"By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail"

5.5 easy miles at lunch w/ Darin.   

50F, Sunny, N10

AP: 8:50                                                                        

My first 10-miler in I don't know how long. Everything felt good. I'm running the Houston Half Marathon this weekend. I think I should be able to add another 3.1 miles and finish. It won't be fast, but that's what I get for signing up for races months in advance.

AP: 8:20

50F, N8

I took my oldest boy to karate class (which I was taking up until I hurt my knee), then I went to the track and ran in the dark. The weather was damp, but about 55, so it was actually quite pleasant for this time of year. There was 1 light on, so I could almost see where I was going.

Ran 4 easy miles (8:20ish), then through in a fast 800 (3:20), 400 (1:35). Then a cool down to get to 6 miles total. It wasn't much of a workout, but for my recent shape, it was awesome.

I think I've missed the joy of running, trying to do other sports, but I think it comes down to the fact that I like how individual running is -- you can have as much fun running alone (with God and nature), as you can have with a crowd of 20,000.

Sunday's Houston Half Marathon will be a good test of my current level of fitness. My goal is to finish with minimal walking. Don't expect any PRs, this is a long training run with a medal at the end!

I volunteered at the Bold in the Cold 15K this year. I was the lead bike for the 15K race. This was the warmest Bold in the Cold I have ever been to. I think it was about 65F at the 8:00AM start. 

As I was running the Houston Half Marathon the next day, I didn't really want to race this event this year, so volunteering was perfect. I knew the course, as I had run it several times in the past. I had no problems staying ahead of the leaders. The winner ran it in about 50:30 (5:20ish) pace. The temp was perfect for me..a little warm for the runners. :)

As I rode 9.3 miles, I'll give myself running credit for half of that distance.

After my twisted knee in November, my running has been slowly ramping up. Last Saturday I ran 10 miles - that was my longest run since last February's Cowtown Marathon. My running has been very lacking. I had signed up for the Houston Half months in advance - and my buddies were going down there to run the full, so I decided to join them.

Drove the 260 miles after the Bold in the Cold race was over on Saturday. Stayed at the Hilton Americas. My buddy, John got us a great deal on the room. This where all the elites stay, it is attached to the Conference Center which is the site of the start/finish lines. There were even walkways connecting the two buildings. Very nice - no driving, no shuttles, no drop bags on race morning. Definitely the place to stay if you run Houston.

I signed up for the BEEF Team In Preparation team this year. They take applicants each year to represent the Tx Beef industry, in exchange for a free shirt -- and after the first year, partial reimbursements for event entries. There are some qualifications on how many races you need to run in a year, and even are required to volunteer once. I eat beef, especially lean beef, and I run (ran) lots of races, so I had no problem representing them. So, Saturday night there was a BEEF TIP dinner -- free to members. So, that's where we at (John is also a member). A woman spoke at the dinner who just set the women's world record of 17 marathons in 17 days (I'm sure there are women on this blog that could match or better that!!)

Woke up Sunday morning around 5:00 for the 7:00AM start. John and Dave were running the full, so I let them have priority on the bathroom, etc.. I didn't even get out of bed until after they left the room at 6:00. I was in no hurry. The weather was not ideal. 45F, 20MPH N wind, with scattered storms. I really thought about staying in bed for this. But, I needed to run for the BEEF Team, and my own confidence.

The race started promptly at 7:00AM in the pouring rain. I left the dryness of the Convention Center at 6:58 - and crossed the start line at the rear of the crowds at about 7:25. For the first mile, as the rain pounded my face, I thought about turning around and going back to bed.. but I ran/jogged the whole thing. My heart rate was much higher than normal (for me), as it reflected my poor training (PPPPPPPP). I kept it easy and muddled through. I tried to keep positive - the rain let up at about half way. I kept my poncho on until the last mile, when I picked up the pace from mid 9:00s to what felt to me to be sub 7:00. I did the 13 mile in 7:55. It was my only mile sub 8:00/mi -- and only the 3rd mile of the race under 9:00/mi. I finished in 2:05:??It was a PW.

I felt fine afterwards, and probably could have run faster, but I was looking at the long-term..and only using this race as a time to spend with friends and ramp up toward the Cowtown marathon next month. It gave me confidence that I needed - to show I can still run long distances post-knee twisting. (I really should get a diagnosis..but it's not holding me back. Only making me a bit slower.)

I was able to go back to my room after I finished, showered, changed and got my camera before John and Dave finished their full marathons.

I'm not listing this under Races because this was only a training run with benefits! :)

I'd highly recommend this marathon to anyone who doesn't mind running on Sundays. Very well run, and if you can stay at the Hilton Americana - very convenient and affordable!

Lunchtime run w/ Darin.

32F, sunny, N10

AP: 8:13

5 miles. Lunchitime w/ Darin.

AP: 8:20

51F, N10, Sunny

AHR: 150 (still high for the pace...it'll come down as my fitness goes up)

My goal was to run/walk (be on my feet) for 3 hours. I didn't want to set a distance goal, as I haven't run over 13.1 miles at a single time in almost a year.

I ran w/ Dave and Darin for the first 7 miles, then picked up a different (slower) group for the next 6 miles, then ran/walked solo for the last 5.

My calves got very tight right at about 14 miles, and felt some knee pain in the rear of the knee (probably partly due to calf tightness, and partly due to my recent bike injury).

I finished 18 miles in about 2:56.

Not a fast run, but accomplished my goal toward getting ready for Cowtown Marathon in about 1 month.

AP: 9:45

Sunny, 45F, 5MPH

Lunchtime run w/ Darin. Started out with a 9:05 first mile, then I picked up the pace.

9:05, 8:12, 7:32, 7:40, 7:29

AHR: 152

40F, W10, Sunny

Felt good. Getting fitter every day!

Morning run w/ Darin before work. Felt a little sluggish. Great morning temperature for this time of year. HR got above 160 a few times, so I slowed until it dropped. Still regaining my fitness.

AHR: 150

AP: 8:12

50F, 5S, clear

Run w/ Darin before work. Finished the entire 5.25 miles without walking, but finished at the same AP as I did on Wednesday, when I walked up some of the hilly sections. HR still high for the pace I'm running. Staying hydrated, still getting fitter. Lost 5 pounds in the last 2 weeks. Moving in the right direction!

Ran w/ Dave for about 8 miles, then he bagged it (he said he was feeling a bit sluggish). I ran the remaining 5 miles with anther group from the local running club. Their pace of 8:30-9:00 was just what I needed. I'm spoiled by the Texas weather!

55F, N5, cloudy

AP: 9:10

2 runs in 2 days! My first back-to-back runs all year! (baby steps)

It was a bit warm, but finished strong.

AP: 8:24

65F, humid, S10

Last mile was 7:21 at HR 161.

I wasn't planning to run today, but the weather was nice, so I went at lunchtime. Ran out into a 23MPH wind. Walked a couple times just to get the HR back under 150. On the way back, it was smooth sailing with the net downhill and nice tailwind.

AP: 9:00 (including the walking)

75F, cloudy, SSW23, 61% hum

Lunchtime run w/ Darin. Started slow, then finished strong. Last 3 miles were all under 8:00.

AP: 8:10

57F, S11, 26% hum, sunny