Running like a girl and other bits of training

When last I wrote, I was recovering from the NYC marathon. It was truly an experience. I told my coach, I think she was sending hypnotizing mind waves through the phone as we talked, that I would consider doing the Marine Corps. Marathon in DC this October. I know she was, otherwise WHY would I agree to such a crazy thing??? I have until next summer to reneg. We shall see about it.

Anyway, my husband and I are signed up for technique classes all off season long through Endorphin fitness. We finally made it to a running class on Wednesday night. I loved it. First of all a bunch of my running buddies from my previous class were there. Brian, Fred and Tom are a hoot to run with. Second of all, it's outside so you don't have to worry about overheating. It was a perfectly chilly 48 or so degrees on Wednesday. I actually was pretty frosty, then we did our 10 minute warm up. It was really nice. I got to hear Fred's stories about the Ironman he and his wife did the same weekend we ran the marathon. Fred you and Charlotte are such BEASTS and I mean that with total awe and admiration dripping from every pore!!! Brian ran the NYC marathon too. So we got to chat about that. Funny, I never could talk while I ran before. I think running for almost 5 hours of my life put my lungs into a totally different category of functioning. My legs too. I was like 10 mins of running???? Really now, I could do that with both legs tied behind my back, hahahaha! There'd be a sight for sure.

Anyway, we warmed up, and went back to our two coaches. One is my coach, HI BRENDA, I know you're reading my blog so I though I'd give you a shout out. And the other was a very nice guy named Bob. I think it was Bob, I could be wrong, but I think his name was Bob. He had an Ironman hat on and an Endorphin Fitness sweatshirt, so I know it wasn't some random guy who decided to teach the class. Some hobo with nothing to do but make a bunch of people sprint around like idiots.

To get back to my original thought there, we went back to the coaches who had us line up on one end of the football field. We were practicing our form tonight. So we had to remember to not slouch, lean at our ankles, and land on the middle of our foot. Kind of like the ball of it, but not on your toes. Not unless you want a world of hurt. We had to balance on one foot, things like that, all to drill the proper form into our heads.

It was so cool out there, and I was feeling awesome. All of my running buddies were around, my husband was next to me and Brenda was one of the coaches. The perfect storm in my running world. Brenda had us running 50 yards practicing this or that drill regarding our form. I was all focused, and really trying. I wasn't intentionally running in the front of the pack of the 15 in our group. I was just trying. But I was out in front, cause the next thing you know I hear my husband's noisy sweatpants swooshing for all they were worth and another person busting it on my other side. Fred and my husband were trying to catch me. Hmmm, must be a male testosterone-y thing, you were being housed by a girl! Oooooooooooo, you want some ice for that burn boys????? That was it! It was ON BIGTIME. Brenda got laughing she saw what they were up to. Then Tom threw himself into the mix, I should mention Brian is running the Richmond Marathon this weekend so he was just doing many, many laps to our technique drills. I had my I know I Run Like A Girl Shirt on that I wore to the Marathon. When the guys were busting it to keep up with me, they started to tease me about how I ran like a girl. It was all in good fun, I do believe I heard a bunch of admiration when they teased me. At one point after many, many 50 yard drills, Brenda and Bob had us run the inside, grassy perimeter of the track. I took off, and was eating up the weather. It was perfect for me, I couldn't overheat if I tried, MS be damned, you will not touch me tonight!! It felt so good, then all of the sudden, as I was in my happy place and feeling sort of invincible, the peanut gallery of male runners started cat calling to me. BWAHAHAHAHA! Run, run as fast as I can, you boys can't catch me I'm like the gingerbread man!!!!!!!!

After that lap, we did what seemed like ten thousand more 50 yard drills. Each time the bunch of us getting faster and faster. I think our coaches loved it. We were so enthusiastic, laughing, bantering, it was AWESOME! I had so much fun, I can't begin to tell you. The only disappointing thing was we didn't get to do the barefoot striders. Too cold and the grass was sort of wet, so maybe next week. Unfortunately Brad won't be there, boo!!!! I love running with him. But my other buddies will. We are trying to plan a get together with a glass of wine or beer and the spouses and/or girlfriends too. I would love it.

We swam a bunch yesterday, that was my other bit of training. Actually, we did weights, it is absolutely hysterical to watch me bench press anything, then we road these nifty new bikes they have at Am Fam. It has a screen, you pick a course and you race other riders. We did a couple of miles of that, then we hit the pool. I did 30 full laps, which makes for 1500 yards. It felt really good. Once I found my rhythm I could have kept going. I didn't though, I hadn't been swimming in a bit, so I needed to remember how I would feel the next day, being today. My shoulders hurt and my lats, but that's good. Means I was using proper form and the right muscle groups as I pulled through the water.

I think I forgot to mention that my coach wants me to qualify for the Boston marathon this year. Is she nuts???? The marine corps marathon is a qualifier for Boston. That would mean me running the whole thing in like 3 hours and 30 minutes. It took almost 2 hours longer to do for NY, will a year of training really be enough to do that I wonder???? Where she get that type of faith in me, I have no idea!

I am training for a 10 mile trail run. Brad entered us in the Bear Creek 10 miler in a few weeks. It is supposed to be wickedly hairy and I am guaranteed a personal worst! That's what a group of Brad's triathlon friends said about it. I am so excited, the people we are going with (another group of really fun people), a personal worst, you can't beat that with a stick, or beat me at running clinic when I am running like a girl....