Week 7 Wrap Up!

Another great week of training!  The cold has been a little challenging (in the sense that I don't like to be cold!) :)  With my recovery run tomorrow, I am hoping to close out the week with about 41 miles for the week.  This may be a milestone, but as Kris has repeatedly mentioned, we can't be sure since keeping a running log has never been my strength- until now.  The temps ranged from 18 to 33 degrees this week, and believe it or not, I actually got a little toasty on some of the runs- I am still working on dressing strategy.  I have determined that I have one jacket that should only come out in the teens or on a blustery day....it really stinks to overheat during a run.

HILL REPEATS
So, Coach Ian has me doing Hill Repeats, and training buddy Tracey is the rabbit I chase up the hill, over and over.  It was about 21 degrees, and I was sweating before we even reached the hill- NOT a good sign.  The gloves are always the first to go for me, so I tossed the gloves off the side of the road onto the golf cart crossing and away we went- over and over (x 8).  The first hill was a struggle, and our slowest...I think it takes a hill for my legs to understand what my brain is asking!  After repeat 4, I was TIRED and out of breath, and thinking that the hill seems soooo much shorter on the way down than it does on the way up!  Time to call on the suck it up factor, because I am only halfway.  So that is what we do, turn and go, turn and go (and Tracey and I are sure the father and son that wait for the bus at the top of "our" hill think we are absolutely crazy- especially since I can barely breathe when we get to the top).  On the way down from repeat 6, I was starting to get REALLY tired and had that constant I am running hard stomach feeling (the kind where you aren't sure the banana will stay down!).  We finally hit number 7 and I said aloud as we reached the bottom...."I have suck it up factor, okay, so suck it up and let's go!"....this was to remind myself as we hit the last hill repeat...and away we went.  Once again, the last one was the fastest.  Coach Ian said I should have my hands on my knees when I finish this workout, and I think we have success!!!!  And those gloves that I tossed before we started, they were gone?????  Where could they have gone????  I am guessing that the couple we saw walking the golf course thought that someone tossed them or lost them- so I ran home with VERY cold hands....new gloves went on the Christmas list immediately!

I ran with Mark on Friday for a nice easy run....Mark is training for his first marathon- and he chose the Black Mountain marathon.  Wow, talk about ambition.... :)  Mark led the way for our easy run and we ran a lot of the golf course.  Good thing I brought the flashlight!  As we were running, Mark said, "Wow, you really took that black ice with confidence, Val."  To which I responded, "Hmm, well I suppose I was confident- I didn't know there was black ice!"  Oopsie...Looking forward to more runs with Mark!  (Keep that knee healthy, buddy!)

Saturday morning was another fabulous run with the girls...tons of people at the park this weekend.  We ran off and on with various groups, but mostly Steph, KO, Teresa (for the first 7 miles) and I used this time to catch up some from the week.  Kris even joined us for, oh about, 50 feet!  He said that was all he could take of the girl chatter and left us in his dust again!  I think I did a better job dressing for the weather today, as the only article that kept getting tossed off (and put back on) were the gloves.  Of course, after the run during the recovery breakfast was a totally different story- BRRRRRR.  During the week, my coldest time is after the shower....so I have learned to love using the space heater and hair dryer together!

Recovering after the Sat AM run!  Rich, KO, Val, Steph

Rich is doing the Frosty 50k in January, also! (He has also completed Comrades- wow!)  I think we have KO convinced as well.

Looking forward to the HOHOHO Frodown Christmas party tonight!  After a nice 16 miler, I could use some good entertainment- hope I can squeeze my feet into those fabulous shoes.


Picture of the week:

Beth- at her birthday dinner celebration Tuesday night.  As you can see, we closed the restaurant down...oops.  Beth had ALL of her new bling on, as noted by the scarf, neck warmer, earrings, bracelets, etc.!  Happy Birthday, Beth :)

Quote of the week (said in jest, of course):
"Well, if they can't like me as much as I like myself....."  Love it, Tracey!