"By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail"

Ran w/ Darin at lunch. As all my runs seem to be tempo runs, we decided to run slow. It was 35 degrees (very cold for us). I had on shorts, long-sleeve shirt, Boston 2008 jacket, hat, and gloves. 15 MPH wind from North. At the 3 mile turnaround we had an AP of 7:45. On the way back, running with the wind, we somehow picked up the pace..and it turned into another tempo run!

AP: 7:35

35F, 15MPH N, sunny.

It was 26 degrees this morning..a bit colder than I'm used to running in. Couldn't find my tights, so wore sweatpants over shorts, long sleeve shirt, Boston 2009 jacket, hat, and gloves. Met Ty, Corey, Rick, and Don at the trailhead. Ty is a little more my speed, and was planning to run 10 miles. The other guys were planning on 8. I figured we should all finish at about the same time.

Decided up front to run slower (9:00/mi) out (5 miles) and then pick up the pace on the way back. What is it with my running buddies?? We had an 8:15 AP at the 5 mile mark..a little fast than we planned, but it felt good.

We managed to pick it up a little on the way back and caught the other guys before we got back to the parking lot. I ran the last mile quickly -- trying to go sub 7:00. Was a good run. 8 days out from White Rock Marathon.

I'm also confirmed as the 3:40 pacer for the Cowtown Marathon at the end of February.

8:22,8:08,8:06,8:24,8:11,815,8:11,8:15,7:51,6:49

AP: 8:03

28F, S 10mph, sunny

Short version: (3:42:38)(results are here: http://www.runpix.info/dwr09/00/finord.php?FO=742&FirstName=&LastName=&lan=&aset=1&dist=42&x=42&y=13)

Long version:

I had signed up for the White Rock Half Marathon about a month ago, when I wasn't quite recovered from my calf/shin issues that I had at St George in October. By Saturday's expo, I was feeling pretty good. The race day forecast was ideal - mid 40's at start, going to about 60 by noon. No wind. A friend of mine, Ty -- who's PR was 3:46, was going to shoot for a 3:40. Even though my longest run since St George was 11 miles, I thought I could at least pace him for a little while. So, I paid an extra $40 at the expo and signed up for the full. I stayed at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas (the landmark hotel with the lighted ball tower attached) ($119 per night -- 1 night stay -- quite the bargain divided 3 ways :D ).

 I stayed with Keith and Corey (friends of mine running their first-ever half marathons). I highly recommend this hotel -- the shuttle service to/from the expo, and to/from the race made things so much easier, than trying to find parking, fighting traffic.

 I started the race with Ty and John (who finished his first-ever Ironman 2 weeks ago in Cozemel). We lost John after a few miles. We started a little slower than we had intended, due to the massive crowd. Ty was content on staying at about a 8:50 pace for a while. So, I stuck with him. We picked up the pace quite a bit at mile 20 (very unusual for me). I stayed with him until mile 24 when he got a second wind after realizing he was going to PR! I could not keep up with him. I finished 18 seconds behind Ty with a 3:42:18 -- not my best, not my worst. But, I was happy to see my buddy get his PR!!!

Keith and Corey finished their Half Marathons (with PRs, too)

I love this race, mainly because I ran into so many runners who I knew. Even while running with 20,000 people, I saw at least 4 or 5 friends. It was a great day!

Amenities: Long-sleeved cotton event shirt, finishers' medal, long-sleeve tech finisher's shirt (short-sleeve shirt for Half finishers), after party (food was lacking--only bananas and granola bars, beer and water left by the time I got there)

It is run on a Sunday, which might keep some of my best friends away. :( Pictures are here:http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=13397&id=1837428836&l=741aa93033)

4 nice and easy after work with Darin.

AP: 9:00+

42F, no wind

Slight right hammy tightness. Toes are still a little sore (had to pop a few blisters between the toes after the marathon (forgot to put powder or body glide on them before the race)

Other than that, feeling pretty good. Starting to think about my next race!


 

65, Sunny, ran from Mineral Wells State Park to Garner and back. (Bough annual trail/state park pass)

Felt good. Had a couple miles under 7:30. AP: 8:00

Drove up to the Grasslands with Ty (my Whiterock buddy) and John (iroman) -- the location of a 50 mile race that I'm being coaxed into running in March -- for a little trail training. There is NO WAY I could run 50 miles on that!!!!! Imagine running on a beach -- covered with cowtracks. Sandy and bumpy -- not many rocks or roots, but I have blisters where I've never had blisters before! Lots of lateral movement (blisters on the sides of my big toes). We managed to get a little lost -- even though the trails are very well-marked. We thought we were doing a 10 mile loop, and somehow ended up doing 13. We lost John -- he was bonking badly. He walked out of the wilderness about a half hour behind us...and then Ty locked his keys in his trunk. His wife had to drive about an hour to get him a different key. Let's just say my first trail run will be remembered for a long time! 

I need to ask Santa for a late request -- Trail shoes!!!

For the most part, while we were running we were doing miles in the 9:30-10:00 range -- and it felt like we were going faster. We ran about 13 miles -- which felt closer to 20!

I have a new respect for trail runners! (Give me a week or two to rethink this 50 miler...maybe I'll find one that's on something a little more firm than sand)

6 easy miles. Agnes out and back. No watch.

35F, 0 wind, not bad.

3 easy miles in the neighborhood.

Met Ty at the Rails to Trails trailhead (smooth, packed, rushed gravel, not to be confused with the sandy trail I ran on last week)

We took it nice and easy out to the 7 mile mark - 8:30 AP at the turnaround. Took it a little faster on the way back in. Finished with a 6:59. Not sure why, but sub 7:00s seem very fast nowadays!

42F, 5 MPH N wind, slight drizzle. Really not too bad.

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAVE NEW YEARS, Y'ALL!!!!