Yes, it's that time again. Time to hit the trail and the track. My coach started her new training program on Tuesday and I am stoked! We are now working on speed training,which is completely new to me. We met at the track and we have a few new members with mostly returning faces from last season. We started off with 30 minutes of yoga (which felt amazing) and then did a few running drills. After that, Coach Liz set up a paper with our names and where our faster pace should be per 400. I was at a 3:15 (4.00 is comfortable for me, but the point of this is to puch it some). I was actually better off at a 3:30, which was where I started. My other four laps were 3:25, 3:24, 3:15, and 3:07. I actually didn't know that I was running that fast on the last lap, I just knew I was getting a bit tired. It felt good to do those and after each lap, we would walk 100 and then come back to run another lap.
Most of us have races coming up, mostly small ones like 5Ks and 10Ks. I am actually doing the Kemah 5K at the end of next month which should be fun. I am acutally looking to set some PRs there since we are doing speed right now. I am glad that Leah has started to run again despite her injury and hope that Kat continues to run. Leah ran 4 laps with me and kept up a pretty good pace for not having ran in 2 months. My coworker Chelsea will do the 5K with me and is doing the "Couch to 5K" program.
The next thing I really need to work on is my diet. It sucks. I am on Weight Watchers and I have just been in a slump lately. I have been emotionally eating and been worrying about stuff I shouldn't which causes...MORE EATING. Need a plan here that will work for me. I know WW works, but I've just been lazy with it. I just have to try and it will work out.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Victory!
I finished the Woodlands Half Marathon in 3:36! I had planned for 3:45, but I did a litte better than I had thought. I was so happy that the weather was nice and overcast for the majority of the race, however, it did rain on us for about 10 minutes, but it was light.
Yesterday I woke up at 4:15am to get ready for the race because our coach wanted us out there by 5:30 for a group picture (didn't happen). I rolled out of bed and ate a piece of toast with peanut butter (the LDS peanut butter I might add because it was delicous) and made sure I had plenty of water in my system. On the way to the tent, I ate a banana to make sure I was good and energized. I got there and met my fellow runners, Leah, and the coach at the tent and it was super windy! Poor Kat was stuck at EcoBot with her students. We went out for our warm-up and did some light yoga stretching. Soon after we all went to do our own thing like run back, go to the bathroom, pin on our numbers, etc. Then a few of us got into a group picture and it was pretty cute.
Finally, it was time to run! Well, I heard no announcement of when the race had actually started, they just had us run out there and that was that. I was off and dummy me took off too fast because I had that racer's momentum at the beginning. I actually had two PRs that day and the first one was my fastest race mile: a 13:22. This was an accident and I was mad at myself because this was nowhere near my pace and I would pay for it soon. Sure enough, I did. I found a few people to pace myself with and I felt a lot better. Leah found me around mile 2 and ran with me for a few minutes. It was really nice to have her out there despite her foot hurting. After that, the village cheer section gave us some leis and I ran with it the rest of the way.
I found a random pace buddy for about 4-5 miles of the race and she was really sweet. I need to find her on facebook or something. We ran together for a bit and talked which was really nice and it got my mind off of the miles. Then Leah found me again between miles 6 and 7 and ran about a half mile with me. At this point I was feeling great and was happy to be out there. I unfortunately lost my friend, but I had to remember that running is an individual sport. I had to kick my own ass at this point. The water and gel stops were nice and there was a random oreo spot. Some kids even tried to run with me and they were kind of annoying. I think I was the only honest person running/walking towards then end because I was telling cops and water people that "this sucks" and "what the F*** was I thinking". They all were laughing when I said that.
Then there came those last few miles. I hated myself for the last 4-5 miles of the race. I realized that 10 miles is fine....13.1 is an evil bitch from hell. This being said, I had to find it in myself to keep going. Full marathoners were passing me left and right, but I still had to go on. I wasn't the last halfer by any stretch, but I felt tired and really really really slow. That last quarter mile, my coach and Leah found me and ran me in. It was a great feeling to have them there and to run in the rest of the race. My friend Malorie was there as well to take pictures. Too bad I look like hell in them, but It was done!
No matter what anyone says, no matter how fat or out of shape I feel, I know that I finished this race and wasn't last either. I finished 9 minutes before I thought I would and I was 24 minutes faster than when I walked a half-marathon. I did what most people who were watching, sitting at home, or wherever have never and will never do. This makes me proud.
I am not done with my running journals, because I have much more to do. My coach is starting speed training in a week and I have to get ready for more races. Stay tuned for more of my adventures/misadventures in this tough and rewarding sport!
Yesterday I woke up at 4:15am to get ready for the race because our coach wanted us out there by 5:30 for a group picture (didn't happen). I rolled out of bed and ate a piece of toast with peanut butter (the LDS peanut butter I might add because it was delicous) and made sure I had plenty of water in my system. On the way to the tent, I ate a banana to make sure I was good and energized. I got there and met my fellow runners, Leah, and the coach at the tent and it was super windy! Poor Kat was stuck at EcoBot with her students. We went out for our warm-up and did some light yoga stretching. Soon after we all went to do our own thing like run back, go to the bathroom, pin on our numbers, etc. Then a few of us got into a group picture and it was pretty cute.
Finally, it was time to run! Well, I heard no announcement of when the race had actually started, they just had us run out there and that was that. I was off and dummy me took off too fast because I had that racer's momentum at the beginning. I actually had two PRs that day and the first one was my fastest race mile: a 13:22. This was an accident and I was mad at myself because this was nowhere near my pace and I would pay for it soon. Sure enough, I did. I found a few people to pace myself with and I felt a lot better. Leah found me around mile 2 and ran with me for a few minutes. It was really nice to have her out there despite her foot hurting. After that, the village cheer section gave us some leis and I ran with it the rest of the way.
I found a random pace buddy for about 4-5 miles of the race and she was really sweet. I need to find her on facebook or something. We ran together for a bit and talked which was really nice and it got my mind off of the miles. Then Leah found me again between miles 6 and 7 and ran about a half mile with me. At this point I was feeling great and was happy to be out there. I unfortunately lost my friend, but I had to remember that running is an individual sport. I had to kick my own ass at this point. The water and gel stops were nice and there was a random oreo spot. Some kids even tried to run with me and they were kind of annoying. I think I was the only honest person running/walking towards then end because I was telling cops and water people that "this sucks" and "what the F*** was I thinking". They all were laughing when I said that.
Then there came those last few miles. I hated myself for the last 4-5 miles of the race. I realized that 10 miles is fine....13.1 is an evil bitch from hell. This being said, I had to find it in myself to keep going. Full marathoners were passing me left and right, but I still had to go on. I wasn't the last halfer by any stretch, but I felt tired and really really really slow. That last quarter mile, my coach and Leah found me and ran me in. It was a great feeling to have them there and to run in the rest of the race. My friend Malorie was there as well to take pictures. Too bad I look like hell in them, but It was done!
No matter what anyone says, no matter how fat or out of shape I feel, I know that I finished this race and wasn't last either. I finished 9 minutes before I thought I would and I was 24 minutes faster than when I walked a half-marathon. I did what most people who were watching, sitting at home, or wherever have never and will never do. This makes me proud.
I am not done with my running journals, because I have much more to do. My coach is starting speed training in a week and I have to get ready for more races. Stay tuned for more of my adventures/misadventures in this tough and rewarding sport!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Rhythm and Blues 5K
I did a 5K yesterday and was really excited to do it. It's less than 2 weeks to the half (OMG!!!) and I wanted to push myself some before the big day. Kat and I got out there and the race started at around 7:15am. The course was on Allen Parkway and if you've ever gone down that road, you know that once you go under the bridge it is a huge downhill followed by an uncomfortable uphill. This meant that we would be doing a total of four uphills. We ended up walking those and running our asses off on the flat areas. I finished in 46:17 which was a few minutes off of my last 5K and I PRed my average pace (14:56) and PRed my fastest mile (14:07). It was a great day for running. Unfortunatly, they lied on the website and said that we would all get medals for running the 5K and....nope. This makes me not want to sign up for this race again.
I have been slipping on my training for the last month or so by only getting in maybe 2 runs per week (this includes my long run). I am determined to get in at least 3 per week and not to kill myself during these so I can save a lot of myself for the half. I am a bit nervous and just want to finish the dang thing! On long runs my pace has gotten really slow (between 16:30-17) and my IT band has been bothering me as well. I am just going to have to take it easy on short runs. This should be a crazy 2 weeks. I'll keep you posted.
I have been slipping on my training for the last month or so by only getting in maybe 2 runs per week (this includes my long run). I am determined to get in at least 3 per week and not to kill myself during these so I can save a lot of myself for the half. I am a bit nervous and just want to finish the dang thing! On long runs my pace has gotten really slow (between 16:30-17) and my IT band has been bothering me as well. I am just going to have to take it easy on short runs. This should be a crazy 2 weeks. I'll keep you posted.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Long Time, No See
I have not written in forever! Well, a lot of running, work and other things have happened. We will be doing 8 miles this Saturday and we have finished our base running at this point. In this point in my training, we are at the sharpening point which is where we do tempo runs once a week. Tonight we have 4 miles and have a speed pattern for them as well. I also recieved a garmin for Christmas which was amazing, however, I am struggling with how to use it correctly. I have also been through 2 pairs of new shoes that haven't worked for my feet which are the Brooks Ghost and the Asics Gel Landrith 7s. I might have to run in the Asics tonight, but I think it will be OK.
Also, since this is a new year, I did the most cliche thing possible: I joined Weight Watchers. It was really depressing for me to see how much weight I've gained in the past year and a half. I did it to myself and can't blame anyone else. I think I am over the sad phase and into the let's bring it phase. I know I have tendencies to do something for a while and then quit, come back, quit, come back, but I'd like to break that cycle. I know Weight Watchers works and I've lost weight on it before (40 lbs) and I can do it again. I am also excited for the fact that if I am lighter, I can run better and maybe some of my foot problems will go away. I will let you know how my journey goes.
Also, since this is a new year, I did the most cliche thing possible: I joined Weight Watchers. It was really depressing for me to see how much weight I've gained in the past year and a half. I did it to myself and can't blame anyone else. I think I am over the sad phase and into the let's bring it phase. I know I have tendencies to do something for a while and then quit, come back, quit, come back, but I'd like to break that cycle. I know Weight Watchers works and I've lost weight on it before (40 lbs) and I can do it again. I am also excited for the fact that if I am lighter, I can run better and maybe some of my foot problems will go away. I will let you know how my journey goes.
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