Well the last time I ran a 5K was back um...in September I guess, the Lunar...Then came marathon training, then the injury...focus obviously was not on speed for the shorter distances.
I didn't expect anything spectacular today, I just really entered the race to see where I was...so that I knew what I had to work on. The only reason I was nervous was because I had completely forgotten how to 'race' a 5K. All I knew is that I would shoot for 9:40 averages, and pray that I didn't completely suck today. Yeah the 9:40 didn't happen, but I came closer than I thought. My Garmin for whatever reason completely didnt register the run, but yet it was counting splits because I happened to see one of them, and the distance read at 3.16, so I know it was working.
I remember looking down at my watch at one point and it read the distance at 1.01 and the time was at 9:24. As usual...too fast for me to go out at. I never saw the mile 2 split, but I did happen to see the 3rd and it read 10:13.
I had some problems in mile 2... but it was during that mile that Sam jumped in with me, but I had to send him on his way after a bit because he makes me nervous :) and I was struggling and I figured I needed the time to focus on trying to get my groove back... So we agreed he'd pick me back up in what would be the last 400m or so...
Once I made the last turn on my way back I started to pick it up a bit, trying to forget about the fact that for whatever reason I was having some pain in the ankles. Sure enough right as the watch clicked over to 2.75, there he was. And I had one last turn to go.
If I have anything remotely resembling 'afterburners' I put them on and cruised on in, over the mat, and I was done.
Looking back on it now, and as I told him, don't listen to me next time. Just keep running and I will keep running along side of you as best I can.
Given the fact that its been so long since a 5K, no speed work to speak of, I am very happy with the 30:47 time today, averaging 9:52 miles. The last time I did this race, back in January 2006, I ran something closer to 36 minutes. Sure it would have been nice to get the 9:40, and even a PR, but like I said, it was not my goal today.
I accomplished what I set out to do... 1) finish with a decent time 2) to not suck and 3) figure out where I am and what I need to do for the Spring races. At the very least I can count today as some good speed work.
I didn't think I was going to do another 5K until March 1st, but there is one on February 9th, and I am leaning towards doing it. Like Sam said, to him it makes more sense to keep racing to get better at racing.
Makes sense to me too.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Chevron Houston Marathon/Aramco Half Marathon Recap (edited from earlier)
Gun Time: 2:25:35
Chip Time: 2:24:x
Garmin Time: 2:21:36
Previous times from 2 half marathons completed:
Koala Houston Half - October 2006 - 2:31
Surfside Half Marathon - February 2007 - 2:33
Not sure why my chip time was off from the Garmin. My mileage was correct on the Garmin, and I didnt start it late, so I have no idea. Nor did I stop it at any time during the race. So anyhoohoo...
I guess I will start with the splits:
Mile 1: 11:26
Mile 2: 10:42
Mile 3: 10:40
Mile 4: 10:56 (slowed down to wait for Amie as she needed a portapotty)
Mile 5: 10:23
Mile 6: 10:38
Mile 7: 10:49
Mile 8: 10:24
Mile 9: 10:15
Mile 10: 10:23
Mile 11: 11:10
Mile 12: 10:52
Mile 13: no data (lost signal in downtown)
.1: no data (lost signal in downtown)
I had to stop twice for the bathroom. Once to pee, and then to be honest the 'lost focus' in mile 11 and on was due to G.I. issues. So much so that I had to stop otherwise I would have come in hearing people yelling "here comes poopy pants!". As much as I appreciated those peanut m&m's close to mile 9, well lets just say, not a good idea. Even after the potty break, the fastest one I know in the history of womankind, the constant feeling was there. I really wasn't sure exactly what was going to happen, so I would slow down and then speed up because I was so close. Slow down. Speed up. So there's that. Nice huh? As it is, I haven't been able to keep anything in my stomach since. I've tried. And within minutes I am in the bathroom. Blah.
Anyway, I dressed perfectly for the race. I went with the short sleeve compression and the pull away sleeves, which were pulled off around mile 4 or so, the gloves way before that. The head/ear band came off at the same time as the sleeves. Almost to mile 9, Margo got all my gear from me and I was so damn happy to be rid of it all. Evidently Margo thought I looked quite chic! ha!
I never really broke a sweat as the weather was perfect for the half. I do wish it would have been closer to 40 deg at the start, as it was it was about 47ish. I'm afraid it would have been too warm for the full. More than a few times I was running into a headwind but it didnt seem to bother me. Nor did that small, but steep inclines around Montrose between miles 5.5 and 6.2.
What I didnt realize is when you do the half, you get to miss the 'hills' of Allen Parkway. Glory be to God because I was sweatin that shit all the way back down Montrose. What you do get is that little decline right smack dab into Downtown Houston.
Once I hit Allen Parkway, with just a couple of miles to go at this point, the pace cars were on the opposite side of the street with the lead marathoners running right beside us. That was very cool indeed. I also saw the lead woman who basically finished the full about the same time I finished the half.
To me it seemed the crowds were much bigger this year. And louder. Especially during that one part, which escapes me now where the road becomes much more narrow. I think its around just past the 6.2 chip mat. Again I cant remember now.
As I said miles 11 and 12 were brutal, not because of pace but because I lost focus due to the stomach issues I was having, but once I hit Milam and made the turn I was good to go. Just a few more streets and I could turn right on Rusk and make my way home. It was however on Rusk, that the GI issues were REALLY bad and seriously, I um...yeah, it was bad.
I had long but forgotten my disappointment at having to drop to the half once I turned on Rusk, because I knew I was gonna PR and that I was close to goal.
I went inside, got some Gatorade and asked the time. 9:40. I gotta get back outside and I pushed my way to the front of the fenceline lining Rusk, just feet from the finish and waited. I saw several people I knew finish on the full but of course I was waiting for one person in particular. And finally there he was, arms pumping in the air as if he'd just won the thing! That was all I needed to see. And then I sprinted back inside. Here I was still running! I had to laugh out loud a bit at that. But I still had so much energy it was hard not to run.
I will say that the wave start was genius. We were close enough to the front of the second wave, and even though that first mile was 11:26 it wasnt due to crowds. It was because we wanted to do training pace the first mile. As I was watching the dvr'd coverage, it was even mentioned that a 3rd wave could be added to the half marathon next year to even allow more people to sign up. They didnt mention a 3rd wave for marathoners, but why not? So many people didnt get to run because it sold out so quickly.
P.S. GID ran the full 26.2 in a gun time of 3:03 and some change, and qualified for Boston! He's fast huh? :O) And our coach, Sean Wade of Kenyan Way won the masters division of the Half Marathon in 67 minutes!!!
Chip Time: 2:24:x
Garmin Time: 2:21:36
Previous times from 2 half marathons completed:
Koala Houston Half - October 2006 - 2:31
Surfside Half Marathon - February 2007 - 2:33
Not sure why my chip time was off from the Garmin. My mileage was correct on the Garmin, and I didnt start it late, so I have no idea. Nor did I stop it at any time during the race. So anyhoohoo...
I guess I will start with the splits:
Mile 1: 11:26
Mile 2: 10:42
Mile 3: 10:40
Mile 4: 10:56 (slowed down to wait for Amie as she needed a portapotty)
Mile 5: 10:23
Mile 6: 10:38
Mile 7: 10:49
Mile 8: 10:24
Mile 9: 10:15
Mile 10: 10:23
Mile 11: 11:10
Mile 12: 10:52
Mile 13: no data (lost signal in downtown)
.1: no data (lost signal in downtown)
I had to stop twice for the bathroom. Once to pee, and then to be honest the 'lost focus' in mile 11 and on was due to G.I. issues. So much so that I had to stop otherwise I would have come in hearing people yelling "here comes poopy pants!". As much as I appreciated those peanut m&m's close to mile 9, well lets just say, not a good idea. Even after the potty break, the fastest one I know in the history of womankind, the constant feeling was there. I really wasn't sure exactly what was going to happen, so I would slow down and then speed up because I was so close. Slow down. Speed up. So there's that. Nice huh? As it is, I haven't been able to keep anything in my stomach since. I've tried. And within minutes I am in the bathroom. Blah.
Anyway, I dressed perfectly for the race. I went with the short sleeve compression and the pull away sleeves, which were pulled off around mile 4 or so, the gloves way before that. The head/ear band came off at the same time as the sleeves. Almost to mile 9, Margo got all my gear from me and I was so damn happy to be rid of it all. Evidently Margo thought I looked quite chic! ha!
I never really broke a sweat as the weather was perfect for the half. I do wish it would have been closer to 40 deg at the start, as it was it was about 47ish. I'm afraid it would have been too warm for the full. More than a few times I was running into a headwind but it didnt seem to bother me. Nor did that small, but steep inclines around Montrose between miles 5.5 and 6.2.
What I didnt realize is when you do the half, you get to miss the 'hills' of Allen Parkway. Glory be to God because I was sweatin that shit all the way back down Montrose. What you do get is that little decline right smack dab into Downtown Houston.
Once I hit Allen Parkway, with just a couple of miles to go at this point, the pace cars were on the opposite side of the street with the lead marathoners running right beside us. That was very cool indeed. I also saw the lead woman who basically finished the full about the same time I finished the half.
To me it seemed the crowds were much bigger this year. And louder. Especially during that one part, which escapes me now where the road becomes much more narrow. I think its around just past the 6.2 chip mat. Again I cant remember now.
As I said miles 11 and 12 were brutal, not because of pace but because I lost focus due to the stomach issues I was having, but once I hit Milam and made the turn I was good to go. Just a few more streets and I could turn right on Rusk and make my way home. It was however on Rusk, that the GI issues were REALLY bad and seriously, I um...yeah, it was bad.
I had long but forgotten my disappointment at having to drop to the half once I turned on Rusk, because I knew I was gonna PR and that I was close to goal.
I went inside, got some Gatorade and asked the time. 9:40. I gotta get back outside and I pushed my way to the front of the fenceline lining Rusk, just feet from the finish and waited. I saw several people I knew finish on the full but of course I was waiting for one person in particular. And finally there he was, arms pumping in the air as if he'd just won the thing! That was all I needed to see. And then I sprinted back inside. Here I was still running! I had to laugh out loud a bit at that. But I still had so much energy it was hard not to run.
I will say that the wave start was genius. We were close enough to the front of the second wave, and even though that first mile was 11:26 it wasnt due to crowds. It was because we wanted to do training pace the first mile. As I was watching the dvr'd coverage, it was even mentioned that a 3rd wave could be added to the half marathon next year to even allow more people to sign up. They didnt mention a 3rd wave for marathoners, but why not? So many people didnt get to run because it sold out so quickly.
P.S. GID ran the full 26.2 in a gun time of 3:03 and some change, and qualified for Boston! He's fast huh? :O) And our coach, Sean Wade of Kenyan Way won the masters division of the Half Marathon in 67 minutes!!!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Winding Down 2007
Hard to believe that its almost the end of yet another year. You know they say that time goes much faster as you get older, and I firmly believe that, but none that I recollect have gone faster than this one.
I think back on the year, and I remember I was getting ready for the marathon this time last year. Having run my longest run of 21 miles and eagerly awaiting the "day", all the while thinking that somewhere in those last 3 weeks with hardly any running in comparison to the month preceding that I would somehow wake up and not be able to run more than a mile. However we all know that is not what happened and I somehow found the will and determination on that day to finish what I had started.
A month later I found myself running another 1/2 marathon on the beach no less, along side of one of my dear friends Suzy. And then the Spring races started and I was PR'ing at every distance from the year before, but the sub 30 alluded me in the 5K. I came really close at the Trolley though by 19 seconds, clocking at 30:18.
Injuries plagued me a lot off and on, but with Kenyan Way in the summer and then in the fall, I found myself getting faster and faster and able to do things I never thought I would be able to do.
An injury mid-way through marathon training sidelined me from the full marathon which is just over 2 weeks away, but I hope that the training I have been able to do since will see me PR at the distance.
This year also brought about some unexpected things and people into my life, of that I am truly grateful and no matter what anyone says or what the future holds, 2007 will be one of those years that I will never forget because of that. The past years leading up to 2007 left me with a hardened heart and a nature which some might call cynical, but one person in particular changed all of that. Through the drama, the laughs, the tears, the heart felt conversations, the I'm sorry's, the smiles, the truths, it always somehow ended in an upright position. I was able to find something that I thought I had lost somewhere along the way; that had been taken by heartache, lies, by things I had done, and things others had done to me.
I learned that friends are the family you get to choose, and that the family we are born into isn't always necessarily the ones that will lift you up when you have fallen. I have learned to turn to those that care about me and will never judge me based on my faults, or the mistakes I may make along the way.
I have learned that love is a powerful thing, in whatever form it chooses to present itself.
I have learned that the gifts that are unexpected and presented at times when you least expect it are the greatest gifts of all, and more often than not, come in an intangible form. They come in the gently placed hand in the small of your back, or when someone holds your hand, or in the form of words written on the first page of a book.
I found myself in Idaho again, the land that in my heart is what I expect heaven to be like. Among friends, old and new. We'll do it again this year and I expect because of a certain few that will be joining us this year, it will be yet another girls vacation that won't soon be forgotten.
In 2007 I have finished my 2nd year of school. One more year of basic stuff and then we'll get down to the nitty gritty leading up to my final year and graduation.
I survived my mother's surgery and recovery, along with her incessant ability to still make comments that make me feel like not such a good person sometime. I love her and I forgive her, but goodness, I really just wish she'd just stop already.
I survived a very stressful move, leaving behind somewhat of a comfort zone, but what was quickly becoming a battle zone.
I suffered a long and painful job experience in 2007, well up until September and somehow I was able to get out from under that and get back to what I truly excel at and am thankful for the leadership I have now. 2008 looks to be extremely stressful on the job front, but I anxious to take on the challenge.
Challenges are what I live for, and running in 2008 will provide that as well. We have the Spring races coming up again, and I wonder will I have PR's abound as well as last year? Will I finally overcome the elusive sub 30 and if so, by how much? I have some goals in the running area, maybe attempting some of the shorter distances at Rice in the summer. We'll see how the Spring goes, and if I can really concentrate on training at the 800m to see what I can do.
I will be signing up for the NYC marathon lottery again in February and maybe this year one of us that REALLY wants to run it will actually get in. If I don't then I may consider going up to Michigan to run with GLRG.
To my friends, both real and those in blog land, to those that lurk day after day, never commenting (hey post a comment will ya! Let me know you're really there and not just a statistic on my statcounter!), I hope that your year has given you some smiles, and that your 2008 will be the year you overcome a fear, challenge yourself to do something you've never thought possible and that you find love, or whatever you seek. That you find the will to forgive those that might have done you wrong in some fashion, and that peace fills your heart.
Peace.
I think back on the year, and I remember I was getting ready for the marathon this time last year. Having run my longest run of 21 miles and eagerly awaiting the "day", all the while thinking that somewhere in those last 3 weeks with hardly any running in comparison to the month preceding that I would somehow wake up and not be able to run more than a mile. However we all know that is not what happened and I somehow found the will and determination on that day to finish what I had started.
A month later I found myself running another 1/2 marathon on the beach no less, along side of one of my dear friends Suzy. And then the Spring races started and I was PR'ing at every distance from the year before, but the sub 30 alluded me in the 5K. I came really close at the Trolley though by 19 seconds, clocking at 30:18.
Injuries plagued me a lot off and on, but with Kenyan Way in the summer and then in the fall, I found myself getting faster and faster and able to do things I never thought I would be able to do.
An injury mid-way through marathon training sidelined me from the full marathon which is just over 2 weeks away, but I hope that the training I have been able to do since will see me PR at the distance.
This year also brought about some unexpected things and people into my life, of that I am truly grateful and no matter what anyone says or what the future holds, 2007 will be one of those years that I will never forget because of that. The past years leading up to 2007 left me with a hardened heart and a nature which some might call cynical, but one person in particular changed all of that. Through the drama, the laughs, the tears, the heart felt conversations, the I'm sorry's, the smiles, the truths, it always somehow ended in an upright position. I was able to find something that I thought I had lost somewhere along the way; that had been taken by heartache, lies, by things I had done, and things others had done to me.
I learned that friends are the family you get to choose, and that the family we are born into isn't always necessarily the ones that will lift you up when you have fallen. I have learned to turn to those that care about me and will never judge me based on my faults, or the mistakes I may make along the way.
I have learned that love is a powerful thing, in whatever form it chooses to present itself.
I have learned that the gifts that are unexpected and presented at times when you least expect it are the greatest gifts of all, and more often than not, come in an intangible form. They come in the gently placed hand in the small of your back, or when someone holds your hand, or in the form of words written on the first page of a book.
I found myself in Idaho again, the land that in my heart is what I expect heaven to be like. Among friends, old and new. We'll do it again this year and I expect because of a certain few that will be joining us this year, it will be yet another girls vacation that won't soon be forgotten.
In 2007 I have finished my 2nd year of school. One more year of basic stuff and then we'll get down to the nitty gritty leading up to my final year and graduation.
I survived my mother's surgery and recovery, along with her incessant ability to still make comments that make me feel like not such a good person sometime. I love her and I forgive her, but goodness, I really just wish she'd just stop already.
I survived a very stressful move, leaving behind somewhat of a comfort zone, but what was quickly becoming a battle zone.
I suffered a long and painful job experience in 2007, well up until September and somehow I was able to get out from under that and get back to what I truly excel at and am thankful for the leadership I have now. 2008 looks to be extremely stressful on the job front, but I anxious to take on the challenge.
Challenges are what I live for, and running in 2008 will provide that as well. We have the Spring races coming up again, and I wonder will I have PR's abound as well as last year? Will I finally overcome the elusive sub 30 and if so, by how much? I have some goals in the running area, maybe attempting some of the shorter distances at Rice in the summer. We'll see how the Spring goes, and if I can really concentrate on training at the 800m to see what I can do.
I will be signing up for the NYC marathon lottery again in February and maybe this year one of us that REALLY wants to run it will actually get in. If I don't then I may consider going up to Michigan to run with GLRG.
To my friends, both real and those in blog land, to those that lurk day after day, never commenting (hey post a comment will ya! Let me know you're really there and not just a statistic on my statcounter!), I hope that your year has given you some smiles, and that your 2008 will be the year you overcome a fear, challenge yourself to do something you've never thought possible and that you find love, or whatever you seek. That you find the will to forgive those that might have done you wrong in some fashion, and that peace fills your heart.
Peace.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
As I was running the 2.02 miles to the Start line of the Koala Houston Half this morning, I was dealing with the knee. Yes it was bothering me, but I trudged on through the dark, dodging the few vagrants on the street that early, and carefully hopping from curb to curb.
As I even left the quiet East End I could hear the band that was obviously playing there at SHP. I thought back to last year when this was my target race, never even contemplating that I would be doing the full marathon just a couple of months later. This year an injury kept me from PR'ing at the distance and the race itself.
As I got closer, maybe 1/2 mile away I heard a shot ring through the dark and I knew that the race had started. I knew in advance I wasn't going to make it for the beginning but I had promised GID that I would be there before he finished that first loop. And sure enough I made it with plenty of time to spare. I got to yell and cheer on some of my favorite runner friends who were all leading in the pack and that was indeed great. I stood with Jaclyn as she wasnt running this year either but was there supporting her husband. Her and I finished close together last year as we leap frogged the entire 13.1 miles.
It was indeed cold out there for those that weren't running and maybe that cold made my knee stop hurting, as it never hurt again. Even as I sit here now its not hurting, not even like it was when I woke up this morning. Weird.
I made it over to the Finish a good 5 minutes before the lead guy came in, and then one by one they trickled in.
I kept getting colder and colder, as the temp seemed to drop and the sun was nowhere in sight, having to push its way over the buildings of downtown and it became unbearable even. I managed to hang around for a while, but eventually just decided to leave when GID did, as a ride home instead of running the mileage back seemed to be a much better idea.
So after coming home I hit the gym, with 30 min of maniac on the elliptical and then another 45 minutes on weights, all upper body.
I figure if I can keep the fitness level up, heck even increase it with the weights, then if in 2 weeks I am still not up to the 15.5 miles I am supposed to be at by that time, then it will become apparent that I will have to drop to the half and bail on the full marathon this year. Next weekend is supposed to be a cut back week but not for me. I will shoot for 13-14, some of those with KW on Saturday and tacking on the rest at the end.
Here's to hoping that somehow I can overcome this injury and keep on track for what I have worked so hard for all this year.
As I even left the quiet East End I could hear the band that was obviously playing there at SHP. I thought back to last year when this was my target race, never even contemplating that I would be doing the full marathon just a couple of months later. This year an injury kept me from PR'ing at the distance and the race itself.
As I got closer, maybe 1/2 mile away I heard a shot ring through the dark and I knew that the race had started. I knew in advance I wasn't going to make it for the beginning but I had promised GID that I would be there before he finished that first loop. And sure enough I made it with plenty of time to spare. I got to yell and cheer on some of my favorite runner friends who were all leading in the pack and that was indeed great. I stood with Jaclyn as she wasnt running this year either but was there supporting her husband. Her and I finished close together last year as we leap frogged the entire 13.1 miles.
It was indeed cold out there for those that weren't running and maybe that cold made my knee stop hurting, as it never hurt again. Even as I sit here now its not hurting, not even like it was when I woke up this morning. Weird.
I made it over to the Finish a good 5 minutes before the lead guy came in, and then one by one they trickled in.
I kept getting colder and colder, as the temp seemed to drop and the sun was nowhere in sight, having to push its way over the buildings of downtown and it became unbearable even. I managed to hang around for a while, but eventually just decided to leave when GID did, as a ride home instead of running the mileage back seemed to be a much better idea.
So after coming home I hit the gym, with 30 min of maniac on the elliptical and then another 45 minutes on weights, all upper body.
I figure if I can keep the fitness level up, heck even increase it with the weights, then if in 2 weeks I am still not up to the 15.5 miles I am supposed to be at by that time, then it will become apparent that I will have to drop to the half and bail on the full marathon this year. Next weekend is supposed to be a cut back week but not for me. I will shoot for 13-14, some of those with KW on Saturday and tacking on the rest at the end.
Here's to hoping that somehow I can overcome this injury and keep on track for what I have worked so hard for all this year.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Fired Up 5K
Conditions:
Temperature: 78
Humidity: 92%
Me: Still hacking up a lung
If I hadn't already paid a few weeks back, I wouldn't have gone this morning. I had a not so good night of sleep, and besides that I still was trying to cough crap up when I woke up.
That kept up throughout the 3.1 miles. I tell you though I do take some comfort in knowing that even the really fast kids struggled this morning. From what I hear the front runners were all slower than their average times. It was brutal this morning.
There were a couple of times where I almost just gave up, but I didn't. I figured you know just freaking keep running and finish. You already know its not a PR day for the distance. I did PR the course/race though from last year.
Here are the splits from LAST year:
Mile 1: 10:19
Mile 2: 11:04
Mile 3: 11:20
last .1 : 9:08 pace
Here are the splits from THIS year:
Mile 1: 9:37 (a 42 sec improvement)
Mile 2: 10:21 (a 43 sec improvement)
Mile 3: 10:33 (a 47 sec improvement)
last .1 : 9:30 pace
A definite improvement no doubt, but I had NOTHING left at the end. And I actually walked the 2nd mile water stop; might have been 30 seconds or less, not sure. I was having a really hard time breathing and the coughing was just too much for me. This is where I seriously thought about just quitting.
Eh, in the grand scheme of things I'm ok with it. I am just really sick of trying to race in this heat. I can run and train in it no problem. Other than that I am over it. To me today was speed work, nothing more as far as I am concerned.
I'll race the cross country at the end of September, but then its just me training for Houston in January.
Don't get me wrong I will still run the Clear Lake 10, the Houston Half (both of which I hope to PR) and I suppose I have to run the 25K this year (as suggested by Sean). I was a cheerleader at that race last year and I am not looking forward to those loops as I recall hearing about it sucking last year. Eh, it is what it is. At least I know I will have a PR for the distance since I've never 'raced' a 25K before. :o)
Peace.
Temperature: 78
Humidity: 92%
Me: Still hacking up a lung
If I hadn't already paid a few weeks back, I wouldn't have gone this morning. I had a not so good night of sleep, and besides that I still was trying to cough crap up when I woke up.
That kept up throughout the 3.1 miles. I tell you though I do take some comfort in knowing that even the really fast kids struggled this morning. From what I hear the front runners were all slower than their average times. It was brutal this morning.
There were a couple of times where I almost just gave up, but I didn't. I figured you know just freaking keep running and finish. You already know its not a PR day for the distance. I did PR the course/race though from last year.
Here are the splits from LAST year:
Mile 1: 10:19
Mile 2: 11:04
Mile 3: 11:20
last .1 : 9:08 pace
Here are the splits from THIS year:
Mile 1: 9:37 (a 42 sec improvement)
Mile 2: 10:21 (a 43 sec improvement)
Mile 3: 10:33 (a 47 sec improvement)
last .1 : 9:30 pace
A definite improvement no doubt, but I had NOTHING left at the end. And I actually walked the 2nd mile water stop; might have been 30 seconds or less, not sure. I was having a really hard time breathing and the coughing was just too much for me. This is where I seriously thought about just quitting.
Eh, in the grand scheme of things I'm ok with it. I am just really sick of trying to race in this heat. I can run and train in it no problem. Other than that I am over it. To me today was speed work, nothing more as far as I am concerned.
I'll race the cross country at the end of September, but then its just me training for Houston in January.
Don't get me wrong I will still run the Clear Lake 10, the Houston Half (both of which I hope to PR) and I suppose I have to run the 25K this year (as suggested by Sean). I was a cheerleader at that race last year and I am not looking forward to those loops as I recall hearing about it sucking last year. Eh, it is what it is. At least I know I will have a PR for the distance since I've never 'raced' a 25K before. :o)
Peace.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Lunar (Rendevous 5K) LoooooSer!
You know when we first got there (around 6:15 or so) it wasn't so oppressive (the conditions) and I had semi-high hopes. But as each minute ticked by and I was starting to sweat (without moving an inch) I knew it was not going to be a banner day for me. And I was fine with it.
I held my own of course in mile 1, and even mile 2 I was fine with, but at about the 1.5 mile mark I felt something in BOTH shins...something I have very little experience with. I have had issues with my left shin before but not to this degree and certainly not both of them...I already knew that when I got to mile 2 and the water I was going to take about 20 sec...which is what I did and probably not the best idea I have ever had.
I started running (jogging actually) and it felt somewhat better but I knew at that point being close to my PR or even a sub 31 wasn't going to happen today. Maybe thats where I messed up more than anything. Mentally I checked out.
I walked again at some point for like 30 sec, then once more for 20 sec. Bad ideas again, but you know as I said I had checked out.
The one thing that I am happy about was my last 1/2 mile. I figured you know I am dead tired, out of gas really, and my shins are burning, I feel like I need to hurl but if need be just hurl when I am finished.
If I hadnt found what I did somewhere, still not sure where, the time would have been worse and I sure couldn't have found the energy to pull an 8:03 pace in the last .1
Here are the splits, as ugly as they are....
Mile 1: 9:39
Mile 2: 10:36
Mile 3: 11:19 (walked a total of about 1:30 in this mile)
Last .1: 1:04 (8:03 pace!)
We figure the feels like was about 87, although I think it was more and thats just tough stuff right there. No need to even mention the humidity. It is what it is. Blah.
At least there was absolutely NO SUN WHATSEVER, and thank God too...
As I told one friend "i'm not upset whatsoever. i finished and i finished as strong as i possibly could have." Knowing that is all the satisfaction I need.
I figure I might stop sweating by about Thursday. :o) And I figure I will still attempt 7 miles tomorrow, although its a game day decision. Its a night out with a few of the friends tonight, although the rain now might put a damper on that considering we were going to an outdoor concert...
I am done 'racing' until Labor Day Weekend where I know I will at least PR the course in the Fired Up 5K (Sugarland). Whether or not I PR for the distance that's another story altogether...
Congratulations to ALL THE STRIDERS who kicked some ass in placing all over the damn field of runners!
ps: I didn't hurl at all but I certainly almost fell over twice while they were cutting my chip off my damn shoe.
I held my own of course in mile 1, and even mile 2 I was fine with, but at about the 1.5 mile mark I felt something in BOTH shins...something I have very little experience with. I have had issues with my left shin before but not to this degree and certainly not both of them...I already knew that when I got to mile 2 and the water I was going to take about 20 sec...which is what I did and probably not the best idea I have ever had.
I started running (jogging actually) and it felt somewhat better but I knew at that point being close to my PR or even a sub 31 wasn't going to happen today. Maybe thats where I messed up more than anything. Mentally I checked out.
I walked again at some point for like 30 sec, then once more for 20 sec. Bad ideas again, but you know as I said I had checked out.
The one thing that I am happy about was my last 1/2 mile. I figured you know I am dead tired, out of gas really, and my shins are burning, I feel like I need to hurl but if need be just hurl when I am finished.
If I hadnt found what I did somewhere, still not sure where, the time would have been worse and I sure couldn't have found the energy to pull an 8:03 pace in the last .1
Here are the splits, as ugly as they are....
Mile 1: 9:39
Mile 2: 10:36
Mile 3: 11:19 (walked a total of about 1:30 in this mile)
Last .1: 1:04 (8:03 pace!)
We figure the feels like was about 87, although I think it was more and thats just tough stuff right there. No need to even mention the humidity. It is what it is. Blah.
At least there was absolutely NO SUN WHATSEVER, and thank God too...
As I told one friend "i'm not upset whatsoever. i finished and i finished as strong as i possibly could have." Knowing that is all the satisfaction I need.
I figure I might stop sweating by about Thursday. :o) And I figure I will still attempt 7 miles tomorrow, although its a game day decision. Its a night out with a few of the friends tonight, although the rain now might put a damper on that considering we were going to an outdoor concert...
I am done 'racing' until Labor Day Weekend where I know I will at least PR the course in the Fired Up 5K (Sugarland). Whether or not I PR for the distance that's another story altogether...
Congratulations to ALL THE STRIDERS who kicked some ass in placing all over the damn field of runners!
ps: I didn't hurl at all but I certainly almost fell over twice while they were cutting my chip off my damn shoe.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Independence (Day)
Words take on a whole new meaning sometime. I won't go into anything deep or heavy right now, but yeah, today independence means taking back something I had lost somewhere along the way.
Anyway...after a grrrrrrreat evening which soured later on, leaving me with very little sleep, as I woke up this morning before the alarm I thought "hmpft. Stay in bed. No need for you to go through with this. Not today." My head and my heart were fighting each other, and I am still not clear on who will win out in the end but this morning my head is what got me dressed and out the door to make the Run Wild 5K that I registered for yesterday.
A lovely morning for sure...rain was moving in fast and furious and the humidity was right about 95% and with the temps at 75 deg, well you figure it out. I met up with the usual suspects, chatted, complained and just overall bitched about exactly why I didnt want to be there.
Even up till yesterday I had no expectations whatsoever for this race. I just wanted to finish without embarrassing myself and to be able to forget about what happened at the Heights Run over a month ago. I figured if I could maintain a decent pace I would come out of this feeling like I had won even if it was in my own mind.
Finally the race started and it was hard getting out of the pack. It seemed like almost to the first mile marker before I could really get out of the crowd. I could have gunned it to do that but I knew from previous experience that that would come back to bite me somewhere in the middle of mile 3. So I just kept the first mile nice and easy. I believe the mat time for Mile 1 was just shy of 9:40...steady was what I said for mile 2. You can pick it up later...Only did I not factor in that this was about the time that the humidity would really take over and I was finding it difficult to really breathe well.
I dont recall what the mat time was at Mile 2 (and I dont have my Garmin in here right now for the splits), but I remember thinking I am cool with that. So much so that I figured now just the last 1.1 and you're done. I am quite sure that my Garmin is going to show over 3.1 due to all the turns and the fact that I was not familiar with the course and more often than not I found myself having to cross back over way too many times to make the turns.
Other than the enormous amount of turns I was pleased with the course. So in Mile 3 I just picked it up a bit, nothing crazy. Just finish. With only about a 1/2 mile to go I figured you know, what the hell just run this bitch out and get it over with. Thinking back now if I had pushed it in that first 1/2 of mile 3 I could have PR'd. But that wasnt a goal today and yes I know it should have been.. Anyway, in that last 1/2 mile I did what I would have done if HSteve would have been beside me yelling at me to pick off this person and that person. I started picking people off.
So to make a short story long, I missed my PR by 5 seconds. I came in at 30:22. And yeah, I am REAL pleased with that shit. My PR is 30:18 and considering the conditions? Hell yeah I will take that and all the beer M and I drank too afterwards.
I remember crossing the mat and as the girl was taking my chip off, I heard the announcer say, and here comes the last of the first 250 finishers of todays race. Well if that was a milestone for him to mention, then by God I was one of those first 250 finishers today...and not sure how many there were but it was close to 700 if not more.
We of course stayed till everyone else was gone because thats just what we do. Too many friends to hang out with, congratulate and just have a bit of fun. Runners are crazy people I tell you. We really are. Who else stands out in the pouring rain, smelling of all kinds of hell and drinking beer and listening to really bad cover music?
Oh and I ended up with a door prize too. Thankfully some girl had her wits about her to tell me that since I didnt hear them call my number (eh, 4 beers will do that to you)... 2 Astros tickets. You know how I love me some Astros.
Yeah I will be probably be running the Lunar next Saturday, then after that its smooth sailing till sometime in September.
Anyway...after a grrrrrrreat evening which soured later on, leaving me with very little sleep, as I woke up this morning before the alarm I thought "hmpft. Stay in bed. No need for you to go through with this. Not today." My head and my heart were fighting each other, and I am still not clear on who will win out in the end but this morning my head is what got me dressed and out the door to make the Run Wild 5K that I registered for yesterday.
A lovely morning for sure...rain was moving in fast and furious and the humidity was right about 95% and with the temps at 75 deg, well you figure it out. I met up with the usual suspects, chatted, complained and just overall bitched about exactly why I didnt want to be there.
Even up till yesterday I had no expectations whatsoever for this race. I just wanted to finish without embarrassing myself and to be able to forget about what happened at the Heights Run over a month ago. I figured if I could maintain a decent pace I would come out of this feeling like I had won even if it was in my own mind.
Finally the race started and it was hard getting out of the pack. It seemed like almost to the first mile marker before I could really get out of the crowd. I could have gunned it to do that but I knew from previous experience that that would come back to bite me somewhere in the middle of mile 3. So I just kept the first mile nice and easy. I believe the mat time for Mile 1 was just shy of 9:40...steady was what I said for mile 2. You can pick it up later...Only did I not factor in that this was about the time that the humidity would really take over and I was finding it difficult to really breathe well.
I dont recall what the mat time was at Mile 2 (and I dont have my Garmin in here right now for the splits), but I remember thinking I am cool with that. So much so that I figured now just the last 1.1 and you're done. I am quite sure that my Garmin is going to show over 3.1 due to all the turns and the fact that I was not familiar with the course and more often than not I found myself having to cross back over way too many times to make the turns.
Other than the enormous amount of turns I was pleased with the course. So in Mile 3 I just picked it up a bit, nothing crazy. Just finish. With only about a 1/2 mile to go I figured you know, what the hell just run this bitch out and get it over with. Thinking back now if I had pushed it in that first 1/2 of mile 3 I could have PR'd. But that wasnt a goal today and yes I know it should have been.. Anyway, in that last 1/2 mile I did what I would have done if HSteve would have been beside me yelling at me to pick off this person and that person. I started picking people off.
So to make a short story long, I missed my PR by 5 seconds. I came in at 30:22. And yeah, I am REAL pleased with that shit. My PR is 30:18 and considering the conditions? Hell yeah I will take that and all the beer M and I drank too afterwards.
I remember crossing the mat and as the girl was taking my chip off, I heard the announcer say, and here comes the last of the first 250 finishers of todays race. Well if that was a milestone for him to mention, then by God I was one of those first 250 finishers today...and not sure how many there were but it was close to 700 if not more.
We of course stayed till everyone else was gone because thats just what we do. Too many friends to hang out with, congratulate and just have a bit of fun. Runners are crazy people I tell you. We really are. Who else stands out in the pouring rain, smelling of all kinds of hell and drinking beer and listening to really bad cover music?
Oh and I ended up with a door prize too. Thankfully some girl had her wits about her to tell me that since I didnt hear them call my number (eh, 4 beers will do that to you)... 2 Astros tickets. You know how I love me some Astros.
Yeah I will be probably be running the Lunar next Saturday, then after that its smooth sailing till sometime in September.
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