As Arte Johnson would say...

For all: 5'5" (small frame designation based on elbow and wrist measurements)

CDC ideal weight range: 112-148 (honestly? that's a pretty wide range!), BF% 14-20 for athletes


October 23rd, 1999 (before kids and starting to run)
147 lbs.
30% body fat
size 10/12


April 14th, 2007 (before 1st 1/2 ironman)
117 lbs.
19% body fat
size 0


September 7th, 2008 (before IMWI)
123.5 lbs.
18% body fat
size 2


November 4th, 2009 (now)
130.2 lbs.
23% body fat
size 4


Veddy interesting...

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Jackie Joyner Kersee's Legs

This is my answer to all the little girls out there who want waifish model legs because they are "beautiful"...well, so are big, strong, powerful legs that make you go really fast.

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Spidey

Morgan and Sam's pumpkins, as designed and executed larged by themselves. Sam's is an ode to his favorite superhero, Spiderman. (I should emphasize favorite non-Transformer superhero...he is of course Optimus Prime for Halloween).

My new compression socks and tights, worn together, make me think of the Spiderman villan Venom. Not because they make me all tough and intimidating on the race course (alas), but because they have these criss-crossy things that support things that need supporting.

Unlike Venom, however, they are all heroic in my world, helping hold my pelvis and ankles together without chafing, blistering, or otherwise messing with my parts. I've test run a few pairs, and although they are some of the cheapest, I'm loving these CW-X's. The only problem is that I can't wear the socks with my Vibrams, but that's not such a problem right now as it's getting colder and so I'm in shoes most of the time anyway.

I've started taking this super-fun (OK...its super fun when its over) class on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6am called Psychofit. It's run out of B&S in Salem, and this kid Jeremee teaches it - he cheerfully invents all kinds of painful but beneficial functional stability and strength training exercises that are aimed specifically at improving endurance athletes all-around resiliency and power.

It's a great way to start the day. Honestly. You are thinking as much as you are moving, so you get somewhat distracted from the ferocity of burn. And afterwards the endorphins are flowing, and you have plenty of time to recover for that late afternoon/evening run/swim/bike/whatever.

It's also nice to have someone motivating ME for a change. I could use it ;)

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One of My Amazing Sisters...

Just published another book. Not only is she brilliant, but she's wicked smaht too...

http://www.amazon.com/Pictures-Mind-Neuroscience-Tells-About/dp/0137155166/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256670996&sr=8-1

Seriously, this is the future. We see it in our sport everyday and if we embrace the science we can harness it. So let my rocket-science sister make it easy for you to understand...

In case you are wondering - yes my other sister is this smart too!

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20 more miles!?!

My 12 mile run today was a mix of 50% trails and 50% road. When mixed with a cold, I was more than happy with my 9:50 pace that kept me at a place where my cough/lungs weren't taxed. I was less happy with the wear and tear that made itself apparent in my hips and pelvis which are still a work in progress. The discomfort was not bad, but when put in perspective with the thought that the 50k trail run would hold 20 more miles, it was a bit humbling. But I'm happy with where I am at this early in the training season.

Acknowledging that my body is not like anyone elses, I'm not planning on training like anyone elses. With the exception of training races (including the B&A Trail Marathon), I don't plan on running more than 18 miles at a time in training before the trail run. Instead, my long runs will vary between 12 and 18 miles, and will be followed the next day with progressive runs of 7-10 miles that will push my pace on somewhat recovered legs.

With two RT days, a cross training day, a tempo run, and an easy run a week, I'll be looking at peaking out around around 40 miles per week as I train for the trail run. I'm not setting my time goals yet, as I want to see what my body is tending around in training, but I make no bones that I am not just doing this to finish. I want a good time, in both the marathon and the trail race. I'd like to go sub-4 in the marathon but that's about all I can say at this point, not knowing how the old body will respond. So far, so good...

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Stone Cat...If Only I had 9 Lives!

Amanda Russell is the bearer of great running news to your's truly...how could I NOT know that there was a 50-mile trail race in my backyard? Where I run all the time?

The Stone Cat 50-miler (there's also a 37.5 mile and a marathon)
Willowdale State Forest
Ipswich MA
November 2010
http://www.gaconline.net/scmain.html

I'll be out there watching November 7th to check it out and might jump in a training run before then. How awesome is this?!? I can't actually bring myself to say that I even intend to do a 50 mile race considering my body, but if things hold up well in April at the 50k then I might just consider it!

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Lost in Translation

Yes...my "accidental 7 miler" comment did indeed mean that I got lost. Even though I was this close to Route 128 at times!

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