Last run of 2011

Nice splits, if I do say so myself. I set the pace alarm for slower than 12:00 and turned the too fast alarm off. Then...I ran. I hit a little rain in the first quarter mile, but after that, it was just overcast, a little windy, and cool - 48 degrees F or so.

So! I'll do the yearly wrap up while I'm at it.
Total miles for the year: 520.34

Race Personal Records
Fastest 5K: 26:42
Fastest 5 miles: 49:53
Fastest 10K: 57:24
Fastest 1/2 marathon: 2:20:21

I ran five 5k's (3 of them on the same day) and one of each of the other distances. All of my fastest times for the races were set this year, and before my 4 month sabbatical, I was once again improving my speed.

Unfortunately, I had to take time off this year for a groin strain that I suffered last December. I tried to take a couple of weeks off in March to heal, but it wasn't enough. Finally, I decided to take August off hoping to get back into training in September, but, as most of you are well aware, it didn't fully heal until this month.

My goals for the coming year include a couple of half marathons and, the big kahuna, a marathon! Of course, I'll be tuning up with 5k's and 10k's as well as other distances.

May the Lord bless you and keep you this coming year. See you on the streets!

Nothing Like It

A sunny, 34 degree F afternoon run. Ahhhh, nothing like a brisk run to make you feel alive! And nothing like running two miles after hitting the "Legs!" in last night's gym routine. And nothing like reading nothing like over and over again! Nothing like it!

Nothing.

Like.

Oh, set the pace alarm to keep me between 11:00 and 12:00 minute miles; I kinda ignored it the second mile. Could you tell? I knew that you could!

Coach approved schedule

This schedule assumes that I will be running pain free (as related to my former injury.) Also it assumes that I won't encounter any issues with other body parts as I ramp up my mileage.

So, if I'm able to keep this schedule, I suppose that means I need to look for a race in February; oh, and also, I'm pretty sure I could be ready for a half marathon by May or so. And definitely a marathon by this fall.

Another mile in my shoes

This one was faster though.

Mom's Birthday run

Yes, today is my mom's birthday; next year she hits a number evenly divisible by 10, but this year, it's 29...again.

This is my first run outside since July; there's something different about the temperature - can't quite put my finger on it...anyways, it felt pretty good to get out there and put in a little mile.

I'm planning on running three times next week with runs of one, two, and one miles. Of course, this past week, I planned on running three one mile runs, and we all can see how that worked out.

As far as the injury report, I am not feeling any soreness in the affected area, so I'm pretty encouraged about being fully healed. I'll continue to add mileage slowly so I hopefully won't encounter a setback.

2nd Verse, same as the first!

This was a warm up for kettle bells. I'm glad I did it before, 'cause I surely couldn't have done it after!

Back to running

Yes it's only a mile and yes, I'm taking it easy.

Oh, and yes, I gained back almost all that weight I dropped over the last year and a half. I've got some work to do...8-)

CLEAR!!!

ca-CHUNK!

"I think I might be getting a faint pulse!"

"Start an IV with D5W. Stat!"

"Blog, can you hear me? You gave us quite a scare there; we thought you were a gonner there for a bit."

"Should you really say that? I mean, it's not out of the woods yet; it could relapse any minute if we don't stabilize it soon."

"Meh, it's a tough old blog. It'll be fine. Rub some dirt on it."