Sunday, March 30, 2008

ING Half-Marathon// 2:08:41

Details to follow..

Saturday, March 29, 2008

13233

13233: This is my BIB for the race tomorrow. I'm looking forward to the challenge. this will be my first race of 2008 and my first half-marathon since February of 2007. Before I began the training for this event, I had a goal of beating 2 hours, which would be a 1st for me. The best I have done at this distance was back in 1999 during my FIRST ever half-marathon in San Francisco. I finished 2:01. The closest I have come to this is in back to back years at Mercedes Half-Marathon in Birmingham in 2006, 2007 at 2:03 each -- and that is a hilly course.
So, we does that leave me now...? Well, bases on my training times and mileage, I think I finish between 2:05-2:10. If I finish more than 2:10, i will be disappointed; if before 2:05, very happy! I simply have not put in enough mileage or better training to go under 2 hours so for the foreseeable future, that will remain a goal.

Went to the expo and picked up my stuff. Cool, yet very overwhelming. Major Stimuli!! Forecast for tomorrow morning is between 45-50 degrees and rain. Sounds great to me. Much better than last year when it was in the 70's.

I have a few colleagues running in the race and I wish us all and all the other troopers tomorrow a fun and fulfilling race day!!

Cheers!

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Stoking the Fire

FIRE IN THE BELLY - "an unquenchable thirst for power or glory; the burning drive to win a race or achieve a goal. As a political phrase, the expression is usually used to indicate a Presidential candidates' desire to win, particularly the willingness to endure the long contest.

March 23: 10 miles/1:39:39/9:59 pace
March 22: 4 miles/39:00/9:47 pace
march 20: 2 miles/17:14/8:37 pace
March 18: 2.3 miles/20:35/8:57 pace

Ankle isn't feeling better or worse. Been icing and stretching. I woke up Sunday morning feeling edgy/cranky. I was going to put on some mellow/meditative music, but then I realized I didn't want to...I wanted to keep the edginess cause I knew it would help me have a better run....and it did! 10 good miles w/ hills mixed in. I am still not where I want to be in terms of weekly mileage, but inching my way there. Next Sunday is ING HALF. Should be a good/fun day.

Friday, March 21, 2008

New Shoes

See my latest shoes HERE
(give it a few seconds to load...it's the RED ones)

Now, I just gotta get myself to a TRAIL!! Oh yeah!

C'mon! Step it up!

Monday, March 17, 2008

weekend wrap

March 16: 8 miles/1:19:33/9:56 pace
March 15: 5.35 miles/51:50/9:41 pace

Saturday, we uh..had a uh...tornado watch! Yep, if you have not already heard, last friday night, a tornado made its way through Atlanta and Saturday, we were still on watch. Thankfully, the damage is not all too widespread, but pretty unnerving, nonetheless.

So..i was on treadmill on Saturday. Sunday was gorgeous and I was happy to be outside. I did, however, run by some of the damaged areas and it was sad and scary. A loft I lived in about 3 years ago was badly damaged. WHEW! Glad I am not there anymore.

It was great to be outside and running along with no iPOD. I listened to my breath and to the world around me. I thought about those people who have Lupus and who may not be able to run. I thought about how lucky I am. To live in a free land and to be healthy. What more is there?

Train Smart!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

ice & om...

March 13: yoga lesson
March 11: 3 miles/25:15/8:25 pace


I've been having some strange aches and pains with my ankles & heels, especially on my left foot. What's strange is that the lateral area of my left ankle is not swollen, but is tender. It doesn't even bother me when i run, but it will hurt when i grab my foot/ankle area to do a quad stretch. And my heel areas are bugging me -- maybe my achilles is just real tight, which could definitely be it...or perhaps something else. Anyway, I have been icing my ankle just as a preventative measure and it does feel better afterwards. I also have been using a massage tool. I've work my Gastrocnemius and Flexor Digitorum Longus muscles. Damn, those muscles gets TIGHT!!

Tonight, I was fortunate to receive a free yoga lesson from a client/friend. It was strenuous, peaceful, and very balancing to an incredibly stressful yet exciting week. I hope this gets me started on some kind of consistent yoga path as it is something I have wanted to do for a while.

I have intentionally laid low this week from the miles in hopes my ankle will be less worrisome and hope to get in longer runs this weekend. ING is just 3 weeks away!!

Cheers and STRETCH

Sunday, March 9, 2008

sdrawkcab mA I

"You're better than you think you are and you can do more than you think you can!"
- Ken Chlouber at Leadville

March 9 Sunday: 7.15 miles/1:10:00/9:47 pace
March 8 Saturday: 6 miles/1:00:33/10:06 pace
March 5 Wednesday: 3.35 miles/30 min
March 4 Tuesday: 2.6 miles/23:08

I am so backwards. Why? ok...here is what I mean: Saturday weather: cold, windy, approx 35 degrees w/ snow flurries. Ugly outside.
Where did I run? OUTSIDE!
Sunday weather: about 45 degrees at running time of about 1pm. blue skies. sunny. Where did I run? INSIDE on TREADMILL

?? Go Figure

I don’t really have an intelligent reason here. However, I did feel like I went out in some very unfavorable conditions yesterday and that can only be to my benefit, mentally and physically. 7+ miles on treadmill today sure seemed long, but I was happy listening to my iPOD and watching NCAA Men’s Basketball on the tube. I’m ready for some March Madness and hopefully, I will have some good picks and even more luck.
Feeling ok about the running....I have not been running as many miles as I "should" for upcoming ING, but I am getting there...

Train Smart
Have Fun