December 26, 2013
I turned sixty two weeks ago!
I never thought I'd be so excited to be 60, but while I've been able to race triathlons with the 60-64 age group by USA Triathlon rules (since I will be 60 on December 31st), I've had to enter running races in the 50-59 age group. Now I can run with the 60-69 age group!
While I'm pleased to turn 60, I have to admit that turning 60 plays minds games with you. We all know people who die in their 60's from various illnesses and it's hard not to wonder how many years you have left. I also wonder if I'm being silly to stress my old, overweight body with grueling distance runs.
Three days after I turned 60, I had what I'm now calling the "run from hell." I did 6 miles on a treadmill (since there were 12 inches of snow on the ground) at the YMCA. I was extremely winded and my entire shirt and pants were drenched with sweat. When I got off the treadmill, I had pain everywhere. Of course, now that I'm sixty, I'm thinking, "Am I having a heart attack?" At age 59, I would have said, "Shoot! You dehydrated yourself, silly." I wonder if that's why there are so few participants in the 60+ age groups. There's just something about that 60 number.
So . . . I decided to think about it this way. I am not sixty. I am 59 + 12 1/2 months! While I'm stressing my joints, I'm making my muscles, heart, blood pressure, and lungs more healthy. The doctor gave me the go-ahead to do this. There is no reason not to do this. However, I will be sure to drink LOTS of fluids when doing longer runs.
I also keep thinking about Diana Niad who swam from Cuba to Florida at age 60. Her words speak deeply to me, especially when she talks about all of the challenges she faces as a 60-year-old athlete and how she uses the mantra, "Find a way." Check her out. She is amazing.
Before she swam from Cuba from Florida - October 2011
After she swam from Cuba from Florida - December 2013
I shared my "run from hell" with my coach. I was worried that he would be afraid to push me. His approach was perfect. He kept my miles for the week the same, but instead of doing 4-4-6, he had me do 2-3-4-5.5 with strict instructions to not do a step more. So far, I've done the 2 and 3 mile runs. With each run, I gained confidence. I'm doing the 4.0 in a few minutes and looking forward to it. Grin!
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Turkey Trot - 5 mile - November 28, 2013
November 23, 2013
Turkey Trot - 5 miles
This was the first "fun race" I've done and it was certainly entertaining with folks dressed up like turkeys, reindeer and Santa Claus. Lots of families running together. I passed one little boy who was crying and heard his father say, "It's ok. We knew we weren't going to win when we started. We're just here for fun!" At another point, eight tethered reindeer ran by me followed by Santa Claus who was at the reins!
My goals for this race were 1) no walking, and 2) cadence of 90. I've been listening to a metronome during my runs and somehow, it got set to 92. I couldn't switch it back to 90 for some reason, so I ran at 92. My pace ended up being 13:25. With all the people I ran around, I figure I ran more than 5 miles so I'm pleased with my pace.
4,270 people ran the race. While near the end, I came in before 614 of them.
PERSONAL BEST! - Tree City Run 5K - Nov 23, 2013
November 23, 2013
Tree City Run 5K
Wasn't planning to do a run so close to the 10K that I did last week, but with cold weather arriving, this seemed like the only race available for the next few weeks - and I wanted to get in one more 5K so I could try to break a 13:00 pace in a race before continuing to use my Saturdays for long runs.
It was freezing this morning - around 20 degrees F with a wind. There was ice on part of the course! I ran in long sweats, a t-shirt a jacket, and gloves.
It has become my habit to run a quarter mile before the race at race cadence - 90 steps per minute (spm). As I warmed up, I noticed there was ice on part of the course. Must be careful.
The race started and as usual, I was quickly in last place.
My goal for this race was to run at a 90 cadence for the entire race. Once the race started, I was feeling really good and decided to incorporate intervals into the race -- one minute fast followed by five minutes at my regular pace. That lasted for about 1 1/2 miles, then I started to get tired and figured I had better stop that fast running! The last half mile was on a "gravel" path but the gravel was more like sand. That part of the race was grueling.
Just like last week, I started catching people who couldn't keep up with the fast pace that they started. I actually passed four people! The last person I passed looked like she was a pretty decent runner and did no walking. Slowly, slowly I kept catching her. I just tried to keep my steady pace and see what happened. At two miles, she stopped at a drink station. I skipped the drink station and passed her. Then, I was so afraid that she'd catch me now that she could see me, that I made sure I did not slow down!
I set a new personal best pace (12:48) and finished in under 40 minutes for the first time (39:51). I also finished first in my age group and received a first place medal!
FIRST 10K !! -- YMCA Fall Running Classic
November 16, 2013
First 10K - YMCA Fall Running Classic
Today, as my long run, Coach had me do the 10K at the local YMCA where he works. Two days ago, I checked last year's times. Ugh. Based on my times, I thought I'd finish 30 minutes behind the second-to-last person. I almost chickened out. When I picked up my bib yesterday, I asked the race organizer to present awards before I finished.This morning was a disaster before the race. I forgot to bring my Garmin watch and was in a panic. Luckily, the race was close to home and my husband raced home to get it. Lesson learned. I need to have a pack list for running races just like I have for triathlons.
The other thing I learned is that one's first 10K should be a flat course. The race I ran this morning was HILLY to say the least. Some of the hills were HUGE. My goal was to not walk and I ran the entire thing so I was happy. There was a hill right at the beginning of the race which quickly separated all the runners. I was last almost immediately. But . . . as we went on, I could see one woman about a quarter mile ahead of me. She was doing a run / walk. Every time she ran, she would put more distance between us. But every time she walked, I would catch up. After a while, I found that I was catching her! What a motivation that was! I passed her while she was walking up a big hill -- and stayed in front of her for the rest of the race. So . . . I was not last! Woohoo!
So, now I've done a 10K. One step closer to a half marathon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)