Sunday, August 26, 2012

Continental Divide 10K

I love running on trails, so when I was browsing for a race to fit in my schedule, I found this 10K in Laurel Springs, NC. It looked like so much fun! Little did I know what I was getting into. Of course when I mentioned it to my running friends, Lori, Crystal and Andy, they were in! I found out that Hollis and Carl have been running this race for the past couple of years and they love it!

Lori, Crystal and I, with our significant others, went up the day before the race. We stayed at Freeborne's, which is sort of a biker bar/motel/restaurant. Great restaurant and very nice folks! After a hearty lunch of burgers, wings and beer, we went to the local winery for a tasting. We fit in a little relaxation, then a lighter dinner of wine and salad with chicken (but the brownie dessert was decadent!)

Race morning was cool and foggy. After a light breakfast in the room, we headed to the site. The sun came out and it warmed up quickly. The men started at 9am, so we were able to watch them start and finish. The women started at 10:15am.

OMG...did I mention this was in the mountains? Did I mention the trail elevation changes? Steep downhills, steep uphills, trees across the trail, drop-offs, switchbacks and rock climbing...yeah...AWESOME! My finishing time was 1:18, something (the official results aren't up yet.) That is a long time for a 10K, but considering the course, I felt really good about it.

I won first place in my age group...Well I was the only one in my age group :) Lori and I also won these fancy medals, but it was a mistake and we had to give them back since we're not USATF members. Maybe we should join!

Looking forward to continuing training with the Evolve Running Squad. Tuna 200 relay coming up!

~Suzanne

Trail Racing???

Well, the Continental Divide Trail Raced with Crystal Craig, Suzanne Sullivan, Carl Dixon, and Andy Sheppard, is in the history books.
I'm not sure it can be called a  "race"!  More like a climb, run, crawl, walk!! 
It was an experience, never before encountered, and I loved it!
From the trip up and overnight stay @ Freeborne's, to the awards ceremony!
Suzanne, Crystal, and I (along with our significant others), enjoyed a few awesome meals, a few beers, some wine @ Freeborne's Eatery, as we relaxed on Friday, getting ready for the race.  In between lunch and dinner, we went to the Thistle Meadow Winery for some wine tasting too!
Then Saturday---we all completed the most grueling 10K ever!  The crowd was small, but many elites in attendance.  Some of the men and women in the race were AMAZING!
Great job to Carl, Hollis, and Suzanne, who all won awards!
And, Suzanne and I won awards--1st in our age group, but then got them "stripped" because we were not USATF members(guess we need to join)!  Oh, well, in our hearts, we know we're winners and now know how Lance Armstrong feels-Ha!
I feel we'll do it again next year, and coach...we definately will need more hills and trails to prepare.  Perhaps a few trips to the mountains to actually experience the true topography of the race would be in order!
Another great experience with the Evolve Running Squad!!

Continental Divide Trail Race 8/25/2012


Saturday, August 18, 2012

The Hill Crew with "couch" Nestor!

Saturday Run with Coach Marisa (8/18/2012)

Great run on the Greenway this morning!
Attendees:
Marisa, Tad, Marta, Hollis, Carl, Suzanne, Lori!
And, Kim!!
Nice of Carl to get out of bed to join us!!  Ha Ha! 
I was so shocked and surprised when Marisa said I could do the 6.2 with the Trail Runners!  I came (prepared?) to run 12 today!
It was a great, somewhat fast run.
Nice to be able to talk to our beloved coach and team members before and after the run.
Then, I went to Off N Running and picked up my funky trail shoes!
Have a great weekend team....anyone who wants to join me @ Bikram Hot Yoga on Sunday, I'll be there @ 10:30 (as usual)!!

New Trail Shoes-Funky, Huh? Guess Who??

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Stupid Weather.com

Well--the experts @ weather.com predicted an 80% chance of thunderstorms in Greensboro today between 5-7 with the best chance @ 6:00.

So as not to risk driving in to town and get rained out, I did my track workout tonight on the treadmill!

Got 'er done, though!
4 x 200
10 X 400
Pace set @ 6:40 for each!
Felt strong and steady throughout!

7 miles total w/ the w/u, c/d, and recovery 200 walks.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Getting there!

I am feeling good about how my training is going at this point. Last Thursday's run at Country Park felt good and I was able to steadily increase my pace on each loop ending strong. Saturday's 8 mile run at Salem-Lake was hard, but I felt strong and kept a good fast pace the middle 4 miles and brought it in the final two not as fast, but steady and didn't drop off too much.

It's great when the group is able to run together. Lori, Nestor, Mauricio and I ran together (for the most part) on Thursday at Country Park and we also started together Saturday at Salem Lake.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at GDS track tomorrow! And Marisa will meet with us Saturday morning! Yay!

~Suzanne

Take the red pill.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Week 5.... - check!

I am SO proud of myself- not for doing the running necessarily, but mostly for making the training a priority and not missing a single run or strength work out. And the cool thing about that is that I'm beginning to see some results!

The mile repeats last Tuesday, although very hard, were my best times ever! Then yesterday's 11 miles felt really good -- my times were great (for me, anyway) and I felt good the whole time.

I ended up not going to Salem Lake with everyone else (because I ended up sleeping for an extra 1/2 hour) so I ran alone on The Greenway --- it was cool and beautiful - and that view at the bridge, after the storm was breathtaking....


Saturday, August 11, 2012

LSD in between Thunderstorms!

Saturday at Salem Lake!
Serious thunderstorms last night, but it appeared we would have a window of opportunity!
Headed out the door--rain starts.
Get to the lake--rain stops!
Got in a great 13 mile run!  Suzanne was there, Nestor and Mauricio too.   No rain during the run!
Ran warm up with Suzanne, and then she "took off" to complete her speedy 8 miles.
Ran about 5 with Nestor-then, he "took off".  Was able to get in another mile with him at the half-way point! 
Met a nice young lady-Hillary--out there and ran a couple with her.  Turns out she is also training for the MCM--her first marathon.  She was doing 17 today!  I was completely happy to be doing 13!
The trail was in terrific shape.   Since the work they did out there, no more mud or water holes, even after the serious rain we've had the last two nights!
After the run, I rewarded myself with a pedicure.  Ohhhhh--how good it felt!
~Lori

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Mile Repeats - Running from the Law

Tuesday's workout started out fairly normal for an early evening in August. Thunderstorms were threatening, but we had a window of opportunity. A good turnout from the group at the Grimsley High School track. Marta, Lori, Andy, Nestor, Mauricio, Crystal and myself. The gate was locked when we showed up, but it was not a deterrent. We jumped the fence.

After a good warm-up, we started mile repeats. After our first mile, we were interupted by a man in uniform. (Well, he had a logo on his shirt.) He asked if he could help us. Andy replied kindly, "No, we're good." He then proceeded to tell us that we were trespassing and needed permission to run at the track. We assured him that we did indeed have permission. Turns out that the permission wasn't forwarded to him, the Athletic Director and he knew nothing about it. He graciously let us finish our workout and coach Marisa said she would follow up.

For the record, my mile times were: 6:58, 7:18, 7:28 & 7:08. Easy to remember because they all ended in 8.

Coming up - loops at Country Park, then long run at Salem Lake.

~Suzanne

"Methinks that the moment my legs began to move, my thoughts began to flow."
- Henry David Thoreau




Tuesday, August 7, 2012

LSD/TRACK

Hollis..love the logo!! Thanks.

Saturday Urban Loop went very well.  I did 11.5 miles and finished running south on Elm Street to the Green Bean parking lot.
Marta, Suzanne, Mauricio, and I then did core work!
Scary thing happened.  As we were finishing up, some fire engines and ambulances went screaming up Elm St.  About 2 blocks north of the Green Bean, they cordoned off the block with yellow crime scene tape.  I saw a white sheet.   Come to find out, some man jumped from the parking deck @ Elm and Bellemeade, committing suicide!!!  YUCK!

After the run, I went to OFF N Running with Marta.  Got new shoes and trail shoes, recovery socks, total support inserts, and a pair of 60% off running pants (ready for winter now)!  Economic boost to the economy and tax free weekend to boot!

Track tonight was great.  Good turn out--Nestor, Mauricio, Andy, Crystal, Suzanne, Marta, and I!  Only one draw-back--we got banished from the track by the AD, stating we didn't have permission.  He was nice enough, however to let us finish our workout (some of us were actually hoping he wouldn't!!)!!

Happy Running!!

Monday, August 6, 2012

New Stuff

The Evolve Running Squad is now in full swing at week #4. Thanks to Hollis for the super cool logo!

One thing I love about running is getting new stuff. It's always very useful stuff, so I have a good excuse for buying it! My new shoes came in last week at Off 'N Running and I stopped in on Thursday to pick them up. I also bought a pair of bright pink compression socks. I put them on after my 10 mile run on Saturday and wore them while doing laundry and housework. Let me tell you - they felt great!! I don't know why I never tried these before! I tried out my Newton MV2s this morning on the 'mill. They are very stream-lined, light as a feather, and have that great Newton feel.

We have a new schedule from coach Marisa with some great workouts! We are going to be lean, mean, running machines! My first race is coming up the end of this month. I plan on being ready for it!

~Suzanne

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Holla!

Thanks to Hollis, we have an official logo...look above...

Congrats to Crystal and Andy for bringing home hardware from "The Rabid Squirrel".

For those on vacay...I hope you are getting some R & R and running without a watch.

LSD Runners, good Urban Loop?  Some GB treats post trot?

Shout out from Chapel Hill!
~Marisa