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March 9, 2008
California Update
My recent trip to California involved a whirl wind of events. I was very busy working with students along the Mendocino coast doing volunteer work for the park service as well as interviewing for teaching jobs for next fall in the Bay area.
The five days we spent along the Northern Coast were amazing. We stayed at a big house with twelve students. We spent our mornings hiking and running in a different park each day. I found myself running farther and faster than I meant the week before my scheduled marathon but was so inspired I did not mind. It was great to run on soft trails being surrounded by the red woods every day and having lots of great company to run with. Mark was able to run for the first time since October so we were really happy. In the afternoon we pulled invasive ivy and jubata grass from the forest roads. We worked with Matt an amazing environmentalist whose enthusiasm and love for the area was contagious. The time really flew by.
Mark and I spent the days before and after our trip to Mendocino interviewing with Cal/West a placement organization for private schools in California and interviewing with some individual schools who we had already been in contact with. I met with the schools I used to work and had some great conversations with these schools. The day before I was scheduled to run the Napa marathon I got an unexpected job offer from the school that was one of my top choices. I said yes to the offer at Marin Catholic in Kentfield and felt so relieved to have this decision made before I even left home to Vermont. I have many friends who send their children to this school, I know the principal, and it is in an amazing location - just about a mile away from Mt. Tamalpais where I love to train.
Once Sunday arrived I was pretty spent emotionally and physically but decided to try the marathon and see what I could do. I felt great the first ten miles and was averaging about a 6.40 pace. Once I hit ten miles my pace decreased and I found myself running 7 minutes and then 7.15 miles. I came through the half marathon in 1.28 which I thought was good except that I was really exhausted and my head was not in the race at all. I was so distracted. I could not focus at all. I ran until mile 16 where Mark was waiting to cheer for me and dropped out. I know I could have finished but by the time I got to mile 16 I was running 7.45 miles and really feeling wiped out. I just had too much going on the week before and leading up to the marathon to really be able to give it my all. I think I am strong enough to come close to my 3 hour goal but I know I need to be able to focus singularily on the race itself and have very little distraction leading up to the race, especially the week before.
Mark had some great interviews in CA while we were there and will follow up with another trip to CA this coming weekend. Our fingers are crossed that he will find something on this next trip. We have been busy getting his name out there to schools and working with the placement agency to make things happen.
Our plan is to move mid-July and spend about two weeks in CO before we arrive in CA the first of August. I am looking forward to the time we will spend in CO and my return to CA.
I really want to enjoy my running for the remainder of the spring without a lot of pressure. I am planning to pace a friend to a sub 3.30 marathon at the Boston Marathon. I will also do a leg or two of the relay in the Vermont City Marathon. The first weekend of June I want to do the Nipmunk Trail marathon in CT which has been on my list of races to do for a long time. This is a trail I used to run when I was in college at Uconn about ten years ago all the time.
Once we are settled in CA I'd like to really nail down a solid three month marathon training plan for a December marathon, Cal International. I am also going to put my name into the lottery for Western States 100 and see what happens.
This past week has been an easy week just trying to get caught up with everything again. I want to maintain my fitness in the next three or four months. As the weather gets warmer I'd like to increase my mileage but for now, I'm happy with about an hour a day and I plan to continue doing yoga and my work at the gym.
Posted by mary at March 9, 2008 10:59 AM
Comments
Hi Mary! I'm glad to hear you had a great trip. I'm sorry you were too preoccupied to run your marathon goal. I can barely run when I'm that busy, never mind a marathon. At least you made the attempt. Congratulations on your job offer. I'm sure it will work out for Mark too. Keep us updated. I'm moving too, but only 30 minutes away. Talk to you soon.
Posted by: Caitlin at March 9, 2008 5:34 PM
I am so happy to hear that you'll be working in CA next year! I guess that means I really need to see you before you leave! I'm sorry the marathon didn't go as you had hoped, but it's great to hear that you had such a good time in CA.
I hope you are enjoying your weekend, and that some of the snow in VT is starting to melt. It'll still be a while before we can run on trails down here, but spring is definitely on the way.
Posted by: Alison at March 9, 2008 5:36 PM
Congrats on your offer, Mary!!! That is so exciting that you are moving to CA.
Let me know if you want any run recommendations for your time in CO!!
Posted by: barb at March 11, 2008 11:56 AM
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Posted by: USO at May 1, 2008 9:59 AM