Marathon Monday

I love to travel!  I am fortunate enough to sometimes travel for free, aka business travel, which takes me places I never would have gone on my own, like Le Mars, Iowa.  But it is even better when I travel for personal reasons because I get to choose the destinations! In the last year or so, I've been able to run in Boston, Duluth, and most recently Italy and Greece! As a runner, I always pack my running shoes and clothes.

My running shoes at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece

While in Italy and Greece, the only city where I noticed other runners was Milan, Italy, which is basically an Italian NYC or LA. I find runners (and bikers) in Dallas to be rather friendly. Even at 5am, runners will wave to each other when they pass by. While running abroad, I found my waves to only return odd stares. 

I am looking forward to my running adventures in Jamaica (early August) and London (August/September)! 

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.

Marathon Monday

I'm planning on training with RunOn! for my marathon. I completed the Fit for Speed class in May then started the Fit for Distance: 15k class. My marathon training officially starts in July. The 15k class is a marathon readiness class, as it prepares me for an 8 mile base, which is required in order to join the full marathon training class. I trained for each of my half marathons on my own, however I wanted to train with a group for a full marathon, for accountability and companionship on the long runs.  I have really enjoyed meeting new running friends and getting to know the people in my pace group.

"The reason we race isn't so much to beat each other...but to be with each other." Born to Run, page 252

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!

Marathon Monday

I recently finished the book "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall.  He writes about 'the greatest race never seen' and inspires runners and non-runners alike.

My running history is brief really. I started my career at Deloitte in January 2009, after graduating from college three weeks before. My first year was a challenge. In Jaunuary of 2010, I needed something else to focus on, besides work. On a whim, I registered for the inaugural Dallas Rock'n'Roll half marathon, even though I had never even ran a 5k or more before. I trained during busy season and ran my first half marathon on March 28, 2010. I was hooked. I ran my second half marathon in October 2010 in Disney World. My third and fourth half marathon was the Dallas Rock'n'Roll on March 27, 2011 and March 25, 2012 respectively. I really enjoy my annual tradition of running a half marathon during busy season, it is a great stress reliever during my busiest time of the year. In fact, I've already registered for my fifth half marathon, the Dallas Rock'n'Roll on March 24, 2013, just over three months after my marathon!

 Five years ago I wouldn't have thought I'd be training for a marathon. I wouldn't have guessed I would already have ran four half marathons.

 "We were born to run; we were born because we run." Born to Run, page 93

 My running self was born, at the age of 23 when I completed my first half marathon. Now, at the age of 26, I know I was born to run this marathon.

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!