30 Minutes with 3 days To Go Until Dallas

I am so glad that I decided to switch to the Half. I just don't think I'm ready yet to run a full marathon as I had planned. I'm sure that's why I my leg started hurting earlier in the week, because I was pushing too much.

This morning I ran for 30 minutes doing 40/90 intervals after a 5 minute warm-up walk. I felt fine and nothing hurt when I was done. I'll do a short, 20 minute work-out tomorrow and then it's off until Sunday and the Big D Texas Half Marathon!

35 Minutes Walking

It rained most of the day until late afternoon. When I finally had time to go out, it was crystal clear and the sun was shining. Although my leg wasn't really hurting, just a bit tight, I didn't want to take any chances, so I decided to walk briskly for 30 minutes or so. I felt fine when I finished, but I started wondering if it was really wise to try to do the full marathon on Sunday. I only need one more half for the Texas Challenge. The course is only open for 6.5 hours and I don't know if I'm ready to run the whole thing. I have emailed the director to see when the deadline for switching races is. I'll sleep on it, but I'm pretty sure that I'll switch.

45 Minutes

After a 5 minute warm-up, I began my intervals with 50 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking. After about 20 minutes my left leg started to cramp so I walked for about 10 minutes until it loosened up and then went back to the intervals. Although 10 seconds doesn't sound like a lot, I think I might have pushed too hard. I read through Jeff Galloway's book this afternoon and he recommends that you stick with two weeks of the same intervals before increasing to the next level. With the Dallas Marathon coming in just a few days, I really don't want an injury.

6 miles

I had planned to join Vicki and Kim this morning and leave from Velocity at 6:30, but when 5am rolled around, I just couldn't get out of bed. My last run had been on Thursday, 35 minutes of 40/90 intervals. I thought about waiting until Sunday to run, but didn't want to get off my schedule, so I went out around 12:30pm, after my 11:00am appointment. It was cool, but the sun was really beating down, so I dressed in shorts and a sleveless singlet and I'm glad I did. It starting sweating pretty quickly. After a 5 minute walk, I started doing intervals of 40/90. Even though I had to cross a few major streets and wait for some lights, I still finished in 1 hour and 22 minutes, the same time as my last 10K. When I got home I soaked in the cold spa (55 degrees) and although I had to clench my teeth going in, I'm glad I did. My knee was hurting when I got home, but so far there's been no further soreness.

The Big D Marathon in Dallas is just a week away........

45 Minutes

I wasn't able to get out until late in the morning. It had been raining, and although I have made peace with the wet, I didn't want to take a chance on getting sick before the Dallas Marathon. I waited until it was barely sprinkling and ran for 35 minutes after a 5 minute warm-up. The 40/90 intervals are getting easier. I really pushed it on the last 2 intervals and ran for closer to a full minute.

30 Minutes

This morning's workout was for 30 minutes. After warming up for 5 minutes, I increased the running part to 40 second intervals again, with 90 seconds walking. I'd like to maintain at least 40 seconds if not longer for the Dallas Marathon which is coming up on April 2nd.

My First Half Marathon- Seabrook Lucky Trails

MIB- Bob, Me & Randy

Some of the FBF Group Before the Race

Me by the Bay

Me and Vicki at the Finish Line

Me and Vicki after the race

Me and Bob after the Race

Today was my first Official Half Marathon. I say official, because every Marathon contains two halves. But it's not the same thing. Bob and I left at 5:15am this morning to head down to Seabrook for the Seabrook Lucky Trails Half/Full Marathon which started at 7:00am. It was drizzling when we left Houston, but the skies cleared for what turned out to be a nice morning. A bit hot and humid, but with a good breeze. We were both tired and joked about how we hoped we didn't fall asleep on the course. I met up with Vicki, an FBF runner who was nursing an injury. We had arranged to race together (I knew that Bob would take off early on, and he did, finishing with a time of 2:48:10). Vicki was a big help, keeping me on pace. We ran/ walked a 30/90 pace all the way to mile 12 where we both lost steam. We walked in the last mile for a finish of 3:07:40, a time I was very pleased with. The race was well organized and a lot of fun. It was a loop course, and I could see where the Full might get old after the second loop, but for the Half it was perfect. Most of the run was through wooded trails with lots of greenery and the most magnificent Wisterias I had ever seen. I don't know why I didn't think to take a picture of them. One of the highlights of the course was the piece on the bay. There was a great breeze and a beautiful view of the water. On the second pass of that location, a Girl Scout troop handed out cool, much appreciated wet towels.

The finisher's medals were really great and everyone received a satchel bag, a pair of trail sox and a t-shirt with their race packet. All in all I would say it was one of my better racing experiences.

30 Minutes

I adjusted my watch for 40 seconds of running with 90 second rest breaks. Today I warmed up and cooled down for 5 minutes and ran/walked for the 20 minutes in between. It amazes me how on training days the time seems to drag. For instance today's thirty minutes seemed like forever, yet on race days the time seems to, well, race. Tomorrow is a light 20 minutes and then rest until Sunday, my First Half Marathon.

35 Minutes

After a 5 minute warm-up I ran/walked for 30 minutes. I couldn't figure out how to change the interval time on my watch, so I continued running after the 30 second beep,increasing the run time to between 35 and 40 seconds. The weather was beautiful today - cool and windy. Sunday's weather forecast for Seabrook has a 30% chance of thunderstorms.

45 Minutes Almost in the Rain

Now that I've made peace with rain, I was looking forward to a run in this morning's showers. The rain started the moment I went outside, but ended just as abruptly. It felt good for the short time it lasted. After warming up for 5 minutes, I continued with intervals of 30 second runs and 90 second rests. Tomorrow I will increase the run time to 40 seconds and see how it goes. My goal is to eventually be running for longer than my rest periods.

Sunday is the Half Marathon in Seabrook.

Another 10K- Bayou City Classic

Bayou City Classic 10K

This morning Bob and I ran the Bayou City Classic 10K. The race started at 8:00am which was late considering the temperature was already in the mid 70's. We started out at a pretty fast clip, our first mile under 12 minutes. We kept up a 30 second run/90 second rest pace, but I got really hot close to mile 2 and had to pull back. After a short slowdown and some water, I got back on the program and finished with a 1:22:07 time, a PR (personal record) almost 3 minutes better than the Rodeo Run last month. My watch showed my 5K time just under 40 minutes, but the race time shows a clock time of 41.14, which was barely under the 41:17 I had at the Rodeo Run.

This week will be preparation for the Half Marathon in Seabrook this coming Sunday.

Bayou Classic Tomorrow

Yesterday I trained for only 30 minutes. I tried out my new Ironman watch which was set for intervals of 30 seconds and then 90 seconds. After warming up for 10 minutes, I ran/walked for the next 20 minutes using my watch. It was great just listening for the beeps and not having to look down at my times. I'm anxious to see how well it works tomorrow at the 10K race downtown.

45 Minutes 30/1.5

This morning I repeated yesterday's exercise, a 10 minute warm-up and then running for 30 seconds on the "evens"; 10 minutes/12 minutes, etc until 34.Then a cool down until 45. It was easier today than yesterday, except for the fact that my tights keep falling down. I had to grab hold of the waist every time I ran, a bit of a pain, but something that would never have happened a year ago when I was so much heavier.

45 Minutes

This weekend was one big celebration. We had 3 celebrations/parties/events and ate at all of them. To say I overdid it would be an understatement. And I really felt it this morning when I went out to do my training. I felt as though I had reflux and did not like the feeling at all. I have always avoided spicy foods before a big walk/run, and need to apply that to my weekly trainings as well- another lesson learned. So, today, in spite of my "condition", I warmed up for 10 minutes and then ran/walked for the next 30 minutes. Beginning at 10 minutes, I ran for 30 seconds on the even times and walked for 1.5 minutes in-between and then cooled down at the end for 5 minutes. I'll try this again tomorrow and see how it goes. Saturday is the HEB 10K and I would like to beat my Rodeo Run times, even if by just a bit.

6 at 6

That Old Farmers' Almanac indicator about being able to tell when a cold front is through coming through held true today - masses of birds were congregating at the Velocity parking lot as the temperature dropped. Luckily I had a light jacket in the trunk of my car since I had dressed for summer based on yesterday's weather. I started out with Bob and Kevin at 6am. They start out a lot faster than I do, and it wasn't long before I realized that I hadn't warmed up enough. Bob and I had passed up Kevin because we were running in between, but by mile 2, my calf started to hurt, so I stopped and stretched. Kevin sped by me and I wound up finishing the rest of the mileage by myself. I took my time, stopping to stretch periodically, mostly walking. By the time I finished, I felt pretty good. I'll ice it some today, just to be safe and rest it on my off day tomorrow.

45 Minutes 5x2:00

Once again the weather was beautiful. I was better prepared today and wore shorts and a sleeveless top. I ran for as long as I could, anywhere from 30 seconds to just a bit over a minute during the 2 minute sessions . Prior to the Rodeo Run, the last time I'd run was just before the 30K on December 11th, so it's taking a bit to get back into it.

Yesterday was "sign-up" day for me. I officially registered for the Texas Challenge, and entered the lottery for the New York Marathon in November. I only have 2 more races to complete, the Half in Seabrook and the Full in Dallas in order to fulfill the challenge. And regarding the NYC marathon, there are a lot more people who want to race it than there are slots, so they do a lottery drawing. If you get picked, then you get to sign up for the race. The drawings are in mid June. Until then I'll keep visualizing my November New York vacation.