Monday, December 07, 2009

Survived!

Two days. 53 KM (33 mi).

Saturday:

It was about -6/21F when I set out - coldest long run yet! I bundled up in my favourite winter gear.






Hubby joined me for the first half of the run, which helped take my mind off the fact that this long run was in fact the short run for this weekend. I was feeling pretty intimidated by all the miles that lay ahead, but I tried to take it one at a time and remain positive. I knew that after this weekend, the remainder of my training would be a piece of cake.

21KM (13mi) done!



(Not sure if you can see the chocolate gunk all over my jacket. I had a leaky Gu!)




Sunday:

It was time for The Big One. I met up with about a dozen others for the big 20-miler (some were running a shorter distance). Hubby came along too! It was another cold morning (and windy!) but we warmed up quickly once we got moving and the sun came up. We still had quite a shock each time we turned into the wind. Brrr! I was extremely nervous about this run. How could I run 20 miles that day after 13? I was pleasantly surprised that it went really well. I didn't bonk and I barely got tired. My legs were quite sore throughout the last hour of the run, but nothing unmanageable. As I finished it off and walked in the front door, the first thing I said to hubby was "I can run 10 more."


Bring on Goofy!

I've been feeling stronger on the long runs of this training cycle than ever before, even with the back-to-backs. In fact, my pace for yesterday's run was only a few seconds slower than my marathon pace from September. I'm confident that this is as least partially a result of Project Lean Mean Running Machine and the amount of weight I have taken off. My ultimate goal is to maintain this weight through the holidays/Goofy and lose about 7 more before my goal marathon this Spring (to be announced).


HBBC Update

Friday:
F/V = 1 pt

Saturday:
run 13mi = 13 pts
F/V = 1 pt

Sunday:
run 20mi = 20 pts
F/V = 1 pt




P.S. Big congrats to Aron who got her BQ this weekend!

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

You look warm! Congrats on the great run :)

Unknown said...

brrrrr. i'm already tired of cold weather running. lol

Jess said...

Wow, that is cold! Goofy will certainly offer a big change in temp if nothing else!

RunningLaur said...

You're my running hero! And your outfit totally cracked me up :)

RunningLaur said...

(because there's so much clothing!)

Marky Mark said...

You're a machine putting the rest of us to shame-well done!

Jen Feeny said...

There is no way in h-e-double hockey-stick I would be out in that! I bow down in your presence! LOL! Great job girly! Way to push through! Goofy's got nothing on you!

I Run for Fun said...

You are an inspiration! A 12 miler, then a 20 miler in the same weekend??? Great job, girl!

J said...

Losing the weight definitely will help! That is just so great that you ran well this weekend. I can't believe how many miles you did! You ran more miles Saturday than I ran all week! lol

Keep up the great work!

teacherwoman said...

Way to go! That is awesome that you were able to run 20 miles the day after 13 miles! Props to you! And look at all those HBBC points you racked. :)

Mel -Tall Mom on the Run said...

Wow oh wow you are AMAZING!! Congrats to super duper miles, you will win HBBC for sure.

I need to start Lean Mean Mel Machine...but we just made fudge, hmmm maybe next week.

Mel-2nd Chances said...

Awesome job, was thinking about you this weekend while wrapped up in my blanket :) You will do SO AWESOME at Goofy!

Runner Leana said...

You made it through the big weekend - awesome job! Glad to hear your training has gone so well. Can't wait to see how the races go for you, although I have no doubt that you will indeed rock them both!

Denise said...

Great job with the back to backs. I met with Coach and I'll be doing my fair share of them towards the end of winter to get ready for the Ultra.

You're doing so awesome with the weight loss..glad it's helping on the runs, too!

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

You are putting us all to shame with your monster runs! I bet you are on cloud 9 after all the great running! You rock!

Brian said...

Wow! 33 miles in 2 days?? Thats aweosme you gotta feel like iron woman.

Janice {Run Far} said...

brrrrr........ you are awesome. Congrats on the miles and the weight loss recently. What are you doing to lose?
janni329@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Ummm you have to stop running now because you are absolutely OBLITERATING me in HBBC ;)

33 miles, wow that's amazing! Awesome, awesome work.

Anonymous said...

You're ALL set for Goofy!! Way to tackle those distances like it's Nothin'!!! :) So, tapering now???

also - 21*?! My gosh - I thought our 35* snow was bad. oooof, that's some serious winter going on up there!

Bethany + Ryan said...

doesn't it feel great to know that in just 1 month you will be running in shorts and a t-shirt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (hopefully). Thats what i'm most looking forward to!

Laura said...

Geez...congrats. I was high fiving myself after baking cookies for hrs on Sat and then busting out 10km. You are amazing.

SunsetRun said...

That is awesome! You should feel amazing doing two long runs in one weekend! I am jealous of your motivation!

RoadBunner said...

You are SUPER ready for Goofy!!!

Alas, this time around I am not doing back-to-back long runs consistently. Trained specifically for CIM, taking this week real easy and have Honolulu this coming weekend.

I am going to try to do one 10/20 or maybe 10/18 combo before Goofy but we'll see. Hmm, maybe I should be worried!

Aron said...

you are going to KILL goofy!!! i cant wait to see it! BRR that is COLD too!

THANK YOU so much for the shoutout and for everything, your support and encouragement - all of it :)

Laura said...

You look like the real deal in your warm weather clothes. I wish I was as well equipped for the winter as you. Leaky GUs are the worst. I ruined a phone that way. Congrats on your speedy 20 miler!

Unknown said...

Nice job Marlene, you are going to be so ready for Goofy. I was just thinking how lean and fit you looked in those pics...you really look fantastic, and I love that blue jacket:)

Lily on the Road said...

It was crazy windy yesterday, good for you get all your runs in, You will be Goofy soon enough! When do you start taper madness???

joyRuN said...

Dang, Marlene - you're a rockstar!! Nicely done on your back-to-back!

Unknown said...

I love your running top, cool color! Super job on your 20 miles and then 13!? Awesome and that's so great that you still felt good! You're fit!

A Toronto girl out West said...

You are hardcore! AND you look like a super hero! :oP

B.o.B. said...

Girl you are amazing! Excellent running and I so don't envy that cold weather. It was 40-ish this weekend and that is already waaaay to cold for me!

Lindsay said...

you look so warm bundled up!! :) nice job on the goofy runs!! wow 13 and 20. i think i only did 10 and 20!

Pining for Pinterest said...

Great job on the runs! That is awesome that you were not sore the next day after the 13 miles :-)

Felice Devine said...

You rock, Marlene! That is some kind of weekend.

EndorphinBuzz said...

Good word on the back to back! HBBC or PLMRM must be working because you look awesome!!

Heather said...

Nice job on those back to back long runs! And you are looking HOT! :)

Toni said...

Great job on your long runs! You are going to do awesome at Goofy!

Jamie said...

Awesome job! Goofy is going to be a blast and your are going to rock it!

Gotta Run..... said...

YOU ARE RIGHT ON TARGET for a AWESOME GOOFY!!!!!

N.D. said...

wow - congrats!! you're amazing!

Kelly said...

Wow, you are amazing- that sounds like a very hard weekend of running...

and cold haha

Erika said...

Great job!! That's some serious running!

MCM Mama

Katie said...

Man, I'm feeling lazy!