Back to the Future

Michele, even when you're not trying really hard, you place really well, nice job. I think you have your pace, looks like 8:00/mile.

See you at the starting line for a 3:30

The key is endurance not pace - remember my goal is to run 3:53 or faster as that equates to my first "official" Boston time set 25 yrs ago. I'm very scared of the "crash and burn" since it hurts a lot more at my age than it did at 25.

I have no doubt that you'll meet/exceed your Boston goal. And how cool that it'll be 25 years after you officially did that the first time. My goodness...that's so inspirational!

Another week in the books and I felt much better this week than the last couple. No speed due to the half marathon, but some real solid workouts. The weather continues to be bi-polar with temps in the low 40s one morning and then 70 the next. Friday we were supposed to get these awesome storms, but rather than showing up here (I believe they got them south of us), it was 70F and 98% humidity at 7 am. We set out and ran our 14 miles with the first 9 at 9 min pace and the last 5 at 8:30 pace. I was shocked that we nailed it due to the humidity and the fact that I looked like I had gone swimming not running! Did get in a solid 47 miles for the week.

As for the house, the contract is official and we actually managed to not lose too much after the inspection. Love the way the inspector tells the buyer to watch the cracks in the basement (back unfinished area) as they are from settling (the house is 41 yrs old) and could be a problem - ah when? Or tells them that the hot water takes 5 min to warm up and they need a recirculation system - ah there is one which is microprocessor controlled an not recirculating at 3 pm, but can be set to what ever cycles you want. Of course, after the contract is settled and signed, the garage door springs and opener fail, so I had to get that repaired yesterday. At least the buyers are letting my daughter and I pay rent until June 15th (we will be gone on the 12th for college orientation) and they are interested in purchasing some of my furniture (I'm downsizing from over 4800 sq ft to 1900).

So glad the house sale all worked out the way you wanted it to! I know several folks who have moved but still have a house they are trying to sell in another state.

We've had weird weather here, too. Snow at the beginning of last week, 70+ by the end of the week. In between were the thunderstorms.

Emerging from lurking. You have a lot going on!

Weather has been bipolar here, too, but I'm lucky to not have to deal with the humidity. Nice 14 miler!

4800+?! Man, I've gotta get out of California someday...

So how do utilities compare between Cleveland and Atlanta?

Got to love an inspector that knows his shit.

Liz R wrote:Emerging from lurking. You have a lot going on!

Liz - so nice to see you. I'm back to Cleveland soon which I think you knew.

Mike MacLellan wrote:Weather has been bipolar here, too, but I'm lucky to not have to deal with the humidity. Nice 14 miler!

4800+?! Man, I've gotta get out of California someday...

Hence why I said no to California. 4800+ in Atlanta is still cheap

ounce wrote:So how do utilities compare between Cleveland and Atlanta?

Got to love an inspector that knows his shit.

Actually Cleveland is only more expensive than Atlanta in terms of property taxes as for the rest it is about a wash. I attribute that to a more depressed and blue collar economy.

Yeah, I knew. And now the time has come to do it. It will be nice to have snow and cooler weather. I still miss it.

KathyK wrote:I have no doubt that you'll meet/exceed your Boston goal. And how cool that it'll be 25 years after you officially did that the first time. My goodness...that's so inspirational!

I agree with Kathy! Very inspirational!

I'm getting a bit concerned that I'm headed over into the abyss. After several months (actually a year) of solid training and racing, I feel like I'm teetering on the edge. First the strange leg thing about 3 wks ago which is still there occasionally, then a few really bad runs, and now this nasty cold that I cannot seem to fully shake that has been messing with my running the last few days. I know we all have set backs, but as everyone keeps reminding me, Boston is only 6 wks away and I'm not feeling good like I did before NYC. I seemed to have had only one bad run in that lead up to the marathon, and this cycle, lately, it seems like they have all been not so good for the last week or so. Monday I aborted a speedwork out as I just wasn't up for it with my head cold. Then today, I attempted the same workout I nailed a few weeks ago of 2 x 4 miles at 7:45 pace only to fade hard in the last 2 miles and actually pulled up about 0.75 miles short and jogged it in. The first repeats were 7:43, 7:42, 7:32 and 7:28 and the next two (after a mile at 8:40) where 7:42 and 7:38 but then the wheels came off, the cold kicked in, and a nasty headwind just sucked the rest of any energy out of me and the next two were 7:55 and 8:23. I know I'm just whining, but I need to vent, so I am.

Here's to hoping this weeks 20 is ok on Friday. Send some positive vibes, south - ok?????????

Let's see, your goal pace was 7:45 and every single mile was under that. Including 2 that were -15sec. That's the difference between a cruise interval and a tempo interval. Plus a cold? No wonder you faded. I'm reminded of what Chris said sometime over the summer/last year: if you're not really pushing to finish a few of your workouts near the end of your training cycle, you're going too easy.

Are you doing a cutback week after your 20? Might be something to think about: cutback, 2 week peak, 3 week taper, race.

Please step away from the ledge! You're describing a lot of the same ways I was feeling in the lead up to Chicago last year that I decided to ignore and push through and you see where that got me! Ease up for a few weeks and recover, if you're still running you're not going to lose much fitness, especially with the solid base you've built up over the years.

Thanks guys! Yes, I am taking a step back week after my 20; however, there is also a half marathon tagged onto the end of that week on the 18th. Of course, that is not really to be "raced" only either MP or a tempo effort like the last one. I then have Cherry Blossom 10 miler on the 1st which I hope to race, and then a good taper to Boston. I'm planning another 20-21 on the 23rd.

Michele you are way to way to way to sweet! You didn't have to do that Lisa and I are so so touched! Thank you so much from Lisa and me.


Can't wait to see you in a few weeks. We will have to talk about JFK, maybe we can swing by and pick you up.


Again thank you so much!!!!

Head Cold? The viruses much be Boston selective. I've been battling one for a week and a half. It's eased a little, but still having cough and sniffles. I've only missed one day from it, but actually flip flopped my usual off day. The wild temperature swings is what usually messes my sinuses up, but for me it hardly ever morphs into a full blown cold until this year. Sounds like you are handling it the best you possibly can, hang in there, a little extra rest might be all you need if you can find the time for some extra sleep.

Are you feeling any better today, Michele?
It's sooo frustrating to have a cold that interferes with what you want to get done.
(resisting the urge to turn into "Mom" and tell you to rest and drink lots of fluids... )

Thanks all. Much better run this morning, but then again, it was only a quick 6. Tomorrow I'm supposed to run 20, but it is expected to be miserable weather (rain). Of course, they have predicted this for the last three Fridays in a row and we have been missed each time - so we will see.

So the rain was gone by 7:30 and I set out to run 20. No whining today as all went very well including tossing in a few hills in miles 10-16.5 (if I knew how to post the data from Garmin Connect, I would). Overall time: 3:02:41, so I met my goal of 9 min miles even with the climbs. I really had no intention of running the 20 when I decided to go out, and I even wore brand new shoes right out of the box. So much for not listening to ones own advice.

Clearly, you've shown that head cold who's boss!
Have a great weekend!

You get the idea - you just need to tinker with it to get the hang of it.
Nice 20!

Glad to see you haven't gone over the ledge. I think you are training so hard, and the cold is what pushed you a bit over. With that hopefully behind you, and an easier week, here's hoping you feel better. Still, 5-6 six weeks out is pretty peak training so it's expected you will feel beat-up some.