Limbo

I find myself in an odd runner's limbo.

As races are opening registration for 2015 I am finding it hard to decide on what my next move is. I am not sure if I want to keep training to run at the Marathon distance level or scale back to the old comfy 6-8-10 Half marathon routine.

I know I should wait until I the 3 marathons I have on tap have been run but I sort of feel the need to begin looking beyond that to a the winter goal for the 2015-16 winter season.

I would LOVE to go back and run BCS again but not sure what distance. I would also like to add the Kingwood Marathon to my list of accomplishments. And now that the lottery has been removed from the Chevron Houston Marathon decisions about it have to be made pretty much on race day 2015.

As always I am also struggling with finding new races to run. We all have our handful of go to's but I really am looking for races that have me running where I haven't run before.

So far 2015 looks like this:

Jan 17 Advocate 5k (part of the Louisiana Marathon weekend)
Jan 18 Louisiana Marathon
Feb  1 Usa Fit Marathon
Feb  7 Katy 5k
Feb 28 The Woodlands Half   (although I may defer to 2016 due to having to get to LR before the Expo closes)
March 1 Little Rock Marathon
March 14 Bayou City Classic 10k
March 28 The San Felipe Shootout

In April I am looking to take a break and am hoping to volunteer for the Green 6.2 and then maybe do the 25k out at Brazos Bend again.

May - August become all about the 5k and 10k, with maybe a trail run of a bit longer distance. These are the months in Houston that are hot and humid and if you can make it through them without giving up you can come out on the other side in mid-December feeling like a champ.

UGHH what is a runner to do?

Sugarland FLS 30k

WOO HOOO!! The marathon training train runs on as I run the Sugarland Finish Line Sports 30k.

Sugarland City hall

The race docs say to be there by 5:30 or risk not being able to get parked before the start. So naturally I got there at 5 am. Yep that was me, wondering around taking random pictures of the start and finish areas. By 5:30 I was back in my car and set a timer for 6 and fell back to sleep. Normally race morning has me keyed up that just plain relaxing wouldn't happen. When I woke I went out for a quick 1/2 mile warm up.

December is unseasonably warm this year. It was 58 with 93% humidity at start time, which itself was a good 30 minutes before sun up. Things only got worse as the morning went on.

I think I did pretty good for this being the first time I have "raced" at this longer distance. I stuck more or less to my plan. Hydration-wise I brought 1 bottle of ready to drink Tailwind, 1 bottle of Tailwind in concentrated form (2 scoops in a 8 oz bottle) so that I could mix on the course as I go, and 1 bottle of just plain water. The plain water I have found is a must when taking Gu's. And yes I know the theory of using the Tailwind is that you don't necessarily need the Gu's but that is not the case for me. I don't need to Gu nearly as often as I previously did. I use to need them every 4 miles but now I use them every 6. I was able to stick to that for this race. 

In total I went thru 4 bottles (32 oz.) of Tailwind (5 if you count me absentmindedly chugging the last 2 oz of premix when I was cleaning out my FuelBelt), not sure how much water but I would bet a good 12 ounces, 2 Gu's and one honey packet.

Now as far as my race plan went, I didn't really have one, only to try and finish under 4 hours. The first mile was a little fast. The second mile I settled down keep pace behind a guy walking the course. By the time the sun came up I was a good 2-2 1/2 miles in when I began noticing GU packets. Just random full GU packets on the ground. This became a theme that got me thru what was coming ahead. I think I managed to pick up every other one I came across.  The 3rd mile as it came into the loops I had to remind myself to keep things settled, it is really easy for me to get hyped up and over-exert. By mile 4 I was were I wanted to be, nicely settled in easy going pace 13 m/m while running 3:1.  The looped part of the course is marked miles 4-16. 2 miles up and 2 miles back for 3 loops. 3 not so dramatic loops. So the first loop I spent time looking for GU's, I picked up 2 more and left 2 more. 

The second loop I spent looking for the Gu's I left the first loop, both stomped on and squirted across the road in perfect run over ketchup packet fashion. When I came around to my potty break somewhere between miles 6 and 7 the pace announcers had me at a 12:47 pace, perfect. I took my break and then started moving a bit quicker to catch up with my walker. I finally caught him around mile 9 and passed him at the water stop at mile 10 with another loop and a half to go. 

Finisher shirt and medal

The 3rd loop, well... the 3rd loop I spent reading road and business signs. The race is held in First Colony so really I spent the time dropping the "y" off of colony and seeing what the business would be named then. The two best I came up with were "First Colon Eye Care" and "First Colon Self Storage." Stupid and childish but the name of the game was keeping the mind busy at this point. 

The hardest part of the race however, had to be once you finish the loops. You still have 2 1/2 miles to go to the finish but it feels like the finish should be right there. As I made my way to the finish the air temp began to heat up which made for miserable running. I spent the final mile or so running 1:1 but maintained a 12m/m pace.

I came across the finish line just as the clock ticked 4:00:01. That meant I made my 4 hours goal. My chip time came in at 3:58:53. I could not have been happier. 

Up next:

21 miles of course. Longest run before taper is this coming Saturday. Can't wait!

Holidays

It's been awhile...a long while.

When last I was with you I was gearing up for the Wild Hare 25k. I can report that it went horribly. That's right, it was BAD. I am not sure what happened but I finally hit a road block (ok a trail block) and had my first DNF. I am really still not sure how I feel about it. In fact up until now I have pretty much blocked it out of my mind. The race itself was good. The trails were fantastic! The course was nice and the weather was not so bad. It was a little muddy but nothing too terrible. The Tejas Trail group put on a well organized race, good support, not a thing I could complain about. It just wasn't my day. After the first lap I fell apart and just plainly dropped myself from the race. 

How do you come back from that? I did what came naturally...I signed up for the Katy YMCA's Turkey Dash. Why not, I mean I had to get back at it. The inconsistency in my training had finally caught up to me. Running on Thanksgiving is/has always been a hard thing for me to do. Every year I'm the one who makes dinner. In fact this is the only holiday that I normally am in the kitchen from breakfast until dessert. I normally spend the entire day running a cooking marathon. Well this year, I tried to turn that marathon into a sprint and got bitten on the ass for it BUT... I PR'd my 10k time. LOL! Turkey dinner be damned. The Y's race is the 2nd biggest turkey day 10k in the Houston area. This year it was around 6000 people for all events.

 

I ran into a runner friend right before the start and we hit the parking lot for a lap to warm up a bit. And by warm up I mean it was 45 degrees out, chilly for Houston. I needed a 30 minute tempo run so I kept my intervals to average about 12m/m for the first few miles. When I came up to the 5k flag I decided to go to 3 1/2 then, 4 and then before I knew it, I was 5 miles in and feeling really fierce. My 3 minute interval times had dropped to 9:45-10 m/m and I couldn't believe how good I felt. My last interval time before the finish was at 8:34. Not too freaking shabby for this 12m/m runner. I crossed the finish line with a 1:36 PR. It was a good day, it was the run I needed to get back on track. 

 Sometimes you have to hit bottom before you can see how good the good things are.

I ran my furthest training run yet this past weekend, 19 miles. No issues. 6 weeks to GEAUX! 

Coming up:

FLS Sugarland 30k 12/14.

KatyFit Cookie run 21 miles 12/20.

And then one last long run just to see how far I can go before I start tapering.

LaPorte By the Bay Half Marathon

This was not a new race for me. In fact two years ago this race was my very first half marathon. Yep, this is the one that started it all. Sort of. If you've ever read or heard me speak about my first half you know that it was the race that made me think of quitting running. I am hardly the girl to let one bad experience make me throw in the towel. It was such a mentally exhausting run for me that by the time I got back to the hotel room I looked a ghost, just a shell of myself as my husband put it. In fact that moment was the very first time my husband was supported of anything that had to do with me running, he liked the idea that I was quitting. I think to him he was thankful that this phase had run it's course and things could get back to normal. He could get his fat wife back, the one who was more than willing to spend the weekends baking him cakes and cookies until we both weighed 2000lbs.

I have thought back and gone over that race in my head 100's of times. I think my training was solid. Other than not really knowing how to run hills I had followed my training plan at least 90%. I had run the other two races in the series, which I thought had given me a glimpse of that bridge running was about. I had practiced my nutrition and hydration and kept to my plan for the entire race. So what went wrong. I wasn't dressed right. It had been cooler the week leading up to the race, this is December after all it should be cold. So I geared up with and long sleeve and capris. What I didn't plan on was that it was near 80 at start time. 

LaPorte medal circa 2012

I was way overdressed and bound to failure from the start before the the other things happened. I started with a great 10k. Problem with that is that I had expended all I had before the bridge and just getting up that first side of it.  By the time I had made the turn around and was heading back up the bridge it took everything I had left. I was bargaining with myself. Running light post to light post to just keep going. When I came off the bridge I was maybe 2:10 in and I lost my mental game. I thought based upon my 10k times I should be able to finish in about 2:36, well that number was out and as I started walking everything else about me deflated. I was going to fail. That was the only thought in my head. I was going to finish but I was failing. Game over. I finally crossed the finish line at 3:00:54. And I cried.

For about a week I couldn't get that out of my head. Another week later I set off trying to wipe that time off my half marathon stat. 2 years later here I was going back to LaPorte again, giving myself a rerun on a race that has haunted me. 

Only today was completely different. Once again the weather had been colder the week coming up to race but I spent the Saturday before the race with my eye on the weather. First 55 and rain, then 60 and clear. So I packed every possible combination.

My only goal for the day was to come in under that 3:00:54. It was not destined to be my faster half. No way with the Fred Hartman bridge on the course was I going to run under 2:30.

I spent the first few miles listening to the crowd around me. I got the biggest chuckle when a few ladies behind me, who may have been talking to themselves out loud or maybe not, said really LOUDLY "go ahead and pass us we'll pass you back on the bridge." Honestly that pretty much sums up the best way to run this race, easy to the bridge and then full throttle on the way back.

Fred Hartman Bridge

I kept it easy to mile 5 and then hit the bridge. The best thing happened as I hit the top of the bridge around mile 6, it started to rain. It was cold and it was perfect and it helped me haul ass to the backside of the bridge. Mile 7 and 8 were back on flat ground which was fantastic. At mile 9 I passed a local hero who carries the American Flag, running for team RWB, at every race and for the first time ever it looked like I might finish ahead of him. That. Never. Happens. I pushed my butt back up that bridge.

Mile 10 coming  back down the bridge I let it all out. After I downloaded my watch I learn I had actually managed a 3 minute interval under a 9 minute pace. I felt great. I had tackled the bridge without any extra walk breaks and the finish line was dead ahead of me. After a quick pit stop. I crossed the finishline at 2:45:23, a good minute per mile faster than my first half. WINNING!!

So now why you should run this race?

#1 this race and really all of Running Alliance Sport's 6 races are the most organized races EVER! Smooth easy packet pick ups, even on race morning, clear, easy to follow race directions and always, something they pride themselves on, an on-time start (What happened in Galveston was a fluke and I am sure it won't ever happen again.)

LaPorte 2014 Swag

#2 if you're into swag they have it. Hats and gloves and shirts and ice packs, personalized bibs, the works!
#3 on course support. Every few miles tables of water and gateraid and lots of enthusiastic volunteers cheering you on and port-a-potties. I have run half's where there are potties on the course at certain aid stations, here they were at every aid station.
#4 There is something magical about hearing your name announced as you cross the finishline. It's a tough thing to do with close to 2000 runners but they manage it. If you have never heard you name as you cross the finish, it's amazing.

#5 After race party. The music keeps on playing and the party keeps on going. There is never a shortage of food or drinks not just for you but for your entire support crew. This year there was sausage, fresh made hot soup (perfect for the cold weather), pizza, fruit and beer, sodas, water, what ever your pleasure.

#6 Most races would make you walk back to the start-line where your car is (oh, parking, tons of close parking near the start-line) not here RAS has a number of vans shuttling runners back to either the parking lot at the beach or the lots at the high school.

All 3 race medals

Half Marathon Medal

#7 for all you bling whores, the medals. LaPorte is also part of the Texas Bridge Series (2 10k's and this half) and if you run all 3 races you get a 4th medal for completing the challenge. This year it was a spinner and the 3 medals from the series fit together to form a star and they all have some sort of moving part to them.

Series Medal

Little Rock Marathon

I had been looking for a March race. I was flipping from one race calendar to another looking for something that would fit in my schedule. Then I flipped to Twitter to see what was going on. Then Little Rock Marathon tweeted a trivia question, winner gets free entry. I googled quick and I answered and then waited and then... I WON!!! I'm going back (see my Feb 2014 recap) to Arkansas in March to run the Little Rock Marathon.  Thank you @LRMARATHON!

Now the problem. I already have The Woodlands Half in place for the day before. Going to be one hell of a rollercoaster running weekend!! 

I am still training for  my first marathon and I am already registered for THREE in 2015. 

Double the Race Weekend - sorry it's a long one.

First it is a very big race weekend here in Houston. The weather has finally turned to fall. The morning temps have been very mild and mostly humid free creating the perfect race conditions. For all types of races. 

To start my weekend I took off early from work Friday to help out for a few hours at the packet pick up for the Fairfield Triathlon.  It is a very fun experience to be on the other side of the table for a change. 

Saturday my girls and I ran (mostly walked) the RainTree Village 5k. I choose the race because of the price. For the $30 bucks I got entry's for all three of us. I was really surprised at how well this turned out for me. I got a bib and cotton shirt and my girls got bibs, trick-or-treat bags with Halloween cups in them that were filled with candy. The start was right at 8 am, as scheduled. The course was thru a neighborhood so the streets weren't coned off but at the major intersections there were police managing traffic. The course was marked with spray painted arrows better than most races that are not only twice this size but also double the cost. The only way you would have gotten off course would be if you just didn't completely pay any attention to anything around you. There was even a water stop at the neighborhood park. And at the finish, not Bling-whore type medals, but medals that would be reasonable to expect for a small race. For the record I have done bigger, more put together events that don't give out finisher medals, so I am giving the organizers of this race MAJOR props for even getting them. Post-race offered the usual assortment of fruit, granola bars, water and PowerAid along with candy and treats fitting any Halloween race. For a small neighborhood race I am giving this one an 'A'. 

Sunday was an actual race day. The first race in the warm-up series for the Chevron Houston Marathon, the Houston Half. This race is put on my the Houston Striders running club. Last year it's sell out snuck up on many runners. In previous years there was a half marathon relay for runners working up to the Aramco Houston Half marathon. This year there was no relay option but instead a single 10k. The two races mark the half way point for many local running groups training for either January race. 12 weeks out to the Louisiana Marathon it was a natural choice to run this half.

Being a race downtown your biggest obstacle is parking. It's not that there isn't enough but that it is slow going into the parking garages. There are two garages that are free to runners and a third that is free for volunteers, parking anywhere else can run you $7-$20. As I have said before the BEST place to park downtown for races is at Rusk and Bagby or Rusk #2 as it is now labeled. This just so happens to be one of the free garages. I got there about 5:15 and had no issues with parking, I was told 15 minutes later and that was when the issues started.

Yellow Volunteer tech-shirt

What most races don't do is make volunteer positions open to runners to do the morning of the race. This one does, so I also signed up to help out at the bag drop. Runners are so cute race morning, especially those who haven't run too many races. Runners coming to bag drop tables not to drop bags but looking for safety pins and even funnier is that the lady in charge of bag drop was prepared for them and made sure there were pins on every table. Once the crowd hit and things got moving my time prerace moved so freakin' fast it wasn't funny. Before I knew it, 1 1/2 hours had past and it was 15 minutes to start time. I had a really great time helping out and felt bad that I was leaving these ladies knowing that they were not going to get a break before the last runner had picked the last bag up. Dedicated volunteers will make or break any race and as a runner I could not be more thankful for their countless hours of selfless dedication.

I made my way up the hill to the team tents, which was murder. I think they need to work out better logistics in the way they organize things. I think if they swapped the bag drop and the team tent area they could sort of trap people below the start line and force them to enter the start shoot from the correct direction by blocking off the middle gate. It might help stop the issue that happened this year, that I am sure happens most years. which was people lining up facing the wrong direction. This year this issue delayed the start.

The Houston Half is a larger race, I think 5000 was the cap this year. I am sure it was at max capacity. That makes for an interesting first mile. I have issue enough with the first mile between warming up and finding a comfortable pace. Being run over is one thing I don't like to deal with. I seldom have to deal with people being in my way and even tho I start further back, I guess my slowness is too much for some rude runners to take. Anyways the few first miles run thru part of downtown, which is not really the best part of downtown. It's smelly, urine and sewage, and ugly as most run down buildings can be but before you know it.

When I got around to where the course ran a street over from the start I was able to cheer on the 10kers as they started their race. They course from here is nice for Houston. It follows Allen Parkway for a bit and then turns at Shepherd to run on Memorial Drive. What's really cool about running on Memorial Dr. is that there are other runners out, not running the race, that give cheer as they go on their run for the morning.

I took a pit stop at 6.5 miles. Why here? Well frankly because it was the first set of port-a-potties that didn't have a line in front of them since the start of the race. I was actually doing quite well at this point. I hit mile 7 and tried to do some math. If I kept up that speed and ran another 5 miles, I would finish in like 2:23. Problem was my math was all wrong and I needed some sugar to clear things up. At mile 8 I sucked down a honey packet and rechecked my math. I am sure you already figured out where I went wrong. At 7 I still had 6 miles to go. Meaning that if I maintained pace it would be a 2:36 finish. Not real shabby either way. With that sorted I threw out any time goals and just kept chugging on.

The Texas cut-out spins!

Somewhere between mile 9 and 10 I busted out the sports beans and completely did myself in nutrition wise. I had now over sugared myself. At this point I could not get enough water in me to dilute things fast enough. Groggy and a little lightheaded I adjusted my intervals and continued running 1:1. Mile 11 1/2 I was struck by what I thought were stomach issues, so I once again took a potty break and was thankful I was wrong. On my way back out to the course I ran into a runner friend, who like me was just trying to get to the end. So we chatted up the final final distance working the 1:1 and crossed in very good spirits. I ended up running it in 2:43:30, 15 seconds faster than my overall half average.



Coming up is another one of those "longest training run yet" weekends. 17 miles to my goal on Saturday and Yoga on Sunday are the plan.

Only two races on the calendar for November, LaPorte By the Bay Half and the Wild Hare 25k.

Toughest 10k Galveston

Shuttle buses at race start drop off

The second race in the Texas Bridge Series is the Toughest 10k Galveston. This was my second time running this race (and the series). Before we talk about the race we need to touch on logistics. The area around the start/finish is mainly homes in an area with a few businesses. This makes for very little open parking. In previous years runners have had to park along the I-45 feeder and walk into the race creating a very dangerous situation for all involved. This year RAS tried something different. Instead of having runners park at the start they had off site parking and shuttled runners back and forth.  From my hotel I saw the first buses begin rolling in at 5:45 and when I was leaving the hotel at noon the buses were still dropping people back off at their cars. Problem was the process of people moving didn't happen fast enough and in the 45 minutes between when runner were told to start lining up and 40 minutes after the race start time about a dozen buses (and a number of van loads) of people had to be moved. Yes I did just mention that the race started 40 minutes late BUT I am not sure how they could have avoided it. If they started on time half the race field would have been in left in a Target parking lot. That to be would have been a bigger disaster than the late start. 

Dawn over the start line.

What I would recommend is to staying on the island at one of the local hotels. There are not too many close to the start. The one closest is the Howard Johnson Express, which is little more than a roach motel. The drawback to staying there is the trains that run right behind the hotel, all night long. If you can live with that it is a quick walk to the start. On the other side of the freeway the closest hotel is the Springhill Suites. It's 1 1/2 miles to the start line which is a good distance for a warm up run if you are brave enough to tackle the feeder. The staff here is conscious about the fact that runners stay here and started the breakfast 2 hours early allowing runners to grab a little light snack before the race. Another plus this year is that it was about 1/2 mile walk to the shuttle parking lot. There are also a few other hotels on the side of the freeway near the shuttle drop. I was scheduled to run 9 for the day so I braved the feeder both ways. Thing to note about running this stretch of the feeder, the Springhill's freeway exit is the same one people are taking to get the offsite shuttled parking lots so it's really busy for the first 1/4 mile or so then just plain dark. Make sure you bring your reflective gear and a headlamp for safety, I also carried a nearly empty backpack which I stored at the bag drop at the start. The thing I like about their bag drop is that it's not one of those "you can only use our bag" kind of races so whatever you have works best. They also have race day packet pick up which fast and very efficient.

On to the race. The first mile leads you up to a water stop and the start of the bridge. The second mile takes you up and over for the first time. The third mile leads you another water station, on-wards to the turn around point on Tiki Island and then to another water station before you head back out to the bridge. Mile four winds up climbing back up the Causeway. Mile 5 is nice and easy as you come off the bridge back to flat running and the final aid station. By the time you see the flag for mile 6 you can hear the announcer reading off the names of everyone as they cross the finish.  At the finish you get one of the best medals you will every get. This year is had a spinner component. The festivities at the finish include all the food you can stomach, breakfast tacos and pizza as well as bananas and orange slices, sodas, water and ice cold beer. I did well this year, besting my previous finish time for this race by almost 2 minutes.

Coming up next week is a double running weekend. I an running the Raintree Village 5k with my daughters on Saturday and then Sunday I am working bag drop as well as running the Houston Half. If you will also be there be sure to come by and say "Hi."

Marathon training is certainly not on hold but it feel like it resumes again November 1st, 

16 Miles

Got my first taste of running out of my comfort zone this past weekend. I've got to tell you it wasn't ideal. The group started at a pace I don't train at but I kept at it and did little complaining about it. I did have some doubt that I could maintain it but as the miles went on it felt really good to dig deep, suck it up and do it. At about 14 1/2 miles my hip popped out of socket (or something of that nature) and it required me to stop running mile by mile and have to start running more minute by minute. BUT thankfully one of the coaches kept with me and helped me keep my mind off the pain. We talked thru it and even as we headed towards the run I mustered the strength to finish it running. I was relieved to be done but I have to admit I felt stronger for doing it. Thank you Jaye for sticking it out with me. 

I recovered by hitting the bath with as cold of water as I could stand for as long as I can stand it. After putting my feet up the wall for a few minutes I actually felt pretty good. I'm really wondering if it's more about what you do to recover more than how far you ran that makes the biggest difference. I mean I have run 4 miles and felt far worse the day after than I did after the 16. And of course after those 4 I do little more than a bit of stretching and making coffee.

The weather today is miserable. 75 with 90%+ humidity but it comes with the promise of 55 in the morning. I had an easy 35 on the schedule but I think I can manage that and tomorrow's prescribed speed workout. I think it may be good training for November when I have to add to races to make up my scheduled miles.

Buffalo Stampede

First Fall half in the books! I gotta tell ya, in my mind I was thinking this would be just another "small town race". I was so wrong. Don't get me wrong it was in the sense that it was a small town race with a small town crowd and small town after party with small race swag (virtual bag and cotton t-shirt) BUT this was no small race course. OMG! I had read that the last 2 miles were all down hill, it dawned on me towards the beginning of the race that, that meant the first two miles were all uphill. First 2 miles were nothing the entire 6.55 miles out were rolling hills which also meant that the same 6.55 miles back were the same rolling miles. Once again OMG! Hills are very non-existent in the area of Houston I am used to running in. Every so often I make it a point of running in town or a race that has hills BUT this time it was completely unintended. I think tho that in-spite of all that I did pretty alright.  Things they did right? It started on time OR at least they tried to start on time. There is nothing a RD can do about an accident on the race course pre-race. We ended up with about a 15 minutes delay (after a false start) while cars where removed from the road we were running on. They had a cheer squad contest which was cool. Starting at the 1/2 mile and then every mile after were these different squads which was fun. Inbetween the groups were the aid stations which were stocked with Gateraid and water and port-a-potties. It made it so you were never alone on the course for too long. Things I did right? I stuck to my program, until it became too completely unbearable to do so. Mile 11.5 I had to take a potty break and then about 12.5 I had to ease off the intervals and began running 1:1 for a full cycle but manage to get back on pace for the final 1/4 mile. 

Once I hit that final turn it was really all down hill and I managed to cross with a smile on my face. Not much of a crowd at the finish and the awards were already being announced but it was victory for me. This is the first race in the past 4 1/2 years that my husband came to support me on and it was so nice to actually have someone there for me at the finish. He even made effort to take some live action shots for me. I finished in 2:41:13.

Up next, marathon training takes a new turn. The Cy-Fit coaches have decided to merge the Marathon 1 group and the Marathon 2 group for a few weeks so instead of 14 next weekend I am now looking at the challenge of 16 miles. 15 weeks to the startline of the Louisiana Marathon and I am finally moving on to uncharted territory for me. 

September Recap

Yup, it's Fall! or at least it was in Texas for about a week. And now sadly, the heat and humidity have crept back into our weather pattern. There is hope I hear rumor of a "cold front" coming in for the weekend. I mention it because this weekend is also the official start of my Fall racing season. Some how for October I have 4 races on the books. Two half's, one 10k and 1 Halloween themed 5k that I will do with my daughters (so it really doesn't count). I have even signed up to volunteer at the bag drop of the Houston Half. I am really looking forward to a full and productive running month. By the end of the month marathon training will take me to the 15-16 mile range and right now I couldn't be more excited about running distances further than I have ever trained past before. The next 3 months are it, this seems so much closer than when I started this marathon journey in June. This marathon thing is really going to happen. That being said I need some goals to help work my way to it.

My first sub 2:30 half. My PR is 2:31 and change and that was in Beaumont in May in the heat so I am thinking I may be able to pull off something more like a 2:25 finish by the end of the winter season.   My first under 30 minute 5k. I've been real close a few times and even tho I don't have a 5k set to "race" until February I am hoping any speed I pick up over longer distances translates to a better 5k or even 10k time. So for 10k I am going to try for a 1:05. I think the Bayou City Classic is going to be the best race to try for that goal. 

Nutrition wise I am still going strong using Tailwind. Last fall I was a GU sucker every 4 miles but since the switch to Tailwind I have managed to work my way down to no GU up to 13 miles. Not that I didn't supplement with a little sugar, 5-6 sport beans and a honey packet but they are a far cry from the 3 GU's I normally would have eaten. After a long run I haven't been getting runger as bad either. In fact I am have actually lost a few pounds in the past month. Another testament to proper fueling.

So September wasn't my month. 55.67 total miles. I have finally managed to get back on track. I even finished the month with 1 minute repeats with my fastest being at a 7:43 pace. Not to shabby for a back of the pack runner.

Toughest 10k Kemah

Buttcrack of dawn at the Kemah Boardwalk

I have been down. I have been injured. I have been contemplating not running any more and then this happens. I headed to the Galveston Bay, more specifically Kemah to run the Toughest 10k. Oh my what a morning. It had been raining in Houston darn near all week and this dawn was a BEAUTIFUL way to break all that grey. There is just something very magical about listening to the water, feeling the salted breeze hug you as you watch the dawn of another gift of a day. Even more so magical when you are about to put your toes on the line and release everything you've got to run up and down a bridge 4 times with nearly 2000 other runners.

Now you know I am not one to repeat races often. There are a few I do annually just because there are no other races (August races I am looking at you) to do that time of year but there is something to be said for coming back to a race that has challenged you in the past. I found the series when I was not selected in the lottery for the Houston Aramco Half Marathon and thinking I was ready to run a half, I thought the By the Bay half would be a good fit for me. Well, runners logic also told me that I should not just do the last race in the series, I had to do all three. The first year I ran the The Bridge Series, I was a total nube! I had been racing maybe 2 5k's a month and the occasional 10k for almost a year. "Hill work" wasn't even part of my vocabulary. That race morning I saw the bridge and thought WTF have I done, this is really going to be tough, they didn't not lie when naming this race. It was the most difficult thing I had done running so far. I lost my shit half way up the first pass. I struggled to run up the second. The third pass I walked, by the fourth time across the bridge, I was done, forget it. Coming off the bridge, less than a mile to go, someone said "c'mon Mrs. Wallace you can do it!" sometimes when running that is enough. I shuffled to the finish and crossed in 1:20. Honestly that's really not that bad of a race time but there was something else inside me that nagged at me, that somehow I could have done it better. 

Startline arch 

Today I had something to prove, not to anyone else but just to me. This year, I started out in the middle and waited for the road to thin out a bit before was going to go for it. Only it was really crowded this year. I ran on to the first mile, still waiting for it to thin out. Made the u-turn at the end of the street and headed to the first water station where it was crowded and things sort of thinned a little (water stations are always the best place to lose those running around you who are distracting) but once on the bridge and people started walking up the incline it became clear running. The best was at the top of each pass of the bridge the breeze was cool and really did a lot for keeping the days' heat a bay. I think the best is just how fantastic it felt to be running again after the past two tough weeks I had been having. There is really something powerful that comes with running. On my last 3 minutes uphill on my last pass over the bridge I was even able to push it a bit. I hit the downhill and started passing people. One by one to the finish line. This year I crossed in 1:16:38 not a course record by any means but that's almost a full minute per mile improvement on my part and over "hills" no less.

So now here's the reasons to do this race. On the streets leading up to the bridge, on the undersides of the bridge and along the streets leading back to the finish line are the most AMAZING, cheerful, loud and encouraging group of people you could ever want to have cheering a race on. Not just people cheering on those they know but actually reading the names on people's bibs and shouting out encouragement to everyone who passed them. From the front of the pack to the back of the back. Most races only announce the winners as they cross the finish but at RAS races all finishers get to hear their names announced. Another reason to run this series is the medals. They are GREAT and among Houston races they can't be beat for style and quality. This years 3 races fit together to make one large medal and then there is a fourth for doing all 3 races. The party at the finish is also another reason to sign up. Tons of food, fantastic music (Other Brother was dj'ing), and runners who are in the best of moods.

What is even better than running a good race? Is that it is motivating me to get back on track. I actually went out this morning for my scheduled training run. I had thought I made it over the bridge unscathed, that was until my first walk break this morning and my calves started screaming at me. Oh well, they had better get use to it again. 

Injuries

It's been a tough few weeks of marathon training. Just when I committed to myself that I was going to get back to my scheduled weekday runs - life happens. First I miss my 10 mile long run and then before I could make it up I get in a minor car wreck. As I stood in the street waiting for the Sheriff's to show, I notice I have a good sized seat-belt burn on the side of my neck and my neck is starting to stiffen to the point I could barely turn it side to side. CRAP! I started thinking back to my last wreck and the 6 months of physical therapy and 3 spinal injections it took for me to get to the point where walking wasn't an issue. I went to the ER and as I sat there in the room I started to cry. 18 weeks out from race day and I maybe sidelined until next season. The doctor came in and as she examined me, I asked about running. She gave me that knowing look only another running could and said that if I wanted to run again I would wait and see what this really is and give it time to heal before getting back at it. Thankfully after a few days the swelling and pain subsided. By weeks end I was ready to get out for a few test miles. By Saturdays long run I was ready and amped up for 12. And I did them with no issues. Come Sunday morning I rolled out of bed for yoga and arms. I laid out my mat, grabbed my 3 pound hand weights and 3 minutes in pull the feck out of my lower back. Yea me. 

Now I don't know about you but when something is happening in my life my facebook feed seems to pop up with articles about it. As I sorted thru the ones about "getting back at it" after injury I found one that listed the different injury types and when you know you're ready to start up. It said for back injury that if you can hop and balance on one foot and then the other you should be ready to run. Monday - nope not happening, Tuesday left side no issue, right side forget it, Wednesday so much better, Thursday morning YES! I laced up, grabbed a water bottle and went outside, it was raining, I went back in determined and grabbed a visor only to come back out to it being torrential downpour. I turned on my Garmin, low battery, RATS, ok all signs lead to try again tomorrow. I stretched, it was ok but it's not running. 

There are upsides. I am well rested. Today starts packet pick up for the first race in the Texas Bridge Series, the Toughest 10k Kemah. I am going 6 for 6 with Running Alliance Sport this year and am so looking forward to it. Saturday is race day and even if I walk more than I get to run I should finish without too much pain. There is a 2 hours time limit so it's kind of walker friendly. 

Marathon Training wise this week is 10 so I'll probably do 8-9 with warm up and cool down. Next week we get back to 13 and then the first week of October cut back to 9. I have taken advantage of our cut back week to skip group training and run my first fall half. I signed up for the Buffalo Stampede put on my the Brazos Valley Museum of natural History. They say it's fast (don't they all) and relatively flat (this has to be some sort of euphemism they use to trick people to forget about hills) but the last 2 miles are on the down hill. And it was cost effective, $50 for a half is a great price these days. It will also be the first of four races for October. Next comes the Toughest 10k Galveston followed by the Raintree Village Trick or Trot 5k (my daughters are running it with me) and the day after it the first race of the Chevron Houston Marathon warm up series the Houston Half. I am hoping that last one has better weather this year compare to last year but even running in the rain is no really turn off.

I think, no I hope, that I am getting all my injuries out of the way and am able to get back on track by the end of September. October and November a crucial training months as mileage ramps to the 15 to 18 to 20 mile range.

I should have pictures and a race recap for you all on Monday. Until then Happy Running!

September

September 2nd and I already have a race recap for you all. I ran the Alaina Dixon 5 miler put on by the Runner's High Club. I have briefly mentioned this race in a previous post but I don't think I really did it much justice. Most important thing about this race is really it's back story. Alaina Dixon is a local runner who in 2011 collapsed a few feet from finishing the Chevron Houston Marathon. In the years since this race had been created to raise funds for various running related emergency medical issues. I may be wrong but last year I believe it was raising funds directly for the medical team for the Chevron Houston Marathon and this year it is to benefit IIRM - the International Institute for Race Medicine. This is one of those races that will surprise you. It is very well put on, something I have learn to expect from RHC, from easy early morning packet pick up to the balance of port-a-potties. Everything you would want from a race is included. Up beat pre-race music, timely announcements, pre-race "prayer", singing of our National Anthem, and most importantly an on time start.

Last year the race shirts were tank-top tech shirts with some really awesome mesh panels on the sides. This year they were female/male cuts in a super soft tech weave in a fantastic neon yellow. The route takes you thru the Uptown Park area along Post Oak and into the Tanglewood area neighborhood. The neighborhood streets are pretty well fully lined with old growth oak trees that make the most magnificent shade for what would otherwise be a really nasty hot run. The course water station is placed at the entrance of the neighborhood at just before the 1 1/2 mile mark you also hit it again on your way back just under the 4 mile mark. I did see a few people cut the course in this area, one said he missed the turn around for the 2 mile walk (which was the mile 1 marker but yes, there is just a walk option with this race too) but he was 4-5 blocks past the 2 mile marker (not sure who he thought he was fooling) and I saw another lady just plain give up a few blocks from the mid-race timing mats (she did at least rip her timing tag off her bib as she turned around). I had been passed early on by two ladies that had also run the Houston Wellness Project's free 5k in George Bush Park (if you're in the area and haven't checked them out yet, you need to) the day before, and I only remembered them because one of the was wearing full makeup (make-up while running is a subject for another blog), including lipstick on Sunday, as she was for this race, but I mention them because I decided I would use them as my race rabbits. We had been pretty evenly paced the day before and they were still a few block ahead of me so they seems like a safe bet to have something to go after but before I knew it around the 3 mile mark I was passing them. From there it became all about catching the next group of runners. Which I did. It is easy to see who has been out and running in the heat and who hasn't. I think for most runners 3 miles in a bit of heat and humidity is one thing but pushing beyond that is something entirely different, even for myself mile 4-5 wasn't easy and I have been out in it all summer. As I crossed the finish there was some cheering, this is also one of the few smaller races where the front of the pack actually stays and cheers for back of the pack. Not much for food options, granola bars and such but there is plenty to choose from in the way of liquids. There was some offerings from No Label Brewery as well as Mickey Ultra and also the assorted Muscle Milks and sodas. Finishing left me spent but in a very good way. 

This race was the ending of my Labor Day weekend tri-runs. I started with 9 with Cy-fit on Saturday, met a running buddy for 2.5 miles before the HWP 5k and then we added another 2.5 miles back to our cars after the race for a total of 8 for Sunday and then these 5 gave me 22 running for the 3 day weekend.  Starting September off on a high note!

Coming up this month I am running the first of the three races that make up the Bridge Series, the Toughest 10k Kemah. Of the three races this one I think is the hardest. Up and over four times. This month in MARATHON training we ramp back up to familiar territory to the 13-14 mile range. To celebrate this the Half Fanatic (#6208) in me signed up for the Buffalo Stampede in Byran TX October 4th. It will be my first half of the Fall season. Here's hoping to early fall weather and fingers crossed by year's end my first under 2:30 half.

End of August

It's coming to the end of August. 7 long hot days left. I've been quiet this month. I would like to say it's because I had my head down and my feet on the pavement but I can not lie, I really haven't. I have had some issues with getting out for my mid-week runs. I was talking with a neighbor and he mentioned that I run this way one certain days and that way on other days. It kind of set me back, first off I run early enough that I didn't think anybody was paying attention to my "habit". Second, as a woman, I have always been taught to not make your life into a pattern. The guy creeped me out to the point I decided to run after work. So for the first week it had been about 100 degrees out everyday so I didn't run. I did keep up my long run and some strength training. A week later I got a nasty sinus infection so once again all running aspirations were off. 

Dawn over downtown Houston

I have managed to get out to some of the best summer races in Houston. Early in the month I hit up the Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer 5k. It's hosted by the Runner's High Club, who also puts on a few other notable races in town. They do the Run Wild 4th of July 5k and the Aliana Dixon 5 miler on Labor day as well. Their races a very well organized from swag bag to finish line. The LHC is held at the Downtown Aquarium so there is tons of free parking and at dawn when the lights are twinkling on the rides it a very pretty sight to be seen. This was my 3rd year running it and not much changes from year to year, only my ability to block out the uphill at the beginning and end of the race. The fountains at the end are quite delightful. Another bonus is any prerace warm up can be done along the Buffalo Bayou which is paved and lighted and a hidden gem that I like to take advantage of when I can get a chance to. 

The second August race I ran was the Kingwood 10k (there is also a 5k option). It is a "perfect" timing race. Marathon training has gotten to 8 miles and this race is right at the cut back week in my schedule. Memorial Herman is the title sponsor for the race and they make sure runners are taken care of. Not many races will do cold towels for their 5kers but this one does and twice for 10kers. I would have liked there to be a water stop at the 1st 10k turn around, just past mile 2 but other than that no complaints about this race. 

School starts back this week so my laziness towards getting up for the morning run will have to end, no more extra hour to sleep in, being back by 6 am takes on another meaning. I think that with having to get out by 4:30 my creepy neighbor will be less likely to see me and being out in the cover of darkness will help combat the heat issues again. The schedule this week calls for 4 mid-week runs and a long run of 9. I am also going to run the HWP 5k on Sunday followed by the Aliana Dixon 5 miler on Labor day. I am actually looking forward to September and long run mileage getting back to half marathon distances. It's really time for me to lock things back up and get truly serious about what I am working for. My mid-week bread and butter runs become more important and therefore I need to take them more seriously. The first of the 3 bridge series is coming up, Kemah. It's the hardest of the 3 so of course I am looking forward to it immensely.

Checking in...

I have been checking in with myself about where I am with my running goals and my 2014 resolutions for running. I had 6 things on my list:

1) to be more social... Every month is a little more but I have at least been posting on my online groups where I'll be running and asking other runners to join me. Also in joining USAFit Cypress I now do my long runs in a group setting, which I have to admit has been really nice. I still tend to run alone but at least I am out with other runners trying to achieve the same goals. The after run social aspect of the group is really great and the seminars about things from what the different type of shoes that are out there to how to use a foam roller properly have been really informative.

2) getting my family involved...This one is a little tougher. My youngest loves to run with me so I have been taking her out to the bayou with me a few times a month when I run hills. My husband has agreed to run a 5k with me in January, so lots of progress there. My other two kids do not show much interest but I have still not given up on getting them involved. 

3) keeping an 8 base in the off season...Kind of hard to do since my last long race (Magnolia Hills 21k) was only a few weeks ago so I haven't had much of an off season. Things have gone from there to marathon training which brings me to #4.

4) THE MARATHON... as I have blogged about before I put my big girl panties on and registered for the Louisiana Marathon. Training officially started on 7/12. There is no going back now.

5) Quality vs Quantity...this is really a tough choice. I love being out there at races. I have taken my marathon training schedule and have fitted only races that fit in with the long distance mileage runs to it. Some months now I only have one race, other I have 3. My up coming races now have a different focus, rather than just finishing they are to help me condition for Louisiana. 

6) The run fund...I started one but it now serves a slightly different purpose, to fund Christmas. I was feeling selfish setting money aside to just for my running. I decided that the money would be better spent giving to my family so I am still setting it aside, but what ever is left at the end of the year I will use for races in 2015. In the mean time I have been using whatever is left from my budget to buy races and gear. I have managed to already book races into March of 2015. 

I am ending July on a few non-run days. Life sometimes gets in the way of running but I take everyday a new. I have managed to move 77+ miles this month. Not the best of months but with long runs being cut down and the heat motivating me to run in the morning less, it's not a bad number. Tomorrow I am ducking out to run the trails in Memorial Park so I hope to end the month with just over 80 miles. August looks to be another low mileage month but I have 2 races, the Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer 5k and the Kingwood 10k. Both are fabulous, well but together, very popular runs in town and I look forward to running them every year.

Runners Toes

Really this is just a lament about my lack of toe nails. I promise I'll spare you the pics. So far this year I have lost a total of 7 nails, all but my big toes and the one next to it on the left side. After Magnolia Hills I took the polish off my toes and what did I notice? Those 3 are now in the midst of coming off too, plus my second to last small toe on my right side is now coming off, again. That little toe has taken a beating this year, Seabrook gave it a huge blister from the tip to half way down under it, plus I think I may have broken it since it was squishy for some time. Now my poor little toe is squishy once again. Ugh! What to do? I am cool with the little ones coming off on their own, they are small so it doesn't take too much time, but I can not imagine how long it's going to take for the big ones to come completely off. In reality I guess they have been working their way off for some time, it appears that they are both at the half way up mark. Just not sure if I should wiggle them off the rest of the way or wait. They don't hurt so I might just wait. Guess I'll just paint them and live in denial about it a bit longer.

X-terra Magnolia Hills 21k

Sometimes becoming a better runner means getting out of your comfort zone. I would consider myself the "outdoor" type. Those who know me know that I not only know my way around setting up camp but love hitting the hiking trails. However, since moving to Texas and mainly due to the humidity, I have not really done either in nearly 10 years. I miss it. It has come time for me to do what I love. This weekend I combined my wanting to be a better runner with my love of nature and hit the trails for the X-terra Magnolia Hills 21k. I was a bit anxious about it since we are heading into mid-July and that crazy summer heat and humidity is seriously settling in. The forecast for the day. hot with a chance of it getting hotter with an even bigger chance of if you are out there too long you might burst into flames. No, I am dead serious. Starting line temps looked to be 78 with 80% humidity and add to that close to 3 hours worth of running, my finish line temp forecast looks to be near 90 and once you factor in the humidity the "feels like" temp should easily be anywhere from 95-100 and then add that 20 degree spike for a person running temp and yes I could very well burst into flames out on the trails.

I am calling him "The Omen"

I get there so early I am the second runner there. I go to check out the site and it's nothing but up hill from the parking spots. The view from the start area across the lake was really beautiful as the sun rose. I got a good reminder as I came back to my car to gear up that I am a visitor in nature as I nearly stepped on a Copperhead snake that was taking up residency under my driver side door.
The event was so low key that even when the director was yelling thru his megaphone you could not hear him. Us runners gathered down by the lake for the late 8 am start and wait. At 8 am they started the announcements and by 8:10 we started the race. The course is 2 large loops and one smaller loop around a lake.

Magnolia Ranch lake at dawn

The 21k is to follow the blue markers and arrows thru what is a off road bike trail. BIKE TRAIL. Runners should always take notice when a race is run what is primarily a bike trail. The trail in most parts was about a person width wide, bikes will typically run down the center of the trail and after extended use they wear a groove that creates a "V" in the center of the trail. For runner this means the our foot strike on either side of this groove is at a slant, this is very hard on a runners ankles and after repeated miles can make your foot feel like it is going to snap off. As was the case with these trails. The saving grace being that after a few miles the trail opened up for a good distance to allow your ankles to stretch back to normal before having to take another beating. The trail had been listed as being "fast" and on some of the down hill there was nothing to do other than speed down it but of course you had to climb in order to get to that point and where as in the switch backs it wasn't much of an issue on the straight uphill portions in the sand it was a bit more difficult. Luckily all but the last two miles where mostly under the cover of the trees so it was warm but it wasn't blazing until you got towards the finish.

Finishline Balloon

For their part the RD's did a great job of marking the trail. The aid stations were no more than 2 miles apart and well stocked and manned. Well, that is until the middle of my second loop, those manning the stations had left, which would only be an issue if someone had gotten injured, there would be no one there to radio for help. With these trails not being for the inexperienced I feel that is a little irresponsible. In fact they let bikes out on the trail before the back of the pack had a chance to finish and one lady got injured trying to not get run over resulting in a DNF for her. The third thing for the back of the pack that sucked is that at the finish there wasn't anything left. The coolers were empty of everything but gateraid, only food left was stale bagels and orange slices and the raffles had all been done. Just another reminder to always carry a stocked cooler and have your own food at the end of any race.

Bib and tech shirt 

So how did I do? Miserably. I hated everything about the last 3rd of the race. The heat didn't allow me to "race" the course. By the time I finished I had pulled a ligament in my ankle. The course was a lot more technical than I had planned for and a lot more uphill than it been lead on to be. It would have been nice if Race Revolutions had put up an elevation chart for the course. I had in mind a 2:45-3 hour finish and actually finished in 3:35. I guess that isn't really that bad considering the amount of up hill walking I ended up doing and the few minutes I spent answering the age old question "Does a runner shit in the woods?" to which I also learned another use for a "chill tie".

Up next - nothing! No not really, marathon training. So far so good with that. The Cypress Fit winter 2 group kicked off while I was at Magnolia Hills so I will pick up with them for 3 miles next weekend. So far this month I have logged 43 miles. This week training consists of 3 easy run of 20-30 minutes and a long run of 3 miles. Just the kind of break my body needs to recover. Up coming races, nothing until the beginning of August and the Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer 5k and then right before school starts the Kingwood 10k. Both of which I have done before and have loved. 

Baytown Bud Heatwave

Talk about a hot run! WOW! This is the race I have been spending the past month, running in the heat of the day, to prepare for. When they say "if you are not use to the heat..." they mean it. Nowhere else in Houston are you going to get sausage on a stick, ice cold beer, watermelon, a costume and a sausage eating contest, after a not 5k but 5 MILE 4th of July run! The wildly popular running group Runners Alliance Sport really puts together a GREAT race and this one is no exception to that rule. Yes rule, their races are the standard that I measure other local races against. Everything from swag, to race course energy is top notch!

I came out an ran it two years ago just as it was starting back up after a few year hiatus and man has it grown! Where to start, how about parking. Since you can either park at the finish and walk to the start or vise versa parking is not difficult. Not too many races where you can park 2 cars away from the start. Even after I got lost on my way to the Lee College start line I still managed 2nd row parking. But having to park at the finish wouldn't have been bad either, the little over 1/2 mile walk to the start makes a good warm up for any runner. Just as the walk back after the finish is a great cool down. Not many races also have this organized of a race day packet pick up/race day registration going on right there in the starting corral. The race announcer keeps the vibe up beat and light, even under threat of a bit of rain you would not know it.

The race announcements are timely and informative, often with a little local trivia and some blurb about local runners doing good. And that is right up to the 10...9...8...7 am on the dot air horned start! The first mile takes you out to the festival that is Baytown's 4th of July celebration, make a left out to Market St. where you run behind more vendor booths, the funnel cake smell took me back to the Alameda County Fair, ah how I miss my hometown but for today Baytown is a close second. At the first mile maker you are greeted by the first water/Gatorade station. You keep going to mile 2 you hit another water stop along the now tree framed road. The road loops back around so at about 2 1/2 you come back there to the volunteers cheering you on hand you a towel freshly pulled from a bucket of ice water. Did I mention how hot it is, 77 with 100% humidity. Running makes it feel like it's 90+ out. Just before mile 3 you hit the first aid station again also freshly stocked with cold towels. Trucking on towards mile 4, to avoid more redundancy you turn right and make another loop around towards the start line, but before you can get there you have to pass another cold towel station and yet another, full aid station. As you turn this corner you are looking down the road to where the start was, yes was there are no longer any signs that this was where all this heated madness began, well other than the fact that if you parked here you are now running past your car, 1/2 mile to the finish. The finish is one street over and as you run towards it you can hear the cheering and music and smell the sausage cooking. A quick right, down a block and another quick right and the finish balloon is dead ahead. You only have to run thru the crowd lined streets where kids are proudly handing runners small American flags to wave as they cross the finish line while the announcer shouts out their name.

Bud Time

What a HIGH to finish on. What a better place to finish than at the Wismer Budwiser distribution center. At the end of the finish shoot, just off to the left a bit are cold as cold can be outdoor showers, with a small line of runners waiting to cool off in them.  Such a fantastic time!

Last time I thought I was ready and I ran it in 1:04:58, this year I finally knew what being ready was and clocked in at 56:18.  

June - it's hot out there!

June really is the hardest month to run in, in Houston. I know I have been really quiet this month and that is for good reason. I have been keeping my head down and my feet moving. The heat and humidity have seriously set in and the acclimation process is long and hard. My hottest run so far was on an afternoon where it was 91 with the heat index making feel like 99 with 53% humidity, and I still managed just under 5 miles. I finally managed to get back on my schedule and am settling back into 4 days running 2 days strength with cross and 1 full day of rest. 

I did manage to get out the USAFit Cypress orientation day run but since it was only 2 miles I bagged off my long run for the weekend (like a fool). Now I feel the pressure as I am now 3 weekends away from a half marathon trail run in Navasota. I know it's going to kick my ass. That's what I get for being lazy during the beginning of June. About Cyfit, I think I am a bit on the ropes about actually joining, only because the beginning mileage is so low. I don't have any long run targets after July so there is no reason why I can't lower my base and then ease back up to it but I also can't get over that feeling that I may lose something in the process. I have given myself until the 30th to decide.

Currently I have hit 77 miles for the month (same as the end of May) with a long run and a speed work out still to go. As strange as that sounds it will be my highest mileage month so far this year.

This is my summer race schedule, if you see me out at any of these, please give me a shout out:

July 4th Baytown Heatwave 5 miler
July 6th The Heights free 5k Downtwon H-town + hill workout
July 12th Magnolia Hills Half Marathon Navasota Tx.

August 9th Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer 5k Downtwon H-town
August 23rd Lake Houston 10k Kingwood Tx.
September 20th Toughest 10k Kemah Tx.

Also I am looking for another good run for September, if you know of one let me know.

1st Street 5k

How do you get more races to come to your town? You come out an support the ones that do come to your town, whatever the distance. When the guys over at Run In Texas announced that they, in conjunction with No Label Brewing Co. were putting on a new race in town I jumped on it! As more race directors move races to the west side of Houston I'm trying to do all of them I can. There are so many races to do downtown or in the NASA/Gulf area it's nice to have ones now popping up closer to home. FYI, I also hear that Onurmark Productions is getting geared up to run a half marathon in Katy in February 2015. There are a few smaller events 5 and 10k's in the area and last year the Texas 10 series brought a 10 mile event to the area but if this half comes together it will be the longest distance I have heard of run in Katy proper. Back to the 5k, this is the first time I get to run in what is known in the area as "Katy proper". Katy is really 3 different areas, south of I-10 where all the newer construction is happening, Katy proper, which is the historical Katy and the area where I live, which really is far north and smashed between Houston and Cypress. I almost never have any reason to go to that side of town so this race was a good excuse to get out and see the "town".  To take full advantage and the late start time (8:30) I got to No Label a little after 6 so I could get some miles in before the race. I headed out along 1st St, and decided to run until it dead-ended and then run back hoping to get in at least 4 miles. This section of town got me to thinking about my home town, Pleasanton CA. Small mom and pop shops, the tree lined street complete with railroad tracks running along side the road. Just not as hot. Or humid. And less mosquitoes. 

Rice Dryer and silos

Katy is/was an old rice farming town. Along the high way the old rice silos remain. No Label has moved into a warehouse along side of them. For me being a lover of all old buildings it was a special treat to be able to get up close to them. The was very well organized except for 2 things (other than the late start time) 1. the "instruction" announcement was a bit long and late and 2. the start line is about a 1/4 mile from the point where they had runners gather prerace, which meant moving 500+ people the distance and then getting them to turn the corner. Which led to #3, 10 minute late(r) start. The course itself was good, fast and shady until the finish. The last 1/4 mile was on a pot holed filled gravel road.  

The hardest part at the finish was waiting in line for my finisher pint glass. Must have taken a good 10 minutes to get to the front of the que. Only real problem there, only 2 people checking bibs and handing out glasses. The beer lines, on the other had were quite empty (everybody still in line getting their glass). On a day like today this pint glass is better than any medal they could have put around my neck, it's hot and something cold to put in it was well earned. Will I come back if the do another one? You betcha, anything to support my local community. 

Still having issues getting my motivation in check but I have no choice right now but to get out there and run, if I don't the heat will drag me down and kill me. No not really, but I will end up struggling my way thru the summer wishing I were dead during races. No more races left for June. :(

Up coming races:

July 4th - Baytown Heatwave 5 miler
July 12th - Magnolia Hills Half Marathon

August 9th - Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer 5k, Downtown Houston

August 23rd - Lake Houston 10k.

And a whole lot of marathon training in between.