Great Expectations

The big goal last Saturday was to run 10 miles to prepare for a half marathon in June. I was pretty pumped about getting out there and getting back on track after a few weeks of only 6 mile runs. I have done a better job of running on 2 other times during the week, so I was expecting a little more effort on my part for the 10 miles, but I was feeling good about the run. I should have been a little more concerned with the heat as it was in the upper 80s when I ventured out for the run in 1pm. I was feeling real good for the first 2 miles and I even left myself a water bottle on my front steps so I would have some fluid to replenish myself at mile 3. Then things got real tough. Miles 4-5 were pretty difficult. I felt drained of energy and I was having a difficult time even picking my feet up off the ground. My muscles and breathing were fine, but I felt zapped. I barely made it back home at 6.5 miles and I knew I couldn't achieve my goal of running 10 miles. I wasn't feeling too pleased with myself at not being able to run more than 7 miles. I just figured I've have to keep plugging away and hope my endurance would catch up.

This past week I did my two 6 to 7 mile runs and I realized I should probably run in the morning to avoid the incredible heat we have received. I think it has helped. So, I ventured out this morning with the same goal of running 10 miles. There was a big difference running this morning in the cooler weather than last week. I was feeling good again between miles 1-3. I hit a little bit of a wall on mile 4, but with some determination I pushed through it and was feeling good for miles 5-6. Then the real wall hit at mile 7. I still had 3 miles left and I felt like I was shuffling along like those old mall walkers. Actually they were jogging faster that I was for miles 8-9. However, at least I was able keep running and I didn't stop to walk. Then came mile 9. 1 mile to go and I was feeling it. My legs ached and my feet were burning. I had .5 of a mile to go and I didn't know I would make it without stopping, but I'd gone this far and I wasn't going stop now. I pushed and pushed and the end was in sight as I got to the end of my street. I could hear the cheers as I was yards away. YES! I had finished and ran all 10 miles. I have never been so exhausted, but the wonderful sense of accomplishment is overpowering my weariness. I looked up my route on http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/ and as it turns out I actually ran 10.32 miles today. Its a great feeling overcoming ones self-doubts and accomplishing a personal best of running 10.32 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes. The next step is to keep up this pace and increase the miles each week and not take too many weekends off.

That's it for now, gotta run.

Keeping on Track ... Sort of

After a fun 10K run I was feeling good and on track with my schedule to run in a half marathon in June.  Then life got in the way. I ran the next Monday, but missed my Thursday run.  I took that weekend off with Mother's Day as I treated my wife to a Saturday and part of Sunday Mother's Day extravaganza. I hope she enjoyed it. So I ran again the following Monday and it was tough taking a week off. My breathing was a little more labored and my muscles didn't like being used again after a week off.  However, I got through it. The past 2 Monday's I ran 6 miles each as I won't run the longer distances (8+ miles) until Saturdays. So I missed last Thursday again for some strange reason I really can't remember now and then on Saturday I couldn't make it out because of a Sister's weekend my sweetie went on and I was a little (very little) under the weather. So that brings us to this week.  Monday I started running on the treadmill with renewed vigor and determination to get myself back on track. I ran 2.5 miles on the treadmill until my wife got home who told me I should go outside (wasn't that sweet?) and outside I ran another 3.25 miles and I did it in 22-25 minutes. So this Saturday I plan to run the longest I ever have run before which is 10 miles (or more). I hope my legs can keep up as I've taken a longer break than I should have. I'll have to fill you in on how that went next week. Thanks for the well wishes and I gotta run.

First 10K Run

Well, the day of my first race has come and gone. I was a little nervous as I hadn't run a competitive race since I was 13 and in 8th grade middle school. I don't remember what the race was, but it was probably only for 3 miles and it is a good guess that I came in between 20th and 30th. Since the race is close to where I live I decided to drive down last Monday and run the coarse to see what it was like. There are no hills in my town where I train, but there are hills on this coarse. So running the trail before hand boosted my confidence in the fact that I could run it even with the hills. So, my buddy, Eric, and I (after registering and stretching) were ready race. This was the first time we ran together and I think our paces are about the same so neither one of us has to worry about keeping up with the other. 

Here we are taking off from the starting line.

It was a gorgeous day in the mid 60s and a nice breeze at our backs for the first mile. The second mile brought the largest hill of the day, but after ascending its heights, it was nice to get it out of the way early. The third mile was gradually decending down from the massive hill we accended in mile 2. Mile 4 was flat with a stronger breeze in our faces. Mile 5 had 2 more hills one right after the other, which were difficult to traverse, but once on top it was downhill all the way. Then mile 6 brought the strongest wind yet seemingly trying to blow us backwards as we approached the finish line. With a quarter of a mile to go we really started pumping to pass a few folks a head of us. They had been a head of us the whole race and we really wanted to pass them up. Granted they were a bunch of ladies, but dang it we passed them! Then with the last bit of endurance we had, we raced to the finish to the loud cheers of our families beckoning us on. 

Here we are coming to the finish.

My time was 56:39 which averaged a 9:07 per mile. The best I'd run 6.2 miles ever. I was the 22nd man to finish, 47th overall and 5th in my age group of 30-34. While I am happy with the run, I feel the need to explain all the facts. There were 30 men who ran the race (I was 22nd), a total of 82 racers (I was 47th) and there were only 5 men in my age group (and I was 5th, you do the math). So a little disappointing to know all those facts, but this is still the best I've run thus far and I'm very pleased with my training after 2 months of dedication. 

Here I am all sweaty after the race.

(Notice me representing TN!)

Two good looking racers after the 10K.

 

My wonderful family supporting my mid-life crisis, which is running 10Ks and half marathons.

The Runners! Eric (left), Erica (a friend from church who whooped up on us by a blistering 7 minutes) and me.

My next race will be in June and will be the half marathon. Lots of training to do til then, but I'm feeling really good about it and look forward to running in my first half marathon. I'll keep you updated on my progress and other fun stories. Until then, gotta run.