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!