I am trying to start this RR wore out, sore and with a brutal headache so I am not sure if I will finish it this evening.....
Alright, so this is/was my first trail marathon but my second marathon overall.... I tried not to worry about it being a Spring marathon with the potential for any kind of weather, but I will admit that I wasn't quite ready for the warm weather that we got. All this past week the forecast was saying scattered showers, t-storms, severe weather, etc... then by Friday evening it was saying scattered showers, then Saturday morning it was saying PM showers. So all this rain I was worried about didn't happen, but instead I got 60 degree temps which wasn't awful until the sun came out.......
I'll admit that I was really nervous and Friday evening I was really questioning on doing it, I am glad I don't listen to reason lol.
I was up at 4:40 AM, started my coffee, took the dogs out for a walk to get them to go potty. Got back, ate and drank and used the bathroom and got dressed, took Jetta out one more time so she would poop. Then I got the rest of the way ready and headed to the start, I tried to use the bathroom again but only peed.... so I was concerned.
There was no gunshot, no nothing, everyone just started going at 6:30. We were off on the road headed for the trail, the road was 1.7 miles and then the trail loop was 11.3 miles. The temperature didn't feel too bad early on, during the first loop. The hills really didn't start showing up until mile 7 or so, and they were definitely challenging. My garmin was on track for the first 2-3 miles and then slowly started getting off track by .1 miles each mile or so.
I was happy and feeling pretty good finishing up the first loop and my garmin was saying 12.4 miles at that point and it should've been 13.2 miles but my garmin was already falling off track.
By mile 13-14 I was beginning to feel it, and the sun was beginning to come out..... yeah so much for rain huh.... I was drowning my hat in any creek water I would find and putting it back on my head. I was burning up, and getting really tired.
I was wishing for the final aid station before the return back to the finish, and with each aid station I would eat orange slices - 2-4 of them, they were delicious. I also had some coke too, and some blue gatorade, but I mainly stuck to my water mixed with Hammer Heed (one scoop of strawberry, one scoop of Lemon-Lime), and my hydration bladder, and by mile 19 or so I had consumed all 3 energy gu's.
The hills were getting real tough, and the sun was just beating down on me, I was wishing for rain.... and the finish. I didn't expect to finish under 5:30:00... and heck I half expected to finish around 6 hours.
I couldn't even figure out where I actually was mileage wise, my garmin is always far behind. I cannot begin to explain how happy I was to see the last aid station but that last 1.7 miles was tough as hell on asphalt/concrete.
I was pretty surprised and happy to see my time at the finish - 5:19:48 so I made it under 5 hours and 30 minutes, and not too far behind my first marathon which was like 4:48:something.
My garmin of course finished at 23.9 miles, so it was like... 2.1 miles behind or something like that (my brain is still recovering).
Not sure if I should even bother posting my splits since it was off by 2.1 miles, so I don't think I will bother. It was 5:19:48 for 26.2 miles, with an average pace of 12:12 min/mile and an elevation gain of 1,808 feet so pretty close to their 2,068 miles I guess.
These are definitely tough, and a lot more brutal than road marathons but mainly because I am so used to road races and worrying about my finish time. I need to learn some humility and get over my pride if I am going stick with trail races and get into ultra-marathons, pride and vanity has no place on the trails. I do enjoy the atmosphere much more than road races, and talked to a few runners doing the 60k, they suggested that if I was feeling good on the 2nd loop I could upgrade to the 60k..... yeah I knew by the middle of the 2nd loop that wasn't going to happen.
But I enjoyed it very much, it was brutal and challenging... I earned this medal and even though it was a half hour slower than my first marathon, I truly feel as if I redeemed myself.
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Only 3 More Days.... 2.5.......
The weather is slowly changing for the slightly better, and RD's say these trail are very hard packed so in most cases the rain water just runs off the trails so hopefully they'll be in better shape than my trails are in these conditions.
Less than 24 hours and we'll be in Grand Rivers, KY... finally the wait is over and we will be down there and I'll be counting down the hours to packet pickup and then the race!!
I've ran twice this week, Monday and Tuesday. I ran 4.3 miles Monday afternoon with Dorian in the stroller and both dogs on their leashes, then Tuesday morning I took Jetta for a 4.1 mile run. I thought about going out this morning for another easy 3-4 mile run, but decided that it would be a better idea for me to save my energy and legs for the next 3 days until the race. Since I chose to miss this morning, with all the rain going on I've got no choice but to not run until the race now.
I really don't have much else to say, I'm excited, I am nervous that something is going to happen or go wrong that is going to prevent us from leaving and heading to Grand Rivers, down the condo. ... I guess I will be a little more relaxed once we get going and even more relaxed once we get down there. Packet pickup is Friday, not sure why but I always enjoy picking up my packet and looking everything over and preparing my race clothes.
I am going to be really nervous Saturday morning as I get up, get dressed and head to the start. It's going to be a really tough race, my second marathon and my 1st one on trails and with some high elevation gain.... the highest I've ever dealt with.
Anyways....... I am done blabbering.
Less than 24 hours and we'll be in Grand Rivers, KY... finally the wait is over and we will be down there and I'll be counting down the hours to packet pickup and then the race!!
I've ran twice this week, Monday and Tuesday. I ran 4.3 miles Monday afternoon with Dorian in the stroller and both dogs on their leashes, then Tuesday morning I took Jetta for a 4.1 mile run. I thought about going out this morning for another easy 3-4 mile run, but decided that it would be a better idea for me to save my energy and legs for the next 3 days until the race. Since I chose to miss this morning, with all the rain going on I've got no choice but to not run until the race now.
I really don't have much else to say, I'm excited, I am nervous that something is going to happen or go wrong that is going to prevent us from leaving and heading to Grand Rivers, down the condo. ... I guess I will be a little more relaxed once we get going and even more relaxed once we get down there. Packet pickup is Friday, not sure why but I always enjoy picking up my packet and looking everything over and preparing my race clothes.
I am going to be really nervous Saturday morning as I get up, get dressed and head to the start. It's going to be a really tough race, my second marathon and my 1st one on trails and with some high elevation gain.... the highest I've ever dealt with.
Anyways....... I am done blabbering.
Friday, March 4, 2016
Taper Madness, Grumpiness, Thoughts..... Yadayadayada
Okay so it really isn't any different from any other blog except less running, and I am going crazy. This back and forth weather is just killing my husband and Dorian, colds and running noses, it's just tough as hell for them. I hope this crap levels out so everybody can relax next weekend.
It's Wednesday, and today is almost over so that means tomorrow marks only one more week before we head to Grand Rivers, one more week to get a few runs and rest in and worry about the weather and the trails.... yep I am a little worried. I mean granted, it isn't nearly as bad as last year since last year they had to run the whole race on roads due to the 2 feet of snow underneath ice on the trails. It was bad, the last 2 years have been bad for LBL but last year was the worst.... I think LBL has been going on since 2004 and the years that had the most ideal conditions were - 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 before tough weather.
It doesn't seem like we'll be dealing with snow (crossing my fingers and knocking on wood) but it might be muddy. I am just hoping and praying that the rainy weather suddenly just goes away by next Wednesday and give the trails a chance to start drying. Even if it doesn't, it won't scare me away and I don't expect a PR on this course but I would like to have a lot of fun and enjoy the trails.
I've ran 17.9 miles this week, 6.5 Monday morning with the dogs on the trails and then 3.4 miles that afternoon with Dorian in the stroller and the two dogs on the leashes. I was actually pleasantly surprised at just how well Jetta did on her first time running on leash with Rocky and next to a stroller, she did really well.... much better than when walking. Tuesday didn't happen, Dorian had some night terrors and leg growing pains.... and then it just rained and rained all day Tuesday before stopping in the evening and then the temperature began to drop down. So we've got cold weather today and through Friday, but then it starts climbing again... and hopefully for the last time and for good.
Looking at Grand Rivers' forecast, next week is showing rain on accuweather.com but not a lot of rain at all on my 14wfie, if at all. I know weather.gov is better at predicting but doesn't really go beyond a week on the forecast.... stupid thing.
I'm trying not to fret over it, I've got other things to worry about right now. Business is slow, or at least production is slow... I am really not sure which one to say right now and I am really worrying. I want to think about the Mark Twain Endurance 50, but I am too afraid it won't happen if business doesn't pick up soon.
I've added one work out to my plan though, once a week I am going to do stair bounds on our two flights of stairs at work (28 steps total). After next weekend and my one full week's rest from running, I plan to add a workout of 5-10 minutes of stair bounds on Wednesday, then after the Harmonie Trail Marathon at the end of May, I am going to do my best to increase it to 20 minutes every Wednesday - this is also while having ran 10 miles that morning.
Anyways, it is now Friday... I think I started this bloop on Tuesday and just can't seem to finish it. I didn't run on Thursday but this morning I took Jetta out on the roads with me, it wasn't too awful but there were a couple times she annoyed me. We ran 8 miles which gives us 25.9 miles so far this week, I figure a 40 mile week is a good easy week... right? Next week will be even less, I'll run Tuesday and Thursday morning - probably 5 milers on both days. My sister wants to go for a 2 mile easy run on Monday afternoon, so I will probably do that with her.
Tomorrow I'll either run a 10 miler or split it in two, run 5-6 miles in the morning and then 4 later in the day with Dorian and the dogs. Sunday I'll probably do another 10 miler or something.
It's Wednesday, and today is almost over so that means tomorrow marks only one more week before we head to Grand Rivers, one more week to get a few runs and rest in and worry about the weather and the trails.... yep I am a little worried. I mean granted, it isn't nearly as bad as last year since last year they had to run the whole race on roads due to the 2 feet of snow underneath ice on the trails. It was bad, the last 2 years have been bad for LBL but last year was the worst.... I think LBL has been going on since 2004 and the years that had the most ideal conditions were - 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 before tough weather.
It doesn't seem like we'll be dealing with snow (crossing my fingers and knocking on wood) but it might be muddy. I am just hoping and praying that the rainy weather suddenly just goes away by next Wednesday and give the trails a chance to start drying. Even if it doesn't, it won't scare me away and I don't expect a PR on this course but I would like to have a lot of fun and enjoy the trails.
I've ran 17.9 miles this week, 6.5 Monday morning with the dogs on the trails and then 3.4 miles that afternoon with Dorian in the stroller and the two dogs on the leashes. I was actually pleasantly surprised at just how well Jetta did on her first time running on leash with Rocky and next to a stroller, she did really well.... much better than when walking. Tuesday didn't happen, Dorian had some night terrors and leg growing pains.... and then it just rained and rained all day Tuesday before stopping in the evening and then the temperature began to drop down. So we've got cold weather today and through Friday, but then it starts climbing again... and hopefully for the last time and for good.
Looking at Grand Rivers' forecast, next week is showing rain on accuweather.com but not a lot of rain at all on my 14wfie, if at all. I know weather.gov is better at predicting but doesn't really go beyond a week on the forecast.... stupid thing.
I'm trying not to fret over it, I've got other things to worry about right now. Business is slow, or at least production is slow... I am really not sure which one to say right now and I am really worrying. I want to think about the Mark Twain Endurance 50, but I am too afraid it won't happen if business doesn't pick up soon.
I've added one work out to my plan though, once a week I am going to do stair bounds on our two flights of stairs at work (28 steps total). After next weekend and my one full week's rest from running, I plan to add a workout of 5-10 minutes of stair bounds on Wednesday, then after the Harmonie Trail Marathon at the end of May, I am going to do my best to increase it to 20 minutes every Wednesday - this is also while having ran 10 miles that morning.
Anyways, it is now Friday... I think I started this bloop on Tuesday and just can't seem to finish it. I didn't run on Thursday but this morning I took Jetta out on the roads with me, it wasn't too awful but there were a couple times she annoyed me. We ran 8 miles which gives us 25.9 miles so far this week, I figure a 40 mile week is a good easy week... right? Next week will be even less, I'll run Tuesday and Thursday morning - probably 5 milers on both days. My sister wants to go for a 2 mile easy run on Monday afternoon, so I will probably do that with her.
Tomorrow I'll either run a 10 miler or split it in two, run 5-6 miles in the morning and then 4 later in the day with Dorian and the dogs. Sunday I'll probably do another 10 miler or something.
Monday, February 29, 2016
2016 LBL Marathon Training Week 13 - Part Two & Week 14 - Part One
2016 Land Between the Lakes Marathon Training Week 13 – Part Two
So taper officially starts this coming weekend, but I already feel like taking it extremely easy and being lazy. This week has been tough on me, the weather has just been awful and my motivation to get up early in the morning has been nearly zero – and then tanks below zero the moment I see that the winds are 15+ mph.
Edited for Week 13 – Part Two & Week 14 – Part One
Fast forward to Monday, the starting of Week 14….. which means next Thursday we will be leaving for Grand Rivers Kentucky. Last week was just hell, as I stated in my first paragraph – the weather wasn’t kind for the first half of the week and then when that began to calm down, Dorian got sick on Thursday evening. He had the stomach bug (it lasted, and lasted) and was puking, he didn’t want to eat or drink. I wasn’t able to get a run in Friday, and for a moment I thought he was feeling better Friday night but he was puking again Saturday morning so I wasn’t able to go to the Bound the Mounds half marathon that morning (I later find out just how muddy it was). I was able to get my mom to come out and watch Dorian later in the afternoon, and even though I started out stiff and achy… I managed to run 14.2 miles Saturday evening. I wore shorts and tee, and decided to carry my 18 oz bottle of water with one scoop of Strawberry Heed and one scoop of Lemon-Lime Heed, the two flavors go together really well. I also had one Chocolate Rage Gu as well, and I did eat it at mile 6.
The temperature was 57 degrees with 11 mph SSW winds, it was sunny but the sun was going down quick. I ran the 14.2 miles in 2:18:51 with an average pace of 9:47 min/mile, an elevation gain of 330 feet and a loss of 329 feet.
The temperature was 57 degrees with 11 mph SSW winds, it was sunny but the sun was going down quick. I ran the 14.2 miles in 2:18:51 with an average pace of 9:47 min/mile, an elevation gain of 330 feet and a loss of 329 feet.
Laps/splits
Mile 1 – 10:05
Mile 2 – 9:50
Mile 2 – 9:50
Mile 3 – 9:48
Mile 4 – 9:51
Mile 5 – 9:29
Mile 6 – 9:59
Mile 7 – 9:50
Mile 8 – 9:50
Mile 9 – 9:51
Mile 10 – 9:53
Mile 11 – 9:41
Mile 12 – 9:40
Mile 13 – 9:42
Mile 14 – 9:30
14.2 - 9:24
I was really hoping for another 10 miler on Sunday, to get up above 40 miles for the week………. Except that Saturday night/Sunday morning I was suddenly hit with that damn stomach bug…. I just couldn’t get my stomach to agree to a run all Sunday. I really want to reach 180 miles for February, so instead of resting on Monday – I am getting a couple of runs in J J J J
I took the dogs out this morning on the trails, and sure enough it was freaking muddy. We ran a slow 6.5 miles in 1:10:00 with a slow pace of 10:46 min/mile, the dogs and I were all muddy at the end of that run. Temperature was 39 degrees, not real bad but I can honestly say I am looking forward to warmer mornings.
Laps/splits
Mile 1 – 11:18
Mile 2 – 11:02
Mile 3 – 10:43
Mile 4 – 11:09
Mile 5 – 10:11
Mile 6 – 10:08
Mile 6.5 – 10:58
Thursday, February 25, 2016
2016 LBL Marathon Training Week 13 - Part One
So, officially the taper begins this coming weekend... or Sunday, or maybe it's Monday. But I am already lacking motivation to get up in the morning, I guess maybe since I got my 20 (.4 to be exact) in this last Sunday, I am feeling a little more relaxed and not so concerned - as if it's all downhill from here and I can chill. Or it could be this crappy weather, cold and dreary, or cold - dreary - rainy AND windy.... it just sucks man, especially when the worst of the weather is in the morning during my run.
But I've got to keep running, not crazy but to keep in good shape and stay limber and strong. Or at least sane.... I am not really sure.
Monday was a rest day, and Tuesday I got up (forced myself up) to temperatures around 36 degrees with a feels like 28 and 10 mph NNE winds.... after running in 60 degrees and raining on Sunday. Blah....... I felt slow and sluggish, tired and.... did I mention sluggish.
I ran 8 miles in 1:22:03 with an average pace of 10:15 min/mile, elevation gain of 131 feet and a loss of 136 feet.
Laps/splits
Mile 1 - 10:51
Mile 2 - 10:39
Mile 3 - 10:08
Mile 4 - 10:22
Mile 5 - 10:13
Mile 6 - 10:03
Mile 7 - 10:05
Mile 8 - 9:41
Wednesday morning's weather was awful, 20-25 mph winds with rain that morning... suffice to say I didn't get up that morning. The weather was just awful, I did some abdominal strengthening and leg strengthening that evening.
Thursday morning I still had to force myself out of bed..... after 7 hours of sleep.... ugh. It was another slow and sluggish run, I kept having to talk myself out of turning back and snuggling back into bed. It was 36 degrees with a feels like 31 degrees with 6 mph W winds. I ran 10 miles in 1:39:38 with an average pace of 9:58 min/mile, an elevation gain of 163 feet with a loss of 166 feet.
Lap/Splits
Mile 1 - 10:31
Mile 2 - 10:18
Mile 3 - 9:46
Mile 4 - 9:58
Mile 5 - 10:05
Mile 6 - 10:00
Mile 7 - 9:46
Mile 8 - 9:56
Mile 9 - 9:46
Mile 10 - 9:29'
Blah...... I'll be so happy when we're heading down to Grand Rivers, KY.... two weeks from today.
But I've got to keep running, not crazy but to keep in good shape and stay limber and strong. Or at least sane.... I am not really sure.
Monday was a rest day, and Tuesday I got up (forced myself up) to temperatures around 36 degrees with a feels like 28 and 10 mph NNE winds.... after running in 60 degrees and raining on Sunday. Blah....... I felt slow and sluggish, tired and.... did I mention sluggish.
I ran 8 miles in 1:22:03 with an average pace of 10:15 min/mile, elevation gain of 131 feet and a loss of 136 feet.
Laps/splits
Mile 1 - 10:51
Mile 2 - 10:39
Mile 3 - 10:08
Mile 4 - 10:22
Mile 5 - 10:13
Mile 6 - 10:03
Mile 7 - 10:05
Mile 8 - 9:41
Wednesday morning's weather was awful, 20-25 mph winds with rain that morning... suffice to say I didn't get up that morning. The weather was just awful, I did some abdominal strengthening and leg strengthening that evening.
Thursday morning I still had to force myself out of bed..... after 7 hours of sleep.... ugh. It was another slow and sluggish run, I kept having to talk myself out of turning back and snuggling back into bed. It was 36 degrees with a feels like 31 degrees with 6 mph W winds. I ran 10 miles in 1:39:38 with an average pace of 9:58 min/mile, an elevation gain of 163 feet with a loss of 166 feet.
Lap/Splits
Mile 1 - 10:31
Mile 2 - 10:18
Mile 3 - 9:46
Mile 4 - 9:58
Mile 5 - 10:05
Mile 6 - 10:00
Mile 7 - 9:46
Mile 8 - 9:56
Mile 9 - 9:46
Mile 10 - 9:29'
Blah...... I'll be so happy when we're heading down to Grand Rivers, KY.... two weeks from today.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
2016 LBL Marathon Training Week 12 - The Long Run
Week twelve, like week 10 was turning out to be a really good week, the only thing missing was that 20 mile run. The forecast "looked good", until I woke up around 2 AM and I heard it raining and thundering, and then I saw lightning. All I could think of was "f*@king hell, it's almost like fate that I don't run 20 miles.....", but I laid back to down to sleep and tried to not to worry about it. My alarm went off at 5 AM, I got ready for that 20 miler, it was 61 degrees out so I wore shorts and my new pair of GT 2000 4 (Grey/Orange, a size 9 when I normally wear size 8.5), a tee shirt.
I fitted my Nathan Intensity pack with:
I fitted my Nathan Intensity pack with:
- 3 Energy Gu's in the front - Chocolate Peanut Butter, Strawberry Banana, and Mandarine Orange
- my 18 oz bottle with water and 1.5 scoops of Hammer Nutrition Heed (Strawberry)
- 1.5L bladder of water
- 3 extra Energy Gu packs (just cause I haven't taken them out since Friday's test run.
- a ziplock bag of baby wipes
- a ziplock bag of Hammer Nutrition Electrolyte Capsules
- my phone
I know I need to start making sure I log this information since I want to run an Ultra, I need to know exactly what worked for me during a long run and what all I had just in case. Since I was running the 4.2 mile loop route, I decided I would stick the vasoline(sp?) in the mailbox. I stepped outside once to realize it was raining so I went back in an grabbed my light rain jacket.
I only wore it for the first loop, the rain was really light so at the end of my first loop I stuck it in the mailbox. I stopped at the gas station to use the restroom on the first lap, I had a feeling I was going to be dealing with IBS most of this run.
First loop 1-4.2 miles
Mile 1 - 10:39
Mile 2 - 10:18
Mile 3 - 9:59
Mile 4 - 9:51
Second loop 4.2-8.3 miles
I was hating these shoes. I swear if I could find out who had the bright idea of raising the arch in the new GT 2000 4's.... I'd shove every one of these shoes down their throat! They've ruined a perfectly great brand of shoes with that stupid change. Other than the nasty tingling in my feet, and my bowels.... things were going well, I tried not to think about the fact I need to run 5 loops. I hate loops but it is also a good form of mental strengthening and makes for a real workout. I deviated from the route a bit to hit a different gas station as there was a group of old men congregating there and I hate the feeling that people know my business (especially when it is bathroom business). It added about .25 miles to the route. I consumed an Energy Gu pack at mile 7, while I was drinking from the 18 oz bottle of water every mile or so.
I finished the 2nd loop with 8.3 miles.
Mile 5 - 9:45
Mile 6 - 9:44
Mile 7 - 9:41
Mile 8 - 9:33
Third loop 9-12.5 miles
The light rain was off and on, my shoes were finally easing up but I was tired and sick to my stomach.... not awful but I was so lucky I could make it to either gas stations. This time I went to the first gas station, and then headed off again. At mile 12 I had another gu, the Chocolate Peanut Butter which tasted better. I think the first loop ended at 12.5 miles... to be quite honest I've lost track of the loops.....
Mile 9 - 9:33
Mile 10 - 9:41
Mile 11 - 9:29
Mile 12 - 9:23
Fourth loop 13-17 miles
I was starting the fourth loop!!! But I tried not to think about it, I just wanted to finish this loop and be on the final loop. I had to make another stop at the other gas station adding another .25 miles to the route. I was getting really tired at this point, the hilly roads were tough and the miles were wearing on me. I reached 17 miles just a smidge past the house, I can't remember if I had the last gu or not......
Mile 13 - 9:28
Mile 14 - 9:28
Mile 15 - 9:22
Mile 16 - 9:26
Mile 17 - 9:15
Fifth loop 18-20.4
Luckily I didn't have to stop for a bathroom break this loop, it was getting real tough. I was hating these hills, and I was seriously tired BUT I had finally reached mile 18, only 2 miles to go. Only 3 big hills left, just a little further and I would be done and I would have my 20 miler run for this training cycle. Around mile 19 I decided I would go for 20.4 so I would get to 57 miles for this week.
I made it to 20.4 miles!!! I got my 20 mile run in, and I am ready for this marathon... even if it is much, much hillier than anything I've ever ran before.
Mile 18 - 9:28
Mile 19 - 9:42
Mile 20 - 9:08
.4 - 9:20
I ran 20.4 miles in 3:16:37 with an average pace of 9:38 min/miles, an elevation gain of 463 feet, loss of 462 feet.
This gives me 57 running miles for week 12, and 63 miles on my feet for the week total. Now I can pretty much relax, the next 3 weeks are downhill from here (in a good way).
Saturday, February 20, 2016
2016 LBL Marathon Training Week 12 - Part Two
This week has been going great so far, only Sunday can top it off to being awesome if I can get that 20 miler in.
Thursday I took the dogs out on the trails for 6.2 miles, then I took Dorian to John James Audubon State Park that afternoon for a hike. We took the backcountry route, as we got off the road and onto the trail it was pretty damn muddy and Dorian lost one of his shoes at one point. Those first .4 miles had me wondering if we should've turned around, but I am glad we didn't. We ended up run/hiking 3 miles in 1:18:40, with an elevation gain of 331 feet and a loss of 326 feet. It was 54 degrees, it felt nice but was starting to get really windy towards the evening and the sun was going down as we got to the lake which is where Dorian decided he wanted to stop and watch the ripples in the lake caused by the wind...... we still had like a mile to go and the it was getting dark... fast. Let's just say I had to carry him a lot of the rest of the way - piggyback style which he just loved that.. my back didn't on the uphills lol.
Friday I woke up wore out and just dead, which normally isn't a big deal but there were winds of 15 mph and gusts of up to 20 mph. Let's just say I went back to sleep, the whole day got worse. The temperature was fine, around 65 degrees but we had winds up to 28 mph and gusts beyond that. It didn't start calming down until late in the afternoon, my mom came out and watched Dorian and I went for an 8.4 mile run. I had also received my new Nathan Intensity (for women) hydration pack and was excited to try it out on this run. I filled up the 1.5L bladder, stuck some gu's in the pack and my phone. I had an 18 oz Nathan bottle with some Gu Fizz tablets but ended up leaving that in the mailbox as the fizz tablets made the water demonic and it was spouting like a water fountain (not cool) so I stuck my phone where the bottle should've been.
I just want to say, I love this pack already. It has one snap on clip in the front and the hose/spout is attached to the right side clip (the hose comes out of the pack on the right side). I just unsnap and slide my pack right off, it is so quick I could have my phone in the back pocket and be able to reach it quickly if I were getting a call or needed my phone. My UltrAspire has to snaps in the front and the hose goes across the top/front of the pack from the right side to the left so I have to unsnap the two buckles then unsnap the hose before I can take it off... it can be very annoying. But I still love it, it's been good to me for the last 3-4 years. My new love is going to accompany me on (hopefully) tomorrow's 20 miler and at the LBL.
Back to the run, it was still 9 mph SSW winds and 61 degrees that evening but other then that it wasn't too bad. The warmer temperature definitely had me sweating, but other than that it felt great to be wearing shorts and sweating again. I ended up running 8.4 miles in 1:20:12 with an average pace of 9:33 min/mile, with an elevation gain of 162 feet and a loss of 163 feet. I tried to keep it at an easy pace, but heck I really wasn't breathing hard at all so I didn't worry too much.
Laps/splits
Mile 1 - 10:10
Mile 2 - 10:07
Mile 3 - 9:44
Mile 4 - 9:43
Mile 5 - 9:26
Mile 6 - 9:04
Mile 7 - 9:11
Mile 8 - 9:16
.4 - 8:52
Saturday morning I woke up, tired as I didn't get to sleep until close to midnight but I decided to head to the gym first for back day. I worked out for about an hour, it was a great workout and then I changed into my shorts and running shoes. I went with only 3.6 miles, that way I've got 36.6 miles for this week before my long run, and if all goes great... that should give me 56.6 miles of running. I did my best to take it easy for this run - 3.6 miles in 34:40 with an average pace of 9:38 min/mile, it was 45 degrees but thankfully no wind AND my gym workout warmed me up plenty.
Later this morning I took Dorian for another hike at Audubon, it was 70 degrees and sunny, the parking lots were packed and the trails were pretty busy too. After 1.5 miles Dorian started goofing off, stopping to mess with branches, bushes and whatnot... then he would try to go off the trail and "bushwhack" it.... yeah that was a big no no. It too a lot longer to finish this hike, we hiked 3.2 miles in 1:27:34... he was such a punk. Elevation gain of 357 feet with a loss of 346 feet.
All in all, I've got 43 miles of being on my feet.... if I can get those 20 miles in tomorrow.... I'll have my highest mileage for this training cycle - at 63 miles, during my peak week just before the taper.
Cross your fingers for me.
Thursday I took the dogs out on the trails for 6.2 miles, then I took Dorian to John James Audubon State Park that afternoon for a hike. We took the backcountry route, as we got off the road and onto the trail it was pretty damn muddy and Dorian lost one of his shoes at one point. Those first .4 miles had me wondering if we should've turned around, but I am glad we didn't. We ended up run/hiking 3 miles in 1:18:40, with an elevation gain of 331 feet and a loss of 326 feet. It was 54 degrees, it felt nice but was starting to get really windy towards the evening and the sun was going down as we got to the lake which is where Dorian decided he wanted to stop and watch the ripples in the lake caused by the wind...... we still had like a mile to go and the it was getting dark... fast. Let's just say I had to carry him a lot of the rest of the way - piggyback style which he just loved that.. my back didn't on the uphills lol.
Friday I woke up wore out and just dead, which normally isn't a big deal but there were winds of 15 mph and gusts of up to 20 mph. Let's just say I went back to sleep, the whole day got worse. The temperature was fine, around 65 degrees but we had winds up to 28 mph and gusts beyond that. It didn't start calming down until late in the afternoon, my mom came out and watched Dorian and I went for an 8.4 mile run. I had also received my new Nathan Intensity (for women) hydration pack and was excited to try it out on this run. I filled up the 1.5L bladder, stuck some gu's in the pack and my phone. I had an 18 oz Nathan bottle with some Gu Fizz tablets but ended up leaving that in the mailbox as the fizz tablets made the water demonic and it was spouting like a water fountain (not cool) so I stuck my phone where the bottle should've been.
I just want to say, I love this pack already. It has one snap on clip in the front and the hose/spout is attached to the right side clip (the hose comes out of the pack on the right side). I just unsnap and slide my pack right off, it is so quick I could have my phone in the back pocket and be able to reach it quickly if I were getting a call or needed my phone. My UltrAspire has to snaps in the front and the hose goes across the top/front of the pack from the right side to the left so I have to unsnap the two buckles then unsnap the hose before I can take it off... it can be very annoying. But I still love it, it's been good to me for the last 3-4 years. My new love is going to accompany me on (hopefully) tomorrow's 20 miler and at the LBL.
Back to the run, it was still 9 mph SSW winds and 61 degrees that evening but other then that it wasn't too bad. The warmer temperature definitely had me sweating, but other than that it felt great to be wearing shorts and sweating again. I ended up running 8.4 miles in 1:20:12 with an average pace of 9:33 min/mile, with an elevation gain of 162 feet and a loss of 163 feet. I tried to keep it at an easy pace, but heck I really wasn't breathing hard at all so I didn't worry too much.
Laps/splits
Mile 1 - 10:10
Mile 2 - 10:07
Mile 3 - 9:44
Mile 4 - 9:43
Mile 5 - 9:26
Mile 6 - 9:04
Mile 7 - 9:11
Mile 8 - 9:16
.4 - 8:52
Saturday morning I woke up, tired as I didn't get to sleep until close to midnight but I decided to head to the gym first for back day. I worked out for about an hour, it was a great workout and then I changed into my shorts and running shoes. I went with only 3.6 miles, that way I've got 36.6 miles for this week before my long run, and if all goes great... that should give me 56.6 miles of running. I did my best to take it easy for this run - 3.6 miles in 34:40 with an average pace of 9:38 min/mile, it was 45 degrees but thankfully no wind AND my gym workout warmed me up plenty.
Later this morning I took Dorian for another hike at Audubon, it was 70 degrees and sunny, the parking lots were packed and the trails were pretty busy too. After 1.5 miles Dorian started goofing off, stopping to mess with branches, bushes and whatnot... then he would try to go off the trail and "bushwhack" it.... yeah that was a big no no. It too a lot longer to finish this hike, we hiked 3.2 miles in 1:27:34... he was such a punk. Elevation gain of 357 feet with a loss of 346 feet.
All in all, I've got 43 miles of being on my feet.... if I can get those 20 miles in tomorrow.... I'll have my highest mileage for this training cycle - at 63 miles, during my peak week just before the taper.
Cross your fingers for me.
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