Great workout today!

Well, I am trying to get ready for a sprint tri in August and the Wichita Half Marathon in September. Today I felt pretty good so I went to the Y. I went there because yesterday's heat just about did me in (even though I've only been running 3mi).

I started by lifting some weights because I need to get my strength training back in order again. It has really fallen off since I ran OKC. As a matter of fact, just about everything has fallen off since then. Anyway, after lifting I ran 3 miles on the treadmill. Although I hate the dreadmill, I can handle 3 miles with no problem. I ran between 7:30-8:30 pace which I felt good about. Then I was feeling really saucy and went down and swam 400m in the pool. Not to shabby for a days workout.

Anyway, I start my official half marathon 12 training plan June 28th so stay tuned for how that is coming along.

Let me know if any of you plan to run the wichita half, I would love to do some of my long training runs with someone else with a common goal.

My story of running and weight loss...Lacy this one's for you!

I just got done reading Lacy's blog and decided I would share as well. I didn't loose quite as much as her, but quite a bit just the same.

I was 198lbs. on my 5'5" frame and I was too large and having blood pressure issues and asthma issues (have had since birth, but became unbearable with my weight)

I began riding my parents stationary bike at lunch time and cutting my diet and fat/sugar/carb intake as much as possible. I would ride for as long as I could and quickly got up to an hour or hour/half. I faithfully did this every day and ate around 900-1500 calories.

As Lacy mentioned I probably didn't eat enough but I couldn't get myself to eat very much after I started seeing results. My diet has changed drastically since I've been running, due to my body needing more calories to keep up my energy levels.

I went from my 198 to 145lbs in about 6 months. I started in December 2007 and have maintained healthy weight since.

I started running around May 2008, so I guess I've been running a little over a year. I've done several 5k's, 10k's, and a Half Marathon in that time. I also ride my mountain bike often up to 20-30 miles at a time. I plan to do the Salty Dog Sprint Triathlon in August, the Wichita Half Marathon shortly after, and I am officially announcing that I am going to train for the Houston Chevron Marathon (full) in January 2010.

My diet at the time of my losing significant weight was as follows: (not a doctors recommendation, just what I did)

Breakfast:

1 cup coffee

1 small bowl cereal such as Kashi puffs, Kashi grain flakes ( something 110 cal per serving)
w/ light soy. -OR- 2 hard boiled eggs.

Lunch:

Lean turkey sandwich. (1 serving according to pkg) 3-5 slices.
Mustard only/No cheese or mayo.
Sara Lee 45 cal per slice 9 carbs per slice bread.

1-2 Hard boiled eggs

Lots of water

Snack:

100% whey protein shake with light soy. 1 scoop.

Dinner:

Same as lunch along with small portion of baked chips w/salsa. -OR- Small Chicken breast with lots of fresh or frozen veggies. Using spray butter to cook or pam and maybe some EVOO.

MORE WATER.

Well that's it. Not real appetizing I know but that and mega calorie burning with all the exercise I was doing worked.

I don't have any pics as of yet. I will get some before/after posted.

CHOW.

I'm so injury prone...

Well, my first run after the half and I go out like a flash...feeling great and running way too fast for just get going again. I should have known better, but I felt great. I was running about 8 min miles and rounding mile 2 OUCH!!!!!! the calf acting up again.

Fair Weather Runner!! I have a knot in my calf just like the one you described..Let me know what I can do to relieve some of the pain and annoyance.

Anyway we will see if a few more days off will get me ready to get back on the road again.

The week after

So the week after the OKC half marathon and I'm trying to get all my injuries healed up. The IT band, hip flexor, or whatever is starting to feel like I am getting over it. I am going to skip the RiverRun this weekend in Wichita just to be sure that I am back at 100% before I run another race.

So as embarrasing as they may be, here are my splits for the OKC half: (keep in mind that I stopped to stretch at about 11.5 with a calf cramp or injury (all I know is it hurt badly). Ok enough excuses here they are:

mile 1: 9:45
mile 2: 9:39
mile 3: 9:23
mile 4: 9:15
mile 5: 9:22
mile 6: 9:27
mile 7: 9:24
mile 8: 9:25
mile 9: 9:48
mile 10: 9:47
mile 11: 10:14 ouch!!
mile 12: 10:25
mile 13: 10:53

So as you can see, the injury in mile 11 really got to me. Oh well! I finished running not walking, that's a good thing....

some pics to come of my half in the next day or so so stay tuned.......

things to do..dishes.check..laundry.check..half marathon.check

So I completed my first half marathon April 26, 2009. The OKC Memorial Marathon. Man what a wonderful venue for this race. This race was very well organized and everything was pretty smooth with not much stress. (other than the running). Parking was a breeze, pre-race check in was not confusing, the crowd was amazing, and there were about 19,000 runners participating. The starting gate was several city blocks long, and amazing site to see. Also the coolest thing was seeing all the runners climbing the first hill of the race (which there were many, contrary to many reviews I read before I entered). It was like a sea of people all trying to complete the same 13.1 or 26.2 mile trek together, way cool.

Well, I didn't finish in a time for the history books, but I think overall I was pleased. I will echo fellow blogger, oz runner, who had calf cramping as well. At mile 11.5 my calf locked up and about sent me to the ground in pain. I had to stop and stretch before continuing to run. I also stopped 1 other time between then and the finish to walk a few feet because the calf was hurting so fast. The crazy thing is about the 12.5 mile we were coming to the finish and there was so many people cheering and ringing cow bells that I looked down at my Garmin and I was finishing at like a 9 min pace, even with the pain of the calf. I just couldn't help it with the energy and excitement that was happening.

My finishing time was 2:09 and would like to try and do another half marathon before doing a complete marathon. I still want to accomplish this goal, at least before the end of 2010.

Props go out to oz runner for finishing your first half, fairweatherrunner for finishing your first full marathon, and my friend Lacy for finishing the full marathon with a time fo 3:37 and qualifying for Boston.....

goodbye for now and "run like someone is after you!!!".

8 more days!!

There is only 8 days before the OKC Marathon. I ran my final long run today, ran 13 miles today and felt pretty good. I ran about 9:45 pace, and although I wasn't breaking any records, I was pleased with how I felt. I ran without my ipod, because they are not allowed in the marathon, and it didn't bother me at all. I am going to run a few short runs next week and take thurs, fri, and sat off to be ready for the race.

I am very excited to be meeting ozrunner and fairweather runner down there for dinner and at the starting line...i hope... See you all there....

Someone shoot me now!!!!

This week has been a grind it out kinda week. You runners out there will know what I am refering to.

Tuesdays run was ok, I ran in the beautiful weather on the west side of town.. I always have my gym bag with me when I leave the house so I can stop and work out at the gym if I have time. My parents live out west and so I stopped there, changed clothes, and out I went...Of course without my ipod, without my GARMIN!!without my GARMIN oh the humanity. The main reason I don't like running without my watch is that I really like to know how far and how fast I am going. Especially since I am trying to keep somewhat of a schedule for the 1/2 marathon in OKC coming up in 11 days. Anyway, I felt like I ran at a fairly good pace and as far as I can tell about 4-4.5 miles.

Then Wednesday came and I had mexican food for lunch (not sure if that had any bearing on it) but my run totally sucked...I felt terrible out there...I didn't forget the garmin but.........it died on me part way thru the run. My legs didn't feel strong and I was really struggling. I would guess I ran about 4 miles again but not at such a good pace.

Then today, the mother of all nightmares, I ran WITH my garmin and my ipod and maybe because I ran 3 days in a row...I'm not sure, but I felt exhausted...I was breathing find and not out of breath, but I had no legs at all. I ran like 3 miles and wanted to stop and did stop and said, FORGET IT!!! I came home and stretched and took an ice bath and was about to huddle up in the bathtub like the character in "The Crying Game", or Jim Carey in the bathroom scene in "Dumb and Dummer". I was pathetic and my attitude was worse. I will for sure take tomorrow off and hope and pray that my body lets me run 13 saturday so I can say I'm ready for next week.

I know that was crazy and probably one big run on sentence, but today I JUST DON'T CARE....