The gang (Phil and Sarah behind the camera)
Jude’s first 5k!
My kids and me! Rach did the 1 mile walk. Yes, I am now the shortest one in my family.
Jude and I coming in for the finish.
Across the finish line: 32:23 (10:22 pace). I’ll take it!
i think therefore i run.
Running Feet
So, I thought I’d blog today. I enjoy adding a photo that goes along with whatever is in my head, so today I Googled “running feet”. Among the many images that were returned, this was one them. This is often how I feel I look like when I’m out there running…um… AMUSING, to say the least. You’ve seen the “This is what I think I look like”, “This is what I really look like” pics, right? If not, I’ll add it, so you know what I’m talking about:
That’s me, on the bottom… although, I don’t think I’m that cute.
I’m glad any one can run, and it’s not based on how cool you look… I’d be out (I’m going by my race day photos here… all of which are pretty dorky).
Moving on to other things, my right butt-string (that would be my butt and hamstring combined) is hurting today. Nothing major or serious… just “from a good work out” kind of hurt. I’ve been focusing on my pace and it’s been improving, so I guess butt pain can be expected. Yes, running has become a pain in my butt. (I crack myself up.)
Today I was able to do some speed intervals outside on a soft, drizzly day. It was good and just a little different than on the treadmill, but I was happy with how I did. These are my splits from my Nike+ band:
The last mile was done at a relaxed pace…. WHAT?! that used to be my faster pace! YAY!
Next Saturday I’m running a 5k and I really hope to see a massive improvement on my time, I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I’m sure I’ll post how I did.. and I know you can’t wait.
Hope this weekend is full of fun things!
All Hot and Sweaty
3.1 miles 32:08
That sounds like the title to a bad song, sorry about that. Well, I did my run for the Jelly Bean Virtual Race! I chose to run a 5k (since I have one that I’m getting ready for at the end of April) and finished in 32:08 for an overall pace of 10:22. MUCH closer to what I would like my “regular” pace to become! WOO! I did, however, start out WAY to fast, and had to try to recoup during mile 2, so I need to work on that.
It was a nice day, on the cool side but very, very humid. We had some bad storms move through our area last night, so it cooled things off, but whew… you could cut the air with a knife (so cliche, I know…again, my apologies). Later the kids and I headed to the gym and I ran another 2 miles, bringing the total for the day to 5. I’ll take it.
I hope you all (all 2 readers… Mom and Beth) have a GREAT Easter weekend!
HE IS RISEN INDEED!
Yay!
This is my run from yesterday. I decided to throw some fartlek training into my schedule, so I warmed up a bit for 3 minutes and then did 6 1 minute intervals, then ran at the slower pace for 5 minutes, then a cool down. This run was…. AWESOME! I felt great through out the whole run, and finished 3 miles in UNDER 30 minutes! It doesn’t take me much to make me happy.
Here’s a shot of my splits. Technically Nike+ said I only ran 2.99 miles (when I transferred it to Daily Mile it said 2.99887 or some number like that… REALLY Nike+??), so my last split would be around 9:44. Today my legs feel fantastic and am not sore at all. This really makes me think I can do this speed increase thing! I looking forward to try my shoes on a longer run. Hopefully I can fit that in Wednesday or Friday.
Hope you all have a great Easter!
Faster?
Okay, so I’ve realized something. While I recognize I will probably never place in my age group (unless of course I’m still running when I’m 99 and there are only 2 other people in my category), I can run faster than what I’ve been telling myself I can run. I think I’ve been phoning it in lately, and I’m not sure that I like that. It’s been two years since I’ve started this journey, and I think I’m finally ready to BAM, Kick it up a Notch (but just so we’re clear.. NOT a Carl Lewis notch).
To help with this endeavor I purchased some new shoes:
After much research I went with Asics Gel-Neo 33. They are more along the minimal line than my current shoes, but are still in the Stability category. I’ve run about 6 miles total in them so far and gotta say, I LOVE THEM. I think they encourage a mid-foot strike much more than my Kayanos, and they are much lighter to boot (8.5oz compared to 10.4). Both runs were around 3 miles and I averaged 10:54 on Friday and 10:13 today. While this isn’t jaw dropping, it is much faster than I usually run. I wasn’t sure how much I’d like the black, but it’s growing on me….plus it was my only color option. During and after my legs felt fantastic. I did feel a little more “tiredness” (for lack of a better description) in the ball area of my foot, but I think that could be due to the whole mid-foot strike thing. The next day, my legs still felt great. So I’m taking that as a good sign. I’ve yet to wear them on a longer run, but will do so soon.
I’m running a 5k in April, and my goal is to train to feel comfortable at a 10:00 to 10:15 avg. pace. I’m also thinking about signing up for Longview’s Alley Fest 10k in May and seeing if I can PR. My overall goal is to have a faster “base” when I start training for the Tyler Rose Half in June (the half is in October). We shall see how all this goes.
In the end, my running has to be fun or I won’t do it. But at the same time I think I can give more than what I’m giving. I like the idea of pushing myself a little bit further (every 2 years isn’t too bad).
Happy Running (or whatever makes you happy)!
Oh, The Runs!
NO… not those kinds of runs…. these are FUN runs!
The Jelly Bean Virtual Race
The first one is a virtual 5-10k hosted by Jess. She lives in Peoria, which is right next to where my family lives. While I can’t be in Peoria to run with her, I will be running here in texas. Check out the link (her name) to get involved in this fun race. (it’s a super cute race bib!!)
Tyler Azalea 10k
Then there’s the Tyler Azalea 10k coming up THIS month! This is such a GREAT course through the Historic Azalea district of Tyler. The flowers are in full bloom and just beautiful. If you are in the area, you definitely need to check this run out. I ran it last year, and think I’m going to make it a tradition!
Kilgore’s Cake Chase
The last one, is the first annual Kilgore Historic Society Cake Chase. I’m automatically IN for anything to do with free cake! My son is thinking of doing this one with me. YAY! I haven’t checked out the course yet, but it sounds like it’s pretty much in my neighborhood (literally). And, well, like I said earlier… there is free cake. What more needs to be said?
Alpine Heart and Sole
I’m still trying to decide if I’m going to have the time to squeeze this run in as well. I did it last year, with my friend Pamela, and had a great time. For right now, it’s at the back of my brain.
Hope you have a GREAT week!!
It’s Friday!
Yes! I’m a winner!
I’ve been following this site for a while on Twitter, and had been thinking I needed to get over there and get involved but just never did. This past weekend they were having a contest and were giving away two Road ID eCards to the first two people to create a new account and post a new topic. Well, what more motivation did I need? I have been needing a new Road ID (my old one is pretty nasty) and I had been meaning to sign up anyway, so that’s what I did. And guess what…. I was one of the winners! They actually ended up giving away three because I tied with another person in setting up the second new account, that’s pretty cool.
I went with a new Slim Road ID in orange:
I think anyone running, biking, hiking whatever should invest in some kind of ID product. It’s just a good idea. Thanks again, Twentysixtwo and Road ID!!
Tomorrow is the Virtual Run for Sherry spearheaded by Beth over at SUAR. I’m not going to be able to run on Saturday (rehearsal schedule interferes), but will be doing it Sunday. No family should have to go through what Sherry’s has. If you want to, head over and print out a bib and run, walk or bike in her memory. I know it will mean a lot even though the family doesn’t know you.
Hope you have a great weekend!
I’m Here!
Wow! It’s been, what…. FOREVER??!! since I last blogged. It may not be the best excuse, but I’m going to blame Life. Busy, messy, normal everyday Life.
I’ve not done much since the Tyler Half… literally. Running was put on the back burner as the holidays took over. I just took a break…. and ate. 
I’m finally getting back into the groove of “real life”… school, work, rehearsals, and yes RUNNING! Yay!
Next up, on my running agenda, is the Azalea Trail 10k in March. I figured that would be a nice way to EASE into running again. So, I’ve begun “training”… meaning running on a quasi-regular basis, and doing actual mileage as opposed hit and miss kind of stuff. I’d like to feel at least a little prepared for this one. This past weekend I put in a five miler, and it felt pretty good… so, I think I’m on the right road.
A little insider info, I started this post on 1/30… and am just now getting it done and posting it. Oh, yeah.
One parting idea, that has nothing at all to do with this blog post:
Life is better lived outside YOURSELF.
Happy Running!
Tyler Rose Half Marathon
Yes, well… I’ve been absent from blog land for quite some time. I don’t have any really great excuses, just life and job and commitments have set some limits on my time. Including my time for running. Since April I’ve been off and on with running, fitting it in when able and doing some cross training too (elliptical, etc.)
Way back on 01-09-11 I posted this about the Tyler Rose Half Marathon. I was excited and had every intention on training for it, like I had for the Waco Half. I even filled out my calendar with my training schedule and everything. Then, well, LIFE got in the way (hate how that seems to happen) and I promptly FORGOT that I had entered. Which meant I didn’t start training either.
About a week ago (one week before the event) I got a reminder email about the Half. The first thought I had was, “No way am I even going to run that thing. That would be craziness!”
Well, I guess I’m crazy.
The more I thought about it the more the idea of a “DNF” (did not finish) bugged me. Plus, there was this small idea of “you only live once” germinating in my brain. I mean, I’m healthy and have been keeping up with exercising so I wasn’t out of shape. It’s just that I hadn’t been TRAINING for a half… so it would be crazy to participate, right?
I prayed and talked about the pros and cons with God on my way to work. The race had a 6 hour time limit, so I knew even if I walked the whole thing, I could still finish. I texted Phil, “You are going to think I’m crazy, but…” and decided to go for it.
I also decided I wanted to keep this personal. Just Phil and myself knew, and I really wanted it to stay that way. I’m not sure why, maybe less pressure to perform but it is what it is.
From the get-go I threw any goals out the window. My ONLY goal was to finish. Whether that was 3 hours or 6 hours, I didn’t care. This was for fun, for the joy of getting out there and enjoying the process of running. Enjoying the course. That’s it.
I settled on a very easy 2/1 interval with a very relaxed pace on the running part. I wasn’t sure how my legs would respond so I also decided on walking the hills (and it was a hilly course). On Friday (the race was on Sunday) I headed out for an easy 3.5 miles to see how that interval felt. It was super easy, so I felt good about the prospects for the Half.
On Sunday, I set out a 6:05 am to head for Tyler. Phil got up to make coffee and see me off, but didn’t go with me. Our plan was for him to drop the kids off at church (we attend one in Tyler) and then head over the the finish line. It felt weird not having him with me; but I got all checked-in, pinned my bib on and found a good spot to wait for the start of the Half at 8am.
Number 527, pretty good if I say so myself.
One of my favorite things about races are all the people, and people watching. Purple spandex on men should be illegal, by the way (especially if worn by itself). Beth, I think this same guy was at the Waco Half. Remember the guy with the rainbow lei’s?
Anyway, the weather was perfect and the race was great. We started right at 8am, and I finished right at 11 am… 3 hours. I did some MAJOR walking at mile 11 and then for mile 12-12.9 I had to switch my interval to 1 run/2 walk. But I finished the last .2 miles or so running, and ran over the finish line, so I was happy.
See how happy I am.
Phil was waiting right there at the finish. He said he had only been there about 5 minutes before I crossed the line (he was actually worried that he had missed me). I got my medal and a bottle of water and walked around for a bit, then found a bench to sit.
Time to sit.
Overall, I felt GREAT. My legs were a bit crampy, but that’s really it. Of course, I was tired, but never felt taxed that way during the run. I was tempted SEVERAL times to run longer than what I had settled on for my plan… that whole pride thing I think. But, each time I told myself that’s not what I was there for. It was a good run, and I have my second Half medal.
My mom asked if this was motivation to train more now. I’m not sure. I’d probably like to run this one again next year, and maybe just make it an annual thing. However I think it would probably be good to get at least a couple 9 milers in before hand (ie: a little more training that I had for this one).
So, if there is something out there that seems like it would be pure craziness to do… you might want to reconsider. Sometimes you just have to do something that makes no sense at all.
Have a GREAT week!
boo!
Surprise! I’m not dead… I’ll have something to post after Sunday.
