Showing posts with label Running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Running. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

So, this might turn into a running blog...

Running Post #1378 Coming At You.

I'm going to try not to let this turn into a running blog. If I'm being honest, though, running is something that consumes my thoughts for which I do not have many other outlets. At least with politics and reality TV, there are Real! Live! People! who are willing and able to hold their own in a discussion. With running, no one cares as much as I do. And that's fine, but I've got to get it out!

So this coming weekend, I have a race. It's my first ten mile race ever (bonus! automatic PR!). It's the first long-distance race since my half marathon last February. Plus, it's the beginning of a series of races that are incorporated into training for a full marathon. As a result of all of these factors, I am struggling to come up with a goal time or pace.

If I'm honest, I'd love to maintain 10 minute miles. If I'm honest, I'd admit that I don't think it's possible.

I'm training at around an 11:00-11:40/mile pace for my long runs. I rarely time the short ones. Sundays six miler seemed quick for my second half, but I didn't hit the 'lap' button at the halfway point, so I have no idea how fast I was actually going, only how long it took to complete the entire 6 miles, including a short bathroom/water break. And it was an 11:20 pace. Since I have to continue training, and run a half marathon 2 weeks later, I'm not sure that even trying to maintain 10:00/mile is a good idea. I'm not tapering and I am scheduled to run 12 miles only one week later.

So since I'm not honest, I'm shooting for 11 minutes/mile which means finishing in one hour, fifty minutes. It can be done!!

And, in an effort to NOT let this turn into a running blog: IN OTHER NEWS -

M and I decided to take a month off from our home church for various reasons. Some of those reasons include me doing a road race 2 Sundays in October. Other reasons include sleeping in and attending a later service closer to home. Other reasons include visiting other churches to renew our focus for our own. Other reasons include finding out if there are churches closer to us that meet our needs and who have needs we can meet. Other reasons include taking 4 weeks off of being early, setting up, singing, and packing back up to recharge our batteries. Other reasons include several that I have not mentioned here.

Last week, we attended First Presbyterian Church. It was nice, but too large for my taste. Plus, I was supremely distracted by the incompetence of the person in charge of the power point presentation. It is unacceptable to have the lyrics to the song on delay. If you want us to sing along, you've got to show us the words. We did run into two people we sort of knew, however. One neighbor from our condo and, incidentally, the girl I stood next to at my Knife Skillz class at Sur La Table only 3 days prior. I am regularly surprised by how much our HUGE city of 4 million people can feel like a small town. It's one of the reasons I love Houston, despite the lack of Fall weather.

theRage, out.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Working on a Saturday

If I put on my rose-colored glasses, I can find some things that are really great about working on Saturday.
 
1. M is also working, so I would be home alone and since I already watched Top Model this week, I don't have any shows I can watch without him. BORING!
2. No one else is in the office, so I can get work done.
3. No one else is in the office, so I can play music through my computer speakers, rather than headphones.
4. No one else is in the office, so I can sing along.
5. No one else is in the office, so I can sing along LOUDLY.
6. I can take off my shoes and wrap my blanket around me (note: I do this during the week, too. Shh!!)
7. I don't feel guilty checking MafiaWars every hour, since I'm not being paid to be here.
 
So, I'm at work. But! The project I'm working on is ALMOST done. Then I'll get my life back, kind of.
 
ION (In Other News): I ran 11 miles this morning. Took a while, but feeling good about the distance I've done and how much energy I still have following a 2+ hour run. Like, I can still drive my manual car, walk, and stay awake enough to get work done. Next week I'm doing a 10 mile race about 30 minutes South of here. I've never raced a 10 mile race before, so... PR! Then, 2 weeks after that: half marathon. I'm not sure if I'll be able to beat my time from February, or if I'll even try. I may try to save my energy for the San Antonio Half.
 
OK - Back to work! Have a good weekend!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Running Entry #1

For those of you reading along who don't know me, I am currently training for The Chevron Houston Marathon.

Background:

I ran Cross Country and Track in High School - 1997-2002 (now you know how old I am). My high school athletic prowess peaked my junior year track season (All-Regional! 800m time - 2:27!) And my senior year cross country season (21:21 5k!). My senior year track season was disappointing and I didn't want to run after that for a long time.

Then, I moved to Houston and started gaining weight. I tried joining a gym, but I got bored with the elliptical and felt lame being on a treadmill when I could just go run outside. In March/April 2008 I started running outside, did a 5k in June '08, and caught the bug. Trained for a 1/2 marathon in February 2009 (2:15!). Took a few weeks/months off, and now I've been training with InFlight Running since May 30, 2009.



This past weekend, I had my first ever 16 mile weekend. Ran 10 miles on Saturday morning at 11:30 pace (as has been the pattern) and ran 6 miles on Sunday night. My first 3 miles were a little slow, but I was a little achy and tired from the 10 miles the day before. My second 3 miles were faster and I felt really good. I got home and felt like I wanted to just go out and run more! Unfortunately, the result of my big weekend is that I am sore sore sore today. And it does not help that I am sitting down all day. I need to remember to get up every now and then just to stretch out my legs!

I am feeling good, though. A few aches and pains here and there, but overall, good. And starting to feel like I'm really getting in shape. This marathon thing might be doable after all! Eek!


Upcoming Races: