Boston, Boston, Boston

Wow, what a day. I can’t even imagine what it must have felt like to be there - running, cheering, watching. Records broken. Mad dash to the finish line.

The Boston Marathon couldn’t have come at a more perfect time in my (first) marathon training - with less than 2 weeks away, I really needed the motivation. I needed something to remind me why I want to qualify for Boston, why I am training my butt off. I think watching the Boston Marathon yesterday may have just done the trick (wink)

To all of the amazing runners who ran yesterday: Congratulations on an AWESOME accomplishment (And, to the support crew - those runners needed you!). I can’t wait to read all of your race reports, thumb through pictures, and live my dream of running Boston through you.

Week 11

My marathon is 3 weeks away - hard to believe, considering I never thought May 1 would come (well, technically May 1 hasn’t happened yet but now I can actually feel it). Training and cardio-wise I’m feeling really good. Now, if the weather would just cooperate. I’m totally over the rain, hail, clouds, etc. I just want to run in shorts - is that too much to ask, considering it’s April 11?

Monday - 4 miles + 1.5 hours of Vinyasa Yoga
Post 23 mile run and blisters on my feet, I went on an easy run with BJ. We had nice weather, so it felt good to get out side for a “shake-out” run. It was also fun to run with BJ. Marathon training has me running longer and faster than my hubs, so I rarely run with him anymore (and I’ve missed him).

After our run we headed over to Sun and Moon Yoga for our weekly Monday night yoga session. It felt good to work out my very sore (and tight) muscles.

Tuesday - 4 miles
Okay, so I ran another 4 miles on Tuesday. But, I ran a lot faster than I did on Monday (8 min/mile). I felt good.

Wednesday - 8 miles
Morning run with AF. Felt really good - but still trying to take it easy on the blisters (in the most annoying part of my foot). Even though I don’t have the energy to run every morning (hey, I need at least 9 hours of sleep), I really enjoy my morning runs. It’s a great way to start the day and I feel good all day long!

Thursday - 7 miles - Mile repeats (track)
Hardest workout to date since marathon training. Wow, did this hurt! I also didn’t feel 100% (lack of sleep and stomach issues) so I know that played into the workout. But either way, I couldn’t wait to be done. I asked AF for our stats and here’s what she sent:

1.5 mile warm-up
4x1600 (1 mile) with 2 minute standing rest between repeats
6:28, 6:44, 6:35, 6:23
1.5 mile cool-down
+ Ab workout
Goal: 6:45/mile. Goal = crushed!! :-)
*I love that we crushed our goal! Thanks AF - I couldn’t do it without you!

Friday - rest

Saturday - 18 miles
My blisters finally started to heal - which was a huge confidence booster for me! We ended up having pretty good weather for our run - we’ve really lucked out on our long runs. 8:18/pace, negative split the last 9 miles. Felt good (feel ready for May 1).

Sunday - 3 miles
Very. Slow. Run. Just tried to get outside and move my legs - wasn't trying to be fancy or impress anyone on this "shake-out" run.

Week 11 mileage: 44 miles
3 weeks until Potomac River Run

My (random) thought of the day: It’s amazing how 23 miles at a slower pace (8:26) can feel just as hard as 18 miles at a faster pace (8:19). How does that work?

One Man's Trash...

...is another man's treasure. That's how the saying goes, right?

Well, not in my world. In my world, one man's trash is...definitely trash!

BJ and I own (well, it's officially BJ's but now mine through marriage-default) a condo in a nice building, in a nice part of Arlington, VA.  Included in our condo fee is an awesome management team, 24/7 security, and great amenities including a nice gym, party area and a trash room on every floor.  Because of the building and high-rent/prices in our area, there aren't a lot of hoodlums that live in our building.  But...there are a lot of idiots!

Case in point: the (little) trash/recycle room on our floor.  It's nice to have a trash room on every floor - I don't want to go to the loading dock every time I have to throw something away - but keep in mind, it's small.  It's a place to throw away some trash bags and recycle some bottles.  It is NOT Goodwill (but here's the url if you need to find one in the area - there are like 5 in Arlington  http://www.goodwill.org/)

Apparently, some idiot person on my floor thinks it is. And, because I tend to be a rule-follower, especially when it comes to the place I own and comfort of everyone that lives on my floor/in the building, this just pisses me off. To make myself feel better (and laugh at this person - I mean, what else can you do but laugh?!), I take pictures of all the hilarious things they think the can throw away in the very small trash room on our floor (and then I tell on them).

Enjoy!

No, I don't want your broken column and/or your fake eucalyptus plant.  

No, I don't want your used comforter with stains on it. 

No, I don't want your broken suitcase.

And, NO, I especially don't want your Hello Kitty paraphernalia 

Disclaimer: This post is suppose to be funny (hey, it's Friday!), not mean. I apologize if it comes off differently.

23 Miles, NBD.

On Saturday I ran 23 miles. NBD.

This is my longest run to date and I feel good!  Saturday was my last looonnnggg run - with my marathon less than 1 month away, I'll start to taper soon.

AF and I totally lucked out with the weather.  According to the forecast the night before, it was suppose to rain until 1pm on Saturday.  Since we were starting our run at 7am, things did not look good for us.  I had nightmares about blisters, sopping wet clothes, and catching a cold.  Thankfully, it was not raining when I woke up on Saturday morning and I did not catch a cold - success!  Our run was the perfect temperature.

I did, however, make one tactical mistake.  I own a pair of Green Silence.  I absolutely love these shoes - not only do I think they look super cool (and I feel like a bad-ass when I wear them), they are eco-friendly.  For some reason I thought I wanted to run my marathon in these shoes.  I'm not sure why - maybe they would make me run faster?  Anyway, I decided to run in them on Saturday. Worst. Mistake. Ever.  My feet started to hurt around mile 13 and it only got worse from there.  Toward the end of the run I could feel every.single.thing that I ran over.  I even had thoughts about tripping other runners and stealing their shoes - that's how bad it hurt. Honestly, I wish I would have just run in my trusty Ravenna's - but I guess it's good to know what not to wear on May 1.

Feet problems aside, we still managed to run an average moving pace of 8:20/mile.  Cardio-wise, I felt great.  Last time I ran 22 miles, I stopped talking to AF around mile 15 because everything in my body hurt- this time I was able to talk to her the whole time.  And, my body still hurt (I mean, come on, I ran 23 miles) but it wasn't the same hurt as last time.  Progress, I like it.  Each time I run, I feel more and more prepared for my marathon.  May 1 - I can't wait for you to get here!

Runners - what type of shoes do you race in, especially for longer races? Have you run in racing flats before and then regretted it?

P.S. Green Silence?  I still love you, just not on my long runs.

New PR: Half Marathon

On March 17 I signed up (impromptu-style) for a half-marathon on March 26. The National Half Marathon happened to fall on a Saturday were I was scheduled to run a “shorter distance” so I figured it was NBD to sign up for a race. My thought was to race the 1/2 marathon to see a) where I was at physically and b) to see how fast I could run a 1/2 marathon (considering I’m marathon training and trying to run a BQ).

My goal was 1:35, with the thinking that I could drop back to 1:40 (or 1:45) if I needed to. I felt good leading up to the race, and took it easy (during the week) when I needed to (especially since I had run 22 miles 5 days earlier).


Race day was cold. 33 degrees to start the day, warming up to 35 degrees by 9am. The week leading up to the race I had visions of running in shorts and a tank top. I was completely wrong. I had to wear tights, a tank top, long sleeve top, vest, gloves and a hat. Not what exactly what I had in mind for a race on March 26. Oh well...

There was some confusion on my part with the race start and the bathroom. I have a very nervous bladder, so I was hoping to make one last trip to the bathroom before the start - but the lines were so long and I wanted to find the 1:35 pace group. The race was supposed to start at 7:00am but didn’t start until about 7:10am. In retrospect I probably had time to go but was too nervous to leave my corral or pace group.

I started off with the pace group but they were going a little slower than I wanted to run and I realized my bladder wouldn’t be able to hold it for 13.1 miles. I picked up the pace for the next couple of miles - trying to get enough distance between me and the 1:35 group so they could eventually catch up and I could tag along when I really needed the help. I’m bummed that I had to stop but the plan worked great. I met back up with 1:35 around mile 7 and finished with the group.

Honestly, I felt pretty good. I mean, don’t get me wrong, running an average of 7:15/mile for 13.1 miles is not easy - but I could tell that all of my training had paid off. I crossed the finish line in 1:35:05 (and that included a bathroom stop)! I was extremely happy with my time - and 1:35:05 is a new PR for me!

Stats
Time: 1:35:02
Division Place: 26/1610

Sex Place: 81/5231
Overall Place: 522/9252

Now, it’s back to real life and real training (no taking it easy because "I have a race this weekend"). I have a 22 miler scheduled for this weekend and then I begin my taper - April 1 is the "1-Month-before-my-marathon" mark! New 1/2 Marathon PR feels good - but now I’ve got to focus my efforts on something bigger and better!

Looonnnngggg Run - 22 miles

On Sunday I ran 22 miles.  The longest I have ever run.  3 hours, 9 minutes, and 19 seconds worth of running.  An average of 8:36 per mile, for 22 miles.

I’ve never felt so cool or so sore in my entire life.  Things in my body hurt that I didn’t even know existed, yet I felt really good.  I think that’s that thing people call “runner’s high”.  And it was a high, running 22 miles is bad-ass!

The Run: We had awesome running weather - low 50's with some sun and light wind.  I felt really good miles 1-13; started to feel a little like, "Oh, this is long" around mile 15; and pretty much hurt in every crevice of my body for the last 5 miles.  I have, however, been working on my mental toughness because I know that BQ-ing won't be a walk in the park.  Mental toughness really came in to play the last 5-6 miles - everything hurt but I still managed to keep the pace under 8:45.  But seriously, as soon as my Garmin hit 22 miles I said "Can we please stop??" I couldn't wait to walk!

Post Run: I walked limped in the door, grabbed a cold bottle of Pelegrino, mixed up a glass of low-fat chocolate milk and stared an EndraSoak bath.  Sweeter things have never been done.  I seriously swear by EndraSoak - my new found recovery potion; the perfect combination of bath-salt-meets-rosemary-and-peppermint deliciousness (I would marry Rosemary if I could).  After said bath, I slipped on my compression socks and headed straight for the couch.  I stayed there until I decide it was time for bed. 

Next Day: But, on Monday morning, I felt great.  Okay, great might be an exaggeration...but I felt a lot better than I expected!  I even went for a (slow) 3 mile run and yoga - 2 things I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do (I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to get out of bed to take a shower).

I’m feeling pretty good about my training - especially after coming back from New Zealand.  I signed up (impromptu-style) for a 1/2 Marathon on March 26 and have one more looonnnggg run before I start cutting back on the mileage (Marathon is May 1).  Yikes - I'm getting close.

Runners: How do you feel after a long run?  A combination of soreness and excitement?  Does your body get used to the milage?  I’d love to know how others deal with their long runs - pre, during, and post.

New Zealand

BJ and I are (unfortunately) back from New Zealand and had the most AMAZING time.  NZ is an awesome country - very beautiful and clean with rain-forests, oceans, glaciers, and mountains everywhere - think California 100 years ago.  We spent 17 days in country, exploring, hiking, wine-ing, biking, dining, swimming, kayaking, and running - it was the perfect amount of adventure, relaxation, and total grub down on delicious food and wine.  If it didn't take 29 hours and an 18-hour time difference to get there, I'd live there! (For those interested, there are a few pictures below)

In true runner and “I’m-running-a-marathon-May-1” mode, I got some really good runs in. I wasn’t sure how much I’d be able to swing but as it turns out, BJ is very supportive and NZ is very runner-friendly. A total win-win for me. It was also super cool to upload my runs to Garmin Connect and see the New Zealand map detailing my run.

My body is still trying to figure out if it’s in the USA or in New Zealand - but 2 days home, I’m back in full training mode. I have a 22-mile run this weekend (I’ll need all the encouragement I can get for this run - I’m running solo) and just signed up (impromptu) for a half-marathon on March 26. I guess if I want to BQ, there is no rest for the weary....

Queenstown at Night

Ben Lemond Summit - 9 mile hike (hardest hike of our lives) 

Doubtful Sound 

Rugby Field - very popular in NZ

Fox Glacier - 5 hour Glacier Hike

Wine Tasting - Blenheim, NZ 

Morning breakfast - Waiheke Island, NZ

Waiheke Island, NZ

On our way to Auckland (from Blenheim)

Me and my hubs

Downtown Queenstown 

View of Queenstown from about 4,500ft.

Doubtful Sound

Abel Tasman National Park- surrounded by mountains and ocean

Vines for wine! :)