Off to a fast start...

Saturday we joined the Galloway crew for a 4 mile run including the magic mile (mm). The mm is used to determine which pace group you should be in for marathon training. We ambitiously decided to run with the  10min/milers (last year we started in the 11:30's and moved to the 11:00 about half way through). I left my Garmin at home so I wasn't tracking intervals or pace...that's what the pace and group leaders are for anyway.

At the end of the first mile we are all breathing pretty hard and I'm thinking maybe I'm not ready for this pace group yet, when Anna looks at her watch and says we finished that mile in 10:30.....what? Ok, so let me explain my shock. According the principle of the long run, we are suppose to run slower then race pace; the point is to cover the distance. So essentially we should have finished this mile in about 11:30 to 12 minutes. With that said, since we had two-one minute long walk breaks and we finished in 10:30, we were running roughly at an 8 min/mile pace. Our interval is suppose to be at 3:1, we were running 4:1.  My dilemma is whether or not to say anything to the director.  According to my mm I should fit perfectly in the 10:00 pace group but there is no way if they are going to run that fast.  It's possible the director has already heard this gripe. Last year there was a rumor that the 10's ran faster then they should...but at an 8 pace...that's just ridiculous.

Today I started working out in the morning. This morning was a short 1 mile run  and upper body weight lifting. I have to say, it was great. It's cooler in the morning. I have a ton of energy and...this is the best part...it's all done! When I get off work, I don't have to worry about working out or feel guilty b.c I vegged on the couch! hahaha! 

The workout I got from last months Women's Muscle and Fitness. Looks like a good schedule to begin with and I have most of the equipment (less a bench....still working on that). I'm pulling inspiration from http://www.bodybuilding.com/ transformation of the week winner Cheryl http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/female-transformation-cheryl-ott.htm . She and I have very similar stats and workout at home. I like what she has done although I am not going to follow her diet plan. I like a more clean diet rather then a lot of processed shakes and bars. I do, however, have one protein shake after a workout.

So day one is on the books. Here is hoping this good routine continues.

It's about that time....

Since the marathon in November 2009, we probably have run roughly 2 or 3 days a week. We haven't pushed ourselves. But it's about that time again.....marathon training season. Galloway training started at the end of May. We will be doing our first run with the group this Saturday; 4 miles....pretty easy.  Going to move to a faster pace group this year (11:00 min/mile to 10 or 10:30).  I also just changed my schedule to allow for morning runs and workouts. Here's hoping I will get more quality runs in (and defeat the laziness I feel after work).

I'm expanding the topics discussed in this blog. One of the things I've been trying to do for years is loss weight. It has come up in earlier blog post. Luckily I've been roughly the same size for several years....but it's time to loss this excess fat. 

My husband and I are seriously thrifty. Seems to be a trend with this terrible economy. I'd like to include some of the ways we save money while still having a good quality of life.  We will see how this goes!

WE DID IT!!

The morning of November 3rd, 2009 was overcast, drizzly, and cold....low 50's. At times, the wind would gust up to 25 mph but the determination of our small running group could not be faltered. We arrived on NCSU's Centennial Campus 30 minutes before the starting gun. Half marathoners in one vehicle and marathoners in another, we were separated attempting to park. Dina, Calvin, and myself ditched our make shift ponchos (i.e. trash bags) in the car and made our way from the parking area to the starting line tents. In the cold and wet....we murmured, "what the heck are we doing out here??"

Meandering through the dense crowd of roughly 3000, we make our way to the tents to get out of the rain and wait for the rest of our group. 5 minutes till, we make a mad dash for one last bathroom break and head with the rest of the crowd to the end of the pack at the start line. We couldn't locate our halfers but we did find some Galloway folks and wished them well.

3...2....1.....the loud clap of the gun....we are off! The first 1/4 mile is up hill. Yes, up hill, foreshadowing what lies ahead. We run through our first two or 3 rest intervals so as not to be trampled in the on coming stampede of soggy excited runners. Adrenaline flowing, we leave Centennial and head towards down town Raleigh; the only flat portion of the entire race route.

We talk about the rain, the emotion, the fun, the long journey to get here. Make shift ponchos and blue water cups scatter the road as we pass the first of many water stops. The streets of downtown are dotted with spectators cheering our efforts. It's early as we pass the State Capital and the rain becomes heavy. We are soaked to the bone, our shoes are heavy, are spirits are high. We make the turn that leads to Glenwood Ave and the beginning of many hills the rain finally lighting up.

Left at the Mellow Mushroom, down Peace Street, past Cameron Village shopping center...the rain is but a sprinkle and we are immersed in green bided half marathoners. "Oh please tell me we aren't the last of the fools....I mean full marathoners" I begin to fear. I feel relief spotting a few gold bibs amongst the sea of green and that lifts my spirits. There are 2300 green bibs and 700 gold bibs in the race.

The crowd cheers us as we pass Cafe' Carolina and the race monitors root us on. We make our way through the tangled streets lined with old and new houses, college student rentals, and vintage architecture. Past Meredith College, down Hillsborough St there lies the biggest water stop and our training group director, Ron. The music is blaring, “WE WILL, WE WILL ROCK YOU” and the cheers of motivation propel us forward.

Just past the Fair Grounds is the turning point for the green bibs and there we finally spot our halfers, soaked, smiles, and waves they make their way back to the finish line. We plod on seemingly alone, the crowd is sparse at best.

Turning at the NC Museum of Art, down Reedy Creek to Edwards Mill…a route well worn out, we make a right and the heavens open up into a torrential down pour. I exaggerate only slightly. We wipe water from our eyes and realize some body parts have gone numb! “At least they do no hurt, right?” We make our way towards Umstead Park. Up, up, up for several miles on Ebenezer HELL….otherwise know as Ebenezer Church Road. We reach our half marathon distance in 2.5 hours. Calvin takes off to make his time goal and it is just me and Dina.

Through Umstead we meet those beaten by the monster hills and one red chested guy in little blue shorts. That’s all he was wearing on this cold, wet, windy day. With mud speckled backsides, the rain has stopped and we are making good time. Through Umstead to Reedy Creek once more, Dina’s friend Wayne waits for her at mile 18 and I depart to finish on my own.

Fighting negative thoughts, I spot a bright yellow jacket ahead. This is my target, I will catch the jacket. All of my focus is on this yellow speck and it keeps me happily motivated for several miles. Mile 20 host a beer stop! Yes people, a beer stop! I passed on the beverage for fear of future digestive issues….don’t want to push my luck. Mile 21, the jacket grows closer. Mile 22 the angry rain begins once more. Its icy cold and coming down like spikes from the sky. I finally catch the prey and can hear, ceremoniously, the theme music to Rocky. I’ve reached the BIG WATER STOP again and only have 4.2 miles to go.

The rain subsides one last time as I make my way down Hillsborough St. which boast construction zone barrels as you pass NCSU, my almamater. I meet up with Carolynn and Rex from Galloway. Rex now sporting a gold bib….wait a minute…weren’t you running the half?? He felt so good, he changed bibs and kept going. No more rain at last, I turn through NCSU campus, past Pullen Park and back to Centennial. Fighting back tears and thankful the end of the race is down hill, I cross the finish line 5.5 hours after I started.

As soggy and nasty as the weather was, I’m very proud of myself and the running gals + Cal for finishing what we started. Regardless of the weather, the race was a milestone for me and the others. We are planning to run the Outer Banks Half in 2010…..and maybe be race monitors for the City of Oaks hahaha!

Not as easy as it looks.....

The Patrol Stroll race on Saturday (9/26) was the perfect motivational pick me up! We had a blast. The weather cooperated (started raining after we left) and the atmosphere was energetic. Me, Calvin, and my younger sister, Sallie, participated in the race.

Wanting a race PR, we lined up close to the start. There were only 141 runners for the 5k. Calvin's time was 24:56, mine was 30:55, and Sallie's was 41:19. New PR for us all! My last 5k time was 34 minutes, give or take, and Sallie's was around 45. Sallie isn't a road runner. She runs mostly on the treadmill at the gym...she did an amazing job shaving off almost 4 minutes since June. I can't remember what Calvin's previous PR was but he said this was the fastest his ever run a 5k! Running is truly amazing. When I did my first 5k, June 2008, I finished in 45 minutes and had a terrible migraine afterward. Truly amazing what a year of training can do.

Early Sunday morning Calvin, me, Anne, and her friend (lets call him Jay to protect the not so innocent) set out for our 10 mile long run. It was lightly raining and cool. Jay hasn't run with us before and, since he can run 6 miles on the treadmill, thought he could keep up. Some say that because we interval (run 3 minutes:walk 1 minute) during the long runs that it's not as hard as it seems, I beg to differ.

We planned to do an out and back from Shelley Lake down the Crabtree trail extension toward the mall. Miles 1-5 went off without a hitch. Jay made several mistakes to begin but managed to make it to mile 5 without complaint. Hungover, no water, cotton shirt and long pants, and the fact that he is untrained, Jay was determined he could do this.

I loaned Jay one of my 10 oz water bottles which he refilled at the turn around point. As we head back toward Shelley, Jay begins to complain about cramps and told us to keep moving, he would catch up with us later. Fearing Jay may get lost (he isn't from here) and worried he may get progressively sick, we would run ahead, turn around and run back to him. Each interval, Jay is looking more and more ghost like. Not as easy as it looks, huh? NO, I didn't say this to him but that's what I was thinking.

We all finally made it back to Shelley after a 2 hour run. Later, Anne texted to say she had to make an emergency pit stop so Jay could get sick......... Sooooo to those who have the idea that running intervals is easy, join us for our next 10+ miler and let's see what you are made of. ;) LOL!!

Jennie meets the WALL....

5 weeks remain before our marathon...one more long run with the Galloway group, the race, and I am free. Yes, this is how I feel. We have been training for almost 6 months and I'm burnt out. Motivation is shot. This is my story.....

The Long Run....a devious slave driver wielding a heavy whip. 23 miles ahead, feet pounding pavement, I lumber farther then I have ever been. (It's not news that I dread the super long runs. These days I consider a meager 10 miles to be cake in comparison to the tortuous distances the Galloway program puts us through.) Alas it must be done, muscles aching, bones rattling, will tested, I press forward just to say I did it...

Miles 1-20 went well with the usual signs of fatigue appearing at mile 15. My feet and knees begin to ache....this is normal and easy to push through. We round Shelley Lake back to the meeting point, the long run is mercifully over for the 20 milers. I watch with jealous eyes as Anna trots to her car. We push on, my mind begging me to stop, MY FEET HURT! I don't think I can go any further and if Calvin wasn't with me I would have hidden in the trees until everyone was gone, slunk back to my car, and sulked all the way home. But he motivates me, "you're wussing out" he says.

One.....twwwwooooo moooorreee millleessss......I can't, I just can't go any more. Please, please have mercy on me 23 miles! Oh no, here they come, d@mn chipper diabetic guy and his leg warmers, the rest of the 23 milers are coming up behind us....we have to go. BUT, it will be a walk for the last mile. I've given in to my left brain. Ahhh hello wall...so we finally meet, I have heard about you.

Since 9/12 (the 23 mile long run) I've lost my motivation. I've run only twice since then including a 10 mile long run. I'm seriously burnt out. Feeling much better today. I have a plan for the remainder of this week and a good easy run schedule set for next week. What I think has happened is I've taken the fun out of running. It's time to retool and look at this from a different angle....this is for me, this is for fun, I am my motivator. I'm also running an easy 5k race this Saturday with my lil' sis and my hubby. This should help shake off the "burnt out blues".

I do hope you all are well, feeling good, and running. Any motivational tips you have would be greatly appreciated.

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I'm so dramatic...I know hahaha

Mind over matter....and....I don't mind b.c you don't matter.

There are two parts to this blog...one, of course, about running....and an unrelated topic.

My long run was put off until today because me and the hubby were out of town. We took the entire weekend off from running unintentionally. It was nice to have several rest days to relax. This morning instead of our normal intervaled long run the plan was to see how far we could make it without a rest break and then interval the remaining mileage. The furthest I've been is 5 miles without a small rest break.

After reading a blog by Jeff Galloway, we warm up by intervaling 1:1's for the first half mile. We started with an out and back on Timber for 4 miles. Feeling good, we turned on to Vandora Springs (where there are new sidewalks) and run to Aversboro. Aversboro continues around to Timber (7 miles) and we are still feeling good so we head on to Lake Benson. We loop around Lake Benson and head back to Timber. Before you know it WE RAN 10 MILES!!! I've never run that far without a rest break. Amazing! Granted it was slow....1:59 minutes....but we ran it and that's all that matters.

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On to the unrelated stuff....b.c I just need to vent.

You know the adage, "sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me"? I never believed this to be true, even at my age. Words do hurt. The strongest among us will ponder over hurtful words, even for just a bit.

An acquaintance of ours used a particularly offensive slang term to describe me this weekend to which my husband quickly corrected him (mind you I was not at this gathering so I could not offer a retort). It seems I'm not thought of too highly by this person, even though I've been nothing but friendly, opened my home to him, and even visited him and his wife on occasion. We have quite a bit in common actually; we both enjoy mechanics and engineering, we both are attempting another degree, and we are both savvy shoppers. I don't know why he thinks of me so lowly and my husband couldn't recall the context of the short conversation.

Anyway, I'm offended b.c I thought he knew me and I thought we were friends. I never felt guarded and we had so much in common; I didn't realize I was being judged. Others were around when he made the repugnant statement. I wonder how many seeds he planted by uttering that one little adjective with my name attached?

The power of words is immense; it can drive or halt, cause tears or laughs, make you sigh or scream....it only takes one little word to trip an entire blog entry. I guess I've vented enough...
I hear the words of my late Aunt Pat saying, "put on your big girl panties and get over it". AND so I will.

Thanks for listening to me vent. :)

Is it Fall already.....

It's been unseasonably cool in ol' Carolina this week. Hovering in the Mid-70's, our usual temps are the low 80's this time of year. Running in the cool (or cool for our standards) has been a welcomed change. Don't know if you non-Carolinian's know this but NC weather goes from HOT to cold in about a weeks time...there is no "in between" so this has been a delightful change in pace.

Other then the weather, this week has been fairly uneventful:

• Monday - rain
• Tuesday - 4 miles at Fleet Feet (45:58 -almost a minute slower then last week)
  
• Wednesday - 4.09 miles at Anna's (49:11 - hills, hills, and more hills..)
  
• Thursday - 4 miles at Lake Pine Community Park (43:57....NEW PR)
  
• Friday - maybe a 3 mile easy run
  
• Saturday - ??
  
• Sunday - Rest
• Monday - 10 mile long run and maybe the Nog run later in the day...just depends
  

With the weather getting cooler and our race drawing near (8 weeks away), I'm starting to ponder what to do afterward. I would really like to drop some pounds....this endurance training has not helped at all...not like I thought it would. I've actually gained about 1.5 pounds. AND I would like to change my training strategy from "just finishing" to getting faster!

So, those of you more experienced runners....I would like to post a few questions and get your feedback.

1. How long do you normal wait between long endurance races, i.e. 1/2 marathons or marathons?
2. What training programs can you recommend following to increase speed?
3. What cross training do you do and how often?
4. Have you tried losing weight during the off season and what programs have you followed?

Ok...there is my contribution for the week. Hope everyone has a lovely holiday weekend. I'll be unplugged so I'll see you guys & gals next week!