Ho Hum

Low key 3 miles this morning...it was cold but not too cold. I considered running tonight instead but I couldn't sleep so I got up and went. Seemed to get into a good rhythm after a mile or so which is roughly how long it took me to really wake up. My right foot bothered me a little bit but I'm guessing it's from the new Dr's I'm trying to break in (big clearance sale). So yeah nothing too good or too bad.

Why is rhythm such a hard word to spell?

Off tomorrow then 7 on Saturday. Keep on keepin' on.

Night Running versus Daytime

Easy 3 miles yesterday once I got actually going. First 1.5 were really sluggish...it didn't help that Lady had to stop to use the facilities 5 times once we started running...she hasn't adjusted to evening runs either. 3 miles in 33:42. Not great but given the potty breaks it's not too bad.

Yesterday's evening run made me think of the pro's and con's of daylight running.

Pro: You are aware of your surroundings so no possibility of wild animal attacks.
Con: More dogs in peoples back yards which leads to barking and Lady not being such a great running partner
Pro: Sun is warm...mmmm warmth
Con: Whether it be Lady or I, pooping in a field during daylight hours seems less than socially acceptable
Pro: Great feeling after finish
Con: Dramatic reenactments of songs normally hidden by darkness are no longer hidden (seriously Mile 4 in the KC half was spent developing a dance to M.I.A. "Paper Planes"...it's good not great.
Pro: Less chance of getting hit by paperboy driving like a madman
Con: Higher chance of getting hit by all other cars since there is no traffic at 5 AM
Con: People can see when you flip off their barking dog (yap, yap b@st@rds)

I can see the positives and negatives for each...no run today just a little bike action. Keep on keepin' on.

Boo Cold Boo

Right Now for
LS, MO

Clear
40°F
Feels Like
34°F
Updated Oct 27 06:45 p.m. CT


So, so cold. The schedule called for an off day but since I haven't ran in a few days I decided to brave the cold.

My lungs hurt...so hard to breathe. I didn't wear my muffler and I felt it...tomorrow will be better. Colder but better. 2 miles very slowly. 3 tomorrow. Not sure if I will run in the morning or after work...depends how Game 5 goes.

Keep on keepin' on.

Race Report Appendix

On my original race report I left out a comical moment from the run.

As I was barrelling like a runaway elephant down the shute towards the finish everyone was yelling encouragement and since our names were on our bibs I heard a lot.

"Come on Ashley you are almost there"

"Good job Ashley"

"Looking good Ashley"

and finally

"Ashley is a girls name"

Classic.

Keep on keepin' on.

Weird

I don't consider myself a runner. I mean I run but I'm still not a runner...I'm not sure why I feel this way but I do. It's not a personal insult or anything just a feeling. I probably will never really consider myself a runner but every once in a while I'll find myself thinking something that surprises me. Last night after dinner and some household stuff I saw there a was break in the rain. I said to myself, "If I hurry I bet I can get 4 miles in before it starts raining again" and off I went...

It's a neat story but of course I had just finished dinner 30 minutes before and the rain came when I was a mile from the house so I had to turn around and sprint home on a full stomach (yes I am a big dumb animal thanks for asking). I did another 2.5-3 this morning to make up for cutting that one short. My legs felt like turds this morning after running like hell for about a mile...I wish I would've time that last mile by itself.

I'm trying to take it easy for this week before redoing the last 4 weeks of my training for the next 1/2. Keep on keepin' on.

PS It's getting cold. Time for warmer running clothes. Boooo.

If At First You Don't Succeed...

Registration: 12th Annual Gobbler Grind Marathon, Half-marathon and 5k
Purchase Date: 10/21/08
Category: Half Marathon
Event Date: 11/23/08
Name: Ashley

I hope this b@st@rd isn't hilly...

Keep on keepin' on.

KC Half Report

The race started at 7 am just North of Crown Center. I got there about 45 minutes early and stretched and tried to track down some safety pins. I probably gave out 500 safety pins while I volunteered at packet pickup the day before yet when I got my stuff I totally forgot to grab some for myself. I managed to find 3 and then made my way to the start area.

It started out well. I found the 2:30 (pipe dream) pace group. We stood around and waited, listened to the National Anthem and finally started running. Initially I couldn't get my ipod to work but after turning it off and on a few times if finally came to life so that's good. First couple of miles were pretty easy just down and over and back. I stayed with the 2:30 pace group for the first couple of miles and pulled ahead when I passed through the first water stop with just a sip of water. One of my strategies was to not actually stop for water until the later stops so I could keep my legs longer (huge mistake).

Immediately after the first water stop was the first big hill. The main big hill. The big hill that gave me nightmares. I backed off my speed (downshifted from 2nd to 1st) and trudged up the hill. I topped the hill and felt pretty good but my legs were hurting. Not good considering we were only 2.5 miles in or about that. By the time I crested the hill the 2:30 pace group had pulled. I don't know where they went but when I looked up they were gone. After I rounded a corner I never saw them again.

I continued my theory of not walking through water stops which makes less and less sense the more I think about it but that's what I did. Miles 4-6 felt great. I walked some of the hills, which was unplanned but necessary. During that stretch I felt strong and my legs were good. I made mile 6 in under a 12 minute mile pace so I still felt like I could still finish with a good time. Somewhere along I started feeling a little discomfort in my left quad. It wasn't bad just annoying. It hurt a little and then would go away. I didn't think that much about it and continued along.

Around mile 8 the 2:40 group caught me so I was definitely slowing down. The hills were just killing me. I thought I had been running hills in my neighborhood but I realized those hills aren't like these hills. Right after the 2:40 passed my left quad locked up in a cramp...a massive nasty cramp. I reached down and felt what seemed to be a baseball attached to the inside of my leg. I rubbed and rubbed and it finally started to feel better. I walked for a bit and tried to run again...I lasted about 5 seconds before it locked up again. It was horrible and it continued.

For the last 5 miles I ran until I cramped and then walked and rubbed. Then I ran, cramped, walked repeated. For 5 miles. I walked so much that my legs weren't tired anymore I just couldn't stop cramping. I drank water at every rest stop after that but it just wouldn't stop. It was too late.

At some point in the lat 5 miles I started thinking about how much water I drank the day before...1 glass. I made a couple of bad decisions with meals plus I was busy a lot of the day and didn't even think about pushing water. Even the morning of the run I didn't drink water...just some Powerade.

Around mile 12 the 3:00 pace guy caught me...I did everything I could to keep up with him but the cramps were too much. I ended up finishing in 3:01:34.

I'm not going to lie but I was absolutely crushed. I've been working for this for 6 months and I bombed. I finished but it was not good. It wasn't how I wanted to finish...it was supposed to end like this.

I've always been big on accountability so I hope nothing I wrote comes across like an excuse. My training for the past month has been crap. I didn't run as much as I should have the miles I did run have the intensity they should have. Plus who doesn't drink water the day before a run? That was ridiculous.

I deserved that 3:01:34. I deserved every last second.

Everyone has to start somewhere and even though I failed miserably with that showing it has never stopped me before. There is another 1/2 next month. I'm going to repeat the last 4 weeks of my training and try to redeem myself to myself for myself.

Keep on keepin' on.

Won't Be Long Now...

Today was pretty good. I spent a good portion of the day volunteering at the packet pickup for the marathon. If you runners have never volunteered to work an event you should try it some time...give back a little. I got to meet Topher, a fellow running blogger. He's a very nice guy and a great writer. I think I startled him when I knew who he was... I get that a lot.

I'm getting nervous but I'm not as nervous as I thought I would be...then again I haven't tried to go to sleep yet...that's when I've been told the nerves will really start kicking. Here's the course:

Mile 2 to 3 should be the beast...it's pretty much all up hill. It'll be the biggest challenge for me...trying to save my legs for the other 10 miles. I'll be back tomorrow with a full report. Keep on keepin' on.

Last Run Before 1/2 Mary

Easy 3 miles today except it was damn cold. Upper 30's when I was first out the door...made it hard to catch my breathe. I had to have a talk with myself about 1 mile in. Seemed to work pretty well so I finished strong after stopping to stretch and call myself a few names. finished in 34 and some change but I"m not even sure right now. I'm getting really freakin' nervous. Keep telling myself that the only way I'll fail is by not showing up. Otherwise just run and have fun and don't die. Anyway that's it for today. Keep on keepin' on.

2 days or 3?

It's Wednesday morning and the run is on Saturday so does that make it 2 days or 3? I'm going to say 3 since today hasn't really even technically started. Did a couple of easy miles last night but that was more by force than anything. I ate a big salad an hour before I ran...little advice don't eat a big salad an hour before you run. I still don't know how I didn't puke. Anyhow I thought I would share my goals for Saturday in order of importance:

1. don't die (self explanatory)
2. Finish
3. Under 2:30:00 (pipe dream)

So those are my goals for now. 3 miles tomorrow if it's not raining. Keep on keepin' on.

Last Long Run Before My First 1/2 Marathon (working title)

So today was my last long training run before the 1/2 on Saturday. My plan was to do around 7 miles but I never really got specific. I figured I would just let me legs decide for me. I ended up running around 5 before I stopped to stretch for a long time then walked for a while before finishing strong on a hill. Total distance was around 5.75 in 69 and some change.

My foot felt fine since I wasn't using the ankle brace just the Ace bandage. My legs felt tired for a while but they came back around 2.5 miles and then I pushed it pretty hard for the next 3 miles...probably too hard if I was going further but it felt good to 'open it up' a little bit (imagine lumbering elephant). I contemplated backing off and going further but there is really no point now. I'm either ready or not. Don't have much of a choice.

Physically I can lumber 13.1 miles...mentally I'm nervous.

Lame

Last night I bought an Ace Bandage to wrap my ankle hoping that it would allow me to run with out the irritating my foot so I decided this morning would be better to try than waiting until a longer run on Saturday. I wrapped then walked around the house and took it off and then repeated until I found a way it did not bother my foot so out the door I went. Because of the added time and my tight morning schedule I knew 3 miles was out of the question but I was hoping for 2. I started running I realized I forgot my knee straps and about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile in both knees started bothering me...probably just in my head but I decided to just turn back rather than risk getting a sore knee.

This is getting old. I just want to run this damn thing and get it over with. Seems like I'm so paranoid about getting hurt before the 1/2 I'm not having much fun running anymore. 10 more days. Keep on keepin' on.

Foot Suck (not in a perverted way)

Don't have a lot to report other than my foot is still bothering me where I wear my ankle brace but only when wearing my ankle brace and for a few minutes after that. Within 5-10 i have no discomfort. So the plan is to take a couple days of from running but continuing to bike ride for cardio and buy an ace bandage so I can use my forefoot to support my ankle without putting pressure on the sensitive area. The big day is under 2 weeks away and it's in my head...not in a good way.

Keep on keepin' on.

Nice 3 Miles

It feels like I haven't had a good run in weeks even though I know that's not the case. today was a nice, easy 3 miles. My right foot bothered me a little from trying new inserts on Tuesday (horrible idea) and my left is worrisome at best but I"m sure it's just paranoia of being this close to the 1/2. 3 miles in 31:08 not bad for taking it real easy the last 3/4's of a mile.

There was another racaggle sighting as I went out to run including what must have been the grand poobah of raccoons as it has to be 20 pounds and was not scared of anything...so I threw pennies at it to create a diversion until I could make it past him. Keep on keepin' on.