May 15 of this year, after 1 month of the Boston Marathon bombing, I took it upon myself to begin a 90 day runstreak in honor of those who lost their lives, and the countless others that were injured. As of lately, I've been so relieved that those who were in fact injured are all recovering and doing quite well. Unless there is something in the news I missed, please let me know.
So back to the runstreak!!
Today being June 30, 2013, and day 47 of my streak, I know I'm 2 days over half way, but I've hit the point in this self challenge where I've almost treated it like a race. From May 15-31, I made ran 63 miles and for the month of June, I made it up to 94 for a total of 157 miles. Not the numbers I wanted, but then again, I am not necessarily training for a race at this time, but in the back of my mind, I've got Heels and Hills and Him half marathon coming up on September 22. In this streak, I have managed a couple of days to top out at 7 miles as the heat is rising this summer. Also, I've got into the discipline of doing short 2-3 miles to work on speed. Even have done speed interval workouts: From 2:00/1:00 run-walk and even did 5:00-2:00 rw combos. Anything to help me get faster, I've done it. My best 2 miler was just done a few days ago with a time of 16:20 (8:10 pace) followed by a fast 5 miler (for me anyway) in 43:35 (8:43 pace). Just need to get more into the 8 and 9 mile distances at a time at this speed and I'll be satisfied.
I've become such a speed junkee that I want to go fast. I know I want to run, but I want to run hard, fast, and strong. Anything to chase after that elusive time I want for a sub 2 hour half marathon, and a sub 4 hour full marathon. Once achieved, I'll work on dialing into that pace that will carry me for 26.2 miles to help me qualify fo Boston.
It's like I've gotten angry over the fact that this had to happen to Boston, that I want to fight back. I guess this is my way of fighting, My enemy just happens to be the person I've fought for the last 3 years, and am continuously beating this person, MYSELF!!
I don't have any big goals for July other than to run in this heat because I have no other choice, but hopefully break into 100 again. As I said above about how I've treated this as race, I do have my days where I'm tired, hurt, dehydrated, and overall exhausted, but I can't let that stop me. I've had some wall moments where I wanted to quit and wound up settling for just a mile here and there, but I was content with the fact that I ran for Boston that day, and nothing else mattered. I've had wall moments where I started the run out great, and by the time I got back home, I was ready to keel over. Something in me just said keep going. I hope as I toe the line for my next race(s) that this emotion can stick with me as I hit that part where I know I'm almost finish, but don't want to move anymore. I'll remember what I'm out there.
Run strong
Be Epic Yo!!
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Sunday, June 9, 2013
26 into 90
Just wanted to log in and blog some more. I spent a good portion of the day after I ran this morning, just picking away on my guitar and just appreciating two talents I have that I love absolutely. Running and playing my guitar. I'm not Steve Prefontaine nor am I no Stevie Ray Vaughan, but I love what I do the same way these two legends loved their respective talents.
So, today I completed day 26 of my 90 day run streak that I started on May 15. Collectively, I have ran a total of 103 miles with an average of 3.96 miles a day. Just about ready to tip the ice of hitting over 4 a day. My goal is 6. This coming week, I'll be going out of town for a ministry camp I've been involved with since I was 19, so there may be some mornings where I'll either get 1 measly mile per day, or switch it to a night run and get the 3 or 4 I want. I'll have to see how this goes. Today, I sat and pondered as I sat down after mixing my post run shake of chocolate powdered protein mix with a banana over some almond milk, I couldn't help but think about how far I've come since my last blog where I wrote about "milestones". I'm excited about the fact that it's now summertime in North Texas, so with that, here comes the heat and the humidity. The last couple of days that I've ran, I've been challenged with these elements of nature, and humbled to have ran respectively 7 miles yesterday and 6 today.
I've also been met with physical adaptations as well. I remember back when I trained for my big races in the past, how fatigued I would get, emotionally tired, and most of all, drained. They all pretty much pointed to how TIRED I was and rest was much needed. In light of this runstreak I am out to do, I've kept those moments in the back of my mind and remembered to take it easy when I needed to and run light on those days. To be honest, after the first week, there were a couple of days where I was so spent that 1 to 2 miles was about all I could muster. Still, a run is a run, so I counted it. Amazingly, the next day I was refreshed and ready for a good 5 to 6 miler. As a bonus, I've dropped close to 10 pounds and my legs feel every bit of it, just wish my waistline did as well. LOL!! With summer coming, my intake of snow cones, ice cream, and junk food increases by a truck load. Ok, that's an exaggerate, but none the less, I eat a lot. I'm working on that too. I promise.
As my run streak has continued on, I've also thought about how my friends in this sport that run ultras train. I imagine those that do a particular runstreak, run the miles I'm running as a "recovery" run, or a "warmup" for that matter. To each his own in that aspect. Love you ultras, someday, I'll conquer this quest..In this respect, I think about how motivated I've been to want to push for that extra mile each morning I step out to do my thing. It's humbling in every way. Can't explain, it just feels good, and in some cases peaceful as I've stated in a run I posted on dailymile.com one day.When you know, you know..
This coming week will mark 1 month that I've been at this task. I can't wait to see what distance I can obtain in the next 30+ days. I didn't really set much of a goal of how many miles I want to accomplish at the end of this challenge, but I'm feeling confident that I can reach 400 by the time it's over. And if I have to stretch to 100 days to reach that goal, you now know I'll be crazy enough to do so. Maybe that will be my birthday present for myself when the time comes around for it.
Off to the races in September as I finish up this streak and persue the next challenge of qualifying for half fanatics. My schedule is as followed so far to obtain this
September 22 - Hills and Hills and Him - Half marathon
October 12 - The Showdown Half
October 20 - The Honored Hero Half
If I catch wind of any "filler" races I can find in between and they're affordable, I may jump in on them as well... Let's get crazy here
Be Epic Yo
So, today I completed day 26 of my 90 day run streak that I started on May 15. Collectively, I have ran a total of 103 miles with an average of 3.96 miles a day. Just about ready to tip the ice of hitting over 4 a day. My goal is 6. This coming week, I'll be going out of town for a ministry camp I've been involved with since I was 19, so there may be some mornings where I'll either get 1 measly mile per day, or switch it to a night run and get the 3 or 4 I want. I'll have to see how this goes. Today, I sat and pondered as I sat down after mixing my post run shake of chocolate powdered protein mix with a banana over some almond milk, I couldn't help but think about how far I've come since my last blog where I wrote about "milestones". I'm excited about the fact that it's now summertime in North Texas, so with that, here comes the heat and the humidity. The last couple of days that I've ran, I've been challenged with these elements of nature, and humbled to have ran respectively 7 miles yesterday and 6 today.
I've also been met with physical adaptations as well. I remember back when I trained for my big races in the past, how fatigued I would get, emotionally tired, and most of all, drained. They all pretty much pointed to how TIRED I was and rest was much needed. In light of this runstreak I am out to do, I've kept those moments in the back of my mind and remembered to take it easy when I needed to and run light on those days. To be honest, after the first week, there were a couple of days where I was so spent that 1 to 2 miles was about all I could muster. Still, a run is a run, so I counted it. Amazingly, the next day I was refreshed and ready for a good 5 to 6 miler. As a bonus, I've dropped close to 10 pounds and my legs feel every bit of it, just wish my waistline did as well. LOL!! With summer coming, my intake of snow cones, ice cream, and junk food increases by a truck load. Ok, that's an exaggerate, but none the less, I eat a lot. I'm working on that too. I promise.
As my run streak has continued on, I've also thought about how my friends in this sport that run ultras train. I imagine those that do a particular runstreak, run the miles I'm running as a "recovery" run, or a "warmup" for that matter. To each his own in that aspect. Love you ultras, someday, I'll conquer this quest..In this respect, I think about how motivated I've been to want to push for that extra mile each morning I step out to do my thing. It's humbling in every way. Can't explain, it just feels good, and in some cases peaceful as I've stated in a run I posted on dailymile.com one day.When you know, you know..
This coming week will mark 1 month that I've been at this task. I can't wait to see what distance I can obtain in the next 30+ days. I didn't really set much of a goal of how many miles I want to accomplish at the end of this challenge, but I'm feeling confident that I can reach 400 by the time it's over. And if I have to stretch to 100 days to reach that goal, you now know I'll be crazy enough to do so. Maybe that will be my birthday present for myself when the time comes around for it.
Off to the races in September as I finish up this streak and persue the next challenge of qualifying for half fanatics. My schedule is as followed so far to obtain this
September 22 - Hills and Hills and Him - Half marathon
October 12 - The Showdown Half
October 20 - The Honored Hero Half
If I catch wind of any "filler" races I can find in between and they're affordable, I may jump in on them as well... Let's get crazy here
Be Epic Yo
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