Marathon Training - Starting week III Counting Down to MCM 2013

I started a post about family, not genetics, related, as in connected to in some way.   Not really sure I remembered where I was going to go with it.  I started down one path and fizzled out.  Writing has a way of doing that.  What SEEMS like a good idea when you are driving through PA and you pull over and make some notes, just doesn't pan out, it happens. 

On my drive back I made a stop at Pymatuning Lake.  My paternal grandparents used to take me there during my two week vacation in the summer.  My vacation from my parents and my parents vacation from me and my opportunity to be the Number One Special Grandchild Ever.  We were ALL quite happy with this arrangement.  I remember going to feed the carp, and that is about it.  My 2 weeks with my grandparents stopped in 1975 when we moved to Wisconsin, bummer, understandable though.  But hey, I remember bits and bobs feeding the carp, and there may be some photographic evidence some where.

This was the beauty I saw. 

Checking in with one of my groups, we post our miles weekly towards a goal,  I have no recollection what the goal IS however apparently I have surpassed it.  Anyhoodles, I noted on my marathon plan I was off, way off.  Yes, I do have knowledge on my marathon training plan, I carry the damn thing around with me - yes, geek, I own that!

So, I have this very cool training plan with the miles I’m to run.  I mark off what I did to what was planned.  I’m behind.  I’d do the math to figure out how much but that would make me cry.  Instead, this is a new week and a new start and there is no doubt in my mind I can run 26.2 miles, I mean really, not a problem.  Not being arrogant, but when I truly set my mind to something, it happens.  Right Scott? Breaking 5 hours, well, that is in question.  Yeah yeah, there are plenty of sub 4 and sub 3 marathoner runners out there, yippiee!!!   That takes serious work and dedication, I get that and I ADMIRE it!!    For me, I figure it takes A LOT of patience and stamina to stay on your feet for 5 hours, I’m just the patient person to manage that! (Mike and I talked about this in the fitness center - along with how awesome a show WTAC put on for their races this weekend).  Anyhoodles, as I finally figured out, I’m a runner not a racer, I enjoy the running part, no matter how long I'm on my feet.  Just wait, 50K in WI next year, could take me 6 hours...  LOL!!!!   Just a little poking fun at myself, no harm no foul, no whining intended, not a pitty party.

Tis' a beautiful thing, no?

 Maybe NEXT year I’ll get focused on this whole business of speed work and being faster, or maybe not, life is a crap shoot and I’m all about enjoying it.  So I'm behind on miles, I'm over the top with fun and enjoyment, guess it all balance itself out, right?

The only thing that does worry me (oh I have worries, believe you me, I'm over the top with those too) is being part of a parade, or some insult to the prestige of the Boston Marathon as a charity runner.  I may always keep the note from Mass General Cancer center to run Boston as a charity runner.  Acting on it?  Probably not.  Surely I shouldn't offend the elites like Chuck Engle and those of that ilk?   Besides I'd rather run the LA Marathon and see family (oh yeah and a beach house in Oxnard for a week is pretty DELUXE, no?).   No disrespect to Boston and the qualifiers, but really if you want a qualification only race outside of the Olympics, run Gansett.  Seriously. 

Ok enough of my soapbox, if it can even be called that...

I've COMPLETELY lost the point of ANY of this... if you can figure it out, let me know, please!!!

Oh wait!  Some of y'all may remember Burr-lingame in 2012, I was the person who came in last, dead freaking last.  What you may not know was that was my FIRST 15K race, ever.  I was so ready to hang it up after the first loop when I KNEW I was last.  Mike and Becky just said KEEP GOING.  Thanks for that!  Even when I finished I think Becky said, "Oh there is someone else out there." There wasn't and all y'all were probably waiting for me to get out of the woods so you could collect your Gansett beer and go home!!!   Thank you for your patience, little did I know all y'all were really cool and warm people!!

To sum it up:  Family is not genetics, it is being connected through a commonality, through a community. 

Sincerely, 

Beth, sorry if I kept you from your beer, but hey, what I know of REAL runners, all y'all aren't wigged out over the slower of the pack!!!  Thanks for that!!

Living the Dream

It has been since when since I babbled? Monday... oh my...  


I suppose some have missed me?  Those who have have probably been inundated with stream of consciousness eMails, no? well ask me for my eMail and I'll blather at you incessantly...

Monday I was supposed to go to NYC to get my mid year performance review.  Yes, I realize it is SEPTEMBER....  I got half way to the train station when my boss called me to determine if I read the 10:30 p.m. eMail regarding the cancellation of Monday's meeting.  Well, no I last checked at 8:30 p.m. just when my connecting flight from Atlanta took off.  I figured if it hadn't been cancelled by 8:30 it would be ok...  apparently not.  So at 6:30 a.m. I turned around and headed back to the Groton, CT offices.  Remembering WHY when we moved here I lived East of the site, so I didn't have to drive into the sun to and from work.  Seriously, 7 years of that nonsense was enough for me living in Ann Arbor and commuting to Dearborn then Detroit.  

Figuring I got home at midnight, and up at 5:30 a.m. (I slept in).  4 hours of sleep had me, well, slightly on the goofy side. I left early 2 p.m..  Hubb/Dave, missed the message and the text and was surprised to see me!  I napped on the couch till 5:25 p.m. he woke me up to tell me we were going to Captain Scott's for dinner.  OK, sure...

Tuesday was a designated Groton, CT day.  All went normally, I got in 5 and some change at work.  So happy to be running outside.  




After work Ro and I met up with a new running group, TRALP - Tuesday Running And Libations Professionals, meet at the Mystic Harp and Hound at 5:30 and run River Road, miles of your choice. The whole loop is 7 miles.  Ro and I opted for 3 out and back.  9:20 mile... not bad, no wonder why I couldn't keep up my side of the conversation!!.  I was sucking some major wind and Ro did all the talking.  I need the 'speed work' so this was a perfect follow up to my 5 and change earlier in the day. 



Wednesday,  I got all the way to New Haven, this is an hours drive for me.   Todd, the platform dude, informed me the train was going as far as Stamford.  I asked when is the next train to Grand Central?  Todd said, none, Con Ed feeder line is out, no power,  you can go to Stamford and hope for a train or a bus ... hmmm.... I saw a few co-workers on the platform and decided, well guess I'm working in Groton, again...  back into the sun, OMG how much I don't miss that horror, and wow I really need to get a new windshield.  Being sans gym bag I planned on leaving a little early!

Left a message for Hubb/Dave, that I'd be home and let's go for a ride, I need some help with my tire pressure and this sqeaky grinding noise I'm hearing from my chain.  Based on the surprised look I got at 4 p.m. he had not checked messages, in fact he hadn't taken his phone from his hydration pack from Tuesday nights ride!!!

Tires were low.  I let more air out then I put in with the hand pump.  Dave got a good laugh out of that.  For each psst he said "That's 10 lbs."  Crap.  The floor pump was more helpful  100 psi in those skinny tires is wow, kinda scary, and tough to get in those last few pounds.  Any suggestions from the bikers out there? An easier way? Better floor pump?  Better hand pump? 

The squeaking noise was all the sand I've manage to pick up riding along the beach.  Dave lubed the chain and all seems better...

We did a nice easy 20, we both thought it was pretty easy, it was actually a nice effort, topping many of my 'segments' in Strava.    Huh.  I so missed my bike in the last two weeks, my last ride was 9/11.  Felt so freaking fantastic to ride again!!



Thursday, went on a walk at lunch time and a spin class.  Then the panic to get the house cleaned up for weekend guests.  That was thwarted by I'm not sure what, after dinner Dave and I had a few cocktails and started watching the 7th season of Entourage.  Amazing what you can check out of the library.   Don't judge, somethings you start you just need to finish.

Today (Friday) my aunt and uncle who live in LA were on this coast taking a fall cruise from NYC to Halifax.  I was so excited to spend the morning with them.  They were in port in Newport for the day.  It has been far too long since I've seen them.

Charlie, me, KJ,
Toes: I asked Dave what color I should get my toes done, yellow-orange... who knew there was yellow-orange nail polish...

I got to talk with my uncle (my mom's brother) about his athletics.  He is a biker, 7 times riding the San Fran to LA AIDS ride, 580 miles.  He said it was mostly down hill and you could really get cruising along.  HA!  SO modest.  I asked if he had ever done a tri.  Oh yes, he did one, a sprint.  His advice:  if you aren't planning on winning, take your time getting in the water, getting kicked, slapped, and punched in the water isn't fun, and he is a swimmer.  The bike was his favorite part, of course, and he said he nearly crawled across the finish line for the run.  He did it, one and done, and suggested going from sea level to 7,000 feet (his tri was in Big Bear, CA) wasn't really a good plan.  HA!  Excellent advice!

Oh let me also mention he is a cancer survivor, non-hodgking lymphoma (6 years remission) and low grade prostate.  And he is a writer, I totally forgot to ask if he had written any stories lately.  Funny how genes work, isn't it?  

He volunteered his marathon experiences, prefaced by saying his favorite distance is a 10K and he hated 5Ks unless he ran a 10K first then the 5K.  Marathon the first,  he over trained and ended up with knots in the muscles on TOP of his shins.  Krikies.  He did the second, and the last, to start and not finish in excruciating pain.  

My aunt said, you two are just crazy, and that's why I love you both.

Lots of video of their latest grandchild, OMG she is a DOLL, my cousin is a redhead married to a Japanese woman, OMG a redheaded Asian girl, Koa, so cute you want to eat her up!!!  She is just reaching her first year.

Hopefully the dog sitter Dave and I are interviewing will work out and we can use their beach house,  I think the LA marathon is in March?  Hmmmm.... 

And there you go... at least I feel caught up.  20 miler in the a.m. may turn in to a 15 miler... I am so not as focused on training for this marathon as I was last year.  Then again there are far better distractions (family) this year compared to last! 

Sincerely, 
Beth, kinda lacking focus, however for a good reason, family!!

Catch up

I haven't had much to say, well I have, thing is it hasn't been very coherent, well thought out, or considered in the impact it may have.  Times like these sometimes it is just best to keep ones yap shut, no?

Friday was my work anniversary 14 years at this company.  Holy wow... I remember that terrified person I was in my suit all ready for her first day at work in this brand new company and industry.  Leaving automotive was tough.  I was warned that people in New England weren't as, well, blunt, as I can be.  Nor would they "get" the world I cut my teeth on in the working world.  First on the shop floor in college where I ran an Injection Molding machine making parts for, well yeah, cars, duh!  This plant made head and tail lamp covers for Ford, oil filter casings for Freight Liner, mufflers for Tecumseh engine and bunches of other pieces of plastic goodness - whoopiee twang, right?  After Grad school it was on to the offices, white collar baby, where I ended up buying those same parts I used to make for one of my buying desks.  Talk about what goes around comes around.  My favorite commodity and my last was fasteners, yeah, I was a screw buyer, ok?  The only female in a group of 9 men in a predominantly male industry, with predominately female sales reps. I will hand it to a couple of the suppliers for assigning male sales reps, didn't help much their product was crappy and usually late, but they were fun to golf with.  Ah the good old days...  The group I work with now is very proper, the group I sit with, well, they check their morals at the door, it is nearly as good as those days in Dearborn.

The next anniversary celebrated was Monday the 17th, hubb and I celebrated 13 years of marriage!  I met him through my brother.  They were class mates then house mates during grad school.  I'd talk to this guy on the phone from time to time looking for my brother, he was always pleasant and rarely had a clue where my brother may have wandered off to.  My parents and my other brother even met him before I did, we met in 1996.  Guess you could say he was pre-approved?

Things haven't changed much, now my brother calls, looking for me and Hubb has no idea where I may have run off too but eventually I'll turn around and come home.

We decided to meet at  Captain Scott's Lobster Dock for Fish and Chips Monday night. The sky threatened rain, it rained maybe 50 drops, pshew.

Stunning sky @ Captain Scott's Lobster Dock, New London, CT

Nice greasy fish and chips post TRX for me and bike ride for him.  I think they are still with both of us. They were soooo good.   Nice anniversary!

TRX was just two of us so our leader had a good time abusing us.  My abs burned as the day progressed on Tuesday.

Tuesday night was the Dog Watch 5K.  I missed last week due to traffic. Didn't have the opportunity to run during work and wondered what impact this (and those fish and chips) would have.  I did a 3/4 mile warm up and could tell, yeah, not so much. Feh 30:30...  The sky continued to threaten rain so I went home to hang with the pups and read.

This is a very well done book.  I'm about half way through it and really enjoy Julie's writing style.  I met her at the Ice Age 50 in Wisconsin.  She ran the 50 Mile race with all the relentless hills and finished in 10:09.  Holy wow.  From time to time the book reminds of "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Coast Trail" by Cheryl Strayed.  I am kicking myself for not picking up Julie's book on the PCT.  But you just never know, you know?

Wednesday I finally got my at work run, the full Native American, even ran into Mike B on my way back and caught some rays (read: teensy bit of sun burn, shhhh don't tell my dermatologist, Irish and Eastern European skin is a blessing and a curse). 

Opted for dinner out with some co-workers in from out of town at Ford's in Noak instead of the Tom McCoy fun runs at the beach.  Who would pass up Lobster Bombs and this sunset?

Sunset from Ram Island Yacht Club, Noank CT

Thursday nights are the runs with the Narraganset Running Association, met up with Nicole, I think it has been a month since we've run together.  I've REALLY missed them.  I gave her the glow in the dark goodies for the Glow Bash run on Saturday night.  Her kids will have fun putting things together and I'm sure they will be far more creative creating things for us to wear! Neither of us are sure what to expect but imagine it will be fun!  How could a team of 6 adults dressed in glow in the dark stuff from glasses, bracelets, hair pieces to tattoos NOT have a good time?  

I dragged Nicole along, you know those runs where you are feeling it but your not feeling it and you need a reason to not walk?  This was Nicole tonight.  I COMMEND her for sticking with it and getting in the 5 miles.  At the end of the day it was worth it, right?  *ducks*  

The major topic of conversation is what marathon training plan did she decide on for her first marathon, the Philly Marathon!  Probably a hybrid between "Run Faster Run Less" by Matt Frazier and Hal Higdon's Novice plan.  I'm super jealous that by the time her really long runs roll around her kids will be in school and she has the opportunity to run long runs during the week, and not beg the weather gods to please just a few nice hours, over the weekend, please!?!?  Her training starts in the beginning of July. I'm rather excited to hear and read all about her adventure!  GO NICOLE!!!  

Tomorrow afternoon I am taking advantage of a compressed work week to go bike shopping, I really like the mountain biking with hubb but it is such a pain in the rear, when it is just me, to pack up the bike and take it to the trail.  To be able to hop on outside the house and ride to Stonington or Charlestown or?  after work seems too perfect.  I am sure there is a flaw in this grand plan somewhere. Buller? Buller? Buller?  My goal is cross training to get in some decent cardio without all the pounding on the asphalt.  

Saturday I have a 5K in North Haven, CT in the a.m. and then the Glow Bash 5K in Bristol, RI.  Hubb asked if it was normal for people to sign up for so many races.  He was absolutely serious.  I said, not really, I'm an over-committer.  And there really isn't any response to that but "Do you want me to commit you or will you commit yourself?"

Sunday is TBD, the last brunch with a girlfriend before she and her hubb move to Dallas on the 26th.  I'm sad and will miss her and I'm excited for her new adventure, mostly sad though.  Once she gets settled in and finds her people I'll feel less sad.  Knowing her it will take about 45 seconds!

Sincerely, 

Beth saving it all up for one big word vomit.  Happy Thursday!

Surrounded by Greatness

Pithy best describes my mileage this week.  Monday was TRX. Tuesday's run was cut short by feeling like someone drove a semi truck through my gut.  Maybe it was the unexpected heat?  Maybe it was the dirty water bottle? Wednesday was insane and I didn't plan well.  Thursday, Manhattan, the city not the drink, I'd of preferred the drink. Friday insane...  so let's just call this a recovery week and not beat myself up...

Today I volunteered at the Gansett Marathon one of 4 marathons held in this wonderful State of Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations.  On Friday night I ventured out to the pasta dinner, more with the intent to drop off a gallon of water, pick up a flag, and to drive the course to be sure I knew where the two spots I was marshaling were.  Maybe I'd stay, I didn't really know anyone there.

On a whim I volunteered last year, there was a last minute appeal for volunteers and I wasn't doing anything that Saturday morning, so what the hell. Volunteering at races and walks is a nice way to pay back for the volunteers at the races I run.  Plus, the exposure to some of the details about what has to happen to put on a race or a walk and you get to see first hand how the community responds to the slight inconvenience in their neighborhood for a couple hours.  Really fascinating way to observe human behavior and attitudes.

The Race Director, introduced me to a club member, very classy.  I sat down at the table and chatted with him and two other volunteers and two other runners joined us.  

One of the runners was from Michigan!  I said I was too, and asked him where, Hudson Michigan, super close to where I grew up in Clinton!  That was very cool.  He is working on doing a marathon in all 50 states, he has 29 done and runs about 6 marathons a year.  His son is the track coach at the high school and is on a 9 year running streak.  We talked a bit about streaking and how do people manage.  He said his son travels internationally and once had an early morning flight so he got up even earlier to run two miles up and down the halls of the hotel he was staying at!  AHA!!  Unlocking the code of this mystery little by little.  Do you streak?  Thoughts, pro or con?

The other runner coaches middle school cross country in Connecticut and her husband tagged along to cheer her on. She was working to get an actual track installed in the school she teaches in, versus using one a town over.

The club member has a goal of running a marathon on each of the continents, at dinner he mentioned he has run in Australia, Antarctica  and South Korea.  Admirable!

This morning, it was nice to see the three runners I met last night, cheer them on by name and see their faces light up with someone saying their name.  I recognized some of the runners from the 2012 race. In particular Keith Straw

http://lvrunningscene.com/ultra-runners-keith-straw/

And several other runners I knew by name and two by sight!

Talking with the other volunteers was great too. My first station was a triple pass for the runners and a water station so plenty of people to talk with and lots of encouragement to just join the Thursday night run, it really is open to all paces. I will actually join a group run on the 18th with a fellow runner and blogger!   At the second I met the president of the running club in my town.  He is a tri-athlete, years of running has worn him out and he prefers the much easier on the body biking and swimming with a short run.  I'd have to work on my weak swimming skills and perhaps therapy for my fear of the water.  Anyhow, he mentioned there were some great members working hard to breathe life back into the club, Kudos to Michael and Muddy!

Sincerely,
Beth, trail running tomorrow, and until the Ice Age 50 in La Grange WI on 5/11...  hope I don't get lost in THOSE woods!

Marathon Recap

It sounded like a great idea, a weekend with the marathon girls in Arizona running the Rock n' Roll Marathon.  What could be better to save us from a long weekend in cold and snowy Colorado, New Jersey, and Rhode Island?  Between injuries from Marine Corps in October, strained muscles from non-running activities, and "The Crud" crap going around none of the four of us were trained as we should be.  I boasted the best with a long run of 15 miles way back in the beginning of December.  We determined we were doing this for fun not for a PR...

Well two of us did PR:  G and B.  Woo Freaking Whoo!!  Interestingly the youngest and most untrained of us did the best, knocking 20 minutes off her MCM time.  Hmmm...  Unfortunately G could not finish her post race beer, so hmm I volunteered, surprised?  Didn't think so!!  A and M hit the wall and soldiered on.  Finishing as that is what counts!  Proud of them, always!

G - 4:17
B (me) - 5:01
A - 5:05
M - 5:35

It was a great race!!   One of A's friends took us to the start line, we arrived 10 minutes before the start, just enough time to jog to the start line, snap a picture and cross the start line to Joann Jett "I Love Rock and Roll"....  Absolutely Brilliant!!!

As it was a Rn'R marathon there were bands every mile or so.  They over powered the iPod, however the shuffle didn't let me down with songs as I needed them.  Each song brings back a memory of a run and/or a person and that image was with me for the duration of the song, egging me on, taking me to a different place.

Play List - Don't Judge!!!  (always looking for recommendations!!)

I started out a little fast as my 5K split told me, I felt good.  I wasn't in a hurry, and I definitely should not have been....  My splits went from fast to slow to fast.  Bell curve perhaps?

I need to graph this but I think it is sort of bell curve shaped, no?

All in all the Marathon was great.  I was happy to have completed #2, and being untrained wasn't as much of a hindrance.  I think I really know, now what I am capable of and fully trained for Marine Corps in October 2013 I am sure I can break 5 hours, maybe close to 4:30?  I know I need to push myself more, push myself to the edge and over the edge.  Truly finding out what is to much and backing off from there.

Post Race - the Fab Five!!

The four of us did manage to meet a fellow runner to add to our crew!  E's goal is to run 13 1/2s in 2013 and he is now two races in.  We will meet up with him again for a Rn'R 1/2 this year!!  So fun to meet new people.

The biggest difference between AZ and DC was the crowds and the energy.  There was a lot more alone time on this course than there was with DC.  I don't know which I liked better.  Which do you like better, running by yourself in a race or among other racers?


Sincerely,
Beth, not as high from AZ Rn'R as she was from MCM however feeling pretty damn proud!!

Marathon The Second

Last run, 5.5 miles, before the Marathon on Sunday.  *bites nails*  The weather was fantastic!!  Sunny and while I though I may have been over dressed, once I got near the water I was thankful for my heavy shirt to block the wind off the Long Island Sound.   Well it may NOT be my lat run, I think my marathon girlfriends want to sneak in a run on Saturday to limber up.  Or possibly sober up...

My aggressive training plan was abbreviated as I signed up for this just after Marine Corps Marathon on October 28th.   Reflecting on the last 11 weeks of training. I think one REALLY needs to let their body recover after running a marathon, ESPECIALLY when it is your first marathon.  Early on I was having trouble with the longer runs as my body worked hard to repair the damage from the marathon and the training for that marathon.  How do people who run consecutive marathons do it?  Perhaps they weren't running their second marathon 12 weeks after running their first?  After only running seriously for less than 2 years?   Ok so it wasn't the most well thought out plan.  Oh well.  

I loved "Born to Run"  I finished the book tonight and have filled out the application for the Laurel Wood 50K, now just to put the stamp on the envelope and mail it in.  This race is in June.  5 months, that should be fine to train for a 31 mile trail race, right?  I think I may also transition to minimalist shoes or toe shoes.  My PF is pretty much under control and I can see the benefits to letting my feet do what they are born to do.  

The other part of "Born to Run" I liked was the rag tag group of misfits Ultra Runners are.  I think these are my people!

Sincerely,

Beth in love with running and all things running.

Special Kind of Idiot

Done 10/12, and again 1/13 and 10/13

I started drafting my training plan and looking for a race...  Laurel Highlands 50K is looking good...  Any suggestions for a FIRST 50K Ultra?

Sincerely,

Beth, hoping to be a special kind of idiot before the end of the year

Arizona Rock n' Roll Marathon

Today I signed up for the AZ Rock n' Roll Marathon, January 20, 2013, less than three months away.  Promptly I put together a training schedule. Because that's what I do.

I made an improvement from the Marine Corps Marathon Schedule, adding in a spot to capture my actual mileage.  Looking forward to training once again and working on my speed.  Think I can cut off 10 minutes to be sub 5?

My Garmin and I are back on speaking terms.  Seem he was not linking with the computer, so a little re-calibrating and all is right with the world!

Sincerely,

Beth, coping with post marathon depression by signing up for another one

Superstorm Sandy - Catch Up

Wow, what a week it has been.

Friday in Yoga Heidi talked about what we learned from Superstorm Sandy.  She asked us: "From this experience what have you gained."  I like that she asks to seek out the positive in experiences, what should we be grateful for?  While the devastation was horrific, I saw people and neighborhoods pulling together, and that is wonderful, I am grateful people can pull together.  I also am grateful to have made three new friends, fellow runners, female runners, who get each other.  Glorious.

Monday I was supposed to be on Amtrak heading back from DC to RI.  That didn't happen.  In fact it NEVER happened.  By Wednesday, my three new friends and I were ready to head back home.  MAC lives in New Jersey so we rented a car on Thursday and drove.  A and G were able to get their flights re-booked to Denver for Thursday.

We had a fun week.  Tuesday I went for my first run, post Marathon.  I intended on going for 3 miles and went for 5.  I'm slightly directionally challenged and altered my course a bit.  After running into the wind for about a mile I remembered that I ran into the wind away from the hotel so running into the wind wasn't going to get me closer to the hotel.  I got myself all unturned around and back to the hotel.  It was cold wet windy run and I enjoyed it!  Later on, MAC and I went exploring and shopping and picked up a couple of Italians.  I have a hand bag problem and of course MAC has one too, go figure.

What sort of Italians were YOU thinking?

Wednesday the four of us Marathon Chicks went exploring the National Mall in DC.  I was the only one who had never been...  it was amazing and chilling and beautiful.  This picture says it all for me, the past and the future in the present.

The past and the future, in the present

Thursday MAC and I got in the car and drove her to New Jersey and then I got myself to RI.  The national news wasn't exaggerating about the gas lines in NJ.  There were lines on the thruway service areas backed up nearly a mile, amazing.  In town most of the gas stations were closed and had a police officer standing guard.

Friday I went back to work, medal in hand!  Due to power outages and possibly lack of interest the office was sparsely populated.  I was able to get out for a 5 mile run in the morning and check out the damage along my route.  Wow.

The tattered American Flag moved me

Saturday was a dog focused day.  Took my eldest to the trail to hike, not a lot of damage, all the trees that fell across the paths had been removed and Gizzy enjoyed mommy and me time.  Took the girl to do a beach survey.  Wow.  Lost a lot of sand. It ended up behind what used to be big dunes at two of the beaches we went to.

Sunday was a long run, I went out to Watch Hill to see what there was to see there.  The sand that used to be under the cabanas was in the parking lot.  It was a nice run.  I wore my new bright orange "Runner 4 Life" long sleeve shirt, I am sure I was visible to the awful drivers out here.  My IT band was acting up by the end of the run, but a little ice and stretching and being kind to it will be back to normal soon.

See the daylight under the cabanas?  You didn't used to be able to see it.

Today I went on a short run during work, 3 miles.  It was slow, my legs felt like lead.  I think it is time to take a couple day break and let them heal.  They gave me a lot of good miles in the last week, they need a rest.  I am fearful of getting soft, but that can't happen in 3 days, can it???

Stats:
NONE my Garmin is acting pissy...  maybe later...  I really really want to see my MCM splits!!!

Sincerely,
Beth who now has internet access and can blog more regularly about running

Marathon Recap - Quick Post

I don't know where to start....

Saturday a.m. Hubb dumped me off at the train station for my trip to DC.  The train was on time and the next 6.5 hours were mine to nap, read, hydrate, Facebook, WWF, listen to a book.  I listened to a book and started a second. That was good to calm my nerves.  Nerves for a lot of reasons:

• would the train get in on time (2:30ish) so I could get to the expo and pick up my bib
• would my back seize up during the race
• am I hydrated enough
• why the hell did I buy trail mix with raisins, didn't a friend tell me to not poop my pants at the finish
• oh crap I have no idea how to get to the hotel (I did get THAT figured out) DC has a wonderful Metro system
• have I gotten enough sleep
• and so on...

Eventually I just settled into watching the scenery go by and listening to my book.  The train ride was nice, I really enjoyed it. Much much nicer than the commuter rail in to NYC on a weekly basis.

I did get to the expo in time to pick up my bib!  Thanks random guy for taking my picture!!

Had a lovely dinner with Team Lung Love, Julia made a wonderful video of the runners and who we run for.  We all told our stories of how we are connected to Lung Cancer and why we run.  It was wonderful.

I slept fitfully.  Glad I had slept well in the previous week. 

It was chilly, I had a rain poncho and a long sleeved t-shirt to pitch once the race started. There were a few sprinkles, no real rain. PSHEW!!  Hurricane Sandy was delayed in making landfall and the only thing we felt were the winds.

Race gun was 7:55. We were in 'Runner's Village' with enough time for a team mate to meet up with her running club and use the porta potty and get to our starting corral.  We lined up in the 5 hour corral with the 30,000 other runners I didn't need the long sleeves or the rain poncho to keep in the body warmth, pitched those.  There were prayers and God Bless America and a fly over by the Osprey (I hope I get that right - stuck in the hotel for the foreseeable future and have limited access to the Internet to blog and fact check)

The race was awesome.  I've been having problems with my SI Joint all week, and it was tight when I started and it hurt for the first 4 miles.  Eventually I managed to let go of the tension and worry and get into stride.  That was key, just letting it go and running. I trained for this, I wanted this, I was going to do this.  I was even enjoying running WITH people around.  I had no idea how inspiring it could be or how helpful.  My pace stayed pretty steady!  Once I stopped thinking about my back and worrying I'd wake up paralyzed the next morning all was good.  I thought about what the Lung Cancer patient goes through, the chemo, the radiation, the surgery, and how painful that was and it wasn't TEMPORARY, my pain was TEMPORARY.

I don't even know what to say about running 26.2 miles around our nations capital.  Awe inspiring?  A cloudy, 60 degree day are actually perfect running conditions. 

I crossed the timing mat listening to "Open Road" by The Gibson Brothers.  Marc MacGlasshan plays the hell out of that Smith Creek Mandolin and I just love listening to Leigh and Eric too!  It took nearly 20 minutes to cross the timing start mat from the 7:55 gun time.  The music kept me going.  A little George Thorogood reminded me of my work peep and made me smile.  Some Sargent Vines cadences kept me in line.  Songs that remind me of friends and songs friends recommended came on at THE right time.  I finished to Flo-Rida "Wild One" too perfect.

There were points I thought, what are YOU doing Beth, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?  and I would dig into the tips and tricks to get through it, and just get through it!  I thought about who I am running for.  Held my hand over my mother's picture for strength.  Touched the names on the back of my shirt for strength. I run for Lung Cancer, To End The Stigma. 

At mile 23 Team Lung Love was there cheering us on.  I felt like a million bucks and had 3 miles to go.  I wanted it to end but didn't want it to end.  I mean a freaking Marathon, I was running and about to finish a Marathon!!!  Julia snapped a pic...  A friend said "Look at that shit eating smile."  Love it!!

At about mile 24 there were Dunkin Donuts munchkins.  I've never had a better munchkin!!

I finished 5:09:55 with a smile on my face and nearly in tears, I DID IT!  I wanted to be sub 5. Then I thought about it.  A year ago my longest race was 4 miles, and that was November 13, 2011... so yeah, I'm pretty proud of what I have accomplished in less than a year!!!

After the race I re-hydrated and ate and laughed with three new friends!

Sincerely,

Beth, the marathon runner, OMG

PS  I slept well, and feel great the day after.  Wonder what tomorrow will bring? Stuck in DC, till Wed...

OUCH!

Today was my last long run before the marathon.  In one week from now I will have run my first marathon.  I am so excited, I'm not really that apprehensive.  I've trained for this.  I set out a decent training plan and mostly followed it.  As of today I've logged running nearly 350 miles and at a 10 min mile pace that is nearly 60 hours of running.  This does not include my walking or any other cross training.  Is this enough?  To finish respectably, yes.

Training Plan with Notes

The changes I have felt and witnessed in my own body and mind have been amazing on this soon to be 18 week journey culminating in me finishing my first marathon.  Truly a challenge I am thrilled to have taken on and hunger for the next one.  Any suggestions on my next marathon? next challenge? next race?

My pace was slow today, I was feeling a little, honestly, hung over.  Even the pic Hubb snapped of me in my "Never mess with a woman who runs 26.2 miles for fun" tech shirt showed me to be a little "delicate" as one of my British friends calls it.  Although my shirt is really a mauve not a purple so maybe it was the lighting?

Hubb "Should you really be wearing that shirt yet?"

I ran my usual long run route.  Said HI to the ladies stoop sitting sipping coffee and smoking their cigarettes.  The little old man was shuffling across the street to pick up his Sunday paper, no dog, I wonder if the dog just wasn't into going out on this crisp fall a.m. or if he expired.  Kinda the same old same old, not a lot to report on.  One other runner, lots of cars, no bikes.

When I trained for the Providence 1/2 marathon I ran in May, I would post my route as a rorschach test, while not an inkblot sometimes it made interesting figures and people enjoyed pitching in guesses.  My purpose was to talk about Lung Cancer and who I had dedicated my loop in the park to.  I still do that loop and still think about and meditate on someone I know with or has passed from lung cancer or someone who has a loved one with or has passed from lung cancer.  I dedicated this loop to the last name I've added to my list, a new friend had an Uncle who passed from Lung Cancer, quite quickly after diagnosis.  This disease touches so many people in so many ways.

See anything? The loop in the park is just to the left of the green bubble.

This afternoon my massage therapist friend came over to the house to work on me, mostly my legs.  She arrived at 3 to the chaos that is our house with four dogs barking and jumping all over the place.  She is not unaccustomed to dogs and took it all in stride.  The fearsome foursome also joined us for my torture, er massage, session.  There were a couple of screams and yelps that upset the dogs a bit.  These were prompted by Amy releasing my bound together IT band and hamstring.  I was ordered to sit on ice as soon as she left.  GLADLY, that HURT and I could feel the pressure release.   What surprised me most was the fact my toes stopped cramping up.  Holy cow, she worked all that bound up fascia up and down my legs and hips from the PF and the compensation my muscles made as I was recovering from the PF.  Who would have thunk this was the reason my toes were cramping and flipping me off!!

Amy mentioned she reviewed my PF treatment plan with the trainer for the CT Sun Women's Basketball team.  She is their massage therapist.  I run in some pretty impressive circles, eh?  She said the trainer wished his athletes were so diligent with recovery from injury.  If only he could get the women to follow the plans he laid out for them they would see results and here is this pure ammature plugging along and seeing actual results.  I felt pretty smug, wouldn't you?

The dogs did their best to keep an eye on Amy and also win her over with their charms.  Love them!

I've been frothing at the the mouth to run Bluff Point, I think I mentioned it rained all day Friday.  I did take my eldest dog out there.  I've never taken anyone out there, it has always been my place.  Half way through the trail it dawned on me this has always been just my place.  I was happy to share it with Gizmo.  He loved the one one one time although was getting pretty tired by the end of the trail.  We saw some beautiful sights and he seemed to sniff some interesting smells.  Slowly the sun came out making it an even better trip.   I did want to splash through the mud and puddles.  I tried to remain dignified, it was difficult.

View of the swamp just before the first uphill.

View of the LI Sound, sailboat in the distance.

The last downhill

There were a few runners on the trail.  I was so jealous. After the marathon you can trail run again, don't risk injury, don't risk injury!!!

On the last downhill from all the rain the trail was pretty beaten up.  I caught the glimpse of a runner behind me, bright green shirt, nice!  Making sure she can be seen!  Two thumbs up.  I maneuvered Gizmo to the more rutty part of the trail, giving her the best part of the trail for THE best part of the trail.  She passed, we exchanged hellos and thank you's.  I said "This is the best part of the trail, isn't it?" She said "Yes, down hill and near the end."  then we both heard it, CRACK, the tell tale sound of a dead tree falling in the woods. The at least 5 inch in diameter dead tree, fell, she instinctively put her hands over her head, the tree, missing her head by inches, caught her left foot.  She fell.  I rushed up "Are you OK?"  She got up, stopped her GPS, looked around, disgusted at the forming scrape on her left shin, and answered "Yes, I think I am fine.  Do you have a cell phone?"  She was going to call her husband.  They were staying at the Marriott and he ran part of the trail with her and was going back to the hotel.  No luck getting ahold of her hubb.  We walked out to the parking lot.  Chatting about running.  She was one week out from the New Orleans Half Marathon and was wondering if what felt like a broken toe or two were going to cause her to not PR that race.  I told her was training for my first marathon and while wanted to run the trail, didn't for fear of injury.  She said "Totally hear you there."  Ooops sometimes I need to think before I speak!!

When we got near the trailhead, we were about 0.2 miles from the end, there was her husband.  He saw her with me and another woman and our dogs and the blood running down her left leg and said "Oh honey what happened?"  She had kept it together very well until then but really wanted to break down "I nearly got killed by a tree falling." I could hear her voice crack.  He comforted her and eventually realized they had RUN to Bluff Point and shouted, "Hey, can you give us a ride?"  Of course, no problem.  Loaded them and Gizmo up into the car and we chatted about running and injuries and that she would just tape up the toes and run next weekend.  Atta girl, don't let this near death experience get you down.

Her husband asked if she was planning on wearing heels to the wedding they were attending.  Really?

I never asked their names, I do have their phone numbers from her trying to get ahold of him.  Maybe I'll text them and see how she is doing.  Guess I could ask if she wore the flip flops or the heels?

This is why I don't run without my phone.  I had a nasty tumble on the Vin Gormley trail that shook me up bad enough to keep it with me.  Not that anyone would have been able to find me, but at least I could try!!??!

Stats:

Slow but steady

Sincerely,
Beth fully in taper mode

Tongue-Tied Thursday?

Don't have much to say today....

Trying to figure out the expression:

Determination

Aversion

?

Care to pitch in a thought?

I did a 41 minute 4.3 mile run at work today.  It felt great!  I wanted to run longer.  Sunday I get to run 8 and then seriously have to taper and let my legs rest for the big show on October 28th, Marine Corps Marathon!!!

Sincerely,

Beth, feeling bashful

Commitment = Improvement?

Once upon a time, in my teenage years, my father sat me down to have a little talk with me about commitment and finishing things. Starting something with the intention not to commit to finishing it was something that rubbed my father the wrong way.  I can understand that, mostly.  I am quite certain there was another message in there, or maybe that wasn't the message, in any event I walked away with "Start as you mean to go on." rattling around in my head for over 30 years.  Gosh, I'm old.

At the end of the Newport 1/2 Marathon:

Medals, hey I earned them!

When I ran the Providence 1/2 marathon in May I was satisfied with having bested my last 1/2 marathon time by over 1 hour (finish time 2:17). Training and focus pays off!  While training for the Providence 1/2 marathon I craved a bigger goal, a marathon.  Part of training for a marathon is getting in long runs.  I thought it would be appropriate to find one or more races a month corresponding with my mileage.  Somehow, and I'm not sure how it transpired, I happened upon the Jamestown, RI half marathon in July and that worked with my mileage charts.  What I also noticed was it was part of the "United Healthcare Triple Crown"  I have wanted to do another race series, I enjoyed Off Rhode Racing's 4th Season Trail races immensely.  Digging into the website a little more I discovered I had already run leg 1 in May, in Providence, this was leg 2 and leg 3 was Newport in October.  Well there is a fine how do you do!  These miles work in with my long runs and are part of a series.  I signed up.

Sweet, eh?  

I reported on Jamestown back in July.  It was a good race.  I didn't run it as fast as I had wanted to (2:21), but hey you'll have that.  I've logged two 20 mile runs under my shoes and the Newport 1/2 worked out perfect for my taper period.  Woot!  Saturday there was a special pasta dinner for the 245 of us who participated in all three races, I totally spaced on it and didn't go.  Oh yeah, I never did report back on the calming the overactive mind session I attended on Saturday, another time, I'll recap.  In any event, I went into Newport Sat afternoon to pick up my bib and the goodie bag. Holy cow, it was down at the yachting center, so no parking.  Had I actually been thinking in a focused manner, I would have parked at that first lot and walked the 1/2 mile down to the yachting center and not drove around like the unfocused space case I've become.  To say it was chaotic in Newport would be kind.  Who knew Newport is still hopping in October, plus there was a seafood festival.  Grrrr...  Wonder why packet pick up wasn't at the hotel as it has been for other races... well not my decision to make, right.  Oh and my bib number wasn't there, someone else had 3346... oh well...  I know I've picked up the wrong bib prior so what goes around comes around.  As long as the chip worked, I'm good!

Bummer not a logoed bib.

With the chaos of picking up the race bib ringing in my head I did focus on get up early enough to leave the house by 6:30 a.m. which WOULD get me to the parking area and shuttle busses by 7:15, PLENTY OF TIME.  Well, not so much.  Getting to the parking area took an extra 30 minutes.

Traffic everywhere, the theme for the day, apparently.

I managed to get through the porta potty line and on a bus before 8.  The whole time I'm wondering, if  the bib mix up and the excessively long time to get to the parking area could this be some sort of a bad omen?  One of my fellow Team Lung Love runners is sidelined due to an injury from coaching his kids soccer game.  I want to run MCM!!!  Back to the "Start as you mean to go on."  I kept on keeping on.  I have to get in at least a 12 mile run, and 13.1 was the race length, perfect, no?  After getting dropped off and figuring out where the chute was and being thankful I was NOT in the porta potty lines at the race start, I was in the chute, re-tying my shoes when I noticed everyone was moving. (we've been discussing the lack of focus and scatter brain, right?)  Oh crap, the gun went off.  Oh well, they are walking the start is pretty far away, I need to tie up my shoes and get my Garmin started.  The race is chip timed so it only matters when I cross the mat.

It sprinkles a little at the starting line, feh, whatever, the weather was kind of up in the air anyhow.

Warmer than I expected, but WINDY, so glad I wore long sleeves.

Last night Hubb asked how many people were running the race, I think it was close to 3,000 or maybe over.  There were a lot of freaking people.  I was never running alone that was for sure.  The scenery was beautiful and the other racers were great.  With my delayed start I did need to navigate some walkers and deal with the run/walkers in the first 1/3 of the race.  Usually by the 1/2 point people find their groove and those people who run their hearts out then walk then run again are behind the middle of the pack runners and we can just run along happily.  I walked a few of the water stops, or maybe all of them, again that whole scatterbrain thingy acting up again.  My mind was all over the place as I was running and there were people all over the place.  Look way up ahead in these pics the line of people never seems to stop. It was a perfect tie in to the chaos in my brain.  I never did look behind me but I imagine it was more of the same.  Amazing.  I reminded myself this is why I am participating in races to get used to running around people and dealing with the chaos and trying to stay focused on my goal.  I am much more used to it now!!

Fort Adams loop, windy nice water views.

Water and Wind

More along Ocean Drive, beautiful course.

When I hit mile 10, running amongst all the opulent mansions, I realized that I really could PR!  Leaving work on Friday Jackass and I joked around and I said, "Oh I'm trying for 2:09"  Well I damn near hit it with 2:10.  Which is also 7 minutes off the Providence race results!  Woot!  Commitment = Improvement?  I tried to keep on a good pace for the last three miles.  I managed mostly (see splits).  My chip time may vary a bit from the Garmin time as I did slow down during a few waterstops and I think the Garmin stops, while the chip just keeps on ticking.

Actual race start time was to be 8 a.m.

What I did notice about my splits were how up and down they were.  I need to see if this factored into the terrain?  It does appear I focused for the last three miles, and sort of lost it a bit on the flat level straight away to the finish.

Stats:

Summary

Route

Splits

Elevation / Pace - sort of resembles a scattered brain?  Can you see when I finally saw the finish line?  I really sped up!

Sincerely,
Beth who completed the United Healthcare Triple Crown series... "Start as you mean to go on."