Adrienne Langelier Racing

Wow, what a race this turned out to be! I left early this morning after meeting up with Coach, Julie (the fabulous MT), and Melissa at 5:00 this morning and headed out to the hamlet of Bremond-we all had a great time road-trippin' together. I wonder if the runners outnumber the residents on Polish Day! At any rate, they sure can put on a race. This was my second time to run this race, and I think this experience was definitely the better of the two.

After a relatively easy drive up Highway 6, we pulled in with about an hour before start time, picked up our packets, and Melissa and I started warming up. While getting ready, I was reminded how flighty I always feel pre-race as I clamor around my bags trying to get everything together: bib-check, watch-check, racing flats tightened-check, how do you get this chip on...???? You get the idea.

Bill and I had a couple goal times in mind for today, I have been training hard and wanted to shave some time off my best set last year. Here's how it played out:

Fast forward to just before start time, I have visited with some of my other fellow Houston and Huntsville-area runners and I get my race face on. I wished Melissa good luck and soon enough the gun went off. I got off to a fairly fast start, as I generally do, and was almost immediately passed by Dallas Baptist's Hannah Steffen. She is an impressive runner. Still nervous, I looked down at my pace and tried to gather my stride throughout the first mile in town. I began to hit some kind of rhythm (for a short race, anyway) right at around Mile 1: split time 5:41. I had started out at just over a 5-minute pace, but I reigned it in, managing to calm my still semi-anxious butt down since I knew my fitness level could not quite sustain it throughout. The objective was to keep the pace just under 6:00 and even.

Second mile the presented the shallow (according to Huntsville standards), but long hill that reaches out of town. I was still feeling relatively comfortable and tried to gain some ground on the leader, she was never too far away. Second split: 11:35. Right where I want to be. All I had to do was stay on pace, avoid blowing up, and make it in within goal time.

Right before the third mile, I made a little more progress on the leader, passing through a much-appreciated mist sprinkler. Some fatigue was setting in, but I talked myself into finishing strong. At moments like this, I simply tell myself that I just have a little more to go and an awesome PR is mine. On the home straightaway going down Main Street, I took my third split at 17:36...I could scare 18:00! That notion helped me pick it up at the end (I was getting more tired, but I wanted that goal time), as the clock showed times getting close to goal.

I never quite caught up with the First Female (if you are a reader, you did awesome today!!), but I celebrated a little as I saw on the clock my chip time of 18:15-right on the objective for the morning! It was later corrected to a better finish time of 18:11-holy cow! My average pace turned out at around 5:52. This was a little bit of a mental breakthrough for me, since I was finally able to average under a 6:00 pace at this distance. I finished a spot higher than last year's 3rd place, and knocked off 45 seconds on my time. I credit a great deal of this to my recent training and challenges presented by working with Coach Bill and the gang.

The temps were rising and I was starving after the ceremony, so we headed to Freebird's in College Station (whoop!) and talked running for a while, like we usually do. Before this report turns into a novella, as many of these do- great morning today, great job by all who put this event on, and good job to Melissa," the Russels", Debbie, the Seven Hillers, and everyone else I forgot to mention who ran today!

Warning: post may contain some petty complaining!

This week seemed to start off as one of those where I feel just a step behind. After a great weekend, I took an exam I had been studying (in the car, mostly) for Monday afternoon. To prep for this test, I had to leave earlier than I had wanted to on Father's day to head back to Huntsville, and study with a friend later that evening, turning into a later night. As far as I can tell, the exam went fine and I am ahead in my coursework for the rest of the week by a day. Apparently, I did not get the memo that it's ok to just "cruise" through the rest of your program post-job offer! I believe I am not wired to give lesser effort in what I do (unless it's housework- lol!), and that aspect of my personality is both a blessing and a curse.

Monday evening, I learned that I would get a free entry to the Wade Bowen/Randy Rogers show, an offer I accepted, even though I knew turning in early would be best. It was a fun show, except for the part that my eyes now automatically pop open at 6:00 AM of earlier. Two back-to-back late nights did me in yesterday, thank goodness I had a scheduled day off from workouts. I was exhausted. After work I immediately came home and took a nap, only waking up to go eat dinner at another friend's house. Luckily I got out of there early as well. I still like going out and having fun, I just can't do it in longer spurts like I used to- I must be getting old!

While I realize my life is considerably easier than many others' being an athlete, working, still being a student, and trying to still be social feels like a balancing act-some day's I wish I could sport an "I'd rather be running" stamp on my head! Most weeks I do better than some others. Of course, with all of these things, I extend my standards where I want to be good at them all: good employee, good athlete, good student, good friend, etc., etc. Sometimes, if one thing gets out of whack, and something such as a two-day span like I have just experienced can result. It's funny how as a therapist, I consider teaching assertiveness a strength, but for my own self, forget it!

Being a runner in the environment I am in, I have other variables that I try to adhere to, while many of my peers are still in bed, my day is already starting,-then I go to the office and class, then study, I eat differently as well. At times I find this discrepancy frustrating, but I wouldn't choose at this stage to live any differently. I have decided to maintain this lifestyle, see where it takes me and leave no regrets.

On the whole, I would not change a thing...except maybe lobbying for a 26-hr day, that would be perfect!

Luckily, like as in most things, these days pass. After resetting by getting a good night's sleep and capitalizing (instead of cross-training) on a rest day I feel more up today. We always have to keep everything in perspective that it could always be worse, and 'yuck' days are just that: 'yuck' days. According to natural laws, things usually tend to go back to the middle, or balance, eventually.

This morning I did a race set-up workout at the track:

All that was prescribed was a 10-min. WU and CD and 4 x 400 in 1:28 or two seconds around there.

Actual: Ran to and from track for warmup and cooldown, extending the mileage some, but kept the pace nice and slow.

Goal-Pacing Splits: 1:28, 1:27, 1:27, 1:26.

I successfully resisted the temptation, to in my usual style-push it!

At least the good news is that it can't get TOO much hotter during these summer mornings...right??

Well, we can hope. That what was going through my mind as I put in my easy run of almost 7 miles this morning. I finished totally soaked (gross, isn't it!!) but it felt good. Last summer, I did a bunch of little hydration experiments to find just the right fuel. I tried PowerBar electrolytes, HEED, plain Gatorade (and gatorade mixed with water), Clif Shot, and finally Cytomax. Many of you already hear me regularly sing the latter's praises. It's odd how just the alteration of a few chemical profiles of these products affects performance, whether that be actually physical of the proverbial "placaebo effect". Not one thing will work for everybody, in every condition. I do know no matter what I consume, my ridiculous sweat rate will likely not change!

Sports drink tangent aside, the weekend brought much celebration mixed in with my training. Friday the family and I hit Kona Grill (awesome grilled chicken and rice dish btw) to celebrate my new job. Saturday morning I hit the Sugar Land streets for an easy 11-miler (7:45 avg pace), then laid on the beach for the rest of the day. Sunday-4.5-mile recovery at 8:15 pace, quick Father's Day lunch, and back to Huntsville to prep for an exam.

If only I could add a little more sleep into the mix!

This week's training should be a little easier and shorter. I have a prescribed day off tomorrow, but will probably do a little swimming instead of the usual strength work I do on Tuesdays to change it up.

First off, despite the busy June I am experiencing, my workouts remain fairly solid. After several days of easy running, I had to embark on a solo track workout. I find I really like the environment of working out with a group and getting my split time called from a yellow watch each Wednesday. However, yesterday brought some good things, so I had to make the time to squeeze in an early morning speed session. Predicted workout consisted of 4 x 400 in 1:25, 2 x 200 in :38, and an 800 with whatever I had left.

Actual: 4 x 400 w 200 recovery: 1: 16, 1: 24, 1:19, 1:23.
2 x 200 w 200 recovery: :36, :35- not my best work at that distance, but that's ok!
1 x 800: 2:40; I had to wake myself up on this one, as I forgot that I was supposed to do my best effort, versus just the 2:50 predicted I have gotten a little too used to.

Also, I will be joining a practice in The Woodlands in the next couple months. I am excited about performing therapy and coaching specializing in wellness (exercise and nutrition, especially), Attention-Deficit Disorders, college populations, and treatment planning. I will also be looking to relocate to the Woodlands/Spring area during this time. It looks like I am blessed to have things fall as they did, I get to perform a job I'm passionate about in the city I train in.

Fun and challenging new beginnings ahead!

This post is not to be confused with Nike's natural running commercial! ;-)

After an up and down week with class beginning, a solid track workout, and more post-graduation ambiguity, I found myself looking forward to just going out and running. Coach had specified not to worry about pace, so I headed to the park wearing only my Ironman watch, removed it upon parking and replaced it with my RoadID (in this heat, it's better to be identified than know how fast you're going!!). My plan was to run more natural, use a gait that feels the best, drink when I feel like I need it, and focus on anything but the time.

I ran essentially the Hog's Hunt course in reverse minus the out-and-back. I was hoping to see more animals on the course, but the rising mid-morning temps must have subdued them. There were a couple times when horseflies flew up into my Rudy Projects and I had to stop and flail around to get them out. Nobody saw, by the way, but I'm sure it was comical! I think I need to develop a new bug repellant for runners (ok, not natural, but bugs suck!).

At the end of 13 miles, I was ready to take it in and jump in the pool afterward. I am glad to see that I do possess the ability to not clock-watch every run. Tomorrow I have a day off. It has been forever since I have had a Sunday with no running; if only I did not have that class to tend to!

I also hit a small milestone in my training for the year: I rolled over 1000 miles for my personal "running year". I use Nov. 11 as the date since that was the first time I ever recorded my mileage. At least it's original!

After a whirlwind-type day peppered in with some studying, that fine hour of 7 pm came around. I had seen the posted challenging workout and was did my best not to psych myself out. Every now and then, I let that happen and that mental part of my game is another little thing I can work on.

Listed was two sets of a 1600 in 6:00, an 800 in 2:50, and a 400 in 1:15! All of these had a 600 meter recovery jog in between, which I tool advantage of. The temps were a bit warm (should I expect anything else!) but I think I performed pretty well on this one, including identical miles:

1st set-1600: 5:52, 800: 2:48, 400: 1:13 (close or possibly my fastest 400 to my knowledge)
2nd set (throw in some O2 debt from the first one)- 1600: 5:52, 800: 2:49 (?), 400: 1:18. The last 400 played a trick on me, it felt the fastest, but ended up the slowest-what the heck?!

Even though I missed a split, I felt I got a lot out of this one. I mentioned to Coach last night that a 6-minute mile does not feel like it used to, and that is likely a good thing!

The rest of the week is full of easy running-I've got the Mp3 player stocked and ready to go!

So often am I guilty of overlooking the little things. Many of us (especially yours truly) are guilty from time to time of thinking of what we don't have, or what we WANT to have, attain, or achieve, but fail to notice the little positives we experience in the process.

I was fortunate enough to be paying just enough attention this morning. I woke up with a lot on my mind: everything that hangs in balance career-wise over the next couple months, the fact that I graduate in exactly 2 months today, my family being in a possible "transitional" stage, and this morning's easy 7-miler and what overly-familiar route to take. Of course, the only thing I had control of in my non-exhaustive list was the run.

I took off at about 6:45 on a route wrapping around town, it is of course full of elevation changes, and "summits" at about mile 6. This was just an easy run, however it was one of those rare ones where I felt great throughout, as simple and supplementary as this type of workout was, I appreciate the simplicity of going out before work, class, and the usual Monday shenanigans (did I just say shenanigans!...) and just being able to run. Instead of focusing on my pace, distance, and what this particular run means towards 'X' goal, my thoughts drifted towards a simple gratitude to have the gift to do what I can do; both having the motivation to get out of bed and lace up early almost every morning, and the ability to move my body through space a little faster than your typical short-legged, big-footed woman.

I checked my Garmin as I got closer to my apartment and saw I had gone over the predicted 7, but wanted to round out the hour, taking a side street or two before bringing it in. I punched "stop" right at 7.77 miles. Not superstitious, but it looked cool nonetheless.

Hopefully everyone has a good week-mindful of those little things that so often elude us. :-)

Super track workout last night! The temperatures and humidity made it at times seem less super; but the results, I think, were solid whether it felt comfortable or not. I know now to bring my Cytomax with me, for Gatorade Endurance Formula does not quite deliver that special 'pop'. Like Bill C. mentioned for his experience, my online log called for each of 8 x 800 to be between 2:50 and 3:05. Upon arrival and warmup, Coach told me that I should be hitting in between 2:45 and 2:55. With clouds rolling in, it looked like the weather could turn bad (it didn't), so I got on the assignment quickly.

The first 3-4 were definitely the most difficult, and the last 3 felt the best-thank goodness!

In its entirety, it came out like this:
1.5 mile warmup in just over minutes
8 x 800m w/ 400m recovery jog in between each (total mileage according to Garmin-6.11 mi.)
800 splits, give or take: First- 2:46, 2:47, 2:48, 2:46, 2:52, 2:51, 2:52, last- 2:46. I was especially happy to run identical 1st and last intervals.
1-mile cooldown, with a random 400 thrown in pacing a training partner in. Even when I put in a good evening's work, I think I enjoy encouraging and cheering everybody else on as they train.

At the end of my "National Running Day" workout, total miles registered in at about 9.26....I really enjoyed every bit of my giant sandwich afterward!