I am in!

I got an email tonight from the Race Director of Umstead 100 who had 3 spots open up for the race and I was third on the waiting list. So I accepted his invitation to run the race in March.
Wow now I have to get serious. LOL
I am following a training plan Rob put together with Don's input as well. I will tweak it a little so they can't get all the credit or blame for my performance. LOL
I am going to work a lot on nutrition for during the race. I found out how crucial it was to pay attention to that at Burning River. I found out the hard way!
Ok, ready or not its time to train.

Back to the trails

Back to the trails and it felt great! Saturday Rob and I went up to Vertical Runner and both got new trail shoes. I got a nice pair of Mizuno, they are pretty too. I should say "were pretty". LOL

We went over to Happy Days and ran to Pine Hollow (sound of music hill) and back for 6 miles and then added on 2 more before it got dark. It was a good 8 mile run and we even ran all the way up both parts of the sound of music hill. I won (ha ha).

Sunday was an unofficial unsanctioned MIT trail run at Mohican organized by Michael Patton. We ran part of the Forget the PR course. There were 2 very fast guys from Columbus as well as 2 fast guys from Chardon who I ended up running with to show them where to go. I had no plans to run that fast for the 9 mile section but they needed a guide and I needed it to put my butt back in gear for trail/ultra training.

I absolutely hate that section on your way up to the lodge and back where it is always sooooo muddy that it will suck your shoes right off. So that's where the "were pretty" comes in about my new shoes. I tried so hard not to get them caked in mud but it's impossible on that section. Thanks Mr. Race Director!

So we got in about 10.5 miles. It was another beautiful day for a trail run and I got to meet some new runners as well.

This morning Rob and I got in a 4 miler to keep in check with our 2nd week of Umstead training. Right now it is pretty easy to manange but not for long.

Umstead 100 training

Started training for Umstead 100 this week. It starts out really light.
Monday was off. Tuesday and Wednesday only called for 2 miles. WTH? Well the way I have been slacking and been busy, it is probably not something I should scoff at. LOL! Today is 4 miles, off Friday and I will be trail running Sat. and Sun. to get in the weekly mileage that calls for 28. Again I will not put that down, in a couple weeks I will be wishing for a 28 mile week. Plus a lot of miles will be going back on the "dreadmill" soon. Yuck! I am looking forward to the trails this weekend!

Gearing up

Well the week following the Columbus marathon I got quite busy and lazy on running. I ran 3 miles one time during the week. Then Rob and I had a great 10 miler on Sunday. We both decided that we just were not up for Run With Scissors Double Marathon this year. I am sorry I missed a great trail race and seeing all my running friends but it was fun day and beautiful weather.

So this week I took Monday off and ran 3 miles on the treadmill yesterday. I plan to run on the treadmill again today, not by choice. I am still running whatever I can fit in this week.

Next week...100 mile training starts! Rob put together a training plan that gets us ready for Umstead 100 in March. The first week only calls for 28 miles. Doesn't sound like much but between now and Christmas it will be tough to stay consistent with training. I am so looking forward to the new year!

Glad its over!

I am soooo glad that Columbus is over with. I didn't train for it and knew I was going to be miserable. And I was. LOL. I came so close to turning off and just finishing with the half marathon and I am not kidding. I started out slower than the other marathons and it still didn't help. Maybe when I am really trained it would make a difference. Anyway, when I finished I started cramping immediately. Scott had just finished ahead of me and was waiting for Leslie. She finished just a few seconds behind me and thank goodness cause she got me thru the finish line area and up to a place to lay down. I was cramping in my legs so bad and was in so much pain that I cried like a baby. Rob met us there and they both worked on my legs to relieve some of the cramps. It took some time to go away but I sucked it up and started moving again and downed some chocolate milk.
I ended up with a 3:23:53. My fourth and slowest marathon of this year. It's done.
Overall it was a fun time. I rode down with Kristen, Eric, Jim, Scott, Leslie and Rob.
We had a great meal after and discussed all our performances, aches and pains and how other running friends did.
Now I have to decide whether I am going to do Run With Scissors Double Trail Marathon this Sunday. Hmmmm...wonder what the weather will be like. Getting up at 2:30 am and driving to make a 5am start does not sound appealing. Ugh!

Day by Day

I ran 3 miles on the treadmill Friday.
Saturday I met with Leslie and Kristen at 5:30am for a 12 miler that turned into 13.2. We averaged an 8:15 pace with some of the miles being low 7's and others slower cause the first half of the run was mostly up hill. We three girls make a great training team and push each other well.
I took Sunday off and ran 3 miles on the track this morning.
I am just going with the flow, whatever I feel like doing each day is what happens. I am taking each day as it comes. Starting today I stopped working in the early mornings and I will not get up for a job like that ever again. Yeah sleep! Lets see how this makes or breaks me for Columbus.
I will be starting a new job in November with a whole lot of other life changes on the horizon.
By 2010 I should be in a good place and ready to take running more seriously......I hope.

WIMP!

I took the boys and met Scott, Leslie and Rob on the track at noon today. They all got started before me, I was late getting there. So I got a mile warm up in and then jumped in with S & L on their 800's. They had 3 of 6 done already. So I got 3 x 800 in before all three of those guys had to get going. We had a fun time harassing each other on what kind of shape we are in with Columbus marathon a week away.
Now do you think I stayed and got the rest of my workout in or did I wimp out and go home?
I wasn't sticking around and running more......it was cold and windy, I didn't want to run by myself, the boys were ready to leave, I had to go to the bathroom, I was hungry, a sinkhole swallowed part of the track, I think I saw a bear, I work for the CIA and was called away for a top secret mission, ok maybe not the last three but ...yeah I wimped out. 3.25 miles total LOL