Back on Track

It's a new year, so how about some new running goals? As I mentioned in my last post, I signed up for my first marathon. I know I'm capable of running 26.2 miles if I train properly, but the training is really daunting. I have a lot of hard work and many miles ahead of me. To get my butt in gear, I met up with a Boston area runner and coach. Lauren is super speedy and also represents Oiselle through their Flock program, so we connected through Facebook. We met at the starting line of the Boston Marathon (how have I never see that before? So cool!) and got in a great 8 miles before continuing our conversation at Starbucks for over an hour. Lauren has coached a number of people before and between how well we got along and the results her athletes have gotten, I decided to entrust her with my first marathon training plan! She sends me my training plans and checks in with me periodically. It feels great knowing that someone is cheering for me and keeping me in check. I'm even more excited for my marathon now!

But before marathon training officially started, I had a track race to run. Just for giggles I signed up for the USATF-CT championship track meet and entered the 3k. I haven't raced on a track since my senior year of college, and it felt good to try something different for a change. I got in two quality track workouts and good mileage over the winter break, so I was feeling pretty good heading into this meet. My goal was to run 12:00 or under, which would be squarely within how I ran in college, but given that it had been so long since I'd laced up on any oval office I really didn't know how it would go. I anticipated that I'd be in the mix of all the women racing. Turns out, I was the only woman, so I jumped into the men's race and quickly readjusted my goal: not to be last. The gun went off and the adrenaline kicked in. I wanted to run 46-48 per 200, and realized I was running 40-42 for the first few laps. I actually felt good but knew that I couldn't sustain that. I went through the mile in 6:12 and that's where things started going downhill. The lactic acid started to build up and I wasn't able to run the splits I wanted despite my effort. I was lapping some guys but I was slowing down a lot. I was able to kick in the end, and finished in 12:07. Slower than I'd hoped for but I was happy with it. The race was fun and I had gotten in a solid race after only a few weeks of purposeful training. And because I was the only woman, I won a medal!

Also, shoutout to Robyn for letting me borrow her track spikes! And speaking of Robyn, she and I were able to ring in the new year together! A good sized sampling of Colby XC/Track alum from the past 10 years gathered at Kat and DV's house for an annual celebration, although this was just my first year. It was so fun to see and catch up with so many friends. I'm already looking forward to next year's party, though I'm sure I'll be out running with Robyn and others much sooner than that. 

So much Mule Love

Race Recap: Seacoast Turkey Trot

Now that my family's running rank order is back in place (Kevin, Robyn, Mom, Dad), and with Kevin beating me by 2 minutes instead of 30 seconds, I'm feeling good about things. Although my 5K times over the last several months don't really reflect much of a change in my fitness, trust me, a lot has changed. I really don't mind that I keep hovering around 20:30 for 5K despite getting in better shape. There are a few reasons for that...

1. I feel good running! Sounds dumb, but I have not felt good running, lifting, walking, speedworking, or racing for months (a full year even?).
2. My asthma has returned to a manageable level.
3. I'm back on the track and starting to feel fast again. <3 track
4. I always always always plateau for ever and then have a huge breakthrough. Fingers crossed that's coming this indoor season.

I broke my 'sponsorship' rules and didn't wear anything LOCO at the turkey trot, opting for some classic Colby gear instead. Also, felt the strong urge to go ninja that morning. My actual race goal, no joke, was to run faster than Kat's marathon pace from Philadelphia. Which I probably would have done if the roads weren't so slick from the snowstorm, I was a few seconds too slow. Mad props/spirit fingers/snaps to her for keeping that up for 26.2; I'll stick with my 3.1 for now. Also, I'm not going to bother even recapping the Philadelphia marathon on here, if you know at least one runner from the New England area, you've definitely already heard all about the amazing feat accomplished by Dan Vassallo. I can't explain how incredible it was to be there and witness that race, surely will be one of my favorite running memories for years to come.
With that, I'm very thankful this year for having fast friends, of both the speedy and steadfast variety. (pun intended, gosh where do I come up with these things?)

Trotted my way to a decent time and a more than decent meal on Thursday.

Sincerely,
Robyn "wishing the water stops were gravy stops" Runner

P.S. Stay tuned for my post-collegiate track debut TBD at a December mini-meet at BU!

Indoor training, quada's, and a bad pun

I goo-PhD (goofed, get it?) and have not blogged in a while since starting my PhD has kept me extra busy. Well, I submitted my first grant application tonight, and so I'm back!

A lot has gone on in my life since the last time I wrote. Some good, some challenging. For the sake of optimism, I'll fill you in on mostly the good stuff! First, my lungs have made their 100% recovery from pneumonia based on lack of chest pain in recent races (and verified by an x-ray). Second, I've transitioned out of base building and have started speed work for indoor track season!

I would be greatly remiss if I did not share with you some pieces written about my aunt who battled pancreatic cancer. She was a tough cookie and we're gonna miss her. Now, every time I log a mile, half, quarter, quarter workout, you'll know I was digging deep for her inspiration.
Links:
Washington Times - Quada Quada bench
Coloradoan story

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My training plan for the year is going to focus a lot on longer speed. I think I tend to get sucked into doing shorter repeats and playing with less recovery, more repeats, ladders, etc. But to be perfectly honest with myself (and you) I was doing these last winter because they are easier for me. What I really need in order to get fast at the mile is to do the killer 800 workouts à la Deb 2009. A.K.A. attempt (and fail) to run 4 x 800m at 5 seconds faster than goal mile pace. Which means if I want to get to low 5:xx this season, I need to be able to do 800 repeats in about 2:30. Yeah, 2:30. Also known as the typical pace I used to race in any given mid-season 4x800. No big. So how am I going to go about getting down to that pace in workouts? Well, I'm going to stop shying away from longer repeats, meaning 1600,1200, 1000 is something I may have to face, and like it. And those ridiculously fun 200's? Those will be my reward when I'm in killer shape in 2-3 months. And 400's, those will be a tack-on if I'm feeling good that day.

On another topic, it's been a Colby-filled summer and autumn. Moving back to New England has been great and oh how I missed running with people! From meeting up with people over the summer, seeing a horde of mules at the extra rainy Open NE's at Franklin park, an epic 40mph wind track workout with Kat, to pacing some miles of the LOCO marathon with Kate, it's been so much fun. Really looking forward to more mule encounters coming up.

The matching outfits was unintentional, but maybe it was the key to our perfect 7:25 pacing for some Boston marathon qualifier hopefuls! (or it could have been our incessant chatting that kept the group distracted)

Until next time,
Robyn "track is back" Runner

"A mule is easier to obtain than a hinny"

Fun fact (courtesy of Wikipedia):

A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse.

A hinny is the offspring of a male horse and a female donkey.

Despite Wikipedia's claim that a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny (see #3 definition here, http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hinny), as of late I have been finding the presence of mules to be rather elusive. It appears that I have been out of their natural habitat and thus I traveled to less temperate climates this past weekend in hopes of a spotting of this species. And much to my delight, I found a whole flock of mules (because didn't you know that mules travel in flocks?) located on the grasslands of a park in Connecticut. It was hard to contain my joy at this rare occasion, as seeing one mule in the wild is a blessing, and finding myself surrounded by mules was a dream. I was so joyous that I didn't even mind the stampede of embraces that ensued less than 60 seconds after stepping out of the car and into the parking lot. 

Several hugs later, our cluster of Colby Alumni who had traveled from near and far to watch the NESCAC cross-country championship race stood comfortably on the outskirts of the Colby area waiting for the race to start. I had a weird flashback moment when Coach Deb was explaining the course to me on a map. Per usual, I had no idea where she was describing and started feeling that anxious knot in my stomach. Luckily I remembered that I wasn't actually racing. Old habits die hard...

Perfect weather, a multi-loop course, and fantastic ocean views made for a spectator's dream. It had been almost exactly two full years since I raced xc, and just over one year since I had attended an xc race. Obviously, my love for the sport has not died since graduating from college. This became apparent by my gleeful sprinting from corner to corner around the course to cheer on my friends, and aided by the loss of my voice from screaming. In fact, I'm surprised at myself for not taking splits (blame it on Deb's confusing explanation of the mile markers).

Too many fantastic moments occurred this weekend, and this rambling post makes a mockery of how much fun I had being reunited with my mules, but there was one thing that stood above the rest. An inspirational comeback story of a runner who fought through years of injury and unjust team cuts to finally have the season she deserved.

Congrats to my girl Bah-reezy for killing it this past weekend and all season. 

May you run and never look back.

Let me be your hero - Enrique Iglesias

Robyn "many shoes, one mule" Runner

Miles, Milkshakes and Memories

Things that happened to me today: crossed a state line with my team to preview our championship race course; talked about mile splits, surges, and attacking the hills; realized that our team actually has a shot at this championship; decided to take a detour to stop for milkshakes; sang along loudly on the ride home to Miley, Carly Rae and Shaggy; talked about Colby the whole ride back; witnessed my top 6 girls realize that their friendship will make them a better, stronger and faster team.

Now...

Things that today reminded me of: long runs with best friends, Dairy Cone milkshake runs in the freezing March cold, steamy hot milkshake showers, long bus rides to meets, elation at winning states and celebrating races, working with teammates to charge up the hills, silly rituals hugging trees, spending every day together, running for the team, friends forever. 

...and then.

Mules for life, 

Rachel "<3 Deb" Runner