Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Re-Evaluating

First off, I need to apologize for being MIA for the past week!  Between leaving my job on Tuesday (it went well) and then jetting off to Tahoe for a couple of days with the hubbs, I have had no real free time to sit at the computer!!  Leaving last Tuesday was surreal.  And awkward.  My boss still attempted to keep me, mind you not by offering up any more cash.  But more along the lines of, "you'll be sad when I replace you!"  Yeah, thanks for that!  One good friend/co-worker did cry which sent me into tears but other than that, I was happy to get out of there!  Thanks again to all of you for your encouragement and support - it meant the world to me.  Now, who needs a new tax accountant?

Running has been going great.  Tuesday when I left work, I had a pair of new shoes waiting for me when I got home!  Whoo hoo!  I have been wearing my two pairs of Asics Gel Nimbus 12's, and they are awesome for long runs, but on my shorter runs and track work outs I have really wanted something lighter.  These are pure JOY to run in ;)
 They are the Saucony Grid Fastwitch 4 and they.are.awesome.  They are a light racing flat but feel so supportive at the same time.  They hug my feet and cushion them all while making me feel like I'm flying.  When I got home to these I quickly changed and ran out the door!  I ran 7 miles in 53 minutes!  I swear new shoes make you faster!

Aren't they purdy!?  After my run the hubbs and I packed the car and headed to Tahoe.  Waking up to the wonderful smell of the Sierra's was just what I needed.  I really wanted to get a good run in up there because....in 18 days I have the Lake Tahoe Marathon!  This was my very first race ever back in 2007 when I ran the half.  This will be my 3rd year tackling the full and I can't wait.  It is challenging but I'm hoping I can beat my PR this year on the course of 4:19 which I'm pretty sure I can.  I had some big mental break downs last year and was injured.  This year I have a new game plan and so far (knock on wood!) I'm injury free.  The altitude and the constant changing of MOUNTAINS and downhill make it killer, (along with the altitude!) but this is one of my "A" races each year and I really, really, really, want to PR.  My run up there on Wednesday went well - I did just over 8 miles with about an 8:20 avg pace - and I felt pretty decent.  The first half of the full is pretty flat, it's the second half that is UP then down, then UP UP UP then down hill for the entire last 10K.  I can't wait!

Which brings me to the title of the post: re-evaluating.  As I'm sure you have read numerous times here, my goal this year was to BQ again at Long Beach.  It's still my goal, but something has shifted.  I want to really tackle Tahoe more than I want to BQ.  I know that sounds crazy but it's true (and technically I'm already qualified).  LB is just three weeks after Tahoe - I'm not sure I can RACE both.  I'm gonna give it my all but I'm not going to beat myself up mentally if I reach LB and realize that it just isn't going to happen.  I'm even willing to wait and change to the half if I need to.  I want to run and race for a long time - I don't want to end up injured or better yet - reach mile 18 of LB and just hate running.  So, I've re-evaluated my goals for the year and I can honestly say I'm content.  I'm going to give it my all but not beat myself up over anything lost.  Healthy, no? Hahaha!

I ended last week with a total of 61.5 miles again.  Yes, Marlene - just a half mile short of a 100K week!  I actually felt really good all week.  My knees are not killing me too bad and my paces have, for the most part, been right where they need to be.  This is another heavy week for me before I start a small taper.  I am also running the Buffalo Stampede 10 miler in Sacramento on Sunday so I have moved my long run to Wednesday this week to allow enough time to recover and still race.  I'm really enjoying this training cycle but I'm ready for October to get here!

Today is my first day of really working from home!  So excited to get the ball rolling!  And shhhhh! Don't tell my hubbs, but I'm just as excited to be able to schedule my runs around my work schedule and not any crazy boss'!  A seriously big perk!!

I'm off to catch up with all of you!!!  I hate being away for so long!!  Hope you all enjoyed the long weekend!
Happy Tuesday and Happy Running Peeps!

28 comments:

TMB @ RACING WITH BABES said...

I know that you are going to do awesome regardless of how you approach these races. Great job on the mileage last week!

Evolving Through Running said...

First - great mileage last week.

Second - I'm intrigued by your Saucony racing flats. I also run in the Nimbus (one pair Nimbus 11, one pair Nimbus 12), and have contemplated some flats, but not really sure what to get. How did you end up choosing the Saucony since they're technically stability shoes, versus the neutral Nimbus. The color on the ones you have is awesome.

Marlene said...

That is a huge week, even if it's 0.5mi short of 100K. ;)

Exciting plans to really go at it at Tahoe. Good luck!!!

Anonymous said...

I totally get this- I have re-vamped my race schedule too. It sucks but the long term is more important. Good luck!

Jill said...

Ni job on the miles and the runs, chica!! Your new shoes will make you speedier, too :). I meant to email you before you got them to try the Saucony Kivaras as they are the new "it" light shoe, and are a neutral shoe, like your Nimbus'. Sorry I never got to that, but sounds like your new ones are working well - yay! Enjoy your first day of true freedom.
xoxo

Michelle Simmons said...

YES! I love those fasttwitch 4's too. I wore them on Sunday at my 20K. :)

Ok, so are you starting your own business as a personal accountant? Bc I need one. Email me at michelle.simmons08@yahoo.com. :)

Bethany + Ryan said...

wow! 61.5 miles!! i've never ran over 50 before in 1 week but i'll be going over that real soon since i'm running a 50 miler in November.
Got any good ideas on where we should go in Cali? if so, please share!
GOod luck with your upcoming races! you definitely have the right attitude! and i love those new shoes!! :-)
thake care!

Sarah said...

Glad you had fun in Tahoe and your race plan sounds great! :) LOVE the new shoes!!

Miss you now that you aren't online at work. Ping me sometime when you're "working" from home! ;)

Teamarcia said...

Very purdy new shoes--that reminds me I have to go order up like now...maybe my old shoes are making me tortoise-slow lately!
Good luck again with your new venture!

Ewa said...

Good luck at Tahoe.
Another big mileage week. You are so ready for this marathon.
Those shoes look really cool.

ShutUpandRun said...

61.5 miles?? You're an animal. I do love your shoes. I used to have them in orange. Unfortuantely, unlike you, I did wear them for long runs and that wasn't too smart. Good luck on your races!

L.B. said...

Take it from me, working from home is much better than going into the office. My dress code, for instance, is not very restrictive. For me, shirts are optional :)

I'm very excited for you to branch out on your own and if you are half as dedicated to this as you are with your running, you're going to kick ass on this venture.

As far LB, trust your body. I know you know what's best for you, and running the LB Half won't be a bad thing. Damn, if I was faster, I'd say for us to conquer that course together :) Maybe you could give me a 10-minute head start and then we can cruise into the finish together.

Angela and David said...

Congrats on working from home! I'm jealous.

And good for you for focusing on what makes you happy. Now kick some ass in Lake Tahoe.

Mel -Tall Mom on the Run said...

YIPPEE for your own schedule, I NEED to find a way to own my own business.

You will KNOW what you want to do when you get to the RACE.. Never know maybe you can RACE both..

HUGS!

Heather said...

Love the bright shoes, and your new plan on really focusing on Tahoe and then seeing how you feel. Smart!

SO jealous of the working from home. Of course, I would never get any work done. :)

MCM Mama said...

Love the shoes! And Whoa! that's some kind of serious mileage!

Thinking positive thoughts for your new business. I think you'll rock!

Katie said...

I think this sounds like an awesome plan. It doesn't sound crazy to me - Tahoe sounds like a tough but great race, and you'll feel amazing when you whip its ass in a few weeks! get em girlie!

Anonymous said...

I love the weeks I get to work at home - running seems much more wonderful!

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

First from mileage obsessed Shelly. Wow! big miles. But I didn't note the "my knees aren't killing me too bad" comment. You are young! Don't over do it! Okay I know I am not your mom.

Your race approach. I think you should go after the Tahoe PR and just run Long Beach. If you are feeling it that day go for it if not no big deal. Really. No big deal. Get the goal that means the most to you and don't hurt yourself trying to have it all. If you go into LB with that attitude and the day goes your way than BQing would be icing on the cake but if the day isn't your then you won't have the let down.
Enjoy working from home!

Christina said...

Good luck on PRing at Lake Tahoe. Sounds like a challenging race (especially with all that UP UP UP). You are definitely one of those crazy runners the nonrunners are talking about!

Denise said...

good for you!! going for what you want is exactly what you should do. you've already BQ'd and now you have another challenge to go after. love it!

KateKirk said...

I appreciate your "I don't want to get to mile 18 and hate running" comment...I think that's ultimately why I dropped Marine Corps marathon training with an injury that was not quite crippling but very much present, and more so with every long run. Makes me feel like less of a quitter that others think the same thing.

Kristen said...

Ohh, a little getaway to Tahoe sounds fabulous! Glad you were able to get away - a great way to end work.

I think you have a very healthy outlook towards with your goals. I love that as you get deeper and deeper into a training cycle you begin to see what you really want to get out of it. I have no doubt you will kill your Tahoe PR.

I am not quite to the point in training to run over 14/15 miles right now but if your hubby wants a break from bike duty I would be happy to ride with you!

Jess said...

Wow, what mileage! Amazing.

It seems smart to re-evaluate goals on an as-needed basis and I'm sure that whatever the tangible results, you'll be satisfied with your perfomances in both races.

Anonymous said...

Hi Iam Prabhu from chennai,joined today in this forum... :)

zbsports said...

Awesome shoes, I like the color and style of it. Nice post too.

d.a.r. said...

Ahh that transition period must be awkward when they know you are leaving. Good luck getting through it, you have some amazing opportunities waiting for you!

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