Monday, October 27, 2008

Mad Monday Update 10/27

Last week closed the second week since the Towpath Marathon that I was allowing myself to do whatever I felt like and it could not have come at a better time as I have been swamped. However, this week it will be time to move forward and start increasing the workouts again and I started things off right with a 6AM Spin class!

Monday-Ran 3.75 Miles to mother in laws
Tuesday-off
Wednesday-off
Thursday- Ran 6 Miles
Friday-Ran 6 Miles, Abs
Saturday-Ran 12 Miles with TR on hilly chagrin falls/ s chagrin course
Sunday- off

Ran 27.75 Miles

Sort of felt like a giant slacker having 3 off days but the plan was to do whatever I felt like for 2 weeks and I ended up putting most of my time and energy into a lot of painting and getting the house ready to Saturday's Halloween Party which led to Sunday's off day!

On the subject of Halloween fectivites, here are a couple pics!







Monday, October 20, 2008

Mad Monday Update 10/20

After the Towapth Marathon last Sunday...

M 10/13 - 5 miles outside by myself out the tailgate madness (9 min miles, felt great but made sure not to go any faster)
T- 10/14 - 15 minutes stationary bike easy, upper body workout
W - 10/15 - 7.75 mile with E at 7:58 pace...started off around 7:40 pace and eased off last few miles
R - 10/15- 3 miles on treadmill, 9 min mile pace
F -10/16 - 6 miles easy with E 9:25 pace
S - 10/17 10 miles mtn biked at West Branch
S 10/18 CTC Du 2.9 mile (6:50 pace) Run-15.5 Bike(17.8 mph incl T1 time)-2.9 mile run (7:40 pace incl T2 time), total time 1.37.30; walked some more around Blue Hen Falls with camera later in the day




In general everything feels fine and no real issues...still general tightness in Piriformis and ITB so focusing on stretching and with be seeing ART doc tomorrow more for preventive maitenance.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Towpath Marathon Race Report


Starting from the beginning, I was not sure what to expect for the marathon. It seemed a lot of the weeks were hot and cold. As I reflect now back to the training, I was basing my speed workouts and tempo runs on my 5K PR from last year so technically I should have been targetting a faster marathon time based on that training and PR. Yet, that was not the goal. I wanted to run a strong, even, boston qualifying race. From the beginning the only plan was to target a pace just below 3:40 allowing a little cushion for a bathroom stop if nescessary...if ya didn't know already this is a often problem area for me!

The week leading up to the marathon I had been real stressed out (short story here is that I work in hedge funds, stupid stock market) and E felt the brunt of that as I did my PMP 3 miles on Thursday which turned into a venting session where my pace was closer to 7:45 than 8:15. So much for her recovery run! I was real congested in the evenings and was worried the cold I felt trying to grab hold might bother me during the marathon which made me a little nervous...but I was trying to put that out of my mind. I still felt a little off marathon morning.

Friday and Saturday, I was real busy and did not have the chance to get in any exercise which was fine by me as I think erroring on the conservative side right before seems to work for me. That Saturday, I worked the table for Southeast Running Club at the expo. I really give props Kathleen Dugan and the other Towpath organizers for their work in putting together a nice little expo for this smaller marathon. I left there around 12:45 and headed to Vertical Runner to grab some Crank Gels where I tried to con MB into running with us to no avail (or so I thought!) Had a pasta with red sauce for lunch (Big Boy with my parents) and dinner (trying hard to not eat anything that might cause a problem). Hit my friend's 30th birthday party and had 2 Blue Moon Harvest Moons and crawled into bed about 11:30.

After a solid night's sleep I got up (5:45 AM)and grabbed my Fruit Punch Rockstar! My plan was to drink about half (which I figured w/b the ideal caffeine amount) and eat a blueberry bagel with peanut butter as I drove to the race. It seemed about perfect.

At the race I plopped my butt on the floor while I waited for my friends feeling very calm about the race. Before long, I saw the girls and TB and we waited to head to the starting line after I hit my inhaler (lesson learned other days with the asthma). It was a long walk and I was freezing. Poor BS was struggeling to keep up walking with us (as she had been super sick) so it seemed it may not be her day.

At the start I was concentrating on trying to not go out too fast. The first mile on the road was just jockeying back and forth and chatting away with friends. I lost AS and BS right away as I chatted away with this guy, Jim who was wearing a CTC visor he had bought the day before. I was absolutely freezing with numb hands. I am guessing it was upper 40s / low 50s at the start. Yet, I was not complaining as I froze the first 2.5 miles or so as I knew that would be to our advantage later.

As we moved onto the towapth after 0.9 miles, it was pretty tight. I trotted along talking to Jim through 2 when he figured he better pick up the pace to meet his goal but I settled in waiting for Amie ready to run our steady race. I was delighted to hit E's aide station. They were cheering and I looked at the group of volunteers who I think I knew them all by name...YEAH FRIENDS! Amie caught up to me just after that aide station and then it was on. The miles clicked off one by one as we talked about Halloween costumes, wind energy, a photo walk, you name it. As we approached the first turnaround it was fun to watch the leaders coming back as we counted off how many girls were ahead of us (I think around 15). At the turnaround (~9 Miles) we saw Brett and Lloyd and cheered loudly as I took my first gel. The cheering continued as we got a look at our friends behind us. I think it was quite obvious we were feeling good and were from around there as this one guy running started laughing at us asking us if we knew everyone.

We actually went back and forth with him awhile. It was marathon 77 for him and he is trying to hit 100 before his 40th birthday in 11 months. WOW! Amie and I came through the half in 1:48 and change feeling good and telling each other that over and over. Sort of comical when I think back...obviously we were allowing zero doubt to enter our minds that day! Again we got juiced up to pass E's group again with all my SERC and CTC friends (you know who u r...BH, MT, AH, DH, BW, PR, LD...!)

As we got closer to Boston store (~15 miles) I could feel things warming up and my chest felt a hair tighter so I was glad my inhaler was there. I saw Steve who was our sherpa for the day and I grabbed a sip of Rockstar, my gels and hit my inhaler and was off. This stretch was way more crowded with the half marathoners coming the other way. We tried to encourage some of them on who looked like they were struggeling. I think I teased Amie as I thought the turn around was by the Station Road parking lot when in fact it was a lot further north...oops. As we approached 20, spirits were still high and I told Amie we were going to get those 3 girls just a bit ahead of us. About this time, MB's group, linked up with us. It was a perfect time to have new energy. These guys just projected such a strong vibe and were there to get MB across the finish line. I liked when they said "11:45 will come regardless today, it is up to you where you will be" or something like that!!! The race started 5 minutes late so 11:45 was her 3:40 BQ pace, as was ours. I was enjoying calling MB a sandbagger and telling her I told ya so (she was the one at the store I had tried to con the day before into running with us and she said she was planning to run slower).

On this stretch there was a good amount of pavement and bright sun. It was such a relief when the pavement ended and also when we got back into the shade. I was fatigued but still trucking along strong. The three miles or so I started longing for the finish line and got quiet. I was focused on the finish line and not slowing down and was couting down the minutes. Somewhere in this point I lost Amie as she had taken more time at an aide station but at this point I was all eyes forward. As we closed in on the finish line I picked up the pace a bit knowing I had it in the bag and was relieved to cross the finish line. Then I was elated to see MB and AS right behind me!!! YEAH, three members of the Akron Mary Relay team all in under BQ pace right close together! Another strong team effort!

I smacked some hands and congratulated a few people and then I entered my 5 minute funk. I wanted to talk to my pal Bob but I needed to walk as my legs started to tighten up some. E was good enough to walk with me and then I stretched for a bit. I walked to my car to change and chugged some water and started to feel way better. Then the celebration started! We lounged in the grass drinking beer and swapping stories with a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. What a great way to cap off the race! I even nabbed a second place age group award which was a towpath picture which was totally awesome and will always be special to me!

Later I took a nice hot salt bath and stretched out and the only thing that bothered me was my one toenail and small blister besides a little soreness. Went for a recovery 5 mile run Monday and felt very good holding myself to no faster than 9 minute miles.



Pictured is Todd (who ran another solid mary after Akron 2 weeks ago, E (area's best volunteer and cheerleader), me , Bill and Amie!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Mad Monday Update 10/13 ... a couple days late!

One of these days I will write stuff down so I am not scratching my head come Monday!

M 10/6 - 5 miles treadmill, upperbody workout, stretched
T 10/7 - 1 M w/u, 6-400's at 10.0 on treadmill, 1 mile c/d-5 miles, stretched, abs/core
W 10/7 - 4 miles treadmill, stretched
R 10/8 - 3 PMP (well guess they were done at 7:45 as I was venting), total of 6.25 M, 5 mile mtn biked
F 10/9 - off, did get some exercise cleaning!
S 10/10 - off-expo-party!
S 10/11 - mary-26.4

Totals
Ran - 46.65 miles
Mtn Biked-5 :-(
Lifted-1 day
Core/ Stretching-- Grade B

Monday, October 13, 2008

Hoodihoo!!!




Towpath marathon runners were treated to a picture perfect running morning yesterday. It was nice and cool for the start and the leaves made for an incredibly gorgeous marathon course.

After a long year of disappointing race results, I am excited to report that yesterday went according to plan. The plan was to run just under BQ pace with a little cushion (in case of a bathroom stop) and run even and have fun.


Official Garmin Splits

1 8:18
2 8:15
3 8:19
4 8:23
5 8:11
6 8:13
7 8:14
8 8:11
9 8:12
10 8:12
11 8:13
12 8:12
13 8:07
14 8:13
15 8:12
16 8:13
17 8:14
18 8:17
19 8:21
20 8:21
21 8:19
22 8:15
23 8:12
24 8:15
25 8:30
26 8:09
.39 3:01

Total-
Miles- 26.39
Time- 3:37:43
Avg Pace-8:14

Other tidbits of note-
-Felt good the whole race and felt I could even push harder if need be
-My feet were the best they have ever been during a marathon thanks to the forgiving surface
-While I missed having my girl, BS at my side(who has been dealing with a sickness), I was fortunate enough to have my girl, Amie at my side. We cheered and bantered most the entire way!
-The bonus on the day was another one of my Akron mary teammates, MB, and her posse of positive energy along for the last several miles and watching her run an awesome race and BQ when she did not expect it. CONGRATS!
-Love the home court advantage of this course! There is something about running on your home turf and seeing all your local pals on the course, cheering and volunteering
-Volunteers were just fantastic and I just cannot thank each of them enough!
-I am huge advocate of the Crank Gels (had 3 during the race and just water). Good energy boost, enjoy all the flavors, and no stomach issues
-Not even one bathroom stop! It's a miracle!
-After the 5 minute funk following hitting the finish line, I have felt really good. Just one cracked toenail and small blister. Monday's soreness is minimal and will go for a recovery run.

PS-Worked the Towpath Mary expo and sat next to Tanya, who heads up the Winter Buckeye 50K. I had to sign up and now it is official! People were signing up left and right and I bet it is closed within the next week or two. If you are thinking about it, sign up now. If you are not thinking about it, you should be!!!

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Random Marathon Week Thoughts

The weather fixation...

What will Sunday hold? Currently the weather states SUNDAY- High: 73 Low: 55
Sunny Warm.

Not bad, a little warm, but sounds pretty good!

The outfit?

Hmmm, what to wear?

Why is it everything keeps breaking around me?
Replaced front brakes and rotors. Why are they still screeching? Need a new front caliper...guess that will be a good time check the horredous brake squeal. Adam Sandler's, Piece of Sh!t car is playing in my head. I really need a new windshield, desperately need new tires and of course a car wash!

Built a laundry room and moved new washer and dryer upstairs...hooked it up but new piping leaks. So much for washing clothes upstairs. No big deal, replace belts in old washer so it will work. Crap, I guess the belts broke because something else was wrong because they broke again! Now I got a full washer of water and no way to wash clothes.

Will remodeling ever be done in this old house?

Is is possible to finish texturing and painting two rooms before Halloween party?

On the subject of Halloween, what would be the best costume in the world?


While Drew Cary & Mimi was funny last year, being fat was way too umcomfy and not cute AT ALL!

I hate paying for oil. So $$$

Hauled a ton of wood over for woodburning. Crosstraining?

Seriously, working in the investment industry and listening to CNBC all day is sooo depressing!


Thank goodness I can workout and have a little reprieve in my day!

Is it Friday yet?????

Monday, October 06, 2008

Mad Monday Update 10/6

Race week is here....

The prior weekend was the Akron mary relay and West Branch race. Last week between the rain, the cool temps and the darkness, I just felt in a funk.

Mon 9/29 - 6 mile easy run with E
Tues 9/30 - 2.5 mile run on treadmill (got so bored and was not feeling it so decided to wait until next day)
Wed 10/1 - 3 mile run on treadmill (was attempting to do my 1000's, but fell short of goals...honestly anytime I run on my treadmill at home I never am where I need to be.)
Thurs 10/2-6 mile run as part of CTC Fun run. Only thing is since it was just one other huy and me, made it a nice tempo run through the hills of Solon/ Bedford
Fri 10/3-off..busy
Sat 10/4-13.5 mile run on towpath (ran with LT group which worked out fantastic!), 4 mile walk mapping du course, 10 miles mtn biked at west branch
Sun 10/5-headed up CTC duathlon and then ran 4.5 mile with JC

Totals
Ran 35.5
Mtn Biked-10

Saturday night for some odd reason I could not sleep and have been feeling a little off and real congested in the evenings. Planning to rest up quite a bit this week and then run my little tail off on Sunday!!!