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.