What a glorious weekend for running in Houston! It was a bit chilly yesterday morning, but things heated up rather quickly for me at RTW.
I finished the 5K in 26:53; an 8:40 pace. Garmin wasn't cooperating again so I don't know how accurate my splits were. This was a PR for me! It was great to see several folks from Woodlands Fit (Ruth, Richard, Rich, and Coach Bill) and a few TIR Teammates Captain Jon, Dave and Holden). Rick was RD and did a great job! Always a nice crowd that shows up for a nice Saturday morning run.
Today I headed out to find the new Woodlands trails that are set to open for Muddy Trails 5K. They start between Flintridge and Falconwing and the sign is currently covered by plastic until the grand opening. I didn't go onto the trails as I am a bit nervous to go solo. I'd rather have company on the off chance that a whacko is lying in wait.
From my house, the trails are either 2.4 miles or 1.75 miles, depending upon the road you take out there. I headed out Shadowbend to Panther Creek, then onto Flintridge to reach the trails (2.4 miles) and continued past the trails to Falconwing into my subdivision (1.75 miles). It is a nice little run and if you add in 4 miles of trails (2 out and 2 back) it could make for a decent long run.
My pace today was nice and easy. I haven't even looked at the splits yet. I may post those later. Or I may just chalk it up to a nice run on a beautiful day...
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Out of the Zone
The comfort zone that is.
I attended my first BodyPump class tonight. I truly did not expect to like it, but to my surprise, I did. I had intended to really develop more of a cross-training routine and I think this might be a good fit once or twice a week.
I like the high-energy, low-weight, high-rep style workout. It fits my personality while at the same time addresses the fact that I have the weakest arms on the face of the planet.
Next on my list is to attend a swim class. I have not been a "swimmer" since everyone had to wear a bathing cap (circa late 70's - early 80's). Even then, I wasn't the strongest swimmer. Committing to a class really puts me in that uncomfortable zone. I don't know what I am doing, I don't know what questions to ask, I don't know what equipment I HAVE to have. Throwing all caution to the wind, I will start the first week in February.
Of course, I always like to throw in some spinning classes, which I would be able to do if there were 40 hours in a day. For now, I might have to settle with once in a while as I am beginning my training for Hogs Hunt next week.
If I keep this up, I might just have to try a tri one of these days...
I attended my first BodyPump class tonight. I truly did not expect to like it, but to my surprise, I did. I had intended to really develop more of a cross-training routine and I think this might be a good fit once or twice a week.
I like the high-energy, low-weight, high-rep style workout. It fits my personality while at the same time addresses the fact that I have the weakest arms on the face of the planet.
Next on my list is to attend a swim class. I have not been a "swimmer" since everyone had to wear a bathing cap (circa late 70's - early 80's). Even then, I wasn't the strongest swimmer. Committing to a class really puts me in that uncomfortable zone. I don't know what I am doing, I don't know what questions to ask, I don't know what equipment I HAVE to have. Throwing all caution to the wind, I will start the first week in February.
Of course, I always like to throw in some spinning classes, which I would be able to do if there were 40 hours in a day. For now, I might have to settle with once in a while as I am beginning my training for Hogs Hunt next week.
If I keep this up, I might just have to try a tri one of these days...
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Reset
I went for a run today. I could tell by the look in my husband's eyes this morning that I really needed to get a major attitude adjustment. Don't you just love how our loved ones eyes are in fact mirrors for our behavior? Yah, me too.
I ran with Lem for the first 2 miles. She is fighting a cough and cold and couldn't keep up with the run, so we ran very slow and then walked a mile. I dropped her back off at home and ran a mile on my own. I was able to keep a 9:02 pace for the mile and it felt wonderful!
I have a little something in my hip, but I think it's just residual soreness from the Marathon.
This nice little reset has correct my poor outlook and I am sure my husband will be so glad.
As I told Jon and Bill, I think running has officially become my crack.
I ran with Lem for the first 2 miles. She is fighting a cough and cold and couldn't keep up with the run, so we ran very slow and then walked a mile. I dropped her back off at home and ran a mile on my own. I was able to keep a 9:02 pace for the mile and it felt wonderful!
I have a little something in my hip, but I think it's just residual soreness from the Marathon.
This nice little reset has correct my poor outlook and I am sure my husband will be so glad.
As I told Jon and Bill, I think running has officially become my crack.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Slacker
I heard the rain coming down at 6 am and made the decision to hang up running with Bill this morning. My asthma is giving me trouble right now, not sure why, and my hips and hamstrings are still pretty tight. I couldn't have run very much even if I did get my sorry self out of bed. Still, no justification for not being there this morning. I was just a slacker...
Thursday, January 17, 2008
First Run
I took the legs out for a quick spin and it was anything but quick. I didn't intend for it to be, but I can attest that my lower limbs are certainly not ready for any major running yet.
The hips and hamstrings are pretty tight, so I ran about 20 mins and came back for some extended stretching. It felt good to run a bit tonight, but I am certainly not going to push anything just yet.
I do have TIR to consider. I am not sure how to train for this exactly. I know Rick has offered to take Barbara and I out for a 2 am 40 miler.... right Rick?
The hips and hamstrings are pretty tight, so I ran about 20 mins and came back for some extended stretching. It felt good to run a bit tonight, but I am certainly not going to push anything just yet.
I do have TIR to consider. I am not sure how to train for this exactly. I know Rick has offered to take Barbara and I out for a 2 am 40 miler.... right Rick?
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Shave your 5K
Here is something fun to consider. I've been reading Vanilla's blog for about a month or so and he makes me laugh out loud! If you need a good read, check his blog out, and take him up on his challenge!
I received an email today about the pictures being ready from the Marathon. I took one look at them and almost decided to give running up! Are they kidding me??!! I look 20 pounds heavier and my face is so contorted that I look like I am having a stroke or something worse! To top it off, they only want 110.00 or so for these horrid things that should never be seen by anyone. Seriously. These things stink! I'd rather have received an email because the compassionate photographer recognized that the pictures were awful and deleted them rather than look at them and actually have to decide to not buy them.
Oh, well. There's always next year's marathon to look good!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Houston Marathon Race Report
I feel so out of place trying to write a report for this race. I am certainly not a writer, and as a runner, I have a horrible memory for what happened at which mile. I try and try to recall details about miles, but they elude me. Forgive me if this report is choppy and not very fluid.
I think I managed to tweak out about 90 mins of sleep on Saturday night. I could not calm my restless mind. I wasn't worrying at all. I really couldn't figure out why I couldn't sleep other than pure giddiness like a child on Christmas Eve.
Pete and Mike picked me up at 4:30 am. I had never met Mike before, but he and Pete are friends, neighbors, and have run together for some time. I had packed my bag the day before and it was full, as any good woman would be sure it would be. I didn't decide until Sunday morning which running gear to run in. It was chilly, but I knew I'd be hot if I wore my capri tights. I opted for the shorts and a couple of shirts, one of which I could toss away if I needed to.
We arrived at the GRB in time to use the "real" restroom and then attend Mass. Mike went to the upbeat service on the other side of the GRB. Pete told me that Mike preferred to run his races on his own and he wouldn't see him till the very end.
After Mass, I decided that it might be a good idea to use the restroom once more. The lines said otherwise. They had to be an hour long! Pete had departed for the men's room, (not a long line there!) and we said our goodbyes. Then I realized that I didn't have my mp3 player. I felt panic set in for about a half a second but reassured myself that if it was gone, I would be fine, just mad about losing an expensive mp3 player.
I walked around the GRB for a few minutes to see if I dropped it on the floor. That was a joke. There was no floor space available to drop it onto! There were people everywhere! I thought that perhaps I left it on the chair at Mass. I went back in to see and it was not there. I almost walked out of the make-shift chapel when something told me to go ask the priest. As I approached the front, I could see my mp3 player sitting on the altar. I ran up to the woman helping clean things up and she said, "We figured someone would come back for it!" I hugged her and her daughter and thanked them profusely. I knew it was going to be a good day!
As I walked out of the chapel, I saw Pete again and told him about what just happened and that I needed to find a restroom. After walking around the GRB a bit more and trying to find our Woodlands Fit Yellow Group to take our picture, we headed out to the start line. Pete was in the first wave that was leaving out at 7:00 am. I was in the second. I found a nice row of portapotties with very little line. I was in and out in 5 mins. I knew it was going to be a good day!
It was quite breezy and chilly, but once I settled into a spot within the second wave, it seemed to be warmer. Having a few thousand folks around sheltering me from the wind will do that I guess. I met two guys on my left from Temple. My oldest daughter just moved there! They were wearing trash bags and I asked if they worked well. They said that they helped cut the wind, so I thanked them too. I told them next year I would help them decorate their bags so that they could be more fashionable.
To my right was an interesting character. A man with a button down flannel shirt and a hat with a flap all around the neck. As I looked towards his feet, I recognized the shoes! It was Pete's friend Mike! He had on an interesting pair of Nikes that I have never seen before. There is no way that I would see two people wearing them in the same day! Sure enough, I leaned over and called his name. He looked at me and smiled! We laughed at the odds of two people having just met then gone their separate ways meeting up again in this sea of people. I could tell he really didn't want "company" for the run, so I didn't plan to run with him very long.
At 7, the first gun went off. It was a huge "BOOM"! Wow!! That was our 10 minute warning. The energy was rising as we made our way closer to the start line. Finally our gun went off and we started... walking that is. We didn't walk too long, however. I started my Garmin as I crossed the start mat and headed on my way. It was going to be a good day!
It truly was a glorious morning. Chilly, windy, but sunny, and bright! It was sent from Heaven. We ran through the first mile and I never checked the Garmin. I was keeping with the 9:15 pace group and felt comfortable. I knew that was probably a bit too fast for me, but I thought I would give it a try for awhile. I didn't stop at the first water stop as I still had plenty of fluid on my belt. I did walk through every water station after that.
The crowds were amazing! I can't believe how many came out to cheer us on. I have to say that I think runners are some of the most dedicated people I have ever met, except for those that cheer us on! They were out there, freezing, cheering, taking care of us and for no other reason than they want to be there! That is true dedication.
I was surprised to see how many "hills" we crossed on this course. Most were not too bad, but the last one or two about killed me. Most of the course was fairly flat and though it was concrete, was still pretty in most of the areas we traveled through.
I was feeling great and keeping a good pace. I noticed at about 12 miles that it seemed to be an awfully long mile. I was feeling very tired and had to slow down a bit. I glanced at the Garmin again and noticed that the thing had stopped running. It was on, but it was not running. I am not sure how this happened, if I hit it or if some fluke wave of some sort turned it off. The Garmin registered 11.97 at mile 14. It was a long mile!
I turned Garmin back on and tried to gather my pace again. I had slowed a bit and knew I really needed to listen to my body. My feet were killing me and I felt like my toes were being cut into by my Injinji socks. At one point I sat down and checked the socks. They were fine, no blisters, so I started up again. Thinking back now, I believe my feet were swelling and this was what was causing the pressure in the socks.
I also noticed that I must have dropped a GU or two. I had planned on taking one every 3 or 4 miles, but wanted to stretch that out to 4 or 5 because my stomach hates recovering from the stuff. Now I had to because I had dropped some and I wasn't going to have enough for the rest of the run.
At about mile 12, I also noticed a guy running with a green bib. I was pretty sure the green bibs were 1/2 marathoners so I asked him if he decided to run the full. He said "NO! I haven't trained for that!" So I asked him if he realized that he missed the turn around. He said, "Really?" I felt bad for the guy, I don't know whatever happened to him.
I kept looking for the family. I knew that they were coming to watch, but I wasn't having luck finding them. I was praying with each mile that I would see them and assuring myself that if I didn't, I could still make it. I had a wonderful thing waiting for me at mile 25.
At about mile 18, I felt like my hands and neck were hurting. I am not sure what was up with my neck, but I could feel my hands swelling badly and they hurt. At some point, I also noticed that my arms were chafing a bit. I saw the most beautiful woman cheering us on and she had a jar of vaseline!! I asked for some, and used it for the arms and then for my hands to try and get the swelling down by massaging and running at the same time.
I had began to feel a bit "loopy" at 19, when I looked over and thought, "Hey, that guy looks like George Bush!" Then I realized, it WAS George Bush and Barbara!! I was within 5 feet of him. For a half-second, I thought I could go and shake his hand but before I could reach him, I thought "Wait! The secret service will shoot me if I try to touch him!" Like I said, I was feeling "loopy". I saw another runner turn back to shake his hand and considered doing the same, but I let it go. Maybe next time.
Miles 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 were all pure grit to get through. My pace reflects this. I had to take it a half mile at a time. .5 to the marker, .5 to the water station, then I could walk. Once I hit 24, I knew it was only 1 mile until the best part of the race would happen.
At 25, I saw my family! Finally! I was hurting and I wanted to stop, but I knew if I did, I might not be able to start running again. I gave them all a kiss and then grabbed Lem's hand as we ran to 26 together. It was so awesome having her run with me. Poor thing had very sore legs from the day prior. She had worked out with her TKD instructor and ran two miles. But she didn't let that stop her. She gave it her all and in turn she gave me the boost I needed to finish this thing off. Bill was going to be waiting at 26 to pull her off the course so that she didn't cross the finish line with me.
I found that I had a renewed spirit and picked up my pace drastically. I think I did my last mile in 8:24 or so. Sweet Lem was actually going a lot slower and I had to beg her to pick it up. She did and I am sure she was glad she only had to do a mile with me!
I saw Bill and he took our picture. It's not a great one of me, but it will represent a moment in time that was one of the most incredible moments of my life, aside from the birth of each of my children.
I crossed the finish line and surprised myself when I didn't become emotional. I merely repeated over and over, "WOW! I did it! WOW! Holy Crap!" Profound, eh?
I was weighed by the Hydration Initiative upon receiving my medal and they became concerned that I was showing signs of low sodium. They were able to confirm it with a blood and urine test. I had not needed to use a restroom the whole race. I stayed with them for about an hour, and then asked if I could leave. I wanted to see the family, Bill, and get my shirt!!
I know without a shadow of a doubt that there is no way I could have accomplished this moment with the love of my wonderful family, immediate and extended. My fantastic friends, and the wonderful folks I have met within the running community. I especially thank Bill for his faith in me. He has more in me than I have in myself. I don't see what he sees, but I suppose that is why he is so good at what he does. Thank you, Bill. You are amazing!
My husband, Mark, the most incredible man you'll ever meet. He puts up with my ridiculous schedules, food choices, complaints of aches and pains, and even still offers to rub them away. Thank you, Mark. You are definitely ULTRA-MAN of my heart!
My children, you all inspire me every day to live life to its fullest. Thank you for being the wonderful people that you are and for loving me and all of my imperfections.
To everyone else, please know that I love you all. Your words and deeds of encouragement do not go unnoticed. They are very much appreciated and the prayers are felt. I hope one day, I can offer that same support to each of you in some way.
As I look ahead to what is next on my running agenda, I must remember to not forget the first marathon. There will never be another first. And honestly, I don't think there could have been a better one. It wasn't a good day, it was the BEST day!
Stats: poor at best secondary to the Garmin flaking out.
Total Time: 4:36:42 Total Distance: 26.2 Avg Pace: 10:33 Avg HR: 181
10K 58:42 half: 2:06:45 30K 3:08:16 Overall 3170 Age: 962
Mile 1: 10:13
2: 9:18
3: 8:54
4: 8:52
5: 9:52
6: 9:01
7: 9:33
8: 9:28
9: 9:43
10: 10:05
11: 9:29
12: 10:21 (Garmin flakes out)
13: ??
14: ??
15: 11:54
16: 10:28
17: 10:28
18: 12:14
19: 11:25
20: 10:33
21: 11:48
22: 11:05
23: 10:37
24: 12:44
25: 12:16
26: garmin flaked out again.....
.2:
I think I managed to tweak out about 90 mins of sleep on Saturday night. I could not calm my restless mind. I wasn't worrying at all. I really couldn't figure out why I couldn't sleep other than pure giddiness like a child on Christmas Eve.
Pete and Mike picked me up at 4:30 am. I had never met Mike before, but he and Pete are friends, neighbors, and have run together for some time. I had packed my bag the day before and it was full, as any good woman would be sure it would be. I didn't decide until Sunday morning which running gear to run in. It was chilly, but I knew I'd be hot if I wore my capri tights. I opted for the shorts and a couple of shirts, one of which I could toss away if I needed to.
We arrived at the GRB in time to use the "real" restroom and then attend Mass. Mike went to the upbeat service on the other side of the GRB. Pete told me that Mike preferred to run his races on his own and he wouldn't see him till the very end.
After Mass, I decided that it might be a good idea to use the restroom once more. The lines said otherwise. They had to be an hour long! Pete had departed for the men's room, (not a long line there!) and we said our goodbyes. Then I realized that I didn't have my mp3 player. I felt panic set in for about a half a second but reassured myself that if it was gone, I would be fine, just mad about losing an expensive mp3 player.
I walked around the GRB for a few minutes to see if I dropped it on the floor. That was a joke. There was no floor space available to drop it onto! There were people everywhere! I thought that perhaps I left it on the chair at Mass. I went back in to see and it was not there. I almost walked out of the make-shift chapel when something told me to go ask the priest. As I approached the front, I could see my mp3 player sitting on the altar. I ran up to the woman helping clean things up and she said, "We figured someone would come back for it!" I hugged her and her daughter and thanked them profusely. I knew it was going to be a good day!
As I walked out of the chapel, I saw Pete again and told him about what just happened and that I needed to find a restroom. After walking around the GRB a bit more and trying to find our Woodlands Fit Yellow Group to take our picture, we headed out to the start line. Pete was in the first wave that was leaving out at 7:00 am. I was in the second. I found a nice row of portapotties with very little line. I was in and out in 5 mins. I knew it was going to be a good day!
It was quite breezy and chilly, but once I settled into a spot within the second wave, it seemed to be warmer. Having a few thousand folks around sheltering me from the wind will do that I guess. I met two guys on my left from Temple. My oldest daughter just moved there! They were wearing trash bags and I asked if they worked well. They said that they helped cut the wind, so I thanked them too. I told them next year I would help them decorate their bags so that they could be more fashionable.
To my right was an interesting character. A man with a button down flannel shirt and a hat with a flap all around the neck. As I looked towards his feet, I recognized the shoes! It was Pete's friend Mike! He had on an interesting pair of Nikes that I have never seen before. There is no way that I would see two people wearing them in the same day! Sure enough, I leaned over and called his name. He looked at me and smiled! We laughed at the odds of two people having just met then gone their separate ways meeting up again in this sea of people. I could tell he really didn't want "company" for the run, so I didn't plan to run with him very long.
At 7, the first gun went off. It was a huge "BOOM"! Wow!! That was our 10 minute warning. The energy was rising as we made our way closer to the start line. Finally our gun went off and we started... walking that is. We didn't walk too long, however. I started my Garmin as I crossed the start mat and headed on my way. It was going to be a good day!
It truly was a glorious morning. Chilly, windy, but sunny, and bright! It was sent from Heaven. We ran through the first mile and I never checked the Garmin. I was keeping with the 9:15 pace group and felt comfortable. I knew that was probably a bit too fast for me, but I thought I would give it a try for awhile. I didn't stop at the first water stop as I still had plenty of fluid on my belt. I did walk through every water station after that.
The crowds were amazing! I can't believe how many came out to cheer us on. I have to say that I think runners are some of the most dedicated people I have ever met, except for those that cheer us on! They were out there, freezing, cheering, taking care of us and for no other reason than they want to be there! That is true dedication.
I was surprised to see how many "hills" we crossed on this course. Most were not too bad, but the last one or two about killed me. Most of the course was fairly flat and though it was concrete, was still pretty in most of the areas we traveled through.
I was feeling great and keeping a good pace. I noticed at about 12 miles that it seemed to be an awfully long mile. I was feeling very tired and had to slow down a bit. I glanced at the Garmin again and noticed that the thing had stopped running. It was on, but it was not running. I am not sure how this happened, if I hit it or if some fluke wave of some sort turned it off. The Garmin registered 11.97 at mile 14. It was a long mile!
I turned Garmin back on and tried to gather my pace again. I had slowed a bit and knew I really needed to listen to my body. My feet were killing me and I felt like my toes were being cut into by my Injinji socks. At one point I sat down and checked the socks. They were fine, no blisters, so I started up again. Thinking back now, I believe my feet were swelling and this was what was causing the pressure in the socks.
I also noticed that I must have dropped a GU or two. I had planned on taking one every 3 or 4 miles, but wanted to stretch that out to 4 or 5 because my stomach hates recovering from the stuff. Now I had to because I had dropped some and I wasn't going to have enough for the rest of the run.
At about mile 12, I also noticed a guy running with a green bib. I was pretty sure the green bibs were 1/2 marathoners so I asked him if he decided to run the full. He said "NO! I haven't trained for that!" So I asked him if he realized that he missed the turn around. He said, "Really?" I felt bad for the guy, I don't know whatever happened to him.
I kept looking for the family. I knew that they were coming to watch, but I wasn't having luck finding them. I was praying with each mile that I would see them and assuring myself that if I didn't, I could still make it. I had a wonderful thing waiting for me at mile 25.
At about mile 18, I felt like my hands and neck were hurting. I am not sure what was up with my neck, but I could feel my hands swelling badly and they hurt. At some point, I also noticed that my arms were chafing a bit. I saw the most beautiful woman cheering us on and she had a jar of vaseline!! I asked for some, and used it for the arms and then for my hands to try and get the swelling down by massaging and running at the same time.
I had began to feel a bit "loopy" at 19, when I looked over and thought, "Hey, that guy looks like George Bush!" Then I realized, it WAS George Bush and Barbara!! I was within 5 feet of him. For a half-second, I thought I could go and shake his hand but before I could reach him, I thought "Wait! The secret service will shoot me if I try to touch him!" Like I said, I was feeling "loopy". I saw another runner turn back to shake his hand and considered doing the same, but I let it go. Maybe next time.
Miles 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 were all pure grit to get through. My pace reflects this. I had to take it a half mile at a time. .5 to the marker, .5 to the water station, then I could walk. Once I hit 24, I knew it was only 1 mile until the best part of the race would happen.
At 25, I saw my family! Finally! I was hurting and I wanted to stop, but I knew if I did, I might not be able to start running again. I gave them all a kiss and then grabbed Lem's hand as we ran to 26 together. It was so awesome having her run with me. Poor thing had very sore legs from the day prior. She had worked out with her TKD instructor and ran two miles. But she didn't let that stop her. She gave it her all and in turn she gave me the boost I needed to finish this thing off. Bill was going to be waiting at 26 to pull her off the course so that she didn't cross the finish line with me.
I found that I had a renewed spirit and picked up my pace drastically. I think I did my last mile in 8:24 or so. Sweet Lem was actually going a lot slower and I had to beg her to pick it up. She did and I am sure she was glad she only had to do a mile with me!
I saw Bill and he took our picture. It's not a great one of me, but it will represent a moment in time that was one of the most incredible moments of my life, aside from the birth of each of my children.
I crossed the finish line and surprised myself when I didn't become emotional. I merely repeated over and over, "WOW! I did it! WOW! Holy Crap!" Profound, eh?
I was weighed by the Hydration Initiative upon receiving my medal and they became concerned that I was showing signs of low sodium. They were able to confirm it with a blood and urine test. I had not needed to use a restroom the whole race. I stayed with them for about an hour, and then asked if I could leave. I wanted to see the family, Bill, and get my shirt!!
I know without a shadow of a doubt that there is no way I could have accomplished this moment with the love of my wonderful family, immediate and extended. My fantastic friends, and the wonderful folks I have met within the running community. I especially thank Bill for his faith in me. He has more in me than I have in myself. I don't see what he sees, but I suppose that is why he is so good at what he does. Thank you, Bill. You are amazing!
My husband, Mark, the most incredible man you'll ever meet. He puts up with my ridiculous schedules, food choices, complaints of aches and pains, and even still offers to rub them away. Thank you, Mark. You are definitely ULTRA-MAN of my heart!
My children, you all inspire me every day to live life to its fullest. Thank you for being the wonderful people that you are and for loving me and all of my imperfections.
To everyone else, please know that I love you all. Your words and deeds of encouragement do not go unnoticed. They are very much appreciated and the prayers are felt. I hope one day, I can offer that same support to each of you in some way.
As I look ahead to what is next on my running agenda, I must remember to not forget the first marathon. There will never be another first. And honestly, I don't think there could have been a better one. It wasn't a good day, it was the BEST day!
Stats: poor at best secondary to the Garmin flaking out.
Total Time: 4:36:42 Total Distance: 26.2 Avg Pace: 10:33 Avg HR: 181
10K 58:42 half: 2:06:45 30K 3:08:16 Overall 3170 Age: 962
Mile 1: 10:13
2: 9:18
3: 8:54
4: 8:52
5: 9:52
6: 9:01
7: 9:33
8: 9:28
9: 9:43
10: 10:05
11: 9:29
12: 10:21 (Garmin flakes out)
13: ??
14: ??
15: 11:54
16: 10:28
17: 10:28
18: 12:14
19: 11:25
20: 10:33
21: 11:48
22: 11:05
23: 10:37
24: 12:44
25: 12:16
26: garmin flaked out again.....
.2:
Sunday, January 13, 2008
I finished!
taken by Bean at mile 25
Praise be to God! I finished! My unofficial time was 4:36 and change. Average Pace 10:34.
Thanks so much for the well-wishes and prayers. You made a great day even better!
More details to follow...
Praise be to God! I finished! My unofficial time was 4:36 and change. Average Pace 10:34.
Thanks so much for the well-wishes and prayers. You made a great day even better!
More details to follow...
Saturday, January 12, 2008
12 hours, and counting
Actually, 12 hours and 10 mins because I'm in the White wave which is being let loose at 7:10. Good thing! I wouldn't want to run over any of those elite slow runners....
Bag is almost packed. I still can't decide what to wear, shorts or capri tights? It's supposed to be 43 in the morning. I would usually opt for the capri tights in that temp, but I know I'll be overheating by the time I finish. I have both laid out and I'll make up my mind in the morning, I guess.
I've done a lot of thinking about whom I would dedicate this marathon to, and there are so many that I could choose. I've come down to this. I have to run this marathon for my mom. She is the reason I began to run in the first place. I think of her on every single run. As I struggle with my aches and pains, I remember her in her struggle to live one more day. She was a tough cookie and I hope to have even a 1/10th of her strength.
I feel her most when I run. I talk with her, pray with her, laugh with her. Sometimes, I smell her infamous perfume as I run. It is a strange yet comforting feeling.
I know that so many people run for so many great causes, and I hope to do the same one day. But there are soooo many, and I can't choose just one. I think of many people as I run, Kim, Kelly, The Crews family, Hans, my family. I offer up each ache and pain for their good. But it doesn't seem to be enough. How can it be?
For this day, this first marathon of my life, I must dedicate to my mom. I pray she can watch me tomorrow and feel proud.
Good luck to all the runners tomorrow, wherever you are running! Enjoy the day, enjoy the run, and enjoy the moment. Thank God we have them!
Bag is almost packed. I still can't decide what to wear, shorts or capri tights? It's supposed to be 43 in the morning. I would usually opt for the capri tights in that temp, but I know I'll be overheating by the time I finish. I have both laid out and I'll make up my mind in the morning, I guess.
I've done a lot of thinking about whom I would dedicate this marathon to, and there are so many that I could choose. I've come down to this. I have to run this marathon for my mom. She is the reason I began to run in the first place. I think of her on every single run. As I struggle with my aches and pains, I remember her in her struggle to live one more day. She was a tough cookie and I hope to have even a 1/10th of her strength.
I feel her most when I run. I talk with her, pray with her, laugh with her. Sometimes, I smell her infamous perfume as I run. It is a strange yet comforting feeling.
I know that so many people run for so many great causes, and I hope to do the same one day. But there are soooo many, and I can't choose just one. I think of many people as I run, Kim, Kelly, The Crews family, Hans, my family. I offer up each ache and pain for their good. But it doesn't seem to be enough. How can it be?
For this day, this first marathon of my life, I must dedicate to my mom. I pray she can watch me tomorrow and feel proud.
Good luck to all the runners tomorrow, wherever you are running! Enjoy the day, enjoy the run, and enjoy the moment. Thank God we have them!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Whatever!
Here is another affirmation of why I need to do this for the kids...
Mark and I decided it was time to revisit our insurance policies and update them. We both went through the usual physical exams, blood tests, and medical history.
We discovered that my resting heart rate was about 10 points lower than a year ago, approx 44. My heart is in great shape, my weight in line, my over all health good and in my mind as a result of eating better, exercising, and taking better care of myself.
My husband has always been in good shape, but of late, the late-night ice cream treats have made their presence known. His knee is in bad shape so he doesn't feel he can run, and he only recently started getting back to the gym to exercise.
He loves red meat, bacon, etc, and only has cut down because I have.
Well, we got our new policies yesterday and I came in at the "Preferred Rate". Thank you very much... wait... My dear husband came in at "Ultra Preferred"!! WHAT?!!!
I was one point away from ultra. The point was taken because of my parents health, in particular I am sure it was my mother's. She passed away at 62 (almost 3 years ago) from heart and lung disease. She was the reason I began to re-evaluate my lifestyle because most of her health problems were the result of poor eating, smoking, and lack of physical activity.
How I can be penalized for that, I will never understand, but again, this is the reason I am "Doing it for the kids."
Ultra preferred... whatever!
*** Ya, he's loving this right now! CREEP!***
Update: Ultra-man is currently frying up his eggs!
Mark and I decided it was time to revisit our insurance policies and update them. We both went through the usual physical exams, blood tests, and medical history.
We discovered that my resting heart rate was about 10 points lower than a year ago, approx 44. My heart is in great shape, my weight in line, my over all health good and in my mind as a result of eating better, exercising, and taking better care of myself.
My husband has always been in good shape, but of late, the late-night ice cream treats have made their presence known. His knee is in bad shape so he doesn't feel he can run, and he only recently started getting back to the gym to exercise.
He loves red meat, bacon, etc, and only has cut down because I have.
Well, we got our new policies yesterday and I came in at the "Preferred Rate". Thank you very much... wait... My dear husband came in at "Ultra Preferred"!! WHAT?!!!
I was one point away from ultra. The point was taken because of my parents health, in particular I am sure it was my mother's. She passed away at 62 (almost 3 years ago) from heart and lung disease. She was the reason I began to re-evaluate my lifestyle because most of her health problems were the result of poor eating, smoking, and lack of physical activity.
How I can be penalized for that, I will never understand, but again, this is the reason I am "Doing it for the kids."
Ultra preferred... whatever!
*** Ya, he's loving this right now! CREEP!***
Update: Ultra-man is currently frying up his eggs!
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Easy Run
Just an easy 30 mins tonight. Beautiful night for a run with a nice breeze and cool temps.
Sunday is looking like perfect running weather!
Sunday is looking like perfect running weather!
Monday, January 07, 2008
Yellow Fever
This is a shot of a few of us from Yellow Fever this past Saturday after our last "long run". Several of the group either didn't show or left before the picture was taken.
I vascillated between yellow, red, and rebound groups, but since I originally committed to yellow, I thought I should take a picture with them.
All I can say is, I really need to figure out how to get rid of these ghostly white legs! Yikes!
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Houston, here we come!
The last long run before Houston next Sunday. The weather was not the best, but it could have been much worse.
Mile 1: 10:34
Mile 2: 10:13
Mile 3: 10:11
Mile 4: 9:37
Mile 5: 9:30
Mile 6: 9:38
.25: 9:11 pace
Total Miles: 6.25 Avg Pace: 9:54 Avg HR: 177
Mile 1: 10:34
Mile 2: 10:13
Mile 3: 10:11
Mile 4: 9:37
Mile 5: 9:30
Mile 6: 9:38
.25: 9:11 pace
Total Miles: 6.25 Avg Pace: 9:54 Avg HR: 177
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Welcome 2008!
First off, congratulations to Rick, Jon, James, and Andrew who ran the Texas Marathon yesterday! What a great day for a run and a great way to start the new year! I hope to be there next year myself.
I did not get out to run yesterday. Lem and I did get out today, however, and that little cutie stayed with me for 3.5 miles! We did walk a bit a few times so that she could get rid of side splits she was having, but she was awesome and so driven to finish our run together. We kept it nice and slow and just enjoyed the beautiful weather.
10 days til the Marathon. I am excited and scared at the same time. And my loving husband just shared with me that he read somewhere that I should bring my own TP as the portapotties can run out... great, not only do I have a "thing" about portapotties, now I have to worry about how to discreetly carry toilet paper with me for 26 miles... or not. Which is worse? Thanks, dear.
If we could be blessed with weather like we've had the past two days on Jan 13th, it will be so wonderful. But being Houston, you just never know what it will be like.
And Bill, I've already re-organized the frig, the junk drawer, balanced my checkbooks, cleaned out my closet and am thinking about the remainder of the cabinets in the kitchen... has the insanity started yet?
I did not get out to run yesterday. Lem and I did get out today, however, and that little cutie stayed with me for 3.5 miles! We did walk a bit a few times so that she could get rid of side splits she was having, but she was awesome and so driven to finish our run together. We kept it nice and slow and just enjoyed the beautiful weather.
10 days til the Marathon. I am excited and scared at the same time. And my loving husband just shared with me that he read somewhere that I should bring my own TP as the portapotties can run out... great, not only do I have a "thing" about portapotties, now I have to worry about how to discreetly carry toilet paper with me for 26 miles... or not. Which is worse? Thanks, dear.
If we could be blessed with weather like we've had the past two days on Jan 13th, it will be so wonderful. But being Houston, you just never know what it will be like.
And Bill, I've already re-organized the frig, the junk drawer, balanced my checkbooks, cleaned out my closet and am thinking about the remainder of the cabinets in the kitchen... has the insanity started yet?
Monday, December 31, 2007
Goodbye 2007!
For the last run of the year, the skies were darkening, the wind was blowing and I was loving a quick little jaunt over Flintridge!
Total Time: 41:51 Avg HR: 177 Avg Pace: 9:34
Mile 1: 9:51
2: 9:21
3: 9:39
4: 9:41
.37: 8:49 pace
Edited to add: Total miles for Dec was 103! This was the highest mileage month for me all year. 2nd was November with 69 miles. I realize that many others who run can do 100 miles in a week, but I am still happy with my numbers for the month.
Also, I began 2007 at 140 lbs. I end it today at 125.
Total Miles for 2007: 494 (If I was a bit more insane, I would consider running 6 more before midnight to make it an even 500.)
I had set a goal of 600 for the year, having no idea what I was doing. Considering how many times I was on the sidelines for various injuries, I am proud of how close I came to my goal.
And, it's 400 more miles than I ran in 2006!!
I wish a Happy, Healthy, and Wonderful 2008 to you all!
Total Time: 41:51 Avg HR: 177 Avg Pace: 9:34
Mile 1: 9:51
2: 9:21
3: 9:39
4: 9:41
.37: 8:49 pace
Edited to add: Total miles for Dec was 103! This was the highest mileage month for me all year. 2nd was November with 69 miles. I realize that many others who run can do 100 miles in a week, but I am still happy with my numbers for the month.
Also, I began 2007 at 140 lbs. I end it today at 125.
Total Miles for 2007: 494 (If I was a bit more insane, I would consider running 6 more before midnight to make it an even 500.)
I had set a goal of 600 for the year, having no idea what I was doing. Considering how many times I was on the sidelines for various injuries, I am proud of how close I came to my goal.
And, it's 400 more miles than I ran in 2006!!
I wish a Happy, Healthy, and Wonderful 2008 to you all!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
10 miles 40 Degrees
Brrrrrrr....
Total Time: 1:42:37 Avg HR 174 Avg Pace 10:20
Mile 1: 10:37
2: 9:19
3: 9:14
4: 9:29
5: 10:29
6: 9:53
7: 11:04
8: 11:46
9: 10:46
.92: 10:36 pace
I ran the first four with Pete, no walking. I had to slow things down a bit as much as I wish I could keep that pace, I knew that I would not last the whole 10 miles. Pete looks great and should do very well at the marathon.
I walked a minute at 4, then at 6, then every mile after that. I got colder at mile 7 and my hips seemed to get stiffer the longer I ran. Not sure if the cold caused that, but it seems so.
Enjoyed a nice breakfast at Skeeters afterwards and even better conversation. Listening to everyone's experiences is a real treat!
Total Time: 1:42:37 Avg HR 174 Avg Pace 10:20
Mile 1: 10:37
2: 9:19
3: 9:14
4: 9:29
5: 10:29
6: 9:53
7: 11:04
8: 11:46
9: 10:46
.92: 10:36 pace
I ran the first four with Pete, no walking. I had to slow things down a bit as much as I wish I could keep that pace, I knew that I would not last the whole 10 miles. Pete looks great and should do very well at the marathon.
I walked a minute at 4, then at 6, then every mile after that. I got colder at mile 7 and my hips seemed to get stiffer the longer I ran. Not sure if the cold caused that, but it seems so.
Enjoyed a nice breakfast at Skeeters afterwards and even better conversation. Listening to everyone's experiences is a real treat!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
A 21 mile lesson
Each long run that I have taken part in has given me deeper insight into the inner-workings of my mind and soul.
Yesterday's run was no exception. On Friday morning, I was quite positive that I would be able to handle the 21 miles without any difficulty. I felt so great last weekend, there really wasn't any reason to think otherwise.
However, something happened to my state of mind at about 7 pm Friday night. I began to become filled with anxiety about the run. 21 miles is a long way! How could I possibly finish without being in immense discomfort afterwards? Did I really want to put myself through this?
I prepared my gear bag and laid out my clothes as I normally do and then made it a point to get to bed by 11. I would be waking at 4 am to allow myself the time I needed to eat, hydrate, and stretch.
I awoke at 3:45 before the alarm, a usual occurrence for me. I began my morning ritual and the anxiety hit again. I questioned even going. I re-thought everything. I knew I had to get out the door before I changed my mind. I re-packed my gear, grabbed the bag and headed out the door. When I arrived at our start location, more fear crept in. I was the only one there and began to think that I had made a mistake about the time and/or the location of the run. One call to Bill confirmed that I was in the right spot, and that others would be arriving shortly. Sure enough, Jon arrived and was ready to go. It was then that I realized I had forgotten my hat with my lamp. I guess I'm becoming ritualistic in some ways, because the idea of running without the hat was unfathomable. I then couldn't find my bag with extra Gu and my inhaler. There was no way I could do the run without that so I let Jon know that I would need to head back to the house to retrieve these items.
I returned home to find only my hat and lamp. Now the hunt was on for the Gu bag. I dumped out my gear bag and found it, right where I placed it of course, in a separate pocket of the bag. Now I knew that my nerves were getting the best of me.
On the drive back to our start location, I beat myself up for being so disorganized. Thankfully I was only a few minutes from home, what would have happened if this was Marathon Day? I had to quickly put these thoughts to bay because I really needed to focus on the day's run.
When I arrived, Bill was there and I asked him to hold onto my items. Thankfully he did and refueled me along the course. (Thanks, Bill!)
I ran back to the car to throw my jacket into the car and Jon and I left off for our run. I didn't realize that my phone and my mp3 player were still in the jacket until I began running and I didn't want to ask if we could go back to get it. I knew that this was all happening for a reason and that the real challenge this day was going to be my own mind.
When I first began with Woodlands Fit, I ran many runs by myself. I hated it. I thought it was unsafe and not very much fun. Slowly, I learned to enjoy the experience of running mostly alone figuring that the marathon would be a solo run anyway. I found that I was able to enjoy the runs more once I accepted this.
The day I pulled my groin, however, changed my mind again. I was in bad shape, by myself, and had to walk 2 miles to the end. There was no one else out there that I could call on to help me. I decided that no matter what, I would never run alone again.
Yesterday's run was well-planned. Jon and I would run together and Bill would be checking on us from time to time. When Jon told me to go ahead of him, two thoughts went through my mind. First, I didn't want to leave someone else out on the course alone. It just isn't safe. But I knew that Bill would be checking on us both, so I convinced myself that it would be ok.
Secondly, I didn't want to run alone. What if I hurt myself again? What if I became dizzy like I did in Kingwood? I thought perhaps I'd call Mark and see if he wanted to meet me somewhere and ride the bike alongside me. No phone. Then I thought, I'll have Bill call him next time I see him. I didn't see him till the finish. God had this perfectly planned. I didn't even have music to distract me! I started the negative thinking for about 2 minutes and then I let it go.
I assessed the situation. I felt great. I had plenty of fluids. I had plenty of Gu. It was a beautiful day. If something happened, I was close to my home so I could end my run there. I could even just sit on the side of the road and wait for Bill to come and get me.
Mind games. It's an ironic thing that I have to overcome my own brain since I am a brain-trainer! God has a very funny sense of humor, doesn't He?
I ran well. I continued to feel good. At about mile 16, I started my rosary. Mile 18, the Divine Mercy. Before I knew it I had one mile to go. I still felt good. I came up to Market street with 20.55 miles, so I tacked on a bit more to make it an even 21. My body was ready for it so I didn't want it to be anything less than that!
Seeing Bill, Denise, and the others at Luke's waiting for me made my whole day. What a blessing to have caring folks supporting me the whole way.
The greatest lesson of this run was learning to conquer my biggest fears. It was the hardest lesson I have had to date, but I had been well-prepared for it by all of my previous "lessons".
Another lesson of sorts I learned is that I have been very blessed. After my groin inury, I was out of active training for 8 weeks. There is no reason that I should be able to run this marathon. I have been so fortunate to have Coach Bill alongside me helping me to return after my injury. His faith in me has given me faith in myself.
I have met some wonderful people who have all helped me to continue training, not really knowing if I'd be able to run. Pete, Jon, Rick, Kim, Liz, Denise, just to name a few. I've been truly blessed with a wonderful family that supports me even when I'm being a pain in the hiney. For my friends that cheer me on in spirit and pray for me. This means more to me than you'll ever know.
I pray that each of you have a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!
Yesterday's run was no exception. On Friday morning, I was quite positive that I would be able to handle the 21 miles without any difficulty. I felt so great last weekend, there really wasn't any reason to think otherwise.
However, something happened to my state of mind at about 7 pm Friday night. I began to become filled with anxiety about the run. 21 miles is a long way! How could I possibly finish without being in immense discomfort afterwards? Did I really want to put myself through this?
I prepared my gear bag and laid out my clothes as I normally do and then made it a point to get to bed by 11. I would be waking at 4 am to allow myself the time I needed to eat, hydrate, and stretch.
I awoke at 3:45 before the alarm, a usual occurrence for me. I began my morning ritual and the anxiety hit again. I questioned even going. I re-thought everything. I knew I had to get out the door before I changed my mind. I re-packed my gear, grabbed the bag and headed out the door. When I arrived at our start location, more fear crept in. I was the only one there and began to think that I had made a mistake about the time and/or the location of the run. One call to Bill confirmed that I was in the right spot, and that others would be arriving shortly. Sure enough, Jon arrived and was ready to go. It was then that I realized I had forgotten my hat with my lamp. I guess I'm becoming ritualistic in some ways, because the idea of running without the hat was unfathomable. I then couldn't find my bag with extra Gu and my inhaler. There was no way I could do the run without that so I let Jon know that I would need to head back to the house to retrieve these items.
I returned home to find only my hat and lamp. Now the hunt was on for the Gu bag. I dumped out my gear bag and found it, right where I placed it of course, in a separate pocket of the bag. Now I knew that my nerves were getting the best of me.
On the drive back to our start location, I beat myself up for being so disorganized. Thankfully I was only a few minutes from home, what would have happened if this was Marathon Day? I had to quickly put these thoughts to bay because I really needed to focus on the day's run.
When I arrived, Bill was there and I asked him to hold onto my items. Thankfully he did and refueled me along the course. (Thanks, Bill!)
I ran back to the car to throw my jacket into the car and Jon and I left off for our run. I didn't realize that my phone and my mp3 player were still in the jacket until I began running and I didn't want to ask if we could go back to get it. I knew that this was all happening for a reason and that the real challenge this day was going to be my own mind.
When I first began with Woodlands Fit, I ran many runs by myself. I hated it. I thought it was unsafe and not very much fun. Slowly, I learned to enjoy the experience of running mostly alone figuring that the marathon would be a solo run anyway. I found that I was able to enjoy the runs more once I accepted this.
The day I pulled my groin, however, changed my mind again. I was in bad shape, by myself, and had to walk 2 miles to the end. There was no one else out there that I could call on to help me. I decided that no matter what, I would never run alone again.
Yesterday's run was well-planned. Jon and I would run together and Bill would be checking on us from time to time. When Jon told me to go ahead of him, two thoughts went through my mind. First, I didn't want to leave someone else out on the course alone. It just isn't safe. But I knew that Bill would be checking on us both, so I convinced myself that it would be ok.
Secondly, I didn't want to run alone. What if I hurt myself again? What if I became dizzy like I did in Kingwood? I thought perhaps I'd call Mark and see if he wanted to meet me somewhere and ride the bike alongside me. No phone. Then I thought, I'll have Bill call him next time I see him. I didn't see him till the finish. God had this perfectly planned. I didn't even have music to distract me! I started the negative thinking for about 2 minutes and then I let it go.
I assessed the situation. I felt great. I had plenty of fluids. I had plenty of Gu. It was a beautiful day. If something happened, I was close to my home so I could end my run there. I could even just sit on the side of the road and wait for Bill to come and get me.
Mind games. It's an ironic thing that I have to overcome my own brain since I am a brain-trainer! God has a very funny sense of humor, doesn't He?
I ran well. I continued to feel good. At about mile 16, I started my rosary. Mile 18, the Divine Mercy. Before I knew it I had one mile to go. I still felt good. I came up to Market street with 20.55 miles, so I tacked on a bit more to make it an even 21. My body was ready for it so I didn't want it to be anything less than that!
Seeing Bill, Denise, and the others at Luke's waiting for me made my whole day. What a blessing to have caring folks supporting me the whole way.
The greatest lesson of this run was learning to conquer my biggest fears. It was the hardest lesson I have had to date, but I had been well-prepared for it by all of my previous "lessons".
Another lesson of sorts I learned is that I have been very blessed. After my groin inury, I was out of active training for 8 weeks. There is no reason that I should be able to run this marathon. I have been so fortunate to have Coach Bill alongside me helping me to return after my injury. His faith in me has given me faith in myself.
I have met some wonderful people who have all helped me to continue training, not really knowing if I'd be able to run. Pete, Jon, Rick, Kim, Liz, Denise, just to name a few. I've been truly blessed with a wonderful family that supports me even when I'm being a pain in the hiney. For my friends that cheer me on in spirit and pray for me. This means more to me than you'll ever know.
I pray that each of you have a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
21 miles!
I had the pleasure of running with Jon for the first half of the run today. It was great to get to know him better and enjoy the sites along the paths. Thanks, Jon!
Total Time: 3:49:02 Avg HR 167 Avg Pace 10:54
Mile 1:10:43
2: 11:07
3: 11:27
4: 11:24
5: 11:14
6: 11:29
7: 11:15
8: 11:15
9: 11:17
10: 10:52
11: 10:41
12: 9:43
13: 10:26
14: 10:33
15: 10:27
16: 10:31
17: 10:36
18: 11:08
19: 10:58
20: 11:03
21: 10:41
3 week Taper on the schedule. Have a Merry Christmas everyone!
Total Time: 3:49:02 Avg HR 167 Avg Pace 10:54
Mile 1:10:43
2: 11:07
3: 11:27
4: 11:24
5: 11:14
6: 11:29
7: 11:15
8: 11:15
9: 11:17
10: 10:52
11: 10:41
12: 9:43
13: 10:26
14: 10:33
15: 10:27
16: 10:31
17: 10:36
18: 11:08
19: 10:58
20: 11:03
21: 10:41
3 week Taper on the schedule. Have a Merry Christmas everyone!
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