Running week of 11/29 - 12/6

[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

[indigoiis]

Yay Colby! You are an inspiration!

[OakLeaf]

Congrats again Colby! What a job you've done over the years. And just think how much quicker your next one will be when you aren't sick.

I'm starting to have the opposite problem of you all though I've been slacking off Yoga and Pilates this summer and have been having bladder control problems on the longer runs. Time to crack the whip on the core/pelvic strength.

I know hydration and electrolyte balance are part of that equation too, though, and I wish I knew how to get that sorted. It's something I've struggled with for decades - constantly seesawing between mild hyponatremia and dehydration, and in the meantime worrying about too much salt with my slightly high blood pressure and strong family history of heart disease, and also learning this summer that I have to supplement with fairly large amounts of magnesium. Does anyone know if there's a way to figure that out? At this point I'd be willing to pay for testing if I even knew of an exercise physiology lab that could do it.

[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!

[zoom-zoom]

Just got back from a dreary, chilly 10 miler. Some stretches were a little hairy...there is a light coating of ice under a dusting of snow. Not enough for Yaktrax or screw shoes, but a little slick underfoot. Did better running on the gravel shoulder during those bits.

I'm not really ready for 3-4 months of this. On the bright side, by this time last year we'd already had several feet of snow and there was no gravel shoulder to run on.

[Urlea]

Hey Ladies,

Glad to read that you are still getting out there & running during this busy time of the year, great inspiration!

The weather this week took quite the dip, it is no longer fall. With cooler temps & about 2" of snow it is definitely winter. Since posting usually takes me a while and the trail runs I get in are so pretty I have been video blogging.

You can check out two of my runs this week here...

http://www.youtube.com/user/shootruntri

Enjoy!