Another Virtual Race, Ugh!

I was excited to run an actual timed race for the first time this year at the Long Grove Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day, but then a few days before the event, it went virtual.  So back to yet another pointless virtual race where you're racing against yourself. The problem is myself always beats myself! Then you go to upload your results and some A-hole posted an impossible split off 4 minutes per mile (which they probably did by driving the course)! 

Can I just say that this was also a very difficult week because my twins turned 18, adults!  I had a few moments where I almost lost it, thinking back on those tiny babies I could easily hold one in each arm, story times in the ABC mysteries book club and pushing them on the Tarzan swing in our backyard.  Good times! 

Virtual Chi Marathon 2020

 Ok, it was actually kind of fun! I thought it was going to totally suck, but it was fun thanks to all the other marathoners and spectators on the Fox River loop trail between Batavia and Geneva on Sunday, 10/11. 

My time was 3:03:36, a minute faster than last year! Wooo, whoo. 

Two weeks to Virtual Chi Marathon

Put in my last long run yesterday in preparation for the virtual Chicago Marathon, 2020.  This is going to be the culmination of a long, boring and sucky season!  no real races, no real competition and minimal fun or challenge.  Maybe this will be closer to a real race given there may be international competition, but that competition won't be evident when you're actually out there running.  Oh well, doing this race is better than just doing nothing!    

Missing Betty

Thinking about my mom, Betty Ludlow, and missing her today. 

Virtual Marathon

 Note to self:  run virtual marathon on or around the date of the Chicago Marathon- October 11th. 

How does someone stay motivated and stay focused when running a solo marathon with no support and no goal other than to go as fast as they can?  I have no idea! But I'm going to try this. Maybe I can find some sap willing to do this with me? Maybe music is the key? Listen to pod casts and music the whole way as motivation???   

Virtual Duathlons

I've done two virtual duathlons in the last two weeks. When Duathlon Nationals was cancelled, they set up a virtual race with similar distances and I did the standard distance (10K run, 25 mile bike and 5K run).  That was fun, but it was just me out in a corn field.  Then this weekend, my coach and I set up a virtual du with the distances 1 mile run, 6 mile bike, 1 mile run, 6 mile bike and 1 mile run.  We got 7 people together to do it at COD and it was a blast.  Everyone running and biking past each other. Here are my splits. I hope we can do this again.

First Virtual Half-Marathon Race

Last Saturday I ran my first virtual race.  I chose the 3 mile loop of the Fox River Trail between Batavia and Geneva because that has always been one of my favorite places to run (this is the old Batavia Triathlon run course).  I set up an aid station in a little park with Gatorade and gel on wall so I could just run by and grab some.  It was actually fun and I have a very fast time.  I never even came up with a goal time. I just ran the first mile at what felt like a fast, but comfortable pave (with my Nike Zoom-Fly4% shoes). I went through the first mile in around 6:20 something. That felt good so I just told myself to hold that pace. Also, I made up a play list on Spotify and that really helped.
I ran a 1:24:26 (according to my GPS) for the half marathon race!  My best time in 5 or 6 years for that distance!

Run with Lance, Saturday 4/11

Lance and I ran 4 miles yesterday on the loop along the Fox river between Batavia and Geneva. This is one of my favorite routes. Sunny and 60 degrees.
It was a great day!

Coronavirus

This S-U-C-K-S! I feel trapped in my own house. The only thing that is any relief is getting out for a bike ride or run.  Thank God they haven't banned running. 

Planning to do my first virtual race this coming weekend: The Tower Social Distancing Championship. We will see how tricky it can be to organize your own personal race and how inspiring it is (or isn't). Planning a half marathon on Saturday 4/18. 

Coach Early

I'm very happy with my new coach so far.  Nick is able to balance prescribing work outs and his expectations with listening to me and what I think I need in terms of intensity, frequency and blend of swimming, biking and running.  That's a tricky thing to pull off!  From my perspective, the one concern I have at this point is over-training.  Last year on about March first, I was at the same point in my build up.  But last year the race I was training for was mid-April.  This year the race I'm training for is May 30th, 6-weeks later.  I'm a little worried I'm going to over-do it and develop an over-use injury, peak too soon or just get burned out by mid-May. 

Yesterday was the first time I got outside on my bike. Raf and I rode 36 miles and it was really nice!  Can't wait till all the workouts are outdoors.   

New Coach

I'm starting to plan out my 2020 racing season and planning to hire a new coach.  So far, I just have an outline of the big races for this year:

May 30th, USAT Duathlon Ge Group Nationals- Huntsville, AL

August 6th, USAT Triathlon Age Group Nationals- Milwaukee, WI 

September 6th, ITU World Duathlon Championship, Almeria, Netherlands

Not sure what I will do in between these races or earlier in the season. I plan to finish off the season with the Chicago Marathon in October, if I can still run by then.