Not looking good for running

This weekend I went on a fantastic trip to Belleville with some friends to let our horses jump some cross country jumps.  For my horse they were about 3' high (not big) but they don't fall down and they require a slightly different ride than regular show jumping jumps.  Riley loved it and as always exceeded all expectations.  The coach was very impressed with him and her husband was pretty much drooling over him as he is the type of horse he used to ride.   Long legs, short back and super athletic.  I surprised myself by riding well - the running as increased my fitness alot.  I am committed to the Houston marathon but I'm not out to set the world on fire.  I will shoot for a PR (ie breaking 3:30) but I think it needs to be a little more fun than the last session.  After Houston is done, I'm going to seriously reevaluate what I want to do with myself.  Right now my running vacation has ended and it's time to get back in the running saddle.  I have enjoyed this 6 weeks a ton and wish it could go on.  

When not to use Facebook

So a nurse at my work called in sick on Wednesday...I see on her facebook comments she mentioned she was standing in line at DPS on Wed at noon.  I thought you were sick!!   Grrr.  Good thing I don't supervise her.

I'm worried

It's less than a week until training starts.  Despite not running much lately, my heel is still sore and now my right achilles is acting up.  Yesterday I attempted 6 miles.  Made it 3 miles at a moderate pace and then was too hot so took a few walk breaks on the way home.  I had carried water with me and that still didn't help.

I am going to go out on my bike tomorrow since that doesn't bother me at all.  I had signed up for a 10K in Round Rock - has obstacles part way and I thought it would be a fun way to get a 6 mile run in.  I had no intention of racing it - just taking it easy.  Now I'm not sure I will do it at all.

I have an opportunity to go on a fun horsy weekend on Sat/Sun - I am considering doing that but there are reasons why I don't want to do that either.

I'm really hoping that getting back in a routine with the group will pull me out of this funk.

Impulse shopping

So yesterday I decided to get a bike rack for my car so I could bring
my bike into town easily and do errands from a central location (ie
the car dealership while my car is serviced). While I was at my
favorite bike store, I decided to get a bike computer so I could see
how fast and how far I was going. Now you would think that it would
also be cool to know how long it took to get from point a to point b
so you could have an average speed. Seems the model I chose (the
cheapest one) does not have a timer or average speed mode. Oh well,
I'll just have to wear my watch!! The bike rack serves my needs very
well and it was kinds cool riding my bike to my massage and then lunch
while my car was taken care of. I will say that the place I had lunch
was great. After taking great lengths to lock my bike up, they told me
I could bring it inside next time. The Honda dealership was good too.
They babysat it for me while I relaxed inside while my car got it's
complimentary bath. Can't say the same for most drivers in Austin. I
made every effort to stay on back streets but every now and then you
gotta take a busy street. It was a little scary. Oh well, I am not
detered.

Sent from my iPhone

Ambivilance

I finally signed up for my next Rogue program.  Honestly I had some serious second thoughts about it.  Partly because I had a really great time at the horse show this weekend and wouldn't mind getting another horse to work with and partly because I have been eating terribly and feel like crap.

I am still a little upper body sore and tired from the show - moving those jumps is hard work.

I had a lousy run yesterday - I'm thinking poor nutrition and inadequate hydration.

My long term plan is to give myself leeway during the summer with the workouts and enjoy the 3 horse shows I have planned.  I will continue to give myself a little leeway as far as a race goal in Houston.  Karen's idea of a time for me seems way to aggressive but I'll work towards it.  No worries if I don't get there.

Once Houston is complete, I will reevaluate my life goals and see if racing is what I want to continue or if I want to get a young horse to work with.  I can't do both.

My other life

This weekend I took Riley to a horse show.  I have learned there is no way I can run, jump crew and ride all during the same weekend.  Horse showing is exhausting - yesterday I rode in the 2nd class and the 2nd to last class.  That meant I was there from 7 am until 9pm and there are no naps.  If I wasn't riding  I was heaving jumps around.  I am really out of shape for that.  

Riley far exceeded my expectations and only made mistakes in the last class today.  It was a combo of horse and rider fatigue and he made the right decision to stop at jump#6.  It just wasn't happening and it would have been a wreck if he had attempted it.  Other than that he got a 1st, 4th and 6th in very large competitive classes.   My coach was thrilled with both of us and Riley got lots of compliments.  For all you oldies out there, in people years he is over 60 and still can hang with the youngsters.

It was really fun but I'm glad I'm home.  It's time for a nap and then to straighten up the house a little and go to work.

Kitty Olympics

Just cuz you're old doesn't mean you can't dream. Meesha is outside
today working hard on her balance beam routine.

Forcing myself out in the morning!

After work I generally like to go home and go to bed.  To try and form a new habit, I ran 6 miles right out the back door of the jail.  I ran on the trail which honestly I don't care for so I'll have to find a new loop.  Felt my legs a little at the start but that eased up fast. Feet complaining a little on the trail but OK on the road.  Continuing on my quest to run faster.  Splits 8:20, 8:00, 7:59, 8:02, 8:01, 7:55.  So far, so good.

16 mile bike ride yesterday - initially had some minor shoe/pedal issues but worked it out and had a great ride.  I am much less worried about my front wheel falling of on a downhill now!!  Really, I actually worried about it!  Need to extend my rides soon.

Running vacation

The North group is enjoying what will end up being a 6 week break from structured training.  I'm loving it and using every minute to enjoy myself.  Not that I don't enjoy the hard training but being a little more relaxed is fun.  Did a 16 mile bike ride today - have new shoes and they make a big difference.  Felt smooth and strong.  The Decker hills are getting smaller and smaller.  As I have said before this cycling is all done on a mountain bike with slick tires.  I am starting to think about getting a road bike but will wait until after Houston marathon to decide for sure.  All the things I used to love about cycling are coming back.

As well as cycling, I have the following things planned:  a horse show this weekend and a competitive trail ride the following weekend.  Never done one but I know 2 things for sure.  My butt will be raw and Riley will probably be a total scaredy cat about the obstacles.  If he has to walk across a bridge we will be doomed.  However, it is an opportunity that won't come along again for a while so I'm going to do it.

This week looks like this - 8 mile run tomorrow, 16 mile bike ride on Wed, 6 mile run on Thursday, setting jumps and riding on Friday and horse show Sat/Sun.  Will try and work in some short runs on the weekend.

Saturday

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Riley - all cleaned up, clipped and ready for the show next weekend.
Today I enjoyed an easy 10 mile run with karen and a few other
Northies. It was warm and humid and my shorts were dripping by the
time I got done but I felt strong. I am going to alternate between
cycling and running for the next month and will try for the summer
too. I will run faster 4 days a week and cycle twice a week for
recovery. It will be interesting to see what happens! I dislike
humidity but my legs love this warm weather. I warm up so much
faster than when it is cold. Somehow, I need to figure out how to
warm up quickly when it is chilly out.

Great news on the work front

Got an email at work today regarding the running shirts. They realized that cotton was a poor choice so Rogue and Travis County are joining forces and we will get Nike Dri Fit shirts with the Rogue logo and Travis Co logo on it. I'll use mine for local races. They are also starting an official running team - first meeting is today.

Otherwise I was tired on Wed so took a day off and went and gave Mr Horse some extra attention.

Baby Steps

It is going to take a while for me to be able to run a faster pace on the long runs so I started today. 3.5 miles at 8min pace. Seems ridiculous that that is an issue given that I can run that pace for 26.2 miles and did in Boston but it has been an issue in the past. My plan is 2-3 runs a week max for the next month and I will add half a mile/run at that pace. I am cross training on my bike - nothing major but an hour 2-3 times a week. I ride a pretty hilly loop so I can really feel my glutes and quads but when I run that doesn't cause any pain. Weird. I am enjoying running and not hurting. The cross training thing is good.

I have been running a few miles a week in a pair of Newton shoes since February. I am now in them full time. I love how they feel and I hope that they will discourage me from heel striking so much.

On todays 3.5 mile run I lost 1.5 pounds. I dislike humid weather in the winter but the temps+humidity feel OK right now. After my run I got in a cold shower for a couple of minutes and then finished up with luke warm. Was still sweating when I got out and my heart rate was still quite high.

Running in cotton

Travis Co Sheriff Dept is encouraging it's employees that run or walk
to wear these beauties when they participate in races. It's 100%
cotton. It will great to wear to the barn!!

Awesome Close

Wow.  Just finished watching the Kentucky Derby.  Mine That Bird won with an amazing drive down the home stretch from the back of the pack to win by more than 6 lengths.  He was a long shot, cost $9500 (cheap in the world of horse racing) and came from New Mexico.  Most horses fly to the race - he came by horse trailer.  His trainer fell of his motorcycle prior to coming to Kentucky and had to negotiate the muddy footing on crutches.  Not that I minded, he was an a**.  The jockey was a hoot.  Had no teeth and talked like he just came out of the woods.  He was so excited to win the race he dropped his helmet on the ground and was riding the horse like he was on a trail ride on the way to the winners circle.  He acted like we would act if we won the Boston Marathon...had no idea what to do with himself!  Looks like all the horses came through in one piece which is good.

Kentucky Derby #135

Today is the Kentucky Derby.  I'm betting on General Quarters.  Is he gonna win - probably not but he has a feel good story.  Owner, trainer, groom, stall mucker is a 75 yr old retired teacher/principal who has had a bunch of race horses who haven't won much.  This horse won a $400,000 a little while ago and earned himself a spot in the Derby.

Winter...then Summer

Ran a relatively easy 7.5 miles with Alix today.  She's in town for some sort of workshop.   It was not this humid when I left Austin 2 weeks ago.  It is now!!  Looks like I'm going to have to work at acclimating to it.

Setting Goals

Met with Karen today to discuss my future as a runner.  She has a lot more faith in me than I have in me.  Looks like I'm going to be working really, really hard this summer!

Overall plan - base building over the summer culminating in the New Mexico Marathon Sept 6th.

Start adding speed after that and then the San Antonio Half Marathon.  Peak for Houston Marathon and attempt more aggressive goal.

In order for me to do this, I need to run faster on the long runs, medium long runs and in between runs.  It is not going to be easy but I will give it everything I have.  

I am going to enjoy the next month because after that all hell breaks loose!!

Thanks KUT

Tomorrow is Pete Seger's 90th birthday.  On folkways they played a bunch of music featuring Pete Seger.  Awesome.  If I had to ability I'd have a song playing on my blog.  Sorry...I was born before the .com era!

Lose it

In my personal review of my sub par performance in Boston I have come up with some things that must be addressed.  1.  My diet and weight.  2.  Overall strength  3.  Use of electrolytes (I don't use them at this point)  4.  Mental toughness.

I currently am using a free app on my i phone called Lose It.  I like it alot.  Very easy and portable.  I can figure out how many calories are in what I want to eat and adjust if necessary before I eat it.  It also gives me a rough estimate of calories burned during exercise so I know how much extra to eat.  It is giving me a rather low number of calories but I am replacing the extras that I burn and will adjust once training starts.  Another plus is that it has a graph that shows me how much I have eaten during the day.  Visually I need to be about 3/4 along the line by the mid-late afternoon and just having a light meal for dinner since I often eat late.

Went to the gym yesterday and did some time on the elliptical (yes music makes the time go faster!) and some general core, arm and leg work - nothing crazy.  I think I am going to do cross fit at Rogue twice a week for the next month.

Part of my problem at Boston was that I could only push the pace so much in the last 4 miles because my legs were wanting to seize up.  I have never taken electrolytes during a run/race and probably need too.  Will experiment with that this summer.

I need to want "it"more.  I need to be able to suffer and suck it up better.  Will be working on that this next 6 months too.  

Looks like Team Rogue North and South are parting ways and doing different things in the fall/winter.  From a brief over view of the plan, I think it could help me with a lot of the above problem.  I am not happy about the split itself but believe Karen's program will work for me and give me some flexibility with the horse shows.

Meesha is doing great.  My pet sitter found a kind of cat food she seems to like.  She ate almost 3 cans of it yesterday.  I can't believe I am actually feeding Fancy Feast!  To me that is the in the category of bad cat food.  But she is eating and that's what counts.  She is still losing some weight but I hope she will stabilize soon.  I don't expect her to gain any but to hold steady at 7.5 lbs would be great.