Simply Nothing

After Toronto, I kept the training break. Again, this didn’t mean that I didn’t run, it meant I didn’t train for hills, speed, track, tempo, not organized routine whatsoever. I only did my nice 5 miles with Michelle and my Half Marathon races.

A week after I arrived from Toronto I had back to back Half Marathons: June 16 Berry Dairy in Burlington, and June 17, Vancouver USA. My beloved daughter accompanied me to both of them making the trips much easier. Berry Dairy was a completely wet run, from start to finish. We had a lovely constant rain with temperature of 52F. Perfect for me. I loved it. I went out of my comfort zone running with a young kid for a couple of miles from 5 to 7, and of course, the price was paid. I felt heavy afterwards, not to mention there were a couple of miles ran over rocks, no paved road. Guess what? I am not really good at this. Other than these rocks in my way, I had a good run. I clocked 1:55:29 and got 4^th in the division.

Following day I drove to Vancouver, WA, 3 ½ hours away from home. As there was no packet pickup on race day, Bart made me the huge favor to pick it up for me the day before. We met at the lobby of the hotel and had a good and long chat. We parted our ways, he to work, me to run, and with beautiful Ale on my side I left for my second run of the weekend. While I ran, the only thing that came to my mind where the memories from last year race which I ran with my good friend Chris from Florida. The race was hard as it was hot and sunny, nothing to do with the mist and 50’s from the day before. It was mid 60’s and I fried. I clocked 1:58:08 and got again 4th in the division.

Following week I had the Seattle Rock & Roll, a big race in the PNW with 20,000+ runners. I liked the course, which was changed from last year. It was low 50’s overcast and not as muggy as the year before, so the long I-90 0.8-mile tunnel was breathable this time. I clocked 1:57:26 and got 14th place in a field of 428 females in the division.

To finish my period of NOT training I did nothing during the following weekend June 30/July 1. I did that because my marathon training for Utah would start right away.

My training break was nice, very nice. I slept in, I rested, and I feel I did nothing, Simply Nothing.

Berry Dairy Half Marathon - Burlington, WA

Berry Dairy Half Marathon - Burlington, WA

With Bart, Vancouver, USA

Vancouver, USA

Seattle Rock&Roll

Seattle Rock&Roll

Running Honeymoon With Toronto

I’ve been absent. A trip to Toronto for family matters and my daughter’s one-month visit changed my days’ activities. I didn’t train at all, but not training didn’t mean not running. What it means is that there were no hills’ workout, no track, no tempo. There were simply “runs”, absent of any training qualitative, runs done just for the pleasure of running. Ah, and of course there were races (A 5K at High Park where I won the division and beat the guys as well!!!) .

I was at my niece’s home during my stay offering the help I could give and enjoying the opportunity to be with family, but at 5 am, every other day I’d go running, from 5 to 12 miles. I ran wandering throughout the city, which I got to know well. I ran north, east, south, west. I ran at 90F and at 50's (Yes, very hot when I arrived, to fortunately dropping to more comfortable temperatures). I ran mostly under the rain (what's new). I ran in a monsoon day. That particular day on June 1st, it rained like hell with winds of 40mph. I ran 12 miles that day, and while running by Lake Ontario I thought the wind was going to throw me at it. Rain was so bad that water gushed into Union Station flooding it. It was insane. But I am used to rain. I loved it all. 

Some runs were done with an absolute purpose where I used my legs as a means of transportation; like going to the kosher store 3 miles away to buy kosher stuff. Run out, shop, and run back; packed the products in a fanny pack or on my back.

After these fabulous runs I asked myself, why don’t I run like that in my own place? What is the difference? Why a long run in a new place is done freely with the sensation of being in heaven and, why long runs at home feel sometimes like a burden? Why do I drive to the grocery store one mile away? Why do I drive to work just four miles from my doorstep?

Was it because it was a new thing, a new affair? Am I missing something? Was it a Running Honeymoon With Toronto?

Toronto

Charlitos, the reason of my visit
------------------------------------

5K @ High Park

I got first place

 

Gimme, Gimme Hills

After having run 8 marathons and 56 Half Marathons and longer, I can certainly say I don’t like flat courses for races. 

On Saturday I ran First Call Spring Half. Temperatures were in low 50’s and sunny. The course was flat. Good! people would say. Not so good, I would say. I love First Call runs because Adrian is an awesome race director, and I love the camaraderie that characterize all his races. I also love the East Sammamish River Trail for my training, so there I was to share with people I know and I don’t know another wonderful run.

The heart rate monitor didn’t work for a couple of miles and as the race doesn’t have mile markers but the ones that are along the trail, I didn’t have an accurate measure of my HR or run. I decided to run the best I could without following any strategy. I didn’t drink fluids but once (instead of my regular two), and it was hot. At mile 11 I started to feel a little bit dehydrated having the typical goose bumps. My legs were tired and when I finished I felt exhausted. Shannon Perry and Michael Hsu told me the same, they felt hot, and they felt tired. I clocked 1:55:02.

After fueling myself I went home and took a short nap as I had a lot of errands to do. I had no chance of sleeping in on Sunday as I had another Half 1:30 away of home and I needed to leave at 4:45 am to be in Olympia at 6:15 am. My chance of rest and recovery were nil.

I was so tired that when the Capital City race started my HR couldn’t go beyond 77% for the first 3 miles, I felt like I was not able to move. Mile 1- 8:41. Mile 2- 8:59, Mile 3- 9:12. Get the picture?

Curiously the temperatures were the same than Saturday but overcast and non-stop rain making it somewhat a delight! Then I started to feel better, and could increase my HR at mile 4 to 80%, at mile 5 to 84% and I picked up the pace. At this point there was a group of people remembering Tony Trooper 557 slain a couple months ago. His girlfriend was there, and I approached her, hugged her and gave her my respects. At mile 8 I felt very comfortable and moved to 89% till mile 11. Mile 12 was at 91% and last mile at 95%. Guess what, I PRd with 1:52:37. Last mile was run at 7:08 min/mile in a good downhill, and with a lot of power. Unbelievable.

The race was as I remembered it from last year: 1) Ultra wet 2) The best neighbors you can have in a local race. Standing on their front yard, with tents, umbrellas, coats, hats. I had to tell them: You guys are awesome. You could be cozy in your bed with a hot cup of coffee, but no, you are here cheering for us. Thank You, Olympians...

The race had very nice and lovely hills, up and down, those hills that many people don’t like. Mile 9 to 10 was all uphill but at that point I felt wonderful. After mile 11 there was a very steep downhill, and the end was a long downhill that I could simply fly. Flats? No thank you. Gimme, Gimme Hills.

First Call Spring Half Marathon - May 19, 2012

First Call Spring Half Marathon - May 19, 2012

Capital City Half Marathon - May 20, 2012

Capital City Half Marathon - May 20, 2012 - Got 2nd in the division