Fit for Distance: Marathon- Week 5

Week 5 (8/19-8/25) Results: 
Sunday: 12 mile long run (splits: 10:59, 10:39, 10:18, 11:07, 10:17, 9:22, 9:36, 10:01, 10:16, 10:47, 9:55, 10:37; avg 10:11 min/mile)
Tuesday: 6 mile group run (splits: 10:26, 10:39, 10:40, 10:35, 11:10, 10:59; avg 10:45 min/mile)
Wednesday: 4 mile solo run (splits: 10:42, 10:34, 10:24, 10:28; avg 10:33 min/mile)
Thursday: 7 mile group run (splits: 10:54, 10:35, 11:03, 10:39, 11:01, 10:34, 10:55; avg pace 10:50 min/mile)

Total Weekly Mileage: 29 miles

I loved the Sunday long run route. I've lived in Dallas all of my life, with the exception of when I went to college in College Station and when I lived in Houston for a summer during an internship. I've ran in several races that start/end downtown Dallas. I always LOVE running downtown. It is so neat to run past the tall buildings I grew up with.

Fit for Distance: Marathon- Week 4

Week 4 (8/12-8/18) Results:
Sunday: 11 mile long run (splits: 11:16, 10:26, 10:56, 10:17, 11:12, 11:19, 10:59, 10:50, 11:21, 10:49, 11:29; avg 11 min/mile)
Tuesday: 6 mile group run (splits: 10:50, 10:30, 11:00, 11:02, 10:43, 11:26; avg 10:56 min/mile)
Thursday: 6 mile group run (splits: 11:07, 10:32, 10:57, 11:06, 10:26, 11:05; avg 10:53 min/mile)
Friday: 4 mile solo run (splits: 10:57, 10:09, 10:56, 10:34; avg 10:39 min/mile)

Total Weekly Mileage: 27 miles

I'm not sure that the marathon distance has really set it yet. My total weekly mileage was just over the 26.2 miles I will be running on December 9.

Fit for Distance: Marathon- Week 3

Week 3 8/5-8//11 Results:
Sunday: 10 mile long run (splits: 10:24, 11:23, 10:36, 11:18, 10:38, 10:37, 11:01, 10:19, 11:57, 11:41; avg pace: 11 min/mile)
Tuesday: 6 mile group run (splits: 11:18, 11:05, 10:34, 10:32, 10:59, 9:31; avg pace 10:54 min/mile)
Wednesday: 4 mile solo run (2 miles outside, 2 miles on treadmill in Jamaica)
Thursday: 5 mile solo run (5 miles on treadmill in Jamaica)

The long run on Sunday was rough. I rode 50 miles on Saturday, 8/4 and my legs were already tired going into the long run.  Through the encouragement of my coaches and my self determination, I was able to complete the 10 mile run.  My legs were beyond sore afterwards.  My coaches gave me a ton of tips to try to help ease my sore muscles. On the way home from my run, I stopped and got a bag of ice and took my first ice bath after I showered off.

I sat in the ice bath for 10 minutes. I felt much better afterwards!

My family and I went to Jamaica for a family vaca! We had a blast. I can add Montego Bay to my list of foreign cities in which I've ran.  I ran outside, on the resort property, then I wised up and took advantage of the resort gym and ran on the treadmill!

Fit for Distance: Marathon- Week 2

Week 2 started off with a bang (more like a crash!).  On Saturday, 7/28, on mile 39 of a 40 mile bike ride, I had an unfortunate meeting with the road. The road was not kind, it left a mark (in the form of road rash) on my right leg.  I picked myself up (with Darrell's help!), dusted off the grass and dirt, and rode the mile home. I rested the rest of Saturday, to heal as much as I could before my long run on Sunday, 7/29.  Through blood, sweat and tears, I made it through the 8 mile run.

Week 2 (7/29-8/4) Results:
Sunday: 8 mile group long run (splits: 10:55, 10:33, 10:51, 11:12, 9:52, 10:44, 9:56, 10:40; avg pace: 10:37 min/mile)
Tuesday: 6 mile group run (splits: 10:50, 10:46, 10:41, 10:15, 11:16, 11:02; avg pace: 10:45 min/mile)
Wednesday: 3 mile solo run (splits: 10:38, 12:54; 14:48; avg pace: 12:42 min/mile)
Thursday: 6 mile group run (splits: 11:23, 10:42, 10:58, 11:19, 10:58 10:59; avg page: 11:04 min/mile)

Weekly Mileage Total: 23 miles

Fit for Distance: Marathon- Week 1

Marathon Training has officially begun!! I am training with RunOn!, who designed the training plan, which is 20 weeks. We meet three times a week, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Long runs are always on Sunday. I will run on my own one or two times a week, and cross train (bike ride). To beat the heat, we run at 5:15am Tuesday/Thursday. I get to sleep in a little bit on Sunday, as the run doesn't start until 6am. HELLO early mornings!


Week 1 (7/22-7/28) Results:
Monday: 3 mile solo run (splits: 10:38, 9:45, 11:10; avg pace 10:32 min/mile)
Tuesday: 5 mile group run (splits: 11:11, 10:10, 11:10,10:20, 10:55; avg pace 10:47 min/mile)
Thursday: 5 mile group run (splits: 11:06, 10:59, 10:42, 10:27, 10:55; avg pace 10:49 min/mile)
Friday: 4 mile solo run (splits: 10:40, 10:44, 11:00, 10:59; avg pace 10:54 min/mile)

Weekly Mileage Total: 17 miles

XTrain: Southfork bike ride

After over three weeks off the bike due to my vacation to Italy and Greece, I got back into the saddle and rode with my favorite training buddy Darrell out to the Southfork Ranch in Parker, Texas. 

Route

Darrell and me in front of the house

The ride was adapted from the RMB ~30 mile route, and it ended up being just over 32 miles.

32 Mile Results (5 mile splits)

Mile 5: 16.64 mph

Mile 10: 17.45 mph

Mile 15: 17.30 mph

Mile 20: 15.53 mph

Mile 25: 17.34 mph

Mile 30: 16.48 mph

The overall ride average was 16.60 mph with a total ride time of 1 hrs and 58 minutes.  It was really  neat to see Southfork Ranch, the home on the original Dallas TV show, and the remake.  I wasn't alive for the original, but I'm enjoying watching the new series. 

Fit for Distance: 15k- Week 8

Week 8 (7/8-7/14) Results:
Sunday: 9 mile group run (my splits didn't work for this run; avg 11:12 min/mile)
Tuesday: 6 mile group run (splits: 11:25, 9:57, 10:28, 11:15, 10:48, 10:31; avg 10:52 min/mile)
Thursday: 5 mile group run (splits: 10:46, 10:47, 10:39, 10:35, 10:51; avg 10:44 min/mile)


Weekly Mileage Total: 20 miles


Sunday's run was my first long run since Week 5, I missed 2 weeks of long runs for my Italy/Greece trip! It was nice to be back and running with my group!  This was the last Week of the 15k class- next up: the Full Marathon class!

Fit for Distance- Week 6 and 7

Week 6 (6/24-6/30) Results:

During Week 6 and 7 , I was in Italy and Greece for vacation. I love running while on vacation. It is a great opportunity to see the city, with a different perspective.  I did not run as many miles as listed on my training schedule, but I got extra miles everyday from walking so much around Italy and Greece. I built up my arm muscles by dragging my suitcase everywhere.

Sunday: 3 mile run- Cinque Terre, Italy
While in Cinque Terre ("The Five Lands"), I ran along Monterosso Beach. There was maybe only .5 miles of flat road (in the middle) that I was able to run on, I also ran up hills (east and west side).  I'm not sure why the map below has me running in the ocean, I can assure you, I stayed on land during my runs!  I did spend some time in the ocean later- the beach was amazing. Regardless, my view while running was amazing!

Route

Cinque Terre- Monterosso

Tuesday: 3.5 mile run- Florence, Italy
While in Florence, I ran near the Duomo (church). The streets and sidewalks (if they exist) are narrow. There are so many bikes, vespas, people, cars, buses, trucks, etc that I felt like I was playing the Atari game, Frogger, where I was the frog. I learned that running around the 'block' may add more miles than anticipated.

Route

Florence (between the buildings is the Duomo)

Thursday: 4 mile run- Athens, Greece
In Athens, there were wider streets and sidewalks, but just as many people, various vehicles, etc as there was in Florence. As a runner, it was neat running in Athens, the home of the first modern day Olympics in 1896 and again in 2004. I could feel the history beneath my feet.

Route

Athens

Sunday: 2 miles (5x hill repeats) Mykonos, Greece
Similar to Cinque Terre, there was very little flat road to run. So, I made the best of the situation and practiced hill repeats.  The hill repeats may not have been that fun, but at least the view was nice!

Route

Mykonos Hill

*The above picture is me walking down the hill (again, dragging my suitcase).

Tuesday: ~4 miles- Milan, Italy
My Garmin watch did not work while I was in Milan. I just ran around the city. Milan was the most 'American'-like city I visited. It felt like New York City or LA. And the sidewalks were a normal size! I actually saw other runners out too- I waved. Apparently that is an American thing to do... as the wave wasn't returned, but only a confused look.

Friday: 4 miles- Dallas, Texas USA (avg pace 11:14 min/mile)
After two weeks of travel, I was happy to return back to the US and back to my running group!! I was welcomed back with three 1 mile repeats, with a .5 mile warm up and cool down. It was a tough run back!

Marathon Monday

When I first decided to train for and run a marathon, I did a little research to learn more about it. I discovered that the marathon has deep history and very interesting facts! 

Official Distance: 26 miles 385 yards (commonly known as 26.2 miles)

The marathon was established in honor of the Greek solider Pheidippides, who served as a messenger in the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. He was sent from the battlefield to Athens and announced "Rejoice, we are victorious" declaring the Persians has been defeated.

The marathon was one of the modern Olympic events, which was hosted in Athens in 1896. Seventeen competed in the 40k race (24.8 miles).  The distances of marathons continued to vary, usually around 25 miles, until the London Olympics in 1908, when it was extended to 26.2 miles.  It started at Windsor Castle and finished past the White City Stadium (the original finish) at the East Lawn, where the royal children could watch the race from their nursery. The official distance was formally established in the 1920s.


This year, the year of my marathon, I am fortunate enough to visit both of these historic places!  I was in Athens, Greece in June and will be in London for the Paralympic Games in August and September.

Athens, Greece- Panathenaic Stadium

I'm in good company when it comes to marathon runners! George W. Bush ran his first marathon after serving as his father's campaign advisor for the presidential election in 1992. He ran the Houston Marathon in 1993 and finished in 3 hours and 44 minutes!

I will be running the Dallas Marathon (formally known as the White Rock Marathon), which was established in 1971, and is the longest-running marathon in Texas. The race will be capped out at 25,000 runners for 2012 and I will be one of them!

Fit for Distance: 15k- Week 5

Week 5 (6/17-6-23) Results: 
Sunday: 9 mile long run (splits: 11:05, 10:35, 10:57, 10:51, 10:45, 10:30, 10:46, 10:27, 10:50; avg 10:47 min/mile)
Tuesday: 6 mile group run (splits: 11:32, 11:19, 10:43, 10:54, 11:02, 10:57; avg 11:04 min/mile)
Wednesday: 3 mile solo run (splits: 10:27, 10:53, 10:25; avg 10:37 min/mile)
Thursday: 5 mile group run (splits:11:21, 10:54, 10:45, 11:32, 11:14; avg 11:09 min/mile)

Total Weekly Mileage: 23 miles

Thursday was my last group run before my Italy/Greece trip! I'm going to miss my running group, but I'm looking forward to running while I'm traveling abroad.

Fit for Distance: 15k- Week 4

Week 4 (6/10-6/16) Results: 
Sunday: 8 mile group run (splits: 11:15, 10:43, 10:52, 11:02, 11:11, 11:03, 10:56, 10:45; avg 10:59 min/mile)
Tuesday: 5 mile group run (splits: 10:50, 10:16, 10:57, 10:38, 12:22; avg 11:03 min/mile)
Wednesday: 3 mile solo run (splits: 10:37, 9:43, 10:19; avg 10:14 min/mile)
Thursday: 5 mile group run (splits: 11:35, 10:53, 11:11, 11:02, 11:18; avg 11:13 min/mile)

Thursday's workout was hill repeats- we went up and down a big hill 5 times in Richardson, in addition to running to and from the hill site, for a total of 5 miles!

XTrain: Collin Classic 42 mile bike ride

It has been over a month since Darrell and I rode together- since we finished the MS 150 on May 6.  I couldn't wait to ride with him again!  The Collin Classic was one of our first bike rallies last year. The weather was wonderful. Of course it was hot, it is June in Texas and there was a light breeze. We had a wonderful ride! 

Darrell and I

2012 Collin Classic - 42 mile route

42 Mile Results (5 mile splits) 

Mile 5: 16.84 mph 

Mile 10: 17.54 mph

Mile 15: 17.96 mph

Mile 20: 17.10 mph

Mile 25: 16.84 mph 

Mile 30: 16.87 mph

Mile 35: 17.41 mph

Mile 40: 17.37 mph 

Overall ride average was 17.3 mph with a total ride time of 2 hours and 24 minutes. My bike speedometer said  17.1 mph. Darrell and I kicked butt on this ride- I'm very happy with the speed for the distance that we rode! 

Fit for Distance: 15k- Week 3

Week 3 (6/2-6/9) Results:
Saturday: 7 mile solo run (splits: 10:34, 10:36, 10:35, 10:56, 11:26, 11:14, 10:51; avg 10:53 min/mile)
Tuesday: 5 mile group run (splits: 11:17, 11:01, 10:53, 10:40, 11:27; avg 11:04 min/mile)
Wednesday: 3 mile solo run (splits: 10:21, 10:20, 11:28; avg 10:30 min/mile)
Friday: 5 mile solo run (splits: 10:46, 10:22, 10:52, 11:19, 10:26; avg 10:45 min/mile)

Total Weekly Mileage: 20 miles

On Saturday, while still in Minnesota, I did my long run solo.  I started my run at the Black Bear Hotel and Casino Resort where we stayed and I ran under I-35 along MN 210.

Running seven miles by myself, I was pretty lonely, until at mile 4 I met a friend.

A deer!! She came out of the woods, and we both stopped in our tracks and starred at each other. I'm not sure who was more surprised, the doe or the city girl. I'm willing to bet it was me.  She ran off into the woods and I continued on my run. That's something I don't see on my runs in Texas!

Marathon Monday

It is official- I'm running a MARATHON! That's 26.2 miles.  I am registered for the Dallas Marathon on December 9, 2012.

After my fourth half marathon, I started to think "what's next?".  Then everything started to come together, and I knew I was destined to run a marathon. 

For the next 27 Mondays, I'm going to blog about my marathon experience. There will be 26 posts about my training and the 27th and final 'Marathon Monday' post will be about my marathon! This is, of course, by design. It is not coincidence that I am running a race that is 26 miles during my 26th year of life on earth in the city that I was born and raised in or that there will be 26 posts about my training (1 post representing each year that has led me to this point) , and 1 post about the race (representing the future and how the marathon has changed me).

I am excited for the journey that is ahead over the next 187 days. I know that this marathon will change me, for the better. I know that I will be stronger because of it. I can't wait to share this journey with you.

Fit for Distance: 15k- Week 2

Week 2 (5/27-6/1) Results
Sunday: 6 mile group long run (splits: 11:15, 10:36, 11:00, 11:06, 10:41, 10:45; avg 10:43 min/mile)
Tuesday: 4 mile group run (splits: 11:08, 11:01, 10:46, 11:23; avg 11:05 min/mile)
Wednesday: 3 mile solo run (splits: 10:43, 10:56, 10:32; avg 10:47 min/mile)
Thursday: 5 mile group run (rained out, on treadmill @ 10:54 min/mile)
Friday: 3 mile solo run (splits: 10:27, 10:26, 10:37; avg 10:32 min/mile)

Total Weekly Mileage: 21 miles

On Friday, I got to run from the farm my Grandma grew up on into town.

The weather in Minnesota was perfect for my mid-morning run. Normally, I listen to music on my solo runs, but about half way though my 3 miler, I shut the iPod off and listened to the sounds of nature- my shoes hitting the packed gravel road I was running on, the birds chirping, the leaves blowing. It was beautiful.

XTrain- RBM 36 mile bike ride

Thankfully, my RunOn! Fit For Distance class has room in the schedule for cross training- like bike riding! On Saturday, I did a 36 mile ride with the Richardson Bike Mart (RBM) crew. The weather was beautiful, of course it was hot and slightly windy, but that is too be expected in Texas for May. 

36 Miler Results (5 Mile Splits) 

Mile 5: 15.81 mph

Mile 10: 17.16 mph

Mile 15: 19.80 mph

Mile 20: 16.95 mph

Mile 25: 15.02 mph

Mile 30: 13.68 mph

Mile 35: 14.61 mph

Overall ride average: 15.85 mph, with a total ride time of 2 hrs and 15 minutes. My bike speedometer said 16.3 mph, which reads straight from my bike, rather than from a GPS. I'm not sure which is more accurate. Either way, I'm pleased with my average speed! 

Fit for Distance: 15k- Week 1

After successfully completing the Fit for Speed class last week, Tuesday was the first class for the Fit for Distance: 15k class! It is an 8 week class. I will be missing a few classes for my summer travels, but I will hopefully get the chance to run while on vacation- which is always a fun experience!

Week 1: 5/20-5/26
Sunday: Magic Mile ( I used my 8:14 Magic Mile from my last Fit for Speed class)
Tuesday: 5 mile group run (avg pace 11: 34 min/mile)
Wednesday: 3 mile solo run (1 mile splits: 10:34, 10:50, 10:44; avg pace 10:43 min/mile)
Thursday: 5 mile group run (1 mile splits: 11:02, 10:46, 11:09, 11:10, 7:35- only .6 miles; avg pace 11:08 min/mile)

Total Weekly Mileage: 13 miles

I'm looking forward to my second group running class!

WildRide!

WildRide! 40 mile Bike Route

After a much deserved week off after the MS 150 on May 5-6, I rode in the WildRide! with some of my fellow Deloitte teammates! 

Team Deloitte

Since it was a 'short' ride (compared to the MS 150!), we decided to ride hard and fast!

WildRide 40 Mile Results (5 mile splits) 
Mile 5: 16.23 mph
Mile 10: 18.79 mph
Mile 15: 17.92 mph
Mile 20: 16.98 mph
Mile 25: 17.42 mph
Mile 30: 16.88 mph
Mile 35: 15.40 mph
Mile 40: 13.88 mph

Overall ride average: 16.57 mph, with a total ride time of 2 hrs 27 minutes. My bike speedometer read 16.7 mph. It was interesting how 'short' the ride felt, after riding 153 miles two weekends before. 40 miles seemed to fly by- literally too with my high average!

Bike MS: Frisco to Fort Worth Day 2

 2012 Bike MS Day 2 Route

After completing Day 1 and the Team Fiesta, Darrell and I slept like rocks and were ready to ride on Day 2!! The ride started with a lap round the Texas Motor Speedway. 

Team Deloitte @ Start Line Day 2

It was so much fun riding around the track! 

Darrell and I @ TMS

The wind was still strong out of the south, but the route was less into the wind than Day 1. 

Team Deloitte @ Lunch

Day 2 Ride Elevation

Day 2's elevation was slightly less than Day 1. I finished Day 2 with the same average as Day 1, 15.3 mph!

The group I rode with crossed the finish line together, as a team! It was so much fun riding and finishing together!

Team Deloitte Crossing the Finish Line

 Of course, Grandma and Mom were at the finish line again cheering us on, again. 

We did it!! 

I had a blast training for and riding the MS 150 with Darrell. I can't wait for our next MS 150, in Columbia, Missouri in September 2012. 

Bike MS: Frisco to Fort Worth Day 1

2012 Bike MS Day 1 Route

After months of training, the day was finally here for the 2012 Bike MS Ride!  I was so giddy and excited before the ride, I hardly slept the night before! I woke up at 3:30am on Saturday ready to ride!  Ha!

Team Deloitte met at the start line bright and early at 6am for a team picture!  Everyone was geared up (pun totally intended) for the first day of our two day journey.

Team Deloitte

I had the best training and ride buddy this season- Darrell!  

Darrell and me @ the Start Line

The wind was blowing strong out of the south around 15-20 mph the whole day.  The first half of the ride headed north (with a nice tail wind) and then headed west. We basically flew to lunch. My average speed was 18.9 mph at the lunch stop- mile 47.

Day 1- Lunch Stop (mile 47)

It went downhill from there. Except not literally. The remaining 37 miles from lunch to the Day 1 Finish at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) was uphill and into the wind.

Day 1 Ride Elevation

The hills were 'lite' compared to the hills we experienced at Germanfest and Aledo, but the wind made Day 1 a challenge.

At the last rest stop, mile 71, I was more than ready to get to the finish line and enjoy a fiesta with my teammates!

Darrell and me @ Mile 71

Darrell and I had the best cheerleaders waiting for us at the finish line- my Mom and Grandma!

Finish- Day 1

After 84 miles in the saddle (with an average of 15.3 mph!), Darrell and I traded our bike helmets for sombreros! It was FIESTA time!!

We couldn't party too hard... since we had 67 miles to go on Sunday (Day 2) before completing our 150+ mile journey!