Running into daylight savings time - 11/01-11/7/09

[katluvr]

All of us have been there...just starting or starting over!
5 years of running before I could say I could run a 10 min mile. I used to always be a 11:30 - 12 min miler. That is still my "comfort" zone.
As for distance...I discoved if I went for SLOW and comfortable I could run longer. So before I EVERY worked on speed I just worked on building distance.
Some people never do more that a 5k. Maybe a 10k here and there. I never thought I would do a full marathon. And I may never again. I like the 1/2 marathon distance becasue I am NOT fast. But I can run 10 - 13 miles (with some training).

Setting goals, not matter how small, are what seems to work for me. If i don't have a race planned or it is not a new challenge...I dont' train. I KNOW I can go out and ride 75 miles with very little training. I am not fast, but I can do it...I have done it so many times. It is mind over body. But if it is a Hilly course, or I am riding w/ those faster than me...then I might actually train. Same w/ running. I can do a 5k any day...not fast, I will never be fast, but it is something I have done in the past and can do it. Now if I wanted to do a 5 k in under 30 min...I would have to train. Does all my rambling make sense or help.

I think with running the hardest part is getting started, getting comfortable at a short distance and then building. You can do it. You are doing it!

(some may disagree with me...there is a part of the population that just loves to run or bike or just train without races or goals. I need something that will MAKE me DO IT.)

[SJCzar]

I survived Sunday's marathon and actually enjoyed it quite a bit.

The weather was perfect - mid 40s and mostly sunny. It was an out and back route and there was some wind on the way back but nothing too bad.

I didn't make my under 5 hour goal that I had in mind but I'm ok with that. The rail to trail surface was much kinder on the body but also seemed to be harder to keep up the pace that I would have needed to maintain. I did walk through the aid stations (I'm just too uncoordinated to drink and run), and took a few 15 second walk breaks in the last 5 miles, but otherwise I kept plodding along. At about the 5 mile mark I started running with a 60 year old guy who does 6-8 marathons a year. I probably slowed my pace by at least 45 seconds to a minute per mile to run with him but it was well worth it. We talked the whole time and he shared lots of good stories with me. The 10+ miles that we spent together went by much quicker than had I been on my own and really added to the whole experience for me.

Running through the 3/4 mile long railroad tunnel (twice) was a cool added feature. There were glow sticks positioned down the center to keep runners on the correct side. They also placed lanterns about every 50 yards or so. The headlamp worked out great ... much better then the little flashlights that they had on hand for the runners who didn't bring their own lights. Water was constantly dripped down on you so the footing wasn't perfect but not dangerous either - just had to slow it down and watch out, especially on the return trip through.

Hitting the finish line was a great feeling. Surprisingly for me I didn't feel very sore. My hips felt a little tight for the 1st day but by Monday night everything was back to normal. Perhaps that is the one advantage of being a slow runner.

Now I can't stop myself from looking for the next one to do.

[katluvr]

SJCzar,
Congrats and awesome!
I have heard after the 1st marathon you either dont' ever want to do another or love it and can't wait. You sound like you will definitely do another!

[OakLeaf]

Congratulations SJC!

[ASammy1]

Thanks everyone for such encouraging words! I really appreciate hearing/reading all of it.

Congratulations SJCzar! You are awesome. I'm sure your new friend appreciated your company as well while running. I know I would have!

[Crankin]

Katluvr, you sound exactly like me. My feel good pace is around 11:30, but I got to a 10 min. mile last summer, before my hip started hurting. Now I am back where I was. I also know I can ride 60-75 miles with little training. It will be slowly, but I can do it. I can do almost any hill, too, if I don't care about time. Well, there's been 2 20% grades that got me, but, hey, most people do nothing. Riding with really fast people just depresses me, because I am so not there. I'm not "slow, slow" but not fast enough for the 16 mph average group, either. Plus, my experience with riding has lead me to believe that if I train for running in a really serious way, the fun will go out of it and I will get burned out and stop. I need a happy medium.
I don't train; knowing my compulsive exercise habit, I am pretty sure I would get injured. I spent a few years getting faster on the bike and now age and injury has slowed me down a bit. I do want to get my running speed up, and will work on that over the winter, but once spring comes, I have to train for our bike tour that is in mid May.

[Jolt]

Half-hour trail run today, nothing too out of the ordinary. The trails are pretty deep in fallen leaves so you can't always see what you're stepping on. I can't decide if that's good or bad--on the one hand it keeps me from fixating on what's just ahead (and tensing up) and makes me pick up my feet more, on the other hand it does increase the chance of kicking a rock or root if it's sticking up very far but still covered up by the leaves.

[Urlea]

You ladies make me laugh & inspire me!! Some days I really need the extra push I get from reading your run reports to get me to grab my shoes & go log some miles.

I may be training to run 100miles, but I couldn't run a mile when I started. My first marathon ever was this spring & it was rough. So I decided to try a 50k this past August hoping it would go better than the 26.2, it did & I loved it!

The point I'm trying to make is that whether you run 3miles or 30 the only thing that really matters is that you enjoy what you are doing. For some that is running a 5k, others 13.1, 26.2, 50miles, 100miles, etc.

This past weekend I had the joy of cheering on my running buddy who was trying to PR a 15k. Since I usually participate in the local running events I haven't had the chance to be a spectator much. What I loved was watching each person from the lead runner to those near the end pushing the limits to see what they are capable of. Such determination, commitment. It made me wish I had a cowbell! I'm pretty sure my cheering got a little old to the other more docile spectators near me.

[colby]

Now here's the interesting thing though. Using Jeff Galloway's pace predictor - just entering my 5K PR and reverse-engineering from there, not actually doing a mile TT - my half marathon time and 5K PR correlated pretty closely. And according to that, my long run pace should be 12:00. In the flats, I'm assuming, and probably adding another :30 for the kind of terrain I have around here. Which, what I've been doing in the hills has been around 10:45 for the most part, give or take :15 on either side.

According to the Galloway Calculator (colby is an information junkie):
Mile: 7:06 (used my 5k time and backed it out)
5k: 7:39 min/mile (23:43)
10k: 8:10 min/mile (50:37)
Half: 8:31 min/mile (1:51:37)
Marathon: 9:14 min/mile (4:01:50)
Marathon Training: 11:14 min/mile (4:54:14)

DEFINITELY more conservative (realistic?) than the Runner's World calculator. But, hey... if this one says I can run 4:01:50 and the other 3:49, maybe I can split the difference and at least reach 4:00

My long runs have been at 9:45 to 10:30 pace (based on watching mile markers and checking my watch). Latest was 18 miles in 3:05, 10:16 pace. I guess I won't feel bad if they start slowing down.

I'm considering a) finding the 4:00 pacer at my marathon and just going for it, and b) getting a Garmin (or something) that can track distance/pace for me so I can practice my race pace (9:09 for a 4 hour) and drill it into my head for the next 4 weeks.

On topic: Today I ran more than 4 but probably not 5 miles (did not measure) easy, in 45 minutes or so. I ran a different route so I don't know the distance, was trying to go by time and not get caught up in the speed. Yesterday I went 5 miles in 38:45, I was not able to go all 8 on the menu due to time constraints. I think it was probably better that way, in my long run I got a blister forming on my forefoot underneath-ish my big toe, and I need it to heal by this weekend's 20-miler.

I read someone's recent 100-miler race report. It kind of reminds me of Forrest Gump running and running and running and running. "And when I got there, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going." Or, "Why are you doing this?" "I just felt like running." It's ambitious and challenging and a little scary (okay, crazy), but good luck!!

[Susan Otcenas]

SJCzar - Congratulations!!
Urlea - Zowie. 100 miles. Makes my ankles hurt just thinking about it.

As for me, I ran an uneventful 6 miles on Monday.

Yesterday & today I was in Boulder on business, so I had the opportunity to run some trails in North Boulder. For a sea level gal like me, running at 5400 feet is quite the effort! I had to walk some of the steeper, rockier sections. I juts couldn't get enough air. But it was really a nice change of pace to run someplace new.

Most memorable moment: Coming upon the signpost which read "Temporary emergency trail closure. This trail has been closed due to recent incident with possible stray bullet." Um, OK then....

[kacie tri-ing]

I ran just under 6miles today. Not a bad run & not a great one. For some reason I really struggled to keep my pace under a 10min/mi. That was a little annoying, but other than that it was a beautiful morning to be outside & I beat the rain so that was good.

It is fun to see what you ladies are choosing to do for your goal races next year. I am excited to track the progress, you did awesome this season!

Maggy & I have decided to be ambitious and try for a 100mile ultra August 2010! Right now a 50miler seems very doable, it's what happens after the 50 that I'm curious about. Needless to say, lots and lots of training to do!

You are awesome!!!

[indigoiis]

Sczar, CONGRATULATIONS!!! It sounds like you really enjoyed it. You should be so proud of yourself!

[OakLeaf]

10.5 miles. I wanted to run long for my birthday. I backed off the pace a bit, even though I haven't started ramping up the mileage yet, and it felt really good, even the 25% grade that nearly killed me the last time I ran that route in August.

It's a perfect day, and when I got back, the propane truck was here and I got a hot shower! O frabjous day.

[indigoiis]

Happy Birthday, Oak!

Running five tonight...

[ASammy1]

Happy birthday, Oakleaf! It sounds like it started off great.