Stroller pushin in Texas

I was planning to run 22 with Melissa today, but I chickened out and called 21 good enough. 

We met at a running path in Northern SA on another Greenway trail which was long.  We planned to meet at 9, but started at 9:30.  By then end of the run, the heat was killing me.

Mile 7 we got a little lost and ran to a park pavilion.  We met an older runner up there and started to ask him where we were.  He had just finished a marathon... He was by himself and putting on his finisher's medal.  Then two ladies joined him, and they had also ran a marathon.  Guess they had ran 75 on Saturday.  The three runners were well over 60.  One of the female runners is training for Badwater this summer.  YIKES.  She was a really cool lady and I forgot her name.  Guess she puts on marathons and ultras at that same spot a few times a year.  She said she is going to do a 48 hour run this summer.  Guess that's how you do it.  Badwater is what, 135 miles in the scorching Death Valley heat?  Anyone considering doing that is crazy in my book.

Melissa and I found our way.  We kept running until our watches were at 11 miles.  Then we ran back.  My watch is always screwy and her AP got messed up.  I hate GPS issues.

I pretty much feel apart at about mile 14-15.  I was really thirsty and tired.  I felt bad because I was stopping at every mile to get a drink.  It was heating up to about 80 and it was also really humid.  Melissa kept so strong and never complained.  She was patient with my ordeal.

The last 3 miles were a death march.  I told her that when we got back to the parking lot I was going to be done.  Got back and I sat on a rock.  She ran the last mile alone, what a stud.  She will ROCK her marathon coming up this month and I have a lot of training ahead of me before June it feels like.  I want to show the long run who is boss, even in the Texas heat!

21 on a Monday?  Why not 21 on a Monday?  I wanted to open this month up with style.  :)   Our AP was somewhere between 8:45-8:55

5 very very slow miles on the TM.

Yoga class. :) 

7 miles at the base.  It was WINDY.  I knew it was very windy because most of the planes were grounded and I only saw a few taking off.  

.50 walking on the TM

Yoga class.

Appreciation day at the gym!  Free cake, fruit and prizes.  I won two pens.  I think I got the lamest prize they were giving out.  The two ladies in front of me got Aqua Massages.  I wonder how Aqua Massages are anyway?  Customer appreciation day at that FREE gym we all go to.  Kinda cool. 

1 mile to warm up

8.25 miles of speed.  AP 6:51.  8.0 for .25, 8.5 for .50, 9 for .75, 9.5 for .25.  Repeated 4X. Last mile started at 8.0 and each quarter mile got bumped up .5.  Ended at 10 mph.

Cool down for .50 

6.3 around the neighborhood.  So beautiful out. 8:05 AP

I have wanted to run The Race For the Cure for a long time.  There aren't very many "big" races in Texas on Saturdays, so I had to take advantage of my opportunity.  My aunt is struggling with breast cancer, I thought it appropriate to run dedicate it to her.

David and I arrived at the Alamo Dome well too early in order to beat the masses that would soon enough be there.  We parked about a mile away and walked to the Dome.  Upon arrival, we discovered there was not a bag drop.  I had throw-away clothes on that I didn't care about, but David had an entire warm-up outfit, plus his racing flats that needed to stashed somewhere.  A race with 30,000+ people and there wasn't a bag drop?  I guess people were going to run with backpacks or something.

Before the race there was so much pre-race excitement going on.  All of those that survived breast cancer had on survivor shirts.  There were so many women in pink and a few men.  Surely, I thought this race would bring some faster runners out, but still, I have not seen them...

We warmed up and people were still parking next to the Alamo Dome.  I was kind of mad that the day before they a police man directed us to park a mile away.  Oh well.  We warmed up and dropped our bags with some volunteers that seemed OK with stashing our stuff.  We made our way to our corral.  

The race start had cool music provided by a local DJ.  The music just made me nervous and on edge before the gun went off.  National anthem, prayer, and tribute were said and then we were off . 10k went 20 minutes before the 5k.   

Started running far too fast.  I was excited and my nerves needed to settle.  I don't time splits, so I can't tell you what they were.  Some girl in a purple jacket tried to stay with me the first mile, I dropped her.  There was no catching the lady in first, she was the real deal.  Just paced myself off of odd men.  

I saw a man in neon shorts and he looked back at me and started SPRINTING full out!  We were at what, mile 2?  Caught him and gracefully ran past him.  I guess he was all out of sprints.  Probably made him feel bad being chicked, I don't know.  

Course was pretty darn flat and certified.  There were times I felt like we were heading a little uphill, but not enough to notice.  I passed the 5k at 21:00 minutes.  I told myself I could try and relax a little and I did.

Mile 4, we joined up with the 5k people.  I was a little nervous about having to face a wall of people, but it really wasn't bad.  Everyone was moving at a steady pace.  I was able to just pass and pass people, it was motivating! Hit the 5 mile mark around 35 minutes and knew I actually could PR today!!!

Cranked my music up (even louder, yes, it was REALLY loud) and jammed it out.  During the last mile there was a very large dip we had to run down and back up.  Ran down as fast as possible and went up pretty easily.  Last part of the race went down a big road that kept going forever!  I just ran my little booty as fast as possible, I wanted my PR dang it!

Saw the balloon arch and crossed.  I screamed out loud "YEAH" because I was happy.  Saw my hubby and he got 2nd place as well.  His time was 37:42!  He's a fast one!!  We cooled down, ate a gross yogurt and waited for the awards.

During the race I decided that any hardware I received today would be going to my aunt.  I got first in my AD (30-39).  Happy about that because only first got hardware.  It was just a little pink medal.  Thought they could have done better with the prizes since there were 30,000 + people.  Oh well, such a fun day! 

My last 10K PR was at Des News 2009.  I don't run very many 10k's, but I still felt really good about my effort today.   

15 miles with Melissa at the Greenway.  70 out and 100% humidity.  

Run went by fast and we had good conversation.  I am sure going to miss that girl when I have to move back to Del Rio.  :(  Good running buddies are kind of hard to come by these days.

8:29 AP.  We were rockin' it!  Her marathon is in 2 weeks and she will do great.  

Didn't run because I wanted to save all I had for my first Bikram class.

Bikram Yoga is a 90 minute class held in a 98 degree room.  Super hot and dry in the room.  The worst part of the experience was the horrific smell.  It was the smell of foot and bum combined with a mix of severe BO.  

Got there 5 minutes early to lie in the heat and try to get used to it.  It was REALLY hot.  We weren't allowed to drink water until about 20 minutes in.  I actually wasn't that thirsty and my sweat just rolled down my body.  By the end, my full large towel was soaked completely.  Felt so good to stretch super deep.  I will go back tomorrow.

So happy that I was brave enough to try this class!  I have been scared to take it for over a year now. 

I felt like crap today running.  I got so overheated during my speed work, I had to depart from the TM and run on the indoor track.  Maybe my body was overheating because of what I did to it last night?  I wanted to cry.

First 5k was in 21 minutes.  Ran another few miles.   

Day 2 of Bikram.  I went to another studio and it smelt so so so much better!  Bikram class is exactly the same wherever you go, kinda neat.  Anyway, it hurt more today.  There was one point in the class I started blacking out and I had to lay down.  After that, I was fine the rest of the class.

My ultimate goal with Bikram is to lengthen my hamstrings back out.  I don't think there is any hope for this, we will see what happens. 

10 miles in the breezy 50 degree weather.  Cool and sunny, just the way I like it.  Wore tank and skirt, and I felt like I was overheating??? Hahaha, I think Bikram is messing with me big time!  My body doesn't know what it is doing.  AP 8:07.  Felt like I kept it easy most of the time.  

I tossed and turned and laid in bed for an hour in the middle of the night again.  I sleep but I wake up thinking Bikram, Bikram, Bikram!!! It's scaring me.  I think I might take today off and go back tomorrow earlier in the day.  It gives me sooo much energy I can't sleep.  Plus I wake up in the night and my belly is super warm.  ??  Read online that these are some of the side effects for first timers.   

7 miles on the TM. 7:30 AP.  Got really hot again.

12 miles with Melissa at McAllister.  So sad it was our last run.  Perfect weather, and the path was so so so GREEN today.  LOVE San Antonio in the spring.  So sad to leave and I will miss Melisa so badly. :(  Such is like.

We rocked at an 8:21 AP. 

I seriously watched the marathon from start to finish today.  Such an awesome race to watch!  I got a text from RAD right when she finished and she was as high as a kite until it all went down.  Just sucks.  

I didn't run, I didn't eat and last night (Mon night) I did not sleep.  I am just sick sick about all of this!! I really don't know if I have as much desire to get back to Boston like I did just 24 hours ago.  I am so sad that anyone would threaten they very gift  I am so greatly thankful for every day.  I think because I have so much of a passion for running, it makes this even that much worse.  It has cut me to the soul.  I hope they catch the SOB that did this!  Even if they do, racing will NEVER be the same.  So tragic.

I ran on base today in the morning.  Such a beautiful day, cool and humid.  Before the run I sat in my car and stared into space.  It hurt just to think about running.  I question why I train and why I care?  I run for freedom and joy.  Why would some threaten the very gift I am thankful for everyday?

I am a runner.  We are runners.  We will run!!! I got out of my car and started running.  When I am emotional, I usually just cry and have to pull to the side of the road and cry cry cry.  Not today.  Running felt good.  Running is a gift.  I saw other runners out on the path and waved and said "Good morning" to each of them.  It just felt so amazing knowing I could just run.

I saw a turtle on the golf course at mile 1.4 and stopped and stared at it and watched it hide in it's shell.  So innocent.  How could anyone hurt a creature, or someone else?  We are all God's children and we all belong on this planet together.  We have to get along.  What would the world be like if we all ran?

8:00 AP 

Went to Bikram today at noon.  Still hurt. 

Ran outside in what felt like a warm swimming pool.  I am pretty sure it's 100% humidity out.  Felt like junk.

7 miles in the early morning before leaving San Antonio.  The last mile David drove by with a bag of breakfast tacos out the window.  For sure I turned the speed up when I saw that!  Moved back to Del town.

Moved all day.

8 miles around the base.  I think I am going to tally every time I make this run. Happy with a 7:40 AP

Don't know my pace, ran without a watch.  Ran around the base just like I did on Saturday.  I kinda already want to leave and I miss Schertz Parkway.  :(  I must really love my husband.

.60 or something up to the gym. Speed workout on the TM.  It is blazin' hot in there!! I forgot how awful that place is.  I pulled a fan by my TM, but it was still super muggy in there.  .25 @ 8, .50 @ 8.5, 1.00 @ 9.0.  Repeated 4 X.  6:54 AP

6 miles outside.  This was suppose to be a recovery run, it felt slow.  Really cold and windy out.

Ran up to the gym... Another 2.5 on the TM while I listened to the news.  Looks like the media is still having a hay-day with the Boston Marathon.  Did some leg workouts and ABs, rna back home.

They are removing all of the cat pee carpet in our new rental... Would have been thoughtful of them to do this all BEFORE we moved in.  Oh well, life is good. 

I got new Kinvara 3 and they kill the back of my achilles.  They have rubbed the skin raw, is this normal?  I like the shoes, minus that part.  I have always worn Kinvara 2 until now.  Don't know if I am a fan and I don't want to pay full price for the 4s.  Should I just cut out the back of the shoe?

3.6 mile run/warm up thing with David.  I felt like he was annoyed with running with me this morning.  Sometimes he just sits and questions me my training why we are running... Wish he would not bring that up while we run.

Ran 4 miles @ 7:30 AP

2 mile cool down back home.

7:54 AP 

Ran with some girls from the base today since it was my recovery day.  Super duper slow 8 miles.  

Did ABs and shoulder/ back workout things.

13 miles.  First 6 miles with David around the humid base.  Goal was to hit 9 miles at marathon pace.  1-11 miles were 8:04 AP, last two miles were slow.  :)  Happy with my run today and my great week of running.  

So I woke up really early to run with Marshelle this morning.  So happy I did.  The morning was brisk and cool, just perfect.  I wish Texas were like this all year. HAHAHA, no way it is.  Anyway, we ran 4 together while we (I) mostly chatted away about Boston Marathon.  Her husband is a doctor on base and we talked about Smooth's son and what he must have seen that day.  So sad.

I ran 6 more by myself.  Mile 8 I stopped and watched the beautiful sunrise.  My heart was full of so much gratitude so I stood and thanked God for a lot of things.  10.25 total mileage and then I lifted at the gym. ( Legs) Walked home from the gym.

Good day so far. Hamana hamana hamana

So I ran early with Marshelle again.  So tired.  I forgot how early mornings make me feel.  We ran about 5 miles.

I ran 5 mile on the TM doing speed stuff. 7:00 AP

Lifted upper body.  

Walked home.