Time To Run

Last week marked the 1 year anniversary of my "beginning" as a runner. When I started the main goal was to get into better shape to feel better, be able to run around with my kids, and to lose some weight. Overall it's been pretty successful. I find I have much more energy when I am out with my kids playing or coaching their teams. I can demonstrate a full court drill on the basketball court without needing oxygen afterwards. I can hurry to get around the stations during a baseball practice and still have lung power to give instructions that carry across the field. I have also lost almost 40 pounds which has been a big bonus.

My running started with me struggling to carry 9 minute mile pace for more than a few miles. In February, I did a half marathon with each of my mile splits below 8 minute pace. I ran a 10k on the 4th of July and found myself disappointed with my time of 47:11 despite a hilly course on an unusually humid SoCal morning. My training hadn't gone well before then as I got sick over the last few days of my business trip to the Philippines and only ran a few times on vacation the last week of June after that. Taking all that into account I'm not going to be too down on myself even though I was nipped at the wire by a 14 year old girl! (I had passed her in the 4th mile and was pretty far ahead of her at the 6 mile mark but she must have really turned it on....lol).

Now I have started training for my first marathon this fall. Week 1 of the training was mismashed around the race so I only followed my plan in concept but I did get in 32+miles for the week thanks to Darrell taking me out too far on what was supposed to be a 10 miler. (Seriously though it was great running with you and hope to do it again!).

This weeks schedule:
Monday - Rest
Tuesday - 2miles Goal Pace, 2 miles Tempo, 2 miles Goal Pace
Wednesday - 3 miles easy with 4 100m Strides
Thursday - 1 hour run with 4-5 minutes of uphills/
Friday - Rest
Saturday - 4 miles
Sunday - 10 miles