How far have I come? How far to go?
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Around the corner
Forty is within sight--both the age and my total race miles leading up to it. I'll be completing the final 1.4 miles (plus an additional 1.7) this Saturday at the Race Across the Spectrum: 5K for Autism in Brentwood, TN. The weather leading up to the race has been hot and humid, with an emphasis on the latter over the past few days. Unfortunately, these are the worst conditions for me personally--I do much better in the cold and dry than warm and wet. Nevertheless, my goal is to finish in 35 minutes or under!
I realize that I never posted a follow-up after my last 5K; the reason is that it turned out to be kind of a fiasco. The coordinators put on a very nice event, but in spite of the name, it was not really a race, nor was it designed for runners. I logged the 3.1 miles for the record books and moved on.
This Saturday's course is promised to be fairly flat, so in spite of the muggy conditions, I'm hoping I can reach my goal! I'll try and post my finishing time by Saturday afternoon, so check back here to see whether or not I did.
I realize that I never posted a follow-up after my last 5K; the reason is that it turned out to be kind of a fiasco. The coordinators put on a very nice event, but in spite of the name, it was not really a race, nor was it designed for runners. I logged the 3.1 miles for the record books and moved on.
This Saturday's course is promised to be fairly flat, so in spite of the muggy conditions, I'm hoping I can reach my goal! I'll try and post my finishing time by Saturday afternoon, so check back here to see whether or not I did.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
This time tomorrow . . .
. . . I should have only 1.4 miles left to my final goal!
I am writing from beautiful Bend, Oregon, where I have been vacationing with my dear friends for the past few days. Tomorrow morning, I will be running in the Heaven Can Wait 5K. I have been training these past few weeks to try and finish under 35 minutes on race day, and have had reasonable success. However, there was no way back home in Nashville that I could train for the altitude here in central Oregon. And my only attempt at running during my time here did not go well--the altitude kicked my heinie and my breathing got a bit labored. So it remains to be seen how tomorrow will go.
On a positive note, the weather is predicted to be on my side: 55 degrees and partly cloudy, perfect for a 5K! Also, I couldn't help but being inspired by all the world class athletes I had the privilege of cheering on at today's Prefontaine Classic. So maybe I have a chance at sub-35 after all . . . we will all just have to wait and see!
I am writing from beautiful Bend, Oregon, where I have been vacationing with my dear friends for the past few days. Tomorrow morning, I will be running in the Heaven Can Wait 5K. I have been training these past few weeks to try and finish under 35 minutes on race day, and have had reasonable success. However, there was no way back home in Nashville that I could train for the altitude here in central Oregon. And my only attempt at running during my time here did not go well--the altitude kicked my heinie and my breathing got a bit labored. So it remains to be seen how tomorrow will go.
On a positive note, the weather is predicted to be on my side: 55 degrees and partly cloudy, perfect for a 5K! Also, I couldn't help but being inspired by all the world class athletes I had the privilege of cheering on at today's Prefontaine Classic. So maybe I have a chance at sub-35 after all . . . we will all just have to wait and see!
Friday, May 11, 2012
I'm a little slow . . .
. . . and not just with regards to blog posts. My official time for the Country Music Half was 2:51:59, which for those of you playing at home, is nine seconds slower than my half time from last November. Considering how hot, humid and sunny it was that day, I'm not complaining. Although I am slightly disappointed not to have beaten my previous time.
But in happier news, look at the awesome photos taken by some of the official race photographers!
There I go!
My next event will be a 5K in Bend, Oregon, on Sunday, June 4. My goal is to finish in 35 minutes or under. So far training has been a little difficulty, due largely to the fact that my Garmin was stolen (I don't really want to talk about it). But I have high hopes that with the mild weather in Bend, plus five days of pre-race carb loading (aka "beer drinking"), I can reach my goal!
But in happier news, look at the awesome photos taken by some of the official race photographers!
There I go!
My next event will be a 5K in Bend, Oregon, on Sunday, June 4. My goal is to finish in 35 minutes or under. So far training has been a little difficulty, due largely to the fact that my Garmin was stolen (I don't really want to talk about it). But I have high hopes that with the mild weather in Bend, plus five days of pre-race carb loading (aka "beer drinking"), I can reach my goal!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
OH MY I AM ACTUALLY RUNNING 13.1 MILES TOMORROW
In case you need reminding, my goal is to finish in 3:08. Feeling pretty decent about that. Come back tomorrow afternoon to find out whether or not I succeeded!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Nostalgia
Remember that time that I ran in the Germantown 5K? Want to see what it looked like? Here are the long-awaited photos!
In other news, I completed my scheduled 12 miles yesterday. Guess what? It's hard to run 12 miles. It went okay, not as well as I had hoped, but only 3 minutes over my goal time. 16 days until the half!
In other news, I completed my scheduled 12 miles yesterday. Guess what? It's hard to run 12 miles. It went okay, not as well as I had hoped, but only 3 minutes over my goal time. 16 days until the half!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Miss Lynn vs. The Weather
I'm scheduled to do my last long run (12 mi.) before the Nashville Half Marathon this coming Wednesday. Unfortunately, this is the current weather forecast for Wednesday:
Now, I'm not scared of getting a little wet--but thunderstorms are another matter. Which leads me to the classic training dilemma: Do I risk the 30% chance and stick with my training plan, which calls for 4 miles tomorrow and 12 on Wednesday? Or do I switch the days, knowing that the weather will be better tomorrow, but only two rest days after my last seven decreases the chances of my reaching my goal (which is to finish the 12 in 2:45).
I can see the pros and cons of both choices. What would you do if it were you?
Now, I'm not scared of getting a little wet--but thunderstorms are another matter. Which leads me to the classic training dilemma: Do I risk the 30% chance and stick with my training plan, which calls for 4 miles tomorrow and 12 on Wednesday? Or do I switch the days, knowing that the weather will be better tomorrow, but only two rest days after my last seven decreases the chances of my reaching my goal (which is to finish the 12 in 2:45).
I can see the pros and cons of both choices. What would you do if it were you?
Saturday, October 22, 2011
7 Up
What a different six weeks make. On September 10, I did my first really legit training run for next month's Nashville Half. It was seven miles. In a burst of ambition, I planned a route that I had not run before, which in hindsight was probably a mistake. On the way out, the mile between 2.5 and 3.5 is a steady uphill. According to Minnie (if I'm reading her correctly, which is by no means a certainty), the rise is about 200 feet. Add to this the fact that the weather was 85° and sunny that day, and the result was a pretty miserable and discouraging outing.
With the race now only three weeks (!) away, yesterday was time for me to run seven again--this time as an "easy" week, between last week's 10 and next's 12 (last long run before the race). The temp was about 25° cooler (still sunny), which made a huge difference. The six intervening weeks of training may also have helped. In any case, I finished eight minutes faster than in September, from 1:42 to 1:38 (13:26 pace). I will confess to cheating a teeny bit on my intervals on the way home, but DANGIT those hills are killer.
With the race now only three weeks (!) away, yesterday was time for me to run seven again--this time as an "easy" week, between last week's 10 and next's 12 (last long run before the race). The temp was about 25° cooler (still sunny), which made a huge difference. The six intervening weeks of training may also have helped. In any case, I finished eight minutes faster than in September, from 1:42 to 1:38 (13:26 pace). I will confess to cheating a teeny bit on my intervals on the way home, but DANGIT those hills are killer.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Perseverance
Our pastor taught on the topic of perseverance yesterday afternoon, and I was thinking about it during my 4 miles this morning. Which was apropos, because it was not my best short run. I felt fine after Saturday's 5K (and subsequent ambling around the Germantown Street Festival/Oktoberfest/Farmer's Market), and was not really stiff or sore at all yesterday. But for some reason I just wasn't at my best this morning, and the ups-and-downs of my hilly route took it right out of me. After about 3 miles, my knees and leg muscles were getting sore, so I abbreviated a couple of my running intervals (still kept my walking to one minute at a time, though).
It's easy to feel discouraged after a disappointing run like today's. That's part of the territory after you've been running a while, and have progressed to the point where you are setting goals to improve your speed, distance, and endurance. At the beginning, I didn't worry about those things--rather, any run was a counted a success by the mere fact of having completed it! And sometimes, that measure of running success still applies: it's not always fun, it's hardly ever easy, and sometimes it asks more than you can give. But continuing to stick with it in spite of those things is a victory in itself.
It's easy to feel discouraged after a disappointing run like today's. That's part of the territory after you've been running a while, and have progressed to the point where you are setting goals to improve your speed, distance, and endurance. At the beginning, I didn't worry about those things--rather, any run was a counted a success by the mere fact of having completed it! And sometimes, that measure of running success still applies: it's not always fun, it's hardly ever easy, and sometimes it asks more than you can give. But continuing to stick with it in spite of those things is a victory in itself.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
5K results
I had a great time this morning with my Team KG teammate, LoJo. We ran/walked the whole 5K together, which I have never done with a partner in any other race before. It was really fun!
But, the big question is, did we meet my goal of finishing the 5K in under 40 minutes?
With LoJo's superior speed beside me, we almost couldn't help it! We *killed* it with an official time of 38:09. Photos coming soon.
Five weeks from today is the Nashville Half Marathon!
But, the big question is, did we meet my goal of finishing the 5K in under 40 minutes?
With LoJo's superior speed beside me, we almost couldn't help it! We *killed* it with an official time of 38:09. Photos coming soon.
Five weeks from today is the Nashville Half Marathon!
3.1 before 40
My goal for the Germantown 5K is to finish under 40 minutes. I came pretty close back in August, and I have since broken this time in training runs. I covered the first 3.1 miles of the 9 I did last Wednesday in 38:59. But race day can bring anything . . . it's possible, but certainly not a sure thing.
Friday, October 7, 2011
My Coach
It is long past time that I should pay homage to my coach, running inspiration and bestie, KG.
One of the main reasons I got back into running after a failed previous attempt was because of her great example. She set her mind on completing the Country Music Half Marathon for the first time in 2008, and she has never looked back.
For the past few years, she has also been running for Team in Training, raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She's pretty much a hero.
AND besides running, we do lots of other fun things together. Many of which involve yummy food. Which in turn, necessitates more running.
And sometimes we do awesome things like getting up early to attend grocery store Grand Openings. Where we are sometimes accosted by giant bottles of dancing chocolate milk.
Sadly, our KG has had a little bit of a medical situation recently, which necessitates her sitting out of tomorrow's 5K. Rather than have her registration fee go to waste, I will be stepping in for her. So if you see me run by, be sure to shout, "Go, KG!"
One of the main reasons I got back into running after a failed previous attempt was because of her great example. She set her mind on completing the Country Music Half Marathon for the first time in 2008, and she has never looked back.
For the past few years, she has also been running for Team in Training, raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She's pretty much a hero.
AND besides running, we do lots of other fun things together. Many of which involve yummy food. Which in turn, necessitates more running.
And sometimes we do awesome things like getting up early to attend grocery store Grand Openings. Where we are sometimes accosted by giant bottles of dancing chocolate milk.
Sadly, our KG has had a little bit of a medical situation recently, which necessitates her sitting out of tomorrow's 5K. Rather than have her registration fee go to waste, I will be stepping in for her. So if you see me run by, be sure to shout, "Go, KG!"
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
SURPRISE! Bonus 5K!
More details later, but just a quick update to say that I will now be participating in the Germantown 5K this coming Saturday! Now, off to do 9 miles in preparation for next month's half marathon.
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