On The Road Again

The new year has definitely started out with a bang - in my converging worlds of work, training, and travel. Currently I am training/vacationing in Spokane, WA, while the boy in my life takes a few doctoral seminars at Gonzaga U. Last week I was in Santa Rosa/Napa/Petaluma for work, which is always a great overall destination.

I managed to get in a good swim last week at the Airport Club in Santa Rosa, and have mustered the motivation to continue my swims and runs here in WA. The pool at Gonzaga is a convenient place to splash around, and the Centennial Trail is a great place for a scenic run. One thing I am missing though (other than my teammates) is the bike! I am thinking about renting one on Wednesday and heading toward Idaho. Hopefully this all works out, and that the weather is cooperative.

This trip, albeit in the winter this time, makes me think of how far I've come since last summer. I don't think I am any fitter, per se; perhaps a bit more well-rounded due to the cross-training, but certainly a bit more mature in my approach to fitness. I mean this mainly in terms of giving myself a break! I now realize how important recovery is, and I take those "days off" very seriously. Right now we have Fridays off, since the Ironman training needs to occur 6 days per week. If I feel burned out though, I take it easy on Mondays as well.

I think the two most difficult things about IRONtraining right now are 1) balancing the schedule with the rest of my life and 2) making it through two-a-day workouts. Right now Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays tend to be both running and swimming days - or at least that's how the schedule is developing. My motivation around running still tends to be low, so I really have to push myself (especially after a good swim). The new running shoes certainly help, and I feel I am well on my way...

Overall, I can see and feel the improvement in my swimming, and with a strenuous/hilly 30 mile ride under my belt, I know I will continue to improve in my cycling. In the meantime, I'll enjoy the time I have away, while looking forward to getting back on my bike with the team.

Manhattan Beach 10k Race Report

It was a rather last-minute decision, but I decided last week to register for the Manhattan Beach 10k on October 3rd. A friend was choosing this as her first race, and I was inspired to make this my comeback race. My training has been spotty over the last two months, and I really needed to feel inspired again. The fact that MB is local made this choice even easier.

I was a bit nervous at the start, but I wanted to keep this race low pressure and high fun. I saw a ton of TNT people and some other acquaintances along the way. The route had plenty of hills, including one biggie at mile 5. Surprisingly, I maintained an 11:15 pace throughout - MUCH faster than my usual training pace (typically 12:00-13:00 depending on terrain). I had to run-walk up the final hill (due to lack of recent hill training), but it was heaven coming down onto the Strand for the final mile and a beautiful ocean view. I tried to push myself to the MB pier, where I saw balloons and the blessed finish line. My official chip time was 1:09:34. I am more than satisfied with the result, given my lack of consistency these days.

I can't wait to get back into my training routine and run my next race, which might be during a business trip in Washington, DC.

In other news, I am off to Hawaii for a wedding this week. I will definitely be bringing my running shoes and logging some island miles!

Strip Running

I registered for the Las Vegas half marathon today! Looking forward to spending a nice December weekend in Sin City... eating at some great restaurants then running it off!

The Best Laid Plans...

It has certainly been an interesting 2 weeks. Despite running 10 miles last Saturday, my midweek mileage = 0. My energy, motivation, and interest in running dove to an all-time low sometime around last Monday. The last week I haven't been feeling well, and given the fact that everyone around me has been sick, I've likely caught the bug. I planned to run 12 miles yesterday, but slept in instead. I had to force myself to commit to 5 miles this morning, which was a struggle. I can't remember the last time I felt sore after a flat 5-miler. During the run I felt extra hot and most likely had a fever.

The one question I've been asking myself all week: is this normal?? I had the best run 2 weeks ago. I fell in love with running all over again and felt so strong. The Dland half is a few weeks away, and at this point I am questioning my fitness/whether or not to participate. My ever-encouraging running buddies tell me I can pull it off without a hitch. My body (or just mind?) is telling me otherwise.

I suppose it is normal to have periods of lower motivation and waining interest in a sport like running. Of course, I feel better even after my short run this morning. My plan is to run at least 2 times this week before I travel to Lubbock Wednesday morning, and definitely try for a 12-14 miler next weekend. Perhaps it is time to really start committing to cross-training? I've been known to get bored easily, and it seems like some variety might be just what the doctor ordered.

Stay tuned...

The Elusive Long Run

I am writing this from the lovely state of WA, where I am enjoying the "working" part of my vacation. My plan is to write and run, and I've been mildly successful with both. My primary frustration at the moment is my lack of motivation in getting a long run on the books. I've logged about 27.5 miles since the marathon. However, the most mileage I've accrued in any one run is about 5. I've read MANY articles on post-marathon recovery and how one should go about rebuilding their base. Some people take an entire month off...others start jogging 3 days after they complete their race. Either way, it's time for me to start with my Saturday long run schedule again.

The good news: TNT alumni runs are beginning! Anyone interested can return to practice in PV on Saturday mornings at 7:30am. This will definitely help with my motivation issues.

The bad(ish) news: I am registered to run the Disneyland Half Marathon on September 6th! I have about 9 weeks to build up my base again. According to the adapted TNT training schedule, I should have ideally logged 8 miles over the weekend, and should embark on 10 next weekend. Let's hope some other TNT folks will be up for joining me on a longer route...

On another note, the Garmin continues to be awesome, especially the wonderful online world of Garmin Connect. I know many of you who read this have known about the wonders of the Garmin products for some time, but I still won't hesitate to share my excitement! :)

Goals for the week:

-log 25-30 miles by Saturday night

-incorporate some cross-training into my schedule (and not just talk about it)

-make yoga a priority next Monday

Post Marathon Reflections

It has been three weeks since the marathon, and in many ways, it seems like it never even occurred! I took about a ten day break from running, and since then have accumulated about 14 miles over four runs. It felt good to get my legs moving again, and I might embark on some longer mileage this Saturday morning. To keep myself motivated, I signed up for the Disneyland Half Marathon on September 6th. I've heard it's a great race, albeit pricey! I might also register for the local Village Runner 5k on the 4th of July, depending on travel plans.

The biggest challenge I have faced since running the marathon has been around my mental health. The physical soreness only lasted a few days, but mentally I've been up and down for the last two weeks. Things are much more stable now, but I was not prepared for this side effect. I read that post-marathon depression is very common...I just didn't think it would happen to me! Refocusing on my eating habits and frequent short runs has certainly helped.

This being said, I would not shy away from running another full. In fact, I am contemplating Las Vegas in December or Phoenix in January. Well see...

I had the chance to run in Spokane, WA last Friday, which was a welcomed change of scenery. This is my last week of work before a two week vacation, and even though I will probably stick close to home, my goal is to discover some new trails in So Cal. I will provide some pics and reviews based on what I encounter.

26.2 Here I Come!

Only 2 days to go until the San Diego Marathon! I'm spending the day working from home, packing, and HYDRATING! You cannot imagine how much there is to remember in the packing process, and I still have to make another trip to the store tonight.

I took it easy this week...2.5 miles on Tuesday and about 3 on Wednesday. I am toying with a quick 1-2 miles tomorrow, but might pass. My left knee is not behaving, and I want to be as rested as possible for the big day.

Tomorrow morning I head down to SD in time for lunch, the expo and relaxation (hopefully!) Our check-in time for the shuttle to the start line is 4am--yes, 4am Sunday morning. If you pray for nothing else, pray that I get to bed early and that I sleep well!

Can't wait to update everyone on the experience!

Countdown

Last Saturday: a STRONG 12 miles
This Saturday: an easy 6 miles
Miles mid-week: a measly 3 while on business in Lubbock
Tonight: hoping to squeeze in 4 more before the Angels game
Next Sunday: MARATHON!
Panic: starting to set in :)

Great Strides!

The past 7 days were amazing! Last Saturday our team ran 20 miles...a major mental hurdle for me! I felt the most discouraged around mile 13 (because it was HOT and traffic was high on Palos Verdes drive). I finished feeling surprisingly strong (with the help of Coach Ed and a co-worker I happened to meet along the way). With a couple of brief walking breaks and many big hills along the way, I finished in a little over 4 hours. I certainly won't be breaking any records at the marathon, but my goal this first time around is to simply finish.

I also reached my fundraising goal this week of $2,500!! With the help of my amazing parents, (who held a garage sale Saturday morning as I ran) many generous friends and additional family members, we did it in just the nick of time! God bless Facebook and those special people who responded to my plea to raise that last $100 on the final day. :)

Tomorrow we taper to 12 miles for our long run, while maintaining steady mileage throughout the week. This week I slacked a bit on my daily runs, since I was traveling for work and putting in long hours. Hopefully I won't pay for it tomorrow morning...

Thanks again to all who have offered, and continue to offer any kind of support...I can't wait to fill you in on the big day! Meanwhile, I'll keep you updated on my progress over the next 2 weeks. Let the countdown begin!

If you are curious, here is a breakdown of how your donations to LLS are allocated:

Traveling Runner

One of the best parts of my job is traveling to the bay area for hospital visits. I took advantage of the amazing weather in Napa earlier this week for an easy 3-miler.

This Saturday we are set to run 10 miles, again in Palos Verdes. I've never run more than 9 miles, even in high school. Stay tuned for updates!

Food for Thought

Inspired by my long run on Saturday, I decided to cook a healthy dinner. Nothing fancy...just grilled salmon, steamed asparagus, butternut squash, and brown rice.

Our weekend team run took place in Torrance...a 3.5 mile loop around the airport. Other than my left foot going numb around mile 2, it was great. I was also told about a VERY useful website, http://www.mapmyrun.com/, that has come in particularly handy when I find myself traveling. You can search for (user-rated) routes by location, mileage, etc...



This coming Saturday, we kick the training up a notch to 6 miles at Malaga Cove in Palos Verdes.

Pacific Northwest

It has been a wonderful few days in the Bellingham area. Despite the VERY cool temps, the winter scenery is beautiful...definitely worthwhile to venture out. I stocked up on some cold-weather running gear, which was necessary for my 3 miler this morning.

We also discovered an awesome new whole-foods-like grocery store (but much cheaper). It has a huge selection of bulk grains, legumes, spices and specialty health foods. I wish we had this in So Cal! Made some great turkey chili tonight with supplies from the new find.

Training Schedule ~ Week of 2/8

My training schedule this week is basically the same as last week, with an increase for my Saturday run (which will likely happen here, in less than ideal temps). Next week I am going to start incorporating more strength training, in addition to the usual pilates routine.

2/8: 20 min cross-training
2/9: 60 min pilates
2/10: 2 miles
2/11: REST
2/12: 30 min or 2 miles
2/13: REST
2/14: 3 miles