Faster, really?

Well, this was unexpected. I was pretty pleased with my times when we first did tonight's workout two weeks ago, and I had no hope that I would be able to exceed those paces during tonight's workout...but that is just what I did. I know, I know, I need to stop selling myself short...

Anyway, the workout consisted of 400 at mile pace followed by 200 at faster than mile pace x 4. Here's how it went down (goal based on 6:30 mile for 3:40 BQ marathon):

Goal Tonight Previous
1:37-1:38 1:32 1:35
:48-:49 :41 :45
1:37-1:38 1:35 1:35
:48-:49 :43 :45
1:37-1:38 1:35 1:38
:48-:49 :43 :45
1:37-1:38 1:31 1:36
:48-:49 :42 :45
If I remember correctly, it was pretty warm when we did the workout two weeks ago, but I think it was probably hotter tonight so I'm even happier about the faster times in that regard. Next week is our last workout of this group. Even though I won't PR (nor did I expect to), I got what I wanted out of this group - get reacquainted with speedwork after a year without it, regain some road speed and confidence about running at a faster pace after a year of slower trail running, and get ready for fall marathon training which begins next month. Mission accomplished.

This weekend will be about trail running though as we head out to the Guadalupe Mountains for our last long, long run before Jemez in a few weeks. Unfortunately the trail race that was on our schedule for last weekend got canceled due to the bad weather. K and I headed out to Smithville around 5:30am on Saturday only to find the sky frequently lit up by lightning bursts. If it was just raining, then I knew we would still run, but the lightning was really scary and made it a different story. We were planning to head to Houston after the race, so we just ended up getting there much earlier than expected which turned out to be a good thing because of the torrential rains that hit and flooded many of the roads later that afternoon. Fortunately, things cleared out just in time for us to head downtown for the Reds vs. Astros game in the evening. Sunday was another early wake-up call since K had us running a 5k there that morning. K won, while I did not have a good run. I was essentially napping in the car until 10 minutes before the start and did not do a warm up (because I did not care). Not smart because my shin pain flared up and I had to ease up significantly...which was easy to do since the humidity was stifling! Note to self, don't consider running the marathon there for time. Despite my abysmal performance, I still managed to squeak out 3rd place in my age-group. I would happily trade an age-group award though for a PR.

Hitting the pace...

Tonight was another workout with our PR group in which I hit my paces. I am still basing my workouts off my BQ goal, so I'm amazed when I actually meet the goal pace in these workouts since I feel like it is pretty aggressive for me right now.

Today was one of those days when I really would have preferred to have a relaxing evening at home. We need to go to the grocery store. We need toilet paper. But, it seems like there's just not enough time to take care of everything that needs to get done. K got home a little after 5 and he could tell that I had my "I don't want to go to the workout tonight" face on. He's seen it many times before. :)

But, we went. And, I backed into a car right outside of Rogue as I was parking before the workout. At that point, I really, really had no motivation or interest in running, but we were there so what else was I going to do? We went to the Eastside track for a 1.75 mile hilly warmup followed by 10x300's at mile pace with 100 recovery. My goal was 1:13-1:14 (6:30 mile pace). My splits ranged from 1:11-1:14, with more in the 1:11-1:12 range than the 1:13-1:14 range. I know it's going to get even harder to hit those times as the temps start warming up even more. I am running mostly by myself in this group, and I miss having a running partner to pace off of and keep me going (miss you Sadie!).

I am very much looking forward to my massage tomorrow night. I saw Ann about 3 weeks ago (I usually go every 2 weeks) and she said that I was in a lot better shape than I was the previous time she saw me. I don't think she's going to tell me that tomorrow night though. I know there is gonna be some pain as she works everything out.

Thursday is our workout with the Jemez group. Most of us are running Rocky Hill Ranch on Saturday, so it probably won't be too intensive. K and I are both running the 25k at RHR on Saturday. K wants to try to practice running even splits for a 5k (rather than starting out too fast like most), so we found a 5k to run on Sunday in Houston while we are there. Another busy weekend ahead!

"A family affair..."

As Steve said at the awards ceremony for the Rogue Rush 5k today, it was indeed a family affair for K & m this morning. But, that doesn't mean I had a good race.

It was slightly chillier than I was expecting this morning, and I might have opted for a short sleeve shirt instead of my singlet and brought along something warmer for pre and post race if I had bothered to check the weather forecast. That was my lax approach to this race. I commented to K as we were leaving how much easier it is to run a 5k than the distances that I have been doing in terms of preparation. Usually when I leave the house for a long run I am loaded up on nutrition and fluids along with a change of clothes and shoes to prepare for hours of running out in the woods. But, today I didn't need a thing. It was kind of nice actually.

The race was up in Williamson County. The course went through a neighborhood, with the start and finish at a local school. We had asked Ruth and Carolyn about the course earlier this week and were told that it was pretty flat with a few turns. So, I was expecting flat. Um, not quite. The first mile was a pretty fast downhill mile, while there was an uphill into the finish with a few other slight up's and down's thrown in for good measure along the way.

I have been having a slight issue with my right lower tendon area since our hill workout at Ken's Loop on Thursday night. The uphill's are really aggravating that area, as well as my calves. It had my attention, but it didn't bother me too badly during my warm-up this morning. A few minutes before the start, I finally told K that I was feeling about a 25 today. That would be 8's, which I know I can run comfortably. It would not be pushing myself though. K encouraged me to shoot for a faster time, how about 23? Um, no. I am not in 23 shape right now thank you very much. I have been in the past, but not now. But, thanks for thinking that I could. :)

So, off we went. Indeed, the first mile was quite fast due to the downhill (although I felt that I ran it a comfortable and steady pace), and I freaked out once I saw the mile split and realized that I would be on PR pace if I could sustain that. Um, no I can't. I slowed considerably in mile 2 and 3, thanks in part to a few uphill sections, a lack of focus and fitness, and yes, not wanting to hurt. I walked a water stop. All that being said, I managed to hit my anticipated time of 25. Well off my top 5k times. In light of that, I didn't feel too deserving when I found out shortly after I finished that I placed 3rd in my age group.

K ran well, and I am really proud of him. He has only done a handful of runs on the road this year and a few speed workouts, and he can still run a sub-18 5k with relative ease.
K & m at the awards ceremony

Let's try this again...

K just left shortly ago for the gym. I was craving some destimulation (is that even a word?), so I just shut out the noise and visual stimulation for a little bit. Now, I've got Patty G. playing, and I'll try to give this blogging thing another shot.

First of all, I am bursting with joy and happiness for our dear friends Holly and Chris who welcomed their new baby, Ruby Hope, into the world late this afternoon. They are alone, far from home right now. They have had such a difficult journey getting to this point and, unfortunately, there are likely to still be many challenges still ahead. But, for now, Ruby is finally here. Surrounded by so much love. I wish we could be there to share in this with them. See, I'm not a lost cause - I can still be drawn out by something meaningful and important. Much love to all three of them.

Much to my surprise, I am actually going to run a 5k tomorrow. I don't think I have run a 5k in 2 years?! A 50k yes, a 5k no. As part of the PR group, I was never actually intending to run any 5k/10k races during the program. It's just not part of my larger goals or training plan right now. K, on the other hand, loves the shorter distances and has been eager to get back to that to see what he's still got (which is a hell of a lot more than most of us even on our best days). For whatever reason though, he had decided against running the Rogue Rush tomorrow until earlier this week. I had a good speed workout on Tuesday night (400 at mile pace followed by 200 at faster than mile pace x 4). I hit all my times - 1:35, :45, 1:35, :45, 1:38, :45, 1:36, :45 (goal at 6:30 pace: 1:37-1:38 for the 400's and :48-:49 for the 200's). So, I figured I might as well give the race tomorrow a shot, especially since I would be up early anyway to go and support him. I am by no means expecting a PR tomorrow though. That isn't negative thinking, it's just a realistic assessment of where I am and where I was when I got my 5k PR a couple of years ago. I have only run 85 miles on the road so far this year. 85, that's it. Some of you run that in a week! I don't have any expectations, and I have no idea what pace I want to try to run. I don't like to hurt, remember? And, 5k's hurt. I'm going to try to work on my mental game and keep pushing even when it hurts. If I can do that, the race will be a success - no matter what the clock says when I finish.

I could really use some time off from work. Since our honeymoon last September, I have only taken 1 vacation day (that was for Palo Duro in October). I did not take any days off for the holidays. I have been the one working when everyone else was taking off (Christmas Eve, remember!) because I knew I had to hoard my time off for everything coming up. I am so ready for it to be my turn. And, it will be soon. Here is an idea of what we've got coming up...

April 18-19: Rocky Hill Ranch 25k in Smithville then to Houston for the Reds game
April 23-26: Trip to Guads for Jemez training
May 2-3: Home - Maze 10k
May 9-10: My mom is coming to visit for Mother's Day
May 14-17: Jemez 50k in New Mexico
May 23-June 7: Singapore
June 13-14: Home
June 19-21: Wedding in Ohio
June 26-28: Wedding in Colorado
July 4-5: May take a trip for 4th of July weekend, but may also just relish a weekend at home
July 11-12: Home
July 17-19: Tahoe 50k
July 25-26: Home
August 1-2: Maybe Chicago for my birthday - RNR Half-Marathon

Seeing it all laid out like that is a bit overwhelming, but also exciting. We also realized this week that ACL is the same weekend as St. George in October. I think K got slightly resentful upon that realization, but I reminded him that my date with St. George has been 3 years coming. Depending on the headliner for Sunday, I think we may end up cutting the trip short to make it back home for a few of the Sunday shows. Hmph.

We also realized this week that we have to tighten up our purse strings a bit right now in order to be able to do all of these things. K having to take a pay cut recently (in an effort to keep the company afloat) hasn't helped matters. Running shoes (road and trail), training programs, race registrations, travel to training runs and races is expensive! I guess it's all about what you choose to spend your money on - I used to spend it on clothes and shoes. Some people spend it on booze and late nights out. I run, that's what I do.

I think K will be happy to see that I blogged when he gets home...hope you are too.

What's really going on...

I promised K that I would blog today. But, even now as I sit down to write, my heart just isn’t in it. I haven’t blogged much at all for the past few months. A lot of things have happened, but I just haven’t really felt like sharing I guess. I think this is part of the larger issue of how much I have been hibernating lately - much more than usual. The call log on my cell phone and the sent mail folder in my email account would clearly illustrate that point as well as the lack of blog posts. I/we just haven’t been very socially engaged lately. Part of that is because we are always so busy it seems and tired as a result of work, running, maintaining the house (cooking, cleaning, laundry), etc. My emotional resources are just zapped, and I feel like I just don’t have the energy to give to others (outside of my professional life). People tend to drain me. I also think my friendships with people have changed within the past year. Maybe it’s really me who has changed? The wedding last year really hit home the point that everyone is busy with their own lives, on their own path that seems to be more and more different from mine. Kids, houses, training goals, careers (or lack thereof), relationships… Sometimes I just find it hard to relate or for others to understand where I am at.

I don’t think this is the blog post that K was expecting. He often asks me “Aren’t you going to blog?” after something has happened. He already knows everything, so I’m always a little taken aback when he says that. I finally asked him this week why he was so eager for me to blog again. Essentially he said so that he will have a better idea of “what I am really thinking.” His point being that if he asks me a question, then I will generally give him a brief response, while I tend to be more open in my blog posts. Point taken. It reminded me of having been described as “guarded” by others in the past. In all of my relationships, I would say that I am the most open with K (good thing, huh, since I’m married to him!). I’m an off the charts introvert though, which means that I am constantly in my head. Always thinking, processing, analyzing, evaluating, considering, planning. That’s what I do. And, in part, I think it’s what makes me a good psychologist.

So, that’s where I am right now. My life is good. I am happy. I am just keeping to myself a lot more at the moment. Maybe that will change or maybe it won’t. I don’t know.