Back on Track

It's been way too long since I've updated my blog and I realize I really need to keep it current to help me stay (get back) on track. We just returned from our whirlwind vacation adventure and I want to be sure to capture the memories as best I can.

It's been difficult recovering from our trip and today I go back to work after being off for 3 weeks. That will be a drag. Hopefully however, it'll help be get on a schedule again. I'm having difficulty getting motivated after the White River 50 mile run adventure. I'm so discouraged to not be able to finish yet another ran. It was extremely tough but I should have been able to get through it. My body just doesn't want to cooperate. I think I need to go back to square one and really get my base developed. I've been reading a book called Slow Burn and hopefully it'll help me increase my endurance and stamina by going back to the basics of effective heart rate monitor training. Although I continue to use a heart rate monitor, I don't think I've been using it efficiently so back to the drawing board.

I was out trying to run this morning and realized that I don't have a goal event to work on so I think I will use Weymouth as my goal event although there are other races that I plan to do but I'll use those as training runs! We're thinking about doing a marathon in Florida in October so we can check out the Gulf side to decide if it's somewhere we might want to move to. I can't believe we're actually thinking about moving but we've concluded that there is really not much in this area that inspires us and we'd both like to be in a more active area. I'm not sure that Florida is the answer but we've got to start looking and it would be great to find an area that we like as well as one that will be easy for the kids to visit and that they'd like to visit. We'll see. In the meantime, back to training! I'm going to put together a training schedule like I used to do for marathon training and hopefully it will get me to be more consistent. I also plan on incorporating Hot Yoga and some cross-training when I can fit it in.
Stay tuned!

Summer

 

Umstead Report

My attempt at running another 100 at the Umstead 100 Endurance Run fell short. I experienced back spasms at mile 17 and after a couple of hours of ice and rest, I managed to complete 50 miles. It was important to at least accomplish that goal. I'm not 100% sure I would have been able to complete the distance although I was feeling great and the running weather was perfect. I'll never know and although I'm disappointed in not completing the race, I'm also relieved that it's over and I can move on. I need a break from all the miles I've been putting in and am not sure where to go from here. One day at a time and I will let it unfold. I'm confused and seek guidance so will be open to my inner voice. Today is going to be one one more day of rest and tomorrow I will attempt to start getting back into some type of routine. The weather is awesome, going to be record highs so hope to get the bike out soon.
I think I'll take Chico to the park this morning for a walk around the lake. That's a foot in the right direction!

Rocky 2010

 
 

Weymouth Woods 100K

This past weekend we ran the inaugural Weymouth Woods 100K in Southern Pines which is about 5 miles from home. My friend Marie Lewis was the Race Director and she did an outstanding job. My training had not gone as well as I had hoped so I did not think I'd be able to run the whole race but would use it as a training run. By the day the race came I had decided to give it my best and complete the whole 62 miles. I was feeling great (that's a relative term of course) and staying positive until we got to the end of the 11th lap. I had 3 to go, each one about 4.5 miles, and I decided I just didn't have it in me and decided to drop. No fan fare, no explanation, I had decided I was done. I told myself that 50 was enough! 50 is good isn't it? At the time I thought it was the right decision and had promised not to second guess myself however, in the light of day, I have been questioning myself. It was certainly not a bad decision as it's wasn't my goal race however, a dnf is a dnf. Now I need to figure out how to keep that little voice that tells me it's okay to quit, to SHUT UP! I also think it has a lot of do with my fear of SUCCESS! Yes, not so much my fear of failure, although I'm sure that is part of it as well, but I think it's more the fear of success. Go figure!

I refuse to beat myself up (too much anyway, a little maybe) but I do want to learn from this and use it for my next event. I know I need to train more both physically as well as mentally. It was the first ultra I've done in almost 2 years except for New River 50K in October, where I bonked but finish. By the way, I'm waiting for pictures of the "lean"!

One of my goals for the new year was to get a little more selfish and I have to figure out how to do that. It's so hard for me to put my foot down and put myself first. I am working on doing that and hopefully will figure it out soon.

New carpets installed!

Well, after two years of hating our carpets, we finally decided to bite the bullet and get them replaced. It was a LOT of work to get ready but they really look great. The best thing is that the guest room is now my workout room. We decided to not put the bed back in there for now so it's great. My Pilate's machine is set-up and ready to go as well as my free weights, yoga stuff and anything I may feel like doing! No more excuses. Now I just have to get my butt in there!
I really lucked out this afternoon cause my two clients ended up cancelling! I was sooooo happy cause I was sooooooo tired! I wasn't sure how I was going to give them a great massage. Also, my early client tomorrow had to cancel too. She broke her leg in three places! And she calls that an excuse. Oh by the way, she didn't break her leg doing any crazy trail run or anything like that, she was walking a dog!!!!! I'm just saying! Walking a dog is worse for you than running??? Can we make that leap! I think so! Anyway, hopefully tomorrow will remain slow at the spa and I'll get another day of rest. (from the spa, not from house duties)

Tomorrow I'm starting my additional cross-training workouts. I'm going to the gym at 6:45 AM for an abs class and then a 7:00 spin class and then I'll meet my friend Anne for a run at 9:00! Sounds like a perfect day! Anne will be moving back to CA in about 3 weeks. I miss her already. She's a great friend and we just get along soooo well. I already plan on going to San Diego in June to run the marathon with her.

Well, looks like I should get back to work. The house is still in shambles, but so much better than this morning. At least the furniture is back in place and the beds are made. Now we just have to go through the clothes and shoes and junk to weed them out. We have way too much junk and I don't want to just stuff it in the closet. It's a great way to clean house for sure! We'll have to have a garage sale when we're done! NOT!

Gotta Run!

OBX Marathon

I survived the OBX Marathon but it was a tough one. I never felt good out there and I guess that's because I didn't taper for the marathon as it was intended as a training run. It's a catch 22 cause I want to use the races for training runs to build up to the 100 but also want to be able to run a respectable time for the races. I'm not sure if I'll do the Derby 50K in a couple of weeks. It was not fun to feel so tired throughout the entire race. The marathon was a great event though and the support was awesome. Anne came down and met me at the halfway point and ran with me for a few miles. She actually left me at about mile 22 or so and I chased her from there. I wasn't much fun as I usually am in a training run, so I don't blame her for taking off. I just wish I could have kept up and felt better. Frank and I have also concluded that our age is a factor and it's very humbling. Factor that in with running ultras and you have a real case of slow times. I do think that running some shorted races and speedwork will help but we are older for sure and much slower. Perhaps it will be time to shorten our distance running after Umstead.
Anne texted me today to tell me that they sold their house in PInehurst and will be moving back to San Diego. I am so sad as she is a good friend and I am goin to miss her a lot. She is so much fun to be with and to do things with. I hope to get to visit her this summer and run the San Diego Marathoj with her. It'll be her first marathon and she better not beat me.