14.6 Miles of Running Lessons

Yesterday I had a very humbling long run of 14 miles & dropped to 11:09 minute pace the last 4 miles.  It's the furthest I've run in a long run & eye opener. I started out late at 0700 am & by 0800 it was hot.  I choose not to listen to music until the half way point trying to focus more on starting slower, running at a smoother rhythm. Wish I could tell you that happened, but it didn't. After running a 10:10 minute pace for the first 5 mile, the heat began to rise.
 I have been practicing using a water holder waist thingy during my long runs. It's a bit bothersome.  I spend part of my run thinking about how great it would be to take it off, where would I put it, and chasing it around my waist. It has a mind of it's own. I tighten the straps, they loosen up. I push it to the left, it come right back. I swear it weighs 20 pounds when the water bottle if full.
I swigged Nuun water at my 5, 7th, 11'th mile, where I walked 50 feet and felt my toes were on fire. I was very thirsty during the 12th mile and serious began to look at people's homes for hoses, wondering if I should ask, & everyone knows you have to let the water run through the hose before it gets colder.  I almost flagged down a pair of Mormon bicycle boys, to ask if they would go get me some water. We've met at a stop light once during a short run. They tried to give me literature, I told them, "no thank you but y'all have a nice day".  I wished I had asked them.

At the 13th and 14th mile as crazy hot. I walked for about 100 feet up the last hill.  No wind, just heat.  I was still sweating and coherent, but I was miserable. My thoughts were, why are you running? Are you high?  There's no way I am going to run a marathon. I am done with running.  Turning into the culd-da-sac, I turned off my watch and headed into the backyard into the pool.  Cooling off, my thought were, yes you will get up and run again, but start early in the morning before it heats up. No the water holder waist thingy doesn't weigh 20 pounds. Just fill bottle all the way for your next run stupid. Go get your shoes checked, the inserts are warn and the shoes are ripping. Wear a white hat next time not a black one will help keep your head warm. Who cares if it doesn't match our outfit. It's okay to walk. You're not going to win the marathon. You just want to finish it.

Orange Push Pop Recovery Drink

 I used to use Pro 5 as my after workout recovery drink & still use it for my shorter runs. Pro 5, with 145 calories, has some beneficial protein, potassium & calcium. Nu-Tek does make this Pro 5 for women, but I didn't buy it for the specific vitamins for women. http://nuteknutrition.com/nutek/products

My hubby is constantly discovering new items to help me with my running. The After Glow Post Workout Euphoria is amazing. No, it's not a drink for porn starts :)  The After Glow has 208 calories and with a scope used to titrate the amount you need according to you weight (your real weight, not the one on your driver's license). It's chuck full of nutrients, amino acids, & vitamins. I love the orange push pop flavor. It smooth and goes down quickly.  There are no longer headaches or fatigue that follow my long runs. After Glow has changed my runs forever!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/bio-rhythm/after-glow.html

Has Anyone Seen My Silver Strand Half Marathon Shirt?

The Silver Strand Half Marathon in November 2011 was my first half marathon.  Since the expo, I couldn't locate my half marathon shirt. My kids & husband hadn't seen my shirt.  I cleaned all the closets except for my husband's. In the months to follow I would ask my family ,  "Has anyone seen my Silver Strand half marathon shirt?" No one had seen it.  I even became convinced, some how I'd given it to charity. 
Last month, I thought, why not contact the Koz Enterprise, who sponsored the Silver Strand and ask if they had any shirt left over.  After all it doesn't hurt to ask right?
I sent an email over the weekend & by Monday, Koz had responded saying yes they did & what size.  I offered to pay for the shirt and even pick it up.  I was sooooooo excited about getting a shirt! Koz Enterprise turned down my request to pay & would mail me the shirt.  Gushing in emails, I wrote how happy and grateful I was, even offering to write a letter of gratitude their boss.  Koz responded joking about how they were a group of 3 people in the office & would able to pass it around pretty quickly how happy I was with their service. 
In two days, my package arrive.  I tore into it and found two shirts inside with note. Hahahahaha! I would happy to return to run more races with Koz any day! 

Two weeks later, my husband said, "you know you have three of the same race shirts" . What?! He said he found a Silver Strand Half Marathon shirt in his sock drawer & said, "I don't know why you would have put it in there".................................note to self, next time clean every ones closet!

Awww look they are happy to be here!

SoCal Wine Country Women's Half Marathon Video of Trail Hill

The SoCal Wine Country Women's Half Marathon is on June 23, 2010. Recently on facebook, they posted a little video OMG!!!!! Are you serious?!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=369352969768078

 I no longer think I need new trail shoes. More like a rope! Do you think they will have wine at every water station next to the GU?
Gotta love Orion! Thanks Orion for making it look so easy!

Vegas Interruption

Las Vegas!!!! My son is on a travel basketball team.  Last weekend, we shot over to Las Vegas for basketball, basketball, basketball.  I love the sport and love it more watching my son play.  We drove our kids down the strip our last night there before heading back the California.
My gear was packed for a long run but there wasn't enough time to get it done.  My muscles had a weird reaction. They cramped up throughout the day despite my best efforts to stretch & drink a lot of water.
I have given some thought in doing the Las Vegas Rock & Roll  Marathon in December, but I have heard it's is super cold, starting at sunset, & it never seems as though you get warmed up. 

Keeping My Eye on Malibu

I've been geeking out about the Malibu Marathon, viewing videos, reading blogs, looking at maps of the course, then transition markers on to maps & viewing terrain, satellite (google earth is the best) & elevation charts. Hahahahahaha go ahead and laugh!   I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to drive to the courses I was about to run. I have to draw the line some where right? If I decide to do this one,to the best of my internet abilities, I will know of every hill in the race. I take less time choosing an outfit than I do researching a potiential race. My poor friend Ann, who has become a great mentor to me, has her phone blown up with a dozen text messages about the race course. It's as though I've gonna coco for cocopuffs! Don't even get me started on the weather!

Ice Bath

For my birthday, my sister got me a subscription to Running Times. One of the articles in my first issue was about Lauren Fleshman a professional athlete, plagued by reoccurring injuries, an over achiever, & has a excellent shot of being an Olympian at the age of 30. Fleshman uses a nearby river to sit in to reduce swelling.
 Since I began blogging, I've read about icing post runs. In fact, I implied I would never ever EVER do it.  Until last weekend when I finally made up my mind to attempt a full marathon.  I figure I had better do somethings a lot different to try to prevent injuries. After all I'm not 30 and post long run icing would be a good start.
My first attempt at an ice bath, I used 4 trays of ice with cold water in the tub. The ice melted straight away. As I sat in the tub wearing shorts, feeling sorta bummed.  I knew this process should be a lot colder &  I should stay in it for 10 minutes to get any therapeutic effect.  So I sat contemplating going to the grocery store to get a large bag of ice to do it right the next time. Rubbing my cold fingers up and down on my face, it hit me. "hey stupid, there's a big giant cement pond in your back yard full of icy cold water!
Today, I over slep and didn't get out of bed until 8 a.m.  It's been a cold week with highs only in the 60's.  I dressed wearing my long under armour pants, tshirt, & long sleeve thick shirt. Outside, I should have turned around and changed clothes. The temperature was already in the 60's.  It was hot, but I was pissy because I was getting a late start.  After a mile, the long sleeve shirt came off! I got a kick out of an elder man walking his little dog down the hill I was going up, cheering "GO GO GO"! Thank you so much for the encouragement!
I'm in the third week of training for a full marathon. Last Wednesday, I came home and quickly looked at my training schedule and went out to do 5 miles. Today I realized I had looked at the fourth week's schedule in error and was only suppose to do 4 miles. Oh well!
 At first the training seemed a little less than what I do for a half marathon training, but I see by the fifth week, that will all changes.  I had a little anxiety attack on last Thursday during a short run, thinking "holy crap what the hell am I thinking?!!! Are you high?!!!"  I think I actually said this out loud as I turned the corner to head home!  This is going to be a lot of running.  Calling myself crazy, I chastized myself for actually doing what of the stupid non-marathon runner's guide, suggesting I tell people I'm running a marathon.  I did tell people.  Lots of people! After i got into the house, it was over. Back to being a mom and chatting it up with my daughter about her day. Life goes on with ease and grace.
So, after today's hot sweaty hot ass long run, I headed for the pool, climbed in and relaxed.  I'm going to take this moment to moment.