Running Strong / Full Calendar

I am running strong and enjoying every minute of it.

This happens every time after a big race where I met or exceeded my goal. I come out of the race excited about running and looking forward to run. I make big plans for future races. My pace picks up. I feel strong and like I have actually gotten better at this whole running thing.

However, this feeling never lasts that long and I am back to my frustratingly slow pace that just won’t seem to improve. Yes, my race times continue to improve but my everyday runs just won’t pick up, in the end.

I am savoring these next few weeks of stronger, faster running. I am hoping but not really expecting this feeling to last.

***

Like always, I have full calendar of races ahead of me – a open water swim this weekend, my first tri next weekend, a trail half marathon at the beginning of September and a fun 5K with friends and family at the end of September. Also, I’ve signed up for my next goal race…

Stone Mill 50 Miler on November 19th.

I am nervous about stepping up to the next distance but after such strong races at the Mad Marathon and Endless Summer I am also confident that I can meet this challenge. My plan is to keep my running during the week steady 4-6 milers before work but also start doing more treadmill workouts – hills, intervals, mostly walking but some running thrown in – during my lunch hour workouts in the gym. Also, I hope to take advantage of my new working schedule, where I have every other Friday off work and get in some back-to-back runs (15 miles on Friday and then 20 on Saturday, for example). I’ll also do some single runs in the 25 to 30 mile range. Finally, once the weather cools off in September and October, I hope to also get in some longer hikes on the Sundays following my long runs.

The next few months will be all about time on my feet by whatever means necessary.

Daily Dozen:

4.5 miles run – fartlek

Strength Training & Walking @ lunch hour

30 minutes swim after work

Back in the Pool

I admit it: I haven’t been swimming.

I should be swimming – it’s a good counter-balance to running since it uses a different set of muscles, it is supposed to be good for recovery while still getting in a work out, and, oh yeah, I have my first open water swim and my first triathlon in only a few weeks.

With all that, I have only been in the pool one time in July. I used tapering for the marathon and the recovering enough for the six-hour race as an excuse to skip swimming. The truth is, I just don’t enjoy it and it is a hassle (bringing multiple changes of clothes to the pool, showering and getting ready for work in the locker room, lugging around an extra bag full of wet cloths to and from work, all those extra towels to wash each week).

When I am in the pool, I am counting laps and looking at the clock just waiting for it to be time to get out. No wonder I don’t enjoy it!

Yet, once I’m done, I feel the same sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that I get after a run. Perhaps once I’ve done the open water swim and the tri, a weekly pool workout won’t seem so tedious because it won’t feel like something I have to do it.

This morning I did 3 sets of 10 laps + 2 laps just kicking with a kickboard (for some reason this is my favorite “stroke” to practice so I reward myself with it when I do 10 laps without stopping). I was breathing hard by the second set and I know my form started to suffer by the third but it was a nice, slow workout. Welcome back to the pool!

Daily Dozen:
30 minutes swimming
3 miles w/ walking hill intervals @ lunch hour (planned)

Endless Summer 6-Hour Run – Race Report

The Premise: Run a 4.2 mile paved loop course on the trails of Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis, MD as many times as I can in a 6 hour time period.

The Challenge: Heat. Humidity. Sweat. Sun.

I signed up for this race only a few weeks ago. I have been intrigued by the timed-event concept – run a loop as many times as possible in a set timeframe – and this race fell on a weekend I didn’t have anything planned, it was after the Mad Marathon so I was not training for anything specific, and it was within driving distance.

As the heat wave hit the mid-Atlantic region last week, I started to question whether I should attempt my first race of this kind but I gave myself permission to take my time, walk if I needed, and even drop early if it I started to struggle. I didn’t put any pressure on myself to fight it out to the end. I handle heat fairly well and the organizers were doing all they could to make sure the runners were safe – weighing us every 2 hours, pushing salt and hydration, setting up a hydration station at the half way point, and a misting station on the course. I woke up Saturday morning ready to give this race my best shot.

Unfortunately, traffic had other plans for me. I left the house with enough time to get to the race site with more than 30 minutes to spare. At 6:50 I came to stop on Route 50 due to an accident that required the entire road to be shut down, and didn’t make it the 1 mile to the next exit for another 50 minutes. The whole time I was inching down the highway, I was under 15 miles to the race…I could have run there!! I contemplated turning around and going home but I thought, what the heck, they might still let me run. After taking a detour and several backroads (thank you iPhone Google maps app), I finally got to the park around 8:10 (40 minutes late).

I quickly found an organizer and within 5 minutes of parking, I had pinned on my number, grabbed my water bottle, been weighed (came in right at 130 pounds), and was running. As I started the race, I was a mix of feelings. I was still upset about being late, thankful that I took a shot, showed up and they let me run, and anxious because I felt like I was way behind everyone else. I told myself to focus running.

The first loop was mainly about recon: The first mile or so was shaded and had one noticeable downhill and one noticeable uphill. After mile one, I hit the misting station and declined a spray from the volunteer – not yet, I said, but I’ll be back. Mile 2 was more exposed and after running by a dog park and up and down some small rollers, I came back to the that noticeable downhill from mile 1. The marker for Mile 2 was at the top and the hill was in full sun. After the hill and more sun, I hit the midpoint hydration station. I declined to fill my water bottle as it was about halfway full. The next part of the course was the toughest mentally for me. Though Mile 3 and then some, the course followed a fitness trail with exercise stops (sit-ups, pull-ups, stretching, balance beam, etc.) but other than that there wasn’t much in the way of landmarks and with each turn I was looking for the road crossing that meant I was getting close to the end of the loop. After the road crossing, the course was back in full shade and it wasn’t long before I saw the Mile 4 marker and then it was just up a hill to the start/finish/aid station (why do all races have to end on a hill?).

I hit the start/finish, heard my number called out to make sure my loop was counted, had a volunteer put ice and water in my bottle, grabbed a cookie and a handful of potato chips and headed back out on the course. My first lap, including time in the aid station, was 45 minutes. I smiled when I saw that time because it was an excellent way to start this race and I no longer felt like I was way behind everyone else.

I settled in to a routine – up and down in Mile 1, hit the misting station and have them spray the back of my neck, out in to the sun, up the hill to Mile 2, grab a cup or refill my bottle with water at the hydration station, get mentally tough through the Mile 3+ stretch, cross the road, almost there, over some wooden bridges, see Mile 4 marker, a few more turns and then up the hill to the finish.

I was running strong and steady and was curious, with the heat and still recovering from the Mad Marathon two weeks ago, how long could I continue to run the entire loop without walking. Loop 2 – 8.4 miles down – went by and I was still running. I grabbed more chips, asked for a refill of ice and water, was weighed again (130#, right where I needed to be), and was back out on the course in 44 minutes 30 seconds. Wow, just a smidge faster. Seeing my time remain steady was a definite confidence booster.

The volunteers were asking about hydration and salt every time we came in to the start/finish. I took one salt tab on the second loop and then two on each loop after. Also, I made sure my water bottle was finished by the end of the loop and even refilled it if it was more than halfway empty at the midpoint hydration station. I also grabbed whatever looked good at the aid station – today it seemed to be potato chips, pretzels, watermelon and Gatorade. I had two gels throughout the day, just because I had them with me and I felt like I should.

I started Lap 3 and told myself to be smart, if at any point you feel like walking, just walk. To my surprise, I went through Lap 3 quickly and hit the start/finish without walking, once again in 44 minutes 30 seconds. Wow, just wow. I felt strong and unstoppable. Take that 100 degree heat!

However, the day was definitely getting warmer, the few early morning clouds were gone and more of the course was in full sun now that the sun was getting higher in the sky. Starting Lap 4, I again reminded myself that it was OK to walk. I came to the long uphill in Mile 1 and decided that walking was definitely in order. For the rest of the lap, I walked the larger uphills (except the finish, I was determined to always run in to the finish) and to my surprise came out of aid station at the end of Lap 4 with a time of 44 minutes 52 seconds. Holy moly, walking wasn’t taking away any time. I ran out of the station with a huge smile on my face.

I knew I couldn’t keep it up though. By this time, between sweating and the misting station, I was soaking wet (I could literally ring the sweat out of my running skirt – eww!) It was hot but I was handling it well and kept to my hydration/salt plan. For Lap 5, I decided to play a game: each time I passed someone or someone passed me going the other direction, I had to run for 60 seconds. If I passed someone else or someone passed me going the other way, the 60 seconds started over again. This was excellent motivation. The lap seemed to fly by and before I knew it, I was back at the aid station. My time was just over 48 minutes. Even with the additional walking, I added less than 5 minutes to my lap time. Woohoo!!

When I started the race my goal was one lap per hour, so since I was late and would be running for 5 hours 15 minutes, my goal was 5 laps and a little bit. Here I was, with 1.5 hours left on the race clock, 5 laps down (20.8 miles run) and I was feeling great.

I played the same game for Lap 6 – pass or someone pass me, run for a minimum of 60 seconds, the timer starts over if I passed someone else (or sometimes I just felt like running further). By this time, there were fewer people out on the trails and I was proud of myself for still being out there and feeling great. My legs were tired, my feet were starting to hurt a bit and I looked forward to the short bits of walking more and more but I also felt like I was on top of the world.

However, when Lap 6 was almost done and I started to have a weird moment of doubt. It was hot and I started to wonder if I really wanted to be out there. Six laps. Twenty-five miles. One hundred degree heat. Those are not things to scoff at. I could stop running and feel proud. When I came in to the aid station for the final time, a volunteer asked me what I wanted in my water bottle and I’m not really sure why but I told him, I think I am done. What, you aren’t done. Look at you. You look great. Get back out there, he told me in rapid fire succession. All these were valid points. But there are hills and sun back that way, I countered. You have 30 minutes left, come on. You could at least walk for 30 minutes, he said. Alright, alright, I’ll go, I said, and the volunteers handed me a little orange flag. If I was still on the course at the end of the race, when I heard the horn, I was to plant the flag on the side of the trail and then I would get credit for the distance I covered in that partial lap.

And so, thanks to that volunteer, I headed out of the aid station one last time. I was tired and sweaty and feeling gross. I wasn’t keen on being out there but I was back out on the course so I might as well make the most of it. I ran and walked. During a walk break, a relay team (there was a relay also going on at the same time – those little buggers would blow right by us individual runners all refreshed and rested) caught up to me and told me I should run with them. Alright, I said and reluctantly started running again. We exchanged some small talk and to my surprise I actually felt better running with a group. As they talked and encouraged each other and me, it reenergized me. On the next big climb, though, one of their teammates started to fall back so they told me to go ahead.

Once I left them, the boost didn’t last too long and after hitting the misting station for a final time (my favorite people all day!) I was back to walking wondering if I could get to Mile 2 before hearing the horn. Then, they caught up with me again, and shouted, come on Becki, run. Again, reluctantly I did and again, it felt good to run. I gave myself permission to walk the hill up to the Mile 2 marker but after that I would run until I heard the horn.

And that is exactly what I did. I heard the horn somewhere between Miles 2 and 3 of my seventh lap, planted my little flag and happily started walking back to the start/finish. Unfortunately, I think I was at the point in the course that was the further away from the start/finish and ended up walking quite a ways, on a sunny road, before a volunteer came by in her car and offered me a ride. Thank goodness she did, I was starting to feel a little nauseous from the heat and sun.

I hung around for some food and gobbled up cookies, chips, veggies and a hot dog. I tried to stay until they announced the awards but I was getting tired and had an hour long drive ahead of me. Since I was soaked, I did a quick change in the car, happily put on flip-flops and headed for home.

I ended up running 27.42 miles in 5 hours 15 minutes. I am confident that if I had been able to start on time I could have completed at least 7 laps and then tacked on another mile or so. I had a great time at this race. The volunteers, organizers and aid were top-notch. The shirt and race medal are neat. The food after was yummy. All the other runners were super supportive. I would love to give this course another shot when we aren’t experiencing the heat wave of the century and I’m not late to the start. A favorite race, for sure.

Mad Marathon – Race Report

With the slogan, “The World’s Most Beautiful Marathon,” this inaugural race had a tremendous amount of expectation to meet. Run in the Mad River Valley of Central Vermont in the middle of summer, with the Green Mountains all around, gorgeous farmland, and wonderful old covered bridges, the beauty part was easy. It was the hills and heat that we had to worry about. Ben Franklin claimed “beauty and folly are old companions” and this race seemed to prove his point.

In training for this race, I didn’t take myself or my time as seriously as I did when I ran Charleston. I have my sub-4 and I wanted a fun marathon without all that worry about pace and numbers and times. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to run well so I made sure to incorporate hills in all my long runs but I also wanted to run a relaxed race so my goal was to run strong throughout and finish without a struggle. That sounds smart; so far, no folly.

But wait there’s more… The day before the race, I drove the course with my parents. They had driven it prior and Mom declared it “not that bad.” As we drove the country roads of Vermont, going up, going down over and over again, I found out that I have a different definition of “not that bad” than my mother. By the time we hit the second half of the course, I was announcing, “Yup, I’ll be walking this one. Oh, and this one. Walking again here.” This is why I never look at the course maps or profile charts or drive the course before the race, it only makesme nervous.

What have I gotten myself in to? Remember what old Ben said about beauty and folly?

Despite the increased levels of anxiety, driving the course actually proved to be beneficial. Right there in the car, I gave myself permission to walk parts of therace. I changed tactics and would approach the coming race like an ultra – Walk the uphills. Run the downhills and flats. I told myself to run strong but walk smart. I would run up the hills until my heart rate started to elevate and then I would break in to a power hike to the top.

Race morning was chilly and clear – perfect running weather – however, it was supposed to warm up quite a bit. The first mile of the course led us downhill and out of town, through a covered bridge on our way to Joplin Hill. The mile-andthensome-long climb to the top of Joplin Hill reduced nearly everyone to a walk but I was prepared and didn’t get discouraged. No, I never thought I’d be walking so early in a marathon but there was plenty of time to run later.

The remaining first half of the course, through mile 12 was on and off rolling, dirt and paved, roads with a few bigger hills that required walking and followed the same course (more or less) as the half marathon. At mile 12, we marathoners split off for a more challenging second half.

Also, just after Mile 12, my knees started to bother me. It was odd since I’ve never experienced knee pain in my training runs. I decided not to panic and see if the pain went away. It did, and I can’t even remember how long it lasted. It was the only point during the race that I started to worry so I am glad it went away as quickly as it came on.

Up to that point, I was alternating water and Gatorade at the aid stations. I grabbed a Gu (orange flavored – not that bad, surprisingly!) and sucked it down with a swallow of water at the next aid stations.

This second part of the course was almost solely on paved roads and had much less shade than the first half. Also, with the sun shining, the temperature had climbed in to the 70s. Running through sprinklers and grabbing two cups of water started to become a priority any time I hit an aid station. I focused on running strong and kept chugging along.

As I was running down a hill, just on the edge of control, thinking “well, this is steep” a spectator yelled out, “Welcome to the Dip!!” The infamous Dip. One-quarter mile up. One-quarter mile down. Steep and brutal. I made it through the Dip but wasn’t exactly looking forward to it on the way back.

Somewhere near mile 16, the course turns to make a long loop before heading back along the road we ran out on and then in to town for the finish. As I made that first turn, my stomach was feeling very full of liquids, which concerned me since the heat was increasing and I knew I needed to keep on top of my hydration. Just as I was shaking my head no to the offered water bottle, a woman offered me a watermelon slice – the most magical watermelon slice on the planet. “Oh, that looks good” I blurted out and the aid station workers had a giggle. Mmmm, watermelon. It was ice cold and tasty and exactly what I needed at that moment.

Reenergized by magical fruit, I took a couple deep breaths and realized that I was actually feeling good and had less than 10 miles left to run. We looped around and headed back to the finish, with only the Dip between me and the end (or so I thought).

The miles ticked off quickly and I kept to my plan – run the downhills and flats, run uphill until my heart rate jumps up and then powerhike to the top. Running along, checking off the miles, I felt like I was running in the zone. Sure, I was tired and hot and ready to be done running but “Run Strong” was my motto for the day and it kept me going.

“Three-fours of a mile to the Dip and then 3.5 miles to the finish once you get the top,” shouted a course marshal on a bike. That was all I needed to hear. I picked up the pace just a bit, told my legs and brain to just shut up and run to the Dip. One more walk and then I could cruise in to the finish (again…or so I thought).

Down the Dip I ran and up the Dip I hiked – breathing hard and anxious to see the top. The crowd support on the way up the Dip was great. Despite the fact that this race is mostly on backcountry roads, the support at the many, many aid stations and people at their houses along the way was phenomenal. Finally, at the top of the Dip, I ran through a sprinkler – oh, that’s cold and feels great. I also sucked down one of the gels I brought – Carboom Raspberry – in an effort to keep on top of my hydration/electrolytes. My stomach was still feeling pretty full but I was also feeling a touch hungry (an odd contradiction that could only happen in a marathon). I walked through the aid station at the top and then off I went with one goal in mind – finish.

Again, the miles ticked by quickly. Each time I saw an orange cone up ahead, I told myself not to get excited, that couldn’t possibly be another mile marker but each time it was, indeed, another mile down. I was getting closer and closer. We hit a long (it felt long anyway) downhill and I started looking for the last covered bridge that meant we were only a mile from the end. We rounded a turn and then there it was. I was tired but feeling better at mile 25 of this marathon than any of my other marathons.

Just as I was heading through the covered bridge, I heard a shout – “Becki! Becki! Oh, I’m sorry we missed you! Go Becki!” It was Mom. My parents had planned on meeting me at Mile 12 but had missed me by a few minutes. Mom ran with me until we got to one last hill up Main Street (darn, I forgot about this one, I thought I was done with the hills.) Off I went, power hiked up the hill, eager to get to the top and run it in to the finish.

I got to the top, started running and got one more “Go Becki” from Mom.

This was the only bad part of the course. Main Street had been opened back up and the runners had a small “shoulder” to run on but it was mostly broken asphalt and dirt. Finding a smooth path to run on was impossible until we were closer to the Waitsfield Village Green and the road opened up to runners only.

As I made the final few turns to finish on the green, I heard a “YAY! Go Becki!!” and there was Dad to cheer me in to the finish line. It was just to boost I needed to kick it in strong. I read 4:27 something on the clock and I was so excited that I beat my expectations. I ran strong the whole day, stuck to my plan and finished a great race feeling happy and proud!

The apple cider was delicious and the apple doughnuts would be a welcome treat later. Dad and I found a spot in the shade for me to take my shoes off (aaahhh), catch my breath and wait for Mom. I shared some French fries (tasted great but not a great idea for recovery) and started craving an iced coffee as soon as Dad told me they were being sold near-by (again, tasted great, hit the spot but it wasn’t a great idea to put more liquid in my belly).

This was definitely one of my best races and I am so proud to have finished the first Mad Marathon in such high spirits. “Strong” will be a key part of my racing strategy from now on.

I highly recommend this race – great organization and support, beautiful and challenging course and an accomplishment to be proud of at the end.

Trail Dawgs Triple Crown Trail Race – Race Report

Three trail races – half marathon, 10K, 5K. Two short breaks – if you run fast enough. One morning. That is the idea behind the Trail Dawgs Triple Crown Trail Run. http://www.triplecrowntrailrun.org/

I arrived at White Clay Creek State Park in Newark, DE without incident just before 7 in the morning. I had a half an hour to get my race bib and packet and get settled before the start of race #1 – the half marathon. Not long after I arrived and received by race bib, my parents, who drove all night to run the third and final race of the day, pulled up. We said our hellos, hit the restroom, chatted for a bit and then it was time for me to line up for the half.

All the runners congregated at the top of a grassy hill next to the picnic area and waited as the race director first spray painted a line in the grass (the starting line) and briefed us on some pre-race instructions – run, follow the red then blue pie plates, enjoy the stream crossings and have fun. Then we were running!

It was in the 40s and overcast so I made the decision to pin my race bib with my three small tear away tags, one for each race, to my running skirt rather than my tank top or long sleeve shirt. I made the right decision, even though it did warm up slightly about half way through the half, we weren’t out in the sun for long and the long sleeves were nice in the shade of the trees and slight breeze.

We started the half bunched up but soon entered the woods so the single track trail forced us in to a single-file line. About a half mile in to the race I found myself behind an older gentleman with a navy headband and black calf compression-sleeves. He was setting a nice pace so I fell in line behind in and stayed there until mile 3.

The full marathon started 10 minutes after the half so I was expecting to be passed by marathon runners all day and the full marathon leader came ripping down the trail about 22 minutes after we started (only 10 after he did…he was flying) and there was a steady stream of “on your lefts” and “runner passings” for the rest of the race.

Around mile 3, we came to a creek crossing and I lost my pacer in the shuffle across the water. The water was about knee high and quite cold. I made it through without slipping and only noticed my wet shoes and socks for a few minutes after I got back on the trail. However, note to self, investigate wool socks, they will probably be more comfortable and dry faster.

The next four miles I followed the red pie plates, occasionally passing people but usually getting passed by the marathoners and walking up the steeper hills but keeping a steady pace on the downhills and flat bits. We hit a few aid stations along the way where I grabbed either water or Gatorade depending on how I was feeling (usually water) and a handful of goldfish crackers at each. This section of the trail also brought us out in to some fields for short periods and it was nice to warm up (and dry out a bit) in the sun. I was also on the look out for blue pie plates that signaled that we were on our way back toward the finish.

Before too long, I found the blue pie plates and got a little kick in my stride that always comes when I know I’m on my way back. Over the hills, through the woods…and over the fallen trees and through the mud…to the finish line we ran.

Around Mile 10 we circled back to the creek and by this time the water was higher than mid-thigh and even reached the bottom of my running skirt. The water was still cold but it actually felt great on my tired legs.

I reached this point after about 1 hour and 52 minutes of running and if I had just been running the half, I would have felt great about my time. However, I had a 10K to run in 38 minutes and I was hoping to have a break between the races. Over 3 miles of trails in 38 minutes was going to be rough. I knew I had to save something for the two other races I would be running but I also didn’t want to start the 10K late (its allowed but my goal for the day was to start all three races on time). I pushed just slightly on the flats (felt good) and downhills (felt, not as, good). I ran some of the smaller up hills but there was a long-ish climb about halfway between the creek and the finish line that seemed to go on forever. I power hiked up that hill, praying to see the top soon.

Finally, the top came and I took off, knowing that the finish line had to be close. I ran in to mud, deceptively hidden under the grass and my shoes were soaked for the third time that race. Sploosh! Sploosh! I didn’t even try to avoid the puddles.

I was listening hard for the cheers that would mean the finish line was, pushing the pace, watching my time. I had hoped to finish the half in 2:15 but that time came and went sometime in the mud. Then, up ahead, a dirt-bare hill, through the trees and the final turn before the finish. Just as I reached the top of that hill, with a few fans cheering on the runners, one shouted, “Final turn. Go catch him!” There was a tall guy about 10 seconds ahead me and my initial thought was, “No way. I have to run two more races today” but then my competitive spirit got the better of me and I slowly reeled him in as we made our way to the finish. At the last second, I felt bad about blowing past this guy right at the line so I slowed a bit and we crossed the line at the same time – 2 hours and 25 minutes.

Thank goodness that’s over, I thought. But, of course it wasn’t and the 10K race was lined up right next to the half marathon finish line so I let the volunteers tear off my half marathon tag, found my parents, sipped some water, told them I was feeling tired but OK, took off my long sleeve shirt and got in line for the 10K start, which I expected any second.

Four minutes and 19 seconds after finishing the half, I started running the 10K. I was tired and I was having some pain on the outside of my left knee (Where did that come from?) but I was having fun. The 10K course was the last three miles of the half course, running back out to the creek crossing and then cutting back to the first three miles of the half course. It was fun running the opposite direction of the full and half marathoners still running, giving them encouragement. It is one of the things I adore about trail runners, everyone is supportive – I said as many “good jobs,” “keep it ups,” and “looking strongs” as were said to me.

Another advantage of the 10K course is that I had already run the course once so it felt familiar. Just run to the creek and then come back, I told myself. That’s all.

As I took off for the start of the 10K, I told my parents to start the 5K on time and I would try to catch up with them if I didn’t finish the 10K on time, which seemed more and more likely. However, I knew I’d be upset with myself if I didn’t make it for the start of their race and I really want to run (or at least, start) with them so I used that as motivation to push through the 10K. I walked the bigger uphills but I kept a steady, strong pace the rest of the time.

Finally, I came out of the woods, power hiked up the last, grassy hill, saw the finish line and ran. I finished race #2 in 1 hour 11 minutes, just as the race director announced that there were only three minutes to go before the start of the 5K. My mom came running over, “you made it, we’re just lining up over here.” I joined the crowd for the 5K start feeling tired but thrilled that I had achieved my goal.

And then we were off and running the final race of the day. Dad was running a run / walk schedule but Mom was going to see how much she could run. I told her I would let her pull me along and for a half mile that plan worked out great. However, we came to the first hill and I knew I had to walk so I watched her ran away from me. I kept an eye on her but after the turn for the 5K cut off I lost sight of her. Oh well, I’ll see her at the finish.

I ran along the, now familiar, trails, enjoying the lack of pressure and time-crunch of this last race. I took my time and just went by feel, happy to not once glance at my watch. As I got closer to the finish, I caught sight of Mom up ahead quite a ways just as I hit the mud. I toyed with the idea of just taking it easy but then I decided that, if I could, I’d like to cross the finish line together. I picked up the pace and slowly reeled her in, finally catching up with her about a half mile to the finish. We ran up the last hill, made the final turn and saw the finish line. We decided to pick up the pace to squeak in under 40 minutes.

We grabbed some water and went back to the finish line to cheer Dad in for his finish. We didn’t have long to wait and he soon came out of the woods, running strong. “Yay, go Dad! Looking good! Finish strong!”

Everyone had a good race and I couldn’t have been happier that they came so far just to run a race with me. Eating our hamburger and hot dogs, chatting about our different races – when we walked or didn’t, who we passed, where we ran through the mud, leapt over logs and almost got lost – I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the race and celebrate the day.

Trail Dawgs Triple Crown Trail Race Result – 4 hours 25 minutes, including three races and the two short breaks in between

Pros:
• Gorgeous trails to run along
• Well marked course
• Excellent volunteers
• BBQ at the end was delicious
• Perfect running weather – 50ish and overcast
• Fun, unique race set up – something to for everyone

Cons:
• If I have to have one, and its minor, I wish the shirt was more distinct and not cotton. I’d rather let the shirt do the bragging for me that I had run 3 races in one afternoon.

Brick Workout

This morning I woke up early with a purpose.  I got ready but not in my usual running garb for fifty degree weather.  Instead, I grabbed a long sleeve shirt, padded gloves and my bike helmet.

Riding my bike never gives me the same thrill as running but I will admit it can be fun cruising downhills, pushing the pace on the flats, whizzing by runners.  After a satisfying 16-miler yesterday, my legs took a little while to get in a groove but before too long I was in a zone and enjoying the ride.  There is something satisfying about covering 8 miles in the time it takes to cover half that distance.

However, pulling in to the garage to park my bike, I wasn't done.  To train for the upcoming Luray Triathlon, I need to practice transitioning from biking to running - or in tri terminology, a brick workout.  I jumped off my bike, traded my helmet for a hat, took a sip of water and headed back out to the trail for an easy two miles.

Or, what should have been an easy two miles.

Jumping off a bike and going right in to a run is the same sensation you get when you first get off a trampoline - a bit weak and wobbly but also heavy and leaden.  The only thing to do was tell my legs to move and just get it done.  I wasn't trying to put any distance on my legs, just get used to going from one to the next, so I told myself to take it slow and just keep it steady.

It was a long mile out to the turn around but I was surprised to see my pace was decent.  Seeing 10:30 on my Garmin instead of the 12:00 I felt like I was running gave me a boost on the way back.

I finished the workout - 8 miles on the bike, 2 miles running - in just over one hour and I felt good about it.  I can't say it was fun or that I would ever choose to do a brick workout for fun but at least, now, I know I can do it.

Luray Tri here I come!

Daily Dozen:
8 miles - bike
2 miles - run

Washed Away

One the schedule this morning was a 3 mile recovery run and I needed it. Yesterday was a tough day – 7 miles at pace, circuit training during my lunch break and then swimming laps after work. On top of those three workouts yesterday, I went to sleep a little later than usual last night so I was tired, in several ways, when I woke up this morning. On top of vaguely sore legs, droopy eyelids and a lack-of-sleep induced brain fog, it was also raining – 3 easy miles was probably the most I could muster.

As I stepped outside, wearing shorts and a long-sleeve t-shirt, it was drizzling but seemed to be letting up. As I walked to the bike path my legs, eyelids and brain seemed to come around to the idea of an easy run and I thought, “Well, this shouldn’t be too bad.”

I hit the start button my Garmin and off I went in to the cold, dark drizzle.

I hadn’t run more than a half a mile before it started raining harder and before long my shirt and hat were soaked. Slow and steady, and now wet as well, I ran along the bike trail, happy for the brief shelter offered as I ran under the overpasses. I’d shake the rain off my arms and wipe down the brim of my hat, which seems like a silly thing to do knowing that in 2 seconds I’d be right back out in the rain.

The rain energized me as I hit the turnaround point 1.5 miles away. I wasn’t tempted to go any further but I was also a little surprised to hit the halfway point so soon. Running felt good.

On the way back I hit a few puddles, tried my best to avoid them, soaked my shoes anyway, eventually gave up and splashed right through them. My tired muscles and sleepiness were washed away completely by the time I finished the run

Daily Dozen:
3 miles – easy
Upper body & core strength training @ lunch hour

How I Fartlek

fart•lek
–noun
a training technique, used especially among runners, consisting of bursts of intense effort loosely alternating with less strenuous activity.

In my quest to run a strong marathon this summer, I’ve been adding speedwork to my running. The plan that I chose to follow (Hal Higdon’s Intermediate II) includes pace runs the day before the long run, meaning I try to run these miles as close to my planned marathon pace (9 minute miles) as possible. However, I’ve also made one run a week a fartlek run.

Most of the time you’ll find fartlek described as speedplay, encouraging the runner to add in bursts of speed by picking landmarks along their route, running fast to the landmark, slowing down, recovering and starting the process over again. I’ve tried this. It does not work for me because I, too often, am lazy. I need a coach to shout at me through a giant megaphone – “Run Fast NOW!”
Since I don’t have coach, giant megaphone or no, I had given up on fartlek runs. That is, until I came up with another idea.

One of the podcasts I look forward to listening to while out for a run is NPR’s All Songs Considered and on a run a few weeks ago, I decided to run hard each time a song was played and recover as best I could when the hosts were talking. This ended up being just the thing I needed to do fartlek runs.

Sometimes the hosts only do a short introduction between songs and some times they talk longer. Sometimes the songs are four or five minutes long and sometimes they only play parts of songs. I never know going in to the run where I’ll be – up hill, down hill, straight away – when the next song starts. I can’t go easy on myself because I’m not the one calling the shots.

And that is how I fartlek.

Daily Dozen:
7.5 miles run to work – fartlek miles 2-5
Circuit Training @ lunch hour
Swimming, 30 minutes

Morning Runners

This morning was the first time this year I was able to run in shorts and a T-shirt and I decided to extend my planned 3 mile run in to a 5 miler so I could enjoy the beautiful morning weather as long as possible. Even though my pace was slow and my legs were feeling the 14-milers from Saturday, it was a perfect morning run. For the most part, I had the bike path to myself and it was hard not to imagine that I had to whole morning, the whole world to myself.

I’ve written before about how much I savor my early morning runs – finishing before the sun has a chance to rise, before most people even bother to hit the snooze button – and it is a run like this morning’s run that reaffirm that for me.

I wish I could say, “everyone should be a morning runner” and mean it, but I don’t. If everyone started running at 4:30 in the morning, the sense of secrecy I feel as I pass the three or four other runners I see that early would disappear. The sense of accomplishment I feel as I get in to work knowing that my official start to the day was hours ago would still be there but the feeling that that accomplishment is mine to relish privately would be diminished.

So, I say, everyone keep running after work. Fill the bike paths and sidewalks to capacity. Through your actions, spread the word that running is awesome. Just don’t decide to become early morning runners. (I have a feeling that I’m not in danger of this happening any time soon.)

Daily Dozen:
5 miles @ easy pace
Walk – hills on the treadmill & Strength Training – push-ups, lunges @ lunch hour

A Good Start

It has been 2 months since the Charleston Marathon and I’m still on a running high from breaking the 4 hour barrier.  I thought I would spend the rest of the year focusing on ultra distances and had my eye on a 50K and a 50 miler or two.  However, after Charleston, I found myself wondering just how much faster I could run the marathon and I got very excited at the idea of finding out. 

I found a mid-summer marathon that I’d like to focus on, Mad Marathon; its small (my preferred size race), its in Vermont (pretty and convenient to my parents) and it is a first-time event (for some reason, I like doing first-time events).  After a week long vacation, I am back to running regularly and find myself focused on running a faster marathon in 16 weeks.

This morning was my first of several “pace” runs.  I ran the first mile as a warm up and then started pushing the pace to get close to a 9 minute mile, which is what I would like to run at the Mad Marathon this summer.  I’ve always found it difficult to run at race paces during training.  Put me at the start line of a 5K and I’ll rip off an 8:30 first mile, no problem, but in training I find it difficult to even run a regular 10 minute pace.  I convinced myself that that is just the way it is so why fight it? 

However, running faster in Charleston has given me the confidence to push the pace every once in a while and tell myself that I can and will run faster.  This morning, running to work, was my first test of my newfound confidence.  To my surprise and delight, it worked.  After mile 1, my pace picked up and even though I was feeling the effort, it got easier and I found myself in a nice running rhythm, not trying any harder but running faster and faster paces.  Mile 2 showed a 9:20 pace.  Mile 3 was a 9:13.  Mile 4, when I thought I was not pushing as hard was a 9:09 and Mile 5 was a 9:03. 

It felt good to be out on this cold morning, my backpack thumping on my back, speeding along the trails to work.  What better way to start this round of marathon training?  Mad River Valley, here I come!

Daily Dozen:

6.3 miles run to work, 4 miles at pace 

Running Errands. Literally.

I'm not running according to a schedule.  I'm just running.  I have several races on the schedule and I'm just going to run all of them.  No time goals.  Just running.  How exciting!

However, it is making it difficult to push myself beyond my standard one hour run.  I've started running to work more days of the week which means I get a 7 to 10 mile run Monday, Wednesday and Friday and I've been looking for the right kind of motivation for my weekend long run.

I had three things that needed to be done today:  1) a long run, preferably on a trail, 2) drop off some checks at the ATM and 3) pick up a prescription and contact solution from the pharmacy.  As I got dressed for my run, I tried to plan my day and then thought, Why not get them all done at once?

I ran out the door with my checks for the ATM in one hand and my water bottle holder stuffed with my credit card for the pharmacy and two gels for the trail.  I hit the ATM, headed through the streets of Arlington downhill toward the Potomac River, ran along the Potomac Heritage Trail for a few miles, felt satisfied with a an hour of scrambling up, over and down rocks and roots, turned back, jumped on the Custis Bike Trail for a mile, swung back through the, now busier, streets of Clarendon, stopped long enough at the pharmacy to get what I needed and then headed home after nearly three hours of running errands.

Having a purpose for a run seems to be a great motivator for me.  Running as fun, exercise and mode of transportation.

Daily Dozen:
14 mile long/errand run

A Disappointment and a Few Opportunities

This week, with the Charleston Marathon over and the glow of a sub-4 finish starting to fade, it was time to focus on my next goal: running my first 50-miler. Last summer, I had so much fun running the Skyline Challenge 50K that I wanted to continue challenging myself and run further than I ever had before. Targeting a 50 miler with its emphasis on steady forward motion and endurance would be a change of pace (literally and figuratively) from the faster running I was doing to prepare for Charleston and running a PR.

There was one flaw in my plan, which I hadn’t everconsidered. I didn’t get in to the race I wanted to run. Entry in to the race is a lottery based on a random number assignment and the performance of the stock market on the day the numbers are picked. As it turns out, I didn’t make it in and am rather far down the wait list. My chances don’t look good.

Realizing I wasn’t going to be running that particular 50 miler was disappointing but also, surprisingly, a bit of a relief. Now, I can take a bit longer to recover and maybe focus on some other events this spring. I’ve got a few shorter races this spring and all of them I will be running with either a friend or a family member. My early morning training runs are my time and I enjoy those runs but I do, sometimes, feel lonely at races being in huge crowd of runners and not knowing any of them. I love sharing races with people I know.

Also, I’ve signed up for my first triathlon, something that I never saw myself doing. I’ll be doing the swim portion of the Luray Triathlon, International distance on a Saturday in August and the whole multisport, swim, bike, run, Sprint distance race on Sunday. And I’m excited about it!

Finally, what I’ve only recently realized, after being disappointed for two days that I couldn’t run a 50 miler, was that I can run a 50 miler, just not that particular one. There are other options out there, who knew? I’ve got my eye on one that will be the first weekend in June and depending on how training goes this month, I will decided whether to sign up or not by March.

I love seeing my race schedule laid out before me and 2011 is shaping up to be a year of new experiences, new challenges and lots of quality time with friends and family out on the race course. Yes!

Daily Dozen:
Unscheduled Rest Day – I wanted to go swimming this morning but I stayed up late finishing a book and decided to continue sleeping when my alarm went off

Charleston Marathon: Race Report

The title of this race report should be:  “Just Run” she says.  Or, why a 30 year old woman should still listen to her mother.

Marathon number six is in the books.  It will be known as the race of constant calculations.  Also, it felt like my strongest, and most smartly run, race. 

Going in the Saturday’s race I had plenty of self-doubt and I was just too much in my head about it.  Attempt a sub-four or not?  Am I ready?  Did I train enough?  Blah blah blah.  What good was all that second guessing going to do for me? 

On the drive to Charleston I spoke to my mom on the phone, who tells me, “I was yelling at you.  Well, not at you.  I was yelling at your blog.”  “Just run the race,” she went on to say, “who cares about all that other stuff.  I mean, just run.” 

To be honest, I was a little taken aback.  Those were my real feelings.  My real doubts.  My real fears.  And, here was someone telling me that they don’t matter.   But, of course, she was right.  You should always listen to your mother, why fight it?  All I needed to do was show up on race day and run.  And then, I started feeling a little silly about it all. 

“…you just have to start running and take it from there”  I decided to quit worrying about it and just show up on race day and run the race that was in me on that day.  Just run. 

I slept OK the night before the race.  I was getting up every 2 or 3 hours to use the bathroom because I was determined to be as hydrated as possible.  Also, I woke up at 5 and couldn’t get back to sleep even though I still had another 1.5 hours before I had to get ready.  I did manage to doze on and off and finally got up at 6:30. 

I made the decision to wear my running skirt instead of capri tights.  It was in the mid-30s that morning but it would be up in to the 50s about 2 hours after the race started.  I decided to sacrifice a little warmth at the beginning to ensure I didn’t overheat.  This was definitely the right decision.  I ate an orange and sipped a little more water before leaving the hotel for the starting line.  I had a few bites of a bagel and a banana on the car ride over, trying to strike that delicate balance between fueling and actually eating. 

Parking was easy and before too long, I was waiting at the start line with my fellow marathoners, both half and full.  The pacers for this race had balloons tied to them so they could easily be spotted and I planted myself a few yards behind the yellow 4:00 marathon pacer and in line with the two blue 2:00 half marathon pacers.  Well, this should be easy, just follow the balloons.

I ate a gel just before the race started and then suddenly I was running marathon #6.  As I learned from my last marathon, I needed to let everyone pass me for the first few miles so I settled in a comfortable pace and just let the rest of the runners sprint off.  I planned to let the first mile set the tone.  I ran comfortably and didn’t push the pace and hit the first mile marker 9:253.  Well, that didn’t feel too hard, I thought, what happens if I push just a little.    Without much more effort I ran mile 3 in 9:02.  That felt about right! 

The beginning of the race

  

The first few miles of the race were in downtown Charleston, which was very neat to run through.  There were plenty of spectators out braving the cold temps and it felt good to be cheered along as I found my rhythm.  However, by mile 4 we were heading out of downtown and I focused on my next milestone – gel #2 at mile 6.  I hit that water stop, sucked down the gel, gulped the water and was quickly on my way and on the look out for milestone #2 – my personal cheering squad at mile 9.5.  Each of these miles ticked by quickly with a short hill around mile 8, really the only notable incline of the race.  I was encouraged by the splits I was running:  all of them in the vicinity of 9:00 to 9:10 a mile.  Just where I wanted to be. 

I spotted my husband and friends at 9.5 and got some great energy from the as I ran by.  Wow, I’m 10 miles in to this race and feeling great.  Next up, I set my sights on gel #3 at mile 12. 

This would be the “longest” section of the race mentally as I wasn’t going to have my next milestone until I saw my cheering section again at Mile 21.  The course at this point twists and turns through North Charleston, which many runners don’t like but I found the route easy to follow and encouraging.  I was able to see parts of the course ahead of time and it was rewarding when I would reach them a short time later. 

The volunteers throughout this race were great but I think they were particularly so during these middle miles.  One of the things I loved about the race organization is that they printed our names on our bibs so it was cool to run up to a water stop and have the volunteer shout, “Way to Becki.  Looking strong.”  It seems like such a small thing to have the added bonus of your name thrown in to a shout of encouragement but it helps – big time. 

I was cruising along, hitting approximate 9:00 miles through about mile 15 and then I hit a very slight fade and slipped to 9:10 to 9:15 pace.  Absolutely no big deal but I had already begun the calculations. 

This whole time I had kept the blue 2:00 half marathon balloons within sight and only occasionally saw the yellow 4:00 marathon balloon.  I didn’t worry too much about that yellow balloon because the blues told me I was maintaining the right pace and I convinced myself that the yellow balloon had just gone out at too fast a pace.  The blue balloons peeled off at Mile 11 to finish their race and I ran for quite some time without seeming the yellow balloon.  I hit Mile 13 in 1:58 or so, which put me right at a 4 hour marathon without factoring in a fade and each mile after that I added up the time in my head, calculated the time left, just to reassure myself that my math was still right and 4 hours was still a possibility – yellow balloon or no yellow balloon. 

Although I had slowed just a hair, by Mile 17 I caught sight of that yellow balloon again.  It was getting closer.  Slowly and ever so slightly but it was definitely getting closer.  (You can see in my mile splits I actually picked up the pace back to sub 9:10 pace – wanting to catch that little yellow balloon put a fire in me early).  Just stay on it and slowly reel it in, I told myself, just be patient. 

With my eyes on that balloon, I ran toward my cheering section at mile 21.  This was my last milestone before the finish line.  My legs were starting to feel the miles but I was still feeling comfortable in my pace.  As I saw my cheering squad, I shouting, “I NEED to catch that STUPID yellow balloon!”  I didn’t realize how much that little balloon was impacting me until that shout came spitting out of my mouth.  A fellow runner laughed and shouted, “that’s right, go get ‘im!”  That was all I needed.  I grabbed the banana that my crew was holding out for me (per instructions – late race banana hand offs are essential) and took off. 

"I NEED to catch that STUPID yellow balloon"

The banana hand off just before I began to chase the balloon

I pushed.  The remaining 5 miles of the course was an out and back.  I just had to catch that balloon, make it to the turn around and hold on until the finish.  I pushed and pushed.  The yellow balloon got closer and closer.  And yet, the out portion of the course seemed to go on forever.  Also, I started noticing how many people were dressed in tights, long sleeve shirts, winter hats, etc.  It seemed that everyone had a shirt or jacket tied around their waist.  The temperature had gone from mid-30s in the morning to the 50s.  An overheated, death march on a lonely strip of road with little crowd support was not the ideal way to run the final miles of the race but I had dressed for this last section and didn’t feel the heat as much as some.  Just “follow the yellow balloon” I reminded myself. 

(However, my favorite part of the race happened on the way out:  there were several bands along the course and just before mile 22 there were two guys, one on a keyboard and the other with a mike.  As I ran by, I hear the guy sing, “hey there, runner girl in the purple shirt, I love you in your running skirt.”  I blew him a kiss.  He deserved it.)

Singing distractions aside, I was totally focused on catching the yellow balloon but I also had my eye out for the turn around.  Where was it?  Finally, I caught and passed the yellow balloon just as we made the turn around.  I just needed to hang on, not let that balloon pass me and finish this race. 

Oh, but my strength was very quickly draining away.  I was no longer focused on something tangible and the finish line seemed to never come.  I ran and ran and ran but it didn’t seem to do any good.  Just before mile 24 I heard two sets of feet coming up fast behind me and I prepared for the worst – seeing that little yellow balloon pass me and not being able to do a thing about it.  Luckily, it wasn’t the balloon so I let the two runners go.  Just hold steady, I told myself but I couldn’t help worrying that I had made my surge too early, that I wasn’t patient enough and I should have just stayed with the balloon until I got closer to the end rather than try to be a hero and bury it on the course behind me. 

Just run, I repeated over and over.  It is almost over.  You’ve got it.  Do the math.  I did the math.  I was cutting it close but under 4 hours was still possible.  Mile 25 – done.  One more mile marker to go. 

(To anyone else this race was not nearly as dramatic as it was in my head).

I saw my crew again before making the final turn and they were so excited.  “You did it.  You caught the balloon.  Yayayayay!”  But I didn’t feel excited.  I just wanted to be done.  Where’s the turn for the finish, I asked.  “Its just up there.  You’re so close.  You’ve got it.”  I didn’t feel like I had anything but I kept running.  Just run, I repeated, just finish this thing.

 

I did not feel as happy I look in this picture taken just before Mile 26 (Note the tiny yellow balloon in the background)

Mile marker 26 finally came and my watch read 3:58.  I had 2 minutes to run .2 miles and finish under 4 hours.  More math.  It’s possible.  I can do it.  Just keeping running.  I made the last turn and finally saw the finish line.  As I got closer, I saw the clock and it read 3:59:something so I started sprinting.  I didn’t want to just run a 4 hour marathon according to my chip time, dammit if I was going to do it, I wanted that clock to read 3-something.  I surprised myself with an awesome finishing kick. 

I sprinted past the spectators lining the last few yards and they erupted in shouts and cheers.  I was the only runner crossing the finish line and the announcer started shouting, “And she’s going to make it under four hours.  She’s sprinting it in under four hours.  Becki has finished the Charleston Marathon in under four hours.  Way to go Becki!”

The triumphant finish

Best.  Finish.  Ever.  I felt like I had won the race.  I can’t imagine that the actual winners got any better a reception as they crossed the line. 

I crossed the finish line at 3:59:33 with a chip time of 3:59:06. 

Tired.  A little nauseous from sprinting.  Satisfied.  That is how I felt as I accepted my race medal and met up with my cheering squad. 

Me and the best support crew ever (minus my favorite supporter who is taking this picture)

The smell of the free shrimp and grits was very unappealing but I happily accepted the free Fat Tire beer at the finish festival.  I also bought a hot dog and some cookies from the food truck and gobbled them down.  Great, unhealthy but totally yummy, way to celebrate a great race and my first “3:something” marathon finish. 

   

Pros:

• Charleston is a great place to visit and the city came out to support the race festival
• The marathon was part of a whole race festival so there were distances for everyone to run – youth marathon, 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Full Marathon and even a Bike Ride the following day.
• Even though this was the first year for the marathon, the organization was excellent
• Volunteers and water stops were run well
• Chip was attached to the back of the race bib so no need to untie shoes or return chips at the end of the race.
• Free beer is always a good thing

Cons:

• The course was supposed to have water stops with GU during the last miles – either it was gone by the time I came through or I missed it (or it was never there)
• The final 5 miles out-and-back was confusing since we were never sure which side to run on
• I hate when races take you right by the finish line in the late miles of a race – it is a special kind of torture to tempt us with stopping when we have another 5 miles to go (and many people are hitting the wall)
• The only free food at the end of the race was shrimp and grits.  Other runners seemed to be enjoying it.  I wanted something else.

Miles Splits:

Miles 1 and 2 – 18:50 (I remember my watch read 9:23 at the first mile marker but I forgot to hit the lap button)

Mile 3 – 9:02

Mile 4 – 9:23

Mile 5 – 8:53

Mile 6 – 9:10

Mile 7 – 8:58

Mile 8 – 9:00

Mile 9 – 8:59

Mile 10 – 9:04

Mile 11 – 9:00

Mile 12 – 9:08

Mile 13 – 9:04

Mile 14 – 9:00

Mile 15 – 9:13 (started to fade a bit)

Mile 16 – 9:12

Mile 17 – 9:13

Mile 18 – 9:09

Mile 19 – 9:12

Mile 20 – 9:08

Mile 21 and 22 – 17:54 (average 8:57, the great yellow balloon chase began)

Mile 23 – 8:58

Mile 24 – 8:55

Mile 25 – 9:22 (balloon motivation starting to fade)

Mile 26 – 9:17

Last .2 – 1:48

Finish Time:  3:59:06

Doubt

I had an interesting email exchange with a friend yesterday where she expressed doubt in her ability to train properly for an upcoming event.  My advice to her was to “go for it” but then I started thinking about how much I doubted my own running abilities going in to Saturday’s marathon.   I started to feel a bit like a hypocrite.  It is easy to tell someone else that their doubts are unfounded but something else entirely when you have to deal with your own.

My training did not go as well as planned.  I wasn’t able to get in as much mileage as I wanted because of life, my own training mistakes and sickness.  I scrapped all the of speedwork in the last 6 weeks of training because it wasn’t working for me – not hitting the pace I thought I should be hitting was taking too much of a toll on my confidence so I chose to keep running rather than keep quitting when things didn’t go the way I wanted them to go.  I don’t feel like I am ready to run a marathon.

Is it smart for me to back off my marathon goals for the reasons listed above or am I just making excuses so I don’t have to try and fail? 

I don’t know. 

I’ve talked myself in to being open to the possibility of just running for “fun” on Saturday without concern for a time goal but what if I am missing out on an opportunity to really test myself?  I ran lots of long miles.  I even ran a 22 miler in an even, faster than normal long run, pace and felt great the rest of the day.  I did do 6 weeks of speedwork in the beginning of this training cycle and ran a 10K PR as a result.  Perhaps feeling “ready” for a marathon is overrated?  I certainly have felt “ready” for any of my past marathons.

The best I can do is show up and give it my best for the day and maybe, resigning myself to “running for fun” is really giving it my best? 

David Fleming, a writer at ESPN wrote an article about his experience with his first (and last) marathon.  The following words stuck with me:

“The reason we all hate -- and love -- running so much is that it's very much like life itself: It changes drastically and frequently and often without warning.

And you never know, from one day to the next, if you're going to have a great run or a horrible one -- you just have to start running and take it from there.”

Charleston Marathon Start Line:  Here I Come.

Daily Dozen:
3 miles, nice and slow this morning