In Case of Fire

We just finished eating dinner and I was sitting here reading a couple of blogs.  Sniff... hmm... I smell smoke.  I stepped outside and, low and behold, there is smoke.  Oh.Boy.  It's that time of year, Southern California's other season:  Fire.

This was taken in 2003, the house on the left is ours

There were several brush fires burning along the 118 freeway.  It's currently about 30 acres with no structures threatened.  Fire crews are on the scene with three water-dropping helicopters assisting.  It is along the route that I had mapped out for Saturday's 18 miler.

I have always said I run for my health.  Yes, I enjoy it.  Yes, I'm training for another marathon.  But I will not go running (or cycling) in smoke filled air.  So in case of fire, no matter what the training plan says, smoke filled days are mandatory rest days.

7:20 p.m. update:  The fire is now 100% contained.  I still don't know if I'll run or ride in the morning, it will depend on any lingering smoke.  I haven't taken a rest day since Sunday, and my legs were telling me about it this morning.  So a rest day would be okay!

I Am a Runner

Today's Quote of the Day from Runner's World is this:

I AM A RUNNER because I run. Not because I run fast. Not because I run far. I AM A RUNNER because I say I am. And no one can tell me I'm not. 
~John Bingham, author and runner 

I have been running for about 15 years now.  I started thinking of myself as a runner about 4 years ago.  I had already run some half marathons, but when people asked me, I would say, "I run."  I did not say, "I am a runner."  Somewhere along the way that changed.  I am not only a runner, now I am a marathoner!!

It doesn't matter if you've been running for decades or if today was your first run.  Say it with me now, "I AM A RUNNER."

M2T W6

I'm looking at my calendar and realizing I have a lot of things going on on Saturdays this Fall.  I've got to make the time for long runs, but they may have to happen during the week.  There will be a lot of juggling going on!

This is week six of training. After this week, race day will be 10 weeks away.

Most of your routine is the same this week, with two days of rest, two easy runs, one run on hills, and a marathon-pace run. Your long run will inch up to 18 miles.

Sunday:  Rest Day
Monday: 5 Miles Easy w/5 Strides (pace 9:58 pace)
Tuesday:  6 Miles Hills (no planned pace)
Wednesday:  Rest
Thursday: 4 Miles w/2 Miles @ MP (marathon pace = 9:09)
Friday:  6 Miles Easy (pace 9:58)
Saturday:  18 Miles LSD  (pace 10:04-11:04)

Today's Run: 16 Miles of Music and Mind Games

Today's plan called for 16 miles, LSD.  Long slow distance is exactly what this one turned into.  I wanted to go faster, but I just don't have any speed right now.  My fastest mile was 10:18.  My slowest mile was #14, which I walked at 16:02.

After a few miles I realized I was not going to be fast so I altered my route.  If I can't be fast, I might as well build more endurance by running hills.  And that's when the mind games began...

Just before mile 7, I wanted to take a walk break.  I was wearing my iPod and decided I could walk after the current song ended.  Several songs, and almost a mile later, I was at a  local park and took a short walk and restroom break.

Then it really got going, the conversation between my mind and my legs:

"At the end of this song you can walk." 
"I wanna walk NOW."
"Please, pretty please, at the end of this song?" 
"How about we cut this one short?"

I was so tempted to turn this into a half marathon.  13.1 miles is a lot!  But, I need to get back to running LONG distances.  Eleven weeks from today I will be lining up for the Santa Barbara Marathon, not the Santa Barbara HALF Marathon.  It was time to pull out a little something from cycling great Jens Voigt:

Mind over matter (or legs) won this round.  I finished my 16 miles.  It wasn't pretty.  It wasn't fast.  But I did it.

16.03 miles in 3:09:15, 11:48 pace.

Ave HR 141
Max HR 159
Calories burned 1506

M2T W5 Results

Another week in the books.

Sunday:  Rest Day
Result: 4.27 miles in 52:25, 12:16 pace
Since I had taken Saturday off, I went ahead and ran on Sunday.  I had a good pace going, then caught up with my friend, Joe, and walked with him for about a half a mile.  Joe is so cool, he's 75 and walks or hikes every single day.

Monday: 4 Miles Easy w/4 Strides (pace 9:58 pace)
Result:  Rested

Tuesday:  7 Miles Hills (no planned pace)
Result:  7.05 miles in 1:19:35, 11:18 pace.  This was my best run all week.

Wednesday:  Rest
Result:  Rested

Thursday: 4 Miles w/2 Miles @ MP (marathon pace = 9:09)
Result:  4.18 miles in 46:04, 11:02 pace.  I never got even close to marathon pace.  I had no speed in my legs until I got home and got on the bike and rode 9.92 miles in 1:05:06, 9.1 mph.  This was on the trail.  It was the fastest I've ridden to the turn around point so far this year.

Friday:  4 Miles Easy (pace 9:58)
Result:  Rode 8.77 miles in 43:05, 12.2 mph

Saturday:  16 Miles LSD  (pace 10:04-11:04)
Result:  16 miles in 3:09:15, 11:48 pace. 
I'll write a separate post about this run. Not the pace I was hoping for this morning, but I still got in 16 miles.

Total planned miles:  35
Running:   31.53
Cycling:  18.69
Total miles:  50.22

Run Inspired. Run SBIM

I got an email today from Gemini Timing, the company that issued the timing chips for the O2O Marathon.  I've gotten several, but this one is for the Santa Barbara International Marathon ~ my next marathon!

I love the description:

Located in the "American Riviera" in Santa Barbara, Southern California, this point-to-point course winds through the scenic Goleta Valley with it's lush lemon and avocado orchards, skirts the exclusive community of Hope Ranch, winds through the historic Santa Barbara mesa area, and finishes with a stunning two mile descent to the sparkling Pacific Ocean along the Santa Barbara coastline. The Select Staffing Santa Barbara International Marathon will treat entrants to a striking backdrop of mountains and sea in this beautiful destination city. 

Event Highlights:
Fast and scenic course   USAT&F certified/sanctioned 
Boston Qualifier 
Perfect winter running weather 

Beautiful destination 

Registration Includes:

Goodie Bag  T-Shirt  Personalized bib (thru Oct 1, 2012)  
Unique Finisher Medal 
Medical Care - First Aid Stations 
Fluid and Fuel Stations 
Entrance into Health and Fitness EXPO

I've been kinda dreading tomorrow's 16 miler, this is just what I needed - a reminder of what I'm training for.  Gotta run inspired!

Quote of the Day

I love the fact that not many people can say 'Oh, I went out and ran 20 miles today.' I love how much dedication it takes and how much you learn a lot about yourself, your physical and mental limits. There's just something about it.
~Shalane Flanagan, 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathoner

 Tomorrow morning.  16 miles.  Anyone want to join me?