Since November 7th: The Highlights

In no particular order, here are some of the highlights of my running since November 7th:

-ran for the first and second time ever through snow (brrr...)
-saw a turkey in a neighborhood twice (a female turkey; it was after the Thanksgiving break)
-ran by one of the playa lakes and saw a blue heron scoop up a large goldfish
-ran with John and Hans at Huntsville State Park during our Thanksgiving break
-ran with a friend before and during the Carol of Lights at Texas Tech
-ran on one of Houston's hike and bike trails near Andrew's parent's house and saw three nutria rats on the other side of the Bayou
-kept running despite the holidays (always a challenge)
-got new winter running gear (tights and 1/4 zip top, both coldgear underarmour)
-found out my good friend and running partner is moving back to Spring in the next week and a half (boo)
-signed up for Loop the Lake (a 2 or 5 mile run hosted by the West Texas Running Club January 9th at 10am; I'm running the 5 mile route)

More later! :-D

Mon. 11/2 - Sat. 11/7

My running and walking mileage for the past 6 days (Mon.-Sat.):

Monday:ran 4.08 (on my own in the evening)
Tuesday: walked 4.26 (with Natalie and Bailey)
Wednesday: ran 3.18 (with Megan and Ace)
Thursday: none
Friday: walked 1.42 (with Kara and Conner)
Saturday: ran 6.12 (with Megan, Ace, and Zach)

Total running: 13.38 miles
Total walking: 5.68 miles

All of these run/walks were at the 19th Street Park except for today's late morning run which was at Mackenzie Park. It was the hardest run of the week due to its length, the 80 degree heat, lack of shade, and more cross country terrain (hills, rocks, grass, and asphalt mixed throughout). I tried to minimize the effects of heat and dehydration by drinking enough water during the run and Gatorade after, but I still felt ugh later and had a headache. Yay.

Random things I saw on the run today:
a regional cross country meet in progress
CDs placed at intervals along the road
golfers
Lubbock's version of an amusement park- Joyland
prairie dogs

I hope all who ran Rocky Raccoon had a fun and safe run!

All for now!

Running Update

The last time I posted I was running with the early morning crowd. This ended sometime in September when Andrew developed what we assume is a bunion on his right foot, and he put away his running shoes for an indeterminate amount of time. Shortly after this, I stopped getting up for these early morning runs too.

There were several reasons I switched my schedule. While I love running with a group and the motivation it provides, I was feeling more dread and frustration than motivation. At that point I was getting up an hour early to eat breakfast then drive to a neighborhood to run in the dark and the cold while trying to keep up with runners who were easily faster than me. Plus, my heels and arches had begun to ache, and I was concerned that if I kept pushing myself to maintain this much faster pace on concrete and asphalt after only recently switching from trails, I would be joining Andrew on the running bench.

This was the start of a very sporadic running schedule in regards to time and place. Some of my runs were with my friend Megan and her dalmatian, Ace. We would run a route that took us through neighborhoods and streets near our complex. We tried running in one of the larger parks but after having some junior or high school kids squeal their tires and try to talk to us we decided that was not a good fit. I did not want to run the morning crowd route since it crossed several major streets and was highly trafficked later in the day. Ideally I wanted to find something resembling trail running. I figured that the combination of new running shoes and a softer running surface would help me feel better sooner.

Then my upstairs neighbor Mike told me about a park off of 19th Street that had a 0.7 mile gravel jogging track and a 0.8 mile runner-made wider loop of dirt and grass. I ran my first run there on my birthday, October 13th. While nothing like Huntsville State Park, it had its perks. I liked the scenery of the playa lake with trees in and around it, the location in a nice neighborhood not too far a drive from my complex, the size, and the variety of people and pets. It even had some minimal lighting as dark approached. Since then most of my runs, by myself or with Megan and Ace, have been at this park. I also walk there on days I do not run with my friend Natalie and her dog Bailey.

I varied a little when Megan, Ace, and I ran in the park and the neighborhood surrounding it recently. The older houses with their trees crowded close to them made me miss runs in the Avenues of Huntsville. Still no hills, but I miss the trees more than the hills anyway. And then Saturday I ran with Kelly at a place called Ransom Canyon that had hills (*gasp!*). So yes, they apparently do allow some variation in landscape near Lubbock.

Today I ran in the 19th street park for 4 miles, following the runner-created trail while listening to my ipod. I forced myself to stick below a 12 minute pace for most of the run (I had been running as slow as a 13 or 14 minute pace recently) and see how my feet would handle it. Finally my feet are starting to feel good again with no twinges.

For now I plan to keep running with various friends and on my own at least 3 days a week so I can be ready to run a few races next semester. Fun times.

4th Run in Lubbock

We ran our 4th Lubbock run this morning. I kept to a pace of roughly 11:08 and completed 4.38 miles. So far so good...

6am...I mean 7am...I mean 6am...um...7am?

Last night I remembered weekend runs are at 7 NOT 6 which was a little frustrating since I had told one of my neighbors (Hayden, owner of Loki) earlier in the day that I would meet her at the dog park at 8am and to knock on my door if we weren't out already. It wasn't a big deal really- we were only 10 minutes late- but it was a little annoying to me nonetheless. I don't like forgetting things. :-/

The dogs (Loki, Molly, and Annie) played for about an hour while Andrew, Mike, Hayden, and I watched them and chatted...and tried to keep Molly and Loki, the two puppies, from rolling in the puddles from the sprinklers. I see puddles all the time here- NOT from rain but from the elaborate sprinkler system that seems to exist all over Lubbock. Loki has a habit of finding a puddle and just plopping into it while the rest of us try to entice him away from it. Oh well. I think Hayden and I have both gotten used to sometimes having to hose our respective puppies off after visiting the dog park.

Unfortunately, this has been a morning of running a little behind (no pun intended). We woke up at 6:30, ate breakfast, got ready, and left at about 6:50. Andrew tried to take a slightly different route which then ended up being a slower and longer rather than a faster route. We ended up weaving through the named and numbered streets, trying to get to 20th and Elgin by 7am. We made it there at 7:07 and Suzanne and Terry were still there.

We ran 4 miles of which I ran a 11:43 pace so not as fast as earlier this week. I had a better idea where I was going today, and actually having light to see by helped drastically on figuring out where I was. Terry, Suzanne, and Andrew stayed ahead of me for most of the run. I kept an eye out for Suzanne's lime green running shirt. Overall it was a decent run for a Sunday morning on roads. I hope all the trail runners in Huntsville enjoy their 9:30am run.

My 2nd Lubbock Run

This morning was my second 6am run with the E20s, and today there was 4 of us (with none of the 3 from Wednesday). This time Drew and I knew that the dark corner with the flickering streetlamp was the right corner, so I felt a little less like I was entering the beginning of a horror flick. Although one of the runners did tell us an interesting story...apparently (I think recently?) they found a guy lying face up in the ivy of the yard below the freaky lamp. The runner checked to make sure he was breathing (which he was) and left him to sleep off his partying. Fun times.

I felt more comfortable for this run. The runners had a pace slightly faster than mine, and so I did not feel like I was constantly trying to catch up or holding the group back. I walked a few times but not as much as on Wednesday, and according to my GPS I ran 4.39 with a pace of 10:43 whereas Wednesday I ran 4.29 with a pace of 11:01. Both of my paces are faster than I have recorded since I started keeping track in February but I am guessing that the low humidity and lack of hills is at least partially to blame. In the early morning here it is actually a little chilly...Anyway, all for now.

A Day in Lubbock

No running for me today unless you count running around in the dog park, trying to wear Molly out. Andrew and I plan to run either tomorrow or the next day with the Elgin and 20th group (I need to find out what they call themselves or come up with something myself...20 Elgins perhaps? Or the Elgin 20s? jk).

My day thus far has involved taking care of Molly, unpacking boxes, putting stuff away, watching a few episodes of How I Met your Mother from season 1, and going to see District 9 (a good movie but much more violent than I expected, even from Drew's description of it). We might do some more exploring tonight or tomorrow. It's weird living somewhere new after 18 years in the Goliad/Victoria area and 6 years in Huntsville. It just doesn't feel like home yet...but then again, we have been here less than a week- what do I expect?

Anyway, I should get back to unpacking. All for now!

Slightly Homesick Already...

On Friday Andrew and I moved to Lubbock so he can start working on a Ph.D. in English at Texas Tech. Our moving crew consisted of us, both sets of parents, and Andrew's brother Kevin and his girlfriend. We also had the two cats and puppy with us who were not especially pleased about the 8 plus hour drive even with medication. Molly slept most of the way but the two cats would occasionally burst out with a nice solo or duet expressing their ire. I think it is safe to say they were relieved to finally arrive at the new apartment.

Our family moving crew left Sunday morning, and Andrew and I got to work unpacking...so much so that when my mom called later that evening to say they were not far from home, I had to remind myself that yes, this was the same day. There's just something about unpacking that makes time feel sooo slloooooowww. On the bright side, we have the kitchen basically set up, the office and bedroom in progress, the living room almost complete, and the dining area does have a table in it (and an exercise bike that does not have a spot yet). Moving is fun! :-P

In regards to running, we ran this morning for the first time since our last run with the Renegades on Tuesday. Apparently the informal group runs are Monday through Friday at 6amand Saturday and Sunday at 7am and vary in distance but are primarily on roads. The five of us (more runners participate on the weekends and during the school year they said) started running when it was dark and finished when there was some light. I'm already nostalgic for the evening weekday runs and late morning Sunday run at the park. :-P But I must say not feeling like I need flippers or Curtis to throw me a life vest or something to get through a run (or with that level of humidity more like a swim) was nice.

In other news, Molly is loving the dog park at the apartment complex that is probably 20 feet from our door, the cats have found new hiding places, and Andrew and I are slowly getting used to it here. All for now, and we miss you all!

Long Absence

Okay, so we got a Labrador Retriever puppy named Molly a little over three weeks ago which is why we have been very scarce and have hardly been running. Before that I had stopped keeping up with the blog because of the stresses of work and class. However, I plan to try to be a little better, posting randomly and at various intervals, but at least once a month or once every week or two. :-P

Anyway, Molly will be 11 weeks old June 2nd. She has a ton of energy as can be expected with a puppy and one of her breed. In a year or two we hope to be able to take her running with us...but for now, she's simply too little.

Anyway, all for now!

Huntsville State Park

Hans, John, Curtis, Ken, Andrew, and I ran the trails yesterday (about 4.5 miles). We completed it in under an hour. The bottom of my feet (my arches) were hurting by the end...I'm guessing because of pushing myself for yesterday's long run and then running again today along with breaking in new running shoes.

Today I am giving my feet a running break. We may run tomorrow's suggested 4:30pm 7 mile run at the trails...depends on my feet.

And my shoes remain a little white, lol.

Today's Run at the State Park

Ran about 8 or 9 miles today at the park starting at 1pm. Marisa and I ran together with Hans and Chris catching up to us at the road (we had passed Amy's Crossing to continue on...and they had added on an extra two miles which is why they were behind us). Andrew went straight instead of turning in towards the dam then took the service road to the dam and back out again, and I have no idea what Phillip and Norman ran or Ken. Basically today was one of those days where we all ran the route...they just happened to vary between individuals or small groups. :-P

I saw Andrew when he came in via the service road to the dam and then as a quickly fading red dot, lol. He's trying to push himself, walking less and increasing his distance.

The weather was in the upper 40s or low 50s think...I wore the gardening gloves Phil gave me, earmuffs, a beanie, a long sleeve tech shirt, a t-shirt, and pants. Early on I took off the beanie and earmuffs (got too hot within the first few miles) and I took off the gloves a little after that only to put them back on for the last mile or two. I really need to figure out how to dress for this weather...

Oh, and I wore my new shoes today. They are slightly dusty but the white parts are still practically blinding. I figure if I run at Pritchett anytime soon though, that will change quickly. Good old red dirt. :-P

Valentine's Weekend Plans

Andrew and I signed up for the 25K for the 14th annual East Texas Ultra Runners 25/50K held at Tyler State Park. This will be our second 25K (our first being Rocky Raccoon in November). We plan to camp at the park the night before and the night after...hopefully the weather won't be too miserable. Andrew was all for driving in that morning, but if the race starts at 7am, I do not want to be leaving Huntsville in the wee hours of the morning and then attempting to run a 25K.

I would like to beat my previous time at Rocky (3:22:49) or at least be under 3:30:00. Then after the race, Andrew and I can drive in to Tyler to wander around or something...*shrug*. At the very least we won't have to worry about trying to get back to Huntsville quite yet.

We are also considering running one of the races on The Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon Weekend. It's the last weekend of our spring break. After completing two 25Ks, the half marathon wouldn't be so bad...right? They have a neat thing they call the Pelican Challenge where you can run a half marathon on Saturday and another on Sunday and get a 10 dollar discount for signing up and an extra medal. It sounds intriguing...if only I could be certain my legs would move the next day! :-P

Oh...and today I got new shoes!!!!!!!!!!! :-D Yay! Perhaps I'll post a picture later when they aren't so new and shiny...:-P.

Short and Sweet

Andrew and I ran the City Hills on Wednesday and 6 or 7 miles at the park on Monday. Yesterday afternoon Andrew went running on his own because I was not home yet. And that is pretty much it in regards to running....for now. :-P

Oh, and to make it sweet...cupcake! ;-)

Over a Month Later...

And a month later...err, over a month later...

Andrew and i ran the City Hills route Monday and Wednesday with our fellow renegades. I tried to push myself on the hills yesterday and on the downhills. Our running this past month has been existent but random and spotty unfortunately. But hey, we were with family for about 8 days in a week and a half, then another day with some friends, and another 3 or 4 days in San Antonio with more family. It's amazing we ran at all. :-P

I think Andrew really has his heart set on participating in the 25k or 50k run in Tyler on February 14th. I will most definitely run the 25k if we do. I don't feel confident that I could finish the 50k considering how lax my running schedule has been. However, if I make a point to get back to running consistently, then the 25k should be fine.

Anyway, I'll write more sooner rather than later hopefully...all for now.