’ve been taking a lot of flack about my age. LOL The man who won overall male was in the 50-59 age group, he ran it in 18 minutes. The top woman and male walkers were 50-59. Us old farts kicked but today.

I’m no speed demon, the fastest 5k I ever ran was 22 something, 7 years ago, so I’m happy with todays run. I took off 9 days to get over my cold, and I wasn’t sure how I’d feel. So far I feel good and hopefully I’ll be back on track, until my half, on the 5th.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/20/2008
• Time: 14:44:05
• Total Time: 00:25:36.00
• Distance: 3.1 miles
• Average Pace: 8:15.19/mile

I’ve worked all year, to get back into shape, for this half on Oct 5th. Along the way, I’ve tried to impress my husband with past race times, while complaining a bit, about how slow I am now. His answer was always, “Well that was 7 years ago. You were younger then. Blah blah blah…”

My mind says, all I have to do is put in some miles, some hard work, and I’d be back to running those times, age has nothing to do with it. (Don’t any of you tell me differently) O.K I’ll probably never be that fast again, but I can run far, compete in my age group, and hold my head high.

My husbands comments, have been part of the driving force, to keep me going for this run. I’ll show him. He has been supportive, come to my runs, and been proud of me for the distances I’ve covered. He proudly tells his friends, how crazy his wife is, out there running around in the desert, and up the mountain trails.

But, last night as I was sniveling about my stupid cold, I got 3 weeks before my run, he began to suggest that I’d bitten off a pretty big goal, 13 miles. He said I should be proud that I’ve made it up to 11 miles, and not worry about the race.

IS HE CRAZY?!?!?!!!! Is he living in the dark ages? Does he really think I can’t make two more miles. How can I make him understand? A half is cake, compared to what a lot of you doing out there. ie 30, 50, 100 miles. What’s he going to do when I let him know I’ve found a full marathon to train for?

I told him I don’t care if I have to crawl 13 miles with an oxygen tank strapped to my back, I will finish this race!!!!

I always get so mad, at him, and have to prove him wrong. He’s way smarter than me. My running is the only way I can ever prove him wrong. I guess I should thank him for giving me fuel for my fire. LOL

I love my husband.

Well it figures, two weeks before race day and I have a cold! Thursday night out of the blue whamo! I work at the school so I gues it was inevitable.

For a change, this year, I decided not to try running through it. I took off 3 days, drank gallons of water, ate lots of Vitamin C, zinc, and laid around on the couch. I’ve been taking this wellness formula which is suppose to help your immune system. I thought it was working, but the cold got the best of me.

Today I went out and did 3.5 miles. I only ran about one mile. My chest and throat weren’t feeling so hot.

My last successful long run was 11 miles. I’m just pissed because things were going so good, I’m so close to reaching my goal. If I have to crawl, by God, I’m going to do my half. I just hoped it could be faster than a crawl.

I don’t know what I should do run, walk, lay on the couch some more. Does anyone have any miracle cures out there? Or maybe just some good advice? Thanks for listening to me wine, again.

1 mile warm up @ 10 minutes 3 miles @ 25:36 1 mile cool down 10 minutes

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/11/2008
• Time: 09:23:01
• Total Time: 00:45:36.00
• Distance: 5 miles
• Average Pace: 9:07.11/mile