Monday, May 17

A time to refocus...

So for the last 3 months or so I've been struggling with the ability to keep my drive and focus during running, especially on runs over 10 miles or in races. I don't know what has happened but I figured I should start over and refocus on my running to come up with the reasons why.

I found my ability to push and push through the tough times last fall when training for a half marathon in the Wichita Mountains. Even though the plan was long and rigorous and required hours of running in the summer, I never seemed to hit a wall - and during the race I was able to push through the hard times when I wanted to quit. I want to find that again...

I figure a good starting location would be why I run. I run to relieve stress from work, to get outside and enjoy the fresh air since I don't have a window at work, to stay in shape and healthy, so I can eat normal portions of food and food I like, to get away from everything. My goals have changed alot since when I first started running to lose weight. Now I run because I want to, not because I feel I need to get out and be healthy. Maybe I need a new running statement...
"I run because I want to and because everyone deserves a moment to themself with no distractions."

I run because I want to: so why do I feel like it has become a burden or a game of try not to die when I go to a race or when I go on a long run. First thing I can think of is because I no long just run to finish, I run TO finish. I want to be in a top percentage of finishers, I want to break a time record that I've set for myself, I want to compete and be better. A competitive attitude is great, it keeps one motivated and focused, but I guess it can burn you out because you are always trying to be your best. Even when I try to go to a race and have fun I end up trying to race someone or the clock or myself. I can't just relax and have fun. I need to find a way to run more like when I take Jenga on runs - run because it is fun and to let my tongue flap in the breeze (of course that is Jenga with the tongue part!).

Because everyone deserves a moment to themself with no distractions: I'm constantly trying to please people, to get things done on time, to get things done. I never have time to sit back and do things that I want to do for myself like watch tv, read a book, just sit in silence or drive my car with no end location. Running helps me with this because no one can distract me when I run. It's just me. This doesn't seem to be a problem in my eyes because I haven't changed that reason to run - but I think sometimes when I force myself to go run (getting up at 6 on Saturdays) that I hit a wall. I'm not doing it because I want to get away - it's turning into another thing to get done. When I'm stuck on a schedule for a race and have to get in the runs I start to feel run down again. I have to stay positive and do it because I want to.

So now how do I get back where I want to be? Happy to run and just relaxed? My first attempt (weather permitting) is to take my pup Jenga to a Dog Run on the river on Memorial Day. My dog loves to run and I love to see others with their dogs running so what better. I can beat a previous time because I've never done it and it will be about Jenga, not a time. Next I think I'm going to focus on 5K races this summer. One because they are shorter and I don't have time to get frustrated and two because it doesn't take as much time to train for these races so I can do other things but run. Maybe getting some shorter faster races under my belt will help longer slower races seem less pushed, more enjoyable. Last - I know I want to break a time barrier, I always do, it's what makes me train hard on the hot and cold days and the days I want to sit on the couch - so maybe I need to get better at making the goal pace easier instead of making it a challenge. Get use to running it for all my normal runs on these shorter summer runs so that when fall rolls around it is just natural. Even if I don't beat my 5K PR, at least I have made 9:30 seem simple.

Starting this week I am going to spread out my running so it's not always something that has to be done at night. Monday morning I am going to get up and run a few miles. Start with 2, maybe get up to 4 - take my pup when possible, just have a good run that gets me awake on my worst day. One day a week I will run at night and then one day during the weekend I'll get in a long run. Change it up, keep things exciting and unpredictable, right???

Okay, so there is a start. I'm going to be more conscience about coming on here at least once a week and posting updates, feelings and what is going on. Maybe that way I can keep track of what is good and bad and how I'm adjusting. So till next time - Run On!!!

Saturday, May 15

See Spot Run 10K Race

Well I went into this race to have fun. I did the race for the t-shirt, to help the dogs, and to see people with their dogs doing the 5K. Of course my competitive nature took over and I wanted to push as hard as I could. Unfortunately I haven't trained for that over the last 2 weeks, i've taken it easy since Flying Pig, so it was a really hard pace that I couldn't keep.

To start the announcer says race start was moved back 15 minutes so I go walk around. Come back at 10 minutes till start and they are about to shoot the gun! AACCCCK don't do that. anyways, I jump into like and look around - obvious walkers are spread all over the front of the race. Great. As I try to move through the crowd, I politely say to people excuse me and pass through. One group as i'm passing say rudely - "excuse here, where she think she's going?" Ummm you guys are barely running and I want 9:20 splits. whatever.

I catch up to a group running my pace and we go back and forth over the 10K. It was a very hilly course which I wasn't prepared for, but was still strong from pig training so i would push through - usually passing people on the way up, but then would keep pace on the way back down and get passed. We kept this up till about 8K when I hit a wall. I guess my lactic acid just had enough and legs locked up. Walked for about 30 seconds. I hated that, it killed me, but i couldn't go anymore. I probably could have but I've lost the mental edge to push through that. I need to find that edge again.

I ended up with about 59:25 - only a 40 sec PR. I wanted at least a minute, more like 2. But it wasn't a good race. I don't have a racing mind right now. I need to get that back somehow. That needs to be a goal. I need to find a mental edge again.

Tuesday, May 4

Cincinnati Flying Pig 1/2 Marathon

Wow, that's all I can say about this race and the events around it. They have really put together a fun race experience and my favorite so far. From the pig sculptures to the swag to the spectators in the rain - it was amazing. I would love to go back and do this race again - and wouldn't even mind tackling the marathon if I eventually turn into a marathon junkie.



So the race - I like to break it up into three distinct parts: First 5 miles, Second 5 miles, Final 5K. I know many people say to do this anyways, but the way the race route was set up lent itself well to this way of thinking. I just want to take a minute and plug this half, I loved the course - even the hills. Mainly because the first 5 miles end within blocks of the finish line so when a race usually has left the finish area at the beginning mile or so, you were still in the area well into the race. I think this was a great mind game in my opinion.



Miles 1-5: I started out running with the 4:10 marathon pace group. I wanted to be able to pace the first couple of miles and also have a group to run the hills (which didn't happen). The crowd was dense for the first 3 miles between the bridges, turns, and poor road conditions from the rain. This caused for very sporatic pacing. Sometimes I felt like we were sprinting and other times it felt like 10 minute miles. Around mile 4.5 I stopped for water and got caught up in the mob. Instead of easily working my way back to the group, I sprinted - STUPID. Not only was it going up an overpass, but the group was speeding up for some reason also. Ended up killing my legs momentairly. I was faced with the option of keeping up and being tired or walking to take a gel and letting the group get away. I chose the latter. I think in the end it worked out.

Splits for the first 5 miles were: 9:52, 9:34, 9:42, 9:09, 9:25



Miles 6-10: Known as the climb. And what a climb it was. Being from Oklahoma I have never seen a hill like this and have no clue how I would have trained. My thought had always been to take it easy on the hills and just survive - well I did this, just taking it easy turned out to be walking every 5-10 minutes for a block. I really didn't want to but my legs just couldn't handle the hills and the short recoveries. Within the time I also had to use a porta potty (first time ever in a race) and stopped for a picture opp with the family. By this time I had given up on the thought of having a PR in the race and just wanted to have fun and enjoy the gorgeous views (through the rain). There was no way I would beat Dallas with a mile of hills left to go and walking so much.

Splits for miles 6-10 were: 9:18, 10:33, 11:30, 9:53, 10:13



The last 5K: So my original intention was to "race" the final 3.1. It was a mix of downhill and flat that I thought would be doable if I took it easy on the hills. Well I took it easy on the hills and man did it pay off. The downhill started around mile 10.5 or so and it was steep. I stretched my legs and just let it fly, enjoyed passing people and watching downtown Cincy come back into view. I was feeling good and keeping a pace around 8:30 - then the shoe came untied - stop retie both, start again. Still moving at a great pace. We start passing the walkers at this point as they are going through mile 6 and I think, man I've come so far since I started running which was a real confindence boost! I turned into the final 2 miles and took off...crap another untied shoe, why didn't I double knot?????? Took off again. Around 12.5 my legs start to get tired but I keep telling myself to push through and want it, so I do. Turning onto the final stretch I expected about .2 miles, no more like 1/2 miles to go. Really feeling it now but I will myself not to stop, even though I really want to walk I don't. Up the final mini hill (monster at this point) and past the "Finish Swine". As I pass the clock says 2:14:xx - not bad, not a PR but okay. I look down at my watch as I stop it and it says 2:09:18 - NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No way I PR'd with walking, the hill, potty stop, and 2 shoe tying stops. Welcome beaming smile!!!!

Splits for last 3 miles were: 9:15, 9:06, 8:56

And just to say - if it hadn't been for the potty stop and untied shoes, Garmin said my final time would have been 2:06:xx!!!!!!!

Anyways despite the rain and the hills the race went great. Spectators were amazing to say the least and I really enjoyed the experience. Now time for some rest!

Eating before the race

So in attempt to remember this in the future, I am going to post what I ate before all my races and how I felt on race day. Hopefully this will help me figure out my best eating plan. Every once in awhile I might post plates from the days before long runs if I find something that works well.
Since I was out of town, I went to Olive Garden the night before the race. I had minestrone soup for an appetizer with a bread stick, and wheat linguini with meat sauce and another bread stick for the main course. I was comfortably full afterwards. We ate around 6pm.
The rest of the day I had half a turkey sandwich on a kaiser roll and kettle chips for lunch. I had a big breakfast because we went to a special brunch so I had eggs, bacon, quiche, strawberries and two small cinnamon rolls.

Race day...how did I feel? Fuel wise I think I did good. Pre-race I had 1/2 bagel with peanut butter 2 hours before and a luna lemon zest 15 minutes before. Miles 1-5 I felt great. No problem with fatigue. At mile 5 I pushed it too hard up a hill and my legs felt tired but i took a gel and moved on. Took another gel at 10 but my legs didn't feel too bad. I definitely did not hit a wall where I felt like I had no energy like I did in Dallas.

My biggest thing to remember is that I can't think diet in the few days before a race. I have to think how am I fueling my body. This is hard for me, but in the end it resulted in a faster race time and a much better feeling in the end.