Ultra Busy

My life is insanely busy right now, but good. SB9T ultra was totally awesome. I love that course! I felt really strong and definitely could have gone faster. I did the 37 mile version of the 35 mile course. A well intentioned girl from Pennsylvania (yeah, I know) insisted I was going the wrong direction and of course I trusted her, so we went a bit out of our way. I am packing to go to SF this morning for the next race on my list. I don't know if I am recovered enough, but who cares.

Swimming yesterday was all about counting strokes and trying to reduce the number per lap, while maintaining the same speed. I enjoyed the workout and was able to get my stroke count to a consistent 17. It's interesting because one of the guys in my lane is very tall and has a stroke count of 20. Reach, Micah, reach.

It's raining here in Santa Ynez. I had no idea it was supposed to rain, but man, do we need it. Luckily, the forecast is clear up north where my race is and the rain is just for us parched people in the south. I will find out tomorrow if I got into Western States through the lottery. Cross your fingers for me. I already have people wanting to pace me, but if I don't get in, I think I will try to pace someone.

Back to my crazy busy life. Get outside and play this weekend!

I only got a little lost on the SB9T course this Sunday. I was helping to mark the course, but I ran out of tape and decided to run ahead on my own. This is always a bad idea for me. I did find my way to the turn around where my car was parked and that's what really matters. I think I know the whole course now and luckily, it will be well marked for the race Saturday. I swear, there is nothing flat on this course, you are either going steeply uphill or flying downhill. It's exactly the kind of running I most enjoy.

Swim workout sucked this morning. Check it out:

3 x 200 swim, kick, pull

8 x 50 swim on the :55

200 kick : fly, back, free, fly(on back)

10 x 50 pull on the :50

200 kick (same as above)

12 x 50 w/ fins on the :45

cool down

There was nothing long and meditative or lovely about any of it.

Girls Rule in the Pool!

I'm on my third cup of coffee and heading off to work, instead of a run. This is a total drag, but I'm hoping to get out later today and tomorrow, of course. I totally schooled the boys in my new lane Thursday at swim. I started off, repectfully, swimming last and ended up halfway through the workout, leading. When coach Mike told me to go first, the guys' faces dropped and they were like, are we slower?? They are great guys and maybe it was just an off day for them. What's worse is that the other person in the lane was also a woman and she ended up second and the boys, last. In the locker room she says, "did you see their faces when he told them to go last??" It was kinda lovely. I'm sure I'll never run faster than them, so I have to take it where I can.

I actually got out for a long ride (on my bike!) Wednesday. It was a very warm fall day, about 95 degrees. There is a time trial class at my local bike shop that I think I will try next week. We bring our trainer and bike and watch a video or something. It sounds like a bike geek spin class, but what the heck, I'll go.

Go on, get outside and do something fun!!

Zen and the Art of Moving up a Lane

Swim Workout:

400 free
300 kick free/back/fly
200 pull
100 breast

All free:
8 x 50
400
2 x 200
4 x 100
8 x 50

cool down 100

total 3,000 yards!

I guess I was feeling a little too good this morning because I got moved up a lane. Woo hoo! This is a big deal to us early morning fishies. I had a zen-like experience with the water and swimming this morning. Everything felt just right and I could feel myself moving through the water and moving the water, it was kind of surreal. Maybe it was my new pirate swimsuit, with ARGGH! on the butt and skull and crossbones on the front or maybe it was my wicked PMS finally exiting my existence. Whatever it was, I was fast and it was fabulous.

I did back to back 15 milers this weekend. One on the 9 Trails course and the other up Refugio. Sunday's run was amazing. It was raining, barely, and it was warm. A perfect Santa Barbara trail run. I felt very awesome and wanted to go farther, but knew I shouldn't and had to get to Abigail's soccer BBQ. I have just signed up for another race the weekend after 9 Trails. It's the North Face Endurance Challenge. I'm only doing the 50K. I'm curious to see how my body will handle back to back races like that. I swear, I can't stop signing up for races. I need help.

With 9 Trail on the horizon, I opted to skip track yesterday and just do my "telephone pole" workout. No, it's not some pole dancing routine, it's running. I pick a long street lined with telephone poles and increase my speed for a certain amount then back off for one length of poles. It's fun, it makes the time go fast and it's a damn good workout.

I'm trying to remember swim workout yesterday. Maybe it's too early in the morning or maybe I haven't had enough coffee. I'll post later if I can remember. Shit.

I plan to get out on the 9 trails course this weekend. I hope the trails are open. The last training run was cancelled (again) last Sunday because of fire danger and trail closures. This will be my last big run weekend till the race. I'm considering doing a race in the Bay area the following weekend. I have a choice of 50K or 50 Mile. I'm leaning toward 50K.

I have to work early today. Hi ho hi ho...

Sunday I did a 30 mile run all alone. I have been consistently doing a great yoga class every Monday as a recovery workout. I really think it is helping after running/cycling long on the weekends. My yoga instructor can't believe how flexible I am for a runner. It's true, I'm sorta gumbyish. She thinks that's why I can keep running like I do. She, like many people I talk to, have quit running due to some injury or another. She also teaches NIA, and if you've never tried it, you should. It's like a free form dance class. I guess you have to enjoy dancing first .


Swim
400 free

7 x 50 kick free

200 free

4 x 50 kick breast

100 breast

All free:
8 x 50

4 x 100

2 x 200

150 cool down

No More Jack and Candy

I noticed the lifegaurd trying to supress a smile as we did our drills today. The one called otter, where we swim with our elbows at our sides and sort of doggie paddle, is especially amusing. I'm happy we could entertain the poor girl, she usually looks so bored.

10 x 50 swim/drill (catch-up, scull, 6/3, otter, zipper)

10 x 50 kick (slow/fast)

10 x 50 pull

4 x 100 ascending

2 x 200 at last 100 pace

200 cool down

I ran up Refugio again yesterday and have a weird pulling behind my right knee. I think it's hamstring related. I have track workout today and think I will alternate 400s and 800s. I have just been running in my road shoes lately. They feel so light and soft on my feet. The trail shoes were just killing my ankle bones, even the ones I cut. I figured I would give them a chance to heal and just wear the road shoes. Now, it will be hard to go back to the rigid trail shoe. Hmmm.

I am so glad Halloween is over. Calvin was calling it "jack and candy" day. I thought that was funny.