First things first. This Sunday is Daylights savings time.
March 10th we have to SPRING FORWARD. Set the clocks ahead One Hour. We’ll, I’ll get them ready on Saturday so I won’t forget. Btw, anyone know if the iPhone automatically does DST??
I’m reminding you as much as I am reminding myself. [If you live in one of those states with no DST. ignore me] I have a race this Sunday.
It runs from the Tank (HP Pavillion in downtown San Jose) to Santana Row. I ran the inaugural last year and had a fun time [Mariachi Mile made me smile]. Though it was my first back to back race and my legs felt like lead. I had ran the Hellyer 10k the weekend before. This year I couldn’t do the 10k, but did do 10 miles on Sunday.
Those 10 miles are the longest I have run this year. They were good, long hard miles. I ran around my neighborhood with my Zipfizz filled waterbottle and some dates in my pocket. It was tough I tell you. I was walking Alcatraz and the Embarcadero the day before and I knew my legs/feet were not going to enjoy the 10. I took a lot of walking breaks, cursed several hills, stretched at intersections and stepped in a dozen pot holes, but I did it.
10.2 miles 1:52:36. According to RunKeeper my average pace was 11:11, though I think it may have been lower since I didn’t pause the ap at the intersections where I needed to stop. But still a pretty decent pace for me. I’m happy with it.
I am supposed to do 11 miles this weekend and am trying to figure out how to do that while still running a good race this Sunday.
Any suggestions? I’m thinking running the 8k in the morning, and in the evening run the rest of my needed miles. Does that count?
I am building up my miles because I this race coming up in April:
It will be my 3rd 1/2 marathon. I signed up soon after I finished the Big Sur (I think) and deemed myself insane for doing so, but I want the cool medal and the chance to run across the Golden Gate bridge and back again 
Priorities people.
Just got to figure out race logistics. If to drive up both expo and race day, instead of getting a hotel in the city, or asking a friend to let me bunk at their place for the night, but I dunno how some would feel at a 4 am wake up call. . . .
I am not aiming to PR this race. Heck no. Especially not with the SF hills. I will run what I can, walk when I need to, and just enjoy the race. My only goal is to finish and race smartly. That means, fueling properly and listening to my body.
By fueling, I am thinking of incorporating Gu’s or chew of some sort into my routine. I have read posts about people fueling through their races and have come to determined that I am not doing it that well. I am setting my goal to have a 2-3 chew every 2-3 miles. So at miles 2, 4, 6, 8 10, and 12 of a 1/2 would be the outcome.
I’ll fuel this 8k race and also in my training run and see how I do.
I haven’t really ran since Sunday. [that always tends to happen!!]
Monday: Tone It Up HIIT the Beach and Cowubanga routines
Tuesday: Brick workout: Swim 25 minutes. Cycle 1 hour.
Wednesday: 1 hour yoga in the A.M and 2 miles on the elliptical [with a 15% incline?? our machine doesn’t go lower]
I had planned Zumba class for Wednesday night, but by the time I got off the elliptical I was dog tired and ended up on the couch eating leftover pizza, Pirates booty and girlscout cookies, watching Haunted Collector on SyFy until I had to go to the airport to pick up the Husband.
Today I want to get at least 4 miles in. I’ll probably have to hit up a treadmill because I’m a wimp and hate going out in the cold. My body is still sore and tired so it’s going to be a slow and easy 4 miles. I don’t want to over work myself before my race.
Speaking of overworking. . . I am thinking of doing something only the insane would think of.
Yeah.
I am thinking of doing a marathon. The CIM in Sacramento. A number of people I know IRL and through blogs are doing it. It’s in December of this year which will give me PLENTY of time to train my ass off and build up my nerves. Plenty of time. All the time in the world. But dear Goddess it’s already March and we know how fast the months fly by. Even if it seems sooooo far off that I worry it will hinder some life plans. I really want to do it though.
I never thought I would be a runner. I never thought I’d do a race. I’d never thought I’d be training for my THIRD 1/2 marathon and there is possibly 2-3 more I will be doing this year (AAH!) so the marathon was one of those things I’d be like, “me? run a marathon?”
But, of the combating voices in my head, the desire for running a marathon is winning. Fear is still shouting loud and clear (what if you collapse? what if you don’t train hard enough? what if you don’t finish? you could die!!! [yes, I am morbid and constantly freak myself out]) but the image of me crossing that finish line whether it be hobbling on my last legs, or strutting across with my arms in the air in victory with friends, is just as strong.
I have to believe I can.
Though, I am getting ahead of myself. It’s something I have to mull over and discuss.
It’s an exciting thought though? Isn’t it?
For now, I will be focusing on my upcoming race and the 1/2 in April.
Tell me. . .
-How do you fuel for long races?
-If you have run a marathon, how did you come to the decision to do so? And what was going through your head?
-Are you running the Rock n Roll San Francisco 1/2? Are you staying in the city or driving up both days?? Care to carpool, be bunk buddies or other ideas??
Fell free to Link away to your race techniques if you want!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Yay, I recently added your blog to my reader.
Fueling: I eat a Gu 15 minutes before I start, and every 40 minutes once I do start. This has been the best for me. I tried to do the chew thing, but for starters, I don’t like chewing when I run, and also, I hate having to take things out of my Spi belt very often.
Marathons: After I did my first-ever half-marathon in 2004, I was dying and hurting, and yet, a small part of me was like, “Dude, what about a FULL!!” It took me almost ten years, but I finally got it done. Most of my problems were motivational – I would sign up, start training, and then NOT stick with the training (and downgrade to the half marathon instead). 2012 was the first year that I really put my mind to it, because I wanted to have one under my belt before I turned 30 (and even then, I still feel I was undertrained – oh well, next time will be better).
It’s going to be a mindf***k no matter what, but things that help: having a training partner (which you know already); allowing yourself a slower pace and walk breaks; having a really solid training plan; and picking a race that is beginner-friendly and supportive and on similar terrain to what you train on (so, don’t do a hilly trail run for your very first marathon if you never find yourself on hilly trails). Also, as above, having a solid hydration/fueling plan.
I have much more I could say, but I don’t want to monopolize your blog post, so feel free to email me or call me. Or we should get together sometime
Thu, thank you for the comment. That definitely helps when planning fueling options. The marathon is such a big deal word to me, that it sends the scare waves throughout my head and truly does mindf**ck me. lol. And it probably will until if/when I do a marathon. It’s just the way it is. But I agree with the proper training, fueling, support and determination that it can be done, obviously, so I just got to remind myself of that. yes, we should meet up! i would love to do a long run with you
Just know that I’m quite slow compared to you
The marathon will always be scary. (Well, for me, at least – my friend Peter can totally do them back to back, and is trying to do one in each state.) But as I like to say, You don’t become a badass doing things that are easy. I think the best goals are the ones that scare you. It’s good that it scares you – it scares me too, and I already know that I am capable of completing one. It’s a healthy fear – it makes sure that you respect the distance and don’t underestimate the difficulty.
But it IS doable, and I’ve been seeing how diligent you are with your training, so, I think you can totally do it. The question is, as always, do you want it badly enough?
Totally bummed out about losing an hour of sleep this weekend.
<3 Melissa
wildflwrchild.blogspot.com
i wake up early as it is, but losing that hour on race day is going to be rough. that and i really wish i could sleep in. perhaps tomorrow as a last hurrah before DST
thanks for the comment!
I am SO not excited about losing an hour of sleep, but I am REALLY ready for getting an extra hour of daylight in the evenings so it will definitely be worth it!
yeah, losing that hour is going to be tough for the first couple days. but gaining the extra light is worth it [i think, maybe, haha].
thank you for commenting!
I didn’t realize until earlier this week that it is clock-switching time already–woohoo! It will be weird here because we still have about 10″ of snow on the ground, and the time change usually feels very “springish”. I am looking forward to more time to run in the daylight in the evening!
Great job on the 10 mile run! Dates are a great idea for fuel. I am so horrible at that–I’ve actually never had anything but water on a run, not even when I ran a half marathon. I never feel bad during the run, but sometimes I feel bad after those 11, 12, and 13-milers. I’m guessing some nutrition would probably help.
It’s been feeling springish around here, but very cold (for me at least). I thought DST was several more weeks away until the race bulletin emailed saying to be very careful about the clock. Definitely looking forward to more daylight. I need the sunshine. thanks for the comment!
I also have a race on Sunday! Good thing it’s not super-early. Coincidentally I also had a race when we moved clocks back in the fall!