"Run free"

"Run free" is what Micah True has been famously quoted. Saturday I did my first trail run of the year at Soaring Eagle Park. It was my best run since my BQ at the Yakima marathon. I had the best time by just running. No competition. No time to beat. Beautiful day. I was smiling all the way. I felt like a little fairy running through the forest. I downgraded to the 10 miler from the 26.2 but started with the marathoners and 50k'rs. They needed an extra 1.1 mile loop so I just went with them and ended up doing 11.1 miles. I don't think True ever felt like a fairy but I felt how he loved to run, uninhibited.

My training has been going great. My coach has given me some hard weeks. I feel that my body has been adapting well to the hard work.
I have some bad training days though. Someday I may feel like a cat, who's been thrown in the lake, as she  frantically tries to make it back to shore. Or a bike ride where I fall down a couple times. But in all I'm having a blast.

First Call Half Marathon on Sammamish River Trail (2:06:57)

I've had some interesting brick work out lately too. Last weekend I had signed up for a half marathon at the First Call Marathon Club series run in Bothell. (http://firstcalltorunmarathon.blogspot.com/.) I didn't need to run fast. My coach had also given me a 60 mile bike ride as well for the day. Since start time wasn't till 9:00 I decided to go to the start area and do a 20 mile bike on the Sammamish river trail first then do the half. I would finish the next 40 miles on the Centennial Trail in Snohomish. There was a nap thrown in there between the run and the bike. I've been napping a lot in my little car. I just fit in that car, right with my bike. Yes, my bike fits IN my car, not on it.
Yesterday I had a very successful bike ride on the 70.3 bike course. I went out early so to beat the Sunday morning traffic which seems to consist of big trucks pulling boats, that drive fast, eager to get in the water to catch that fish. When I got to Lake Roesiger there were lots of boats all ready put in. They were more eager than I was this early morning.
I needed a three hour bike then a four mile run. The bike ride was the best on the course so far this year. Little traffic, overcast but no rain, legs felt good even though a little sore from yesterdays trail run. 45 miles. I only made one stop. Practiced race nutrition and ate on the fly. I ate up the hills on the course. I just kept saying to myself, "Where there is an up there is a down". It just was great though. The run was a little slow and awkward but I got it done.
Today I got in an hour easy spin on my trainer, I love watching recorded Ellen, and a 2 mile run with my Ruby. It was then off to Lake Tye in Monroe for open water swim training with Coach Mary and Team Blue Fire. (http://www.bluefirefitness.com/) The first open water swim of the year saw more confidence in me than a year ago. I have my own wetsuit now. I am a swimmer not just a floater  and the buoy does not seem as far as last year. I also have a great group of people to swim with.

Can't wait to run free again. With over six weeks to go till Lake Stevens Half Ironman, that freedom will have to wait. Soaring Eagle trail run came at just the right time. It refreshed me. I have a goal to achieve and I'm on a mission. Now if I get frustrated all I have to do is close my eyes and remember that feeling of running through the woods and running free.    RIP Micah True

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