Running is going well

I was thinking about how this is the first summer that I have actually run distances. Usually the heat and humidity is too awful to run in during the summer and/or maybe I am usually just out of shape (I think it is a combination of the two) and I just do basic runs but this summer I am doing well. Up this weekend is an 11 mile run which I am confident in my ability to complete.

This past weekend was fun. Amy came to visit and we went to the farmers market, hiking up Owls head, drove to the top of Whiteface, and went for a bike ride as she just bought a new bike. See the bottom for a few pictures of the weekend.

Nothing new

I haven't really been up to much athletically lately, so no new posts. We were home this weekend to see a friend who had surgery (Hi Heather!), to go to a surprise birthday party (Hi Brenda), to see Joe's family (Hi Sam, Jessica, Cooper, Joe, Joanne, Aileen, Ed, Carissa, Zach, Murph, Jeanne!!), and get in some Olympic coverage. It was a good but tiring weekend as we were going the entire time.

This week I have finished the Twilight series and am struggling to find my next book. I went for my longest bike ride of the season today which was good. I did two good runs this week. Amy is coming to visit this weekend as are Lila, Kaelah, and Sierra.

We have no race in the immediate future but looming on the horizon is the Lake Placid Half Marathon in September.

Not much else to say today, so, off I go to get a milkshake!!! Then we will watch an episode of the first season of House. Yippie! Sounds like a good night to me.

Two for the price of one

I have done a lot since the last time I posted. Friday, Joe and I went for a swim in Mirror Lake. I went out with the idea that I would do about 15 minutes out and then head back in but my alarm never went off and I was so comfortable that I just kept going and did the entire Ironman loop (1.2 miles plus the shore to start line - 1.3 miles) in 53 minutes. I felt so comfortable and relaxed. It was a great swim. The day was a little cool and the water a little cool but overall a great swim. My foot was still hurting at this point so I was hoping staying off of it was a good move.

Saturday, Race the Train in North Creek and Riparius. 8.4 miles on a dirt path that has more uphills than downhills or flats. I was a little concern with my foot but it was great the entire way. My PR on this course in the past was a 1:35. I ran it in a 1: 30.43! Amazing. I felt fantastic the entire way. I paced myself on the first 1.5 miles that were uphill and then just went for it in the last half of the race since I felt good. The weather this year was very different from every other year though. It was in the low 70's with overcast skies but it was humid. Every other year it was 80's with full sun and humidity. It sucked weather-wise every other year but this year was great.

Sunday, I gave my body a rest day - well deserved.

Monday, Monday night mini tri. I vacillated all day as to whether I wanted to do it or not. The weather was cool (in the 60's all day) with clouds and threats of rain. Joe was not going to do it so it was all me. I decided to go for it. We got there early, I set up my stuff and then hung out for a while watching these guys who looked like pros set up their stuff. I have never seen a person get into a wetsuit as quickly as this guy did - it was impressive. Then there was me slow as a snail trying to put all that bulk into a skin tight wetsuit. I was glad that they had gone to warm up before I started doing this so that they were not making fun of my slowness. I got into the cold water and waited for the start. My swim was slow as I just couldn't breathe. I don't know what was wrong but I just couldn't breathe. I was stuck in between a whole bunch of people and couldn't get a good stroke going either. I just wanted out of the water. Transition was easy. I started the bike and felt ok. I had forgotten my bike computer so I didn't have a clue how fast I was going and I just pushed the entire way. My fastest bike of the season. T2 was more difficult because someone was sitting in my transition area. So I tried to change out of my bike shoes and take off my helmet while standing. He then moved and I sat and put on my socks and shoes and then left. The run was tough. My legs were burning. I did fantastic on the run though. I am very happy with my new PR.

I did have a great moment on Monday night. For the past three years, I have been beating this one woman out of the swim only to have her bike past me on River Road and then beat me badly. I have always gauged (sorry if this is spelled incorrectly, Joe and I think it is right) how I was doing based on where this woman passed me during the mini tri. The first year we did mini tri she always passed me in the middle of River Road. Last year it was towards the end of River Road. This year it has been on Route 86 and then last week it was on the Cascade Road leading into transition. Last night she passed me after I left transition on the run. I have no chance of beating her on the run since she is much faster than I am but if I keep getting better at the bike and swim maybe, just maybe I can put enough of a gap between me and her that she won't be able to beat me. I was really excited about this little improvement from previous years.

Overview of Monday night:
Swim 9:46.97 (couldn't breathe felt really really slow)
T1: 1.37.87
Bike: 44:04.49 (excellent bike)
T2: 1.21.68 (good considering some guy was sitting in my transition area while I was trying to transition. I had to stand and do most of my transition until he got up and left)
Run: 28.16.02 (really good)
Total time: 1:25.07

PR!! Yippie!! Can I go for 1: 24 next week??? I don't know about that!!! Last week is the last mini tri but I have had great success this mini tri season so if I don't PR next week, it isn't the worst thing that could happen.

I am adding a couple of pictures at the bottom of the page of mini tri!

Not a great running day

I went out for a run today and it sucked. First of all, I went too late in the afternoon when it was still too hot on the road but that wasn't my problem. Second, I had this pain in my foot the entire time. I was supposed to go out for 45 minutes but I got 10 minutes out and, bothered by my foot, decided to just go to the bridge in Keene Valley and turn around to go home. I slowed down to make sure I was planting correctly and not pushing off too hard. So, I did 3.06 miles in 34 minutes. Yuck!!! I have ice ready for tonight. Hopefully, tomorrow will be easy with a swim and a short bike and then it will be fine for Race the Train on Saturday.

Other random updates, I have become addicted to the Twilight series of books by Stephanie Meyers. I read Twilight and New Moon is a couple of days and have ordered the third book Eclipse and the new one so I should have them by Monday or Tuesday. They are intriguing even though they annoy me sometimes with teenage angst and a relationship far too developed for a teenager. Joe is also reading them and is as intrigued as I am (well, maybe not as intrigued but he is being entertained by the writing) and I think we got Joe's sister hooked as well. Sorry about that!!!

Finishing the second book is the reason I went out far too late in the afternoon for my run. Oh, well. It was well worth the trade-off.

Kayaking in Lake Placid

On Tuesday, Joe and I checked the weather forecast and decided that it was the day to go out on our kayaks. The weather was forecasted to be high in the mid 7o's with partly to mostly cloudy skies. Wednesday, Thursday, and possibly Friday was a chance of rain and we didn't want to go out in the rain. Last week we were supposed to go out but it rained all week long. So, we had our first voyage out in the kayaks yesterday. It was fantastic. We went around the entire perimeter of Lake Placid. It was the first time we had ever done this in this lake. What beautiful houses there are on the lake. One was a new construction boat house that had a lot of Asian influences and was absolutely gorgeous. We found a little beach area and stopped to eat our peaches and granola bars (do we sound like outdoors people with that type of a snack!). Joe went into the water for a little swim but I didn't because I was freezing. It was cool without the sun. We did 8.58 miles in about 3 hours - not fast at all but we had a great time. Joe and I are always competitive in races that we just wanted to have fun. Mission accomplished. The sound of the water under the kayak and the paddles in the water is so soothing. We had a great time. We got to see a few loons as well, which were really neat. Next kayaking trip we will probably go to Lake Flower and try to navigate into Saranac Lake.