3.87 miles--a little faster

I tried to push myself a little more tonight and move a little faster.  I ran 3.87 miles (what is it with me and these extra tenths at the end of my mileage??) averaging a 12:04 pace.  Not much faster, but at least a little bit faster.  

I didn't get to run at all last week since the week was very busy.  I finished my class and had a project and final to complete.  Then we flew to Nashville to help our daughter clean her apartment, pack and load her things onto a Penske truck, and then drive it all to Richmond.  On Sunday, she and her fiance will be getting married, so I am glad I could fit this run in today!  I'm not sure when I'll get to head out and hit the pavement again.  

5.92 miles

Today is Saturday, so I wanted to run a little farther than I have been doing. I have not been training as hard for this upcoming Disneyland Half Marathon as I did for the Princess Half Marathon.  I am starting to get a little worried that I will loose steam in this race.  Hopefully I can get a few more miles in as I get closer to the race.

I ran 5.92 miles, I don't know why I just didn't go a tiny bit further to make it 6 miles, but I didn't!  I did keep a 12:28 pace, but was hoping it would be a little bit faster.  It wasn't quite as hot as my last run, but I was still tired.  I can tell I need more training.  But I got out there.

It is so hard some days to fit in work or classwork, housekeeping stuff, children (even though they are grown), and my husband.  I am trying so hard to not let my running be the part of my life that gets put on a back burner, but sometimes it does happen.  

5.75 miles~~HOT, HOT, hot....

It has been so hot lately, this week the temperatures are in the 90s, and it is humid.  So HOT!  Running in this is so hard.  I decided to get up and run in the morning hoping that it would be cooler.  But, I didn't get going right away, and I was actually still running at 11:00.  
I got in a 5.75 run and actually ran in a 12:25 pace.  I thought it was going to be closer to 15:00 minute miles!  I walked a good deal more than I usually do.  I sweated like crazy, and just felt yuck some of the time.  
And crazy as it all sounds, I still loved running!  I did take my inhaler before going and didn't struggle with breathing.  It just was HOT.  
When I got home, I drank a huge Accerlerade, then a water, and doused my head with water.  Next time it is this hot, I need to run around 7:00 am, not 9:30 am!
I haven't decided whether I dislike running in the extreme cold or in the HOT heat.  Which is worse.  Right now the heat.  

5.59 miles~~run with hubby

Chris and I decided to run together tonight.  It wasn't as hot as normal, but it was still warm~~in the 80s.  At least it wasn't as humid.  We ran our normal route, meeting the new dogs about a mile away.  Luckily they listened to me today when I said, "No, stay there, I don't want you to get run over."  Usually the run at me and bark like crazy.  Chris wasn't far behind me and luckily didn't have issues with the dogs.  I turned around about 2 or so miles from home and ran back and past our road.  I was able to run back and meet Chris and we finished the run together.  We got our run in.  My calves are sore from the longer miles, but I was glad to get out there and move.  I am having a hard time fitting in every other day and running.  With my class and the HOT temperatures, I just can't fit it all in. 

3.94 muggy miles

Well, I am back in VA and it is almost as muggy as FL!  It has rained a ton this summer so far, and it just makes the weather feel muggy.  I had to wait for an inspector for our insurance to get here before I could run today, so I ran after Chris got home from work.  The sun was behind clouds, so we hoped it would be cooler, but it was just muggy!  There was a slight breeze that really felt good when I was in the shadier parts of the neighborhood. 

I was able to get in almost 4 miles today.  My total that has been logged online at Active is 617.3 miles.  Not bad for a little over a year.  I have been bad about running every other day.  I need to try to get back to a good schedule.  My homework for my class is very intense, so I spend hours reading and working on projects.  We are putting an entire semester of class into 6 weeks. Ack!  But I am learning a lot!

Pensacola Firecracker 5K

I really wanted to run the Culpeper 5K that marked the 1 year anniversary of me running races, but it just didn't work out. I decided to make a quick trip to see my extended family in Pensacola Beach, FL and I couldn't do both.  Instead, I signed up for a race in Pensacola on Saturday, and enlisted my sister and two of my nephews to join me!  It had been raining every day we were there, and today was no exception!  My mom came to watch, and luckily my nephew had an umbrella in his car she could use.  The race had about 1000 people or a little more.  We ran from the downtown Pensacola area and on the beach road and back.  It was FLAT!  That is something that I am not used to!

I broke my last best time!  Go me!  I still haven't broken a 30 minute 5K, maybe another time.  I finished in 31:08 and placed 11 out of 43 in my age group!  Overall I was 403 out of 830...not bad!  I have to remember that I am 49 years old, and improving at this age is harder than if I was 29.  

The rain held off until right before I crossed the finish line.  We had a short shower...which actually felt pretty good!  One of my nephews finished many minutes before me, the other not too far behind me.  My sister did the walk race and wasn't too far behind us...she walks fast!

6.15 miles~~needed a longer run

My goal for running today was to run farther than 3 or 4 miles.  This was my first workday that I didn't have work (I get off the month of July...but I don't get paid for it either!).  So I headed out after suiting up and using my inhaler.  My lungs finally felt better.  It is amazing that you can mess them up within just a few minutes by dusting, then they are weak/struggling for days after.  It makes me realize how I need to watch what I am around and breathing in.  I needed to wear a mask while cleaning (they are just hot!).  

I was able to get out and run over 6 miles at an 11:21 pace.  That is pretty good.  I hope to eventually break a 10 minute pace on a race day, but that hasn't happened. It felt good to get out and move and enjoy the sunshine and breeze, even though it was warm.