Just Plodding Along

Horsetooth Half completed in 2:26:42  For some reason I thought I had only beat my time by a few seconds but last time I ran this I ran it in 2:29 so I beat it by a few minutes.  OH YEAH

Holy hills batman. The Horsetooth Half was a monster. I ran it back in 2006 and somehow blocked out how much this course makes your entire body hate you the next day. I made the BIL, sister and their dog River get up and drive me to the race start a few blocks away from their house because I am a baby and the thought of walking an extra half mile on top of running 13.1 was just too much for my little brain to handle. The race started near the CSU football stadium so there was plenty of parking for everyone. River was very excited for the race  In front of the race start, there was no banner or anything just a timing mat, see that huge dam behind me? In about twenty minutes from when this picture was taken I will be trying to not have a heart attack as a I run across it And we are off to conquer the mountain After the race started it was up a monster hill right away. My game plan was to just keep moving forward (as opposed to rolling back down the hills I guess). I ...

Yesterday I arrived in Colorado and my sister and future BIL (brother in-law) came by and slowed the car so I could jump in. Then I made them head to Chick-fil-a so I could get an ice cream cone (there was a salad involved but that was just an ice cream appetizer).  This morning we woke up to beautiful warm weather. I like to think I brought it with me from AZ because I am nice like that. The sister and I headed to the CSU campus so she could show me where she goes to vet school. I like that she is so smart and dedicated to helping animals. I also plan on getting free vet care for the rest of my life. For some reason she just smiles and nods when I mention this but no verbal confirmation that this plan is going to happen. Weird. CSU sculpture art CSU Spring time! Green stuff- what is it? I love that there is grass and green trees here, nice change from the constant color of beige in AZ Vet cubical: smart people alert Hard science: buildings I tried...

What is the appropriate goal to set for a half marathon finish time when the first two miles of the race involve going straight uphill? Tricky Horsetooth 1/2 , tricky.  I ran this in 2006 in 2:29:52 (first half marathon for me). So maybe I will try to beat my old time. This time around I am in better running shape but will be running hills and there is elevation involved so we will see how it goes. And of course no dying, no falling off the dam we cross and no rolling down the mountain are good goals as well. Never underestimate my ability to be a klutz. Excited for half # 14. Almost halfway to my goal of 30 before 30.

Saturday is the so I need some goals besides stay upright and don't die (though these goals may reappear when I run the Horsetooth 1/2 and the Mount Lemmon 1/2 ). As always drinking while trying to run or move forward at a rapid pace without drowning, choking or soaking anyone but myself seems like a good goal to keep. I have conquered taking a gel while running pretty well so at least I can feed myself in motion I guess. The weather currently forecasts a low of 57 and a high of 72, so potential for perfect running weather for the 7:30 a.m. though I guess it will be a little on the warmer side but I have been running around that time while training (on purpose of course not because I am too lazy to get out of bed earlier or the fact that I refuse to leave the house without sipping my cup of coffee).  I have been training hard and even doing speed work once a week the last two weeks (though today's 5 mile speed work turned into a regular run after my shines were...

Okay so there wasn't really much madness going on this month. Actually pretty tame. Monthly mileage equaled 64.5 miles, a little on the low side but I did take some time to rest after running a gazillion (3) 1/2s in February. I have started incorporating speedwork once a week (I have done it twice but still think it deserves a round of applause). I have run 212.6 miles since January 1st. I have also tried to incorporate more days of running and slowly up my weekly mileage. I would eventually like to be in the 30 miles per week range but want to take it slow since increasing intensity with speedwork (okay quicker plodding) with more miles seems like a recipe for injury and me being stuck spinning. I am also teaching myself to not hate the treadmill. That is slow going. I ran one half this past month the Arizona Distance Classic  in 2:14 and obtained one medal. On the agenda for April: Lake Havasu Half, Horsetooth Half, and Mount Lemmon Half in that order...