Weekly Update

Saturday I ran the scheduled 5 miles, but nothing extra. Here are the results from last night's track workout:

2x400: 1:59, 2:03
2x800: 4:35, 4:20

Again, this is what I heard the assistant coach yell out as I crossed the line. I also ran 2.5 miles before starting. I'm going to NY this weekend so I'm not sure when or where I'll do my long run. I was thinking I could do it Monday morning but I don't think that would give me enough time to recover before the workout Tuesday night. I may end up just going to the gym Sunday night when I get home and run 6 miles on the treadmill. I'd much rather be outside, but you do what you gotta do! I definitely can't afford to miss any more runs with the Army 10-miler as close as it is. Only 38 days away- scary!!

Track workout

Last night we had our 3rd track workout. As hard as these workouts are, I really love doing them. I still haven't found my watch but the assistant coach ran with my group and yelled out times as we crossed the line. Here is what I heard:

2x400 - 2:07, 1:57
1x800 - 4:35
1x600 - 3:30

I also ran a little over 2 miles before we started. I don't know how accurate these times are but since I don't have anything else to go on, they'll have to do! It's not looking like I'm going to find my watch which stinks because it isn't easy to replace. Hopefully I'll be able to get a new one soon though. I missed last Saturday's long run but I'm going this Saturday. We're scheduled to run 5 miles plus I'm supposed to get there early to run an extra mile because I'm part of the 10 mile group. I'll see how hot it is and how I feel. I haven't run a long distance since the 8k and I don't want to push it too much. I'll definitely do the 5 though and let you know how it goes!

If you haven't been watching the Olympics, then you better have a good reason. It has truly been amazing to watch the greatest athletes in the world break world record after world record all across the board. Even the springboard diving was impressive! Something that has never before been done at the Olympics is an athlete breaking the world record in both the 100M and 200M race...until now that is. Usain Bolt from Jamaica has done just that, obviously winning the gold in both events. The last time an athlete won gold in both events was in 1984! And he makes it look effortless!! He ran the 100M in 9.69 seconds!

10 mile training has begun!

Tuesday night was our orientation for the 10K/10M training program. We were supposed to do an easy 3 mile run. The coach decided we would do speed work instead. I jogged 1 mile to warm-up and then we did 4x400. 4 fast laps! I was definitely not ready for that after 2 weeks of absolutely no running, but I'm actually really glad we did it. It was just what I needed to get me back into it. I misplaced my running watch though so I was not able to time my laps. We're moving tonight and tomorrow so hopefully it'll turn up, but I've already packed and haven't found it.

Tonight I'm supposed to run 30 minutes and then 4 miles on Saturday. With the move this weekend I'm not sure what I'll actually end up doing, but I'm going to try to make it to the run on Saturday. I'll have to see how much I get done tomorrow. We have to turn in our keys to the current place on Sunday and we officially move-in to the new place tomorrow. That doesn't leave us much time to move everything and clean up. I'll let you know how it goes!

The Race

I finished the race on Saturday night in 54:24 with a 10:57 pace. I couldn't find my running watch so I couldn't time it myself, but their time should be pretty close. It was very weird running at night but it was a great race. There were a ton of hills though! Just when I would get to the top of 1 hill to finally get some relief, another hill would come up! Despite the hills and the humidity, I finished with a great time and I felt great afterwards. Unfortunately a 61 year old man died during the race with 1 mile to go. I didn't find out until the next day on the news. They suspect it was the heat, but they couldn't say for sure. It didn't feel hot to me and the sun was down by the time we started, but I carried Gatorade and at every water stop took 1 or 2 sips of water and poured the rest on my head. I probably would've felt a lot worse had I not done that. You don't realize how hot it is until it's too late.

I'm signed up for the 10K/10-miler program which starts Tuesday August 5. I'm going to take it easy until then, doing the elliptical and running easy. It's going to be weird not going to the track tomorrow, but it'll also be good to take a break. I'm happy with the outcome of this program and I'm even more happy that I completed it! I hope the next one goes well and gets me prepared for the army 10-miler!

3 days until race day

Last night we met at the track but instead of doing our usual workout, we did a dry run of the race course. We actually cut out a portion and did about 3.5 miles instead of the full 5. We met back at the track for a cool down and I felt really good and jogged a lap around the track. Tomorrow I'm going to do a very easy run and then the race is on Saturday. This is the first time I've completed a training program through the MCRRC. I'm proud of myself and very happy to have come this far, but I'm going to miss the routine and the people I've met. Luckily there's still the 10K program to look forward to which starts August 5. It'll be basically the same with a Tuesday night track workout and a Saturday long run. The target race is the Rockville 10K in the beginning of November. And of course I have the Army 10-miler October 5! YIKES!