Shoot for the Stars

Lakeland Hills. 5:30 a.m. Excited to meet up with the ladies again after sometime it's been since Lakeland. I was very worried about my run since my last one I got IT band problems on the my L knee. However, I am stretching my legs some and strengthening them. I felt fine this morning! That gives me hope for this weekend Lincoln City 1/2! Angela and Mishel picked me up this morning and we met up with Janet and Niki. Niki had both her dogs with her. Great morning for a run; no rain but kinda cloudy which kept the temp up. Probably 40 something degrees. I didn't need my gloves or jacket. I did feel more tired then usual though, still recovering over my past cold but overall very happy with my run. We did the usual route but turned L instead of R to make a little bit shorter. Angela was very tired and run down so she quit a couple of miles earlier. I think I am ready for this weeekend!!!

BPA Trail. 6:30 p.m. It was great to finally meet up with both Lisa and Nicole! I had missed running with them both! Just like old times:) We ran from our usual start down the BPA trail but this time when we got to the end we turned L onto a business Street and past Winco, up a hill and made another L. We basically made a loop back to the Celebration Park. It was really dark on the trail and kinda spooky. It was nice to have all of us together, including Denali on the trail. We saw a woman running by herself with a big dog. We also trailed a long a running group that meets on Thur and runs on the same trail. We ran back to our start and then to get the full 5 miles we ran back down towards the soccer fields and back. Good run. Felt fine; no pain. Easy run before the race Sunday. It was pretty chilly though on the run so I wore my gloves and jacket most of the way.

Lincoln City Half Marathon and 10K. 9 a.m. on Sunday morning. The weather was perfect! We stayed at Nicole's parent's beach house the night before. We drove about 10 miles from her place to the race-Waipati (sp?) park-a little outside of Lincoln City. The weather was slightly chilly in the morning but it warmed up nicely. It was probably about 50 degree weather. It was sunny out with partial clouds. There were about 400 runners/walkers. I really didn't know what to expect with the race because I hadn't studied the course prior; it was all a surprise. Lots of Nicole's friends ran it. 10K: Nicole, Casey, Justin and his cousin, Kevin-Jordanne's bf, Jeff-Casey's bf. Half marathon: Lisa, Jordanne, me. I felt pretty good on the race but I know that i had started out too fast again. It is so hard to stop those anxious legs from going! I started fast and kept a good pace til about mile 6 and then I was tired, but I kept pushing. Whenever I would see my GPS go up to 9 min I would run faster to stay under 9 min.There were way more hills than I had expected!!! Whooooo!!! It seemed that past the 10K cut off point it just went up in elevation from there. We only saw 3 aid stations. I took water at every one. I actually was about to hit some twice because of the out and back route. The route went up on paved roads but then to a gravel road. It looked like a logging road. It felt so good to finally turn around and head back. I saw Jordanne and Lisa when I was going back the other way. I think I had passed everyone who ran atleast once. It was so fun to wave to people I knew! No IT band pain. That made me happy! Just some pain on my hip-L side slightly. Also the usual rubbing on my calus on L foot toe area and chaffing under my R underarm. Other than that it was good. I felt really tired going up the hills but was able to keep pushing myself. I would say the hardest part was going up a steep hill about a mile or so before the end. By that time you are just exhausted and it is so hard to go up a hill. I could see it a ways in the distnance. But I was able to keep running and not walk. I acutally did pass a few people going up the hill. After the hill I felt I had nothing left, but after I started to run more I got a lot of energy knowing that I only had a little under a mile left. I felt strong and finished hard! YEAH!!! Nick was there to take pictures of me and support me! Lisa's husband was there with Denali and video taping the whole thing. Good job Lisa for finishing your first half!!!!

Lakeland Hills. 5:30 a.m. When I woke up my legs didn't feel as sore as they had the last 2 days. I was going to wait a week before I started up running but I am starting to feel better. Also I am thinking ahead and how in the Phillipines I may not choose to run. I may not have the opportunity or time. It started out rainning fairly hard when I woke up but luckily it became very light when I got running with the girls. Present: Niki, Angela, Janet. We all had a great run but I could feel a lot of soreness, especially on my upper back part of my L leg below my butt. It was very had to run the 5 miles today but that is what Janet and Niki wanted to do. Angela was having some GI problems and walked after the first couple of miles and went back to the start. I pushed myself and couldn't wait to be done. I am glad of my accomplishments today though.

Lakeland Hills. 5:30 a.m. I was happy that it wasn't rainning however it was very cold. My car had some frozen water on it. This was the first time no one showed up for running. I had to run solo which wasn't as fun when you get used to running with other people. I know I got a text from Niki saying she couldn't go but I guess everyone else bailed out too. I did the usual route that I could remember and surprisingly I didn't get lost. I ran R on Evergreen and then R on Panorama then made a Left to get to the main Lakeland Hills Rd then I turned around on Evergreen and ran back to where I started to get atleast 3 miles in. I was very tired and sore today but happy I completed it. My last run for awhile. I am taking time off running in the Phillipines.