I didn’t want to run with any other humans today. When Mark’s email was delivered to ask if I was planning to run solo or with company, I responded to say “solo.” Garminia took a well-earned rest day as well. Her energy was totally exhausted from yesterday’s run and I suppose that I neglected to give her the energy refueling that is so critical in marathon training. Today, Garminia just sat on my wrist and quietly went along for the run. I was not alone though; I had “myPod” with me today. In primitive fashion, myPod kept the time AND entertained my with some of my newer tunes. I ran without the luxury of Garminia keeping my pace, and that was a nice change. Today, I simply ran and enjoyed the entertaining tunes and scenery. It was great.
Finding a Little Separation
In today’s earlier post, I noted that my marathon training didn’t seem as focused as my training was for Grandma’s. I expressed concern, and rightfully so. My focus and motivation takes my running from just something that I do to the point where I can push a bit harder and consistently to the end. I will always love running (even on the days when I don’t feel much like running).
But work has been hard for me lately. It has been hard for everyone left at the old company. We are looking for direction, focus, and motivation. They are lacking and it can be hard to sift through the rubble of our deconstructed company and escape from the soot for my training. When I go outside for my runs, I want to leave it all behind and not carry it on my shoulders during my training. I have to separate my work from my personnal life (from my parenting, running, and interactions with anonymous).
I managed to have that separation today, at least for a little while. Mark and I did Yasso 800s as planned. It was great. My mind only wandered off a little bit. Mostly, I stayed focused.
1.3 mile warm-up: 11:33
3:50 minute recoveries (jog/easy run)
1.32 mile cool-down 11:45
1/2 mile intervals*:
(1) 3:41
(2) 3:55
(3) 3:41
(4) 3:46
(5) 3:43
* I didn’t program the distance interval (left it open) so these times are based on mile pace divided by 2 for those intervals where the distance exceeded 0.5 miles. Average pace for 7.01 mile run = 8:35/mile.
Shifting Gears
My training for the California International Marathon (CIM) has supposedly been my focus. It has felt as though I am just going through the motions, however. I say this only because I have been comparing it to my training for Grandma’s Marathon where the training felt so intense and focused. I’m already seven weeks into this training program and it still feels like maintenance running. There’s no intensity, no vision of the finish line, and I am a bit nervous about that.
It’s time for a shift – a look at my intermediate goal.
The Nike Women’s Half-Marathon has been planned out since January (perhaps earlier). While the plan was always for this to be a “for fun” run, with no real intentions of racing, I may need to use it as a measure of where my training has taken me so far. I had entertained thoughts of using the San Jose Rock ‘N Roll Half-Marathon to gauge my fitness level, but I just can’t cough up the funds with another race only two weeks later. It doesn’t look like a good plan at this point.
I am left to trying to generate some enthusiasm for making Nike a good race. I need a reason to push hard in these coming weeks so that I can power up those hills. There is one reason that I would want to run a good race, and that would be to be a little more competitive against my older sister. Linda is fast. She BQ’d last year at CIM without even trying to. Then, she didn’t go to Boston because it really “wasn’t her dream”. That’s right; it wasn’t HER dream, it was MINE. She said she would only go if I BQ’d.
Okay, so whatever. Linda is also running Nike. In fact, she urged me, and many of her friends, to register and we are all staying overnight together in the city for the race. I’m excited about that; she has very cool friends who ALL run FAST.
Getting over “crowded”
Last week’s long run felt miserably lonely. It was all I could do to put in the miles. Today’s run, was a different story. It “sort of” surprised me.
I had actually planned to run solo at the open space preserve again. But I had another night of poor sleep, and woke up a little later than planned. I opted for convenience, and went to the local park where there is the paved bike path.
Cindy and Amy were planning to run at the same location. I looked at my clock and resisted the urge to head on without them. It was 7:10 am and they were planning to run at 7:30 am. I “figured” that this meant that they would be arriving at 7:15 am (that’s the usual deal). Today, however, the first to arrive didn’t show up until 7:25 am. In the time that I waited, I re-evaluated my plan to go on without them several times. But, it just seemed silly to leave at that point – and they would probably see me running away. What kind of message would *that* send?
So I waited..and waited…and waited for a LONG time. Cindy arrived, then Brenna, then Fred, and finally Amy. *sigh* I could have been half-way done with my run by the time everyone was there. After hugs, and potty breaks, we were on our way. ALL of us were on our way. It must have been quite a sight to see.
We ran and talked as I clicked off the passing miles. Although I enjoy running with each of the runners that showed up today, I wasn’t enjoying today’s run at all. I was just tolerating it. I don’t really know why. Perhaps it was because I had “intended” a SOLO run. Perhaps it was because I was positioned in the back of the crowd and this just felt awkward. Regardless of the reason, I listened to the various conversations (even kept them going with questions) and counted down the miles until my turn around.
Evolving “Football Mom”
He was wide awake already when the alarm sounded at 6 am. He was nervous, and excited. I could recognize it easily. It reminded me of the pre-race experience. But today, it would be all about BoBo and his football team. It wasn’t about running; that was just fit into the day.
The plan was to be at the school by 7 am. Most of the team would arrive by 7:30 am, but BoBo is always eager to be early. By 6:30 am, he announced that he was ready and that we should go. I figured that it really didn’t matter much if he sat at home and nervously waited or in the school parking lot. So away we drove. I parked in the back by where the coach parks his nice Mercedes. I left BoBo to his iTunes, in the nice warm van, and made my way to the track.