Wednesday WRC Run!

Tonight WRC (women's running collective) is having our first official "gender-blind" workout! We decided that we should take a cue from organizations like the YWCA- aimed at women's health, but accepting of all genders!!! So, all are welcome! That said, I am anticipating it's going to be a small group tonight running hill repeats along the river. Still, I am looking forward to feeling the cool weather turning my cheeks pink and the wet flurries sticking to my hair and skin. As much as I love running in the fall, winter running certainly as a brisk heartiness to it that you can't get on the sunny days. More soon post-workout!

Race Recap: TC 10 mile

Finishing Time: 1:21:19
Average Pace: 8:08/mi
overall finishing place:1262/7019
gender place: 106/1028
age group place: 382/4313

Yay! This was absolutely an awesome race. I am still smiling as I remember the brisk morning run through downtown Minneapolis to the capital in St. Paul. I was so excited because Carol and Milt Vasich were there to cheer for me along with Mike. They got up so early to drop me off at the Metrodome at 6:30am (the race started at 7!) It was still dark out as they wished me luck!


Over the years, I have learned that a slow start is the best way for me to ease into a race. When I start out too hard, things tend to go downhill (uphill is more like it) about halfway through the race. This summer I have eased into each of my races, and I have ended up feeling great and averaging faster paces overall. So, I have learned to let myself feel it out and hold steady on each incline.

By the time I hit the Guthrie Theater along the west bank, I was in cruise control. The views along the river were mystical, something out of Lord of The Rings. The fog was lifting as the sun was rising.




I saw Mike and family at Franklin Bridge and East River Parkway. It's always pretty fun when you catch sight of your fans before they see you. They were squinting into the sunlight trying to see me, and I basically high-fived them and headed south onto East River Parkway before they even knew what was happening! Mike is actually a super running fan. Seriously, when I describe to my running buddies how many times my husband manages to cheer for me during the course of the race, they are astounded. What can I say? He's a pro, and a truly devoted husband too, I might add.


That's Mike (with my new fancy smartphone) trying to use the tracking device to see where I am on the course.


I was shooting for under 1:30, but I thought it would be cool if I could maintain a speedier pace...faster than my 8:30/mi during the last road half on Aug. 30th. Feeling strong as I headed up Summit Ave, I decided to go for it. Here are my splits for the last five miles:

mile 6: 8:35/mi
mile 7: 8:24/mi
mile 8: 7:50/mi
mile 9: 7:47/mi
mile 10: 7:39/mi

Mile 6 was the steep-ish hill up East River Road onto Summit, and the rest of the miles were just a steady incline up Summit until the last mile downhill to the capital. I don't know what the heck got into me during those last three. Maybe I should have run faster in the middle of the race, but to be perfectly honest, I love having some "juice" at the end. It helps me to hold it together and feel light and easy as I go.

I was super excited at the finish line, and pretty ready to be done for the morning. I am thrilled with the time, and I know this race is just the beginning...

Trail Racing and other running thoughts.

Some days I am really apt to make this into a "runner" blog. Yet, this inkling tends to get stifled when I think I might become obsessed. That said, blogging provides a really solid opportunity to log progress. I make a quick note of my mileage and sometimes my splits on google calendar, but I don't really analyze my daily running adventures.

To be honest, after the trail half at wirth parkway a few weeks ago, I have been feeling in a bit of a running rut. I am exhausted after work. I always feel better after running; it's a good transition time, but it is so tempting to just go home and lay around after a long day! But, like I said, as soon as I get my legs stretching on the roads, I feel so much better.

I am thinking about switching to an early morning running routine. I need to change it up! I am going to try to get up early tomorrow and see how that feels. 5:30am seems early, but it is worth a shot. Perhaps I will be able to feel more awake during the day and more upbeat at night if I add a morning run in. I'll report back tomorrow!

Here's a photo from the trail loppet a few weeks ago:


If I really wanted to be a true running blogger, I would need to submit a race report. I do need to write one of these up, but I am just waiting until I am in the zone...

Running Report With Joan.

Just trying out my new "small wonder" video cam. The weather has been stinky hot these past few weeks in Minneapolis. I don't mind too much anymore...now that I have my poison oak under control. Eek! Small price to pay for an amazing honeymoon. :)

night before the crowds fly in!

After an early morning 14 miler with some friends who are training for the Twin Cities Marathon, I gave myself a little pep talk and headed off to do ERRANDS! Woot. The best kind - paper shopping and grocery shopping ala trader joes. One of the best thing about Trader Joe's is the line up of enticing flowers at the entrance. I am typically pulled to the bright colored blooms, but today, I eyed a smart lady pick up a bushel of eucalyptus and a bundle of lavender. Brilliant! I grabbed a few packs and filled several vases around the apartment. I haven't left the apartment yet, but I am hoping that when I reenter, the wild branches will bring me back to running Owl Trail along the Pacific coastline.


Later in the afternoon, Mike and I rearranged furniture and CLEANED! Our wedding entourage (ie. friends and family) begin arriving tomorrow! We actually had a pretty nice time of it. And, the apartment looks just lovely if you ask me. We spent our last night as an unmarried couple (without an entourage) drinking rum and cokes and eating grilled salmon, summer squash, and green salad. The veggies all came from our CSA! Seriously, we have a "mini-share," and we cannot make it through all the vegetables. Way to go ploughshare farm.




So, really, all's well here. We are going to take Rachel the Dog Vasich for an evening stroll and then work on some projects.

A running update

Earlier this week, I attended my first trail running club practice! I was tentative at first; I wasn't sure about the concept since I have never joined a professional running group. However, after the first practice, I really think I'm going to like it. First off, it's awesome to run trails when someone else (ie. coach) is keeping track of where we are running! Secondly, it's motivating to run with other people (the club is open to all ages and pace groups). I tend to run a little harder and accept tough workouts as challenges instead of hurdles to finish as fast as I can.

Our first run was an easy 4 miler on the Theodore Wirth trail system. Most of the practices will meet there. There isn't much to say about the run itself...but I must voice how much I adore the trails! Not the bike trails, not the running paved trails, the REAL THING. I CRAVE the sensation of leaping over a fallen tree and turning fast corners. I like the terrain, the hills. All of it. I am looking forward to some longer runs...

Anyway, this running club thing is pretty darn cool. As for the women's running collective, I have to get back on the organizational bandwagon. We do need to make some changes for next year if we want to keep it going...maybe I should call a meeting/run? I think it would be awesome if we met more regularly, chose some key races together to train for, and broke into different pace/distance groups. This might help keep folks accountable. It's a great idea...just needs more commitment (from me as much as anyone else!). But we are an "award winning" group (ha, neighborhood award...) so that must mean something!

Falling into place...

Well, things are certainly on the up-swing wedding-wise! The checklist is starting to focus on details instead of the central drivers. Just this week, we met and contracted the most natural fit photographer, Scott Streble. His studio is in Northeast Minneapolis in this great old warehouse. Mike and I had quite an adventure figuring out the freight elevator. From his massive PEZ wall to his candid, photo-journalist style, it was immediately clear that Scott fit the bill.

And! After waiting four months, my wedding dress arrived! And yes, it is as gorgeous, more gorgeous, than I remember. The ladies at l'atelier couture are just lovely. This is the precious e-postcard I received last week:


Also, new bridesmaid dresses...
Pansy for my beautiful bridesmaids:


And, wisteria for my lovely sister:


Okay, and just so you are convinced that I haven't fallen headfirst into the over-the-top world of wedding planning, I am sharing with you a quite hard-core (well, about as hardcore as I get...okay, except maybe my cliff jumping/abseiling days) image from my last half-marathon at the end of April. I PR'd, but I almost lost my soggy shorts due to massive rainfall.