100K

8 fast miles around the track. 7:21 average pace. After 2 and a half hours at the gym doing a great workout. increased my number of reps on all weights and exercises. Definitely happy that I ran almost a BQ pace for 8 miles after that with no refueling. Could have pushed it to a BQ pace, also could have gone longer, but saving the tank for tomorrow's 20 miler.

Knees, joints, feet, legs, muscles, everything else is fantastic.

I was not correctly prepared for this run. After last night's intense workout at the gym and then the intense 8 mile run. I think a combination of 3 things contributed to making this run horrible. 1 -The gym workout. My muscles were healing from the workout, where I increased my max amount of reps all my biceps and triceps exercises. 2. I didn't drink enough water after the workout and run from last night, and I didn't drink enough water during the day before the run. 3. Not enough food during the day and not enough fuel. 

The whole run was difficult, I was fighting to keep an 8:30/mile pace,  after only 10 miles I hit a wall and had to stop and walk for a few minutes. I was thirsty and feeling dehydrated. I somehow managed to get 2 more miles at a slow pace. Luckily some people on the trail were just finishing a hike and had a lot of water left, they let me drink it, I drank almost all of their full canteen, which they were happy to give. My pace picked back up to 8:30/mile after that but I could feel my muscles shutting down, I needed fuel, bad. I had to walk again when I reached mile 14. Walked for .5 miles till I found a blackberry bush on the side of the trail. Most of them were shriveled up but there were some still ripe and juicy ones. I ate those, and a bunch of the shriveled up ones as well, they weren't bad actually. This gave me a much needed boost and between that and resting for about 8 minutes as I looked for juicy black berries.  Ran the last 2 miles at marathon pace and caught up to a few people who had passed me up while I was picking black berries. I have never been closer to collapsing. I got home and immediately devoured half my kitchen.

I hope I am fully recovered from this by next sunday, where I'm running a full marathon. I was originally planning on going 18 or 20 miles but the trail ended  at about 8.3 miles where I turned around and ran back. So it was about 16.6 miles or so.I'm glad I did not go any further. I know something was up. I just didn't have anything in the tank for this run. I think the biggest factor was not enough water or food during the day. If I had taken a cliff bar and drank a lot more water during the day before running, I think I would have maintained the 8:30 pace the whole way without a problem. So, total time was over 3 hours for only 16 miles. In comparison, on Tuesday, I ran 14 miles on the same trail in 1:40 minutes. And that was with 1 day of rest after running 12 miles.

Oh well, got it in the bank. pretty sure as long as I'm properly hydrated and fueled up, I will be fine for the marathon. I was glad to see that after only a small hadful of blackberries, I got a boost for a marathon pace for 2 miles at the end of the run after running horrible the previous 6 or so. Not too concerned about this, unless it's a slow recovery, but already I'm feeling a lot better after a large dinner.

Oh, and knees were fine.

  *edit* Forgot to mention that I was cold most of this run. I always go without a shirt and thought that there was enough warmth today, but Fall has definitely set in and the winds were a blowin. For most of the run I was feeling pretty cold, I'm guessing this was a factor as well. No more shirtless runs.

First run since my meltdown on Saturday. Not because of recovery, but because work has been ridiculous. I was ready to run on Monday.

Did 8 miles to upper park and back tonight. Wanted to go at a slower pace, but after 3 miles my body wanted to go faster, before I knew it I was running below a 7:00/mi pace and I finished with an average 6:45/mi pace over 8 miles, which is the fasted I've ever ran a sustained pace, as well as the longest. Everything was fine, knees, legs, feet, ankles, etc.Pretty sure I could have maintained a sub 7:00/mi pace for another 5-8 miles, and then who knows. My strategy for the marathon on Sunday may be to just go all out at first and try and get my half marathon time to about 1:25 and then cruise for the rest of the way at around 8:00/mi and finish up with a BQ if possible... but we'll see how I feel. Was pretty surprised with tonight because the first 2 miles were sluggish and I didn't have any vitamins and lunch was pizza and a beer, ugh. (company lunch)

Hopefully  I didn't overdo it with only 4 days to go till my first marathon, but I feel fine right now. Recovery for me is fast.Only going to run 2 more times before the marathon though, and both will be shorter and definitely slower. But very glad with today's effort and I know I'll be able to pull off an even better one on Sunday.

slow run, 4 miles. starting to load up on carbs. getting fully rested for the marathon.

loading up on carbs, resting.

Well, I did it! I ran my first marathon and qualified for Boston at the same time. Not an easy course either. There were so many hills it was ridiculous, at least 40%-50% hill terrain, with a 1 mile stretch of hills that was crazy. I bet heartbreak will have nothing on that mile. The last 2 months of hill training paid off in a big way for this.

Got to the start with only 10 minutes till gun time @7:00am. only had 5 hours of sleep, did not sleep well. Did not get to stretch much. Only a about a 1/5th of a mile warm up run. Definitely not the way I wanted to prepare. About 500 runners total, most were for the Half Marathon. Loaded up on a cliff bar, apple, and banana, a packet of emergenc-c, and 2 ginseng capsules. (Naturemade ginseng is great stuff, highly recommend! Also emergen-c is very good, B-vitamins to help convert your food fuel into energy, and vitamin C to boost your immune system, also some electrolytes, though not recommended as your only source for that)

 Garmin was low on battery, didn't have time to charge. Glad I didn't because I really enjoyed not constantly looking at my time, just ran hard.

My strategy was basically to go all out from the very beginning, knowing I could maintain a sub 7:00 pace for at least 15 miles. Then I'd let that carry me for the next 11 miles being able to go over an 8:00 pace for the majority of it.

Mile 1 through 5 - I started near the front. Only about 30 runners ahead of me. Didn't know it at the time, but only 1 was a running the full, the rest were halfs. Hitched on with a guy with a stop watch, we ran at a 6:50 pace for 5 miles. Had a little conversation but not much, we were both working hard. At mile five either he picked up the pace or I slowed down slightly, either way, I did not want to burn up to fast. I was still easily going sub 7:00 though.

mile 6 - 9 was just non eventuful running alone, got passed by 2 halfers, asked me if I was running the full, and I said yeah, they were all "ah get out of here!!!" heh. Still probably at a sub 7:00 pace at this point. The halfers headed off to the half course, I continued. Going strong at this point still stomach was still full of carbs, didn't need any gels and only a little bit of heed. (that's good stuff!)

 10-13. Still running strong but closing in on 7:00/mi pace. No pain. nothin, stride still efficient.

14 - The 1 mile of huge hills, this is where my pace definitely went above 7:00 and did not get back under. still running strong at this point, still running on my initial fuel loadup. and water and heed. Started taking heed at nearly every aid station. got passed by 1 guy in the opposite direction at the turn around point. Amazing! was I really in second place? He was only about a 1/2 a mile ahead of me, maybe 3/4th, he was running strong, and had a bicycle pacer with him. That or it was an official race volunteer to make sure he was ok? I dunno. He went on to finish with a 2:44 time.

15 - Course was not well marked in spots!!! Made a wrong turn! doh, put on an extra 25 - 30 seconds. Luckily a bystander caught up to me, since I didn't hear anyone yelling to turn around. Had she gotten to me 8 seconds later I would not have qualified for boston. 16 seconds was all it would have taken.

16-18 Goin strong, but feeling the wear. heals startin to hurt a little. But overall I'm functioning at 85% or so, still doing good. probably 7:05 -7:15 pace. or so. Going back the same way, lots more hills, oh boy. No cramps or anything though,s taying well hydrated.

20 - Gel time. Grabbed a hammer gel. I'm rapidly losing movement from my muscles.energy is running out. Nobody has passed me though. Looking back every so often, nobody is in sight. No cramps, all systems functioning well, but lower energy.

21-23 same thing. Energy goin down, well over an 8:00/mi pace at this point. I am totally breaking down, and am fighting to move my legs, but there is no way I'm gonna stop. Had the thought a couple of times to stop and walk or take a quick break at an aid station, but kept saying no, I'm gonna finish it all the way through. Gel seemed to slow the energy decline a bit.  Nobody still in sight behind me. 2nd place is in the bag, I'm stoked, even if I don't qualify for Boston, I get 2nd overall. still no cramps, have not had to take a bathroom break the whole way, everything feelin good as far as inner systems.

24-25 - 2nd wind is coming on, getting closer and the gel is doin it's thing, or the mind is, either way, I can smell the finish. Last aid station- get some water, decide to stand still to drink it, savor it, make sure it all goes down.

home stretch - Gettin the pace back to 7:30 or so. last uphill done. Ending 1/4 mile is down a steep hill, fly down it and pick up the steam.Crowd is cheering, the announcer on the PA system is screaming my name telling me to run as hard as I can and the Boston Qualifying time is within reach, I can see the finish line and the clock reads: 3:10:45!!! Is that really true! yes it is!!!! BREAK INTO FULL SPRINT AS THE CROWD IS GOING WILD, I CROSS THE FINISH AT 3:10:56!!!!!!!!!! I FLY THROUGH IT GRAB THE MEDAL BEING HELD IN MY DIRECTION AND RAISE MY ARMS IN A V AND PROCLAIM "IM GOING TO BOSTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  

After that I'm just all smiles, getting my finishing photos, high 5s from strangers people asking me how I'm doing! All is awesome!!! Then I look down, and my band aids had fallen off and I'm wearing a white running shirt with nipple blood all over it, lol. how embarrassing.

went to the medical aid tent, got some bandaids, and an ice pack to ice everything down for 10 minutes or so. Not in any pain but I do it as a precaution now.

Started texting all my friends and my mom and brother telling them I qualified for Boston, including my friend that lives on the route of the marathon! I'm going to have a place to stay, and a personal aid station at mile 22, how sweet it will be!

Got a nice bottle of wine as my 1st place in age division prize.

FYI: This course sucks!!!! I mean, it's beautiful scenery, but the road sucks!! could they add one more hill please? Cause you see, after the 100th one, I just was dying for another! Also a lot of slanted road. It is not the easiest course.. though that makes me even more stoked that I qualified for Boston at it. however, if you want an easy win, this is the place to go. I mean.. my 3:10:44 takes 2nd place overall? lol, that's not that deep of a field.

Thanks everyone here for your encouragement and advice, especially Jon, Sasha and Dustin with your tips on my training.

Mission Accomplished.

gym - first time doing any exercise since the marathon, legs arent sore or anything, but i can tell energy level is still tapped a little. did stomach, chest and shoulders at about 75% intensity.

gym - still gaining back energy. did biceps and triceps at about 85% of normal intensity. 

First time running since the marathon. Was feeling a little sluggish at first, but picked up the pace and was cruisin after a couple miles. Ran up to monkey head, about a 400ft elevation climb over the course of a mile. Really rough, rocky terrain, was loving it. Feeling the effects a little more but overall doing great. Ran the last couple miles at a 6:30 pace and finall 300 yards at a full out sprint. Going to run tomorrow too.

12 miles up to upper park again. a good 2 miles of up hill rocky trail running. makes for a very fun run. Knees take a beating on the down hill though not sure im going to keep doing this every week. Love running up on the ridge at sunset though. Ran the first 2.5 miles in 17 minutes. Slow down a bit and then attacked the hills. Feeling a little more worn than a normal 12 mile run should leave me, but thats understandable, the marathon is still lingering, plus i didn't have much fuel or water. 

6 mile bike ride, 2 hours at the gym. 6 mile run afterwards at the track started off at an 8:00/mile pace. did the last 2 pretty fast and finished with a 7:50 average pace. Pretty stoked that I had plenty of energy to run after 2 hours at the gym, also didn't get to eat much before. Came home and pigged out on baked tofu, quinoa, baked potato, bread and olive oil, and an avocado sandwich. good stuff..

 planning so big hill running saturday and sunday at my moms.

8 miles, lots of steep hills. attack mode.pretty happy with the run. was a little harder than i thought, but i worked out for 2 hours plus ran for an hour on friday. will be taking it easy this week in preparation for my 10K on sunday.

did about a 10K or so in 43 minutes. was hoping to get it under 42:00 but this wasn't that bad considering the energy i exerted on the hills yesterday. i was a little sore from them. 

going to keep mileage down this week in preparation for a 10K this weekend. last year i got 4th in my age group with a time of 46:26 so i'm looking to slash at least 3 minutes off that. getting a sub 40:00 or 41:00 would be awesome. and definitely good for a placing in my age group. maybe i can win back some money it cost to enter.