TheRunningRev.Com

From 50 miles to 5k

Tomorrow is the JFK 50. I wish I was there. I have never had as much fun running a race as I had last year in this one.

So with no 50 mile races on my calendar I think I'll have to settle with a 5k or two over the next couple of months. Oh well, perhaps I can finish is under 20 minutes instead of 10 hours!!!

First Cold Run of the Season

Last night we had the first snow of the season! Today the temperature reached a balmy 35 and there was a 15mph wind blowing from the west creating a wind chill of 25. Brrr, this was serious winter running in Virginia but only the tip of the iceberg for Minnesota (pun intended).

I thought about taking the day off, heck I ran a marathon a week ago. Then I realized that if I start making excuses today I'll be making them all winter. So I donned my tights and jacket, hat and gloves and went for a 5 mile run.

It was amazing! Having spent the last few months training for the marathon I was now free to run how I wanted to. I'm not bound to a training schedule and it felt fabulous to be outside running free. I'm really looking forward to the next few months of running before the build up for my next marathon, but for now I'm running free!

Running Again

It's been five days now since the marathon and the soreness has left the muscles, that means its time to start running again!

Four easy miles on the road. It's so nice to be able to get out and run without being in training for any particular event, just running for running's sake. It was a perfect day to start back, temperatures in the upper 40's, sun shining brightly and a light breeze. I have no idea what my pace was today as I plodded along on the first of my recovery runs, I just focused on keeping a comfortable pace all the way.

It won't be long now before I have to do some winter running. That'll be new to be me as I haven't had a "real" winter in five years.

Taper Week

Only six days left until the Twin Cities Marathon and I've come down with a cold, ugh! The good news is the hard work is done, its rest and taper time. I should shake this cold in a couple of days and be 100% before Sunday.

My training has gone fairly well. With two of us training and working and then having kids schedules to juggle on top of that it would be nearly impossible to have a perfect training build-up to the race. I managed to fit in all my long runs and have had a few good tempo runs at marathon pace or faster. I've missed out on speed work but for the marathon it shouldn't hurt me too much.

The plan for Sunday will be to start out with the 3:20 pace team and see if I can hang on! I need 3:20 to qualify for Boston, the holy grail of marathoning. It's probably a long shot for me but you never know, if everything goes right on the day then it just might happen.

Let's go have fun over 26.2

Manitou 15k

It was a cool 45 degrees at race time as we lined up for one lap around White Bear Lake. My goal was to run it as a tempo run somewhere between 7:30 - 7:40 pace. I figured if I put in a lot of runs at this pace I'll be in a good position to qualify for Boston this fall.

We started running and I wasn't sure of my pace but I knew it was a little faster than I'd expected to start but I felt good. When I passed the first mile marker in 6:34 though I knew I was in trouble. I've never sustained this pace for a 5k let alone a 15k! So I slowed down a lot hoping I hadn't done to much damage and pressed on. At 5k my pace was now averaging a little under 7:00 so I was giving time back just as I should. I still ended up running faster than I intended finishing in 1:07:40 with a 7:16 average.

It felt good knowing I was able to run this pace this early in my training. I'm feeling very hopeful for a sub 3:20 marathon in the Twin Cities this fall!

For the love of running

On Monday I ran my first ten mile run since the "Icy 8" back in February! It felt fabulous on a sunny afternoon to plod along at an 8:20 pace in seventy degree weather enjoy the great outdoors. I'm finally motivated again to start running long... Marine Corps, JFK 50 and the Icy 8 took there toll on my desire to go long for a while!

I topped off Monday's run with a quick four on Tuesday with a 7:07 pace and a 6:31 third mile. It was my first run by White Bear Lake!

I love running!

Joy of Running

Some days I just don't feel like running. Today was one them. It took everything I had to drag myself out the door and onto the streets. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and there was only a very light breeze, it was a little cool at 35 degrees.

The first couple of miles were a little arduous but after five I was feeling great and loving life! It felt wonderful to be in the wide open countryside, not a person or car in sight (a rare thing in Northern Virginia). As the miles clipped by I found myself thinking how easy this is and was amazed at the ability of the human body to move itself over long distances without falling apart.

After 15 miles I arrived back at my house feeling  energized and in love with life! I was ready to take on the rest of the afternoon. (I procrastinated until noon before starting!)

15 miles, 8:23 pace

Running in the rain!

I love running! I just got in from a five mile run. It was 34 degrees out and a constant light rain was falling. It was peaceful and beautiful, the world takes on a different hue in the rain, there's something magical that takes place in a light rain or drizzle. 

Once I've made the decision to run in the rain I've always enjoyed it. Perhaps its the tranquility I feel as the world appears still, all the animals seeking shelter and very few if anyone else can be seen. Or maybe its my sense of humor as I get a kick out of enjoying something most people wouldn't, I think the word is twisted!  

Whatever the reason, I like running in the rain. Do you?

Year in review...

It's time to stop running for a moment and take a look back on the year...

Two 5k's
One 10k
Two 10 milers
One Half-Marathon
Two Marathons
One Fifty Miler

Total mileage: 1,502 (assuming I run my six tomorrow and four on Wednesday)

Of course the numbers don't really tell the story, they're just statistics. The memories from this year will be speed work with the folks from The Running Store, organizing three church teams to run the Army Ten Miler, running the Lumberjack Days 10 miler with Jan and Brian and running Marine Corps with the love of my life Jenny.

I'm not sure where to put the JFK 50 on the list of memories. It may be a once in a lifetime moment but then again it may not be, but the camaraderie and joy in this event will be hard to beat.

In spite of all the technical gear that is now available in this sport it still boils down to putting one foot in front of the other and that's what I enjoy most.

Cold and Fever :(

It sucks to have a cold and fever with less than three weeks to the Marine Corps Marathon. I may have to alter my goals for the race!