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May 18, 2006

Getting Ready for a Fun 5k Tonight

The past week or so I have been running about an hour a day. I had a great run on Sunday in Burlington. I ran about 14 miles with Mark. During the first half he was ahead of me and would jog back to show me the way when we got to a turn. In the second half we ran together and I was able to run about a 7 minute pace. It was extremely flat and we were running on nice soft trails and dirt roads. It helped so much that I was warmed up and it helped that it was flat. I felt really good. Later that day I was able to run another 6 miles with my friend Jen.

Tonight is the VT corporate cup challenge. I am running for my school's team. I am going to try to pace my friend Jen at 7 minute pace or better. I have taken it pretty easy since Sunday, running about 7 to 10 miles a day at an easy pace. Yesteray I ran four in the morning and another easy four miles at night. I just don't want to let my friend down and not get her through at least two miles at her desired pace.

It has been rainy, wet, and damp here as it has been throughout N.E. I don't really mind it because everything is very green and bright. I am trying to decide what race to do next, probably a marathon. I think once I know exactly what job I will have next year I will feel more focused on my running. I can stay at my current job but the position is only a 60% teaching position and I work two other jobs to try to balance that out. I work at the North American Hockey Academy and a local community college. I'd prefer to work full time but am being a bit picky about the schools I'm willing to work in because I'd like the next position to be one of the more permanent positions I have ever had. I'm crossing my fingers that a perfect full time position is going to work out in a desireable position but if it does not I still have my current job for next year. The past month I have been swamped with applications, interviews, and decisions and still have not found the right match. Running has been a good break but not a main focus at all..

I am off to take Seb for a two mile morning jog.

Posted by mary at 7:03 AM | Comments (2)

May 9, 2006

Getting Out of My Slump!

I have been a bit lost since the last weekend in April or so when I attempted to do a 100k race. The conditions were horrible, rainy, wet, and cold. It was pouring the entire time. I was so fortunate because a running friend from my former running club, Glen Redpath was at the race so that meant I would have company. However, from the start I did not feel right. My bad leg was sore and cramped up the entire time. I had a very difficult time relaxing and my hip and entire left leg felt numb from running on pavement and the combination of weather that felt like it was under 40 degrees. It was probably in the 40's but it felt like it was in the 30's. Usually if I only have to deal with one obstacle such as the soreness and achiness in my leg I can stay focused on the race. However, when you add another harsh element such as weather or at times being unfit that just complicates matter. I stayed in the race for 24 miles or so and then stopped. It is a bit silly because I could have at least run the 50k and ran one more lap around the lake but I was so worried that I would not even be able to drive home. I was freezing. It took me over an hour to warm up in someone's car after the race. I was really disappointed but I knew I would not feel good at all when I finished and I knew my leg would be really sore for the next week because of the mileage that I did do. I was also frustrated because I ran the 20+ miles faster than I would have to stay with Glen. I told him several times to go ahead but he was determined to have company for as long as he could because he was doing the 50 mile run. Now that I am removed from the situation I can't believe I did not do another lap but I felt so much pressure running with someone else and especially since when I used to run with Glen I was faster and much fitter and on this day I was suffering, negative the entire race, and feeling hurt and injured the entire way. To me, this is not what I want my racing experiences to be like. It should be hard and you should have to push yourself but you should not feel like you are suffering. I spent the rest of day totally spent, a bit disappointed, but mostly relieved.

I really do not feel ready for the 100 mile race and have decided not to do it. I hope in the future my quad is in a better state so that I am not always thinking about the pain I feel in it or I hope I can get fit enough so that I can ignore it for a longer period of time. I have been really depressed about not running it but I just don't want to run it to finish it. I want to run it and feel good and feel in control and lately because of the long lay offs I have had after super long runs or tough training days I just don't think that is a reality.

I have run the last two weeks but with very little focus and in general have been quite down about my decision. I was so excited because it was a personal goal I had and one that I felt I could do and wanted to do. I then realized that maybe physically I really could not do it and mentally maybe I was not ready for it.

I need to figure out what to do next. I'd like to find some fun and exciting marathons that are on trails and in really unique places and maybe plan to do a marathon in the late summer and one in the fall.

In the meantime this week I am trying to refocus and get back to some degree of training. I ran 20 miles on Sunday on some of the best trails I have run on in Vermont. I ran in the Northeast Kingdom in Burke. There are miles and miles of mountain bike trails. The run felt so easy because the trails were so clear and easy to run on. I ran with Sue Johnston a very good ultrarunner who lives in VT. It was inspiring to run with her. The trails are a little over an hour away but I think I can make my way over there at least once a week for an adventure and some added inspiration. I do want to get back to track workouts and do some strength training because even in just two weeks my fitness has decreased.

I will be back to keeping my blog because I feel a bit more inspired. I just needed some time to accept my decision not to do the race. I hope I get the inspiration, motivation, and fitness back to try another race like that in the near future.

Posted by mary at 12:17 PM | Comments (5)