Wednesday, February 22, 2006

I give up.

Sinus infections all winter and on antibiotics. I get well, come off of the meds, then 4 days later sick again. ........ so why break the pattern now. I finished my antibiotics this past weekend before the race, and yesterday woke up with a tickle in my throat and a little congestion in my chest. By the end of the day, my joints and muscles ached. Had a meeting last night and got home around 8:15 feeling like junk. I checked my temp and it was 101.1. Took some good old Alka-seltzer cold and cough and went to bed.
Woke up this morning to get out for a short run and temp was 100.2 so I skipped my run.

I think I have to refigure things as far as my program and race. I have lost 2 1/2 weeks of training now.

Any suggestions?

Monday, February 20, 2006

Run the Reagan Half Marathon
As I said in my last post that I really didn't know what I would do in the race. I am kind of indifferent right now on how I feel about the race. I ran some good miles, I really struggled in some miles. I think I went out a little too fast and paid for it in the last few miles.
When I think about race results, I separate them in to 2 groups- how was I mentally and how was I physically.
I thought I might struggle a little physically because of my lack of base going in to my current program and then only a few weeks of running at higher mileage. But, mentally, I was planning on being strong and thought I could push through the physical part. At mile 10, I lost the mental edge on a big hill and walked up the hill, then again in mile 11, and again in mile 12. I think I ran the full last mile.
I started out with Michele and we were at a comfortable pace, but as I was looked at the pace knew it was too fast but both of our HR's were ok. I thought I had slowed the pace for mile 2 but actually sped up- still feeling good. In mile 3, my HR shot up. Slowed a little in mile 4 and got back under control. At mile 5, Michele was running great and I slowed and let her take off to run her race as she was reeling in runners in front of her and I was concerned about the hills on the back side. I also started walking through water stops at this point also.

Turned at the mid point and headed back. My HR was still too high but I figured I only had 6 miles to go so I continued on. Got to mile 10 where there is a long hill. Got about half way up and walked the rest of the way. Another hill somewhere in mile 11/mile 12 and I walked half way up again. At about 12.5 I picked the pace up a little and pushed it to the end.
Under the finish line at 1:43:35.

I really wanted to finish between 1:40:00 and 1:45:00m with a quiet goal of breaking 1:40:00 if it felt like I could. So, over all I hit my goal, ran a strong race, but not happy about the mental breakdown and walk breaks.

Splits:
1- 7.27
2- 7.07
3- 7.02
4- 7.26
5- 7.43
6- 7.34
7- 7.41
8- 7.08
9- 7.12
10- 8.55
11- 8.04
12- 8.04
13- 8.01
.1- 27.31 (6.38 pace)

Total- 1:43:35
Avg- 7.55

Friday, February 17, 2006

I haven't run in almost 2 weeks now. Sunday will be the 2 week mark. Between work and being sick, I haven't had the energy or the motivation to get out there. I have one day left on antibiotics and will be finished with them. I should have another 3 days on them, but I didn't read the instructions on the bottle and I accidentally doubled up on the antibiotics for 3 days until I finally read the bottle.

Runningwise, everything will all change tomorrow. I signed up for the Run the Reagan half marathon a few weeks ago. Even then I had no idea as to what time I would run..... and I really don't now. I guess this will be run at long run pace instead of pushing it to see what I can do. Who knows though, I may get out there and the competitive juices start flowing and I take off. I am not worried about covering the distnce, I just wish I knew what pace to go for.

And now, I see there is a cold front coming through and it is supposed to be cold and rainy. I was really hoping for 50 degrees and sunny. Oh well- we'll see what happens.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Well, it's Saturday and still not a run since last Sunday. I finally went to the doc this morning and she put on antibiotics and decongestant for my 3rd sinus infection of the winter. I am getting tired of taking meds. I go years without getting sick, now it seems I stay sick.

Hopefully the antibiotics will work wonders and I will be back out there soon. Who knows, I might even get out alot sooner than I think eventhough it is rainy and cold today and supposed to get a lot colder and windier with the front coming through.

I can't remember, is it ok to run while your on antibiotics or not?

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Quick update for the blog-Absolutely no running so far this week. Work has been totally crazy and when the alarm goes off each morning I have no motivation to get out of bed and run. Between work, fighting a sinus infection, going into week4 of training, and the point I am at in coming back off of a 2 year running melt down I think the extra rest at this point in the schedule will do me more good than totally exhausting myself and trying to push through later. I am starting to see a little light at the end of the tunnell so I may get out for a run today to stretch out my legs a bit.

Monday, February 06, 2006

Week 4 Training Schedule:
Mon- 6 mile general aerobic
Tues- 8 miles with 10X100M pick-ups
Wed- 5 mile recovery run
Thurs- 10 mile general aerobic run
Fri- Rest day
Sat- 15 mile long run
Sun- 4 mile recovery run

Saturday- 02-04: Went to Stone Moutnain for a 14 mile run. Didn't know how it would go with the cold I have been fighting and with the weather. There was a cold front coming through and we had some pretty good storms through out the night. 1L and Brian were there and we all ran together. Started out pretty good, but around mile 11 my breahting got kind of hard then we hit some hills and it got worse. Sped up the last 2 miles, and got really crazy the last mile- don't know why I ran it that hard... ready to finish I guess.
Splits:
1- 9.17
2- 8.52
3- 8.26
4- 8.38
5- 8.37
6- 8.17
7- 8.55
8- 8.37
9- 8.12
10- 8.43
11- 8.36
12- 8.27
13- 8.15
14- 7.54
Avg.- 8.34

Sun- 02-05: 6 mile run- was supposed to be at recovery speed but I just ran what ever felt comfortable.
1- 8.49
2- 8.11
3- 8.11
4- 8.19
5- 8.05
6- 8.02
avg.- 8.17

I feel pretty good- another week of good running even though a couple of runs were a little harder than last week.

Mileage:
Week- 42.5
Month- Jan- 127.75
Feb- 34.5
Annual- 162.25

Shoes:
Asics 2100A- 216.7
Asics 2100B- 30.75

Friday, February 03, 2006

Wed. - 02-01: Had a nice 4.5 mile run with my boss at lunch
1- 9.56
2- 9.08
3- 9.11
4- 8.48
.5- 9.23 pace
avg.- 9.18

Also- Glenn has had a cold since Sunday and today I started getting that tickle in my chest and throat.

Thurs. - 02-02: 10 mile run. Woke up very congested. I made it through the first 6 miles ok, the last few were tough. I took a few water/walk breaks in the last 4 miles.
1- 8.44
2- 8.19
3- 8.30
4- 8.23
5- 8.11
6- 8.27
7- 8.36
8- 8.18
9- 8.20
10- 8.16
avg.- 8.27
I was glad when this run was over with.

Fri. - 02-03: Rest day- still very congested.