Saturday, May 23, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
I came, I ran, I conqured
This past Saturday our team was scheduled to run at Lake Chabot. Specifically, I was scheduled to run 12-14 miles there. The thing is... Lake Chabot and I are like water and oil. We just don't mix well. Lake Chabot is a very hilly course around a very pretty lake. Before last weekend, I had 2 failed attempts to "Do the Damn Thing" there which failed. Miserably.
During Spring season last year, we ran there when I was only just getting over a cold. After 3 short miles I almost passed out and had to sit in my car with my head between my legs to keep from fainting.
During Fall season... well... I happened to miss the Lake Chabot run ;)
Then, this season one of our early runs was there. I think I was supposed to run 8-10 miles... but alas, only completed 4, 2 of which I had to walk because I was having bad knee problems.
So, you can imagine I was not to excited to take on Lake Chabot on Saturday. I assumed it was a cursed place that I was never ever meant to try to run again. And to top off the fear of the course, my trusty weather.com told me it was going to be hot on Saturday. BARF.
Hot + Lizzie = BAD
Hills + Lizzie = BAD
Lake Chabot + Lizzie = BAD
Hot + Hills + Lake Chabot + Lizzie = ????
So, thankfully upon arriving to the course bright and early on Saturday, we were notified that because of the impending heat, we should run 10-12 miles instead of 12-14.
Ok, so I knew I had the first 4 miles down. I had done them before. Nothing new to throw me for a loop. The water stop was manned by Rod and Besty, 2 team members who were racing the next day. Their support was AWESOME. Loved the cowbell. So after the 2 miles out, and 2 miles back, I started to run through uncharted territory... IT WAS GORGEOUS! I finally figured out why Mama Lisa always raves about Lake Chabot. The next 2 miles were shaded, there were waterfalls, I saw a banana slug... and again another awesome water stop manned by Lisa, Lupita and Kim!
Then came the extreme hills. OH DAMN. I really did not think we could run any higher and then I turned a corner and more uphill! It was killer, and I won't lie, I walked some of the uphills. Then I came to a fork in the road. Go right if you are running 8 miles, left if you are running 10. I went left. That's when I hit the worst of the trail. It was all these crazy up and down hills. Up. Down. Up. Down. UGH. My mental toughness was wearing on me especially since it was really starting to heat up outside. But of course TNT always comes through just when you need them. I ran into a bunch of the team coming back from the water stop and we all cheered each other on. It was just the boost I needed to get me to the water stop. And Lori was there! YAY! So we chatted a bit. I chugged a bunch of gatorade and ate some pretzels. Then it was back to the run. And those damn hills. I have to say, when I got back to the fork in the road I was wishing I had gone right from the beginning. Because then there was more uphill. At this point I was starting to hate running in general. To top it off, the song that was stuck in my head was "If you seek Amy." UGH.
BUT, finally, FINALLY, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. DOWNHILL! Yes, the last 2 miles was all downhill. It was glorious. Running downhill even created a bit of a fake breeze that helped combat the blaring heat from above. And the views were phenominal. It was at this point that I realized the Seattle Marathon was going to be A-OK. Because 1) it shouldnt be so dang hot there and 2) they recently changed the course at the end so the last 6 miles are flat/downhill, just like these were. SWEET. By the time I got to the end of the run I was ready for it to be over. But, in the back of my head I knew I probably could have gone for a few more miles were it not so hot out.
So, that is right folks. While half of the run was awful and makes me never want to run Lake Chabot again, I still came, I ran, and I did the damn thing. Then I put my feet in the kiddy pool and ate a bunch of Rebecca's ooey gooey PB&J's. Heaven.
During Spring season last year, we ran there when I was only just getting over a cold. After 3 short miles I almost passed out and had to sit in my car with my head between my legs to keep from fainting.
During Fall season... well... I happened to miss the Lake Chabot run ;)
Then, this season one of our early runs was there. I think I was supposed to run 8-10 miles... but alas, only completed 4, 2 of which I had to walk because I was having bad knee problems.
So, you can imagine I was not to excited to take on Lake Chabot on Saturday. I assumed it was a cursed place that I was never ever meant to try to run again. And to top off the fear of the course, my trusty weather.com told me it was going to be hot on Saturday. BARF.
Hot + Lizzie = BAD
Hills + Lizzie = BAD
Lake Chabot + Lizzie = BAD
Hot + Hills + Lake Chabot + Lizzie = ????
So, thankfully upon arriving to the course bright and early on Saturday, we were notified that because of the impending heat, we should run 10-12 miles instead of 12-14.
Ok, so I knew I had the first 4 miles down. I had done them before. Nothing new to throw me for a loop. The water stop was manned by Rod and Besty, 2 team members who were racing the next day. Their support was AWESOME. Loved the cowbell. So after the 2 miles out, and 2 miles back, I started to run through uncharted territory... IT WAS GORGEOUS! I finally figured out why Mama Lisa always raves about Lake Chabot. The next 2 miles were shaded, there were waterfalls, I saw a banana slug... and again another awesome water stop manned by Lisa, Lupita and Kim!
Then came the extreme hills. OH DAMN. I really did not think we could run any higher and then I turned a corner and more uphill! It was killer, and I won't lie, I walked some of the uphills. Then I came to a fork in the road. Go right if you are running 8 miles, left if you are running 10. I went left. That's when I hit the worst of the trail. It was all these crazy up and down hills. Up. Down. Up. Down. UGH. My mental toughness was wearing on me especially since it was really starting to heat up outside. But of course TNT always comes through just when you need them. I ran into a bunch of the team coming back from the water stop and we all cheered each other on. It was just the boost I needed to get me to the water stop. And Lori was there! YAY! So we chatted a bit. I chugged a bunch of gatorade and ate some pretzels. Then it was back to the run. And those damn hills. I have to say, when I got back to the fork in the road I was wishing I had gone right from the beginning. Because then there was more uphill. At this point I was starting to hate running in general. To top it off, the song that was stuck in my head was "If you seek Amy." UGH.
BUT, finally, FINALLY, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. DOWNHILL! Yes, the last 2 miles was all downhill. It was glorious. Running downhill even created a bit of a fake breeze that helped combat the blaring heat from above. And the views were phenominal. It was at this point that I realized the Seattle Marathon was going to be A-OK. Because 1) it shouldnt be so dang hot there and 2) they recently changed the course at the end so the last 6 miles are flat/downhill, just like these were. SWEET. By the time I got to the end of the run I was ready for it to be over. But, in the back of my head I knew I probably could have gone for a few more miles were it not so hot out.
So, that is right folks. While half of the run was awful and makes me never want to run Lake Chabot again, I still came, I ran, and I did the damn thing. Then I put my feet in the kiddy pool and ate a bunch of Rebecca's ooey gooey PB&J's. Heaven.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
UPDATE!
I've been lagging on my blogging. SORRY! So now I shall try to catch you all up. First, I have a long overdue shout out to the following people for being donating rock stars! A huge 
So, how is the training going? Well, I just came back from a great track workout this evening. Mama Lisa has been attending the evening track workouts and her enthusiasm is def welcome after a long day at work. Today we ran 3 miles at our marathon goal pace. Seeing how every at track tonight was goo-gobs faster than me, I only ran 2.5 miles so they didn't have to wait for me to finish. But I rocked it! I ran about a 12:30 pace when usually I run about 13:20. Holla!
Thus far in training, my longest run was 15 miles. 15 miles! That is insane, right? Basically every weekend from now until race day I will be running well over half marathons. However, it is not going to be easy. While my 15 mile run 3 weeks ago felt pretty good, last weekend I was supposed to run 15-17 miles. My goal was 16. The first 8 miles were great, I was feeling strong... but then around mile 10 it all started to get hard. My left knee was getting stiff. The new gu I was trying wasn't sitting so well. And the song I had stuck in my head, Pussycat Dolls "I Hate This Part," started to get really annoying. So I pushed myself to go 14 miles. The last 2 were a strugle I was not expecting. I had to start making goals along the course. "If I can make it to the tree over there, I can walk for a minute." "If I can run to that water stop, I can stop and take a breather." Then, at the very end Michelle and Devina were cheering me on which got my adrenaline going. THEN, David was at the finish screaming my name and running me into the end with a high five. THAT is why I run with Team in Training. As the support is truly amazing and always seems to be there when you need it the most.
So that is where I am at now. This weekend we are running with the SF and Diablo Valley team in Mill Valley. It will be nice to have a change of scenery. Seattle full runners are only supposed to go 8-10 miles, but I think I will aim for 12 since I was lagging a bit last weekend. Plus, I think I finally got my gu fomula down and am going to stick with Raspberry Hammer Gel. Mmmmm. It tastes like jam.
Thanks again to everyone who has donated and everyone who continues to send their well wishes. You guys rock!
(I make it look easy, don't I?)
to the following people...
Megan Neureuter
Dara Keenan
Robert Keenan
Henry Gordon Rosenblum
Chalotte Ono
Shannon Cleary
Microsoft
Mari Cobb
Katherine Duncan
Jessica Salomon
Rebecca Morgan
Shirley Turnbull
Susan Munn
Rachel Mason
Kristy Siefkin
Starsky Cheng
and everyone who came to my ice cream party!
Dara Keenan
Robert Keenan
Henry Gordon Rosenblum
Chalotte Ono
Shannon Cleary
Microsoft
Mari Cobb
Katherine Duncan
Jessica Salomon
Rebecca Morgan
Shirley Turnbull
Susan Munn
Rachel Mason
Kristy Siefkin
Starsky Cheng
and everyone who came to my ice cream party!
So, how is the training going? Well, I just came back from a great track workout this evening. Mama Lisa has been attending the evening track workouts and her enthusiasm is def welcome after a long day at work. Today we ran 3 miles at our marathon goal pace. Seeing how every at track tonight was goo-gobs faster than me, I only ran 2.5 miles so they didn't have to wait for me to finish. But I rocked it! I ran about a 12:30 pace when usually I run about 13:20. Holla!
Thus far in training, my longest run was 15 miles. 15 miles! That is insane, right? Basically every weekend from now until race day I will be running well over half marathons. However, it is not going to be easy. While my 15 mile run 3 weeks ago felt pretty good, last weekend I was supposed to run 15-17 miles. My goal was 16. The first 8 miles were great, I was feeling strong... but then around mile 10 it all started to get hard. My left knee was getting stiff. The new gu I was trying wasn't sitting so well. And the song I had stuck in my head, Pussycat Dolls "I Hate This Part," started to get really annoying. So I pushed myself to go 14 miles. The last 2 were a strugle I was not expecting. I had to start making goals along the course. "If I can make it to the tree over there, I can walk for a minute." "If I can run to that water stop, I can stop and take a breather." Then, at the very end Michelle and Devina were cheering me on which got my adrenaline going. THEN, David was at the finish screaming my name and running me into the end with a high five. THAT is why I run with Team in Training. As the support is truly amazing and always seems to be there when you need it the most.
So that is where I am at now. This weekend we are running with the SF and Diablo Valley team in Mill Valley. It will be nice to have a change of scenery. Seattle full runners are only supposed to go 8-10 miles, but I think I will aim for 12 since I was lagging a bit last weekend. Plus, I think I finally got my gu fomula down and am going to stick with Raspberry Hammer Gel. Mmmmm. It tastes like jam.
Thanks again to everyone who has donated and everyone who continues to send their well wishes. You guys rock!
(I make it look easy, don't I?)
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