Friday's Run...

My runner's club at the YMCA stopped meeting on Fridays because of the season. There wasn't really too many of us as it was, usually myself, Mike and Jim. Sometimes Maria would come along or I'd con some unsuspecting person who happened to look remotely interested in running to go for a shorty. Come to think of it, not one of those people I somehow talked into running has ever run twice. LOL!!

I'm happy to announce my coach, Jim, is putting a training program together for a half marathon to be run in October. We'll start the training in July. Long runs will be on Saturdays, not sure about the short runs yet. Details are still in the works. We'll run a few 5K races along the way. I'm going to do this program with my two daughters! Kerri is 22 and Kirstin is 19. I am thrilled they want to run. I think Kerri will be more serious about it, Kirstin is more of a free spirit and might not get too into it, we'll see. Kerri had a liver transplant 21 years ago so I'll worry about her hydrating on long runs in this Florida heat. Ok, I'll worry about her short runs too! Part of being a mom! Her meds can wreck havoc on her kidneys if her electrolytes get out of kilter. I'll be running behind her every step with a water bottle and gatorade....haha!

So....I have been solo on all my running these days. No runner's club, Mike went to Maine and Jim is extremely busy. I like running with people most of the time. Knowing I'd be running with someone on Fridays made it ok to run alone other days. I had something to look forward to. But alas!! I have found a very surprising side effect of running alone. With no one to talk to, I seem to have picked up some speed...

I did my core exercise class Friday morning, perfect warm up before a run. I was tired and lazy, almost just went home. I decided to do a slow 4 miles, I wanted to just get out there and enjoy the air. I ran about 3.8 miles and here's the exciting news...I ran it in 25:32. Almost 4 miles! I started off slow and steady, not really thinking about my speed. I actually remembered to hit my stopwatch (I'm trying to be better about that) When I looked at it at the 1 mile mark I couldn't believe it! 6:48! This first mile was short, about .1-ish though. Keep this in mind. I pushed my crazy thoughts out of my head, walked about a minute and took off again. Made it to mile marker 2 at 12:04. Yeah, I was thrilled! That was a true mile and it was faster. I am still so surprised. I took off again making it to mile 3 at 17:42. It felt like a dream. Still does. I had one mile to go and I was getting pretty tired by this point. I started to have my freaky obssessive thoughts, doing math in my head but I wanted to remember my times, so I refused to think about numbers and started running again. I got back to my starting point at 25:32. Remember though, this last mile was short by .1-ish also.

I kept running the times in my head as I did the cool down walk to my car. I wrote down my times so I'd remember them and then I started with my math craziness in my head. I still can't believe it. I went back in the gym to leave the paper on Jim's desk but I ran into him on the way. I showed him my watch (which I still haven't reset....LOL) He thought I just did 2 miles. It was so cool to tell him I did almost 4. He knows the route so I'm waiting to find out the exact mileage I ran. I would have been happy running 3 miles in 25:32!

When I think back to that run and pull it apart like I always do....I had a great warmup in the class and I remember I wasn't singing along to my iPod this time. I ALWAYS sing. It's the only time I'm by myself and won't hurt anyone's ears....lol. I was alone too, so no one to talk with or slow to look at stuff with. I had coffee and a banana before I got to the gym, then a water with a GU gel pack right before I ran. I didn't get any calf cramping this time either. I do have a lot on my mind these days, sleep has been elusive too. As I started running I just wanted to clear my mind and try to relax. I usually try to sort my mind while I run but I decided to just let everything go this time. No thinking.

I have this soothing relationship with music that lets me get completely inside it. There are some songs that I can actually feel envelope me sometimes. Usually I need to be laying down either by the pool, in the jaccuzzi or in bed. It's kind of like meditation I guess, only I can do it with any music. I had never thought to try it during activities. I'm thinking that when I shut my mind down and went into relaxation mode it let me just GO. I worry the excitement of running a race may not allow me to relax that way though....lol. I tend to get very excited in races. I also talk to people along the way. I only see some of these people at races, so it's the only time I CAN talk to them. I hope I haven't been bothering them! Yikes!!!

I guess I'll just have to wait and see if I can do it again.

4 miler....

I just ran a 4 mile run. It's about 86 degrees out, pretty humid but that never really bothers me. I started out fast figuring I'd just try to kill myself....lol. I went 2 miles straight out with a 30 second walk at the 1 mile mark. I actually remembered to wear AND hit my stopwatch! I didn't look at my timer until I got to the 2 mile mark because I wanted to run without any pressure to hold a pace like that. Sometimes I can get obsessive with the timing thing. Not so much the actual time, but playing with the numbers. I add, subtract, multiply and divide the numbers so many times I wind up frustrated. That's the reason I hardly ever bring a watch on my runs. I decided I need to get past all that if I'm going to speed train though.

I hit the stopwatch at mile 2......17:52. Oooohhh....I like that number. So guess what I did? Yeah, I spent the next 2 miles trying to figure out the MM, then I multiplied THAT to figure a 5K estimate. Then I tried to figure how much slower I probably would get in a 5K, so I tacked a couple minutes onto THAT, just in case. THEN, as if I wasn't getting a headache from thinking so much, I tried to guess how long it was going to take me to finish my 4 miles. So you see why I don't like to time myself.

Anyway, I finished 4 miles at 38:42. Sub 9 mm. I like that. I think I'm ready to cash in my speed training tickets with my coach. I think I mentioned I won a bet with Jim a couple weeks ago. It was over a song. I was right and won 2 speed training sessions....yay!!! I'm R-E-A-D-Y!!!!!!

Tempo Run

I went to the gym last night for a yoga class. I missed it by 30 minutes, my life story. But hey...it got me out of the house right after dinner time. That's a busy time of day at my house and I was more than happy to use yoga as an excuse to leave the dishes. Not that I need an excuse. I do it all the time. In fact....I decided they could wait until this morning, only I had to run out at 9am for a gym class with 2 meetings right after. I was going to clean up after the meetings but I was invited to lunch with some of my runner friends. So I went. I'm still full from that Philly cheesesteak. I'm glad I skipped helping Ed finish off his fries. When I got home the landscaper guy was waiting (working on a little surprise for my husband for Father's Day... Shhhhhhhhhh)

I couldn't let him in my house because of the dishes, so I guess I got punished for slacking....haha! Like I care....ANYWAY.....

Back to last night. My husband wanted to go for a bike ride but I won the "first out" because I had a scheduled yoga class. So he had to stay home with the kids and I pranced out the door....heehee

I met Michelle at the gym and we chatted for about 40 minutes. She's the one who told me I missed the class. I felt a twinge of guilt when I thought about Bobby pacing back and forth waiting for his turn, kids leaving a mess from dinner, dishes in the sink....but the twinge passed faster than a cramp in my calf. Out the back door of the gym I went, not a care in the world...lalalalaaaaaa

As I set up my iPod I decided to run the 3 miles home and have Bobby bring me back later to get my car. Then I thought I'd just do a 4 mile loopy. I started out at a slow pace, warming up when I felt a burst of energy. I decided to do some of those "frolics" I love so much. I ran as fast as I could for the length of the fence. I know most of you don't know how far that is, sorry, just know it's like....from here to there. Just about a telephone pole to pole distance. When I was out of breath I ran slow. I ran that way the first mile and was surprised to see it took me 7:38. Two songs. I turned around and ran the mile back to the gym the same way. That was 8:42. Two songs again, but the songs were longer than the 1st 2. (Still with me?)

As I walked to my car my coach was walking through the parking lot so I told (yelled across more like it) him what I just did. He said that's called a "tempo run". Hmmm....never heard of those but I like 'em. Left me feeling like I had a workout in a very short time. Invigorating.

As I was driving back home I passed a HOT biker. I looked again and saw that it was my husband. Man I love those bike shorts. I pulled over, he turned around and I ran back to him. We smooched in the street, both of us a little sweaty, kinda romantic. Then I asked him where he stashed the kids. My 19 yr old came home so she was with them. Lucky break for Bobby!!!

I mentioned before that I've only ever run to train for a marathon. That was for endurance and pacing, never speed, so this is all new stuff for me. I like it! It a renewed sense of learning and it's so interesting. I'm getting pumped just thinking about running fast. There's a race this Saturday but it starts late. I have to work at 9am and I won't get back in time. Kinda bummed about that. My husband reminded me I can't run ALL the races. NO FAIR!

Well...I gotta go do the dishes. Some stuff I can't get out of. Dishes are just one of them.

Still Feelin' Foxy....

Well HEY! I had a great run on Friday with Jim and I am not hurting any worse! Last time I ran, it put me out of commission for 2 weeks. This time I feel even better! The road to recovery is one I'd rather have run instead of limped, but I'm almost there. I feel FREE!

I was hoping to run today after the the gym this morning, but I worked for Alycia. She's prego and has the flu, poor punkin. I may need to fill in for her tomorrow too, we'll see. Seems like now that I CAN run, I can't find the time. There's a Zoomer run tomorrow night but if I have to work the day I won't make the run. I'm a wife and Mom first! So I'll just make the family run with me! What a GREAT idea!

Most people who know me, know I've taken on the new goal of speeding up my runs. I really want to shoot for qualifying for Boston 2009. I know it's a stretch to speed train for 7 months and get a qualifying time in October but hey....I'd rather try and fail than not try at all. Even if I don't make it, I won't feel like I failed anyway. I love to run and the sense of accomplishment and pride I feel from every run is something I cherish.

I got a little bonus this morning during my core class at the YMCA. During the exercises we were listening to a CD when a song came on we all knew. First let me tell you, Jim teaches this class as well as being my mentor/coach/trainer. He is also a singer/songwriter. I am a music fanatic, I love all kinds of music. I have CDs for cleaning, showering, laying by the pool, running...etc. SO...when Jim said the singer was Rob Thomas from Matchbox 20, I quite confidently told him he was wrong....LOL. I didn't know who it was but I KNEW it wasn't Rob. He insisted it was. I said I'd bet him $50 it was not. He said how about a Subway sandwich (which I do love) but I said NO! Then, my brain kicked in. I had an awesome idea. I'm all giggly just remembering the moment....heehee. I said....how about a speed training session! He got all confident and said IF he WAS wrong, he'd give me TWO speed training sessions. Ooooohhhhhlala!! Can you say JACKPOT babyyyyyy??????? I got all warm inside. I knew I was right. I know Rob Thomas's voice. I also know my ticket to Boston is through my trainer. He got me to the finish line of my first marathon in just under 5 months. His coaching and training methods work for me. I hear the instructions and just do it. This is gonna be GREAT!

I even made him shake on it....lol

I guess I should tell you, Jim said if it wasn't Rob Thomas, it had to be Chad Kroeger from Nickelback. He was right about that. I didn't think it was, because I'd never seen Chad with short hair except for the video to the song we were betting against. So technically Jim did know the singer's name. I only knew it wasn't Rob Thomas. I offered to call it a truce but Jim was kind enough to call me the winner. So I get some speed training from the one person I know who can get me to Boston. I almost feel guity. Almost.....
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Very Exciting News

I work at a local restaurant a few nights a week, and the high school track team pops in after their meets. I know a few of them because they belong to my Zoomers running club. Tj, whose Dad is the high school track coach (and his Mom is into sports rehab too, sporty family!) and Matteo, whose Dad is also a Zoomer, are always with this group. Anyway....I enjoy talking to them when they come in. I mentioned to TJ's dad that I was going to start speed training as soon as my recovery from the marathon is over.

Here's the exciting news.....he actually invited me to train with the team after school!!!! I almost cried!! They do speed training and distance alternating days. I was speechless. The opportinity to even watch these kids train is exciting. I see them at the races, I see them running down the street, I've talked to some of them...they're a great bunch of talented kids. And talk about speedy! I hope they don't mind a 42 year old lady trying to keep up with them....I plan to go over there Monday to check them out. I can't do any training for a couple more weeks, but I love seeing these kids. So I'll be a cheerleader for them until I can run too.

TJ asked me for my finishing time for the marathon and I stupidly asked him what a good time would have been for me. Yeah, I asked a kid that has a 4.5 mm average....lol. So he said 4:25. I hit him....lol...I told him 5:33 and he very sweetly said that was actually a great time....LOL. Whatever TJ!!!!! LOL... He's lucky he's so adorable.

So now I've been surfing the net for some pretty spikes....Asics has a pair I've been checking out......
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