TexasLindsey

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!