Overdue Update

So, this is an overdue update. I felt a little guilty about not writing anything for the last couple of weeks. Anyway, its been an interesting two weeks since the Seattle Half. Training has been slow but methodical. Not a lot of heart in it. I might even make my goal of 1000 miles if I keep it up. Only 50 miles to go.

This is a video of the Half. My video race report. There are several things that went wrong for me that day. First, I was not (and had not been feeling good for the last couple of weeks.

I began to feel better Saturday, but I was not anywhere near 100%. At the race, I headed out with hopes that I would miraculously feel better and be able to stick it out. My pace was good for the first few miles. I was on track to beat my Spokane Half time. The 2 mile water station handed me water and gateraid. I drank it and by mile 4 my stomach was getting upset. By mile 6 when they gave me the GU I was throwing it up by mile seven. I started to have foot cramps in both feet that ran across my arches and up into my shins. I slowed drastically and just tried to stick it out to the end. The hills from 7 to 11 are really tough, steep and long. Madison was the long one and it was a long walk with cramps. When I turned onto Harrison (mile 12ish) the volunteer told us that marathoner's were at mile 24. I decided I wanted to finish before they crossed the line and ran as fast as I could to the end. I finished in 03:07:08 a 14:17 pace

The expo afterwards was very nice, soup, water and a medal. I am proud that I finished and want to do it again. Looking forward to trying the full next year (maybe).

New Video

Day 13 - exercise and blog updates

I have managed to both exercise and blog every day so far. Today, I took a run on the Foothills Trail along the Carbon River. The river is still close to flood stage and is really ripping along. Muddy trail and lots of water. Did video of it and it should be posted on runcastTV later today. 8 miles for the KelownaGirl challenge.

Nablopomo challenge, let's face it. I don;t have a lot to say and did not before. I just say it more frequently than before. Part of this for me was a commitment besides running that I needed to do every day. That has worked. In fact for the most part, It has been another thing I enjoy doing. So maybe I will start taking this a little more seriously than before. No self pressure. Just a thought.

All's well in Orting as the floodwater recedes! Looking forward to blogging more miles in the future.

Day 12 Update

Just a quick note - They are recommending that the South part of Orting (towards South Prairie and the Carbon River) evacuate due to Carbon River flooding. They are also recommending that McMillan, about 1 mile from where I live (same rivers) is also recommending evacuation. I'm in the middle and still dry. We are not in any danger only if the road gets flooded - which if it does not stop raining it is possible. Army Corp of Engineers are running dump trucks and surveyors up to river dike to add about two feet of promised rocks and stuff to the dike (a 2006 agreement from the last flood that the current admin (fed) put on hold as to expensive - wonder what it is costing now!) If the dikes hold and the rain stops, we will be fine. If the road goes, we will be fine and if the dike goes, we should be fine. It would take a lot of water to get us but at this point, I would not be surprised if it happened.

As a stupid note: I did get my workout in for the KelownaGirl challenge - 6 hours sandbag stacking. Shoulders and back are very sore, but still functioning.

Will update tomorrow!
Bryan

Day 11 - Sleep - Run - Post - Twitter - Sleep

Sleep - 7 hours
Run - 6.3 Miles
Post - Buckeye, RunnerPlus, Blog
Twitter - read about 12 hours of tweets, respond to a few
Sleep - Hoping for 5 hours before work tonight!

Done!

Day 10 - I feel like SH*T today

I feel like SH*T today. Still managed to walk around the neighborhood trying to get warmed up for a short run. Ended up walking to the bridge and back about 40 minutes of walking. Slight nausea today. Might be the fact that I have not had a decent nights sleep since Oct. Going to try and get a good sleep in then up early for a 7 mile run (I hope). We are supposed to sever weather tonight, still if a flood and wind watch till Wed.

Off to take some medicine then to bed for a few hours.

Water! Water! FZTHP!!!

Okay, I may be a novice to running but I'm not stupid. I was thinking of doing a couple of out and back loops on the Riverfront trail 3 out, 3 back then grab some water run other direction 3 out and back. 12 miles. Did I ever mention that I suffer from DD (distraction disorder)? It directly relates to the number of shiny objects that end up in my path. Today was not without its shiny objects - stinky spawning salmon, a barefoot runner and this. So when the Garmin (which I was paying attention to also) announced to me that I was at 6 miles and me without water, I knew I was in trouble. I turned and slowed the pace hoping to avoid the crash. Last mile and a half I had nothing left for the run, walk 2 mins run 2 mins repeat. When I finally got back to the car and drank some water, it came back up as fast as I could get it down. Lesson learned - do not run for whatever reason without water and avoid running the night before (6 miles at 10 pm) then less than 12 hours later do the long run for the weekend.

Legs are a lot stiff and I am finally able to drink some water. Headed to bed!