Truth be told, I pretty much sat around. I did do a lot of walking and go for a swim. But life is, as always, super busy, and I had a lot of catching up to do on all kinds of things.
Without any good run/workout reports, I'll leave you with some of the search strings that have led visitors (hello, visitors!) to my blog (with my comments in parentheses):
buck mountain half marathon
marathon mama
running group street cred (I love this one)
nine months up, nine months down
can I breastfeed after running a half marathon? (this reminds me of the old joke about the kid who breaks his arm and asks the doctor if he'll be able to play the violin, and the doctor says yes, and the kid says, that's amazing, I've never played before in my life)
how long is 7 miles (depends on if you're looking for an answer or a punchline)
wearing camelbak in marathon
mama marathon (of course!)
pooping before a marathon
train and run for marathon while 11 weeks pregnant (wow, her 1st trimester must shake out pretty differently from mine)
calories per roll of smarties
I'll be back in the groove next week - I've got the Turkey Trot to train for. I set a PR there last year, wouldn't it be nice to set another?
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
no rest for the weary
The thing about being a mom-athlete is that rest and recovery after a race are really "rest" and "recovery." Last year, I carted Max up and down the stairs within hours after the marathon. Luckily, my mom hung around long enough to lift him in and out of the bathtub. This year, no different. The Supportive Husband is a photographer, so most Saturdays he's shooting a wedding. So once Max went down for his nap yesterday, I was on my own. At least the Supportive Husband had done an excellent job of getting Max worn out, so I could expect a long nap, giving me an opportunity to put my feet up. Though that didn't quite work out - Max is adored by a little girl down the street who rang the doorbell at regular intervals to ask if he was up from his nap yet and could he come out to play.
Then as soon as he was up, it was off to the pumpkin patch. How better to recover from a race than toting a 30-pound toddler, one giant pumpkin, and two huge gourds around the local plant nursery.
But Sunday, day of rest, right? At least Max got the memo that he was supposed to sleep in! I emerged from my race-induced coma after a blissful 10 hours of sleep. I don't think I've slept that long since he was born! But once he was up, rest was over. I made a pancake breakfast, took Max on a wagon ride around the neighborhood, went to Target for diapers, grocery shopped for the week, filled the MamaMobile with gas, and hurried home so that the Supportive Husband could go meet with clients. Then, hit the ground running again. Max is learning to jump, so I did a lot of jumping today.
In some ways, I'm glad I never really ran before I had kids. I'd hate to know that in another life, I'd spent the day or two after the race lounging in the jacuzzi eating bonbons.
Then as soon as he was up, it was off to the pumpkin patch. How better to recover from a race than toting a 30-pound toddler, one giant pumpkin, and two huge gourds around the local plant nursery.
But Sunday, day of rest, right? At least Max got the memo that he was supposed to sleep in! I emerged from my race-induced coma after a blissful 10 hours of sleep. I don't think I've slept that long since he was born! But once he was up, rest was over. I made a pancake breakfast, took Max on a wagon ride around the neighborhood, went to Target for diapers, grocery shopped for the week, filled the MamaMobile with gas, and hurried home so that the Supportive Husband could go meet with clients. Then, hit the ground running again. Max is learning to jump, so I did a lot of jumping today.
In some ways, I'm glad I never really ran before I had kids. I'd hate to know that in another life, I'd spent the day or two after the race lounging in the jacuzzi eating bonbons.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Race Report: Buck Moutain Half Marathon
13.1, baby!! Woot!
The last time I ran this course was last fall during marathon training - the infamous driving rain and cold run. So I was looking forward to Perfect Weather today and actually getting to see the views I'd heard so much about.
Race registration was on a card table lit by a camping lantern. I gladly donated $20 to the YMCA building fund and got my "goody" bag, which contained lip balm, a $10 off shoe coupon, and a wooden chip with the race logo on it - don't EVEN say that's my substitute for a medal. Free or not, it's a little depressing to do a race where there's no t-shirt and no medal. Anyway, my tummy was feeling a little weird still, and I was crossing my fingers that I'd be able to do the course in 2:30. I really, really just wanted to finish, more so than any other race I've done.
We started just about on time. The first 2.5 are flat - this is the same stretch of road where I ran my one and only 9 minute mile on New Year's day. No prob. I was trucking at around 10:45/mi. Mile 5 goes up Catterton, which I can't adequately describe. Oh, shoot, sure I can. It's a huge fucking hill. There. It's over a mile of relentless, steep uphill. I did just fine going up, and it felt great to stretch out my stride on the screaming downhill following.
Then came the real butt-kicking hills. I forgot about the back side of the loop. Up and down, up and down. Crazy drivers, no shoulder, the whole package deal. I walked quite a bit.
But then back through the village of Free Union, and only 3 miles to go, along the same flattish stretch that began the race. The only training run I've ever had calf cramps on was this Free Union run in the rain last year. I chalked it up to the rain and the cold. But it really must have been something about the hills, because I must say that the last 2 miles were extremely painful. At the 12 mile mark, 2:10 had elapsed. I was hobbling a little. I knew 2:30 was going to be close. But dammit, I wanted it. I wanted it bad. With less than a half mile to go, I could see the finish.
With the cones marking the last 100 yards in sight, I glanced at my watch: 2:28. I kicked hard, entered the chute, kicked harder. Crossed the finish and hit my watch. Did I do it?
HELL YEAH. 2:29:22, baby. Awesome.
And then my legs cramped up, there was no food or gatorade at the finish (but it was a FREE race, so I can't really complain, plus I had half a banana in the car), and on the drive home I thought I might throw up. But all in all, a great race. I was by myself just about the entire time, just a word or two as I passed or got passed by other runners. So I'm extra proud of meeting my goal.
The last time I ran this course was last fall during marathon training - the infamous driving rain and cold run. So I was looking forward to Perfect Weather today and actually getting to see the views I'd heard so much about.
Race registration was on a card table lit by a camping lantern. I gladly donated $20 to the YMCA building fund and got my "goody" bag, which contained lip balm, a $10 off shoe coupon, and a wooden chip with the race logo on it - don't EVEN say that's my substitute for a medal. Free or not, it's a little depressing to do a race where there's no t-shirt and no medal. Anyway, my tummy was feeling a little weird still, and I was crossing my fingers that I'd be able to do the course in 2:30. I really, really just wanted to finish, more so than any other race I've done.
We started just about on time. The first 2.5 are flat - this is the same stretch of road where I ran my one and only 9 minute mile on New Year's day. No prob. I was trucking at around 10:45/mi. Mile 5 goes up Catterton, which I can't adequately describe. Oh, shoot, sure I can. It's a huge fucking hill. There. It's over a mile of relentless, steep uphill. I did just fine going up, and it felt great to stretch out my stride on the screaming downhill following.
Then came the real butt-kicking hills. I forgot about the back side of the loop. Up and down, up and down. Crazy drivers, no shoulder, the whole package deal. I walked quite a bit.
But then back through the village of Free Union, and only 3 miles to go, along the same flattish stretch that began the race. The only training run I've ever had calf cramps on was this Free Union run in the rain last year. I chalked it up to the rain and the cold. But it really must have been something about the hills, because I must say that the last 2 miles were extremely painful. At the 12 mile mark, 2:10 had elapsed. I was hobbling a little. I knew 2:30 was going to be close. But dammit, I wanted it. I wanted it bad. With less than a half mile to go, I could see the finish.
With the cones marking the last 100 yards in sight, I glanced at my watch: 2:28. I kicked hard, entered the chute, kicked harder. Crossed the finish and hit my watch. Did I do it?
HELL YEAH. 2:29:22, baby. Awesome.
And then my legs cramped up, there was no food or gatorade at the finish (but it was a FREE race, so I can't really complain, plus I had half a banana in the car), and on the drive home I thought I might throw up. But all in all, a great race. I was by myself just about the entire time, just a word or two as I passed or got passed by other runners. So I'm extra proud of meeting my goal.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
two days left...
...game on, baby, game on. The GI bug was, as promised, short lived. I did a little over a mile today and felt strong. A cold front swept through, and it's now cool, clear, and breezy. At last! I cleaned out my CamelBak, refused multiple social invitations for Friday night (damn!), and soaked my stinky favorite shirt in vinegar. Ready or not, Buck Mountain, here I come!!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
3 days to go...
...and all is not well. All occupants are suffering from a low-grade day care GI illness. Word on the street is that it'll be gone in 24 hrs. I sure hope so. I went for what turned out to be a very short run today, and almost yakked about a 1/4 mile into it. I don't have a backup race, so Saturday is my one shot. Cross your fingers that this bug is gone by tomorrow night and I'm 100% in time for race day.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
7 miles
My last long run before the Buck Mountain Half!! I decided not to run with the group on Dick Woods, and instead slept in and ran from my house. The plan was to run through the new development 2 miles to the high school, do a couple 800's for fun, then run back the way I came.
I woke up extremely late - nearly 8:30!! Max has been getting up between 7 and 7:30, so I had planned on getting up around then, and starting out. So I was an hour behind where I thought I'd be, not to mention I was so well rested I just felt weird. Between running, work, and Max, I'm not used to having enough sleep. My body rejected it.
So I finally strap on my CamelBak, and step out the front door, only to be greeted by a disemboweled toad carcass on the front step. That's nice, some neighbor's cat likes us enough to leave us a gift. So I grabbed some gardening gloves and a shovel, and sent the toad to his final resting place in the woods.
Finally! I hit my watch and I was off. The first mile is almost entirely downhill, which is a nice way to warm up, though I always find myself thinking about hauling myself up that hill at the end of the run. I popped through the gap in the 10 ft tall fence that shields the old neighbors from the new development, and started winding my way through the neighborhood. Much to my chagrin, the road had been paved just this week, meaning that the stagnant air was shot through with the thick smell of tar and asphalt. Not quite the bucolic run I had imagined.
When I crossed the highway to the entrance of the high school, I heard cheering. Awwww, rats. Some athletic event was going on in the stadium where the track is. So much for my 800's zen. I did a couple laps around the soccer field, and then decided to bag it since my shoes were getting wet from the dew. I headed back across the highway to the middle school, and decided to run sprints across the parking lot. However, the school is down in a little hollow, and in the still morning air, the smell of garbage from the dumpsters was more than I could handle. I decided to head home, and figured that 6 + was enough.
I exchanged garbage smells for tar smells, and headed up, up, up, and when I was less than a quarter mile from the house, I could spy the big fence. Except the hole I'd gone through less than an hour before was gone. Seriously, WTF? Workers were affixing the last few nails in the missing section, meaning that I had to backtrack almost a half mile to go out via the road. So, I ended up doing my entire 7 after all.
After having wonderful runs the past two weekends, it was jarring and demoralizing to have such a crappy day. That's what I get for sleeping in.
I woke up extremely late - nearly 8:30!! Max has been getting up between 7 and 7:30, so I had planned on getting up around then, and starting out. So I was an hour behind where I thought I'd be, not to mention I was so well rested I just felt weird. Between running, work, and Max, I'm not used to having enough sleep. My body rejected it.
So I finally strap on my CamelBak, and step out the front door, only to be greeted by a disemboweled toad carcass on the front step. That's nice, some neighbor's cat likes us enough to leave us a gift. So I grabbed some gardening gloves and a shovel, and sent the toad to his final resting place in the woods.
Finally! I hit my watch and I was off. The first mile is almost entirely downhill, which is a nice way to warm up, though I always find myself thinking about hauling myself up that hill at the end of the run. I popped through the gap in the 10 ft tall fence that shields the old neighbors from the new development, and started winding my way through the neighborhood. Much to my chagrin, the road had been paved just this week, meaning that the stagnant air was shot through with the thick smell of tar and asphalt. Not quite the bucolic run I had imagined.
When I crossed the highway to the entrance of the high school, I heard cheering. Awwww, rats. Some athletic event was going on in the stadium where the track is. So much for my 800's zen. I did a couple laps around the soccer field, and then decided to bag it since my shoes were getting wet from the dew. I headed back across the highway to the middle school, and decided to run sprints across the parking lot. However, the school is down in a little hollow, and in the still morning air, the smell of garbage from the dumpsters was more than I could handle. I decided to head home, and figured that 6 + was enough.
I exchanged garbage smells for tar smells, and headed up, up, up, and when I was less than a quarter mile from the house, I could spy the big fence. Except the hole I'd gone through less than an hour before was gone. Seriously, WTF? Workers were affixing the last few nails in the missing section, meaning that I had to backtrack almost a half mile to go out via the road. So, I ended up doing my entire 7 after all.
After having wonderful runs the past two weekends, it was jarring and demoralizing to have such a crappy day. That's what I get for sleeping in.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Midweek runs
Nothing much this week. A short run and weights on Tuesday, plus a walk with my dad in the evening. I've got him talked in to training for the men's four miler. Now I just need to get him to swap his jeans, belt, and button-down for some shorts and a t-shirt.
A quick lunchtime run today. Working from home, I got to run outside, which wasn't nearly as fun as the last time I worked from home. It's pretty hot today, actually, and the sweat was pouring off of me by the time I finished. As a concession to Mark, I did do just a skosh of speedwork - repeats of 20 sec all out and 40 sec recovery. I may try to hit the nearby high school track this Saturday instead of running with the group. I just have no desire to beat myself up on Dick Woods Road in the predawn darkness. I only need 7 - no reason to wake up at 5:30 for that. It's a heck of a lot easier to get all zen on the track in the daylight than on the soft gravel of DWR before dawn.
A quick lunchtime run today. Working from home, I got to run outside, which wasn't nearly as fun as the last time I worked from home. It's pretty hot today, actually, and the sweat was pouring off of me by the time I finished. As a concession to Mark, I did do just a skosh of speedwork - repeats of 20 sec all out and 40 sec recovery. I may try to hit the nearby high school track this Saturday instead of running with the group. I just have no desire to beat myself up on Dick Woods Road in the predawn darkness. I only need 7 - no reason to wake up at 5:30 for that. It's a heck of a lot easier to get all zen on the track in the daylight than on the soft gravel of DWR before dawn.
Monday, October 01, 2007
7 miles
The waning gibbous moon was so bright that I didn't need my headlamp even though the sun was still fast asleep. It was cool, almost chilly. After the run, I was picking up the coolers that two other runners had set out, so I waited to start until I could coordinate with and get the chalk from them to take back to the shop. One asked me if I wanted to run with her, but I declined, not wanting to slow her down. As soon as she took off, I regretted it.
By the time I started, the sun was beginning to rise, and before I knew it the day had dawned with a clear blue sky. I got to the two mile water stop, paused briefly, and just kept going. I got to the stop at 3.5, paused just long enough to take two shot bloks (1 caf, 1 decaf) and an Endurolyte. I turned back, and cruised right on past the 2 mile water stop. Overall, I averaged just about 11:00/mi, which is great. For the second week in a row, I ran every step, except for a pause at the water stops. This is almost unheard of for me. Even last year, when I was running more miles, I hardly ever ran an entire long run. But suddenly, I just feel like everything has clicked. I'm in decent shape, I'm not injured (knock on wood), the weather is relenting, and I'm clear-headed about my purpose.
I've also finally worked out a few of the small details, that didn't seem like a big deal, but really do impact my runs. Poop before a long run, no exceptions. Eat before a long run, maybe half a banana or so. Drink before a long run. Take 1 Endurolyte before a long run. Get lots of rest two nights before a long run. Take two Shot Bloks, 1 caf, 1 decaf, every four miles. If necessary, add 1 decaf at mile 6 and/or 10. Wear a hat, not for warmth or to keep the sun off my head, but to keep my hair from flopping into my face. Wear tights (short, long, or capri-length) on a long run. Wear a CamelBak and sip, don't wait two miles to hydrate. Stretch within an hour after a run.
I don't think any of this is really making me that much faster, but it sure doesn't hurt. Long runs are just so much more pleasant. I'm not completely wrecked for the rest of the day, and it doesn't take as long to recover.
By the time I started, the sun was beginning to rise, and before I knew it the day had dawned with a clear blue sky. I got to the two mile water stop, paused briefly, and just kept going. I got to the stop at 3.5, paused just long enough to take two shot bloks (1 caf, 1 decaf) and an Endurolyte. I turned back, and cruised right on past the 2 mile water stop. Overall, I averaged just about 11:00/mi, which is great. For the second week in a row, I ran every step, except for a pause at the water stops. This is almost unheard of for me. Even last year, when I was running more miles, I hardly ever ran an entire long run. But suddenly, I just feel like everything has clicked. I'm in decent shape, I'm not injured (knock on wood), the weather is relenting, and I'm clear-headed about my purpose.
I've also finally worked out a few of the small details, that didn't seem like a big deal, but really do impact my runs. Poop before a long run, no exceptions. Eat before a long run, maybe half a banana or so. Drink before a long run. Take 1 Endurolyte before a long run. Get lots of rest two nights before a long run. Take two Shot Bloks, 1 caf, 1 decaf, every four miles. If necessary, add 1 decaf at mile 6 and/or 10. Wear a hat, not for warmth or to keep the sun off my head, but to keep my hair from flopping into my face. Wear tights (short, long, or capri-length) on a long run. Wear a CamelBak and sip, don't wait two miles to hydrate. Stretch within an hour after a run.
I don't think any of this is really making me that much faster, but it sure doesn't hurt. Long runs are just so much more pleasant. I'm not completely wrecked for the rest of the day, and it doesn't take as long to recover.
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