Marine Corp Marathon!

Friday:
We at the airport Friday morning bright and early for a 5:30am flight. At the airport I ran into an old running buddy who asked if we were going to the rally? Rally?  What rally? It turns out the Cobert/Stewart rally to restore sanity was going on in DC at the same time!

After T and I got there, we checked into the hotel and headed to the Expo. It was crazy and we picked up our turtleneck long sleeve black race shirts. We also picked up two Marine Corp Marathon Christmas ornaments for my Grandpa (a marine) and ourselves.

We were both exhausted we went for dinner at 4pm at my favorite Old Ebbitt's Grill.

We wandered back to the hotel, changed into bathing suits and fell asleep before we made it to the pool!!!

T's brother came in late, so the boys went to grab food while I continued to sleep.


Saturday:
We went to grab breakfast and head to Air and Space Smithsonian. We had a good time, and when we left the rally was in full swing!  Silly us, we decided to walk through the rally just to see how it was.  45 minutes or so later, we made it across the mall, losing T's brother in the process!!!  T's parents made it in at this point and we met them at the hotel and relaxed until dinner. We had the Organization for Autism Research dinner (we fundraised) which was delicious and really nice. I tried to go to bed early, but we got sucked into watching Titantic... finally falling asleep around midnight.

Sunday: Race Day!!!
We were up and out just a few minutes behind schedule. and went to catch the metro. It was running funny and so we arrived at the race station right at start time. By the time we walked the mile to the start line, people were still waiting to start. We started about a half hour after the first person. It was perfect weather, cool and sunny, and I started with sleeves on (that I bought at NWM!) We took it slow and did well up the first hill at Mile 3. T's brother had multiple surgery's back and February and should not have been running. I left T around mile 4 while he waited to check on his brother. (His brother ended up making it somewhere between the 10K and 15K mark)  I just cruised on feeling good!  I was worried about hurting my calf again, so at the 1/3 mark I began to run walk. The rest was gorgeous, and I loved almost all of it. The worst part was the 1.5 mile bridge that just wouldn't end. It was awful, and I walked all of it. The remaining 5-6 miles were AWESOME. I love it, and I finished strong! Being the Marine Corp Marathon, half of the last .2 was a straight up hill!  According to my watch, I ran 26.5 miles in 5:34:51 for a 12:38 pace.

We then had a fantastic dinner and went to bed early!

Nike Women's Marathon 2010

So finally, a race recap.  It was an incredibly humbling experience. Let's look at the good, bad, and silver lining:

Good
* The energy was great in the beginning
* The first 10 miles were gorgeous; weather was perfect
* I powered up the big hills

Bad
* My hips and calves were so tight that I started walking around mile 11
* After running/walking for the next ~5 miles, my left calf started cramping like nothing else. I almost stumbled a few times
* I then had to walk the whole remaining 10 miles or so because my calf physically would not let me run
* The weather turned on me.. all along Ocean Highway it was cold and rainy... for the whole last 10 miles
* I finished with mild hyperthermia and was miserable
* The Facebook messages messed up and said I finished before it said I hit 21.7, so I missed my mom and T along the way. I saw no one :-(
* It took me 6 hours... my Garmin gave out at mile 25.15
* It took me so long they had run out of 2010 Tiffany's necklaces

Silver Linings
* Some nice guy around mile 25 with an umbrella walked with me for a quarter mile
* I got to eat all you can eat steamed crabs just a couple hours after! Yum!
* Because they ran out of 2010 necklaces, I got 2008's... and they are sending me 2010's!
* Because of the necklace incident, I have guaranteed entry into 2011's race, so I can REDEEM MYSELF!!

Bootie Buster!

I'm participating in the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge!

And I promise I will get my two marathon race reports up soon... it's back to the gym this weekend!

Never as much as I should...

I have done a little running the first part of the month...

Gym:  4 miles, 2 miles, 2 miles =8

Neighborhood: 3, 7, 2 = 12

So 20 more miles... 220/1000

I finally had a great run the other night. The weather is cooling down, and I just jogged real slowly and did over 6 and then cool down walk with the other dog and T to total 7. It was awesome!!!

So little time left... starting to freak out.

I have a 16-20 miler with a friend scheduled for Sunday.

200 miles!

Since the trip I've done a few runs... for a total of 24 more miles!  I finally hit the 200 mark... oh boy. I'm quite away from my goal, and not very far from the marathon.

My goal for September is to run 100 miles. This is going to be tough given I'm gone two of the weekends, but I need to make it happen!

Today the plan is to run to the track, a little over a mile from my house and then do a track workout of 2 quick miles with .5 miles in between (so 3) and a cool down run/walk back for a grand total of 6.

Successful morning run!!!

I got up nice and early, before 6am this morning and threw in some laundry and head out to one of our nice parks here. I did a solid 6 miles at just under a 10 min pace, walked for 10 minutes, stretched, then ran a mile in. So 7 miles before 8:30am. I love it!

Since the last post, I have done today's 7, a 5K (3), one 4 miler at the gym and one 3 miler at the gym. That's a grand total of 17!

Mileage Goal: 176/1000

Perhaps, I should make the goal 500 or 700 instead...

Quick Mileage Update

Although I did set my goal at "running" 1000 miles, I am counting run walks and long fast walks my mom and I took together when I was home.

June 11: 4 miles
June 12: 6 miles
June 13: 2.5 miles
June 14: 3.5 miles
June 16: 8 miles
June 23: 3 miles
June 25: 4 miles
July 5: 3 miles

Yes, there are some giant gaps. I will address those later...

Mileage Goal: 159/1000

New 5K Time!

I went to another one of the Sunstroke Series 5K races last night. My previous times have been just under 30 min, closer to 29 min, just under 29, and then last night... admist a raging down pour thunder and lightning storm I ROCKED it.

27:40. Oh. Yeah. Baby.

That's a 8:54 pace. I'm thrilled with myself, and remembered how much I love running in the rain!

I also got to feel what is was like to run close to max effort for a whole race. While my times varied just a little, I felt strong. Also, mile 3 was the fastest!!!

Other runs:
Last Thursday I did my own 5K then walked a tiny bit and jogged it out to 4 miles.
I was at a conference all weekend and manage to do a quick mile on the treadmill before workshops one day.

That's 4+1+3 = 8 more miles!

Mileage Goal: 125/1000

Keep the Miles Coming!

I feel like I am finally in training again!!

Friday late afternoon, when it was 90* out, feels like 95*, I did a hot 5 miles at around a 10:30 pace. I was just excited to have done it and felt good!

Saturday... well, we blew off Bikram since it was gorgeous out and T and I went to eat dinner on the water. The deal w/ the roomie was we'd get up for her to do yoga at 8 and me to run 8 miles. I got up and did my 8 miles in two runs. I brought the noodle pup at first, but she didn't do so well. We did about 4.4, and then I went on my own for the remaining and did 3.7 to be safe. They were slow, but I did it!

Last night, my Garmin hadn't charged and I had had a little wine so I just ran a quick mile around the block.

14 more miles added on!

Mileage Goal: 117/1000

More days; More miles!

So I got to my 5K late on Wednesday night, so no chip for me. I did have my trusty Garmin so I wasn't worried though. I finished the 5K at a 9:12 pace (better than last week!!!) and then jogged it out to get around 3.5 miles. That gets me to 101 miles for the year.

Last night, my roomie and I went out for a super easy jog. She is just getting back into running, so it was exciting that she ran 2 miles with me (and the pups) instead of walking! Go Roomie!

Mileage Goal: 103/1000

Today I finish work earlier than usual, so I hope to get a 4-5 mile run in again. Tomorrow I'm probably going to do Bikram Yoga with friends again and possibly an easy 2 miles. Sunday the goal is a long run (~8miles)

Let the training begin!

A Bunch of Little Updates

So I am slowly getting into training. Working partially in public education, these next 3 weeks are going to be crazy and then life will slow down. Right now, I leave my house too early (before 7am usually) to have time for a morning run. During the summer, I won't have to leave until about 8:15 at the earliest. In my summer schedule I have also squeezed in my midday Fitness Pilates class at the gym that I love as much as possible. And no more Satuday work!

So I hope I can remember all the runs since the 30th. I'm sure I did a short one that day... say 2 miles. I know I did 3 at the gym before yoga one day. I began a Summer Sunstroke 5K series (every Wed at 7pm for 12 weeks) last week, so that's another 3.1. Last Friday, I had an awesome run where I didn't look at my watch until I finished and it was 5.3 at a solid 10min pace. The next morning I ran another 2miles. I'm sure there was at least one more run in there somewhere, but I can't remember. I will just give myself that .1 from tomorrow's 5K.

I'm at 97.5/1000! Haha.... I need to get moving on this goal. Literately!

Starting Training...

The best way for me to actually get a run in is to not go home first! So I packed my running clothes, went to my last client, changed and ran at the golf course near them.

It was absolutely gorgeous out, humid, and a bit of a breeze. I hadn't run there before so I wasn't sure what I was up against. Turn out: HILLS! Tons of them... so I did about 3 miles (no Garmin) running and walked a little more than a mile probably.

Today I got a break and had a client cancel so I can fit in a run, extra work, and happy hour!

Mileage Goal: 82/1000

Two Marathons Two Weeks Apart

Oops...

So T signed us up for the Marine Corp Marathon fund raising through the Organization for Autism Research. If you are interested in donating, please visit www.firstgiving.com/lauraperoutka
There's a link to T's page there as well!

It has been amazing to see old friend and coworkers who have come out of the woodwork and donated. :-D

Then just last week... Friday I believe, I got an email saying I had won the lottery and gotten an entry to the Nike Women's Marathon on San Francisco. Yep, the one where hot men in tuxes with silver platters give you Tiffany's jewelry as you cross the finish line!

Here's the kicker...
Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco: October 17, 2010

Marine Corp Marathon in D.C. : October 31, 2010

Yep, that's right folks, just a mere two weeks and 3000 miles separating the two marathons.

I'm going to have to really train this time... ;-)

Jess at Run Girl Run Contest!

Jess over at Run Girl Run is having a blog-aversary giveaway! It's good one too, some awesome shirts from Thriv. I've tried on there shirts before and they are SUPER comfortable! Check it out!

Marine Corp Marathon!!!

As most know, the Marine Corp Marathon is a favorite of many. Registration fill up in less than a day. We missed registration. We had vaguely talked about doing it this year. Thursday afternoon, I get an emailing asking me to sponsor T for the Organization for Autism Research for the Marine Corp Marathon. A few minutes later, he forwarded me my registration as well!!!

So now to start training. Since people have to donate money to a charity dear to my heart in order for us to get a entry, I'm even more motivated to train properly! If you are interested in donating, please visit:

http://www.firstgiving.com/lauraperoutka

THANKS!

1st Trail Race

Yesterday, T and I did our first trail race. Now T twisted his ankle some during the Cap10K and neglected to tell me he had it wrapped all week. He still went and signed up for the trail race with me. It was raining and muddy, and we decided just to have fun with it and bond. We ran some, we walked some, and overall enjoyed ourselves. I was SO tired the rest of the day and in bed before 10pm. It was an 11K and we think we ran a little over half of it, so I'm giving myself credit for 4 miles.

Mileage Goal: 79/1000

Cap10K Race Report!

I woke up last Sunday with heavy legs. The right one even ached a little. Waiting for the race to start, I was a bit apprehensive. I hadn't really run in a week. The Cap10K is a BIG race! There are a few costume and over 20,000 runners and walkers. It's usually a fun time: bands every other mile, lots of interesting people watching. I have done this race every year I've lived in Austin.

Mile 1: 9:48: As anyone who has done a big race knows, the first mile is always a little slow given the crowds. This mile was actually faster than I would have thought. The first mile is a slight uphill to the capitol and around it with a little downhill then. I began to feel strong!

Mile 2: 9:30: There is still a big crowd and will be the entire race, but it wasn't as tightly packed as the first mile. This miles had some good up and down hills, but I was surprised when I saw Mile 2 all ready. I was feeling SO strong on the hills and just powering up them!

Mile 3: 9:42: This mile encompassed the last set of big old hills! There were a little tough, but I powered up them and used the flats as recovery. I hit the mile 3 marker and felt the urge to run faster even.

Mile 4: 9:03: So faster I did run! A good amount faster! This mile had just little slopes up and down and I was feeling good!!! I felt as if I should slow down and pace myself more but it just feel too right at that pace. I forgot how good it felt to find a nice fast pace.

Mile 5: 9:16: I was a little tired from that last mile and the ground was really uneven here which bothers that stubborn toe. I kept pushing knowing there wasn't that much left. Since I don't tend to stop for water on 10Ks I just kept moving along. This mile definitely felt like I was going slowing than 9:16, but apparently not!

Mile 6: 9:24: This was my hardest mile of it all. It's a gradual uphill to the bridge then over the bridge. I was really feeling it in the legs; they were tired! But I am not one to walk the last mile!!! Not after I had come this far feeling this good. I remembered back to last year and how it felt much worse then.

Final .31 (by the Garmin): 2:21, 7:40 pace: Yep, I kicked it. I LOVE sprinting it in at the end of a race. So the Garmin had me running an extra .21 for the race. I finished, guzzled a bottle of water, saw I was under an hour and my negative split and felt AWESOME!

Garmin Totals: .6.31 miles , 59:08 , 9:23 mile pace
Race Site: 6.2 miles , 59:04 , 9:31 mile pace.

I love racing!

To round out the Cap10K, I was done a doctors appointment earlier than planned and had about a half hour to kill. I ran 1.7 miles, doing the first mile fast around 8:30 and jogging the .7 before jumping in the shower to head back to work.

Mileage Goal: 75/1000

1 Mile at A Time!

As I was typing the title, it seems I have used this title before... that says a lot!

Anyways, T's brother was in town this weekend. He had ACL surgery about 2 months ago and PT is going well. Since he said he could run a little, we ended up running the mile around the block.

In other not so fun news, just hiking, with occasionally 30 sec running with one of my clients, my toe was throbbing. I think I need to see an orthopedic.

Mileage Goal: 67/1000

Hungry All the Time

Since the half on Saturday, I am hungry all day long! It starts pretty soon after waking up and I have trouble staying satiated. Oddly it wears off in the evening... just in time for dinner with T. He made steaks last night that I couldn't turn down though!

So perhaps I need to adjust my diet, or tweak something. All ideas are welcome!

Getting Back to the Gym

The last two nights T and I are getting back into the gym routine. While we only work out for about 45 minutes it's still better than nothing. To just get the legs moving I biked an easy 5 miles on Monday and then stretched a ton.

Last night I headed for the treadmill! T has recently convinced me that it's best to set it to random, since it's never just flat outside. So I did a super slow 5mph at random, and did an easy 2.5. My toe started to really ache, and T has finished his weights, so I stopped and stretched.

Mileage Goals: 66/1000