GOOOOOOOAAAALLLLLL!

Yay! I met my fundraising goal today. (Goal: $2,200)

$2,206.64

8 and Hills

I can't believe I forgot to keep this up to date. I feel I've betrayed the spirit of the blog. Ok, that's enough of the histrionics.

Last Saturday (8/21) was a valuable lesson in shoes. We were doing 8 miles of hill training and I made it to about 4 when my knee decided to protest.

Coach Lisa was aghast (that's probably an exaggeration) that I did not have either shoes professionally fitted or custom inserts. Basically, I'm not getting the support I need for my knees, legs, feet. She turned to one of the other runners (the guy that 12 miles as easily as driving it) and asked if he had custom inserts and he said, "Oh yeah." (What I heard was, "I'm not crazy, who wouldn't have custom inserts!").

Jenn and I went to Road Runner that day and got our custom inserts and learned the stock inserts in our shoes are good for only about 50 miles. Well we've done more miles than that!

So here's hoping to more support as the big day rapidly approaches!

A Saturday 10 and Wednesday Sprints

I see I forgot some updates, so here goes...

We did 10 miles last Saturday. Well, I did 9 miles and my knee vehemently insisted I walk the last; I wasn't thrilled about that. But, Coach Lisa did recommend a knee strap to bring on the runs in case it happens again, so I have since invested in one. Other than that, the run went well. We did the run in 5/1 intervals: 5 min run/1 min walk. Our pace was faster because we got the 1 min rest so we actually lost no time on our per-mile clock (about 11-min per mile, which is great).

Last night, Wednesday, was sprints. Nobody showed except one coach who always shows. We did a good run with an extended warm up before sprints. We did 4 sets of 2-min sprints. My lungs hate them.

Sprints and Angry Lungs

Last night we did sprints. First, we run about a mile and then we do five sets of sprints, 2 min 15 sec each set. It doesn't sound like a lot of time, but when you are opening up your stride to about double your jog pace the perspective changes.

On the last set I really opened up but about 90 seconds in my lungs were screaming at me so I had to slow it down. No worries though, I'm getting there.

In all, we clocked about 4 miles.

This Saturday we do 10 miles. Hopefully we will start at 6:30 am so we get some distance in before the heat picks up.

6 and a Strapped Leg

My shin's been acting up so I had to buy a calf wrap. I might have a shin splint but of course that's self-diagnosed (hypochondriacs around the globe thank you, WebMD). Did a 6-mile run this morning at about quarter to seven. I had to walk off some knee pains a few time. I think I was favoring the leg with the shin problem and put too much pressure on the other leg.

I felt like an old pro who's seen hard challenges, because I had the wrap on my leg!

Also got to use my new watch. It's a 100-lap Ironman watch. I got for the 2-interval countdown for our internval training. Today was 5-min run and 1-min walk.

Next Saturday I believe we do either 8 or 10 miles.

10 Miles and Still Alive

We did our 10-mile run last Saturday, 7/24. We got started around 7:00 AM. This run was interesting and took us to a different level of running in terms of what we need to know.

We had water stops this time, 3 total. We stopped to drink water, eat something small and move on. We also began our food replenishment, the engineered stuff. We used the gelatin stuff and preferred Cliff brand because they are organic. We had one at 5 miles and one at 8 miles.

It was quite something to finish knowing you just ran 10 miles. Great experience.

Next week we tapper off a bit: 6 miles. Some time in August we do a peak run of 12 miles.

Wednesday's Run-Sprints

Yesterday it was just the four of us: Jenn, Coach Dave, Coach Janet, and me.

We ran about a mile or so and then did 5, 2-min sprints. Those were killer. I went all out on the last one and I'm pretty sure my lungs exploded. Afterward, we did about another 1.5 miles and called it a night. I'm feelin' pretty good about it.

Sick on Saturday

Ugh. I didn't get to run on Saturday, which was our 8-mile day and would have been a milestone for me. I was coming off a cold and didn't have it in me to run. Couch said to wait a day or so before running again. I hope to make up some miles tomorrow morning. I'm shooting for 6 miles before I go to work.

The Griffith Park Experience

On Saturday, 7/10, the Santa Clarita Team in Training connected with several other TNT groups of the Greater Los Angeles area to run a 6 - 10 mile run. This one was a doozy. We have run six miles before, but not in deep dirt and steep hills. Talk about a test of endurance.

(See my post-run posturing in the picture!)

Afterwards we had a picnic and got to meet some wonderful people. Jenn, Coach Jo Jo, Coach Dave, Kristine, and I hung out and rapped about our training. Kristine (you have to love this woman), managing to conjur an idea for fundraising with every third word one utters.

No. 397 in the Santa Clarita 5k

This morning at 8:00 AM sharp, I stood with approximately 700 others waiting for the GO.

This is the first race in which I have ever participated. Sure, I did the 5k Revlon Walk, but that was a walk.

There is a feel of insipration in the air when running with so many people, you can't help but keep your stride and shoot for the finish line.

Today's race made for a good gauge of the feel and spirit of a race, and it makes me that much more prepared for the half marathon this September.

Another 6 and a 5k Coming

Ran another six miles this morning. It was a piece of cake. I think we actually improved on our time. I know our pace was a bit quicker.

Tomorrow we run the Santa Clarita 5k!

6 Miles and a Glance at Nutrition

We ran 6 miles this morning, the longest distance I have ever run. Sure, I used to run a lot when I was younger, but never a distance like this.

I felt really good about the run, though I forgot about the downhill rule of shortening your pace and my knee was not happy about it; but no worries, I recovered thanks to coach JoJo's excercises.

I'm looking forward to expanding to 8 miles, coming soon.

We talked a bit about nutrition after this morning's run. This will be a greater challenge than breaking down the endurance walls, because for those who know me I surely love the junk food.

Here's to better things to come!

A Saturday of Running and Stretching

Last Saturday we extended to 5 miles. Piece of cake. It's nice to see it is getting easier.

Coach Joanne showed us some yoga stretches after the run, which are always fun to do on small islands of grass in a stripmall parking lot.

We also learned some dynamic stretches prior to the run; stretches where you are in motion while stretching your muscles. I think I tapped into some muscle use I never had before, because my legs were killin' me Sun - Tue and I couldn't do my routine Monday morning run so I biked it.

Back on track this morning though. Got in 3 miles before work!

After a 10-Day Respite

I hadn't run for 10 days. I ran on 5/20 and then took vacation, opting for the "I'm on vacation so I'm not doing anything" clause that I just now made up. But, when I ran yesterday I felt pretty good.

It's getting warmer, and I'm not looking forward to running in the heat.

Meeting with the Trainers

We had our first meeting with the Team in Training last Saturday. Got some good tips on strengthening the muscles to cushion the knees (yup, I need that). Talked a bit about what we will be doing the next few months, and then we went on a 3-mile run through a pretty nice area. It sure felt like more than 3 miles, but I think that's because it was unusually warm and I felt like I was cooking in my own skin.

Joanne, the trainer, is crazy-athletic, which I guess is good. We know we're in good hands.

I had a good time hooking up with everyone in the group. Nothing like a little esprit de corps on a Saturday morning.

Haven't Run Since Last Week

Went on vacation last Thurday and returned yesterday. I ran on Thursday but haven't run again since so needless to say, tomorrow is going to be unpleasant.

Early a.m. Run, Leg Unhappy

We got up about 6am this morning for a run. It was chilly at first but it wasn't as bad as the last early morning run.

I angered my right leg a bit. It started to give up on me when we were nearly done. I don't think I stretched enough. We got there, had a cursory stretch, then went about it.

Tried Gu's shot blocks, or whatever they are called. Nasty. Not as nasty as the gel. Nonetheless, they do what they are supposed to so I shouldn't complain too much.

Hot Saturday Run

Did our run Saturday but we ran late morning and it had already been heating up. I felt like an engine in the red with just a few droplets in the radiator, i.e. I was quite warm.

Too much junk food

I went nuts with the junk food last night, probably cancelling out my entire run for Thursday morning. I sure to love the sweets though. I still have leftover candy from Easter. There is nothing finer than Easter candy.

6 A.M. !?

Thought we might try our run before work instead of after, so I was up at 6 A.M. this morning, a time usually foreign to me (I dislike mornings), especially when I can't yet see the sun on the horizon.
We picked a doozy of a morning to try it out. It was unduly cold and quite windy. A man ran past us on the path, his hands wrapped up in his long sleeves...I feel ya, buddy.
I forgot to get a picture. I'm pretty sure I was grouchy about the experience. I'm thinking we hold off on the morning run until it warms up a little.

My knees are happy campers

When I started pre-training for the LLS run about 5 or so weeks ago, hoping my lungs and muscles remembered the days I was a runner, sometime during the George Bush administration (that's G.B. Sr., mind you). However, my legs were also lugging around a frame that was probably 70lbs lighter. Needless to say, my knees felt the brunt of it.
Then I bit the bullet and bought new shoes ideal for long-distance running. I never thought it would make such a difference. Thank you Asics! (if this were a movie that would be my product placement.)
The pre-training is 3 days a week and going strong. Piece of cake really.