I thought it said 2.62

Hangover 5K, Westfield NJ

Having made it through a nasty winter which included a move, on Dec. 21, from our home of 20 years in Boston, I am determined to start fresh.  Today I am starting back at the beginning of the RTL half marathon program as well as returning to the gym for strength training.

12:04 pace

NEW RUNNING SHOES!

Very excited - today I shifted gears to the FIRST Half Marathon training plan.  Had a great and positive speed work session.  I must have picked the right goal, because I can tell it is going to work - hard enough to improve yet not so hard that I'll quit. It is also easier to adhere to a plan since I committed to every other day running.  No more figuring out (read: negotiating with myself) WHICH 3 days to run each week, because life does get in the way, if you let it.  My short term goal is the Dumbo Double Dare (10K Sat., Half Marathon Sun.) at Disneyland this Labor Day Weekend.

It's so motivating to read the blogs here of all different ages and abilities of runners. We are all on our own journeys, whether to one day make the Olympic team, qualify for Boston, start learning to run at an age when many are hanging up their sneakers for good, or just to feel the wind on our faces and enjoy staying fit as we age. Inspiration is everywhere on this site - thanks!

Got lazy and ran on hotel treadmill bc I'm in the city.....BAD, BAD, BAD!  Hated every minute,  ended up counting my warm up as part of my run just to get finished sooner.  The only way I could have done worse was to not run at all. Thankfully, these days are few and far between.

Speed workouts are getting easier!  I have to work on the FIRST tempo runs, they are kinda fast....it's a mental thing, I think.  While the speed work is "fulfillingly challenging", the tempo runs are downright brutal, not fulfilling yet since I struggle physically and mentally beyond an appropriate amount to complete them.  I am going back and repeating these past two weeks in order to gain the upper hand and be able to continue with the schedule.  I think patience is a necessity, I didn't get here overnight and I have to progress through the program at a pace that suits me.

85 degrees, enough said.

Goal: 4 miles @ 12:57 

Ran 4 miles @ 12:51 average pace, evening 70 degrees, South Mtn reservoir

65 lbs. to go for Oct. 26th!

Heat & Hills, a fun combination.

3x1600 @ 12:00 mpm  

Fast for me, bearing in mind that I started at run/walking at 16:00+.....now that I'm actually following a plan that addresses this I think there will be some legit progress.  I am aiming to run with the 5:30 pace group in the marathon.  Just the upcoming weight loss alone is supposed to be worth almost 2 min. off my mpm pace.  Dare to dream, LOL 

Read the best quote this a.m. which reminded me of my absolute hero, my dad, who was a huge fan of John Wayne:  "Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway."   I know in my heart that dad's watching over me, cheering me on ;)

80 degrees, summer is here!

My sister is here visiting from CA so it has been hard to discipline myself.  I put off Saturday's run to Sunday, which wasn't the end of the world, but then today I was really feeling terrible....I've had a cold for a few days, so I put off my 10 mile run.  I'm determined to get plenty of rest tonight and get out there tomorrow so I can stay on schedule.  Fortunately, I have a little leeway the way my schedule is set up.  I have gotten a nice early start on training to allow for unexpected things like this cold.

Kind of a run/walk combo after 5 days of sickness.  Even though it was 82 (summer's here, I guess) and it sucked what little energy I had out of me, it felt good to get back out there!  Looking forward to resuming training this weekend :)

slow and hot

This was supposed to be 10 miles yesterday, but honestly my legs were so sore from all the hills in our neighborhood on Sunday and with temps in the low 90's I put it off an extra day.  Fortunately, almost feeling back to "normal".  Lots of walking on off days this week and will get back into the gym for cross training next week.  The best I can hope for, like anybody, is no more interruptions to the schedule due to illness, injury, etc.

Strength training.....legs today plus core work.  Getting psyched - I have done most of the FIRST Half Marathon Training Program by way of review and getting back in shape; starting the FIRST Marathon Training Program July 1st (16 weeks spread over 17 in case of unexpected interruptions), will be ready to go!

3x800 @ 12 mpm, exactly challenging enough for now, but I can tell it's getting easier

Short term goal: Firecracker 4 miler on July 4th in 48:00-48:59 

45 min. Water Aerobics class from hell.....don't laugh, it IS a workout since you get out of it what you put into it :)

6 @ 12:57

Day 1 of FIRST program:  8x400

Today was supposed to be a 3 mile tempo run, so instead I ran in a Firecracker 4 Miler with my daughter, at the prescribed pace, which was a lot more fun than trudging through a run by myself.  Fortunately there was cloud cover to keep the heat down in the 70's.  

HAPPY FOURTH!!!

Preparing for the Dumbo Double Dare in August (10K Sat. followed by Half Marathon Sunday)....the training schedule has me adding a mile starting today then increasing it by 1 per week, up to 6 miles, on the day before my long run.

I have trouble getting out of bed to get an early start in the morning and, as a result, end up running at some tough times for heat and humidity, making it much harder than it needs to be.  Today was one of those days.  As much as I try to keep a positive, upbeat attitude, I honestly was thinking that if 10 miles was this hard today, how the HECK am I going to run 12 next week, let alone 26.2 in 16 weeks.....sigh.  The thing that keeps me going is that I know the fall will be better....I doubt even a freakishly hot day for late Oct. will hit 85-90 (I sure HOPE NOT!!), and I am slowly but surely gravitating towards an earlier schedule, which for me means running at 9 or 9:30 these days.  Hopefully I can keep driftiing closer to a 7 or 6:30 a.m. start as I approach the height of the summer and my longest runs.

Brisk walk with friends and dogs.  Got a little off schedule with friend visiting...

My first mud run, with daughter and friends....fun!  I loved the obstacles more than the running, would definitely do one of these again :)

Walked to and from gym.  4.5 miles on treadmill including 4x1200 speed work.  Was NOT feeling it on the walk over, but decided to tackle just 1 interval, then added another, and before I knew it I was through. This method works for me. 

5 mile tempo  -  treadmill/thunderstorms :( 

1 hour on gym bike, hill workout

Long run day.  Time constraints forced me to split my run into 7.5 in the morning and 4.5 in the afternoon.  In the morning I fought through the absolutely brutal hills of my neighborhood and surrounding area so I was already sore by the afternoon run:)  I am hoping what doesn't kill me will make me stronger.

incl. 4x800  (should've been 6x, ran out of time AGAIN.....)

Tomorrow's another day :)

Gym Day:  1.5 Hour....Treadmill, Leg Strength Training, Seated Elliptical, Core Work

Walking a couple of miles with Carmen later :)    14 Weeks to go!!!

Had a 5 mile tempo run.  Was a bit discouraged by the difficutly of maintaining the prescribed pace, but then I came home and figured out my pace was off about 2% in 75 degree temps, so no worse than what might be expected, depending upon the source of information.....now I feel better!

A 5K in 90 degree heat, finished just in time for a slice of pizza before the thunderstorm!  

At last - a cooler, less humid day!!

10x400 treadmill (a/c!)

5x1200

Had 14 miles planned, but had to swap, will get it done Sunday :)

6x800

Tempo run at the beach in NC where the weather was a balmy 88.  Strong headwind on outbound portion was helpful on the return.  Ran a little slower in the heat, but not discouraged bc last Thurs. 15 miles were so awesome on just a bit cooler day that it keeps me confident about the longer distances in the fall.

Splitting my 17 mile LR between  today and tomorrow, 7 + 10, in prep for Dumbo Double Dare at Disneyland next weekend (wooo!), which is 10K Sat. and Half Marathon Sunday

83 degrees, 79% humidity.  Reay for anything Anaheim can throw at me next weekend!

mmmmm....barefoot on beach :)    Last day of vacation :(

home again....speed work on treadmill

Race at Disneyland....part 1

Did the 2 races at Disneyland this weekend, so I guess in a roundabout way it counts as 19.3.  It was hot and humid, just like I'm used to, and totally crowded with people.....lots of bottlenecks and places where it just wasn't possible to run without elbowing people aside.  I just took it easy and aimed for racking up the mileage and collecting the medals and some great photos!  Back to serious business this week, time is getting shorter.  Will shoot for 20 next weekend so that I know I can do it without splitting it into 2 days.  It was a good way to gauge where I'm at with pace and such, so I'm glad I went.  I definitely still have my work cut out for me!  Trying to stay positive since the transfer and deferral period has ended....no backing out now :)

Was not ready for 20 yet.  18 was challenging enough, but it's done and I still have 2 shots at 20 before taper time.  I guess that's pretty much where first timers end their training.

6x800

Finally, the confidence boost I was needing!!  Did 10x800's at a pace that indicates I am capable of finishing the marathon without being swept.  LOL, but I'm a definite Back of Packer and was legit concerned as a first timer.  Still have 6 weeks left!

My first ever 20 Mile Run....it was awesome!!  And to think I was dreading it. Now I think I can call myself a "runner".

"Magic Mile" for race time prediction....puts me in the 5:46-6:06 finish time frame. This backs up my 6 hr. prediction based on the 10x800's so I feel confident in the combined accuracy of the two, barring whatever freak thing(s) may happen on race day. I'm ok with that, for my first I'll be happy to be alive and standing and it'll only be up from there.  I was hoping to go with the 5:30 pace group, but didn't buckle down and lose the weight. Who knows why we can or can't focus and accomplish things when we want to.....for me it has to just click and happen, and unfortunately it didn't until 3 weeks ago.  Fortunately I have found a very nice group of back-of-the-packer's on fb and we have agreed to form our own 6 hour pace group to beat the bridge and finish together, so I know I won't be running alone through already-closed water stations lol.  I hear the crowd is very supportive and stays at the finish line till the bitter end for this one, so that's encouraging, too.  All in all, with the hard work almost done (this week!) I am getting very excited for race weekend!!

Headed out for 13, but something came up, will try again tomorrow.

Keep forgetting to log.  LOTS of gym work lately....bike, rowing, non-weight-bearing stuff, trying to stave off slight case of shin splints.  This was supposed to be 8 mile tempo run, so I managed 4 comfortably on treadmill, then did 1 hour on bike at same heart rate to make up (I hope) for other 4 miles.  Things are still going well, less than 3 weeks now! :)

2@MP+15, 8@MP, 3 cool down

treadmill speed work

Well, this is it, the final "long run".  I had been following a plan, then bought the book and saw they had a "novice" version of the plan which called for 8 today (original called for 10) so I split the diff.  My faithful and loyal dog accompanied me, too bad she can't come to the race with me :) Nothing else left to do now, off to the marathon next weekend!!

Wow, I did the Marine Corps Marathon! Without a doubt one of the coolest experiences of my life. The weather was perfect, and the course was the perfect layout for my hubby to pop around and see me at different spots....6 including the finish line. I think the training, the fueling and hydration during the race, were all successful. There are definitely things I'll do differently next time.....I skimped some on cross training, I didn't lose all the weight I wanted. I'm sure it's always something. My goals were minimal: 1. Finish 2. Not get swept 3. Not get carted away in an ambulance. It was a fun weekend and I took advantage of all the events offered...first timer's pep rally, expo, pasta dinner....I figured I'd only be a first-timer once! And before I even went I knew I wanted to do another. I will definitely try my luck at the lottery for this one again in 2015.