Part One: Saturday’s Long Run

Saturday, Chris and I ran our scheduled 16 mile run. It went significantly better than the one the week before. I was far better prepared, but it was still a learning experience.

We started out running at about 8 a.m., so I got enough sleep the night before. It was overcast, but slightly warmer than the previous long run, so the occasional light showers were welcome. We decided to implement walking breaks from the very beginning of the run, in a 12:2 ratio. In addition, instead of running the 6.5-6.5-4 loops (total: 17 miles), we decided to run as if each 12:2 split was one mile (though I suspect it may have been slightly more.) So we meandered down side streets, I took Chris past two of the apartments I lived in during college (university), and we had a grand old time. We went through the Garden District, a lovely area with beautiful houses, big and small.

The first loop was probably 9 miles, and it went off without a hitch. We made it back to the car to rehydrate, stretch, use the bathroom, take gels, etc, and then headed off for the second loop. This loop was not so great for me. Though I drank plenty of water before we headed off again, it just wasn’t enough. About 3 miles into this loop, I started feeling dehydrated (chills, tickly feeling in my chest and arms, just funny overall) and we stopped at this gymnasium that had water fountains and bathrooms. (It wasn’t open when we passed it the weekend before, so we weren’t able to partake in it’s oasis-ness. It was truly heaven to find!) After this break, and plenty of water (but no gels) I felt somewhat better. But a few miles after this, the sun started to come out, and it started to get pretty humid. I started to get dehydrated again, and I just couldn’t run the 12:2s as planned. So we walked when I felt funny, and when I cooled down, we ran. Finally we made it back to the car after running for 3:45, which is what we were shooting for.

I learned a lot from this run, mainly (again) the importance of hydration. (Not that I didn’t already know this or anything.) But I’m used to running past water fountains during my runs, which the lakes in Baton Rouge don’t have. So I had to go miles (5 or 6 at a time) without water. At least during the marathon, there will be water breaks every mile. (We were thinking, though – hope they don’t run out of water by the time we get to them!) So hydration shouldn’t be a problem. We are going to walk through the water stops, which will function as our planned walking breaks. Should be good. And unless England has a freak heat wave in April, it should be cooler and less humid. I hope. Also, my shirt, which had a sort of high neck, got really hot, so a v-neck shirt is definitely in order for the marathon.

All in all, a really good run, though. I felt good afterwards and there was no real lingering stiffness, thanks to my new fail-proof recovery system. Soak feet in cold water, spray down legs with cold water at the same time, take some ibuprofen, take a nap. Woo! So, on to Sunday’s race…
.: posted by pam m 

Part Two: Sunday’s 5K Race, The 25th Annual Lakeside Hospital Scrub Shirt Classic

I had been looking forward to this race for a while, for several reasons. First, we get scrub shirts instead of t-shirts; second, there is lots of good food afterwards; and third, it takes place at the hospital where I was born. So in spite of the fact that I had to leave Baton Rouge at 10 p.m. on Saturday night to drive back to New Orleans, I was excited about this race.

Because this was Kristina’s first 5K since October and one of the few times she’s run since January, I didn’t expect to PR this race. Not to mention the fact that I ran 16-17 miles the day before! I expected my legs to be heavy and sluggish, and I would have been happy with a time of under 40 minutes. My previous PR was 37:01, and to run faster would require 12 minute miles, and I just didn’t think I had it in me.

But it was colder outside than my last race, and I seem to have gotten faster since then, as well. We hit the first mile split at 12:01. But it didn’t feel too fast! So we kept going. Mile two, 11:46. Eeps! We’re getting faster! We start to close in on some people ahead of us. Kristina starts whining about not wanting to go faster. Never mind that she used to be the one that pushed me during races, now she won’t let me push her. Regardless, we press on. Thirty-four minutes on my watch, and the finish line is well within sight. Could this be another PR? Kristina sprints slightly ahead of me, and crosses the finish line in 36:10. The man at the finish line yells to me, “You’re not going to let her beat you, are you?” and I yell back, “but I’m letting her win!” It was funny. I cross at 36:11. A new PR, by 50 seconds! Woo hoo! We got our medals (love medals!) and headed to the food. Mmmmm. Smoothies, pizza, chicken, bagels, yum yum yum.

Quads slightly sore afterwards, but nothing major. Today, I feel fine. I’m getting better at this running thing! I’m using the 5K in place of one of my 5 milers this week, since I raced it. Next run, an 8 miler tomorrow afternoon. And this weekend…18 miles in Austin!

Work is boooooring today. Yesterday all of the computers (except, of course for my beloved mac) had to be completely reformatted because of viruses. Yikes. So today I get to re-set-up all of the email accounts. blah blah blah. No run today. Started on the carb-loading last night for a good run on Saturday. We had pizza for dinner and I made sure we got extra breadsticks. Well, at least they don’t have butter or cheese or anything on them, so I think it’s a decent way to carb-load. Yummy! And a bagel for breakfast today. And leftover pizza for lunch. And then I’ll make sure my mom takes me somewhere with pasta for dinner tonight. Woo hoo!

Five miles this morning. Difficult, but I did it. I was thisclose to quitting after one lap (1.75 miles) of the park, but then (god, my mind is weird) I thought, if I did the whole five miles, I’d be able to use “thisclose” in my entry today. Ha ha! I’m such a dork! Anyway, I guess it was all the more satisfying knowing that I finished it and I really didn’t want to.

Next run is 16 miles on Saturday with Chris. Hope it doesn’t rain, as it’s threatening to.

Looks like plans are going well for the Saturday afternoon pasta dinner we’ve been planning. Mike (Mr Brain Tumor) has made us reservations at some yummy restaurant. Woo hoo!

Pretty good run yesterday, can’t complain. 8 miles around the park. It used to be the most boring route ever, that 1.75 miles around…and around…and around. Now, I find it sort of comforting. Strange. Anyway, it took the exact same amount of time as my last 8 miler – 1:44. Strange. I must be very good at pacing myself, eh?

One thing I did differently was that I had a half a CliffShot after a few miles, then had the other half when I was finished. I think that helped a lot, not only with energy during the run, but refueling afterwards.

The only bad thing about this run is that I have a wicked blister on my fourth toe on my left foot. But the arch support insoles seem to be working for my arches…no pain!

Decent run yesterday. Difficult, but not too bad. It was just one of those days when 5 miles is hard. Strange. Hopefully today will be easier. But Kristina ran with me for two laps yesterday, which was good. It’s so nice to have company!

It occurred to me, while I was running yesterday, that of all the weblogs for the London Marathon I’ve read so far, have been from men. Except, of course, for mine. Ha! I wonder where all the girls are? I can’t be the only female with an online training diary, can I? How am I supposed to know if PMS affects others in their training? ha ha!

Note to Chris: my watch started working when i got a new battery. Strange!
.: posted by pam m 

Something I forgot to mention:

Back when I first started running, I bought a pair of Reeboks that gave me hellish shinsplints. So I bought an inexpensive sport insole to put inside the shoes (some Dr Scholl’s heelcup type thing) which helped, until I purchased my first pair of running shoes from a real running store.

After looking at the package for the insoles, I noticed that they offered arch support. So yesterday, I decided to try them out in my newer running shoes to see if they would help. And wouldn’t you know it, my arches didn’t hurt (hardly) at all after yesterday’s run! Today will be the true test, I think. They usually hurt more after eight miles than five. Duh.

More thoughts on Saturday’s long run:

I hadn’t eaten enough carbohydrates on Thursday evening or Friday to fuel me for Saturday. I thought I was doing well by having a plate of rice and a grilled chicken breast for dinner Thursday night, but in retrospect, all of those carbs probably went towards recovering from those eight miles rather than stockpiling for Saturday.

Chris and I discussed meal ideas for me, so we can test them again this weekend. Also, I won’t be doing my eight miler on Thursday, but tomorrow (Tuesday) instead, so I’ll be fresher by Saturday. So, Thursday night I’ll stock up on carbs (I like plain rice, maybe some stirfried vegetables) and Friday morning, I’ll have some oatmeal and a bagel. Then, for dinner Friday night, Chris and Rebecca and I may go have pasta at this yummy restaurant we like. Oh yeah, bagel sandwich or something for lunch on Friday.

This past Saturday, I had to get up at 5:45 a.m., because the weather forecast was for rain starting at 9 a.m., so we wanted to get finished as quickly as possible. Naturally, it didn’t rain. In fact, the last hour or so was sunny and warm. Yeesh. So next weekend, if the forecast is nicer, we can start a little later and I can eat some breakfast (a bagel) beforehand. I was starving during a lot of this run, which can’t be good. I did manage to eat two gels, though. I think I’m getting better! The new Sonic Strawberry flavor (with caffeine) I got is the most palatable so far. The texture is still a major problem, but as long as I breathe while I swallow it, I’m fine.

I’m not sore today, and yesterday wasn’t even too bad. My arches hurt on Saturday after the run, but as soon as I got home, I soaked my lower legs in cold water (as per Chris’s suggestion) which I think helped get rid of any soreness.

Next up: 5 miles this afternoon. Woo hoo!

Seventeen miles yesterday. Not the greatest seventeen miles ever, but hey, seventeen miles! Was a learning experience. I hadn’t fueled properly beforehand, so I just didn’t have the energy to run the whole way. So we walked some of it. We figured out that we’ll probably do some walking breaks, maybe 2 minutes per mile, or at least walk through the water breaks.

Kristina and I are off to the movies, so I’ll write more about yesterday’s run later.

Had a gorgeous, glorious, wonderful 8 mile run yesterday. Yay!

Left work at four, and was supposed to meet Kristina at the park at 4:30 so that I could do one lap before she met me, then we could do two together, and then I’d only have one more lap plus a mile to do. First lap went well, then we did a lap together. As Kristina hasn’t run in aaages, she was only up to doing one lap, so after that lap, she got my radio for me and I soldiered on…

It was a gorgeous afternoon, 55 degrees, a slight breeze, no clouds whatsoever. Just beautiful. The run was so easy, and not really all that slow for me. (The entire run took me 1:44, which if I had done exactly eight miles, works out to a 13:00 pace, almost exactly. But I estimate I did at least 8.1 miles, which would make my pace something like 12:45. And I did stop a few times: to get water, and put my radio on, stretch a bit, etc. I never walked, though.

I really hope the weather (well, at least the temperature) is like that in London. I never got hot, in fact, the breeze kept me nicely chilled. My biggest problem with endurance is generally to do with heat (I suppose I’m not unique in that!) so chilly weather would be fantastic. It was the heat that kept me from running the entire Mardi Gras half marathon. Overcast is good, too.

All in all, I felt really confident after today’s run. I was nervous about the fact that I’m going to have to do 8 mile runs in the middle the next 5 weeks or so (plus the two 5 milers and the long run, of course) but now I’m not. It’s not the long run on the weekend that makes me nervous anymore, it’s the mid-week longish run. Weird, eh? I guess because I’m under more of a time constraint (me versus the encroaching darkness) whereas on the weekends, I can take my sweet time.

So, next run is on Saturday, 16 miles with Chris. Or whatever he can run. I’m doing 16 miles though. Hope it doesn’t rain!

No time to post. But did my four miles this morning. Thank God for my break tomorrow! Yay! Happy Pam!

Sad Chris, though. He’s injured. Can’t run for a few weeks. Must get physical therapy. On the bright side, at least he can walk at the pace I run, if nothing else. Thank goodness I’m so slow!

Tonight I’m trying out Ian’s Chickpeas with Chorizo recipe he has on his site. We’ll see how the Pam version turns out, considering I hate onions and can’t afford saffron. Oh, and have to substitute chicken bouillion for vegetable stock. Oh yeah, and I don’t know measurements in grams, so it’ll be a guess. 🙂