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The old gray mare...

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Mike MacLellan
nkrichards
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Post  nkrichards Wed Nov 02, 2011 6:57 pm

Some of you know that the title of my first ever blog is the tune that my daughter hums when she comes home to visit. It's been a tough year.

Briefly...my 3rd marathon is in 6 weeks and I'm going to finish it! There have been days when I wondered. Training runs have been going better...not great but better. I'm handling the distances OK. It's the speed I've lost somewhere along the way.

My internet service has been slow, sporadic and often non-existant for the last several weeks. I'm hoping I have that situation resolved. Oh the joys of a rural lifestyle.

Farming is slowing down so I can concentrate on training, sleeping and eating well the next 6 weeks. IF my internet doesn't fail me I plan to check in often. I'll let you know how I'm doing and also spend some time catching up with all of you.

More details to follow. Thanks for being here.

Nancy
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Post  nkrichards Sat Nov 05, 2011 11:07 am

Here are the promised details...

Dec 2009 CIM 4:14:59 Hit the wall hard at mile 23

Nov 2010 Marshall Universitiy 4:06:15 Slowed slightly but much better finish

Dec 2011 Rehoboth Beach Goal is still 4:05 but I'd be happy with 4:10

It's been a tough year. I don't know if it's just old age or if there is more to it but every time I seem to start to get back on track something comes up. Last month is was a nasty cold just before I ran a half that was supposed to help me see where I was. I ended up finishing in 1:58:01...a couple minutes slower than last year but I was pleased under the circumstances.

It's COLD here in Central Oregon. I like to run when it's cold but not this cold!

The wind was howling on Wednesday so I postponed my pace run till Thursday. 10 miles @ 9:14. I wasn't able to speed up at the end like I would have liked but I was able to maintain my pace so it was a good run for me this training cycle.

Friday was a scheduled 20 miler (my second this cycle). I didn't make it.Crying or Very sad I bonked around mile 12 and at mile 15 decided to call it a day. I didn't feel comfortable doing another loop as no one else was home and to be honest I wasn't sure I could make it. I didn't think continueing under those conditions would really be helpful. I'm not sure if my legs were just not recovered from my pace run the day before...I don't normally run two days in a row...or if my nutrition was off because I waited for the temperature to warm up a bit and so ran later in the day.

I'm really struggling to figure out how to change my training...or if I should change anything...in the next 5 weeks. I also can't decide how to run this marathon and/or when/if I need to change my goals.

I was going to do a recovery run today but I think I'll scale that back and make it a recovery walk. I want to give my legs a chance to recover well.
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Post  Mike MacLellan Sat Nov 05, 2011 11:36 am

Since I'm unfamiliar with what training you've been doing up to this point, I can only comment on the 20 and the recovery run/walk:

I think you're being very smart on both accounts. You're right, once the discomfort has become misery, there's no gain to be made. Discomfort still provides its benefits once you get proper recovery... Which brings me to your run/walk. I would do just enough to get the blood flowing through your legs to clear out any toxins that might've built up as well as stimulate muscle recovery. No need to tax your body or muscles further, especially now. If you're following a "standard" training plan, you're probably heading into your two peak weeks before a 3-week taper, so you'll want to be ready for the strain of those weeks, anyway.

Good luck! Smile
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Post  nkrichards Sun Nov 06, 2011 10:27 am

Mike MacLellan wrote:Since I'm unfamiliar with what training you've been doing up to this point

Mike - I did my first marathon using Hals Novice 3 program and have since tweaked it to add some speedwork, up the mileage a bit and throw in the occasional recovery run but in general I run on MWF with a pace run on Wednesday and my long run on Friday. My old body doesn't do well running two days in a row...as I was reminded on Friday...so I do a fair bit of cross training on the other days.

Did a brisk 30 minute recovery walk yesterday and will do the same today and hopefully I'll start the week with fresher legs.
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Post  Neil Ruggiero Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:04 am

Agreed, good call to reign in the 20 miler before it caused too much damage. It could be just one of those days where you didn't have the gas in the tank, happens to all of us from time to time. Even having missed that, I don't think there is a need to change your schedule for the remaining few weeks. If you're feeling really good and think you can stretch out a long run to 20 miles, then go for it. But I'd say only make that decision around 15-18 miles into the run.
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Post  nkrichards Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:54 am

This was supposed to be a step back week. I was tempted to up my mileage to try and make up for the 20 miler that I cut short last week but I resisted the temptation.

Monday 6.5 miles with 3x1 @8:28

Wednesday 7 mile pace run...ended up at a 9:31 pace which is a bit slow

Friday (or Saturday if the wind doesn't quit blowing today) I'm scheduled for 15 miles

My husband is out of town and farming has slowed down so I took the opportunity to play this week. Friends have been encouraging me to try yoga (it was fun), try water aerobics (it was boring), and start attending the masters swim class (I love it). Those events were my cross training this week. It was nice to do something different.

I still feel like I'm struggling more days than not. I've also become a bit concerned about the frequency/amount of bloody bowel movements following my hard runs. I have an appointment with the doctor in a few days but I'm considering running the half instead of the full on Dec 10th. I want running to be fun again!

Thanks for listening...
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Post  Michele "1L" Keane Fri Nov 11, 2011 4:01 pm

All I can say, Nancy is that you need to carry some Positive Mental Attitude into the race - no self doubts, ok? Any woman who can handle a farm and training for a marathon is one tough cookie to me. Use that mantra in your race and good luck!
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Post  nkrichards Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:49 pm

Thanks Michele...I know that part of the problem is mental but I also feel like my body is growing old before I'm ready!

My 15 mile run on Saturday went OK. Even though I slowed my pace a bit I still struggled and slowed the last couple miles but I was able to finish OK.

This is a very hectic week with lots of meetings and appointments and it's going to be tough to fit my runs in but I'll do what I can and probably make a decision after I complete those runs and see the Dr. next week. I'm torn between the choice of cutting back to a half and finishing the season on a high note or attempting the full knowing that it will be a tough day for me and my family. Like it or not I'm a role model for my daughter and three little grandaughters who have just started running. I don't want them to think quitting when things get tough is OK but I also want them to realize that sometimes we have to reassess our goals and make good long term choices.

Willl keep you posted....
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Post  John Kilpatrick Thu Nov 17, 2011 9:32 am

Just following along - if running the half would be more fun then it might not be a bad move to do it? Why do something that you are sort of dreading? If you decide to do the full, I'll throw in some extra P.M.A. that Michele was offering! Hope you find the bm issue is nothing serious.

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Post  nkrichards Sun Nov 20, 2011 12:01 pm

I think the choice has been made for me. After my dog bite yesterday...and waking up this morning with a bladder infection...I'll be switching to the half. I think I can still manage a decent half and make it a fun weekend. There have just been too many issues. My husband was pretty concerned and I need his support if/when I decide to train for another marathon.

I'm disappointed but also relieved that I've made the choice.
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Post  nkrichards Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:26 pm

Ran the local Turkey Trot (10K) on Saturday. It was a hilly route and it was a bit windy but I did OK. 3rd female with a time of 55:25 but I think the course may have been a tad short. I managed the first hill OK but lost some time on the second one and then was running into the wind and couldn't make it up. It was fun and at this point that's what I need. I am getting to know some of the local runners and since it's a small community we all pretty much know each other anyway. It's a nice group of people!!!!

Ran 10:00 today in 9:29...that will be my last sorta long run. I'll get in a few more short runs before we head back to DC for the race (Rehoboth Beach half) on the 10th. My daughter-in-law was offered a beach house for the weekend by one of her co-workers so I cancelled out hotel. Should be fun. Smile
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Post  ounce Tue Nov 29, 2011 1:47 pm

I don't think so much that we're getting old, but that we're changing. Sure, we're aging but not as fast as others.
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Post  nkrichards Thu Dec 15, 2011 2:30 pm

My half went much better than expected. I ended up with 1:54:11 which is a PR for me. I still think that it was a good decision to cut back and run the half. I do think that running with my son helped but I also realized that a big part of my problem has been mental. I also think that I was pushing a bit to hard earlier in the year and ended up overtraining a bit...at least I think that's why I kept getting sick. I have an appointment with the local Physical Therapist. He's going to assess my strengths and weaknesses and help me put together a plan for some core/strength work this winter. The PT has started a monthly running clinic and the social aspect of the running community is quite a change for me. I've also joined a masters swim class that I'm really enjoying. I'll run some shorter races early in the season and do some cross training in preparation for the local triathlon in September. If all goes well I'll look for a late fall marathon and give it another shot. Laughing

Thanks for listening...sorry I don't have time to participate in the forum more.

Nancy
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