30 Minutes of 1:00/1:00 Intervals

I didn't make it outside to train yesterday and feared that today would be a repeat. Luckily, I was able to find a half hour in between appointments to run intervals for 30 minutes. It was pretty warm by the time I got out and the difference between the cold and newly warm weather was very apparent.

Rodeo Run in the Rain

This morning was the Conoco Phillips Rodeo Run 10K. Bob and I met up with a bunch of folks from Fort Bend Fit.

Fort Bend Fit In Force

The race started at the Wortham Center and weaved its way around downtown, up the Elysian overpass (shades of Austin) and back again to Minute Maid Park. The weather was extremely hot and humid. It rained at the start and then drizzled intermittently throughout the race. There was a nice wind on the return trip over the viaduct.
We finished with a time of 1:23:27.

Mike and Dad, Bob K

Me and Bob After the Race

Tall Tales

This morning was my Toastmasters Club Contest. I told an embellished tale of the geese that consistently harass me by the lake. I won my club competition for Tall Tales and move on to the area contest. Here I am with Patricia, winner of the International Speech Contest and M-30 Area Governor, Edmund, after the contest.

Me, Patricia and Edmund

Another 30 Minutes

Today I decided to walk briskly for 30 minutes. It seemed more humid than yesterday, but still comfortable. I'm debating about training tomorrow or just skipping a day since the Rodeo Run is on Saturday.

30 Minutes in the Sunshine

It was like Spring today. I went out wearing a sleeveless top and shorts - the first time in a long time. I did 1:00/1:00 intervals for 30 minutes, dodged the pesky geese and had an enjoyable run. I needed the past 2 days for recovery and really enjoyed yesterday's massage. It was amazing that my thighs and legs didn't seem any worse for the wear of the Austin Hills. Saturday is the Rodeo Run 10K. Hopefully the weather will be as pleasant as it was today.

Austin was Awesome

Bob and I drove up to Austin on Saturday afternoon and headed straight for the EXPO to pick up our packets. Vicki and I were rooming together, but she drove up with her husband. We were all staying at the Courtyards By Marriott on 4th and Trinity, just 4 blocks from the start and finish. It was a great hotel, built as a non-smoking facility. It was sparkling clean and fresh. After we checked into our respective rooms, Bob and I drove the course. We saw the many hills that awaited us in the morning and it made we wonder if we would have been better off without a preview.

We met Bob's friends, Bob and Karen, at the Burger House on Spicewood Springs near Mesa to have our traditional hamburger before the race. My friend Maria caught up with us and we all had quite a few laughs.

It was early to bed and early to rise. My roomie, Vicki, got up at 4:30am and was dressed and ready to go by the time I got up at 5:00am. We met Bob for breakfast and headed to the start line at about 6:30am. We connected with some of the Fort Bend Fit Group (there were over 30 of us) and did a hooyah right in the middle of the bridge as we waited for the start.

A Small Group of Us FBFers Before the Race

Just before the gun, as the sun was rising, there was a brilliant fireworks display to our North, right in above the Capital. The race began on the Congress Street Bridge. It only took about 7 minutes to get to the Start line. It was downhill and then uphill for the first mile. The course was fairly easy until we got to mile 7 and encountered the first of several killer hills. I quickly confirmed that the "hill training" I thought I had been doing on the treadmill was non-existent. Bob and Vicki on the other hand, who are in an intense training program at their gym tackled the hills with little trouble. The weather was absolutely perfect - cool, sunny and no wind. The miles seemed to click by even with the tough hills. I guess the quick downhills made up for the slow uphills. I'm sure my thighs and legs will be screaming at me tomorrow.

Amazingly we finished the Austin Half in 3 hours, 5 minutes and 19 seconds, a personal record for me!

Me and Bob after the Race

Me and Bob after the Race

Maria Taking Photos After the Race

Ready for Austin

I did 30 minutes of what was supposed to be hills on the treadmill today. I'll find out on Sunday if it was as I encounter Austin's hills. The weather report still shows lows in the 40's with a high of 61 midday and no chance of rain. It should be a great weather for a great race!

Another 30 Minutes on the Treadmill

I did another round of hill training today and finally realized that the incline on the treadmill has not been very steep. When it's set on 10, the incline is only at about a 15 degree angle. I guess it's steeper than the flatlands of Sugar Land, but not close to the hills of Austin. I was wondering why I wasn't feeling any pulling in my legs or calves! Oh well, we'll see what happens in Austin. The weather is looking good, certainly better than last year, with early morning temps in the 40's and only a 10% chance of rain.

I did my carb loading for the weekend late this afternoon. Stan and I had an early Valentine's dinner at Maggiano's and it was soooooo good.

30 Minutes of Hill Training

Austin is this coming Saturday, so I've decided that this week's trainings will be on the treadmill. This morning I did 30 minutes, the first 20 uphill and the last 10, down. Last year's Austin course was mostly downhill, but I think this new course may be a bit more steep.
Today I received a nice surprise. Robert Key named me "Runner of the Week" at his blog. Check it out: Faithful Soles

Park to Park 5 Miler

Me and Bob After the Race

Today Bob and I did the Park to Park 5 Miler which started at Minute Maid Park and ended at the Hermann Park Japanese Gardens. It was really cold and overcast and thankfully did not rain. We started out together, but this time Bob took off around mile 2. I had been eating a lot more food this week and even had a hamburger for dinner last night. Apparently I haven't built up my energy stores enough. I'll just have to do better this week so I don't fizzle in Austin next weekend. Today's time was 1:08, a 13.31 minute mile. It was a bit longer than the Turkey Trot race this past November (seems like I'm getting slower instead of faster). We rode the Metro light rail back from Hermann Park to Preston and Main and walked .75 miles to the car. We definitely got our six miles in today!

30 minutes of 1:00/1:00 Intervals

This morning I ran 1:00/1:00 intervals by the lake for 30 minutes. It went well and I felt energized. I'm looking forward to Saturday's run.

30 Minutes of Hills

The weather was nice today, but I wanted to do hill training so I opted for the treadmill. I did a full 30 minutes of hills walking at a brisk pace. My back was feeling much better after a visit to the chiropractor yesterday.
Bob and I decided to do the Park to Park race this Saturday. It's a 5 miler starting at Minute Maid Park and ending at Hermann Park. Each participant receives a Metro token so that they can ride the train back to downtown. I plan on eating really well on Friday so that I have enough fuel for Saturday.

30 Minutes in Great Weather

Because of my back ache Saturday I was forced to deviate from my elimination diet. I took Advil which reduced the swelling and got rid of the pain. Last night I also ate some regular food, but in very small portions. I guess I'll ease back in to a regular diet, especially since I need my energy for Austin. I knew it would be tough to train and diet, but at least I've dropped the weight I had gained and I feel better overall except for my back.
This morning I did 1:00/1:00 intervals for 30 minutes. The weather was great- sunny skies and cool air - but I did get hot really fast. My back started hurting again after my run. I'll visit the chiropractor today or tomorrow and check it out.

Rockets Run

Me before the race

Bob warming up before the race

This morning Bob and I braved the 30 degree cold and did the Rockets Run. We got downtown before 7:00am, got our chips squared away and went back and stayed in the car until 10 minutes before the race. My lower back had been hurting me since yesterday (I finally realized that I must have wrenched it when I tripped going from an entry hall into a sunken living room Thursday while showing a house). I was able to do intervals just fine, without any pain, but I got light headed just before mile 3. I'm sure that had to do with my elimination diet. Bob and I did 1:00/1:00 intervals. I was slower than him, but like a true friend he kept circling back to stay with me even though I urged him on. I wore my Mickey Mouse ear muffs. People were yelling, "Go, Mickey!" It took me the longest to figure out they were yelling at me. The best part of the race was the last .4 mile. It was downhill through the Tundra parking garage. It felt like we were flying. I have never run so fast and so effortlessly. It was a real thrill. We finished in 42:19 which wasn't too bad considering my condition.

1:00/1:00 intervals for 30 Minutes

It was pretty cold this morning. The sky was overcast but it wasn't raining. I wanted to get one more training of intervals in before the 5K tomorrow morning since I want to finish the race in a decent time. The weather is looking good for tomorrow!
It's day 12 of my elimination diet and I have lost 13 pounds and fell great.