More on the half

The organizers of the Big Sur Half Marathon say the Nov. 20 race will have "the deepest ladies field ever." Last year Blake was the official starter and then took Quin for pancakes while her husband pounded out 13 miles along the Monterey Bay. This year Blake is entered, hoping the race will help her training for the Olympic Marathon Trials. Last year Belainesh Gebre, 23, shattered the course record, running 1 hour, 9 minutes and 43 seconds. Also in the field this year is Magdalena Lewy-Boulet, the Olympic marathoner who won the Wharf to Wharf this year.

This week's column: Full on marathon mode

It seems like just yesterday that my husband Jon and I were bringing our newborn son home from the hospital. I felt I had all the time in the world to recover from child birth and get ready for the next Olympic Trials. Quin is 2 and half now, and boy has the time flown by. I have had more than my fair share of bumps in the road since Quin was born, but now things seem to be falling into place just in time. I have been training hard these last few months, but now that the Trials are 11 weeks away we are in full marathon mode. That means increasing the number of miles I run each week, which seems to make workouts and long runs take forever.

This past weekend I decided to treat myself and take a little more time to drive to one of my favorite parks, Nisene Marks in Aptos. It’s about a 45 minute ride from the Pacific Grove homebase, but well worth it.

Before Quin was born, Jon, Coach Sev and I ventured up there every Sunday. It was always a nice change to run through the redwoods and on trails that wind up to a scenic lookout point. This time of year is especially nice with the leaves changing colors and the cool air because of the dense trees.

So Sunday I left Jon and Quin eating waffles and met Sev to drive up there for our run. We parked in our usual spot, and I started off down the road to do one of my loops. I decided to go up the West Ridge trail which takes me about an hour and 6 minutes to get to the top. I come back down on a windy fire road. Despite not having run this loop in years, I still remembered every turn and every root I used to trip on.

It’s nice to see some things don’t change. It’s quite a tough first hour with all the uphill, and I am a little obsessive about trying to reach the top in a good time. My legs were really burning by the time I reached the lookout point, but then I knew I had a good chunk of downhill to recover.

I made it back to the parking lot feeling good and strong. As I was stretching, a couple ran by me and I heard the man say tell his partner what the strategy for their run was: “We’re going to start slow, then in the middle we are going to run slow, and at the end we are going to keep running slow.” His partner and I both laughed. I like it, but I can’t afford to run slow right now and take in all the scenery.

With one of the deepest women’s marathon fields ever assembled for January’s Olympic Trials, slow and steady will not win the race.

I pulled in the driveway at home just as Jon and Quin were coming back from the beach on a beautiful 80 degree day.

“You have a good run, Mama?” Quin asked.

“Yes, I did munchkin.”

I still can’t believe Quin is speaking in full sentences and is a little boy now. But, it will be years before he understands why I am doing all this running. I’ll probably tell him I wanted one more shot to do something special.

Fitting it all in

Thanks to Coach Sev for working out early this morning around Lover's Point, so I could get to a very important function- the Carmel Halloween Parade. I made it home just as Jon and Quin were getting in the car. Luckily, Quin already had on his Halloween costume and was ready to go. It was a fun morning, followed by some early trick or treating at Carmel Plaza. I am surprised Quin still took his usual nap with the sugar high. I guess there is some truth to a sugar crash. Mom jumped into bed as well:)

big sur half, here we come

Yep, Blake has entered the Big Sur Half Marathon in her (adopted) hometown of Pacific Grove on Nov. 20. This year's race is packed with elite runners. Blake says she's planning to run hard, but not to expect a peak performance. Her training is focused on her giving her best performance at January's Olympic trials.
 

Something special

“You have a good run, Mama?” Quin asked.
  “Yes, I did munchkin.”
   I still can’t believe Quin is speaking in full sentences and is a little boy now. But, it will be years before he understands why I am doing all this running. I’ll probably tell him I wanted one more shot to do something special.

Now in full marathon mode

It seems like just yesterday that Jon and I were bringing newborn Quin home from the hospital, and I felt I had all the time in the world to get ready for the next Olympic Trials. He is 2 1/2 now, and boy has time flown by. I have had more than my fair share of bumps in the road since Quin was born, but now things seem to be falling into place just in time. I have been training hard these last few months, but now that the Trials are 11 weeks away we are in full marathon mode which means a little higher mileage and workouts and long runs that take forever.

No Quin, Coach Sev isn't wearing a halloween mask in this picture from the article in Monday's Herald. He's doing it all for science. Read more here

No slow and steady here

After a long run today, I made it back to to the parking lot feeling good and strong. As I was stretching, a couple ran by me and I heard the man tell his partner their strategy:  “We’re going to start slow, then in the middle we are going to run slow, and at the end we are going to keep running slow.” She and I both laughed. I like it, but too bad I can’t afford to run slow right now and take in all the scenery. With one of the deepest women’s marathon fields ever assembled for January's Olympic Trials, slow and steady will not win the race.

Cross Coutntry in Toro Park

I love going out to Toro Park, and yesterday was the first time I had been there as a spectator. It's a great venue for cross country and the runners couldn't have asked for a more perfect fall day. Quin was into the first race, but then his attention turned to the leaves and trees. Boys will be boys.

And so it begins

I can't believe I have officially started marathon training. It feels like just yesterday that Jon and I were bringing Quin home from the hospital, and I felt like I had all the time in the world before the Trials. Regardless, I am in marathon mode and looking forward to some hard, fun workouts. This morning I went out to Toro Park, one of my favorite places to run. Though majority of my run was in the fog, I actually ran high enough to see the sun. I did not see my usual herd of cows, but I did trip and almost land in a big pile of poop. Later this afternoon, Coach Bev, and Quin and I are headed back out to Toro Park to cheer on the PG High Cross Country Team.

A solid performance

Seven years ago in Minneapolis I raced my first marathon and won.I returned there two weeks ago badly in need of a good performance. This year’s USA 10 Mile Championships was on the last 10 miles of the marathon course, so I was excited to get back on it. But I was also desperate for another positive racing experience, especially since my last race was horrible. The heat and humidity in New Haven had forced me to drop out during the race. Before that I had an OK performance at the Falmouth 10K and before that I had been forced to withdraw during the Boston Marathon. Even before that I had been forced withdraw from the New York marathon before it even started because of an injury.

My coach and I knew that I really needed to have a solid race before we started the long journey to January's Olympic Trials in Houston. Getting to New Haven had been a nightmare of delays, being stranded in airports and red-eye flights. I was determined not to repeat that. I left for Minnesota two days early to give myself a travel cushion. Except for some small delays, I had a smooth trip.

I arrived just before sunset on the Friday before the Sunday race, just in time to squeeze in a short run. As I ran along the bike path next to the river, I remembered how nice the fall can be in the Midwest. The trees were all changing colors and the air had a crispness to it that is hard to describe. Fall weather always makes me think of my college cross country days in North Carolina — the bright sun, cool weather and the smell of grass and dew.

I rarely have a day to myself with nothing to do, but that was the case Saturday. I went on a short run and did some fast strides, then settled into my room to relax. Race weekends are usually festive and fun. The meets usually have a hospitality suite for us to get some light meals, snacks, and hangout. It never feels like a race until I eat my weight in peanut M&Ms. Darn them and their big bags.

My workouts have been going well, but I was a little worried about how I would feel with a 7 a.m. start because of the two-hour time difference between Minnesota and California. I usually get up three hours before a race, so this meant 4 a.m., which really felt like 2 a.m. Since I couldn't fall asleep until midnight, I decided to not to do my usual light run when I woke up. I heard someone else’s alarm go off next door followed by a loud groan. I thought, "I’m with you there."
The good thing about racing is that race morning, adrenaline and routine take over. Before I knew it, we were on the starting line listening to the national anthem.

The women had a seven minute head-start over the men in order to make it a competition among the sexes to see who could get to the finish line first and get a cash bonus. As we wound around the streets of Minneapolis, nothing looked familiar to me. Eventually our pack of 20 dwindled down to five by the 5-mile mark. By mile seven it was three of us. The eventual winner, Janet Cherbonan a new American citizen, put on a surge. I was running neck and neck with Julie Culley the current 5k Champion until she pulled away with a mile to go. I finished a strong third with a time of 54 minutes and 40 seconds, roughly a 5:29 mile pace a on hilly course. The men won, again.

This last week I took a much needed physical and mental break. It was great timing since the in-laws were in town. We managed to hit the steam train in Felton, the beach several times and even picked grapes at a vineyard. Planned downtime from running is rejuvenating. It took about five days before I got the itch to run again. With about three months until the Olympic Trails, I have a lot of work to do, but I am looking forward to getting as fit as possible.

Frightful flights

The nightmare of New Haven started with a flight delay, a long wait at the San Francisco Airport and, eventually, a red eye flight east. With that in mind, I left two days early for Minnesota for the 10-mile championship to give myself a travel cushion. The flights went fairly smoothly, at least compared to New Haven, and I got to the hotel just before sunset. I quickly put on my running shoes and headed out for a short run on a bike path along the river. I had forgotten how nice the fall can be in other parts of the country. The trees were all changing colors and the air had a crispness to it that is hard to describe

Looking back at Minnesota race

In this week's column Blake recounts last week's third place finish at the USA 10 mile championship in Minnesota. It was a crucial race for her for several reasons:
  "It was seven years ago in Minneapolis that I raced my first marathon and won. This year’s 10 Mile Championships was on the last 10 miles of the marathon course, so I was excited to get back on it. But, aside from having a positive experience there years ago, I was desperate for another seeing that my last race was horrible. I had died a miserable death in the heat and humidity at the 20K in New Haven last month. My coach and I knew that I really needed to have a solid race before we started the long journey to the Olympic Trials in Houston."

Time off

After my 10 Mile race last weekend, I planned to take about a week off of running. I usually take some time between seasons to give myself as much a mental break as a physical break. It's nice to be taking time off as planned rather than taking forced time off from injury. Since I usually never take days off from running, I have been looking forward to my break. But, it usually only takes a few days before I am eager to get out the door again. Monday starts official training and soon I will be diving into marathon training.

This week has been relaxing and fun with the in-laws in town. We have spent time on the beach, done a steam train ride at Roaring Camp and even helped some friends pick grapes at their private vineyard. Quin was surprisingly good with his cutters for a 2 and half year old. We all managed to leave with all our fingers intact and had a great time.

10 Mile USA Championships

Ijust got back from a short trip to Minneapolis for the 10 Mile USA Road Championships. I am happy to report that I am pleased with the race and finished 3rd overall in a solid field of competition. There was a large group of about 15 women until about the 5 mile mark where the race broke down to about five. By mile 7, we were down to 3 and gradually Janet Cherobon, the eventual winner and current 20k Champions pulled away to win in 54:15. Julie Culley finished 2nd in 54:28 and is the current 5k USA Champion. I rounded out number three in 54:44 roughly 5:29 mile pace.

Results and a video of the finish can be found here.
http://www.runnerspace.com/video.php?video_id=54237-Mens-and-Womens-Finish-Live-Webcast-Replay-USA-10-Mile-Championships-2011

Early report from Minnesota

Strong showing by Blake in Minnesota, finishing third in elite 10 miler. "Happy. Good effort," she reported in an early morning text. Now, onto a plane for home to be welcomed back by her "boys." She promises to post more later.

Looking good for Minnesota race

Imagine Blake's surprise (or horror) at seeing her editor in the Monterey airport at 5 a.m. before flying off to compete in the weekend's Medtronic 10 mile race in Minneapolis. Purely coincidence, Editor Dave and wife were off to Toronto to visit their daughter. Other than the surprise sighting, Blake's flights seemed to go smoothly, a good sign considering the disaster that was the Falmoth trip.  The 10-miler has a Sunday 10 a.m. start. Good luck Blake.