Distance: 4.5 miles
Start time: 1:30 pm
Run Duration: 45 minutes
Average Pace: 10 minutes/mile
Temperature: again, too freaking hot
Humidity: ?
Location: apartment complex workout room...one more time
I needed to be able to answer my pager, and emails if they should come in. They didn't and I was happy for that. I set the beast (treadmill) for 45 minutes and started running. I finished without dying. Mission accomplished.
As I calculated the miles I've run since starting my training in earnest, I wondered how far I could have gone. Texas is a big state. I knew I couldn't go all the way across Texas. Maybe I could make it to Austin? I could! The distance from my place to downtown Austin is 170 miles. I've put in more than that so far and I'll put in quite a few more before this is finished. I think for a reward - when I complete the Half Marathon - I'll take myself to that fair city for a weekend and treat myself to a nice meal and an evening of music. Decision made. Done deal.
That was easy.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Another First: A Seven Mile Run
Distance: 7 miles
Start time: 7:17 am
Run Duration: 77 minutes
Average Pace: 11 minutes/mile
Temperature: 56 degrees
Humidity: 60%
Location: Memorial Park, Houston, TX
I understand that the Midwest and Northeast United States are about to get walloped with a massive winter storm. I'm sorry and I'll be thinking about you as you try to stay warm and safe. I don't miss winter weather one bit. Our weathermen are flapping about like chickens with their heads off. After last weekend's snowy bit they are already squawking about diving temperatures tonight (down to the 30's) and I really have no clue what the upcoming weekend will bring. I was supposed to get in a long run on Sunday and run 3 miles this morning. I had the time today, I was feeling pretty good...
...so I did it! I ran 7 miles and I'm quite happy with myself, if I do say so myself. (insert giggle here)
I was tiring at mile 4, but then something turned over in my brain and I just fell into a zone. Nice morning overall.
If the weather is a mess this weekend, it will be much easier to run 3 than 7.
I'm watching the Channel 2 news as I type this. The weathermen have given way to a Breaking News Alert. There was a chemical plant explosion in Seabrook. Very few details at this time. They're taking phone calls from people who heard or felt the explosion. There is a shelter-in-place order for surrounding communities. It's several miles from me, so I'm not too concerned about my neighborhood, although there is a North wind blowing so I don't know what it may bring this way. I hope everyone is okay. We have so many chemical plants down around the gulf/bay area. It's a scary thing.
I'm lifting a prayer for the safety and well-being of those around that explosion this morning.
Start time: 7:17 am
Run Duration: 77 minutes
Average Pace: 11 minutes/mile
Temperature: 56 degrees
Humidity: 60%
Location: Memorial Park, Houston, TX
I understand that the Midwest and Northeast United States are about to get walloped with a massive winter storm. I'm sorry and I'll be thinking about you as you try to stay warm and safe. I don't miss winter weather one bit. Our weathermen are flapping about like chickens with their heads off. After last weekend's snowy bit they are already squawking about diving temperatures tonight (down to the 30's) and I really have no clue what the upcoming weekend will bring. I was supposed to get in a long run on Sunday and run 3 miles this morning. I had the time today, I was feeling pretty good...
...so I did it! I ran 7 miles and I'm quite happy with myself, if I do say so myself. (insert giggle here)
I was tiring at mile 4, but then something turned over in my brain and I just fell into a zone. Nice morning overall.
If the weather is a mess this weekend, it will be much easier to run 3 than 7.
I'm watching the Channel 2 news as I type this. The weathermen have given way to a Breaking News Alert. There was a chemical plant explosion in Seabrook. Very few details at this time. They're taking phone calls from people who heard or felt the explosion. There is a shelter-in-place order for surrounding communities. It's several miles from me, so I'm not too concerned about my neighborhood, although there is a North wind blowing so I don't know what it may bring this way. I hope everyone is okay. We have so many chemical plants down around the gulf/bay area. It's a scary thing.
I'm lifting a prayer for the safety and well-being of those around that explosion this morning.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Classical Station
This is not an afternoon for Copeland.
Copeland sweeps and stretches across
the breadth of vistas.
There are no vistas.
There is no reach, no expanse.
It all stops here at this
red light/green light.
The gray and damp mock Copeland
as I turn away from the
tap
tap
on my window.
A man with a wooden leg
God Blesses me as makes his way down the row.
Thank you,
bleak,
knowing,
weeping Jesus,
for the dirge.
It breaks this seemingly interminable move toward cheer
and brings me back to the back and forth
of windshield wipers that have no
business trying to break the pattern of this mist,
a mist that is doing all it can to keep up with maudlin Monday.
Copeland sweeps and stretches across
the breadth of vistas.
There are no vistas.
There is no reach, no expanse.
It all stops here at this
red light/green light.
The gray and damp mock Copeland
as I turn away from the
tap
tap
on my window.
A man with a wooden leg
God Blesses me as makes his way down the row.
Thank you,
bleak,
knowing,
weeping Jesus,
for the dirge.
It breaks this seemingly interminable move toward cheer
and brings me back to the back and forth
of windshield wipers that have no
business trying to break the pattern of this mist,
a mist that is doing all it can to keep up with maudlin Monday.
What Day Is This?
Distance: 4.5 miles
Start time: 5.48 am
Run Duration: 47 minutes
Average Pace: 10.44 minutes/mile
Temperature: 57 degrees
Humidity: 99%
Location: Memorial Park, Houston, TX
I ran tomorrow's workout today. I didn't realize it until I went to the refrigerator door to place the big red "X" on the schedule. Oh, well. Today was supposed to be an off day. I think all the boxes in my apartment have me disoriented. It looks like I live in a warehouse or something.
I wanted to check out the running group in the Village tomorrow evening anyway. This will give me an opportunity to do that. Everything happens for a reason. The run this morning felt good. Onward!
Start time: 5.48 am
Run Duration: 47 minutes
Average Pace: 10.44 minutes/mile
Temperature: 57 degrees
Humidity: 99%
Location: Memorial Park, Houston, TX
I ran tomorrow's workout today. I didn't realize it until I went to the refrigerator door to place the big red "X" on the schedule. Oh, well. Today was supposed to be an off day. I think all the boxes in my apartment have me disoriented. It looks like I live in a warehouse or something.
I wanted to check out the running group in the Village tomorrow evening anyway. This will give me an opportunity to do that. Everything happens for a reason. The run this morning felt good. Onward!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Rice Owls 5k Run
Distance: 3.1 miles
Start time: 8:00 am
Run Duration: 31.01 minutes
Average Pace: 10.00 minutes/mile
Temperature: 29 degrees
Humidity: 74%
Location: Rice University Campus, Houston, TX
I didn't know how to dress, so I layered and ended up taking off the windbreaker at mile one. The cap and gloves came off soon after. That left me with running tights, stretch pants, a knit turtleneck I ski in and an Underarmor long-sleeve top. I was fine - as far as temperature goes - for the rest of the race. My asthma bothered me in the cold air, but not too much. More of a nagging cough than anything else.
Let's go back to 6:00 this morning. I was in such a hurry to get out of here because I didn't know if the roads would be icy (they were). I forgot my watch. That will play into my run later. My car doors were frozen shut. My windshield wipers were frozen to my windshield. I have a decent ice scraper but it still took me a good 15 minutes to make sure my car was safe to drive. I made it to the Rice campus and realized I didn't have my watch. Too bad. No way was I going to drive back home. I'd just set my pace at what felt like ten minutes/mile.
The point of this post, for me is:
(More than one point.)
Set your gear out the night before.
It always takes longer to de-ice a car than you think it will.
I've been training at ten minute miles long enough now, I know what they feel like.
I was surprised to see a 5K run in my training schedule - at this point in my training for the half. I think I understand now. I'm not in this for the time, I'm in this for the run. As I typed that I felt a nudge at my metaphorical brain, but I don't want to deal with it at this time. I'll save it for later. It feels too heavy and I'm feeling happy and don't want to deal with heavy right now.
Lifting up my gratitude today for perseverence
Start time: 8:00 am
Run Duration: 31.01 minutes
Average Pace: 10.00 minutes/mile
Temperature: 29 degrees
Humidity: 74%
Location: Rice University Campus, Houston, TX
I didn't know how to dress, so I layered and ended up taking off the windbreaker at mile one. The cap and gloves came off soon after. That left me with running tights, stretch pants, a knit turtleneck I ski in and an Underarmor long-sleeve top. I was fine - as far as temperature goes - for the rest of the race. My asthma bothered me in the cold air, but not too much. More of a nagging cough than anything else.
Let's go back to 6:00 this morning. I was in such a hurry to get out of here because I didn't know if the roads would be icy (they were). I forgot my watch. That will play into my run later. My car doors were frozen shut. My windshield wipers were frozen to my windshield. I have a decent ice scraper but it still took me a good 15 minutes to make sure my car was safe to drive. I made it to the Rice campus and realized I didn't have my watch. Too bad. No way was I going to drive back home. I'd just set my pace at what felt like ten minutes/mile.
The point of this post, for me is:
(More than one point.)
Set your gear out the night before.
It always takes longer to de-ice a car than you think it will.
I've been training at ten minute miles long enough now, I know what they feel like.
I was surprised to see a 5K run in my training schedule - at this point in my training for the half. I think I understand now. I'm not in this for the time, I'm in this for the run. As I typed that I felt a nudge at my metaphorical brain, but I don't want to deal with it at this time. I'll save it for later. It feels too heavy and I'm feeling happy and don't want to deal with heavy right now.
Lifting up my gratitude today for perseverence
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Cool Running
Distance: 4 miles
Start time: 11:47 am
Run Duration: 42 minutes
Average Pace: 10.5 minutes/mile
Temperature: 49 degrees
Humidity: 46%
Location: Hermann Park, Houston, TX
Chilly! Windy!
I packed boxes all morning and thought I'd better hit the running trail before I was too worn out to run. I used my new Spi Belt today. Love it! My keys didn't bounce around and my hands were free. I don't know why I didn't buy one sooner.
The weather is supposed to turn really bad later in the week. Snow is predicted for Friday night and I have a race to run Saturday morning. It's at the Rice University campus, with parking right at the stadium, so that's a good thing. I'm confident in my driving skills on icy streets and it will be early in the morning, so hopefully traffic won't be an issue. We'll see what happens.
I'm over 3/4 packed and am more excited than ever about my new place. Onward and upward.
Start time: 11:47 am
Run Duration: 42 minutes
Average Pace: 10.5 minutes/mile
Temperature: 49 degrees
Humidity: 46%
Location: Hermann Park, Houston, TX
Chilly! Windy!
I packed boxes all morning and thought I'd better hit the running trail before I was too worn out to run. I used my new Spi Belt today. Love it! My keys didn't bounce around and my hands were free. I don't know why I didn't buy one sooner.
The weather is supposed to turn really bad later in the week. Snow is predicted for Friday night and I have a race to run Saturday morning. It's at the Rice University campus, with parking right at the stadium, so that's a good thing. I'm confident in my driving skills on icy streets and it will be early in the morning, so hopefully traffic won't be an issue. We'll see what happens.
I'm over 3/4 packed and am more excited than ever about my new place. Onward and upward.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Treadmill Tuesday
Distance: 2 miles
Start time: 4:30 pm
Run Duration: 20 minutes
Average Pace: 10.0 minutes/mile
Temperature: 85 degrees (Oh. My. God.)
Humidity: No clue. Wasn't going to stick around and figure it out.
Location: The hell known as my apartment complex
The rain is here. I knew it would be. My training schedule is forgiving and I'm allowed to switch days. Wednesday is supposed to be two miles, Tuesday four. I actually thought I could get in four on the treadmill. No way could I stick it out in that heater. Whew! After two miles I'm soaked through and thinking I better get out into the fresh air before I pass out and become a story on the six-o-clock news.
I'll get to the park tomorrow. My legs didn't really enjoy that treadmill anyway. Or Oprah talking on the TV. I'm beginning to see why people just hang their clothes on those things and don't exercise. Outdoors for me.
Start time: 4:30 pm
Run Duration: 20 minutes
Average Pace: 10.0 minutes/mile
Temperature: 85 degrees (Oh. My. God.)
Humidity: No clue. Wasn't going to stick around and figure it out.
Location: The hell known as my apartment complex
The rain is here. I knew it would be. My training schedule is forgiving and I'm allowed to switch days. Wednesday is supposed to be two miles, Tuesday four. I actually thought I could get in four on the treadmill. No way could I stick it out in that heater. Whew! After two miles I'm soaked through and thinking I better get out into the fresh air before I pass out and become a story on the six-o-clock news.
I'll get to the park tomorrow. My legs didn't really enjoy that treadmill anyway. Or Oprah talking on the TV. I'm beginning to see why people just hang their clothes on those things and don't exercise. Outdoors for me.
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