I know I'm a week early, but I wanted to get my goals down on paper...or web :)
1 - Run 1,560 miles (30 miles per week)
2 - Run 1 race per month, including my first full marathon in the fall
3 - Really learn to knit, and make something from the Cables Untangled book
4 - Take Jack on more walks
5 - Continue to find ways to be the best wife I can
6 - Continue to find ways to maintain a positive attitude at work, even when everyone else is going nuts.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Rudolph's Revenge - 12/20/2008
Rudolph's Revenge 5k/10k was held Saturday the 20th at Chatfield Reservoir in Littleton. It was so nice to run a race close to home, the race was at 10, with packet pick up starting at 8:30, so I was able to sleep in til 7:45! I left our house around 8:45, got checked in and picked up my bib/tee shirt and sat in the car people-watching while waiting for the race to start. It was cold, but not as cold as it was during the week last week, the temperature was about 19 when the race started and 23 when I got in the car to head home.
The race is pretty casual, with an announcer saying "start" and everyone having the same start time (instead of more technical races where everyone crosses a mat to start their timing chip). According to my watch this added about 7 seconds to my official start time in which I was just waiting to get to the start line. The first mile of the race was a bit tight with people trying to spread out on the one side of the road we were using (traffic was not stopped around the reservoir, we even had to part the crowd at the starting line to let a car through!) and trying to avoid the patches of black ice leftover from the storms last week. I hit the one mile mark in 9:12 (!, not bad for training at a 10:42 pace lately!) and we started to climb. The first hill of the race was exactly half a mile long. It was an ugly climb, but all the incline work on the treadmill the last few weeks seemed to pay off as I started passing people on my way to the top.
The 5k runners turned around at the 1.5 mile mark and headed back toward the swim beach and Finish line. This is where the race started to get a little painful. I have been focusing so much on endurance and hills lately that it surprised me when the downhills started to hurt. It was a bit slick on the bike path and I didn't want to go full speed down the hills, and in turn got passed by slower runs who were trying to make up time on the downhills. There were lots of rolling hills the last 1.5 miles of the race and a lot of my energy was spent trying to get around the slower runners (they'd sprint down the hill then slow at the bottom of the next). I suppose that my confidence on wintry downhills will come back as my long-runs get longer this winter (that sounds really redundant :)).
Anyway, my final finishing time for the race was 29:42 (official) and 29:35 (per my watch), not blazing speed by any account and definitely slower than I was running this summer, but considering the hills/cold it wasn't bad at all! Today I checked the race results and ended up placing 9/23 in my age group, 53/180 overall for women and 134/307 in the overall 5k standings! I was then a little bummed to realize that I'll miss the January race because it's the same day as an alumni mentoring party - and since I have 2 mentees I shouldn't miss it!
On a side note, Chris' parents gave me a Bath and Body Works gift card for Christmas, and I decided to use it today. The BBW across the street from my office is having some fabulous sales right now and I got two aromatherapy roller-ball things, a giant bottle of bubble bath, a bottle of pillow spray, and a bottle of oil for our oil warmer for $24 ($17 before tax, the tax rate's insane down here!)! Ever the bargain hunter, I added up all the original prices when I got back to my desk and the grand total would have been $49!!
The race is pretty casual, with an announcer saying "start" and everyone having the same start time (instead of more technical races where everyone crosses a mat to start their timing chip). According to my watch this added about 7 seconds to my official start time in which I was just waiting to get to the start line. The first mile of the race was a bit tight with people trying to spread out on the one side of the road we were using (traffic was not stopped around the reservoir, we even had to part the crowd at the starting line to let a car through!) and trying to avoid the patches of black ice leftover from the storms last week. I hit the one mile mark in 9:12 (!, not bad for training at a 10:42 pace lately!) and we started to climb. The first hill of the race was exactly half a mile long. It was an ugly climb, but all the incline work on the treadmill the last few weeks seemed to pay off as I started passing people on my way to the top.
The 5k runners turned around at the 1.5 mile mark and headed back toward the swim beach and Finish line. This is where the race started to get a little painful. I have been focusing so much on endurance and hills lately that it surprised me when the downhills started to hurt. It was a bit slick on the bike path and I didn't want to go full speed down the hills, and in turn got passed by slower runs who were trying to make up time on the downhills. There were lots of rolling hills the last 1.5 miles of the race and a lot of my energy was spent trying to get around the slower runners (they'd sprint down the hill then slow at the bottom of the next). I suppose that my confidence on wintry downhills will come back as my long-runs get longer this winter (that sounds really redundant :)).
Anyway, my final finishing time for the race was 29:42 (official) and 29:35 (per my watch), not blazing speed by any account and definitely slower than I was running this summer, but considering the hills/cold it wasn't bad at all! Today I checked the race results and ended up placing 9/23 in my age group, 53/180 overall for women and 134/307 in the overall 5k standings! I was then a little bummed to realize that I'll miss the January race because it's the same day as an alumni mentoring party - and since I have 2 mentees I shouldn't miss it!
On a side note, Chris' parents gave me a Bath and Body Works gift card for Christmas, and I decided to use it today. The BBW across the street from my office is having some fabulous sales right now and I got two aromatherapy roller-ball things, a giant bottle of bubble bath, a bottle of pillow spray, and a bottle of oil for our oil warmer for $24 ($17 before tax, the tax rate's insane down here!)! Ever the bargain hunter, I added up all the original prices when I got back to my desk and the grand total would have been $49!!
Monday, December 15, 2008
It's been a while...
It's been quite a while since I posted, and I've been feeling introspective lately with the holidays and new year approaching...so I'm back!
Running lately has been going well, the weather has not been helping though. Yesterday was a 5 miler, the actual temperature was 1 degree when I left the house, and the windchill was -21...but I finished my hilly long run and treated myself with a nice hot shower and a long nap in our fleece sheets. I have a 5k coming up this weekend, it's at a reservoir near our house so it's a treat to not have to get up super early for a race. I'm very much looking forward to it and am aiming for the 25 minute range. Not blazing fast, but a "post-college" PR nonetheless!
In the same series I will be running a 5M race in January and a 10M race in February. I'm hoping to run the 25k at Greenland Trail this year and hopefully my first marathon in the late summer/fall. I can't believe I'll be 25 by then!! Time flies...
Some additional running goals for 2009 are to run 1,560 miles (30 miles per week), run 1 race per month, and keep contributing to the 100,000 mile challenge.
On a more personal note, I've having a lot of dialogue with Chris lately about our plans for the future, my heart is set on living a childfree life or adopting a child someday and have been dealing with the emotional issues that coming to that conclusion have brought up. Does that make me less of a woman, less considerate, more selfish? Chris is also on the same bandwagon, but what if one day he changes his mind and I can't bring myself to join him? It seems that everyone around me is trying to conceive or expecting a baby and I suppose I just feel a little left out. It's definitely put my desire for another dog into overdrive though...see, I'm compassionate!!
On a lighter note - there are 6.5 working days left until my Christmas vacation, can't wait!!
Running lately has been going well, the weather has not been helping though. Yesterday was a 5 miler, the actual temperature was 1 degree when I left the house, and the windchill was -21...but I finished my hilly long run and treated myself with a nice hot shower and a long nap in our fleece sheets. I have a 5k coming up this weekend, it's at a reservoir near our house so it's a treat to not have to get up super early for a race. I'm very much looking forward to it and am aiming for the 25 minute range. Not blazing fast, but a "post-college" PR nonetheless!
In the same series I will be running a 5M race in January and a 10M race in February. I'm hoping to run the 25k at Greenland Trail this year and hopefully my first marathon in the late summer/fall. I can't believe I'll be 25 by then!! Time flies...
Some additional running goals for 2009 are to run 1,560 miles (30 miles per week), run 1 race per month, and keep contributing to the 100,000 mile challenge.
On a more personal note, I've having a lot of dialogue with Chris lately about our plans for the future, my heart is set on living a childfree life or adopting a child someday and have been dealing with the emotional issues that coming to that conclusion have brought up. Does that make me less of a woman, less considerate, more selfish? Chris is also on the same bandwagon, but what if one day he changes his mind and I can't bring myself to join him? It seems that everyone around me is trying to conceive or expecting a baby and I suppose I just feel a little left out. It's definitely put my desire for another dog into overdrive though...see, I'm compassionate!!
On a lighter note - there are 6.5 working days left until my Christmas vacation, can't wait!!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Running...in blue jeans?
Well, I wasn't intending to run today (well I was, but then I slept in and wasn't thinking I'd be able to get out of work early for a run...), but needless to say I escaped at 2! I got in a nice three miler, it was hot but there was a nice breeze. I should have worn sunscreen though - 30 minutes in the 3 o'clock sun did me in. My sunburn was definitely not the most interesting part of the run though :)
I've seen this man once before when I was on the 2nd half of an early morning run, I think it was bike to work day a few weeks back. He was running in jeans and a short sleeved dress shirt, and I wrote it off as a fluke. Today when I turned onto the trail near our apartment there he was again, shuffling along - sometimes he was going so slow it looked like he was walking or at a dead standstill, then he'd pick up the pace again and be off like a shot. Did I mention that his attire of choice on this 90 some degree day was again a pair of blue jeans and a button down? I followed him for the first 1.5 miles of the run and our paths crossed at the turn-around, I said hello as I normally do when I pass another runner and he said Hi back, then was on his way. I followed him the 1.5 miles back to where I turned toward home, and watched him run off into the distance from the corner of my eye. I didn't notice the heat today, because I was so intrigued. Where was he running to? Does he go back to work in his sweaty clothes? My running clothes smell, badly - so how do his jeans hold up? Tell me again why he was running in jeans in the first place? I of course was too bashful (and maybe a bit afraid?) to run even with him and strike up a conversation, so my curiosity lives on.
The stranger in blue jeans did remind me of how lucky I am to be a runner. To be in love with the most pure of sports - all you need is a pair of shoes (or not depending on your geography) and you're off. I wonder if I'll come across the man again, and maybe next time I'll get some answers to these oh so intriguing questions. Until then, I'm content to share the silent comraderie of the road, run on nameless friend - your stride may not be even but it reminds me that running isn't about being first or wearing flashy clothes - it's truly about putting one foot in front of the other, even when it hurts (or is a billion degrees and you're wearing long pants).
Mini-rant: I'm not sure how I feel about the whole Adam Goucher situation. (Adam is an amazing athlete and no doubt entitled to his shot at an Olympic berth - I'm rooting for him to make it and then will root for him and his wife Kara during the Olympics. ) Sure, maybe the USATF let him into the 10,000 (if it's them who truly makes the last call on race entries) because they wanted a competitive field - maybe they made a decision that as a seasoned competitor he could rise to the occasion and represent the US better than the newcomers. But as the person who's never been an "elite" runner, has always been a top 20 upper-mid pack finisher, my heart goes out to those 7 men who ran a faster qualifying time than him but won't step onto the track for their chance at an Olympic berth. I don't know that the USATF can overturn the rankings and let one of these men instead of Adam, I don't know if that's the right move at the right time, but I feel that something needs to be done to clean up the system - wasn't that what Pre fought for so many years ago? Even Joan Samuelson fought for the right of those who are qualified and trained to run in the race - why are the officials turning a blind eye to those principles now? http://tracktrials.runnersworld.com/2008/07/its-a-slow-day.html?cm_re=HP-_-Top_
Features_Related-_-Lawsuit%20in%20Eugene?
Rant over, just in time for So You Think You Can Dance - FYI, Josh/Katee/Kherington/and Twitch are all tied for #1 in my mind!
I've seen this man once before when I was on the 2nd half of an early morning run, I think it was bike to work day a few weeks back. He was running in jeans and a short sleeved dress shirt, and I wrote it off as a fluke. Today when I turned onto the trail near our apartment there he was again, shuffling along - sometimes he was going so slow it looked like he was walking or at a dead standstill, then he'd pick up the pace again and be off like a shot. Did I mention that his attire of choice on this 90 some degree day was again a pair of blue jeans and a button down? I followed him for the first 1.5 miles of the run and our paths crossed at the turn-around, I said hello as I normally do when I pass another runner and he said Hi back, then was on his way. I followed him the 1.5 miles back to where I turned toward home, and watched him run off into the distance from the corner of my eye. I didn't notice the heat today, because I was so intrigued. Where was he running to? Does he go back to work in his sweaty clothes? My running clothes smell, badly - so how do his jeans hold up? Tell me again why he was running in jeans in the first place? I of course was too bashful (and maybe a bit afraid?) to run even with him and strike up a conversation, so my curiosity lives on.
The stranger in blue jeans did remind me of how lucky I am to be a runner. To be in love with the most pure of sports - all you need is a pair of shoes (or not depending on your geography) and you're off. I wonder if I'll come across the man again, and maybe next time I'll get some answers to these oh so intriguing questions. Until then, I'm content to share the silent comraderie of the road, run on nameless friend - your stride may not be even but it reminds me that running isn't about being first or wearing flashy clothes - it's truly about putting one foot in front of the other, even when it hurts (or is a billion degrees and you're wearing long pants).
Mini-rant: I'm not sure how I feel about the whole Adam Goucher situation. (Adam is an amazing athlete and no doubt entitled to his shot at an Olympic berth - I'm rooting for him to make it and then will root for him and his wife Kara during the Olympics. ) Sure, maybe the USATF let him into the 10,000 (if it's them who truly makes the last call on race entries) because they wanted a competitive field - maybe they made a decision that as a seasoned competitor he could rise to the occasion and represent the US better than the newcomers. But as the person who's never been an "elite" runner, has always been a top 20 upper-mid pack finisher, my heart goes out to those 7 men who ran a faster qualifying time than him but won't step onto the track for their chance at an Olympic berth. I don't know that the USATF can overturn the rankings and let one of these men instead of Adam, I don't know if that's the right move at the right time, but I feel that something needs to be done to clean up the system - wasn't that what Pre fought for so many years ago? Even Joan Samuelson fought for the right of those who are qualified and trained to run in the race - why are the officials turning a blind eye to those principles now? http://tracktrials.runnersworld.com/2008/07/its-a-slow-day.html?cm_re=HP-_-Top_
Features_Related-_-Lawsuit%20in%20Eugene?
Rant over, just in time for So You Think You Can Dance - FYI, Josh/Katee/Kherington/and Twitch are all tied for #1 in my mind!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Ouch...
This morning's run kicked my butt :( Just over 4 miles in 44 minutes - not very fast, not very far but it felt like walking on coals! I think that going to bed earlier may help, and not sleeping so hard that my arm is asleep for the first mile may help also :) All in all, not terrible - sore calves this morning but at least I made it out for a run.
Things have been interesting emotionally this week; family drama and then some. I'm ready for a three day weekend and some R&R. Chris and I are dog-sitting for one of his parents' dogs and it will be nice for Jack to have someone to try to play with (Midnight is older so she'll most likely just growl at Jack for being a noisy "kid") - it will definitely give us a good feel for if we really want to get a 2nd dog or not. Only time will tell!
Things have been interesting emotionally this week; family drama and then some. I'm ready for a three day weekend and some R&R. Chris and I are dog-sitting for one of his parents' dogs and it will be nice for Jack to have someone to try to play with (Midnight is older so she'll most likely just growl at Jack for being a noisy "kid") - it will definitely give us a good feel for if we really want to get a 2nd dog or not. Only time will tell!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Long Run, Sunday June 29th
Yesterday was a beautiful day here in CO! We didn't turn the air conditioner on until almost 5 in the afternoon and there was an awesome breeze during my long run. I ran on the C-470 trail and Highline Canal trail, such a nice change from my weekday routine. I ran 7 miles in just about 70 minutes, things are looking good for the 1/2! Lots of rolling hills and shady areas made the run fly by and really made me thankful to live in the area we do, discovering the new trails brings back the joy to running that sometimes gets lost running the same 3-4 mile loops all week long. Needless to say, I can't wait for this weekend to hit the trail again :)
Thursday, June 26, 2008
1/2 Marathon Training - week #3
Let's see, this will be my first 5 day running week in quite some time (pre-bronchitis from hell in the fall/winter of 2007 I believe, crazy to think). I'm really loving where I'm at right now with my running, I feel that I'm getting stronger, faster, and more determined - I'm back to needing to run instead of just doing it. I think that looking forward to the alarm going off at 5:45 (and the occassional sleeping in til 6) is a good sign of where my running is heading. This morning was an easy two miler - a bit rusty after yesterday's 3M tempo run.
I ran the Goose Chase 10K two weekends ago and my unofficial finishing time was 67 minutes (unofficial as the race was not timed, so this is just my watch timing). Not bad for a number of reasons - a) I was terribly sick the night before the race and was making port-a-potty runs straight up to the gun, b) The course was a disaster - 2 water stops spaced sporadically (one at about 3-4 miles and one about about 5.5 miles), no mile markers, MEGA hills, and no shade on an 85 degree day, and c) because it felt good and made me crave racing even more. I really think that had there been mile markers I could have pushed through and broke, or at least got close to breaking 60 minutes. There is always next time I suppose. My goal for the 1/2 in September is to break my PR of 2 hours and 10 minutes which I ran my freshman year at DU. I have switched from the full marathon to 1/2 marathon as my training would probably suffer with the wedding/honeymoon in the last 3 weeks before the race.
In other news - Adam, my younger brother, started high school cross country practice last week. It really is a joy to know that he's found running and is falling in love. As a "first XC practice" gift I ordered him a copy of Pre's biography - so far he claims to be loving it. I'm really excited to go watch as many races as I can this fall, thank goodness they have lots planned on Saturdays.
I ran the Goose Chase 10K two weekends ago and my unofficial finishing time was 67 minutes (unofficial as the race was not timed, so this is just my watch timing). Not bad for a number of reasons - a) I was terribly sick the night before the race and was making port-a-potty runs straight up to the gun, b) The course was a disaster - 2 water stops spaced sporadically (one at about 3-4 miles and one about about 5.5 miles), no mile markers, MEGA hills, and no shade on an 85 degree day, and c) because it felt good and made me crave racing even more. I really think that had there been mile markers I could have pushed through and broke, or at least got close to breaking 60 minutes. There is always next time I suppose. My goal for the 1/2 in September is to break my PR of 2 hours and 10 minutes which I ran my freshman year at DU. I have switched from the full marathon to 1/2 marathon as my training would probably suffer with the wedding/honeymoon in the last 3 weeks before the race.
In other news - Adam, my younger brother, started high school cross country practice last week. It really is a joy to know that he's found running and is falling in love. As a "first XC practice" gift I ordered him a copy of Pre's biography - so far he claims to be loving it. I'm really excited to go watch as many races as I can this fall, thank goodness they have lots planned on Saturdays.
Friday, May 9, 2008
And I'm back...
I've been terrible about posting...let's see what's new. This weekend I ran the Iron Girl 5k, which turned out to be 2.8 miles :( My finish time was 26:14 (9:27 splits for a 2.8 miler...8 something had it been a full 3.1) the good news is that converts to a 52 min 10k - and qualifies me for the DD wave at the Bolder Boulder. Ironic huh?
I'm thinking that this is the year I'll break 60 minutes for a 10k, we'll just have to see I suppose! Just over 4 months to the marathon, so I'm getting ready to really get into the thick of that training, yepee!
I'm thinking that this is the year I'll break 60 minutes for a 10k, we'll just have to see I suppose! Just over 4 months to the marathon, so I'm getting ready to really get into the thick of that training, yepee!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Rest Day
Resting up today to get back on the road tomorrow, great 3 miler yesterday - today my left calf is killing me though. I think it has something to do with those darling wedge boots I wore on Friday :( I signed up for the Greenland Trail 8 Miler, yepee! I ran it back in 2006 in just over 80 minutes, I'm hoping to run around 70 this year -- going to get some major hills in between now and then to prep for the 1,000+ feet of elevation gain. The high point of the race is approximately 7,400 feet.
Today was a crappy day at work and I could have really used a run, darn cute heels!
Today was a crappy day at work and I could have really used a run, darn cute heels!
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