TexasLindsey

Ran 7.5 miles at noon today around the park by my sister's house.  Weather= 73 degrees, 23% humidity, wind 10 mph, sun-sun-sunny.  Average pace=8:01/m

Mile 1- 8:08

Mile 2- 7:55

Mile 3- 8:14

Mile 4- 7:53

Mile 5- 7:49

Mile 6- 8:07

Mile 7- 8:01

Last .5 mile - 8:01 pace 

It was a H-O-T day to run!  The sun makes a big difference.  I am not complaining.  I'll take this over cold any day of the week.  Bring on the heat, baby!

I ran in my sports bra.  I hate doing that because people look at me... women sometimes make rude faces and men smile a little too much.  Today, I didn't care because I was hot!

5.3 miles at 5:30 pm.  Weather= 75 degrees, 29% humidity, 14 mph wind, sun setting.  Average pace=8:19/m.

Mile 1- 8:23

Mile 2- 8:20

Mile 3- 8:23

Mile 4- 8:22

Mile 5- 8:22

Final .3 - 7:36

4.8 miles at 8:30 am around my neighborhood with my friend, Ashley.  Weather= 65 degrees, 70% humidity, 25 mph wind, cloudy.   Average pace=8:20/m.

Ashley from my running group and I discovered that we live only a mile apart.  Ashley doesn't run much around our neighborhood so when we met up today I took her on a tour of the best hills around here.  I don't normally run all these hills the same day.   It was very difficult especially when we went uphill against the wind.  Ashley was doing much better than I was... I was really struggling.  I realized halfway through that I forgot to take my caffeine this morning. 

Tomorrow Ashley and I and a few other friends are doing a long run.  Now that Cowtown is over, the running store we all run with, Fort Worth Running Company, isn't doing doing long runs until May. 

Mile 1- 8:40 downhill

Mile 2- 8:01 mostly downhill

Mile 3- 8:03 long challenging hill

Mile 4- 8:20 shorter steep hill, then downhill

Last .8 mile - 8:30 uphill against the wind

10 miles this morning at 7 am at the Trinity River trails.  Weather= 40 degrees, 49% humidity, VERY WINDY 25 mph gusting to 30 mph, cloudy.  Average pace=7:43/m

Mile 1- 8:11

Mile 2- 7:49

Mile 3- 7:48

Mile 4- 7:51

Mile 5- 7:49

Mile 6- 7:48

Mile 7- 7:33

Mile 8- 7:30

Mile 9 - 7:25

Mile 10 - 7:31

Final .3 mile - 7:05

Met up with Ashley, Emily, James, Tim, Monty, Greg and another guy I didn't catch the name of.  Emily, Ashley and I set the pace and the guys stayed behind.  I was just trying my best to keep up with Emily.  These guys and Emily normally run 7:00-7:20 pace for long runs so I guess they were just going slow still recovering from The Cowtown Marathon. 

Originally I was going to wear arm warmers and a shirt but then as I stood there waiting for people to arrive I got really cold and at the last minute I decided to throw on my jacket.  I regretted it after only a mile.  I was really hating that stupid jacket the final 3 miles when I sped up.  I felt hot and bulky.  I also was pissed at myself that I didn't have my ipod.  I really could have used some techno music to put me in a trance and take my mind off the pain the final two miles.  I had some gu with me but I was working so hard at the pace I never used it.   I did the whole run without fuel or water. 

Around mile 6.5 Emily and I started talking and we kinda got ahead of everyone else.  Then she started speeding up at mile 7.5.  I decided to try to keep up as best I could with the 20 mph wind.  About 3 times during those final 2 miles we'd approach 7:20 pace and I thought I couldn't take it anymore.... I slowed down assuming she would just zoom ahead.  But when I'd slow down, she would let up just enough to allow me to catch back up.  Then after a couple minutes she'd gradually pick it up again.  I was hanging but barely.  She gave me a great workout!  I love running with people who are better than me and challenge me to do what I think I can't.   

I am proud that the final .3 mile I ran a 7:05 pace especially since there was a steep hill in that portion.  I am very surprised I had enough energy to do that as much trouble as I was having with the 7:20 pace.  She sprinted ahead on the downhill in the final 50 feet.  Greg and James came in about 1 minute after us and Greg said, "We were chicked today!" 

Took Jake in the running stroller today around the neighborhood.  We picked up children on bikes along the way including:  one first grade girl, one second grade girl, one third grade girl and two twin boys in forth grade. 

We rode around about a mile then we got to the bottom of this hill that was .25 mile long.  First, I raced them with me pushing Jake and them on their bikes up the hill.  I was last and the third grade girl was first. 

Then, they got off their bikes and raced me still with me pushing Jake... at first I was last and the twin boys and first grader were first (I gave the younger girls head starts) but about midway the kids started getting tired and I sped past them. 

It was fun.  I told them I'd race them tomorrow too, and they should tell their friends...  this could be a unique way to get some speedwork in... 

Weather=58 degrees, 53% humidity, wind 27 mph, cloudy.

The wind sucked.  I wanted to quit after 1 mile but convinced myself to keep going.  I finished my loop and stopped at my car for water.  My watch said 2.3 miles average pace 8:45/m. 

Mile 1- 8:40

Mile 2- 8:48 (against the wind)

I wanted to drive home.  The wind was just awful.  I gave myself a pep talk, found a decent song on my ipod, took off my cumbersome jacket and vowed to do one more loop at a faster pace than the first loop.  

Mile 3 - 8:06

Mile 4 - 7:40 (against the wind)

.8 mile - 7:12

Now that I've quit running the top of my left foot is throbing.  oh no. 

Great run today!  5 miles at 5:30 pm.  Average pace= 7:39/m.  Weather= 75 degrees, 32% humidity, 13 mph wind, cloudy. 

Mile 1- 7:59

Mile 2- 7:22

Mile 3- 7:32

Mile 4- 8:11

Mile 5- 7:13

I had to wait until my husband got home to run.  I had so much energy today.  I just ran how I felt and in mile 2 and 3 I just felt like hauling.  Then mile 4 I was kinda hurting and slowing down... but in my defense the entire mile was uphill and against the wind.  Mile 5 I turned out of the wind and I decided to end the run with nothing left.  It was fun! 

I think the pain I had on the top of my foot might have been from tying my shoelaces too tight.  Thank goodness doesn't seem to be anything serious. 

Ran 13.7 miles at 11 am.  Average pace=8:05/m.  Weather=56 degrees, 38% humidity, 16 mph wind, sunny and gorgeous!

Mile 1- 8:01

Mile 2- 8:17

Mile 3- 7:57

Mile 4- 8:04

Mile 5- 8:05

Mile 6- 8:02

Mile 7- 8:09

Mile 8- 7:59

Mile 9- 7:54

Mile 10- 8:10

Mile 11- 8:10

Mile 12- 8:16

Mile 13- 8:03

Last .7 - 8:03

My next big race is Dallas Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon on March 27th.   I had positive splits at the Cowtown half marathon which I think is indicative that my endurance is fading.   I need to do more long runs of 12-15 miles in preparation. 

So today my sister babysat for me.  I went to Trinity trails.  I have no idea what the deal was with mile 2.  Around mile 4 I really settled into a nice rythem.  I only stopped once for water at mile 6.  Around mile 10 I started feeling fatigued and the outside of my right knee started bothering me a little.  Only confirmed to me that I really need to do more long runs.

I was just kinda running what felt comfortable.  I saw that at 13.1 miles, the clock was 1:45.  So I was pretty happy that my slowish, comfortable pace was a 1:45 half.  My goal for racing the R 'n R is 1:37. 

3.2 miles at 5:30 pm.  Average pace=7:30/m.  Weather=73 degrees, 16% humidity, 23 mph wind, sunny.

Mile 1- 7:08

Mile 2- 7:22

Mile 3- 8:03

Last .2 - 7:10

My idea going out was to run to the end of this one sidewalk and back approximately ~ a 5k and I wanted my pace to be around 7:20-7:30 a mile.  However, the first 1.6 miles were mostly downhill and with the wind at my back... and the last 1.6 were uphill against a 23 mph wind.  On the second half I felt like I was on a treadmill with a 6 % incline.   That 8:03 third mile really hurt.  Good workout.

Funny thing... this was the last class day before spring break for the kids in my neighborhood and it seemed that they were ALL out on the streets playing tonight.  When I had about 1/2 a mile to go, I saw a kid named Seth who was part of the group of kids that I raced the other day.  Tonight when I saw him, he ran with me all the way back to my house.  He said he wanted to run with me over spring break.  He is in 4th grade and he is the fastest runner in his class. 

Tomorrow I'm meeting my running group for a long run.  I don't know how long of a long run though.  In May my running store starts the training ramp up for the fall marathon season and they have scheduled long runs.  Right now though, people are just meeting and running on their own.  I kinda have to do what the group does.  I hope there are people running at least 12 miles at a 7:20-7:30 pace because that's what I need to do to prepare for my 1:37 half marathon goal. 

I registered for the Dallas Rock 'n Roll today.  It was a $108.  I'm going to be pissed if the weather sucks and ruins my plans for 1:37.  I could have run 3 half marathons for $108 instead of just this one.   Maybe the bands and the fact that Troy Aikman will be shooting the gun will inspire me to run a great race and it'll all be worth it.  I am so focused on that 1:37 right now... I'm dreaming about 1:37... I am thinking about 1:37 all day...  7:20 a mile for 13.1 miles. 

10 miles at 7am with my running group.  Average pace=7:38/m.  Weather=58 degrees, 75% humidity, 11mph wind, sunny. 

Mile 1- 7:58

Mile 2- 7:45

Mile 3- 7:31

Mile 4- 7:36

Mile 5- 7:49

Mile 6- 7:12

Mile 7- 7:33

Mile 8- 7:33

Mile 9- 7:44

Mile 10-7:41

It started out myself, Emily, Ashley, a girl named Ella (I think), Tim, Monty and James.  After a couple easy miles, we settled into a 7:30ish pace.  I had to put in my ipod and zone out to Lady GaGa.  We lost Ashley and Ella somewhere before the halfway point. 

I don't know what the deal was with mile 5 - I think we were going into the wind.  At mile 6, Emily dropped the hammer and sped up to 7:12 pace.  I hung on to her pace with Monty, Tim, and James for one mile.  Then I started overhearing their conversation about lactate thresholds... somehow I lost my mental focus.  The four of them were just chatting away like this was easy... yet I was having to work like I was in a race just to keep up.  I started thinking, well, gosh now that you mention it, I was probably running at my lactate threshold...  It started messing with my head and my confidence faltered.  

I fell behind in mile 7 but I was still going 7:30ish.  The four of them were about 200 yards ahead of me when we stopped at mile 8 at a water fountain.  Monty peeled off to go in a different direction because he was doing 20 miles today.  James and Tim said they wanted to slow back down to the 7:30 pace for the final two miles.  I did not believe that was possible with Emily there.  That girl is awesome! 

Sure enough she took off and they followed.  I am really pissed at myself that I didn't have the energy or mental power to keep up.  Only two more miles, Lindsey!!!  My goodness!  At least do a 7:30 pace if you can't keep up with them!  But no.  I couldn't seem to muster more energy.  I am very disappointed with myself. 

Things I could have done better today:

1- Bad choices about what to wear - wore long sleeve shirt and I had to hold my stupid car key the whole time.  Stupid!  It just bothered me the whole time and distracted me from concentrating on the pace.  Next week I do not care how cold I start out, I am wearing short shorts and a tank.  I will also have a better place to put my stupid car key.

2- GU!!!!   I need caffeine gu for runs like this.  I can definitely tell a difference when I don't use it.

3- Flat out, my endurance is not at the level of these people.  All four of them just ran the Cowtown full marathon 2 weeks ago.  They've been running 50-60 miles a week.  I haven't even had a long run over 13 miles in months and my weekly milage has only recently been getting back up to 40 miles a week.  If I am going to have a prayer of hanging with them, I'm going to need to ramp up my long runs and run more miles in the week.  I already knew this though.  I already planned to do a 15 or 16 miler this coming week.  

4- Time for new shoes... or new feet.  Ha!

5- I need to get some new songs on my ipod.  Lady GaGa is losing its effectiveness.

SOOO.... I do not know if I am in shape to run a 1:37 half (7:20/m) after my performance today.  I don't know if it's feasible to get myself in that kind of shape with only 2 weeks left before Dallas Rock 'n Roll.  I think 7:30/m is the max pace I can achieve in a half marathon right now.  With more training, I can get to the 7:20/m... but I'm just not sure about doing so by March 27th.    OTOH, maybe the R 'n R (my first event of this kind) atmosphere and the bands at every mile will help me....  I don't know. 

13.7 miles at noon at the Trinity Trails.  Average pace= 8:14/m.  Weather=58 degrees, 40% humidity, 18 mph wind, sunny.

Mile 1- 8:10

Mile 2- 8:21

Mile 3- 8:17

Mile 4- 8:23

Mile 5- 8:24

Mile 6- 8:16

Mile 7- 8:15

Mile 8- 8:14

Mile 9- 8:01

Mile 10- 8:09

Mile 11- 7:58

Mile 12- 8:19

Mile 13- 8:19

Mile 14- 8:11

The 13.7 route is just from my running store to the end of this one section of trail and back.  Got some new shoes before the run.  Asics Cumulus again.  My big toe is hurting on my right foot and my IT band is bothering me on my right leg when I run over 10 miles.  I thought the new shoes would help but my right foot felt numb the entire run.  It was really annoying.   I decided to just go slow and easy.  I think the numbness might have affected my form.  Around mile 12 my right leg IT band started bugging me... nothing serious though.  I'm going to take it easy tomorrow. 

4.5 miles at 5:30 pm on the Trinity Trails.  Average pace=7:16/m.  Weather=74 degrees, 50% humidity, 17 mph wind, cloudy. 

Mile 1- 7:14

Mile 2- 7:24

Mile 3- 7:01

Mile 4- 7:26

Last .5 mile- 7:11

This was supposed to be a 5 mile tempo but the loop I thought was 5 miles ended up being only 4.5 miles.  When I realized it was probably going to be short, I was already in mile 4.  I decided doing the loop I planned was good enough.  My plan was to do a 7:20 average.  The wind was pretty challenging in miles 2, 4 and 5.  

This guy about my age tried to "race" me around mile 3.  I came up on him and he looked over his shoulder and sped up.  He was clearly struggling with this faster pace.  He did hang on for a good quarter mile before he sputtered off into the grass though.  It was a nice diversion for me.  I really enjoy passing guys.  : )

So toward the end of mile 3, I looked down at my watch and saw a 6:58 average pace for the lap with only .1 mile to go.  I was shocked!  I had to do a double take...  "Did that say 6:58 or 7:58???"   I slowed down after that because it freaked me out.  I think had I not seen the speed, I might have just kept going like that.  I was in a nice rythem.  But once you mentally ruin a rythem by freaking out, it's hard to go back. 

This sport is so mental!! I've got to get myself over these mental limitations I'm imposing on myself.  I remember I used to get freaked everytime I saw my watch dip into the 7's.  Now I get freaked when I see the 6's.  I'm thinking that some track workouts may cure this 6's problem.  : )

6.1 miles with hills at 6 pm.  Average pace=8:11/m.  Weather=83 degrees, 47% humidity, 19mph wind gusting to 31 mph, sunny.

Mile 1- 8:22

Mile 2- 8:03

Mile 3- 8:09

Mile 4- 8:18

Mile 5- 8:12

Mile 6- 7:30

Last .1- 8:34

I made up a new route around my neighborhood that incorporated every big hill I knew of.  This was a very challenging route!  Especially with the wind and heat!  I tried to keep my pace in the low 8:00's going up the hills.  Some hills were directly into the wind like miles 4 and 5.  I sprinted a 1/3 mile long hill of 2% grade in mile 6... average pace up that hill was 6:30/m.  Woo Hoo!  I just took it easy downhill and to my house after that one. 

10 miles this morning with my running group.  Average pace= 7:34/m.  Weather=66 degrees, 75% humidity, 22 mph wind gusting to 28 mph, cloudy.

Mile 1- 7:50

Mile 2- 7:18

Mile 3- 7:15

Mile 4- 7:24

Mile 5- 7:44

Mile 6- 7:29

Mile 7- 7:32

Mile 8- 7:40

Mile 9- 7:44

Mile 10- 7:39

Ran this morning with James and two other guys I didn't know their names.  Emily didn't run today because her foot was bothering her.  I just plugged my ipod in and tried to hang on to the pace as long as I could today. 

Felt pretty good miles 1-5.  Mile 5 had four steep short hills one after another.  After the hills we stopped for water and then we settled back into a 7:30 pace which felt pretty good to me.  Then the guys started getting faster when there were 3 miles to go.  I assume they went back to the 7:15 pace.  I couldn't hang.  I ran the final 3 miles by myself and apparently 7:40 was the best I could do.  In my defense though, the wind was directly in my face those three miles.  It was blowing me all over the place.  I felt pretty good, but it seemed that I couldn't get myself into a faster gear.  I estimate that they finished about 45 seconds or a minute ahead of me.

We've been having major wind lately... like at least 20 mph.  I see wind is in the forecast for all this week too.  It would be so great if the wind was gone by the time of my half marathon race is next Sunday.  The wind will be a factor in whether or not I'm going to be about to do my goal of running a 1:37 (7:22 pace).  I guess we will see.

3.7 miles at noon.  Average pace= 8:04 /m.  Weather=71 degrees, 62% humidity, 21 mph wind gusting to 26 mph, cloudy. 

Mile 1- 8:20

Mile 2- 8:03

Mile 3- 8:06

Mile 4- 7:39

I squeezed in a quick run when my sister came over.  I asked her to babysit for like 30 minutes.  Did a loop that included 1 really long hill in mile 2.  Mile 4 was directly against the wind. 

Intervals today at noon.  Weather= 75 degrees, 20% humidity, 12 mph wind, sunny. 

The plan was to run the 2.4 mile loop at the park at 7:25 pace.  Then run the one mile loop at 7:00-7:10 pace - three times.  Then run the 2.4 mile loop again at 7:25 pace. 

Interval #1 - 2.4 mile loop - 17:55 (average pace=7:28/m)

Interval #2 - 1 mile loop - 7:10

Interval #3 - 1 mile loop - 7:04

Interval #4 - 1 mile loop - 7:03

Interval #5 - 2.4 mile loop - 17:53 (average pace=7:27/m)

I basically did what the plan was, but the wind made it a bit difficult.  I really didn't mind the heat or sun... it's that stinking wind!  The weather website said it was 12 mph, but it felt worse.  When I was going with the wind I was running 7:00's and 7:10's easily... but when I was going against the wind, 7:30's and 7:40's were a struggle to maintain.  It all averaged out to what my goal was, but it felt messy.  

My big half marathon race is on Sunday.  Plan A where everything is going perfectly is 7:25 pace.  I'm prepared to modify that if the weather conditions are really windy.

Ran at 4:30 pm.  Hottest part of the day.  Weather=85 degrees, 43% humidity, 16 mph wind, sunny.

Race is on Sunday.  Thought this workout would be good preparation.  The wind and heat were factors today... Two days ago I ran when it was 75 and felt fine... today at 85 I felt like I was running on the sun.  To think that in the summer we will have 60 or more days of 100 degree temps!  Ugh! 

Ran 2.4 loop in 19:30 (8:01 average pace).  The final .4 mile was at 7:38. 

Ran 2.4 loop in 19:32 (8:02 average pace).  The final .4 mile was 7:12.

Then I ran the 1 mile loop in 6:44. 

The forecast for Sunday is 52 in the morning.  Wind 10-15 mph coming from the northeast.  The race map would have me going toward the northeast in the first 8 miles before turning and going due south for the final 5 miles.  Incidentally, there is also a gradual hill we go up that peaks at mile 8 and then we are downhill for 4 miles.  It could be nice to have downhill and wind at my back to look forward to after mile 8.  I just hope I don't wear myself out prior to mile 8.  I'm considering my strategy here...   hmmmmm....

Weather predicted for tomorrow's race at 8 am is 48 degrees, 63% humidity, 10 mph wind, cloudy.  A cold front blew in.  It's going to be near perfect conditions for me... All the worry about the wind and weather was for nothing.

 Now I'm worried I didn't run enough this week.  I was trying to do a taper but I don't really know how to taper for a half marathon.  Maybe I didn't run enough. 

I'm very nervous.   I'm not sure if I have the fitness to acheive my goal of breaking 1:37 half marathon.  7:24 a mile.  Yikes!  That's 10 seconds a mile faster than I did the half marathon last month.  I hope the training I've been doing this month has made me faster. 

I need to work on my confidence tonight, go to bed early, get up early...  I can do it!  I can do it!  If I repeat it enough, I'm sure it will be true. 

My husband was going to come to my race but he's not anymore.  (He's not that supportive of my running...).  Therefore, I have to drive to Dallas by myself.  I hate driving to Dallas.  Dallas and Fort Worth are only like 40 minutes away from each other, but it's like two different worlds... especially when you're driving.  Dallas has more traffic and the drivers tend to get road rage and tail gate.  They don't like confused Fort Worthians driving the speed limit. 

Today I went to get my bib number in Dallas... and I got tailgated, cut-off, and nearly creamed into an 18 wheeler in the suicide lane.  Then I stopped for gas and there was actually a line of cars to get gas... took me 20 minutes!  What is this 1970?  While I was at the gas station, some guy flipped me off because he thought I cut him off (which I honestly didn't) and he yelled at me.  I had my baby in the back so this scared me.  I'm not used to being yelled at by total strangers with tatoos all over their body and music blaring.  Afterwards, I shut my finger in the car door!  Tell me, how do you shut your finger in the door?!  All these years of getting in and out of cars... and I couldn't get my finger out of the way to shut the door?   Ha, ha!   I had to open the door to get my finger loose.  It was bleeding pretty bad and the blood kinda freaked me out so I started feeling like I was going to throw up.  I sucked it up though.  I think I'll live. I don't think it's broken, but I won't be bending it for some time. 

All this happened in one trip to Dallas.  Can't wait for what awaits me tomorrow! 

MY BEST RACE EVER!!!!!!!!!!    I didn't think I would ever run a race as awesome as my first marathon, but I think this race was even better!   My heart feels like it's about to bust out of my chest with excitement! 

Mile 1	7:08
Mile 2	7:21
Mile 3	7:16
Mile 4	7:09
Mile 5	7:30
Mile 6	7:27
Mile 7	7:32
Mile 8	7:26
Mile 9	7:09
Mile 10	7:12
Mile 11	7:09
Mile 12	7:09
Mile 13	7:06
Final .2	6:28

Final CHIP Time =1:35:48

Distance according to my Garmin 13.2

Average pace =7:16/m

Average pace for first 7 miles = 7:20/m

Average pace for last 6 miles =7:11/m

Final .2 pace = 6:28/m  ~ OH YEAH BABY!!!

I have been obsessing for months about getting a 1:37 or better for a half marathon - this is my qualifying time for NYC Marathon.  At first when I heard this criteria back in December, I thought I couldn't do it.  Then I thought, "hmmm, a challenge.  I think I WILL do it."  So after I decided this, I ran a half in December in 1:41:30 (flat and good weather), then January 1:41:23 (lots of hills), then February 1:39:29 (humid with one big hill)...   and

Today...  1:35:48!!!!   OMG!!  I can't believe it.  I really thought 1:37 was a stretch of my abilities.  I would have never thought I could pull a 1:36.  I am so happy. 

I must give the weather and the course credit though.  Weather =45 degrees, 70% humidity, 10 mph wind, cloudy.   PERFECT WEATHER!!  Course mostly flat except for gradual uphill in miles 4-8 and a gradual downhill in miles 8-12.  AWESOME COURSE!!!

I will also give myself credit because I think my pre-race routine and plans worked perfectly.  I executed my race plan exactly how I wanted.  I am very happy with myself.  

I woke up at 4:30 am.  Ate some toast and started pounding the water.  I left my house at 5:40 and it took me about 1 hour to get to the race.  By this time, I had drank about 64 ounces of water.  I do this because I find that if I super hydrate prior to the race then I can avoid most water stops.  Trick is to stop drinking water about 1 hour before race starts so you can empty your bladder.  I made a porta potty stop and with about 15 minutes before the race I drank some G1 gatoraide and ate a 35mg caffeine gu.   I lined up with the 1:35 pace group.

It was a crowded race.  The first couple miles it was difficult because I had to jocky around to stay at the pace I wanted.  I was going a little faster than I planned.  My plan was to stick to 7:25... but I felt awesome and the music I was playing was putting me in the zone! 

Miles 1-4 I played some music I just downloaded last night.  I discovered DJ David Guetta and downloaded three songs from him... very fast paced dance music.  I don't listen to this stuff normally, just when I run... I find it keeps me mentally focused -kinda trance like- and makes me want to run super fast.  First song "Sexy Bitch" - dance version - over and over again.  I was saying to myself, "oh, yeah, I'm a sexy bitch and I'm going 7:15 a mile!"   Then "Getting Over You".  Then "On the Dance Floor".    These songs really made my day!!!   I was so focused and mentally pumped up. 

At the 5k sign, I saw the funniest signs by spectators I've ever seen in a race.  Made me laugh outloud!  Picture of Charlie Sheen and the words, "You Have Tiger Blood.  You're a Winner."

Miles 5, 6, 7, and half of 8 I played some different music by Kesha, Katy Perry, Lady GaGa, Rihanna... (see the girl singer theme... for some reason I like this when I run.. maybe it's the girl power thing!  I'm weird.).  There were some gradual uphills and some twists and turns during this phase of the race.  We were running through Dallas Highland Park, which looks exactly like Beverly Hills except without the hills in the background.  I noticed a street sign while I was thinking about this that said "Beverly"... this made me laugh. 

I took 1 gu at the beginning of mile 5 and stopped for a split sec to drink some water.  Then I took another gu at mile 7 and another split sec water drink.  I had to really focus to keep myself at 7:30/m during this phase because of the hills.  7:30/m was my limit on how slow I was going to allow myself to get.  I knew that the downhill was coming so I just kept saying, "Keep it contolled, focus, breathe, good form... the relief is coming at mile 8 turn." 

Oh my gosh, mile 8 turn!!  As soon as I turned the corner and went downhill, I put on Usher's "More" song.... "give me more... push it to the limit... bring it on harder... light it up... get it higher... more... more... more..."  I just started opening it up.  I started passing people.  I started getting excited that I was on track to break 1:37.  I started imagining running NYC marathon... I've never been to NYC.  I started thinking about how exciting it will be to tell my friends on the blog and my running group that I did it!  I still had like 4 miles left, but I felt great and I knew I could maintain... heck, I might get even faster!!!  I took my final gu at mile 10ish but no water. 

The only pain I felt was in my feet.  Major blisters on my feet that started bugging me around mile 10.  I wasn't going to let it slow me down... bring on the pain... blisters I can handle.  Mentally, I was REALLY in an awesome zone! 

So around mile 11.5 two girls and two or three guys started trying to pass me.  I went to battle.  When I passed a bunch of cheerleaders on the side of the road and I made pom pom hands and smiled at them, they started cheering and jumping up and down for me like crazy!!!  This energized me and I surged passing everyone back who had just passed me. 

Then around mile 12 I started slowing down again and this one girl and a couple guys passed me again.  I fiddled with my ipod and found those David Guetta songs again.  Boom!  I'm back in business.  I kicked myself in high gear.  I ran past the water station at around mile 12.2 and I grabbed water, not to drink, but to splash on my face.  I said, "Wake your ass up and run, Lindsey!  RUN!  RUN!"  

I passed that girl again but a guy in a Triathalon shirt zoomed passed me.  We had less than a mile left... but it was really disheartening at the end because I couldn't see the shoot.  There were twists and turns and I didn't know how much further.  Some races are longer than your garmin says... how do I know how much further... I can't see.  "Hold it together, Lindsey!"   

Then finally with about .1 or less to go, we turned and the finish was visible.  I could see that girl come back up on me... OMG!  She thought she was going to pass me at the end...  tough competition in the final miles of this race!  I have never jockied back and forth with so many people in a race before.  I LOVE IT!!  Fun, fun, fun!  I kicked myself into the fastest pace I could... I was going so fast I couldn't believe it.  I smoked her and ended up passing about 3-4 other guys including the guy in the Triathalon shirt in the final sprint.  My garmin said the final .2 mile was at 6:28 pace... but it said the best pace was 5:05 pace.  I swear I was hauling!  HAULING!

Woo Hoo!!!!!   I saw the race clock was 1:36:02 when I crossed.. but my chip time will be better... my garmin had 1:35:50 and I started the timer right when I crossed the starting line.  As I was walking in I kept saying 1:35:50??!!  I wanted to cry.  I held it back... but I think I would have cried if I had seen anyone I knew.  No one I knew was there.

Well, maybe one person, but I didn't talk to her... the "cocky" girl from The Cowtown half marathon was a few seconds in front of me when I finished.  I never even saw her the whole race.  I guess she was way ahead for most of the race and I just caught up to her at the end.  I said hi to her but we were both gasping for air so I didn't get to talk.   

There are very few things in life that feel as good as exceeding your race expectations.  In my life there are a few moments that compare to this:  I would say when UT and the dynamic awesome talent of Vince Young won the 2005 National Championship ... Holding my babies for the first time ...  Falling in love....  It's hard to rank but they're all amazing moments.  I am so grateful to have had these great moments.  I am so lucky!  

Time to pig out on mexican food!!   : )   

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Just got final race results on the website: 

*4th place in F 30-34 - out of 1,316. (But I was the 1st Texan in my age group!!)  However, I will say, it didn't look to be that competive of an age group considering the 3rd place girl finished 5 minutes ahead of me! Ah well, I'll take it... 4th place is 4th place!

*42 out of 6,800 women. 

*282 out of 10,969 men and women. 

6.3 miles at 6 pm with my friend, Ashley.  Average pace=7:39/m.  Weather=52 degrees, 59% humidity, 9mph wind, cloudy. 

Mile 1- 7:50

Mile 2- 7:44

Mile 3- 7:47

Mile 4- 7:48

Mile 5- 7:45

Mile 6- 7:21

Last .3 mile- 6:25 pace

I was feeling a little lazy and unmotivated after my race on Sunday.  My friend, Ashley, asked to me for a run today and it was perfect timing.  She lives about a mile away from me so we can meet halfway and run the hills around our area.  We went a 6 mile route that included every big hill I know of around here.  It was a great workout.  We maintained 7:40ish even up the hills and talking the whole time!  

I left her at 5.3 miles and turned to go home.  Then I put in my ipod and just ran as fast as I could with a mile to my house.  Fun run!!   We're going to start meeting every Wednesday!  I'm re-motivated now.  Good to have running friends!!