So Hilly, That You Could See The Curves Of The Earth

After being in hell for 5 days (i.e. St. Louis, MO with temperature of 97F/36C), I was so happy to be back home where a lovely soft rain, overcast skies and the most delicious temperature of 54F/12C welcomed me.

As you can imagine I didn’t even try to run in St. Louis. Outside was impossible, and the gym was at 70 degrees, so the AC doesn't do anything and you feel like running at 90. In top of that, I was in a conference, and I had to catch up with work until late at night, ending my days absolutely tired.

But, the weekend ahead promised to be awesome with back to back races: A 12K on Saturday, and a 10K on Sunday. 

Saturday’s race was a fantastic and big race where I had the opportunity to meet some of my sole sisters (i.e. Ragnar Relay Team). The course was very hilly but beautiful, most of it through Point Defiance Park with the gorgeous sound at our sight. The temperature was not too bad, high 50’s, but to prevent Seattleites burned with “those high temperatures” the fire hydrants were open. Also some neighbors had their hoses with sprinklers for runners to run underneath. This must sound weird for people from out of town, but yes, it seems we can’t handle the heat caused by that temp !!!! Despite the hills, I did very good, clocking 1:11:35 for a 9:36 min/mile pace. We had a post-race lunch party with Narrows Bridge Running Club and we definitely had a great time.  Prizes drawn, socks, hats, and bib numbers for several Half Marathons. I won none…

On Sunday the race was a 10K along spectacular Lake Washington. There is nothing more beautiful than Seattle’s blue skies and lakes in a sunny day. So, 6.2 miles seeing plain beauty is worth the effort. I had no plans for the race due to being tired from the 12K, but the no-plan changed when the race started and I switched to a go-with-all. The first 2 miles were done at 9 min/mile. At mile 3, I was in 9:15 and my legs were feeling it. Then at mile 4 & 5 we had a couple of not-too-bad hills and I dropped the pace to 9:30, but when I ran by the mile 5 mark, I pushed it to 8:54 min/mile, to finish my race in 56:22 minutes, a PR by 1:41 minutes, for a pace of 9:05. Oh, this time I won a prize... A Coleman outdoor volleyball set!!!

I can’t believe that I could run a 10K PR a day after running a 12K on a hilly course. As the start line announcer said: So Hilly, That You Could See The Curves Of The Earth. 

Sole Sisters and Captain Tony Seabolt

Members of Sole Sisters - Ragnar Team

Our medals: A loaf of bread

Narrows Bridge Running Club

With Jess and Miguel Galeana

Tony Seabolt and M. Galeana drawing a number for a Race For A Soldier Bib #

I won a volleyball set !!! If you see me playing volleyball, you'll do nothing but laugh. I jump like a grasshopper all over the court

With my oncologist Dr. Rivkin... He is one of the reasons why I am alive!!!

With Judy and Owen

Seahawks Race Without The Seahawks

Latest races and 2-mile trials are pointing out the prediction of a very nice time for my 6th marathon, 5th state: Idaho... And I am still 7 weeks away...

Training is going fantastic, no complains, no injuries, no tiredness. To the contrary, every day I feel better and better, and faster!

This week's plan called for an 11-miler, with 8 miles at marathon race pace, which as I mentioned in a previous post, was calculated at 10:06 min/mile. There was a 12K race in town (7.5 miles) which would be perfect to simulate race pace. 

Plan was to run 3.5 miles prior to the race at a leisure pace, and then run the race to total my 11 miles. But I knew I could do better than 10:06. Last year, I ran this very same race at 9:54, but I wasn't sure if the 3.5 miles prior to the race would slow me down. Happily, they didn't.

I ran at a good effort, with an average HR of 169. The last miles (4-7) were tougher as we had headwinds. HR was above 172. The last burst  - 0.5 miles - was at 184. I happily clocked 1:10:48 for a 9:29 min/mile and 7/32 in my division. My PR for this distance is a 1998 PR of 1:07. I have never planned to beat a 13 year- old PR but ... it seems possible, doesn't it?

One of the highlights of this race is that is a Seahawks race. We run through the Seahawks training camp by Lake Washington and Seahawks players hand us the water. But this year, the NFL lockout guaranteed a Seahawks Race Without The Seahawks.

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Congratulations to my friend Chris who completed today the 100 days challenge (running 100 days in a row)
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W/Marie Spengler. We are in the same team for Ragnar Relay Jul 2011

W/Benny Benefiel another constant face in Western WA races

Christmas Time Three Weeks Before A Marathon Means A 20-Miler

It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid... At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade... So the song goes.

And I have a marathon in three weeks... clearly meaning that I have a mandatory 20-miler during Christmas weekend. Christmas time means go out and run. But not any run. It shall be a long run, a very long run, and with the cold, the wind, and the rain, it shall be a very long, tough run. And because my training for Arizona has been so pathetic, it shall be a very long, tough, painful run.

In the last four weeks I have only run 50 miles, for a 12.5 miles per week. Three of the weeks were plagued with asthma sending me to the doctor to get controlled with cortisone. After a quick improvement I started having less suffering during my runs and races and starting logging more miles. The compulsory 20-miler needed to be logged, whatever the conditions were. And I mentioned how dreadful the weather was going to be.

Then, my daughter offered a Christmas gift (another one; her presence this Christmas was the best gift). Her magnificent gift today was: Mom, I'll go with you, I'll ride the bike. All of a sudden, the cold just felt like 37F, the wind was only 15 mph, and the rain was welcomed to refresh my face.  So here we go, all full of hope that everything was going to be just fantastic. It's Christmas time. Light will be in and shade will be banished.

Mile 1 & 2 - I warm up
Mile 3 & 4 - Daughter paces me
Mile 5 - I feel my legs
Mile 6 to 9 - I am getting behind
Mile 10 - We turn around
Mile 12 - I am exhausted. I start the whining.
Mile 14 - I want to quit. Daughter says: Mom, only a 10K left
Mile 16 - I am dragging my feet, I want to lay down on the mud. I can't go any further. Daughter says: Mom, think of one mile only
Mile 17 - I am chilly, and whining continues. Daughter says: Mom, I am going to kick your butt
Mile 18 - I didn't complain. Daughter says: Only 2 miles
Mile 19 - Is it true? Only one mile left? Daughter says: Yes, only one
Mile 20 - Job done. Daughter and I take a picture with choppy Lake Washington in the background.

Christmas Time Three Weeks Before A Marathon Means A 20-Miler.

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Races done since November 28:

Dec 12 - Christmas Rush, 10K, Kent, WA. I had very bad asthma for the first 4 miles. I used the inhaler more than 30 times during the hour. Then decided to get a pulmonologist appointment.

Dec 18 - Santa Classic Half Marathon, Rochester, WA - Good run, considering asthma is improving, and that only rained from mile 8 to 13!!!

Dec 19 - 12Ks of Christmas, Kirkland, WA - Fun, fun run. I had a blast. My beautiful daughter ran the 5K. I got a nice outfit: My Christmas tree skirt, the stocking of my childhood (since I am ~8ish), a nice pair of Christmas socks and Santa's hat that daughter got me. 

Christmas Rush, 10K, Kent, WA

Christmas Rush, 10K, Kent, WA

Christmas Rush, 10K, Kent, WA

Santa Classic Half Marathon, Rochester, WA

Santa Classic Half Marathon, Rochester, WA

Santa Classic Half Marathon, Rochester, WA

Santa Classic Half Marathon, Rochester, WA

Santa Classic Half Marathon, Rochester, WA

Santa Classic Half Marathon, Rochester, WA

Santa Classic Half Marathon, Rochester, WA

12Ks of Christmas, Kirkland, WA

12Ks of Christmas, Kirkland, WA

12Ks of Christmas, Kirkland, WA

12Ks of Christmas, Kirkland, WA

12Ks of Christmas, Kirkland, WA

12Ks of Christmas, Kirkland, WA
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And the 20-miler in Burke Gilman Trail with one of the best companies I can have: My adorable daughter!!!

I love you pretty baby

2.7 miles for the turn around.

Mom, come on, follow me!!!

20-miles done

20-miler pride

Simply, John

Marathon Plan - Regressive Countdown - Week Four
04/05/10 - 04/11/10 - Week Total: 32.1 miles

I could mention many highlights for this week. I could describe how I ran my last long run of the marathon training season, a 20-miler. I could describe the feelings of getting in New York Marathon. I could describe my 12K race sponsored by our Seahawks football team. I could describe those things.

But I won't.

Last week's race, Easter Half in Rochester, WA, I met a runner that highly impressed me. His name, John. When he was coming back after the half turn around, he was leading the race and I was amazed by his stride. I thought, "he has to win". Indeed, he won. After the race, we talked for a while and his personality and humbleness impressed me even more. 26 yo kid, not totally dedicated to running.

Today, in the Seahawks 12K, we crossed paths again. We hugged as if we were friends for life. 2 minutes before the start, I shook his hand, and wished him the best. When I was in mile 2.5, he was coming back again leading the pack. Only the police escort was ahead of him. I gave him five, and I felt worried that I could have slowed him down.

After the race, during the awards ceremony, I confirmed he has won with a 5:14 pace. A nice Seahawks Football. I went to congratulate him, and talked for half hour. Again, his personality stroke me. He was just a regular guy, without pretensions. I was intrigued, why he didn't really dedicate to run? He mentioned that he needed to work a lot to sustain his family in Sudan. He has some plans, but needs to move wisely. I was really touched by how his priorities were clear. His family, mom, sisters, nephews and nieces, are first.

We talked about our next races, and wished each other the best and hoped to meet again.

At home I googled and discovered his amazing story. Please, take some time to read it (below the link). It is extremely worth it and teaches us to put everything in the right perspective.

So, the highlight of the week? Not a 20-miler, not NY, not a Seahawks race.

The highlight was Simply, John.

http://platform.blogs.com/passionofthepresent/2005/10/john_riaks_life.html

Another Suitcase In Another Hall

As the year ends, we, type A runners, start counting and recounting numbers, piling them up and calling them the stats of the year. Well, I ain't no different.

• Total mileage 567 over 8 months of running (May-Dec).
  
• Participated in 24 races (eighteen 5K; four 10K; one 12K; one Half)
  
• Got a nice 5K PR of 27:27
• Got a "for sure" 10K and Half Marathon PR, as it was the first time I officially ran the distances (1:00:31 and 2:23:21 respectively)
  
• Got two 1st places in my division (5K) hurray!, two second places, one third, and placed nicely in most of the rest 5K. At longer distances (i.e. 10K, 12K and Half) I placed in the middle of the pack.
  
• Didn't run a Marathon

My favorite 2009 running pictures are shown here. One, above, was in the Fall Classic in Monroe. The photographer really captured my state. It was my hardest 5K race, to the point I thought I was going to DNF. Following Pre's words I ran with everything I had: "If I am still standing at the end of the race, hit me with a board and knock me down, because that means I didn't run hard enough". I almost collapsed at the finish line, interestingly, it was not my best race. The second picture, below, my Half marathon medal, with our beautiful city icon in the background, Seattle's Space Needle. Awesome picture taken by my daughter in law, photographer Shelly K. Moreno


On the personal side, this was the toughest year of my life. I started and finished cancer treatment, and lost one of the most important persons in my life, the father of my children. Still, I needed to move on. At 52 years of age, I really discovered that tomorrow we may not be around. Though I lost my father 16 years ago, I discovered, with Luis' passing, what death really meant. So those 24 races were my escape to somewhere, to the infinity, to freedom, to acknowledgment of what life is. I breathe, I see, I feel, I sense, I walk, I run. Therefore, I race. No matter the weather conditions, from hot muggy days, to freezing temperatures, I race simply because I can. I am alive.

To give a twist to the year to come, I decided to place Another Suitcase In Another Hall: To change marathon season, marathon venue and marathon plan. I officially registered for a Spring Marathon at Eugene, OR, the mecca of running, and my training will be based on Arthur Lydiard's methodology...

Thanks to my runner-blogger friends for a year of sharing, looking forward to more adventures together. Special thanks to Craig.
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The last two races of the year:

12/12/09 - Christmas Rush 10K, Kent, WA: 1:02:02

















































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12/20/09 - 12Ks of Christmas, Kirkland, WA - 1:15:39
Division 33/76 - Overall Female 406/744 - Overall 785/1180

Great HILLY race. I did better than expected.

We will run alone, but together. The decision is made

In the 90's I loved to run. At 41 yo, back in 1997, I ran my first race ever, the Clinica Avila 12K, in Caracas, Venezuela. It was easy for me. I did 1:07:00 for a pace of 9:00. Impressive, I can say today. I used to run daily 6 miles (9.6 Km) and hike 3-4 times a week very steep mountain hills. Then, I moved to the US and I stopped running. A bunch of excuses followed. The cold wind, the snow, the mud, the rain, etc.

In 2005, my adorable daughter Alejandra (18 at the time) and I, ran 5K in the 2005 Spokane River Run. It was on the month of April, and it was cold. After we registered we found out that "the run was on a 100% dirt trail, some rocks, roots and possibly mud, but no asphalt. The course winds through thick pine forests set against basalt cliffs and ends with a tight twisty single-track next to the roaring Spokane River."

We were making fun of ourselves and put music to this phrase: "Lizzie and Ale running down the trail, falling down the hill..."

We ran together, and crossed the line holding hands together. As the clock could not put us both at the same time, the results were:

41	0:36.54	11:35	Lizzie Lee	5K	Female	40 - 49
42	0:36.55	11:35	Alejandra Moreno	5K	Female	13 - 18

We were both out of shape, but that didn't matter, because we did it together. Also, our minimum goal was 12 min/mile, thing we achieved. We had a lot of fun, and we collected many memories of the event.

Two years later, today (05/19/2007), we decided to run together again. Several differences, though:

1) Alejandra is currently serving in the Peace Corps in Thailand. I am living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, 20 miles north of Seattle. The distance that separates us is 11,987 kilometers or 7,448 miles.

2) We are not going to run 5K but 42.195 K: A MARATHON.

3) Ale will run a Marathon in Bangkok on November 25, 2007.

4) I will run a Marathon in Seattle on November 25, 2007.

We are going to run a marathon alone, but together. The decision is made.