I did it.  Last week I hit my mileage target and plotted out 50 miles.  It felt like a plot, much different than the 50 miles/week that I was doing not too long ago in track.  I don't know why it's so hard to increase mileage and get back into the swing of things.  When your in the grove, hitting a mileage target of 50 is nothing with even with cross training and intense workouts two or three times a week.  A few more weeks at this distance and then I know the 50 mileage range will feel like nothing.

Perhaps I'm tired because of lack of sleep associated with the active Olympic TV watching that's happening at our house.  Usually we are in bed by 9:30 pm at the latest.  We may be reading, but we are horizontal.  For the past week or so, it's hard to get in bed before midnight.  Track events seem to be mixed in throughout the evening, and for the last two night the events right before midnight were some of the best highlights.  To watch the russian gal hit another world record in the pole vault was great, and then the night before to see Lui drop out of the 100 was heart breaking.  The pressure that guy has on him must just be unbearable.  He's the rock star of the Olympics, and to not be able to compete is such defeat.

But the established ladies are sure making me excited!   38 year old winning the gold in the women's marathon!  Torres winning a very close second in swimming at 41.  It's hard, yes, because I really wanted to have a great track season this year, and felt that my body (at 41) was well up to the challenge -- late in the season as I begun to peak, I even felt that a personal best was within my realm.  But I'm so jazzed to see many women well into their lives putting it all together to be at the top of their game.  Age really is a matter of the mind -- but you need a strong mind to remind yourself at an older age, you need to take care of your self and do all the extra things that you could get away with in younger times (eating, sleeping, stretching -- you know the basic stuff).

Enough rambling today -- I got to get busy.  Marc and I are carpooling, and soon I'll be holdiing up the pool -- ugh, not a characteristic you look for in a carpool partner.

More later this week. aero 

What a great weekend.  It's was a long way in the coming, but I now feel recoperated from the SF marathon that worked its way into an extra long work week.  Didn't really do much, other than long runs, little diggin in the garden, and lounging around the house watching the tele.  Lovin the Olympics, doesn't seem to matter what sport is on, I'm glued to the competition and to see any little peak of the China culture.

For those wondering, Pene has recovered just fine.  She did get a shot of benadryl, and turned into a wild dog when that was in her system -- bouncing all over the place.  But after a day, the swelling started going down and she turned back into a cute, mellow little lab again.  Can you believe she's mellow -- so different from Hank at her age. 

I was stoked to get a solid week of running in last week!

46 miles, and one day of yoga.  A little weak on the cross training side of things, so hopefully that will change this week.  I've really noticed the difference in my core when I'm not getting into the pool for the deep water running -- this is my secret training tip.  Your tummy and arms get such a workout when you run in the pool -- but it's not an easy jog, I run pretty darn hard in the pool.  You can even do on-and-offs, drills and fast feet.  That's the joy of running in the pool, you can go as hard as you'd like any time you get in!  Unlike running, where rest days are the MOST important of all!

I should be hitting my target mileage for cross country (XC) this week, well actually my interim target mileage of 50 miles / week.  I plan on holding that mileage for a month or so and then moving it up to 55 miles.  We've decided not to do any XC workouts until I hit my target mileage, so I'm feeling like a plotter these days -- lots of long, slow miles.

And you know the mind of runners, only as fast as your last race or workout.  So these days, I'm feeling a little on the slow side and wondering if I have will ever have enough to beat my competition.  Insecure yes, that's me, and it's a constant challenge.  It's probably one of the main reasons why I run.  The constant need to prove to myself that I still got it!

But we all know that running is much more than competition.  Its mediation, connecting in with your surroundings, the place to figure it all out, and a way to get you tired so you can relax when you get back home.

Okay so what's happening this week...

• 50 miles of running
• 3-4 dog hikes (3 miles each)
• 1 day yoga
• 1-2 days running in the pool (I'm optimistic)
• ton of meetings at work
• start painting the running divas lounge (were going w/ various shades of orange!)
• driving the speed limit (got a ticket last week -- oops, but at least now I have a current drivers license)

That's what it's looking like right now.  I'll keep you posted.  I have this little nagging foot issue, can't tell if it's related to my achilles or the darn twisted ankle, but hopefully it will work its way out.  Good thing I'm not doing any workouts this week, but I may need to rein in the amount of days I'm running in the sand. 

Here's to a great week.  Enjoy!  aero

What a night.  Coming back from the San Fran Marathon, rushing into work on Monday -- I was really looking forward to some down time last night and a rock solid sleep.  Well, you can't always get what you want, right Mick -- this seems to be my re-occurring theme song. 

Who knows why, but starting at 1 am this morning, Pene, our fox red (not really too red) lab starts shaking her head, licking her front feet, and pacing outside our room.  I get up thinking she must need to go outside.  She hangs outside for a while, I relish in a few minutes of deep sleep, then she lets me know she's ready to come back in the house.  Well this continues, until my alarm goes off at 5 am. 

Now it's time to get up and get my running clothes on, cause Jennifer will be leaving her house too at 5:30 for our regularly scheduled Tuesday am vampire run.  So when I get up, and actually start waking a little I look at Pene and realize she doesn't quite look the same.  Rather than a petite little red head, she now resembles more of a charpay.  No wonder she was shaking her head and rubbing her muzzle -- it's completely swollen, she can barely see out of her eyes. 

The vet doesn't get in until 8, so we continue our morning and get in a lovely 7 miles. 

Just dropped Pene off at the vet (they didn't have any open appointments, so we needed to leave her there and Dr. Knighton will help her out between other appointments.  I'm sure Pene's very upset with me right now, she didn't get her food, or walk and know she's stuck at the stinkin vets!  Not to mention this funny look she's touting.  We think she was bit by a spider, so hopefully soon she'll get a dose of meds that kicks down the inflammation. 

I'm getting ready to go to work -- if they doctor Pene up this morning or early afternoon, perhaps we can both come home earlier today! 

San Fran was great fun.  I'll talk more about that later.  Have a good day.  aero

It's seems like a long time since our last expo.  That would be San Diego way back in the first weekend in June.  So getting everything together and out the door for San Fran is excitement all over.

I have this love-hate relationship with travel.  I love getting out in the world and experiencing the nooks and crannies that are out there... the people, food, culture, running paths, etc.  But it's so darn hard for me to leave the house.  I'm a home body, love the nest, love my family --the dogs that don't get to experience the life of a traveling marathon expo road show.  So in preparation for any travel, I go through a bit of anxiety.  I know, they're just dogs, but there my dogs and we wouldn't even be doing this gypsy job it we had children darlings! 

Luckily for me, I don't have to worry about packing my clothes.  I have a whole boutique booth full of great attire, that I'm actually "required" to wear through the duration of the expo.  Oh what a job!  The fact is, I pretty much live in our running divas clothing all the time I'm not in my "work clothes" for the APCD. 

Marc's the one who has the tough packing job.  We sit down and figure out the amount of product that our 10x10 space can handle, talk about the "must have" items for the show, then he spends the day (that's today) packing the boxes and loading the van.  All of this after spending the past 10 days moving his studio to a new location.  He's a super star! 

Yesterday was the best.  I needed to get an early morning run in, and wasn't going to be able to meet up w/ any of my girl friends, so Marc got his bike out and offered to go riding w/ me as I ran!  This is something new and out of the blue.  It was great, we went to Montana de Oro early in the morning and didn't have to worry about any traffic.  Typically if I was to run by myself that early in the morning the whole time I would be thinking about lions and tigers and bears.  Luckily the only thing we encountered was quail and deer -- much serenity, beautiful vistas over looking the ocean and a ton of fog.  We're back to our normal summer soupy fog season.  I think it's great running weather, and perfect moisturizer for my skin.

Oh yeah, speaking of youthful skin -- you got to check out the August issue of Sunset magazine!  I made it on page 67.  Albeit a small photo, that's me (in running divas garb) running up a grass and tree lined sidewalk!  It's an article on small towns w/ big charm and San Luis Obispo was spot-lighted.  Chris Leschinsky, our photographer was asked to do the images for Sunset, and fortunately he ask me to help out w/ the running picture.  Go running divas!  The best part of the story is the caption they placed on the photo which says "SLO combines history with college-town vibrancy."  Yeah, that's right a great looking 41 year old used to depict the college vibrancy.

Speaking of vibrancy -- I hope to have a lot of it today.  Since I'm taking off Thursday and Friday this week from my day-job, I have an extremely hectic meeting schedule that goes late into the evening!  So, I better get on w/ the work-smirk.  I'll try to log on as we're heading up to San Fran. 

Talk w/ you soon.  Take care, aero

Workout's been going well this week.  Started off w/ Monday full cross-training.  3 mi dog hike, 30 minute deep pool run and yoga in the evening.  Love the yoga.  My ankle still holds me back on a few poses, but overall it seems to be healing nicely.  Tomorrow's play track, hills on Saturday then LSD to end the week.  If everything stays the course, I'll be able to hit my goal of 45 miles this week!

I've been able to run with Jennifer three days this morning -- the vampire runners unit.  You can already tell the days are getting shorter (darn it), it's getting darker and darker at 5:30 am.  But now that I'm starting to crank up my mileage and get back into the swing of things, it's so nice knowing that Jennifer is there too, what a great motivator to get outa the door!

Work has been pretty normal this week.  The smoke from the Big Sur wildfires are now over 70% contained, and the air quality has been much better this week.  It takes off the pressure of the media interaction, I like that part of my job, but it is time consuming and pushes everything else I'm working on onto the back burner. 

Marc's making great strides with the move.  He thinks he'll have everything moved into the new shop by the end of this week.  I'm not sure if that's Friday or Saturday.  I'm hoping for Friday so he can take off a full weekend, but with San Fran Marathon next week, I bet he'll want to go into the shop over the weekend to print up some more great diva items.  We bought paint on Tuesday for the studio -- tangerine orange!  We'll start w/ this, and white and see where that leads us.  I'm a little scared of the orange, but it's just paint right?  We can always paint over it (w/ a darker color I guess?).  The lounge opening is likely to occur in September!

Got to get off to work.  More later, aero

okay, now I'm getting back in the groove.  Last week I finally got my mileage to 40 miles w/ five days running, one pool run, play track and lots of family dog hikes.  This week the target if 45.  I'm hoping for six days of running, same cross training as last week, but also throwing in a yoga session this afternoon.

It's seems like until I get to 40 miles I have a tough time keeping my focus -- always coming up w/ many great excusing not to get out there and put in the miles.  But hopefully I've hit the threshold and can keep my momentum rolling.

We're getting ready for SF marathon -- just two weeks away!  Marc is about half way through the move over to our new shop, and this week I hope to start on painting the running divas lounge.  Color scheme, what should it be?  I've put up listings on craigs list for funky furniture and display racks.  I already heard back from someone w/ a green couch... wish they sent a picture.  We have the old pink hair dryer from the 60's that's on our website homepage, and Hurly dropped off an old dentist chair that probably the same vintage.  We're eclectic strong, now we need a sofa for the lounge environment and area to start the interviews! 

Not sure if you have been to flotrack.com before, but this is a great website that's promoting the lifestyle of track and field.  A couple guys doing some top notch work.  Lots of interviews, talk show and workouts -- definitely something that I aspire to bringing to the running divas lounge.  Especially with a diva focus and going well beyond track and field and bringing it full circle to the everyday lifestyle of running divas.  Marc and I are even talking about bringing the lounge concept to the NY marathon and reserving a section of our booth for video interviews. 

As far as work this week, pretty normal for me.  The wildfires in CA continue, but the Big Sur is now nearly 75% contained, and hopefully the smoke won't be impacting San Luis Obispo (SLO) County.  Big land use decisions before the planning commission, that may take some of my time.  But it's looking like another productive week to get caught up before my mini vacation to SF Marathon.

Went on a great trail run this weekend.  PG&E just opened more of the Point Buchon trail just south of Montana de Oro.  If you park at the ranch house at MDO and run the bluffs to the PGE check in booth you can not add on another 3 miles out on the pristine coastal trail.  Little eerie with electric fences, power lines, a few of the nuclear plant -- but the kicker is the sign at the end of the trail that reads "deadly force will be used to protect this facility" -- you're expecting to see some guy w/ a sword through their chest lining outside the boundary lines.  The things we do for energy!

But a great off-road trail run!  Worth your time if you ever find yourself on the Central Coast.  I'll be running it more often.  

Okay, got to get to work!  Pronto, clean air for all!  aero out. 

With such a strong focus this track season, I'm surprised how challenging it is to get back into the swing of things for cross country.  I think I'm on week three of my base phase, just trying to log the miles and build up to my target mileage of 50/week.  It's easier for me once I have a workout schedule, and especially if I have a group to meet up with for hard workouts. 

I think I'm experiencing my summer doldrums... long lazy days, vacation mode, after work I just want to come home and hang out at the house w/ the family.  Weights, are you kidding.  Yoga, easy enough if I have a class I'm in, but on my own, likely not going to happen.  Kind of like when I was a kid and had the summers off -- that's what my body's telling about training. 

A break is good, actually it is necessary to have a strong XC and track season next year.  And I know when I do get back into the routine, all the miles and workouts will become my place to retreat.  But until then, I keep plotting in the easy runs in hopes of making this week's weekly target of 35 - 40 miles.  Should be no problem, but it's amazing how many excuses come my way.

I did get back in the pool this week for a deep water running workout.  Finally, I think I out of the water for over a month.  And surfing this weekend if the surf isn't too big!  The miles are coming, and if I can meet up this weekend for my runs on Saturday and Sunday I should be able to make my goal.

Marc's been crazy busy with the shop.  We're moving running divas to another location, just across the driveway from where we've been located for the past 8 years.  Very exciting arrangement.  Better layout for the printing studio and office, and the best thing yet -- a front room for the running divas lounge!  Great spot for a showroom for our new items, and a hangout area for local and visiting running divas. 

Stay tuned, I'm planning a great opening party later this summer and hope to add videos to this blog. 

Track City USA did it again -- hosted an event filled T&F Oly Trials that put track back on the everyday mind.  Even the weather in Eugene cooperated -- I don't think it rained once during the competition.

NBC on the other hand, left room for improvement.  From funky, overweight announcers that ask lame questions of all athletes, just seconds after completing their event -- to late night airing that only the crazy fools on vacation can watch (unless the record it of course) -- so much for early runs. 

But the athletes, what incredible performances!  It was very tough not being in Eugene for the 10-day showdown.  We hemmed and hawed, then finally decided with all our travels this year with the marathon expos and track races, we should stay at home and hold off on another road trip.  But it wasn't until last Thursday, when we actually stopped talking about jumping in the car and driving up to Eugene.

Seeing all those people that I either competed against or a few that I trained with -- I wanted to there, track side yelling at the top of my lungs and watching them putting everything on the line to run the race of their life.  Locally we had 10 athletes compete in the Trails.  When you know someone on the line or in a field event, it amplifies the emotional intensity of the sport.

I was so excited to see Kara June in the finals.  Kara and I workout on the track at the same crazy time (6:30 am, Wednesday mornings -- until we got injured). Kara got injured early this year (stress fracture in her foot).  But she was smart about it, took time off, cross trained and timed her peak performance for Eugene! Not too often you can time a comeback (both physically and mentally) for the Oly Trails!

Then there's Jordan Hasay -- don't need to say much about her.  With her success in the 1500 at 16 years old, all the media followed this starlight in Eugene.  But to PR in the semis and then run a great race in the finals is amazing!  I don't even think the 1500 is really her race, just wait until 2012 and watch out ladies, I bet she's pulls a Rupp and is on the team in the 5000.

So bottom line -- Watching the Oly Trials on TV made me even more motivated to get out there and get busy training for the next race.  Cross Country season here we come.

This is the second week of starting up for XC -- still building up my mileage.  Ankle is feeling better, still swells up after a longer race, and definitely put a lot of thought into foot placement when I run off-road.  But at least I'm able to run again!

So for this week, here's the plan...

Mileage target: 30 - 35 (XC season mileage will be at 50 mpw)
Running:  5 days
Core work: Friday on the track
Pool:  one day at lunch / deep water running
Yoga:  Monday
Dog Hikes: four days / 3 mi each

Seems very reasonable.  Pretty normal work week, no travel, no crazy-busy meeting days (yet anyways).  I'll keep you posted.

Hope you all have a great week.  Putting in the miles, enjoying the summer!  Thank for taking the time to read this entry! 

aero out!

Yes, this week starts the kickoff of a week long festival up at Hayward Field in Eugene.  The town has been buzzin for a long time prepping an exciting celebration that brings Track Town USA back into the track-viewers lime-light!  Nike's put in millions to hype up the track scene for the everyday viewers. 

I'm seeing my 1500 goal fall short and am torn about whether we will make the trip from Los Osos to Eugene.  The decision's pretty well made at this point, we're not going.  It takes 12 plus hours to drive from here to there and longer by train (but wouldn't that be a great way to get there).  And we'd likely only be there for two of the 8 days of racing.  But I'm envious of the all the folks who can experience the thrill of excitement that is only felt at a Hayward Field track meet. 

It would be tough to watch the gals running and not get emotional.  At forty, I continue to amaze myself at how much I want to race in that darn meet.  Just like Mick says, you can't always get what you want -- but for me it seems to make me want it more, ughh. 

I had a great track season this year, and I'll soon put more info up on this blog (photos and race info).  Workouts were incredible -- the program works -- races were andrenaline filled!  There's nothing like the intensity of racing track, and to do it at this age make me appreciate it even more.  

But for today, a typical Wednesday, I'll soon be headed to work and putting my running thoughts off until after 5 pm (maybe sooner if it's not too busy at the office).  

aero out.

Wow, here we go live w/ the running divas blog!  Very excited to be kicking off summer with the blog. 

Just wrapped an excellent weekend in Los Osos.  It was the first summer day ever -- not your typical coastal fog, but geniune heat.  On Friday we reached 110 degrees, it cooled off to the 90s on Saturday.  Now that the weekend if over, the fog rolled back in to remind us what this season is really about on the coast. 

My two break between racing track and training for XC is over.  My ankle is nearly back to normal and I'm able to go for long hikes and runs and not worry about hurting it more.  Right now, Marc, Hank and Pene are getting ready for our morning hike up on the sand dunes in Montana de Oro -- great cross training.  Then more of that this evening -- yoga w/ Janell!  Great group of ladies here in Los Osos.

Talk w/ you soon.  aero

next will be to update the profile section -- later today. a