Dreams

If only dreams could be reality…no, I didn’t have a dream about hottie…I dreamt I was running a marathon (go figure, so how many of you have had these dreams, or any race distance?), it was weird cause it wasn’t Twin Cities this fall, but I was running Boston, to qualify for Boston, but since I was trying to qualify, I was running the reverse route…yes, weird…anyway…I had a time that was 3:29 and some odd seconds…one can only hope! If all things come together perfectly that’s right in the range I’m shooting for…

Another weird thing today. Remember my mentioning this wedding and trip out to New York that I’m making in August? Well, got an email today that the big wedding is off, instead it’s now a private ceremony…apologies to those that have already bought plane tickets but they hadn’t realized the hardships some were going through trying to make it to the big wedding…so they cancelled it and are doing it on their own. This leaves me with a ticket to NY and decisions to make. 1) I could attempt to change the ticket (for a fee) and hopefully get it to get me to Portland, which I need to get a ticket for in July and am having a rough time finding a decent fare…doubting I can get that though since it’s a non-refundable ticket. 2) I can just make the trip, I have one friend out there I was going to visit part of the trip anyway, another friend was hopefully coming to the city as well, but no guarantees there 3) I can make the trip, spend a couple of days in NY with the one friend then train it up to Providence and maybe to Boston again, which I’ve mentioned I love…of course I have to be sure people are going to be around and this is going to be an option…decisions, decisions…

I had a fairly pleasant evening run after a long work day (Minitab training, one more day...it's all stats all day!). I ran an errand, literally, to the bank...needed to deposit some money and it's 3 miles to the bank. Then I ran back home and added on 2 miles along the way for a total of 8 miles. First mile was a warm up but from there on it was 8:30s or better, averaged 8:22...not bad. Guess I haven't lost my speed being off for that time and in this slow build up phase. Only wish I could've done some speed work for my mile race tomorrow.

Official Results

I should've waited!

Overall Place: 262/1390
Age Group: 9/130
Female: 40/693
Official Time: 6:19

TC 1 Mile

Why did I ever think a 1 mile race would be fun?? I apparently forgot in the 15 years (wow, has it really been that long?) since I graduated from high school about that pain that is the 1 mile that I used to run (well, OK 1600) at least twice a week during high school.

Anyway, this is the kick off race for the registration for Twin Cities Marathon. If you go down that evening, you are guaranteed entry into the marathon (registration officially opened today) and you can run a 1 mile race. There were different divisions, mass run, then age groups 50-59, 40-49, 30-39 and 29 and under and then a Championship women's (where I think you had to run at least a 5:20) and a Championship men's (where I think you had to run at least a 4:30). The weather was a bit windy, but not too bad and upper 60s/low 70s and by the time we ran it wasn't bad. Kind of like a track night in fact.

My roommate and I went down to get race packet and then just hung out for a while before I had to warm up. I was doing the age group (so glad I did that as it was much less crowded) which was supposed to start around 7:25, so at 6:45 I couldn't wait anymore and did a 10 minute run to warm up and did some stretching. After the mass start went, I decided it was time to head up to the start chute and my roommate came with and headed down to the finish where she was going to watch. I did a few strides at the start chute area to keep warm and found my hamstring and IT band are still aching a bit when I try to stride out and run fast, this has been a problem for a while and I need it worked out before I do any real speed work. Originally when I had planned to run this race, I had high hopes of heavy training and getting a fast time, well, no speed work, tight leg and let's see, yeah, I ran 45 miles last week and was at 27 before the warm up and run last night (now I'm at 30 with warm up, race and a bit of cool down), including a 6 mile run during lunch yesterday (OK, so I forgot to taper). Anyway, wasn't sure what I could do, but I thought for sure a sub 7:00 mile would be doable and maybe even getting to a 6:30 or so, I ran the first mile of my 5K in a 6:38 back in March, so figured a 1 mile I should at least be able to do that. McMillian's predicted a 6:21 so figured I'd see.

Start happened a bit late, and at the first quarter I'm assuming they were calling off splits and I think I was around 1:30, and I remembered, oh yeah, this race hurts worse than that darn 5K! I remembered the feeling of the mile though, even though I wasn't running 4 laps around a track, but I remembered it, the focus and feeling of nothing being around me but what was right in front of me, the saying in my head "why did I think this would be fun, why am I running this?", over and over, all remeberances of track. Half point was a 3:10. Then it was just straight shot down Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis to the finish. I was running in a pack with one girl around me and a bunch of guys...I saw Brit's Pub which I knew was about 2 blocks from the finish, a block later was The Local, the bar I had figured was the point to really bear down, the girl in front of me I had kind of tried to catch but didn't feel I had it in me, but right at The Local I was able to see the finish line just over a block ahead too and I remembered my kick and how much fun it is to really fly...so I pushed everything I had and passed her and a few others and hit the mats in about 6:19/6:20. No official results yet but right after crossing, I saw IE and first thing I said was "this was not fun, why did I think this would be fun?" I got my chip removed, got out of the chute, grabbed a water and we headed to the car so she could get her coat and then went for a beer at both The Local and Brit's (not a good idea on an empty stomach, they hit FAST!).

Typically, in track, the first meet or two I would have in the 6:10-6:20 range and improve my time over the season...so...I might have a faster in me. Consider my PR was a 5:40 probably when I was 15, 18 years later (oh my, am I really THAT old??) I was only 40 seconds of my PR without any speedwork...hmm...

Quickie

OK, I know I owe a much bigger update, but yes, I'm still here, still alive and kicking, just haven't had the time to update or say much lately. Cold seems to almost be gone, but regardless of it being there or not, I managed 45 miles last week. Didn't get the longer run on Saturday I wanted (15 miles) cause I didn't get going early enough, but oh well. I was trying to get my new MP3 going since the old one is causing issues again and it just suddenly was late. But I did 10 miles at an 8:34 pace so not bad. That was over some hills too. It was feeling a little hard, my legs were a bit tired, but overall it wasn't bad. I had a 1 mile race I was supposed to be doing on Thursday too, and forgot to take off at B&N so not sure I'm doing it now (if I do, I have to call in sick or get someone to work for me) but we'll see. I want to at least try to pick up the shirt, it's a coolmax and I paid the entry fee darnit!

Weekend was beautiful weatherwise and I managed to get a nice little burn on Saturday afternoon...no worries though, it should turn tan rather soon.

Hmm...beyond that...what else...nothing I can update quickly I guess, but I will try to get something else up soon.