David's Dream Run

I've been down most of the week with allergies/asthma issues, only running once on Thursday. That was an easy run of 4.25 miles at a 10:17 pace.

Today, I had not planned to repeat my PR from last week, and it's a good thing. I was well below my time from last week. Honestly, I was happy just to finish. It was very, very hot. I am just not used to the heat yet. I know it will get easier, but today was tough.

It was great to see everyone out there. A really smashing bunch of people that support the running community. Several of my neighbors were there as well, probably because the neighborhood elementary school, David Elementary, is where the idea for this race was born years ago. I remember hoping that one day, I would be able to run this race. Last year I had bronchitis so I couldn't run even though I was registered. Today, I ran so that I could say I had. Well, it wasn't pretty, but I ran it.

Total Time: 29:08 (chip); Total Mileage: 3.1 miles; Avg. Pace: 9:24; Avg HR: Garmin battery dead, no splits, no HR.


Mile 1: 8:40 (from gun time)
Mile 2: 18:16 (from gun time)
Mile 3: 29:08 (chip time)

Now it's time for some serious training!

RTW PR!

It wasn't pretty, it wasn't fun, and it definitely was NOT graceful, but I did PR at RTW today. I guess I was due for a miracle...

The humidity was incredible this morning. With 83 degrees and what had to be over 85% humidity, I wasn't sure I would even finish. The saving grace is that it was overcast.

Mile 1, as usual, I started out too quickly, trying to remember to keep my pace at 8:15. Towards the end of the mile, I was hurting and slowed quite a bit. I started in the 7:30 range. I knew I would regret it and I did.

Mile 2, a bit more even for me, but the first mile was taking it's toll. I hit the mile 2 marker and walked for a minute. I am trying to imagine what my time would have been if I had not walked.

Mile 3, I had to believe that I could finish. I really wanted to give in, but knowing that Bill believed I was capable of this, I decided to run on his faith in me. Once I rounded the corner for the last portion of the 5K, I knew I would make it, but would the PR be possible?

I determined that all I needed was under 26:28 to have a PR. I took it slower running a few fartleks until I had 6/10's of a mile left. Then I kicked it up a bit more. Once I hit the infamous 3 mile dot on the driveway, I gave it my all and came in at 25:58. By my Garmin it was 25:56, but either way, a PR. I still don't know how I did this. The feeling of reaching down deep to pull it out is beyond words for me. Having the support of friends and family is what keeps me going. Thinking of those who can't run keeps me focused.

A special Happy Birthday to Ken and Waverly! Two very great people!! Of course the best part of today, seeing all the great people that I've met the past 20 months. Katy, Ken, Liz, Bill, Jon, Waverly, Kim, Missy, Coach Rich, The VanKuiken's, Ann Leonie, Debbie Tripp, and so many more. I met Evan and his sweet dog who loves to run and play fetch. Running would not be nearly as fun if it weren't for seeing these folks.

Total Time: 25:58; Total Mileage: 3.1; Avg. Pace: 8:23; Avg HR: 191 (!!!)

Weight: 126.5; Calories Burned: 305

Mile 1: 8:05
Mile 2: 8:28
Mile 3: 8:47
Mile .10 6:54 pace

Please Pray

I am an avid Christian music fan and one of my family's favorite artists has suffered an unspeakable tragedy. Please pray for Steven Curtis Chapman and his entire family.

You can read about the loss of his five-year old daughter, Maria on his blog.

Running with Foo

I ran with my eldest son, Foo, today. He rode his bike and was complaining of a sore backside. I offered to trade, shoes for the bike, but he declined.

It was a bit more humid and because of the time, a bit warmer, but still a nice day for a run.

Total Time: 1:34:10; Total Mileage: 8.4; Avg. Pace: 11:17; Avg HR: 163

Weight: 127.5; Calories Burned: 811

Weekly Mileage: 20; Monthly Mileage: 34

Mile 1: 11:13
Mile 2: 11:01
Mile 3: 12:53
Mile 4: 11:54
Mile 5: 11:21
Mile 6: 10:40
Mile 7: 10:44
Mile 8: 10:57
Mile .40: 10:01 pace

I need to drop some weight. I feel every bit of the extra few pounds right now. I am hoping that the heat training we are about to endure will speed the loss up.

Another blister on the other foot today. I am hoping it's not the shoes, because, I really like how they feel otherwise.

Keep Running!

Beautiful Morning for a Run

That's the only way to describe today. We have been so blessed with this wonderful weather. I know the other stuff is just around the corner, but I will be quite happy to put up with these temps for another month or two!

Ran almost 9 miles this morning with Dirt Runner. He showed me how to use the new UD bottle. Boy, do I feel stupid...

Total Miles 8.8 Avg Pace: 9:40 Avg HR: 180

Mile 1: 9:56
Mle 2: 10:00
Mile 3: 9:36
Mile 4: 9:44
Mile 5: 9:23
Mile 6: 9:34
Mile 7: 9:38
Mile 8: 9:36
Mile .80: 9:34 pace

New shoes feel great! I have developed a blister in the same spot my last few long runs. It started with the Kayano 13s and came up again today with the Trances. Nothing too bad, but it could get ugly with higher mileage.

Get out and run! And good luck to Katy tomorrow as she enters her first Tri! Also to Sarah and Cassie whom will be in the same tri. Make our team proud girls!! I just realized that Adrienne and I are the only girls from our TIR team that haven't crossed over to the Tri side... perhaps a goal for the future, Adrienne??

New Shoes

A request was made for a picture of the new shoes...



They were enjoying a lovely cup of decaf...

For some "mom-bragging, toddler-cuteness" video, check out my mom blog.

OK, I'll play

Random facts about me. Thanks, Katy, er, Lisa, um, Mrs. Lampson??

1. I play the trombone.
2. I received a voice scholarship in high school, but was too shy to sing in front of people so I turned it down.
3. My favorite band in high school was Rush.
4. When I was 2, I drowned in a small wading pool. I was revived by a very persistent life guard. To this day, I can't watch underwater scenes on tv or in the movies.
5. I love my husband!!
6. I don't run without a shirt, ever.
7. Sometimes I wish I could run without a shirt.
8. I cry when I watch children perform, even children I don't know.

I tag anyone who hasn't yet been tagged and wants to play the game.

Tuesday Morning Sweatfest

It's baaaaack! For anyone who hasn't stepped outside in Houston yet, be sure to grab your amphibian-like breathing apparatus before you leave. You'll need it for that moisture-filled gas your lungs are going to try to convert to oxygen.

Thank you so much for all of the kind thoughts over the weekend. I do feel better, although I was a bit bummed about not being out at the Y run. I did think about going out to cheer everyone on, but I really needed to sleep. Sounds like it was a fun time, unless your name was Ben. Poor Ben. I've known the kid since he was 6. He was never the most tactful chap, and I guess that hasn't changed much. He is a really nice kid when you get to know him, honest.

Mother's Day was great. I was spoiled (actually, I am spoiled every day, who am I kidding?) I was very blessed to received my new rides... Brooks Trance 7s! Woo hoo! I took them out for a spin this morning and they felt great!

In efforts to declutter myself on my runs, I have down-sized the hydration unit to a hand-held. I tried that out this morning also. It was a bit weird getting used to, and it doesn't help that I have the world's most wimpy arms ever, but towards the end of my run, I was pretty comfortable with it. I did feel like a moron trying to drink out of it. Rick suggested I try the Ultimate Direction hand held. It has an interesting spout on it that one is to bite down and pull in order to release the liquid into the mouth. Doesn't sound hard, does it? Enter in the factor KAREN and she can make anything difficult. Let's just say, I stopped a few times, unscrewed the darn thing and drank like crazy. There won't be any over-hydrating with this puppy! I did figure it out once I got back home, but what a way to make myself feel totally stupid!

I know that spring is in the air here in the good old Woodlands. What is the telltale sign? Crosswalk + runner in crosswalk = idiot in truck GO!

Katy, I saw Lance today! Well, ok, maybe it wasn't Lance, but it could have been! A nice custom silver and grey bus with LIVESTRONG graphics on it. Could it be that he had to travel through The Woodlands to get back to Austin? I saw it on Research Forest and Gosling heading toward 45...

Anyhow, you know it must have been a lousy run when I began to compose a blog post during the run to keep my mind from how icky it was. But at least I was running...

3.32 miles @ 10:44 pace. Could have been worse I guess.

Off Weekend

I am taking the weekend off to rest. I have been run down for several weeks now and my body is really not happy with me. I'm going to forgo the Y trail run, the schedule 8 miler for today, and tomorrow's 3 miles. Hopefully, I'll finally get over whatever this is and be done with it.

This is hard to do, because I really want to run, but I know if I don't rest right now, it could get ugly around here.

Happy running this weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all the moms!!

Running in Circles and Need for Prayers

I went to the Nature Trails tonight with Hannah. We ran the loop and a few offshoots adding up to four miles. The loop itself is about 1.6 miles. There are several new paths that are just dying to be cut through!

The rain on Monday flooded several places on the trails, but it was still a nice escape from the busy week.

The humidity was a bit more intrusive tonight, but we are in Houston.

4 miles @ 10:15 avg. pace avg. HR 174

Some of you may remember Hans. He had a very rare form of cancer which went into remission a short time ago. Unfortunately, he had some scans last week that show that the cancer has returned in his arm. Have I mentioned how very much I HATE CANCER??!!

Please keep Hans in your prayers. He has been through so much and he is only 4 years old.

Going to hug my babies...

Crazy weekend

So I totally changed my running plan around this weekend, but for a very good reason. Saturday was full of family stuff to do, so I didn't run at all.

I did get to run on Sunday with Rick and John as they ran a training run for upcoming ultras that they are running in.

I ran about 13 miles, I think. The Garmin was acting weird so it didn't read right. Compared with what Holden came up with, I think mine didn't register the first mile or so correctly. I figured we ran 13 miles at about a 10:15 average pace.

It was great to see Katy and Holden, Bill and Jon. I got to meet Pat Shannon as well.

Rick and John did 7 loops for a total of about 43 miles. Not too bad for a Sunday long run. I hope to do that myself some day!

Total Nonsense

This has nothing to do with running, other than the fact that I haven't run since Tuesday. I'm fighting a bug of some sort which has zapped my energy stores. (I wish it would zap my FAT stores!)

Sitting around with the little Boo this morning, we were looking for Tiny Toons, remember those?

We came across Bohemian Whapsody on You Tube (I don't really 'get' YouTube, but I am not 16 either).

Thought this was fun and worth a few minutes of laziness, if you are in the mood!