Sunday, January 30, 2011
Chevron Houston Marathon: Quick Summary
One word describes everything today, BRUTAL. I'll type up a full race report and explain later.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The Countdown has Started
Well, we are a little over 3-1/2 days away from the start of the marathon. I'm feeling pretty excited. It's been one of the few things I've been able to focus on all week. I'm also feeling kind of nervous, but I've decided there isn't anything I can do about it now so I'll just take whatever happens.
I can't believe how far I have come in the past since months. I'll be happy with the journey no matter what happens on Sunday. I've lost 25 pounds since I started training, I've met some new people, and I just feel better when I wake up in the morning. I've managed to stay injury free, except for a freak deal the week of New Year's. Missing the last hard week of training with a foot injury is the only reason I'm feeling any nerves.
I'll spend the next couple of days making sure I get plenty of protein and carbohydrates. I'll also be staying hydrated so I don't have any nutrition issues. Saturday, I'll go get my race packet at the expo and get all my clothes ready. Then, Sunday is race day. I'll be sure to give a race report next week on how everything goes.
I can't believe how far I have come in the past since months. I'll be happy with the journey no matter what happens on Sunday. I've lost 25 pounds since I started training, I've met some new people, and I just feel better when I wake up in the morning. I've managed to stay injury free, except for a freak deal the week of New Year's. Missing the last hard week of training with a foot injury is the only reason I'm feeling any nerves.
I'll spend the next couple of days making sure I get plenty of protein and carbohydrates. I'll also be staying hydrated so I don't have any nutrition issues. Saturday, I'll go get my race packet at the expo and get all my clothes ready. Then, Sunday is race day. I'll be sure to give a race report next week on how everything goes.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Taper Time
Well, all of the hard work is done. I started my three week taper before the marathon today. Over the next three weeks, I will decrease my mileage until the marathon on January 30. Hopefully, my muscles will recover, and I will become stronger. That is the theory behid the taper. Muscle glycogen, enzymes, antioxidants, and hormones are depleted during high mileage training. They will return to normal during this time. Also, muscle damage that occurs during sustained training is also repaired.
I'm going to struggle during the coming weeks with wanting to put in more miles, but I know they will do more harm than good at this point. This evening, I did my 40 minute easy run, and I couldn't believe that was it. Oh well, it's part of the plan.
I'm going to struggle during the coming weeks with wanting to put in more miles, but I know they will do more harm than good at this point. This evening, I did my 40 minute easy run, and I couldn't believe that was it. Oh well, it's part of the plan.
Monday, January 3, 2011
24-4-A-Cure
This weekend, I got to participate in one of the most inspirational things I have ever been a part of. Kevin Kline, one of the morning radio personalities on the 93Q Country here in Houston undertook an amazing journey. Kevin is the founder and president of the Snowdrop Foundation. The Snowdrop Foundations mission is raise money to benefit pediatric cancer research at Texas Children's Hospital. You can read more about it on Snowdrop's website.
This year, Kevin decided to run on a treadmill for 24 hours starting at 12 noon on December 31, and he would finish at 12 noon on January 1. If this wasn't enough, he then would run the final 13.1 miles (half-marathon) into Texas Children's Hospital. Kevin has undertaken a large challenge as a fundraiser the last two years on New Year's. Last year, he did Strides Across Texas.
Kevin is a friend of my youth director from when I was in MYF in high school. Roland and I still stay in contact, and he told me about this before it was even officially announced. Roland recruited me to help set-up on Friday morning, and I pledged to run on a treadmill for two hours Saturday morning. After I finished running, Roland also convinced me to run to Texas Children's with the group. Now, Roland had never run farther than five miles before in his life, and he does not like running. So after some convincing and assuring him that he could do it, he left with the group. I told him I would meet them further into the run since I had already run 13.5 miles on a treadmill (Nothing compared to Kevin's 77 miles on the treadmill). I met back up with the group, and I ran the final 9.5 miles with them.
It was an inspirational weekend that cannot really be described. Kevin is to be commended for the lengths he is willing to go to so that kids won't have to suffer with cancer, and you can tell he has made it a priority in his life. If there were more people as passionate about putting a stop to pediatric cancer as Kevin is, cancer would not stand a chance.
Here's a few pictures from the weekend.
Kevin taking the last few steps up to the door.
This year, Kevin decided to run on a treadmill for 24 hours starting at 12 noon on December 31, and he would finish at 12 noon on January 1. If this wasn't enough, he then would run the final 13.1 miles (half-marathon) into Texas Children's Hospital. Kevin has undertaken a large challenge as a fundraiser the last two years on New Year's. Last year, he did Strides Across Texas.
Kevin is a friend of my youth director from when I was in MYF in high school. Roland and I still stay in contact, and he told me about this before it was even officially announced. Roland recruited me to help set-up on Friday morning, and I pledged to run on a treadmill for two hours Saturday morning. After I finished running, Roland also convinced me to run to Texas Children's with the group. Now, Roland had never run farther than five miles before in his life, and he does not like running. So after some convincing and assuring him that he could do it, he left with the group. I told him I would meet them further into the run since I had already run 13.5 miles on a treadmill (Nothing compared to Kevin's 77 miles on the treadmill). I met back up with the group, and I ran the final 9.5 miles with them.
It was an inspirational weekend that cannot really be described. Kevin is to be commended for the lengths he is willing to go to so that kids won't have to suffer with cancer, and you can tell he has made it a priority in his life. If there were more people as passionate about putting a stop to pediatric cancer as Kevin is, cancer would not stand a chance.
Here's a few pictures from the weekend.
The East Bernard Crew at Set-Up Friday Morning with Kevin.
Kevin getting started on the treadmill.
Five hours in.
The group making the final turn into TCH.
Kevin taking the last few steps up to the door.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Finish Line Sports 30K
The final race of the three race marathon warm-up series was this past Sunday. The Finish Line Sports 30K is hosted every year out in Sugar Land. The 18.6 mile course starts in Sugar Land Town Center, and it is what I would call a modified triple loop course. I call it modified because you run a little over 3 miles before you get to the 4.2 mile loop, and you run approximately 2.5 miles back to Sugar Land Town Center.
Race morning was a started out kind of cool, but it was a great temperature for a longer race. The only problem with the weather was that it was a tad on the windy side. It made for a rough last 4 miles of the race since they were all pretty much into the wind. It really made it tough to make up any time coming down the home stretch.
I can't say that I was dissatisfied with my performance, but I was hoping I would have done a little better. I finished with a time of 2:28:48, and I had an average pace of 7:59 per mile. The good news is my second 15K (7:56/mile) was faster than my first 15K (8:03/mile). I had planned to run right at an 8:00 pace for the first third to half of the race. I planned to pick up the pace for the second half and test myself to see what kind of shape I was in. I wanted my average pace to be closer to 7:50 than to 8:00. If my average pace was a little lower, I would feel more confident in my ability to run a 3:30:00 marathon come January 30. Overall, I think it was a pretty good Sunday morning run.
Race morning was a started out kind of cool, but it was a great temperature for a longer race. The only problem with the weather was that it was a tad on the windy side. It made for a rough last 4 miles of the race since they were all pretty much into the wind. It really made it tough to make up any time coming down the home stretch.
I can't say that I was dissatisfied with my performance, but I was hoping I would have done a little better. I finished with a time of 2:28:48, and I had an average pace of 7:59 per mile. The good news is my second 15K (7:56/mile) was faster than my first 15K (8:03/mile). I had planned to run right at an 8:00 pace for the first third to half of the race. I planned to pick up the pace for the second half and test myself to see what kind of shape I was in. I wanted my average pace to be closer to 7:50 than to 8:00. If my average pace was a little lower, I would feel more confident in my ability to run a 3:30:00 marathon come January 30. Overall, I think it was a pretty good Sunday morning run.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sugar Land Turkey Trot 5 Miler
I decided that I needed to run a turkey trot this year on Thanksgiving. There are probably four or five different ones in the Houston area. I chose the Sugar Land Turkey Trot because it started at a decent time, and it fit the mileage I needed for my training plan that day. The race started at 8:30 which is later than most races, but I wouldn't have to get up too early on my day off so I was happy.
The race started off at a fast pace. I ran my first mile at a 7:00 pace. I had planned to start off about 7:15. I could tell about 1/2 mile into the race I was going to struggle a little bit. I had done a pretty tough speed workout on Tuesday so my legs felt kind of dead. My pace continued to slide through out the race. My splits were 7:00, 7:05, 7:07, 7:12, and 7:13 according to my Garmin. There was also an extra .06 miles that took 22 seconds on my Garmin. My official time was 36:00 even. It figured out to a 7:12 pace over the five mile course.
I was fairly satisfied with my time, especially, after I felt how tired my legs were 1/2 mile in. I think it ended up being a great idea to run. I didn't feel bad about eating some extra calories this year at Thanksgiving. I also know that I probably would not have run on my own that day. I would have slept in, and I would have watched the Aggie game in the evening. I might have to make this part of every Thanksgiving.
The race started off at a fast pace. I ran my first mile at a 7:00 pace. I had planned to start off about 7:15. I could tell about 1/2 mile into the race I was going to struggle a little bit. I had done a pretty tough speed workout on Tuesday so my legs felt kind of dead. My pace continued to slide through out the race. My splits were 7:00, 7:05, 7:07, 7:12, and 7:13 according to my Garmin. There was also an extra .06 miles that took 22 seconds on my Garmin. My official time was 36:00 even. It figured out to a 7:12 pace over the five mile course.
I was fairly satisfied with my time, especially, after I felt how tired my legs were 1/2 mile in. I think it ended up being a great idea to run. I didn't feel bad about eating some extra calories this year at Thanksgiving. I also know that I probably would not have run on my own that day. I would have slept in, and I would have watched the Aggie game in the evening. I might have to make this part of every Thanksgiving.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
New Stuff
So I got some new stuff about week and a half ago. It's not very exciting stuff, but I still like getting new things. It's actually just some safety stuff for when I run. I got a Road ID for my shoes and a Supernova Firefly light to wear when I run in the dark.
The Road ID has all my emergency information so that if something were to happen to me, and I would be found laying in a ditch, whoever found me would know who to call. Road ID will engrave whatever you want on the plate. I got my name, birth year, Sarah's cell and work numbers, NKA (no known allergies), No Medical History, and my insurance policy number engraved on mine.
The FireFly Supernova light is small, but it is bright. It clips on your waistband and flashes so cars can see you in the dark. I think that if I get hit, the driver did it on purpose because I can see it reflecting off of houses in the neighborhood when I run. You would have to be blind not to see it.
Hopefully, I won't get hit by a car now, but if I do, they will know who to call when they see the Road ID on my shoe!!!
The Road ID has all my emergency information so that if something were to happen to me, and I would be found laying in a ditch, whoever found me would know who to call. Road ID will engrave whatever you want on the plate. I got my name, birth year, Sarah's cell and work numbers, NKA (no known allergies), No Medical History, and my insurance policy number engraved on mine.
The FireFly Supernova light is small, but it is bright. It clips on your waistband and flashes so cars can see you in the dark. I think that if I get hit, the driver did it on purpose because I can see it reflecting off of houses in the neighborhood when I run. You would have to be blind not to see it.
Hopefully, I won't get hit by a car now, but if I do, they will know who to call when they see the Road ID on my shoe!!!
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