Moving Right Along

Last night, I ended up doing my run at the park near my mom's house where I was hoping to do 4 of my planned 6 miles.

When I got there the weather seemed foreboding. It wanted to rain but was holding back it's fury. Further backing me to shorten my run.

I stretched for a minute, not paying much attention to the small slender man stretching next to me and finished quickly and started off.

I heard a mumble and took out my Ipod to listen.

The slender man had asked me how many I would be doing today.

"Six" I blurted, surprising myself!

My frontal lobe had no intention of doing six miles but I guess my subconscious had other plans.

"Then I should run with you" he laughed a bit.

I smiled and moved right along into my 1/4 mile warm up. The park is a full mile loop so when I reached my starting mark, I shot off.

Did my first mile in 10:32. On target, but once I finished it I had to walk for a bit. I pushed a little harder than I should right off the bat but then again, I always do. I walked about a 1/10 of a mile before getting started again during with the slender man passed me and waved to get me going. Next mile was 13:16 because of it and the fact that my ipod died in the middle of it (I am getting more used to running without it but some days you just need it to get you going!). Then I picked it up again for mile 3, in my head it would be my last mile so I figured what the heck and I finished it at 10:35.

But then as I finished my 3rd mile, the slender man caught up with me and started talking so I started jogging easily with him. He had finished his planned four miles and asked me what mile I was on. I told him I needed 3 more and he nodded a small nod and kept on with me.

We got to talking and it turns out he is signed up for the ING Miami too. He was surprised when I told him I was running only 10 miles this weekend but I told him it would grow quickly which seemed to releave his concern a bit. Then he asked why I was running my longish run so close to my long-long run (That's runner's terminology I swear :). I was sad to admit the week had gotten away from me and I had moved my planned runs around to accommodate.

Then he proceed to tell me I had run my first mile a little too fast and how I should space my runs and do a shorter run before my long-long run and all sorts of other advice that you can only get from someone that's been there before!

It was wonderful!

We finished off the last 3 miles and I did finish my 6 mile run all with my marathon pace and while talking and not noticing. Also, I didn't need to stop and drink water, which surprised me and reinforced that I need to drink water throughout the day (it obviously worked!)

Afterward, we stretched a bit and SUDDENLY, in an instant, the sky opened up and it was a FULL ON RAIN STORM!

I hastily waved "good bye" and told him it was great to run with him as we ducked into my cars to escape the SUDDEN DOWNPOUR!

You gotta love South Florida!

Afterward, I went to Mom's and had dinner and we pulled out the old photo boxes :)

Here's Mom tying my shoe before I head off running :)

Today I'm going to take it easy and do some upper body/core work and am listening to 50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days -- and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance!

Just to note: We are 22 days away from my first half marathon and the full has now gone into double digits at 99 days away!

Happy Friday!

Busy Busy Busy

The week picked up it pace and it moving along rather quickly now.

Last night's run went well.

Mile 1	0:10:23	5.78
Mile 2	0:11:07	5.40
Mile 3	0:11:08	5.39
Mile 4	0:11:18	5.31
Extra	0:01:57	5.23

On or above pace which always makes me happy :)

Today, I have a 4 Mile tempo run on deck but I am still majorly sore and my week is kinda wacky so I may cut it down a little bit or I may just take it as a rest day.

Also started working on my NaNoWriMo Project:
Currently looking on creating a loose plot theme.

So thankful it's Thursday!

Strengthing and Goals

Last night's Strength Session was the best I've had in a while. It did take a little longer than I expected, 2:30 hours instead of my usual 2:00 hours but I did add some exercises so I guess it SHOULD have been expected.

Today, the scale and I are not friends.

But my head is on other things.

Today I received an email reminding me that I need to start preparing for NaNoWriMo.

This is the first year I will be able to do it!

I even have an unexpected week off right in the middle of it!

This year if I complete my challenge, I will give myself the Prize of buying some NaNoWriMo Merchandise like this but only if I complete the challenge :)

I will be exchanging this for my Education Goal this quarter and leave the GRE for the Spring. I am making great progress on my quarterly goals which is always motivating.

ARTISTIC: Make an Afghan

ATTITUDE: Make a conscious effort to be more positive.

CAREER:

EDUCATION: Take GRE NANOWRIMO (November)

FAMILY: Reconnect with my Cousins

FINANCIAL:

• Pay off Small Credit Card
• Create an Emergency Savings Plan

PHYSICAL:

• Oct - Run 100; Bike 10; Cross 12
• Nov - Run 120; Bike 15; Cross 12
• Dec - Run 140; Bike 20; Cross 12
• Run a Sub 10 Minute Mile DONE
  
• Run a Sub 33 5K
  

PUBLIC SERVICE:

I still need a Public Service Goal and Career Goal for this quarter but I'm sure they will come to me :)

Happy Wednesday!

Tuesday Kick In The Butt

I will begin with Runner's World Daily Kick In The Butt:

Nonrunners cannot see how they can afford the time to run every day. But runners cannot imagine getting through a single day without it.
~ Kevin Nelson, The Runner's Book of Daily Inspiration

So fitting!

--

I am so glad I ran yesterday.

I had to option to either do a cross training day or do a 5 mile run and when I got home it was a toss up but I finally decided to go for the 5 miler.

It would be more of a recovery run than anything else. I did a 7 miler on Saturday and a 4 miler yesterday. But I had been toying with the Marathon Pace Wristband Creator throughout the day and decided to run it at my Half Marathon pace.

I didn't print it out but rather decided to run sub-11 minute miles all the way through since the math would be easier!

I ran my usual route but rather than take the west side of the Street, I ran it on the east side of the street and it felt like I was running a completely different course.

Mile 1	0:10:27	0:10:27
Mile 2	0:11:07	0:21:51
Mile 3	0:11:45	0:34:10
Mile 4	0:11:00	0:45:02
Mile 5	0:11:43	0:57:05
.36 Mile	0:03:51	1:00:56

I was able to stay on pace the whole time with no real discomfort. Now the challenge is to maintain it on my 10 Mile long run this weekend!

In other news, I have discovered that my hip pain is actually caused by my hamstrings being weak. First it was my quads causing knee pain and now it's my Hamstrings causing Hip pain.

Geesh!

Today I am hitting the Cross training and adding some Hamstring focused exercises!

Happy Tuesday!

A Place to Live Inside My Head, Rent Free

Yesterday I had a easy 4 mile run in the cold.

Ok, so it wasn't COLD it was just chilly. It was 70.0 °F with 41% Humidity. That is chilly to me.

This little cold front should be over by tomorrow but I still ordered a pair of arm warmers for future runs. I was actually quite comfortable except my arms got chilly during the run. But otherwise a very enjoyable run!

So that ends my recovery week and I am slated to begin the last four week phase of training before the Half-Marathon.

I am excited and scared all at once.

I am scared because I have never run more than 8.2 miles in my life. This weekends run is a 10 miler.

I am excited because I AM GOING TO RUN A MARATHON ... but first the HALF MARATHON!

I would have never thought!

But still I worry.

• I worry because my new shoes need to be worn in.
• I have recently developed a new kind of pain after my runs which focuses on my hip.
• I worry because the distances are adding up!
  

The thought of quitting has crossed my mind but I have been able to skoot that lil' sucker out of my head. I am not giving him a place to live in my head rent free! That little voice inside my head has been evicted!

In Review - Week of October 5th:

Half Marathon Training Week 9 of 12:
(Full Marathon Training Week 4 of 18:)

WORKOUT	DISTANCE	AVG Speed	TIMES
	21.87 Miles	5.26	4
	2.03 Miles	N/A	1
	0 Meters	N/A	0

Total Workout Time: 05:16:31
Total Running Time: 04:11:31

26 days till the Half-Marathon!
103 days till the Full-Marathon!

Happy Monday!

Eliza Vs. Thirst in Four Rounds

I feel like a day was randomly inserted into this week. Today certainly feels like it should be Friday! (Am I right?)

Last nights run required every once of strength in my body. I set out at 5:55pm and was hoping for the completion of 6 miles but I wasn't going to be disappointed if I got only 5. This is my 'rest' week when I'm supposed to run a little less than normal so either would have been fine.

The run played out like a Boxing Match! Eliza Vs. THIRST in four rounds!

Round 1: I started out ok. Nice and slow but then I started to feel tired an above all thirsty. I looked at my Garmin and saw I had only run 1.67M. So I stopped my Garmin as it hit 20:00min. Popped the Gu Shot I was carrying and started over.

Round 2: I felt a little better. Still thirsty. I ran for another 20 minutes and FINALLY reached my 4 mile turn left and run home point. I had run a little better than before, 1.69M. But if I turned now that would leave me with barely 4 miles. I wanted a little more than that. I stoped my Garmin again and I ran straight forward and kept going!

Round 3: I couldn't take it any longer. After about a half mile I ventured on to the golf course and took a couple swigs of water from one of the Gatorade containers (like the ones at foot ball games). I don't like doing this because I'm not a member of the Golf Course and I don't want to be chased down for steeling water .... I doubt it will happen but I'm paranoid like that. I felt so much better, a little guilty but AS thirsty! For the sake uniformity, I stopped my Garmin at 20:00 min again and noted I had run 1.69 again ... at least I'm consistent. :)

Round 4: After running only .5m into this round I was facing the turn-and-go-home point again. By this time thirst was winning. I contemplated venturing on to the Golf Course again but I knew I didn't ABSOLUTELY need to. My forefoot was aching and I just wanted to go home. But I wanted to finish even more. I pushed through and moved forward. I was running slower and even reached my walking pace at moments so I took some walking breaks. I ended up doing 1.54 M at the end of the 20:00min.

I did find it to be a rather well rounded run and I did learn from it.

• Never leave home without a hydration plan!
  

Once I got home, My legs were sore, my hip had a pinch and my feet ached!

I did some Yoga for Runners to get the kinks out and did a cool water bath for my leg soreness but didn't think the foot aching would last.

I was wrong!

Today my forefeet hurt like the dickens and my right arch is sore.

I am taking today as a rest day and massaging it with a Gel ball (really meant for your hands) and it's feeling better but it needs to be rested.

This Saturday I am hoping to meet up with the Miami Runner's Club for a Long Run.

Hope to be better by then.

Happy ALMOST Friday!

A Week of Rest

I was able to get my run in during the afternoon yesterday.

For some reason waking up has not been a problem but rather getting out of bed has been the issue keeping me from my morning runs this week. I won't be trying to wake up tomorrow or Friday morning but rather will leave my next attempt for Saturday being that since I run today and tomorrow in the afternoon I really won't have adequate recovery time between runs.

Last nights run was pretty darned good.

I am noticing my run time is decreasing. I am so stoked. I am quickly reaching an 10mm (minutes per mile) average pace. I almost got all 4 of my miles into the 10mm pace.

Run	1.00	0:10:19	5.82
Run	1.00	0:10:57	5.48
Run	1.00	0:11:04	5.42
Run	1.00	0:11:07	5.40
Run	0.20	0:02:03	5.85

This week is considered my rest week (i.e. the week where you run about 25% less than you usually do) but since I BOMBED last weekend I have upped this weeks totals a little bit.

Today I have a 5 to 6 miler on deck for this evening. I am hoping to run about an hour but once I run 5miles I may be tempted to finish off the 6th. :)

We'll see!

Wishing everyone a happy hump day!