Monday, February 21, 2011

50mph winds and the Wiss!

 When I woke up Saturday morning, I thought I was back home in Florida in the middle of a hurricane. We had 40-50mph winds all day and into the next morning. There were trees knocked down, traffic lights out and cows flying through the air...ok well maybe not flying cows, but it was windy. I was lucky that my long run would be on Sunday and not in the middle of the crazy winds. John however rode his bike in this, and I was expecting to get a call saying he was in the hospital, but fortunately he came home unscathed!.

Sunday was my 20mile run. I was running with Kayla and Ed from the Moorestown Running group. I was so excited to have people to run with, and both of them are great runners. We met at Lloyd Hall and headed out to the Wissahickon. The "Wiss" as we call it, is part of the Fairmount Park system. It is 1,800 acres comprise of mountain bike trails, rock climbing, running paths, horseback riding and beautiful views.

For the 20 miles we were going to do an out-and-back course. From Lloyd hall to the begining of the Wis, it was 5 miles, then we would run 5 miles inside the park, taking us to the red bridge as our turnaround point, and back 10miles. I wasn't sure what the conditions of the trail would be, but we were hoping for the best. The first mile is paved, but once you start on Forbidden Drive, it turns into compact dirt/gravel/trail. As we entered Forbidden Drive there was a orange detour sign indicating a closed section, not sure what to expect we still moved forward. The closed section wasn't to bad, had to crawl under some stuff and go over, but nothing we could handle. There was still tons of ice and snow on the trails. Not much sun gets in, so not much had been melted. The worst part of it all would be the embeded foot prints. After we had run for a couple of days, people were back out on the trail on foot and bike and their foot prints had frozen, leaving craters all over the path. It was hard to get your footing and my knees and ankles were not happy.

Running is such a mental sport. When I run, I break it into sections. For this run it was comprised of 8 sections. Llyod Hall to bridge, bridge to concrete entrance, concrete entrance to forbidden drive, forbidden drive to red bridge and then loop it back. So you mentally know how far you have to go and have left. My watch can tell me that stuff, but I like to rely on my surroundings more instead of technology.

The run ended on a high not with a finish time of 2:44:00 for 20.75miles. That was an avg pace of 7:54/mile. I took it easy the rest of the day, epson salt bath and several meals and renting Sex and the City II. It was the perfect end to the weekend.

This week is a recovery week and a trip to DC for a baby room decorating extravaganza, baby shower and marathon course scouting. Can't wait!

More later on my workouts for this week!

Friday, February 18, 2011

Shorts, I ran in shorts....

The past two days have been glorious. I ran outside in SHORTS! I can't get to excited, the temps are dropping, but it sure was nice. We even turned the heat off and opened the windows. I think Puma was the happiest of the bunch, nice long walk without a sweater on!!

I'm excited to have established a good group to run with. Last night I ran with Terry and Kayla out of the Moorestown Running Company. I hope to join them this weekend for my long run. They are both super fast and really positive, enthusiastic people. I also broke down and got a new pair of running shoes. Since I got to the group run early, I took the opportunity to speak with Ralph about my toe issues. I looked at the bottom of my shoes and knew exactly what my problem was. I roll my foot in when I run, but I have been wearing them to long that there was no more support inside and I started rolling my foot out, creating the blisters on the outer toes. I know my blisters and sore bone won't go away overnight, but it's the right step to recovery.

I am currently reading the book, "The Grace To Race". It's about a nun, Sister Madonna Buder. She is an amazing woman, runs marathons, does Ironmans, hikes and helps woman in need. Her book has become very inspirational for me. Not on a super religious level, but more on a "have faith" level. I really recommend this book to anyone who is struggling for inspiration for anything. Reading about her life and how she struggled and overcame obstacles really keeps my chin up. I also learned in the book to put tea bags on blisters, will try that tonight!

I have a 20mile run this weekend and off to the antique market/flea market for some scouting. I hope to get a booth when the weather gets nicer to start selling my baby items I have been making.

Have an awesome weekend.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

My Head is Spinning


      

The snow is finally clearing off the ground and the temperatures the other day were actually above 35 degrees. Could we be heading into spring... I dare to speak of it more! Instead, I have go where I hoped I would not have to go...spin class (dah, dah, dah, dummmm!!!)

The last time and only time I have ever taken a spin class was back in 2002, and was dragged there by a friend. When you live in Florida there is no need for spin classes, but in the northeast, that's a whole different story. I was getting tired of riding my bike in my living room, so I joined the loud, hot, sweaty filled spin room at the gym and spun away. I have always been a “sit in the front row” type of person, but with spin, I sit all the way in the back. I don’t agree with the instructor on what he has the class doing, it’s not how I would ever ride my bike on the road, so why would I train that way. So, I sit in the back to be out of peoples way and hopefully the instructor won’t be too annoyed when I’m not jumping up and down on my seat!! It is a great workout, but I am looking forward to more daylight and warmer weather.



 
I also have gone to a place that I never thought I would go and that is wearing a fuel belt while running. I used to just carry a bottle, but my hands get cold and it’s annoying. I was returning something at REI the other day and they had fuel belts on sale, so I got one. Besides feeling like a pack mule while running, I actually liked it. I always thought it was dorky and didn’t see the need for all that water, but now I do. I met John and Jordan at the park the other day, and I was able to carry food, my phone, keys, 16 ounces of water and not one thing in my hand. Every time I go out wearing my fuel belt, I feel like I’m going on an expedition, I’m learning to embrace the things I didn’t think I would want to!!

Training has been going. Not as well as I would have liked, but I’m getting in all the long, hard runs that I need. The marathon is in just over a month, and two days after the race, John and I make settlement on our first home!!! I had been holding off saying anything in print about buying a home because I didn’t want to jinx it, but it’s official, we bought a house!!!!

The house is the one I spoke of before, a 3bedroom twin, in a great neighborhood and across the street from the state park where I train!! There is a ton of work to be done, but whats training for an Ironman if I don’t have something big to do on the side!!!

Heading to the gym tonight for an hour on the treadmill, wish me luck!

Also, Happy Birthday to Beth Walz, President of Adventure Woman. Hope you had a fantastic day!!!