Reflections

I got the chance this week to run along the Iron Horse Trail in Walnut Creek California.  This is the trail I took my first run on, trained for my first event, and fell in love with running 8 years ago.  I haven't had the opportunity to retrace any of my previous footsteps for the last  several years.  I've had 4 great runs this week, filled with memories, random conversations with random runners, amazement, and new perspectives on my running "career".

I'm here in the Bay Area for my Mother's memorial service.  After a long illness of Alzheimer's and battle with diabetes, she passed away quite peacefully on Monday, October 24, 2011.  Although the mother I grew up with has been gone in many ways for several years, there were some very basic traits that remained until the end.  She looked the same until the very end with rosy cheeks, clear porcelain white skin (she had skin that people pay for), beautiful silver hair, sea green eyes, and a smile that lit up a room. Yes, she was different, but her spirit never changed.

As I was running along this familiar trail, I passed several parks I played at as a child and two pools I remembered visiting for swim meets.  These parks and pools brought the memories of my sweet mom alive.  I could almost hear her yelling, "kick, kick, kick," and embarrassingly, "Go Racy Tracy, Go!!" and I could feel her with me.   As the week and runs went on, I was lost in these memories, conversations we shared, milestones we celebrated, and gratitude for the time I had her in my life.

Thinking of my first painfully grueling runs, runs that I loathed and dreaded; I remembered talking myself through them, and refusing to allow myself to quit.  I was amazed at how simple going for a run is now compared to the ordeal of yesteryear.   My stride is longer and lighter, running is now a therapy instead of a torture, I feel strong and confident vs. awkward and unsure.  I trust my body to tell me when to turn around vs. the landmarks of the trail.  I have become a runner, intuitive, strong and sure of my stride.

I'm so grateful for the extra time I've had with her.  Though Alzheimer's changed her and stole her memories, it allowed me time to say goodbye.  Time to give this amazing woman, love, attention, and companionship she so freely gave me.  It has taught me that it's okay to cry and it's okay to laugh when things get ugly.  There are no rights, wrongs or rules....it's a journey and you do the best you can and make the most of it.  Yes, this disease is ugly, but I'll take every minute I had with my Mom and live it over again.......kind of like your first marathon....you just keep going, you laugh and cry, it gets ugly, but you do it all over again because the journey is well worth the experience.

I'll make it to Boston this year, of that I have no doubt.  I couldn't make it before because my Mom was unable to be there with me.  I know that she is up there rooting for me, and she'll be yelling and screaming and cheering for me when I cross that finish line.

The LONG Run

This is the part of marathon training I love.  Yes, I love the long runs.  I love the scenery changes, the amount of ground I cover, the conversation, friendship, and challenges it presents.  

Today is a 12 miler (I wanted to run 14), just under a 2 hour training run, used to build up our base.  Our long runs take place in the hills of downtown Austin and allow us to run various parts of the marathon course we will be running come February.  My favorite part of the route is running down congress and the finish from Auditorium Shores to Zilker park.  There is just something about running over the brick sidewalks that I love.

My running partner, Donna, knows all the routes and trails pretty well, and always brings a map, but 9 out of 10 times, we take a wrong turn on get off course.  I think it is because we get caught up in conversation or looking at the scenery and lose track of where we are at on the run.  I know I rarely look at the map, and haven't memorized any of the routes, though I've done them several times.  Why?  Because as much as I love the long run, it can also be grueling, and to quote Frank Shorter, "You have to forget your last marathon before you can do another; the mind can't know what's coming."  I think that pertains to the training & the long runs more than the marathon itself.  I choose ignorance, so the angst can't cloud my enjoyment.

Today we didn't get lost, but the excitement of running down Congress and through downtown caught up to we and we ran a little faster than we should have.  Missed a water stop, well actually, we beat SAG support to the water stop, running belts, as hideous as they make you look, are a real necessity!  I took a GU blackberry octane gel at mile 5 and then a Honey Stinger at mile 9....big mistake.  First the Blackberry GU is tastes like uber sweet cough syrup that started the gag reflex big time.  By mile 9 I needed another gel, wasn't going to do the cough syrup again, so I went with a Honey Stinger.  Normally I really like the Honey Stingers, especially the chocolate flavor, but today, it was to gooey sweet.   The wave of nausea that brought on, reminiscent of walking by a funnel cake shop at a crowded amusement park on a HOT summer day in Texas.    You know what I'm talking about, that sticky sweet smell alone brings on the waves of nausea.  Imagine eating it.  That is what I felt like.  

As we turned into Auditorium Shores, the thrill and excitement of 2 miles to finish wasn’t easing the nausea.  Urgh, this is what I look forward to most, cruising down the trail and across the bridge to Zilker Park and the finish line.   Today; wasn’t happening.  Bummer had to take a 2 minute walking break to let my stomach settle.  After more like a 3 minute walking break we were able to run a comfortable 9:02 for the last mile and a half back to the park.  

Barton Springs was empty, so Donna and I were able to enjoy a nice soak in the water and relax before I had to change into my CW-X tights and head over to my daughter's swim meet at UT.  After the long run, putting on the tights over my slightly damp body was a breeze.....NOT.  I got my workout in today!

I was glad it was just a 12 miler and we stuck to the training plan, and didn't get lost.  Overall average was a 9:22 pace for 12.2 miles.   Slightly faster than my goal of 9:37, but not too far off......I'll let you know how it went on Monday when I get to run the dreaded tempo run!

Healthy Running!
Tracy

Butternut Squash Risotto

Mmm, love, love, love the fall, October, November and December, my favorite months of the year.  Love the night shade veggies, colder weather, soups, and tastes of fall.  Today was a light cross training day and tonight's dinner was one of my favorite fall dishes, butternut squash risotto.

This is a super easy dish, tasty, and loaded with healthy carbohydrates to fuel the runs.  This dish is quite tasty for the vegetarian as well as meat eater.

Ingredients:

1 cup Arborio rice

5 cups low sodium broth (vegetarian or chicken)

1 1/2 cup cubed butternut squash

1 small onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)

1 lb. Boca crumbles or 1lb lean ground turkey

Italian Spices

1 -2 Tbs. Olive Oil

Asagio Cheese as garnish

Directions:

1.     Warm broth and keep warm.

2.     Heat the skillet for about 1 - 2 minutes over medium high heat.  Add 1 Tbs. olive oil until warm, about 30 sec to 1 minute.

3.     Sautee onions until slightly translucent, about 2 minutes, add squash and sauté for about 1 -2 minutes longer.  Add rice and toast for until slightly translucent around the edges. 

4.     In separate skillet, heat 1 Tbs olive oil and brown Boca crumbles or ground turkey; season with Italian seasonings.

5.     Add one cup of broth to risotto, stirring constantly until liquid is absorbed.  Repeat adding broth in 1/2 cup portions until all broth is used. 

6.     Combine Boca crumbles or turkey to rice.  Stir and top with grated Asagio cheese (about 1/4 cup)

Nutrition Analysis:  (Turkey)  Yield:  10 servings (267g; ~ 1 1/2 cups)

Calories: 221, Total Fat: 7 grams, saturated: 1.5 grams, Cholesterol: 41 mg, Sodium 41 mg, Total Carbohydrates: 23, dietary fiber: 3 grams, Protein: 13.1 grams, Vitamin A: 56%, Vitamin C: 10%, Calcium: 2%, Iron: 3%

I like to serve this dish with a side salad of mixed greens and garden vegetables for a healthy, flavorful, and nutrient rich dinner.

Speed Workout....Oh how I Loathe thee....

Yesterday was the first real test, a speed workout on the track.  Pyramids, my least favorite of all. I mean, I'd rather walk down the street in a bikini, during rush hour!  I am a distance runner, my 10K is a slower pace than my 1/2 marathon pace, so getting on the track and moving it is a bit intimidating to me.

First of all, I am lazy.  When it comes to really pushing it, I hate that pain, I feel like I'm going to die and my legs are going to fall off and, I'm kind of attached to my life and my legs, so that isn't an exciting feeling.

The pyramid workout we did was 1 mile fast, 2 800s with a negative split, and 4 400s, again with a negative split.  My times were fairly decent.  I ran 7:09, 3:31, 3:28, 1:38, 1:37, 1:37,1:32.   Though not my best, and certainly not where I want to be running come February, but I'll take it right now.

The best part of all this was I wasn't totally pooped out at the end, and was able to easily get up and do a slow 5 mile recovery run today.  I am pleased, and cautiously optimistic.

Healthy Running!
Tracy

Jumping In....With Eyes Wide Open

In January this year, I ran the 3M half marathon with the goal in mind to keep my Average pace right about an 8:15 min. mile in anticipation for the Austin Full marathon where my goal pace would be an average 8:30 min. mile. My running partner and I had a specific plan. Conserve for the first 7 miles and finish with a fast 10 K, for a negative split.

We are both strong finishers, but keeping an 8:15 mile for 13 miles is a bit difficult. To run a negative split, you have to conserve at the beginning and not go out too fast. Our goal was to hold an 8:50 for the first 3 miles, then an 8:45 for the next 4 miles then run it home. This was the dress rehearsal for the big marathon. We did great! Finished strong and with a lot left over. I ran a 1:46 and she ran a 1:49. Neither one of us were sore the next day and we knew we had ran pretty conservatively. So we were feeling pretty good about our changes at the Austin Marathon as we were well trained on the hills.

Two weeks before the marathon, after a week of the freezing temps, we set out for our last double digit run. It was a very cold morning and there was still snow/ice on the ground. About 4 miles into the run I felt it. My calf tightened up and I knew it was over for me. I hoped that I was wrong, and tried to "walk it out" but that didn't work. Gasping at straws and hoping for a miracle, I went for a massage, but that didn't help and deep in the back of my head, I knew for me this marathon wasn't happening. But my heart wasn't giving up hope, so I called my doctor and went in. Nope, not going to happen he said, and I cried. You need at least 4-8 weeks then you can look at another marathon.

The marathon came, and I volunteered at the results table, near to the finish line, so I could hobble over there and cheer on Donna as she ran her Boston Qualifying run. I was so excited to see her round the corner to the home stretch and knew she was going to blow her goal out of the water! She beat her time by 8 minutes running a 3:52. Pretty damn great for a 47 year young wonder woman who just started running 2 years ago. I was so happy for her!!

Donna's awesome achievement was a double edge sword for me. Now I knew I could do it too, but I knew I couldn't do it right now. Even though I have to run a 3:45, I'm a bit faster runner and her finishing time gave me a good projection of my finishing time. Close, but doable!

So I set my goal on the Big D Texas marathon on April 10th. To my dismay, I failed the first running test, and it was a BIG failure. Doctor said looking at another 4 weeks before we could test the leg again. We knew this was a possibility. The original time frame was 4 - 8 weeks and that isn't for someone who's ruptured this calf before. And I heard it, load and clear, the lesson God's been trying to teach me for my entire life...Patience.

I know that I'll run this race, but on God's time frame and not mine. After I accepted this, and lounged around for a week or so, I started searching for a race farther out. Late summer or early fall I thought...I'm just not ready to table this dream right now. I want to run Boston for my 40th birthday and I want to run it with Donna.

Then I found it, the San Francisco Marathon on July 31st. Maybe God has opened a window for me.  This would be a hometown marathon for me, and I already had a trip scheduled for that time frame.  Perfect!  Registered for the race, made my training plan, and one week into it, I was limping again!  My leg wasn’t ready. 

After a long summer off, very little cross training, and lots of wine, my leg appears to be on the mend.  Guess what that means….We’re going full circle and hoping for the Austin Marathon.

I've jumped in and I've got faith as my running partner. To quote a famous verse, I can do all things through Jesus Christ, who gives me strength. I will be joining the ranks of Team 413 and whether I have a BQ run or not, I know that I will run that marathon and I will be running it with the faith that God has a plan for me, that includes running, and hoping that my story will inspire someone.

I don't know if I'll make it to that finish line, but the possibility is all the hope I need. I've now successfully had 2 runs on the road at a 2:1 interval and the marathon is 17 weeks out. But I have faith that I'll cross that finish line, and if not, then I will patiently and diligently train for another.

Heatlhy Running!

Tracy