Tag Archives: pace

May 8th: Sometimes it Sucks… But Then You Remember…

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it sucks

 

I’ve been tired since the minute I woke up at 6am this morning… and the coffee wasn’t working.  I was hungry all day despite scarfing down what I brought for lunch, and the cat nap I took on the couch when I got home didn’t refresh or energize me at all.  I’ve been uncomfortable and cranky ALL DAY and the last thing I wanted to do was push myself to go out into the South Florida heat and exhaust myself even further on a run.

But as 7pm rolled around, all I could think about was this:  If you want to accomplish anything in life, ANY goal whatsoever (whether it be fitness, school, work, relationships, finances etc.) you gotta do the work.  You have to do things you don’t want to do.  You have to sacrifice your time, energy and preferences.  Sometimes it sucks but, you just have to lace up and do it.

Good thing I pushed through the exhaustion today:  3.01 miles at an 8:40 pace!!!  Whaaaa??!!  Look who’s getting faster! 😉  Now I remember why I run!  I can see that 1:59:00 half marathon in my near future.

May 4th: Wings for Life World Run

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world run 1

Sunday I got to participate in an amazing event!  The Wings for Life World Run in Sunrise, Florida.  The event took place in over 30 locations and had over 35,000 participants throughout the world running at the SAME TIME.  The race started in different time zones (obviously) so race start times differed per country but we all started at the same time and ran in honor of those who couldn’t.  The event raises awareness and funds for those with spinal cord injuries and 100% of the proceeds from the registration fee goes to this amazing cause.  Here’s more info on the event:

http://live.wingsforlifeworldrun.com/en

The concept of the race is unique.  Rather than run towards the finish line… the finish line catches up to you!  You must run at a certain pace to hit certain mile markers because once the “finisher car” passes you with its censors (like the timing strip you run over at the finish but just mounted to the car), your time is stopped.  My goal was to run at least 9 miles before getting passed.  Considering the hypochondriacal, neurotic fit I was having Saturday, I arrived at the start not knowing if I would even complete my original goal.  Once I met up with my co-worker who invited me to join her in the race, I was began to feel a little better but was still hesitant.

Once we started, I hit my stride pretty quickly.  I was calm, well paced and feeling energized.  By mile 5 I was beginning to think “I got this…  I only have 4 more to meet my goal and I’m feeling pretty good.”

By mile 6 a short gentleman about my age, wearing crazy metallic shorts and neon compression socks started to run along side me me.  My thoughts at this point were… “what the hell, guy?!”

By mile 7, me and the short guy were running the exact same pace, never saying a word to each other.  We were approaching a water station and all of a sudden a highlighter-yellow-colored piece of paper seemed to flutter out of no where from the sky and landed in front of us on the pavement.  We both looked at it and realized it wasn’t a piece of paper at all… it was someone’s escaped pet parakeet!  I’d never seen one so neon colored in my life.  Me and little dude just turned to each other and exclaimed simultaneously “What the hell?!” and laughed.  That was pretty cool so, I decided it was a good omen that this was going to be a kick ass race and that little dude was pretty cool.

By mile 8 I didn’t even feel myself running anymore and was now on auto-pilot.   The world was just passing by.

By 9.5 I passed Casey who was waiting with the camera.  I was having the run of my life… I was averaging 9:02 and feeling great.  I wasn’t even thinking about the finisher car that was creeping up slowly behind us all.  My random running buddy and I were pumping each other up… “yeah!  We’ll be able to finish a half for sure!  We’re killing it.”

Before I knew it, it was mile 11… and that’s when it happened.  A guy on a bike rolled by and warned us.  “Its coming guys.  I see it about a quarter mile away.”  We decided to push a little harder.  “Lets give it all we got!”

Suddenly, my running buddy shouts, “Ok, lets book it!”  I turned to him and told him I was at max capacity and couldn’t go any faster…  “Turn around!”  He told me as he bolted off.  And there it was… the car!  I squealed as though this were the zombie apocalypse (yeah, I’m obsesses with Walking Dead, whatever!)  and I was getting chased by a walker.  I booked it! But not for long…  I proudly finished 11.43 miles before my race was over.

But here’s what I’m so excited about…  I calculated that if I had continued at my pace of 9:02 for 13.1, I would have finished a half marathon at 1:58!  Safely under 2 hours which is my goal for next season.  I got it in me baby!! woooohoooo!!!  I’m STILL beaming with excitement and pride.

April 13th: Gumbo Limbo 10K

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sunrise

Today I did a 10K with my friend Caitlin.  It was an overcast, extremely windy morning and I had one too many beers at my bbq last night but, I managed to try my best and finished without falling over, LOL.

I ran at an average pace of just under 9 minute miles and really enjoyed myself.  It was a beautiful morning and I got to spend some time with friends…. can’t beat that.  This photo was taken by Casey just as the sun was rising over the ocean.

Not a bad way to spend a Sunday morning, even if you ARE running while hung-over. :-/

More photos from the race:

April 9th: Back in My Groove!!

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run

So, not only did I get back in my groove and go for a run today, I ran a 5K at an average pace of 8:40 which for me is pretty good!!  As I mentioned in my previous article:

http://walkruninspired.com/2014/03/31/goals-im-committed-to/

I want to start running regularly at an average pace of under 9 minute miles… Today’s run means that I’m well on my way!

Now, if I can only extend the length of my runs at this pace…. 😉

 

 

April 1st: Well on my way…

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good run

Today was hectic both during and after work… by the time it was 5pm I was so hungry and tired, all I could think to do was eat dinner.  I had nothing prepared so when my mom asked me to join her for some lentil soup at her place, I agreed.  After a bowl of that fiber- protein-iron-rich-goodness, I felt like a sluggish bump on a log.

As I sat with mom on the patio after dinner, though, all I could think of was going for a run.  I was so restless that my mind was going 100 miles an hour thinking about lacing up and hitting the pavement….  I wouldn’t feel right until I did it.

I gave myself a couple hours to digest and headed out just before it got dark.  Fastest run in a few months and well under 9 minute miles which is one of the goals I shared being committed to achieving!  I’m well on my way 🙂

Goals I’m Committed To!

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race goals
Goals I’m Committed to Achieving Next Season (in order of importance and obtainability to me):
  1. Sub-two-hour half marathon
  2. Do a triathlon
  3. Do most of my training runs under 9 minute miles
  4. Paris Marathon in April 2015… I’m not quite sure if I’m committed to doing a full…  Have I forgotten how much a full marathon hurts?  Do I have the commitment to train for that many miles?  Do I have the money to do this?  Lol… all of this remains to be seen.
Steps I’m Taking Now:
  1. Good bye Galloway:  Although I started running using the Galloway method 5 years ago and still using it loosely during races, I have stopped doing this during my training runs.  For any of you that may not be familiar with Jeff Galloway’s run/ walk method, it’s a great way to ease yourself into running.  Running and walking at timed intervals gives you the ability to run faster and recover more quickly.  I may not be able to run a full 13 miles without taking a few walk breaks to lower my heart rate but, doing all of my training runs without walking has helped me build a lot more endurance.  As the saying goes “I run ‘till it hurts so that tomorrow, it’ll hurt less.”
  2. Biker Chick: So, I may not know how to ride it very well but, I have the most important tool necessary if I’m going to attempt to do a triathlon… my awesome new road bike.  I’m taking it out for short 7 mile rides until I can coordinate to go a little further with a friend for support (yeah, I’m a chicken, so what?!) I’m pretty psyched.
  3. Flying (running) Solo:  Although being part of a group has been a huge contributing factor to getting me active and involved in athletics, it is only now that I’m doing most of my runs alone that I am truly coming into my own.  It’s fun socializing with others but if you really want to get faster, you’ve got to be able to push yourself… and only YOU can feel how far you want to be pushed.  You can’t push someone else and no one can push you.
Steps I’m taking Soon:
  1. Sink or Swim: I’m signing up for swimming classes this summer.  I can do a mean froggy and doggy paddle but, I’ll admit, that my swimming form is pretty pathetic.  If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it right!
  2. High tech: Although I’ve been kinda “winging it” with calculating my pace during races up until now, I got a taste of what it’s like to use a Garmin watch during my last half and got hooked.  My sister let me borrow hers at the “Best Damn Race” we did together and it was pretty amazing.  Not only did it tell me what my current average pace was at all times during the race but, I was able to print out my pace per mile afterwards.  I couldn’t believe that mile 12 was my fastest at an average 8:32 a mile!  (did I want to get it over with or what?!)  I’ll be asking my family to get me one for my b-day this summer!!!
  3. Extra Income:  I need more mullah to support my racing habits.  Rather than sit under the laurels (or the palm trees at the beach) this summer, I’m going to have to get myself a little part time job to fill in my spare time and make some extra cash for these entry fees and possible travel expenses.