Favorite photos of April 23-27, 2012

100K World Championships

This past Sunday was the IAU 100K World Championships in Italy. The US sent a men's and women's team and they both did well.

I followed the race via Twitter before running a marathon on Sunday. It was exciting to read the tweets on how the Americans were faring. After I finished the marathon, I was happy to read that the US women won the team champions and the men finished second. Besides the women's team winning, American Amy Sproston won the 100K individual championship in 7:34:08.

Finishing behind Sproston were two teammates. Meghan Arbogast finished fourth in 7:41:52. With that time, Arbogast broke a world record for 50 plus age group by 9 minutes. Pam Smith finished in fifth place in 7:43:04. Sproston, Arbogast and Smith won the IAU 100K team championship with a combined running time of 22:59:03. Placing second in the team championship was Japan in 23:44:02 and Russia was third.

The overall men's winner was Giorgio Calcaterra of Italy. Calcaterra finished in 6:23:20. The US men's team had three top 10 finishers. David Riddle (5th-6:45:19), Jon Olsen was 7th in 6:48:59 and Michael Wardian in 8th with a time of 6:48:59. The men's team finished second (20:23:09) behind Italy (20:06:41) and just in front of France (20:58:44).

Racing decisions

Usually during the early months of a brand new year, I already have my entire racing season planned out. Not this year. I only had a few races picked out. Only a few races because they were major races; two 50 mile races, marathon and 24 hour race.

I will be running in the USATF 24 Hour National Championship in Cleveland, Ohio next week. I know I won't be running the entire time, but a good chunk of it. I will be stopping to eat, use the restroom, nap and change clothes. What has been holding me back on my future races is I don't know how my legs or body will feel after Cleveland. My legs and body recovered fairly quickly after my 50 mile race, just a few aches and pains. I took a week off after that race. I knew I was ready to run again after a few days.

A week after the 24 hour race, there is a local 5K. I decided against running a fast race so soon after. I threw that race entry into the recycle bin. I did hold onto a 10K race entry form. That 10K is two weeks following the 24 hour race. I should be ready to run that. Two weeks is plenty of time to recover from an event.

My schedule is still undecided after the 10K. I was looking at June races the other day. I found nearby half marathons and a marathon. I really don't know what to do. I ran a half marathon in June last year at that nearby location. It was warm and sunny day. Even though I wore sunscreen, I still got burned. If I ran the marathon, how would I do in the heat? I just ran my first marathon Sunday in 4:40, but it was cold and very windy. Would I do better in the heat? Should I skip the full and just run two half marathon weeks apart? So many questions.

I'm running out of time. I need to figure it out what I'm doing before the prices go up. I plan on making final decisions about the next few months of racing very soon.

NASCAR Hall of Fame II - Charlotte, NC

Glass City Marathon

I ran my first official marathon on Sunday. I say it is my first official because I have run many marathons on my treadmill. But a treadmill marathon isn't the same as an actual outdoor marathon.

My plan was to wear my Oiselle team singlet with arm sleeves. I got out of my car and it was so windy and cold, that I axed that idea. I took off my arm sleeves and wore my Oiselle jacket. It was a very smart decision.

I did have a goal time in mind. But if I didn't make it, it was ok. I used the Glass City Marathon as a training run for my upcoming 24 hour race. In two weeks, I will be running in the USATF 24 Hour National Championships in Cleveland, Ohio. I just wanted to get some miles on my legs.

When the race started, I was keeping my own pace. So many people were passing me. It felt like everyone was passing me. I was able to hang with the 4 hour pace group for a while. I passed the 10K in 58 minutes, just 5 minutes slower then my fastest.

I hung with the pace group for as long as I could. I ended up losing contact with them. It was tough battling 20-25 m.p.h. winds. I say it was tough because I didn't have anyone blocking the wind for me. I ran most of the marathon alone. I was rarely in clusters of people.

I crossed the 13.1 mile mark around 2:05. When I heard that time, I knew the second half was going to be tough. Even though I finished a 50 mile race three weeks ago, I felt unprepared. In the 50 miler, I walked the hills and took walk breaks. I ran the entire marathon. No walk breaks. While training and tapering for the 50 miler, I haven't run 20+ miles in since March 19. That is too long of a break for me. I think if I had run just a couple of more 20+ mile runs leading up to the marathon, I would have run a little better. I don't think my legs would have gotten tired as early as they did.

As the miles added up, my pace got slower. Besides my pace getting slower, my quads and hips started to hurt around mile 17. I'll admit, I thought about quitting. I saw the "Sag Wagon" (the SW is a vehicle to pick up injured runners on the course) drive by me a couple of times. I thought it would have been easy to stop them and say I was done. I decided against it. I thought I have finished two 50K's and a 50 miler. I can finish a marathon. I continued running and a couple of miles later, the pain went away.

The last few miles of the marathon, I was surprised to actually pass some other runners. It felt like the entire race, I was getting passed. Now it was my turn to pass people. That is where I think my ultra experience paid off.

Heading into the Glass Bowl (University of Toledo's football stadium) my name was announced over the loud speaker. Followed by first marathon. I received a couple of claps. I crossed the finish line in 4:40:52. I was so happy to finally stop running.

I was a little disappointed with my time, but it was a training run. I can always improve with my next marathon. As for the course, it was really nice. It was flat and just had a couple of hills. The temperature was perfect for running, but the wind wasn't. The wind was blowing me around during the last mile and we ran into a headwind a lot during the marathon. I'm thinking about running the Glass City Marathon again next year. I'm hoping it won't be as windy as this year.

Favorite photos from April 17, 2012

Glass City Marathon

I will be running my first official marathon on Sunday.

That first marathon will be the Glass City Marathon in Toledo, Ohio.

Years ago, I said I never wanted to run a marathon. That was when I thought running 20 miles was too long. Also, I said that I didn't have that much time to spend running.

My running has changed so much since I said that 3-4 years ago.
I have increased my mileage. I went from 50 miles a week to 100 miles. Running 20 miles is normal daily mileage for me. I have run three ultra marathons (two-50K's and a 50 mile). I have a 24 hour race coming up soon and I plan to run another 50 mile race in the fall. I figured since I can do and did that, I can finally run a marathon.

I will be lining up Sunday with others running their first marathon. I'm feeling confident about the distance because of the three ultras under my belt. My plan is to have fun. One thing I will miss while running a marathon are the ultra aid stations. My favorite items at ultra aid stations are bananas, M&M's, peanut butter sandwiches and flat pop. The most I'll see at aid stations Sunday is water, Gatorade and GU.

A marathon is still a long way to run, but I'm looking forward to the new experience.

Books read in 2012

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Winter Season: A Dancer's Journal, Toni Bentley
Chasing the Runner's High, Ray Charbonneau
The Perfect Mile, Neal Bascomb
Cleopatra, Stacy Schiff
The Carrie Diaries, Candace Bushnell
Summer in the City, Candace Bushnell
Forgotten, Cat Patrick
Deja Dead, Kathy Reichs
Pretty Little Liars, Sara Shepard
Flawless, Sara Shepard
Perfect, Sara Shepard
Unbelievable, Sara Shepard
Wicked, Sara Shepard
Killer, Sara Shepard
Heartless, Sara Shepard
Wanted, Sara Shepard
Twisted, Sara Shepard

Currently Reading: Ruthless, Sara Shepard
Up Next: Pretty Little Secrets, Sara Shepard

NASCAR Hall of Fame I - Charlotte, North Carolina

Boston Marathon

I was able to watch the Boston Marathon live yesterday on Universal Sports channel. Instead of sitting on the couch watching it. I watched it while running on the treadmill.

I always run in the mornings after work. Yesterday was no different. I do enjoy running while watching TV. It does make the time pass quicker.

I started running after the elite women started. Over the course of the marathon, I stopped a couple of times to let my dogs outside. I ended up finishing my run just after the elite women finished their marathon. In the time it took me to run 15.1 miles (with a few stops), the women ran 26.2 in 80 degree heat. That is amazing. My highest speed was 7 m.p.h., the announcers mentioned that the elite runners could go up to 12-13 m.p.h. How awesome.

As for the race, Wesley Korir of Kenya won the men's marathon is 2:12:40. Jason Hartmann was the first US male to finish. Hartmann was fourth in 2:14:31. On the women's side, Sharon Cherop won in 2:31:50. Sheri Piers was the first American to finish. Piers was 10th in 2:41:55.

Photo Credit: Kenya's Wesley Korir, top, and Sharon Cherop, bottom, are shown winning the men's and women's divisions of the 116th Boston Marathon in Boston on Monday. Korir finished in 2 hours, 12 minutes, 40 seconds. Cherop finished in 2 hours, 31 minutes, 50 seconds. (Associated Press/Charles Krupa)

Favorite photos from April 12, 2012

Umstead 50 Mile Endurance Run photos

Umstead 50 Mile Endurance Run

Raliegh, North Carolina

March 31, 2012

Results:

Finish: 11:07:11

Overall: 35/91

Women overall: 11/30

Age group: 3/4

Photos by Ben Dillion & Marie Lewis

Latt Plantation

Latt Plantation is an historic farm museum that shows the lifestyle of planters, slaves and settlers in Huntersville, North Carolina.

Books read in 2012

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Winter Season: A Dancer's Journal, Toni Bentley
Chasing the Runner's High, Ray Charbonneau
The Perfect Mile, Neal Bascomb
Cleopatra, Stacy Schiff
The Carrie Diaries, Candace Bushnell
Summer in the City, Candace Bushnell
Forgotten, Cat Patrick
Deja Dead, Kathy Reichs
Pretty Little Liars, Sara Shepard
Flawless, Sara Shepard
Perfect, Sara Shepard
Unbelievable, Sara Shepard
Wicked, Sara Shepard
Killer, Sara Shepard
Heartless, Sara Shepard
Wanted, Sara Shepard

Currently Reading: Twisted, Sara Shepard
Up Next: Ruthless, Sara Shepard

Dad

John Wayne Clark
April 10, 1942 - August 15, 1998

Thinking of you Dad, on your 70th birthday. It doesn't seem like you have been gone from our lives for almost 14 years. Not a day goes by that I don't think of you.

When in crowds I look for you. I know you won't be there, but I just want to see your face again. I know we will meet each other again in time, we all just have to be patient.

You were taken from us too soon. We have had so many memories made without you. I do believe you were there with us in spirit.

I'm glad I had you in my life for a short time. I never told you while you were here, but you were the best father a girl could ever have.

I miss you and love you.
Happy birthday Dad.

Favorite Photos from April 2- 6, 2012

Books read in 2012

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Winter Season: A Dancer's Journal, Toni Bentley
Chasing the Runner's High, Ray Charbonneau
The Perfect Mile, Neal Bascomb
Cleopatra, Stacy Schiff
The Carrie Diaries, Candace Bushnell
Summer in the City, Candace Bushnell
Forgotten, Cat Patrick
Deja Dead, Kathy Reichs
Pretty Little Liars, Sara Shepard
Flawless, Sara Shepard
Perfect, Sara Shepard
Unbelievable, Sara Shepard
Wicked, Sara Shepard
Killer, Sara Shepard
Heartless, Sara Shepard

Currently Reading: Wanted, Sara Shepard
Up Next: Twisted, Sara Shepard

Something new

Goodbye old friend. Today will be the last day with my old treadmill. That is because my husband and I bought a new one.

The reason for buying the new one was simple. Just days after getting our current treadmill fixed, something happened. While I was running, the right leg snapped. That caused the treadmill to lean low on the right side. My husband helped me jimmy it up so I could continue running. I continued running on it, but you could feel the deck wasn't completely flat. We were both mad that the leg broke soon after getting it fixed. That day my husband surprised me when he said he bought a new one.

The new treadmill was delivered last week. The old treadmill was sold to one of my husband's co-workers. He knows about the broken leg and can fix it himself. My husband will help him move it out of the house and the new treadmill will be taken to the basement.

The new treadmill has a lifetime frame, motor and deck warranty, 5 years parts and electronics warranty and 2 year labor warranty. That is sweet! That means if something breaks, it will be replaced for free. Free is always good. Besides all of the warranties, the new treadmill has something my old one didn't: decline. That is a feature that I'm really looking forward to using.

I can't wait to become best friends with my new treadmill. Here is to another 10,000+ miles together.

40-0

Baylor Bears women's basketball team defeated Notre Dame Irish 80-61 Tuesday in the NCAA women's basketball championship. With the win, Baylor ended up with a perfect 40-0 season. The Bears became the first NCAA basketball team, men or women, to ever finish the season with 40 wins.

What a terrific women's basketball tournament. It should be great again next year.

Photo Credit top: Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey holds up the championship trophy Tuesday in Denver. Baylor defeated Notre Dame 80-61 to win the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship. (Associated Press/Eric Gay)

Photo Credit bottom: The Baylor team pose for a photo after the NCAA Women's Final Four college basketball championship game against Notre Dame, in Denver on Tuesday. Baylor won the championship 80-61. (Associated Press/Eric Gay)

Final Two

It is the women's NCAA basketball final that I wanted: Baylor vs Notre Dame.

Baylor and Notre Dame will face each other tonight for the National Championship at 8:30 p.m. EST.

Looking forward to another great game against these two teams.

Photo Credit: Notre Dame guard Skylar Diggins (4) and Connecticut guard Bria Hartley (14) during the second half of the NCAA Women's Final Four semifinal college basketball game Sunday in Denver. (Associated Press/Julie Jacobson)

Photo Credit: Stanford forward Nnemkadi Ogwumike (30) and Baylor center Brittney Griner (42) battle for a rebound during the second half of an NCAA women's Final Four semifinal college basketball game in Denver, Sunday. Baylor defeated Stanford 59-47. (Associated Press/Eric Gay)

Umstead 50 Mile Endurance Run

It was raining at the start of the race. The temperatures were in the low 60s, so the rain felt nice while running.

The course was great. The footing was excellent. In some spots there were bigger rocks. I tried to avoid them, but I did step on a few. A few of those almost made me twist my ankle. I was just lucky. A guy was beside me when I did step on one. He said that he twisted his ankle in the first half mile. Not good.

The first seven miles of the course were wonderful. There were a few inclines along those miles, but nothing too bad. I ran the entire way during those stretches on the first couple of loops. The last five and a half miles of the loop were very hilly. I walked all of the hills on these final miles. Once I got over the hill, it took a few steps for me to get my legs running again.

During the last few miles of loop 2, my right hamstring started to bother me. It was hurting. I kept thinking if the pain didn't go away I would have to DNF. That is something that I really didn't want to do. I was really struggling with it. I was near tears three times during this point. I just thought of all of the training I did over the last year. All of those 100+ mile weeks and hill intervals, was this how it was going to end? Me with a DNF at my first 50 miler. As I was running toward an aid station, I was thinking of telling the workers that I needed to stop. I ran to the aid station and the workers were asking me what I wanted. I took in some fluids and bananas rolled in salt. I couldn't say the words. I thought I would keep going and see how my hamstring felt. Over the next few miles my hamstring started to feel better and I continued on the course.

The rain stopped during my third loop and got warm. I knew that this was going to be trouble for me. My shorts were drenched by the rain. I knew when they dried, it would start to chafe me. And it did. My shorts were rubbing the inside of my thighs. I did apply petroleum jelly at one of the aid stations, but the damage was already done. I just tried to stop thinking about it and kept going.

The final loop was the hardest of the day for me. As I left the aid station at the start of the last loop, I walked. I tried my hardest to start running, but my legs didn't corporate. I continued walking with a steady pace. On the second mile of the loop, I started running. I ran for the next three miles. I stopped running to walk up an incline. At the top of the incline, I couldn't get my legs to move. My calves were cramping. A couple of minutes later, I tried to run again. My calves were hurting. I figured I could walk the rest of the way and finish or try to run and maybe not finish. I decided to walk. That is not how I wanted to end my 50 mile journey, but it was the only way.

Walking up the hill to the finish line was such a great feeling. Two laps ago, I didn't think I would even make it. But I did. Running this 50 mile race was an incredible experience. I will never forget that I didn't give up and quit. I just kept telling myself to keep my legs moving and sooner or later I would be at the finish line. I finished the Umstead 50 Mile Endurance Run in 11:07:11. Not bad for my first time.