Back in the saddle?

Week starting Nov 25, 2007

Previous WeekRecent EntriesHomeJoin Fast Running Blog Community!PredictorHealthy RecipesShauna's RacesFind BlogsMileage BoardTop Ten Excuses for Missing a RunTop Ten Training MistakesDiscussion ForumRace Reports Send A Private MessageMonth ViewYear View
Graph View
Next Week
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
200720082009
15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

Location:

Phoenix,AZ,

Member Since:

Jul 23, 2007

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

5K: 22:15 (January 2005);
10K-48:40 (November 2005)
Half-marathon: 1:50:25 (, March 2006);
Marathon: 3:54:16 (January 2006)

Short-Term Running Goals:

BQ

Finish half marathon in January 2010

Run consistently

Lose pregnancy weight + 10 pounds 

 


 





Long-Term Running Goals:

Complete an Ironman triathlon; run the Comrades Marathon in South Africa (55 miles)
Marathon: sub 3:30
Half marathon: sub 1:40
10K: sub 42 minutes
5K: sub 21 minutes

Find out what my potential is and reach it.


Personal:

I've been running since high school (mid-1990s) and do pretty well when I'm focused on a goal. My main problem  is running consistently when I'm NOT training for something specific. I'm an attorney, and I've been married to my husband, also a runner, for 5 1/2 years. We live in Phoenix, Arizona.  We had a beautiful baby girl, Caroline, in August 2009.

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesCrosstraining milesTotal Miles
28.420.000.250.000.0028.67
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesCrosstraining milesTotal Miles
7.000.000.000.000.007.00

Brrrrr!  I just finished my run, checked the temp online, and it said 58.  I know that's wrong-it feels much colder.  I know that's nothing to you northern Utah people, but when you're a desert rat like me, your blood gets thinner (my theory, anyway), and you get COLD!  I don't mind, though-I run much better in the (relative) cold.

Total time was 1:07:46, 9:41 average pace, with negative splits by about 12 seconds.  My mile splits were 9:41, 9:51, 9:40, 9:40, 9:50, 9:35, and 9:30.  At mile 4.5, I saw my husband, and we ran home together, kind of.  He ended up about a minute ahead of me.

I felt pretty good tonight, considering my challenging 18-miler the other day.  I wasn't too sore, but my knee started aching right at the end.  And my calves were SO TIGHT!  I don't know if that's from the run the other day or the cold.

I'm considering a 22-mile race coming up in 2 weekends.  I know I can finish it, but I don't know if it's a good idea, considering I haven't run 20 yet.  I plan to run 15 this weekend to gear up for 20 or 22 the following weekend.  I've never gone farther than 20 miles in training.  I'll see how my body feels at the end of this week and reevaluate then.  There's also a local half marathon coming up that would be fun.  Maybe I could break 1:50!

Comments(5)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesCrosstraining milesTotal Miles
7.250.000.250.000.007.50

Tonight I ran 7 miles, and it's starting to feel so easy!  I never imagined that running 7 miles per day would feel so easy!  I think I'm going to keep this schedule next week as well, maybe with an extra mile here and there, and then start working up to 8 miles per day (!).

Total time was 1:07:24, average 9:38 pace.  My mile splits were 9:39, 9:37, 9:39, 9:37.5, 9:39.5, 9:34.5, and 9:38.  I did 4 x 100 strides when I got home.  I consciously did not pick up the pace in the last mile because I wanted to keep the entire run super-easy.  I don't know exactly what it means, but I am liking the fact that my splits are so close.

I just about had a heart attack at one point on the run.  I heard a noise, turned around, and saw a bike with a light heading toward me on the path about 30 yards back.  I turned around again, still there.  A little bit later, I noticed there was no light in my peripheral vision, and the bike had not caught up with me.  I didn't want to keep turning around, because I was afraid I would trip.  I was getting a little scared of scary bike person (possible attacker?).  Then, as I was crossing a somewhat big, well-lit, residential street (no cars coming), I hear, "EXCUSE ME!" yelled in my ear.  After I picked my heart up from the ground, I turned around and saw an old lady coming toward me on a rickety bike and headphones!  I was on the right side of the path, of course, with plenty of room all around, and she had to scream at me like that.  As she passed me, I said, "You scared me to death."  She either ignored me or couldn't hear because of the headphones.  Crazy people!  I don't know what it is about colder weather that makes things so creepy!

Add Comment
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesCrosstraining milesTotal Miles
7.000.000.000.000.007.00

Another good run, felt easy.  Total time was 1:07:15, average 9:37.  My mile splits were 9:41, 9:38.5, 9:41, 9:43, 9:38, 9:33, and 9:20.  I forced myself to only look at the Garmin when it beeps every half mile and if I have to stop at a stoplight (when I hit the pause button) last night and tonight.  I've noticed that when I don't stare at the Garmin every 30 seconds, I actually run faster and more consistent splits.  Maybe (gasp!) I'll try a run with only a stopwatch and see what happens!

At the beginning of the run, I felt a shooting pain up the inside of my shin.  It felt a little like shin splints, but not in the place where I usually get them (haven't had them in 7+ years).  Of course, I told myself to run through the pain (best advice ever *sarcasm!*), and-what do you know!- it went away!

Soooo-I got an email from my best friend today who is training to run her first ever marathon with me in January.  She ran 17 miles the other day and SLOWED DOWN to an 8:35 pace!  And she wasn't even sore the next day!  (I'm not jealous!)  All she wants to do is break 4 hours.  Heck!  She could probably eventually break 3 hours with a pace like that!  I'm going to try to recruit her to the blog.

Comments(1)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesCrosstraining milesTotal Miles
7.000.000.000.000.007.00

Tonight I ran at the same pace as normal, but it felt more labored.  By mile 6, my legs felt like they were running through molasses (or syrup?), although cardio-wise, I felt fine.  I'm not sure what that means: maybe slight overtraining?  I'm going to do 15 miles this weekend, nice and slowly.

Total time was 1:07:39, a 9:40 average.  My mile splits were 9:34, 9:44, 9:43, 9:46, 9:38.5, 9:38.5, and 9:33.  I didn't have the extra kick in me tonight.  But I took my heart rate when I finished, and it was only 130-135.  Within 5 minutes, it was down to 80.  Gotta take it easy on the legs...

Add Comment
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesCrosstraining milesTotal Miles
0.170.000.000.000.000.17

I woke up to nagging lower back pain.  I figured it would just go away, so I got ready and drove to my normal spot to go run.  It is cold, windy, and rainy today, and I contemplated the treadmill, but 15 miles on the treadmill would have been torture!

Anyway, I started running, and my back hurt so badly.  It was affecting my posture and running form, too.  I tried to keep going for a bit to see if it would loosen up, and it just kept getting worse.  I probably should have tried to go a little longer, but it just hurt too badly.

I'm really disappointed, because this run would have put me at 43 miles for the week!  Oh yeah, and I'm concerned about my back too.  I figure it will just go away on its own.  If not, luckily I already have a chiro appointment coming up in a few days.

Comments(3)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesCrosstraining milesTotal Miles
28.420.000.250.000.0028.67
Debt Reduction Calculator
Featured Announcements
Lone Faithfuls
(need a comment):
Recent Comments: