Apparently it's all in my head - The 'race pace' post

Confession: I used to be (no longer 'am') a strong believer that I could not run faster than 12K/hour (8 minute miles) on distances longer than 8K. This was something I truly did believe. Breaking 50 minutes at a 10K was something that seemed impossible to me. Then again, I hardly do any speedwork. With this ultra thing, I'm trying to focus on mileage instead of speed. So...how could I expect to ever break 50 minutes in a 10K?

Do you have an 'I can't run faster than that' pace?

I am actually trying to make a point here. Promise. ;)

I'd registered for the charity team of Hulphond Nederland at yesterday's Dam tot Damloop 10 miles in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Imagine 40K runners on one course. And the slower runners blocking the road instead of staying on the right side of the road (duh...common race etiquette!). But...on the plus side: the on-course support is amazing! :)

So, there I was: yesterday morning. At the start line of the Dam tot Damloop 10 miler. Goal?

Okay-ish: sub 1-30 - long run pace.

Okay: sub 1:26 - marathon pace.

Woohoo good: 1:23:20 or faster - new PR.

Absofreakinglutely amazing - not going to happen: 1:20.

The course was crowded. The weather was...interesting (rain rain rain like you've never seen it before! Seriously, believe me on this one...I'm Dutch...I know rain!). Due to the rain I couldn't really look at my watch: it was raining to a point where I figured my Garmin would be dead if I didn't cover it with my arm sleeves. I looked at my watch when I passed the 10K-mark, and at the finish line. Tried to hold a 'this feels comfortable, but not like I'm pushing it - do not feel the need to puke' pace.

Finish time: 1:18:06.

What the bleep!

Apparently that 'can't run faster than' pace really is in my head. Well, at least yesterday it was. But I'm not complaining. ;)

(And yes, I do realize that I'm nowhere near speedy and still slow, but I'm happy with this finish time. Little old slowpoke me. :))

Race photos 101 - How to mess up race photos by showing too much flesh

Last Sunday. A local ladiesrun. 5K. Considering the whole hassle with The Shin and the bone scan episode (and taking 2 weeks off from running because of that (I did cycle a lot)), I had decided to make a training run (5K @ 10K pace) out of it. Turned out to be a great idea. I had a blast! :)

But I did manage to mess up yet another set of race photos. Oh yeah. I'm still on a streak here!

So, let's name this post the 'How to mess up race photos by showing too much flesh' post.


Almost there. Nothing too bad going on in this picture. You are aware of the fact that 'less is more' is not in my handbook, right? Hence, the color combo. Note to self: check mirror before leaving the house. What might look good on paper, doesn't necessarily look good on moi...


Actually not that bad. Especially since this was taken just a couple of hundred meters before the finish line. I don't look at all 'beaten up'. :) But...I AM showing a heck of a lot of flesh. Uhm...yeah...I did NOT know that it was this bad... I'm pretty sure I've flashed half the town on that 24 minute run...and there were children spectating. I'm such a bad influence...


At the finish line. Showing even more flesh. Cover it up, woman! And that bruised spot on my quad...yep...that's the result of the 'couldn't get my feet out of the toe clips on my bike speedy enough' thingie...

The stats for this 5K @ 10K pace tempo run (Yeah, I'm slow. I know. Get over it.):

Name Silly Girl Running (Oh yeah! They let me register under my blog name!)
City Utrecht
Distance 5 kilometers
Category VSEN
Overall 38 / 1389
Category 21 / 719
Pace 12,371 km/uur
Bruto 24:25
Netto 24:15

It's not me. It's them. The cows.

Yesterday. A girl and a long run. A long long run. Not because of the mileage (only 20 miles / 32K), but due to the heat. And the humidity. Must have been at least 200%. And we all know redheads don't do well in heat. Enough said. (But boy, did it feel good to head out for a long run! Even the struggling because of the heat couldn't rain on that parade!).

*And yes, I was registered for a 52K trail ultra (yesterday), but opted to head out for a long run with my doggio. Just to see how my legs would hold up and to train Lordie for a marathon. Wise choice for once - I hope. Of course, it turned out to be too hot for him to be out running, so I got Lordie home and headed out solo. :(

In photos:

Yep, I'm wearing my hat backwards. And I look like a total geek. I know. Get over it.

Aaahhhh. Trails. :)

Hello, cowie! :)

Golf? Ha! I don't do golf. Mainly because I suck at it... Or at any other sport that involves 'balls' for that matter. (Any dirty minds out there? Zip it!)

Hat not backwards. Little less geeky.

Trails. :)

Hello, cowie! :) I'm not obsessed. Nope. Perfectly normal behavior.

Race photos 101 - How to mess up race photos

1. Chat your way to the finish line. There's really no point in speeding it up. Why would you? You'll look slow: guaranteed.

Just cruising...Ladieda

2. Close your eyes and work that goofy face. And mess up your running form while you're at it.

Worst thing about this photo: the photographer actually has this photo on his website - right next to the photo search form... i.e. for everyone to see... Great. Note to self: must find way to sue photographer for using bad photos...

3. Continue to keep your eyes closed, and put some effort in trying to look like you're speed walking. Way more 'bad @ss' than trying to look like a runner.

The skirt might actually be the only 'good' thing about this photo. ;)

The Race

On a more happy note: I 'raced' (well, ran, since I used the race as a long slow distance run - 2:44 hours) 17.2 miles / 27.5K (Midwintermarathon Apeldoorn, the Netherlands) without too much pain in my left calf/left foot. It was hard not to get all excited and race this thing. I religiously kept my pace at 9:30 miles / 6 min/km. Just as the pace should be for a LSD. Not too bad. Plus, I chatted my way through those 17.2 miles / 27.5K. What a great way to end the weekend. :)

Race pics - The 'The world should thank me for not pursuing a career in modelling' post

Some race pictures from Sunday's 10 miler. Don't laugh at me, just laugh with me! ;) I know I look like I was on my long run and just accidentally stumbled upon this crowd of runners that were running the same route... Next time I will race this thing!


Those pigtails...You would say I'm too old for that, wouldn't you? Must admit that it keeps all the hair out of my face. :)

Nice heel strike, babe. And watch the goofy face...

I totally kicked Rocky Wannabe's butt later on! And the race shirt I got from the good cause I was running for was about 3 sizes too big...so I look a lot fatter than I actually am. Thanks... But at least it was for a good cause.

Here I'm just trying to hide behind Rocky Wannabe. Those abs aren't too bad to look at, by the way...

Do you have a worst / best race picture? And would you ever run a race in a costume?

Why men don't listen and women can't read maps

Ran: 6.3 miles / 10 km - Canicross Running Group - intervals

Why women can't read maps

Yesterday I was supposed to run a 17 miler. 17 miles, 27 km. But as good as I am with figuring out what's the easiest way to get from one point to another, without getting lost that is, I suck at mapping my run correctly. Honestly, how easy is mapping your run on mapmyrun.com? I just can't do it. Somehow I get more miles in than scheduled - every single time. And no, I'm not doing this on purpose. I just suck at it. And that's exactly why I shouldn't be surprised that yesterday's scheduled 17 miler turned into an 18.4 miler. 18.4 miles, 29.5 km. Just like that. Ofcourse, I did not know this until I got home and remapped my run. Good thing was, and that's the only good thing about it, that I finished the run believing that I was uber slow, but after remapping my run, my pace appeared to be right on schedule. Pfffeww!

My good friend Bunny (she's going to punch me for making this her Blogworld nickname...) came with me on my long run...on her bike. I tried to convince her of running being the way to go, but after seeing me sweat and in pain (The Hip...yep, she's back...), and seeing me eat Energy Gel (I say 'Yummy', Bunny says 'total nutcase'), I doubt if she'll ever pick up long distance running.... It was so nice to chat while I was getting my long run in, though, and she brought her camera! :)

Pretty, huh? And, nope, that's not my mansion...I wish...

Ahhhh, nothing like the sweet sight of home! And nothing like knowing that I only have a couple of miles to go!

Thanks to Bunny part of my run turned into a photoshoot. Starring: Me. Heidi Klum, move over. Here's Sweaty Long Run Barbie (well, her lunatic and not so model-like sister...).

Here I'm demonstrating how to GU properly. Don't try this at home...

And, I know, I should have bought those shorts a size smaller...good thing about it; in case I poo my pants on a long run, no one will notice.

How not to hydrate.

And how to look like a total Goofball while you're at it... Yep, I sweat like I'm paid to do so...get over it...

Thanks, Bunny, for taking such great pics! :) And thanks for coming with me at such an early hour. :)

Why men don't listen

And for today, I had a 6.3 miler (10 km) scheduled with my Canicross Running Group. Great fun, and as always nice to chat with the other runners in the group. Perfect weather; the rain was kind enough to wait until we'd finished our run.

The Hip was hurting again, so I decided to stick to a 'slower' pace. Only thing was, Lordie and Diddy took off like it was a 5K race. Too fast for The Hip! And me screaming that they had to slow down didn't help. They chose not to listen and dragged me halfway along the course instead. And then, at the point where my Hip was killing me, they decided to slow down. But by then my Hip was killing me. If only they would have listened to 'Easy', 'Slow', 'Slow down!!!'... Oh, in case you were wondering: Lordie and Diddy are both male dogs.

How was your weekend long run or race?

I can run with my eyes closed...no kidding, I can!

Pic from yesterday's Canicross running group training...I look like a total goofball

See? I can run with my eyes closed. And I even manage to mess up a picture when someone tells me to smile and try to look sort of normal, because she is taking a picture. What can I say, it's a gift. ;) The world should be grateful that I didn't pursue a career in modelling... ;)

I DID IT! Swiss Alpine Marathon K42 - Race Recap

I DID IT! I DID IT! I DID IT!

OK, expect an over-emotional and over-enthusiastic race recap. Sorry, but that's just how it's going to be! ;)

Me at the Scalettapass at 2.606 meters / 8.550 ft

Just to get this clear

This was going to be my first marathon...ever! And I only picked up running seriously 7 months ago. During the race a lot of runners told me that I was absofreakinlutely out of my mind for running a mountain marathon as my first marathon. They all told me to start with a flat course and work up to a mountain course in a couple of years. But, hey, that's just not me! Then again, they did congratulate me on the accomplishment. And that's what counts, isn't it? (I already knew that I'm completely out of my mind...;) what else is new ;) )

Pre-Race

The race started at 11.30 AM in the town of Bergün. Bergün is about a 1 hour-trainride away from Davos, where the finish of the race was, and where I was staying. Took the 8.50 AM train for a beautiful trainride through the villages and landscapes surrounding Davos. We entered the town of Bergün at 9.55 AM and walked to the waiting area. The sun was out and it was already getting hot (what a relieve after the cold and rainy weather we had the days before!), so I just waited around in the sun and tried to relax a bit. Ofcourse, relaxing was not really relaxing, since I was still freakin' nervous!

The waiting area was well organized! Enough to drink and eat, and - most important - a lot of toilets!

At 11.15 AM I walked up to the start line and waited for it all to begin. At that moment I was actually feeling quite calm. That totally changed when the race started!

There we go!

At 11.30 AM the race started! Woohoo! I was so nervous, that I was actually feeling sick. Luckily, I felt a lot better as soon as we ran through Bergün again (at the 2K / 1.3 miles-point) and saw the crowd cheering at us! Your name was on the race BIB, so people were actually screaming my name; wow!

Uphill to Chänts

We left Bergün and went uphill to Chänts. The Swiss say that this is a slight uphill run. Well, that's just a plain lie; it's steep! Silly Swiss! It was 10.1 K to Chänts and we had to climb 457 meters / 1.500 ft. I was fine, up and running, 'till the 5K-point. But that's where it became too hilly for me to run, and I started walking as fast as I could. Most of the other runners started walking too, because they didn't want to get too tired before the really steep uphills started. It was so beautiful and quiet up there! I ran (well, walked) into Samantha. Great to see her! Her calf was all cramped up and she was going back to the start line. I was feeling so sorry for her!

I entered Chänts (beautiful little town) after 1.15 hours of running at 12.45 PM. Had a Powerbar Energy Gel and some water. They had some cold sponges and I used these to cool my face and neck. Great idea of the race crew!

Uphill it was!

The elevation chart of the Swiss Alpine Marathon K42

After Chänts the real horror begins. Uphill to the Keschhütte that is! On mountain trails. We had to climb 810 meters / 2.658 ft in 5.7K. That's steep! I used my video camera a lot, and that way I had an excuse to stop once in a while. Smart, huh? :) Took some great shots! Saw a blind runner with a buddy that was up there for the 78K(!) Ultramarathon distance of the Swiss Alpine Marathon. Wow!; told him how great I think it is what he was doing.

It was hard climbing up there. I was so glad when I finally saw the Keschhütte, that I actually shouted out 'YES!'. Embarassing, I know, but I was so glad to see the Keschhütte! Incredible views up there, and such a gift to be able to run up there. I reached the Keschhütte after 2.45 hours at 14.15 PM. Planned on being there in 2.30 hours, but decided that I wanted to use my video camera as much as I could.

Alphafoto.com took pictures up at the mountain. Here are some that were taken at the Keschütte (2.632 meters / 8.635 ft):

No, I was def not trying to look pretty; I was trying to push myself up that mountain! Hence the arms...

Downhill to Alp Funtauna

I had a Power Bar Energy Gel and some water at the Keschhütte and walked around a bit to enjoy the views. Got compliments from the race crew on my running skirt and couldn't stop smiling because of that!

After the Keschhütte it went downhill to Alp Funtauna. 440 meters / 1.444 ft in 5.4K. After all the uphill walking, I was finally able to run for a bit again! I was careful, though. It was steep and muddy/slippery. These slippery/wet mountain trails are dangerous, and I didn't want to fall down the mountain (would've been faster, though ;) ). Oh, and ofcourse I stepped in some cow poo up there; these Swiss cows are everywhere! Reached Alp Funtauna pretty fast and had some GU (vanilla bean - my fave!) and water. Alp Funtauna is at the Half Marathon-point, so I figured I was halfway there. Little did I know what came next...

Uphill...again!

Another climb! I made the mistake of looking up. I really should not have done that! From Alp Funtauna, you have to climb up to the Scalettapass. Rocky mountaintrails + climbing 414 meters / 1.358 ft in 2.6K = complete horror! Halfway up there, I actually started to feel sick. I was so tired. Slowed down quite a couple of times and enjoyed the views. That helped. Also, I chatted with other runners (well, at that point, we were just walking/struggling to get up there). Everyone was so nice and positive that we would make it. :) That pulled me through it. And; I got a lot of compliments on my red plaid running skirt! A lot of runners asked where I got it, and I told them. So, runningskirts.com; I gave you a lot of free PR! ;)

Finally, after 4.41 hours at 16.21 PM, I reached the Scalettapass! Great feeling! Had some bouillon (salt!), water, another GU (chocolate outrage) and some Coca Cola (that worked!) and sat around for a couple of minutes.

Downhill to Dürrboden

After the Scalettapass it went downhill to the town of Dürrboden. Difference of 600 meters / 1.965 ft in 4.3K. I didn't know how I did it, but I went down that mountain like a rocket. Jumping from rock to rock (dangerous, I know...). Reached Dürrboden after 5:24 hours of running at 16:54 PM. Had another GU (vanilla bean, ofcourse), some water, bouillon and Coca Cola. Texted my mom that I had another 14K to go, and took off again.

Me at Dürrboden, goofing around; I was actually still feeling sick; I was just so tired!

Downhill to Davos...well, no, think again

The last 14K were supposed to be all downhill. Well, I have to admit, it was kind of downhill, but it was a hilly kind of downhill. Every time it went uphill again, I had to slow down and walk; that's how tired I was. My legs were feeling OK, but my hips were killing me. And I was still feeling sick. Stopped taking energy gel, and figured I'd better stick with the Coca Cola.

The last 14 K were beautiful, though! Through a mountain valley; very quiet. And then for the last 3.5K you ran through the forest and the city of Davos. The sharp left into the forest was uphill again (ofcourse...), but at that point I just wanted to get it over with.

Finishing!

And then, just as I reached the point where I really wanted it to be over and was prepared to crawl the last miles, I saw the 40K sign and realised I was almost there. I chatted with a runner that was about to finish the 78K (!!!) ultramarathon distance of the Swiss Alpine Marathon, and he pulled me through that last 2.2K! We decided to book it for the last 1K and ran into the city of Davos as two rockets flying out into the sky!

Saw my mom cheering at me, and took my dog Lordie at the gates of the stadium to finish together in 7:06 hours at 18.36 PM (that corresponds with a just under 4 hours flat course marathon time). In that last 1K I forgot all the pain and agony I had been in! Unbelievable! BEST FEELING EVER! I would've loved to finish in 6:30 hours (I'm very competitive), but decided I wanted to use my video camera a lot, and that it was my first marathon ever! No shame in that, is there?

Me and Lordie finishing!

Hugged Lordie to death (well, not literally, ofcourse!) after finishing and went to get my medal. :) Wow! What a well organized race! Congratulated some other runners and walked (yep, that's right, 'walked') home. So glad I didn't have to be all over the carbs anymore, we went for Cheesefondue and Swiss Beer! :) Great post-race meal!

So, there you have it; it's a long recap, but it was just such a great race! Was I in pain? Yep, a lot, actually every muscle from the neck down hurt. Did I want to quit? Yep, considered it, but quitting is just not me. Do I want to do this race again? Heck, YES!

And if you want to see me finish, just check out this video:

Swiss Alpine Marathon K42 - Completed!!!

Made it! Best feeling ever! Full recap tomorrow! :)

In my dreams I AM a Kenyan... High Altitude Training - day 1

Ran: 9.7 miles / 15.5K - 1:23 min - in Davos, Switzerland!

First day in the Swiss Alps! Love the clean mountain air! Great to be able to take a deep breath without all the city pollution.

I am here already to get used to the altitude for the Swiss Alpine Marathon on July 31th. This race is in Davos, Switzerland and it's the 25th year that it's held. The race is very well organized and the runners are always all so positive! For info, check out their website http://www.swissalpine.ch.

It's cold up here (Davos is a Swiss village at an altitude of 1560 m / 5200 ft), but it's a good cold. Not that bad actually after all this heat and humidity that we had in Holland lately. :)

Had a run scheduled today, and although it was the first day at high altitude, I told myself I had to go - it should be the last long run before the marathon next weekend. This high altitude means that your heartrate is higher than it is at home...at least in the first couple of days. I was prepared for that, and figured the run was probably going to be hard. I couldn't have been more wrong!

Had a great run! Ran through Davos City and around Davos Lake (Davoser See) and did some hillwork. Loved it, truly had this feeling of having wings and finished the run with a huge smile on my face! It totally made my day. :)

Was a bit scared of what the altitude would do to my running, but I really shouldn't have been! Now I know why all those Kenyans train at high altitude; that's their secret! :)

So tonight - in my dreams - I AM a Kenyan. :) Just for once. :)

Wacky Wednesday: Did I really just do that?

Running Group: Ran: 6.3 miles / 10K - with speedwork - intervals (1K in 4.20 min - 10 x 1 min full speed / 1 min rest - 1K in 4.10 min)

Did I really just do intervals for 30 min, and was still able to push through a 4.10 min 1K in the end - in this 90 F / 30 C heat with 200% humidity? I was wheezing like a 90 year old smoker, that's for sure, and for a minute I really did think that I wasn't able to breathe at all, but I pushed through it! Might seem like not such a big deal, but to me it was! And I felt great (and tired) afterwards! Sweet! :)

OK, I wasn't this tired or fast (not even close!), but you get the picture

How I became a runner

About a year ago, in July 2009, I decided that enough was enough, and that I needed to start exercising again. I was quite the athletic type in high school, but after I went to university...well, let's just say that my priorities were all over the place back then. Priorities being my sorority, go clubbing 5 nights a week, and still managing to pass my exams and getting my mastersdegree (Law). Not to mention the amount of alcohol involved.

Next thing was starting a career and getting my first 'real job'. Getting a job at an international law firm = either no time to exercise or no time to sleep. Easy decision... After changing to another firm I really didn't have an excuse not to exercise anymore, so that was it. And running it was.

Me about a year ago...well it's not really me, but you get the point

Being me, I needed some motivation to keep me going, and I signed up for my first 10K in October 2009. People from the firm were also running, and I didn't want to be the last one to finish, so I trained a bit. Well, actually I didn't. I figured running around the block (4K) once or twice in the weeks leading up to the race would do the trick. I could't even run that 4K loop without stopping several times. 'Training' wasn't enough, obviously, because I was the last one to finish. Embarrassing...Extremely embarrassing.

And then, all of a sudden, I planned on running NYC 2010. Probably because that 10K went so great. :) I still don't know how I figured I could train for a marathon, knowing that I couldn't even run a 10K without vomiting my lungs out.

To start training and running the right way, I joined a running group In january this year (2010) for the speedwork days, and teamed up with a running buddy for the long runs. And that was it. I became totally hooked on running! From not being able to run 30 minutes in October 2009, I was all at once running 18 mile/29K long runs. And got faster. Don't get me wrong; I'm still slowwwwwwwwww...but I'm getting there. :) And most important: I'm loving it!

I'm loving it so much, that I plan on NYC in November 2010 not being my first marathon. Nope...this silly runner signed up for the Swiss Alpine Marathon K42 (it's in two weeks (end of July)), being Europe's hardest trail marathon with an 1900 meter (6230 ft) elevation. The route mostly goes over small mountain trails. And hey, that's just me; why go the easy way, when you have the opportunity to go the hard way?

Well, there you have it. How I became a runner. Some might call me absofreakinglutely out of my mind for not only running a marathon in my first year of running, but making one of them the hardest European trail marathon there is, but hey; what doesn't kill me, makes me stronger, right?

About that kill-part: just to be on the safe side...please keep your fingers crossed for me to not trip and tumble down that mountain, OK?