where do we go from here?

So my running is not where I'd like it. I don't hate it, but I am uninspired. I'd like to run more races - give me a goal or at least some motivation. Money is a bit tight these days and it doesn't look like ti will be getting any better any time soon. I am glad I still have a job, but it is getting tougher to make ends meet and certainly less money for things like races. I would like to run at least the half marathon in October (though I'd really like to run the full), but I haven't decided if I will or not. I think I need to in order to keep me going, but it's hard to justify right now. So not sure where to go from here... need time to figure it all out.

race report: dances with dirt

Okay, I know its been way too long since my last post - especially since I promised to do a race report. Much to my surprise someone is actually reading this blog and is asking for a recap of dances with dirt, so this one's for you Barb... The morning started out early. I was up by 4:30 am to get ready, grab some breakfast and meet Jason and Mark at 6am. I arrive about 5 minutes early and no one was there. Jason arrives about 10 minutes after and Mark 5 minutes that. We throw everything into my car and I thought we were ready, but nature calls for Mark, so we wait. Finally get on the road and I am thinking that it will be close. We will probably arrive just as the relay gets started, which is fine since Jason runs the 2nd leg and Mark runs the 3rd. I have the feeling of impending doom in the pit of my stomach about the race - could be the fact that I do not feel well trained, but am taking some comfort in the fact that I am running the same legs as last year. At about 1/2 hour away, nature called for Jason, so we hit a rest stop and then continued on. The last 20 minutes is on winding two lane road that is next to impossible to pass anyone on and as luck would have it, we were behind a slow driver. Somehow, we managed to pull in right as the relay started, remarkably we grab an awesome parking spot, then transfer gear to the team vehicle. It was a cool, crisp morning, with a slight hint of humidity in the air, but it felt good. with me being fourth in line to run, I had plenty of time to "relax", but I kept getting more and more nervous. I usually do at races anyway. Between the 3rd and 4th legs we had to drive to the exchange point inside the state park. It was here that I would start me leg of the race. I had to wait on Mark to arrive though and this was his first time running this race. We weren't sure how he'd run on this, since it is quite different than most terrain anyone runs on, but he managed a decent time and then it was my turn to head out. I remembered this leg being straight down for the first 1/4 mile then around a lake and then up and down hills to the end - a short 5k leg. What I forgot was, there were stairs half way down the trail and like and idiot I tried to go down them (when what I should have done is run along side them). The steps were to small for my big feet and very wet and slippery from the early morning dew. I ended up walking down (like most people were doing). I caught up to a couple of people at the bottom and followed for awhile. Once we got around the lake, it was up a hill, across a road and down a hill. So far, not too bad. It seemed better than last year, but then it seemed it was all up hill from there... the hills were kick my ass, but I pushed on and then had to take a walk break up one of them, then another walk break on another, then finally it "flatten out"to were it went across a series of hills, which was becoming painful for my ankles to run at an angle like that. Just when I thought I couldn't take anymore, the "trail" pops out of the woods and then along a road to the next exchange point. I was a little sore and glad my first leg was over. My second leg ended up not being the same one I had run last year. I was somewhat disappointed because that leg had me finishing up by jumping in a drainage ditch that is filled up to about waist height with water. Instead Mark ran that leg and I ran the one that followed - which had me jumping in the ditch first then running straight up a hill (for what seemed like forever) and then through the woods, up and down, through briars - all that fun stuff. The nickname for this leg was "Stupid" and I understand why. With the obvious jump into the drainage ditch and crossing a creek and the up hill running, some through briars (my legs were a little bloody by the end) it at one point had us running in the middle of stream - flags tied to branches overhead. I think we ran about a 1/4 mile in the stream then back into the woods and briars to an almost vertical hill. No. Seriously. It was one step up, slide two steps back. It was a nice layer of slippery mud under all the fallen leaves. I finally made it up the hill, and then ran some more hills. I could finally hear the traffic from the road ahead an knew I was getting close. Then it was downhill to the road (hard to slow down as I kept picking up speed) and then the final 1/4 mile was along side the road. I thought I could pick up the pace then, but my legs started to tighten up with each stride. I hobbled in, glad that "stupid" leg was over with - and it was only 3 miles! My final leg was a 5.8 mile leg that I was hoping to redeem myself on. Last year it was so muddy that it zapped a lot of energy out of me and I did a lot of walking. This year I vowed to run as much as possible, but I was feeling exhausted... uninspired even. I waited and waited for Mark, but it was way passed the time it should have taken him to run the leg. We weren't sure if he was lost or injured, but I headed out so we could make sure we finished in the daylight. I felt slow and was sure my pace was somewhere between a slow jog and a fast walk. The first mile was on paved surface and then it heads into the woods, then onto some horse trails. The horse trail were the muddy part last year and surprisingly with all the rain we got the week leading up tot he race they seemed okay. They were okay until I rounded a corner and it was what I had imagined it to be., but I plowed through it and kept going. I got passed by one guy not too long after that and I couldn't keep up, but I kept up my slow run as best I could. I came across him not too long after that - he lost his shoe in some deep mud. I passed him by and kept trying to pick the best spot in the trial for footing. I came up to a hill and had to walk it. It was a rather small hill, but I needed the break. I had forgotten to set the timer on my watch to keep track of time and I had only a slight idea of what time it was when I started. I estimated I was a little over half way done. This leg was changed slightly from last year and had me going up to the top of a ridge and then straight down a double black diamond ski slope... it was full of ruts and wash-outs - lots of fun to run down after your legs are trashed! There was a small gathering of people at the exchange point, so I had to make sure I didn't fall and roll down the hill. Luckily I made it, legs feeling tight and heavy. I was happy to be done and more happy to have survived. We stuck around for the BBQ, drank some beer and shared our stories of our runs. Then we all decided to do it again next year... yep we're crazy...

i survived, again

I survived Dances With Dirt. It was more fun this year, but more painful than last year. More to follow, but for now I am resting and mending. Will definitely need to train better if I do this next year...

umm, hi, remember me?

I'm not even sure any missed me or even checked my blog, but I am still around.  All is well. Running was going well until this past week. I was up to an 11 mile run two weekends ago. It was a long lonely run, but I made it. Amazing how an 11 mile run feels long now... 

It was supposed to be a slow week for me at work, so I had hoped for a good week of running - rain or not, I was going to run, but haven't run since my 6 mile run on Sunday. The last two previous weeks work hours had me a bit worn out, so it was time to catch up on sleep.

Next weekend is the Dances With Dirt race - looking forward to it and dreading it all at once. Should be okay though - not concerned of mileage. I think I'll be running a total of 12.9 miles.

I went into my favorite running store to get new shoes - both trail and road. They had my normal road shoes, but nothing in trail shoes. They wanted to charge me for shipping and an additional $5 to order shoes they didn't carry, so I declined and came home and ordered them and got free shipping. I just hope they arrive before the race...

That's all for now. I've got a busy day tomorrow with lawns to mow and some more yard work that I didn't get a chance to do today... glad it ended up nice outside today.