8/30/05: SMART training and my long run for the week.

Since I totally tired myself out last week with 5 days (that’s a new record for me I think) of running, I think I decided to take this week easy (although technically, according to the SMART schedule) LAST week was so suppose to be my easy/recovery week…anyhow, it all still works out. Brett led the full Smarties in 180/180’s and Diane led the half/lite Smarties in 30/30’s. I don’t know why, but I didn’t feel like I pushed myself enough on those so I decided after my 30/30’s, to run a few more miles. I finished with a hearty 3 mile mile run (at close to 5k pace and not even feeling tired!), putting my mileage for the workout to 6 miles. Not exactly the long run I wanted to get in for the week, but every mile felt invigorating and strong. For some reason, ever since the race on Saturday, I have been feeling SOOO strong! And not to mention, fast. For me to hurl off 9:30 and 9:40 miles at the end of a workout, is really an improvement from where I started tracking my training in March. And it helps that it is going to start getting cooler. I am looking forward to my next 5k (Dec 10) to see how the speedwork and SMART (and my hard work) pays off!


The STATS:
6 miles

Mile1: 10:51 warmup
Mile1-2.5: 13.06 (speedwork)
Mile2.5-3: 5.10 cooldown
Mile3-6: 29.28 (I should have just finished off the extra .10 of a mile!)

Heart Rate: 177 ave, 186 max
Weather: upper 90’s, mid 40’s humidity

8/25/05: Run The Woodlands 5k #136 (a BIG new PR and 1st place in my age group!)

So today's race was something for me to really be proud of. I ran strong, I ran hard, and I finished strong. With an average pace of 9:16/mile, I can tell that my speedwork with the SMARTies is finally paying off. In fact, although I had a tough time with the first mile of the race, (just getting my breathing going and my stomach to settle down from the MEXICAN! food i had for dinner last night), I felt really good with my race.

This race, my race for the month of August (although I originally had plans to run the Caliente 10k in Killeen and the Keep Austin Weird 5k in Austin before gas hit $2.55 a gallon!) was part of Jon Walk's 'Houston Bloggers Edition 5k' that a bunch of us online guys ran together at the bi-monthly Run the Woodland's Race Series. The turn out was great: Sam Rodriguez won the overall race at 17:49 and, Holden Choi finished at 27:01, I finished at 28:44, Jon Walk finished at 29:50 (he gave me a run for my money in mile 1!) and Jennifer Kim finished at an even 33:00. I also got my friend and teaching colleague Janelle Ewing to come race with us and she finished in 30:55 (second in our age group!) and a really strong race for her, who just got back into running after a 4 year break! Vic Kaiser also came to support us and take pictures (which will be coming soon).

The two things that did bother me about how I ran though were things that I could control. The first thing was the fact that I was worried about 'how' I was running and how fast I was going to run, as opposed to 'just doing it.' In fact, Jon Walk had to remind me before the race began to 'just worry about how I was doing, and race for myself.' With my heart rate reaching 235(!) in the first mile of the race, I knew I was a little panicked for no good reason and tried very hard to relax and enjoy my peaceful surroundings. I really had to give myself some self-assurance and continue to remember to control my breathing and form. By mile 2, I got 'back on course' and ready to rock it out.

The other thing that was different about this race was the race conditions, notably that there were no water stops (not really an issue for me since I had my modified 'fuel belt' so I ran the entire race with no stopping! The first time ever in a race!) and I wonder how much this affected my PR time as well. I also, being new to this race, was unsure of the race path. I studied the maps before the race, but there were times during the race I felt I was 'lost' as I was running alone and was very unfamilar with my surroundings. (Every turn looked the same!) Sans the blue dots that marked the mile markers, I was a lost soul. But in the end, I believe this helped with my PR as well--not really 'obsessing' with how fast I was running each mile really helped me stay relaxed and keep a fluid breathing pattern and form.

What a difference it is to run a race this relaxed though once I got my mind in the right mode! I think it helped that the race was very 'low-key' as well. (Under 100 participants, no pinned-on race numbers, a nice support of runners at the finish line)...not to mention door prizes (I won a Brooks foot care pack) and there were bagels too! Jon was right, this is the 'best bargin in racing.' Tell all of your friends. I believe the next 'Houston Bloggers Edition' will be December 10 (check with Jon Walk to make sure) so if you live locally and you are reading this, feel free to come out and run amongst your fellow local friends:) Also, the biiiig breakfast that we eat afterwards and the 'gossiping/trash talking' (all you Striders know what I mean) makes the whole race worth it, even if you spend more in gas ($7!) than to register to run the race ($1!)

The Stats:

3.1 miles (28:44-a 43 second PR!)
Ave pace: 9:16/mile

Mile1: 9:15 (missed the mile 1 marker so I am guessing)
Mile2: 9:15
Mile3: 9:27
Mile3.1: .46

HEART RATE: 182 Ave/235 Max
WEATHER: mid-80's, upper 80% humidity, Slight breeze.

8/25/05: SST Training with the SMARTies…OUCH.

Last night’s workout certainly hit me pretty hard. I started feeling the effects of it right away when I could not fall asleep this morning (maybe the two coffees I had didn’t help either!) My legs we excited and achy until way past my usual bedtime. It almost would have been a nice thing had I had today off…Despite the fact I only ran 2 miles (as a warmup/cooldown), this new workout wore me out enough to where my legs are in no mood to do a 5K tomorrow morning. I am thinking I might go buy a few bags of 10lb dollar-ice bags and add them to my bath water tonight to see if it helps with the pain at all. If my legs feel this bad tomorrow morning, there is no way I am running until AT LEAST Sunday night…

I did talk to “Mr. Steve” about my running aches and pains the other day at the PIM run and he told me I just have the ‘new runner blues’ where different parts of my body are going to feel bad at different times in my training. He assured me I was normal and I am going to pull through the pains strongly. It one of the most encouraging conversations I have had with my running thus far—

Sometimes a little assurance goes a long way.


The STATS:
2 miles (SO SLOW TONIGHT!)

Mile1: 12:47
Mile2: 12:00

Heart Rate: 161 AVE/179 MAX
Weather: Gross. Mosquitos.

8/24/05: A great run, although the last PIM for the Summer…

Last night’s run couldn’t have been a better combination of good times. 1)good friends: Striders Lee, Pam, Sandy (for a little while), Lynnlee, Mark (I think he ran with us), and a couple of others that escape my memory right now. 2)good pace: we averaged about 9:30/mile, and probably could have ran much faster, but we were just being conversational and doing a recovery run. 3)good conversations: The group of guys were talking triathalons since Try Andy’s Tri was this past weekend (a HUGE ‘sprint’ Triathalon that is held in Sugar Land) and it got me thinking…maybe this is something I can do.

The race was a 300-meter pool swim/10 mile bike/and 3 mile run. The running I have gotten and the biking I think I would do OK at (although I could probably sit on a bike right now and fall off) but the SWIMMING really worries me. Granted, I was grown up and ‘groomed’ to be on swim team, so I was in the pool by age 3 (although my high school didn’t have a swim team at the time so by age 11 or 12 I lost interest in the sport). But my good PIM friend Harry said he thinks I could pick it up fairly fast again, so I just need to really get a new suit, pair of goggles and cap again…so I guess right now while I have the gym membership, I should go swim…too bad I don’t money for new gear right now! Well, I think I can start training after the half marathon in january and go out for ‘My first Tri’ in April…sounds cool, but am I nervous already! We shall see where this goes…

Other then that, I’m afraid I can’t do PIM this fall since my part-time teaching schedule (I teach music twice a week in Rosenburg) is going to fall into Wednesday afternoon’s…so there is no way I can get back in time. I plan to do PIM in the spring though, as well as complete enough HARRA races to qualify for an Iron Foot award (I think last year it was 5 races, ranging from 5ks to a 33 minute ‘LP run’). If I can do it, I might be the youngest person to do so for the season...Last Spring, only one person under the age of 30 completed it…sounds like a good thing for me to reach for:) I think I am ‘in-the-making’ of a good schedule for myself though: If I can train safely for the half until January, start Tri-Training from Jan-April and run the Tri, and then integrate the swimming/biking cross-training into my summer and into-marathon training for next january (2007!), I think I actually have a plan--woohoo for fitness goals!

One last thing, last night after the PIM run was our first planning meeting for the RRCA Convention that we Striders will be hosting this upcoming year here in HOUSTON!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!! I don’t know what my involvement with the convention will be yet, although I have been collecting my thoughts and some ideas about it and plan to present them to Steve Shepard and Brett Riley soon. I really want to get my hands dirty with this convention as I know I enjoy helping out and also I want to make sure Houston puts their best foot forward! :)


The Stats:

4 miles

Mile1: 9:27
Mile2: 9:42
Mile3: 9:00
Mile 4:10:06

HEART RATE: 171 Ave/187 Max

WEATHER: same as yesterday, not as humid though.

8/23/05: SMART’s version of Kenyan Relays-my favorite!

No, I wasn’t trying to be overally sarcastic-I actually think Kenyan Relays (run 200m and then tag a partner who runs 200m and then you do it again for a certain amount of time) are my favorite form of speedwork. Especially when you run in a running club that is full of fast, powerful runners that can inspire you and push you through a tough, overally hot and humid workout…

I have to admit that I went into this workout with the wrong mindset…I am still getting over my head cold and I was running a slight headache, as well as having pains in my dumb calf still. Strider Chip showed me a few simple calf stretches I could do which helped quite a bit. I have certainly been taking good care of my legs though lately-lots of ice, stretching and staying off them as much as possible (not impossible with my job, I sit more than I wish I did).

The relays themselves went off very very well, despite the thick-as-pea-soup humidity that plagued us due to a recent rainstorm earlier in the afternoon. i averaged some very respectable 45-53second 200m which averages out to about a 7:30mile-8:15mile. Not bad for me considering I wasn’t ‘in the mood’ to run before hand. I don’t believe I have EVER pushed myself this hard with speedowrk before. Good for me to push myself, I just hope I didn’t make my calf act more than it has been.

I am looking forward to a nice lesiursely (hopefully) run tomorrow with the last off-season PIM group for the summer…actual PIM starts next week, so if you are interested in training for a 5k, sign up asap ONLINE only this season. I don’t believe I will be doing it this Fall only due to scheduling issues. However, I 100% endorse it. If it wasn’t for PIM, I wouldn’t be here today…

The Stats:
4 miles

1 mile warmup: 10:26
Average of 45-53 seconds per 200m
(Averages out to about a 7:30-8:15mile)
1 mile cooldown: 10:21

HEART RATE: 176 Ave/193 Max
WEATHER: probably 100% humidity, 90 degrees.

8/21/05: A Nice Late Night Run (kinda)…

I ended up running yesterday night around 9pm at Memorial Park (alone)…I highly DO NOT recommend any [guy or girl] to run alone at the park this late…or for that matter ANYWHERE in the city. I never felt *unsafe* when I was running that late, but it was certainly unsettling to me to think anyone could just hide in the bushes and wait for the right moment to pounce on someone. It has happened before, scary thought.

I ended up having some pain in my right calf (not quite my shin, it was more on the side and towards the back) that starting aching after about a mile. I knew I wasen’t going to get in the 8 miles like I had planned so I settled for 6. The nicest thing about running this late was the humidity had dropped down quite a bit and there were fewer people clogging up the trail. The plan for the rest of the week is 4 miles on Tuesday (SMART), 4 miles on Wednesday, 3 miles on Thursday (SMART) and the RTW race on Saturday.

In related running news, the reason why I ran so late last night is because I was still feeling sick Saturday morning when the Striders went out for a 8-13 mile run at Memorial Park before the Party in the Park by the tennis courts. Believe me, it was quite a humorous sight for someone like me (new to the running community) to see runners chugging beers at 9 in the morning:) That and the Koala massages went over really well. I didn’t see nearly as many people excited about the bagels or Gatorade as I thought. I also took a few pics which I will upload soon…


The Stats:

1.06 Total time running
6 miles
Mile1: 10:33

Mile2: 11:06

Mile3: 11:02
Mile4: 10:46

Mile5: 11:25

Mile6: 11:07
Ave pace: 11:00/mile

HEART RATE: did not wear strap

WEATHER: upper 80’s, 60% humidity, nice breeze

8/18/05: SMART one mile trial run and silly walks galore…

Last night’s workout, as part of the SMART program, was nothing short of a good time for all. Although I felt close to death (ok not really, but pretty miserable) due to being sick all week, I made it through a mile and a half warm up and immediately felt better. For some reason, my first mile and a half always feel the worst, in terms of soreness and my breathing. Anyone else notice that? Then we had the option of a one mile trial run (all out) or twelve 30/30 repeats (30 seconds at 5k pace, I think, and then a 30 second recovery). I opted for the mile run since I needed to do it for the SMART records. I finished at 8:13, not bad considering that I am not at 100% health and my dumb right knee is still acting crazy. Then we chatted for a little while and talked about the CORE aspect of SMART….doesn’t seem very difficult but I need to start incorporating it on all my off/easy days. Then, Strider/SMARTie Mark (Gonzalez) and I decided to cool down together around the MP loop…he’s a little faster than me but we chatted away and decided to go ahead and finish the entire loop.

So, with 5.5 miles under my belt for the night, I finished the week off with 17.5 miles. Next week, my main running goal is to run 20 miles. I have yet to hit that ‘magical’ number, 20 I mean, for some reason. I was telling Mark I think I have some sort of sub-conscious mental block when it comes to running more than 20 miles a week or 10 miles in one run…ahhh maybe one day I will do it…

Finally, another related running issue is my weight…I weighted myself today and it looks like I have lost about 2 pounds in about a month:) so I think this brings my total weight loss since I started PIM in March of this year to about 7 pounds (about one dress size)…not much but it’s a start. And it is so much harder to lose weight than I ever could imagine. The nice thing is that it is staying off and even though I am still not eating the BEST I could (ideally I would like to go vegetarian and eat wayyy more vegis and fruits), I am proud of myself and there is no turning back now! If anyone knows of any running or sports-related cook books, let me know. I need to stay in the habit of cooking my own food so I can control my portions and what goes in my food.

The Stats:
About 60 minutes of running
5.5 miles

1.5 mile warmup: 10:05, 5:29.
1 mile trial:
1-400m: 2:03
2-400m: 2:04
3-400m: 2:05
4-400m: 2:01
3 mile cooldown: 11:12, 10:42, 10:00.

HEART RATE: 174 Ave/203 Max
WEATHER: same as usual-hot, humid…but with a breeze

8/16/05: SMARTies in the House, at Memorial Park…

As usual, and not unexpected, SMART kicked my tail again…of course I knew I would be paying for it because I didn’t participate in SMART at all last night. I hope that trying to do two sessions of it this week doesn’t hurt me too much…that and I missed the SMART orientation that was on Saturday when I was in Boston and now I have to acclimate myself with the CORE aspect of SMART and start to incorporate that into my rest/off days. Arghh. I thought running 3-4x a week was my only commitment to the program! ah well, they don’t make it challenging for nothing! I am really eager to do the CORE stuff actually, since I know that my overall running will not see any major improvements until I improve my OVERALL body. Yeah, as much as I would like to believe I am in good shape-I’m not. And of course I want to lose about 30 lbs, although I think it I lost half of that, I would be right where I need to be. (well if I even lost 10 between now and January I would be happy). I just want to be healthy…

Anyhow, my knee started acting up again after the first 1200 and I decided to take the whole running aspect of the workout ‘easy.’ There is no doubt that I have ‘runners knee.’ I think taking it easy (no running tonight, and half the running tomorrow at SMART), lots of ice, and some slow stretching in front of the TV are the plans for now. Looking forward to another SMART though (can my body take two punishments in one week?!) and then the Party in the Park (this Saturday morning at 8:30am) with a nice 8 mile run before it, will be a nice way to round out the week/start next week. We’ll see, injuries aren’t something I am going to take lightly this time…

The Stats:

About 57 minutes of running
About 5 miles

2 mile warmup: 20:32
1-1200m: 4:44 (way too fast!)
1-800m: 4:37
2-1000m: 5:57 (this is where I didn’t complete the 1200)
2-800m:4:47
3-1000m: 5:54 (same thing here)
1 mile cooldown: 10:12

HEART RATE: 167 Ave/188 Max
WEATHER: humidist day this summer, at least 90 degrees

8/15/05: A nice little distance run at Memorial Park…

Since I was literally exhausted to where I could barely walk Sunday after my Boston trip, I decided to fit in my long run on a Monday. Normally, this isn’t too big of a deal. However, it requires some smart planning on my behalf: pack my run outfit in my running bag at 6am in the morning (since that was the time I left my house to go teach). I happened to forget my compression shorts, opps…I also have to pack a big lunch or run snack since I usually try to run right after work, so I don’t have time for dinner. Nah, that didn’t happen either. So, needless to say when 6pm came around, I was a little hungry. In fact, the only thought that went through my head from miles 4-6 was a nice carb snack of some pretzels or bread. Even a beer or handful of gummy bears! Although I felt mostly undernourished this run, I still ran great (although on the err of my slow side due to the humid, hot heat). My knees started bothering me again at mile 4 and I stopped to stretch and get some water close to mile 6. Then, at mile 7, almost in a mirage-type appearance, one of the Houston Fit coaches was manning a Gatorade table sponsored by Luke’s Locker. That small amount of salty sweetness was enough to get me through and finish my 7 mile run strongly. Actually, I was planning to run 8 but considering that it was getting late, and I was quite sure some creepy guy was purposely running by me, I called it a night.

The Stats:
1:14 total time
7 miles

Mile 1: 10:45
Mile 2: 11:16
Mile 3: 11:05
Mile 4: 10:13
Mile 5: 11:12
Mile 6: 10:30
Mile 7: 9:06
Ave pace: 10:34

HEART RATE: 168 Ave/191 Max
WEATHER: humid, maybe 90 degrees, but there was a nice breeze

8/10/05: The weekly PIM/Striders Special-and my best run ever!!

I don’t know why I ran so great this night. I was coming off a slight bought with food poisoning, hardly any sleep and a near-empty stomach. Sans a Vitamin Water (energy flavored!) and an egg/cheese/ham on a muffin, I was pretty famished but willing to give the run a go. I know I needed to get in a good run since I didn’t know if I would be able to run while I was in Boston over the weekend (side note: I did not run…I ran out of room in my bag to pack my shoes! :( And the weather was nice and there were tons of other runners around—grrr!) anyhow, I did run like a champ. I may not have broken any speed records, but my breathing felt great and my legs were fresh. In fact, when faced with the choice of running 4 miles around the Memorial Park loop (boo!) or the 5.6 mile “Polo Club Loop” (my idea, I think), I took the Polo Club route. Although I ran the first half by myself, I felt confident I would make good time there and find a buddy to run back with. And I did. I ended up meeting up with Strider Frank (I believe, please forgive me if I goofed up your name!) who is a sales rep for Shure microphones. He pushed me enough to shave 2 minutes off my time back! Good deal, and great conversations. I felt like I could keep running when we were all done…wish and hope for more runs like this!

In other related running news, the monthly Striders meeting was last night and I had a great time. We met at a Chinese buffet restaurant and were treated to a complementary buffet (I didn’t know, how cool is that! I was planning on eating afterwards. and maybe i should have, considering i got sick later.) and had a very productive meeting. We voted to approve the Striders as hosting the RRCA National 2006 Convention in Houston and also talked about volunteering for the Striders 10k relay/20k that we are doing . I told Andrea Chan that I would like to help with packet stuffing and race registration and I wasen’t sure if I could help race day yet because I didn’t know if I would run the 10k relay. I would like to (I really like the singlets we get!) but we’ll see…other then that, I got to meet and eat dinner with Ryan and John Di Marco, the son/father duo that recently completed the hilly San Fransisco Marathon and also ran the Toughest 10k in Texas with me (I thought I saw them there!) We shared plenty of stories and of course it always humbling to talk to these better runners who have good advice to give to a novice like myself!

Now…to get back to running, sleeping good, eating good and SMART this week…oh why do I have a feeling this is going to be a rough week!

The Stats:
1:00 total for about 5.6 miles
Mile 1-2.75: 31:03
Mile 2.75-5.6: 29.15

HEART RATE: 181 ave, 194 max
WEATHER: 85 degrees, but a nice breeze, maybe 60% humidity

8/7/05: Getting in some late night miles, at a high cost though…

After a late night on Saturday, the earliest I could make it out to run was 10:30pm Sunday night. Yikes, on any other day, I am already in bed. But I needed to get some miles in for the week, as I knew this week is going to be crazy for me due to me going out of town from Thursday to Sunday *yes, I know I should bring my shoes with me.* Anyhow, I went to the 24 hour fitness right by my house (under a mile to get there, so it’s usually a 10 minute walk) and hit the treadmill. I didn’t feel my ‘health’ best (which should have been warning sign #1) and I wasen’t really paying attention to my running (warning sign #2, was watching the new Miami Ink reality series). AND ON TOP of those two things, I didn’t really stretch well so by the time I hit mile 5.5, I had to force myself to walk for a mile and a half. I did something wrong to my left ankle. Not sure what, it feels like I tweeked it. I’ve been icing and stretching it and so far but I still feel nothing but a sharp pain. Damn, like I need a setback right now, with Marathon season in full swing. I guess, like Houston Strider runner Helen Grant said in this month’s edition of the Strider newsletter, there is never a bad run, but always an expierence…so maybe going out of town this weekend (although I will be on my feet A LOT) is going to be great for me…and I just have to remember that I can’t wear my (flip) flops much either…gotta save my feet:) hopefully I make it out to the PIM run Wednesday, we’ll see how it goes, if anything, I can go walk 3 miles.

Staying Positive with Lots of other things in related running news:

My article about my first 10k got published in this month’s Houston Strider newsletter! Woohoo, and I hope I didn’t sound too verbose (or even boring!) in my report. Also, tonight is my first Strider’s meeting so I am a little nervous about meeting a lot of new faces…I’m sure I’ll be fine though and I’ll make sure to write about it:) Other then that, I’m eager to start to keep my eyes open for a sale on my favorite running shoe in the whole world: the Brooks Adrenline GT5’s as mine are slightly over 250 miles and I think my babies are on their last legs, haha…and this would explain the pain that *could be* the start of patellofemoral syndrome. Yuck…

The Stats:
1:38 total time
8 miles

Mile 1: 11:51Mile 2: 11:10
Mile 3: 11:47
Mile 4: 11:53
Mile 5: 11:21
Mile 6: 13:08 (walked half a mile)
Mile 7: 14:23 (walked entire mile)
Mile 8: 11:17

HEART RATE: n/a
WEATHER: a/c (my favorite)

8/3/05: A nice little PIM run in the rain…

The run couldn’t have been any perfect, that is, if you don’t mind getting SOAKED! We left off from the normal PIM meeting spot and didn’t get half a mile down the Memorial Park loop when all HELL broke loose. It was like a monsoon or something fierce. We managed to run back to the tennis court club house and wait out for 20 minutes for the lightning to subside. After the lightning quit, we headed back outside to get a few miles in before the rain quit and it got super humid and gross. Most of the runners that were with us got separated at that point. Some chose to simply finish out the mile back to the PIM meeting spot and head home. I ran into Strider and Houston Fit member Will and since we were running a similar pace (well, he runs about a 9:30 mile, and I am close to 10:00) we headed off around the loop to at least get another mile in or so in. We ended up running about 3.5 miles before we decided we were done for the night. The humidity was kicking in, my socks were soaked, my hair was a mess, lol…

This was truly one of those runs that tested your strength as a runner though. Most of the walking/jogging crowd had headed home at first sprinkle, while we heartidly pushed through the water, waited out the worst of the storm, and hit the trail again for a few more miles. And by the time the rain quit, it was so humid, it might as well have kept raining. It was a great time overall and the conversations in the rain made up for the freezing and drenched car ride home (note to self: keep a towel in the car for days like today!) It’s also been fun learning more about triathalons and swimming and biking from Lee and Will. Maybe one day I will jump back on the bike. No swimming though…

The Stats:
ABOUT 33 minutes of running
Mile 1: about 10:16
Mile 2-3.5: 22:42 <--told you we were flying!
HEART RATE: 148 av (I didn’t stop it when I stopped running) 186 max WEATHER: RAIN-HOT-HUMID, yadayada…

8/2/05: SMART #2-Getting Down in Memorial Park!

I got another butt-kicking today (this time on my ‘home turf’ of Memorial Park, which is 15 minutes from where I work and live) and this time I wasen’t able to jump back as quick. My energy level was lower then usual (perhaps due to a lack of sleep or vitamins?!?!) and I know BY now that running when I am not feeling my best either results in slow times OR injury OR both. In my case, today-both. I didn’t really injure myself per se, but I did tweek my right calf on my 2 mile warmup. Which resulted in me not being able to finish up my 2 mile cool down. It isn’t so bad today (the day after) but I did have to put ice to it for about 30 minutes last night…

Overall, it was a good workout but I’m feeling a little defeated today mainly because I didn’t feel like I put my best effort forth due to my lack of energy and also two other BIG things: I’m not as fast as everyone else (but by no means the slowest, kinda towards the back) and since I have a bad left wrist (hence a big reason why I run and don’t box or jump rope, lol) I can’t do a lot of the arm/upper body reps. I do keep my free weights in my hands though and do a few chest presses and bicep curls while everyone else does pushups, but I certainly am not getting the same cardio workout everyone else is…I guess another small thing that bugged me/has been bothering me is that I am still the new kid on the block (and literally the kid, as I am probably one of the younger Striders/SMARTies) so I don’t really know anybody well yet and I don’t feel like I fit in…I guess in time I will get to know everyone fairly well, but to say that I know anyone outside of the former PIMsters and coaches, I really don’t…well hopefully at the Striders meeting next Tuesday (that I plan to attend) I hope to meet a few new faces and exchange numbers/email addresses. Looking forward to the PIM run tonight although I still feel like crap, I’ll (have to) get over it probably around mile 4, lol…

The Stats:
WARMUP and COOLDOWN: about 10:55/m x 3 miles
SPEEDWORK: 400m x 5: about 2.03 x 5 (roughly an 8:16 mile!)
HEART RATE: n/a
WEATHER: About 90 degrees, maybe 85 % humidity.

7/31/05: A Nice Little Run in the Park…

Today was my long run for the week, and it felt great to finally run more than 5 miles at a time again. I decided only to run 7 miles miles, as to not overdo it since my mileage has been on the low side the last few weeks. I think I honestly could have ran another 2-3 miles. I really wanted to run the Polo Loop that we ran on Wednesday (and add in an extra two miles by running around the park loop, but there was a train stopped on the tracks and I didn’t want to have to crawl over a potentially moving train…Towards the end of my run I felt such a great energy-I was passing people running my pace (and a little faster) and leaving them in my dust, lol. Actually now that I think of it I am sure I was running faster at the end as I was anticipating the cold shower at the stretching deck at Memorial Park or the ice cold orange Gatorade I had waiting in my car:)

In other running news, I submitted a story about my first 10k to the Houston Striders newsletter with hopes it will get published. I’m not sure if it totally follows the style of the newsletter, but I really tried my best to capture the essence of the race. Looking forward to my next 10k, although I am pretty sure it won’t be til the Bayou City Classic 10k in March of ’06.

The Stats:
Mile 1: 10:42
Mile 2: 10:48
Mile 3: 10:29
Mile 4: 9:45 (Speedwork here and ran by Stider and former PIM coach Barry)
Mile 5: 11:00 (Slow recovery, ouch!)
Mile 6: 10:45
Mile 7: 8:53 (Nice negative split to end the run on!)

TOTAL TIME: 1.12
AVERAGE PACE: about 10:17/m
HEART RATE: 175 av, 197 max
WEATHER: About 90 degrees, maybe 60% humidity.