Back in the saddle?

Today I ran the race that I have helped organize for the past 9 months.  I woke up at 3:45(!) to get to the race site to help set up, and the race started at 7:00.  It is still hot this time of year in Phoenix, and this morning was no exception.

I started at the back of the pack and had to pick through some runners.  I know that's bad and wastes energy, but I tried to keep the darting around people to a minimum.  The course makes several sharp curves for the first quarter mile, so it's hard to pick up any real speed.  I ran the first mile in 8:10 and hoped to gradually speed up.  I didn't really have a time goal, but I hoped to beat my time at this race last year, which was an 8:11 pace.  One weird thing was that I kept passing people, even though I slowed down to an 8:30 pace after the first mile.

In my entire history of running, I have never worked out the day before the race (except maybe in high school), so I didn't really know what it was like to race on tired legs.  However, yesterday I not only worked out, but I did a long run of 10 miles.  So I was TIRED today.  I'm not thrilled with my time, but I can cut myself some slack because of the workout yesterday and my lack of sleep!  My heart rate recovered quickly after the race. 

So, I ran the entire race at an 8:23 pace, which I hope to be my marathon pace.  Gotta pick it up!  I think we start more serious speed training this week.  I'll tell you all right now, I'm taking tomorrow off-my legs need it!

What a BEAUTIFUL morning.  I think it was under 70 degrees!!  I did 5 easy miles in 49:34 (9:54 pace).  I am now officially backing off my quest for Boston and will wait until later next year to give it a try.  My fitness just isn't where it needs to be now.  I am going to take Sasha's very specific advice and do 5 miles a day at a 10:00 pace. 

I thought running slower would drive me CRAZY, but it actually was a relief.  I felt SO good this morning.  My heart rate was low, and my whole body felt strong.  I also have a new iPod with new music, so that helped too!  My husband is doing great!  I miss running with him, but I'm proud of him for doing so well.

It's hard on the ego to swallow my pride and dial down the intensity.  But, if it will make me a better runner, I'll do it.  I always have to remember that this is not the sport for instant gratification!

Anybody know of a cure for blisters?  Or how to avoid them?  The Coolmax socks don't seem to be working for me.  I tend to get them on the tips of my toes (weird, because I buy shoes one size bigger than my normal shoes) and on my instep.

Another beautiful morning.  I did 5 easy miles again, 3 seconds faster than yesterday.  I ran the first half slower than yesterday but picked up the pace slightly to finish the second half 30 seconds faster than the first.  Average pace was 9:54, and average heart rate was 152 (love my new Garmin!).  I felt really good, except for my blisters!  I put Vaseline on my toes (thanks, Chad and Sasha, for the suggestions), but I'm going to need something more for my instep (weird place to get blisters!).

Tomorrow I'm meeting friends at the track.  My husband is going to come along and do a max heart rate test.  I told them I'm running SLOW, so the plan is to not get caught up in their speed, but maybe just do one mile at a faster pace.

I went to bed at 9:00 last night!  But, I didn't really get to sleep until around 10:00.

Well, this was an interesting run.  I met friends at the track and ran 5 miles....around and around and around.  It was another beautiful morning.  I didn't want to keep track of my laps, so I wore my new Garmin, which has been pretty accurate so far (I think).  But, after a while, it seemed to be a whole lap off.  At then end of my run, it said I had run 5.36 miles.  But, based on my time (49:54), I think I just did 5.  Maybe I was going faster, I don't know.  Maybe running around in circles confused Mr. GPS in the Sky.  Oh well. I felt good, and my blisters are getting better!

OK, I'm changing my entry to 5.25, thanks to advice from ArmyRunner, that my Garmin wasn't a whole .36 mile off!  Which means I averaged a 9:30 pace.  I'm supposed to be running 10:00 pace-oops!  Because I thought I'd only done 5, I really picked up the pace at the end to get under 50 minutes total, so my true average is probably more like 9:40.

Today was an interesting day (it's all about the positive mindset!!).  I had just planned on 8 miles, but then I met a girl while I was running, so I ran with her and chatted.  I turned around at 4.5 miles, intending to go 9 miles.  I averaged a 10:09 pace, but it felt VERY labored for most of the run, and my heart rate was way up.  I actually stopped when I got to 8.25 miles and walked the rest of the way back.  I wasn't supposed to go over 8 miles, so I figured I shouldn't push it, especially when I was feeling so tired.  I was really upset about it when I finished, but I"m over it now.  I figure I either didn't eat enough carbs this week, or I just had an off day.  I'm having a party tonight, so the planning is distracting me now.

My friend/former colleague and mentor moved to San Diego and invited me out to run a half marathon with her in mid-November!  I think that will be perfect timing to test my fitness and give me enough time to build up.  I'm excited!!  And, as a bonus, I get to see my friend and hang out in San Diego.

A weird thing happened about 30 minutes after the run.  As a background (maybe it has nothing to do with what happened), my neck has been really hurting all week.  At first, I figured I just slept wrong, but it still hurts after 5 days.  My reaction to pain is generally to ignore it and suck it up until it goes away-horrible, I know!  :-)  Anyway, on the way to breakfast I started to have really sharp pains in my torso every time I inhaled.  It hurt the most in my back but kind of came around the side to my chest too.  It kind of felt like heartburn, but in the back.  Anyway, it was excruciating to the point where I thought I was going to have to go to the hospital (and call off my party-oh no!!!!!).  My husband, thankfully, was very calm, and told me it was probably a back spasm that would go away.  And, of course, it did go away after about 10 minutes.  So now I'm fine.  Hopefully it was just a spasm!