TexasLindsey

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...  : )