2, 4, 6...9

My big challenge today was not only completing the 9 miles, but trying to get the 200-300 calories/hour recommended by coaches and my reading material, alike.
My plan was to eat a gel (I chose Clif Shots) on the even miles and make an executive decision on mile 8, since there would only be 1 mile left, to eat or not eat my last 100 calories. (I did shoot for the lower end of the calorie range.)

On mile 2 I had the strawberry flavored gel, it has 50 mg of caffeine, BONUS! I took it and kept running. At about 2.6 I was at my "aid station" on my porch drinking my Nuun. I took my chocolate flavored gel on mile 4, it was thick like pudding. I was back at my station a bit after 5 miles, downing more Nuun. Took the mocha flavored one (50 mg more of caffeine) again pudding thick and that was it. I didn't take the last shot, more because I was focusing on mind over bladder than nutrition. I ended up walking a bit of mile 8 trying to keep from wetting myself.

Once I was back at home, I ran in then peed, drank some Nuun, and shoved off to finish the remainder of mile 9.

All in all this was a great run for me. I loved, and I do mean LOVED, miles 3-7.

Some Random Musings:

I've found my new favorite recovery meal, fajitas. Mmm fajitas. I still like a great PB and J, but for the points, I think I get more for my "buck" with the fajitas. I should have taken a picture to show you all.

Salt. I didn't realize that the grit I had on my face and body was actual salt/mineral granules. I thought it was dirt or grime. With the amount of salt that I produce, I bet I could scrape it on to some filter paper, rinse it over a beaker, dry it and use it at my kitchen table and not buy salt for the season. I produce that much salt, I feel.

I have an M dot tattoo. Well, it's really a bruise and more of a V dot than an M dot (squint and get yourself in the mind of someone wanting to see Jesus or Mary in an oil stain on the side of a tunnel), but I'm wondering if it's a sign. I tried to take pictures, but the light didn't pick it up well.

Maybe I'm reaching.

My First True Brick

First, let's just acknowledge the elephant in the room. If you look to your left there is a subtly titled widget asking if you'd like to donate to a great cause, the Susan G. Komen foundation for breast cancer research. On Saturday, May 10th, I will be running in Sacramento to support this cause. My Aunt's hospital actually has a mobile mammography and examination RV thing that was funded by this foundation. It's a cause that near (figuratively and literally) and dear to my heart. So give to me, or give to your local chapter. Besides, I'll probably be hitting you up for another donation sometime soon (has anyone done a Team in Training event?). On to bricks.


Sunday's TriDiva training was all about hill repeats and wobbly legs. The hill repeats were hard, but I had done them before because we used the trail by my house. As I said in a previous post, I'm a lazy athlete, why disassemble and reassemble my bike for an easy flat ride, when I can ride hills?

We did a total of 3 hill repeats with the first one as a warm up and the remaining 2 were timed. They told us the first one would be the worst, and it was. I took 12:44 for the first repeat and 11:36 for the second. I coasted too much on the not so steep parts on my first way up and wanted a better time. It's good to know that my choice of places to cycle is a good one.

After we (the sprinters) did our 3 hill repeats we were off for a run. She told us peeps new to running after biking to go 5 minutes out and 5 minutes back and to the experienced peeps, go 10 out and 10 back. Of course Stacy and I, to whom running is old hat (please cover your snickers with your hand), decided to do the 10 out and back.

My legs didn't feel as wobbly as everyone else said. Maybe I'm not pushing myself hard enough on my bike? I also had a relatively fast pace on my 20 minute run. I felt good enough at the end of the day to attempt another 2 miles run (notice I said attempt, I only ran about 1.5 miles and was on the lookout for rattlesnakes the whole time). In fact, after I ate a big, not necessarily good for me, recovery breakfast, I went home and took a nap. The second run was to loosen up my stiff legs, and it worked.

Yes, sometimes even I think I'm crazy.

Ch,Ch, Ch, Chi Running

But chia pets are much cuter...

Yes I know, long time, no post. Before we start talking about running, here's the skinny: UPS was correct with their estimated delivery date, the package did arrive on Tuesday, 4/29. I think Tammy talked to her bro and made this happen, or maybe it was on a truck heading straight from TN to the west coast. More about that later.

On to running, or on to Chi Running to be more specific.

Wednesday was track training with the TriDivas and I was really excited. One of the lady's is being trained by Master ChiRunning Coach Kathy and Coach Martha invited Kathy to our running session, to give us a mini lecture on ChiRunning and how to apply the basics.

I had bought this book last year, before I got hit with my IT band issues and stopped running for ~2 months. It looked really interesting, but I couldn't tell if I was doing it right, and eventually, whilst injured, lent the book a friend and I haven't asked for it back yet. So I was excited to see if I could take what I read in the book, with some show and tell from Kathy and start practicing this concept.

It's deceptively easy sounding. Lean forward, pick up your feet behind you, use your core to power yourself. It's a lot to think about when you run.

On to our track workout. Like on Sunday, we did intervals. Run 2 minutes (maybe it was 1 minute?), strides (sprints almost) 30 sec, recover (walk) 30 sec, repeat. I didn't count how many of these we did. We took a break then did a bit longer intervals. Run 3 minutes, strides 30 sec, recover 30 sec, repeat a total of 4 times. I did note my HR after each stride and noticed my max HR reached went down by 10 BPM. I don't know if it was do to the ChiRunning techniques I was trying to implement or the fact that we weren't running up and down hills in 90+ degree weather.

I tried it again on my 5 miler yesterday. Ran the same route I always do, with a little detour as I was warned about a big rattle snake on the trail, so I ran the streets of the neighborhood instead. I ran about the same pace I usually do, 11-11:30/mile. My HR was still lower than it usual. Maybe it is easier on my body. I may call up this lady, with a few other TriDivas, and get a running session from her.

My review of the sportband so far: meh but fun.

I tried it out Tuesday when I got it and it needed calibration, badly. It was about 1/2 a mile off after running 2 miles as indicated by my garmin. I, however, was sportband loadingtarded and wasn't able to calibrate it. Ran with it yesterday, 5 miles, it was over 1 mile off my garmin. Was able to calibrate it this time, but not before it uploaded my run. I figured it was okay for the WeWa challenge as I had deleted my 2 mile run from Tuesday. You can't reload those runs after you delete them, you know. When you read the FAQ about deleting your runs, it says nothing about not being able to reload them. So the meh is more about using the software than the system itself. I will report back on what happens Saturday with my 9 mile run and the calibration.

One thing about the calibration, it mentions to run a known distance with a relatively steady pace. My pace did vary from a bit faster than 11:30/mile to a bit slower than 11:30/mile. This could have factored into the distance error.