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.