Jennifer is a MARATHONER!

What a day! Today I completed the Dallas White Rock Marathon. It was a very difficult race - but I did it!

The first half of the race was awesome, even thought I didn't quite feel good the entire race. It just wasn't a good running day for me. Things quickly fell apart at mile 19, where my legs and hips just cramped up on me. But, Lindsey ran with me from mile 17 until the end and I really needed her support and encouragement. Shannon came out and cheered me on at various points throughout the route, and it meant the world to me. My final time was 4:56:57 - not my plan "A" time, but my plan "B" time; and I'll take it!

So, our journey ends with all 3 of us as MARATHONERS! Considering we all embarked on this journey barely being able to complete a mile, I'd say we did pretty good. This experience has strengthened me physically, emotionally and mentally. I will definitely run another marathon.

Lindsey and Shannon are MARATHONERS!!!

Lindsey and I completed the Las Vegas Marathon on Sunday, December 6th. I was incredibly nervous, but we both completed the race!

And - wow - Lindsey is AWESOME! That girl finished in 4:40. A full twenty minutes faster than her planned time! She had negative splits the whole way and definitely demonstrated speed and endurance throughout the race. All with a smile! And how cool that she ran the whole race with her Dad!?!

My race time was a lot slower, but I don't care because I finished!!!! And the best parts were seeing my Dad and brother Patrick out on the course to cheer me on. It was cold, so it couldn't have been comfortable for them.

What a sense of accomplishment. There's something sad that my first marathon is over. But I can't wait to figure out what's next! For now, some well deserved rest and recuperating time.

GOOD LUCK TO JENNIFER - WHITE ROCK MARATHON IN 3 DAYS!!!!!

Last Training Run for Lindsey and Shannon

Sigh. Today was the last training run for the Vegas Marathon. It was the last time I have to get up at 5:15 am to run for this race (I'll be getting up at that time in 2 weeks when I start my traning for the Dallas Rock N Roll Half, but for now it's a nice thought). It was the last time I'll run with my awesome coach, Barabara - at least until next time we are in the same group.

I can't believe we are here already! I was looking through the older posts on this blog (in July and August) and we've really come a long way. I think we are all ready for the marathon. I know that Jennifer and Lindsey are strong and are gonna kick their marathons' butts! I know I can do it, albeit a little slower than they will.

I can't wait to check it out and take it all in. For now, good bye training runs.

Less than 2 Weeks Away!

We are all now in our taper stage - thank goodness! Lindsey and I completed out last "long" run this Saturday. We ran 15 miles at a pretty good pace, although we stopped a few times - once to check out a garage sale! That was really fun.

I can't believe we are one weekend away from the marathon, though. I am getting nervous, but excited at the same time. We have 9 miles to run this next weekend, then take it easy, travel to Vegas, and take off.

San Antonio Rock n' Roll

This last weekend I did my last "long" run before I taper in San Antonio, and it was a blast!!! I went down there with my dad, my uncle, and my cousin. My cousin was running his first half marathon (which he ran in 1 hour 45 minutes!!!!), and my dad ran with me... We were signed up for the half marathon, but out schedule called for a 22 mile training run. So, we stayed on the marathon course for 15 miles, then crossed over to the back half of the marathon course at mile 19, and ran in the remainder of our 22 miles.

Although the weather was not perfect, I had a great run. So glad I got to end the long runs on a positive note! We started out running a bit fast for my training runs (11:15 or so), but we kept that pace throughout. We even sped up to sub-10 for the last 3 miles. At that point I was just ready to get it over with! Anyway, I was so proud of my run - definitely my best yet!

The route was pretty cool too, for anyone interested in running one, the San Antonio Rock n' Roll marathon or half is definitely a great run. We ran through downtown, right past the Alamo (a little history for the runners) and through the mission district south of downtown. So all in all a great race - I highly recommend it.

The pictures I have posted are of my dad and I at mile 9. (Not quite worn out yet!) It has been so great sharing this experience with him... I hope that someday I can actually keep up with him!!!

~Lindsey

No matter how slow you run it is still faster than someone sitting on a couch.

We are now less than a month away from Vegas. Wow.

And I know I can do it.

That's because I ran 20 miles in the Fort Worth Marathon race this weekend by myself. (When I say "by myself" I mean that I didn't know anyone of the 400 people running and I ran the whole thing with nothing but my iPod and my thoughts to keep me company).

My goal was to finish in 4 hours. That's an even 12 minute pace including water stops. I was vigilent about keeping my pace even. At mile 10, I was at 1 hr, 57 min. At mile 20, I was at 4 hrs; 56 seconds. According to my Garmin, I ran 20.2 miles at an avg. 11:59 pace.

And at the end of the race, although I was exhausted, spent, sore, aching, etc., I knew I had enough left to do another few miles. I knew if I had to, I could do another 6.2 miles. I knew I had reached the point where I was ready for the marathon. And that feels great.

I am pleased that I have set my marathon finish time at 5 hrs 20 minutes. I think that's absolutely doable. If I do it faster, great! If not, that's okay. I know Lindsey and I won't be running it together. And that's okay. Because I was able to keep myself going for 4 solid hours on the most boring route possible with nothing but my will and my awesome playlist.

Boo Run 1/2 Marathon Race Recap

Our running class was scheduled to run the DRC 1/2 marathon on November 1, which was a Sunday, but Lindsey and I decided to find a 1/2 marathon on Saturday so we could go out and enjoy Halloween evening. So, we searched and found the inaugural "Boo Run" in Cleburne, Texas. The run was to benefit those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It sounded like a good cause and it was only about an hour drive, so we thought: "Why not?"

I picked Lindsey up at around 6:00 a.m. and we took off toward Cleburne. When we got to the race site, it was obvious that this was not going to be a large race, but we did see runners milling around and some bumper stickers with "26.2" and "13.1" so, we were among friends! We picked up our race number and timing chip and discovered only about 30 people had signed up for the 1/2 marathon. The race also had a 10k and 5k, so there were plenty of other runners for those races. I think there ended up being about 100 runners in all. The race was very well organized , though, and it was extremely touching because the recipients of our race funds were giving out water at the water stops. What an inspirational experience.

Lindsey and I had our race plan set: 10:50 pace for 13.1 miles = 2:22 finish time.

We were off! First mile we looked at the watch and we were running between 9:50 and 10:00. Ok, slow down, we told ourselves - well, guess what? We never did. We pretty much kept an even 10:00 pace the first 6.7 miles of the race. We stopped for water and fuel at the halfway point and kept on going. We tried to slow it down just a bit the second half so we didn't die at the end, but the weather was gorgeous and we knew the course (as it was 2 loops around) and we just kept on going. We did stop at more water stops the second time around as we were more thirsty and the people working at the water stops seemed so disappointed when we passed them by the first time. At about mile 10 my legs started to feel tired, but by then we only had a 5k to go, so we powered on. I got a second wind around mile 11 and I think Lindsey experienced the same. We glided on in to the finish line with a time of 2:17:58. Woo hoo! Nearly 5 minutes ahead of our goal time. We both felt great after the race and the people were so appreciative of our participation. It was a great 1/2 marathon experience and we will be coming back to at least run the 10k next year.

My plan to party it up on Halloween didn't quite work out the way I planned though. I was so tired, I was a total bump on a log the whole night. Oops. Live and learn.

Our class performed fabulously at the DRC 1/2 marathon on Sunday and we are so proud to have this goal behind us. The marathon is getting closer and we feel READY!

Pic on the Run

One thing I love about our long runs is that you really get to know the Dallas neighborhoods. We went running through Preston Hollow a couple of weeks ago. The houses are amazing! And their Halloween/Fall decorations were superb. Here's a pic of my running group in front of a pumpkin patch (i.e. someone's front lawn!).

First Half Marathon Race - Check!

This weekend, we all participated in a half marathon race. For Lindsey, it was #2. But it was the first for Jennifer and I. And it was great!

Jennifer and Lindsey ran in the Boo Run, a race that raised money for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They both ran a great race and came in second in their age groups!!! They totally dominated my time at 2 hrs, 17 minutes. I'll let them tell you about it, but it sounded awesome!!!

I ran in the DRC Half-Marathon with my running class. The weather started off really cold and ended up pretty hot. But it was a great day to run. The half was a lot harder for me than I anticipated. I mean, we run upwards of 20 miles now. How hard can 13.1 be? Well, when you run at a pace nearly 1 minute below your training pace - it's pretty hard.

Again - the mental came into play for me. I fell behind my group on the spillway at a bottleneck, but I was able to keep them in my sights. I resorted to my iPod, which really provided the inspiration to get through those last 3 miles. I had to really dig down deep to keep from walking. And I found that even though I was spent, hot, thirsty, hurting, tired - I didn't want to let myself quit. I had a goal to finish in 2 hrs and 30 minutes. I did it in 2:24:20!

I was really grateful for all the supporters and my coaches who helped me get here. Now, I just have to do it again in 5 weeks (this time, double!).

Showing Off Our Style

Who says running can't be fun and goofy? Lindsey loves running so much, she is a mentor/coach for those newbie runners in the Running 101 class. Hard to believe we were in that class just a few months ago. The Running 101 class gets runners from no mileage to a 5K.

Our Thursday am run was cancelled due to weather (tornado watch in effect). So I decided to join Lindsey in her 101 class. And since it's close to Halloween, we thought it'd be fun to dress the part. The costumes just made the run more fun!

42 Days Til Vegas!

There's less than 6 weeks until the Vegas Marathon. That's amazing. I don't know if I'm quite ready, yet, but I'm confident I will be soon.

This weekend, we were scheduled to run 20 miles. Lindsey knocked hers out on Saturday due to multiple other commitments on Sunday. I ran with the 11:30 group again on Sunday. The weather was perfect. It wasn't too cold, and when the sun came up, it was cloudy, so it didn't get in your eyes too much.

I sometimes have trouble sleeping before our long runs. You know when you look at the clock to try to will yourself to sleep. Well that happened to me this weekend. At 3 am, I was despairing, knowing I had to get up and be running in 3 hours. During the run, therefore, I was TIRED. By mile 16, I felt like I was going to fall over.

I said before, running is mental. I had to give myself a pep-talk to not think about the pain in my feet, and the exhaustion sweeping over me. By mile 16.75, I was done. So I took the SAG wagon home (again). I was disappointed in myself, but after getting some sleep, I got up and finished my 20-mile run! I took my buddy Kelly out and ran the remaining 3.25 miles to make my 20-mile goal. And it felt great. Moral of the story - you can give up, but you can always go back to finish. And having that 20-mile run finished (with no pain in those last 3 miles), makes me confident that I can do it again all at once.

Running for a Cause

Last weekend, Lindsey, Jennifer and I were signed up to run in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K. We were part of a team to raise money for breast cancer research. The run was fantastic. The amount of support and love for those who have had to battle that disease is amazing. We were so happy to be part of the event. We were able to raise over $4,000 through donations! Here' a picture of our team (pre-race of course).

Made it to 18 Finally!

Lindsey and Jennifer have been marathon training superstars. Those ladies have embraced the mileage and come in strong every time. They've both done up to 20 miles, so far.

That's not the case with me, unfortunately. Since August, I've struggled with injuries. And let me tell you, it's incredibly frustrating (and I'm so envious!) of watching your friends enjoy the long runs, meet the distance milestones, and seem to avoid most injuries (although both Jennifer and Lindsey have had a foot issue that sounds like it's resolved).

Just when I was on a high last weekend with my 16-miler finally completed, and feeling super-healthy, I was sidelined again with another injury. This time, my right foot betrayed me. Lindsey and I were getting in an "easy" 9-10 mile run in on Monday morning when, 2 miles into our run, I stumbled because out of nowhere, my right foot had shooting pains. The pain lasted all week, only slightly subsiding on Friday. Enough for me to try to run in the 5K Race for the Cure.

Holding my breath, I ran in the 5K on Saturday. I felt a slight twinge - but it wasn't too bad. So I decided to attempt the distance hurdle I haven't been able to cross yet - 18 miles. I was definitely stressed out. We are only 7 weeks out from the marathon and I haven't completed more than 16 miles yet! So, I gritted my teeth and set out.

The foot pain was a dull throb. It hurt more to run on sloped streets, so I ran in the middle. When we crossed a suspension bridge, the bridge's motion seemed to jam the foot, so I walked. At mile 15, I thought I was done for. But I gritted my teeth and wouldn't give up. Sure I walked a littled (especially up a really big hill at mile 16), but I did it. I FINALLY completed 18 miles. And at the end...I felt great! Sure I was tired, and a little dizzy, and I thought perhaps I jeopardized my ability to participate in the marathon (heaven forbid!) by running on an injured foot - but I DID IT!

Running long distances is a mental challenge. It's easy to decide to give up at mile 12, 14, or 16. But you really get to know yourself when you decide to reach deep into yourself and find something to keep you going. I'm getting to know myself pretty well on these runs.

It helps when you have someone to cheer you one. I am sending out all sorts of good thoughts to my new friend Rebecca, who stayed back from the group to walk across the suspension bridge with me, slow down on the big hill, and encourage me through those last 2 miles. Thanks for helping me reach this milestone on our journey to marathon.

Running Club

Several months ago, Shannon, Kristin and I had just completed a DRC relay race. Shannon and I went to Einstein's for a power breakfast after the run. While we were waiting on our bagels, we struck up a conversation with a woman who also looked like she had been running all morning. It turned out that she had run 16 miles that morning with another marathon training group and was preparing for the NYC marathon in November. It was so fun to meet another runner and hear about her training.

A few weeks ago, I posted a status on Facebook about my preparations for a long run in the rain - body glide and a waterproof hat. Within a few hours, a girl that I had not talked to in probably 8 years commented on my status, talking about her long run in the rain that day. I went to her page and discovered that she too ran marathons and her husband was a super triathlete, competing all over the world. Because of our common interest in running, I found a connection that had been lost nearly 8 years ago.

These two experiences got me thinking that this running thing is really a sort of club. All that is required is a love for running. If you are a runner, you are automatically a friend. It can bring strangers together or old friends back together.

Tomorrow I start coaching Running 101 with Run On! I am hoping to induct several new members into our club...

~L

Training with New Set of Friends

This weekend, I was in Kansas City for a Chiefs game. A lot of my family (including my neice) live in KC, so I go up there every fall for a few games. I'm heading up next weekend, too.

I was worried what these weekend trips would do to my training schedule. I decided to see if I could find a running/training group like I have in Dallas to run with. I found "Runner's Edge", and Kansas City running group. It was AWESOME!

The weather was perfect (a little cool, but not too bad). I ran with a couple of ladies who were going to be "pacers" for the Kansas City Marathon in 2 weeks. They are trying to train to finish the marathon at exactly 5 hours, 10 minutes.

We started at 7 am (I LOVED THAT!!! I hate starting at 5:30 or 6 am), and the coach has a philosophy that all his 400+ runners follow: (1) start slow to ease into it; and (2) NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOU ARE, walk 1 minute after each mile. This includes what you do in the actual marathon.

The philosophy is to make your body better able to handle those later, longer miles. And quite frankly, it worked. This course was ridiculously hilly. The last mile was straight uphill. Steep, let me tell you. But I felt better at the end of this run than any other long run I've trained all summer. I felt fantastic. And I could have kept going (but I was happy to end at 14.2).

I am in KC next weekend, so I'm training with them again. But I think I'm definitely incorporating this philosophy into my own training from now on. It certainly gave me a lot of confidence and because I felt so much better, I felt like I can definitely reach the goal of 26.2.

Special thanks to my new friends Amy and Kristy the "pacers." Between the 2 of them, they've run 12 marathons, and had great advice and tips. It was great making new friends and learning new things in this sport.

Running Fever has taken over our office!

Seems the running bug has caught on at our office. This photo was taken at Delaney Vineyards 5k run this past Saturday. In the yellow is Jennifer and next to her in red is Kristin, a fellow lawyer runner from our office. This was Kristin's first 5k and she did FABULOUS. It was a very hilly run, but the weather was cool and the wine was flowing afterward. A pretty good way to spend a Saturday morning, I must say.

I Love 8 Mile Tuesdays!

Today we ran 8 miles. It was gorgeous outside. Just a little bit cool, but fantastic weather. I ran with the 11:30 pace group. It's a lot of fun running with new people. For some reason, I just love the Tuesday morning 8 mile runs. I feel strong and really like that I did something significant before sunrise!

Anyway, I checked for pictures from the Zoo run. I couldn't help but compare how I look in this September 2009 picture (this is me in blue crossing the finish line after 4 miles at an avg. 10 min. pace) vs. me in the May 2009 5K run (where I had only run a 12 minute pace - it's the picture with Kelly the dog in it). What do you think? I think I've improved. :)

10 Weeks and Counting

I have a whiteboard in my office that I use as a huge calendar. I have about 6 weeks up there and next to the black numbers of the dates is a red number that varies. For instance, this week says 18, 8, 8, 6 in red. Those red numbers are the miles I'm supposed to run this week.

As you can imagine, I have to erase the board every so often and re-do the numbers to update the "calendar." I had to do that today. When I went to our training log to find the red/mileage numbers I needed to add, I realized we are only 10 weeks out from the Vegas Marathon! 10 WEEKS!!!! That's only 9 more long run Sundays.

Speaking of long run Sundays, HUGE KUDOS to Lindsey and Jennifer who completed 20 miles this weekend. The schedule said "18-20" miles. I planned on running 18, but only made it 14.75. That's because I felt naseated after mile 13. It was a LOT hotter than it was supposed to be and I think I messed up my "fueling" schedule. There's a delicate balance on what you eat while you run. If you mess up the balance, your stomach gets affected because there's too much sugar in your system. So I have to watch that for next week.

Next week I'm running in Kansas City with a local marathon training group there. Can't wait to meet new marathoners and learn new things from them!

KC Zoo Run

I wrote this last weekend...Just now posting it!

I was out of town this weekend - in KC to watch the Chiefs' heartbreaking home opener - and I signed up for a 4-mile run at the Kansas City Zoo. I did not get the 20 miles in that I was supposed to this weekend. I ran 6 miles on Saturday (1 to warm up, 1 after the race with my Dad and Step-Mom Sandra). Patrick, my brother, also ran with me.

IT WAS AWESOME.

The weater was perfect. 50 when we left the house, then warmed up to the mid-60s. Seriously perfect weather to run in. I was warned to run at my marathon pace - but when do I ever listen? Never.

So, I took off and tried to keep up with Patrick, the former champion cross country runner. After 1/2 a mile, I told him to go ahead and relied on my iPod to keep me company. So I found myself a "rabbit" to keep up with and let er rip. I ran an avg. of 10 min. mile and finished just under 40 minutes (by seconds) for 4 miles (since I didn't keep tight to the corners, the race results say I ran 40:24, but my garmin has me at 9:52 avg and 4.11 miles for the race).

Anyway, it was really really fun. I felt sick in the middle of the run (Darn You PowerAde!), but bucked up and kept going. And it was well worth it. What a great day.

So this week has been a fantastic running week for me! We had an 18 mile run in the rain on Sunday (see Shannon's post below). It was pouring half the time, but it was great for me. I felt really strong the entire run - even up the final hill on the way back to the store. I think I just hit the right stride and it carried me through. I did get new shoes (my beloved asics) and that certainly helped. The asics provide the perfect amount of suppor for my huge feet :-)

Today we had an 8-mile "short" run, and again, I had a fantastic run. We ran through Lakewood and over to Swiss Avenue - those who know Dallas know that Swiss Avenue provides BEAUTIFUL scenery.

Anyway, I really needed a few good runs. Two weeks ago I had a terrible 16-miler. It was hot and humid and I just felt weak the entire run. Jennifer and I moved up to a faster group to try it out. I think on a good day this would have been fine, but that day - not so much! The last two miles back to the store were a beating. I had to push myself like never before. But, I guess I can be happy that I made it :-)

Well, thats it for now. Wish me luck on the hills on Thursday!

~L

8-Mile "Short Run"

It's funny to think that our 8 mile run today is the "short" run. I remember the first time I ran 8 miles. I was in St. Louis and I had just attended my friend Joy's wedding. I was SO WORRIED about it! I had my whole route scheduled - I ran from the clock tower at SLU to Forest Park all the way to the end at Wash U, then back. On the way back, I got a little lost in the park, but it was a pretty fun run. I wasn't able to run the entire distance (in the end I did 9 miles, but only ran 7.5 of it with some walking in between). It was a huge accomplishment for me.

Any yet today, it's no big deal! It's our weekly "short/maintenance" run. And it was fun! I was able to get up at 5:15 and knock out those miles at a 12:00 pace, only stopping for water.

The point is, it's interesting how your mind can adapt and adjust. What seemed nearly insurmountable and intimidating 2 months ago barely gave me pause today. I'm trying to bring that same thought over to my regular life. If I think something may be too difficult or exhausting to attempt, I should remember when I successfully "ran those miles" in the past that now seem a breeze and move forward with a bounce in my step.

Soggy

For those of you who live in Dallas, you know that this weekend was wet. Not rainy or misty - wet. That didn't stop Lindsey, Jennifer, and I from attempting our 18 mile run Sunday, though! Our coaches said - this is good training, because you never know if your race day will be rainy. (Not likely in December in Las Vegas in my opinion, but it was certainly an experience!).

It was not that bad, actually. Sure we were soaked to the bone in the steady almost non-stop downpour. But there was something elemental and fun about being out in that kind of weather, knowing that (1) everyone else in the city slept as we logged an amazing amount of miles; and (2) that we could indulge ourselves inside the rest of the day knowing we had braved the elements enough for one weekend.

Lindsey and Jennifer did an awesome job at the 18 miles. I swear it looks like they're not even trying hard! Their runs appear effortless. You know that are having a great time, too. I only logged 12 miles yesterday. At about mile 11.5, my plantar faciitis reared its ugly head - I had shooting pain in my left foot. The good news is that I made it almost 12 miles with little to no pain. The bad news was that I needed to quit at that point to avoid further or re-injuring the foot. (Secretly, I wasn't that disappointed given the weather. It felt great taking the epsom salt bath, let me tell you!).

We are now less than 3 months away from our marathons. And I know that we can do it! I mean, I ran 12 miles yesterday. I can easily run a half-marathon. And I have plenty of time to build my mileage for the 26.2 needed in December. I'm looking forward to the cooler weather for the training. I'm just hoping it stays dry on Sundays!

14 Weeks Out!

Wow - we have only 14 weeks to go until Vegas (15 for White Rock)! That's crazy, scary, exciting. I got a preview of the marathon this weekend as I was in Las Vegas for fun. I ran 8 miles - from the Hard Rock Hotel to the strip (1 mile) then down to Mandalay Bay where the marathon will start, and up to Circus Circus and back. The coolest thing was that I passed people still out from Friday night's partying. It felt pretty cool and healthy to be passing them on the strip in my comfy running shoes - while many of the ladies carried theirs and went barefoot (eww!).

The schedule had us running 12 miles on Sunday - as I said, I only ran 8 (but walked another 2 miles later that day). This is because of my foot issues. In fact, I'm not running this week to give my foot a chance to heal. Today, I missed our 8 mile weekday run. I liked sleeping in, but I'm worried I'll get behind. The good news is that the foot is feeling a lot better. I'm surprised - happily so. I plan on running this weekend though - another 16 miler. Let's hope I'm up for it.

Updates, Updates

I haven't been the best at keeping up with this blog. Don't think I'm getting sick of running - I'm just hitting a rough patch. I've been going to the doctor this week to work out the whole knee and foot thing. So my running has had to be scaled back. But I ran 4 miles yesterday and another 4 today.

Today, I ran by myself with Kelly. I had my alarm set for 6 am. And I just couldn't make myself get out of bed. I hit snooze a LOT. I was deciding that I'd skip the run today, but then I thought - no way - I have been skipping too much lately. So I got out of bed at 6:45 and out the door by 7 (since I was only running 4 miles, I didn't worry as much about my pre-run eating rituals).

We ran down to the lake and back. And since it was so late in the morning, we saw some moms walking their kids to school. So CUTE! And one pointed to us and said, "look at how happy that dog is getting exercise! She is having such a good time." I looked at Kelly and saw the joy in her prance and I was glad I was out there. Which is why I love running. It may suck sometimes getting up in the morning, and I may have a ton of aches and pains, but I got to see a magnificent sky - just after sunrise, spend time with my girl, and feel a sense of accomplishment.

I'm heading to Las Vegas tonight. I'm supposed to run 12 miles Sunday, but with my injuries, I'm going to try just 6 - 8 miles tomorrow morning. I'm looking at the run as my preview to December's marathon!

16 Miles

Yesterday we ran 16 miles. 16 MILES!!! More than half the marathon distance. Jennifer and Lindsey ran it really strong. They seemed to have tons of energy, led the pack, and almost sprinted the last mile to the store.

A little different story for me. After the water stop at mile 12, my knee started killing me. It happened before when we ran 13 miles - at about the 11 mile mark, my left knee just starts to hurt. But I also learned you can run through the pain and it goes away (at least until the next water stop).

I was ready to throw in the towel at mile 12.5 (and run the 1.3 miles to my house - which means I wouldn't have gotten the full 16 miles in), when I thought about Monday, and how Lindsey and Jennifer would be pumped about the 16 miles and I was just a quitter, so I gritted my teeth, conciously told myself to ignore the pain, and ran up Swiss to catch our group. I did pretty well until the 14 mile water stop - at which time I literally hobbled up a hill, was able to run for another mile, then had to walk the last mile home. That sucked big time. But I did it! I "ran" 16 miles.

I went home, had my ice bath (which is killer by the way but I swear a miracle worker). By 5, I was feeling much better.

The knee is still pretty painful today. So I'm skipping tomorrow's 8-mile run. I'm convinced it's just an ITBN issue (which is that the muscle is weak and causes strain on the knee) - not an injury. So I'm hoping that by our next 16 mile run (which is on September 6th), I'll be fine. Cross your fingers.

Grit

is a word I think about often while running. Running is hard: period. Some miles are easy, where you feel like you are gliding on air, and some miles hurt with every footstep. However, grit will get you through those hard miles. Sunday, Shannon illustrated what grit is all about. She muscled through a 16-mile run with a bum knee. My hat is off to you, my friend. You showed us what grit is all about and you earned a lot of respect from our running group yesterday.

Its been a while...

I know, I know, its been a while since I have written anything. Scott and I went on vacation for a week last week, and before that I was just swamped.

So, running has been great lately. Ran 10 miles for the long run last week. It was amazing. We ran around a park in Vancouver - Stanley Park - it was basically an island, and the path was along the seawall around the island. it was so beautiful. We had 400 year old trees on our left (the park itself) and the ocean on our right. And the city in the background. Truly a spectacular run. I brought my camera on the run - wore it around my wrist - and took tons of pictures. I will be posting them asap. It was such a blast. And it was really nice running with my hubby. He has been so supportive of my running, but to actually have him running alongside me was awesome.

On Saturday, we returned back to Dallas and back to the ridiculous heat :-) Our flight was delayed, so we didn't land until 1 a.m., so I wasn't home and asleep until around 2:30. And of course - 3 hours later was awake for my long Sunday run... wow, I might be an addict! So, we had our 14 mile run that morning. It was tough, as I was absolutely exhausted running on only 3 hours of sleep. But we did it, and we actually ran at a very quick pace. We normally run between 12 and 12:30 for our long runs, but this time we were closer to 11:30 the majority of the time. And the final few miles were faster still. It was a hard run - but one that made me proud. We kicked ass out there!

This morning was a 7 mile run with 5 x 20 second strides. It was not a good run. The weather was just awful. Very hot, and extremely humid. The air was so thick. Anyway - cold front is coming in on Friday and the weather is looking good - hopefully that helps us out a bit :-)

Today some of our work buddies - Tate and Kristin started their running classes. I am so proud of them! Tate started RunOn's 101 class - the same class Shannon, Jennifer and I began only 4 months ago! Kristin started 201. She has been done 101 a couple times now - so she is moving up :-) And she ran an 11 minute magic mile!!! Compared to a 12:30 magic mile just a couple months ago!! Freaking awesome Kristin! Anyway - just wanted to pat them on the backs for a great start today! I hope the trend spreads around the office :-)

Okay - thats all for today. I will post pics from my Vancouver run soon...

~L

Strong

Today we ran 6 miles with 5 X 20 second strides.

I LOVE running 6 miles. The first two miles are always painful for me, but when I hit that 2 mile mark, I feel great. All the kinks and soreness and aches disappear and I feel strong.

And strong is how I felt today at mile 5, running at a much faster pace than I usually do just because I felt great. I am definitely understanding a runner's insanity to push herself and sweat like crazy because the reward is that you are making your body and mind strong. I just feel healthy. Which is as it should be. I'm only 32 after all. In the prime of my life. I might as well make my body the best it can be by getting into shape.

The strides, by the way, were super fun. Basically, you pick up your pace and stretch out your legs - which makes you run fast. But it's not a sprint...just opening up your stride and taking advantage of leg length. I did this instinctively when I ran the 800 in middle school. I remember feeling at an advantage over the other runners because my legs seemed longer. The strides today were part of just building our endurance. Can't want for the next ones.

On Thursday, our weekday runs start getting longer. That means, we will be meeting at 5:15 instead of 5:30. Yikes. I am NOT looking forward to that. I have a hard time being there by 5:30 (I'm usually 1 or 2 minutes late). 5:15 really will be difficult. But I think I can handle it.

We have 2 more weeks of our "building" phase. Then on August 30th, we start the "strength" phase of our training. This will involve more track time and speed during the week, not to mention hills, to build our endurance even more and make us ready for the rigors of a race.

I love that I'm still enthused about all this!

Updates

I've been remiss this week with the blog. I had a work project that was crazy. But that didn't keep me from running on Tuesday. I missed yesterday's 6 mile run, though. When I woke up at 4:30 am, my body told me, don't even try it. And I'm glad I skipped it. I was tired and sluggish all day yesterday. But my makeup run today was fantastic. Plus, I got to run with my favorite running buddy - Kelly! And we'll run 3 miles tomorrow.

This Sunday we have an "easy"/short run of 10 miles. Our coach sent us an email this morning that says it best. I'll let you know how the run goes. Pray for cool weather!


Hi everyone!
I hope you are all having a super week. Auyama, we hope your trip to Long Beach was fun.

Congratulations again to those who hit another distance milestone on Sunday! I was thinking about you on the way home and got goose bumps over your accomplishment. Terrific achievement! Virginia and Morgan, snaps for you too and I’m so happy to be running with you again.

The schedule for Sunday gives us a ‘short’ run of 10 miles. Ya’ know how you’ve heard people say things like “We only have to run 10 miles today”? Maybe you thought they were a little crazy? News flash…that is you now! We ONLY have 10 miles to run on Sunday. Practice saying it…nice!

Jennifer has a nice route for us on Sunday. I think you are going to like it. Nice scenery and neighborhoods and minimal hills.

After the run Sunday we’ll have breakfast and a seminar on heart rate monitor training. Bring a towel, some dry clothes, and sandals/flip flops so you can feel nice and dry for the seminar.

See you Sunday morning!
Laura and Lisa

PS Remember your water bottle!

Photo from Too Hot to Handle 15K

Here is a picture of Jennifer and Lindsey at the finish line of the 15K called "Too Hot to Handle." Shannon took some of the three of us after the race that we hope to post soon. What a great feeling it was to accomplish running a 15K a mere 3 months after starting Running 101!

Today, we ran our first half marathon distance - 13.1 miles. This was Jennifer's and my longest distance run yet. From here on out, any mile over 13.1 will be the longest any of us have ever run.

So remember last week when I said that running 11 miles was killer? Not surprisingly, this was even harder. My whole lower body aches right now. But I am filled with an extraordinary sense of accomplishment. In 3 1/2 months, I went from being unable to run 1 mile to running a half marathon.

Next week, we only run 10 miles (funny how 10 miles doesn't seem so bad right now), which is nice. Then the mileage really picks up - 14 miles on 8/16, 16 miles on 8/23, and back to 12 on 8/30. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. But exhilarated too! Good job, ladies!

Cross Country Running? I'll Stick to the Roads

Today Lindsey, Kristin, and I ran in the Dallas Running Club's 6-mile Relay at Norbuck Park. We each ran a 2-mile leg on the grass (muddy grass), up and down hills, jumping over (or running around) hay bales. Our "baton" was a plastic ice cream cone that had a wand and bubbles inside.

Even though it was only two miles - it was hard! First off, really really humid. When you run in humidity, you sweat a lot more than if it was dry out. I'm talking dripping sweat. Give me hotter weather but dry any day. Next, it was muddy. You get used to your feet weighing a certain way. But add a pound of mud to each foot and it's harder to run. Finally, it was hilly. I felt great running up the first hill. I was passing by all these walkers who had run all out and couldn't make it up the hill. Suckers. Until I reached the really really big hill between mile 1 and 1.25. OMIGOSH it was tough. I was one of those who had to walk the last bit up the hill.

Also, because it was "only" 2 miles, I ran at a lot faster pace than I usually do. I was looking at my watch's log today and at one point, I was running a 6:45 mile! I averaged an 11 minute mile (counting the walking time) so I probably ran the race at less than an 11 minute mile - pretty good if you ask me :)

All in all, it was really fun, but I know in my heart, give me asphalt any day over grass.

On to our 13 miler tomorrow!

3 Weeks In

As I crossed off today on my running schedule, I realized we have been in the formal marathon training for 3 weeks now. Amazing how fast time flies. During the month of July, I ran 95 miles. That's more miles that I probably ran all last year!!!!

Today, we ran 6 miles. Usually Fridays are our day off training and exercise. But the weather yesterday prevented our run, so we made it up today. It was humid but cool so it wasn't too bad. I am ridiculously stressed out today (I have too much work to do this weekend!) but I'm not letting that get in the way of my runs. Maybe just my sleep :)

On Sunday we're running 13 miles. I got special prizes for Lindsey, Jennifer, and I to celebrate this milestone. 13.1 miles = half marathon!!! Many people from our 101 and 301 classes are just training to get to 13.1 miles and we got there in three weeks.

The mileage is really going to ramp up in August. It'll be interesting what my total miles will be in August.

Stupid Storm

We were supposed to do 6 miles today. But a huge thunderstorm hit Dallas right at about 5:30 - when we run, so it was cancelled. Not until 5:20, mind you, when I was already up and at the store. But I'm more disappointed I didn't get to run today. I look forward to the runs - because I know I need them to prep for the long runs. But we're making the run up tomorrow, and I did get to go back to bed, which was a good thing because Kelly was a little scared of the thunder and lightning and needed to cuddle.

On Saturday, Lindsey and I are doing a relay with our friend Kristin. It's the Dallas Running Club 6-mile relay. Each leg of the relay runs 2 miles (which is less than we're supposed to run, but we'll run it all out, so that should make up for the lower mileage). It's supposed to be a really fun event. I'll take pics to post, so stay tuned.

17 More Miles

Sunday, Jennifer and I ran 11 miles. That's the most mileage I've ever run at one time! Of course, next week, it'll be 13. But for now, that was pretty cool to me. We merged the 12:30 pace group with the 12:00 pace group for the Sunday runs. At first, I was apprehensive - I thought I couldn't keep up with the 12:00. But I did! They were a great group. For example, Peter gave everyone who ran the opposite direction of us (you know, the faster runners on their way back) high fives.

The weather was perfect. It started out at 86 degrees - ick. But it cooled off dramatically. I was feeling really good after the first 2 miles (I hate those first miles) and by 6 I was feeling great! Reminded me of last week. The miles between 7-9 were all uphill, which took a lot out of me. And that last mile, really kicked my butt. But Jennifer and I came in really strong ahead of the whole group! And we were supposed to be the slow ones :) I think it was the excitement about how long I ran and that I could do it that pushed me on.

But the rest of Sunday was pretty much a wash for me. I went to brunch with friends, but pretty much spent the rest of the day on the couch watching True Blood and icing various parts of my legs.

Today we ran 6 miles. The beginner marathon schedule had us at 5, but intermediate had us at 6. Being the ridiculous type-A personalities that we are, Lindsey and I opted for that extra mile. I think that I could really feel the fact that I ran 11 miles two days ago today. It seemed harder than usual for me. But we did it at about a 12:15 pace. Feels great now of course. So we've got 6 more on Thursday, 3 on Friday or Saturday, and then 13 on Sunday! That's a half-marathon pace. Does that mean we're half way there?

Can't Believe the Monthly Mileage

I'm tracking my runs and workouts on this awesome site www.mapmyrun.com. As I entered our 6 mile run in today, I noticed that I have run 71.5 miles this month! And by the end of the month, if I get all my runs in, it'll be a total of 93.5 miles!!!!!!!! That's crazy, but totally cool.

The run this morning was awesome. We were supposed to take today off and run 6 miles tomorrow, but Lindsey will be out of town this weekend and neither of us wanted to do this "on your own" run by ourselves. Kelly decided to join us too. It was the longest I've ever run with the Kellinator, but she kept up just fine. Which makes me think she'll be able to run the Turkey Trot 8 mile with (on my birthday! So fun!).

This time, I met Lindsey at her place - we usually meet at mine. She lives in uptown, so there were tons of new roads to explore. We ran along Turtle Creek into Highland Park. First, the creek run is beautiful (once the sun comes up of course - which is half-way into our run). Second - the house in HP are ridiculously gorgeous and huge. But very nice eye candy to run by. Good run all around.

We're doing 11 miles on Sunday. This will be the most I've ever run so far. Until next week, that is.

Today we had a six-mile run and it was fabulous! The weather was GREAT - a nice and cool 75 degrees! our route took us through Highland Park, so the scenery was almost as beautiful as the weather. It was really neat to run through that part of town. I love how every new route shows me a part of town I have never really taken in before. Its so much nicer than driving through because while you run, you really get to take in everything around you. I have never seen Dallas this way before - and I love it!

This afternoon, Shannon came up with a great idea - a Book-Running Club. Same as a book club, but you run while you discuss the books. I think it is brilliant. There is always stuff to talk about on the run, but it will be cool to add yet another thing. So, we have decided to read "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." I can't wait :-)

Runner's World

Our Tuesday run was cut short due to thunder and lightening. So instead of doing 6 miles, we only did 4.5. The funny thing was that I really didn't want to cut short my training - so I ran at a much faster pace than usual to try to beat the storm to the store. Didn't work - we had someone come pick us up to avoid the dangerous weather (although I still think we could have completed the run - we only had a mile left at most).

I got my first Runner's World magazine yesterday. I was so excited that I went outside, sat down (tried to throw the ball for Kelly but she was being stubborn and refused to run in the wet grass) and proceeded to devour the mag. I loved it! So many great ideas and inspiration stories. This running stuff is definitely changing my likes and dislikes in reading material. I'd never have dreamed I'd find Runner's World so interesting.

Today, the weather in the morning was GORGEOUS. I think it's pretty telling that I was super disappointed that today was a workout day with the trainer instead of a run. Let's hope tomorrow morning is just as nice - another 6 miler. We also have 6 miles on Saturday and then 11 on Sunday! That will be my highest mileage yet. And next Sunday we run 13. Crazy! That's a half-marathon!!!

This Weekend - Too Hot, and Recovery Run

Hi all,

This weekend, Lindsey, Jennifer, and I ran in our first 15K (a.k.a. 9.3 miles). It was AWESOME! I was worried about it because last week's 5 mile runs were hard for me, but I loved and enjoyed every second of the 15K on Saturday.

It's called "Too Hot to Handle" because it takes place in mid-July and doesn't start util 7:30 am (remember, we've been running at 5:30 am). Luckily, the weather was fantastic. It's amazing the difference of 5 degrees and humidity makes. There was water about every 2.5 miles along the course and sprinklers set up for the runners! They were cool because they sprinkled water from above, rather than below, so our shoes were kept dry.

We ran all the way around White Rock Lake - my first time ever. It was a great location to run - the scenery was really pretty and it was fun passing all the points I had driven to (or run to) in the past - like the dog park, or the area of the lake down the hill from my house.

After the run, I hopped in my car and drove to Livingston, Texas for Melanie's bachelorette party. That was really fun, but I was super tired and passed out by midnight. But the party didn't keep me from my running schedule! On Sunday, Desiree and I walk/ran 4 miles for the "recovery run." It was so fun running with Des! She is going to sign up for the Vegas half marathon and I'm going to sign up for Houston's half in January.

I'm feeling a little tired physically today. But it's back to normal and we run 5 miles tomorrow.

Too Hot To Handle

Well - yesterday the three of us ran in the Too Hot To Handle race around White Rock Lake. It was fantastic!
First - the weather more was perfect - a cold front came through late this week and made the high a "chilly" 93 degrees! It was MUCH better than we had expected, as just two days earlier we hit highs of 100+.
I decided it would be easiest to park at the in-laws, as they live merely a block away from White Rock. However, it ended up being over a mile to the start line. i was runnig late (as usual) and had to run almost a mile to get to the start in time!! But - I guess that was a good warm up :-) I finally got to the start line and luckily found our group only 2 minutes before the race!! That was a close call!!!
We started the race at a pretty decent pace - just around 12 minutes per mile. I was excited about this because I was very curious to see how it felt to run at our "race pace" as opposed to our training "easy" pace. And frankly - it felt good! we stayed at this pace for the first 5 miles or so, and then ended up increasing to close to an 11 minute mile. Jennifer and I averaged at 11:30/mile!! I am so proud of us. Around mile 5 we sped up to follow the coach of the 12-minute group, Ken. He was cracking us up - singing and shouting the whole race! It made for some great entertainment!!
So, the last mile was pretty tough. I am doing really well breathing throughout the runs (which used to be my biggest problem), but my legs get very heavy towards the end. I guess that will build up as we build mileage...
Right before the finish, I saw my dad and my husband. They are so supportive of my running - it is wonderful to have my family cheering me on! Jennifer's husband and son were also there to watch her finish. Seth was so cute - he tried to run out onto the track when he saw his mommy crossing the finish line.
After the race I was pretty tired - but I felt great! We accomplished a lot yesterday, and I am so proud of Shannon, Jennifer and myself!! Great job ladies!!!!

~L

Thursday - 5 Mile Run

Today was our second weekday run. It was 5 miles again - and hard again! It was so hot and humid this morning. I was really having a tough time of it today, and felt pretty sick to my stomach in the last mile. I was talking with another runner and she said that you have bad and good weeks - so I'm hoping that this is a bad week.

The good news is that it's probably as hot as it's going to get. Hard to believe that the temperature is at 85 at 5:30 in the morning!

We have the "Too Hot to Handle" on Saturday. The exciting part is that there is a "cold" front hitting Texas tomorrow!!!! YIPPEE!!! This means that even though we are starting at 7:30 on Saturday (which is late for us), it probably won't be above 80. The high on Saturday is 92. Now I know that doesn't sound much like a "cold" front, but given the over 100 weather over the last 2 weeks, it's a very welcome change.

Saturday should be fun. There's apparently going to be sprinklers available for us to run through and water stops every 2 miles. I'll try to bring a camera to take a pictuer of our group (maybe a before pic).

Ciao!

5 mile run - Thursday

Today's run was to be 5 miles at an "easy" pace. Unlike Shannon and Lindsey, I am doing my weekday runs in McKinney, Texas because I live in Allen- nearly 25 miles from Dallas. The downside to training in McKinney is that the pace groups are more condensed. This morning we had 2 marathon groups: those running an 8:30 mile and those running an 11:00 mile. Thus, I had no choice but to go with the 11:00 group. The pace actually fluctuated between 11:10 and 10:40, but truthfully, I felt ok. I am not sure I can maintain that pace when we increase our distance to 7 and 8 miles, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. So far, so good and it feels so great to be completing a 5 mile run at 6:30 a.m. Makes you feel productive all day.

On an unrelated note, I was looking online for some running mantras, and I found one of interest: "There is no finish line, just a starting line." I love it.

5 Mile Run - Tuesday

Today we met at 5:30 am to run 5 miles. It was only brutal because (1) the heat; and (2) I didn't sleep well because...the heat. Yesterday was the hottest day of the year - 104. Today should be about the same. Even at 5:30 am, it's 85 degrees outside. The upside is that it won't get any hotter.

Lindsey and I have the same coach we had in running 301. She's really great and has a lot of encouragement. There were only two other people in our running group - a couple who have been training/running on a treadmill, not in the classes as we have. They had a really hard time today, again because of the heat, because they are used to running in air conditioning. And running on a treadmill is completely different on your stride and joints than on roads. I think Lindsey and I were a little better conditioned for the run.

Lindsey is crazy and wants to move up from the 12:30 pace group to 12:00. This is because the couple in the end had to walk the last mile or so. I don't want to walk either, but moving up to the 12:00 pace group means running our "easy" runs at a pace that is not easy for me - between 11:30 and 12:00 rather than 12:00 - 12:30. I don't want to hold Lindsey back, but I most enjoy the runs when we get to chat about stuff. For now, I'm going to stick with the 12:30 pace. I'm withholding judgment until Thursday to see how that "5 Mile EASY" run goes.

On Saturday is our first 15K - that's 9.3 miles. It's called "Too Hot to Handle." It doesn't start until 7:30 am which is worrisome. But I am really excited to do it nonetheless. I'm going to my friend Melanie's bachelorette party late just to run this race. It's funny how greedy you get about your weekends and your feelings about skipping long runs - you don't want to do it! So wish us luck!

Hey everyone! So, Shannon has been bugging me to write something - and if you know Shannon, you know I won't hear the end of it until I contribute! (kidding Shannon! :-) So, here goes...

Today we had our first weekday "easy" run. We ran 5 miles starting at 5:30 a.m. I still can't believe I am getting up that early! It was a little hot, but the run was great. We ran with our coach from 301 - Laura - who we really enjoy running with. We were also lucky enough to run with a second coach as well - Barbara. She was supposed to run with a faster group, but no one showed up for her class, so she joined us. And I am very glad she did.

One thing I have enjoyed about these classes is the people we meet - people from all walks of life. Its very cool because no matter how different we are, we all have one thing in common - running. When I signed up for the classes, I never considered that it would be a place to make new friends, but it has been. The runs actually provide a great forum to get to know one another. There is really nothing else to do on the runs but chat with one another... and I do LOVE to chat :-) I look forward to meeting all the runners in our new class this weekend!

Great run this morning girls! Keep it up!!!

~L

First Day of Marathon Class!

Today was the official start to our marathon class. We only went 4 miles, but it was really difficult. That's because we didn't start to run until 6:45. Now that may sound early to some of you, but we've been training to get to this class by running at 5:30 and 6:00. By 6:45, it was over 85 degrees out and really humid - the worst weather to run in.

We started with an easy warm up and then went on to do what's called the "Miracle Mile." This is a flat out run, as fast as you can without throwing up. The goal is to take your fastest mile pace to determine where your probable marathon pace and training pace should be. I'm thinking I'm going to stick with the 12:30 pace group because it's been working for me on the 8 and 9 mile runs. But it'll be interesting to see what my Miracle Mile pace will be. Two months ago when we started the Running 101 class, I could only do a mile in 12:06. My time was 9:00 minutes flat! I improved by 3 minutes over 2 months. So cool (although of the 34 people signed up for the full marathon class who did the magic mile, I was 33rd).

The energy in the group of 100 people or so was really high. Everyone looked excited and nervous at the same time. But everyone was also really friendly - runners are a friendly bunch! Really excited to start the training. Next run is 5 miles on Tuesday. Wish us luck!

Here's a Link to the Vegas Rock N Roll Marathon

Lindsey and Shannon are running in this one.

http://las-vegas.competitor.com/

Here's Shannon and her favorite running buddy Kelly on a very hot Saturday morning in May during the Red Nose 5K Run. This run was the end of the Running 101 class. She had no idea that in 6 weeks, she'd be running 9 miles!