a letter.....

Jess says I need to write myself a letter..... she's pretty wise.  She's probably right.  My letters are freaktastic...

Ok.  So what do I know about me... because that's usually how I start a letter.  I think about what I know about the runner I'm writing for...  and so knowing me, what would I tell me?

Dear Galactically BadA** gf,


“At every moment of our lives, we all have one foot in a fairy tale and the other in the abyss.”
― Paulo Coelho


Paulo is my favorite.  Probably because he's pretty much a genius.  And he rocks.  And ~ yeah ~ he gets it.

GBA_gf....  You freaking rock.   You rock like Paulo.

You'd rather epically fail trying for excellence than fully succeed at mediocrity.  No. Problem.  Mediocrity is so not your thing anyway.

And you KNOW that about you.  So capitalize on that knowledge.  Set the bar high and FREAKING reach for it.  

It's time to do this like a NIKE ad.

...but still, it's always a plan to review a few key points... no time for a power point presentation here...  We're just going to have to wing it.

Galactically Bada** is not just a catch phrase. It's a state of being.

You did not train for twenty weeks not to bring it on race day.

The only thing you have to fear, is fear itself... and chaffing.

Don't tackle the Red Shirts, chick them like you mean it.

Believe in yourself under all circumstances.

Run the race you've trained to run.

Make that bridge your bitch.

You do this cos it's hard.

Respect the distance.

This is your season.

Be in the moment.

Try not to suck.

Savor the run.

Always epic.

Cowbell.

regards,

gba gf

I am two women

“I am two women: one wants to have all the joy, passion and adventure that life can give me. The other wants to be a slave to routine, to family life, to the things that can be planned and achieved. I'm a housewife and a prostitute, both of us living in the same body and doing battle with each other.” 

― Paulo Coelho, Eleven Minutes

And I'm thinking, is there anything that I have ever read that comes close to summing up my life as a runner more than this?   I really don't think so.  No wonder I'm so exhausted when I fall into bed at night.

Taper Madness

Instructions for the Tapering Marathoner:  Print this letter, make a few copies of it and keep them with you at all times.  Hand one to your spouse, your partner, your neighbor, the other mom at the bus stop, the guy who sits next to you in Biology Class, the person who makes your coffee at Starbucks,... anyone, really, who is unfortunate enough to come into contact with you over the next few weeks.  

A letter to the support team

borrowed with permission from Q

As the support team for a Marathoner you are entering a very tricky period.  Your Marathoner has been training hard through the summer and into the fall in preparation for the big day.  The hard work is done and TAPER MADNESS is ahead.

Marathon training is a stair-step type process where muscles are broken down for several weeks and then an easier week is thrown in for recovery.  Finally three weeks before the Marathon, one last long run is completed and it’s time for recovery.  The last three weeks are a period of descending running mileage.  This period allows the body to fully recover from the training and rest in preparation for the Big Day, this period is called the Taper.

This all sounds well and good, however, the Taper is a period of great anxiety for many Marathoners (first-timers and veterans alike).  Over the course of training for a Marathon, an athlete becomes accustomed to running many miles each week and constantly feeling the rush of endorphin driven highs and the persistent fatigue and soreness of effort.  The athlete becomes addicted to these emotions and craves both the highs and lows.

The Tapering Marathoner will be irritable, anxious, nervous, overly emotional, short-tempered, restless, tired, cranky, and depressed (even more than normal).  Sounds like a great three weeks doesn’t it?  It is not unlike the heroin addict going cold turkey.  This is a span of time where most Marathoners go a bit crazy.  For most it passes after Marathon day.  Of course there are the post-marathon blues, but that’s the subject for another day.

The first week is not too bad.  It’s really like most “easy weeks” following a twenty mile run.  Recovery is critical and the mileage is not dropping by a large amount.  They are so tired from the 50 mile week that the rest and recovery is welcomed.  Do yourself a favor, block  HYPERLINK "http://www.weather.com" www.weather.com and  HYPERLINK "http://www.accuweather.com" www.accuweather.com from your internet service, unless you enjoy continuous updates of the weather forecast for 18 days in the future.  Nerves may begin to fray but the best is yet to come – trust me!

During the first part of Taper Madness you will hear about every small ache and pain and how it may be a broken leg or torn ligament or some other traumatic injury.  Every twinge becomes a reason to think about postponing the marathon effort.  Every sneeze, sniffle, cough or pimple becomes a life-threatening virus or infection.  Tight hammies, inflamed ITB, tweaked Achilles, plantar fascitis, black toenails, bloody nipples, chafing, and this is just during breakfast.  

The second week starts the deep depression.  The tapering Marathoner starts to really miss running.  There are no more double-digit runs before the marathon.  The longest run for the next two weeks will be 8 miles.  Just 8 miles, how many used “just” and “8 miles” in the same sentence prior to training for the marathon.    The body is really starting to recover and therefore has more energy than needed.  Therefore, the Marathoner becomes restless.  No “extra” running is allowed.  The tapering Marathoner can feel the fitness draining out of their body.  Ask them, they will tell you, they are getting slower every day!  This is not happening but the feelings are real.  Physiologically, there is nothing but positives from a 3 week taper prior to running a marathon, however, it feels quite the opposite.  This restlessness often becomes frustration and a very short-tempered athlete.  Understand that this frustration will be projected at anyone and everyone within reach.  It’s nothing personal; it’s the lack of mileage talking.

So it’s now six or seven days before the Marathon.  The last 8 mile run is done and all that’s left is 3 easy short runs and the BIG EVENT.  For the first time Marathoner and some experienced folk, this week is nothing but self-doubt and worry.  “I’ll never make it.  My foot hurts.  My nose is running.  I’m not ready.  My last 20 miler sucked, I’ll die out there.  I’m getting fat and slow.  My shoes are dead, my shoes are too small, my shoes are too big, My legs are different lengths, my head hurts, I have a splinter, I have a hang nail, I hate running.” These are some of the things going through the mind of a Marathoner in their last few days before the Marathon.  Not to mention the nervous energy that is overflowing.  Not to mention that there may be a couple of extra pounds after cutting back on the running for 3 weeks.  Not to mention that the trips to the bathroom are increasing geometrically as the hydration dance starts in earnest.  Many find concentrating on anything other than the upcoming race difficult.  By the way, Marathoners in the final days before a race often make poor babysitters.

Two nights before the marathon are critical to the marathoner.  This night is probably the last chance for a good nights sleep.  The night before is typically restless and worrisome (what if the alarm doesn’t go off).  A sleepless night preceding a marathon will not have a dramatic impact on chances for success.  Adrenaline will offset missing that night’s sleep and get the Marathoner through the race.  The morning of the marathon is all about getting some food, using the bathroom and getting to the race.  My suggestion, don’t get in the way.

I am sure your marathoner appreciates all the support they have received during the training program.  The last few weeks are critical to a successful marathon effort.  Please understand that the emotional wreck will disappear after the marathon.  The Taper can be especially difficult and frustrating for everyone.  The good news, it ends with the race.

I hope this sheds some light on TAPER MADNESS.  Sometimes insight makes things a bit easier to understand.  Of course, your experience may differ greatly but I’ll bet it doesn’t.

Taper Island

Imagine for a minute that your entire social circle is made up of runners.

Runners who love run like heroin addicts love H...

Add in that you're all training for a fall marathon or half marathon.

You see these runners every-freaking-where.

You see them ....

At Preschool.

In Micro Biology Class.

At Play Group.

On Facebook.

In your Neighborhood.

In Blog-land.

Some of these people are your closest friends.  Some of these people are the ones that you rely on to keep you sane when you're crazy... only guess what?

You and your 12 or 15 marathoning friends/acquaintances/relatives/"random people you know" are all accustomed to running 50 - 60 miles a week....

Only now it's time to taper.

And you can't run.

And neither can they.

Let the madness begin.

We've arrived on Taper Island.

Taper Island Day 2

Taper -Island- in the Sun

On this week's episode of Taper Island, we have many MTT'ers....    Yes, many of the coaches & runners I love and adore and crush on are wrapping up their time here.

They've been going ~crAzy~, and we've all been pretending that they're not INsane in the MEMBRANE... but to be honest, all y'all need to GET OUT OF HERE!

On Saturday a runner I love and a runner I've run with and a runner I crush on and a runner I've slept with and a runner I plan to sleep with... um... are on their way to Baltimore MD to kick some Galactic Bada**.  These ladies mean so much to me....

For example, I never know when ShyA is actually going speak to me, but when she does, those words are often uplifting... as long as she's not making fun of my Old School Music choices... and my beige minivan.  Dear 

Shy A, I ran with you last week, and what I saw is a phenomenally prepared runner.  You looked STRONG.  It’s time to come out and do some OLD SCHOOL running here.  Channel that beautiful relaxed runner I saw last Thursday, and just go for it.  You’re ready to blow the top off of this thing.

  "Capture the moment... OLD SCHOOL STYLE".

PinkJ is so tremendously giving that she gave up part of her morning to support my freaktastic 20 miler this past weekend.  I freaking KNOW.  She rocks/  She just needs to embrace this run in Baltimore.  PinkJ, On Saturday, it's your day to "seize everything you ever wanted...".  You've been here before.  You are well trained.  You have a plan.  Execute the plan.  

And SpeeDee ~ there aren't even words to describe her.  She sacrifices so much for so many others.  I sometimes want to shake her and say, BE SELFISH TODAY.  But even if I did that, she would not.  She just wouldn't.  Cos that's how she rolls...  Dear SpeeDee,  I love you.  You know what you mean to me.  You're always there for me, with a smile or with tears, in support or in action, you are the epitome of RUN LOVE.  I wish I could go with you tomorrow.  I wish I could be there with you.  I want you to just go get what YOU want out of Baltimore.  Do YOUR thing.  Be in YOUR moment.... you might have 99 problems... but.... Baltimore is your b*tch, so... 

Lion and I have some history.  ~huh~ you could read that a lot of ways...  Dear Lion, I believe in you.  You just need to relax and run the race you've trained for... and you KNOW what I'm saying.  Some days are EPIC.  Somedays are SURVIVOR.  But I think somedays are to be SAVORED.  And finally, some days are LESSONS to bring with you to TOMORROW's freaktastic.  Lion, let me also say this... you're the BEST Anacostia Running Partner ever, and, to be clear, I'd choose you again in a hot minute... because I like you just the way you are... oh, I just....  Seriously though, Galactically BadA**.  'nuff said.


Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably know that Q is my coach and I think he's.... I mean, he gets overheated here in VA on a regular basis.  Cos it's hot here is all.  Dear I.Q...  I think we covered it all yesterday... but just in case:  "Run like snot".  "Try not to suck".  "Don't eat the yellow snow...". wait... that's, whoops, sorry, not sure where that came from... "Be cool like snow, and untouchable like yellow snow".


Pixie Green is running Baltimore Half Marathon 13.1 mile race this weekend.  Dear PG, Tomorrow you need to run your own race.  You have to follow your own plan.  Listen to your heart.  Not to the inner voice that doubts you, but TO YOUR HEART.  What does it tell you?  It tells you the truth.  Deep down inside you are thinking you can run this thing in (UBER GOAL):00, and you know what... you're right.  Believe that my friend, TRUST the training, TRUST yourself, TRUST your running-mate.  I have so much more that I can't say here.  Hopefully you "heard" it all.


And a little note to Mer - you go girlfriend.  Relax and just be, "and do better" (wink).


And lastly, TMB is out running a last tune up Half 13.1 mile race this weekend in RI.  Hey T, Have fun, look sexy, be smart.   Because sometimes life just gets in the way.... I think T's very brief dedication is going to be benched.... 


may the force be with you, and all the other runners out testing their limits this weekend!

No I In Threesome, er Tr_athlon

I felt that the run and I needed to cover a few bases before Sunday's Tri.  

Truth be told, Run is the jealous type... doesn't like to share me on race day.  I think that's why I had such a rough TRI last time around...  So Run, there's no I in Triathlon...

Wait a minute, there's an I right there in the middle of the word, so...

THAT's not going to work....  

Hang it all, I need to go looking for a new song...

SLAP!

Yesterday I got a virtual slap.  Not from one of my best girl friends, like last time, but ~yes~ from a friend.

It stung a little.

Actually.  No.  It HURT like a b*tch.

I wasn't expecting it.

I tried to brush it off, because really, REALLY I had it coming, but. wow.


"Don't be that person."

Who knew?  I have become someone I can't stand. i.e. I am now "the recreational athlete who becomes so obsessed with their training that you cringe when you see their name in your inbox".


great.  effing. great.

And then with the sting from the slap still tingling, I went out to do my usual Monday Brick workout.  An easy ride followed by an easy run with KC.

So I spent the first half of the ride overanalyzing every aspect of overanalyzing my workouts while thinking about the slap (which had to do with... overanalyzing... not about triathlons... but ~no~ the irony was not lost on me...).

Hilly route with cars and two bikes.  Bad combination.  Distracted and 25mph?  Uh yeah.  uberBAD.

I finally confessed to Kc what was on my mind while we were slugging up one of the hills.

The reason I am over analyzing everything...
The reason I'm driving my friends crazy enough that they're willing to slap me before 8am...
The reason my husband just listed me for sale on e-bay for $8.87...

I'm oddly nervous.

About this race.

I'm afraid I'm going to let people down.

Isn't that weird?  Why would I worry about letting OTHER people down over what's supposed to be a "fun" Birthday Triathlon.  

No one cares.

This is like high school when you're new and you feel like everyone is staring at you, only, no one is actually staring at you because they're too worried that you - the new girl - is staring at them.

huh.

That was kind of telling there....

I'm truthfully afraid that I have trained for all this time, and I will suck.

And all these freakishly amazing TRI-friends of mine will see how badly I suck.  Any running greatness I may have ever achieved will be completely un-done by my suckage at the Triathlon.

I have this super little bike, so I can't blame a poor performance on my ride.

I trained & practiced transitions, so if I F*cK up I can't blame it on lack of preparation.

I can freaking swim. so if I choke in the pool, it's no one's fault but... my... own.

If I suck, it's because I suck.  

And if I was coaching someone, and they said all that, I would shake them firmly and say, "THAT is NO WAY TO MENTALLY PREPARE FOR ANYTHING".  But then, as I'm fond of saying, I'm not a coach.

I need to OWN THIS TRI.

So after I freaked out whined a bit poured my insecurities out onto the roads of the Hilly Hall, KC reminded me of something, whether she meant to remind me or not.

I'm not SpeeDee, World Class Kate, Du Q, Top 3 TMB, or The Witch Dr...

I'm GBA** GF.

No one goes by the acronym Galactically Bada** Girl Friend because they believe they are, indeed, a world.class.athlete.   They go by that acronym, and they name their team Galactically Bada** Running, because they KNOW how to bring it and have FUN on race day.

I do this stuff to have fun and test my own limits.  I do this with heart and passion, with an ultimate goal to get STRONGER and try new things.  I am here for the experience of it all.

The training is done.  The "hay is in the barn"...  I need to spend the next 6 days mentally preparing for the FUN I'm going to have when I bring it to my Birthday Triathlon.
Galactically Bada** indeed.

~Savor the Run~

A letter to the "Support Team"

So a while back, with the encouragement of SpeeDee & TMB, I defected from my running group and joined the MTT training program.  Smartest.  Decision.  Ever.  I've met new fanatics people who share an obsession love of running with the same neurotic drive passion as myself.


After my PINK/SNOT switch-up, I was fortunate to fall in with a coach who embodies all the characteristics that I would look for in an ideal running coach. and I'm not just saying that because he might read this...  


He is knowledgable.  He 'plugs' the Witch Dr almost as often as I do.   He makes me suck it up and push myself, whether he means to or not.  And on top of all that, each week, Coach Q sends out F'ing hilarious emails.  I'd love to say they're "sappy and super inspirational" and all that rot, but, I'm on both team's e-mail lists, and truly the PINK Nation coach has the corner on that market.  Q's runner humor is epic, or, at the very least, blog worthy... and with only a little begging on my part, he was gracious enough to allow me to repost one of these e-mails.


Instructions for the Tapering Marathoner:  Print this letter, make a few copies of it and keep them with you at all times.  Hand one to your spouse, your partner, your neighbor, the other mom at the bus stop, the guy who sits next to you in Biology Class, the person who makes your coffee at Starbucks,... anyone, really, who is unfortunate enough to come into contact with you over the next few weeks.  

In Q's words, To The Support Team:

As the support team for a Marathoner you are entering a very tricky period.  Your Marathoner has been training hard through the summer and into the fall in preparation for the big day.  The hard work is done and TAPER MADNESS is ahead.

Marathon training is a stair-step type process where muscles are broken down for several weeks and then an easier week is thrown in for recovery.  Finally three weeks before the Marathon, one last long run is completed and it’s time for recovery.  The last three weeks are a period of descending running mileage.  This period allows the body to fully recover from the training and rest in preparation for the Big Day, this period is called the Taper.

This all sounds well and good, however, the Taper is a period of great anxiety for many Marathoners (first-timers and veterans alike).  Over the course of training for a Marathon, an athlete becomes accustomed to running many miles each week and constantly feeling the rush of endorphin driven highs and the persistent fatigue and soreness of effort.  The athlete becomes addicted to these emotions and craves both the highs and lows.

The Tapering Marathoner will be irritable, anxious, nervous, overly emotional, short-tempered, restless, tired, cranky, and depressed (even more than normal).  Sounds like a great three weeks doesn’t it?  It is not unlike the heroin addict going cold turkey.  This is a span of time where most Marathoners go a bit crazy.  For most it passes after Marathon day.  Of course there are the post-marathon blues, but that’s the subject for another day.

The first week is not too bad.  It’s really like most “easy weeks” following a twenty mile run.  Recovery is critical and the mileage is not dropping by a large amount.  They are so tired from the 50 mile week that the rest and recovery is welcomed.  Do yourself a favor, block  HYPERLINK "http://www.weather.com" www.weather.com and  HYPERLINK "http://www.accuweather.com" www.accuweather.com from your internet service, unless you enjoy continuous updates of the weather forecast for 18 days in the future.  Nerves may begin to fray but the best is yet to come – trust me!

During the first part of Taper Madness you will hear about every small ache and pain and how it may be a broken leg or torn ligament or some other traumatic injury.  Every twinge becomes a reason to think about postponing the marathon effort.  Every sneeze, sniffle, cough or pimple becomes a life-threatening virus or infection.  Tight hammies, inflamed ITB, tweaked Achilles, plantar fascitis, black toenails, bloody nipples, chafing, and this is just during breakfast.  

The second week starts the deep depression.  The tapering Marathoner starts to really miss running.  There are no more double-digit runs before the marathon.  The longest run for the next two weeks will be 8 miles.  Just 8 miles, how many used “just” and “8 miles” in the same sentence prior to training for the marathon.    The body is really starting to recover and therefore has more energy than needed.  Therefore, the Marathoner becomes restless.  No “extra” running is allowed.  The tapering Marathoner can feel the fitness draining out of their body.  Ask them, they will tell you, they are getting slower every day!  This is not happening but the feelings are real.  Physiologically, there is nothing but positives from a 3 week taper prior to running a marathon, however, it feels quite the opposite.  This restlessness often becomes frustration and a very short-tempered athlete.  Understand that this frustration will be projected at anyone and everyone within reach.  It’s nothing personal; it’s the lack of mileage talking.

So it’s now six or seven days before the Marathon.  The last 8 mile run is done and all that’s left is 3 easy short runs and the BIG EVENT.  For the first time Marathoner and some experienced folk, this week is nothing but self-doubt and worry.  “I’ll never make it.  My foot hurts.  My nose is running.  I’m not ready.  My last 20 miler sucked, I’ll die out there.  I’m getting fat and slow.  My shoes are dead, my shoes are too small, my shoes are too big, My legs are different lengths, my head hurts, I have a splinter, I have a hang nail, I hate running.” These are some of the things going through the mind of a Marathoner in their last few days before the Marathon.  Not to mention the nervous energy that is overflowing.  Not to mention that there may be a couple of extra pounds after cutting back on the running for 3 weeks.  Not to mention that the trips to the bathroom are increasing geometrically as the hydration dance starts in earnest.  Many find concentrating on anything other than the upcoming race difficult.  By the way, Marathoners in the final days before a race often make poor babysitters.

Two nights before the marathon are critical to the marathoner.  This night is probably the last chance for a good nights sleep.  The night before is typically restless and worrisome (what if the alarm doesn’t go off).  A sleepless night preceding a marathon will not have a dramatic impact on chances for success.  Adrenaline will offset missing that night’s sleep and get the Marathoner through the race.  The morning of the marathon is all about getting some food, using the bathroom and getting to the race.  My suggestion, don’t get in the way.

I am sure your marathoner appreciates all the support they have received during the training program.  The last few weeks are critical to a successful marathon effort.  Please understand that the emotional wreck will disappear after the marathon.  The Taper can be especially difficult and frustrating for everyone.  The good news, it ends with the race.

I hope this sheds some light on TAPER MADNESS.  Sometimes insight makes things a bit easier to understand.  Of course, your experience may differ greatly but I’ll bet it doesn’t.