Week of 11/18-11/25 Workouts!

11/20/07: 6 Miles-2 Loops at the good ole Park!
total running: 57:40
ave 9:36/mile
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: humid!!
Notes: After a week of not running at all (I know! I know!) coming back to Houston was the best thing for me! I decided to run 6 miles by myself and two loops around the Park would have to be the fix for tonight. It felt great to run, I'm not even joking. Of course, I wasn't going fast, but the objective for the night was just to RUN! Overall, a great and enjoyable run!

11/23/07: 6 Miles at and around the Park!
56:54 total running
ave 9:29/mile
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: cold! 50 degrees at 11am!
Notes: What a difference the cold weather makes! It scares away all the walkers/joggers/families who sometimes are 3-5 people across and cause me to dodge them and nearly twist my ankles! Plus I feel like I can run forever in this stuff:) This morning, I just got up late, ran a comfortable speed to workoff that thanksgiving pie I ate and kill time until my car's oil change was done. Ran into local running star Lance (literally--those damn train tracks really cause you to watch your steps though) and saw one of the Schroeders (Steve, to be exact). Steve, thanks for the inspiration this morning. I should have ran with you:) Overall, a nice morning and I am ready to tackle that 19 miler this morning as long as the weather behaves!

11/25/07: 18 Wet, Slow and Cold Miles aka 'Poor Mans Tour'!
total running: 3:18 or so
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: cold! wet! what else is there to say!
Notes: I know I just said it before, but the weather does make a difference! After having the TdM canceled yesterday due to horrible raining and cold weather (first time in 13 years!!!) and me being more then 'just' bummed out ( I woke up at 5:30 am for NOTHING! argh!), I was sincerely thankful that other runners would be joining me this morning for another shot at it:) Honestly, there was nothing memorable about this run other then my right knee hurting the entire time (boo!), running comfortably with Striders Hillary and Debbie and the relentless and annoying rain the last 9 miles of the run. Oh! And the breakfast afterwards-devine:) Overall, glad it is done. One more 'tough but doable' training run on December 22nd and my training is pretty much complete!

Week of 11/12-11/17 Workouts!

For the first time since I have started keeping a workout journal, I have nothing to report this week. :(

I had a business trip to Indy with no opportunities to run or workout. However, I did walk EVERYWHERE since I didn't have a car. I probably walked 5 plus miles a day. That probably counts as a workout, I guess.

Overall, I am glad this week is over!

LOOK: I BOUGHT A NEW BIKE!

Peep at it here...and the full 25K is below this!

Thanks to my good friends at Tri on the Run for a wonderful experience...I can't to start riding more!!!

11/11/07: 25K and another big PR!

I must have ate some Wheaties today not knowing it because I pulled out another PR!

2:20:19. (actually, that's my gun time).

CHIP TIME: 2:19:47.

On.possibly.the.hottest.and.most.humid.November.day.i.ever.remember.

This can only be a true testament to the will of my soul, my hard training, and not being injured this time around.

More later...but bike shopping comes now:)

--

(and yes, I bought a bike! see the post above...)

Anyhow, I did it. I set a goal for myself (9:00/min for 15.5 miles=2:20 25K) and stuck it out. And oh yes, it was tough. very tough.

but you know what? I can do this...I can push myself. I have done the marathon before. what is there to be scared of? And why am I going to hold back? I can do this...I train hard and deserve every PR I get!

So I went and got my PR!

I knew the second I got up at 4am that the weather was going to be less then desireable. it fact, i didn't do my normal pre-race 1/2 mile jog from the parking lot to the chip pickup. I could feel the sweat already dripping down my back just walking briskly. ouch. i did get to the race fairly early though, which allowed me to get 'slightly' acclaimated to the 70 degree weather and eat half a Carbboom. Yummy Vanilla. I could eat it every day since it tastes so much like cake frosting! :)

So I started the race with Strider Cari and we ran about 5 miles together (one loop). Our pace was pretty much dead on 9:00/miles, but for some reason I could tell we were still running faster then that. I could also tell she was running stronger then me at this point, but I knew I needed to conserve as much energy as i could for the next loop...

that is pretty much the extent of 'the good race' for me. the last 10 miles were brutal and survival of the fittest.

what's funny about viewing the race that way is that the 2nd loop was actually my fastest one...where I averaged 8:45/mile. I guess my desire to be done with the race got the best of me...and got to me earlier then it should have.

the last loop was where I went on autopilot. don't ask how. nothing hurt, i suddenly wasn't sweating at all and all I heard were my feet hitting the ground...i don't know quite how to explain what was happening to me, but i felt honestly like i could run forever. even in the pain i was in (and i was feeling it in my right hamstring and left ankle for some reason!!!) I kept going. I hung on to my 2:20 pace band and just told myself "Okay, I am on target, just keep steady. Relax. Trust your training."

I had some fast miles (mile 11) and slow miles (mile 10) but overall I ran pretty consistant. Once I got to mile 12 I knew that all i had to do was LIVE that pace band. That meant no walking (I had already walked twice for a couple seconds) and only slow down for water and Gatorade at every aid station. Wow, and I'll never forget how thirsty I was. I couldn't drink enough fluids today.

Thank you's to Strider Frank and the older (and faster!) gentleman in the yellow singlet that raced me the whole race for helping me finish strong, all the Striders and friends who were cheering at the loop turnaround in downtown, and "HI" to Lisa Foronda, Jon Walk, Strider Jen and everyone else who was awesome in this race. Brett, Sam and Edwin were looking good as always-love you guys and always great to see you!

I'm not quite ready yet, but give me a month and bring on that 30K!!!!!!!!!!!

THE STATS:

15.5 miles @ave 9:01/mile
2:19:47 official chip time
19th out of 119 in 25-29 age group!

9:01/first loop ave
8:45/second loop ave
9:01/third loop ave

9:02, 8:44, 8:55, 8:23, 9:36
8:33, 8:59, 9:03, 9:10, 9:32
8:39, 9:16, 9:12, 8:49, 9:23, 4:20 (.5 mile)

Week of 11/5-11/11 Workouts!

11/6/07: 6 Miles of TH Hills!
total running: 1:27
(20 min wu, 20 min cd)
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: cool and breezy
Notes: Not feeling too sore, I had a great workout tonight. I didn't feel like I could finish this one (4 long hill repeats x2-but then repeated for a total of 4 times!) but I did. It was a completly empowering feeling! Overall, a 8+ (out of 10) on effort!

11/8/07: 6 Miles-Speedwork 60/60x8!
1:09 total running
19:50 wu, 16 min sw, 13:58 cd
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: cool
Notes: This workout at TH didn't seem tough at all after pushing through that hill workout on Tuesday! Although I didn't feel like I pushed as much as I could (maybe only 7 on effort), I was happy to finish the workout feeling tired and slightly labored. Onward to that 25k on Sunday!!!! I'm ready!

11/11/07: Houston Classical 25k race!
(Please read about it in a seperate race report!)

Week of 10/29-11/4 Workouts!

10/30/07: 6.5 Miles @ Terry Hershey
total running: 1:11
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: cool and not overally humid
Notes: After Sunday's efforts, although not overally sore, I certainly didn't feel like doing any type of speedworkout. So, I ran 4 miles with Striders John DiMarco and Patti Sears (who is in town for a few months coaching at Kinkaid). After that, I still wanted to run more so I met up with the rest of the SMARTies and did a mile of Kenyan Relays (my favorites!) and then a 1.5 mile cool down. I give myself an 'A+' for pushing myself to run 6.5 miles on a day I didn't really want to run at all.

11/4/07: 14 Miles (okay, 13.5) Sealy Dealy-aka-Tough but Doable!
2:07 total running
Heart-rate: n/a
Weather: 65 degrees at start. 75 degrees at finish.
Notes: I admit I am not happy with the lack of running this week (can I blame halloween--a little?!) Anyhow, I will give myself credit for doing yoga yesterday! :) So I got up at 5am to make it and meet up with the Striders at TH at 6am (almost didn't make it...thank goodness for that ''2 minute leeway" rule the Coach has). I initally was very excited about running 13.5 miles in the middle of nowhere...and 'rolling' hills on top of that. After I saw the hills, my excitement quickly left. However, this workout was absolutely fantastic for me. It was completely tough-but doable. I pushed through a sore lower back for the first 5 miles and then even harder on the hills during the last 4 miles. I only walked three times (under a minute each time) and never stopped for water (brought my own). This will be my 2007 'benchmark' workout in which all other workouts are based on. I will never forget how it felt to have to push so hard through so much dumb crap and still finish with a smile on my face! (And breakfast at Tony's afterwards was the icing on the morning!) Thanks to Coach Steeeve and Barb for the ride, Allison for encouarging me and I can't wait for our next trip out here!!!