Success in Texas

Gosh, looking back, it has been a long time since I have posted anything and anyone who was reading this blog has probably given up on any new posts.

We, The Lantz Clan, have just returned from a trip to Texas which was successful on many fronts. The family had plenty of fun going to visit Brad's friend, Joey, and all made new friends with his lovely family.

While there, we visited the Alamo which for me was just too cool, having seen the old movie so many times I have lost count. We also visited the River Walk in downtown San Antonio, which was just as cool, and I will attempt to post a picture.

We arrived at Joey's house on Thursday night, spent Friday at his house, Saturday in San Antonio, and then left for Austin and the big race for which I have been preparing. Both Austin and San Antonio are just great places, and I would love to have more time to go back.

Before I left, I printed out all pertinent information to the half marathon, maps to the hotel, the race map, a map to RunTex where I was to pick up my packet, etc., but failed to bring said papers with me! How annoying! I am such a list person, and tried to tell myself that I did not need a list for this trip. Boy was I wrong. Much to my chagrin, I also forgot swimsuits and the hotel had a hot tub. Here is a pic of the 3M Half Marathon goody bag, I know you will all be jealous:

To my relief, Joey was kind enough to let me use his Internet access and write down phone numbers and directions to my destinations, so all was not lost and it was beginning to look like I may still be able to run my race.

Thursday and Friday, I will say that my runs did not feel good. I did not feel like a fast person at all. I think my pace for those runs were in the 9:15-9:20 range as I did not push it at all, but I just felt so tired and slow and stiff. The battle of the negativity was on. Every little demon of negative thought I discarded and replaced with a different though --- or a song --- or a glass of wine ---- or just about any distraction I could think of that would keep me from talking myself out of a good race.

Our plan once in Austin was to pick up the packet, and then for Brad to drop me off at the hotel to put my feet up and then take the kids to do something that they would enjoy. Instead we ended up going to REI and a bookstore. Ha. It was actually fine with me because a race to me feels like such a self-serving event, and there are all manners of feelings of guilt associated therein as a mom, so I did enjoy just spending that time with my family. Once we got to the hotel, I did lay out my race stuff, make sure I had chip, bib and pins, socks, sport bra, shoes, gloves and shorts. I am a minimalist. After this I did lay down on the bed and put my feet up. I kept my phone handy for a few text messages coming in.

After a great dinner with a bunch of really cool people who I have only ever met online, I was ready to just crash, as the weekend had already been pretty full and taxing, so after a hot bath I was a goner. I never sleep well the night before a race, it is not going to happen. I had not really gotten any quality sleep in 4 days, but once again just trying to ignore the negatives in the matter, and focus on the positives, which all seemed to boil down to one thing - I was trained.

It was quite unusual but the morning of the race dawned 42 degrees, quite chilly, but I maintained that I would only run in a sport bra and shorts. It was a good choice. I never even felt the cold, and by mile 2 I was flying down those hills just enjoying the breeze. I was thankful for the gloves, and thankful for not wearing anything that I had to take off and carry or worry about. It was just me and the road, and running, and that's how I like it. The first mile was congested and slow, but the next 3 miles flew by and before I knew it I was halfway through. There were about 3 times that I briefly had thoughts that I couldn't hold the pace and I should just slow down, but I tried my best to dispel them and just keep moving. I was quite surprised to find a pretty good uphill at mile 10 and it was a difficult thing mentally. Everything I had heard was that the last 4 miles were flying downhill. There is nothing for it though, it's you and the course. You really can't depend on what you hear, you have to just use it as a gauge. The last time that I had a PR race, my last 2 miles were close to 7:00 flat, but I just did not have that in me this go-round. I suppose I wasted those on the 6:45 5th mile, and the 7:06 8th mile, but that is in the history books now. It never ceases to amaze me how long you can see the finish line clock and how slowly the seconds tick by as you come down the chute. I remember seeing the clock at 1:34:XX and thinking it was so cool, but it was 1:36:15 gun time by the time I crossed, and 1:35:49 chip time. A great race for me, though I know I could have run faster last Spring. This is the first 1/2 marathon in which I did not run a single split over 8:00.

I'm happy. I did not have any emotional fits because it wasn't a huge surprise according to my fitness, but I am happy to have returned to this place and feel confident that 2008 will bring great things in the running aspect and fond family memories.

Just Stuff

Well I am back to the Internet world after a great visit with my sistah and all of her little people. ha. We looked at many houses, ate many cookies, drank much tea, and laughed over kid-sayings. Good times.

Ran 70:00 easy today, and was followed by a couple of dogs. I can't stand being followed by dogs. It drives me nutso. Anyway, it was a very comfortable run, although not fast at all. I guess I do not care very much because I have 2 doubles coming up on Thurs. and Fri., as well as plenty of tempo work to do on Saturday. Time enough for the hard stuff. I like to enjoy the easy stuff. In the mean time I'll try to come up with something worth reading.

Ewwwwwwwww

Nasty day out there. When I left to run, it was 52 degrees, not bad, but very humid. Danielle went with me and we took off to warm up, and I didn't really feel like it was going to be a good day, so I was surprised to start off at a 7:20 pace and it felt comfortable, so I stayed with it. Unfortunatlely, during the run, the sun came out and the temps shot up about 15 degrees, retaining our 100% humidity, or 400%, whatever it was. So I ended up with a 7:32 pace for the 40:00 tempo run, a little dissapointing, but I feel that if it hadn't been so humid I would have done much better. So overall, still not a terrible run, but then again, I was so much faster the beginning of the year, so that is still somewhat frustrating for me.. Not a very positive post, eh?

In other news, Ethan finally tested his boundaries enough to find out what happens in the Lantz home when disrespect happens. He made fun of his teacher today, so he has been pretty much grounded all night and he received a spanking and was required to write his teacher an apology note. He's grounded to his room, poor kid, I feel bad for him, but I just don't want him to grow up to be disrespectful, and hopefully he will remember this for some time.

It's good to be back

I guess I consider today sort of a mark of being "back" to running. I have not missed a day since Oct. 25th, and I have run over 50 miles per week for a month. I had a 95:00 run on tap today and estimated that I would get in 10.5 miles, and surprised myself by getting in 11.3 miles with the last 2 miles at 7:38 and 7:32. It seems like last time I was running 50 mpw, it was harder for me, or made me more tired. I don't really feel very drained to be honest. Of course, I am not running very much "meat" right now, just a tempo and a few intervals through the week, and my "long runs" are not very long, but still. It's good. I feel really good.

The weather has been downright weird, and it doesn't feel very Christmasy, if you want to know the truth. It was 50 degrees and fog as thick as pea soup when I ran this morning. The temp was great, but I could have done without the "mist."

meh, this is getting boring..... zzzzzzzzzzzz...........

Brrrr!

You know, I think we are all a bunch of wusses in Arkansas. It's freaking 40 degrees out there and we're all huddled up inside talking about how cold it is. I'll wear shorts to run in down to about 20 degrees for the most part, but how often does that happen? Not much as it seems like our climate is slowly moving closer to Tropical. The warmer the winters get, the bigger babies we are. Before you know it, we'll be whining about 60 degrees, wishing it were 80. Yesterday, it was supposed to be in the mid-sixties and we topped out at 38. It seems like my run was over before I ever got warm. Then there is the big question of over dressing for a run. You do not want to overdress for a run because if you overdress, you will get sweaty, and when you get sweaty, that cold 35 degree, 15 mph breeze suddenly becomes quite COLD and you suddenly find yourself in a similar situation to running in a cold rain. Wah! Cry me a river. Seriously though, this is the time of year I love to run. I can always run faster and get warmer, but in the summer, there is no escaping the heat!

These Two are not Related.

The Circle

There is a circle that exists in running and it happens thus: You train hard, you start to get grouchy and negative and tired, you get injured, that makes you mad, then you accept it and move through it. Then you heal, and you can run again which is exciting and fun and you just want to be out running all the time, so you do. Then you start to get tired and grouchy, and then you.....

I am in the exciting phase right now - I am not hurting any more and running finally feels good again. My legs feel strong, my air is coming easily and I am enjoying every minute of moving my legs. To be fair and honest, I have healed faster and more completely than the last time I got hurt. I am not sure if that is because I was more relaxed about it, or didn't hurt myself as badly this time, or what? You tell me. Regardless, I am thankful. Here is where I turn all mushy and junk. I think this is what injury is for. It's a time to take a break and bring you back to a more thankful frame of mind, quit taking advantage of what you have. Sit up and appreciate what you have been given. Give thanks to your Creator for making your amazing body in such a way that it can heal itself. Be thankful for the knowledge available to you on nutrition, massage, rest, fuel, all of the things that keep us on the roads. In my own journey, when I lose sight of these things, I will become negative and unappreciative, and this leads to my injuries. I will not lie, I have made bad choices that have no doubt contributed to being hurt, but the rest of what I have written is truth. We have these gifts, whether we notice them or not. Our humanity is really His Miracle, there for us all to see.

Anyone who knows me also knows that I am not going to be all rainbows and butterflies all the time because that's just not real life. Stuff happens, we get down, and we don't want to get back up again. Today, however, I see the bright side of life, and I am thankful for that perspective.

p.s., someone should take away running because it's obviously done damage to my brain. Perhaps permanent damage.