The Sister-in-Laws will be in Vegas!

There will be another Sister-in-Law running adventure!!  This time it will be a half marathon.  We're running the Strip at night!!  We will be running the Las Vegas Half Marathon on November 16th!
We came up with this on the train on the way back to her cousin's house after the Chicago Marathon.  I was texting with a friend about my marathon and then he said that I should register for the Vegas half which was a month later.  I told my Sister-in-Law what my friend said and she said, "maybe next year!"  An idea was born! 
I was really disappointed that we weren't able to run the whole Chicago Marathon together and cross the finish line together.  We talked about it again at Christmas when her and my sister were here and she said that she still wanted to do it. 
Registration opened the 2nd and I registered a few days ago.  The price went up after only a few days.  She hasn't registered yet.  Today I got an email with a discount code for the 13th, tomorrow, for $13.00.  This means that she will be able to register for $3.00 less than I did even though the price went up by $10.00!  So much for early registration!  This will be fun and the training runs will be half the distances of last summer's training runs!

I ran eight miles this morning with a long run group.  It got tough at the end just like last week.  There were five of us who stayed together the whole distance; it's been a while since I've been in a group of that many.  Today was the best weather we've had in a really long time.  It was in the low 40s.  A large number of the group are headed to Boston next week for the Boston Marathon. 
My run went well but I've been super tired and sore the rest of the day.  My feet hurt and I'm stiff.  That happened a few weeks ago. 

A couple of day before the dog got sick I had bought a 42 lb bag of his food.  It never got opened and I planned to donate it to the Humane Society.  I found out that the Humane Society has an urgent need for Puppy food so I was able to return the dog food and exchange it for two 25 lb bags of puppy food.  I took them to an event they were having at a pet store this afternoon.  They were calling it a puppy shower.  They had a "baby registry" of things they could use so I also bought some kitten toys that they were asking for. 
We are adjusting to life as a non dog household.  We are still finding things here and there that remind us that a doggy lived here until recently.  For now, we just leave them where they are.  His dishes are still in their places.  I did dump the water but I put it right back.  We will eventually put them away but for now they are fine. 

reminders of a doggy

This afternoon was so nice.  I took the Christmas lights down from the front porch and from around the garage door! Yep, it's April 12 and I took down the Christmas lights!! It was too cold to do it before now.  I also got some lights that were stuck into the ground pulled out and brought in.  They were completely buried under snow all winter.  I unplugged the cord after the holidays but I couldn't even pull it out of the snow; it was frozen in.  I had a set of three little trees that I was setting up by the steps of the front porch back in December and my hands got so cold that they hurt and I was to the point that I couldn't continue setting them up.  I had two of them complete but didn't get the third one done.  I intended to come in and warm up and then go back out and finish the job and get them plugged in to the timer that I had out there but never got back out there and then it snowed and completely buried them so they never even got turned on.  I had forgotten about them until the snow melted and there they were! 

Getting up stupid early, running, donating puppy food, and taking down holiday lights makes for an exhausted me!  I think I'm going to go to bed now. 

Runner Nerd
needs to sleep

First 20 Miler Done!

Today, I did my first 20 mile training run for my upcoming Chicago Marathon.  It wasn't pretty there at the end.  I started having problems around mile 14.  The last 4 miles were really bad.  I had to walk up some hills during those last 4 miles.  I covered 20 miles on foot so it counts! 
I went to a group training run where a route is mapped out, signs placed at turns and water stops provided.  My friend and I started out way too fast, as usual.  I have been telling myself the last few days that I have to slow down for this 20 miler.  I ended up with an overall average pace of 10:48 which is fine for 4:30 marathon training.  I just wish all the miles had been in that area and no walking. 
Next week should have been my 20 miler but I wanted to do an 8 mile race on Mackinac Island because it falls on my birthday this year!!  I rearranged my schedule to fit it in.  I considered running the race course again and then another 4 miles but decided that I'd rather hang around the island the rest of the day so I moved my 20 miler ahead a week.  I'm taking my bicycle so I will probably do some biking after the race.  After this 20 miler, that 8 mile race is going to seem easy!!  I'm aiming to have all my miles under 9 minutes.

Last week there was no group run because so many of the group went to a huge 10 mile race in Flint called the CRIM.  I've run the CRIM before and would have liked to have again but with already having rearranged my schedule for Mackinac Island it just wasn't possible.  I even won an entry and a bus ride up there at a fitness expo back in the spring but decided to turn it down.  Anyway, with there not being a group run, I had to do my long run all by myself.  I ran 18 miles alone.  It was tough, I sure missed the group run.  I ran a 10 mile route first, refilled my handheld water bottle at my car and then ran an 8 mile route.  I even started a half hour earlier than the group run starts.  I ran out of water on the 8 mile portion.  I was really running slow at the end (last 2 miles) but I got through it. 

It's hard to believe that 6 weeks from tomorrow is the Chicago Marathon!!  I registered wayyyyy back in early Feburary. 

Runner Nerd
ran 20 miles

Vega Sport energy gels

Today was another long run day!  I'm 16 miles closer to Chicago!  The run went pretty good but mile 13 and 14 were tough, 15 got better and 16 was slow although I can't really say just what my pace was because my Garmin turned off at 14.95 miles.  I guess it really is time to replace it.  I got the low battery warning at only 29 minutes into the run; that's the earliest it's ever been.  The time was 2:21:13 when the Garmin shut off.  Now I have a decision to make and I need to make it quick so I can have a functioning Garmin before my next long run.  Next week I have to run 18.

One good thing that came from today's run is that I have FINALLY found a fueling product that is going to work!!  I've said it before - I just can't choke down slimy gels.
I recently received samples of Vega Sport gels.  I read some reviews that said that they are like the consistency of apple sauce.   I'm not sure that they remind me of applesauce, to me they are similar to oatmeal, but thinner.  They somewhat remind me of the filling in Nutri-Grain bars.    I am happy to say that I can squeeze it into my mouth and swallow it without gagging and having to force myself to swallow it, like I have to with Gu brand gels.  I tried Raspberry last week and Orange this week.  I like them both but Raspberry is the one I like the most. 

Vega Sport Endurance Gel

The one thing I don't like about these is that the size of the packet is HUGE compared to Gu brand.  I intended to take a pic of one of these with a Gu packet but I forgot to do it.  I can lay the Gu packet on top of these and have Vega packet showing all the way around the Gu packet.  It's going to be hard to stuff 4 of them in the little pouch in my skirt.  I will make it work.
According to the Vega website, they are a plant-based, all-natural energy gel,
From the website:

I am going to have to order them online because I cannot find them in any stores in my area.  I called the company to ask about stores and was told that they aren't in any stores in this area but they are working on it.  They are trying to get them in every Whole Foods.   They offered to send me the samples so I could try them.  The lady I talked to on the phone assured me that if I don't like the sliminess of the Gu brand that I am going to like these because they are nothing like Gu.  The best source I've found is drugstore.com. They are 20.99 per box of 12 which makes them 1.75 each.  They offer free shipping with orders over 35.00 so 2 boxes would ship free.  Now, I have to decide whether to order a box of each or 2 boxes of Raspberry. 
I am really happy about this because fueling is the biggest issue I have when running a marathon.  I try very hard to choke Gu down but as the hours roll by, it gets harder and harder and then I end up getting very little down and then I hit the wall. 

Well, I'm worn out.  I had to get up super early to get to running group and run 16 miles.  Tomorrow I am taking my daughter to shop for things she needs for college.  She moves back to CMU on Tuesday.  This is her last semester!  She graduates in December.  I can't believe that it's time for her to go back already.  I'm going to miss her but will be glad that her 4 month old kitten goes with her!!  It's been interesting this summer having a kitten in the house.
Time for bed for this worn out runner!

Runner Nerd
has marathon fuel

10 weeks to go

Here I am, 10 weeks away from the Chicago Marathon!! I guess I didn't do a very good job of catching up from July 4th until now.
My long runs have been going quite well.  I ran 15.5 miles this past Saturday at a 9:29 average pace.  Most of my miles were in the low 9s until the last 1.5 which were 10:22 and 10:25.  I was beat!  My plan called for 15 miles, the group run was an 8 mile out and back course.  Nobody else was turning around at 7.5 miles so I decided to go all the way to the end since I ran 14 last week and a 2 mile increase would be fine.We took a wrong turn in town and ended up cutting a half mile off; the others went around the block to get the half mile but I called it quits because I was beat. 
Last week my 14 mile run came in at a 9:36 average pace and the week before 12.5 miles came in at 9:47.  I was running with my friend, Erika, and we were running along in the high 8s to low 9s.  It was Art Fair weekend in Ann Arbor which means quite a few streets downtown are closed off and there are hundreds of artists with booths.  Art Fair wasn't open yet when we were running in the morning and the course wound through Art Fair before heading out of town and then came back through on the way back.  As we were heading back into the Art Fair area, I tripped on an electric cord that was laying across a street.  I fell hard, I scraped my left knee just a little.  I was more embarrassed than anything.  After I fell, I never really got back up to the pace I was running, I really slowed down.  We missed a turn and ended up running an extra 1/2 mile. 
My Monday tempo runs have also been going well.  Last Monday, I ran 7 miles at 8:51 average pace.  The week before I ran 6.3 miles at 8:43 average pace at 8pm after working a 12 hour day shift. 
I've been doing speedwork with the triathlon group on Wednesdays.  Last Wednesday, we did 6 1200s with a 400 recovery.  The first 4 came in under 8 minute pace, the last 2 at just over 8 minute pace.  I can live with that!  Oh, did I mention that it rained the whole time and I was soaked and miserable?  The week before we did two 2 mile repeats in a park.  My first 2 miles were 7:53 and 7:46.  The second 2 miles were 7:57 and 7:56.  Pretty good for me!  I was barely moving by the time we got back to where our cars were parked which was almost a mile from where the repeats end.
After all these tempo runs, speed workouts and 9:30s long runs, running a marathon at a 10:15 pace should be easy, right!!  I can only hope! 
Two weeks ago, I did a virtual 5K.  It was organized online by "From Fat to Finish Line", a group of 12 people who have all lost at least 100 lbs and formed a Ragnar relay team and a documentary is being made about them.  It was a Sunday which is supposed to be a short, easy recovery run.  I ran my 5K in 26:26 for an 8:32 average pace!!  Oh well, it was fun! This is the picture/results I posted on their Facebook page:

virtual 5K

I was standing behind my car because that made the sun behind the camera; I didn't intentionally take my picture next to my 26.2 sticker!  I noticed it later when I was getting the picture ready to post to their page!  I made my virtual race bib number -35 because I lost 35 lbs in 2005. 
So, that's about it.  This week is one of my favorite events - the Red Carpet Run.  It's on Wednesday night.  I call it prom night for runners!  The theme is formal wear.  I ran it last year with my friend, Erika.  We had a blast.  Erika and I are going "over the top" this year!  We are wearing long dresses that we found at thrift shops.  Mine is sapphire blue and is sparkly!!  I'm so excited!  

Runner Nerd

Best Long Run

Today, I ran 10 miles!!  The last time I ran 10 miles was December 29, 2012 in training for Key West.  It was a long, difficult run.  The trails had snow and frozen footprints which is very hard to run on.  It took me 2 hours to run it.  Today, I ran 10 miles in 1:30:44, a full half hour less!  I ran the December 10 miler on the Falling Water trail which is flat, today was the trails in Hudson Mills which aren't hilly but not flat either; there are some inclines.
My goal today was to have the overall average pace be in the 9s.  At mile 7, I realized that all of the miles had been in the 9s so I made the decision to try to run all the miles under 10 minutes.  It got tough the last 2 miles and I wasn't sure if I could keep the last mile under 10 minutes but I did!!

I don't know why but after I copied/pasted the splits from Garmin Connect below, I am no longer able to type below that chart so I have to type up here.

I can't believe that I ran 5 of the miles in the 8s!  The SLOWEST mile was 9:21!  Imagine that - 9:21 as my slowest mile!  My fastest mile was the first one at 8:47.  Geez, I must have thought I was running a 5K!   The last mile was 8:58 which I find hard to believe.  I felt like I was going so slow. 
This 10 mile run was faster than when I ran the Crim years ago!  Of course, the Crim has a bunch of hills that I didn't have today! 
Now, if the weather would just warm up and stay there!  It was 37 when I started and 39 when I was done.  It even snowed very lightly on and off while I was running. 

10 miles in 1:30:44, 9:04 avg pace

This is from Garmin Connect:

Split	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
Summary	1:30:44.4	10.00	9:04
1	8:46.6	1.00	8:47
2	8:49.4	1.00	8:50
3	9:11.1	1.00	9:11
4	9:19.4	1.00	9:20
5	9:18.1	1.00	9:18
6	9:20.4	1.00	9:21
7	8:56.5	1.00	8:57
8	8:55.9	1.00	8:56
9	9:04.6	1.00	9:05
10	8:58.3	1.00	8:58
11	:04.1	0.00	14:20

Longest run and 2 weeks to go!!!

Two weeks from today I will be running in Key West, Florida!!  I will be in the southernmost city in the United States!!  I will be where it is "far from normal, close to perfect"!!! (fla-keys.com/keywest)

Yesterday I ran my longest run in my training for this half marathon.  I ran 12.2 miles.  It was cold - 30 degrees, which isn't really that bad but I just wasn't enjoying it.  Part of my run was on dirt roads which had been plowed but still had snow on them.  Most of the time it was fine running but there were places where there was more snow and it was harder to run on.  I decided to use my ipod on this run.  I rarely run listening to music.  I was never on a main road.  I combined a couple of my 4 mile routes in Chelsea and added 4 miles on Trinkle Rd out and back from the high school.  I ran really slow.  I know I'm not going to be able to run this half in under 2 hours but I really really hope that I can run it faster then I ran yesterday.  I'd like to think I could do 2:10 but 2:20 is the most I want to be out there.

My daughter leaves to study abroad on Tuesday.  She will be gone 3 months.  I think that will be the longest I've ever went without seeing her.  We won't be able to talk very often either.  She will have internet access so I will get emails from her.  When she went to Africa on a Lutheran mission trip when she was 17 there was no contact at all; that was hard.  After she leaves, I have to get myself in gear and review for my board exam.  I would like to take it on Monday, a week from tomorrow.  I guess I just need to sign up for it that day and then I am committed.

Thursday will be 10 days out from Key West which, to runners, means - 10 day forecast!!!  It's both good and bad!  I don't know why I continue to look at it every time I have a major race.  It changes daily; it can go from one extreme to the other.  I have been following the weather in Key West for several months now and it really doesn't fluctuate much.  This time of year it is consistently in the 70s; in the summer it's consistently in the 80s.

Next Saturday I will be running 8 miles which sounds easy but I'm going to use a night cross country race that I've done several times as my run.  So much for easy!  I've already told my friends who also run this race that I'm going to be very cautious out there because I'm not taking any chances of falling or even twisting an ankle.  The run is on the grounds of a high school; some of it is on their cross country course and some in parking lots and driveways that wind around the athletic fields.  The cross country course parts usually have deep snow and there's a big hill!

Well, I'm off to help a panicky kid get packed for 3 months of traveling!! 

Runner Nerd
off to Key West in 12 days!

High Mileage Week

I ran the highest mileage this week since - I don't know when!  I ran a grand total of 16 miles!!  Yep, SIXTEEN!!!  Hard to believe that I used to run 25-30 miles per week.  Yesterday was my long run - 6 miles!  I haven't run 6 miles at one time since the 10K on Thanksgiving. 
I am running a 10K on May 12 and I hope to have a decent time.  It took me 1 hour and 3 minutes to run 6 miles yesterday so right now I'm thinking my goal is going to have to be anything under 1 hour.  Maybe I could go for 55 minutes but I have a long way to go for that. 
I guess that's what I have to give up to be the world's oldest college student!!  Actually, it's keeping up a 4.0 GPA that nessecitates giving up weekly mileage.  Just over 9 months to go!!  It won't come soon enough. 
This week is spring break.  I want to know when I'm going to get a break.  I have so much work to do.  I have a test on the first day back next week.  I have a research project for one of my classes.  I have a presentation for clinical to work on.  I have a case study to finish.  I will get to go to Tuesday night running group this week!!!  I'm sooooo excited!  I miss Tuesday night running group more than anything.  I miss my friends!  This is the first time since going back to school that it has interefered with running group. 

Well, I'm heading to bed and am going to read a "real" book (not textbook) before going to sleep!!!  I can do that because I don't have to get up and go to school and take any exams tomorrow! 

Runner Nerd
on no break spring break

Water Everywhere!!

I've heard of "water under the bridge" but what about water OVER the bridge?

I had to do my long run on Friday afternoon this week.  I had to move most of my daughter's junk stuff out of her dorm today. 
The Huron River always swells in the spring but this was quite something!  In several places along my route there was some water on the trails but in one area the trail was completely under water!!  A bridge was even under water!  These pictures were taken in Fuller Park along Island Drive. 

I guess I am NOT going to continue over this bridge!

the river is on the other side of those trees!



The Huron River overflowed!



DETOUR!!!



Too much water



The river is supposed to stop on the other side of the trees.

It's now down to only 4 weeks until the half marathon.  I'm still running so slow.  Next Saturday my son graduates from college so I am not sure hwo I am going to work in my long run.  I will probably have to try to run on Friday again.