December Recap

The holidays have had me a bit behind, so here goes. As of last up date  I had run the BCS Half and was on to Houston's 12k of Christmas. I took a slight week off only running 6 miles and then hit the 12k. I made myself a tutu for the race and even added some jingle bells to the ends for an added "wanting to punch myself in the face" effect.

See all that glitter? I think it all ended up in my car after the race. 

I am thankful that these types of holiday races there are plenty of other people dressed up as assholes  (myself included) that after a few minutes you really do feel that if you  hadn't dressed up you would be the stand out. It was a 2 loop course and the weather was a bit unexpected, 70 and on the verge of a major rain storm, but all in all a good race. I even hugged Santa after I finished. I went out with no time expectation and after telling myself to settle down and slow down I was run up upon by a fellow mother runner and she and I ran the rest at a pretty steady 12m/m pace so I finished in 1:29:09 and just in time as on my way home the sky opened and the predicted rainstorm let loose. What the race did for me was put me back on track, my next big race is Jan 19th and this was the first step to bring my miles back up to where they need to be.

Free 5k. 

I managed to keep momentum going thru Christmas week and compromised out a little afternoon tempo run at Memorial Park. I logged 16.4 miles for the week. I also signed up for the Wellness Project's free 5k.  Which for a free race is timed and even had a manned (ok boyed) water stop. I ended up pacing behind an older gentleman and ran it in 33:40 which is the fastest 5k I have run this winter season, never-mind it is also the first 5k I have run since August. So I made before and after the race count towards my LSD for the week.


Now it's December 30th and I have racked up 97.34 miles for the month and a good 5 miler scheduled for the morning, my first 100 mile month.

Up next ABB 5k and Aramco Half Marathon or Houston's Marathon Weekend as they are trying to get it called in town.

BCS Half Marathon Recap

I ran the BCS Half marathon on 12-8-13. What a GREAT race for so many reasons. First off ya'll need to follow this race on the Book of Face. I have come across no other race that has such great communication with its runner as this one does. Daily, weekly, monthly, they can't be beat. First off on their end, the Dallas Marathon was cancelled because of this freak winter storm that hit northern Texas, the freeze line came down just below Bryan/College Station so things were dicey in the area so what do they decide to do, they offer deferrals on the Friday before the race so those not comfortable with traveling don't have to and then turn around and offer up those spots as well as 200 additional spots (no medal or t-shirt and just generic bibs) to runners who had just found out they were raceless 48 hours before Dallas was set to run. Why is this huge, other than the logistical reasons, there had been a no compete pack between the 2 races and last year Dallas decided to break it and move to BCS's weekend. Karma being what it is gave us beautiful weather the first weekend in December and forced Dallas to shut down on marathon weekend. For this race to do so much to accommodate these runners so that their training wasn't for nothing is AMAZING in my eyes. Even if that had not happened I still know of no other race that would be standing fast watching the weather and posting at 1:30 am or 4 am about the conditions. By the time I got to the race site at 5:30 am EVERYTHING was ready to go. Not many races even have the start arch up at that time. Parking was a dream, starting line port-a-potties were all over the place, no lines. Started right at the dot of 7am. All things that are important to me as a runner.  Did I mention it was 30 degrees out, below freezing, ice on the roads type of shit and they never faltered. The race support was first rate. From the water stops to the aid stations, the neighbors on the route who came out of their house to cheer runners on in the freezing cold, many even playing music or holding up signs of encouragement. Running thru the campus was really cool, I had never been to Texas A&M so it was beautiful seeing the buildings and the clock tower. Almost makes me want to go back and have that college experience I never had. Best part, hands down best part was running up to one of my fellow mother runners. I am usually alone and now twice during races I have come across one of these amazing woman and with this race it went from good to better. I think she felt she was keeping me from my race but honestly it was so nice to not be alone it brought a whole new meaning to running for me. She kept telling me to go on ahead but I knew she was struggling with that last mile and I am proud that I didn't leave her until we hit 13 only once we came into sight of the finish line did I go. I got my medal and then waited to give her a big hug at the end. She really made my race. Race time was good too, 2:40:39.

BCS Marathon +Half Marathon Starting balloon

So now here I am thinking about what's next. Marathon? Yes that will happen in 2015. But for 2014 I think I am going to try to become more of a social runner, I think maybe I will work on that. Month to date 42.19 miles. Coming up 12k of Christmas 12-21-13.

November recap, a look to December.

November has been a little disappointing. I had completely lost my enthusiasm for running. Not that I had stopped running but it has become a chore again. :( I had worked it out were if I kept running until the end of the month I would have reached my 100 mile month goal but Saturday morning came and it was apparent that what I really needed after all the Thanksgiving hustle and bustle was some rest. Ironically that did not include sleep. I spent the hours when I would have been running looking for races for the coming year. I think I was trying to find a reason to keep running beyond March. There were no  Black Friday race deals that were worth taking but I did finally make a decision on the 12k of Christmas and found a $10 off discount so I have that to look forward to at the end of the month. I also found out that the Blue Bell run is only $20 until the end of the year so I got in on that one for mid-April. I also signed up for the Houston Wellness Project free 5k on the last Saturday of December. I have told myself that I am going to run it all year and since this is my last chance, no time like the present. I also found that the half marathon I wanted to do in May moved to March so that leaves a hole in May, maybe I'll take May off. In the end November finished with 86.89 miles still pretty respectable, considering the eating holiday and all.

On to December...

Race week is upon me. BCS Half Marathon this coming Sunday. For some reason I am a bit unsettled this go round. I only skipped one long run. December 1st I was back on training per usual with 11 slow ass miles. I even managed 4 miles this morning, 1st slow, 2 w/speed intervals and 1 slow cool down. I feel ok but my mind game doesn't seem to be in it. I am planning on running it as a training run instead of as a race run, so maybe that'll calm my nerves some.I am not sure why I am nervous for this run. The weather is going to be horrible but I have run the past few race in either horrible rain or very cold (ok for Houston it was cols). It's not the distance, this will be my 5th half marathon for 2013. Every little pain feels weird. I woke up and my big toe ached. When I got back from my run this morning the top of my foot hurt. Something just has me quite unsettled but I am sure after the first mile or two I should ease in to some sort of calm. Next stop on this journey is the expo to pick up my packet.


3 races lefts for the year, BCS Half, 12k of Christmas and the Wellness project 5k.

Last week of November

So my husband went on vacation and I fell off the running bus. I skipped my long run the week he was gone and settled for a few short runs during the week and the Bridgeland Turkey Trot this past Saturday and I still managed 20.1 miles for the week. ??? The turkey trot was uneventful except for the 40 degree weather the wind chill bringing it down to 36 and the constant drizzle/mist that persisted until I was done. Oh and I ran the entire 10k. After a 1.5 mile warm up I challenged myself to see if I could go the distance. Now I didn't break any speed records or anything but since I had only managed to run my first 5k without intervals in May. I walked away from this race quite happy with  myself. The race was a double loop course and since there were only about 230 runners it wasn't crowded. There were water stops about every mile that were staffed with really kind volunteers. There was no swag or medal but there was shit brown cotton shirts for all the finishers. I finished in 1:19:47. like I said slow but it was long run day so that was ok. In fact that pace was 15 seconds per mile faster than my LSD pace. so it's a win. So far with one week to go I have racked up a whopping 73 miles for the month. I guess that 100 mile mark is going to alluded me for at least another month.

It's November

I am a little behind on my recap, for October I managed 98.37 of the 100 miles I set for my goal. Not to fuckin shabby! Now on to November.

Training has continued as planned so far. I have changed things up a bit by adding another run day to the schedule and taking out my extra rest day. So far so good. I made the change because in March I am running the Seabrook Marathon's Pelican Challenge which is back to back Halfs. The training intent is to learn how to run on already tired legs. As of today I am 47.12 miles into the month.

Over the Veteran's day weekend I ran the Clear Lake City Half. Here's how that went. Left the hotel at 5, picked up my chip, went for a warm up run and BANG hit the start! New course meant this race was out and back instead of looped which I used to my advantage. I took off easy letting my body naturally increase it's pace. As I neared the water stop between miles  4 and 5 the lead runners were already coming back so I started cheering them on as I headed towards the turn around. My pace increased, the distraction kept me moving without thinking about what my feet were doing. I even ran into one of the moms in the MRTT group, there were 3 of us out there but I had never meet either of them so it was good to have a "friendly" on the course; only after the pics of the race were posted did I find out who the other mother was and I wish I had know it was her when I past her since it looked like she was struggling and maybe a little extra "woop woop" could have helped her, next time. By the time I got to the turn around I was running well under the 12m/m I had planned so I decided to slow down and try to conserve my energy before I completely bonked. I kept up with the cheering until I past the last person on their way to the turn around and focused on passing the runners ahead of me. I started picking rabbits, running to them, passing and picking another one, giving them a little "You're doing great" or "Great Job" I even stopped to chat with one runner about the LaPorte half next weekend. Man I want to run it, next year. Anyways I finally "ran" the half marathon that was in my head my first time out. I stuck to my 9:1 intervals, kept to my nutrition plan (which I am now adjusting) and when I hit the 13th mile I was able to pick up my feet even more and cross the finish in... 2:36:44... 4:42 under my time from the Houston Half and just under what my goal was for the entire season. It was a good day for me in Clear Lake.  And now the real work begins. New goal setting for one. WTF do I work towards now? I don't want to go out and kill it next month at the BCS Half but I kind of feel like I have to now. I am thinking I may set my goal for an even 2:35 or maybe not.

Medals for the Clear Lake City Half, Macho Man for running CL and AHCHM, CL in center and the "I Rocked 39.3" guitar for finishing CL, AHCHM and the Sugar & Spice Half

Up next the Turkey Trot @ Bridgeland followed by the BCS Half Marathon. I am thinking about adding the 12k of Christmas to my December calendar if I can get a discount on it.

Houston Half Marathon and Relay

WOW, all I can say is WOW what a race day it was. First off I woke in a panic at 3:36 am thinking I had over slept my alarm and that I had missed my race. After a few moments of deep breathing I fell back into a semi-sleep. At about 4:15 I was woken again by the dog's scratching, so I got up for good. I unplugged my laptop and crept into the bathroom to check the weather. Just as predicted a storm was coming in and after all my careful race day planning I did not pack one thing that would have been useful in the rain, ok one my visor. After a bit of nervous pacing I left about 15 minutes early in hopes that I would get to the race site before the rain. So glad I left when I did. The line for parking was already really long and winding around the block but thankfully it was free and close to the park. It was just already really crowed so I did what comes naturally, I headed to the port-a-potties, there were already 10 lines making their way across the street, and it's now starting to sprinkle, so I chose one close to the trees. Trees make great umbrellas. I finally get thru the line and back under the tree and then shit happens. Bright flashes of light and booming thunder...bad sign. After a few close by lightening strikes the race director made the announcement that the race would be delayed 1 hour and that everyone should take shelter some place safe until then. So I made a break for it and ran back to my car. Except I hadn't paid that much attention to where I had parked so I just followed a trail of runners into the underground parking garages figuring at least there it would be dry and warm as it turns out. It's was really warm in there. I find my car and take out my yoga mat and take off my shoes and find them full of ants. I assume under that lofty oak I was standing in an ant hill. Blessing in disguise. I only got one bite and it was on my hand after one little sucker got away from me. I rang out my socks and had a bit of chit chat with the guy in the car next to me, who incidentally I came across once again as he passed me somewhere around mile 9. So I get to that point where I just can't handle waiting. I get laced back up, change my shirt and head back up to the surface. It's still raining. I head back to the race start and figure that a little warm up now is better than never. I head down the block and turn up towards the first water stop and get shouts of encouragement from the 2 guys left manning it. What good souls to be out there still getting things ready. As I come back around I hear the announcer "15 to start, we are starting right at 8 am, runners get ready, we are a go" YEA!! So I am warm and ready and I am heading to the scrub. I cross under the start balloon and keep on going. Trying to get far enough back that I do not end up in peoples way. The most amazing thing happened as our National Anthem was being sung you could hear all the runners softly singing along. Normally at races I can only kind of hear it being played, mostly b/c I am so far back and the chattering doesn't quite stop long enough for everybody to hear but on this rain soaked morning everyone hushed and joined in. It is by far one of the best reason to live in this state. You want to see patriotism, Texas leads this country in it. It's something about the pride in this state that I have never seem elsewhere. Then before you knew it the race had started. My Garmin was pretty much worthless the first few miles, the buildings downtown do not make for the best reception, it even clocked me at a 37 second mile pace. Once I got back out on to Allen Parkway I knew I would need to slow down or not be able to finish at all. I hit the first of the underpasses and slowed back to my intended race pace of 12:30. This is just a training run after all, the first of 3 until the end of the year. Once I turned out on to  Memorial when this leveled off a bit I started to pick up trying to keep about a 12m/m pace. Before long it hardly seems like my 8:30 m/intervals were anything at all, before I knew it I was walking again. I grabbed a few PowerGels as they were handing them out at the water stops but I stuck to what I had packed not knowing what something knew would do to me. I brought home 6 in total and 4 PowerBars, nutrition wise I am now stocked up for at least a month of long runs. At mile 8 I started making note with my pace card. I was about 2 minutes up, giving me an decent buffer if I choose to take an extra walk. The turn around brings you back on the downhill until you get back to those 2 underpasses on Allen drive which are right before the finish. I have to admit I was hurting by now. There is a guy in town who runs carrying the American Flag, he caught up to me and began shouting encouragement to everyone. "Come on now 1/2 mile to go, You got this, no DNF from here" I got to say it helped. I took one extra walk break before the finish and then ran it in. I think what I learned from this race is that you can physically prepare all you want, if you don't mentally prepare you will not get anywhere. This is my first half marathon that I brought everything with me and I left it all out there. All parts of me were in on the work and mind, body and soul crossed that finish line.Official time 2:41:26, goal time 2:43:52. I took 3:45 off my April PR time.

HHM Finisher Medal

Things I can't tell you about the race...when it stopped raining. The rain became such a non-issue once I started running that other than having to wipe the drips off my elbows once-in-a-while and off my hat I hardly noticed I was getting wet. But let's face it, that elbow thing happens on hot runs too so not much from the norm there. Not sure what the finish food was, the party was on a grass knoll and the food was at the bottom and there was nothing but mud between me and the tent so I skipped it.

Today I feel good. My toes are a bit sore from sloshing around in my shoes but other than that nothing a little yoga and a light walk this morning didn't work out.

October mileage so far 88.89/100 with 3 days to go to hit the goal. 

Connect to C.A.R 10k

Once I figured out which way my training was going to go, 11, 12, 6, then taper for the Houston Half Marathon on 10/27, I decided that I would look for a 10k for the 6 miles, so I didn't just skip them altogether. What I found was a small race supporting a local church's mission to help fund a clinic in Africa. I normally don't like to do church races, I am not really one for church in general. It's not that I object to religion I just don't believe in a God that takes attendance. Anyways, as it turns out this is a church that had been part of a W.I.C. like federal food program that we had taken part of years ago so this race was a small way for me to "pay it forward" or bring things "full-circle" for me so I signed up. I am really glad I did. There were less than 200 people registered for the 3 "races" total and only 29 for their 10k. Nice small field makes for a friendlier race. The race was on part of the Cinco Ranch Nature trails so about half was running along side the bayou. It was a perfect day for running, the weather has finally turned from Hot as Hades to maybe it's fall. It was in the 50's with a nice breeze so of course I went out too fast. Small race field means there is more of a chance for people to notice you are last so I kept up with the other two people who were ahead of me for the first 1/2 mile and then the chic had to start walking and her boyfriend being a gentleman stayed with her I am guessing for the first loop and maybe about a mile into the second loop. I normally don't mind a double loop course, however they started the 5k about 10 later than the 10k and about mile 2 the first 5kers started lapping me, then it became about keeping ahead of the 5k stroller pushers, then it just became about getting to the beginning of the second loop so I could stop feeling bad about myself. As I started that second loop I found my groove at 11m/m which is awesome for me. I wasn't sure how long I could maintain that or IF I should be maintain that pace since a bigger race day is upon me. BUT fuck it it felt good and I wasn't going too far out of my boundaries it was only going to be a few more miles. That's about when the last dude passed me. Then I passed him. Then we hit the water stations and both walked. Then we cat and moused to the finish. Official race time 1:16:34, only here's the rub, 6.61 miles. Yep that's right, the race was almost 1/2 mile long. So what I'll take it!

Total for the day 7.73, for the week, mind you I am "tapering" 32.1. Next week race recap for the Houston Half Marathon. WWWWOOOOOO WWWWWHOOOOO!