ANOTHER RUN IN THE RAIN, I THINK I'M GOING TO FLOAT AWAY:)

Actually, I like running in the rain, and in the beginning it was just a misty rain. About half way through it poured, but for only like 2 minutes. Thankfully it was a mild day, at about 58 degrees, so I wasn't cold at all. Still wearing that LLBean rain slicker, and today i wore shorts, so the rain just trickled down my legs. LOL

My body is LOVING these slow mileage. Today I ran basically the same route as yesterday, but ran the first loop around the pond with a little hill, and I ran it 43:00, and my heartrate never went above 140. So many times today I just wanted to pick up the pace and let loose, but I know how important this phase is. Legs feel awesome

Splits for today were:
M1 - 10:58 121bpm
M2 - 10:48 134bpm
M3 - 11:01 133bpm
M4 - 10:21 140bpm ( really wanted to sprint this last part. LOL)

MODIFIED POND ROUTE TO KEEP IT FLAT

Today was a great run with BR411, though he stopped at 3.5 and I kept going till I hit 5 miles. We decided we wanted to keep this run flat, so instead of running around the pond, we headed out to the bridge and went left and ran til we hit the stop sign, and turned around and came back and continued past where we started along the water and turned around. I did this modified loop 3 times. Some would say boring, but it's very scenic and I really wanted to keep the hills at bay. I guess part of me also wanted to throw in a loopy course, as the Long Island Marathon is flat, and it's a 13.1 loop that you do twice.

Pace was perfect. Again, not as consistent as my run on Wednesday, but close enough for me. And this time, since there were no hills, my heartrate NEVER went over 134. Sweet. That is, until the last mile, while running alone, out of nowhere, 3 huge dogs appeared barking in front of me. Granted the owner was there, but with a LONG ass leash. Scared the begeezis out of me. When I got home, the Garmin showed that my HR hit 200, during that episode. LOL

Today's digits:
M1 - 10:39
M2 - 10:58
M3 - 11:13
M4 - 11:10
M5 - 11:00

The best part of this base building phase is that I am running at such a slow pace, keeping the heartrate low, it is letting me get out there, almost every day this week for a run (only reason I missed Tuesday, was that I ran out of hours in the day and couldn't get a babysitter:(, and NOTHING hurts!! Once I am running 7 days straight, I will slowly build the mileage up based on Allen's plan (though his plan suggests 6 days, but again, I feel this is doable since the miles are slow and steady). I will definitely run by heartrate, and keep a listen to my body. But so far, so good:)

Eventually my plan is to do the following:
Monday - Long run
Tuesday - Recovery run
Wednesday - Tempo run (but not going over 75-80% HR)
Thursday - Recovery run
Friday - Medium Long run
Saturday - Recovery run
Sunday - Recovery run

I'll take it one week at a time and see how I feel and add mileage accordingly.

NOTHING LIKE A SOAK IN A COLD BATH AFTER A RUN

I don't know when I started doing this, but after every run, whether it's a short run or a long run, I hop in the bath tub with the nozzle set on the coldest setting and fill up the tub. I stay in it for 20 minutes and my legs feel awesome. I fill it all the way up so my legs are completely submerged. I really think it helps me with recovery, cause I can wake up the next day ready for another run. I only add ice to the tub after a race:) Oh, and I have to be in the tub before the water starts, or faggeetttaaabbouuiiitt it! I guess I am now accustomed to cold water:) Hmm... I need to get a thermometer to see how cold it really is? I do end it with a quick hot shower, to warm up, but the legs have this cold feeling for about 30min after I'm dressed and walking around. Kind of cool. Pun intended. LOL

Well, thanks go to d10 for the inspiration to get me outside for my run today. When I woke it looked cold and rainy out and I spent the morning drinking my coffee thinking, hmm... will I run inside on the TM or outside in the rain. If I had a treadmill here at home, I probably would have chosen the TM, but I chose to run outside and it was GREAT!! Once I got the kids dropped off to school, I hit the roads. The temperature said 59 degrees, and it was just a misty rain, but it felt so good. I wore my raincoat (one I got from LLBean). I need a runner shell that is waterproof!!! But thankfully I didn't get hot during the rain. Didn't even get cold:) It kept me warm and dry, but my legs were soaked, as were my sneakers:( And I could have done without the puddles. Why, when a car sees a runner and a puddle, they speed up????? LOL

I got in 4 miles today in 43:03, not as consistent pace wise as yesterday, but the HR still stayed at or below 140:) I'm looking forward during this phase one, to see my pace increase, as my HR stays low!!!

Today's digits:
M1 - 10:18
M2 - 11:10
M3 -10:51
M4 -10:44

5 MILES IN BEFORE THE RAIN

Never made it out yesterday for my run:( But had a great run today. No aches and pains at all, and was able to be very consistent with my pacing today, and kept the heartrate below 140 for the whole run:) BR411 told me it was going to rain on and of for the day, so I got out there as soon as I got kids off to school. Temperature was 58, but it felt chilly as there was no sun. But, the sun did poke out at times and I felt warm during the run. When I got home, temperatures said 60. When not to wear my shell, that is the million dollar question!! LOL

I nailed each mile mark at 11:00 for each mark, and came in at 5 miles at 55:00

I'm usually pretty good at pacing myself, but today was just perfect!!

I FEEL THE NEED FOR CHANGE

With Election Day upon us, and my running entering a new phase, I thought it appropriate to give my blog a makeover. Out with the old, in with the new. I've really liked the look of Vegas Runner's, so I've copied his theme, hope you don't mind Bruce:) I may work on the color scheme to make it my own, but for now I'll keep it the way it is.

Plan for today is 4 easy miles around the pond. Kids are home from school today (and are bugging me already to get to the polls to cast my vote, they LOVE to pull the lever). And my oldest has an eye doctor appointment at 1pm, so hoping to get my run in after that, if the Grandparents are around to babysit.

Hope to post back with the digits then!

TRAINING HAS BEGUN, 52 WEEKS UNTIL NYC

Phase 1 (11/3/08 - 1/25/09) - will last 12 weeks. During this time I will work on building my mileage/base. ALL miles will be run at less than 70% heartrate, which is 140bpm, for me.

Today, after taking the past 3 weeks, basically off, my training has started up again. I had a great 3 mile run this morning. Weather was 53 degrees, but it felt chilly as the skies were cloudy and gray. I wore shorts, and a t-shirt, with a light shell. Felt fine, but at times was a bit chilly. I don't like this time of year when I don't know what to wear, but... that's the life of a runner:)

I kept my heartrate down, stats as follows:
M1: 10:24 135bpm cardiac drift: 147
M2: 10:51 142bpm cardiac drift: 155 (there is a hill in this mile)
M3: 10:59 140bpm cardiac drift: 158 (there is a slight hill in this mile)

Though my HR drifted up above 140, it did not stay there for more than a few seconds. Day one was a huge success. Look forward to running more miles tomorrow:)

11 MONTHS SINCE I STARTED RUNNING, TODAY IS THE 2008 NYC MARATHON, AND OTHER STUFF

Today marks the 11 month anniversary of when I started running, in that time frame I have gotten outside (111 times) or on the treadmill (31 times) for a total of 142 runs, and I have run a total of 632.6 miles. Not bad considering when I started, I did the C25K program, and thought I would die jogging 2 minutes walking 3 minutes, or whatever it was. LOL. Today is also the day of the 2008 NYC Marathon (good luck to all running, especially John B, and Jeanie T!!). I am so excited for you guys, I know you are going to do great. I’ll be there next year with you!!!

A recap of what I have done since I started my journey back on January 2, 2008:

- with 11 months of running, also came 16 lbs lost

- I completed all of my races needed, and my volunteering, to be guaranteed entry for NEXT years 2009 NYC Marathon they are as follows, if you wish, you can click on the race name and be brought to the actual race report:

- March 9, 2008 – Colon Cancer Run 4M – 39:14 (9:48 pace)

- April 20, 2008 – Adidas Run 4M – 34:21 (8:35 pace)

- May 11, 2008 – Mother’s Day 4M – 33:29 (8:22 pace)

- May 17, 2008 – Healthy Kidney 10K – 55:29 (8:56 pace)

- June 7, 2008 – Volunteered at the 10K Mini Race

- June 15, 2008 – Father’s Day 5M – 43:47 (8:45 pace)

- July 12, 2008 – Park to Park 10K – 54:38 (8:48 pace)

- July 19, 2008 – Run for CP 4M – 33:38 (8:24 pace) missed PR by 8seconds

- Sept 14, 2008 – Queens Half Marathon – 2:01:30 (9:16 pace)

- Oct 12, 2008 – Staten Island Half Marathon – 1:57:36 (8:58 pace)


I also set competitive goals for each race for MYSELF, to PR, if I could each time. I was able to accomplish a PR in every NYRR race, except one, and I came pretty darn close in that one too, missed it by 8 seconds. LOL

Another highlight of this running journey for me is that it got my hubby/BR411 running as well. Though we don’t get to run much together, when we do I really enjoy those runs. And I am so excited that he is planning to run the Long Island Half Marathon on May 3, 2009. Though I am now contemplating running the Full Marathon that day, as it is a flat course, would give me Marathon experience going into NYC (exactly 6 mths later). Any thoughts/suggestions from any/all experience bloggers is greatly appreciated. I think it is doable, as NYC is 6 mths later, and the LI half is flat. I know I have set my sights on a strong finish for NYC, at beating 4 hours, hopefully running it in 9:09 pace, so my thinking is that if I have a Marathon in my pocket, my goals of NYC might have a better chance. Plus, the Long Island half is practically in my back door.

I will be running one more NYRR race this year, on November 16th, the Race to Deliver, and I am so happy BR411 will be coming into NYC to run it with me. My competitiveness wants to try to make a PR, but I promise you BR411 I will run with you and we will cross the finish line hand in hand:)!!!

Well, today is the 2008 NYC marathon, I am so psyched. My training officially starts tomorrow!!! 363 days till I WILL BE RUNNING THIS RACE!!!! Let the games begin, the motivation stay high, and everyone run strong and taper!!!!

I could not have done any of the above without the support and help of my fellow bloggers. Thank you!!!