TexasLindsey

15 miles at 10:30 am.  Average pace 8:27.   33 degrees, sunny, wind 10 mph.   Had to run by myself since my group didn't meet today. 

Splits

Mile 1- 8:32

Mile 2- 8:43

Mile 3- 8:47

Mile 4- 8:39

Mile 5- 8:44

Mile 6- 8:34

Mile 7- 8:24

Mile 8- 8:18

Mile 9- 8:29

Mile 10- 8:31

Mile 11- 8:20

Mile 12- 8:33

Mile 13- 8:25

Mile 14- 8:07

Mile 15- 7:35

6.2 miles at noon.  Average pace= 8:31.  50 degrees, sunny, wind 7 mph. 

Splits

Mile 1- 8:37

Mile 2- 8:29

Mile 3- 8:56

Mile 4- 8:25

Mile 5- 8:27

Mile 6- 8:22

Last .2 mile pace- 7:32

I had minor cold like symptoms for these last 2 weeks but after Saturday's 15 miler, I think it progressed to a sinus infection.  I felt awful yesterday so I went to the doctor and got some antibiotics.  I don't want any infection moving to my lungs and making it so I can't run.   Today I feel much better but I'm definitely still sick.  I read that as long as your sickness is above the neck, it's ok to run. 

My 3 year old is also sick.  He has the same thing but his turned into 2 ear infections.  He's on antibiotics too now but... man, three year olds are cranky when they are sick... way worse than adults.  He is absolutely torturing his 10 month old brother.  So between myself being sick and my 3 year old acting this way, life isn't that fun right now. 

Thankfully, my sweet sister babysat the kids so I could run today.  Only had enough time to do 6.  I felt ok but my nose ran nonstop. 

6.7 miles at 5:30 pm.  Average pace = 8:10.   57 degrees, dark, no wind.

Mile 1- 8:27

Mile 2- 8:01

Mile 3- 8:11

Mile 4- 8:03

Mile 5- 8:11

Mile 6- 8:10

Last .7 mile- 7:23 

This was an unexpectedly great run!  I love it when that happens!  

I was hoping to have gotten the chance to run earlier in the day but it didn't work out... so disappointing!  So the only way I was going to get to run today was when my husband came home at 5:30 pm.  I hate running at night in the dark and cold.  Sunset is at 5:45 pm.  I had to have dinner ready, be dressed ready to go, and have both children in a reasonable mood if I was going to make it.  Things worked out, but I still didn't feel really excited about running.  Regardless, I just unenthusiastically put myself on autopilot to get ready and I repeated the mantra "Just Do It".  Thanks, Nike. 

I am so glad I did!  I don't know WHAT it was, but once I started running I felt awesome great!  My breathing was effortless even charging hills.  My legs felt perfect and strong.  The temperature was great.  I just ran happy the whole way.... and fast.  It's funny too because this 8:00 pace felt like 8:30 felt all last week.  Weird.

Another interesting tidbit.  I saw 4 other runners out there today.  Never have I ever, ever run into that many people around my neighborhood on a run.  It must be the New Year resolution effect.  It was nice to not be the only one out there though... might have contributed to my good mood. 

I am excited because my running group is meeting this Saturday.  We're running 16 miles through city streets.  We're doing part of the Cowtown marathon course.  It'll be a nice change from running the trails... and it'll be nice to run with other people since we haven't had a group run since Dec 18th... I've been running by myself all this time and I'm bored of it.

5.3 miles at 6 pm.  Average pace = 8:50.   55 degrees, dark, no wind.

Mile 1- 8:56

Mile 2- 8:45

Mile 3- 8:51

Mile 4- 8:49

Mile 5- 8:48

Last .3 pace-  8:48

I took an easy pace today.  My nose was running non-stop all day.  I didn't feel bad though... it's just really annoying.  I would have run more miles tonight but it was so dark I just really hated being out there.   My husband is off work tomorrow which means I can run in the daylight!!!  Woo Hoo! 

So frustrating!  I have been struggling with cold /sinus infection symptoms for the last couple weeks.  Last Sunday and Monday my whole body felt achy and just bad... my sinuses were completely clogged and my ears hurt.  I got an antibiotic on Monday and I started to feel better... but then yesterday my nose just started running non-stop.  Middle of last night I realized that it had moved into my lungs.  This morning, I've got a tight feeling in my chest and I'm coughing.  This is not good. 

I'm not feeling terrible but I don't know what to do next... if there is any way I could prevent this from getting worse.   I'm wondering if the antibiotic did more harm than good.  I think I had a viral and a bacterial infection going on.  I do think it took care of the bacterial thing because now the excessive snot is perfectly clear... but did the antibiotic also kill off the "good bacteria" (which supports my immune system) and thus allow the virus to spread to my lungs?  

Also, maybe it wasn't a good idea to run yesterday when my nose was running so much.  I was following that thing called "the neck rule"... whereby it's ok to run if the ailment is above the neck, but not ok if it's below the neck.  I don't know how to handle sickness and running.  I've never run through the winter before.

This sucks!!!!   I was looking forward to running this Saturday with my group.  We were going to be running city streets of Fort Worth.. through the historic stock yards, downtown, TCU campus, etc.    It's probably not a good idea for me to go now.   I figure if I run, I'll make it worse and last longer.  I don't know.  Maybe I should just go and say to heck with it... if I get sicker, whatever. 

I wish I could just lay in bed and rest.  Not possible with my life.  I spend every waking moment cooking, cleaning, changing diapers... I haven't had a day of rest since August 2007. 

My motivation has been completely zapped.   I got sick and I had to miss several days of running.  I'm better now.... but my nose is still running non-stop.  I think it's just the time of year.  Maybe I have allergies.  I had the same problem last winter... it was like I had a cold for 4 months.  Nothing serious just a running nose.  Still, it's annoying.   

We've also had several days of freezing tempatures.  Running outside is my only option since my husband says we can't afford a gym membership or a treadmill.  This morning the windchill was 8 degrees.  8 degrees!  OMG!  It gets dark at 5:30 pm... and my husband gets home at 5:30 pm...  so I have to run in the freezing cold AND dark if I am to run.  I really want to run, but I draw the line at this...   So basically, I am a prisoner of this house.  I go out to get the mail and that's it.  

I saved up enough money to buy a treadmill but then my washing machine broke.  Ugh!  I spent my saved up birthday and Christmas money on a new washer.... Stupid washer.  LOL  

So now I've been searching the house for things to sell on Craislist so that I can get enough cash to buy a treadmill.   So far my big ticket items aren't selling...   Would you believe that no one wants my china!?!    I have lots of low dollar stuff to have a garage sale but...  If it were warm enough for a garage sale, then I wouldn't need a treadmill so badly.  Oh, the irony! 

My husband is pretty unsupportive about my running and my spending money on running things which is why it took me so long to save up money for the treadmill (ur, uh... washer).  Doesn't he notice that I am in a better mood when I run?   Being here all day with these kids... I love them, but I just need someway to relieve stress and break up the monotony... running gives me something to look forward to.   

I'm trying to not allow myself to get too down... but I am pretty down.  

I'd like to report that today it is 20 degrees outside with the windchill factor of 14 degrees.  I saw on the news that it is 21 degrees lower than the average temperature for this time of year.  Yuck! 

I'll also report that I still have not sold anything on Craislist.  My Craigslist plan for making enough money to buy a treadmill is not having much success at the moment.   I think maybe the yucky weather is to blame.  Yeah, that's it. 

I wish I could move to San Diego and change my handle to CaliforniaLindsey.  I much prefer the California weather ....and political atmosphere, for that matter.  I'll go ahead and share this on the blog --> My immediate family and I are the only Democrats we know here in Texas.  And in Texas, it's considered quite immoral to not be a Republican.  The only way good people are Democrats is if they are gullible idiots.  Thus, my friends and extended family believe me to be..... a gullible idiot.  This in spite of the fact that I have two "political" degrees from the University of Texas - one in Government and one in Economics.  Ha, ha!   Regardless, I've learned over the years that there is no point to advertise my views.  I'm not going to change anyone's mind about anything, not the least of which that I am a gullible idiot.  The only way one would feel comfortable expressing Democratic views in Texas would be if one lived in Austin.  On the political map of Texas, Austin is like a shiney blue island oasis surrounded on all sides by hot red lava.

Don't get me wrong, I love Texas.  It's a wonderful, beautiful state.  I love the people here, too, despite this political thing.  People are very friendly and kind here.  They are also hard working and honest.  They just listen to too much talk radio.....   

Oh, listen to me go on and on...  I'm just depressed that the weather here is interfereing with my running... 

26 degrees today and cloudy.  6 mph wind.  The weather has improved.  

I haven't run in 6 days because of illness and weather... but mostly because I've been feeling sorry for myself that I don't have a treadmill or a gym membership. 

I'm ending this streak today.  I've mustered up the motivation to do whatever it takes to run.  Thus, I am loading my 10 month old, my 3 year old and all their "equipment" in the car today and I'm driving to my sister's house.  She has agreed to babysit them for 1.5 hours while I run.  In exchange, when I am done, I must gather my kids and her 3 year old into my car and take them all back to my house for 2 hours, where no doubt, my house will be destroyed.  After my sister picks up her son, I will then spend the next several hours trying to cook dinner and clean the mess.   It is alot of work just to run.   Sigh... 

Nothing worth having is ever easy.  I guess the same applies here.  I always tell people the reason I like long distance running is because it's so hard.  If it were easy, I wouldn't feel the pride for accomplishing that days run.  I've decided that in addition to the actual effort of running, I need to extend my pride to the entire effort that is required for me to be able to run. 

I'll report back later how all this worked out.  Hopefully, I can hang on to this motivation and jump back on the training wagon for good. 

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Update:

I am so happy that I ran today.  My confidence and motivation has been restored.  All the effort I have to go through to run today is worth it. 

I ran this park by my sister's house that has a 2.6 mile loop.  I decided to run the loop 3 times and try to get faster each loop.  It was fun.  My IT band on my right leg started bothering me on the 3rd loop.  I think it's these mizuno shoes...   

Loop 1 - 22:09  (8:33 average pace)

Loop 2 - 21:09  (8:09 ap)

Loop 3 - 20:40  (7:59 ap)

3.25 miles at 5:15 pm.  45 degrees.  8:59 average pace.

Well, I was done with my running funk, but apparently, the funk wasn't done with me.  My IT band on the outside of my knee on my right leg started hurting about 2 miles into the run today.  It was hurting at the end of yesterday's run too.  My left IT band knee area was also having issues the entire run.  None of this was so serious that it affected my form but it still hurt. 

I think maybe I shouldn't have run so fast yesterday after taking 6 days in a row off.  I mean I felt fine but I guess maybe my muscles and ligaments were tight or something. 

Also, I need new shoes.  I don't like the mizunos.  I think the asics and the brook's are worn out.  I always start having IT band issues when my shoes are worn out.  I'm surprised that they only lasted 200 miles.  Before this blog, I never tracked the milage exactly.  Forefoot running must wear shoes out faster than normal. 

Probably not a good idea for me to run tomorrow with my group.  I think I'll do it anyways.  I'm going for 10 miles but if my legs hurt, I'll just make it shorter. 

I joined a gym!!   Wooo Hooo!   No more complaining about the weather on this blog!  From now on I'll be complaining about being bored on the treadmill...  j/k.  Ha, ha!  

I also bought new shoes today.  I ran 5 miles in 40 minutes (8 mph average pace) at the gym in my new shoes.  Absolutely no problems whatsoever with my legs.  No IT Band issues.  So maybe the shoes or the treadmill surface. 

Ran 7 miles at the gym.  I ran 1 mile warmup, then I ran 2 miles in 15 minutes, walked 2 minutes, 2 miles in 15 minutes, walked 2 min, 2 miles in 15 minutes.   It was very helpful that the movie Transformers was on the TV right in front of me, made me want to run fast. 

I get bored at the gym and find the only way I can tolerate it is if I come up with some kind of challenge for myself. 

7.4 miles on a treadmill at the gym.  I was planning to run 8 but the machine cut off at 1 hour exactly.   I thought about restarting it and finishing my 8... but then I noticed there was a guy waiting for a machine and all the treadmills were full.  What am I supposed to do in that situation?  Is there some kind of gym ettiquete?   I just left but I was disappointed.

So I get up with determination that I would make it to the gym today.  I was going to take both boys with me for the first time.  Jake (3 yrs) has been before but Ryan (11 mo) has not. 

I won't go into details because it just makes me tired to even talk about it, but it took me 2 and a half hours to get everyone ready to go.   Sigh....  I'm still determined though.  I'm going to run today. 

I get to the gym.  It's 20 degrees outside.  I struggle in with a 25 pound baby in a carrier and a 3 yr old who won't mind me.  I stand in a long line to sign them in.  They BOTH start crying hysterically.  Sigh...   Still, I will not give up.  This will not defeat me.  The childcare ladies and I decided that maybe they will calm down when I leave.  Out of sight, out of mind...  might work.  

I change in the locker room and then I run 2 miles.  I decided to take a break to peek in on the kids.  As soon as I turn the corner, the lady is frantically calling me inside.  Ryan has not stopped crying.   She is not happy.  She will not wait for me to go change and get my stuff, I need to take this baby now.  I had to carry him with me through the gym back to my treadmill to retrieve my things.  People are looking at me oddly...  It's a strange scene.  Then I had to carry him with me to the locker room.  He crawled on the floor while I changed. 

Then I went back to get Jake.  Jake promptly explains that he "boomed" a kid in the "kisser" because the kid hit him.  Where in the world did he get this vocabulary?!  I don't understand... we don't even spank him, and yet all he wants to do is "boom" people.  Must be that Y chromosome.   The other little boy that Jake hit is crying.   Man, I just made these childcare ladies day, didn't I?!  They can't wait for me to leave! 

.......All for 2 stinkin miles.  

Then I went to the grocery store with the two of them because apparently, I hadn't had enough torture and embarrassment already.  I could not muster up enough motivation to try to make up the run later that night. 

GREAT RUN!!   Ran with my group today!  Haven't run with them since Dec 18th.  These long runs with my friends make the struggle to keep up with my weekday runs totally worth it.  I am so surprised that I ran well today considering how few miles I've been logging lately.  I think the treadmill runs have helped me stay fast.  Everytime I run on the treadmill, I do speedwork. 

Today we ran part of the Cowtown Marathon course.  The Marathon training group did 19 miles and the HM training group did 10 miles.  After these last several weeks of reducing my milage, I have decided to drop myself to the HM schedule. There were several hills on this portion.  We started out with a pretty big group - about 15 people.   No one wanted to get lost running on all the city streets.  It was fun! About mile 7, the people running 19 miles split off. 

When there was 2.5 miles left, we got off the city streets and ran on the trails back to the running store.  At this point, I turned on my ipod and speeded up.  Only one guy kept pace with me.  We kinda raced at the end.  He was behind me for 2 miles, but with about 2 football fields to go, he got in front... I briefly thought about letting him go ahead, but then I punched it up this steep hill and passed him again...   I thought I defeated him but I guess I underestimated him.  On the downhill with only 40 yards left, he passed me back.  I didn't have enough juice left to kick into a higher gear.  He finished about 10 yards ahead of me.  Ah well.  I'm impressed with myself that I ran that fast. 

Mile 1- 8:39

Mile 2- 8:22

Mile 3- 7:28

Mile 4- 8:10

Mile 5- 7:50

Mile 6- 7:41

Mile 7- 7:51

Mile 8- 7:39

Mile 9- 7:11

Mile 10- 7:15

3.1 miles at gym in 24:30 minutes. 

7 miles at 5:30 pm around my neighborhood.  Average pace = 8:10.   48 degrees, no wind.  Sunset was at 6 pm.

Felt really strong today.  Legs feel strong.  No problems whatsoever.  I think the treadmill running is making me faster and it is less stress on my legs.

Splits

Mile 1- 8:21

Mile 2- 7:51

Mile 3- 8:26

Mile 4- 8:04

Mile 5- 8:07

Mile 6- 8:22

Mile 7- 8:03

8 miles at 5:20 pm around my neighboorhood.  Average pace =8:46.  50 degrees.  Pleasant until it got dark.  Sunset at 6pm.  Went really slow today because I was having stomach pains.  I ate too much before I ran.

Mile 1- 8:41

Mile 2- 8:36

Mile 3- 8:57

Mile 4- 8:38

Mile 5- 8:52

Mile 6- 8:53

Mile 7- 9:19

Mile 8- 8:20

Chip time 1:41:23  

Race distance according to my Garmin =13.34 miles  

Average pace for first 7 miles =7:36/m

Average pace for last 6 miles=7:38/m

 

Mile 1	7:34
Mile 2	7:38
Mile 3	7:39
Mile 4	7:32
Mile 5	7:43
Mile 6	7:37
Mile 7	7:32
Mile 8	7:35
Mile 9	7:54
Mile 10	7:33
Mile 11	7:38
Mile 12	7:45
Mile 13	7:28
Final .34 mile	7:41 pace

I had a great race today.  Better than expected.  I haven't been running that many miles lately so I assumed I wasn't going to be able to do as well as the half that I ran on Dec 18th (where I ran a 1:41:30).  It was a surprise to finish with about the same time.  Actually, today's race was alot more hilly than that other race AND everyone's garmin had it longer at about 13.3 miles long... therefore, I think today I actually did better than the Dec 18th race.  

Today was really hilly... mostly gentle rolling hills but there was one "nice" hill.  I don't think there was any part of the course that was flat... we were always going up or down.  ELEVATION MAP ---> http://www.wellsphere.com/endurance-training-article/lake-benbrook-half-marathon-pr/596227   

The hills didn't really bother me until around mile 9.  I started having a mental problem in the 9th mile... thinking that the race was hard... that 4 more miles seemed SOOOO far.... I should have run more miles to prepare for this race... I'm not in good enough shape for this...  what if I aggrevate my IT Band on these hills...  

Then it occured to me that I needed to SHUT UP.  I found this song on my ipod that seemed to pump me up and I played it over and over and over and over.  I started focusing on the people in front of me.  Several guys in front of me were slowing down in the final miles so I started passing them and that really improved my mental state.  Actually, now that I think of it... not a single person passed me the entire race. 

I saw this girl in pink ahead of me when there was about 2 miles left.  She was probably about 2 football fields ahead at the time.  I started focusing on her trying to catch up.  She looked like she was getting weak.  Some men were passing her so I thought she was slowing down.  I was able to catch up in the final part.  There was fairly challenging hill (er, well, challenging after running 13 miles) in the final .3 mile.  I sprinted as fast as I could up that hill at the end (which was apparently a 7:41 pace) and I finished almost dead even with her.  I found out later that I actually did squeak it out.... My Gun Time was listed as 1:41:30.3 and hers was 1:41:30.7...  so by the skin of my teeth. 

I think that song that I was repeating was what made all the difference this race. It's called "C'mon" by Tiesto and Diplo.  I loaded it on my ipod last night.  I have never even heard it before.  Never heard of the artists. I just went to the itunes store to the "Dance" charts and saw this song featuring Busta Rhymes with a fast beat and on a whim I loaded it to my ipod.  I LOVE IT!   I think it's the perfect running fast song.  I really recommend it!!!!  It's kinda a techno song with some fast paced rapping.  He repeats "Catch 'em by surprise" over and over.  This became my mantra while I was passing people.  He also says the following over and over... "c'mon" ... "Let's Go"  ... "Hold em off" ... "hypnotize" ....   "Let's go... we're going to fly"...    VERY FAST tempo song.  

5.5 miles at 5:30 pm around my neighborhood.  Average pace=8:19/m   Weather=50 degrees and windy.  Cold front is coming in tonight, supposed to snow tomorrow.  Pretty crazy since it was 81 degrees on Saturday.   So I guess it'll be back to the gym and treadmill for the next few days.

Splits

Mile 1- 8:43

Mile 2- 8:25

Mile 3- 8:30

Mile 4- 8:15

Mile 5- 8:11

Pace of last .5 mile- 7:19 

I have been stuck inside since Monday.  We got some snow and ice on Tuesday and it hasn't melted yet.  The roads are super icy.  All the school districts in the Dallas -Fort Worth area have called off school for 3 days in a row.  Probably be called off tomorrow too.  I have never known this many days in a row to be called off.  We were having energy blackouts too. 

My gym membership is not of use if I can't get to the gym.  I need a treadmill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   It is really difficult to run in the winter without a treadmill.  I know some people do it... I'd love to meet someone who runs in this weather and have them give me a pep talk. 

I'm considering trying to drive to the gym when my husband gets home from work.   My husband has not been required to go to work because he can telecommute from home... however, he has opted to drive there everyday.  I think he is one of about 10 people in the 20,000 person company who went.  That's how much he wants to get away from the stress of a 3 year old boy and a 1 year old boy with full cabin fever.  I'm walking into rooms to witness people jumping furniture and trying to "swing like Diego" from the cords of the blinds.  Yes, my 3 year old did that... the blinds did not survive.   I imagine my husband is sitting there peacefully at work...  listening to music... maybe working a little... able to concentrate... no yelling or food flinging...   That sounds like paradise to me right now.  

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PM  

I made it to the gym!!  It only took me 30 minutes to get up the hill of my neighborhood (about 400 feet) because it was covered in black ice.  I was having trouble.  A nice man and his wife stopped and taught me how to do it.  He said they were just driving around "playing" on the ice, practicing going up hills and doing doughnuts in parking lots.  We just don't get snow or ice that frequently in Texas. 

Ok.  So the gym run I did was 6 miles.  

Mile 1 and 2 - 8:20/m pace. 

Mile 3- Picked up the pace gradually until I was running at 7:00/m pace. 

(walked for .1 mile) 

Mile 4- 8:20/m pace.

Mile 5- Picked up the pace gradually until I was running at 6:40/m pace.

(walked for .1 mile)

Mile 6- Ran 1st quarter at 8:00/m pace, 2nd quarter at 7:30/m pace, 3rd quarter at 7:00/m pace, 4th quarter started at 6:40/m pace but it up to 6:00/m pace

Good workout. 

Ran 12 miles at Trinity River trails by myself today.  Average pace = 8:29/m.

Mile 1- 8:45

Mile 2- 8:58

Mile 3- 8:29

Mile 4- 8:45

Mile 5- 8:58

Mile 6- 8:58

Mile 7- 8:27

Mile 8- 8:18

Mile 9- 8:06

Mile 10- 8:19

Mile 11- 7:59

Mile 12- 7:52

It snowed on Tuesday about 3 inches and temperatures stayed below freezing for 4 days so the ice and snow didn't melt.  Then it snowed again yesterday morning about 4-5 inches.  However, today the temps got up to 50 degrees!!  So it was all melting fast. 

Good thing because the Super Bowl is in Arlington (which is in between Fort Worth and Dallas) this year.  Tomorrow!!!  The Steelers are staying in Fort Worth.  The Packers are staying in Dallas.  This weather has really been causing some problems for all the plans this week.  We've been hearing on the news that the out-of-towners are more impressed with Fort Worth.  Hee, hee!  It's cuz we're better...  : ) 

I went to the river around 1:30 pm.  First part of the route was pure muddy slush.  My shoes and socks got wet.  After the first 3 miles the trails were fairly dry.  I was WAY over dressed.  I had to wrap my jacket around my waist which was annoying to deal with.  It was funny because the river had ice on it, there was snow on the grass... and yet everyone was wearing t-shirts or even sports bras and shorts!  Texas for ya. 

So good run.  Pleasant.  LOTS of runners out today -probably because everyone has been stuck inside for days.  First miles I was uncomfortable because of the jacket situation and I was dodging alot of slushy mud.  I figured out that I was not running with my usual form because of the jacket.  Finally, around mile 4-5, I fixed the form thing and the trails improved so I started getting into a rhythm. 

8 miles today at 11 am.  Average pace=8:32/m.  Weather= 45 degrees, wind 10 mph, sunny, some snow slush still on ground.

Mile 1- 9:05 

Mile 2- 9:02

Mile 3- 8:33

Mile 4- 8:10

Mile 5- 8:14

Mile 6- 8:57  Two dogs who apparently got free from their backyard ran toward me.  The big one looked to be a boxer/great dane mix.  They ran with me about 1/2 mile.  It was making me nervous because they kept running into the street.  A car slowed down and the annoyed driver stared me down as if to say, "Why aren't your dogs on a leash??!"  This kinda messed up my momentum for a couple miles.

Mile 7- 8:41

Mile 8- 7:35

6 miles at the gym this morning at 5:30 am.  

The workout was:

2 miles easy at 6.5 speed (9:13/m) 

1 mile increasing speed every quarter mile to 7.0 (8:30/m), 7.5 (8:00/m), 8.0 (7:30/m), 8.5 (7:00/m)

2 miles easy at 6.9 speed (8:45/m)

1 mile increasing speed every quarter mile to 7.5 (8:00/m), 8.0 (7:30/m), 8.5 (7:00/m), 9.0 (6:40/m)

Worked out pretty good to get there early... got home before anyone woke up.  Yesterday I was planning to run when my husband got home from work but things came up and I wasn't able.  I decided I need to try to get the run done early.  Thing is: "When something is important, you find a way.  When it's not, you find an excuse."   I just need to wake up at 4:30 or 5:00 and go to the gym early.  It's the only way I can for sure get a run in.  Just Do It. 

AM

Ice and snow again.  Sigh.  Schools called off.  Wrecks all over the freeway.  Unable to get to the gym or run outside.  Once again, the need for a treadmill is reinforced.  Not going to let it get me down though.  Concentrating on positive attitude. 

--------------------

PM

Most of ice melted on streets.  Was able to get to gym for a quick run.  3.1 miles on treadmill.  1 mile easy at 7.0 speed (8:34/m) and 1 mile easy at 7.2 speed (8:20/m).  Then I turned on the techno and decided to run the last mile fast.  I cranked it up to 8.0 (7:30/m)  for a 1/4 mile... then I ran 9.0 for 1/2 mile... then with .35 mile to go I punched it up to 9.5 (6:40/m), 10.0 (6:00/m).... then finally 10.8 (5:30/m).  I concentrated on form and breathing.  I had my eyes fixed on this sticker on the machine in front of me... the faster I went and the more I focused on my form, the less the sticker was bouncing, if that makes any sense.  Mentally, I was just in the "zone"... my thoughts stopped racing... everything around me faded to the edges of my consciousness...  I have heard that the point of meditation is to get this same thing... seems to me that running and meditation are alot alike, although I've never meditated.

It was FUN to run so fast!  I finished 3.1 miles in 24 minutes... but the first two miles were done slow.  If it took me roughly 17 minutes to finish the first two, then that means the last 1.1 mile was done in 7 minutes which is about 6:30/m pace.  Pretty good.  Of course, it was on a treadmill... less resistance... but also difficult because so boring... 

I think the woman next to me thought I was nuts during the last mile... she was just walking and she kept looking over at me... not impressed-like... more like, well, she thought I was nuts.  Reminded me of my mother... she seriously does not understand why anyone would actually want to run... and even if they did run, why would they want to run far or fast???  It's so odd to her.  When I told her I wanted to run a marathon, she said, "WHY???!!"  She was under the impression (and it took me a year to convince her otherwise) that people kill over all the time while running marathons... she thought people only run marathons so they could play chicken with death.  Seriously, that's what I deal with!  Ha, ha!  

My Dad is more supportive because he is a lifetime athlete.  Was a pitcher on the TCU baseball team in college.  His college coach made the pitchers play handball in the off season to keep their arms strong.  My Dad got so good at handball, he started playing it full time.  He's been playing several times a week ever since.  He told me once that he could never be a runner because he needs a sport that's more competitive to keep him interested.  I said, "Dad, are you kidding me?  Maybe some people just run for the joy of it... but ME, what I enjoy is the competition.. and there's opportunity for tons of competition in this sport... every single run you are in competition with with your mind...  There's always that thought in your head that tries to convince you to not run or to quit or to slow down... every time you defeat that voice and do what you thought you couldn't, you win!  And it's so satisfying!!  Then of course, there's the clock and the other runners to compete with... "

-------

Got some great plans coming up...  10 mile race on Saturday morning with my running group.   I think my goal is 7:30/m pace, which would be 1:15:00. 

Next weekend on Sunday I'm running a 5k with the Fort Worth Running Club. My goal for the 5k is to get 21:something or better... which is about 7:00/m pace or better. 

I ran a 5k less than two weeks after my marathon and I got a time of 21:15 (6:50/m) but I think the course was short so I doubt that was my real pace.  Also, I'm not in as good of shape.  I'll be really happy this weekend if I get 21:59. 

My friend, Stephanie, is planning on running the 5k with me.  She was my best friend in elementary, middle school and HS.  Then in 11th grade, we had a falling out over a GUY  (how silly)... and we lost touch for like 10-12 years.  Just found each other again about a year ago via Facebook.   She's really into running now too!  She runs halfs all the time.  When we were friends, she always played soccer while I was in cc.  She still plays club soccer but now she also runs.  She lives in New Jersey and whenever she comes in town, we have decided to make it a tradition to run races together.  Fun!

10 mile race tomorrow morning.  When my husband got home today, I went for a fast 2 mile run.  I didn't want to tire my legs out but I wanted them fast for tomorrow.  

Out and back - mostly downhill on the way out, mostly uphill on the way back

Mile 1 - 7:09

Mile 2 - 7:03

Great race today!  I am very happy.

Race started at 7 am.  Temperature: 30 degrees, not much wind.  Ran 1.5 mile warm-up.

Goal was to do 7:30/m pace.  Average pace ended up being 7:25/m.  Very even.  1st half average = 7:24/m, 2nd half average = 7:25/m

Mile 1	7:11
Mile 2	7:27
Mile 3	7:23
Mile 4	7:29
Mile 5	7:34
Mile 6	7:34
Mile 7	7:23
Mile 8	7:19
Mile 9	7:25
Mile 10	7:26

I had a pretty good pre-race routine today which I think contributed to my meeting my goal.  Went to bed at 9:30 pm.  Woke up at 4:30 am.  Ate breakfast and got ready leisurely.  Got to gym at 5:45 am.  It was so cold outside, I decided to do warm-up at gym. Ran 1 mile at 9:15/m pace.  Ran quarter mile at 7:35/m pace.  Ran a quarter mile at 6:40/m pace.  Walked for a quarter mile.   Drank about a half gallon of water between 4:30 and 6:00 am.  I stopped drinking before I left gym and made sure to go potty....   Got to race by 6:30 am.  Race started at 7:00 am.  Took caffenine gu right before race start, another at mile 4, and another at mile 6.  I bypassed all water stops on the course because I was super hydrated.   Dispite much effort, I have yet to figure out how to drink while running.  Decided it was too cold to risk water all over my face and shirt.

Felt strong whole race.  I think all this speedwork I've been doing on the treadmill is paying off.  I haven't been running near enough miles though - between 15-30 miles a week these last couple months.  I'm very happliy surprised I did this well.  Makes me wonder how much faster I could get by increasing my milage to like 50-60 miles a week.  I heard that Emily just ran a 70 mile week (her peak training week for the Cowtown Marathon) and now she's running her long runs with the 7:00/m guys.  At this point, she's probably the only girl in my running group faster than me.  It would be cool to get that good and run with the fast guys...  

The only possible way I could do this is if I got up at 4:30 am everyday and ran 10 miles before my husband and children woke up.  I have to just get the miles in first thing, because if I try to wait until my husband gets home from work, there's just too much that can happen later in the day to ruin my best intentions.   That is alot of effort but it will get easier as the weather gradually improves.  I'm thinking about it....  hmmmm

6.4 miles around my neighborhood at 5:30pm.  Average pace= 8:09/m.  Weather= 65 degrees, wind 10 mph.  

Sunset tonight was gorgeous!  The clouds looked like flowing red lava. 

Mile 1- 8:01

Mile 2- 8:13

Mile 3- 8:17

Mile 4- 8:03

Mile 5- 8:18

Mile 6- 8:14

Last .4 mile - 7:29 pace

Forcast is temperatures in the mid-60's or 70's all week!!!!!!   I am SOOOO Excited!!!!!!!   

4.8 miles around my neighborhood at 1pm.  Average pace =8:29/m  Weather = 78 degrees, wind 18 mph, sunny. 

Mile 1- 8:36

Mile 2- 8:18

Mile 3- 8:29

Mile 4- 8:48

last .8 mile- 8:10

It was so hot today!  I felt like I was going so slow... I kept looking at my watch expecting to see 10 min miles.  I was shocked I kept it in the 8's the whole run.  That's a testament to how fit I am, I guess.  I had to dig down deep to not quit on Mile 4... that mile was uphill, against the wind.  I forgot how difficult the heat makes things. 

Still, after you run in the heat and sweat so much... you feel GREAT!  I am very happy I got to run today.  The difficulty of it just was exercise for my will power.  

Ran 8 miles at 6:10 am around my neighborhood.  Average pace=8:36/m. Weather= 65 degrees, wind 15 mph, dark.

I had to give myself a pep talk this morning.  I had set my alarm for 4:30 am.  The plan was to run really early.  However, I had to get up twice in the night to tend to the baby so when the alarm went off, I started negotiating with myself.  It was so dark... maybe I could call my sister and see if she would babysit for me later today so I could run in the light... or, maybe I could run with the double stroller today.... or, maybe I could just run when my husband gets home from work this evening....   

Thing is: all of these options mean that I have to spend a significant portion of my day planning, preparing, and working hard .  All other things I had planned for the day would probably not get done because so much of my time would go to trying to run.  Or else, I'd have to scrap plans to run... or run less miles than I wanted.

It took me about 30 minutes of laying in bed having this conversation with myself before I finally just said, "Shut up, Lindsey!  Get up!  And JUST DO IT.  Now is the best time.  It's 65 degrees outside for heaven's sake!!  Stop your whining!"

Worked out great.  I got ready and made breakfast for everyone before I left.  I started running at 6:15 am.  Ran 8 miles.  Sunrise was at 7:00ish.  Returned at 7:20 am...  only my husband was up and he was already eating breakfast.  I was able to take a shower while kids ate.  In the past, I ran first and then made breakfast when I got home... but I think this way is better.

Mile 1- 9:05

Mile 2- 8:56

Mile 3- 8:55

Mile 4- 8:21

Mile 5- 8:36

Mile 6- 8:19

Mile 7- 8:29

Mile 8- 8:06

AM

Ran 8 miles along the Trinity river trails with Brenda and Ashley today.  It was really fun.  We talked the whole time.  We went slow because the two of them are running a half next weekend and they wanted to take it easy.  I was content to take it easy because I'm doing a 5k tomorrow morning.  Average pace = 8:30/m.  This is the pace I run around my neighborhood most days.  Actually, today was easier though because there are no hills by the river and my neighborhood has several.  I don't even feel like I ran today. 

Now my husband and I are going to meet up with my friend, Stephanie, and her boyfriend for lunch....  at the Rahr Beer Brewery!  Steph just flew in from New Jersey and I hadn't seen her since September.  And the best part is.... I've got a babysitter!!!!!!!!  I mean, of course I do... I wouldn't be going to a brewery with kids!  Ha, ha!  We are so excited because this is the first time since January 1st my husband and I got a babysitter.  And we're going out!  With other adults!!!   As exciting as this is, I've got to take it easy cuz of the 5k tomorrow.   I have to be back by 4 pm anyways, so how crazy could I get.  

 ----------------

PM

The Brewery was fun!!  Not what I expected.  There was a band and food...  and you could sample different beers and there was a tour of the brewery to see how they made the different kinds.  So cool.   Then afterwards we went to eat mexican food... no, I mean seriously pig out on mexican food.  So fun. 

So when I got home at 5:30pm, I started thinking about the race tomorrow.  Stephanie talked my husband into coming... and get this!! ... bringing my kids... something that he has done exactly once in my entire running career.  I am excited now.  I want to do good.  However, to do good, maybe I shouldn't have had 3 beers.  Ok... so maybe I could do a quick 2 mile run and see how fast I am.  Maybe it'll help burn some alcohol off.  

Mile 1- 7:17

Mile 2- 7:28

So not as fast as last Friday when I averaged 7:09 for my 2 mile fast run.  Oh well, at least I had fun.  I don't know what the goal tomorrow should be.  I want to do at least 21:30.  I hope that is feasible.

Weather = 63 degrees, wind 20 mph gusting up to 24 mph, cloudy.  Out and back course... 1st half was with the wind, 2nd half against the wind.

Mile 1- 6:38

Mile 2-7:11

Mile 3- 7:25

Final Time = 21:26

I plugged my race from last week into a race predictor and it said I should be able to run a 5k in 21:30.  So officially that was my goal.  Thanksgiving I ran a 5k in 21:15 and I figured I'd be happy if I did as good today.   Therefore, I would say "officially" I am satisfied with the result today. 

However, I "feel" like I was not at the top of my game today...  I did not feel as strong as I normally do.  I feel like I could have pulled out a 20 minute race had I been stronger today and been able to hold my speed.  There was some major wind to content with, but I slowed down because I was tired.  Yesterday afternoon I went out with friends and had a couple beers and I think it affected my performance today.   

Ah well.  Room to improve.  I'll do better next time. 

11.8 miles at 1pm around the park by my sister's house.  Average pace=7:40/m.  Weather=60's, mostly sunny, wind 10mph. 

Mile 1- 7:30

Mile 2- 7:39

Mile 3- 7:56

Mile 4- 7:38

Mile 5- 7:40

Mile 6- 7:32

Mile 7- 7:38

Mile 8- 7:58

Mile 9- 7:48

Mile 10- 7:46

Mile 11- 7:30

Mile 12 - 7:23

Great run!!   I decided to run The Cowtown Half Marathon this Sunday.... so I felt like I needed a long run of 12 miles to build  my confidence for that.  I am pleased with 12 miles at 7:40/m.  My goal for the race is at least 7:30/m for 13.1 miles.  I think it's a realistic goal. 

Today, I felt pretty good for 10 miles... The last two miles were difficult, but I did speed up which may have contributed to that.  I just wanted to get them over with.  

Ran 3.5 miles at 6 am.  Average pace=8:58/m.  Weather= 59 degrees, 6mph wind, cloudy, humidity=80%

Went really easy today because of the long run yesterday.  Actually, even if I wanted to go faster, not sure if I could... the 9 min pace felt kinda difficult today. 

ABOUT HILLS:

It's funny... there's this hill about 1/2 mile long and 2% grade on my route today.  Normally, I charge it and try to go at least 8:00-8:30 pace up it.  Today, I just chugged it up at like 9:30/m.  It felt more difficult today.  I think because it took soooo much longer to get to the top.  

My theory on hills is that it is not good strategy to slow down going up a hill... the reason is because a hill is hard no matter how fast you go up it, why not just charge it and get it over with?  Tell yourself that you can slow down when you get to the top if you want.  I think running fast helps to distract me from pain of the hill.  I just concentrate on form and controlled breathing when going up a hill and I just stare at the top thinking that the faster I go, the faster this is over with.  

Sometimes I'll see people walking up a hill.  If you are tired and need to take a walk break, a hill is the worst possible choice of a walk break.  It's not like you are going to get to catch your breath walking UP a hill.  To me, it makes more sense to just run the thing, get it over with, and then reward yourself at the top with a walk break if you need it.  Walking downhill will allow you to catch your breath much better.  (Then again, I suppose some people are walking the hills because of injury... in which case, I say whatever works).

My other theory is that hills are a metaphor for challenges in life...  

4 miles at 5:30pm.  Average pace = 7:32/m.  Weather=81 degrees, wind 24 mph, sunny.

The Cowtown Half Marathon is on Sunday morning.  I thought today would be a good day to do a tempo 4 miler. 

Mile 1- 7:37

Mile 2- 7:29

Mile 3- 7:32

Mile 4- 7:33

All things considered I'm pretty happy that I sustained a 7:30ish average through this run. The route had 4 hills: 2 steep and short, 2 long and gradual.  Plus, it was eighty degrees outside, sunny and the wind was pretty strong.  The last mile was the most difficult as it was against the wind and mostly uphill.  The second mile was with the wind at my back and downhill. 

My goal on Sunday is to break 1:40 for the half.  This would be about 7:30/m pace.  The course is mostly flat and roads.  The forecast has Sunday morning at 60 degrees (high is 80 something)... pretty warm weather we are having lately... I am NOT complaining.  It's like spring is already here.  I'm wearing tanks and shorts to run in.  So anyways, don't know about the wind.  I'm hoping the conditions are right for me to meet my goal.  I'm a little concerned I haven't been running enough miles or long enough long runs.  Oh well.  Too late now. 

Chip time 1:39:29  

Race distance according to my Garmin =13.16  

Average pace for first 7 miles = 7:23/m

Average pace for last 6 miles= 7:46/m

Average for whole race = 7:34/m

Mile 1	7:11
Mile 2	7:20
Mile 3	7:29
Mile 4	7:19
Mile 5	7:31
Mile 6	7:29
Mile 7	7:27
Mile 8	7:46
Mile 9	7:50
Mile 10	8:02
Mile 11	7:41
Mile 12	7:37
Mile 13	7:41
Final .16 mile	6:19

The Fort Worth Cowtown Marathon!!!  My city’s biggest running event!  There were 15,000 runners in the various races.  8,000 in the marathon events.  It was at a new location and new route this year.  I really like what they did.  It was a great race! 

My only complaint was the weather.  66 degrees, 90% humidity, wind 20 mph gusting up to 24mph.   Yuck!  Normally, the weather for this race in February is cold so this was a really strange year.

My official goal was 1:39:59 or better.  I thought I was capable of 1:37 if the conditions were perfect, but the humidity and wind were an issue so I was being realistic and sticking with 1:39.  So I taped a pace band to my wrist that had the times for 1:39 (7:33/m) and I lined up in corral 1 in between the 3:10 (7:26/m) and 3:20 (7:38/m) marathon pace groups. 

It was fun waiting for the race to start because there were a lot of people I knew from other races standing around me.  One funny thing happened: I told a girl standing next to me about my goal being 1:39 officially and 1:37 if I have a great day.  Her facial expression was kinda cocky and then she said, “Oh 1:37 is easy. I break that all the time.”  Hmmm.  Well, good luck to you in the humidity then…   

Wind was at our backs for miles 1-7.  There was one challenging hill about a quarter mile long in mile 5, but other than that, the first 7 miles were pretty easy. 

Mile 8 we turned into the wind.  I literally kissed my favorite visor goodbye and threw it in the grass.  It will be missed…  It was amazing how the wind made even the downhills feel difficult.  Mile 9 had a huge hill.  It was rough!!!  Mile 10 should have been easy because it was downtown and there were big crowds lining the street, but I was still hurting from the mile 9 hill.  I did an 8:00 min mile, my slowest of the race.  About this time the 3:20 marathon pace group passed me and my friend, Greg, who was leading it taunted me about slowing down.  My leg muscles felt like jello as I was trying to run faster.  I stopped caring about what time I was going to finish in or what my time for each mile was and I started thinking that I just wanted to finish. 

Then, suddenly, at the beginning of mile 11 something happened that woke me up from the painful haze I was in:  I saw that cocky girl from the starting corral.  She was about 100 yards ahead of me going up a hill and I could tell from her form that she was struggling.  I decided to catch her.  It was pretty satisfying to pass her and it made me get a second wind.  I don’t think I would have done as well in miles 11-13 if it had not been for her.   Funny how things work out!  I sprinted the final .1 as fast as I could.  I had no idea what my time was until the final few yards when I saw the clock.  I was elated that my time was going to be under 1:40. 

Emily from my running group ran a 3:21 marathon and was the 4^th place girl overall.  She looked great!  Most people in my running group said the weather made them miss their original goals for this race, though. 

The wind sucked but truly I believe the reason I slowed down in the second half was because my legs are not strong enough.  Cardio-wise, I was doing well.  I actually think I could hold a 7:20/m pace for an entire half marathon at my current level of cardio-fitness… BUT I don’t think my legs are strong enough yet.  Something to work on.   I need to do some strength training if I’m going to take myself to the next level.

Ran 7.5 miles at noon today around the park by my sister's house.  Weather= 73 degrees, 23% humidity, wind 10 mph, sun-sun-sunny.  Average pace=8:01/m

Mile 1- 8:08

Mile 2- 7:55

Mile 3- 8:14

Mile 4- 7:53

Mile 5- 7:49

Mile 6- 8:07

Mile 7- 8:01

Last .5 mile - 8:01 pace 

It was a H-O-T day to run!  The sun makes a big difference.  I am not complaining.  I'll take this over cold any day of the week.  Bring on the heat, baby!

I ran in my sports bra.  I hate doing that because people look at me... women sometimes make rude faces and men smile a little too much.  Today, I didn't care because I was hot!

5.3 miles at 5:30 pm.  Weather= 75 degrees, 29% humidity, 14 mph wind, sun setting.  Average pace=8:19/m.

Mile 1- 8:23

Mile 2- 8:20

Mile 3- 8:23

Mile 4- 8:22

Mile 5- 8:22

Final .3 - 7:36

4.8 miles at 8:30 am around my neighborhood with my friend, Ashley.  Weather= 65 degrees, 70% humidity, 25 mph wind, cloudy.   Average pace=8:20/m.

Ashley from my running group and I discovered that we live only a mile apart.  Ashley doesn't run much around our neighborhood so when we met up today I took her on a tour of the best hills around here.  I don't normally run all these hills the same day.   It was very difficult especially when we went uphill against the wind.  Ashley was doing much better than I was... I was really struggling.  I realized halfway through that I forgot to take my caffeine this morning. 

Tomorrow Ashley and I and a few other friends are doing a long run.  Now that Cowtown is over, the running store we all run with, Fort Worth Running Company, isn't doing doing long runs until May. 

Mile 1- 8:40 downhill

Mile 2- 8:01 mostly downhill

Mile 3- 8:03 long challenging hill

Mile 4- 8:20 shorter steep hill, then downhill

Last .8 mile - 8:30 uphill against the wind

10 miles this morning at 7 am at the Trinity River trails.  Weather= 40 degrees, 49% humidity, VERY WINDY 25 mph gusting to 30 mph, cloudy.  Average pace=7:43/m

Mile 1- 8:11

Mile 2- 7:49

Mile 3- 7:48

Mile 4- 7:51

Mile 5- 7:49

Mile 6- 7:48

Mile 7- 7:33

Mile 8- 7:30

Mile 9 - 7:25

Mile 10 - 7:31

Final .3 mile - 7:05

Met up with Ashley, Emily, James, Tim, Monty, Greg and another guy I didn't catch the name of.  Emily, Ashley and I set the pace and the guys stayed behind.  I was just trying my best to keep up with Emily.  These guys and Emily normally run 7:00-7:20 pace for long runs so I guess they were just going slow still recovering from The Cowtown Marathon. 

Originally I was going to wear arm warmers and a shirt but then as I stood there waiting for people to arrive I got really cold and at the last minute I decided to throw on my jacket.  I regretted it after only a mile.  I was really hating that stupid jacket the final 3 miles when I sped up.  I felt hot and bulky.  I also was pissed at myself that I didn't have my ipod.  I really could have used some techno music to put me in a trance and take my mind off the pain the final two miles.  I had some gu with me but I was working so hard at the pace I never used it.   I did the whole run without fuel or water. 

Around mile 6.5 Emily and I started talking and we kinda got ahead of everyone else.  Then she started speeding up at mile 7.5.  I decided to try to keep up as best I could with the 20 mph wind.  About 3 times during those final 2 miles we'd approach 7:20 pace and I thought I couldn't take it anymore.... I slowed down assuming she would just zoom ahead.  But when I'd slow down, she would let up just enough to allow me to catch back up.  Then after a couple minutes she'd gradually pick it up again.  I was hanging but barely.  She gave me a great workout!  I love running with people who are better than me and challenge me to do what I think I can't.   

I am proud that the final .3 mile I ran a 7:05 pace especially since there was a steep hill in that portion.  I am very surprised I had enough energy to do that as much trouble as I was having with the 7:20 pace.  She sprinted ahead on the downhill in the final 50 feet.  Greg and James came in about 1 minute after us and Greg said, "We were chicked today!" 

Took Jake in the running stroller today around the neighborhood.  We picked up children on bikes along the way including:  one first grade girl, one second grade girl, one third grade girl and two twin boys in forth grade. 

We rode around about a mile then we got to the bottom of this hill that was .25 mile long.  First, I raced them with me pushing Jake and them on their bikes up the hill.  I was last and the third grade girl was first. 

Then, they got off their bikes and raced me still with me pushing Jake... at first I was last and the twin boys and first grader were first (I gave the younger girls head starts) but about midway the kids started getting tired and I sped past them. 

It was fun.  I told them I'd race them tomorrow too, and they should tell their friends...  this could be a unique way to get some speedwork in... 

Weather=58 degrees, 53% humidity, wind 27 mph, cloudy.

The wind sucked.  I wanted to quit after 1 mile but convinced myself to keep going.  I finished my loop and stopped at my car for water.  My watch said 2.3 miles average pace 8:45/m. 

Mile 1- 8:40

Mile 2- 8:48 (against the wind)

I wanted to drive home.  The wind was just awful.  I gave myself a pep talk, found a decent song on my ipod, took off my cumbersome jacket and vowed to do one more loop at a faster pace than the first loop.  

Mile 3 - 8:06

Mile 4 - 7:40 (against the wind)

.8 mile - 7:12

Now that I've quit running the top of my left foot is throbing.  oh no. 

Great run today!  5 miles at 5:30 pm.  Average pace= 7:39/m.  Weather= 75 degrees, 32% humidity, 13 mph wind, cloudy. 

Mile 1- 7:59

Mile 2- 7:22

Mile 3- 7:32

Mile 4- 8:11

Mile 5- 7:13

I had to wait until my husband got home to run.  I had so much energy today.  I just ran how I felt and in mile 2 and 3 I just felt like hauling.  Then mile 4 I was kinda hurting and slowing down... but in my defense the entire mile was uphill and against the wind.  Mile 5 I turned out of the wind and I decided to end the run with nothing left.  It was fun! 

I think the pain I had on the top of my foot might have been from tying my shoelaces too tight.  Thank goodness doesn't seem to be anything serious. 

Ran 13.7 miles at 11 am.  Average pace=8:05/m.  Weather=56 degrees, 38% humidity, 16 mph wind, sunny and gorgeous!

Mile 1- 8:01

Mile 2- 8:17

Mile 3- 7:57

Mile 4- 8:04

Mile 5- 8:05

Mile 6- 8:02

Mile 7- 8:09

Mile 8- 7:59

Mile 9- 7:54

Mile 10- 8:10

Mile 11- 8:10

Mile 12- 8:16

Mile 13- 8:03

Last .7 - 8:03

My next big race is Dallas Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon on March 27th.   I had positive splits at the Cowtown half marathon which I think is indicative that my endurance is fading.   I need to do more long runs of 12-15 miles in preparation. 

So today my sister babysat for me.  I went to Trinity trails.  I have no idea what the deal was with mile 2.  Around mile 4 I really settled into a nice rythem.  I only stopped once for water at mile 6.  Around mile 10 I started feeling fatigued and the outside of my right knee started bothering me a little.  Only confirmed to me that I really need to do more long runs.

I was just kinda running what felt comfortable.  I saw that at 13.1 miles, the clock was 1:45.  So I was pretty happy that my slowish, comfortable pace was a 1:45 half.  My goal for racing the R 'n R is 1:37. 

3.2 miles at 5:30 pm.  Average pace=7:30/m.  Weather=73 degrees, 16% humidity, 23 mph wind, sunny.

Mile 1- 7:08

Mile 2- 7:22

Mile 3- 8:03

Last .2 - 7:10

My idea going out was to run to the end of this one sidewalk and back approximately ~ a 5k and I wanted my pace to be around 7:20-7:30 a mile.  However, the first 1.6 miles were mostly downhill and with the wind at my back... and the last 1.6 were uphill against a 23 mph wind.  On the second half I felt like I was on a treadmill with a 6 % incline.   That 8:03 third mile really hurt.  Good workout.

Funny thing... this was the last class day before spring break for the kids in my neighborhood and it seemed that they were ALL out on the streets playing tonight.  When I had about 1/2 a mile to go, I saw a kid named Seth who was part of the group of kids that I raced the other day.  Tonight when I saw him, he ran with me all the way back to my house.  He said he wanted to run with me over spring break.  He is in 4th grade and he is the fastest runner in his class. 

Tomorrow I'm meeting my running group for a long run.  I don't know how long of a long run though.  In May my running store starts the training ramp up for the fall marathon season and they have scheduled long runs.  Right now though, people are just meeting and running on their own.  I kinda have to do what the group does.  I hope there are people running at least 12 miles at a 7:20-7:30 pace because that's what I need to do to prepare for my 1:37 half marathon goal. 

I registered for the Dallas Rock 'n Roll today.  It was a $108.  I'm going to be pissed if the weather sucks and ruins my plans for 1:37.  I could have run 3 half marathons for $108 instead of just this one.   Maybe the bands and the fact that Troy Aikman will be shooting the gun will inspire me to run a great race and it'll all be worth it.  I am so focused on that 1:37 right now... I'm dreaming about 1:37... I am thinking about 1:37 all day...  7:20 a mile for 13.1 miles. 

10 miles at 7am with my running group.  Average pace=7:38/m.  Weather=58 degrees, 75% humidity, 11mph wind, sunny. 

Mile 1- 7:58

Mile 2- 7:45

Mile 3- 7:31

Mile 4- 7:36

Mile 5- 7:49

Mile 6- 7:12

Mile 7- 7:33

Mile 8- 7:33

Mile 9- 7:44

Mile 10-7:41

It started out myself, Emily, Ashley, a girl named Ella (I think), Tim, Monty and James.  After a couple easy miles, we settled into a 7:30ish pace.  I had to put in my ipod and zone out to Lady GaGa.  We lost Ashley and Ella somewhere before the halfway point. 

I don't know what the deal was with mile 5 - I think we were going into the wind.  At mile 6, Emily dropped the hammer and sped up to 7:12 pace.  I hung on to her pace with Monty, Tim, and James for one mile.  Then I started overhearing their conversation about lactate thresholds... somehow I lost my mental focus.  The four of them were just chatting away like this was easy... yet I was having to work like I was in a race just to keep up.  I started thinking, well, gosh now that you mention it, I was probably running at my lactate threshold...  It started messing with my head and my confidence faltered.  

I fell behind in mile 7 but I was still going 7:30ish.  The four of them were about 200 yards ahead of me when we stopped at mile 8 at a water fountain.  Monty peeled off to go in a different direction because he was doing 20 miles today.  James and Tim said they wanted to slow back down to the 7:30 pace for the final two miles.  I did not believe that was possible with Emily there.  That girl is awesome! 

Sure enough she took off and they followed.  I am really pissed at myself that I didn't have the energy or mental power to keep up.  Only two more miles, Lindsey!!!  My goodness!  At least do a 7:30 pace if you can't keep up with them!  But no.  I couldn't seem to muster more energy.  I am very disappointed with myself. 

Things I could have done better today:

1- Bad choices about what to wear - wore long sleeve shirt and I had to hold my stupid car key the whole time.  Stupid!  It just bothered me the whole time and distracted me from concentrating on the pace.  Next week I do not care how cold I start out, I am wearing short shorts and a tank.  I will also have a better place to put my stupid car key.

2- GU!!!!   I need caffeine gu for runs like this.  I can definitely tell a difference when I don't use it.

3- Flat out, my endurance is not at the level of these people.  All four of them just ran the Cowtown full marathon 2 weeks ago.  They've been running 50-60 miles a week.  I haven't even had a long run over 13 miles in months and my weekly milage has only recently been getting back up to 40 miles a week.  If I am going to have a prayer of hanging with them, I'm going to need to ramp up my long runs and run more miles in the week.  I already knew this though.  I already planned to do a 15 or 16 miler this coming week.  

4- Time for new shoes... or new feet.  Ha!

5- I need to get some new songs on my ipod.  Lady GaGa is losing its effectiveness.

SOOO.... I do not know if I am in shape to run a 1:37 half (7:20/m) after my performance today.  I don't know if it's feasible to get myself in that kind of shape with only 2 weeks left before Dallas Rock 'n Roll.  I think 7:30/m is the max pace I can achieve in a half marathon right now.  With more training, I can get to the 7:20/m... but I'm just not sure about doing so by March 27th.    OTOH, maybe the R 'n R (my first event of this kind) atmosphere and the bands at every mile will help me....  I don't know. 

13.7 miles at noon at the Trinity Trails.  Average pace= 8:14/m.  Weather=58 degrees, 40% humidity, 18 mph wind, sunny.

Mile 1- 8:10

Mile 2- 8:21

Mile 3- 8:17

Mile 4- 8:23

Mile 5- 8:24

Mile 6- 8:16

Mile 7- 8:15

Mile 8- 8:14

Mile 9- 8:01

Mile 10- 8:09

Mile 11- 7:58

Mile 12- 8:19

Mile 13- 8:19

Mile 14- 8:11

The 13.7 route is just from my running store to the end of this one section of trail and back.  Got some new shoes before the run.  Asics Cumulus again.  My big toe is hurting on my right foot and my IT band is bothering me on my right leg when I run over 10 miles.  I thought the new shoes would help but my right foot felt numb the entire run.  It was really annoying.   I decided to just go slow and easy.  I think the numbness might have affected my form.  Around mile 12 my right leg IT band started bugging me... nothing serious though.  I'm going to take it easy tomorrow. 

4.5 miles at 5:30 pm on the Trinity Trails.  Average pace=7:16/m.  Weather=74 degrees, 50% humidity, 17 mph wind, cloudy. 

Mile 1- 7:14

Mile 2- 7:24

Mile 3- 7:01

Mile 4- 7:26

Last .5 mile- 7:11

This was supposed to be a 5 mile tempo but the loop I thought was 5 miles ended up being only 4.5 miles.  When I realized it was probably going to be short, I was already in mile 4.  I decided doing the loop I planned was good enough.  My plan was to do a 7:20 average.  The wind was pretty challenging in miles 2, 4 and 5.  

This guy about my age tried to "race" me around mile 3.  I came up on him and he looked over his shoulder and sped up.  He was clearly struggling with this faster pace.  He did hang on for a good quarter mile before he sputtered off into the grass though.  It was a nice diversion for me.  I really enjoy passing guys.  : )

So toward the end of mile 3, I looked down at my watch and saw a 6:58 average pace for the lap with only .1 mile to go.  I was shocked!  I had to do a double take...  "Did that say 6:58 or 7:58???"   I slowed down after that because it freaked me out.  I think had I not seen the speed, I might have just kept going like that.  I was in a nice rythem.  But once you mentally ruin a rythem by freaking out, it's hard to go back. 

This sport is so mental!! I've got to get myself over these mental limitations I'm imposing on myself.  I remember I used to get freaked everytime I saw my watch dip into the 7's.  Now I get freaked when I see the 6's.  I'm thinking that some track workouts may cure this 6's problem.  : )

6.1 miles with hills at 6 pm.  Average pace=8:11/m.  Weather=83 degrees, 47% humidity, 19mph wind gusting to 31 mph, sunny.

Mile 1- 8:22

Mile 2- 8:03

Mile 3- 8:09

Mile 4- 8:18

Mile 5- 8:12

Mile 6- 7:30

Last .1- 8:34

I made up a new route around my neighborhood that incorporated every big hill I knew of.  This was a very challenging route!  Especially with the wind and heat!  I tried to keep my pace in the low 8:00's going up the hills.  Some hills were directly into the wind like miles 4 and 5.  I sprinted a 1/3 mile long hill of 2% grade in mile 6... average pace up that hill was 6:30/m.  Woo Hoo!  I just took it easy downhill and to my house after that one. 

10 miles this morning with my running group.  Average pace= 7:34/m.  Weather=66 degrees, 75% humidity, 22 mph wind gusting to 28 mph, cloudy.

Mile 1- 7:50

Mile 2- 7:18

Mile 3- 7:15

Mile 4- 7:24

Mile 5- 7:44

Mile 6- 7:29

Mile 7- 7:32

Mile 8- 7:40

Mile 9- 7:44

Mile 10- 7:39

Ran this morning with James and two other guys I didn't know their names.  Emily didn't run today because her foot was bothering her.  I just plugged my ipod in and tried to hang on to the pace as long as I could today. 

Felt pretty good miles 1-5.  Mile 5 had four steep short hills one after another.  After the hills we stopped for water and then we settled back into a 7:30 pace which felt pretty good to me.  Then the guys started getting faster when there were 3 miles to go.  I assume they went back to the 7:15 pace.  I couldn't hang.  I ran the final 3 miles by myself and apparently 7:40 was the best I could do.  In my defense though, the wind was directly in my face those three miles.  It was blowing me all over the place.  I felt pretty good, but it seemed that I couldn't get myself into a faster gear.  I estimate that they finished about 45 seconds or a minute ahead of me.

We've been having major wind lately... like at least 20 mph.  I see wind is in the forecast for all this week too.  It would be so great if the wind was gone by the time of my half marathon race is next Sunday.  The wind will be a factor in whether or not I'm going to be about to do my goal of running a 1:37 (7:22 pace).  I guess we will see.

3.7 miles at noon.  Average pace= 8:04 /m.  Weather=71 degrees, 62% humidity, 21 mph wind gusting to 26 mph, cloudy. 

Mile 1- 8:20

Mile 2- 8:03

Mile 3- 8:06

Mile 4- 7:39

I squeezed in a quick run when my sister came over.  I asked her to babysit for like 30 minutes.  Did a loop that included 1 really long hill in mile 2.  Mile 4 was directly against the wind. 

Intervals today at noon.  Weather= 75 degrees, 20% humidity, 12 mph wind, sunny. 

The plan was to run the 2.4 mile loop at the park at 7:25 pace.  Then run the one mile loop at 7:00-7:10 pace - three times.  Then run the 2.4 mile loop again at 7:25 pace. 

Interval #1 - 2.4 mile loop - 17:55 (average pace=7:28/m)

Interval #2 - 1 mile loop - 7:10

Interval #3 - 1 mile loop - 7:04

Interval #4 - 1 mile loop - 7:03

Interval #5 - 2.4 mile loop - 17:53 (average pace=7:27/m)

I basically did what the plan was, but the wind made it a bit difficult.  I really didn't mind the heat or sun... it's that stinking wind!  The weather website said it was 12 mph, but it felt worse.  When I was going with the wind I was running 7:00's and 7:10's easily... but when I was going against the wind, 7:30's and 7:40's were a struggle to maintain.  It all averaged out to what my goal was, but it felt messy.  

My big half marathon race is on Sunday.  Plan A where everything is going perfectly is 7:25 pace.  I'm prepared to modify that if the weather conditions are really windy.

Ran at 4:30 pm.  Hottest part of the day.  Weather=85 degrees, 43% humidity, 16 mph wind, sunny.

Race is on Sunday.  Thought this workout would be good preparation.  The wind and heat were factors today... Two days ago I ran when it was 75 and felt fine... today at 85 I felt like I was running on the sun.  To think that in the summer we will have 60 or more days of 100 degree temps!  Ugh! 

Ran 2.4 loop in 19:30 (8:01 average pace).  The final .4 mile was at 7:38. 

Ran 2.4 loop in 19:32 (8:02 average pace).  The final .4 mile was 7:12.

Then I ran the 1 mile loop in 6:44. 

The forecast for Sunday is 52 in the morning.  Wind 10-15 mph coming from the northeast.  The race map would have me going toward the northeast in the first 8 miles before turning and going due south for the final 5 miles.  Incidentally, there is also a gradual hill we go up that peaks at mile 8 and then we are downhill for 4 miles.  It could be nice to have downhill and wind at my back to look forward to after mile 8.  I just hope I don't wear myself out prior to mile 8.  I'm considering my strategy here...   hmmmmm....

Weather predicted for tomorrow's race at 8 am is 48 degrees, 63% humidity, 10 mph wind, cloudy.  A cold front blew in.  It's going to be near perfect conditions for me... All the worry about the wind and weather was for nothing.

 Now I'm worried I didn't run enough this week.  I was trying to do a taper but I don't really know how to taper for a half marathon.  Maybe I didn't run enough. 

I'm very nervous.   I'm not sure if I have the fitness to acheive my goal of breaking 1:37 half marathon.  7:24 a mile.  Yikes!  That's 10 seconds a mile faster than I did the half marathon last month.  I hope the training I've been doing this month has made me faster. 

I need to work on my confidence tonight, go to bed early, get up early...  I can do it!  I can do it!  If I repeat it enough, I'm sure it will be true. 

My husband was going to come to my race but he's not anymore.  (He's not that supportive of my running...).  Therefore, I have to drive to Dallas by myself.  I hate driving to Dallas.  Dallas and Fort Worth are only like 40 minutes away from each other, but it's like two different worlds... especially when you're driving.  Dallas has more traffic and the drivers tend to get road rage and tail gate.  They don't like confused Fort Worthians driving the speed limit. 

Today I went to get my bib number in Dallas... and I got tailgated, cut-off, and nearly creamed into an 18 wheeler in the suicide lane.  Then I stopped for gas and there was actually a line of cars to get gas... took me 20 minutes!  What is this 1970?  While I was at the gas station, some guy flipped me off because he thought I cut him off (which I honestly didn't) and he yelled at me.  I had my baby in the back so this scared me.  I'm not used to being yelled at by total strangers with tatoos all over their body and music blaring.  Afterwards, I shut my finger in the car door!  Tell me, how do you shut your finger in the door?!  All these years of getting in and out of cars... and I couldn't get my finger out of the way to shut the door?   Ha, ha!   I had to open the door to get my finger loose.  It was bleeding pretty bad and the blood kinda freaked me out so I started feeling like I was going to throw up.  I sucked it up though.  I think I'll live. I don't think it's broken, but I won't be bending it for some time. 

All this happened in one trip to Dallas.  Can't wait for what awaits me tomorrow! 

MY BEST RACE EVER!!!!!!!!!!    I didn't think I would ever run a race as awesome as my first marathon, but I think this race was even better!   My heart feels like it's about to bust out of my chest with excitement! 

Mile 1	7:08
Mile 2	7:21
Mile 3	7:16
Mile 4	7:09
Mile 5	7:30
Mile 6	7:27
Mile 7	7:32
Mile 8	7:26
Mile 9	7:09
Mile 10	7:12
Mile 11	7:09
Mile 12	7:09
Mile 13	7:06
Final .2	6:28

Final CHIP Time =1:35:48

Distance according to my Garmin 13.2

Average pace =7:16/m

Average pace for first 7 miles = 7:20/m

Average pace for last 6 miles =7:11/m

Final .2 pace = 6:28/m  ~ OH YEAH BABY!!!

I have been obsessing for months about getting a 1:37 or better for a half marathon - this is my qualifying time for NYC Marathon.  At first when I heard this criteria back in December, I thought I couldn't do it.  Then I thought, "hmmm, a challenge.  I think I WILL do it."  So after I decided this, I ran a half in December in 1:41:30 (flat and good weather), then January 1:41:23 (lots of hills), then February 1:39:29 (humid with one big hill)...   and

Today...  1:35:48!!!!   OMG!!  I can't believe it.  I really thought 1:37 was a stretch of my abilities.  I would have never thought I could pull a 1:36.  I am so happy. 

I must give the weather and the course credit though.  Weather =45 degrees, 70% humidity, 10 mph wind, cloudy.   PERFECT WEATHER!!  Course mostly flat except for gradual uphill in miles 4-8 and a gradual downhill in miles 8-12.  AWESOME COURSE!!!

I will also give myself credit because I think my pre-race routine and plans worked perfectly.  I executed my race plan exactly how I wanted.  I am very happy with myself.  

I woke up at 4:30 am.  Ate some toast and started pounding the water.  I left my house at 5:40 and it took me about 1 hour to get to the race.  By this time, I had drank about 64 ounces of water.  I do this because I find that if I super hydrate prior to the race then I can avoid most water stops.  Trick is to stop drinking water about 1 hour before race starts so you can empty your bladder.  I made a porta potty stop and with about 15 minutes before the race I drank some G1 gatoraide and ate a 35mg caffeine gu.   I lined up with the 1:35 pace group.

It was a crowded race.  The first couple miles it was difficult because I had to jocky around to stay at the pace I wanted.  I was going a little faster than I planned.  My plan was to stick to 7:25... but I felt awesome and the music I was playing was putting me in the zone! 

Miles 1-4 I played some music I just downloaded last night.  I discovered DJ David Guetta and downloaded three songs from him... very fast paced dance music.  I don't listen to this stuff normally, just when I run... I find it keeps me mentally focused -kinda trance like- and makes me want to run super fast.  First song "Sexy Bitch" - dance version - over and over again.  I was saying to myself, "oh, yeah, I'm a sexy bitch and I'm going 7:15 a mile!"   Then "Getting Over You".  Then "On the Dance Floor".    These songs really made my day!!!   I was so focused and mentally pumped up. 

At the 5k sign, I saw the funniest signs by spectators I've ever seen in a race.  Made me laugh outloud!  Picture of Charlie Sheen and the words, "You Have Tiger Blood.  You're a Winner."

Miles 5, 6, 7, and half of 8 I played some different music by Kesha, Katy Perry, Lady GaGa, Rihanna... (see the girl singer theme... for some reason I like this when I run.. maybe it's the girl power thing!  I'm weird.).  There were some gradual uphills and some twists and turns during this phase of the race.  We were running through Dallas Highland Park, which looks exactly like Beverly Hills except without the hills in the background.  I noticed a street sign while I was thinking about this that said "Beverly"... this made me laugh. 

I took 1 gu at the beginning of mile 5 and stopped for a split sec to drink some water.  Then I took another gu at mile 7 and another split sec water drink.  I had to really focus to keep myself at 7:30/m during this phase because of the hills.  7:30/m was my limit on how slow I was going to allow myself to get.  I knew that the downhill was coming so I just kept saying, "Keep it contolled, focus, breathe, good form... the relief is coming at mile 8 turn." 

Oh my gosh, mile 8 turn!!  As soon as I turned the corner and went downhill, I put on Usher's "More" song.... "give me more... push it to the limit... bring it on harder... light it up... get it higher... more... more... more..."  I just started opening it up.  I started passing people.  I started getting excited that I was on track to break 1:37.  I started imagining running NYC marathon... I've never been to NYC.  I started thinking about how exciting it will be to tell my friends on the blog and my running group that I did it!  I still had like 4 miles left, but I felt great and I knew I could maintain... heck, I might get even faster!!!  I took my final gu at mile 10ish but no water. 

The only pain I felt was in my feet.  Major blisters on my feet that started bugging me around mile 10.  I wasn't going to let it slow me down... bring on the pain... blisters I can handle.  Mentally, I was REALLY in an awesome zone! 

So around mile 11.5 two girls and two or three guys started trying to pass me.  I went to battle.  When I passed a bunch of cheerleaders on the side of the road and I made pom pom hands and smiled at them, they started cheering and jumping up and down for me like crazy!!!  This energized me and I surged passing everyone back who had just passed me. 

Then around mile 12 I started slowing down again and this one girl and a couple guys passed me again.  I fiddled with my ipod and found those David Guetta songs again.  Boom!  I'm back in business.  I kicked myself in high gear.  I ran past the water station at around mile 12.2 and I grabbed water, not to drink, but to splash on my face.  I said, "Wake your ass up and run, Lindsey!  RUN!  RUN!"  

I passed that girl again but a guy in a Triathalon shirt zoomed passed me.  We had less than a mile left... but it was really disheartening at the end because I couldn't see the shoot.  There were twists and turns and I didn't know how much further.  Some races are longer than your garmin says... how do I know how much further... I can't see.  "Hold it together, Lindsey!"   

Then finally with about .1 or less to go, we turned and the finish was visible.  I could see that girl come back up on me... OMG!  She thought she was going to pass me at the end...  tough competition in the final miles of this race!  I have never jockied back and forth with so many people in a race before.  I LOVE IT!!  Fun, fun, fun!  I kicked myself into the fastest pace I could... I was going so fast I couldn't believe it.  I smoked her and ended up passing about 3-4 other guys including the guy in the Triathalon shirt in the final sprint.  My garmin said the final .2 mile was at 6:28 pace... but it said the best pace was 5:05 pace.  I swear I was hauling!  HAULING!

Woo Hoo!!!!!   I saw the race clock was 1:36:02 when I crossed.. but my chip time will be better... my garmin had 1:35:50 and I started the timer right when I crossed the starting line.  As I was walking in I kept saying 1:35:50??!!  I wanted to cry.  I held it back... but I think I would have cried if I had seen anyone I knew.  No one I knew was there.

Well, maybe one person, but I didn't talk to her... the "cocky" girl from The Cowtown half marathon was a few seconds in front of me when I finished.  I never even saw her the whole race.  I guess she was way ahead for most of the race and I just caught up to her at the end.  I said hi to her but we were both gasping for air so I didn't get to talk.   

There are very few things in life that feel as good as exceeding your race expectations.  In my life there are a few moments that compare to this:  I would say when UT and the dynamic awesome talent of Vince Young won the 2005 National Championship ... Holding my babies for the first time ...  Falling in love....  It's hard to rank but they're all amazing moments.  I am so grateful to have had these great moments.  I am so lucky!  

Time to pig out on mexican food!!   : )   

---------

Just got final race results on the website: 

*4th place in F 30-34 - out of 1,316. (But I was the 1st Texan in my age group!!)  However, I will say, it didn't look to be that competive of an age group considering the 3rd place girl finished 5 minutes ahead of me! Ah well, I'll take it... 4th place is 4th place!

*42 out of 6,800 women. 

*282 out of 10,969 men and women. 

6.3 miles at 6 pm with my friend, Ashley.  Average pace=7:39/m.  Weather=52 degrees, 59% humidity, 9mph wind, cloudy. 

Mile 1- 7:50

Mile 2- 7:44

Mile 3- 7:47

Mile 4- 7:48

Mile 5- 7:45

Mile 6- 7:21

Last .3 mile- 6:25 pace

I was feeling a little lazy and unmotivated after my race on Sunday.  My friend, Ashley, asked to me for a run today and it was perfect timing.  She lives about a mile away from me so we can meet halfway and run the hills around our area.  We went a 6 mile route that included every big hill I know of around here.  It was a great workout.  We maintained 7:40ish even up the hills and talking the whole time!  

I left her at 5.3 miles and turned to go home.  Then I put in my ipod and just ran as fast as I could with a mile to my house.  Fun run!!   We're going to start meeting every Wednesday!  I'm re-motivated now.  Good to have running friends!!

6 miles at 8 am at the Trinity River trails.  Average pace=7:58/m.  Weather = 55 degrees, 58% humidity, 5 mph wind, sunny. 

First 3 miles were between 8:00 and 8:30.  I was feeling rather sluggish which I think was because I ate breakfast too soon before I ran.  I started gradually speeding up at the turn around.  The 6th mile was at 7:17 pace. 

I'm in a hurry because we are going to Austin for the weekend to visit my husband's parents and sister.  We're going to get some babysitting!!!  Very excited!

Have a good weekend everyone!!

Ran in my sister-in-law's neighborhood in Pfluggerville, TX. Near Austin. Weather was 60's with thick FOG.

Mile 1- 8:31

Mile 2- 8:25

Mile 3- 7:53

Mile 4- 7:36 (downhill)

Mile 5- 7:50 (uphill)

Mile 6- 7:42

Last .5- 7:30

I thought it would be fun to run in fog, and it kinda was... but it was just pure humidity so the sweat wouldn't evaporate. I was drenched by the end of it. Her neighborhood had miles and miles of super wide running/walking trails.

Wind 35 mph.  I decided not to run today... just wasn't appealing fighting the wind.   Tomorrow my sister is babysitting and I'm doing 14 miles. 

13.5 miles at noon at the Trinity Trails.  Average pace=8:18/m.  Weather=60 degrees, 29% humidity, 19 mph wind, sunny. 

mile 1- 8:18

mile 2- 8:20

mile 3- 8:16

mile 4- 8:15

mile 5- 8:09

mile 6- 7:53

mile 7- 8:17

mile 8- 8:26

mile 9- 8:30

mile 10- 8:13

mile 11- 8:24

mile 12- 8:35

mile 13- 8:19

Last .5- 8:18

That stinkin' wind.  It was in my face on the way out.  I was running hard against it and the entire time I was thinking to myself, "Just suck it up... at the turn around, the wind will be at your back and you're going to feel like your flying."  

So you might think that after the halfway point at mile 6.7, I got faster... Well, for some reason that seems to defy physics, after the turn around I did not feel the wind at my back.    It felt more to the side of me.  I couldn't understand why it feel directly in front of me on the way out and on the side on the way back.  It was only slightly less difficult.  Stupid wind.  Ha, ha!  I guess it's strength training at least.

My right IT band started bugging me when I stopped for water at the half way point.  The last half of the run it was hurting. 

6 miles with group at Trinity.  Tempo run.  Weather=HOT!!  75 degrees, 80% humidity, 10 mph wind, SUNNY.

Mile 1- 7:45

Mile 2- 7:29

Mile 3- 7:25

water stop

Mile 4- 7:45

Mile 5- 7:44

Mile 6- 7:31

It was a hot day especially with the humidity.  It feels good to sweat!  I'll take this over cold weather any day!  The others did another 3 mile loop but my mizuno wave riders were giving me blisters... my right foot had blood blisters when I stopped.  I am retiring these shoes - they just suck for me! 

I talked to this girl about Newton shoes today.  I am a toe runner and under-pronator (supinator) with high arches.  I could care less about heel cushioning.  However, I'm not interested in miminalist shoes because I need more cushion in the forefoot.  When the forefoot padding wears out on my shoes, I get hurt.  

This girl I was talking to claimed that Newton shoes will last me 600 miles.  I told her I wear shoes out in the forefoot every 200-250 miles... she claimed that Newton's would last longer.  Hmmm...  well, if that's true, then the $200 price would be worth it. 

I had an off-week this week... didn't run much.  I was having some pain in my right IT band.  It was hurting even when I wasn't running.  I decided that taking a few days off would be a good idea to prevent injury.  Today's run my IT band didn't hurt at all... but I feel like I lost fitness.  Felt kinda slow. 

6.2 miles at 6:15pm around my neighborhood.  Average pace=8:18/m.  Weather=77 degrees, 20% humidity, 20 mph wind, sunny.

My calfs have been SUPER sore since Saturday's run!!  I wore the mizuno wave riders WITHOUT my orthotic inserts.  The only thing I can figure is that the shoes were super flat without them (my inserts elevate my heels about 3/4 inch).  Seriously, I could hardly walk yesterday and today is only slightly better. 

I got these inserts made for my high arches about 2 years ago.  The arch support is still really good... but the toe area has been worn down to flat and the heels are still about 3/4 inch tall... the reason is because I only wear them when I run and I only land on my toes.  My old running shoes are all worn flat on the forefoot and the heel areas are in mint condition.

I wonder if the inserts elevating my feet are helpful or harmful for my running form....   Hmmmmm...  I know mimimalist shoes are relatively flat.  I wonder what Newton's are?  It seems to me that if you strike with your forefoot, it would be helpful to have your heels elevated for fast lift off.  Maybe not.

5.5 miles at Trinity trails.  Average pace=8:11/m.  Weather=85 degrees, 49% humidity, 23 mph wind gusting up to 28 mph, sunny.

WIND.  WIND.  WIND. 

Weather=70 degrees, 15% humidity, 32 mph wind gusting up to 45 mph, sunny.

I decided to run the Fort Worth Zoo Run 10k tomorrow.  I decided that today would be a good day to do some mile repeats.  I thought 4-5 would be about right.  Then I walked outside and noticed that the wind was ridiculous... I walked back inside and checked the weather.  It said wind was 32 mph.  Gusting to 45 mph.  FORTY-FIVE!!  Are you kidding me?  Maybe only 3 mile repeats. 

Mile 1- 6:53 pace.  This was a loop I was running and only the last 1/3 was against the wind.  I was 6:46 average pace at mile .62... then I turned into the wind.  I was slower but it felt MUCH more difficult.  

Mile 2- 7:08 pace.  I think the wind actually picked up in between miles 1 and 2... could be wrong... but I swear it seemed that way.  So on the second mile repeat, I was 6:35 average pace at mile .62...  then I turned into the wind.  OMG!  I cannot tell you!  At one point I thought it was going to stop me... like actually make me come to a complete stop!  Ha, ah!   Quite funny I'm sure to watch me battle.  It felt like I was pulling a car.  Little pieces of sand were hitting my face and ...it hurt!

Mile 3 - DNF.  Yup.  I quit.  That wind is too ridiculous. 

When I got back in my car to drive home, I was feeling kinda quilty about quitting.  But then I noticed the atmosphere was dirty brown.  As windy as it has been, today was worst by far... it looks like a sand storm out there. 

Mile 1- 7:04

Mile 2- 7:21

Mile 3- 7:24

Mile 4- 7:25

Mile 5- 7:18

Mile 6- 7:01

Final .26 mile - 6:17

First mile went through the zoo and we ran past the elephants, giraffes, hippos, zebras & gazelles, famingos, petting zoo and the Old West Texas Town.... pretty cool!   A 10 year old boy passed me in the first mile... I thought I might pass him back later in the race because 10 year olds don't usually have the endurance to stay ahead the whole race... but no!  That kid held out and I never saw him again.  

I actually PR'd today by almost 9 minutes... but I haven't run a 10k in 2 years.  The first half of the race had many hills.  The final 2.2 miles were mostly downhill.  Overall, I am happy with my results... however, I feel like I could have done better had I trained better.  These last three weeks I haven't been running much.  I was second place in my age group... the first place girl's chip time was only 5 seconds ahead of me...  had I known that, I might have mustered up some extra power at the end.... but she was actually behind me in gun time so I didn't know I had competition that close.

The last mile was interesting:   A really in-shape 40-something guy and a 20-something girl passed myself and this guy wearing five-finger shoes when there was less than a mile to go.  Then I passed five-fingers  because he was looking pretty tired...  but then all of a sudden, five-fingers threw himself into turbo speed with 200 yards to go...  I kept up for about 5 seconds and then gave up... I was really impressed with him!  I started yelling at him to catch that guy and girl just ahead... and he did it!!  I was excited for him even though I didn't know him.  What a kick!   Then it occured to me that I got passed by 3 people in the final mile.  Hmmm... I need to work on my 10k racing strategy... It's a whole different race than the half marathon.  You have to endure more pain in the 10k but it's over quicker... I don't think I did it just right.  I smell another challenge...  : )

7.5 very slow miles at noon.  Average pace=8:52/m.  Weather=90 degrees, 50% humidity, 20 mph wind, SUNNY. 

It was very hot so I went slow.

6.3 miles on hilly route around my neighborhood with my friend, Ashley.  Average pace=8:12/m.  Weather= 70ish, 15-20 mph wind, cloudy. 

My hip and IT band were really bothering me on my right leg the last 3 weeks.  Last week I started running in my Brooks shoes instead of the Asics and it started feeling better... but now my groin muscle on my right leg is bothering me.  Also, I was struggling with blisters for months even though I was wearing synthetic socks... Finally, last week I switched to very, very thin synthetic socks and no more blisters! 

6 miles on hilly route at 6 pm with Ashley.  Average pace=8:24/m.  Weather=74 degrees, 69% humidity, 13mph wind, sunny. 

Didn't run for a week against all best intentions.  There were various things that got in my way from running:  1) my in-laws visited on Thursday night, 2) I went out of town for a wedding this weekend, 3)my one year old is teething/has fever/crying-non-stop/waking up all night long.

I started running today and it felt like my right femur was hurting.  After I ran for a little while the pain lessened, but then when we stopped at red light and started running again, the pain was really bad.  I still was able to run, but it did not feel good.

This is just the latest of my right leg problems.  Over the last month or so I have had pain in my right leg move to various locations.  First it was the right big toe, then I took some days off... started running again and my right IT band hurts, then I got new shoes and took some rest days... started running again and my right groin muscle felt pulled or hurt in some way, then just now took a whole week off... and now it feels like the pain is on the femur bone itself.  

This is really depressing.  I wonder if I have a leg length discrepancy.  UGH!   I feel defeated at the moment. 

Woke up today and I cannot put any weight on my right leg.  Pain is concentrated in groin... feels like maybe the pelvis and femur joint.  I am going to see a sports doctor today or tomorrow. 

My husband made me feel guilty about going to see this chiropractor/sports injury specialist.  Our insurance doesn't cover it, so it could be very expensive.  However, I think they would diagnose my problem easily... the specialize on running injuries.   My husband just doesn't see my running as a priority.  It's not worth the extra expense.  Sigh.

I'm relunctant to go to my regular doctor because in the past when I've seen him for running related injuries, he sends me to orthopedic doctor who then sends me to physical therapy... no one diagnoses what is wrong, and because I'm just sent around to various different doctors on different days, I have to spend countless babysitting favors and money on co-pays for each doctor that I see.  Waste of time and money.

I will presevere.  I will not give up until I am running again pain-free.  Think of me as Scarlet O'hara with a fist full of Tara dirt in my hand, "As God as my witness"...  Well, maybe that's a little dramatic... but I really do not want to get discouraged.

I looked over this training log and I realized that the precursor to all the problems on my right leg was my big right toe.  That big toe joint was bothering me for months.  I bet I had a stress fracture.  My theory is that I started running differently with my right leg because of the big toe.  This triggered all the IT band issues.  I eventually switched shoes and my groin muscle was injured.  Now everytime I run it feels like my femur is hurting. 

Here's my plan:  A. 2-3 weeks of no running.  B. New orthotics  C. Start running again very slow and not many miles.  If it hurts, more time off.  D. strength training.

2.5 miles at 5:30 pm.  Weather= 96 degrees, 29% humidity, 15mph wind, sunny.

This is the first day of running in 5 weeks.  I took time off because of injury.  I think I got a stress fracture in my femur.  I didn't go to the doctor because of the cost and time and babysitting involved.  I made a deal with my husband that if I saved money by NOT going to the doctor and just taking time off from running... then I could buy a used treadmill off craigslist.  The only remedy for a stress fracture is time off anyways.  Everyone keeps telling me that a femur stress fracture is rare... but I couldn't even walk without pain for 3 weeks.  I suppose even if the pain is somehow related to a pulled or torn muscle, the remedy is still time off. 

So the run went very well.  No pain in the leg to speak of.  However, it was hotter than all hell.  I was pretty miserable.  I will not be running at this time of day again.  However, I just took a shower and I am feeling a slight pain in the right femur.  Nothing like 5 weeks ago though.  Still....  Jeeeeez....

I am so ready to be running again.  I've gained 5-10 pounds.  I put on my running shorts and I had the very beginnings of a muffin top!  Oh the hell no.  Also, I could tell that not having exercise endorphins was affecting my mood and stress levels... either that or my kids got way worse behaved after I stopped running.  Ha, ha!

I got a treadmill!!!!!   Finally!!!   I am so excited!   It's a Spirit Z100.   I read on some website that if you want to walk, you need a 2.0 hp, if you want to jog, you need 2.5 hp and if you want to RUN, you need 3.0 hp.  I have no idea if that is true, but it seemed reasonable to me. 

I've got it set up in my room in front of the tv.  I'm going to try it out tonight.  Still recovering from this right thigh injury.  All this time I've been thinking it was a stress fracture of the femur but now I'm starting to think maybe it's a hip flexor muscle strain of some kind.  It's getting better after 6 weeks of no running.  I ran a little on Wed and it didn't hurt during the run but it hurt the day afterwards.  I think running on the treadmill will be better than concrete for recovery. 

I can't wait to get back running with my group on Saturdays.  I want to train for Dallas White Rock Marathon on Dec 4th this year.  This gives me 6 months.  I'm thinking my goal is going to be 3:25... which is 7:50/m.  I plugged my most recent half marathon time into a race predictor and it said I should be able to do 3:23 marathon.  If I can get healthy enough to train well, I'm sure I could do it.  The only other marathon I ran was 3:35...  so this would be a 10 min PR.  Sounds like a fun challenge. 

3 miles on my new treadmill.  I've got to get a big fan in there because I felt hot.  It's 100 degrees outside and only 80 inside my house but still... I was hot!  I didn't have pain in my right leg per se, but I was "aware" of the right quad muscle the whole time.  I don't know how to explain it... I just felt every movement.  Does that make sense?   Seems weird.  I don't care though.  I can not stand taking any more time off... I must run!!

After the run I was wearing my bike shorts and sports bra and my 3 year old asked me if I had a baby in my belly!!!!   OMG!  My husband thought that was hilarious!  Thanks, son, for even more motivation to start running again! 

I've gained about 10 pounds since I took off running for this injury 6 weeks ago.  People who usually hassle me about being too skinny have now starting complimenting me on looking more "healthy".  Gee, thanks.  It's mostly my mom and grandmother but also other family.  My mom accuses me of having eating disorders whenever I am at my most fit during marathon training.  I've come to think of it as part of the sport.  It's ironic to me that neither she nor anyone else felt the need to express concern about my health before I started running when I was 145 pounds, smoking cigarettes and going to happy hours all the time...  Ha!  People are funny. 

4.7 miles at 6:30 am around my neighborhood. Weather=78 degrees, 66% humidity, 14 mph wind, sunny sunrise, birds chirping, beautiful morning.  Average pace= 9:46/m.

Right leg did not hurt again!!!  Only problem I had (other than being super hot!) was that my lower back felt stiff.  I guess not running for weeks will do that.  I also felt nervous the first couple miles because I wasn't going as fast as I used to... I felt... almost guilty... for going so slow.  I worked it out in my head over the course of the run though...  I am going to come back from this injury smart.  I know that I have to go slow and build my base milage for 6 weeks before I even think about speed.  Also, I've got to get acclimated to this heat!  My goodness, it's hot!

5 miles with my group this morning.  Weather= 80 degrees, 55% humidity, 9 mph wind, sunny.  Average pace = 9:24/m

First 2.5 miles I ran with the 10 minute group averaging actually 10:15/m.  Then I turned at the first water stop to go back because I don't want to do too much too soon and risk re-injury to my leg.  I ran with this 21 year old guy on the way back and we picked up the pace and averaged 8:40/m the final 2.5 miles.  I was out of breath but my leg didn't hurt.  Leg still doesn't hurt after I stopped!  Woo Hoo!

I talked to the group I was running with before I got injured.  Today it was just Emily and 4 other guys.  They were doing 12 miles at 7:45 pace.  They zoomed past me when I was in the 10 minute group.  I can't wait until I can run with them again.  Patience Lindsey, patience...  Gotta stay focused on recovery and building up my milage before I even think about trying to keep up with those guys.

5 miles at 5:50am.  Weather=80 degrees, 59% humidity, 14 mph wind, sunrise.  Average pace=9:39/m. (10:29, 9:41, 9:18, 9:41, 9:04)

Last week I was talking to my mother and I was explaining to her how much worse my life has been since I stopped running because of this injury... then I told her I had taken enough time off for the leg to theorically heal and I could start running again but I didn't "feel" like it...  I started telling her why I can't run in the morning and why I can't run in the afternoon and I why I can't run with the kids...etc, etc. 

Suddenly, it hit me... I have this written on my wall and see it everyday:  "If you really want to do something, you find a way.  If you don't, you find an excuse."  

OMG, I'm making excuses...  I realized that I was telling myself it was "hard" and I was believing it.  I think inertia was getting the better of me.  I think I was getting used to not running and my mind was coming up with excuses to keep me in the status quo... convince me not to change my daily habits because change is hard.  As bad as I viewed my situation without running, on a sub-conscious level I was resisting starting to run again because it was "hard".  Funny how that works. 

Sometimes I catch myself trying to decide how I "feel" before I make a change.  Ha, ha!  I check my gut to see if it feels right.  Maybe that's a good strategy for some things in life but I've learned you can't go by how you "feel" to start an exercise regime or a workout.  Most of the time you may not "feel" like you want to run... "feel" like you want to get up in the morning.. "feel" like you want to go faster or farther.  At least not at first.  It always gets better... and I've never finished a run and regretting running.  OTOH, I've skipped a run and regretted it. 

No, sometimes, you can't go by how you "feel" in life.  Sometimes you have to suck it up and, to quote Nike, "Just Do It".   

"Sacrifice is a requirement of life.  You either sacrifice today to reach tomorrow's goals or you give up your goals in favor of the fleeting comfort that is distracting you."  Sacrifice is doing something you don't "feel" like doing.  What many people don't consider when they are deciding whether or not to do something "hard" is that comfort is abundant (and sweeter) once long term goals are met.  

Ok.  So on the phone with my mom that day, I caught myself being a whiny baby.  After I realized what I was doing, I started running again.  And I started waking up early and just doing it.  It's not nearly as hard as I imagined.  Heck, it's a great time of year to run at 6 in the morning.  It's light outside... warm enough to wear tank and shorts and it's the coolest part of the entire day without oppressive sun. 

"Telling yourself a miserable mental story about your circumstances, creates suffering... Telling yourself a more positive and grateful story creates happiness".   The truth is... mornings this time of year are a gift.  Running is a gift.  I need to wake up every morning to run and say, "Thank you God for the ability to run and this glorious morning". 

I keep reminding myself that I've got to be patient coming back from this injury.  My leg still feels a little weird even if it doesn't hurt.  My plan is to take it slow but increase my miles gradually over the summer.  Last week was my first week back and I did 13 miles.  This week I'll do 20.  Week 3 - 25 miles.  Week 4 - 30.  Week 5- 35 miles.  Week 6- 40 miles.   It still makes me nervous to be running so slow... but I looked back at my running this time last year and I was even slower.  I got lots faster in the fall/winter/spring that followed.  If I do as good of a job as I did last year with building my base over the summer, I should be able to reach my goals.  Sacrifice, patience, determination, discipline, persistance, hard work...  If I put in the work, I'm sure I could achieve a 3:25 marathon in December. 

5 miles at 5:50 am.  Weather=78 degrees, 64 % humidity, 10 mph wind, sunrise.  Average pace=9:47/m.  (10:29, 9:47, 9:49, 9:45, 8:58)

First two miles my right leg... felt like my femur was giving me trouble.  It hurt when I impacted the ground.  However, after the first two miles I didn't feel it anymore. 

Excellent morning.  I love this time of day during the summer. 

5 miles at 5:40 am.  Weather=79 degrees, 66% humidity, 14 mph wind, sunrise.  Average pace=9:48 (10:09, 9:38, 9:54, 9:43, 9:32)

Had some minor aches and pains in right knee and right leg at first.  Just went really slow and I forgot about it.   I'm really loving waking up early and running.  When you watch the weather and see the forcast everyday for 100 degrees, you think this would be a sucky time of year for running...  but actually, the mornings are great.  Sun is up so early in the day, you can start in the 5 o'clock hour.   I much prefer running this time of year than in the winter.

8 miles at 6:30 am with my running group. Weather: 82 degrees, 70% humidity, 21 mph wind gusting to 24 mph, sunny. Average pace=9:00/m.  (9:16, 8:56, 8:58, 9:05, 8:57, 9:02, 8:53, 8:50)

It was rough conditions because of the humidity. I ran with Brenda. It was FUN! I'm so happy to be running again!!!!

By the way, it's supposed to get up to 105 degrees here today! 

5 miles at 5:45 am.  Weather=78 degrees, 65% humidity, 27mph wind gusting to 34 mph, sunrise.  Average pace=10:04/m  (10:43, 10:05, 9:56, 9:52, 9:36)

WINDY!!!   I was running against the wind up this hill... It felt like level 10 on a stairmaster!  I didn't even feel like I was moving forward.  The wind resistance made it a very good workout even though I wasn't pushing the pace.

6.6 miles at 6:30 pm.  Weather=96 degrees, 45% humidity, 67 degree dew point, 5 mph wind, sunny.  Average pace= 9:35/m.

Ran with Ashley around the neighborhood.  It was fun!  We were attacked by swarms and swarms of little nats.  Several, several, several got stuck to the sweat on my body... up my nose.. in my mouth... and one even in my eye.  I have never seen so many nats in all my life.  It was really hot!!!!!   I'm meeting Ash on Thursday at 5am... going to see if she likes running that early before work.  She has to leave for work at 7 am so we will see.

I am starting to wonder if the problem with my right leg either was sciatica nerve issue or else may have triggered a nerve issue.  I'm having weird feelings in the leg around the femur but it shoots up my buttocks now... also my big right toe is bothering me again (was hurting in Jan-Feb, prior to the right leg injury).  Doesn't affect my form though.  Not too painful... but just feels weird.   I just do not care.  I refuse to stop running.  I feel that 6 weeks was enough time off.  If I have to go super slow, fine.  But I'm not going to quit again.  I love it too much!!   : )

5 miles at 5:50am.  Weather=72 degrees, 80% humidity, 65 degree dewpoint, 7 mph wind, sunrising.  Average pace=9:58/m. (10:59, 9:50, 9:27, 10:07, 9:22)

It stormed last night so it was nice and cool this morning.  Great run!  I charged the hills and went about 8:30 or 8:45 up them.  Just some minor pick ups.  Leg felt funny but didn't hurt.  I'm really leaning toward thinking it's a nerve issue. 

6.5 miles at 5:00 am.  Weather=72 degrees, 81% humidity, 66 dew point, 6 mph wind, dark.  Average pace=8:58 (9:52, 8:48, 8:50, 8:39, 8:50, 8:51, 8:46)

Ran with Ashley and her husband, Tim.  We had to meet extra early because the two of them had to go to work afterwards.  Awesome run!  Several hills but we kept the pace pretty even.  The sweat would not evaporate so I am so soaked right now.  I feel great!  My leg bothered me before the run and after, but not during. 

Tomorrow I'm meeting Ash for 5 miles and then on Saturday we're running 9-10 miles with the group. 

5 miles at 6 am.  Weather=75 degrees, 79% humidity, 70 dew point, 9 mph wind, sunrise.  Average pace= 9:35/m.  (10:25, 9:21, 9:16, 9:12, 9:43)

Ran with Ashley.  My legs felt heavy today and I was having a hard time catching my breath.  Course, I did talk ALOT.  I think the heat/humidity are making it hard to breath too.  I read in Running Times that dew point was a big factor in performance (which is why I've started adding dew point). 

Tomorrow I'm supposed to run 9 with the group.  I've had a great week of running this week.  Feeling great!  My leg didn't hurt at all.  I feel like it's getting better!!

9 miles with my group at 6:30 am. Weather=78 degrees, 74% humidity, 69 dew point, 20 mph wind gusting to 33 mph, cloudy. Average pace=8:24/m.

Mile 1- 8:32

Mile 2- 8:02

Mile 3- 8:25

Mile 4- 8:26

Mile 5- 8:23

Mile 6- 8:18

Mile 7- 8:20

Mile 8- 8:34

Mile 9- 8:45

I started running with the "fast" group today, although they weren't going that fast because of the heat/humidity. Everyone else was just chatting away having a really easy pace... and I had to put in my ipod and focus just to keep up. I haven't run this fast since before I got hurt 9 weeks ago.

At mile 7.5 there was a steep short hill. I charged it and was one of the fastest up it, but then as soon as I got to the top, it was like my legs were made of lead. They wouldn't move at 8:20 pace anymore.  Also, we turned into the wind at that point so it got more difficult. I fell behind the others.

They got about 200 yards ahead of me by the final stretch. When there was .5 miles left, my average pace for that mile was 9:15... I mustered up the will power to give it one final push. I sped up as fast as I could and by the end of it, I dropped the average for that mile down to 8:45... closed the gap between myself and the lead group to maybe a little less than 100 yards.

I'd call this a good workout. I'm happy with myself. My leg didn't hurt during the run but it is bothering me after. My big toe on my right foot is hurting now. Geez! I wonder if I'll ever be injury free.

AM:

5 miles at 9 pm. Weather=85 degrees, 53% humidity, 69 dew point, 20 mph wind, sunny. Average pace=9:58/m.

I decided to do a really easy run today since I had babysitting available. It was hot with the sun out!!

8 miles this morning at 5:00am.  Weather=80 degrees, 72% humidity, 70 dew point, 9 mph wind, dark.  Average pace=8:58/m.  (10:15, 8:23, 8:27, 8:37, 9:09, 9:12, 8:49, 9:13, 9:30)

Ran with Ashley and Tim.  We live less than a mile apart from each other so we just meet halfway.  I ran really slow until I started running with them.  After we did an 8:20-8:30 pace for 3.5 miles on this hilly route, Ashley started feeling sick.  She was probably dehydrated and with the heat/humidity we were probably going too fast- especially up the hills.  We slowed to about 9:00 -9:15/m for the rest of the way.  Much more comfortable after that.

It really sucked to wake up at 4:30 am but I feel great now!  I'm looking forward to tomorrow.  Tim says he tries to get at least 10 miles a day in... I think I'm going to work my way up to doing that too.  He also runs after work when it's 100 degrees outside - I'm not sure if I can handle that... we'll see.   I'm going to try to go to bed at 8pm tonight. 

11 miles at 4:45 am. Yes, 4:45 am. Weather=80 degrees, 64% humidity, 67 dew point, 6 mph wind, dark.

Met up with Ashley and Tim again this morning. Started at 4:45 because Tim had to finish in time to make it to Dallas at 7:30am.

Mile 1- 10:38 >First mile was slow as I was running to meet them halfway.

Mile 2- 8:35 > miles 2-7 were challenging. Like a tempo run with lots of hills. Ashley and I were basically racing up the hills. Very good workout!

Mile 3- 8:41

Mile 4- 8:20

Mile 5- 8:32

Mile 6- 8:20

Mile 7- 8:31

Mile 8- 8:58 >Slowed down after I left them.

Mile 9- 10:07 > When I got home, I drank water in my driveway and noticed how beautiful the sunrise was. My kids were still asleep at this time so I decided to do an easy 3 miler to make it 11 for the day.

Mile 10- 10:11

Mile 11- 9:47

My leg did not hurt in the least today. Maybe running is the cure?! I'm convinced it was a nerve issue. I have been doing lunges and stretches throughout the day trying to strengthen my muscles because I read that helps with nerve problems.

I'm meeting them again tomorrow for another 8. I'm hoping they will be into a slower day but I doubt it. Either they will kill me this summer or make me improve 3 fold.

9.75 miles at 4:45 am. Weather=89 degrees, 58% humidity, 63 dew point, 7 mph wind, dark.

mile 1- 10:01 >First mile slow on my way to meet up with Tim and Ashley.

mile 2- 8:41 > miles 2-7 I ran with them

mile 3- 8:40

mile 4- 8:28

mile 5- 8:38

mile 6- 8:32

mile 7- 8:56

mile 8- 9:49 > slowed down after I left them and did another 2.75 miles

mile 9- 10:08 > felt good to go slow

mile 10- 9:55

I must say this week has worn me out! I don't think I'm aggrevating my leg injury... just the normal tired that happens when you ramp up your milage. Tomorrow we're doing an easy 5. Then on Saturday it's 10 with the group.

5 miles at 5:15 am. Weather=79 degrees, 62% humidity, 65 dew point, 3 mph wind, dark.

mile 1- 10:32

mile 2- 8:46

mile 3- 8:34

mile 4- 8:50

mile 5- 8:33

mile 6- 8:52

Ran some hills with Ash and Tim. We've been doing these hills around our neighborhood all week... pretty much charging the hills. The saturday runs are at the river and pretty flat... It'll be interesting to see how much faster I am tomrrow. I feel stronger and faster after this week!

12 miles at 6:30 am. Weather=79 degrees at the beginning rising to 89 by the end, 52% humidity, 68 dew point, 7 mph wind, sunny. Average pace= 8:23/m.

Mile 1- 8:29

Mile 2- 8:17

Mile 3- 8:16

Mile 4- 8:07

Mile 5- 7:54

Mile 6- 8:18

Mile 7- 8:14

Mile 8- 8:19

Mile 9- 8:35

Mile 10- 8:52

Mile 11- 8:45

Mile 12- 8:28

Good run today. The sun was oppressive on the way back though. I kept up with Tim, Emily and Philip (I think that's his name) until about mile 6. They talked the whole time... but I had to focus and listen to my ipod just to stay up with them. Mile 6 had 3 hills which zapped my energy and they speeded up at the half so I just couldn't hang.

From miles 6-8 I was only about 25 yards behind them but then I stopped at water fountain at mile 8 and they kept going. Ashley was about 50 yards behind me so I waited for her and started running with her.

Miles 9-11 Ashley and I were talking and the sun was oppressive so we slowed down. Mile 12 I tried to speed up but I was having issues with my ipod and couldn't focus. I'm going to get a new one today.

I'm seriously considering trying for 10 miles a day during the week plus a LR on Saturdays of 12-16 miles (during the summer). I think if I want to take it to the next level that's what I need to do. This will mean that I need to start on weekdays at 4:45am.

5 miles at 9:00am. Weather=90 degrees, 46% humidity, 63 dew point, 2 mph wind, sunny. Average pace=9:46/m.

Went really slow because I felt very hot. I think I'm dehydrated. I had a headache in the middle of the run so I slowed down even more. I'm going to recover and I might go out again later for another 5. I'm going to try for 10 miles a day this week.

---------------------------------------

3.8 miles at 2:30 pm. Weather= 103 degrees, 22% humidity, 57 dew point, 6 mph wind, sunny. Average pace=9:43/m.

103 degrees, I'm crazy I know. It's just that my 1 year old took a nap at this time and my husband is home today to watch the 3 year old so it was the most convenient time for me to leave. I must have drank about a gallon of ice water and I ate a gu before I left. I wore a hat and sunscreen... and I carried a water bottle.

The plan was to do 5 miles and I only made it 3.8. I actually felt pretty good internally, if that makes any sense. The reason I cut the run short was that my skin felt like it was on fire. The sunscreen did not do it's job. I found myself wishing I had on more clothes to cover my skin. Surprisingly, I wasn't as hot on the inside... it was my skin that was hurting from the sun. I actually felt more hot and miserable this morning when I was dehydrated.

Next time I want to run when it's 100 degrees outside, I'm going to the park and running in the shade.

11 miles at 4:45 am.  Weather=77 degrees, 53% humidity, 59 dew point, 1 mph wind, dark.

Mile 1- 10:34 > on my way to meet Ash and Tim

Mile 2- 8:59 > miles 2-7 ran with Ash and Tim on hilly route

Mile 3- 8:53

Mile 4- 8:37

Mile 5- 8:44

Mile 6- 8:42

Mile 7- 8:52

Mile 8- 9:45 > on my own again.  slowed way down.

Mile 9- 10:00

Mile 10- 9:42

Mile 11- 9:51

I think I need to eat more calories and carb load today.  It felt like my muscles were totally depleted of glycogen after mile 7.  It was so hard to move.  I had to concentrate to not totally blow my form and 9:45 was about as fast as I could go.  I wonder if running when you feel like this is in any way helpful... or does this just constitute "junk miles".    I just wanted to get my 10 in today and I added 1 more to make up for yesterday's 9. 

6.5 miles at 4:45 am.  Weather=79 degrees, 56% humidity, 62 dew point, 4 mph wind, dark.

Mile 1- 10:06

Mile 2- 8:51

Mile 3- 8:51

Mile 4- 8:32

Mile 5- 8:33

Mile 6- 8:55

Mile 7- 9:27

After yesterday's 11 miler, my right quad started bugging me again.  I don't know what it is. It seems like a nerve issue as the pain kinda moves around my upper right leg and bootie area.  Not in the hamstring area though, more like the quad.  It is driving me nuts!  It doesn't affect my running but it sometimes bugs me afterwards.  It's an annoying achey pain. 

So because of this, I decided to do the shorter route today.  I ran with Ash and Tim until mile 5.5.  We got faster and faster until we split off from each other.  Then the final mile to my house I slowed down.  It was fun!

I took today off because my leg was hurting pretty bad yesterday after the run... second day in a row.

However, I do have good news: I think I finally diagnosed myself. I think I have iliopsoas Bursitis. It's a less common bursitis - most common to ballerias and hurdlers. I have so many hills in my neighborhood and I've been getting so much faster in the months leading up to my injury. I mean I went from running a half marathon in 1:57 in Aug 2010 (my prior PR was 1:54) to running a half marathon in 1:35 in March 2011 - a matter of 7 months!

The pain when it is at its most acute is in my groin area. Two months ago I originally thought maybe I had a fracture of the femoral neck just because of the location of the pain. However, I've noticed lately that the pain kinda moves at times and it concentrated in the front of my thigh in the quad region... and it can sometimes be felt in my butt. Like a shooting pain that ranges from the butt to the quad... weird. It didn't quite fit sciatica nerve problems because I don't have any issues in the hamstring area. It didn't fit anything I'd read about until now.

This iliopsoas Bursitis describes all my symptoms including the fact that it doesn't hurt while I'm running and only after.

The best part is that a steriod shot should help my problem!! I am going to see my doctor tomorrow and I think he'll agree to give me the shot. This is a relatively easy solve... much better than a bone or muscle or nerve issue. I'm so happy. But still... a steriod shot in my groin region???!! OMG! Toughen up, Lindsey... you did have two babies.

6.5 miles at 6:00am. Weather=84 degrees, 44% humidity, 60 dew point, 9 mph wind, sunrise.

Mile 1- 9:38

Mile 2- 8:46

Mile 3- 8:50

Mile 4- 8:46

Mile 5- 8:33

Mile 6- 8:23

Mile 7- 8:48

Met up with Ashley and Tim. Felt pretty good. Leg did not hurt and I'm supposed to see the doctor today about it today. This is the weirdest injury!!

12 miles at 6:30 am. Weather=83 degrees at start rising to 90 by finish, 44% humidity, 59 dew point, 10 mph wind, sunny.

Today was so fun! Ran with all girls today: Elise, Ashley and Laura. Did the loop for El Scorcho 4 times. Each loop was approximately 2.75 miles long, which is how we ended with 11 miles total. We stopped longer and longer at the water stops because we were so hot. I was drinking like 4-5 cups before the last loop. In my mind it was kinda of an interval run.

Mile 1- 8:19

Mile 2- 8:08

Mile 3- 7:45

Mile 4- 8:25

Mile 5- 8:02

Mile 6- 8:37

Mile 7- 8:28

Mile 8- 8:02

Mile 9- 8:56

Mile 10- 8:02

Mile 11- 7:15

The first half of each loop was through the woods and shade. We seemed to talk and take it easy through this half. The second half of the loop was very hot because it was along the river and in direct sunlight. I was feeling great today so I speeded up at this point because I honestly just wanted to get to the water as fast as possible. Laura kept up with me each time I speeded up and she pushed me to go faster. I was running 7:30's in the half miles leading up to the water... and then the very last mile, we just blow it up and ran the whole thing 7:15. Laura was right behind me. It was so fun! I haven't run this fast since before my injury. I feel great!!

I was in Denver this week. I attempted to run a trail up a mountain. I don't know how far I climbed. The trail weaved and winded. It was near the Red Rocks amphitheater.

I aborted the running plan and opted for just hiking. I decided that hiking it was just as good of a workout and smarter for me to do considering I was alone and feeling a little dizzy from the altitude. When I got to the top I felt like I was going to throw up! I did discover that I love hiking in spite of this.

There were 3 other people running this trail.. it was amazing to watch them. What a skill. Running up a mountain trail over a rocky terrain... that's just a whole different sport than what I'm doing. You have to be really agile and alert to maintain forward momentum up such a unpredictable trail. If I lived in Denver I'd have so much fun trying to learn this!

Even more impressive was that I saw 2 guys on mountain bikes go up the same trail. They didn't even get off the bikes once. They somehow managed forward momentum but jumping the bike and who know how... I still can't figure it out... there were rocks everywhere.

Denver is so much fun in the summer! Max temps were only 85 degrees. Whereas, here in Fort Worth it has ranged between 103 and 107 all week. I have to go run at 4:45 am to run at only 85 degrees in Fort Worth! In Denver the mornings are like 65 right now!!! How refreshing!!

I'd have to get into biking if I lived there. And camping ... and fishing, even (my husband wanted me to try it). There's just so much to do outside. I wanted to climb every mountain I saw! I'd love to move there, but I'm still not sure I'd like the winters there. I love to ski but I don't know if I'd want to live with snow.

10 miles at 8 am in Denver Colorado. Ran around Chatfeild Reservior. Weather=65 degrees, 56% humidity, not much wind, sunny. Average pace= 9:53/m.

They don't have water fountains at this park... my guess is they would freeze in the winter. I wore a camel back for the first time in my life. It was difficult to get used to but I finally figured out that if I make all the straps tight, it's alot easier.

It felt like I was wearing a tight sports bra the whole run because of the altitude. I got used to it after about 3 miles and relaxed.

Mile 1- 10:03

Mile 2- 10:15

Mile 3- 10:33

Mile 4- 10:17

Mile 5- 9:39

Mile 6- 10:06

Mile 7- 9:54

Mile 8- 9:53

Mile 9- 9:34

Mile 10- 8:45

8 miles at 6:30am with my running group. Weather=84 degrees, 64% humidity, 67 dew point, 8 mph wind, sunny.

Mile 1- 8:21

Mile 2- 8:28

Mile 3- 8:33

Mile 4- 8:30

Mile 5- 8:27

Mile 6- 8:24

Mile 7- 7:55

Mile 8- 7:35

I ran with Ashley and Laura today. Out and and back 4 miles down Trinity Trails. We had fun! Laura tried out for the Amazing Race yesterday. It'll be so funny if she gets it.

First 6 miles I was talking and having fun. I was having a hard time catching my breathe though. I guess not running much this week and subjecting my lungs to a lower oxygen environment this week might have had an effect.

With 2 miles left, I was just SO ready to be done with the run because I was thirsty and couldn't breathe. So I told them I was going to speed up. I put my ipod in and just took it to the house. I was surprised the final mile was only 7:35 because the effort felt like 7:00 to me. I guess I was just off today. The two of them went out again for 2 more miles but I was done.

7 miles at 6:20am. Weather=83 degrees, 52% humidity, 64 dew point, 0 mph wind, sunrise. Average pace= 9:22/m

Ran 3.5 miles out and back to my house. I was feeling sluggish and tired. I figured I was dehydrated so when I came back to my house I drank a bunch of water, reset my watch and went back out on a different route also 3.5 miles. After drinking water I felt much better. The second route actually had more hills but it felt easier.

Mile 1- 9:29

Mile 2- 9:24

Mile 3- 9:37

Mile 3.5-9:19

Waterstop at my house

Mile 1- 9:32

Mile 2- 9:04

Mile 3- 9:11

Mile 3.5- 9:15

---------------------------

Race: The Fort Worth Running Club's High Noon Shoot Out

1.2 miles at high noon whilst pushing Jake in the running stroller

Weather=95 degrees, 40% humidity, 5 mph wind, sunny. It was HOT!

The reason I'm not putting this in a race report is because I was pushing Jake in the running stroller. I put Jake in a tanktop and pinned a running bib to it. He gave me updates all through the race about what other people were doing. He was concerned that there was a man on a bike who passed us on the trail during the race that was not holding onto the handle bars. (He'll be 4 yrs in September)

This was an informal race. The gun time was what we went by... I got 9:45 for the 1.2 miles officially. However, I was pretty far back from the starting line (and the only one with a running stroller). I started my garmin timer when I passed the starting line so I guess my "chip time" was what my garmin recorded= 9:10 for 1.2 miles (7:46/m)

Mile 1- 7:52

Final .2 - 7:15 pace

I think my time would have been better for the first mile but I got stuck behind some slower runners for the first .1-.2 mile... I finally went into the grass to get around them... and pushing a stroller through grass was a pretty big drag on my energy.

I would have liked to see what I could of have done without the running stroller.

Put a picture from this race as my new profile picture.

10.2 miles this morning at 4:45am. Weather=82 degrees, 59% humidity, 67 dew point, 4 mph wind, dark. Average pace=8:43/m.

Mile 1- 9:53

Mile 2- 9:16

Mile 3- 9:00

Mile 4- 8:37

Mile 5- 8:24

Mile 6- 8:30

Mile 7- 8:24

Mile 8- 8:30

Mile 9- 8:21

Mile 10- 9:01

Ran with Ashley and Tim this morning. We did something different today. Normally, we just run around the neighborhood 8 miles and I borrow tiny sips of Ashley's water bottle. Today we ran 3.5 miles out then back to my house for water. Then 3.2 miles out and back to my house for water. Then another 3.5 miles and everyone went home.

I was guzzling water and I felt great the whole run! It is such an advantage to drink water!

10.2 miles at 4:45am. Weather=82 degrees, 63% humidity, 67 dew point, 7 mph wind, dark. Average pace=8:43/m

mile 1- 10:03

mile 2- 8:54

mile 3- 8:55

mile 4- 8:26

mile 5- 8:25

mile 6- 8:32

mile 7- 8:26

mile 8- 8:22

mile 9- 8:31

mile 10- 8:38

Ran with Ash and Tim same route as yesterday. Feeling stronger and stronger. We have so many hills in this neighborhood.  Every run is a good hill workout! 

I am behind on sleep. I keep going to bed at 9 but I think I really need to make an effort to fall asleep by 8 tonight so I can get caught up. I don't want to risk injury with all these miles lately.  When you wake up at 4 am, the day goes by so slow! 10 am feels like it should be 1pm already.

10.5 miles at 4:45am. Weather=82 degrees, 66% humidity, 69 dew point, 7 mph wind, dark. Average pace=9:04/m.

mile 1- 10:07

mile 2- 8:41

mile 3- 8:29

mile 4- 9:02

mile 5- 9:00

mile 6- 8:51

mile 7- 8:26

mile 8- 9:19

mile 9- 9:26

mile 10- 9:20

mile 11- 9:03

Ran with Ashley and Tim today. We went slower for most of it but I was charging the hills. Mile 3 and mile 7 were uphill. Ash wasn't feeling good today so she and Tim left after 7 miles and I did the rest on my own.

Ashley was asked to be part of her company's corporate running team and they are flying her to San Francisco this weekend to compete in a big corporate track meet (several companies have teams and are competing)! Pretty cool. She's running either the 5k or 10k. She's getting paid to do this. They are paying her hotel, flight, per diem and a paid day of work off. She's taking Tim with her.

Track workout at 4:45am. Weather=83 degrees, 60% humidity, 67 dew point, 11 mph wind, dark.

1 mile warm up- 9:22/m

400m in 1:35

400m in 1:42

400m in 1:40

800m in 3:29

800m in 3:27

800m in 3:28

1 mile cool down- 8:24/m

Went to TCU track this morning. I can't recall ever doing a track workout in the morning. It's difficult to convince yourself to start running fast at 5 in the morning.

I didn't really know what time goal I should go for on this since I haven't done a track workout in probably a year. I plugged my PR for a 5k into a training calculator and it said I should do about 3:28 800m repeats and 1:40 400m repeats.

Actually, I just ran by what I "felt" was a good pace for the repeats and it ended up being almost dead on to the training calculator. We rested for 2 minutes between each repeat. Ashley's leg was bothering her so she was slightly behind. I have no idea what Tim was doing but it was ALOT faster than us!

I think I actually could have gone faster or else I could have done several more repeats. It felt easy... probably easier than what it was supposed to feel like. This was the most repeats we had time for because of the drive time and we had to be home by 6:30.

10 miles at 6:30am. Weather=85 degrees, 60% humidity, 69 dew point, 14 mph wind, sunny.

mile 1- 7:59

mile 2- 7:39

mile 3- 7:40

mile 4- 8:06

mile 5- 9:29 (big hill)

mile 6- 8:26

mile 7- 8:36

mile 8- 8:30

mile 9- 8:09

mile 10- 8:31

A rather disapointing run with my group. My plan was to try to run with the fast guys and Emily today. They usually average 7:45 for long runs with the final couple miles in the low 7:00's. In theory I should be able to keep up. In theory...

However, I guess I need more work. I also had a few things not going my way. My sports bra was too tight. I don't think I hydrated enough prior. My ipod wasn't working properly. The water stops were a huge let down because the water was HOT, not even worth drinking they were so hot. Not to mention this HOT water was only at 1.5 and 2.5 miles, then on the way back at 7.5 and 8.5 miles. Terrible spacing!

In miles 4 and 5 I was running and seeing other water buckets for other running groups in the distance thinking it might be ours but then we'd get there and it wasn't ours. UGH! James (store owner) was running with us and he said he was going to "talk" to the guy who was did the water today. He was pretty pissed.

But most of the others in the group didn't seem too affected- not like me. Most of them just ran El Scorcho last week and this was easy running for them. I, however, was dying. To me this pace was a tempo run and I wanted cold water. Then at mile 5 we turned to go up this steep hill... if I were guessing I'd say 8 or 10% grade. James and some of the others are training for Pike's Peak ascent so they wanted to run it. It was relatively short, maybe only 100 yards. But still. I made it half way up and I decided that was enough for me. I wimped out. I turned around and went back the way we came to the store.

Another guy had also wimped out and I started running with him. However, he was in worse shape than I was and he was stopping at the water for other groups and then walking alot. I ran/walked with him for about 3 miles and then the told me to go ahead.

I tried to speed up to 7:45 for the remaining couple miles but I failed because I got a stitch in my side... I think all the walking ruined it. I did my best but it was a sufferfest.

So disappointing. I need to re-evaluate my training here to see how I can best get myself running 7:45's. Maybe some mile repeats and tempo runs.

6.6 miles at 5:30am. Weather=85 degrees, 48% humidity, 63 dew point, 8 mph wind, dark. Average pace=9:30/m.

Ashley and Tim have been out of town so I'm on my own and I'm obviously not doing too well. I've had a hard time waking up at the usual 4:15am this week. I didn't run at all Sunday and yesterday and I slept until 5 this morning so I only had time for 6.6 miles. I figured it was good for me to catch up on sleep. However, if I miss running in the morning these 111 degree days we've been having mean I can't run any other time of the day. Sigh... I have felt blah, blah this week.  This heat is depressing.  I'm stuck inside with my children all day because it is oppressively hot outside.  I think I want to move to California.  Trying to get my motivation back.

My feet have been bothering me lately. They hurt pretty bad and feel numb on every run. I bought new shoes and it hasn't helped. The rest of my body is feeling great though so I'm at least grateful for that. Nonetheless, this feet issue has me frustrated.

7.6 miles at 5:20 am. Weather=83 degrees, 46% humidity, 61 dew point, 10 mph wind, dark. Average pace=9:13/m

(9:55, 9:59, 9:44, 9:22, 9:03, 8:27, 8:50, 8:41)

Was having issues with my shoes today. Yesterday my feet hurt and went numb. So today I put an extra pad in each shoe. On the positive, my feet didn't hurt when I hit the ground anymore. However, it made the shoes not fit right... the left shoe felt kept coming off the heel (kinda like a flip flop) with every step. The right toes went completely numb. Ugh. So basically like the left shoe wasn't tight enough (no matter how I tied the laces) and the right shoe was too tight (no matter how I tied the laces). I've never had these problems before. It's always something, isn't it? I mean I finally get my quad/groin injury feeling better and now I'm having strange shoe problems.

Maybe I need to go up a size in shoes. My feet measure 7.5 and I've been buying 8.5 shoes... but maybe I need 9. Maybe these orthotics no longer fit my feet correctly. Maybe one foot is bigger than the other and I need a 9 on one foot and 8.5 on hte other. This is weird.

6.5 miles at 5:30 am.  Weather=84 degrees, 53% humidity, 65 dew point, 4 mph wind, dark. 

mile 1- 10:19

mile 2- 9:28

mile 3- 9:12

mile 4- 8:56

mile 5- 8:46

mile 6- 8:39

mile 7- 7:49

Just decided to run nice and easy today and not even look at pace.  I actually ran by how I felt and I guess as I got warmed up I got faster and faster.  I felt like speeding up at the end so I just went for it.  Great run!  When I got home, I saw it was a progressive run.  Cool.

My feet feel a little better today.  I wonder if it's possible that the bottoms of my feet got bruised and that was the issue.  Hmmm.  These wierdo running pains.  Today I felt like I had shin splints coming on which I think might have been caused by the flip flop shoe problem yesterday.  Some of these pains seem bad on a run and then the next day they are gone.  I don't think I'll ever get used to it.

6.5 miles at 5 am.  Weather=82 degrees, 68% humidity, 69 dew point, 6 mph wind, dark.

mile 1- 10:11

mile 2- 8:56

mile 3- 8:33

mile 4- 8:36

mile 5- 8:39

mile 6- 9:00

final .5 pace - 9:06

Met up with Ashley and Tim.  They went out of town this week to San Franisco so today was the only day we could run together.  Next week Ashley has a business trip to Georgia so I'm on my own next week too.  They said San Fran weather was awesome... Ash was even cold at times!  I can't imagine.  We're on like 30 days in a row of triple digit heat here.  This bank by my house has a sign that flashes the temperature... yesterday it was 113 degrees!  

Tomorrow we're running 12 with the group around Trinity River. 

14.2 miles at 6:30 am. Weather= I don't know exactly but it was about 83 degrees and over 50% humidity and sunny... really HOT!

mile 1- 8:21

mile 2- 8:09

mile 3- 8:03

mile 4- 8:02

mile 5- 8:02

mile 6- 8:02

mile 7- 8:20

mile 8- 8:44

mile 9- 8:40

mile 10- 8:15

mile 11- 7:21

final .2 pace - 7:05

~15 minute Water Break ~

mile 12- 9:21

mile 13- 9:27

mile 14- 8:31

Ran with the group this morning. We did 11.2 miles. Then after standing around talking Ashley, Tim and I decided to go out for another 3.

It was a good day. I ran with the lead group until the turn around at 6 miles. I discovered there was no water at the turn around and felt defeated. Plus, they were speeding up to run negative splits. They get down to the 7:00 miles by the end. I'm not there yet, especially without cold water. So I slowed down and ran with a slower group behind us.

At the beginning of mile 8 I had a terrible fall while -get this- I was walking! Ha! There was water at this point in the run where we were supposed to go down a short steep ramp that took you from the river bank to a residential street below. We had decided to get our water cups and walk down the short ramp and start running again when we reached the bottom. K... so I'm walking and my foot gets off the sidewalk and there was a drop off in the grass. I tripped and fell downhill. During the fall I was trying to protect my legs from injury so I hit with my hands, left hip and stomach. I got really scrapped and bloody on my hip. This is number two fall for the season. Last year I had a spectacular fall as well. I seem to fall more than most.

So after the fall, we went uphill for all of mile 8 and half of mile 9... so those miles were 8:40's but they really were a difficult section of the run. Then it evened out and I speeded up. Another girl tried to stay up with me for a portion... actually, she tried to pass me with about 3/4 mile to go. I love it when that happens. Just the motivation I need. I kicked it into high gear and took it to the house. All the people in the lead group were laughing at my bloody self when I ran in to the finish. "What the hell happened to you?!! Why are you bleeding?"

10.5 miles at 5 am. Weather=85 degrees, 45% humidity, 59 dew point, 0 mph wind, dark. Average pace=8:31/m.

mile 1- 9:53

mile 2- 8:44

mile 3- 8:23

mile 4- 8:28

mile 5- 8:35

mile 6- 8:03

mile 7- 7:55

mile 8- 8:12

mile 9- 8:25

mile 10- 8:37

last .5 pace- 8:30

Ran with Tim this morning. Ashley isn't running this week because she is going on a business trip. We tried a new route. It had several long gradual hills both up and down. It was challenging and fun but it did seem longer than it actually was. I carried one of those water bottles that strap to your hand today. It was a 20 oz water. It was frozen when I started and completely melted by the end of mile 3. It was annoying to hold. I couldn't pump my arms up the hills as easily with this recoil action of the water. I drank it all by the end of 5 miles, I dropped it off on the street and then I came back to pick it up later. Next time I think we're going to try to leave water on a corner and do some loops where we keep coming back to the corner to drink. It's so hot and humid- gotta figure out something.

It's going to be a high milage and fast paced week running with Tim every day. Gonna have to go to bed early every night.

I had a popped blister on the top of my big toe I've been dealing with. It's like an open wound. The other day my big toe busted out of my sock and so my toe was rubbing directly on the shoe so that's how I got it. Anyways, tried some stuff called "New Skin" today and it worked really well. It goes on liquid and dries and closes the wound. Good stuff!!

10.2 miles at 4:45 am. Weather=87 degrees, 36% humidity, 58 dew point, calm (no wind to speak of), dark. Average pace=8:42/m.

mile 1- 10:00

mile 2- 9:14

mile 3- 9:19

mile 4- 8:29

mile 5- 8:00

mile 6- 8:08

mile 7- 8:20

mile 8- 8:31

mile 9- 8:35

mile 10- 8:30

final .2 pace- 8:11

Ran with Tim again today. It was hotter than usual this time of day, but the humidity was less than normal. I can't believe how hot this summer is. Today's high is 110 and tomorrow's is 111 and Thursday's is 110. Then we're back down to 105's for the rest of the week. We're in a severe drought too.

10 miles is getting easier and easier. When I finish, I don't even feel like I ran. We're running 10 tomorrow and Thursday too. I haven't decided what to do on Friday. I think I'm going to wait to see how I feel to see if I need a easy day or rest day. On Saturday I think the plan is to run 16 with my group.

10.3 miles at 5 am.  Weather=86 degrees, 46% humidity, 62 dew point, 0 mph wind, dark.  Average pace=8:29/m. 

mile 1- 10:45

mile 2- 9:05

mile 3- 8:02

mile 4- 8:26

mile 5- 8:05

mile 6- 8:11

mile 7- 7:58

mile 8- 7:55

mile 9- 8:05

mile 10- 8:22

final .3 pace- 8:10

Tim and I are getting faster and faster for these 10 mile runs.  It's challenging but not too difficult.  After running my arms are really sore and my feet hurt if I don't wear running shoes all day long... but other than that, I don't have any aches or pains to speak of.  I feel great during the day after running in the morning. 

It's amazing that more running has been helpful to finally rid myself of injury issues.  Sasha's 10 mile a day recommendation is right on.  I just hope I can keep this up... the hardest part is going to bed early enough so that I can wake up at 4:15am.  I know that sleep is just as important in training as the milage.  Everytime I feel a pain in my leg or IT band coming on, I get extra sleep and it's gone the next run.  Amazing how that works. 

10 miles at 4:45 am. Weather=86 degrees, 43% humidity, 61 dew point, 3 mph wind, dark. Average pace=9:10/m.

mile 1- 10:19

mile 2- 9:15

mile 3- 8:38

mile 4- 8:59

mile 5- 9:19

mile 6- 8:55

mile 7- 9:45

mile 8- 8:45

mile 9- 8:27

mile 10- 9:19

Tim and I ran really slow today. It didn't even feel like we ran 10 miles, felt more like 5. My feet are really sore. It feels like I've got shin splints coming on my left leg.

I'm sleeping in tomorrow until like 7 am when my kids wake up. I'm so excited! Going to bed tonight early too. Hopefully that'll catch me up on sleep. My husband is off work tomorrow so I'm going to run at 9am instead.

If I do 4 miles tomorrow and then the planned 16 miles on Saturday with my running group, that'll put me at 60 miles for the week - the most I've ever run in a week!