High-Octane

Well...Don't know if I did something stupid today but I felt Like I needed to do it. A lady from our church has been teaching the small kids about how all things can be done through Christ. So she decided to run from her house to chruch (19.2 miles). She has been running for a while and bringing her long runs up to her max. 16 two weeks ago. Each week she would run a little further to church each Sunday. Today was the day to run the entire distance. She had asked me several times to run with her and I hadn't given her a firm answer. (Ha...Ha...she thinks I'm a "real" runner.) Anyway last night I decided I should (and wanted to do it with her). Three others joined us at about miles 7, 9 and 15. It's funny because at about mile 15 we ran into the San Marcos Running Club. I know only one guy who is in the club, he ownes the new running store in town. As they caught up with us I ran for a little while with them and then backtracked to meet back with my group. As you can see from my log I actually backtracked several times to increase my milage. I wasn't intending to run that much further but seemed to be compelled as the pace was so slow. I also wanted to run some "tempo" miles (I think that's what you call them) to see how I felt after that many miles. the pace felt fine but as you can see my heart rate would rise quite a bit each time. I still believe I can run the BQ qualifying pace but I may not be able to keep my heart rate at 85 - 90% for the entire 26.2 miles (Can anyone tell me if a typical Marathoner runs with a heart rate of 85-90% of max for the duration of the race?). The weather was pretty nasty, about 65 degrees and drizzling most of the way. I basically poured water out of my shoes at the end. I didn't bother with any Gu, just Gatoraide and water. Anyway....It was a good run, my maximum distance ever run and for a great cause...!

Now to get ready for the Half-marathon this coming Sunday. I'm not sure if this run was good or bad for me. I guess I'll find out in the next few days. I still plan to bust 1:40:00 this weekend!

2/27/2011
Mile	Time	Heart Rate
1	11:06:00	122	Wood's House to Church (With Tanya and Other Girls)
2	10:29:00	126
3	10:37:00	121
4	10:29:00	124
5	9:58:00	132
6	7:17:00	157
7	9:26:00	144
8	11:45:00	123
9	11:36:00	125
10	11:37:00	126
11	10:29:00	132
12	11:19:00	128
13	11:31:00	128
14	9:48:00	136
15	8:42:00	146
16	7:31:00	158
17	7:20:00	158
18	10:41:00	142
19	11:49:00	146
20	10:41:00	138
21	11:49:00	140
22	10:41:00	146
23	10:28:00	144
Total	237:09:00	137
Pace	10:17:35

I think I've used this one before but it such an inspirational verse and the one the kids were being taught:

Hebrews 12:1
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,"

 I went to the gym and ran an easy 4 and a lifted a few free weights. I was a little sore/stiff from the run yesterday but all in all I felt pretty good, I wasn't really tired feeling.  Now time to prepare for the race this Sunday. I read up on some tampering techniques and decided to run (4 easy today, 10 easy tomorrow, Off Wed., 6.6 race pace Thurs., 5 easy Fri. and 3 easy on Saturday. We'll see how that goes. I think I need some more new shoes, My Mizuno's were soaking wet from the run yesterday and I had to run in the Niki's. The Niki's look brand new and don't have very many miles on them but the hard sole wore off the heel after about 250 miles. Here's the boaring details...

2/28/2011
Mile	Time	Heart Rate	Treadmill (Taper Run)
1	9:00:00	119
2	9:00:00	127
3	9:00:00	130
4	9:00:00	131
Total	36:00:00	127
Pace	9:00:00	1% Incline

Isaiah 8:9
"Raise the war cry, you nations, and be shattered! Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle, and be shattered! Prepare for battle, and be shattered!"

Part of my taper week was todays run of 10 miles at Half-Marathon pace + 1.5 min/mile. This seemed to be a fairly confortable pace for me...I guess that's what it's supposed to be. I was a little sore before I started, from the run on Sunday but after the run I felt pretty good...quick recovery...everything seemed good. Tomorrow is a rest day so I should be fine after that. 

3/1/2011
Mile	Time	Heart Rate
1	9:03:00	124	10 Mile Loop  (Half-Marathon Pace + 1.5 Min. Per Mile)
2	9:04:00	134
3	9:02:00	132
4	8:42:00	143
5	8:59:00	134
6	9:01:00	134
7	9:00:00	137
8	8:57:00	138
9	8:56:00	133
10	9:01:00	137	Max H/R
Total	89:45:00	135	154
Pace	8:58:30	42 Deg.	Max Speed
			7:06

2 Corinthians 1:5
"For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ."

Off Day...

Today was a pace run day for me before the race on Sunday. Ran the loop at what was supposed to be Half-Marathon pace. The way I have it calculated it that's 7:38 for me to reach my goal of less than 1:40:00. As you can see I ran it a little faster than that mainly because I got started a little faster and just didn't want to slow down. (Ha...Ha...that sounds like I was really flying doesn't it..!) Anyway, the bad thing is I forgot my heart monitor so I don't have any data on that. I really wanted to see what my heart rate was at this pace after the 6.6 miles so I could convience myself...YES...I can do it...no problem! The pace felt pretty good but my legs were a little heavy at the end. I'm trying to compare what I felt like halfway through the Austin Half-Marathon a couple of weeks ago and I think I felt about the same halfway through that race. I remember at about 7 or 8 getting a second wind and feeling better. I hope I get that second wind Sunday. Tomorrow is easy and Saturday is very easy so it's down hill until the race.

3/3/2011
Mile	Time	Heart Rate
1	7:25:00	Forgot to put on my heart monitor	Loop - Half Marathon Pace
2	7:32:00
3	7:25:00
4	7:37:00
5	7:36:00
6	7:24:00
6.6	4:46:00
Total	49:45:00
Pace	7:28:00	44 Deg.

Matthew 11:29-30 

As I ran my 4 miles today I joyfully realized how much easier my running is now, than it was a few months ago. I know some don't like all of the number crunching and comparisons but I just had to go back and look a identical run back six months ago. My pace back then, at the same heart rate, was 30 seconds slower than now. I consider that great progress...and it's been fun! Let's see...about three more years of this and I'll be running with the Elites...! HA HA HA (That's a joke, don't take me too serious)

3/4/2011
Mile	Time	Heart Rate	Out & Back
1	9:23:00	119
2	9:00:00	132
3	9:14:00	130
4	8:56:00	136
Total	36:33:00	129
Pace	9:08:15	58 Deg

A pastor decided to visit his church members one Saturday. At one particular house it was clear to the pastor that someone was home, but nobody came to the door. The pastor knocked several times and finally took out his card and wrote on the back:

Revelation 3:20 - "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him and he with me."

The next day the same card showed up in the collection plate. Below the pastors message was another scripture passage.

It read Genesis 3:10 - "I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself."

Ran 3 miles NAKED, in the RAIN and 30 MPH WIND today....

It's the day before the race and I just wanted to streach out a little. I think I feel pretty good and ready for the race. At least I haven't had the sore knee like I did before the last race. Callie is coming in town and will be able to go to the race with me...Yeah! I think Kirby and me are going to the RC car track today to race. That will be interesting with all the wind. Also need to go and pick up my race packet.

Oh..by the way, by naked I meant without my Garmin watch. 

Genesis 3:10
"He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”