Chicago Marathon Training: Week 8

Sunday
Distance - 10.3
Pace - 10:07

Rawwrr!  :)

I'm not sure if I've mentioned, but the training plan I am following to prep for Chicago is kind of my own creation.  ... and .. it's already a thing ;) ..   Michele was asked what plan she was following, and she said, 'its called the Crazy Judy Plan.  Its like Hanson, or Galloway, but crazier. lol. Really, its just a mesh of the Atlanta Track Club Peachtree Plan, last year's marathon training plan, with adjustments because we were already trained well to 13.1 when we started, we were eager to see at least 16 sooner rather than later, but we also wanted to train for a good bit longer so that we weren't total old lady newbs when we got out there.  So far so good.  This week, mainly because of the Peachtree road race, the plan called for a (relatively) shorter PRO run.  PRO = progressive.  I had on the calendar 8-10.  Michele, however, needed to get in her overdue 16 from last week.  I was tempted to do at least another 4 with her, but the last stretch of the Riverside course (starting at about mile 8) begs for a bit of zoom.zoom, so I kicked like a loon, and took the natural "out" at 10.5, when we hit the parking lot.  I hope my legs thank me for staying the course next Monday!

At 10:07, compared to 10:40ish for 16 miles, I feel like I for sure covered the task at hand: shorten it up now and again, and put a little zip in it.  Just like on the 16 miler, my last mile was my fastest .. a very good indicator that the effort was easy.  In fact, because it was cool, and relatively flat, I'd say this took VERY LITTLE effort to maintain (on the relative scale of running 10 miles, of course).

After the run, some family time, and then we all met back up for an End of Peachtree Training Run Lead celebration.

Fave part: hangin' with my spud bud

Monday
Distance: Rest or XT

I did: nothing.  Mergh!  Really have to get on myself about either swimming more often, getting on a Jillian tape again, or SOMETHING.  But its not the best week to be 'good.'  PMS is real, and all I wanted to do is rest, eat, and channel my inner whale-i-ness.  Mergh.

Random trending topic side bar of the week: Sports Bras
On Saturday, I had a participant (male) apologize to us two women he was running with, because he was so uncomfortable, he really needed to take of his shirt. Of course, he doesn't know me very well, because I am like the least prudish person on the planet. And even more so on behalf of others.  Whoever made me gave me almost absolutely no filter about 'getting things done' when it comes to quickies like peeing, changing, etc. I clean in whatever state of dress I feel like.  I get ready for runs in my car, or the parking lot. I wouldn't bat an eyelash at women protesting their right to go topless, breast feeding in public, heck, I couldn't say I'd immediately spook at the thought of one of those nudest hot tub meetings out in the woods that are always the hot topic of some movie or t.v. show.

BUT .. it would take ABSOLUTE Armageddon for me to ditch the tank.  (the tank I only accepted just last year over a full t-shirt). Mainly because I am still SERIOUSLY uncomfortable with my middle .. (It being PMS week, even more so).  Needless to say, though, the guy we were running with was a good bit bigger than I.  And this got me thinking.  Not 'I'm READY,' but more: what would it take, can I ever get to a point where I would be ready to even call that a goal, and what should I do to get there?  Plus why the hell am I so good to other people, but not to myself, and why the heck are we (the social, all of us we) so good to men, and so harsh on women?

The uncooperative middle: Exhibits A and B

I came to find that this thought seemed to be on the minds of many a woman this week:

First this article popped up on my feed: http://www.ajc.com/news/news/national/i-got-tired-waiting-womans-bikini-photo-encourages/nrmWG/

Then this one: http://www.runselfierepeat.com/blog/bye-bye-insecurities-bring-on-the-sports-bra

Soon, even my friends were apparently giving this thought: http://10ktuesday.blogspot.com/2016/06/peachtree-training-week-1213.html

Possibly all converging right now because .. IT IS HOT AS BALLS!

After all this thinking, what I've got is:  I *DO* want to get there.  Its not an *impossible* thing, or a thing that I find un-okay to aspire to.  I WANT to have a 'bod.'  I haven't had a 'bod' since high school.  I don't think every runner, every woman, needs to get to, or even want to get to, the same place.  But for me, it would rock.

Regarding the sports bra, I'm not there yet, but on the other hand, I would do it if the situation truly mattered.  Like my participant, if my skin was about to bleed off, I am going to be good to myself, and say F U judge-y people.  Yes, I am still overweight.  That doesn't mean I have to be deathly uncomfortable.

Mainly I want this for the fashion.  How many CUTE outfits at Victoria Secret *hinge* completely on the matching sports bra??  ALL. OF. THEM.

On the other hand, I found the CUTEST couple of #babysteps tank/bra combos at Athleta:



Possibly the best of both worlds!! ***so excited***  Am I 100% ready for these by nit-picker's (including my own) standards .. nope!  So I can do something a little daring, a little rock the establishment .. but not making the nit-pickers totally puke .. and all while beating the heat and staying much more comfortable!  WINNING!!!!

Tuesday
Distance: 5 miles
Pace: 9:46

Best of times, worst of times run.  Good: I did it!  Solo runs are TOUGH for me to stick to, and in 85+ degrees, the odds of me actually doing what I say I am going to do are slim to none.  The other good: the pace averaged out to be not-total-crap, which is usually what I put out there on a solo run in blistering heat.

The bleh:  I had NOOOOO motivation to run.  I *never* found a zone, a rhythm, or my pace.  I went out a little fast, hoping to channel my own inner #10kTuesday momentum, like I am forced to do when I hang with that squad.  But I went from zippy to dead stop, and zippy, and oh look at the flowers, and zippy, and maybe just stop at 4, and okay, I still have 10 more minutes, so might as well get in 5, and then 'oh look, I'm late for cheer carpool .. run!'  Yucky mental game.  But .. um.. done!

I figured that if I am going to keep blogging about running, I should start getting good at making little videos about running.  Well, little videos about running are hard! Haha.  I wanted to make this a mini quickie  lip-sync to the song I was listening to.  But then I figured out I can't take a video and play music at the same time on my phone.  So .. attempt one.  Random little shot of me running. :)  Baby Steps.

These are getting really LONG, so lets publish this and add to it at the end of the week.  Says who?  Says the owner of this dang blog! ;)  If you're mid-read, come back on Saturday or Sunday for more good ramblings. :) :) :)

.... okay , I'm BACK ...


Wednesday - Sunday
Distance: 1 WU mi, 1 mile / 400 recovery, 800 / 400 recovery, 400 / 400 recovery, 1 CD mi
Times: 8:05 (whaaat? Goal would have been about 8:40); 3:52 (compared to 4:03 goal); and 1:46 (compared to 1:59)

Speed work this week actually resembled speed work.  With only 3 intervals to run, it was easy (read doable) to disregard the disgusting 90+ degree heat.  Because .. only for one mile .. only for two laps .. only for last lap.

Kyle came to Gwinette track for this one and we CRUSHED 'pod' running together.  Enrique's tip to "pod up" and run the track together, rather than alone as part of a racing strategy has really stayed with me.  Of course, I can't always bang out these times, but a little motivation to crush it every once in a while is just perfect.  There's still the matter of racing strategy; if you are pod running, when do you pull away, when do you chase, etc.?  For the mile, I had Kyle, and for sure didn't feel "all out" about it.  The next two, he really took off in the last ~100m.  The second one, I let him lead; I had my target pace crushed .. no need to race it.  The last one, I had hoped to really CRUSH again .. but dude TOOK OFF at the 50 m mark.  I wanted to .. but nope.  Lots of nope.  So notes for the books: don't leave a race with Kyle to the final sprint.  Tee hee.  That said, mission: ACCOMPLISHED. :)

Thursday
REST


Piggies are ready for Peachtree.  Sure they'll be in socks and sneakers, but relax / confidence building time is important. :)


Friday
Distance - 4 miles (Riverside)

I am just so thrilled to have found this meet up!  Traffic is doable, because its Friday.  The time is "reasonable" at 6:30, so it almost feels like sleeping in.  The group is mainly "fasts."  But the conditions are perfect, because: 1. they are running their easy day 2. its a relatively shorter distance. 3. Riverside is flat, and cool.

For the second week, I ran a 4 mile PR, besting last weeks time by 2 seconds.  :)



After that, I had some chores to take care of so .. impromptu day off!  Woo.  Unfortunately, after the car repair was done, I felt the "too much time on my hands" panic creeping in.  So I took the girls and Bella for a nice walk / swim at Roswell Mill.  So relaxing. :)



Saturday
Distance: 3.1 easy
Did: 29:31, 9:31 .. maybe not SUPER easy, but conversational for at least 2 miles. ;)

The 7:30 start was supposed to get us (Harley, Katie, Michele & I) a little closer to race conditions.  The Greenway (flat and shady) negated that.  I could feel the heat threatening its would be status later in the day, but I could also feel the breeze of the morning.  Another run with company means running at my best fairly naturally.  This was a good run, and just what the doctor ordered in prep for Peachtree, both mentally, and for shake out purposes.

After that, To. The. Expo!

These things can both be really, really fun ..



And extremely overstimulating ...


Sunday
Rest .. if you can call it that. ;)



Total - 27.5


Upcoming

Peachtree
This video is life right now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT91YSVkXUA&feature=youtu.be

Chicago
Dude, look at all the green boxes!  #ctso method (cross that shit off) works! :)


Michele was in Chicago earlier this week for work.  Very jealous.   She went on a stealth mission to take notes for us.  Verdict: its as flat as they say it is. :)

Chicago Marathon: Week 7

Sunday
Distance: 16



Can't say enough great things about this run!  The first 2.5 miles of the Peachtree course are great for warming up zippy, and surrounded by friends, even better!  Mentally, it helped to have three single-digit legs to this run: 6.2 to run the course, out and back on the beltline, and then 6.2 reversing the course.  Sounds so much better than 16. :)  The real fun began at about mile 13.  The reverse of Peachtree means some TOUGH hills at the end.  Of those that remained, I think I was the only one who refused to walk.  Harley told me I took the hills like a champ, and that he was pretty impressed.  I was like d'awwww, thanks! Then, at 15.5, he edged in front again, and took off.  Of course, that meant GO TIME.  We kicked it out for a 9:24 mile 16! BOOM!.

If I take this pace out to marathon distance, that's 4:40:59, and a nice comfy 4 minutes under what is more and more often coming to mind as a goal for Chicago, 4:45.  Pros going for me: MUCH hillier course today, MUCH hotter run than I assume Chi in October would be, MUCH less adrenaline on a training run than on race day, and 3.5 more months of training, with hopefully, at least -5 lbs of body.  Cons: 10 more miles of holding said pace.  So .. back to: I don't know, duh, because its my first.

Yes, that was still the Tom Tom pictured up above.  I am REALLY slow when it comes to swapping out gear.  Like 8 months slow!  I took both watches out (new toy is one of THREE gadgets on arm, if you double check that picture), but pause/starting, etc, on both for 16 miles proved .. um .. inefficient. (plus, I didn't really know how, so my first workout was over 20 hours long; eventually, I taught my self how to trash the record and turn off the watch.  Progress.)

So far, on the Forerunner 630, I've: really liked the light, comfortable feel of the watch.  Its, well, a real watch.  Compared to the Tom Tom, feel-wise, its like: dad's watch vs. the Fisher Price plastic watch you might get for a two year old to pretend they have a watch like dad's watch. :) So that's one perk.  Con: I still wonder if I shouldn't have bought something that could at least count swim laps ... BUT .. I still lean toward it being mass overkill right now.  Doggy paddling does not require a watch.  Next upgrade.

Other con: I still wonder if I shouldn't have picked up the version of this watch that includes a wrist HRM.  This one only gives those metrics with the purchase of a chest belt; another $100 bucks.  I don't train heavily with HR; my Tom Tom only seemed to display it when it felt like it.  (For realz!  .. ooooor .. maybe there's a setting I never figured out. ;) ).  The bottom line decision on this, though, was: 1. I don't ALWAYS need HRM, so even if uncomfortable, I can buy and wear the belt eventually, and then get the *real* stats every once in a while.

Here soon, I just need to spend an hour with the thing, and show it who's boss!  Because the display is the most important thing to me, and I can't get that to work right yet.

Monday
Rest

Tuesday
Distance: 6.22
Pace: 9:57

Running with more people ROCKS!  This run happened a bit by mistake / punishment. Lol.  One, I think it was karma .. after missing a 7 am race start, someone needed to redeem herself with some 5am game!  Two, this run really happened to me because I was being lazy, and fearing accountability!  I knew I was feeling this way, so I tried REALLY hard to stay a "maybe"for any run the gang proposed.  "I'll be a maybe, because .. maybe I'll run later at Fowler ... or earlier ... at 10KTuesday ... yea, 10KTuesday, that's it .. I'm a maybe for Publix, 5:45 PM (hilly heat-fest) because .. um .. Birgit is preggo now, so um, maybe I won't be too far behind that group again.  Yea, yea .. that's what I am probably doing.  If I don't go there, though, for sure I'm in .. like maybe for sure.  Lol.  Then .. foiled with Kyle's: oh, okay.  I'll just do that, too, instead.  MEEERGGHH!  lol.

Running with the "fasts" is where its at, though!  I can't always push myself to moderate effort, and the first half of this was for sure that.  I realize that.  But getting there more often is a perk of faster anchors within sight ahead.  On the other hand, the second half felt REALLY comfortable, and I ran it ONB (10:04, 10:07, 9:48, 10:15, 9:53, 9:53, and .29 at 8:43).  So possibly it just felt a little harder because I don't typically take the 'easy' first mile at 10:04.  Anyhoo, loved it.

Wednesday
Distance: 1 WU, 4 x mile repeats / 400 m recovery, 1 mi CD
Pace: 10:51 WU, then: 8:33, 9:09, 10:36, 9:08

"Did I win the picture?" Michele and I literally battle it out until the click, hence why we're both almost falling over!  Creeping to out inch each other. bahaha.

This felt like the impossible work out from HELL.  I guess after having two awesome, happy runs so far this week, the next work out would have to take one for the team.

I ran with the new watch, and that was a DISASTER!  I couldn't find anything. Did I try to take that first mile out at 30s+ too fast? .. NOOOO.  But I couldn't find a display with pace and avg pace.  I like seeing both.  At the finish line of mile two at goalish pace, I could feel the 91 degrees zapping me completely.  In fact, after the finish line, I was sure I was going to hurl.  No puking, but I took a SLOW recovery, and then decided the 3rd interval was going to be more recovery.  Luckily, for interval 4, I had the recovery, some bought us gator-aide, the evening got a couple of degrees cooler as the sun finally began setting, and then, too, knowing it was the last one.  Perked back up with another interval at pace for Peachtree goal.

If I had to hang my hat on this speedwork, I'd say 9:08 for 6.2 is still out of reach.

Thursday
XT
About 6 laps

Bill, Ash and I went swimming at the HOA pool in the evening after work.  Too many kiddies, but he watched me do some laps, and actually gave me a few tips that helped a good bit.  Primarily:  you can actually hold your breath for a lot longer than you are.  Try going every other stroke; see how you like that.  And, woo .. that made me faster without making me any more uncomfortable or winded.

The not so good thing .. he also was quizzing / warning me about Charlie horses and cramps and whatnot.  And I am all like: Of course, I know how to tread water, and yes I can dead man's float just in case ... but we're doing a triathlon, dude.  I don't need to practice floating.  I've been swimming once a week for a few months now, and have never had a ... AAOOOOOOOOOOUUUUU, what the fuck was thaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA OOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUU. OOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.  Karma = bitch.

Friday
Distance - 4 miles
Pace:

More running with fast people. :) I needed 4-5 miles, and people were meeting at Riverside this AM to run 4-6 miles.  Seemed legit.  Well, except which people.  But whatever, right? lol.  Turned out to be a great decision.  Here's my 4 miler from Resolution Run in January:

LOL!  Raced it. :) For sure not easy / conversational.  All Michele and I had to give each other were the sound of the other's foot falls, and maybe some short jokey quips here and there.  On the other hand, for sure not the hard race effort I remember 37:49 being in January.  Reserve gas still in tank, ready for hopefully, a new 10K race pace. ;)  Yippy!

Saturday
Distance: 8.8


Aww, the last group run for this team!  Peachtree training is finished, and I think my pod is ready! Can't wait to see them all accomplish this goal. :)


Total: 40!
I think this might be my first 40 mile week!  (I've never kept track by week before beginning Chi Marathon training officially, but if I had to guess, I'd say this was a first)


Coming up


MEEERRGH!

10% - 9:08 avg pace
50% - PR - under 58:42
90% - PTRR PR - under 1:03

Race Report: Braves 5K

Saturday
Braves 5K

Goals
10% - PR
50% - Repeat PR of 26:46
90% - Under 30


Result

Wahoooooooo!  (Official: 26:25 / 8:30 average pace)

About this run
I didn't know how to feel in the morning.  The "Con" weighing heaviest on my mind was last Thursday's 5K at Pubix/Westside with Kyle.  I kept that short run "easy" at ~10:00, with very little 'racing' / hard effort.  It didn't FEEL easy or by choice, though, because of the hills and 85+ degree weather!  When Kyle pushed at the end for a fast finish, I didn't even bat an eyelash; just kept that steady pace right to the end.  Usually, a little sparing will get me going.  Not this time.

The other fact that kept popping into my brain : my last 5K resulted in a SERIOUS PR, and that required a pacer (what my friends have since labelled an: illegal drug. lol).  Could I come even CLOSE to that time by myself???

One thing that calmed me was hearing someone else put the feeling to words.  I asked how she was doing this morning.  She said:  "I'm nervous."  Plain and simple.  Yes, we know we're not winning, yes we know its silly, but point blank, we get nervous anyway.  It happens, and I can acknowledge it and move on without needing to dwell on it.  So I too accept it.  It means I care.

The wait is over!  Time to boogie!  More and more often, without planning for it, I am surrounded by friends and familiar faces at the start corrals.   So awesome.

This race went by QUICK!  In part, I can thank the person right behind me in the picture up above.  She ran real steady (but fast steady) out of the corral, and before I knew it, I was on her left hip.  This did wonders for me.  For a moment, I wondered what the etiquette on this is .. are you allowed to just pick someone to stay with / draft off without arrangement, lol?? or are you just annoying them and killing their own race vibes?  But as soon as she noticed I was sticking with her, she gave me a few tips of encouragement, and I could feel the love. :) I kept her comment of: "you're holding this pace great" with me for a good long time after we parted ways closer to mile 2.  The first time I thought to seriously look at my watch, I was already at .68.  For a 5K, that's like .. almost there, baby!

I knew the second half of this race was tougher, and for me the middle mile(s) of any race are all about steady hard effort.  Luckily, even after I lost the side-by-side companion, I had the "out in front of me" companion/target for maybe another mile or so.  That was focus, for sure.

Unfortunately, something I did on the hydration/fuel front was MAJORLY off.  I don't carry hydration for races this short, and had been instead sipping gator-aide all morning.  It should have been fine.  But right around this point, my tongue turned into a caterpillar. Fortunately, one: I was up in B corral to start, where people congestion at stops is lower, and runners are pretty efficient at the grab and go, if they even grab anything.  And, two: I had read an article that just a small swig of water, while it can't "correct" de-hydration, can at least stave off the body's effects, by telling the brain something like: its okay, we're okay, we're going to get water, see?  No problems swishing around enough water in my mouth to knock the problem out for the whole rest of the race.  Elephant's feather or not, it worked.

Someone had told me they'd probably be pacing this positive-ish.  For me, the pacing strategy on a 5K is almost always: fast, steady, fast:

I'm getting better at this pacing thing! ;)

The middle miles seemed to have a bit less sun protection, and more quick hills thrown in the mix.  It was MUCH better than running at, say, 11 am.  But 7:45 was for sure hinting at the 90+ degree weather to come.  That said, compared to everything else I'd been putting myself through these last weeks, the course itself seemed like cake, even in the 2nd half.

The one scare came when I got a stitch in my chest at almost mile 3.  It lasted for maybe 10-20 seconds.  It wasn't painful enough that I couldn't run through it; just enough pain to hint at the possibility of something scary.  I focused on my breathing.  Devil Judy said: you'll be that person that didn't listen, and ended up running herself into a heart attack.  Angel Judy said:  focus on your breathing.  Calm down, and see if its a momentary thing.  Don't be the melodramatic girl who stops to walk, and then nothing comes of it, and you have to be all about the excuses like: I had to stop ... I thought I was having a heart attack .. for real guys.  (Lol, yes, this is what goes on in my brain while I run).

Angel Judy was right.  It was a momentary stitch, went away after a moment of thinking calm thoughts, and focusing on the breathing.  Good Judy.

(I'll be watching this carefully, though;  I'm not an idiot)

Approaching the 3 mile mark, and Turner Field, I didn't think I'd have access to that "other gear."  Its never guaranteed, and you always want to write it off with an: I paced well and left it all on the course before this, so no need.  WRONG!  Finish kick is like dessert stomach.  Its real.  haha.  You just have to talk yourself into getting a bit more uncomfortable.  The light went off in my brain not right at seeing Turner Field, because Brain remembered it was still a good 800-1000 m to the finish from here, and it didn't want to be tricked.  For Brain, kick is visual.  See finish, run hard.  But Brain lost to Heart when I heard a "Go Judy" shout from Coach Amy!  Dude, I dare you not to run with heart when an Olympian cheers you on!  #runcelebritycrush much. ;) Perfect product placement.  I'm buying. :) :) :)

Just after that straight away, there is one more to-do: get EVEN MORE uncomfortable.  Thoughts rattling in my brain:  I think I have a PR, but never trust on-the-race math, and especially math that requires being accurate to the second.  So I'm thinking both: you got it, so don't kill yourself, and you'll be SAD if you miss it by a few seconds, and could have given more.  Also, 8:30 or better average pace would be RIDICULOUS, right?? .. and what about under 26:30.  That COULD happen.   These thoughts are all waging war against the constant that is: or I could JUST STOP ..DUH!

Then .. another perfect product placement in the form of Coach Enrique at the gate to the warning track, reminding me that I had done all of the speedwork for this.  2nd wake up call =  can't stop, won't stop mode!  In fact, I AM going to RACE it in, and try to check off one or two people on the warning track!  Go, Judy, go.  Through the finish with PR and under 26:30 .. Like. A. Boss. *^_^*

I had no idea where the other two triplets were the whole race.  I didn't think I'd seen them go by, but that first mile, I was 110% focused on Carol, so who knew.  Later Kyle said he could see me, and was trying to catch me.  He set a new PR, and broke my Singleton time!  We really do run like twins.  Just depends on the day.  We have our specialty distances, though, it seems.  In hindsight, just glad I didn't 'take it easy' for a second anywhere along the hot spots mentioned above! K-man was coming!! lol.  *^_^*

And then, after the race, it's the after party!!

DoOOOOooon't Stooooopppppp Beliiiiiiiieviiiiing!

Of course, the person I was needing to find was my illegal drug pictured above, Coach Jerry.  After months of gunning for it, he earned himself a seat at the under 20 minute club! ***whoa***  We HAD TO celebrate that!! Plus, I had to share with him my incredible feat of running a 5K PR without his illegal help.  (and then *whisper* beating Kyle, haha).  His reaction was pretty much priceless, and I think the moments of sharing and celebrating with him, Angelina, Brandi, M & K, and the rest of the crew are by far my favorites.  Again, I say: if you think running is a solo sport, you're probably doing it wrong.  Just count the names of all the people I mention throughout, and every time I do something I'm proud of!!

So .. we hate the hours leading up to the gun, we both adore and hate the running, and then live for basking in the glory the rest of the day!  haha.  Plus, we thank running when we hop on the scale later. ;)  All in all, it seems like a fair trade.

What's Next?
Good question.  26:30 was the 2016 year end goal for 5K!  But we still have a really nice, fast course in the form of Atlanta's Finest to come in August.  It seems obvious that gunning for under 26 by then could be a 10% reach goal.  Especially if I continue to drop a lb here and a lb there prior to.  BUT .. A PR with a 25 in front of it sounds like COMPLETE INSANITY and scares the BAJEEZUS outta me!!! So I don't even want to type it today as a goal.  Maybe next week. ;)

Tomorrow, we run long.  New mileage in the form of a first 15!  After that, the focus shifts to 10K, and my not-so-secret secret race.  Goals for the Possum Run are just: 10% - run 9:08 pace, and 50% / 90% - don't.

Week 4 Chicago Marathon Training / Freedom Run Race Report

Sunday
XT at Cycle Bar in Dunwoody

Continuing to get more and more legit at this. ;)  All stats better the third time!

CLASS RANK

13 / 33

---

CALORIES BURNED*

584

*estimated

---

AVERAGE/MAX RPMs

82 / 143

---

AVERAGE/MAX WATTS

127 / 302

 

Lavender towels on our heads .. that's how we roll. :)

In the afternoon, the gang met up for some other-than-running fun.  Yup, we do that too, some times.  Gotta keep it happy!  Unfortunately, I didn't get Kyle drunk; a must if I were really wanting to safe guard my top 5K PR standing tomorrow.  Haha.

Monday

Memorial Day Freedom Run - Cumming, GA

Distance: 6.22 and 8 miles

50% goal - sub PR - Hit

Pro Tip:    KNOW THY COURSE!

Oh. Em. Gee.  I bet no one else knows that there is a dessert-like mountain-ish gateway to the pits of Hell in Cumming, GA!  Lol.  So much for hokey little small race in the middle of nowhere that will land us some prime running.  The scale on our ad hoc elevation for this one was WAY OFF.  BY FAR, some of the hilliest running I've **ever** raced.  It reminded me of Martin's Landing near Riverside.  Slapped on top of that: NO sun protection what-so-ever in about 85+ degree sun-blaring conditions.  I did not even come close to the 10% goal, but 2 miles in, I was uncertain about the 90% goal, so to have taken a PR (50% goal) was a definite win!  Two things kept me going: 1. Michele and her friend, Tom, were a stone's throw up front the entire time, and 2. at a small race like this, even if you are sucking, maybe everyone else in your age group is sucking a little harder?  Too early, that 9:08 average pace said good bye.  It was hard not to just ditch it and walk up the never-ending mountains after that.  But I kept watching Michele and Tom, and kept thinking that, if nothing else, steady-pacing it out was a great accomplishment and good training.  I was rewarded for the effort when .. BOOM!: 3rd in Age Group! :) 

 My only regret:  I waited too long to try and catch Tom and Michele.  I had it at the end, but didn't have enough course left.  Plus, rotten Kyle tipped them off with a "she's coming" in the finish shoot.  Bahaha. I ended up 58:20 , she at 58:14.  A 3-way tie would have been ideal.  Not important for anything goal-wise (Kyle has the 10K top PR from a month or two ago, and ran the 5K this race), but still, I could have, so I wish I would have. ... of course, if I had sooner, she might have bested 58:14, so um .. woulda, shoulda.  ;)  It was the only minute or so in the whole morning where I had gas in the tank to spend actually racing.

Immediately following the race and awards, we hopped in the cars, and hit Fowler for the remaining 8 miles on the calendar.  The going was GRUELING!  By the time we got done, it was NOON, and like 90 degrees.  I had trouble with an 11 minute pace!  I kept making deals with myself:  get to mile 4 (aka mile 10), and then run walk 3-1s from there back if you need to.  Then at 10 miles, I told myself: if you were down at Riverside with Harley, or TJ, or Angelina, you would not walk, and you'd be pushing 10-10:30s.  Don't walk.  Only later did Harley comment: "I did 14 too. Lots of walk breaks because of heat and hills. Need to keep up with you !"

<3 my tribe. :)  So nice to know I am not the only mortal one. Anyone who thinks that running is a solo sport is clearly doing it wrong in my opinion.  Hopefully this run will be a one-off, and not indicative of the entire marathon training cycle.  Fingers crossed!  Must find cooler temperatures, even if it means .. eeep .. headlamps. ;) 

Tuesday

Distance: REST

I am enjoying the blogging.  Each year, I am going to try to keep picking a different challenge.  Last year, it was 100 selfies, this year, its keeping this blog, next year, maybe something else.  It helps me not inundate social media with run posts, and to chronicle a fun time in my life.  Pretty sure I am the only one who really reads these so far, but that's just as well.  I like being inside my head.  If I ever goal viral, I'd have to sensor myself, lol. 

Wednesday

Distance: 1 mi WU, 6 x 800, .5 CD, plus 6 laps

Indicator time suggests about a 4:06 for these.  We were headed down to Riverside, but ended up rained out.  Option #2 was back up to LA Fitness for some treadmill intervals.  Michele doesn't run on a treadmill at all.  So it took us time to get used to the mechanics.  (For example, that the speed won't immediately kick up to 7.4, even when you are ready to start there).  The 1st one was at 4:15, second at 4:08, and from there all but the last were between 4:02 and 4:04.  The last one was 3:50.  If I use my 5K PR rather than my indicator
time, these should be at 4 on the dot, so by any account, we put in good effort! :)

Since we were at LA F., might as well hit the pool, too.  I could have gone on, but I do these much slower than M, and she skipped her cool down mile (not important if swim cools you down; important if you don't count swim as miles), so I was already ten minutes behind.  By the time I hit 6, she was at 12 and ready to hot tub.  Who can argue with hot tub?? :)

Thursday
Distance: XT

Best intentions. :/  This whole summer thing is really going to bust my bubble.  Oldest needed the car to take to work.  Luckily, I can just ride in with hubby.  But that means nothing on the stop-at-LAF front before/after work front.  I contemplated a quickie 5K after Ashley got out of work, but honest engine, I was beat.  And sore.  I started this 30-day core challenge.  I am always surprised when something basic like that tires out my legs.  But apparently there are still muscles in there that squats will get, but running 14 miles won't.  So I gave myself a pass.  On the one hand, I feel justified, since that is the 'plan.'  Up the long run, but don't completely start a 7 day marathon training program until after Peachtree.  On the other hand, that scares me a bit.  What if I can't get out of that mindset when the time comes?  What if I keep blowing off mid-week work outs?  Meh. :/



Friday
XT

Saturday
Distance: 3.1 + 7.5 + 4

This one was better, but not perfect.  The heat, and stops and starts are really draining.  That said, we hit 14.5!  Getting half of the extra distance in before training was very helpful, weather wise.  Not worrying about pace at all yet is really helping, too.  I have to thank the participants for that.  Blaming them makes it easier on the ego. ;)

Total - 34.1

4 Days to Go: Why I Wanted to Fun Run a Marathon

Monday 
Rest

Tuesday
Rest

Is there a medal for the prettiest hooves? :)

Wednesday
.5 WU, 4 x 1000 with 400 recovery, .5 CD

Time goal: 5:09

Interval 1: 5:09
Interval 2: 5:09
Interval 3: 5:06
Interval 4: 5:49

Aw, it was nice to be at Riverside.  So many speed demons, so many familiar faces. <3ed it!

I had kicked some serious HR butt at work, and that adrenaline rush made me seriously READY to DO-THIS_THING.  Lol.

The two first intervals felt HARD though!  The 'track' for these had both 'ups' and 'downs.'  It was also probably in about the mid to high 70s.  The 3rd one required more than just a 400 recovery (read: chat away with buds for a good 2-3 minutes before having another go!  But with that recovery, and three to chase (Jody, Craig, and at the last, Jerry), this one felt much easier than the first two.  We had said only 2-3 instead of the 4-5, so that our taper wasn't too aggressive, so the 4th was just me by my lonesome at a more moderate effort.  I think it was going to be slower regardless, but it might not have been 5:49 if not for FP.  So overall, thumbs up Indicator chart! :)

In other news .. we forgot to take a picture!  T...H...E..  H... O..R..R..O...R!

haha.

Thursday / Friday / Saturday
Cross-training:  Swimming tonight.  Maybe 1 - 5k Friday, and biking (leisurely) on Saturday's bike tour.  A little nervous about the biking.  I don't think I have biked anywhere in a decade.  I think I need training wheels!


What my biking experience looks like to date. :) 

About this crazy idea Michele and I had
I can't remember what the conversation was about, but certainly it started with whether or not Michele was wanting to tackle the full distance at all this year.  (This is before Brandi and I convinced her completely to throw her name in the hat for Chicago).  At some point she must have jokingly said 'lets just do it.  Lets change our half-marathon registration to the full-marathon at the Flying Pig.  Pull the band aide off, so to speak.'  Ever since then, the idea has been playing around in my head.  And its crazy.  But so am I.

Reasons to
Why did this come to appeal to me SO MUCH?  I know its difficult to imagine, but I actually see it now as the "fun" option.  Fun run a marathon?  Without training enough?  What are you thinking, right?  Well, if you've been reading these for any length of time, you know that I struggle with my 'mental game.'  Why am I doing this?  I can't do that.  I can't run that fast again. Etc., etc., etc.  As we approach race days, the anxiety just builds and builds.

But I KNOW when I DIDN'T struggle with this: 2014.

When I was an underdog.  Running a distance for the first time.  When I was 30+ lbs heavier than I am now, with at tops a 10 miler under my belt, and just worried about not getting picked up by a swag wagon my 1st time out.  When I walked if I needed to.  And ran slower than that.  The sheer exhaustion, the sheer pride, the sheer joy was in NO WAY negated by a 2:55:00ish finish time.  In fact, heck, PR baby!! There's no way to describe it.  I was FLYING on AIR!!

Physically, 1/2 marathons don't feel that way any more.  I'm not a superhero after, by any means, but I don't lay on the couch icing, and rolling, and napping, unable to climb steps or hobble out of cars for weeks on end.  I don't have one cycle under my belt, I have 3, with 2 peachtree training sessions and a W5K thrown in for good measure.  The last cycle right after another.  I've run 13.1 at least a dozen times now.  This is a different kind of prepared for the same race.

To run a half at my goal (PR) pace I need to approach 9:30 avg pace, though (or such; I'm sure I'll look it up specifically before race day).  Any less, tantrum Judy.  Any better, happy Judy.

To run a marathon, I can plan to keep a steady easy-ish pace of 10:30 for the first 13, and the typical run lead pace of 12-12:30 the rest of the time.  Or even better .. WHATEVER the HECK I want.  It will be a big adventure!  Happy Judy, 100% guaranteed!

I kinda want to finish my 1st marathon (pre 1st really) like Judy 2014 did.  Taking selfies if I feel like taking selfies, making friends when I see someone struggling or walking, completely intending to finish in 6:30 minutes and nothing more.  Maybe with some buds on the 1st 13.1.  Way behind those buds for the 2nd half, but maybe finding some new ones or the final pace group to hang onto at the end.

There is just NO WAY Chicago will end up that way.  I will have trained up.  Trained hard!  I will owe it to myself to go out there and GET.IT.  Whatever 'IT' ends up being.  And I am okay with that.  Its going to be AWESOME.  But after 2+ years of running, it will NOT be like my first 1/2 at that point.  Ain't nobody got time fo dat on their first trained up for marathon! lol.

So this just sounded like the perfect nod to who I am and where I've been.  And good precursory information for Chicago, too.  Plus it will be such inspiration to be a part of the  group that did train for a full-marathon this spring .. if just for some of the miles.

And physically, I just *know* I can handle it.  How many people don't end up 'over doing it' now and again.  I haven't 'over done it' in at least a year.  I don't get seriously sore any more ... unless I try doing something with ab or arm involvement, lol .. but see, that's what I mean.  My legs NEVER get THAT sore.  But they can!  They have.

I'm not crazy.  I'm not thinking I can run the entire thing.  I don't want to do it in 5:30.  I'm not even too proud to DNF the sucker.  That's the freeing thing of not having trained.  Bail on it at mile 20 .. who cares!  If you took the weakest most first cycle, entry-level marathoner from the 2016 Fall training, and butted them up with me, I would dare any one to tell me I wasn't as capable.  Not to belittle the efforts of any such person, but I'm not going to negate all of my work either.  Full distance under belt or not, I have been MUCH more diligent in my running in 2015 than 2014, and in 2016 than in 2015.  That counts for a lot!  And I DID a half in 2014 .. before all that!

Comparing that to what I'll do in the Fall is like apples and oranges.  Thinking this will negate anyone eles's efforts, or what my race in the Fall will be, is just completely invalid to me.  There's no room for comparisons in running.  Note to self:  Do you, boo!!

So ... New adventure?  Sign me up, please!

But ...

Reasons not to
1. More likely than not, its going to pore.  I don't love the idea of running in the rain.  For 26.2, not ideal.  And I won't really know if this is the case or not at the expo, when the decision needs to be made.

2. I could get hurt.  Not just the blissful exhaustion mentioned above that I never really approach now after a 1/2.  But REALLY hurt.  And then I'd have 20+ I told ya so's on my hands, instead of the normal support you get when you get injured, because it would be my fault.

3. There's something about peer-pressure.  If you are not able to make 20+ of the closest, most supportive people in your life say at least that, 'well, hey, I think you're cheating yourself of the full 20+ week experience, and I wouldn't do it, but your decision is at least marginally not ridiculous, so go for it if you want to'   well.. the fact that I've only gotten one, maybe two of those, and the rest more like CAPS LOCK NO DON'T DO IT.  That's enough serious doubt to negate any of my own feelings on the topic. :/

4. Michele could get hurt.  This one is unacceptable, and concludes the debate.  I'd want her to have a choice in whether or not she is running her first marathon this way.  I don't want her to have to, just because she thinks I need support.  If she got hurt, I'd regret the whole thing, and that's not acceptable.  I could run it without Michele, not even letting her in on it when I go to change my bib, so that she feels no pressure what so ever, but then I'd have asked her to sign up for a different marathon she didn't necessarily want to do, and then be ditching her to go run my own 1st marathon alone anyway.  Either way, not the friend I need to be now that she's voting for not doing it!

So I still wanna .. but its not in the cards.  I'll BRING.IT (whatever IT still is) to run the best half I can.  If I run a PR, joy to follow.  And if I do a little poopy-diaper-baby thing for an hour after the race because I didn't, so be it too.  By brunch / post-pig-party-fest, I'll be back to myself as if it never happened.

 (unless Michele surprises me by changing her bib first without telling me! haha.  So 99.9% I am not running my 1st marathon on Sunday. Hee hee.)

Week in Review: I'm Running a Marathon Y'all!

Monday
Mizuno Monday became Tuesday morning's fun fest this week.  Monday became rest.

Tuesday
Strength training at White Column with the Bookin' Borrachas



Oh dear me.  Not only was I sore for days, but I was so tired from the early alarm that I bailed on the Tuesday evening 10K.  There were other reasons, but I might have been able to handle them if I hadn't been so sleep deprived.

At the gym, we did all sorts of strength-style works out for approximately 40 minutes.  Once per week minimum .. check!

Main reason I bailed on the 6.2 later that evening:  Emily's return to tumbling / cheer classes.




It was SO weird / fun to be back here after a year off; the original sport of obsession.  The only difference with this fam is that it does not motivate ME.  I can't believe I could ever sit still this long WATCHING workouts.  Half way in, I was already up and taking mini walks here and there, itching to DO something.  But it was fun to see my mini up to her amazing acrobatics.  Just admiring her flexibility puts me on proud mama status.  :)

Wednesday
WU. Indicator Run - 1.86. CD
Time - 16:07

Improvement!  Take that Spring 16:49. :) Of course, average pace for this is not better than 5K pace at Singleton, and this was completely flat.  I smell a little sandbagging. bwhahaha.  In my defense, though .. evening run .. hot run .. and plain old every run can't be of astronomic importance.  I am improving.  That's all I need.

Thursday
The Chicago Marathon gods are so merciful!  This was nothing like the NYRR.  By 6:30 AM, I had an email in my inbox saying that my registration had been accepted!

Oh. crap!



I'm running a MAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAATHOOOOOOONNNNN!

Friday
Rest

Saturday
4.5 + 4 hill repeats
Avg Pace: 12:04 + fast

I'm officially running 3 - 1 intervals at 12 min avg pace for these.  When I am lucky (and if I cheat a little ;).  Sunday = long run day is official.

Sunday
Distance: 10+
Avg Pace: 10:28

This run, compared to last Sunday's 13.1, felt HARD!  I am not sure if it was the lower mileage during the week, the temperature, the smaller group, or running slow intervals the day before, but I was NOT. FEELING. IT. Very grateful for Michele.  She kept an easy pace, and we ran the entire thing side by side.  Even after I did the whole airplane-almost-fall / twisted ankle thing, and forced us to walk a couple of minutes. but I walked it out with no trouble, and we were finishing strong in the blink of an eye.  Proof that this is at least 50% mental, though: I thought the whole thing was a slugfest compared to the 13.1; when I looked up the times, we were at exactly the same average pace for both.  (Last Sunday was 10:29).

Coming up



My first travel race!  Headed to Cincinnati, OH this coming weekend to take on the Flying Pig! :) Half-marathon #4 total; half-marathon #2 in 2016.

Very excited about traveling with 20+ friends.  Hotel-ing, running, and breaking bread (plus maybe a few beers) with a big ole pod of runners.  How fun will that be!! *^_^*

Goal wise, I am again trying to be very conservative.  Its only been about a month since the Publix half PR at Publix.  The Pig course proposes to be equally hilly, possibly wet, and I have not incorporated much hill work in the time since official Spring training ended.  So:

10% anything above 2:09:59
50% - 2:09:59
90% goal - opt out, and fun run the marathon

Very okay not hitting a PR, also.  Refer back to Wednesday's 'every run can't be of astronomic importance.' :)





















Other

FRI. DAY. !!!

Tuesday
Distance: 6.2 (#10kTuesday late shift)
Avg Pace: 10:09

This week, we spent a lot of time asking ourselves:  why do we even do this?  Its hard to justify the maybe 'middle' (?) of a running career.  Just a beginner is way long gone.  With it goes the satisfaction of exponential growth.

I am happy with this run, mainly because ...

Fact: Westside is hilly.
Fact: 70+ degrees is not the same as 50 and below
Fact: Milk is not a friend.

But to entertain myself, and really give myself perspective, I scrolled through some history for 6.2 training runs: (and Westside course especially)

10/2014 - 11:31
to
10/6/15 - 10:04
one year = at least 1:30 min per mile shaved

10/13/15 - 10:08
11/10/15 - 12:30 - in pain
12/10/15 - 10:26
12/29/15 - 9:58
2/02/16 - 10:17
2/09/16 - 10:22
04/13/16 - 10:09
6 addt'l months = flat lining

At the very least, proof that I haven't gotten super faster, but I haven't really gotten slower, either.

The difficulty is that my brain discounts anything that isn't major progress.  If I can run sub 10 min pace for 13.1, and continue to shave time off of that distance with each training at races, why can't I consistently keep a high 9 for something as short as 6.2 now?  Or can I, but am I not choosing to?

I think the truth is that I can; I just need to want to.  And it might be going against the "easy" plan for a Tuesday or two, but maybe that's how you get faster?  With a little more push?

I look forward to seeing how/if this mental prep gives me any more or less juice next Tuesday!


Wednesday
Distance: 1/2 WU, 5 x 600s

Meh, the distance was short.  And I didn't think to account for it until after I finished.  (If I would have done the math, and figured out that we were supposed to be at .37, I could have adjusted and run by watch, but it didn't dawn on me).  I ended up at .33 for each '600.'  All of the slight downhill lengths were about 2:20 - 2:37, all of the slight uphill intervals, closer to 2:46 - 2:50.  (More on that when I actually retrieve my watch.)  Pretty confident I could have hit the goal of under 3 minutes, as per indicator chart, for all of these.

Next time, I will double check Mr. Enrique with a warm up GPS-tracked interval. ;)

Now I just need to decide which is better: Riverside or Gwinette.  I think the drive is similar.  The number of participants is similar.  When we have a track at Gwinette, that will be a plus.  When we get kicked to the sidewalk without notice, (like last night), that will be a big con.  I think there are faster people at Riverside (Enrique didn't actually run speed work, so I'd venture to guess Michele and I were it as far as speed work - speed work people).  Riverside is gravely, and scary, but not when its light out, like from now until July.  Miss Jerry, Kyle, Birgit .. and selfies! No major picture takers among the Wed. crowd. Lol.

There are other shenanigans that will play into this decision .. but lets keep it classy! Ha ha. Lets just say I don't know if I can handle the giggle-fest that is Michele + Pam + Me in N. Gwinette.  Bahahaha.

Thursday
Thursday is now a rest day.  Weird.

Friday
I rested this day, too.  Just cuz.

Weekend: The 'Other Race' Recap

Saturday & Sunday

Women's 5K
Distance: 3.1
Avg Pace: 9:40

How best to describe this race: womp, womp!

There was just NO motivation what-so-ever to kick hill butt.  For what?  Better than last year's 33?  Under 30, which I have hit consistently for over 6 months?  A PR being out, I just sandbagged.  Hard core sandbagged.  I didn't find any trainees to pace, so I started with Brandi and a trainee running for under 30.  These two, Birgit and Michele really ran to bank time in mile one, though.  Or at least it felt like it to me .. the girl who hadn't run a mile since Tuesday.  I let it go and just ran for good fun after falling back from them a little bit.  (At the end, I finished closer to Michele than expected; I should have tried to be a better friend and stay with her .. but who knows when she'll have a 29 day, and when she'll have a 26 day.).  I even walked for a minute.  That is the first race I've allowed myself to just toss in the towel and walk a little on in AGES.  (Probably not since this race last year).  To put it in real perspective, I ran faster dressed in a tutu and earmuffs last December.  I ran faster two days later this Monday at the kick off for Alpharetta Peachtree training (9:35 avg pace, for 4 mi with plenty of elevation up and back on Westside).  

Fortunately, I had nothing ventured, so no temper tantrums. :)  The only inkling of regret was that in that it was such a wasted opportunity.  Brandi & Birgit were running slower than their usual, so I if I had been up for it, they really could have motivated me.  And the race was PACKED with spectators .. All the guys who couldn't run.  Last, my favorite part of the whole race:  Bianca ran me up the last hill!  A last hill like that deserved a great race to go with it!  But alas, too late.  All ready over.

  So what I do have to show for my morning is some serious girl bonding fun!!

#proud mama.  Emily has been running at least a couple of times a week for a few weeks now.  She didn't run this race completely intending to do her 1st 5k.  The real reason was that she wanted to get to a hair appointment, and logistically, it only worked if she was already with me.  Plus, we had a bib.  So proud of her though.  If you read between the lines of the snarky teenage-isms, I can tell she had a blast, and might have found another athletic interest! :)  In hind sight, I should have just run with her!!  She wants to do a color run next; I'll do that one along side her and her friends for sure. :) :) :)

What an amazing session!  This group rocks. <3

I LOVE this stinkin' picture!  Face is ridiculous, but look at my friggin legs!! :) Look at that A bib.  Lets not discuss fleeting outcomes.  Lets focus on long-term progress.  And long-progress equals 1st RACE IN SHORTS WITHOUT CHAFING BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL. 

March 26th: the day I finally feel like a runner!  Because shorts, yea! :)

Sunday
Sunday, Emily and I tackled a Jillian DVD together.  This spring break ready thing is giving me a lot of mileage outta her!  Woo.  and boy did that make me SORE!  (Its Wednesday as I write this, and I am still feeling the ass kicking!)  And we only got through HALF the tape.  Why can't I work out my core without using ANY of my legs???  Mtn climbers don't FEEL like core.  Meh!