75 Days - Speed Work

"And you can never break my stride / You'll never slow the momentum / at any moment I'm about to blow / You'll never take my pride"

Speed work in the heat today. 1 mile warmup and cooldown and 4 reps of three-quarter miles. My Garmin has a feature that allows you to set up a workout for yourself, so I had set up the four reps along with a minute rest in between. What I found out, though, was that there was no way to see what I was splitting for each one. (I think, in the future, I'll have to use the "advanced workout" feature.) The first and second three-quarters felt ok, but the third and fourth were just exhausting. I was hot and running the same stretch of trail over and over again, passing walkers that were mostly bemused at the sweaty running huffing and puffing continuously by. When I got home, however, I found that I had actually split negative for each one.

That made me feel good, especially since my strategy for each rep was to stay loose and relaxed. My coach has always told me that the more relaxed I am during a sprint - the more I let my legs do the work - the faster I can actually go. This time was no different. I was hot and uncomfortable and tired from work. But the last two reps I just let myself go, got out of the analysis aspect of running, and just focused on getting it done. The last part of a race - the part where you're dying and hate everything around you - is actually the part where you need to be the most mentally tough. If you think it's going to hurt, it will. If you think you can't run faster, you won't. Let the pain come and let the legs go.

The quote at the top is from "No Love," one of the tracks off of Eminem's new album, "Recovery." If this album doesn't win a Grammy or, better yet, several, my faith will be completely lost. It is amazing. I first started listening to Em when I was in middle school and have followed him ever since, so this is a really personal and raw account of an artist that I feel I've "known" pretty well (as well as a listener can ever really "know" an artist). Even for those who aren't fans or aren't familiar with Eminem, you will still get into it - I hope.

76 Days - 4mi and 3x100m Striders

What a nice day off. I slept for 10 hours and could have packed in a few more to boot. Had coffee with my husband, hung out and read some essays from What the Dog Saw, and had lunch at Beans and Barley (peanut noodles = omnomnomcanipleezhavesomemore?). I also got some new books: Wisconsin Death Trip and Empire Falls. The first is a little morbid, I know, but it's been on my list to read for some time and what better way to enjoy the summer than to think about people suffering through the dark and endless winter in isolation in Black River Falls, Wisconsin at the turn of the century? I think you see my logic, now.

The run was ok. It felt kind of "junk-mile-y," if that makes any sense. As in: I didn't really want to head out when I did, but I was crunched for time because I had to teach my abs class soon, and I just kind of started running without any real plan. The first mile, I spent a lot of time thinking about how "last minute" the run seemed and how I wasn't really focused on form or anything, but this seemed to fade as I got warmed up and let my legs do what they knew how to do. The best part of the run was when I did my 3x100m's. I ran down the long driveway of the Saint Francis Seminary, and as I ran towards the campus, I noticed a deer eating on the lawn at the end of the driveway. She didn't move as I approached, and kept eating through three rounds of sprints. I wanted to stay and watch her: I was about 3 yards away, but I had to get home so I could get to the Y. She definitely seemed like a regular visitor to the seminary.

I hope you guys are enjoying the last of the holiday weekend. Real life begins again, for all of us, tomorrow.

Week 1 Recap

Miles: 33

This was the first training week of twelve, so I don't have much to say. I feel good so far. My legs are adjusting. No major problems (physically) yet.

Mentally, I can already see how this is going to be tough, though. Between SBUX and my job at the YMCA, there is a lot of time where I'm working and can't train. I also want to have a life beyond work and athletics, too. I want to spend time with my husband. Relax. Feed my soul (as cheesy as that sounds). Fact is, I can't work and train non-stop or I'll get mentally and physically tired. I need a release valve, and I can see, even at this early point, that something is going to have to give somewhere. I could go down to teaching one or two days at the Y instead of three, but I hate quitting on my class. I also just took this instructing job and don't want to give up. I could go down in hours at SBUX, but that's my "real job" and I don't want to sacrifice the money or the hours.

I don't have an answer at this point, but it's something I'll definitely be thinking about in the days and weeks ahead.

For week 2: I've got a 5K race and a 12 mile long run coming up. I'm excited about the 5K. Not only does it take place at my favorite summer festival: Bastille Days, but I also get to run it with some girlfriends that I haven't seen in a few weeks. Should be fun.

See you real soon.

77 Days - 3mi Recovery

This was my third opening shift in a row. Needless to say, when I got home, trudged through the 90 degree heat to my door, and collapsed on my bed, I wasn't going to be getting my run in until far later in the day. I did get paid time and a half for working on the Fourth, but even that gets lost sometimes when dealing with customers who have been enjoying a holiday weekend while you serve them. They get to leave and go back to their lives. You have to stay.

It all worked out for the best, though. I came home and took a nap with my cat. Then Eric and I went to see a movie, and by the time we got home, it was cool enough for a very enjoyable recovery run. My legs felt good and it was nice to loosen them up a little bit. I also enjoyed seeing the families in the park as I ran past, playing games and spending time with each other. As I headed towards home, I smelled the food cooking on their grills and anticipated the smell of my own grill that Eric was firing up while I was out.

I feel good, so far, but I have a long way to go. Week 4 of 16 training weeks is down. Let's gear up for the next week. I'll post a recap later.

78 Days - Speed Work

Today was a speed workout. 2 miles at "goal pace" 2 at tempo pace and then 2 at goal pace with a mile warmup and cooldown.

Even though I waited until about 630p to head out, it was still a sweaty ordeal, which I didn't mind as much as the lovely lakefront gnats that roam the Oak Leaf Trail in swarms to stick to my face, arms, and chest. I should remember, though, that I'm lucky to have a trail right outside my front door to run on any time I want, even with the hassle of gnats.

Overall, I felt good. I brought the ipod along this time to keep me pumped. One thing I noticed was that my pace was much more consistent after the two fastest miles than before. I kind of got a feel for pacing much better when I didn't have all of that energy that I was holding back.

Many of you are probably out picnicking and getting ready to see some fireworks. Have fun and be safe! Happy Fourth of July eve.

79 Days - Rest Day

Today is a rest day. As in, complete rest. These are my least favorite days by far. I'd even take the most grueling speed workout over a rest day. I always feel like I should be doing something more - pushing myself instead of letting my body heal. Soon, I know I'll crave my rest days, but today I just feel like a slob.

Eleven miles yesterday. I'm still running without an ipod, but sometimes it gets boring even on these shorter long runs. Once I get up into the 20's, maybe I should consider listening to a book on tape or something. Anyone done that before?

I'm also pretty stoked because I ordered a Camelbak to take with me on long runs. It ships today and should be here sometime next week.

Here We Go...

Thanks a lot, Bud Light, for patenting that phrase, by the way. That is the way I'm feeling right now, though. "Here we go." Excited, scared, and unable to predict exactly what the future will hold.

In 12 weeks, or more precisely, 80 days and 11 hours, I'll be standing at another starting line - one that's completely new to me. I've registered for the Fox Cities Marathon on September 19th.

Since I started this running journey three years ago, running a marathon has always been in my sights. But I really wanted to run it. Not walk portions of it or stop. I wanted to race it, as best I could. Not just participate. I wanted to compete at some level. Not just finish. Even now, I still don't feel completely confident that I can achieve those goals I've listed. But I'm ready to try.

So, it looks like this blog might get more personal than I'd originally intended it to be as I take this journey over the next 12 weeks. But I'm ok with that. I hope I'll be able to write more consistently than I've done before. I also think it will be helpful for me to reflect in this space rather than just writing my miles in a running journal.

So. Here we go.