Friday, February 5, 2010

Thankful Friday

I am so grateful that today is Friday.  It's been a long week of work and running and I am exhausted!  Tax season is finally revving up, and again I always act so surprised that February comes so fast! I am a bit nervous about balancing my extended hours at work and my high mileage weeks, as I didn't do such a hot job of it last year.  But this year I have Boston to look forward to, so I am hoping that lights the fire under me to keep going.  All week I have been plagued by tummy problems, and I think that is what zapped the energy out of me.  I'll find the balance, but in the mean time I'm just putting my head down and taking one run at a time :)

I have a fun weekend at least to look forward to running wise.  Tomorrow I am going to accompany my cousin Sarah for her first six mile training run.  She is training for the Santa Cruz Half Marathon (her first!) in April and she is doing awesome even while battling awful shin splints!  Her determination to fight through and become a runner is really refreshing.  I am so excited for her.  Secretly I have been egging her on with her running, in hopes of selfishly creating my very own running buddy! *insert evil laugh*  I am still debating myself if I want to run the race.  It's the weekend before Boston.  I did run a pretty fast half last year the weekend before Fresno where I BQ'ed, but a part of me is thinking I am going to need some fresh legs following that week.  They do have a 10K also, so I am still deciding.

Sunday I have the Kaiser San Francisco Half Marathon.  I am wicked excited about this as it is my first road race of the year.  It runs all the way through hilly Golden Gate Park so it will be a good workout in prep for Boston.  I love that it's on Super Bowl Sunday (Go Colts!!) so I can feel a little less guilty about all the crap I am sure to consume afterwards :)

Despite all the running probs, running has been right on schedule.  Wednesday I got in 7 miles on the dreadmill.  Actually, it wasn't too bad.  I got a new treadmill from my parents last week, and despite the softer deck I am enjoying running on it.  Maybe it's just a novelty still, but I'll take it.  I have huge ADD when it comes to running and my running routes :)

7 miles - 54:11  7:44/mi  This run felt great despite having to stop and go potty twice!  It's probably a good thing I stuck close to home, I gotta figure this out!

And yesterday was a quick recovery run.  I started out on the treadmill but the novelty had already warn off from the previous 3 days.  So after two miles (and one potty break) I decided to hit the roads.  Of course it was raining and getting dark, but the hubbs, a.k.a. running sherpa, hoped on his bike and rode with me.  I got about another 2 miles in before my tummy revolted again!  So I raced my a$$ home and finished up with a total of 3 outside.

5 miles - 40:20  8:05/mi  I don't know if that is a real accurate account of my pace, but I'll take it.  There was some definite faster miles in there and some really, really slow ones due to the cramping.  I just hope I can fight this off on Sunday!

So, to all you peeps out there who are racing, especially Aron and Danica, good luck this weekend!  And to all you who are tackling your long runs - rock 'em!  Hope the weather is good to you all, too!  They are predicting a very WET weekend for us!

Happy Friday and Happy Running!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tell your cousin to be carefull with those shin splints. Continued running could cause stress fractures.

Sarah said...

Yay! So excited to run with you tomorrow and a little nervous! It's going to be great!

Hopefully your tummy will cooperate so you can have a great half on Sunday. I hear that the weather should be better that day. :)

Anonymous said...

Have fun with the race- the first race of the season sure does bring excitement!

TMB @ RACING WITH BABES said...

Good luck this weekend!

And there is nothing wrong with pushing people into running so you have a buddy!

Tara said...

Oh girl, good luck with the whole job/running balancing act. I am soooo glad that my life will finally be slowing down soon in the work area (after this month). It's tough huh? Hang in there.

Tell your cousin to watch out while running with shin splints. I got them in high school and I made them worse by continueing to run on them!

Anonymous said...

Good luck this weekend!!! San Francisco would be an awesome place to run, I'm so jealous!! I'll be back to read the race report.

I am running my very 1st half this weekend and am quiet nervous.

Happy weekend to you!!

Teamarcia said...

Good luck, try to stay dry and have fun at the half!!
WTG on cultivating a running buddy!

Julie said...

Hi Katie,
I read the comment you left the other day left for Jenn. When you were describing yourself being a germa-freak I thought you were describing me:) I am the same way and will usually never go through a buffet and get nervous and grossed out going through a salad bar:)

Good luck with your marathon on Sunday. It is weird seeing my last name attached to a marathon! Have a great weekend:)

ajh said...

My daughter ended up with stress fractures from shin splints too! Tell your cousin to be careful.
Good luck in your race! Can't wait to read about it.

Mel -Tall Mom on the Run said...

GOOD LUCK!! Wishing you speedy legs this weekend.

Heather said...

Good luck with your race on Sunday! Hope your tummy cooperates.

Jo Lynn said...

Have FUN in SF. I hope it's dry for you. (crossing my fingers) ;)

Denise said...

Good luck this wknd!!! Can't wait to hear how it goes. I'm dying to race...run hard!