Moved!

I've moved. Check me out here: www.maddyruns.com


Goal 1 for 2009... Check!

Follow Me Next Weekend

If you would like to track my progress next weekend during the Goofy Race and a Half Challenge, please click here and follow me for the Half and the Full Marathon.



You'll need my last name and if you don't know it, look at my email address on my profile page you should be able to figure it out.

2009 Goals

2008 was a pretty good year. I had some injuries and I've suffered from some general malaise regarding running lately, but overall, it's been a good one.
I have spent some time thinking about my plans for next year. They are:

I'm Moving

A new blog address. Someone made a comment that my blog address has been outdated for a while. Also, the RSS feed never, ever worked the way it was supposed to, so I am going to find a new home. Keep checking back. As soon as it's ready, I'll let you know where you can find me.

Mileage

Annual Mileage: 1,500 - I was on track for my mileage goal of 1,200 for 2008 until the middle of September and the wheels just sort of fell off. I would like to make my mid-distance mid-week run a little more consistent. That should be a big boost to get to that mileage goal. That's 125 miles a month.

Jazzing It Up

Regular Speedwork and Hillwork. Especially with my Spring / Summer Marathon in San Diego, I am going to need the hillwork. So I'm putting it out there so you can help keep me accountable.

Food

Eat like my life depends on it. Now that doesn't mean shoveling in whatever. My nutrition has taken a hit lately. I need to return to better eating habits that always seem to get lost in December. This goal includes reducing processed food, girl-sized portions and limit my visits to restaurants.

Welcome to the Gun Show

I have said for that last few years that after X race I am going to start weight training. This year I mean it. No Bull! so after the Goofy Race it will begin.

Wait, There's More...

I have not been very good at cross training and stretching, so I want to include a little more of that into my life. Some yoga, more biking, things like that.

San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon

My goal time for the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon is a new PR - I would like that time to be less than 5 hours. That's where the speedwork and hillwork are going to be essential to making that happen. My other goal for this race is to have the option run without a shirt. It will mean a lot

of core work, but I think I can do it. It doesn't mean I'll run in just a sports bra, but I want to have the option.

Then What?

I am thinking about a fall or winter marathon for next year. I want something close that won't require a lot of travel. There has been talk about a full marathon in Tavares. Clermont is in option, as is Marathon of the Palm Beaches and Miami (although that wouldn't be until 2010). I have plenty of time to decide, but I'm throwing it out there.

Wow! That looks like a lot, but I'm sure that if I work hard, I can accomplish all of these goals.

I would love your feedback.

Is Anybody Out There

I have been terrible about blogging. I have been reading yours, just not commenting as I should.

I ran another half marathon - The OUC Half Marathon on December 6th. My time was slower than my time for the Orange Blossom Half, but for some reason, I wasn't terribly bothered by it this time.

I've gained a few pounds and I know it's easier to run when I'm less fat.



The Goofy Race is quickly approaching. My running has been going okay, but not as well or as far as I would like. I'll get through it though. I am confident about that.

At this point, I'm looking forward to getting the race behind me. It seems like I've been training forever and I'm ready to put it to bed and focus on other races.

I registered for a late spring /early summer marathon. I'll be running the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon on May 31st. I am setting some goals for that race - other than to finish (which is my goal for Goofy).


I was in San Diego this week and I had a few really nice runs. I had planned on my long run before my flight yesterday, but after the Christmas party and too much time in big girl shoes, I really didn't feel like it. Today I'm feeling jet-lagged and I am pushing my long run to Monday afternoon.

Expect a more frequent posting schedule. Almost a month is too long...

Long Overdue :: Orange Blossom 1/2 Race Report

Last Sunday, I woke up and I was pretty excited. For the first time since I moved from Winter Park, nearly four and half years ago, there was a race I was running that was 10 minutes from my house. The closest I have ever been was the 5K in Leesburg back in March.

I drove to Wooton Park along Lake Dora, picked up my goodie bag and wnet back to my car. The temperatures were cool and I was dressed for running. The croud was sparse. I would guess there were a little more than 100 runners and while there were porta-potties there were realy bathrooms in the park without a line. I made my obligatory bathroom stop and then headed up to Main Street. I met three women, a mother and her two daughters who were running together. I thought that was really sweet. They were really nice ladies. They are planning on running Disney's Princess Half Marathon and the mother wanted to see how much work she would need to do between now and March.

Very close to 7:00 AM The Orange Blossom Half Marathon was underway. The course headed West and made a loop then headed down Lake Dora Drive. We then cut into a neighborhood and headed back towards the West and made the same loop and headed AGAIN down Lake Dora Drive. I really prefer a point to point course, but I don't mind an out and back course either. I realized on Sunday that I don't like an "Out and Back and Out and Back Again" course.

Even with a small race like this there were a cast of characters. One person I really wanted to beat was an older man (later looking at race results, I figured out he was 71 years old). Now, I don't take any pleasure in beating old men, but there was just something about this old guy running in jean shorts that I really wanted beat. I finally passed him somewhere during the fifth mile.

I have added to and listened to the same playlist since July. I can judge where I am mile-wise by the song that is playing. Around the six mile mark, I felt like something was off. My Nike+ which isn't always very accurate was saying more than six miles. I was approaching a woman with a Garmin on. I asked her what it said. It was close to 6 1/2 miles. I told her I bet that at the end of the race it would read 13.6 miles.

We ran down the same road until we reached Mt. Dora. Apparently, Mt.Dora wanted nothing to do with this race. And we turned around over the chip mats and we headed back to downtown Tavares. I called this "Welcome To Mt.Dora, Now Get The Hell Out Point".

The legenth of the course played a mental number on my head. I don't know why, but I was struggling with knowing I was going to have to go further than I had planned. And I kept telling myself I was being silly, but it really affected my mental game.

Soon enough, somewhere in the ninth or tenth mile, The Old Man was coming up behind me. He was talking trash to me. It's so funny. I couldn't see him, but I could hear him coming. He was saying "Here I am!", "I'm coming up on you!" "I'm not dead!" and then he passed me. And I just couldn't keep up with him. It was hillarious. And good for him! He ended up finishing about four minutes ahead of me.

I think the out is always a lot better than the back. On Saturday my SPI Belt went MIA. I had it on the table (I know, not a good place for it...) and it was moved. although nobody remembers moving it or where it might have ended up. This played a negative part in my fueling plan. My tank was running low on fuel later in the race. I only brought with me what I could carry. One pack of Sport Beans that I took in about five miles in. Poor planning on my part.

My official finish time (13.6 miles) was: 2:30:43 My adjusted half marathon time is: 2:24:58.

I reminded myself that this wasn't a race I planned on trying for a PR and I really ran it to support a local race and to have fun.

Yes, I was annoyed that the course was longer than it should have been, but overall, it was fun. The weather was nice and there were plenty of water stops. I met some cool people, and hey, I was showed up by a 71 year old man.

It's all good.

When Did I...

...Become the world's worst blogger.


My post have become really inconsistent and I think that sucks.

So, I'm back and blogging. I'm sure you've be dying to know what's been going on with me (not!)

I've suffered from a small lack of mojo. October was my second lowest mileage month for the year and half of the miles I ran for the entire month were run on one day.


All of a sudden I feel invigorated!

Sunday I planned on meeting my friend Cheryl in Winter Garden and run 12 miles with her. She was running 20 miles and I was going to run a portion with her. On Saturday I lent my car to my sister and I had planned on driving my husband's car. I was ready to go and the car wouldn't start.

I called Cheryl to tell her that I wouldn't be joining her. I went back to sleep. But don't think that I didn't get my run in. Sunday afternoon, while my husband was on his way to get a new battery for his car, I ran my scheduled 12 and I felt pretty good.

Tuesday, my sister still had my car and my husband went with our son on a field trip to Forever Florida. My plan was to run to the poll to vote. I left my house around 7:50 AM and headed out. I faced some challenging terrain including some wild uncut grass next to an orange grove. I felt really good about multi-tasking. I wanted to run and I wanted to vote. Check and check!

Today I had 6 x 800s on my schedule. I ran them on the treadmill and I really enjoyed it. It was the best run I've had in a long, long time.

This Sunday a lot of the local runners I know will be in Celebration at the 10K and 5K or both - You know who you are... I will not be there. I have always wanted to run that 10K. The very first 5K I ran was this race. At the time a 10K seemed like an impossible distance. Can you imagine running 6 miles?

I won't be there on Sunday because I will be running the Orange Blossom Half Marathon in my town of Tavares, FL. I felt like it was really important to support a truly local race. I'm not really going into this with any particular goal. I just want to go out and have a good time and get my long run with water stops.

I'm looking forward to it!

Runner's Roundtable

I am getting back in the swing of things and ramping my training back up as I prepare for Disney's Goofy Race and a Half Challenge. I'm looking forward to improving myself over the next few months as I strive for 1,200 miles for the year and an awesome Marathon Weekend at the house of mouse.

Today, I was lucky enough to be an invited guest on the Runner's Roundtable Episode #7. I shared my Chicago Marathon experience with Petra and Charlie. Melisa was there in spirit.

Not only was the Chicago Marathon an amazing experience, re-living it again with my friends and sharing it was a lot of fun!