MIA (Not the band)

Sooo... I've been MIA for a week.  A long and tedious work project has kept me very busy.  Since I missed my long run on Saturday, I'll need to move a few long runs around in the plan.  It's early in the training plan, that should be easy enough. 

Yesterday, Wednesday, I started City Surf as my strength training.  I took the "City Surf" class; it is a 30 minute class where you complete several sets of a few exercises.  It was only 30 minutes, so I thought it wouldn't be too bad to take a tennis lesson after.  Wrong!  By the end of the hour and a half of tennis, I was exhausted - huffin' & puffin'!  Needless to say, it was an early night to bed. 

I woke up this morning with the intention of running before it got too hot.  Yeh, that didn't happen.  Luckily it was an overcast afternoon.  The temp was low 80's but very humid.  Not a good run - turned into a long walk.

Workout
3.88 mi
55:50

Wine Consumption
2 Glasses Trader Joe's Block Red Wine  (Might go up if we win our flag football game tonight!)

2 Days In A Row

Day 2:  Today was Speedwork.  Die.  The schedule called for 5 x 400 at 5K Pace.  In normal people terms, run 400 meters 5 times.  To figure out my goal pace, I use the McRun app.  You enter your last race time or if you know how fast you run a mile, and it will give you your workout pace for the 400 meters.  You get to walk/jog in between sets to catch your breath.  

Here are my times for each set:

1) -:-- (I took off too fast and forgot to check my watch.)
2) 1:45
3) 1:47
4) 1:43
5) 1:44

It was definitely not easy, but I got through it.  Glad I finished the last 2 sets a bit faster than the first 2!

PS A shirtless Troy Aikman definitely helps the motivation before you start.  And it's a nice reward to see him after!

Vino Count:  0

What Am I Thinking?!

In a recent 'Runner's World' article, it described how one woman blogged and tweeted about her running training in order to hold herself accountable.  She felt that if her journey were out there for people to read, she couldn't let them down.  I need something to motivate me; I completed the Austin Half Marathon in February, Texas Independence Relay was months ago and I haven't scheduled anything to work towards.  To be honest, I have no desire to train for anything in the summer.  It's hot.  It's humid.  And I don't want to.  But... I need to have something on my plate.  A goal to drive me - I function better that way in life. 

Sooo... here we are, back at good ol' Hal Higdon Training Programs.  This time, however, I'm mixing things up a bit.  I don't just want to train to complete a half, I want to really see how well I can do.  (Maybe see if I can hit close to a Boston Qualifying pace.  If I do, we'll see about doing a marathon.)  Part of me doesn't want to tell anyone about my "secret" goal.  The fear of failing is terrifying.  I don't want to have to admit to people, friends and loved ones, that I failed.  My cheat tactic is to only tell a few people and the few people who stumble across this blog.  Hey, you're in on the little secret!  Ha!  My plan is to document my training AND my wine over the next 12 weeks.

Today was my first run - 3 miles.  First half felt strong.  Then the boozing from the long weekend caught up to me. I walk/ran the second half.  Three miles took 34 minutes.  Could've been worse.  Now I need to find a race in midAugust that doesn't contain "Hottest Half," "Hades Half," or "You're Not Smart It's 10,000 Degrees Half."

Wine Consumption: 1.5 Glasses (Trader's Joe's Block Red Shiraz)