Sometimes I really hate numbers. . .my official time for the 15k was 2hrs and 53mins. Which means my pace was 18mins 33 sec per mile--which is much lower than the pace I train at. I keep telling myself that I have to take into account that the Percy Warner Park course was HELLACIOUS. The course for the half-marathon is nowhere near as hilly as PWP.
The next few weeks I will add in more hills and portions of the half course so that I will be better prepared. I want to finish in under 4 hours and at my 15k pace I would be over 4 hrs.
I guess that's why you can't just go by numbers. Hence the reason I don't weigh myself very often :)
Back on my training schedule--2 miles easy today, crosstrain Tues, five mile speed work Wed, crosstrain Thurs, rest Friday, long route Saturday, and easy 30 mins Sunday.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
15K Conquered!!
Today was about the most challenging physical activity of my life. At least in childbirth you get drugs! Let me start by saying I respect anyone who can run/walk Percy Warner Park. If felt like I was climbing Mt. Everest. Dude!! And there wasn't just one hill--I lost count b/c there were so many. The scenery was beautiful--minus the mosquitoes--but I will never do that course again, as God is my witness (in my Scarlet O'Hara voice).
Let me back up. Today I completed the ALKALI-Project Athena 15K at Percy Warner Park. This is in preparation for the half-marathon on Sept 25th (for anyone who doesn't already know this). I arrived at about 6:30am and immediately felt alone and out of place. I found a secluded area and did some warm-up and stretching and retied my shoes. No one else out there looked like me--my size or my hue. My stomach was a ball of nerves, or maybe it was my bladder. While in line for the port-o-potty (one word: YUCK) I met Rebbecca. She was also alone and she was a walker/jogger. We talked for a minute and she said, "now neither one of us is alone."
At the start everyone ran, except me. When everyone passed me I panicked and started running too--which is a no-no. That lasted for a hot second then it was back to my walking pace. Mile 1 seemed to take forever and I was a little discouraged b/c my clock said 7:27, but then I remembered that we didn't start exactly at 7am. At mile 2 my clock said 7:43. That marker also served as the 5 mile marker and two runners passed me. The lady said "Good job" to me and before I knew it I was crying. I just wanted to raise my hand and say "I quit. Just let me go home and eat some collard greens and dressing." And that's when I saw my buddy from the port-o-potty line. She was about a 1/4 mile ahead of me. All of a sudden I felt like maybe I could do this. I kept her in my sights--seeing her ahead of me kept me moving.
Around the 4th mile I caught up to her and we chatted. At mile 5 she was ahead of me again but mid-way through I passed her. From that point on I stayed ahead--even when I wanted to stop. I know now why they say on races stick with those who are about the same pace or a little better than you. These people keep you motivated but realistic.
The 6th and 7th miles were by far the most arduous. I felt like my lungs were going to give out on me. Once I passed mile marker 8 my body started aching so I stretched a little and kept going. When I saw the marker for mile 9 I started crying. I couldn't believe it. My longest distance to date has been 6 miles. I went into this not sure if my body could take it.
Victory was so sweet. I wasn't first (wasn't last either) but I finished and have the medal and photo to prove it.
To anyone out there who is hesitant about setting a goal or worried about what others will say, I say DO YOU!! At 200++ lbs I completed a 15k in under 3 hours!!! You can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you. To trust in Him is to be assured of victory--and victory is so sweet.
Let me back up. Today I completed the ALKALI-Project Athena 15K at Percy Warner Park. This is in preparation for the half-marathon on Sept 25th (for anyone who doesn't already know this). I arrived at about 6:30am and immediately felt alone and out of place. I found a secluded area and did some warm-up and stretching and retied my shoes. No one else out there looked like me--my size or my hue. My stomach was a ball of nerves, or maybe it was my bladder. While in line for the port-o-potty (one word: YUCK) I met Rebbecca. She was also alone and she was a walker/jogger. We talked for a minute and she said, "now neither one of us is alone."
At the start everyone ran, except me. When everyone passed me I panicked and started running too--which is a no-no. That lasted for a hot second then it was back to my walking pace. Mile 1 seemed to take forever and I was a little discouraged b/c my clock said 7:27, but then I remembered that we didn't start exactly at 7am. At mile 2 my clock said 7:43. That marker also served as the 5 mile marker and two runners passed me. The lady said "Good job" to me and before I knew it I was crying. I just wanted to raise my hand and say "I quit. Just let me go home and eat some collard greens and dressing." And that's when I saw my buddy from the port-o-potty line. She was about a 1/4 mile ahead of me. All of a sudden I felt like maybe I could do this. I kept her in my sights--seeing her ahead of me kept me moving.
Around the 4th mile I caught up to her and we chatted. At mile 5 she was ahead of me again but mid-way through I passed her. From that point on I stayed ahead--even when I wanted to stop. I know now why they say on races stick with those who are about the same pace or a little better than you. These people keep you motivated but realistic.
The 6th and 7th miles were by far the most arduous. I felt like my lungs were going to give out on me. Once I passed mile marker 8 my body started aching so I stretched a little and kept going. When I saw the marker for mile 9 I started crying. I couldn't believe it. My longest distance to date has been 6 miles. I went into this not sure if my body could take it.
Victory was so sweet. I wasn't first (wasn't last either) but I finished and have the medal and photo to prove it.
To anyone out there who is hesitant about setting a goal or worried about what others will say, I say DO YOU!! At 200++ lbs I completed a 15k in under 3 hours!!! You can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you. To trust in Him is to be assured of victory--and victory is so sweet.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Day 55 (IKR!! Can't believe it!)
Hellllooooo world!!
Feeling awesome--but still a touch nervous about the 15k this weekend. I'm just getting my regular training in this week and praying like crazy that I can complete the 9.32 on Saturday. Even if I'm the very last person so what, at least I will finish (right???).
Yesterday I had a great session. It was supposed to be my "easy" two miles but instead I did about an hour of a sort-of interval session--I alternated walking two laps and running one. And I'm talking actual running, not jogging :) It felt good to put a little speed into the mix. My knees help up well so I think my goal of running a half-marathon in the spring is realistic.
On another note, I'm thinking of starting an "active" group focused on just being active and fit. I want to see if any of my friends & co-workers would be interested. We shall see. . .
Today my plan is to cross-train (using my circuit from an earlier post) and then Wednesday get my mid-week 5miles in (not looking forward to waking up at 4am).
"I move onward, the only direction. Can't be scared of failure, in search of perfection"--Jay-Z, On to the Next One
Feeling awesome--but still a touch nervous about the 15k this weekend. I'm just getting my regular training in this week and praying like crazy that I can complete the 9.32 on Saturday. Even if I'm the very last person so what, at least I will finish (right???).
Yesterday I had a great session. It was supposed to be my "easy" two miles but instead I did about an hour of a sort-of interval session--I alternated walking two laps and running one. And I'm talking actual running, not jogging :) It felt good to put a little speed into the mix. My knees help up well so I think my goal of running a half-marathon in the spring is realistic.
On another note, I'm thinking of starting an "active" group focused on just being active and fit. I want to see if any of my friends & co-workers would be interested. We shall see. . .
Today my plan is to cross-train (using my circuit from an earlier post) and then Wednesday get my mid-week 5miles in (not looking forward to waking up at 4am).
"I move onward, the only direction. Can't be scared of failure, in search of perfection"--Jay-Z, On to the Next One
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