"Even if You're on the Right Track...

you'll get run over if you just sit there". - Will Rogers
5K @ 7'33

All right, for once I am going to say how happy I was with my pace time. So happy, in fact, I teared up a little. With just 2 runs left before race date I was pretty much ecstatic to run it in under 38 minutes. I had decided on a goal for my race which is a time of 38 minutes and 45 seconds. That means a pace of 7'45. If I manage to keep a pretty decent pace on my next 5K I may bump it down a touch. I wasn't expecting such a speedy run today, I must admit.

I have had a bit of a cold this week and an ear ache. My second one this year, as in, during 2012. I'd never really had them before. I just kept my headband firmly in place over my ear and today wasn't too windy so it doesn't seem worse for wear.  The weather was perfect. Gorgeous sunny day, not too warm. Looking ahead to Sunday it's supposed to be warm, but rainy. Of course! Mother nature, you sure know how to mess with me.

In other news, the set up of the blog is gonna change a bit next week as I'm gonna be cutting back on my running because I have to pick up cycling and swimming as well in order to train for a try a tri at the beginning of August. After Sunday I will have completed three 5 K races so it's time to shake it up a bit. I will be swimming 375m, biking (yuck!) 10 k and then running a mere 2.5 k. I say mere now not having swum or biked prior to running. I am kind of excited about this and have no idea how to train for the event the race site is fantastic though, and had tonnes of tips and literally goes through the race form registration to crossing the finish line.

In addition- does anyone use resistance bands to train? I picked up a few and like using them but they only come with 6 exercises.

Just Did It.

3.63 @ 7'25

I ran on a track today so no map. It'd pretty much be me drawing a repeated 400 m oval. Track running is also my 2nd least favourite form of running. For many of the same reasons as a treadmill. I feel like I don't go anywhere. At least I'm outside if I'm on a track. It was a beautiful day for a run. Slightly windy, also an issue I dislike whilst track running. Half of each round is against wind. The track near my house is near a high school so I have to shed any self consciousness and run knowing that there could be possibly hundreds of pair of eyes watching me run. In addition, an elementary school gym class joined me on the track.

Why was I on a track if I dislike it? Today's run called for sprints. So it was 3 K plus 6 100m sprints. They felt pretty good. I was really focused on doing the entire 100 m as fast as I could, it's so easy to cut it short when you're out there on your own. I liked being able to run across the finish line at full speed. It allowed for some visualization for race day. Sounds cheesy but it's supposed to work.

As nice as the weather was today I definitely did not want to get out there. I have a rule that I'm not sure I've discussed which is the 10 minute rule if I REALLY REALLY don't want to get out there I tell myself to do just 10 minutes and if I still REALLY don't want to do it then I can call it quits. I think I've only quit once.

There's a glitch on my Nike+ and after almost every run Tiger Woods comes on and tells me that I ran 250 k, makes me feel like an ultra marathoner.

"You Have a Choice...

You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face." -Gatorade

5 K @ 7'35

Today was ideal for a run. I know I am not looking forward to the summer heat but today was amazing. In part, I'm sure, because I also enjoyed myself on the run. I try to check my pace after the end of every song and today I had forgotten to do that. I was just out there enjoying myself. I felt really good after doing the hill run yesterday.

I have five more runs until race day and my excitement is mounting. This is technically the first run that I've actually properly trained for. The first one I didn't run the entire month beforehand and the second I  trained one week prior. I think I may have also had developed diabetes by that point. Both times I wanted to run it in less than 40 minutes and failed to do so. So I'm trying to choose a reasonable time now. I could set the same one, but I think I could easily do that. There's no way I could do it in under 35 I may just do under 39. That means about a 7'45 pace time, which is what I've been trying to keep it under of late.

Here's a great video that I found kind of amazing and inspired me with regards to determination. It's a Canada-US individual tug of war.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsPIzRsUtlE

"The Great Thing About Athletics is That it's Like Poker...

 sometimes you know what's in your hand and it may be a load of rubbish, but you've got to keep up the front".
--Sebastian Coe

3K @ 7'44
Today's run was adequate. I am not overly impressed with my pace time for that distance. Today's weather was absolutely gorgeous and I was expecting a really quick run. I guess I couldn't really expect much running the day after St Patrick's day. I was pretty tight and didn't loosen up and was having one of those days where I feel so slow and plodding and I was reminding myself that I AM a runner.

I am a runner...I was really getting down on myself , everything just felt off. Then in an odd coincidence, I bumped into a co-worker and she said "Oh, do you run around here?" I AM A RUNNER HUZZAH! This happened a mere 400 metres until the end of my run. Hope everyone enjoyed their St Patty's day.