Trails & Muscles 2011

2011 FIGURE & RACE CRAZINESS

2011-04-21T19:46:00.000-07:00

JANUARY FUN: Well kids, the first 4 months of 2011 have been wild and certainly merit a new blog post. Kicked off January with 10 races, including the second of the Northstar at Tahoe snowhoe race series, which was a half marathon and the longest I'd run in snowshoes by far. Conclusion: that's too far on snowshoes! The real January highlight for me though was my first ever track meet where I actually did field events - I'm pretty sure during my one season of track in h.s. I may have done only long jump or no field events at all perhaps...as I have no recollection of them. So, I made up for that lack by trying the javelin, hammer, discus, shotput and long jump at the Chabot College all-comers meet. It was great because the only people there were me and one other girl (who was a college field athlete) and her coach who showed me how to do everything right, and I tried to mirror what the other girl did. Now, I must stress the word "tried" because I don't think any glory awaits me in field events! bahahha. But they are so fun - my favorite by far was the hammer. I ended January with a new 5k PR, but the course was not certified and the distance was in question, so I decided to wait to call it a PR of 21:04 until I had a certified course.

FEBRUARY BLAH: February didn't start off on a good foot with a DNF at Jed Smith. I have to say it was kind of a wussy DNF. I had no real MAJOR issue. I just felt like crap mentally and physically. My heart wasn't in the race. And my IT injury from the old broken foot reared its ugly head. So at mile 22 I was out. I curled up and slept for a bit then felt fine. Strangely, I don't regret the drop. I really like the old Jed Smith course around the farm much better than the new one and question whether I will even sign up next year. I did only 7 races in February, 2 of which were orienteering races in Red Rocks park, which was amazingly beautiful but tearfully frustrating for me (as I'm not very good at orienteering yet). Only the orienteering races were longer than a 10k. This was mostly because I was gearing up for 2 figure competitions in March and wanted to ease back from the longer running distances. For that same resason, I only did 4 races in March, 2 5ks and 2 10ks - and ended with a new 5k PR on a certified course in LA the day after my second figure competition - 21:05. The balancing act required for the figure and racing is quite a challenge. I'm still trying to nail it down as I like to do both things - and of course folks ask, why not focus on one to do your best - well, it's the same answer I have for when people ask why i dont train six months for a marathon to get my best time = not nearly as much fun as doing lots of things - and anyway, so what if my marathon PR could be a few minutes faster - who cares? it's not like I'm on the edge of elite times or something. So it's all about what I want. Which is to do it all, obviously ;)

MARCH FIGURE: The figure competitions, as usual, were fun but frustrating. I liked the set up for the first one in San Diego a bit better, but it turned out that strangely there was only one other girl in my height class (this is very unusual for my height) - I asked to combine the classes to have a better competition, but they didn't want to do that. So, I won my class against the other woman, which isn't very satisfying because I prefer having competition. However, the San Diego provided a good warm-up for the LA show, which had a normal sized class. I felt more comfortable on stage in the second show and was generally happy with my performance, though I definitely have identified several areas I need to improve upon in order to win an overall. The girl who beat me in my class ended up winning the overall so that made me feel a bit better about a second place in my class.

APRIL RACE CRAZE: April's when things got a little crazy. Kicked off with American River 50-miler out of nowhere really. I hadn't been running training miles as you might think given the lack of race distance I had been doing. Somehow, AR wasn't too bad - I kept a decent pace mostly but around 12 miles from 26-38, I slowed due to some stomach/bathroom issues and was worried I wouldnt be able to finish well, but I managed to pick it up again and felt strong at the end - even ran up that crazy hill at mile 47.5! AR was my second 50-miler (Firetrails was 1st), not including the 12 hour race I did where I went 56 and change. I felt much better after AR then after Firetrails recovery wise so I wasn't too worried about being able to do Boston a week later - I was just concerned that it would be a really slow marathon since my legs were feeling heavy. Or that my knee would get re-injured.

So, AR50 was last Saturday, then I flew to Massachusetts Wednesday night and on Thursday I conquered the little woodsy 5k where I had dnf'd 2 years before due to a hamstring pull. Saturday J & I did a 5 mile trail race up to a buddhist pagoda in the middle of nowhere (okay, it was outside Amherst but felt like the middle of nowhere!).. I liked how volunteers were banging gongs up the steep hill to the end and how the finisher's medal was an origami crane. After that race, I was feeling okay for the marathon despite battling intense allergy attacks all week - was just hoping that would clear up during the race (usually does from race adrenaline, etc). We stayed in Boston, rode the bus hella early to the start and got a short pre-race massage to stay out of the cold before it started.

The 115th Boston provided me with the opposite experience from the first time I ran Boston - the first time I went out way too fast (classic boston error) and crashed hard in the later miles. This time I couldn't seem to get going, even on the downhill! My splits were below pace and I was more than a little worried that a good time was completely out of reach. Turned out the wind at my back (awesome tail wind) saved the day - I got a PR (with a big tailwind asterisk) of 3:37:54. My previous best (at CIM) was 3:39:28 - so not a large PR at all and I give credit to the wind, but I'll take it anyway and at least I technically have a Boston 2012 qualifying time, though I'm pretty sure due to the new wave registration I won't get in (I know girls running 3:20s who are worried). I'm not complaining, I'm just planning for next year!

So, you thought I was done? Well, so did I, until I decided to run a little Mass XC 5k the day after Boston. I didn't really think I'd pull off anything faster than my marathon pace to be honest. My calves were tight, my knees felt a little rickety. But I had a great first mile - sub 8 pace which was surprising to me. But then I felt a spasm in my left hammie that made me walk and jog the rest. Goin to the sports massage master now to work that out. Not sure if Ruth Anderson will happen - if not, I'll just hit the figure training hard...after all, Contra Costa is around the corner now (not even sure if I'll be ready since I can't see any abs after all that marathon and vacay food!)

2010 YEAR IN REVIEW

2010-12-30T18:36:00.000-08:00

2011 is going to be EXCELLENT. I can feel it. I expect great things to happen. And believe they will. Because I will make them happen. I think it will be a stronger faster year altogether, partly because 2010 was such a struggle. In mid-September of 2009, I broke my fibula during the Stephens Creek 50k. The bone healed quickly, but led to an onslaught of various compensation injuries. I fought hard to recover and get back to racing, but at the beginning of every race I was never sure how it would go - whether something would force me to walk to the end.

I still managed to beat my time at the Pike's Peak Marathon, achieve my goal of completing two swim-run races (swimming being the hard part for me), complete my first 50-miler and get several PRs and good times along the way! I also threw in some orienteering races, which are ridiculously hard but fun. On top of everything, I bought my first house in the Woodside hills, and I love living there very much.

The injuries also led me down an UNEXPECTED path, ending in a BodyPump instructor certification while I was coming off the cast. One thing led to another, and I found out how much I love lifting weights. This led me into the world of bodybuilding, where I ended up competing in four figure competitions during the summer of 2010, getting some great photo shoots and ending up on the cover of the September issue of Hardfitness online magazine! While I love lifting, the whole high heel, glittery bikini, dark tan, hair extensions, and graceful stage walk was a big challenge for this tomboy! But in the end it was fun and definitely something I want to keep doing. Also, since I had the break from racing a bit, I had time to start learning to snowboard last season, with a good friend by my side. This year I'm trying to continue to learn and improve and I find it very fun and relaxing to escape to the Tahoe mountains. 2010 provided a real lesson in determination and turned out to be a great adventure!

2010 Highlights:

Figure Competitions: 4 - 3 local, one national (local level, 2 firsts in class, one 5th; national; 13th in class, out of ~32)

Number of Races: 58

Total Race Miles: ~593
Average Miles per Race: 10.231

Ultras: 5 (50k x 2, Quad Dipsea, Firetrails 50, New Year's 12 hour (~56M))

Marathons: 2 (CIM, Pike's Peak)

Swim Races: 2

PRs: 12k; 4.5M; Half M, 50M

Other: Competed in XC series for first time; started snowboarding; started orienteering races!
Favorite Race of 2010: Whiskeytown 50k (pouring bursts of rain through an amazingly lush green forest with about 20 rushing stream crossings - it was awesome!)

2011 - GAME ON!

Racing Journal (January 2010)

2010-02-12T16:05:00.000-08:00

Weeks 1-4 (1/1-1/31)
January miles: 11.2
January race miles: 11.2
2010 miles: 11.2
2010 race miles: 11.2
2010 races: 2

I've finally gathered up the enthusiasm to begin the 2010 year blog as my injuries are finally on the mend, as of this week only! It's taken much longer than expected for them to heal, but in the meantime I've been: lifting like crazy, doing and teaching BodyPump (weights class), swimming like crazy, and, this week, taking spinning classes! I'm psyching up to do the Contra Costa figure competition in late May. It will be a whole lot of work and a strict regimen during the weeks prior, but hopefully it will be fun and I'll do well :) Also, getting better in the pool, though I know I'll never be a fast swimmer - I do hope to be a good swimmer though. As far as running, well, I haven't been at all really, with the minor exception of a random new year's day race and the JazzTrax snowshoe race, both of which hurt my knee a lot to do... but were still fun. I ran a mile on the treadmill without pain for the first time the day before yesterday...hoping to keep up that trend and get back my running. After all, I'm registered for, get this, way too cool 50k, AR 50 and Boston! At this point I'm hoping to be able to do Boston, slowly... one can hope.

Pics and article about JazzTrax:
http://www.snowshoemag.com/viewContent.cfm?content_id=615

Racing Journal (November - December 2009)

2009-11-18T11:09:00.000-08:00

2009 Year in Review:

2009 Highlights:
- 809.83 '09 race miles; 88 '09 races; 1,033.84 total '09 running miles!
- 5 ultras; 3 marathons! 1st Boston!
- Series places: 3rd in 30-39 PCTR; 4th 30-39 PA Ultra series (next year!); DSE [to come]
- 3 mud races; 3 snowshoe races; 1 all women's trail race; 5 night races!
- 1 broken fibula!
- Favorite race of the year: Pike's Peak Marathon!!!
- Lease favorite race of the year: Ohlone! I'll get you someday my nemesis long ass hill climb!
- Favorite new sport: Snowshoeing!

2008 & 2009 Combined Stats:
- 1,434.72 total race miles to date ('08 & '09); 156 total races to date ('08 & 09)
- 6 Ultras
- 5 Marathons

Week 52 (12/21-12/31)
Week 52 miles: 8.1
Week 52 race miles: 8.1
2009 TOTAL MILES: 1033.84
2009 TOTAL RACE MILES: 809.83
2009 TOTAL RACES: 88

Wrapped up this year with a fizzle and a drizzle, well, drizzly weather anyway. Despite being in recovery, thought I'd jog a Christmas race in Richmond (5-miler) and proved to myself I can't jog races anymore - I ended up sprinting out a girl for second place female in the last 50m of the race lol. I did have fun with the Mission Rock 5k, mostly b/c I pushed it only to about 90% and also because Chikara was eating hot dogs then running and then eating again so that was interesting and also Jason decided to run the entire race BACKWARDS! LOL. He told me he was planning to do somethingthat would make him run slower than me by a lot, but I didn't guess what he was planning til just before the race started when I saw he was not donning any funny costume. He was around 8-10 mins slower than me - it was pretty funny.

Race Stats:
Richmond Christmas 5-Miler: 2nd F; 3rd Overall; forget time, somewhere slow around 40.
DSE Mission Rock 5k: stats to come

Week 50-51 (12/7-12/20)
Week 50&51 miles: 7.5; 9.07
Week 50&51 race miles: 7.5; 9.07
2009 miles: 1025.44
2009 race miles: 801.73
2009 races: 86

Running: Well almost to the end of 2009! Not exactly how I was planning to end the racing year but it's not that bad either. Knee's still injured, foot's on the mend but not there yet...trying some new things, thinking a lot about foot strenthening in general and experimenting with different types of shoes. I think I'll save the running highlights of '09 for the next post. For now, I think I'm on an official race break for a bit since a) need to rest foot/knee anyway; and b) no good races during this time of year around here. I'll continue swimming. Added one new workout, below.

Race Stats:
Coastal Muir Beach 5M (actually 4.4M):
DSE Rainbow Falls 5K: 23:14; 7:28/M; 46/144; 7th F
PCTR Rodeo Beach 8K: 41:42; 8:31/M; 21/106; 2nd F Age; 4th F
Christmas Classic 1M: [to come]
Christmas Classic 5K: [to come]

Swimming:
After same warm-up:
1x50, 100, 150, 200 w/RI 15
30s rest
1x200 kick
30s rest
1x200, 150, 100, 50, RI 15 with 200 and 150 moderate and 100 and 50 fast
then same cooldown

Week 49 (11/30 - 12/6)
mini post:

Running: Well, I decided to test out the running again with a very slowly jogged Ferry Building 4-miler...ran a 10 minute mile and then gradually sped up - unfortunately, after 2 miles, same issue with the left knee tweaking out, so I sped up because going faster hurt less, but overall, not ideal! Means my right foot and calf is still not strong enough I guess - not going to run again for a while, til I get more strenth in the right leg...it's so odd because I can lift a ton on it doing squats, etc. and swim with no issue...

Swimming: Have done 2 more of the swim workouts (described below), adding on 3 100s and 100 extra for the kick, so it's now the below workout, plus warm-up and cool-down, and I'm totally digging it! I'm going to change it up a bit soon though just to keep things interesting :) I'm feeling better in the water after a few of these workouts. :)
8x100 free w/20s rest intervals (RIs) @ med pace; 2 min rest
1x200 kick; 2 min rest
5x50 free w/45 RIs @fast pace

Race Stats:

DSE Ferry Building 4M: 37:15; 9:18; 70/123; 21st F - note, going faster felt better on injury

Week 47&48 (11/16-11/29)
Week 47&48 miles: 8.1
Week 47&48 race miles: 8.1
2009 miles 1014.87
2009 race miles: 781.16
2009 races: 80

Week 47 I had to reign in it and not run at all so I thought I'd be good for one of my faves - the Turkey Trail Trot in Golden Gate Park on Thanksgiving day. Unfortunately, every thing felt screwy, my ankle/foot hurt and my knee on the other side flared up around 3 miles in. I was running all wonky. I still managed around an 8:30 pace, but that doesn't make me happy, and in the 5K on Sunday I had to walk the last part. I need to take a real break from running until foot is healed up all the way!!! So, in the meantime, I'm converting this blog for a little while into a NEW NEWBIE SWIMMING BLOG. that's right. I've been swimming inconsistently for a little less than a year, teaching myself freestyle (couldn't do it really before), reading up on the subject and getting tips from masters swimmers in neighboring lanes...that being said, today I did my first real pre-planned swim workout, and I liked it better than what I've been doing. I did:
Warm-Up
50 breast stroke
50 free (with hand gloves)
50 kickboard
200 free + stretch triceps, lats, forearms
100 freestyle kick + stretch quads, hams, calves & feet
Work-Out
5x100 free w/20s rest intervals (RIs) @ med pace
2 min rest
1x100 kick
2 min rest
5x50 free w/45 RIs @fast pace
Cool-down
100 free with gloves
100 free @ easy pace
50 backstroke
I really liked this workout, especially adding in the sprints, which was hard for me. I thought I could do more at the end though, so next time I'll do 8x100 free w/20s RIs instead of only 5, and 1x200 kick instead of the 1x100kick.

Race Stats:
Turkey Trail Trot 5M: 42:51; 128/709 overall; 12/157 Age
Run Wild For a Child 5K: 26:26; 157/1016 overall; 44/594 F; 8/40 Age

Week 46 (11/9-11/15)
Week 46 Miles: 13.8
Week 46 Race Miles: 10.1
2009 Miles: 1006.77
2009 Race Miles: 773.06
2009 Races: 78

Back in action! Well, kind of. What a lesson in patience this past two months has been! Thursday the 12th was the first day I could run again (3.7 on the dish) and then I followed it with 2 races this weekend, one trails, one paved. And...it was too much. My foot swelled up and still hurts (as of Wednesday). So, I learned my limits for now - no doing 2 races in a row, must ice after a race and rest and maybe 7 miles is a bit long right now. And of course my cardio endurance is down and my speed, but it will come back in time...Anyway, enough about that. What have I been doing for the last two months, you ask. Well, I've been:
- lifting like crazy to prepare for a figure competition next May (hopefully);
- endeavoring to swim (better); and
- training to be a BodyPump instructor (this is totally new to me and out of my element entirely), for which I have to prepare a video of me teaching an entire class (lots of memorization involved)!
Now that my foot's better in general, these are my weekly workout goals:
- Run - 2-4 times per week, short, gentle;
- Swim - 2-3 times per week, learn the swim workouts in the book I have;
- Lift - 3 times per week, twice with trainer, once on own;
- Bodypump - at least 3 times per week - learn all fo the class tracks and film video!
- Maintain 10 overhand pull-ups; get to 15 underhanded - hit 100 pushups before end of year!!! (see my pullup club on Facebook);
- Yoga - aim for 2 times per week, but at least once per week - I've let this slip some and I'm not happy about it;
- Once foot gets better, soccer and more running!

I can handle all of it, really!

Race Stats:
Folsom Lake 7M 11/14: 1:03:28; 4th Overall (including males); 4th Female
DSE Rockaway Beach 5K 11/15: 25:12; 8th F; 2nd Age

Racing Journal (September 2009)

2009-09-08T14:38:00.000-07:00

Week 37 (9/7-9/13)
Week 37 miles: 11.7
Week 37 race miles: 2.6
2009 miles: 994.97
2009 race miles: 762.96
2009 races: 76

And...out of commission with a broken fibula due to roll at around mile 12 of the Stevens Creek 50K. I was in the lead and thought I had a chance of maintaining it, was feeling great and was going downhill when I stepped funny on an evil little twig. Hard cast for 4 weeks and who knows how long recovery back to running will take after that. I'm trying not to dwell on the missed races (Firetrails! Whiskeytown! Probably Quad Dipsea/CIM!) and the missed fall soccer season that I was really looking forward to. This shit happens sometimes. My goals now are to work on my pull-up goal of 10 overhanded, my push-up goal of 100 in a row and getting a ripped upper bod! At least in 3 weeks (as I write this) I'll be able to swim a little. Forced rest is not good for the psyche. Prior to the Stevens Creek race, I ran the Mt. Tam Hill Climb, my absolute favorite race of the year, and I managed to get 10th place for the women (you get a shirt with your place number on the back) and in that competitive group, I was pretty happy with that! I can't wait for that race next year. :) May not be updating this each week like usual since I'm out of commission for a while but check in just in case!

Race Stats:
Mt Tam Hill Climb - [to come]; 10th Female

Week 36 (8/31-9/6)

Week 36 miles: 37.25

Week 37 race miles: 24.25

2009 miles: 983.27

2009 race miles: 760.36

2009 races: 75

Awesome triple race Labor Day weekend! I'll include the Labor Day race in next week's numbers since I usually count Mon-Sunday as a week. Made it to the Mather Mud Race, which they called a 5-miler but based on times was clearly more like 4.25, which is what I'd call a significantly short course! The race itself was fun - you had to do 5 ("1-mile") loops, so that meant going through all the obstacles 5 times, including the giant mud pit, a couple wall climbs, tires and crawl shoots. I think I was the second or third woman, but I can't be sure since everyone got mixed up and then they didn't announce top 3 overalls (or even top 1 overalls!) just age group results (without times)...still waiting for results. Run on the Sly 20M was good but not "awesome" - I loved Jenkinson Lake, but didn't really love the fact that we ran a lot of fireroad and horse trails (maybe that's all they have out that way??) I mean, rough on the feet, sandy and not as pretty as nice single track, but maybe I'm just a bit spoiled here in the Bay Area!

RACE "BEST PRACTICES" #1:

I think since I do a bunch of races I'm starting to build a list in my head of some race "best practices" that I feel compelled to list out a few at a time:

1) please announce top 3 overall male and female, or at the very least the first place male and female - it is very frustrating to come in, for example, 2nd place female overall but then only get an age group award (that may or may not be a first place);

2) if overall awards are done, award the next 3 at least in the age group categories who didn't place in the overall - it is really encouraging for runners to get these awards so a few extra awards to people who placed relatively well is a good thing;

3) more races should give a discounted "no t-shirt" option, or else they should stop asking me my size and then running out of them before I get my shirt! what a waste!

4) if you have a trail run, try to pick the best trails available if you have a choice! I mean, if there is gorgeous single track, don't pick the ugly, sandy, smelly horsed up fireroad right next to it! but if you do pick it, it should be because you needed to locate an aid station someplace!

That's it for now....

Race Results:

Mather Mud Race 5M - 32:27.25*; 24/152 overall; 4th F; 2nd Age *this race was probably more like 4.25M per my guess...

Run on the Sly 20M - [to come] 6th F; 1st Age

Racing Journal (August 2009)

2009-08-05T10:39:00.001-07:00

Week 35 (8/24-8/30)
Week 35 miles: 30.7
Week 35 race miles: 30.7
2009 miles: 946.02
2009 race miles: 736.36
2009 races: 73

Well, seems like some high altitude training effects lasted through this week as I ran a slightly faster time at Lake Merced than last week - this is the first time in any race I've run an under 7 minute mile average! I hope I can keep up the speed with some work. Saturday's half marathon was blazing hot and I didn't like the course much - open, steep farmland with horses and flies. Sunday's race was the dead opposite - beautiful, cool redwood forests with runnable mudpacked singletrack (my favorite). I ran almost 20 minutes faster the second day. I'm trying to double up on longer races to prepare for Firetrails (50M)... not sure I'll be ready for that one no matter what I do but pyschologically I'm ready so I'll try it. Also this week I went cycling with some friends for the first time in a really long time (first time ever on hills) - my conclusion: I'll never be a competitive cyclist because even though I love the uphills, I really hate going fast on the downs and I'm pretty sure that's a requirement for competive cycling. Anyway, very fun for recreational purposes. Kind of like the soccer I'm playing.

Race Stats:
DSE Lake Merced #12 4.5M - 31:35; 7/mile; 19/47 overall; 2nd F
Bear Creek Trail Half Marathon - 2:18:09; 9/94 overall; 1st Age; 2nd F
DIRT Inspires Women's Trail Half Marathon - 2:00:41.1; 23/242; 9th Age

Week 34 (8/17-8/30)
Week 34 miles: 26.68
Week 34 race miles: 25.58
2009 miles: 915.32
2009 race miles: 679.98
2009 races: 70

Well, this week I reaped the benefits of some high altitude training by getting a serious PR at the Lake Merced race despite tired quads and then topped off the week with a first place finish in one of my favorite little races and then a second place finish in another small local race up in Elk Grove, not to mention I managed to squeeze in two soccer games and our team won the division championship - I can't wait to play more soccer in the fall! Looking forward to some nice trail half marathons this weekend and hoping to hit the trails for an actual training run this week (for the first time in a very long time)!

Race Stats:

DSE Thursday Night #11 - 31:32; 7/M; 17/44; 4th F
Mt. Madonna Challenge 18K -1:44:42; 12/37; 1st F
Vine Crusher 10M - 1:19[?][to come]; 1st Age; 2nd F

Week 33 (8/10-8/16)
Week 33 miles: 30.7
Week 33 race miles: 30.7
2009 miles: 888.64
2009 race miles: 679.98
2009 races: 67

Wow - what a week! Had an amazing time in Colorado. Arrived Friday morning and drove up to the top of Pike's Peak (14,110-115' depending on which source you use). Was a little light headed and dizzy after 11,5' but felt a bit better after spending a while at the top. During the trip, I hiked through Garden of the Gods, saw ancient cliff dwellings and cave formations, the famous Seven Falls (during the day and lit up at night), hiked up the crazy steep wicked stairs of the "Manitou Incline" (1M took around 35mins on a 38-45% incline!!!) and, of course, ran the Pike's Peak marathon! I ran probably 1/3 of the way up total and power hiked the rest, but couldn't run in places I might usually due to the altitude. The altitude really hit around 12,5 for me though when I know I kept moving (much more slowly) and was lightheaded and a more than a little out of it. Made it to the top in around 4:09, which was a decent time. They say to aim somewhere around your marathon time - that's about 25mins off my best marathon time, but I figure still within an acceptable range. The top third of the mountain trail was much more technical than I was expecting, with many rocks and roots to navigate around, so the return top one third of the downhill portion was rather slow. After that though, as I descended, I felt like I got a burst of energy and whipped down the remaining 7 miles or so, for a downhill total time of 2:27ish, finishing in 6:36. I can't wait to do this race again and try to beat this time and hopefully my quad dipsea time of 6:14ish. What a ride! :D

Stats:
DSE Lake Merced #10 - 32:23; 7:11/M; 16/50 overall; 2F
Pike's Peak Marathon - 6:36:19; 270/709; 45/171F; 10th Age (out of 23)
(splits: 4:09:12; 2:27:07)

Week 32 (8/3-8/9)
Week 32 miles: 25.7
Week 32 race miles: 25.7
2009 miles: 857.94
2009 races miles: 649.28
2009 races: 65

Before talking about the races this past week, I'll just stop a sec to say how excited (but nervous) I am for the Pike's Peak Marathon this Sunday!!! First, can't wait to explore Colorado and second, pretty psyched to try climbing that high (14,115'- the highest I'll have been). Sometimes life seems really good, you know?
Races: Well, cranked out four races this week, three of them within 24 hours of each other. Wish I could say they all went perfectly, but that wasn't really the case. What I will say is that I liked the triple set and I would do each of those races again, schedule permitting. The Dammit Run was fun but harder than expected (short but steep uphills) and the Modesto Midnight Half M definitely required a headlamp despite what the website said! Got sick at mile 8 (stomach issues) and had to walk the remaining section! Some kind of food issues caused it, it wasn't due to the runnning - too bad too because I might have placed in the top 5-10 women (and it was a big race) - maybe next year, assuming a ton of fast girls don't crash the party :) Was able to muster up some energy for the DSE XC race but despite putting all my effort into it, ran more than a minute per mile slower than usual...again, will fix that next year!

Race Stats:
DSE Lake Merced 4.5M #9 -33:15; 7:23/M; 19/63; 3rd F
Dammit Run 5M - [to come]
Modesto Midnight Half Marathon - 2:19:29 (walked last 4M); 94/253 F; 33rd Age
DSE GGP XC 5K - 25:41; 109/211; 16th F; 4th Age

Week 31 (7/27-8/2)
Week 31 miles: 31.1
Week 31 race miles: 31.1
2009 miles: 832.24
2009 race miles: 623.58
2009 races: 61

Well, this week's highlight was split between a magnificent climb up Half Dome on Friday and a great 50K on Sunday. Due to the Sequoia injury, I had been limping around work and taking baby steps walking - my heel area hurt really bad when I put pressure on it. I saw Dave the miracle worker on Wednesday and didn't race the DSE Thursday night race - if I had, it would have been my 15th race in July alone, but 14 is still good enough I say! It was a good thing I took it easy because on Friday, my foot was feeling much much better and I was able to hike up Half Dome. There were ominous thunder clouds in the distance, but they didn't seem to be moving closer, so we decided not to sepnd too much time at the top. We were by ourselves for the entire climb up and down so it was strangely desolate (compared to last year when lots of people were milling about at the top). I crunched down maybe the best apple of my life and then it was a mad rush to beat the darkness down. On Saturday, we explored the museums and then decided to hike over to what was liberally referred to as a "lake" (it was actually a shallow pond of sorts because it had dried up for the season). We swam around a bit and then headed back home. I went to bed around 1am and awoke around 5 for the Skyline 50K. It was one of those days where everything goes right - the weather was cool, I felt strangely happy and excited to run it and then I ended up with my best time for a hilly course like that! In the last ten miles I even picked it up and was doing high 8s, which is fast for me at the end of a race like that. This week so far I've been lifting, swimming and sleeping, which feels great, and I'll try to hit the DSE Thursday night race again.

Race Stats:
Skyline 50K - 5:39:29; 60/122; 12th F; 7th Age - PR

Racing Journal (July 2009)

2009-07-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

Week 30 (7/20-7/26)
Week 30 miles: 20.62
Week 30 race miles: 20.62
2009 miles: 801.14
2009 race miles: 592.48
2009 races: 60

I loved the PCTR Salt Point course and can't wait to run it when I'm in better (non-injured) shape. I think it had the widest variety of running surfaces I've encountered in a single race: pavement, hard dirt trail, fireroad, mud packed trail, creek crossing, rocks, beach, grass and stairs, not to mention it was exceedingly scenic and I liked how close we got to the crashing ocean waves - so close I could smell the seaweed and was scared I might fall in! All that being said, my heel/achilles or something is seriously messed up from the Sequoia 30K last week and I'm just doin' what I can to fix it up before: 1) thursday (DSE race - havent missed one yet); 2) Skyline 50K (sunday); 3) Dammit Run and Modest Half (same day) or 4) Pike's Peak - these are in sequence so maybe I'll have to miss DSE this week! On top of that, I've had to skip a couple soccer games (playing soccer again after fifteen years of not playing and loving it).

Race Stats:
DSE Thursday Night #7: 32:53 (7:19/M); 22/44; 2nd F; 2nd Age
PCTR Salt Point 26K: 2:57:43 [2:55:19 on my watch due to late start]; 22/61 overall; 6th F; 3rd Age

Week 29 (7/13-7/19)
Week 29 miles: 24.1
Week 29 race miles: 23.1
2009 miles: 780.92
2009 race miels: 571.86
2009 races: 58

Well, this week's Thursday night DSE race confirmed my belief that counterclockwise is faster on that course as the total distance you are traveling downhill is much greater. At PCTR"s Sequoia (30K), I started off easy and was really enjoying the race through the shady redwoods, just not worrying too much about race place etc, conserving energy for the second half of the race. I was thinking how the Sequoia race is the quintessential northern California trail race, with shady and exposed trails, sand, dirt, technical ups and downs, beautiful vistas and little critters, tons of poison oak and generally happy runners. I made the mistake of counting my blessings that I wasn't injured and only had some minor aches when, right before the turn around, my right ankle started hurting. I don't recall rolling it or anything. It just hurt. So I figured it would go away like all the other aches and pains that come and go on long runs. It didn't. It got worse. Not so bad I couldnt finish or had to walk (at least not b/c of the ankle) but by the time I did finish, I was limping. And now it's Tuesday and I'm still limping. Doesn't really hurt, isnt swollen or discolored, just doesnt like being used to walk. My sports massage guy worked out some of the kinks yesterday, but it's not back yet. The whole thing made me mad because I had to miss my absolutely favorite DSE race - the Daly City Scenic Run and, on top of that, some people double up and did the 5K then the 6.8M, which I might have done if I werent injured. Grrrr. At least I volunteered. Next year Daly City hill antennae - you're mine!

Race Stats:
DSE Thursday Evening #6 - 32:03; 7:07; 18/48; 2nd F
PCTR Sequoia 30K - 3:30:31; 18/58; 6th F; 4th Age

Weeks 27 & 28 (6/29-7/12)
Week 27 & 28 miles: 47.06
Week 27 & 28 race miles: 40.86
2009 miles: 756.82
2009 race miles: 548.76
2009 races: 56

Whirlwind of races! 10 races in two weeks - a record number for me by far, though they were all short. DSE Thursday evening, three in a row (1M, 5K, 10k) Friday night in Florida, 5K Saturday morning, a beach 5K Tuesday evening, a regular 5K Wednesday evening, back to SF for Thursday evening DSE race, Sklyand Mountain 10K Saturday and DSE 8K Sunday! Highlights were the night 10K in Florida with the frogs (we think) croaking (though someone at the race was sure it was some type of insect), my first race on a beach (not as hard as I thought it would be), the amazing breakfast spread after the Skyland 10K in Los Gatos (highly recommend this race) and my new 8K PR (by over a minute)!

Race Stats:
DSE Thursday #4 - 32:26; 7:12/M; 14/48; 1st F
Kiwanis Midnight Mease 1M - 6:30; 3rd F
Kiwanis Midnight Mease 5K -23:24; 18/585 F; 3rd Age
Kiwanis Midnight Mease 10K -54:20; 29/173 F; 4th Age
Lutz Independence Day 5K - 23:05: 5/132 F; 2nd Age
Jim Fixx (Siesta Key Beach) 5K -
Summer Series Challenge #2 (Al Lopez Park) 5K - 22:23; 2/29 F; 1st Age
DSE Thursday #5 [stats to come]
Skyland Mountain Run 10K - 48:05; 3rd F
DSE Kennedy Drive 8K - 36:07; 7:16/M; 53/158; 4th F; 1st Age - PR

Racing Journal (June 2009)

2009-06-08T11:22:00.000-07:00

Week 26 (6/22-6/28)
Week 26 miles: 28.33
Week 26 race miles: 28.33
2009 miles: 709.76
2009 race miles: 509
2009 races: 46

On pace for over a thousand race miles in '09! Races this week included a track meet, the thursday night DSE race, the Double Dipsea and the Fourth Sunday LMJS race, which I can't usually do because most DSE races are on Sunday. The track meet was ridiculously hard as usual and my first time on the track for months, but I love the Tamalpa track meets because they are so low key and okay for non-track runners like me, as well as some speedsters. And, of course, I did every event right in a row so that doesn't make it feel easier! Thank god the Double Dipsea went better than last year or else it would have ruined my birthday! It was hot and sunny, but nothing like last year. I went about 6 minutes faster than last year and was happy to outkick a dude at the end. I think I should do some dipsea training runs in the fall because I want to have that course completely memorized. I think I can take some time off of both my Dipsea and Double Dipsea, and I'd like to go under 6 hours in the Quad this year if possible. As for LMJS's race, well, I think there is room for improvement (ie, don't make us wear those weird wristbands and for g's sake have some fruit, water or something at the finish!), but at least it was only $5... Really looking forward to Florida vacay this week and the 6 short 5Ks I plan to run in the heat :)

Race Stats:
Tamalpa Track Meet - 1 mile: 6:35?; 400: [___]; 800: [___]; 200: [___]; 100: [___]; 2 mile: [14:10?]
Lake Merced Thusday Night #3 - 32:47: 7:14/M; 11/45 overall; 1st F
Double Dipsea - 2:51:11 [actual time]; Place 153 [handicapped], 254 [actual]
LMJS 10K - 48:13; 14/41; 6th F; 4th Age

Week 25 (6/15-6/21)
Week 25 miles: 23.03
Week 25 race miles: 23.03
2009 miles: 681.43
2009 race miles: 480.62
2009 races: 47

I'd like to note that compared to last year, this same week, I've only run a little less than 20 miles more (including racing and training miles); however, at this time last year, I had raced only 19 races for a total of ~165 miles, averaging 8.7M/race. As you can see, I've raced now 42 races and ~480 race miles, with an average of 11.4M/race currently. So, I'd say I've got a lot more quality miles in this year so far! I'm on pace for over 1100 race miles, but we'll see how the year plays out. I almost got a 5K PR on Sunday so I'm looking forward to hitting the track and trying to get a little more speed goin'. Next weekend: double dipsea - my Bday race!

Race Stats:
DSE Lake Merced #2 4.5M: 32:49; 7:17/M; 17/45; 1st F
PCTR Angel Island 25K: 2:29:45: 31/131; 8th F; 2nd Age
DSE Conservatory 5K: 21:53; 50/171; 3rd F; 2nd Age

Week 24 (6/8-6/14)
Week 24 miles: 32.2
Week 24 race miles: 16.6
2009 miles: 658.4
2009 race miles: 457.64
2009 races: 39

It's funny how some Mondays I'm on such a high after an amazing weekend and then others are just, well, super low. The races all went fine last week. I had a fun first Thursday evening race in SF (I was just glad I managed to make it there considering I work in Palo Alto and I usually work past when the race starts!) and kept pace with Mark Mooney until the end - we'll both try to go a little faster each week. Saturday's race was a bit silly, but I liked the local feel of it even though it had an unexpectedly competitive field racing... It was on a dairy farm in Hilmar, CA (where is that, you ask - well, half way to Yosemite in the middle of nowhere really - the cows were the highlight and they are famous for cheese there). Jason even won a pound of free cheese for being first in his age gruop. I was only second in my age group but I did get a nice medal with a running cow on it for that :) hah. Of course, the good ole Dipsea was Sunday. It was a very different experience for me this year since I ran in the invitational. I went only a minute faster than last year, though I thought being in the invitational would have allowed me to take more time off than that! Part of it was the fact that I ran horribly on the downhills as my left leg is bothering me in multiple places - it was not like Diablo where I felt confident and strong on the downs, on the Dipsea downhills I was tottering and fearful of falling...I actually had a lot more fun last year in the open trying to pass lots of people and the adrenaline that comes from that - in the invitational, it felt more like a normal race and I'm pretty sure I was passed much more than I passed others...no way did I make the top 450 to lock in an invitational race again (prelim results say I was 511th and I would've had to run 8 minutes faster to be #450), though I can't say I'm sorry for it as I have much more fun in the runners section. I just hope I get into the runners section for the centennial next year! Think I'll try to hit the hot tub to soak this left leg if I can. Strangely, I'm actually looking forward to the Angel Island 25K, which I usually don't like - I want to see if I can beat my last time there.

Race Stats:
DSE Thursday Evening #1 4.5M - 33:12: 7:22/M; 18/52; 2nd F
Udder Run 5M - 37:44.72; 27/93 overall; 6/45 (F); 2nd Age
Dipsea - 1:19:11 -511/1416 (across finish); 700/1416 (actual time based); [other stats to come]

Week 23 (6/1-6/7)
Week 23 miles: 22.3
Week 23 race miles: 18.8
2009 miles: 626.2
2009 race miles: 441.04
2009 races: 36

Note I've changed the name of my journal entries from "Running Journal" to "Racing Journal" since I realized I don't usually write about training runs... This weekend was totally fun and the races went well. Saturday was the Mt. Diablo 25K and after three 50Ks, I was more than happy to be doing a nice short race. It was one of those days where everything goes well and my mood was good - the weather was cool for Diablo and I was just loving the course the whole way, even on the steep up. The real high point for me was being able to run fast on the downs, which isn't usually the case as it's usually jarring on my body when I'm tired. I didn't feel tired at all really, at least until about a mile from the end when I couldn't quite catch the girl ahead of me. Nevertheless, I was really happy with how I did - under 3 hours when I was expecting around 3:15-3:25. On top of that, Sunday's Muddy Buddy race ended up working out great and I had a lot of fun with it. My biking legs were easy and generally downhill so that part wasn't bad, and between me and my teammate (also named Erika), we kept up a decent clip on the runs. For a relatively non-competitive race, I think we did well. I'd like to do that race again next year...

Race Stats:
PCTR Mt. Diablo 25K - 2:57:56: 48/181; 11th F; 4th Age
Muddy Buddy (Run 3.3M) - 52:31; 124/~1100 overall; 5/66 Age (also included 3M bike)

Running Journal (May 2009)

2009-05-04T11:43:00.001-07:00

Week 22 (5/26-5/31)
Week 22 miles: 37.3
Week 22 race miles: 31.1
2009 miles: 603.9
2009 race miles: 422.24
2009 races: 34

Ohhhhhlone. I just didn't have it in me for this race. Long. Grueling. Lots of climbing. The one good thing I liked were the seemingly pristine untouched by mad lily pad ponds at the top sof the hills along the course. I made it to the end (finally) and am doing my best not to question my entire running plans due to one bad race, but in general I'm really ready for a break from ultras, which I'll have now for the next couple of months. Too many ultras in a month makes for slow and painful races! Time to concentrate for a while on shorter races, speedwork and long training runs on my own! Also taking swimming lessons and doing more yoga. Makes for a good summer plan I think :)

Race Stats:
Ohlone Wildnerness 50K - 7:54:05; 110/155; 11th Age

Week 21 (5/18 - 5/25)
Week 21 miles: 18.6
Week 21 race miles: 18.6
2009 miles: 566.6
2009 race miles: 391.14
2009 races: 33

Triple race weekend completed! I didn't have high hopes for the Morgan Hill race going in, but it turned out to be a great little race. I did suggest to the race director that she include the directions to the start on the website link (it only appeared on the hard copy application), but I managed to find the start thanks to my friend's early arrival and timely phone call. The DSE race is on a course I absolutely love; in fact, it's my second or third favorite DSE race (after the Double Dipsea and Practice Dipsea). Unfortunately, this year I'll miss the Practice Dipsea due to Ohlone, which I'm feeling hesitant about doing... It'll be hard, long race but I'm hoping to finish better than in Silver State. After races on the two days before, the Marin race was slow for me and I finished middle of the pack for my age group. But that's what I get for pushing myself on the first two races - I have no regrets. The best part of the Marin race was the party at Eduardo's house after where bbq became synonomous with jumping pics. :D

Race Stats:
Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras 10K - 45:57; 2/22 Age; 3/64 F overall
DSE Golden Gate Vista 10K - 50:20; 39/111; 3rd F
Marin Memorial 10K - 47:08; 337/562; 22/40 Age

Week 20 (5/11-5/17)

Week 20 miles: 41.3

Week 20 race miles: 38.55

2009 miles: 548

2009 races: 30

Had a great time up in Reno for the Silver State 50K, which was definitely the hardest ultra I've run so far I'd say. It's a climb of 5800 feet and hit an elevation of 8,266 twice. On top of that, it was fairly hot out and I had just done the Quicksilver 50K the week before. I went in anticipating a slower time than usual and I guessed around 7 hours, but ended up finishing in 7:36:34 for my longest running time ever (by a lot)! I really felt the altitude as I "power hiked" up the big climb - I was breathing as hard as I would in a fast 5K even though I wasn't moving very fast at all! The course was very scenic with snow-capped peaks (Rose Peak, etc.) off in the distance and the trails wound through many wild flower covered fields. The trail was rocky and rooty, causing me to completely fall over once (first time on a trail to fall like that) and gash my hand (which is still infected). But overall, it was a good race and I'd do it again... On the way back, I saw Lake Tahoe for the first time and soaked my feet in the icy cold, while the crazy guys I was with decided to jump right in! After Silver State, I was ecstatic that I was able to run Bay to Breakers, my favorite SF race and I even managed a decent time despite starting way in the back! Love that race and the bbq at Fred's house after :) Can't wait 'til next year!

Race Stats:
Silver State 50K - 7:36:34; 30/39 overall; 8/11 F
Bay to Breakers - 1:04:59; 1649 overall; 269/11403 F; 96/3141 Age

Week 19 (5/4-5/10)
Week 19 miles :40
Week 19 race miles: 34.2
2009 miles: 506.7
2009 race miles: 333.99
2009 races: 28

My triumph this week was actually being able to recover fast enough from the 50K on Saturday to be able to run the DSE race on Sunday - not fast, but I could do it so I was pretty happy with that. I don't know if I'm building up recovery or if it was my shoes or the fact I walked a lot in the 50K (up the hills). Quicksilver was hot and hilly this year - I felt great for the first 15 miles or so but lost steam after that, finishing in a little over my skyline to the sea time, which I guess makes sense since it's a harder course and I certainly didn't push myself to my edge. I think I need to get consistent 40M training weeks going to be better prepared for these, but I still had fun and was glad to see Chikara win the 50-miler claiming a course record! He was already in when I finished! What a speedster :)

Race Stats:
Quicksilver 50K - [stats to come]
DSE Marina Green 5K - [stats to come]

Week 18 (4/27-5/3)
Week 18 miles: 32.9

Week 18 race miles: 18

2009 miles: 466.7

2009 race miles: 299.79

2009 races: 26

The Relay!!! What a ride! Thanks to Janet's amazing leadership, we all had a great experience (except for maybe Janet due to injury!)...I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone on the team and our drivers and volunteers for being so wonderful! We really couldn't have done it without you guys. I think our team did really well, placing 34th overall out of 222 teams and placing 13th in our competitive open men's division (despite everyone on the team being over 30 except for our 19 year old friend) out of 75 teams, with a finishing time of 27:38:34! Also, congrats to the other DSE racing team and Steve's team as well - great races all around. Some highlights of the race included Mike's wicked steep hill climb in leg 10, the mucky but fun cross-crounty like trail I ran in leg 8, the sleeping spot we found with amazing views of the GG bridge, Vincent and Rick's super speedy legs, Chikara and Kenley's high energy at exchange for leg 31 where we ran into them, Janet's amazing finish despite her injury and the Olallieberry jam and fresh strawberries I bought at the farmer's market at the finish! I'll post more pics on my facebook page.

Race Stats:

The Relay - 27:38:34; 34/222 overall; 13/75 division

My Relay legs: Leg 8 7.4M: 57:47 -7:49/M; Leg 20 5.9M: 51:15 - 8:41/M; Leg 32 4.7M: 34:07: 7:16/M

Running Journal April 2009

2009-04-06T10:38:00.001-07:00

Week 17 (4/21-4/26)
Week 17 miles: 3.6
Week 17 race miles: 3.1
2009 miles: 433.8
2009 race miles: 281.59
2009 races: 25

Takin' it easy after Boston. Had a nice 5K at the Polo Field with DSE on Sunday, but that was it this week. Went down to San Diego and spent a great day at the zoo and at Sea World - I loved Shamu and I got to pet a dolphin :) This coming weekend's the Calistoga to Santa Cruz Relay so it should be interesting...

Race Stats:
DSE Polo Field 5K - 23:03; 7:25/M; 38/147; 2nd F

Week 16 (4/13-4/20)
Week 16 miles: 27.2
Week 16 race miles: 26.2 - FIRST BOSTON
2009 miles: 430.2
2009 race miles: 278.49
2009 races: 24

Well, wow, Boston's over and done with! What a wild week. The Artichoke Half Marathon the Sunday before left me with a sprained hamstring that was a major source of stress leading up to Boston - I tried to run a really scenic Massachusetts 5k on the Thursday before Boston and I actually had to DNF out of the race (for the first time ever) after a mile because it hurt so bad! I was pretty sure I wouldn't actually be able to run Boston at all, but I had to plan as if I would. So, come Monday morning, I ate well and had my coffee and a handful of advil (not really that many, about 4). I got to the race and got psyched up watching the elites take off - very cool to see. I took off in the third corral of wave 2 and did about an 8:28 first mile due to the crowd, but my hamstring felt fine so I picked it up. After that I kept up an 8:05 clip for way too long. I kept telling myself to slow up after the downhill ended, but every mile that went by was just another 8:05, resulting in a 1:46 first half - way too fast for me. Sure enough, I was tired by the time I was approaching the hill and battling a bonk for pretty much the rest of the race. I think next year (since I'm already qualified) I'll definitely try to control that first half pace a lot better! My second half was around 20 minutes slower than my first, which is ridiculous. But, that being said, despite my lack of training and series of injuries leading up to the race, I still did way way better than Phoenix so I'm actually happy with my time. I think I'm learning a lesson about stupid races pre-important races though. And I'm gonna let myself rest after this marathon - no skyline to the sea 50k this time (i wanted to do it b/c it was my first ultra last year, but oh well). Looking forward to the Relay and Quicksilver...

Race Stats:
Boston Marathon - 3:46:52; 12,236/23,162; 3,552/9432- female; 2522/5093 division (female 18-39)

Week 15 (4/6-4/12)
Week 15 miles: 43.8
Week 15 race miles: 29
2009 miles: 403
2009 race miles: 252.29
2009 races: 23

Well, finally, I had a couple of decent races after a while of blahhh. Saturday was the Envirosports Muir Woods 25K and, I have to say, it's one of my favorite courses around. I especially like the part after you finish the tiny road section after the pantoll aid station and you're winding down for what seems like forever through the ewok forest! Although, this year, I managed to fall down during this part, probably b/c I was letting myself go pretty fast, faster than my usual conservative downhills. My knees felt fine, which makes a huge difference! In fact, for the whole race, I went almost a minute faster per mile than last year's race - I cut 13 minutes of my April '08 time! I'm pretty jazzed about that. The whole time, I kept thinking, just try to beat last year's time (~2:38), I was even going fast down the last set of stairs, and proud that I didn't hurt myself, when I popped out into the easy downhill trail, and rolled my ankle like you wouldn't believe - I heard a snap! After a bit of limping, I was able to run the rest of the way without too much pain so I figured it was either nothing or it'd swell up later after the race adrenaline vanished. It did end up hurting later, but not so bad, I iced it and elevated it over night, and was able to run the half marathon the next day. The half was in Pescadero and the course ran along hilly paved roads and into a redwood forest for a bit. I tried to stay with the lead woman most of the way even though I knew I was pushing a faster pace than I planned, but figured I might actually be able to kick at the end and beat her. Around mile 8, the third place woman just came whizzing by out of nowhere (apparently she had been holding back) and zipped past both of us - the lead woman tried to stay with her, but couldn't hang. Meanwhile, I knew I couldn't speed up enough to stay with either, so I was good with third and thought I might be able to catch up to second, but it wasn't meant to be. Around mile 9, I got the sharpest most awful burning pain up the back of my left knee. I tried to keep going and ignore it thinking it would go away, but it proceeded to get worse and somehow I managed to keep a decent pace during the next four miles, but three other women went by, which was disheartening to say the least. I knew I couldn't go faster though, so there really wasn't much I could do. It felt like a real injury and all I could think about was whether it would affect Boston on the 20th. My time through the end was around a 1:47, which was decent considering the course was about .4 long (the race director said it was long at 13.5M), so that means my time at the half was around high 1:44-1:45, which I'm happy with considering I ran the day before. I did cook and eat the free artichoke we received as our race swag. Anyway, going to see my sports massage guy to work out the kinks and then I'm out to Mass this Thursday with the somewhat pyschotic intent of doing four 5Ks and the marathon while I'm there - we'll see! Can't wait to eat my old law school staple while I'm there - an Anna's black bean burrito! :D

Race Stats:
Envirosports Muir Woods 25K - 2:25:57; ~9:25/M; 34/157; 8th F; 1st Age
Artichoke Pescadero 13.5M - ~1:47:25; 6th F [other stats unknown/race director doesn't post]

Week 14 (3/30-4/5)
Week 14 miles: 31.9
Week 14 race miles: 13.1
2009 miles: 359.2
2009 race miles: 223.29
2009 races: 21

This weekend was a blur. I woke up early Saturday morning and drove up to the Marin Headlands for the envirosports trail half marathon I was racing. The race went well enough. I liked how at the end of the race, there was about a mile of fast downhill road and then at least a quarter mile on the beach at the very end. The sand was deep and pebbly, the kind that swallows your feet - so it was very difficult to run through, but I was proud of myself for passing at least three people on that part and finishing strong. Then, I didn't tarry at the finish because I wanted to speed over to Auburn to try to catch Jason's finish at the AR 50. I thought that race started at 6:30 so I might make it, but it turns out it started at 6, so both Chikara and Jason were already there when I arrived after great races for both of them. After hanging out in the sun and watching the racers coming in for a while, we drove back to San Bruno and then I headed up to Berkeley to meet a relative - it was around 9:15 by the time I arrived and around 11:30 I got home and just crashed. Unfortunately, I didn't set my alarm right and I woke up the next morning way late for the DSE race that I really wanted to run! Turned out okay though since I volunteered and got a good run in along the Great Highway when it was sunny there for once. It was so nice I pondered moving closer to SF. After that I went and visited a friend - a visit long overdue since her baby is now talking and walking and the last time I saw her, she was basically a newborn! Well, my foot is slightly better than last week, and I'm thinking I might try some different shoes, even though the ones I'm using, I've used forever...just never know.

Race Stats:
Envirosports Marin Headlands Half Marathon - 2:03:54; 48/254 overall; 13th F; 5th Age

Running Journal March 2009

2009-03-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

Week 13 (3/23-3/29)
Week 13 miles: 28
Week 13 race miels: 15
2009 miles: 327.3
2009 race miles: 210.19
2009 races: 20

The highlight of this week was the Big Sur Mud Run, which was down in Monterey the CSU military base. The race was 5 hot miles of mostly trail and sand with a hill climb one giant woodchip pile that had to be climbed and four mud pits, one with a balance beam and pushups at the end! Jason got fifth overall and won a nice plaque, but I didn't quite make top five. The day was nice and sunny and cold mud actually felt good. Also this week, after the Presidio 10 miler, which was enjoyable because of the sun in San Francisco and interesting (but slow) course, Jason and Chikara and new DSE friend Mark went to run/climb up Mt. Tam and back down. Jason and Chikara went up ahead so Mark and I hiked most of the way up and ran down, exploring as we went. Great views for once off of Tam in the sunny clear skies. It was a good weekend! My foot's still off but I think it's on the mend (crossing fingers).

Race Stats:
Big Sur Mud Run [stats to come]
Presidio 10M - 1:23:58; 245/764 overall; 15/80 Age

Week 12 (3/16-3/22)
Week 12 miles: 29.75
Week 12 race miles: 26.05
2009 miles: 299.3
2009 race miles: 195.19
2009 races: 18

This week, I went to see Dave the torturer again. He worked on my hips a long time, but again, I wasn't sore the next day. I tried to run the dish on Friday and it was a bit painful, so I wasn't sure if I'd be able to pull off a Pirate's Cove race the next day. Strangely, on the day of Pirate's Cove, nothing hurt all that bad. I mean, I knew I couldn't go crazy on the downhills, but other than that, I felt okay and my foot didn't bother me too much. My time was only a few minutes better than last year's, but that was plenty good enough considering my expectatons going in. The 12k on Sunday hurt a bit more and was in the middle of the strongest winds I've ever run in! I was sandblasted around mile 4 as the wind rolled in from the Bay and kicked up the beach sand! My time was still okay. And, today, as I write this, my foot isn't terrible, so maybe I can get a few decent runs in this week before next weekend's wild mud run. I heard of a dirt track in sunnyvale I want to check out. I want to try to do some faster short runs for speed for Boston purposes...we'll see how it goes.

Race Stats:
Pirate's Cove 30K - 3:14:11; 10:20/M; 40/116; 9th F; 4th Age
DSE Ft. Point 12K - 59:?; 4th F [stats to come]

Week 11 (3/9-3/15)
Week 11 miles: 16.5!
Week 11 race miles: 7.45
2009 miles: 269.55
2009 race miles: 169.14
2009 races: 16

Got a totally awesome deep muscle sports massage at F.I.T. by Dave, my new favorite guy - it hurt so bad I swore out loud at least 3 times! But after, I felt my muscles were so much more relaxed and fluid. My foot issue was still there, though, so I took it really easy and swam a lot last week, not to mention the few crossfit workouts I threw in. I ran the Emerald Across the Bay again and basically ran the same time as last year, which is fine considering I haven't been training for that kind of thing. I forgot how hard that course is! On the fast New Balance team (excluding me!), I was the fifth team member so we could officially score a women's open team, which was great considering how well the other women ran - they are amazing! NB hooked me up with a pair of racing flats that I can try out in one of my road 5ks, which made doing the race totally worth it. My conclusion - it's time again to do some speedwork and get my legs spinning.

Race Stats:
Emerald Across the Bay 12K: 59:19 (minus 10 secs at start); 7:57/M; 521/2860; 155th F; 31st Age

Week 10 (3/2-3/8)
Week 10 miles: 24.25
Week 10 race miles: 7.75
2009 miles: 253.05
2009 race miles: 161.69
2009 races: 15

Snowshoeing pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/hillrunner08/Snowshoeing2009?feat=directlink

This week ended with a wonderful trip to Portland and Mt. Hood for the National Snowshoe Championship race. The course was straight uphill and then back down a windy single track. I felt like I ran a lot harder than at the Bear Valley qualifier, but my time wasn't much different, so either it was a harder course or I have no idea what's up. We got a ride up with a fellow snowshoer named Rick and ended up running the relay event 3x2.5K as well with a guy named Andy as our third member. We were the only mixed team out of 7 teams, and all I could think was, with all those elite women racers there, how could not a single other woman want to double up and do the relay? Even as a cooldown. I was disappointed by that a bit. On the relay uphill, I ran in probably the worst weather I've ever run in - was pelted with icy snow and wind and had to hold my coat over my face, but it all cleared up at the top of the hill. I managed a good time and had lots of fun, though I preferred the feel of the Bear Valley race more. Looking forward to next year's snowshoeing season.

Race Stats:

U.S. Snowshoe National Championship 10K - 1:13:25; 2nd Age - 1:13:25; 13/36 overall; 2nd Age (excluding top 3 women)

U.S. Snowshoe Relay 3x2.5K - between 1:02:46 and 1:07:43 (only mixed team)

Running Journal February 2009

2009-02-09T12:10:00.001-08:00

Week 9 (2/23-3/1)
Week 9 miles: 24.5
Week 9 race miles: 22.54
2009 miles: 228.8
2009 race miles: 153.94
2009 races: 13 - One Year Anniversary of Racing!

The Sequoia 30K marked my one year anniversary of racing - I can hardly believe it! Last year, I remember prepping for the 20K and being pretty worried as I pulled headphones on; now, I don't have to think or prepare that much to run a 30K and I would never wear headphones! It's dangerous and who needs it anyway? This year I took the 30K slow and easy and had a good race. What else is there to say? Other than I hope all my little annoying injuries go away so I can actually train!

Race Stats:
PCTR Sequoia 30K - 3:23:16; 10:56/M; 34/100; 9th F; 6th Age
DSE Great Highway 3.95M - 29:58; 7:29/M; 43/110; 6th F; 1st Age

Weeks 7 and 8 (2/9-2/22)
Weeks 7-8 miles: 31.7 Weeks 7-8 race miles: 28.6
2009 miles: 204.3
2009 race miles: 131.4
2009 races: 11

Week 7 was shot - life got in the way - busy at work, tired and my hip/leg were being weird. I just rested, which is fine sometimes. Not to mention all the rain... it rained for the Ballpark 5k, for the President's Day race and for the Embarcadero race. I don't mind running in the rain sometimes (sometimes I even like it), but enough is enough! I went swimming this week, which I'd like to do more of, and I'm thinking about checking out a new weight training center where they do cross-fit classes. I'll go check it out. I'd like to get back in the swing of some weekday running, but I think I need some time.

Race Stats:
DSE Ballpark 5K 2/15 - 22:45; 7:19; 29/78 overall; 2nd F; 1st Age
President's Day Coyote Point 10K 2/16 - 46:40; 2nd F; 4th overall (out of 24)
Buzz Half Marathon 2/21 - [to come]
DSE Embarcadero 10K 2/22 -47:28; 7:38; 42nd/1327th F; 2nd Age

Week 6 (2/2-2/8)
Week 6 miles: 31
Week 6 race miles: 31
2009 miles: 172.6
2009 race miles: 102.8
2009 races: 7

Well, despite the fact that after the Kaiser half my right hip was out of whack all week, preventing me from running at all, Saturday morning rolled around and I felt almost better, but not quite. I really wanted to run Jed Smith though so I decided I'd wait until the very last minute to decide whether to run or not. Literally, after running around the grass a bit minutes before the race, I just decided to go ahead and run it and if my hip hurt too bad, I decided I would drop and not feel bad about it. So, I started the race, which consisted of a a tiny extra leg and then a 3.3 mile loop 9 times around a flat farm north of Sacramento, in a type of figure 8 with one paved loop and one dirt trail loop. I thought it might be boring, but because there were so many people I knew running the course and I saw them a lot, so that was entertaining, plus you got to count down the loops to go and have your bag of stuff along the way. My hip didn't really hurt that much actually and I ended up enjoying the course, thinking that it pretty much looked like Michigan where I grew up and it was nice for once not to have to do any hills. I didn't go all that fast, but I was pretty sore afterwards so I ended up getting some volunteer points at DSE's Sawyer Camp races, which is too bad because I like running that course. I know I need more consistency in my training to avoid this type of soreness. I'll try not to spend this entire week in recovery mode, maybe some swimming or a massage will jump start me out of it.

Race Stats:
Jed Smith 50k: 4:52:42; 9:25; 28/70; 7/20 (F); 2nd Age

Running Journal January 2009

2009-01-04T16:09:00.000-08:00

Week 5 (1/26-2/1)
Week 5 miles: 35.6
Week 5 race miles: 13.1
2009 miles: 141.6
2009 race miles: 71.7
2009 races: 6

Nothing so exciting as snowshoeing this week, but I did manage a PR at the Kaiser half, which I think was long overdue considering my Phoenix marathon split beat my old PR and my old PR was from the San Francisco half (the first half), which is hillier than most halfs and definitely hillier than Kaiser (net downhill). I liked the course - it was a combo of different DSE races I've done, so I felt comfortable and was able to just enjoy myself. I also liked the out and back piece along the Great Highway because it gave you a chance to see the front runners as well as faster friends go by on their way back. It's an expensive race though, so I think if I do it again, I'll try to register in advance. The bad news is that, even though I was fine during the race and after, I sat down to do work on the couch that day probably for way too long without standing , and so when I finally did stand up, my hip/glut hurt...and they still hurt, and it's Wednesday now. I wouldn't care, except I have the Jed Smith 50K this Saturday...and I really want to be able to run it - it's a flat, fast, trail/pavement mix around a 3-mile figure 8 loop, so what's the point of doing it if you can't run well??? I just hope this hip issue dissipates before Saturday...

Race Stats:
Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon - 1:42:02; 7:47/M; 890/5816 overall; 42/630 Age (30-34)

Week 4 (1/19 - 1/25)

Week 4 miles: 15

Week 4 race miles: 6.2

2009 miles: 106
2009 race miles: 58.6

2009 races: 5
I LOVE SNOWSHOE RACING!!! It was so incredibly hard, but after the first half mile of figuring out how the heck to do it and trying to get enough oxygen at our 7,000 or so foot elevation, it was tons of fun and absolutely gorgeous scenery - deep snow and pine trees everywhere you looked. I think the Michigan girl in me appreciated this little taste of winter. I think I have at least some idea of how to snowshoe now, but I could use more practice for sure based on my almost 12 min miles - keeping an eye out for other snowshoe races at this point. Even though it's a bit of a trip to get there, the race itself was great too, with tons of food, prizes and awards after. And, I won! First female (out of six)...Mark McManus was the first male in a time of 50:26...the wonders of small races! :) I'll take what I can get!

Race Stats:
Jazz Trax Snowshoe Stomp 10k - 1:14:47; 6/19 overall; 1st F

Week 3 (1/12-1/18)
Week 3 miles: 26.2
Week 3 race miles: 26.2
2009 miles: 91
2009 race miles: 52.4
2009 races: 4

Well, what can I say about the Phoenix marathon? I can say that the red rocks of Sedona were beautiful (climbed up Bell Rock the day before the marathon). I can also say I now have the experience of running a marathon when things don't go exactly as planned. I started out fine, and hung with the 3:30 pacer group for the first ten miles or so when the stomach issues hit and I had to make the first (out of six) pit stops! When things aren't going well, 26.2 miles seems really, really long. Especially when I was expecting a more interesting course - there wasn't much rock in the rock 'n roll marathon and it was a pretty boring course overall. In the end, I still broke 4 hours with a running finish, but it was a physically and psychologically painful race - oh well, many of them are! I'm not sure why my stomach tripped out so all I can take away is that I think I might be able to do around a 3:30 if things were going perfectly, which is not often the case. I could be all depressed about missing my goal by about a half hour, but a runner I know with lots of experience reminded me that marathon times vary a lot and every one can't be a PR race so I'll take that statement to heart. Maybe I'll try to do more 8 min/mile long tempo runs as part of my training. 'Nuf on that - majorly excited for snowshoe racing next weekend and even for Jed Smith the weekend after.

Race Stats:
Phoenix Rock 'N Roll Marathon - 3:58:31; 9:06/M; 1838/6411 overall; 591/2972 F; 131 Age

Week 2 (1/5-1/11)
Week 2 miles: 41.4
Week 2 race miles: 15.5
2009 miles: 64.8
2009 race miles: 26.2
2009 races: 3

I added spin to my normal training regimen on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and by Thursday I felt like I had run an ultra! I decided I like it, but need to do it less often so my quads don't feel so tired at the beginning of my weekend races! Considering how I felt, I'm okay with my Angel Island results, even though they weren't that great. The first 10K of the race was basically on hilly pavement, which was really difficult for me since my knees had been bothering me from the new spin addition. I don't love the Angel Island course, so I think in the future I should really consider skipping any races in the Baylands or Angel Island. I guess I'll be running the Phoenix marathon this Sunday, which I am feeling ambivalent about. My goal is a 3:35 (~8:12 pace), but there is no 3:35 pacer group so it may be tricky, plus the course is flat, not downhill like CIM, so maybe my goal is unrealistic. We'll see.

Race Stats:

PCTR Angel Island 25K (2,035' gain) - 2:23:21; 6th Age [other stats to come]

Week 1 (1/1 - 1/4)
Week 1 total miles: 23.4
Week 1 race miles: 10.7
2009 total miles: 23.4
2009 race miles: 10.7
2009 races: 2

On your mark - get set - go! A new year.

(I'm three from the right, to left of guy in red)

I've been thinking about my running and racing goals for 2009 and what I hope to accomplish. Aim high, I say.

Here are some highlights:

- snowshoes races!
- 10 ultras, including one 50-miler (if possible)!!!
- Boston, Phoenix, Alaska road marathons
- Pike's Peak marathon
- DSE series

- PCTR trail running series

- PAUSATF ultra series
- 100 races
- 1,000 race miles

Race Stats:

New Year's Day Run for a Healthy World 10K (mostly flat trail + paved)- 47:31; 7:39/M; 31/182; 2/22 Age; 2nd F overall (out of 85)
DSE Lake Merced 4.5M (paved, mostly flat) - 33.19; 7:24/M; 45/136; 9th F; 4th Age

Running Journal Month 12 (December 2008)

2008-12-08T16:50:00.000-08:00

YEAR ONE OF RUNNING - COMPLETE~!
Week 52 (12/22-12/31)
Week 52 mileage: 20.5
2008 mileage: 1401.7
2008 race miles: 624.89
2008 races: 69

And so my first year of running comes to an end! I really feel like it flew by in a heartbeat! Here are some '08 highlights:

Series Finish: PCTR Trail Running Series - 2nd Age (20-29), 3rd Overall

Club Finish: DSE [Stats to come]

Ultras: 2 (PCTR Skyline to the Sea and the Quad Dipsea)

Goal Race Sequence Completed: Dipsea; Double Dipsea: Quad Dipsea!

Road Marathon (CIM): Qualified for Boston!

Favorite Races of '08:

Mt. Tam Hill Climb (straight up Tam to summit finish, anyway you want to go)

Golden Hills Trail Marathon (loved the course in the fall season, first technical marathon distance)

CIM (first road marathon, qualified for Boston)

Dipsea and Quad Dipsea (loved both, the double was too hot! Quad was the most climbing per mile by far)

DSE Daly City Scenic Run (straight up and back down, loved it)

Other notable races of '08:

PCTR Pirate's Cove 30k (gorgeous scenery, first longer race), Quicksilver 25k (awesome course), Bay to Breakers 12K (thought I'd hate it, but loved it!), Mt. Madonna Challenge 12k (mysteriously won race and prize money, plus awesome course), Skyline to the Sea 50k (first ultra, nice course, minus the bees), PCTR Santa Cruz 21K (love river crossing), DSE Sawyer Camp (fast! PR'd by more than a minute), Enviro Angel Island 25K (met a great friend)

Some other year end numbers:

Ultras: 2; Trail Marathon: 1; Road Marathon: 1; Road Half-Marathon: 1; Trail 30-33Ks: 5; Trail 25Ks: 5; Trail 20-23Ks: 6; Trail less than 20ks: 10; Road 12Ks: 4; Road 10Ks: 11; Road 4-4.5Ms: 6; Road 5Ks: 10; Road Mile: 1; Track Mile: 1

12/28 Race Stats:
DSE Mission Rock 5K - 22:29; 30/118; 7:14/M; 3rd F; 2nd Age

Week 51 (12/15-12/21)
Week 51 mileage: 19
2008 mileage: 1,381.2
2008 race miles: 605.29
2008 races 68

I'm happy with this week's races. Saturday I finally felt up to actually really racing a PCTR race - it helped to have some close competition and legs not in total recovery mode! Finally, I broke 2 hours and by a lot so I was happy. I really felt I could not have gone faster than I did when I finished. Sunday's races were ...interesting. Although some claim I cannot count it because it's a downhill course, the 1 mile distance was certified, so I'll at least mention that I beat my mile PR by a whopping 21 seconds. I've only run two timed miles, but was pretty happy when I got around a 6:08 (the race clocks were messed up so I'm not entirely sure to the second). The 5k that came right after was not as good, but who cares? I probably won't do this race again next year as it was so disorganized, but it was good for one time. I only have one more race this year and I'm looking forward to a little r&r.

Race Stats:
PCTR Rodeo Beach 20k - 1:52:42; 9:10/M; 28/100; 4th F; 3rd Age - PR
Miracle Mile - 6:08; 20/97; 4th F
Christmas Classic 5k - [stats to come]

Week 50 (12/8-12/14)
Week 50 mileage: 26.7
2008 mileage: 1,362.3
2008 race miles: 604.5
2008 races: 65

Have to say my legs were pretty tired after CIM, but I was able to run on Saturday and since I had already signed up for the 33k, I went ahead and did it knowing it would be a slow and somewhat painful race - the scenery on Muir Beach course, however, is so amazing, I was able to enjoy at least some parts of the race. I must have warmed up my legs because on Sunday, even though I started off very slow, I almost beat my PR without really aiming for it. I think that this is due to three things: 1) I do run better if I run the day before even if my legs are tired from it; 2) I started off slow not caring about the race, which always results in a better time; and 3) I think I'm actually overdue for a significant 5k PR and as soon as my legs are somewhat fresh I'll be able to shave off major time (since I recently did so in my 10ks). Other than the PCTR race next Saturday, I think things will be a bit calmer race-wise during the holidays (there just aren't as many good ones going on) and I guess my next task is planning what to do in 2009. I'm thinking it will be a road/trail marathon year...hitting phoenix, Boston, maybe Anchorage, maybe even Pike's Peak (we'll see).

Race Stats:
PCTR Muir Beach 33k - 4:05:31; 38/70 overall; 9th F; 6th Age
DSE Conservatory 5k - 22:28 [stats to come]

Week 49 (12/1-12/7)
Week 49 mileage: 29.7
2008 mileage: 1,335.6
2008 race miles: 580.9
2008 races: 63 - First Road Marathon!

Well, able to check another goal that wasn't even really a goal off the list. Actually, two non-goal goals in this case: running a road marathon and qualifying for Boston. Got both, unexpectedly, in one fell swoop the week after the Quad Dipsea. I must say my legs are more sore after the marathon than the Quad, but that's not that suprising. CIM has got to be the ugliest course I've ever run (can't imagine much worse), but it was a fast course with many gradual downhills, which was nice for a first marathon. I just stayed with the pacer and I felt that the pace needed for the 3:40:59 qualifying time wasn't that hard to keep up - I was able to chat some with the girls next to me, one of whom is the lead in broadway tour of Phantom of the Opera and the other of whom was an air traffic controller (making sure planes don't crash into each other)! My friend Lisa who I went up with also qualified for Boston, so we'll both be going there in '09 I guess. Congrats to Lisa! The whole road marathoning thing wasn't really a goal or something I trained for specifically, it just kind of happened along the way, which is great. I'd like to get a faster time at Boston if possible, but I'd really like to get faster without taking my focus away from the trails too much.

Race Stats:

CIM - 3:39:28 -8:22/M; 1576/5198 (clock time); 347/2183; 82/355 Age (clock time)

Running Journal Month 11 (November 2008)

2008-11-10T11:08:00.001-08:00

Week 48 (11/24-11/30)
Week 48 mileage: 40.8
2008 mileage: 1304.9
2008 race miles: 554.7
2008 races: 61

And....the Quad Dipsea is history! I ran easy alongside Lisa in the 5 mile Turkey Trail Trot on Thursday and so I felt good on Sunday for the race. What can I say? There was perfect weather and I ran a satisfying time, with splits at 1:30, 1:30, 1:35 and 1:38. Now that I know the course, I think next year I'll go a little faster on the downhills and try to break 6 hours. Strangely, I feel much better than after the skyline to the sea 50k, either because that was the first or because that had a lot more downhill (so more running). One thing I did during the Quad was to take some extra ibuprofen, which I think helped prevent my knees from swelling up, and they feel fine. I'm curious to see how it all feels this coming Sunday at CIM, where my goal is just to run it with no time goal in mind.

Race Stats:

Quad Dipsea 6:12:57 - 100th overall/221; 4th Age

Turkey Trail Trot 5M - 44:41; 155/676; 23/158 Age

Week 47 (11/17-11/23)
Week 47 mileage: 17.8
2008 mileage: 1264.1
2008 race miles: 521.30
2008 races: 59

Ahh, races! Got to the SC Turkey Trot on time, but waited in the bathroom line too long and missed the start by a minute! Due to that, ran it not caring about my time and enjoying the views a bit more than usual, but as not many women showed up, I still got 2nd in my age group. Overall, I liked the race and would probably do it again. It must have been a good warmup because I ran Sunday's 4 mile race at a faster pace than my 5k PR pace! I went out faster than usual - I think my mile splits were around 6:48; 7:00; 7:12; 7:18. I wonder what would happen if I could pace myself a bit better and try to do all 7s or 7:05s. It's hard to pace exactly, though, but I think it's key. This week will be wild because of Thanksgiving's 5 mile trail trot followed by Saturday's Quad Dipsea!!! I'm really excited as I've been anticipating doing this race since the Dipsea, but have to admit to being a little bit scared! Hang in there knees!

Race Stats:
Santa Cruz Track Club Turkey Trot 10k -48:16 [watch - ~47:20]; 68/267; 2nd Age
DSE Great Highway 3.95M - 28:19; 3rd F

Week 46 (11/10-11/16)
Week 46 mileage: 43.4
2008 mileage: 1246.3
2008 race miles: 511.15
2008 races: 57

This was a backwards week because it was a great training week and not such a great racing week...well, at least Saturday wasn't great. Saturday, everything hurt and I'm not entirely sure why, but I'll just chalk it up to being tired. Sunday I tied my 5k PR though, so that was good. For training, I was able to make it to Rancho twice, the dish once and the track for intervals. I won't be able to do that this week because it's just too hard to run on Monday after a double race weekend (and not smart either). I may be able to do something light on Friday though...I could do Dish (or Rancho), Rancho, track, dish perhaps... I really hope I do well at the 10k that's coming up because it's a certified course so if I can just shave 16 seconds off my 10k time I could get into the sub-seeded category for certain races. Although, probably because I'm hoping for it, it won't happen. We'll see.

Race Stats:

PCTR Stinson Beach 30k - 3:27:59; 6th F; 40/133; 4th Age

DSE Polo Field 5k - 22:21; 32/154; 2nd F; 2nd Age

Week 45 (11/3-11/9)
Week 45 mileage: 20.4
2008 mileage: 1202.9
2008 race miles: 489.45
2008 races: 55

This weekend I only did one race for a change - another DSE 10k and I'm happy to say that I held close to my PR of last week (missed by 10 seconds), but considering the crowds, cobblestones and headwinds, I was happy with my time. I think perhaps the speedwork is helping even though I've only done it for two weeks now... I'm feeling strong and relatively uninjured and I just hope I can keep this going through the end of the year (or at least until the quad dipsea). I'm pretty nervous about doing the quad dipsea because the double wreaked havoc on my knees, but I think I'll run more gently in the quad and there are no killer shortcuts so perhaps it won't be as bad as I think... we'll see.

Race Stats:

DSE Embarcadero 10k - 45:29; 6th F; 2nd Age

Running Journal Month 10 (October 2008)

2008-10-07T17:07:00.001-07:00

Week 44 (10/27-11/2)
Weekly mileage: 37.9
2008 mileage: 1182.5
2008 race miles: 483.25
2008 races: 54

I was happy with this week's training and races. I ran the dish on Tuesday for just one loop because my legs were still tired from the races on Saturday and Sunday, then I ran Rancho with my friend Lisa on Wednesday and we did around 8.5 at a pretty good clip (definitely faster up the hills than I would have done alone) and on Thursday I did 400 intervals at the track. It's not that much mileage wise but I felt good and not worn down and had the extra energy to do a lot of weight training, which I like. Saturday's race was totally muddy and wild, with pouring rain and gusting wind - but it was totally fun! It wasn't that cold so I just added a hat with a visor to my usual running wardrobe and that was all I needed, plus I beat my time that I had on that course last time in dry weather by 4 minutes - I was happy considering the fact that I felt the muck really slowed me down in places. And Sunday's race was crazy as well, not weather wise, but time wise - I got a PR by ~1:30! I didn't feel like I was going that fast, but when I got near the clock I couldn't believe it!

Race Stats:
Enviro Stinson Beach 25k - 2:42:56: 48/132 overall; 11th F; 3rd Age
DSE Sawyer Camp 10k - 45:16; 7:18/M; 4th F

Week 43 (10/20-10/26)
Weekly mileage: 31.4
2008 mileage: 1144.6
2008 race miles: 461.55
2008 races: 52

I took a trip up to Redding for the Whiskeytown trail race that took place off of Whiskeytown Lake. It was pretty up there even though I only caught a single glimpse of the looming Mt. Shasta, which I definitely want to hike up (maybe next spring/summer). Also explored a local museum about the gold rush and stopped by an olive tasting place on the way back. If I do Whiskeytown again, however, I should do the 50k because most of the scenic trails and stream crossings were on the 50k route, not the 30k, which was almost all fireroads due to recent burns in the park and nontechnical somewhat boring trails. Missed the start of the DSE race on Sunday by 4 minutes, but ran the 12k anyway, a few minutes faster than that stupid bridge to bridge 12k - it was fun playing catchup to the other runners and even with the 4 minute late start, I finished strong. I'm feeling good and without injury and I hope I can keep that up through the Quad Dipsea.

Race Stats:

Whiskeytown 30k - 3:00:10; 9:41/M; 5th F; 2nd Age

DSE Fort Point 12k - 57:55 (by my watch); 7:46/M; 6th F; [?] Age

Week 42 (10/13-10/19)
Weekly mileage: 22
Mileage to date: 1113.2
Race miles to date: 435.5

I didn't run much during the week as I was in semi-recovery mode from the trail marathon/10k weekend before, but I felt okay by the time Sunday rolled around to do the Carmel 25k. I did not know what I was in for! Unexpectedly, I think Carmel was one of my most difficult races thus far. It included at least three very steep climbs and I got lost at the top of the middle mountain and added probably a mile and a half to the course by accident. On top of that, I got a mad blister on my foot -well, not really a blister, more like my skin just rubbed away entirely. It was so painful on the way down to the finish that I had to walk even though I could've run. The good thing, though, is that the Carmel race will still count for the PCTR series at least, since I got second overall (due to the lack of competitive women in the race)!

Race Stats:

PCTR Carmel Valley 25k (+~1.5miles of getting lost) (4,285' gain) - 3:16:28; 1st Age; 2nd Overall

Week 41 (10/6-10/12)
Weekly mileage: 32.4
Mileage to date: 1091.2
Race miles to date: 420 - First Marathon (Trail)!

I really felt unsure the week leading up to this last minute decision trail marathon; my other race got cancelled and this one fell that same day, but it was longer than I was planning for. I was concerned that I'd have a super hard recovery like after the 50k a few weeks ago and I hadn't run that much during the weeks leading up to it. But, lo and behold, it was an AWESOME race! I loved almost every moment of it. It was a beautiful, cool fall day and the trail took us through shady, beautiful forests. At the top of the hills were trees that were creaking in the wind. Appropriate for October, it felt like a haunted race, especially when a runner pointed out the place where a local woman's body was recently discovered! I had some knee pain going downhill during the first half but it disappeared. My right foot hurt again in a familiar place, but hopefully that will go away with rest. The best part of it was that my quads didn't feel at all like after the 50k when I was done - I felt a bit sore, but it was more even spread and not nearly as intense. Was it the extra five miles? the difference in the two courses? the experience of having done one before? I'm not sure. Whatever the reason, I was able to race the DSE 10k the next day and come close to my PR, taking third. I plan to rest the next few days and look at my upcoming schedule. I need to prepare for the quad dipsea and/or CIM, and I may cut out some races to do so. We'll see.

Race Stats:

Golden Hills Trail Marathon - 4:43:59; 33rd/132; 9th F; 4th Age

DSE Golden Gate Park 10k - 47:16; 7:36/M; 3rd F; 3rd Age

Week 40 (9/29-10/5)
Weekly mileage: 22.9
Mileage to date: 1058.8
Race miles to date: 387.6

This was one of those races that fell into the category of "they can't all be good" as it really was not good. Part of it had to do with my high expectations of getting a fast time and also my failure to pay attention to some obvious signs, like the fact that I couldn't muster any speed at my track workout on Tuesday. I felt pretty tired the night before and just thought that would go away like usual, but it didn't really. When I started running, I knew right away I couldn't go much faster, and then I almost threw up in the first mile, not from overexertion, but it felt like something was stuck in my throat... anyway, I got progressively slower during the race and was just happy to finish in under an hour! After I finished, and I wasn't breathing hard when I finished, I started having some kind of asthma or hyperventilating thing where I kept breathing super fast and couldn't slow it down. The whole race sucked. I'm not going to blow it out of proportion, though, I'm just going to take it easy for a bit this week.

Race Stats:

Bridge to Bridge 12k 59:47; 8:01/M; 281/2517 overall; 23/527 Age

Running Journal Month 9 (September 2008)

2008-09-03T10:14:00.001-07:00

Week 39 (9/22-9/28)
Weekly mileage: 18.1
Mileage to date: 1035.9
Race miles to date: 380.15

Well, this week I learned the meaning of recovery. I felt fine after the 50k except for extremely sore - no, not really sore, more like totally disfunctional - quads. I wasn't really able to walk quite right until maybe Thursday night when I went on a long night walk (with a tiny bit of jogging). Other than yoga and some arm weights like usual, I didn't run at all, and wasn't sure I'd be able to do the Santa Cruz PCTR race on Saturday. Somehow I did manage to do that race, and I'm pretty happy my quads complied because it was a great race - I especially liked making my way through the waist level river on the way out (taking off my shoes and socks) and on the way back (running through it w/shoes and all). Despite the loss of time, I think taking off my shoes was worth it as they really absorbed a lot of water weight when I kept them on. Sunday's race was satisfying because it was five flat paved miles and I tied my PR pace. I have no idea how fast I could have gone if I hadn't race the day before or done the 50k, but it'd be interesting to find out. Looking forward to the bridge to bridge race.

Race Stats:
PCTR Santa Cruz 21k - 2:20:41; 10:35/M; 30/100; 6th F; 3rd Age; 2175'
DSE Oyster Point 5M - 37:25; 7:29/M; 1st Age; 2nd W; tied PR

Week 38 (9/15-9/21)
Weekly mileage: 38.7
Mileage to date: 1017.8 - 1000 MILES! 1st ULTRA!

This was obviously a week replete with achievements. During the week leading up to the 50k, I did yoga on Monday, a track meet on Tuesday, yoga Wednesday and an easy 5 miles on the treadmill on Thursday, but not weights and no running outside, so I was well rested. The track meet gave me my first timed mile on a track, and I know I can go faster next time so I'm pretty excited - the cool thing was how fast the mile went by in a race compared to track workouts where I can't barely stand to do a whole mile. I was worried that my legs would still be tired from the track meet by the time the 50k rolled around since I'm not used to that kind of work out, but I had mostly recovered by Friday. Although my feet didn't feel perfect and I felt like I hadn't done enough good quality long runs prior to Saturday, I was more excited than worried going into the 50k. I expected it to feel much worse than it did. I didn't start with the gun as I was taking care of some business in the portapotty and I'm glad I did; luckily, I didn't seem to have my usual stomach problems during this run, which was a huge relief, especially after being stung by the swarm of bees 4 times (once in the head) and dealing with a blister from a rock in my shoe, which required me to sit down at the 1st and 2nd aid stations to tape up my foot. I was on a first-timer's high, the course was beautiful (and I was going slow enough to enjoy it), the weather was perfect, and I felt great during the last 10 miles. I ran extremely slowly during the first 30k and much faster for the last 20k, which was a great plan, though it didn't result in an awesome time. I'd say it was a good strategy for my first ultra, especially considering I'd never run more than around 19 miles at once before. My quads started to have little pains in them near the end and now they are extremely sore, but nothing else is. I hope they recover by Thursday or Friday as I'm preregistered for a race next Saturday. My main concern now is that I'll never enjoy an ultra as much as this one!

Race Stats:
Tamalpa Track Meet: 1 Mile: 6:29 - 1st F; [other stats to come]
PCTR Skyline to the Sea 50k - 6:05:25; 71/178 overall; 13th F; 4th Age - 1st ULTRA

Week 37 (9/8-9/14)
Weekly mileage: 33.8
Mileage to date: 979.1

Another triple race weekend. Friday night at the Moonlight Run there was little wind and it was fairly mild, but my legs felt a little heavy I think from the tail end of the cold I had during the week. Next time I'll bring a headlamp as the dark slowed me down a bit. Saturday's race was...not fun. I fell, felt crappy, and when I took off my shoe my entire sock was soaked in blood from the blood blister under my toenail that popped. It hurt on and off, but not as bad as it should have for the way it looked. Anyway, Sunday's Stern Grove race was fun and unexpectedly hilly for DSE. All I can think of now is that the 50k is this Saturday. I'm excited but also scared I'm not really ready. I'll just try to make it through and have fun with it. Appropriately, the 50k will put me across the 1,000 mile threshold and my goal of doing ultras.

Race Stats:
Palo Alto Moonlight Run 10k - 47:54; 121/920 overall; 1th F; 5/168 Age
Mt. Tam 18k - 1:38:27; 32/69 overall; 12/26 F; 2nd Age
DSE Stern Grove 4M - 31:02; 32/103 overall; 1st F

Week 36 (9/1-9/7)
Weekly mileage: 25.6
Mileage to date: 945.3

After the Mt. Tam Hill Climb on Monday (Labor Day), I came home with a big head cold that lasted 'til the end of the week. I wasn't sure I would be able to do the 30k on Saturday, but with Skyline to the Sea in mind, I thought I needed the long distance, so even though I didn't feel close to 100% and hadn't run from Tuesday through Friday, I did the race anyway. The first 10k felt like a warmup to loosen my stale legs, the second 10k felt normal and okay, and the third stretch was a bit painful and hot. There were a lot of steep uphills in the last 10k and it was slow going. Nevertheless, I made it through, and decided not to run the DSE 5k the next day (opting instead to gormandize on sweets at the Chocolate Festival in San Fran). I still don't feel 100%, but hopefully I will by mid-week. This coming weekend will be another triple race, including Friday's moonlight palo alto run, which I'm pretty excited about since it's nearby.

Race Stats:
PCT Redwood Park 30k - 3:25.50; 32/86 overall; 4th F; 2nd Age; ~2780' elevation gain

Week 35 (8/25 - 8/31) + Labor Day (9/1)
Weekly mileage: 38.2 (excluding Labor Day)
Mileage to date: 919.7 (excluding Labor Day)

I'll dub this week Mountain Madness -haha. It ended with a triple race weekend and a crazy hike up Mt. Diablo (finally)! Before I get to that, I'll mention quickly that I signed up for the Palo Alto Running Club (PARC) on the offchance that I'll feel like mixing up my training routine every now and then and I know some people in it; realistically, though, I doubt I'll train very frequently with them as their runs don't really fit in my schedule and I think I get a better quality run when I'm on my own. Sometimes, though, I think it's nice to run with other people, especially when I'm not feeling up to it. Anyway, three races in a row meant that the middle race suffered a bit, but it was a fun weekend! Saturday was a 10k race on flat gravelly trails in Hayward followed by a hike up (and down) Mt. Diablo. Diablo is visible from almost everywhere in the Bay Area, so I was glad to finally do it. It was hot, dry and pretty steep for the first third, a bit gentler for the second third, and then steep uphill again, though not as extreme as in the beginning, for the last third. I kept thinking about the 25k on Diablo and how I wouldn't be able to go much faster than when I hiked! Hiking, it took 3 hours up and 2.5 down. Curious what my race time will be when I do that race next June. Sunday was DSE's Potrero Hill - 4 miles around SOMA with a hill climb from mile 2-3ish. I actually really liked this race, but my legs were tired and I couldn't go very fast. Didn't do much the rest of Saturday, but Sunday was an absolutely awesome race: the Mt. Tam Hill Climb! Mt. Tam is the other mountain (other than Diablo) that you can see from many places in the Bay Area. This race is somewhere around 3 miles long, from the base of Mt. Tam to the summit, any way you want to go! The first mile or so is runnable, and after that, for me, it was mostly power hiking up the steep rocky terrain, with a bit of running where the switchbacks flattened out. There were shortcuts I know I didn't take and even better paths I think I missed, so I'll need to do some hiking or running reconnaissance there to figure it out. I finished in less than an hour, and felt pretty good, so I ran back down the mountain with some other runners. I liked this run down almost as much as the race, just because it was nice to hear an older, very good runner tell us all about his past while we ran down the mountain. Can't wait to do this Mt. Tam race again next year - I know I'll go much faster.

Race Stats:
10k on the Bay - 47:47.40; 41/146; 3rd F; 1st Age
DSE Potrero Hill 4M - 31:47; 41/114 overall; 5th F; 2nd Age
Mt. Tam Hill Climb (3M?) - 58:15; 14/24 F; 8th Age 79/110

Running Journal Month 8 (August 2008)

2008-08-04T10:04:00.001-07:00

Week 34 (8/18-8/24)
Weekly mileage: 33.7
Mileage to date: 881.5

This week I played around a bit with different track workouts. I tried 400m intervals (16 laps w/8 intervals, each rep at around 1:45-1:48, which is faster than my current 5k race pace by a little bit. I also tried doing some strides on friday, the day before the saturday race, not for speedwork, but to loosen up. I did 4 laps with each straight 100 stretch at about my 10k race pace. Sure enough, I felt stretched out and much better after. I like doing the speedwork on my own and trying to keep track of the 200 splits, and I think it'll make me faster. I may try mixing in some 800 intervals, or mile repeats too. Maybe this week I'll do 4x400, 2x800 and then one mile - I think it makes more sense considering the distances I'm trying to race. Oh, and saturday's race, even though I found it last minute, ended up being a really good one because there weren't that many people so I ended up winning it (1st F) and so I got a $100 gift cert for a running store nearby! And then sunday's 5k was a PR (plus we got tix to the Giants-Padres game for later that day after the DSE picnic)! Good weekend overall.

Race Stats:
Mt. Madonna Challenge 12k - 1:09:03; 9:16/M [~1200' climb]; 1st F/13; 12/36 overall;
Plate to Plate 5k - 22:20 [their clock was faster, but I trust my watch]; 7:11/M; 4th Age; [other stats to come] - PR

Week 33 (8/11-8/17)
Weekly mileage: 23.5
Mileage to date: 847.8

This week I did a random 10k trail race in Felton instead of the weekly DSE race on Sunday. The Sunday DSE race was a cross country 5k and 5ks aren't really my favorite. The Felton race was kind of like the DSE Daly City run, with a little less climbing, lots of sand and trails, and more technical downhills. I think it was my first trail 10k because the usual distances are much higher for the trail races that I do... It was harder than expected though, with more climbing in a short distance. Once I figured out where the free pancake and omelette breakfast was located (it was not obvious), I concluded I'd do the Felton race again.

Race Stats:

Race Thru the Redwoods 10k - 51:21; 8:16/M; 4th/43 Age; 102/442 overall; 22nd F [300' elevation]

Week 32 (8/4-8/10)
Weekly mileage: 35.2
Mileage to date: 824.3

This week ended with a trek around Angel Island (two loops around). It was an odd race. I was by myself for a large chunk of the second loop; I literally saw no one. Strangely, I didn't pay much attention to the scenery despite the effort (ferry, etc.) to get there. I thought there would be a barbeque at the end, but I saw no sign of one. Best part is that I made a new running friend, which is always amazing, and so maybe we'll run together sometime soon. since she lives nearby. Sunday's race, however, was totally awesome! I think it must be the best DSE type DSE race (thus excluding the double and practice dipseas) out of all of them. 3.4 miles up a steep, paved road on a mountain, and 3.4 miles down. Totally loved it.

Race Stats:
Envirosports Angel Island 25k - 2:10:33; 8:23/M; 25/93 overall; 4th F; 2nd Age - PR
DSE Daly City Scenic Run -6.8M - 56:32; 8:18/M; 12/39 overall; 1st F (of 9)

Week 31 (7/28-8/3)
Weekly mileage: 40.1
Mileage to date: 789.1

This week I ran two PR races again: the Thursday night DSE 4.5M Lake Merced loop (a PR by about 30 seconds on last week) and the San Francisco Marathon First Half (of the marathon course). It's easy to get a PR when it's a first half marathon! I was loosely aiming at 8 minute miles and ended up at 8:14 per mile, which I think is decent considering the amount of hill climbing at the end of the course (through the Presidio). I thought it would be really hard waking up at 2:45a.m. to start running at 5:30, but it really wasn't - I slept early, got a great night's sleep and felt energized before the race. Anyway, a Boston Marathon qualifying pace is an 8:23 per mile and I feel that if I were on a flat course and had some more long distance flat training in me, I could hit that target without too much difficulty. Don't know exactly what I'm doing as I've signed up for both the Quad Dipsea and CIM which are within a week and a half of each other. I figure that if for whatever reason, injury or whatever, I cannot do the Quad, then at least I can do CIM perhaps. Or, if my recovery time is less than expected from the Quad, I can do CIM too. Or even if I'm still recovering, I can do CIM slowly just to get a marathon under my belt. We'll see. Of course my real running goal is still to do trail running and ultras, and this goal remains the most important to me, but the natural extension of all my little 5ks and 10ks where I pay attention to my times seems to be Boston and a couple marathons. Just for kicks.

Race Stats:

DSE Summer Evening Series 7/31 - 33:39; 7:28/M - PR

San Francisco (First Half) Half Marathon - 8/3 - 1:47:46; 8:14/M; 536/6679 overall; 102/3696 F; 28/1265 Age (30-39) - PR

Running Journal Month 7 (July 2008)

2008-07-09T13:53:00.000-07:00

Week 30 (7/21-7/27)
Weekly mileage: 35.3
Mileage to date: 749

This week I incorporated one of DSE's Thursday night summer series races into the mix. The Thursday night race was a very low key 4.5 mile loop around Lake Merced in SF. For some reason, I felt like I was going slow, but I ended up doing around my usual race pace. Now that I know the course, I'm tempted to go again, even though it's hard to get there by 6:30. It also felt different racing in the evening as I'm used to morning runs...my conclusion: don't have four ice creams (work event) right before a race! The Sunday race was fine, but again, the same thing happened where I felt really slow, but ended up getting close to my PR time. I guess no matter how slow I might feel, I should just watch the mile markers and pay attention to my watch - the numbers are way more reliable than my head! I should also remember that the Windmill race is all downhill on the way back for next time because it was not as obvious as you'd think. I like the DSE races like this Windmill one where we contribute to this Sri Lankan runner's fund so that a particular talented group of runners in Sri Lanka can get things like racing shoes - I like that the donation makes a big difference to a small group, rather than a small difference to a big group (like usual charitable donations) and that it's directly related to running. Next week's race will be interesting as it will be the longest I've gone on pavement. I hope my knee handles it okay. Also, it starts insanely early in the morning, which I'm not looking forward to at all! I hope I have fun anyway though.

Race Stats:

DSE Summer Evening Series 7/24 (4.5M) - 34:10; 7:35/M; 2nd Age

DSE Windmill 10k - 47:31; 7:38/M; 52/201 overall; 6th F; 3rd Age

Week 29 (7/14-7/20)
Weekly mileage: 22
Mileage to date: 713.7

I finished this week off with two PRs - one, a repeat of the first race I ever did at Joaquin Miller State Park (20k), the other, a 5K in the Marina. I know at some point it will start getting harder to get PRs, so I'm trying to enjoy it now. The Joaquin Miller run was special for me, as it was my 25th race since I began racing (on February 16, 2008) and I had fun thinking about how different I felt during the race while I was running. I didn't go much faster as I forgot how technical the trail was, but I didn't have any music playing and I took the time to enjoy the deep forest trail and also to have some fun bounding down the steep downhill at the end. I've learned a lot from my race experience thus far, and I know there's still some more to learn, but I feel much more confident in myself as a runner now. I know that I'll keep going with it because I've been through so much already that could have derailed me but didn't. I also believe I will continue to get faster and stronger during the next few years and I'm excited to see how far I can go.

Race Stats:
PCT Sequoia 20k - 2:00:33; 9:53/M; 5th Age; 42/100 overall; 1960' elevation gain - PR
DSE Marina Green 5k - 22:55; 7:23/M; 4th Age; 8th F; 52/179 overall - PR

Week 28 (7/7-7/13)
Weekly mileage: 16.2
Mileage to date: 691.7

Was able to get in a couple of runs during the weekdays again as the knee felt better and I loved the DSE race on Sunday! It's probably the third best DSE race (1st is the Double Dipsea, 2nd is the Practice Dipsea) I've done so far. My friend came in from Michigan and ran the race with me - kudos to her as she's not used to hills! And hills and sand there were, in abundance. More than I was expecting from the usually flat, paved DSE races. I loved it! Now I just want keep training so I can get in shape for the Golden Gate Headlands race in August. If my body cooperates, I definitely want to do it.

Race Stats:

DSE Golden Gate Bridge Vista 10k - 51:19; 4th Female; 37th overall (dont know age group place) - sounds slow but the course was hilly and sandy!

Week 27 (6/30-7/6)
Weekly mileage: 12.4
Mileage to date: 675.5

This week I traveled to Florida for some races, warm, sunny beach and ocean and Universal Studios. My plan was to do five races, three on the night of the third, one on July 4th and one on July 6th; however, due to the knee issue, when I tried to run the midnight race, my knee just wasn't working right. I ended up just walking the 5k with my friend Heather (who wore flipflops), but I still had fun. It would have been a great course to run as it was lined with candlelight and I liked that it was dark out - very different. Maybe next year! The next day, I decided to do the same thing with the 5k race, but after about a half mile of walking, I started jogging, then running, and finished with a relatively slow time, but I was so happy that my knee felt okay to run on that I didn't care. I managed to get 4th in my age group even with the slow time, so that was unexpected and nice. By Sunday, I was able to run the trail 5k without too much concern about the knee, and I really liked the course - it was a flat trail that wove in and out of forest through the very damp, humid Florida heat! It was fun, and my favorite race of the trip (even though they just gave the winners hats). I finished that race only 10 secs slower than the July 4th 5k, and pulled off second in my age group (thanks to the new 30-34 age group, which is much less competitive on these shorter distance races). I also went kayaking in the ocean there, and think I might like to try that out here in California - maybe some adventure racing or something...

Race Stats:

Lutz Independence Day Run 5k - 24:56 - 4th Age

Tampa Run Through Hell Trail 5k - 25:12 - 2nd Age

Running Journal Month 6 (June 2008)

2008-06-10T12:54:00.001-07:00

Week 26 (6/23-6/29)
*30th B-Day* (6/27)
Mileage to date: 663.1

So, after the Double Dipsea (see below), my right knee was very sore/injured so I didn't run during this week at all, but I did make it to Yosemite to hike up Half Dome on June 27th for my 30th birthday! Climbing up half dome was one of my New Year's resolutions, so I'm glad I actually made the time to go there and do it. I thought the hike up was gorgeous - lots of waterfalls and beautiful, majestic scenery everywhere you looked. When you arrive at the base of the rocky "half dome" at the top of the hike, looking up at the steep, precarious climb ahead is a bit intimidating if you're a little shaky with heights, but I just tried to stay positive about it and actually had a lot of fun going up. I really didn't think it was that hard or scary, but I think I can credit at least part of that with the strength of my runner's legs and confidence built up from running :) The views (and cell phone reception) were great on the top, and I managed to hear a happy birthday song from my oldest and dearest friend Christina right as I reached the summit. Going down was a bit scarier, mostly because there were large steps in the granite that were difficult for me to navigate going backwards and down along the cables (partly I think because it would help to be a bit taller due to the height of the cables), but I made decent time and just kept at it. The next day, I hiked up to Glacier Point, which was at about ~7100', worrying about not having enough water on such a hot day the whole way up, but as it turned out, the top was fully civilized (many people drive up) and I had an odwalla smoothie and two hagendaaz pomegranate dark chocolate ice cream bars - go figure! Overall, I had an amazing time. The next hiking goal: Whitney! I wonder when I'll be able to fit it in...

Week 25 (6/16-6/22)
Weekly mileage: 46.5
Mileage to date: 663.1

Wow was the Double Dipsea a tough race! Ironically, before the race started, I mentioned that I didn't think the heat would bother me as it never had before and there would be plenty of aid stations, but was I wrong! Going from Stinson Beach to Mill Valley, I felt okay, and ran it in about the same time as the single Dipsea (~1:20). I noticed the heat, but felt cheerful and ran through the hoses and sprinklers that the locals had set up along the course. Even on the way back to Stinson Beach, I felt okay until the Cardiac climb began, and it all went downhill (very uphill!) from there. Even though I drank at the aid stations and ate fruit and was eating sports beans, I started feeling chills and nausea and my legs just didn't seem to have any energy in them at all. I hiked all the way to the top, and I've never felt so desperate for an aid station before! I wasn't sure I'd be able to finish the race. I ate tons of watermelon and electrolyte drink there, and felt just good enough to continue the race and run (slowly) to the end. My time back was about 1:36, so overall I only slowed down by 16 minutes, but the pyschological and physical pain of it all was enough to make me very conscious of the heat factor in running, and to plan better next time! I'll have to think of this a bit for the Tampa races coming up, as I'm sure it'll be hot and humid in a way I'm totally not used to, but those are shorter, flatter races so hopefully it won't be too much of a problem.

Race Stats:
Double Dipsea (~14M); 2:57:43 (Actual time); 162/359 (place); 6th Age

Week 24 (6/9-6/15)
Mileage to date: 616.6

This week I focused on moving my runs back outside (instead of running the treadmill). Went to the Dish a couple of times with my new friend Sue. When I first started running, I always wanted to run by myself, but now I'm finding that having a companion is forcing me to get out there, and that's what I need right now, although I have to say that once I'm back in the swing of things, I'll still do many long runs by myself, which I also love.

I spent some time reflecting on my running evolution to date as I find that I've gone through a lot both physically and pyschologically over the past six months. I've encountered numerous minor but aggravating injuries along the way, but I've also become a lot stronger - I can easily say right now that I'm in the best shape I've ever been in during my entire life, and that's a pretty good place to be, despite some week to week fluctuation. Also, I've run races faster than I ever imagined would be possible when I began. Really! In the beginning, I thought that I would have a hard time ever beating a 9 min/mile pace! Right now, I know I could run one mile at a 6 something pace for sure, and my best pace time is about a 7:30 (for a 10k). This getting faster thing is totally unexpected for me because I remember my one season of cross country at age 14 and just concluding that I'm not that fast (I rememeber going in the 7s was difficult for me then, but I'm sure now I was just not developed yet). Must give credit here to doing an oodle of races, which has basically served as speedwork training that I otherwise probably would not have done. Going forward, however, I feel like I need to develop a plan. Maybe not this instant, but soon. There are a few things I should decide, such as: which races do I really care about doing during the next year - do I want to do more 5ks/10ks/12ks or focus more on the longer trail runs/ultras and marathons? Depending on these answers, I should adjust my weekly running accordingly, with a view to improving and also not getting hurt. So far, I've muscled through the "training" runs on the theory, do what I feel like, with some shorter days and some longer, race when I want to and do the races I want to - it's been fun, but very hodge-podge, and probably creates a higher risk of injury. If my answer is that I want to do it all (shorter and longer) the way I have been mixing it up, then I need to think carefully about how to structure my week so that I don't fall into the trap of losing endurance or being so fatigued from the weekends that the first half of my week gets blown. I think Ive made it through phase one and I'm about to start the next phase of running - the second phase is a balancing act of careful planning and strategy, but also the ability to continue to have fun with it, preserve the passion, so to speak. Positive thinking is key right now.

Week 23 (6/2-6/8)
Mileage to date: 601.6

This week I fought off a cold, battled a strained hip flexor and tried to ignore a strange foot pain, and ended up running the 98th Annual Dipsea Race on Sunday as planned. The Dipsea is the second oldest race in the country after the Boston Marathon and is a very unique race. Each year, about 1500 runners participate, half of which are part of the "invitational" group and half of which are regular "runners." To qualify for the invitational group, which means you have an automatic entry in the race, you have to finish in the first 750 to cross the finish line. If you are a runner, you have to go through a competitive application process likely involving some bribes (there is a line on the app for this purpose). Making the first 750 may not sound that hard, but this is a handicapped race, which means that old ladies start first and fast young guys last, with a big time spread in between (the first group left at 8:31 a.m. and the last at 9:22). Also, the invitational group starts first (with all invitational handicap sections) and then the runners section (with all of its groups) next. This meant, as a 29 year old female, I was in the last group of women to start, with men age 11-55 following in small groups after, but with only an 8 minute spread between my group and the fast guys age 19-30. This also meant that, and I don't yet know exact numbers, but in order to make the invitationals, I would have to pass probably 4-500 people or something. Needless to say, I didn't make it in, but only by a mere 7 places!!! Ahhh! I almost wish I were place 800 so I would know I wasn't close. My conclusion is that I can make it in next year, which is the 99th Dipsea, and then I'll be in for sure in the centennial race, which would be pretty cool.

Race Stats:
Dipsea - 1:20:47; finish line place: 757; time place 651; Runners group place: 127

Running Journal Month 5 (May 2008)

2008-05-12T10:18:00.000-07:00

Week 22 (5/27-6/1)
Mileage to date: 590.1

I didn't run Tuesday through Saturday because my feet and left hip were hurting after the double pavement races and I just wanted a break. I swam and did weights and relaxed some instead, which was nice. Turned out to be a good idea since I got totally lost on the Sunday Practice Dipsea and ended up going what I estimate to be about 5 miles total out of my way, for a grand weekly total of about 12 miles (all on Sunday). Well, I didn't get "lost" as I knew how to get back, but I was searching out shortcuts (allowed in the Dipsea) and ended up taking a long-cut, by a lot. I think I've got the trail figured out enough for the real Dipsea, but I'll see if I can remember the shortcuts... Interesting week overall.

Race Stats:
DSE Practice Dipsea (should be 6.8M, but wasn't for me -see above); time? don't know...like 2 hours or something ridiculous. Place? Not last. Woo-hoo. Lol. :)

Week 21 (5/19-5/26) *plus Memorial Day
Weekly mileage: 46.8
Mileage to date: 578.1

This week (plus Memorial Day) was packed full; I climbed, swam, ran, lifted and ran two races. As I don't want this blog to become an ode to my injuries, I'll just mention briefly that I was dealing with the same foot issues and a new (but I hope temporary) hip issue that I think I got from doing my ab work a certain way. Anyway, I can't wait to hit the trails again after all these road races - want the soft dirt. Sunday's DSE 5k race was in SOMA in a, let's just say, not so picturesque part of town, but at least I got a PR since this was much flatter terrain than my only other 5k to date (the DSE Easter Roller Coaster). The Marin Memorial Day 10k was much nicer (weaving through neighborhoods and along bike paths) and probably the flattest 10k I've run so far, which made my time my best to date - again, another PR. There were a lot of speedy runners there so I felt a little extra motivation to pick it up and a little competition with a friend from DSE didn't hurt. We stayed after the race to watch the little kids race around the track, which was highly amusing. Some looked very determined while others looked like it was tons of fun and some just got distracted and went the wrong way...I'd like to run this race again next year.

Race Stats:
DSE Mission Rock 5k - 23:23; ~7:33/M; Overall: [to come]; 3rd F; Age: [to come] PR
Marin Memorial Day 10k - 46:43; ~7:32/M; Overall: 320/560; 105F; Age: 28th PR

Week 20 (5/12-5/18)
Weekly mileage: 40
Mileage to date: 531.3

The highlight of this week was definitely Bay to Breakers, the 12k race through downtown San Francisco famous for its wild costumes, music and (in previous years) naked runners. The course starts on Howard Street on the San Francisco Bay side of the peninsula, swings a right on 5th and then goes up Hayes Street (up a hill), continues along Fell and then meanders through the Golden Gate Park along John F. Kennedy Dr., ending with a great view of the Pacific Ocean. Even though it was hot and sunny in the South Bay, it was a typical cloudy and cold day in San Francisco, but once I was running, that didn't matter. This was my first race that started in such a large and wild crowd and I had to weave around people like crazy in the beginning, but it was more entertaining than annoying. It took me around half a minute just to reach the start line - very different than my usual trail runs! Actually, this was a good thing as it prevented me from going out too fast and, by the time I got done with the Hayes Street hill, I had plenty of reserve left to run hard the rest of the race. I really enjoyed the different bands that were playing along the course and the cheering spectators kept me motivated. This was only my second 12k, but it was much, much better than my first (Emerald Across the Bay), both physically and pyschologically, and I had a ton of fun, espcially at the DSE barbeque party after the race. Can't wait 'til next year!

Other notes of interest from this week: I decided to try adding a bit of swimming in to my routine. I went out and bought a suit and hit the pool in an attempt to do laps. I really like swimming, but I definitely need to practice! The trick will be finding the time...

Race Stats:
Bay to Breakers 12k - 56:49; ~7:37/M; 692/22,439 overall; 104th F/11,518; 43rd Age PR

Week 19 (5/5-5/11)
Weekly mileage: 46.5
Mileage to date: 491.3

Ahhhhh. Everything is better this week. I made it out to the dish three times during the week, which felt great. I was a feeling a bit nervous for Quicksilver (Saturday's race) during the week since I hadn't done any of my usual longer runs (the longest was just 7.4 at the Dish) that I like to do at least once the week of a race that's longer than 10 miles. For some reason, I had it in my head that Quicksilver would be exceedingly difficult compared to the other trail runs I've done; however, once I got past the first climb, which I hiked up as fast as I could, I found it was mostly rolling hills along the top with scenic views and maybe one or two long gradual climbs on a fire road. The scenery and terrain were similar to Rancho, so I felt completely at ease despite the more technical trails (due to the rocks and sand). The main twist that I encountered at Quicksilver was being stung by a bee around mile 3! I felt this sharp pinch on my inner thigh, looked down, and a bee was stuck to my leg! During the run, another runner told me he had been stung three times and I heard later at the finish that a couple of other runners also got stung. I faced a moment of panic thinking that my leg would swell up or it would hurt too bad to continue running but, after a few moments, the pain was manageable and I convinced myself that the running adrenaline would numb it up and I'd just feel the pain after the race. This turned out to be true. My conclusion: I'd much rather be stung by a bee while running than take a rolling dive like the lady running in front of me did - that fall totally derailed her previously strong pace even though she was okay. Quicksilver got me a first place for my age group and I was the fourth woman overall. For the age win, this was well timed because I only have a couple months left in this age group and I am fully aware that the next age group is much more competitive! Also, I think that the really fast women probably did the 50k or the 50 miler, but, hey, small favors - I'll take what I can get. So, even though Quicksilver said they'd mail me the race t-shirt later because they ran out, I did get a nice plaque for my first place age group finish, as well as a very nice medal that all the participants got. DSE's run the next day was strange for me...my muscles were okay but I was wheezing. I think I might have a mild allergy to some of the Golden Gate Park tree pollens...not a big deal.

Race Stats:
Quicksilver 16M - 2:33:15; ~ 9:35/M; ~24/100 [to come] overall; 3rd F; 1st Age
DSE Kennedy Drive 8k - 37:25; ~7:31/M; 40/108 overall; 5th F; 1st Age

Running Journal Month 4 (April 2008)

2008-04-10T16:08:00.001-07:00

Week 18 (4/28-5/4)
Weekly mileage: 26.5
Mileage to date: 444.8

Being back on my feet running again this week felt awesome. The poison oak has mostly gone away and my foot didn't hurt after Sunday's DSE race. I'm so excited for Quicksilver already. Even though I live near San Jose, I've never been there, so it'll be interesting.

Race Stats:
DSE Walt Stack 10K - 48:08; 7:44 pace; 47/120 overall; 8th F; 3rd Age

Week 16 & 17 (4/14-4/27):
Mileage to date: 418.3

Week 16 was a bust. Running the Muir Woods race on the 12th did not seem to make the foot injury worse, but it certainly didn't help it get better. I was forced to do other non-running exercise during all of week 15. Running made the metatarsal area hurt more, so I just didn't run and focused on trying not to get too depressed about it (a difficult challenge). On Sunday, went to see my friend's team finish the 199 Mile Relay (http://therelay.com/ ). They did great despite being plagued by injuries of varying types. After they finished, we went to a little vegetarian restaurant in Capitola called Dharma (http://www.dharmaland.com/ ), which had an array of very healthy plates. It was a good day.

During Week 17, I took a more active approach to the recovery and visited Athlete's Advantage, a deep muscle therapy massage center where Nathalie worked on my foot, releasing some of the tension that had built up. It felt better to walk on for the next few days, so I went back again on Wednesday for another session. She mentioned her friend Adam, who owns Runner's High in Menlo Park (http://www.runnershigh.com/), so I went over there for an analysis. Adam watched me run in various shoes for about 45 minutes or so, and concluded that I need shoes with slightly more arch support. I bought an insole for my current shoes since they are new and a new pair of Saucony ProGrid Omni 6 stability running shoes. I really liked the way they felt on my feet, so I decided to try them out. We'll see how it goes.

As for the race on the 27th, originally I was signed up for the 50k at Big Basin on the 27th, but had dropped it to the 25k the week before. The drive to Big Basin turned out to be a little longer than anticipated, however, and I ended up starting the race about 5 minutes late; at that point, I dropped down to the 17k, figuring it would be better for the foot and I was starting late anyway. It was a good decision. My foot hurt a little bit, but mostly I felt fatigued and my stomach was upset, so I was pretty happy not to have to do another loop. That being said, the trail, waterfall and redwoods were amazing as always, and I tried to enjoy them while I was out there, even though it was hitting the 80s near the top of the hills. The course was not a fast one, but I felt particularly slow. Even on the 17k, I got a bit dehydrated, but it was a good run overall because my foot felt okay after. My conclusion is that I think I can start running in Week 17 again, which makes me happy.

Also, on the 26th, my oldest and greatest friend ran an awesome first marathon. A big congratulations to Christina!!!

Race Stats:

PCT Big Basin 17k (elev. gain ~2,110') - ~ 1:55 (I'm guessing b/c of the late start and failed watch!); 22/89 overall; 7th F (woulda been 4 0r 5 if I started on time); 3rd Age (either way)

Week 15 (4/7-4/13):
Weekly mileage: 20
Mileage to date: 405.8

This week was a lesson in recovery and restraint. I spent it icing and limping around the office, trying not to get overly frustrated with the state of my foot (and failing). I kept up the yoga and went climbing on the gym wall on Friday, but I only ran once on the treadmill on Thursday, and my foot didn't love it. Nevertheless, it seemed a bit better Friday, so I decided to run the Envirosports Muir Woods 25k starting at Stinson Beach and climbing part of Mt. Tam, mostly because I absolutely love the trails in that area. The weather reached the low 80s that day - by far, the hottest weather I've run in. I wore a white tank top, shorts and sunblock, and doused myself with the water at the aid stations, which seemed to do the trick. The trails wove in and out redwoods and through streams, with views of the ocean at some open parts near the top. My foot doesn't seem to be worse for it, so I'm glad I ventured out. Other highlights from the week included seeing Eddie Vedder play at Zellerbach in Berkeley and climbing all over San Francisco (and, finally, up Coit Tower) on Sunday.

Race Stats:

Envirosports Muir Woods 25k (elev. gain: ~3400') - 2:38:56; ~10:14 pace; 35/138 overall; 8th F; 2nd Age

Week 14 (3/31-4/6):
Weekly mileage: 11.4
Mileage to date: 385.8

Recovering from knee, foot, poison oak and stomach ailments. Ridiculous!

Race Stats:
DSE Great Highway 4M - 30:43; 7:40 pace; 44/118 overall; 4thF; 1st Age

Running Journal Month 3 (March 2008)

2008-04-10T15:40:00.000-07:00

Week 10 (3/3-3/9):
Weekly mileage: 5.5!
Mileage to date: 283.5

This week's numbers look like I just skipped out, but actually, I traveled to Ogden, Utah for my friend's snowshoe race. We spent 4 days there, and snowboarded for two of them. Snowboarding was how I remembered it from the one time I've tried it before - difficult and fun. We visited Antelope Island, the salt flats and a dinosaur museum as well. I love the nature in Utah, but I wouldn't want to live in SLC. I gave myself permission to take a break from running if needed while I travel. While maybe one day I'll be organized enough to run and travel, I wasn't quite there yet and I didn't want to miss out on anything while I was there.

Week 11 (3/10-3/16):
Weekly mileage: 24.5
Mileage to date: 308.3

I ran in a new place this week out of necessity - the baylands in Palo Alto, the park off of Shoreline Blvd. It was scenic and flat and served my purpose, but it was windy as hell. I forgot I used to fly my stunt kite there...

Race Stats:
Emerald Across the Bay 12k - 59:06; 7:55 pace; 529/2971 overall; 32/306F Age Group

Week 12 (3/17-3/23):
Weekly mileage: 47.4
Mileage to date: 355.7

Kept it up at Rancho and on the good ole treadmill. And then, on Saturday, had an absolutely awesome time running PCT's Pirate's Cove 30k. I felt great, and the views were a dream. Mostly ocean. So glad I did the 30k because the shorter one would not have had the same ocean views. On Sunday, I ran my first 5k. My legs were tired from the 30, and my ankle was aching, but it was interesting to try a shorter race. The roller coaster race had a very short but steep uphill at the turn around, which caught many runners by surprise.

Race Stats:
PCT Pirate's Cove 30k (elev. gain: ~3570'): 3:17:26; 10:30 pace; 29th overall; 5thF overall; 3rdF Age
DSE Easter Roller Coaster 5k: 25:56; 8:20 pace; 35/150; 6thF overall; 1st Age

Week 13 (3/24-3/30):
Weekly mileage: 18.7
Mileage to date: 374.4

And the pain begins... everything that could possibly go wrong with my body going wrong at the same time! A runner's fear realized. The list was long: I banged my knee; I was covered in poison oak (from the 30k maybe???); I had some mysterious stomach problems happening due to what my doctor told me was a severe bout of dehydration; and, last but not least, my left foot felt like it was either sprained or had a stress fracture. I didn't run during the week at all other than a couple miles on the treadmill Friday. Thought I was better by the weekend, so I ran two races... Nevertheless, I had tons of fun eating all kinds of jelly bellies from the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield on the way back from the race in Granite Bay.

Race Stats:
XTERRA Chanoko 16k - 1:24:34; 8:27 pace; 22/55 overall; 4th F Age
DSE Embarcadero 10k - 47:07; 7:34 pace; 37/171; 4thF; 2nd Age PR

Running Journal Month 2 (February 2008)

2008-04-10T14:40:00.000-07:00

Week 5 (1/28-2/3):
Weekly mileage: 25.1
Mileage to date: 145.1

My journal notes deteriorated during this Week 5. Although I kept making new discoveries and having new experiences, running no longer felt "new" in the same way. Regular life, job and a cold invaded. I also realized my feet were taking a pounding at the Dish with its concrete path and hard, dry rocky side "trail". Since I had discovered Rancho, I thought it was time to abandon the dish for a while in order to save my joints. My notes state emphatically: "get better fast" and "no more dish!" The week ended on a high note, however, since my interest in running led me to meet a new friend (who runs too), and everything negative from the week faded away in a second.

Week 6 (2/4-2/10):
Weekly mileage: 32.9
Mileage to date: 178

My cold deteriorated into an ear infection. I kept thinking my immunity was low due to running, and it may have been. Hard to tell. My life was rather chaotic and everyone at work was sick. Nevertheless, I stuck with the running, mostly because I was fearful that if I stopped, I would never get it going again. This is a true beginner's fear. It's very real, however, and not to be laughed at - many people who start running don't stick with it. For some, it's just too time consuming, for others, they don't find a way to enjoy it. All too vivid are the pre-running days and a beginner's mind knows how easy it would be to fall back into that easy, yet unfulfilling pattern. If I knew what I know now, only a few months later as I write this catch-up blog, I would have been better off. I needed to realize that I had actually fallen in love with running, and that it wouldn't be something I would easily give up, even if I had to take whole weeks off for various reasons. At that time, I didn't realize this, however, and pushed through the pain of running while sick and stressed. The week ended on a better note, with a hike up Montera Mountain near Pacifica.

Week 7 (2/11-2/17):
Weekly mileage: 43
Mileage to date: 221

This week marked the week of my first organized running event ever (other than school sports). I never thought I would be entering trail runs after only a month and a half of running, but sometimes a friend can provide the inspiration/encouragement that makes you try something you never otherwise would have done on your own, and to your amazement, you discover you are capable of more than you ever thought. This sentiment summarizes how I feel about running generally: it's a perpetual challenge where you can push yourself harder than you ever thought possible and triumph. That's why time comparisons don't really matter in the end, it's about you vs yourself. I was a bit nervous for my first race, especially since people kept asking me if I had "trained" for it, and my answer was "no" just running a lot... but I tried to focus on thinking of it as just another training run in a place other than Rancho (which it basically was). I took a belt full of liquids, and donned my usual running tights, and just headed out on the trail along with the group. There were parts that were a bit steeper than Rancho where the herd power climbed, but it evened out. The course was not as scenic as some places, but I love being surrounded by trees and trails, so I enjoyed it. I felt a bit frustrated at one point at not knowing how far along we were, and some chick said we still had the majority to go. I passed her a bit after that, mostly cause I didn't want to hear any more of her good news. I didn't go out too fast and I felt good through the course. The finishing line took me by surprise and I was really happy I didn't have any serious problems along the way. It was a great day. The next day even beat that though because I hiked the double dipsea course, with some deviations, and the trail at points meandered through mossy green fairy worlds and spit me out at Muir Beach. Any time I come across the ocean, I feel like I'm home.

Race Stats:
PCT - Sequoia 20k (elev. gain: ~1960'): 2:02:15; 10:01 pace; 10th F 5th Age; 40/100 overall

Week 8 (2/18-2/24):
Weekly mileage: 13
Mileage to date: 234

I'd like to say that I felt strong after my first race, but truthfully I was tired, and spent most of this week doing yoga, weights and climbing, as well as recovering from my ear infection. The week ended on a high, however, with a climb up Mt. Tamalpais, where I had never gone before.

Week 9 (2/25-3/2):
Weekly mileage: 44.3
Milegge to date: 278.9

Feeling rested, I pushed up some of my Rancho runs to 11ish miles this week. I raced my second race on Saturday, the PCT Skyline Ridge 23k, and had my worst race experience to date. I went out too fast, and spent the second half of the race feeling absolutely awful, psychologically and physically. I asked myself why I was running, why I thought I could do any of this, where my life was going. I'm just glad there were no obvious cliffs around considering my dark mood. Nevertheless, I finished with relatively good numbers. Of course it matters that all the fast women were doing the 37k, but I tried to cheer myself up. Even though my stats made me feel a little better, I took the don't go out too fast lesson to heart, because I never want to feel that way again during a race! On Sunday, I did my first 10k with DSE (see link at right). DSE has a casual and fun city runner vibe totally different from PCT, but this felt like a totally new world because the course was paved and relatively flat. I like running the hills and trails more, but I also like the festive atmosphere of the DSE events.

Race Stats:
PCT Skyline Ridge 23k (elev. gain: ~2170'): 2:16:59; 9:35 pace; 12/59 overall; 2nd F; 1st F Age
DSE Windmill 10K: 47:20; 7:37 pace; 57/150 overall; 11thF; 4th Age

Running Journal Month 1 (January 2008)

2008-04-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

Week 1 (Sunday 12/30/07 - Sunday 1/6/08):
Weekly mileage: 28.5

"Pain is just weakness leaving the body."

On the last day of 2007, I decided to start my running at the Stanford dish. The main loop of the dish is 3.7 miles, but if you add on the slope that goes out toward 280, you get another 1 mile down and 1 mile up, for a 5.7 mile jaunt. I hit the dish 5 times the first week, and then finished the week off with a 9 mile hike up Monument Peak in the Ed Levin County Park in Milpitas with my favorite hiking group around, the Intrepid Northern California Hikers, or "I.N.C.H" for short (www.rawbw.com/~svw/inch/index.html). In this first week, I bought many running books and discovered Pacific Coast Trail Runs (see link on right). I thought that after a few months I might be able to run a short PCT run. So anyone reading this doesn't get the wrong idea, the first week of running was full of highs and lows. Notes in my journal from that week include: "ultras here I come", "love running in the rain" and "ankles feel like stumps."

Week 2 (Monday 1/7 - Sunday 1/13):
Weekly mileage: 34.4
Mileage to date: 62.9

This week was a gym treadmill and dish week. Having not monitored times thus far, it was hard not to pay attention to the times on the treadmill, where I felt happy with a high 9 and low 10 minute per mile pace. I should note here that, though I barely recall high school cross country, I remembered training rather hard during that season as a freshman, and I also remembered it being difficult for me to get down below an 8 minute mile. With that in my head, I figured at almost age 30, 9-something per mile was pretty good, at least for a beginner. It's all about staying positive. And anyway, my focus began with a need to spend time outside on the trails, not a need for speed... The big discovery of the week was Rancho San Antonio open space preserve (www.openspace.org/preserves), which is on my way to work and so soooo much better to run at than the dish. At Rancho, you weave past creeks and over little wooden footbridges in the forest, and then gradually climb up to higher open places with panoramic views of the bay. Another discovery was Road Runner's running store in San Carlos (http://www.roadrunnersports.com/). By this time, I had also established a somewhat regular cross training routine consisting of yoga three times a week, climbing wall at the ymca (gym of choice), elliptical workouts and weight training three or so times a week in a "bodypump" class, plus whatever other sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, other weights and activity I could fit in. Somewhere in between it all I managed to fit in being a lawyer... One of the hardest things about fitting running into my schedule is the waking up early bit. Notes from my journal that week include: "yay, woke up early!" and a note about it being stupid to do a 9.4 run without hydration.

Week 3 (Monday 1/14-Sunday 1/20):
Weekly mileage: 24.6
Mileage to date: 87.5

Most of my notes from this week are about ankle pain. I was basically doing all hill training and my shins and ankles were feeling it. On that Saturday, I went on a 21.1 mile hike with 5500' elevation gain in Henry Coe State Park with Inch. I thought it would be hard, but I felt fine. I think the running made it at least psychologically easier because I kept thinking, I'm just hiking, not running. I discovered another running store: Running Revolution in Campbell (http://www.runningrevolution.com/). I finished reading a great book by Dean Karnazes: Ultra Marathon Man. I thought it was a good read and inspirational. Notes from my journal include: "too much too fast??" and "funfun but blisters!!"

Week 4 (1/21-1/27):
Weekly mileage: 33
Mileage to date: 120.5

By this time, I was experimenting every so often with doing double plus loops on the dish to get in a 7.4 or 9.4 mile run instead of the 5.7 mile one, and I realized that the second loop is always easier. In my head Iwanted to run much further, but I had heard stories about stress fractures and other scary running injuries and, of course, the famous 10% rule (don't up your weekly mileage by more than 10% each week), so I kept the miles down for the time being. Running rancho was bliss; it was quiet with perfectly packed smooth and buoyant mud trails - running heaven. Notes from my journal: "1 month baby! congrats!" (I feel it's important to praise yourself for your endeavors...)

Here we go!

2008-04-10T10:41:00.000-07:00

One cold day back in December... no, even further back: one hot day in Death Valley in November ’07, I was on my way down the trail at Telescope Peak after a glorious but quick sojourn to the summit; near the end, my friend sped ahead and so, feelin’ good, I ran the last piece of the trail. Despite many REI trips to prepare for the Death Valley jaunt, I was not cognizant of the fact that Telescope Peak is almost 12,000 feet high and I was a bit surprised that I felt a little woozy and somewhat winded running down that trail; what I was even more surprised about was that I LOVED the feeling of running on that trail. Despite the effort it took to move my body (after decades of not running) I felt like I was floating through nature, detached from the physical world around me (it was downhill, after all). I was satisfied, finally, because one of the reasons I went to Death Valley was to escape the very physical, real world where I usually reside up in Silicon Valley. That satisfying feeling hung out in my head for the next month or so, waiting...

Then, one cold day back in December, I felt a sizzle of energy even though almost dark out. I grabbed what I thought were running shoes, threw on some random yoga type workout clothes, grabbed my hiking headlamp and sped up to Monte Bello Open Space Preserve with the mission of running up Black Mountain where I had hiked before. I knew it was a relatively short trail up, a few miles maybe, and felt I could do it. Not analyzing my plan before its execution (like I usually do) was key, and refreshing. If I had gone down the safe path, there would’ve been a million reasons not to go...but I drove up the windy road in my convertible and starting jogging up without a thought. I slowed a lot on the hill, even walked some, but reached the top at a moderate jog. By that time, my hands were freezing, my eyes were watering, my feet were aching, I had encountered a massive herd of deer glaring at me from the edge of the trail that made me wonder whether they really and truly are herbivores, and, most importantly, and unexpectedly, I felt more alive than I had in years, perhaps ever; the feeling was visceral; and the city lights melting into a sea of stars above the rocky top of Black Mountain provided the perfect place for me to soak it all in.

In that place at that time, my mind shifted; I changed. Even the parking ticket waiting for me in my car when I got down didn’t derail me (note to self: no more parking 30 mins after sunset please). I was about to embark on a new adventure, and I knew it.

I’ve never been a runner; in fact, I hated running up until November. I ran one horrendous season of cross country my freshman year of high school and, while I got progressively better, I grew to hate running because of the experience, bad coach and no real fun. Never again, I thought... I’ve gone through periods of being "in shape" - hitting the gym, doing aerobics and other things. But I thought runners were masochistic and annoying and that they didn’t really know how to really take care of themselves. Sure, I was entitled to an opinion, but it is clear to me now that I was wrong. Very, very wrong.

I’m writing this blog for many reasons: to keep my friends and family involved in my new passion, to satisfy my craving for a creative outlet for my thoughts, and, mostly, just for myself. Running is something I do purely for me and so is writing about it. So, readers, wallow in my selfishness! I’ll be posting the next installment soon...