Running Through Life

Yes, I am.
Alaska was awesome.
My new friends from Chicago were awesome.
The course was beautiful.
The course was hilly.

But I was ready. My training (what I did) prepared me well. My coaches prepared me well. Allyson prepared me well the night before I left. LOL

Anyway, morning of the race it was 50 degrees and misty. A sprinkling for the first 4 miles. But I covered the distance, traversed all the hills and raced across the finish lines in an emotional 4 hours 56 minutes and 33 seconds.

I'll get pictures up later.

Thanks to all of you.

He is somewhere between Alaska and home. He did GREAT!! Further details to follow from the man himself! Welcome back and GOOD JOB honey!!

Well he is on his first plane headed to Alaska. He'll let us know when he has landed safely. He is totally ready for race day! He will post pictures when he returns and be full of highlights I'm sure.

Yepper, the "last" Saturday training run.
No more training runs - finish, nada, done, out o' here!!!

Lake of the Woods for a 60 minutes run there abouts last Saturday. I ran 4 miles in a very slow and comfortable pace. A 12 minute pace.

Got a few final words of encouragement from my fellow team mates and coach.

I have trained more this season than any other. I trained almost every Wednesday and Saturday.

Wednesday - tough but great track workouts.
Saturday - building up the mileage.

They have helped.

The Indy mini was almost 12 minutes faster (11:53 to be exact) than last year.
My mile time has decreased from last years best of just over 8 minutes (which I broke this year about 3 weeks) and have now bettered to a 7:07 (last week). A great personal best.

I hope next year (or this year) to do more and break the 2 hour mark for a half.

Here are some goals for the upcoming year -

Mile (1600) - 6:00
5k - 21:00
10k - 50:00
Half - 2:00:00
Full - 3:59:59.99 (yes, break 4 hours)

These are lofty. They truly are. But one feels that I am capable. He has spouted out on numerous occasions that I have the ability to run like this. How he knows, I have no idea. I hav always doubted the man, mainly due to my self doubt. But I am starting to believe.

Sorry, Hook for doubting you. Thank you bro.

I also have another that believes as well. She has never specified times or abilities like Hook, but she doesn't know alot about my past running or lack thereof. She just believes in me.

Thank you Ally.

And now me - Alaska this weekend. My bib number (if they have online tracking) is 842. I hope to place 800 or better. I also hope to run under 5 hours. I knowthat is not news. I have always said that a 4:50 or so should be doable.

Stay tuned for my real prediction and my ultimate goal.

Thanks to all.

Seeing as how it was my last hard practice before my race, coach Vicki decided to kick some ass.

here was her plan -
1600 - recovery
1200 - recovery
800 - recovery
400 - recovery

all at 5k pace.

ok, for me that should have meant about a 9:30 to 9:45 pace. Maybe. Not sure I can hold that for 3 miles but it would be a good try.

so off we go.

I bust out a 7:07 mile. What the hell? Where did that come from? Whose frackin legs were attached to my gorgeous waist?

OK, that was a stretch. But 52 seconds better than my best mile. Unbelievable.
then
oh, yea, the pain
the gasping for air
i must have been anerobic for the whole mile

so how were the 1200, 800 and 400? good all at 8 minute mile pace.
one helluva of a good pace.

I'm thinking a 3 hour marathon. hehehe

nope. still 4 hour marathon at just under 5 hours. 4:45 would be great

Saturday was a 90 minute run, but instead I hike 5.4 miles at Starved Rock. Boy, were there a lot of stairs. At one point 155 straight stairs that I attempted to jog up. I made it to the last landing and then walked the last short flight. boy, were my thighs burning.

Starved Rock is a pretty cool place. We hike almost 5.5 miles there. Enjoyed some beautiful scenery and cool canyons fromed from limestone cliffs. May have to go back inthewinter time and see the eagles.

Sunday was another hike through parts of Mathiesson State Park for about 2.25 miles. Not as long but just as awe-inspiring. Overall it was a great weekend. Spent it with the Elliotts minus Kayla and Ally and Chris. My kids once again absent.

I got a lot of good legwork in and do not feel that I cheated my training any. Monday I am going to try and fit (ok, choose a better word) not fit, try to do a workout for 45 minutes or so.

I got alot of work to do before the 21st. I do feel I will do well in Alaska. I know the marathon is hilly and 7 miles of it are trail, but I believe a 4 hour marathon is possible. It may be 4:59, but that is still 4 hours.

I'll give my ultimate goal later.