The Training Blog of mickieblueeyes

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

Wow, I feel great. Sunday, at sunrise, I ran 10 miles in beautiful central Nevada, 7,000 feet up, near the ghost town of Berlin. I went 5 miles out, it was downhill all the way. I was afraid I’d really struggle getting back up, but I made it the whole way. It was so quiet out. No cars, no planes, no nothing. Just me and my dog, Mickie. I can’t believe the difference in my condition since July 4th when I ran a 5 mile race with some itty bitty hills, and I thought I was going to die. Those mountain runs I did in August really pushed me over the top to a stronger more fit runner. I can’t wait until my half. I know, I’ll make it now. Well, provided, the good Lord keeps me healthy, and injury free.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/31/2008
• Total Time: 1:47:49.00
• Distance: 10 miles
• Average Pace: 10:46.32/mile

1 mile wu @ 10 3 miles @ 25:21 1 mile cd @ 10

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/27/2008
• Time: 07:14:24
• Total Time: 00:45:21.00
• Distance: 5 miles
• Average Pace: 9:03.81/mile

9 miles today and I only stopped at the halfway to dump the pepples out of my shoe. The course I ran today had an uphill grade going out, and I barely noticed it, after those mountain runs the last couple of weeks. Of course the downhill coming back help. I felt just right when I got back to the car. I definately felt like I’d done something but not dead. Yeah!! I think I’ll make my half marathon goal, which is offically October 5th.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/24/2008
• Time: 09:17:04
• Total Time: 1:36:51.00
• Distance: 9 miles
• Average Pace: 10:45.16/mile

1 mile warm up @ 10 min. 3 miles @ 8:32 1 mile cool down @ 10 min.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/20/2008
• Time: 08:36:53
• Total Time: 00:45:32.00
• Distance: 5 miles
• Average Pace: 9:06.28/mile

Well, I survived my 10k which actually turned out to be only 5.2 miles.  Uphill the whole way, about 1500 ft elevation gain.  The last quarter mile was so steep coming down I had to walk the last part, for fear of becoming the human bowling ball.  The day was gorgeous and the view was beautiful.  And, I’m reenergized for continuing on my 1/2 marathon goal in October.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/16/2008
• Total Time: 1:14:36.70
• Distance: 5.2 miles
• Average Pace: 14:21.24/mile

Well I signed up for a 10k trail run, on Saturday the 16th. All training was going well until July 17ish when I hurt my back. Since then my training has been hit and miss. I did do a 3.6 mile hike up squaw valley. But I was hoping to actually be able to run this one coming up. I don’t know what to do this week. I feel like I’ve lost what little conditioning I had. Yesterday’s 6 mile run made my muscles pretty tired and that was just on flat ground. I guess what’s done is done, and the best thing is to just keep moving, to stay loose? I hope I don’t embarass myself too bad on Saturday. I hope I survive on Saturday.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 08/09/2008
• Total Time: 1:00:01.37
• Distance: 6 miles
• Average Pace: 10:00/mile