It was the best of times...

Alas, as I usually do, I have neglected this blog.  Why, may you ask?  Because that's what I do.  I have no idea why, but I do.  Maybe it's because I take on too many tasks and like to think of myself as an overachiever?  Maybe I just forget to highlight my runs as I feel when I'm running...or maybe I'm just being lazy.  Whatever it is that makes me this way, I apologize to you, my dutiful reader, and would like to present to you my picture collage of my FIRST EVER HALF MARATHON!!!

As silly as it sounds, running my first half marathon was a lot easier than I thought.  Yes, I said it!!  Being that my first half marathon was the Austin Half Marathon (home of the awesome hills), I made that course my b*tch.  In all seriousness, it wasn't until the last mile that I started to struggle.  From what you can see above, I shaved a good couple of minutes off my 10 mile time, but finishing at 2:49:52 was just amazing and I finished at 10:00 a.m. on the dot.  Unbelievable.  

So I say to anyone that wants to run their first half marathon.  If you can run a couple of 10 mile loops before the race, you are good to go.  I did short miles during the weekday and 10 miles on Saturdays.  With the time change and working so far from where the 10 mile loops is located, I could only do it on Saturdays.  Also, run at the time the actual race would start.  I LOVE running in the mornings, so it was good for me.  The weather was a bit muggy and damn, but very enjoyable.  Ahhhh, to run the Austin Half-Marathon again.

Onto the next...

10k or BUST

So 13 days into the new year and here I am.  It's great to blog about my accomplishments into the new year and my goals that are coming up.  For now, I will walk about the Rogue Distance Festival 10k I ran last Sunday, January 5th.  It was such a fun run, for being a 6.2 miler and the weather made it that much better.  I truly believe that I am a more effective runner running first thing in the morning and also when the temperatures are more on the cooler side.  Waking up the morning of the 10k, the temperature was 39 degrees and windy.  I didn't complain too much...until I got to the starting line.  I had a long sleeve shirt under my Denver Broncos (John Elway #7) shirt, gloves on and something to warm my ears.  I did not want to put on my running sweater because I knew I wouldn't wear it the whole time, that I'd just sweat and be miserable, so I told my boyfriend to hold onto it.  Thank goodness I did because within 4 miles of the race, I was sweating and ended up taking off my gloves.  BUT I did see a few people tying their sweaters around their waist.  Too much work.  Once I run, I just want to run.  Anyway, It was a fun run and I 6.25 miles in 1:07:43 (according to my Garmin).  My race time, since it was a timed race, was 1:09:01.  I think it was a little bit over 6.2 miles because my Nike Plus GPS said 6.34.  Regardless of the distance, it was a fun run and I ended up getting the nicest running shirt from it.  Seriously, it's nice.  It's made from a dry fit type of material and I LOVE IT!

Here's a photo from the race:

2014, Where Have You Been All My Life?

Out with the old, in with the new is the saying every NEW YEAR.  Happy New Year!  A lot of good things happened to me in 2013 and I'm hoping that they will continue on to 2014.  I'm not one to make "RESOLUTIONS" anymore like I used to, but I just look forward to what life brings, what challenges I will face and what lies ahead.  I am very certain that one ACCOMPLISHMENT I want to do this year is complete the Austin Half-Marathon and by complete it, I mean RUN across the finish line. I know what you are thinking...why the CAPS?  Well I feel like these are key words at this moment and just typing as I go.  Maybe one thing I can do is drink MORE water.  I feel like I don't drink enough.

Anyway

As the day came to an end, I did a little treadmill run.  I don't know if it's the conditions of the facility I use the treadmill, but I REALLY hate using that treadmill.  It's always extremely hot and I just can't focus.  Until I have the time to run on the streets, I think I'm going to TRY and run a mile everyday.  Just one mile and if I'm feeling good, two miles.  For some reason I cannot run more that 3 miles on the treadmill.  Maybe I can break that mental mold and surpass the 3 miles.  I need to be more dedicated.  Motivate myself MORE and it is POSSIBLE that it can happen.  Ahhhhh.

This Sunday I have my first race of the year.  I'm running the Rogue Distance Festival 10k.  I'm excited because it's my first RACE of the year and I will get a medal.  I really want to focus on setting a pace of 11:00/mile since that is what I would like the half-marathon at.  If I can just focus on that for 6 miles and then pick up the pace just 30 seconds every other mile, I think I can achieve my goal.  Well IDEALLY I would like to finish the half marathon in 2:30 but I can settle for 3:00 or less but no more than 3:00.  Phew...that's one hellava goal!

Until next time.

xxx