~Philadelphia Marathon 11/23/08~

[KeenHo]

Hi everyone, this is the first day I won't be sticking to my training schedule. Instead of getting up to run (5 miles) this morning, I had to be home to do online check-in for our flights to MCO tomorrow AM. It worked out well, we pretty much got the first (non-business) seats on the Southwest flight at 7:05 AM tomorrow.

I would run tonight, but we have house guests and we will be going out to dinner.

Dave: I looked at the local races at the end of August. Here is what's available:

1. Saturday, August 23 - 6th Run for Literacy 5K in Wilmington, 9 AM start.

2. Monday, August 25 - Wilmington Blue Rocks 5K benefitting the Lukemia and Lymphoma Society of Delaware, 6:30 PM start.

Let me know if either of those might be possible. There are no other local races later in August than those.

Lou: There is another website (Delaware County, PA) www.runtheday.com that might be helpful in finding something close for us to run together. Check it out.

Sara: One from each of us. Thank you for the great send off! Sorry you couldn't live vicariously through me today. I plan on keeping up with my training while I am away. I will do my best... that's all I can do. While on vacation, some family things might take over. We are flying my Mom down from Pittsburgh for two days in the parks and the Disney Cruise. I am sure I will be with her a lot of the time.

Jodi: Hi! I hope you are all better and back to your old (young) self again.

Steve: Hi Bro! Nice to see you posting. There is no threat of me coming to Maine anytime soon. You are safe!

Chester: I am sure you do just fine with your 5K events. I am out there trying to better myself, my time and my capacity to endure in preparation for the MCM in October.

Thanks again to everyone for my happy birthday WISHes earlier in the week!

I may be out of touch for a few days, I get home on 7/3.

Be good to each other.



Howard

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Hey all. I'm here. Work has just been terrible lately - 14 to 15 hour days this week. I think things should be a bit better today. I'm fine, just feeling kind of run down and cranky. I ran 4 on Tuesday and 5 on Wednesday and opted to sleep in this morning. Depending on how late I get home tonight, I may try to run 10 miles tomorrow morning I haven't run further than 7 since the marathon and I'm getting a little nervous given that the NYC is only a month away. I have a 4 mile race Saturday night that I am looking forward too - just hoping it doesn't get canceled because of thunderstorms.

Lou - I'm so sorry to hear the sad news about your friend.

Mike - Congrats on your first post-marathon double digit. Hopefully I'll join that club soon.

Howard - I guess you are gone now and hopefully having a great time.

Steve - Hi.

Colleen - Are you still around or have you left for Orlando yet?

Sara - Have a great time at your son's party and on your trip!

Jodi - Yes, we should definitely meet up before the start and maybe at the expo? We can figure it out as the time gets closer. We still haven't figured out how we are getting there yet, but it will probably be Amtrak - it just makes me mad that the stupid train is so expensive. It's the same price as flying but then there is the extra cost of a cab from LaGuardia into the city so the train probably makes more sense.

Good Morning Team: Let's see Monday I did my "speedwork". I always have to put it in quotes because it doesn't seem like I'm really going that fast. I did 6x 800m intervals @ between 6:30-7:00 mpm with one lap recovery in between.

Take those quotes off! That's fast. I heard you on the email show. Do you know where you are doing your review with Kevin?

As for the Yeti thing, we are very close to booking and are definitely coming. We are going with another couple but only three of us will be doing the race because one of us (NOT me) is pregnant.

My Running Plans

So, this may sound ridiculous given my lack of running as of late, but I have decided on a training schedule for Philly. It's going to be kind of hard and I hope I don't regret it (but if it's too hard, I can always switch to a different schedule, right?). I have decided to go with the Pfitz 55/18. Matt reads and posts on the Runners World boards and lots of people over there swear by his plans. For me, this is a pretty high mileage plan. It peaks at 55 miles/week and lots of weeks are over 50 miles and there are a LOT of double digit mid week runs. I'm not so much worried about the running, I think I should be able to build up to it - I had a few weeks in the mid 40s while training for RnR, but am worried about how the heck I am going to find the time to run that many miles! I do think having many more longer runs will help build my endurance, which is one area where I think I am lacking.

So, its an 18 week plan, but I decided to make it a 20 week plan by basically taking out the 2 weeks that cover the 9 days that I will be in Orlando (since, serioulsy, the chance I'll get any running in then is slim to none). So I start training on July 7th

Have a great rest of the week!

 

[Jodi]

What up Bots?

Cindy - Your work place is beat! I can not imagine working that many hours. I used to do "doubles" when I was a medic which would total anywere from 16-18 hours & those were hell!! The NYC expo is real small, as there are no "vendors" per-se b/c it's @ NikeWorld. There are some freebies, though. I've never spent more than 25 mins. there . Be prepared for TONS of sparky gear, though. Lots & lots & lots of Nike NYC 1/2 marathon crap. It takes a lot for me to walk out of there without dumping serious jing! That sucks that the rail fare is to high, but given the cab thing, you're definitely better off. I just got RT rail for DH & I to Philly for $176 for 2! Amtrak offers AAA discount if you have it! Can't wait for the Yeti...um, that training plan sounds HEINOUS! Don't hurt yourself, kay?

All of You on Fun DisneyRelated Trips -

So you KNOW I didn't run extra miles yesterday afternoon , but I ran 5 this a.m. & it was pretty rough, let me tell ya! Perhaps I'll do the Philly 1/2, too?? I'll blame it on the humidity & some other stuff .

 

[lourodrigis]

Jodi - Tell your mom to bring some mace and a stun gun if she plans to walk the boardwalk at AC at night. There are a lot of freaks during the day but at night it's like freak circus. I'll tell you if it's worth the trip to DL in a few months.

Howard - It's short notice but I like the race below. That's my old home race course. Swarthmore College has some awesome trails to run on. I don't like the 7PM start time but I could deal with it. Let me know if you are up for it.

Swarthmore Lions Independence Eve 8K and 2 1/2 Mile Walk
Swarthmore, PA
7/3/2008
Registration Opens @ 5:30PM
Race Starts @ 7:00PM
USA T & F Certified 8K through the beautiful campus of Swarthmore College and the tree-lined streets of Swarthmore. 2 ½ Mile Walk (lower loop of 8K) Awards Ceremony and Refreshments After Race.


Cindy - 14-15 hours a day!! That stinks. I probably shouldn't talk because I probably put in the same hours. We need to find simpler careers. You are planning to log some serious miles for Philly. Good luck finding that kind of time. I think my plan will be to get as many 20+ mile LR's in as I can to get used to the pounding and break through that 18-20 mile wall.

Dave - I heard you on DisUnplugged today. Nice job busting on Pete. No way he runs that 1/2.

Sara - Have fun winding down this week and planning for WDW. Enjoy the vaca and rest up the knees. By the way...I downloaded some new running music. I'm into the new Cold Play album.

Hey Mike, Chester, Colleen!!!

No running for me today. Was in Philly all day for meetings and such. Parked at the Art Museum and walked into Center City 1.5 miles each way. That stretch along the Parkway looks so nice this time of year. It's a shame we can't run the marathon now because by November it doesn't look the same. We'll have to get a WISH picture after the race at the Rocky statue!

Lou

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Need to work, so this will be quick.

I'm happy to report that I did drag my sorry behind out of bed this morning and ran 10 miles. And now I'm exhausted. When I left at 5 AM it was already 74 with 82% humidity. It was pretty gross out, but I actually had a much better run than I've been having. This was also the longest run I've ever done before work.

Also, I booked fights and hotel for the Yeti! (I'll register this weekend. It's still only 65% full) I'm really excited for Food and Wine - 2 of my favorite things!

Have a great weekend Everyone!

btw - the forecast for the start of my race (6:30 PM) tomorrow night is 90 degrees!

 

[rKyDeX]

Just a quick check-in.

I'm heading to Tampa after work for the 2nd in a series of 3 Picnic Island Adventure Races. It's a 3.3 mile run around a small peninsula in Tampa Bay. The race starts along a beach and then heads inland over some 2 track trails to the tip of the park. There are some single track sections that run through mud and mangroves and a couple obstacles planted along the way. There is a 50 yard out and back into the bay where the water reaches waste deep just before a short run through sugar sand to the finish. Chet and I ran the 1st race last month and he finished in 26:10. My time was 33:55. I think that if I start with the middle of the pack instead of the end, I will have a better finish time.

Happy weekend to all.

Chester
W.I.S.H. Half-Fast Adventure Marathon Team

 

[Jodi]

Hey all, just a drive-by.

I ran 8 this a.m. & it was nasty. Did I mention I hate the summer? Hope everyone else is staying cool!

More later.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Hey Everyone: I didn't get to run this morning. Good for you Jodi for getting out there. I was up, ate my energy bar, changed into my running clothes, and look outside. It was raining, and then the sky opened up - biblical style rain. It was nasty. I'm not sure if I'll run today. We'll see...

 

[lourodrigis]

Just another quick drive by...

I got out and ran 14 (2:09:03 and 9:10 mpm pace) in Philly this morning and I can confirm what Jodi said, it was nasty out. I got out around 7:30 and it was already hot and humid. A Jodi-stop at Mile 1.5 sapped the strength from my legs for at least 3 miles. I ran along the river in the shade as much as possible. Went up the Art Museum steps at Mile 13 and felt good. I have not run this far since March.

Hope everyone enjoys the weekend!!!

Lou

 

[Jodi]

Nice job, Lou:thumbsup2 I can't imagine running that far yesterday a.m. UGH! Nice time, too!

Did you ever get out there, Dave? Don't go out in those kinds of storms, they're too unpredictable.

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Quick post for now, I'll try to write more later.

Yesterday was an interesting day, to say the least.

I fell and hurt myself. Unfortunately, I don't have a cool story to go along with it. I had to pick some work up at my office and downtown was crazy yesterday. My office is near two theaters and they both seemed to be having afternoon shows. Anyway, I had to leave my car parked illegally to run upstairs to get what I needed. As I was running back to my car (in hopes of not getting a ticket), I have no idea how this happened, but I tripped (I was wearing sandals not appropriate for running). And fell. Hard. On my face. (Seriously, its ok to laugh). So I managed to take a big chunk of skin off the front of my right hand and the left side of my face. My face is also really bruised as is my left wrist where I ruined my watch and now have its imprint on my wrist. I also must have landed on my left shoulder because it is bruised and painful.

So, after going home and cleaning my wounds and icing my face, it was time to get ready for the race. I was pretty sore, but decided that I didn't want to bail out of the race just because of my stupidity.

Last night was not exactly the best weather for a race. When we left the condo, it said it was 90, feels like 95. It was seriously HOT. I was trying to decide on a strategy for the race. My 5k PR pace (from the Minnie) is 7:59 min/mile. So, under ideal conditions, I should be able to run a 4 miler at close to 8 min/miles. Obviously, these were not ideal conditions.
I decided to run the first mile at 8:30 and then see how I felt. I did it in 8:34 and I felt terrible, so I decided to back off the pace a bit. I just didn't see any reason to push myself too hard given the day I already had. The next 2 miles came in at 9:09 and 9:11. Then during the final mile (after seeing people sitting on the side of the road and the ambulances coming) my heart rate got up to 204 and I decided I need to walk for a few seconds. I ended up taking 2 more very short walk breaks as my HR got over 200 (I'm pretty sure that is the highest I have ever seen it get). I still managed to finish the last mile in close to 10 minutes (I forgot to stop my watch). They haven't posted the official results but my final time is 36 minutes and some seconds (probably in the 50s).

After the race, I drank a lot of water and Gatorade. They had the typical post race food (bagels, muffins, cookies, breakfast bars). Also included was a BBQ sandwich and some chips from Red, Hot, and Blue (local BBQ chain) and a free beer. There was also live music and some activities for kids. It was a pretty nice after race party. As Matt and I were finishing up our beers, a storm started to move in really quickly. The winds began blowing like crazy and all the tents they had set up started blowing out of the ground. It was a crazy scene watching people try to hold things down as they were blowing everywhere. We decided that then would be a good time to leave.

Guess that wasn't so quick after all!

 

[Optimator]

Just a quick post before I'm off to bed.

Cindy - Didn't you see the "No Diving" sign at your office? How are feeling today? A big crash followed by a nasty-weather race is a good recipe for feeling really crappy today.

You're one tough chick running your race after your failed tumbling routine.

A neighboor kid ran that race last night too. He's one of those 17 minute 5K little tots (14 or 15 yo). I'm anxious to see how he did.


Nice job to everyone else on the LR's, speedwork, etc. That's about the limit of my mental recall of posts at this time.


Not much to report for me. It's been a few days since I ran. I did play softball Friday night and tried to run in and out of the outfield so I'll count that as some sort of activity.

I'll try to do a better job of being an active participant in this group of yahoos this week.

 

[CynthiaCindy]

I just registered for the Philly Marathon!!!

(Remember, tomorrow is the last day to register for $80. It goes up to $95 on Tuesday.)

 

[Jodi]

CIndy - Holy CRAP, sounds like you had a heinous Sat...can you take pictures of your wounds & post them . So I take it you didn't make it on the gymnastics team for Bejing, eh? Seriously, I hope you're feeling better today. Way to get out there & hit that race, though, you go girl. I woulda stayed @ home & told all my neighbors my husband beat me...you know, get a little sympathy & the cops involved. WOW, your HR was skyrocketing, eh? That's what the heat does to me, but I'm glad you went. OK, I'm signing up for Philly tomorrow!!

Mike? - Not sure I quite remember you....I'll have to go back a few DAYS & see if it jogs my memory.

I ran 3 real easy, unscheduled (i know, can you believe it???) this a.m. 1 with my official Couchus Potateous son & the other 2 solo. Trying to whip that boy into shape for the Yeti .

 

[lourodrigis]

Cindy - Wow! That's one heck of a story. You're pretty dedicated getting out there and racing after falling like that. Did anyone see you fall? Hope you feel better this week. Thanks for the Philly reminder.

Mike - This weather makes it tough to want to run. I miss summer softball. At least you're playing some sport and having fun.

I'm officially in for Philly...signed up tonight! Now I need a training plan. I tried putting one together with RunnersWorld but it's tough with the DL 1/2 and PDR on the horizon. I'm basically going to be going into those races right after doing some major LRs. I may even try to run the LBI 18-miler again this Fall on 10/12 and run MCM 2 weeks later.

Lou

 

[rKyDeX]

I'm signed up for Philly

Friday night's Picnic Island Adventure Race took me 2 minutes longer that the one a month earlier. And this time I started further up and didn't even get stopped in a bottleneck going into the mangrove trails. It was warmer and more humid this month and the blood donation 2 weeks ago seems to still be slowing me down about 45 sec/mile. July's race will be on the 25th. Chet will back from Europe by then and will probably race with me.

Cindy
How's the healing going? 200+ heart rate? Dang, that's really pushing the limits. I've found that heat and humidity have a dramatic affect on heart rate, but since I set my pace on heart rate, it's my pace times that are what's affected.

Happy Philly registrations to all.

Chester
W.I.S.H. Half-Fast Philly Marathon Team

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Well, I am a bit tired of having to answer the "what happened to you?" question but am otherwise doing ok. My shoulder is still really sore, but the only thing that is still visably bruised is my wrist (which is still really purple). My face is normal sized and colored except for the big scab on my cheekbone. My face must still be kind of bruised inside because it hurt when I ran this morning (from the bouncing). My face hurt when I ran - that is certainly never something I thought I'd have to say.

Ran 5 easy miles this morning (my first run since the race Saturday night). I'm thinking of doing an 8k Friday morning.

Cindy - Did anyone see you fall?

Oh yeah. There were a lot of people out and about. Very embarrassing. I got up right away and kept my head down as I walked the rest of the way to my car so that I wouldn't have to make eye contact with anyone. Some people yelled to me asking if I was ok and I yelled back that I was fine (while staring down at the ground).

I've found that heat and humidity have a dramatic affect on heart rate

Recently, I've really started paying attention to how true this is for me. I think I want to do one of those tests that approximates your max HR because mine must be pretty high.

Jodi - Did you register? And no, there will be no pictures. I'd like to forget this ever happened.

Mike

Hi to anyone else reading this.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Greetings Everyone: It is a gorgeous day here in Western NY - sunny and not humid at all. Yahoo!

Cindy- I hope you are healing up OK from your nasty spill. It sounded rough. Great job on your race in the heat and humidity. Your high heart rate sounds scary - I would not be functioning well like that. Congrats on registering for Philly

Chester- Wow, that blood donation is still slowing you down? I had no idea it would last that long. Take care of yourself. Good job getting the races in though. Congrats for signing up for Philly.

Lou- Hope all is well in your business world. Aaah, the days of summer softball. Those were fun days - especially going out for beer afterwards. Sounds like you have a good list of races coming up. Congrats on committing to Philly.

Jodi- I love the supportive mom you are for your Couchus Potatoeus son. Too funny! He's got lots of time to get into shape for the Yeti though. Keep on him. I never did get back out for my Saturday LR. It was storming on and off all day, and if I miss my morning window I get sucked into family chores making it really hard to get out there. I ended up taking the weekend off and treated it as a "step-back" week. As far as my upcoming dining review with Kevin goes, I haven't heard any details about it. I sent an e-mail to Kevin in May saying we were coming in July, and he said he would get in touch later to set up the details. I sent him a message today to see if we could get some more plans lined up. I'll let you know what I hear. Are you in for Philly?

Mike- Boy, I used to have alot of fun with my graduate school softball team. Sounds like a fun afternoon. Was your family there with you? I'm excited to get an Optimator in a little more than a week. Did you sign up for Philly?

Hello Sara- How's Disney? Are you having a good time?

Hello Colleen- Are you having fun at Disney too? Did you and Sara meet up?

Well, like I said before, I did no running this weekend. Couldn't get out Saturday, and Sunday I was doing yard work all day. I went to run yesterday for my speedwork session on the track. I figured I'd have a good run since I didn't run all weekend. WRONG!!! I felt like crap! I was exhausted, my legs were dead, and I just felt tired. I couldn't maintain my pace in my 800m intervals, and I bagged it on the 3rd one. Ended up running 8 laps, 3200 m, in 16-something minutes. I'm thinking I got dehydrated doing yardwork on Sunday. I was out in the sun all day, not drinking much, and doing a lot of heavy lifting of stones. I'm hoping I'll have a better run today.

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Dave - when do you officially start your new job so that you can find out if you can do Philly/Yeti?

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Dave - when do you officially start your new job so that you can find out if you can do Philly/Yeti?

I officially start Sept. 1st. I was tempted to sign-up for Philly yesterday, but I decided to wait. It seems like I've had to not run races that I've registered for - Boilermaker 15K last year and Cleveland Half Marathon this year, and I just don't want to waste my money anymore. I'd rather pay $15 more for the Philly registration than lose $80 if I can't run. Keep your fingers crossed though - I really want to be at both races.