2011 Running Log wrapup

With the 2012 new year almost a week gone already, I realized I needed to wrap up my 2011 running log. (specially since I did my FIRST RUN of 2012 TODAY!!!!! Off to a great start!)

So, after a two-year hiatus from running, my 2011 numbers are acceptable. They aren't setting any records, and still not quite where I'd like to be, but it certainly is/was an improvement from '10 and '09.

2011 Running Log
Totals: 219.39 miles

1/26: 1.25 miles
2/7: 1.0 miles
2/13: 1.8 miles
2/14: 2.07 miles
3/8: 1.83 miles
3/14: 2.32 miles
4/12: 1.31 miles
6/7: 1.83 miles
6/18: 3.24 miles (I)
6/19: 3.46 miles (I)
6/21: 2.50 miles (H)
6/24: 3.00 miles (EZ)
6/26: 4.76 miles (L)
6/27: 3.2 miles (W*)
6/28: 3.2 miles (W*)
6/29: 3.2 miles (W*)
6/30: 3.2 miles (W*)
Starting to keep track of weekly miles from this point on.

7/1: 3.12 miles (EZ)
7/3: Ella Smetana 5K
7/4: 3.29 miles (I)
TOTAL: 9.51 miles

7/9: 3.18 miles (EZ)
7/12: 5.93 miles (L)
7/13: 4.00 miles (PW)
TOTAL: 13.11 miles

7/15: 5.87 miles (S)
7/16: 4.76 miles (EZ)
7/21: 8.03 miles (L)
TOTAL: 18.66 miles

7/24: 1.00 miles
TOTAL: 1.00 miles Oh, yuk!

7/29: 3.25 miles (EZ)
7/30: 3.25 miles (EZ)
8/1: 9.9 miles (L)
8/4: 4.0 miles (AI)
TOTAL: 20.4 miles

8/6: 6.18 miles (EZ)
8/7: 3.26 miles (EZ)
8/8: 4.01 miles (T)
8/9: 3.00 miles (W*)
8/11: 4.76 miles (RP)
TOTAL: 21.21 miles (18.21 minus the walk)

8/13: Paavo Nurmi
8/15: 3.26 miles (EZ)
8/16: Strength XT: Squats; Bi-curls; Bench-press; 30-min Billy Blanks Abs/Glutes
8/17: 5.18 miles (T) (11:05/mile pace -- 57:26 total)
8/18: 3.00 miles (EZ & 5xGPUs)
TOTAL: 24.54 miles

8/20: 8.94 miles (L) (11:43/mile pace -- 1:44:44 total)
8/21: 1.83 miles (EZ w/Cassie) (12:00/mile pace -- 21:57 total)
8/22: 3.25 miles (RP) (10:01/mile pace -- 32:33 total)
8/23: Strength XT: wide squats, lunges, bi-curls, incline bench, lateral raises, tricep extentions
8/24: :( Canning corn; no time to run
8/25: :( Canning corn; {{Can I use this excuse reason again?}}
TOTAL: 14.02 miles

8/27: Spanky's 5K (9:38/mile pace -- 29:37 total)
8/28: 3.25 miles (RP) (10:46/mile pace -- 35:00 total)
8/28: 3.25 miles (EZ w/Cassie) (12:38/mile pace -- 41:10)
8/29: 3.02 miles (EZ) (10:52/mile pace -- 32:48 total)
9/1: 2.0 miles (Treadmill -- no watch)
TOTAL: 14.62 miles

9/3: Lake Run 5K w/Cassie (10:56/mile pace -- 33:40)
9/4: 7.96 miles (L) (12:01/mile pace -- 1:35:46)
9/6: 2.5 miles (Treadmill -- no watch)
9/8: 3.84 miles (T & 4x continuous 400's)
TOTAL: 17.4 miles

9/13: 3.29 miles (EZ) (11:05/mile pace -- 36:25)
TOTAL: 3.29 miles OH NO! REALLY!?!?!?!

9/19: 2.45 miles (EZ) (10:03/mile pace -- 24:40)
TOTAL: 2.45 miles OH NO again!!

10/1: 4.31 miles (EZ) (11:24/mile pace -- 49:09)
10/2: 1.34 miles (EZ) (10:55/mile pace -- 14:35)
10/4: 3.15 miles (EZ) (11:11/mile pace -- 35:11)
TOTAL: 8.80 miles

10/15: Whistlestop Half-Marathon 13.1 miles (11:46/mile pace -- 2:34:55)
11/1: 1.26 miles (10:00/mile pace) -- 12:33)
11/7: 2.25 miles (no watch = no numbers)
11/8: 1.75 cross training elliptical miles
11/10: 1.85 miles (I) (treadmill -- 20:00)
11/14: 1.00 miles (treadmill)
11/15: 2.50 miles (H) (treadmill "hill" workout 30:00)

I = Intervals
H = Hills
GPU = General Pick Up
EZ = easy run
L = long run
PW = power walk
RP = Race pace
S = Speed workout
T = Tempo run
XT = Cross Training
W = walk
* = not included in overall total

Halloween came-n-went; State Vball with Cassie

Yup---Halloween came and went. Zoooooooooooom! And despite having good intentions of updating the blog every day last week.......

Welll.....Friday came along just tooooooo fast!

And by the time Friday rolled around, we were on the road traveling to Gma's house to pitstop before heading to State Volleyball Saturday morning in Green Bay.

Not everyone understand the choice of traveling 5 hours one way to watch volleyball for less than 4 hours, and then......travel 5 hours back home.

BUT....the memories created will never go away.

There weren't any teams playing that we knew....but it was simply a way to enjoy some time together, and {{hopefully}} be inspired for her volleyball years ahead.

THANKS for meeting up with us, Sister Jenny! Sadly, Cassie ended up getting sick Saturday night, so the rest of her weekend was NOT as enjoyable.

This picture was taken on Halloween evening. It was a GLORIOUS autumn Wisconsin evening! 50's.

The time change almost caught me off guard tonight. I finished my run (at school) just after the sun had set, FORGETTING that the sun will set before 5:00 now.....so, I don't think I'll be seeing too many more of these pictures at home until next Spring.

SO yeah.......trying to get back to some running. Thinking about signing up for a gym membership since our insurance offers an incentive program for reimbursement of partial membership fees. Actually, it was to the gym where I ran tonight from school (~1.25 miles one way). The owner was pleasant; toggling between talking with me and instructing a small fitness class (which I'm also thinking of signing up for; 3xweek). I used to be a member of this gym YEARS ago before the management had changed. The new owner has REALLLLLy done a nice job with updating it and it's purdy dang schnazzy now!

As for quilting......

**insert super big sad face**

I was hoping to spend some time with the machine yesterday, but.....I spent NINE HOURS at my kitchen table grading papers, tests and prepping for the week ahead. IN-SANE! I was quite thankful for the "extra" hour.

2011 Whistlestop Half-Marathon

Saturday, 10/15/11
2011 Ashland, WI Whistlestop Half-Marathon

I didn't have my photographer (aka: my sister, Jen) with me this year, so I don't have any pictures from Saturday. The shot to the left is from 2008 when I ran my last full marathon (black leggings/baby-blue top is me); and the trees were in FULL bloom with 100% coloring.

NOT SO this year. All day Friday and throughout the entire race on Saturday, the wind was blowing 15-30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph, so all the leaves were GONE. Thankfully, the race director spoke with Mother-Nature though; the wind was a tail-wind for most of the race. Whew!

The first three miles were over in a blur! My sister-in-law, BethAnn, was also running the half, so she and I paced together, holding between 10:00-10:20/miles. However, I took a pitstop at mile 3, sending her off with a big GOODLUCK wish! She was hoping to improve her current PR of 2:20. {{Which she DID!!!!! Her chip-time was 2:13, so she took 30 seconds off her mile average. Wooohoooo!}}

I, on the other hand, knew all I could hope for was to just finish. Not going to make any excuses, but it is what it is. Two years off in 2009/2010, and mediocre (at best) training for the past 2 months...... I kept my goals realistic :0)

the next few miles also were gone in a blur. There were enough runners to keep your mind busy; watching others' form, listening to the relaxed conversations of those of us in the back-of-the-pack; I really can't remember all that went through my mind. At one point, I remember thinking about what I needed to do for the upcoming weeks in my Junior High math classes with the Wisconsin State tests looming at the end of the month. Funny, huh?

Once I crossed the 8-mile marker, I recall thinking..."What!? 8 miles already?!? This race is going fast!"

I mean....really....the whole thing was just a blur. It CERTAINLY didn't feel like 2 and a half hours of running!!!! I didn't really watch my time/pace too closely -- in the back of my mind, I was hoping to keep my race under a 2:30 Half-marathon, and I was definitely pacing better than what I did on the Paavo course. But as I came into mile 10 at a time of 1:57, with some quick mental calculation, I knew it would be a challenge without my legs having had the endurance training of years past. 11:00/miles for the last 3 miles???? Could it be done?????

Well, take a look at all those low-bumps in my speed graph :/ I was taking my walk breaks and kept staying as strong as I could during my jogging spurts to bring me to the finish.

2:34:55 is my official chip time; so if you take off 1:00-1:30 for my mile-3 pitstop, I'm satisfied with my day.

After catching up with BethAnn and giving her high-5's and hugs for her amazing finish, I shared that I wasn't completely giving up on these longer distances, but my training has to improve. :0)

So, now to update my Running Page:
To date, I've completed three marathons, ELEVEN half-marathons, and too many 5K's and 10K's to count :0)

Happy Sunday Everyone!

The Run that almost wasn't [2011 Running]

GOODNESS! It's no wonder (sometimes) that kids forget this or that at school......specially when they live in a situation where they are at Mom's for one week, and then Dad's the next week.

This morning, while rummaging through my closet looking to see if anything would pass for a "Pirate" outfit (yeah....Homecoming week!), I started throwing my "running clothes" into my running bag to be prepared to run once school ended today. NAUGHTY MOM! I should KNOW better than to procrastinate and wait 'til the morning of a school day. This SHOULD have been done last night!!!!!

Anyway....so after school today, I head to the locker room to change. Before I even reached the door, it hit me!!! I forGOT to pack a sports bra. Gah!!!!! Stupid, stupid, stupid. **hitting forehead** I wasn't about to let that hold me back; rather I asked a fellow coach if she could "hook me up." Sadly.....she couldn't.

Oh well-----I only was planning a short run; I think I can manage with the "standard" over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder. {{snort...haven't called it THAT in a long time!!! Besides...mine is more like an 'over-the-shoulder-pebble-holder. Tee-heeeee! {too much information there???}}}






So.....as I'm getting dressed, the next thing hit me! NO HAIR TIE!!!!!! Really Amy!??!!?!? You're just TRYING to come up with anything so you DON'T have to run!!!!

BUT......I ran anyway. Long, curly hair a'flyin and pebbles a'bouncin! ;0)

Okay...fast forward to just a few moments ago.....

I was getting frustrated that my watch (Garmin Forerunner 305) wasn't transferring information over to my new computer!!! The software appeared to be installed correctly on the new machine, and appeared to be running alright. But it kept crashing whenever transferring info over.

SO-----off a'googlin' I went!!!

And here's what I found!!! A free upgrade!!!

And the new graphs-----ooooooohhhhhhh. This math teacher is in LOVE!!!!!

I always was able to install my "speed zones," but they never really did anything before. NOW.....with one lil' checkbox, they can now be shown on the "speed" graph to get an idea of how fast slow I ran.

Yay!!!! :0) I'm off to play some more to see what "new stuff" can get my butt motivated again! OMGoodness! I hadn't run since LAST TUESDAY!!!!! That's just NOT acceptable!


{{Oh, BTW...never did find anything for Pirate Day :0( But tomorrow, I'm ALL OVER "Twin Day"; a coworker and I are going as crazy Packer fans, pigtails-n-all}}

I'm progressing!!! [2011 Running]

Tonight's 3.25 mile out-n-back. No walks, and in fact....I felt GOOOOOOOD! FINALLY! AND.....10:01/mile pace!!!! Where did THAT come from?

From the 2-3 hours of sleep last night?

From the wee "drugged state" I feel from my allergy meds?

From the 3 hour back-to-school shopping spree?

From the chicken strips for lunch?

From the amazing lunch company?

Me and my former Volleyball Captain, Lindsey

Lindsey reading the 'Transitions' quilt label

Lovely role model for my girls

From Cassie's and my 2 mile run LAST night??? Which, BTW, Cassie surprised me on! The first mile, I had us pacing right around 10:30, which made me a bit nervous since her last run with me was at ~12:00's. Then, at the mile-turn-around, after a short walk break, we started back up. And she kept pulling away from me! I tried to keep her reigned in, but she insisted she was "fine." SO......onward we continued at 9:00/mile pace! Sadly, about half mile down the road, we found ourselves walking MORE than what we wanted. BUT....... for good reason! Our neighbor just invited a new bull into his meadow. Normally, I don't pay too much mind to the cows in the pasture, but....I found it odd that his electric fence was OBVIOUSLY on! Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick.... There was no MISSING the fence noise. So....I peered around. And sure enough.........oooooo......MEAN looking fella! I swear his neck was bigger than his body's total girth. HUGE HUGE HUGE and a bit ..... unsettling. I tried getting us back to running after a short hill climb, but his head popped up right away. Nuh-uh! I was freaked! So, we walked until we cleared the meadow. Needless to say, I probably won't be running the 2-mile route again anytime soon. "You just take care of those ladies, Buddy. Earn your keep and I'll keep my distance."

Anyway....
tonight's numbers:
3.25 miles (10:01/mile for a total of 32:33). HR: 174 avg

6:32 AM----do I realllllly have to run?

I can do it
I can do it
I can do it

**struggling to find motivation**


UPDATE
But I DID run - 9 miles; details to come later after done with picking beans, cutting beans, canning beans........and repeat with cucumbers? and maybe some quilting?

School mode slowly starting and a workout (or two) [2011 Running]

Today was a school day for an 7.5 hour Data Retreat. It is the first time our District has planned its 2-day Data Retreat a few weeks before the school year starts. Typically, it was scheduled during the first week of October, or last summer, it was in June. For a brief time today, we discussed the newly scheduled time-frame, and we all felt this really is ideal! With a couple of weeks before the school-year starting, we are able to look over last years assessments, analyze goals and implementation plans from last year, and then update/create new goals and an Implementation plan for the upcoming school year. Besides....it's also a nice way to slowly prepare mentally for the start of a new school year. So, tomorrow is the 2nd day of the retreat with the goal of writing District-wide Goals based on last year's data trends..... Being a math/number person, I LOVE Data Retreat!!!!! ;0)

Onto a new topic....

Have you had the opportunity to "meet" my buddy Billy Blanks here? He was my BEST PAL in 2003 when I hit my fitness-OBSESSION. One of his 30-minute Tae-Bo workouts was in my repertoir at LEAST 2x week back then.

WELL............

last night after doing a bit of strength-training on my home Smith-Machine (LOVE that machine, but it needs a little TLC for me to really hit it full-bore; the slide is sticking a little from the long down-time in the damp basement). Anyway...... so..... I have NO IDEA what made me think of my buddy, Billy, but I went to our VHS shelf to see if he was still there. Sure enough!!!!! :0) Eight years later, he still KICKED MY BUTT!!!! ;0)

30 minutes and a bucket of sweat later, my Abs and Glutes were SCREAMING at me!... "Enough! Enough! You're 8 years older than you were the last time you did this workout! Ease INTO it girl!!!!!"

Then tonight, after the close of Data Retreat, I hit the Lake Drive for what SHOULD have been a 6- mile Tempo run, but turned into only 5 (a bit too sunny and WARM!).
My goal: 6 miles with 2-3 miles @ 9:40/mile tempo pace.

Here are my numbers....with all the honest "in-your-face; you've-got-a-ways-to-go-yet" truth:
Warmup: .83 miles @11:11/mile
1st tempo mile: .96 miles @ 9:30/mile YES!!!! :0)
Recovery: .14 miles @ 14:14/mile
2nd tempo mile: .98 miles @ 11:03/mile POOP! POOP! POOP! I walked twice; just mentally shut down with the sun beating down (no shade in most of this mile) :0(
Recovery: .12 miles @ 16:13/mile (yup....even walking slower now)
At this point, I KNEW I needed to attempt another Tempo mile since my 2nd one was POOPY!
3rd tempo mile: .99 miles @ 10:25/mile (Okay.....better than 11:03, but still not at my 9:40 goal) :\
Cooldown: 1.15 miles @ 12:04/mile
Total: 5.18 miles @ 11:06/mile (average)
To note: my maximum speed had me running @ 6:47/mile pace IF I could have maintained that pace. Psht.....I don't THINK so! I still have my work cut out for me to find a happy Tempo pace; and even more importantly, is finding the happy "I-can-keep-this-pace-for-a-race" pace.

For a change of pace, I pulled out my 2007 training booklet (this was my Pre-BLOG recording method). I would consider 2007 to be the year I was best trained; the year I ran a 2:11 TWICE for my Half-marathons, on NON easy courses; the year I ran my PR for the marathon.
At this time in 2007, running a similar workout, but was geared a bit more for Speed then a Tempo run. It was a progressive 2-mile (2x1600) workout.
Phase 1 goal: 2xmile @ 10:00/mile. Accomplished: 2xmile @ 9:02/mile. YIKES! Way too fast! (18:04 total phase 1 time)
Phase 2 goal: 2xmile @ 9:32/mile. Accomplished: 2xmile @ 9:25/mile. OK! ;0)
Recovery: 400M walk
Phase 3 goal: 2xmile @ 9:32/mile. Accomplished: 2xmile @ 9:25/mile. OK! :0)
Recovery: 400M walk
Phase 4 goal: 2xmile @ 10:00/mile. Accomplished: 1xmile @ 10:00. IBS kicked in :\
Totals: 1:25:24. 739 cals burned. In HR zone: 19:16. Avg HR: 174

I like looking back at former training plans, SPECIALLY my 2007 training journal due to its motivation factor!!! Will I EVER get back to that fitness level? 2 straight miles holding 9:25's.....no down-time between them......WHEW! Yah...a WAYS to go girl!

Okay....enough fitness stuff for one post :0)
Happy Wednesday!

Putting the sun to bed [2011 Running]

Not boating this time, but rather....out for a run. Just an easy 3-miler. After running 13 on Saturday, only THREE is do-able :D

Even the graph showed that it was an easy run. NO walks; not even on the turn-around hill. And look at that Heart-Rate % line....not once over 91%. 'Bout time!!!!!!

Why couldn't I have maintained this on Saturday. I felt GOOD tonight....

Hmmmmm.......could the sunset COOOL temps have anything to do with that?

As a statistics teacher, I LOVE looking at graphs and making sense of them. Notice how the heart-rate % increases as the elevation increases. DUH, right!?

3.26 miles in 35:15 [10:49 pace]

This week's plan per Runnersworld.com SmartCoach training page:
"Rest" day tomorrow: Looks like strength-training starts then......

Paavo Nurmi 2011 [2011 Running]

Saturday, 8/13/11
5:00 AM
Bright and early out of bed to shower, eat some oatmeal and drink some eye-opening coffee.
Temperature: 60 degrees F, mostly cloudy

5:45 AM
Hitting the road to pick up Bethann's dad, who lives 5 minutes away from the farm up in Ashland, and then settling in for the hour drive to Upson, WI, the start of the Paavo Nurmi Marathon and Marathon relays.

6:45 AM
Arrival at Upson, and smiling for the happy-smiling-before-race picture
Temperature: 61 degrees F, mostly cloudy


After a little bit of loosening up with a walk after that long ride, a bit of Fatherly advice was passed along to daughter. Jerry (Bethann's dad) is a former marathon runner; his marathon of choice being Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, WI.

In the background is the lovely shuttle bus that transports the 2nd-leg runner to the mile 5 marker for those participating in the 5-person relay. These groups ALWAYS keep the course lively, having exchanges at miles 5, 10, 15 and 20.

And what's a race without the lovely porta-potty lines!! :0)

By the time the race was to start, I think the caption for Bethann here is......."ummm.......time to get this show on the road already?!?!?!?" ;0) **rubbing her hands together impatiently?**

7:30 AM
Right on the spot, the gun sounded to start the race, and Bethann was off!

All we could do was give her a hoot-n-hollar and send her on her way. The first 6 miles of the course is closed to vehicles.......so she was on her own, along with the other 555 marathon runners and 66 relay teams (that added another 300+ individuals to the course sidelines).

In addition to Bethann's dad joining us, Ryan also played along as chauffeur for the day.

8:40 AM
After skirting around for an hour trying to pass the time, we were so excited to see Bethann in the distance coming off of mile 6.

With two cameras going (ya see mine in my hands?), it was nice to have shots of both of us supporting the other. As the pictures tell, the clouds were breaking up; mostly cloudy turned into partly cloudy, with temperatures holding around 65 degrees F.

It was cute seeing the high-five between Ryan and BA....just bummed that I missed it in this picture. :(

9:01 AM
Just passing mile 8 a few moments back, she shared later on that this was the best she was feeling. She had a moment of "oh my goodness....8 already?" The miles were flying by......in her own words.

9:15 AM
Just past mile 10, she was still looking strong, not having walked once.

9:28
We were able to give her one more HURRAH at mile 11 to push her to her finish before needing to get me to the hand-off point.

9:47
The little town of Gile, WI was the host of the Half-marathon start and the point of the 2-person relay handoff. Banners and flags were strewn along all the streets; a festive looking moment for Bethann to finish to.

AND 2:19 (10:36 pace!) after she started, she was handed 2 dozen baby roses by DH Ryan, but sadly no pic. Awesome PR for Bethann, who ran her first Half in 2:24!!!!

And with skies clearing :(, temperatures reaching 69 degrees F, I was off.

9:58 AM
The first time I expected to see them was at mile 15, NOT mile 14. What a fun little surprise, not even a full mile into my run {{later to find out that BA needed to pee, so they stopped at the gas station that just happened to be at mile 14, so the boys snapped a picture}} :0) I don't try to be a gadgety runner......ipod strapped to upper arm; Garmin Forerunner on wrist....and I elected to run with my favorite water bottle not really knowing if the temps were going to keep climbing. The visor is wonderful for sunny running days; with my eyes being so light-sensitive, most of the direct light doesn't need to hit my sunglasses.

10:09 AM
Moments after mile 15, a high-5 exchange between BA and myself was captured. With only 2 miles into my run and relatively flat roads, I was doing alright. Holding right around 10:30's.....

And at this point, the course is once again closed to vehicles ...... until mile 21 (mile 8 for my Half).
Okay....so what can I remember about miles 15-21?
Sun, LOTS of sun
Wind; a nice breeze on any other day, but a bit too strong for my running convenience today
Hills; my legs just AREN't trained strong enough (yet)
:/

Mile 16 (mile 3) had a nice down hill and I capitalized by hitting 9:15 pace for much of the 300-400 meters (according to my Garmin).
Mile 17 (mile 4)----psht......it's a blur. I don't even remember seeing a mile marker......must have been zoning out
Mile 18 (mile 5) I DO recall because I knew there would be an aid station. And yup...there was....right at the top of another climb. The sponges that were shared were PERFECT! And ICE BAGS!!!! I had forgotten completely about ice bags at these aid stations from running back in 2006. At least once nice thing about miles 18-21 is the aid stations at every mile, and actually an aid station every mile to the finish line. But the ice bags and sponges.....and there was a fire-hose out somewhere around mile 18......it was at least nice to be able to stay relatively cool! The breeze finally was able to be relieving once I dumped water on me and sponged down; it offered its cooling effect on the skin.

Ummm...miles 19 and 20....I just remember too many hills that I had forgotten about. Bigger hills than what are present on my training roads at home. There were a few men that I ended up piggy-backing with since we all were taking on a run-walk pace; all at different paces and times. THEY, however, were running the full-marathon.....and were actually HITTING miles 19-20, whereas I was only hitting miles 6-7. WHAT?!?!?!? 6 and 7 only?!!?!?!? Oh boy! BUT.......at 6.55 (MY half-way point), I looked at my watch and saw 1:14 ticking. HEY! Alright.......that's good! Even if I continue at this pace, I'll finish at 2:28, which is sub-2:30 (my goal time).

11:22 AM
Ahhhhhhh.......coming around a curve after mile 21 (mile 8 for me).......what a sight!
Bethann saw me walking and came out greeting me, trying to get me running again. Nahhh.....nahhh...Bethann. A walk'll do me good right now! GOOD TO SEE YOU, THOUGH!!!!!! I handed my water bottle over to her since there was going to be an Aid Station every mile now until the finish.

And for the next 2 miles...I was on my own again. At least a few things had now changed since the course veered North...
The sun was behind me; and the cloud cover was picking back up
The wind/breeze seemed to be gone
The hills....yeah.....they were pretty non-existent too!!! :0)

11:47 AM
The fan-crew caught back up with me just after the mile 23 aid station. There are so many thoughts that run through my head while running.....being a math person, I usually run my numbers. But since I purchased my Garmin, the numbers didn't take much effort. However, I DO run the numbers that would be needed to make my goal time. With about 40 minutes left before reaching my goal time of 2:30, and a little over 3 miles left.....I figured I was sitting pretty good!!!!!!!!!!!!


Oh.....those poor marathon runners!!!!!!! EVERY one that I trudged past, I gave a "WAY TO GO! My hat goes off to you for running this whole marathon!!!"

And shortly after passing this gentleman at mile 23......my legs said....."hey! That was 10 miles! Good job! We're done." LOL.....oh, I laugh about it now, but at the time......I kept saying....only a little walk! Only a little.....or I'll lose my 2:30 time....

and....hey! Where did this head-strong breeze come from??? :/

12:06 PM
SO.....a walk turned into a power walk all the way to mile 24 (at about a 14:10 pace, according to my buddy Garmin). And there's something about this picture that I absolutely LOVE! Jerry (BA's dad) snapped this one. I love the CAUTION sign right next to me.......the runners all lined up along the road. Oh....and the traffic! There were some GREAT horn honks (ALL GOOD!) and yells out the windows from the passing-by traffic. Traffic was much better this year than I remember in years past. Although Jerry has different thoughts....which are understandable. But....Hwy 51 is a major highway into Hurley; it simply can't be shut-down on race days. Hmmm......maybe a 45MPH sign would be nice (kinda like 'Men-at-Work; construction speed limits'. **shrug** It didn't bother me this year like it did in years past.

And after mile 24 (11 of my stretch).....my legs still were on vacation. With about 20 minutes left before my 2:30 goal time.....I simply shrugged and shouted to Bethann.....I'll see you in 30 minutes at the finish line, having full intentions of just power-walking to the finish.

Somewhere between miles 24 and 25 (miles 11-12), I made a mental connection with my legs to just run a little bit. And they did....for about 2 telephone pole lengths, and then I was back to power-walking. Heading out of Mile 25, a climb was ahead of me, and I power-walked it the best I could....watching the 2:30 tick away on my clock. **shrug**....I'm really okay with it all....truly!

And then....at the crest of the hill...with 12.6 miles showing on my distance-traveled window on the Garmin....I convinced my legs to find a little something again. And they did ..... for a little while at least :0)

Just before the corner leading to the final stretch of the race, Bethann met up with me. She did the best she could to get me running again, and once we turned the corner....I did :0)


If you've never run a race before......I wish I could explain the exhilaration you feel when you hear .....first, the music blaring......and then.....the crowd cheering.....and then...with a BOOMING voice...."And coming down the stretch we have Amy Skattebo, part of the 2-person relay "BOO x2" from Shell Lake, Wisconsin." BOY! If THAT isn't enough for the legs to find energy to run the final 400 meters....!



So, OFFICIAL finishing time: 5:02:12 for our marathon relay. My watch showing 2:42:50 (12:25 pace) for my half :\

My legs were SO HAPPY to just be able to stop...... ;0)

All-in-All; the day was fabulous! I'll openly admit that the conditions weren't the ideal for me (INCLUDING not being back to the running-shape I was three years ago after 9 weeks of training and two years off).

BUT......I CAN run. And I DID run. And I did it with BETHANN, who had an AMAZING run and got my butt back INTO running!!!

{{LOL...and for my former running buddy, Julie-----There was NO hurling in Hurley this year!}}


So....was this enough motivation to keep me running and improving to the next race????

T'scha!!! You bet'cha!!!!!

August 27: 12-mile rutabega fest
Sept 3: 5K OR 15K (Lake Run) in hometown, Shell Lake
Sept. 17: Half-marathon in Barron, WI
Oct. 15: Half-Marathon in Ashland, WI; the same course that I have run my marathon on three times. I would LOVE to try for a PR since it's an ideal course! But, I don't know if (realistically) I'll be physically there yet.

More packages (delayed) and a run

A couple of weeks ago, Natalie (Piece-n-quilt) posted some scrap boxes she was selling. For WHATEVER reason....I liked the look of the fabrics AND the idea of having more fabrics.......

It arrived two weeks ago (I think?)...but just haven't gotten to unpacking it yet. Hmm....is that a sign of TOO MUCH fabric? Or a sign of a busy life?? ;0)

A good amount of yardage was included; I'll have to determine how much when I find the motivation later on. Some magazines.....a couple of Moda nickles (solids); some FQs. All-in-all, I'm pleased with the box of unknown "scraps". :0)

Some ACTUAL scraps were thrown in too; some good sized light scraps.


Also, a couple of weeks ago, Julie Me-n-My Stitches was requesting some of the lighter QOV fabric that I purchased and blogged about here. So, rather than sending $$, she was open to the idea of swapping fabric-for-fabric. Here are the two YUMMY FQs she sent me; civil war repros :0)

Paul just arrived home, early from work, already done with what needed to be finished off today. He is outside tinkering with the boat. Cassie is finishing up the dishes (she's new to washing dishes, so it's a honeymoon period!!! We'll milk it out for what it's worth!). Caitlyn and Candace are feeding the chickens. I'm working on laundry. **shrug** Pretty normal, huh?

We will be heading out to the farm later on; we don't really have a schedule "must-leave" time. Bethann is already up there with FIL & MIL; she's heading over to the race registration booth today to pick up our race-packets for tomorrow AM. The race (Hurley, WI) is about an hour from the farm, which resides in Ashland, WI. It'll be an early morning for sure! Up around 5:15; heading out around 6:00 in order to arrive at start by 7:00; race starts at 7:30. Bethann is running the first half (remember-----HILLS!!!!) :]

Here is the elevation map I had posted about back in 2008 when I ran with Julie. The yellow highlights are when aid stations are planned. Bethann has the first 13......gah! I REMEMBER that MONSTER starting at mile 6 and lasting till just after 9. She hasn't seen the map (yet); she's trying not to get panicked about the whole thing!!! ;0) Ah......she'll be fine! I simply keep telling her that she'll live and hang in there for mile 12. Almost allllllll downhill before coming into the hand-off area. :0) I figure I'll be starting my part around 9:45ish (give or take 15 minutes), so by noon-12:30, I should be finishing up. I haven't really paid attention to the forecast for up there....it is what it is!

I ran my final 5 miles last night at what I anticipate to be my "race pace." I ended up averaging 10:35, so......**shrug**.....we'll see. I'm hoping to stay around 11:00's as the average, which would bring me to the finish at 2hr 24min. Anyway......

what to do...what to do. Quilt? Load a quilt to the frame? yeah.....that worked well last time! That might have to be the ticket!!!!