Trying to Get Back to Respectable

Overall not a bad race, last year I ran the half in 1:34.  There are a few reasons I would imagine I had a worse time: 1.) I was training for the marathon 2.) This course was different from last year's race because the director had to change it due to construction in the area 3.) This year it was in May not in early April and 4.) The injury bug has been hitting me on and off during my training. 
There were a few things I would like to take away from the race: 1.) I was fully prepared to handle 13 miles at a reasonable pace 2.) If trained properly I would have had a much better time and 3.) I love half-marathons and once I get my first marathon under my belt I hope to get more half-marathons run.
I would have to say that I am pretty pleased with my run, and now I need to get on track with training for the marathon on June 13th.  I am going to shoot for 8:00 per mile pace or 8:15.  I just need to make sure that I get my self injury free.

Still feeling the half marathon, just going to ease back into the marathon training.  I am thinking that the 13th of June will be the day!

Starting to feel back to normal after the race this weekend but still a little slow and not much turn in my legs.  I think I will be ready for a 5 miler tomorrow.  Starting to think that I am ready for new shoes, feet have some blisters and I am pushing 400 miles.  They still feel pretty comfortable but I think maybe having some new shoes may fix some injury problems and get me ready for that marathon.  Overall, I think that I am getting on track and should be ready for that 14 miler this weekend.

Legs are almost back, I ended up with about 8:00 per mile pace.  However, I am a little tired tonight after the run.  Feeling like Saturday should be a good day.

Plantar was bugging me a bit.  Rest tomorrow then the 14 miler Saturday!

This was supposed to be 14 miles but my IT band was bothering me and since this was still the week following the race I don't feel awful I couldn't finish it.  Rough run hopefully next week is a little better.  (Getting new shoes today!!!!)

Had to run late today because I needed to take the puppy to the vet (and found out nothing was wrong, what a mess).  Tried out the new shoes today and they feel pretty good.  I believe that I need to focus on stretching my IT band from now on (along with my normal everyday stretching).  I had to take off yesterday because the IT band was bothering me and that really made me upset.  I just hope that I can get myself together to get the marathon in June run, if not I better start making new plans.

Had to do my run after bowling today.  Not that bad of an idea, really loved the new shoes on the road.  It was a little dark, and really cloudy but cool.  Ran a pretty quick 3rd mile which was quite refreshing.  Hoping that I can get all stretched out before Saturday's long run.

Finished this in 1:40.34 (8:08) pace.  Not to shabby, I am going to work off the Hal Higdon Intermediate plan for my longer runs, and I will try to either increase slightly or keep the same mileage during the week (all depending on how the body feels).  I am still hoping for the June 13th marathon, I am thinking that if I can get through the 20 miler next week I can get through the marathon and then I will register for it. 

After the run today it was quite the busy day.  I had to go food shopping then got the yard taken care of because it was such a beautiful day out.  I even got to plant my garden, which has a little less plants then last year but I am hopeful this year since I do not have to take summer classes.  What a great day!

Not a great run, but I did it.  Yesterday was a fast run, I had to fast, had a terrible eating day and then had bowling tonight.  The best part about the run was taking the puppy out with me.

Round two of the blog tonight:  I was hoping for that June 13th marathon but I went to check it tonight and it was full.  I really wanted to wait until after this weekends 20 miler.  My plans for the rest of the year were to run a few more half marathons and the warrior run.  Now I am not sure what I need to do, I checked a bunch of marathon calendars and they are either inconvenient or later in the year which would mess around with my other plans.  I am just not sure what I want to do yet.  This year I was planning on getting a 5k under 20:00, run a marathon, get a few half marathons, put down a good time in the run for the diamonds and have a good time with the Warrior Dash.  Guess I need to sleep on it and try to decide how to proceed (really didn't need any more crap this week). 

So I made the decision to run 2 5k's on June 5th and one on June 12th.  So today I started with the end of some plan I found on the net.  The next two weeks will be seeing lots and lots of speed.  Today I ran the 6.04 miles in 43:50 (7:15 pace).  So I imagine that a 5k should be a little faster, hoping that the speed workouts will help me get below 20:00 minutes in at least one of these 5k's.

Today was repeat hills, I warmed up with about a half mile, then did about 200 hills, then finished with a half mile cool down.  Helped the calf a little bit, so all in all a pretty good workout. 

The workout helped me get my head a little back together.  Today I spent much of the day thinking about how one decision can have such a huge impact on your life.  For the most part all of the decisions I have made make me feel good except for the whole what do you want to be when you grow up.  I used to tell people I wanted to be a bum because then I would not have to work and I really feel that would be an ideal occupation minus the fact I have bills to pay.  These bills unfortunately are quite necessary if I ever want to have a family (mortgage, school loans, etc..) I just feel like if I would have chosen some other degree or occupation I may in fact be happier.  Since I made the decision to be what I am, I sometimes wish I had the guts to open my own running store since I have some business sense.  The only problem is I have no confidence in myself to be successful and end up bringing in enough money to support my life.  While my life is not so full of expenditures I still buy things and have bills.  What a day!!!

Well today was 12x400's.  I ran the first 10 in between 1:28-1:30.  I ran the last two in 1:25 and 1:18 respectfully.  Leg bothered me yesterday so I took off and today it felt pretty good.  I more then likely will be taking a rest again tomorrow and then having a nice comfortable long run Saturday.  Temperatures here are high almost 90 or a few degrees higher.  Good thing I like warm weather, it is a shame I don't run as fast in warm weather. 

I think I decided to to get probably 4 5k's completed in June and get my miles up by the end of the month in hopes of having a pretty good time in that half marathon on August 22nd.  I am thinking that I want to get my body in great shape and also get myself injury free.  Time for some reading and researching on what I need to do to get completely injury free and in good shape.

Trail run.

Ran 8x400 today getting ready for my Saturday of 5'k's.  Ran the first in 1:33 (didnt feel good), then 1:28, 1:27, 1:26,1:25,1:24,1:23,1:18.  Overall, I am thinking that this could be a good race on Saturday morning.  If this weekend doesn't break the 20:00 mark I have the 2 weekends out of the next 3 to try for it.