Left.Right.Repeat - CLoSED for the season - will reopen Jan 2013 (Page 43)

Yes, I finished the Houston half marathon with my Aunt on Sunday.  She is just trying to get back in shape and is slower and I did every step of the way with her, finishing in 3:19:30.  I also did the 5K in Houston on Saturday with an uncle and 2 cousins, so i got TWO finish lines this weekend.  Yay!!

I will say that even though the half was one of my slowest, it was one of my most rewarding since I got to experience it with my Aunt.  I am so proud of her.

Those runs are usually the most rewarding.  Congratulations to you and your family for getting your family out and running!

Just for the record, Briana had two finishes this weekend, both spent supporting family... the 5K  and the Half. I finished both as well, so I guess that is actually 1,2,3,4 finishes.

2013? Hmmm.... well, I am signed up for the Hot Chocolate 15K in Dallas, the New Orleans 70.3, the Capitol 10K, contemplating Kansas 70.3 again,  but I need to really sit down and plan out the rest of it. No full Iron on the calendar for 2013, nor am I doing another century-a-month challenge. I think it might help if I actually learn how to run this year.

I told Bryan that I would return the enormous favor/support from 2012, so if at all possible, I am planning on seeing you IMAZ folks at the finish line. Besides, I might learn a thing or two from Sherpa Deb!

I am also signed up for the USATri Race Director's clinic in May, and the USA Cycling Coaching Level 3 certification.

Congrats on your 2013 finishes as well!

Can't wait to see you at the finish line at IMAZ!

Oh how exciting that you are getting your certification!

Just stopping by with a couple random thoughts...I hate when I go to swim and forget the underwear...just have to go commando under my clothes.  AND White swim trunks are NOT a good idea.  Once you get in the pool stay in the pool until you are finished then grab a towel quickly when you get out.  Otherwise you might as well be walking around in the nude.  A dude got out of the pool tonight to grab a kickboard and I could see EVERYTHING!!  Just my random thoughts for today!

WOW I see I have lots of reading to do!

HAPPY TRAINING EVERYONE!

Amy, been there, done that!!  I try to throw the underwear in first thing.  Not a fan of commando but better then wearing home a wet suit in the winter!

Cake Girl!!  Great to see you back.  The strap.  I never had chafing with my Polar heart rate monitor.  The Garmin is another story!!  I don't feel it digging into me until I get into the shower and feel the awful burning!!  Then I look down and see the reddness.  Last time it happened it almost became infected.  I am trying to remember to put on the glide with it.  When I remember the glide, it hasn't chafed me.  I wear it below the bra line usually.  Although I usually wear a tank with a shelf support and sometimes it is under the elastic of that.  I avoid the bra, most of the time.

Bri,  been looking at your blog.  Looking forward to getting the Yoga for Runners book.  I have been doing Hot yoga and I am finding it very helpful with my awful flexibility issue.  I can't even touch my toes!  Not even close!  I'm finally seeing some slow improvements.  If you need any guinea pig students to coach for running, sign me up!!  I upload all my workouts,(except strength, I'm bad with that) I am finally on a beta blocker, so my heart rate is much more manageable.  I am trying to work on running faster.  I am also running hills for the first time.  I figure that should help??  If you have any book suggestions, that would be great.  I read Kara's Running for Women last season  How to structure short runs and do intervals vs long runs?  I'm new to running so I'm trying to figure it all out.  I can finally run one 10 minute mile on the treadmill but I'm still very winded with my HR around 170.  On a longer distance run, I avge 11+ min miles with my HR @ 150's.    This is way down from where I used to be.

Im doing a 5K run with a friend tomorrow and following it with a hill loop.  I'm not officially registered so it doesn't really count. I just don't feel like paying to be honest.  Just doing it to encourage her.  If I end up registering, I'll let you all know.

Pat, you are always up to something good!!  Keep at it.  I hope to someday to a full but need to get the bike and run speeds up so it is mathmatecally possible to finish! lol.  Would love to volunteer at Lake Placid. 

Happy training everyone!!

Congrats Pam on the finish lines!

Ann, I strongly believe that yoga has helped to keep me injury free in running.  Hopefully I'll be updating my blog soon with more recipes, my race reports, and a summary of my yoga training from this weekend.  My run coach clinic is the first weekend of February, so I should have some more knowledge after that and may very well need some guinea pigs.    In the meantime, take it slow like you have been and build up.  Hills WILL help in the long run, but be careful not to do too many in the beginning.  

Exciting things are happening in this group.

We knew you would, Billy!  We couldn't image you just hanging it all up.

Yeah Billy! It's a crazy addicition. 

KTC.  Thanks for always being here.  You are like the rock of this forum in addtion to Bryan, of course.

Bryan, will try to get a card out to mom.  80 is awsome.  I hope she is in good health.

I have had a stressful week, with no excercise since yoga on monday night.  Mostly due to my schedule. I am home now and planned to do strength and something, but I just can't move!  I think I'll just forgive myself and start fresh tomorrow.....

Did my first TRX class this morning.  WOW. I hit muscle fibers that have been asleep for a long time!  THis goes along with my committment to strength and flexibiliy training in the off season.  I have been trying to do strength 2x per week and yoga 1-2 x per week.  Swimming, running and biking once per week.  Is this crazy?  My HIM training starts up in late Feb or early March I think.  A 20 week program.  I hope I can keep strength and yoga 1x per week during training.  any thoughts veterans??  My run has been including some tough hills, with about 5 plus miles per outing.  Historically, I've only done running on flats. 

Hope all are well!!

Very impressive with your workouts.  I keep telling myself I need to incorporate more yoga in my workouts and I just never do.  During my HIM/IM training I would cut my strength training down to 15 to 30 minutes 2x/wk and yoga every 3 weeks.  But that was me, you have to see what works for you.  Good Luck!

I just bought a Living Social deal for a one month membership at a gym so I can go try the TRX class.   I've heard it's great.

Depending on what plan you are following for your HIM, you should be able to keep some yoga and strength training in there, but you may have to alter the number of days or the time you do it.  I've always kept yoga in my schedule, even when IM training.  I just moved my workouts around so that my yoga day was my "rest" day.  I was able to keep light strength training in my plan for a while, but toward the end I just didn't have the time or energy to do it.  You know your schedule and your body.  Just don't over do it.

I would never call myself an "expert" but if you can look at the run course/profile for your HIM, I would lean toward finding some terrain which is similar... meaning, if it is 90% flat, all those hills this early might be a bit risky...but what do I know? I don't call myself a runner, either! -- and i have witnesses.