Monthly Archive for November, 2009

A 3H40 Urban Run

Published by Toots on 24 November, 2009, at 00:07, in training. 3 Comments

No Speedy Gonzalez action going on here…it took me a solid 3 hours and 40 minutes to finish my 20 miler. However it was a good steady solid urban run. I enjoy these…they take me forever with all the “stop and go” action, but they are like sightseeing trips and I end up making many interesting discoveries along the way that I would have otherwise missed if I were driving or riding in a car. Tomate accompanied me (en velo) for the first half on my “out and back” route, then I flew solo on my return. Along the way, I…

discovered a flamenco world music “hole in the wall” tapas bar (must return here properly attired)

came across a Jamaican Jerk BBQ stand

inhaled the delightful aromas of a hidden little mom & pop bakery I’d never seen

accidentally almost crashed the tail end of a 5K (was wondering why there were so many cops)

encountered many cyclists

was chased by a dog

stopped to potty way too many times ( I think I overhydrated)

ran across the hallowed ground in front of The Alamo

hit a million + traffic lights

stopped to waive at all the kiddos on the Brackenridge Park Choo Choo Train as I waited to cross to the other side

discovered San Antonio has a lot more water fountains than I thought

discovered I like Clif Shot Blocks (trying out some free sample I got)

ran alongside many fellow runners following a similar (but much shorter) route as mine

got the biggest toe blister EVER at around mile 18…no way I was stopping NOW! (have you seen the movie, Run Fat Boy Run? Yeah, that kind of blister…except mine was on my toe.)

Finished.

I’m sure there was a lot more, but it’s all fuzzy now.

Okay, so it wasn’t 20.

Published by Sally on 23 November, 2009, at 23:12, in training. 0 Comments

My one mistake…waiting for Lumpy to bring the dog, so I could finish with her. I got so chilled! Freezing! Should not have worn shorts!! Aargh! I did 14 STRONG miles, even with the self-doubt that was involved. There were a lot of zen moments, but here is the rest of what happened in The Brain of The Sally:

“All right, not sucking!”

“Oh, hey, not feeling so great.”

“Yee haw!”

“Oh, hey, only 10 to go!”

“I should call Lumpy and ask him to come get me.”

“Whuh?!? 8 minute mile???”

“I think I might throw up.”

“Single digits!!!”

“Ugh. Feet. Exploding.”

“Jeebus, I’m freaking cold.”

That was the stopping point. I was waiting for Lumpy to meet me with Dawg and got too chilled to keep running. End of story. HOWEVER, I am not worried and still feel good about today’s run. I have no plans for Monterrey. I might run with Toots, I might stick with Lumpy. Whatever…I am letting this one be solely a support/fun run, and I’m happy that I am. My last marathon for a while will be Minneapolis next year. After that, fun, ridiculous, unattainable, and silly runs. Yay!

Faster Than Lightening

Published by Aunt I. Hill on 20 November, 2009, at 10:18, in random stuff. 1 Comment

Didja ever have one of those runs where you leave the house feeling somewhat less-than-enthusiastic, and when you start running, your little legs go like Scooby Do or the Road Runner? For some reason (the crack you sprinkle on your cereal, the Red Bull for Happy Hour, I don’t know…) your adrenaline is such that you feel like you are flying down the sidewalk and everybody had better just get the heck out of  your way or you’ll mow them down, dammit!

Well, I had one of those on Wednesday and I was thinking, “Golly, this is fun! I wish I could run like this every day! I’m so speedy!”  Head down, arms pumping, mentally breaking the finish line tape in front of a roaring crowd. I get home 20 minutes before my usual time, then get on the computer to get my mileage, and realize, okay…I was doing  a 10-minute mile.  Huh.

Profile #4

Published by Sally on 16 November, 2009, at 19:52, in sally's synicism. 2 Comments

I meant to post this a few weeks ago. This person is someone to be awed. I call her Über Mom. Lumpy and I encountered Über Mom on the running path along the creek. She was pushing a two-seater running stroller uphill at a pretty decent clip. Didn’t stop once. Her kids were not babies, either. Imagine the weight of the two kids PLUS the stroller. Sheesh.

That’s really all I have to say about this profile. Applause.

No need to ask, she’s a smooth operator.

Published by Sally on 16 November, 2009, at 19:45, in training. 0 Comments

My run today was smoooooooth. I felt strong.

My tailbone told me that I could not run my 20 miler, and I agreed. It seems that it was a wise decision that my tailbone made. It is more or less healed, so I’ll do the 20 next weekend and then be ready to win the Monterrey marathon. AS IF.

Not counting chickens

Published by Peep on 13 November, 2009, at 10:01, in random stuff. 6 Comments

So I’ve been out for a couple walks with the D-O double G and the knee has been feeling alright. Last night we went for another and few great things happened;
One; I ran for about 3 blocks with no pain what so ever. I know that’s not very far in the world of half and full marathons but it’s an accomplishment for me.
Two; munchy man ran with me with little distraction for said 3 blocks. He’s the sort of dog that needs to stop and check his pee-mail every other tree. Not saying he’s going to run a mile with me, but might be my new training partner as I get back to it.
Three; that simple little jog has got me craving running again, which is great.
I’ve added some yoga and stretching back in and forgot how good that feels. I’m waiting for it to get cool enough (hello November?) to try out my CWX tights. They are a work out just to get on but are supposed to do marvelous things for your legs.
So no chickens in the basket yet, but it’s a small step in the right direction.

That smarts!

Published by Sally on 11 November, 2009, at 17:45, in training. 1 Comment

Last Friday I fell off the bottom stair of our basement stairs. My tailbone hurts. Doin’ a little less running. Doin’ a little more whining. Hopin’ to do my 20 miler this weekend.

Strengthening and Tightening Up

Published by Toots on 10 November, 2009, at 00:50, in training. 0 Comments

I’ve incorporated 3 days of strength and core training to my marathon training this time around. At first I thought it might be too much, but once it became part of the routine, it’s actually been beneficial. I haven’t really lost much weight at all but I’ve certainly lost inches all around and I feel good during and after my runs – not as sore or as exhausted, pretty strong actually…. I may hold back some during these next couple of high mileage weeks…I’ll see how I feel. Anyway, thought you may want to know what it consists of. It’s pretty basic, but I’d never done anything like it and I really needed it. Check it out:

Day 1 (Mondays):  core & upper body weight training – 2 or 3 sets/15 reps each

chest press, overhead press, chest fly, rear fly, lat pull down, ball crunches, bicycle crunches, hip lifts, and swimmers

Day 2 (Tuesdays):  core & lower body weight training – 2 or 3 sets/15 reps each

lunges, leg extensions, leg curls, leg press, abductions, adductions, ball curls and booty lifts, ab crunch machine, rotary torso machine, roman chair lifts (especially proud of these, could hardly do them when I started back in June)

Day 3 (Thursdays):  1set/25reps each – “point of exertion” (short but very tiring workout – I usually add some core to this workout)

chest press, shoulder press, lat pulldown, leg extension, leg curls, abductions, adductions

Still running.

Published by Toots on 10 November, 2009, at 00:31, in events, gear and training. 0 Comments

I’m still running. I’ve missed a handful of runs but for the most part I’ve been able to keep up with the training. The weather has taken a turn for the better. Not as many time constraints. No injuries. No problems. No issues. Well except for the emotional ones, but the way I see it, running is therapy.

This past weekend’s 18 miler seemed like a breeze. Did I just say that? I’ve never been able to say that. Anyway, it started with the USAA We Salute Our Veteran’s 5K which I believed I PR’d in. I still don’t have my official time but according to my Garmin it was 26:50. That’s pretty fast for me so I was very pleased. I’ve been able to slice off about a minute on this exact same race for the last 3 consecutive years. Also, this was my last race as a 35-39 Female so I think I ended this age bracket era on a good note and am so looking forward to racing in a new age bracket. ;-)

After the 5K, I came home, had a late breakfast, took a short nap, then ventured on to complete the other 15 of my 18 mile weekend long run. I didn’t map a route. I just put on the Garmin and started running one way until the street ended then turned back and zig zagged through my neighborhood, and looped around Woodlawn Park a couple of times. I hardly stopped, except to drink from a couple  of water fountains and the one quick potty stop by the house to don my reflective vest. I ran the whole 15 miles with my Ipod and don’t really remember much except that I was totally lost in the music (I know, not very safe, but it was sooo working for me – children, don’t try this at home). Before I knew it I was done.

Speaking of Commercial…

Published by Aunt I. Hill on 9 November, 2009, at 14:48, in random stuff. 6 Comments

I have to enter the world of running nerd-dom and get a reflective vest and one of those geeky headlamps. What’s a good headlamp that’s comfy and doesn’t bounce around too much?