One More Week

Last long run of 10 miles...done.

What a great day for a run.  It was 48* this morning with bright sunshine.  The route for us was an out and back on my favorite rail trail.  I started out strong, running in the low 9's.  I faded a bit between miles 6 and 8 and even had to...gasp...walk for a few seconds to gather myself.  Overall though my average pace was 9:24.  I will take it.  

Let the farmer's tan begin.  I wore shorts today and have the tan lines to prove it.  I also am rocking a sweet tanstache (thanks Michael for that term).  I am going to devote an entire post to my tanstache someday.

"Dude, you have chocolate milk on your upper lip."

"No, that's just my tanstache." :O(

This week I need to focus on nutrition and hydration.  I need to be cognizant of what I am putting into my body, i.e. NO candy (I <3 candy) NO soda, NO junk calories.  I eat fairly healthy, but I could do better at eating more fruits and veggies.  And I need to pump in the water like nobody's business.  I have been lacking in that department, too.  I get tired of the whole process of drinking sometimes.  I would sometimes rather be hydrated via an IV I think.  Wouldn't it be easy to hook up an IV at night and have a liter of normal saline drip into you throughout the evening?  You would wake up feeling nice and hydrated.  Just a thought.

We have had a lot of rain in the past few weeks and part of the course is....um....underwater.  This happened a few years ago as well and they have an alternate route mapped out just in case.  This alternate route, however, is hilly from what I hear.  Bad thing is that it is supposed to rain here this week.  So be it I guess.

One thing that is going to make be a little sad on race day is that I won't have any family support there.  My husband could not get the day off from work :o(  I am so sad because he has been my number one supporter and has always been there as my sherpa.  As far as other family goes, they live 3 hours away and could care less about supporting me at these events -- which is OK because I have come to terms with that one.  Boo on the absent husband though.

I am going to try to take pictures on race day.  No promises though because I seem to forget about pictures a lot.

Have a good weekend.  Run and Tri safe.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's.

• At what temperature do you pull out the ol' running shorts again?  Or for you warmer climate dwellers, at what temperature do you layer up?
• Are you good about eating fruits and veggies?

Last Long Run

Can't believe I am already tapering for the 25K.  It seems like just yesterday that I signed up for the race -- oh, it was ;O)  Do you ever wait to the last minute to register for a race that doesn't have a capacity limit?  Guilty here.

I need some advice about where I should position myself during this race.  I have been running my long runs around a 9:20 - 9:45 average and my shorter runs around 9 - 9:15.  I plan on running with a pace group, I am just not sure what one I should go for.

Push myself and head out with the 9 group?  What if I go out too fast and struggle at the end?

Hold off a bit and go with the 9:30 group?  Speed up if I feel I can?

The old me wants to join the 10 group because that is where I am most comfortable.  I consider myself a 10 minute per mile runner even though I have become just a bit faster than that....

My goal is to run the 25K in 2:25 or less.  I think I am reaching a little high.  But if anything, I hope to beat last years time of 2:43:35.

Good luck to everyone racing this weekend.  Stay safe.

Weekend Ramblings

The largest 25K road race in the US

I can't believe the 25K is 2 weeks away!

Where did the time go?  I remember when training officially began way back in January in the cold and snow.  Now we are into May and the race is almost here.  Last year at this time if you would have asked me if I was ready my reply would have been no.  This year I feel I am a stronger and more confident runner.  I am excited for this race as it will be my first since the Chicago Marathon.  Let's hope the weather cooperates for us.  May in Michigan can be kinda iffy.

I ran a 12 miler on Friday with my occasional running buddy (L) and another runner from our Saturday morning running group (B).  We met at B's house since she had a pretty 12 mile route planned for us out along the country roads.  The sun was shining and the temperature was 35 degrees.  Perfect!  We started off strong with the first few miles in the 9:30's.  That was a little fast for B as she tends to run 10's.  I knew we probably would not be able to run like L and I usually do because the pace was too fast for B, and that was fine with me.  My intention was just to have a nice run to get in 12 miles.

Around mile 6, B started having issues with her feet which caused her to stop several times in the next few miles.  I stopped with her, but L continued on with no hint of wanting to wait for B.  I figured I wouldn't want to be left behind if I was having a hard time so why should I leave her?  We all started together so why not encourage one another to the end?  By the time L looked back to see where we were, we were at least a mile behind.  She just continued on the route and was waiting for us at the end.  I was kind of disappointed in L's actions.  What do you think?  Our pace was 10:30 even with stopping and walking so it still wasn't all that bad.  Anyway, it was nice to get my long run done on Friday morning, especially since I had to work Saturday.

In other news, this was our driveway on Sunday at 9:30am

5 yards of mulch.....

and this was our driveway at 11:30am

and this is where it went

It is so nice to finally see flowers in my yard!!!

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend.  Can't wait to read race recaps from this weekend.

Oh, one last thing....I ran a total of 109 miles in April!!  Woot....Woot.

• What is your next race?

• Is there proper etiquette when running with a partner, i.e. leave no man behind?

• What is the most you ran in a month?