Friday long run

Hot, hot, hot....and slow.......when I downloaded my info I couldn't believe it was only 66 degrees. Felt like 80. My stomach didn't feel too good for most of the run so I was really slow. Too bad I didn't wear my heart rate monitor. I bet I kept it really low today. Did 8.5 miles at 5/1 intervals.

I wore some new shoes yesterday to work and noticed a little blood blister. It was fine last night but when I took off my running shoes today.....

Yuck. I really hardly felt it. In fact I noticed it when I was walking and doing errands before the run but not during the run.

....and my post run refreshment....

 

 

Next Half Marathon!

I am so excited!! Excited is really an understatement. After all my nervousness about my first half marathon two weeks ago, I am going to do another one. And it is a BIG one, I think about 14000 half marathoners. The Kentucky Derby half marathon.

My sweet, sweet hubby is taking me. He has a very busy fishing season planned this year, and I think he feels a little guilty for being gone fishing so much. Works for me!

And the icing on this cake is that I get to also see my baby girl granddaughter while we are there! She is growing so much and I can't wait to see that little smiling face.

I read where the elevation climb on the Knoxville half marathon I recently did was about 1000'. I knew it was hilly but for real? That seems a bit much. This one appears to be almost flat, maybe a climb of 40'? I've changed my strategy a bit to see if I can get a little bit faster. I am now doing 5/1 intervals. Five minutes of running to one minute of walking. Haven't really noticed any difference. I did 8 miles last week and plan to do 8 for my long run this week. Is that enough? Too much? My goal for this one will be to set a new PR, which will be anything less than 2:43. Surely I can do that. I walked all the hills in the last one.

We run through. Churchill Downs.....pretty cool..

 

Saturday Long Run

I enjoyed my first half marathon so much, I am wanting to keep in shape and find another one to do.  I mostly walked for 3 miles on Tuesday, did a 3 mile run on Thursday, and today I did 8 miles. Since the MAF training didn't seem to work for me, I made up my own thing.  I tried to start out very slow, but I am moving to 5/1 intervals.  Five minutes of running to one minute of walking.  It worked pretty good today. I felt strong enough at the end to step the pace up a bit.

Split Time Distance Avg Pace Summary 1:38:40.9 8.00 12:20 1 12:44.2 1.00 12:45 2 12:42.8 1.00 12:43 3 12:33.9 1.00 12:33 4 12:46.3 1.00 12:46 5 12:34.7 1.00 12:35 6 11:58.9 1.00 11:59 7 12:01.7 1.00 12:02 8 11:18.3 1.00 11:17

Again

I wanted to get out and run tonight and I felt pretty good. So I did. Well, it was mostly walking. I tried the MAF heart rate training but I don't think I am fast enough to start with for it to work for me. After the first mile of mostly walking, the rest was all walking to keep my heart rate at 125. I ended up doing some very slow running the last little bit just because it felt good. I think I am going to stick with Jeff Galloway's method of doing your training runs significantly slower than your race runs. I think it must be based on the same science. Train at a slower pace to build endurance, or your aerobic base. Include a few faster runs so your body knows what the race pace feels like. Remember the word fast for me is relative.

I am ready to sign up for another half. There is another fairly local one in June, then one in December is pretty close too. I don't like spending all the time on the long runs, but I do want to see if I can improve my time...I'd love to shave off 15 minutes, for an even 2:30.

My friend bought me this magnet. Love it!

 

I did it!

My sweet hubby got up this morning at 5 to take me to the race. He cheered me on and bought me this shirt....

I was able to meet my goal of under 2:45!

So thankful God has given me legs that can do this.

 

Pre-race jitters for first half marathon

I am so nervous.....about getting there in time to find the group from work, finding the correct corral to start in, all the traffic, a parking spot for hubby, about having stomach distress, being able to do it in my goal time......I am asking myself, why did I sign up for this???

I know I will be glad I did it when it is over, but now.....I'm a nervous wreck. I hope I can sleep tonight. I hope I am hydrated enough. I've decided what to wear. It is going to be in the 30's and 40's probably during the whole race.

A I am going to wear my cold weather tights, short sleeve race shirt and a jacket. I like the jacket because I can zip up my phone and energy chews in the pockets.

The first goal....finish upright.....then maybe finish in three hours. Would love to finish in 2:45 or less, but I don't know if I can....

I am thankful that I can do this...that I have legs that can run. I will listen to Mandisa's praise and worship songs throughout and be thankful....and run for those who can't.....

 

Last long run

Today was ten miles, and my last long run before the half marathon. I tried to step it up a bit only because I am anxious to know what pace I might be able to do in the race. Not sure if I can keep this up.

Split Time Distance Avg Pace Summary 2:00:28.5 10.01 12:02 1 12:39.2 1.00 12:39 2 12:37.9 1.00 12:38 3 11:35.8 1.00 11:36 4 12:25.6 1.00 12:26 5 11:51.9 1.00 11:52 6 11:47.3 1.00 11:47 7 12:06.2 1.00 12:06 8 12:04.7 1.00 12:05 9 11:49.3 1.00 11:50 10 11:27.2 1.00 11:27 11 :03.5 0.01 7:30