http://bit.ly/brlM7B
Distance: ~5 miles
Ran: ~4.5 miles
Time: ~75 min
After a day off yesterday and a short run the day before (which I forgot to log), tonight I set out to do a longer run to see what my body was capable of. I made it about 2.8 miles before I had to walk for a short stretch to get rid of the stitch in my side, but I was able to pick it back up again. All told I made it about five miles tonight and ran most of it -- more than I have ever ran before. I saw a guy flying a model airplane with great skill, dozens of rabbits, and two dog-sized animals that were either bobcats or coyotes, I couldn't quite tell which. It was the best run I've ever had. I'm tired but not completely shelled, and nothing hurts so badly that I need to ice it. With nearly three months to go, I'm feeling good about my prospects of being able to do the half marathon successfully.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
91 days to go
http://bit.ly/9darw9
Distance: ~2 miles
Ran: ~1.8 miles
Time: ~30 min
Last night's run was short but hard. I hadn't fueled my body well, and the hills were very steep. Even though it was only about a 2 mile run I was tired by the time I was done. The good news is that I only had to stop to walk once up each hill, so I am making some progress on how far my lungs are going in keeping up.
I read the Non-runner's marathon guide this weekend. It was a very useful read, and confirmed that I was on the right track with some things I was doing already and gave me some great ideas about what to do next. Since that program takes you from being able to jog 30 minutes to a full marathon in 16 weeks, I am confident that in the remaining 12 weeks or so before the half marathon I'll be able to work my body up to the point where I can handle it without dying. Of course I still have to make it to the 30 minute mark, but I'm getting closer.
Distance: ~2 miles
Ran: ~1.8 miles
Time: ~30 min
Last night's run was short but hard. I hadn't fueled my body well, and the hills were very steep. Even though it was only about a 2 mile run I was tired by the time I was done. The good news is that I only had to stop to walk once up each hill, so I am making some progress on how far my lungs are going in keeping up.
I read the Non-runner's marathon guide this weekend. It was a very useful read, and confirmed that I was on the right track with some things I was doing already and gave me some great ideas about what to do next. Since that program takes you from being able to jog 30 minutes to a full marathon in 16 weeks, I am confident that in the remaining 12 weeks or so before the half marathon I'll be able to work my body up to the point where I can handle it without dying. Of course I still have to make it to the 30 minute mark, but I'm getting closer.
Friday, July 23, 2010
93 days to go
http://bit.ly/9F8jbm
Distance: ~2.6 miles
Ran: ~2.1 miles
Time: ~30 minutes
One of the better runs I have done so far. I made it from my apartment door to the south end of the Pacific Parkway underpass without stopping. I probably would have made it further if not for a surprise shooting pain up my right trapezius. After walking a block or so to recoup, I made it about a mile back before running out of gas again. Running two longer stretches like this back to back is encouraging. This weekend I'll be reading a couple of running books borrowed from a coworker; with any luck I'll have some new theory to put in to practice soon.
On a more irritating note, this morning Amazon helpfully informed me that my Forerunner will be here about 3 weeks after I ordered it with 2-3 day shipping. Fffffffffff
Distance: ~2.6 miles
Ran: ~2.1 miles
Time: ~30 minutes
One of the better runs I have done so far. I made it from my apartment door to the south end of the Pacific Parkway underpass without stopping. I probably would have made it further if not for a surprise shooting pain up my right trapezius. After walking a block or so to recoup, I made it about a mile back before running out of gas again. Running two longer stretches like this back to back is encouraging. This weekend I'll be reading a couple of running books borrowed from a coworker; with any luck I'll have some new theory to put in to practice soon.
On a more irritating note, this morning Amazon helpfully informed me that my Forerunner will be here about 3 weeks after I ordered it with 2-3 day shipping. Fffffffffff
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
94 days to go
http://bit.ly/bXhUEC
Distance: ~ 2 miles
Ran: ~1.8 miles
Time: ~35 minutes
I'm pretty happy with this considering I forgot to eat a clif bar late afternoon and wasn't really feeling up to it before I went out. This was a tough run, I went right out of the complex gate which leads to the bottom of the hill. From there it was straight uphill for almost a mile, and I made it about 3/4 of the way before my legs said no more. The stoplights were just enough of a breather for me to catch up. Somewhere down the hill on the way back I had a glimmer of hope that I might just be able to do this half marathon intact.
Still no Forerunner. Amazon claims it's shipped, but we'll see soon enough.
Distance: ~ 2 miles
Ran: ~1.8 miles
Time: ~35 minutes
I'm pretty happy with this considering I forgot to eat a clif bar late afternoon and wasn't really feeling up to it before I went out. This was a tough run, I went right out of the complex gate which leads to the bottom of the hill. From there it was straight uphill for almost a mile, and I made it about 3/4 of the way before my legs said no more. The stoplights were just enough of a breather for me to catch up. Somewhere down the hill on the way back I had a glimmer of hope that I might just be able to do this half marathon intact.
Still no Forerunner. Amazon claims it's shipped, but we'll see soon enough.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
96 days to go
http://bit.ly/b8KO1p
Distance: 4.25 miles
Ran: ~1 mile
Time: 90 minutes
Less running and more walking tonight. My body wasn't really up to the task of running after putting in several miles in sandals at the Strawberry Fields triathlon on Sunday combined with poor food fueling during the day, so I walked extra distance. The running path extends down past the Aliso Niguel high school at about the two mile mark across relatively flat ground, so I am going to set the goal to be able to run from my house to the school without stopping. After that we'll see about making it a round trip. My original order for the Forerunner was out of stock, and my second order hasn't shipped yet. I got to see one in action this weekend and I am officially excited to start using it when it shows up this week.
Distance: 4.25 miles
Ran: ~1 mile
Time: 90 minutes
Less running and more walking tonight. My body wasn't really up to the task of running after putting in several miles in sandals at the Strawberry Fields triathlon on Sunday combined with poor food fueling during the day, so I walked extra distance. The running path extends down past the Aliso Niguel high school at about the two mile mark across relatively flat ground, so I am going to set the goal to be able to run from my house to the school without stopping. After that we'll see about making it a round trip. My original order for the Forerunner was out of stock, and my second order hasn't shipped yet. I got to see one in action this weekend and I am officially excited to start using it when it shows up this week.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
103
http://bit.ly/bJ4aSI
Distance: 2.3 miles
Ran: ~1.8 miles
Time: ~35 minutes
The distance was shorter tonight but much harder on me as the hill leading up Enterprise is quite steep. I made it about 80% of the way up before my lungs said uncle. Considering I used to not be able to walk up that hill without stopping because my calves were tight, this is still a good accomplishment.
Distance: 2.3 miles
Ran: ~1.8 miles
Time: ~35 minutes
The distance was shorter tonight but much harder on me as the hill leading up Enterprise is quite steep. I made it about 80% of the way up before my lungs said uncle. Considering I used to not be able to walk up that hill without stopping because my calves were tight, this is still a good accomplishment.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Wherein 104 days after registration I run 13 miles
This blog exists to track my progress toward running theRock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon. While I am sure this is about as interesting as watching paint dry on plain white toast, I have recently (as in about 2 hours ago) purchased a Garmin Forerunner 305 which I will use to provide information about where and when I run. As I am a firm believer in metrics, I hope that by blogging this information I will be able to provide and analzye trends in my training schedule.
I am not a runner. I have never been a runner. Ever since a particularly hot summer when I discovered the wonders of the Nintendo Entertainment System I've been more or less classified as a couch potato. I have set out to change this over the last few years and have made slow but substantial progress. Until today I have never taken a real fitness challenge upon myself, but this morning I registered for a 13 mile run. I put my finish time estimate at 3.5 hours, which is quite likely a very optimistic time. I'm not doing it alone though; my wonderful girlfriend will be running it with me. She has just come off her first successful triathlon finish and we're going to keep her strong momentum going during the off season by giving ourselves a goal to shoot for. She's quite a bit better conditioned than I am at this point, so I've got a lot of ground to make up (figuratively and literally).
Come October 25, I hope to be posting victory pictures.
I am not a runner. I have never been a runner. Ever since a particularly hot summer when I discovered the wonders of the Nintendo Entertainment System I've been more or less classified as a couch potato. I have set out to change this over the last few years and have made slow but substantial progress. Until today I have never taken a real fitness challenge upon myself, but this morning I registered for a 13 mile run. I put my finish time estimate at 3.5 hours, which is quite likely a very optimistic time. I'm not doing it alone though; my wonderful girlfriend will be running it with me. She has just come off her first successful triathlon finish and we're going to keep her strong momentum going during the off season by giving ourselves a goal to shoot for. She's quite a bit better conditioned than I am at this point, so I've got a lot of ground to make up (figuratively and literally).
Come October 25, I hope to be posting victory pictures.
104 days to go
And we're off. http://bit.ly/crSlbK
Approximate distance: 2.5 miles
Ran: ~2 miles
Time: ~30 minutes
Approximate distance: 2.5 miles
Ran: ~2 miles
Time: ~30 minutes
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