Running...

I'm behind in my personal training schedule for the upcoming marathon season...  I've got 4 marathons, including a back-to-back over New Years, & 3 half-marathons...  Marathon #1 is 10/28...  I should be at 22 miles per week and I'm squeaking by at 12... Eke...

Tuesday I went out for what was supposed to be a 5 mile run but I left the house later than I wanted to and had it in my head that I would run at an EZ pace... but once I got through the first mile, it hit me...  It's HOT outside!

And... YES... I know it's going to get HOTTER!  At the 2 mile mark, I decided to head back home... I wasn't carrying any water, and I really wasn't paying attention to my pace... Honestly I wasn't prepared.

Yesterday I hit the road again and had a much better time...  Got out early... Had my music with me... The pace alert was set on my garmin so I wouldn't speed up (so easy to do, especially if you're having a good time)... Had my waterbelt on...  I was prepared to have a purposeful run of 5 miles at a 12 min/mil EZ pace.

And... I had a good run... I was hot but didn't run out of water... My run had purpose and a plan... I finished 5 miles at an EZ pace... It was good.

1 Corinthians 9:24-26, NIV
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air."

Training is good... My heart and my legs become more efficient and learn to endure the distance... 

Training with my Father is good... A training plan purposely filled with praying, reading my bible, worshiping, & fellowship... My heart and my soul become more efficient and learn to endure the distance and guarantees me that I will win a crown that will last forever!

Now THAT'S good!

White Rock & COLD Marathon 2011

I KNOW THIS IS SUPER LATE!

It's been sitting in my DRAFTS folder since the beginning of January... eke!

*****

Got to Dallas on Saturday afternoon and went straight to the Expo to pick up our race packets.

Me, Diane, Connie & Karen

This is marathon #2 for our Texas marathon series and officially marathon #1 for the Marathons of Texas Medal.

We checked into the new Omni hotel downtown - it had only been open 2 weeks.  The rooms were really nice - the carpet was new - the decor was very chic.  What really "wow-ed" us was the bathroom mirror...

A.TV.IN.THE.MIRROR!!!

C-O-O-L!!!

One thing that REALLY stressed us out all weekend, was the weather.  We start watching the weather forecast as soon as it shows up on all the weather apps - which is usually about 10 days out.  All forecasts showed rain & low temps.  For us Real Texans - cold is almost anything under 55.  add rain and/or wind and that's a freeze.  I'm just sayin' ...

The race started at 8 am and this is what we were looking at...

We got to the starting line and we were HAPPY and RELIEVED because 1) the race organizers were handing out rain ponchos and 2) it was cold but it wasn't raining.  We were hopeful for 'perfect' running weather.  MAYBE the rain would only be a drizzle.

Then Roger from my Saturday running group posted a "Go Coach Go" message & this pic to my Facebook page. 

WHAT THE...?

Within 1 mile of the starting line, the rain came down and it didn't quit...

"We been through every kind of rain there is.  Little bitty stingin' rain... and big ol' fat rain.  Rain that flew in sideways.  And sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath."  ...Forrest Gump  (I love that movie-lol)

Connie & I paced the whole marathon together.  She was coming off an injury and I just wanted to finish strong.  I did not want to peeter out like I did 3 weeks ago at the 2011 San Antonio Rock 'n Roll marathon.  We kept to our nutrition and hydration plans.  When you're running in cold and rainy weather it can be a challenge to make yourself take in fluids so we held each other accountable.  We completed the marathon using a 5:1 minute intervals.  (Run 5 min: recover 1 min)  I've used this plan for the each of my marathons and it has worked well and, for the most part, been good to me.

The "wall" of this race was getting around the lake.  The rain came down hard and the wind was blowing across the surface of the lake so it was cold!  I believe the total route around the lake was almost 10 miles.  At about the halfway point around the lake, I was done with the lake.  No doubt that the scenery and the homes were beautiful but I was wet and I was cold and I was looking for the 19 mile marker so we could get to the finish line.  (I wonder how many times I can use the word "cold" in this post?)

When we trekked thru miles 19-23, we ran thru the Highland Park(?)

The houses were BEAUTIFUL and I'm convinced that the residents of this fine-china-residency made it a point to have their home fully decorated in their full holiday glory in time for race day!

I was very impressed!  I even forgot about being cold - for about a minute.

The rain did finally let up and was down to a drizzle and we caught a break at mile 22.  It remained cloudy & overcasted until we got to the last 1/2 mile - then it rained/drizzled again.  Connie & I revved up our pace when we saw the finish line... RATHER we thought it was the finish line and it was really the start line so then we choked back an "oh crap" and proceeded to hang a right turn and run another 100 yards to the real finish line. 

FINISH TIME

4:50:41

This was a hard race due to rain and cold weather but it was my personal-record-race for fastest finish time.

In fact we all PR'd that day!

Can you tell we were cold?

2 down - 2 to go

for 4 mothers in 4 months!

O Christmas Tree

So glad that we put the tree up early this year... Normally it's not set up til 2 weeks before Christmas then it stays up until sometime in January... Ok, February... I admit it ;)

Salad vs Sandwich

I like salads and I like sandwiches.  They both take about the same amount of time to make but clearly can have different caloric effects on my waistline.  I'm just saying.

When I run, It gives me time to think about what I know,

what I think I know,

and what I don't know...

4 months... 4 marathons

As I was getting ready tonight for an 18 mile run tomorrow, it has dawned on me that there are 7 weeks left til marathon #1 of 4.

Nov 13 = San Antonio Rock 'n Roll Marathon
Dec 4 = Dallas White Rock Marathon
Jan 15 = Houston Chevron Marathon
Feb 12 = Austin Livestrong Marathon

Somewhere along the way I thought this was a really fun idea... Yea, I must be crazy!

James read-along

I like reading blogs.  Some are inspiring, some make me laugh, some make me cry, many make me think, and many call me to pray.  I was blog-hopping this morning and went from Joyce's blog to Marla's blog and read about a James Read-Along.

The book of James has shown up on many occassions
 this year.  It was at the Priscilla Shirer event I went to in February, it was a focus for Beth Moore's study this year - looking forward to her published study on this one - Jam 1:2-3 is one of my memory verses this year, and only yesterday James 1:12 was my daily verse from my daily devotion (which by the way, I started daily devotions again just yesterday after not doing them for the entire Summer).

Anyone else want to join me?

Running around...

To say "this was a busy summer" is an understatement.

My family has been on the run since school let out on June 2nd, handling things scheduled on the calendar and all the unexpected things that made their way to "priority status."

LQ started back to school this week and today I enjoyed a

"back to school" holiday and got a late start to my day.

The plan is to get caught up on my blog this week (and learning the new Blogspot interface) and fill in the holes for the past 3 months.

May in Pictures... Plus Hodgepodge

Here's what we did in May.

LQ played the Snail in Frog & Toad.

I went to College Station to visit F and her new kitten.

There were many Sonic happy hours for LQ & I.

Dad & LQ got to share one for themselves while I was in CS.

Had a beautiful Mother's Day.

Got an awesome waffle iron.


Made, and ATE, lots of waffles.

Started Marathon training.

Went to Reading Restaurant at LQ's school.

There was no power, therefore dark and very warm.

But, very rewarding.

Ate pizza.

Played Dance Central on Kinect.

Played disc golf.

Q had to dry his socks on the way to church one Sunday. 

Played disc golf again, and hunted for my disc for

at least 20 minutes before we spotted it in this tree.

We celebrated LQ's 7th birthday with family & classmates.

We had water fun, frozen t-shirts, colored bubbles, spongebob, & cake!

Went to a baby shower for F's BFF.

Our church purchased the Verizon Ampitheater property

and we held a celebration & ice cream party.

LQ finished tball.

We played more disc golf.

Spent $14 at a couple of garage sales.

And ate a 28" pizza.

Whew!  I'm tired & full!

************************

Linking up with Joyce's Wednesday Hodgepodge today!

Show some love & give her & everyone else a read :)

 

1. Have you ever been to the US capital-Washington DC? If so, what's your favorite site? If not, what would you most like to see on a visit to that city someday in the future? Is it even on your list of places to visit?
Went 5(?) years ago on a business trip.
I loved the Lincoln Memorial & Vietnam Memorial Wall.
Wish I had more time for more sight-seeing.
Hope to go again with the hubster.

2. When did you last attend a wedding? Are there any weddings on your summer calendar? Were you a summer bride? If you're single, is summer the season of your dream wedding?

Last wedding was in October.
The hubster's best friend is getting married this summer in July.
We - I - am so excited.
He's an awesome guy and has met a wonderful woman.

3. What is your favorite way to eat strawberries?

With my bare hands.
With a little sugar.
Or, on top of angel food cake with whipped cream.
With a fork ;)


4. What is one thing you are especially looking forward to this summer?

Eric's wedding.
Going to Vegas with the hubster.
Swimming pools.
(was I only supposed to list one?)


5. Do you use/like the self checker at the grocery store?

Only if I have less than 5 items.
Otherwise, I stand in line.
HEB rocks at getting people in and out quickly.


6. Share a favorite piece of common sense advice.

Help someone else whenever you can.
Lying, especially to yourself, is way too much work.

7. Barefoot, flip flops, tennis shoes, sassy sandals-your first choice for summertime?
Flip flops & tennis shoes.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
It's National Running Day!
Go out and run!
Even a little!
The hubster ran 3 feet this morning!