Smokin' Hill session

It was just what  needed. Yesterday I headed back to my garbage hill for some serious hill training. I wasn't sure what to expect but it was better than I'd though it would be so...win!!

A hard packed trail right up the middle let me put what little pedal to the metal I  had and while I wasn't as fast as I needed to be I ended up with times between 11:22 and 12:20 m/m for each hill...not bad for 2 days after a 1/2 marathon.

It felt good...and this morning my butt hurts so bad t's unreal...proof I worked hard.

Yeah the 1/2 was disappointing, but I'm only going to get stronger and it just means that next time I'm gonna have to bring it. Learn from this and move forward. Left foot, right foot.

26km

So this upcoming weekend I have a 26km run on the agenda...needless to say I'm not impressed. All i really want to do is crawl into a hole and hide. Today we're back to -39'C and tomorrow we hit -41'C with extreme windchill. I just don't think I can take it anymore.

I know I'm supposed to be training outdoors with my buddies, but if its this cold again on sunday, I honestly think I would rather head to an indoor track and run for 4 hours. It would be sooooo much nicer...and warmer...and I could stop for food and water and not have the water be icecubes.

Note to self tape hot shots to water belt if I run outside.

I just don't know that I can face another round of 4 hours in the cold...it'll be too much for me to take. I'm already supposed to head out to Garbage hill this morning and I'm avoiding it...because it's so freaking cold. Tomorrows 10km steady will be run on the treadmill. I do think that I'll be skipping run club more and more until the temps warm up...I just don't see myself wanting to run outside any time soon.

Please nature...I beg you...please stop.

Hypothermic 1/2 Marathon

So Yesterday was my Kryptonite race. It didn't go as well as I'd hoped...I knew I was capable of a 2:30 finish if the conditions were right, but apparently my body never got that memo.

It was cold...and not just that regular cold we're used to but windchill cold. The wind was up to 40km wind gusts and the exposed parts of the route made you think that there was a distinct possibility that your face was going to shatter into a million tiny ice fragments.

The wind pushed and pulled you in every direction. Pelting you with tiny shards of blowing snow. After the first mile I decided to check my watch to make sure I wasn't going too fast...it felt like I was at a 9 minute mile pace so I thought for sure I should slow down. The watch said 12:30. Immediately I thought "okay...it's going to be one of THOSE races is it? All righty then let's do this". I though that 12:30 wasn't too bad...it allowed me a slow build to my inevitable awesome finish.

~sigh~

As soon as we cleared the open fields and entered into the forest I removed my outer layer...the sweat was starting to build and I knew that I was going to be in serious trouble if I ended up soaked...that cold was unforgiving. It didn't matter.

By mile 7 my shirt was actually frozen to my skin (arm), by mile 8 my middle layer (RRX jacket) was frozen solid...i kid you not...the sleeves wouldn't really bend...they crunched.

At this point I since I could see no one around me I knew that I was going to be coming in dead last again. I didn't give up though...I forced myself to keep pushing.

At mile 10 I decided to check my watch...it was here I noticed that I'd only been on course for 2:20...I did a fast mental math and I realized that If I picked it up I could finish in 3 hours...maybe even sub 3....i knew I didn't have any 7 minute kilometers in me so I plowed on as fast as I could with next to zero walk breaks.

I finished in 3:03...taking almost an hour off of my previous finish times for this winter 1/2 marathon. I feel good about that. Yes it felt like a step backwards, but that's only because I've grown so much in the last 9 months. Even just typing that I can't believe it's only been 9 months since I started this hard push towards getting stronger, getting faster.

Last year at this time I was training, hoping that maybe somehow for the WPS i could pull off a 2:59 finish. Now i know that when it comes time for the next big 1/2 push I'm going to come in at 2:15. I can feel it. There's nothing out there keeping me from this other than myself.

I ran this race alone...and I know that made it harder than it needed to be, but it is what it is. I proved to myself that even though i may slow down I won't give up. That's the most important thing i take away from this. For the Ultra I'm going to need to run a 12:00 m/m pace for 6.5 hours. I know I can do that...and I often wonder how hard core they will be...i guess the big thing is that I need to maintain that pace up until the cut off point...the I can walk if I need to.

This race made me stronger. True it made me feel like a bit of a failure...but that's only because I set my goals so incredibly high that there's usually a 90% probability that I'm going to fail. Failure breeds determination. Determination breeds a never quit attitude. I may be dead last across the finish line, but this i know; I worked just as hard as the first guy so I'm worth every reward, every pat on the back and every cheer.

I will never quit.

Nature, you suck

I sit here in the early morning watching the sun slowly start to creep up and all I can hear the wind howling. Last night it snowed again and compounded with the insane winds, I'm fairly sure the footing is going to SUCK out there tomorrow.

I can almost feel my feet battling to make their way through the loose snow. Who know's maybe we'll be luck and the city will actually plow thing today...maybe...but probably not. It's all good though I have a game plan for that.

I've decided to alter my game plan oh so slightly...not the best idea i know but hear me out...i think it'll work. My plan is simple. On stretches where I have clean footing, I'm gonna attempt to fly. On stretches that suck i'll try to let it sip no slower than 13:00m/m.

I'm going to have to break this race down into smaller sections and focus on what's in front of me and not the big picture. Good luck with that.

The training has been done, I'm faster than I ever have been before, I know what not to do.


Fuel, hydrate, run, smile and don't die...pretty simple.

Doubt

People keep telling me that i should dump my timed goal for this weekend...there are too many outside factors...I should just be happy finishing. The thing is, I won't break if I don't meet my ambitious goals...I won't. I'll be annoyed but find the good in what I did. I always do.

I need to have big goals and dreams...it's what allows me to do what I do. It allows me to reach higher. If i was willing to settle for realistic goals in my life would I have signed up for the Ultra? Would i Have even though that running a full marathon was within my reach when I haven't been able to break 2:30? Nope.

Here's the deal. We all know in our hearts what we're capable of and we don't need to have anyone's doubt expressed to us. We know it. We live it. We hear it echoing around in our brains all day long. What we need to hear is positive reinforcement.

It doesn't matter what the distance we're training for. We know that it's going to be tough. We know that running in winter is hell. I'm still going to do everything I can to get this thing done. The layers will be plenty, the feet will be cold and my face will burn like Hades no matter how much Vaseline will be on it. In the end though it will be worth it. That feeling of crossing my 20th 1/2 marathon finish line will out weigh all discomfort.

Most of all though, if i can manage to do this thing...if I can manage to PB again in winter...there will be nothing I can't do in life.

Now I just need to have nature try and play along with me. Please be kind dear lady, please be kind.

Still running

So there's not much to report. Still training, still running, entering the taper week. I've had a couple of horrid runs and one great run. The great run coming after a couple days of solid rest and proper nutrition...what a surprise!

I'm noticing a stronger level of determination in my mind these days. I still haven't revealed my goal of the ultra to anyone I know...I just know I'll get a negative reaction. People don't seem to think I'm capable of very much. Katy Perry's "dark Horse" had become my new work out pump up song. I know that the lyrics indicate something else, but I really feel like no one's really understanding how hard I've worked this winter to get stronger, to get faster. They only see me being slow and soggy...because in all honesty I was. Everyone has bad runs. This small break in the weather with spring like conditions has been a real game changer. This weekend could go very well if the weather holds out.

Everyone keeps asking me what my target is...I know what my target is. 2:15. I know it means I have to bust ass, but if the footing is good why couldn't I? If nothing else I know that I can hit a 2:20 if I work hard. My fall back is to 2:3? and I know that I want to do at least a 2:40.  The problem is the weather. I'm first wave, 8 am and the footing could be shit, the weather could derail me, but I know that I'm going to do the very best that I can and I won't give up this year.

3 years I've run this beast and every year my time is around the 4 hour mark minus a few minutes. The reality of that though is that I've never really properly trained up for it...I've always chickened out when the weather got too bad and to be honest I'd always though I couldn't run distance on the treadmill. Now I know that's not right. I can do anything if I put my mind to it.

There's snow in the forecast...they keep changing when It'll hit and how much of it...that could be the only real downfall. Please oh please let the sidewalks be clear. Please oh please let the footing be amazing. Please oh please let me not give up.

When that first bit of doubt creeps in, please oh please let me remember every slight, every knock. Remember being told I couldn't keep up with the 2:15 group. Please oh please let me smash my PB. Please oh please let me do what I know I'm capable. Remember the lack of belief, remember what was snickered and said...and then remember that if I do this, its like proving them all totally WRONG. It'll be like me rubbing their noses in a giant pile of virtual dog doody. Petty? Maybe. All i know is that if it makes me stronger, gives me what I need, than I will CRUSH this race on Sunday.

Cruise Ship 1/2 MArathon

So I've been absent for a little while...to be truthful there hasn't really been much to say. I run, I run indoors, I'm tired.

Last week my husband and I went on a cruise and we decided on our open cruising day to run a 1/2 marathon on deck. Sounds epic right? Sounds bad ass right? Well there's one thing I didn't take into account...how hard it would be running on a moving ship.

You find your line changing based on each and every heave...for the most part I just tried to keep and eye on who would be behind me and just the the ship toss me where ever it wanted. It was hot...so hot I had heat blisters pop up on my back and shoulders. I consumed little salt packets, GU's and crackers like they were going out of style. It took me about 3:20 to get it done...but then I never stopped the watch when I'd stop for a shade break or to chow down on some much needed fuel.

To be honest it wasn't about time, it was about the achievement...and it felt like quite the achievement. Especially when I turned the corner and found my own personal cheering section. About every 5-10 laps they'd yell out something awesome...then closer to the end they'd pass off water bottles. Awesome people in the strangest of places.

I managed run run in 3 out of the 5 ports...not too shabby. I gave up on the last 2 ports because oh so simply...i didn't want to run. I was tired...plus technically I was tapering...we'll go with that.

Running in the extreme heat and humidity has done one thing I never thought possible...it's made me appreciate running in this cold. Yeah it sucks but that heat sucked the life out of me faster than I could blink.

I just had someone say they're going to slap the first person who complains about the heat this summer...I don't think that's really fair. No one enjoys running in extreme temperatures...plus or minus. I just have my fingers crossed that we have a colder than normal summer to follow this winter...the couch potatoes will whine and bitch, but we'll be out and about playing like nobodys buisness.

Enough. Back to running.

Training is going well. The winter 1/2 marathon is next weekend...so my full training is on pause for the moment. The taper has begun and I have zero desire to fight it. I put in 8 miles on totally dead legs yesterday and it was 7.95 of win. They felt like lead and all I wanted to do was quit from the start. Yay me. We shall see how well I handle the taper...I hope my legs finally get to rest up and feel fresh.