My Journey....Revisited (comments welcome)

[dragitoff]

Really pushed the pace this morning in my 5 mile run. I completed it in 44:05 which is technically not that far off my half-marathon pace, but I usually ease into that pace, taking the 1st 3 or 4 miles easy and then picking up the pace around mile 5 or 6 (negative split). I went out a little too fast early on due my Garmin not working properly. It wasn't until I had hit my 1st mile marker that I realized how fast I was going (closer to 5k pace). I slowed down a little, but still did the 2nd mile in a mid 8 minute pace. Mile 3 was a 9:15 and then I finished strong (both sub 9 minutes)

It was a solid run, but hotter than it had been. It's supposed to rain and subsequently cool off later today. The wind was strong in my face on the return trip home which didn't help with the tired legs and side stitches. Hahahaha.

I downloaded an app Sunday night that helps me track my food intake. Despite marathon training, I had gained about 15lbs. from the summer to Christmas. This is not uncommon for me as the fall is a busy time of year for me and I often eat out alot since I'm working crazy hours. In the little town I live in, even the "healthy" choices aren't so healthy.

Just since Monday, when I started tracking my intake (breakdown of each type of food I'm eating too: protein, carbs, sugar, etc...), I've already dropped 4.6lbs! My goal is to drop the 15lbs. I gained before the half marathon in a little over 4 weeks. I'm off to a great start and know I can do it!

 

[dragitoff]

For whatever reason, today's 3 mile run was tough. It was cold this morning, which normally doesn't bother me, but the wind was brutal and COLD!!!!! Once I warmed up, I was ok, but it took me at least a mile and a half.

It's the funniest thing how the wind was in my face all the way to the turnaround, but went away once I warmed up and would have enjoyed the tailwind!

 

[Desiree]

Good for you for pushing through! I would have went right back inside! LOL

 

[dragitoff]

Had a great running weekend. Saturday's scheduled 10 miler was a fast one. I pushed really hard and finished in 1:28 (8:50mm pace) and felt good. DW and I decided yesterday on an impromptu 2 miler just to shake the legs out. She had ran a 10K Saturday (not an official race, just the distance), which was a big step for her since her previous long distance run was 5 miles and quite a bit of that last mile was walked.

Our 2 mile run was fun. I'll be out of town this week for work, but I plan on getting some good runs in while I am. I entered a local 5k for Saturday morning. It'll be my first 5k since last summer and I'm excited to see how I do. I'm definitely a stronger runner than I was when I did my last 5K; however I'm curious how my pacing does since I've been running longer distances at slower paces than 5k. I plan on pushing myself a little bit this week on improving my pace on the shorter runs.

 

[dragitoff]

well poo! Just found out they cancelled my scheduled 5k. I'll look to see if I can find another close one. Otherwise I'll just do my regularly scheduled 10k. My band plays a show Friday night so I can't get up too early for an out of town run.

 

[Desiree]

well poo! Just found out they cancelled my scheduled 5k. I'll look to see if I can find another close one. Otherwise I'll just do my regularly scheduled 10k. My band plays a show Friday night so I can't get up too early for an out of town run.

Sorry about the cancellation but hopefully you can find another or just do your normal run!

 

[dragitoff]

Really quick update after a week away from home.....

Last week was a fast week. I don't mean it went by fast either. I really pushed the pace on every run last week except my Sunday run (supposed to run Saturday, but I've been sick and had to work some Saturday too).

I was in beautiful Amelia Island, FL last week for work and I did 3 runs while I was there. Tuesday-3 miles in 25 minutes, Wednesday-5 miles in 44 minutes, and Thursday-3 miles in 25 minutes. Thursday was interesting because I ran with my baby brother (21 minute 5k brother!) and a friend of ours who does Adventure Races. The friend said he usually runs 5ks in the 25-26 minute range. I figured that would be a perfect pace for what I was planning to run.

Since he was our guest, we let the friend take the lead. First mile in 8:04, 1/2 mile into the second mile, I asked if we could slow down a little. We were going 7:40! That's my 5k pace, but I had just ran 5 miles less than 20 hours before at a fast pace and my legs were on fire. We did slow things down a little to average around a 8:20 pace for the full run.

Yesterday's run was scheduled to be a 10k; however I had done an extra 2 miles earlier in the week and we were pressed for time so I opted to run 4 miles with my wife whom I hadn't seen much all week. Glad I did.

This week will be challenging since it's supposed to rain all week until Thursday. I so hate the treadmill.

 

[Desiree]

Sounds like some beautiful weather and some great runs although they were fast!

 

[dragitoff]

Sounds like some beautiful weather and some great runs although they were fast!

Actually the weather was a little dreary. Overcast and even a little misting rain one day, but the runs were definitely fast, at least for me. I enjoyed it though. Beautiful place to run.

 

[dragitoff]

I'm seriously getting tired of the rain here! It's been raining heavily for almost a week now and I was stuck on the dreadmill again this morning. I cut my 5 mile run short because I have an early meeting at work and needed to get going. I still got in 3 miles and felt good. The extra 2 would have been no problem though. The rain is supposed to move out sometime today. I'm looking forward to hitting the outdoors tomorrow morning for my 3 mile run. I'm really looking forward to my 11 miler this Saturday.

 

[mpeanut]

subscribing.
I'm excited to read about your journey!

 

[dragitoff]

I guess I shouldn't have talked bad about my treadmill earlier this week. Thursday's 3 mile run on it was cut short because the belt had slid over and was starting to bumpt the side of the treadmill. From experience, I know that's not good as I lost a belt on a good treadmill to that before.

After losing over a mile and a half of my Thursday run and spending the entire week relegated to the treadmill because of the weather, I was eager to get out for today's 11 mile run. My goal was no mile over 9 minutes. For the most part I hit that goal. My average pace was 8:56 and only one mile (number 6) exceeded the 9 minute mark (9:06). The crappy part was the cold weather and rain was still here. I like the cold, but mixed with rain isn't a fun running combo. By the end of the run, my clothes, shoes, and hat were soaked.

I'm glad I finished it though. I rewarded myself with a small portion of house fried rice, teriyaki chicken and wonton soup at my favorite Chinese restaurant.

I don't think I mentioned this, but I started counting calories and paying closer attention to my food intake almost 3 weeks ago. I had gained 15 pounds while training for the WDW marathon. Gaining weight while logging the miles I was should never happen. My eating habits had just gotten really bad.

I'm happy to say, I've dropped 7lbs. in less than 3 weeks since I started doing this.

 

[Desiree]

I guess I shouldn't have talked bad about my treadmill earlier this week. Thursday's 3 mile run on it was cut short because the belt had slid over and was starting to bumpt the side of the treadmill. From experience, I know that's not good as I lost a belt on a good treadmill to that before.

After losing over a mile and a half of my Thursday run and spending the entire week relegated to the treadmill because of the weather, I was eager to get out for today's 11 mile run. My goal was no mile over 9 minutes. For the most part I hit that goal. My average pace was 8:56 and only one mile (number 6) exceeded the 9 minute mark (9:06). The crappy part was the cold weather and rain was still here. I like the cold, but mixed with rain isn't a fun running combo. By the end of the run, my clothes, shoes, and hat were soaked.

I'm glad I finished it though. I rewarded myself with a small portion of house fried rice, teriyaki chicken and wonton soup at my favorite Chinese restaurant.

I don't think I mentioned this, but I started counting calories and paying closer attention to my food intake almost 3 weeks ago. I had gained 15 pounds while training for the WDW marathon. Gaining weight while logging the miles I was should never happen. My eating habits had just gotten really bad.

I'm happy to say, I've dropped 7lbs. in less than 3 weeks since I started doing this.

Great job on the weight loss, Drag! Sorry about the yucky weather! Hopefully you'll be back outside soon for your runs!

 

[dragitoff]

I had a nice 3.2 mile run this morning with DW. I'm so proud of her. She's losing weight again and killing it on her runs lately. The same woman who told me 1 1/2 years ago that she would never run is now running 20 miles per week and has her long runs up to 7 miles. She just told me 2 months ago that she didn't think she would ever want to run more than 4 miles. She's pushed herself and is now working on a better pace without killing herself. She used to push so hard to get a 10mm. She decided to slow herself down to a 10:30mm and has not only gone further than ever before, but now she's doing her short runs at the pace she always wanted to and not feeling dead afterwards.

I know this is my story, but I can't help but brag for her. I'm so proud of her and it's great to have a running partner like that.

 

[Desiree]

I had a nice 3.2 mile run this morning with DW. I'm so proud of her. She's losing weight again and killing it on her runs lately. The same woman who told me 1 1/2 years ago that she would never run is now running 20 miles per week and has her long runs up to 7 miles. She just told me 2 months ago that she didn't think she would ever want to run more than 4 miles. She's pushed herself and is now working on a better pace without killing herself. She used to push so hard to get a 10mm. She decided to slow herself down to a 10:30mm and has not only gone further than ever before, but now she's doing her short runs at the pace she always wanted to and not feeling dead afterwards.

I know this is my story, but I can't help but brag for her. I'm so proud of her and it's great to have a running partner like that.

WOW that is so great! Congrats to your DW! I swear I don't think I'll ever be that quick but I am down to a sub 15mm. I had a PR on yesterdays run. 2 miles and the first at 14:28 and the 2nd at 14:48. So that wasn't much but I was pretty proud!

 

[dragitoff]

WOW that is so great! Congrats to your DW! I swear I don't think I'll ever be that quick but I am down to a sub 15mm. I had a PR on yesterdays run. 2 miles and the first at 14:28 and the 2nd at 14:48. So that wasn't much but I was pretty proud!

You keep at it Dez! You'll get there!

 

[dragitoff]

So the rain moved back in and settled down for awhile. We've gotten almost 2 feet of rain in the past few weeks. That is not a typo, 2 feet! Saturday offered no relief so I had to do my last long run before my half this weekend on the treadmill. Since mine is still messed up, DW and I went to my dad's house to run. He has 2 really nice treadmills in his personal gym. He also has a tv and dvd player so we brought Christmas Vacation to watch while we run. Even though I hate running on the treadmill, it wasn't too terribly bad of a run considering it was a 12 miler! DW did 7 herself so it was a good day for running considering the weather.

 

[adkkev]

So the rain moved back in and settled down for awhile. We've gotten almost 2 feet of rain in the past few weeks. That is not a typo, 2 feet! Saturday offered no relief so I had to do my last long run before my half this weekend on the treadmill. Since mine is still messed up, DW and I went to my dad's house to run. He has 2 really nice treadmills in his personal gym. He also has a tv and dvd player so we brought Christmas Vacation to watch while we run. Even though I hate running on the treadmill, it wasn't too terribly bad of a run considering it was a 12 miler! DW did 7 herself so it was a good day for running considering the weather.

You deserve a gold star for running 12 miles on a treadmill ... seriously.

 

[dragitoff]

You deserve a gold star for running 12 miles on a treadmill ... seriously.

3 miles into it, I looked over at my wife who was running on the treadmill next to me and said, this sucks! I'll get up and run before church tomorrow morning (rain was supposed to have moved out by then) rather than keep doing this. I decided against that since we have to be at church so early, but I pushed through. haha.

I've done some longer runs before on the treadmill, but they were usually at my house when no one else was there so I had the surround sound and an action movie on to keep me interested.

 

[dragitoff]

After more than a week of treadmill running because of rain, rain and more rain, it was nice to get out this morning for my 3 mile run. I usually look forward to a taper week; however I wish I would have needed to run more today. Enjoyed my run with DW. As always when I run with her, she sets the pace and she pushed it hard today. We had a nice run together and I look forward to our 2 mile run tomorrow.