Getting Back into Blogging and Good things Come in Threes

Well it's been a long time since I update the blog- yikes! But for this training season I'm going to try to at least post every couple of days, and I promise to try to upload some picture too. It's a good record for me of my training and other things in my life too.

First up a brief recap of my half marathon in April:

I ran the Kentucky Derby half Marathon Lousiville, and I traveled there and stayed with my friend Amy! It was great fun to hang out with her and get to know her better.

The race day conditions were slightly less than ideal- rainy at the start and then the sun came out which quickly made for a great deal of heat and humdity. But I made the best of it and still had fun! The hills were challenging and I already mentioned the heat! I did run a personal best time, not quite the time I had been hoping for, but that's okay. I ran my best and had fun and that's all you can ask for.

I'm now beginning my 3rd summer of training for a full marathon! This years race in Chicago on 10/10/10. It's a huge race, as I've been saying just me and 40,000 of my closest friends. My third full marathon. I've never been to Chicago so I'm looking forward to it. But first I have to get through the training, which offically starts tomorrow at my running group Marthoners in Training (MIT). Tomorrow is a 6 mile run.

After my run tomorrow I get to see the other three good things in my life-my three nephews!! We are meeting to celebrate my sister's birthday so it'll be fun to see "the boys".

Hope all of you have wonderful weekends whatever you do!

Ready for a new Season and a New Challenge!

Well the off season is almost over- next week (December 19) my MIT running group will start again- I can't wait. I have kept up with my running base much better than in past off seasons, due in no small part to the fact that I scheduled a couple of races in there. Maybe that's the key making sure to keep a goal in sight at all times.

I have enjoyed some fun runs on Saturdays as well so that's been nice to explore a little bit different parts of Columbus instead of the same trail all the time.

For this session of MIT I've decided to do something that I have never done before- I am going to run two half marathons back to back on consecutive weekends. Kentucky Derby half on April 24, and Cap City Half here in Columbus on May 1st! I plan to run the Derby one for speed, with my goal being to complete it in under 12 minute mile averages- I don't care if it's 11:59! And then Cap City will be just for fun! That will make a half dozen halfs for me! This is from the girl who never even wanted to run a mile! :)

I can't wait to get started out there on the trail with my friends! We had dinner on Tuesday night and I looked around the table my eyes were filled with tears of joy and gratitude for all running has given me!

The Off Season?

Right now I'm not in offical training for any event, so instead I'm maintaining my base of miles and having fun running just for fun! In December our MIT group will start up again and I'll be back into a training program for the half marathon I'm planning this spring.

Yesterday I did run a race the Buckeye Classic 10K at Highbanks, which is quite the hilly course and challenging! I paced the 13 minute/mile group and as usual I had a great time, and I made a new friend too. We had perfect running weather. Many of my MIT friends were out running the race as well and it was fun to see them! And my friend Julie came out to cheer us on which was very nice of her! Thanks Julie!

Next up on the Racing Calendar is the Flying Feather Thanksgiving Day Race- I love that race it's so much fun, so I'm looking forward to pacing for the 13 minute per milers again- enjoyable for me and not to hard of a pace to maintain for me at this point. I like being able to offer encouragement and support to others so the 13 minute pace is perfect for that.

Am I sure this is the off season?

On a totally unrealated note- GO BUCKS!! Who clinched at least a share of the Big Ten Title with a win over Iowa on Saturday! Rose Bowl Bound Baby!

Marathon Number Two Complete!

With the ladies after the marathon
(Kristen, Hannah, me, Julie, Shannon)

Finish Line!! My time is one hour later than this clock shows!

Expo on Saturday.

Last Sunday, October 11, I ran my second marathon, and yes I finished! This Marathon was very different from my first one in that it was a much smaller marathon. I ran the Tow Path Marathon which runs through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, in between Akron and Cleveland.

This Marathon was about 35 minutes from my parent's home so I stayed with them on Saturday. They drove me up to the Expo where I picked up my packet, race number and chip. The rest of Saturday was spent resting and eating carbs

Sunday morning was a cold start (about 37 degrees) and I had opted to do to Start Early Option at 7:00 am as opposed to the 8:00 am start that the rest of the runners did. It was myself and about 5 other people who started out in the pre-dawn. For the first hour and a half or so it was very solitare on the trail, quiet (except for my i-pod of course), but beautiful. A family of 4 deers crossed the trail right in front of me at about mile 6 or so. Now that is something you don't see in the Columbus Marathon

I felt really good for the most part. The last 6 miles are always the hardest for me, but in this marathon I had the best suprise ever! Four of my running friends (Julie, Kristen, Hannah and Shannon), came up to the Marathon to suprise me. So there I am running along at mile 21-22 ish and I hear someone calling my name- as in Go Heather. In my head I'm thinking hey I don't know anyone here except for my parents?? And then I saw Julie and Shannon! I ran up a little further (closer to mile 24 ish) and Hannah and Kristen were hidding in the bushes, they ran with me as far as they could before the trail police told them they couldn't. Then the finish line was in sight- woo hoo!!

My parents, brother, sister-in-law and my two nephews were there to meet me! It was a great experince and I'm proud that I ran a personal record time, I wanted to run faster than I did in Columbus and I accomplished that goal and I wanted to finsh stronger and I did that as well.

So I'm pleased with my second marathon- next fall it's on to the third! This spring I plan to run a half marathon in Louisville KY with some of my running friends.

This weekend I get the honor and privelage of being on the other side of the marathon and half marathon experince as I will be going to the Columbus Marathon and will be helping out in the MIT tent after the marathon. Can't wait to see my friends finish!

Hannah is running the half marathon, Julie is pacing her husband and her sister (her husband's first half marathon), Kristen is running her third marathon as is Shannon. I want to wish all of them, along with all the other MITers a great run and strong legs! See you out there on Sunday! I'll be the one screaming the loudest!! :)

It was a fun race to run- different from a city marathon that's for sure.

Friends and Running

Okay I should make a commitment to updating the blog more regularly. :)

But I have been busy with training, and work and other things too-like the neccessity of laundry and grocery shopping, because I like to have clean clothes and eat. :)

Running continues to move along- conquered an 18 miler two weeks ago and this week is the big 20! I'm just hoping not to get drenched like we did last year, but so far the forecast looks clear and sunny, so that's a good thing. And I'm learning to like (if not love) speed work on Wed nights. I always like it best when it is over- of course, but I really do appreciate all the time and effort Jeff (our speed work coach) has put into planning the wokouts this season. It gives me direction and a good anchor for the middle of the week. Plus I do think it's been helping my running, I feel stronger and more confident.

Tonight I enjoyed a wonderful trail run at a trail right near my home with some dear and special "running" friends. They are one of the joys and delights in my life. I never would have met them if not for running and for that I am will always be grateful.

Running and friends seem to go hand in hand for me, I'm so blessed to have the wonderful running family that I do! Encouraging and supportive and sometimes a little "pushy" to do things I don't think I can!

Training update

Well it's been a while since I update the blog- guess I should do that.

First off- training, it's been going very well this season so far, the long runs have been good and we ( my little group and I) have been negative splitting the last couple of runs, which means the second part of our run has been faster than the first. Which is great especially for long runs. Today we did 11 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes which is a great time as far as I'm concered.

Also speed workouts on Wed nights have been awesome! Hard yes, but in a good challenging way that lets me know that I am getting stronger as a runner. This past Wed we did 400 meter X4 (1 lap repeated 4 times) around the track as fast as we could. At the end my legs were shaking but I survived!

So all in all a great training season so far. Next week I have 16 miles to tackle so we'll see how that goes.

In other news I've enjoyed being able to spend time with my nephews lately. In fact my brother and oldest nephew spent the night with me last night. :)

Hope everyone is having a great summer.

Hills, Hills, Hills oh and Vacation

Well last night was speed work night for me- it's on Wed ,which appears to be a popular night for speed work I know several other runners- in different parts of the country who do their speedwork then as well.

Anyway last night our coach had us do hill repeats- my group (i.e- the slow people) did 6 repeats of a 270 meter hill with a walk back to the bottom and up the hill again. It was hard, tough work, but I did it. Not with perfect hill form, but I toughed it out. Let me tell you today I am feeling it in my butt and my quads so I know I worked those muscles hard. But it's good for me, it's a challenge to be sure, but one I am perfectly capable of meeting. And I'm kinda enjoying seeing what I can do!

In the vacation note- I'm offically on vacation woo hoo!! I'm going to visit my parents for a week, so nothing too exciting like a beach trip ,but it will be a good relaxing week, time at "home" is always good. And I'll be able to keep up my running schedule there as well. They have some lovely trails near their home where I'll be able to run!