July Run Log

Took part in a photo shoot to advertise the Rival 5k.  Best jump photo ever.

Ran the Zucchini Run with Melissa and paced her to her first sub-30 5k.  It was a TOUGH course.  The last 2.5 miles were UPHILL ~ and I mean Chardon UPHILL.  At the bottom of the first of the two big climbs, I asked her how bad she wanted this.  She said she wanted it...so we went for it.  I didn't have an overall time on my watch (duh) but Mike was standing at the top of the second big climb yelling we had a minute and a half to finish...it was awesome.  Melissa put her head down & ran.  So Awesome to see her accomplish that.

At the finish.

July 21 ~ celebrated 27 years of happily ever after to this guy.  What kids.  What a great life.

And to celebrate ~ we went Big Foot hunting in Salt Fork State Park.  We were part of 200 other people Big Foot hunting ~ and they were a bunch of drunk hillbillies... But it's ok.  We found him.

.  

And we took the XC girls to Cedar Point.  Always a good time.  Best coaches around.

July was a rough month for me physically. Started the month totally dying at the Captains Grand Slam 5k.  Didn't say anything about this earlier...because it still hurts.  I was running with Leslie and doing well & my right leg just gave out...weird.  Limped the last .5 & ended up with a big knot in my calf and quad.  Took a few days off to heal, went to Colorado, ran in the altitude and felt great.  Come home & end up tweaking my left hip/glute/hammy/lower back.  It's FINALLY feeling way better...after an hour massage with Cora today :)  

I need to STRETCH & take care of this so it doesn't come back.  Heading into August feeling strong & hitting all my workout times.  77 days till Columbus.

July Run Log:

July Totals:

126.65 miles for the month 
862.92 miles for the year 

245.51 miles in my Gortex Ghosts ~ not worn at all this month.

436.11 miles in my old pink Brooks Glycerin 13 

408.44 miles in my new pink Brooks Glycerin 13 

510.61 miles in my teal Brooks Glycerin 13  ~ turned these into hiking shoes in Colorado. May become Camp Stig shoes.

302.85 miles in my purple Brooks Glycerin 14 

19.49 miles in my Black Brooks Glycerin 14  ~ NEW SHOES

Training for:  BQ @ Columbus Marathon October 15, 2017

Cross Training: Core Challenge ~ squats ~ push-ups ~ leg lifts... working up to 100 squats ~ 40 push-ups ~ 100 leg lifts by August 9.  I am going to continue some sort of routine yet-to-be-determined once that's done ~ along with my little yoga stretching routine.  Hopefully at the end of August I can say I did this.

My WEIGHT: I was 137...and I was 139...and yesterday, I put on a dress that really showed my growing belly.  I'VE BEEN SO HUNGRY.  

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month:   14.03

What hurts?: bad month for hurts.  But better today as I type this.  left lower back/IT band are tight.

Weekly mileage this month:  23.46 ~ 22.53 ~ 37.55 ~ 39.02

Favorite place to run this month: Colorado...the bike path over the dam

Monthly mileage record: 156.69 ~ March 2015 {purposely ran 8 (on a treadmill) on March 30 to beat the August 2013 record}
Highest mileage ever-at-one-time:  26.78, October 30, 2016, Marine Corps Marathon, Washington DC

PR's:

1 mile: 6:43 (Memorial Mile 6/10/17)

5K: 22:30 (Run For the Grapes 9/28/14}
10K: 50:13 {Run for the Hills 6/22/14 & TIED the time Run for the Hills 6/21/15)
10-miler: 1:21:29 (Hermes Cleveland 10-miler 4/28/12)
half-marathon: 1:44:42 (Northern Ohio Half Marathon 10/4/15)

marathon: 3:57:31 (The Cleveland Marathon 5/17/15)

Fairport Triathlon

I'm a triathlete.

aka ~ Lake Erie v Me.

I think the score is even.  Lake Erie - 1/2; me - 1/2.  In practice I could finally swim in Lake Erie... Game day came & I was a bundle of nerves.  Self talk was all about going out slow in the water.  The race started with the kayaks going out at 8:00, followed by four waves of swimmers every five minutes.  Being an old lady, my wave was at 8:20.  The water was perfect ~ no waves, good temperature ~ and I was going to start slow.

Mike, Rick, me & John ready to start

And 8:20 came and I got 10 strokes in & couldn't catch my breath...so I started breathing every stroke...so I started hyperventilating...so I started the breast stroke...so I went slow!  I kept trying to swim...and kept failing.  I got to the turn and stood up, talked some sense into my head, and swam back.  Got out of the water & everyone was running to the transition...I didn't want to run, that swim was hard.  But I bent to peer pressure & ran to the bike.

Yep, that's how my swim went & "Why is everyone running?"

Being the last wave, the transition area was basically empty when I got there to get my bike.  Dodd & Mike were both long gone, so my bike was the only one on the rack...and I had no idea what I was doing except hurrying to get my socks & shoes on...helmet...gloves...pull on my flipbelt & bib...eat the gel...get out.  I guess I did ok, because I had all my stuff.

Rode up the hill (oh my, what a way to start the ride) and got going.  My speedometer wasn't working ~ so I moved the sensor...too much.  It was clinking and dinging the spokes the whole time.  UGH.  Tried to move it back, but kept pinching my fingers (can't stop and fix this)  Luckily I threw chapstick into my flipbelt...pulled it out and used it to push the sensor out of the way.  Didn't know my speed the whole time, but it stopped clanking.

Passed people the whole ride.  My quads were working, but I remembered what Dodd said about doing each event well...and holding back didn't really equate to better times in other events.  So I rode hard.  I averaged 17 mph, above what I did in training.

talking to someone, I'm sure

So thankful to have so many people fanning ~ it's motivation to see a familiar face & someone yelling your name. And, there lots of pictures of the adventure afterward.

The transition to the run went much faster ~ no shoe change.  Threw off the helmet & gloves, chugged some water and off.  On the way into transition John yelled, "power walk the hill."  I ran out of transition, and he yelled it again at the bottom of the hill.  So I walked it.  I think that really helped, because I took off at the top & passed a whole bunch of people.  He had told me to not get passed, and I didn't.  Not a single person passed me on the run ~ and I ran it negative.  I never run a race negative.  I felt very strong on the run.  It was one of those moments when it hurt & I was working hard & I KNEW I was strong enough to maintain and finish strong.  The 5k was 3.29 miles (UGH) I ran it at an 8:04 minute pace according to my Garmin.  

the final turn to the finish

I missed 3rd place in my AG by 26 seconds (Lake Erie's final word) but I'm really happy with my first tri.  Sat at the award ceremony (I beat Mike timewise, and he placed 3rd in his AG) saying to myself, "well, that was fun & I don't ever need to do it again."  It was HARD.  Not as hard as a marathon, but hard.  By Sunday night Mike & I were both talking about next year.  What is wrong with us.

Woke up Monday with really sore shoulders and tight hips.  Weirdest after race aches I've ever had.  This tri stuff is taxing on the body.  I can't even imagine what Dodd will go through with his full ironman in October.  Total respect.

Mike's finish

PR ice cream

The gang ~ minus BJ

Mike's award

Could not have done this without my friend Leslie & Brenda

Run Log JUNE

June has been a series of highs and lows ~

Our first place finish at Hill, Yeah ~ a high

Biking with Brenda and Leslie ~ a high

The first time swimming in Lake Erie ~ a low

I've been swimming at the Y all winter.  I am a decent swimmer.  I  can swim a mile (takes me 40 minutes, but I can do it)  First time in Lake Erie ~ total panic.  Extremely rapid heart rate ~ couldn't control my breathing... so unreal to me.  I've always felt comfortable in the water & I was in total panic mode.  I made it down and back twice...but never really swimming.  I couldn't put my face in and get a rhythm.  

So I tried again ~ this time with Dodd and Mike in the kayak.  NOPE.  In my defense the waves were 2-3 feet ~ but that wasn't that wasn't the biggest issue.  I just couldn't put my face in and swim.  I made it two houses from Trisha's parents place and back twice.  Mostly doggie paddling. {more about this later as I'm going in order of my pictures}

Thursday morning NERC run group at Lake Erie Bluffs ~ a high.  We've had a steady stream of people.  It's been fun.  We've also talked the Bodies Done Right coach into doing a 20 minute core class.  I have not been good about strength training.  It's been a good day to start a Thursday.

flat Leslie was late to breakfast

Last Friday morning there were too many storms to even attempt to swim, bike, run...So we  met at Bob Evan's for breakfast ~ which included candied bacon ~ YUM  

That morning I looked at the radar and saw the storms ~ so I went to the Y and swam.  Zero problems, so I knew I hadn't forgotten HOW to swim.

On Monday we tried the lake again.  It was still scary & hard, but a tad bit better.  Then the skies darkened & we could hear thunder...and we decided to get out of the water. {genius idea} 

Angela was joining us for a run ~ and we thought we'd try and get it in as the dark clouds were over the lake.  We ran in beautiful sunshine & the storm passed without much excitement.

get-out-of-the-water sky

Lake Erie is beautiful at sunset

On Wednesday I decided I'd had enough of this stupid fear of swimming in the Lake.  I had a failed track workout ~ Guess I should talk about that.  

First track workout: 12 x 400.  ROCKED IT.  Felt like an badass beast of a runner.

Second track workout: 6 x 800.  It was hard, but I nailed the upper end of my paces.

Third track workout: 6 x 800.  It was very hard.  I hit the upper end of my paces, which were faster than the previous week.  But I felt like a failure.  It was REALLY hard.  I did not feel badass.  I felt worn out.

Fourth track workout: 5 x 1000.  WHAT?!?  I CAN'T DO THAT.  I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.  {see the bad attitude?} seriously contemplated not doing it.  I did it.  Didn't hit a single pace, but I did it.  And I wanted to count hhat as a win.  I sent that to John & didn't get the response I wanted {That's ok, you tried.}  I got the response I needed. {you said you had bigger goals}

I have bigger goals.

I have a really big goal.  It's time to trust my body and push it to do all it can.  

So with this in mind, I couldn't have two fails in a day.  I drove myself to Fairport, got in the water and SWAM.  Down and back.  Stopped once in the middle of the first lap, because I was tired, not because I was scared.  I made myself stick to my breathing rhythm that I do everyday in the pool.  I pretended the tan murk of the water was a sandy bottom {oh, look I can see the sand at the bottom of the lake} and I did it.

So today, when we woke to more storms and everyone but Leslie cancelled ~ I got in the lake and SWAM. Easy and relaxed and enjoyable.  I can do this tri.

Finished the morning with a three mile run in the tri suit.  Feeling exposed, but getting used to it.  

Leslie and I made a plan to race together on Sunday.  She'll push me & I'm going to go for it.

June Run Log:

JuneTotals:

132.30 miles for the month 
736.27 miles for the year 

245.51 miles in my Gortex Ghosts ~ not worn at all this month.

425.87 miles in my old pink Brooks Glycerin 13 

390.31 miles in my new pink Brooks Glycerin 13 

510.61 miles in my teal Brooks Glycerin 13 

223.96 miles in my purple Brooks Glycerin 14 

Training for:  Fairport Triathlon July 16, 2017 & BQ @ Columbus Marathon October 15, 2017

Cross Training: Swimming, biking, some core work, some stretching.  Need to do some everyday.  But I'm not.

My WEIGHT: A few weeks ago I was 137.  The tri suit was a tad easier to get on today, so that's good.

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month:   12.06

What hurts?: nothing

Weekly mileage this month:  26.79 ~ 27.34 ~ 33.35 ~ 31.61

Favorite place to run this month: Geneva on the Lake ~ Lake Erie Bluffs...

Monthly mileage record: 156.69 ~ March 2015 {purposely ran 8 (on a treadmill) on March 30 to beat the August 2013 record}
Highest mileage ever-at-one-time:  26.78, October 30, 2016, Marine Corps Marathon, Washington DC

PR's:

1 mile: 6:43 (Memorial Mile 6/10/17)

5K: 22:30 (Run For the Grapes 9/28/14}
10K: 50:13 {Run for the Hills 6/22/14 & TIED the time Run for the Hills 6/21/15)
10-miler: 1:21:29 (Hermes Cleveland 10-miler 4/28/12)
half-marathon: 1:44:42 (Northern Ohio Half Marathon 10/4/15)

marathon: 3:57:31 (The Cleveland Marathon 5/17/15)

Balloons& Up Your Hill!

Saturday after our mile run...we went to Debonne to watch the balloon festival. This is a big even for the winery ~ and last year it was so crowded there was grid lock traffic jams on South River Road.  This year they made it a ticketed event...free tickets, but they "sold out" ~ and it really wasn't that crowded.  It was HOT and sunny & expensive.  And they only accepted cash ~ which seems a little fishy to me ~ but who am I.

We had fun.. and then the rumor started spreading that they weren't going to launch the balloons because the wind was too strong & from the wrong direction.  So we left and went to Melt.









These pictures were from last Wednesday when we met Distler/Chandler & Becca ~ The only balloon I saw this week ~ Zero at the, so called, "Balloon Festival".

We did see some parachuters jump from a plane a couple of times.  That looks SCARY and they are really moving fast when they land.  

Today was my favorite {not} race of the year.  Hill, Yeah.  The only time I enjoyed this race was when I trained hills.  Go figure.  I HATE the last two miles of this race ~ in fact I debated calling our team "I hate the last two miles of this race so I refuse to run them" ~ Since I hate them, and I refuse to run them...I decided this would be a good race to do as a relay.  Originally it was me and both Dodds.  But when Trisha wasn't training...she decided not to run.  Katie Barton joined us & she ran the fastest pace of all of us.  

Let's flash back to John Distler's quote from yesterday...when he questioned my beastliness.  And I knew he was right.  And he was.  Legs were heavy today.  Breathing wasn't exactly relaxed either.  The goal was to run marathon pace for my leg ~ I managed 8:47 overall for the 4.5...but one of those was 9:57.  Chapin Forest CLIMBS and CLIMBS and CLIMBS.  I was not prepared.  Then the last half mile drops pretty severely.  {Oh my Quads!}

I wasn't the beast I imagine myself to be...but I did ok with my tired legs.

Dodd is so strong.  He ran with me and Katie {who dropped to a 7:47 pace overall} and then finished strong.  We were first place in the co-ed division!  I like running with fast people.

It was HOT and sunny.  Mike ran the whole thing...still with his head/chest cold.  He's kinda beastly.  

A NERC posted on Facebook four pictures of Mike saying, "I'm sorry I don't know you, but you were kicking asphalt."

He even photo bombed Brenda and Leslie's selfie.  He said he had to haul ass to get in it & he did!

Then we had to get first place ice cream.

We may be stretching the limits of the PR ice cream rule...but if Dodd's driving, we get ice cream.

 

Memorial mile

Today I raced a new distance.  A mile.  I have never timed myself in a mile.  I have never done mile repeats.  I have run 7:13 minute miles in the first mile of a 5k...I've run 7:24 minute miles on the treadmill.  I had no idea what to expect.
I have been looking forward to this race since the NERC race schedule came out this winter.  At the time I was doing regular speed workouts at Spire & thought in my own head ~ I may be able to be sub 7:00.  I never said that out loud, because it seemed like a top tier ~ I'm not sure if people will laugh at me ~ goal.  I said, "I'd like to be around 7:00".
Then May happened and I didn't do speed work & I didn't even run 100 miles.  My new in my head goal ~ 7:13 ish.
And John wrote 6:45 in my training plan.
And my hopes were lifted.
And I still told people around 7:00 ish.
I told Mike John's pace for me...and kinda laughed at it.
But there was hope.

And I was scared.

It hurts to run fast.







Marcella lined up with me at the start and told me she was going to run with me.  And she took off.  I didn't dare look at my watch...I just ran.  And people ran passed me.  And I just ran.  And it felt good.  And it was downhill.  Marcella was ahead of me, by a lot.  And then there was a slight uphill just before we made the last turn.  I passed Marcella and I knew I could finish strong.  My watched beeped .04 before the finish line and said 6:30.





My official time:  6:43 (with a pace of 6:44 ~ go figure)

And I want to toot my own horn.  I'm so impressed with myself.  Still finished behind Mike (6:31) and Dodd (5:46) ~ who were beyond amazing.
And I placed 3rd female OVERALL.

Cloud nine.







And John said, "Hahaha let's see what you have in you tomorrow."

And I know he's right.

Run Log

Once again...I come to the end of the month ~ and I've not documented a single life event.  I have a ton of pictures on my phone ~ that need some documentation.  Maybe it'll be a summer goal to blog about 2017...or maybe they will just stay on my phone.

May was a low mileage month for me.  After Canton I just couldn't get the motivation to run much.  What I ran was pretty good ~ a few aches and pains ~ but overall ok.  I just didn't have a plan, so I didn't have a schedule.  I ran when I wanted and what I wanted.  

The biggest news is I have a coach.  I asked John Distler one night for some speed work advice & he offered to be my coach, making me his first coaching client.  The goal: BQ at Columbus on October 15.

Training started Monday, May 29 (and I didn't follow the training plan on day 1)

I'm excited.  I'm scared.  I have some added pressure to be successful for John.  I have a huge cheerleader & most importantly, a plan.  I love to follow the plan.  And now I have someone holding me accountable to it.  So here we go.  

Monday (Day 1 of training) I turned my 4 easy miles into a 5k.  My goal was to start slow and run negative splits.  Didn't happen.  I started slow & got a little slower.  Ugh.  I'm blaming it on the cold/cough I have had for the past two weeks.

This marked the first picture of MGR taken in a long time.  Kelly is back running :)

Mike and I ended up finishing together (exact same finish time)  He really tried to motivate me to speed up and catch Katie Barton (running really well) ahead of us.  I just didn't have it mentally...maybe physically too.  Hard to tell.  He's kinda a good guy, that marathon man of mine.

Lots of NERCs at Johnny's Run :)

Got the award for second place as the first in this age group was an overall placer.  Speedy girl :)










This was the second race run in May.  The Red Bird Run went well & I placed first in my age group :)  I ran it faster too (didn't have a cold)

May Run Log:

May Totals:

90.20 miles for the month 
603.97 miles for the year 

245.51 miles in my Gortex Ghosts ~ not worn at all this month.

402.78 miles in my old pink Brooks Glycerin 13 

370.94 miles in my new pink Brooks Glycerin 13 

493,92 miles in my teal Brooks Glycerin 13 

150.81 miles in my purple Brooks Glycerin 14 

Training for:  Fairport Triathlon July 16, 2017 & BQ @ Columbus Marathon October 15, 2017

Cross Training: Abs everyday in May lasted until the teacher party on the last day of school...I will start again {tomorrow}  Still swimming & rode the bike once.

Podcasts I'm listening to: Marathon Training Academy, Dear Sugar, Story Corp & Reply All & Undone

My WEIGHT: Haven't weighed myself.  I was 140 at the post-assessment for the Bodies Done Right wellness program at the beginning of the month.

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month:   10.2

What hurts?: my throat & right ear.  Nothing running related :)

Weekly mileage this month:  30.38 ~ 23.13 ~ 28.26 ~ 14.11 ~  Took three days off that last week.

Favorite place to run this month: Geneva on the Lake ~ Lake Erie Bluffs...

Monthly mileage record: 156.69 ~ March 2015 {purposely ran 8 (on a treadmill) on March 30 to beat the August 2013 record}
Highest mileage ever-at-one-time:  26.78, October 30, 2016, Marine Corps Marathon, Washington DC

PR's:

5K: 22:30 (Run For the Grapes 9/28/14}
10K: 50:13 {Run for the Hills 6/22/14 & TIED the time Run for the Hills 6/21/15)
10-miler: 1:21:29 (Hermes Cleveland 10-miler 4/28/12)
half-marathon: 1:44:42 (Northern Ohio Half Marathon 10/4/15)

marathon: 3:57:31 (The Cleveland Marathon 5/17/15)