Race Volunteer and a Running Club Banquet

This morning Hank and I woke at the crack of dawn to make our way through the frosty mist to the outskirts of Frederick for the Lewis Memorial 10 Miler.  I ran this race last year as an 'accidental 10 miler' - I was supposed to run just 5 miles of it but I missed a turn and ended up running the whole 10 miles.

Setting up the clubhouse before we headed out into the frozen tundra

Surviving that is what inspired me to run a half marathon so this race is special to me. I had high hopes of kicking butt and taking names this year, but Providence had other plans for me.  It was hard to watch everyone run by having so much fun, but I can't wave a magic wand over my hip to make it better. This is just a season, and I can wallow in misery (the easy thing for me to do) or I can use this time to grow in other ways - physically, mentally and spiritually.  

We used less than a gallon of water. Yep, just a few hardcore, insane runners ran today

One thing I like to do when I can is volunteer at races. It's not as much fun as running but there is an element of excitement. It's also a nice way to give back to the running community which has been very kind to me. So Hank and I volunteered to man the water station this morning in the rainy cold.

Me and my monkey

This is a very low key club race and it had been rescheduled from last weekend due to bad weather. The weather this morning wasn't much better so there were only about 20 runners.

I had him hang out in the car while we waited for runners

All in all it was cold and wet but a lot of fun and I'm glad we were able to help out.

Then tonight Bill and I attended the annual banquet for the Frederick Steeplechasers.  Always fun to hang out with other runners, especially if they're crazier and more hardcore - makes me look a little more normal to Bill.

I'd love to take a picture where I didn't look like an escaped mental patient I've had half a bottle of wine someone just jabbed me with a tack.

Poor Bill is saddled with being the normal one in our marriage.

Another insanely busy but very fun Saturday! Tomorrow is the Super Bowl so I need to hit the hay so I can get up early to clean the house before church.

Go Packers!!

Got a brand new plan...for now anyway

I don't have any big races on the horizon so I don't feel like I have to chain myself to a training plan. At the same time, winter is coming and I need to keep running so I don't look like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man come Spring.

I typically run just 1 race each month so in November I'm going to do our local Turkey Trot 5K. I ran it last year and didn't particularly like it (too crowded for the course and so so schwag for the price), BUT a friend of mine - whom I've been trying to drag out on long runs with me - said she'd like to run it. So I will, too.

I may run 2 races in December only because I'm going to run 1 race that is essentially free - canned goods for the local Rescue Mission is the fee. This particular race is more like a fun run for grown ups. Most folks dress up in silly winter-ish costumes and you can run as many loops of the course as you want. No timing, no schwag, but running with other folks IS FUN. I actually dragged Hank along with me last year and we had a good time.

The end of January brings the Lewis Memorial 10 Miler which is hilly, very, very hilly. I ran it last year in about 1:52 - completely untrained for the distance (I missed the turn for the shorter distance and had to finish the whole 10 miles) so I'd like to redeem my pride a bit in 2011.

I'd also like to be able to run a 10K or Half Marathon on the spur of the moment should the opportunity arise so I do need to at least loosely follow some sort of plan.

I used Hidgon's Novice Half plan for both half marathons and didn't like that the longest run was only 10 miles. I also started getting antsy towards the end because it's a 15 week plan which is a long time for me!

I Googled half marathon training plan and came across this little gem at Fitness Magazine - Half Marathon Intermediate plan. I can get jiggy with repeats and hills if I want to and the longest run is 12 miles.  I figure for the last week when I would normally run a half, I can run 14 miles, take a few days off and start again.

Gives me some direction and focus without a lot of pressure. I likey.