(Sham)rockin' some PRs!

Spring, wherefore art thou?  It's snowing this morning!

I have raced (and PR'd!) the past two weekends (this weekend is a blissfully light one!): a 5k that doubled as a run test, and the Shamrock 1/2 marathon in Virginia beach.  The 5k was a great neighborhood event in Forest Hills that I ran with Sharon, Lynn, Molly and Maddy.  It was "canine friendly," so leashed dogs could run with you, and a nice little one hill course winding through the park.  The hill was a beast though.  My mile splits were roughly a 7:46, 9:15, and 8:30.  Sophie was having a ball, and would've won top dog had I been able to run faster. Pictures show all of us in the background:

I've been biking mostly outside with Bethany, and she's kicking my butt.  She and Bart, along with the Deals, stayed with me at the beach for the half marathon. Shamrock weekend I was totally overbooked-- Friday night I took Maddy and a friend to her then-prospective high school performance of Guys and Dolls; Saturday was the JDRF gala set up and party; and race was Sunday morning at 7am.  Something had to give and it turned out to be the gala.  I'm so glad I didn't go--the kids and I drove to the beach around 4 and met Bart and Bethany at the greek place we like for dinner.  A little schluk of wine back at the beach house and it was bedtime!

Race morning was early, but for whatever reason I didn't hear my alarm go off.  I rolled out of bed at 5:19 and we were due to leave the house at 5:45!  Ack.  Over coffee in the kitchen Bart and I looked at eachother at 5:40 and had a moment's panic--overnight the winds had picked up considerably and we weren't relishing the thought of battling a headwind for the first half of the race.  Down the coffee and jump in the race clothes--weather be damned!  I was putting my shoes on and wondered why my "new" shoes felt so roomy....same socks I normally wear.  I turned on the light to see I had grabbed the wrong shoes.  The ones I brought that had been lying on the floor of my closet weren't the new ones--instead they were over a year old and had absolutely NO liner/insole/orthotic!  Over a quick skype with Joe, I was feeling totally screwed.  Bethany wasn't feeling quite herself either, so we had a mini pity party but we decided quickly that we couldn't not race, so may as well make the best of it.  At that point I was resigned to at least a couple of good sized blisters.

Off we went, speeding toward the Virginia Beach oceanfront.  Parking was going to be a bear, but I showed Bart our secret lot next to a 7-11 that no one knew about.  We gathered up our stuff, kissed Bart goodbye, and headed up to the race start at a nice jog.  WINDY!  We dropped off my post-race bag and lined up for a last pee at the portapotties.  Found Lynn and Sharon and good-luck-hugs all around.  The national anthem was playing while we made our way to the starting corral.  Bethany and I had the same time goal in mind, but given how we were feeling back at the house, we knew it was going to be a mile by mile race to overcome and agreed that if either was "feeling it" to go on ahead.  After standing around for another 5 minutes, it was time to start!

In discussing the race plan with Jen, we agreed that I would start out conservatively.  Build and hold was my mantra.  First three miles I'm always afraid of starting out too fast, or not fast enough... Our mile times were good:  9:25, 9:14, and 9:17.  Right past mile 3, the course turns west as you head to Fort Story and the trees provided some nice wind break.  I felt good.  Bethany told me to go on ahead, so I did.  I knew several runners around me were aiming for about a 2:00 half, so I decided if I could keep my pace steady, hang with them, I'd probably be ok.  The race clock at mile 5 said 47minutes and change, but was from the first gun.  I was doing good!  I vowed not to look at my watch until mile 10--just keep this pace and I should be fine, and don't walk the water stops.  Between mile 7 and 8, the course is right along the beach, and man did it get windy!  I found a tall guy running my pace and I tucked in right behind him and let him break the wind.  I gu'd every 3 miles, and tried to drink a little water in between.  My feet were definitely feeling the rubbing in the shoes but it was nothing horribly unbearable.  My splits for miles 4-10 were 8:47, 9:00, 8:50, 8:46, 8:47, 8:55, and 8:56.

Mile 10 is close to the gate leaving the Fort, and I finally looked at my watch.  I was right at 1:30:00 so I knew then that I was going to make a sub 2 hour half.  I was totally pumped!  At this point I knew I could do it even at a 10 min mile pace, but wanted to be under that 2 hour mark by as much as I had left in me.  The next mile went pretty quick (8:44), but then the fatigue started to settle in and the legs started to hurt.  Mile 12 was a 9:05 and I told myself the faster I ran, the sooner I was done but my legs felt like there was no turnover left.  Halfway through mile 12 you turn back onto the boardwalk and hit the wind again.  One of the race pics taken at this point isn't very flattering of me; I was in pain! That tall guy from mile 7/8 showed up right beside me and told me to push it in.  I asked him to carry me please!  Final mile was a 8:54, and the last .2 miles (I started my watch before crossing the start line) was 1:30.  My official time was 1:57:59--I did it!!! 

Melissa was right behind me, also with a 1:58, and the rest of our peeps came in shortly after that.  We all had great times!!! It was time for a beer!

Nikki was a dear and let the kids sleep in and brought them down post race to the beer tent.  We made it through 2 beers and decided it was time for pancakes!  Oh my legs hurt so bad.  Walking up to Pocahontas Pancake House, the wind was blowing and we cheered for the marathoners running by.  Bart, Bethany, kids and I headed back to the beach house to let the dogs out and take a well deserved nap.  And yes, I did have some pretty gnarly blisters.

This past week I have been in race recovery mode.  Running wasn't feeling too great on the calves, but hopefully the massage I had yesterday will help.  Time to finish off the Lumber Liquidators project and pack for Arizona!!!

So I lied...

Sue me.

Yes, we're almost a whole month into the new year, and I'm just now getting around to doing something I should've done a while ago.  This little thing called life gets in the way. 

• Early January the husband started the new job.  Hooray!  Much travelling and time apart.  Boo!  He was ready for a new adventure though and I was ready to have him busy.  While it was nice having the house husband taking care of laundry and cooking, it was a lot of togetherness.  I like a few degrees of separation--it gives us more to talk about over dinner.  I must say Skype is the bomb.  Where was that technology when we lived in Eastern Europe?!
• The holidays were good.  #1 son got back from Iraq and the in-laws came out from California.  Little did they know they were in for a white Christmas!  Snow on Christmas Day that stuck around a while, and at the beach no less.  Many puzzles were tackled and Monopoly games played.  Home on New Years to hang with friends. 
• A new year means a resolution of sorts.  I'm trying (with limited success) to not drink during the week.  Goodness knows we did enough drinking over the holidays to last a  looooong time.  I will, however, make exceptions for book/wine club nights, dinner with Lynn, or a snowy night like last night.  Having an open bottle around is not good.  Darn you, screw caps!  Birthday week (next week!) is also an exception.  I'll need plenty of alcohol to survive #43.
• I have registered for several races this spring:  Shamrock 1/2 mary in March, Rumpass in Bumpass (oly) in April, and Kinetic half in early May.  I did run the Frostbite 15k this past weekend.  It lived up to its name!  At the start it was 15 degrees.  Brrr.  (I know what you MN folks are thinking, but that is cold for us.)  I think I did well, even if a bit slower than last year.  My mile splits were fairly even, and I have been doing more trail running for long stuff rather than road running.  I need to find a February thing.
• I did find a must-do race:  Ironman Aix en Provence 70.3 in September!  If I'm in the neighborhood, I'll definitely sign up (provided I can keep in some thing resembling race shape post IMCdA).  Now, if I could only convince my friends to come too (Lynn? Julia? Kari? ADC?)  Maybe I should offer to pay for the wine post race...
• I have been fairly good about keeping to the schedule, getting in about 90% of the workouts.  Right coach?
• I've taken on some big house projects.  Family room 70s panelling and fake beams are now gone, cut through to the living room accomplished, drywall and trim are up.  I asked Joe for french doors for a birthday present--I've wanted them since we moved into this house almost 12 years ago.  Progress pictures are featured on FB.
• Kids are good, and I'm liking having another responsible, driving adult in the house to help with kid shuttling given the lack of spouse situation.  #1 son has luckily found a job too (a rare thing these days so I know it's just a matter of time before he'll need to have a place of his own.  Then I'm screwed. 
• I can't believe my beautiful daughter is almost 14.  There's no way I'm that old.

Back in the Saddle

Not totin' the ol' 44, but definitely feeling sore.  I'm trying hard to jump back into "training" mode.  Checking off at least 5 workouts per week (which is better than where I was, belive you me!)  It seems that two if not three of these are early early mornings where the alarm goes off around 5:30.  Combine that with a full workday of up on my feet all day, moving furniture, and by the time I get home in the evening, I am TOAST.  Need to catch a 10 min nap in order to stay awake long enough to eat dinner kind of toast.  This work stuff is for the birds!  I don't know how my friends who have full time jobs AND families figure out how to stay up late enough to ensure that kids are 1) fed 2) homeworked  and dishes/laundry/house stuff is done still train for anything longer than a sprint.  Poor Joe takes it as a given that I'll be in bed, lights out, and asleep before at least one of the kids.

Tried the TRX thing this week with Bethany.  And just for the record, let's say that what happens in Bethany's basement, stays in Bethany's basement.  She and I are contemplating a TRX class in the spring, which at least gives me more time to work up to a "lets not make a fool of ourselves" level of proficiency.  I suck so bad, I cannot lift my arms, hug my children, or wash my hair.  (Thank goodness for swimming! Of course I kid.)  At least we know I still remember how to ride a bike, but don't take me out for more than 35 miles.

This week is also a week where I need to contemplate my 2011 goals.  For those of you who are coached by Jen, you know what this means.  Essay questions.  (Screw IMCdA...maybe my one goal for next year should be to actually do one whole pull up unassisted.  Given my current lack of upper body strength, it probably would take most of the year to build up to that.)  Last year my goal sheet ended with Vineman and had a whole lotta nothing after that, other than a contemplated fall marathon.  For various reasons, I don't know how far past CdA I can plan for this year coming up.  It's scary to think so short term, however, given what happened this year training wise after Vineman, rather dangerous insofar as keeping in a modicum of shape post CdA. There are, of course, extenuating circumstances.  Like where will we be?!  But I think I owe it to myself to plan long term and then if the situation changes, roll with it and see where it takes me.

If the suit fits...

I am good at purging.  Not a month goes by that I am not assessing what I have in my closet and chest of drawers, asking myself if I haven't worn such-and-such in over a year, is it really worth keeping?  Usually the answer is no. 

The cleaning people have always been very grateful for our hand me downs.  They've scored some good stuff--upteen gazillion suits and shirts of Joe's, even a bag of over 50 ties thanks to "business casual" at Joe's new company last year.  (It had to be a pretty darn good tie to make the final 20 that stayed on the rack.)  They also got lots of things from my side of the closet with labels that read either "Talbots" or "Ann Taylor." Heck, they even got my old shearling coat from Poland.  When I think about it, that was a lot of money that walked out the door!

Regardless of whether you're a keeper or purger, I think many of us must have, stashed away somewhere deep in the bowels of our closets, an article of clothing from a past life.  One in which we were younger, skinnier.  It hides back there, forgotten for the most part, but every now and again we pull it out, pull it on (if we can), and reminisce.     

Mine is a red linen suit--my former power suit--from the days when I worked at the CIA.  I loved that suit.  It made me feel invincible.  I'd usually wear it on days that I had important meetings, or when I needed a little boost of confidence.  I had a couple of different scarves that I'd wear with it.  One was very nautical: red, white, and blue in a sail boat motif; another was black with big red cabbage roses on it; and a third was another floral, but with shots of acid green.  The cut is very late '80s:  big shoulders, short skirt, long jacket. I like to think I was that chick in the Cake song, with the right allocations, fast and thorough, and sharp as a tack:



I haven't been able to fit in that suit for a looooooong time.  I remember trying to put it on after Joey was born and I literally couldn't get the skirt up over my hips.  Very depressing.  I'd been tempted over the years to relegate it to the give away pile, but I've always held out hope that I could fit in it again. 

Today in the shower I was wondering if those last intervals in my 9+ mile fartlek run were so sucky because I was dehydrated.  (Yeah, yeah, ELF. Excuses excuses.)  I had just recently read Michelle's post about losing over two pounds in sweat--so it is possible.  It wasn't that hot out today, but I know I've been really off in the past few weeks about drinking enough water throughout the day.  (I have been very good about drinking enough wine, however.)

I don't like scales and only bought one because Kim told me to.  So I got on the scale straight out of the shower to see if I weighed less than my usual.  For the past 2-3 years my weight, even at the doctor's office, has not varied by more than a couple pounds. 

Lo and behold, the scale posted a number I haven't seen since before I was pregnant with Maddy.  I thought to myself, "That can't be right."  I think I got on and off the scale three times before thinking that the only way to check was to drag out that red suit and try it on.  The weight litmus test if you will. 

17 years of marriage, 2 more kids, 5 years of triathlon et voila: me in the red suit!

We're already how far into the new year?

I was reminded in an email that I haven't updated my blog in a while.  I must say that I have become a little lazy, figuring if you really need to know what's going on in my life you can check my Facebook page.  But there are quite a few things to flesh out now that we are, indeed, well into a new year. 

The Race Schedule

Jen H has her athletes fill out a goals form at the beginning of every year, listing A, B, and C races and other "want to accomplish" types of things.  I started filling mine out on New Year's Day, but still haven't finished it.  I am in a quandry on the why's and wherefore's of my racing this coming year.  Don't get me wrong, there are definitely races I'm signed up for and looking forward to, but once past Vineman in July there is a whole lot of NOTHING looming.  Do I want to do another fall marathon?  Do I try and squeak an IM-distance race past my hubby and go for Beach2Battleship?  Do I sign up for IMMoo or IMFL in 2011? (good reasons to do either, can't imagine doing both.  I think Jen would have to line up right behind Joe to throttle me if I did that.) 

There is also the whole "sick of being slow" sickness going around.  Anyone who did IM distance races last year, with the exception of quite a few of my local training buddies, are swearing off them for at least another year and are focused on SPEED!  Frankly it kinda scares me that even with that as a goal, I may still end up woefully slow.  All my "benchmark" road races--in which I would seriously try to set a PR--fall on dates that don't mesh with the training schedule.  I will be gone for the Monument Ave 10k.  Carytown 10k is the weekend after my first big race.  Then there's Shamrock.  Do I go for that sub 2hr half just 4 days before climbing Mt. Lemmon?!  Jen says no.  Damn damn damn.  Can't win for trying.

Amidst all this race schedule planning, Joe and I need to fit in some other stuff.  Going to New Orleans to see Jim before he deploys to Iraq.  Vacationing in California and hiking in Yosemite, just before Vineman.  As always, none of this racing or traveling is free.  Since Joe changed jobs last year, finances are a little tighter, spoiling any plans for new kitchens, major beach house repairs, and a Powertap.  We are very lucky--Joe has a good job, we have food on the table and a roof over our head, and we can still afford some luxuries (thank you, Belmont Butchery!) but it's still a joy-kill. 

Anyways, back to the race schedule.  So far it looks like this:

• Next weekend, Frostbite 15k.  LOTS of friends running, including Joe, so it should be a good time.  I've signed up for this race 3 times, and never run it.  This year there's no backing out.
• Mar 21st Shamrock 1/2 Marathon (I guess Jen should be glad I'm not doing the Dolphin Challenge--8k on Sat, 1/2 mary on Sun)
• Mar 24-28th Tricamp in AZ!!!
• May 8th Rev3 Oly Knoxville, TN (still trying to talk Lynn into this, but if not will see Florida tricamp buddies there!)
• June 13th Eagleman (this time NO BONKING! More on this later)
• July 18th Vineman (with Marit and some new friends!)

Mixed in there will also be a couple of small local triathlons.  Still on the want to do list:

• a 10k--one that I can go for a sub 50 on.  My pr is 52:30 so it's do-able.  Now I just have to find a 10k that fits in the schedule...
• The Army 10 Miler.  I LOVE this race.  This year was huge for me--took 10 whole minutes off my best time.  I'm 1:31 away from breaking 1:30:00 and I know I can do it.  Maybe this year I can talk Joe into running with me!
• Patriot 1/2 in September.  Last time I did this race I DNF'd.  Time to finish some un-finished business.

Nutrition Issues

This has been a perennial entry on my "want to accomplish" list--nailing down my nutrition, on race day and otherwise.  I really am sick of bonking on runs in IM and half iron distance races.  Plus, if I could move some stuff around, like take away what's on the back of my hips and put it instead into more muscular thighs, it could only help my running.  "Lean up" instead of slim down.  ELF mentioned something about body composition having the most impact on your running/speed (we won't go into the "consistency in training thing") so we'll see what I can accomplish on this front.  I have been much better so far this year about cutting out the weekday-night drinking.  1-2 glasses of wine a night was the norm, so I now try to keep any alcohol intake to Friday/Saturday only. (Although last night was an exception.  Nothing like kids vomiting, dogs pooping, and giving blood all in one morning to make one turn to alcohol.  I was glad to be able to hold out until 7pm before pouring a large glass.)  Poor Joe isn't very happy with me, says it makes him feel like a lush if he's drinking alone.

The Job Search

In the past month, I've started an honest job search.  I can't believe it's been 18 months years since I finished the Master's program at VCU!  Time flies, especially when training for two IMs and a marathon.  It is time to get serious on this front.  The kids are in a good place--happy in their respective schools with some, but not too many, after school activities.  They are pretty self-sufficient, as long as there is someone around to monitor Joey's eating/blood sugars.  While it seems most of the great jobs are in DC and NY, I have found a couple of leads worth pursuing.  I even have a job interview this Friday!  This would also help the Oliver-household finances, and maybe even pay for a new kitchen...  I have put together an online portfolio.  You can see it here.

Birthdays

Soon my daughter celebrates her 13th birthday, and just after that I will celebrate turning 29 for the 13th time.  I can't believe I will be 42--that's just not possible.  I feel like I should be 34ish.  Is there someway to just stop aging?  Or should I just not celebrate it at all, and let it pass hopefully into obsurity?  NAH!  Maddy's having some girlfriends down to the beach house, so I figured I could invite some too!  Hopefully we'll get a good group and all have  a girly-girly weekend!

This week is test week for me.  Soon I'll be off to do the dreaded swim test.  Ack.  Wish me luck.  I did pack the new goggles!

Races and Race Reports

What could be better than swimming, biking and running through some of this country's most gorgeous wine country? Why, eating and drinking your way through wine country with great friends too! Time to plan your summer vacation with a little 70.3 thrown in for good measure. Sign ups for Vineman open this Sunday at midnight (is that 11pm or 1am with the time change???)

Jen C and I have been scheming and this is what we've come up with:

• We have a couple of ideas on houses to rent in the area, all that would accomodate 6-10, and all have a pool.


• Jen has her professional chef friends lined up to prepare an awesome post race meal, complete with wine pairings!


• We were also thinking of organizing a little barrel tasting too (can you say carb load???)


• Thank you Molly for offering to be our sherpa and cheerleader extraordinaire! She's done this race twice so she knows how this whole point to point thing works. Yey Molly!

Race day is July 18th. I figure we'd need the house from Friday, July 16th to Monday the 19th. Let me know if you're in and I'll get working on it. Ideally I'd like to keep that cost down to about $100/night per person. If we have fewer than 6 we MIGHT be able to just horn in at my in-laws house which is just 20 mins from the race start, and 5 mins from the race finish, but I have to clear that with them. The chef's meal would run about $75 (that includes wine!) Who's in???

On a less fun note, I guess I need to talk/blog about the Marine Corps Marathon. For all my chatting about getting faster, I didn't deliver. I posted a disappointing 4:55, 4 mins off my current best time. It was a beautiful day for the run. You couldn't ask for better weather--sunny skies, breezy, and about 60 degrees. I was able to make it to the race start in plenty of time, and seeded myself in the 4:30 to 5:00 time corral. I looked all around for my high school friend's husband and he found me just after the gun. I was so glad to have someone to run with! Thank you Tony for the company. The first few miles went by really quickly, with the first hill up Lee Hwy and then down Spout Run. 30,000 is a lot of running company, and it was very crowded (yet only 21,000 finish). There was a lot of people dodging and maneuvering.

Running up Canal Road was beautiful and shady. We made it up the second hill to the reservoir fine and I took in my first gu at the 7 mile point. The downhill back into Georgetown was steep! I knew we'd fly down it, but kept in mind that such steep hills make for owie legs later on (thank you IMLP for that lesson). Lots of crowd support all the way down M Street, and then another downhill and around to the Kennedy Center. This part of the run is familiar since it follows roughly the same path as the Army 10 Miler. Joe was hoping to be at the Lincoln Memorial around mile 11, but didn't make it. There were TONS of spectators around there, which really helped, and I doubt I could've found him in the crowd anyways.

Then came the flat flat flat portion of the race out to Hains Point and back. Nice views along the Potomac and more shade. Aaah. Around the corner, beep beep over the 1/2 way timing mat. At this point I was hanging in there with the 4:30 pace group and doing ok but then I lost Tony at a water stop. And between here and mile 16, the wheels came off the bus. Maybe I should blame that Russian dude that started running with me and chatting up a storm (see pic below and can you believe his name was Boris?). He had been a professional volleyball player in Russia, moved to the US and took up beach volleyball, and now was getting into IM training. He seemed nice enough, but just kept talking my ear off. I wasn't sorry to lose him at a water stop. I knew these miles coming up (18-20) would be the toughest since you loop out to the Capitol and back along the Mall and didn't want to talk about how he should train for Ironman Nice.

At mile 18 I checked my phone and sure enough Joe had texted that he and the kids were waiting for me at mile 22. Not close enough! I found Tony again, poor guy was massaging out cramps just before the Capitol turn around. I asked if he wanted me to stick around and he said to keep going! I finally made it to the 14th Street Bridge and knew if I could make it to Joe, I'd be ok. That bridge is long. It's the last 2 miles of the A10M course, so I know the feeling well of running running running (along a freeway, no less) feeling like you'll never get to the Pentagon. The guy dressed as the Grim Reaper had it somewhat right: he was holding up a huge sign that said "THE END IS NEAR" which 22 miles in is technically correct, but it still feels impossibly far. I was so glad getting off that ramp into Pentagon City, and then saw Joey looking out for me! Yey.

I hit my goal time of 4:30 at the 24 mile point. For a few moments I did consider just stopping at that point. I had just seen my family (for the first time during the race) and the car and hotel were just behind me. Ahead lay 2.2 more miles of pain and frustration. Luckily the handsome young Marine with a bullhorn started talking to ME ("Hey, Ironwoman, get your ass moving! Just 2 more miles!" was about what he was saying) and motivated me to finish it up. I did find Tony again (he must've passed me as I was in the Cosi bathroom at the turn around at mile 23), and he used the phone to call his wife to let her know his expected finish time. He urged me to run it in if I could, so I took off, cranked up the ipod and tried to ignore my legs.

Coming up the final hill to the Iwo Jima memorial was bittersweet. Tons of spectators, lots of young marines, all cheering you up the hill (it's a steep one!). You can't let them down and not RUN up it. Ow ow ow. And whew, the finish line. The medals they give you are impressive--big hunks of metal of the globe, anchor, and eagle. I immediately called first Joe to say "come get me!" and Jen to weep into the phone, and tell her I finished...but.

I have been training for long distance racing for over a year and a half--I started training for IMFL in May of '08. That's a long time to be devoted to distance training, with no emphasis on speed. In talking with Jen H, we agree that my goal time is in me, somewhere. I need this coming year to see if I can translate my improved shorter distance PRs (Shamrock and the Army10Miler) into more consistent speed. Until then, I need to keep ahead of Joe. He's thrown down a challenge that he'll beat me in the Turkey Trot this year. I'll give him a run for his money!

Conquering the Red Baron?

In January I blogged about a rare run with my husband (read it again here). Back then I wasn't able to keep up with his pace--which is usually right around an 8 minute mile. My husband has the gift of natural speed. Here's a guy whose dad--who started running when he was 45--has run over 20 marathons, including Boston. Joe ran his first (and possibly his last...) marathon the year he turned 40. He found a training plan online and ran it almost to the letter, cranking out a 4:05 marathon. This was before I started the ironman journey and now I keep wondering how he'd do with a little coaching, some track workouts, and a better nutrition plan... Running with Joe was a lesson in humility about how slow I was, and that day in January I was left cursing him with raised fist, much like Snoopy at the Red Baron.

Yesterday we ran together, my regular 4.5 mi loop. Sophie pulled me along as usual, but where I'd normally reign her back with a strict "NO PULL!" I was keeping up with her just fine. And I was also keeping up with Joe. He might have slowed down a bit since his marathon training year since he hasn't been running as regularly, but he's still pretty quick. And yesterday was the culmination of the biggest running milage week for me EVER--almost 40 miles of pounding the pavement. And I did that loop in about 40 minutes and could've kept going!

I'm liking this new running pace. I'm sure at some point I'll still get my ass kicked by Lynnie, since she's getting better and stronger every day. But you know what? I'm thinking this 4:30 marathon thing is in my reach. Now all I need is a trio of farm animals to boogie with at mile 20!

Eating Vegetables (it's good for you!)

Poor Jen, I called her last night and started complaining. About being alone at my races without my family, about how slow I'm feeling. She must've said something to ELF, because I was later instructed on Facebook to pull on the big girl panties and EAT MY VEGETABLES. And they're right. It's time to HTFU, realize that I signed up for these races ostensibly for a reason (like maybe because they'd be fun? or maybe I could set a new PRs?) Neither Jen nor ELF can do that for me, and neither can my family. And while it would be nice to have a familiar face meet me at mile 20 and say "Let's get you to the finish line sooner rather than later," I shouldn't rely on that. Just like in an IM, it should be ME that gets me to the finish line. That little voice in me in Placid was really annoying, telling me how much better I'd feel if I slowed down, how easier it was to walk than run. It almost had me convinced I didn't even need to finish, but I knew better on that score (Jen and my husband would've killed me!) I don't think I've tuned it out yet either.

I have a hard time with that voice. It is the voice of self-doubt. It can be very persuasive. It is the voice that says the hurt will stop when you do. It can easily wipe out months of hard work and progress with just a little whisper of "what if..." or "you don't need to do this..." or "ouch this hurts." I think this is where people who grow up athletic have it a little better in that they learned to tune out that voice back in high school or college. How do you reprogram that voice when you're just finding that athlete inside yourself at age 41? Ha, Jen, there's a question for your blog!

On the way to dinner I was doing some math. I was trying to remember my pace for the 2007 Monument Avenue 10k which I ran in just over 52 minutes, a 2 minute PR. I wasn't running that race with a specific time goal, but I was running with a friend. She had pulled away from me at the 3 mile mark, and I remember how I push push pushed to find her again and cross the line with her. Where was the voice then? Who knows. But I wanted one thing, and that was to not be beat to the line by much. My fitness has only improved since then, so I have no excuses but damn I still feel slow! Someday I want to run a sub 50 min 10k. Right now though, my 800m repeats that have me dying by the end are not far off that 8 1/2 min/mile pace from 2007. Is IM training really THAT damaging to your speed?!

While at dinner, Joey asked how much I'd pay him to eat his vegetables. I told him he better get used to being hungry, because I won't bribe him to eat. I guess I better figure out what I'm craving, and how badly I want it. No one is going to eat those veggies for me, and even if I have to choke them down, they're good for me.

Looking back...looking ahead

It's hard to believe my triathlon season ended over a month ago. Here it is almost fall and in my most recent coversation with Jen we agreed that I don't need to swim any more this year. I know, some of you are crying me a river, but I'm not sure that I'm all that happy about it. I think I'm a decent swimmer, so time in the pool is ok, especially with my friends training for IMFL. I have also only been on my bike twice since Placid! Two weeks ago I rode with Fave, Lynn, Jill, and Emmie who absolutely kicked my ass on a 56 mile ride. Maybe I should get on my bike more so I don't forget how to ride. Here we are at the start of the ride, hoping the thunderstorms and crazy rain we drove through to the start wouldn't dog us for the next 3 hours:

Whatever, I'm not training for anything requiring a swimsuit or bike. I am, however, supposed to be marathon training...

Yeah, I've got this little 26.2 mile run hanging over my head in late October. The Marine Corps Marathon. And I think the friend I had talked into running it with me is going to bag on me. Something about new babies and jobs...blah blah blah. (Yeah, Bob, I'm calling you out on my blog...) The problem is my running has been off since Placid. Did you read my previous post?! Just the thought of trying to slog through another marathon is freaking me out. I did run the Rock'n'Roll half marathon this past weekend at the beach, somewhat successfully. I was worried that since it was hot and humid I might bonk again. Luckily that didn't happen, but I didn't set any speed records either. Cue up the Marit quote about "slow, strong, steady" being the key for Ironman training. You don't see speed in there. I have this little voice in my head saying I should try hard and run a 4:30 (which would be a 20 minute PR for me!), so that's what Jen is going to have me doing--speed work. Fun times.

What went right last weekend? I paid attention to the two things I didn't get right in Placid: water and electrolytes. I took a salt tab every 2 miles, and a gu and water every 3 miles. I drank most of a gatorade just before starting too. I had been training in the nasty hot humid weather of the beach in August for the past 2 weeks (minus a couple of days while Tropical Storm Danny blew around). I had been out running at o'stupid o'clock--usually around 9:30 or 10 am. Those runs really sucked since it was generally around 90 degrees out. I couldn't make it more than 5 miles. Yuck. I must say, I'm pretty excited about this weekend's half--it was really affirming to know that I could 1) handle the heat and run smart and 2) run a consistent pace with minimal walking other than to down some etabs or water. Hooray for conquering a couple of little Placid demons. Here's a picture of me close to the finish line. Don't I look happy?!
Today's little 4 1/2 mile recovery run went well. I started out a little sluggish, but was able to pick up the pace in the middle and finish strong. I was very glad that it was in the low 70s and raining! Bring on the fall weather--isn't that why we like fall marathons?

While the rest of 2009 is pretty much planned, I've already started thinking about next year. Since it will be a year to develop speed, that means no Ironman Canada for me and that makes me a little sad. Instead it will be another year of early season triathlons and fall...I don't know what yet. Maybe road races, maybe just biking. So things I'm considering are:

• Rev3 Olympic in Knoxville, TN May 9th
• Columbia Olympic in Maryland on May 23rd (need to sign up soon)
• Eagleman 1/2 Iron in Maryland on June 13th (signed up!)
• Vineman 1/2 Iron in Sonoma, CA on July 18th. (sign ups are November 1st!!!)
  

I am also hoping to make it back for training with Jen in Tucson next spring (Sshhh...Joe doesn't know about that one yet.) I know I can make it to the top of Mt Lemmon, just give me a 1/2 hour head start!

Mele Kalikimaka and Happy New Year!

Christmas was quiet in the Oliver house. We drove down to the beach house on Christmas Day, with a quick detour to my aunt and uncle’s in Williamsburg just in time for my cousin Marc’s wonderful turkey dinner! Once at the beach, Joe promptly dug into a puzzle, Maddy into her new book, and Joey into his legos and Nick ‘toons. I was able to get some good runs in while there—one 8 miler, and three 5 milers. I’ve decided that running on the beach at low tide is the absolute best. I love looking out at the waves, catching some dolphin sightings, and finding some shells. On my run with Lynn, I found a sand dollar! Sophie was in her element, running along the water’s edge, chasing gulls and sand pipers, and making friends with everyone. Such bliss.

The beach trip started out blessedly warm, with Sunday reaching the mid 70s. But then it got cold—down to the low 20s on New Year’s Eve, with a ferocious wind. Our house was mostly built in 1960 and so is not really intended to be inhabited during the winter, but it does have a fireplace which helps cozy it up, even if all the warm air leaks out the windows.

We are home now, and I’ve jumped back into training with our first true “in season” training session on Saturday morning. A fun hour and a half of one-leg drills on the trainers followed by a 5 mile run and 2 half mile repeats. My ass and hamstrings still hurt, but it is all very necessary. I think I ate the majority of the Christmas cookies we baked, along with my fair share of pumpkin bread and pie. Several pairs of pants won’t fit, and I seemed to have developed a muffin top. Scary.

It IS time to begin training in earnest, and to that end I’ve been trying to put together my list of goals for the season and see how to arrange my schedule so that I’m home at least four evenings a week. So first, to the goals.

Obviously looming large is my A race: Ironman Lake Placid in late July. I would like to do as well, if not better, there than I did in Florida. I know some little things I can do to shave some time (like no dicking around in transition…) but will need to work hard to develop my bike and run skills considering the course differences. I am currently signed up for just two triathlons leading up to Placid: Columbia in mid May in Maryland, and Eagleman on the Eastern Shore in June. I may throw a road race or two in there, and will definitely run the Monument Avenue 10k with Maddy in late March. I fully expect to have my ass handed to me during the two tri camps I’m signed up for in February and March, but think they will give me some good ways to improve and get added input on my training from some very accomplished coaches as the heavy training really sets in.

I am also planning to run a fall marathon and I want to finish in under 4:30 (my current PR is 4:51). Between my first and second marathons, I was able to take 25 minutes off my time, much of that thanks to having learned about fueling myself for longer distances. The fact that race day was 50 degrees and overcast instead of 80 degrees and humid helped too! By this fall I will have two Ironman races under my belt, leaving me plenty of base fitness and strength on which to build my speed. I am leaning heavily towards signing up for the Marine Corps Marathon in DC in late October, but I am still drawn to the Richmond Marathon. It is a familiar course, and I would not lack for training partners on the same schedule since there are plenty of TriGirls now training for Ironman Florida.

Scheduling all the training will be tough, but I need to find a good schedule that gives me time at home most evenings a week so I can be around for the kids. I’m not sure Joe realizes that even if I am gone in the evening, I still manage the after-school hours of homework, playdates, dance carpools, and dinner-making. That’s a lot to fit in the 4-5 hours I have between when Joey gets home and when I’d be off for indoor cycling or swimming. I know the TriGirl schedule is still in flux, but currently my two training nights are Tuesday and Thursday strength training/cycling. I may have to throw a Monday night Master’s class in there. I’m not sure how disciplined I can be to swim three mornings a week at the butt crack of dawn. As it is, it is damn hard getting up at 6 for Saturday training. Inevitably, Joe complains about missing out on morning cuddles, even on weekdays. Sometimes I feel that I can’t win for trying. That still leaves daylight hours for running and swimming, especially since I’m not working right now, so I’ll try to use those to better advantage.

Not all my goals for this year are race-related. I need to get serious about finding work. It has been great having the time at home, but I noticed since the end of school I really miss the adult interaction and stimulation of having projects that don’t involve laundry, cooking, or cleaning. I would like to find something part time or project-based, and I think in this current economic climate, that is all I’ll be lucky to find. I am very grateful that Joe’s job allows me the luxury of staying home full time, but since I was 18 I have always had some kind of job outside the home. My mental well-being depends on it!

Most friends are currently on Facebook, which has been a great way to keep in touch with some friends who I don’t see very often at all, some that I haven’t seen in YEARS, and some that I haven’t even met face to face. I love being able to check in, even if just briefly. I’m grateful for this utility that lets me keep them just a little closer. In dealing now with my aunt’s cancer, it is more apparent that you never know what life will throw your way. Your friends, along with your family, are what make your life full. I hope to never take that for granted.

Here’s to a wonderful 2009!

Graduation Weekend!

I am well and truly done. Graduated. It was a great weekend, despite all the stress and fun of the previous week. My in-laws came in Thursday night from California, and #1 son Jim was able to fly in from New Orleans, since he was back (relatively healthy) from Thailand. My uncle and aunt also came up from Williamsburg for the day on Saturday to represent the Cunningham side of the family! The only person missing was my sister...next time, Molly. There were 8 of 16 grad students that walked including me, so we were fairly well represented. How many people can say they processed to the Uulating Mummies? It is the School of the Arts, folks. This is the first time I've had my name called and walked across the stage (missed H.S. and undergrad graduations, and 1st master's at Georgetown was just a stand-up-you've graduated-sit-down affair) and I'm so glad I finally was able to hear my name called. Sorry for the fuzzy picture, but that was taken by Joey.

Later that evening, we all went to Can Can for dinner. Lots of wine, great company, and a chocolate peanut butter bomb for dessert. Joe was a dear and took the kids and his parents home, allowing me to continue the party for a couple more hours with fellow grad students Molly and Vanessa, and TriGirl Lynn. I was yet again sidelined for minor medical reasons over the weekend so I was unable to run the 10k planned on Sunday with my husband and father in law. This week I jump back into training, along with getting a few quiet days with my dog at our new beach house--(re)decorating, hanging drapes, and moving furniture.

Thank you all for your warm thoughts and support for Joey. He has bounced back from the seizure and was able to enjoy his time with the grandparents. I am so over medical problems and emergencies. Let's all pray that from here on out, our 2008 season is a healthy one! Congratulations to all those bloggers and friends who ran races over the weekend--come July I will be out there with you in body not just spirit--and best of luck to my TriGirl and Maramarc friends leaving this week for Ironman Brazil. You will rock!

Back in the Saddle

Yesterday I got on my bike for the first time in over a month, and rode outside for an hour in gorgeous weather. It was about 75 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, and breezy. Since April I've had my bike fit tweaked--Jim Miller, the PT who does most of the TriGirl bike fits, raised my seat by what felt like 5" (I think it was closer to 3cm). I have to unclip and almost jump off the seat to get my feet on the ground. Have you ever seen bikers stopped at an intersection, one shoe unclipped, but still w/ butt on seat, waiting to push off? Well, that won't be me. I forsee a couple of falls at a dead stop in my future. Did the revised fit help my power? Hard to tell...I think the bike portion is my weakest discipline and I always wish I had more mass in my thighs. I know I'm going to catch hell for that, but it's true. Jim said I have longer than average femurs, so my power on the bike will need to come from more than just my quads. My first ride outdoors always makes me think "what the hell am I doing?! I don't need to do xyz race..." I felt slow, like I was riding a tricycle, but I wasn't. Isn't it a law in triathlon that swanky equipment makes you fast? (I know the answer to that one!) Average pace: about 17 mph. Ideal pace: about 19 mph. Jen, consider this a goal.

Later that afternoon, Maddy and I went for another run. She averaged a 12 minute mile pace--3 miles in 34 minutes and that included just two short walks. Joe brought home our race packets today--one of the sponsors of the race is our local Ukrops grocery store chain. Instead of plastic race bags, they gave us pink reusable grocery bags. How smart is that?! I think Maddy's ready, bring on the Komen 5k!

I'm Done!

This is me, just after my thesis defense yesterday, celebrating with a little bubbly in the studio.
The festivities continued at Vanessa's, where we sat on her porch and drank more bubbly. Joe, bearing roses, and the kids met me there and took me out to a nice dinner. This will be the weekend of celebrating--Friday night chez Oliver with the graduate class and professors, and Saturday in North Carolina cheering the 30 TriGirls kicking butt at the White Lake Half Iron race. Accomplishments this year: MFA, check. Still to come: IMFL.

And now the exhaustion sets in

Tonight I made it back to Sunday evening TriGirl swim, and during our set of 10 x 100s I was feeling sluggish and very, very tired. I almost demoted myself to the slower lane, but stuck it out, knowing that it wasn't a high-milage (meter-age?) workout. We totalled just 1600 meters, but it felt like I had been swimming, or treading water, or drowning for weeks. I think it's the past few weeks catching up with me.

After my last post, I took a much needed breather and headed up to Northern VA to see friends and meet my friend's possible in-laws. Yet while the bulk of my project was finished, there still was so much to do: trying to print my boards was tedious and with every test print, something that needed fixing popped up. My thesis instructor asked me to tweak my watercolors, which I did on a couple of them, then I ran out of steam. Tuesday was my day to tackle my model, and for some stupid reason I decided to rebuild it from scratch--I was in the studio that night until 4:30 in the morning. Wednesday and Thursday were days devoted to printing my final boards, putting everything up at the gallery, and helping my classmates with their stuff (making models, redoing boards, hanging stuff, etc). I had hoped to take Friday as a day to pamper myself before the openning show with a pedicure or massage, but that didn't happen. I was able to start the partying a bit on Thursday since my training buddies were headed out for drinks. I met them at 3 Monkeys and promptly ordered two mojitos! Classmate Ginny met me there. See below. I guess I had martini's on the brain, thus the neon over my head.

Below is a picture at the gallery opening with husband Joe, and another with fellow TriGirl Maryjo:

Later that night, dancing till 2am (in 3" heels with NO knee issues, surprise surprise) with fellow grad students Veronica, Molly, and Vanessa. Don't ask about that guy on the right in the shot w/ Vanessa.
Tomorrow I will start working on my thesis book, which ideally I'd like to have finished by Wednesday when I defend. It isn't due until May 8th, but it would be nice to have this whole MFA thing ALL truly wrapped up this week. Lots of people have asked, "What next?" After catching up on sleep, putting my house back in working order, and maybe getting that massage, it's training, baby!

The end is in sight!

Just a few minutes ago, I finished up my presentation boards, meaning all I have left to do this week is to tackle my model. That will still be a few days' work, but I feel I can breathe a little easier. Tomorrow will be a break, and tonight I'll go to bed at about 9pm (last night I was in the studio till 3:30am.) Maybe I'll even try to go for a run... Yey!

"Eye on the Prize"

The talk Wednesday night in the locker room after Master's was focused on this weekend's race. I think there are at least 10 TriGirls running various distances, most the half marathon. I will be sitting it out. As other races come up this spring, especially White Lake with over 30 TriGirl and Maramarc folks running, it will be hard to be on the sidelines. I won't be the only one sitting out Shamrock--I just learned of TriGirl Cyndi's diagnosis and won't be alone in my misery. Walking Joey home from school today, I stopped to chat with a neighbor--she's a great athlete, runner, mom, and full-time OB-Gyn. She asked why I'm persuing an Ironman. "It's so hard on your body, and you run the risk of serious injury," she said. But then I talked about the inspiration of my friends, watching them all cross that finish line last year, and she knowingly nodded. "It's out there and you want it," she said then warned me to be careful and listen to my body.

Coach Blake has offered me a new perspective on my position (and now Cyndi's too) being an opportunity, rather than an inconvenience. I can make a very deliberate and careful choice--to keep training, risking worse injury, or to take the time to heal properly and come back stronger. His exact words to me were, "Keep your eye on the prize." And Ironman Florida is my prize. The focus I can afford to give now to my physical therapy, will pay dividends this fall. Yes, Kent (my physical therapist), I will try to back down on the spinning and running....and I promise I will quit when I feel pain.

With spring break ending this weekend, and under orders to take training more easily, I am once again going to be spending all my free time in the studio. Our outside critique last week went well, but there is much refining to do on my design, models still to be finished (or just made), and many, many drawings to produce. On Tuesday I was able to go up to the design center in DC to hear Roger Thomas, the design director for all Wynn hotel properties, talk about his inspirations. The man, like many talented designers, takes a sketch book everywhere. He made the point that even if his sketches aren't perfect, they capture and convey more about the time and place he was, than the actual detail of the object he hoped to draw, enough so that the detail of a stone wall he saw flying by in a car in Italy is transformed into a mosaic wall in a restaurant in Vegas. Later that afternoon, in perusing old pen and ink drawings for sale, one that was smaller than 3" caught my eye. It was a masterful little drawing of the piazza San Marco in Venice, complete with people sitting in a cafe in the foreground and a crowd in front of the arches of the Doge's palace in the distance.

Time and patience....and practice. If I wasn't trying to train for an ironman, I'd want to learn how to draw like that.

Priorities...

This weekend was spent in the studio, finishing floor plans and renderings for our big crit session on Tuesday. Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday I was there late (usually about 1am), Friday night I worked at home until 1:30 after a two hour break for family game and movie night. I have had to revise my plans for the Shamrock half marathon March 16th. If I show up for it, which right now looks doubtful, the goal will be to just finish the thing. My sights for now have to be set on getting through the next two months--April 24th is the opening night of the exhibit showcasing our graduate projects. The following week I defend. Then, I can get back to things like seeing my family, sleeping, and training (in that order).

"What is your Antarctica?"

The beautiful Susie Q sent out an intriguing post from Kristin Armstrong's blog about Lynne Cox's book, Swimming to Antartica, in which Armstrong asks her readers "What is your Antarctica?" http://milemarkers.runnersworld.com/2007/12/your-antarctica.html

As endurance athletes, we encounter pain in many forms, both physical and mental. There is the pain of pushing ourselves during our 1/2 mile repeats, the pain of tight IT bands, the pain of failing to conquer a longer distance race, and the pain of having to drag yourself out of a warm bed at 6 on a Saturday morning to face....more pain. There is also, like Fave's recent post, the happy pain of sore arms after conquering a particularly grueling weight training session, or in Susie's experience, the joyful pain of becoming an Ironman and qualifying for Boston both in the same week!

Maybe our coaches Mark and Ed are on to something (but don't tell them that): how we incorporate pain into our training is what makes us better athletes. Kristin says that in her experience, "resistance to pain is such an inhibitor to actually being in the moment (pain and all) and enduring" through long races such as a marathon. Since 2004 when I started running triathlons, I have struggled to meet my pain threshold and overcome it. I am more likely to back down, walk a bit, skip reps, or just pack it in and go home. As I go through this year, I'll have ample opportunity to meet that threshold--I hope I can cross it and learn to use it to build my strength, both mental and physical. TriGirl Shawn's fortune cookie said it all: "The pain you feel today will pay rewards in the future." We will PERSEVERE.

Resolutions

For the almost 15 years we've been together, my husband has always been the one to take time in the new year to set goals for himself personally and professionally, and review his accomplishment toward of the previous year's objectives (or lack thereof) in a very systematic way. I have never been so disciplined, but instead stuck to what until now have seemed pretty generic "life goals," such as "this year I want to get pregnant" (1996 and 1999), "this year I want to go back to school" (2006), or "this year I want to finish Eagleman" (2007). On the whole, I guess my resolutions were achieved without what seemed like an inordinate amount of work on my part: I guess you could call me fertile-Myrtle on the pregnancy front; I was pretty confident that I could get into grad school again; and training for Eagleman in good company and with good coaches made it possible for me to finish.

Now it's 2008 and I do have two major goals looming on the horizon for this year (thus the blog for one of them). However, I feel there are several important aspects of my life that could use some improvement. I hope that by declaring those goals here I will not lose sight of what's important in my pursuit of either my MFA or an M-dot tatoo. To it, they are:

• To be a good friend, head cheerleader, and active listener to my husband, children, fellow grad students, and TriGirls. There is more of me I can give to them, despite the every day issues (school work, grocery shopping, etc) that can take over my life.
• Over the past year I have lost touch with or become distant from friends that don't fall into the "grad student" and "TriGirl" categories. Many of these women have seen me through some hard times and I miss them. I feel that I could lose their friendship entirely. I haven't figured out how to fix this yet, but it is something that bears working on.
• I have always been one to skate through school and still manage decent grades. The first half of this past semester was a bit of a wake up call on that front. This spring, I have the opportunity to push myself academically. Maintaining a light race schedule is only the first step, much harder will be to become more disciplined with my time in the studio.
• And finally, to apply myself more to my athletic training. Like the beautiful Susie Q, I need to take joy in what my body can accomplish, but also ask what more I can do. I need to face those workouts without whining and without complaint (which will take some of the fun out of it!), but with a serious sense of purpose and a "what can I learn from this?" attitude. Anything less and I may not earn that tatoo.

Per TriGirl40's blog, our coach has asked us to think of a word to motivate us and help us attain our goals for the coming year. I think mine will be "persevere," which Webster's defines as "to persist in any purpose or enterprise; continue striving in spite of difficulties, etc."

Happy New Year!