Flu Alert Day #3

Still no training today since I went home sick from work after 2 hours and called into the night job. Just more r 'n' r for me today. Hope to get back to it Saturday.

The Flu in June Sucks!

I've literately been in bed all day for the last 2 days with a combination of flu and exhaustion. Hopefully back to both jobs tomorrow and my training schedule Saturday. Schedule too full to attempt training Thursdays and Fridays, except for when I'm feeling well Thursday mornings.

Wednesday Night = Skating + Swimming

Back on the ice after 2 months, this is going to be good! When I finally got my skates on the right way. Seriously, I was trying to tie them like my running shoes, not helpful. I couldn't remember what skills I was suppose to know of how exactly how to do them anymore. After a some what rocky warm-up and group skills it started coming back to me. Good news is that there are only 2 skills I'm not already at a passable level on!

I managed to drag myself over to the pool afterwards and got another good session in there before calling it a night. Wednesdays are going to be long days: 9-9.5 hrs at work, 2 hrs skating, and then 45 min in the pool.

Finally Back in the Pool!

I haven't been in the pool in over 4 months and finally got it together. I did better than I thought I would! No real pain for early exhaustion. I went out a little too fast but figured that out and fixed it. Really impressed with myself at how my swimming endurance has maintained. I'm guessing some of it is from the shape my body is in because of the marathon.

1st Bike Ride in Over a Year!

Since I have a triathlon in a month I figured I should get back on my bike and remember how to work it. Well of course I have to pick a rainy night to go riding... Hey, but I did get my chain back on when it feel off not 2 miles into the ride! It seems to be coming back to me, but I maybe pushed it too soon after the marathon and running yesterday. You should have seen the mud stripe all up and down my back when I finally got home! Did I mention it was torrential rain the whole time?

I've Recruited Another One!!!

Just a week after the marathon I was out running again for the official kick off for training for marathon #3! Even better is that my friend and co-worked Emily volunteered to come with me! She didn't have a clue what she was for... Well I was kind to her and we took plenty of walk breaks. Even my legs were wondering what I was trying to do. It is going to be harder to train again without a coach and no official training times. Not to mention the heat of summer and working around 2 work schedules, something I said I wouldn't do again, but here I go anyways.

Marathon Numero Deux

Ok I know this is like 2 months late, but you people love reading this stuff, so I'll do the best I can.

Marathon Day #2 started VERY early, like 2:30 am! The only time when someone should be awake at 2:30 is when they're still up! Anyway after some coffee maker oatmeal and applying layers of body glide and sunscreen it was time to meet the team. Unfortunately we hung out by the pool for almost an hour, which didn't make us happy because we all would have rather been sleeping. After the group photos and double checking supplies for the day we were off on the bus to the starting area. Bummer again, we were there at 5! Literally the first ones there, we actually christened some of the brand new porta-potties, that's got to be a marathon first! Cue more sitting around and waiting for the other 21,000+ people to show up and for the sun to come up. During this time I did find my old friend from high school, Becca, who now lives in LA who was also running with Team in Training. We knew that we were both running but had no clue if we could find each other in the craziness of a major marathon. Another minor miracle was that Chad and I found each other before the race too! I seriously almost jumped into his arms, I was so happy to see him right before the race. After one last trip to the porta-potty it was time to line up and start this thing.

Where as Chad was in coral #2 I was way back in #22 with a bunch of the ladies running the half marathon from my team. They were all friends and one of the women had lost her daughter to Lymphoma. She was doing this in her memory with her friends there to support her. We were all very emotional as the race began. It only takes about 13 mins. to start the race officially, it's amazing to see this massive string of people running for miles. For example, by the time I started Chad was probably at mile 2 and there were solid people in between! First we ran through the Hillcrest neighborhood which is the gay pride neighborhood in San Diego. It was hilarious because the first cheerleading squad we came up on was a bunch of guys in full drag cheerleading uniforms, most of which were Team in Training colors! I've loved them! Next was a navy band in full dress whites rocking it out! I'll spare you the play by play and just deliver the highlights and lowlights. We went through Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo then into downtown San Diego. Right before Petco Park I had to pee really bad, so I actually ran into a Scottish pub call the Twisted Kilt. I don't now if the owner knew what he was getting into but I yelled over that I was moving to Scotland in 3 month, so I should be good, he laughed! I have to say it was nice to not wait and to pee NOT in a porta potty. Around Petco Park and through the Gaslamp District before running on the highway with a 45 degree pitch. That means that the street was anything but level! Everything seemed to be going really well so far by mile 9 which included a 2 mile uphill stretch on the evil pitched highway. All along it was really nice to have music because it gave you something to look forward to and give a little adrenaline boost. Miles 12-15 weren't exactly happy miles for me. This is when I started walking outside of water stops, which I was stopping at all of them because of the heat anyways. I knew once I passed the 1/2 way mark there was no turning back and I still felt pretty good. I was actually feeling a lot better then I was at this point in the Grandma's Marathon last year. I was walking but I wasn't in too much pain or having problems yet. When I came out of my funk I was able to run again for much longer sections. Although I was cursing the palm trees because there was NO shade! Miles 18-21 weren't real great either, but I was eating a lot of food! This was new for me, I never really eat real food while running, but I had had breakfast too early and I have now burned through it so I had to replenish. This was done with fist fulls of pretzels, sports beans, cliff shots, and Swedish fish. Just like last year I drank beer during the race! There were some 20 somethings out in there front yard offering beers to people and playing Chariots of Fire (a marathon requirement,) so I ran over and shotgunned a beer! It's amazing, normally I don't really like beer but by mile 20 of a marathon it's just what my body needs! Part pain killer, part carbs, part hydration, and part adrenaline shot. Along the course I saw my coaches and staff so that was nice to look forward to seeing familiar faces and all sorts of Team in Training supporters! I'd also being playing tag team with a TNT runner from Iowa, which was fun. My coach caught up to me in mile 24 where I was walking, I was going to run from mile 25 all the way to the finish. I was the last runner from my team on the course so Coach Mike was going to run me all the way in. At first I wasn't real happy about that, but in the end it was just the pick-up I needed. I was hard to hold back the tears as I ran onto the Marine base passed the uniformed Marines. Then the adrenaline really took over, I knew the finish was close but I didn't want to sprint until I could see the finish line. Just after the mile 26 marker I was looking for Chad and then I heard him and saw him, game over, I was going for it! I couldn't believe he'd waited for 3 hours to see my finish! I took off as soon as I could see the finish at full speed. I was passing people left and right and the announcer said, "oh my gosh look at her go!" I finished in a new personal best time by about 8 1/2 mins. Official finish time was 6:42:27.

I got my medal and was about ready to pass out since I was having trouble breathing after my amazing finish. My coach was also awarded a medal, which I though was really cool of the race organizers to recognize what these coaches were during that day. Coach Mike actually ran 27 miles according to his watch, so I'd saw he earned it! Got all my stuff, food, and water and then went in search of Chad! It was so nice to see him again I know I had seem him 7 hours earlier but we'd both come so far since then! After a quick sit down, flip-flops on, bus ride, ice bath, shower, call home, and 15 min. nap, then it was time for the victory party!

I figure I ran about 3/4 of this marathon, up from 1/2 last time. I felt a lot better this time as well in muscles, joints, and sun burn factor! It was a fun and changeling run all the same. Is it bad that I'm already thinking ahead to marathon #3???

Pre Race Reflections

Ok so I admit that I’ve been horrible about blogging during my training for the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon! As I write this I’m sitting at the gate in Minneapolis waiting to fly to California for the weekend. I have to say that I’m really looking forward to the weekend!

I’ll take some time now to reflect on what has happened during my training over the last 3-4 months. I’ve learned to love Minnesota in all of it’s forms and seasons, well ok mostly winter, since it was too long this year! This includes running around the frozen Minneapolis lakes in sub-zero temperatures and actually enjoying it! As it gradually got warmer people started getting spring fever and heading outdoors. On our team training runs Saturday and Sunday mornings I would encounter many other runners who turned out to be very friendly and encouraging! It is called “Minnesota nice” after all… Most of my training was been done in the City of Minneapolis proper which is a major change for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the change of scenery.

Although I’ve only run about as much as I did before Grandma’s Marathon a year ago, I did make some positive changes so it’ll, hopefully, go better this time around. For starters all of my training has been outside vs. almost entirely treadmill for Grandma’s. I did about 4 12-14 miles runs and almost all of my other runs were at least 6 miles vs. a whole bunch of 3-5 mile runs and no real long runs. So I think my body will be more prepared for this one. I can tell a difference in my legs, the muscles are definitely bigger and stronger than last year. I remember my leg muscles stopping around mile 17 last time so hopefully I can push that off ‘till mile 23 or so…

In the run up the marathon I’ve done some races and here’s how they went. I was supposed to run the 100% Irish for a Day 5K again this year but alas couldn’t do it because I couldn’t hold up my own arms because of strength training which I had started 2 days before. I was very sad about since I love St. Patrick’s Day and that race! My second cancellation was the Fruit at the Finish Triathlon, which was cancelled in the LATE April due to inches of snow on the ground! Also not happy because of course I had bought a tri-suit and everything! That’s ok, I am signed-up to do the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon – Olympic Distance in July so that $80 suit will get used! May was a much better race month for me. I ran a mile race for the first time since Jr. High! I got my redemption too! Official time was 10:10 and I was genuinely worried about making the 12:00 cutoff. I’ve never run a mile that fast ever! One of my original running goals when I started 2 years ago was to run a 10:00 mile and it’ll happen now! 2 weeks ago I ran the first half marathon in my hometown, which was run and I had a time of 3:02:something, which is only 8 min off my other ½ marathon time. I was pleased with it since I was in taper for the big event and probably shouldn’t have exhorted that much effort…

Alright I should wrap this up. I am worried, nervous, and scared about the race this weekend. I’m hoping to finish in a time of 6:30:00. Pretty much I’m flying by the seat of my pants and playing it by ear as far as how much walking I’m going to do. I know I’ll walk but I’m not sure it’ll be half again, I’m hoping it’s not half again! I’m also really looking forward to seeing some of my BUNAC friends again! It’s bittersweet because this will be the last time I get to see them before I move to Scotland in 3 months!!!

Ok boarding time, I’ll try to post again during the weekend. Thank you everyone for all your support throughout this entire process and I’ll be looking to you on Sunday morning!

Pain, Lots and Lots of Pain!

As if running outside in subzero temperatures wasn't enough to prove that I've officially crossed over to the dark side, then this will just solidify it! I got up at 4:30 AM this morning to go to strength training at 6:00 only to be at work by 7:15! Needless to say I was super sore for like a week following and couldn't even run my favorite race of the year because I couldn't hold my own arms up!

Self Induced Hypothermia

Genius that I am just figured out why I'm frigid all day every Saturday. Self induced hypothermia! I figured out that my body temperature drops so much during the 2 hours I'm on the ice every Saturday morning. NOTE TO SELF: Wear more layers while skating!!!

Wednesday Night = Running + Skating

I'm proud of myself for doing a lap and a half around Lake Calhoun tonight which was about 4.5 miles. It's getting a bit warmer so the paths are clearing out. I ran with two other women on the first lap. It was nice to run with someone for once. Their story was quite amazing! One of the women lost her daughter to leukemia just in November after suffering for 8 years and she's running in her memory.

Worked a lot on backward three turns and spinning tonight to try to catch up on Saturday.

Jumping!

So after about 6 hours on my new skates, I'm starting to get back to where I was on my old skates! This week I got my waltz and half-flip jumps down. Yeah for jumping! I'm beginning not to be afraid of it anymore. My waltz jumps are done moving from back crossovers now. I'm also starting to get spinning back, which was definitely NOT an option a week ago. Although I think I pissed off some of the 8-10 year old girls in my class because they weren't paying attention and then complaining about not getting anywhere. I have a slight prayer of actually passing this level, IF I can get my scratch spins and backward 3 turns down in a month. 'Till next time!

Wednesday Night = Running + Skating

It's Wednesday so that means TNT training runs and figure skating. I was a little late for the run but I was already there and dressed so I just went for it. I was quite proud of myself for just doing it instead of going home. Another lap around Lake Harriet, I was feeling pretty good and was thinking for going for 2 laps, but my knee felt a little goofy at the end of lap 1. Then I went skating for almost an hour working on wearing down my edges. I did lots of crossovers and hockey stops to start noticing a difference.

Slow Road Back to Figure Skating Glory

I had my first lesson at the Free Skate 1 level, which is spinning and jumping, and no I'm not doing double axles yet! Problem is that I still can't stop, so forget a lot of the new skills I'm suppose to be doing. My skates are still too sharp so they just cut into the ice. You stop right now! I'm just getting really frustrated because I was getting so good, but now I've been put back so far.

Sub-Zero Running & Lunar Eclipse!

Pretty sweet night! I've officially crossed to the dark side of running. I survived and enjoyed an outside night run at zero degrees, definitely sub-zero wind chill!!! We had a TNT training run around Lake Calhoun, sister lake to Lake Harriet. The great thing about Calhoun is that there are amazing views of the Minneapolis skyline across the lake. So there I was running in sub-zero temperatures on the squeaking snow (yep snow squeaks when it gets cold enough) and loving every minute of it! Ah crap, I'm a hard core runner now! In case you're wondering what one wears when running at sub-zero temps here's the run down: knit hat, knit scarf around my face and neck, crew windbreaker from college, fleece zip-up, technical long sleeve shirt, gloves, long underwear pants, yoga pants, regular socks, and my running shoes. As if this miraculous feat wasn't enough it was all as the lunar eclipse was going on! I did a bit of skating again tonight to work on those darn skates.

Playing Hookie...

So my sister is in the hospital and I really didn't want to go to work, perfect excuse, I think so! After a trip to Jenn's apartment to feed Gandolf (Jenn's big grey cat) and pick up some stuff and a stop at the hospital, I was off to work out a little to try to lighten my spirits. First I went skating to try to brake in the blessed skates some more, a bit more luck but still a way to go on them. Then I swam some laps since I'm technically into the triathlon training schedule now too. Over all I felt my better after a few hours of sweating. Worth playing hookie for!

Evil Figure Skates

I had gone skating after my run on Wednesday but BROKE MY SKATE!!! So after a quick run around to get me some new skates, I was back in business. I was lucky enough this time to get the traditional white leather variety that I was after a year ago. Unfortunately my new skates were not my best friends yet. We definitely were not speaking the same language, I mean I nearly fell just trying to turn! Stopping was impossible. So for the time being I'm back to the basics while my skates and I get use to one another. Until then, STAY AWAY from my on skates!

First Team in Training Group Run!

Tonight was my first group training run with TNT and it was a really cold, windy night! Seriously I think it was maybe 15 degrees outside and who knows how bad the wind chill was! All I know is that I thought my face was going to freeze and fall off it was so cold. Seriously, I thought I was getting frostbite! It was a good run around Lake Harriet, which for those of you who are not familiar with the Twin Cities is just outside downtown Minneapolis. After the first mile I was warmed up and was enjoying the beautiful winter night. There is sometime very peaceful and serene about a cold winter's night in Minnesota, everything's so still and calm. This run tonight made me conquer my fear of running outside at night in the winter in Minnesota.

Fundraising Go Day!

I had a TNT Shoes & Gear meeting tonight and decided to for go training to focus on my fundraising letters. I printed, labeled, and stuffed about 150 letters and look at the mess I made in the process!

Procrastination Master

My dedication to my training is still being tested. Having the will power and determination to do the training right is something I'm working on this time, because I didn't do it right last time and paid the price. Case and point Wed Feb. 6 - Sun Feb. 10. Let's see, did I do any training Wednesday? No, unless you count dancing at the MIKA concert. Which was fabulous by the way (see video.)

Thursday I took a wellness/exhaustion day and was in bed by 10! Friday I neglected training yet again by going to an Irish pub with my cousin for a Strongbow and dinner, going to the Minnesota Swarm lacrosse game and partying with fellow CSB/SJU alums & the Swarm team at a karaoke bar downtown St. Paul. Although I did take walks during lunch both Thursday and Friday, Saturday morning could only mean one thing, figure skating! I skate every Saturday morning for two hours which I love, but it is slightly conflicting with my Team in Training (TNT) long training runs. Which I then make-up on my own. Skating is only another 6 weeks or so and not all runs are Saturdays. I'm really looking forward to training with people this time. I just really hope someone runs as slow as I do. Clearly I have good intentions but sometimes other things take precedence. Sunday was out because I worked a 13 hour shift supervising at Canterbury Park.

Obligatory Miles

Not much to report today, another night run on the treadmill. Why is it that 2 miles on the treadmill seems like forever when it barely feels like getting going outside?

Robin Hood to the Rescue!

So I decided that I needed to leap back on the training horse ASAP! So I started right after work by swimming 1000 yards. Definitely getting better and faster but still can't do flip-turns. Once home, it was on the treadmill since running outside was just asking for a broken ankle (fresh sloppy snow over ice, not good!) My attention was help by one of my favorite movies ever, Disney's Robin Hood! It was the perfect length too! My feet keep loosing feeling/going to sleep/tingling while I'm running and I've loosened my laces numerous times. Any suggestions??? Also my calves were starting to feel like they were going to cramp, something new for me. Not the best run ever but not bad for 5+ miles this early in the season.

Spinning & Jumping

Today our normal skating teacher wasn't there so class was run by two of the assistants. I was not real happy about this since I'm determined to pass both Basic 7 & 8 this session. If we're going to spend the whole session working on Basic 7 stuff I'm not going to get to work on the few things in Basic 8 that do need to work. Needless to say I did figure out the one-foot spin and the mazurka today!

After skating was the kick-off meeting for Team in Training, so it's official now I'm registered for the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego and raising $3,700 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Trick to the Treadmill

I think I figured it out! I have to be watching something I haven't seen before (or at least haven't memorized line for line,) and it doesn't hurt to do a programed run. I seem to flounder more when I just try to run and customize my own run. I felt pretty good today considering it's been 4 days in a row, some of which were very sore. I've also been stretching a lot and doing crunches. It's crazy to think I was running outside yesterday puddle jumping in 40 degree weather to be forced inside today by temps of -10!

Puddle Jumping in January

Normally I'm all for running in the rain and puddle jumping, not so much in January. Even though it was hot today, 40 degrees!, the puddles were still ice cold. Not to mention it was dark out so I couldn't always see the puddles or the ice hiding underneath them... Needless to say it was still fun running outside in January before it goes below zero again.

Oh Treadmill How I Loath Thee

Yep definitely don't like running on the treadmill. It's going to be my last resort as a running option. It was really hard for me to run the 1.75 miles that I did today just due to sheer boredom even though I had a movie going. On the plus side I didn't walk.

It's hard to believe that I've been running for almost 2 years now! Back then I couldn't just go run 3 miles and now it's old hat. I'm really proud of how far I've come!

I forgot to mention goals earlier. I have 3 goals for the San Diego Marathon.
1) Just finish is always my main goal
2) Walk only during planned walk breaks i.e. water stops, I still haven't mastered the art of drinking out of a paper cup while running without wearing it all
3) Beat 6 hours

20 Degrees, That's Warm! Let's Go For A Run!

Ok you know you've lived in Minnesota a little too long when 20 degrees looks and feels warm enough to go run outside. But that is exactly what I did today. Wearing only long underwear leggings, shorts, technical long sleeve shirt, fleece zip-up, hat and gloves I was off running my favorite course through the freshly fallen snow. I don't know how many of you have been running in the depths of winter before but it's a workout! You spend most of the time really watching for ice and jumping sides of the path avoiding it, so much harder than just running, not to mention the slippery footing in the snow. I think I'm going to have to get yak tracks if I'm going to keep this up, I did see footprints with them on the path. Not the greatest run ever but it was 20 degrees out, fresh snow, I'm out of running shape and I had been skating for nearly 2 hours just prior. It was a good kick-off to the training season!

Spirit of the Marathon

Last night was the national screening of Spirit of the Marathon which made me cry throughout the entire movie, but it was the push I needed to start training for San Diego. It was great to see my first marathon (London 2006) again and remind me of what started it all. Granted I didn't actually compete in one until Grandma's 2007. So with the last bits of my concussion and hangover (from New Orleans) finally worn off, it's go time!