Countdown

In 6 more days I'll be running my first 50 miler.  I think I'm ready.  There is really nothing more I can do at this point.  My training wasn't ideal.  Would have liked to of had longer long runs but I had several 50-60 mile weeks and that will have to do.  At this point running a lot more would only hurt not help so I'm totally embracing race taper and carb loading right now.  Yesterday I didn't exercise and ate pizza.  

Plans for the week:

run 10-12 miles

figure out what to wear at race

decide which hydration system to use

decide what to put in drop bags

hydrate like a boss

eat lots of simple carbs

I figure I have been spending 7-9 hours a week running plus cool down time, extra trips to the gym, multiple showers each day.  It's like I have a whole extra day this week until I use it up all at once on Saturday.   

Last Saturday, March 15th I ran the Lucky 13.1 for the 2nd time in Peculiar, MO.  I used it as part of my training and didn't taper or anything for the race.  I finished in 1:41:49 only 13 seconds off from my PR.  1st in my age group 30-34 and 4th women overall out of 51 so not bad.  I'm thinking I need to train for a half marathon.  I feel like if I did I could easily drop my time below 1:40.  But more interesting to me right now is that I plugged my time into the McMillan race time/pace predictor thing and it said based on this time I should be running a 50mile at a 9:30 pace, finishing just under 8 hours.  This is what I've been thinking/planning in my head.  So even though I wish that a couple of my longer runs would have been a little longer i'm feeling pretty good about the race.

This race predictor said it would take me a whole day.

Topeka to Auburn Half Marathon

This morning I ran the Topeka to Auburn Half Marathon.  I picked it because it has been a while since I ran a race and needed to do one.  Also there are not a lot of distance races in the area this time of year.  This race is in its 32nd year and had a good review from a guy at the Y who had ran it several times.

The race didn't start till 11:00 to take advantage of the warmest part of the day in January.  Today the weather was pretty good considering it was sub 0˚ earlier this month.  It was in the 40's for the race and extremely windy.  Luckily as it is a point to point race there was only about 3-4 separate miles when you are running into the wind.  The race is very hilly and is advertised as such.

Since it is a point to point race you park at the finish then they bus you to the start.  

I'm really pumping my arms in this one but it is up a hill I wasn't feeling.

At the finish.  My eyes are closed because the wind is slapping me in the face.

3rd place age group winner 30-34

I finished in 1:45:46, a decent time for me especially with all the hills and wind.

I was 11/132 females, 82/337 total participants. 

The race was super well organized with great volunteer support.  All participates got a long sleeve technical shirt, socks and once finished a medal.  After the race all participates got a pancake and sausage meal. Yum!  

What's Been Up

Scout Strong Half Marathon  May 11th

1:41:36 Half Marathon PR

Overall 34/347, Female 6/161, Age 30-34 2/35

No Picture

Ran Hospital Hill Half Marathon

1:46:04

Overall 621/4285, Female 124/2307, Division 30-34 female 33/443

Went to Colorado and rode a bike down a mountain.  I was SCARED to ride the ski lift up the mountain and ride a bike down but I took the beginner class and the instructor was super helpful, informative and patient.  I rode down twice, no injuries.

Back home I did some trail running in preparation for a 50k.

Family fun with a 4th of July 5k in Warrensburg, MO.

We picked up some medals.

Ran the 5k in 22:25 PR

Placed 2nd female, 1st in my 18+ age group female

Spent the 4th on the farm.  There was a skid steer rodeo competition

and a tire flipping competition.  My sister Beth has a hold on the farm competitions.

The next weekend I ran a 50k on my birthday.  I gave myself the gift of fitness.

I got a huge cramp all the way down both my hamstrings and calfs around mile 23.  I remember it feeling super painful and thought I couldn't run anymore, but after refueling at an aid station and slowly walking about a mile the pain went away and I was able to pick up the running again.  I'm guessing the cramping was all salt/ hydration related.

Finished in 6:28:47 PR

Overall 30/67, Female 8/20, Age Group 30-39 3/9

Medals

The Next week I went and took the ACE personal trainer exam.  I passed and I'm now a certified personal trainer.  My actual certificate should be here in 2-4 weeks.  Hire me if you would like to get in shape.  I'll probably make you run.  

My Week in Running

Monday:  Ran 4 miles on the treadmill.

Tuesday:  Ran 5 easy miles on the treadmill.

Wednesday:  Super nice weather and it is supposed to turn much colder tomorrow so Gretchen and I go to the trail for about 3 miles.  Watch GPS is not wanting to work.  When I get home I update my watch hoping that will fix it.  It doesn't so I call support.  Try pressing all the buttons to reset watch to factory settings.  Why didn't I think to do that anyway that fixes it.

Thursday: Did nothing.

Friday:  .5 of a mile on the treadmill then YoPi class.

Saturday:  Run the Burg 1/2 Marathon in Warrensburg, MO.

Sunday:  I'm sore and achy.  Didn't do anything other than walk the dog while pushing a stroller twice. This happens everyday but today it felt like I was doing something.

Weekly totals:  24.6

Goals:  Taken it easy the first half of week then getting serious.  Participating in Pile on the miles which is what I need to do also hoping to win one of the prizes.

Run the Burg 1/2 Marathon

Saturday morning I ran Run the Burg 1/2 marathon in Warrensburg, MO.  This is a great small race.  Great swag: technical tee shirt, sports bag, togo coffee mug, chapstick.  There is chip timing and you could show up 5 minutes before start and park a couple of blocks away.  I spent the night before at my parents house so that I wouldn't have to get up before 6, drive an hour to drop the kid and dog off before the race.  I was up at the race 20 minutes before start time.  The race start and finish was conveniently located across the street from my sister's coffee shop so no port a potty lines for me.

It was cold out but no wind and the sun was out so really it didn't feel that bad before and was great after a couple of miles.  There was also a 5k and a 10k and we all started at the same time on account of the cold temperatures.  I didn't love the together start but it probably helped me not go out to fast which I usually do.  

The race is pretty much all up and down hills, more so in the first few miles of the race but the slightly more spread out hills feel just as bad after you have already ran 5 miles of them.  I had to slow it down. Even though I knew the race was hilly(I ran it last year) I haven't been doing any hill training recently.   Also my long runs haven't been that long.  

Female 30 to 34

                                                                                                                    Place    Name                 City           Bib No  Age   Overall       Time       Time  

      
   2    Kristen Weigand     Independence  MO     2612   33       29      1:46:36.2   1:46:36.2

I finished 29th out of 107 total runners and 5th out of 48 females.  I was hoping for a time much closer to 1:40 but I guess I need to run more if that is gonna happen.  I did PR by 1:24 from same race last year.
Today I am probably the sorest I've ever been after a half.  I feel like I ran a whole.

My Week in Running

Monday:  Wanted to start things off right for the week.  I went to the gym treadmill and ran out 6.75 miles with the ladies of The View.  When I'm on the treadmill I like to read the closed captioning on the TV while listening to music on my ipod.
Monday evening went to the trail for 3.25 miles of stroller running.  10 miles out in one day= good start to week.

Tuesday: Cold from last week is still hanging on. Ran 3 easy miles on treadmill.  Signed up for Run the Burg Half Marathon.

Wenesday:  Was without Gretchen in the morning but still wasn't feeling great so I just ran 3 easy miles outside of my house.

Thursday:  Did nothing.

Friday:  Ran 5.5 miles on the treadmill and went to YoPi class.

Saturday:  Ran 3.5 on the treadmill.

Sunday:  Nice weather so I completely ment to take Gretchen in the jogging stroller on the trail.  This didn't happen.  Gretchen took a long nap and I watched an American Pickers marathon on TV.  This took longer than an actual marathon but whatever.

Weekly total:  25 miles

Next Week goals:  Easy miles.  Run the Burg Half Marathon on Saturday.  Hoping to PR it.  My resent running times tell me I can.  My last Half PR was at this event last year with 1:48:00.  I havn't really trained for it so we will see.