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!