Flying By

Man, this week just flew by. One week left until the main event!!! And the forecast isn't looking too good.


Wednesday I went to toning class. My abs were sore for two days afterward. I really need to do more core work, but when???

Thursday I met the group for 5 at 5 followed by a swim. We even had Lana's oldest and one of Mary Beth's sons join us. It is great to see kids that age interested in running.

Today I met Lana and Mike for a very cold ride. It was great to be outside on my bike. The sun was shining and I got warm quickly. Thanks Lana for making us climb the extra hill to get the blood really flowing.


After the ride, I hit the Starbucks. It is all Lana's fault. I don't drink coffee, I don't like it. But when we went to Florida at the first of the month, she made me stop at Starbucks on the way out of town. Then she insisted on buying me a coffee of some type. I liked it ok at the time. Then days later, I started craving one. I didn't give in until last week. Then I sent Lana a pic message blaming her. So what do I get yesterday??? A message from Lana about her coffee. Peppermint Mocha. I just had to try one. OMG!!! I think they put crack in those things. It was SO good. I am going to have to find a Starbucks addicts support group.

Speaking of Florida...today was the day. I coughed up the money and am now officially in for Ironman '08. I felt sick to my stomach the whole time I was signing up.

Last VO2 Max

Whew, am I glad that is over! As soon as I saw 3 x 1600 on the schedule, I knew I was in trouble.
I met Lana this morning at 5:00. As soon as she pulled up, she jumped into my van.
"I DON'T want to do this" she said.
"Me either!!!" I replied.
We stalled.
Finally we decided to get it over with and climbed out of the van.
The plan was 8 miles with 3 x 1600.
We ran the 2 miles from the rec center to Westwood. Lana used her code to break into the track. And then we started the 1600s.
I didn't even try to hang with Lana. I knew I couldn't and I didn't want to do myself in right off the bat.
I don't have my Garmin handy. I am in bed with my toasty warm new flannel sheets and don't want to get up to get it. So I don't have the exact splits.
I do remember that my first one was seven forty something. Then the second was seven fifty something and the last one was better then the other two.
I was so glad to be done.
The 2.5 mile back to the rec center were tough but we took them slow.

Another rest/cross training day tomorrow. I am going to class, assuming I can pull myself out of these comfy sheets. I am loving this taper.

Black Friday

Lana and David,
It won't take much effort to do better then me at this weeks 16 mile run. 2:30:12, 9:23 pace.
Good Luck,
Michele

The alarm went off at 4:00 this morning and I hit snooze. It went off again 9 minutes later and this time I got up. Not for shopping, for running. Usually we are in Memphis for Black Friday and my friend Dawn and I hit all the sales. This year Ronnie had to work so we stayed home. His working also prevented me from shopping. So running it was.
It was cold and I started slow.
I thought that the 3,3,6,6, and 2 method worked so well last week maybe I would try it again. 3 at 10, 3 at 9:45, 6 at 9:20-9:30, and 4 at marathon pace.
First three 9:58, 9:29, 9:27. Oops a little faster then planned but it is cold and I want it over.
Next three 9:20, 9:28, 9:16. If I can hold this pace the rest of the run, I am going to be happy.
The six 9:14, 9:10, 9:08, 8:59, 9:19, 9:21. About mile 10 my stomach started hurting. I had to slow down.
The last four 9:12, 10:22 (port-a-potty stop)9:09, 9:22. In that 14 mile I started worrying about my stomach. I knew there used to be a port-a-potty at a house under construction. The house is almost done and I was worried they had already hauled it off. I started praying. Please let that port-a-potty still be there and let it be somewhat clean. As I rounded the turn, I saw it. Whew, relief was in sight. I made the stop and then continued on. I felt better for the next mile but then the cramping started again and I couldn't get home fast enough.
Guess my tummy doesn't like Thanksgiving dinner, or maybe it is just my cooking!!!

Thanksgiving 10k

Well, the last minute 5/10k was a success.

We met at the rec center at 8:00. It was cold, wet and windy, but that only kept a few people away. We had a great turn out and a lot of fun.

Lana gave directions to everyone for each of the courses.

Most people went with the 5k option, an out and back to Old Stone Fort Park.


Only 5 of us toughed it out with the 10k.

Lana's dad, Flash, was the official race photographer and lead car. He did a great job! Thanks for the support Flash.

With a very official "On your mark, get set, GO!", we were off. I had set my Garmin for a 52:00 10K and was "losing" right away. I was running with Lana and we made up the time by the start of the second mile. Lana continued to press the pace but I refused to run that fast. She pulled on ahead of me.


The first loop was through town and around the square and back to the start line. Then we started the 5k loop. On the way out, I saw all the 5k-ers coming in.


I was still winning my race against Garmin, but lost some of my lead on the hill leading to the park. I made the turn around and back up the hill just outside the park. Time to pick it up. Down the hill, back on the greenway, and to the finish line.

51:25, a new PR.

I hope this can become an annual event. And maybe with a little more notice, even more people will run.

Time to eat some of those calories I burned this morning.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Coming Clean

Lana is going to rat me out so I thought I would come clean before she had the chance.

I met Lana and Mike at 4:40 this morning for our 4 mile run and 6 x 100 strides. When we finished the run I forgot the strides again. Lana said "Where are you going? Strides!" I walked back to the starting point and Lana asked what time it was. I said 5:30. Then she asked if I wanted to just skip the stride and go on to toning class so we wouldn't be late. I jumped on it. The shock on her face was worth it.

We went to toning class and I could tell it has been a WHILE. The weight were heavy.

After class I went to the pool and swam 100 yards. I actually felt like my form was really good for once. The time was really slow but you can't have everything.

Streak tagged me so here it goes:

Rules:-- link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog-- share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird-- tag 2 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs-- let them know they are TAGGED by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I can't stand for a light switch to be up when the light is off. I will walk across the room to turn the light off by the other switch just to make sure both switches are down.

2. I have one younger brother. We are very different. As a kid I swore that my parents were part of some experiment to see how different kids could turn out even when raised by the same parents in the same house.

3. My favorite color is red and my favorite number is 4.

4. I was born in Frankfurt Germany at an army base. I am a US citizen. My birth certificate has no number on it. It was a real hassle every year in school when filling out the paperwork.

5. I was one of four Michele's in my freshman Algebra class. 3 of us spelled it with one L and only one had 2 L's. So who spells their name wrong???

I tag David and Lance

Busy

My kids have caused me to busier then usual the past several days. I am worn out.

Thank goodness it is taper. It has been hard to get the runs in but I have logged the miles required, well almost.

Sunday I met Lana at 12:30 at the Rec Center for an 8 mile run with 5 x 600. We ran 3 miles to the track at Westwood. Where Lana used her code to get us in the gate. Lana's goal was 2:45 on each of the 600s. She pulled me along and I managed to make every one (just behind her). It is great to have a super fast training partner who doesn't take no for an answer. After the 600's, we ran the two+ miles back to the Rec Center.

Monday morning I met Mike at the Rec Center at 5:00 for 5. We waited until 5:15 for Lana then took off without her. I got confused about the schedule and only ran 4. There goes my sub 4 marathon!!
After the run, we went in for a quick swim. I swam 1000 yards. Does that make up for my lost mile??

Today is a rest/cross train day. I planned on riding my trainer but now I have poured myself a glass of wine. Don't see that ride happening!

Tomorrow I am meeting Lana and Mike for a 4 mile recovery run with 6 x 100 and then going to toning class.

Thursday Lana, Holly and I had planned on doing the Blvd. Bolt, but we procrastinated so long that now it would be $50 each with no guarantee that we would get a timing chip. So Lana is kicking off the First Annual Manchester Thanksgiving Day 5 and 10K. The best part...it is FREE!!!! Everyone is invited.

Happy Thanksgiving

Lana is Trying to Kill Me

Here's how it went down:

Yesterday, I met Lana, Holly and Mike (Amy and Kim were no shows) at the Rec Center for a 4 mile recovery run and a 900 yard swim.

After the swim, Lana and I discussed the 20 miler scheduled for today. We decided to run the same 20 mile route as last time. But, she thought that maybe if we started a little later (6:00) that we would have time to eat before hand and therefore have a better run. I told her that sounded good to me, 2 hours more sleep. Later I got an email that said she forgot about her hair appointment so it would have to be 4 after all. Ugg, the first step in her attempt to do me in.

So I got up at 3:30 this morning and drove to Lana's.That's right is says 3:56 and 27 degrees!!!

After a quick discussion about the amount of clothing Lana was wearing and if it would be too much we started the run.

We started nice and slow. That is when Lana told me the plan.

I have an idea for this run. Let's break it down in 6, 6, 6 and the final 2.
Ok, fine with me. It's a mental thing we have used before. But there was more...
The first 6 let's break into 2 subsets of 3 each. The first 3 at a 10:00 pace.
I am liking this plan.
The actual turned out 10:02, 9:59, and 9:43
The second 3 we will pick up the pace just a little to 9:45.
Still ok with the plan.
The actual was 9:46, 9:27, and 9:23
The second 6 we pick it up some more to about 9:20 to 9:30
I pointed out to Lana as we started the second 6 we didn't have to pick up the pace much to reach her goal. Please, Please don't make me run faster.
The actual 9:14, 9:18, 9:20, 9:19, 9:19 and 9:21
The last 6 will be run at marathon pace.
What?!?!? Are you insane? I didn't read anything about marathon pace on the plan. I fought her the whole six. I would fall behind and then remind myself I felt fine, there was no reason I couldn't keep up. I just didn't want to! Lana fought back. She would motion me to get back up there with her and continue running at her insane pace.
The actual 9:34 (it was uphill and we had some photo ops), 9:00, 8:59, 9:02, 8:51, and 8:52.
The last 2 miles we can see where we are, how we are feeling and either finish it out at marathon pace or pick it up
I can tell you where I will be, DONE!!!
As we start this final two, Lana got just ahead of me and there was no catching up this time. I pushed just to stay a few steps behind.
The actual 8:52 and 8:49.
20 miles in 3:06:14, 9:19 pace.


So there you have it. Lana tried to kill me! Good news is, I survived. And it is downhill from here. It is taper time!!

We high fived after the finish. I noticed Lana's ponytail had ice on the ends. I hope the picture turns out and Lana posts it. It was too funny.

I rushed home, made lunches for my kids and dropped them off at school.

Returned home to take an ice bath. I was still so cold from the run that I did not relish the idea of sitting in ice. I got in the tub and started the cold water. It hurt so bad. I got craps in my feet from tensing up. I dumped the ice in and couldn't stand it. I gave up on the ice bath. I used biofreeze on my lower body instead.

New Blogger

First, I want to welcome Holly to blog land. She is Lana's sister and a runner. Maybe a triathlete this summer. Go visit her and give her some love.

This morning I met Lana at the Rec Center for a 10 mile GA run.

I don't know what is going on with the weather but it was 60 degrees. It has been cold in the mornings so this morning I was WAY over dressed. Cold gear tights were overkill. I left the vest, gloves, and ear thingy in the car. Nothing I could do about the tights at this point.

Lana wasn't feeling good before we even started.

We did a loop down Interstate Drive and through town. As we ran past the Rec Center Lana said she was done.

I was once told the hardest part about being a runner is know when NOT to run. Lana made the right choice this morning.

I made the second loop on my own. I was hot but felt good. It was a almost a mile short when I got back to the Rec Center, so I had to do an out and back on the greenway. My splits tell just how much I wanted to do that out and back.

Here they are:
10:16, 9:31, 9:27, 9:33, 9:40, 9:33, 9:28, 9:30, 9:24, and 9:51
1:36:11 overall 9:37 average pace.

Cold front is coming tonight, or so they say. Wonder if I will need cold gear tomorrow?

Alone

I don't even have to tell you that I ran alone this morning, my splits will tell you that.

Lana had to bail due to a sick kid. I was on my own.

I ran a VERY slow warm up then started the 1200's. Oh the pain!! I quickly revised my goal from Lana's 5k pace to something closer to mine. I told myself as long as I kept them under an 8:00 pace I would be happy. First one 5:57 (7:57 pace). The two mintue jog went by too fast and it was time for the second 1200. 5:56 (7:56 pace). So far so good. Again the 2 minute jog passed much too quickly. The third 1200 hurt even more and failed to meet even my revised goal. 6:05 (8:07 pace). That did me in. I jogged the 2 minutes and pushed through the last 1200. 6:06 (8:08 pace). I slowed to a jog and headed home, the long way.

10 miles w/ 4 x1200 1:39:47, 9:59/mile

Club Member

Saturday was a rest cross training day. I had BIG plans to ride. Then I got bit by the lazy bug.
The kids slept until 8:00!!!
We did nothing.
I got an email from Lana about a multi sport club that was starting out of Gran Fondo bike shop in Nashville. I text her back, if she was going I wanted to try to tag long.
So about 2 Lana calls and she is going to Nashville. I called Ronnie he was still at the golf club. So I called the sitter.
First we went to MOAB and got Lana's bike fixed. I talked to Brian about the Hed 3 wheels I am drooling over. He can get them for me. I sure hope Santa is feeling generous this year.
Then we went on to Nashville. We tried on the uniform for the club. I hate it but I bought it. When we asked if we could get shorter shorts the guy told us, "all the pro are wearing longer shorts now" that is great for the pros, they aren't short and fat.
So, we will be uniform wear club members.
This morning I had to get my run in before golf. I got up at 5:15. It was cold and I ran slow.
Tomorrow Lana will try to kill me again with 10 miles and 4 x 1200 at 4:45am! Glad the end is in sight!

A New Hill

Lana convinced me to go ahead and run with her at 4:00 this morning instead of waiting until 8, after the kids went to school.

So I met Lana in the dark and cold at the Rec Center. It has been a tough week. The goal for this 17 mile long was slow and steady, log the miles and get it done. We started out with the 12 mile route Lana had mapped out last week that we never ran.

This was no flat route. You know when a hill has a name, it is going to be a tough climb. Lana has already introduced me to jail hill, thrill hill, watermelon hill...this morning it was snob hill. I don't know the story and couldn't catch my breathe to ask.

By mile 10 my legs felt like lead. Lana kept picking up the pace and I trudged on with her. We had to wing the last part of the run. We didn't want to get too far from the Rec Center and then have to walk back but then laps of the parking lot had no appeal either. Lana's Garmin got 0.08 miles ahead of mine. I know that doesn't sound far, but when her Garmin beeped 17 miles and mine only showed 16.92 it hurt to keep running. Being the wonderful training partner that she is, Lana finished it out with me.

We stretched and got in our cars to head home. As I was backing up I noticed Lana waving. I rolled down my window and she says "9:24 pace". My mouth fell open. No wonder it hurt so bad. I checked my Garmin and sure enough it reports a 9:27 pace. I like Lana's better but considering the goal and the training this week I will happily take 9:27.

Splits look like this:
10:23, 9:29, 9:28, 9:38, 9:30, 9:23, 9:30, 9:20, 9:25, 9:06, 9:17, 9:27, 9:22, 9:21, 9:31, 9:17, and 9:06

I got home and got the kids up and moving. I had heard Casey coughing all night and asked her did she need to go to school. Both my kids are all about the perfect attendance so she assured me she could make it.

In the interest of time, I skipped the ice bath this morning. I can tell already that I am going to regret it.

I dropped the kids dropped off at school and went to Wal-mart. My least favorite place on Earth!

Once I got home and got everything put a way, I decided to take a short nap. The phone rang as soon as I got horizontal. It was the school. Casey was crying, no fever but her head hurt. I drove up to the school and she was in the office still crying. When she saw me, she starting crying harder. She had left her lunch box in the lunch room. I told her we would go get it. We walk into the lunch room to find my son crying too. I got his mess sorted out and took my daughter home.

I am waiting for the school to call me back to get Bryce. This time change has really messed these kids up.

Good thing I got that run in at 4am!!!

Reality Bites

As much as I would love to just sit back and live in the glow of the past weekend, reality steps in.

There has been kids to shuffle to gymnastics, cub scouts, cheerleading and of course school.

An appointment to view pictures of the kids, which turned out great and priced through the roof.

Working an extra day this week to help pay for said pictures.

And marathon training.

On that note...
Tuesday was rest day and some much needed recovery.
Wednesday I met Lana, Mike and Amy for a 4 mile recovery run, 6 x 100 strides and a 20 minute swim.
This morning I met Lana and Mike for a 10k "race". I went ahead and programmed my Garmin also and it is a good thing I did. Lana burned it up out there and I could NOT keep up. I was losing the race to her and Gamin dude. In the end, I managed to kick it up and finish in 49:58 and beat Garmin dude by 2 seconds.

Iron Weekend

Wow! What a weekend!

It started at 4:00 Friday morning. Lana met me at my house for our scheduled 17 mile run with 14 at planned marathon pace (9:09). We ran the first 3 miles as warm up in 9:53, 9:49, and 9:49. Then we seriously rocked the 14. 9:09, 9:04, 8:59, 8:57, 8:56, 9:07, 8:55, 8:59, 9:12, 9:02, 9:02, 8:53, 8:44, 8:32
17 miles in 2:34:59, 9:07 pace. Oh yeah!! Of course, Lana's Garmin reports a much better overall pace since hers got way ahead of mine again.

I got cleaned up and finished packing (throwing stuff in a suitcase). Holly came to my house and then we went and got Lana.


It was a long drive. I am not big on car trips. But we finally made it to Panama City, just in time for the volunteer meeting.

At the meeting we got our t-shirts and arm bands and were told to be at transition at 4:30 in the morning for body marking duty.

We went to the hotel to check in and then had a blogger meet up.

The blog racers called it a night and Lana, Holly and I went to Hooter's to meet back up with TriMama, Taconite Boy, Bigun, and Mrs. Bigun

Lot's of fun was had but we knew we had early duty in the morning so we called it a night.



Cell phone alarms started ringing at 3:30 Saturday morning. And we reported for duty at 4:30. They were already out of markers so they told us to just direct the racer to keep going toward their bikes and body markers were up and down the rows. I was feeling pretty useless, so when the lady in charge of the transition area asked for someone to help move a table I jumped into action. Once all the racers left transition for the beach we headed that way too. With our volunteer status we got up front and center for the swim. We had signed up to be strippers but they had plenty and asked us to direct the racers as they left the water. It was so awesome to be able to congratulate each of them as they came out of the water. The swim times were excellent. Only one guy missed the cut off and he was SO close.

Once everyone was out of the water we changed and met up with Trimama, Tac, and Bigun for a swim. I didn't realize back in May when I did Gulf Coast just how much I floated in the salt water and wetsuit. It was actually hard to keep my legs underwater. We swam about a mile.

Lana, Holly, and I headed back to the room. We laid on the beach for about and hour and tried to catch some z's.

Then we got cleaned up. Lana and I were ready first and went out in front of our hotel and cheered the bikers in for their last five miles. It was so cool to see the smiles on their faces. I wanted to sign up right then and there.

We drove back down to the finish area just in time to see the first racer cross the finish line. After watching a few more people we decided we had to eat. We grabbed a quick lunch and came right back down to the turn around and cheered people to the finish and on to their second lap.

We saw everyone we knew and looked for others we knew were there but had not yet met. I wasn't very good with my camera and didn't catch any good finish line pics, sorry guys. We found Trifeist after her finish for a pic.


Sunday morning we got up at 6:30 for an 8 mile run with 5 x 600. We did an out and back and it seems without any turns my Garmin reports the same distances as Lana's. The 600's went great. Lana can run a MUCH faster 5k then me but I kept up with her (well right behind) and finished the 600s in 7:30, 7:24, 7:33, 7:28, and 7:19. I admit, I was about to die but I did it!! the overall pace for all 8 miles was 9:07.

We finished the run and got in line to pull slips for next years race. They had a special line for volunteers but unfortunately they didn't have enough people working that line and it was faster to jump into the regular line.

I gave the lady the required info and she gave me my slip. I don't have to come up with the $475(gulp) until November 15-December 1.

Trimama, Tac, and IronJenny were there with their slips. We talked about where to stay and Lana and I went ahead and booked a condo at the host hotel.Lana, me,IronJenny, Taconite Boy, and TriMama


We said goodbye to our new friends and went back to the hotel for a quick shower before making the long drive home.

I am sure poor Holly got sick of iron talk on the 9 hour drive home. I hope we have her convinced to start swimming (she has the other two down pat), then watch out 25-39 year olds.

This morning was right back to reality. I met Lana at 4:30 and we ran 11 miles in the cold! It was 32 degrees. Hello winter! We just kind of winged it and had a really great run in some new areas. 1:46:40, 9:42 pace. Lots of turns so my Garmin fell way behind. I am sure Lana will be reporting a much better time.

Congrats to all the finishers Saturday. I had sure a great time watching all of you!!