It has been raining 4 days straight here in Greensboro. I know you do not need another weather forecast. But I've been doing some 'inside' work this week. It's not that I hate the rain, it is that I hate a cold rain. Let's face it, my moving North Carolina 20 years ago next month is due to the weather. I will put up with a few days of nastiness to stay here. I've been lucky this week, we had our BodyPump 84 launch at 2 of the 3 facilities I teach. I had much needed memorization time and the treadmill is THE place to do it. We set up our workout room at the house with a nice TV/DVD area right in front of our treadmill (Thanks, Dad & Sandy) and elliptical. I can become somewhat comatose learning the routines. An hour will fly by and I've accomplished 2 things from my to-do checklist. What did I ever do before Les Mills? Don't you just love checking things off your list?
Well, I used to watch television series on DVD's or movies from Netflix but now I even find them tedious. Sometimes I have to drive to the YMCA or the Club at Green Valley to accomplish my mileage because I get sidetracked at the house. I am the queen of procrastination sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I love to run. I've been running since 7th grade competitively, so it's easy to take an extra day off here and there. Many of my running friends don't understand how I can possibly deviate from the plan. Plan? What plan? I don't 'do' plans. Plans would make me crazy. The only plan I have this Spring is to do more speedwork. Do you hear that Pat, recover from Disney already. Okay?
This week I reconnected with a high school running friend, Kenny. He did not go to Woodward High School, he went to Richard Montgomery. Our schools were about 5 miles apart. Our 2 coaches were friends and we hung out and trained all the time. I have not seen nor heard from Kenny in almost 30 years. Kenny was my racing rock. He was the only one who understood my nervousness before each and every race no matter how small or big the race(s) was. It didn't matter if I was favored heavily, each and every race was a test and I was about to be graded. I have severe text anxiety. Kenny was who I strived to be most like. Kenny was incredibly supportive and was calm before every race. Throughout the years I have had hundreds of conversations with Kenny while I'm running and/or racing. I think mainly because it calms me down when I'm racing like a security blanket. I also think about how great it would be to introduce him to my best friend in the whole wide world; my husband Dan.
Is there someone out there you aspire to be like and they don't necessarily know it? What conversation streams through your head when you run? I couldn't be the only one who's mind wanders during a run.........
This week's workout:
ran 11 miles, 7:45 pace
ran 14 miles on treadmill, sub 7 avg. for 3 separate workouts (4.5, 4.5, 5 miles)
ran 3 recovery miles on the treadmill, 8:45 pace
30 minutes stair climber (revolving stair tread) avg 8.8 floors/min: 2717 feet.
Taught 8 BodyPump classes
Taught 1 Yoga class (I need to do this more!)
Hula Hoop 30 minute class.....Yes I did. More on that next week with my friend, Christie!
Have a great weekend, as for me I'm headed to the beach for some rest, relaxation and getting away from this snow!
Friday, January 18, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Richmond Half Marathon Recap/I'm a Myrtle Beach Half Marathon Pacer!
Happy New Year to everyone. Sorry I have been so busy I haven't had time to blog lately. That is an incredibly GOOD thing.....lots of eustress (the good stress) coarsing through my veins. I played "catch-up" for a couple of weeks after my illness. I am steadily building back my strength and stamina and I am back to the frenetic pace I've enjoyed for so many years. I have been diligent about some of my New Year's goals: Less sugar, processed foods; and More yoga, meditation. I am still working on a few. I am excited to report that I am an OFFICIAL Half Marathon Pacer for the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon in February. Here is how the story unfolds:
I competed in the American Family Fitness Half Marathon in Richmond in November. I knew I was not in my best racing shape, but I was going to give it a whirl and try to finish somewhere between 1:30:00 and 1:35:00. I had not been doing any speedwork to speak of, only miles. Miles are great, but it is the integration of miles and speedwork that has helped me be in the high 1:27's a few short years ago. I want to capture my speed back.....I will need it for my 2014 National Masters Track Meet competition in the 1500, 800 and possibly 400. Anyway, this race was really special because my Sole Sisters and I met the announcer in an elevator the night before the race and he actually gave us a shout-out before the gun went off. I was in the first wave (behind-very behind the elites) so I was able to thank him and people actually thought I was a celebrity.
The gun went off and I decided to hang with the 1:30 pace group for as long as I could and I would evaluate later in the race where I thought I could finish. Well....the pacer (shame on him) took us out on a 6:12 first mile. My Garmin strap had broken 2 days before so I decided that I would just rely on feel and my Timex since I knew I wasn't in peak form. I basically whipped my head around to him and scolded him for taking us out too fast. Many of the fellow runners were trying to hit 1:30:00 for the first time, so going out that fast is not advisable. He sheepishly claimed we were 'banking' time. Banking 43 seconds? Really? Well, I immediately slowed down so I could try and erase that whole first mile. I wished everyone good luck and hunkered down into a comfortable groove (besides the first and last mile of the race, my own body kept me within 15 seconds of each mile).
What do I think about in a race? I think of ways to trick my mind so my body can do its thing. If I can disconnect my brain from the work then I seem to perform exponentially better. I think of affirmative statements, but usually I just chat with everyone around me. 25+ years of teaching group exercise has increased my ability to talk and run. People around me usually find it endearing but sometimes I know I'm annoying. Luckily, I can read people really well and adapt :) I think.
Back to the race. I caught up to the pace group at around the 11 1/2 mile mark. I wasn't consciously trying to catch up to them, it just happened. The quick first mile was taking its toll on many in the group. I hung with them for a little while and then I noticed that I wasn't going to make the 1:30:00 if I didn't take off. I told them that if they were serious about getting 1:30:00 they needed to take off with me. I ended up with a 6:21 last mile and squeaked in at 1:30:42. The pace group was quite a bit farther back. My performance was good enough for 2nd Overall Masters Female, but they only recognized top 5 overall. I won the 45-49 age group and was pleased I was within my goal range. I can smell the 1:27's getting closer in the next 5 months. I received my award a couple of days before Christmas. It was a special gift.
After my experience at Richmond, I decided to apply to be a pacer for the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon. I looked at all the qualifications and decided that this was "right up my alley". Am I perky? Absolutely Yes. Can I talk and run? Yes times 2. Am I a motivating person? Yes times 3. Am I good at keeping a steady pace? There is a reason why many of my friends call me the Garmin Girl. I excel at keeping people at a steady pace. I like to help friends with their tempo runs during marathon training season because.......wait for it........I'm steady. I've emailed with the race organizer, Bayne, several times. I already adore her because I love her name. She has no idea of the bundle of perkiness she is about to meet.
Anyone running the Myrtle Beach race? Any interesting races on your calendars? Any unique New Year's Resolutions? Do tell me!
I competed in the American Family Fitness Half Marathon in Richmond in November. I knew I was not in my best racing shape, but I was going to give it a whirl and try to finish somewhere between 1:30:00 and 1:35:00. I had not been doing any speedwork to speak of, only miles. Miles are great, but it is the integration of miles and speedwork that has helped me be in the high 1:27's a few short years ago. I want to capture my speed back.....I will need it for my 2014 National Masters Track Meet competition in the 1500, 800 and possibly 400. Anyway, this race was really special because my Sole Sisters and I met the announcer in an elevator the night before the race and he actually gave us a shout-out before the gun went off. I was in the first wave (behind-very behind the elites) so I was able to thank him and people actually thought I was a celebrity.
The gun went off and I decided to hang with the 1:30 pace group for as long as I could and I would evaluate later in the race where I thought I could finish. Well....the pacer (shame on him) took us out on a 6:12 first mile. My Garmin strap had broken 2 days before so I decided that I would just rely on feel and my Timex since I knew I wasn't in peak form. I basically whipped my head around to him and scolded him for taking us out too fast. Many of the fellow runners were trying to hit 1:30:00 for the first time, so going out that fast is not advisable. He sheepishly claimed we were 'banking' time. Banking 43 seconds? Really? Well, I immediately slowed down so I could try and erase that whole first mile. I wished everyone good luck and hunkered down into a comfortable groove (besides the first and last mile of the race, my own body kept me within 15 seconds of each mile).
What do I think about in a race? I think of ways to trick my mind so my body can do its thing. If I can disconnect my brain from the work then I seem to perform exponentially better. I think of affirmative statements, but usually I just chat with everyone around me. 25+ years of teaching group exercise has increased my ability to talk and run. People around me usually find it endearing but sometimes I know I'm annoying. Luckily, I can read people really well and adapt :) I think.
Back to the race. I caught up to the pace group at around the 11 1/2 mile mark. I wasn't consciously trying to catch up to them, it just happened. The quick first mile was taking its toll on many in the group. I hung with them for a little while and then I noticed that I wasn't going to make the 1:30:00 if I didn't take off. I told them that if they were serious about getting 1:30:00 they needed to take off with me. I ended up with a 6:21 last mile and squeaked in at 1:30:42. The pace group was quite a bit farther back. My performance was good enough for 2nd Overall Masters Female, but they only recognized top 5 overall. I won the 45-49 age group and was pleased I was within my goal range. I can smell the 1:27's getting closer in the next 5 months. I received my award a couple of days before Christmas. It was a special gift.
After my experience at Richmond, I decided to apply to be a pacer for the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon. I looked at all the qualifications and decided that this was "right up my alley". Am I perky? Absolutely Yes. Can I talk and run? Yes times 2. Am I a motivating person? Yes times 3. Am I good at keeping a steady pace? There is a reason why many of my friends call me the Garmin Girl. I excel at keeping people at a steady pace. I like to help friends with their tempo runs during marathon training season because.......wait for it........I'm steady. I've emailed with the race organizer, Bayne, several times. I already adore her because I love her name. She has no idea of the bundle of perkiness she is about to meet.
Anyone running the Myrtle Beach race? Any interesting races on your calendars? Any unique New Year's Resolutions? Do tell me!
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