Running West

My favorite runs during this past summer, a Summer to Remember were my Sunday runs, when I did not race and I was Running West.

At the end of the afternoon, with a beautiful sunshine I am Running West. After a first mile running in a forestry neighborhood, the smell of pine trees transports me to my Christmas' childhood, the only time of year with pine trees in the tropics. A mile later, the trees give room to open skies and to the blue waters of the sound. The pine smell becomes salty, from the ocean. My soul and spirit are thankful to nature. I am now running down hill embracing nature intertwined with the human creativity of every beautiful home's landscaping, and the beautiful private park and pond.

The nice summer warmth and breeze cover me, until I get to the westernmost point of my run where I religiously stop to contemplate the water. I pray for each of my family members that are now gone. Point of return.

I leave the sight of the sound behind me, and I run uphill. The sky is covered back by the tall pine trees. I am thirsty and nature offers me hundreds of blackberries. It is my easy run, on a blessed Sunday, I can stop to pick as many as my hands can take. I continue running satisfying thirst with the juicy fruit. I see a traffic light. My adventure has ended, so has summer.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Race of the week: Raced with my son a Haunted Hustle... As the race was in his town, one hour from my home, I went the night before and we had a nice dinner with dear friends. My adorable husband prepared a delicious lasagna, a better garlic bread, and a much better pecan pie. Shelly, my daughter in law, prepared the salad, and I the most delicious vinaigrette. The red vino on my son and the Cohens. We were hesitating on racing as the temperature was going to be 31F, sunny, however. After the wonderful dinner, and 3/4 of a bottle of wine, I said what the heck: What my breath thermo is for?

Went to bed at 11 pm, tired. Didn't have a good night, woke up thirsty numerous times and the hangover was promising.

Alarm clock, coffee saviour, dress up, and go. Picked bib numbers for son and I, and gun is off. We had THE RACE. I held my son up for a while, thinking that he wanted to go too fast, but after a couple of minutes, I told him: Go. I held my pace for the first half and then Lizzie-Lee-from-Ireland's hammering moment arrived. I ran pretty hard, and then sprinted the last quarter of the race. 27:46", 8" slower than my PR of 27:38. Got third in my division, and Diego, with 23:36" got second in his. We had THE RACE, and with a lot of vino!!!

Division 3/17 - Overall Female 38/194 - Overall 73/389

Below the pics, from dinner to race... (This dinner merited a marathon next day instead of a 5K...Huge carbo loading!!!).

Seattle 2009: A Summer To Remember

This summer has been definitely a gift. Sun and No Rain since June (or before???), hot days, and sun, sun, and more sun...We probably got an overdose of Vitamin D due to the lack of habit.... Every weekend we think... "this is the last weekend"... but still today, October 4th, though we raced at 42 F, the day was gorgeously sunny... We feel Fall in the air, but the sun continues shining above... and we take it and embrace it, because if there are people that don't take the sun for granted, are us, Seattleites...

During this Summer To Remember I worked for speed. Took Hal Higdon's plan and carefully followed it. It worked. My 5K times are now in the 28 minute range, with a PR of 27:38.

Summer was full of fun races. Participated in 15 and won my division in one of them (which made me pretty happy and accomplished!!!).

Now, that my "speed season" is over, I am starting an endurance season to get ready to run next spring in the footsteps of legends... EUGENE!!!

The decision has been made.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Two races to post:

09/27/09 - Alki Beach 5K - 28:03 - Division 6/55 - Overall Female 131/729 - Overall 265/1021

10/04/09 - Issaquah Rotary Run 5K - 28:34 - Division 7/33 - Overall Female 91/457 - Overall 289/827

Intervals Of Insanity

One year ago, this very same weekend, I read in a plane to NY Marc Parent's first newbie chronicle. I wonder what my airplane neighbors thought of me as I found the article extremely hilarious, and had definitely to laugh out loud. I got hooked. From that day, Marc became one of my favorite writers in Runner's World. In many of his stories we can see a little bit of ourselves. This week I saw myself more than ever.

On Monday my plan called for 3 easy miles.... I got up in a gloomy Seattle day, and after a nice cup of coffee, went very determined to attack a hill. I'd say THE hill. My plan was to move my Tuesday intervals to Monday, and to spice them up.

Fortunately, it was Labor Day. Not much traffic around 84th St. in Mukilteo. But the people that drove by (nobody walks that hill) blew the horn, clapped, or looked at me as if I was an absolute alien. And indeed an alien I was. What is this woman doing, during a Holiday, at 9 am, running desperately uphill? Nobody is attacking her... Nobody is chasing her...

The following day, for my amusement I read Marc's last chronicle. He, without knowing me, depicted me in his Intervals Of Insanity. The description was all mine, though with a small difference. My insanity was developed uphill. Yes, a 6-degree hill. Are we that insane? We are. How come? Because. And it is a chosen, conscious insanity. We enjoy it, I did...every feet going uphill. I felt so challenged and motivated that after jogging down, without waiting, I went and attacked the hill again. Eight intervals of 0.125 miles. The max HR was 177 and the fastest I ran uphill at whatever point was 7:09 min/mile.

All sore throughout the week didn't matter. The week was accomplished with one single mile going uphill. Indeed it was. It felt insanely good.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday I ran a 10K to replace my "run fast day". I have concluded I can't run fast by my own, unless something is pushing me. The race: Iron Girl, a women's only event, with 25 hundred participants, in the best running spot in Seattle: Green Lake, with a perfect still summer sunny day and low 60's F.

At the start I repeated myself MANY times: "Lizzie, you are not racing, you are just running faster than you usually do." I tried. During the race I tried to picture the Go-Zone racing strategy, and my response was a "not a chance". I can't imagine putting the hammer down at mile 3.2 and then sprint for 1.2 miles at the end.... I'll stick with that strategy for the 5K only.... at least for now...

I completed in 1:00:31, 8 seconds better than my previous PR, though longing breaking the hour. Next time.

I was fortunate to see among the crowd my good friend Melinda and joined her and her friends for the post race party. Melinda got 3rd in the 5K with 23:47, for a good 7:40min/mile... And she just got this year into my division, so I hope and will work to become her rival... Not because I want to beat her times, but because I will be running at my dream pace.

Division 16/29 - Overall 220/538.




































Lynnette Smith, Melinda's friend (# 3125) placed 3rd in the 5K in her division with 21:19 and 6:52 min/mile.... I was surrounded of pure talent today!!!!!