38:38

a sub 40 min 4 miler pretty much constitutes speedwork for me these days. whee!

Spirit Renewed

today i ran the first 3.5 miles of golden hills marathon route. after yesterdays downpour the first mile or so was a bit muddy. i detoured to hit the porta potty and scrape the mud off my shoes at inspiration point. i then crossed wild canyon rd. to seaview trail. i had never been on this part of the trail before and i was excited to be discovering more of my beloved Tilden Park.

from the base of seaview trail it was a straight up. i jogged until i couldn't anymore. i looked up only occasionaly...i slowed to a shuffle and then eventually walked the rest of the way to summit.

i gued for the first time removed my outer shirt and asked a few hikers if i was on the right track to skyline ridge....i got a resounding "we think so" i had a map and i felt like i was on the right path so after taking in a spectacular view of the san francisco skyline i continued along seaview towards what i hoped would turn into skyline ridge.

at around 3.5 miles the trail turned into a road. i wish i would have asked the park utilty vehicle i saw coming towards me where skyline ridge was but i had to head back in order to get to a birthday party in Livermore at 12:30. so reluctantly i turned around. i covered a little over 7 miles in 1:48

i can't wait to go back. being up there was good for my soul today. trails bring out the best in me and i came off the mountain today with a renewed sense of purpose and focus for my marathon training. after 1 nothing special run, 2 supremely sucky runs and 3 days off this week i was due a good run. today rocked.

on the way back i noticed a couple of mature ladies plodding their way towards the summit. one glanced up and half smiled the other looked more like what i imagined i did earlier:) nose to the grindstone...no time for eyecontact..LOL!! i wondered if they were training for Golden Hills. i hope i see them again.

let the mind games begin

i've been feeling somewhat disconnected from my running lately. since deciding to run a marathon in october i've been base building in preparation for the actual marathon schedule to begin in may. 5 weeks into it running has started to feel more like a job than a passion........and it has me a little worried.

since uping my weekly mileage i've begun to notice a sense of dread preceding my near daily runs. perhaps going from 3-4 to 6 days a week was a bit much. i've been careful to stick with the plan....averaging 25 miles a week...this week started off strong but by thursday i was just too tired and i've taken the last 2 days off. it's gray and cool outside now and i'm torn between going for a run or tackling M's room to get ready to paint. no reason i can't do both i suppose. 4 is on the schedule but i should double it and go shorter tomorrow as i have a party to attend at noon.

i'm not the most sociable runner. i prefer to be alone with my thoughts, running my own pace. this has worked well for me up to now. lately i've been feeling kinda... i don't know...isolated. like i don't really know what i'm doing. i don't see myself training in a group. but i can appreciate the benefits of not going at it alone.

so i think what's going on here ...doubt is rearing it's ugly head...it's subtly picking at me. instead of ignoring like i've tried to i think i need to look it in the eye and acknowledge it. yes, i have my doubts. yes, i have concerns . yes, i wonder if i can put in the training. yes, i wonder if i can go the distance.

i've been afraid to admit any of this. but i think i'm okay with it. the thing i've feared most about my decision to go long this year was switching from a free spirited trail runner to a more focused disciplined runner. i've been happy with my gradual progress over this past 2 years. but in the back of my mind i wonder will going long turn my joy of running into a chore?

i'm still sorting all these feelings out. i haven't run in 2 days...so i'm probably feeling more insecure than usual. this is also a reminder that the mental aspects of training are just has important as putting in the miles. attitude is everything.

time to go adjust mine now!

This is going to get easier, right?

my day started with a phone call from my boss asking if i would work at another facility today and tomorrow...my options were to work 10 hrs at this facility or to split 8 hrs between 2 buildings. after i stopped laughing hysterically....i said i'd work at the other facility for 8 hours.

i had previously already agreed to work in this building on wed to make up for taking yesterday off.....but knowing that this other building is really busy i was concerned about how i would fit my 6 miler in and still get to work by 6 am. anyhoo, when i arrived at the other building this morning i was happy to see that the manager brought in another OT to work as well and that my caseload wasn't too heavy because that meant i could run my 6 miler after work instead of 4 am tommorrow.

my attitude about running fluctuates constantly. sure i'll moan and groan about it especially when it's inconvinient. but i will say when a run is at risk of being dropped or messed with i usually find whatever reserves are necessary to make it happen. and so was the case this afternoon.

tomorrow is also suppose to be stormy giving me a little more incentive to get my tail out there after work.

seems i'm slower and slower. (6.02 miles 1:10) and it takes longer for the stride to loosen up. i guess that goes with change of conditions and running longer. i can't say i'm HAPPY about running in the afternoon but circumstances dictated some flexibility. i'm not going to be too concerned with speed or time on these afternoon runs.

on the upside, running in the afternoon allows me to stretch more and take longer showers.

but it still sucks.

Happy Spring

sometime today i need to run 8 miles.....the easter party preparations spilled over into training time and i did cut a few runs shorter. but hey, it's all about balance and you do what ya gotta do. i think i'm becoming a more mindful runner. i used to push too hard or just bail altogether when i felt crummy or tired. this attitude is so refreshing and it's really helping me see the big picture more clearly.

my neck pain seems to be bothering me less...it's not completely gone yet but i found heat vs ice to be better along with the occasional ibuprofen.

the easter party went well and the best part as usual was the easter egg hunt with the kids. my two nephews and one niece (ages 8,6,and 4) are TERRIFIED of dogs (it's really kinda sad...imagine being a kid afraid of dogs...)...so poor Brandy had to stay cooped up in my bedroom for the party....i'll make it up to her by taking her with me running this afternoon. M is crashed out cold from all the whooping it up this past week and i agreed to let her stay home one more day but she's going to SCORE this afternoon!

Afternoon Delight

i'm not even going pretend that i was excited AT ALL about the prospect of running this afternoon. T and i arranged that he would get home around 1:40 so i could allow for travel time to and fro Tilden....i needed 2 hours to run a hilly 8 miler in Tilden and enough extra time to p/u M at SCORE afterwards.

even though i had an 8 miler on the schedule...i still found myself negotiating...."ok, we'll see how it goes. "it is afternoon and I DON'T DO afternoon runs", "it's gonna be hilly so maybe i'll cut it short" my legs felt like sludge and even though the final number was apparently up for debate i knew i couldn't deviate from the plan until after the first two miles.

the sun felt good on my face. the pale blue sky and steady breeze balanced things out nicely. around mile four i had to hop a locked cattle gate. on the turn around my stride loosened up and i started to think maybe i would get through this 8 miler afterall. the rest of the run ....while NOT easy...went pretty well. i even went a little further by the time i arrived back at my car.

8.78 mi 1:47:56

i suspect sooner rather than later Mia is going to want her Garmin back. it's completley endeared itself to me much the same way Nano did. i'd be interested to hear from anyone regarding the Garmin 305.....though secretely i want mia to sell me her 201 since she and eric are more technologically savvy/worthy of the higher end model. :)

Testing the Water

my ankle was a little sore today and since i was only scheduled for 4 miles i decided to swim instead. considering that i hadn't planned on swimming i was surprisingly organized and got to the pool by 8:20 am for my first swim of the year!

i was happy to discover that i hadn't forgotten how to swim and while i only swam 200 hundred yards i was winded and reminded that it requires a different kind of conditioning....just like on the St. Patty's bike ride ....different muscles got worked and i was trying to remember how i pulled all 3 disciplines together last summer.

so, no i still haven't got the tribug back....not to worry though....there will always be a place for the swim and the bike in my training.

Good Start

i switched yesterday's 8 miler to this morning so i could be around Sunday morning for T and M as they set off for their daddy/daughter adventure. they headed out around 10:30 and while there was time to still run i started cleaning out the linen closet and that led to the bathroom drawers, then i attacked the laundry room and kitchen. not as enjoyable as a run would of been but very productive.
i'm actually looking forward to company next weekend.

today i set out at around 7 am mapped out a nice 8 mile loop from my house.
for the record:

from my house to Camilia
L on 4th st
pass the kayak lake (a nasty body of water paralell to Hwy 80)
and over the bicycle bridge towards the Marina
out and back on the pier
then over to the harbor

( i felt like i was in a video...i swear just as i arrived at this point "more to life than this" by Bjork came up on the ipod...if you know the song you'll know why i say this...she's bored at some party and wants to go down to the harbor and jump across the boats....)

loop over to Ceasar Chavez
3/4 around i twisted my ankle and had to walk for a bit...back on track before i knew it....
leaving CC
L on Bayview Trail to Gilman
i had to run in place for what seemed an eternity...i even ran around the block first...waiting for a long ass train to pass.

8 miles 1:28
not fast but not bad for a Monday morning ;0