Hills for breakfast, hold the gnats

Week starting Dec 27, 2009

Previous WeekRecent EntriesHomeJoin Fast Running Blog Community!PredictorHealthy RecipesSnoqualmie's RacesFind BlogsMileage BoardTop Ten Excuses for Missing a RunTop Ten Training MistakesDiscussion ForumRace Reports Send A Private MessageMonth ViewYear View
Graph View
Next Week
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
200820092010
15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

Location:

Snoqualmie,WA,

Member Since:

Jan 31, 2008

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

Marathon PR: 4:17 at Portland Marathon, Oct. 2007

5K PR 24:37 2009

10K PR 52:58 2010

Have run 22 marathons to date.

No injuries, ever.   :)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Qualify for Boston (4:05 for my age/gender) - or, perhaps, to use my desire for a BQ as a way to get in the hated speed work so I don't just get slower and slower over the years.  This goal is "under (re)construction" right now, until I figure out whether it is truly what I want. :) 


Long-Term Running Goals:

To continue learning about myself and about running, and to enjoy being a fit, happy runner for life.   To always know why I am running and the best way to get the most (both mentally and physically) out of my runs.  To keep a sense of humor and remain optimistic about myself as a runner.  To enjoy running more and more with every passing year. 

Personal:

Baby boomer generation.  Jogged a little in my 20's and 30's.  Started running seriously in 2002.  Low-carb runner since January 2010. 

I love long runs and cold, cloudy weather.  I don't believe in "junk miles."  I am an optimist.  I adore dark chocolate, fog, my family, and knitting -- not necessarily in that order.  

"As every runner knows, running is about more than just putting one foot in front of the other; it is about our lifestyle and who we are."  -- Joan Benoit Samuelson 


Favorite Blogs:

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Brooks ST3 Lifetime Miles: 891.35
Vibram Five Fingers KSO Lifetime Miles: 23.77
Brooks ST3 II Lifetime Miles: 965.17
Lunaracers II Lifetime Miles: 198.23
Mizuno Wave Universe 3 Lifetime Miles: 104.14
Asics Piranha Lifetime Miles: 536.83
RunAmocs (Softstar) Lifetime Miles: 16.23
Piranha II Lifetime Miles: 219.53
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
46.410.000.000.0046.41
Mizuno Wave Universe 3 Miles: 5.28Brooks ST3 Miles: 9.11Brooks ST3 II Miles: 32.02
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
5.280.000.000.005.28

Low 40sF, clear, still very windy (20-40 mph). Objective: recovery run. 

I was pretty wiped out from yesterday's run, but recovery runs always seem to end up feeling better than I think they will.  I was a bit of a wreck yesterday, and fell asleep on the couch for 1.5 hours in the afternoon.  But that didn't stop me from sleeping over 9 hours last night!  So my fun-o-meter was accurate - that was a hard run.

Two days of gale force winds have taken their toll on the neighborhood lawn ornaments. Penguins, light-up deer, and inflatable Santas were strewn around like battlefield carnage.  The last lawn penguin I came across this morning was upright, and his little flippers were held up high, ala marathon finish line, as if to proclaim, "I survived the wind!"  Me too, but with a lot less gusto. 

MON-SUN WEEK SUMMARY


Mon 4.51

Tue 9.98

Wed 6.46 w/ 4 x 1K VO2

Thu  9.78

Fri off 

Sat 20.68

Sun 5.28

TOTAL  56.69

Mizuno Wave Universe 3 Miles: 5.28
Comments(3)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
9.110.000.000.009.11

40F, light rain showers, wind ~10-15 mph. Objective: easy run w/ 10 x 10 second hill sprints.  20 min. strength & stretching.

Busy day!   

Brooks ST3 Miles: 9.11
Comments(11)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
6.920.000.000.006.92

35F, breezy w/ occasional drizzle. Objective: easy run.  20 min. strength work.  

I spent the day skiing yesterday and consequently am extremely tired.  Running felt good, but I definitely lacked energy. But it's nice to feel justified about moving slowly and just enjoy the mindless movement.  

Brooks ST3 II Miles: 6.92
Comments(9)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
6.960.000.000.006.96

40F, thin cloud layer w/ lots of moonlight coming in. (Blue moon tonight, second full moon in one month.) VERY slow run. Brief core workout w/ pushups. 

Legs? Hello? Hello?  ....They're not home. Well, as lackluster as my last run of 2009 turned out to be, I am WAY over any previous year's mileage so I can sail into 2010 with my head held high.  The highest annual  mileage I ever had before was 1,924 and I'm over 2,400 for this year!  I left an enthusiastic message about it for my legs, for whenever they decide to come back. 

ETA: just received this link to a video overview of SoftStar mocs that I wanted to share with you all: http://www.youtube.com/user/softstarshoes#p/a/u/0/LW6p2tVBwH4  These are the best! 

Brooks ST3 II Miles: 6.96
Comments(9)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
18.140.000.000.0018.14

44F, rain showers, variable light wind. Objective: endurance run w/ progression, and club run w/ no one.  

Six miles slow jog, 6 moderate, 5 fairly hard (starting with 2 miles on the Leg Builder Hill and just a bit slower than marathon pace for the rest, with a couple of short walk breaks), 1 mile cool down.

Again, it was hello / good-bye at the running club. Just a bunch of fast guys and Sean's sister (also very fast), and little lonesome me.  I watched them become tiny little neon-green dots in the distance on the straight, forested,Snoq. Valley Trail  (SVT). After a couple of miles the dots got larger, and after they passed me I turned around too and watched them disappear again.

This actually turned out to be a very good way to run a little on the SVT without being completely alone, safety wise.  I added some meandering through the streets of old Snoqualmie to bring me to the end of mile 12, where I started the hard miles and attacked the Parkway hill (Leg Builder). 

During my entire run, I was dreading this last part and feeling like there was no way I had the energy for it today.  But it turned out to be fine and I felt very strong.  Woo and hoo.  

The wildlife count was particularly high today.  I always count it privately, but it's rarely blog-worthy. Today I saw 2 deer, 2 rabbits, a hawk, and a large herd of 40-50 elk in the meadow adjacent to the SVT.  I tried to snap a picture with my phone but it was still too dark. 

I thought the club would be full of new people today. But I guess rain, darkness, and warm blankets trump New Year's Resolutions.  Just a block from finishing up, I encountered 2 sisters who used to come to the club, really nice women.  They promised to try for next week.  Not that I really need people to run with, but it seems pointless to go out of my way being there every week and then run alone.  

I hope you all had a great holiday!  

 

Brooks ST3 II Miles: 18.14
Comments(6)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
46.410.000.000.0046.41
Mizuno Wave Universe 3 Miles: 5.28Brooks ST3 Miles: 9.11Brooks ST3 II Miles: 32.02
Debt Reduction Calculator
Featured Announcements
Recent Comments: