Friday, May 18, 2007

Fives

After I worked five hours this morning and ran five miles, the thought occurred to me that I should golf five over on the front and five over on the back nine today. My round started with an Eagle, the second of my life! This very good round for me on a new course ended three over on the front, and seven over on the back, totaling ten over which is close enough to my goal. Almost as importantly, I ended tied with my brother.

BB asked if I was running long on Sunday so she could ride along again. I prefer to run long on Saturday and promised to do so early so she can come with before our second baby shower at noon. Thinking about her enjoying riding along makes me smile.

Saw my first add for father’s day last night, and got excited for myself. 33weeks tomorrow.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Speed

I run mostly around the town I live in, visiting calm streets and discovering new areas. Seeing new things and people is fun for me. So Monday on a tempo section of my run, I heard some kids talking, which in and of itself isn’t at all unusual. I didn’t realize till I was a few housed past them, that the group was talking to me. Yelling for me to sprint, and I was already going faster than a normal easy run pace.

When I finished my run, I thought maybe I forgot to start my watch after I’d stopped it when I put Bruno’s leash back on (don’t know how it came off, but he stayed with me while it dangled, not sure he knew he was momentarily free). I knew I ran 20 minutes faster, but not that much, and I didn’t hurt at all. So I added a minute and a half in my log.

The easy run on Tuesday timed fast as well, but I did get some water on my watch (it’s a very cheap one), which made me still think it might be my watch. Yesterday was interval day, and baby class day, so I used my step-dad’s Garmin 201, and my watch. Six total miles in 51 minutes. Two timers can’t be wrong. My splits were all pretty quick, and I followed the recommended recovery distance. In about one month, I’ve cut a minute per mile on my average easy runs.

This is making me rethink my 10k goal of under 50 minutes. And what do I even think about the 8k six days before? Easy run? Incorporate it into my long run one day later than scheduled?

I’m about to send in my registration for my first half-marathon.

The battery on step-dad’s Garmin has one hour left. So, I either need him to find the charger, or I need to get my own.

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Training Partner?

BB is just about done with school for this semester. Because of this, she was able to relax at my brother’s graduation and then bike along with me on most of my run tonight. It was a lot of fun.

My brother’s grad ceremony was kinda boring, as I’ve found most of them are. But I had to go to watch the kid finally get his college diploma. The party/gathering afterwards was kinda odd for a bit. Rightfully so, my step-dad doesn’t like my bio-dad, and this makes gatherings with both families uncomfortable. But step-dad did pretty well today, and at the end of the day, got me thinking about another half-marathon. At least I’ve got more time to decide with this one.

I wanted to get up and run early this morning, but couldn’t drag my sorry behind out of our comfy bed. This meant I had to fit my run in this evening. After I took the dogs on their normal loop, pregnant BB, cautiously as possible, rode her bike the next seven miles with me. About five miles in, she asked if she was a distraction, and that couldn’t have been further from the truth. It was very enjoyable to have someone to chit chat with (I think I’ve asked for this in a previous post) on my weekly long run. It turned out to be my longest and fastest “long run” ever. Besides a full stomach, I felt good, and wasn’t trying to go so fast, and fast is a relative term. It also sounds like BB is feeling good from the ride, minus a little heartburn which is a normal everyday occurance now. We both hope she’ll continue to come along once in a while from now on, while she can.

Now I need to get used to the fact that most of my long runs from now on will be longer than the last. And to remember to never run on a full stomach again.

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Menudo 5k

Played golf on Thursday and then ran extra intervals that night. My times were all around what I wanted them to be, but not necessarily in the right order. This left me unsure of what to expect of myself at today’s race.

After I left the house, and just before I got on the freeway, I realized I forgot my watch, and ran back home. This made me even more nervous about trying to warm-up, get my number, and not being late. Without speeding, I got to the race with plenty of time to spare. Met my ma and step-dad walking to the registration, and fortunately don’t feel like I needed to entertain them. This allowed me to run for a 15 minute warm-up or so, and not worry about getting back to my car to drop off my sweatshirt and race bag, because ma was nice enough to grab it from me.

Today was another small race, maybe 75 people. Flat out and back course with the temps in the mid 50’s, but kinda windy. I lined up closer to the front today, and tried to get to the right when I realized that there was a jog in the road about 200 meters out. My first mile was 7:34, which I thought was too fast, but I felt great. Again, I was able to pick out a guy (in grey) early that I thought I could follow. About 1.25 miles in, I was passed by a guy in a red shirt, and tried following his cadence. I stayed with him, but his feet hit the ground too infrequently, as he was a good six inches taller than I. Saw my step-dad about half a mile after I turned around. He looked good and I felt good, so I yelled something about a nearby geocache. I don’t remember my two mile split, but the back of the one mile marker was 16:07, and I defiantly thought I could beat 24:00. The guy in the red shirt was caught with 400 or so left, and grey shirt and I sprinted in, and I finally passed him with 30 meters left. I wouldn’t let him go faster than me. (I sound all serious right there, but it was all in fun.) Through the chute and had over my number tag, start to stretch and realize I forgot to stop my watch. Oh well, results will be posted online. After my finish, I walked back and found my step-dad and ran the last ½ mile or so with him. He said I helped him in, so that’s a good thing, and he crushed his goal time of 35:00 with a 30:20. The online results have me with a 23:40, and I feel great about that.

Step-dad got around to asking me what my running goals are. I’ve been thinking about a 10k in early/mid June, and not much after that. Other than maybe a marathon next summer in Walker, MN. He wants to run an 8k somewhere in four weeks. A nice 8k sounds good to me, and there’s one in St. Paul the weekend he’d like.

What’s after that? Besides the birth of our kid and a complete change in my life that is. Any ideas as far as running is concerned?