Thursday, December 13, 2007
bacterial infection! wooo!
My week of rest after the race ended with a nice stomach flu, which is just great. Luckily I'm feeling better and I'm back in the game; i haven't talked to tiba so I don'treally know what to do, but i'm just trying to take it easy this week and next week start for sure.
monday was 5k
tuesday 8x400 1:50
wed 10k
thursd. ? i'm heading out the door now...
monday was 5k
tuesday 8x400 1:50
wed 10k
thursd. ? i'm heading out the door now...
Monday, December 3, 2007
race report: Gran (medio) Maraton Pacifico
The alarm went of at 5 and we were out the door, walking to the stating line, by 5:30. It had been a long week already; we had been in Mazatlan for 5 days already due to orchestra activities, and then my allergies had flared up terribly at the hotel we were staying at after the rest of the orchestra went home. By Saturday they had calmed down a bit, but I was behind on my sleep from wakin up early the day before to see the 5k and 10k races.
On our way to the start, we passed a club, in front of which a party form the night before was still going on. Dudes fondling girls, chics dressed like hoes, beer cans everywhere.... not a pretty sight. Such a contrast between that and the swarms of runners waddling to the race!
I was feeling a bit nervous before the race. I had decided on a 4:42-4:45 min/km pace, but I wasn't sure if I could hold it. I have been feeling strong and fast, but I just wan't sure. The crowd was dense at the start, but my strategy to stay to the left worked and I didn't get boxed in. My first km for 4:50, which I felt was good. The second was 4:42, right on track. Sadly, I could already tell that it was too fast. I was too tired for only 2km into the race.
My pace stuck around 4:50/km for the first 12km. I didn't feel too tired at that pace, and I was much more staedy than several people in my pack. I passed the Mazatleca girl from the malecon at about 12 km, and finally she wasn't able to pass me again. Right before 13km came the 1st turn-around for the 1/2 marathon.
The sun was getting very strong by this point. I was glad to have my hat, but it didn't help with the blinding reflection of the sun off the wet pavement at each water station!
Sadly, after the turn-around, they had not marked the kms for the people running the half. I felt lost! I knew was starting to feel fatigued, but I had no idea what pace i had dropped to. I was distracted with trying to measure my pace against the full-marathon km marks (i passed kms 24-27 or so), but it didn't really work. I felt like I have started too fast and I fell into a "comfortable" pace which I could not get past. I wanted to be breathing harder and running faster, but my body just wouldn't get into that next level.
Andrea and Slava met me on the course a few times and I really enjoyed their cheers. Someone yelled at me "falta uno! falta uno!" And I felt my adrenaline pick up. I latched onto one girl in my pack and decided not to let her beat me. I felt the internal struggle of "yes you can finish strong, no you can't, give up now" etc, but I did sprint at the end and I finished with a smile on my face. Sadly, as soon as I crossed the line my smile changed to a frown and I realized that I hadn't reached my goal. It was my last race in Mexico, my last as a member of Club Atletico La Milla... and I had failed. My time of 1:42:26 was strong, but not what I had aimed for. It was the first time I had not reached a goal in a race! How tragic!
My sadness only lasted a moment, though. I knew I had run hard and after I saw some friends, I realized that everyone had run a but slow that day. I was only 2 minutes from Blanca, and only 1 minuted from earbud-guy. I beat the doctor and gabriel both! It was a good run. Hot and unmarked, but good.
In the last week or so, I ran faster in my training. My "easier" runs had all sped up to 9min pace or faster, and my 1200s were between 5:05-5:12 for 2 sessions of them. I still felt "behind" somehow, and I think it has to do with the 2 months off in the summer. Escuinapa was my best race so far, and although I had taked February off, and part of December, I hadn't stopped training for longer than a couple of weeks at a time for an entire year. I think that is why I feel less prepared right now.
But enough whining! I had a great time at the event, and I can't wait for my next one: the Los Angeles Marathon 2008!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Imala... always a surpise
I finished up last week with 10km on friday. Sadly, i can't remember my times from that day, but I'm sure it was in the 9:00 range.
Tiba invited me to Imala for this past sunday, and I gladly accepted. I spent saturday resting and sippping gatorade. Sunday morning came very very early.... the alarm went off at 4:15 (!). As i was moving around the apartment that morning, I simply couldn't believe what I was doing! Chico didn't even wake up.
I made it over to the garden at about 5:15, where there was a group of about 15 runners gathered, plus a couple of support pick-ups. I deposited my bags (clothes, towel for swimming, extra bottle of gatorade) in the back of one of them and trusted that it would get to Imala.
We left at 5:35. We took a different route this time: down to the malecon and then left to connect to the road to Imala. I guess it added about 1km to the run, making it about 25km. One dude who I've seen before informend me that I "could run with" a group of girls I didn't really know. He told me that I would be at the same pace as them. This I found a bit annoying; how does he know my pace!? Furthermore, I prefer to run alone on these runs. Anyway, I didn't have to worry because they hung back, and I started running with the Doctor, the Indian Guy, and the Ego-Balding Tall Guy. Before we even got out of Culiacan, I saw a cute grey rabbit sniffin' and movin' on the side of the road. I knew it would be a good day!
It was still darkabout 45 min into the run, but the sky was turning pink and orange in the distance. The air was crisp and cool, and the road was empty. I was enjoying the smells of farmland and the cow pastures. I was about 100 meters behind the Doctor and the Balding Guy, and they were another 100 meters behind the Indian and some dude. I felt comfortable and smooth and was perfectly happy not pushing my tempo. At some point, a couple of the guys went for pee breaks in the bushes, and I caught up with them by the time they were running again. We were all running together for a while. We saw a brown rabbit, and then later a mama cow with her calf on the side of the raod. We also saw cops with machine guns guarding in the first little village. They weren't concerned with us, though.
We made is to Mezquitite in a little over an hour. The 5 of us were all farily close, chaning positions all the time. But the hills were just beginning! We got to the Big Hill, and i was behind all those guys. I got up on my toes right the beginning and felt GREAT all the way up. I passed them all! I was joking with the Indian that I love the hills! And they couldn't keep up. Furthermore, once I got to the top, I just kept feeling more and more energy! It was amazing! Soon we were all running together, though, once again. The same thing happened several times over the next few kms, and they were joking about what a strong girl i am, blah blah, but after a while I could tell that they didn't really appreciate the fact that a girl was so close to them! Then suddenly the doctor and the indian sprinted ahead of me, and I could see their sly smile. I could also see the doctor checking the distance between us periodically! I couldn't believe it! They were really trying to ditch me! Such macho chauvinism! Well, i let them be ahead of me for a while. I really didn't want it to turn into a race. But as we were approaching Imala, I realized I really didn't want their egos to be fulfilled in such a way! I started getting mad!
We came to the final descent, which is quite a down-hill, and instead of relaxing and protecting our knees, they kept pushing. I let them go, figuring they would relax when we arrived in the village. At the bottom of the hill, though, they kept pushing hard. I almost let them go, but something in my psyche just couldn't release them, and I sprinted hard to catch up with the Doc just in time. We arrived in the cathedral at basically the same moment, or he was perhaps a stride or two ahead of me. He was drenched in sweat and breathing really hard. He was obviously working too hard for that morning. But maybe he felt satisfied that i didn't beat him. I have no idea, but it felt good to not let them get ahead of me. The Indian is, actually, a much better runner than me, but the Doc is similar and he just really didn't like the whole situation. He wouldn't even talk to me for a few minutes after we got there. The best part, though, is that I was only 4 minutes behind Blanca, my rival and role model. My time was 2:12.
As we were all waiting for the trucks and the other runners to arrive, i chatted with the others and had a good time. I was hoping to get to the Hot Springs pools soon, but then everyone was suddenly walking down one of the village dirt footpaths, disappearing among the corn fileds and cow pens! Where were they going!? To Eat! I hiked down the path with them, deep into Imala. An old Banyan tree marked the fork in the road where we turned to the right and found ourselves at another old tree, a dirt clearing, and tables and chiars set up at the edge of a cornfield. The trucks arrived to the location, and seemlingly out of thin air appeared shrimp salad, tostadas, yogurt, bread, and kilos upon kilos of oranges, apples, and bananas, 2 juicers for the oranges get pulled out of boxes and plugged into an extension cord which hangs from the banyan tree (who knows where it is actually connected to ellectricity.) And just like that, it's time for breakfast!
My favorite moment of the morning came after breakfast, and after I had gone back to the pools to swim. I was sitting and chatting, and Roberto disappears into the cornfield, probably to take a leak. When he returns, he instructs me to hold out my hand. I can't see what he's offering me, but i feel tingling and scratching in my palm. He releases the item into my hand, and it's a big scarab beetle! Big and bright shiny green, he's struggling to fly away. I held him for a moment, just admiring the art and beaty of nature.
I suppose it was my last run to Imala. Although I'm sad i didn't bring my camera to capture the memories, I'm a little happy to have those pictures resrved only for myself. I hope I neverforget them! It's days like that which make me very sorry to be leaving Culiacan. It has really been an adventure!
ps. monday was 8km, which i did rather fast. my lasdt mile was 7:45. I'm paying for it, though... i can feel 'carga' in my left foot and right hip, so i am resting today before it gets any worse! Oh well. feel overall very very strong.
Tiba invited me to Imala for this past sunday, and I gladly accepted. I spent saturday resting and sippping gatorade. Sunday morning came very very early.... the alarm went off at 4:15 (!). As i was moving around the apartment that morning, I simply couldn't believe what I was doing! Chico didn't even wake up.
I made it over to the garden at about 5:15, where there was a group of about 15 runners gathered, plus a couple of support pick-ups. I deposited my bags (clothes, towel for swimming, extra bottle of gatorade) in the back of one of them and trusted that it would get to Imala.
We left at 5:35. We took a different route this time: down to the malecon and then left to connect to the road to Imala. I guess it added about 1km to the run, making it about 25km. One dude who I've seen before informend me that I "could run with" a group of girls I didn't really know. He told me that I would be at the same pace as them. This I found a bit annoying; how does he know my pace!? Furthermore, I prefer to run alone on these runs. Anyway, I didn't have to worry because they hung back, and I started running with the Doctor, the Indian Guy, and the Ego-Balding Tall Guy. Before we even got out of Culiacan, I saw a cute grey rabbit sniffin' and movin' on the side of the road. I knew it would be a good day!
It was still darkabout 45 min into the run, but the sky was turning pink and orange in the distance. The air was crisp and cool, and the road was empty. I was enjoying the smells of farmland and the cow pastures. I was about 100 meters behind the Doctor and the Balding Guy, and they were another 100 meters behind the Indian and some dude. I felt comfortable and smooth and was perfectly happy not pushing my tempo. At some point, a couple of the guys went for pee breaks in the bushes, and I caught up with them by the time they were running again. We were all running together for a while. We saw a brown rabbit, and then later a mama cow with her calf on the side of the raod. We also saw cops with machine guns guarding in the first little village. They weren't concerned with us, though.
We made is to Mezquitite in a little over an hour. The 5 of us were all farily close, chaning positions all the time. But the hills were just beginning! We got to the Big Hill, and i was behind all those guys. I got up on my toes right the beginning and felt GREAT all the way up. I passed them all! I was joking with the Indian that I love the hills! And they couldn't keep up. Furthermore, once I got to the top, I just kept feeling more and more energy! It was amazing! Soon we were all running together, though, once again. The same thing happened several times over the next few kms, and they were joking about what a strong girl i am, blah blah, but after a while I could tell that they didn't really appreciate the fact that a girl was so close to them! Then suddenly the doctor and the indian sprinted ahead of me, and I could see their sly smile. I could also see the doctor checking the distance between us periodically! I couldn't believe it! They were really trying to ditch me! Such macho chauvinism! Well, i let them be ahead of me for a while. I really didn't want it to turn into a race. But as we were approaching Imala, I realized I really didn't want their egos to be fulfilled in such a way! I started getting mad!
We came to the final descent, which is quite a down-hill, and instead of relaxing and protecting our knees, they kept pushing. I let them go, figuring they would relax when we arrived in the village. At the bottom of the hill, though, they kept pushing hard. I almost let them go, but something in my psyche just couldn't release them, and I sprinted hard to catch up with the Doc just in time. We arrived in the cathedral at basically the same moment, or he was perhaps a stride or two ahead of me. He was drenched in sweat and breathing really hard. He was obviously working too hard for that morning. But maybe he felt satisfied that i didn't beat him. I have no idea, but it felt good to not let them get ahead of me. The Indian is, actually, a much better runner than me, but the Doc is similar and he just really didn't like the whole situation. He wouldn't even talk to me for a few minutes after we got there. The best part, though, is that I was only 4 minutes behind Blanca, my rival and role model. My time was 2:12.
As we were all waiting for the trucks and the other runners to arrive, i chatted with the others and had a good time. I was hoping to get to the Hot Springs pools soon, but then everyone was suddenly walking down one of the village dirt footpaths, disappearing among the corn fileds and cow pens! Where were they going!? To Eat! I hiked down the path with them, deep into Imala. An old Banyan tree marked the fork in the road where we turned to the right and found ourselves at another old tree, a dirt clearing, and tables and chiars set up at the edge of a cornfield. The trucks arrived to the location, and seemlingly out of thin air appeared shrimp salad, tostadas, yogurt, bread, and kilos upon kilos of oranges, apples, and bananas, 2 juicers for the oranges get pulled out of boxes and plugged into an extension cord which hangs from the banyan tree (who knows where it is actually connected to ellectricity.) And just like that, it's time for breakfast!
My favorite moment of the morning came after breakfast, and after I had gone back to the pools to swim. I was sitting and chatting, and Roberto disappears into the cornfield, probably to take a leak. When he returns, he instructs me to hold out my hand. I can't see what he's offering me, but i feel tingling and scratching in my palm. He releases the item into my hand, and it's a big scarab beetle! Big and bright shiny green, he's struggling to fly away. I held him for a moment, just admiring the art and beaty of nature.
I suppose it was my last run to Imala. Although I'm sad i didn't bring my camera to capture the memories, I'm a little happy to have those pictures resrved only for myself. I hope I neverforget them! It's days like that which make me very sorry to be leaving Culiacan. It has really been an adventure!
ps. monday was 8km, which i did rather fast. my lasdt mile was 7:45. I'm paying for it, though... i can feel 'carga' in my left foot and right hip, so i am resting today before it gets any worse! Oh well. feel overall very very strong.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
week in review
Monday, Nov 5: 5 mils slow and easy
Tuesday: 3x1 mile. 7:29, 7:23, 7:23
Wednesday: 13km, = 9:10/mile or so. chatted with Gabriel most of the way.
Thrusday:15x200x100 easy
Friday: 10km in mazatlan
Sunday: 21km in maz. i ran form Hotel Las Flores to the base of El Faro and back to Las FLores in 1:55.
Monday, Nov 12: 8km slow
Tuesday: 6x800x200 averaging 3:37 or so
Wed: 14km. Starting at 9:45 and going down to about 8:30. I ran with Blanca and a few others. they kept a nice pace.
Thursday: 4x600 @ 2:48, 4x400 @ 1:42, 4x200 @ 00:49, 4x100 @ 00:24
i've been running the mornings now almost exclusively. It feels great to have my run finished by about 8am! It gets dark here so early now that it is rather stressful to think about going running before 4pm, when we dont' even get sone with work until 2.
only 2 1/2 weeks until the race!!!
Tuesday: 3x1 mile. 7:29, 7:23, 7:23
Wednesday: 13km, = 9:10/mile or so. chatted with Gabriel most of the way.
Thrusday:15x200x100 easy
Friday: 10km in mazatlan
Sunday: 21km in maz. i ran form Hotel Las Flores to the base of El Faro and back to Las FLores in 1:55.
Monday, Nov 12: 8km slow
Tuesday: 6x800x200 averaging 3:37 or so
Wed: 14km. Starting at 9:45 and going down to about 8:30. I ran with Blanca and a few others. they kept a nice pace.
Thursday: 4x600 @ 2:48, 4x400 @ 1:42, 4x200 @ 00:49, 4x100 @ 00:24
i've been running the mornings now almost exclusively. It feels great to have my run finished by about 8am! It gets dark here so early now that it is rather stressful to think about going running before 4pm, when we dont' even get sone with work until 2.
only 2 1/2 weeks until the race!!!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
400s, 10km, 18km
Thrusday: 12x400 @ 1:45 or so. A few were a bit faster, and a few slower. I didn't want to push too hard because it's been a touh week, but at that pace, they felt strong and consistent.
Friday: 6miles, 9:05, 9:03, 8:34, 8:28, 8:10, 7:58. In light of my discovery that I've been running too slow and too easy, I wanted to prove to myself that i can still run a medium distance at a fair tempo. Roberto wanted to run with us, which was good because he took me at that nice 9min pace right off the bat. I've been starting so slow, and then not being able to pick up the tempo. This time i felt great. My last mile under 8min was amazing. Back to my old self!!
Sunday: 18km (i think). We are in mazatlan for some concerts, so at 6am this morning we met to run on the malecon. What a treat to have a change of scenery!!! the way "out" wad 44min, and back was 40, and then i did the run from freeman to the base of the lighthouse and back to add to the total distance. The father and daughter running partners we met were very friendly, and said that it was 19km, but i have a hunch tht it was more like 18. Anyway, it felt great and I am happy. The hills at the end were quite a challenge, though, since we haven't done any hills in culiacan. my calves are sore but i will recover, i'm sure.
this is the view from my hotel room :) what a life!
Friday: 6miles, 9:05, 9:03, 8:34, 8:28, 8:10, 7:58. In light of my discovery that I've been running too slow and too easy, I wanted to prove to myself that i can still run a medium distance at a fair tempo. Roberto wanted to run with us, which was good because he took me at that nice 9min pace right off the bat. I've been starting so slow, and then not being able to pick up the tempo. This time i felt great. My last mile under 8min was amazing. Back to my old self!!
Sunday: 18km (i think). We are in mazatlan for some concerts, so at 6am this morning we met to run on the malecon. What a treat to have a change of scenery!!! the way "out" wad 44min, and back was 40, and then i did the run from freeman to the base of the lighthouse and back to add to the total distance. The father and daughter running partners we met were very friendly, and said that it was 19km, but i have a hunch tht it was more like 18. Anyway, it felt great and I am happy. The hills at the end were quite a challenge, though, since we haven't done any hills in culiacan. my calves are sore but i will recover, i'm sure.
this is the view from my hotel room :) what a life!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
birthday party!
Club Atletico "La Milla" gathered for a small birthday celebration for yours truly on oct 23. Ah, the memories...
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Reality Check
I was just reading my older posts.... looks like i really have to step it up a bit these days. I was running so much faster earlier this year.... what is wrong with me? Sheesh! Ok, tomorrow I will work hard.
19km, 8km, 1000s, 13km
Sunday's long run felt great until the verrrrrry last mile. I was runnning at a nice 9:30 pace or so (one mile i was joined by a morning guy and he pushed the pace to 8:45), but I was very fatigued for the last 800m. No worries, though... i slept well and monday felt fine.
8km : easy, around a 9:30 pace or so again, with the last mile at 8:10. i was flying and it felt great! i think it was also a psychological thing... tiba gave us the program at the beginning of the run, which gave us new confidence. Tiba plans on my mazatlan time being about 1:45, although i was hoping for 1:40. we shall see...
5x1000: tiba ordered them at 5:00, but i couldn't contain myslelf. 4:53, 4:43, 4:37, 4:33, 4:36. it was amazing.
13km: today felt fine. i was neither tired nor fresh. we started at a 10min pace, and got to around 9:20 by the 5 mile or so, although that felt a bit too fast. We slowed back down to 10min, and finished the last mile in 9:40. Nothing else to report...
8km : easy, around a 9:30 pace or so again, with the last mile at 8:10. i was flying and it felt great! i think it was also a psychological thing... tiba gave us the program at the beginning of the run, which gave us new confidence. Tiba plans on my mazatlan time being about 1:45, although i was hoping for 1:40. we shall see...
5x1000: tiba ordered them at 5:00, but i couldn't contain myslelf. 4:53, 4:43, 4:37, 4:33, 4:36. it was amazing.
13km: today felt fine. i was neither tired nor fresh. we started at a 10min pace, and got to around 9:20 by the 5 mile or so, although that felt a bit too fast. We slowed back down to 10min, and finished the last mile in 9:40. Nothing else to report...
Saturday, October 27, 2007
week in review
Monday: 5k easy recovery. I felt good, surprisingly, and not sore. I did find out, however, that sunday's race was in fact just 21 k, meaning i did run much slower than last year. Oh well! I felt good.
Tuesday: 6x800. 3:40, 3:50, 3:46, 3:53, etc etc. tiba originally told me to keep them at 3:45, but changed his mind to closer to 4min. I avereaged between those two goals.
Wednesday: 12k. By the end, i was feeling really quite tired. went from about 10:30 to about 9:15 per mile as they went along.
Thursday, i woke up early and did 12x400 within only about 12 hours of wednesday's workout. I had no choice because of our travel and concert schedule. Obviously, i felt really really tired and there was no way to stick to 1:40 for all of them. They were all very different (1:33 to 1:54). Tiba wasn't concerned, though, and told me that it was ok to feel tired and just to let them salgan como salgan. It was fine.
Friday: because i was so tired on thursday, tiba let me rest
Sat: 1 mile warm up and then 2 laps of 200x100 fartlek. easy, nice, no problem. i feel rested and back in the game.
tomorrow will be 12 miles/18-19km. yay!
Tuesday: 6x800. 3:40, 3:50, 3:46, 3:53, etc etc. tiba originally told me to keep them at 3:45, but changed his mind to closer to 4min. I avereaged between those two goals.
Wednesday: 12k. By the end, i was feeling really quite tired. went from about 10:30 to about 9:15 per mile as they went along.
Thursday, i woke up early and did 12x400 within only about 12 hours of wednesday's workout. I had no choice because of our travel and concert schedule. Obviously, i felt really really tired and there was no way to stick to 1:40 for all of them. They were all very different (1:33 to 1:54). Tiba wasn't concerned, though, and told me that it was ok to feel tired and just to let them salgan como salgan. It was fine.
Friday: because i was so tired on thursday, tiba let me rest
Sat: 1 mile warm up and then 2 laps of 200x100 fartlek. easy, nice, no problem. i feel rested and back in the game.
tomorrow will be 12 miles/18-19km. yay!
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Rce Report: El Debate Medio Maraton
Whew! What a race!
I was a bit nervous going into this one because i am behind on my training compared to last year. Adrenaline and slava's gatorade along the way helped out a lot, though, and I managed a good time: 1:51 for about 22km. (last year was 1:50).
I felt good for the first 12 km, with some slowing from about 13km to 16km. A few guys passed me and I wasn't able to keep up. Too bad! Up to 12km, though, i was in a groove and nothing could stop me! At about 16km I ate my honey, which was something new. I didn't feel a burst of energy for about 2 km, but from about 17 or 18km on, I felt great again! I finally passed one guy who had been in my view for a while.
Sadly, someone new in my category came to the racethis year year, and she beat me, which bumped me to 3rd (last year i got 2nd). Shame! Oh well, I know that my performance was basically the same and I feel good. I got some money and a nice medal with the race and "3rd place" written on it (almost a trphy)...
Yesterday I ate an egg and cheese sandwich for breakfast, rice with lentils, olive oil and a slice of cheese for lunch, and some plain rice as a nighttime snack. I drank "honey water" 2 times and a liter of gatorade in the evening. This morning I ate pita bread with honey and a glass of honey water. During the race I consumed about 700ml of gatorade and about 2 tablespoons of honey, plus some water.
I know, i know. That's a lot of honey! Well, what can I say. I love it, it works, it's cheaper than gels, and i don't feel a crash after eating it. Plus it's got lots of nutrients!!
And now, on to el Medio Maraton Pacifico in december. I'm looking for a 1:40!!! Eeeee!
I was a bit nervous going into this one because i am behind on my training compared to last year. Adrenaline and slava's gatorade along the way helped out a lot, though, and I managed a good time: 1:51 for about 22km. (last year was 1:50).
I felt good for the first 12 km, with some slowing from about 13km to 16km. A few guys passed me and I wasn't able to keep up. Too bad! Up to 12km, though, i was in a groove and nothing could stop me! At about 16km I ate my honey, which was something new. I didn't feel a burst of energy for about 2 km, but from about 17 or 18km on, I felt great again! I finally passed one guy who had been in my view for a while.
Sadly, someone new in my category came to the racethis year year, and she beat me, which bumped me to 3rd (last year i got 2nd). Shame! Oh well, I know that my performance was basically the same and I feel good. I got some money and a nice medal with the race and "3rd place" written on it (almost a trphy)...
Yesterday I ate an egg and cheese sandwich for breakfast, rice with lentils, olive oil and a slice of cheese for lunch, and some plain rice as a nighttime snack. I drank "honey water" 2 times and a liter of gatorade in the evening. This morning I ate pita bread with honey and a glass of honey water. During the race I consumed about 700ml of gatorade and about 2 tablespoons of honey, plus some water.
I know, i know. That's a lot of honey! Well, what can I say. I love it, it works, it's cheaper than gels, and i don't feel a crash after eating it. Plus it's got lots of nutrients!!
And now, on to el Medio Maraton Pacifico in december. I'm looking for a 1:40!!! Eeeee!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
1200s, 8k, fartlek
My Tuesday 1200s were fun. 5:27 (too fast), and then 5:47, 5:46, 5:43. I am nostalgic for the times of 5:00 1200s.... someday i will be as fast.
Wednesday and today's runs (8k and 10x1x1) were slow and easy. nothing to report. The guys at the track are planning to pitch in for a birthday cake for me on tuesday. how nice!
Wednesday and today's runs (8k and 10x1x1) were slow and easy. nothing to report. The guys at the track are planning to pitch in for a birthday cake for me on tuesday. how nice!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
12k, 8k
On sunday I did my 12 km, which mayb ehave been more like 13 km. I ran 5 times around the outside of the garden, with splits of 17:20, 15:45, 14:21, 14:15, and 14:01. I felt strong and good, but didn't tru to push too hard. Still, it was a little too fast and i was feeling tired yesterday.
For my monday distance, i did my 8 km VERY slowly. each mile was about 10 min, and although my legs were tired from the night before, it felt really good. I am recovered!
For my monday distance, i did my 8 km VERY slowly. each mile was about 10 min, and although my legs were tired from the night before, it felt really good. I am recovered!
Saturday, October 13, 2007
8km
After an emotional day of oboe-ing, I gethered my strength to run my 8 km around the garden last night at about 10pm. The first 2 laps were ridiculously slow, 19min or so, but i got so bored "feeling sorry for myself" that I picked up the pace after about 3 min of the 3rd lap. Although i was already almost 2 min "behind" on that lap, I finished it in 13:36. yow! what a sprint! I did the last 10 minutes using my toes, my abs, my arms, and, most importnatly, my new breathing technique. what a day.
i woke up today feeling great. now, if only i can do something like that on oboe today.
i woke up today feeling great. now, if only i can do something like that on oboe today.
Friday, October 12, 2007
running (again)
I was sick, and then i started to run again, but I was still sick. But i live again!
I ran 17km last sunday and felt AMZING despite my half-assed previous 10 days. Tiba gave me a plan for the next couple of weeks leading up to the El Debate 1/2 marathon. it goes l ike this:
lunes: 8k
felt good, a little slow but that's fine.
martes: 5x800x200 c/200 Recup.
averaged about 3:45 per 800.
miercoles: 10km
felt tired. Averaged around 9:30 mile i guess (i was running around the outside.)
Jueves:
15x200x200 a 50" c/200 recup
felt great, averaged about 48-50" per 200, a few faster. The workout seemed long, though.
Viernes: 8k
Sabado:descanso
Domingo:12km
lunes: 8km
Martes: 4x1200 a 5:50
Mier.:8km
Jueves:Fartlek 10x1x1
Viernes:45"suave
Sabado:descanso
Domingo medio maraton "el debate"
I'm sure everything will feel fine. My knee has been tender, but not painful. Next week should be inetersting. I remember training 1200s at about 5:05 last year, and it's a bit sobering to see how much I have to go by december. (seeing next weeks' 1200s at 5:50... yow!) But Tiba is a genius and he really knows what he's doing. What a wonderful opportunity it has been to train with him!!!
I ran 17km last sunday and felt AMZING despite my half-assed previous 10 days. Tiba gave me a plan for the next couple of weeks leading up to the El Debate 1/2 marathon. it goes l ike this:
lunes: 8k
felt good, a little slow but that's fine.
martes: 5x800x200 c/200 Recup.
averaged about 3:45 per 800.
miercoles: 10km
felt tired. Averaged around 9:30 mile i guess (i was running around the outside.)
Jueves:
15x200x200 a 50" c/200 recup
felt great, averaged about 48-50" per 200, a few faster. The workout seemed long, though.
Viernes: 8k
Sabado:descanso
Domingo:12km
lunes: 8km
Martes: 4x1200 a 5:50
Mier.:8km
Jueves:Fartlek 10x1x1
Viernes:45"suave
Sabado:descanso
Domingo medio maraton "el debate"
I'm sure everything will feel fine. My knee has been tender, but not painful. Next week should be inetersting. I remember training 1200s at about 5:05 last year, and it's a bit sobering to see how much I have to go by december. (seeing next weeks' 1200s at 5:50... yow!) But Tiba is a genius and he really knows what he's doing. What a wonderful opportunity it has been to train with him!!!
Sunday, October 7, 2007
sick, 17km
i was sick and took a while to recover. so there.
in the last 10 days or so, i ran some short-ish distances a few times, and that's it. but i'm feeling better now, and so i finally did a real distance. 6 times around the garden=17km or so... the laps were like this:
15-15-14:15-14:15-14:42-13:42.
I finished hard and i felt great the whole way. I guess the break was needed and it was my body's way of telling so! I don't have to go to work for 2 weeks now, so I have plenty of time to practice oboe and run and practice spanish and just generally be productive. What a life!!!
in the last 10 days or so, i ran some short-ish distances a few times, and that's it. but i'm feeling better now, and so i finally did a real distance. 6 times around the garden=17km or so... the laps were like this:
15-15-14:15-14:15-14:42-13:42.
I finished hard and i felt great the whole way. I guess the break was needed and it was my body's way of telling so! I don't have to go to work for 2 weeks now, so I have plenty of time to practice oboe and run and practice spanish and just generally be productive. What a life!!!
Friday, September 21, 2007
what to eat?
Well, i did my "subitos" today, and i think that without tiba's advice, i worked a little too hard and my knee is a bit sore. I'm not too concerned, though... i am sure it will feel better by tomorrow. My times were 1:31-1:29-1:25-1:33-1:25-1:26-1:29-1:25-1:26-1:19. I also did 1 slow mile to warm up, and 1 slow mile to warm-down.
I have been thinking a lot about running nutrition recently. i wonder if i would run faster if i weighed about 5 lbs less (i don't think it would be healthy to drop much more than that), and if so, how do I do that without jepoardizing my health during training?
Sometimes I spend so much time wondering if i have eaten enough for a run that i eat too much, or that I drink too much and then feel bloated. Runner's World wasn't very helpful in my quest for understanding. They have several articles about other nutrition issues, but I still don't know what to do. I guess my instinct will have to guide me on this one. I already eat nearly 0 processed/packaged foods, almost 0 trans fats, and I have a basic understanding of the idea that "simple is better." But then i saw a video clip of a dude training kenyan guys. He says that after a hard run, they eat watermelon and a protein drink. THAT'S IT? After miles and miles in the hot sun??!! I always eat more than that, and I'm sure i'm not training as hard as they are. And anyway, I wonder where i can buy protein powder here...
Thursday, September 20, 2007
almost rained out again...
it started to rain. then it rained harder. and then... it stopped! today was a sloooooow day. finishing 3 times around the garden in 50 minutes was a real stretch, but i did it. i think it's because yesterday was my first day of speedwork, and my new muscles are forming.
hopefully tomorrow will be easier!
17-17-15:30
hopefully tomorrow will be easier!
17-17-15:30
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
got a program
yesterday i was rained out after 10 minutes of running... it was a bit like a war movie, as antonio observed in the car today. i was all set to work in the heavy rain, but when the lightning touched down so close that there wasn't any time between the flash and the boom.. well... i quickly went home.
today i managed to get to the garden by 7am and i saw tiba. he sent me over to the regular track to do 400s. they came out like this:
1:43-1:41-1:41-1:37-1:43-1:41-1:41-1:37.
tiba is a genius, by the way. he told me to stick to 1:40-1:42, and he was right. how does he always know!!??
today i managed to get to the garden by 7am and i saw tiba. he sent me over to the regular track to do 400s. they came out like this:
1:43-1:41-1:41-1:37-1:43-1:41-1:41-1:37.
tiba is a genius, by the way. he told me to stick to 1:40-1:42, and he was right. how does he always know!!??
Sunday, September 16, 2007
feeling stronger
today andrea and i went to the garden, and i did 4 laps around the outside, which is about 7 miles, in 63 min. i started very slowly, and finished with a good pace. i wanted to go one more lap, but i think it was smart to keep it at that distance. my laps were 17-16-15-14:52. i stopped for water twice.
i really hope to get a program from tiba today, and i will tell him that i want to run the LA marathon in 08. yipeee!
i really hope to get a program from tiba today, and i will tell him that i want to run the LA marathon in 08. yipeee!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
hot day in mexico
my only chance to run yesterday was in 90 degree direct sun without shade. it was hot.
10k. 1 hour. lots of sweat.
ko
10k. 1 hour. lots of sweat.
ko
Saturday, September 8, 2007
continuing
yesterday evening i did this:
1 time around the garden (=1.75 miles) in 16:45
1 time around garden in 14:30\\
it felt great, and it was nice to run without the sun, although it was still rather hot and humid.
today i rest. tomrrow i run.
1 time around the garden (=1.75 miles) in 16:45
1 time around garden in 14:30\\
it felt great, and it was nice to run without the sun, although it was still rather hot and humid.
today i rest. tomrrow i run.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
a slow start...
although it's been difficult to get my butt in gear, i think i have finally made the decision to Run.
Since getting back t mexico, i have run about every-other-day. Today i saw T for the first time, which is always an inspiration. He will help me run the mazatlan half marathon in around 1:40, hopefully more like 1:37 or 1:38.
Today I ran pretty steady for about 45 minutes. I will do the same thing each day for about 1 more week before starting in on a real program.
Mazatlan... here I come!
Since getting back t mexico, i have run about every-other-day. Today i saw T for the first time, which is always an inspiration. He will help me run the mazatlan half marathon in around 1:40, hopefully more like 1:37 or 1:38.
Today I ran pretty steady for about 45 minutes. I will do the same thing each day for about 1 more week before starting in on a real program.
Mazatlan... here I come!
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
i love to run!
I can't believe i actually took almost 3 months off... but i must admit, it feels amazing. My body is ready to go! I ran with the kiddies over at Running in motion in edmonds on sunday, and i'm already hooked again. We did an "easy" run, and on monday I did another easy run on my own. I want to set some new goals! now, what to go for...?
sunday: 4.5 miles easy
monday: 3.5 miles easy + 4x75m fast.
i am now going to meet with the same group at MHS to do some track work, but i don't know what to do today. I don't have a goal yet, and I don't want to get injured starting too fast. I'll think of something!
sunday: 4.5 miles easy
monday: 3.5 miles easy + 4x75m fast.
i am now going to meet with the same group at MHS to do some track work, but i don't know what to do today. I don't have a goal yet, and I don't want to get injured starting too fast. I'll think of something!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
some time off
i did run yesterday, but i have decided to take a week off. we are going to GDL with the orchestra tomorrow, and it
s a good excuse to just relax. i need it.
yesterday i tried to run on my fore-feet more, and it felt amazin.g i knocked off 2.5 miles fast with no problem.
8:30, 8:00, plus about 1200. fun.
s a good excuse to just relax. i need it.
yesterday i tried to run on my fore-feet more, and it felt amazin.g i knocked off 2.5 miles fast with no problem.
8:30, 8:00, plus about 1200. fun.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Race Report: Medio Maraton Las Cabras May 20, 2007
The day before the race was very long and a little strange. If you are interested, read about it in the previous post.
At 5:45, i left my hotel room with Slava to go the starting line, which was about 1/2 block away. It was in the city's center, in the cathedral's yard. Escuinapa is a farily large village, but not really a city and it is built around the main cathedral.
By 6am, the supposed starting time, I was getting confused. There were are bout 15 or 20 runners casually gathered, but not "meta" or "salida", no tents, no loud music... everything in the area was still awash in pre-dawn sleepiness. My running friend and I snuck into the back of the cathedral to listen to the mass. I forgot to take off my running cap and he reprimanded me!
Church was boring, though, so we left. At about 6;15, an old bus circa 1950 pulled up and everyone yelled "vamos!" and boarded as if this is what they were expecting! Suddenly I realized everyone else had a day pack with them. I realized that I missed some important details... again.
The bus lurched out of the village and onto country roads. We drove towards the ocean for about a 1/2 hour, past farms and small bay areasm, villages, and even a huge mango orchard. I had no idea where we were going, but no one else seemed surprised. Out of nowhere, I see on either side of the road hundreds of cars parked in the fields and dirt patches. We stopped near this random parking lot, and I exited the bus to find a grandstand and inflatable "salida/meta". I also found the ground covered with trash and debris, about 150 more runners, and many other people drunkenly wandering in bare feet and a variety of beachy and camping attire, drinking tecate light from cans, smoking, and harassing me. This area gave way to hundreds of food tents, beer gardens, stage areas, and taco stands. The morning sea air smelled of stale beer, BBQ chicken, and salt. A maze of tents revealed itself just past the food area, and barely beyong these tents, within about 20 meters, was the ocean. Runners stood in quiet packs at the edge of the tide waiting for the sun to rise completely, fantasizing about their post-run swim. Other people apparently knew what was coming and even brought towels and extra clothes. Sigh.
By this point it was about 7am, and although the sun was up and the runners had all warmed up a bit, it didn't seem like the race was about to start. The inflatable starting line thingy kept deflating (a bad omen?) and no one was very organized. I warmed up with the kenyans and I wanted to find a bathroom. I assumed I would find some gross honeybuckets somewhere, which at least have a door on them and a hole to squat over.
I was directed by a food vendor to a thatch-roof cantina to find a bathroom. It was a dirt-floored stall with a toilet sitting over a hole and a wooden door which wouldn't close. The toilet was "full" from the night before, and after i managed to balance long enough to do my business, i threw my TP (from slava) onto the giant mound of used paper next to the toilet; a huge monument to sanitation.
Everyone stood around for a long time, but finally the salida was standing up straight and the sound system was working and we were off at about 8am. The sun was already very strong, and i'm sure the temp was in the 80s by then.
At 2 km, I noticed something strange ahead: runners were zig zagging and jumping around like there was an obstacle course. There was a herd of cows and bulls charging us in groups of about 10 or 20 bulls! Small packs of runners were slowing and waiting until the bulls were calm, and then darting past. Sadly, one calf was scared and sprinted across the road and into the barbed fence, which slit his little neck.
Traumatized and worried for my own life, I negotiated the situation and continued. I was running with a friend from Culiacan, and we were looking for 4:30/km. We stayed at that tempos for about 7 kms, but it was a bit fast for me and I slowed to about 4:45-5:00 for the next 6kms or so. I was hoping to stay near Blanca, a woman who is always a bit faster than me. I passed her at some point, and then she passed me, and she was ahead by maybe 600 or 700meters.
The sun was sizzling and runners were dropping like flies. Many people were walking, a few dropped out of the race, and 5 actually collapsed. My friend, who had gone ahead of me at 11km, trying to stick to the 4:30 pace, couldn't keep it up and I passed him at 17km. He was feeling sick to his stomach from the breakfast smells in the village we passed through 2 times. At this point I was holding to a 4:45 pace, and Blanca was in my view. At 20k (the race was actually 22km), her husband, who wasn't competing but who is a very good runner, joined her on the course, acting as her pacer and inspiration. Argh!!!! I could see her pulling away, after I had been steadily gaining for several kms. I stayed strong, though, and I didn't let her out of my sight. Sadly, I wasn't able to catch her, but she only beat me by about 20 seconds. My offical time was 1:44:37, which was disappointing at first, because I didn't realize that it was actually a 22km course! I didn't realize it until laer because the km marks were a little messed up, but according to my watch I passed the 21k mark at about 1:39:50, which means I reached my goal! I wanted to break 1:40, finally!
The best reward was the swim in the ocean right after the race, and finding out that my time was good enough for 3rd place in my category, winning $1000 pesos. Hooray!
After being fed at the post race party and getting to climb the stage to receive my award, Slava and I found a bus back to Escuinapa. We took a good bus from Escuinapa to Culiacan, and we were home by about 8pm. Somehow, I managed to make it to Anthony's birthday party after that, and I finally got to relax, celebrate, and have a beer. What a day!
Monday, May 21, 2007
Goats on the beach: bizarre day in mexico with kenyan runners
We stayed in mazatlan all last week for rehearsals and a performance of "plump jack." I ran every day on the malecon, usually joined by liz, katrina, and/or megan. for or better or for worse, having them with me made me run easier and a bit slower, and I'd like to think that helped me be 100% rested for sunday.
The rest of the orchestra went home, north to culiacan on saurday morning. Slava and I went to the bus station to get a ticket to Escuinapa, and we were directed out of the terminal to some semi-crappy bus on the street, which was headed to escuinapa and about 10 other villages. The bus was scheduled to leave "ahorita."
We left at 1:30, and immediately knew this bus was a mistake! We stopped to pick up or drop off people randomly, about every 100 meters or so, for about 1 1/2 hours. Finally we were free from the mazatlan metro area and the rest of the trip took about another hour. Escuinapa is only 1 hour form mazatlan but it took over 2 hours to get there! To make matters worse, I had a terrible caffeine headache and growing bus-sckness with every stop and go. I felt terrible by the time we arrived to escuinapa, signed up for the race, and got a hotel room. Slava went hunting for some iced tea and a snack, and i crached on the bed for about 3 hours. I woke up with an even stronger headache and the urge to puke, but i forced myself up and out of the hotel. We found a seedy pizza place with no a/c and a menu which included spaghetti. Slava tried to order 3 different pizzas, but the 4th one, with mushrooms, was accepted. Apparently the other options he wanted (other veggies, checken) weren't available because usually no one orders them. I ordered spegetti.
While we were waiting for the pizza, i was feeling worse and worse. I knew i had to drink some coffee for the caffeine withdrawl. the only coffee avaiable in the 5 mile radius was, luckily, at the pizza place. They had those instant freeze-dried crystals, and I accepted. With enough milk and sugar, it tasted fine (although strange with my pasta). I could barely choke down much food, but i managed to drink the coffee and we staggered back towards the hotel.
I bought a strawberry popsicle on the side of the road and suggested we "hang out" in the churchyard and try to talk to the kenyans who were in town for the run. These kenyans were super nice, and proved to be amazing runners as well. They have all placed in or won marathons in Boston, Chicago, Berlin, Mazatlan, etc, and are all close to the world records in various events. Paul Tergat, the world record holder in the marathon, with a time of 2:04:55, is a friend of theirs! And those guys' personal best marathon times are in the 2:06 range. Wow.
Ok ok, we chatted for a while and the coffee was taking effect. I was feeling more human... oh caffeine, I love you!! We went to the hotel at about 10pm, but i couldn't really sleep. I woke up at least 3 times, always dreaming that I had missed the race. Finally the 5am alarm went off and I started my morning like any other early run. I ate some carbs (2 tortillas) and sipped gatorade. I used the toilet at many times as i could, and the time approached to elave the hotel for my race, "Medio Maraton las Cabras" (Half Marathon of the goats). Read on for the full report!
The rest of the orchestra went home, north to culiacan on saurday morning. Slava and I went to the bus station to get a ticket to Escuinapa, and we were directed out of the terminal to some semi-crappy bus on the street, which was headed to escuinapa and about 10 other villages. The bus was scheduled to leave "ahorita."
We left at 1:30, and immediately knew this bus was a mistake! We stopped to pick up or drop off people randomly, about every 100 meters or so, for about 1 1/2 hours. Finally we were free from the mazatlan metro area and the rest of the trip took about another hour. Escuinapa is only 1 hour form mazatlan but it took over 2 hours to get there! To make matters worse, I had a terrible caffeine headache and growing bus-sckness with every stop and go. I felt terrible by the time we arrived to escuinapa, signed up for the race, and got a hotel room. Slava went hunting for some iced tea and a snack, and i crached on the bed for about 3 hours. I woke up with an even stronger headache and the urge to puke, but i forced myself up and out of the hotel. We found a seedy pizza place with no a/c and a menu which included spaghetti. Slava tried to order 3 different pizzas, but the 4th one, with mushrooms, was accepted. Apparently the other options he wanted (other veggies, checken) weren't available because usually no one orders them. I ordered spegetti.
While we were waiting for the pizza, i was feeling worse and worse. I knew i had to drink some coffee for the caffeine withdrawl. the only coffee avaiable in the 5 mile radius was, luckily, at the pizza place. They had those instant freeze-dried crystals, and I accepted. With enough milk and sugar, it tasted fine (although strange with my pasta). I could barely choke down much food, but i managed to drink the coffee and we staggered back towards the hotel.
I bought a strawberry popsicle on the side of the road and suggested we "hang out" in the churchyard and try to talk to the kenyans who were in town for the run. These kenyans were super nice, and proved to be amazing runners as well. They have all placed in or won marathons in Boston, Chicago, Berlin, Mazatlan, etc, and are all close to the world records in various events. Paul Tergat, the world record holder in the marathon, with a time of 2:04:55, is a friend of theirs! And those guys' personal best marathon times are in the 2:06 range. Wow.
Ok ok, we chatted for a while and the coffee was taking effect. I was feeling more human... oh caffeine, I love you!! We went to the hotel at about 10pm, but i couldn't really sleep. I woke up at least 3 times, always dreaming that I had missed the race. Finally the 5am alarm went off and I started my morning like any other early run. I ate some carbs (2 tortillas) and sipped gatorade. I used the toilet at many times as i could, and the time approached to elave the hotel for my race, "Medio Maraton las Cabras" (Half Marathon of the goats). Read on for the full report!
Sunday, April 1, 2007
week in review
nice week! good mileage.
wednesday: my late morning hot 10 miles were SO HARD AND SO SLOW. this seems to be a normal problem with my mid-week distances. am i working myself too hard in my intervals?
thursday: 10x400 slowest 1:44, fastest 1:33. nice. maybe i worked too hard?
friday: 8x800 3:45 tp 3:35. i felt like i was working hard, but i didn't push too much and i finished feeling really strong.
saturda: and amazing 10miler. to nice. i ran the "outside" of the garden 6 times, the laps going from 15:20 to 13:30. yay! i felt So strong. this was also my first night run. i rane at 7pm, and it was really pleasant weather. maybe that helped. anyway, we went straight from that to packing and the overnight bus last night to GDL, which is where I am now.
sunday: the overnight bus last night and the elevation change (4000ft up) wasted me and i was barely able to get off the couch for my 15x1x1 fartlek. i did it, though, in the nice cool windy late afternoon, and i feel amazing. It was slow, obviously, but i'm glad i did it.
wednesday: my late morning hot 10 miles were SO HARD AND SO SLOW. this seems to be a normal problem with my mid-week distances. am i working myself too hard in my intervals?
thursday: 10x400 slowest 1:44, fastest 1:33. nice. maybe i worked too hard?
friday: 8x800 3:45 tp 3:35. i felt like i was working hard, but i didn't push too much and i finished feeling really strong.
saturda: and amazing 10miler. to nice. i ran the "outside" of the garden 6 times, the laps going from 15:20 to 13:30. yay! i felt So strong. this was also my first night run. i rane at 7pm, and it was really pleasant weather. maybe that helped. anyway, we went straight from that to packing and the overnight bus last night to GDL, which is where I am now.
sunday: the overnight bus last night and the elevation change (4000ft up) wasted me and i was barely able to get off the couch for my 15x1x1 fartlek. i did it, though, in the nice cool windy late afternoon, and i feel amazing. It was slow, obviously, but i'm glad i did it.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
1200s, no problem
5x1200:
5:07
5:12
5:14
5:13
5:12
I felt good, luckily Rubio took me "with" him and he kept me from going too fast. It was a hard workout, but but not too tired. I will feel fresh enough for tomorrow's 10 miles.
S came with for the 4th time today, and I think he enjoyed talking with the guys. His body can obviously run fast, but he has no idea what that really means. He followed Chalio for one 1200, at 5:40, and it was pretty hard and his ears were ringing. I think he is beginning to understand what it means to run. Anf if he never understands, that's fine, too... I do this for me.
5:07
5:12
5:14
5:13
5:12
I felt good, luckily Rubio took me "with" him and he kept me from going too fast. It was a hard workout, but but not too tired. I will feel fresh enough for tomorrow's 10 miles.
S came with for the 4th time today, and I think he enjoyed talking with the guys. His body can obviously run fast, but he has no idea what that really means. He followed Chalio for one 1200, at 5:40, and it was pretty hard and his ears were ringing. I think he is beginning to understand what it means to run. Anf if he never understands, that's fine, too... I do this for me.
new program, new fear
My run yesterday was an easy 5-miles, no problem. I felt fresh and ready, and there was no effort to get them all around 9:15 or so. Today will be a hard one, though. 1200 intervals. eee!
Toba gave me a new program, and it's even laminated! too bad it's HARD, and there are no rest days, only "5 miles or optional rest'. ha! Well, i know my body and I will take thoser east days if I need them, no problem. But anyway, the workouts are going to be hard. Yikes! How thoughtful of him, and it leads me all the way to Escuinapa on may 20 where i'm going to KICK SOME BUTT!! Yipee!
Everyone thinks i'm doing well. I know i'm working hard. Bring it on!
Toba gave me a new program, and it's even laminated! too bad it's HARD, and there are no rest days, only "5 miles or optional rest'. ha! Well, i know my body and I will take thoser east days if I need them, no problem. But anyway, the workouts are going to be hard. Yikes! How thoughtful of him, and it leads me all the way to Escuinapa on may 20 where i'm going to KICK SOME BUTT!! Yipee!
Everyone thinks i'm doing well. I know i'm working hard. Bring it on!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
fun times!
the alarm went off at 5:30, and I somehow managed to get slava up by 6:15 and out the door. After wandering around Tierra Blanca for 35 minutes looking for the firefighter station and the medical school, we found the starting line of the "5k Race Against Obesity." Slava pinned a number on his shirt, and warned me that if his foot was hurting, he would just turn and go home instead of finishing.
The race started, and I felt good. There weren't any km markers, so i just judged my pace by my breathing. I jockeyed with some teenaged boys for a while, and one of them swore something very nasty at me in spanish when i passed him (pinche pandejo).
I glanced at my watch when i started to feel tired, thinking that the course seemed long. We were running up a gradual hill at that point and I was sloowing a bit. Suprisingly, we had already passed 20 min or so, and I thought I was running about a 24min pace for the race, but there was no way I would be at the finish line in 4 minutes.
Sadly, 2 dudes passed me at this point, and I was trying to pace them. I finished in 31min, and everyone agreed that the course was "6 1/2 or 7km" so I'm happpy with that time. Anyway, it was good enough for 2nd place of the women, and I got a silver medal! yay! Sadly, Blanca, the ever-present first place, got a $1,500peso gift certificate for a spa. how nice.
Not being tired enough, though, and having a running schedule which dictates 21k for today, I hitched a ride with another runner back over to the botanical garden and did another 14.5k. Luckily I had a stash of gatorade baggies and sunscreen. Fo the last 4 miles, un uknown dude was pacing me from about 5 meters... a little healthy competition at first, but then I felt weird. I was happy, though, that it pushed me to keep an 8:24 pace or so the rest of the way, without any water stops. At the end, I saw who it was; just a familiar guy who runs at the garden as well. After he finished, I gave him some gatorade and he complimented my pace.
Just at that moment, slava and chico arrived. What a sweet sweet dessert! No wait, my sweet dessert was the slice of cake I just ate. I made it yesterday: white chocolate-blackberry layer cake. divine.
I love running!!
The race started, and I felt good. There weren't any km markers, so i just judged my pace by my breathing. I jockeyed with some teenaged boys for a while, and one of them swore something very nasty at me in spanish when i passed him (pinche pandejo).
I glanced at my watch when i started to feel tired, thinking that the course seemed long. We were running up a gradual hill at that point and I was sloowing a bit. Suprisingly, we had already passed 20 min or so, and I thought I was running about a 24min pace for the race, but there was no way I would be at the finish line in 4 minutes.
Sadly, 2 dudes passed me at this point, and I was trying to pace them. I finished in 31min, and everyone agreed that the course was "6 1/2 or 7km" so I'm happpy with that time. Anyway, it was good enough for 2nd place of the women, and I got a silver medal! yay! Sadly, Blanca, the ever-present first place, got a $1,500peso gift certificate for a spa. how nice.
Not being tired enough, though, and having a running schedule which dictates 21k for today, I hitched a ride with another runner back over to the botanical garden and did another 14.5k. Luckily I had a stash of gatorade baggies and sunscreen. Fo the last 4 miles, un uknown dude was pacing me from about 5 meters... a little healthy competition at first, but then I felt weird. I was happy, though, that it pushed me to keep an 8:24 pace or so the rest of the way, without any water stops. At the end, I saw who it was; just a familiar guy who runs at the garden as well. After he finished, I gave him some gatorade and he complimented my pace.
Just at that moment, slava and chico arrived. What a sweet sweet dessert! No wait, my sweet dessert was the slice of cake I just ate. I made it yesterday: white chocolate-blackberry layer cake. divine.
I love running!!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
running again
because of my inflamed foot, i took a few days off last weekend, but i ran successfully all week. Tuesday was the most interesting: 1km intervals. i did 5, at 4:30, 4:20, 4:28, 4:30, 4:21. hard, fast, and fun.
thursday was also good, 10x400 the slowest 1:44, the fastest (and the last, yay!) 1:35. i felt really tired, burr managed to keep basically within Tiba's recommended time (he wanted no slower than 1:42).
friday's 12km was SO slow and hard and HOT. the culichi sun is really strong now, and i ran at like 10am. bad move.
tomorrow is a 5k race here, and after that i will complete the day's plan by running another 16km.
thursday was also good, 10x400 the slowest 1:44, the fastest (and the last, yay!) 1:35. i felt really tired, burr managed to keep basically within Tiba's recommended time (he wanted no slower than 1:42).
friday's 12km was SO slow and hard and HOT. the culichi sun is really strong now, and i ran at like 10am. bad move.
tomorrow is a 5k race here, and after that i will complete the day's plan by running another 16km.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
foot hurts
ran 7 miles rather slowly, averaging 9:40 per mile.
my right foot was hurting pretty bad after mile 7 and i stopped even though i was supposed to do 10. sigh.
i am icing now.
my right foot was hurting pretty bad after mile 7 and i stopped even though i was supposed to do 10. sigh.
i am icing now.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
back to the grind
did i really stop running for over a month???!!!
unfortunately, after the last post i came down with the flu and then a sinus infection. then we were traveling a lot with the orchestra and i just couldn't start up again... needless to say, i missed the LaLa marathonon march 4, but roberto went and got 10th in his division. yay.
i started running this past monday again.
mon: 5 miles
tues: 5 miles, 2 miles of 300x200, 1 mile
wed:6 miles
thurs: escalara (hard. i'm out of shape)
fri: rest
sat: rest.
i'm looking for the escuinapa medio on may 20. 1:30 or faster. oooooooo
unfortunately, after the last post i came down with the flu and then a sinus infection. then we were traveling a lot with the orchestra and i just couldn't start up again... needless to say, i missed the LaLa marathonon march 4, but roberto went and got 10th in his division. yay.
i started running this past monday again.
mon: 5 miles
tues: 5 miles, 2 miles of 300x200, 1 mile
wed:6 miles
thurs: escalara (hard. i'm out of shape)
fri: rest
sat: rest.
i'm looking for the escuinapa medio on may 20. 1:30 or faster. oooooooo
Friday, January 26, 2007
fartlek
15x200x200
not very hard. miles were 8:48 8:53 8:53
roberto is working hard to take me from tiba. too bad. i am with myself.
roberto also suggested some different places to run in mazatlan when we are there next week. that
is helpful.
not very hard. miles were 8:48 8:53 8:53
roberto is working hard to take me from tiba. too bad. i am with myself.
roberto also suggested some different places to run in mazatlan when we are there next week. that
is helpful.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
5x1000
1 mile warm up
5x1000 @ 4:24, 4:24, 4:26, 4:36, 4:45
short jog warm down
4.5 miles
i was supposed to do the 1000s at 4:50, but the first one was just faster, and i kind of wanted to keep it there. so i did. I slowed towards the end kind of on purpose. i think i could have stayed under 4:30, but it would have been extreme effort and i don't think that was the point of today.
5x1000 @ 4:24, 4:24, 4:26, 4:36, 4:45
short jog warm down
4.5 miles
i was supposed to do the 1000s at 4:50, but the first one was just faster, and i kind of wanted to keep it there. so i did. I slowed towards the end kind of on purpose. i think i could have stayed under 4:30, but it would have been extreme effort and i don't think that was the point of today.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
to torreon
3M slow
3M fast (8:06, 8:05, 7:52)
10x100 3/4 speed
(7.5m)
tiba gave me the program for the next week or so. wow, it's gonna be hard. can i really do the lala marathon? i guess so. Roberto was a little upset that tiba came with a program. oh well. that's their problem. i hope they both continue to help me. Why all the egos? oh well.
my run felt really really good.
39 days until lala. ahauhauhauhdfaudghuh!
3M fast (8:06, 8:05, 7:52)
10x100 3/4 speed
(7.5m)
tiba gave me the program for the next week or so. wow, it's gonna be hard. can i really do the lala marathon? i guess so. Roberto was a little upset that tiba came with a program. oh well. that's their problem. i hope they both continue to help me. Why all the egos? oh well.
my run felt really really good.
39 days until lala. ahauhauhauhdfaudghuh!
Monday, January 22, 2007
a great idea
I know i know!!!
I have been told to keep a running journal to help keep track of my progress, my mileage, my habits, and my injures (what injuries?).
I have tried several times, but I keep forgetting to log my miles each time i run.
Maybe having a public place to post my stats will help keep me motivated.
There are already 2 running-related posts in my other blog which describe yesterday's 1/2 marathon.
Good luck, self!
I have been told to keep a running journal to help keep track of my progress, my mileage, my habits, and my injures (what injuries?).
I have tried several times, but I keep forgetting to log my miles each time i run.
Maybe having a public place to post my stats will help keep me motivated.
There are already 2 running-related posts in my other blog which describe yesterday's 1/2 marathon.
Good luck, self!
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