Spikes!

Snow plans were foiled this new year's so I am home from work becasue we are not planning on going to the mountains.  I'm still doing some work online but as an added bonus got to do a daylight run. I tried the spikes I'd gotten very cheaply last year. I ran at 5k pace around the track but on the grassy edge. The spiked shoes are about as thick as cardboard and you can feel it when on the hard dirt track. It was fun and they worked very well on the grass.  The next short XC race is coming up and I will try these.  The best part was changing back to my regular trainers for the cool down.  They then felt like floofy padded slippers. 

And with the free time, we took the cats into the vet. No, this is not a favorite adventure of theirs!  This is their reaction having spotted a huge Great Dane also in the waiting room.  Don't worry, they got salmon puffs once home and lots of lap time. All is forgiven. We won't mention the dental work Kez the black cat will need shortly. 

Thanksgiving Prep?

Which shoe should I wear at the Turkey Trot tomorrow?  These are my everyday trainers with my usual insert. I have a lighter pair of shoes which don't really need the insert.  BUT I'm not in 5k shape right now and I'm planning on a long trail run the day after.  These'll work.  Menu set, turkey is dry brining, cranberry sauce is made. 

Women of Wonder 10k

 

Inaugural local race which replaced a national event on the same date. I like the local version better!  all women's event which I really, really enjoy!  I did one of

those things you aren't supposed to do. I used something never tried in a race before.  I tried some new shoes that I'd ordered online and never worn before except to walk around in my driveway when i got them a couple days ago.  Those are them.  The greeny/teal ones. 

and it was great! Super fun energy and it is really inspiring lining up for a women's only event. I went out at planned half marathon pace for the first loop of this two loop course.  I controlled pace well.  8:00, 7:59, 7:56.  For the second lap, i wanted to speed up realizing that 1) it was warm out (approaching 70 degrees and 80% humidity and sunny!) and 2) there is a lot of 5k walker traffic.  

Second lap:  7:48, 7:52 (the most traffic on a narrow path), 7:49.

Yeah! I wore my swirly orange Ragnar skirt and got a lot of compliments and had a blast.  It was a wonderful feeling finishing with a lot left in the tank.  The shoes worked great. 

On second loop.  Photo by Ann R.

It is very different running a race that is women only.  Lonely. There were hardly any people around the last loop and this necessitated close monitoring of my pace to maintain the drive.  It was refreshing not to have the distraction of men who don't like to be "chicked" around.  (you know,  men who do not like being passed by a women and speed up even when they should not and subsequently blow up later...) 

20th overall

3rd in AG online (although they awarded 10 year AG awards at the event) 

And saw various friends while running and afterward.  

Races have been hit or miss for me lately.  It is fun when I run well and to plan and it's a fun event.  This was definitely both!  

It's been a good run.

Sniff. 

My standard go-to shoe has been the Nike Pegasus since 2008!  I've always had a different trail shoe and one other shoe to run in but Nike Pegasus was the shoe I'd grab confidently for most runs.  I started with Nike Pegasus 25 and this photo is of my current version 29.

And?  it's not working!  I munch my toes on one side and I'm getting odd blisters. I lost toenails in the Dallas Marathon and realized the shoe wasn't quite right then.  I found the Brooks Launch worked but still have used this for mid-week distance runs (10-12 miles).  This will be the last pair I buy.

Sniff.  Something has changed and I don't really think it is the shoe.  I've been wanting less shoe and it's time to move along. 

It's been a very good run Pegasus! 

Random

 

We call the above, The Absurd.   Do you like how the tips of his fangs stick out?  And yes, you can actually go and pet that belly.  Keswick the Absurd will start purring and probably then drool on you.  

Gardening is going full tilt here in weed central.  But we've pulled out the first harvest of rhubarb and tried a galette.  Easy peasy and it looks and smells delicious.  Something is eating the newly planted peas but the raspberries and blueberries are going gangbuster! And finally, I am putting something into the ground in the backyard.  It's the first time i've planted anything back there since we moved into the house in 1997.  It's been a staging area since forever for various house projects and those are done and the area is cleaned out and I've been trying to keep it cleared.  

I found a new pair of running shoes to try.  I've been running in Nike Pegasus since 2008 when i switched from a stability shoe to a neutral shoe.  I'm always on the lookout for another shoe to switch between and really haven't been happy.  the Asics Gel Excel 33 is what I'm looking for in an alternate shoe.  Still a cushioned neutral trainer but with a lower heel to toe drop than my trusty pegasus.  Minimalist shoes aren't for me (hello huge arch and I already land on my forefoot...) but I'd like to drop the heel height a bit.  We shall see.  As an added bonus the Asics Excel runs narrower which is good because I finally gave up and got a pair of the Pegasus in a narrow width.  

And that running thing?  I'm two weeks out from the trail half marathon and excited.  11 miles and 2:15 on trails (mostly all uphill) and then a speedy hilly 6 miles feeling great? Well, i think I'm ready.  And as an added bonus, we had a workout this weekend which was new for me.  

I realized after the Lord Hill 10 miler that I needed some work on running hard on trails.  I used to do that and then got out of the habit for various reasons.  I love track and running tempo miles on the roads but running hard on trails is it's own challenge. The steep ups makes your legs burn and then you have to be able to navigate the downs on those rubbery legs.  We did mile repeats on a cross country loop within Woodland Park.  These weren't true technical trails but the hills would keep you honest.  

Having done mile repeats on the track a couple weeks ago at 7:30, I figured I should be able to hit about 20 seconds over that on the hills.  I went out and pushed it and didn't look at my watch for pace.  And?  7:45 & 7:53 for two with a 5 minute break between.  Amazing!  Honestly I do believe that this is the first time I've had what my idea of what I should be able to hit for pace on a hilly run match what I actually hit.  This is huge!  and the difference?  My glutes were burning that second mile and I realized that I really have to remind myself to run with those glutes engaged and doing what they are supposed to be doing.