Journey On! Training for the Senior Olympics Trials

2019 Senior Olympics Road Race Minimum Standards for women 65-69, 5K: 28:09 and 10K: 59:33, 2019 NSG Rulebook Updated(5.2.18)-2.pdf.

10/13 – 10/14/18 Nevada Senior OIympics – State Championships – Results

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9/10/18: Tough run today! Fair attitude. Had to push last 1.5 miles. Heart rate high. Good progression run. Not bad, but not fast enough to qualify.

9/11/18: Good attitude, legs felt good. Had to push last 1.5 miles. Good progression run. Heart rate high.

9/12/18: Fair attitude. Had to push last 1.5 miles. Good progression run. Heart rate high.

9/13/18: Fair attitude. Did not feel the high heart rate. Good progression run.

9/14/18: Fair attitude. Did not feel the high heart rate. Good progression run. Still short of qualifying time.

9/15/18: Did not feel like doing a long run, but felt it was time and I needed it. Fatigued at mile 5. Struggled from mile 15. Began walking the flats and running up and down the hills. Ended walking the hills, up and down. I actually did 20 miles. I started the Strava app on my Apple watch after starting the Activity app. Strava kept telling me to flush water. I finally deleted the run, which appears also to have deleted the first 3/4 mile logged by Activity. Tough day! Lost 4 pounds. (Sore muscles thorough Wednesday, 9/19/18).

9/16/18: Still fatigued from yesterday. Had to really push it.

9/17/18: Struggled. Really had to push it.

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9/18/18: A little easier today. Did not feel the high heart rate. Fairly good progression run.

9/19/18: A little easier. Did not feel the high heart rate. Fairly consistent.

9/20/18: Consistent. Struggled the last 2 miles. Did not feel the high heart rate.

9/21/18: Struggled the last 5K. Hard getting breath.

9/22/18: A little easier than the last 20-miler. Took it very easy. Feeling a little weak and moderately fatigued. Struggled at mile 10,  wanted an ice, cold coke. I don’t even drink cokes! High humidity, intense sun. I am quite sunburned. Lost 6 pounds between last 20-miler a week ago and this 20-miler, despite drinking 6 glasses of water on both days. Endurance definitely needs work. Lost 2 pounds.

9/23/18: Not bad for the day after a 5-hr endurance walk. Felt OK. Walked whenever I felt like it.

9/24/18: Felt good first 5K, struggled with last 5K. Felt weak, exhausted.

9/25/18: Still struggling. Not looking like I will make the cut-off for the trials. Times are getting slower with increased effort.

9/26/18: Tough run again, especially the last 5K. Feel weak, fatigued, weary attitude.

9/27/18: Took it easy. Did not want to train today, but was blessed with finishing another 10K. Good progression run. Not even close to Olympic time.

9/28.18: Good outdoor run. Felt stronger.

9/29/18: Watch failed about a mile out. Unable to determine why. Walked the flats, ran the hills up and down. Felt a little better. Went out for distance. Third consecutive 20-miler Saturday. Less swelling in the fingers and calf muscle twitching. No sore muscles. Lost 2 pounds.

9/30/18:

10/1/18:

10/2/18:

10:3/18:

10/4/18: Felt stronger past few days.

10/5/18: Felt strong. Took it easy, ran the entire distance.

10/6/18: Felt strong. Took it easy, ran the entire distance.

10/7/18: Felt strong most of the distance. Took it easy. Ran the hills down and at least half-way up. Walked the flats. Thought the time was 5 hours. Was surprised it was less. Mild, intermittent pain middle back, left. Moderate intermittent pain, when running up hills, after mile 17. Mild, intermittent mid-back pain. Lost 2 pounds.

10/8/18: Kept it easy, but pushed a little harder. Thought I was faster than actual time. Pain in back and ankle basically gone.

10/9/18: Tough run this morning. Had to push it. Slower time with more effort. No pain. Recovering fast.

9/10/18: Good progression run. Felt strong. Three days out from the Senior Olympics.

10/11/18: Excellent progression run. Felt strong enough to push the last mile. Heart rate good. Cadence good. Just need this to be <59 minutes for the Olympics. Last training run before the Olympics on Saturday and Sunday. Looking for a good experience, lots of learning. 🙂

10/15/18:

On October 13 and 14, 2018, I took the start lines for the 5K and 10K events in Las Vegas, UNLV, at the Nevada State Senior Olympics. These were qualifying events for the 2019 National Senior Olympics, to be held June 14-25, 2019, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

I fueled for both events the nights before with Hammer Whey Protein and a variety of Hammer supplements taken with a half glass of whole milk. The morning before the 5K, I fueled with with coffee, Fully Charged, Anti-Fatigue caps and a variety of Hammer supplements with a glass of whole milk. I slowly dissolved a Perpetuem Solid in my mouth during the race. I repeated the routine for the 10K the next day, adding a Hammer Energy bar before the race and another Perpetuem solid during the race.

Living in Los Angeles, my training was all at sea level. I had some difficulty catching air pushing the 5K. I did not realize Las Vegas was at 2,100 feet. I did not experience this discomfort during the 10K, although I did not push as hard.

I won gold medals for my age group in both events, qualifying for both for the National Senior Olympics 2019. Participating in the Nevada State Senior Olympics 2018 was one of the highlights of my life. I had a wonderful time meeting and spending time with these wonderful athletes. I am now blessed with many new friends and learned many new things. Unforeseen, exciting opportunities and visions opened up. This was a thrilling surprise for this 67 year-old female who only went to the Games for the experience and to honor my Mom, who passed away in La Vegas in 2007, and my Dad and coach, who lost the love of his life there at the same time. I had not returned to Las Vegas until this weekend. It was a joyous, life-enriching and life-changing experience. i am so glad I was there.

10/16/18: Continuing the Quest. Eureka Senior Olympics, 5K, Stanford University, 11/4/18.

10/16/18, 3:10 p.m.: Most severe Meniere attack of my life, resulted in transport by paramedics to hospital, ER unit 8:30 p.m. Extreme, uncontrollable spinning, nonstop vomiting.

10/17/18: Still having Meniere symptoms, slight spinning, heaviness in left ear. Felt better after 5K, then back to bed.

10/18/18: Still having Meniere symptoms, slight spinning, heaviness in left ear. Felt better after 5K, then back to bed.

10/19/18: Still having Meniere symptoms, slight spinning, heaviness in left ear. Felt better after 5K, then back to bed.

10/20/18: Still having Meniere symptoms, slight spinning, heaviness in left ear. Felt better after 5K, then back to bed.

10/21/18: Missed my long run. Wanted to do my regular 20-mile walk/run. Still having Meniere symptoms, slight spinning, heaviness in left ear, fatigue. Felt better after 5K. Happy with time, perceived effort.

10/22/18: First day will return to work since last Tuesday, taken to the ER with severe Meniere attack. Still having symptoms, very slight spinning, heaviness in left ear, fatigue. Felt better after 5K. Happy with time, perceived effort. Would like to reestablish my regular training schedule of 10Ks Mon-Fri, 20 miles on Saturday, 5K on Sunday, but think it best to go very easy. Will run 5Ks at maximum speed for the foreseeable future.

10/23/18: Still having symptoms, heaviness in left ear, fatigue. Felt better after 5K. Happy with time, perceived effort. Looking forward to the CA State Championships!

10/24/18:vMeniere symptoms are better today. Less heaviness in the left ear,  almost none in the right ear. Still fatigued, but not as severe. Felt better after 5K. Happy with time, perceived effort. Still looking forward to the CA State Championships!  The 2017 National Senior Games Women’s 5K 65-69 gold medalist ran 27:23. The gold medalist 10K ran 57:47. Quest On!

10/25/18: Good pace, good heart rate, good cadence. Feeling less fatigued running, still having dizziness, stuffy ear, fear of another drop attack of Meniere.

10/26/18: Good pace, good heart rate, good cadence. Feeling better running, still having dizziness, stuffy ear, fear of another drop attack of Meniere. Focusing on trying to sub 9-minute pace.

10/27-10/28/18: Strength training. Portland, OR.

10/29/18: Back in Los Angeles. Still having symptoms, heaviness in left ear, less fatigue. Felt better after 5K. Happy with time, perceived effort. Looking forward to the CA State Championships!

10/30/18: Still having symptoms, slight heaviness in left ear, slight fatigue. Felt better after 5K. Happy with time, perceived effort. Looking forward to the CA State Championships!

10/31/18: Intermittent, slight heaviness in left ear, increased fatigue. Fair attitude.  A little slower, increased perceived effort. Looking forward to the CA State Championships!

18TH ANNUAL RACE AGAINST PH

11/4/18: CA State Championships, Encore Senior Games, Stanford University

5th place 60-69 F Patricia Winiecki Bib 639 F 67 BayArea Senior Games 31:07 (gun) 30:48.78 (chip) 9:56 pace. 2nd place for the Senior Games in age group. Had a wonderful time reuniting with Senior Olympians from Las Vegas, and meeting new athletes, race officials and supporters. A young girl lost her shirt in the race. I was happy to give her mine. She flung herself into my arms to thank me, saying this was her first race. I was highly moved and touched as I was leaving the venue and Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” blasted over the sound system. This was my Dad’s song. I felt as if he was there with me, still coaching me, every step of the way. A wonderful, enchanting, life-affirming day!

Now the wait is on for the invitation from the National Senior Olympics, Albuquerque, NM, 2019!

Stanford Senior Olympics 11-4-2018

Journey On!