Changes

Last semester I accomplished some good training runs and decent race times. The two races I ran, the ATL 13.1 Marathon and the Serenbe Hill Country trail 15k, I set PRs. The half I did it 17 minutes faster than my first and the 15k was my first time running that distance. Even though I did have the training in my schedule it was extremely lower than what I was use to before school started. This resulted in a crash emotionally.

The lack of training was not the only factor that made the crash possible, the work environment I was in and also the schedule that both jobs, internship, and class/ class work took up. For this semester I have a new job and new internship. My week is a little bit busier with the travel time included, but I will have my Friday through Sunday open. This gives me time for long runs, which I did not have time for last semester.

With this yesterday I tried a route that I thought about for a while, but yet tried. Its a back road connecting my side of town to the other (so to speak). On the way home shopping I decided to measure the distance from the hospital to the end of the road. It measured about 4 miles one way.

I got home and decided to go run it. I have not ran more than a 5k distance since November 13th and still felt it would be ok since it was flat. This is when I learned that driving and actually running a course is a big difference. The whole route was riddled with rolling hills and at the last mile (I want to say) was an pretty intense incline. Of course the hospital was on the bottom of the incline, which meant my return route started with the "hill."

On the first 4 miles I passed a fellow runner who high fived me. This is the aspect of running I love as a sport. We are on it together, pulling each other up, while at the same time challenging ourselves continually to do better than last time.

With this route I ended up walking a couple of times after I started on the return route. My left knee on the back started to tense up and my right ankle started to hurt. My lower back and hips did too, but just like in a race I had to get back to my car to stop. This helped and I ended up doing the distance in about 1:21:00 subtracting the time spent in the middle of the highway waiting for the walking signal.

I finished the morning with a kettle bell work out, which is part of what I got for Christmas. I got Yoga Blocks/ belt, a new running shirt, balance half mini balls and more that is not related to working out.

This year is going to be different and excited for what will happen with my now weekends!

Nothing to Intense

I have noticed with my schedule making it impossible recently to keep a consistent work out plan that I go from doing nothing to everything full out.

On the 28th of December I joined my good friend who was leaving the next day and two of her sisters for a 13 mile bike ride. We did not plan on the ice and snow that covered the trail, but we road it anyway.

Yesterday, the 3rd of January I tried to go run a 5k. I only made it 2 miles after getting choked on my drainage from a lingering cold I had this past week.

Today, the 4th of January I got home from my first day of my new job and ran 2 miles. I ran it in different speeds of 6.5 to 7. I am usually running it in 5 to 6.5 at the fastest. I finished the 2 miles off on 8 mph in the end with it being 7:34 pace. After running my fastest tempo run on the treadmill I decided to try my new stability ball workout. After that I did a kettle bell (5 lbs) work out.

Intense and feeling amazing!

No Pain, No Gain

In the month of October I ran at least 10 to 15 miles per week. I only ran up to a 5k distance.

Yesterday I ran my first 15k trial hill country race. The race was 1.5 hours away from my cousins' house. We left at 6 am to get there about an hour or so before the race started. After getting my race bib I went to brave to potter potties to find that I could not get to them before 8.

I didn't go to the bathroom and went to wait 15 minutes past 8 to start the race. The first 5k portion of the race my toes were numb. I did not feel them at all and the first mile I clocked in right over 9 minutes.

The temperature started out about 39 degrees and ended at about 44 degrees. No wind and no clouds. Sunny skies made it feel a bit warmer.

Through out the course I kept staying with a pack, which I hate being in. I had to stay with them since it was my pace I wanted and then I let them pull out ahead of me. I wanted to be alone.

During the course we pass horse pastures. A donkey and horses were being chased by this long hair huge goat. We went through a chicken farm and all through this beautiful antique looking community. The colors of the leaves and the leaves all over the trail made it fall feeling and great.

My goal for this race was between 1:30:00 to 2:00:00. The best I could do if I had time to train (I didn't) is 90 minutes and the longest I would take even if I got hurt would be 120 minutes.

I finished the race at 1:53:59 and today I can barely walk. My pace was faster on the 15k trail race than the 13.1 road race.

I Live for Cold Running

From October 18th until today the 30th of October I have logged in 5 miles. I have been really busy, but the colder it gets the better I feel in my runs.

I plan on a 15k trail race on the 13th of November. I am running it with my cousin and his wife and daughter are doing the 5k portion of the race.

Can not wait!

Running like a Dog

This morning I was debating skipping another day of running. I almost did, but decided it would make me feel better. As I was preparing to go run I was going to do my 2 mile course and that was it. Than I remembered that my mp3 player was in my jeep. This lead me to go to my 3 mile course instead.

As I ran I felt amazing in the crisp warming fall morning. Within my first mile, where I use to warm up, two dogs started chasing me. They didn't frighten me since they barely came up to my ankles. I started to sprint and they stayed right with me and I pushed myself. I started to laugh and had sheer pleasure at the feeling I was feeling. That feeling was strong.

I kept my pace at a minute faster than usual, at least. I started the course about 100 meters further back than normally. I finished it in 26 minutes! The dogs taught me I could pick up my pace and sprint at different times and it feels great to play.

Getting home I hopped on my bike since my front tire was re-blown up, which is good since it went flat a couple a days before. I road through the woods, dirt roads, and two neighborhoods near my home. 6 miles later I finished and did strength training for my upper body.

What a great day of Play!

Ironman at Kona

During these past two weeks I have accomplished running 7.3 miles after the half marathon race I ran. I strength trained at least three times, plus pilates once and also biked 15.69 miles since I finally broke down and purchased a mountain bike.

Along with this activity being back in my life I got to view the beginning and the end of the Ironman at Kona. I had to work, but I got to see Mirinda Carfrae finish for her world championship placement.

I will never get why I cry when I watch anything about the Ironman, but I do. I believe it makes me excited and inspired. Going with this feeling I am re-vamping my goals. I am moving the marathon back to whenever I feel I am ready, which to be honest I can not put a date on.

Running a half marathon without stopping or in 2 hours I am hoping to accomplish before or in about an year.

I believe this is attainable no matter what my training allows, because the more comfortable I become with the distance and the race itself I seem to improve each time.

Still waiting for my home gym to be finished and hoping it is soon since the winter is going to roll in soon and the sun will not rise early enough for me. With the tredmill I am going to train myself to just run 2 hours straight.

Journey Re-Routed

Life has happened and my journey to a marathon within a year is being re-routed. Working two jobs, attending graduate school, and interning has made it hard for me to figure out time to train for even a 5k.

I have had time to run small amounts here and there when it has stayed cool enough for me to survive. For my birthday I decided to sign up for the 13.1 Atlanta on October 3rd and give myself a PR of 2 hours. This was all figured out before "life happened."

In the end I still decided to do it. For some odd reason I knew I was going to be alright. I was still a little concerned about my knees and hip, but I still felt comfortable about my decision to do it. Even with the week before when I hurt my back from trying to play basketball.

October 2nd, Saturday, I went to run at a local park to see how my body would do. I made it 3.9 miles feeling amazing. I went to bed that night at 9 and woke at 4:30 am feeling very rested and excited.

On October 3rd, Sunday, I forgot my bid number on the kitchen table so my dad had to turn the car around to get it. Ended up leaving the house at 6 am. Arrived 10 minutes before the race started. My mom and dad dropped me off and I got ready to get going.

As the sun was breaking through the sky I noticed my headband was not on me. I had to run the race without it.

By mile 6 I felt good and strong. Hitting the maker around an 1:07:00 and got to high five my dad. After this point I had to start run/ walking. It felt like a roller coaster from this point on. The day was beautiful and cool. I was having a great time.

Walking the hills and running the flats and down hills I finished the half in 2:41:24 hours. Overall I ranked 2494 out 2864, with the females 1327 out of 1612, and with my age group (20 to 24) 142 out of 154. Not what I expected when I signed up, but I am still very proud.

It is 17 minutes faster than my first half marathon and I am physically and mentally stronger feeling afterwards instead of feeling broken.