January was only 4.7 miles off my highest mileage month ever (last March) coming in at 271.4 miles!

While I definitely considered going out on that second run tonight to get me over into the new monthly high, I just decided that I would rather save those 5 miles for February.  I have a feeling February is going to be right there too and with it being a short month, it needs the extra mileage help.  So instead of moving my planned double to today, I am eating crackers in my pajamas blogging and getting ready for tomorrow’s run.

But back to the monthly recap…

I always like January.  It’s “cold” (well it usually is, I think Mother Nature missed the memo and cold being relative to California), it’s a fresh start to a new year and it’s the month I was born… which means cake!   

I started off January with a trail half marathon with Chris and with finishing up a 12 day social media sabbatical.   

Then ran a beautiful 22 mile trail race the next weekend.  I also ran a 21 and 23 miler in January… that helped boost the miles!

I recapped December, 2011, and listed out my goals not just for 2012.

I celebrated saying goodbye to my 20’s with a run with the best friends a girl could ask for.

I said hello to my 30’s with an excessive amount of wine and cupcakes.

Photo from Scott Dunlap 

I ran another race – this time a half marathon, the day after a 23 miler, which is my biggest back to back weekend yet. 

I finished off the month totally in love with running and ultra training and hungry for more.

Definitely a good way to start off 2012.

How was your January?! 

After 3 weeks of semi-building mileage and running long back to back runs, week 8 was about bringing down the mileage a tad, especially the long runs. 

Since week 7 didn’t go exactly as I hoped mileage wise, I found it hard to bring back my mileage too much – both because week 7 wasn’t as high as I hoped and because it left me feeling like I wanted to run more and make up for missed miles!  I was good though, and cut back the mileage like I was supposed to.  I even cut back a little bit more than my plan called for since I wanted to run less miles than the week before. 

Monday
rest

Tuesday
10 mile run

I have my plan laid out during the week, but I kind of just let it fall where it does depending on how I feel that day and how my runs turn out, especially when running with other people.  If I run longer than called for one day, then I will run shorter the next day.  I just kind of let it flow and Tuesday was a prime example of this.  My plan said 8, but I got in 10 which meant Wednesday’s run could be shortened.  I really like approaching it this way right now, rather than I have to run X miles this day. 

I ran with my friend to the park where she did mile repeats and I ran laps around the park.  It was a perfect morning to be running along the bay and I was surprised to be near 10 miles when we got back!

9.8 miles/1:32:30/9:26 avg pace

Wednesday
8 mile run

Morning crew run with Kristin and Sima!  At one point during this run I took a big deep breath and was all of a sudden tired because I had been talking so much.  All that talking sure made the miles fly by!

8.0 miles/1:16:25/9:32 avg pace

Thursday
9 mile run

Semi-hilly morning route with coffee at the end.  I love these days!

8.8 miles/1:20:53/9:13 avg pace

Friday
12 mile long run

Kristin had mentioned wanting to get her long run in Friday morning, so since I 12 miles to run – which I consider an acceptable pre-work distance – I met up with her to get my first of back to backs out of the way.  We met up with Sima in the middle too and this run went by very quickly!

12.0 miles/1:50:58/9:14 avg pace

Saturday
14 mile trail long run

The run that left a smile on my face for the whole day. 

14.3 miles/2:41:28/11:19 avg pace

Sunday
2 mile run

I had 5-6 miles on my schedule but since I was trying to run less than last week, I wasn’t sure if I was going to run at all.  I slept in and had a very lazy morning, then Chris and I took Kylie and Emma out for a 2 mile run.  I thought about going further but knew that would be a good place to end the week.

2.4 miles/22:23/9:23 avg pace

Total miles for week 8: 55.3

I had to kind of giggle this week that 55 miles has turned into my cutback week.  I still remember the very first time I ran 50 miles in a week.  It was supposed to be 55, but I missed a 5 miler because I was so worn out.  The 18 miler I ran to get me to 50 left me exhausted and in tears and I really thought I wasn’t cut out to run that much.  I still remember this like it was yesterday.  It’s kind of amazing how far we can come as runners in such a short time.

This week left me hungry for running like I haven’t been in a long time.  I am so excited to tackle the next round of big training and just love getting out there right now.  I am totally in this cheesy I-love-running-so-much spot and it’s a very good place to be.  I hope to stay here as long as I can!

10 weeks to go!

Today I really wanted to run farther, but I was a good girl and listened to my training plan that said this week is a cutback week even though I wanted to ignore it.

Today I met up with my friend Jojo to run in the Marin Headlands.  She had already put 4 miles in before we headed over the Golden Gate Bridge to run, and she had a 14+ mile route planned for us.

Today it was a clear, warm, windy but perfect Bay Area day. 

Today I got to run with views like this.

Today Jojo (who is also training for her first 50 miler) and I chatting nonstop for almost 3 hours.  We compared plans, we compared fueling tactics, we talked about how we are both so in love with running right now.  We probably looked like a couple freaks running around with big smiles on our faces the whole time.

Today I ate goldfish crackers for my run fuel.

Today I got to run a few hills.

Today I felt giddy, happy, cheesy in love with running.  I didn’t want the run to end. 

Today I felt like I could run forever.  And I wanted to.

Today I am bottling up this feeling and carrying it with me through the rest of training.  But really I hope it just never leaves.

Today is one of those days that I will look back on when runs get tough, when I am tired and hurting, when I just don’t want to run, and remember how much I love it.

Today is a good day.

Tuesday was the first real day that I sat back and realized what has been going on with my running.  After running 23 miles Saturday and then 13 Sunday (and being slightly disappointed by that second day), I sat back and just reflected for a second. 

Last year I ran 23 miles as a training run for Boston and that was my longest training run ever.  Usually I don’t run that far in marathon training.  I ran 23 miles last weekend without thinking twice, then did a half marathon the next day!  I definitely have had a mental shift and appear to have entered the ultra-training mind zone where that doesn’t seem so crazy.

I eat as much as I possible can between long runs.  I literally just shove my face all day.  I have to make sure that I get enough calories in, both to refuel for that day’s run and fuel for tomorrow’s run.  It might sound fun, but it’s really hard!  I feel like I am constantly eating and it’s not enough.  Cookies help though.  Especially these ones.  Thankfully I have friends who like to bake and share. 

I do not miss speedwork or running “fast” at all.  I have noticed that I have slowed down a lot, partially on purpose, but I can also just tell when I run faster.  I am running most of my runs where my recovery pace used to be… which is good!  It’s ultra training and I need to run “slow”. 

I thought I might miss running fast sometimes, but I have not gotten to that point.  I love just feeling like I could run forever.  This week I even ran with my friend to the park and did laps along the beautiful bay while she did mile repeats.  Not a single part of me wanted to join her.  I guess that means I am training for where my heart is at right now.

The weekend norm.

I pretty much live in running clothes on the weekends and any day I am not at work.  If I have to put normal clothes on, I probably won’t go to wherever that place is. 

I have been seen in some pretty atrocious outfits at the grocery store lately.  I definitely walked through the store with mud covered legs and ugg slippers on Sunday.  Sorry I didn’t take a picture of that one. 

Last weekend I never brushed my hair.  I took a shower after my long run Saturday and put my hair in a wet ponytail.  Sunday, I put a hat on to run and washed it again that day and back into a ponytail.  Monday I finally brushed it. 

I daydream of running really, really far in the hills and on trails and running up mountains.  I used to be scared of the big hills, but lately I have just wanted to run up them.  My perception of what a hill is has most definitely changed because in trail running, you run up mountains!

My weekends revolve around running, I am hungry all the time, I am tired all the time, I do never-ending running clothes laundry… but I don’t think I have ever ran with a smile and looked forward to as many runs during a training cycle as I have over the last 7 weeks. 

This is so fun, I have loved pretty much every second so far, and I can’t wait for more.  

So here it is, what is on my race calendar for the first half of 2012!

02.11.12 – Golden Gate Trail Marathon

My first trail marathon and my 12th overall marathon!  I signed up for this kind of on a whim one day and then proceeded to talk Alyssa into one of the distances, who talked Courtney into it, and it snowballed from there.  It should be a really fun day out there with a ton of friends! 

See those mountains behind the Golden Gate Bridge pictured above?  That’s where we will be running!

(source Inside Trail Racing)

02.25.12 – PCTR Pacifica 30k

Hmm this sounds awfully familiar?  I originally signed up for last weekend’s race with PCTR, who then moved their date to February.  So I will be back to Pacifica next month, and maybe I will complete the 30k this time. 

03.04.12 – Napa Marathon

This marathon has been on my list forever and I went back and forth on if I wanted to run it as a training run for AR50 or not.  Sell out was getting close so I just signed up.  There will be a ton of friends out there running that day too, and I will be out for a cruise in wine country, practicing pacing, fueling and finally running the Napa Marathon!

I spectated this race back in 2009 in the pouring rain!

03.17.12 – CTR Canyon Meadow 50k

I haven’t singed up for this race yet, but I will either be doing this one, or one the next day with Inside Trail Racing in Marin.  I am leaning towards this one since I love Redwood Park, I ran a 30k there once, and it’s an easy drive from my house.  I should probably just sign up.

04.07.12 – American River 50

The biggie that all those previously listed races are gearing towards.

If I continue to run after AR50 (kidding!), this is what I have planned….

04.22.12 – SLO Marathon

Kidding again!

I will NOT be running this race but I will be down there to support the morning crew.  I am really excited to get to be a tiny part of SLO’s first marathon.

05.12.12 – Santa Barbara Wine Country Half Marathon

I am really excited for this one.  I ran this race once before, but this time it’s extra special.  My sister in law registered for her first half marathon when we were together at Christmas and I signed up too to run with her!  I have helped her make a plan and am really excited to follow her training and help her out in any way that I can.  Being there when she crosses the finish line will be the cherry on top.

07.29.12 – San Francisco Marathon (or Half Marathon)

It’s no secret I love SFM, I have run one race or another every year!  This year will be my 5th consecutive year which means I will be a legacy runner!  I also get to run as an Ambassador again this year, which I am very excited about.  I still don’t know which race I will be doing (the full, first half or second half), but I have some time to decide.  Do I continue the pattern I have done in the past (full, first, second, full, first) or do I mix it up?  We shall see!

The rest of 2012…

After that is up in the air!  I am not planning on deciding what I want to do with the fall until after April.  Who knows where my heart will be then!  More trail running?  More ultras?  Or back to road marathons?  Only time will tell.

So who I am going to see at any of the above races?!?  Anything I should keep my eye out for or add to my schedule?  Any fall recommendations?

I am a real adult now… hah.

But enough about that, onto my weekly training recap!

Monday
rest

Also a holiday! 

I turn 30 years old, drink a lot of wine and eat many cupcakes.  I probably should have anticipated that and ran that morning, but oh well!  Sleeping in was very nice.

Tuesday
8 mile run rest

I had grand plans to get up and run Tuesday morning, really I did and the whole plan was pretty hysterical, but it did not happen.  Not even close.  Running after work wasn’t really an option either.

Wednesday
11 8 mile run

My “reset” run as I like to call it.  I met up with Kristin and Sima and felt like myself again after a good morning run.  My schedule said 11 but I said 8.

8.0 miles/1:16:21/9:32 avg pace

Thursday
10 mile run + double run

I moved my double digit run to Thursday and got it done! 

10.0 miles/1:28:55/8:51 avg pace

I did not do a double run this day though… double runs and me haven’t been working out too well.

 Friday
6 mile run

A rainy, dark early morning run with the morning crew.   

6.0 miles/55:29/9:15 avg pace

Saturday
24 23 mile long run #1

I have long run mileage on my schedule, but I usually just shoot for “around” a number.  I had 24, but 22 or 23 would work too, especially since I planned on running a 30k the next day!

I met up with 3 good friends and took them on one of my favorite hilly road runs (see above).  We went up the big hill I used for Big Sur training back in 2010 and I used to think it was so hard.  It was very much still a tough hill, it’s a mile long going up the entire way, BUT it definitely didn’t feel as hard as it used to.  That made me happy. 

We got a little bit of trail running in too, which was super muddy and gave us very heavy feet for a bit.  I said bye to my friend at mile 20 and finished up with 3 more on my own.  I felt good and was very happy with this run.

23.0 miles/3:39:35/9:35 avg pace

Sunday
18 13 mile trail run

My 30k turned half marathon, and another great long trail run.

13.4 miles/2:42:15/12:06 avg pace

Total miles for week 7: 60.4

I could say a lot of things pumping myself up that it was still a solid week (which it was!), but it’s Wednesday now and I am done looking at and thinking about week 7… moving ahead to week 8!

This was going to be my biggest back to back weekend yet in AR50 training and after my 23 miler on Saturday, I have to say I was nervous for Sunday.  I ate as much as I possibly could on Saturday, refueling for the next day and got to sleep as early as I could.  I woke up early, got ready and definitely was nervous. 

This might have had something to do with the nerves as well.

 
(source)

3000+ feet of elevation gain, just in the half marathon.

Chris went with me, planning on running the half marathon, but he has been dealing with some calf issues and it was not feeling good that day.  We got to the race early, waited around for a while and eventually went and got our bibs.  Chris put on his shoes and did a warm up jog and immediately knew it would be a bad idea to run… especially a race like this.  I was bummed out, but headed to the start line for quick announcements and we were off!

The 30k was 3 loops.  The “yellow” loop first, then the “pink” loop twice, coming down to the aid station/finish line after each loop.  From the elevation chart you can see we immediately start climbing and went up, up, up for a good 3+ miles.  It had been raining all weekend, but was trying to hold off while we were running.  You could tell on the trails though that there had been a storm.  Rocks and branches were covering the trails, along with some mud. 

I ran as much as I could up the first 3 miles, taking some walk breaks too.  It got super windy when we got to the top and I felt like I was going to blow off the mountain!  This section was an out and back so we got to see the leaders coming through which is always fun.  Scott Dunlap was busy taking pictures in the middle of his 2nd place 50k finish and got one of me in the process!

 
Photo courtesy of Scott 

I made it to the top and turned around to go back down the big hill we just ran up.  This is when I could tell my legs were tired.  Usually I love running down these hills but I had nothing and I was being passed left and right.  My legs just were tired and had no spunk in them to run fast even down hill. 

Another runner that was out there running (not in the race) pointed out where to turn to me and saved me from going the wrong way.  I almost missed the turn off!  With the wind and slight rain, I didn’t have my eyes open enough I guess.  After that, I was pretty much by myself for a while, running back down the mountain to the aid station to start the second loop.

One of the reasons I like to do trail races for training runs is the aid stations.  They have so much food!  I really need to work on my running pallet and making myself want to eat real foods.  Last time I ate potato chips and this time I wanted to try something new, so I grabbed a square of peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  I was able to eat a couple bites and threw it away.  In addition to this, I was making sure that every 2 miles I was eating 2 shot bloks, just trying to get used to the process and feel of fueling often at certain intervals.

I headed out onto the pink loop (which the 30k would do twice), just plain tired.  The trail was pretty wet and there were some ditches to run around and I just felt sloppy running.  I kept on plugging along, trying to stay positive, but this is where I started thinking that maybe stopping at the half marathon would be a good thing.  My legs were tired, Chris was waiting in the car, my skin was red from being cold… I was ready to stop.

I went back and forth in my head while winding up and down on the trails.  There is a second hill in this loop that I could most definitely feel going up.  The trails were beautiful though and I was trying to make sure to enjoy myself and take in my surroundings, because isn’t that what running is all about?

I finally made my way back down and knew I was getting close to a decision.  Do I keep slogging along for another 6 miles or do I stop and call it a day?  I knew I probably could go another 6 miles, but I also knew it was probably not the smartest idea based on how I was feeling.  13 was far enough, so I crossed the finish line as a half marathoner instead (the half marathon course was one pink loop).

I chatted with a friend at the tent for a minute, met the race directors and watched the rain start coming down harder.  I was happy to be done.  I hopped back in the warm car with Chris and we made the very rainy drive back home.

13.4 miles/2:42:15/12:08 avg pace
Overall: 18/31
AG: 2/7

I don’t like quitting things, so later in the day it kind of bummed me out.  I could have kept going!  I knew it was the smart call though, 19 miles after 23 was a huge jump and I have to make sure to think about next week’s training in addition to that day.  I get sucked into mileage, both in overall weekly and daily totals, and sometimes I just have to kick myself and tell my brain to shut up. 

Running 13 miles with over 3,000 feet of elevation gain the day after a 23 miler is something I would have never dreamed of a couple months ago, so the fact I am already at this point is really great.

Inside Trail Racing did a great job.  Although I almost got lost the one time, the course was well marked otherwise, the aid station was great, the volunteers were awesome and everything else was really well organized.  I will definitely be back for more of their races!

The words were not lacking from the lack of great things that happened this week.  It’s been an awesome week that started off with a fantastic birthday and is finishing up with a long weekend and a trail race!  Can’t ask for much more than that. 

*Cue the Friday Favorites blog post*

Cupcakes aren’t my favorite dessert (see ice cream cake in Sunday’s post), but I just couldn’t pass up on cupcakes on my birthday.  Especially mini cupcakes in multiple flavors. 

Before…
 

After…

Java is always my favorite, or pretty much anything with a coffee/espresso flavor to it.

But don’t worry… I didn’t do that damage completely on my own.  I got to spend my birthday with one of my favorite friends!  For the first time in my professional career, I got MLK day off as a holiday and it just happened to fall on my 30th birthday.  Chris was gone at school that day, so Kristin and I headed downtown to get pedicures…

…which turned into a day of eating, shopping, and drinking wine… and one of my favorite days ever!  You know those days you wake up with no expectations and then they just turn out great, so it’s even better because you weren’t expecting it?  Those are my favorite kind of days and this was one of those.

This day might have put a little damper into my running schedule to start the week, but it was most definitely worth it.  30 isn’t so bad after all.

My mom got me new Gore-Tex trail running shoes for Christmas, but with our lack of rain, I didn’t want to waste their waterproofness on the dry dirt.  Yesterday it finally started raining (my favorite!) and it’s supposed to rain all weekend.  This might mean that my new pretty shoes will get to see some mud in the trail race I am running this weekend.    

What are your favorite things from this week?

Happy Friday!

Monday
rest

Tuesday
8 mile run

Just the normal 8 miler before work!

7.9 miles/1:14:38/9:26 avg pace

Wednesday
11 mile run 7 mile run

I really wanted to get in double digits this day, but it just wasn’t going to happen.  I met up with Kristin and Sima for an early morning run and we all just felt like crap.  I was ready to turn around at mile 1, but we chugged along getting more miles in.  We were back at the cars at 7 miles and although I had planned on going to get the extra 4 in alone, I just did not want to at all.  So I didn’t. 

This was one of those days that I knew I would be glad I deviated from the training plan. 

7.0 miles/1:06:05/9:26 avg pace

Thursday
am: 8 mile run
pm: 4 mile run

Double day!

I ran with my work friends in the morning and got a great 8 miler in.  We picked up the pace a little bit compared to what I have been running lately, and it felt good!

8.0 miles/1:10:42/8:48 avg pace

That night I went into San Francisco to meet up with Amanda who was back in town and a bunch of other girls too!  It was a great group and I got to get to know some new faces and catch up with friends too.  It was definitely a great way to get in my double day.

4.3 miles/40:35/9:33 avg pace

Friday
6 mile run

This was one of those runs where the miles just flew by.  I ran with Sima and we just talked and talked and talked, and before we knew it, 6 miles were done!

6.0 miles/57:12/9:32 avg pace

Saturday
22 mile run 21 mile trail/road run

Chris was running trails with his friends so I tagged along.  I didn’t think I would actually be running with them much at all since they are all speedy, but we actually ended up all running together most of the way!  I would lose them on the hills, but we would regroup and I would catch up.  It was a perfect sunny chilly morning to be running. 

After over 11 miles on the trails, Chris dropped me off at the park, I refilled my bottles and started the run home.  I took the long way to make sure I would get in the extra miles.  Around mile 15 I started feeling really tired and just run down, but I got a second wind around mile 17 and was able to finish the run strong with my fastest miles being the later ones.  I rounded the corner near my house just as my watched beeped 21 and just as my mom pulled up to visit for the weekend!  I called it a run.

21.0 miles/3:26:08/9:49 avg pace

Sunday
14 mile run

My birthday run!

I was kind of nervous as to how my legs were going to feel on this run.  This was definitely the longest back to back I have done so far and I was pretty wiped after the 21 the day before.  My legs felt pretty good from the get go though, and I just made sure to keep the pace easy.  It definitely helped having a lot of friends to run with, but overall I was so happy and surprised with how great I felt.  Yay!

14.0 miles/2:12:27/9:27 avg pace

Total miles for week 6: 68.2

This was my biggest week in a very long time and only 1.8 miles off my biggest week ever!  I finished the week feeling really good and happy with how it went.  I made changes when I needed to, but still put in a strong solid week of running.  I have one more bigger mileage week before a cut back week again. 

12 weeks to go!

Tomorrow is my birthday and to be honest, I haven’t been that thrilled about it this year.  Usually I am one of those yay it’s my birthday people, but this year hasn’t quite been that way.  I have really been trying to take the positive outlook on it all, but the thought of entering a new decade for me has just been “meh” for lack of a better word.  I know, I know, the 30’s are great.   

Being the amazing friends she is, Kristin wouldn’t let me get by without a celebration!  When she asked what I wanted to do, I said run (surprise, surprise) and she said she would take it from there.  All I knew was that I was running at 8:30am on Sunday and it would be the last run of my 20’s.  One knock on my door and people started flooding into my house decked in running clothes, and pretty soon we had 13 girls heading out the door to run. 

We had a couple of groups going different distances, with 6 of us going 14 miles.  I took them on my favorite local route and we chatted and laughed and had a great time.  The miles flew by and before I knew it, I was back at my house which was full of decorations, mimosas. bagels and friends.  We refueled watching the Olympic Trials (which I had successfully avoided knowing the results of for a full day!) and took a cake break in the middle.

Heath bar coffee ice cream cake incase you are wondering.

29 has been an amazing year that I am sad to leave behind.  I think the thing I will remember the most about when I look back at this year is all the amazing friendships that have come into my life.  So many of these girls I didn’t know a year ago and I can’t imagine what my life would be like without them now.  I am so lucky to get to call them all my friends. 

I know this new decade that starts with a 3 is going to be just as amazing, especially with all of these girls by my side.