A few small changes

I decided that rather than posting about my training, I would add it to the side. I figured that this way, if you didn't want to be too bored with my endless rambles week after week, you didn't have to look ;).

I also changed the colors a bit, just wanted something brighter. If you hate it, let me know, I'm still not sure I like them either :).

And a picture, just because...

A self portrait of M.

Edit to add: I couldn't get the link color to change, lame, so I just got a new layout instead :). Hopefully this one works well.

Inaugural Pioneer Day 10k Race Report

Holy Cow that was hard!!

My last, and only, 10k before this was July 4th, 2005 so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I took almost a year off of running and just really started back in April of this year.

I can’t seem to find my PR but I know it was 1:06:xx and for those that don’t want to read my long and rambling report, I’ll just say that today’s time was 1:04:49, woohoo!!!

I lined up at the back of the pack because I knew I would be one of the last ones to finish and didn’t feel like having lots of people passing me right off the bat ;).

Mile 1: slight uphill grade the whole time! I passed a couple of runners while chanting to myself “don’t go out too fast, don’t go out too fast”. We got about halfway through the mile when I could see a pretty good sized hill. I asked the lady next to me “do you think that’s Goliath?” and she said “I wish it were, it is big, but I don’t think it is” bummer! We get up to the turn in the road right before the mile 1 marker and as we turn right there is a bag piper there playing, so cool! I look ahead and there is “Goliath” holy cow!

Mile 2: I run about halfway up the hill and have to stop, it was just too steep. My garmin is set to stop recording once I slow down to 18 minute miles (I have lots of stop lights and hate to be timed for standing still, hehe) so I’m not exactly sure how long it took me to go up it, I tried to keep my garmin going, but it was hard. According to the graph I got off my computer from the garming, it was a 50% grade hill and went up about 400 feet, ouch! Covered about 1/2 mile or maybe a little less.

Mile 3: I was chasing these two girls in front of me, their pace seemed to be just slightly faster than mine so I wanted to catch them at around mile 4. Luckily for me, at about 3.5 there is a long fairly steep downhill, I love me some downhill. So I let go and let gravity assist me in going faster, one of the girls didn’t seem to want to let me pass so she pushed harder on this downhill than she probably should have, bummer. I passed them both just before the 4 mile marker.

Mile 4: I set my sights on a man in a blue shirt quite a bit ahead of me, thinking that maybe I could reel him in on the next incline. Besides, it was really boring through this stretch and there was very little shade, I needed some distraction ;).

Mile 5: I’m getting really close to blue shirt man and am thinking I may be able to pass him, unfortunately I didn’t know the route well so I timed my push a little too late :(.

Mile 6: around the corner and up another slight incline, I can hear the finishing runners and the crowds cheering so I push a bit harder. Around the corner and done!

I knew it would be close to my PR, but since my garmin stopped on part of the uphill, I guessed it was 4 minutes off, which would have put me just over my PR. I saw the clock and almost burst into tears, I did it, I did it!! I walked away from everyone while I got myself under control, I end up sounding like I’m dying so I didn’t want to worry anyone, lol.

There were maybe 3 spectators along the course, but the volunteers were great and the course wasn’t too bad. I think next year they should start the race an hour earlier though, it was in the mid to upper 70’s when I finished, not so fun when there is no shade :P. I think I’ll run it again next year :).

You can't see me.

Our kitties aren't allowed to sleep on the couch, but Dax thinks the rule only applies to Snake. I took a short nap this afternoon and when I came out this is what she did.


Naughty kitty ;)

What do I look like after a 12 mile run?

Sorry for the blurry pic, my hubby was playing with the camera features.

Week 6, step back week.

I'm a third of the way through training, yay! Though I know you all are probably very tired of hearing about training, sorry about that. I'll try to post some photos of the weeds, err...I mean kids ;), they are growing way too fast!

Monday - 3 miles, I felt like a turtle today, just slogged through the miles grateful that there were only 3 planned.
Tuesday - 5 miles, I did a tempo run of sorts, one mile warm-up very very slow, contemplated making this a 3 miler and doing 5 the next day. After a mile I felt a bit better and sped up, then took the 3rd mile a bit slower to recuperate and planned on going fast again for the 4th mile but it ended up being into a headwind so I just went with what felt good, last mile I really pushed it, felt great!
Wednesday - 3 miles, slow again because of tight calves, but felt better than last weeks third day of running in a row, so hopefully this means the fitness is improving.
Thursday - rest day
Friday - unplanned rest day due to girl stuff ;)
Saturday - 7.8 miles, was supposed to do just 7 but that's ok. I ran this with a friend and it was lots of fun, too many stoplights though which got annoying so I'll look for a new route I think.

Total for the week = 18.8

Onward and upward!

Week 5 is complete

I was planning on running the local 4th of July 10k yesterday but decided to sleep in and relax instead, I was exhausted! But before you get too proud of me, read on ;)

Monday - planned rest, though I'm thinking of bumping up all my runs one day, so we'll see what happens next week.
Tuesday - 3 miles, it was really hard to get this one done, I hated every step of the run hence why I'm thinking of bumping up my runs one day, see if that helps somehow.
Wednesday - 4.5 ran with a friend, makes it much more enjoyable, my numbers may be off this was supposed to be a 5 miler. All I know is it had some giant hills, but it was fun.
Thursday - 10 ran this with the same friend, early and it was dark at first! It was a hard run but felt awesome to get 'er done. I took a nap later than morning and woke up feeling great, no soreness though a little niggling tiredness in the quads.
Friday - rest
Saturday - was supposed to run 3 but decided to see if I could run 8.7 to get 26.2 miles in for the week. I didn't get started until almost 8, not smart when it's already in the mid 70's. Got about 4.5 miles in and was overheating quickly, took a break and ate some Gu and drank tons of water. Went until about 6.5 miles in and I'm out of water and Gatorade and I have 2.2 miles to go when I started feeling a bit dizzy. Luckily I was smart enough to pack my cell phone so I called my wonderful Hunny and he came and got me.

Luckily for me, week 6 is a step back week, maybe I'll remember to get my runs in early this time :P.

Weekly total = 24.1 miles

and a note to self, go earlier in the morning or run up the canyon where there is shade and water fountains!