Isn't the track supposed to hurt?

I did my second track workout yesterday with the Team.  I know I need to find a way to consistently hit the track - if not with the group, then I need to do the workout on my own.  It'll make me faster.

Last night we did our usually ~1 walk/warmup.  I was nervous because it was hot.  I don't do well in the heat.  The workout was a successively faster group of 4x800 with a 400 recovery.  I ran every one of my 800's too fast.  My first one was supposed to be a 5:12; I ran a 4:35.  Next one was supposed to be a 4:52; I ran another 4:30ish.  My third one was supposed to be 4:30 and I ran that one in 4:20.  My last one was supposed to be a 4:20 and, you guessed it, I ran that one in 4:10.  And I didn't feel exhausted, beat up or generally spit out the way a track workout usually makes you feel.  And it was HOT.  Did I mention that?

Not sure what this means, actually.  My long runs have been between 9:30 and 10:30 pace.  Definitely much closer to the 10 minute/mile pace more often.  So why is the track so easy?  I fear posing that question.  Especially when my long runs are hard.

Had to scurry out early to get home and study for class tonight.

Loving this Team in Training program, though.  And I'm pretty darn close to reaching my fundraising goal, so if you've been meaning to donate now is the time!

Happy Running!

A busy week = a slow start to the running

It's been a busy week.  My first run was on Thursday because I was in Denver on Monday and Tuesday and in class on Monday and Wednesday nights.  So I missed Tuesday track practice because I was sitting in Denver traffic.

But that's okay.  My runs on Thursday and Friday were tough.  I felt tired.  My legs felt like lead - like they do when you don't run for 3 days.  And when you are fighting a nasty cough.  Might have been allergy related, I have no idea.

So I was skeptical of today's run.  Supposedly doing 1:45.  Turned out that it was much better than I anticipated!  It wasn't fast, but the lungs were fine, again, much better than anticipated.  I put in 9.7 miles and 1:40.  All in all a good effort with many weeks yet to go before the race.

I'm so psyched by the generosity of spirit that surrounds me.  All of the money that I raise over my $1600 minimum will go 100% directly to LLS programs and research.  And at least 75% of the $1600 will go to the same.  I've got nearly $500 additional dollars in donations going straight to LLS!  You all are awesome.

Time for a little rest so that I can go for a trail run tomorrow with the girls and then dive into the school books!

Happy Father's Day to all out there who are father's!

Minimum Goal: $1600 ACHIEVED!!

I am deeply grateful to those of you that have donated. I sent out my letters and email the week of Memorial Day - approximately two weeks ago.

On June 14 I reached my minimum thanks to the generous spirit of friends, family and colleagues. Two weeks. You all rock!

I am equally as grateful to those of you who have shared your own stories, making me realize, even more the importance of this fundraising. So many of you have been touched by one of the cancers that LLS researches cures and provides support for!

BUT just because I reached my minimum does not mean that I stop here. The more money that I raise that more money that can go directly to research and support program. I've sent a goal of $2100, but there is no reason not to surpass that too!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/rm/denver10/jraabu

I thought it was summer?

Today's long run was 90 minutes.  And it was in the low 50's with low, grey clouds.  Really, perfect conditions for a long run.  But it was cold.  And I'm done with cold.  We had a cold winter and then a long, gloomy, schizophrenic spring.  This past week it finally felt like summer.  80's and even 90's (which I don't mind for the first few days).  I had on three top layers today.  really?  yes, really!  But I was glad for my Sugoi "magic jacket" as the raindrops started to fall on our last lollipop.

Brilliant idea for a long run.  We did three "out and back loops" each in a different direction today.  Team in Training does an amazing job in thinking out how to reach a wide variety of abilities when they do their training.  And this workout was good for the mind - it made the 90 minutes feel much easier.  And the first loop had the most uphill - so it was the hardest.  15 minutes out, 15 minutes back to the starting point, the TNT coaches, captains, and supplies.  Supplies?  Gu, gatorade, bagels.  Pretty much anything you could want!  A chance to regroup and then head out again for the second 30 minute out and back.  I had good, steady running partners today in Ellie and Will.  It was a good run.

And then I had coffee with Ashley and Denise - the two friends who encouraged me to get involved with TNT.  We went to Dogtooth - a great, local, neighborhood coffee shop!

This afternoon I am headed to my second home :-), the Colorado Running Company!  They are celebrating 10 years this weekend and I'm helping out at the Team in Training Table.  I can't think of a better place to spend a gloomy afternoon!

I am running in honor of this stunning smile!

I love the spirit and energy in Pat's smile. I've always admired her style!

With her blessing you will see at right a link to the blog that Sid and Pat are keeping to allow friends and family to know about her treatment and her daily experience. Many thanks for allowing me to share your story in my effort to support LLS!

Pat & Sid's Blog: http://patwitnews.blogspot.com/

Why TNT?

Sometime early in the new year a friend and fellow runner told me about her experience running with Team in Training. It was at a time in my life when I was craving change and I was looking at wholesale change - maybe job, maybe city, maybe state - as well as looking at alternative volunteer efforts because what I was doing wasn't really fulfilling any longer and my motivation was waning. So I tucked that conversation away and as the spring unfolded and my searching did too, I decided to attend an informational meeting. Much was still uncertain in my life at that meeting, but the TNT folks were enthusiastic but not pushy. There was no hard sell, just encouragement and personal stories of how powerful the experience was for each of them. I've seen many TNT support groups at races I've run. They're loud and colorful and unbelievably motivating - even for those of us not running for the cause. So when things in my life settled down and I recognized that I would be staying right where I am, the first thing I did was commit to TNT.

Turns out that there are even more personal reasons to do this. My mom's cousin, Pat, was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma. Pat and Sid used to live in Boston and early in my Colorado College career, I recruited in Boston. Pat and Sid always took me out for dinner - usually lobster. Once, I even locked my keys in the rental car in front of their house. I can't remember how Sid got the car unlocked, but he did. It was SO nice to have familiar people in Boston - a place that overwhelmed me at the time and still holds some of my recruiting nightmares. Pat and Sid always welcomed me - to stay at their home, or just to go out to dinner depending upon my schedule. And I remember those lobster dinners fondly. The place wasn't glamorous, but boy was the lobster good and the company, too! Pat and Sid are now in sunny Southern California, so the next trip won't be for lobster, but maybe for some other yummy seafood and good company. And a walk around the neighborhood. I marvel at the energy that Pat has while undergoing treatment - she has a strength that I so admire.

So to run in honor of Pat this fall is the least that I can do.

More than a 1/3 of the way to $1600

Today marked my 2nd long run with the TNT group and my third run in total.

I love my Sunday running girls, but I'm also enjoying meeting new runners and walkers! TNT won't replace, not even close, my Sunday Girls, but it's good to have a purpose bigger than my own goals.

A little bit of catch up: My first workout with the group was at the track. I've avoided the track since last summer, often blaming Sydney :-) as she dislikes the track. She is a dog, after all. But she isn't running right now I no longer have excuses for avoiding the track. The first TNT training was a 1-mile test to determine our pace groups. Since I missed that first effort that's what I got to do on the track that first Tuesday evening. Coach Thom asked that I keep track of my own time since I wasn't doing the same workout as everyone else and I was happy to do so. Two things stand out to me about that evening: 1. Coach Thom paced me with his watch and also paced all the other runners and 2. I ran an 8:33 mile. Pretty cool on both accounts.

So my second workout with the group was a long run on the first really hot Saturday of the summer season, Memorial Day Weekend. It wasn't a brilliant run, but I finished 8 miles. And got back to Monument Valley Park to discover that not only does TNT put out water and GU ON THE TRAIL, but they have ice water, Propel, Gatorade, bagels....you name it at the end of the run. I wasn't in need of food, but the ice water HIT THE SPOT.

So today's run took us through the Garden of the Gods. It's a favorite of mine and I've been running there at least once a week since April. This was my third run in the Garden this week! :-) Today was on the roads and we were a very small group. I ran with the same new running partner, Mindy. And our pace this week, in the Garden, was quite similar to our pace last week on the flat Monument Valley Trail. I do much better on hills than I do on the flats. My muscles are just not fast twitch.

As far as fundraising goes, I feel pretty good that I'm more than a 1/3rd of the way towards my requirement of $1600. Many of us benefited from Title 9 generosity by getting new bras and by getting their donation of $700 towards our team. It'll be split by those of us that bought new bras - pretty cool!