bikram

Sometimes I think Bikram Yoga is more intense than long runs... So different and so the same.

The New Year

This year I will qualify for Boston. Each day grows sunlight by a few seconds which means that each time I actually build up the courage to rush home from work and put my painfully embarrassing reflective tights, neon orange Remmington hat, head lamp, gloves, my blue wind-shirt, wool anklets, spiked running shoes, and pepper spray it gets a little bit easier. Knowing that each time I get dressed for a winter run, each time I sprint against dusk to get back in the dark, I am one time closer to making my summer runs better, I am encouraged.

Though things have not gone exactly as I imagined since my race, my training will be more refined, more powerful, more decisive, more committed and hopefully more fun than it was before. It will not get easier because running has changed or gotten easier but because I now bring just a little bit more experience and wisdom to my long life of running. I can better navigate what I want to bring to the run and what I want the run to bring to my life.

In my fantasy land, I would have picked up with a somewhat structured running schedule within the month after my race. Sometimes life doesn't allow or encourage you to prioritize the things that aren't bursting with need. When there is no race on the horizon training does not need as much attention so the issues you have put off for too long rear their their ugly heads.

I feel like I have made leaps and bounds just to make it running 3 days a week. Though through October and early November I was logging a healthy and leisurely 20 miles / week, the rest of my life would not tolerate leisure. Through lots of twists and turns, I survived the holidays which to me made maintaining a running schedule seem like a cakewalk. I can now let my log look respectable. It's been 3 weeks of running 45% of the days and I am beginning to recognize myself again.

Race Day

Clock time 3:45 and some change

Chip time TBA
http://www.racecenter.com/results/2009/res_b709.htm (posted by noon on Sept 28th, 2009)

Overall GREAT race. I'll share more details when I am not so busy celebrating. For all of you who made a mental note to accept my challenge sponsorship, get your checkbooks out.... I shattered 4 hours.

I am SO grateful for everyone who has taken interest in my training, in my fund-raising, in my race and in my life- I just want to say thank you.

some history

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Marathon

http://ctc.coin.org/marathon.html

9/26 The DAY before!!!!

So far so good- Had a WONDERFUL morning in Seattle, good night's sleep last night, a fine travel up to Bellingham, and only one episode of nervous nausea before I drove the course (and BTW whoever I told the course was flat... I was lying! Luckily I have trained on a few hills this summer)

Tonight's work out was to run 2 miles, easily. I started from the hotel (which is not in the most character rich part of town but I am delighted to be close to the start and finish of the race) I set out at about 6 and was running by the Bellingham airport which is very small and as I passed by the grassy air strip a small Horizon charter came in for landing, maybe 3 feet over my head, 5 at best. It was really exciting. The sun light all of the clouds into a metallic light show above the ocean and its scattered land masses while it simultaneously turned Mt. Baker's snow cap alpen pink. The setting made me feel like no matter what happens tomorrow, everything is as it should be.

Oh- and I nailed my times...
10:15- and I am trying desperately to keep the wolves of excitement at bay. Drinking tea (herbal of course) and am off to take a very hot bath.

Wish me luck!

9/25 Jet Plane

I am completely neurotic when I travel for a race. I'm lucky my mom and sister didn't get tired of my antics and leave me for a real vacation...

So anal... I just don't want to waste all of this preparation on some silly thing like forgetting boarding passes, not leaving enough time, ect...

9/24 the count-down

Today is another physiologically important memory game.

So I did it on a track in Reno (which took quite a bit of effort as my normal Reno track was getting ready for a Wolf-pack game not 1 but 2 days later. I found the preparation to be a bit excessive but then, I'm selfish). 3 consecutive miles at race pace. The goal was to start at 8 min. 30 sec. move to 8min. 15 sec. then to 8

Pacing is soooo technical...
warm-up-1 mile
1st mile-8:49
2nd mile-8:53
3rd mile-8:12

The song "making me nervous" by Brad Sucks is maybe the theme song of my life right now... Inexcusable that it isn't on my shuffle for the race.

I have never set time goals for myself and not only are we our own worst critics (as the cliche goes) but we are our hardest coaches..