This Week’s Long Run

Posted on May 18, 2014 by Little Miss Sunshine State

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:

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 4th: Wings for Life World Run

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Little Miss Sunshine State

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.

: At the 6am start in Sunrise, Fl.

: Mile 9.5 feeling amazing… and a photo bomb by little dude!

: Breakfast and walk on the beach to recover. AMAZING Sunday morning!

Goals I’m Committed To!

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Little Miss Sunshine State

Goals I’m Committed to Achieving Next Season (in order of importance and obtainability to me):

Sub-two-hour half marathon
Do a triathlon
Do most of my training runs under 9 minute miles
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:

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.”
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.
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:

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!
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!!!
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.

When Race Season is Over…

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Little Miss Sunshine State

Since my epic race-season finale, I have no other scheduled half marathons in the near future. And, to be honest, there aren’t many (if any at all) to register for in my neck of the woods anyway. They probably won’t start up again until September or October.

Although its been cool and overcast lately, in about a month or so, Florida’s summer weather will kick in and it’ll be unbearably hot and humid by 8am every morning. Rather than start running indoors on a treadmill (the equivalent of Chinese water torture for me) I keep doing my thing outdoors but adjust times to avoid the dangerous conditions.

Here are 5 of my humble off-season tips to help you hit the ground running (pun is completely intended, of course) when you’re able to race again:

You may not have to run as far but don’t stop doing your long-runs. I honestly don’t significantly lower my weekly mileage during off season. Maybe my long-runs will be 8-11 miles while I’m training but only 7-9 when I’m not. No biggie…
Increase your cross-training to strengthen hips, legs and core. (something you can do indoors and in the air conditioning is always a plus.) You want to protect those knees and hips by staying strong!
Sign up for shorter races. They usually organize these year-round. I’ll be doing a 10K in a couple weeks with one of my girlfriends just for fun. It may not be a half but, it keeps you motivated and honest about your conditioning.
Start thinking about your goals. Do you have a specific time goal? Do you want to do a full? Do you need to save money to support your addiction to racing out of town? Start preparing as of now.
Get social. Join a group through your local running store or meetup.com. Knowing that you have people waiting on you to run will keep you honest about getting out there even when its really, REALLY hot out…

I’m doing 7 or 8 tomorrow… 🙂

March 2nd: Race #2… Mission Accomplished!

Posted on March 2, 2014 by Little Miss Sunshine State

Well, we both woke up sore and tired at 5:20am this morning but neither of us let on that we thought this might be a bad idea… back to back half marathons in one weekend is pretty crazy.

Since we both put on our brave faces (and really wanted to prove that we could do this) we headed over to the Swamp House Half as planned. It was pretty cold by our standards, around 50 degrees, and our tired muscles and joints were stiff as boards but when the blow horn sounded we were off.

The conversation was good, the company was the best and the adventure was epic. I love my little sister and our crazy antics. It was a fun race and the after party was lively and delicious! Where else do you get unlimited IPA beer and jambalaya included in your race entry?! Oh, and did I mention that they gave us a little swig of beer at mile 12 just to give us the motivational boost we needed to finish? Fun times!