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Sunday, December 30, 2012

Seattle Locks Fat Ass Half Marathon race report

We were looking for a race for the last weekend of the year -- I had considered the Yukon Do It race on the 31st, but then decided I didn't necessarily want to spend the money. I saw the Seattle Locks Fat Ass Half Marathon -- and that it was free -- and that the race started at Woodland Park.

We rolled up this morning, joined the small crowd at the picnic shelter. We got our bibs, listened to the course description (essentially, run out to Stone Way, down to the Burke-Gilman, and then out to the turnaround, almost all the way to Golden Gardens. 

Not really much to report about the race -- we just ran out, turned around, and ran back. At the end, we received a medal, had some hot cider, cookies, and jelly bellies, and then nibbled on them as we stretched. We ran pretty smoothly today, but we did decide to walk up the hill on Stone Way rather than run it. After all, we're supposed to be in our taper...


Friday, December 28, 2012

Pushups are hard.

A slightly bigger group at this morning's boot camp -- not at big as before the holidays, but still 10 or 12 folks. This morning we did a circuit -- several exercises, 20 reps each, as many sets as we could get through -- aiming for 4.

I did that annoying thing I always do -- I watched others do the workout, and thought to myself, "Hmmm. She's not doing 20 reps" and "She's not doing all the lengths" and "She's not doing those right." I could hear Wil's voice saying, "Run your own race!" so I tried to ignore it. But it kept bothering me. Why, I just don't know. I guess I'm a rule follower.

I told Wil about it when I got home, and he actually agreed with me -- that it seems weird when, in a boot camp when the only person who matters is you, why not just put in the reps?

I really struggled with doing pushups with one hand on a medicine ball -- had to modify every single one, and on the last round I had to stop a couple of times to regroup. And as far as "bosu get ups" go, I simply couldn't get all the way down to it without torquing my knees. So probably other ladies were watching me and thinking, "She's totally not doing that right."


Thursday, December 27, 2012

Swimming!

Months and months ago I bought a Groupon for swims at a pool not too far from my work. Well, in typical procrastinatory fashion, I waited a looooong time to redeem it. I kept meaning to go, but, well, you know how it is.

So, with an impending expiration date of January 19, I decided to go check the Juanita "Wave Aquatic Center" pool out.

Arrived to a nearly empty parking lot. No surprise, really -- school is out for the holidays, and, well, not that many people are going to get up and swim at 8am during the holidays either.

I headed in to the building and discovered that the women's locker room was locked. Oh. And the counter looked pretty locked up as well. But there was a little sign that said, "Please pay on the pool deck", so I tentatively pushed through the doors.

There were 4 or 5 people swimming, a couple of bored-looking lifeguards, dubstep coming through the speakers, and a chill in the air. To be honest, I wasn't even sure that the pool was open, but the lifeguards were friendly, set me up with a punch card, and turned me loose

The pool was pretty cold -- but also pretty refreshing. I picked up a kickboard and a pull buoy and settled in to an empty lane. The new goggles I bought yesterday were awesome -- no leaks at all. (I do think I had them fastened too tightly -- I had some killer goggle marks for a while after my swim!)

My goal wasn't to swim all that much -- the emphasis today was really just getting into the darn pool. I swam sets of four lengths each: freestyle, kickboard, arm pulls, then a little break, arm pulls, kick board, freestyle. Then four more lengths to cool down, and I was done.

On my way out the lifeguard asked if I thought the water was too cold, and told me that the school had turned the boilers off for the Christmas break. Oh. Then a little girl in the locker room told me that the showers were just as cold. Oh.

But I didn't feel like driving to work in my suit for a shower, so I just took a chilly shower there. Brrrrrrrr.

Nice to swim, nice to use a Groupon (ha ha). I've got nine more swims to do before we move to the U District in March!

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Boxing Day Boot Camp

Managed to get myself out of bed early on Boxing Day to go to boot camp. Arrived to a nearly empty parking lot, and wondered if I should have checked the site before braving the morning. But as I sat there, another car arrived, so I figured I should just go in.

The 6am camp was wrapping up -- all FOUR of them. Wow. I signed in and wondered if I was going to have a personal training session. I must admit that I was hoping others were turn up because I wasn't feeling particularly strong!

But another woman arrived, and then, a few minutes into the workout, a third woman jumped in. We did a circuit focusing on "butts and guts" -- different squats and crunches, interspersed with cardio.

I was cold to begin with -- the heating hadn't been on in days, apparently -- but never really had a chance to take off my long sleeved shirt when I got warmer. I think I'll be pretty sore in a day or two... but again, really glad to have gone for my third session!

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Happy Christmas Half Marathon

We woke to a dry morning, and were dressed and on our way around 6:30. I insisted on wearing our Santa hats, which we discovered bounce around quote a bit. No matter, we were on the road and running!

We decided to run a simple route, down to the Fred Meyer, on to the Burke-Gilman, and out past tHe university. It was very, very dark when we set out, so we were both decked out in our high-visibility NightLife gear. We had considered running with headlamps' but couldn't find any, so we decided to go without.

The trail -- and indeed the roads -- were pretty empty, but everyone who was out was cheery, and we exchanged a lot of hellos. We reached the turnaround pretty quickly, and were well on our way home before the rain started. By the time we got home, it was pretty wet, and we kept feeling pleased with ourself for getting up and going -- knowing that if we had contemplated going out at 9, we would have let the rain keep us indoors. Heck, I admit I would have whined and pleaded not to have to go out.

Then home, hot showers, a FaceTime visit with Beck, Steve, and her family; a quick breakfast; a Skype call with Tony and Sue; and then the festival of presents. Now napping on the couch -- a perfect Christmas.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Substitute Boot Camp, day two

Yeah, okay, I woke up sore. Heck, I woke up sore yesterday. But there's a big part of me that LOVES that...

Friday's camp starts at 6:00, so I got everything ready on Thursday night. Well, almost -- realized when I got to the locker room at work that I had an empty bottle of shampoo and no moisturizer in my bag. Oh well, at least I remembered to pack trousers...

There seemed to be a much bigger crowd on Friday than Wednesday. That said, the early class on Wednesday seemed really full, too. Jill led the class again, explaining the exercises at the five stations, and then sending us to run laps as a warmup. We had five stations. I started with three other women at the ring pull-ups / box steps station. We cleverly divided ourselves -- two on boxes, two on rings. (There were only two boxes and three sets of rings.) Once we had moved to other stations, we watched as other groups struggled with too many people at that station... and probably felt slightly smug. 

We did "crossbows" at our second station -- basically pulling super strong resistance bands with alternating arms. 

Then into the big room, where we jumped rope and did wall sits. (Oof.) The station after that had glute planks and something called a "genie squat" (or something...). And at the final station we used weights and did squats and "goal posts". Between each set, and again between each station, we did different cardio bursts, but I found them too brief to really get my heartrate up. 

Here's something a bit weird... people didn't seem to talk much during the workout. I said things a few times, but got little response amongst my group. And there certainly wasn't any whooping or glee. I guess Kerry has spoiled me!

I also felt that there wasn't particularly good form. With people in two rooms, and doing different exercises all at once, it seemed like Jill wasn't able to correct form -- or even demonstrate form. For example -- one of the cardio sessions was "squat jumps". She demonstrated them briefly, but when we started doing them, most people essentially were doing little bunny hops... not proper deep squats with jumps. A little weird.... but as Wil always tells me, I just need to run my own race, right?

Still -- camp is good. I'm happily sore again... obviously it's been A WHILE since I did any upper body or core work. And the facility is nice, and I'm just happy to be back to feeling active. I'm kicking myself a bit that I didn't start going last week -- to maximize the value of my voucher before leaving for Florida -- but this is still a great way to fill in the gap.

Looking at the Vast Fitness calendar, looks like the next session starts on Monday, January 7. Unfortunately I'll miss FIVE of the 16 sessions by running the marathon ... The session after that starts February 11 -- probably a much better time to go. 

So here's my plan:  work out with Sync (substitute boot camp!) till I leave for Florida. Then when I'm back, I can spend a week with Dillon checking out her new place. (She very kindly sent me a "work out with us for a week" token. Actually, she sent two... hmm...) Then I can start up with Kerry again a week after that. Sorted. 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Substitute Boot Camp

My beloved boot camp is on hiatus until January... so when I saw a deal on an INDOOR boot camp not too far from our house, well, I figured it would be a good substitute.

I went to workout today -- and had a blast. Now, it's not fun and playful -- I mean, no one really chatted during the workout, which was a little odd -- but I got a great workout, and, yes, it was very nice to be indoors.

We ran laps around the basketball court to warm up, then did sets of exercises -- squats, pushups, and abs -- interspersed with more laps for cardio.

I like the facility -- a "basketball academy", who knew? -- but once we get back from Florida I'm excited to start back up with Kerry!

(Oh, and, yeah, I'm already sore....)

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Permission to run slowly...

The Total Immersion Swimming newsletter the other day included a story about giving yourself "the permission to swim slowly"... Now, I don't exactly have to give myself permission, since I'm just so slow. Bit I like the idea that, if you find that you have to stop and rest often, perhaps you're trying to go too fast. Anyway, it made me think about my ongoing challenges with pacing -- that I can't seem to stay on a steady pace if left to my own devices, but I can follow along if needed. I think that's something I should work on next year -- getting my pacing figured out!


Saturday, December 15, 2012

Lighthouse Loop, Winter Version

Cold and wet half marathon .. Number 32 complete!0

Friday, December 14, 2012

Getting in to the Christmas spirit

The Fleet Feet store in Chico sent us this picture from their front window:


FRA-GEE-LAY.... it must be Italian! 

Now that's Run Happy Holidays!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Me, myself, and eye... part 2

A hopefully quick off-topic note before we get back to the usual running stuff...

My eye felt a bit weird on Tuesday morning, so when I called to find out when I could come in for the procedure, we just decided to go ahead and have it done that afternoon. I honestly didn't know what to expect, but had come to imagine the laser as looking a little like this:


Or, okay, if not that big, then at least in the form of a shark with a frickin' laser beam mounted on its head:


But in the end, it just looked like this:


Oh. I don't even lie down? I just rest my chin on the fresh sheet of tissue paper? I see.

But the staff was lovely and friendly, Wil was allowed to sit in the room with me the whole time. First I was given a drop to make my pupil constrict really small so that my iris would be stretched taut. Then I was given a numbing drop. And then I just sat around and waited. The nurse told me that some people experienced a "brow ache" after taking the constricting drop, which I didn't really understand. Until a few minutes later I felt a weird pain... in my eyebrow. How weird is that?!?

After a bit, Dr. Carroll came in, took a look at my eye, and explained a bit about what was going to happen and why we were doing it -- probably for Wil's benefit more than mine. Then he put some goop on a special contact lens, put it in my eye, and told me to lean into the machine and look straight forward. 

I tried to breathe calmly, to open my eyes and think of England.... At the back of my mind I started to worry that there would be a smell... you know, a burning smell. But I just focused on breathing in, breathing out, and looking straight forward. 

Then with a strangely loud mechanical, metallic CLUNK, the laser started. My eye was filled with a red light for a few seconds, and then, done. Dr. Carroll removed the lens (which is essentially a guide so the laser only hits on spot), I sat back, and that was it. 

I was given some more drops, had a follow-up appointment set, and I was released. 

It didn't hurt -- but it wasn't comfortable. And the clunk the solid-state laser made probably made me yelp. Afterward my eye felt a little sore, a little tired, and still a little blurry, but otherwise okay. Oh, and, no, there wasn't a burning smell. Thank heavens.

That night I took my steroid drops, as usual, which made it hard to sleep (as usual). So I gave up at 3am  Wednesday and just got up and worked. I decided to work from home just so I could be closer to the doc if needed, but I was actually pretty okay all day. And I should point out that the 12 hours I worked at home were probably as productive as two full days in the office, so that was also good. 

This morning I had a follow-up appointment with the doctor, who told me my pressure numbers were good and low -- under 10 in each eye. So I can continue to taper the drops (and hopefully increase my sleep!), and I'll check in with him again on Tuesday. 

It's been a scary couple of weeks, and I know I'll still have to go in next year and have the big surgery done, but the crisis seems to have been averted for now. Fingers crossed, eh? 

Monday, December 10, 2012

My, myself, and eye...

Completely off-topic here, but I want to write about it. I hope to return to my usual running-related blather soon...

A few weeks ago the vision in my left eye got a little fuzzy. I've had bad eyes since I was a kid, but for the last several years I've been lucky to have only a few uveitis / iritis flare-ups in my right eye. But I try to be careful and aware of my eyesight. A day of slightly bleary eyes isn't a big deal ... but a few days starts to make me nervous.

So on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving I called to make an appointment. Given that it was Thanksgiving week, the office would be closed on Thursday and Friday, and my doctor was out of the office on the Wednesday, but I figured I would rather see a doctor who was familiar with my eyes, so made an appointment for Cyber Monday. (Yeah, great timing for an e-commerce person, I know...)

I wasn't that worried over the weekend. My eye was a little blurry, but not all the time. I did feel like my night vision was getting worse, but since more and more of my friends seem to have the same issue, I figured it might just be middle age. (ha ha ha).

But then at work on Monday my left eye was so blurry that I couldn't read unless I covered my left eye and used my right. Yeah, not a good sign at all. I drove home in the bright sunshine, frankly worried about how badly I could see in the flickering light. I dropped the car off at home and walked down to the doctor's office.

When the tech came in to measure my vision and my eye pressure, she seemed a little surprised with how bad my eyesight was. But when she took the pressure, she took it, looked at the instrument, took my pressure again, then ran from the room.

Uh-oh.

A few moments later Dr. Carroll came in and said, "Well, apparently you have an awesome eye." I told him I was a little surprised by the tech running out of the room, and asked what was up. He took a look, said my eye was really inflamed and the pressure was quite high. He prescribed three sets of medicines -- a steroid eye drop, a set of steroid pills, and some glaucoma meds he referred to, cheekily, as the "pressure drop".

I went away feeling scared, with an appointment to check in with him the next day. While walking to the pharmacy to pick up the drugs I called Doug to tell him what needed to be done before tomorrow -- and, me being me, broke down in tears. This freaked him out a bit, and he asked if I wanted to catch my breath and call him back. That was enough of a disconnect that I reset and just listed out three things he needed to take care of.

I spent the afternoon taking steroids (not the strength kind, mind you...) and having a pint or two of cider with Wil and Suz.

The next day I went back in and had my eyes checked again... the pressure had dropped from the 50s down to less than 10; a much better number. One more check in later in the week and my eyes were doing okay again, so the crisis seemed to have been averted.

By the way, I did ask whether running the Quadzilla could have had an effect on my eye, or whether I should stop running. I was assured that there was no connection, and that I could run and fly and endure a week in Vegas. (ha ha).

So I went to Vegas, land of recycled air, and survived. But over the weekend at home I felt like my left eye was a little fuzzy again. Now, whether it was tiredness or too many eye drops or what, I didn't worry too much. But today, Monday, it seemed fuzzy. Growing fuzzier. I sat in a meeting at 11am and thought that my eyesight was getting progressively worse... and I even felt a slight weight or pain in my eye.

As I left the meeting I turned to Doug and said, "My eye has gotten very blurry again -- I'm going to go to the eye doctor." And I packed up and left. 40 minutes later I was at the doctor's office, asking the front desk to let me in. Luckily, I came right after lunch and they were able to fit me in pretty quickly.

This time the tech didn't run from the room, but she did measure the pressure twice. And Dr. Carroll came in and said, "Well hi there." I said, "I didn't think you could bear not to see me for two weeks..." and then apologized for feeling like a hypochondriac, but that my vision was blurry and my eye hurt. He said, "Well, your pressure is way up again, so your instincts were completely correct."

I asked the pressure level -- this time in the mid 40s -- and said, 'Well, it's not as bad as last time."

Apparently what's happening is "closed angle glaucoma" -- where the drainage angle in my eye that should allow the aqueous humors to drain out has been blocked by my iris... a side-effect of the long-term damage my eye has been through. The aqueous humors cannot drain, which causes pressure to build up, which can harm the optic nerve and cause permanent damage. Neato.

He then told me that I needed to have a small procedure on my eye -- a laser iridotomy -- which will create a small hole in my iris so that the humors can drain. Not really sure how I feel about that, but I've read a lot and it seems that it's a pretty minor procedure. I asked if I would have any down time after the procedure, and Dr. Carroll said, "Not really. Your eye won't feel any worse than it does now... a bit hurty, with blurry vision."

I don't have my actual appointment yet, but I should be going in on Wednesday. Stay tuned for updates.


Friday, December 7, 2012

Leaving Las Vegas

Okay, so it isn't really running-related. Other than the fact that I am running out of town as fast as I can....

Other than the half marathon (PR!!!) on Sunday, the only exercise I got while at the conference was a short swim on Wednesday and a run on Thursday... So much for good intentions!

I also just feel doughy and flabby - even though the culinary choices were pretty limited, I think I still managed to overeat. Again, so much for good intentions!

But next week should be better. I am going to join a new boot camp for the four weeks until we go to Orlando for the Goofy. I think I will also be able to go to Nijah's Zumba class on Thursdays at work. And of course I have a lot of running to do.... So here's to going home, getting healthy again, and finishing the year on a high!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Vegas Run

Well, maybe the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon owns the "strip at night" tagline, but regular runners own the "strip in the morning". Went out for a run at 7 and was amazed to see that, other than cleaners hosing down yesterday's filth, the only people out and about we're runners. Dozens of us, all running up and down the strip. I think the highlight was when I was directed on a detour through the Treasure Island casino because of work being done on one of the pirate lakes in front of the hotel. I joined a little pod of other runners snaking around the casino floor, up a staircase, and across a sky bridge to get out. Nice.

Not a long or a fast run, but at least j got a few miles in!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Imperial Swim

So, the pool at Caesar's Palace is only open from 10-5. And I am at the conference from 9-5 every day. But I really, really wanted to go for a swim.

So today I brought my swimsuit along to the session and, when we broke for lunch, I ran down to the pool. I got changed in the huge, empty bathroom, grabbed a couple of towels, and made my way out to the deserted pool.

Under the watchful eyes of a bored life guard I swam for 20 lovely minutes, got out and dried out in the sun for a few more, and then got dressed and went back upstairs. I grabbed another awesome salad, inhaled it, and slid back into my seat right when we got started.

Pretty much a perfect lunch!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Doing the splits...

So I don't usually have runner tracking at races -- I just don't think it's worth paying to have my splits texted to me while I'm running... especially if I don't know how many splits I'm going to get. But it was offered at the Runner's Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon for free, so I figured I might as well. (Plus it gave Wil a way to track me remotely...)

Anyway, they were super generous with the amount of splits they recorded... and I'm pretty thrilled to see that I got faster and faster as the race went on:

Split Time Estimated Finish Average
Pace
Notes
3.1 33:21 2:20:40 10:44 Walked for a minute early on in this split, before joining the group.
6.2 1:03:48 2:14:36 10:16 Big jump here!
10 1:42:05 2:13:50 10:12 Was running slightly ahead of the pace group here.
12 2:02:24 2:13:43 10:12 I'm proudest of this split -- got through my normal head game here without slowing down!
13.1 2:13:06   2:13:06 10:09 Ran the last mile at a 9:43 pace -- fantastic!
Wil now wants us to run a 2:10. Eek. But I think we could definitely get to that sometime next year if we keep at it!

Monday, December 3, 2012

Ode to my Fuel Band

I coveted you from the moment I saw you.

So sleek, so simple.

I had been a Nike+ user from the early days. No, of course I never used the shoes... I really hadn't worn Nikes since, what, 7th grade? But I loved being able to track my miles when I ran. Heck, I still do.

I started with the little shoe pod, a pouch to attach it to my laces, and a sensor I attached to my iPod. My iPods came and went, and I even wore out a couple of sensors. But it was still good.

A year or so ago (probably more?) I bought the SportWatch. That was also cool -- and I still run with it because I love the GPS functionality. It's too bulky (and, well, too NIKE...) to wear every day as a watch, but who cares.I never wore my Garmin as a watch either. And this is much better looking.

And then, ah, the Fuel Band. A sleek little black band for my wrist, tracking my movements and granting me "Fuel Points". I love the device, I love the gamification, I love it love it love it.

But after 219 days, I had a problem. A stretch of the LEDs on the watch had died. Now, these aren't functional, really. I could still see if I hit my goal for the day. But I worried that if they were going, something else inside my be going, too.

Since I'm in Las Vegas for the NNG Usability Week conference -- and staying at Caesar's Palace -- I walked down to the Nike store to see if the folks there could help. After a little hemming and hawing, ("Well.. do you have a receipt?"), the manager said just to swap it out for a new one. Great.

Here's something a little shameful: I asked them to help me sync my day's Fuel Points (and those of the previous couple of days) so that I wouldn't break my streak. Yeah, it's like that. So we synced my old Fuel Band, and it was unceremoniously put in a box... while I was handed a shiny new one.

So -- Nike Store customer service gets an A. That said, they know the device hasn't been around all that long -- so they couldn't pretend I had had it for years.... But it was with a minimum of hassle, and I didn't have to lose my Fuel Band for weeks on end if I had to send it in.

But now I'm struggling to set up the new Fuel Band. Am I perhaps the only person in the history of the Fuel Band to ever get a second one? (No, I'm sure I'm not... but I may well be an edge case...) And it seems that my points from the past three days haven't actually synched. Which leads me to the real crux of the issue:

MY 176-DAY STREAK IS OVER.

Yes, since having the Fuel Band, I only missed hitting my goal one day -- on day 41, I think. And now I have "missed" three more -- including a day when I ran a PR in a half marathon. But, assuming everything sorts itself out, I will be back at it tomorrow. I hope.

By the way, I know I'm a dork.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Runner's Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon race report

After a bit of chaos trying to pick up my bib (in the pitch dark morning, along with several hundred other runners and six panicked volunteers...), I stood around trying to relax and stay warm before taking off my long sleeve and leaving it at the bag drop. I noticed that the race had pacers for 2:07, 2:15, and 2:30. I idly wondered how long I could hang on to the 2:15 group, but then just laughed that off.

I made my way to the starting area, where I lined up on the right-hand side (the slow lane...) and a but behind the 2:15 group. But when the race started and we all had to funnel through the timing mats, things got a bit jumbled and I was running with the 2:07s. Yeah, not my tribe.

I ran the first two intervals without the walk break -- we seemed too bunched together to stop. I did decide to walk the next break, however, which is when the 2:15s passed me. But when I started running again, I caught up with them quickly. Given that I struggle with my pace over even short runs, I decided to experiment with joining a pace group.  Crazy, right? But I figured I would just run with them until I ragout of gas.

Marie was the pacer. Holding her balloons (2:15 ROCKS!) and wearing a Santa hat, she kept up an almost constant chatter.  She asked members of the group if they wanted to dedicate miles to people, told funny stories about being a pacer all over the country, and sang songs. At every mile marker she would sing,, "Do you see what I see? It's mile marker number ________". And then the group would shout "2:15 ROCKS!!!"

Never having run with a pacer (umm, besides Wil...), I didn't know what to expect, but it was okay. All I had to do was keep close to them and let the miles and minutes click by.  It was sort-of the real-world version of running on a treadmill.

I have been running intervals for years now, and other than occasional long treadmill slogs, I really haven't run more than 30 minutes straight for a long time, if ever. So I kept thinking that eventually I would just crash.  But the pace was fine, I felt good, and I just kept going.

Then at a water stop somewhere around mile 8 I somehow ended up behind three other women from the group, but ahead of Marie.  I figured we would all shuffle back together, but we never did.  For a while I could hear Marie right behind me, but I stuck close to the three lively ladies and soon we had gapped them. I also knew that I should try to eat up some road while I was feeling good mentally and physically... And that I could let the 2:15s sweep me up later.

After another little stretch we did a loop to turn onto a bike path. As we wound our way through a park, I thought the ladies were slowing down, so I scooted around them and ran on my own. I kept picking out a runner to join, but I would catch them and keep going. I should remind you that this is a very unusual phenomenon for me!!!

The organizers had placed lots of water stops toward the end of the race -- one at mile 10, 11, and 12. This was great for me because it gave me a chance to have a sip of water, walk for a few moments,, and then move on.

At mile 11 -- always the toughest mile for me, mentally -- I decided to just think about things I love... Wil, Kiki, Bub, half marathons... ;) I thought about how great this year has been, how much Wil and I have accomplished, and how proud I am of us.

Then came mile 12 -- such a relief! I dedicated the final mile to Wil, my favorite running buddy, and wishing he was there running with me. The day had been nperfect -- coolish temperatures, gorgeous blue sky, no wind, flat course.

Every so often I looked at the elapsed time on my watch. But seeing that stat meant I didn't really know where I was on the course. So I started just thinking in terms of minutes. Fifteen minutes of running left... Fourteen minutes of running left...

I had looked at the course map before and noticed that there were three 90-degree turns in the last little stretch: right, left, right, finish. That was hugely helpful because I knew that I wouldn't see the actual finish until I was almost there. So I was ready for that.

It was interest ting -- and shamefully satisfying -- to pass so many people in the last couple of hundred yards. But I knew a PR was on the line, so I went for it.

As I was running in I got a shout out by the announcer, which made me wave and whoop. No one responded. But who cares?!? I had just finished in 2:13:06!!!

I felt wobbly and winded and gratefully took the medal and cup of water from the volunteers. At a bit of a loss for what to do next, I just picked up my gear bag, called Wil, and walked back to the hotel.

I already don't remember much about the race. No signs, no sits, just running behind and with a little group of strangers for a couple of hours.  Nice volunteers. Good course markings, including big, honking mile markers. Tons of police helping direct traffic. Plenty of water stops. A handsome medal. OH, AND STATE #17!!!!

Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon - Finish Results


Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon:

Sunny Delaney at the Finish in 2:13:06.

Pace 10:09 min/Mile.
Time of Arrival: 9:44:13.

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Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon - Split Results


Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon:

Sunny Delaney at the 12 Mile in 2:02:24.

Pace 10:12 min/Mile.
Estimated Finish Time: 2:13:43.
Estimated Time of Arrival: 9:44:51.

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Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon - Split Results


Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon:

Sunny Delaney at the 10 Mile Split in 1:42:05.

Pace 10:12 min/Mile.
Estimated Finish Time: 2:13:50.
Estimated Time of Arrival: 9:44:58.

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Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon - Split Results


Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon:

Sunny Delaney at the 10K Split in 1:03:48.

Pace 10:16 min/Mile.
Estimated Finish Time: 2:14:36.
Estimated Time of Arrival: 9:45:43.

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Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon - Split Results


Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon:

Sunny Delaney at the 5K Split in 33:21.

Pace 10:44 min/Mile.
Estimated Finish Time: 2:20:40.
Estimated Time of Arrival: 9:51:48.

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Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon - Start Notification


Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon:

Sunny Delaney has started.


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Saturday, December 1, 2012

November Wrap-Up



Well, it was a strange month.  No boot camp, and only five runs. Of course, each of those runs was a half marathon....

I am writing this in my room in Scottsdale, where I am running a half marathon tomorrow and kicking off December.

I still have about 80 miles to run in order to hit my annual mileage goal. That is gonaa be pretty hard to hit, but I think I will get close. I would like to find a way to get some mid-week miles in again... It's just so darn dark!

Kerry's boot camp doesn't start again until January, but I have a deal for another one that will cover me for the weeks between Vegas and Orlando. And Nijah is teaching Zumba at work every Thursday. I have also been feeling like swimming again, so maybe I can find morning lap swim. And then of course I still have Zumba classes on my Fresh Fitness punch card, as well as samba classes with Janeale. So I should be able to shake off my sloth!