Fontana Dam 5k

After a very disappointing year, I'm starting to get back into the swing of things.  I'm not quite ready to race a 5k and will be way off of my PR, but tomorrow's 5k will get the gears going for what I hope will be a better end to the year in terms of running.  I'll be doing the Fontana Dam 5k and Chris will be running the 10k event.  We chose this event for several reasons:

•  it's down the road from where we honeymooned 4 years ago so it's very dear to us
• it's FLAT and fast - probably only 50 total elevation change in the mountains which is ridiculous
• it's got gorgeous scenery
• it's a small event that only had a few competitors last year (but those that were there were fast) so it'll give Chris a good race
• it had two events - given my setbacks, i'll be doing 1/2 the distances of Chris this fall so we found a series of events to do that had multiple distances:  5k/10k at fontana, 10k/30k at salem lake, 1/2 marathon and full marathon at savannah

I really have no expectations for this race and honestly thought I'd have to scratch all of this last week.  My hip flexor flaired up when I started training again this July and once that got under control, I had to go have two ingrown toenails partially removed.  Things got much better after that (last week) but then we went river tubing Saturday and my foot slipped on a rock and got wedged in the rock pile, peeling back my big toenail.  Lots of R&R and babying it this week led to a good pre-race shakeout last night of 2 miles, but the longest I've logged in the last 6 weeks was a 3.8 mi run.  My times are slowed right now and so I go in with the expectation not to PR, but rather to get a taste of what I've missed and reignite the fire!  

Catchup

This spring we had the great fortune of going out to the BIG SUR marathon weekend where I was able to slug out the 10.6 mi (breathtakingly beautiful) run with an injured hip flexor.  The next week I got first place in my age group at the New River 5K race, despite it being my slowest 5k ever.  The course had about 3/4 mi climb followed by a 3/4 mi decent that destroyed my knees.  That on top of my diagnosed rector femoris hip flexor tendonitis made for a rough go of the spring.  The summer was occupied with maintenance miles and dissertation writing.  But I finished (I'm now Dr. J) and am starting to get really excited about running again.  This weekend we pick up our new family addition - Oliver - an 8 week old German Shorthaired Pointer.  We're very excited to have a dog finally and maybe even more excited for a running partner!!  The breeder has been sending us pictures and he sure looks like a runner to me:

Oliver - 7 weeks

Recap

So the next 24 hours could be considered our "Puppymoon" (I've had several friends go on Babymoons before the baby comes...so why not Puppymoon?).  We'll be camping at the base of the Fontana Dam, getting up in the morning for races, stopping in Asheville for lunch (so many amazing choices!), and coming home to pick up Mr. Oliver.  Yay!  

hello world

I've had several old friends ask about this blog of late, so you did it - got me blogging here again!  I feel like I'm in freshman Java class again writing 'hello world' code.

Things to come:
   What the heck has been happening since last summer?
   Why it's been especially quiet of late (hint: injury).  Visit to PT tomorrow will determine the rest of spring...fingers crossed!
   Pending PT advice, plans for Spring/Summer races

Oh yeah, have I mentioned I'm "dissertating"?  Defense in June...crazy busy with school but hoping to find solace in the streets running this spring.

And a quote from Runners World email today:
Do the work.  Do the analysis.  But feel your run.  Feel your race.  Feel the joy that is running.  (Kara Goucher)

TTFN...

When I run by myself I have my most intimate thoughts. I look for meaning in some of my important memories, I work through present difficulties, and I try to chart the best course for my future. I also do a lot of dreaming when I run...

Kara Goucher 

Saw this quote this morning in my inbox and it perfectly reflects how I spent 21 miles yesterday on a beautiful fall day at the trail around the lake... :)

Race Preview - The Bear!

I can't help but say the name of this race with a mountain scroungy voice "The Beeaaarrrr!"  

A bit over a year ago, Chris and I were joking on a run as I was telling him about some of the crazy races I heard about growing up in Boone including this "ridiculous race up to the very top of Grandfather Mountain.  I mean, it's like straight up, ha!  Those people are crazy."  His reply - "what about 2010?  If we were able to even finish it..." and a dream began.  Now, we know we will not only be able to finish (and not get picked up by the sag wagon) but also finish strong.  Times are not so important to us here - more of a race against one's self, although Chris wants to place top 10% of males and I'd be happy with top 25% of females and a time somewhere in the 55-60 min range.

The blog's been quiet this last month as intense training picked up after the Biltmore 15k.  Each week typically went like this:  Sunday = rest, Monday = track workout (8-10x 400s), Tuesday = 3-5 miles, Wednesday = hill workout, Thursday = rest or 3 easy, Friday = 3-5 miles, Saturday = Long run of 6-10 miles of hilly of a route as possible.

The hill workouts were a blast (well, somedays) so long as the heat wasn't too terrible.  After a 1.25 mile jog through the neighborhood to the park where the track is, there is a big ole hill with streets 1/4 mile long that go straight up it.  "Hanes Hill," as I've dubbed it, ranges from 8-20% grade with the last 150 ft leveling out which helps in the "up and over" a hill mentality and recovery training.  The first week I started with 3 laps of Hanes Hill before a recovery jog back home.  Each week thereafter, I added 1-2 laps and tried to notch my lap time down.

The real test came a week and a half ago - Pilot Mountain.  Our plan was to make it out there a few times, but schedules have been busy so we only had one chance at this.  The road from the ranger station to the top parking lot is 2.0 miles with an elevation gain of 974 feet.  The grade starts at 7% and steadily increases to 12% at the top of the mountain with many switchbacks.  It's a great analog to The Bear, being a bit steeper than the last 2 miles of that race.  The hope is that the long hilly runs in addition to track and hill workouts will give me the stamina and endurance needed to make it to the top of Grandfather.  I usually feel more confident if I can practice the course ahead of time, but this is not a public course for people to run.  I've visited Grandfather several times in the past though and am quite familiar with the famous switchbacks on the climb to the top.  

My reward for a hard earned finishers medal - a weekend in paradise!  The hubby and I will be pampered Friday morning with massages (and a birthday pedicure for me) before heading out to Valle Crucis to stay at a bed & breakfast for the rest of the weekend.  I'm quite excited about the vacation and can't wait to sneak a run or two in on the side of the Watauga River.  I used to spend summers at Camp Broadstone on the river and have many fond memories of capture the flag and catching lightening bugs.  Did I mention that I can't wait!?!?!  :D  

Happy Day Indeed! (Part 2)

Today is National Doughnut Day which brings back all sorts of wonderful memories of the Krispy Kreme Challenge a few months back.

Not sure which "National" day this week is more exciting!

(and yes, i will most definitely be getting my free doughnut at some point today)

Motivation

Today was the second day this week I (barely) outran a thunderstorm.  This one is throwing quite the lightening show - the lights just flickered in the house.  I think next time there's a strong chance of storms, I'll drive to the track/hill.  Today's hill repeats turned into a bit of a tempo run there at the end...

Happy Day Indeed!

Happy National Running Day 

I'll be celebrating by killing myself with a hill workout in near 90-degree heat this afternoon - woohoo!