Thursday
Wednesday
May 28, 2008
Busy, Busy, Busy!
I didn't even have time to run today. I just did arms and core with Hector. I'm glad that he's been laying of the legs...I have a 10k on Saturday, and I find that the more arm stuff I do, the easier swimming becomes.
I really need to get on the bike and in the pool, I have under 2 months to prepare for this Tri in July. I know that it will be easier once school lets out, but I hate to let my training suffer. Three to four days a week just doesn't feel like enough sometimes. I know this is because I'm in the recovery phase of training, and I'll be eating my words come August and September!!
Hot stairclimber guy was there today. I haven't seen him in a while. I did smile and wave (Because that doesn't involve opening my mouth had having God only knows what come out--I'm a babbling moron!). Hector was giving me crap...he kept telling me that he was checking me out (riiight--and I'm a sub-4:00 marathoner). All well, at least there was something nice to see at the gym.
I didn't even have time to run today. I just did arms and core with Hector. I'm glad that he's been laying of the legs...I have a 10k on Saturday, and I find that the more arm stuff I do, the easier swimming becomes.
I really need to get on the bike and in the pool, I have under 2 months to prepare for this Tri in July. I know that it will be easier once school lets out, but I hate to let my training suffer. Three to four days a week just doesn't feel like enough sometimes. I know this is because I'm in the recovery phase of training, and I'll be eating my words come August and September!!
Hot stairclimber guy was there today. I haven't seen him in a while. I did smile and wave (Because that doesn't involve opening my mouth had having God only knows what come out--I'm a babbling moron!). Hector was giving me crap...he kept telling me that he was checking me out (riiight--and I'm a sub-4:00 marathoner). All well, at least there was something nice to see at the gym.
Tuesday
May 27, 2008
John and I ran 4 miles day...LHN to Cicero and back. Then past LHN to Narragansett and back. It was a nice tempo run with perfect 12s...here's hoping I can keep that pace for when I'm leading!! :)
Monday
May 26, 2008
Went to the gym and worked arms and core with Hector. I was draggin' today. I think I need to be getting more sleep. I did 5 miles on the elliptical at a 12:00 minute pace.
Saturday
May 24, 2008
Oh, yeah SOLDIER FIELD 10 MILE!!
I finished on the 50!! My time was 1:57:58 at an 11:48 pace. Technically it's a PR...but by only a minute (I was 1:59:06 at the Downer's Grove 10 Miler). I was hoping for around 1:55:00 (there's a whole lotta maybes...maybe if I didn't have a chest cold, maybe if I had gotten more sleep, maybe if I had run the second half faster...) But I guess I can't be too upset. A PR is a PR and by it's nature the very best you can do! And I felt much stronger than the last 10 mile race. Besides...I FINISHED ON THE 50 YARD LINE OF SOLDIER FIELD!!!
This was seriously the perfect race! Not too long, had a tech shirt, free beer and I got a medal! What could be better?!?! They were even playing the Bear's Fight Song when I ran through the tunnel! (SO AWESOME!!)
I didn't do the grass angels like I planned....secuity was looking crabby. I still loved this race, I'm soooo in for next year!
I finished on the 50!! My time was 1:57:58 at an 11:48 pace. Technically it's a PR...but by only a minute (I was 1:59:06 at the Downer's Grove 10 Miler). I was hoping for around 1:55:00 (there's a whole lotta maybes...maybe if I didn't have a chest cold, maybe if I had gotten more sleep, maybe if I had run the second half faster...) But I guess I can't be too upset. A PR is a PR and by it's nature the very best you can do! And I felt much stronger than the last 10 mile race. Besides...I FINISHED ON THE 50 YARD LINE OF SOLDIER FIELD!!!
This was seriously the perfect race! Not too long, had a tech shirt, free beer and I got a medal! What could be better?!?! They were even playing the Bear's Fight Song when I ran through the tunnel! (SO AWESOME!!)
I didn't do the grass angels like I planned....secuity was looking crabby. I still loved this race, I'm soooo in for next year!Tuesday
May 20, 2008
One mile with GOTR....It was done as two laps then let the girls answer a question, and repeat for 5 times. Then 3 miles with Big John.
I'm sore from yesterday. I guess I should have expected it. It was my first major workout since the marathon. I need to take it easy for the rest of the week so I'm ready for Saturday's race. I'll get in one more run, and hopefully LOTS of stretching and yoga. Here's hoping I'm motivated!
I'm sore from yesterday. I guess I should have expected it. It was my first major workout since the marathon. I need to take it easy for the rest of the week so I'm ready for Saturday's race. I'll get in one more run, and hopefully LOTS of stretching and yoga. Here's hoping I'm motivated!
Monday
May 19, 2008
I wasn't feeling like working out. Seriously.
But I rode my bike the 3 miles to the gym and then did one mile on the elliptical. Hector then stretched me out and we had an awesome work out. I worked, but it wasn't a complete ass kicker. I have a feeling there will be some soreness tomorrow. I rode the 3 miles home (about 9 mph) and then ran the last two miles for a total of 3.22 miles (37:00).
I got an email from CARA today...turns out I did get chosen to be a pacer for the 12:00 group! I'm so excited. It's an excellent excuse to invest in the new Garmin watch. Who knew a year ago, I'd be a marathon pacer for CARA!?
But I rode my bike the 3 miles to the gym and then did one mile on the elliptical. Hector then stretched me out and we had an awesome work out. I worked, but it wasn't a complete ass kicker. I have a feeling there will be some soreness tomorrow. I rode the 3 miles home (about 9 mph) and then ran the last two miles for a total of 3.22 miles (37:00).
I got an email from CARA today...turns out I did get chosen to be a pacer for the 12:00 group! I'm so excited. It's an excellent excuse to invest in the new Garmin watch. Who knew a year ago, I'd be a marathon pacer for CARA!?
Saturday
May 17, 2008
I rode my bike to the gym today(6 miles round trip). I figured I could swim...until I got there and I realized that the pool was closed. What the crap? So I ran 2 miles (in 22:00) on the elliptical, just so the trip wasn't wasted.
The other problem is that I went in to stash my stuff in the locker, and then I went out to grab my water bottle that I had left on the bike. When I got outside, someone had stolen my water bottle off the bike! What the crap?! Who steals a half drunk bottle of water?
The other problem is that I went in to stash my stuff in the locker, and then I went out to grab my water bottle that I had left on the bike. When I got outside, someone had stolen my water bottle off the bike! What the crap?! Who steals a half drunk bottle of water?
Thursday
Tuesday
May 13, 2008
Ran a little with the girls...about a kilometer. My asthma sucked today. I think it's a combo of the weather, the cold I have and having to stop. Need to get motivated to run more (and kick this cold).
Sunday
May 11, 2008
Just out and back to Cicero...which according to the map on Runner's World is 2.2 miles in 28:00. And, it's apparently exactly one mile from my front door to Dave Grim's (my old track coach). The wind was icky coming back. And I was getting lazy and walking a little. I think I need a running buddy to keep moving.
Something else dishartening is the fact that when you zoom in on my house, I can see a red pickup truck in the driveway. We all know how old that satalite image has to be.
Something else dishartening is the fact that when you zoom in on my house, I can see a red pickup truck in the driveway. We all know how old that satalite image has to be.
May 4, 2008
Pigs have flown, and I have run a marathon (the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinatti, Ohio, to be exact!). That’s right, in just over a year of taking up running, Bethie has completed her very first marathon!
Now, this marathon had the potential to be the worst marathon ever. First of all, the marathon started late. Turns out that there was an extra alarm fire at mile 22 and the race course had to be re-routed, adding an extra quarter mile to it (No problem, after 26.2, why not make it 26 and a half!). I guess technincally speaking it makes my first marathon an Ultra (solely by definition...and that's what I'm going to tell myself!!)
Then this awful woman yelled at me around mile 6. Now, I know I’m not the fastest runner in the world, so I run to the side of the course (this is a pretty common practice). This woman screamed at me and told me to get out of her way and that I didn’t belong on the course! I was so surprised, I couldn’t even move!! I’ve never seen a runner be that rude in my entire life!! Other runners started yelling at her because of her rudeness. Ugh. If this had been my first race, I would have been crushed! Fortunately I know that runners are a jolly bunch and that she was just an anomaly. But seriously, if she was that worried about her time, she wouldn’t have been passing me at mile 6, she would have been a head of me already. Second, it wasn’t as if there wasn’t an ENTIRE road blocked off for runners. Finally if she was that serious of an athlete, she would have been running Boston a few weeks ago. Besides, she was wearing head phones that were banned on the course. I think the running gods or karma are going to bite her in the ass later. Really, that kind of behavior is just bad juju.
Other technical problems included me loosing ALL the Cliff Shots that were pinned to my race belt. (Note to self, don’t pin them like that again!!) I’m used to taking one every hour/every five or six miles…so that put me a slight mental disadvantage. My inhaler ran out at about Mile 8 or 9; and on that hilly course that wasn’t fun. There was also some very really chafeage issues. I was walking funny more from the skin that was ripped off my body, than from muscle soreness.
Barb and I came upon this guy who fell out on the side of the road. The dude was seriously purple. It wasn’t good. Chest compressions were given and the paramedics came. I don’t know if the guy made it or not, but it sure was scary.
In spite of these negatives, I really did have a blast! First of all, it was an all new distance for me…I had never run over 20 miles before. Second, I wore a shirt that said “Bethie’s First Marathon”. It was great to have people cheering for me! So motivating! Barb and I also got the crowd into our singing…we started singing the chorus from Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” at mile 13… (“Oh, we’re half way there! Oh-O! Livin’ on a prayer!! Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear…) Many of the water stops had themes…parrot heads, pirates, and assorted bands. Girls on the Run gave me a balloon to wear. And of course, Barb and I spent the race entertaining ourselves through stupid comments and songs.
There was also several unsanctioned beer stops along the way. Mile 21 was run just like a regular water stop. Just grab a beer and run. J The one at mile 14 was awesome! They had the “Runner’s Lounge”. I sat on the couch and had a beer. It was great!
I did dedicate some of the miles to people as I was running…it made the race much more meaningful. But the last mile, was just for me. I hit my wall just after mile between 25 and 26. I kept telling myself that “Someday, I would not be able to do this, but today was not that day.” So, I kept repeating to myself “Today is not that day. Today is not that day.” I had so much crap on my sun glasses I couldn’t see the finish line. I thought I was going to kill Barb when she pointed out the finish line, and I couldn’t actually see it. But, lo and be hold, I took my glasses off and there it was! I finished strong…You would have thought I won the damn thing. I ran across the finish line with my arms up, Kenyan style. It was awesome!
It turns out that the total distance for the marathon was 26.47 miles and my adjusted pace was 13:32. Not too shabby...I think I can do better in Chicago...home course here I come!! I can't wait!!
Now, this marathon had the potential to be the worst marathon ever. First of all, the marathon started late. Turns out that there was an extra alarm fire at mile 22 and the race course had to be re-routed, adding an extra quarter mile to it (No problem, after 26.2, why not make it 26 and a half!). I guess technincally speaking it makes my first marathon an Ultra (solely by definition...and that's what I'm going to tell myself!!)
Then this awful woman yelled at me around mile 6. Now, I know I’m not the fastest runner in the world, so I run to the side of the course (this is a pretty common practice). This woman screamed at me and told me to get out of her way and that I didn’t belong on the course! I was so surprised, I couldn’t even move!! I’ve never seen a runner be that rude in my entire life!! Other runners started yelling at her because of her rudeness. Ugh. If this had been my first race, I would have been crushed! Fortunately I know that runners are a jolly bunch and that she was just an anomaly. But seriously, if she was that worried about her time, she wouldn’t have been passing me at mile 6, she would have been a head of me already. Second, it wasn’t as if there wasn’t an ENTIRE road blocked off for runners. Finally if she was that serious of an athlete, she would have been running Boston a few weeks ago. Besides, she was wearing head phones that were banned on the course. I think the running gods or karma are going to bite her in the ass later. Really, that kind of behavior is just bad juju.
Other technical problems included me loosing ALL the Cliff Shots that were pinned to my race belt. (Note to self, don’t pin them like that again!!) I’m used to taking one every hour/every five or six miles…so that put me a slight mental disadvantage. My inhaler ran out at about Mile 8 or 9; and on that hilly course that wasn’t fun. There was also some very really chafeage issues. I was walking funny more from the skin that was ripped off my body, than from muscle soreness.
Barb and I came upon this guy who fell out on the side of the road. The dude was seriously purple. It wasn’t good. Chest compressions were given and the paramedics came. I don’t know if the guy made it or not, but it sure was scary.
In spite of these negatives, I really did have a blast! First of all, it was an all new distance for me…I had never run over 20 miles before. Second, I wore a shirt that said “Bethie’s First Marathon”. It was great to have people cheering for me! So motivating! Barb and I also got the crowd into our singing…we started singing the chorus from Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” at mile 13… (“Oh, we’re half way there! Oh-O! Livin’ on a prayer!! Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear…) Many of the water stops had themes…parrot heads, pirates, and assorted bands. Girls on the Run gave me a balloon to wear. And of course, Barb and I spent the race entertaining ourselves through stupid comments and songs.
There was also several unsanctioned beer stops along the way. Mile 21 was run just like a regular water stop. Just grab a beer and run. J The one at mile 14 was awesome! They had the “Runner’s Lounge”. I sat on the couch and had a beer. It was great!
I did dedicate some of the miles to people as I was running…it made the race much more meaningful. But the last mile, was just for me. I hit my wall just after mile between 25 and 26. I kept telling myself that “Someday, I would not be able to do this, but today was not that day.” So, I kept repeating to myself “Today is not that day. Today is not that day.” I had so much crap on my sun glasses I couldn’t see the finish line. I thought I was going to kill Barb when she pointed out the finish line, and I couldn’t actually see it. But, lo and be hold, I took my glasses off and there it was! I finished strong…You would have thought I won the damn thing. I ran across the finish line with my arms up, Kenyan style. It was awesome!
It turns out that the total distance for the marathon was 26.47 miles and my adjusted pace was 13:32. Not too shabby...I think I can do better in Chicago...home course here I come!! I can't wait!!
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