Maggie's Run 5k and Bye for now....

Last Saturday I ran my 30th race!! (I'm keeping track in an Excel file).

It was an inaugural race and for a good cause. Although the course was a familiar one I find myself just not having the speed that I used to (not that I ever was a bolt of lightening.) and clocked my 2nd slowest 5k finish. Again, I'm good with it... I figure my increased mileage lately just has me tired but I will eventually have that little spark of speed reignited in me again.

I am on a pre-marathon training plan now which is to run 25 miles a week. If I can get this base under me for a good 6months to a year I feel confident I can handle a training plan and run my first marathon. As I've been putting in the miles my thoughts often go to running the 26.2 and also which race should I run? My dream/fantasy had been to run in Florence, Italy... 2010. But, as it gets closer, it just doesn't seem to be a reality. Sure we will likely go to Italy at some point but I don't think all that travel intertwined with my first marathon may be a good mix.

So, as I think of my first marathon training, nutrition, mental challenges and mental focus, physical endurance, turning 40, and which marathon to run??... I figured it was a good time to start a new blog on this topic.... It may take awhile to create my new page and decide what to name it (any suggestions?)... so I don't have a link yet but I surely will post it once I do.

I know blog land is a bit quiet these days with busy schedules and Facebook... but if you find yourself reading this, thank you for reading and for your support. The thought of my first marathon is exciting yet terrifying and I look forward to getting helpful information and inspiration from my fellow runners.

Until next blog...

Peace out.

:)

Candlelight Run 5k and Blog Future

Last Saturday I ran a 5k that was @ 9pm. One might think this would be a cool time of the day but on the contrary it was 92 degrees and the course very hilly. Yes I'm making excuses for my personal worst 5k time :) I hope to make up for it tomorrow morning when I participate in another 5k that's a more familiar course and the weather not so warm..

I also had to buy a new Garmin that day and haven't figured out how to read my splits, so I only know my overall time, which was: 37:14

I hope my running improves with my increased mileage, I am on week two of running 25 miles a week.

As I increase my mileage and 2010 draws near I think I will close up this blog and start a new one dedicated to my first marathon journey.


Below is just a random shot from the race -- stock full of ambulances for possible heat stroke victims!

Safe Harbor Run 5k Race Report

Last Saturday I ran a 5k in which all proceeds benefited the Safe Harbor organization which provides temporary safe shelter for victims of family violence and their children. I'm familiar with the annual event but in years past it was an 8k. They decided to change it to a 5k this year and for some reason in my mind I thought that meant it would be easier. Well, it was quite the hilly course and each time I got up a hill instead of a rewarding down hill it seemed the course would instead make a turn and it would just eventually go up hill again. There was one time in particular that I remember gaining some speed on a downhill but for the most part it just felt like hill work. With that being said it was a great workout and certainly not one of my fastest 5k's but I'm glad to have participated and contributed to the cause.

Mile 1: 10:24
Mile 2: 10:31
Mile 3: 12:25
.16 01:41
Total Miles: 3.16
Avg Mile: 11:05
Total Time: 34:59

10k Race in Central Park!

We traveled to NYC for Easter break and I had the pleasure and interesting experience of running a 10k in Central Park! It was absurd yet exhilarating with the relentless rain and 40 degree temps. I had to periodically wring the ends of my sleeves to release the soaked in water. It was an incredible run however and I was able to run the entire course without walking which I was quite pleased with considering that's not a distance I have been training for. This is only my second 10k but I totally PR'd it from my first 10k experience in 2006!

Mile 1: 10:59
Mile 2: 10:53
Mile 3: 10:23
Mile 4: 11:36
Mile 5: 11:08
Mile 6: 10:52
Mile .38 (the course ran long): 4:08.41

Total Time: 1:09:59
Avg Mile: 10:59

What appear to be black boxing gloves in this photo are my sleeves that are drenched and heavy and stretched over my hands!

saved it for a rainy day

For years I've been running a route that includes a steep hill that I walk up because when I've attempted to jog up in the past I become so winded.

The run group attendance was three this morning because of the rain. The other two that showed are fast pace runners. And, although I typically go slow and steady on Saturdays I decided to try to keep up with them as long as possible.

It's about a half mile in that we encounter the big hill and like I said I usually just walk it so to save my breath for the remainder of the run. The others were running up so I thought, "heck I'll give it a go." I actually made it to the top and continued running fairly well into mile 3. During the last mile I told one of the fellow runners that my goal at this point is to not walk.... so, my pace will slow up and I don't see it getting any faster. I suggested if he wanted to pick it up to the end it was cool with me. I'm so glad he took me up on that and they both got get their runs in on their pace and I was also achieving my little goal of running the entire 4 miles without stopping (including the HILL). I feel really good about this and hope I'm creating a solid foundation to work from which will lead to more improvement over the next few months into the fall race season.

Mile 1: 10:45
Mile 2: 10:57
Mile 3: 11:23
Mile 4: 11:39

Total Miles: 4
Total Time: 44:43
Avg. Mile: 11:11


This is not the hill I just thought it would be funny to post :)

Shamrock Fun Run 5k

This morning was the Shamrock Fun Run - 5k! I was looking forward to the 8:30am start and arrived around 8am realizing I wasn't prepared for the wind and cold! Luckily I brought my outer jacket and Rhett lent me his gloves.

My friend Amanda ran the race also and we each beat our last 5k time (turkey trot/same course) by about 2 minutes! We were excited about this and even managed to get a photo op with the local baseball teams mascot! (note the matching outfits which was something completely unplanned, but funny!)

The finish time isn't up yet but the clock coming through the chute blinked 33:53. I'm very pleased with this having felt fairly strong and steady the entire race with only one walk period which was up a steep hill.

I tried a new technique -- (it's actually something I sometimes try to do when I run on my own) after reading about meditation lastnight the idea was to not wear headphones and instead repeat a mantra to myself as I breathe in and out.

So for the entire 3.1 miles I repeated these words in my mind: "form. rhythm. stride. attitude." It really helped me to stay in the "zone" and not be distracted by miscellaneous thoughts such as "this shit is hard" and "there's no way I can keep running", etc. . So, I may be on to something..

Happy Weekend and Belated St. Patrick's Day! :)

-Neese



A photo from the local newspaper, my feet are off the ground!:

blog time

I have managed to neglect my blog for months! Well, as I'm sure many understand with working full time, exercising, spending time with family and the much sought after sleep there is only so much internet time and I've been finding myself using that up on Facebook (and now Twitter!). I do miss blogging, it's benefits like a journal...helping me keep my goals in focus and also getting those thoughts out on "paper" in order to clear room for new ones :)

My running is going well, I still run 4 miles on Saturday mornings with the group. There are about 20 people on the email list and each week there is a combination of all those people that come out, sometimes it's just me, sometimes 2 sometimes 12! It's a nice weekly routine and a great group of runners!

This coming Saturday (March 21) will be the annual Shamrock Fun Run 5k. I have participated in this race the last two years, here are my previous finish times:


2008: Finish: 36:40

2007: Finish: 34:43

Since I've been running regularly again since November and have included 90 minutes of yoga once a week I feel confident I can finish faster than 2008 and maybe 2007... we'll see!

If you are reading this (Hi!) and if you have a blog I'll be stopping by to visit yours soon!!

Neese