75 laps, 1:3 minute run/walk ratio, 2:16 hours
I got off to a very slow start again this morning, not starting my run until after 11 am. I had planned to go down to the park to run, but since I got out there so late, I just ran around the house. It was a pretty good run. I didn't get tired and kept up my pace. My time includes one bathroom stop at around lap 56—I was going along just fine, then suddenly, my stomach cramped up, and I had to stop. Then when I came back out, I stopped again to get a rock out of my shoe. Probably took about five minutes altogether. If I could make a bathroom stop in five minutes in Hawaii, I wouldn't mind, but with 30,000 people on the course, there are always lines for the bathrooms, and it can take 20–30 minutes for a stop. It would be nice if I didn't have to stop, but when it takes over seven hours to finish, it's inevitable that I'll need to stop at some point. I can only hope the lines aren't too bad when I do.
I tried out a couple of things for the marathon: for one thing, I wore my waist pack with the big pocket, and put my camera, phone, small wallet with ID and a few bucks and lip gloss in the pocket. It also has an outside pocket that I put my handkerchief in. There was still plenty of room for GU and other snacks. So that was good. The bad was that the strap tends to loosen up as I run, and the pack bounces around and slides to the side, so I'm constantly adjusting it. I still think it will work better than using the one with the small pockets, so I'll take it to Hawaii.
The other thing I did was sew a small square of rubber onto the back of my running watch, so I can wear it on my wrist without shorting it out with my static electricity. I used buttonhole thread and tied the corners of the rubber square together across the top and bottom of the watch face. I had to be careful to tie it tightly enough to hold the rubber in place, but not so tightly that it ripped the corners of the rubber. It seemed to work fine for eight miles, so I'll do that for Honolulu, too.
I'm trying to decide whether to send for this dress to wear while I'm in Hawaii. I'm leaning towards doing it, although time is short and I'm not sure it will fit me. If it doesn't, or if it arrives too late, I suppose I can just send it back, so no loss. It sure is pretty, and I don't have any other casual dresses I can wear on the beach.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Week 23: Twenty-six miles
8:01 hours, 1:3 minute run/walk ratio
I did my 26 miles! And it was a pretty good run, all things considered.
As planned, I did eight miles around the house, then ran ten miles to Meadowbrook Park and did another eight miles around the trail there.
I made four stops, which are included in my time. One at about five or six miles to go to the bathroom, then another at eight miles to refill my water bottle and drink some soy milk and orange juice before heading on down the road. Then, I stopped at about 17 miles, when I reached the Chevron station at Valley and Golden Hills Blvd. to buy a 20-oz Coke, which I drank over the next two miles, and at 18 miles when I reached the park to use the rest room and fill up my water bottle again.
I may regret drinking all that Coke tonight and tomorrow, but it sure did make the run easier! Nothing like a big jolt of sugar and caffeine to keep my energy up! I got tired, and slow, but was able to keep going with my run intervals all the way to the end, and outside of some stiffness and sore shoulders, and a blister on my right little toe, I have no big aches and pains afterwards.
I also ate two GUs along the way. I have about six left, which should get me through the marathon. I also need to figure out something to bring along to eat or drink. Maybe I can bring a small bottle of soy milk and orange juice in my waist pack. I think I'll use the one with the bigger pockets for marathon, so I can put my handkerchief and camera and phone and everything in it. I was going to bring my camera along with me today, but I got tired of carrying it and left it home.
I also think I'll use my Shox 2.45s for the marathon. I wore my newest Nikes today, but they're not as comfortable as the old 2.45s. I think the new ones make my little toe blister.
I had a few difficult patches. Running up Valley was very tiring, and I ended up walking about the last half of mile 17. I resumed my running intervals after I'd stopped for the Coke, and was able to keep up after that. I felt that I was going very slowly all the way along. Which, really, was as it should be. Our coaches for the AIDS Marathon always told us to slow down on the long runs, and do them 2 minutes/mile slower than our usual pace. I averaged about 18.5 minute miles, so that's about right. Actually, I could have even gone slower, considering that I'm averaging 17 minute miles on the shorter runs. Anyway, it all went as it should, and now I'm done with long runs until the marathon, which is in only three weeks now! Two more eight-mile runs, and then I'll be in Honolulu.
I did my 26 miles! And it was a pretty good run, all things considered.
As planned, I did eight miles around the house, then ran ten miles to Meadowbrook Park and did another eight miles around the trail there.
I made four stops, which are included in my time. One at about five or six miles to go to the bathroom, then another at eight miles to refill my water bottle and drink some soy milk and orange juice before heading on down the road. Then, I stopped at about 17 miles, when I reached the Chevron station at Valley and Golden Hills Blvd. to buy a 20-oz Coke, which I drank over the next two miles, and at 18 miles when I reached the park to use the rest room and fill up my water bottle again.
I may regret drinking all that Coke tonight and tomorrow, but it sure did make the run easier! Nothing like a big jolt of sugar and caffeine to keep my energy up! I got tired, and slow, but was able to keep going with my run intervals all the way to the end, and outside of some stiffness and sore shoulders, and a blister on my right little toe, I have no big aches and pains afterwards.
I also ate two GUs along the way. I have about six left, which should get me through the marathon. I also need to figure out something to bring along to eat or drink. Maybe I can bring a small bottle of soy milk and orange juice in my waist pack. I think I'll use the one with the bigger pockets for marathon, so I can put my handkerchief and camera and phone and everything in it. I was going to bring my camera along with me today, but I got tired of carrying it and left it home.
I also think I'll use my Shox 2.45s for the marathon. I wore my newest Nikes today, but they're not as comfortable as the old 2.45s. I think the new ones make my little toe blister.
I had a few difficult patches. Running up Valley was very tiring, and I ended up walking about the last half of mile 17. I resumed my running intervals after I'd stopped for the Coke, and was able to keep up after that. I felt that I was going very slowly all the way along. Which, really, was as it should be. Our coaches for the AIDS Marathon always told us to slow down on the long runs, and do them 2 minutes/mile slower than our usual pace. I averaged about 18.5 minute miles, so that's about right. Actually, I could have even gone slower, considering that I'm averaging 17 minute miles on the shorter runs. Anyway, it all went as it should, and now I'm done with long runs until the marathon, which is in only three weeks now! Two more eight-mile runs, and then I'll be in Honolulu.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Friday
19 laps, 2:3 minute run/walk ratio, 31:47 minutes
I had a good run today. I got out there kind of late, having not gotten up until 8:30 or so, and it was very pleasant, just warm enough to feel good on my back, but still cool enough to stay comfortable. The 2:3 minute ratio was easy to keep up with, and I had a good time. I hope this bodes well for the 26-miler on Sunday! I've decided to do the same route as I did on my last 26-miler, for the LA Marathon—I'll do eight miles around the house, then run to Meadowbrook Park for another ten miles, then finish with eight miles around the trail at the park. Mom will pick me up at the park when I'm done. And then—pizza!
I think one reason I've been so tired lately is that I've been having herpes outbreaks one after the other ever since I had surgery. I've upped my Vitamin C these past few days to 4000 mg a day, which should help. Aargh. If I can just get myself healthy again before the marathon, I think it will go well. It's been one thing after the other these past few months.
I had a good run today. I got out there kind of late, having not gotten up until 8:30 or so, and it was very pleasant, just warm enough to feel good on my back, but still cool enough to stay comfortable. The 2:3 minute ratio was easy to keep up with, and I had a good time. I hope this bodes well for the 26-miler on Sunday! I've decided to do the same route as I did on my last 26-miler, for the LA Marathon—I'll do eight miles around the house, then run to Meadowbrook Park for another ten miles, then finish with eight miles around the trail at the park. Mom will pick me up at the park when I'm done. And then—pizza!
I think one reason I've been so tired lately is that I've been having herpes outbreaks one after the other ever since I had surgery. I've upped my Vitamin C these past few days to 4000 mg a day, which should help. Aargh. If I can just get myself healthy again before the marathon, I think it will go well. It's been one thing after the other these past few months.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Wednesday
19 laps, 1:2.3 minute run/walk ratio, 33:12 minutes
My run/walk ratio is an estimate today. I decided to do it partially by laps and partially by minutes: I'd walk one lap, then run for about a minute and walk the rest of the lap, then walk one lap, etc. So I was running for about a minute, then walking for something between two and two-and-a-half minutes, depending on how fast I was walking.
The weather was beautiful: sunny with a chilly breeze. It was warm when I was running in the sun, then cool in the shade. I was a bit slow today, but I just wanted to take it easy, after Monday's exhausting run. I don't know why I have these off days when I'm just too tired to move. I hope I don't have one on the marathon day! I expect skipping my midweek runs might have had something to do with it. Or stress over my poor kitty, who's back at the vet's getting his ears cleaned daily for three days. In any case, I feel better today. I'm going to make sure I don't skip any more runs before the marathon. I've got less than a month before Honolulu! I'll do my 26-mile run this week, then two eight-milers, then the marathon.
I got my documents from Pleasant Holidays yesterday. It's official! I'm going to Hawaii!
My run/walk ratio is an estimate today. I decided to do it partially by laps and partially by minutes: I'd walk one lap, then run for about a minute and walk the rest of the lap, then walk one lap, etc. So I was running for about a minute, then walking for something between two and two-and-a-half minutes, depending on how fast I was walking.
The weather was beautiful: sunny with a chilly breeze. It was warm when I was running in the sun, then cool in the shade. I was a bit slow today, but I just wanted to take it easy, after Monday's exhausting run. I don't know why I have these off days when I'm just too tired to move. I hope I don't have one on the marathon day! I expect skipping my midweek runs might have had something to do with it. Or stress over my poor kitty, who's back at the vet's getting his ears cleaned daily for three days. In any case, I feel better today. I'm going to make sure I don't skip any more runs before the marathon. I've got less than a month before Honolulu! I'll do my 26-mile run this week, then two eight-milers, then the marathon.
I got my documents from Pleasant Holidays yesterday. It's official! I'm going to Hawaii!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Week 22: Ten miles
2:58 hours, 1:3 minute run/walk ratio
This has been one of those weeks—I didn't do either of my midweek runs, then yesterday (Sunday) I was exhausted and the weather was cold and wet, so I decided to put off my long run until today. Today, I wasn't so tired and the weather was good, but I still had a hard time motivating myself to get out there and do it. I didn't start until after 10 am. I did my run here around the house (94 laps!) because I didn't feel like going into town.
I started out fairly well, but got pretty tired by the end. I think I was mostly hungry, since it was 1 pm by the time I finished. I should have had a protein drink or something before I started. My time doesn't include two breaks where I stopped my watch, one at four miles to go to the bathroom and grab a handkerchief, and one at about eight miles, when I stopped for a drink of water and got dizzy and abruptly decided I was finished. I stopped my watch and went to sit down in one of the chairs by the front porch, but after I rested for a few minutes, I decided to go ahead and finish ten miles.
I amused myself while I was running by planning how I'd survive out here if I had to be completely self-sufficient: no propane, no gas, no grocery store. I guess I'd be living on squirrels, acorns, and pine nuts. And chopping a lot of wood.
I started out with my iPod shuffle. The first song that came up was the first movement of Mahler's Ninth Symphony. That kept me going for about the first half hour. Then the earbuds started making static-y noise, so I took them off.
This has been one of those weeks—I didn't do either of my midweek runs, then yesterday (Sunday) I was exhausted and the weather was cold and wet, so I decided to put off my long run until today. Today, I wasn't so tired and the weather was good, but I still had a hard time motivating myself to get out there and do it. I didn't start until after 10 am. I did my run here around the house (94 laps!) because I didn't feel like going into town.
I started out fairly well, but got pretty tired by the end. I think I was mostly hungry, since it was 1 pm by the time I finished. I should have had a protein drink or something before I started. My time doesn't include two breaks where I stopped my watch, one at four miles to go to the bathroom and grab a handkerchief, and one at about eight miles, when I stopped for a drink of water and got dizzy and abruptly decided I was finished. I stopped my watch and went to sit down in one of the chairs by the front porch, but after I rested for a few minutes, I decided to go ahead and finish ten miles.
I amused myself while I was running by planning how I'd survive out here if I had to be completely self-sufficient: no propane, no gas, no grocery store. I guess I'd be living on squirrels, acorns, and pine nuts. And chopping a lot of wood.
I started out with my iPod shuffle. The first song that came up was the first movement of Mahler's Ninth Symphony. That kept me going for about the first half hour. Then the earbuds started making static-y noise, so I took them off.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Week 21: Eight miles
2:15 hours, 2:3 minute run/walk ratio
Good thing it was only an eight-miler today—I was completely exhausted, and had a hard time finishing. I don't know why I was so tired. I slept ten hours last night, but woke up still groggy and tired and never had any energy.
I did my run from Dennison & Highline, down Dennison to Valley, then Valley to Curry. I looped back on Valley to Dennison and back to Curry, then ran up Curry to Highline and back to Valley, then finally back on Valley to Dennison and up Dennison to Highline. I was okay for the first four miles or so, but running uphill on Curry to Dennison was very hard. I think it's a bigger hill on Curry than on Dennison. I kept up my running intervals until the last mile, but I walked most of the last mile. I did try to keep my walking speed up, and finished in a reasonable time, but I was very dizzy and tired when I got home. I've been napping this afternoon, and still feel tired.
But I got my eight miles in. I hope next week's run is better.
Good thing it was only an eight-miler today—I was completely exhausted, and had a hard time finishing. I don't know why I was so tired. I slept ten hours last night, but woke up still groggy and tired and never had any energy.
I did my run from Dennison & Highline, down Dennison to Valley, then Valley to Curry. I looped back on Valley to Dennison and back to Curry, then ran up Curry to Highline and back to Valley, then finally back on Valley to Dennison and up Dennison to Highline. I was okay for the first four miles or so, but running uphill on Curry to Dennison was very hard. I think it's a bigger hill on Curry than on Dennison. I kept up my running intervals until the last mile, but I walked most of the last mile. I did try to keep my walking speed up, and finished in a reasonable time, but I was very dizzy and tired when I got home. I've been napping this afternoon, and still feel tired.
But I got my eight miles in. I hope next week's run is better.
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