Sargent & Scout stretching it out

This picture just cracks me up.

Next race...Skagit Flats Marathon September 7, 2008

I decided on the next marathon...Skagit Flats in Burlington, WA on Sunday, September 7, 2008. http://www.skagitflatsmarathon.com/ This is a "flat and fast" out and back course with elevation ranges from 16 to 44 feet. Good thing I'm training at altitude! The race is about 1 hour from my friend Heather's in Seattle. Heather will run the race too.

With a September race, I can embark on a 12 week training program that includes some additional speed work and negative split long runs. For all of you non-runners, a negative split long run means that I will start out approximately 1 min per mile slower than race pace and get progressively faster, finishing the long run at up to 30 seconds faster per mile than race pace. This will be a change from my last training plan where I only ran slow and easy long runs. I'll also add in 1-2 quality speed workouts per week.

Scout and I did our first run since the cramp fest in Brookings. We felt really good for the most part (Scout better than I). My calves were really sore and tight, probably because they were the first to cramp up on me in Brookings, and thus the longest in that constricted state. Scout is chomping at the bit to get out there and do some more training. We'll have to make the switch to early morning runs as the temperature will start heating up here soon. Wish us luck!

THANK YOU to the BEST support crew!

Wow, am I blessed! I have the most wonderfully loving and supportive friends and family. Although today just wasn’t my day, their love and support did not waiver. By far, I had the best cheering crew of any other runner out there. Mile after mile, while the rain came down in sheets and the temperature hovered near 40, they were there. Visible in their bright orange shirts emblazoned with words of support, I was able to spot my courageous cheerleaders ahead on the road. Thank you, Lori, for having the shirts made. A HUGE thank you to my husband, Sargent, who drove with Scout out from CO to be here, my mom, Patty, dad Topper, sister Lori, brother-in-law Mike, niece Emily, and nephews Mark and Rob who spent their 12th birthday out in the rain and cold cheering me on. Also, my cousin Lisa and her son Jade came down from Redfield, my uncle Tom from Aberdeen, and high school friends Jonna and Kris from Groton all braved the elements to be by my side. I am so honored to be a part of this group. I am also very sad that I kept them out in the cold for so long and was not able to celebrate with them at the finish line. For that I do say “I’m sorry”.

Although the race started off well, it quickly went down hill when I began cramping at around mile 7. I was right on pace, and continued to stay on pace (more or less) until mile 11 when both legs (quad, hamstring and calf) and left shoulder seized up. My numb feet felt like bricks, although bricks might have been better because as far as I know, bricks don’t have muscles that cramp. The numbness didn’t stop them from cramping either.

I believe there were a number of factors that contributed to my poor body condition. The stomach bug that I had been fighting since Sunday left me weak and 3 pounds lighter. I was not able to produce enough heat to avoid hypothermia. Somewhere around mile 18, I said to my brother-in-law, Mike, “I think I’m a little hypothermic”. He laughed and said something like “I think you’re way past that.” I continued on until just after mile 21. Knowing there would be no way I could continue on for 5 more miles (at the shuffling pace I was working on at that time, it would be at least one more hour in the cold and rain), and wanting to avoid any permanent damage, I got in the van with my dad and Mike and drove back to the hotel.

When I got out of the van at the hotel, everyone was waiting for me. My biggest fear was that they would be disappointed in me. After all, they sacrificed a lot to be there for me. I’m guessing that each supporter there had something better they could have done this weekend that didn’t require standing out in the rain and cold. However, I was showered with hugs, kisses, words of support, and even flowers (thanks Lisa and Jade for the roses). For this and everything else you have done for me over the years, I can’t thank you enough.

So what's next? I will recover for a couple of weeks, hire a coach, select another marathon sometime in September or October (hopefully not one that will be cold and rainy), and try again. I'll continue to post on my blog for anyone who wants to read it. Again, I can't thank everyone enough for all of the love and support I have felt over the last four months, especially today. In addition to the support crew on hand in Brookings, many sent words of encouragement through email, text messages, and voice mail. Thank you (English), Takk (Norwegian), Pidamayado (Dakota Sioux Indian), Bedankt (Dutch), Merci (French), Danke (German), Mahalo (Hawaiian), Toda (Hebrew), Arigato (Japanese), Komapsumnida (Korean), Grazie (Italian), Dhanyabaad (Nepali), and Gracias (Spanish).

Nearly there

Two more days to race day. Right now they are calling for rain and winds at 15. I'm ok with rain. Not so ok with wind. Oh well, it is what it is. I believe I'm ready, but it's hard to tell. I've had a stomach bug since Sunday. No good. But hopefully I've kept enough nutrients in me to get me through. Running wise I've been taking it easy the past 2 weeks with about 18 miles last week and only about 8 this week. One thing I can say is that I stuck to my training plan for the most part, deviating infrequently and not by much. This in and of itself is a great accomplishment for me. As I stated in my second post titled Training Plan, I am not one follow a training plan to the end. Not on my own, at least.

Regardless of if I qualify for Boston on Saturday or not (reminder, qualifying time for me (read old lady) is 3 hours 45 min.), I still plan on running another marathon in October or November. Originally I had planned to do the Richmond Marathon on Nov. 15th. However, I have a work event the Friday before that I cannot miss. So, I'm looking for another one around that time but not that weekend. For this next marathon and for Boston, I have decided that I need a coach and someone to run with at least 2x per week. To reach the time goals I have set for myself, I need that extra push that I hope coaching will provide.

I will post my results from Brookings on this blog on Saturday evening, so check back then! For now, I bid you all adieu.

Where are they now?

So the Aberdeen American News runs articles now and then about former area athletes. Titled "Where Are They Now", it highlights the lives and happenings of those they had featured in the paper 20 years ago. I happened to be featured in today's paper. I must say I am very flattered by this because I know there are many more accomplished people from the area that are much more deserving of having their names in print.

Scout and I had a typical Saturday...run, massage, clean house, take nap. Scout has been wondering why we aren't running very far lately. She gives me a look as we end the run like "is that it?" We are both missing Sargent as he is in New Mexico riding his bike, so I've added in this picture. And no, my hair is not orange anymore...or at least I hope it isn't as bad as it is in this picture. Sargent looks cute and there is no gray in his hair. :)

May Day

Happy May Day! What is the historical significance of May Day? Infoplease.com says May 1st "just might have more holidays than any other day of the year. It's a celebration of Spring. It's a day of political protests. It's a neopagan festival, a saint's feast day, and a day for organized labor. In many countries, it is a national holiday". I remember in childhood making little baskets out of paper cups, filling them with candy, and dropping them on the doorsteps of your friends on May Day. Maybe I'll just buy myself some candy. Sargent is in New Mexico on a cycling trip with his team, but if he was here, I might make him a basket. Instead I'll just buy him some candy. On second thought, I might eat it all before he gets back. Maybe the whole candy thing is a bad idea.

I haven't posted for a while because there is nothing much new on the running front. I've been taking it easy this last week. Last Saturday Scout and I ran 11, then 5 on Wednesday and just 3 today. I may run a few tomorrow and then I plan to run 8 on Saturday. After that, it's just whatever I feel like. My Garmin has been banished until race day. My running routes are programmed into my head and I know exactly how far I've gone and pace doesn't matter at this point in the game, so I don't need it.

On the scholarship front, I think we are making some progress. Jamestown College recently ran an article in the Alumni & Friends newsletter featuring this blog and the Rob Luecke Memorial Scholarship. Here is a link to that article. I want to again thank all of you who have donated to the scholarship. Your support means a lot. I will get you an update on what we have raised soon, I promise.