Training Tuesday - A Bit of a Stretch

No, I haven't taken up yoga.  Its a bit of a stretch to call what I did this past week "training."  I need a plan, or else things start to go to crap.  I suppose I could consider this a rest before I begin my big training at the beginning of the year.  Mostly I just feel lazy.

Tuesday
Planned ~ Interval run
Actual ~ Girls lunch
Chips & salsa curls it is!

Wednesday
Planned ~ Easy run
Actual ~ Shopping!
Took my dad to the doctor for his total knee replacement follow up surgery, and ended up Christmas shopping afterward.

Thursday
Planned ~ 4 mile run
Actual ~ 4 mile run
Felt speedy on this one!

Friday
Planned ~ nada
Actual ~ nada

Saturday
Planned ~ 12 mile run
Actual ~ 10 mile run
Met up with the training group and caught 4, then me and a buddy went out to grab a few more miles.  This coming week is her first half, so she didn't want to over do it.

Sunday
Planned ~ nada
Actual ~ nada

Monday
Planned ~ total body
Actual ~ nada
Jay was in town, so he took me out to lunch.

So yeah, the half this weekend will be interesting.

Thankful Thursday - the Daddy edition

My dad had his total knee replacement surgery a few days post Ragnar.  Heavily medicated, the nurses didn't believe he was the driver for 5 blondes (and his brunette daughter) to run from Chattanooga to Nashville in less than 2 days.  I very much enjoyed seeing the nursing student's expression when I confirmed the story was true, and we already wanted to book his services for next year.

At the first of the year, he had his other knee replaced and the surgery went great.  He was in a toot to get the other one done - partly because of how great the new knee was feeling and party because he'd already met his deductible for the year.  This time around we were hoping it would go as well, and feared he wouldn't deal well with the disappointment when it didn't.   And we were right.  It didn't go as well.

It went better.

When it was time for him to be discharged from the hospital 2 days after his surgery, he walked unassisted - no wheel chair, walker, or even cane - to his car.  His therapists have had the problem of forgetting his surgery was as recent as it was, thanks to the progress he's been making.  They've tried to put him on the bicycle, only to remember its a bit too early for that. 

Yesterday I had the pleasure of taking my dad for his one month post op appointment.  We went to McKay's used bookstore to sell old books and shop for new ones.  Okay, who am I kidding.  I went to shop.  He went because my mom had loaded up a few bags, but he had fun playing on his phone while waiting on me to make my selections.

After a Trader Joe's stop and grabbing lunch at a Nixon's deli, we headed to his appointment.  Most of his stitches are out at this point, and his scar is already looking great.  It surprised me now not grossed out it looked.  (Technical writing on my part huh? :P)

My dad's doctor is an excellent surgeon.  Front the incision site to how quickly my dad recovered, these are all testaments to what a great doctor this man is.  What blew me over, however, was his bedside manner. 

The family had heard the tale (many times) about how the doc hung the signed, framed picture of my dad in his referee uniform - asking first where my dad would like it.  He works on the University of Tennessee athletes, so we knew others had given pictures as well.  We just assumed it was only collegiate or professional athletes. 

If I'm honest, I have to admit tearing up when I first saw the picture of a patient and his daughter at her wedding.  The note: Thanks to you I walked my daughter down the aisle.  Another photo showed a client posed beside a bear he'd killed on a hunt.  Yet another had a patient in front of his prize winning angus cow.  In the place of honor (directly where patients face as they talk to the doc) was a nun who'd had both her knees replaced.

I don't like being weepy and emotional.  As a matter of fact, I make fun of my father for it on a regular basis.  (Yes, one time I even passed him a tampon as he was crying in a movie.)  But yesterday I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed at just how blessed we are. 

We, as the patients/families touched by this good doctor so much they wanted to express their thanks.

We - my dad, mom, sister, and me - having been through 5 family surgeries and a lost job in the past 2 years and making it through the other side successfully.  (3 - dad, 2 mom)

We - my dad and I - for having that father daughter dance which, while defying polite society, summed up our relationship with 3 minutes of him wanting to kill me and loving every minute.

Me, for having my parents, grandparents, sister/BIL/niece/nephew as a major part of my life.

Me, for having a husband, job, and life that allows for time with my family - especially when they need my help.

I am blessed,

 far beyond what I deserve. 

For that,

to God,

I am thankful.

Training Tuesday - Limbo

I've got a half marathon in 2 weeks, but haven't really trained for it.  I've done some a long runs trying to keep up my distance.  My next race isn't scheduled until March 30th - I'm already registered for the Covenant Health Knoxville {half} Marathon.  I kinda feel like I'm in limbo without a specific training plan in mind.

 

 

Tuesday

Planned: Winterfest

Actual: Winterfest

This is the hardest working day of my year.  We throw a parking lot party for 3,000-7,000 or so - providing everything free of charge.  The planning lasts for months (at least for a few of us), but this day is  exhausting.  A 12 hour shift leaves little time for anything more than falling into bed at the end of the day.

Wednesday

Planned: Run

Actual: Rest

Had to do a bit of clean up from Winterfest, but mostly I was just worn out.  The Wednesday prior, I had company come.  The day they left we quickly cleaned up only to entertain more guests that evening.  Then the following day (Monday) I hiked with friends.  I'd been going non-stop for a solid week and felt every bit of it!

picture from my hike,

because who knows when i'm going to get caught up

enough to devote an entire blog to it.

Thursday

Planned: Run

Actual: 3.5 mile Wog

I probably took more walk breaks than I should have, but still averaged a pace in the 10s.  Still feeling the tired from earlier in the week, I just tried to enjoy the perfect weather of the day and get the body moving a bit.

Friday

Planned: Rest

Actual: Rest

I contemplated getting a long run in, but given my ignorance about trail running (a race I was doing the following day) I decided to take yet another rest day.

Saturday

Planned: Trail Race

Actual: Trail Run

 

I didn't exact race this one, but I completed my first trail run on Saturday.  Since it was a prediction run, we weren't allowed watches or phones.  Headphones are also not allowed on trails.  It was hard for me spending over an hour in the woods, running in circles with no clue where I am or how much I have left.  I walked (not power walk for efficiency, but slow walk in defeat) more of this than I care to admit.  But I finished, and didn't fall.  That's gotta count for something.

Sunday

Planned: Run

Actual: Rest

Assuming I wasn't sore from the trail (and I wasn't) I wanted to get a 5-6 mile pace run at least, if not a full 10-14 mile long run.  I had church, then lunch with the family.  Then I just went home and crashed. #fail

Monday

Planned: Total Body

Actual: Total Body

This was my first time back to this class in over 6 weeks.  I dropped down in weights (8# for my heavy set and 5# for my light weights).  I'm not all that sore today, so I'll definitely be going up next Monday.

On Cosby Moonshine Race Report

I always look forward to the Moonshine run.  Historically, its my fastest 5K of the year despite the extra 0.1 they tack on to allow for high school cross country racers.  Each summer I slog through the heat and humidity.  Each October I race 3.2 miles, beating not only my previous 3.1 paces, but also times.

Two years ago, my grandfather took place in the 70-79 category.  The first place winner was in his early 70s and a runner.  Papaw was 79 at the time and never one for "fitness" activity.  His farm has kept him busy his whole life - first helping his dad, then supporting his wife and daughters, then as a 2nd job when he went to work at a factory, finally as something to keep him young after retirement.

Both leading up to and following the Iron Horse Half Marathon, I was experiencing hip/low back pain.  Not necessarily while I ran, but most noticeably in the time following my runs.  At one point, Jay noticed me limping and told me I had to stop running temporarily, especially if I wanted to be able to participate in the Ragnar relay two weeks after the half.

Sandwiched between the two races was the On Cosby Moonshine Run.  Knowing I'm too stubborn to DNS, my wise hub-sand suggested I participate as a walker instead of a runner.  Last year my papaw had a nasty virus and was unable to enter the 80+ division.  This year he was feeling good enough to give it a go.

My sister and nephew drove down, and we made it a family event.  My dad, Jay, and the little man were our cheering section, as Papaw, Mama, Kelly & I walked the race.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit disappointed to go for a shot at 1st place in my a/g (I've got three 2nd place medals), but I felt honored to join my grandfather as he walked for his medal.  Also at the race, one of my besties, Kristi posted an awesome time - running a 12:XX pace. 

As we lined up towards the back, we met a pregnant runner - walking the event.  She said with us the entire time and I think we all enjoyed chatting. 

This part of Cosby is very near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and provides so much beautiful scenery.  The bull dog typically on the course was absent this year, but we still saw our share of animals along the way.

We finished in just over 56 minutes, my grandfather insisting he could have gone faster.   We weren't last and spent the whole time walking at a comfortable, conversational place.  After the last racers finished up it was time for awards.

I didn't place in my age group, but I did get to walk beside my papaw.  A farmer who's never raced in his life, who humbly walked his way to a first place in the 80+ category.  I cherish this photo far more than I ever could an a/g place medal and feel blessed to have had the opportunity to share this moment with my family.

Catching Up

Over the past month, I've been a very active participant in life.  While it has taken me away from the blog, it has given me plenty of fodder for future posts...whenever life finally does quiet down.

 

With my Papaw, sister, and mom, I walked the On Cosby Moonshine 3.2 miler.

 

The following week Jay and I joined the rest of Team Zach

for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society Light the Night walk.

 

 

The next day...

 

 

I jumped in the Van on the Run to experience the Ragnar Relay.

 

 

He put off the surgery to be our driver, but 3 days after returning home from Nashville my dad had his total knee replacement surgery (if you're counting - that's 2 new knees for 2013).

 

 

Surgery went well and he's doing great.  My mom and I stumbled upon this sign at the hospital when we went for a walk to get some fresh air.  Certainly not the entrance (or exit) you wanna find!

 

 

I tried some new things.

 

 

Expressed much thanks.

 

 

Imbibed a bit too much during the Halloween pub run.

 

 

Celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary...

 

 

...entertained Jay's parents for an extended weekend...

 

 

...and met a Moonshiner

(turns out he's the one on the show that's never made a successful batch)

all in the same night.

 

 

The day after the in-laws went home, I celebrated the Veterans of this great country by hiking to one of the most scenic spots in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 

 

Then the next day, months of planning and prep work culminated in a 12 hour workday that ended with a bang.  Come for a visit and you'll be treated with Christmas lights in November.

 

Which brings us to today.  I'm going home, putting on jammies, and hibernating for the winter. 

Right after I do my first trail run, my next half marathon, and a Santa 5K. 

All before this time next month.

 

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

 

 

Iron Horse Half Marathon - Race Report

Originally, I had planned to do this race “for fun.”  Jay and I vacationed in the Midway, Kentucky area last year on our anniversary and loved it!  I had planned do this race to set a marker.   I would then train to better my time for the December Secret City Marathon. 

Somewhere along the way, I decided to train for this race.  Then my darling love decided to pass along the nasty virus he had, and my training took a major hit. While I was still getting my long runs in, I was only able to get a little over 2 weeks worth of quality work in.   

 

Going into the race, I knew this wouldn’t be a PR for me.  I was fairly confident it would be my slowest run of the year.  My major hang up was how to set a goal, I gave lip service to at least being faster than last year’s half but the goal really had no heart behind it.

The night before the race Kelly, Christal, and I had a chance to meet up with a twitter buddy Jay, his friend Chris, and their families.  The morning of the race, we met back up and got a bit of a warm up before the race started.

One thing I love about the area is the small town feel.  Unfortunately, that translates into small and crowded roads.  The race entry was capped at just over 1,000 people, but the first mile was very congested.  My pace was slow, but I was hopeful to make it up in later miles

Mile 1 - 10:00 

The congestion kept up and found myself getting frustrated.  This was a rolling course and I didn’t feel like I was full able to make use of the down hills.  Other runners were steady both up and down, while I’m slower up hill and faster down.    Working to pass them on the downs only for them to pass me on the ups felt a bit counter-productive, but I had to run my own race how I was comfortable. 

 

Mile 2 - 9:30

As the front runners made the turn, the roads became even more congested.  A lady runner who’d already made the turn around shouted angrily because people weren’t getting out of her way, but there really wasn’t much of any where to go to get out of the way.  Mostly though, this early out and back (around the 3.5 mile marker) made for a good way to pass the time cheering on the leaders.

Mile 3 - 9:19 

When I saw Kelly coming back, I realized I was pretty close to the turn and was excited to experience the downhill portion.  Most of the first out portion seemed uphill.  As it turned out, this course is up hill both ways.  Or all 4 ways given the double out and back layout.

 

 

Mile 4 - 9:19

In previous races, I’ve forgotten to take gels soon enough and felt energy slacking.  I took one before the start of the race, and then had planned to take another at the turn around. At 4.25, I realized I still hadn’t taken one.

I am a goofy person.  I very much enjoy my goofy nature.  So to make fun of myself, I started singing “I will remember goo, will you remember me?”

Mile 5 - 9:50

My plan going into the race was tackle the first out and back at a steady pace, then attack the next 2 portions strong, and then hard.  By this point, the hills were starting to make themselves known.  I was hoping my strong effort would translate into a strong pace. 

 

Mile 6 - 9:59

For all the challenges the course offered, it provided some good scenery.  I didn’t stop to take pictures along the way (although at some points it would have been tempting), so I was glad to have driven the course the day before to get several.

Mile 7 - 9:25

The portion of the race in the downtown Midway area had great crowd support.  For the start, a lady held a sign reading “We’re bananas for you” and had dressed her dog up in a banana costume.  As we finished the first out and back, the dog was dressed in a Santa costume and the lady was holding a sign reading “Congrats – You’re not slower than Christmas!”  Near the finish she changed the dog into an airplane costume with a sign that read “It’s a bird, it’s a play, it’s you & you’re flying!”  

 

Mile 8 - 9:35

Typically I find someone in the early portion of the race to chat with, making the miles go back.  That’s probably one of my few regrets for this race.  I never felt like I settled into a steady pace in order to run with someone.

Early on, however, I did play with my music a bit.  Rather than let it play continuously and allow it to grow monotonous, I limited myself to a song every mile or so.  This seemed to work well until I got into the later mileage.

Mile 9 - 10:22

The hills started to get tough at this point, but I consoled myself with the thoughts of going downhill on the way back.  Once again I got to see the front runners, followed by Kelly and Jay as they passed the 2^nd turn around (I never did see Christal or Chris after the start.)

Mile 10 - 9:37

 

 

Mile 11 - 10:10

Around this point, I started doing math in my head.  The hills seemed relentless and my pace was slowing.  I knew this was my slowest race of the year – nothing I could do about it at this point. 

Mile 12 - 10:18

I was beating myself up.  However after a bit of figuring, I realized I could still best last year’s October race if I pushed it.  Given the difficulty of this race, if I managed to just hang on to the same pace I’d have improved.   

 

Mile 13 - 9:14

I kept looking for that nice downhill break, but I never saw it.  It is, however, reflected in my pace – the fastest of the race. 

 

 

Final 0:54 {8:43}

I saw the finish line, turned the corner, and ran it in. 

 

 

Chip time: 2:07:43
I’m very proud of this race.  I ran it essentially on 4 long runs and 2 ½ weeks of training.  AND I know (once again) I mentally beat myself in portions.  I feel like I can definitely build on this base and run strong for my next half. 

 

 bling + post race massage +some ice cream = win 

 

Journey into the National Park

This past weekend, Jay & I headed into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to see if the place was shut up as tightly as the news would have us believe.  We kept everything legal, staying on the roads officially open. 

In our park, there are 3 roads considered major thoroughfares that are not to be closed:

1. The Spur - the connector road between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg
2. The Gatlinburg bypass
3. Newfound Gap Road - connecting Gatlinburg and Cherokee, NC

 

 

We'd heard that even the pull-offs were closed.  On the TN side, that simply wasn't the case.  We had dinner last night with a couple who went on through to Cherokee, North Carolina and said the NC side was noticeably different from Tennessee.

 

 

That being said...erm...written, the trail heads (and their parking lots) were blocked off.  Including Chimney Tops & Alum Cave.  However we saw several different instances of people who decided to shout "Damn the Man!" with their actions.

 

 

Others made their protests a little less punishable by fine, opting with legal pictures and #governmentshutdown hash tags.

 

For the permanent enjoyment of the people - this park was given...

 

I was most surprised at the open parking lot when we got to Newfound Gap.  The lot was full, with people walking around enjoying the views.  Surprised again by the open restroom facilities, but not surprised at all by the "open" donation box.

 

We saw rangers in the general area, but they were far from harassing (as we've heard about in other parks).  I appreciate they have a job to do, and the respectfulness we found in our encounter.

Delayed response sounds better than no response!

With the changing of the colors, I'm very thankful to have at least a portion of the park open for our enjoyment!