New PB

I set a new personal best this morning. Longest training run - 9 miles. Prior to my first half marathon, I fizzled out on my training and stopped at 8 miles. I planned on running a lot more and then some snow in Idyllwild, CA, got in the way.

I wasn't too good about keeping up with my training this week. I had sore knees from last week's eight miles. I'm hoping to be more consistent next week, even if Mother Nature throws me another curve ball. Next weekend I'll be running 10 miles and I'd like to feel ready for it.

Although I was disappointed in missing so many runs this week, I'm pretty excited to have set a new PB. Here's to many more of those...

7:30AM + 8 Mile Run + 7 Degrees F = Lots of Layers

It was really cold this morning. Our car thermometers had a couple of different readings but they ranged from 1 degree Fahrenheit to 9 degrees Fahrenheit. In any case, it was in the single digits at 7:30 this morning and we had to run eight miles. With three different pants, a cold weather running shirt, a sweat shirt, a jacket, a fleece gator and gloves, I was all set. Sure, I felt a little bit like the little brother, Randy, from "A Christmas Story," when he's so bundled up he can't stand up, but at least I kept warm.

With two quick stops in a country club parking lot for water and a lap around the middle school parking lot to squeeze out the mileage, we finished all eight miles. Since I was the only non-coach/mentor who showed up, I was named "Most Dedicated Runner" (unofficially of course).

Next week will mark my longest training run at 9 miles. Hopefully the thermostat will be a little more forgiving.

7 Miles, 30 degrees and Still Tons of Snow on the Ground

So this picture is from Wednesday when Mother Nature was generous and gave us almost two feet of snow. I did a little running inside this week and some kickboxing, but was feeling less than prepared for today's 7 mile team run.

My Mom got an e-mail last night from our friend Kate, who will be having a bone marrow transplant any hour now (she lives in Australia and the procedure is scheduled for Monday). The e-mail was an account of what she went through this week in order to prepare for the bone marrow transplant on Monday. After reading Kate's e-mail and since she is my inspiration for the marathon, there was just no way I could complain about about running 7 miles. Not at all.

The 7 miles went by quick, so much so that I ran further than 7 by mistake. Bring on the mileage. I'm ready.

Run in Snow Boots?

So does this mean I should run my 6 miles tomorrow and my 5 miles on Sunday in snow boots? Is it spring yet?

This Week's Mileage

Happy 2011!

This is what I'm looking at for this week. I've already done the 4, the 3, the rest, and the 3. I've got another rest and then some longer runs ahead of me and of course the forecast is snow. After a ton of Christmas cake and holiday celebrating, exercise wasn't feeling as effortless as it used to. When I started running again, it was after about a year of rest. I did a triathlon in July, but didn't end up training for it the way I should. My three mile run felt really good today, which makes me feel a little more positive about the end of the week.

Let's hope the weather cooperates (or the plows are super efficient)!