Turnips Running Amok

Don't you love it when you start a run feeling like crap (no not this part), but then 3 or 4 miles into it, hit your stride and feel great to finish 8 miles?
That's what happened to me yesterday. I have still been a little sore from my 16 mile run on Sunday and my legs were not to happy at first when I started my 8 mile run, but after about 3 miles I felt great and pushed on for a little over 8 miles, right on schedule for marathon training!
Taking it easy today, did some yoga this morning for abs, arms and back to build up my core and that's it. I think my legs will be very happy for the break!
I am hoping to maybe start hitting more trails in the middle of the week instead of just the weekends. Its hard since there aren't many close by but hopefully if I can get away from work by 5 some days I just may make it to some shorter ones just outside of town before it gets dark, hopefully that will work as I much prefer trails. Also purchasing new trail shoes next week - yay! (any suggestions for a neutral/high arched strider?)
Happy Trails.....

Posted by Turnip at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (283)

I have officially run farther than I ever have in my life! I successfully completed a 16 mie run on sunday with only a short break at the halfway point. I have also found that a combination of:

Gatorade (a good citrus flavor)
Saltines
Spongebob fruit snacks

works like a charm! I felt well fueled and hydrated but not bloated or anything like last time.
I did have moments of self-doubt before and after the run, especially since it takes me a good 3 hours to do 16 miles, how does anybody to a whole marathon in 3 hours let alone 2?! I may be looking at a 5:00 or 5:30 finish. I even felt like I was booking it at some points (I thought I heard thunder and I am a big fat chicken about thunderstorms) but still a little over 3 hours just to do 16....sigh....I guess I am just slow and will accept a slow finish, but damn it I will finish!
This week I am taking it easy, it is my "back-off" week with just some easy 7 and 8 mile runs and that's it. I have been looking foward to it! Hopefully I will then my well-rested for my 18 miler next weekend.
I also have a LOT going on at work, some idiot broke one of our instruments, and reactions aren't working, so I will have to straighten both those things out this week. Just one more year, just one more year, just one more year....

Posted by Turnip at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Another successful week of marathon training is completed. Despite 20 high school students invading our lab for the Bionanotechnology workshop (needless to say I am LESS than sane after this week!) and a bit of traveling to visit my husband I completed every run. I even managed to find time for a little yoga and strength training to try and firm up the rest of my body.
Even the hubby was able to be drafted for a "crew" sort of responsibility. I unfortunately could not do trails for the 14 miler this weekend and had to settle for two 7 mile loops around his neighborhood (yuck!) which waa also COMPLETELY flat which doesn't make me happy at all. Nonetheless it gave me a chance to "train" my husband in a little crew-work as he helped me get another water bottle after the first 7 mile loop (loop ended at his place) and had food ready and waiting at the completion of the 14 mile run.
The run itself was fairly uneventful, refueling involved saltines and water with some fruit snacks missed in. It worked OK but I think I may need to switch back to gatorade or something to retain it better, I felt kind of bloated after the run probably because I drank to much. I liked the saltines though although is it normal to not have a lot of saliva during these longer runs? Part of drinking all that water was just to get the saltines down, any suggestions? Nonetheless, I definitely am more in the mood for the saltines than the gatorade and fruit snacks after 7 or 8 miles.
I did find better fruit snacks though, this time it was Spongebob Squarepants fruit snacks! Yes I m a huge fan of Spongebob Squarepants which is the main reason i picked them up but they were MUCH better than the other ones and surprisingly not as sweet. (In fact my husband ended up eating the rest of the box!) I guess I will have to keep experimenting. Nonetheless the 14 mile run, although flat and pavement was completed without incident. Now for another week of running ...gulp...36 miles with a 16 mile run on saturday!

p.s. - long run had to be on sunday due to traveling, and as usual, the turnip getting into trouble at the bar AGAIN! Long story short, no more shots until AFTER the marathon.....always into trouble.....

Posted by Turnip at 09:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

The first week of marathon was completed as scheduled! Let's see how long I can keep this up.....
No more non-flying Superman smitings occured, not even on my 12 mile trail run so all my scrapes and bruises are healing fine without incident.
For the first time I experimented refueling on the run. My snack of choice : Fruit Snacks! It was only 12 miles but I tried to refuel every 3 or 4 miles, a 45 calorie bag of gummies + gatorade. My stomach was fine with it and the extra boost from the gummies really made a difference in how i felt too. I felt stronger with more energy and was even able to keep a decent pace at the end of the run. Normally I am REALLY tired and sluggish by 10 or 12 miles but not this time.
The only problem was that the sweet snacks and the sweet gatorade was, well, too sweet for my taste and gatorade was NOT appetizing by the end of the run. I may either switch from gatorade to water or from fruit snacks to somethinng saltier like pretzels or saltines. I guess that will be my experiment for my 14 mile run this weekend. Any suggestions?
I also need to find out where to get Gu2O. This is the sports drink at the aid stations of my marathon, and I would like to try it to make sure it agrees with me. If anyone knows where I can get this stuff, let me know!
In the meantime I have a hefty week coming up. Speedwork on Wedensday and a 14 mile run on Saturday with a couple of easy runs in between. My lab is hosting a "Adventures in Bionanotechnology" workshop for high school students this week so I will also be very busy at work trying to make sure these kids don't hurt themselves, so hopefully I can keep their interest all week AND complete my second weekend of training...we'll see how it goes.
Now off to turn things pretty colors for the kiddies....

Posted by Turnip at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Disclaimer : The following is meant in JEST (i.e. - humor). If you love Pat Robertson and the 700 club, more power too you if it helps you out and means something to you. But personally, I think any man who wants to assissinate the leader of Bolivia (or anyone for that matter) or thinks Florida will be underwater with hurricanes because of homosexuals is a flaming fruitcake.

Ahem, on with my story.
So the first week of marathon training turned out to be quite eventful! On my 6 mile run the other day I was in the middle of the TEMPO (4 miles) along the street. I somehow proceeded to take a fantastic dive (picture Supermann without the whole flying thing), skidded on the sidewalk using my knee and elbow as brakes! It must have been fairly dramatic as someone from the buisness across the street came running out to see if I was ok! Despite a couple of bruises and scrapes I was OK, hobbled a bit, and was then able to finish my run. Of course this involved people looking at me like I was a loon as, unbeknownst to me I was bleeding and oozing from my elbow and knee (ew.....), when I finally finished, I realized it, cleaned myself up a bit in the park bathroom and jogged on home. I still don't know how I fell but my husband just thinks its my natural grace and agility that I wasn't able to stand up on my own to feet on a clear sidewalk on broad daylight!
Anywho, after I patched myself up I was doing some light stretching and the hubby informs me that my favorite show is on! (notice dripping sarcasm...) the 700 club! I don't know who has seen it but it is a religious show that showcases how people have turned there lives around, ect., ect. however I am always suspicisous as the conclusion of each show somehow relates to how I need to send them a check. Anywho, it was some special on healing and a couple of people were shown praying and saying things like ""i sense someone out there suffers from migraines...I now tell you you are healed!" , fairly normal for this type of show I guess but then they say "and I sense someone out there has a searing pain in there left elbow!) ha ha, my husband proclaims me HEALED! (again, note sarcasm) although being that it was still oozing and fairly gross! Anyway, the hubby and I have a good laugh and I go to sit on the couch and promptly get stung by a wasp in the same damn elbow! I guess I have been officially smited for my unbelief....must send Pat Robertson big check......
Anyway, we can now all laugh how i don't even need to run the marathon to get inured, all I have to do is walk down the street or sit on the couch! Oh well, hopefully my 12 mile training run will go by uneventfully! Happy trails...

Posted by Turnip at 04:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I'm back!
I am sure I kept you all in total suspense but I took a couple of weeks off for one of my best friend's wedding (FUN!), visiting family, and yes, a break from running. Some undue tightness and soreness made me decide to take a vacation from that too in order to recoup and give my body a rest before I....that's right....start training for a MARATHON!
I even have it all picked out!

October 7th
Triple Lakes Trail Marathon and Ultramarathon (40miles)
http://www.triplelakesrace.com/
Greenseboro, NC

I will buck up and actually register for it today too! I was so happy to find a trail race in my area and it is a good time too. I have my training schedule and everything, I am finally in for it!
I really don't have a goal time yet. I don't know what to expect. I guess I am hoping that since my half marathon was 2:28 (albeit it in really bad conditions), I would like to finish in 5:00 or 5:30, we'll see how it goes.
I really like this training plan, it is running 4 days a week, with 3 days rest / crosstraining. I will probably take sunday as total rest and do some light crosstraining (yoga and strength training) on the other days to try to build up more strength, I will need it for this race!

This week!

Monday (today) - 7 easy miles
Tuesday - Strength training
Wedensday - 6 miles including 4 mile tempo
Thursday - 6 miles easy
Friday - Yoga
Saturday - 12 mile long run
Sunday - REST

Already did my 7 mile run today and felt pretty good, albeit a little sluggish from the time off (is that normal?)
Later!

Posted by Turnip at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)