Saturday June 30, 2012


Just completed my 52 mile week. Halalujah!!!! Halalujah!!!!!
Monday was a 4 mile day which I did with very little difficulty. Easy run, actually distance was 4.4 miles. Ran it with Philip.
Then Tuesday it was 8 miles. I have a flat course on the road that is out and back. No hills just a ho-hum route.
Wednesday was 6 miles for a three day total of 18 miles. The monster mind took over for a while but I managed to get through the mental fog. The body is willing but the mind is weak.
I stacked wood on Thursday and planted a row of Swiss Chard, Onions and carrots in the garden. The garden is complete for now. If all of the Zucchini, cucumbers and squash grow it will be another jungle out there again!!!!!
I took some pictures of the yard and garden this week so you can see what is coming up so far. Flowers, garden, weeds and all!!! :)

This picture was taken on June 15, 2012

This picture was taken June 30, 2012.

This is my corn!!! I know it is not very tall but this was taken a week ago.

more flowers

and more flowers

And this is not a pictures of the garden but a picture of my head two weeks after I tripped myself while running. The pavement is very hard, but so is my head. Not too much damage to my head or the road. !!!!!!!

Now back to my running. 22 miles on Friday.

I had a book club reading meeting at 9:00 am Friday morning so I got up 5:30 am and ran 12 miles before the meeting then after the meeting I ran remaining 10 miles 

It was in the 70's when I started the 10 mile portion of the run. I did not notice the heat too much until I was home and took a wade in the ocean across the road from our house and then about 2 hours later my legs cramped up and I had to take a hot bath and then ice on them before I could get some relief.

But today I was up at 7:00 am and ran the 12 miles for my 52 miles for the week. I ran the 12 miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes. I am still doing my 15 minutes of running and 5 minutes walking for any distance over ten miles. This schedule is working out well for me. :)  :)

MILEAGE:

  Monday       4 miles

  Tuesday       8 miles

  Wednesday  6 miles

  Thursday      -0-               always a rest day

  Friday         22 miles

  Saturday      12 miles

  Sunday            -0-            always a rest day  

                                        Total                                52 miles

WEEKLY TOTALS FOR JUNE

    June  4- 9 Recovery from the June 3 Marathon  15 Miles

    June 11-16                                                          32 Miles

    June  18-23                                                         50 Miles

    June  25-30                                                         52 Miles 

                         Total Miles for June                               149 Miles

                                   

                                           FINIS

                      

Sunday June 24, 2012
WOW Some wet, wet running this week.
I ran 4 miles on Monday with Philip. Great run. Warm morning, cloudy skies. My training is going OK. Hard to get started some mornings but all in all it is OK. I have been varying my routes to get away from the routes that I could run in my sleep.
My run Friday was on about 13 miles on part of the 80 mile route that I had not run before. It was good run and especially on some new ground.

I tried out my 15 minute run and 5 minute walk on Friday for my 20 miles. I ran 3 hours and 21 minutes and walked 1 hour. Hmm-mm, something is wrong with my marathon running. Why? I averaged 13 minutes per mile for the marathon and I averaged 13 minutes per mile for my 20 mile run by running 15 minutes and walking 5 minutes. OH, I checked the mileage on MAPMYRun.COM and according to their GPS  it was 19.94 miles. Close enough for 20 miles!!!

These are some of the people that I met on my run last Friday. It was kind-a-scary. These are my three great grandchildren dressed up for last year's Halloween. Ruby, Lora and Skylar.

I was just about hit by an RV driver on Old 101. He, the driver, was staring at me and drifted across the fog line. But he missed me by about two feet. You should have seen him swerve when he realized what he was doing.
Most of the run was just  HO-HUM until mile 16. This part of the road is narrow
and has NO shoulder. It has a 90 degree turn and a few less sharper ones. I was just past the 90 degree turn when a lady driving toward me at about 50 miles an hour, this is a 35 mile per hour road, saw what she was coming to and it looked like she froze at the wheel and had to slam on her brakes to avoid not crashing at the corner.
 And then just about 2 minutes later a car driven by, at least a 80 year old guy, was driving toward me And also at that time a car going in my direction was just about even with me. The driver in the car coming toward me closed his eyes and managed to slip between me and the other car and he went happily on his way.
And to make it interesting it rained hard for my last 5 miles. Not just a mist but an old fashioned rain storm.
 What an adventure for my 14th mile.
But I made it home safe and sound.

This is what it was like on Wednesday.

 And then on my 12 total mileage run on Saturday I started at Morse Creek and ran to the finish of the NODM in Port Angeles on the North Olympic Discovery Trail. It was 5 miles to the finish line of the marathon and then 5 miles back to the car. I had run 2 miles with Philip at 7:00 am. So it was later in the afternoon that I finished the rest of my 12 mile run. It was more of the cold rain and wind. When I got to the car I was soaked through and through.         Why is it that when I run into the wind one direction and then turn to retrace my route the wind is blowing against me instead of with me.???????? Oh, well it is an interesting phenomena.

 This is my mileage for the week of June 18 to the 24th.
4 miles on Monday
8 miles on Tuesday, very warm for a change
6 miles on Wednesday
rest day on Thursday
20 miles on Friday rain last hour of run
2 plus 10 miles on Saturday rain last hour of run
                                                                      Total      50  miles  :)

                                                       FINIS

                                 

Wednesday, June 20, 2012
I am doing OK, (That's debatable!!!)

My bruises from my highway fall are healing very fast. Just a little coloring around my eye. My shoulder and my knee are still a little sore.

                                           Sunset Tuesday evening.

Yesterday was a fabulous run. I ran 1.8 miles at 7:00am. Then took Shirley to her pool therapy. I needed to run at least a total of 8 miles for the day so after lunch I went to Carrie Blake and ran for 1 hour and 37 minutes. I made a running route that I had not run before and it turned out to be a good one. The only down side was that the temperature was in the high 70's. That is warm for here!!!!! But it was a great run.  Up this morning for a 4.4 mile run. Another hot day in the Pacific Northwest.
Planted some plants in the garden yesterday evening. I have enough cucumber and yellow crook neck squash for everyone in the county!!!! The corn is not knee high yet but it is growing. Plus beets and spinach. The garden patch is starting look like a garden again.

My mileage so far for the week:
    Monday         3.7
    Tuesday         1.8, 7.64
    Wednesday    4.4
               total                  17.54
I am supposed to have a total of 18 miles for Mon.,Tues. and Wed. of this week.
Friday I run 20 miles and Saturday 12 for a weekly total of 50 miles. The training for my 80 mile run is November is still on schedule.
I will catch up with you on Saturday after the long runs.
         FINIS                        

Saturday June 16, 2012

Company came on Thursday afternoon.
Laura, Les and Rosie came and stayed until Saturday morning. We had a great time. Eating at the casino buffet. After eating I slept on a huge overstuffed chair while Les, Laura and Phil played the slot machine.  and then lunch the next day at the Thai restaurant in Sequim.

WOW!!!! What a day on Friday.I was running my 10 mile run and tripped over my feet and landed on the side of my head and side. Here are some pictures of the mishap. 

Oh, I finished the run. I had about two miles to run after I fell. My tenth mile was 12 minutes and 25 sec. 

                                The below picture is the day after the fall. 

I don't know what happened except I stubbed my toe on the pavement and down I went. I didn't have time to catch myself.

This picture is reflection in the mirror of myself taking a picture of myself.

I did manage to turn to my left and landed mostly on my left side. 

Nothing broken. Thank God. 

Just bruised from the fall.
I am going to walk jog 8 miles today on my treadmill at home. Orders from Shirley.

Mowed lawn this morning and then tried to install an instant hot water unit in the kitchen sink. We had had one but the minerals in the water built up in the on/off handle and it would not turn off. It was about 3 years old. We were spoiled in getting a cup of hot water whenever we wanted one. So we decided to buy another unit. And Murphy's law was put into effect. The new units hose connections were not the same as the old installation. So after my mowing job today it is off to Home Depot to see if I can buy the right parts and have it producing hot water this evening. 

Mileage this week:

     Mon.       4.4

     Tues.       6.1

     Wed.       1.8

      Frid.     10.0

      Sat.         8.0

Weekly total         30.3      

Wednesday June 13, 2012
My goodness another week gone to the tattered warp of time.
I ran 4.4 miles on Monday. What a great day. high 40's, no wind. Phil ran with me. Great sunshine.
Then on Tuesday we ran 6 miles. Another great morning. Our time was 70 minutes which is 11:40 per mile. :)
On Wednesday only1.8 miles. Fighting my mind over matter day again. It was a very windy day!!! Gust up to 20 miles per hour.

The wind is blowing about this hard today. Strong enough for the kite surfers to be out enjoying the day. Picture taken Monday.

I am putting in some pictures that I took on Monday of this week of a pair of a Bald      Eagles. They have their nest about 3.5 miles away from our home. The little ones are about 2 months old. 

Oh yes, my garden is finally showing some signs of life. The corn is coming up at last. And I have some Beets, Lettuce and Bush Beans sticking their heads up above the ground :)

So far this week my mileage is:

    Monday             4.4 miles

    Tuesday             6.1 miles

   Wednesday         1.8

                                         Total          12.3 

                                  FINIS

Thursday June 7, 2012
I have put captions and mileage times on the June 6th blog.
I think that I am finally caught up on my activities for the month of  May and the first weekend of June. The 12K Bloomsday run in Spokane, 10K Rhody Run in Port Townsend and the 10K Memorial Fun Run in Port Angeles. And of course the North Olympic Discovery Marathon.
Now it's back to concentrating on training for my 80 mile run on November 15.
I will increase my mileage on Monday June 11.
I will have a blog on how I am doing next Monday or Tuesday.
I am going to keep a daily, weekly and total mileage of my training.
     FINIS

Wed June 6, 2012 Marathon Summary

Wednesday June 6, 2012
I fixed Ford N tractor this morning. It stopped running when I was doing my mowing job. I worked on it for 3 hours before I finally got it to run. Phil and I bought a new distributor for $200.00. OUCH.
A resister in the ignition system and the ignition switch was bad.
A wire that went to the coil was broken off. Whee!!!!!  But it is fixed and I finished the mowing. Happy, happy, happy, boy it doesn't take much to make me happy!!!!
Now back to the marathon.
      
                              Mile 5, 1 hour.

I am sending some pictures that Phil took last Sunday of the Marathon.

A Mallard and her babys decided to see what all of the commotion was about and then decided that HER family was not going to take part in the run.

My two faithful aid personel. Kim and Skylar. 

This picture was taken at the railroad bridge.  9.3 miles

I have been running with these two men and a woman that was with us just before the bridge. Sklar is running with us. The four of us ran together until about mile 11. I was running just a little faster then they were so I gradually pulled away from them. The woman was 40 years old on the day of the Marathon and wanted to finish at 6 hours. I looked her time up on Monday and she finished in 6 hours and 6 minutes.

My time here was 1 hour and 52 minutes. 

The dog handler with Bella and Grizz. 

Did not see anyone until mile 15. So much for my Personal Aid Team. They made the excuse that they had to get something to eat. So much for personal aid!!!!!!!

This the steep, steep, steep, steep hill at mile 16.4

The next aid station is at the top of the short, steep hill.

I am dousing my head with water. I had read sometime ago that it is just as important to lower the body temperature as it is to drink enough fluids, so that is what I do and it helps.  

Time 3 hours and 34 minutes.

Her is my faithful aid person running with me at mile 18.

time=3 hours and 47 minutes 

I am now at mile 21.4 at the Morse Creek  Bridge. 4 hours and 27 minutes. This is a serene place to run. The bridge makes a sweeping turn and then runs under a canopy of trees for about a mile. 

This is the approach to the bridge. I got the pictures out of order. And my faithful aid personal people again, Ruby Skylar, Lora and Kim.

Time here=4 hours and 29 minutes

This is the turn on the railroad bridge.

The end is in sight. The trail is off to the left of the picture at 24 miles. The runners that you can see in the picture are at mile 25.

This is just about at the finish line. Kim, Ruby, Skylar and Rosaura.

A guy that I met at the Hurricane Coffee shop in Sequim while I was getting a Latte before the marathon is also in the picture, his name is Brett Shoemaker. Anyway he said earlier that he was going to run a 4 hour marathon. But he had leg cramps and had to walk so he decided to wait for me and we could finish together!!!What a coincidence, I have a nephew named Brett Shoemaker who lives in Kettle Falls, WA. No relation. 

I missed Kim in the above picture so I included her in this one now it shows all the official Personal Aid Team for Chuck Milliman's 65th marathon at the age of 79.  5 hours and 42 minutes

Skylar is leaving me as I am entering the finish Chute.

When I crossed the finish line I was given my age division award. 

The results of the 1/2 marathon and full marathon was already posted when I was leaving the area.

This is me on Monday a day after the marathon. Finishing medal, T-shirt and plaque

This is the updates with words and picture. Hope you enjoyed the day with the marathoner and his Official Personal aid.

                  FINIS

Tuesday June 5, 2012

Wow how time flies.. 

I will try to get caught up on my writing.

Hello Laura!!!!

Since my last blog I have run the North Olympic Discovery Marathon. 

My finishing time was 5 hours and 42 minutes.  That is 13 minutes and 3 seconds per mile. 

I was first in the 75 and up age division. In fact I was the only runner over 75. 

 It was 48 to 50 degrees when the race started. Just about the right temperature for me. 

Philip my Chief Aid Person said that later it was 70 degrees for a while. But it cooled down to the 60's by race end. But Official Aid Person Kim looked up the official temperature for Port Angeles and found out it was only 59 degrees for a high. Shirley said it was at least 68 at our home. So much for the temperature debate. 

This is the start of the race. P.C.M. is also the Official Chief Photographer.  

         The starting gun has just fired and we are off!!!!!!!

               

                  

The picture below is me at mile five. You can see the entrance of Carie Blake Park. 

The lady running in back of me is one of two more runners that I ran with until about mile 11. The female runner was 40 on Sunday and wanted to finish in Six hours. She finished in 6 hours and 6 minutes.. I am  running a 12 minute pace here.

 The race starts on Blake St. at the entrance of Carie Blake Park. The run begins with a 5 miles loop, then heads West into Sequim where at 7 miles it finally runs on the Discovery trail and then finishes in Port Angeles. I kept up the 12 minute pace until a little after 10 miles. From mile 13 to mile 15 I  averaged about a 12 minute and 30 second pace. 

I then was running a 12 minute and 42 second per mile pace at mile 20. I was getting tired at this point in the race and my pace began to show the fatigue. I finished my last 6 miles at a 14 minute per mile pace.

At mile 22 a runner can see the finish line way around a long curve of 4.2 miles. That part of the race is always difficult for me for some reason. I have ran this course 6 times for this particular marathon and it seems it is always depressing to see the finish and yet so far away.

Oh, the rest of my Official Aid Crew was Rosaura, Kim, Skylar, Ruby and Lora.

  This me, Ruby and Skylar at the railroad bridge about mile 9.4

        The aid crew leaving the railroad bridge. 

                          This Kim, Skylar, Ruby and Lora giving me aid ???????

They are walking back to the bridge and then to their car.

                           That is me leading the 'pack' down the trail. The 'pack' has been running together for about 10 miles now. It was just a little distance beyond the10 mile mark that I began to run by myself.

My aid personal failed me between mile 10 and mile 15. They had to go and eat!!!!!!!!

But they met me at mile 15 and gave me my Endurlyte capsule.

CONTINUED TOMORROW. IT BED TIME. GOOD NIGHT!!!!!