17.2 Miles on a Hot Saturday in July

What a hot one!  I started my 17 mile run at 6:00 this morning to avoid some of the heat.  However, even at 6:00 a.m. it was 75°.  How does that saying go…”That which doesn’t kill me only makes me stronger.”

Given the heat and my health issues, I started at an incredibly slow 9:30 to 9:40 pace.  It felt so slow that it was nearly like a fast walk.  But now I see the importance of running slowly during a long run:  I conserved my energy for the final 4 miles.  In fact, I ran the final 4 at an 8:35 pace and I had to keep telling myself to slow down.

Well, I’m proud of myself for going the distance – 17.2 miles in 2:36:35.  Now, time to relax and read a book!

Boilermaker 2008 Photos

Just want to post a few photos from my new favorite race.  The first is of me running somewhere along the course.  Sneaky photographers!  I didn’t ever see them.

Then, there was the finish where I was silently cheering, “Yeah!  Time to party!”

Finally, time to drink, laugh, and dance with friends!

Trying My Best

I’m in a running slump.  Lately, every time I lace up my running shoes and head out for a run, I have trouble.  My entire body just feels drained and I have no spring in my step.  What used to be a very easy pace for me, now feels challenging and leaves me exhausted.  I’m also experiencing many, many problems with intestinal illness.

Help!  If you’ve experienced similar problems, please comment on this post.  I’m so discouraged and I just don’t know what to do.  Really, I’m trying my best to take care of myself but I just don’t seem to be getting any better.

Utica Boilermaker 15K Road Race

All I can say about the Boilermaker is WOW!  What a party!  This race is awesome, amazing, totally fun!  If you’ve never experienced the Boilermaker, what are you waiting for?  (I know for some of you it’s a long, long way from home.)

This race has it all:  live bands, llamas, belly dancers, Irish dancers, Polish dancers, DJs, rock music, rap music, folk music, water, popsicles, BEER, and best of all, FUN!  The course is no joke, however.  If I knew how, I’d copy the elevation map into this post.

Lately I’ve experienced some very serious health issues (a severe vitamin deficiency and nutritional problems) that have left me very weak and very easily fatigued.  So, I purposed in my brain that today would be all about fun.  Boy, did I have a super time!  I talked and joked with people I didn’t know on the course, I stopped danced to some one of my favorite songs, I ate popsicles, and I high-fived lots and lots of kids and spectators.  (Did I mention that half the town comes out to cheer on the runners?)

After the race, there’s a great party with a very good live band and all the Saranac ice cold beer you can drink.  I danced, laughed, sang, and drank with my friends.  What a great day!

This 15k was more fun than any marathon I’ve ever run.  Maybe it was the party atmosphere or my friends or maybe the fact that I just treated it as a training run.  Whatever the reason, it was great and it would be great if you could come and run this 15k with me next year!