Sunday, May 31, 2009

Ah the Verone BP...first stop to blow my nose...

Saturday, May 30, 2009

and Burton came too

My open water swim...

Friday, May 29, 2009

The Sickies...




That's right, I am STILL down with the sickies. I'm not sure what's got me down, but it's not letting up. I have been heard saying on more than one occasion this week that I'm dying, and I'm not fully convinced I'm not. I'm just not dead yet...

But here's the panic that the sickies have brought about. I spent a week tappering for the half marathon, which I was way too sick to run. I have now spent an entire week in bed trying to recover. And today, 7 days after the initial sore throat, I still do not feel well enough to do anything. I think I even pulled a muscle coughing last night. The Kansas 70.3 is now 2 WEEKS AWAY!! 2 little weeks. That's it.

2 weeks ago (pre taper) heck, even 1 week ago (pre sickies) I felt confidant that I was ready for Kansas. I knew that I could go down there and hold my own. Sure, I needed to get out in open water for some swimming (still need to....) but I was feeling strong in my running and biking. I was set. Now I just don't know...Even if I am feeling healthy (and no longer hacking up things straight out of Alien) am I going to be trained and ready?!

I just cannot catch a break this season.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Race Report: Madison Half Marathon

I went into this holiday and race weekend ready to run. I was feeling pretty well rested, no major injuries or such to worry about, well hydrated, and prepared. I was feeling that a 2hr half marathon was a totally attainable goal.

I woke up Saturday morning not feeling so good. Ears were plugged and hurty, my throat was scratchy, and my nose was drippy. I headed up to the Farmer's Market for a few hours to help out my favorite farmer, Trisha at Luna Circle. Spent 2 or so hours talking tomatoes and peppers and stuff and then headed home. After showering I was feeling a little better and didn't really give my morning a second thought as I went to packet pick up.

One of our coworkers was in town for the weekend for a graduation picnic so we walked over there to say hi and enjoy the beautiful afternoon. About the time we get there I started to realize that the way I felt earlier in the day wasn't really a fluke. I was fairly certain that I was getting sick, and fast. We cut our socializing way short and headed home. The running buddy was going to head home pick up his race day essentials (also known as his bike and camera to follow me on the course and cheer me on) and come back so we could do dinner and call it a night.

By the time he got back I was curled up in sweat pants in tears desperately drinking tea. I was miserable. Swallowing was like painful fire-y death. My head was throbbing and my nose had officially become a faucet. I was frrantically testing some of my running friends looking for their words of wisdom. Convinced that food was going to be the magic cure all we cold medicined me up and headed across the street for some comfort food. I did actually feel a little better and wasn't quite ready to call the run off yet. Maybe with a good night's sleep I would feel up to it in the morning...

5am the alarm goes off. With all the times I got up to blow my nose, cough, take more cold medicine, try to choke down some water, and so on, I felt like I had gotten absolutely no sleep. None. I got up, bundled up in my sweatpants and hooded sweatshirt and went back to guzzling down tea hoping it was the miracle elixer that would get me through. Turns out it wasn't. But 5:30 I knew that I couldn't do it. I couldn't breath or swallow. My whole body hurt. As much as it frustrated me to throw the towel in without even trying I knew it was for the best.

I'm calling it a DNS (Did Not Start). I'm not sure if I am going with this because it makes me fell better than a DNF would, or if I feel like I don't even deserve a DNF because I didn't even attempt it.

I spent most of Sunday in bed and lounging around, and all of Monday feeling lousy as well. Here it is Tuesday. Back at the grind, still feeling awful. How in the world am I suppose to train and make sure I'm ready for KS when I can barely breath?!?

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Race day outfit...
I think.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

I'm trying to figure out

I'm trying to figure out this mobile blogging thing...

Madison Half Marathon

Bib # is 6537.

It's official. I have a number and all. I am in fact running the Madison Half Marathon this Sunday. I have an aggressive (for me) time goal in mind. I'm trained and relatively healthy (there is a nagging pain in my right knee that I will continue to ignore...).

So if you're in Madison this weekend and have no where to be at 7am on Sunday come on down and cheer us crazy runners on! And if you're running it let me know. I'd love to have people to start with, run with, watch for and so on. It's all about running, having fun, and friends.

Make signs, leave me chalk messages, cheer me on. I love it all! =D

I've yet to figure out my outfit for the day, but once I do I will definitely let ya'll know so you know what to watch for (I'm guessing there will be some pink tho...).

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Borrowed, but great!

"Now, if you're going to win any battle, you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up...you've got to make the mind take over and keep going." --General George S. Patton

By no means did this insightful quote come from me (I didn't even find it myself). Nor am I a Patton junkie by nature. But boy o boy, talk about a man who knows his stuff!


Tuesday, May 12, 2009

All things random and rolled into one

So more race related ick....the running buddy is bailing on me on the Madison Half Marathon. That's right, I'll be going it alone. :( Ok, ok, in all fairness, the word bailing might be a bit strong. Turns out he hurt his shin (maybe a stress fracture), he'll know more later this week. In light of the shin pain he has sworn off running all together. And for the time being, I guess I can't blame him. I'm still bummed. I was super stoked to have him run the half with me, and well, now he's not. Grrr.

On a similar race note, I have decided obligations be darned, I'm going to KS. However I did make this decision late enough to not be able to find a hotel room. Double Grr! Look like we'll be camping 2 of the nights, and hoteling it the night after the race. It could be worse. I think things will work out. I just hope I don't get in trouble.....

Oh! And this past weekend I took on the IM loop for the first time ever! The running buddy found the cue sheet and decided to navigate it for me. Honestly, iy wasn't nearly as terrifying as I thought it would be, but I was slow SLOW slow just the same.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not calling that thing easy, and I certainly can't fathom 2 loops at this point. But I got myself around it and up all the hills, and even had an ok time doing it. :) Despite the dismal speed, time, cadence, and power, I was pretty happy with myself. Baby steps my friends, baby steps..

My poor little piggies are feeling a little bit better these days. There's no doubt that I will not make it through this race season with all my toenails in tact, but the pain has subsided. They even felt well enough to take swimming (i.e. they are healed enough that I braved the infested pool water with fear of instantly contracting MRSA).

That's the past handful of days in a nut shell...tonight there's an easy ride on tap, followed by running home from work tomorrow, maybe a little more biking on Thursday, and gettin' my swim on again on Friday. And assuming the the dr gives the running buddy the thumbs up, hopefully he'll be taking on the IM loop again with me.....otherwise I need a copilot. Any takers?

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Toes!

My poor little piggies.... :(

I cannot figure out what in the equation has caused such pain, blisters, and the inevitable loss of toenails. The shoes are roomy and comfortable (I learned that the hard way last year), the socks are synthetic, wicking and the right size....what else could I be missing? What am I doing wrong??

I will spare you all the gory details of pictures. Who needs to see my icky feet. Anyone who's logged serious miles on foot knows what I'm talking about.
I expect these things as my mileage increases. But with my longest runs so far topping out at 12.5 it seems too soon.

This kept me from putting on shoes Monday, until I struggled through a short run Monday night....which resulted in no shoe wearing at all on Tuesday. What can I say, socks were not my friends. But I toughed it out last night.
Thunder and lightening, rain, 2 bum toes, ~9m and 80mins later I ran home from work last night...

I've got under 5wks til Kansas. I'm still training as if I am racing the KS 70.3. I won't let the man get me down. Yet. Not to mention there's the 1/2 Marathon at the end of the month, the aquathon series series starting a few days after the half....oh and the monkey on my back for the foreseeable future, IM WI.


My body (and toes) hates me!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Sugoi Brand Champion Kit

Hooray!! My new race kit is here! A few days too late for the Lake Monona 20k, but there are plenty of upcoming events to show it off at. :)

Lake Monona 20k

So this past weekend was the Lake Monona 20k, and honestly there could not have been a more perfect day for a little run around the lake.

I had decided last week, sort of on a whim, that I was going to do the run. I thought why not? I've got nothing else going on and it will be a good way to dial in my training for the 1/2 marathon in a few weeks as well as for KS (if I get to race....). What I wasn't expecting was for the running buddy to decide he wanted to run it as well....

Fast forward to race day, it was BEAUTIFUL!!! We seeded ourselves near the back as we were out for a casual little jog around the lake, and not the time shattering goals that some had. Before the race I had agreed that I would pace the running buddy the whole way, which was totally ok with me. This was his first time running anywhere near this distance, so I was stoked to be there to support this adventure. Although, just to be sure, the running buddy instated a safe word....mistletoe. In case of separation or emergency, all that needed be said was "mistletoe."

It was a long, slow, well paced journey around the lake. There were only a few mistletoe's (that I heard), there was one disgusting port-o-potty (ick, ick, ick), a beer stop (which neither of us partook in), and a chicken (that beat us).

Initially I was out for a PR at this race. I had my heart set on a 1:50 finish or complete explosion trying. I didn't care how hard I had to push or how destroyed I felt after, all I was thinking about was that 1:50 mark.

All in all, the running buddy's first trip around the lake took us 2:18:36, and I couldn't be happier! I felt great after the race. I wasn't sore. There were no meltdowns. I was able to partake in a few beers and chicken wings post race. I was able to be there for a pretty major accomplishment for the running buddy--something he said is could and would never do. Sure, we were beat by a chicken, but it doesn't really matter. I got to spend some quality time doing something I love doing, and I got to drag the running buddy along with me for the trip. It was awesome. I only wish I had pictures....

I swear I even heard him say he'd like to try a marathon some day... :)

Next up for the running buddy and I? The MadCity Half Marathon!