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races

The Next Big Thing – Happy Christmas PBRs!

Dec 22nd, 2009
by gazelle.
11 comments

It seems like everywhere I look, people are talking about their 2010 race schedules.

There are marathons, half marathons, triathlons & half-irons being registered for. I’ll admit, I fall victim to this myself, asking every runner I’ve run with in the past couple of weeks, “what’s your next race?”

The next race that I currently have on my schedule (in case you were curious), is the Shamrock run (I’m doing the 15K distance) on March 14.

That is not, however, the next big thing.

This is:

I am officially registered for this race. This is going to be a very different experience from marathon #1, in no small part because half of the runners I know in Portland are running it, too! And there are even some people doing the half!

So, since we’ll all be training about the same time, and doing approximately similar mileages, I’m guessing there will be some post-run brunches in our future.

To that end, I picked up a copy of this to share with my hungry PBRs:

I am pretty excited to dig in (both to the book AND into breakfast). I am also terrified excited about having just signed up for my SECOND marathon (in 4 months, 1 week & 3 days; EEK!).

Other races that I am thinking about doing probably going to do in 2010:

The 2010 (potential) Race Schedule

  • 3/14/10 – Shamrock 15K
  • 4/11/10 – Race for the Roses Half Marathon
  • 4/18/10 – Bridge to Brews 10K
  • 5/2/10 – Eugene Marathon
  • 6/13/10 – Blue Lake Sprint Triathlon
  • 8/1/10 – Midsummer Olympic Triathlon (at Blue Lake)
  • 8/14/10 – XTerra Portland Triathlon (at Hagg Lake)
  • 9/5/10 – Eugene Women’s Half
  • 10/24/10 – Run Like Hell 5K
  • 11/14/10 – Outer Banks Half Marathon

As you can see, I’m planning three half marathons, only (ha!) one full marathon, and three triathlons. With the three shorter distance races, I’m at 10 races for 2010, which seems like a great number! I haven’t locked in everything yet, although I feel pretty confident that the first four will happen, and I know I want to do at least two triathlons this year.

So, internets…what races are YOU doing in 2010?

It’s time for another game of “good decision/bad decision”

Oct 16th, 2009
by gazelle.
4 comments

I just got back from a run. Well, about an hour ago, but I’d grabbed the wrong key and so was locked out of my house for awhile until the architect got home from his mountain bike ride. And then I showered. And ate lunch. BUT ANYWAYS, this morning I went for a run.

I was determined to run 3 miles. It was my first post-marathon run, and really, with the exception of my 11.5 mile bike ride with soon-to-be-marathoner Sarah last Sunday, my first real post-marathon exercise.

I may have mentioned that I have been sick all week. BUT – I was feeling better yesterday. And I went out to dinner last night, and if one can go out to dinner & have fun, then one is no longer sick, right?

So this morning, I decided to run.

And I did. And lo, it was the hardest short run I have run in a good long while.

You know how, when you’ve been a runner for a while, you start to know about how fast you’re running based on the effort put forth? I kept thinking I was running about 9:45 (give or take), because I felt like I was pushing hard. When I finished & actually checked, turned out I was running about 10:50. It was that hard. Usually a hard run is hard muscularly not cardiovascularly.

There was a point when I felt that my heart was working WAAAY too hard and that it was possible I was going to have a heart attack right then and there. (I briefly bemoaned the fact that my Road ID was on my dresser & not reattached to my running shoes like it should’ve been – how would the architect know that I’d died?)

And now we come to the game part. At this point, I was almost 2 miles into my run, a less than 1/4 mile away from home. Did I

a) go home & console myself with the fact that I’d had a rough week, what with the flu-like symptoms & all

or

b) say “I will run 3 miles, heart attack be damned”

If you answered b), you get a cookie! (Although not from me – I am fresh out of cookies right now.)

I made it, and it only took a little while for my heart rate to return to normal (and by a little while, I mean about 10 minutes).

I feel fine now, and am pleased that I got that first run out of the way. I am thinking I might run like hell in a couple of weeks – although I had originally thought about trying for a 5K PR, but I’m not sure that will be a realistic goal at this point. I know the course, it’s pretty flat but there is a wee hill at the end (it’s basically out & back) that killed  me last year (I was just coming off from knee-hab & hadn’t done any hill running for months). ANYWAYS, I may not be able to PR the distance, but I should be able to PR the course. and it’s likely I can go sub 30 again, which would be cool.

Now – I’m off to my nutritionist to see how to lose 15-20 lbs in the next four months.

Happy Friday, all!

Foot Traffic Half – mini report

Jul 4th, 2009
by gazelle.
22 comments

It was hot.

I ran consistently.

Cool & Full of hope: Sarah, Amy & Julie

Cool & Full of hope: Sarah, Amy & Julie

I PR’d (by 2:25! woo!)

The splits are pretty awesome.  I feel fantastically consistent. :)

Miles 1&2 (missed mile 1): 20:49

Mile 3: 10:03

Mile 4: 10:19

Mile 5: 10:14

I was feeling pretty good during the race. I was passing a lot of people, but since my splits were pretty consistent, I tried not to worry that for once I was passing more people than were passing me. I took my 1st Gu at mile 5.

Mile 6: 10:17

Mile 7: 10:13

Mile 8: 10:17

Mile 9: 10:10

Mile 10: 10:17

I passed JM at about mile 7.5 – she was really struggling, but even though she mentioned considering a DNF, but I knew she’d finish!

I took my 2nd Gu at mile 10, and knew at that point that I was going to PR. I started passing more people. I did see a puker at mile 8 or 9, but I was still feeling really great.

Mile 11: 10:19

Mile 12: 10:08

Mile 13: 10:07

Mile 13.1 (1:05/8:27 pace)

Sprinting for the Finish

Sprinting for the Finish

Final time: 2:14:22!  Average 10:15 pace. I am so pleased & happy!

I didn’t see the architect when I crossed the finish line, but found him pretty soon. I got some water & some strawberry shortcake. The shortcake was good, but too much too soon. Then we waited for JM – and it wasn’t too much longer before she crossed the finish line.

Sweaty at the end.....

Sweaty at the end.....

After walking around for a while, we headed back to my place for quick showers and then brunch at Gravy. It was a long wait, but once the bloody marys & breakfast came, things were better.

I did have a lot of leg cramps post-run, but that seems to have finally gotten better. I was wiped out though – I took a nap this afternoon (which is totally not me at all), and have been staying close to the bathroom for the last few hours (TMI!).

I am thinking it might be almost time for more food & beer!

Happy Independence Day American peeps!

Training Goals for 6/29 – 7/5 (plus half marathon goals)

Jun 29th, 2009
by gazelle.
6 comments

Last week’s recap:

June 22 – June 28, 2009

Monday – trail run, 10+ miles – Check! I did 10.1

Tuesday – swim + mountain bike + push-ups - Check! I swam 1,000 yards, including a set of 800 yards for the 1st time in ages, did an 11.2 mile mountain bike ride with the architect, in which we averaged 8.8 mph, which I was pleased with because my legs were trashed from the previous day’s run & the morning’s swim, and did my push-ups as well – 71 total, in case you care.

Wednesday – weights + easy 3-4 mile run – Weights, check! run, no. my legs were a little wiped out from the Monday/Tuesday workouts, did my push-ups…

Thursday – yoga, maybe a bike, push-ups – Yoga, check! Did not ride, and did the push-ups on Wednesday, so none today.

Friday – trail run, 10+ miles again – Check! I ran 10.75 miles on Wildwood, meaning I have only have 1.75 miles left of Wildwood trails to be able to say I ran the whole thing in 2009! Go me!

Saturday – mountain bike ride, a little further than Tuesday’s, push-ups – Hmmm….I did ride my mountain bike. Not on a mountain, although there was a small hill. And I did ride it to the Organic Beer Fest. Which involved lifting glasses of beer to my lips, which is almost like a push-up, right? Right?

Sunday – long run, 8-10 miles – I did run – 5.15 miles (to even out the week’s totals). I got super lost in the neighborhood I was running in, and couldn’t find any good places to run that weren’t suburban neighborhoods with streets that have never even seen a straight line. The only roads I knew I wouldn’t get lost on were super busy roads with no sidewalks, so I cut my run short.

I ended the week with:

26 miles run

1000 yards in the pool

21.9 miles on the bike

Overall, nearly 12 hours of fitness related activity! Nice to have to only work two days!

June 29 – July 5, 2009

This is a taper week, so I will likely not get 12 hours of exercise in this week.

Monday: strength training (45 minutes), elliptical (15 minutes)

Tuesday: six mile easy run

Wednesday: braving the gym post-work again for a swim & bike brick

Thursday: three mile easy run

Friday: rest day, I think

Saturday: Foot Traffic Half Marathon!

Sunday: swim/bike – I am comtemplating riding my bike to the pool, and then riding home on Leif Erickson. We’ll see how trashed my legs are after the half mary. I may just try for an easy recovery swim.

Before my last half marathon, the only activity I did in the 7 days leading up to the race was one 90-minute yoga session. This time, I have activity planned every day, albeit lighter than usual activity. We’ll see what strategy works best for me.

Half Marathon Goals

I did not train nearly as hard in the last eight weeks leading up to this half marathon as I did in the previous 3 months before the 2009 Hippie Chick Half.  I think that I only did one speed workout, and one set of hill repeats.

I didn’t get in as many miles, either. I ran 100 miles in April, and only 124 in May & June combined. I am not sure how those changes will affect my running on Saturday. I have put in about the same amount of trail miles in May & June (46.25) as I did in March & April (40.18), but I’m just not sure what my legs are going to be doing on Saturday.

I have two shorter runs this week (six & three miles) that I intend to run pretty easy. My yoga class is on hiatus this week, too. I guess my main goals are:

1. Finish strong

2. Run smart (last time I was dehydrated, didn’t carry my water, and sabotaged my pace by not taking enough water)

3. PR (of course, who doesn’t want to PR?)

I’m not sure I can PR with the lackadaisical training I’ve been doing, but I think I can still come close. Even on my long trail runs, my pace is pretty consistently coming in 12 minute miles or less, and on my shorter runs, I’m definitely averaging about a 10 minute mile most of the time….I need to average between a 10:18 & 10:23 minute mile to beat my last time of 2:16:57.

But, if I don’t, it’s not a big deal. There will be another race, I’m sure.

S0 – thoughts on my taper week plans & goals? What are you doing this week?

Quick Question – Advice Please!

May 21st, 2009
by gazelle.
11 comments

I ran Tuesday morning (3.5 miles) and this morning (4.5 miles). Both runs were HARD. My legs feel like lead – so heavy & slow. This morning, my pace was about 12 minute miles, which is sloooooooowwwww for me on a level course (even my first mile, which is mostly downhill, clocked in at 11 minutes).

And now for the question, in two parts

1. Do you think this lead-legs is from a) the increase in other activities in the last week (biking + swimming), b) the fact that I ran my ass off in a half-marathon just under two weeks ago, or c) something else altogether

and

2. Since I do have a 20K trail race Sunday that I would like to finish without wanting to kill myself at the end, what do you think I should do with the next few days leading up to the race? I had planned

Today: morning run (done) & afternoon yoga
Friday: 6 mile run to & from pool, with swimming (about 1500 yds)
Saturday: 10 mile bike ride

I’m not worried about racing the 20K – it’s my first at that distance (so automatic PR) and it’s a trail race, so my goal was just to finish strong & have fun. But, since my 4.5 miles this morning sucked pretty hard, I’m not sure at this point that I could finish strong & happy….thoughts? advice?

Thanks in advance (brew review & corn chronicles this afternoon).

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