Jessica, a Houston Runner

Friday, September 30, 2005

9/29/05: Non-SMART Polo Grounds Run..and Cooler Weather!!!!!!!

I have to admit, next to some gooey chocolate cake (with tons of creamy icing!) after a long and hard run, not many things get me as excited as cooler Houston weather! Today’s run was the first run I have done since the ‘cold front’ came through and I fully took advantage of the nicer weather. What is funny is that I am use to gauging my level of exertion while running by how much I sweat (and I don’t sweat a lot by nature) so today was a different story…I hardly broke a sweat so I felt as though I didn’t work out as hard as usual.

But, of course, 6 miles *well really 5.6,* went by much quicker than I thought. Well, I covered the distance with an average 10:42/mile pace. Slower then I typically like to run, even on my longest distance runs, but for some reason, rather then worrying about how fast I was running, I just ‘sat back’ and enjoyed the scenery and the run as I actually skipped out on SMART to run to the Polo Grounds and back (my favorite Houston run). Actually, I am not sure if anyone met from SMART today (I waited around til 6:45pm and didn’t see anybody). The only SMARTie I saw was Brett (yes, THAT Brett…) and I honestly don’t know if he ran with the SMART group either.

In other running related news, I REALLY need to get a new pair of shoes (and have been feeling it for about a week now). I have to wait til next week though, even though I really need the shoes NOW<--actually i may charge them to my credit card tomorrow since i REALLY REALLY want to break them in and run in them on Sunday. I just checked in my journal and SURE enough, I have hit the preverbial 400 mile mark on my shoes. Time to get new ones…my question for you guys out there though is do I stick to the current shoe I use (The Brooks Adrenaline GT5) or do I go with the newer model, the GT6 (I think Fleet Feet-Voss carries it now). Any help would be appreicated. Hmm, I wonder what is going on with me and Sunday (other then the last regular season Astros game and carbo loading galore...I need NEED to get in 10 miles before the 1pm start time. Or 11 if I feel particuarly spunky...

The STATS:6 miles (ok, 5.6 miles according to G-MAP)
1:00 Hour total running

Mile1: 12:04 warmup at 400m track
Mile2-3.5: 22.29 to Grounds from 1¼ mile marker
Mile3.5-5.6: 25.49 back to the stretching deck

Heart-rate: 166 ave 179 max
Weather: mid 80’s. 50% humidity.

Thursday, September 29, 2005

9/27/05: A Nice Back-to-Normal SMART/Distance Run!

After I promised myself not to over-train and combine workouts, I did exactly that tonight. I am not sure why I did it, as my legs felt sooo heavy after only a 2 mile warmup. However, after a fun (it really was!) 30 minute workout of 180/180’s (oh 180's are 180 seconds at 5k pace, and 180 seconds at a recovery pace), but I just wasn’t ready to call it quits. The adrenaline felt so good going through my body and legs I added on another 2 miles as a cool down. I walked for a second around the track after the rest of the SMARTies left and decided I want more. So I chugged some more watered-down orange Gatorade (my all-time favorite for some reason) and made my way around the Park loop for 3 more miles.

Those 3 miles sucked pretty bad. At that point, my legs were pretty much worn out and I actually stopped twice to walk for about a minute. I have never done that before (stopped to walk during a training run) so it threw off my rhythm and made me feel ‘off’ for a few minutes. Despite an unimpressive 3 mile loop time, as I approached the stretching deck at the end of my run, I threw my knees up and sprinted with the most determination I have had at the end of a run since the Toughest 10k I did a few months ago…it felt great. I also got the attention of the MPR (Memorial Park Regulars) that often hang out at the stretching deck and talk for hours on end (when they aren’t running 6 minute miles!)…I won’t divulge into their conversations (something about bronzing shoes and getting girls to say hello to them at the Park) but they certainly had me laughing as I finished stretching…

And in other running related news…I decided I am not doing the 10 Miler on Sunday, I don’t really have the $$ and I don’t feel properly trained for it. Ah well, I’ll do it next year! OH! Another thing-it has brought to my attention that CERTAIN people really like my running pictures--especially the one featured in this month’s Strider’s newsletter. I am so flattered. Seriously. And I can’t help that I feel all geeked about it now...I heart my coaches, thanks guys! ;)

The STATS:
1o miles
1:46 minutes total running

Mile1-2: 22 minute warmup
Mile3-5: 30 minutes of 180/180's
Mile5-7: 21 minute cooldown
Mile8-10: 33 minutes (??)

Heart-rate: 171 ave 238 max!!
Weather: very hot. probably upper 90's. 50% humidity maybe?

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

9/24/05: Some elliptical training (and swimming!) in San Antonio.

I will have to admit the heat in San Antonio while I was there was pretty atrocious. It was never below 100 degrees during the day the 4 days I was there. Of course, SA has a humidity high of 40%. Relatively cool by Houston standards. Unfortunetly for me, due to the heat, I didn’t get to take advantage of the hilly terrian and ‘low’ humidity and sneak in a run. The only workouts I got were 30 minutes in the pool (not laps, mind you, but kicking my legs and a few pullups for my arms) which wore me out so fast I knew that I am going to be in for a fun time or two when I finally get to swimming some laps this spring. The pool felt great on my legs though, and now I realize how important cross-training is. I got 30 minutes of good, low-impact aroebic workout. I couldn’t have been happier. However, I was still jonsing for some running so I managed to sneak into my friend’s apartment workout gym (that consisted of a eillipitical machine and a staitionary bike). Pretty dissapointing facilities but I made the most of it and pushed myself through 50 minutes of hills on the level 5-8 settings. (The machine went to level 10). Better then nothing.

Now I am back in town, safe and happy to be with my friends and family again, and ready to kick some butt in my training this week. I decided I am going to take this week ‘easy’ and not up my mileage for the week. As it is, I am going to have to fit in a 10 mile workout tonight and I am a little worried I will find the energy since it is already Tuesday, I didn’t get much sleep last night, and I didn’t run much last week. Well I guess rather than making excuses I should feel blessed I HAVE Houston to come home to and run at again. I look forward to and cherish seeing all my running friends and compadres again. Today is a really great day to be healthy and alive. That’s what matters here.

The Stats:
about 5 miles

5 minute warmup
20 minutes interval (one minute low, one minute high)
5 minute break
25 minutes hill (two hills total)
5 minute brisk walk cooldown

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

9/20/05: Jackson Hill Workout and Pre-Hurricane Non-Partying.

This workout really pushed me but I totally needed it and stayed injury-free. (Side note: the last time I did this set of hills-I plagued myself with shin splits that didn't go away for several months during PIM). But the fact I stayed safe means I am getting stronger and my endurance is better. I think I only took a few walking breaks as a recovery before I charged down those same hills. I know if I can incorporate at least one day of hill workouts a month, I can stay strong and fast for the Toughest 10K I plan on doing again next year (the one with the 26 hills!!!)

In other running related news, the Hurricane is coming...I have decided I am leaving town late Thursday night or early Friday morning. I am pretty scared since I have never expierenced a hurricane before, but I know that running is going to help me keep my sanity as everything that once seemed 'normal' is not...people are buying water by the flats...gas is running out and people are flocking out of town as fast as possible...God bless us all and I hope Rita loses strength before she hits land. With luck and blessings, I plan to be back to Houston on Monday and just have to clean up some leaves and branches...looks like I am only going to get in one or two more runs before I have to leave, but i'll update either from San Antonio (where I am going to stay) or when I get back here. ALL MY HOUSTON BUDDIES: BE SAFE AND SMART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The STATS:
5 miles
55 minutes total running

Mile1: 11:13 wu
Mile2: 10:15 hills
Mile3: 10:12 hills
Mile4: 11:13 hills
Mile5: 12:23 cd

Heart-rate: 161 ave 222 max
Weather: 80’s. humid with cool patches of air.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

9/19/05: My first 10 mile run! And I rocked it out!

I have to admit I was a little hesitant to go into this run…for some reason I had a subconscious block telling me I couldn’t run 10 miles…well guess what--I did it! It was actually a lot easier than I thought, in terms of my body holding a steady 10:30 pace and my running form never really getting too lazy (Although my mid-back is pretty sore today! Not sure how I did that!) I actually enjoyed this run so much I didn’t even feel like I had been running over an hour until I looked at my watch and realized I only had a mile and a half to go! I think, as good as the body and mind felt (although I needed to use to port-a-potty after 4 miles and yet I held it for 6 more miles…) I could have ran AT LEAST another 2 miles at this pace…which means I think I am in GREAT shape for the half in January! I am totally on target in my training for the race…all that’s left is another 3.1 miles…and that’s just a 5k on top of what I ran:) Now I get to focus on fun stuff like building more endurance (to help me pull some possible negative splits) and a little bit more speed (so I don’t feel like my feet are dragging)!

Per this site: If I can hold a 10:30 pace for the Half, I can complete it in 2:17. (Although I don’t think that to finish under 2:10 by the time the actual event happens is not tooo much of a stretch--about a 10:00 pace)…even if I maintained a 11:30 pace for the Half (worst case sanario to me at this point), I will finish in under 2:30--Which I think it my ‘definite’ Half goal. To think ahead even further, it I can hold 10:30 miles in the Full Houston Marathon (in 2007!), I can complete it in 4:30. Or even if I hold 11:30 miles (which seems very realistic to me at this point) for 26.2 miles, I can complete it in 5 hours flat. Cool! I didn’t ever think I could phantom running over an hour or even running 10 miles! but now I am about 1/3” way there towards a full marathon and the next milestone of 13.1 totally seems extremely achievable and will be totally exhilarating when I achieve it!

The STATS:
10 miles
1:45 total running
10:30 ave pace

Mile1: 10:20
Mile2: 10:27
Mile3: 10:58
Mile4: 10:34
Mile5: 10:23
Mile6: 11:00
Mile7: 10:42
Mile8: 10:15 (ate some gummy bears-they helped!)
Mile9: 10:20
Mile10:9:58

Heart-rate: 167 ave 213 max
Weather: 80’s. 60% humidity

Monday, September 19, 2005

9/17/05: Race Day: The Tornadoes Cross-Country Relay!!

It was an UNBELIEVEABLY hot day for racing today and if it wasen’t for the fact that about half of the 2-mile course was shaded, I don’t know that I would have made it without passing out. (Of course, couple in the fact the race starts at 5pm and that since it is a relay, you tend to stand around in the sun waiting for your leg to come up…) My team, the Blog This! Striders, ended up completing the course in 1:19:50 (1:19:49.52 according to Jon’s watch) which is about what we projected to finish-97 place overall out of about 108 teams. Full results are here. Not the fastest group, but we a really good time and cheered each other through a tough course. I was actually very pleased with my time of 17:52.7 (according to Jon’s watch-18:02:54) which is about what he figured I would finished. I ran a very fast first mile (the “EASYYY” part of the course) in 8:19 (give or take two seconds) which is only 6 seconds slower then my personal best for my one mile (Which also leads me to believe that I can run one mile quicker then 8:13!) I figure I went out too fast though…..

…as the second mile really killed me (and just about everyone else that I talked to). I finished it in 9:33, which is about a minute slower then I wanted to finish it. There was one major (although short in terms of feet-only about 20 feet high or so) grade hill that stopped most people to a walk. I charged up for about 5 seconds and walked the rest. Any get-up-and-go I had left in me was getting quickly sucked up by the heat. I felt like needles and pins were hitting my face (despite sunglasses and a hat!) as I ran the last mile back facing into the sun. ARGGG! Fustrating but I didn’t give up and I pushed through, talking out loud to myself and telling myself I wasen’t going to give up and let my team down or myself.

It was a pretty grueling 2 mile route, needless to say:
In the end, I am really proud of my team for their efforts and I look forward to running with them again (one of the two Spring HARRA relays, anyone?!) I confirmed with Holden that he is going to run the Half Marathon (I think we vowed to start together since our LSD paces are almost the same now, although I am quite sure he will pull in front me anyhow) and I plan on seeing Cassie (who I meet for the first time and she raced today too and did quite well!), Vic and probably Jen at the Houston 20K that us Striders are managing. I have finally decided that I am going to run the 10K relay portion with my good friend Stacie Pyle who is training for the Half Marathon with Houston Fit. I plan to volunteer for the Bear Creek 10k/20k which is the week before for us Striders which I think will be fun since I have never volunteered for a race before! Good and busy times for all!

The STATS:
2 miles (about)

According to my watch:
Mile1: 8:19
Mile2: 9:33
total time: 17:52.7

Heart-rate: 190 ave 201 max
Weather: HOT! what more needs to be said...

Sunday, September 18, 2005

9/15/05: Memorial Park SMART Run and Prepping for Saturday.

Today’s run was pretty decent considering there were only 4 of us at SMART for some reason. (I guess I can’t really say anything though since I am going to miss next Thursday due to teaching). We did Special Strength Training tonight…and I don’t know what was worst—the dorsal flexor excersise or the Texas-size mosquitos. Ah well, I still got through it and then got in a healthy 5 mile run around the Park. Today was also the first time I have ever found other runners running my pace at the Park-so I stuck behind two different girls for 2 miles and pulled off a 10:10 mile and a 10:27 mile splits. Not one my ‘better’ training run times, but my legs were a little stiff and tired from the SStraining.

The STATS:6 total miles

1:03 total running

Mile1: 11:03 warmup

Mile2: 10:40

Mile3: 10:10

Mile4: 10:27

Mile5: 9:59 (was this mile short, I don’t think so…)
Mile6: 10:46

Heart-rate: 168 ave 183 max

Weather: 80’s. humid.

Friday, September 16, 2005

9/13/05: Another 24 Hour Fitness Fun Run…

After the Strider’s meeting tonight (and staying away from the meat at the buffet) I managed to drag myself to the gym to get in a nice block of 5 miles. I really wanted to run at the Park because it was sooo nice and breezy outside, but it was already close to 9pm and I like to wrap up most of my runs at that time, not start them. The gym isn’t soo bad (although I make it seem that way all the time by whining about it!), but I just enjoy running outside sooo much more.

Anyhow, my legs felt pretty slow and sluggish after 9/12’s run…but that was to be expected I think. My last mile, although not reflected in my time, felt strong and fast. I can tell my body is getting stronger overall, actually. I was flipping through my running journal and have been comparing my times now to my times from a few months ago (I started the journal in March). My first 5 mile run took me 54:60 to complete, and tonight’s run took me 54:30 (and that was with tired legs). The other day I wiped through 5 miles in 50:38…so I can tell the diminishing times are corresponding with the fact I am getting stronger-cool!

The STATS:
5 total miles
54:30 total running

Mile1: 10:54
Mile2: 10:42
Mile3: 10:54
Mile4: 11:06
Mile5: 10:54

Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: a/c

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Look! Photos as Promised (top to bottom):


Striders at the Power in Motion Booth.

The beer line at Party in the Park!

Sriders hanging out at the booth.

Way to go, Striders! We are hosting the convention next yr!

Me after my best run ever:)

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

9/12/05: A SMARTie session and long run all in one…

Tonight’s workout taught me the meaning of why I should never try to combine workouts to maximize my time/energies. After a LONNG SMART session of silly walks, mile warmup, 14 minutes of 30/30’s and CORE, I was so tired I should have known better to keep pushing myself and try to log some miles. Of course, the practical part of me knew I had enough energy to fit in ‘a few’ miles. So I ran. And ran. After about 6 miles, I felt my full body ‘bonk’ for the first time ever--i felt confused and suddenly very worn-out. It was almost a scary feeling as I felt absolutely no energy in my legs. And yet I forced myself to run another 2 miles. My watch confirms this bonking, as after I was cruising around the Park at around 10:30/minute miles, I slowed down to a painful 11:15/minute+ mile. My legs were just simply ‘done.’ So, I learned my lesson and also fully confirmed the fact that I need to take in some sort of carb or electrolyte or sugar after 5 mile or longer runs. (Just like Strider Lee had told me). I can’t do GU as it makes my sensitive stomach freak out, but I really have found myself addicted to jelly beans and gummy bears lately, so I am thinking of buying small packages of those and carrying them with me. I also need to carry the good old Fuel Belt with some Gatorade in it on these longer runs, as I have tended to notice a difference in my running after taking in electrolytes in the form of salty/sweet orange powder and water…

In other related running news, I am featured as Strider Member of the Month for September. (ahhh, what a crazy picture I know!) so now you REALLY know everything about me, if you didn’t already. There are also stories/pictures from other Striding’ Bloggers so go check out that sweet newsletter in general. Also, tonight is Strider’s meeting night at some swanky Chinese Buffet near where I work (so I am going straight there from work), to have a few bites to eat as I check out the club news, and then run 5 miles as my recovery run for the week! Good times! (and as promised, blog photos are coming soon too, including pics from Party in the Park, the Houston Marathon Signup Party<--which was fun since I was drinking beer before I ran and it made it a LOT more fun, shhh! and My Best Run Ever)!

The STATS:
9 total miles
1:35 total running

½ mile warmup: 5:00
1.5 miles of 30/30’s: 15:00
Mile3: 11:33
Mile4: 10:31
Mile5: 10:34
Mile6: 10:20
Mile7: 11:05
Mile8: 11:19
Mile9: 9:48 (only about ¾ a mile)

Heart-rate: 166 ave (good) 214 max (bad!)
Weather: upper 80’s. nice breeze.

Monday, September 12, 2005

9/10/05: Treadmill fun…part 3.

This run finished my second 20+ mile week in a row! Although I haven’t felt that I have ran ‘my best’ this week, I feel like I really pulled through (running 4 days straight in a row isn’t always the smartest thing to do) and finished strong. Tonight’s run was no exception. I actually ran two 10:00 minute miles (back to back) and felt perfectly at ease with them. Hopefully this translates into strong and happy legs outside as I attempt to tackle SMART/9 miles tonight.

In other related running news, looking forward to the Marathon Party in the Park tonight (I will be there with my camera) and will write about it in tomorrow’s blog…hope to see some of my fellow Bloggers as well as maybe some new faces as a lot of Houston’s best runners will converge for 2 hours (5-7pm) for the OFFICIAL start of Marathon Season!!!! Woohoo!

The STATS:
5 miles

Mile1: 10:20
Mile2: 10:09
Mile3: 10:00
Mile4: 10:00
Mile5: 10:09

Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: a/c rocks.

Sunday, September 11, 2005

9/9/05: Treadmills can be fun…Sometimes.

I spent exactly 40 minutes on the treadmill tonight, and not a second more. (Well, by the time you factor in a 2 minute drive there, and then back, and then stretching, and then a brief walking cool down, I guess I am gone from the house about an hour). For some reason, when I am in a ‘hurry,’ (as I was tonight) it is easier for me to run at the gym then outside. I think it’s because I can moniter ‘exactly’ how long I am working out. Silly I know. Anyhow, nothing exciting about this run except I ran negative splits and my legs felt fresh and healthy. Good running times.

The STATS:
4 miles

Mile1: 10:05
Mile2: 10:00
Mile3: 10:00
Mile4: 9:55

Heart-rate: n/aWeather: a/c rocks.

Saturday, September 10, 2005

9/8/05: SMARTie Possie on a Thursday Evening.

Although SMART schedule C (5x 800m) isn’t the easiest, it is certainly ‘appearing’ easier to me. (Or maybe it’s because I still have schedule D fresh in my mind (5x 1200m!)) Needless to say, I pushed though tonight’s workout and even mustered up enough energy to run 8 total miles for the night. Not bad, but my legs sure were dead after about 6.5 miles of running. I’m excited about getting back onto my schedule, and I am really trying to mentally prepare for my 10 mile run that is going to be next Sunday *nervous!*

The STATS:

8 miles

Mile1: 11:04 wu
Mile2: 10:37
Mile3: 10:34
Mile4: 10:41
Mile5: 9:12 (split into 4:45 and 4:37)

+3 miles of 800m at 5k pace

Heart-rate: 168 ave 187 high
Weather: getting cooler. Upper 80’s.

Thursday, September 08, 2005

9/7/05: First run of the week, and it’s on the threadmill…

After coming off a rather lethal weekend to my ‘good running streak,’ now I feel like I have taken a step back and am going to have either a really energetic training week, or a really tough week full of pitfalls and letdowns. I guess I only have myself to blame or congratulate in either situation, so all I can really do now is maintain a positive outlook, work super hard and see where the cards fall…

The training run last night, which was suppose to be my long run for the week, only ended up being 4 miles because it was pretty late (9:30pm I think) and I tend to get burned-out on the treadmill after 5 miles or roughly an hour. My legs felt really strong though and I was able to run really relaxed again. Treadmill runs like this make me happy. I just hope to limit them to one night a week. The weather is indeed getting cooler, and just in time for October which is when the Marathon warm-up series really takes off. I can’t wait. I feel like I run so much stronger in the cooler weather.

Oh course what I really worry about right about this time of year is my eating habits changing (as they always do from summer to fall/winter) and with that will (hopefully not) bring weight gain. I have been doing so good lately. I’ve lost another 5 pounds since I last weighed myself (about a month ago) which puts me at 135 for a total of 13 pounds lost since March. I can’t believe it! If I keep up all my running and good eating, I can reach my goal of 130 by January! I’m not going to obsess over it, but I am certainly eager to celebrate the good news and go shopping for better fitting, smaller clothes!

The STATS:
4 miles

40:54 total
Mile1: 10:25
Mile2: 10:20
Mile3: 10:09
Mile4: 10:00

Heart-rate: didn’t wear strap (or bring watch, shame on me!)
Weather: a/c coolness.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

9/3/05: Nice Saturday AFTERNOON Recovery Run!

This run finished off my first OFFICAL 20 mile week of my half-marathon training! A running milestone! Next milestone-the 10 mile run. (ekkk, I think I have one scheduled before the end of September!!) With cooler weather finally on the horizon, the weather today was ‘just right’ and I found myself strapping on my running shoes at 1 in the afternoon (which I haven’t ran this late in the morning/early afternoon since March!) It was fun, I ran a 3.1 mile route (which I bookmarked on G-MAPS and will have to link to later this evening at home) which I figured out and ran RIGHT by my house. Yes, it can sometimes be safe to run in the city and it’s nice to not have to gas up my car to run sometimes. Anyhow, although the run includes a double loop of an apartment complex, it’s a really pretty route and there are other walkers and runners that frequent it (but don’t clog it up, at least not on the street where I run) so it’s pretty peaceful too.

Anyhow, I sure got my heart going though, and I wonder if it’s because the sun starting coming up and the temperature starting going up pretty quick before I finished my run. The first 20 minutes of running were fine, but the last 13 minutes almost killed me, even with my fuel belt and orange Gatorade. I felt really overheated and heavy. Ah well, still a good, fun run although not my fastest 5k run.

The STATS:
3.1 miles
33.33 minutes (no mile splits)

Heart-rate: 176 ave, 211 max
Weather: Upper 80’s, overcast, nice breeze, 60% humidity

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

9/1/05: SMART 6 Mile Workout!

Yes, contrary to popular belief, I have been running the last few days…mostly (I’ve been sick, *ahem*). I’m just a little behind so bare with me a little…

Thursday’s SMART workout was a good time. The usual ‘impromtu’ crowd showed up and we worked through SST (special strength training) as well as 6 miles of actual running (suppose to be a 2 mile warmup, then 2 miles at your 10k speed, and then 2 mile cool down), but I think I just let that fall to the wayside when I realized how tired my legs were. It’s really hard for me to run back-to-back days at this stage in my training, so hopefully with my schedule falling into place now, I can get into a more routine day on-day off schedule.

In unrelated (but affecting my running) news-the hurricane has had me really down and sad lately. Thousands of displaced people are now living in Houston with little more than the clothes on their backs. It is heartbreaking to see families so thankful to be alive and yet knowing they no longer have a home…I find that running keeps that stress and edge off my days. Although I know it does nothing to help those in need, sometimes in times like now a little mental sanity of my own goes a long ways.

The STATS:
6 miles

Mile1: 11:13 warmup
Mile2: 10:22
Mile3: 10:22
Mile4: 10:48
Mile5: 11:44 cooldown
Mile6: 10:38

Heart-rate: 167 ave/183 max
Weather: mid 80's, nice breeze. 60% humidity

Thursday, September 01, 2005

8/31/05: Recovery run at the boring 24-Hour Fitness

Oh, sometimes I really despise the treadmill. The last few weeks, I have done a good job of making outside for all of my training runs. Tonight though, due to getting home too late to run at the Park, I got in a good run on ole’ trusty Treadmill. My legs felt great and fresh, despite the fact I gave them a good workout the previous day. Hopefully this ‘good feeling’ I have isn’t going to go away soon. I am having some of the best running days of my life right now.

In other running news, I am going to be running the Cross Country Relay (4-people team, running 2 mile legs) that will be Sept 17 with fellow Houston Bloggers (writing nerds unite!) that are also Houston Striders!!!! The team: Jon Walk, Jennifer Kim, Holden Choi, and myself. It is going to be soooo much fun and I can’t wait. In fact, I think I may be looking forward to this as much as I am looking forward to the Houston Marathon. (and by the way, they have gotten an Official Sponser, to be unviled at the Sept 12 Party in the Park!)


The STATS:

5 miles

Mile1: 11:04 warmup

Mile2: 9:59
Mile3: 10:01
Mile4: 9:57
Mile5: 10:54 cooldown


Heart-rate: n/a

Weather: A/C coolness