Running - Week of Sept. 3-9

[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