Back to Gazelles Workout!

Well, with the start of the new school year, I have gotten back on track with my training. I ran with Gilbert's Gazelles on Wednesday. We ran a 7 mile Fartleck, so it was one minute of speed and 1 minute of rest 10 times. It was a difficult workout for me, since I haven't done much speed workout all summer (3 months!). It was so hot and humid that morning! I did a Runner's conditioning class afterward and was totally dead, but still eeked out a 600 yard swim at Deep Eddy Pool. As you can imagine, I was pretty tired and hungry, but felt good that I had such a good workout.

I so enjoyed getting back into my group of running friends. I love hearing about all of our kids in school and what has been going on.

Reason for choosing to RUN a Marathon

Every marathoner has been asked "WHY do you run marathons?" I have a lot of reasons, one of my reasons is that I love the feeling of the accomplishment. President John F. Kennedy's quote "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard" sums it up. No matter how many marathons I have run, I still have a hard time getting myself to do my long runs, get up early for my long runs, do my speed work, eat well most of the time, and register (commit) to the race. It is so worth is after the long runs and especially after the marathon. I do not always run the race in the expected time (sometimes I surpass it), but it is always an experience that makes me feel so good afterwards.

For anyone reading this that is not a marathoner, I have to say that I felt this way with the numerous 5K and 10K's that I did when I started running. I still enjoy the 5k's and 10k's because it is still a challenge to figure out what pace to run and just get the whole race "right". My favorite race distance is a half-marathon. If you are trying to get yourself to work out (or run) consistently, you should register for a race a couple months out. It does wonders for your motivation and self esteem. Start out with a 5K, then go to a 10K and then a half-marathon. It is great to surprise and amaze yourself!!

Training for New York Marathon

Well, I made it into New York. I have never been much of a marathon traveler, because there are so many particulars you need to be "right on" for the marathon day. Okay, was that English??? What I mean is this.....you have to watch what you eat, you can't walk too much the day before, you have to hydrate well, you can't consume too much alcohol AND you need a good night's sleep the night before (if that is even possible!)

So, back to New York. I have been a runner since 1991. I ran track and cross country in high school, but really wasn't very good or serious. I just ran because one of my best friend's ran. So, I really became a runner in 1991 when a friend of mine suggested running 3 miles on the Hike and Bike trail in Austin. I was hooked!...for a very odd reason...it was difficult for me to keep up with my friend and finish 3 miles. I loved the challenge! I had been teaching fitness classes at the time, but never felt the workout I felt from running.

So, back to New York. I had been thinking of running a marathon in the 90's, but thought it was crazy. Until, I met some other girls through Austin Fit (which I actually coached) and we trained for the Motorola Austin Marathon. These crazy girls actually had a goal time and wanted to qualify for the Boston Marathon... (so the whole New York reason comes to light!). So, I was interested in "qualifying". Well, we did qualify and I am still amazed. I thought I had qualified and ran the only marathon that you needed to qualify for. However, I found out a little over a year ago that you can qualify for New York, instead of doing the lottery!!! I have been a runner for 16 years and I never knew this!!

So, back (again) to New York. I met a friend, that lives in my neighborhood, that I began running with. She told me her goal was to qualify for New York AND (get this) that I should try, too!!! Fast forward, 6 months later, at the 3M Half marathon in Austin. We start the race together and I decide (only in my head) that I would try to qualify for the New York marathon, too. I decided if I made it I HAD to go! Well, we both qualified!!! Yeah, we were so excited!

So, now I am stuck in the doldrums of a HOT TEXAS summer training for the New York marathon. Sometimes, I really wonder if I am crazy!!! I am still running, I ran 4.33 miles today. But, I do need to get my weekly mileage up.

I wish there was some way to post your runs on your blog. Does anyone know how to do this? I am still researching this whole blogging thing.

New Blog!!!

Well, if you are just joining me, I have been blogging for a few months now. I started with my family blog and am now branching into to my other love!!! Running! I want to do a few things with this blog. Keep track of my runs, track some of my best times, journal some of my crazy runs, promote my personal training business and talk about health.

Check back. I am still in the process of "building" my blog.