Is it Fall yet? Sept. running...

[katluvr]

Day off, slept in til 7 so my run started late....it's still hot, sunny and humid (although a tad less humid for Florida standards). Ran 5. Tried to do a progressive run and work on upping my speed. But at mile 3 had to take a walk break as I was too hot, so ran easy til mile 4 and then tried to finish "fast". Overall OK run. I can't wait for cooler mornings! I dream of 60 degrees!!

K

[Tri Girl]

I'm giving up running until it cools down some. 102 today, 103 tomorrow, 106 Friday. Geez.... ;)
Thankfully, it's supposed to be in the 80's this weekend. I have a trail marathon on Saturday- this cold front they promised BETTER come rolling in!!!

[jessmarimba]

Welp, tomorrow is the Ragnar Relay, so I'm trying to pack. The temps are all over the place - it COULD be 45 or so for my night leg, which is right on my capris-or-shorts border. Hmm.

[skhill]

Looks like fall will get here sometime Sat. morning-- low tonight predicted at about 67F, high tomorrow of 75F. So looking forward to the cool weather next week!

I'm planning on doing a 5k Saturday morning, but not if there are thunderstorms. Or if I end up drinking enough at a party tonight to feel the effects in the morning. One race with a hangover was one too many...

[goldfinch]

Cool where I am. It is 61 right now at a bit after noon. The low tonight is 36. I have an organized ride tomorrow, starting at 7:00am. It looks like I'll be wearing wool and tights.

[rocknrollgirl]

9 gross sweaty , humid, miles this morning. Not pretty, but done.

[Tri Girl]

Did the Do-Wacka-Do trail race today. I TOTALLY underestimated the hills out there. I didn't know you could criss-cross a canyon that many times. Up, down, up, down and then some. Eek!! It kicked my butt, but I loved every minute of it!!! 16 miles in 4 hours. Not speedy, but considering it was far more than I had bargained for, I'm pleased. I was signed up for the 50K, but dropped down to the 25K as soon as I got to the race site and saw what the course looked like. :eek:
I was dead last for the first 8 miles, then slowly passed 4 people to finish NOT dead last. 2 of those 4 later DNF'd, but whatevs. ;) I'm slow, but I'm steady- just like the tortoise.

[jessmarimba]

Tri, that sounds about like how that Vail half felt for me. I was pretty happy to finish - to heck with the time!

Ragnar relay is done! I think our team finished about 2:15 ahead of schedule but we have no idea of the overall results (except that we didn't come anywhere near winning). My legs totaled 20.1 miles (officially - my second leg felt like a kindergartener had scribbled a trail in the midst of some neighborhood, and since it was midnight and pitch black I have no idea how far I really ran. It felt longer than the official measured distance though). I ran the first one really well (8.8 miles), second one was quick enough except for the whole running-in-circles feeling (4.6 miles), and the third one I was happy to finish (6.7 miles). All had a net uphill. The last one I really wanted to walk at one point, and then this cat was waiting beside the trail so I stopped for about 10 seconds to pet him and decided no walk breaks after that! I'm totally wiped out and can't wait for a shower and bed.

[jessmarimba]

Well, I guess our relay team did better than expected - 11th out of 97 coed teams! And only about 10 minutes out of 5th place. Had they given one of the faster folks my legs (the longest distance) instead, we would've rocked it! (and had the last runner not gotten lost due to a poorly marked trail, but that's another story).

I feel surprisingly not awful after that and a lot better about my upcoming marathon. My legs don't hurt at all.

[skhill]

Wow, what inspiring racing this weekend!

My biggest running challenge of late was trying to figure out what to wear today. It was all of 52F when I finished up! Went with shorts and a lightweight long-sleeved shirt, and that worked pretty well. A pretty quick 7 miles, starting out under beautiful stars and ending with a great sunrise. I love fall!!!

[Tri Girl]

Congrats to your team, Jess!!! That's fantastic!! I don't know that I would love running at night (the kindergartener scribbling a trail made me laugh). You did GREAT!!! 11 of 97 is really something to be proud of! When is your marathon again?

SKhill- 52 degrees sounds SO heavenly right now! I can't wait for it to cool down just a wee bit more!

So I'm going to the DFW area this weekend to see my sister who's there on business this week. I haven't seen her in about 5 years. I thought "while I'm down there, I might as well see if there's a race somewhere close." So I signed up for a really tough trail half marathon on Saturday. It will be hard, but I'm stoked! Haven't raced back to back weekends in a long time. Woot!! Bring on da hurt, bring on da pain! :)

[katluvr]

So has it been 6 days since I last ran? I did have to work (including the weekend) but that's not really an excuse, been very much in a funk and tired (more tired than normal). Yesterday I was off and slept in (til 8!), then did miscellaneous stuff but no exercise. I even enjoyed what more daytime TV than I have every watched! Good news: I ran today. 4 miles with 8 X 1 min intervals. Have not looked at my stats on my garmin yet. Not sure I care. Continues to be a "tad" bit cooler and less humid. Still very warm. I'm hopeful for an early fall for Florida!

K

[jessmarimba]

Can't wait to hear how the race went, Tri Girl!

Ran 5 last night, I felt really sluggish but after checking the time I was apparently running an 8:30 pace. I can't do that - or at least, I haven't been able to in years! Tempted to sign up for a 10K now just to see how I do :)

[lph]

I'm trying to keep up one run a week... Today I learnt not to start listening to my set running music track too early. Started listening on the metro to get in the mood for running. Started running on song 2 instead of 1, which meant that 45 minutes later I got the next to last sprint-my-heart-out song instead of the last cool-down song on the final stretch to work, and being a good habitdriven girl, I so did. Could scarcely walk up the steps to the door, and the guard looked suspiciously at me as I bipped my id card in, wheezing like I was dying. ;-)

[OakLeaf]

So ... I'm still running little bits. After all summer in a funk of junk miles, I managed to finally kick it through my stupid head that I can be doing form work no matter the distance or pace. Been doing that the last month or so, feel like I'm making some progress.

I actually went not quite 7 miles today ... farthest I've run since the marathon in April and then my peripheral nerves falling apart. Still don't dare try to carry water, but I'm even thinking about just trying a water pack empty to see how it does.

And, my knees are much happier now that it's cooler and the air quality is better and I can put off my runs until later in the day. Form work is helping with my knees too, obviously.

I see the doctor again next Tuesday. I'm still thinking about putting in my application for Boston on Monday when I'm eligible, and NOT asking the doctor whether he thinks I'll be healthy enough to train. I don't want to hear it if he says no...

[jessmarimba]

Did 8 today, still too fast :) But it was my last "season" run with my running buddy - her marathon is next week, and mine's the week after. Then she's doing a 50K in March so I should probably find one to sign up for too...or at least another marathon!

[Tri Girl]

Did my half mary this weekend. This race was more challenging than last weekend, but really for only a 3 mile section. At mile 3 we got to the "Rusty Crown"- a 3 mile section of up and down around a giant hill/mesa. There was some ups that I was crawling on all fours getting up, and some downs that I was side-stepping and sliding using my hands to guide me. I was a little worn out after that, and still had 7.6 miles to go to finish. Thankfully the rest of the course was flatish.
It was by far the MOST fun I've had in a long time at a race. I'm really getting into trail races- the atmosphere at trail races and ultras is just SO much more friendly and relaxed. Much more my style. I just wish I didn't have to drive 2-4 hours every time I want to run a trail race.

I'm gearing up for a 24 hour race at the end of October. It is a one mile paved nature trail (at least it's winding and has a few little baby hills to make it interesting). I'm not thrilled about it being on pavement, but I did the 24 hour trail race there 3 years ago and that trail just beat me to hell (it's the trail I normally run on, but the weird loop they had us doing for 24 hours killed me).

Anyway, 13.6 miles in 3:38. Nothing to be excited about, but I wasn't last (beat 20 people, in fact). ;) I know 16 min/miles is almost as fast as some people can walk, but I had a few 11 and 12 min/miles in there. It was just that the 3 miles of the Rusty Crown brought that average WAY down (those three miles were a 24, 22, and 26 min/miles). :eek:


The first pic is of me running
The second one is at the top of the steepest climb (I'm sure you mountain people just laugh at this, but this is the flat-lands and there is nothing even close to hill running around here)
The third is our finisher's award (no medals- they always do something local). This happens to be a from a local apiary and they made the medallions from tree limbs- very personal and special.

[Tri Girl]

Did 8 today, still too fast :) But it was my last "season" run with my running buddy - her marathon is next week, and mine's the week after. Then she's doing a 50K in March so I should probably find one to sign up for too...or at least another marathon!

Nice!!! I remember running 8's, but that's been a LONG time ago. ;)
You definitely need to sign up for the 50K!!

[jessmarimba]

Your run looks like fun!! And the honey was such a great idea.

Yeah, this whole taper thing is getting to me :rolleyes: But I was getting tired of long runs, too. Can't win :) I think a 6-month marathon training program might be about a month too long for me.

Her 50K is in South Africa so I can't run with her, but I'm keeping my eyes open for something here. Actually I'm debating one in Virginia in December as well...that one should be flat and relatively easier, but I'd need permission to work at corporate for a week or two.

I need to pester you about those 24 hour races. Last time I did one we had a team but I'm sort of curious to find out if I could go it alone. Or at least a 12 hour option. I might PM you later!

[Tri Girl]

I'm no expert, but I sure do like them. I've done 2 so far (the one next month will be #3). You could TOTALLY do one solo. I like them because just about everyone walks at some point, so I never feel like I can't stop when I need to, rest when I need to, and walk when I need to.

and HOLY COW! You do a 6 month marathon training plan? I would soooo get tired of that. The longest one I've ever done was 16 weeks, and even that seemed to drag on forever. I want to get to a point where I do a 20 mile run once a month so I can be marathon ready at any time. For me, I can't run more than 3 times a week while marathon training. Any more than that and it's just junk miles that beat me up too much. I usually do a long run and two short ones. So far it's worked for me for the marathons I've done. Now, I'm not fast (I'm usually in the 5-6 hour marathon range), but I'm not out there trying to BQ or anything.

I still haven't ever done a 50K race. I've run more than that distance in the two 24 hour races I've done, but have yet to do an actual 50K. Seems like it never works out (I was 4 miles short at the race I did in June where I tweaked my knee and stopped so I wouldn't injure myself further, and I dropped down to the 25 two weekends ago when I was afraid that course would beat the crap out of me). I need to do one!!!

[rocknrollgirl]

I am with you guys on loving trail running. It is my fav of all of the things I do. Unfortunately our local trails are infested with ticks and chiggers so no summer trail running here. We start up again next month.

I signed the hubs and I up for The North Face Endurance Challenge at Bear Mt in May. We are doing the trail half marathon. It looks like a toughy so I am excited to train for it.

[skhill]

Brr... It was 41F when I set out on my run this morning. I'd thought to lay out the capri-length tights last night, but was still digging around trying to find my favorite light mittens this morning. Should have looked for something for the ears as well. But it was wonderful, out in the pre-dawn cold morning. Nearly 7 miles, and it felt great. Tomorrow's supposed to be a bit warmer; but today was supposed to be a bit warmer as well.

Looking forward to Saturday's 10k. The weather looks like it will be fantastic, low 50s at start time, and the wind will be at our backs on the longest uphill. I don't want to get my expectations up too high, but a new pr is very possible. So is a terrible race, like last year...

[jessmarimba]

Not about running, exactly...

I travel for work, so I half-jokingly asked my boss to find me a job to do in Maine (so the company could help pay for my trip). This has worked for a few folks but jobs in California are a dime a dozen. Well, my boss emailed yesterday morning to say that hey, there was a new construction job (a job for my side of the company) in Portland due October 16 - could I do it? We haven't had a new construction job in Maine EVER. I can't believe the timing. So my company is reimbursing my flights, paying for a couple days of my rental car and parking, and giving me a day's per diem for food :) Plus I get a vacation day back. Crazy!!

[Crankin]

Portland is one of my favorite cities.
And I mean Portland, Maine.

[katluvr]

Trigirl, that looks and sounds like fun! I started trial runs (a few) over the last year or so. There are not many here in the flatlands and urban/beach area of Florida. I just found one in Nov. that I'm going to sign up for. I agree they are fun, others walk and being fast is not always the point! This time of year it is still so hot and humid and wooded areas are very buggy (as in the flying/biting kind).

This week I joined (using that word loosely) a running group that ends up a bar....running for brews! Maybe it will help to do my mid week runs!

K

[Crankin]

I am getting the urge to run again. It must be fall!
But, my knee has been achy and I still have a lot of catching up to do with my riding mileage.

[skhill]

Finally, a pr in 2012! Today's 10k was 52:30, more than a minute faster than my previous best. And it was on a hilly course, warmer and windier than I expected, with some nice congestion hangning on from last week's cold. Woohoo! My realistic goal time was 53:30, optimistic goal was 52:45. It really helped to be running with a handful of others; seems like I end up running alone a lot in smaller races, but not today. There was a 5k sharing the start and finish line, and I got to pass the last of the 5k folks there in the final .25 mile. Got a nice little medal for being 2nd in the age group, too.

Now it's off to the grand opening of a new donut shop in the neighborhood, to celebrate with donuts for lunch...

[jessmarimba]

Sounds fantastic! You definitely earned the donuts!!

Kat, my Tuesday group has been a beer group for quite awhile :) Ours is a pretty short run (3-ish miles, depending) but I usually time-trial it to convince myself that I've earned the beer. It's fantastic.

So I went out and ran around and screamed for people on the Denver marathon course today. Ran to the race (err, to Starbucks, then walked to spectate), and then ran up and back the same section to get my training team up this awful hill. And to run past the extremely cute EMT a bunch of times. Although I probably ran and walked a total of 13 miles today, I spent most of the day on my feet and my legs are really tired. That's my excuse for finishing this bottle of wine, anyway. My training partner finished just under 4:15 - she's a stronger runner than me but I'll have altitude on my side so hopefully I can pull that off for my race too.

[limewave]

I went running today!!!! I've really fallen off the wagon with the whole running thing. I hope I can get back on track.

[chosen1]

Did 4mi yesterday as my "short" run in my half training plan. Running it with relatively "ease" made me realize how far I've (and my running partner) come as a *gasp* runner. Pacing a friend in a 10K this weekend and will also run 4 more miles on the same day so I can get my "long" run in that day. "Cooler" weather sure does make a difference...

[emily_in_nc]

FINALLY! Our hot, hot, hot, dry and sunny Aug-Sept weather has finally broken, and we're back to rainy season, which had gone missing for awhile. This means a lot more rain, but it also means cooler temperatures! I got out on my first beach run in over 2 months today -- just 2.2 miles, and my knees and hips definitely felt old and cranky, but it's a start. Hopefully this weather will keep up for awhile, and I'll be able to get back to more regular running. I really need it.

[OakLeaf]

So today I ran a little over 7 miles at a sub-10 minute pace. It's about the flattest route I get from home - less than 400 feet total elevation gain - but still, I felt light on my feet and pretty good. I give some credit to the half-hour's worth of uninformed, gentle and tentative water running I did yesterday - I really felt the difference in my posture starting out, and tried to hold it the whole way. Just from that if nothing else, I'd really like to stick with water running. I posted a separate query - but if anyone knows anything at all about water running, I'd really like any advice or comments or observations or anything you have!

It was actually the second time I've done this route since I started trying to build up again, but this is the first time since my injuries started compounding that I've run far enough for anything to chafe. Weird thing to be happy about, but I just grinned when the place under the label of my shorts stung in the shower. :D

Oh, and my entry into the Boston Marathon was accepted. Now all I have to do is get healthy enough to train......

[surgtech1956]

I ran 3 miles today - I am soooooooooooo slow - 14:00-15:00 miles. A couple of my work friends and myself are going to run a 5K race on October 6th. I'm a little nervous because I'm so slow.

[emily_in_nc]

I ran 3 miles today - I am soooooooooooo slow - 14:00-15:00 miles. A couple of my work friends and myself are going to run a 5K race on October 6th. I'm a little nervous because I'm so slow.

Nothing wrong with being slow -- some will be walking or walking part of it, so you won't be last, in all probability, unless it's a really small 5K. A friend of mine just did her first 5K in Texas and was quite slow, but she had a blast. Look at it this way, if your first 5K is slow, your next one will be a PR (Personal Record) for sure!

From another slow one... :D

[surgtech1956]

Thanks Emily. :)

[skhill]

I've largely taken the week off from running. Didn't mean to, but the weather has been icky, either unseasonably cold or rain most mornings. And I think the down week has done me a ton of good. I was more eager to set out on my long run this morning than in quite a while. It wasn't all that long a long run, just 8 miles, but that's ok.

Next week, back to it. I'd like to at least come close to my 5k pr before the year is out, and that means some intentional speedwork.

[Tri Girl]

I ran 3 miles today - I am soooooooooooo slow - 14:00-15:00 miles. A couple of my work friends and myself are going to run a 5K race on October 6th. I'm a little nervous because I'm so slow.

Go get it!! Who cares about pace. You're still lapping everyone on the couch! I have slowed down significantly over the last few years. I have taken in stride (mostly ;) ). Just enjoy being out there and having fun!!!

[Tri Girl]

ran 7 miles in the rain on the trails today. The trees protected me from the wet stuff, and I had fun on a couple of the open sections slipping down the muddy-red clay. ;)
I ran with 5 friends and was dropped within the first half mile, but I really don't mind. I truly enjoy being out on the trail in the quiet, not having to keep up a conversation, hearing the raindrops pitter-patter and getting lost in my own thoughts. Not to mention stopping to take as many pictures as I want and not worrying about others thinking I'm nuts (which I am). It was turtle-city out there today (I must have passed a dozen in the 7 miles). Here are a few of my favorite photos from today.

Me leaping over logs
a trail-colored turtle I almost stepped on (sorry buddy)
and a field of yellow wildflowers by the lake.
It may not be the prettiest place I've ever lived, but there is definite beauty all around. ;)







Sorry I always post pictures. I can't help it. I love taking them, but I will quit posting them if it's annoying.

[Crankin]

I ran today for the first time since about June 1st.
It's been raining on and off all weekend, but I did manage to get a ride in yesterday. Today, it rained in the AM, then cleared, but looked like more was coming. I went out without Garmin, etc., but I did a total of 3 miles, with the following intervals: warm up for 5 minutes, run 2 min., walk 1 min X3, run 3min, walk 1 min X3, run 4 min, walk 1 min X1, then run 2 min., walk 1 min. X3, followed by another 2 minutes of running and then cooling down. I counted in head for the time, which distracted me, and made me forget when I had to run up the hill. Have no idea how fast I went and i don't care.
I made sure to do some good stretching and use the foam roller when I got back. My hip is sore anyway, so it's about the same now. And about 5 minutes after I got back, the skies opened up again. Of course now, it's sunny.

[jessmarimba]

I'm replying to this thread instead of starting an October one because my race was in September...

Finished the Maine Marathon the other day. It was mid-fifties and raining the entire time (although apparently less of a downpour than last year). That is one spectacularly well-run race. Highly recommend it. Plus the swag bag was awesome. Lots of food, medicine samples (the box of band-aids was definitely appreciated on my poor raw feet after running in wet socks for 4.5 hours!), and a can of baked beans from a local company.

I was sore afterwards but not nearly as bad as I was expecting. Immediately after the race I had to walk up a hill to the gym (YAY HOT SHOWERS) and then down the staircase to the locker room - that was tough. But after the shower I wore compression tights and socks (and my nice warm cozy ibex dress) so by Monday I was walking much better (except down stairs). By Tuesday I was able to hike a mountain in Acadia National Park - 1 mile trail to top, 900+ feet of climbing, and a few thousand stone steps. Camped in Acadia for a few days after the race and I loved it. And wow, was it nice to have fresh seafood after living in Colorado for 3 years! Trying to decide what the next adventure will be. For once, I don't feel like quitting running!

[OakLeaf]

Very nice jess!

[Tri Girl]

Great job, Jess!!! Congrats on finishing your mary in the rain. I did a marathon last year in the rain the whole time. Started cramping from the cold around mile 13 and had to walk the second half- it was the most miserable marathon I've ever done- and yet somehow made me feel stronger when I finished. :)
Do you have any pictures from the race or from your camping in Acadia? I've heard it's so beautiful up there.