Holding on

12 miles at marathon pace. (10:03 to be exact). Can I hold it for 14.2 more miles? That's the mystery! It was tough, but I ran 4 fast yesterday and today's run was the culmination of a tough week of runs and workouts. What magic will a little rest and race day bring?

I ordered some t-shirts for my "Wolf Pack." I chose lime green because I figured I'm more likely to see a lime green human billboard in NYC than any other color. I didn't want to pay an extra 25% to ensure they would get here on time, so I'm just going to have to risk it. There will be other marathons in my future anyway. I ordered twelve shirts from CustomInk.com.

WTD: 35.1
YTD: 1256.48 (I think)

30 Down

It's cold out there!

10 miles. Avg. pace 9:49 which is faster than marathon pace, but I was freezing when I started out. Anyway, I am continually amazed that I am able to carry out this program (Int. II) without any injuries. I'm still getting faster -- even now at my final "Big" week.

My final 20 is tomorrow then . . . TAPER!!!

Six Becomes Three

It was 90 degrees and sunny at 2:00 when I thought I'd go out for my six mile pace run.

Gatorade in hand, jog bra but no shirt, hat, skirt, a smile on my face.
At the three mile mark I was screaming at the sun. What is this weather fluke that turns October into July?

I kept to pace: average 9:56. Now it's to the gym for another kind of torture. Then, I might drag my bike out of the garage for a tune up ride. I told a neighbor I'd be his partner in a triathlon tomorrow. I'm scheduled for 12 miles, but this sounds so much more fun, don't you think? 6 miles canoe, 6 mile run, 18 mile bike. My goal is 3 hours.

Predictions

"How long will it take you to run 10 miles tomorrow?"

I was asked that question several times yesterday because I am a hostess for a tea party that my sister and sister-in-law are throwing for my mom's 70th birthday. The party starts at 11:00.

"About one hour and 40 minutes," I answered each time.

I've been saying it for weeks, but I'm so sick of waking up to run when it's still dark. When the alarm clock went off at 6:15 I couldn't even remember why. Then, it came to me and I dragged myself out of bed and threw on the running clothes I'd laid out last night. I waited until the sun started to come up and started at 7:20. That gave me plenty of time to read about biodiesel fuel in this month's National Geographic.

The weather is fine for running. It was even cold for the first couple of miles! Could it really be the start of fall? The run was great. I felt great. My legs felt strong. And guess what? I finished in 1:40 exactly.

How's that for a prediction.

The Weatherman is a Liar

I came home from my nephew's football game last night and plotted a course on mapmyrun.com which I optimistically named "10 Miles Flattish." Notice the "ish." It's funny how those one dimensional maps can change when you actually run them in 3D.

I also relied on the week's weather reports that proclaimed cooler temperatures by the weekend. I don't know when those "cooler temperatures" happened, but by 7AM they were long gone. I actually felt like I was running in a warm blanket and that was just the first mile!

Heat, humidity, and hills aside I managed to crank out a nice little 10 mile pace run averaging 9:56 m/m. I was hoping to average faster because I felt like I was putting forth a harder effort, but I think four water bottles and the heat worked against me. I have no idea what to hope for in next Sundays half marathon. I know that even though today's effort was definitely an effort it was nowhere near an all out take no prisoners effort.

Do I have what it takes? We'll see.

Just for fun, and because they look so pretty, I'll post my splits:
Mile 1 9:40
Mile 2 9:46
Mile 3 9:50
Mile 4 9:59
Mile 5 9:52
Mile 6 10:18 (pit stop)
Mile 7 9:44
Mile 8 10:09 (giant hill -- had to walk, boo!)
Mile 9 10:06 Mile 10 9:22 (really only 9.95 miles )

I'm Chill Like That

I signed up for the State to State Half-Marathon on September 16 and I had that race on my mind as I did my 9 mile pace run this morning. Since turning 44 in February, I have met my goal of PRing in every distance I raced. Now I just want to continue the streak of PRs. That means finishing the Half faster than 2:09. But why stop there? I'd like to hit 2:05 or lower.

The weather was nice and brisk and I really tried to hit my pace this morning. In fact, I tried to beat my pace in every mile. I wanted to see a 9:xx whenever the Garmin beeped. Until Mile 6, I met my goal, between Miles 5-6 the course begins a steady and steep uphill climb that doesn't end until mile 8.

1 --10:06
2 -- 9:56
3 -- 9:08
4 -- 9:19
5 -- 9:42
6 -- 10:25 (Uphill)
7 -- 10:52 (Uphill)
8 -- 10:05 (Uphill halfway)
9 -- 10:14
AVG. PACE: 9:59

See what I mean? The problem is, the hills are so steep that it's hard to get my legs back after I'm done with them.

I'm happy to have a race coming up to keep me sharp. I was starting to feel sluggish, running mile after mile, feeling slower and slower.

Have a great Saturday. Shabbat Shalom!

24 Down

Saturday pace runs are my favorite runs. Even when it's hot and I'm tired and not feeling great, I still like them. They are a "reasonable" long distance and I don't have to hold back too much.
I thought it was supposed to cool off by today, but the newspaper must have been mistaken. At 7:30 it was stiflingly hot. I gave it all I had and Scott said he was proud of me for getting out and getting it done. 8 miles in 1:21:38 (Avg. pace 10:11).

Sometimes I wonder if I can hold onto a 10:00 min. pace for NYCM but I'm pretty sure that it wont be 80 humid degrees and I won't be wearing a four bottle amphipod and I won't have my period (1st day -- the worst!). As you can see by the splits, the higher the sun rose, the slower I ran.

9:49
9:32
9:52
10:08
10:14
10:55 (potty stop)
10:32 (saw the village mayor and his wife taking a sticky morning stroll and used the opportunity to express my views on the need for a bike path). :)

Tomorrow is 17 miles. I'm looking forward to it for a couple of reasons. First, after finishing last weeks ridiculously hilly 16 miles I know that I can run 17 flat no problem. When your quads are shredded after 8 miles and you still find the heart to run another 8 that's a sign that all the "toughen up training" has worked. Second, it will be the first high mileage week that I have completed per the plan -- no interruptions. I'm looking forward to writing it down in the log.
_____________

I looked ahead in the calendar and saw that Yom Kippur falls right during the long weekend runs. It's a stepback week. Friday is supposed to be a rest day, Saturday is Yom Kippur. My fast will begin Friday evening. I think I'll run Saturday's 6 on Friday morning and play Sunday's 12 by ear. If the weather is cooler, maybe I can run it later in the day. It probably wouldn't be a good idea to attempt it after a 25 hour fast.