Bike New York

I am heading to New York tomorrow morning with 4 co-workers to participate in Bike New York.  The ride is Sunday - 42 miles through the 5 boro's.  I am so excited.  More to come.  Must get to sleep because we are leaving at 4 AM - just 6 hrs from now. 

See ya -

13.1 miles is a long way!

Wow - I ran a 1/2 marathon today with Jamie at Running Diva Mom, HERE.  She is running a 1/2 marathon every month, with this being her 4th of the year and today I committed to joining her.  It was probably a crazy thing to do, considering my longest run lately - was a 10 mile race at the beginning of the month.  I figured if I can do 10 miles I can do 13.1 miles.  Ya Right!  Although I did make it - I also needed some walking breaks and Jamie was gracious enough to not be bothered by my slowness and walk breaks.   THANKS JAMIE!

We headed out on the Capital City Trail, which I have biked many times - but never run before.  Although we have been experiencing crappy weather this past week, today looked promising.  Temp's were close to 50 when we started, but the wind was brisk with gusts (I just checked) up to 23 mph.  Oh ya!  Our plan was to run 6 1/2 out and then turn around and head back to the parking lot.  Luckily the wind was in our face for almost the entire first half.  Why do I say that is lucky?  Because I was clearly exhausted and slowed way down during the second half - I can't imagine what would have happened if it had been in our face the last half.
Right around 6 miles we stopped for a GU, and walked a bit.  I paused my Garmin - so that it didn't count in our run - based on the map - it looks like we might have walked around 1/3 of a mile and then started up again to hit 6.5 miles and then turn around.  It felt wonderful to turn around and experience the wind at out backs.  ahhhhhhh  There were still times when it was in our faces - but it was much better than the first half.  BUT I was losing speed and energy.  As you can see from my splits (I say mine, because Jamie's would have been faster on the second half, especially with the wind at her back) show considerable slowing down.  I was clearly NOT ready for 13 miles.  BUT I did it, with Jamie's help and encouragement.  I would have sworn that I was sprinting that last mile  ;-)    

THANKS Jamie I had a great time!

1    9:25
2    9:16
3    9:21

Jamie and I after our run!

4    9:33
5    9:55
6    9:54
7   10:09
8     9:40
9   10:19
10   9:46
11 10:24
12 10:57
13 10:03
 ++  1:10
13.1 miles, total time 2:09 avg pace 9:55



Tomorrow I will be on my bike and will probably bike the Capital City trail - just like today.  ;-)

Happy Easter to everyone.

Snow, sleet, rain, wind, thunder - you name it - we had it

First, let me contragulate all of the Boston finishers.  I loved, absolutely loved reading your race reports.  ENJOY!

Flowers are starting to sprout!

Tuesday morning I headed out the door for 4 miles with Sophie - it was a light drizzle and 30 degrees.  The light drizzle quickly switched to sleet and then snow.  Just to remind everyone - it is April 19th - normal highs for Madison should be 59 . . . not mid 30's.  Oh well that is Wisconsin.  As I have said in the past - I love winter and I love snow - but not at this time of year.  My daffodil's are out - my tulips are up and almost all of my perennials are starting to grow and yet - this is what my yard looked like on Wednesday morning.  Enough complaining about the weather.

Tuesday morning we are greeted with this!

Poor daffodils

On to running.  I needed to switch things up a bit this week, just to keep things interesting.  Since I almost always run by myself and in the morning - at times it can get a little boring.  SO on Tuesday and Wednesday I ran in the morning before work and also brought my gear and ran on the treadmill at work at lunch.  Then today it was pretty nice outside, mid 40's and I decided to ran outside at lunch.  Changing the "normal" routine helps keep me motivated.


So what do I have planned next?  This weekend I am accompanying Jamie, of Running Diva Mom, HERE on her 4th 1/2 marathon of the year.  We are meeting in the morning and will be running an out and back course.  Although she runs faster than me, she graciously slows down a little so that it is manageable for me.  THANKS Jamie!


Then the excitement shifts to biking.  Next weekend I will be traveling to New York with 4 other friends / co-workers to participate in Bike New York on May 1 -  pedaling down 42 miles of car-free streets through all five boroughs, taking in views of iconic landmarks like the Empire State building, Brooklyn Bridge, historic Harlem, and the Statue of Liberty.  I am very excited.  Major road trip - at 55 years old, I would much rather fly - but we will be driving.  Probably pulling an all-nighter - Oh my gosh - what did I get myself in to?  It will be great and I know I will have a GREAT time.  What an experience - once in a life time - for sure.  Stay tuned - I will try to blog and post a couple of pictures from the road trip and the bike ride.  


I have tomorrow off of work and am sooooo glad.  I plan to turn my alarm clock off and wake up - whenever.  I know myself and I will probably get up / or get woken up by the dog or cat around 6:30.  But just knowing that the alarm is shut off and if I want to go back to sleep - I can - is a wonderful feeling.  

What have I been doing lately???

I have not posted on my blog since my race report Saturday, April 2 - wow that is 12 days ago.  I don't really have a specific reason for not posting - sometimes I just don't have much to say.
I have been reading all of your posts and have been trying to comment.  There are so many people getting ready for Boston - it has been great reading about the race and all of the excitement is contagious.  It almost makes me want to run marathons . . . almost!

Even though I haven't had anything to say  .  .  .  .  I have been busy.

Today, Thursday - ran 2 miles with Sophie

Wednesday - biked 15 miles - first time I road my bike to work in 2011 (now the weather is turning cold and rainy - so the 2nd time will not be until next week)

Tuesday - ran 6.5 miles - I ran home from work

Monday - ran 4 miles

Sunday - biked 20+ miles on my new road bike . . . wow it is so much faster than my comfort bike  ;-)

Saturday - ran 8 miles and biked 6 miles

Besides biking and running and working . . . life has been keeping me busy and happy and after all . . . isn't that living.

Enjoy the moments!

Black Earth 10 mile run!

Quick post - I ran the Black Earth 10 mile run today.

The Black Earth race is a local race with about 250 entrants - very low key - and only $5 entry fee.  It is an out and back course between two local communities.  We start at Black Earth head 5 miles to Cross Plains and then back to Black Earth.  The course is flat and almost due East and West.

When I arrived to pick up my ticket (pull tab - remember I said it was a small race) - I saw Kerri, from Tutu Runner, HERE - hugs and well wishes.  She was with her Team in Training friends.

I couldn't quite decide on what to wear - the temp's were 38ish with 15 mph winds - I finally settled on my capri's with a light long sleeve tech shirt and then a second short sleeve shirt over the top, light gloves and a bondi band.  I could have ditched the gloves - didn't really need them.  Oh well.  Pretty comfy for the first 5 miles - the wind was at my back - the only problem I was having was some numbness in my right foot - I was thinking I really should stop and re-tie my shoe - but eventually it disappeared.  From the facial expressions on the runners already heading back - I knew I was in for a tough second 5 miles.  Wow oh wow - there was the wind - right in my face.  I checked and the wind gusts were 20+ mph.   Yikes - there were times that it felt like I wasn't moving.

Photo courtesy of Kerri  - thanks

Here are the stat's
1 - 8:35
2 - 9:06
3 - 9:23
4 - 9:36
5 - 9:26
6 - 9:55
7 - 9:51
8 - 9:56
9 - 10:09
10 - 9:47
For total time of 1:35:57 for a avg pace of 9:34

I will do this run again - fun - close - cheap!
Enjoy the moments!