Hills for breakfast, hold the gnats

May 16, 2024

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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:

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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

Tue, Aug 26, 2008

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
8.44	0.00	0.00	0.00	8.44

Objective: General aerobic w/ hill attacks and cadence drills

Weather: cool (low 50's), dry. calm. Patchy fog (my favorite).

The mornings are starting out very dark now, so my unofficial job as Neighborhood Streetlight Outtage Reporter has begun again. Using my headlamp almost daily again now.

Got a book at the library called "Brain Training for Runners" by Matt Fitzgerald. Has anyone out there read it? Very interesting so far. I think I'm too late in my training cycle to benefit from it much right now, but I will consider it carefully for the future. The main theme so far seems to be a method of training neural connections in the brain to minimize fatigue. I do believe there is merit to this idea, or none of us would be able to dig deep and find a "finishing kick." It's how to tap into that when the finish line is not in sight that would be a great tool to have.

15 min. abs & weights

Comments

From Kim on Tue, Aug 26, 2008 at 10:48:35

Tom and I have that book. He has read it more thoroughly than I have. We are actually following the training plans outlined in there.

I like running in fog too! It's kind of a strange sensation. You probably see more of it than I do. Low 50's seems quite cool for this time of year. It was rather warm for us this morning. But I'm not going to complain about that because I know what is coming just around the corner....brrrrrr!

Way to get the 8+ miles in, plus the abs and weights!

From Dale on Tue, Aug 26, 2008 at 10:56:59

I've read that book too. I liked the propriceptive queues he outlines the most and have tried to use them in my running. I actually feel like they've helped.

From JD on Tue, Aug 26, 2008 at 11:38:28

Nice mileage this week Snoqualmie. You're going to acheive your goals easily with the way you're training.

That book sounds interesting. The theme sounds a lot like what Sasha frequently blogs about.

From Kelli on Tue, Aug 26, 2008 at 12:39:21

Perfect running weather! I am jealous!

From Snoqualmie on Tue, Aug 26, 2008 at 13:39:06

Kelli- your cool is coming I promise. ;) Honestly I don't know how you all in UT run in summer.

JD- thanks so much for the encouragement. I don't know when achieving a goal like this has ever meant more to me. I get all teary just imagining it. But I have many doubts.

From Sasha Pachev on Tue, Sep 02, 2008 at 17:34:18

I have the book and have communicated with him via e-mail. My thoughts. He is grasping something on the theoretical level that many coaches and exercise physiologists still do not understand - the fatigue element always involves the brain. Lactic acid, lack of fuel, overheating, dehydration, etc alone cannot make the body slow down - the brain at some point becomes unable to push the body any further possibly in response to the signals of distress from the body.

However, as far as a practical application of this understanding is concerned, he is just as clueless as the rest of us. Nobody I've heard of has yet figured out how to make the brain more robust. Training plans are reasonable, but not revolutionary. The book could very well do without them except it would not sell because your average runner demands a training schedule.

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