Sunday, September 30, 2007

Time: 1:47
Distance: 9 miles estimate (forgot the GARMIN!)

Kennesaw trails; not easy, but another gorgeous day in the ATL. How I love a good breeze!!

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Time: 2 hours, 20 min
Distance: 11.66 miles

I really wanted to run somewhere different today so yesterday, a colleague mentioned the trails at Stone Mountain I didn't even KNOW they had trails. I had only been there once and ran a 5 mile loop on a paved road. Well, little did i know!

I had coffee and woke up some and headed out. I stopped at BELLY and got my usual: Rosemary bagel w/ egg & cheese. This place is about 3 blokcks from my house and I usually go AFTER a run, but today, i wanted to get my calories in my system before hitting the trail. I woofed it down in the car and soon was at the park and ready to roll run! There are 3 trails and I was on the RED trail. None of the trails have much elevation change, but the red trail was longest. Trail was very narrow and at many parts, HEAVILY rooted and then a few parts with boulders. I rolled my left ankle 3 times, but I think it is actually fine. (i iced when i got home & will continue). The best part was that many parts of the trail were basically alongside a couple of the lakes there. i DIDN'T even KNOW there were lakes at Stone Mountain! Man, where have i been?? It was awesome to be near water, of course. Added bonus was the morning was absolutely beautiful; cool and clear and every so often, a gentle beeze would cross my face. AHHHH. YUM.

Some parts of trail are not well marked and i got lost for a bit. I was actually on part of the STONE of STONE Mountain. Not fun. Walking and running at a severe angle. Not fun. I crossed over some train tracks and was trying to get down onto the trail again and I slipped and FELL! (does this make me an ULTRARUNNER now?) I slipped on a bunch of pine needles and fell on my butt and the right side of my back, just below my shoulder blade, hit a flat rock. Lucky me, seriously..it could have been jagged or something. I heard myself make a sound, though now I don't know what it was. It was actually kinda cool to fall, ya know. We don't fall too much as adults....I even cut my pinky finger somehow on the fall. A nice little cut that caused me to suck the blood for a while. COOL! I almost fell a few other times when my feet would hit a stump or root or something and I caught my balance before flying and falling on my face. Needless to say, I learned this trail was one where I seriously had to pay attention. It does get mentally tiring after a while though. I finished the last mile on a paved portion and felt good afterwards.

I'm having dinner tonight at ECCO A cool place with excellent food.

Cheers and TRAIN HARD and Enjoy! THIS IS LIFE!

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Time: 1:13
Distance: 7.5 miles

hilly, warm. had a bar & banana prior & a gel during. felt very good. best i have felt in a while. such a nice feeling!! i would even call it fun and enjoyable, which is not an all too frequent feeling. legs felt alive again and i was very thankful.

some songs that played on the iPod were:

The Heart Remains a Child - Everything But The Girl
It's not right, but it's OK - Whitney Houston
Boadicea - ENYA
Who's that Girl - Eurythmics
Not ready to make nice - Dixie Chicks
Crush - Dave Matthews Band
The Story - Brandi Carlile
Brand New Lover (mix) - Dead or Alive
Narrow Daylight - Diana Krall
Ain't 2 proud to beg - TLC
Plastic Dreams - Jaydee
I don't know anybody else - Black Box


In other news, I booked my hotel for the JFK RACE. YIKES! YIPPEE!!

What's on your iPOD?

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Woodminster

Back in 2002, I participated in the Woodminster Trail Race. This is a 9 mile trail run in the redwood hills aread of Oakland CA. It's the kind of race that is very simple. Not many folks participate and those that do, you just know by looking at them that they are loyal runners and live in the area. The start gathering area is in a sunken grassy area, surrounded by beautiful redwoods towering above.
The BIB number is just that: a number. No race sponsors. Nothing else on it. CLEAN.
The race is TOUGH. One of the toughest I have ever done. Somewhere along the way prior to mile 5, there is a long stretch of steep, narrow single track, where you are humbled to walk a large portion of it....and what i recall was the sound of birds, the smell of the woods, and the sounds of heavy breathing and panting from the fellow racers..

When you are done, there are a few tables set up with gallons of water and juice to pour for yourself. There is no t-shirt.

Why am i even writing about this? A race from 2002?

Because what you DO get is a coffee mug. I am drinking out of it now.

"37th annual Woodminster X-Country Race" -- it has a neat little drawing of some figures running in the woods. This was our "trophy". I love it.

Have a blazing week!

Monday, September 24, 2007

Time: 28:30
Distance: 3 miles

Outside, warm, hilly

Sunday, September 23, 2007

"True sport is always a duel: a duel with nature, with one's own fear, with one's own fatigue, a duel in which body and mind are stregthened."
-Yevgeny Yevtushenko - Russian poet

Time: 1:17
Distance: 8.25 miles - Treadmill

Saturday, September 22, 2007

The Long and Winding Road...

Time: 1:56
Distance: 10 miles, Trails

Details: 10 miles of tough trails at Kennesaw Battlefield. Chocolate Chip CLIFBAR prior, 1/2 banana during.

Reflections: cool temps in the morning, but some humidity. felt good at starts, but as soon as i started hitting the ascents, i knew I was in for a tough one. My legs felt void of much energy/power on the ascents and felt like I was laboring hard even though i was going slow. Took many quick walk breaks, but i had to not care...what mattered is that i was out there and i stayed out there! It's always easy to quit. It's always easy to turn around and go back. Not today. I probably felt the best miles 5-7...not sure why...maybe my body was just finally awakening...maybe i'm not 100% back to normal.

2 guys who looked they could be from Kenya flew by me as i was headed back to the finish. man, they were fast...

Last weekend, after sunday's run, i was watching football and during commercial i flipped channels and found live coverage of TEMPE ARIZONA IRONMAN TRIATHALON. I was immediately glued to the TV. It was so inspiring watching these athletes do their thing. A woman who had been ahead on the run the ENTIRE time actually had to stop with about 1 mile to go...looked like she was suffering from cramps or something....and then she was passed by another woman who had surged on the run. The woman who had to stop ended up coming in 2nd on the women's side. How amazing is that...to have a lead and get passed so late!! Listening and watching her be interviewed was neat. She was such a professional. Disappointed, of course, but completely gracious.

Ahhhh.....COMPETITION!! I love it.

Friday, September 21, 2007

"The primary reason to have a coach is to have somebody who can look at you and say, "Man, you're looking good today."

-Jack Daniels, exercise physiologist

Thursday, September 20, 2007

"Running in a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, "Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?"
-Peter Maher, Olympian, sub 2:12 marathoner

Has not been good the last couple of days. Body has been very fatigued. Ironically, i think my not feeling well was perpetuated by getting a massage on monday night. sometimes, i know that can happen....everything just gets sort of rattled. As of tonite, thursday nite, am feeling better and hopeful for some good long runs this weekend.

I did get in 2 short runs outside this week as weather has been awesome and beautiful:

Tuesday: 2.65 miles, 24:58

Wednesday: 3.14 miles, 30:00

Monday, September 17, 2007

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Time: 1:42
Distance: 10 miles

Details: chocolate POWERBAR, prior; very cool temps. awesome

Refections: had a great run this morning. felt strong the whole way. through many streets of atlanta. stopped in to a gast station at approximately 7 miles to grab a GREEN SQUALL POWERADE (my favorite flavor) and mixed it with my remaining water. nice to feel strong after the 8 yesterday. had yummy dinner last night prepared by my friend, Ms. Kitchen, who always feeds me well.

I am really noticing how much it helps to recover properly. I've been drinking those EAS drinks after running and icing. It all helps.

Hope all have strong, satisfying workouts this weekend.

Cheers

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Time: 1:25
Distance: 8.5 miles

Details: choc chip peanut butter clif bar, prior; Silver Comet Trail (flat, paved)

Reflections: Running at the Silver Comet is like visiting a dear old friend. I always feel welcome and it's always a pleasure to return to a site that knows me so well. As I traversed along the paved path, I wondererd just how many steps i have taken on this old railroad track that was transformed into a path where so many could exercise their body, their soul. It first welcomed me as I began my first marathon training back in 2000. It carried me, it supported me, it pushed and challenged me. With it's help, I completed my first marathon in Chicago in 2000. So, needless to say, it's a place i know well and am grateful for.
Today's run was a simple out and back along the trail. So beautiful out there with the trees still forming canopies and hiding a bulk of the rising sun. Lots of folks out there, as usual, but i noticed a lot of folks wearing fuel belts and such. Of course, i wondered what THEY were training for....Lots of cyclists out there too and i was a bit bummed i had not brought my bike so i could ride afterwards. oh well. I've got a longer run planned for tomorrow. Not sure where...either Kennesaw Trail or through the city.

TRAIN HARD, TRAIN SMART

Friday, September 14, 2007

Mid Week

Tuesday

Time: 26:43
Distance: 3 miles, treadmill

Wednesday:

Time: 31:46
Distance: 3.5 miles, treadmill

Reflections: both days at the club were accompanied by a friend who might join. it was so fun having her there...a buddy to workout with. much more fun than i would have imagined. we ran side by side on treadmill and did weights and did some ab exercises together. she is not all into the weights, so i have been able to help and motivate her...a good feeling!
Sat in hot tub afterwards......ahhhhh

Eating much better this week: other night, had trout, new potatoes, asparagus/carrots. yummy. clean. healthy.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Sunday

Time: 1:44
Distance: 8.43 miles

Details: late am start. a bit warm. chocolate chip clif bar prior, strawberry/banana gel during

Reflections: well, i didn't quite make the 2 hour mark; but i still feel good about the run. I went back to Sweetwater instead of Kennesaw. Running Sweetwater trails back to back days is NO WALK IN THE PARK, PEOPLE. Mile 5.5 to 6.5 was nearly entirely all a steep uphill climb. So, uh, no, I did not run up this monster.
I felt kinda out of it the whole time. Not sure why. My sleep has been off as well as my eating which i'm sure would explain a lot. I iced my quads and hamstrings afterwards which felt great. I NEED TO EAT BETTER.

"Pressure is nothing more than the shadow of great opportunity"
-Michael Johnson

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Time: 1:07:30
Distance: 6 miles

Details: trail run at sweetwater creek park. 70's, almost perfect weather! yeah!. Peanut Butter POWERBAR, prior

Reflections: had a pretty good run on the tough trail. much better than 2 weeks ago when it was so freaking humid. I forgot my gel which irritated me. and then, after the run was over, i felt irritated....like i didn't go hard enough or long enough, blah, blah, blah. I gotta get over those thoughts but they kept me irratated this afternoon. I am planning too go 2+hours tomorrow at Kennesaw, regardless.

Looking forward to watching Federer Semifinal shortly....

Friday, September 7, 2007

Wednesday/Thursday

2 runs on treadmill

3.39 miles
3.54 miles

----------------

How about that FEDERER fella! Inspiring!

I'd love to go to US Open sometime...

Monday, September 3, 2007

Time: 1:19:50
Distance: 8 miles

Details: chocolate mint clif bar prior, vanilla powergel during, low humidity, 73 degrees..with the slightest breeze

Reflections: yeah, LOW HUMIDITY!! the lowest it has been in a while. i started late and had no idea how far i'd make it so was very happy to do 8. A good 3 days in a row of 10k race, 6, and 8!! Actually, i felt the best today. legs felt the best today. I swear, the humidity just sucks life right out of ya! From miles 6.5-8, I got my runners high. it's been a while. i was psyched!! i ran up the last hill i would face and the next .3 miles was downhill. I finished and was hootin' and hollerin' afterwards, right there in the middle of the street. i didn't care. some things just can't be contained. know what i'm sayin??

The streets were quiet, thankfully. Quite a few folks out on their bicycles. I bought a new water carrier in Huntsville. It's a NATHAN belt with a pocket and 2 10 ounce bottles. I'm glad to have this for a change instead of the handheld other bottle I have been using. Nice to have my hands free again. Once I get into the longer miles, I know i will need both.

Hope all got some good training in over these 3 days.

>TRAIN HARD, TRAIN SMART<

Sunday

Time: 58:47
Distance: 6 miles

Details: chocolate peanut butter prior, strawberry-banana gu during, 73 degrees, ??? humidity

Reflections: wasn't sure how my legs would feel after yesterdays race, but glad to get another 6 miler in. nothing to exciting. i've got to build more miles!

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Race Report

Monte Sano 10k

Time: 57:40
Distance: 6.2 miles

Details: chocolate powerbar prior, 70 degrees, 88% humidity; state park on top of a mountain.

Reflections: Monte Sano, Spanish for “Mountain of Health,” in Huntsville, Alabama was the location of this race. Course was 2 loops in the park; most of it on a paved road which was surprising. only a small portion was on part of a trail which was loose gravel. (i dislike running on loose gravel...i feel like i’m not moving fast enough...anyone else experience this feeling?)
course was rolling and i started out too fast even though i tried to tell myself not too. first 2 miles were 8:30 pace and i was already suffering from the humidity. it baffles me to no end how folks can go out and run 5-6 minute miles in this type of weather. WOW. WOW. WOW.
Being in the park was neat because since we were high up, there were areas where there was an incredible view of some surrounding mountains. it was gorgeous and very peaceful. i don’t think i have ever run a 2 loop course before and i found it kinda boring and very surprising considering how big the park was. oh well, i am sure they had their reasons. mentally, i felt like i had a ping pong game going on inside my head....i knew i wanted to use this as a training run and therefore did not need to go fast, but i also didn’t want anyone to pass me and i wanted to pass people...so i kept going back and forth in my head about how fast/slow to go...i think some of this mental banter took out some of the fun for me. i was not as relaxed as i had wanted to be.

other than that, i am still glad i did the race. got a good 6 miles in and it was cheap...only $15/race day registration. i got a tank top and afterwards they had all sorts of goodies to eat; bananas, pastries, watermelon, pizza. Huntsville is much more beautiful than i would have imagined. it is more like a valley, surrounded by mountains. quiet and beautiful.