20/20/20

Hooray I made it through 3 weeks in a row of 20 milers. I'm feeling pretty psyched and absolutely ready for the Hyannis Marathon on the 28th. This training cycle has flown by, I remember thinking at the beginning of it...."How am I going to do this with the cold temps, early nights, icey roads, etc." but the "hard" part is done and, wow, did it go better than expected.

Now begins what I consider the hardest part. the taper. We all know it, and it affects each of us in it's own special way. Me: I start fearing injury and sickness like a crazy person, I get phantom pains, everything I do has some sort of stupersticious meaning to it (songs that come on the radio, if someone lets me in on the highway, if a see a certain number of orange cars...). And obviously, I get antsy and way too hungry.

The one thing I can control here, really, is the food intake. I'm going to be extra careful starting tomorrow about what goes into my body. I'm not expecting a pr at this race or a bq. There are too many factors that come into a winter marathon, not to mention the lack of speed work I have had lately.

However, that's not to say I don't want to have my best possible race. I've racked up more miles than ever and that should show somehow in my race itself. I hope to learn alot in Hyannis, especially how to race a double loop course since that's what I'll be facing in New Jersey. I also want to see what happens when I race without fear. If I die in the end, it's OK, I'll have a better idea for New Jersey. However, if I don't die, then I know I've got to kick it up a notch in Jersey. (we all know die is a relative term; a marathon is never "easy")

Today's 20 miler was 9 miles on my own then 11 with Team in Training. This was the best case scenario for my 20 miler. Now that I've done 3 of these with TNT, it will be hard to do it on my own again. It's so much better having coaches there for you and teammates to run with. Talk about a 20 miler going by quickly, despite the strong winds and 640 feet of uphill climb. (according to map my run) I ended up with a 9:09 pace, which is a little off where I wanted to be. However, taking into consideration the massive hills, I think I'll take it. Plus (gonna bring this post full circle now) palindromes such as 9:09, are the single luckiest thing there is when it comes to my life.

Hope everyone had nice long runs and races today. I'm looking forward to some great race reports!!!

Brooks Product Review

As a Brooks ID member, I would like to be doing these Brooks product reviews way more often. However, as you can see, my blog posts have been few and far between lately and it's taken me a while to get to it.

In fact it has taken me so long to blog about my "new" Brook

s Infiniti II's that they now have 407 miles on them and I have new "new" shoes. Also, the Brooks Infiniti II's because I loved them. LOVED! My ART doc had noticed that not only do I pronate like a normal person may pronate, but I pronate all the way through my toe, right though the toe off. This was giving me calf issues and shin splints and throwing off my gait. What's neat about the Infiniti II's is that there is a little extra support through the toe off which really helps me with this. Since switching shoes, my calves and shins have been much happier. (It wasn't because my old shoes had too many miles on them either, I had to ditch them at less than 200 miles)

The next Brooks item that I have recently purchased is a Brooks Motion Vest. I also really enjoy this vest. My favorite features are the zip pockets. I have been wearing a cozy but not so functional fleece vest to run in. I wasn't really able to use the pockets on the outside of the vest because I was afraid things would fall out. This was not very convenient because in order to get to my printed out route, chapstick, chomps, gloves, cell phone, etc. I had to get to the inner pockets of my vest. Not a big deal if I wasn't also wearing a reflective vest, scarf, etc. Now, with my new vest, I can keep everything handy and zipped up. I also love the style of this vest. It's slimming, a great color and very comfortable. The material that's closest to your face is super soft, but the vest itself is moisture wicking and warm, but light. It's exactly what I was looking for. I haven't worn it in any particularly windy weather yet, but I can tell it's going to do the job. My only complaint is that the only size available when I ordered was a Medium or larger. It's a little long on me so it bunches up a bit. Keep in mind, I'm 4'11". Most of you would never have this problem!

I also purchased a good looking pair of shorts and a Brooks Tee but their reviews will have to wait as it's still definitely winter here!

January recap

I was very surprised at the success I have had training in January. Especially through, what I feel has been, an especially cold January.

Total January Miles: 225.3 (That's a whole big chunk towards Tall Mom's 1000)

20+ milers: 3

50+ mile weeks: 3

New weekly mileage pr: 61.24

New long run pr (not counting a marathon itself): 22.7

Number of runs below 9 min/mile pace: 14

Total miles for Hyannis training cycle (1 week before starting taper): 374.05 (in other words after week 8 of a 12 week program)

Plus there's the new kitten!

See, Shea can be helpful.

New Friends!

My original baby!!!!

AND!!!!! My best friend's new baby! Born Jan. 28, 2009. Happy bday baby!

Accidental 20

This week's long run was set to be 17. It was still going to put me over 50 for the week, which has me feeling pretty good about this training cycle. However, last week was a 22 miler. This week I had 2 mid-distance runs at below an 8:15 pace (an 8 miler and 9 miler) plus a slow but hilly 11 miler. 17 sounded good. It sounded less good when I woke up to -7 degree windchill (thanks Rick for letting me know I'm even tougher than -4), but I was meeting up with TNT after 7 miles to do the last 10. I figured even though I wasn't feeling it, they'd pull me through.

Well the 7 on my own went by pretty quickly, though my thumbs still feel frozen and there were times where I thought I was going to scream from the pain they were in. Anyone have good glove recommendations? But nevertheless the 7 miles were over before I knew it; I was feeling more charged and ready to rock the final 10.

We set off on a moderately hilly course; my hands had refrozen, so I had to get through that again, but otherwise, things were good. Right after the 4 mile point (11 for me) our route said to go on Main which would turn into another road. Well we passed a sign for this other road but it was a left, so we didn't take it. We just stayed on Main, and stayed on Main and stayed on Main. 2 miles later, Main ended, turned into nothing. Luckily, I had one of our coach's numbers (my lack of sense of direction is pretty reliable) so they set on a search for us and helped us figure out a new route back.

Everything worked out, but we added about 3 miles to our planned route. Therefore my 17 became another 20 miler to add to the program. With a 9:03 pace and some hills. Training's looking pretty good. That gives me 3 already and I have one more next week. As of right now, I'm going to stick with the planned 20 miler. So in a 12 week program, I will have had 4 20 milers. Definitely wasn't expecting that training for Hyannis. I was thinking, at the beginning of this cycle, that the mileage was going to be really hard to get in. You know with the dark coming so early, bad weather, and cold. I've gotta give myself some credit for pulling it off (even if it's a little early to say since I have 1 more week before taper starts).

I've got a 4 mile recovery run tomorrow (which I might change 3, we'll see), and that will put me at 225 for the month. Who would have thunk? Less than a month till Hyannis!

by the way, the computer is working, though it is dying a slow death...I'm pretty sure. It takes a loooooong time to turn on and then does some funky stuff. For now, I'll take it.

Bad Kitty!

So I'm writing to you all from Eric's computer because the new kitten spilled water on my macbook. I'm not turning in on till Tuesday in hopes that things dry out and are OK. However, I, of course, already did try turning it on before reading the information on the web that said: "Don't try and turn computer on until 72 hours have passed." Here's hoping all is OK. I really don't want to buy a new computer right now. Plus, all my lesson plans are saved only on that computer, our wedding lists are saved only on that computer, AND all my running data is saved on that computer. Cross your fingers that everything turns on on Tuesday. So much for trying to rehydrate while doing school work. I guess not with a new kitten around.

On a running note, this week I did hit a mileage pr at 61.2 miles. Yesterday's run was a 22.7 miler. It started in the dark at 5:45, including quite a few hills, a 6 miler with TnT, and then a steep climb to finish it off. I ended up with a pace of 9:22 which is not so bad. Thursday, I had a 13.1 miler (honestly a coincidence that it ended up exactly that distance). I was feeling great and ended up with a pace of 8:49 on a really tough course. So, overall, training is going pretty well. My times still aren't where they were before Hartford, but obviously my mileage is up. It'll be interesting to see what Hyannis brings. At this point it's only 5 weeks away! I certainly I know I'll be prepared for most any temperature, because I've been training through it all.

A Sign of Too Many Criminal Minds Episodes

Today's 15 miler may prove that I watch too many reruns of Criminal Minds. Why you ask? Well during my beautiful morning run, I had two main thoughts. First let me paint the picture for you: The sun was barely rising; I was running through rolling hills of farm world; a dog was barking in the distance; I could see my breath in my headlamp's glow; Enigma's "Return to Innocence," was playing on my ipod shuffle

Two thoughts went through my mind:

1. This could be a run featured in Runner's World as a Rave Run.

2. This would be a great opening to Criminal Minds

Luckily the worst thing that happened to me during the run was a RUDE driver who was driving on the opposite side of the road as a was running, at about double the speed limit decided that I was not visible enough at 7:45 a.m. in a BRIGHT yellow, reflective vest, and was somehow preventing him from getting wherever he needed to be at that time on a Saturday morning. He literally leaned on the horn for a full 3 seconds as he flew by me. Seriously, was that necessary? I was running on the opposite side of the road, facing traffic, no where near this guy!!!

The rest of the run went well, though it was slow. I guess that's what happens when I do a longish run (12) Friday night.

The run ended a little Criminally Minded though with a swarm of these guys. Have you ever seen these in person!!!! And I do mean swarm. At least 5 on the ground and 8 in the trees above!!!

Dedication is...

Warning this post may contain TMI for some of you...

Wednesday, I got changed in the school bathroom, as usual, for a 10-miler. It's winter and cold, so I pulled out my headlamp, Brooks sneaks, gloves, headband, tights, baselayer, zip top, fleece vest, reflective vest, running socks...Does anyone notice anything missing...Girls, look closely, what did I forget?

Oh, of course, a sports bra. Yup, that's it. Now for some of you this may not be a huge deal. Lots of running tops even have a shelf bra in them that suffices for you. However, I am not built like that kind of runner. I may be built like a boy everywhere else: hips, waist, back; but chest--no such luck.

I debated with my options:

1. put the run off and do it Thursday hence having a 10, 12, and 15 miler back to back and missing Thursday night spin

2. go to my ART appt at 5 get home at 7 and run till 9ish

3. hmmm, could I, would it work, would I be chafed for the next month, would I be miserable????

I had to try; the other options just were not cutting it. And you know what; thanks to the many layers winter requires and the fact that I had my cami from work, it went pretty well. I actually ended up having my fastest run this training cycle with 10.2 miles at 8:26. Maybe I was afraid of being caught "free-chested."

Some observations I made from this experience: (definitely TMI)

- my back sweats a lot more than I ever knew

- boob sweat is even more annoying when it is not caught in a sports bra

- tight clothing serves multiple purposes in a pinch

- wearing a cotton cami for a fast 10 miler under multiple layers and then sitting for an hour in a car post run, might be one of the most uncomfortable situations you could put yourself in.

Other than that, no real running glitches. 6 miler on the treadmill on monday led to some speed work. I'm trying to incorporate treadmill runs more often. Tomorrow after school, I have a 12 miler and then a 15 miler Saturday morning so that should tire me out plenty. I've noticed that I really feel the training during my everyday life again. I'm pretty much exhausted when I'm not teaching or running. This has led to a VERY big pile of essays to grade that does not get smaller, at all, during the week. The quarter closes next week and I'm pretty much in trouble.