thanks to an exceptionally exasperating patient...i had plenty of motivation to run at lunchtime....a HOT 3-4 miler...i must've left the garmin on after yesterday's run because when i went to turn it on 0 hrs. battery was left...oh well i had taken the time earlier to map out a 4 mile route using my car odometer...2 miles each way ...after only a couple of blocks i knew that it was going to be dreadful so i took a shortcut through the high school. i'm giving myself the benefit of the doubt that i ran at the very least 3.5 miles in around 40 minutes...as i mentioned it was HOT and when i was done i beelined for the patio off of the gym and stretched awhile on the cool cement.
everyone at work thinks i'm nuts for running in the heat. i had a water bottle and i was SLOOOOOOOW. taking a shortcut was smart and it kept me from being over exposed....i'm not used to running in the heat at all....but with a marathon smack dab in the middle of Indian Summer i need to get used to it.
one of my co-workers is like a mom to us all she always brings us stuff to eat. we're a pretty close bunch sharing food and eating together often but after last summer when i swam at lunchtime they came to accept my skipping lunch with them to workout. for lunch i ate a bowel of cherrios and that same co-worker set aside a banana for me....how sweet is that huh?
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Strawberry Canyon
i couldn't figure out why i was so tired this morning...i slept in until almost 7am....then i remembered i took a Benedryl lastnight. a few cups of coffee later Brandy and I headed out to Strawberry Canyon for a hill workout.
Taking Brandy always changes the focus a bit. Between keeping her properly hydrated and on the main trail always slows me down (not to mention Big Bertha and her minions!) she's one happy pooch i tell ya. especially once we get to the good mud holes.
i've been going back and forth with which marathon program to follow....Free being the operative word here i think i'm in shape enough to go intermediate with the
Cool Running on-line plan. i may need to tweek the schedule here and there but i think i'm headed in the right direction.
Taking Brandy always changes the focus a bit. Between keeping her properly hydrated and on the main trail always slows me down (not to mention Big Bertha and her minions!) she's one happy pooch i tell ya. especially once we get to the good mud holes.
i've been going back and forth with which marathon program to follow....Free being the operative word here i think i'm in shape enough to go intermediate with the
Cool Running on-line plan. i may need to tweek the schedule here and there but i think i'm headed in the right direction.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Up and Running...but at a price
in my haste to get to the computer shop yesterday before it was closed it appeared that i ripped out one of the plugs.....the mouse ..... in addition to being charged to have the disc removed i paid an additional $10.00 for another mouse..only to discover that when i got home my mouse was intact. i still don't know where that broken plug came from?? he asked me how much i thought he should charge...he said $30.00 i countered $25.00.....still, the unecessary purchase of another mouse cancelled any "deal" i made.
oh well, now i can start posting pictures again.
oh well, now i can start posting pictures again.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Train Don't Strain -Running Maxim
4/21 saturday 10.0 mi 2:00:47
4/20 friday 6.29 mi 1:08:26
4/18 wednesday 8:51 mi 2:03:16
4/17 tuesday 4.02 mi 38:38
4/15 sunday 7:12 mi 1:48:11
35.95 miles total for the week. i have to thank the local weather for geting me to squeeze more in as the training schedule and Nature did NOT play well together at all this week.
Long runs are now 10 miles. a moderately challenging route, i have to say I FELT GREAT THE WHOLE TIME. the arch of my left foot felt a little weird for the first mile or two than it stopped. my breathing was even ...not one single side stitch. i concentrated alot on just relaxing. everytime i approached a hill i took a deep breath reminding myself: it's just a hill, no need for speed, take your time. it was gray and cool yesterday....perfect running conditions for a hilly course. i took the usual Lone oak trail to the Nimitz. once i got through the first cattle gate instead of taking san pablo ridge i veered to the left a discovered Muzane(sp?) Trail. this turned out to be a good move. it was about a mile shorter as i only wanted to cover 10 miles.
i love fast descents and this part of trail was mostly just that: fast and downhill. when i got to the bottom i hopped another cattle gate and made my way back towards Lone Oak. at the 9.90 mile mark my ipod battery died.....how's that for lucky? i really have grown attached to tunes while running i'm glad the battery hung in there for the majority of the run. 10 miles in 2:00:47
M's room is getting a makeover. it's taking longer than expected and emptying the room out completely before painting is a major ordeal. i recently pulled out her quilt squares and have them on the audition board. it's been months since i've even looked at them....i've been playing with them all week and think i have it figured out. she's still fond of my color choices. shopping for paint, we're looking for tangerine and soft pinks to compliment the quilt. she traded her bunk beds for a daybed and we got rid of a desk that she's outgrown. i know this would be more interesting with pictures but something is going amok in the hardrive and i'll be without a computer for awhile after today getting it checked out.
still running solo.....
but not entirely alone. i picked up a few running books this week:
The Lore of Running, Noakes ...i'm really liking this one....more than i thought
The Runner's Literary Companion .....The Lovliness of the Long-Distance Runner by Sarah Maitland ...i loved the line "running is my animal"
and The Runner's Book of Daily Inspiration.
Have A Great Day!
4/20 friday 6.29 mi 1:08:26
4/18 wednesday 8:51 mi 2:03:16
4/17 tuesday 4.02 mi 38:38
4/15 sunday 7:12 mi 1:48:11
35.95 miles total for the week. i have to thank the local weather for geting me to squeeze more in as the training schedule and Nature did NOT play well together at all this week.
Long runs are now 10 miles. a moderately challenging route, i have to say I FELT GREAT THE WHOLE TIME. the arch of my left foot felt a little weird for the first mile or two than it stopped. my breathing was even ...not one single side stitch. i concentrated alot on just relaxing. everytime i approached a hill i took a deep breath reminding myself: it's just a hill, no need for speed, take your time. it was gray and cool yesterday....perfect running conditions for a hilly course. i took the usual Lone oak trail to the Nimitz. once i got through the first cattle gate instead of taking san pablo ridge i veered to the left a discovered Muzane(sp?) Trail. this turned out to be a good move. it was about a mile shorter as i only wanted to cover 10 miles.
i love fast descents and this part of trail was mostly just that: fast and downhill. when i got to the bottom i hopped another cattle gate and made my way back towards Lone Oak. at the 9.90 mile mark my ipod battery died.....how's that for lucky? i really have grown attached to tunes while running i'm glad the battery hung in there for the majority of the run. 10 miles in 2:00:47
M's room is getting a makeover. it's taking longer than expected and emptying the room out completely before painting is a major ordeal. i recently pulled out her quilt squares and have them on the audition board. it's been months since i've even looked at them....i've been playing with them all week and think i have it figured out. she's still fond of my color choices. shopping for paint, we're looking for tangerine and soft pinks to compliment the quilt. she traded her bunk beds for a daybed and we got rid of a desk that she's outgrown. i know this would be more interesting with pictures but something is going amok in the hardrive and i'll be without a computer for awhile after today getting it checked out.
still running solo.....
but not entirely alone. i picked up a few running books this week:
The Lore of Running, Noakes ...i'm really liking this one....more than i thought
The Runner's Literary Companion .....The Lovliness of the Long-Distance Runner by Sarah Maitland ...i loved the line "running is my animal"
and The Runner's Book of Daily Inspiration.
Have A Great Day!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Hump Day
after a rather raucos send-off to school i'm still steaming about the fact a certain someone refuses only to be concerned about school supplies and homework whereabouts moments before it's time to leave! clearly i have failed to instill any sense of responcibility or ownership.
just read dianna's amazing report. i think they should name an energy bar or Gu after her, orange flavored of course.
the sun is out i have a hilly 6 miler to run.
Mission Accomplished and then some
GHM race route
8.51 miles in 2:03:16
i forgot the map thanks to the drama earlier this morning.....i almost forgot Brandy and had to run back in the house for her.
she's in need of a better hydration system. a water bottle inside a plastic grocery bag tied to her harness is not gonna cut it when she starts putting in double digits with me.
i went a bit further today than on Sunday and determined that the paved road is a park utility road and NOT skyline ridge. i turned around at the 4 mile mark and retraced my steps to a fork in the road....again no trail markings so i proceeded cautiosly for a quarter mile or so.....straight down. from the looks of this part of the trail i could expect to end up in some canyon somewhere so i turned around and headed back to the main trail.
as i was climbing my way to the top i had an epiphany of sorts. spring really is the perfect time for training. the cool March breezes gently coaxed me up the massive hill. in time my body will adapt and my lungs, my heart, and my legs will get stronger and as the seasons change i will have changed too.
the hills are green. lupine, poppies and so many others scatterd along the way. i feel like i've only scratched the surface of this journey. just taking my time and savoring every minute.
just read dianna's amazing report. i think they should name an energy bar or Gu after her, orange flavored of course.
the sun is out i have a hilly 6 miler to run.
Mission Accomplished and then some
GHM race route
8.51 miles in 2:03:16
i forgot the map thanks to the drama earlier this morning.....i almost forgot Brandy and had to run back in the house for her.
she's in need of a better hydration system. a water bottle inside a plastic grocery bag tied to her harness is not gonna cut it when she starts putting in double digits with me.
i went a bit further today than on Sunday and determined that the paved road is a park utility road and NOT skyline ridge. i turned around at the 4 mile mark and retraced my steps to a fork in the road....again no trail markings so i proceeded cautiosly for a quarter mile or so.....straight down. from the looks of this part of the trail i could expect to end up in some canyon somewhere so i turned around and headed back to the main trail.
as i was climbing my way to the top i had an epiphany of sorts. spring really is the perfect time for training. the cool March breezes gently coaxed me up the massive hill. in time my body will adapt and my lungs, my heart, and my legs will get stronger and as the seasons change i will have changed too.
the hills are green. lupine, poppies and so many others scatterd along the way. i feel like i've only scratched the surface of this journey. just taking my time and savoring every minute.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
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.
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.
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