Did it!

Yes folks, I did it! 3 hours ALL BY MYSELF. If you had asked me if I was going to do this last night or 3 hours ago, I would have said no. In fact, I was ill prepared. I had my fuel belt and Gu, but no visor or sunglasses. Luckily, the weather cooperated with me - humid, but overcast. I have to admit that in all reality I did the 3 hours because it took me longer to run the distance due to hills (YES hills again!!!) and because very early on in the run I didn't take a turn when I was supposed to resulting in a longer route. I ended up with a 9:42 pace which is slower than usual, but given the hills and it was just me and my Ipod, I will take it.

I did call Jim at one point to come and get me. It was near the end and I came to an intersection without road signs. I wasn't completely confident in my location as it was. I only had 15 minutes to go, but was out of water and didn't want to be out there for another half hour or more. Well, it turned out that I was exactly where I thought I was which turned out to be about 1.5 miles from the campground. I had 8 minutes to go so STUPIDLY I told him I would keep running now that I knew where I was at. 8 minutes later I was regretting that unwise decision. (I can admit when I am wrong -sometimes) Why my husband of 10 years could not say to me, "Maybe you should just get in, 2 hours and 52 minutes is close enough, especially on vacation." Apparently, he does not have my best interests at heart. A topic for a future discussion with him....

It was a long mile walk back to the campground. I became delirious at one point seeing a Diet Mtn Dew can floating head of me - kinda like when you see water mirages on hot roads. I never got closer to it. When I was about 50 feet from the camp store where I knew my precious Diet Dew awaited me, I saw my dear husband approach in his vehicle. He wondered (a bit late in my view) if I wanted a ride the rest of the way (where were you .8 miles ago???). I think his true intent was to get between me and my Diet Dew - you know how jealous he can be.

But now I am in happy bliss - on my SECOND can of Diet Dew and done with my run!

Good luck to everyone tomorrow!

I feel your pain

Just so you guys know, I submit myself to pain even when I am not running with you. I decided to do an interval run this morning. Of course it was the worst day ever to do so, because it was the HILLIEST course EVER! I should have just turned off my interval program and realized I was doing a hill work out. But no, I couldn't let you guys down. So, I did it. Not pretty, but I did it. I figured you guys would say it would be pay back for doing a roller coaster hill during a long run. This run was like doing intervals on roller coaster hill x 10! No exaggeration. I know we will be hearing enough exaggeration when Mike and Bryan return from Canada - so no need to dish it out now!

So you guys were heavy on my mind this morning.. in addition to the interval training from HE double hockey sticks.... I encountered a very LARGE and very LOUD dog. He did not have an electric collar on. Luckily his owner was awake and said "Leave her alone". Apparently he listened. Of course I got to dread repeating that encounter on the way back, but the running Gods decided they had dealt me enough challenges and the dog was inside on my return pass. Whew! Not to be out done though, the Gods made me do my last interval ALL up hill.... no lie.

Trail Running

The great thing about vacation is being able to run in places you have never run before. When I am at a State Park, I like to do trail running because it lets you see the park in a completely different way than from the road (A surprise, I know). Plus it lets me preview any trails we might take the kids on. Plus when I am trail running I am more accepting of a slower pace. I justify it by the fact that I need to be more careful about my footing and am constantly checking to see where I am on maps - even if I know where I am at (map = rest). I also figure that since I am running on my VACATION that I automatically get 2 minutes/mile handicap on my pace. I call it my vacation run pace.

So, even though Lake Wissota has a 3 mile long road and I could get 6 miles in by running up and down it, I opted for a route that had more trails. And it was great, beautiful, relaxing until that moment when my toe caught a tree root and I went sprawling on the trail. A nice road rash on my knee and shin. Of course, I did this on the most flat and smooth part of the trail. Remember what I said about being careful about my footing?

What amazed me about the whole experience was how quickly the mind and body respond - first to trying not to fall, then by easing the impact, third by assessing injuries and fourth - did anyone see me? This all happens with in 1 second. No worries - I am fine. Just another lesson in humility. I know how much I need that!

Benefits of Middle Age

One of the benefits of middle age is that researchers LOVE to study you! A couple studies have come out recently that once again prove the benefits of running. It is so nice to have studies backing you up when for the umpteenth time someone (a non runner) tells you:

• You are ruining your knees (or some other joint below the waist)
• You are going to have a heart attack training for or during a marathon
• Running will kill you before your time
• The only reason to run is if someone is chasing you.

The only real risk is skin cancer, but of course we have that one beat too since we run before the sun shines! We might have to start lathering each other up (with sunscreen! - get your minds out of the gutter!) before we start our runs! This may also get more male runners in our morning running group - I am sure Larry will start showing up!

On to the more mundane stuff. Yes, 12 mile pace run this morning. Sandy gave Kwik Trip Gal and I a nice surprise by showing up at 4:00 to run with us. I have to admit that when I agreed to run with KTG I thought that 4:00 wouldn't be any different then running at 4:15, which is true until you realize you have to set your alarm clock to go off BEFORE 4:00. Yeah, insane. I wonder if the studies of middle age runners ever look at our sanity or insanity levels. Hmmmm the news might not be good there.

So, we did two 6 mile loops, picking up Elyse, Katie and Kristi at 5:00. We did the first loop a bit fast - at 8:33 pace. Did I mention something about insanity before? The second loop we held our own and ended up with a 8:41 pace. And all but the mile 7 were well under 9:00 - most were between 8:45 and 8:35. Pretty good considering how fast we started out. I must say that it gave me good practicing keeping those negative thoughts under control. Only 4 miles to go, not bad. Only 3 miles to go - I can do that - especially if we don't have to do the hill on Meadowview. 1.5 miles to go, gotta go up Chester, but not Margaret - so Okay - I can do this. 12 miles!! Sandy we are done. SANDY! We are done! SANDY! WE ARE DONE! WOULD YOU STOP????.

Now I am at home, lovin my Diet Dew.

Internal Debates

I am fighting a cold, so I had the age old runner debate - to run or not to run. If I didn't run I could go back to sleep, but I was pretty wide awake and it would mean running on Thursday. BUT if I ran on Thursday then I could help Christy out since she is the only one signed up. BUT I would be running the day before my pace run (no rest) AND what if I was even sicker? I would feel more obligated to run since Christy would be by herself, so it wouldn't be as easy to leak out as today. AND if I ran today, I could sleep late tomorrow. The deciding factor - I was wide awake from all the internal debate, already had my running clothes on (Of course, that still didn't mean I had to go) so I might as well go.

The debate continued on the whole drive to the pool and the first half mile where for 5 seconds I seriously considered stopping and going back to the car. BUT I reminded myself that the first mile always sucks, even if Mike isn't there (hee hee).

AND it turned out to be a good run. Once I was warmed up I didn't feel too bad and we ran a 8:45 pace! I wasn't even leading the group! So, way to go you fast runners!

Poll

Well, luckily for me my fellow morning running companions feel they can still show up to run even if they haven't filled out the poll! I was supposed to run with Wendy this morning (we were the only two people on the poll), but she called at 4:56 a.m. and said she wouldn't be there. She did say she knew Sandy and Kristi M would be there. Plus, Jill had told me she was going to come too. Well, it ended up being Sandy, Katie, Mike and Christy. And just to reward those who did come, we did NOT do intervals.

It was great to have Mike back in the fold. New stories! I don't think there is ever a worry about us gals sharing a fishing story which again shows the diversity Mike brings to the group beyond being the only male!

A good 5.67 mile run at 8:53 pace.

2:45

It's done - time to enjoy the weekend.

Back from LHP. On to SW

Well I have returned from my mother-daughter (my mom, me and my daughter) bonding trip to Little House on the Prairie sites. It was a good trip. I think Grace was more interested in the pool at the hotel, but she had fun and that is what counts.

Today Nate, Ben and I are off on our mother-son bonding trip to see the Star Wars in St. Paul.

So, on top of all of this bonding, I bonded with Sandy, Christy and Katie this morning by running a 8:39 pace! Good job! As my mom would tell Grace - "Strong Women!"

Working Hard?

Kwik Trip girl was kind enough to put up with a slow, slow run this morning. My legs felt like they were filled with cement and the feeling never went away. Luckily for me Jill as in her "happy place" (probably because I didn't greet her with "let's do hills"). The conversation was lively and funny and helped very much to keep negative thoughts at bay (thank you, thank you).

I don't know if it was my body reacting to the interval training and pace work or the fact that we started running 2.5 hours later than normal. I am hoping it is the intensified training. Another way your body shows the training is pushing me.

Currently, I am sitting in a sweltering pool watching Grace and friend go down a water slide. Yes, I know, I could go in, but.....

I hope to be back to my running form on Wednesday morning.... wish me luck!

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.