Running week of 11/29 - 12/6

[katluvr]

WOW! Inever started the weekly running thread! But here it goes....
"Long" run was Sunday. It was supposed to be only 10 this week, but I added a mile as I missed a run and tyring to keep total mileage up.

I got a bit of a late start...see on Sat. it was football and tailgating. So not only was I tried, but had just a few too many beers (Yep, same story different week!).

But I did 11 miles, avg 10:49 min per mile pace. So I was pleased. Stood in the pool post run (feels so good). But was very tired rest of teh day and it was time to decorate house before company and the annual X-mas party coming up this weekend.

I am set to run 7 miles after work today. I think it will be very slow and mentally tough. I am tired and sooooo busy!

Happy running week!

[zoom-zoom]

Trying to hit 30mpw through Christmas. I know the week after that is going to be pretty much a loss, as we are heading to Vegas for 4 days on the 27th (for our 13th anniversary). I want to reach the 1800 mile mark for '09. I just finished my lowest running mileage month of the year in Nov. (100.5). I blame my new bike!

Yesterday I ran 7...felt really stiff and my calves were tight all last night. Very odd. I wonder if starting to use new muscles on my bike is having an effect on my running muscles...?

Kat, kudos on your 11 and good luck on today's 7.

[roadie gal]

I got in another run outdoors yesterday. Any day now it's going to start snowing for real, so I'm going for each "real" run that I can.

I did 51 minutes (@5 miles?) on the local streets, with some hills. It felt pretty good.

My aim is to keep running 5-8 miles/run about twice a week during the winter. We'll see what I do since I bought a cross country ski pass and I also want to ski 3-4x per week.

[Jolt]

I did my 30-minute run in the neighborhood and found some new places, but it was kind of a crappy run b/c of some outer left knee pain (ugh). Seems to be a vastus lateralis trigger point yet again...time to dig out the roller! Doing too much sitting around really seems to disagree with me...I was a total bum over Thanksgiving and also have been at the computer a lot with school stuff etc. Those times tend to be when I get into problems.

[skhill]

Arggh-- the weather channel didn't have local info this morning! So I had to make a guess as to when the rain would get here, and I guessed wrong. My intended 7 miles became 3 when the chilly sprinkle turned into a cold downpour... But that last mile was pretty damn fast!

[katluvr]

Well......... (long one)
I had switched my schedule 4 mlier and 7 miler aroudn d/t long meeting at work. So yesterday was supposed to be the 7 miler...but I am so darn tired and I have in-laws and sister coming in (1st arriveo n Thrusday) and a X-mas party to decorated and prepare for AND clean house! So I stayed in last night to get things done! WHEW!!!
So I got up early this AM to get my 7 miler in. (NOt sure when I can do the make up 4 miler...so I may be 4 miles short this week).
I was pretty slow to start..but I kept telling myself it was OK and maybe slow 7 miler was good. About mile 3 I picked up and I was pretty much RUNNING the last mile to get er done! So 1:18 ish...not bad. Bit over an 11 min mile avg. (Did I mention it was humid, we are expecting that rain adn those storms. So starting to get muggy!)
Then a few comments were made to me on my run today and not sure what to think of them. Since I started running at 6 and although there are street lights, there are dark patches. So I run w/ my head lamp. (Love it!). So 2 guys were running adn one sad "nice light". So was he being a #@% or was he serious? Hmmmmm I wonder. Of course they were wearing grey and no lights at all. Peopel drive like bats out of heck in that neighbor hood.
Then I was nearing the end and this woman was walking toward me. She was a bit fluffy, but she looked like she was out to do some serious walking. As I ran by she said "I'm impressed". So what did she mean. Was she impressed that a short, stocky, non-running looking type was running? Or was she impressedin general that I was running? Or that I was fast? (NOT!).

Happy running to all!
K

[kacie tri-ing]

Way to go!! I have never done one of the pacing groups, but they seem pretty cool! I feel like you would meet people doing that.

Was that your first stand alone marathon? I think you did a fantastic job, and I hope you are thrilled! Let us know what you are thinking about the march marathon! How are you feeling today? I remember feeling so hungry I could hardly stand it the week afterwards!

Great job! Take time to bask in your glory!!

[colby]

Way to go!! I have never done one of the pacing groups, but they seem pretty cool! I feel like you would meet people doing that.

Was that your first stand alone marathon? I think you did a fantastic job, and I hope you are thrilled! Let us know what you are thinking about the march marathon! How are you feeling today? I remember feeling so hungry I could hardly stand it the week afterwards!

Great job! Take time to bask in your glory!!

This is my third - my first was in 2006, my first real year running (or anything-ing, and probably 25+ lbs ago). Last year I didn't run one because of injury (only ran the half).

2006:
25-29 Female AG: 161/189
Total: 5:19:21
First half: 2:29:41
Second half: 2:51:24

2007:
25-29 Female AG: 112/169
Total: 04:55:40.8
First half: 02:15:16.4
Second half: 02:40:24.4

2008 half (recovering from injury, so I took it way slow):
25-29 Female AG: 608/840
Total: 2:32:29

2009:
30-34 Female AG: 79/137
Total: 4:34:53
First half: 2:05:26
Second half: 2:30:29

The pace group did make it feel like you were running with others, even if you weren't really chatting it up with anyone. This is the first time I've done the pace group (this is the first time I felt like I could commit to a pace group), I think it was a good thing, as long as you are comfortable with your ability to let go if you need to (or go faster if the group moves too slow).

It's funny you mention food. Today I had a feeling I haven't had in a few days: full. I didn't realize I haven't felt full in days until I finally felt full. It was a short-lived experience, but I definitely laughed at myself. I am not tracking calories this week, just eating whatever whenever. I earned it.

Congratulations, I am now... basically average at running.

[zoom-zoom]

Colby, you have made such amazing progress with each marathon. How was your training different from race-to-race? I have run 3 and the difference from my fastest to slowest was only about 3 minutes...regardless of training. My training for my most recent one was better than the first 2, but I lost my PR in the port-a-john (first time ever that I've needed to use one. I tried to hit the toilets one last time before the start, but the lines were too long...by 7 miles in I had to pee like a racehorse!). That kinda stunk!

Kudos on a great job, especially while fighting off some bug. If you are anything like me you will get sick with a cold any day now.

[colby]

Colby, you have made such amazing progress with each marathon. How was your training different from race-to-race? I have run 3 and the difference from my fastest to slowest was only about 3 minutes...regardless of training. My training for my most recent one was better than the first 2, but I lost my PR in the port-a-john (first time ever that I've needed to use one. I tried to hit the toilets one last time before the start, but the lines were too long...by 7 miles in I had to pee like a racehorse!). That kinda stunk!

Kudos on a great job, especially while fighting off some bug. If you are anything like me you will get sick with a cold any day now.

That's a really good question. I have dropped weight/increased muscle mass, which helps certainly. I have built up significant endurance base/capacity just by doing it year after year (and triathlons all summer). I have done different training plans each time, so I don't think that really contributed much. I think if I had to boil it down, I have more or less learned how to run and how to like running (note that I didn't say "love" running)

I have tried that "not pee before the race" thing and it only works for a triathlon because you get to pee in the water. Every time I don't pee before the race and it's a running race, I have to pee really bad no earlier than 30 minutes in, and usually can't take it anymore around an hour or so in. That's okay for a 10k, but for anything longer... always always wait in the line.

[katluvr]

Colby...thanks for the race report. I really needed to hear all you had to share. You have done great on improving your time! I hear you on the weight loss/increase muscle mass. I did not go into my training at teh weight I wanted and I NEVER seem to be alble to lose weight when in full training. Of course right now I am just in a bad eating place anyways!

Congrats again!

As for running. Today was to be a rest day. But I needed to make up 4 miles. But instead go up clean last minute stuff and vacuumed house to be ready for in-laws arriving today at 10. This darn company/party weekend is really putting cramp in training. Plus late meting last night.

I thought the rain was going to be this AM. Now it looks like the rain is tomorrow--when I am supposed to run! grumble-grumble.

P.S. I'll post my rant about Biggest Loser and the marathon in that other thread.

K

[spindizzy]

Way to go! You took time off of both your splits. That's quite an accomplishment. Readjusting your goals during a race - that's a feat of mental strength.

Congratulations on a run well run!!

[indigoiis]

Ran 6 hilly miles in the VFFs today. Yay!