Holidays and Hopes

As the year 2009 draws to a close, I once again find myself looking ahead to the coming year with anxiety and anticipation of the goals I have set and hope to accomplish.  Briefly, this is what a portion of 2010 may or may not turn out to include...

January, 2010
1.6.2010 - Colin leaves for the BCS National Championship Game in Pasadena, California
1.8.2010 - Colin's 15th Birthday - OMG, he can get his driving permit...
1.16.2010 - GWTC 15K/30K
1.29-31.2010 - ATAC Short Course Invitational

February, 2010
2.7.2010 - Tallahassee Marathon and Half - Hoping to qualify for Boston 2011 here......
2.18.2010 - Mom-in-luv (Nancy's) Birthday!
2.21.2010 - 26.2 with Donna (3rd Time's the Charm) or Hope to qualify for Boston 2011 here......
2.25-28.2010 - Short Course Florida Swimming Senior Championships

March, 2010
3.6.2010 - TRBC 10K
3.7.2010 - Seaside Half Marathon - I most likely will not make this race, but who knows.
3.27.2010 - Springtime Tallahassee 10K
3.28.2010 - Blue Line 100 Century Ride


April, 2010
4.17-18.2010 - TOSRV Double Century Ride
Rose City Run (10K)

Small Quizzes - Just as Important as the Tests

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone and its wake left two minor quizzes  with a Passing grade.  Every Thanksgiving for last seven (yes, 7) years I get up early, usually with Colin, and head to Southwood for the annual running of the Tallahassee Turkey Trot.  In the beginning I ran the 5K with my friend Cathy and we worked our way up to the 15K where we have settled in the last 4 years.  This year's "Trot" was a personal challenge in two ways:  I wanted to beat last year's time which was phenomenal (then), and I had a time goal in mind.  That is something I very rarely do - set a time goal.  However, I have begun setting them for the shorter distances to see just how long I can hold onto that elusive Boston-qualifying pace that I need in a couple of months.

So, off we went with me a bit more nervous about 9.3 miles than in the past.  Colin sees friends right off the bat and falls into place with them, knowing that he will see me at the finish when I am done ... some 30 minutes after he completes the 10K race (which he did this year in 41:57 - a personal record by more than 3 minutes).  I chat with some friends and other runners as nearly 3,600 of us wait for the gun to sound and be on our way.  Better late than never, the horn sounds and we get moving.  Gosh, it takes a while to get out and around the crowds who didn't follow the corralling directions, but soon enough I am in my own bubble clipping along at a nice pace.  I guess about Mile 1 or so, Robin Safley eases up behind me and then next to me, and settles in with me for the next 8+ miles.  We chat a good bit until about mile 7, and then the conversation gets really one-sided:  only me talking.  I don't know if Robin was trying to give me a hint, or if we were at that point in a run where only one us should be talking at a time - not enough oxygen for both of us...  Ha!  Robin is one of those athletes who even when she is about to die on the course never looks like she is in distress, or working hard, or even sweating.  It can be somewhat disheartening if you let it get to you.  Thankfully, Robin is bubbly and fun, and chatty (most of the time) and always appreciative of company on the course - even when it's me.

We go on to put up two personal records (PRs) in fabulous style and we are both in great spirits when we finish.  It is always amazing to me to know that a running partner can make all the difference in a so-so run and a fantastic finish (1:17:55 for a 15K+).

Speaking of running partners, Monday morphed into the long run day this week by virtue of the holiday preceding it.  Family, turkey, football, church they just don't leave a lot of room in the day for an 18-mile jaunt down the St. Mark's Trail.  Nor should they.  So, after getting both the boys off to school, I zipped down to the south-side of town to meet my running buddies, Maggie and Michelle.  We started off in the cool, not quite 50 degree misty morning for our latest endurance test.  I knew that 18 was a long way, and I needed to be conservative, but not too slow, in my miles.  Michelle was just out because she and Maggie got a bug in their panties last weekend and decided to run the Tallahassee Marathon in February.  We had a great run:  18 miles at just about 9:10 pace and a bit better in some places.  I was happy because I can see that it might actually be a reasonable goal for me to attempt that whole Boston Qualifying thing in February.  Lots of prayers, and with God's grace I will get there.  Woo Hoo!

For Everything, A Season

You know the e-mail that floats around spouting  on and on about how friends come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime?  I sat in the mall this morning with the newest addition to my "lifetime" of friends.  I say she is the newest of my "lifetime" friends, because I can simply tell that she (her name is really Michelle) is "gonna be around for a while, honey."  I just love her.

In the picture to the right she is the one in the black triathlon get up.  This was taken about two miles into the 26.2 mile run portion of Ironman Florida on November 7, 2009.  She was racing her first Ironman, and boy did she do a bang up job.

Anyway, back to friends who flit and float into our lives.....

I don't have a ton of "lifetime" girl friends.  But those that I do have, I cherish and hold near and dear to my heart.  These are my friends that no matter how long it has been since we last saw each other or spoke on the phone (or even "Facebooked" each other) we immediately fall back into that comfortable togetherness of being with a friend.  It is a blessing to know that on any given day, I could call one of them or show up in their driveway and I would be as welcome as if I had only been there the night before at the school play.

We are beginning the Advent season which, by divine planning, always includes Thanksgiving.  What a blessing to have friends of all kinds to share with me and our Lord the wonder, beauty, and majesty of Thanksgiving which then gives way to the glorious season of CHRISTmas.

Test Number 1 is a PASS!!!

When I originally "came out of the shoe closet" and told my little world that I was going to try "for Boston," I knew there would be hurdles and tests along the way.  The first "quiz" was the Red Cross Hurricane 5K in September (Labor Day).  I managed to pass that one okay.  But, I knew it was a very small step on the journey to 26.2 miles.  The first "real" test (not exam) was going to be the Boston (Georgia) Mini Marathon.  This small Georgia town hosts a half marathon race on the last Saturday of October every year.  Just for me to run near my birthday .... Ha!  Anyway, as in the last few years, I had planned to run this race.  It is scenic; well attended; fairly well supported; and not so far away from home that I can't get there, run, and get back all before lunch.

So, at 6:00 a.m. off I went to the little burg of Boston.  I arrived at "the" Presbyterian church where the out-of-towners park a bit before 7:00 a.m.; met up with my friend and training partner Cathy; and walked to the Community Center to retrieve my race number and shirt.  We walked back to the car(s), gathered our gear, and headed back to the center of town to be closer to the starting area.  The temperature was a bit warmer than I would have liked, but one of the few items I cannot control during a 13.1 mile race, therefore I vowed to just deal with it.  I pulled up my big girl panties and got ready to run.  After the invocation and the singing of the Star Spangled Banner the pack started out...  In the last couple of years the field has been between 200 and 250 runners.  I will be interested to see how many turned out this year for the race.  I know I finished 62nd over all because that is why my chute card said on it.  I don't know which place female I was or how I may (or may not) have placed in my age group, but I know I was less than the 15th female as Cathy said that was her.

My official finish time was 1:51:24 for what Boston measures at 13.1 miles (Garmin Forerunner 305 says 13.18 miles, but who is counting?).  That puts me at roughly 8:27 minutes/mile.   That makes my pace a full 20 seconds per mile FASTER than I need for a Boston Qualifying time in the 26.2 distance.  Not to mention, that is a personal best (a.k.a. PR) by more than 6 minutes (last year's time 1:57:10).  Hooray!

I did learn an important and very valuable lesson on Saturday:  I do not find it hard or difficult to run 13 miles.  I did find it challenging to run 13 miles in what is a FAST time FOR me.  Yikes!  I definitely needed the off day Sunday to rest and walk.  No strenuous anything was going on with these legs.  Today, however, is a different story.  I will be on the bike soon for about 35-45 miles depending on time.  Gotta love it!

Blessings!

Not So Random Thoughts

I spent last weekend serving on a team for the Big Bend Walk to Emmaus Community (Women's Walk #54), and it was fabulous.  As such, I was away from my computer, e-mail, cell phone, TV, radio, newspaper, and family for the duration of the walk.  It was GREAT!  The women who participated on this walk were truly blessed by their experiences.  I was culling through my e-mail, and the Runner's World Quotes of the Day had stacked up considerably.  There are three that I think quite worthy of archiving and sharing and I thought this would be a good forum in which to do that.

Without further adieu, here they are:

Friday, October 23:  Spirit has fifty times the strength and staying power of brawn and muscle.

- anonymous

Monday, October 26:  We all have dreams.  But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort. - Jesse Ownes, American track and field athlete and four-time Olympic gold-medalist

Tuesday, October 27:  You train best where you are the happiest. - Frank Shorter, American distance runner and Olympic gold-medalist

Looking Back ... and a Bit Ahead

Well, September was busy, busy, busy. And, October is looking to be more of the same. High school swim season began, peaked, and has started the slide into October and championship meets. Colin swam in Orlando again this year with our friends the Ayers bringing home several new best times: 200 Free, 400 IM, 100 Free, 200 Back, and the 50 Free. Aidan is making great strides in the third grade while loving his new teacher: Mrs. Jones; who, by the way, was Colin's third grade teacher as well. Mike continues to "catch" the bad guys and keep all of Tallahassee safe and on the straight and narrow. I love him for the job he does, and because he is him.

I ran, and rode, and ran, and rode, and ran some more including a 5K personal best time. September also say the accomplishment of reaching 3,000 training miles for the year (to date). Yes, you read correctly. I have run/ridden more than 3,000 miles so far this year. Woo-hoo! I'm loving it!

So now that we are "officially" into marathon season, here is the outlook - revised in some places - for the season. Taking note that things for me are ALWAYS subject to change.

October, 2009
10.3.2009 - Atlantic Coast Triathlon (70.3)
10.3.2009 - Pine Run 20K
10.17.2009 - Spaghetti 100 (ride)
10.17.2009 - Big Bend High School Swimming Championships
10.28.2009 - District High School Swimming Championships
10.31.2009 - Boston, GA Mini Marathon

November, 2009
11.5.2009 - Regional High School Swimming Championships
11.7.2009 - Ironman Florida (volunteering on the course - Way Cool!)
11.8.2009 - Kids Tri 2 (kids' sprint triathlon in Panama City)
11.13-15.2009 - State High School Swimming Championships
11.22.2009 - The Women's Half Marathon To Benefit LLS (St. Petersburg, FL) - will not be running this race, though it is for a fabulous cause, and I am going to be damn depressed about it - really wanted to run this. Oh, well.
11.26.2009 - Turkey Trot 15K

December, 2009
12.5.2009 - GWTC 10 Mile Challenge
12.4-6.2009 - Gator Swim Club Winter Invitational
12.20.2009 - Jacksonville Marathon? - I don't think so...
12.19.2009 - Jingle Bell Run with the boys

January, 2010
1.8.2010 - Colin's 15th Birthday - OMG, he can get his driving permit...
1.16.2010 - GWTC 15K/30K
1.29-31.2010 - ATAC Short Course Invitational

February, 2010
2.7.2010 - Tallahassee Marathon and Half - Hope to qualify for Boston 2011 here......
2.18.2010 - Mom-in-luv (Nancy's) Birthday!
2.21.2010 - 26.2 with Donna (3rd Time's the Charm) or Hope to qualify for Boston 2011 here......
2.25-28.2010 - Short Course Florida Swimming Senior Championships

March, 2010
3.6.2010 - TRBC 10K
3.7.2010 - Seaside Half Marathon
3.27.2010 - Springtime Tallahassee 10K

High School Swimming and Running a PR

In order to get a couple of thoughts "out there" this afternoon, I am combining topics. First and foremost, Colin swims in his first HIGH SCHOOL swim meet this evening. Yes, that rug rat has grown a bit and aged a few years to become a full fledged freshman in high school - at Lincoln High School to be exact. Tonight he swims two of his favorite events: the 200 yard Freestyle and the 500 yard Freestyle, along with at least one relay. We, being his parents, are anxious and excited to see what he has hiding under his swim cap for the other competitors tonight because we KNOW it isn't hair.

Correct, no hair. He shaved his head completely bald last night for the beginning of high school swim season. I will keep you posted on how long it lasts, and how long it takes to grow out, AND on whether or not he chooses to keep it this way. I am thinking it will grow out for winter training.

Then, lastly, I ran a little bitty (619 runners) 5K on Monday to benefit the Red Cross - yes, my father-in-law is just thrilled. I ran ... drum roll, please ... 3.1 miles in 24 minutes and 23 seconds. YAHOO! FYI, that averages out to 7:46 minutes per mile. WAAAAAYYYY faster than I have ever run anything longer than one mile in my life. I was so excited. I was fourth in the Masters Women division (40+) and would have been first in the 40-44 age division if awards had been given for that. The only pictures are horrible, but I have put one here just to show that I did indeed run the event.

By the way, have a great week!