Run Like the Wind

WOW! That was a hard run, but a good run! J and I ran the Ethanol Loop and a little more. We had a nice chat. Again I started to poop out at the end as we were heading back into town. We talked about all sort of topics that will stay on the run. Nice time. I didn't feel like I was drinking much but when the run was over my bottles were pretty much gone. I felt my toes rubbing again, too. When I got home I took off my socks and there was a HUUUUUGE blister on inside of my big toe on the right. That will take awhile to heal.

It was 11 miles that felt like about 9. Guess that makes a good run. We were running with the wind pretty much the whole way. Only about 1.5 miles that we were running with the wind, about 3 miles into the wind, and the remaining was strong to our sides. I am quite chilly now so it's time to go soak in a hot bath.

11 mile run; 1/2 mile walk; 10 min stretch; RPE - 4

Another Loop

Once again, I was reflecting on my run for the day and realized that I could run, get showered, and then to church if I hurry this afternoon. I did the Ethanol Loop as soon as Bill got home...he's the best daddy/husband in the whole world! It turned out to be perfect timing.

I couldn't figure out the winds so I just took off not knowing if I should head west or east first. When I got to the tracks I decided to go east. Good choice. I think I prefer that direction better. Somehow that highway stretch seems soooo long. The run back into town through Dogtown is much easier.

The run itself was pretty good. I felt strong all the way through. I dressed more loosely today - only my thin running pants, no headband, rolled up fingerless mittens (thanks to J!).

5 mile run; 2 block walk; RPE - 3

What sexy legs!

Yes, that's a wild title. I was stretching in front of a mirror and realized I have great looking legs! They look like they did in college...almost.

Anyway, I missed my run last night. I had a really long day, didn't get home until almost 10:00 and still had to do some homework. I am contemplating how to make up that run. I may just have to cross it off the list. :(

We are getting rain all week so I am a little discouraged. I know there is a chance I may have to run in rain on "raceday", but I'm quite sure it will be a little warmer than 30 degrees. I may just push all my runs back a day since I've missed a day anyway. That way I can still make them up and the long run won't be in the rain.

Tonight's run was actually quite good during the first half. Again, I started thinking about how many miles were left and started to break down in form andenergy.

I also need to eat a more substancial lunch...other than popcorn.

5 mile run; .6 mile walk; 62 min; RPE - 4

Breaking the 10-mile barrier

While looking at the forecast all week, I have been anticipating freezing rain for today with light rain all day - not exactly my idea of a fun run. "It just doesn't matter." When I woke up this morning I didn't see any icing outside, but it looked a bit darker to the west. I went back to bed. I woke up later and the same thing happened, but I checked the radar this time. The rain was on the western border and moving slowly. I thought, "this was my chance." It was about 27 degrees and about 12 mph winds from the southeast. I changed my clothes and got some Gatorade.

Noelle was awake so I asked her if she wanted to ride her bike with me since we were able to get the garden shed open. With an eastern wind, I decided to run to Ellsworth and back, and then a couple more miles through town. After establishing the rules for the run, we left. She was excited to be with Mommy. We went down the first hill and then up the BIG hill. It was hard for her to get up that hill. We finally made it to the top. On the other side there was a very strong frigid headwind at us and she was done. Her skin was "frozen", her hands hurt, and she just wanted to cry. It was all I could do to talk her through it and remain focused to get through my run and we weren't even 1.5 miles along. UGH. I called Bill to come get her in the van and I finished the run.

I was so glad I changed my mind and the did the Kum-N-Go run rather than going west through Dogtown to the county road. It's an 8-mile roundtrip. The frigid headwind and hills were nasty. It was a good challenge for me. Funny how those hills don't look so big in a car. :) When I wanted to stop, I kept thinking of Mark. If he can do what he did, I can surely run a measly 10 miles. "Your lungs are stronger, your heart is stronger, your legs are stronger, you're a machine, you can do it, you're a marathoner, you're beautiful, you're improving each week, you're a marathoner!!" When I got back to town, I ran the hill past my house even. That was at mile 8. I am so excited. I have come so far. Only 2 more miles to go and it's all in town!

When I got back, and was writing down my minutes for Live Healthy Iowa, I realized I have run more than twice as long as my long run 4 weeks ago. That was good for me too. I always told distance runners & marathoners that they were crazy for running for so long. I think I am officially crazy. Two miles short of Dam to Dam. I can do this!

The last two miles were a little tough. I seem to tell myself that there isn't much left so I think my body slows and starts to shut down. I need to find a way to keep going strong through those last few miles. I did a lot of visualization techniques during those last few miles. That helped a little, but I need another strategy to maintain consistent mental endurance. It will come, I'm sure. I am achieving goals that I never thought possible. That's a GREAT feeling! Even if I quit now, I've accomlished a lot.

10 mile run; .5 mile walk; RPE - 5 going east/3.5 going west (Can I change it like this?)

3+3+23=1

Three straight days of running + three miles tonight + 23 degrees outside = 1 great run. I ran really fast tonight. I left after CCD and ran like crazy. It was great to get outside again. I took a layer off compared to what I have been running lately so it felt a bit chilly, but it was nice not to have so many clothes on. I noticed the path passed the cemetery was scooped/plowed so I tried to incorporate that loop into my run, just for some variety. I was glad I changed my mind at the last min because it was really was not plowed. The cemetery is, but the sidewalks are not necessarily plowed. I even stepped into a big puddle. argh. I've determined that I really don't like running outisde in the snow, slush, and rain?? It was really a great run tonight, though.

3 mile run; .25 walk; RPE - 3

A hurried run

I left school as fast as I could so that I could do the Ethanol Loop and be home before 5:30 for everyone to leave for Taekwondo. Perfect timing!

This was a 5-mile run and I felt like I was in a rut, as I have been the past week or so. I'm just running to be running; it's the scheduled run. I had a hard time getting started, but by the time I was getting back into town, I felt like I had another couple miles in me.

While I run relatively the same speed outside as inside, I really feel like I am barely moving outside. I was running toward a stop sign and it didn't feel like I was ever getting any closer to it. I often felt the need to run faster and that I was just jogging. I had to keep telling myself that that slow is fast, but I couldn't shake that feeling that I was getting I was getting slower and slower. I kept Mark Block in my mind a lot so I didn't have to use a lot of my inner voice.
I also took my ipod and found while I wasn't consciously listening to it, it was a good distractor to my breathing and other outside noises. Between songs when it was "quiet" I heard myself panting and working hard. I heard the buzzing of the electrical lines. I heard my footsteps pounding the pavement. Follow the white line. I heard my water sloshing in the water bottles. I heard all these other noises that running was work. The music was nice to drown that out. I thought a lot about my 10 mile run coming up this Saturday, too. I am mentally, unconsciously preparing.

5 mile run; .25 mi walk; RPE - 4

Thank you Mark Block

OK, I feel like I've been in a slump lately. I am down and out, stressed, always tired. I'm not excited about what I'm doing anymore. ick. I read the next chapter in my marathon book. It had a story about Mark Block who was in a serious car accident and paralized from the ears down. All medical staff told him he'd be dependent on everyone else and forever in a wheelchair. If he was really lucky he would regain the use of his hands and have an electric chair. Months later he walked out of the hospital with the support of a cane. He signed up for the marathon course, but couldn't walk more than a few 100 feet before having to sit down from exhaustion. They initially set a goal of 5K for him. Come marathon time, his goal was 11 miles. He walked like 15 miles in over 8 hrs. Absolutely amazing. Just what I needed to keep going tonight. Only 3 short miles, but it felt like the 8 I ran on Saturday. It took me 3 tries to get the right episode of Lost found on the computer. I was truly Lost tonight.

3 mile run; .5 mile walk; 40 min; RPE - 4.5