Last Track Day - 09.29.10 - Wednesday (B - 2.8 Miles)

I still can't believe this is our last Track night together.  It was also a very relaxing one since we ONLY had to run 2.8 miles around Cornell, Evergreen, and back to Chevy's Restaurant for our much anticipated dinner.

Thank goodness the company was excellent because the customer service from our overworked waitress was much to be desired.  I am excited for our potential last group run this Saturday which is ONLY 12 miles instead of the usual 20.  I am in awe that I am saying ONLY to these large numbers and that my body has endured with all the hardwork and sacrifice I have put in this program.

When I look at these photos of myself, I am amazed how much my body has changed as well as my attitude towards running and what I can accomplish with positive thinking and support from family and friends.

In two weeks I will be running my first full marathon in San Francisco and I know it will be filled with emotion, tears of joy and all worth this long journey once I cross that finish line!

Week 20 - Day 56 - 09.25.10 - Saturday (B - 20 miles)

Now I know I can run my first full marathon. This was my second week in a row that I ran my required 20 miles. Last week I was suppose to only run 18 miles but instead didn’t take my required turn and ended up doing the full 21 miles as well. I started running at 6:30AM and officially ended around 11:33AM so about 5 hours.


I started strong with the first 4 miles from Duniway Track to the Waterfront’s Steel Bridge and back. I also was strong running up Pill Hill on Terwilliger to the local High School and back since I have been used to this route with my weekly training runs on my own. Then it all started to crumble on the third leg of my 20 mile run.

I got back at Duniway Track and was cheered as I came in. My TNT family told me I just finished about 13 or so miles and had under 7 miles left to get my 20 miles. I should have asked someone in the crowd if I needed to move on since I unexpectedly did my 21 miles last week but felt kinda good and thought what’s 7 miles anyway? Well it was all uphill towards Washington Park and back and by this time I had no more Body Glide to save the bloody rash under my left arm and my back where my bra hooks were digging in. Thanks to Captain Wendy she was so sweet and stayed by my side even though I knew she was itching to run this final part of the course. My feet and legs were just spent and the only thing I kept in my pea brain was to finish.

We got closer to downtown and did our final turn on 4th where we saw Coach Darrell, Mentors Linda, Loretta, Kat, and Diane coming towards us and cheering us in. It was a sight and sound for sore eyes and ears and believe you me I wanted to start crying but knew the Duniway Track (aka start/finish) line was so near. Here are the pics Mentor Diane took of those last yards and I now know I can do this marathon!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Week 20 - Day 55 - 09.23.10 - Thursday (B - 3.56 miles and 102 steps)

What a great day for a run in the Emerald City…Seattle!
I took my time waking up at the hotel and headed outside and ran part of downtown to the famous Pike Street Market and along the pier. It was a cloudy day but kinda muggy. I was able to get in about 3.56 Miles in 0:38:51. Along the way I was whistled at by a greasy looking fella, passed two, no make that three loading dock workers who puffed smoke whilst I ran by.

Here are some pics of the local scenery that I ran past, but have to say our very own Portland waterfront area is much nicer and very runner/bike/walk friendly.

There is no place like home indeed!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Week 19 - Day 54 - 09.18.10 - Saturday (B - 23.83 miles)

Well I got to NW Fit on 22nd and Raleigh about 6:30AM, although the rest of the West and East TNT teams wouldn’t be there until 7PM. I was pretty proud of myself for snagging the front door spot but then was advised by Coach Darrell when he arrived a little before 7AM to probably move my car since the parking police around there were brutal and there were no way in Hell that I can run 18 miles in just 2 hours so I moved Sally two blocks down.

Boy was I glad I did. My trusty running buddy Andrea and I must have gotten the wrong directions or what but we ended up running 21 miles instead and then walked the last 2.83 miles to get back to NW Fit. We did so in 05:33:23 and burned a whopping 2,795 calories. Needless to say we were sore but glad we were there to help each other out. We celebrated our mileage with fellow TNT running friend Karissa at Pastini Pasta!

Below are some of the photos we took along our run today on Highway 30 (lots of Adult Shops/Nude Girls) and in front of Adidas for the last 3 miles of our journey. I can’t believe my TNT Karaoke and Potluck Fundraiser is just hours away, God help me!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Week 19 - Day 53 - 09.15.10 - Wednesday (B - 2.64 miles) LAST HILL REPEATS

Our last hill repeats at Foothills Park and boy was I glad to get there an hour early.  I decided why not start since I had a feeling it would be the same 3 loops around the man-made lake with 10 hill repeats.  By the time I was done and ran a total of 2.64 miles the rest of the TNT crew showed up.  They were surprised to see me running my last two hill repeats and some looked quite envious too.  I said I wanted to spend more time with the hubby and decided to get my hill repeats done an hour early so it could be done….now onto 18 miles for Saturday…oy vey!

Week 19 - Day 52 - 09.14.10 - Tuesday (B - 3.01 miles)

Decided to run my 30 minutes during lunch time around the trusty old Waterfront. Good thing I did because I was delighted to see a pirate faux sword fight on top of the old Sternwheeler Rose. Apparently this weekend is the Pirate Festival so I assume this taping of this awesome swordplay is being used to promote the upcoming festivities.

Although there were some light sprinkle it was very humid and I was glad I decided to run with my sleeveless Dri Fit shirt. I was able to run 3.01 miles in 0:31:19 near my race pace of 10:23 minutes a mile. I felt great and was able to return back to work proud that I got my run in for the day.

Week 18 - Day 51 - 09.11.10 - Saturday (B - 17.00 miles)

I have this uncanny habit of running more than I need to at the last part of my TNT group runs.  I did this when we ran our 16 miles near the Nike Campus and forgot to take the right left to get back to the group.

I did it again today with missing Sorrento Ridge/125th on Brockman and instead went all the way to Hall and had to backtrack by running down Nimbus and taking my last two rights on Scholls then to the entrance of our starting point at Portland Running and Walking Company.  My teammates were worried that they decided to call me just to check where I was.  The positive thing about this is it probably added another mile of running to my required 16 today, so it's all good.

Boy were my legs tired because the double whammy of hills on the Murray Hills trail and Weir Road were killer.  Here is the photo of the beginning of the trail that still makes me shudder just looking at it.

The only negative was that with all the trees that line these hills, it keeps screwing with my CardioTrainer's GPS and would automatically pause which didn't account for 3 to 4 miles I actually ran.

I was able to end the day with my racing buddy Andrea at my friend Karen's TNT fundraiser and let's just say we had a great time :D