Chuckanut Footrace Recap

Saturday was the 40th Annual Chuckanut Footrace. It is actually Washington's oldest footrace; a 7-mile jaunt from Marine Park to Larrabee State Park, following the Interurban Trail. Fairhaven Runners is the current planner and main sponsor, but it has changed hands a few times in its history, but has kept going continuously since its inception in 1967.

The race began at 9 a.m., but I got to Fairhaven a bit before 8 to pick up my registration packet and chip timer. (This chip timer velcroed around the ankle, as opposed to tying onto the shoe, as in the marathon.) It was pretty cool down by the water that early in the morning, but the area was alive with other runners and spectators.

A really fun atmosphere.

When it was time to line up, and found the 10-minute mile pace sign. Pam Behee, a runner I know from church and who trained with TNT last fall, found me, and we ran about half the race together. It was really nice to run with someone for a change. (I ran ahead after she got a cramp and slowed to walk it out.) There were spots along the trail that felt really packed with runners, but of course, the farther along, the more spread out we all were.

I kept pretty good pace throughout the race, not pushing myself too much, but allowing myself to pass other runners or try to pace with some ahead of me. We didn't run through Arroyo Park -- it would be difficult with a crowd-- so went up California Street. I pushed myself to run up this beastly hill, and I have to say, I'm proud of how well I did. Many other people were walking, huffing, and puffing. (I was huffing, but not too badly.) I regained my breath and continued on the trail, and I could hear some people commenting about the hill, but I had to smile to myself about it. If you can run that, you can run about anything, I think. We followed the trail all the way to the end, at the Clayton Beach parking, then crossed Chuckanut Drive, ran north for about a block where we entered Larrabee State Park. There was a great Irish Infusion band playing, and a crowd of spectators. I finished in 1:09:54, keeping my 10-minute per mile pace.

There was a great post-race area set up with food goodies and music. Erin and Rob were with me, and we stayed for a few hours, relaxing in the sun and just enjoying the atmosphere of it all. For me it was about community more than a race, and I was part of a great community on Saturday. Not just of runners, but of supporters, too. I can't wait to do it again next year!

TNT Wrap-up

Where, oh where, did the month of June go? I can hardly believe it has been nearly a month since the Rock n Roll marathon! I just started running again after taking more than three weeks off. I didn't originally intend to wait that long, but in some ways it was good for me. I had been feeling a little burned out with training, and waiting made me want to go. If I had pushed myself to go too soon, I might have burned out completely and never want to run again! It felt good to hit the trail again last week, though. And now I've committed to the Chuckanut Footrace on July 7, and the Bellingham Bay Marathon (the half!) on October 7. So I will continue to blog as I maintain for those events.

I want to say a few words about my Team in Training experience. Team in Training is the largest endurance sports training program in the world, and with good reason. First, it supports a really great organization, The Leukemia Lymphoma Society. A second, it provides coaching, fitness, health, and training advice and information, a TNT-alum mentor, and a team to train with. I can honestly say it was a great experience, and I would recommend the program to anyone who would make the commitment.

I said in my blogs that I often felt alone on the trail because most of my teammates were walking. And while that was true, when I got to San Diego, and espcially in the hours before and after the race, I really did feel like part of the team. We all shared in our excitement before the race, and our joy (and fatigue) afterwards. We were really rooting each other on, even if we weren't together through the race!

TNT was the perfect project for me while I was not working. I really wanted to do something productive to help other people, but it also kept me dedicated to myself too. There were many days when I would not have gone running if I hadn't been committed to the marathon. (And I never would have tried running more than 5 miles if I hadn't been training!) But more than that, as a participant I helped raise more than $.5 million dollars for the Washington/Alaska chapter, and $12.5 million nationwide--and that's just from the participants in the Rock n Roll marathon! That will go a long way for research and patient care services!

I should mention Coach Terry. She wasn't able to make it to San Diego, but otherwise she was there for all of us every (pounding) step of the way. We met at 8 a.m., and for her that meant arriving even earlier to set up water stations along our routes, and putting out signage so we could find our meeting points. And she had to drive from Everson! She made a point to get to know us, and to check in regularly about how our individual training and fundraising was going. She has completed several marathons, many with TNT.

Kim was a great mentor, too. She also checked in frequently about fundraising. She participated in the same event last year, and she lent her own perspectives gleaned from her experience. I don't think Kim missed one practice throughout the four months; she is very dedicated and passionate about LLS.

I will say I was disappointed in our Event Liason in San Diego. All of us from the Bellingham Team felt overlooked; we didn't have a coach with us where other groups did, and no one stepped up to fill that position. Our liason should have seen to it that we were taken care of; the reason coaches are at the events is because they are needed. I would have benefited from one during my few miles of delirium during the race. That said, my overall experience with the organization and on event weekend was so great that I won't let that aspect taint the whole season.

Thank You again to everyone who donated. This was one of the largest seasons for Team in Training. I couldn't have done it without you!

Photo by Nancy, Fred's wife. Pictured are: Erica, Kim, Fred (one of our honored teammates, and a Leukemia survivor who is cancer-free!), Sherry, Me, Alysaa, Sherri, Kelsi. This was taken before 4 a.m. on race day, before we left for the starting area.

Rock -n- Roll, Baby!

I DID IT!!!!!

I completed the Rock-n-Roll marathon, in just under 5 hours. (Yes, my chip time read 5 hours, 2 minutes. I'm deducting a few minutes for my bathroom stop. There was a line, after all.) It was an amazing experience! It's difficult to describe the energy of the event; there were thousands of spectators cheering, and over 20,000 people participating.

The race began at 6:30 a.m. In order to get ready, meet up with my team, and shuttle to the start area, I had to get up at 3 a.m. (and I did not sleep well for the hours I was in bed). There was water, coffee and bagels, and hundreds of port-o-potties waiting for us there, though. Our bus was among the first to arrive, and we had the unique experience of watching the crowd grow, and the sun come up. Three bottles of water, two bathroom stops, and two-plus hours later, I left the team to line up in my corral to start the race.

For the first few miles of the race I was trying to find my pace and a place to run. The group was so thick at that point that it was difficult to get in stride. I figured out quickly how to move around other racers, though, and the first several miles were truly fun. The bands were lively and the runners were cheering for them as much as the crowd was cheering for us. And between miles four and five when I passed Erin, Kirsten, and my mom -- who were going crazy cheering for me -- I was feeling great and just enjoying the whole thing.

The first half of the race went smoothly. I stopped for a few minutes at mile 8 to use the toilet, and walked a few minutes here and there, as was my plan. (I ran the whole first hour; it went by really quickly to me!) But after about mile 15, I was thinking "okay, I'm ready to be done." And then the race got hard. Between miles 18 and 24 I walked more than I ran, and I was really struggling mentally. I knew that I couldn't stop moving though. A few times I went to the side and stretched lightly for a moment, but I felt like if I allowed myself to stop too long, I wouldn't be able to start again. At some point, a TNT runner from the LA chapter started walking with me. She was struggling the same that I was, and I was glad for some company for a few minutes. There were coaches from other TNT chapters encouraging everyone from the sidelines, which helped, too. I had our honored team members' names on the back of my shirt, and when I was really feeling bedraggled, one of the coaches reminded me of why I was doing this: "for Judy and Fred!"

Then, around mile 24, Erin was cheering for me at the sideline. I'm so glad she was there! I needed her then! She had some Excedrine, which I took for the headache that was faint before the race, and she walked with me for a few minutes. I was really close to losing it, but she encouraged me, and it was enough to get me through. And I actually started feeling better, and I ran the last mile. I was determined to run through the finish. It felt great! Not too long after finishing, I started to forget how much I had struggled; it was just so awesome!

I told myself that I didn't care about my time; I wanted to go out and have fun and be present in the moment(s). I couldn't help, though, but track my minutes and think about my pace. Months ago one of our training lessons was about goal-setting, and the reading talked about setting three different goals for the race: one that was most certainly attainable, one that might be possible, and one that would be a dream goal, but not easily achieved. At that time, finishing in less than five hours was my "wouldn't it be awesome if..." goal: and I did it!

San Diego, Here I Come!

I meant to update you all on my final few weeks of training. And clearly I failed miserably. There really wasn't anything much to report. But here we are today, and I'm leaving for (not so?) sunny San Diego. The marathon is in 2 DAYS!!! I can hardly believe it.

I'm trying not to let myself get nervous about the race. My plan is to go out there, enjoy the people and the overall experience. My "goal" is to finish in about 4 1/2 hours, which is about an hour faster than I originally estimated, but I also plan not to specifically push myself to meet that goal. I want to have fun, too.

I do have to say I hope I can get a different singlet for the race. The one I have is comically small; I ordered a size small because the shirt I was given at the beginning of the season is a medium, and it's too big. But apparently the singlets are sized women's and men's sizes. But this small is tiny. Serious muffin-topping ensued when I tried it on. ("Top of the muffin to you" is only pleasant when edible.) I can't race in it! So I'm a little nervous about how that will work out.

I'm sure I'll have plenty to report early next week. I hope to catch a glimpse or two of the running Elvises and to experience some moments of grace and humility.

Wish me luck!

Blood, Sweat, and ... Cheers!

Well, faithful blog readers, I realize it has been awhile since I've updated about my training. It has been a crazya few weeks, actually. But I will get you all up to date. First, let me say, it is ONLY 2 WEEKS until the marathon! How scary is that?!

You may remember that my longest run (a few ago) was 15 miles. Not anymore: last week I ran 20 miles! Our schedule was for 180-200 minutes (a revision from the original, which said 180 minutes). I really wanted to get 20 miles under my belt. Several things I've read allude to that being a key milestone in the race itself, plus at my pace that leaves only about one hour more to complete the remaining 6.2 miles of the marathon. I wobbled to mile 20 in 3 hours, 27 minutes (yes kids, that is 10 minutes, 20 seconds per mile). I feel really good about that time!

I missed Saturday's team practice, so I went on Sunday afternoon instead. As before, Erin went with me, riding ahead on her bike along the Interurban trail. This time, we started at Bayside Cafe at Squalicum Harbor, traveled east to downtown then turned south to catch the trail into Fairhaven. Once in Fairhaven, the trail picks up again at 10th and Donovan, and it continues all the way to Clayton Beach Parking lot. Then we just followed the same route back.

Just two days before, I managed to fall off my bike. My left knee and elbow were both scraped up, and at first I thought that was the worst of my injuries, but then Saturday I discovered that my right thigh and buttock were bruised and sore, so running on Sunday was interesting. The first hour was really comfortable (except my butt hurt) but some soreness started to set into my left knee after that. Then my right thigh, then both knees, then ... I'm not going to lie: by mile 20 I was pretty sore and tired. At home I had an ice bath, which was not pleasant to get into, but made movement easier for the rest of the day, I'm sure. (My upper legs were pretty stiff for two days afterwards, too.)

It gives me a good taste of what the running part of the marathon will be like. There is still the X factor of the race experience itself: the crowd of runners, the mob of people cheering, the adrenaline in the air. I have that to look forward to!


(This is my knee after the bike "incident.")

Lake Padden, Take Three

Yesterday's run was again at Lake Padden. No mud! this time since we've been having sunny days. We were a small group this week. Coach Terry was out of town and a few people were having fundraisers so there were just seven of us. I was the lone runner from our group again. But I was definitely not running alone; Bellingham Fit, a different marathon training program, met at Padden too, and there were quite a few of them.

I knew that I would run at least 10.4 miles (four loops around the lake), and thought maybe a bit more depending on how my time was. My third lap was the best, thanks to a couple other runners behind me. I was playing a bit of a game with myself: when I heard a runner behind me, I'd push my pace a little to see how long before the other person would pass me. Some of the male runners are faster and they passed easily, but the two behind me on loop three never did pass (and in fact I gained distance on them on one of the hills at mile 2). Pushing myself a little helped my pace; I finished lap 3 in 23:40.

Overall, I ran 11.5 miles in 110 minutes. My pace has been faster throughout this week, and yesterday I kept under the 10 minute mile throughout the run. At the end I waded into the lake as I did last week. It was super cold, but it really does feel oddly good on the legs. I got a few questioning looks from some nearby anglers and a group of walkers. I few months ago I probably would've thought I was crazy from their point of view, too!

Here's how my lap splits were for yesterdays run:

Lap 1 26:46 26:46 (I walked 4.5 minutes for warm up)
Lap 2 24:00 50:46
Lap 3 23:40 1:14:26
Lap 4 24:43 1:39:09
Lap 5 11:03 1:50:12 (1.1 mile add-on to make 110 minutes)

A Dip in the Lake (and I Might Be the Dip)

Yesterday was another great run. I was worried on Friday night when the rain was coming down steadily that we would be in for a wet morning, but the skies opened up sometime through the night, and the sun was shining. (Good thing it was beaming in the window; my alarm did not sound and I may have slept late if it hadn't been sunny.)

We met at Bloedel Donovan Park, my old stomping grounds. (Side note: I did not know the docks in the swimming area had been taken out. I wonder when that happened?) We left Bloedel, went north toward Alabama Street and met the Railroad Trail. It runs by Scudder's Pond, into Whatcom Falls Park before turning north toward Alabama Street. It then continues west where it eventually passes over I-5 at Lincoln Street. Round trip is about 6.5 miles, so I ran that out-and-back twice, then ventured into Whatcom Falls park, staying on the northeast trail system for a few minutes before ending at Bloedel.

I ran (as close as I can figure) 15 miles! My total time was 158 minutes. I definitely was tired at the end, but not dragging. Coach Terry watched me as I ran the last stretch and she told me my form looked good.

After finishing the run I put on my flip-flops and went into Lake Whatcom. It was icy cold, which felt both horrible and great on my legs. Pictured with me (right) are my teammates Sherry (middle, who is walking the RNR half marathon) and Joyal (left, who is running the Mayor's Midnight Sun marathon in Anchorage later in June). We're meeting at Lake Padden again next Saturday, so we'll see how the temperature compares.

It was a good morning!

Blister Update

I think it prudent to report the good, bad and ugly of my training. You got the ugly with the picture of the blister on my toe. I asked Coach Terry if she had any favorite covers or pads for blisters, and she suggested one that she has used. Then she suggested I try to drain it, which I did yesterday afternoon.

Sounds gross, I know. It really wasn't as bad as I expected, though. After yesterday's run a regular blister formed in the middle of the "C" of the blood blister. I actually had to go through a layer of calloused skin to get to the blisters, but once I did they both drained a little. My toe looks a little worse for wear still, but it's at least a more normal color. And it isn't sore, which is even better!

Black Toe

I have heard about runners getting "black toe," but I didn't think it would happen so soon to me. This blister formed on my left second toe after I ran 13 miles a few weeks ago. I only felt it a little bit for a day or two afterwards, but after running last weekend, the blister was really sore. It seemed to be like a blister over a callous. It wasn't until this morning that it became this color. (Oddly enough, it doesn't hurt like it did on Sunday.)

Isn't it pretty?

Retreat Running

Last weekend I had the great opportunity to go to Holden Village, a place I have been waiting to visit for 15 years. It is a small community nestled in the heart of Wenatchee National Forest, about 10 miles west (and 2000 feet above) the village of Lucerne on Lake Chelan. Holden was originally a copper mining community, and the land is now cared for by the Lutheran Church, and used a retreat center. It is a quiet, restful place, like no other I know.

But retreating did not keep me from running. In fact it was an aspect of the retreat for me; I woke up early on both Saturday and Sunday mornings (before 7 a.m. both days, which isn't usual for me, especially lately) and I was able to run before breakfast. It was wonderful to take in the fresh, cold mountain air and be connected to nature as being alone among the trees can allow. I chose to run along the main road that leads into the village for a few reasons. First because I knew there was no chance of getting lost along the road (I was running alone, after all) and second because it was completely clear of snow. Many of the paths and trails around the village were still covered with several inches of compact snow, though in just the few days I was there, melting had made some noticable changes around the buildings.

I ran 110 minutes on Saturday morning, and I'm guessing around 10 miles. I could hear running water in the creek(s) near the road, and woodpeckers tapping in the nearby trees. Thankfully that is the closest I got to wildlife; Saturday afternoon there was a bear sighting further down the road! The bears are just coming out of hibernation, and I think this was the first sighting of the season at Holden. I'm glad I wasn't the one who sighted it!

I did short runs on Friday afternoon (we arrived in the village Friday morning) and on Sunday morning. I didn't have any motivation issues over the weekend as I do sometimes; perhaps because the retreat was a chance for reflection and decompressing, which is what running often provides for me. At any rate, it was a great weekend.

Half Marathon

I ran 13 miles! That's the equilvalent of a half-marathon!

Let me back up, though. For the first time, I missed Saturday morning's group run. Okay, I missed when I was out of town, but that was planned. This was not. I had what I call the "remnants" of a bad migraine (not a full migraine, but light, lingering pain) and the beginnings of a cold. I debated about going, but my feeling was that the running would turn "remnants" into a full-on migraine, so I decided it would be better not to run Saturday morning.

So to get a long run in this weekend, Erin and I set out Sunday afternoon. She just cleaned up her bike, so she road along (sometimes ahead of me) and I ran. We went to the Interurban, because it is a good, bike-friendly trail, and we figured it wouldn't be as busy as some places in town. Not to mention, the Interurban is the longest trail I know in town. It's becoming pretty familiar territory now, though we covered some new ground yesterday.

This week we were scheduled for 140 minutes. I was glad to have Erin with me! It was great not to feel alone on the trail, and she helped motivate me the last 20 minutes, when I was tired and feeling ready to stop. We parked at the Rotary Trailhead, which is the parking lot along Old Fairhaven Parkway just west of 22nd Street. We followed the trail all the way to the Clayton Beach parking lot, which is where the trail ends, turned around and followed it back, passing the parking lot and following the trail into Fairhaven. We went to the intersection of 10th and Harris before turning around and ending at the car. Including the few minutes of warm-up, we finished in 140 minutes, which is just under 11 minutes per mile average.

I've been ready to push beyond the 10 mile mark. Not that I think 10 miles isn't significant (it is!) but part of my motivation is hitting the next landmark, cutting my pace, or surpassing my old milestone. Setting a new personal distance record has been on my mind for a few weeks. And I did it!

Strength Phase: Week 4

I had intended to update about the hills training that is part of strength phase, and I realize that I have failed with that. It is now week four, and I have not written about hills since week one. So here will be four weeks in one post.

1. (Recap) I ran at Boulevard Park and used Taylor Dock as my hill. I ran up six consecutive times and felt good about that, except I felt like it wasn't enough of a challenge.

2. I changed my route to the trail I often run near home. It passes Birchwood Park and heads to Little Squalicum Beach then curves up toward B'ham Tech. There is a dandy hill leading up to Lindbergh Street, and that is where I did my hill training. This was quite a bit more challenging; I managed to run up five times, but it was a push that fifth time. It was a sluggish run in general, and the jog home after the hills was more of a push than usual. I know I got a pretty good workout in those 40 minutes, though.

3. I set out on the same course as last week, but I have to say, this was the worst run ever. I was tired, uncomfortable, sore; I couldn't get a "groove" going at all. I had to take a walk break after only 10 minutes (which I haven't had to do for many months). When I got to the hill, I tried to get mentally set, but I barely made it up the second time. I walked home. Without giving all of the details (no need for this to turn into a counselling session), I was in not in good mental health, and the best thing for me was not to push myself.

4. Yesterday was week four of hill training. I feel like a new person compared to last week, and I had a good run yesterday. I kept the same route, began with an easy-paced run and was prepared to tackle the hill. I ran up seven consecutive times, which I feel good about. I don't know how to describe the hill other than to say it takes me about 40 seconds to run up the whole length, and it is way more challenging than Taylor Dock. My total run was 40 minutes yesterday.

Next week begins Part II of Strength Phase: tempo training. This incorporates short sprints into the main run in order to work on increasing pace. Check back to see how that goes!

10 Miles of Mediocrity

I had a very tough running week last week. I'm not really sure why; perhaps I inadvertently trained too hard the week before, leaving my body tired and trying to recover while I continued to push. I didn't feel completely "good" last week, though I can't pinpoint specific symptoms of illness. Whatever the reasons, running was a struggle. I was tired, sore, and uncomfortable.

It occurs to me though, that it was week 3 of Strength Phase. When I first started training I did anticipate feeling tired and sore; I guess I thought it might happen sooner. Or perhaps since I felt so good for so many weeks, I forgot that it might not continue.

Anyway, Saturday's run was really nothing incredible. We met at Fairhaven Village Green and followed the Interurban Trail again (no 50K-ers this time). This time we ran through Arroyo Park, which was completely new territory for me (we followed the street for a few blocks last time). It basically is a densely wooded area of trails, one of which is the Interurban. It was a little confusing, actually because the "main trail" isn't any larger or better worn than the side trails. But there were a couple of formidable hills, which made for good training (insert huffing and puffing here).

I walked amid my running. My strategy for the marathon will be to walk at specific intervals (something like run 9 minutes, walk 1), so it is good practice to incorporate walking on the long training runs. Besides which, after the week I had, I was in no condition to push running the whole time. Walking relieves some of the muscles that are stressed during running. Consequently, my pace was slower than the last few weeks. I finished 10 miles in 115 minutes. In some ways it is disappointing to feel like I'm back in the same place I was a month ago, but at the same time, I'm glad I completed the 10 miles without injury. And I suspect in another month, I'll actually be in better shape and not feel like I was set back at all. (That's my hope, anyway).

This is all part of the ups and downs of training, I suspect. I'm hopeful for a better week ahead.

Confession of a Fraud

I have a confession: I really did not want to run today. It was sunny and beautiful outside, but it was also cold, and I knew that. I was at home freezing, snuggled under a blanket, telling myself that I should go for a run, but knowing that I really had no motivation to do so. But Erin, who was home today, told me to go. She knew, as I did, that I would feel better if I went. And it was true. Within a few minutes I started to warm up, and by the end of my 35 minutes, my whole body was warmer, and I did feel better. I'm really glad I went.

The point of this is that we all need moral support. I'm sure that some people are intrinsically motivated to exercise. I am not one of those people. I need to talk myself into going for my runs as often and not. Sometimes I even offer myself some sort of "reward" for going (such as a hot bath at the end, or a nibble of chocolate). Sometimes, as today, I need an extra push to get me moving. I'm glad I had it today because it can be hard to come by.

I have said a few times that I feel like a fraud; that I'm not really a runner, and I think the fact that I need so much deliberate, external movitation is why I feel that way. Thankfully, I have a lot of great supporters in my life, and their encouragement acts as a sort of motivation. So, thanks to all of you for cheering me on. It really does help!

Four More Loops

Well, I was hoping to run 12 or 13 miles today. We were scheduled for 120 minutes (which at last week's pace would be 12 miles), but I couldn't do it. I pulled a muscle in the back of my right leg, which caused an uncomfortable run for the 10.4 miles that I did complete. I didn't want to overdo things as that can cause bigger problems or make recovery longer, so I finished early.

That said, I did complete four loops around Lake Padden, which is the same as I ran last week. Today, however, I finished four minutes faster (101 minutes). That is another great accomplishment, and I'm not disappointed in that! I admit that today I felt much the same as I expected to feel last week; the last lap around the lake was tough, and I was tired. I'm glad that Joyal was running ahead of me. She was a minute or two behind me on the first few laps, but caught up with me on a water break and then passed me. Without her setting the pace on the last lap, I likely would have had a slower time.

Coach Terry and Joyal are encouraging me to sign up for the Whidbey Island Half Marathon, which is April 15. I have another commitment, so I won't be able to participate, but I appreciate their encouragement. And it would be great to have one race experience before heading to the Big Event in June. I may research to see if there are any other events I could enter. I'll "keep you posted" about that.

This photo of Coach Terry and me is another one taken by team member Sherry MacWain. It is actually from a few weeks ago when we met at North Lake Whatcom, but I don't have any other photos. One of these days I'll bring my camera and get some team shots.

105 Minutes!

A few weeks ago I wrote about my first 10 mile run. It's still a bit amazing to me that I did it. Except, I did it again!

I continue to surprise myself. My last 10 miler (okay, 9.8 actually) took me about 118 minutes (which includes my warm-up time and a short walk break in the middle). When you do the math, that is around 12 minutes per mile. Yesterday I ran 10.4 miles in 105 minutes. Do that math, it is 10 minutes per mile.

I really didn't expect to hold that pace for the duration of my run; I went into the morning anticipating that I would be tired by the end and my last miles would be slower. I've shaved a good minute per mile off of my regular workout pace, which I haven't been trying to do. Pace is really secondary to consistancy to me, and while I calculate my pace at the end of each run, I generally don't focus on achieving a certain one.

Yesterday we met at Lake Padden. It was rainy (again) and windy, though I didn't get as wet as I expected. I think the tree cover dispersed some of the rain. The trail was really muddy. The main trail is 2.6 miles around; I completed the loop four times. We'll be running there next week as well, so it will be a fun for me to compare the two days.

Grey Days and Good Things

Well, it was another wet, grey day here in the Northwest. I've never been one to complain about the rain. In fact, I generally love the rain and that it makes our climate what it is. I confess, however, that I'm getting tired of the wet days we've had, and am longing for a few consecutive days of sun (warmth would be nice, but I would take just the one).

This week began the "strength phase" of training, and today was my first day of hills workout. The strength phase is an eight-week phase to--you guessed it--build strength. The weekday runs are longer (40 and 50 minutes instead of 30) and the long runs get longer. Then there are also hills training and tempo workouts, which will be the last four weeks of strength phase. The hills workout is running 4 to 6 (and later 6 to 8) hill laps in the middle of a 40-minute run, once a week.

I went to Boulevard Park for my run today. The tide was way low, and I could smell the fishy, sea smell more than usual. That sounds bad, but it actually wasn't. Anyway, I did an easy-paced run through the park toward downtown, then returned to use Taylor Dock for my hill. I remember the great feeling of joy and relief the first time I ran the whole way up the dock last spring; it took me some time to work into that and it was a great accomplishment for me when I did it. (See my post about great days. That day last year would fit in.) Today I ran up it six times. And it didn't seem that bad to me. I may have to find a steeper hill for next week to challenge myself a bit more. I ended with an easy-paced run around the park again to complete my 40 minutes (and then ran up the dock again to get back to my car. So that makes seven times, I guess).

I really did not want to run today. The marathon still scares me a little (okay, more than that. If I allow myself to think too technically about it, it really freaks me out), so having that as my goal is keeping me dedicated. It would have been really easy to snuggle under a blanket and not go out in the rain if I didn't have this goal. But honestly, I'm really enjoying it. I didn't expect to like the long runs, or the hills, or running five days a week so much, but I really do. Sometimes I dread going out, but once I do, I wonder what my dread was about. For me it's in a way like therapy, and as Martha would say: It's a good thing.

Grey Day on Chuckanut

Well, I'd love to report that today was a great run with some awesome milestone. It wasn't, though it wasn't a bad morning either. It was raining; steadily but not heavily (typical Whatcom County drizzle).

We met at Fairhaven Village Green at 7:30 a.m. and followed the Interurban Trail toward Chuckanut Mountain. I reached our turn-around point at Chuckanut Crest Drive just as the first swarm of runners from the Chuckanut 50k (that's 31 miles) were approaching. Boy was it fun to run against them as I left the water stop to head back to the starting point! Once back to Fairhaven I followed the trail toward Boulevard Park for a short distance before turning back to end at the Village Green. I ran 92 minutes today, and I'm estimating about 8.2 to 8.5 miles.

It has been a long while since I've traversed the Interurban Trail. There would have been some pretty views of the bay and islands had it not been grey and raining. Still, it's a nice trail and probably pretty quiet when the crazy runners are not going by in droves. (Wait. 31 miles is only five more than I'll be running in just a few months. I guess I either add my name to the "crazy" list or drop that title all together!) We were a smaller group today, and with the 50k-ers, I lost track of most of my "teammates" along the trail; again I felt pretty alone out there. Guess my mood is as grey as the weather today.

But hey, how many of you can say you ran 8 miles before 9 a.m.? Guess that's not so bad!

Two Great Mornings

Sometimes I finish my run and I want to thank God it's over, and I question what got into my head to start me doing this in the first place. But other times I finish a run that leaves me with a smile on my face and a silent (or not silent) cheer: "Yes! What a great run!" There are different things that to me make for a great run. Sometimes it's beating a time or distance goal, or sometimes the run itself just feels so relaxed and "easy" that I want to keep going.

Yesterday my run was both of those things. I went to the trail where I started running one year ago: South Bay Trail. I begin in Fairhaven at Mill street, and walk for a warm up (which I always do) to 10th Street. I start running just before heading down Taylor Dock to the boardwalk. I follow the trail through Boulevard Park toward downtown, and my usual turn around point is where the trail meets Wharf Street. But yesterday I went beyond that point, going an extra .2 miles before turning around (adding about 3 minutes total). That doesn't seem like much, but the exciting thing was that my total running time was the same as my usual time without the extra distance! Hey, I take joy in the small numbers and little victories. Not only that, it was a very comfortable run. I didn't feel any back pains or knee stiffness, and really felt like I could keep going. (I didn't because I'm sticking strictly to the training schedule which said to run 40 minutes. It is important not to overtrain.)

I had another great run last week. I didn't blog because I was out of town, visiting Rob and Paige in Arcata, CA. (Side note, I love Arcata. It is a small community, but the residents are very into supporting local business, organic foods, and other things "hippie." And there is a ton of stuff to do in the area if you like beaches, forests --Redwood National Park is just a short drive north-- or nature.) I took a few morning jogs at Arcata Marsh (see picture above), thanks to Rob's suggestion. One of the entrances was just a few blocks from his apartment, so I was able to walk there, then run on the trails around the marsh. Tuesday morning was beautiful; clear and crisp. It was quiet, and I turned off my music just to enjoy the serenity of my surroundings. The trail has a little slower feeling than some, and I'm not really certain what distance I ran, but it doesn't really matter. The air and the quiet and the run were all great.

Along the west side of the marsh I saw two Great Blue Herons and one Great Egret. These are gorgeous birds. I see herons at Boulevard Park sometimes when the tide is low but I've never seen an egret until being in Arcata. I went back for my camera, but was unable to capture a picture due to dead batteries, but I stood and watched them for several minutes. I was within a few yards of one of the herons. It was the perfect end to a good run. One of the best mornings ever. (I captured this picture of a Great Egret on Monday afternoon when Erin, Rob, and I walked around the marsh together.)

My First Big Milestone

... or ten milestones, technically. That's right, I ran 10 miles today! At my first team run, Joyal, one of our team's mentors, said "pretty soon you'll be telling your friends 'I ran 10 miles this morning.'" At the time I thought that seemed so unattainable, or that it would be a long way in the future. But it has been just over a month.

Not only that, I was the only one who ran the whole time. I continually surprise myself that way; who would ever think that I'd be leading the pack? Not me! I feel so completely average most of the time, but especially where fitness is concerned. I will say one of my fellow runners was not feeling well this morning, so she combined walking with running, and everyone on the team went for 110 minutes.

I have to admit, it was a little lonely to be on the trail by myself the whole time; I passed other walkers and runners and my teammates, and most everyone was with another person (or dog). But I also feel proud of my accomplishment, and I didn't compromise my pace or cut back on challenging myself only so I could have company. I imagine it can be a little lonely for some people fighting disease, too, which is why I am doing this in the first place. (Patient services is one part of Leukemia Lymphoma Society's mission.)

Our team met at North Lake Whatcom trail (see photo above, taken by team member Sherry MacWain). It has been a few years since I've been there, but I don't know why. It is a really beautiful trail with views of the lake and a few waterfalls. It is 3.1 miles one way to the end, and very worth the drive around the lake to get there (it takes about 10 minutes from the Silver Beach shopping center to get to the parking lot). There are markers posted at every half mile, so it is easy to track your distance, too, which I always appreciate. That is one way I keep myself motivated -- by challenging myself to the next landmark or milepost.

Check out the new addition to my blog: my month-to-date and year-to-date running distances. Thanks to everyone for their awesome words of encouragement! They keep me motivated as well!

Running for Life

If you've visited my Donation page you've seen the tagline on my page: Running for Life. I created that tagline for my page, and to me it has several meanings.

First, I want to be young when I'm old. Running will help me be fit and healthy -- and have life.

Second, I continue to run, after starting a year ago, with the intent that it will be a life-long activity.

Third, and most importantly, I'm running so that other people can have health. I heard at one of my TNT meetings that a cure for Leukemia could happen within 10 years, and once that cure is found, other cancer cures will likely follow. This is an incredible thought! And in the meantime, the money that Leukemia Lymphoma Society puts toward patient care services helps make life better for patients with blood cancers.

Running in the Rain

Yesterday was a group run number three -- 70 minutes. It was also the first group run to have rain. It was coming down pretty steadily, and was cold too. In fact, when I left home, the drops were heavy; dropping more than dripping. Thankfully, it didn't stay that way too long, and by the time I finished my run, the rain had finished to. I am glad that I had the foresight to bring a dry shirt and sweatshirt, though. I would have been extremely cold by the time I got home if I hadn't.

We met at Barkley Village; the Railroad Greenway goes through the residential area, eventually meeting Alabama Hill, and continuing into Whatcom Falls Park. I didn't go into the park, but plan to do so another time. Despite the rain, and the vast number of puddles dotting the trail, there were a lot of people out; and not just my fellow TNT-ers, either. I'm always glad to know that people are using the trails that the parks department has worked to develop.

As is usual for me, the first 10-15 minutes were the worst for me. I warm up, then start running and always feel like I don't want to keep going. But I do, and by the end, I find my pace and feel good (even if a little tired). It makes me wonder: am I meant to be a longer-distance runner, or not a runner at all? I ran the whole time, with a brief water stop in the middle, which makes me feel good about my training so far!

Cuz Opposite is Opposite

Yesterday morning it was windy and rainy here, and I confess the last thing I really wanted to do was head out for a run. I kept myself busy until early afternoon when I usually go out, then grudgingly pulled on my fleece, hat, and rain coat, laced up my shoes and left for my 30 minute run. And wouldn't you know! I hit a calm in the weather. The trail was wet, and I did get sprinkled upon a bit, but it wasn't bad at all. I got home and actually felt warmer than I did before I left.

Ahh, but today. Today began overcast, then mid-morning I could see patches of blue sky from the window, and the sun was peaking out. And I smiled and said a little word of thanks. Again, I kept myself busy until after lunch, then laced up my shoes, put on my fleece and hat and left for another 30 minuter. And wouldn't you know! Not five minutes out, it began to rain (and I without my rain jacket.) Very cold rain. Icy almost. I cursed. Aloud. I got home colder than I was before I left.

I will say, it did not downpour, as I thought it might, so I am glad for that. But it was very cold today. Not a bad run all told, though. I did feel good to breath some crisp air. And for the first time on this trail, I saw a raccoon, no doubt scurrying to dryer places.

A Big Thank You

A big Thank You to all the women at Design-her Gals. The cool likeness of me that you've seen on my letterhead, emails, and website was made possible by Design-her Gals. If you aren't familiar, you should check out the website! Once you register, you can create and save up to six different gals. The site has a great array of clothing, accessories, and "fun stuff" to hold in your hands, so you can customize a gal for all the different moods or interests you have. Then you can use your gal on notecards, business cards, letterhead, invites, stickers and a bunch of other things. You can also send e-cards for free.

Another reason why I really love the company is that they use the sight to raise funds and awareness for their Gal to Gal foundation, which supports Stage 4 breast cancer patients. And while that is their passion, Jeanne, the founding gal, was generous to support Leukemia Lymphoma society by donating my e-gal to me. Thank You!

Feelin' it Today!

Yesterday really was a great workout. I know because I'm feeling it today. I woke up with stiff, tiredly-sore legs. Usually I just feel a little stiffness in my calves if I haven't stretched well enough, but today I was sore practically from the waist down (or more acurately, from the lower-back down). I sat with a cup of coffee and heat on my legs, which revived them (mostly). I'm pretty certain this is only one of many mornings that I'll be feeling a little pain.

We had a really lovely church service this morning, and it gave me the chance to reflect on being called to do service to others, which is what this project is about. I really hope I'll be able to help some people through the funds that I raise. I'm so thankful for my health!

Today's Group Run

We met this morning at 8 a.m. for our weekly group run. Thank God the sun was peaking out, and that the sunrise is coming earlier. It would have been very hard to drag my sorry butt out of bed had it been dark! Today was a 60 minute-run (up from last week's 50) but I surprised myself again by running the entire time. There seem to be only four or five of us who are actually running, and it still amazes me that I am one of them! "Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew” (unknown). I ran across that quote this week, and I think it's really true.

Today's trail was at the Stimpson Nature Reserve, which is a beautiful area off Lake Louise Road toward Sudden Valley. This was my first time on the trail, but I will definately go back! I encourage any of you "trail mongers" to visit it as well. It was extremely peaceful, and the trail was well-maintained. There are two connected trail loops; the shorter one is a little easier route and is about a 1.6 miles. The larger loop is about 3 miles and is much hillier. A great workout for the buns and thighs, I will say! It is really a credit to our community that we have so many wonderful trails, people who donate land, and people who maintain it! Any of you out-of-towners: if you're coming to Bellingham for a visit, be prepared to head to this trail with me! (And some of you in-towners might be prepared as well.)

Intro to Team in Training

I am training to participate in the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma. I'm completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. I need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance the Society's mission. Thank You!

My first group training run was Saturday, February 10, and it went well. Our team meets weekly to train, but I am also running on my own four days a week, which is new for me! Two years ago I was not running at all, and even one year ago I would not have thought that I'd be training for a marathon!

As challenging as this is, I'm sure fighting blood cancers is far worse, and I keep my focus on that. I'm thankful for my health, and hope that my efforts can bring health to more people.