Sunday

Boldness is a positive characteristic of the spirit. Courage respects action; fortitude respects passion. We require resolution  not to yield to the first difficulties that offer.

{these are some definitions found in this awesome book i have borrowed from a friend. It’s from 1924 and titled: Lincoln Library of Essential Information. Filled with lots of fascinating info!!

16 miles today. Started at 8:30am which was still too late. It’s been very hot here this weekend. 95-100 degrees. Ran on part of the course i think i will eventually run. Was good to be on a different route, and yet old familiar streets and lots of memories from my 20’s…

Got this nasty blister around mile 6.5. I think due to swelling of my feet due to heat. Not fun or comfortable. Legs actually felt pretty good throughout and all else was ok. However, the heat did get me and i ran the 2nd half slower than 1st.

…figuring it all out….can it happen. can i do it. can i make it…..

Awesome to be out on the quiet Sunday streets. I really love this part of it. The Sunday Long Run through the streets. I can hear myself breathe, think, not think, notice so many things….and then, nothing…

Thankful for the part of the route that offered shade!

XLV

Of Late

The spring weather here in NorCal has been interesting these past 2 weeks. First we had quite a bit of rain where the temps were cool-ish, then this past week, the temps have been all in the 70’s….with a day or 2 touching 80 degrees. I mention this because I do think my body has some reaction to even just this type of change. I tried running last Saturday after 2-3 days off and felt horrible. After 1.6 miles, I just walked. Sunday ran 5, but still didn’t feel quite right. How did I feel? Tired! Lethargic, achy, sore. What surprised me was the degree to which I felt this way considering the level of exercise I had been doing which was not too much. Continued to feel a bit strange the next few days. Did some other short runs this week and am now feeling much better. Weird. Anyone else have really noticeable physical reactions to weather? Maybe I am just getting old, LOL….which is also something that has been on my mind. Age and our bodies and physical performance and all that!

I’m signed up to race a 5 miler this Sunday in the town I actually live in. Can you believe it? Actually doing a race where I live? 🙂
I’m not crazy at the course, but I volunteered for the race 2 years ago and enjoyed the atmosphere. Also, the proceeds go to a local high school and their athletic dept so I like to support that of course!

After this race, I believe I will start getting back on the trails. I’m thinking of racing Double Dipsea. Not signed up just yet, but thinking about it! In June, I think.

Go get outside and do your thing!

trust

the humidity is not only physically draining, but mentally, too. both days this weekend, i ran outside in 80 degrees/90% humidity. Start time on Saturday was 7am, Sunday was 6:30am. both days i had to take walk breaks. probably more walk breaks than i ever have in the past. this humidity is humbling, frustrating and messes with my confidence. it’s so easy to get down on myself and think, “what is your problem? why are you walking? you’re going to slow. you’re not gonna make it.” Those were some of the thoughts in my head this weekend. But, I knew i could not allow myself to give those thoughts much energy or else my time outside was just going to be worse. I HAD to change my thoughts…and i did. i was able to mentally make a list of the pros/cons of the run which got me into an objective state of mind. And then at one point, i just had to let go…because it just is what it is…and i have to accept it. I cannot run my normal pace in these humid conditions. I cannot run as far as i want to in these conditions. Accept it and move on.

I have to trust myself. I have to trust my body. I am still getting in the miles and doing what i need to do.

One of the best things about running is that it teaches you, it compels you do to be self-sufficient. there is no one else out there to lean on. there is no one else to “pass the ball to“.

I got in a 2nd run Sunday evening on treadmill for 4.5 miles, giving me just over 20 miles for the day.

Total for the week was 35.

Pressing onward…

numbers, et al.

I first heard about the Western States 100 UltraMarathon back on the eve of my first ever HALF-MARATHON in 1999. A friend was explaining the race to me and as i was about to embark on 13.1 miles the next day, hearing about this 100 MILE race was incomprehensible. I could barely wrap my head around 13.1 miles…100 miles…whew!!

It’s years later now and while I know 100 miles is a lot, it is no longer incomprehensible to me. I mention this because this classic, bad-ass annual race took place this past Saturday. The route starts in Squaw Valley, CA & ends in Auburn, CA covering some ridiculous elevation along with snow in the beginning and 90 degrees+ later in the day. I was following along via the web & twitter to get updates on some of the ultrarunners that inspire me. It is truly amazing what the top runners are able to do…what their bodies are able to do. AMAZING.

No, I’m not planning on running a 100 mile race…at least not anytime soon. 🙂 I just mention this because, there I was, saturday morning, all inspired and amped up!! Damn 100 miles. That’s a long way!!

Here are some tidbits from some recent runs:

Wednesday; 5.25 miles, treadmill
Thursday; 4 miles, 95 degrees
Saturday; 5.16 miles, 85 degrees, 68% humidity
Sunday; a.m. 10 miles, 74 degrees, 85% humidity; p.m. 3o min walk/run/hill repeats. 90 degrees

Diet: all vegetarian.

here are some pics of some of the training ground:

Heading west on Silver Comet Trail (below)

Trying to cool off afterwards in the creek!

It was pretty damn peaceful sitting there after 10 good miles!

At least a couple of days a week, usually after running on treadmill, I will run up these steps. They are the beginning of the 6 flights up to my place. I love running these!!

I know I talk about the heat a lot, but damn…y’all…we’ve had some RIDICULOUS weather here lately. I cannot remember the last time it WAS NOT 95+ degrees outside. Everyday the heat and high humidity. This is not too customary for June in Atlanta. July and August but not June. I don’t even think we had a Spring. Walking across the street in the afternoons to grab coffee just about knocks me out. I feel like my face is on fire. Seriously. Well….what are you gonna do, right?

Like they say, ‘that which doesn’t kills us, makes us stronger’.

Go to it. Get Strong. Get Stronger.

…on my way to 40….that’s almost HALF of a 100… just sayin’

holding the line

“One morning in Boston, it was snowing so hard that I didn’t think anybody would be going training, but I went down to the track anyway. Billy Smith was there, though. He opened the door and said: ‘the road to Mexico is out there'”.  -David Hemery – who won the 400 meter hurdles at Mexico City in 1968

I’ve always loved this piece! Can’t you just visualize it? I sure can…

Today, Tuesday, was group run day at the office. If you saw my last post, you will notice that 8 people joined me last week. Major Success! Well, when I looked at the weather report a few days ago, I saw that Tuesday would be the worst day; cold w/ snow flurries. In Atlanta. More snow. WOW. And it’s gonna be high 60’s by the weekend. Naturally, I thought it was gonna be interesting to see if anyone showed up to run. Even myself. I had good runs over weekend, but the weather forecast surely wasn’t making it easy to stay motivated to go outside after a long work day. But, I held the line. Inside, I feel like I have a responsibility to ‘hold the line’ of the group; to not miss a day, to not have any excuse to not be there. Usually, every Friday and Monday, I send an email about the run (as a reminder). I did the same thing this week so they would know I would be there, regardless of weather. By noon today, it was apparent that no one was joining me. Of course when I realized I would be going solo, I had thoughts of letting myself off the hook for the day or even just go run on treadmill. It was 37 degrees and snow flurries still coming.

I had been in the office all day and went out for coffee around 2pm. The little jaunt to Starbucks was actually refreshing since I had felt so cooped up all day. Decision Made. The run outside is on. Holding the line. Whether anyone was there with me or not. It’s perfectly understandable that people would opt out…for weather reasons or for whatever they’ve got going on. No problem. I will be there. I will be there again, next Tuesday at 5:15pm.

‘Cause for me…the road to LA MARATHON (and beyond) is out there!

TRAIN HARD. TRAIN SMART. BE BRAVE!

season’s changin’

yesterday’s weather was near perfect. don’t know the exact temperature, but it was delicious. my whole body could just feel fall is near. AHH….my favorite time of year.

ran a wonderful 5 miles w/ hills and all was good.

one of my favorite quotes: “Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must move faster than the lion or it will not survive. Every morning a lion wakes up and it knows it must move faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve. It doesn’t matter if you are the lion or the gazelle, when the sun comes up, you better be moving.” Maurice Greene (attributed to Roger Bannister shortly after running the first sub-4 mile)

inching along…

The weather this weekend in Atlanta could not have been more stunningly perfect! About 80-85 both saturday & sunday. no humidity. clear, blue skies. HEAVENLY! AHHHHHH!!! 

I really wanted to go see 2 movies this weekend, but the weather changed my mind. I just could not be enticed to be inside to watch a film, no matter how much i want to see the films. They will just have to wait. 

After dining out tonight, i drove home very leisurely. I love to drive slowly thru beautiful neighborhoods on Sunday evenings. My car windows are rolled down and the sun is about 1 hour away from setting. It’s all quiet on the streets and i feel serene & thoughtful. The trees are getting very full & green, making the scenery all the more beautiful. AHHHH…..a nice way to end the weekend.

Saturday, got out for a good, slow 6 miler. Ran through my old neighborhood. My current neighborhood is not very conducive to running and so I prefer to start and finish other places. My old neighborhood is a great place to run. Finished up about half mile from where i parked so that i could just walk a bit. Ended up talking to a couple who were out walking their pup. Always cool to strike up conversations with strangers. 

Sunday got up and drove over to Silver Comet Trail. had just planned on biking, but was so amped up, I ran too! I was glad to get out there and away from city streets. I feel like i am getting stronger, overall, which is a good feeling. 

April 26: 16.55 mile BIKE, 1 hr 3 min; 2 mile RUN, 18:47 = 8:53 pace

April 25: 6.2 mile RUN, 1 hr 3 min = 10:09 pace

April 23: 5 miles BIKE-INDOOR, 17:10; 2.1 mile RUN-TREADMILL, 18:05, 8:37 pace

April 22: 10 mile BIKE – approx 37 min

I’m glad the race is coming soon. I wanna get out there!