Running - Week of Sept. 3-9

[michelem]

We had a bit of a cooldown on Tuesday, so I was able to do an outdoor run in the early evening - yay! Did my regular "six mile" loop in an hour and 5 minutes. For the first time, I wore my heartrate monitor (which, did not work - kept fluctuating from 74 bpm's and then up way over 200 and back down again - weird) and looked at the watch that goes with it for my time. Normally, I just look at the clock as I leave home and look at it again when I get back in the house. Anyway, I know the mileage on the streets and for the part of the trail that shows up on Google and it looked as though I was running approx. 9 minute miles, which corresponds with what I've been doing on the treadmill. Odd, I had always thought I was doing more like 12-15 minute miles and was so discouraged at my slowness outdoors. So, I really think that my guesstimate of my loop is off. It's probably more like 7+ miles rather than 6. I wish Google would get it's act together and update their maps to show the area where my paved trail is – the area has been built out for well over two years, with houses, etc., but Google shows it’s just a bunch of dirt.

Okay, enough of that.

Last night it was back on the treadmill as we have been advised not to do outdoor activity due to (fire) smoke. Did about 8.25 miles, plus walked about .25 miles at the end, for a total of about an hour and 25 minutes. I say "about" because the treadmill turns off and loses all data after one hour and then I have to re-start it at 0.

That's it for running this week. Saturday and Sunday will be back on the bike for more hillclimbing!

[northstar]

4.3 miles that actually felt great today, Friday. This is the first time I've run over three miles without stopping to walk at least once...maybe I've broken out of my little plateau.

[Grog]

I was on the road at 7 Tuesday morning for a light 30-minute run with a new resident, and now I'm taking a small bunch for speedwork in about 15 minutes. I've had two short but fun bike rides too, so it's been a good week.

Now the long run on Sunday... not sure how well this is going to go! I'll just take it easy I guess.

Thanks for your postings all, it keep me motivated to see others are out there running...

[yellow]

I'm having a bit of a running crisis, and it's making me melancholy.

I've been following a training schedule for a "goal" event in November pretty closely and so far it's been going pretty well (I do better when I am training for something...hence this event). But I'm starting to feel a little out of sorts about it.

I don't think I'll have a problem getting the time/miles in this week, but the next few weeks are making me rethink this whole idea. The schedule I'm using has you do back to back days with a long run and then another one about half the distance of the long run, sometimes more. Today I did 14 and felt pretty bad (I think due to starting too late and having to run in the direct sun a lot of the time, something I've been avoiding most of the summer...and due to a calorie deficit) and tomorrow I do 8. I'm not too worried about that. However, next week is 16/10 (a little scary), week after that is 18/10 (scary), and week after that is 20/10 (really scary). Yikes. I then get an easy week before the big mileage starts (22/10 for two weeks and 24/10 as the BIG ONE). Of course you are also running the rest of the week, with 2 rest days. Running back to back days is one of the standard ultra training techniques as it trains your body to run on tired legs (you always get the following day off completely). And so far I have to give it a thumbs up (at my lower mileages, anyway); I usually feel really good the 2nd day.

But I may bail altogether.

I've been running alone, which means that after about 1.5 hours my head starts to get messy and I feel like I want to quit and go home. DH is not supportive of my effort and in fact thinks that I have a problem (problem: liking endurance activity) and has been a jerk about it, so I have to plan my runs so that they don't interfere with life. And then there are all those other things that I like to do or have planned, like the Tour de Vins with Shiraz the 20/10 week (which I've already signed up for and am really looking forward to) and a mtn biking trip to Moab in October (the first 22/10 week). I think I would still finish the 50k even if I did these things and didn't follow the "schedule", but I'm not sure I have it in me to train properly, schedule or no.

So we'll see. I'm going to try to stick with it, but mentally it's already hard and I'm not even at the big mileage yet. I'd like to do it because I really do love trail running and the 50k is in a beautiful location (Stinson Beach in Cali). Since I train at 6000' elev and up, I will have an advantage running at/near sea level. I can always do the 30k, and I think that might be a nice compromise.

Those people that do 50 and 100 milers are amazing (and most definitely a little off kilter ). I have a whole new appreciation for what they do. They must put in some serious miles the 2 months before an event!

OK, I'll quit whining now. I just wish I felt better about it all.

[Shiraz]

Yellow, you are amazing!!! Don't give up! I know you are capable of anything you set your mind to. I followed your double century ride last year.. WOW unbelievable. We can ride the Tour de Vin anytime if it interferes with your training but of course we support you no matter what you decide. Sleep on it a few days. I know how a training schedule can cause havic on a DH relationship......

Okay, I chose a glass of wine over a run tonight.............. I confess...
I promise I will get serious next week after I am done teaching a class and off call Monday. It is back to training for my Oct 7th 1/2 mary in Boise. The wine is very good

[yellow]

The wine is very good

As it should be... my neighbor just called and informed me that we are going to be drinking some wine in an hour or so, after our nightly walk. I love that woman, but this wine indulgence is the reason I'm a few pounds heavier these days...

Thanks for the encouragement. I am going to ruminate about the 50K for a couple of weeks and see how the training goes. I'm going to come up and do the ride with you 9/29 and have it be cross training. It won't hurt me! And we're running Sunday after the ride, so it fits in just fine.

[KSH]

Yellow... let me address the training first.

Yes, you ran 14 miles today and felt bad. You know why too. Heat, especially if you haven't been running in it... can be a killer. It's been beating me down for months. My performance has suffered. It happens. Don't let it get into your head.

As far as the longer distances... and thinking about them... if you haven't done them before, it can be scary. When I started running 8-10-12 miles for training sessions... just thinking about it, I was scared. Could I do it? Would I be able to make it? What if...??? All you can do is go out there and try it. Right? If you make it great, if not... then that's OK too.

You really have to decide if running those distances and training for this race is going to make you happy. It's hard for some people to run the longer distances... I know for me it is. When I think of running 10-12 miles I get kind of... blah about it. The thought of running for 2.5 hours does not excite me much. It's mentally and physically hard. Do you like the mental and physical challenge? Or is it miserable for you?

Ok, so outside of the training you have your husband who is NOT supportive. That's a really hard one. Especially with the longer distances coming up. It's going to be hard to run 20 miles and not have it affect your home life. Unless you can get up and run before he wakes up.

Is this race and training for it worth the arguements and the unhappy husband? Being married... well, it's a compromise... 50/50... and if he's not going to accept your training for this race that is something serious to think about. With that said... this the very reason why I'll never be married again- ever. I'm not made for marriage... because I would tell him to screw off and deal with... no wonder I'm divorced... eh?

I wish you the best of luck in your decision.

[Grog]

{{{{Yellow}}}}

Hang in there. I know you'll make the right decision.

[rocknrollgirl]

Yellow,
This past winter was the first time that I followed a formal training plan. I started training in January for the upcoming xterra season. There were plenty of times when it was hard, and when I was very tired, and frustrated, but I was never unhappy. I really enjoyed it. I also have an extremely supportive DH that helps me train, so there was no stress from that.

OK so I am feeling about done now with three weeks left to go in my season, BUT, my point is I was never miserable.

I guess what I am trying to say, is that it should be tough, but not suck.

Somewhere in your heart is the answer, it will come to you in time, just listen for it.

Ruth

And once again, I wish we lived closer, so you and I could train together. Oh and you know who else we need Tattiefritter...she is an off road girl too, oh and Limewave. We could start our own off road club for crazy dirt girls....

[yellow]

Thanks, Ladies. You're the best!

KSH, I've run long distances before and know how they feel...what I haven't done is stacked another longish run behind it. That's what has me spinning a bit. I've done it at shorter distances, though, and it's usually not nearly as painful as I'm thinking it's going to be, so I'm not sure why it sounds so daunting. Well, I guess because 20 miles in itself is a long way and while I am the opposite and generally love running for hours at a time (at least I used to anyway...), it's still a lot of ground to cover.

RNRG: I've followed plans before and know they work...but I also know that they are flexible. I told myself that this effort was going to remain fun and flexible and if it took a turn another direction I needed to reevaluate whether or not I should be doing it at all. I'm very goal-oriented and do better with a carrot on the end of the stick, and if I do end up bailing I'll probably feel like a pathetic loser for a few days but I'll get over it.

I think the main issues that are making my head rummy are (1) not having anyone to train with and (2) not having much support in the effort. The other secret item (3) that messes with my head are my what seem to be monthly trail crashes. I keep thinking that I'm past that stage but alas...I am not. Yesterday's crash was pretty minor, a knee and quad raspberry and little cut on my hand. I couldn't even find what it was that I tripped on. I started carrying large bandages with me a couple of falls ago.

I'm not making any descisions yet...will give it a few more weeks and see how I feel. Maybe once fall really hits I'll be a new woman. I am so looking forward to cold weather!!

[Tri Girl]

Yellow, hang in there. You can do it. Those long back to back days are supposed to suck just a little. You ultra runners are incredible. A friend of mine just did the Leadville 100 (although he had to drop out at mile 76 because of hypothermia). It's incredible what the mind can do to overcome the fatigue of the body. Mind over matter. You can run those back to backs and be ok- even in the long weeks. During the peak of my training for IM, every weekend was back to back long days (and I really believe the fatigue training paid off race day). I KNOW running only is much tougher on the body, but you're one tough chickie, and you can do it.
If you bail and "only" do the 30K (HA- like that's easy ), you know you'll be fine. Either way, you're a rock star in my book!

[Kimmyt]

Echo to what all the others said. Yellow, I think sometimes the thought of doing something can be so scary, that once you actually do it, you'll be surprised how not bad it is. Or at least I hope your 20/10 will go that way.

I just finished the book Marathon Woman by Kathrine Switzer, and let me tell you, it's inspiring. If you're ever in a pinch and you're needing some inspiration or something to just push you, this woman was running 130 miles a week and was still not the top lady runner (though she was up there), but her story (and the story of women in running) will certainly light a fire somewhere.

Anyway, ran a '5K' today. Got a PR by about 1/2 a minute, which is okay considering the heat and there were some hilly portions. I say okay, because the course measured short on The Boy's iPod (2.8mi vs. 3.1mi) so I don't know which is correct. I'm going to go with the course measurement so that I can feel good about PRing. Also and this is funny, feel free to weigh in on your thoughts on this, but I placed. Third in my age group, and The Boy was crowing and tried to make me wear the medal but you know what? i'm not thrilled. I mean, my time was 27 minutes. He beat me by 2 minutes and didn't place. The next age group up creamed us. It was just that my ag was under-represented. So I'm totally embaressed to have this silly medal that doesn't mean anything to me, and I'm wondering why I'm not pleased to place, but it all just seems rather silly. Sigh.

Well, once I move up to the next age group I'll have no chance of placing unless I get way faster, those lady 30-39ers are some tough chicks! (I guess that NYTimes article is true!)

K.

[rocknrollgirl]

Kimmy,
This is an ongoing issue in off road events, to the point where NORBA, the governing body for a large portion of the mt biking racing series, decided this year to collapse all the age groups for women into two. Under 35 years old and over 35 years old.

Is that fair?

Here is what I think. You showed up to race, if the ag was lite at this race, hey so what, you were still there. Next time that might not be the case.

Where did you finish overall in the women?

Take your hardware and enjoy it. Had you stayed home, you would not have a pr or a medal.

Ruth

[Shiraz]

Kimmy,
I agree!!!! You placed and have a PR!! Way to go. I had the same problem.... a lady in the next age group ran a faster 1/2 mary and took fourth but I gladly took my trophy (the only one I have ever earned). I certainly did not run as fast as I would have liked but the course was hard and it was hot. You did great... 27 minutes!!!

I need to get that book. I am needing some inspiration.

[alpinerabbit]

Phew....

after our almost-a-century yesterday we did get our acts together and dragged our a$$es to the trail but not much went - 30 minutes in I really felt exhausted, even a bit dizzy so we walked home. Glad I got my circulation going though, might help recovery.