3 Miles

GREAT RUN!!! I froze my ass off and it was windy as all hell but I felt in a groove the entire time. No staring at the watch, just running.

Now, it was NOT FUN having the COLD wind against me most of the time or blowing at me from the side...sort of hurt my lungs and I SHOULD have brought water since I had no gum. Forgot my gloves too. Wont' make that mistake again.

*A-L-M-O-S-T* made it under 30 and would have if I didn't stop to let that stupid car creep across 79!!! LOL.....I KNOW I can do better time and realized this morning just how good my pace is getting! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

7 Miles

This was weird on my brain, the route we decided on. It seemed much longer and weird to run from Dunkin Donuts to the YMCA!!! LOL I tried my best to stay at a 12 to see if it made a difference on my lower back and if speed is the issue and I've decided IT'S NOT!!!! The pace was a little too slow for me and I found it distracting to keep looking at my watch to slow down.

Okay run.

Thursday....

Should have run 3 miles but hey, it was TURKEY DAY! I wanted to relax with Chris and get cooking/baking and I DON'T REGRET it! :o)

We had a GREAT Thanksgiving!!!

5 Miles

Had a fantastic run this morning, despite the FREAKING WIND!!!! I'm starting to feel stronger and realizing just what I'm capable of doing now. Do I have a plan? No, not really. I stick with the Mileage from the Higdon plan but when I'm out there, I just run. I see a light post and pick up the pace til I get there, then slow down...speed up to the next building, slow down, etc. etc. and it just works for me.

This whole running thing truly is an individual sport and I'm starting to understand that more and more. I'm not going to focus on how this person is doing it or how that person is doing it, their pace, their heart rate....it just makes it too complicated for me. Don't get me wrong, I DO WANT POINTERS, I DO want ADVICE, but I NEED to just RUN! :o)

3 Miles tomorrow before I begin the Feast Cookin'....TONS to do today! :o)
Happy Hump Day!

3 GREAT Miles

Had an AWESOME run today!! Best time to date! The wind was torture so I tried to detour to go "with" the wind but that didn't work so I crossed 79 in the attempt to come back "against" the wind to then realize that I was going to go over my assigned mileage which forced me to run across the train tracks on a short little trail like run and back to Exchange....LOL...it was humurous to say the least. Ha!

Felt strong today...physically and mentally! What a FANTASTIC way to start my week!! YES!

Long Run?? eeeekk!

Well, today PROVED something to me.....I NEED SLEEP!!! I should have taken this week easier and on top of everything else..I'm just exhausted! Mentally, just BEAT DOWN and going to bed at 11 while waking up EVERY 45 MINUTES TO 1 HR last night just did me in! My lower back was killing me (probably just PMS), it was 38 degrees and I just could NOT do the 7 miles today. Kim was having a rough time too with her hip so we decided to turn around at the 2 mile mark and called it quits here.

Well, it is what it is.

We'll start fresh on Monday.

5 Miles

I *hate* running in the cold....yeah I know I've said that before but I DO!! Maybe I'll get used to it. It was a good run but I just woke up grumpy which made it tough. I went faster than I probably should have for a recovery week but I just wanted to GET IT OVER WITH. Yeah, it was one of those mornings. Wish I could go back to bed! LOL :o)

Hey, they can't all be good runs, right?

3 Miles

Legs were heavy and a little stiff but as usual, felt good at mile 2! :o) Had a good run this morning, even though I was FREEZING and huffing/puffing from the cold....brrrrrrrrr!


This week is 3, 5, 3, 9

Half Marathon Race Report

WOW! What an EXPERIENCE!!! This was my first BIG and FUN race! Cheerleaders every few miles, live music at every mile or so, TONS of people cheering us on, tons of handmade signs, cool compressions socks (I want some!), adorable skirts (argyle...SO CUTE!), a man standing in front of me (former Boston 112th place dude--saw it on his jacket) standing and just peeing before we started---yeah GROSE, LOTS OF PEOPLE CHEERING US ON (oh yeah I said that already....LOL...LOVED THIS!), awesome course, awesome vibe....JUST LOVED THE ATMOSPHERE!!!

Pushed myself and beat my previous time! I still CAN'T IMAGINE doing a full marathon since I felt wiped out crossing the finish line on this one! But hey I think I keep on proving to myself "If you want it, you'll get there!" - - - If you believe, you achieve - - - love this quote!

So some interesting things happened to me on those 13.1 miles of pavement pounding! Here's a sort of "recap" . . .

Mile 1: Shot right out of the gate, full of excitement trying not to trip over the clothing that was shed by the runners half way through the first mile.

Mile 2: Noticed a little ache on the left knee and shin (never had pain on this side!) so I slowed it down a bit and tried to settle in my groove. Thought it was so cool to see local bands jammin out! Signs already everywhere, people cheering!

Miles 3: Okay, I told myself, you just did a 5k....you've got this, you feel good...keep on pushin and don't forget your gel at the 4 mile drink station SINCE YOU RAN WITHOUT WATER FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!!!

Mile 4: Took gel as I saw the water station ahead, perfect timing! Knew I did what I needed to do and started to think about a deep conversation I had with my Kimmers on the 2 hour drive down the day before....off in another world and then I noticed.....

Mile 6!! Don't remember seeing the sign for mile 5. But all I knew is I HAD TO PEE BADDDDDD!!! And oops, a little bit trickled out, oh well, whatcha gonna do? I told myself I was almost halfway there...NO WAY I was going to stop!!! I took the advice from a magazine telling me to walk through the water stations, so that was ALL the walking I would allow myself on this race!

Mile 7: Took my Razz Cliff Shot before the water station...that was tough and realized I had a SUPER TIGHT jaw. I spit the gum out and started freaking a little wondering why it felt like my jaw was locked up!!! Strange. Drank the Citomax sports drink at every stop along with the water..felt totally fine other than the jaw thing.

Mile 8-10: Can't remember much except that I would feel the trickling again and since it was just a little bit, I chose to ignore it. At mile 10 I took another Powerade 2x Tangerine (I hate these things and MUST find a substitute!) and looked up to see I was right behind the 2:00 Pacer ----OMG I thought, can I do this in 2 HOURS???!!!!!! But sadly I realized there was just no way I could maintain that pace at this stage of my running without hurting myself and I am too focused on doing kick ass at The Austin FULL Marathon in February!!!!! :o)

Mile 11: I thought, hey only 20 minutes left...let's do it! Changed my music to some Red Hot Chili Peppers and just started to push through.

Mile 12: Okay hill....no big deal you are NOTHING compared to what I ran three weeks ago LOL! Oh the crowd, it was amazing!!!! I got a kick out of the signs and saw one that said Mind over Body....you got this....don't stop!!! This one was followed by "Running takes balls, other athletes just play with them! LOVED THIS AND LAUGHED OUT LOUD!!

Climbing the hill right at the end was tough, I struggled with my mind (don't know WHY it's so hard for me right when I'm SO CLOSE to finishing!!) but remembered the ladies who did this last year telling me that right at the top is the finish! So, I ignored the stupid sign saying "Only .68 left" ugh...that killed me! LOL

Boom Boom Pow came on, I put my head down, eyes forward and just felt SO STRONG in my legs screaming to myself....OMG I CAN SEE THE FINISH AND IT JUST TURNED TO 2:15 MY GOAL MY GOAL!! I knew I only had 60 seconds left so I pushed and made it!!!!!! 2:15:10

THRILLED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Head was spinning, eyes were a little blurry, I was freezing, thighs were chaffed for the first time thanks to PISSING MYSELF, a girl put the medal over my head and I realized just how BIG I was smiling....my cheeks hurt!!! :o) I went over to get my photo taken but it was all so foggy at that moment, all I could think of is I needed FOOD! HA!

Knees felt like they were going to buckle, I called Chris right away and wanted to cry when I heard his voice, I was just so happy to achieve this, to actually have a PR! I moved along, grabbed my Citomax, bagel, banana, Riceworks, Snickers marathon bar, and Mango bites and saw my friend Natalie. We went over to have a seat until Kimmers finished, peed IN a porta potty and that's it! I walked around like I had rode a horse the rest of the afternoon. Got home about 3, took a hot bath and was SPENT!

Why do I do this?? THIS IS WHY!! Finishing a race and feeling GREAT about my accomplishment is what keeps me wanting more. Sure I set high goals, but I do everything I can to meet them, secretly always hoping to beat them, do better than I expected! Scrappy, a little "Spitfire", that's what my friend Sabrina refers to me as and yep, I'll agree....that's me!

I'm finally realizing what it is about this running thing after opening up to Kim talking about my childhood, my past experiences, my need for some healing. Something that nobody can do for me, but proving to myself over and over again just how strong I am is GREAT for me! I am proving myself wrong....I'm not a "non finisher" .... I can be disciplined . . . I am good, and I mean good for other people, not just me ... I have courage ... and my heart and guts have never steered me wrong...what I believe and put my heart into, oh yeah I can achieve baby!!!

Here's to my running journey!! May I get stronger and faster!!

Yes Austin Marathon, I'm scared, but that fear is ALWAYS what drives me to conquer!!

I'M READY!!!

San Antonio Rock n Roll 13.1

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I MET MY GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!

2:15:10 official time

Details to come!

3 Miles

Had a great run today! Happy with my pace, but definitely can't imagine maintaining that 3rd mile of 9.43 pace...I was huffing a bit. It was breezy but humid so there were some ahhhhhhh moments and some ugggghhhhhh moments with the weather. Wore the compression sleeve just to be safe since I have San Antonio on Sunday. Little bit of dull pain in my knee, but what do I expect when I pushed myself the way I did today.

I'm starting to be able to tell the difference between what dull pain and acute pain is...really helps me NOT focus so much on "injury" but definitely identifying the pain and moving on. I'm feeling positive at my ability when I can push through the "mental" part of it! :o)

HAPPY FRIDAY!

4 Miles

GREAT RUN today! I was a little nervous after my shitty Saturday run and later realizing I was hit with the stomach virus...ugh! BUT today totally encouraged me again. THANK GOD!!! Was overdressed for sure. It was 58 degrees and I totally could have just ran in my shorts and tank, did NOT need the arm warmers, gloves or hand band. Guess it was colder in the house. LOL

Took a look at San Antonio Race Day weather and looks like it's going to be Tstorms and in the 50s so looks like I'll just plan on wearing the shorts and tank. Did not take water and felt fine, still not sure about the 13.1 and my fuel belt again...we'll see.

BTW...NO LEG PAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 Miles

Monday: 11/8

Recovering from stomach virus and had nobody here to help with the kids so walked 2 miles instead. Better than doing nothing I guess. :o)

4 Miles

I was supposed to do 5 yesterday but I just didn't have it in me. As the morning went on, I couldn't stay out of the bathroom...stomach virus HIT ME! No wonder, now I don't feel so bad about the run. It was HARD for me. Feeling better today, thank God! I am going to put together a strength training plan to incorporate into the Marathon Training. :o)

3 Miles

I skipped my 4 miler yesterday since I was experiencing a little pain. Realized today that I just had to push through it and did fine. I didn't feel like I really pushed myself today and am happy with the pace....who knows, maybe I'll one day consistently see 10 min/miles!

5 tomorrow and one week away from San Antonio Rock n Roll!

Seasoned, SMART Runners!

Okay so I just got off the phone with a Marathon Runner...seasoned, strong and smart! It can be so confusing, so overwhelming, and even spirit crushing when you run with others. On the flip side, it can also be very encouraging, motivating and fun too!

With alot of things in my life, I tend to see something working for someone and I think, "Hey, I'm going to try that!" and what I'm realizing about running is that I just can't do that!! I need to do what is best for ME, the way I am wired! I had a friend tell me after completing my Triathlon that I was holding back during that training and you know what? I guess I did. Something happens on race day and I just GO! I don't "compartmentalize" things, I don't "overanalyze" things, I do EVERYTHING in my life leading with my heart...my passion! I realized today that I'm different than MOST of my friends which is probably one of the reasons I adore them all like I do. But for ME, I WILL push through the pain, I will go the speed I want to go and will STOP worrying so much!

Here's to training MY WAY! LOL

I'm fired up now!

Heart Rate

You read so much about heart rate zones, all these different calculators, RHR, MHR, zone 1, zone 2, etc. etc....and it can be so overwhelming!!!

I have a couple of friends that don't train that way and then there is a little group of them that do heart rate train and I just don't know what to do! When you research Max Heart Rate on line, there are different calculators giving me different results and it's just frustrating!!!

I did find this one and it seems to speak the most clearly to me. Just not sure how I'm going to be training for this marathon yet. I may utilize this or I may just stick with running the mileage and paying attention to my body (aches and pains!)....

Oh boy!

3 Miles

Today was hard for me. I had to keep my pace slow which I don't know WHY, but it's HARD for me to do!!! I want to go faster but my leg just won't let me. I'm struggling with the idea that I may be injured and not sure what to do. Pain in my calf muscle towards the inside to front of my right leg. I'm feeling frustrated today. ugh.