Inspired

What a weekend we had! I did Kona, Chicago, Portland and Steamtown - I am exhausted!

Congratulations to all who raced this weekend! I am inspired by all! Lam got his sub 3 after 2 years (I think!) of trying! Angela swam and biked fast in Kona, and when she was getting ready to rip it on the run her calf wouldn't let her, but she pushed through and finished in a time that is impressive to me! Julie Dibens outswam and outbiked everyone but was passed at mile 17 of a the first marathon of her life! These are the stories (and many more) that make me want to set goals and work toward them, however long it take. This is what sport is, for me. Success is measured in how hard you try, in being able to tell yourself that you did your best, whatever the outcome. This is what I plan to do on Sunday, do my best, whatever the outcome! And go for it next time if I don't reach my goal! I hope to be able to make my peace with the marathon after Boston 2010. Will see!

Congrats also to Keri who did a 3:29 in her second marathon (hey, Keri, I did a 3:29 in my second marathon, too:) even though she was sick and had knee issues, and to Rebekah for her 3:31! I know there were some people who did not reach their goal this weekend! There is always a next time, if you want it to be!

****
Besides tracking everyone who raced, and working hard on not offending people when in the middle of a conversation I'd hear the click of an update from the live Kona blog and pull my i-phone to check it out, I've done some running, lots of sleeping, another massage (this one was soooo great), lots of rolling and soaking in hot water! Running is going well. My legs are starting to feel fresh. My test? Walking the 20 steps up to my house with no fatigue - I am not there yet! I have 30 miles or so next week, mostly easy with a few strides, pace miles.
So far the weather looks great, 61 degrees and sunny. Now all I need is to get over this cold, which will happen, it seems to be part of my prerace routine.

Have a great weekend! Looking forward to some exciting race reports!

I left the house at 5:45 this morning, and got back home at 7:36. I was busy with no breaks from 6:30 to 2:45, and then ran to the Hynes Convention for a workshop where I gave a talk. I left the meeting at 6:30. I am beat. And no run, good thing it is taper. Why do I tell you this? Because I am so grateful that this is not a typical day for me. It made me realize how lucky I am to have the job I have, the family I have, to live in the neighborhood I live in, to have the friends I have, to be able to train like I do. Everything is fitting together nicely and there are no real struggles.

Is taper making me dippy? Not sure, but I really wanted to document these thoughts, for later. What taper is truly doing is making my hair shiny, my nails pretty, my legs softer and my face rounder (these may not necessarily be taper related, rather they are likely due to dropping the nr of hours I train/per week to half since the HIM). I take the good with the bad, I supposed. As long as these legs can run, I could care less if they are less muscular (that's what she tells herself!).

Anyhow, running is minimal, 8.5 miles with a 3 2 1 2 3 1 2 @ 3K-10K on Monday, 6 miles @ MP to MP-11 on Tuesday, nada today, 11 miles with 2X4MP, a couple of 4-5 milers with 8X10 hill strides and a 13 miler easy (should I keep it easy, I want it MP, no, I'll keep it easy with maybe 3 MP miles at the end, how is this for a compromise). Then next week even less running, I can do this, I think I can, I think I can.

All this Kona/Chicago marathon talk is making me want to go race! I both want to race and get the race over with, because then I can go play triathlon prep and: 1) get myself fitted for a bike, 2) buy a bike, 3) buy a trainer, 4) start masters swimming, 5) plan my racing season, 6) finish/use the 4 triathlon books that I am currently skimming. Oh, and rest for 2 weeks, yes, that, too!

Things, thoughts

# Taper started and I am feeling great. My Saturday moderate paced run was perfect. The weather was cool, and, since this is taper, I had a plan of letting my legs run as they pleased, with no concern for pace. I started out at MP+30, and gradually, very gradually went down to MP, and then MP-5. I only ran 12 miles, but I felt fresh, strong, and did not push the pace at all. I think this strategy might be what I need for the marathon. Let the legs decide the pace, don't force them, at least for 1/2 the race. Oh, and cool temps would help, too. I already feel the benefit of the decreased mileage! And, surprise, surprise, I am dying for a 20 miler (call me nuts!)

# I had my first massage on Friday - Julia will be proud. I've had this gift certificate from a 5K for several months now, at a place 5 min from my house, and I finally went for it. I kept procrastinating because, well, I am NOT a touchy-feely person (probably rebelling against my latin upbringing with everyone kissing on both cheeks and hugging at every encounter) and the thought of some strange hands rubbing my body did not seem appealing. But, my tired legs took priority and I made it there. I asked for a sports massage, but apparently there was an issue with the scheduling and I was given a "regular" massage. It was OK, the woman worked hard on my legs and she kept saying that I have lots of knots in my legs. She also asked me how many miles are in the marathon that I am going to run in 2 weeks. Yup. Next Friday I am using my last gift certificate, this time at a sports massage clinic in Medford. I have a feeling that will be...different.

# We spent another amazing weekend in New Castle, NH, dogsitting for my mom in law. This time we brought friends and got a HS girl to sit (Petru loved her) and went out into Portsmouth at a blues bar. It was amazing. Chris forced me to dance (he has no shame after a few beers). We drove home singing in the car, a bit late for the sitter, but happy to find Petru asleep. We stayed up too late, playing games and talking. Oh, I needed this.

# I am working on a taper routine. What is it, you ask? This week, my routine involves icing/soaking in hot water and rolling every single day (I'll let you know how that goes), getting 8 hours of sleep daily and catching up on work. Honestly, I am not sure whether these strategies help at all, but they do give me some control, so they help mentally. I am also reading a great book on mental training for triathletes.

# My running form has changed. I am finally able to lean from the ankles. It is amazing to observe the change in pace when I play around with my form. Oh, and I did not consciously work on changing my form, it just happened.

# I am an i-pod killer! It is official. I should not be allowed to have an i-pod.

# I decided to take a 2 week rest after my marathon. I will not run for 2 weeks, and will allow myself to just spin on a bike, or swim easily, or walk for max 45 min/day. Yes, I am saying it here, so you all can hold me accountable. Honestly, my mind does not need this, but my body does. November 1st, I should be back in business and thinking about my 2011 season.

# I mentioned before that I will not be running Boston in 2011. I know, I know, some of you won't get this. But, Boston is expensive, and I much rather use the money for a tri. Also, I've experienced Boston twice so far. I've done it, it's lost its appeal. But, I should be able to pace you for part of it, just ask!

# Speaking of Mooseman, guess who is registered! I am SO excited!!!

From megalomania to insecurity

Sometime during our courtship Chris told me that I tend to go from megalomania to insecurity within a matter of minutes. That was true at the time (and no, I never told Chris that he was right, of course:), and something I've worked through. However, some remnants of that quick change are still present in my running. I have some runs when I am on top of the world, running a speedy pace that feels oh so easy, and I start feeling that I can run X marathon time, or half marathon time, etc. Then I have those other runs.....my last 2 long runs. I start out in megalomania state completely ignoring the effect of humidity or high temps, or planning an 18 MP run on a Thursday early morning after having ran 24 miles the previous Saturday, 10 MP-20 miles the previous Monday, and a track workout on Tuesday. Yeah! I start the run, and then at mile 5 I am completely out of breath (probably sky high HR) and I start thinking that I won't be able to run even an 8 pace marathon. Insecurity strikes. And you can talk to me about positive thinking and mental toughness (I used them and did manage to finish the runs) but when you did yourself a big hole at mile 5 of a marathon or long runs, its pretty hard to get yourself out without slowing down.

So.....I started the emergency taper. It is screaming in your face obvious that I am tired. I trained hard for the HIM and marathon, did the HIM and was back running 2 days after (megalomania? stupidity?). In my defense, I felt great. Then I pushed the mileage up and because I felt no soreness, fatigue, loss of mojo or other signs of overtraining, I pushed through.
I have 18 days to get these legs ready to race. You'd think I'd be excited to taper, but truth is, I am going to miss running long. I can have the worst run but still want to get out there the next day. Hm, I am starting to think that megalomania is more of a danger than insecurity...

Oh, and I still have no idea what MP I am going for. The MP I trained for seems a bit too ambitious after my last 2 runs (insecurity?, realism?). One thing I know, there will be a plan before this race (accounting for weather, etc), so that the megalomania/insecurity demons can be kept at bay!

Random thoughts

* Meet my favorite new suit. Seriously, I love it, love it, love it!

(and don't ask me why the pic is blurry, ask Chris!)

* I've had some great runs, including the most amazing track workout in the rain this afternoon. I almost kissed the track, that's how much I love it! I also had a horrible long run on Saturday, on hilly terrain, hot temps (90s), little sleep and not enough salt. It was supposed to be 23 miles with 20 @ MP, and it ended up being 20 with 15 @ MP+10, and then 4 miles @ MP-5 2 hours later.

* They should serve defizzed coke at water stopps at all marthons. That stuff wakes you up from death in hot temps.

* I realize that the more secure and succesful I am in my career and my ability to support my family, the less competitive I am in sport. Perhaps my competitiveness was filling a gap? Still, I need my competitiveness to perform well.

* Two days ago I had made up my mind to buy a computrainer. Then I saw how much a good power meter costs, and changed my mind. I did get a Garmin with HR monitor (since mine is in a coma), so perhaps I should just start with that, a Kurt Kinetic trainer, and a new, well fitted bike.

* I videotaped myself swimming (in my favorite suit). I was going to post the videos, but I took them with my I-phone and somehow blogger does not like that format. Still, I was able to pinpoint a couple of things I have to change about my stroke, particularly rotation on my left side, which is mostly nonexistant. It was amazing how much faster I felt with better body rotation.

* Guess who is hoarding the foam rollers? He "rolls" just like we do, while watching TV!

So you want to know MORE about me?

Aimee at I tri to be me (love the title of her blog) tagged me to come up with random things about me. I've done this post a few times so far, but it is always fun to do it again. But, to keep it fresh, I am going to give you 10 random things about me from Chris's perspective.

Here we go, uncensored yet PG:)

1. Gives music a thumbs up or down within 3 seconds, and then she changes her mind.
2. Lived in our new house for 6 months before finding out where the kitchen garbage went when it left the house.
3. Tells Petru made up stories where he cheers up lonely traffic lights and lighthouses with his visits.
4. Has never had a professional massage, but has had 2 gift certificates for several months now.
5. Reads almost only nonfiction these days, but loves Jumpa Lahiri's work.
6. Loves beating her husband at anything - cribbage, quiddler, shoe tying races.
7. Has disappointed her uncle by eating only 2 slices of pizza at Papa Gino's all-you-can-eat buffet during her first summer in the USA.
8. She found out that she and I were reading the same book (Angela's ashes) during our second date (June 1999).
9. Finished her first 5K race in just under 25 minutes (Fresh Air Challenge, Cleveland May 2001), with no training and almost no prior running.
10. Is a kick-ass backyard badminton player!

So lets keep this rolling. Consider yourself tagged, if you want to!

The good...

THE GOOD




First step toward becoming a more efficient swimmer! yay!














The YUMMY!




This is what Chris learned to cook today - my 2 favorite veggies!
















The CUTE!



This is a note I found on the counter when I got back from work today! Yes, I am a seltzer addict and hoarder!


































THE UGLY!



I made the mistake of ordering a splish suit "grab bag" (meaning I had no idea what suit I would get). I love 99% of the suits, so thought my chances were pretty high to get something I could wear. Plus, the 1/2 price was nice. And then I got this.....Chris thinks this should be my Halloween costume, and we could be Wonder Woman and Batman! Yes, NOPE!