Yo J9...what's coming up?

Oct 5 - J9's running the San Jose Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon.

Oct 7 – Last day to donate to LLS for J9’s event! Hey…if you haven’t donated yet, skip the Starbucks and donate 5 bucks to kick cancer’s butt! Every penny counts! Click link to the right to make a secure donation.

Oct 19 – J9's running the Nike Women’s Marathon in SF with 20,000 runners, 4,000 of which are Team in Training participants raising millions for Leukemia and Lymphoma society thanks to generous donors.

20 Miles, Baby! Oh, yes...TWEN-TEE miles.

Today, by far, was THE best run of the season. Mike Z has always stated that “the 20’s” are a very special place. Indeed, he is right. Fuel, hydration, and muscles all worked for the ENTIRE run. It was SO good, that Jen and I sprinted to the finish for the last quarter, or so, mile. I had minor moments of cramping and dizziness which were eliminated within minutes thanks to salt packets and water. In the end...my legs did not feel like they ran 20 miles, but indeed they did.

Here’s the day – up at 4:15am. Breakfast: two bowls of oatmeal, two hard boiled eggs, 16 oz. of Gatorade, banana in the car en route. Carpool to Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz with the usual Marathon Run Girls – Beth, Jen, and Robin. At 7 am, got the run lowdown from coach Tim – explanation of meandering trails and scenic beauty. This run was chunked perfectly.

• First Chunk: 8 miles out and back from Natural Bridges to just beyond the Beach Boardwalk along W. Cliff Drive. Friendly morning runners and others asking, “You all Team in Training? What’s your event? How far are you going? Go Team!” And the fabulous “dolphin show” – how’s that for a good omen? And, of course, the water stop manned by encouraging TNT volunteers.
  
• Next chunk: 2 miles along a bike path paralleling HWY 1 headed north, through a portion of the Wilder Ranch with historic out buildings and up to REAL bathrooms with sinks! OH…Beth nearly tackled fellow TNTers to get to the pretzels at this water stop – I had the trail mix with M&M’s, almonds, peanuts, raisins and a water chaser after the Hammer Gel.


• Third Chunk: 2 miles through asparagus and pumpkin fields to the next water stop along the railroad tracks.
  
• Fourth Chunk: 2 miles briefly along railroad tracks, through the fields and along the Ohlone Bluff Trail – THIS IS TRAIL IS A WINNER! On the coast, fog lifting then disappearing, pumpkin fields on the right, ocean to the left. It doesn’t get better than this.
  
• Last Chunks: Back tracking through the previous perfect chunks and water stops back to Natural Bridges to make a grand total of – 20 miles.

We four Run Girls really stuck it through– with the effects of endurance running hitting some more than others during the last 3 miles. I was amazed – my legs did NOT give out on this run. We did walk a bit more at the end, but when we saw Mike Z just near the end – Jen and I picked it up, and soon a run turned into a sprint ending at the finish line with cheers from the Team. That’s Team in Training, full support from the start until the last person crosses the finish line – no other group like it.GO TEAM!

End Note: Post-run re-fuel? Soy chocolate milk then Lunch at Hoffman's in Santa Cruz: coffee, croissant, eggs benedict, bacon. Drive home. Clean-up. Nap. Bragging rights. Oh, yeah, did I mention I ran 20 miles on Saturday.

Getting Ready for Saturday's 20 MILES!

During today's track, we rungirls started chatting about prep for the 20 miler. This is the marathon "dress rehearsal" - and the dress rehearsal starts now. Time to hydrate, eat well during the week, and get plenty of sleep.

Saturday morning - up at 4am for two bowls of oatmeal, a cuppa tea, and a banana. In between spoonfuls of oatmeal, I'll start foam rolling the legs to warm-up the muscles before the stretching routine - calves, achilles, quads, hip flexors.

Then gotta wear the right non-chafing, sweat-wicking, cool-running outfit. Before the outfit goes on, gotta smear the BodyGlide all over the feet and between the toes, wherever clothes brush against the skin, and other unmentionable areas. I plan to wear my new Atalanta (skirtgoddess.com) run skort - wore it at track and it felt GREAT!

Friday night I will pack up my fuel belt. Gotta carry electrolyte replenishing liquids (32 oz), glycogen replenishing gels (5-6 packs), caffeine loaded beans (1 pack), and something for the belly that's not a liquid, gel, or bean. Preferably chocolate flavoured. I liked the PowerBar multi-grain chocolate, chocolate-chip bar I had last week (42 grams of carbs and 10 grams of protein). The stomach definately needs something more substantial than a Gu or gel during the long runs. Have no fear, we've got water stops on the run to re-fill the bottles. So, that's the food during the run. Also need lip goop, a camera, kleenex, and money for the post-run MEAL.

After expending THOUSANDS of calories and depleting all glycogen stores in the body, gotta eat and eat soon. Hmmm, I'll have my post-run choco-milk in the cooler, a banana, maybe some pumpkin bread. Then, it's off to brunch. As of this moment, I'm looking forward to eggs benedict, coffee with half 'n' half, hash browns, fruit, and a side of sausage or bacon -and ice water with lemon.

And why? This week I'm running in honor of a 17 month old little guy who was diagnosed with Leukemia today. He's getting a spinal tap tomorrow. I'm running for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society who supports families and funds research. I'm running to save lives.

GO TEAM! Donate Now!!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/nikesf08/jpenney

GO BETH, GO!

Short run on 9/13 - and it was all about helping out Beth make-up last week's 18 mile run. Jen and I ran with her for the first 9 miles. Nice cool morning, feeling pretty good. We caught up with Robin and Dianne who were going to do the last nine miles with beth. I turned to Jen, and said, "I feel pretty good! How do you feel? So we decided to do another 3 miles making it a totla of 12 miles for Saturday's SHORT run. Robin and Dianne supported Beth for the last 6 miles, and she did it! So I've done a minimum of 12 miles 6 times this season, and in two weeks - TWENTY MILES, BABY!

WE CONQUERED 18 MILES!

Yep, WE. If it weren't for the run girls, I think I would have given up. Jen, Robin, and I were joined by Sandy on this run - the more run girls the better. Beth was sick this time out :( We were warned to be prepped for the sun and heat - it did reach 90F during the run. Had water, electrolyte drinks, variety of GUs and GELs, and the drive to conquer 18 miles along the Coyote Creek trail. We saw sun, shade, water, the creek, a shaking bridge, a dead bird, a water skier, and runners and walkers from the South Bay, Monterey Bay, and Peninsula run teams. The long runs are getting tougher - the last two miles always a desperate game between the head and legs. I can breathe without a problem, but those legs start giving out at the same time my head is telling them, "You're never going to make it." Before we headed out, Coach Doug reminded us these run are tough, but to push through with the reminders of why we are out there - the stuggles we experience during marathon training don't compare to the struggles families experience as they endure the devasting effects of cancer. Chemo, radiation, spinal taps, the poking and prodding of needles, sick from cancer, sick from treatments, feelings of hope to feelings of despair, messages left on the phone by doctors stating, "You have cancer. Call back to schedule an appointment." My head didn't let my legs give up and I did complete 18 miles. So then what? Chocolate milk, ice bath, two breakfast burritos, nap, dinner: steak, fully loaded baked potato, salad, chips, toasted-coconut-rolled-ice-cream sundae with hot-fudge and whipped cream...and a guiltless feeling. I deserved all of this!