Run Miss Runner Runnington

This week has been very busy with work and running. Weekly mileage at this point is up to 45 miles. Other than my pesky right hip/IT band, I'm feeling awesome.

Today I ran my first really long run on the trails at Saugatuck State Park. The weather was perfect and the scenery was refreshing. For my first hour, I hit up a longer trail that looped out to the lake and back. Once getting out to the lake and looking back at where I had ran, I was in awe of what I had covered and the beauty of the area. Don't get me wrong...there were several points in the run where I was cursing the humongous sandy dunes and wondering where I was at. After getting back to the parking lot and taking my GU and water, I was back at it for my second hour. I took a shorter trail that quickly took me directly to the beach. I decided that this was such a perfect day that I'd run barefoot down the beach for 30 minutes. I think the few people I saw probably thought I was crazy. Here is this extremely sweaty girl, wearing just her sports bra and running shorts, with her shoes wrapped around her neck! The beach felt really nice since the wind was cooler out there and it gave my feet a change of pace. After that, I put my shoes back on, and got lost for the last 30 minutes of my run. By the time I got back to my car I was sick of the sand dunes. I didn't really feel that tired after running for 2 hours...just dirty and thirsty.

This run has given me some insight to how the marathon might go. Thankfully, Zach says there is no sand dunes on that course, so I won't die. It will be hard, there is no denying that, but I'm excited to see how fast I could run a "trail" marathon.

Next week, mileage will still be at 45. Hopefully my right side won't take a toll from this long run.

What a weekend! I've been pretty busy this weekend with my Mom and then starting work that I've haven't had time to update. The Riverbank run went really well considering the conditions and my past illness. I was happy with my overall time: 1:48:08, which was about a few seconds slower than last year. I ran about half with my friend Kristen, who was a blessing to have during this race. We went to the Expo on Friday to pick up our packets and said hi to my boss and a few co-workers. It is refreshing to be working with others who have the same mind set I do about running.

Riverbank 25K Splits:

6:36
6:47
6:41
6:45
6:43
6:47
6:51
6:42
6:49
7:02
7:00
7:20
7:18
7:23
7:24
3:54

So far this week, I've been recovering and hoping to get at least one workout in. Hitting the road to Cleveland this Friday and will be getting a long run in on Saturday with Zach! :)

Week 7 did not end up being a very productive week...Tuesday morning I woke up feeling pretty sick and didn't feel completely better until Saturday. Had some kind of virus that made me nauseous, drained, have no appetite, and have an upset stomach. I was capable of no running, so sleeping and getting better was my first priority. Felt able to run on Sunday and did a light 4.5 mile which didn't go that great. Last night I did 5 miles at 7 minute pace and that felt much better, but left my body sore...

Rather nervous for what the Riverbank will be like this weekend. I had high hopes for running 6:30 - 6:45 minute miles, but I'll be happy if I can do anything under 7 minute miles. Once I get over this hurdle, I can take a week or so to get back where I should be for the marathon training.

This is also my last week before starting my new job! It will be sad to leave and scary to start something new, but I'm looking forward to the opportunities this will hopefully bring.

Goals for this week: to get enough rest this week and to not put so much pressure on this race. To also enjoy this busy weekend with my Momma!

Into week 7/phase II of marathon training. My right hip/knee is starting to act up again so I'm taking it a little slower this week. I'm trying to be conscience of my form and figure out why this is bothering me. I think my hips might be "off" but I really don't want to have to go see a chiropractor again.

Have less than 2 weeks until Riverbank and the start of my new job! I'm excited about the possibilities this job might open up for me and the motivation it will give to my running career.

Focus this week: Cross train, do some leg exercises to strengthen my right side,ice, and get more sleep!

The Striders Classic 10 mile went pretty well on Saturday. Finished first in my age group with a time of 1:07:14. Just a little faster than the year before, but felt 10x better during the race. I tried keeping track of my mile split, which for some reason I've never thought to do in an actually race:

6:35
6:45
6:46
6:50
6:33
7:08 (hills?)
6:43
6:49
6:32
6:25

Little sore today, but got out for about 5 mile on some trails with Zach. Planning to up the mileage a tad this week and will try to keep this momentum until Riverbank. I would like to keep this pace for Riverbank...idealistically hitting 6:30's would be great, but I do need to keep the marathon training first priority. I don't want to wear myself out, but I think I'm going to have to up my weekly mileage because I am easily hitting every week.

I'm looking forward to my first long road race for this year! The Striders Classic 10miler will be a test to see how well my training has held up since January and give me a little aderaline rush in week 5 for my marathon training. I know that I'm probably pushing my training for this marathon, but I really wanted to get Striders and Riverbank races in again for this year. I'll probably be taking it down a notch after the Riverbank and get more on track for my marathon training. Last week went pretty well with a 12 miler on Saturday. Weather has been cooperating fairly well and it looks like it will in the high 50's, low 60's for Saturday's race. My aspirations for this race is to do better than last year. My PR for this race is 1:07:54, so hopefully I can run under that (shooting for 6:30 to 6:40 pace). I'll want to run fast so I can hurry home, take a nap, and wait for Zach to get here. It will be nice to run with him while he is in Holland. Can't wait!

Beginning of week four of my training...stoked that the weather has been so nice, but I am afraid this will not last. Last week's training went pretty well, just need to control my "antsy-ness." For example, I had planned speed days for Tues/Thursday, but ended up getting too excited and ran back to back speed days. Took Friday off, ran my 10miler on Saturday (in the horrid rain), and was pleasantly surprised on how fast I did it in...even though it felt like crap the whole way.

Since reading "Born to Run" I've been interested in different types of footwear and the capabilities of the human body. It is mind blowing to think that some people have run barefoot for years or that there are runners out there who compete in races well over 50 miles. Reading this book has led me to others about marathons and ultras...peaking my interest in what my body could possibly withstand. So many people in our society think that running a mere 5 miles is ridiculous. I believe anyone in moderately good health could run this distance...this is not an unattainable goal.

My boyfriend and several friends have been running occasionally in the Vibram Five Fingers. Awaiting my pair, since they have been back-ordered for a while now, I ponder on how I should incorporate them into my training. I don't want them to "screw up" my training, but then again I don't want to be too hesitate and not try these babies out! I love the idea of being closer with the ground I'm running on and how "free" I'll probably feel in them. I've gone through countless types of shoes and am anxious to see how these will stack up.

Since high school I've been put into a pretty high cushion shoe. Being in between a neutral and supinator, I have slowly backed off the higher grades and tried other brands and grades of cushion. I've also been more conscious of how my foot is striking the ground, in an effort to make my gait more neutral. I'd like to wear a lightweight trainer for this marathon, but am worried how my feet will take to such a minimalist shoe. I've got a while to shop around...