Memorial Day Weekend Plans

Sunday Rush

Rethinking the day I post training highlights…Sunday has become this impossible day with a never ending list of things to do before I can even begin to think about a blog post and somehow, every week the list seems to get longer. That’s to be expected though, right? Kids, family, life, training, school, finals, puppy!

A few random not very informative thoughts before I crash out (seriously, my eyes are closing while I type this)…

My New Balance Hanzo racing flats should arrive tomorrow, hopefully in time for my afternoon run!

My next race is in two weeks, the Love Field 5k …on the Runway! Flat and fast!

Finals begin this week.

The semester ends next week, and I am taking the rest of May off which will give me time to write more than just highlights and random disorganized thoughts!

Thanks for reading! Have a great week!

Work Your Core

Running doesn’t always result in a six pack, so for those striving for a six pack or for a stronger core, perform these core exercises after an easy to moderate paced run to strengthen and tone your core, speed up your metabolism, and shorten your recovery time.  

Tour des Fleurs Quarter Marathon Race Recap

5th Place Overall Female.  A check in the mail.  I’ll take it.

Earlier in the week, I made a race change from the Roller Coaster 10k (which was canceled) to the Tour des Fleurs.  I also made a shoe change from the Mizuno Wave Universe 5 (2.2 oz racing flats that I train and race in) to my two year old Saucony Fast Twitch Racers.  Not by choice…

And the weather changed from refreshingly cooler to ‘who turned up the heat’ hot and ‘I sweat before I run’ humid again.  Adapt and overcome!

I began my normal race day morning routine around 4:30.  Coffee, oatmeal, stare at my phone, get stuff ready, pose for a photo (this one is new), and go.

I really wanted to bring my headphones to warm up with but ever since I published Need Headphones? all of my headphones started disappearing.  So instead, I spent a few extra minutes in my car in the parking garage listening to Victory Lap  and My Oh My by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis before checking my bag and beginning my warm up.

My warm up included a two mile jog plus drills and strides.  Running fast felt a little off in the Sauconys, but this time, in this race my shoes were going to stay on my feet no matter what.

Photo by Ryan L.

At 7:50, the race started.  With the conditions being as they were, I realize now, that I went out way too fast.  Mile 1.  6:25.  The first half of this course was flat, so I planned on running the first half at a fast but comfortable pace.  But on this day in September, 6:25/mile did not seem easy or at all comfortable.  Mile 2.  6:43.  Mile 3.  6:55.  I could not find any sort of comfortable pace.  I slowed down a bit, made it up the first hill, and held the slower pace to make the rest of the race manageable again.  Since this was not going to be a PR race, I really focused on finishing strong and staying relaxed and in control.

I wasn’t too far from 4th place at mile 6, so I cautiously increased my speed.  Unfortunately,  I couldn’t close the gap, but…there is always next time!

​​​
After I rehydrated and called my kids, I chatted with friends, met some new people, and ran 4 cool down miles.  The awards for the Quarter Marathon began immediately after I picked up my gear bag.  Perfect timing!  From there, everything happened pretty fast.  A 5th place announcement, an unexpected payday, and a sample of High Brew Coffee.

Overall, I consider this race a success even with my average pace of 7:05/mile .  I finished strong, uninjured, with shoes on my feet, and ready to take on another week of marathon training and the Plano Balloon Festival Half Marathon.

For more Race Recaps, check out the Race Recap Page!

This post is sponsored by Run Texas, a new specialty running store in Frisco, TX!

Thanks for reading!  Like!  Share!  Follow!  Comment!

(Featured Photo by Ryan L.)

Tuesday Tempo

I struggled through another tempo run today.  After three miles of trying to warm up, I went through my drills and strides.  My lower back felt so tight and something was pulling from my spine around to my hip on one side.  It would not let up.

Versatile Blogger Award

Have you ever been chosen to receive an award that you didn’t know existed?  I started blogging in February of this year, and I had never heard of blogging awards until I checked my email early Saturday morning.  An email from WordPress notified me that I had a comment waiting for me on one of my posts about a Versatile Blogger Award.  Clueless, I googled blogging awards, specifically the Versatile Blogger Award which led me to this conclusion…

A Runner’s Satisfaction

This week’s Daily Post Topic on WordPress…Satisfaction.  Something that satisfies me…Satisfies me as a runner.  As a competitive runner, I constantly work towards my goals.  If I meet a goal, I raise the bar.

Loving the Sweat, Hating the Mazda

Nothing makes me overheat more than driving in my car, but nothing makes me sweat more than running in the Texas heat.  Today is Day 2 of my easy week.  Yesterday I ran 6 miles, today I ran 4, tomorrow 6…and the pattern continues through Sunday.