I think about numbers

As a runner I enjoy numbers.  I enjoy seeing them pile up as in the almost 4500 miles I have ran during my 558 days of streaking.  I also like seeing them go down as in the count down of miles I'll be doing while running my 50 this Saturday. 

I also enjoy the way numbers work together.

Take my Fire on the Mountain 50k bib.

Little did I know as I wrote on my bib before that race that the odd 7 in the middle was predicting my finishing time.  I like to write encouraging things on my bibs.  For the FOTM I used the number 2 to write things like 2 have fun, 2 get a PR, 2 get stronger.  I used the number 4 to write things like, 4 better health, 4 ME, 4 my sanity.  But that 7 simply didn't offer anything and so I didn't add anything around him. 

Yes the number 7 is male, in case you didn't know.

In hindsight, that 7 was telling me about how my race would eventually go.

As in a 7 hour finishing time.

For the Stone Mill 50 Miler

and yes, I have to add the 50 Miler every time

my bib number is 49. 

I've already thought of things I will write around that nice number 4. 

But feel free to offer suggestions.

I've been having a freaktasticly wonderful running week even though it was a taper week, so that little innocent 9 got the Optimistic Shelly thinking and thinking. 

To the point that I've actually spoke the thought out loud,

What if that little innocent 9 was trying to tell me something?

Could it be?

Wouldn't it just be giddy inducingly amazing if my finish time at the

Stone Mill 50 Miler

started with a 9!

Since I know that my mind will carry me much farther in this race then my legs ever will, I will be entertaining that idea clear through the finish line.

S'ghetti Girl will not be a photographer when she grows up

Am I Going Too Fast??

but wearing this to remember that Goal # 1 is to finish.

Safe running and racing this weekend to every one who is blessed enough to be doing it.

3TT ~ Other's Goals, Real Goals, Dreamland Goals

Others
Alyssa at chocolate is my life is also running Stone Mill on Saturday.  She posted about her "non-goals" for her first 50 Miler.  I think enjoying the experience is a great way to head into the challenging task of running 50 miles.  Hop over and wish  her...not good luck because luck has nothing to do with it...but maybe a strong mind and unfailing legs!
Another friend, Kara at It's a dog lick baby world has spent the summer and fall preparing for her first 50 mile adventure.  If you haven't been lucky enough to already follow her please click over there and send her some well wishes as she takes on the mighty JFK 50 Miler this Saturday!
She posted some to me aggressive goals.  Goals I feel certain her training and the course will carry her to hit.  I have been giving my Stone Mill goals A LOT of thought.  Although I hadn't planned on setting any public goals with all the question marks surrounding this race day, I decided that nothing ventured is nothing gain. 

So here for better or worse are my Stone Mill 50 Miler
REAL Goals:

My I FINISHED goal:

To arrive on time. To start.

To finish.  To finish feeling fine.  To finish feeling fine having fun!

 

My I CAN goal:

The race has a 12 hour cut off.  I feel baring any issues that would

result in my legs being removed from my body

force me to DNF 

I can finish this course within that time frame.

My I LOVE IT goal:

A new distance PR. I have run some of these trails during the Seneca Greenway 50k this spring.  I set my 50k trail PR on that section of trail.  Setting a new PR shouldn't be completely outside the realm of possibility.  Anything under 11:08:59 would do it.

DREAMLAND

My I DREAM IT goal:

10 hours and anything

Seriously with my lack of 50k+/- length training runs, the healing tailbone, the cold that won't quit and now sick kids too, if the course and day give me 10:59:59 I would be giddy with happiness.

Monday Mishmash

This weekend I did all the right things...

I ate too much icing.

I played with fire.

We threw ball...in the house. 

We played outside in our pjs.

I tried to sweat my cold out.

And then Monday morning came when I read this G.

G posted about her experience at the Richmond Marathon this weekend.

I won't be a spoiler so click over there and read it first.

After I read it all I could think was (in an "it's all about me" way) what if I can not kick this cold/flu bug and end up in the middle of "you-have-to-walk-out-because-they-can't-come-in-a-get-you-ville" at mile 20, 32 or 44 and pass out. 

Ugh 

That can't possibly happen, right?  I mean how long can a cold last.

A band of Hippies

Day # 527

Does she ever stop taking pictures?

The Big kid decided to get serious with his girlfriend, the future Vet and bringing her to VA for a short weekend visit.  Since super secret spy husband had to save the world, the visit wasn't the best timing but we still made sure to make her feel welcome.  That's right as soon as she arrived she was helping with chores.  She is such a nice girl she didn't complain at all but jumped right in to help.

Bring me a glass of milk!

We refueled at Panera Beard.  Super secret spy hubbs joined us to chat and get to know the future Vet a little better.  Although it is still a little like pulling teeth to get her to talk, we all enjoyed the brief visit.  Can you remember that nervousness in meeting a boyfriend or your husband's parents for the first time?

Don't take my photo!  My hairs not done.

LBM is beyond needing a haircut.  I have put it off even with a niece who is a beautician because it is always a traumatic event for him when it happens.  But he is starting to look like a bit more like a daughter than a son so I know I'll have to medicate myself knuckle down and get it down with week.  I knew after all the sugar from our Panera Beard visit I would never get him to sit still for it. 

I'm gearing up for round two.

I underestimated sugar crash and should have cut his hair while he napped in the jogger.  Instead I grabbed a few more miles and tried to figure out what our team, of two guys and two girls should dress like for the Tough Mudder this coming weekend.  For some reason a band of hippies keeps coming to mind.

Ideas?  Any one else doing the VA Tough Mudder on Sunday?

Race Goals ~ Catch Me If You Can Trail 10 miler

Day # 352 ~ Monday's unexpected p.m. run ~ 6.5 sweaty miles

3.5 a.m miles also sweaty

I have another race this coming Saturday.

I will be defending my Master's title at the Catch Me If You Can trail 10 miler.  Last year this race was difficult to fit in with a soccer game scheduled later in the morning and again this year it will be a logistics nightmare.  Thankfully Army Son will be home to make sure the kiddos get to the game on time but I will have to run fast to make it there myself!

In setting my goals for this race I'd love to say that I am going to play it safe BUT I'd rather have attempted to reach my goals and fallen short than to used excuses to not have tried.  So I will set aside the fact that my legs are almost 2900 miles tired.  And I'll over look that my hamstrings are still remembering those wonderfully challenging trails during that 50 miler.  And I'll also pretend that I haven't gained about 10 pounds that I was looking for. 

I will instead set it all out there and go for a repeat win!

My I FINISHED goal: To arrive on time. To start. To finish.

aka: Finish Feeling Fine having Fun

This race is close enough that I can drive there the morning of so this goals should be in the bag!

My I CAN goal: Finish in 1:34 ~ last year's time.

 

My I LOVE IT goal: To finish and retain my Master's Winner Title.

regardless of finishing time.

My I DREAM IT goal: Under 1:30.

So there they are.  Goals.  Things to reach for but not to be defined by.  I am the total of all my experiences not just the latest experience.  So "win" or "lose" I will have another opportunity to enjoy the trails and the challenge they bring.  I look forward to seeing what I am capable of doing on day # 356. 

Will 356 days of running have made me stronger? 

No matter the time on that clock, 356 days will have made me stronger.  Stronger in my physical attempts to challenge myself and stronger emotionally to handle when my attempts fall short.

On any given day you just don't know what you are capable of until you amaze yourself doing it.

When I Dream I still see Trees

I know it has been 3 days and I am already looking for my next trail race but I feel like I can still smell the evergreens.  It has been a long time since a racing experince has left such an impression on me.  Even though I can't really say I was "racing" during this lastest event as much as I was enjoying the journey. 

And ENJOY I really did!  The still painful big toes are a small price to pay for such a wonderful day.

Since the race I have been cross training; the eliptical, walking, a little jogging and core work but that is it.  And I am going crazy.  I do hope to get in a short easy run tomorrow to test out my poor boo-boo toes.  I hope I don't lose more toenails!  My trail shoes did not have enough miles on them and I think they should have been a half size smaller. 

My big toes were the only 'hot' spot after the race. 

Major fluid under my toenails.  Painful! 

I will spare you the details.

Have you ever experienced a blister under your nail bed?

What did you do to relieve the pressure?

It's ALL I think about

There is NO hidding the fact that there is only FIVE MORE DAYS to my birth into the world of Ultras.  Okay it's only 32+/- miles and that is really only 6ish more miles than a marathon but I am giving this trail race all the respect it deserves.  I am new to racing on serious trails, I am new to winter condition racing, I am new to this distance, I am new to serious mud.  But I am excited for some serious trails, excited for some winter conditions, excited to see if I can go this new distace, and excited to play in the mud!

I have been reading blogs of runners who have done this race during pervious years when conditions were less than ideal.  It has helped me to understand that it will be a journey.  Here is what the race director has to say on the race website:

Feb 28, 2010: Tons of volunteers have been hard at work, opening sections of the trail, scouting, shoveling snow, and executing trail repairs. As of today the race is on. Expect slower times and wet feet. You will be running and hiking in the snow. We do not have much capacity to transport runners who cannot finish to the finish area. Please understand that the trail will be pass-able but not necessarily totally run-able. This means snow, ice, ,mud and some run-able sections. It is getting better each day. We will try to update the website several more times before race day.

Feb 26, 2010: There are crews of volunteers out now and they will be out almost every day until the race.

Reports are scattered: there is still much remaining snow and probably no place where it is not at least wet. Some places still have ankle deep snow and it is not a great thawing day today. However, a slow steady warming trend is predicted. There are certainly obstacles (blowdowns, pine branches embedded in snow banks, detours and very icy bridges) and the trailheads and other trail parking lots/areas are getting open. Right now, probably the best prediction is to expect wet feet no matter what and a slower than usual race. We will try to post updates on the web as the week progresses otherwise fell free to email or call. I believe the race is a go but you should stay tuned.

Feb 16, 2010: Will the race go as planned? Probably, As far as the race, it is really too soon to start making reasonable predictions. There is a fair chance, that there could be snowy and icy sections, muddy sections and run-able sections. The race will only be cancelled if one of the park services insists on it and they have been incredibly good to us so far. If you live out of town, I would definitely stay in touch and watch the website. I do not mind reporting trail conditions but I think it is best to do so after next week. One member of the sweeper team is trying to singlehandedly pack down the trail. I think he might have 2-3 miles done so far but we cannot really rely on that. We were out yesterday ‘post holing’ and it took about an hour and half to cover a mile and half (out a d back). It is fun but hardly run-able yet.

I am going to a run tonight to shake off some nervous energy.

How do you cope with the week before a BIG race?

NIttany Valley Half Marthon Race Report and the Lessons I've Learned

My day started last night when I got up the first time at 12:30 with littlest and then at 2:34 and then at 4:26 and then at 6:31 hubbs got up with him. I do not know why he decided to pretend to not understand the concept of sleep on a night before a race but honestly I don't think it matter very much.

While hubbs took care of littlest I went through the per-race drill; potty, shower, getting dressed and fueled. It was a bit different for me because we had a drive of a hour and twentyish minutes I am used to either staying over night in the vicinity or participating in a somewhat local races.

Familiar or not the morning went smoothly and quickly until we got to the end of my google map directions. LESSON #1 NEVER trust a google map. LESSON #2 or SUB-LESSON of #1 ALWAYS call the race director (of smallish race anyway).

As it turns out no one on the street in State College actually lives there and is familiar with where Beaver Stadium actually is. At least not the first 35 people we asked. That wonderful 36th person a lovely dark-hair young lady with EXCELLENT local geography and direction giving skills!! Thanks wonderful girl!! Because we were getting there none too early...that could be because first you HAVE to drive around a bit before you ask for direction, right? It's a law, right? My hubbs tells me it is. It must be so.


We arrive. Hubbs drops me at the door and I go in to pick up my chip and lovely long sleeve shirt. Cute logo It reads, " Nittany Valley 26th Annual Half Marathon. If you haven't ran it...you don't know the half of it!"...more on that later.


The building is crowded with runners! Ekkkk! There are a LOT of people here. I do not love lots of people. There are hundreds more out side. Ekkk!


With the late arrival, there is only a potty visit an a quick mile warm up jog. Hubbs and I pose for a snap shot thanks to a nice lady who is in the crowd of runners gathering outside. Having heard announcements earlier I assume that there will be an announcement that the runners should gather at the starting line (which was where?). LESSON #3 Pay attention to the race...not so much the pictures.




My hubbs is the one who realizes that we are in the back of the pack of runners and the front appears to have started. Ekk! I don't want to start at the back of the pack! Too late. Oh well, I have a chip so that should be okay. I am hoping.

The race starts with 2 laps of a mile each around a mostly gravel ...road...path. It was narrow. It was snow covered. It was ICE! Remembering all my bloggie friends and everything I already know about racing I think that I will just use those 2 miles to start out slow. Not go out too fast. Well, ice is not starting out slowly. Ice makes the hundreds of runner in front of me run like snails. And some of them fall down. (don't worry. No injuries. And I helped a lady who was running near me up when she fell.) After a little more than 2 miles I was at 9:48. A MILE. I was freaking out. As soon as I hit the dry-ish paved road I started to run! I spent the next 4 - 5 miles weaving through people to try and find a way back to a decent pace while remembering all the warnings about the second half of this half marathon being SO hilly.


With the hills and warning is mind I tried to tell myself that I wanted to enjoy this race, the scenery (it had just snowed the day before and it still hung on everything), the other runners, the whole experience. So I did. As I passed other runners I chatted briefly or ran with them for a little while. I looked around and took in all the mountain and fields. I was having a great time!


The miles were not marked very well. In fact after the first two miles, I only saw the 6, 8 and 10 mile markers. At the six mile I had made up a little time and knew I still had lots of energy and felt like I could run a full marathon so I picked up the pace for 2 miles. During that time I fell into running with a younger girl dressed in black head to toe. She is one of those runners who just look effortless. We chatted a bit. Then I made the mistake of running her pace. LESSON #4 NEVER run with someone when you have a goal time WITHOUT asking theirs. (Of course, if I had borrowed my hubbs Garmin this would not have happened so I apologize to all those out there who use Garmins for being...thick headed/stubborn enough to not just use it.)


I had been told that after about mile 7 the grade/hills really amped up. The graph on the website had also confirmed this. LESSON #5 I do NOT know how to accurately read an elevation graph. (This my hubbs had tried to tell me was true prior to the race. Sorry honey for not listening to you) BECAUSE. The.hills.in.this.half.are.NOT.bad.at.all! Maybe if you are a flat-lander and train on flat land this half would hurt but I absolutely save way too much for the hills that never came.

By the time I saw mile 10, that last marker I would see, I keep thinking, "okay maybe the next hill will be bad so don't push too hard and then have to walk." I was still out pacing my young girl making-it-look-easy runner friend so I held the pace. But the next hill was just a hill. "Okay the final mile or so has been advertised as 'making you see God,'" I told myself so again I didn't push. Until I saw the final stretch. This was not anything that I don't run every day. Often twice a day. My favorite 6.5 loop has hills (both ways) just like this (with the exception of a 6% down hill at mile 7ish which was great to fly down!). I was very upset when I realized I was going to finish this half way slower than I was easily capable of.


I only allowed my pitty party to last a couple of strides. Reminding myself that I had (would soon) finish this half marathon in less than great conditions (27 degrees on ice and snow) and I was going to finish feeling GREAT and I would have an okay pace 1:53 (8:42 non-chip time) . Yeah that last one really does upset me but I learned many lessons at this race or was reminded of things I forgot that I should already know. And next year if life brings me back I will look forward to running this race smarter.


So as I neared the finish line I was all smiles knowing that with the knowledge I had about the course I had run a very smart race.


Feeling so good I went for another 2 miles to even out my day (HBBC points!) hoping to see the age group tallies. We didn't get to stay that long so I will have to wait and see how I did against the pack we needed to head home to get our wonderful kiddos (aka rescue the oldest from the younger two).

After crossing the finish line. All smiles!

Returning to running

Wed - Nov 18

After getting the middle one off to school I ran my fav 6.5 loop (50:12/ 7:43) and felt pretty good. I ran my 3.5 out and back twice (53:15/ 7:36) that evening to avoid the hills on the longer loop. That run really took it out of me.

Thur - Nov 19

Again after the morning bus routine, I went for a run but only got in 3.5 (28:47/ 8:13) in the rain before feeling like I was pushing way too much too soon. So I called it a day.

Friday - Nov 20

I ran 6.5 (53:10/8:10) this morning. I felt like I was running in sand. I thought after eating better yesterday (I lost about 5ish pounds being sick) I would be better fueled for my run but my legs still feel a bit heavy. I want to run again tonight even though I have a short race on Saturday. I know that is not how most runners perform their best but I often do better on slightly "warmed" legs than legs that have rested too much. I will wait and see how the evening goes.

I am eager for the 5k on Saturday. It is a benefit race for a local young lady who is battling cancer. She is really having a difficult time. You can read about her here: http://www.occnews.net/heathermillerstory.htm

This reminds me everyday that my family is very blessed. I hope we all take time this holiday season to do something for someone else who is not as fortunate as we are.

I am also running for Kelly's sister Cathy. Read about her here http://www.runfastmommy.com/

To all the runners this weekend. Enjoy those races!!