Jungle Run

What a week !  I started this post on Sunday (before the week even started really) but then got distracted by having to go to the Monkee's concert.  It wasn't bad -- and kind of fun.  The Monkees were really a bit before my time but I watched the t.v. show in the afternoons after school.  I actually didn't know that many of their songs but we had a good time.  

Here they are -- can't really see their faces but you get the idea:

So on to Sunday's 10k.  It wasn't quite the time I hoped and no PR, but the course was definitely a bit harder than I thought it would be (those reviews I read were right !  amazingly enough) so I'm please with the times.  And the places -- me and my little slow self is gaining on age group placing.  

So first, the race.  The Los Gatos Jungle Run is a Half Marathon and 10K on a well designed course (just enough overlap of the two races to make it fun but not confusing!).  They start the Half Marathoners about 15 mins before the 10kers which also makes for some easy running.  Nice sized race with 740 10kers and 840 Half Marathoners.  

The run is deceptively difficult.  I run on part of the course all the time so knew what that part would be like and didn't think that much of it.  I looked at the elevation and didn't think too much of it either.  Heck, I run on much bigger hills all the time.  But these little suckers were deadly, sneaky little things that made up in steepness what they lacked in length.  

Elevation Profile

500 ft.

416 ft.

333 ft.

250 ft.

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

miles

Total climb: 272 feet / 83 m
Total elevation change: 549 feet / 167 m

This really doesn't look like all that difficult of a run.  But notice that little hill right off the bat -- it is only 40ft elevation change (Garmin said) but it was straight up right away.  So that sets the tone for the race...every little hill was a straight up incline (see miles 2.5 and 3.8) and then the race finished with this gradual incline that was actually difficult (and I run that part of the run all the time - but it got me (so maybe it wasn't difficult, maybe I was off -- but I didn't feel off)).  


So anyway, after wishing I was dead 1/4 of a mile into the race, things calmed down and I was just running along.  The runners self seeded really well at the beginning so within the first half mile, I was running with the folks I'd run the entire race with for the most part.  I was sort of chatting a bit with this one guy and then we came to the hill at mile 2.5 -- I thought I could just run right up it with my new friend but I just couldn't so slowed off a bit (in order to catch my breath at the top-- HATE when I do that).  I caught back up to my new friend who seemed to be running pretty much what I was able to do so mostly just stayed behind him. I really like running behind someone, it helps keep me focused and I just let them do the pacing.  I fell behind again at mile 3.8 but caught back up and then towards the end he got a bit ahead of me but not too much.  


The race finish at the high school track so about a second after I hit the track, one of my running mates comes up from behind (she's awesome at picking up the pace at the end) so she hollars at me to pick it up.  And being someone who apparently just does what she's told, I managed to speed it up a bit and finished just a second a head of her (but I started a second ahead of her as we had the same time -- and this was weird, they gave me the higher ranking.  I wonder if they do that because I crossed the finish line first?? Not really sure and it doesn't really matter).  Anyway, it was nice to get a measurement of where I am currently and all.  Probably not going to make my dream half goal right away -- but I'm on track to make a PR (fingers crossed nothing goes wrong) at Disneyland on Labor Day weekend. 


And I love the time keeping company....this cute little presentation is nice: 

Tricia D

San Jose, CA

Age: 46 Gender: F

Distance	10K
Clock Time	53:32
Chip Time	53:26
Overall Place	133 / 740
Gender Place	30 / 470
Age Grade	61.9%
Bib #	1576
Age Group Place	7
Pace	8:36/M
Time Back	13:32
Tot Div	740
Tot Gend	470
Tot Ag	134

Alrighty then....

The week (and other misc) in bullets:

1.  I'm not going to the midnight showing of Harry Potter this Thursday, but my daughter is.  I'm kind of sad but I have to work so that takes all the fun out of things at times.  I will however make sure I get to see if before next weekend is up.

2.  I'm going to see The Monkee's at The Mountain Winery tomorrow night. The Monkee's -- yeah, how cool is that.  And the venue = awesome.

3.  Went out with the girls last night -- tons of fun but 3am?  Really?  What do I think I am? 21?  Gah.  

4.  10k tomorrow.  We'll just see how that goes.  I'm fairly familiar with part of the route as I run the trail a lot.  But then I read descriptions of the race that said it kind of fools you -- you feel like it should be faster than it is.  We'll just have to see. Excited though.  

5.  Last week's tempo run = major blow up.  Felt gross and still struggling with being properly hydrated.  Was to be 5 miles at mid tempo pace (8.30 to 8.45 ish) and my average was 4.5 (labored) miles with avg 9.30.  But but but .... I didn't take water (oh, it's only 5 miles and it is cool!) but my the first half mile I was soaked and when I got home I checked the weather.  Yeah, it was cool but it was also 87% humidity.  Note to self....just take water on all summer runs.  

6.  Last week's interval run.  Rocked it.  Did it at 6pm and 85* (or maybe hotter?) but made sure I was hydrated and ta da.  Funny thing what that water can do for one.  The workout was intimidating (to me anyway) and was:

10-20 min warm up

1 mile (400 RI)

2 miles (800 RI)

2x800 (800 RI)

Cool down.

I was pleased with my times -- am getting faster.  

1 mile -- 8.28 pace

2 mile -- 8.23 pace

1x800 -- 8.08 pace

1x800 -- 8.13 pace

I was very tired when done and felt it the next day.  Quads are still a bit tired.  

7.  Had a blissful 2 hour nap this afternoon (see #3 above) and am ready to go back to bed!  Nice.  All I have to do is finish this, play with music for tomorrows fun and then I'm off to read..  And my house has cooled down a bit too so sleep should be blissful.

And that's all for now.  

Last few days recap

Nothing really exciting to report so I'll go through the last few days recap ... just to get it down so I remember.

Thursday Intervals --

2 X (6 x 400) 90sec rest/2.30 rest between sets.

Done -- and I felt great afterwards but it was hard.  I'm pretty pleased with my lap times (or some of them anyhow):

      2 0:01:43 0.26 6:41
      4 0:01:42 0.26 6:35
      6 0:01:43 0.26 6:45
      8 0:01:46 0.26 6:52
    10 0:01:46 0.26 6:53
    12 0:01:44 0.25 7:02
    14 0:01:48 0.26 6:59
    16 0:01:47 0.26 6:56
    18 0:01:46 0.25 7:05
    20 0:01:47 0.25 7:01
    22 0:01:46 0.25 7:06
    24 0:01:47 0.24 7:23

I'm not entirely sure how I'm supposed to run these.  Maybe I'll have to reread that chapter.  Not sure if I should have gone a bit slower up front to maintain a consistent pace.  Pretty clear that by the last one, I was done done done.  But I'm still very pleased by this.

Saturday I met my running girls and we did 8.67 miles at Rancho San Antonio Park -- love that place.  My friend decided to add a bit of a hill tempo at the beginning as a way of adding miles and work.  That set the tone for the overall run and then I was able to make it up the big hill (1.5 miles -- 500ish ft
incline) (and I'd show the garmin elevation but I can't for some reason).  The first part of the downhill was super hard on my body -- but my lower back has been killing me -- off to the chiropractor tomorrow.  Anyway, the run overall was fantastic.

Then today running friend and I did 12 miles at Sawyer Camp -- another great running place.  It is an out and back and has a nice 300 ft climb from miles 4.5 to 6.  Other than that, it is really flat.  I was very happy with my times -- especially since I'd just had a pretty difficult run on Saturday.  I bonked at mile 10 -- really needed to Gu then but just pushed on through so slowed down a bit.  But still overall was happy -- and the best part is that I'm feeling fine at the end of it all.

I've also done well with the cross training -- so whoo hoo.  But now that it is getting closer to Disneyland, it is easier for me to take it all seriously.

That's about it -- nothing going on for the 4th which has been fine.  Relaxing weekend.  The girl and I watched The Princess Bride last night and well all I've got to say is finally.  Can't believe I've not seen that one.

That's all for now.

Tempo Tuesday

Which really should be titled "Seven Mile Stroll at slower than Half Marathon Pace".

I am my own worst enemy.

So this morning was to be 1 mile easy, 2 miles speedier, 1 mile easy, 2 miles speedier and then 1 final easy mile. No probs I was thinking -- I nailed this run a couple weeks back.

So I head out at 5.15 this morning (and, thank god I did -- I know I promised myself I wouldn't complain about the weather ever since returning from hell Texas but pouring rain tonight in late June in NoCal?  really?) and felt great.  But by mile two I couldn't seem to pick up the pace -- so I mucked around for several miles trying to make it work and then finally gave up.  I still ran the 7 miles but there was no tempo anywhere and only lots of struggle.  I did decide to try to focus on form but even that backfired on me and by the end of the run, I was just a mess and my upper back hurt (usually a sign I'm too tired and not running well).  So I was all mopey (see last entry -- there's a theme) and wondering how I could just loose so much fitness in the week off and evaluating my goals and wondering if they were too aggressive considering my over all fitness level and did I really have proper training in me and blah blah blah.  

So as my brain was going on and on and on, I finally turned off my music (I was in the house by this time) and I noticed that I was wheezing (yes, apparently I can't tell other than hearing it!!  duh).  Oh right yes.  Running is fairly impossible when you can't breathe.  ACK!!!!!  I've got the inhaler, this problem doesn't have to happen.  I do this to myself but for some reason, I can't develop a 2 puffs before run habit. I do it about 50% of the time.

In fairness to myself, I've had the inhaler since last December when the weather turned cold and I had a ton of trouble with breathing and a friend suggested exercise induced asthma (who knew?).  I was actually excited to discover that possibly the breathing problems that have plagued any other fitness attempt in my life had merit.  I dutifully scheduled an appointment with the asthma doc and then passed all the tests with flying colors!!  My lungs were fantastic.  I am a runner after all.  But doc believed me and sent me on my way with an inhaler.  

So one would think that since it works I would remember to use it, but one would be wrong.  I can't seem to keep it in the right place (it is in the car when I want it in the house/it is in the gym bag and I don't see it/etc).   Today I thought possible I should get a second one -- and then one can stay in gym bag and one can stay on bathroom counter so I'd see it.  We'll see how that goes.

The drama.

So now I'm cool with it all -- we'll see how interval Thursday goes (just doesn't quite have the same ring as Tempo Tuesday does it).

In other exciting news, I fixed my shuffle.  Whoo hoo and happy dance.  Found a way outside of iTunes to reformat it and tada it was returned to factory settings and I was able to download play list.  $50 saved.

And in even more exciting news, I heard from my boy yesterday -- he's at boot camp and I've not spoken to him since May 2nd.  I've been worried but we were finally starting to see positive letters but this call was extra reassuring.  See, he's really not military material.  I mean, most people who knew him were shocked by his decision to join the Marines.  But alas, he's 19 so he gets to make these decisions on his own (and whoo hoo -- live with the consequences!!)  Anyway, he's sort of figured out that maybe this really wasn't for him either, but he's one stuck boy and the US Govt owns his ass for the next bit of time (verdict is still out on the path he's taking).  Anyway, seems the Marines teach all their recruits to shoot guns.  Who knew?  Probably everyone but me but there you go.  Anyway, seems my boy has marksman skills (or is that skillz?) and shot expert at the range -- thus allowing him a free 5 minute call home.  Boy calls his mom -- love that kid (thank god there is no girlfriend !!!).  He apparently required the complete adoration that only a mother provides -- yes boy, you are fantastically awesome beyond words times a million.  But it was all good and I'm actually a bit excited to go to his graduation end of July.

Signed -- queen of the parentheses.  I like it.