January is over now and with it my best running month. I did not run a race this month but aside from that, this month has truly been top-notch on all levels.
I set a record high for mileage in a month with 222.
I had a 20-mile run that was my best training run ever.
I ran every day this month.
I am constantly encouraged by how strong my legs feel.
I ran long runs of 18, 12, 20 and 12 this month. The fewest I ran was a 1.24 on Jan. 14. I had an all-day commitment to tend to but got up at 4:30 a.m. and ran a mile and change. I averaged a bit higher than that - 7.16 miles a day.
About the only problem I have is my Achilles heel is acting up again. I hope that once I finish refereeing high school soccer games that my heel can heal.
February maybe won't bring 222 miles. However, I will run two half marathons and a 22-mile run in February so I will give 200 miles a run for its money.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
One Half, Two Half
When talking about multiple half marathons, you can either say "half marathons" or "halfs." I think. Well, you wouldn't say "halves" because that just doesn't sound right. But then again, "halfs" is grammatically incorrect so I generally avoid my references to those races in just one word.
Anyway, there's a point to this. I didn't just wake up and decide to start spewing gibberish on this blog.
When the year started... scratch that... when last week started, I had not intended on running a race until the LA Marathon. But in the span of about five days I decided to run a pair of half marathons.
On Sunday, I'm returning to where it all started for me - Surf City. I'm going to participate in the Surf City Half Marathon. Instead of running the full marathon as I did the last two years, I'm going to run the half. I wasn't going to run it at all but had planned on being out there to help celebrate with my fellow Lopers. But a fellow runner on Sunday told me she had a friend who was looking to sell her bib and 65 bucks later, I'm in. I'll have to run as a female but that's fine. Won't be the first time.
That will be a fun day, and I'm sure I'll dedicate a post to what I hope to accomplish from that race, but it won't be the only race I have coming up. On Feb. 12, the following Sunday, I'm going to run the Palm Springs Half Marathon. I'd actually decided on running this before I jumped at the chance to run Surf City. One of the runners in my pace group is running Surf City full on Sunday - his first marathon (!!!) - and is running the Palm Springs half the following weekend, so I decided to run Palm Springs with him. I wasn't going to gun for a PR or anything in that race, mostly just wanted to run a race and run it with him.
I'm not quite sure yet what my race calendar will look like but this could be the year of the long-distance races. Along with the Run Through Redlands (which I'm planning on running) and the Fontana Days Half Marathon (registered) I could run four half marathons (as opposed to four halfs/halves) by June 2 of this year. Add to that the two marathons I'm running (LA, San Francisco), the other two I am eyeing (OC, Long Beach) and my calendar could get lengthy really quick.
But that's fine. I'm not complaining. On the contrary, I embrace the challenge and the multiple races, even if they don't really have a straightforward way of making them plural.
Anyway, there's a point to this. I didn't just wake up and decide to start spewing gibberish on this blog.
When the year started... scratch that... when last week started, I had not intended on running a race until the LA Marathon. But in the span of about five days I decided to run a pair of half marathons.
On Sunday, I'm returning to where it all started for me - Surf City. I'm going to participate in the Surf City Half Marathon. Instead of running the full marathon as I did the last two years, I'm going to run the half. I wasn't going to run it at all but had planned on being out there to help celebrate with my fellow Lopers. But a fellow runner on Sunday told me she had a friend who was looking to sell her bib and 65 bucks later, I'm in. I'll have to run as a female but that's fine. Won't be the first time.
That will be a fun day, and I'm sure I'll dedicate a post to what I hope to accomplish from that race, but it won't be the only race I have coming up. On Feb. 12, the following Sunday, I'm going to run the Palm Springs Half Marathon. I'd actually decided on running this before I jumped at the chance to run Surf City. One of the runners in my pace group is running Surf City full on Sunday - his first marathon (!!!) - and is running the Palm Springs half the following weekend, so I decided to run Palm Springs with him. I wasn't going to gun for a PR or anything in that race, mostly just wanted to run a race and run it with him.
I'm not quite sure yet what my race calendar will look like but this could be the year of the long-distance races. Along with the Run Through Redlands (which I'm planning on running) and the Fontana Days Half Marathon (registered) I could run four half marathons (as opposed to four halfs/halves) by June 2 of this year. Add to that the two marathons I'm running (LA, San Francisco), the other two I am eyeing (OC, Long Beach) and my calendar could get lengthy really quick.
But that's fine. I'm not complaining. On the contrary, I embrace the challenge and the multiple races, even if they don't really have a straightforward way of making them plural.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
TTT: A Full, Heel Sans Heal, No Surf
1. So how many marathons do I want to run this year? I'm registered for two marathons - LA and San Francisco (okay, not registered for the latter but as Ambassador I will be running the full). I am keeping an eye on other marathons but I wanted to wait until after LA to decide on another Spring full, and then had thought about doing the same for a Fall full with SF. Well, after Sunday's awesome 20-miler, I may re-think that thinking. I might be strong enough to run more marathons than I had originally thought. I suppose physically I am but mentally I think is where I needed to make sure I was in tip-top shape before deciding. Anyway, the Long Beach Marathon opened for registration on Wednesday and the price right now is $80 for the full and $60 for the half. I am tempted as all heck to sign up for the full. I'm going to have to seriously ponder this. The downfall to this would be having to run straight through the summer, run after SF and not take a break, but who am I kidding, I don't anticipate taking a break for anything. I may go for it, and worse comes to worse I can just run the half.
2. My heel is hurting. Ouch. My stupid shoes that I use to referee high school soccer games in have done damage to my Achilles heel. It's tender and forces me to limp. I hate it. I bought some new shoes in hopes that they will be more forgiving on the heel. I am hoping that does the trick.
3. Bummed about Surf City? I ran Surf City Marathon in each of the last two years but am not running it this year, neither the half nor the full. I am a little bit bummed about it to be honest. It seems as long as I've been running I've been focusing on this race, at least when I've been running through the winters. I'm going to be out there for the race because three of the runners from my pace group are doing the full and others are doing the half but it will be strange to not be running it. I know what will happen, though. Right now and in the days to come I will be bummed about it but when I'm out there seeing all the full marathoners slogging into the finish, I will say "I'm sure glad I did not run it this year."
2. My heel is hurting. Ouch. My stupid shoes that I use to referee high school soccer games in have done damage to my Achilles heel. It's tender and forces me to limp. I hate it. I bought some new shoes in hopes that they will be more forgiving on the heel. I am hoping that does the trick.
3. Bummed about Surf City? I ran Surf City Marathon in each of the last two years but am not running it this year, neither the half nor the full. I am a little bit bummed about it to be honest. It seems as long as I've been running I've been focusing on this race, at least when I've been running through the winters. I'm going to be out there for the race because three of the runners from my pace group are doing the full and others are doing the half but it will be strange to not be running it. I know what will happen, though. Right now and in the days to come I will be bummed about it but when I'm out there seeing all the full marathoners slogging into the finish, I will say "I'm sure glad I did not run it this year."
Monday, January 23, 2012
Top 20 Miler
It's been a couple of days but the glow of Sunday's 20-miler has not worn off. Not only did I prove to myself how good of shape I am in but I also showed myself what some preparation, focus and determination can lead to.
Now, when I was done with the run I called it the best training run I've ever had. And I mean it. I've had some really good training runs, runs that left me surprised with what I'd accomplished or wondering where I got some strength/speed from but this one topped them all.
Not only did I finish in a good time but I also, for the first time, was not completely wiped out at the end of the run. I really feel like I could have gone a few more miles. Who knows, maybe I had 26.2 miles in me that day.
What I do know is that it's just another sign of my progression as a runner. 20 miles is a distance I've only run five times prior (I've done a pair of 22-mile runs but I'm leaving those out for now). If you compare Sunday's run to them... well, there really is little comparison.
12/20/09 - 20 miles, 3:44:00 - 11:11 pace
This was my first-ever 20-mile run. It's my slowest time, which is to be expected. My goal here was exactly as it should have been - to finish. I finished. I was proud of myself and I slept for hours afterward.
6/20/10 - 20.00 - 3:38:99 - 10:54
This one was rough. First, I ran all 20 miles alone. And when I say alone, I mean alone - nobody with me, down a desolate and lonely road all the way for 10 miles and then turn around and run 10 miles back with nothing to see. I foolishly did not have my Garmin with me so that threw me off. I felt so bad after this one physically that, combined with the mental anguish I felt, that I shed some tears afterward. No way I could have run another step.
1/02/11 - 20.11 - 3:29:32 - 10:25
My first run of 2011 was a 20-miler, so to add some spice to it I decided to make it a 20.11 mile run. Ha. I felt good afterward. I was in the midst of training for Surf City and had logged a lot of miles, making the experience better for me.
1/16/11 - 20.01 - 3:31:12 - 10:33
Instead of running 22 miles as my final pre-marathon run, I decided to run 20. I figured it was about the same. My group was supposed to have run 14 that day so I ran six alone beforehand, then ran with the group for the final 14. It was hard and I faded the last 3-4 miles.
3/20/11 - 20.05 - 3:41:39 - 11:03 pace
This was possibly the toughest of them all. More so than just physically, mentally I was spent well before this run even started. I'd just run Surf City and now was training for Diamond Valley Lake and my mind wasn't all the way into it. I decided to just run for the heck of it and set out on a as-long-as-I-get-20-miles-done-I'm-happy run. I ran 10 miles on the track at the high school and finished less than three minutes faster than my first-ever 20-miler.
1/22/11 - 20.06 - 3:15:56 - 9:46 pace
In all the previous runs, I couldn't have kept going afterward. I mean, if my life depended on it, I could have, but that's about it. But in my last 20-miler I felt great and I most definitely could have kept running. I chewed up the mileage without really worrying about what distance I was, what my pace was, how fast I'd run the last mile in... I ran with my phone/running app of course but didn't pay a whole lot of attention to what the statistics said. I knew at times I was running faster than I should have and I knew at others that I was running a bit slower than I'd been but I always felt strong, always felt like my legs had plenty left to give. At the end, I ran fast and finished my last mile in 8:15. That's pretty fast considering I'd run 19 miles already. Also, the time is in my favor for the last run. I beat my previous best time by almost a full 15 minutes.
So.... the question is this... will this mean that I will have a great LA Marathon? Well, I don't want to go there yet. I have to keep my focus on what's coming up, and that race is not quite coming up just yet. My next big test will be the 22-mile run, our last long training run before we hit LA. That's on Feb. 26. But there are many, many runs before then so I will not allow myself to ponder that just yet.
For now, I will take this 20-mile run as a reminder that I am in top shape and that if I want to stay there I have to keep working hard.
Now, when I was done with the run I called it the best training run I've ever had. And I mean it. I've had some really good training runs, runs that left me surprised with what I'd accomplished or wondering where I got some strength/speed from but this one topped them all.
Not only did I finish in a good time but I also, for the first time, was not completely wiped out at the end of the run. I really feel like I could have gone a few more miles. Who knows, maybe I had 26.2 miles in me that day.
What I do know is that it's just another sign of my progression as a runner. 20 miles is a distance I've only run five times prior (I've done a pair of 22-mile runs but I'm leaving those out for now). If you compare Sunday's run to them... well, there really is little comparison.
12/20/09 - 20 miles, 3:44:00 - 11:11 pace
This was my first-ever 20-mile run. It's my slowest time, which is to be expected. My goal here was exactly as it should have been - to finish. I finished. I was proud of myself and I slept for hours afterward.
6/20/10 - 20.00 - 3:38:99 - 10:54
This one was rough. First, I ran all 20 miles alone. And when I say alone, I mean alone - nobody with me, down a desolate and lonely road all the way for 10 miles and then turn around and run 10 miles back with nothing to see. I foolishly did not have my Garmin with me so that threw me off. I felt so bad after this one physically that, combined with the mental anguish I felt, that I shed some tears afterward. No way I could have run another step.
1/02/11 - 20.11 - 3:29:32 - 10:25
My first run of 2011 was a 20-miler, so to add some spice to it I decided to make it a 20.11 mile run. Ha. I felt good afterward. I was in the midst of training for Surf City and had logged a lot of miles, making the experience better for me.
1/16/11 - 20.01 - 3:31:12 - 10:33
Instead of running 22 miles as my final pre-marathon run, I decided to run 20. I figured it was about the same. My group was supposed to have run 14 that day so I ran six alone beforehand, then ran with the group for the final 14. It was hard and I faded the last 3-4 miles.
3/20/11 - 20.05 - 3:41:39 - 11:03 pace
This was possibly the toughest of them all. More so than just physically, mentally I was spent well before this run even started. I'd just run Surf City and now was training for Diamond Valley Lake and my mind wasn't all the way into it. I decided to just run for the heck of it and set out on a as-long-as-I-get-20-miles-done-I'm-happy run. I ran 10 miles on the track at the high school and finished less than three minutes faster than my first-ever 20-miler.
1/22/11 - 20.06 - 3:15:56 - 9:46 pace
In all the previous runs, I couldn't have kept going afterward. I mean, if my life depended on it, I could have, but that's about it. But in my last 20-miler I felt great and I most definitely could have kept running. I chewed up the mileage without really worrying about what distance I was, what my pace was, how fast I'd run the last mile in... I ran with my phone/running app of course but didn't pay a whole lot of attention to what the statistics said. I knew at times I was running faster than I should have and I knew at others that I was running a bit slower than I'd been but I always felt strong, always felt like my legs had plenty left to give. At the end, I ran fast and finished my last mile in 8:15. That's pretty fast considering I'd run 19 miles already. Also, the time is in my favor for the last run. I beat my previous best time by almost a full 15 minutes.
So.... the question is this... will this mean that I will have a great LA Marathon? Well, I don't want to go there yet. I have to keep my focus on what's coming up, and that race is not quite coming up just yet. My next big test will be the 22-mile run, our last long training run before we hit LA. That's on Feb. 26. But there are many, many runs before then so I will not allow myself to ponder that just yet.
For now, I will take this 20-mile run as a reminder that I am in top shape and that if I want to stay there I have to keep working hard.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Best Shape Ever? Oh Yeah
Remember my post on Thursday, about me being in the best shape of my life?
Well, Sunday was the test of that belief. 20 miles on the schedule... that will test anyone's mettle.
If that run was a test, then I passed. With a solid A, if not an A-plus.
20.06 miles in 3:15:56 for an overall pace of 9:46.
It was an unbelievable run. It really was. I felt so strong throughout the run. I never felt that familiar muscle-tightening, cramp-inducing, brain-killing ache that just seems to drape over you during these really long runs. It was more like I had a bounce in my step throughout and no matter what distance I was at, I felt strong. I felt great at Mile 5, felt superb at Mile 10, felt splendid at Mile 15 and felt ridiculously strong at Mile 18.
I wound up running most of the run with one other runner (within a group of six). Two of the guys took off ahead at about Mile 13, and about Mile 18 my running partner and I took off. She felt strong, so did I and we went for it. Mile 19 we ran in 9:16 - our fastest mile since Mile 19 - and Mile 20 was our fastest mile at 8:15. I wasn't gassed at the finish either. It was encouraging knowing that I could have run more and been fine. My legs really responded in a big way and I never felt mentally out of it. I didn't look at my phone much to see what distance I was at, although I knew from the course, but I was always surprised when I looked at the distance because it just didn't feel like we'd run that far already, whether it was at 4.7 miles, 10.03, 13.27 or 16.24.
The best part about the run though was helping my fellow runners get to 20. My running partner felt a twinge in her leg at about Mile 12 but she powered through it, took a Motrin at one of the water stops and didn't complain about it afterward. Two first-timers were the ones who took off ahead and came in about three minutes before us and another first-timer came in about a minute after. Seeing them finish, congratulating them after such a memorable run and being a part of it all is really special.
And I couldn't have done it had I not worked so hard in order to put myself in this position.
That declaration that I so boldly made on Thursday... I think I backed it up today.
I truly am in the best shape of my life.
Well, Sunday was the test of that belief. 20 miles on the schedule... that will test anyone's mettle.
If that run was a test, then I passed. With a solid A, if not an A-plus.
20.06 miles in 3:15:56 for an overall pace of 9:46.
It was an unbelievable run. It really was. I felt so strong throughout the run. I never felt that familiar muscle-tightening, cramp-inducing, brain-killing ache that just seems to drape over you during these really long runs. It was more like I had a bounce in my step throughout and no matter what distance I was at, I felt strong. I felt great at Mile 5, felt superb at Mile 10, felt splendid at Mile 15 and felt ridiculously strong at Mile 18.
I wound up running most of the run with one other runner (within a group of six). Two of the guys took off ahead at about Mile 13, and about Mile 18 my running partner and I took off. She felt strong, so did I and we went for it. Mile 19 we ran in 9:16 - our fastest mile since Mile 19 - and Mile 20 was our fastest mile at 8:15. I wasn't gassed at the finish either. It was encouraging knowing that I could have run more and been fine. My legs really responded in a big way and I never felt mentally out of it. I didn't look at my phone much to see what distance I was at, although I knew from the course, but I was always surprised when I looked at the distance because it just didn't feel like we'd run that far already, whether it was at 4.7 miles, 10.03, 13.27 or 16.24.
The best part about the run though was helping my fellow runners get to 20. My running partner felt a twinge in her leg at about Mile 12 but she powered through it, took a Motrin at one of the water stops and didn't complain about it afterward. Two first-timers were the ones who took off ahead and came in about three minutes before us and another first-timer came in about a minute after. Seeing them finish, congratulating them after such a memorable run and being a part of it all is really special.
And I couldn't have done it had I not worked so hard in order to put myself in this position.
That declaration that I so boldly made on Thursday... I think I backed it up today.
I truly am in the best shape of my life.
 |
| All smiles once I got home. |
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Best Shape of my Life
When I was building up my mileage and developing as a runner, I often had a recurring thought.
"I am in the best shape of my life."
Now, back then of course it was easy to say that. I had been overweight my whole life, was not too far removed from 300 pounds and, well, with that in your background it's really not saying much.
Still, I felt that I was pushing myself more and more, reaching new ground and my body was responding in kind. Training for races and running long distances was only making me feel better and stronger, and thus I constantly felt like I was improving my fitness levels.
Thus, the feeling that I was in tip-top shape was ever present, for quite some time.
Before my first two marathons, I felt like I was on top of the world. I felt like I was really in my peak physical condition. But somewhere in between Marathon No. 2 and Marathon No. 3, that feeling dissipated. I'd taken some time off, was running long distances, yes, but it wasn't new ground any more. I was in a groove somewhat but the same "I am king of the world" feeling was gone.
I reached the start line of Marathon No. 3 and felt good, felt great but I did not know if I could honestly say "I am in the best shape of my life" before I ran it. I set a PR, shaved almost 15 minutes off my previous PR, and did feel good, but somehow that "best shape" feeling was not there.
And it has not been there for a while.
Until now.
I ran 8 miles on Thursday morning, ran them in 1:07:11. That's a pace of 8:22. Three of the miles, I ran un under 8 minutes.
I felt great. I felt superb. I had that familiar feeling. And I gave into it.
I really do feel like, right now, I am in the best shape of my life.
I don't have a race to prove that in, at least not one that's close. LA is still two months away and I don't know that I will run anything before that.
But I do have a huge challenge coming up. On Sunday, I am going to run 20 miles. It will be the longest distance I've run as a pace leader, the longest distance I've run since my last marathon, in April of last year, and only the eighth time I've run this distance in training.
I don't often get to these heights, but I am approaching it as best as I can. I do feel strong. I feel stronger than I can ever remember feeling. I'm trying to be more confident in my ability to power through runs. It's always a struggle with me though because it feels as if I try to show more confidence I end up being overconfident and then I suffer. But I do feel good about my abilities, about how strong my legs are, how strong my will has grown, and how top-notch I feel right now.
We'll see how the 20 miles goes on Sunday but I've done my part in getting there. I just have to follow through now, and I guess I will find out soon enough if I really am in the best shape of my life.
"I am in the best shape of my life."
Now, back then of course it was easy to say that. I had been overweight my whole life, was not too far removed from 300 pounds and, well, with that in your background it's really not saying much.
Still, I felt that I was pushing myself more and more, reaching new ground and my body was responding in kind. Training for races and running long distances was only making me feel better and stronger, and thus I constantly felt like I was improving my fitness levels.
Thus, the feeling that I was in tip-top shape was ever present, for quite some time.
Before my first two marathons, I felt like I was on top of the world. I felt like I was really in my peak physical condition. But somewhere in between Marathon No. 2 and Marathon No. 3, that feeling dissipated. I'd taken some time off, was running long distances, yes, but it wasn't new ground any more. I was in a groove somewhat but the same "I am king of the world" feeling was gone.
I reached the start line of Marathon No. 3 and felt good, felt great but I did not know if I could honestly say "I am in the best shape of my life" before I ran it. I set a PR, shaved almost 15 minutes off my previous PR, and did feel good, but somehow that "best shape" feeling was not there.
And it has not been there for a while.
Until now.
I ran 8 miles on Thursday morning, ran them in 1:07:11. That's a pace of 8:22. Three of the miles, I ran un under 8 minutes.
I felt great. I felt superb. I had that familiar feeling. And I gave into it.
I really do feel like, right now, I am in the best shape of my life.
I don't have a race to prove that in, at least not one that's close. LA is still two months away and I don't know that I will run anything before that.
But I do have a huge challenge coming up. On Sunday, I am going to run 20 miles. It will be the longest distance I've run as a pace leader, the longest distance I've run since my last marathon, in April of last year, and only the eighth time I've run this distance in training.
I don't often get to these heights, but I am approaching it as best as I can. I do feel strong. I feel stronger than I can ever remember feeling. I'm trying to be more confident in my ability to power through runs. It's always a struggle with me though because it feels as if I try to show more confidence I end up being overconfident and then I suffer. But I do feel good about my abilities, about how strong my legs are, how strong my will has grown, and how top-notch I feel right now.
We'll see how the 20 miles goes on Sunday but I've done my part in getting there. I just have to follow through now, and I guess I will find out soon enough if I really am in the best shape of my life.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Run, Ride and a Rodent
The weather did thwart our beach plans Monday. It was just too chilly to have the girls play in the sand and water.
So what did we do?
Well, I ran. Made sure of that. The two nearby high school tracks were being used (boo) so I had to drop the girls off at my mom's and then go on a run. Knocked out 4.5 miles in the process. I have a 20-mile run on the weekend so I hope that wasn't too much mileage to start out the week.
The girls wanted to head out to the San Bernardino County Museum. Since we have a family pass it cost us nothing to get in. Once inside...
There were some friends for Kennedy to play with. First she got her hands on some baby ball pythons. Then, she got to hold a mouse...
Of course, she was fearless around animals. She rather likes animals. Well, she didn't get to hold these, and not sure if she would have...
As for Yvie, she was happy looking at (stuffed) animals through glass.
After our adventure at the museum we went bike riding. It was so cold and I didn't have my jacket with me. My fingers were frozen but we got in nearly five miles. The sun was setting on us so we had to motor through the last mile quickly but in a few short months we will have more than enough sunlight for us to ride twice that if we wanted.
So, no beach for us Monday but plenty of other things kept us busy.
So what did we do?
Well, I ran. Made sure of that. The two nearby high school tracks were being used (boo) so I had to drop the girls off at my mom's and then go on a run. Knocked out 4.5 miles in the process. I have a 20-mile run on the weekend so I hope that wasn't too much mileage to start out the week.
The girls wanted to head out to the San Bernardino County Museum. Since we have a family pass it cost us nothing to get in. Once inside...
There were some friends for Kennedy to play with. First she got her hands on some baby ball pythons. Then, she got to hold a mouse...
As for Yvie, she was happy looking at (stuffed) animals through glass.
After our adventure at the museum we went bike riding. It was so cold and I didn't have my jacket with me. My fingers were frozen but we got in nearly five miles. The sun was setting on us so we had to motor through the last mile quickly but in a few short months we will have more than enough sunlight for us to ride twice that if we wanted.
So, no beach for us Monday but plenty of other things kept us busy.
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