Playing catch up – again

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Raven

So help me, I think about blogging most every day, but everything seems to leap forward and prevent me from sitting down and focusing on writing something. I’m still training, and doing very well actually. I won’t try to post every single map of my training runs over the past weeks, but I will post the latest long run map, because honestly it rocked.

Saturday I set out to do a 7-miler. On the weekend I do one long run, usually a mile more than the previous weekend’s run. Last Saturday I did just over 6 miles, so naturally I needed to up it to a 7-miler – capiche?

I set forth on my little running adventure. The night before I mapped it out, and sent the navigation notes to my iPhone, so I could quickly check them, so as to avoid getting lost. As the running routes increase in distance, so does my chance of running in unfamiliar territory. I can no longer circle the neighborhood, because at this distance it would get boring and dizzy. This new route had me getting to the Houston street bridge, but not crossing into downtown.

Yeah, I crossed it; but only 80% of the way.

It was fun to run over the river – well the dried up version of a river that we have here in Dallas. I had ridden over this bridge MANY MANY times on my bike, but running it was more fun. I could take the time to see the marshy area below, and the cranes that were flying around.

I got right to the point that it enters the downtown area, and turned back. I know how I am about getting caught up in the running adventure, and I didn’t want to risk over doing the mileage so much that I re-visit the foot injury that I just finally healed from.

Oh yeah the foot issue – I ran this without the need of taping and wrapping the arch. How about that? Ha!

Distance 8.16 mi, Duration 1:39:24, Pace 12:15 min/mile, Speed 4.9 mph.

This week begins week 5 of my training. I have cut back the mileage a little, so I can give my body a recovery week, but also so I can run the Komen Race for the Cure 5K on Saturday. I’ve ran 5K upwards of four times a week since March, but I have never ran an actual 5K Event. I’ve always admired the runners at the Komen 5K, but I have always just walked it. Each time I participated, I thought to myself, “Next year I’m gonna run this”, but I never did – until NOW.

This is going to be a blast!

Week Two – Almost completed!

Posted on September 25, 2010 by Raven

This week I also made it official; I registered for the Half Marathon portion of the White Rock Marathon. I had held off a while to make sure my foot was healing before I paid to register. Now it is official. I am in! Yee ha!

My second week of training is just about in the books. I planned for running my long training run this morning, but we had some pretty severe rainstorms move through the area at sunrise. I had hoped that these would have stayed away long enough for me to get my run in, but I was woken by thunder at 6am, and knew from the continuous downpour that my run would be scratched.

I have run in rain before, but that was during the hottest part of summer, when the cool rain brought me some relief; also this usually occurred on my shorter run days, when I would not be to far from safe cover. With today being a 5-miler day and with the inclusion of lightning in the sky, I thought that it would be best to postpone the run until tomorrow.

As it stands I completed two training runs this week.

My run on Tuesday was a hilly run. I never intended it to have that many hills, but due to my forgetfulness of the area I ran it became a nice challenge. My time was not all that great, but it was still a good run!

Distance 3.00 mi, Duration 0:34:33, Pace 11:31 min/mile, Speed 5.2 mph.

Thursday’s run was more like my usual lunchtime run, however my GPS got a little screwy and I ended up further away from work, than I had planned. I ran my 3 mile run, but then had a supplemental run walk, in order to make it back to the office before my lunch hour ended! That was an adventure!

Distance 3.00 mi, Duration 0:36:08, Pace 12:02 min/mile, Speed 5.0 mph.

And my supplement run/walk

Distance .58 mi, Duration 0:7:46, Pace 13:29 min/mile, Speed 4.47 mph.

Also this week I took Elvis the pup on several early morning walks which ended up adding seven more miles to my weekly total. After tomorrow’s run I should have about 18.62 miles logged for the week.

Week 2 begins

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Raven

First week went very well. Although there were some hot and uncomfortable days that I had to train on, I made it through the discomfort. Sunday I ran 4 miles, and in doing so, I went somewhat off the beaten path. I do that sometimes to shake the monotony of running the same familiar routes. It allowed me to tune out my brain, and take in the sights.

I discovered some huge houses and nice hideaways. The elevation was not extreme at all, which gave me a more relaxing longer run. Sadly I encountered way too many stray dogs. I hate that these poor creatures are on the street. They left me alone for the most part, and a couple were more afraid of me, than a threat. People really need to be mindful of their animals, and to spay and neuter them. I hope that in my future training runs, I don’t have to encounter so many lost little souls.

Speaking of strays, we rescued another one on Friday. This sweet girl was wondering around our neighborhood for over a week with an unfixed male. She was extremely friendly, and even sat for a couple of photos, so I could get the word out about her. The male was not as social, and was too skittish and aloof. We were not able to catch him.

When we got home from work on Friday evening, the lost girl was laying in a yard three houses down. When she caught eye of us, she bolted full speed to our place. I made the decision to give her a home. She adores everyone in the house! The other dogs are happy with her and love her too. She makes a great playmate to our puppy, and they wrestle for hours.

We had our vet check her out, and she is in perfect health. She just needs to be fixed, and that will be done within the next few weeks. Puppy-boy is first.

So running aside, please spay and neuter your pets. Also please consider a shelter dog; rescues make the BEST companions!

Anyway here was my Sunday run

Completed (Run): Distance 4.02 mi, Duration 0:48:31, Pace 12:05 min/mile, Speed 5.0 mph.

Week One Update

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Raven

After an assigned and required rest day Monday, it was time to get on it! Tuesday I hit the pavement during lunch to get in my training time. Summer is NOT over in Dallas, and that made it seriously difficult for me to get through this leg. It was not my best performance running-wise, but I finished it.

Distance 2.68 mi, Duration 0:38:09, Pace 14:14 min/mile, Speed 4.2 mph.

Wednesday was supposed to be another rest day, but I needed to get in a good walk to boost my mood, and get some fresh air. It was a brisk walk, that gave me some good distance at lunch.

Distance 2.76 mi, Duration 0:46:00, Pace 16:38 min/mile, Speed 3.6 mph.

Today’s run was much better. I was able to take my lunch a couple of hours earlier, so I could get out there and beat the noon-time heat. It still was not easy, but it was so much better than Tuesday’s run!!

Distance 2.52 mi, Duration 0:29:29, Pace 11:42 min/mile, Speed 5.1 mph.

Each morning I put in about 2 miles of dog walking, as well. So that also contributes to my training. Pup and I run a little, but it is not at the intensity that I run, on my training runs. He is too young still to run the distances, and the walk is more for him to sniff, walk, and do his business.

Saturday or Sunday will be a 3 miler. I can pick which ever day I wish. As time gets closer to the date of the Half Marathon, I’ll start trying to focus on doing the long weekend day runs, on Sundays.

And So It Begins… again

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Raven

Week one of Half-Marathon training is upon me! Day one… a rest day. I can dig that!

I put in a little over 4 miles on Saturday morning, and my legs were noticeably heavy. Not quite sure what the exact problem was, but I am thinking it was due to lack of proper hydration and supplementation; a wagon that I have fallen off of as of late. I am a preacher of drinking water. Drink at least your 8 cups (64 oz) of water a day, and more than that during the summertime. The injury got me off my game with training and with the above theory; I have just not been cognitive of my water intake. My food intake, yes I have been mindful of, but hydration has been forgotten. Bad me!

I made it through the run, but did have to walk almost a mile at the end. Walking breaks are fine, but when it is something that you have to take suddenly, due to performance issues, you have got to look at the “why”.

Today I am looking at training schedules. It was easy with the marathon training because I had a couple of books that were dedicated to the topic. However with a Half Marathon it is a little more tricky to find solid tried and true advice. It’s out there, but you have to weed through the web to get it. I believe I am settled on one of Hal Higdon’s. I may just be overly cautious due to the fact that I am coming back from an injury. I’m going to take this slow. REPEAT. I am going to take this slow.

For now, here is an inspirational quote –

“I don’t love broccoli, and I don’t love the treadmill, but I love the way I feel when I’m healthy and strong. It empowers me in all facets of my life. So remember, that although something may not be fun in the moment, remind yourself of the ultimate reward, and allow that to motivate you through the tough times. ”