I'll be back

The recovery run this morning wasn't as glorious as last week and only made 3 miles, but still I bet and can feel how it speeds recovery. I am feeling pretty well after yesterday's run, it is wonderful. I don't feel tired at all. I just want to report that my left knee is some tight, just a little bit.
Today we are leaving on vacations, next to weeks I will be absent in the blogsphere.
I hope I can handle to run and continue with the training at least on some easy runs. It seems like I will be able to watch some races happening where I go, for example in London there is a 10km race on july 2th that I would love to participate, but if not, I will love to see the runners racing, finally. Also I already made a reserch about places to run, the web is a wonderful place for this :)
Ok, I don't know how my life will be with out a computer close all the time, but well, just as life use to be some years ago, see you soon!

Knowing your limits makes you addicted

This was just an unbelievable workout for me!
16 miles!!
Set the alarm 4:45. Woke up and slowly prepared an oatmeal. I was feeling very sleepy and not precisely motivated or excited.
The starting was slowly and I missed the speed and strength from last Tuesday at the beginning. But it improved fast. I found myself with a 10 and something pace soon. This is too fast for me in a long run. It has to be between 11:30 and 12:30. I slowed down to save energy for the last miles trying to stick to a steady pace. Still it remained around 11:00. Incredible. Garmin could be lying I know but my legs were feeling strong and if for any reason I had to really slow down it was setting immediately a slower pace. I think "better" weather conditions aloud me to see a better performance. It was cloudy again :) The sun is the biggest energy thief.
The air was so damped, incredible. Breathing was forcing my HR to increase but I preferred to ignore this thinking about many facts that increase it and in order to get use to it ANYWAY. Pace was remains good.
Over the 10th mile I realize that my camel backpack was running out of water, it was because I lost some water as it wasn't properly closed. grrrrr :<>
So I made it that way. It was so nice to breath air again indoors.
Yes, still the last miles were some hard. But I thought they were going to be easier, I don't know if it was that this were not in fact 5 miles but miles 11-16. My legs started feeling stiff and it was a shame since they were in a great shape outside.
When I am on the treadmill it is some boring now, but I am like more focus and to end I just imagine on how time goes by so fast when I am wasting it doing anything else but running. Then it is false if I say running the last 20 minutes is too long, 20 minutes during the day go too fast... Better to enjoy this ones that are really well spent.

I feel glad that these are not my first long runs, it is like I know what to expect for and is happening even better. I can tell about differences which certainly mean there is and improvement!! I decided to run a marathon when I found out I like long runs, now that at this stage I'm feeling stronger than ever, and that recovery happens faster too, I want to find out how it feels like going further!

When I finished I even started doubting if in fact it was 16 miles what I did, it seem shorter in time and I was feeling good. Then, when I checked the times it was true, it is like I erased about ten minutes compared to last week time and with no struggle :O!!
14miles 2hr 50:min, 16 miles 3:02 min!! Happy, happy, happy!!

My turn to run with rain.

It seems like Tuesday's afternoon -when I run- it rains. Last week I didn't report it but I ran under such a heavy rain, that in fact it was more like a swimming session. When I started there were some clouds, I could make it for 3 miles, but over the fourth, I had to go against the rain, which was so so heavy that I even had to squeeze my eyes to take off the water. I felt the "drops" on my skin like stones hitting me. Couldn't breath couldn't see!!! And it was just a lonely tropical cloud...

I woke up today at 3am to take my oldest daughter to the airport. School ended and she is going to spend the summer in Mexico. The flight leaves from Santo Domingo so I had to take her there and then come back. A driver took us there so I had the chance to sleep for a while. I arrived around 11am and had a 5 miler to be done. As I am not a pm runner my undisciplined -to run in the afternoon- mind, was trying to sabotage me. It is easier to just go with out even thinking about it like in the morning. And the weather was helping...
The rain came earlier today than last week. I just decided to head the gym and do it there, but the idea wasn't attractive at all, I was feeling unmotivated, but was convinced about doing it. My price for being decided was that as soon as I opened the door the heavy rain stopped. There was only a light rain that made all my motivation come back. Fortunately I didn't miss this chance!! The atmosphere was fresh and there was no sun at all. The run seem to be more like a tempo and with no struggle at all. My legs were feeling stronger than ever!!

I am developing a black toe nail. Also my turn to try it. Now, I am feeling like a real runner :D It hurts, auch!

Tomorrow is rest but then, Thursday is the 16 miler!! I am just ready :)

I invoked your spirits!!!

Today 14 miles !!!
I was on my legs for over 3 hours or more!! And it was only 14 miles (sigh)... Inserted walks and had to make brief stops. The first one was to do some easy plyometric jumps. The other ones to the bathroom, etc. The last ones were because my HR was too high grrrr, over 160 and going slowly. It should be because of the caffeine from the gels and the damped air that forces me to breath deeper to catch some oxygen. It was hot but cloudy that aloud me to run until around 8:45 from 5:45.
What I enjoyed more of this long run was to feel how important is the mental state to go on. There were many ups and downs, moments of doubt and also confidence. In general my body was ok. It is great to say that the left leg flexors, were fine during all the run. The spur made just some brief perfomances but nothing that bad.
The worst mental moment was during the last mile. I was feeling that it was impossible for me to go on. A shadow of sadness covered me and thought of the marathon... could I do that? I was going under and under, when I remembered the stars I know and ask them for help. Saint Olga, Saint CJ please help!!! and felt their hallucinating presence giving my new strength. They were over 4 meters in front of me smiling and pacing me. The rest of the blogger presences came one by one as I was feeling better and improving again. Rob, Jen, Susan, Miners,2p, Liv, Thomas,Spark... All of you faster for more than me, but helping me nicely. Running next to me. I still have many more of you to run with so I know I will call your names everytime I need help so you do the miracle!! I was so inspired by your strenght and speed that on that moment all the nice words that you have written to me along this months helped me incredibly. I found myself thanking Blogger to aloud me to learn and be in contact with you people of strength!! Ended very excited the last mile smiling and feeling well. Tomorrow a recovery run of 4 miles and next week I'll go for 16!!!!!!

How to combine training and a trip!! or more dreams become true in 2006

It hasn't been lack of time, I haven't been inspired to write about my training despite it's been going greatly. I find more interesting reading your blogs than writing mine. It should be that my mind is flying some place else. Girls end school this week and we are planning Luis vacations!!!
Yesterday it was confirmed: our tickets to Europe are approved so we are traveling there for about 2 weeks. It is such a great news that I can't hardly believe it. We were in Europe about five years ago and from the day we were back I felt it was like a dream.
But now I will have to combine my dream with my reality: I am training for a marathon :-O !!!

Because I've been training and feeling so well my confidence of-with* doing some changes is fine. What I will do is to increase my mileage this and next week so the next two weeks I won't have to go for hard long runs. I feel fine of doing this as I find that if I go easy I can go and do more. I'll change this week's long run of 13 and do 14 or 15 and plan to enjoy a 10 miles run where I'll stay... Also I will add 1 mile each day thinking of decreasing some miles as I on the trip. I will be able to do some more when I am back.
This is what I am planning, let's see how reality works. I should not be the only one with this kind of problem RW of June has an article talking about this and says that going back in shape takes about three weeks, which means I won't miss or loose condition to the race.
As you see my idea is mainly to make the same scheduled miles but in different dates to complete the training, am I right? Any ideas are welcome, I know how much I can learn from you guys!!!

*help is always welcome :)

Training: weights and core session 50 min, combine with jump rope. When I woke up this morning thought to skip the session as I am planning to run in the afternoon. I woke up at 3am and couldn't go back to sleep 'till about 4.30, it is the excitement of the trip!!! As Luis was going anyway I decided to go. The idea of weight training appear so heavy and hard but 10 minutes after I was finding myself as fish in water. Enjoyed it a lot a felt very well afterwards. Not the first time it happens I know :P

Just a little taste of it

First more seruious long run!!!

Week 13 - 12 miles.
To start I want to mention how happy I feel since I am feeling great about my running. Last week bad shape I was so wrong blaming my weekness as the guilty of my low energy... it was like if I ignore that the sensations about being tired aren't exactly as that. I need to remember always that sometimes there are other conditions that have influences on the energy levels... not running itself.
I went very easy this morning. The goal, enjoy and to end in good shape. Starting time, 5:35... still to improve!
The first hour went well, second mile at the beach hit me with its damped and hot air, no oxigen available. Hard to run there, the sand was very soft, as I feel my feet going deeper even for a little, the heart rate climbs up immediately. When there are other runners there, it is very sad for me see how easy they pass me, who is the one used to run here??? Well, what I do is to think I don't know how long they will stay there... :-P

I had the chance today off watching how amazing the human body is. Over the first hour I had to go home to give medicine to one of my girls -the yougest is sick, some kind of flu-.
Look, because of the spur, I've mentioned here that my left knee, the back side, the flexors, give me some trouble as a response of my body to the inmbalance produced by the spur. It wasn't nothing serious but it came to my mind the idea of using the knee band as a preventive strategy. Went back running (after about four minutes at home). I could appreciatte, how the band was avoiding to my knee to over flex, it was a nice feeling. But over the minute 5 in the run my right achiles was starting to make its own presentation... I could just feel how my body's response was to create a new way to correct the imbalance!!! As I know very well how bad can be an achilles pain, I took off the band, stretch and the pain disappear :O !!!

Another thing happened today. Over the 8th mile I met for the third time around the hotel, a couple of runners. They've said hello before, but this time they asked me how long was I running. I started running and chatting with them. They are french. He said he has run 20 marathons and she said she ran ten. I was amazed of knowing ALIVE, for the first time, marathoners, I was very excited!! They will stay here for two weeks and just arrived yesterday, I hope I can catch them again. They said they run everyday and that we will met again for sure.

Pace, was my usual slow motion. I have to say that with out Garmin I wouldn't ever know when I am going even slower, since I simplilly can't feel it. It is like I am running but in such a slow motion that I wonder how I look! I had a gel until I saw my speed was decreasing, and it improved again after it. Thanks GU!

Maybe for the excitement, maybe the sun, but my HR at the end was 165, grrrr. But with a great feeling, I almost forget how it feels like to run long, at the end, my legs has this strange sensation, like so tense, I like it!!

Powerful words

It is incredible but after writing all those complains on Friday I started feeling better. Then as I opened my blog and see your comments, I felt motivated again and not tired at all... This morning's workout went just as well as wish!! Problems from last week should came from a stomach discomfort that I forgot to mention that happened last weekend, so I will watch now that closely. I am feeling happy of having defeated a weakness and have had gone to the training scheduled runs !

Day 1 Week 12: 30 min bike, 3 mile run.
I will have to change again my weights schedule, as at 8 I have to drive my girls to the horse ride lessons, so even I started today Sunday, at 5:45, still not enough time to put on also the weights and abs session.
I went first with the bike trying to taste some of what the tris call a brick session. I tried it before but the feeling of stiff legs made me avoid it. I read now a header on a magazine talking about why it is good to run on stiff legs after plyometrics, and I add, or after riding a bike.
Went easy and enjoying, HR was slow during the bike ride. The run went fine and ended on the top of my energy!! I am happy!

Feeling depleted...

From last weekend, I've been feeling so tired... I hate it! I should be weaker than the rest of you...
On Sunday I made my scheduled 3 miles, canceled the bike half hour and went to weights and abs session.
Monday was impossible to go, my body was tired just not able to go... I thought sadly that I was going to break my mark of steady training but preferred anything than going to run.
Tuesday decided not to think and went for 4 miles in the gym. For the first time felt that being on the treadmill was too boring and when raising the speed didn't feel save to increase more than 7m/h. It was a speed session still. I made 4 instead of 5 miles but it was a matter of time.
On that day I realize that canceling the cross training was a chance to go running and then that way I won't miss a run on the week. It went well. On Wednesday I went for 4 miles and Thursday rested.
Today's there were 7 miles scheduled. Went easily, slowly, I know I am not winning, then enjoy... Respect the recommended Heart rate. Stay on my legs as long as possible.
Many voices inside me calling that I can't even know which one is me! But my body has no voice and just go. Is like if it couldn't listen, or just don't care and knows what should be done, what we are committed to do. There is no choice since canceling was going to give me even a worst feeling that the only way was to RUN, again.
I am just thinking about myself like an ant next to all the giants that read me.
As before I am finding myself a lot better after the 4th mile.
In fact the problem is not feeling bad while running, but the REST of the day... Nothing particular hurts me. But I have to avoid walking as much as possible. The hot weather makes me just wish to stay indoors, wanting to rise my legs.I have to save energy the whole day to be able to run. I can't even stay standing for long time.Always looking for a chair. I feel tired all day wondering if this is normal, if this is what happens.
It all happened after some days of not sleeping, the weather went VERY hot... About training I increased the intensity on the speed sessions... Could this be enough reasons for this problem? Then what it is?
May ended with 79 miles only. The third part of the marathon training is done 100% at least the runs.... And this last week was the 10th week of steady training, still some things about to celebrate! About the steady training it is the first time EVER that i-n such a long time- I don't cancel running 4 times a week.
Still this is not the first time this happens, just wish I can survive!

* Now you know why I didn't blog either....