Run log: July 2015

July running ~ it got hot & it stopped raining!  I'm learning how to run in the heat...but have formally declared {in my own mind} that I'm not a fan of running in temperatures over 70 degrees.  I'm a wimp.  

This month I: 

*became a member of Team Beef this month.  I have the official jersey and everything.  I'd rather it be a tank...but it's comfortable to run in {because I tried it out the day I got it}  Rather excited to have a Team Beef shirt :)  

*ran in Colorado {ugh, but beautiful}  

*ran two races...back to back...placed first in both & sit at the overall #5 woman in the NERC Grand Prix.  I missed a race last weekend & am missing one this next, so I'll not get my 8th race in until the XC series in the middle of August.  

*ran with the MMS XC runners

*skipped Thursday NERC group run more than I ran it

*ran with Barclay #projectgump and even put myself on Twitter so I could follow him...honestly I don't understand Twitter ~ so I can't see myself posting...but I'm there.  

*finally retired my Pink Brooks and broke out the clearance Brooks Glycerin 11's I bought a few months ago.  They are the exact same light blue pair I had last year {which became my Camp Stig shoes until they wore holes in the sides}   I'm trying the whole shoe rotation thing with my Nike's and these new Brooks.  We'll see if that saves $ in the long run.

*went too hard at Christine's class at the Y and took WAY too long to recover...everything hurt (even my right knee, which was FRIGHTENING because my knees DO NOT hurt).  I can't decide if I need MORE of that to strengthen my body or just not go so hard next time.  ~ and I had my ego stroked by the following Facebook conversation:

July Totals:

102.94 miles for the month ~ Yeah ~ over 100!! {added a Wednesday run so this would happen!}
862.95 miles for the year 

196.08 miles in my Gortex Ghosts ~ didn't wear them this month...but probably easier to keep them listed here as they are in my rotation.

594.12 miles in my pink Brooks Glycerin 12.  I think these are my Camp Stig shoes.  

139.84 miles in my Nike Vomero ~ These have become my main shoes...

13.68 miles in my NEW light blue Brooks Glycerin 11 ~ the clean version of the two pairs of exact same shoes I have.

Training for:   The Columbus Half October 18 ~ and really thinking about running the Northern Ohio...like the Grand Prix points...and I like the race.

Podcasts I'm listening to: Marathon Training Academy, Stuff You Missed in History Class, Dear Sugar, Stuff You Should Know, & This American Life.  New ones: Love & Radio, RadioLab & Stuff to Blow Your Mind.  

My WEIGHT:  Was at 134 the other day after my run...I'm really trying to limit grains and sugar.  Have had a bad week as I've done DQ twice and lots of desserts lately ~ and I still eat the bun with my burger.  I will keep on my "cleaner" eating plan and see how I do.  

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month:  10 with Barclay 

Highest  weekly mileage this month: 30.75 ~ June 19 through June 25

Favorite place to run this month:  The 10 we did with Barclay...how can being part of that not be the favorite?

# of bags of Candy Cane Kisses left in my cabinet:  NADA
# of books I read this month: TWO
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:  26.36 ~ May 17, 2015 The Cleveland Marathon

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: 1:44:58 (Northern Ohio Half Marathon 10/12/14)
marathon: 3:57:31 (The Cleveland Marathon 5/17/15)

#17 ~ Born to Run

The title of one of the greatest songs ever is the same as #17 ~ Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.  And this great title is not about Bruce Springsteen, but my other favorite thing...running.  A very interesting story about a tribe called the Tarahumara in Mexico who live in the Copper Canyons away from civilization and still run everywhere.  They are a mystical magical people to those in the ultra running community ~ and became a legend at the Leadville Trail 100 ~ which is just a fascinating race to me, because I can't run 3 miles at altitude...and these people run 100 [and don't die]
With asides explaining how humans are built to run and all sorts of other factoids, the main story is about a race in the Copper Canyons pitting some of the best American ultrarunners against the Tarahumara.  It's a good story...and it's amazing that people want to run 50 miles in miserable conditions...but, once again, it's that SPIRIT of 'this won't beat me' that is so appealing.

Quotes:
p9 ~ Running seemed to be the fitness version of drunk driving: you could get away with it for a while, you might even have some fun, but catastrophe was waiting right around the corner.

p44 ~ chica frescs--"chilly chia."  It's brewed up by dissolving chia seeds in water with a little sugar and a squirt of lime.

p111 ~ "This Easy, Light, Smooth, and Fast.  You start with easy, because if that's all you get, that's not so bad.  Thn work on light.  Make it effortless, like you don't give a shit how high the hill is or how far you've got to go.  When you've practiced that so long that you forget you're practicing, you work on making it smooooooth.  You won't have to worry about the last on--you get those three, and you'll be fast."

p124 ~ instead of cringing from fatigue, you embrace it.  You refuse to let it go.  You get to know it so well, you're not afraid of it anymore.

p168 ~ Dr. Lieberman said, "If there's any magic bullet to make human beings healthy, it's to run."

fl: For days, I'd been searching Mexico's Sierra Madre for the phantom known as Caballo Blanco--The White Horse.  ll: For a long time afterward, I could see them standing in the road, waving, until the entire town of Urique disappeared behind us in a cloud of dust.

Run, Forest, Run

Barclay Oudersluys {pronounced outer-slice} of Project Gump made his way across Lake and Ashtabula Counties the past two days.  Last night Northeast Running Club had a picnic for him and his mother, who is his crew for these few days.  Barclay is a 23 year old, soon-to-be law student who went from non-runner, to ultra runner, to a guy running across America in 100 days.  My brother has that adventurous spirit, which has not sprouted in me {thank goodness ~ marathons are crazy enough}, but I'm always intrigued at what makes a person say, "I'm going to run 32 miles every day for the next 100 days."  And it seems like there's no real "ah ha" answer.  "It seemed like something to do, that really hasn't been done much before."  It's that spirit of challenging the body and the mind and seeing what is POSSIBLE that is common denominator ~ which is also true for why most people run...

Groups ran with Barclay for all three 10 mile 'legs' of yesterday's journey from East Cleveland to Perry.  Today the Madison XC girls ran with him for the first 11 miles from Perry to Geneva.  Dodd and I met them at the tracks...  We parked at Geneva Hospital and walked backward along the route...and for some reason, the tracks seemed a good place to wait.  We 'walked the rails' for 15 minutes or so, wondering what all the driver thought of the two strange people loitering on the railroad tracks...no trains came along, which was disappointing. 

Then, just when we expected, we see the group bopping up the road {we didn't go join them because Dodd didn't want to run down the 'hill' and have to run right back up it}  The girls left us 1/2 mile later at Geneva Hospital and Dodd, Barclay and I continued running Route 20 to where we parked at the Dairy Queen in Ashtabula...just past Busy Beaver {unfortunately the DQ wasn't opened when we finished}.    I found out that Kansas was by far the worst state to run in and running the Katy Trail in Missouri was his favorite place.  He's seen zebras along the route & was hit by a car just last week...he managed to knock the side mirror off with only a cut to his arm...so he's counting it as a win.  The trip down route 20 itself was pretty bland.  Once you leave Geneva, it's not beautiful scenery.  {I did point out the one McDonald's in America that has been abandoned and boarded up.} And the sidewalk runs out...  So we're running on Route 20.  But it was one of my Top 5 runs of all time.

It was an amazing experience to be such a small part of such a great undertaking.  I wish him good weather & healthy feet all the way to Maine.

Barclay and me finishing my 10...He still had 10 or so more to go.

Getting the moving selfie isn't very easy!

We'd left Dodd's truck at DQ & mine at Geneva Hospital.   This is the parking job by the van next to me...I had to climb in the passenger side to get in the car...How they didn't ding my car is beyond me.  

Painesville Sunrise

Dodd, me, Mike ~ morning of  weekend race #2

Who thought running two races in one weekend was a smart idea?  Yesterday was the Kirtland 5k ~ today was the Paineville Sunrise 5 miler.  Originally Mike and I had signed up for the 5 miler {more Grand Prix points than a 5k}  But the $10 appeal of the Kirtland was too much...and the NERC points too tempting, I suppose.

After some confusion about the start time of the race...and how early we needed to get there...we posed for our pre-race selfie...trying to look tired.

This race is run the same weekend as Painesville Party in the Park...so the key benefit is the number of port-a-potties!  And Clemson was just finishing cleaning them out!  They were all wet & filled with new blue water {what a difficult job it would be to be in charge of cleaning port-a-potties ~ UGH}

So...the weather has been more than odd this summer.  Lots of rain and cool days, but when it's RACE day(s), it's hot and humid.  Once more it was 77 degrees when we woke up this morning...thankful, yet again, the sun didn't come out until way after the race was over.

This race started in downtown Paineville, ran around the square and then east on route 20,  We ran by the Sidley plant and through a cemetery...finally running DOWN into Rec Park.  For most of the race Mike ran with Leslie {my former nemesis, but now we're not in the same age group}  I kept them in sight, but they had a great pace.  Finally Mike pulled away and caught Dodd.  They ran together for a little bit, but Dodd pulled ahead.   Mile 5 started DOWN in the park...and then we had to run UP, out of the park to finish the race. Just as we were headed out of the park, I finally caught Leslie.  I thought she'd hook on to me, but she let me go.  {was only a few seconds behind tho, for her first place age group finish}  As much as I 'hate' hills, I really love to run them.  There was a 20 something dude WALKING up that hill and I just "one-foot, one-foot, keep moving, you've got this, BEAST" ran right by him...and he never caught me.

A PR {since I have never run a 5 miler before} 41:28.  AND my second FIRST PLACE finish of the weekend.  Mike was 41:16 and Dodd was 40:23

Funny story: As we were waiting for the start, we were walking around the Party in the Park booths.  We'd all commented on the Madtown Zombie booth, wondering exactly what all that all was about.  Do they make money with Zombie runs?  Are they just having fun?  Who are these Zombies?  Dodd and I walked over to see what was in the booth.  We were talking as we walked up and we both looked and were stunned silent.  Laying just below the 'counter' was a couple, sound asleep.  Such a unexpected shock to see people spending the night in downtown Painesville.  

Historic Kirtland 5k

I was a little anxious when I woke up at 5:30 ~ and the temperature was 77 degrees outside.  Not a good start to my overheating little mind.  Luckily the morning was overcast...so it didn't seem as hot...and there was this really big hill to start the race weighing on my mind also.  I didn't get to wear my Purple Raider gear that I purchased yesterday {black & a little thicker material} but second choice, my new NERC gear was a fun choice.  Mike was excited to wear his NERC tank...and use the {non-existent} NERC portapotties.  Started the day off right with a group selfie.

Mike, Kelly, Me, Dodd

Looking good ~ all Matchy-Matchy!

My NERC friend Brenda,  back from her summer long vacation...with a bum knee...took some great photos during the race.  I tried to smile every time I saw her...this was at the start {see...it is a BIG hill} so I was even able to muster a wave.  Finally a race picture where I don't look like I'm dying!  {and you can tell how fast I am because I'm a little blurry}

See kids, running hills is FUN

After running UP this big hill ~ you get to go around the Mormon Temple and back DOWN the hill.  I love downhill!  Then we did the WEIRDEST thing {and it seemed so wrong}  we ran through the finish out onto the road.  I really don't want to see the finish that early in the race!  Passed the 1 mile mark and the lady yelled out 6:54.  WHOA.  My watch beeped 1 mile a little later and it was a 7 something pace, so I felt a little better.  The rest of the race seemed downhill.  We went out 615 to Morley Farm ~ after an initial incline, it seemed downhill all the way there.  Then we looped around the driveway and ran it back to the finish ~ thinking it was going to be an incline, I was surprised when it too seemed downhill.  I worked on keeping my focus on the present and not the miles left to run.
While reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall last night I was struck by the fact that FAST runners, while having good mechanics and speed, are FAST because they LOVE to run.  So instead of focusing on the breathing and the pace and the people running faster than me and the people walking {doesn't that look so much easier than what I'm doing?} I focused on the fact that I CAN run fast and isn't it a great thing!  And I LOVE racing and testing myself and pushing myself each time.  It's FUN!  And my mind was in a much better place ~ rediscovering the WHY I'm doing this.  {the Grand Prix points are an added bonus!}
And I got a few of those today!  First place in my age group {and it was a ten year one ~ 40-49!} with a time of 23:35 {7:36 pace}  I finished 4 seconds behind Mike {23:31} and 2 minutes behind Dodd {21:35}
So the finish was Dodd, Mike, Me and the places were 2nd, 5th, and 1st.  I've said it a million times, it sure is great to be an 46 year old female.

Scenes from the Historic Kirtland 5k

Colorado

This summer's Colorado Adventure included Tennis Camp for Jacob.  GG & Grampy picked him up in Denver on Tuesday ~ and drove him to Colorado Springs on Sunday for a week of camp.  He had a great time, learned a lot & got loads of compliments.  The graduation ceremony was filled with proud mom moments.  Jacob was even named camper of the week for his good attitude and work ethic.  The most awesome part was that the director gave him his phone number and told him to call if he was interested in applying to be a counselor next summer.  "you would make a strong candidate"  Super Awesome!

While JB was a camp, Kirsten and I came out {my poor parents had to make another trip to Denver...and then another trip to Colorado Springs to pick up JB & then another trip to Denver to take us back to the airport...they are awesome}

We went on my favorite hike to Cataract Lake.  Went clockwise this time...have ALWAYS gone counter clockwise...it's a TOTALLY different hike going the other way.  AND due to all the rain, the flowers were amazing and everything was so GREEN.  GORGEOUS hike.

The beautiful view across Cataract Lake

Cataract Lake Hike and the top of Loveland Pass

Frank, Kirsten, Jacob & me on our Jeep Adventure

We joined the Dillon Community Church Jeep Club for a great Jeep adventure over by Leadville {not exactly sure where we were}  We were by Camp Hood ~ so there were signs not to touch anything you found along the trail as it may be live ammo left over from the 10th mountain division training during WWII.   We Jeeped up to Slide Lake and then hiked the rest of the way.  Then we Jeeped back down & traveled Wurts Ditch.  It was a fun, muddy, steep trail and Jacob did a great job of putting up with back seat drivers & got a safely through!

The view from Slide Lake

Pontooning

The last day there we spent on Lake Dillon.  It was a beautiful day.  A little cloudy, a little sunny, a little rainy and fun.  You can see the rain cloud we boated around during the last hour.  

Rainbow over the road

#16 In The Woods

Book #16 was a long one & it took me three times of checking it out to finish.  In The Woods by Tana French is the first book in the Dublin Murder Squad series.  It was an intense story of murder and terrible pasts and romance with romance gone bad thrown in. Parts of the story made me angry...and parts kept me reading.  I don't know if I'll read the next book...as I wasn't real happy with the ending of this one.

fl: Picture a summer stolen whole from some coming-of-age film set in small-town 1950's. ll: I watched for a long time, until my mobile began vibrating insistently in my pocket and the rain started to come down more heavily, and then I put out my cigarette and buttoned my coat and headed back to the car.