Post Run Update: We ran the Sombrero 5k at Fischer park in New Braunfels. Fischer is the city's newest park and it sits on a hillside. I knew going in that the route would be hilly. Oh My Goodness was it hilly! The course was 1.6 miles around and we did two laps, total of 3.30 miles (just more than a 5k, according to our GPS'. Started out on a nice easy downhill slope - take advantage and run! CpnRusty took off ahead as it looked like there might not be many in his age group and he's really been doing well on his training. So it was up to me to keep going. At the bottom of the downhill slope was a big sweeping curve and a long uphill grade - just steep enough (and plenty humid enough) to keep me from running, but I marched up that suc... (er, hill) and kept up my pace. Another nice easy sloping, curving downhill and then levelled out and went around a pretty little pond and the final turn into another gentle downhill. And then... (insert record scratching sound) ...the final uphill. A VERY steep uphill grade - I'm gonna venture to say even steeper than the one I've been training on - for the last 'kick' to the finish line. But No! Wait! we have to go around again!!!
As I huffed and puffed back down the first slope, I could see CpnRusty about 1/2 mile ahead of me at the top of the first hill. I had passed a few walkers, but for the most part, it seemed I was alone on the course. I marched on - repeating the pattern of the first lap, running as much as I could and doing a good job of maintaining my pace. Man, it was HOT and HUMID. We started at 8am, and it was mostly overcast, but it seemed the sun only came out when I was out in the open, not in any shade. I shuffled along that last straight away before "The Hill" and joked with the traffic guards that we needed a shuttle or chair lift assistance. Then I marched up to the top and was able to dig deep and find a kick for the last 100 yards or so to the finish line. As I crossed, I smiled to the lady taking my picture with a big "Holy Crap" face and then sort of fell/sat down and looked at my heart rate monitor. I was sure it said 185. Russ came over to get me up and offer me water. One shouldn't sit down when one's HR is 185ish... I was only there for a few seconds, but already felt a cramp coming on. I walked in dizzying circles for a few moments, drank some water, ate some fruit and soon my HR was into a more coherent range. Just so you know, one's "Maximum" HR is 220 minus your age, so in my case = 171bpm.
Overall, we did very well. CpnRusty finished 9th in his age group, with a time of 40:48, pace 13:08. I also finished 9th in my age group, with a time of 47:37, pace of 15:20. The last couple of events have grouped the ages together in 10 yr increments - 40-49 and 50-59. The first couple had us in 5 yr increments - 45-49, 55-59. Odds for placing are better when there are less people in your age group. The Sombrero 5k had been postponed from May, so there were only 67 runners total. I was #56 of 67 to finish. I really thought I was last, as for most of the course, I didn't see anyone in front of or behind me!
{Oh, and we continued our day with yard work and then the Folklife Festival in downtown San Antonio. I went to bed on Saturday with over 22,000 steps on my VivoFit.}
We do it again this Saturday - I'm sure it will be hot and humid and hilly. Wish us luck.....
#RunningTowardsFifty
Monday, June 15, 2015
Friday, June 12, 2015
6/11 = 49.5 = 6 months (and a long ways) to go
Sheesh - this blogging thing is just not going well. It's going about as well as my 'training'.
My Momma taught me if I can't say anything nice, don't say anything. My lack of blogging should speak volumes! hahaha
OK - something nice: I have added "The Hill" to my training. It's 1.75 miles over to the Guadalupe river and a pretty significant downhill grade the last tenth of a mile. Which means a pretty significant UPhill grade after I turn around and come back. Not only does The Hill add difficulty to my training, it also increases the distance to 3.5-4 miles, depending on how far past it I keep going before I turn around and how many loops I make along the way. So far, I go this route once a week. The next challenge is to pick up the pace so I can actually 'run' down and then back up the hill.
Also - I have successfully 'ran' (without stopping) for three-quarters (0.75) of a mile. That is a new PR for me. (PR means Personal Record) I run as far as I can and then walk until the next 1/4 mile marker and start running again. Continue alternating run/walk as long as possible, then walk as fast as possible for the duration. When I do run, I am running about a 13.5 pace.
Those are the good things I have to report since last blog of April 13th. We were getting ready for Relay for Life then. We were not able to do the non-stop 5k during, but did log a LOT of steps and I ran one lap (1/4 mile) without stopping at about eleven pm. We hung around a while longer and then called it - didn't stay all night.
Overall my April training went pretty well - I logged 29.5 miles for the month. I was getting pretty fired up for the May 16th Sombrero 5k, and then it started raining. ...And raining, and then it rained some more. ...And the mold counts skyrocketed and I had an allergy issue. I don't typically have a problem, but this time my sinuses and a hacking cough really knocked me down. So I went to the Dr and got a steroid pack and that fixed me up. I was doing better, but knew I wasn't going to set any PRs for the 5k. But then it was postponed because of all the rain and flooding. Yay - I think. May training also not so good - very soggy. We did go camping/hiking at Davis Mountains in West Texas and I felt much better out on the trails than I did the last time we went in August of 2014.
Back to the 5k postponement - it was postponed to this weekend, and next weekend is the one for June. So that means two in a row - Yay. And we didn't do April, so I'm one behind - Yay.
It's six months until the big 5-0 and I'm only up to 15 of the 50k (5k x 10 races) for 50/50 2015. In two weeks, I'll be up to 25 of the 50, so I guess that's a good thing...
In other (non-running) news... I went to an awesome spiritual retreat called The Walk to Emmaus in early May. Contrary to the title, there wasn't much walking involved. Lots of spiritual exploration and discussions and it has helped me gain focus in my life. I just may have figured out what I want to be when I grow up. Now - to apply those precepts to my running disciplines...
Thank you for your patience throughout my ramblings. I know this doesn't seem like a very "positive" or "uplifting" blog. These are my honest thoughts and feelings. I do not have strong discipline or consistency or motivation and it really does help me to blog about it. My situation is typically not as bleak as it initially seems after I put it out here in writing. I am able to sort through and find some things that are going well and recognize other areas to improve.
My hope is that you can read about my journey and realize that I am not perfect, nor do I strive to be. I hope my struggles encourage you to simply keep putting one foot in front of the other.
#RunningTowardsFifty
My Momma taught me if I can't say anything nice, don't say anything. My lack of blogging should speak volumes! hahaha
OK - something nice: I have added "The Hill" to my training. It's 1.75 miles over to the Guadalupe river and a pretty significant downhill grade the last tenth of a mile. Which means a pretty significant UPhill grade after I turn around and come back. Not only does The Hill add difficulty to my training, it also increases the distance to 3.5-4 miles, depending on how far past it I keep going before I turn around and how many loops I make along the way. So far, I go this route once a week. The next challenge is to pick up the pace so I can actually 'run' down and then back up the hill.
Also - I have successfully 'ran' (without stopping) for three-quarters (0.75) of a mile. That is a new PR for me. (PR means Personal Record) I run as far as I can and then walk until the next 1/4 mile marker and start running again. Continue alternating run/walk as long as possible, then walk as fast as possible for the duration. When I do run, I am running about a 13.5 pace.
Those are the good things I have to report since last blog of April 13th. We were getting ready for Relay for Life then. We were not able to do the non-stop 5k during, but did log a LOT of steps and I ran one lap (1/4 mile) without stopping at about eleven pm. We hung around a while longer and then called it - didn't stay all night.
Overall my April training went pretty well - I logged 29.5 miles for the month. I was getting pretty fired up for the May 16th Sombrero 5k, and then it started raining. ...And raining, and then it rained some more. ...And the mold counts skyrocketed and I had an allergy issue. I don't typically have a problem, but this time my sinuses and a hacking cough really knocked me down. So I went to the Dr and got a steroid pack and that fixed me up. I was doing better, but knew I wasn't going to set any PRs for the 5k. But then it was postponed because of all the rain and flooding. Yay - I think. May training also not so good - very soggy. We did go camping/hiking at Davis Mountains in West Texas and I felt much better out on the trails than I did the last time we went in August of 2014.
Back to the 5k postponement - it was postponed to this weekend, and next weekend is the one for June. So that means two in a row - Yay. And we didn't do April, so I'm one behind - Yay.
It's six months until the big 5-0 and I'm only up to 15 of the 50k (5k x 10 races) for 50/50 2015. In two weeks, I'll be up to 25 of the 50, so I guess that's a good thing...
In other (non-running) news... I went to an awesome spiritual retreat called The Walk to Emmaus in early May. Contrary to the title, there wasn't much walking involved. Lots of spiritual exploration and discussions and it has helped me gain focus in my life. I just may have figured out what I want to be when I grow up. Now - to apply those precepts to my running disciplines...
Thank you for your patience throughout my ramblings. I know this doesn't seem like a very "positive" or "uplifting" blog. These are my honest thoughts and feelings. I do not have strong discipline or consistency or motivation and it really does help me to blog about it. My situation is typically not as bleak as it initially seems after I put it out here in writing. I am able to sort through and find some things that are going well and recognize other areas to improve.
My hope is that you can read about my journey and realize that I am not perfect, nor do I strive to be. I hope my struggles encourage you to simply keep putting one foot in front of the other.
#RunningTowardsFifty
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)