Upgrading my running acumen...

I learned a few important things about running today. Thou shalt not discount the following factors during a run:

1. RACE DAY ADRENALINE: In yesterday's race, I was so pumped that my pace (probably around 7:00/mi) was pretty damn fast for the first 2 1/4 miles. Today I settled into a slower pace for the majority of the run.
2. RUNNING WITH A PACK: I thoroughly enjoyed doing this in the race yesterday. I was able to keep up a pretty fast pace by focusing on staying with a few key runners and allowing them to push me and motivate me.
3. WIND: SUCKS. The wind this morning was pretty wicked and kept my pace in check. It made quite a few of the sections very rough this morning.
4. KNOWING THE COURSE: There is no replacement for knowing where you're going and what's coming up next. Even though I ran slower today, I felt much more comfortable on the course.

So why did I run slower today? Was it due to the first 3 factors (no race day adrenaline, not running with a pack, major wind)? Was it because I haven't done a lot of morning running? Or was it that I just plain old ran slower? I guess we'll have to experiment a little more.

Either way, I really like this neighborhood course and and will make it my major training course...until I can find another. I even like the couple hills. Although that one on Bilby up to Metropolitan towards the end of the run is pretty tough.

Second Race!

The Sierra Morado 5K Walk/Run by Pulte Homes started off AMAZING. I was keeping pace with some of the top runners and was in the top ten pack (the guy in first was WAY in front and killed the rest of us). Unfortunately, I misjudged the distance and sprinted up a dirt hill thinking the finish was just beyond that. Turns out it was a little more than a half mile further down the course. My sprint took a lot out of me and my legs and slowed me down significantly for the last section of the race. I'm certain had I just kept my pace/known where the finish was, I would have finished within the top ten and somewhere around a 7:30 min/mi pace. However, I am proud to say that even with that disappointing setback, I was able to finish strong, sprinting the last bit through the finish. Here are my results:

Race #: 2
Distance: 5K (3.1 mi)
Bib #: 391 
Time: 25:42 
Pace: 8:17/mi 
Place: 14/142 overall

P.S. Kudos to Aaron as well for finishing the race strong! (gotta get him on DM)

P.P.S. I gotta get a pedometer/interval watch or a Garmin to track my distance and progress so this doesn't happen again :(

Next Race: April 10: Catalina State Park 5.2 & 10.35 Mile Trail Run!

Race Day #2: Sierra Morado 5K Walk/Run by Pulte Homes

Race Day #2!


A little story to commemorate the day: Way back in early February, I started thinking about running. I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep myself motivated since I had never before been interested in running. So I asked my friend Aaron if he wanted to train for a 5K with me. Before I even finished asking, his eyes got wide and he said, "Hell yeah." Our plan was to run the Midtown Sertoma 5K (March 13) but life got in the way (for him, not me) and he wasn't able to run it. Now, finally, Aaron and I are running in a race together, as we had planned all those weeks ago.


So pumped!

100 Push-up Challenge: Back to square...2

Damn moving screwed this routine up too.  Starting Week 4 over again but so friggin' determined to get this that I'll do what I have to.

Week 4:

Day 1 (3/24/10): These all went really well.  My form's getting better so my shoulder doesn't hurt after these anymore.

Day 2 (3/26/10): Had to take a bit of a longer break between sets 4 and 5 but rocked my 10 above rule for Set 5.

Day 3: Sunday (3/28/10): 120 seconds between each set.
Set 1: 23 pushups

Set 2: 33 pushups

Set 3: 29 pushups

Set 4: 29 pushups

Set 5: Max (minimum 40)

200 Sit-up Challenge Redux

Moving last weekend threw a wrench into my planned routine for the 200 Sit-up Challenge.  It was going really well for the first couple days and since I'm pretty damn gung-ho about completing these challenges, I'm starting over tonight.

Week 3 Redux:
Day 1 Redux (3/23/10): After missing a few days and starting Week 3 over, this went really well.  It jumps up pretty high for the next day.  We'll see how it goes.

Day 2 Redux (3/25/10): These went pretty well, too.  Can feel my core getting stronger every set!

Day 3 Redux: (3/27/10) 60 seconds between each set.
Set 1: 33 sit-ups
Set 2: 42 sit-ups
Set 3: 30 sit-ups
Set 4: 30 sit-ups
Set 5: Max (45 min)

Faster and faster...

I was planning on running 5 miles today but due to a fascinating but long lecture on Roman Mosaics in Tunisia (and some chatting with the lecturer), I got to Reid Park pretty late and decided to just run 5K.  The run felt really great pretty much the whole way which is why I was able to run it faster than I ever have before.  My PR time for the 5K was 23:00 flat (7:25 min/mi pace).  I am SO looking forward to the prospect of another PR in Saturday's 5K race.

Back with a vengeance!

On the heels of a very disappointing 5K on Wednesday and a day off yesterday, I decided to do a long run. Long run = understatement. I stopped off at Fleet Feet for some advice on hydration and nutrition during long runs and got some great advice and bought a few different brands of gels to try them out.  Here's my time breakdown:

4.25 mi in 00:35:00. (8:14 min/mi pace) Took my first gel, orange flavored Accel Gel.
7.5 mi in 1:06:00. (8:48 min/mi pace) Took my second gel, orange flavored GU gel.
10.75 mi in 1:41:00 (9:23 min/mi pace) Took my last gel, orange flavored Hammer gel.

Legs were pretty beat up so I had to walk a little between short runs to get through the whole half marathon distance. But I did it!!!
First Half-Marathon Distance: 13.1 mi in 2:12:00 (10:04 min/mi pace)

I just couldn't continue running after this so I walked the rest of the way back. Finished the whole 15 miles in 2:45:00 (overall 11:00 min/mi pace).

My longest previous run without walking was 7 miles. Beat that by 3.75 miles and destroyed that 7 mile time by 6 minutes! My previous longest distance period was 9 miles. Beat that by 6 miles!

The gels were an interesting new twist for me.  I wanted to compare the effects of the 3 different brands but realized that no matter what I'd be more tired after the second and third ones.  Even so, I didn't like the taste of the Hammer gel and didn't really feel much from it.  I think I'll try the Accel and GU again.

I think I'm going to start taking it a bit easier.  I have to remember that I have plenty of time to get ready to run a marathon and don't need to injure myself by doing too much, too soon.  I got pretty frustrated after my poor showing on Wednesday that I overcompensated today and just ran until I could barely walk.  I'm going to focus on my next 5K and following 10K and shelve the 13.1 milers for a little while.