It's been about 3 weeks since my last long run. Two weeks ago today I did 8, and it was a struggle. I've run with my running team a few times since then, including one timed mile run. I have been pleased that my timed runs are getting faster. In about 3 weeks I've gone from a 12:26 mile to right under a nine minute mile! I ran with my daughter last week in Lubbock. She warned me about a hill we would be running up in Lubbock. Really, Danielle? Over the course of a half mile we climbed maybe 10 feet! It was fun to run with her, though, and we did a decent 3 mile run.
This morning I decided it was time to get back out and do the long run. I would have done this Saturday, but we were pushed for time with a big work event, so Saturday's run was only 3 miles, but at a fairly quick pace. Today I met Amanda under the MoPac bridge and we took off. Her goal was 7, so she went with me to IH-35. We stopped briefly at South First for a water break, then went on our way. We walked a short piece across IH-35 and said our good byes, then I took off for Longhorn Dam.
Up to this point I have been doing about 13:30 minute miles on my long run, but we were averaging 12.25 on our first 4 miles. Unfortunately, I had to stop for about 6 minutes to wait to be able to cross IH-35, so I had significant time added to my run. Despite that, however, I still averaged 12:57 miles, taking about 5 miles off my run time!
I have to say the cool weather helped quite a bit with this. It was 54 when I left this morning, chilly with a lite breeze. Having people to run with helps, as well. I will be doing a timed mile Wednesday, and my goal is 8:15. Saturday when we do our group run, I will be doing ten again, and I believe Amanda will be doing it with me.
As for the rest of you, stay active! I hope to see you at the finish line February 20, 2011.
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Ten Miles!
Well, I set out yesterday with a goal in mind. I would run from the MoPac bridge to IH 35 and back, for 7 miles. I met Marianna a little after 6:30 and we started at 6:45. Our first mile was very brisk, at least by our standards. We probably did about an 11 minute mile. Then we did our minute walk, before continuing to First Street. We got water at First Street and said our goodbyes, then I headed for IH 35.
There is a hill, a big hill, seems to me to be the biggest hill in Austin, maybe all of Texas, which we face on Riverside Drive. Each week we run a little farther up the hill before settling into a walk, and we make a goal for a longer stretch the next week. Well, I started up that hill and could not remember what our goal was. I was on my own, so I could not confirm with Marianna. So, like Forest Gump, I just kept running. Next thing I knew, I was to the top of the hill! I was about to start walking, but felt so good that I kept the run going. When I got to the turnaround at IH 35, was still feeling so good about running up the hill that I forgot to turn. Next thing I knew, I was at Baby A's on Riverside! I continued running to Longhorn Dam, then walked across the narrow bridge. After that, I started running again, and did not stop until I was west of 35 again at a water station. I stopped for about 30 seconds to hydrate, then was off again. At that point I had completed my 7 miles, but I still had 3.1 to get back to the car, and I was feeling good. My next stretch was to the Pfluger bridge, which is at Lamar. I walked for a minute there and was now at somewhere between 8.5 and 8.75 miles. Now I was starting to feel the run, and was debating about walking the last stretch, which would have made me feel OK. I walked for about a minute and was going to keep on, when a lady passed me up. On the back of her shirt was written for me in big letters, "Why quit now?" I started to tear up and realized that I was going to beat the trail, so I started running. I ran for about 5 minutes, then had to walk for a minute. I was hurting, and not sure if I was even capable of walking back to the car. Then I realized that I was at Anderson High School and that at the end of the campus was my stopping point, so I started running again. After about 3 minutes I walked another minute, then ran the last stretch to the hydration station, where I cooled down, drank water, and basked in the knowledge that I had just run 10.1 miles, the longest distance I've run in my life!
I have to admit that I did nothing for the rest of the day yesterday, except drink Gatorade and water and watch TV. I could not have gone any farther, but I did exceed my goal. In fact, as I was driving home, I realized that the week before I had run a quarter marathon at 6.6 miles, and that yesterday, just 7 days later, I did 40% of a marathon. I am on track and even a little ahead of my goal. My next goal is to be at 15 miles by the end of September, which is a little ambitious, but possible none the less. February 20 will find me running 26.2 with pride, maybe not with the fastest time, but with the knowledge that less then a year before I struggled to run a mile.
Oh, and my timed mile last Wednesday was 10:35. My hope was between 10:30 and 11, so I was pleased with that. I start training with my marathon team in 2 weeks, and am pleased to know that I am ahead of most of them, a first for me.
So, until next time, "Why quit now?"
There is a hill, a big hill, seems to me to be the biggest hill in Austin, maybe all of Texas, which we face on Riverside Drive. Each week we run a little farther up the hill before settling into a walk, and we make a goal for a longer stretch the next week. Well, I started up that hill and could not remember what our goal was. I was on my own, so I could not confirm with Marianna. So, like Forest Gump, I just kept running. Next thing I knew, I was to the top of the hill! I was about to start walking, but felt so good that I kept the run going. When I got to the turnaround at IH 35, was still feeling so good about running up the hill that I forgot to turn. Next thing I knew, I was at Baby A's on Riverside! I continued running to Longhorn Dam, then walked across the narrow bridge. After that, I started running again, and did not stop until I was west of 35 again at a water station. I stopped for about 30 seconds to hydrate, then was off again. At that point I had completed my 7 miles, but I still had 3.1 to get back to the car, and I was feeling good. My next stretch was to the Pfluger bridge, which is at Lamar. I walked for a minute there and was now at somewhere between 8.5 and 8.75 miles. Now I was starting to feel the run, and was debating about walking the last stretch, which would have made me feel OK. I walked for about a minute and was going to keep on, when a lady passed me up. On the back of her shirt was written for me in big letters, "Why quit now?" I started to tear up and realized that I was going to beat the trail, so I started running. I ran for about 5 minutes, then had to walk for a minute. I was hurting, and not sure if I was even capable of walking back to the car. Then I realized that I was at Anderson High School and that at the end of the campus was my stopping point, so I started running again. After about 3 minutes I walked another minute, then ran the last stretch to the hydration station, where I cooled down, drank water, and basked in the knowledge that I had just run 10.1 miles, the longest distance I've run in my life!
I have to admit that I did nothing for the rest of the day yesterday, except drink Gatorade and water and watch TV. I could not have gone any farther, but I did exceed my goal. In fact, as I was driving home, I realized that the week before I had run a quarter marathon at 6.6 miles, and that yesterday, just 7 days later, I did 40% of a marathon. I am on track and even a little ahead of my goal. My next goal is to be at 15 miles by the end of September, which is a little ambitious, but possible none the less. February 20 will find me running 26.2 with pride, maybe not with the fastest time, but with the knowledge that less then a year before I struggled to run a mile.
Oh, and my timed mile last Wednesday was 10:35. My hope was between 10:30 and 11, so I was pleased with that. I start training with my marathon team in 2 weeks, and am pleased to know that I am ahead of most of them, a first for me.
So, until next time, "Why quit now?"
Monday, August 16, 2010
Saturday, Sunday and Monday
Saturday morning I ran Town Lake with my Marianna (my sister-in-law) and her friend Jill. They are training for a half marathon in January and are both avid bikers. They ran from the First Street bridge to IH 35 and back. I kept going when we got back to First Street and went to the Pfluger bridge loop, which is by Lamar. I found myself walking some, which I don't normally do, but I think there were 2 contributing factors. First, I was talking while running. The second factor was the terrain. The parks around the house where I run are all flat. Town Lake, however, has several hills and a few ramps to get from lake level to street level. I think for next Saturday my goal will be to start at First Street, go to IH 35, then back the other way to MoPac, then back to First Street. I will walk the hills, ramps and steps, and run the rest to MoPac, walking from MoPac to First Street.
I found a great app for my Blackberry called Roadrunner GPS. It is a running and fitness tracker which works off the GPS on my phone. This app tracks my distance, mapping out the trail, gives me the total time for the workout, what my mile time is, average mph, and calories burned. It seems to be very accurate, and it should be a great help for tracking the progress of my runs!
Yesterday I rested. Well, I rested from running, at least. I preached about Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his commitment to his faith, even being committed to death by hanging for doing what he knew was right. The scriptural basis was Luke 12:49-56. I believe there is a crisis of faith in our nation. There are many who say they are religious, but they do not practice that religion. Bonhoeffer lived his faith and died for his faith. According to the doctor that witnessed his execution, “I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer ... kneeling on the floor praying fervently to God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a short prayer and then climbed the few steps to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued after a few seconds. In the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God.” May we all be so submissive to our God and our faith!
This morning's run was 4 miles. My goal was 3, so it was good to go past it. However, my time was way off. Maline started back to work today, so we had to get up and get going earlier then we are used to. We hit snooze a few too many times, but we finally got up and took care of business. Tomorrow we have training with Moe, then running Wednesday and Thursday.
Until next time, Live, love, laugh!
I found a great app for my Blackberry called Roadrunner GPS. It is a running and fitness tracker which works off the GPS on my phone. This app tracks my distance, mapping out the trail, gives me the total time for the workout, what my mile time is, average mph, and calories burned. It seems to be very accurate, and it should be a great help for tracking the progress of my runs!
Yesterday I rested. Well, I rested from running, at least. I preached about Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his commitment to his faith, even being committed to death by hanging for doing what he knew was right. The scriptural basis was Luke 12:49-56. I believe there is a crisis of faith in our nation. There are many who say they are religious, but they do not practice that religion. Bonhoeffer lived his faith and died for his faith. According to the doctor that witnessed his execution, “I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer ... kneeling on the floor praying fervently to God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a short prayer and then climbed the few steps to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued after a few seconds. In the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God.” May we all be so submissive to our God and our faith!
This morning's run was 4 miles. My goal was 3, so it was good to go past it. However, my time was way off. Maline started back to work today, so we had to get up and get going earlier then we are used to. We hit snooze a few too many times, but we finally got up and took care of business. Tomorrow we have training with Moe, then running Wednesday and Thursday.
Until next time, Live, love, laugh!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
New Shoes, New Shirt, New Route
My new shoes arrived yesterday. I bought the Asics Gel-Nimbus 11 running shoes from Amazon.com. They feel good. I did a short run of 2 miles and then 1 mile walking last evening to start breaking them in. I also received a running shirt as part of registering for the marathon. Between the shoes, the shirt, and my natural good looks, I looked great!
This morning I had a bit of a hard time getting started, however. Just after I walked out the door, the battery on my mp3 player died, which meant no tunes for the morning. My pedometer, which does not actually measure my distance accurately (after doing 6 miles on Town Lake Saturday, it said I had done .15!), also bit the bullet this morning. It has a clock on it, which I use to keep track of my speed, and to some degree, my distance. I had to really force myself to say I could make it a decent run, and set out grudgingly with my eye on 3 miles. I hit the road at a slower pace then normal, doing what I think was probably 13 minute miles and went my usual route. I got to the park, ran under the road, and came out to another park, which I started running last week. When I got to the end of the trail at the second park, there was a sidewalk leading into the neighborhood, so I took it instead of turning around. I followed the road to the middle school, then back up and around the soccer fields, up to the head of Harper Park, then turned around and came back. When it was all said and done, I hit right around 5 miles, I think (remember, my pedometer was dead, so I had no way of timing myself and determining how far I ran). It was a good run, and the new shoes feel great.
Tomorrow will be a lite upper body workout. I want to rest my legs for a day before running Town Lake Saturday. My goal is to do 6 miles Saturday running at a pace of 12 minute miles. So, anyone wanting to run Saturday, meet at Town Lake under the First Street bridge at 6:30! See you then.
Food for thought: Veni, Vidi, Vici.
This morning I had a bit of a hard time getting started, however. Just after I walked out the door, the battery on my mp3 player died, which meant no tunes for the morning. My pedometer, which does not actually measure my distance accurately (after doing 6 miles on Town Lake Saturday, it said I had done .15!), also bit the bullet this morning. It has a clock on it, which I use to keep track of my speed, and to some degree, my distance. I had to really force myself to say I could make it a decent run, and set out grudgingly with my eye on 3 miles. I hit the road at a slower pace then normal, doing what I think was probably 13 minute miles and went my usual route. I got to the park, ran under the road, and came out to another park, which I started running last week. When I got to the end of the trail at the second park, there was a sidewalk leading into the neighborhood, so I took it instead of turning around. I followed the road to the middle school, then back up and around the soccer fields, up to the head of Harper Park, then turned around and came back. When it was all said and done, I hit right around 5 miles, I think (remember, my pedometer was dead, so I had no way of timing myself and determining how far I ran). It was a good run, and the new shoes feel great.
Tomorrow will be a lite upper body workout. I want to rest my legs for a day before running Town Lake Saturday. My goal is to do 6 miles Saturday running at a pace of 12 minute miles. So, anyone wanting to run Saturday, meet at Town Lake under the First Street bridge at 6:30! See you then.
Food for thought: Veni, Vidi, Vici.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
A Sense of Accomplishment
I started a project Friday afternoon which should have taken me a few hours to a day and a half, at most. I had a leak in my car and had to rebuild the front end. I took it all apart, did my repairs, then reassembled the car. When I did, it ran rough, almost not at all. I took it back apart and thought I found the problem, but then, when I tried to put it back together, I found a damaged piece that required me taking the car back apart again to replace. Before I reassembled everything, I tried starting the car with only the bare minimal parts installed. I reassembled the car and tried to start it, but it would not go. I broke it down again, inspected things very carefully, and found that a sprocket was out of alignment by about 1/64th of a degree. I worked tediously to put it back together and now have it running. A day or day and a half project became a 5 day project, which angered me, sickened me, and just made me feel stressed. But I have a great feeling of pride and accomplishment for having done the work my self, as well as a good understanding of why mechanics are so expensive!
Last week I had a post about a great run. Then I tried to repeat the run Saturday, but my time was off and I struggled to meet my goal. Today I had what seemed like a difficult workout with Moe, and I thought about quitting. I started this whole getting in shape thing wanting to lose 15 pounds so I could fit into my pants again. I have since lost 47 pounds and am wearing pants that are 4" smaller in the waist then the ones I was trying to get into. I exceeded my goal, and was ready to say, "Enough!" However, I chose to stick with it. I stopped thinking about the marathon and whether or not I still wanted to compete in it and focused at the task at hand. I did not ask what I would have to do next while working out, but instead waited until I finished the task at hand before inquiring where to go next. I worked tediously to complete the task at hand, focusing only on that task. In the end, I was glad I did it.
Now I am looking forward to February 20, but I am living and training one day at a time.
Food for thought: Training for a marathon is like working on a car. Focus on the step you are on without getting caught up in wondering if it is going to work in the end!
Last week I had a post about a great run. Then I tried to repeat the run Saturday, but my time was off and I struggled to meet my goal. Today I had what seemed like a difficult workout with Moe, and I thought about quitting. I started this whole getting in shape thing wanting to lose 15 pounds so I could fit into my pants again. I have since lost 47 pounds and am wearing pants that are 4" smaller in the waist then the ones I was trying to get into. I exceeded my goal, and was ready to say, "Enough!" However, I chose to stick with it. I stopped thinking about the marathon and whether or not I still wanted to compete in it and focused at the task at hand. I did not ask what I would have to do next while working out, but instead waited until I finished the task at hand before inquiring where to go next. I worked tediously to complete the task at hand, focusing only on that task. In the end, I was glad I did it.
Now I am looking forward to February 20, but I am living and training one day at a time.
Food for thought: Training for a marathon is like working on a car. Focus on the step you are on without getting caught up in wondering if it is going to work in the end!
Friday, July 30, 2010
The End of Slacking
Well, I have been slacking since leaving on vacation. I have not worked out as much as I would have liked. My goal was to be at 5 miles by the end of July, and it does not look like that is going to happen.
We worked with Moe Wednesday morning, and it was quite a workout. I am not sure it was any harder then we have been doing, but we just lost some of our toning while on vacation. Then I ran last night. My goal was 5 miles. Earlier in the week I could not finish 2! I went 4 and just a little over, then walked the balance of the 5 miles. I did more then I thought I could, but realized that I missed my mark and am very disappointed in myself. I will be to 5 miles by next week, though. That I promise!
We did a good cross-training workout this morning with boxing, squat jumps and push-ups. It felt good to have the discipline to do such a workout without having Moe there. Josh made smoothies for breakfast afterward, and now I feel good. Soon I will be taking kids to Austin's Park and Pizza as a reward for their participation in our summer program, and will reward myself with a slice of pizza or 2.
Tonight Josh and I will go to the ranch. I will do a lite run in the morning, just so I can know I did something. I will be registering for the marathon this week, just one more step in the commitment process.
Oh, and I've lost 2.2 pounds this week! Yay, me!
We worked with Moe Wednesday morning, and it was quite a workout. I am not sure it was any harder then we have been doing, but we just lost some of our toning while on vacation. Then I ran last night. My goal was 5 miles. Earlier in the week I could not finish 2! I went 4 and just a little over, then walked the balance of the 5 miles. I did more then I thought I could, but realized that I missed my mark and am very disappointed in myself. I will be to 5 miles by next week, though. That I promise!
We did a good cross-training workout this morning with boxing, squat jumps and push-ups. It felt good to have the discipline to do such a workout without having Moe there. Josh made smoothies for breakfast afterward, and now I feel good. Soon I will be taking kids to Austin's Park and Pizza as a reward for their participation in our summer program, and will reward myself with a slice of pizza or 2.
Tonight Josh and I will go to the ranch. I will do a lite run in the morning, just so I can know I did something. I will be registering for the marathon this week, just one more step in the commitment process.
Oh, and I've lost 2.2 pounds this week! Yay, me!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Back to the Grind
OK, so I did not do as well as I should have during vacation. I ran 3 times, worked out once, climbed one mountain and walked around museums a few days. I managed to lose a half pound during my time away, but had a very difficult time getting into a routine. So this morning I started back. Maline and I worked with our trainer for the first time since being back, and officially kicked off our "Back to the Grind" phase. The workout was tough, but good. What felt best, however, was being done with it and knowing that I could pick up where I left off.
Tomorrow I start back to the running regiment. My goal is to be to 5 miles by the end of next week. August we will start our team marathon training, which will be a tremendous help. And I look forward to a run around Town Lake Saturday morning.
By the way, I am researching best running shoes. I would live to get some feedback about possibilities.
Tomorrow I start back to the running regiment. My goal is to be to 5 miles by the end of next week. August we will start our team marathon training, which will be a tremendous help. And I look forward to a run around Town Lake Saturday morning.
By the way, I am researching best running shoes. I would live to get some feedback about possibilities.
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