NP Half Marathon Training Starts Tomorrow!

I am so excited!!!! I am really looking forward to this training program. My coach, Jim put this project together and put me on as a running coach. I am just thrilled! Tomorrow is day one. We'll all meet and talk about the training schedule, upcoming races we'll be hitting and of course the ULTIMATE goal of the FCA Half Marathon Oct 11, 2008. Then we'll go for a run...ooooh what a surprise...lol.

I know most of the people who have signed up and we're going to have a great time. We have seasoned runners who have not yet conquered the half, seasoned runners who just want the training program and camaraderie, to new runners who want to take up the challenge of endurance. These are the people I feel a connection to, as I basically jumped in feet first myself. Hopefully I'll be able to give support to these runners as they go through those periods of wondering if they're crazy for attempting such a distance. When they start feeling overwhelmed or thinking they can't do it I can tell them I understand and that they CAN do it. I remember very, very clearly hitting moments when I just wanted to say "forget it"...it's unattainable. Sometimes you get sick, tired or even get an injury to sideline you for a few days. It can still be done. I am proof! Then there are the rewarding days where you see the goal. You run a little further. You breath a little easier. You feel strong as a runner. You know in your heart that you ARE a runner. It's a beautiful feeling. You have become one with the road. Yes, I am a mushy person...take me as I am....LOL



Jim is a phenomenal coach. He teaches and coaches in such a way that you walk away from a session feeling like you can leap a tall building. He's straight forward, supportive and funny. Perfect combination.



I emailed Lisa Lawson, the Race Director for this half marathon and let her know our team will be running this race. She's planning on mentioning our team in her announcements! Thank you Lisa!!!!



Here is the link to The FCA Half Marathon webpage and registration...
http://www.runfca.com/index2.html If you live in this area, check out the website for this race. It will be a beautiful, scenic route and the weather for Florida in October is perfect for a nice 13.1 mile race. It's the perfect race for our team!!



I'll be posting after each weekly training on Saturdays. Stay tuned for the updates!!!

Firecracker 5K Race Results

Today started off a littler cooler at 6am than it usually is by 9am. Which is the time I usually get out there. I helped with registration before the race and it worked out well for one really good reason...I could size up my age group! I also made them all swear not to pass me. Ha!! Anyway, it was great fun!

I notice that I have such a struggle to make myself go fast in the beginning. My marathon training just takes over so strongly! I kept finding myself speeding up here and there when I realized this was happening. I seem to be fine when I'm running by myself, but throw me in a race and my training takes over.

Today's race was so fun for a few reasons. Kimmie and Lewis ran their first race (they're getting married in October) and Lewis even got a medal! Jenna, Bobby and Linda ran today too. They're friends from work. Bobby also got a medal. Bratty-girl Linda beat me by 5 seconds.....she's in big trouble now....LOL. Josephine got a new PR after working so very hard with her speed work. Jim, my coach, was a monitor along the route and it was helpful to hear him yelling support. Bob W. was at the last .2 miles and saw me wanting to lay down. He started yelling and making me go faster. He really helped me finish strong.

So I finished a 5K a few weeks ago at 29:04. Today's finish was 28:37! I only beat it by 27 seconds but I'm very happy! Of course now I want to go do it over since I see where I could have been better, but with all said and done...I just had a wonderful time.

Now I'm going to lay by the pool for a while before I have to work tonight!
Happy 4th of July!!!!!!

Busy Week

Really busy week here. I didn't even get to any of my exercise classes. The 2 days I probably could have, I grabbed the opportunity to run. Monday I ran 7 miles in the bahLAYzin heat. I went out at a leisurely pace and was feeling fine so I decided to go further out than I usually do. I did a great big loop and about 5 miles out I changed my mind. HA! Too late of course. I had to walk the last 1.5 miles. I was sick for 3-4 hours from that. I need a hydration belt.

The rest of the week was meetings, work and setting up for a 5k for Friday. I'm off today until 5pm. YAY!! Playing laundry catch up. Maybe get some tanning in.

I ran 3.2 miles this morning. It wasn't TOO hot yet. I was trying to see how fast I could do it because tomorrow is a 5K and I really wanna PR. My last PR was 29:04. I ran 3.2 this morning in...28:08, so it's possible. Might be tricky to get a warm up in because I'm on registration duty at 6am. Hopefully I get out of that in time for a quick mile before the race starts.

I hope everyone has a wonderful 3 day weekend!!

Sunday Run

Just in from a 3 miler. It's so wicked hot out. I went out kind of fast, I didn't feel the heat at first. At about 3/4 mile I was dying. I slowed to a jog to the end of the first mile, walked 30 seconds, started back up. I kept a slower pace this time. Oh, and during my whole 30 second walk, guess who goes gliding past me? Yeah, Mr Yellow-haired-gazelle-man. Running toward me, may I add. I never saw him coming! Where the heck does he come from????? We said hello as we passed, I should have thanked him for the nice breeze he created as he ran by. Whatever. He never passes me when I'm running. He must think I'm a walker....LOL

I ran on in the blazing heat, happy that I hydrated properly but still wishing the icecream man would go by. I turned around at 1.5 miles and walked across the street. Gazelle-man ran by me AGAIN with him going in the same direction! HOW????? He must run through the school or something. This time I ripped off my headphones and yelled "You're driving me CRAZY!!" He just gave out a laugh and kept going. I was laughing too. On the outside. On the inside I was screaming "Wait for me!" I actually tried to catch up to him but he was gone. All I got was more tired and very sweaty. I'm thinking of waiting in my car for him next weekend. And following him. Is that stalking??? Think he'd notice my car following behind him just a pace? LOL...I'm kidding, I wouldn't do that. I'd love to talk to him though. It doesn't seem right to stop someone when they're running just to chat. I've never seen him at any races.

I took my watch with me on this run. I ran 3 miles in 30:16. Slow. Ah well, what can I do?

It's Getting Better

I ran Wed at the gym...3.8 miles. It was hot but enjoyable. There's a park about halfway called 5 Senses. I ran in there and walked a bit before getting back on the road. It's a peaceful place, I think I'll go there more often.

I ran this morning at 9am. I just went about 3 miles, I was supposed to be getting ready for the beach. Everyone was still sleeping and Bobby had taken off to ride with his cycling group. I figured I'd get a shorty in. I saw a man up ahead, I picked up speed and "chicked" him. Does it matter that he was walking? No? I didn't think so...LOL...I turned around and walked back to him. I asked if he was training for anything and he said no. He had some surgery and was getting his strength back. I told him about the half marathon training and invited him. He said he didn't think he could do 13.1 miles. I told him I did a full marathon in 4.5 months, so I am proof it CAN be done. I saw a twinkle in his eye, he said he'd give it a thought. So maybe a seed was planted....we shall see.

My husband was off for the day but went for a bike ride with his group. He did 50 MILES!!!! That's a half century!! It took him 3 hours and he L-O-V-E-D every minute of it. Here's the kicker....he has a regular road bike. Not a racing bike. He still averaged 18 MPH. I'm so proud of him. The look of satisfaction on his face when he got home was awesome. I wish he would run. It would be so cool to run a marathon together. He wishes I'd bike. We have agreed to not bug each other about our chosen sports....LOL.

I think this half marathon training project has me fired up. I am back into running again and loving it. Jim (my coach) made me a running coach for this project and I am so very thrilled. I was watching him make the flyer the other day, and when he put "running coach" beside my name I just felt so proud. I don't think he realizes just how much this means to me. To think that just one year ago this month I was still recuperating from being sick. 9 months later and I've run a marathon and become a running coach. Blows my mind. My husband told me today he'd never have believed it. Thinking back to how I used to view exercise I can understand. The sense of accomplishment is astounding.

Tomorrow I plan on a 2 mile run in my Vibrams. I'll be back with an update on that......