Pre-race jitters

Finished my final training run this morning - 8 miles with Melissa and Meghana, running laps in the park - and I'm a little nervous about my race next weekend. My body doesn't feel prepared. It's possible I'm just thinking about this too hard. I know I'll finish. Shoot, even if I have to walk it I'll finish. And I may just be having pre-race jitters since I haven't run a half in so long. I'm hoping to get an easy run in Tuesday, bootcamp on Monday and Wednesday, and I haven't decided about camp on Friday. Since the race is Saturday morning, perhaps not the best idea, although I've certainly done plenty of long runs the morning after a hard workout. I guess we'll have to see how the week goes.

Happy running!

Saturday long run!

Saturday afternoon Melissa and I ran 11 miles! We averaged a 12:09 pace, and did two-four mile laps and one-three mile lap in the park. Felt pretty good, even with the pull in my hip.

Run Log

Four miles on the Trinity Trail with Melissa. 12 minute average pace, felt good and not weighed down.

Run Log

Sunday, January 10, 2010 - 9 miles, the first 8 with Melissa. Felt pretty good, but a little stiff towards the end. We ran loops in the park.

The Plan

An update on the plan: my goal is to run a half marathon each month. I've committed to January and February: the Texas Half in Dallas on January 30, and the Cowtown Half on February 28 in Fort Worth. I think Dallas Rock'n'Roll will be my March race, on March 14. I just can't get over the entry fee. I'm feeling a little excited but mostly fearful of a year's worth of running. If I can do it, I think it will transform me, physically and mentally. But it's a really big commitment. I have some ideas on how to improve my running and times as the year goes on. For now, though, I am concentrating on getting through my first race as a run rather than a race.

Goodnight!

New Year, New Goal

So I haven't been very good at keeping up with my running (or my running log) and that has to change. All of the sudden I'm looking at crunch time for my first race of the year on January 30. I have challenged myself, and asked the RB to hold me accountable, as she does so well, to log all of my runs. So! The first two runs of the year:

January 1, 2010, Trinity Trails, four miles, 46 minutes and some change. We ran in the afternoon, and it was bright, sunny and beautiful. We kept up a pretty good pace. Run felt good.

January 3, 2010, Trinity Park, six miles (three two mile loops!), 1:14. We ran in the dark and wind, and in the street rather than on the sidewalk, since it's better lit. My knees bothered me for a while afterwards, and the run felt like sloshing through mud. But! we took 20 seconds off our average for the first four miles by the time we completed the sixth. I like those negative splits.