TexasLindsey

Met up with my friend, Stephanie, to run Trinity River trails.  I brought Jake and pushed him in the jogging stroller... and I talked the whole time... so it was a workout for sure!  Jake was good because I let him listen to my ipod the whole time.  After 6 miles we stopped at the duck pond and let Jake feed ducks... although his favorite thing was actually chasing the birds who were trying to steal the ducks food.  

Splits

10:08

9:59

10:06

9:50

9:37

10:02

7 miles at Trinity park pushing Jake and Ryan in the double stroller.  I haven't run this far with the double stroller before.  It went well.  The weather was perfect - in the 70's. The kids were good.  It was difficult to push on the trails... a little easier on concrete.  I think part of what makes the double stroller more difficult is that I have to hold on with both hands whereas with the single stroller I can push with only one hand.  However, it wasn't too bad... I'm looking forward to taking them both with me more often. 

Splits

10:19

10:28

10:02

9:58

10:15

10:06

10:00

I was planning on waking up at 5 this morning to run 12 miles.  My group run this Saturday is a 20 miler so I wanted to get in a 12 mile run today.  However, when the alarm went off I was SOOO tired.  I could not get up.  I negotiated with myself that I'd be able to pull off 12 miles with the kids in the jogging stroller. 

What was I thinking?!  Today's run was so stressful... THE most stressful run I've ever had.  I only made it 4.5 miles but I do believe it felt like 3 times that amount.... hey, maybe I did get 12 miles after all.  

The main problem today was my three year old, Jake.  He cried because he wanted to go this way or that way... he cried because he wanted to stretch, which I stopped and let him.  He cried because he didn't want the sunglasses I brought him, he wanted another pair that were at home.... but he wanted them NOW.   He wanted to know why a river was called a river.... no, but, WHY?  He repeated, "mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy...."  He also managed to get the harness straps off and he leaned forward in the stroller the whole time... which made it very difficult to push.  He'd go back and forth and back and forth...  it was killing my momentum. 

When he finally settled down around mile 4, the 7 month old, Ryan, started crying.  By this point, I was so stressed.  I found it odd to feel anxiety while running.  The last half mile I ran as fast as I could to the car, which was about a 9 minute pace.  The overall average pace though was 10:33... however, I had to stop about 5 times to deal with Jake...

This should not even be counted as a run, but it was a workout...  I guess this is what I get for being lazy and not running this morning.  I will remember this the next time I try to skip a morning run.

9 miles this morning at 6 am.  It was colder than I expected... in the 40's.  I didn't dress warm enough.  It's amazing that it could be this cold in the morning considering yesterday it was in the upper 80's during the day.  

Splits

10:17

9:35

9:28

9:26

9:14

9:28

9:43

9:43

8:46

7.5 miles at 5 pm today.  It was hot and sunny.  My IT band didn't hurt at all, but now my knees are hurting right below the knee cap... mainly on my left leg.  weird.  It was my right leg that had the IT band issue last week. 

I'm starting to think it's these asics shoes.  I vaguely remember that a couple years ago, I bought asics nimbus but only wore them for a month because I thought I was starting to get knee pain with them... then I went back to Brook's Defyance and the knee pain went away.  I like the way the asics feel because they feel extra more cushioned than the Brooks in the forefoot... but maybe the gel cushion is changing the way my legs are absorbing shock. 

Well, my group run is tomorrow.  It's 19 miles.  I'm wearing my new Brook's Ghost.  I'm going to take it slower than I did last time I ran 19 (when I hurt my IT band).  Last time I averaged 8:05 for the first 9.5 miles.. and was averaging less than 8:30 for the second half until I got hurt.  The "fast" girl who I normally try to keep up with isn't going to be there tormorrow because she is getting married.   So my plan is to try to keep it to 8:45 the whole way.   We will see. 

Splits

9:02

8:59

9:05

8:42

8:49

9:06

9:14 (had to stop waiting on traffic to cross busy street)

8:46 (pace last .5 mile)

I DID IT!!!   I ran 19 miles without any injury issues.  Farthest ever.  8:33 average pace for all 19 but I did run negative splits.  First 11 miles average 8:38.  Last 8 miles average 8:25. 

I had to run by myself the whole way which was lonely.  The good part about running by myself though was that every time I felt even the slightest leg pain, I slowed and concentrated on my form.  I found that when I did that I was able to get back up to speed quickly enough and the pain would go away.  I also took the downhills very, very slow so as to not aggrevate my IT band.  I was running very careful the whole way. 

I was cold for 2 hours.  My face felt frozen and I couldn't make a fist. I didn't dress warmly enough.  I've got to figure out what to wear for my marathon so I'm more comfortable.  My muscles did feel tight during the middle and the last part of the run... I don't know if that was because of the cold or because I had been running so long.

I tried to imagine if I could pull off continuing this pace for another 7 miles at the end of today's run.... It was scary to think about.  Cardio speaking I felt GREAT.  I felt like I definitely had more energy...  But my legs...  I just wondered if they would be able to carry me another 7 miles.

After today I do think it's feasible that I could maybe pull off a 3:45 or 3:50 for my marathon on Nov 14th.  Since this is my first marathon, I'm just not going to give myself the added pressure this time to try to qualify for Boston.  Maybe next time. 

Today was a great run.  I am so happy!!   I wish I could sleep now though.  When you have two babies, you have to come home and go right to work. 

Splits

mile 1 - 8:18

mile 2 - 8:33

mile 3 - 8:51

mile 4 - 8:36

mile 5 - 8:36

mile 6 - 8:35

mile 7 - 8:35

mile 8 - 8:42

mile 9 - 8:49

mile 10 - 8:42

mile 11 - 8:41

mile 12 - 8:24

mile 13 - 8:20

mile 14 - 8:25

mile 15 - 8:35

mile 16 - 8:27

mile 17 - 8:28

mile 18 - 8:34

mile 19 - 8:06

mile 19.2 (last .2 mile) - 8:27