One foot in front of the other and a book review

Sometimes when I run, I start to question why it is that running is any different than walking and why it is that I don't just walk and why I run at all. After all, walking moves me forward and covers the same distance and so what if it takes a little longer. I thought it was only me. Last week I was validated, though, in the reading of a book that a friend of mine, and fellow runner, gave me titled Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All Night Runner by Dean Karnazes. This guy runs races that are 100 miles long and longer. He details his experiences on his races and gives you a great glimpse into what goes on inside his head. And thankfully, a lot if it is the same voice I hear when I run. It is a great read for both the runner and non-athelete alike.

Last week I got in a 8 mile run on Thursday, a 4 mile run on Friday, a 4 mile stroller-pushing run with my mom on Saturday ( that means a really slow run) and a 12 mile tempo run on Sunday morning. My mom has been very consistent in her running and put together a 4 mile run on Saturday and a 5.5 mile run on Sunday (her longest to date). She has caught the running bug and is doing really great. With no athletic background, she decided she wanted to get in shapte about 6 months ago. She asked me for advice and I suggested she sign up for a 1/2 marathon a this spring. She did. I grabbed her a training plan online and she has been very good about following it. She seems to be enjoying the process.

This week is another long week of training. The goal wil be to run between 36-44 miles. It's getting a bit lighter in the morning, so that should help with my morning motivation a little.

Run through Mesquite Nevada

I have had a terrible traing week in keeping up with my workouts until today. I am up in Utah for a business conference, but spent last night in Mesquite Nevada. It is the border town of Nevada and Utah and has some of the most beautiful scenery. It was cold (about 40 degrees) and the winds were gusting 30-40 mph. Add to that the hills and it should have been a tough run. But the scenery was so breathtaking that I got in four magnificent miles.
Tomorrow and Sunday I'll run 8 miles each around Saint George Utah. It is even more beautiful than Mesquite. Should be great.

Lazy Me

I woke yesterday morning at 5:30 to cold darkness and 60 mph winds. That was enough to keep me in bed and I wasn't able to make up my run last night. This morning however was just laziness. I slept through my workout. That means I get to try to makeup my run tonight at around 10. Wish me luck.

She's Killing Me

Saturday I ran 4 miles and was supposed to keep my heart rate to 80% of max. For the most part I remained patient and held that heart rate, however, ego did get the better of me at a point when I got passed. I lifted my pace to hold the guy who passed me and shot my heart rate up into the 190's. After a few minutes, I decided I shouldn't, and almost as importantly, couldn't hold onto this guy and let him go.
I got home and started to paint the inside of my house. I painted the ceilings of my dinning room and living room and entry area. Yvette said "Why don't you go ahead and finish everything tonight so that we don't have to pull out the paint again and put our house in shambles." That simple statement meant a 1:30 am bedtime for me.
When the alarm went off at 5:15 am to meet my run group at 6, I was less than happy. So I popped an ibuprofen and headed off to meet my group.
5:58 am, no one's here yet. Please stay this way so that I can go home and back to bed... my shoulders hurt, my back hurts, in fact, there's not much that doesn't hurt..... why isn'y my Motrin working???? Crap, I see headlights. Double crap, it's Jody, the girl who hurt me last Sunday.... maybe someone else will show up that is slow.... no such luck.... off we go.
11 miles later at an 8:08/ mile pace, I am spent. It felt good to run that hard and I know I am holding Jody back a bit, but in a couple of weeks, I should be able to give her a better challenge. Thanks Jody.
All in all I wrapped up a great week of training. 40 miles total.