Work days, weekends, vacation – haven’t missed a day in May. That’s 16 straight runs.
Capped off these past 2 weeks with a 20 mile run last night – my longest run ever in 2013. Only 36 days to go ‘til my Alaska marathon so I needed to complete this run to stay mentally strong. I needed to know that I could run distance after two weeks of 5 mile pace runs. I arrived home at 11pm, caked in dried chalky salt – no sweat, just salt.
2 Half Marathons & a 10K scheduled over the next 16 days – then A-L-A-S-K-A!
- Surpassed not only 500 miles YTD, but 600 miles as well
Campy Movie(s) of the Week – not classics, but fun
Rocky III (1982) – talk about a movie that didn’t age well; think Jersey Housewives set to VH1 music clips, gynormous cell phones, big hair & Mr. T. ‘Eye of the tiger’ vs. ‘I pity da’ fool’.
Guilt Trip (2012) – only received 2.5 stars but laugh-out-loud funny moments in this road trip flic starring Seth Rogen & Barbara Streisand. Got to tell ya, I rented this movie for Seth Rogen but it’s Streisand who is INCREDIBLE. I wouldn’t buy a copy but also don’t begrudge the $1.30 RedBox rental fee.
Runner Log
Sat Apr 20th – 1 mile trail run
Sun Apr 21st – RACE DAY (Horsetooth Half Marathon 13.1 miles, Ft Collins CO)
Mon Apr 22nd – 1 hour BIKE
Wed May 1st – 4.5 miles
Thu May 2nd – 5.25 miles
Fri May 3rd – 5.25 miles
Sat May 4th – 5.25 miles
Sun May 5th – 5.25 miles
Mon May 6th – 5.25 miles
Tue May 7th – 5.25 miles
Wed May 8th – 5.25 miles
Thu May 9th – 5 miles (Mexico)
Fri May 10th – 4.14 miles plus 1.5 miles beach run (Mexico)
Sat May 11th – 5.86 miles (Mexico)
Sun May 12th – 5 miles (Mexico)
Mon May 13th – 3 miles
Tue May 14th – 5.25 miles
Wed May 15th – 8.25 miles
Thu May 16th – 20 miles
YTD total – 608.6 miles (plus 12.5 hours BIKE)
FULL Colorado weekend – group hike on Saturday, half marathon on Sunday.
Not a lotta consistent training this month but a goal is a goal – one race a month (minimum) until completing a marathon in 2013. Set my alarm for 5a.m. – up and out for my 2nd half marathon of the year.
Downed my morning oatmeal & honey, walked Ro & set the GPS for Hughes Stadium in Fort Collins – an hour fifteen north of my Louisville home. (Last minute) bib pickup from 7-8am, directly before our half marathon start at 830am.
After another snowy week, completely lucked out with sunshine & 50 degree race day temps. Warm enough to run in shorts & a long-sleeved dry wick. Wore my Red Sox’s cap – supporting victims & families of Monday’s Boston Marathon bombing.
For religious reasons, I rarely enter races on Sunday – so today’s run, the 1st in Colorado after Monday’s bombings, was certainly unique. Started off with 26.2 seconds of silence, then moments later saw our runner pack wave forward (didn’t hear a gun start – guess I was that far back :().
HILLS – have never run so many hills in all my life. However after adjusting mentally, I found today’s course to be an advantage. Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University so our field was crowded with college runners. One key advantage for us older folks – we’re stronger mentally & the young guns can’t run hills. Running UPHILL, they’d drop down to a walk. Running DOWNHILL however, they’d not only catch me but fly right past me. Actually started to look forward to the next monster mountain ahead – just so I could pick off another young gun again 🙂 Additionally, volunteers flooded the hill tops and cheered each successful runner’s climb. Mighty nice.
Didn’t stop for water until mile 10 & then again at 12 miles.
Finish line ahead but couldn’t believe the ticker – under 2 hours, my goal time. WOW! Seriously? and with sooo many hills? Cut more than 5 minutes from last month’s Moab finish. Top 25%. Crazy nice surprise.
2 (maybe 3) races to go before Alaska. 1000% gonna do this thing!
OVERALL RESULTS HORSETOOTH HALF MARATHON
Results courtesy of Runlimited Timing Results on runlimitedfc.com & active.com
Place Div/Tot No. Name Nettime
===== ======== ===== ======= =======
451 28/48 1006 K R Haga 1:59:41
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- Start: Hughes Stadium, CSU (Fort Collins)
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- we ran today for Boston; started with 26.2 seconds of silence
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- Gatorade, bananas, oranges, hot dog & live entertainment (yep, I’d do this again)
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- inspiring Longs Peak (on my 2013 ‘bucket list’)
Been a bit bummed this month because of my right knee. Doc says it’s just inflamed, no ligament tear – but to halt running for 4-6 weeks. However if I keep it iced, I can still run with pain & most likely do no damage. That was the positive rendering of his diagnosis – should I not heed his advice of immobility.
So I put it to prayer (sorry in advance for getting spiritual in my blog). I believe my God can produce miracles or will provide (mental) comfort/peace if physical healing is not in the cards.
Happy to report I’m running again with little to no pain & on target to complete my 2nd half-marathon in Fort Collins 🙂
Additionally, I booked my June flight to Anchorage with an extra day on the front-end to sea kayak & join a glacier night hike. Life’s meant to be LIVED! The goal was to complete a marathon, not win. No regrets!
Movie of the Week
“Lars and the Real Girl” (2007) – laugh-out-loud funny, yet charming story set in Minnesota – which means they have those crazy cool accents; Ryan Gosling was nominated for a Golden Globe, Patricia Clarkson also rocked as Dagmar, Lars’ doctor.
Runner Log
Sun Mar 31st – 1 mile plus 7.25 miles trail running
Sat Apr 6th – 4 hours BIKE
Sun Apr 7th – 4 miles, 4.75 miles trail running plus 3 hours BIKE
Sun Apr 14th – 8.25 miles
Tue Apr 16th – 10.5 miles
Wed Apr 17th – 13.5 miles, 1 hour BIKE
Thu Apr 18th – 3.5 hours BIKE
YTD total – 495.25 miles & 11.5 hours BIKE
