Week 17 - Day 47 - 08.31.10 - Tuesday (B - 3 miles)

Did my required 40 minutes run at sea level AND in the rain.  I noticed a difference running and it seemed to be a lot easier, unfortunately my CardioTrainer was still on vacation and would not accurately log my run today.  I am guessing I ran a little over 3 miles and felt good afterwards.

Ironically when I got home, a FB friend of mine by the name of Terresa sent me an email asking if I had just run past an eatery on the waterfront called Little River Cafe.  I said yes and apparently she saw me run by whilst she was drinking tea before her dragonboat practice. That made my day!

Week 16 - Day 46 - 08.28.10 - Saturday (B - 16 miles)

It was hard but I did what I could which was 16 miles today!

I ran the first 12 miles and then my body said if you don't walk the last 4, you are gonna hurt tomorrow.  I didn't want any injuries so I followed what my body was saying.

My sister in law Jill took me back to the New Sante Fe Trail for my run this early AM.  Unfortunately she has been plagued with an injury and ran back to let me know she was going home to rest but would pick me up later. 

Photo of mile 9 on the trail.

Mile marker 34.5 miles which is roughly 12 miles from my starting point near the Air Force Academy.













Luckily my brother bought me a new camelback since the high altitude and the high miles would leave me very thirsty. I noticed a lot of the runners, some military had some kind of camelback for their runs. Boy was I glad that he bought it for me as a gift. I ended up drinking about a gallon of water when it was all said and done. This was a tough run both physically and mentally but I was proud of myself for going as far and long as I could which was roughly 3 hours and 30 minutes with my 16 miles. I will accomplish 18 miles back home on sea level in the next coming weeks with my TNT team.

Week 16 - Day 45 - 08.27.10 - Friday (B - 5.89 miles)

Can't believe I did it!

I ran for the first time in Colorado at the high altitude roughly at 2,000 meters and boy did I feel it.  It was hard but exhilirating and my little brother Mike was very pleased.  My brother took me for my first run here at the "Sante Fe Region Trail".  The trail runs through the U.S. Air Force Academy to Palmer Lake along an old rail route and is about 17 miles wide. If you want read more about this fabulous trail for a future trip, here is the link...
http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=BGR027-219#ixzz0yJOp1PXA


I expected to probably stop somewhere but kept my pace and felt good.  Just took deep breaths and kept looking forward. Ironically the New Sante Fe Trail runs parallel to a major highway and when I was almost to the end I saw a building with the moniker "Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Colorado".  Even several states away, I am close to the mothership!

Can't wait to try to tackle 18 miles tomorrow with my sister-in-law Jill.

Track Day - 08.25.10 - Wednesday (B - 2.87 Miles)

Came to the Sunset High School track early for the calendar photo shoot for my running buddy's TNT calendar fundraiser.  Both she and super running Diane said they wanted a photo of me and my car Sally so we posed.

Afterwards it was all business doing some fun relays with the TNT team.  In the end we ran about 2.87 miles which included our warm up and cool down run. One of the exercises we did was an interesting one.  Coach Darrell split us in 2 to 3 groups of 8 and we all had to run for 12 minutes straight in a single file line and the person from the back has to spring to the front of the line.  Eventually Coach Darrell combined all the groups together until there were only two left and we had a race.  I started to lose gas in the end because of course I ended up with the faster group, but felt good when we started cooling down.  One thing I have noticed is my recovery time has gotten quicker.

I am nervous about my pending mile high runs in Colorado Springs with my little brother but also excited!

Week 16 - Day 44 - 08.23.10 - Monday (B - 2.36 and 2.32 miles)

Boy it was hard to get out of bed this morning at 4AM but I did and even with some sore legs.

It was okay the moment I started up Terwilliger Blvd.  I was able to get to the Chart House Sign in 0:26:48 and back down to the Duniway sign in 0:23:03.  Felt a little tired but glad I talked myself into running and glad I am done for the day and got my 49 minutes in when my running calendar stated I just needed to get 30 minutes in today!

Week 15 - Day 43 - 08.21.10 - Saturday (B - 16.31 miles)

What an awesome day!  Also a shout out to Coach Heidi and her dad for allowing us to use her house and bathroom as a aid station.

I have to say I am a little sore because 16 miles is the most I have ran at one time and I did it in 3:08:53 and burned an amazing 1,997 calories!!!

My running buddy Andrea treated me to some of her chocolate milk and we got to celebrate our recent run at Tom's Pancake House where we had some protein (bacon) and of course some of their famous banana and strawberry crepes...yum!!!!

Week 15 - Day 42 - 08.19.10 - Thursday (B - 4.17 miles)

Long day today with a finalist meeting for work in Bellevue, WA so decided to get my run down this AM in the 'hood.

I was able to discover some new places down Dogwood Street and have to say there are some beautiful and spacious houses hidden on those streets.  I was also feeling some garage envy because it seemed like every house in that pocket had at least 3 garages which is something we desperately need with our four cars.

Felt good afterwards until I got back home and one of my cats decided to leave a their newly thrown up hair ball at the door.  Oy vey!

Track Day - 08.18.10 - Wednesday (B - 2.66 Miles)

It's Hill Repeats at our trusty Foothills Park....

It wasn't as hot as it was two weeks so that was a plus! We did a lap around the lake, participated in some stretches and then did a set of 5 hill repeats. Then sprinted to the top and walked back down. My running buddy Andrea and I grabbed some water and took another nice easy lap around the lake and ran another 5 hill repeats. Finished with a 3rd lap around the lake and did some much needed stretching.

Today I got to break in my brand new Brooks running shoes and they felt great.  Amazing how much I wore down my other ones that I just bought back in May.

Week 14 - Day 41 - 08.14.10 - Saturday (12.32 miles)

Today was a tough run for me but glad I finished my required 12 miles.  We had a lot of hills (aka Barnes Road) and it was hot!

We even had an earlier starting time set for 6:30AM, unfortuantely wtih all the announcements and everything else we didn't actually run til 6:45AM.

I decided to take my time and conserve my energy with the heat. I was thankful there were many a lawn with a sprinkler and decided to partake in running through them every chance I got.

My trusty racing buddy Andrea was close by and was fighting off some leg cramps in this heat. We both finished and took our time stretching.  We reflected on why we are doing this and came to the conclusion that when it's all said in done it's for a noble cause, helping TNT and The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society find a cure.  We know that trying to raise the last part of our fundraising is not going to be easy but those battling this disease have it tougher than we do and this is why wo do this!

Week 14 - Day 40 - 08.12.10 - Thursday (4.69 miles with hills)

I was a little tired this morning when that darn alarm clock woke me up at 4AM! I got up, brushed my teeth and was out the door and at my downtown office by 5AM. This gave me a good start this morning to attack those hills on Terwilliger Blvd.

I added on my Facebook wall that I was ready to attack them and got so many positive comments from friends saying I can do it to good job! It was hard, especially since we had a good but tiring track practice last night but oh so worth it.

This time I decided to split my CardioTrainer runs from up the hill to Chart House sign and back down the hill to Duniway sign. I want to see the difference of my running speed and better it each time I do it so my running up the hill running gap from running down the hill is close.

Today I got to the Chart House sign at 0:26:54 (2.42 miles) and back down to the Duniway sign at 0:22:43 (2.27 miles) with a total round trip of 49:37. A little slower from last Monday, 8/9/2010 where I did the entire trip at 0:48:24.

Track Day - 08.11.10 - Wednesday

First another shout out to my co-worker and friend Marcia for donating $50 towards TNT and my running. She sees me every day and always provides me positive support and buys great high grain breads so I can have my regular BM (yup you guessed it Bowell Movement). Now that is a good friend!

Track practice was great tonight. Coach Darrell decided to do something different than planned because it was a little warmer than expected. We ended up partnering up with TNT runners whom we share race paces with and then we did a 300 mile relay for 30 minutes with a warm up laps (2X400 Meters) and cool down laps (2X400 Meters) before and after.

I felt great and noticed I was averaging about 1:30 minutes for my 300 meters. I was also happy to hear for our 12 mile run this Saturday that we will have a early start at 6:30AM to help alleviate the pending 92 to 96 degree weather that’s coming….GO TEAM!

Week 14 - Day 39 - 08.09.10 - Monday (4.64 miles with hills)

Back on track folks and woke up right when my alarm hit this AM at 4AM. I was out the door and ready to tackle them darn hills again and tackle I did.

The morning was brisk but perfect for running since I knew I would get hot as soon as I started running. I reached the infamous Chart House sign at 0:25:59, exactly a minute faster than last Tuesday, 8/3/2010 at 0:26:59. I also did the roundtrip run back to the Duniway sign at 0:48:24 versus last Tuesday’s run on 8/3/2010 of 0:49:04.

Now I’m ready to take my nap today.  Oh but before I do, special shout out to my President at my company HMA who donated $500 this weekend and my good friend and former co-worker who donated $50.  I couldn't do this without you guys!

Week 13 - Day 38 - 08.07.10 - Saturday (3.69 Miles)

I was 50/50 on deciding to do my TNT group run today which is set at 16 miles. I had successfully done 15 miles the week before and was feeling good. It wasn’t the case because I didn’t get back from my reunion until a little past midnight. So when that alarm rang this morning at 5:30AM, my mind and body was in no mood to run 16 miles.

I finally woke up at around 9AM and decided to run some miles instead of none at all. Well my familiar enemy Mr. Humidity decided to visit me again this morning so I finished with 3.69 miles in total of 0:39:53.

I was glad I still ran today even though I was totally spent from the night before.  What kept me motivated to run today were the nice comments I got from fellow high school classmates.

Here is a photo my hubby took of me before Friday’s festivities and thanks to running, I didn’t have my other enemy there which is Mr. Double Chin.

Week 13 - Day 37 - 08.05.10 - Thursday (7.0 Miles)

I accidentally overslept this AM so wasn’t able to do my usual hill runs on Terwilliger Blvd. I knew I would pay because that meant that I would need to run in the hot, humid afternoon and boy did I.

I decided to run the Springwater Corridor trail to Oaks Park. On the way there, there was a smart business lady in the middle of the trail with a sign selling ice cream. I smiled at her and said I would definitely buy one if I didn’t have to run back. I then made my way to Oaks Park and noticed a policeman blocking the trail towards Sellwood. I didn’t know what was going on but decided to stick with my plan and turn around and head back knowing that the entire roundtrip of this run would be right at 7 miles. That same ice cream lady was there and smiled at me when I ran by. She said…”you are doing a good job” to which I replied with a smile…” I am trying gal.”

I decided to treat myself to a fruit smoothie at a small coffee shop at the waterfront and man it was worth it. Now I need to head home and enjoy a shower and the rest of the night since I took tomorrow off to get ready for my 20 year class reunion.

Track Day - 08.04.10 - Wednesday

Today we were back to hill repeats in Foothills Park in Beaverton. This time Coach Heidi advised us to run 1 lap around the lake, 5 hill repeats, 1 lap around the lake, 5 more hill reports, and one last lap around the lake.


Coach Heidi had asked me before our run if I drove the orange sports car. I answered yes and she said she was trying to waive at me on Highway 26 but I wouldn’t look over. I advised her and the rest of the TNT team that I’m not trying to be rude when I don’t look but I have had so many weird happenings with people trying to take video/pics and get near the car that I try to stay focus and not perpetuate the madness.

It wouldn’t be so bad running around the lake, unfortunately there is this strong stench of duck poop which in hot weather with high humidity is the worst trifecta of conditions. I ran up the hills but I have to tell you the humidity was definitely my enemy. I hope in two weeks when we do this again it won’t be as hot as it was today.

Week 13 - Day 36 - 08.03.10 - Tuesday (4.79 Miles with hills)

It was hills for me today and decided to run on Tuesday to give me and my body rest time from the 15 mile run on Saturday and of course the Battle of the Bands that same night.

I reached the Chart House Sign at 0:26:59 which was 0:14 seconds slower othan last Thursday, 7/29/2010, however I reached the Duniway sign at the bottom of the hill 0:49:04 which is 0:00:01 slower than Thursday, however my distance increased to 4.79 instead of 4.72 miles so overall faster round trip for this run.

Reminds me of a TV song from my youth...."You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have...The Facts of Life."