Finally, I have made up my miles and even made up the interval workout that I missed. I ran 10.5 miles today. I started the run with seven 800s. I was supposed to do six, but my fifth was a fail. I was going uphill and couldn't keep the pace, so I did a 7th to make up for it. My goal pace on a track would be 3:30, but I wasn't on a track. I created a workout for my garmin to alternate .5 miles intervals with .25 mile recoveries. One interval was a complete fail. I gave up. Four were under 3:30. One was 3:32, and the last was 3:35. My recoveries weren't too long, and I'm satisfied with the paces.
I didn't have much to eat for lunch. I did have a scoop of Ucan before I left, but I know it wasn't enough. I packed some tailwind, but I struggled for the 5 easy miles home. Those easy miles were tough, I'm looking forward to a no pressure trail run tomorrow.
Friday, February 9, 2018
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Marathon Pace Double Thursday, 2/8/2018
I had a great run this morning. Finally, a successful MP run! The weather was perfect and no wind. I was well rested, and the pace was perfect: 6.3 miles at 7:47. I had a scoop of Ucan, warmed up for 1/2 mile on the TM and did a .86 mile cool-down, after the MP run. I need to do a double to catch up my mileage. I'm hopeful that I can get it done. I'll update this post if the double happens.
UPDATE:
I ran 7.25 at a recovery. I'm still behind, but the double is complete!
UPDATE:
I ran 7.25 at a recovery. I'm still behind, but the double is complete!
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Cascade Skirt Sports Running Skirt Review
Last Saturday, I ran a half marathon in my new Cascade Skirt Sports Running Skirt. I was very excited to get this skirt, because the style was something that I had never seen before. The skirt is fairly short and has a flat waistband with two layers of ruffles. The Cascade, also, features 5.5" compression shorts underneath with two large pockets and a music port.
Of course, one of the most important things about a skirt is how much you like the style. I immediately liked the look of the layered ruffles and slightly longer short. Although the skirt has two layers of ruffles, the poly/spandex material is extremely light. The shorts stayed put for all 13.1 miles, and there was no chaffing whatsoever.
I will wear this skirt again and again, but I do wish that it had a drawstring. The waistband didn't quite stay put the way I would have liked, but that was solved pretty quickly with a fold over.
Happy Running!
Of course, one of the most important things about a skirt is how much you like the style. I immediately liked the look of the layered ruffles and slightly longer short. Although the skirt has two layers of ruffles, the poly/spandex material is extremely light. The shorts stayed put for all 13.1 miles, and there was no chaffing whatsoever.
I will wear this skirt again and again, but I do wish that it had a drawstring. The waistband didn't quite stay put the way I would have liked, but that was solved pretty quickly with a fold over.
If you would like to try the Cascade or any other Skirt Sports item, use my discount code for 15% off a full priced item: 825Sign
Happy Running!
Cascade Skirt Sports Running Skirt Video Review
Racing in the Cascade
If you would like to try a Cascade Skirt Sports Running Skirt or any other Skirt Sports item, use my discount code for 15% off a full priced item: 825Sign
Happy Running!
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Easy Tuesday, 2/6/2018
When you are trying to make up 9 miles in two days, it can really be a grind. I skipped my workout Monday, so that put me 9 miles behind. On Monday I ran 10.5, so today, I needed to run 15 miles including VO2max intervals....good grief. Why in the world did I put myself in that position?
The alarm rang early, and up I popped pretty easily for a 9.35 easy before work. I had a scoop of Ucan before and eggs and toast after. I felt pretty good at first, but I was dragging at the end. I packed a double lunch to try and fuel for intervals after work. I had a dehydration headache all day.
When I got home, I was all set to get those intervals and catch up, but the plan was derailed by a family emergency. There are a whole lot of things more important than training, and, today, one of those things took precedent. I'm still behind six miles, and I missed my intervals. Tomorrow is a scheduled rest day, but I still haven't decided if I will run at all or take the day off.
The alarm rang early, and up I popped pretty easily for a 9.35 easy before work. I had a scoop of Ucan before and eggs and toast after. I felt pretty good at first, but I was dragging at the end. I packed a double lunch to try and fuel for intervals after work. I had a dehydration headache all day.
When I got home, I was all set to get those intervals and catch up, but the plan was derailed by a family emergency. There are a whole lot of things more important than training, and, today, one of those things took precedent. I'm still behind six miles, and I missed my intervals. Tomorrow is a scheduled rest day, but I still haven't decided if I will run at all or take the day off.
Monday, February 5, 2018
Review Easy Monday, 2/5/2018
Sunday was supposed to be an easy day of 9 miles, and I did exactly nothing. How in the heck am I supposed to make up 9 miles. I guess I can't, but it was Super Bowl Sunday...I just didn't feel like running, and I haven't a good excuse. I'll try to get it together and do a double on Tuesday.
I had nothing for lunch, and I came home and gorged on junk food. My 10.5 mile run was fueled with potato chips, tortilla chips & salsa. Let's not forget the vitamin water. Despite my ridiculous fueling strategy, the run was fine, and it resulted in two reviews.
First, I finished an audio-book:
Light Falls: Space, Time, and an Obsession of Einstein by Brian Greene
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a very short audio-book that attempts to make Einstein's theories accessible to a layman. In truth, I didn't understand anymore about Einstein's theories than before I read the book, but I did enjoy listening. The narration was good, and the historical anecdotes were very interesting. It's a good book, but hardly amazing. It only scratches the surface of Einstein on any level: academic, professional or personal. I do think that anyone who reads this will have an idea if they want to seek out another book about Einstein. Be warned though, Einstein was a pretty terrible husband and father, so if you want to keep him on a pedestal, stop now.
View all my reviews
Second, I got a chance to tryout my plan for the Nathan SpeedDraw Plus Insulated Flask (18oz.).
I have been trying to figure out a way to carry my obnoxiously big phone. My master plan was to pack tailwind powder in a pocket, carry the phone in its pocket, but put no water in the flask. When I hit a water fountain around the halfway mark, I filled up the flask with water and added the tailwind.
The verdict is mixed. Without water, it's perfect. With water it is very heavy. I can carry this on an easy run or recovery run, but never on a more difficult workout. I'm one step closer to fixing my phone problem.
I had nothing for lunch, and I came home and gorged on junk food. My 10.5 mile run was fueled with potato chips, tortilla chips & salsa. Let's not forget the vitamin water. Despite my ridiculous fueling strategy, the run was fine, and it resulted in two reviews.
First, I finished an audio-book:
Light Falls: Space, Time, and an Obsession of Einstein by Brian GreeneMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a very short audio-book that attempts to make Einstein's theories accessible to a layman. In truth, I didn't understand anymore about Einstein's theories than before I read the book, but I did enjoy listening. The narration was good, and the historical anecdotes were very interesting. It's a good book, but hardly amazing. It only scratches the surface of Einstein on any level: academic, professional or personal. I do think that anyone who reads this will have an idea if they want to seek out another book about Einstein. Be warned though, Einstein was a pretty terrible husband and father, so if you want to keep him on a pedestal, stop now.
View all my reviews
Second, I got a chance to tryout my plan for the Nathan SpeedDraw Plus Insulated Flask (18oz.).
I have been trying to figure out a way to carry my obnoxiously big phone. My master plan was to pack tailwind powder in a pocket, carry the phone in its pocket, but put no water in the flask. When I hit a water fountain around the halfway mark, I filled up the flask with water and added the tailwind.
The verdict is mixed. Without water, it's perfect. With water it is very heavy. I can carry this on an easy run or recovery run, but never on a more difficult workout. I'm one step closer to fixing my phone problem.
Saturday, February 3, 2018
Chapel 2 Church Race Review, Saturday, 2/3/2018
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| Packet Pick Up |
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| Cascade Skirt Sports |
I really wanted to carry my monstrosity of a phone, but I really dislike carrying anything. I almost didn't take the handheld. I kept going back and forth about it until I decided to try carrying it in the side leg pocket of my new cascade running skirt. I broke a cardinal rule which is never to race in anything new, but I've worn enough skirt sports to have reasonable confidence that I'd be fine with the skirt. I wasn't completely sure about running with the phone, but I decided to bring a safety pin and pin the top of the pocket to make it a little more snug.
The logistics for this race were tricky. It was a point to point race. I assumed my husband would give me a ride, but he had training with the kids at exactly the same time as the race. He was able to give me a lift, but I had to get to race start earlier than I would have liked. On the way there, we saw a lot of racers running. The runners were supposed to start at 9:00 and the walkers at 8:00. My husband thought that I must have gotten it wrong, but it turned out that the walkers were running. If walkers are going to run part of a race, they need to sign up as runners. I know several competitive walkers and it really annoys them when walkers run. It is cheating. Some walkers don't know that, but I think most know, but just don't care.
The race started at San Ramon Church in Sisquoc. The temp was mild, but it was slated to get hot. I had plenty of time, so I took some pics and chatted. One gal that I was chatting with told me that I looked familiar, and we figured out that I was her high school teacher about 10 years ago. Here are some pics at the start.
This race is uncommonly beautiful, and today was no exception, but it is difficult. I mean so difficult that it just comes down to survival. The hills never seem to stop and there is no recovery. When you finally have a substantial downhill, you are too pooped to take advantage. The walkers mostly had no clue or desire to make passing them easier, but the walkers made the race more fun. Even though they made you run an outlandish distance to get around them, they would say something nice to you as you passed which was invigorating.
I assumed there were some women out in front of me, but there was only one. I ended up basically racing by myself. At some point a guy that I race with frequently passed me on a hill. I thought I might catch him on a downhill, but he was long gone. I was concentrating on a guy in orange far ahead of me. I'd get a little bit close, but he'd pull away. I'm sure he was unaware that I was stalking him.
At the end of the race, a woman who I perceived to possible be in my age group ran right up next to me. There was no way in heck that after all that pain that I was going to let her get in front of me. I looked at her and said, "OK, it's a race," and I took off. My husband thinks that I was rude, but I disagree. That woman had probably been stalking me for half the race just like I was stalking the guy in orange. This was a race, and she pulled up right next to me with 1/2 mile to go. In my mind, her intent was clear. I was just having fun. I had never seen the woman before. She could have just as easily been the one to come out on top.
I ended up with second female and first AG. After the race, I did see the woman, and she didn't seem to mind at all. We talked for quite a bit. She is a race director for a race that I have run several times.
People were annoyed with a few things about the race that didn't bother me at all. The race was actually about 13.4 not 13.1. I don't care if a race is long, as long as I'm not trying to PR. Nobody could possibly have thought that they were going to get a PR out there. (I do care if a race is short, but that is another story). It was very hot and there weren't enough water stations. We knew it was going to be hot, and we knew the number of water stations. As long as you are given clear info, you can plan accordingly. To me the problem is when you expect water, and it isn't there, or you're told that there will be a porta pottie, but there is none.
I think Chapel 2 Church is a great race. It started on-time. My chip worked, and it actually looked like Hawaii in some parts. We ran in paradise.
Here is a pic of my medal and AG goodies.
The logistics for this race were tricky. It was a point to point race. I assumed my husband would give me a ride, but he had training with the kids at exactly the same time as the race. He was able to give me a lift, but I had to get to race start earlier than I would have liked. On the way there, we saw a lot of racers running. The runners were supposed to start at 9:00 and the walkers at 8:00. My husband thought that I must have gotten it wrong, but it turned out that the walkers were running. If walkers are going to run part of a race, they need to sign up as runners. I know several competitive walkers and it really annoys them when walkers run. It is cheating. Some walkers don't know that, but I think most know, but just don't care.
The race started at San Ramon Church in Sisquoc. The temp was mild, but it was slated to get hot. I had plenty of time, so I took some pics and chatted. One gal that I was chatting with told me that I looked familiar, and we figured out that I was her high school teacher about 10 years ago. Here are some pics at the start.
This race is uncommonly beautiful, and today was no exception, but it is difficult. I mean so difficult that it just comes down to survival. The hills never seem to stop and there is no recovery. When you finally have a substantial downhill, you are too pooped to take advantage. The walkers mostly had no clue or desire to make passing them easier, but the walkers made the race more fun. Even though they made you run an outlandish distance to get around them, they would say something nice to you as you passed which was invigorating.
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| Elevation Chart |
I assumed there were some women out in front of me, but there was only one. I ended up basically racing by myself. At some point a guy that I race with frequently passed me on a hill. I thought I might catch him on a downhill, but he was long gone. I was concentrating on a guy in orange far ahead of me. I'd get a little bit close, but he'd pull away. I'm sure he was unaware that I was stalking him.
At the end of the race, a woman who I perceived to possible be in my age group ran right up next to me. There was no way in heck that after all that pain that I was going to let her get in front of me. I looked at her and said, "OK, it's a race," and I took off. My husband thinks that I was rude, but I disagree. That woman had probably been stalking me for half the race just like I was stalking the guy in orange. This was a race, and she pulled up right next to me with 1/2 mile to go. In my mind, her intent was clear. I was just having fun. I had never seen the woman before. She could have just as easily been the one to come out on top.
I ended up with second female and first AG. After the race, I did see the woman, and she didn't seem to mind at all. We talked for quite a bit. She is a race director for a race that I have run several times.
People were annoyed with a few things about the race that didn't bother me at all. The race was actually about 13.4 not 13.1. I don't care if a race is long, as long as I'm not trying to PR. Nobody could possibly have thought that they were going to get a PR out there. (I do care if a race is short, but that is another story). It was very hot and there weren't enough water stations. We knew it was going to be hot, and we knew the number of water stations. As long as you are given clear info, you can plan accordingly. To me the problem is when you expect water, and it isn't there, or you're told that there will be a porta pottie, but there is none.
I think Chapel 2 Church is a great race. It started on-time. My chip worked, and it actually looked like Hawaii in some parts. We ran in paradise.
Here is a pic of my medal and AG goodies.
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| Awards & Medal |
Relive 'Morning Feb 3rd'
Friday, February 2, 2018
Easy Friday, February 2, 1018
What's Up Today?
Today, 5 easy was on the schedule, but I decided to take the day off entirely. That will blow my 50 mile week, but my right knee hurts. I'm running a hilly, half tomorrow, so I think some rest is more important than a 50 mile week.
Giveaway News:
There are comments that I can see, but aren't showing up on the blog. It seems like this isn't too uncommon of a problem, but I don't know how to fix it. If you can't see your comment, chances are that I can see it, and you will still be included in the drawing. If you have a concern, please, reach out and I will take a look and confirm your entry.
Its a Challenge!
In honor of the Skirts Sports Giveaway, its all things Skirts Sports this week. Ambassadors have been challenged to write an Ode to our first Skirt Sports product. I haven't written a poem since grammar school and this one is questionable, but it was fun thinking about my first Skirt Sports running skirt.
I had to dig deep for this throw back pick of me in my first Skirt Sports running skirt. Looking at that pic prompted the memories of how difficult a race that was. It was a 5K, but, seriously, if I could have somehow run to my car without going back to the start, I would have. It was hilly and hot, but I was so proud of myself when I finished. I really felt cute in that skirt, too. I still love that Wonder Girl top. It is very soft. That pic was taken in 2010.
Recipe of a Skirt (a haiku)
A cup of delight,
Mixed with a hint of pizzazz,
To make skirts so nice.
Today, 5 easy was on the schedule, but I decided to take the day off entirely. That will blow my 50 mile week, but my right knee hurts. I'm running a hilly, half tomorrow, so I think some rest is more important than a 50 mile week.
Giveaway News:
There are comments that I can see, but aren't showing up on the blog. It seems like this isn't too uncommon of a problem, but I don't know how to fix it. If you can't see your comment, chances are that I can see it, and you will still be included in the drawing. If you have a concern, please, reach out and I will take a look and confirm your entry.
Its a Challenge!
In honor of the Skirts Sports Giveaway, its all things Skirts Sports this week. Ambassadors have been challenged to write an Ode to our first Skirt Sports product. I haven't written a poem since grammar school and this one is questionable, but it was fun thinking about my first Skirt Sports running skirt.
I had to dig deep for this throw back pick of me in my first Skirt Sports running skirt. Looking at that pic prompted the memories of how difficult a race that was. It was a 5K, but, seriously, if I could have somehow run to my car without going back to the start, I would have. It was hilly and hot, but I was so proud of myself when I finished. I really felt cute in that skirt, too. I still love that Wonder Girl top. It is very soft. That pic was taken in 2010.
Recipe of a Skirt (a haiku)
A cup of delight,
Mixed with a hint of pizzazz,
To make skirts so nice.
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Skirt Sports Giveaway
I’m pleased to announce that I have accepted a Skirt Sports Ambassadorship. Skirt Sports is a company founded by women, ran by women and dedicated to the empowerment of women. Moreover, they make fashionable, high quality running skirts. I’ve been wearing running skirts for years, and skirt sports has long been my favorite brand. One of the best things about being an ambassador is that I get to share a discount code. Use code "825Sign" for 15% off any full priced item. The code changes quarterly, so check back for a new code every few months.
Giveaway
To kick off the new ambassadorship, I’m giving away a Skirt Sports running skirt. Style and color will vary, but the winner chooses the size and has a choice of a shorter or regular length skirt. I ran the Boston Marathon 2017 in a Jette, one of the shorter styles. In the pic at the top of the blog, I'm wearing a Lioness, another of the shorter skirt.Leave a comment to enter the giveaway. For one additional entry, follow the blog by email. The giveaway will close at midnight on February 11, 2018. A winner will be chosen by random draw on February 12.
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| Jette Skirt Sports at Boston Marathon 2017 |
While you are looking around,
please consider a donation of any amount to Ventura Land Trust. After the Thomas Fire and subsequent rains, our trails are in desperate need of maintenance and rehabilitation. VLT is at the forefront of that work. I’ll be raising money for VLT during my marathon training for Mountains 2 the Beach marathon.
I have five signed copies of Running the Edge: Discovering the Secrets to Better Running and a Better Life. I’ll gladly send one to the next five people who donate to VLT.
Marathon Pace Thursday, 1/1/2018
After Tuesday’s great run, I was expecting another fabulous run, today. I felt good mentally, but my pace was slow. My legs were heavy and not completely recovered. I’m giving myself the month of January to get my marathon pace where it needs to be, or I will readjust the goal. I think that I can do it. Last week my pace was good. This route that I’m doing pretty harsh, but Mountains 2 the Beach starts with a climb for the first few miles. I did a little over 10 altogether. I warmed up on the TM for 1/2 mile. The first 6 was at a 7:59.
I ran 1.3 easy, but I was going so slow that I figured it would take me too long to get home, so I did another mile interval at MP. Again, I did not really get up to MP. The pace was 7:58, but I was really working hard. I had over a mile to go to get home and it was tough.
I have a half on Saturday, so I'd like to take tomorrow off. I need four more miles to make 50 for the week (including the half). Maybe I'll run a double this evening. That really sounds terrible, but I might do it.
I ran 1.3 easy, but I was going so slow that I figured it would take me too long to get home, so I did another mile interval at MP. Again, I did not really get up to MP. The pace was 7:58, but I was really working hard. I had over a mile to go to get home and it was tough.
I have a half on Saturday, so I'd like to take tomorrow off. I need four more miles to make 50 for the week (including the half). Maybe I'll run a double this evening. That really sounds terrible, but I might do it.
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