My four days in San Diego went really well, running wise. It was a nice change to be able to run in shorts and short sleeves. Because of the conference schedule and the increased southern light, I got to sleep in until 6:15 and was out running by 6:30. I'm normally up and out an hour earlier here at home. On Tuesday, about 5 minutes into the run, another runner introduced herself. We were both conference attendees and decided to run together. Michelle was a faster runner than me, but I managed to keep up. We ran 7 miles (she had mapped it out) in 59 minutes which is pretty fast for me. We met again on Wednesday morning, but Michelle was suffering from a tummy bug, so she only ran for 30 minutes. I added on another 20 minutes by myself for approximately 5 miles total. On Thursday I managed 40 minutes/4 miles on my own since Michelle had an early flight. So despite my descending runs...60-50-40 minutes...I feel pretty good about that. It's amazing how drained you can get at these conferences just from sitting around all day.
Last weekend, back at home, I stuck to the roads and logged 6 miles on Saturday, 14 mile on Sunday. Nothing of note to report, except that I managed to finish my Sunday run just before the big storm hit. The last 30 minutes were in heavy rain, but the winds were still light. Fortunately, that storm, which has caused major flooding around the area, wasn't too bad for Portland.
Today I met up with Olga, Adrien, Mike, Bret and Gail for a run on Wildwood. Bret and Gail were running 2 hrs, but Olga, Adrien and Mike were aiming for 5 hrs. I needed to get back for a cookie exchange party so had to cut my run short at 20 miles, which I completed in under 4 hours (actually 20.5 in 3:51:46 to be precise). We ran the out and back from Germantown Rd to Newberry Rd and then out and back the other direction on Wildwood. Since we had use of our vehicles as aid stations, I opted to carry a handheld and wore my new Nathan vest to carry my gels. I still love the Nathan Intensity hydration pack. But since my mishap at the Timberline marathon, I plan to use handhelds at races from now on, so need to keep practicing. Funny how they still feel uncomfortable at time on training runs, but I carried one for 10 hours at Autumn Leaves and it didn't bother me a bit. I guess I had other things to focus on.
It was a beautiful day for a run. Clear and cool, but not too cold as long as we kept moving. It took me most of the first out and back to feel my groove. I then ran my strongest on the out portion of the second section. I was starting to ache on the final return, but tried to keep the momentum. I didn't check my watch to see if I was keeping a steady pace, but I'm pretty happy about my overall 11:18 pace. Somehow I've gained some speed over the past few months. Not sure how since I don't really train.....I just run. : ) But I'm sure running with faster runners helps. My pace on long road runs has consistently been in the 9 min/mile pace (where it used to be in the 10 min/mile range). And my pace on long trail runs has consistently been in the 11 min/mile range, down from over 12. Now I just need to do that in a race! : ) Anyway, big thanks to Olga for inviting me along on her runs. Its been a big help to me. And its nice to feel like I belong to a group. : )
By the next day, I'm usually recovered well from my long runs. But I'm often dead tired the afternoon of. I like to relax and believe it or not, I consider myself lazy. But today I didn't have time to rest because of the previously mentioned cookie party. So after the run I stopped at Starbucks for a venti coffee and back home had just enough time for a shower before I was off on the 35 minute drive to my gig. In case you're wondering, these are the cookies I made for the party:
Last weekend, back at home, I stuck to the roads and logged 6 miles on Saturday, 14 mile on Sunday. Nothing of note to report, except that I managed to finish my Sunday run just before the big storm hit. The last 30 minutes were in heavy rain, but the winds were still light. Fortunately, that storm, which has caused major flooding around the area, wasn't too bad for Portland.
Today I met up with Olga, Adrien, Mike, Bret and Gail for a run on Wildwood. Bret and Gail were running 2 hrs, but Olga, Adrien and Mike were aiming for 5 hrs. I needed to get back for a cookie exchange party so had to cut my run short at 20 miles, which I completed in under 4 hours (actually 20.5 in 3:51:46 to be precise). We ran the out and back from Germantown Rd to Newberry Rd and then out and back the other direction on Wildwood. Since we had use of our vehicles as aid stations, I opted to carry a handheld and wore my new Nathan vest to carry my gels. I still love the Nathan Intensity hydration pack. But since my mishap at the Timberline marathon, I plan to use handhelds at races from now on, so need to keep practicing. Funny how they still feel uncomfortable at time on training runs, but I carried one for 10 hours at Autumn Leaves and it didn't bother me a bit. I guess I had other things to focus on.
It was a beautiful day for a run. Clear and cool, but not too cold as long as we kept moving. It took me most of the first out and back to feel my groove. I then ran my strongest on the out portion of the second section. I was starting to ache on the final return, but tried to keep the momentum. I didn't check my watch to see if I was keeping a steady pace, but I'm pretty happy about my overall 11:18 pace. Somehow I've gained some speed over the past few months. Not sure how since I don't really train.....I just run. : ) But I'm sure running with faster runners helps. My pace on long road runs has consistently been in the 9 min/mile pace (where it used to be in the 10 min/mile range). And my pace on long trail runs has consistently been in the 11 min/mile range, down from over 12. Now I just need to do that in a race! : ) Anyway, big thanks to Olga for inviting me along on her runs. Its been a big help to me. And its nice to feel like I belong to a group. : )
By the next day, I'm usually recovered well from my long runs. But I'm often dead tired the afternoon of. I like to relax and believe it or not, I consider myself lazy. But today I didn't have time to rest because of the previously mentioned cookie party. So after the run I stopped at Starbucks for a venti coffee and back home had just enough time for a shower before I was off on the 35 minute drive to my gig. In case you're wondering, these are the cookies I made for the party:
So I didn't get to nap, but I got to eat a lot of good food, including many cookies. I still haven't come down from my sugar high....
16 comments:
Shorts and short sleeves?!? I'm so jealous!!! I'm stuck in freezing MN!!
Sarah, you are doing awesome on your runs! In fact, you snapped me out of funk when you turned around, so thanks:) You are always welcome to run with us, and this is what I like - we get together, and then after some time split up for our respective paces and miles, and nobody feels left out, but we are still a group. Not to mention, may times I wouldn't get out that early or even at all, and would run that far as I proposed:) I will keep you posted.
Great job on your runs!! and dang those cookies look so YUMMY:-) do u do mail orders--lol
have a great week!!
Sarah, good to see you're out of your "blogger funk". I really enjoy reading your stories.
I'm headed to San Diego in February for a firefighter convention and plan to do some runs. Any suggestions? Sounds like you stuck to the roads which would be fine. I'm training for Big Sur Marathon.
Sarah,
Sounds like a fun trip (shorts & short sleeves?) and a good weekend. I love and dread cookie exchanges. A lot of work to prep, a lot of cookies to eat - which I do quite well!
Sounds like some decent running in San Diego and another great run on Wildwood. It is definitely a huge benefit to run with faster runners.
This is the 3rd cookie exchange party I've heard of. You're so dedicated to your runs. I need to start running again myself. No cookie parties for me but I've eaten some of the food gifts that I've bought:) So hard, they right there, in their wrappers looking all good and tasty. Now I have to go back to the store.
Good for you to find a way to run at the conference...not easy to do, at all.
Great post...great runs. Yes, the base is helping the speed...good for you!!
Sunny warm weather?? What, where, how?? Haha! Mi goodness you are getting very speedy and building some major endurance power! You might find me begging you to scrape me off the pavement this weekend, to bring me back to the finish! Seriously, actually feeling a bit nervous now...I think I'm going to be in for a surprise, haven't been running consistently at all.
By any chance, you think you can bake and bring some of those tasty looking cookies!? :)
What an awesome place to run - glad you're able to enjoy it.
I love those Christmas cookies with the kiss in the middle - they were my grandma's favorite ones to make.
They're also really good with the miniature peanut butter cups stuffed in the middle of the cookie. :)
mmmmmmmm, chocolate and peanut butter. We make those every year for Christmas, too.
too cool that you have such a great community to run with!
and mmm...cookies....
It’s been awhile….I see things are going well! We just got dumped with a ton of snow here in New England so running in that sunny warm weather sounds really enticing, glad you’re out there enjoying it. Going home for some cookies after a 20mile run sounds good to me….keep going strong!
Cheers & happy holidays
4:18 @ Christmas? Wow you smokin' these days! Nice race Sarah!
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