'Tis the Season

The race season, that is!

Today marks the first race of my racing season (the VA Beach half-marathon doesn't count because it was a random, summer race). The HMSA sponsored a 25k race/relay and Sarah, Erin F. and I decided to do the relay part, which would give us a bit over 5 miles apiece.

Wow, was the temperature chilly this morning! Erin went first, then switched off the chip to Sarah and finally to me, so I froze waiting for the two of them to finish. Luckily I didn't have to wait all that long - they're faster than I am. Erin started the relay, aiming to do it easy since she's slightly injured, but her easy pace was a 7-minute mile! Sarah was around 10 minutes and I rounded up the group with an 11:53 average, which is my best average for any kind of race, so I was excited (still am).

I felt pretty good. I went out way too fast in the beginning for two reasons: (1) it was cold! and (2) I was surrounded by speedy people and felt the need to try to keep up with them for at least 1 minute.

Here's my splits...

Mile 1: 11:00 (whoops)
Mile 2: 11:43
Mile 3: 12:18 (that's more like it(
Mile 4: 12:05
Mile 5: 12:44 (I'm starting to get tired)
Mile .23: 2:23 (I always race myself at the end)

June was our cheerleader, and of course the usual group was there: Holden, Steve, Edwin, Vic, Jessica, Jon and Waverly, I met the Humble Runner, I met Barbara, and June's GSD. Overall, great run. Great fun. The next race is Thursday, a 10k, so we'll see how that goes.


Another reason that I've been laying low this week is because my body was getting even with me for doing that random 14 miles last weekend. I ran 3 miles Thursday, making great time but feeling bad and then I did a quick 12-minute mile on the treadmill Friday. So my running total this week has been a paltry 9.23 miles. Whatever.

This week's tentative training plan (I should do ok with it since I'm on vacation):
Monday: 5 miles, upper body at gym.
Tuesday: 8 miles with June, Tae-bo at home
Wednesday: No miles (going to Lake Charles), maybe a bit at the gym in the am
Thursday: 6.2 miles (the Uptown Turkey Trot), no gym.
Friday: None (rest day... except for the walking around the malls!)
Saturday: TBD. TNT is doing either 16 or 18. I'm not. I'm probably going to aim for 14. I want to keep doing 14 mile Saturdays/Sundays until the Houston Half, that way I'm way prepared.
Sunday: None. Gym, I'm sure.

Cheers!