Spring is threatening to be here. =)
I ran 5 miles tonight, the 4-mile hilly route from the house to Bechtle, then the mile down to the Valero station. I'm fighting a cough again, so when at the intersection at the 1-mile point I had to stop and wait for the traffic light to change, I decided to just give myself permission to take short (under 1 minute) walking/stretching/breathing breaks after each mile. I also kind of wanted to see what it would do to my time, since it's highly possible I'll have to use this method (for a more formal walk/run method, see Jeff Galloway's training programs at www.jeffgalloway.com) during the half-marathon.
The breaks were nice, especially the one at the 4-mile mark...it let me gather myself for the final mile and gear up for having to run past the house and not go in. =)
It was a good night...5 miles in 58:33. Approximately an 11:45 mile. Not too bad to be able to maintain it for 5 miles...will be even better to be able to maintain it (or something close to it) for 13.1.
I'm 32 on Friday. =)
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Run with Holly 3-21-08
Due to Easter weekend, Holly and I decided to do our long run Friday night instead of trying to fit it into the weekend. She'd mapped out an 8-mile route, and then driven over to my house. Things were going really well until about the 4-mile mark, when I tripped over an uneven square in the sidewalk and fell. I scraped my knee (and made a hole in my pants) and one palm, but I felt OK after walking for a little while. I also knew that although Holly would have been totally OK with stopping if I felt like I needed to, it would bug both of us not to finish the long run.
So, we finished the 8 miles...and even including the falling and walking...
1:27:44!!
We rewarded ourselves with a stop at a convenience store for a big bottle of water.
Some things are worth the pain...even if it means wearing opaque pantyhose for Easter Sunday. =)
So, we finished the 8 miles...and even including the falling and walking...
1:27:44!!
We rewarded ourselves with a stop at a convenience store for a big bottle of water.
Some things are worth the pain...even if it means wearing opaque pantyhose for Easter Sunday. =)
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Training Run 3-19-08
No, the date is not a typo...I just had one of those weeks.
However, I got to the gym last night (spring rains...bleh) and ran 5 miles at a 12-minute pace. Forgot my iPod, but they had the sound turned up on the Pistons game, so I had something to distract me. The first 2 miles were really tough, but I got through it. The fact that I took the two older kids to the movies and had popcorn and Sno Caps might have had something to do with that...
Hoping to run Friday during the day...maybe even outside...since I have the day off work. In between loads of laundry, of course. =)
Then if all goes well, Holly and I can get together on Saturday...we need to do 8 miles...the race is just 3 weeks from Saturday!! Will we be ready??? I'm starting to get nervous...
However, I got to the gym last night (spring rains...bleh) and ran 5 miles at a 12-minute pace. Forgot my iPod, but they had the sound turned up on the Pistons game, so I had something to distract me. The first 2 miles were really tough, but I got through it. The fact that I took the two older kids to the movies and had popcorn and Sno Caps might have had something to do with that...
Hoping to run Friday during the day...maybe even outside...since I have the day off work. In between loads of laundry, of course. =)
Then if all goes well, Holly and I can get together on Saturday...we need to do 8 miles...the race is just 3 weeks from Saturday!! Will we be ready??? I'm starting to get nervous...
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Long Run 3-9-08
After our huge snow over the weekend, I didn't think the roads would be too safe...also Holly has a cold and was snowed in.
So, 6 miles at the gym with the treadmill set to a 12-minute mile, and then I ran the mile home. Not shooting for any particular time on the last mile, just trying to keep moving to get to my 7-mile target. However, I covered the mile outside in about 10 minutes...it must have been the shock of the temperature change from the overheated gym to running through snowdrifts. =)
So, 7 miles in 1:22 or so...according to Runner's World's online pace calculator that's 11:42 for a mile. Not too bad.
Still, I'm very glad that warm weather is approaching...long runs on the treadmill are really a challenge. It seems like for the first half of the run I'm struggling physically, and the second half I'm in a groove physically but I just get so bored! Running with Holly is much better...we talk almost the whole time (though still keeping up a challenging pace) and the run is over before I know it.
Hopefully this weekend...
So, 6 miles at the gym with the treadmill set to a 12-minute mile, and then I ran the mile home. Not shooting for any particular time on the last mile, just trying to keep moving to get to my 7-mile target. However, I covered the mile outside in about 10 minutes...it must have been the shock of the temperature change from the overheated gym to running through snowdrifts. =)
So, 7 miles in 1:22 or so...according to Runner's World's online pace calculator that's 11:42 for a mile. Not too bad.
Still, I'm very glad that warm weather is approaching...long runs on the treadmill are really a challenge. It seems like for the first half of the run I'm struggling physically, and the second half I'm in a groove physically but I just get so bored! Running with Holly is much better...we talk almost the whole time (though still keeping up a challenging pace) and the run is over before I know it.
Hopefully this weekend...
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Training Run 3-6-08
Clearly I should let Holly kick my butt more often. =)
I added a little bit to my familiar 2-mile neighborhood course and did it twice, to make the 4.5 for tonight. I didn't feel like adding 0.5 to the hilly route...I don't like that route when it's windy or when it's dark, because there's no sidewalk for most of it.
It seemed a little chilly to go out in just capri sweats and a long-sleeved T-shirt, so I wore my fleece jacket. Too much. I ended up ditching the jacket at 2.25 miles as I passed the front porch. Admittedly, this made the last 1.25 miles pretty cold, but it was motivating...I tried to turn it on a little (to get home faster).
At some point Andrew fiddled with my sports watch and set it to beep on the hour. I knew I went out at about 7:30, and somewhere in the third mile the hour beep went off. I thought, "no way...I can't have gotten this far in 1/2 hour..." Then in the last mile when I was cold and wanted to go home, I tried to concentrate on increasing my foot turnover and keeping my form efficient. I thought of the metal shape shifter guy in the Terminator movies and how he runs...like a machine. I tried to run like that.
4.5 miles. 42:57. Per mile pace of 9:30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOTHING is impossible. =)
I added a little bit to my familiar 2-mile neighborhood course and did it twice, to make the 4.5 for tonight. I didn't feel like adding 0.5 to the hilly route...I don't like that route when it's windy or when it's dark, because there's no sidewalk for most of it.
It seemed a little chilly to go out in just capri sweats and a long-sleeved T-shirt, so I wore my fleece jacket. Too much. I ended up ditching the jacket at 2.25 miles as I passed the front porch. Admittedly, this made the last 1.25 miles pretty cold, but it was motivating...I tried to turn it on a little (to get home faster).
At some point Andrew fiddled with my sports watch and set it to beep on the hour. I knew I went out at about 7:30, and somewhere in the third mile the hour beep went off. I thought, "no way...I can't have gotten this far in 1/2 hour..." Then in the last mile when I was cold and wanted to go home, I tried to concentrate on increasing my foot turnover and keeping my form efficient. I thought of the metal shape shifter guy in the Terminator movies and how he runs...like a machine. I tried to run like that.
4.5 miles. 42:57. Per mile pace of 9:30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOTHING is impossible. =)
Run with Holly 3-2-08
I've got to start posting these sooner...
Went over to Holly's to do our weekend long run for a change of pace. We're up to 6 miles, and we did them over country roads that were fairly hilly compared to my neighborhood. All sorts of interesting farm smells too =)
Once again, Holly challenges me to run a lot faster than I would if I were on my own. We did the 6 miles (talking all the way) in 1:05:34, and I know I had to take a couple of walking breaks, so we were well under 11 minutes per mile for the whole run.
Now to run 4.5 miles tonight after Alexander's violin lesson. I'll post again later...maybe even tonight. =)
Went over to Holly's to do our weekend long run for a change of pace. We're up to 6 miles, and we did them over country roads that were fairly hilly compared to my neighborhood. All sorts of interesting farm smells too =)
Once again, Holly challenges me to run a lot faster than I would if I were on my own. We did the 6 miles (talking all the way) in 1:05:34, and I know I had to take a couple of walking breaks, so we were well under 11 minutes per mile for the whole run.
Now to run 4.5 miles tonight after Alexander's violin lesson. I'll post again later...maybe even tonight. =)
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