Fifteen

I haven't been much for blogging lately, and I'm not sure why. Well, that's not completely true. I do know. I'm still getting back in the groove of things now that I'm feeling better. It could also have something to do with not having a lot of computer time, either. It's hard to write anything when there's a 6 year old hovering right behind me wanting to have his turn on line.

I've been back on track with working out and running. I'm able to put forth the effort, but I'm toast afterward. Under normal circumstances a workout or run will energize me. I'll get it back.

While I'm on the subject of running, I ran in the annual Sue Krenn 15K on Saturday. I had a very good run that morning.

• I wasn't sick
• I remembered my hydration belt and iPod.
• It wasn't raining

I did forget my Garmin, but I did have my cell phone, and I never canceled BiM, so I was able to GPS track my run that way.

SPLITS

1	9' 19
2	9' 27
3	9' 36
4	9' 43
5	9' 52
6	10' 00
7	10' 04
8	9' 54
9	10' 17
end	10' 03

BiM gave me a 9:49 minute mile pace, which sounds better to me, but I'll take my the 9:57 minute mile pace over the 10:30 minute mile pace I had last year.

I've entered that 15k time into the McMillan Running Calculator, I *should* be able to have a sub 5 hour marathon. I think McMillan is being generous with the time it gave me, but if I put forth the training and effort it could happen this time, even if it is 4:59.


I was hoping to stay in the 9 range for the entire race, but something about running on concrete, after we exited the Fiesta Island loop (which is asphalt), really throws me off.

316 IRENE M 4487 50 4/7 F San Diego 1:32:40 9:57

I came in 4th in my AG. Yeah, there were only 7 of us in my AG but I wasn't too far behind the 3rd place AG winner, who is also one of my track club buddies, Michelle, who I sometimes run with. I did shave about 5+ minutes off of last year's Sue Krenn 15k, and I felt really good about that. It's not a PR, and I still need to knock about 7+ more minutes off. It feels good to be whittling away at last year's post surgery runs.

If I keep at it, perhaps I can put a BQ back on my list of things to do.

Until then, I'll watch this a few times for inspiration:


Wednesday's Song:
Closer - Ne-Yo, Nine Inch Nails, Kings of Leon - Run DMZ, Be A Good One

PEACE

Always On My Mind

In 2008 I...

Joined the San Diego Track Club.

Discovered that a lot of runners don't weight train, and a lot of weight lifters don't run.

Had two personal records in the 10K and 15k distances.



Met a bunch of really great people through the track club and my blog. (I'm missing a bunch of pictures - I met MANY people!)







Ran faster long distances than I ever had before.

Broke my leg and had surgery just about 3 weeks before the marathon I was training for.

Found out how lucky I am to have such wonderful friends and family.

Discovered how noisy and un-restful staying in the hospital is.

Volunteered at the 23.5 mile hydration table at the marathon.

Went on a cruise and met more great people from the PDB and JSF sites.



Discovered that all the hardware in my leg does not set of the security alarms at the airport.

Escaped tropical storm Fay before it hammered Florida.

Spent a lot of time at physical therapy so I could walk normally, again.

Began running again in the Fall.

Participated in a comeback 5k in November, my slowest ever, and still beat my husband.

Baked and cooked more of my own food from scratch and used less pre-packaged and fast foods.

Lost and gained the same 5 pounds over, and over, and over again, but lost muscle and didn't get that back.

Found out that my injury was a fluke occurrence and nothing related to disease or age.

Celebrated 26 years of marriage.


For 2009 I am looking forward to...

Celebrating my dad's 80th birthday with the whole family.

Volunteering more often.

Being a more active part of my grandson's education and well being.

Running more 5k's, and perhaps a final marathon.

Celebrating my 50th birthday.

Meeting more bloggers and getting reacquainted with the ones I have already met.

Reuniting with old friends, even if that means traveling to where they are.

Rekindling my passions for things I used to enjoy doing, such as art, music, photography, etc.

Working out to regain muscle and tone.

Having more fun and chillin' out.

Pay closer attention to getting my house to look like I really like it, instead of someplace I have to live at. (Pride of ownership.)

Heavy duty gardening.

Returning the kindness others have shown me.

Yesterday's song:
Brand New Day - Sting - Be A Good One
PEACE

Today

This (below) is what I did today. It posted ALL of my GPS data directly from the BiM site, but it didn't post quite right. Any way, I did an out and back walk/run. Going out I walked for 2 minutes and ran for 1. Going back I walked for 1 minuted and ran for 2. I actually went a bit faster doing this pattern and didn't compromise comfort. I may have to rethink my initial 5k goal time, because I was around 42 minutes + at about 3 miles.

Activity Route: -- Elev. Avg: 13 ft Location: San Diego, CA, Elev. Gain: +3 ft Date: 10/17/08 Up/Downhill: [+160/-157] Time: 12:25 PM Difficulty: 1.8 / 5.0 Weather: Sunny 68 F temp; 30% humidity 68 F heat index; winds CALM calm mph Performance Distance: 5.03 miles Time: 1:09:34 Speed: 4.3 mph Pace: 13' 57 /mi Calories: 482 Notes Asics gel nimbus 9 (1) Walk/run (minutes) 2 walk/ 1 run out 1 walk /2 run back Map Elevation (ft) Speed (mph) Splits Mile Pace (min/mile) Speed (mph) Elevation Gain actual +/- avg actual +/- avg 1 14' 15 +0' 17 4.2 -0.1 +3 ft 2 13' 47 -0' 10 4.3 +0.0 -3 ft 3 13' 34 -0' 23 4.4 +0.1 +4 ft 4 13' 41 -0' 16 4.4 +0.1 +4 ft 5 13' 45 -0' 12 4.4 +0.1 -3 ft end 15' 00 +1' 02 4.0 -0.3 0 ft Versus average of 4.3 mph

Posted from bimactive.com

Yesterday's song:
Pretty In Pink - Psychedelic Furs - Barbie2be

PEACE

Spiders

Spiders are industrious little creatures. I wiped spiderwebs and dust off of my grandson's outside toys just a few days ago, only to find spiderwebs on them again. This time I wiped off the webs and the spiders, hosed off everything, used soap, scrubbed and rinsed. Just so you know, spiders don't stick well to Dawn dish soap, and I used gloves, sticks, and long handled cleaning brushes. Even though spiders do have their place in our ecosystem, they just creep me out.

I was going through some pictures from the first cruise my husband and I went on. It was about 5 years ago, and I think that's at a turtle farm on Grand Cayman Island in the Bahamas. The thing that struck me is that I had some muscles going on in my arms, even though it doesn't show up in well the scanned picture. Where did my muscles go? There's always something to work on, and I know to get those arms back I need to do some heavier lifting. It's not gonna happen with high reps and low weights, which is all I can do right now. This picture got me thinking to how things were for me just 5 years ago. I was physically in the best shape of my life, and probably the most healthy I had ever been. I'd like to get back to that point again, preferably before 50, which is just about 9 months away. The whole injury/surgery thing really set me back. Prior to all of that, I was doing OK. I know I had things to work on, but I felt good. I'm not sure what steps I'll take to get back on track, but I know I need to stick with some plan. So much to ponder. So much to research. I did Body For Life in the past, but since I really can't be doing high intensity interval training, I need to figure out something else. Nutrition is the easy part for me. It's the rearranging the weight training that will be the key. After my surgery several people told me that I would lose weight. I didn't lose weight. I didn't really gain weight, either. I only lost muscle. I know getting back to where I was just 5 years ago will take time.

Yesterday's song:
Gotta Keep Moving - Kellie Pickler

PEACE

As Ugly As I Seem

Activity: Walk
Date: 08/02/08 12:19 PM
Distance: 2.13 miles
Time: 0:46:47
Speed: 2.7 mph
Pace: 22' 13 min/mile
Calories: 200

It's not like I haven't walked, but today we went out purposely to walk. Sans cane, my husband and I walked slightly further and slightly faster than last time. Next time I'd like to see 3.0 MPH or better and walk 3 or more miles. I'm also walking less like a one year old with feet far apart and hands and arms up or out for balance. My stride is becoming more normal, with my feet closer together, arms swinging back and forth near my side, and limping is now at a minimum. It's not pretty but it's getting there. Progress.

I sort of started sewing something. Well, not really sewing in the sense of making something, but hemming. I bought a cotton jersey sun dress last year, but it's too long for short me. I never got around to hemming the dress until now. I cut about 5 inches off the bottom, now I just need to hem it. This one will be hemmed by hand. I don't have serger thread the color of the dress, otherwise I'd be all over that serger for hem practice. I'm slowly getting into the sewing thing. Progress.

Earlier this year I made a list of things I wanted to do for 2008. I, for obvious reasons, didn't get to PR my marathon and it's unlikely I'll get a 5k PR, but I did get to do other things like volunteer and train with the track club. Another item on my list was to learn how to play the guitar the right way. I had my son restring my guitar, so it's ready to go. Now that the incision on my right leg no longer hurts, I can sit and attempt playing the guitar. Uh, progress... Sort of. I still need to take the guitar out of the case and practice some chords.

This summer, so far, hasn't been very hot. Last year was so toasty that it burned the leaves and buds on some of the fruit trees in our yard. This year has been rather mild in my 'hood, but I'm sure everything will change, just because I'm talking about it.

Yesterday's song:
Love Don't Cost A Thing - Jennifer Lopez

PEACE

Time Is On My Side

I haven't written much about running or the marathon lately. I suppose not running and shifting my thought process to salvage marathon day has changed my thoughts about everything running at the moment.

Because I've had no choice but to be somewhat sedentary this past week, I've had time to really reflect on my fitness goals. Here's what's been RUNNING though my mind:

1) Weight training goals. I've really slacked off of weight training this year, and that slacking surely has something to do with not feeling as strong over all. I've had tendinitis issues which have prevented me from going all out, but it really isn't an excuse to slack. Before running became my passion, I was so into the weight training and gym thing. I was a gym rat and was there as soon as the doors opened so that I could get in my workout before going to work. There was actually a point where I could have taken the weight training a step further than for just my own fitness, but running entered the equasion and it did something for my pshche, sort of like thereapy. Running won out. I know I can become a better, more efficient runner if I work more appropriate weight training into the mix.

2) Running goals. Is it so far fetched that I, a C+/B- runner, could possibly qualify to run in the Boston Marathon? It's not as far fetched as I once thought it was. In theroy, being a female and in the 50 to 55 age group next year, and running in a USTAF certified marathon in 4 :05 hours or less, I could qualify. This year I was runing with the 4:30 people in our track club and easily kept up. That's about 30 minutes off any time I did last year. In theory, if I kept up that kind of progress, I could see a BQ in about 2 years or less. Could my new goal for the 50's decade, starting June 9, 2009 - my 50th birthday, be my decade to run in the Boston Marathon? The answer is yes. Could I do it before I turn 60? Perhaps. Did I just write 60? *gasp* I haven't even had my 49th birthday yet.

Both weight training and running goals will only work when I'm completely healed, and I hope I'm not sidelined for too much longer. I am working out, though, with VERY light weights and my body weight exercises, just so my body doesn't get surprised when I do get back into more intense activity.

First things first. Heal, already.

Yesterday's Song:
Pretty and the Fair - Jessie Colon-Young & the Youngbloods

PEACE

Reach For Tomorrow

Photo from SDTC - Run on 4-26-08, near Sunset Cliffs.

I was looking back at last year's run stats, and I've become faster, even though I feel I'm going at a snail's pace at times. I'm thinking that running with the track club has given me that extra push to be just a little faster. Since I'm running with other people who are so phenominal in their running abilities, I feel slow, but I've made improvements just by being around these people. I know I can't compare myself to others, but I have gained great perspective. Yesterday I ran at talking pace with a lady who is going to be the 4:30 pace person for the marathon, and I could have easily stayed with her if I had decided to run the 20 mile route. I never felt uncomfortable running at her pace. Of course, most of my wall hitting happens towards the end of the marathon -- last year it was around mile 22, so I am planning some buffer time just in case that should happen. Last year, about this same time, I pretty much predicted that my marathon time would be around 5:02, and that's exactly what it was, even though I was hoping for better. Right now I actually do see a 4:45 to 4:50 marathon, and that's including that extra time buffer. The plan for the next month is staying healthy, watch my nutrition, remain injury free, and run conservatively.

I'll be attending a Team In Traning meeting tomorrow evening. One of my coworkers wants me to at least check it out before I decide to go or not to go for the Nike Women's Half Marathon in October of this year. Her husband is just now in remission from lymphoma and she's running for him. I have mixed feelings about TNT in general, but I shouldn't judge it until I get the facts. I'll post about why I have mixed feeling in another post. I just want to get the info first. I want to see if it's the right route for me.

Yesterday's song:
Runnin' Away - Sly & the Family Stone

PEACE

Move Along

Activity: Run
Date: 03/01/08 06:58 AM
Distance: 9.47 miles
Time: 1:25:11 PR
Speed: 6.7 mph
Pace: 8' 59 min/mile
Calories: 902



Today was the Sue Krenn 15K. The weather was overcast and a little drizzly. I used my BiM wireless run tracker GPS and remembered to charge it last night. I forgot to wear my stop watch, just to keep track of my minute/mile as I ran, but sometimes ignorance is bliss. This was not a chipped run, so my times are a little higher, and not so accurate, plus I turned off my GPS after I ran through the finishing chute, and that added time. The event time-keepers had me at 1:25:12, a new personal record. That still puts me over 6 minutes faster than last year. I was kind of surprised because it was cool out this morning and my legs felt like lead for the first two miles, which were actually my fastest miles of this run. The times aren't posted on the website yet, but results were posted at the event. I came in 9th out of something like 20 in my age group. There's some phenomenally speedy women in my age group. Oh, and before I forget, all the women finishers received a rose.

This event is also very grass-roots and has no corporate sponsors. They rely heavily on the kindness of volunteers. We did not receive race T-shirts today. Since the track club was already signed up for this run, we did not have the option to pre-purchase a race T. I had to order one today. This year's T shirt is red and black, which is my husband's favorite color combo. Of course, it has "No Wussies" on it.

EDIT****
I almost forgot to mention that this is the event where I met Anne last year! I swear I didn't forget and it is worth mentioning because, if it weren't for Anne, I probably would not have joined the SDTC!

My husband did OK but cramped up around mile 4. He met a bunch of guys who helped him through this cramping episode, and they all run/walk like my husband does, so he felt, for the first time, like he belonged some place in the group, and not alone in the back-of-the-pack group.

For March, my fitness goals are still the same until June, so there's not much to update there. My morning weight is stable and I hope to keep it that way until the marathon. I'm prone to weight gain while marathon training. Non-fitness goals will include getting back into the creative mode again. I'm attempting my hand at making my own athletic wear, and see if it's worth the effort. I also want to get my art-brain back. I want to feel as passionate about it as I did when I was in college.

Yesterday's song:
Thank God It's Friday - R. Kelly

PEACE