3 Weeks of Running

Thanks, Kris for asking me if I was still running! (She asked because my blog hasn't been updated.) That was just the boost I needed to blog again. Yea! Somebody actually is reading my blog! :)

Nov 3rd I was hoping to run the Great Pumpkin Race. I really wanted a new PR. But at the last minute we drove to Huntsville, so I ran 6 miles by myself in Huntsville. Good news: I actually got out there and did it! :) Better news: I did it in 1:19:50 - 5 minutes faster than when I last ran those same 6 miles in September. Even Better news: I had satellite shots of my mile markers, so I gave myself a 3 mile race in the middle of the 6 miles... and I ran those 3 miles in 38 minutes. BEST NEWS: I pushed myself harder than I've ever done by myself, and after each walk break, I felt more refreshed than ever! I did better than ever and it was easier than ever. :)

Nov 10th I ran 11.25 miles - a new personal record for mileage! Also I had the fastest start ever - I was driving to the meeting place when I saw my running group going down the road. (I was 30 minutes late.) So I turned into the next parking lot of some apartments. Grabbed my car key and water, started to take off, then went back for my goo! I caught up with the group before the first mile marker. One person in my group turned around and saw me jogging with them, and did a double take! (That was funny!) It was a great 11 miles. We had great support (thanks Debi!) And at the end I just kept on running until I got back to my car. :) Total time was 2:30:-- . Unfortunately I lost my watch, so I also lost how I did each mile.

I was absolutely wiped the rest of the day. I guess it's just the mileage. 8 miles or more and I can write off the rest of the day... But maybe if I changed my eating.... (we'll see.)

On to November 17th! My watch is still lost - so I used my husband's that doesn't beep. I also listened to my iPod. There was one runner from our group in front of me for the first 1.5 miles. For some reason, I got mad! She was NOT going to stay in front of me! During the first mile, we kept do-si-do-ing. They'd run and get ahead of me, then walk and I'd run and get ahead of them, then I'd walk, etc. At the first mile marker, I was shocked: 11:22! That didn't seem right. But she was still ahead of me, so I stayed mad and pressed on. Gradually about 1.5, I was staying ahead. I tried to pick someone else from our Galloway group to catch up with (the lady with the white hat) but she and her group kept getting further and further away. Mile Marker 2: 23:00. Looking good! But the third mile really got me. I didn't have anyone to really try and catch. I tried to run for 2:1, but that didn't last - and so I abandoned the 1:1 intervals. I guess I should've stayed with the 1:1 intervals... I remember my phone ringing loudly at about 2.5 miles. I passed a race worker, smiled and said, "I'm not going to answer that!" :) There was one lady I didn't know with a bright green t-shirt. I thought I'd try and catch her, but with all of the twists and turns, it was hard to tell if I was gaining or not. Finally near the end of mile 3, I was almost on top of her. The last 0.1 mile, I ran and passed the lady with the green t-shirt! I almost feel guilty - but I love having competition in the last 0.1 mile! It feels good to pass somebody near the end!

The finish line time said 35:39! 2.5 minutes better than my prior of 39:09. 11:30 pace. I honestly was almost ready to quit running last week. I needed a good race and a good PR to keep me motivated! Now I know, DON'T SKIP THE RACE EVENTS! It's a great motivator.