Steve, running in the early evening in July.....hope everyone took it easy and had fun. There's no sense worrying about time when it's 90 and sunny!!

I delayed my 20 mile run until today. Yesterday morning I just wasn't feeling prepared for it so I procrastinated. I ran along the river on a paved bike trail for the first five miles, then entered a heavily treed area with a crushed gravel path. At mile seven the path left the trees behind and I ran alongside the highway (on the trail). The temperature was in the 50's and the sky was overcast for the first several miles. I soon left the highway and ran through the most beautiful meadow dotted with horse stables and smal farming huts. As luck would have it, there was a bench at the side of the path at mile ten. I sat down, ate a banana (which I had inserted in my belt like a pistol, not knowing if it would be edible when I got to it or if I would just have a large black, sticky mess on my hip), and prepared myself for the return trip.

By now the sun was out in full force, but the temperature was no more than 60. I was trying to soak in all of the beautiful surroundings knowing that I would soon leave all of this behind. I made it back through the meadow and passed a cafe next to the trail used by many of the cyclists who sat with their coffee and pastries at the outdoor tables, dressed in colorful and reflective biking gear. I've learned that cyclists don't often use bells here or warn you before they pass you. They simply buzz by, leaving only the smallest of spaces between their bike handle and your elbow. It's rather annoying.

By the time I reached mile 13, I was beginning to get goofy, losing focus. I reminded myself that I had done 13 miles in June and had felt great, had run 15 miles a month ago and had survived, had run 17 miles just two weeks ago and had felt fine doing it. Why was I fading at 13?! I knew then it was time for a mantra. I started out trying to push out all and every negative thought. I began to give myself affirmations and went through a mental list of all the good in my life. I then sent up prayers for people in my life who are in need of them right now. That got me through to mile 16 or so. It was at that point that I started chanting "You can do it" with each word falling with my left foot strike. That worked for a half mile or so. Then I started the same chant with the first two repetitions using my left foot strike as the beat, and then doubling the speed for the next two repetitions by using each foot strike as the beat. It was really helpful! The little pains I was having in my glutes or in my stomach suddenly disappeared! I ran miles 18 and 19 almost 30 seconds faster that the earlier miles. I felt so good about myself that I used mile 20 as a cool down and didn't worry about the time.

So, training is still on track and no injuries so far this time. I keep reminding myself that running a marathon is not about how you run on marathon day. It's about all the training, sweat and tears you put into it in all of the weeks/months that lead up to marathon day.

Stay cool, my running friends.

Sounds interesting.  I'm scheduled to do a "Muddy Buddy" in August, it should be an adventure as well ;-)

Ran the Davis Moo-nlight Run this last Saturday with the whole family.  My older son and wife did the 1/2 Marathon and my youngest and I did the 5K.  This isn't really a moonlight run as the 5K starts at 7PM (normally) and the 1/2 starts at 7:15PM.  This race has become more popular and caused traffic jams on interstate 80 bad enough that it took 30 minutes to do the last mile.  We got to see CHP apprehend 2 runners trying to get to the start on time.  Numerous other runners were more successful in getting there, but not something I would recommend. 

Thankfully the races started late.  Which allowed my son and I to get to the starting line mostly on time.  Temps at start of race were around 84F, warm for us coming from the Bay Area, but fairly cool for those in the Valley.  There seemed to be a bit of confusion at the start, 5k/10k start together and not all the 10K runners realized this.  You also had many of the 1/2 marathoners standing around making it harder for everyone to get to the start.  Not to mention few people could hear the announcements over the "loud speakers". 

Consequently, when the race started we were with the 10-12 minute/mile group.  This isn't necessarly bad, but in race with over 2000 finishers it means you 've got to expend extra energy weaving through traffic.  First half-mile was spent looking for room to pass, lots of surging, slow up, surge again.  By mile 1 seemed to be with runners closer in speed.  MIle 1-2 was a more even pace slowly catching runners in front.  Made the mistake of looking at watch at mile 2 and thinking, this is slower then I thought I would be and damn I'm tired.  By 2.5 miles I'd caught all the people I would catch on the last uphill. The younger woman starts slowing on this uphill and I tell her to lean into the hill, she actually takes the advice and speeds up.  She's behind me now and I  focus on the woman in 5 finger shoes ahead of us.  Catch her about 1/4 mile to go.  We turn the corner and I'm thinking it's a long way to finish (didn't run last year, but knew the finish was around a corner - WRONG!).  As we're going the young woman I told to lean into the hill passes me up.  Wait she's going to fast - I'm thinking, then realize as a younger man passes me that the finish is not around the corner, but much closer.  I kick it into gear and catch the guy who passed me, but not enough time to catch the woman.  Turns out my time was a bit faster than both of them (I started later) and, unbeknowst to me, a 12 year old was closing fast on me and finished 2/10ths of second behind me.  Grabbed a bottle of water and headed back to the finish to wait for my son. 

Retrieved my offspring and we headed back to the car to listen to the Giants and returned about 45 minutes later to see the rest of the family finish.  We underestimated my oldest son and missed his finish.  Got to see my wife come in and help direct her to water.  The heat did her in and it took a bit of time for her to recover.  Main complaint from her and older son was the water stations were spaced incorrectly for how warm it was.  They both finished faster then last year and the course was shorter last year.

The ankle felt better then I thought it would and doubt I could have run much faster with it being 100%.  The bad news is while working in the yard on Sunday evening I found another yellow jacket nest in my yard.  Got a nice sting in my left leg.  Didn't think it was too bad, but by Monday my left thigh was close to 2x my right.  Trip to the hospital and now I have a round of antibiotics to get through...If it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all.

Ray

Joni, you are obviously a machine!

By all means, go for it!   It must be just like running:  if you get tired, just go a bit slower. 

I was petrified waiting for the starting gun for my first 5 km race 3 years ago.  That went away about 50 paces into the race.

I definitely don't have what it takes to do a tri- but lots of people do it.  No reason why you can't be one of them.

As far as being a "speed demon" in concerned, it's all relative.  My wife might run her first half-marathon this year, and would LOVE to finish in under 3 hours.

I have run several, but haven't reached your speed yet - my PR is just under 2:10.  In my eyes, you ARE a speed demon!

I started running at age 55 - wish I had started earlier like you did!

Good luck, but I bet you won't need luck...

Urun2me: I like the mantras you used and how you used the beat. I just keepn telling myself that I will miss the train if I don't keep pressing on - no coordenation with my feet. My husband and I were tourists once and we got carried away with the sights until almost time to catch our train. I never ran so far tha tfast before, so I just remember that incident to keep me going. It sounds lik with your determinatioin,  you'll make that marathon.

Nancy: Your "non-race report" gave me a good laugh.

Ray: good to hear from the other western member of this list. I can't believe it - to have traffic backed up on that major route. I bet there will be some changes made if there is a next time. What a nice way to spend an evening with family. Too bad about the kind of luck you had with your yellow jacket nest.

Joni: Your injury and recovery qualify you for the olympics. That's a tough schedule ahead, I wish you the best of luck - but not the bad kind.

My training for the half Marathon in October is coming along slowly. We have done several 6 mile trainings. I'm power walking the  distance but expect to add in some short running in the actual event to change the muscles used. It takes me twice as long as you "youngsters" to rest up from my training - if I try to do two days in a row, my hips really complain. I am faster then some of the others on the team, so I am sure I'll be able to finish within the allowed time. I think.

Az1414 Welcome back. so very sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. life is very temporal . hopefully you were left with many long lasting good memories.

WOW Thats what I really call a bike ride.!!! it appears your running is already adjusting to your climate change. I hope you packed a lot of Hammer heed.

Urun2me I loved your post. I can really relate. I have a light week this week but an 18 mile long run next week. I was thinking about starting at 4:30 to avoid the crazy heat & humidity. When and if the going gets tough. I'll first start sending the prayer request. That might even carry me a little further than you!!!

then I'll start with my mantra. "my body is willing, it's my mine thats weak"

Pkar Sounds like your training is moving right a long NOT SLOW. If you have several 6 milers under your belt seems like your right on schedule. Why push yourself. Three days a week injury free will get you to the finish line for sure.

Steve better safe than sorry.especially when your not constantly training in heat. hope it will soon pass.

Rob~ I'm not a machine, but thanks....I just want this so bad and time is not on my side! I know my swimming is bad because of my race nerves. I did the same thing when first running in 5 Ks. Good luck to your wife!!

Steve~ Thanks for the welcome!

pkar~ I'm not a candidate for the olympics. Maybe the SENIOR GAMES? lol Nah, probably not even that.....You're training hard too, best of luck to you.

az1414~ Sorry about your friend. This isn't an easy thing to deal with....

I think the extreme heat here is getting to me. I've decided to take my day off tomorrow. I'll run the 10 miles Friday. We're going to the lake Saturday and I'll do my cycling on the trails with the mountain bike.

BTW~It's going to be 108 here for the next 5 day or more.....ugh.......

Please hydrate if you're going to run on matter where you are!

So there's really Senior Games? Cool!!! Congratulations on qualifying! WOW!

The older I get the less the competition. Although I gauge my success on how I finish over all and how many ladies finished before me:-)

I did run a 10 K last weekend. It was the hottest race I'd ever done. 92 degrees at the finish! Though there were only 16 entered I finished 6th over all and 4th female. Made me feel better after the diasterous tri 3 weeks ago! lol 

Steve~ We are in Norht Central Texas, right on the border of Oklahoma. Hot and DRY!!! It was 80 degrees at 6 am yesterday when I did my bike ride. My knees and quads are just plain tired......I do run or bike with water and Stingers. Sports drinks upset my stomach when I get over heated. It can still be quit hot here in September....

Enjoy your runs in that wonderful cool weather.