Spanish Steps here I come

Today was the day to run in Rome. I originally had planned to go the the Pantheon and back....BUT I had forgotten how dangerous the drivers are here. It's bad enough having to watch out for the uneven cobblestone streets...then having to watch for drivers too! 

I made it to the Spanish Steps went down them and then ran back up them...all 138 of them! Video will follow. I was back at the hotel and was trying to get another 1/4 mile in and that's when I wasn't looking down and slightly rolled my ankle on the uneven sidewalk. My running in Italy is over. I was lucky and didn't roll it too bad...but I am not willing to risk it again.

Plus Rome is difficult to get around and we have been walking A LOT! 

I'm glad I was able to run in all 3 cities we visited. Sorrento was definitely my favorite to run in with the views. 

I am wondering how my next run back home will be...with the light running schedule and the excessive food! Time will tell. 

Ciao!

Looking out at Mt. Vesuvius

It's not every day that I can say that my running course overlooked Mt. Vesuvius...today I can say that! 

It was our first full day in Sorrento and I was feeling so sluggish after a long day of travel yesterday...I couldn't wait to get up and get out to run if only for a few minutes. It turned out to be a 25 minute run and about 1.75 miles. It was an unbelievable, breathtaking view today. 

I went to the town square which was only a block from our hotel and turned right. It was somewhat flat and then an uphill grade where the photos were taken.

I continued running (except for picture opportunities) until the side walk ended. I was not will to risk running without the side walk. The streets here are narrow enough with no shoulder. At times the sidewalks were maybe only 12" wide in some areas but at least I was on a sidewalk. 

I am hoping to run again tomorrow just to get in another short run. Much will depend on our morning schedule. We could be going to Capri or Pompeii so running may have to wait. 

Ciao!

Running with the Gondolas

Well, not quite running with the gondolas but, running in Venice, Italy. 

I forgot to take my camera/ phone along with me today.  Normally, that's how I track my running, but without cellular connection i didn't take it along...so no camera either.

I started at our hotel near San Marco Square went to the Grand Canal area turned left and kept going until I couldn't go any further. I ended up at the playground area. That was about 1.5 miles from my start.

The start was challenging bobbing and weaving between tourists and pigeons. Not to mention the uneven pavement and the crowded bridges. But well worth the experience. 

The further away from San Marco the less crowded it was. Especially the bridges. I forgot to count how many bridges I ran across my guess is about 8 and then back. Towards the end of my run I walked the bridges. I was tired and there were LOTS of tourist...not a good combination. 

So, one run down on vacation. I forgot to mention...this came after 4.5 miles of walking earlier.

Ciao!

Realized I turned a corner today.

1 mi

0.5 mi

1 mi

5 mi

10 mi

DISTANCE	PACE	ELAPSED TIME
1.0 mi	12:10 min/mi	00:12:10
2.0 mi	11:40 min/mi	00:11:40
3.0 mi	11:32 min/mi	00:11:30
4.0 mi	12:11 min/mi	00:12:09
5.0 mi	11:17 min/mi	00:11:17
6.0 mi	12:50 min/mi	00:12:49
7.0 mi	12:31 min/mi	00:12:31
8.0 mi	12:25 min/mi	00:12:25
9.0 mi	11:48 min/mi	00:11:45
9.7 mi	13:20 min/mi	00:09:20

I really wanted to get out and do a long run today before we left for vacation. Well into my run I realized that I had turned a corner and before I would have chosen not to run because I was going on vacation and would get lots of walking in. However, today I wanted to run because I wouldn't get a chance to get a long run in for a while. When did that thought process come to me!!!!!

I went 9.5 miles today that was my next scheduled long run I was supposed to do (last weekend when I did the 10K instead). I wasn't able to run with anyone today so it was a long and BORING run. I like my longer runs when I have company...I missed Kelly and Karen today. I did go 4 minutes running with a 2 minute walk during the entire run. It seemed to help with the energy level. I did come home and take 2-Tylenol though.

I started out to do the 5 mile loop and then go from there. During the first mile I decided to run a lot of the side streets and bob and weave through the neighborhoods along the 5 mile loop. That worked out great...I was going through the park at just about 9.5 miles.

I have to remember NOT to use my original water belt anymore. I struggled with it the first 2 miles of the run...so much so I was about ready to head back and exchange it. I need to find a better water clip. I think the trick is to tighten it around my waist and then slid it down to my hips so it won't move around too much. Not sure what the trick is, but that finally worked today. I really need to have water on my long runs...I do drink it through out the run.

Back home and ready to start packing for my y next blog post will be from Italy. Internet connection permitting.

PR today!

I ran the Halloween Hobble here in town and though it was a small race and I finished behind most everyone I did get a Personal Record today....Officially...32:55 with a 10:36 pace. I knew I was going to have a PR with my "unofficial" apps giving me my time and mileage, but when I saw the finish line and the clock was at 32:?? I knew I wanted to cross that finish line before the 33:00 mark. I did with a few seconds to spare.

These small races seem to have me pace a little faster...not sure why, but I could feel it. I kept telling myself to pace, but I would hear my times and keep pushing it. Is the new RunKeeper app a blessing or a curse?

My legs were feeling it about the 2-mile mark today, about 2.5 miles in I needed to force myself to slow it down a bit...only for about 10 yards but it helped. I find when I slow down a bit I gradually work back up to my regular pace.

I pushed it the last .10 mile from the corner to the finish, and felt it when I crossed the finish line...I didn't throw up though, but felt like I wanted to. I guess I was giving it my all. I finished 2nd in my age group...only this time there were more than 2! I finished in the top 50%  2nd out of 4. :-) It's all how you look at it I guess...I also finished in the top 100...however there were only 136 entrants. :-/

Joe and Nick came out to see the race today...again, it means so much to me to have them there. Especially, knowing that they see the beginning of the race and then wait around for me to cross that finish line! I guess there was entertainment today though...someone drove right through the finish line area and took out all the cones. I guess this happened about 10 minutes after the race started so no runners were around that area.

Unofficial from Map My Run

1 mi

0.5 mi

1 mi

5 mi

10 mi

DISTANCE	PACE	ELAPSED TIME
1.0 mi	10:12 min/mi	00:10:11
2.0 mi	10:35 min/mi	00:10:34
3.0 mi	10:29 min/mi	00:10:29
3.2 mi	09:24 min/mi	00:01:59

Now to get geared up for my long run on Monday I think I am due to run 9.5. I am changing things up a bit before vacation and trying to get a long run in before we leave.

I almost forgot...this is the end of Week 15! WOO-HOO

Short but sweet.

.1 mi

0.5 mi

1 mi

5 mi

10 mi

DISTANCE	PACE	ELAPSED TIME
1.0 mi	10:41 min/mi	00:10:40
2.0 mi	10:26 min/mi	00:10:25
2.2 mi	11:55 min/mi	00:02:32

My training schedule is off a little so I am filling in here and there this week. Tomorrow I am running a 5K so I did a 2-mile loop today. I had pretty good times and felt good. Finally the weather cooperated...sun out and no rain!

I took time through the park to enjoy the colors and took my headphones off to say a few prayers for loved ones. I enjoyed that...made me really appreciate the time.

Thought about my running when I am on vacation. I am looking forward to running in Italy, but also apprehensive. Another city is outside my comfort zone of running...let alone another country...with a language barrier! However, now that I am into this running, I am not going to pass this opportunity up. Even if it is 2-miles I will run in each of the cities we are visiting. I need to do some research before we leave.

A day late is better than not at all.

I was not able to run yesterday due to having to work and then inclement weather, so I was a day late in running this week. This marks the first time I think that I have missed a scheduled day run. I was not happy about it, because it is tooooo easy to fall into that habit. I guess I could have run on the treadmill, but I am really only wanting to do that when I will absolutely not be able to run outside.

I never really know which route I am going to run anymore, however, lately I LOVE going through the park...the colors and trees are spectacular so I am taking advantage of that while I can.

I had an interrupted 3 miles today. I stopped about 1.5 miles in to talk to Janet W. I don't stop and just talk to anyone, but she is one that I haven't seen in so long and I wanted to say hi and catch up for a few minutes. It was literally only a few minutes but good to catch up.

Overall, it was a good run but I will have to adjust my running schedule again this week. Maybe a short but sweet run tomorrow and I have a 5K on Saturday and maybe I will have to put off my long run until Monday. I will have to think about that.

0.1 mi

0.5 mi

1 mi

5 mi

10 mi

DISTANCE	PACE	ELAPSED TIME
1.0 mi	11:17 min/mi	00:11:16
2.0 mi	10:38 min/mi	00:10:36
3.0 mi	10:44 min/mi	00:10:43
3.3 mi	12:16 min/mi	00:03:11

Woo-Hoo...10K down!

Karen and I at the end of the 10K...we rocked it!

Today was the day...I ran, yes ran, my first 10k! I had full intentions of running the first 3 miles and running/walk miles 4-5 and run mile 6, but as the run went on I felt good and was keeping a good pace so I ran the entire 10k. My official time was 1:12:32 with an 11:41 pace, but my un-official time and splits are:

0.1 mi

0.5 mi

1 mi

5 mi

10 mi

DISTANCE	PACE	ELAPSED TIME
1.0 mi	10:46 min/mi	00:10:46
2.0 mi	11:19 min/mi	00:11:19
3.0 mi	11:01 min/mi	00:10:59
4.0 mi	10:49 min/mi	00:10:49
5.0 mi	11:35 min/mi	00:11:34
6.0 mi	12:01 min/mi	00:12:01
6.6 mi	09:31 min/mi	00:05:28

It must have been adrenaline because neither Karen or I slept very well last night. Maybe a total of -4 hours of sleep...if that! Joe and Roland got up and drove us down to the race. They dropped us off 1 block from the start it was perfect. David joined the two of them on the race course where they cheered us on at the start (a few blocks down), into mile 2 and then greeted us at the finish. It was great having them there!!!

This is the biggest run I have been in this far into this training, so it was an exciting start. the 1/2 marathoners and 10K's went off at the same time.  Lots of people getting ready to start...but only when we start taking off does the woman right in front of me decide to bend down and tie her shoe...REALLY! Oh well, at least one person I got to pass. :-)

I saw Jeff Chitwood before the race and am bummed I forgot to get a picture with him. Later I found out both he and his wife, Ashley, ran the 1/2 marathon. I wish I would have gotten to see them both.

I enjoyed seeing the costumes along the way. There was a couple he had on a SF Giants coat and she had on a STL Cardinals coat...I asked them is this a costume or for real and he said "for real". Funny since SF and STL are playing against each other in the NL to go the the World Series.

For the first 3 miles I was staying right with the 11:27 pace for the 1/2 marathoner's, but then they got slightly ahead of me. I felt really good about that.

At the end of the race David asked if I was improving from my first 5K early this summer. I am not sure about time, but definitely endurance...AND I didn't feel like throwing up at the end of this one, like I did that one, so that is an improvement!  :-)

With this race I have ended my 14th week of training and feeling good about it! I never thought I would get this far.

Two stickers this week...one for Karen and one for me!

It finally happened!

It was just a matter of time before it happened and today it did! My MapMyRun app either paused or there was a glitch. My guess is I must have paused it when I put it in my pocket at the start of my run. So Lesson #9...Hit the "Home" button to lock my phone before putting my phone in my pocket. I took a slightly different route but knew my mile should be approaching so I waited and waited and then waited a little more before I pulled it out only to see my workout was "paused" aaaaahhhhhhh! I was really going at a good pace too! I was anxious to see what my time was going to be.

I knew I had probably gone about a 1.3 miles already so I would just add that to my total. I figured I would just start my workout and go from there about a minute into my run it said I had gone 1 mile at a 2.44 pace! Haha...oh well, so much for that idea. I figured it was just going to be a bust for distance and time today. Once my GPS got back on track it said my 3 mile was at a 10.26 pace.

I looked at the map on my workout summary and there is a direct line from our house to where it started again so at least the GPS knew that I had gone some distance to where it was taken off "pause"

This is my last run before my 10K on Sunday. I am anxious to see how Karen and I do on Sunday.

0.1 mi

0.5 mi

1 mi

5 mi

10 mi

DISTANCE	PACE	ELAPSED TIME
1.0 mi	02:45 min/mi	00:02:44
2.0 mi	10:26 min/mi	00:10:25
2.3 mi	13:18 min/mi	00:04:18

It's Tuesday... and I didn't struggle...this week anyway.

0.1 mi

0.5 mi

1 mi

5 mi

10 mi

DISTANCE	PACE	ELAPSED TIME
1.0 mi	12:23 min/mi	00:12:22
2.0 mi	11:59 min/mi	00:11:59
3.0 mi	11:43 min/mi	00:11:43
4.0 mi	12:30 min/mi	00:12:29
4.6 mi	13:52 min/mi	00:08:50

Ok...so normally my Tuesday runs are difficult, but today it was a good run. Was it because I had a 5 mile walk yesterday, the cooler temperature or that Karen was with me today? I think all of the above! My legs didn't feel heavy today and breathing in the cooler temperatures are easier.

Karen and I decided that we wanted to go at least 3 miles today and push for 4. We ran for three miles and were feeling pretty good, but we wanted to try a walk run combo for mile 4. We ran for 4 minutes and walked for 2. I would like to try run 4 walk 1 but I haven't figured that out on my RunKeeper app. I just downloaded that app last night and was trying it out for the first time today. I had it set for 2 minute intervals. So every two minutes I get a mileage and time update...not bad it keeps it interesting. The average was a little off since we were walking to get started today while messing with our gadgets to get them all started. :-) Yes Karen...we are those people!!!!!

http://www.rundisney.com/training/running/running-tips/These tips from runDisney really helped convince me that the run/walk method was a good approach.

With trying the walk/run in the 4th mile our time was still under 13 which is our goal. Feeling good about our accomplishment and our game plan for our upcoming 10K. We decided to approach the 10K the same way we did today. Run 3 miles and walk/run combo for the last 3 miles.