TexasLindsey

5 miles at 5:15 am. Weather=79 degrees, 62% humidity, 65 dew point, 3 mph wind, dark.

mile 1- 10:32

mile 2- 8:46

mile 3- 8:34

mile 4- 8:50

mile 5- 8:33

mile 6- 8:52

Ran some hills with Ash and Tim. We've been doing these hills around our neighborhood all week... pretty much charging the hills. The saturday runs are at the river and pretty flat... It'll be interesting to see how much faster I am tomrrow. I feel stronger and faster after this week!

12 miles at 6:30 am. Weather=79 degrees at the beginning rising to 89 by the end, 52% humidity, 68 dew point, 7 mph wind, sunny. Average pace= 8:23/m.

Mile 1- 8:29

Mile 2- 8:17

Mile 3- 8:16

Mile 4- 8:07

Mile 5- 7:54

Mile 6- 8:18

Mile 7- 8:14

Mile 8- 8:19

Mile 9- 8:35

Mile 10- 8:52

Mile 11- 8:45

Mile 12- 8:28

Good run today. The sun was oppressive on the way back though. I kept up with Tim, Emily and Philip (I think that's his name) until about mile 6. They talked the whole time... but I had to focus and listen to my ipod just to stay up with them. Mile 6 had 3 hills which zapped my energy and they speeded up at the half so I just couldn't hang.

From miles 6-8 I was only about 25 yards behind them but then I stopped at water fountain at mile 8 and they kept going. Ashley was about 50 yards behind me so I waited for her and started running with her.

Miles 9-11 Ashley and I were talking and the sun was oppressive so we slowed down. Mile 12 I tried to speed up but I was having issues with my ipod and couldn't focus. I'm going to get a new one today.

I'm seriously considering trying for 10 miles a day during the week plus a LR on Saturdays of 12-16 miles (during the summer). I think if I want to take it to the next level that's what I need to do. This will mean that I need to start on weekdays at 4:45am.

5 miles at 9:00am. Weather=90 degrees, 46% humidity, 63 dew point, 2 mph wind, sunny. Average pace=9:46/m.

Went really slow because I felt very hot. I think I'm dehydrated. I had a headache in the middle of the run so I slowed down even more. I'm going to recover and I might go out again later for another 5. I'm going to try for 10 miles a day this week.

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3.8 miles at 2:30 pm. Weather= 103 degrees, 22% humidity, 57 dew point, 6 mph wind, sunny. Average pace=9:43/m.

103 degrees, I'm crazy I know. It's just that my 1 year old took a nap at this time and my husband is home today to watch the 3 year old so it was the most convenient time for me to leave. I must have drank about a gallon of ice water and I ate a gu before I left. I wore a hat and sunscreen... and I carried a water bottle.

The plan was to do 5 miles and I only made it 3.8. I actually felt pretty good internally, if that makes any sense. The reason I cut the run short was that my skin felt like it was on fire. The sunscreen did not do it's job. I found myself wishing I had on more clothes to cover my skin. Surprisingly, I wasn't as hot on the inside... it was my skin that was hurting from the sun. I actually felt more hot and miserable this morning when I was dehydrated.

Next time I want to run when it's 100 degrees outside, I'm going to the park and running in the shade.

11 miles at 4:45 am.  Weather=77 degrees, 53% humidity, 59 dew point, 1 mph wind, dark.

Mile 1- 10:34 > on my way to meet Ash and Tim

Mile 2- 8:59 > miles 2-7 ran with Ash and Tim on hilly route

Mile 3- 8:53

Mile 4- 8:37

Mile 5- 8:44

Mile 6- 8:42

Mile 7- 8:52

Mile 8- 9:45 > on my own again.  slowed way down.

Mile 9- 10:00

Mile 10- 9:42

Mile 11- 9:51

I think I need to eat more calories and carb load today.  It felt like my muscles were totally depleted of glycogen after mile 7.  It was so hard to move.  I had to concentrate to not totally blow my form and 9:45 was about as fast as I could go.  I wonder if running when you feel like this is in any way helpful... or does this just constitute "junk miles".    I just wanted to get my 10 in today and I added 1 more to make up for yesterday's 9. 

6.5 miles at 4:45 am.  Weather=79 degrees, 56% humidity, 62 dew point, 4 mph wind, dark.

Mile 1- 10:06

Mile 2- 8:51

Mile 3- 8:51

Mile 4- 8:32

Mile 5- 8:33

Mile 6- 8:55

Mile 7- 9:27

After yesterday's 11 miler, my right quad started bugging me again.  I don't know what it is. It seems like a nerve issue as the pain kinda moves around my upper right leg and bootie area.  Not in the hamstring area though, more like the quad.  It is driving me nuts!  It doesn't affect my running but it sometimes bugs me afterwards.  It's an annoying achey pain. 

So because of this, I decided to do the shorter route today.  I ran with Ash and Tim until mile 5.5.  We got faster and faster until we split off from each other.  Then the final mile to my house I slowed down.  It was fun!

I took today off because my leg was hurting pretty bad yesterday after the run... second day in a row.

However, I do have good news: I think I finally diagnosed myself. I think I have iliopsoas Bursitis. It's a less common bursitis - most common to ballerias and hurdlers. I have so many hills in my neighborhood and I've been getting so much faster in the months leading up to my injury. I mean I went from running a half marathon in 1:57 in Aug 2010 (my prior PR was 1:54) to running a half marathon in 1:35 in March 2011 - a matter of 7 months!

The pain when it is at its most acute is in my groin area. Two months ago I originally thought maybe I had a fracture of the femoral neck just because of the location of the pain. However, I've noticed lately that the pain kinda moves at times and it concentrated in the front of my thigh in the quad region... and it can sometimes be felt in my butt. Like a shooting pain that ranges from the butt to the quad... weird. It didn't quite fit sciatica nerve problems because I don't have any issues in the hamstring area. It didn't fit anything I'd read about until now.

This iliopsoas Bursitis describes all my symptoms including the fact that it doesn't hurt while I'm running and only after.

The best part is that a steriod shot should help my problem!! I am going to see my doctor tomorrow and I think he'll agree to give me the shot. This is a relatively easy solve... much better than a bone or muscle or nerve issue. I'm so happy. But still... a steriod shot in my groin region???!! OMG! Toughen up, Lindsey... you did have two babies.

6.5 miles at 6:00am. Weather=84 degrees, 44% humidity, 60 dew point, 9 mph wind, sunrise.

Mile 1- 9:38

Mile 2- 8:46

Mile 3- 8:50

Mile 4- 8:46

Mile 5- 8:33

Mile 6- 8:23

Mile 7- 8:48

Met up with Ashley and Tim. Felt pretty good. Leg did not hurt and I'm supposed to see the doctor today about it today. This is the weirdest injury!!

12 miles at 6:30 am. Weather=83 degrees at start rising to 90 by finish, 44% humidity, 59 dew point, 10 mph wind, sunny.

Today was so fun! Ran with all girls today: Elise, Ashley and Laura. Did the loop for El Scorcho 4 times. Each loop was approximately 2.75 miles long, which is how we ended with 11 miles total. We stopped longer and longer at the water stops because we were so hot. I was drinking like 4-5 cups before the last loop. In my mind it was kinda of an interval run.

Mile 1- 8:19

Mile 2- 8:08

Mile 3- 7:45

Mile 4- 8:25

Mile 5- 8:02

Mile 6- 8:37

Mile 7- 8:28

Mile 8- 8:02

Mile 9- 8:56

Mile 10- 8:02

Mile 11- 7:15

The first half of each loop was through the woods and shade. We seemed to talk and take it easy through this half. The second half of the loop was very hot because it was along the river and in direct sunlight. I was feeling great today so I speeded up at this point because I honestly just wanted to get to the water as fast as possible. Laura kept up with me each time I speeded up and she pushed me to go faster. I was running 7:30's in the half miles leading up to the water... and then the very last mile, we just blow it up and ran the whole thing 7:15. Laura was right behind me. It was so fun! I haven't run this fast since before my injury. I feel great!!

I was in Denver this week. I attempted to run a trail up a mountain. I don't know how far I climbed. The trail weaved and winded. It was near the Red Rocks amphitheater.

I aborted the running plan and opted for just hiking. I decided that hiking it was just as good of a workout and smarter for me to do considering I was alone and feeling a little dizzy from the altitude. When I got to the top I felt like I was going to throw up! I did discover that I love hiking in spite of this.

There were 3 other people running this trail.. it was amazing to watch them. What a skill. Running up a mountain trail over a rocky terrain... that's just a whole different sport than what I'm doing. You have to be really agile and alert to maintain forward momentum up such a unpredictable trail. If I lived in Denver I'd have so much fun trying to learn this!

Even more impressive was that I saw 2 guys on mountain bikes go up the same trail. They didn't even get off the bikes once. They somehow managed forward momentum but jumping the bike and who know how... I still can't figure it out... there were rocks everywhere.

Denver is so much fun in the summer! Max temps were only 85 degrees. Whereas, here in Fort Worth it has ranged between 103 and 107 all week. I have to go run at 4:45 am to run at only 85 degrees in Fort Worth! In Denver the mornings are like 65 right now!!! How refreshing!!

I'd have to get into biking if I lived there. And camping ... and fishing, even (my husband wanted me to try it). There's just so much to do outside. I wanted to climb every mountain I saw! I'd love to move there, but I'm still not sure I'd like the winters there. I love to ski but I don't know if I'd want to live with snow.

10 miles at 8 am in Denver Colorado. Ran around Chatfeild Reservior. Weather=65 degrees, 56% humidity, not much wind, sunny. Average pace= 9:53/m.

They don't have water fountains at this park... my guess is they would freeze in the winter. I wore a camel back for the first time in my life. It was difficult to get used to but I finally figured out that if I make all the straps tight, it's alot easier.

It felt like I was wearing a tight sports bra the whole run because of the altitude. I got used to it after about 3 miles and relaxed.

Mile 1- 10:03

Mile 2- 10:15

Mile 3- 10:33

Mile 4- 10:17

Mile 5- 9:39

Mile 6- 10:06

Mile 7- 9:54

Mile 8- 9:53

Mile 9- 9:34

Mile 10- 8:45

8 miles at 6:30am with my running group. Weather=84 degrees, 64% humidity, 67 dew point, 8 mph wind, sunny.

Mile 1- 8:21

Mile 2- 8:28

Mile 3- 8:33

Mile 4- 8:30

Mile 5- 8:27

Mile 6- 8:24

Mile 7- 7:55

Mile 8- 7:35

I ran with Ashley and Laura today. Out and and back 4 miles down Trinity Trails. We had fun! Laura tried out for the Amazing Race yesterday. It'll be so funny if she gets it.

First 6 miles I was talking and having fun. I was having a hard time catching my breathe though. I guess not running much this week and subjecting my lungs to a lower oxygen environment this week might have had an effect.

With 2 miles left, I was just SO ready to be done with the run because I was thirsty and couldn't breathe. So I told them I was going to speed up. I put my ipod in and just took it to the house. I was surprised the final mile was only 7:35 because the effort felt like 7:00 to me. I guess I was just off today. The two of them went out again for 2 more miles but I was done.

7 miles at 6:20am. Weather=83 degrees, 52% humidity, 64 dew point, 0 mph wind, sunrise. Average pace= 9:22/m

Ran 3.5 miles out and back to my house. I was feeling sluggish and tired. I figured I was dehydrated so when I came back to my house I drank a bunch of water, reset my watch and went back out on a different route also 3.5 miles. After drinking water I felt much better. The second route actually had more hills but it felt easier.

Mile 1- 9:29

Mile 2- 9:24

Mile 3- 9:37

Mile 3.5-9:19

Waterstop at my house

Mile 1- 9:32

Mile 2- 9:04

Mile 3- 9:11

Mile 3.5- 9:15

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Race: The Fort Worth Running Club's High Noon Shoot Out

1.2 miles at high noon whilst pushing Jake in the running stroller

Weather=95 degrees, 40% humidity, 5 mph wind, sunny. It was HOT!

The reason I'm not putting this in a race report is because I was pushing Jake in the running stroller. I put Jake in a tanktop and pinned a running bib to it. He gave me updates all through the race about what other people were doing. He was concerned that there was a man on a bike who passed us on the trail during the race that was not holding onto the handle bars. (He'll be 4 yrs in September)

This was an informal race. The gun time was what we went by... I got 9:45 for the 1.2 miles officially. However, I was pretty far back from the starting line (and the only one with a running stroller). I started my garmin timer when I passed the starting line so I guess my "chip time" was what my garmin recorded= 9:10 for 1.2 miles (7:46/m)

Mile 1- 7:52

Final .2 - 7:15 pace

I think my time would have been better for the first mile but I got stuck behind some slower runners for the first .1-.2 mile... I finally went into the grass to get around them... and pushing a stroller through grass was a pretty big drag on my energy.

I would have liked to see what I could of have done without the running stroller.

Put a picture from this race as my new profile picture.

10.2 miles this morning at 4:45am. Weather=82 degrees, 59% humidity, 67 dew point, 4 mph wind, dark. Average pace=8:43/m.

Mile 1- 9:53

Mile 2- 9:16

Mile 3- 9:00

Mile 4- 8:37

Mile 5- 8:24

Mile 6- 8:30

Mile 7- 8:24

Mile 8- 8:30

Mile 9- 8:21

Mile 10- 9:01

Ran with Ashley and Tim this morning. We did something different today. Normally, we just run around the neighborhood 8 miles and I borrow tiny sips of Ashley's water bottle. Today we ran 3.5 miles out then back to my house for water. Then 3.2 miles out and back to my house for water. Then another 3.5 miles and everyone went home.

I was guzzling water and I felt great the whole run! It is such an advantage to drink water!

10.2 miles at 4:45am. Weather=82 degrees, 63% humidity, 67 dew point, 7 mph wind, dark. Average pace=8:43/m

mile 1- 10:03

mile 2- 8:54

mile 3- 8:55

mile 4- 8:26

mile 5- 8:25

mile 6- 8:32

mile 7- 8:26

mile 8- 8:22

mile 9- 8:31

mile 10- 8:38

Ran with Ash and Tim same route as yesterday. Feeling stronger and stronger. We have so many hills in this neighborhood.  Every run is a good hill workout! 

I am behind on sleep. I keep going to bed at 9 but I think I really need to make an effort to fall asleep by 8 tonight so I can get caught up. I don't want to risk injury with all these miles lately.  When you wake up at 4 am, the day goes by so slow! 10 am feels like it should be 1pm already.

10.5 miles at 4:45am. Weather=82 degrees, 66% humidity, 69 dew point, 7 mph wind, dark. Average pace=9:04/m.

mile 1- 10:07

mile 2- 8:41

mile 3- 8:29

mile 4- 9:02

mile 5- 9:00

mile 6- 8:51

mile 7- 8:26

mile 8- 9:19

mile 9- 9:26

mile 10- 9:20

mile 11- 9:03

Ran with Ashley and Tim today. We went slower for most of it but I was charging the hills. Mile 3 and mile 7 were uphill. Ash wasn't feeling good today so she and Tim left after 7 miles and I did the rest on my own.

Ashley was asked to be part of her company's corporate running team and they are flying her to San Francisco this weekend to compete in a big corporate track meet (several companies have teams and are competing)! Pretty cool. She's running either the 5k or 10k. She's getting paid to do this. They are paying her hotel, flight, per diem and a paid day of work off. She's taking Tim with her.

Track workout at 4:45am. Weather=83 degrees, 60% humidity, 67 dew point, 11 mph wind, dark.

1 mile warm up- 9:22/m

400m in 1:35

400m in 1:42

400m in 1:40

800m in 3:29

800m in 3:27

800m in 3:28

1 mile cool down- 8:24/m

Went to TCU track this morning. I can't recall ever doing a track workout in the morning. It's difficult to convince yourself to start running fast at 5 in the morning.

I didn't really know what time goal I should go for on this since I haven't done a track workout in probably a year. I plugged my PR for a 5k into a training calculator and it said I should do about 3:28 800m repeats and 1:40 400m repeats.

Actually, I just ran by what I "felt" was a good pace for the repeats and it ended up being almost dead on to the training calculator. We rested for 2 minutes between each repeat. Ashley's leg was bothering her so she was slightly behind. I have no idea what Tim was doing but it was ALOT faster than us!

I think I actually could have gone faster or else I could have done several more repeats. It felt easy... probably easier than what it was supposed to feel like. This was the most repeats we had time for because of the drive time and we had to be home by 6:30.

10 miles at 6:30am. Weather=85 degrees, 60% humidity, 69 dew point, 14 mph wind, sunny.

mile 1- 7:59

mile 2- 7:39

mile 3- 7:40

mile 4- 8:06

mile 5- 9:29 (big hill)

mile 6- 8:26

mile 7- 8:36

mile 8- 8:30

mile 9- 8:09

mile 10- 8:31

A rather disapointing run with my group. My plan was to try to run with the fast guys and Emily today. They usually average 7:45 for long runs with the final couple miles in the low 7:00's. In theory I should be able to keep up. In theory...

However, I guess I need more work. I also had a few things not going my way. My sports bra was too tight. I don't think I hydrated enough prior. My ipod wasn't working properly. The water stops were a huge let down because the water was HOT, not even worth drinking they were so hot. Not to mention this HOT water was only at 1.5 and 2.5 miles, then on the way back at 7.5 and 8.5 miles. Terrible spacing!

In miles 4 and 5 I was running and seeing other water buckets for other running groups in the distance thinking it might be ours but then we'd get there and it wasn't ours. UGH! James (store owner) was running with us and he said he was going to "talk" to the guy who was did the water today. He was pretty pissed.

But most of the others in the group didn't seem too affected- not like me. Most of them just ran El Scorcho last week and this was easy running for them. I, however, was dying. To me this pace was a tempo run and I wanted cold water. Then at mile 5 we turned to go up this steep hill... if I were guessing I'd say 8 or 10% grade. James and some of the others are training for Pike's Peak ascent so they wanted to run it. It was relatively short, maybe only 100 yards. But still. I made it half way up and I decided that was enough for me. I wimped out. I turned around and went back the way we came to the store.

Another guy had also wimped out and I started running with him. However, he was in worse shape than I was and he was stopping at the water for other groups and then walking alot. I ran/walked with him for about 3 miles and then the told me to go ahead.

I tried to speed up to 7:45 for the remaining couple miles but I failed because I got a stitch in my side... I think all the walking ruined it. I did my best but it was a sufferfest.

So disappointing. I need to re-evaluate my training here to see how I can best get myself running 7:45's. Maybe some mile repeats and tempo runs.

6.6 miles at 5:30am. Weather=85 degrees, 48% humidity, 63 dew point, 8 mph wind, dark. Average pace=9:30/m.

Ashley and Tim have been out of town so I'm on my own and I'm obviously not doing too well. I've had a hard time waking up at the usual 4:15am this week. I didn't run at all Sunday and yesterday and I slept until 5 this morning so I only had time for 6.6 miles. I figured it was good for me to catch up on sleep. However, if I miss running in the morning these 111 degree days we've been having mean I can't run any other time of the day. Sigh... I have felt blah, blah this week.  This heat is depressing.  I'm stuck inside with my children all day because it is oppressively hot outside.  I think I want to move to California.  Trying to get my motivation back.

My feet have been bothering me lately. They hurt pretty bad and feel numb on every run. I bought new shoes and it hasn't helped. The rest of my body is feeling great though so I'm at least grateful for that. Nonetheless, this feet issue has me frustrated.

7.6 miles at 5:20 am. Weather=83 degrees, 46% humidity, 61 dew point, 10 mph wind, dark. Average pace=9:13/m

(9:55, 9:59, 9:44, 9:22, 9:03, 8:27, 8:50, 8:41)

Was having issues with my shoes today. Yesterday my feet hurt and went numb. So today I put an extra pad in each shoe. On the positive, my feet didn't hurt when I hit the ground anymore. However, it made the shoes not fit right... the left shoe felt kept coming off the heel (kinda like a flip flop) with every step. The right toes went completely numb. Ugh. So basically like the left shoe wasn't tight enough (no matter how I tied the laces) and the right shoe was too tight (no matter how I tied the laces). I've never had these problems before. It's always something, isn't it? I mean I finally get my quad/groin injury feeling better and now I'm having strange shoe problems.

Maybe I need to go up a size in shoes. My feet measure 7.5 and I've been buying 8.5 shoes... but maybe I need 9. Maybe these orthotics no longer fit my feet correctly. Maybe one foot is bigger than the other and I need a 9 on one foot and 8.5 on hte other. This is weird.

6.5 miles at 5:30 am.  Weather=84 degrees, 53% humidity, 65 dew point, 4 mph wind, dark. 

mile 1- 10:19

mile 2- 9:28

mile 3- 9:12

mile 4- 8:56

mile 5- 8:46

mile 6- 8:39

mile 7- 7:49

Just decided to run nice and easy today and not even look at pace.  I actually ran by how I felt and I guess as I got warmed up I got faster and faster.  I felt like speeding up at the end so I just went for it.  Great run!  When I got home, I saw it was a progressive run.  Cool.

My feet feel a little better today.  I wonder if it's possible that the bottoms of my feet got bruised and that was the issue.  Hmmm.  These wierdo running pains.  Today I felt like I had shin splints coming on which I think might have been caused by the flip flop shoe problem yesterday.  Some of these pains seem bad on a run and then the next day they are gone.  I don't think I'll ever get used to it.

6.5 miles at 5 am.  Weather=82 degrees, 68% humidity, 69 dew point, 6 mph wind, dark.

mile 1- 10:11

mile 2- 8:56

mile 3- 8:33

mile 4- 8:36

mile 5- 8:39

mile 6- 9:00

final .5 pace - 9:06

Met up with Ashley and Tim.  They went out of town this week to San Franisco so today was the only day we could run together.  Next week Ashley has a business trip to Georgia so I'm on my own next week too.  They said San Fran weather was awesome... Ash was even cold at times!  I can't imagine.  We're on like 30 days in a row of triple digit heat here.  This bank by my house has a sign that flashes the temperature... yesterday it was 113 degrees!  

Tomorrow we're running 12 with the group around Trinity River. 

14.2 miles at 6:30 am. Weather= I don't know exactly but it was about 83 degrees and over 50% humidity and sunny... really HOT!

mile 1- 8:21

mile 2- 8:09

mile 3- 8:03

mile 4- 8:02

mile 5- 8:02

mile 6- 8:02

mile 7- 8:20

mile 8- 8:44

mile 9- 8:40

mile 10- 8:15

mile 11- 7:21

final .2 pace - 7:05

~15 minute Water Break ~

mile 12- 9:21

mile 13- 9:27

mile 14- 8:31

Ran with the group this morning. We did 11.2 miles. Then after standing around talking Ashley, Tim and I decided to go out for another 3.

It was a good day. I ran with the lead group until the turn around at 6 miles. I discovered there was no water at the turn around and felt defeated. Plus, they were speeding up to run negative splits. They get down to the 7:00 miles by the end. I'm not there yet, especially without cold water. So I slowed down and ran with a slower group behind us.

At the beginning of mile 8 I had a terrible fall while -get this- I was walking! Ha! There was water at this point in the run where we were supposed to go down a short steep ramp that took you from the river bank to a residential street below. We had decided to get our water cups and walk down the short ramp and start running again when we reached the bottom. K... so I'm walking and my foot gets off the sidewalk and there was a drop off in the grass. I tripped and fell downhill. During the fall I was trying to protect my legs from injury so I hit with my hands, left hip and stomach. I got really scrapped and bloody on my hip. This is number two fall for the season. Last year I had a spectacular fall as well. I seem to fall more than most.

So after the fall, we went uphill for all of mile 8 and half of mile 9... so those miles were 8:40's but they really were a difficult section of the run. Then it evened out and I speeded up. Another girl tried to stay up with me for a portion... actually, she tried to pass me with about 3/4 mile to go. I love it when that happens. Just the motivation I need. I kicked it into high gear and took it to the house. All the people in the lead group were laughing at my bloody self when I ran in to the finish. "What the hell happened to you?!! Why are you bleeding?"