Sunday, August 31, 2008

Running the week of September 1st

Hello, runners! I know the couch is sucking you in, but its time to move that body. We have just 18 weeks now to the Disney Marathon, 8 weeks to Marine Corp and 6 weeks to Chicago Marathon. And 8 weeks to the Boston Mini-Marathon. Its a great half marathon in tiny Boston, GA and a great way to get a flavor for just how long a 1/2 marathon is. Now's the time to get movin'!

So, this is what the week looks like:

Tuesday: Speed work at the Leon Track at 6 p.m. with Chuck. Remember, we run rain or shine - lightning and tornadoes will be the only thing to stop us.

Wednesday: I'll be doing hills at Lafeyette Park at 6 p.m. if you'd like to join me. Its a hilly little trail about .6 miles around. I do the loop as fast as possible, rest for a few minutes, then try to beat my time. Four laps around is about all I can handle, but if you're feeling froggy, by all means. . . . .

Thursday: Meet at Forest Meadows for 5 miles at 6 p.m.

Saturday: Meet at 7 a.m. at Another Broken Egg parking lot for 10 miles in Killearn Lakes. I'll put a cooler out at WCTV, please let us know you're coming and if you feel the running love, sign up to put a cooler out. We need at least two more.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Running the week of August 25th

Are we dried out yet? Goodness that was some crazy weather. . . . . . but hopefully the sun will come out just a bit this week and we can get in some runs without drowning.

Maclay's website reports that the Forest Meadows trail is closed, they have wash outs and trees down during a regular ol' thunderstorm, so we'll have to pick some alternate places for a while. I'll call Maclay and get a report again later this week. So, this is what it looks like this week.

Tuesday: Speed work at Leon High School's track at 6 p.m. We always run, whether rain or shine!

Wednesday: I plan to run from Winthrop Park at 4 p.m. for 3 miles if anybody would like to join me.

Thursday: I can't make the later run, so there's two options for this day: Southwood for 5 miles at 4 p.m. with Chuck and I - park at the Community Center and we'll run around the lake. Or you can meet Chuck at 6 p.m. at the Edenfield parking area and run the Miccosukee Greenway. If you've never run there, we hope you can come - its very beautiful and challenging.

Saturday:
Run at Killearn Lakes at 7 a.m. for 8 miles. Some need many more miles than this, so you may want to send a shout-out for company and for cooler duty. I will put a cooler at the WCTV sign, please let me know if you're coming so we have enough. Meet at Another Broken Egg parking lot, then if you're up for it breakfast at Bagel, Bagel afterwards.

If you need directions (there's lots of folks that have not met us at these locations yet), please give a yell - I'll send you directions.

The countdown: 19 weeks to go to Disney!!

Monday, August 18, 2008

Running the week of Aug 18th

Feeling intimated by all the talk of running? "Running" with our group doesn't mean that you have to "run" at all. You can come out and stroll, power walk, walk/run, jog comfortably, or run at top speed to make a goal. The invitation to "run" can mean anything you like, please don't feel like you have to do all that crazy stuff. Even speed work can be some laps around the track if that's what you want to do - we have all speeds, all types, all kinds!

So, with that, here's the schedule for the week of August 18th:

Tuesday: Speed work at Leon High School track at 6 p.m. Sterling's daughter, Julia is leaving us to go back to school, we'll have dinner with her at Red Elephant after speed work. Hope you can make it, and if you can't make the run, come to dinner anyway and say "till next summer" to Julia.

Wednesday: I'm running at home - anybody is welcome if they want to make the trip over.

Thursday: Let's mix it up a little, shall we? Diana and Kay thought a run/walk at Miccosukee Trailway would fun. Meet at 6 p.m. at the Fleishman Road parking area. DIRECTIONS: Go out Micossukee Road, cross over Capital Circle NE and continue East. At the Fleishmen road traffic light, make a left. Drive past the first neighborhood on your right (Sedona Loop) and then you'll see the dirt parking lot for the park on your right surrounded by a brand new split rail wooden fence. If you make it to Holy Comforter School, you've gone too far by a few hundred yards. Distance will be about 6 miles, but its out and back, so you can certainly make it shorter or longer.

Saturday: I plan to run what used to be Micossukee Madness 8k (now the Miller Landing Madness 8k) Saturday morning. The race, plus the course again will give us 8 miles. Race info here: http://www.gulfwinds.org/ - go to the race calendar for August.

Reminder: Kick off party for Richard's Marathon is a 4 p.m. at Jennifer Winegardner's house. If you haven't sent photos, send them now - I'm working on the slideshow!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

TNT in San Diego!

I finally got it done!!! Check out this video I made of our most AMAZING season. And make sure your speakers are on - there's music: file:///K:/TNT/DVD/TNT%202008%20video.html


Monday, August 11, 2008

Tour de Pain

I did it! I ran my heart out at the Tour de Pain in Jacksonville this past weekend (what better way to celebrate 40 years of me than to run my legs as fast as they would go?) and I killed it! The tour is three races in less than 24 hours: 4 miles at the beach (on the sand) Friday at 7:30 p.m., a 5k on Saturday at 7:30 a.m., and a one mile sprint downtown Saturday afternoon.

My goal for the 4 mile run on the beach was 40 minutes. Time: 38:18.

My goal for the 5k was to break 30 minutes, but specifically 27 minutes. Time: 26:52.

My goal for the 1 mile sprint was 9 minutes. Time: 7:49.

I placed 17th out of 62 women in my age division. I'm pretty darn pleased for sure!

Running the week of August 11th

Hey there, runners! Hope everyone had a really great weekend. I know I did. . . I ran in the Tour de Pain and yes, its a tour alright. A tour around all sorts of pain. Pain in your head, your heart and your legs! Whew!!!

So this is what I have planned this week:

Tuesday: Speed work with Chuck at Leon Track - 6 p.m. And I can say with 100% confidence that if you come out and do everything Chuck says to the best of your ability, you WILL get harder, better, faster, stronger as Kanye West says :)

Wednesday: Running at home.

Thursday: Forest Meadows at 6 p.m. The schedule says 4 miles, so if you want to do that you can do the top loop twice, or both loops for 5ish miles.

Sunday: Meet at Killearn Lakes across from Another Broken Egg at 8 a.m. Six easy miles and brunch afterwards for my second 39th birthday celebration!

21 weeks and counting.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Here's to You Richard

I've been thinking a lot about Richard Harvey these past few weeks. We start training for Disney this week and he's been on my mind so much more lately. Funny how the hurt will all come rushing back at odd times.

I heard the Top Gun theme song the other day driving home from our run at Centerville Road and I almost couldn't bear the pain. It was a little less than a year ago that we all ran together for the Marine Corp. Marathon at Centerville Road. Richard went out to get all the coolers and when he saw Berinice and I struggling to finish our 20 mile run, he slowed down and drove next to us with that song blasting from his truck speakers. The goose bumps came up and after a lot of yelling and hooping and hollering, we matched his pace. He rolled along, playing DJ for us all of those last 3 miles, pushing us to keep up with him. I can't remember what else he played, Def Lepperd maybe? But I know that first song was "Danger Zone" and it was perfect. Loud, motivating, thumping and all Richard.

Richard was the team leader for the 2008 TNT Disney Team, so he had probably already put in some crazy miles that week. He ran with his team and ran with the Marine Corp group that summer. I don't know how he kept up. Who knows. . . . . but I remember the day he did his 20 miler. He went out to the park at Southwood right in the middle of a September afternoon by himself and started running around the lake. That's a two mile loop and he was doing it 10 times. Around and around alone. He was like that, you know? I can hear him say "get er' done." We got there when he was about half way through, I guess. We finished our short run and it started getting dark and he was still out there. We ran the last loop with him, keeping him going, fighting the bugs. I think we went to Stir Fry One afterwards, I can't remember now. So many memories, so much laughter. We miss you so, so much Richard.

And so this week we start training for Disney again. Twenty two weeks of running for you, Richard. This will be so hard, you'll be on all our minds every day I think. The Boston Half Marathon won't be the same without you. Running Centerville without you. Eating wings after a hard run at Tom Brown without you. But you're with us aren't you? All the way. One mile at a time.

We miss you and we love you, Richard. This is for you.

Running the week of August 4th

Hey there, runners! This week is the beginning of Goofy Training! I have to say I'm darn glad its here. Maybe now I'll eat better and run for a reason? I can only hope :) This is how my week is looking:

Tuesday: Speed work with Chuck at Leon High - 6 p.m.. I don't know about the rest of you, but I've definately seen improvement since doing this work. And its not as hot as you might think, come give it a try.

Wednesday: I'm running 2 miles at home. If anybody is interested in making the trek to Monticello, you're more than welcome to join me! Shoot me an e-mail and I'll have a bottle of water chilling for you.

Thursday: Forest Meadows at 6 p.m. Always a great run in the shade! Erin and I will be at Tom Brown running with the San Diego Team. They've put together a reunion run and dinner afterwards - can't wait to see everyone again!

Saturday: I'll be in Jax doing the Tour de Pain, but there will be a group running in Killearn at 7 a.m. Park at Circle K at the roundabout and run the 5 mile loop. Berinice and some others that are training for Marine Corp will do the loop three times, but our plan calls for 6 miles. Pick your distance!!

22 weeks to go and counting.