What is wrong with USATF?

So this past weekend, I watched the US Indoor T&F championships.  I am a track junkie as many of you know and my husband can't believe that I actually DVR and watch the meets.  Not sure it is any different from watching Daytona or the Indy 500 which he does, but I digress.  As an athlete,  I am extremely angered by the disqualification this weekend of Gabrielle Grunewald.  I've run on the indoor track and been bumped and jossled, but it appeared as if no foul really occurred and according to what I have read the USATF agreed that no foul was committed.  Then suddenly due to the power of the other's competitor's coach and the almighty powers that be in Oregon, Gabe is disqualified and the athlete she supposedly interfered with was placed on the team.  Now no fault of that particular athlete as I doubt she wanted to really stir up controversy.  Especially when I believe that there is plenty of controversy surrounding her already.  After all, this very same athlete had a "race" created for her with male pacers to make the time for last year's worlds.

Other controversy surrounded the men's race as well, as that same coach got one athlete DQ'd for blocking the lane for his athlete as he was passed.  Come on.  There were way too many men on the small track (200 m) and none of them moved aside for the faster athletes as they ran the bell lap.  That didn't seem to stop Lagat from kicking it in and winning decisively.  I so want to believe that Lagat, at 39, is still a product of genetics, but it is easy to be wary after the last decade of drug cheats in the masters and almost masters ranks.  I'm sure if any of you reader are track junkies like me, you will certainly remember the likes of Regina Jacobs and Eddy Hellenbuyck.

Our sport should be straight forward.  You run the fastest you can on that given day and sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.  Simple, easy.  What occurred on Saturday was and is a disgrace to our sport.  I used to respect said tantrum throwing coach, but not so much anymore.  As per usual, the almighty $$ wins.

And now for a retro photo from December, 1988.  Me (BAA uniform) running the 5000 m at the Harvard University Indoor Track.  I ran 18:22 that day which at the time, was a 5K Indoor PR.  I later ran 18:03 in January at the Dartmouth (NH) relays.  Ran one 5k under 18 on the roads - but that was in a 10K and the first mile was downhill (oops!).

I beat all those college kids by the way, and in 1988, I had been out of school for 5 yrs.

Edited on Monday afternoon at 5:40 PM EST:  I am happy to report that as of late this afternoon, the protest was withdrawn and Gabrielle Grunewald was re-instated as the 3K champion and will represent the US in Poland.  Jordan Hasay released a statement basically taking herself off the team as she didn't want to be a member of the team if it was not in a fair condition.  Classy for a 22 yr old who desperately wants a career as a professional runner.  Hats off to you Jordan Hasay and good luck to both Gabe and Shannon Rowbury in Poland.  You bet this track junkie will once again be watching.

Half Way There

The title refers to the fact that we (anyone training) are half way through the plan for this year's Boston Marathon.  Week ended up as pretty successful.  Rain came in on Thursday night and washed away most of the snow and then we got a bit of a warming trend so that we were able to run outside this weekend.  There was some ice which made some of the spots interesting, but for the most part, the roads, sidewalks, and all-purpose trail in the park were clear.  I changed the date of my long run to accommodate another friend running Boston, so we did 18 together (and with her fiancé) on Sunday rather than Saturday.  It was definitely a better choice as there was less ice by Sunday.  Still some slick spots but as the sun came out, most of those turned to slush or simply puddles.  I did the 18 as calorie depleted in that I did not fuel at all during the 2:46 and relied only on water and Nuun.  It was the first time that I ran that long without eating before or during the run.  I felt good and we actually picked up the pace in the 2^nd half as again the ice had melted.

On Thursday, I did end up running a solid hill workout.  These hills were done as a steady effort up, then on to the flat and then a harder run down.  It was drizzling a little, but again, the hard rain from the day had cleared off the sidewalk on the hill, so we were in luck.  Good overall run that covered 7 solid miles. 

Here is the recap:

Mon – 4 miles in Arizona

Tues – Travel home.

Wed – Easy 6 miles in the sidewalks/roads at home.  Added in the Yacht Club hill.  A bit of slush in some areas but clear for the most part.

Thurs – 7 miles with 6 x hill – up and down

Fri –Day off

Sat – Easy 8 miles.  Icy in spots which was interesting in some cases.

Sun – 18 miles in 2:46.  So at the slower end of the zone, but the 2^nd half was much faster (closer to 9:15 average) as the slick spots were less and less.

WTD:  43 miles

Interestingly enough, I ran outside everyday this past week – no indoor or treadmill miles.  I am hoping that the snow we are seeing now is just flurries and nothing sticks so I can do tomorrow’s workout on the actual outdoor track.  It is supposed to get cold again (20s), but no snow accumulation.  This weekend will be the Millcreek Half marathon on Sunday and I am planning on running 2-3 warm up miles  (depends  on how early we get there as it is a 1.5 hr drive) and then 9-10 miles at MP with the last 3 hopefully faster.  It is a hilly course (15 hills) but that is the test.

I also bought a copy of Dr. Stan’s book on training Elite Minds.  I’ve only read the 1^st chapter and a half.  I was contacted by the director of the Boston Marathon film, so that might put a bit of pressure on me as well if he uses my story.  Let's hope Dr. Stan's book helps.

56 days.

IMS Arizona Race Recap

Good weekend in Arizona.  Learned a lot about running, pacing, and especially fueling for marathons in general with the focus being on Boston of course. It was tough to be in a room with so many Dave-O/Schuey type marathoners (many sub-3 masters folks) and even a woman my age gunning to run 3:15 or better (very cool).  It was a low key group for the most part and I took away pages of notes (mostly on fueling) and a lot to think about.  In addition we all ran a fairly flat (not Chicago or Cleveland flat since there were three decent hills in the last half) half marathon and I did ultimately run the fastest time that I have run for a half since February, 2012 (1:42:57) and I placed 2nd in my AG to the aforementioned woman (who ran a 1:28!).  I had a mental lapse at mile 11.5 or so and actually walked through the small water stop at mile 12.  I know that I put a bit too much pressure on myself and lucky as I am, Greg McMillan and my McMillan coach are going to discuss some strategies to help me with this.  I experienced similar issues back when I was in peak form in the late 1980s/early 1990s, so I'm not surprised that they are back especially when the pressure is on.  I'm sure in ways that it is simply this year and the whole Boston thing from last year and in my effort to run a good race, I'm making myself just a bit crazy.   Most of you are laughing already thinking that me being crazy is nothing new - so just keep that to yourselves.  

The Boston Group after an easy recovery run.  Recapping the race, my splits were as follows:

Mile 1 - 8:05  (good start, but too much weaving around the kids)
Mile 2 - 7:39
Mile 3 - 7:38
Mile 4 - 7:39
Mile 5 - 7:40
Mile 6 - 7:42
Mile 7 - 7:39
Mile 8 - 7:46
Mile 9 - 7:49
Mile 10 - 7:54
Mile 11 - 7:56
Mile 12 - 8:25
Mile 13 - 8:05

Finish: 1:42:57  

Not too bad actually, but you can indeed see where I lost it.  Lot's of work still ahead.

This is a recovery week and I was able to run outside yesterday as it was 40F when I ran at noon.  Although it was 40F, the sidewalks were still covered in inches of snow as apparently we had another 6" on Monday night into Tuesday morning when I was returning home.  Today, several of us are hoping to get in a hill workout, but it is also supposed to rain hard so we may be forced back indoors onto the indoor track to run a tempo run.  I wish I could go out now (but I'm actually listening in on a conference call as I type this - oops).  

Long runs start soon.    60 days until April 21st.  

It snowing again - so what's new?

Yup, it is snowing again and I just came back from enjoying a crazy 6 mile run in it.  And I'm not the only one who is crazy since I was with several other crazy runners.  We just feel like we have been so cooped up and everyone is so stir crazy that we have to run oust side when we can.  And we have to go early because after all, the Olympics are on!  I'm such an Olympic junkie whether it be winter or summer so I am either taping or watching every minute that I can.  I can say without a doubt that the US Women's Hockey team is pretty darn awesome and that they could beat a bad NHL (and maybe even a good one) team.  It is cool too that one of the women (Molly Schaus) actually grew up in my hometown (one of the US men was born there as well).  And many of them have ties to the Northeast having gone to school there.  Of course, the Canadian team is comprised of several women with NE college ties as well.  Just watching the competition; however, makes you want to get outside.

And as well as an Olympics junkie, I am also a track junkie and I was pretty astonished by the gaff that Jenny Simpson made yesterday during the 2 mile event at the New Balance Indoor Games yesterday in Boston.  I cannot imagine how a decorated and Olympic, World medalist can miss count laps.  Especially when there is an electronic lap counter and a bell to signify the last lap.  What a complete cluster and total lack of concentration.  I'm certainly not world class and counting indoor laps when you are as slow as I is tough, but I'm not sure that I'd do that on a world stage.  I'm sure she felt pretty stupid when that was over. Oops!

This was also a week of controversy involving The Biggest Loser.  Watching this TV show is a guilty pleasure of mine and I did so want Rachel to win, but I also hope that what appears to be extreme weight loss was done to secure the $250K.  After all, she is my height and now weighs 15 lbs less than I.  If I weighed that little, I think even my thin and slightly eating disordered running friends would be bringing me in for an intervention.  I hope that we see her in the future with a few more pounds on that 5'4" frame.

Back to my week of running though as there are now 70 days left until Boston.  This was a bit of a taper week before the half marathon that I will be racing next weekend outside Phoenix.  I'm actually a bit worried about the weather as it will probably be 50F - 50F might feel like 80F to me since the warmest it has been around here in a long time is 25F!  This was a lower mileage week with only 38 total miles, but I had an awesome tempo run on Thursday.  I was a bit apprehensive considering it required 3-4 miles at 7:50 or so pace.  Now I figured I was up for it to some degree as things have felt pretty good, so I chose the indoor track again to do the workout.  Well, I did nail it which was very nice and it felt effortless.  My 4 tempo miles were actually 7:50, 7:39, 7:24, and 6:59.  It sure did help that I was able to chase down Brittany and Karyn in that 4th mile as I knew that would change my focus from the watch to how I felt.  And I felt good -yeah!

But alas back to the snow for the last two days and a lovely picture from the Cottonwood parking lot.  We ran 13 easy miles from there yesterday (cut short as we had two folks with hurting feet).  Most of the run was on the "drier" road and it was before it started to snow again and leave us with the 3" we have now.

And again, 70 more days.

It's February!

It is finally February, so we are leaving the nasty January winter behind us, right?  No, neither General Lee or Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early Spring and well putting all of one's eggs into a rodent's basket doesn't necessarily make sense anyway.  That being said, they (the weather powers that be and they can certainly be wrong) are predicting another storm for Tuesday night into Wednesday with 5-7 inches (and I've heard 6-10") of snow.  I had hoped that because I didn't go to New Orleans to run, that this wouldn't happen.  After all, the first time I went to New Orleans to run the Mardi Gras half back in 2005, I returned to Cleveland and it snowed everyday (1-2") for the next two weeks.  Shannon was in 5th grade, and I would shovel the driveway at least twice per day so she could walk to the bus stop.  And well, my Dad would probably kill me if I didn't shovel in spite of the fact that someone does/will/should eventually plow me out.  One of my biggest winter beefs is that no one seems to shovel their driveways or sidewalks any more.  I guess the kids that walk to school when the weather is good get driven or take the bus in the winter.  Not sure what this is teaching the next generation.  But I digress, I went to New Orleans in late February last year to run and we did have several more snowy weekend runs, but I didn't go this year.  Wasn't that supposed to take care of that issue???  Maybe it took care of the infamous "Polar Vortex" and it won't be single digit temperatures anymore.  I do though remember February, 1978 and the "Blizzard of '78" which kept us out of school for 3 wks and had Massachusetts in a State of Emergency for at least a week.  Then Governor Dukakis would come on the TV screen in his sweaters and beg everyone to conserve energy, delivered emergency notices with the word that it would be alright soon.  I guess all that National exposure as the Northeast thawed out set him up for that Presidential bid in the late 80s.

February started off with a bang anyway, but at least it was 40F on Saturday even in the rain.  We did get to run outside in the sleet, but rather than have a great day, my computer hard drive crashed and now I am typing on a new one and waiting for Carbonite to restore all my back up files.  It should be done by Thursday.  Yikes!  Oh what fun losing a hard drive can be and the computer was only a bit over 3 yrs old.  I guess electronics are indeed disposal these days.  

Of course the 40 degree temps were only a short reprieve as yesterday morning, we woke up once again to about 2" of snow.  I wimped out and ran inside as being a hamster is OK sometimes.  Tonight, I plan to run outside with Army Mike because I'm not sure I'll have that opportunity for the rest of the week.  At least running inside, it is warm, and I'll be getting some heat training for my upcoming half marathon in Phoenix.  I doubt that it will be cold and snowy there (but then again who knows!).

As far as stats go, I did end up running more miles (160) in January 2014 than last year.  I even got in a few quality miles once I started to head indoors.  I do worry that the slow per mile times outside might not be beneficial, but it is about time on one's feet or that is what they say.  I guess that did get me to mile 26.1 last year and I only walked through water stops.

In 76 days, we will see.

January 2014

Definitely getting my running self back as last night's run proved.  I ran like a hamster many laps (90) around the indoor track in Rocky River and completed a very decent 7.5 mile Progression Run.  My mile splits were: 8:46; 8:23; 8:11; 8:08; 7:56; 7:38;7:32.  Everything felt good and I even managed 5 chin ups in the gym after the run when we were cooling down (I went with three other women from the 2nd Sole Group).  I am already so over running over snow and ice and I'm just hoping to stay injury free through April.  Running over ice and snow is not really accomplishing anything.

At least now, when we drive by the RR Rec Center, I can tell Shannon that I ran there.

This morning I went to that early morning core class.  5:50 am is really challenging these days.  Seems like a long time ago when I would get up at 5:00 am to meet Sally and Karla at 5:25 in the Dunwoody Starbucks parking lot so that we could get in a good 5-6 miler before we had to get the kids up from school.  I got very out of practice once Shannon could drive herself and I didn't have to race to an office any more.  In spite of the ungodly start time, the class has really made me stronger (hence the 5 chin ups last night) and I've combined it with working with a Trainer (thanks, Jake) to work on my core and all those other imbalances. Just trying to stay ahead of the curve.

No run today and praying for no snow either so that I might be able to run outside with the group tomorrow morning.  Wouldn't that be a nice change of pace.  Of course, these last few days might be the only ones in the last two years where I was glad not to be living in Atlanta, GA any more.

Boston Bomber

Last year my life was affected in a way that I could not imagine would ever happen.  And although I'm pretty rational and nothing physically happened to me, I still think about that day and what could have been.  I am a runner, and I've run 45 marathons and soon (God willing) to be 46 in April and countless other races - half marathons, 10Ks, 5Ks, 15Ks, 10 milers - you name it.  I've run pretty consistently for over 30 years and it is a part of me.  I used to be "fast" back in the day but I can still hold my own in my age group.  Running defines me to some extent.  In fact, the title of this blog is taken from a joke that I have with my own daughter.  When we travel to a place where I have run a race, I will say to her, "Mom ran here", and it has become our own little inside laugh and bond over the years.  However, I was not prepared for the events of last April 15th.

You see today, I found out that the Boston Marathon Bomber is to be tried and if found guilty, the prosecutors will press for the death penalty.  I have very mixed emotions regarding this.  I was there, at mile 26, when the 2nd bomb went off.  I had heard the first, but kept going, but I saw the 2nd explosion.  I remember noise and fire and thinking that someone on the sidewalk got hurt.  I remember people running back at me and police telling us to get off the road.  I caught a singed twenty dollar bill that flew at me in the whirlwind,  and I remember hiding in a parking garage and using a strangers phone to check in with my parents (who live around mile 12) and my daughter whom I had just stopped to hug at mile 24.5.

I'm a rational being - an engineer by trade and not a super emotional person.  But I still think of the what ifs from that day?  What if I had been in better shape and run faster? What if I hadn't stopped? What if I hadn't old my daughter and her friends to go the the BU area rather than the finish? What if?

The death penalty is a tricky thing.  It is one thing to get the monster off the earth and another to think he may be martyred because of it.  He is guilty, there is no doubt in my mind.  Heck, my friend's son has a video of him walking away from the site.  And I would love to see him rot in prison with his legs amputated so that he has to learn to live the way many of his victims do.  But I also don't think that any good taxpayer should have to pay for him to rot there.  For him to get an education or for him to file a billion appeals to get an "out of jail free card" on some technicality.  We live in a great country.  One that allows us to express such thoughts and to remain innocent until proven without a doubt that you are guilty.  But it is this same country that he and his brother wished to denigrate and bring down.

I'll stop for now as I feel much better.  After all, it is time for me to go "run there".