Wednesday run (and funny picture)

Finished my last run for the week, which means I've got four days off (yaaaay)! This also means that I've raised another $10 towards whatever running goodies I want! You can watch the thermometer progress on the sidebar of the blog. Right now it looks like this:

It was not my favorite run, but it wasn't the worst. We managed to maintain an almost identical pace and distance from Tuesday to Wednesday, which I think is really awesome. Breathing was easier than ever. My joints didn't hurt during the run (which is great), but a lot of muscles below the waist got pretty grouchy. Rest days are definitely necessary. My body protested quite a bit, a lot like Tuesday's run. I wanted to stop less than 10 minutes in, just because. We pushed through anyway.

Last night, I really got to reflect on how much I enjoy spending that kind of time with my husband. He's a great running partner. Running together gives us a chance to actively engage with each other, rather than sitting near each other on electronic devices.

Here's a picture of Matt demonstrating the "frolic" which I mentioned in the "Hardest run so far" post. This picture is from our first Warrior Dash in 2010.


                                                 

Monday run/Tuesday run

Monday run:
Started out week 8 of the Cool Running Couch to 5k plan, 28 minutes. We covered about 2.3 miles along the same route that I mapped around Bergfeld Park on my Daily Mile account. First mile was 11:45, second mile was 12:45. The last portion was about an 11:30 pace (we made an effort to kick it up a bit). I wasn't super thrilled about the pace, but I got through it. Objectively, it's not bad at all. Considering we ran the Komen 5k at an average pace of 12:52, I'm making really significant strides.

I definitely feel most comfortable (in my stride/joints/etc) at about 10:00-10:30. I just can't run that fast over the course of a run, yet. I'm trying to add in a little bit of informal speed work, but I don't know if I'm applying it scientifically enough to make a difference.

I didn't have any issues with aches or pains for this whole run, which was awesome. Mentally, I flagged a bit at the beginning (around 10 minutes) and 3/4 through (a little after 21 minutes).

Tuesday run:
Same time (28 minutes), different route. Normally my second run is on Wednesday, but I'm going out of town this weekend to a convention so I thought I'd compress my running schedule. I didn't plan to run on Tuesday (normally, I have a karate class) but I didn't make it to class this week after some delays at the primary election polling site.

We covered 2.37 miles, apparently, which put us at an average pace of 11:48. That's not bad at all. I'm curious to see what kind of splits we hit next time we run that course. Matt and I played the animal guessing game for the last half, because I was really dropping off. I didn't have any physiological complaints, I just didn't want to run after about 8 minutes. I had an overall malaise that made this run kind of a slog.

Running two days back to back is rough. We've got another run planned for today (Wednesday), which I may postpone. I can definitely feel the effects of not having a rest day in my feet and hips; it's not "pain", just fatigue. I had a lot of problem on this Tuesday run maintaining my form. I got real flopsy. I don't want to set myself up for injury or burnout.

Overall
Anyway, that's where I am so far in the week. I definitely need to invest in some non-cotton running clothes ASAP, and remember that red Gatorade tastes like medicine. Blech.

Hardest run so far

I knew it was going to be a tough run today when I looked at the forecast.... 94 degrees Fahrenheit. Nightmare temperatures. Normally we run at or after dusk, when it has already started to cool down quite a bit. We couldn't do that today, however, because we've got company coming over tonight. That meant we'd have to brave the scorching afternoon sun. Blech.

We ran along the same route I mapped on DailyMile.com last Saturday, a 2 mile run through the Azalea District. The first split was 13:00min/mile; second split was right around the same time. It was pretty demoralizing. I felt like (and said out loud, I think) the entire run was a total waste of time and I might as well just go home. Matt pointed out that a year ago, I would not have even walked outside for a mile in this heat. He was a great encouragement the whole time, although his methods were a bit unorthodox (in the last half-mile, he kept insisting that I "frolic, just once". It's a joke that came up when we started trail running. A "frolic" is basically a jubilant arm-flailing Sound of Music skip.)

The good news is that my breathing stayed steady and I had little or no complaints from any joints. I didn't have any nausea (like last time I ran in the heat), and I didn't feel like I was going to pass out (just really, really dizzy).

I was pretty grumpy the whole run. We did not play any games. Matt told me afterwards that he didn't expect me to make it through, based on our past experiences with running in the heat. He said was really proud of me, which made me feel pretty awesome.

After beating myself up for the abysmal time for most of the run, I remembered something I had read a while back in a Runner's World article by Jeff Galloway (the running coach who designed the half-marathon training program I'm about to take up). He recommends that runners increase their pace by 30 seconds per mile for every increase of 5 degrees above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. I thought this seemed pretty excessive at the time, but it turns out that we accidentally followed his advice today. My best time at around 60 degrees is about 9:45 min/mile. Following his formula would have put us at 13:15 (we ran right about 13:00).

I hope it's a long, long, long time before I have to run outside again at 2:00pm in 94 degree weather. I definitely learned a lesson today about placing values in artificial number goals; I could not have run faster if I wanted to (and I really did want to, as badly as I wanted to quit and go home). I did the best I could do today, and that's got to count for something.

It's going to be a long, hot summer. We're discussing some creative strategies for working around the heat (like working in some pool running), but the truth is that I'm going to have to do it from time to time if I want to really prepare for this October half-marathon. October mornings in Texas are liable to be just as hot as any summer day; race day temperatures could be anywhere from 50 degrees to 95. I don't want to train inside all summer and then get laid flat by high temperatures. Matt gave me some good advice about setting realistic goals for time/distance. I'm probably not going to see the kinds of gains I want (timewise) as long as the temperatures are rising.

Anyway. One more run in the logbook. The money pot is now at $30. Whoo hoo! To celebrate, I'm enjoying my FAVORITE post-run recovery beverage: chocolate milk. Oh, yeah.

Return of my running nemesis, or the time I was a big big baby.

Wednesday's run was 25 minutes straight jogging (no walk breaks). I started out grumpy, and stayed pretty grumpy for the whole run. I don't know what it is about running that gets me so mad, but I spend a good number of my runs really angry. I've learned to channel that anger into motivational energy, but it used to really demoralize me.

We ran in Rose Rudman park after dark (note to self: bring headlamp next time, that was way too dark). I wanted to miss the heat, and I was having a rough time getting out of the house. I really just didn't want to go (cue tantrum).
 
We did manage to leave the house. I stewed in my bad temper the whole time we were walking to warm up. The tendons on the bottom of my feet weren't bothering me, but the top of my right ankle was. I grumbled about it a lot. We started running, and the discomfort persisted. After about 5 minutes it went away, but replacing it was an old familiar pain: my stupid, stupid hip flexor.

I originally strained my stupid, stupid hip flexor in 2010 when I went a bit overboard in my training for our first Warrior Dash. Because I was a big bonehead, I insisted on running that race even though I had REALLY injured myself. The race took place the weekend before our belated honeymoon in San Antonio/New Braunfels. By the second day of our honeymoon, I could barely walk because the pain was so bad. Before I got injured, I was up to running 45 minutes at a time. I've never really gotten back to that point, because I never manage to rehabilitate it fully. I'm kind of at the "point of no return", here.
 
When this pain flared up in the middle of our run, I got pretty upset. It wasn't so nagging that I had to stop, but it triggered a whole flood of negative thinking. We managed to finish the run anyway (and cover a fair distance).

The next day, I looked at some stretches and strength training exercises which specifically target my hip flexor. I know my hips are weak; I know my core is really weak. I had a lot of success in the past supplementing my running with pilates and yoga, but I stopped for a while because I'm really (overly) picky about classes. Anyway, I've got to figure out a way to get back into a good core strengthening routine or I will NEVER make it to the half-marathon.

(Remind me of that last sentence, readers)

I've also got to make a real, serious effort to stretch them every EVERY day.

  So, that's where I am right now. As I write this, we're getting ready for our Saturday run. It's over 90 degrees (32 celsius), and it's a hot sticky day. I'm going to get myself pumped up before we head out the door by listening to Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now". Wish me luck!

Here are some videos I found for hip flexor stretches/exercises:
http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/microsite/article/0,8029,s6-238-511-0-13952-0,00.html

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7120,s6-241-286--13410-0,00.html

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7120,s6-241-285--13543-0,00.html

Wishlist (and bribing myself to run)

After some discussion with Matt, I've decided to incorporate an incentive program where I will "earn" $10 for every week in which I complete every scheduled run.  This will be retroactive, starting the week this blog began.

As of this post, I have $20!

Here's my wishlist:

• CamelBak Annadel pack (a women's specific pack for cross-training, very well reviewed)
  - $41.19 on REI.com. Downside is, it's frost pink!
• Garmin Forerunner 110 GPS-Enabled Unisex Sport Watch
  - $149.98
• Compression socks (really, I just want to try them)
• Foam Roller
  - $14.77 (to work out some of these kinks in my calves)

It's possible I'll need some new shoes, but I haven't really thought about them yet.

Monday run

Found a great video on of the UT Tyler trails where we run. It's filmed on a mountain bike, but it gives a great preview of the trail nonetheless. I love this trail. Turns out its about 5 miles long in total, but it's not marked very well so I have no idea how far we actually run on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Monday's run (week 7 of the Cool Running Couch to 5k program) was a hard won success. The training schedule called for 25 minutes of "jogging" or 2.5 miles (we opted for 25 minutes). We typically run at about 11:00min/mile, so factoring in an extra minutes per mile due to the trails and temperature, I'm going to guess that we ran just over 2 miles.

Good news: Breathing was good and steady. We kept up an "ok" pace, although it flagged a bit around the 3/4 mark. I mentally dominated this run, although I had some initial doubts about my breathing.

Bad news: Last week, I noticed some pain in my right plantar fascia while running. It subsided by the next morning, but I was pretty spooked. This run definitely aggravated it again, although less acutely. I know plantar fascitis is a very common (and very frustrating) running injury. I've never experienced it before (I just need to try them all apparently). I'm going to try to preempt any long-term injury by incorporating some foot strengthening exercises and tendon stretches into my work day.

UP NEXT:
Wednesday's run is another 25 minutes. I'm taking the day off, so we won't be near the trails. This might be a great opportunity to run at Rose Rudman park.

Looking at the week ahead

Training plan for this week, from Week 7 of the Cool Running Couch to 5k plan:

• Monday - Jog 25 minutes (trails at UT Tyler)
• Wednesday - Jog 25 minutes (trails at UT Tyler)
• Saturday - Jog 25 minutes (Azalea District OR Rose Rudman Park)

I'm slightly nervous for today's (Monday) run. I'm just finishing up a course of Prednisone which the doctor prescribed me last week, but I'm still having some issues with my lungs while resting. It just feels weird and tight, like I can't get a full breath. I've never had a history of asthma and I don't have any new environmental factors (that I'm aware of), so I can only assume it's a residual effect of the stupid bronchitis. The doctor said it would last for a while, but shouldn't impede my running.

Forecast today is high 80s (ugh). We'll be hitting the trails after work, so it'll be a loooooong 25 minutes.

Wish me luck!

Saturday run

On Saturday, Matt and I finished up week 6 of the Cool Running Couch to 5k plan. This called for 22 minutes with no walk breaks. We covered just over 2 miles in this time, which put us at an average pace of about 10:54. This is nothing glamorous, but I could do a lot worse (and have).

The run itself was not my favorite. Temperature has a huge effect on me, and it was over 80 degrees when we stepped out. I learned not to underestimate the hills of the Azalea District (a historic neighborhood near central Tyler). I started getting a bit grumpy around 12 minutes (for all the good that did me), but managed to push myself mentally to the finish. I was disappointed by how difficult it was, but proud of myself for finishing nonetheless.

I've mentioned it a few times in a few places, but I just want to reiterate - for my own sake - that this is the first time I've run 2 miles with no breaks in months and months, since I last injured my hip. The fact that I completed this run with no aches, pains, or twinges is a sign that I'm on the right track, however frustrated I may feel with the slow progress.

I'm definitely at the "breaking point" right now, where I start comparing myself to other people and pushing against the confines of my training plan. Usually, this results in me getting injured. It's a baffling juncture because I'm simultaneously torn between feelings of inadequacy (comparing myself to others, setting artificial number goals that have no basis in reality) and feelings of impatience (I'm doing so well, I should try running FIVE miles in a row!).

I've had a lot of individuals invite me to run with them (awesomely). I'm reluctant to take up any of these offers because I am SO SLOW. The other downside is that I'm not sure how it will fit into my training plan. All trepidation aside, I am going to try to venture out in another month or so. One group I would love to all in with is East Texas Striders. They have a somewhat regular speed workout on Wednesdays at the REL track.

Wednesday run and confronting the mental block

I've decided to make a regular habit of running on the cross-country nature trails at UT Tyler during the week and sticking to my neighborhood on weekends. I work at UT Tyler in the archives, so this makes it easy to get in a quick run before I get home (and get all nappy).

I love trail running because it lets me feel like a wild woman, bounding over sticks and stones as I dodge overhead branches. The atmosphere is beautiful (also, cooler temperatures) and I feel much more mentally engaged. Trail running is not *easier* than road running by any means; it requires significantly more effort to cover the same mileage, and my body has to constantly readjust to the demands of the trail.

I'm hoping that the elevated effort will pay off on Saturday when my husband and I return to the road. We'll be ramping up from 10/3/10 to straight 22min run.

Wednesday's run was very successful (you can see my log on Daily Mile).  I'm pretty nervous about jumping up to 22 continuous minutes. The biggest obstacle I expect to face on Saturday will be mental - convincing myself that I CAN do it, even if I haven't run that long continuously in months (since the last time I injured my groin). I know training my brain will be critical for success in the Tyler Half Marathon.

In order to reward my brain, I am going to set up some "prizes" for myself over the course of the training. These prizes will be set up on a monthly basis, contingent upon successful completion of my training schedule. So, watch for a wishlist later this week.


(PS)
I have to confess to my sometimes readers that I fell behind this week on cross-training. I skipped my Tuesday karate class. Very lame. It was beginning to storm around the time I was supposed to leave, and I got really panicky at the idea of driving in the rain. So, I stayed home, had a mild panic attack, and took a nap. Did I go work out later? No. Even more lame. Anyway, I have a chance to make up for that tonight. Just thought I should share, to stay accountable.

Great news! (Update)

Contrary to my fears from last post, my doctor cleared me to run today. She said that I'm most likely experiencing normal recovery from my bout of bronchitis, which can take 4-6 weeks for really bad cases. She sent me on my way with a short-term prescription for prednisone and some directions for using my Albuterol inhaler.

She was really supportive of my plans to train for a half-marathon. I'm excited to have a medical endorsement... apparently, I'm not totally out of my league here.

I thought I might fall victim to Murphy's Law for Runners, but it looks like I'm spared this time!

(found this at http://womensrunning.com/blog/murphys-law-for-runners/)

                                     

A possible snag

Well, yesterday's run went really well: run 10/walk 3/run 10 on the UT Tyler trails. We pushed through some light rain and heavy humidity, and Matt has almost learned all the states (reciting states in alphabetical order is one of the devices Matt uses do distract me when I'm mentally flagging; hilariously, he misses a lot of them).

My weight bearing joints performed great, although I have a bit of soreness in my ankles this morning. It's not the injury kind of soreness, but the working new muscles kind. Breathing seemed pretty reliable; I could definitely feel the exertion, but it stayed steady and I had no pain.

However - here's the snag - I experienced some coughing and chest pain last night a few hours after the run and this morning. Obviously, these symptoms would be worrisome any time, but they're particularly concerning to me because I just recently got over "bronchitis". This bout of bronchitis kept me laid low for about 2 1/2 weeks, making me miss what would have been our 3rd annual North Texas Warrior Dash. I'm actually still pretty peeved about that (p.s. they did NOT refund our money).

So, I made an appointment with my primary care doctor to get checked out again. Sigh sigh sigh. I go in today to see if they can figure out what's going on, and whether or not it might hinder my training plans. Wish me luck.

Plan for May 13-19, 2012

In the wake of the Komen Tyler 5k, I am segueing back into the Cool Running Couch to 5k plan, at week 6.
The half marathon training (using a plan from Jeff Galloway's website) will commence the first week of June. The Couch to 5k program will help condition me and build up some base mileage.

I am using this opportunity to slow down a bit and allow my joints to recover from the brick streets and exertion of the race.  For me, that's an excuse to run on trails! :D We've got some great cross-country trails on campus at UT Tyler (where I work and go to school). I love trail running, because it reminds me of playing in the woods as a kid. As a bonus, it works different muscles and gives me a break from the hard impact of road running.

This week's plan:

Monday, trails - Jog 10 min, walk 3 min, jog 10 min  

Wednesday, trails - Jog 10 min, walk 3 min, jog 10 min

Saturday, neighborhood/park - Jog 22 minutes (no walk breaks)

Tuesdays and Thursdays I have a martial arts class right after work, which doesn't leave much time for targeted cross training... so we'll count those as "rest" days. That means I have the option on Friday and Sunday for this month to work in some strength training.  I'll have to do some research to see what kind of classes are available.

Goal achieved!

Earlier in the week, I set a "secret" goal to break 40min at the Komen Tyler 5k today... And I did! Well, really I crossed the line right at 39:59. I was flagging a bit at the end, but when I saw the clock (at 39:55) I knew I had to kick it into high gear. My only regret is that I didn't see the clock sooner, because I had a lot of life left in me.

Overall, I am beyond thrilled. The weather was perfect (for me, anyway... My husband hated it!) It was about 64, overcast and humid. I was somewhat concerned about the slickness of the brick streets along the course, but we kept our footing the whole way through. I saw a handful of folks I knew, mostly younger. Some ladies from our church took a picture of my husband and I, so I'll add that to this post when I get it via email.

We ended up exceeding the plan a bit, which resulted in a good first half but a lagging second. Here's the breakdown:

• Ran 10 min (hit mile marker at about 9min50, awesome!)
• Walked 3 min ran 12 (hit mile 2 at about 9min30, so we ran/walked it in about 12min30)
• Walked 3
• Ran 5
• Walked 1 (started flagging after the last of a bunch of hily sections)
• Ran to finish

Total time: 40min

So, in addition to meeting my secret goal I also learned that I am definitely capable of running under 10min mile. Next week, we scale it back a bit to keep me from overextending myself and ruining this whole experiment. In the meantime, here's a picture of our post-race noms (not counting the honey-granola frozen yogurt we snagged at a vendor booth near the finish!)

                               

UPDATE: PICTURES FROM THE RACE

(Left: Me in the red pants, with two ladies from my church. Right: My husband and I, after the race. He's so cute.)
   

Pre-Race blues: Looking ahead

Well, it's T-9 hours till race time and I'm getting ready to hit the hay about two hours earlier than normal for a Friday night. We registered, paid, and picked up our race packets today at Brookshire's. I laid out my shoes, a ballcap, and some colorful clothes to wear tomorrow ... can't forget the sunscreen.

A few things have me a bit bummed tonight. One is that my wrists and elbows feel pretty inflamed and painful today, maybe a 6.5 out of 10. It's probably a combination of my hormones, the weather (lots of rain rolled in tonight), and the fact that I practiced a Tom Waits song on the guitar for about 25 minutes. The good news is that my weight bearing joints feel pretty good (well above average) tonight, and I am optimistic about their performance tomorrow.

The other thing is that my husband doesn't enjoy races; he doesn't want to pay for the privilege of running. So, he's not really looking forward to tomorrow and he spent a bit of time this afternoon grumping about it. I love having him with me because he pushes me to perform better for longer, and he provides just the right combination of encouragement and distraction.  I should be grateful, I expect, that he's running these with me in spite of his disdain for them. I know he doesn't mean to demoralize me when he complains about various aspects of racing (the cost, the people, waking up early). I guess it would be worse if he just refused to go.

I don't think that running is particularly fun for him; he's more utilitarian about it. I hope one day we can reach a point where racing together IS actually fun, and where he gets as much out of running with me as I do with him. I don't know. 

The race is tomorrow morning. It should be nice and cool in the a.m., and I've got a good plan for the race. The secret goal is to break 40, and if I'm extra cute I might convince my husband to take me out for post-race pancakes. :) Wish me luck!

The Plan

Well, it’s time to commit… to a training program! Yay. I have 21 weeks until the race, so I set out looking for something which started out at an attainable base mileage (8-10) and progressed gradually (12+ weeks). Because I’m kind of injury prone, I wanted a training schedule which allowed for plenty of rest time and cross training. I am running for completion, not time, so I wanted to find a schedule which would prepare me without overwhelming me. For the month of May, I will be finishing up the last few weeks of coolrunning.com’s “Couch to 5k” program. I’ll be starting the half marathon training in June. Here are the training schedules I evaluated, in descending order of preference:

• http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/half_marathon.html

19 weeks (17 leading up to race, 2 after). Base of 8.5 miles plus “easy walk” of indeterminate length. Three rest days and an easy walk incorporated weekly. Runs during the week are about 3 miles each with a long run every other weekend. Longest run is 14 miles, tapers down to 5.
• http://www.fitsugar.com/half-marathon-training-schedule-beginners-2845222
12 weeks. Base of 9.5 miles, escalates up to 25, tapers to 14.5 before the race. Rest days vary, 2-3 (with or without cross training). Long run varies from 3-12 miles, tapers down to 5. Every week ends with an easy run.

• http://running.about.com/od/halfmarathonracetraining/a/runwalkhalfmarathon.htm

12 weeks. Base of 9.5 miles, escalates up to 23, tapers to 10.5 before the race. Includes 2 days for rest, one for cross training. Long runs are 3-12 miles, tapers down to 5. Week ends with recovery walk (2-3 miles).

• http://www.marathonrookie.com/half-marathon-training.html

10 weeks. Base 13 miles, escalates up to 26, tapers to 22. 3 rest days per week. Long run from 4-12 miles, tapers to 8.

• http://www.halfmarathons.net/training_tips_schedule_beginner_runners.html

12 weeks. Base of 16 miles base, escalates up to 29, tapers down to 22. Two rest days. Long run varies from 4-12, tapers to 6.

 

So the final contestants are: Jeff Galloway and Fit Sugar. The upside of Jeff Galloway’s plan is that it perfectly fits my timeline (I will have 17 weeks from the conclusion of the Couch to 5k program till the race); the downside is that it can be really confusing with its long runs every other week. Another plus for the Galloway plan is that it allows for the most rest time and cross training, which will help keep me from getting even though I might intellectually prefer a more rigorous schedule. The schedule also incorporates Galloway’s “Magic Mile” (a pacing technique).

I appreciate Jeff Galloway’s contributions to Runner’s World, and I know he’s guided a lot of beginning/slow/injury prone runners to success. With that in mind, the winner is Jeff Galloway! (Yaaaay)

Feel free to leave me a comment about your experiences training for a half. I’d love the encouragement!

Running log, Wednesday

Tonight's run was a rematch with the Tyler Komen 5k course. My husband and I walked over to Bergfeld Park as the sun was setting, making it considerably cooler than Monday.  Two things were different tonight. First, I tried to keep a more moderate pace from the get-go (about the bpm of Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now"). Second,  we alternated between running and walking during the first half of the course instead of waiting until the end. It started out run 5/walk 3, but in the second half we shortened the walk break to two minutes and then ran the last 11. I was really happy with my breathing, didn't have any issues with my recurring side pain, and minimum discomfort in my joints (mostly ankles/feet). Although I attribute some of the joint pain to my body adjusting to road running, I mostly blame my hormones. I'm supposed to make an appointment soon with a rheumatologists to get checked out for arthritis (or some other systemic inflammation).  We definitely pushed to the end, and it was a really great triumphant feeling. Finish time was 42 minutes (running and walking combined), which is as good as any time I've run the 5k distance before. I'm actually pretty encouraged by that. My goal for Saturday is primarily to finish the race and maintain my pacing, but I SECRETLY want to break 40 minutes. So, we'll see. Sunday, I'll post my workout plan for next week. I expect we'll be jumping into week 6 of the Couch to 5k program from coolrunning.com, and we just might find a way to sneak in some yoga/pilates classes so I don't have to strike up ridiculous poses in my living room.

UPDATE:
I couldn't respond via comment, so I thought I'd update this blog post with the answer instead.
I'm running the Komen Tyler race for the cure, a 5k. Today's the last day to register at Brookshire's on Rice Road, by or before 7:00pm. You can also register and pick up your race kit tomorrow morning at 6:30am. The race starts at 8:00 for timed and 8:10 for untimed runners.

(http://www.komentyler.org/komen-race-for-the-cure/)

Mourning Caballo Blanco

AP released details of Micah True's autopsy today. True, aka Caballo Blanco, was a central figure in Christopher McDougall's "Born to Run". He was a beloved icon in the ultrarunning community, a champion of the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico, and an evangelist for the barefoot running movement.

I have been thinking about the impact True had on my own running journey since the day Scott Jurek tweeted about his disappearance (True collapsed fatally on a 12 mile run). I found "Born to Run" on the new release shelf at my local library, and picked it up without much thought. Little did I know I was about to read one of the most transformative stories of my life. I really can't say enough about this book- it profoundly changed the way I thought about running and myself.

Micah True played a big part in that. His love of running was so infectious that I couldn't help but get caught up in his enthusiasm, however diminished it was on the printed page. True inspired me to dream of running an ultra. He articulated the joy of running in a way I had never witnessed, and he lived it out. True sparked something in me, that same ephemeral urge that lead me to sign up for my local half marathon and start up this crazy blog.

So, I'm really sad today, maybe more so than I was when he went missing. First of all, it just seems really unfair: to eat right, run passionately, and go out of your way to help and inspire other people... only to die at 58 of an enlarged heart. 

This man was my first real running hero (I have others now, namely Scott Jurek and Kara Goucher). I know I'll never get to meet him. I'll never get to run in "his" race - I mean, the Copper Canyon Ultra may still be ongoing when I reach that diatance, but it won't be his anymore.  I'll never get to tell Caballo Blanco how he inspired me to dream of inhuman feats. I don't know. I don't have a succinct chunk of wisdom to tie up this post. I'm just really sad for Micah "Caballo Blanco" True, his family, his friends, all of us who will never have a chance to be his friends.

Pondering breakfast.

My current favorite breakfast mix (not so much a recipe, but it's yummy):

• Steel cut oats (or any oats)
• Handful of frozen berries, preferably blueberries or blackberries (tried sweet cherries once... bleh)
• Dash of cinnamon/ginger
• Scoop of plain Greek yogurt

Super yummy. The combination of oats, yogurts, and berries is a great mix of low and moderate glycemic index scores, so this breakfast keeps me pretty full well into the morning.

But then I found this list of pancake recipes on Fit Sugar and realized I want ALL OF THEM. I love pancakes, like a lot. But I'm not convinced that they will freeze well. I'll get back to y'all on that. I think it's time to mix up breakfast soon.

Jog FM

http://jog.fm/ is a really neat website/app which allows you to create custom playlists according to your desired pace. They've recently started working with Spotify so you can listen to the songs on whatever device you're rocking. I don't have a fancy phone to stream music as I run, so I've used Jog.fm to make playlists of songs in my catalogue.

Here are some of the songs it suggested for a 10:00min mile:

• I Fought the Law - Clash
• Only the Good Die Young - Billy Joel
• Live and Let Die - Guns N Roses
• Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen
• Bad bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce
• I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown
• Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show
• Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
• My Sharona - The Knack
• We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister
• I Get Around - Beach Boys
• Three Little Birds - Bob Marley
• Crocodile Rock - Elton John
• Shine - Collective Soul

Now these might not be songs I listen to every day (okay, some of them are), but this makes a killer playlist for running. As a former band nerd, I'm highly sensitive to rhythm patterns which makes music an easy way to pace myself (unfortunately, it also means my husband's long strides drive me bonkers).

With enough planning, I could build a playlist that incorporates intervals (maybe kick it up a notch with Outkast's "Hey Ya!" a 9:00 min/mile track) or cooldowns (LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It", 12:00min/mile).

What kind of playlist do you run to? 

Running log

My plan in the future is to do an update once per week on my running progress (with more snippets in between, maybe, if I find something neat about cross-training or nutrition). But, since I haven't posted a training schedule to keep me accountable yet, I thought I'd share a blurb about tonight's run. So, I was following the Couch to 5k program from Cool Running to prepare for our 3rd annual North Texas Warrior Dash. Unfortunately for ME, my body decided it was a great time to get bronchitis. This weekend was the first time in about two weeks that I was able to run since the diagnosis. It could've gone worse; my leg muscles were lazy and my groin starting twinging a bit, but my heart and lungs did fine. In about an hour, I'm going to join a friend to run the course of the upcoming Susan Komen 5k. I figure that will give me a decent indication of where I currently stand. I will select a training plan based on the cumulative results of this week's runs. Wish me luck. I'll post an update when I get back.

THE UPDATE
Well, folks... we've got a lot of work to do. I ran/walked/stumbled my way through the incredibly beautiful and hilly Komen Tyler Race for the Cure 5K course (which covers some of the same ground as the Tyler Half). It was pretty rough - but exhilarating. I expected my lungs to hold up fine, but my joints to act up. Silly me. My joints were fine and my leg muscles didn't give me any trouble, but my lungs were screaming. This might be a byproduct of the bronchitis, as I've still had a bit of chest tightness and a small cough.  I definitely got extremely dizzy in the last third of the course, although that might have had something to do with the heat.

Overall, I'm happy-ish with the run. My plan for the Komen race this weekend is to run 3 min/walk 1 min from the start of the course. This should allow me to finish the race consistently, without gasping for air and spinning at the end.


The glamour shot...

May 7, 2012: The day I decided, on a whim, to run a half marathon.

 So how did I get here, anyway?

An innocuous Facebook link from a friend: “Who’s with me on this if I sign up?” A half marathon, in my very own city, five months away. A distance I have dreamed about running since I stumbled through my first mile.

I have never run a distance anywhere close to 13.1k. I’m not even particularly good at running, period. As a child, I looked like a runner – long and lean, I was the fastest girl in fourth grade. But then puberty happened. Suddenly, I sucked at running, and I hated it. I was not “built” for it. I was an intellectual. Blah blah blah.

My adult relationship with running began when my husband and I started dating in 2008. He was one of those “runners”, a bizarre subgroup of people I never expected to understand – much less associate with. I started running to spend time with him. It was a miserable, painful, and discouraging experience overall; I would push through the initial agony of starting a running regimen, achieve a modicum of success, and then get set back by injury or illness (a pulled groin, strained hip flexor, fibroid pain, bronchitis).

In spite of all this, something kept bringing me back to running: that ephemeral “high” that runners talk about, eyes glazed and distant. It’s a feeling of freedom, potential, and childlike glee; of absolute purpose and orientation. It is a defiant howl against every voice that has ever told me I’m too fat, too lazy, too defeatist, too much of a victim. I have only experienced it as a fleeting echo, typically bookended by frustration and weariness. I am determined to unlock it for good – to become “a runner”. 

But why a half marathon, you loony?

I don't know. I have never run that far before. I think in my heart of hearts, I just want to know if I can do it... and the only way to make myself train for it is to sign up for a race.

Down to the nitty-gritty.

Over the course of this long halting journey, I have learned a few things about myself. 

1. I am a social runner. I do best when I am running with other people. My husband is the ideal running partner. Fortunately for me, he has agreed to join me (somewhat skeptically) on this crazy venture. I'm also blessed with some running friends who are more boneheaded persistent than I am.
2. I am injury prone. I have to progress really gradually, and I do best when I incorporate some kind of low intensity calisthenic strength training like yoga or Pilates. I hate weight training, but it may be necessary to stay safe and fit when my schedule does not allow for fitness classes.
3. I need a goal, namely a race. This is the best way for me to “make” myself run, because I’m cheap and I flourish under structure. So, having a race marked on the calendar gives me both incentive and timeline. My first race was a Susan G. Komen 5k; since then, I have run two consecutive Warrior Dash races (we missed the third one, this past April, because I came down with a horrible case of bronchitis). It has basically come down to one race a year since I started running.
4. I need a schedule. See number 3.

So, soon to follow... a couple of training plans I'm looking at, and all that jazz.

Past races

Susan Komen Race for the Cure (Tyler, Texas) 2009, North Texas Warrior Dash 2010, North Texas Warrior Dash 2011