On Saturday I directed (with Start2Finish) my first ever 5K! We had almost 750 people sign up as 5K runners, spirit runners, or 400M dashers (for the kiddos). Unfortunately we had cold, rainy weather so only about 250 came out to run plus another 100 that just hung out in the gym watching the times come across the screens. All in all I would say it was a huge success and I'm pumped to do it again next year.
I was so crazy busy last week getting all the details ready for the race that I only got in 26 miles and 12 of them were yesterday. And let me tell you I am super proud of the run. I was really doubting I would do it on Saturday night - I had been up since 4am and working like crazy until 1ish. But AC turned 2 (can you believe it!! 2!!) on Saturday and her party was yesterday and I was up at 5am getting the BBQ ready for the smoker. It's so easy to smoke BBQ, but it takes hours so you have get up early to prepare it. I decided since I was up just go ahead and run. Even when I started at 6am I was uncertain as to how it would go, but it kept getting better as I kept running!
I ran 7.5 and circled back to the house for the water, then took off again for the last 4.5. I ended up with 12miles at a 9:43 pace. The last mile was 9:17! One more longish run next weekend before the Gtown Half.
AC had blast at her party. We just had family over but she and her cousin had so much fun with the gifts. She got a few small things, but the big things really got her so excited - she screamed when each one of them came out. She got a slide, a toddler trampoline, and a tricycle. She didn't even have any of her cake she was so busy playing. I'll have to post pictures soon.
Do it!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
8 "easy" miles
Yesterday I got busy with 8 "easy" miles. Why the air quotes? It was hard. It was a beautiful day so ran from school to a golf course thinking how nice that would be. I was at mile 4 by the time I got there (I took the long way) and I ran on the hilly golf course! Plus easy means slow so you are out there running longer.
I'm trying to fit a run in today, but it might not happen. On my plate: in-laws come tonight, school tomorrow, AC turns two on Saturday, and oh yeah, I'm the race director for a new 5K and we have almost 700 people signed up!! So I've been running around like a crazy this week and tomorrow I have to go buy all the necessary supplies to make the morning awesome. If you are local, check out gobbler5k.racesonline.com for the details.
Do it!
I'm trying to fit a run in today, but it might not happen. On my plate: in-laws come tonight, school tomorrow, AC turns two on Saturday, and oh yeah, I'm the race director for a new 5K and we have almost 700 people signed up!! So I've been running around like a crazy this week and tomorrow I have to go buy all the necessary supplies to make the morning awesome. If you are local, check out gobbler5k.racesonline.com for the details.
Do it!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
800s
800s suck but they have made me faster! I ran 4 miles on Sunday to work some of the soreness out from the 10K then took yesterday off completely. So today called for some speed work. I'm kind of (well, straight up) basing my workouts on Laura's training plan that she is doing with a coach. Today called for 5x800!
One thing I like about my job is that I can just pop outside and get a workout in if I don't have class. I did a 1.2 mile warmup then hit the track for the 4x800 (no time for 5). My times were supposed to be between 3:40-3:45 and I hit it every time. 3:43. 3:42, 3:45, and 3:45. I tried to kick it on the last one but apparently I need to kick a little harder! Then I jogged about 3 laps for a cooldown.
I really feel like these workouts are doing their job - just look at my PR from Saturday! Hopefully I can keep this up through the Germantown Half which is two weeks away!
Do it!
One thing I like about my job is that I can just pop outside and get a workout in if I don't have class. I did a 1.2 mile warmup then hit the track for the 4x800 (no time for 5). My times were supposed to be between 3:40-3:45 and I hit it every time. 3:43. 3:42, 3:45, and 3:45. I tried to kick it on the last one but apparently I need to kick a little harder! Then I jogged about 3 laps for a cooldown.
I really feel like these workouts are doing their job - just look at my PR from Saturday! Hopefully I can keep this up through the Germantown Half which is two weeks away!
Do it!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Move it Memphis 10K
Yesterday I met up with Laura and we headed downtown to run. I was not too sure how it would go because I felt really bad Friday night and woke up feeling like someone stabbed me in the throat Saturday morning!!
Despite the stabbing it turned out to be a great day to run - my tylenol kicked in and the weather was perfect. We did a one mile warmup, which I never do and I think helped some, then lined up to start. My plan was just to go - I've been doing quite a few tempo runs and some track work and after this race I really feel like they have been working. Here are my splits:
8:01, 8:23, 8:11, 8:36, 8:24, 8:01, 2:36 = 52:16 - a huge PR!
My last mile was as fast as my first mile!! My two had a hill and I'm not sure what is up with mile 4 - maybe I was just in a daze or something. But I felt strong the entire race. My garmin ended up showing 6.3 miles as did Laura's.
I am still pretty pumped about the race. This is only the 3rd 10K I have ever run. My first was in 57 something, my second in 53 something - and those were all three years ago before I had AC!!
But I am so sore today. I went and did an easy 3.2 and I am definitely taking tomorrow off.
Do it!
Despite the stabbing it turned out to be a great day to run - my tylenol kicked in and the weather was perfect. We did a one mile warmup, which I never do and I think helped some, then lined up to start. My plan was just to go - I've been doing quite a few tempo runs and some track work and after this race I really feel like they have been working. Here are my splits:
8:01, 8:23, 8:11, 8:36, 8:24, 8:01, 2:36 = 52:16 - a huge PR!
My last mile was as fast as my first mile!! My two had a hill and I'm not sure what is up with mile 4 - maybe I was just in a daze or something. But I felt strong the entire race. My garmin ended up showing 6.3 miles as did Laura's.
I am still pretty pumped about the race. This is only the 3rd 10K I have ever run. My first was in 57 something, my second in 53 something - and those were all three years ago before I had AC!!
But I am so sore today. I went and did an easy 3.2 and I am definitely taking tomorrow off.
Do it!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Move it!
Tomorrow is my first race of 2011 - the Move it Memphis 10K and I'm pumped! I had originally planned on this being my 4th or 5th race of the year, but I opted out of some smaller races to get long trail runs in. The Germantown half is creeping up and I need to get some racing in!
Do it.
Do it.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
St. Jude sufferfest
I have some time before I leave to go run so I thought I would write about what lit a fire under me last December...the St. Jude half. Last summer I was running a lot and feeling really good about where I was going with running so I signed up for the half. For some reason I always forget how busy I am once school and soccer starts...plus having a toddler to chase around. So I maybe averaged 10-15 miles a week the whole fall. Which is fine for just running for a little bit of fitness but not for a half marathon.
I even tried to bail out, but mr. rt would not let me so off I went to trudge through the half. My original goal was to shoot for 9:30 miles and the worst case scenario was 2:15. Well, I stayed on pace until about mile 7 then it was just rough...and painful...and as I was running I was just mad. Mad at myself, mad at the race, just mad, mad, mad. I finished in 2:12 which is my worst time by a lot. That's what happens when you don't do any long runs!! I decided to use it as a training run and that next weekend I was out on the trails with my bro in law and we have not missed a weekend since.
The Germantown half is about 4 weeks away and I feel really good about where I am. I had planned on doing some smaller races in January and February, but instead my b-i-l and I have been doing a lot of back to back trail runs. Two weekends ago we did 12 on Saturday and 8 on Sunday.
Do it!!
I even tried to bail out, but mr. rt would not let me so off I went to trudge through the half. My original goal was to shoot for 9:30 miles and the worst case scenario was 2:15. Well, I stayed on pace until about mile 7 then it was just rough...and painful...and as I was running I was just mad. Mad at myself, mad at the race, just mad, mad, mad. I finished in 2:12 which is my worst time by a lot. That's what happens when you don't do any long runs!! I decided to use it as a training run and that next weekend I was out on the trails with my bro in law and we have not missed a weekend since.
The Germantown half is about 4 weeks away and I feel really good about where I am. I had planned on doing some smaller races in January and February, but instead my b-i-l and I have been doing a lot of back to back trail runs. Two weekends ago we did 12 on Saturday and 8 on Sunday.
Do it!!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Fierce winds
Last summer and part of the fall I decided to add a little speed work to my week with fartlek runs or pickups as I like to call them. Since the holidays I changed the pickups to tempo runs and normally I do a pretty good job of hitting between a 7:55-8:00 pace but today was another story!
On the table was a 4 mile tempo run - one mile warmup, two miles tempo, and one mile cooldown. It's been pretty windy around here the past few days and today was no different. I ran the warmup mile in the neighborhood at around 9:00 pace then went onto the main road towards the high school for the two tempo miles and holy winds! My first mile was 8:22 and my second was 8:14 and I felt like I was working my butt off! I was punching into the wind, struggling to breath, getting side stiches, and just cussing the wind. So I'm not going to pay too much attention to the times but instead on my effort because believe me, it was there.
Mr. rt laughed when I got home becuase I have a history of "cussing nature." I told him a long time about some of my windy runs to get in shape during soccer season and how my 100lb high school frame could barely move. Then he saw it first hand when we first start hiking with all the switchbacks. Just when you think you are to the top of a mountain there is another switchback.
Tomorrow I'm pumped - hitting up the trails for an 8 banger. Do it.
Happy running!
On the table was a 4 mile tempo run - one mile warmup, two miles tempo, and one mile cooldown. It's been pretty windy around here the past few days and today was no different. I ran the warmup mile in the neighborhood at around 9:00 pace then went onto the main road towards the high school for the two tempo miles and holy winds! My first mile was 8:22 and my second was 8:14 and I felt like I was working my butt off! I was punching into the wind, struggling to breath, getting side stiches, and just cussing the wind. So I'm not going to pay too much attention to the times but instead on my effort because believe me, it was there.
Mr. rt laughed when I got home becuase I have a history of "cussing nature." I told him a long time about some of my windy runs to get in shape during soccer season and how my 100lb high school frame could barely move. Then he saw it first hand when we first start hiking with all the switchbacks. Just when you think you are to the top of a mountain there is another switchback.
Tomorrow I'm pumped - hitting up the trails for an 8 banger. Do it.
Happy running!
Monday, February 21, 2011
New Home!
Just a quick recap of my life since August...I'm still running! In the fall it was quite sporadic and it showed in my struggle through the St. Jude half. But St. Jude really made me mad, so I've been pushing it every since and I finally feel like a runner again.
Maybe that is why I've really had the blogging itch...I'm so excited about where I am with running and I just want to be able to write it all down! I'm going to try to keep the blog mainly about running but life might trickle in here some.
Maybe that is why I've really had the blogging itch...I'm so excited about where I am with running and I just want to be able to write it all down! I'm going to try to keep the blog mainly about running but life might trickle in here some.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)