Week 16 - Day 2

Today I started Run 6 / Walk 1 and gee it went well! Best time yet for my 30 minute run. I again pushed myself harder than usual, but now I'm noticing it seems a lot harder for marginal improvements. I guess that's how it's gonna be between now and January. I really would like to be able to run a 1/2 marathon with a 10:00/mi average or less. Surely 9:30/mi can be achieved?

Total Distance: 2.85 mi
Total Time: 30:00
Avg Pace: 10:31/mi
Heart Rate: 132 bpm

Interested to see how Thursday's run goes after this one.

Week 16 - Day 1

Boo ... I didn't end up running today. Not because of how I felt over the last run, but because the humidity was just sooooo bad ... even later into the evening. I didn't want to risk it with the asthma, and my prescription is running quite low. Time to get a refill on Monday.

Week 15 - Day 4

I have been feeling pretty disappointed with the run today. Although my time and pace where improved from the last time I ran 6 miles, I really felt void of strength and energy through most of the run, especially when I hit the 4 mile mark. Those last two miles where far from enjoyable. Why? I'm really just not sure. Thought I was hydrated enough, figured I had eaten enough of the right things, and felt I was rested enough. Maybe today the only thing giving me trouble was my mind. Ah well, not every run goes as planned. Here are the results:

Total Distance: 6.0 mi
Total Time: 1:10:51
Avg Pace: 11:48/mi
Heart Rate: 136 bpm

Maybe I'll be feeling better on tomorrow's short 20 minute run. I sure hope so.

Week 15 - Day 3

Today's run was pretty much on par with the last, but I didn't better the previous time and distance. Felt like I was working harder than the last run too. I hadn't been feeling well today either, and didn't eat or drink as much as I normally would in a day. I'll use that as an explanation for the results:

Total Distance: 2.72 mi
Total Time: 30:00
Avg Pace: 11:02/mi
Heart Rate: 135 bpm

I'm generally running faster than 11:00/mi, but the 1 minute walk intervals seem to keep me close to or above that 11:00/mi mark. Maybe I'll just have to work even harder for improvement here.

Week 15 - Day 2

Just back from my 30 minutes of Run 5 / Walk 1. I think this is my best 30 minute pace since I started running, but I really haven't gone back to check. I just don't ever recall a pace faster than 11:00/mi. Here are the results:

Total Distance: 2.75 mi
Total Time: 30:00
Avg Pace: 10:55/mi
Heart Rate: 135 bpm

Certainly felt like I had to push myself a bit to keep it under the 11:00/mi mark. I'll run again tomorrow night to make up for Thursday past.

The hip felt much better today having not run since Sunday.

Week 15 - Day 1

The hip wasn't feeling that good all day today. I was ready to call the run off around 10:30pm, but 11:15pm I decided to head out anyway and give it a go. I managed alright, but the pace suffered a little bit from last Sunday's pace. Here are the results:

Total Distance: 1.79 mi
Total Time: 20:00
Avg Pace: 11:10/mi
Heart Rate: 132 bpm

Hopefully with no run on Monday it will give the hip a chance to get back to where it should be. Let's hope for the best.

Week 14 - Day 4

Boy am I ever glad I took that break from running on Thursday. 9 miles certainly is a long run to me, but it went very well over all! The only challenge I found was in the last 2 miles where I started to feel a fair bit of discomfort and soreness around the hip flexor muscles in my right leg. It was enough that I think it slowed my pace a bit. Here are the results:

Total Distance: 9.0 mi
Total Time: 1:52:05
Avg Pace: 12:27/mi
Heart Rate: 140 bpm

Actually I think that pace is quite good considering that my regular 30 minute run isn't that much faster. Looks like that pace would also get me under 2:40:00 for the 1/2 marathon which was my initial set goal, so likely I can improve on that a fair bit before January! I though it was impressive that I also burned 1248 calories on this run today as well. I doubt I've ever burned so many in one day before!

Not sure if I should be running tomorrow with the hip feeling the way it does now. Will have to wait and see before I make my decision.

Week 14 - Day 3

I decided with the big 9 mile run on Saturday, I'd give myself a break today. I'll make up for today's run this coming Wednesday. After yesterday's run, I'd rather feel rested going into the run on Saturday. Let's see if it pays off!

Week 14 - Day 2

Well I should have known all good things don't last. Today's run just felt terrible! The legs were tired and stiff. They would just not loosen up! Generally felt a lack of strength and energy too. My mind was telling the body to go, but it was like something was holding it back. Weird. So I did a Run 5 / Walk 1 over 30 minutes for the first time and the results sorta stink:

Total Distance: 2.47 mi
Total Time: 30:00
Avg Pace: 12:09/mi
Heart Rate: 126 bpm

My last 30 minutes of Run 4 / Walk 1 was even better than this and even managed a further distance. Ah well I think I need another day of good rest and recovery before I run again on Thursday. My first 9 mile run is coming up on Saturday, a big milestone, so I'd really like to be prepared as much as I can.

Week 14 - Day 1

I wondered how I would feel running today after the 5 miles yesterday. Surprisingly well, and I even stepped it up a notch knowing I would only be running for 20 minutes of Run 4 / Walk 1. It was more work, but check out the results:

Total Distance: 1.87 mi
Total Time: 20:00
Avg Pace: 10:41/mi
Heart Rate: 143 bpm

A noticeable improvement again here if you compare it to the 20 minute run here from a week ago. I'm smokin' hot!

A new challenge tomorrow in moving to Run 5 / Walk 1!

Week 13 - Day 4

Another 5 miles for the history books and I'm very happy with this run. It went far better than the first time I ran the same distance, so today it's great to see the progress! Here are the results:

Total Distance: 5.00 mi
Total Time: 59.49
Avg Pace: 11:58/mi
Heart Rate: 139 bpm

That's 9.51 minutes off the first time I ran 5 miles with Glenn and Jon at the Nike Running Lounge, almost a month to the day! Over the last 1.5 miles or so I didn't even stop for my 1 minute walks, I just kept running! Everything seemed to fall in place for this run. Nice cool weather, good hydration, no tightness in the lower legs, and the breathing didn't feel exerted. I actually felt a good "buzz" once I got in the door. Is this what everyone keeps running for?

Tomorrow will be a 20 minute run, and will also be the last time I do Run 4 / Walk 1.

Week 13 - Day 3

Successfully finished another 30 minutes of Run 4 / Walk 1. Improvement since the last run as well, which is great. I'd really like to get under a 11:00/mi pace soon. By race day, it'd be really nice to be under 9:00/mi if I can. Maybe I'm dreaming? Anyway, here are the results for today:

Total Distance: 2.62 mi
Total Time: 30:00
Avg Pace: 11:26/mi
Heart Rate: 136 bpm

Back down to a 5 mile run for Saturday, as I ramp back up to 9 miles the following Saturday. 9 miles is only 4 miles short of the 1/2 marathon distance!

Week 13 - Day 2

I ended up running today instead of yesterday to take advantage of a change to cooler temperatures. Maybe doing so paid off here because I see an improvement from my last 30 minute run. Here are the results:

Total Distance: 2.60 mi
Total Time: 30:00
Avg Pace: 11:32/mi
Heart Rate: 133 bpm

Legs were feeling a bit more stiff than usual, maybe from the cooler temperature. Some soreness in the shoulders too, but I attribute that to playing Guitar Hero II, HAHA. I felt it though on the run, so no GHII for a few days. I really need to start thinking about improving flexibility.

Week 13 - Day 1

Today it was far more warmer and humid outside for my run, which was a challenge for me when it came to the breathing and endurance. I seemed to do alright despite this anyway going by the results.

Total Distance: 1.76 mi
Total Time: 20:00
Avg Pace: 11:23/mi
Heart Rate: 133 bpm

Over the last few weeks, I've also noticed how tempting it is to stop sometimes and take a break or force myself to keep going and resist the urge to stop. I know all runners battle this, especially in the later stages of a run. Sometimes I've overcome that urge to stop and kept going, but other times I've taken that short break even though I know I really shouldn't have. Surely this is something I can overcome. It's not going to help me on the day of the race. Fortunately I've got 6 months ahead of me to work on it.

If there is anything I've learned about myself from running so far, it's the negative thoughts that run through my head that potentially set me up for failure. This will surely be the biggest thing to overcome in the days ahead. I really would like to be that guy who is a little more optimistic in general and keep pressing on towards the goal.

Right now I'm just grateful that I'm still on track with no injuries. Now that is a blessing.

Week 12 - Day 4

Well as promised, today I ran the 7 miles to make up for a run missed. Today I would have been back down to 6 miles in preparation to ramping up to a 9 mile run on July 21st. Here are the results from Run 4 / Walk 1 for 7 miles:

Total Distance: 7.00 mi
Total Time: 1:25:36
Avg Pace: 12:14/mi
Heart Rate: 137 bpm

Looks like a decent run to me. The conditions were really good as there was a nice cool breeze. For the first time I started to feel some stiffness in my back and hips in the last mile or so. Probably not surprising for the distance I'm starting to get into now. Something else for the body to adjust to I guess! Looking forward to tomorrow's 20 minute run.

Week 12 - Day 3

Today's Run 4 / Walk 1 also went well, but surprised again at the mileage covered. Wondering if something is up with the triangulation of my Garmin, who knows? To me going by the pace and the amount of time out there, the miles covered should be more than when I was doing Run 3 / Walk 1. Will keep an eye on this in the up coming runs. Here are the results.

Total Distance: 2.52 mi
Total Time: 30:00
Avg Pace: 11:55/mi
Heart Rate: 136 bpm

Week 12 - Day 2

I'm back from the first Run 4 / Walk 1 and it went very well! I really didn't find much of a difference in the change since I was expecting it to be harder, so that was a pleasant surprise. I thought my mileage would have been a little better though from my previous 30 minute run of Run 3 / Walk 1, but not so. Here are the results:

Total Distance: 2.53 mi
Total Time: 30:00
Avg Pace: 11:51/mi
Heart Rate: 137 bpm

Week 12 - Day 1 ... Happy Canada Day!

Well here it is Canada Day and instead of celebrating, I'm out on the streets pounding the pavement. The legs are certainly feeling it today after the 6 miles yesterday, so I'm glad is run was only Run 3 / Walk 1 for 20 minutes.

Total Distance: 1.75 mi
Total Time: 20:00
Avg Pace: 11:21/mi
Heart Rate: 139 bpm

Seems like I've been on Run 3 / Walk 1 for ages now. Things change on Tuesday though, moving ahead to Run 4 / Walk 1. I wonder how much of a change that is going to be. We'll find out soon enough!