Miles For Moffitt = Best Race Ever

As I've mentioned before on this blog, my marathon training really doesn't begin until July. So until then, I've been running a couple days a week and entering short races like 5Ks and 10Ks. It's keeping me in shape, but it's also allowed me to speed up my pace a bit. My first short race was Sunday. The Miles For Moffitt 5 Mile Run. This was my best race to date. I finished with a time of 46:25. Since I've never run a 5 mile race before, it was a personal record (PR), but this race was also a personal best for me. My average pace per mile was 9:18. Of course, I know from my trusty Garmin Forerunner that my best mile was by far my last. I ran mile 5 in 8:28 (which included a 14mph sprint to the finish line). I also know I finished 26th among the 90 women in my age group and 341 out of the 944 men and women who ran the race.

I know this post sounds like I'm bragging and I am. This is a really big accomplishment for me, a person who usually just runs slow and steady to the finish line. I'm pushing myself a bit and it's paying off. It also gives me hope for next month's Oldsmar Tap House 5K. The first 50 men and 50 women to cross the finish line get a free Das Boot that can be filled with free beer the rest of the night. That's my goal. I'm running for a Das Boot, baby! And even if I don't get the Das Boot, I still get the free beer, so it's win-win. :)

Injury #1

Well... I guess I get to use the new ice packs I bought for training. My left knee is injury #1. I have no clue what I did to it. I ran a 5K training run Tuesday, no problem. Did yoga for an hour last night, no problem. Then a few hours later while walking up stairs, sharp pain in my left knee when I bent and put weight on my leg. It's still a little sore a day later. I really hope it's something minor and goes away by the weekend. I need to get in a 5 mile training run to prepare for my Miles For Moffitt race next weekend.

The Good... The Bad... And The Garmin

I guess you can now call me a serious runner. Why? Because I now own a Garmin Forerunner 305. What's that? It's an amazing GPS training watch. Sure, it may be HUGE on my tiny little wrist, but this is going to help me tremendously with my training.

What's good about the Garmin? It tracks your time, distance, pace, heart rate, speed... all while recording exactly where you're running in the world.

What's bad about the Garmin? It tracks your time, distance, pace, heart rate, speed... all while recording exactly where you're running in the world. There's no way you can cheat yourself while training.

I took the watch out for a training run yesterday. Just a 5K down Bayshore Boulevard. I was amazed at how it was tracking my time, distance and pace. Hooray, no more going online, plotting runs and hoping I ran the full distance. I now know exactly how far I'm running. That's great. However, I found myself constantly looking at the watch to see my progress, probably because it's my new toy. But knowing how far you want to go and how far you've actually gone can be a downer. Of course, last night it was ridiculously hot and there really wasn't any shade, so that didn't help. I was ready for my 5K to end quickly.

Another cool thing about the Garmin is that you can upload your workout to your computer. It was cool to see how it worked. It pulled up a map and showed me the exact route I ran. There were several different charts, including one that tracked when my pace slowed and quickened along the route. There were also sections showing my speed, heart rate, calories burned, elevation and more. Here's a small glimpse of some of the information it provided.

I really have a lot more to learn about this device, but I have a feeling it's going to be a GREAT training partner. I was skeptical when I read a bunch of reviews where people said they can't imagine running without it and don't know why they didn't buy it sooner. Now, I see what they mean. My Garmin will now be going everywhere my running shoes and I go from now on.

Stretching: Foam Roller - 1 / Kimmy - 0

I am really bad about stretching before and after runs. So as a prepare physically and mentally for this marathon, I thought I'd get a couple tools to help. First I bought "The Stick". It's basically a stick with rollers on it that you run across your body. It helps compress and massage out any knots and lactic acid in your muscles. I haven't really used it much yet, but when I do I feel a difference. I'm definitely going to be using it more as my training progresses.

Another new tool I have is the foam roller. All I have to say is WOW... using that thing is rough! It's a large foam tube that you use to stretch and massage muscles. There are different positions you can do depending on the muscle group you want to work. I bought mine because I am starting to feel pain in my iliotibial bands after long runs.

The problem is balancing on a 6" x 18" foam cylinder and using your own body weight to roll and massage your muscles is not as easy as you think, even for someone who does yoga and considers herself pretty athletic/flexible. It was awkward and painful. In the end, it was foam roller - 1 / Kimmy - 0. But I'm determined to win the next battle. It's going to take some practice, but I'm sure I'll get used to it by the time the marathon rolls around in January.

Training Schedules Galore

Training... Training... Training... If I want to make it to 26.2, I'm going to need to put in some major mileage between now and there. There are so many conflicting training guides and schedules out there. As a novice runner, it's been a confusing and eye-opening experience. I've spent most of my week researching schedules, compiling my own calendar and then scrapping it and starting the process all over again. Now, after several versions and talks with some fellow runners, I have locked down a training plan that I hope will adequately prepare me for the race.

Now that the schedule is in place, you'd think I'd feel a bit more comfortable and on track. But seeing all those numbers on paper can be overwhelming. Most people will tell you your longest run pre-race should only be 20 miles. Personally, I don't think that's enough. I planned for 20, 22 and 24 mile runs before the race. I want to know my body and mind can go the distance ahead of time. It's a confidence thing. But that also means I will have three weeks where I will be running more than 40 miles in a 7 day period. I hope my knees and sanity can stay intact.

I want to thank everyone for supporting me on this journey. It's been amazing to receive so many well wishes and kind words from my friends. Keep them coming. I'm sure I'll need them when those 40+ mile weeks approach.

Let The Marathon Magic Begin!

So I have officially entered my first marathon this week - the 2011 Walt Disney World Marathon. They say it is 26.2 miles of magic, but my best friend and I will be the judge of that in January. We are both taking this journey together… and wow, what an adventure it will be!

Obviously, the shock of signing up has worn off a bit. Now, reality is setting in. This is going to be an emotional and rewarding journey. I'm excited, scared, nervous, worried and so many other feelings that it's hard to describe.

I've been working on my training schedule this week, which has been exciting. But I have to say, seeing 20, 22 and 24 mile runs on a calendar is SCARY! I keep thinking: Can I do this? Will my body allow me to do this? We will soon see. Right now, I'm just trying to stay as positive as possible. And it helps I can talk to my best friend about this because she's going through it too.

My goal for this marathon is simple: finish! When I registered on Monday, I put in 5 hours as my estimated finish time. I ran my first half marathon in February and finished in 2:23, so I figured 5 hours is an acceptable and obtainable goal. Well, Disney apparently has a lot more faith in me. After reviewing my entry and previous race times, Disney changed my estimated finish time to 4 and a half hours. I wonder what kind of "magical" marathon calculator they used to figure out that one. Either way, if Mickey Mouse and his cast of characters believe I can do it, I should try my best.

I will be updating this blog throughout my magical journey to 26.2 miles. I’m sure there will be some high points and low points as I push my mind, body and soul to do something most people wouldn’t even think of attempting. My official training starts in July. I’m giving myself six months to prepare for this. And it will all be worth it when I hit the finish line on January 9th (and instantaneous burst into tears).

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