1st 10K, done!

Wow. It’s been a while since I wrote on this blog.

You will all be happy to know that I have completed yet another race. This time a 10K. It was the 1st ever MUHC Run For Your Life. Which took place at Angrignon Park, Montreal, Quebec on Saturday October 20th.

I did it in 49:38.5.

I was aiming for 40-45 minutes, which I realized now was unrealistic because it was my first 10K and I only trained 5 weeks for it. Not to take anything away from my finish time though, I am very proud of my time. Just the next time I will know more of what to expect from a 10K and I will do better.

Saturday was a beautiful autumn day. It was not too hot but not too cold as well. Like the third bear, it was perfect. I started my race at a steady pace that I was happy with. It was just hard enough and left room to pick it up at the second half. At least so I thought. By the 5K I started to cramp and had a stitch. This was forgotten when a little healthy completion was forged. Another woman and I tried to beat the blonde woman in front of us. She was going extremely faster than us. So I had to pick up the pace. After 2K my cramp and stitch was becoming painful and I had to slow down my pace. I wished the other woman luck and hoped that she beat the blonde woman.

With 2K left in the race my boyfriend came to give me support. He kept telling me to push it. I weakly uttered I’m cramping. He kept trying to encourage me. At this point I was in so much pain that even the slightest encouragement was just pissing me off. I became the pregnant woman in labour blaming the husband for causing her so much pain. I had to yell, “Shut up!” After he walked away chest fallen, I had to stop. I walked it off a bit and started to run again but the cramp was still there. I had to stop again. Turning behind me I saw a man creeping up closer towards me. I wasn’t going to let him get any closer. I had already lost a lot of ground and I knew I wasn’t going to make it up but I didn’t want this guy to beat me to the finish. So I sucked it up and began to run again at a slow pace at first because I was still cramping. With 1K left I picked up my pace and struggled to the finish line where I kneed over in pain. Even though, I was happy that I completed my first 10K.

When the results were posted I placed 10/42 women. Wow. That’s amazing for a woman who ran with a cramp!

Next up for me: maintenance.

My next race won’t be until April of 2008 another half marathon.

I did it!

A full detailed blog will be posted later on this week but I just wanted to let everyone know that I completed my 1/2 marathon in:

1:54:17.2

I achieved my goal of coming under 2 hours. I am very proud of myself. Can't wait for the next race.

Kat

2 weeks, to the date 'til the race

Wow, it's already two weeks to my race. I'm psyched and scared at the same time.

I think my training will help me reach my goal this time. I think I will be able to a run the 1/2 in under 2 hours. Of course, I made a mistake in my training program. I downloaded a training program from Runner's World.com. The program was great, I think it will get me my goal. Because I didn't know when the race would be I picked a 16 week program that didn't really match my race date. So it was one week earlier. From the many books I have read I can probably fake it but I am a girl that likes to follow things not create my own program. If that makes sense.

I have done my last long run and I killed it. It was only 11 miles but if you can do 11 miles 2 more miles aren't going to kill you. I pushed it not as much as I will on race day but I least I know that I can.

So wish me luck, two weeks is coming really soon.

Kathy

Last Speedwork Run

Training Day: SpeedWork
Workout: 10 X 800 meters @ 3:45 w/ 400 meters cooldown
Actual Workout: 6 X 800 meters


Today was my last Speedwork!

Hurray!!!

God, I hate Speedwork.

I did 3 miles out of the 5 miles. I am actually very proud of myself even if I didn't do what I was suppose to do, I did what I could do. I can't tell you how happy I am that this part is done. I just have two Tempo Runs before the big day. Those I dislike as well. I can't seem to get pass 3 miles.

I am starting to get psyched for the race. So much so I have even started to look for my next race. I was thinking of doing a 10 K. I know it's strange that I started with such a long distance race and then decided to do a smaller distance race. The thing is I thought I could do my training and work at the same time. Unfortunately, for me my work schedule contains to much hours. At the least I can work for 10 hours a day at the most 16 hours. It gets really hard to wake up early in the morning to do your runs and neglect your much needed sleep.

So I think I will try a shorter distance this time. That way I am not putting in too much mileage. At least I hope so.

Wish me luck,
Kat

The Vacation Runner

So last week I was on vacation for a week. Despite being on vacation I tried to keep up my training. I was actually really proud of myself. Out of the 4 days I had to run I ran 3 which included my Tempo Run and my Long Run (10 miles).

It's amazing if you put your mind to it you can do anything you want. Of course, my boyfriend who was also on vacation with me wasn't very happy that I was keeping to the training schedule. But I had to choice. There is only three weeks until my half marathon. I have to do as much training as I possible can.

It was an especially hard Long Run that I lost my training partner. My boyfriend was going to run the 1/2 with me. It would have been a couples thing. From the on set he was plagued with running injures from bad knees to really bad blisters. My boyfriend is 6'2" and 235lbs and which most is muscle, he isn't built for running, this was politely said to him at the running store that we went to get him a better pair of running shoes. There was exactly 3 shoes that he could choose from. Even still he was plagued with huge blisters that went across him feet. He hasn't been able to do the Long Runs but he has always killed my butt in Tempo and Speedwork (for which I have stated before). He has yet to complete a Long Run without stopping and walking, the longest he had gone was 6 miles. I begged him to stop and that he didn't have to run the 1/2 with me but I guess it's a macho male thing and he continued despite the pain.

But this 10 mile run was the sinker. We were doing a hilly run that was mostly ups and the blisters and knee pain came two folds. So he decided to throw in the towel. Which I agreed to with a sigh of relief. It was getting hard to see him try to walk around after a really hard day. Also, on a selfish note, it meant I could train when I wanted to, early in the morning. My boyfriend was not an early person.

So I will be alone on the journey to finish my second 1/2. Wish me luck.

Kat

A Fuel Belt Is a Runner's Best Friend

Let me start off by singing the praise of Fuel Belt. I love love Fuel Belt! They first came to my attention when I saw Fergie from the Black Eye Peas (one of my favourite bands) pictured wearing one.

At first I didn't like the whole fanny pack look of it. Remember fanny packs people. God those things were ugly and I think some people are actually wearing it still. Despite the fanny pack look of them I have come to love my Fuel Belt. I know I get strange looks from people when I am heading off for my run but I honestly don't care. It keeps me hydrated and that's all I care about.

Yesterday , I went out for a run at 10:00am in the morning, yes I am totally insane. The sun was killing me. It was an easy run of 4 miles. I brought my Fuel Belt and kept myself hydrated. Of course, I learned from my past mistake. Once I ran a 4 miles in the boiling sun and didn't take any water because I thought it would be an easy run. Close to the half way point I thought I was going to pass out. I had to stop running and when I did I nearly fainted. From then I wear my Fuel Belt on even easy runs of 2 miles.

Despite the fact that they are expensive it remains one of my best buys for running. Along side my polar heart monitor and Nike + iPod Sport Kit.

It will be almost a month to my next marathon. Getting really excited.

'Til next post.
Kat

Long Run

I was dreading my Long Run this past weekend (10 miles). I knew I had to do it but didn't mean I have to like it. The last time I trained for the 1/2 marathon this was the point that I stopped because I was sick. I had a cold or the flu, I don't know which for a full month. Surprisingly, I went and completed the race none the less. I think most of my friends and family were surprised that I did.

I know it was my first 1/2 but I wasn't happy with my result. I walked twice in the marathon and that showed me that I needed to train. Training is hard but if you want the result you have to suck it up and do it.

Despite the fact I did the long run it wasn't very easy and I did it not even close to the pace that I was suppose to do it at. A couple of days before I did something stupid. I decided to do 300 squats. My legs were burning and I could barely run. But I kept on like a trooper. Wanting to quit many times but sucking it up. I hope that can keep up that attitude on the time of the race and come in under 2 hours.

'Til my next post.

Kat