Well It has been a little over a month since the San Antonio Marathon.. and I have not run one step. It is kind of nice to take a break!
But I have to admit I dind finish San Antonio the way I wanted to.
I was aiming for a 4:20 marathon (somewhere between 9:30 and 10 minute miles). I did GREAT, until mile 18.
I had been cramping since mile 1 - but I kept telling myself it was the 40 degree weather we started in, i just needed to warm up, or drink more, or eat more, or take salt.....
Well eventually I did something too much or too little and at mile 18 i had to fall back from the group - hide in the bushes, and for lack of a better term "loose my lunch"
But then I felt better and ran for another mile at a very self respecting pace.. I stopped for water, and then about 3 minutes later up it came... I wont get graphic or bore you with the details of my split times...
By mile 23 I was a wreck - I could barely walk without getting sick. So scooter joined me to make sure I would make it the next 3.2 miles. but there was no way I wasnt going to finish.
I might feel like hell and look like hell but I didnt train for 6 months, stop drinking all week, travel to San Antonio and run 23 miles to give up a mere 3.2 miles before the finish.
He left me at mile 26 and I finished! With the advise of all of my coaches that saw me between mile 18 and mile 26.2 - I went straight to the medical tent, where they decided - they couldnt figure out what was wrong with me, and eventually sent me on my way.
So now I have the same goal I had when I started this silly marathon training - to beat my best time, which thanks to the events that took place still should not be very difficult!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
So this Saturday was my 18 mile run.
It is the first one since training for last years Nike Women's Marathon.
It went suprising well considering that I had taken the previous 3 weeks off because we were traveling. But for some reason Chocolate Croissaints in France called my name louder than my running sneakers did.
So we have one more month until we start backing down and only two more months until the race on November 16th.
Scooter has signed up for the half marathon, i am doing the full and we are trying to convince Shelley that she shoudl do the half as well.
It should be another interesting experience and a weekend in San Antonio will be great.
It is the first one since training for last years Nike Women's Marathon.
It went suprising well considering that I had taken the previous 3 weeks off because we were traveling. But for some reason Chocolate Croissaints in France called my name louder than my running sneakers did.
So we have one more month until we start backing down and only two more months until the race on November 16th.
Scooter has signed up for the half marathon, i am doing the full and we are trying to convince Shelley that she shoudl do the half as well.
It should be another interesting experience and a weekend in San Antonio will be great.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
San Antonio Marathon Training
Well I am now about 6 weeks into the marathon training for San Antonio which is on November 16th, 2008.
We just completed our first 10 mile distance on Saturday and everyone on the team did an amazing job. This season is proving to be really fun. Our coach Stephanie is 'dabomb' and the team is full of really energetic people.
I realized after the 10 mile run that I need to start taking ice baths again after our long runs. I dont know that 'technical' reasons why, but you are never as sore if you take and ice bath. In Austin we are lucky enough to have Barton Springs in town - a natural spring that is at about 63 degrees all year long.
So in the summer after our long runs on Saturday mornings we can head to Barton Springs for a quick dip instead of filling a tub with water and ice (that is one of the worst expereinces - i dont recommend it).
Scooter and I also decide that we are going to participate in a 196 mile race from San Antonio to Austin in October. Dont worry, we dont run all 196 miles on our own, we will be part of a team of 12, and it is run over 2 days. Each person will run 3 legs of the race varying from 3 - 8 miles. At the end each runner has run a total of 13 - 19 miles over the 2 days. It should be a really fun event. http://www.ragnarrelay.com/austin/index.php
Really I just want a shirt that says I ran 196 mile race from San Antonio to Austin.
So wish us luck - and let us know if you want to join our team!
We just completed our first 10 mile distance on Saturday and everyone on the team did an amazing job. This season is proving to be really fun. Our coach Stephanie is 'dabomb' and the team is full of really energetic people.
I realized after the 10 mile run that I need to start taking ice baths again after our long runs. I dont know that 'technical' reasons why, but you are never as sore if you take and ice bath. In Austin we are lucky enough to have Barton Springs in town - a natural spring that is at about 63 degrees all year long.
So in the summer after our long runs on Saturday mornings we can head to Barton Springs for a quick dip instead of filling a tub with water and ice (that is one of the worst expereinces - i dont recommend it).
Scooter and I also decide that we are going to participate in a 196 mile race from San Antonio to Austin in October. Dont worry, we dont run all 196 miles on our own, we will be part of a team of 12, and it is run over 2 days. Each person will run 3 legs of the race varying from 3 - 8 miles. At the end each runner has run a total of 13 - 19 miles over the 2 days. It should be a really fun event. http://www.ragnarrelay.com/austin/index.php
Really I just want a shirt that says I ran 196 mile race from San Antonio to Austin.
So wish us luck - and let us know if you want to join our team!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
San Diego Marathon Training
Well it has been a while since this has been updated...
But let me see if I can bring everyone up to speed.
I started training with Team in Training again for the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon.
But due to unforseen work conflicts I am unable to actually go to San Diego for the June 1st Race. But the team is going without ma and I am so excited for them. We run 20 miles this week, our longest run, and then we start tapering back until San Diego.
I will be a water stop for the run - so I will be comfortable sitting in the sun llistening to tunes as the team runs by.
But in all honesty, I am really upset that I have been training and wont actually get to go to San Diego for the race. But dont worry..... I found a solution.
I am a Mentor for the San Antonio Rock and Roll Marathon with Team in Training. The Race is November 16th and should be a really great time.
Training officially starts on May 17th so stay tuned for updates.
I promise I will keep up with the blog.
Till Then,
Stacie
But let me see if I can bring everyone up to speed.
I started training with Team in Training again for the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon.
But due to unforseen work conflicts I am unable to actually go to San Diego for the June 1st Race. But the team is going without ma and I am so excited for them. We run 20 miles this week, our longest run, and then we start tapering back until San Diego.
I will be a water stop for the run - so I will be comfortable sitting in the sun llistening to tunes as the team runs by.
But in all honesty, I am really upset that I have been training and wont actually get to go to San Diego for the race. But dont worry..... I found a solution.
I am a Mentor for the San Antonio Rock and Roll Marathon with Team in Training. The Race is November 16th and should be a really great time.
Training officially starts on May 17th so stay tuned for updates.
I promise I will keep up with the blog.
Till Then,
Stacie
Friday, November 2, 2007
The MARATHON!!
Sorry for the 2 week delay. But we finished the marathon and it was AMAZING!
We started in Union Square and headed toward the Ferry Building than along the bay past Fisherman’s Warf and to the Golden Gate Bridge. We turned away from the Golden Gate Bridge and into Golden Gate State Park, through the park and on to Great Northern Parkway along the Pacific Ocean to Lake Merced, around Lake Merced and back to Great Northern to the long awaited finish.
It was spectacular. The views were amazing the weather was perfect, the hills were just hard enough and the boring parts were not that boring.
We started early in the morning while it was still dark out, there were an estimated 30,000 in Union Square that morning. The beginning of the race was a slow start, trying to get that many people through the starting gates. But it felt like I didn’t even notice we were running until mile 10 or so.
There was so much to look at and so much to take in that I never even turned on my IPod. And believe me, some people can do it (Scooter), but I never thought I could run 26.2 miles without music in my head. But I guess I didn’t go entirely without. We passed a Bag Pipe Band, a Brass Band a Hard Core Rock Bad, a Rapper and Break-Dancers etc.
And of course the spectators and Fans! We had our names on the front off our jerseys and our honored heroes on the back. So people would yell your name as you were coming up and tell you how awesome you were doing. Some would thank you, some would just cheer, some even called out your honored heroes name as you ran by “Do it for Jeff or Boompa” for example. We obviously had all of our coaches and assistant coaches there, but then we even had our own personal cheering section - a great group of friends. Carlie, Jacob, Kyle, Matt, Jen and Beth’s Parents were a huge help, especially at mile 20 around boring Lake Merced and at mile 25 when you needed that last burst of energy.
We made it without incident, although not without pain. When we finished we were handed a tiffany box by a San Francisco Fireman in a tux and cross trainers (even Scooter got one), then a T-Shirt, and a Bagel as the poor volunteers had to cut out time chips off of our sneakers and wrapped us in a silver tinfoil like blanket. We were immediately ushered out of the “finisher’s only” area and into a SEA of people, the same people I appreciated during the race were now in between me and a chair. I didn’t know how much longer I would be able to stand and I couldn’t find anywhere to sit. We were forced to check in with TNT (to make sure we hadn’t died out there) and there was a small area of ground that we crashed on. It wasn’t 1 minute later when a staff member came by and told us we would have to keep moving, I felt like saying – I just RAN 26.2 miles, I am not moving for the next WEEK, but alas, we had to get up and limp into another tented area where we eventually hooked back up with Beth and Meredith and our cheer squad.
We took a quick “ice bath” in the ocean, although I was very slow getting in, changed into our comfy sweats and headed back to the busses for our trip back to the Hotel. It was at that point I noticed just how much everything hurt.
When we got back to the hotel we already had celebration on the mind. We went to the liquor store and then back up to the rooms for some room service. And then we were really able to enjoy the rest of our time in San Francisco. I would write more, but I figured that we can tell you all about it when we see you.
We started in Union Square and headed toward the Ferry Building than along the bay past Fisherman’s Warf and to the Golden Gate Bridge. We turned away from the Golden Gate Bridge and into Golden Gate State Park, through the park and on to Great Northern Parkway along the Pacific Ocean to Lake Merced, around Lake Merced and back to Great Northern to the long awaited finish.
It was spectacular. The views were amazing the weather was perfect, the hills were just hard enough and the boring parts were not that boring.
We started early in the morning while it was still dark out, there were an estimated 30,000 in Union Square that morning. The beginning of the race was a slow start, trying to get that many people through the starting gates. But it felt like I didn’t even notice we were running until mile 10 or so.
There was so much to look at and so much to take in that I never even turned on my IPod. And believe me, some people can do it (Scooter), but I never thought I could run 26.2 miles without music in my head. But I guess I didn’t go entirely without. We passed a Bag Pipe Band, a Brass Band a Hard Core Rock Bad, a Rapper and Break-Dancers etc.
And of course the spectators and Fans! We had our names on the front off our jerseys and our honored heroes on the back. So people would yell your name as you were coming up and tell you how awesome you were doing. Some would thank you, some would just cheer, some even called out your honored heroes name as you ran by “Do it for Jeff or Boompa” for example. We obviously had all of our coaches and assistant coaches there, but then we even had our own personal cheering section - a great group of friends. Carlie, Jacob, Kyle, Matt, Jen and Beth’s Parents were a huge help, especially at mile 20 around boring Lake Merced and at mile 25 when you needed that last burst of energy.
We made it without incident, although not without pain. When we finished we were handed a tiffany box by a San Francisco Fireman in a tux and cross trainers (even Scooter got one), then a T-Shirt, and a Bagel as the poor volunteers had to cut out time chips off of our sneakers and wrapped us in a silver tinfoil like blanket. We were immediately ushered out of the “finisher’s only” area and into a SEA of people, the same people I appreciated during the race were now in between me and a chair. I didn’t know how much longer I would be able to stand and I couldn’t find anywhere to sit. We were forced to check in with TNT (to make sure we hadn’t died out there) and there was a small area of ground that we crashed on. It wasn’t 1 minute later when a staff member came by and told us we would have to keep moving, I felt like saying – I just RAN 26.2 miles, I am not moving for the next WEEK, but alas, we had to get up and limp into another tented area where we eventually hooked back up with Beth and Meredith and our cheer squad.
We took a quick “ice bath” in the ocean, although I was very slow getting in, changed into our comfy sweats and headed back to the busses for our trip back to the Hotel. It was at that point I noticed just how much everything hurt.
When we got back to the hotel we already had celebration on the mind. We went to the liquor store and then back up to the rooms for some room service. And then we were really able to enjoy the rest of our time in San Francisco. I would write more, but I figured that we can tell you all about it when we see you.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
20 Miles!!!
Well I did it! I really did it!
20 miles, and I didn’t cry, or bleed, or collapse, or vomit. So I am calling it a success.
I was really nervous going into this run, considering that I had not been able to complete our last long run. Last time, my right knee gave out on me at mile 12 and Scooter had to come back and get me in the car (for those of you that are keeping track that is not the knee that was bothering me when we began marathon training). It was a very frustrating situation. I felt defeated and unsure of myself, convinced that I would never be able to finish 26.2 miles if my knee couldn’t carry me for 12.
But I was told that the day of the marathon I will be so excited and so determined that I will be able to run without feet if I need to.
I went to the doctor anyway. Turns out there is nothing wrong with my knees, the knee caps (on both knees) pull to the outside, which causes a little extra wear and tear, but nothing serious. The conclusion was that my knee was just tired of running that day. So with a lot of ice, and a lot of rest I was hoping I was ready for my 20 mile long run.
So we met at 5:45 at Austin High, thankfully we were going to run a fairly flat course with at least 14 miles of it on the Lady Bird Lake Trail (formerly known as Town Lake), which would be nice and soft on our joints. The entire run was pretty uneventful for me. I realized at about mile 6 that my nerves had been making me incredibly tense, because I was running with my shoulders up at my ear lobes. I forced myself to relax and knew immediately, from the shooting pain in my upper back, that I was going to regret not noticing and correcting myself earlier.
At about mile 12 my hip starting bothering me again, which I have since come to find out is my "peri-something" muscle in my butt. At mile 12 I felt a little discouraged because it felt like we should have been at 14 at least. But I took a Power Bar Runners Goo, hoping it would help a little. A half hour later, the Goo hit me! My body was exhausted but my mind was ready to go. At mile 16 I got really excited, ONLY 4 MILES to go! Easy, right?
Well the next 2 miles hurt a lot, we were still on the trail, but I could feel every little pebble I stepped on, and man those pebbles hurt. But suddenly, there we were, mile 18.
Now I was really excited, ONLY 2 MILES. I could do that in my sleep, 2 miles was easy and I was feeling GREAT. Okay, maybe not great, but I was still running, which I was actually pretty surprised at. With 1.5 miles to go I took off into a sprint, well, I am sure you couldn’t call it a sprint at that point, but it felt that way. I knew the finish was just up ahead and I was almost there. I had completed 20 miles. I had really done it.
I headed to Barton Springs and jumped into the 63 degree natural spring that morning and treaded water for as long as my tired muscles could stand it. Then I went home and packed for Dallas. Scooter was coming back from Houston to pick me up and take me to the Texas State Fair so that I could have my VER FIRST CORN DOG. Yes, ladies and gentleman, that is right, I had never had a corn dog. But that is a different story for a different time.
Scooter ran 15 miles that morning in Houston, and was feeling pretty good. I talked to our Coach about him and she said that studies have shown most men only have to train up to a 16 mile run (which we have both done before) in order to be able to complete 26.2 miles. Women on the other hand need to train at 18 or 20 miles to have the same results. How UNFAIR is that. Oh well.
So now we have started our “back down” or “tapering” we have just over 2 weeks until the marathon. I am really excited, as is Scooter. We are trying not to let the fact that we are $3000 short of our fundraising commitment get us too down. $3000 is worth the experience and training, or at least I keep telling myself that. Now might be a good time to make a last ditch effort for fundraising,,, HELP, we need money!! (if that doesn’t work, I don’t know what will, hahaha)
Well thank you to everyone who has donated, and everyone who has helped support us through our training. It means so much, and I can hardly believe that it is almost over. I have no idea what I am going to do with myself after October 21st. Maybe I should start thinking about the wedding.
20 miles, and I didn’t cry, or bleed, or collapse, or vomit. So I am calling it a success.
I was really nervous going into this run, considering that I had not been able to complete our last long run. Last time, my right knee gave out on me at mile 12 and Scooter had to come back and get me in the car (for those of you that are keeping track that is not the knee that was bothering me when we began marathon training). It was a very frustrating situation. I felt defeated and unsure of myself, convinced that I would never be able to finish 26.2 miles if my knee couldn’t carry me for 12.
But I was told that the day of the marathon I will be so excited and so determined that I will be able to run without feet if I need to.
I went to the doctor anyway. Turns out there is nothing wrong with my knees, the knee caps (on both knees) pull to the outside, which causes a little extra wear and tear, but nothing serious. The conclusion was that my knee was just tired of running that day. So with a lot of ice, and a lot of rest I was hoping I was ready for my 20 mile long run.
So we met at 5:45 at Austin High, thankfully we were going to run a fairly flat course with at least 14 miles of it on the Lady Bird Lake Trail (formerly known as Town Lake), which would be nice and soft on our joints. The entire run was pretty uneventful for me. I realized at about mile 6 that my nerves had been making me incredibly tense, because I was running with my shoulders up at my ear lobes. I forced myself to relax and knew immediately, from the shooting pain in my upper back, that I was going to regret not noticing and correcting myself earlier.
At about mile 12 my hip starting bothering me again, which I have since come to find out is my "peri-something" muscle in my butt. At mile 12 I felt a little discouraged because it felt like we should have been at 14 at least. But I took a Power Bar Runners Goo, hoping it would help a little. A half hour later, the Goo hit me! My body was exhausted but my mind was ready to go. At mile 16 I got really excited, ONLY 4 MILES to go! Easy, right?
Well the next 2 miles hurt a lot, we were still on the trail, but I could feel every little pebble I stepped on, and man those pebbles hurt. But suddenly, there we were, mile 18.
Now I was really excited, ONLY 2 MILES. I could do that in my sleep, 2 miles was easy and I was feeling GREAT. Okay, maybe not great, but I was still running, which I was actually pretty surprised at. With 1.5 miles to go I took off into a sprint, well, I am sure you couldn’t call it a sprint at that point, but it felt that way. I knew the finish was just up ahead and I was almost there. I had completed 20 miles. I had really done it.
I headed to Barton Springs and jumped into the 63 degree natural spring that morning and treaded water for as long as my tired muscles could stand it. Then I went home and packed for Dallas. Scooter was coming back from Houston to pick me up and take me to the Texas State Fair so that I could have my VER FIRST CORN DOG. Yes, ladies and gentleman, that is right, I had never had a corn dog. But that is a different story for a different time.
Scooter ran 15 miles that morning in Houston, and was feeling pretty good. I talked to our Coach about him and she said that studies have shown most men only have to train up to a 16 mile run (which we have both done before) in order to be able to complete 26.2 miles. Women on the other hand need to train at 18 or 20 miles to have the same results. How UNFAIR is that. Oh well.
So now we have started our “back down” or “tapering” we have just over 2 weeks until the marathon. I am really excited, as is Scooter. We are trying not to let the fact that we are $3000 short of our fundraising commitment get us too down. $3000 is worth the experience and training, or at least I keep telling myself that. Now might be a good time to make a last ditch effort for fundraising,,, HELP, we need money!! (if that doesn’t work, I don’t know what will, hahaha)
Well thank you to everyone who has donated, and everyone who has helped support us through our training. It means so much, and I can hardly believe that it is almost over. I have no idea what I am going to do with myself after October 21st. Maybe I should start thinking about the wedding.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
10 miles.....
The mileage is creeping back up and this past Saturday Stacie and I ran 10 miles at Terry Hershey park in Houston. She had come down (with the dogs) to visit me over the weekend while I was working and we were determined to get our Saturday run in before the heat! 6am start and we made a very consistent 10 minute/mile pace, only stopping for water at the fountains on the path. Overall it was a nice run, not too crowded at the beginning but as we were getting closer to the car, the amount of traffic seemed to increase.
Not to rant, but I am always amazed at the audacity of people using the trail (runners and bikers) who do not have any common courtesy. (stepping up on my soapbox and clearing throat) There are some people who, for one reason or another, need to run 3 and 4 abreast all the time. To pass these people you have to run off the trail and in the weeds. As I both ride and run, I understand that runners have the right of way on the trails but show some courtesy when being overtaken by a bike and file up until they are past. That being said it also irks me when bikers do not “announce” their intentions nor how many are in their group. I realize that these are not laws but are done out of common courtesy to fellow people who are all just trying to stay healthy while having some fun. I also realize that they are not necessary all the time when the trails are not that crowded, but on a weekend morning or weekday afternoon I feel it necessary. (stepping down)
Sorry about the rant, but it has always been something that bothers me and I am sure that I am not the first one to go on about it…..and I could have kept going on.
So back to the running……or well training. Happened upon a great single-track trail on the opposite side of the bayou where we have been running in Terry Hershey park. Checked it out yesterday and was very surprised to find how nice of a trail it was for my mountain bike cross-training. Only got to ride for 45 min because I got a late start and it was pretty well dark when I was coming out. The trail was nice, some technical spots mixed in with some nice cruising; overall a nice combo. The ride was a little wake-up call that I need to get on my bike more often than I have been, had to stop and rest a couple of times after some pretty good climbs. Check cross training off my list for this week.
Tonight is a 5 mile run which I am anticipating will go well. I am shooting for 15 miles this Saturday here in Houston. That is the full park trail from Hwy 6 to Beltway 8……Will keep you posted
Scooter
Not to rant, but I am always amazed at the audacity of people using the trail (runners and bikers) who do not have any common courtesy. (stepping up on my soapbox and clearing throat) There are some people who, for one reason or another, need to run 3 and 4 abreast all the time. To pass these people you have to run off the trail and in the weeds. As I both ride and run, I understand that runners have the right of way on the trails but show some courtesy when being overtaken by a bike and file up until they are past. That being said it also irks me when bikers do not “announce” their intentions nor how many are in their group. I realize that these are not laws but are done out of common courtesy to fellow people who are all just trying to stay healthy while having some fun. I also realize that they are not necessary all the time when the trails are not that crowded, but on a weekend morning or weekday afternoon I feel it necessary. (stepping down)
Sorry about the rant, but it has always been something that bothers me and I am sure that I am not the first one to go on about it…..and I could have kept going on.
So back to the running……or well training. Happened upon a great single-track trail on the opposite side of the bayou where we have been running in Terry Hershey park. Checked it out yesterday and was very surprised to find how nice of a trail it was for my mountain bike cross-training. Only got to ride for 45 min because I got a late start and it was pretty well dark when I was coming out. The trail was nice, some technical spots mixed in with some nice cruising; overall a nice combo. The ride was a little wake-up call that I need to get on my bike more often than I have been, had to stop and rest a couple of times after some pretty good climbs. Check cross training off my list for this week.
Tonight is a 5 mile run which I am anticipating will go well. I am shooting for 15 miles this Saturday here in Houston. That is the full park trail from Hwy 6 to Beltway 8……Will keep you posted
Scooter
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