Tag Archives: pace

1:56:41

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wpid-20141102_084225.jpg

I still can’t believe I did it!  Not only did I meet my goal of doing a 1/2 marathon in under two hours, I improved my personal best by over 6 minutes!!  My official time was 1:56:41 and I placed 8th in my age group.  Not bad for a girl who used to run a half marathon in 2:30:00!

When I first started the race, my Gamin decided it was going to choose that specific moment to not work appropriately.  Rather than panic, I kept running at what I thought was a decent pace and turned it off then back on about 3 times.  Finally, just as I approached the first mile marker, it started giving me a reading that looked like it could be accurate, 9:30 pace, so I left it alone and hoped for the best.

The weather could not have been better.  It was in the 50’s in South Florida which was a rare treat.  I attribute a lot of my success to how cool it was and how little fatigue I felt as I ran.  Another bonus was that the majority of the race went through areas that I frequent when I’m training.  Being familiar with the route gave me the edge to really push when I knew I was close to the finish.

All in all it was a great morning and I couldn’t be prouder.  What’s next?!  What should my new goal be?!  I’m shooting to break 1:50:00 by the end of this season.  Lets see if I can do it!

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Finished Just in Time…

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9 miles

Well, I only set the clock back 15 minutes ONCE this morning but, I managed to get up and get my mileage in as planned.

It wasn’t my happiest run… I usually feel better and better as the miles pass but, today I got a stitch on the left side of my rib cage at mile 7.  I tried to exhale through it and keep going but I wasn’t a happy camper and it slowed me down about 30 sec per mile.

Another thing I wasn’t too crazy about during this run was that the bridge I run over had to be raised to let a boat go by on my way back. Although this gave me a well needed break, I question whether or not my average pace really counts, considering I had rest time that I wouldn’t truly have during a race.

Either way, I’m happy.  The minute I finished it began to thunder pretty loudly… As I drove home, the heavens opened up to one of our lovely Florida torrential downpours, lol.  I like running in the rain but, that thunder and lightning would have really been awful to run through.

One long run completed for the week… Next one will probably be this weekend 🙂

9 miles… or sleep in ’till 9am…?

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dreams

So, I had all the intentions in the world to run 9 miles this morning to celebrate my official first day of complete freedom.  No more shortened summer work schedule, no more assignments due in school, just FREEDOM… But when my alarm went off at 6am, I set it back 15min.. then another 15… then another 15.  At 6:45 I decided “Who am I kidding? I need to sleep!”  So, instead of running 9 miles, I slept in until 9am. (Which I haven’t done in a long, long time.  Not even on the weekends!)

But tomorrow I’m hitting the pavement and I’m hitting it hard.  Because my dreams of running a sub-two-hour half marathon aren’t going to become a reality unless I work at it this summer.  I’m so close I can taste it.  Gonna make those 9 miles MINE!

 

Kick-A$* Morning Run!

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Run 6-12-14

Check out my pace in my third mile this morning!!  8:06! Great way to start what turned out to be an amazing day.  I was productive at work and at school, I had a wonderful lunch with lovely friends and I had a yummy dinner with my mom.  Can’t beat that!

I’m so happy that I’m getting faster!! 😀  Next Step:  Adding mileage!!!!

 

Run, Work, Errands, School, Cook, Study… Pass-OUT!

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tired

OK, folks.  I was about ready to go to bed when realized that I haven’t written in a couple of days.  I’m very proud to say that I have achieved my goal of keeping up with my fitness despite my crazy work/ school schedule.  I am now on a lax summer time schedule at work and don’t have to start my days until 9am and get to leave by 2pm.  I ran this morning, I’m going for a bike ride tomorrow, I’m almost finished with my classes, and I’ll be done with work for the summer by next Monday.

Life is good…. If I can just get through the craziness of this next week, It will all be worth it!  Today I Ran, worked, did some errands, went to class, cooked myself some dinner, studied for test, blogged and will now pass out.  In the words of Ryan Seacrest “Cristy, OUT!”

June 3rd: Back on it!

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Run 6-04-14

Check out my splits from tonights run!  I’m tired and still not with it 100% but not too bad if I don’t say so myself.  I averaged almost 8 minutes in my last mile 🙂

Maybe I needed those 6 days off to regain some energy and confidence…. There are only a few more days left until school lets out for summer vacation!  I won’t be completely off from work but, at least I won’t have to get in as early and will be able to run in the mornings!  I’m so excited I can hardly contain myself!!  Summer here I come!

Work + School + Running = Exhausted

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Today I’m grateful that I completed an exam successfully at school, after a full day’s work, then came home and ran a 5K before showering and zonking out on the couch with the pups.

Well, its officially been 8 days since I’ve posted anything and I have to say that I’m exhausted and overwhelmed.  I’ve been keeping up with my training despite it being the end of the school year AND I’m taking classes myself.

There’s so much to do!  Regardless, I’ve been averaging under 9 minute miles just as I’ve wanted to and I’ve been running 3 times a week.

Once school ends next Thursday, my schedule will be fee to run in the mornings and I can increase that to at LEAST 4 times a week (preferrably 5)

Summer, why can’t you get here sooner!!!!!???????

This Week’s Long Run

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long run saturday 5-18

Check out my average pace per mile this morning!  I was not feeling well and woke up still feeling pretty exhausted but, I forced myself out the door and struggled through the first 3 1/2 miles.  After the turn around, though, I felt a little lighter and less disinclined to be out there.

It was another gorgeous morning and I was just glad to be out there and enjoying it. Plus, I was passing people who looked pretty legit so, that motivated me even more, lol.  My average pace of the entire run was 8:59.  I was tired and don’t think I could have kept going.  I’m not going to get disappointed, though because my average pace and time for the Wings of Life run were pretty consistent with this and that was only a couple of weeks ago:

wings of life splits

 

I am so happy to be making progress on my goal to become faster.  If I keep this up, I’ll be able to achieve my sub-two-hour half marathon for SURE!!

 

May 16th: Relaxing (sort of)

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dogs 1

You see that face in the background?… yeah, that cute little bugger is my mom’s dog.  The dog that I had the pleasure of taking care of for her over the weekend.  Cute as he is, he is needy, demanding and an insomniac.  This wine and chocolate was consumed not only for its health purposes (you know, the antioxidants and all that), I had to consume copious amounts of Hershey kisses and drink awful table wine just to get me though a night of his panting and whining.  (sigh)

My dogs were sure enjoying her recliner, though.

dogs 2

Before settling down to this much needed treat, I went for my weeknight run.  I wasn’t able to work out any time during the week except Tuesday so, by this Friday I was ready to bolt out the door once I got home.  I did it though.  I’m super committed to keeping my fitness level despite this crazy work/ school schedule!

May 13th: Night time run

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back to school

Well, I’m swamped with reading 4 chapters, and I already have a couple of papers I need to be working on… and its only the second day of classes.  I spent 14 hours either in my car or at a desk at work or at school today.  My knees hurt from being bent all day, and my butt and lower back hurt from being sedentary.  When 7:55pm rolled around and the professor began to make sidebar conversation with my peers, I quietly escaped the classroom and ran to my car.  I wanted to take advantage of the last bits of day light.  I needed to see the sun for my own sanity after being in a window-less office then a window-less classroom all day.  Plus I didn’t want to run in total darkness.

I got to the house, greeted the pups, changed and headed out the door.  I did 3 miles at an 8:50 pace under the light of a full moon.  Not the best run I’ve had but most definitely not the worst.  I’ll proudly accept my performance, especially considering the crazy long day I had.  Feels so good to keep it up! Now…. lets get some of that reading done… :-\