Fastest Long Run Ever

This morning I was suppose to be at work but the hospital cancelled me!! Yeah an opportunity for a long run. My hubby and the boys were both out of town so it was a great morning for a long run. I met one of my running buddies from Mckinney Running Club at 5 am. We started run at 5:12 and headed out to get some miles in before the group met at 6. There werent that many runners that met up to run. So it was just us two running. We had a great run and ended up doing 20 miles in 2:50:27. We averaged a 8:31 pace. This was definitely my fastest long run. It felt pretty good. My quads were a little tight but overall it went well. I would not have been able to finish if it werent for my running buddy!! Hopefully we will be able to break the sub 4 marathon time!!!

Here are my splits for today's run.

Mile 1: 08:33

Mile 2: 08:15

Mile 3: 08:25

Mile 4: 08:29

Mile 5: 08:17

Mile 6: 08:24

Mile 7: 08:38

Mile 8: 08:42

Mile 9: 08:40

Mile 10: 08:21

Mile 11: 08:20

Mile 12: 08:27

Mile 13: 08:22

Mile 14: 08:44

Mile 15: 08:45

Mile 16: 08:59

Mile 17: 08:53

Mile 18: 08:35

Mile 19: 08:28

Mile 20: 08:12

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

Prescription for Burn out

So lately I have been feeling a little burned out. I haven't been blogging or reading blogs. Running has felt more like a job lately than enjoyable. I was beginning to think something was wrong. Well I have been in a training program the entire year one marathon after another. So I guess I have a reason to be tired. I only have 5 weeks left until my next marathon so I needed to get out of my rut quick!!! So nothing better than reading a Runners world magazine and reading online and getting some inspiration. Reading articles about other runners inspired me to get back in the game. So running articles are my prescription for burn out!!!

Tyler Rose Marathon

Well I guess it is time to write the race report. I have been a big slacker on blogging lately. All I can say about the Tyler rose marathon is HILLY!! It was the toughest course I have ever ran!!!I started out running with the DRC 4 hour pace group. I stayed with them all the way until mile 18. The first 18 miles really felt great. Then I got tired. I was so ready to be done. My husband ended up running the last part with me and I am so happy that he did. He kept me motivated to keep going and finish with a good time. I ended up running it in 4:05:48. I was really happy with my time considering how difficult the course was. The course was really pretty with lots of beautiful houses. At the finish line they handed out medals and a rose bush. They were also passing out samples of my favorite yogurt from TCBY!! Yummy!! All of my family was there cheering me on. I love having them there.

I am looking forward to running White Rock marathon in December. This course is suppose to be more flat. So hopefully sub 4 is in my future.

Getting setup with the pace group!!

Very excited to see my family!!!

After the Race!!

Sick! Sick! Sick!

Well I haven't posted in a while because not much running has been going on!! I have been sick for 3 weeks now!! I started with just nasal congestion and now have acute pneumonia!! I went to the dr past wednesday and he gave me some antibiotic and cough medicine. I finished all that and today I went back to the doctor!! So after blood work and chest xray I have acute pneumonia!! So another round and antibiotics and some steroids and hopefully I'll be feeling better!! I only have a week and a half left before my race so I need to get better quick!! Luckily I was able to get in my 22 miler before I started feeling really bad!! I had a great 22 mile run. Felt really good and could have kept going. I averaged a 9:00 pace the whole 22 miles!! So maybe later this week I'll be ready to run!! Not running is killin me!! This is the longest I have been without running for a while!! I'll post later about race plans!!!

Marathon Training Update

So there is only 4 weeks left until Tyler Rose full!!! I think I am ready for the race to be here. Sunday the weather cooled off and gave me some hope for October!! Hopefully the weather stays cool from now on!! I am just going to give a quick update on the last two weeks training runs:

Week 13:

Monday: 8 miles

Tuesday: 5 miles

Wed: rest

Thursday: 20 miles

Friday: 45 min weight training

Saturday: 5 miles and 12 mile bike ride

Sunday: rest

Week 14:

Monday: 7.2 mile Trail run at Erwin Park

Tuesday: Speed work 5 miles

Plan for the rest of this week

Wed: rest

Thurs: 5 miles at race pace

Friday: 8 miles easy run

Saturday: 12 miles

Sunday: 1 hour cross train

This morning I did speed work at Dowell track in Mckinney. Today proves that weather determines if you have a good pace or not!! The weather felt so good at a temperature of 58 degrees. That feels cold in Texas. We did a 1 mile warm up, 3x1600 at 5k race pace and 1 mile cool down. I was feeling fast this morning thanks to the weather. Here is the breakdown:

Mile 1: 9:30

Mile 2: 7:16

Mile 3: 7:09

Mile 4: 6:45

Mile 5: 9:20

6:45 was the fastest mile I have ever ran!! I felt really good and even could have gone a little faster. I hope that this speed work will help me get a lot of PRs this fall/winter. Its amazing how great it feels to run in good weather.

I am shopping around for my new race outfit to wear at Tyler Rose!! I post pictures of whatever I decide to get. I haven't decided if I am going to run in shorts or a skirt!!

Quote of the day

This morning the leader of my girl running group in McKinney sent me this quote for the day. Thought I would share it!!

Winning has nothing to do with racing. Most days don't have races anyway. Winning is about struggle and effort and optimism, and never, ever, ever giving up.

I just loved this quote!! Thought it was really appropriate especially since after completing the Hottest Half!!!

The Hottest Half

This morning I woke up at 5:15am to get dressed for the Hottest Half. The babysitter came at 5:45 and the hubby and I headed out the door!! I had our pre race breakfast packed to eat on the way. We ate my regular pre race meal (banana and peanut butter cliff bar). My hubby signed up to run the 10K. This was going to be his first race. I was really excited for him, I just wish I could have seen him start and finish. He did really good though (Im not surprised) he ran the 10 k in 59 min. He is awesome, not training to run and just went out there and kicked butt!! My mom and her boyfriend and his brother were also running the 10K. It is awesome to see family member running races. My mom has never workout before and the last 3 months she has been running a lot and wanted to try a race. I am very proud of her and my hubby!! This is a picture from my phone showing the weather this morning. Can we say Humid!!!

Pre race photo: Charisma, Victoria, Kristi and me

Gary, Mom, Hubby, and Steve

(We are looking good!!)

Love this pic of me and my wonderful hubby!!

So my initial plan for this race was to go out and run and not think about time. Well I think that is impossible for me. My second plan was to get a sub 2 half!! I don't know why I wanted to go for that on the Hottest half!! But being the overachiever I am that was my plan. I was feeling great until mile 10, then I started to get tired. I was really tired lung or leg wise. I was definitely tired mental wise. I have got to find me a running partner to run with so we can push each other. I was starting to get bored and ready to be done. I think it was at mile 11. This lady was holding up a sign saying "You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!" That just happens to be my favorite scripture. I pushed hard after that. I ended up running the race in 2:00:33, (09:14 pace) When I saw that I was think really are you serious, 33 seconds. If only I would have not stopped at that last water stop!! It sucks to be that close but hey I am not going to complain. I finished the race and didn't have to see the medic!! I would have know how close I was if my garmin would have located satellites faster. I turned on my Garmin way too late and the gun went off and my garmin wasn't ready. Oh well lesson learned!!

This lady rocks! I passed her in the marathon and she was just a running!! I thought there is no way this lady will finish this race. She looked like she could just pass out any minute!! She is hardcore! She finished the marathon in 2:22!! Thats crazy, maybe I will (hope to) be like here when I get old!!