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Location:

Mesa,AZ,

Member Since:

Apr 04, 2007

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Marathon Finish

Running Accomplishments:

Prs:

1 mile: 6:31

5K: 23:37

Half Marathon: 2:04

My first post-high school 5K, in which I thought I was going to die

The first time I won my age division. Yippee!

My first half marathon, in which I attack Sasha

The time I beat my high school PR for the 5K (as a 31 year-old mommy of 3!)

My first 5K barefooted

Short-Term Running Goals:

I'm just getting back into running after a long break to have my last child. I would like to race some 10Ks, a half, and a marathon in the next 2 years.

Long-Term Running Goals:

Be the oldest woman to complete a marathon. Yea! But hopefully I will also complete some BEFORE I geezer up, like, before I'm 40 for sure. I think it would be fun to dress up really strange for marathons, like impersonating celebrities and stuff. Except I don't really like celebrities, as a rule, so maybe I'll have to stick to the age old question of ninja, or pirate. I say ninja. *Hyah!*

Personal:

I am happily married to James W (Cool Runnings). We have 3 boys and 1 opinionated little girl. I love reading and I'm also a news junkie. I am a stinker.

Favorite Blogs:

Click to donate

to Ukraine's Armed Forces

Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00

Mon, Aug 27, 2007

Slow miles	Fast miles	Total Distance
3.66	0.00	3.66

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Guess what, I actually took first place in my age division at my 5K on Friday. Check it out! (My real name is Elizabeth and I am 30.) I can't believe I ran all through high school and never won a single thing other than a 6th place ribbon for the mile (and there were only 8 people running it!) then I join this blog and 4 months later I win a 1st place prize!!! My basic strategy for this win was to pick a very small race (13 in my division), but STILL! I guess everyone else was having a pretty hard time with the heat and the gravel too. AND I chicked half the guys in James' age division (31-40), too. He came in 15th out of 27.

http://www.husd.org/NewsArticle.aspx?aid=624&cid=5

So I've been thinking about improving my training. This is what I've come up with so far: 1) I must always have a race to train for. I am much more motivated and consistent once I have chosen a race and set my sights on it. (Even though I may dislike the feeling of the actual race.) 2) If I am to beat my high school time for the 5K, I have to train at least as hard as I did in high school. Duh! You'd think that was obvious, but somehow I missed it.

In CC in high school, I always started from the couch and started at the beginning of the school year (none of this awesome summer camp stuff you read about on this blog). Usually, the coach would start us off at arond 3.5 miles a day, then getting up to 5 or 6 by mid-season. My first race of the season would usually be around 30 min. Then next race would be 28, followed by 27, etc. Until my last one would be around 24. The reason I have to beat this time is that I want to prove to myself that the only thing that stopped me from getting faster was that I stopped running between seasons. You can't reach your maximum potential in distance running after only 3 months off the couch! At least that is what I hope. Anyway, I must get my weekly mileage up to at least 25, probably 30 miles a week. So this week, I am shooting for at least 18.

I ran at 2.36 at 5:50 this morning. I had to be back by 6:15 so James can get to work in time. This was a great run for me. It was sooooo nice and cool! I didn't really look at the Garmin, but I did push myself a little since I knew that it would have to be a short run. But I was flabbergasted that my average pace was 9:30. First mile: 9:45, second mile: 9:19, .36 mile: 9:18 pace. This is really good for me, and it did NOT feel that hard. That's almost as fast as my second mile from my 5K on Friday! It's the cooler temps that did it. It was probably 20 degrees cooler than my 5K. All this makes me very excitied for fall and winter.

1.3 miles with the jogging stroller at 8 am (11:10 pace). Ug! Well, one day down...

Night Sleep Time: 0.00	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 0.00

Comments

From Christi on Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 10:19:19

Yeah, wish you could have joined us in the rain this morning! I love how you broke down your goal into tangable (sp?) steps- great example to me! Your making me want to rethink my goals and how I'm going to get there. Great pace this morning too!

From laura on Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 11:10:01

Great run, Lyb!! I completely agree that working toward a race motivates you. I just decided that I'm going to shoot for my first 5K in 4 weeks, and it is MUCH more motivating to get me out the door! I'm kind of excited! Very cool plan to beat your record in HS - although I personally think you oughta "leave your past behind you" and shoot for new goals. Who wants to remember high school anyway!!! : oS

From Holly on Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 13:56:16

Wow, Lybi! Way to go! Those are lofty goals, and I hope you reach every one! Your early morning times are impressive! Cool runnings are coming for us here in AZ, for sure. I may be left in the dust, though. hehe

I personally like to "leave my behind in my past," but if it motivates you without being too discouraging, go for it!

From michelle on Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 14:17:22

Good job getting out this morning. I think that your training with the loaded stroller is paying off, without it you practically have wings!!!! I haven't got any races in mind anytime soon. I'm not aware of anything coming up. But it would be nice to have one to keep me motivated. OOhhh ya! There is a unofficial run in Oct. coming up with a few friends, gonna needs some wings of my own for that one!

From Wildbull on Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 16:57:39

first place already! Super race. Now your hooked on winning! No going back now!

From Sasha Pachev on Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 17:05:42

Note that Michelle Resendez who has run a 17:32 5000 on the track this year in Mt. Sac Relays in 80 degree weather finished your race in 17:44, interestingly enough, third overall, chicked all the men except two, and those were in jeopardy. Incidentally, she has at least 4 kids, see

http://members.cox.net/michelleresendez/

This goes to show that although the course was likely short, the heat and the gravel more than made up for it. I would imagine you would have run about 25:30 under ideal conditions.

From Lybi on Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 17:18:40

And she's short, too (5'3")! Let's here it for short women with several little boys!

Ideal conditions, where can I find those? When I go to break my high school record, I'm going to take every advantage I can--cool, slightly downhill, maybe even sea-level.

From Mom on Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 18:10:29

Way to go! You are so gutsy and inspiring, you even have Laura getting into running. How are your boys doing following your example? Your whole family sings, runs and plays piano. Oh and whistles. Love you. Mom

From crumpyb1 on Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 21:58:37

Awesome, Lybi! You've already reached one of your long term goals! That's got to feel good.

Seriously, I think the stroller is a workout on top of a run. I prefer not to take my watch when I bring Will along especially after I clocked myself at a 12 minute pace. (I thought I was going fast.) 11 minute miles sound good.

From sarah on Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 23:41:03

Wow!!!!! I don't think I've ever got a 1st place ribbon..you must feel like a million dollars. I've got a confession to make...I'm going to start teaching my kids piano lessons. With three kids in lessons at 10 dollars a lesson we thought we'd try me teaching them for a few months and see how it goes.

I did it today for the first time and I loved it. I just take them with me when I practice the organ and they get to hear me practice..which is a lesson in itself. Then I take them one by one and give them a short lesson (don't think we'll get up to 30 minutes each for a while). The babies are always at home sleeping while Daddy works (or blogs) and everything works out. Any suggestions would be helpful but I think I'm going to really enjoy it.

From Clay on Mon, Aug 27, 2007 at 23:42:06

Way to go Lybi, you are so awesome... I am so proud of you and your hard work, keep it up!

From Holly on Tue, Aug 28, 2007 at 01:45:21

HOORAY! You already did it! NOW can we slow down? hehe

From Michael on Tue, Aug 28, 2007 at 09:15:26

Congrats on the first place. Hey next year you will be at the young age of your age bracket and should be able to cruise to many victories

From Christi on Tue, Aug 28, 2007 at 09:23:21

Lybi- You met one of your goals- 1st place that is awesome!!!! I still think the heat was a HUGE factor and if this was a fall run you'd be even FASTER! Yay!

From Mark on Wed, Aug 29, 2007 at 12:00:24

Congrats on winning age group. It goes to show that it was a tough race and even though you didn't go quite as fast as you would have liked, for the conditions it was a huge improvement. You're really going to tear up the course once you get some decent weather.

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