Last week Update:
My goal was 19 miles and I ran 19,5 miles!!
This week’s schedule:
Mon – dinner w/friend
Tues – tennis
Wed – dentist
Thurs – help a friend
Fri – fly to Florida
Sat – pick up race packet, pasta party
This week’s running:
Tues– 3 miles before work
Thurs – 3 miles before work
Sun: HALF MARATHON!!
Weekly Running Goal = 19 miles
January Monthly Running Goal = 50 miles, a half marathon
Yearly Running Goal = 1011 miles
Happy Running!
Yesterday I woke up to 8 inches of snow so I decided to postpone my last long run till today.
I had signed up for the HMRRC Winter Series 10k but I was debating whether or not I wanted to do it.
Yes:
No:
I got up and got dressed to run it but…
I checked my e-mail and my husband who is leaving for Florida tomorrow had a flight through Charlotte. Charlotte is expecting a blizzard & it was recommended that passengers switch flights. Well, I spent over an hour on the phone with USAir and finally got him booked on a flight thru DC that leaves at 5:50 am.
Yup, I missed the race but instead I went out and did my LAST LONG RUN!!!
It was supposed to be 8 miles but I only ran 10 miles this week instead of 13 so I decided to stretch the run to 9.5 miles.
It’s not getting easier. It was cold and it was very WINDY!!! Half of the route, I was running into the wind and felt like I was getting no where and it made me tired. Another factor, I chose to go straight and wound up with a hILLY route. I walked up all the hills so that I could have the energy to run the rest.
I love my Garmin! It tells me exactly what my pace is and what it is for each mile. I have it set to beep when I’m running fast (under 9 min/mi) and also when I’m running slow (over 12 mi/min). Of course, it beeped when I was running down the hills and when I was walking. Whenever,my pace near the end of a mile was slow, I just sped up.
My feet still hurt, but my legs and knees feel great. I finished the 9.5 miles in about 1 hr 45 min – I was very SLOW but my half marathon goal is to finish under 2 hr 45 min. So I think even if I walk a lot, I can do it.
This week I taper – just two 3 mile runs. I think I will use the treadmill since in Naples, it will be warm & humid (like the gym!).
Happy Running!
Someone mentioned that the McMillan Calculator can help you figure out what your finish time & pace would be at different races. So I tried it.
It says to put in your best time at a distance you run (which is 5k for me). Here’s the results:
No way I will finish 13.1 miles in 2:07:07!!!
So I put in my average time over the course of my 5ks. Here’s the results:
2:18:40? I don’t think so but it would be nice.
Then I put in the pace I think I will run a 5k at this distance. Here’s the results:
2:37:10. Now that’s more like it!!
Of course, I didn’t need the McMillan Calculator to predict that!
Happy Running!
It’s 11 days til my half marathon so I logged onto the website and checked out the list of participants and what did I find???
What are the odds that someone from Albany, NY (where I work & near where I live) is running a half in Naples, Florida??
So what did I do? I googled him, of course. I found the website where he works and it turns out that he lives in Albany, is originally from LI and is an avid Mets fan. JUST LIKE ME!!!!!
Cool and the site had a chat room and he was even online at the time!!! We had a great online conversation!!! It is his first half marathon. Hs wife is going but doesn’t run. He normally does not run in the winter but thought this would motivate him. He plans on running a 12 min mile (normally he runs 5ks at a faster pace) and his only goal is to finish!!
Who does that sound like??
He ran 12 mi on Sun and is now tapering…. We exchanged phone numbers and hopefully we’ll meet up at the race.
Speaking of tapering…I’m giving my aching feet a rest & rethinking the shoes. I’m playing tennis in the evenings and plan to return to running Wed. Thurs, Fri for short runs and then 8 mi on Sunday.
Happy Running!
Recaps:
2010 – My goal was to run 300 miles and I ran 678.5 miles – Woo Hoo!
2011 – I have a lofty goal of 2011 miles – it’ll be fun trying!
December – My goal was 70 miles, a 5K race, half marathon training and I ran a month high total of 95 miles, ran two 5k races, hosted a giveaway, won 2 giveaways, and completed week 10 of HM training – YAY!!
Last week – my goal was 24 miles and I ran 24 miles!!
This week’s schedule:
Mon – tennis
Tues – tennis
Wed – Mentor meeting
Thurs – ChiRunning workshop at FleetFeet
Fri – Mah Jongg
Sat – dinner & cards w/friends
This week’s running:
Wed– 3 miles
Thurs – 4 miles
Fri – 4 miles
Sun – 8 miles
Weekly Running Goal = 19 miles
January Monthly Running Goal = 50 miles, a half marathon
Yearly Running Goal = 1011 miles
Happy Running!
Last Wed, we had our annual tennis party – with lots of food, entertainment and a Chinese grab bag…(I got a martini glass & shaker.)
Thursday, I went out to dinner with a friend and then to play Mah Jongg.
Friday, I went out to lunch with friends and then for New Year’s Eve, we went out with some friends in Lake George – we had champagne, hors d’oeuvres, more champagne, dinner, danced and then more champagne…
I played tennis and danced Friday – that’s cross-training, right?
Yesterday was a recovery day. NO EXERCISE!!! My hubby & I went to the movies to see The King’s Speech. It was really good!!! (I Love Colin Firth). Then we went out to dinner.
Today was my last LONG run before my HM, my longest run EVER , my first run of 2011, and my first long run with my Garmin!!!
It was difficult but I survived— my feet hurt the whole time (I wasn’t wearing my Mizunos but my Saucony) – painful every step of the way. It was almost 40 degrees and when the sun came out and the wind was at my back, I was warm and then when the sun went in and I was running into the wind, it was chilly. I took it slow and whenever I was tired or running uphill, I walked. It wasn’t about time, it was about stamina. I wanted to see if I ran/walked, would I still be under 2:45.
I think I can do it!!
Feet don’t let me down now!!!
Update wk 1 – 18 miles – long run – 8
wk 2 – 21 miles – long run – 9
wk 3 – 11 miles – long run – 8 (strained quads)
wk 4 – 12 miles – long run – 3 (on vacation)
wk 5 – 18 miles – long run – 8.5
wk 6 – 21 miles – long run – 9
wk 7 – 21 miles – long run – 10 * (without stopping)
wk 8 – 22 miles – long run – 9 * (without stopping)
wk 9 – 23 miles – long run – 11
wk 10 – 24 miles – long run -12*
wk 11
wk 12
Happy Running in 2011!
First, let’s look at my 2010 Running Goals:
SO 11 out of 12 ain’t bad!!!
And now my 2011 Running Goals:
I don’t think they are too ambitious… many are similar to last year’s…some are brand new.
Happy Running! Good Luck setting your goals!
Recap of last week:
My weekly goal was 23 miles. I did 23 miles! Yay!
I won a giveaway – an iPod Shuffle
This week’s schedule: (off all week)
Mon – tennis
Tues – tennis
Wed – tennis party
Thurs – movie w/friend
Fri – tennis, New year’s eve in LG
Sat – New Year’s in LG
Monday am - 14" snow
This week’s running:
Tues– 4 miles
Wed – 5 miles
Fri – 4 miles
Sun – 12 miles?? New Month & New Year!
Weekly Running Goal = 25 miles
December Monthly Running Goal = 70 miles, a 5k race, half marathon training schedule
Yearly Running Goal = 300 miles ( I passed it, New Goal is 600 and I passed it too!!!!)
Two weeks ago, I ran 10 miles – my first non-stop long run. It took me about 1 hr 50 minutes – 11 min pace. It was sunny & 40 degrees. I felt great afterwards.
Today, I went for a 11 mile run and it was horrible – it felt like 26.2!!! I was dragging… I felt like I would die! It took me about 2 hrs 20 minutes…everything ached!! It was cloudy, 19 degrees & windy! I was wearing my new sneakers.
What gives?
My half marathon is in 3 weeks so that means 1 more long run and then taper.
I know I can walk & finish the half but you have to complete it in 2:45 in order to get a finisher medal – that’s 12:35 pace.
Today’s run won’t do!!
On a brighter note:
Christmas was good. My hubby & I went to the movies Christmas Eve. We saw True Grit – the remake was pretty good.
I spent Christmas morning with my mentee & her son exchanging gifts.
Richard & his new race car set
Then we went to Lake George in the afternoon. We had dinner, watched old movies, played pool…always a fun time!
dinner with the lg gang
me & my hubby
It’s the Garmin Forerunner 110. If I were to get one, I would get the Forerunner 205 (or 305 or 405). He isn’t a runner and had no idea. I’m going to return it. It’s the thought that counts!!!
Happy Running! Hope your Christmas was Merry!
Lesley from Racing It Off was recently a featured runner on Run, Courtney, Run’s blog. This piece of advice will hopefully help me complete my first half marathon.
She was asked: What is the best piece of running advice you ever received?
She responded: If you don’t think you can go that far, then slow down. With many of my friends that start, it seems they are sometimes afraid of being too slow. Being able to maintain a 13 or 14 min/mile for 3 miles is way more satisfying ultimately than only being able to get through ½ mile at 11 or 12 min/mile..
So today when I was running on the dreaded treadmill, every time, I wanted to quit, I just slowed it down for a while and then sped up and continued. So it took me 50 minutes to run 4 miles…better than only 2 miles at a faster pace.
Now I know that during a 5k race, this won’t happen. I am too competitive. But during my first Half Marathon, a distance that I don’t know if I can complete, I will run SLOW and walk OFTEN. My pace won’t matter. I WANT TO FINISH!!
Finishing=Winning!
On another note, today is my last day of work until Jan. 3, 2011!!! I am home blogging because we have a power failure won’t open til noon!!! YAY!!!
I plan to run outside (if possible) and continue my Half Marathon training, play tennis, read, go to the movies, shop….(Pretend that I am retired!!!)
Happy Running! Today is the last day for my giveaway!!!
My First 5K and More... 
