Accountability and Heavy Metal

In an effort to maintain accountability, I wanted to share that we did indeed venture out for yet another T10 this morning.  And this one has taken the cake.  Our fastest 10 miler yet, in a 7:54 pace.

The first half felt like buttah (you know, like butter, but bettah... :)).  Then, my mind started to wander and I found myself thinking, "I have control over this; I can end this at any time I like." 

WHOA!  That is a 100 mile thought that creeps in in the wee hours of the morning, near mile 80, once you're covered in a thin layer of grit, dust, sweat, not a little bit of bodily fluids, and spilled Perpetuem, and you've become prone to tourettes-esque speech.  That is not a thought that occurs at mile eight of a 10 miler.  So I castigated myself in my own head and made sure that the thought was sufficiently annihilated as we moved along.  My legs felt fine, but my breathing was heavy.  I had no concept of our speed, but it felt similar to any other day, just a bit faster the second half. 

By the time we were a mile from home I clipped back into myself and felt like buttah once more.  Just a little dip there that popped up out of nowhere, and I was more than pleased that I kicked that dip in the arse.

Oh, last night I experienced Graston for the first time ever.  I was observing at my favorite PT clinic here in the city, and PT Mike offered to have me try out some Graston.  He was recently certified in the technique and I was very eager to try it out after I observed him use it on three patients earlier in the evening.  It was really neat!  I just had him use it on my right shin.  I could feel lots of crackling as he moved over it with the instruments.  It sort of helps you find where adhesions are based on how red the skin becomes as the heavy metal Graston tools move over your skin.  Once they find some good spots, the practitioner works on those areas to break things up.  My shin and ankle felt dreamy this morning!  Such a simple little thing, but I can see where it would be really helpful for peeps with actual superficial tissue troubles.  I know a lot of clinicians aren't too keen on the technique, but there are a zillion different schools of thought on everything.  I like it.  I'd try it again :)

If I were prone to such things, tonight would be a perfect night for a double.  But, the grill is calling, as are some chipotle burgers we picked up at Whole Foods over the weekend.  Can we say, recovery? :)

Paige, out.

Damn It Feels Good to Be a Runner

This has nothing to do with anything in this post, but the sign cracks me up.
Kohala Coast, Hawai'i - Queen K Highway

So, where was I going here?  Oh yes, today rocks! 

Earlier in the week, as we considered our long run for the weekend, Geof suggested maybe we try to do our long run on Friday (today) before work so that we wouldn't have to worry about squeezing it in this weekend (which is packed to the gills with fun stuff already!).  At first I thought, "what a crappy idea, I'll be tired all day!"  But that only lasted two seconds.  My next thought, out loud, was, "okay!"  And so the dream was born.

Geof said to sit on it.

I sat on it, and come Thursday evening after a late night of homemade (read: from the can) Sloppy Joes, baked beans and 'tater salad with the Moffetts, I still wanted to get up at the buttcrack of dawn the next day and bang out a solid 15+ miles.  You know, to start the weekend off right.  Plus, there was no way I was going to let myself slack off anymore and dip below my goal of at least 40mpw each week for my base.  I had in mind to do 15-18 miles, then do an easy shorter run over the weekend to round out the mileage :)

Mission: accomplished.

I think Geof thought I was either blowing smoke up his tush, or that I would change my mind.  I did not change my mind :)  He was a great sport!  We rolled out of bed and were out the door for our run before 5:45.  Perfect timing.  The weather was great for a longer run (cloudy, cool, a little breeze) and we each carried a bottle.  I should note here that I don't recommend Sloppy Joes the night before a long run.  It makes getting out the door quickly a little...difficult.  The Serious Case of the Runs household was living up to its name ;-) 

There were a ton of cyclists out already, but only a few runners.  We followed our favorite route and took in the really awesome views of the city.  Geof was commenting on how sharp everything looked...it was such cool lighting and made everything look a little surreal.  Our lack of sleep?  Too many Sloppy Joes?  Not enough Coors Light the night before ;)?  I'm guessing it had to do with the clouds and the fact that it was so freakin' early :)

We cranked it out a little faster than last weeks long run, this time in an 8:14 pace, covering just shy of 16 miles.  My legs feel it as I sit here typing it...and I love it.  The last couple of miles my legs felt like lead pipes, in cement.  Mmmm.

I've never done a long run NOT on the weekend, and certainly not before work.  And you know what? I kinda like it.

This weekend is Geof's highschool reunion...I won't say what year reunion it is, he can tell you that :)...and we are both really looking forward to it!  We are also really looking forward to stalking all Western States 100 feeds, following those getting to run the race.  It's going to be a beast of a competition up front, which makes for very entertaining "viewing" for those of us at home.  Can't wait!

Man, I need a good stretch right now!

Damn it feels good to be a runner.

Paige, out.

Top News

"Ultras are not crazy, they are the ultimate in sanity. They bring us back to the truth of who we are."  ~Alene Nitzky

The above quote came out during an interesting conversation today on the Ultra List about why we run ultras.  I really dig Alene's response, obviously, and it really sums up my personal thoughts on the topic. 

Anywho, I wanted to share that :) 

I also want to share that the Dunmore Household (e.g. Geof and I) finally, finally went out for a long run this past weekend.  Naturally, we picked one of the hottest days in weeks, at the hottest part of the day to head out.  Totally makes sense, no?  It was GREAT!  Boy did it feel good to have some legitimately fatigued legs.  We banged out almost 16 miles (hey, "long run" is a relative term at this juncture) at an 8:17 pace and I was delightfully spent afterward!  The day was beautiful and we moved along really well.  It was weird to carry water again.  I found it a little odd carrying a water bottle and kept switching hands, but I was very glad to have it since it was balls hot.  We ran a new route we've started for our Tuesday Ten Miler, and added onto it.  The route seems long since you double back on it, but it's so pretty and you get to see a lot along the way so it's worth the mental anguish of feeling longer than it actually is.

Is it weird that I was excited to have chaffing?  I haven't run long enough in the last five weeks to actually get chaffed, so it was a welcome annoyance given that fact!  I was also excited to slip on my RecoFit Leg Compressors afterward and let the recovery begin whilst we noshed on some veggie burgers with avocado and salsa, and some sweet 'tater fries, mmmm.  My legs felt like pure gold Sunday, thanks to those leg sleeves!

T10 was in full effect again yesterday and it was T-O-U-G-H!  It was again balls hot, and supremely humid so I was blaming that for how difficult the run became.  But, when I calculated our average pace afterward, I think I can now blame the overly fast pace for how my legs felt.  Fastest T10 we've ever run.  And, most likely, the sweatiest T10 we've ever had.  I think half my weight was in sweat.

BTW, in past-due news, last week's T10 was actually more like T12...we didn't have a functioning GPS between the two of us, so we ran a little extra to make sure we got in at least 10.  I mapped it out finally and came up with almost 12 miles...and that means we covered it in just under a 7:30 pace.  Huzzah!  So, technically I suppose that that run was our fastest T10 ever :-)  Anyway, can't hate that news!

Given how tough yesterday was, I was pleasantly surprised to wake up with such fresh legs today!  Just a little 4 mile shakeout run this morning, and we kept the pace very easy.  We both commented on how we're finally getting the itch for a long race again.  What to do, what to do!  Voyageur 50M is top kitty right now, but the long drive is the only thing holding us back.  It was a really, really long drive for us last year.  We'll see :)

Western States 100 is this weekend and I am insanely excited!!  It's like the Super Bowl for ultrarunners.  I was reading up on all the top picks for this year and I'm sticking to my guns on Geoff Roes taking the top spot.  But I also think Dave Mackey could spank everybody and take the cake out of nowhere.  Killian Jornet in third.  Who knows.  Ellie Greenwood and Anita Ortiz for the ladies, Kami Semick in third.  Tough choices, but that's my gut feeling :)  I'm probably totally wrong, but we'll find out in three short days!  So many friends/bloggers/etc. running this year, good luck to everyone toeing the line!

Sheesh, that's a lot of topics in one post...I should learn to pace myself ;)

Paige, out.

Nerve Flossing

Sounds kinda gross, no?  Gives me the willies thinking about a nerve being 'flossed', lol :)  (Actually, to be specific, it conjures up the image of THAT scene in 127 Hours...you know what scene I'm talking about...it involves a nerve.)

Nerve Flossing is Fun!

Since I have a super-glamorous desk-bound job, I do a lot of sitting.  As a runner, sitting is the bane of our existence.  Every so often, especially when I'm running more, I get that annoying pain in the arse...piriformis pain.  Earlier this year it got really annoying and I decided to Google my issue.  Enter: nerve flossing.  Ironically enough, the exercise is performed while sitting :)

I don't remember how I got to it, but I know I clicked a lot of links and read a lot of crap, and watched a few painfully boring Youtube vids before I came to the holy grail of pain relief for piriformis syndrome and sciatica.  More than likely, if you're a runner, or an endurance sitter, you've experienced some level of piriformis or sciatic nerve pain.  Next time it starts to flare up, do this exercise.  Seriously, it's amazing.  Don't let the simplicity of the movement fool you.  It's pure magic. 

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoUqfOGuEOU&feature=related

And, here is another good one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzF9FAJ1LdA

Paige, out.

T10 You Are My Friend

What do you get when you pair a random Tuesday with blurry blue skies (the kind of sky that looks sorta hazy, sorta not...just plain blurry), long legs and the Dunmores?  Tuesday Ten Miler! 

Huzzah, we back baby!

Yesterday's T10 felt awesome, and surprisingly quick and springy.  In the aftermath, I felt every step of it, which is funny 'cuz the aftermath of my trail 50k just four weeks ago left my legs feeling fresher than before the race.  How does that happen?  I wore my RecoFit calf sleeves all day at work and today I am very thankful for those sleeves :) 

So thankful, in fact, that we stepped out into the pouring, blowing rain this morning for a quick three miles around the Pier.  Why not?  Geof says the wind was gusting at 25mph, and I believe it.  I was getting blown sideways and then we had a terrific tailwind on our way back.  If we had been running the 2011 Boston Marathon our finish time would not have counted due to the tailwind ;-)  I kid.  A little.

Anywho, three groovy runs in a row this week.  That's pretty sweet.  You know what else is also sweet, but not too sweet?  Trader Joe's non-fat Greek yogurt with honey and strawberry preserves stirred in.  I could literally subsist on that stuff right now.  SO GOOD!

So that's the good word this week.  Hopefully there's a long run in our future.  We're in need of one of those :)

Paige, out.

This and That

Today's run was HOT.  Like having a hot, wet rag over your face and nose, breathing thick, wet air.  The sun boiling just above the horizon at just a little after 6:30 a.m.  How is it so hot already?!

So humid that the sweat you manage to expel from your pores just sits there on the surface of your arms, legs, chest, your brow...just waiting to drip down into an eye.  Even a hat with a built in sweatband is no match for this weather.  My socks were soaked (and that just doesn't happen to me).  My running clothes looked like I ran them under a faucet.  I think the humidity level hovered around 162%. 

But the legs felt so good.  The heart and mind felt best.  We were running!

And the heat, a welcome friend to the chilly tundra of Chicago! :)

Tuesday Ten Miler turned into a T8 as we got a late start.  I'm pretty sure there was not a single step more left in my legs, though.  So, T8 it was!  We adjusted our pace a little for the heat, but we still ended up finishing pretty quick.   

It's days like today that I can't even begin to fathom how people run Badwater :)  But then I remember how deliciously dry it is there, like being wrapped in a fluffy down blanket, rather than a hot, wet rag.

Next week, we tackle the T10 again :)  Time to remove the honeymoon legs and put back on my running legs...I have a goal to achieve in one month's time.  I'm aiming to shatter that 10 hour barrier for 50 miles at the Sunburn 12 hour run.  Anything beyond that will be gravy.  Of note: there is a rumor that my mom and one of my sisters will be hangin' that day at the race...a momentous occasion as no one in my family has ever witnessed my ultrarunning.

Just another day in training!

Paige, out.

Eat, Drink and Be Married!

I'm back, I'm back!

After a very full and very exciting last couple of weeks, we are back, we are well fed, well 'hydrated', well relaxed, sufficiently soft and quite glowy!  Honeymooning is so amazing :) 

Check it out, weez got hitched!  Us ultrarunners clean up pretty well, no? ;)

Matt Dunmore Photography

We weren't completely lazed out on the honeymoon, we did manage to squeeze in a few runs, one of which was down the side of the crater of a volcano...

There was a lovely beach trail from the resort, through some ancient ponds, along a palm tree speckled road, and a golf course.  The weather was hot and sunny everyday and it was glorious. 

Friday we decided to drive down to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to see what all the hubbub was.  It's pretty cool.  We both donned our favorite Chaco sandals and had no illusions of getting a run in, but once we set out on foot, playing the day by ear, and were presented with a beautiful downhill trail, leading us to the Kilauea Crater we just could not help ourselves.  Glancing at the mileage posted on the trail marker, we decided it would be much faster to run the 2 miles down to the crater than it would be to walk it.  When in Rome!  I tied my fleece around my waist, and Geof put our phones and camera securely in the bottoned pocket of his hiking shorts...and away we went!  I'm pretty sure I had a ridiculously giddy grin plastered on my face the entire time.  It was beautiful and the trail was the perfect blend of switchbacking tricky technical stuff with a smooth downhill grade.  Delicious.  My calves paid the price the next day, but the experience and subsequent hike across the crater was totally worth it.

It's back to normal life now, so that means training resumes!!!  In the last three days we've managed to run more than we have run in the previous two weeks, combined.  Gross, huh?  It feels good to be out running finally, but I'm having to get used to the soreness and aches and pains again...I almost forgot what it feels like to be a runner, yikes! ;)

Guess what? it's almost Friday!

Paige, out.