It must have been the sun kissing my face, the wind on my back or looking at the river meandering thru the valley that make this run the best and fastest 20 miler in history for me. After mile 8 I ran every other mile at a faster speed until mile 17. At mile 18 I called my son to come and get me since I was three towns away from home. I finished the call and then I turned around, with the wind on my face and I pressed on the gas for the last two miles at sub MP.

 

 

 

 

Nancy - what a lovely run - and super job!

I nominate Cranium hero for a day. Nice PR.

 

DW went with Tag and me today!!! She walked North for a two mile out and back. Tag and I went south for a three mile out and back. We got back to the truck at the same time.

 

We have Noah for the evening and a cousin of DW's stopped in. Way too kewl of a night.

Anyone else think that running on snow/ice causes you to tense your muscles and that over time in a long run, it takes more out of you?

 

OK, that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it!  13 slow ones today in 20 something degrees, but no falls.   ( I love "This American Life.")   The side pull and knee injuries are healing.  Slowly.  Gah.

 

Jana didn't make the cut-offs, drat.  She's spent a lot of time (she was in the last Olympics) training, and has 4 jumps in all that time.  For you parents out there, if a coach told you that your kid was Olympic material, would you want them to follow that dream?  I know it's their decision, but obviously, a parent can be influential in that decision making process.  Given all they give up, would you encourage your kid to pursue Olympic qualification over going to college, all the rest of life these kids give up to get there?  I mean, Dorothy Hamil is in Ice Capades.

 

Salmon on the grill tonight despite the cold.  I think Peter is D's inspiration, gracias, Erika and DH!

 

grins,

A

 

ps: awesome run, BQill! 

Hey HEY hey - Made it through the run today.  The back, surprisingly, feels good.  Better today than it did after sitting all day yesterday driving.  Only laid down on the trail once to try and ease the tightness.  It was pretty funny.  People were running by, "Are you okay?"  "Do you need help?"  Karen's answer - No, she's fine.  (I just looked like I was dying).

Made it through the mud sucking run.  Lost my shoe at one point, but luckily it hung up on my toes or it might've been tough finding it.  It was reported that one runner left their shoes behind 'cause they were lost in the mud and ran barefoot the rest of the way (maybe half a mile), one person couldn't find a shoe.  I mean, this mud was thick and freaking grabby.

The run - Well Karen and I made a pact to do the whole thing together.  We've never run an entire race together, and since this was basically a training run - sure!  Well, the second half she started going downhill (ends up she was very low on salt).  It was really tough going for her - pooping, cramping, nausea - but we stuck it out together.  I'll tell you more about her melt down and the drama later.  If I'd been a $itch and left her behind, I think I could've finished in 6:50 to 7:00 hrs.  But I've been there before, feeling like something that washed up dead and rotting somewhere, it's lonely 'cause there's no one around for what seems like miles - it's very disheartening, discouraging.  But the main thing is, we finished - 8:26 - DFL hand in hand.

I'm pleasantly pooped, unpleasantly bloated (I always get bloated afterward), and am ready to hit the hay before the long drive tomorrow.

Will read through the daily later when I have more time.  Nite!

What an awesome long run PR for you, Mariposai! You took 20 minutes off your previous best 20 mile training time? You said you've had such limited time for training, but I've been seeing some great runs from you. That's why I asked what your plans for Wenatchee were.

Holly, I find it almost "easier" to stay running constantly on the TM because I don't want to stop and start it up again. I only stop for bathroom emergencies if I can possibly help it. I don't have the distractions you do though; when I'm running on the 'mill, my guys mostly leave me alone.

Amy, salmon on the grill! Yum! Next time we're all together like that we'll expect to see some tandem grilling, ok? 

Yay Leslie for getting it done and not being a beyotch and sticking it out with your friend. Seriously, that takes heart even when this wasn't an "A" race for you. Knowing firsthand what she was going through makes a difference, I'm sure. Hope to hear the details of your run later, but you can leave the details of Karen's problems out of it, k?

Well I had a good run today, and also thought of Perch's screw shoes as I was slip-slidin' along. Figured today with it's warm temperatures and slick snow would've been a perfect time to use them. But I didn't have any. So, just about every step included about an inch or so slip back on each push off. Amy, yes, that definitely wears on you! I had a goal today of a mostly MP run. Given that my two best marathons were just over 8:20 pace, I smartly have decided that 8:20 is my marathon pace. Hey, a girl can dream, right? Temps were 32°-34° and the conditions were sunny and bright. This is what I'd waited all week for! 10 miles, 8:19 avg pace. Mostly a flat run, but pretty cool mile splits:

8:42

8:24

8:21

8:17

8:15

8:20 (slight "hill" up train overpass)

8:15

8:08

8:12

8:17 (included "hill" back up over the train tracks)

I was wondering how this same effort on dry roads would compare, pace-wise. I'm hoping it would be pretty good.