Track Training #2

Today was my second go at a "miracle mile" - basically just a mile that is run after warming up that is supposed to help predict performance and speed growth. The overall premise behind them is that if you do them consistently then you will be able to accurately predict your pace time for a longer distance run.
So, my first TT (why it's not called an MM I'm not sure...) was 9:35 and I did that 2 weeks ago. Last week I didn't do any because of the race.
My race last week was my fastest mile yet - a 9:20. I was surprised, given my fastest time before that was 9:35.
Today, I was able to hit that 9:20 again so I was really pleased - especially since my legs were very heavy.
Yesterday I did Pilates and Arm Running (literally just standing and going through the movement of running with just your arms while holding light weights). My legs felt pretty good.
Today, my legs felt OK until I went to go run...then my hamstrings tightened up like a cinch.
I kept it easy for my warm up and my mile cooldown after my TT, but really tried to beat my 9:35 - I was shooting for anything lower than 9:35, hoping around 9:30...so when I saw the 9:20 I was pretty excited.
But, 15 seconds in 2 weeks might be a bit too much of an increase. I'm going to just go comfortably next week and see how I come out. The last thing I want to do is increase my pace too fast and risk injury.

In the meantime....tomorrow is X-train, or I may just rest depending on how my hamstrings feel. Saturday is scheduled rest (and my cousins are coming into town from NJ - yeah!). Sunday is my scheduled long day, but since my cousins will be here, I'm going to play it by ear...it may have to wait until the evening, or Monday, or if I'm motivated I may get up really early Sunday...but I'm not counting on it. I'm just gonna see how the weekend goes. So far I've kept spot-on my training schedule and I'm pleased with my efforts. :)
Tough run today, probably the toughest so far (especially with 80% humidity), but I got through and with a nice time under my belt.
I'm looking forward to taking it easy tomorrow!

No Politics Needed

Ok, those of you who know me well know that I LOVE politics and spend most of my free time watching the election coverage...
Well, I was on Runner's World today and watching a video docu-short about one of the RW editor's who had completed a 24 hour run in Philly, PA. And I came across this video of Mike Huckabee - yes, that Mike Huckabee - and his "acceptance" speech from the 2006 Runner's World Heroes of Running awards. So I started to watch it, intrigued...
I was actually pretty moved by his story because it made me think about how I think about running now.
Before it was the "being chased with a knife" deal....but now...
Well, I agree with Mike.
Last night after my run and speed work, I iced my legs because they felt worn, like I might have overdone it a bit...and Bruce said, did you hurt yourself? And I said that I didn't think so, but I wanted to just make sure and be proactive. Truth was though - why was I icing? Because in my head I was thinking that I would be really upset with myself if on Thursday I missed my run because I was hurt.
I would be upset if I missed my run...
Huh. Who'd a thunk it?
Check out Mike's speech, posted above - it's a great little story - regardless of whether or not you like his politics...

Motivation via Email

Well, yesterday (Tuesday), I had no interest in my daily run. None. While I usually try and make it a point to get my run in after my morning job, I came home yesterday and just sat and read and watched TV.
And I thought about my run.
And thought about it.
And thought some more about it.
And in between my reading, I would look at the clock, and think about it.
At about 5 in the evening I decided to check my email and there, scattered in my inbox were messages from my friend from highschool, Julia.
Julia knew me, as many of you did, before my days of running, or biking, or Pilates, or pretty much anything sports related - when I still carried around about 80 extra pounds and the thought of running a mile was, well, never even a thought.
Julia wrote me back after I posted my first blog and asked me for help to get her walking - she had been very sick recently and wanted to get back to getting active.
I was really very honored to be asked to help her...I haven't been doing this long, as you know, but it is something that I have really become, surprisingly passionate about. I told her that helping her would, no doubt, motivate me...
So, as I looked in my inbox to check my email and saw her name scattered throughout it, I decided that really, I wasn't being fair to her, or myself, or my goals if I didn't just go out there and do my run. I had no reason other than I didn't feel like it. And really, it wasn't a good enough reason. Plus, I had emailed Julia that the days that I don't want to work out are the days that I know I have to.
So I went out. And I ran my 3 miles. And it really did suck. I walked some when I got too tired to keep going, and really just didn't enjoy a single step of the 3 miles....
Then, kind of a funny thing happened. I got to my apartment and decided that the hill outside of my apartment building would be a good as any to practice some downhill speed drills on...so I walked to the top of the hill and started just running down it....and when I got to the bottom, I decided to do it again....and then again...and 20 minutes later, I decided that I had better stop so I could shower and get dinner ready. And I was a little disappointed to have to stop...
So thanks to Julia, for the motivation to get out there and do my run when I had no interest. And thanks to all of you, for coming back to read what I have to write.

Time for Pilates...

4 days to Go

Four days until what?

Well, I will give you some clues:

1) It's not a race
2) There will be giant parties simultaneiously around the country at midnight becuase of it
3) It's a tweeny bopper fad that I got hooked into - proudly!

Any guesses?

For those of you that are tried and true Twighliters, you are correct - Breaking Dawn, the fourth book in the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer, comes out at midnight on Aug 2.

Let us all celebrate - and, hell, let's make a new poll for it.

If you haven't read the books - go to your local bookstore and get them. Fantastic. Really. They just suck you in.

Go Edward!

More running and sports related posts later....

Getting Stronger...

Well, yesterday's 5K Silks and Satins race proved to be very exciting.

I woke up feeling pretty good - but I didn't sleep well at all. Before I went to bed I did a quick calculation of what my pace times needed to be if I wanted to break 30:00 min and it was looking pretty questionable, based on my most recent track training. I knew this was a "flat and fast" course, but my last track mile that I ran I clocked in at 9:35 and that was a hard effort run. Even if I can do a mile at 9:35, most people's time goes down as the distance increases...for obvious reasons. So I went to bed thinking about it, woke up a lot during the night and at about 4:25 I woke up and that was it...I stayed in bed til my alarm went off at 5:50, but I wasn't sleeping much that last hour and a half.
I got up feeling anxious, not nervous - more like I really wanted to see how I could do. Checked the weather - it was on my side: about 67 degrees at start of run, 75% humidity (bit high) and partly sunny. Most of my runs lately have been in 80-85 degree weather so 67 was sounding really nice.

Bruce drove up with me. The race took place just around the corner from the Saratoga racetrack - during track season it is packed - even at 7:00 AM. People come out to see the horses warm up, and it was opening weekend so traffic was backed way up. I wanted to be there at 7:15 so I could check in and warm up. At 7:30 I officially had an internal meltdown and told Bruce, when we finally found where I needed to go (the race website had NO directions or information on how to get there - just the intersection, which was no help to google maps or mapquest) I asked if I could just jump out of the car while he looked for parking.

Took me all of about 30 seconds to check in, get my t-shirt (cute - off white with purple), and my ankle strap (for timing). That made up for my stress. I found my friend who was running it too and he and I chatted about the set-up, check in, our hopes and goals for the race. Bruce found me about 5 minutes later and we all walked over to the start line.

This is a 5K (3.1 miles)- usually for big races there are corrals were people with certain times stand...if you run a 5 min mile you usually are in front, and so on to the back. This race had a corral for 4 minute mile runners. I'm hoping for a 9:30 minute mile....basically a 4 minute mile person is half way done before I'm even through my first mile! OK, that was just for perspective...

I won't drag this story much longer - I know you probably want to know how I did.... :)

So, I stood in the 5 minute corral - yes, I stood way ahead of where I "should" but in a race without a starting mat that clocks you as you cross it, your time can be about 2 minutes off if you start in the way back. If there is no starting mat (which there wasn't) when the gun goes off, the clock starts. If I'm all the way back with 9 minute pacers and it takes me 2 minutes to get to the start of the race, my time is not going to be accurate. And I was going for a PR, so I figured, the hell with it - I'll go to the front and start my time when the race starts.

Before the race started Bruce asked how I felt. After my very brief warm up I wasn't feeling all that great. My left knee kind of hurt (it never hurts), I was really thirsty, and I was just feeling kind of dejected....so I told him I felt alright, not great, I was gonna do my best, but I honestly wasn't "feeling it."

The gun went off, I started running immediately and it was very crowded. People passed (whizzed is more accurate) by me (my being very slow compared to them) but I didn't try to compete with them - this was about me and the clock. I kept my mind and body in check, tried not to accelerate when the 70 year old lady passed by me like I was walking, and just kept running.

My first mile I was hoping for a 9:40 pace - that would put me under the 30:00 and kept that pace. Still 5 seconds faster than my fastest mile, but in a race adrenalin can help you go faster than you think....I was counting on that factor.

So when I got to mile one mark and they said 9:20 I was ecstatic! I was 25 seconds faster than my fastest, and 20 seconds faster than my goal pace. The sun was out, but the temp was fine - I was hot, but I could keep this up...
Second mile time was 19:00 - still 20 seconds faster than my pace had to be to make it under 30:00.

First (and last) water station I ran through, got a drink, doused my neck and back and found my "carrot" - a woman running ahead of me who had passed by me at the beginning of the race (her tank top strap was on her shoulder and I remembered her as she whizzed by at the start of the race)...so if she whizzed by me at the start and was now about 100 feet ahead of me, she was slowing down and I could eventually catch her. I noticed Bruce ahead of me, standing on the sidewalk smiling and waving, and that gave me another bit of motivation to keep it up.

I kept my eye on "the carrot"...didn't try to chase her, just used her as a "carrot" and kept our distance the same. I figured that I would draft her at the end if she slowed....which she did. So I crept up behind her, my pace was the same (she was slowing) and used her being in front to help me along for about a quarter mile. When I saw the finish banner I knew I was pretty close. That and the Theme Song to Rocky ("Getting Stronger...; my favorite "get your butt moving for one last all out effort" song) came on my music player - my cue that there was about 2 minutes left in the race if I wanted to make it under 30:00 (I cued my music to help me know my pace)...I looked at my clock - 28:00....I could do this...about .2 of a mile to the finish...

So I ran a bit faster, passed my "carrot", mentally thanked her, and just kept going. I saw the finish clock ahead and it read 29...about .1 of a mile left...I can go all out for 1 minute and die at the end if I have to...so I just started to accelerate like I did in my speed training drills and I started passing a bunch of people (a few whom I recognized as those zooming past me at the start....take that...lol)....

...and I crossed the line at 29:32!

Overall pace: 9:30 - my personal best ever. :) :) :) :)

Yes, I was tired at the end. I definitely put my all in that last .1 of the mile - I couldn't have gone any faster without falling over....but it was completely worth it to see that clock - and not even that, but to know that I had beat that clock with a solid 28 seconds to spare....

And today, the day after...I am feeling great. My body is fine, not sore, I could run another....but I won't...not til Monday. Today I'm just going to give myself the day off and bask in my own personal glow of self achievement.

Birthday Wishes and Crossed Fingers

First, Happy Birthday wishes goes out to my cousin, Biz. I know she'll have a wonderful time because she is the kind of person who gets a party going wherever she is. :)

Today is my day off. Just chillin in the house. Woke up feeling fine - no pain from the long run yesterday. Abs are still a bit tight from Pilates. Around 12 I was walking around the apartment and this little sharp pain started on the top of my left foot each time I put my foot down. Walked around a little and it came and went. I am feeling a bit paranoid because the race is tomorrow and I REALLY want a PR....I decided to see if maybe walking lightly might just loosen everything up, so I walked to the Rite Aid up the street (had to pick up some drugs).
No pain during the walk, no pain since...knock on wood....I'm going to take it easy today though....I'll be really crushed if I wake up and can't run the race tomorrow....I'll get over it, but I'll be crushed.

Fingers crossed, laces tied - wish me luck tomorrow. My goal is to hit under 30:00, and under 29:00 would make me jump up and down a lot. :)
Until then....

Pilates Pain and Treadmill Tiffs

Ok, so yesterday I did Pilates for an hour and I can barely move my arms and when I laugh or cough my abs hurt. For doing "absolutely nothing" for an hour (I was actually bored during the routine, I'm so used to moving so much during my workouts) I am more sore than the day after a race. My HR monitor registered no higher than 55% the whole hour I was doing Pilates yet I am quite sore. Just goes to show you that cardio workouts are not always the hardest. I also realized how freakin weak I am. 10 push ups - thought I would die. Doing The Hundred (Pilates move) - thought I would die. Single Leg Stretches - I think I may have had an out of body experience...thank God I only am scheduling that once a week...maybe twice...

Today....I had no interest in running. Furthest thing down on my "want to do list" but since it was on the calendar (and I am determined not to have to rewrite workouts into the next day block) I moved it to the top of my "do it anyway" list.

Being the Rain Capital of the US this week, I did not venture outdoors to complete my run but rather went and fought with the treadmill at the gym (Tiff had a tiff with the treadmills). I usually like treadmills - I think since I was not interested in running anyways that the treadmills and I were just destined to "have it out." They are machines - but I think they can sense fear and hesitation...they prey on it...maybe I'm being dramatic?

Anyways, got to the gym...my favorite treadmill was in use (by someone walking like 2 miles an hour - I kid you not, the thing was barely on...)...went to a different one...wouldn't work...went to a different one...fan out of service (love the little fan - helps keep the air moving)...went to yet another one - worked fine (or so I thought...read on).

But...to my delight (sarcasm), I managed to hit the emergency stop button on the side of the treadmill like 5 times during the workout- I swear the little red button literally jumped out at me today. Running....running...stop dead. First time, I was excited to have an impromptu break....second time, I was surprised by my continued clumsiness....third time, I got annoyed....fourth time I decided it was a conspiracy and the treadmill had it in for me....fifth time I declared war on the treadmill and vowed that I would continue to pound its belt if it was the last thing I did.

When I reached 6.5 miles, I was glad I didn't have to do 7 - I was ready to be done. It's not that the run was bad - it was actually a good run: kept good pace (despite the emergency stops), my HR was in target the whole time, worked some intervals and hills into my routine - I just really hated doing it today.

I read once that the days that you don't want to work out are the days you HAVE to work out. I think there is some truth to that. I ran my longest run today since Big Sur, which is an accomplishment on its own, I suppose - but if I'm honest with myself my accomplishment today is more that I got over my "I hate this freakin running thing" attitude and added another 6.5 miles to my sneakers....

...did I mention that about 5 minutes into my run the person on my favorite treadmill left...oh yes, I could have switched over, but I figured if I put my feet on solid ground they would have walked me straight down the stairs to my car. That and if I had switched I would never had experienced the joy of the emergency stop button and had the opportunity to write this blog about my war with an inanimate object.

Inanimate or not, today I won. Take that, treadmill!

Tiffany - 1
Treadmill - 0

Speed Work That's Not Too Speedy....

Yesterday was speed work day...I estimated the whole routine to be about 30-35 minutes...took me an hour! Geez! So much for a quick trip to the track!
I really enjoyed it though, so I can't complain. My legs were a tad sore from spinning on Monday- I need to remember to take it down a notch at spin class if I'm going to do it for cross training. Even though I watched the tension on the spin wheel, stayed in the seat the whole time, and tried to keep my cadence pretty average, I think I still over-did it a bit. Didn't interfere with my routine yesterday, but I definitely could "feel" my legs when I went out to run.
So...yesterday - heat and humidity were turned up (shocker!) so I kept it at a good pace and didn't push it. Poured ice cold water on my hat and neck before I ran my tempo mile and that helped a lot!
Worked on cadence drills and acceleration glides (sounds so fancy and technical) - basically just working on making sure that my feet "touch off" the ground quickly and my "turn over" is fast. First cadence drill was 41 steps in 30 seconds, by the fifth drill I was up to 50 steps in 30 seconds. Not bad. Will do this as a planned work out once a week and in between short runs once in a while just to break things up.
Acceleration glides went well too - I managed to work off of momentum ("glide") for about 4-5 steps at the beginning and on the last set I was up to 8 steps.
Ran 1 mile at 10:49 with 3:1 intervals. Was pushing for 10:30 pace but with the heat (and it was the last thing I did in my workout) I decided to just take it back a notch - 10:49 is still respectable for a sunny 81 degrees and 70% humidity, I think ;)
Overall, a good workout again. Enjoyed the track and the speed work - despite my being there twice as long as I thought I would, the time went quickly. Breaking the workout up into minute and two minute segments kept it interesting.

Forgot to post my race on Saturday - Silks and Satins 5K in Saratoga! This is the one I've been waiting for - it's supposed to be a lot of fun. Flat and fast!
So...I'm technically supposed to take a day off before my long run on Sunday so my legs are fresh (less risk of injury and all that). But that means I'd have to do my long run Fri, the day before the race...not a good idea either (especially since I'm hoping for a PR - under 30 min) So....depending on how I feel tomorrow (I'm awfully tired today...) I may do my long run Thursday, take off Friday and then just cross train on Sunday....eh, I'll figure it out...

Spin that Wheel!

Today was a cross training day.
I decided to go to a Spin class - my first one in like 3 months. I had good motivation though - for my birthday I got a gift certificate from Court and Dave to Skirtsports.com (love their running skirts). Since I have 2 running skirts I decided to buy a biking skirt with the money, so today was the first time I wore it. Very nice. It's green - I call it Mojito Green - it's pretty bright. Has padding in it so my butt doesn't get sore on the bike. TMI? In any event, it was the motivation I needed today to get off my ass and off to the gym.
I did about 70 minutes and kept my heart rate in the 70-80% range, which was my goal. It was not too tough, considering I am a bit competitive. Normally, when I see the other people in the class I try to "beat them" by spinning faster or harder or longer...whatever...it's silly since no one is going anywhere on a stationary bike. But it's what I do.
Today I just kept at my own pace and I also didn't go off the seat. In my training book it says that on off days if I want to doing spinning that is fine, but I should not get off the seat and ride standing because it puts too much pressure on the calves and ankles (and on off days I should be resting them). So....I stayed in the seat. Felt a bit weird and I kinda felt like a woose at the beginning when everyone else got up, but I got over it. Still had a great workout.
And my little green skirt looked cute.
Course, as we all know, that is the most important thing. ;)

PS - A very important congratulations to 2 people: Kerri, who had her 6 mile long run on Saturday and completed it in the awful VA heat, and Julie who got out today and started her walking training routine! Congrats, ladies :)

Ironman

Today was the 10th running (swimming, and biking) of the Lake Placid Ironman Triathalon. I was checking out the results and came across this video.....

check it out...it's inspirational!

http://www.nasports.com/mediacenter/fordvideo/fordvideo.php


If you're unfamiliar with the Ironman it is THE premier triathalon - a total of over 140.6 total miles in broken up into:
swimming 2.4 miles
biking 112 miles
running 26.2 miles (a full marathon).
The unofficial fourth event is the praying that each competitor does during the other three events ;) Each person has up to 17 hours to complete it (elite traithaloners finish it between 9-10 hours).

Makes my 5 mile run this morning seem like small potatoes! :)

1 Long Run done...5,000 to Go

Ok, maybe not 5,000....that was an exageration, obviously.

But, yes, today was my first official long run of the half marathon training. Today was a 5 mile run. I went up Hoosick and then looped around McChesney and came back (not that some of you have any idea where this is...but, I'm just blogging).
Very good run. Mostly flat, couple hills - nothing to be scared about ;) The beginning run at Hoosick is a bit of a climb - steady, but it wasn' bad. The weather...that is what could have been killer.
Needless to say, on a Sunday in the middle of July I saw no other runner out - why? Could it be because it was 82 degrees with 73% humidity and anyone running in this weather is an idiot? Ah, that might be it.
Actually, it wasn't that bad. It was completely overcast - no sun to be seen - and there was a nice light wind and constant sprinkle...so, despite the temp and humidity, it was completely tolerable. If it had been sunny I would not have gone (I would have made a date with the treadmill).
I ran a 2:1 pace (run 2, walk 1) which also helped keep my HR down and kept me from getting too hot. My breathing was good - not labored, but I was working. The pace was easy: I kept at a steady 12:00 for the whole thing, as is my "prescribed" time for my training. It felt slow and I did have to back off and consciously slow myself down at points. But considering how hot it was, the pace was perfect.
In my training book it says that pace should be slowed down by 30 seconds for every 5 degrees above 60 anyways...so if my race pace is about 9:30, that would put me at a 12:00 pace for 85 degree weather - so I guess I was spot on.
Tomorrow is cross train or rest. I'll see how I feel. Right now I feel very good. At the end of the 5 miles I was not sore or tired - I was happy to be done so I could shower (I felt pretty gross), but I could have done another 5 if I had to. That is exactly how I want to feel - ready for the next training day. Keep 'em coming! :)

Accommodating Mother Nature

Yesterdays afternoon training was postponed to this morning due to weather. I'm all for training and being consistent and sticking with it - but I am not about running in 89 degrees with 57% humidity. Thanks anyways.

So, yesterday I took a nice short stroll with Bruce as my substitution for my normally scheduled workout ;)

To accommodate the fact that today was going to be another 90 degree day with disgustingly high humidity I woke up at 7 and got my butt over to the track.

Today was my first TT run (Time Trial or Magic Minute). Basically, by running these consistently during training I can determine a realistic pace for my half marathon and either work to increase it or work to keep on that pace. As this is my technical first half, I'm supposed to just have a goal to finish. But since I did the 10.6 miler of Big Sur (the hilliest and most beautiful course in America) I feel that although it wasn't a real half marathon, it was pretty close - if I want to train for a time to finish in, I think that I can reasonably do that.

So...based on my TT from today, I have a 9:35 short distance pace (which I was really pleased about - right at where I was estimating). That makes my long distance pace about 11:00-11:25, putting me in line for a sub 2:30:00 half marathon. My goal (before I did my first TT today) was to run a 2:20:00 half. I think that I'll keep that in mind, but be focused on still running sub 2:30:00 - if that means I run 2:29:59, that is great! Of course, most importantly, I want to finish and feel good. If that means a 3:30:00 time, so be it! But hopefully not! :)

Overall, very good training. I ended up doing about 40 minutes, including the TT and some speedwork. Feel great tonight and ready to go for my long run on Sunday.

Tomorrow I am off from training for the whole day - Happy 5th Anniversary to Bruce and I.:)

Can you believe this was five years ago?! Wow!

Wed Update

OK, I made it out today. Bruce and I took a lovely little walk around the neighborhood. It's still 82 here and the humidity is over 50% so it's still muggy, but it was a very nice walk regardless. And beyond training or anything like that I adore my evening walks with Bruce...they are one of my favorite parts of the day. :)

Africa Hot

Holy hot....my Lord! So my afternoon bike ride is out - at least until it cools off a bit. Right now the temp reads 89 degrees with 40% humidity - bit too much for me to take a spin around the town in.

I had my first blog comment today! Thanks "ElizaD"! :)

To answer your question - I have a Polar F55 HRM. I have had it for about 1 1/2 years now and I do love it. Can't train without it. Mine has a weight training function in it that you can program if you are into weight training and such. I was....not so much now. So that function doesn't get used a lot. What I love the most is that it saves all my workouts to date and I can go back and review them from the very first one, to my most recent one.
I recommend getting one with a log. (See right sidebar post with all my exercise totals).

My dream monitor is the new Forerunner 405....it is a GPS recorder as well and will track your pace, your distance, elevation, etc. If you use mapmyrun, you will no longer need it - the 405 does it all for you. Maybe for Christmas....right now, it's a bit out of my price range. Check it out on line though - it's really great.

As for my training today...I'll post back.

Track run

My heart rate monitor is all set up and calibrated. I tested it out today and I think it is pretty close to spot on. Determined my max to be at 198 bpm and got my thresholds for my other % (will post on side bar).

Today I biked about 1 mile over to a local college and ran on the track. I've never run on an outdoor track before and I really enjoyed it. I didn't realize they were all cushy and rubbery...maybe that's a "duh" statement, but I didn't know that.

Weather at 4:30: 83 degrees, 41% humidity, wind a 9 mph, sunny
Training goal: 30 min run at easy pace


Despite the temp and humidity, the weather was actually pretty great and I enjoyed it. The track was open and the sun beats down, but the wind helped out a lot and kept the temperature more manageable.

Actual run: 31:15 at medium pace; ran 3:1 splits (run 3 minutes, walk 1 minute) and my pace was comfortable. 3.2 miles total run.

The running pace was a bit slow, but considering the heat, I was not going to overdo it. As is, my heart rate was at about 85% for the majority of the run - more due to the heat than my actual pace.

I did a 200 meter "sprint" after I was done with my training, just to see what I had left. I ran it in 1:15 - not bad, again considering the heat (I think my goal pace for a 200 m is about 50 seconds...based on this sprint, I'm confident I could do that in cooler weather).

All in all a good running day. Music was great.

Favorite song for the run today: GNR - Paradise City!

HR Max test

Ok...so today was an "off" day, but I decided that I would test my heart rate maximum, as I've always been a bit skeptical about whether or not my heart rate monitor (HRM) is accurately displaying my HR values.

So...I went to my friendly local gym and got "me-self" on the treadmill and ran and ran. I got all the numbers and feel like they are pretty fair to me. I posted the info on the runner's world (RW) website to see what some of the runner's thoughts were. I'll post what they tell me for my records.

Basically, I just don't want to over do my training or train to light...if I should be training at 65% of my max, I want to be able to look at my monitor and know that is what I'm doing. With outdoor conditions like temp and humidity affecting HR, I want to make sure I'm pretty close to target - especially since I want to do most of my running outside.

Good workout today...I loved the speed part, where I was running much faster than my typical pace....I love the speed. I can't do it for long (I think I'm more of an endurance runner than a speed runner), but I love the feeling.

Oh what a feeling - Toyota! (Who remembers that? Probably no one...)

Proudly Running Like A Girl

Hellooooo!

I am beginning this blog for purely personal reasons...to track my progress, record my goals, outline my training and, basically, make myself accountable for it. Though I don't think I need any additional external motivation (I am pretty self motivated), I think having a place to document my thoughts, progress, etc is just plain fun.

To Start....

I am training for the SunTrust Richmond Half Marathon on November 15. I will be running (like a girl) with my best friend, Kerri. :) Neither of us has ever run this far. At times (during training and race day) I'm sure we will wonder why the hell we decided to join this....those questions are best left unasked until later. Besides, I haven't (technically) even started my official training yet. No need to get psyched out just yet.

Why I run:

1. I actually like it (it's a love/hate relationship, really, but this "I like to run" is a new thing for me - I was previously part of the "I don't run unless someone is chasing after me with a weapon" fan club)
2. I like the feeling of the wind on my face (especially when I pass a really full dumpster on a sunny day - it's awesome)
3. I like the "me" time to just do my thing and listen to music on my Zune (it's like an I-Pod, but better)
4. I like the way I feel when I'm done
5. I like the people I meet along the way (the ones who smile...the ones that just stare at me with the "running-is-bad-for-you" look or "why-are-you-smiling-while-you-run" look I don't care for much and are excluded from that statement)
6. I like spending between $20-$70 for race day t-shirts

Previous Running Experience:

Not a whole lot...

I did the Friehoffer's 5K back in 2000 then took an 8 year break. Started running again in Jan 08 to train for the Big Sur International Marathon as part of a fundraising team. I signed up for the 10.6 Miler portion.

I started as a walker (when I began training I was still part of the "I don't run unless someone is chasing me...." club) and then realized that if I ran, I could get done faster! Yes! It was almost like cheating...
So, I started to run. And then, the weirdest, most unexpected thing happened....I started to LIKE it. Huh. Go figure.

In any event, I ran the 10.6 Miler in April (as I mentioned, I was part of a large group that fundraised over $216,000 for The Wellness Center of Central New Jersey - a cancer support group. We are very proud of our accomplishment!) finishing in a respectable 2 hours.

But when it was all over I was like...OK...what do I do now? I had somewhat the same feeling as after my wedding day...I'd planned, prepared, and now that it was all over....what do I do with myself?

Train for a Half Marathon!

Which brings me to the present. So here I am...and here is my blog....and here I go!