No Limits- Week One

I am going to try and update each week. We will see...

Monday- 6 miles at 8:36 pace, pretty quick but felt strong
Tuesday-Trackwork, 12x400's, did as fast as I could. Ranged from 1:37-1:42, Tough but didn't die! total 6.95 at 8:30 pace
Wednesday- 6 miles at 9:20 pace, legs were tired, 3.4 miles with my youth running group,
Thursday- Tempo run, 1 mile warmup at 8:59, then 7:50, 7:33, 7:28, 7:31, 7:37, 8:59, 7:22 @8:00pace, really tough but I am glad I could do it
Friday- 5miles at 10:13 pace, legs tired
Saturday- 8 miles at 9:10 pace, legs tired, definitely a big jump in miles and pace. Will enjoy my rest tomorrow.
Total Miles- 42 miles
Good start! We will see where this takes me. I wasn't as good with my eating, so I am up a couple of pounds. Will do better this week. I will also be starting strength training again Monday. :)

No Limits

Well, I guess I am just inspired by my good friend Annie who ran a marathon and crushed her PR by 13 minutes, running a 3:21 marathon at Revel Canyon City. She has set some pretty big goals and is willing to put the time in. I have decided that I am fighting back the diagnosis by continuing to work hard on my exercise and eating healthy. I am going to train for a half marathon and I am not going to have any time goals. No limits!!  I am just going to work hard, be consistent and see where it takes me. I did my first day of trackwork today and it was tough, but I was happy with the results for Day 1. I ran with 2 fast friends and stay just behind them. I did 12x400 and my splits were between 6:36 pace and 7:07 pace. Let's see where we go from there. The half marathon we are training for is February 5th. I will be doing 2 days of speedwork and just running for fun the other days. I will still be focusing on my eating, but I have other goals in my home that are more important to me than any of the running goals, so this is what I am putting in! I also want to try to sleep more. :-) I am following Hanson's Marathon Training plan again ending with the 30k in March. I want to see what I can do, but keep things in balance. I am nervous for my tempo run days but I can't wait to see what I can do!!

Prediabetes

Wow. I am not really sure how I feel about this. I have been meeting with a naturopath who wants to help me figure out my PCOS. Ultimately the way I process sugar and deal with insulin will help me in all aspects of my health, including my marathon success. We had a bunch of blood tests run and most of them came out normal and healthy, but my A1C number (which measures glucose that is attached to hemoglobin) was in the prediabetes range. I have always known that I process sugar differently than most people, but now I have the numbers to prove it. At least it shows that I really do need to figure out my diet, it is not just in my head. So, what now? I have been on an elimination plan to figure out if I am allergic to anything. Right now, I am not supposed to eat corn, sugar, soy, gluten, peanuts, dairy, or eggs. I have been doing this for about a month and I have a couple weeks left. I have definitely not been perfect, but I have done the best I can.  I have also been following a 15 minute strength training workout and running pretty regularly. I have actually lost 7lbs and I officially weigh less than I have since 2006. I feel pretty good, but I don't know what this means long term. I guess I just need to trust the naturopath and take it one step at a time.  I will keep you posted. But, it is crazy to think that even with how much I exercise and pay attention to my food, I can still be in the prediabetic range.

My new experiment

Hello out there!

So, it is time to figure out my body- woo hoo!! I have fought my weight and my eating for my whole life. I am determined to find the best way for me to eat and exercise and now is the perfect time. I met with a Naturopath last night and we just talked about some of my health history. He asked if I had heard of Maffetone and I had, but I didn't realize this method wasn't just about running slow, but also about food. So, I am going to take at least 3 months to focus on low heart rate training and also eating healthy. I want to teach my body to burn more fat and figure out the nutrition I need in distance. I am going to keep good notes. The best part is that I shouldn't be tired on this plan- yeah! And, I love seeing myself get faster with less effort. Wish me luck!

Day 1- September 25th
Jeff was sweet enough to run slow with me. You figure out your max heart rate by doing 180-age. He says you can add 5 beats if you have been training for 2 years with no injuries and seen progress. I went ahead and added 5 beats. It was still tough to keep it down, but I wasn't as slow as I thought I would be.

Mile 1- warmup- 10:17 with hr ave of 135. I was at first trying to stay under 143
Mile. 5- 10:34 pace
Test
Mile 1- 10:03 with hr ave 148
Mile 2- 10:40 with hr ave 149
Mile 3- 10:45 with hr ave 150
Cooldown- 11:43 with hr ave 146, 12:07 pace with hr ave 145,

Total 6 miles at 10:48 pace, hr ave 145 and max 157.

I am starting a 2 week test for food and basically it is no carbs. We will see how it goes. It is not a starvation diet. I am just excited to cut it all out and see what happens. :-) I want to learn what works for my body.


I love that I won't be tired! Yeah!!

4th of July Sauvie Island- training and result

Wow! I didn't realize that I didn't post at all in those 8 weeks. I am just going to do a quick update. I worked my butt off for 8 weeks! I followed Jen's plan to the letter. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. The tempo runs were long and fast (usually around low 8's pace for 8-10 miles), the track work was as fast as I could run (realized I am faster than I think!) and the long run pace runs were lonely and I couldn't always do them as well as I would like. I also added in spinning and strength. It was an experiment and I gave it my all. I felt stronger and fitter than I have ever felt. My last pace run of 19 miles was amazing and I really felt I could do it. I was trying to figure out my nutrition so I stopped gatorade and went to more natural drinks- I can't remember the name right now. :-) I tried different things but ultimately didn't figure out what worked. The day of the race was July 4th and it was the hottest July 4th since 1997, in the 90's. I decided to still go for my goal. I started out at an 8:20 pace and kept it for about 15 miles. Then my body just shut down. I finished as strong as I could and ended with a 3:58. Still a sub-4 but of course was disappointed.

I figured out my age change for Boston happens in September 2016 so I think I will wait until then to try to BQ. I need to figure out my nutrition. It has been a great learning experience but my body needs a break. I am going to get in the best shape I can. I am trying to figure out nutrition.

Wish me luck!

Eugene Results and next marathon

Well, I guess I never wrote a race report so that means I didn't BQ. :-)

However, I had a great experience and I learned a lot about myself. I will try to recap as best as I can. First off, I went down to the race with 2 great friends, Marnie and Dawn. They were running the half marathon (Dawn's first- yeah!) and were going to cheer me in to my finish. We stayed at a hotel in Eugene that had a shuttle to the start line. It was wonderful. They also gave us a late checkout, which was great. When we got to the packet pickup, we discovered that I was Bib #1! That was pretty fun and made me think it was a good sign the stars were going to align that day. Cherl, my good virtual running partner was bib #2. Too funny! I remember when we signed up we were worried we weren't going to sign up in time, so apparently we were the first ones! We went out to eat at Olive Garden, my fave. We went to bed somewhat early and got up for the race.

The weather was perfect- a little cool, which makes me happy! I was ready to go! Took some pics with Cherl and the girls and it was time to start. I had changed my plan the day before the race to start a little faster than 8:20's so when my first mile said 8:15 I was good with that. It hung right around there and I was feeling great. One of my early miles was 8:07 but I still thought it was okay. About mile 6 or 7 I heard one of Cherl's friends tell her she was averaging 8:05's but I didn't think we were going that fast- at least not according to my watch. So, I just kept my pace. Around mile 11 I was starting to feel tired so decided to slow back into the 8:20's. By mile 16, I was feeling way more tired than I should. Cherl had passed me and looked strong. I tried to follow her lead but just could not do it. I knew I would be seeing Jen at mile 20 so I tried to keep the pace in the 8:30's if I could. It was starting to get ugly. I decided to walk through water station around mile 17 to see if I could get a second wind and start all over but it made it worse. When I saw Jen at mile 19, I was so happy. I asked her to help me slowly get my pace back. We did an 8:40 one mile but just could not keep it there. I had to walk a few times but I tried to hang in. By this point I knew I wouldn't BQ but I was really hoping to PR. The mile marker at 24 was misplaced so it was a really long mile but then mile 25 was super short. By now I was just doing the best I could. Jen was awesome and was talking me through it. I know I would have walked a lot more if she wasn't there. Right before the end I got a horrible cramp in my calf and my leg collapsed on me. So weird. I ended up being able to finish and it went away. I crossed the line in 3:51: something. Not a PR but my second fastest time in 10 years and my fastest time since 2008! I was not as devastated as I thought I would be because I felt I finished strong and didn't fall apart.  Marnie and Dawn were there to hug me and support me and the first thing I asked was if Cherl qualified. When they said she did, I was so happy for her and I instantly thought I had to try again!! :-) 

Here are my thoughts:

1. Started too fast. 

2. Need to figure out nutrition. 

3. No injury, let's keep going!

Splits

8:16

8:12

8:15

8:09

8:06

8:12

8:04

8:08

8:16

8:14

8:19

8:21

8:29

8:33

8:41

8:46

8:45

9:25

9:05

8:49

8:56

10:15

10:44

9:32

10:06

8:57

.2 9:27

Looking at my splits, they really aren't that bad and I was able to come to terms with it. The course was beautiful, weather was great, just wasn't my race. 

My friend Jen told me she wanted to change some things in my training. She said she knew what I needed to get to Boston. I chose to sign up for Sauvie Island Marathon July 4th. It was my PR half marathon from 2006-2010(a 1:49) and is super super flat. It was 9 weeks away and I took the first week off. I went to the chiropractor and he said everything was good to go! So, Jen has been giving me a schedule every week. It has been tough, but less miles. She added in weights and spin. It has been challenging but I have worked really hard. She had me do my long runs at pace every single Saturday. 17.5, 16, 18, 18, 19, 17.5, 11.5, All of these runs have been by myself and they have not always been pretty. It seems that nutrition is my nemesis. When I run a faster pace, I burn through my carbs super fast and get light headed.  I am glad that I figured this out. The good news is, I feel stronger and fitter than ever and I think I know what to do about nutrition. The bad news is, it will be a hot day. I don't want to let this get me down. I am confident I am strong enough to run the pace, even in the heat. 

So, here is my plan:

1. Start in the 8:20's for real! No 8:05's until the end. :-) My last few long runs have had my last miles as sub 8. I would love to finish like this!

2. Start taking in nutrition early and often.

3. Fluids early and often.

4. Stay mentally strong. 

5. Be happy with whatever my body gives me. 

I originally thought it was the half marathon loop twice, but there is an out and back portion. I made Jeff drive it with me and it is beautiful. It is a little rolly, but nothing like the hills in my own neighborhood, so I think I will like it. I might have some friends joining in for parts of it, which would be awesome. 

Either way, I am proud of the training I have done. Not just in the last 8 weeks, but in the last year and a half. Whatever happens, I am pretty sure I will not be training for a marathon for a little bit. I want to give my body a break. I have really been loving spin and I want to get into biking more. I am excited to see what happens Saturday. I really do feel I am capable of a 3:38 marathon. I want to prove this!

The night before the marathon...

I always try to get some thoughts down to help me process my training and think about my goals. I feel mostly excitement for this race! My pain level is almost zero and I feel ready to run my race. I keep thinking about the 30k and how well it went and I am going for the same experience! Even wearing the same clothes I wore! My friend and coach Jen brought me back some magnets that she hung onto during Boston! I have a rock from a good friend that says Strength that I will also carry in my back pocket. No matter what happens I know I have done everything I could up until this point. I missed very few workouts, only due to sickness or injury. I have had a solid 2 years of training and especially this last year. The last 4 months of tempo runs with Jen have brought out some more speed and she has also taught be mental tricks that I will grab onto during the race! Keeping the spreadsheet with Cherl has kept me motivated and she will be running the race as well. I feel like it is both of our turn to qualify!!

Here are my goals:

1. Everything comes together and I qualify with a sub 3:40 marathon. I am really going for a 3:38 to give me a little bit of cushion for the rolling entries to Boston. I absolutely feel capable of that time. I expect to see a 1:49 half marathon. At the 20 mile mark, Jen will join me and at the very least I plan on keeping that pace. In a perfect world I would even speed up a little. I will be starting the race at 8:20 pace and intend to keep it the whole way. I know I can do this!!!

2. If I have to slow down at some point for whatever reason, I plan to still PR. That would be anything less than 3:48:52. That PR is 7 years old! I am ready to crush it!!!

3. If something unexpected happens, I plan on finishing strong and smiling, no matter the time.

In all reality, it is Boston or Bust. I have trained for this and I know I can do it. I feel stronger than I ever have felt. I know it is in me. I know it will be hard but I can do it!

I will report back!