Country Music Marathon, Trail runs and just plain old running..

I only got one picture of (some) of my friends who ran CMM this past Saturday. As I'm sure everyone has heard, the weather was questionable from the start and just deteriorated from there. The race director started the race 15 minutes early with no advance warning.. lots of grumbling all around. I had a great time watching and cheering and running (a little) ... I am so proud of everyone who ran it but especially Audrey, Bob, Carrie and Judith!!

All it takes is watching a race to make me want to go out and sign up...I must be very careful as apparently I am susceptible to the power of suggestion and peer pressure!! Judith sent me an email today for this series of races in our area...she suggested the 1/2 in May but that conflicts with other committments I have....sooooooo, I countered with this .... right now it looks like fun but I'm sure I will sober up eventually! I am very excited about the Girls on the Run 5K this weekend at Shelby Bottoms. I feel like I am running pretty well right now and I'm feeling strong so I am looking forward to going out and trying to run a fast (for me) 5K...I have a goal for this race so we will see what happens come Saturday morning.

The West Nashville Farmer's Market opens this Saturday, May 1....the hours are 9A-12P according to their website. (Remember to bring your own bags.) Local Table is a great resource for researching area CSA's, Farmer's Markets, local restaurants and artisan food makers. It also offers a helpful seasonality chart, a Q&A with Farmer Jason (formerly Jason of Jason and the Scorchers fame, Nashville circa 1985) and other articles of interest. It is published quarterly and is free...I pick it up at The Produce Place on Murphy Road but I'm sure it is available at other places around town.

I read about Evernote in either Men's Health or Esquire a few weeks ago. I love this website..I am a HUGE listmaker (and very goal oriented) so what a great idea for me and those like me! I can keep multiple lists in one place, access it easily and it is much easier to read than my handwriting!

Swim Across America - August 21, Nashville

Check this link out ...what a cool idea and an opportunity to participate right here at home! Distance and group options available...

The event started in Nantucket, MA, over 20 years ago and now includes 11 events in 5 major metropolitan areas. Nashville is the newest addition in 2010!! I am also excited that Nashville (and middle Tennessee) are attracting a variety of outdoor endurance sporting events.... CMM, Ragnar Relay, Muddy Buddy to name a few..

training buddies and weekends

Hannah resting after our run through Warner Park this AM... we ran some of my favorite hills hitting the hill by the golf course and 9 mile hill before heading back to the Steeplechase. It has been beautiful here all weekend..why can't weekends be longer and the work week shorter??

According to my calculations I need to start Augusta training in earnest in late May.. right now I am swimming, biking and running but have no really demanding workouts on my weekly training schedule. This is OK, right? I am running the Girls on the Run 5K on May 1 at Shelby Park. I hope to break 25 minutes which will not be a PR but will be my fastest 5K time in a while. The last couple of years I have run the longer distances and I am enjoying 5k 's right now... I am trying to work on speed and mental toughness. My MO during races has been that I am afraid to push myself because I'm afraid I will crash and not be able to finish. I also don't like pain.....I think both of these conditions can be addressed through physical training and mental conditioning. I had an epiphany last season when I realized I was not going to die during hard efforts... that may sound stupid but sometimes in the middle of things:

(1.) it really hurts

(2.) I really think I can't make it

(3.) I begin to think signing up for whatever race I find myself in was a mistake.

It was a comfort to realize I was not going to die from doing a marathon or triathlon!! I read something earlier this week (wish I could remember where) that suggested that when we are pushing a new limit and want to quit we might actually be ready to breakthrough to a new level... a new level of fitness and endurance. That thought has rolled around inside my head this week....

I don't know if all runners and triathletes (or alcoholics) do this, I just know I do. It is April 18, 2010, and race season has barely started, and here I am thinking about 2011!! This is classic Stephanie... 100% addict (just in case there was any doubt). I have voices in my head that are talking about Ironman Florida (gasp)... they have been talking off and on all week... I will wait and see if it passes. I would also love to do this next year if possible!!!

Time for bed... a new week and early swim await!

Springtime, CSA's, Naples, FL and CSA's

This is my backyard today... dogwood in full bloom, irises coming up, grass taking off. I had Monarch Landscapes come out and clean up the front yard and replace some plants a couple of weeks ago... I would love for them to come back and take care of the backyard sometime soon. What a luxury ...sigh.

Spring also means fresh produce starting to come in!! Strawberries, lettuce, onions, radishes just for starters....I joined a local CSA two years ago and found myself cooking more and trying new things. I am a pretty flexible eater but I shop and eat out of habit, I guess. I have loved buying locally ..it makes me feel good to support my local economy and real farmers ... not big factory farmers and multinational corporations. Do I really want to eat anything from Conagra or Tyson? Do you? This year I'm going to check out the West Nashville Farmer's Market .... they have hours from 9A-noon every Saturday starting May 1 and a bazillion local farms and artisans participate. In addition to produce they will have eggs, meat, cheeses, breads, and pasta...I'm hoping for milk, too!

I went to visit my mom in Naples, Florida, last weekend... we went to the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary on Saturday morning. You can walk out into the swamp on a raised boardwalk that takes you through Cypress swamps, prairies and marshes ...there were lots of people out looking for birds and whatever else was out there. We saw deer, snakes, raccoons and lots of birds but, sadly, no alligators. I get to go back to South Florida next month for my niece's high school graduation... just cannot get enough of the beach!!

I'm looking forward to my first brick workout of the season tomorrow night. My goal this season is to focus on these workouts, specifically bike-run. I have been thinking a lot about the psychology of endurance events and this is an area I need to work on.... a lot of the time I struggle in the latter part of races just trying to keep it mentally together. I'm tired, I hurt and I start to doubt myself.... My theory is that by focusing on this type of workout I will get stronger mentally and physically...more confident. Perhaps I should be a sports psychologist..

running, rain and results

Yaaayy..race season is here and there were a lot of chances to run in Nashville and middle Tennessee today! I rode down to Lynchburg with Team Gay (CG and BG) to cheer Carrie and Judith in the inaugural Oak Barrel Half Marathon. From where I stood, the race seemed to run smoothly and everyone looked like they were having fun...weather not withstanding. The forecast predicted a 50% chance of rain that turned out to be 100%... ugh. The temps were perfect in the mid-50's and the rain eventually stopped with the sun popping out. Judith and Carrie kicked a** and both are ready for the Country Music Marathon and Half on April 24th. I was happy not to be running today (I have taken a little break since Tom King last month) but I can't wait to do Oak Barrel in the future... the course was tough but I love running hills and there is a nasty one between miles 5 and 6. The finisher medals were carved oak barrels (very cool) and the long sleeve tech tees were good looking!

My friend Bob ran the Richland Creek Run here in Nashville and took first place in his AG...are my friend amazing or what? Bob is an incredible runner - he completed 50 states and DC last year. For those who have yet to join the cult, that means he has run a marathon (26.2 miles) in every state plus the District of Columbia...that is one of those achievements that I cannot even wrap my head around.

FYI: There is an article in the April issue of Esquire magazine about Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt. The articles focus is on Bolt's talent and his natural ability- an ability that some say is 30 years ahead of our time...holy %$#t! 1996 Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson is quoted in the article as saying that the runner capable of beating Bolt "has not been born yet." The deeper I go with my running, the more I appreciate the natural talent of the pros and elites. I am in awe of the natural ability they possess and I love to watch them run and follow their careers....Kara Goucher, RyanHall, Meb Keflezighi, Deena Kastor are a few of my favoritres. I mean who really gives a &^%$ about celebutantes and frenemies and all that bullshit? Seriously? I admire real people, living real lives.. authentic, no pretense.

Enough of that...tomorrow should be beautiful and sunny! Happy Easter to all and to all a good night.

April Fool's Day!

I got nothin' but this today...it cracks me up!