I'm Still Running!

So I realized this week that it has been over 6 weeks since my last post. I have become a terrible blogger this fall, and really the main excuse/reason is school. I have been slammed with weekly papers, online discussions where I'm reading articles and writing, larger papers, exams, you name it. It's not been a fun semester. Sadly, I don't see my blogging picking back up too much as the semester winds down. I take my comps in January so my spare time currently used for writing papers will be used for studying for my comps.

Anyway! Believe it or not, I have been running! I am 9 weeks (I think) out from Houston, and it's approaching much quicker than I prefer. I would prefer having a few more weeks thrown in for some additional training. I feel as if I was set back a bit with the calf injury then some sickness at the beginning of this training. But it's coming whether I'm where I want to be or not! I do feel like I'm finding some speed again, and I hope to continue building on that all the way up until Houston. Yesterday I registered for the Ole Man River half marathon in New Orleans on December 18. I will be returning to the streets where I met my demise in the gritty chewed up streets last February. I hope to come home scar free this time!

Luckily, the temps have dropped and my intensity is back. Lots of mile repeats, tempo miles and long runs over 12 miles now, which I am enjoying. We have had a gorgeous fall in south Mississippi, probably one of the most colorful we have ever had. We were blessed with cool temps earlier than normal which has caused the rich colors to last more than a few days, more like weeks. The time has also changed providing at least half of my runs to be in daylight! I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the sunrise over the beautiful fall colors of the trees. This morning on my tempo run, I also spotted the first deer of the season. It's funny how they are just deer, but I get so excited when I see them out on my early morning runs. They are so unafraid of us runners on the Longleaf Trace, and they seem to like us getting close to them, which is what we want!

And another thing, my beloved Southern Miss Golden Eagles are 9-1! For the first time since 1962! With a win tonight, we will secure a spot in the conference championship game. This has brought lots of excitement to me, our campus and our state! Go Eagles! Southern Miss to the Top!!!

So, until next time, and I will make no promises of when that will be! But I'll do my best, and of course I will KEEP RUNNING!

where have i been?

That's a good question. After my time trial, my last post, I had another successful week of training that included my first heart rate workout. That workout was more difficult than I thought, but I lived, somehow. I'm actually looking forward to more of this type of training as the fall continues especially with the weather finally cooling down.

So, after that HR run, I woke up on Friday feeling pretty

blah. Blah as in fatigued, overly fatigued. I shrugged it off, but when I woke up Saturday, I felt the same way but more intense except with some dizziness. There was no hesitation when canceling my run. Sunday, more of the same. Monday, a repeat and a very worthless spin class. Tuesday I was going to attempt a 6 mile easy run. I couldn't even make it 2 miles. I cut the run off at 4 and walked/ran/limped home. I didn't hesitate on Wednesday to cancel spin and Thursday to sleep in. I was very concerned something was up. Luckily on Friday, it seemed to start passing. Hallelujah! I emailed coach and told him I wanted to run. So I went out on Saturday morning for an easy 6. Sadly, I wore out pretty quickly, but I didn't feel sick and it felt awesome to run. Sunday was a different story, but I'm back and I've never been happier. Today I went out for a 7 mile ladder, and while it was still tough, it felt great to be back even stronger.

So, now to the main reason I have been away. School. Yep, school. This semester is ROCKING my world. I finish one project or paper, and then it is on to another. Never ending it seems!

In fact, I have a midterm tomorrow that I should be studying for, however, I canNOT study another minute tonight. This semester is a big challenge as both classes are requiring all my efforts and my time, and I seem to have lost my classroom A-game somewhere down the road. Who know burn out would come after one year, but in my defense I have been out of school for 15 years. That's a long time! The best news is that after this semester, I have just one class left. One. And count this as proof that I do not plan on ever going back to school again! If I mention that I am thinking about it, slap me. And slap me hard! I am so happy to be doing this, but I will be even happier to have it behind me. Ok, so I think I will study a little bit more tonight....

Oh, and this weekend, I am heading to DC and Annapolis for a 'work' trip. We are taking a group of alumni to see the Golden Eagles to play the Naval Academy. I will get the chance to run while I'm there so I hope to post a few pictures when I get back, if I'm not working on a paper, which is most likely the case. :/

A Time Trial and Me

Good news - my calf seems to be all healed up and behind me, and I'm more than glad to have that situation over and done with. Now I am moving on and looking toward Houston, which is 17 1/2 weeks away.

Earlier this week, coach and I finally ran that 30 minute time trial we have been talking about all summer. I wouldn't say I was dreading it because I was actually a little excited about it. I was actually a little nervous or maybe anxious about it, because no doubt it wouldn't feel good at all. It was still a little cool, mid 60's, humid and dark. But there is something really cool about running in the dark with the way lighted by the moon. After a warm-up for almost 1.5 miles, it began. Coach was thoughtful, he brought me a piece of black tape to cover my Garmin screen so that I couldn't see anything. He latched on to my HR signal on his Garmin in order to monitor the workout. I was running blindly, but I know that trail like the back of my hand, even in the dark, so I had a slight idea of where we were in the workout. After about mile or so, I started breathing like I was dying. Coach told me not to worry about talking that he would take care of that. We made the turn out past Clyde, and headed back, and the best part about that was the slight downhill that you get when you head east on the trail. I was able to get a slight reprieve with breathing, but it still hurt. Finally we hit 30 minutes, and I was DONE! We took a little walk because I really needed to catch my breath, in a bad way! We jogged it in, and the hour long workout was over. In the 30 minutes, I believe I covered 3.6 miles, with the total workout being 6.65 miles. I'm happy with the workout, but I sure felt like I was running faster than I actually was. But the heart rate doesn't lie. From this workout, he was able to establish some heart rate zones, which we will use in training for Houston. And we get to do this again in a couple of weeks!

Following Tropical Storm Lee, and Tupelo, we have had some great weather. It's looking like the dog days of summer are moving on finally, but in the last few days, it has heated back up a little. This morning was the warmest in about a week and a half. That and the hard run Tuesday took a toll on my run this morning. My 8 miles were much more difficult than they should be, but I did them and ran my pace. I was pretty sore and fatigued after that workout on Tuesday so it wasn't the easy pace it was supposed to be.

So after a tough run on a rather warm humid morning, I told coach that I am ready for the weather to cool off for good so that my paces can start reflecting the efforts I'm putting out. I am ready for that extra burst of energy you get on those cool mornings. I am ready to see my breath!

Saddle Up!

Back on the horse! Time to saddle up! There are several reasons me not running the full in Tupelo was a good idea, but the two main ones are this: 1. I prevented myself from further injury 2. I am able to get back on the horse and back to training much quicker.

This week, I'm taking it easy. I'll admit it's nice because after the long, hot, sweaty summer, my brain kind of needs a break. A break from training is great for the body, but you shouldn't neglect the mind! I walked earlier in the week, taught my spin class yesterday and went out for a 6 mile run this morning. I had a great run - nothing fast or fancy, but just good ole fun with two great friends, which is a big part of why we run. After not running a whole lot these last two weeks, it was great to be back out. It was also great to enjoy temps in the 50's!!! This is what we've been waiting for people! I barely sweated, and I didn't even use Body Glide! We are embarking on my favorite time of the year to run. Bring me the 20's, I don't mind!

So the rest of the week will be easy, social runs. I'm looking forward to some extra sleep and some extra rest on the legs. The goal of a week like this is to make me ready to get back to serious training. To make me want and need to run. I better be ready, because on Tuesday, Houston starts. We will start with a 30 minute time trial Tuesday morning. I don't know what the rest of the week holds, but right now, I am ok with just knowing about Tuesday. Nothing about a 30 minute time trial sounds easy or comfortable. But, like I always say, and this could be my mantra, "if it was easy, everyone would do it." This won't be easy, and that's why not everyone does it. So, I say bring it on!

It's time to get the saddle ready because it's time to get on the horse! I'll be ready!

Tupelo 26.2, I mean 14.2

All summer, I have been building for the Tupelo marathon.  I have had a great summer of training during this build.  I had a milestone 50 mile week and lots of quality runs in some serious heat and humidity.  So, I was ready.  Until my last long run a week ago.  Insert dramatic music here.  I was finishing up a great 16 mile run.  I had my tunes in my ear and was cruising in on the last mile, which would be my fastest mile.  With a little over a 1/4 mile to go, I felt a twinge in my lower right calf.  No biggie, stuff aches.  A moment later, something that compares to a knife or a shot in my calf stopped me dead in my tracks.  Wham.  My run ended just like that.  I couldn't walk.  I certainly couldn't run.  I painfully limped back to the gateway.  I had a slightly swollen spot on my leg, and it hurt to even touch it.  I took the next couple of days off and did some walking/running.  I even went for a massage on Wednesday while hydrating and taking in extra electrolytes.  After consulting with coach and a PT he is friends with, we figured it was a just a cramp or possibly a small tear.  Either way, I was nervous.  By Thursday, I was able to run a 6 miler, but not without some pain.  Tupelo was coming closer.  Another off day on Friday with some packing and an early bedtime.  Saturday morning, I went for a pre-race 2 miler, and I was very happy to report no pain.  I thought I was fine and ready.  Bring it on Tupelo!

Terri, Ginny, Terry and I pulled out about 10 a.m. Saturday morning.  After a quick lunch in Meridian, we arrived in Tupelo about 2.  We ran some errands, like picking up race numbers and picking up some gels (that was for me), we went to our hotel for a little rest before dinner.  Dinner was at Ginny's favorite place, Vanelli's, and it was yummy!  Back to the hotel where we were all in bed by 6:30 watching a little college football.  By 8:30 or 9, most of us were asleep, except for ME!  I did a lot of tossing and turning and dozing until 3 a.m.  Of course at 3 a.m., when we all started getting up, I was sleeping well.  Figures!  So we dressed and left around 4 for the start.  After 3 or 4 last minute bathroom trips for us, it was time to walk to the very dark start.  For some reason, I had some anxiety I wasn't prepared for.  All week long before the race, I felt as calm as ever, so I was not expecting this anxiety at all.  Maybe it was the darkness all around at the start.  The sudden start of running without so much as a pop gun.  Maybe it was the nervousness in the back of my mind my calf really wasn't ready to run 26 miles.  Whatever it was, I was not on my game.  I was running the pace I was supposed to, but something wasn't right.  I ached, especially in my right leg.  Terri and I let the crowd thin out and as the sun came up, I expressed how I was feeling.  I think I complained a bit too much, but she was great and let me talk through it.  I started needing extra steps at the water stops.  I even needed a walk break a little further down the road.  My heart wasn't in it, and I felt terrible.  I began considering that I might not be able to make it.  But I had the hardest time making that decision.  I literally debated and battled it for miles and miles.

At 13, it was decision time.  There was a turnaround, and full marathoners went back the way they came. 14.2 ers went straight in for another mile.2 to the finish.  For the last 2 miles, I had pretty much figured I would stop, but when it came down to it, I had a hard time pulling the plug.  I was hurting, the leg wasn't going to get any better and neither would my mental state.  The guy at the turnaround yelled at me that marathoners needed to turn around.  I said I knew, but I needed a minute.  There was no going back once I went either way so I needed to be 100%.  Even as I decided to go 14.2 and finish there, I was wondering.  I walked / ran that last mile and the whole time, I was telling myself I had done the right thing.  I was hurting.  Finishing 13 more miles would have been a bad decision, but in that moment, all I could think of was I had quit.  Wimped out.  And that I wouldn't be running my 12th marathon that day.  I wouldn't have the bragging rights.  But when running, you have got to leave the ego in the car.  There is no room for it.  The ego is what causes problems.  And in my case, it would have caused greater injury.

So, I finished the 14.2  and there was no celebration.  Terry had finished an hour before me, so I figured he was back at the hotel cleaning up.  A littler later, he was back and told me he wasn't surprised to see me after the week I had with the calf situation.  That made me feel a good bit better.  We hung out while waiting on Terri and Ginny.  They came in an hour or so later and we headed back to shower and go home.  Yes, it rained, more on Ginny and Terri than Terry and I, but it was damp the entire time.  Including on the trip home.  But we made it.  And we had a great time with lots of laughs and fun.

I've had some time to reflect.  Do I regret anything?  No.  But am I disappointed?  Yes.  I trained all summer through heat, humidity, 4:30 a.m. wake ups, sweat, chaffing.  So of course I'm disappointed I couldn't finish what I had started.  I worked hard this summer.  But I can't help what happened with just a week to go.  And Tupelo was just a run, not a race, and certainly not the race I'm working toward.  Years ago I would have tried to keep going and risked further injury or damage.  I realized I am a more mature runner that can now make smarter decisions based on what is the right thing to do and not what I want to do.  That's a pretty good feeling, and I'm proud of myself for being strong enough to say, I don't need to do this today.  I will live to race 26.2 another day!

sweet #50 = Taper Time!

This has been a great summer. I'm in my 5th month of working with Coach, and it's still going very well. It's been the motivation and fun I've needed to push through these tough months and do the training I need to do. With Tupelo's 26.2 looming ahead in now less than 2 weeks, I feel prepared to go and finish this race standing up.

I just finished up my last big week of mileage and am now sliding into taper time! I won't lie and say I'm not happy about the taper. It's been a hot, humid summer, and I've had more early mornings than one person should. I'm especially happy because my last big week was a milestone week of 50 miles. I've never put in 50 miles in one week, and it felt awesome! Each mile was fantastic, accomplishing all the paces and distances on my plan for the week. As the week wore in, the runs got more difficult, but that made the finish that much sweeter. It's definitely something I plan to accomplish many more times!

So what does taper hold for me? So far, an extra day of rest after Saturday's 20 miler. Tomorrow I'll be back at it with a 6 mile run. Shorter distances and perhaps some elevated paces which will equal 30 miles this week. I'll take that! I've never been one to hate on the taper, so this time I plan to embrace all that it has to offer, which will be whatever Coach says!

Tupelo Countdown - 3 weeks to go!

I have no excuse for my absence other than apathy. I just haven't felt like writing much. I finished my summer semester of school on August 1, and I was so tired of writing that I just needed a break. I had to turn in a 25 page paper and complete a final exam that night so you can see why. I am happy to be have one more semester under my belt, but I am sad to report that my 4.0 streak has come to an end. Yes, I got an A- this summer (who gives A-'s anymore???), and I now have a 3.95. Oddly enough, I was a little upset! But I have come to terms with it and am ok now. I am enjoying a break from classes, however, I will kick back up next Wednesday.

And yes, I have been running these last two weeks. When I left off on July 30, I had just finished up two weeks of mileage building. Obviously I was looking forward to a week of easy running for some recovery. Recovery week came at a good time because my Garmin finally gave it up. On its last run with me, my 16 miler on the 30th, it was giving me all kinds of crazy feedback. So, I finally ordered a new one. My week of recovery was quiet, no Garmin, tired legs and tired body. The last two runs of the week, Saturday's 12 and Sunday's 8, were extremely tough. My new Garmin had come in, and I was testing out the heart rate monitor that I had decided to get. Not knowing anything about BPM and what was normal for me, I wasn't sure what was what the first time I wore it. During those two runs my average heart rate was about 170, and I figured that was high because i felt horrible. My heart was racing, felt lightheaded when I stopped, and had no energy. Coach even commented that he was surprised at my BPM. I tried to shake it off and was ready to head into the next week.

I was prepared for the next mileage build, but I admit I was nervous because of how tired I was during recovery. The week called for 46 miles. Tuesday was 10 again, with a few hills, at marathon pace + 30 seconds. It was a fantastic run. I usually give James numbers on how the run went, on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest. I called that run an 8. I nailed the pace for all 10 miles and actually came in a few seconds under, averaging a 9:26. And my heart rate was much more normal at 158 BPM for the run. Thursday was 12. Another solid run, perhaps even better than Tuesday. My paces were faster, especially in the last half of the run at 9:24, 9:20, 9:15, 9:23, 9:07 and 9:04! I started a bit slower so my average for the 12 was 9;28, but my heart rate averaged out at 158. I was really pleased after this run, and I was only 16 miles away from closing out a solid 46 mile week.

Saturday morning, I was literally running on fumes. After a late Friday night helping out a friend, I met the crew to run the 16 on just 4 hours of sleep. James had told me running on limited sleep would be ok as we often run marathons on little sleep with nerves on top of it. He was so right. This was the best long run I've had all summer. After the first mile, I was on pace right away. For the first 6 miles, I hovered around 9:50 to 9:55, then for the remainder of the run 9:30's and low 9:40's. I started tiring out in the last 4 miles, but there was no way I was going to let up. The last two miles, in typical fashion, were faster at 9:22 and 9:15. The average for this run was 9:44 with an average heart rate of 152. I was pretty excited I held on and came in under pace on this run after the two previous runs were such hard efforts. It was a solid, solid run, and I was happy.

I had pretty much polished off 46 miles in perfect form. Every run was on point. 9:30 and 9:44 might not seem fast to most, but try doing it in extremely high humidity with temps in the upper 70's, low 80's, with the index hovering in the upper 80's. Last week was better temp-wise, and we were blessed with a breeze most every morning, but let's face it, it's still hot. Despite it all, I'm running better than I ever have throughout the summer, and I'm pretty darn proud of that. It's a major milestone for me. I'm also running my best at the hottest part of the summer, and I consider that success. And as coach says, success breeds success.