Back on Track

Since my last post things have been going great in the running shoes. I've done two 12-milers (both around Brookhaven Country Club in Atlanta) and then this past Sunday a 9-mile run. My time has suffered (well, of course with age...) from a tentative feeling about my knees and re-injuring. The first 12 was at about 13 minute miles and the second at about 11 or so. Normally I am proud of a 10-minute mile but I don't want them to roll up the sidewalk in front of me at the Atlanta Half Marathon! So I did the 9 this past weekend with speed in mind and I think...with the confidence from finishing the previous two long runs without any problems besides normal fatigue and stiffness AND the slightly shorter distance...that I was able to run much closer to a 10-min mile.
With four weeks to go, I am trying for the following: 11, 13, 9, 6 (if Saturday) or 4 (if Sunday). I'll be sticking to pace as my focus except for the 13-miler. That run will be about finishing comfortably. Or maybe I'll get the 13 out of the way and then focus on time the rest of the way. It will all depend on how I can carb up to coincide with available time for a slow 13 this weekend. Isn't that one of the big challenges - making it align with everything we women also have on the calendar?
If you're interested in upcoming Team in Training events, I just got my mailer a week or so ago and here's the stuff to choose from during the spring season:

• ING Georgia Run/Walk Half Marathon and Marathon (Atlanta, GA) on 3-29-09
• Country Music Marathon and Half (Nashville, TN) on 4-25-09
• St Anthony's Triathlon, St. Petersburg FL (Triathlon) 4-26-09
• Gulf Coast Triathlon, Panama City Beach, FL (Half Ironman) 5-9-09

If you are interested in having some terrific training, camaraderie, fundraising support and fun while getting in shape and taking on a new challenge, look into Team in Training, at http://www.teamintraining.org/. If you want to join one of the above teams, informational meetings are happening through about the 10th or so of November so hurry! I can't say enough great things about this group. I will do a triathlon with them next year and maybe even Mentor for a second event. Raising money to help prevent blood cancers, and help the patients of blood cancer diseases, is an important cause. 75% of all funds raised through TNT go directly to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and are tax deductible.

Gearing Up for Atlanta Half Marathon

I did a 10 mile long-run last Saturday at Powers Ferry Landing, right by the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta, GA. It was a beautiful weekend and there were very few other runners on the course that afternoon, presumably everybody home watching college football, which we take very seriously here in Atlanta. The run was fine and I really wasn't nearly as sore or dehydrated as I'd expected. I'm feeling like I'm racing against time to build up my mileage sufficiently for 13.1 miles on Thanksgiving Day, which is when our half marathon and marathon are held.

Due to the knee injury in August my training routine has been "alternative" to say the least. To avoid another stress injury I am all but cutting out the short runs during the week, usually substituting swimming for the cardio. Anyway, I'm sure some speed training would be good - so they don't roll up the sidewalks on me on race day! I will work some in there somewhere. I am seriously wondering about these ice baths I keep reading about in Runners World, Bicycling and Triathlon magazines. Have any of you ladies ACTUALLY done these? Do they work? I know as I build the miles I'm going to be fighting joint and muscle fatigue and any advice on healing techniques will be greatly appreciated.