Chicago 11

Sunday
Distance - 17 ...yes you heard that right .. 17! (that's how I have to say it for non-runners. lol)
Avg Pace - 10:30

Another great confidence booster!  I am shocked by the average pace on this one. Woo!

Unfortunately, a few big BOOS turned into secret helpers.  First, we were 'kicking off' with some ZIPPY folks.  I can run well with this gang for 4 miles on Friday morning (and am usually not even at the dead back of the pack on occasion, lol), but knowing I was running longer than I ever have, and longer than even most of them were planning to go, staying with them would be a whole lot of NOPE.  But I'm not good at NOPE.  Lucky (??) for M & I, I ended up with that chest stitch thing right out of the gate.  This SERIOUSLY forced us to say buh bye to the larger group the very first thing.  I did my breathing, and soon had it under control.  It came back a bit more insistent ~ mile 10ish, but breathing and drinking, and remaining calm = all better.  (Kinda nervous though: by my count, that's the third stitch like that I have gotten.  Could it be hydration?  Maybe.  Weird that it didn't happen during Peachtree, or Decatur .. both hot and hilly.  But it did happen during Braves, my first 15, and now first thing on 17.  Not many runs, not all the time, but a few.  So watching it.)  This forced a theme.  Today wouldn't be fast, steady, fast.  It would be positive, almost neutral, the whole way until about .5 to finish.  Which felt kinda pretty great. :) I hardly looked at my watch. (relative to how much I usually look at my watch; probably still a lot for some)  When I realized I was keeping a nice record, I let it motivate me. (read: got a little fast).  By now I'd lost M, and was rocking it out solo, plus headphones.  Zoom, zoom. Unfortunately, (again quasi fortunately), my mom called with some bad news about my grandfather being in the hospital at about mile 12.  As I listened, I let myself fall to 11s.  The secret good there was that I needed that slow down to help with a decent push from 12.5 - 13.5, and then again from 16 to 17.  (I love that stretch of Riverside where you know you are headed back to the parking lot.  Even twice.  Lol.  I can never keep myself from not going under 9:30 that last mile .. even after 16!)  (Non-run related: Grandpa is doing well, and gets released tomorrow.  Yippy).

Run inspiration. *^_^*

Random thought:  I feel a little guilt about breaks.  For my happiness, I pause my watch.  As these runs get longer and longer, though, that makes me feel a bit like a cheater.  No traffic lights, but all in all, I'd say I'd have to tack on 5-10 minutes to cover a quick breath at the turn around (3.5), a pause to let Michele finish at 7, and a goodbye / potty / selfie break at 13.5.  I'm keeping a mental note of how much I rely on these.  Hoping that the 'race day adrenaline' and mild October weather will cancel out breaks, and I will end up with a time similar to what I have been posting so far, with a pace anywhere between 10 and 11:00.  Maybe a bit ambitious, but so far so good.  I guess I will know better closer to time, maybe after a 20 miler under my belt.

After the run, I didn't want to pop myself in a car immediately, so Michele and I walked another mile.  AND ... then I walked myself to the neighborhood pool, and did a few laps to cool off. (WAAAH???)

It feels amazing to hit 17, and still feel so normal.  That amount of mileage already sounds as nuts out loud as 26.2.  On the total other hand, that means I STILL have to run NINE POINT FRIGGIN TWO more miles on race day.  That single thought is ABSOLUTELY daunting.

Monday
Schedule change due to bumping long run to Sunday; rest or XT today.

Well this is awkward.  Except for a tiny bit of get-out-of-bed lack of grace, I feel TOTALLY fine this morning.  One race, one 17 miler, and .. totally fine??  I even considered joining Kyle for the new regular Monday morning 6.2.  I didn't, because my brain on occasion does prove smarter than my body.  But that it feels like a pretty bonafide option is a bit unreal!

I took a walk after dinner, and was knocked out by 10:30 PM


Tuesday
Distance - #10kTuesday
Pace: 9:56

Michele is still sick.  The 2nd shift 10KTuesday decided to field trip from Dunwoody to Greenway, which is a bit more doable for me, so I decided I'd go ahead and get it in first thing, so that I could run with other people.  Not crazy 5 AM people, but reasonable 6:30 AM people. LOL.  Unfortunately, I didn't rest well; lost in thoughts of work and what not most of the night after 1 AM.  So getting up was still hard.  On the other hand, I am for sure starting to feel more like the stereotypical marathon runner, up before the masses, grinding away. Woo!

About this run:  I felt a bit heavy in the legs to start, but warmed up nicely.  Every time I set out for a run, I underestimate myself.  Especially runs with other people.  I was certain this would be a "Bad Run." And I do have those.  Plenty.  But not enough that I should predict having one EVERY time I head off.  Because the legs were not fresh, miles 5 & 6 were certainly not conversational, but the speed felt good anyways.  Under 10 avg pace for a post-17 shake out .. that was a post race shake out?  I'll take it!

Because I had to run away after the run, I took a sweaty by myself car selfie instead of a group selfie.  I look MAD. Hehe.

And I am still keeping up with pre-shower crunches (45-55), and pre-bed plank/stretching.  So far, these are the only things that have 'stuck,' but hey, better than nothing.   

Wednesday

Rest

Sleeping like a newborn is now a thing.  I head home, eat dinner, knock out on the couch, wake up at about 11, eat something (usually bad), and then knock out again.  

Thursday
Distance - 5.4
Pace - 9:24

There's a little bitty piece of me that really wishes I were doing half-marathon training on mornings like today.  (Okay, a bigger than bitty piece, but for the reason I am working to mention, a bitty piece).  I feel like this training round, I would have *finally* been able to CONFIDENTLY bump myself into the 9 minute pace group.  Back of 9s at the longer distances, for sure, but 9s none-the-less.  I've already toyed with the idea of starting out at back of 9s anyway each time, just out of stubbornness to graduate myself, but that didn't really bode so well in Brookhaven the other week. haha.  So .. patience .. which I am not good at.  Doing twice the distance, though, so must obey the Easy Pace Gods! 9:24 is absolutely feeling super 'reasonable' for 4-6 training runs, but I doubt I'd be able to keep it up for 17 hilly miles of ATC Atlanta-based fun! (and by I doubt, I mean I'd be dead).

Adopted!  This crew replaced my sick little squad this week.  I think we are looking at a sub-group run merger, because I really like Tuesday/Thursday Greenway mornings! :) (and how nice these folks are, of course .. plus zippy too! good deal)

Other random thoughts:

It feels SO. G. D. NICE not to have a race this weekend!  No anxiety.  At all.  Joy!

Two .. further ponderings about 4 miler last weekend .. its interesting how when you run your best, you feel amazing.  Period.  That said, I think there's a smidge of mental memory bias there.  If you're going down a hill, you feel like wonder woman, if you are going up a hill, you feel like a lard.  If your friends kick your arse, you might get down in the dumps, if you PR, you feel fantastic, even if that PR was months or years old.  So the post-race feeling, while the BEST POSSIBLE REASON for RUNNING... EVER. ... is maybe sorta just a tiny bit flawed.

What never fails?  Running with a pacer.  Singleton, for example, felt a little rough during.  I didn't feel totally capable.  At the finish line, if there were no number waiting, I might have said: I blew it.  I didn't feel like I pushed enough, I wasn't steady.  I didn't feel like 'wonder woman' during. Because it hurt. like. f*ck.  And I was ALL. OVER. THE. PLACE.  But I *crushed* a recent PR.  At Braves, I felt different.  In control.  Pacing like a champ.  Wonder Woman.  At 4 miler, wonder woman.  At Peachtree .. um .. Wonder Woman at the beach.  All serious improvements, time-wise, yes.  But the point is: if I had run with someone making me push to Level: Yuck, would I have felt like "I sucked," but ended with the *best* possible time?  Which of these things do I want more for my first marathon: feeling accomplished and fantastic, or having it suck?

If I am honest, by the end, I think I want it to suck.

I ask other runners what they are toying with, and 4:30 or under 4 are typical answers.  Some of these runners, I run with day in and day out, so I wonder if I'm setting myself up for sandbagging with a goal of 4:45 - 5:30.  The BIG difference, though, is that they have done this before.  Some MANY times.  So they probably know more realistically what, with training, and the specific course, they can do.  Me .. not so much.  The indicator chart says 4:05 - 4:09, based on Braves.  The indicator chart is loco and needs to be shot dead.  It also says that I can now hit that 2 hour half, and I am 10 minutes shy of that.  Granted, maybe the indicator chart doesn't know that thus far, my halves have been: hillfest Thanksgiving, hillfest Publix, and hillfest Pig, but ..

so yea.  I think it's right about the half, with great conditions and a pace group, I think I could squeak out a 2 hour 1/2 soon.  But seriously off on the marathon!!  Plus, I do not covet that time range.  In fact, in my WILDEST dreams, the time that I am *afraid* to speak out loud that I might even kinda sorta want would be a 4:30.  Even thinking that out loud is against the rules for first thon.  Am I setting myself up for disaster to even ponder it?  In fact, by the powers vested in comical circumstances, I'll probably get pick up by the swag wagon now just for rambling on the topic! lol.

But all these thoughts lead me to .. I should go out with the 4:30 pace group.  Shoot for the moon, land among the stars . yea?  Fall back when I eventually need to?

The answer is still: who knows.  Run 20 miles, Jude, then lets talk. ;)


Friday
Distance - 4.3
Pace: 10:13 (maybe? but probably not)

Today's run can be summarized as: fun with new watch.  I accidentally set the run to 'indoor treadmill.'  The Display changes I *finally* thought I had learned to set were gone.  So I couldn't tell if I was seeing lap pace, average pace, or something else.  When I got to the normal 2 mile mark, it said I was at 1.8.  So I went to like the 5th lamp post for 2, thinking I had slacked on starting the watch.  When I got back to the parking lot (normal 4), I just had 3.85!! GGGRRR.  While on the run, I kept thinking that 10:20/10:30 was REALLY hard to keep, considering it was JUST four miles, but I figured this must be what it feels like to try shorter more tempo-like runs back to back.  I also wondered why Courtney and Jody were running 10:20/10:30 their first mile, and if it was hard for them to stay that slow. LOL.  But I did run with both for sure at least the first mile, and later when I checked, they had ~9:40, so I am going to blame the treadmill mode, and for sure give myself at least 10:05 easy pace I should have kept, and really, it was probably closer to 9:40 avg pace.  (The last two were faster than first two).

Four morning runs this week.  I am officially ON A SCHEDULE.  This is getting easier.  Woo!

Then .. the weekend.  Mergh. Parent who pulled the short stick for concert pick up = moi.  Yippy. 11 PM at Lakewood.  Bed time will probably be 1 AM.  17 miler starts at 6:15 AM.  Joy.



Saturday
Distance - 18
Pace -



So happy. :)  Still sung as a bug in a rug on the 4:45 time pace!! And new distance PR.  Woah.

I didn't run a single mile that started in the 11s.  I didn't run a single mile that started in the 9s, except the last one.  That's pacing, baby!  Lol.

I had only planned to repeat 17, but it was so nice to have company a good bit of the way, and I am starting to get REALLY get nervous about running with training.  The hills I haven't run since Peachtree and Brookhaven will most likely be back in full force with a vengeance!  Where did I really want to try to tackle an 18 miler:  out on some insane course or on home turf??  I pick flat, scenic Riverside!  Plus, breaking it up really helps mentally.  By the time you hit a half marathon back at the parking lot, 17 is just two more out and back, so what's 2.5 out and back to make that 18.  Throw in finding a few new random people to watch and run with.  Running gold.  

Total: 

WAHOOOOO!!! 5 runs, 51 miles! (Technicality again; ran long Sunday and Saturday, but we WILL celebrate 51 miles regardless!!! *^_^*)

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.

Chicago Marathon Training: Week 3

Sunday
Distance: 13.1
Pace: 10:10

Great run!

I am enjoying Sunday mornings at Riverside in Roswell sooOOOOOoooo much.  It's beautiful, its chock full of familiar faces, and varying paces.  Bummer ATC no longer runs out of this location.  Happy its back on my schedule of run commitments, at least.

This run felt a bit harder than last week's.  Saturday was another night where sleep was messed with.  (Two nights in a row for those of ya keeping track).  Surprising enough, though, I was 110% sure I was going to REALLY TANK this one..  and by tank I mean 13+ if I could even maintain that (not to be pacist .. that's just my particular definition of tank right for me right this second).  Anyhoo .. I was surprised to find that I think we were a little more eager in the earlier miles than I should have been!  Right at under 10 all the way to the bathrooms at the 1/2 way point.  It wasn't until about mile 12ish that it all caught up to me, and come 13, I for sure did not have the Judy express kick in the reserve tank that I pulled out last Sunday.  As soon as 'beating last week's pace' went out the window, slugging it out to the moment I could stop was the only motivator!  But sheesh, so okay with that.  10:10 on 13.1 for a training run .. yes, please!

The only problem .. by October, this would be the HALF WAY POINT.  Seriously unable to even imagine.  *commence panic mode again* :)

The rest of Sunday was all about napping, pedicures / massage chairs, and prepping food and laundry for the week ahead.

Happy camper.

Monday
Rest

Let myself off the hook and got the sleep I was needing. No swim this AM .. maybe tonight, or Tuesday morning.  2 mile walk with Bill around the hilly neighborhood in the evening after dinner.  Fitbit steps for the win!

Tuesday
AM workout

16 laps in the pool.  Swim PR.  Boom!

Plus .. someone asked me where I got my really cute all-white suit, and said it looked really good on my tanned skin.  Compliment.  About me.  In a swim suit. Double boom!

Tonight is the 2nd All Comer Track & Field event associated with the Grand Prix, (a grouping of about 12 ATC races each year where participants earn points for both how well they do, and how many events they attend.  So far, I am at 100% attendance, and with the 5th place AG placing at Singleton and 4th at the last All Comer, I even have a few extra points!  I am 9th of 50 women 35-39.  Never-the-less, I am feeling motivated, but calm.  I don't have a goal time.  If I place 5th or better, that would be awesome.  But I am going to try and chill about that.  The mile PR I took last time more than covers everything I could have ever hoped to get out of both these events!! :) Four of us are going to dress in similar shirts, and do another relay.  Having fun with the squad there is #1 goal. (Lets see if I can manage to stay that way when/if they send out names / heat line ups. giggle).

PM workout

4 x 400 and 800 meters (3:36)

The pictures are going to have to speak for the night:

So much energy! :)


Team 'We've Got the Blues" :)
On that 4 x 400, by the time I got on the track, ALL of the other teams were FINISHED.  I had to run one hard lap BY MY SELFIE! Guess that's just the attention seeker type of girl I am. LOL!


This little picture right here is me learning a valuable lesson. ;) (and possibly hooking me on another "thing" about running that is probably more important in short distance).  For the Grand Prix, doesn't matter.  In a large road race, doesn't matter.  But on a track, lane by lane, it MATTERS who sprints to the finish line first, and who doesn't!  That girl in the blue?  If I had had ANY idea that she was there, fighting to catch me, .. oh boy, it'd have been on.  But no, I had no clue .. so we ended up crossing like at the same moment, or maybe even with her in front by a nose.  In the words of Peter Griffin: doesn't that just grind your gears??? lol. Self: welcome to track! Haha.

Barring that faux pas, extremely pleased with the time, and the night!  5th place in my AG!  Party time. *^_^*

This might just be my favorite group of non-blood related people ever. <3

And then ... some how .. THIS happened!!! Holy f$$^&**&# s&^##(t!!!!!!!!!!!!!  3rd in Grand Prix standings for my age group.  Someone get me an oxygen mask!  I'm going to hyperventilate.  Lol.  I kid that this is just the standings for the best of the mediocre women of a certain age willing to attend many, many ATC events (and it is), but it still tickles me to all get out to be where I am!!!! *^_^*

Unfortunately, I took a peak at what passes for good at the next event (a 4 miler), and for 2015, that was: 29:36 for 5th place. Bahahahahahahaha.  That's a 7:25 pace .. for 4 miles.  So basically, I am going to throw a grand prix 3rd place standing celebration now, so that I can enjoy myself while I have it, and wave good bye to it shortly with dignity and grace!! haha.  But for this month .. BOOM! :)

Wednesday
Woo!  Finally, a speed work evening that did not send me home, tail tucked between legs, wondering if I shouldn't just quit now and take up salsa dancing or the clarinet or something.

Distance: 1 WU, 10-12 400m repeats, .5 CD
Goal: 2:02
Temperature: 345 degrees, I'm sure.

HIT!  HIT 11 times!!! Hit by pacing myself and SLOWING myself DOWN a good bit of the first 6, to have just enough energy to finish ALL of them right under 2.  Doing as I am told to a tee?  How 'bout them apples?!! *^_^*  Only the last one was balls-to-the-wall (and by 11th, balls to the wall ended up being 1:45).

Why did we do 11, you ask?  Besides because we are rebels and Level 2.5 just what works for us? Lol.  No.  Well, I was counting .. but I was also counting my watch workouts.  For each 200, I stopped and started again.  (I am sure their are fancier ways to split 400s, but this works just fine for me).. EXCEPT that my watch can only show me the last 10 workouts, and I already have two "saved" slots for races I want to use as "race this" times.  Sooooo ... when we hit 8, I thought we had done 8.  When I thought we had done 9, I looked at watch (and counted like 30 times), and it said 8.  Brain drained that I was, I said to M and Enrique, oh damn, I thought we were at 9, but sorry, we're at 8.  So we did two more.  And I look down .. and that's when it dawns on me .. because we are still at 8 laps.  Ooooooops!  Sorry, M!

Thursday
Rest

Really wanted to make it to swim, but fell a bit short on time.  Boo.  Will try for tomorrow.

Feeling a little guilty that this week will fall very short of 30+, but also recognizing that the track meet took up a good bit of time, for very little mileage.  (both in that I didn't want to wear the legs before, and in that the late night threw me off schedule, etc., for all of 1 mile).  And that this Monday, I am caring at least a little bit about the Memorial day freedom 10k, so slight taper would be much better than either a Friday run, or tacking on miles Saturday.  Especially with spin on Sunday .. that will be plenty of shake out.

Friday
Swim

Saturday
Distance - 7 miles easy

I'll come back to update this one. :)

Upcoming
Memorial Day Freedom Run 10k, Cumming.

I really wish I had asked someone to pace me this coming Monday.  I do so much better when I have that additional motivation.  9s for a 10k is in my wheelhouse; I know it.  But it's just on the OUTSKIRTS of that "universe-of-possible."  I'll really have to fight for anything under 58, I am sure.  Just don't know if I have it in me without the 'elephant's feather.'  Why don't I find a pacer, then? .. well, the logic on that is kinda like tidying for the cleaning lady.  Lol.  I don't want to let a pacer down.  So I want to be REALLY comfortable that I can hit the goal I say I want.  (yes, so that means that when I get to that point, why do I need the pacer??  silly logic.  Judy logic. lol).

So its just M and I, running like the wind.  (hopefully!) And here are the goals:

90% - Under 60
50% - PR of anything under 58:42
10% - 56:45 (Maintain 1:59:59 1/2 pace for 6.22 / 9:08 pace)

Also up coming:  on Monday, after the race, we'll try to tack on enough mileage to total our first 14 miler.  Sounds tiny compared to 26.2, but it officially puts us on the path to big distance!  It won't be a continuous run; we'll have awards, and driving to a more familiar location.  Not ideal for a first conquering of a distance mental game wise.. (does that really count as 14, etc) .. but .. good for easing in, and also offset by the fact that first 6.2 will be run at 10k race pace.

Total - 25.1

Race Recap: 2016 Flying Pig, Cincinnati

Saturday
Travel racing is officially a thing!

I slept over at Michele's, so that we could expedite the 4 am departure.  (Yes, you read that correctly.  Eeeeepppp).  And even at that, we arrived at the airport with less than 45-60 minutes to departure.  Silly me, I thought we had PLENTY of time.  And OF COURSE, this would be the first random Monday morning that Atlanta is backed up from security TO BAGGAGE CLAIM!

We were still in the line at the stated boarding start time .. and then ... oh. em. gee ... still in the line at the stated final boarding / door close time.

As soon as they let me through security, I RAN.  (This is what we've been training for all along, right?  Kind of! lol.)  Pretty sure I put the fastest mile of the weekend on my feet in a desperate attempt to REACH THE GATE.  And I did.  After we boarded, they let on two more.  And then 5 minutes later, re opened the door for another four+!  Tisk, tisk Atlanta ..  staff those security gates appropriately in October please.  (and mental note: add an hour buffer to plans.  better still, no first of day, or last of day flights)

We got there with plenty of time to watch the two races.  Cheering was SO. MUCH. FUN.  The nose and ears were a BIG hit. :) Some serious smile miles on the pig nose.  And the 5K kids were the best.  At the finish line, all you need to do is tell a kid he or she is looking so strong, and are almost there .. and boom, they TAKE OFF!!  Seriously fun to watch. *^_^*

I dare you not to smile, tired runner. ;) 

After the races, to the expo!



This might have been the only part of the weekend that was not completely fun.  (Well, okay, two things .. but the other was not running related.)

THE decision.  I was tempted.  I asked the bib pick up folks what the process would be if I happened to want to switch races.  I walked over to the customer service table they directed me to.  I took note of the form I would need to complete.  I found out how much it would cost.  And then we went to go walking while I thought about it.  And thought about it.  Finally, I thought about it some more.  And I just couldn't make the decision to do it by myself.  I'm not sure what Michele would have decided if I would have just done it, but I just couldn't talk myself into doing it alone.

The following day, I would be furiously thanking all of the commentators that brought me to hesitate!!  But at the expo, when the decision was firm, I just felt bummed and outta gas. So we quickly did a cursory round of exploring, and then were outta there.


Sunday
Distance: 13.1
Time: 2:11:something

Wowzer.  What a course.  I seriously loved it, but my mental game was not prepared!  I hit it hard out of the gate, but let the hills gas me prematurely in miles 6 - 9.  By the time I hit the 10-11 mark, I knew I couldn't get back my PR pace.  This actually shot me in the foot: if I had done the math better, and realized I was still within a minute, I would have probably pushed it.

That said.. no toddler tantrum.  Reasons I think I avoided it:

• Recent PR
• The serious adventure the course itself presented.  Miles 6 - 9 were literally straight up.  And scenic.  There is something amazing about cresting a mountain with views out to the entirety of a world below.  I don't know how all that elevation compares to Publix, but the visibility of something like this just FEELS like a more major miraculous accomplishment.  Plus, unlike in ATL, for the ups, you get some serious downs.  Even if it didn't PR me, at least you are feeling like you put a little zoom in. 
• Kyle and Michele were off their PRs too.  (plus 3/4 of the rest of the tribe)
• The weather got hot and post-rain humid FAST.  I can let that account for why I couldn't push to serious physical hurt.

This is a major blessing, because except for the expo, I spent 100% of my weekend smiling, laughing, and enjoying myself!  Getting better about that.  Yey!

When we were done, I felt what I like to describe as post long race flu.  Feet ache, backache, chills, cranky.  We found beer, advil, and did a poor man's yoga for about an hour at the stadium seating by the river.  It was gorgeous.  And just about all I needed to be back at 100%.  In the blink of an eye, I was making Kyle time how fast Michele and I could get up the stairs. bahahaha.  So all we need to do is run our first 1/2 at race pace, stop and have a beer/do yoga /pound Advil for 30 minutes, and then run the second half in 2:20.  2:10 + 30 + 2:20 = 5:00.  Done. :) haha.  Or we could .. um .. train. hee heee.

Watching the Marathoners
This was awful.  And awesome.  Awful because by the time we got there, every finisher looked like death warmed over.  They were bleeding, and limping, and crying, and basically the most unhappy group of people we'd ever seen.  The weather was probably partial to blame, but Michele and I just kept saying: oh my god, what have we done.  Over and over.

Then we saw OUR marathoners.  Yes, they looked miserable, too.  But LOTS less miserable.  And on seeing us, the uplift was immediate.  Afterward, Tina and Rebecca did all of the post-race celebrating more or less like any of the rest of us. This reiterated the idea of preparation, which brought on ..

The List
In part, due to watching the marathoners come in, for the rest of the weekend I started to compile a list of (serious and not so serious) Dos and Don'ts for Chicago.  On the final night, at 10 pm or so, most of the tribe sat around in the lobby recapping, and so far ..

Marathon Virgin Do(s)
Double the Guu
Salt
Advil
Excessive airport travel time
gas car the night before
wax EVERYTHING
wear sunscreen (said with a fearful footnote that the conversation might be turning into a 90s pop song)
be mindful of time changes
explore coffee options ahead of time
schedule travel with enough down time / expo time
no same day travel post-race

Marathon Virgin Don't(s)
No crying
No spontaneous bleeding
No limping
No walking in the chute
No losing skin
No blisters
No pool after marathon.  Hello chafing.
No farting in your ventilation-less trash bag (figured that one out the hard way. bahahaha)

Marathon Virgin Maybes
Hold hands with your favorite run partner (lol)


Hair (and matching outfit) game