6 hr run.

So I'm all signed up for the 6 hr race that takes place in a couple weeks.

I'm not signed up for the Hagg Lake Mudd run two weeks following the Pier Park run. It conflicts with a Color Guard competition my son will be in on the same day. I don't know the schedule for the competition, or even the location yet. So I'm iffy on that one. Registration for Hagg Lake tops out at 350 runners, so if I can run it, there is some question as to whether or I'll be able to register. Anyway,we'll see, so that's the short term plans.

Thus far I've got in a little over 52 miles this week. Next week I will keep my long run a bit shorter, and then hopefully I will be ready the next week to keep the engine running for 6 hours. It should be fun no matter what. That's what it's all about.

I leave you with a sling-shot master. Rufus, (the bean shooter man) says, "I'm not a show-off, I just give you the facts." I like that.

Sharing my discovery

This morning I tried a new ingredient in my morning protein shake.

I don't always do a shake in the morning, but I had one after this morning's run because I didn't feel like eating anything else.

The fact is, I ate some fries last night on the way home from church and that's like a twice a year thing for me.I recently bought some sweetriot cacao beans to try out. By the way, all sweet riot products are awesome.

So I just basically threw about 3 beans in and blended it into the shake. It was really good. The beans have no sugar--they are just raw cacao beans so when you throw them in they are similar to crushed espresso beans in consistency.Put them in what you like, but this is what I did.

A scoop of protein powder. I used a brand available at Costco right now.

Some water and/or milk (or whatever kind of milk you prefer, or sometimes I use a small amount of orange juice)

Some frozen fruit. (I used some strawberries. I also frequently use bananas, blueberries or mangos.)Also, often I will put in a teaspoon or so of coconut oil. (use a quality brand) This gives the shake a creamy consistency. At cooler temperatures coconut oil is solid like butter or even harder, so make sure you blend it long enough or you will have a ball of hard oil in your shake.

Oh, and some ice. I like my shake really cold.

Try the beans, they are awesome. You can get some over at Zombierunner.

In which my super-immunity powers are lost.

I haven't had a cold in many months. The last time I was concerned about getting one was back before the Portland Marathon at the beginning of October. All of my kids had come down with cold so of course, I was concerned about getting a virus and having to run the marathon with one.

I didn't get the cold. I didn't get any of the colds my kids caught. In fact,I didn't get any of the stuff that was going around my church from time to time. I thought I had superhuman immunity power....Well, it ended this week. I've got a head cold.

I suspect the timing has to do with increasing the number of miles I'm running. I took a day off this week. Took extra Vitamin C and took some naps. Still have the cold but it isn't worse, so I'm getting on with training. I'm having a good time running. Although there was one run recently that was miserable.

Have you ever had a run in which you figured, "Well, this should be one of my last runs ever. I feel terrible. Worse than terrible." (You don't really mean it--you just think it.) Then, the following day everything is feeling great again--no rest day at all!

I had that happen this week. Felt terrible all 17 miles on one day and the next day I ran 11 (with the cold) feeling good. Just one of those mysteries.

I leave you with this great ad.

It's a lot like my husband and I running...

Lessons by the mile.

This past year, even though I've run for over thirty years, was a marker year for me. I completed my first two marathons! Indeed exciting. (I'd run that far before, as a teenager, but I'd never run an official marathon.)

It had actually had been many years since running had taken much priority. I've never stopped thinking of myself as a runner but while my (6) kids were all younger I could not, and did not, juggle more than a few short runs a week mixed with a lot of walking. In the last four years I've slowly began to run some races again and I love it!!

So here we are entering 2009 and I've been increasing my mileage slowly but surely. I ran quite a bit preparing for the first marathon, but less frequently for my fall marathon (Portland) using the FIRST program. And then, I took almost a whole month off from running.

There have been three things I've been giving my attention to lately:

1. Nutrition I've been making sure I get a protein bar, a snack or a protein shake immediately after my runs. I have always done this for runs longer than two hours, but now I'm trying to do so even if it is a hour run or even 45 minutes.

2. Slowing down! As I add miles,I am slowing way down. I thought I was already slow...but I'm making myself go even slower.
I'm getting used to lowering my intensity and- I'm enjoying it! I will leave the speed for later in the spring.

I did do a run on the track the other day because it was late and dark out; I felt especially good so I allowed myself to throw in a few faster laps. I found I was still able to pick it up to a pretty good pace, and I was able to recover with a jog. (No walk.)

3. My arch nemesis plantar fasciitis. Grrr--I first battled this ugly guy about three years ago and it has come and gone a couple times. For the past couple weeks I've felt it coming against me again.

I've been doing specific stretches for it. I also have started taping. I learned how to do this when I had it the first time, but I had never seen it demonstrated in a video. (see below) This is a great demonstration of taping, I learned a couple little tricks to employ while doing the taping. (Foot position and double tape over the top of the foot.) Even if you don't have this problem, you should give it a watch because you might be able to use it some other time or help someone else tape up!

Last note, I just got a subscription to Trail runner magazine. Hurray-that should be fun.

This year I hope to run at least one trail race and one ultra ("short" ultra), one or two marathons, and one or two triathlons...still sorting it all out. Too much fun to choose from. ;)

I'm working on some non-running goals this year too. First on the list is to read the bible all the way through again. I usually do that but didn't get it done this past year.

Wishing you all "enough" for 2009