My First Marathon (x2)

The second block of the year wasn't my best training. It started off ok with some good quality run work on a Tuesday and some good bike quality work on Wednesday.  Thursday I needed to train in the morning before I started my road trip.  It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great.  Thursday evening I was in Michigan City for work and had a good evening. Friday morning I went to LaPorte to swim because the Elston Y in Michigan City has had problems with their pool since fall and it is closed.  The LaPorte pool is crazy warm.  Like tropical beverages crazy warm.  After a long time sitting on the edge of the pool so that I wouldn't have my set interrupted by the 5 minute guard break I got in.  I swam well and was mildly amused by the AOA class going on across the pool.  Got out and went to the hot tub, which is my winter swimming reward, but I swear it wasn't much warmer than the pool and wasn't that exciting. https://www.instagram.com/p/BPNNbHZA5HlyeO...

A few things have happened in the past 8 days that have inspired me to post before race season begins, after all it's not all about racing. I have been riding the diabetes struggle bus since reducing my medicine after Monumental half in early November, with pretty scary fasting blood sugar numbers.  But my doc doesn't want to test or talk about it until February, so I am just in a holding pattern where I feel relatively powerless.  I've also had the head cold from hell since mid/late-December and it's super annoying.  The last 10 pounds I lost found their way back, so I need to lose them again (story of my life)...but some good things are underway too. I decided to have David come and take pictures of my first weight training session of the year.  I've been working with Shannon Strazynski (fellow PBT teammate and personal trainer at Fitness Garage in Zionsville) since June. Also, fellow PBT teammate Jasmine Tracey featured ...

2016 was the first year of training for Ironman in 2018.  For the most part there was a lot of progress and improvement, with a few sidesteps. In March I broke 2:30 for the half marathon for the first time.  It was truly anticlimactic.  I hadn't come closer than 2:32 in several years of trying to break 2:30.  Then it happened.  With a 2:28.  In Dallas.  With no one there.  I've done it three times this year.  So I guess I am a 2:30 half marathoner now.  I am also able to consistently pace 2:45. May was the most awful Olympic distance tri ever at Bonkers.  Paired with the irony of "earning" an invitation to AG nationals based on that race.  Small races are weird that way. Early June is Monumental Mile.  I always think I'm going to break 10:00 and never quite get there.  Until I ran 9:41 this year.  Still not sure how to feel about that. In June I was anxious about the Grand Rapids tri/Athena nationals . ...

It seems like everyone is doing a gift list for runners, cyclists, triathletes, etc.  I've been enjoying them, but they don't necessarily include my favorite things, so I thought I would share my own. 1. Feetures elite ultra light no show tab socks - https://feeturesrunning.com/product/elite-ultra-light-no-show-tab These are my hands down favorite running socks.  For running I will basically only wear them, they are the best socks ever.  They are lightweight and don't feel like they're taking up space in your shoes.  They wick water from even my sweaty feet.  I haven't had a blister wearing them (except when running hills in an utter downpour/thunderstorm, but that doesn't count). 2. Saucony Guide shoes on the Everun platform - http://www.saucony.com/en/womens-best-sellers-guide/ I used to run exclusively in Brooks.  No, I didn't have some cool sponsorship, they were just the best shoe for me for a long time.  Then Saucony came out wi...

Two weeks before the Detroit Free Press Marathon I was feeling GREAT about my race.  I had decided that a small PR (anything under 5:46) was a C- day, that a B day would be keeping my average pace under 13:00, and that my A goal of 5:30 was reachable...there may have even been an unspoken A+ goal.  I was in good shape and ready to go racing. Taper Week 1 Monday - I left work and was headed to my last pre-race training session with my personal trainer.  I was on I-65 between downtown and Zionsville when a small truck in the lane next to me lost control of his vehicle due to mechanical failure and hit my car, pushing it into another car.  Fortunately I was ok, but the stress of dealing with the car being totaled and the insurance company took it's toll. Wednesday - Friday - I was the co-chair for the OKI regional planning conference in Indianapolis.  Good days, but long days.  Also, I couldn't find the title to my car to send to the insurance company so ...

Credit goes to Rhi Johns for the title, it's how she described her race yesterday...and fitting for my final 20 before Detroit. While "fall" began this week it has still been flirting with 90 degrees and we've had three ozone action/air quality alert days in a row in Indy.  I started my run early, knowing that it was going to be an icky day.  It was 67 degrees with 92% relative humidity when I started the run.  Even though I don't often weigh myself before a long run because I know I am carrying a bit of extra water and carb loading weight, I did because I knew I would need to know how much I lost on this run. I ran the first 4 miles in the dark with lights, since I started at 6:40 AM.  On street through the hills on 75th Street over to the Monon.  Pace was slower that desirable, but in the dark I wasn't taking risks.  I got to the deck as the last Indy Runners were taking off and I had missed the instructions.  I knew the group was running a loop ...

I've had a good training week.  My coach reviewed my past training block and had good things to say and was happy with my speedwork on Tuesday.  I had a strong long run today and was able to run negative splits during the "fast finish" portion of it.  Also several people said that I looked smaller every time they saw me or that I was the incredible shrinking woman.  All happy. Later I was texting with a friend who is one of my superheroes.  She said I reminded her that she needed to want it more than anything else.  We didn't say it, but we were talking about Ironman. It got me thinking about what I wanted it more than, I want to hear "Rose Scovel from Indianapolis, Indiana YOU are an IRONMAN" more than I want: Cookies Frosting Chips Fried food Milkshakes Alcohol Pizza Cinnamon toast Waffles Coffee cake Sleeping in on Saturday Being cool Being warm Being dry Smelling good Great hair Money/a higher paying job A new car A nice yard A s...