Sunday, December 18, 2011

beware: Kool Aid drinker here




I drank the kool aid.

I received the Merrill Pace Gloves as an early christmas present. I've walked around the house in them; ran through the house in them; ran through REI in them.

I'm scared.

I'm scared because they feel really really good on my feet.

Am I turning into one of them?

Those frog-feet, vibram wearers? I used to laugh at them. Ok, sometimes I still chuckle a bit. It just looks so funny. I read about the vibrams in an old Runner's World article written by Peter Sagal. I laughed as I read the article. I smirked at frog-footed people on the bike trail.

It just seemed so weird. So odd. So funny-looking.
I tried the darn vibrams a few times. My toes didn't fit right. And my bunion doesn't work in such tight un-adjustable shoes. I dismissed the whole "minimalist" shoe thing as a "fad". Afterall, if Vibrams didn't fit my feet how good could they be?

Then I read Krista's blog and I had a few friends run 50ks and 50 milers after training in Merrill's.

And here I am wearing the non-frog footed equivalent--and the Merrill Pace gloves feel real good. Real. Good.

I'm starting with only a half mile run in them tomorrow and I'll see what happens. Just don't call me Lizard Lady.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Maui Zowie Wowie

Just returned from a week in Maui. My first time there. Awesome weather, wonderful time.

Highlights include:

My first time snorkeling
Mai Tais
80 degree humid weather
Sitting by the pool
Sitting by the ocean
umbrelled drinks by the pool
Dropping my cellphone into the ocean within 3 hours of landing

So now i'm in the market for a new phone. I haven't yet converted to a "smartphone". I'm still in "dumbfone" land. Not sure that I want a smartphone. And even if I were to get one, I don't know which one. Suggestions?

I'm back to cold, dry weather here in NorCal. I ran 1 whole mile while in Maui so I should probably get back on the horse, especially if I want to do the Resolution Run on January 1st.

I've decided to forgo a 50k for the time being. I feel that I need to get a few more marathons under my belt before I try for that goal.

After the Resolution Run, i'll do a couple of local halfs and then I'm deciding between the Modesto Marathon and the Pasadena Marathon.

Decisions.Decisions.

Which would you prefer to do? Pasadena or Modesto? What smartphone do you have? Do you like it? Would you buy something else if you could ?

Monday, December 5, 2011

California International Marathon 2011 Race Recap


Weather: Cold Cold Cold.

I couldn't decide what to wear for days before hand. Rain? No rain. Cold? How cold? 31? 39? 40?

I read on weather.com that it was supposed to be 39 degrees at the start, heating up to 59 by 11 a.m. Too hot for long sleeves. Then local news weather said 30 degrees at the start only getting up to 45 by my finish time.

What to wear? I couldn't decide. Long sleeve. Short sleeve. Long sleeve. Short sleeve with arm warmers.

Finally I decided on race morning. Long sleeve with tank underneath. Hubby was to bring a short sleeve shirt/arm warmers with him just in case.


Pre race, Pre dawn pic. No that is not beer in the cup. It's my morning cup o' joe.


Turns out that I planned perfectly. It felt much colder than 39 at the start. Maybe 32 or so. And at about mile 3 or 4 it suddenly felt a lot colder. We went down a hill and the air WAS colder. I could feel it. And see it. I could see my breath suddenly as well as the breath of everyone else around me.

I was well hydrated. I kept drinking because I didn't want to get dehydrated and slow down. I was TOO hydrated. Refilled waterbottle by mile 8.(Thanks FLEET FEET!!!) I used the porta potty at mile 10. Saw my family for the first time at mile 12. Removed my undershirt/tank at mile 12.5.



If you are happy and you know it smile at the camera!!


Stopped to pee again at mile 15. Refilled bottle again at mile 19 or so (THANKS FOLSOM TRAIL RUNNERS!!!)

Busted through the wall at Mile 20. Saw 4 people cheering for me from my Triathlon group--yelling "GO Karen Go Karen!!!" Saw the family again at mile 21.5. Handed my handheld bottle to them.




One last drink from the handheld before the handoff to the family.I'm gonna get'er dun.

I tried to just keep running. No stopping and no walking. Just run and make relentless forward progress.

Saw another friend at mile 22 and then saw my coach at mile 23.

At mile 25, I selected my newest "power song" on my IPOD, "Stayin Alive" by the BeeGees and motored to the finish as fast as I could. I was passing people left and right.


I didn't even see or hear my husband yelling at me in this photo. My IPOD was dying and I had it cranked as loud as it would go so the last mile would go by fast!

As I turned the final corner I saw my family behind the barricades yelling and screaming and jumping up and down.




The clock said 4:20. 20 minutes faster than last year. So very happy. Delirious. Medal. Cut off shoe tag that flapped against my foot for so long. Space blanket. Picture. Hugs and pics with family.




Yes I am on the phone. I'm talking to my mom who was too sick to make it to the race.

5 block walk to the car. Rest.Eat.Sleep.

Later that evening: Roaring fire, Beer, Star Trek Movie on Netflix and husband rubbing my sore calves and feet.

What's next? Register for lottery for Way Too Cool 50k.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

CIM 2011-- A PR!!!



Quick recap--race report to follow.

Gun Time: 4:20
Chip Time: 4:17
Actual Running Time: 4:12.

Last year CIM Chip time was 4:37--

20 minute PR!!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

I'm not a runner, am I?


I had a conversation with one of my running friends recently that was very enlightening. It started when a somewhat out of shape co-worker made a comment about me --that I am one of those , "Crazy runners"... I immediately told him, "no i'm not a runner." I reiterated this conversation with my running friends who said, "of course you are a runner!" To me, a REAL runner is someone else. When I first started back running, runners were:

People who raced.
People who ran 5ks
People who did 10ks (that was so far!)
People who ran half marathons!
People who finished a marathon
People who ran fast 5ks
People who did ultraraces.
People who ran FAST 10ks.
etc. etc.

You see where I am going. The bar keeps moving for me. I've raced; I've done 5ks, 10ks, half marathons, marathons, I've PRd at each of those distances later. But I still don't consider myself a runner which is completely rediculous. I am about to embark on my 3rd marathon within a year-- Why don't I think I fit the moniker of "runner"?

I think there may be a lot of women who perhaps got into running (or got back into running) in their 30s or 40s and view "RUNNERS" as people who qualify for the olympic trials or who run BQs at every race. Pitted against that "ideal" then very few of us are actually runners. That is so dumb. Of course we are runners. We run. We may not look like the crazy skinny freaks below, but we run.

We run, jog, waddle, sprint, huff and we puff. We keep moving forward. Sometimes we are fast, sometimes not. Sometimes a screaming kid, or a grumpy co-parent/partner makes us want to throw our hands in the air and give up running. Other times is pushes us out the door for a run.

In any case-- I am a runner. There. I said it. I am a runner.


This weekend I will be doing my 3rd Marathon. In a year. I did CIM last year (December 5th); and SF Marathon (July 31st); December 4th CIM will happen again so I guess that technically makes 3 marathons within one year? Wow. Ok, I am a runner. Really. Wow.

I'm at a crossroads in terms of my training for next year. I feel so good about my gains in endurance and speed I am wondering if I should try for some PRs again next year in the half marathon, marathon and 10k distances.

Or I could register for the lottery for an ultrarun in Cool, California.

I haven't yet decided which direction I want to take. Ultrarun or faster?
A part of me feels that I need to get a few more marathons under my belt before I attempt an ultra. But then again, I feel like I am in really good form so maybe I should strike while the iron is hot (so to speak).

I'll worry about it after this sunday. Weather is supposed to be clear and cold (37) at the start warming to 50 by the noon. Perfect day!

Well this just happened... Guess I should start writing again...