Buzzz...Buzzz...Buzzz...

I am in a state of go! go! go! Do! do! do!

Trying to tie up loose ends at work before I will be gone so that I don't think about any of it once I am out of here.  Next Thursday at noon and I am goooone until the following Thursday!

This morning a 5 mile run was a good start to the day.

I have fallen in love with the cooler temps and the dark-thirty solitary silence of these morning runs...They set the tone for the day (yesterday excluded as my day went to shit in a blink of an eye)...but today is a new day and thanks to a concerned friend my day was salvaged by a surprise visit in the evening.

Tomorrow I rest and on Saturday I finish putting the hay in the barn so to speak...10 miles with 7 at goal marathon pace.

Boo yah!

Zoooooooooooooom!!! *EDITED*

*EDITED:  When I say "I hit every light, that means they were green all the way; not so surprising at that hour of the morning and its a main drag"..Also even because it was green, I generally always will stop no matter what just to make sure someone isnt coming at me and deciding to not stop to turn or to run a red light.  This morning I didnt stop, barely slowed because it was definitely clear that I didnt really need to.  The 1 or 2 cars I did see were at a complete stop already as I approached so I felt safe to keep going.*

I jokingly on Facebook last night asked if someone would shut down a portion of the street there in front of where I live to exactly 1.55 miles in one direction so I could have a clear out and back for my 5K speed workout this morning...

Now I run a portion of this road in the early weekday mornings and I already know that its barren at that time for the most part.  I needed to run this workout on the road, not on the sidewalks as a) the streets are more lit b) there arent any little obstacles and c) it just would be faster.

When I stepped outside at exactly 5:16am, sure enough there wasnt a car for as far as the eye could see.  I went to the opposite side/lane of the road, hit my watch and started running.  I hit every light, even at Kirby and just kept going.  I knew the exact turn around spot (Edloe).  I also was aware that even on the right side of the road no cars were going by.  Perfect.

Only once did I have to hop up on the curb and even then the car was in the other lane and I could have stayed where I was but just to be safe(r)...the first 1.55 was done in 13:42 as I looked at my watch as I made the turn.  I knew I had to finish in about 27:15 or so, give or take.

Running back the other way, still no oncoming traffic.  Completely crazy!  Once I hit one light a cop car pulled out of a parking lot and was headed towards me, but there was no sidewalk here and he stayed to the other lane so I was fine.  Once I hit Kirby again I looked at my watch and I knew I had roughly 4 minutes to make the proposed time/pace on my schedule.  I put a bit more speed into it as I knew I only had one more light to make.  I was still on the road.  It wasnt until I hit Shepherd that I hopped back up on the sidewalk; I looked at my watch again and I was, I think...at about 26:10.  Whaaat?  I am like a block from my house!

So pretty much I just slowed down a bit and there ya go...morning 5K done.  26:53.   Bamm! 

The 2nd 1.55 was done in 13:11.  Negative split.  The workout called for 5 min rest and to repeat the workout but as previously mentioned I have PIM tonight, so the 2nd part of my speed running today will be done this evening with 60/60's. 

I will only end up with 7 miles for the day instead of 8, but I think I'm ok :O)

So to those that slept in this morning and stayed off the road for me, thanks.  'preciate cha.

Second Week of Taper

Things are moving along...I am not so stressed with doubt (at least not right now)...I think running so well in the cooler temps the past 2 mornings and a decent 12 miler on Saturday helped with that.  Doubt will rear its ugly head again though..sometime next week...it always does...

I have a pretty serious speed workout tomorrow, and it'll be tough to actually complete it and as it is it will have to be done partly in the morning and the other part while with PIM (if I can swing it). 

The workout is:  8 miles including 2 x 5K at 8:53 to 9:00 minute pace with 5mr in between.  Plan is to do one of the 5K's in the morning before work...I have a 1.55 out and back route I can do and at 5:15am in the morning its gonna be done on the road and not a sidewalk...thank goodness there isnt any traffic at that time that I really need to worry about.  I will have to break up the other 5 miles, as 2 of them (4 total) are with PIM and we are doing 60/60's.  That might just have to be it...

The only other thing thats been apparent is now my germaphobic nature is kicking in...I am washing my hands a lot more often, using my knuckles to push the elevator buttons, using my elbow or foot to push open a door...things like that...we marathon runners are a strange bunch are we not?  :o)

Trying not to eat too much..thats going ok I guess.  It doesnt help that its time for TOM to show up...thankfully I wont have that to worry about in Chicago though ;o)

OK time to finish lunch...

Me running in the cool September morning air!!

5 more glorious miles this morning before work!  This weather is just freaking awesome!

I figured I had better at least get one run in with the singlet I bought months ago in anticipation of Chicago...so I picked this morning to do it.  As much as I hate running in a full shirt when its not cold out (62 is not cold enough for me when running), I did it.  The singlet is perfect.  Not too tight and not too loose.  I wish the weather was going to be cooler this Saturday on my 10 miler (last long run) so I could run farther in it, but looks to be about the same as it is now so that would be a no go for me!

Speaking of my last long run...I had an email convo with Coach yesterday where I inquired whether or not it would be alright for me to do part of my last long run at goal marathon pace so close to race day...he said sure but to keep it at 7 of the 10 miles and to do a few short runs next week at goal marathon pace as well.  Whoop!  With the hot/humid weather these past few marathon simulation long runs, well hitting gmp wasnt really an option unless I wanted to drop dead!  :O)

One of the things his acceptance of me doing this so close to race day is that he's confident in my fitness/recovery to be able to do that so close and to be ok and it not hinder me when its time...2 years ago or even a year ago, I dont think he would have agreed to it...

Now all I need is the perfect route for Saturday which means no memorial park and no bayou... are you reading this Coach????  :o)  With him racing Twin Cities this weekend though I may get stuck with a standardized easy to set up route and that wont be good :O/

We'll know on Thursday!

Fall has fallen in Texas!!!

So, fiiiiiiiiiiiinally we got our first 'cool' front...the weather people call it a cold front but they're idiots :O)

When I went to bed last night around 10, it was still 76 deg out so I was wondering if it was truly going to push through Houston or not....but I still had the alarm set for 5am because if it was, I wasnt going to miss out on it! And sure enough, I walked outside and it was cooooooooooooooooool! Phone read at 62 and I quickly put on my shorts, and yes a shortie top and I was out the door!  I had 5 miles to do per the schedule, so the plan was to do my little 4 mile loop, stop back by the house for hydration (which I didnt need) and finish with a 1 mile loop there around the house.

Its a good thing there are no cars on the road on this route because I had to run in the road as the sidewalks are just too dark and the streets are more lit.  I had my little headlamp on but really didnt need it unless to let cars that were out that I was out there as well.  Once I hit West Gray I ran by the Starbucks and there were people sitting outside in COATS!  and a couple of people walking their dogs, with COATS on!  I was saying good morning to everyone as I passed by...so happy! 

A few of my friends ran at the park this morning, and were on FB about how people were in long sleeves/pants, even some with gloves and ear warmers...ok not to offend anyone but are you KIDDING me????  I am sorry but I just have to laugh...you just wont see me covered up unless its closer to 50 and then I'll just have something covering the stomach...I cant wait for people to start complaining its cold...

I laugh.

I was still very sweaty at the end, wet top and all, and honestly thats the way it SHOULD be...if you're cold when you're running then you aren't pushing hard enough...especially in THIS weather...its NOT cold people :O)  And the only thing that barely bothered me was when running down Kirby, the North wind was coming right at me (was indeed breezy) and I just welcomed it...quickly reverting back to the OMG HOW HOT ITS BEEN ALL SUMMER LONG mentality...NEVER look a gift horse in the mouth!

Another front is coming through on Saturday and I am just elated...and I swore I wouldnt blog or FB about Chicago weather (which is now online for 10/10/10)...but I'm elated about THAT too  :o)

The plan is to run every morning this week to take advantage of the glorious weather ... actually I will probably running every morning right up until we leave for Chicago on the morning of the 8th!!!  No more heated late night runs!!!

*Long* Run - 12 miles - Kenyan Way

I didnt even care that it was still hot and humid as all get out this morning because I knew it was only 12 miles and I knew I didnt have to run long again next weekend either!  :)  I did a quick 2 miles before the start with the group, took off with the 4:15 group and kept it steady coming in at a 10:38 pace for the overall run.

I was a bit worried about how my legs have felt all week, but I took some Aleve twice yesterday and that seemed to help this morning. 

One of the girls going to Chicago and use to run with me but slowed down a pace group this summer said she wanted to run with me this morning (because she wanted to hurry up and be done) which I said OK but I knew she wasnt going to be able to hold pace with me today.  Shes a big talker and one of the ones I spoke of earlier that runs her training runs at the pace she plans to run the marathon at; which is fine.  But then to start running 45 sec faster today on training, and with the weather still brutal...I knew.  And sure enough, by mile 4 she was gone...way behind me.  Somewhere in mile 1 or so she said "hard to believe we'll be running faster than this at the marathon".  I said to her "oh so you're actually planning to run faster than you train at?"  I didnt mean it to be rude, but she bolted back at me "shut up" with a chuckle.  I also noticed how labored her breathing was and I thought 'wow she isnt even going to make it to the first water stop with me'.  She did but she dropped back a little, stepped up again for a bit, but it didnt last.

I ran mostly by myself after that and for the most part my mind was on race day.  I thought about the course as I know it, what my plan was and also the hindrance of so many people (45000) starting at once (no staggered starts like at NYC), me in the open corral and how much slower those first miles will be due to traffic.  Plan is to get to the open corral as early as we can to get as close to the front of it as we can.  Our hotel is a block away from the start/finish so I think we're golden.

I felt a bit tired at the end as my last 3 miles were right at or close to GMP so thats not a big surprise.  I hated that even on 12 miles my shoes were soaked clean through with sweat...supposedly this week we are getting our first 'taste' of Fall...we'll see.  I would like to at least run once with my race day singlet (which I bought months ago) before the actual marathon.  I am one of those that unless its in the 50's (and its a short run) I am not wearing much to cover.  The least amount of coverage the better.  So they say it will dip to like 58/59 a couple of mornings this week and I will take advantage of that to get a quick run in it.

I've been training in the same 2 pairs of shoes since about March, alternating every other week, so I bought a new pair today along with a new set of Superfeet.  Will break them in over the next couple of weeks.  Its the same shoe I have been running in for over a year now so no worries there.

This week I see my mileage decreases by a mile each day from all the previous weeks, except I am only doing 3 tomorrow before the tailgating and game day of Texans vs Cowboys (the stadium is going to be SO loud!!), then its 5/5/6/5 for Mon-Thurs. then only 10 for Saturday!  I plan to test out the iPod shuffle on the last long run.  I think I have the playlist finally down pat but again, ONLY should I need it, will I actually use it in Chicago.

OK, I have rambled enough for today!  Going to see The Town tonight!

This was how I felt after a HOT HOT HOT 6 miles tonight!!!