Kathleen's Adventures

Friday night Augie, Jen, Luke, and I headed to the Mucky Duck to see Radney Foster. It was an awesome show. I always forget how much I like live music until I go see it again. Radney is an awesome songwriter who has written many songs you would recognize as ones that others have recorded. Some of them are: Just Call Me Lonesome - Dwight Yokam Sure Fine Way to Start - Sarah Evans Raining on Sunday - Keith Urban Godspeed - Dixie Chicks Shows like his take me away to a little fantasy world where nothing is wrong. Everything is perfect there. People you love will love you back, no one will ever break your heart. Anything is possible in this little world, and happiness is in abundance. The short time I spend in that little world is a bit euphoric and is almost a breath of fresh air. It is always sad when you have to walk out the door, as the show is over, and the real world is waiting for you right outside. Sometimes though I do get to take a little bit of that world (even if just a smile...

Is what I am sure the early morning Pre -Cash employees are thinking on Thursday mornings now at 5:45am when a few of us run up and down their 12 story parking garage over and over. It is 1/2 mile up and 1/2 mile down and we run it 3-4 times per workout. Sadly, that is the closest thing to a hill we have in these parts. The St. George Marathon is downhill for about 22 miles and uphill for about 4 miles. Those 4 miles happen from mile 7-11. The climb at mile 7 alone is nearly 350 feet. It is going to kill us! I guess we are doing our best though to train for it. The other issue is the 22 miles of downhill. Sounds awesome for speed, and it is, along as your quads don't turn to pure much way before they are allowed to. Anyone know of a 22 mile downhill I can use for my last super long run? ....didn't think so. Here is a good pic of the St. George elevation:

Lots of posts today... In regards to my previous two posts about "life", I forgot to add that one of my favorite songs (Trials, by Jackopierce) sums it all up pretty well: All the lessons I’ve learned All the money I’ve burned All the things that I thought were but they weren’t All were trials that added up to her All these lovers making compromise Trying to make sacrifice for love Hoping things will only get better but they don’t Only posed to see them fall I know I’ve seen it before I do believe that failed relationships, broken hearts, and just dumb mistakes are all trials that lead you to the perfect solution. You just have to have the patience to ride through them and the clarity to see them as what they are: trials. If you don't see them as trials and try to force something that isn't, you may end up falling. I am so thankful that I have yet to fall, and I hope I never do. The last line of the song is "What I do not deserve I do not deny." I'...

A friend has just asked me to further explain the idea behind running your long runs slower than goal marathon pace (GP). I'm certainly no running expert, but I read everything I can get my hands on when it comes to training, and I have yet to come across any training plan or article that says you should run your training runs at GP. I wanted to share some of the good info I have come across and point people in the direction of more info if they want it. I have tons of sources, in no particular order, so here I go... 1. Jack Daniels' VDOT paces . This is what I use to determine my training paces for my weekly track workouts. This workout is the fastest workout I do during the week, and is what is responsible for my speed come race day (i.e. speed comes from shorter, fast workouts, endurance comes from LSD (long slow distance) runs). Using my 5k pr of 24:27, I get a VDOT value of 39.33. With that VDOT, it recommends a long run pace of 10:14, and predicts a marathon time of 3:52 ...

I went back and read my post and it sounds like I may be kind of just whiny and lonely. That really isn't the case at all. I don't want just anyone to show up in my life - I want the right one to show up in my life. Waiting for whoever that person has been a huge exercise in patience, but I do believe good things come to those who wait. I don't want to be with someone right now just to not be alone. Hanging out with myself isn't all that bad! I'd much rather be alone than be with someone I'm not totally thrilled about. I have always seen a lot of people around me in relationships just because they seem convenient, or it seems like people can't stand to be alone. If that is what they want, more power to them, it just really isn't what I'm looking for. So, I will continue to wait as patiently as possible, but then again, those who know me know that sometimes patience isn't exactly my strong suit! Oh well, such is the life!

So hurry up and get here! However cliche and cheesy John Mayer's words may be, he does have a point: Staying home alone on a Friday (well, actually today is Sunday...) Flat on the floor looking back (actually in my bed...) On old love Or lack thereof (ding!ding!ding!) * After all the crushes have faded And all my wishful thinking was wrong I'm jaded I hate it * I'm tired of being alone So hurry up and get here So tired of being alone So hurry up and get here * Searching all my days to find you Not sure what I'm looking for I'll know where When I see you * Until then I'll hide in my bedroom Just staying up all night just to write A love song For no one * I could have met you in a sandbox (at Lupe's?) I could have passed you on the sidewalk (running single file on Memorial?) Could I have missed my chance and watched you walk away * You'll be so good You'll be so good for me I know you'll be so good For me For me

I had a good run today. It is nice to be able to say that because I feel like I haven't been able to say that very often lately. The main reason is most likely the weather, but I'm sure plenty of other things factor into that as well. I ran 18 miles with Kenyan Way in just over 11:00min/mile pace and I'm very happy with that. That pace fits in the range of recommended long run training paces for my St. George goal time, and heat is not factored into those training ranges, so I'm even more happy. It is still slower than the KW schedule has for me, but I'm just not sure I will ever be able to run that fast! Shellie and I also spent the afternoon visiting Lisa for probably the last time before she has her baby girls. It was great to see her and we spent a few hours just catching up and eating some of Stephanie's Cookies . Tomorrow is a semi-long bike ride in the morning and a short recovery run in the evening. I just have 2 more super long runs (20+ miles) ...

One day last week I came home to find a package hanging on my door. I got inside and opened it up to find it was a women's Timex Ironman watch from TriBike Transport. There was no letter or anything else in there though, so I had no idea why I had received it. I had forgotten about it until today and I finally emailed them to find out what it was all about, and apparently I won it in their 2008 early registration drawing. I think the grand prize was for a bike or something, and I certainly didn't get that, but I still got a watch. Kind of neat! (Sadly I don't need another watch right now, but I am sure I can find someone who does). In other news, I'm exhausted! We got up at 4:30 to discuss whether or not our 5:15am run was going to happen due to the rain and we ended up going. I'm glad we did because it is pouring now and I don't want to leave my apartment tonight, but I still struggled big time on the run. My heart rate was hanging out around 180 and...

I'm losing track of how many times I've had to post that cancer sucks. Another person on my cancer prayer list lost her battle Monday night. I grew up going to camp with the Chandler kids, from Beaumont, and their mom passed away Monday night. My mom had seen her and their family at the ICU on Thursday, but they all thought she was just there temporarily, to treat an infection. She found out on Mother's Day of 2007 that she was sick, and yesterday would have been her 57th birthday. Her younger daughter is supposed to get married this Saturday. Hearing all of this news just tugs at my heart. Please keep their family in your prayers.

My race pictures are up before my muscle soreness has gone way. Now, I don't know if that is saying you should be impressed with the photographer, or not-so-impressed with my wimpy little legs. Anyways, my pics from Sunday are here. A really funny picture is here . Homedude has the hots for Kelly! (I hope the links work...if not, my bib # was 10138 and Kelly's last name is Clark and her # is 3471). - Update: I changed the link on Kelly's photos, so maybe it works now. Check out the guy in blue (homedude).

But it didn't eat Kelly's!! I had hoped for a PR this morning and that certainly didn't happen. The course was much tougher than the elevation chart made it out to be and the temps definitely weren't in the 40s like I like it to be. So those are my excuses, but Kelly had none! She passed me before mile 2 and never looked back. She ran a 1:58 or so, for a 11 minute PR! I ended up with 2:05 or so. I figured I would at least run under 2:00 until mile 9 or so, and then when I hit the freakin' hill that was huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuggggee (mile 10.5-12.5...2 miles long!), I decided I'd be happy with just plain finishing! I'm certainly not upset in the least with my performance - I can't expect to PR every time I turn around, and this trip and race certainly weren't all about running "fast." I'm having a blast! I'm also sooooooo proud of Kelly for doing so well. She's running her first full in Houston this year - maybe we'll end up runnin...

Hmmm ...what will I do? Doesn't everyone celebrate their 27 1/2 th birthday? I thought so. Last night I went to a cooking class that Luke gave me for my 1/2 birthday. It was pretty neat - I've never been to one before. We didn't get to really play, we just ate what she showed us how to make, but I did bring home some good recipes and found a Riesling I really liked. Tonight I have a massage that I got for a birthday present exactly 6 months ago. So I'm a bit slow about getting around to things, but I'm certainly looking forward to it! It is perfect timing after the running I have been doing and will hopefully leave me fresh for my race on Sunday. Speaking of race...any predictions? It is a 1/2 marathon in San Diego. Miles 1 and 2 are pretty much flat, 3-5 are downhill, 6-11 are flat, 12 has a huge uphill, and 13 is flat again. My PR is 1:56:04 back in February on a decently hilly course. I really have no idea what to expect this weekend. I don't feel fast righ...

I hurt! I have run 25 miles in the last 48 hours and my poor legs feel it. I guess it may be a good hurt, but I just hope it goes away before my race this weekend. In other news, I have recently started eating meals from My Fit Foods and I can't say enough about them! My friend Jen lost 6 lbs last week as part of their 21 day challenge! I don't know if I will do the challenge because it is super strict (only eat their food, no caffeine or alcohol, for 21 straight days), but I do plan to eat most of my lunches and dinners from them for a good while (my breakfast usually is decently healthy). This food is very healthy and actually tastes good! It is so nice leaving my workout at night knowing I have good food waiting for me at home! My favorites so far are the Turkey Pasta and the Killuh Green Chicken. The chicken is served with quinoa - something I've read lots about lately but wouldn't have ever gone to the store and bought to cook myself. Don't tell anyone,...

Was I really just on vacation? It sure doesn't seem like it. I ran 4 miles with Shellie last night and need to get in at least 9 between today and tomorrow, then another 21 on the weekend, for a total of 34 for the week. I'm scheduled to do 18 on Saturday and 3 on Sunday. We shall see how that goes. I signed up for Kenyan Way to run some of my longest runs with Shellie. I love my Houston Fit people, but I'm just not good at adding the extra miles I need to run by myself. Houston Fit is doing 12 this week and there's no way I'd do 6 extra on my own. For now I just plan to bounce back and forth between Houston Fit and Kenyan Way and I might even just do a few runs with the group that I'm doing St. George with who just train on their own. This is the one downside to doing one of the earliest fall marathons around - no one to train with! Next weekend I'm heading to San Diego to run a half marathon. I'm super excited! My goal mileage for the weeks ...

Like the names? They are our stage names... Preparations for our trip began last Wednesday when Luke and I went to Tri On the Run to get the HRTC bike boxes and pack up our bikes. I didn't bring my camera and I'm still kicking myself. We had bike parts spread across the entire fitness center and a spin class as an audience. We quickly learned who the mechanically inclined one was, but I'll leave that to you to guess. After about an hour we were finally set with our bikes completely dismantled and packed in nice little boxes with wheels. We put them in my apartment for early loading Friday morning. Friday morning came a bit early at 5 when it was time to start loading my car to head to the airport. Our flight was at 7:20 which sounded great because we'd get to Oakland by 10:30, but it still made for a very early day. We arrived in Oakland and packed up the cool minivan without any problems. I was immediately unimpressed with California traffic though. It was bad all the ...

Well, I survived. I have several mixed emotions about this race. It was definitely the prettiest race I have ever done. It was also the hardest course I have ever done and it was also the least prepared I have ever been for a race! So, it was set apart from any other race I have done before I even started! The race started in Guerneville, CA on the Russian River. The swim was an out and back in a very narrow river. Luke was doing the full iron distance race and his wave started at 6:45, so we had to get there very early for him. It was very cold at the start and I was interested to see what the weather would be for the rest of the day. It wasn't that foggy though and the announcer kept warning that that meant it was going to be a very hot day. The transition zone was open racking by age group and I got a pretty good spot since I was there so early. Shellie and I watched Luke start his race, then thought we spotted him finishing his first loop, but weren't sure because it seemed...

I like food too much at the moment to track my weight and advertise it for all to see. Actually, I think all the medicine I'm on right now (including two types of steroids) are responsible for me wanting to eat everything in sight. I know I'm not some huge cow and that I am still smaller now than I had been in a long long time before last fall. Despite the fact that someone so nicely pointed out my leg fat yesterday, I'll just deal with it. Don't worry, when the weight does come off, I'll let the world now, but I just can't really worry about all of it right now.