10 mile pace run

Jill, Sandy and I did our 10 mile pace run. Quoting Sandy, "You know, those interval workouts really pay off even though you hate doing them". Today proved it again - I ran a 8:37 pace. Better than the last one! The last mile was hard, but that is okay.

Elyse and Christy started out with us too. We were missing a couple of people.... enjoy making up your run in the heat... hee, hee, hee.

I am getting blisters in weird places like the top of my big toe. How in the heck does that happen?

Thursday

A little bit cooler run with Elyse and Kristy today. Another one of the "It was a struggle to get here, but I am really glad I did because it felt good" runs. Maybe part of it is that the dread is already building for tomorrow's pace run. It is supposed to be warm and humid. I will have to keep on reminding myself that it could be worse. It could be a 17 mile pace run!

No humor today, but here is some inspiration: A women who ran a marathon a year after giving birth to sextuplets.

Worry

A hot, muggy, sticky, interval run this morning. I didn't turn my Garmin on right, so Jill (she so sweetly waited for me) were behind the group in our intervals, but we got them all (8) in! Plus despite the hot weather we did it just one second off our fastest interval workout to date!

So, the little worry worm is gnawing at my brain. My foot is bothering me again. Not sure what it is - new shoes (same style, different color) worn out inserts, just getting out of whack (not my brain) or what. Not what I want at this time. So I am icing, stretching, searching for my old shoes and waiting my new inserts. Of course, I won't know what caused the problem since I will have changed so many things at once. Oh well, as long as it goes away!

On a lighter note: On the Complete Running Network, I found the following article: "Nice Guys Finish Last". It is about the slowest Olympic marathoners in history. I actually found the article uplifting due to the reasons they gave for finishing. Check it out.

Geez! I almost forgot! Apparently the Sparta Police have finally figured out Mike's daily routine. There were two of them waiting for him in the Walgreens parking lot. They were very sneaky, lights off and in the alley right next to the parking lot. So sneaky that I almost rear ended them when I came into the lot. I wonder who's fault that would have been? Hmmmm. Anyway, unfortunately for SPD Mike is off traveling for work. We figured they had to be waiting for him, because he was the only one not there, they didn't arrest any of us innocent women and they left as soon as they realized he wasn't coming. We probably really confuse them with our alternate meeting places. See Mike, we've got your back!

Monday, Monday la, la, lala, la la

A good run with Christy and Katie this morning. Since it was a small group and there was no fear of losing anyone, we made up a new route on the fly. Of course, it actually a combination of a couple of different loops, but that is what reality is here in Sparta.

A good 8:53 pace! It sure didn't feel that way starting out. It was one of those days that if I wasn't running with a group, I would have turned around and gone back to bed after the first miserable block. Well, maybe not gone back to bed - but close!

2:30 at 4:30

Yes, Jill and I met at 4:30 to run our 2:30 long run. A little sticky today, but it went fairly well. Kristy and Elyse kindly waited for at at 5:00. Then they dumped us (just kidding) and Christy and Judy came with.

OMG - I almost forgot the best thing - GARAGE SALES! Yes, Friday mornings is garage sale day and today it paid off to be our running at 6:30! From over a block away I saw the old fashion aluminum web lawn chairs. I have been looking for them for my mom! Later I realized that it was a bit early for them to be open - but they were just standing around and looking open - so it didn't even dawn on me. Or maybe I conveniently forgot about the time of day - either way SCORE! I think now on Friday's we will do interval runs to each garage sale and rest time will be when we are looking at what's for sale. However, we will have to get them to open up their garages before the usual 8:00. Not a problem.

Getting Foggier

A group of 6 today! I another nice cool run, but I am pretty sure it got foggier as we ran - must of been all that heavy breathing we were doing. As I have said before, the intervals seem to be paying off. I was able to do a 8:39 pace run today. Yes, I was pushing it, but it wasn't too bad considering our pace normally is between 9:00-9:15. Thanks to Katie for running the last half with me!

The only problem with running faster than the group is that Mike has plenty of opportunity to tell stories about me. Believe me - they are all untrue! I will have to plan those faster runs for when he isn't running!

Lessons learned about fellow runners

Hmmm... not sure what to put as a title to this post. There are too many options, I guess I will see what hits me when I finish.

Quite the group this morning! EIGHT!!! Walgreens is going to think it has to open earlier because of all the cars in the parking lot. Or people are going to think they are missing some HUGE back to school sale. You would think that the Sparta Newspaper would have noticed this phenomenon and had a feature article on us! Oh, Wait, it is the Sparta Newspaper.

A nice interval run this morning, well nice might not be the word of choice, but we did do it faster than we ever have before! (Ah! the joys of having a Garmin!) Our shirts for Chicago will have to refer to speed in some way. Which reminds me... has anyone come up with what we should put on our Chicago shirts?

Saw Mike running all by himself on Friday afternoon. It made my heart sink. Not because he was running alone, but it was evident that he has not learned anything from us - running related that is. We know he has learned a lot about women! It was 90+ degrees, sunny and humid and here he was running with a BLACK baseball cap (the regular kind - no technical fabric in sight) and a COTTON t-shirt. Since he didn't have any water with him, he must have been using the cotton shirt as a sponge that he could wring out for water as needed. Yeah, that must be it. We know how much he hates spending money on the essential running stuff - like water bottles.

Lastly, Jill - our lovely Kwik Trip gal. I had the joy of experiencing a whole day at Noah's Ark with her. Yes, I do mean joy. She likes to pretend she is a timid girl, but let me tell you... all she needs is a little, make that tiny push and she is up for anything. She was making a great show of never going down the "Point of No Return" but given how quickly she launched herself down the ride I think she really had done it before. You know Jill, she just likes getting all the attention.

Okay, that is it - still not sure of the title...

Conversion?

For the second Friday in a row, Judy showed up for the morning run. Plus at the end she said to me "I can now understand the appeal of getting it done and beating the heat". I don't know folks, we may have a conversion! It just shows that miracles do happen.

Still a sticky run this morning, but much more enjoyable since it wasn't an interval or pace run. This was good since I have the end of the week exhaustion. Last night I was looking at the poll to see if the "always there" people were running, so if I bailed, Judy would have someone to run with. Of course, if I did give into that temptation I would be headed down a slippery slope, so I was there - but NOT with bells on!

Recovering from the shock

I realized that I was still recovering from the shock of seeing Judy at 4:30 on Friday morning when Sheri pointed out that I hadn't mentioned her in my Friday blog. I am not sure if it made Judy's day when everyone arriving said "Judy! Your here at 4:30 a.m.!!!" Maybe we will pull her over to mornings!

I think Sandy may have had a brain fart this morning - 4 days of running in a row will do that to you. Luckily Christy showed up to run at the correct spot - the pool. Sandy was supposed to run and assured me she would, but she never showed. When Christy and I ran by Walgreens on the loop back we saw her van - at least we think it was her van since it was gray. So, although she was at the wrong starting spot hats off to her for still going on her own!

So a little non running related information. Nate, Ben and a friend all discovered a ground hornets nest this weekend. Ben got 3 stings on the chest, the friend one on the foot and Nate got the worst of it with 3 on the face. The swelling got progressively bad throughout the day and night. A picture is worth a thousand words, so here it is:

He has a chunk of banana in his mouth which makes his cheek look swollen too, but it is not. Helps with getting a little more sympathy though!

Dumb and Dumber or Dedicated and More Dedicated?

First long run of the Chicago Marathon training plan! Of course we had to start it all out at the insane hour of 4:30. Sandy, Jill, Jenny and I. We looped back and picked up Mike and Elyse at 5:00. No donuts - big BUMMER. I didn't see any of the o.j., milk or coffee (aka Diet Mtn Dew) either which I heard later was hidden some where in a white SUV.

Jill and I should get the 'Larry' award. After dropping off the 5:00ers, we headed out for our last 45 minutes. The clouds to the east look ominous, but we kept positive thoughts. Well, Sandy only kept her positive thoughts until the end of the park loop and then she was outta of there. Some flash of light - I think it is was a firefly - made her nervous. A block later, Jenny also headed out - apparently fireflies were out in force. So the new thing I learned today is that and in addition to dogs, Jenny is also apparently very afraid of fireflies.

Jill and I kept on going. We were doing the stampede route backwards (Do we ever do it the right way?). When we were on the lower part of North St. it started to rain. By the time we were making the turn on to Thayer it was an all out downpour, but the sky looked lighter to the east and I didn't think it would last much longer. On the hill on Main, I learned the second lesson of the day - it could rain harder. At this point our shoes became lakes - but we were actually enjoying it. And if Jill says she wasn't - then she is proving once again what a devious person she is. Every once in a while we would get a nice flash that would like our way.

I am sure the male drivers really appreciated those flashes of lightening considering my soaked WHITE tank top (with built in support) and my light green shorts that are very transparent when soaked (Lesson #3 for the day).

So, if it rains at Chicago Jill and I will be the only ones prepared for it! Ha!

We ended up with 2:10 and 13.5 miles and a good story.

Catching up

CKristies, Elyse and I ran and Jenny caught up. No wonder she always comes in at the last minute - she knows she runs fast enough to catch up with us. Good thing too because today we did the new route which she hasn't run yet!

I struggled with motivation to swim today. Luckily for me and unluckily for Shelia she was there to play "catch the other swimmer". A good hard and short workout which fit the bill today.

Good Job!

I made a surprise visit to morning running group this morning. In other words, I wasn't signed up to run - much to Jill's frustration. True to her friendship to Mike, she showed despite being sick and not getting to bed early. She didn't want to leave him hanging. Plus, in addition to making her get out of bed unnecessarily, I had us run intervals. She earns today's medal for "Most Effort".

Jenny also dropped in unexpectedly. Don't ask me what is going on with her and Mike since they were in their own little "fast runners" world.

Here is some inspirations for those of us 40 and over (I am NOT over forty yet!) and those Young's who inspire to be as great as us....

An article on Dana Torres’s who is 41, mother of one and just qualified for her 5th Olympics and not just by the skin of her teeth. Torres won the women's 50-meter freestyle eclipsing the U.S. record she set the previous day in the semifinals. Of course if I had a head coach, a sprint coach, a strength coach, two stretchers, two masseuses, a chiropractor and a nanny, I would be going to the Olympics too. Okay, maybe just to watch.

Sandy is Back and Wendy is Missing!

Sandy returned today. How's your knee doing? I shortened the new route for her - you know I am always thinking of my fellow runners! This includes Christy - since I came with a new route! I hope you are all thinking "What have I done for her (Allison, not Christy!) lately? A good 5.58 at a 8.59 pace - see you doubting Thomases (I mean Mikes) Intervals do work!

Sandy returned and Wendy disappeared. Something about a bad back. Hmmmm....I think that is a new excuse for her. Is someone helping her come up with excuses - Jill???? Just kidding Wendy.... as I say - teasing means we love you - unless you are Mike of course! Of course, I must give credit where credit is due - Mike is the only male not to drop off the face of Sparta after finishing his marathon.

We also learned that we have an elite in our midst! Kristy got first at the Ontario race this weekend! I am sure the field of competitors was HUGE, so it was quite an achievement! She was even kind enough to direct wayward runners on the right course. I know it will surprise you that Ontario assumed that everyone had run it before, therefore didn't do a real thorough job of marking the course.

Another new runner!

We have had a windfall of new runners in the past month! Today Elyse (Ah-Lees) joined us! She is a teacher which means she has summers off. Understandably this makes getting up at 5:00 not very appealing for her, but we hope that she will join us whenever we run a little later and on weekends. We will be kind until the school year starts and then we will be sending her viscous e-mails demanding to know why she is not joining us! We are always eager to have newbies who lend new life to the group and who have never heard our tired old stories. Plus, that also means we don't have to listen to Mike all the time.

I think the group needs a get a little training on how to best welcome people into the group and make them feel welcome, valued and appreciated. I don't think running all the hills possible such as BC and Tower is a good way to do this, no matter what Kwik Trip gal thinks. Apparently Kwik Trip's philosophy is to have the veterans pretend that they work this hard all the time so that when new employees join they feel intimidated and naively do whatever the HR department tells them to do - you know the "Fear of God" method.