This week training has gone really well. I am excited and starting to feel more confident about my marathon cycle! I recently committed to running Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, MN on June 19, so my training is finally starting to have some direction. While I am not currently doing any marathon specific training yet, I am working on increasing my ability to adapt to the added intensity in my schedule along with a small bump in mileage.

My coach usually sends me workouts in one or two week increments--when he starts sending two week increments I know that he is starting to have confidence in my ability to handle whatever he throws at me. So, this past week I finally got the first two week schedule in months . While I was glad to know that he was starting to have a little bit of faith in my body handling the work, I can't help but look ahead at the workouts I have coming up and feel nervous. I have 5 marathons on my feet and even though I know what to expect with the workouts and what the build up will look like until June, I can't help but feeling butterflies when I look at my schedule and see something like 3x2 miles or 15 miles with the last 5 miles at high 5's to low 6's. Sure, it doesn't sound like much or even that fast, but since I have done very little training over the past 5 months seeing the added intensity and knowing that I will have to push myself harder than the normal everyday run pace is scary. I am excited, of course, to get on with starting a little bit of speed work but nervous that my body is going to fail me again; nervous that I will be left flailing like I have in the past couple of cycles I have attempted.

The scariest part is there is no guarantee--we are doing all we can to monitor energy levels, sleep, appetite, and runs on a daily basis, but even with the increased scrutiny and a very conservative, long term approach no one knows or can predict what might happen over the next 5 months. I haven't had a training cycle yet that was completely perfect and I know I never will but this spring I am hoping not to experience some of the speed bumps that I have in the past--I have endured everything from freak illnesses to home invasions. But with each a successful end of a racing season, I felt like I had really accomplished something because not only did I race well or learn a valuable lesson for future racing, but I persevered and didn't let adversity dictate racing or my life. So while I do hope for a clean build-up, I also know that I can tackle any setback and not let it direct the outcome of my training. So, bring on the marathon!!

The Weekend/Upcoming Races

Hey everyone! Good job to those who competed this weekend! BRC is looking strong! I just wanted to post up what I dealt with this week/weekend. I had to wait for a response from the Meyo Invitational mile to see if there was any room for me. Unfortunately the Notre Dame coach declined my entry. He is pretty big on letting holding off all post collegians. He mentioned that their was 50 entries, and that he considers all collegiates before any post collegiate. So that was that. I had purchased my flight early in the week just in case I was making my way out there. I had it all set up. I was amped! So after that, I figured that coach Martin was going to have me compete at UNM. I was going to do a DMR with some of the post collegiates that are around Alamosa ( If I had know a BRC DMR was running one, I would have been on board!) The reason I didn't go to that meet either was that I had to help out around here with my work. So I ended up doing a workout solo. It sucked!!!!

I did it on Friday, which consisted of four 400's, with 9 min. rest. I ran them as follows: 55,54,53,52. It just felt awkward running solo for a quick session. Saturday I ran 65 min. Today I ran for 85 min. with the Adams guys.

Next Saturday I am heading out to Seattle which I will be doing the 3k (with possibly doubling in the mile).

Now you know what I've been up to, and what I will be doing!

I think this coming Saturday is the infamous "Michel vs. Seimers" 3k race!

If these two gentlemen are still competing together, and the rules still apply(handicap conversion or whatever they called it!) comment on this post to see who you are cheering for!!!!

I personally are hoping both these guys get some personal bests out there in Grand Valley!

Good luck to all and remember,

Lets have fun and Go BRC!!!!!!

Blessing in disguise?

So I felt like I was finally starting to come around...I was up to running 50-60 minutes 5-6 days a week, which is pretty good considering I'm a stay-at-home mom to a 5 month old. Then...bam...injury! Right now I feel like a detective trying to figure out what's wrong. Lucky for me, I have some great friends who are runners and physical therapists, so they're actually doing more of the investigating than I am. Mainly, we're working on ruling out a stress fracture, so hopefully I'll have good news next week. If not, I guess at least I'm now motivated to work on my imbalances and weaknesses and will hopefully come back stronger and healthier.

Good luck to all the BRC team members who are racing in the coming weeks on the track and at cross nationals!

I'm Nervous.

So it's 12 days out from this one race (USA X.C.) that I feel like I've waited for basically my whole entire 24 years of life, and I'm so nervous I feel like barfing. Well no, that sounds negative. I mean I'm way excited but really nervous--it's kind of like being really excited for Christmas but terrified of Santa at the same time...or something. That's about the best way I can describe it.

I feel like last week went well, but not great. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being magnificent, 1 being I guess I should just give up running for putt-putt) it gets a 7.5. That's a C. I did some hills last Monday where I could not decide if I did a good job and ran them really hard, or if I did a terrible job and they just hurt real bad. I hate it when when I can't figure those things out. Kevin Bacon estimated that they were about 350-ish meters long (and he's English, he knows these things), they took me about 75-78 seconds each, and I did 10. I really want to buy a measuring wheel so that I can figure these things out for myself. That, and I'm just that cool. If anyone has one they want to sell me let me know. As an aside, on #8 I almost got hit by a kid on a skateboard. Okay seriously, the road is about 25 feet wide and there were NO cars--or anything else except for me running up it for that matter--and he almost takes me out. Awesome. Then the following Thursday I did 12x60/90, for some reason those didn't feel too fantastic either, sorta couldn't get the legs turning over that fast and felt all weird and uncoordinated-like. You know, like that feeling where you feel like your head is detached from the rest of you and the legs are just sort of doing their own thing. I'm sure everyone knows what I'm talking about. But it was nonetheless enjoyable and was a really surprisingly nice morning even though it was flurrying a bit, it was really quiet outside with no wind or anything. Plus I can't complain as long as I get to be out there running. Then I had a Sort Of Long Run (my Long Runs are an hour forty, and those are every other Saturday, then the Sort Of Long Runs are an hour twenty five, and those are on the alternating Saturdays) that went really well on Saturday, I got to run with the UCCS distance guys, and they help keep me honest.

So this morning I did 75 minutes with some drills and strides and such, and I have a not-too-crazy ladder workout on Wednesday before taking it easy leading up to a week from this Saturday.

But yeah I'm nervous.

Today was a beautiful day for a run:) 75 minutes of running along the river never felt so refreshing. After spending 6 hours watching little kids this morning, I was exhausted. When I got home, I sat on the couch and debated whether or not I should run or take a nap. Needless to say I put on my shoes and slowly walked out the door. I'm so glad I chose to run because I have more energy now than when I got home.

Moral of my story is...just get your butt out the door and past the first 5minutes and you'll feel so much better!!!