Week 11: Eleven miles

30:45 sec run/walk ratio
2:52:25 hours
11.46 miles
15.0 min/mile

Finally, a run with good stats again! And a good run, too. I almost didn't run today -- it was really cold again, in the mid-30s, and it was supposed to be marginally warmer tomorrow, so I considered waiting a day. Also, wanted to get to the Park by 11 AM if I was going to run today, so when I was still sitting around the house at 11, I thought I'd skip it. But I kept feeling like I really should get out there and run today, so I figured, what the heck, I can start at noon and still be done by 3 PM-ish, and it won't be too cold by then. So I quick-like put on my running clothes and headed for the park.

Got there just a few minutes after noon, and headed out. I'd eaten breakfast earlier, but since it was getting to be lunch time when I left, and I didn't want a full meal before my run, I made a protein shake with soy milk, coconut water, protein powder, and a bit of maple syrup to drink on my way to the park. I brought water and three GUs with me, and ate one GU at around 5 miles. I meant to eat another at 9 or 10 miles, but I forgot. I was starting to get hungry by the time I was done, but didn't feel like I was getting too tired, so I guess it was all right.

I wore my gray leggings, which I thought would be warm but they weren't really. Should have stuck with the newer ones. I was cold when I started out, and took about a mile before I really felt more or less comfortable. But once I got going, I was fine. I'm kind of impressed with myself that I'm continuing to do the long runs despite the cold weather and snow. I know I've tried a couple of times to train for winter or early spring races and gave it up part way through because I just couldn't make myself get out there and do the runs. This time it looks like I'm going to make it.

Didn't do the midweek runs, though. I decided that, even though my driveway is too muddy/snowy to run on, I can still walk for half an hour and that would be almost as good. But I only did it once. I even shuffled/jogged a few of the running intervals. But I was wearing my muck boots, which are my only waterproof boots, and they're really not designed for walking or especially running. I need some better boots to do my short walk/runs in. Maybe see what they've got at Kmart or Big 5 this week.

Week 10: Four miles

30:45 sec run/walk ratio
1:10 hours ?
4.3 miles ?
16 min/mile?

I ran on Friday this week, because it's supposed to snow tomorrow. Today was sunny and not too cold (around 40 - 45 F), and it was a short run so I had time to finish in time to get to my usual Friday stuff, so it worked out well. I wore the same clothes as last week, and found myself plenty warm. In fact, if I'd stayed out there much longer, I might have taken my hoodie off.

It was a good run, and I figured out what was going on with my GPS, although not in time to get accurate readings for my stats. Turns out I'd somehow gotten my app settings changed to only use GPS while the app is running, and running in the background doesn't count. So when I locked the phone so I wouldn't end up hitting buttons at random and messing up the app while I fumbled the phone in and out of my running belt, I was also turning off the GPS. The solution this time was to not lock the phone during my run, but just to let the app keep running in the foreground. (And to be careful not to touch the screen while I slipped the phone into its pocket.) But now I've switched the setting to use GPS "always" instead of just "while the app is running" so it will stay on even if I lock the phone.

Still, I totally messed up my stats, and had to estimate again. I don't even have an accurate time to go on, because I didn't get the app switched off when I was done, so it kept on counting minutes until just now. Argh. Oh well, the important thing is that I got the run done!

Week 9: Nine and a half miles

30:45 second run/walk ratio
2:30 hours
9.8 miles ?
15.3 min/mile ?

My app went wonky somehow and decided I only ran .14 miles. I think maybe the GPS wasn't properly working with it. So I had to estimate how many miles it was. I ran three complete loops, for three miles each, plus one short lower loop, which I have estimated in the past to be .75 - .8 mile, so good enough. Too bad I couldn't get a more accurate time, I think I was doing pretty well. Would like to know what my pace was.

After last week's run, which was only 4 miles, I was feeling much more tired than I thought I should, and I still wanted to get out and do some woodcutting, so I made myself a protein drink to see if that would help, and it really did help me feel stronger and more energetic. I think I have been getting a little low on protein lately, relying on just one Clif Bar per day to add to my meals. That's only an extra 10 g of protein, bringing my daily total up to around 50 - 55 g of protein per day, which theoretically should be enough, but my experience says not. Partly I think because it's been getting colder (which requires more energy) and I've been doing a lot more hard labor, cutting and hauling firewood, and partly because I just seem to do better at 60 - 80 g per day. So time to start adding another 20 - 30 g of protein daily.

It was really cold today, probably around 35 F, and cloudy and windy most of the time. At least it wasn't raining or snowing! It snowed yesterday, and is supposed to rain tomorrow and snow again on Monday, but I got a little window of dry weather to get today's run in. I went to Big 5 yesterday and bought some more running clothes -- a over-the-head sweatshirt-style jacket with a hood and long sleeves that go over most of your hands with holes for thumbs, a pair of base layer shirt and leggings, and a tube-like cowl thing to wear around my neck. I also got some more wool Wrightsocks. I was mostly okay once I got warmed up, but boy, I could sure tell it was cold out!

I ate oatmeal and an apple for breakfast this morning and it seemed to keep me fueled pretty well through my run, without any stomach problems. I was getting a bit hungry by mile 7 so I ate a GU and that kept me going the rest of the way.

I finally registered for Surf City and made my hotel reservation for the weekend. Looks like I should have made the hotel reservations even sooner! The hotel down the street from the host hotel, which I had planned to stay at because it was about $100/night cheaper, no longer had any of the cheaper rooms available, so I went ahead and booked at the host hotel, which was also getting low on rooms. But I've got mine so now I'm set and I guess I'm really going to do it!

Week 8: 1 Mile + MM + 1 Mile

30:45 second run/walk ratio
49:28 minutes
3.37 miles
14.7 minutes/mile
14:41 minute Magic Mile

Not as cold as it was last week, thankfully! Temperature was around 50 F when I went out, overcast with a moderate breeze. I wore long underwear under my leggings, long-sleeved tee-shirt and jacket. I was warm enough, but I did zip my jacket up all the way for most of the run.

It was a good run, comparable to my last 3-mile run. My right foot is still bugging me a little, but didn't cause me any problems on such a short run. I did get both my midweek runs in this week.

With the cold weather making for later starts on my long runs, I've been eating my usual breakfast before I run, oatmeal and an apple and a little soy milk. Both oatmeal and apple are fibrous foods, not really recommended for eating before a long run, but I've been feeling good and keeping my energy up throughout the run, so I think it's actually helping. I might start having problems on the longer runs, but so far I think it's been good to have a full breakfast before I run, especially with the colder weather. My stomach even feels better. Maybe it's just because I'm used to oatmeal for breakfast, so my digestion deals with it better. Anyway, I'll see how it goes as the runs get longer.

I bought some new wool socks to try out, and I really like them. They're Wrightsocks, which are my favorite running socks, but up until now I've only used the plain technical socks. The wool ones have the same technical inner layer with a wool mesh outer layer. Very soft and warm and comfy! I will have to get some more of them.

I'm a little concerned about next week's nine-mile run, since it's forecast to snow next weekend. At first, the weather report was calling for snow on Friday and Saturday, but now it's saying snow Friday, sunny Saturday, and rain on Sunday. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. I should be able to squeeze my run in there somewhere.

Week 7: Eight miles

30:45 sec run/walk ratio
2:05:40 hours
8.43 miles
14.9 minutes/mile

It was COLD today -- the high was around 39 F. I waited until afternoon to run, hoping it would warm up a little, but it didn't really. So I bundled up as best I could and did it anyway. I wore long underwear under my leggings and tee-shirt and jacket, which helped quite a bit. I was still cold when I started out, but mostly it was the cold wind on my neck and hands that was making me shiver. I could have worn gloves and a scarf to start out with as well, but once I got warmed up after a couple of miles I was okay. I even got to the point of unzipping my jacket for a while in the middle of the run -- but never to wanting to take it off. I zipped it up again near the end, when the sun was getting low and it was cooling down again. At least it was sunny, which helped, especially when the wind wasn't blowing, but the wind was freezing when it did blow.

I almost was going to run at home today, because I wasn't sure if I'd be warm enough or too warm with what I'd decided to wear, and wanted to be able to come in and change. But I was also feeling very blah and reluctant to get started, and I was afraid if I ran at home it would be too easy to give up and bag it in the middle. I knew if I drove all the way to the park to run, I'd stick it out and finish the run. So I did. There weren't many people at the park today. My truck was the only one in the parking lot when I arrived at 2 pm, but a few people came and went while I did my run.

I felt good and kept up a good pace -- partly to try to keep warm! I didn't get tired, but my right foot started to hurt a few miles from the end. It felt like something had gotten strained or pulled on the top right over my ankle bone. It wasn't interfering with my stride, so I just kept going. Now it's a bit sore but still okay. I think I might be getting aches and hitches because I haven't been keeping up with my midweek runs. I ran on Monday this week, but skipped my 2nd 30-minute run because I was so busy getting ready for Thanksgiving. I should have worked it in anyway, I think, but I just was thinking about so many other things, I forgot about it. Now that that's over with, though, I will try harder. Weather is supposed to be good this week, sunny and a bit warmer, until Friday when it is supposed to rain. Saturday should be clear, though. So I should make it through another week!

Week 6: One Mile + MM + One Mile

30:45 sec run/walk ratio
49:23 min
3.39 miles
14.6 min/mile
14:33 min Magic Mile

Since it was only a three-mile run today, I was planning to run at home, despite the still somewhat muddy conditions of my driveway, but when I fired up my app and saw that it was a Magic Mile day, I went ahead and drove out to the Park. It was a good day for running, sunny and breezy with temps in the mid-to-high 50s. I wore long leggings and a short-sleeved tee shirt with my jacket, which I took off around halfway through the run.

Good time today! I was pushing it a bit, not only on my Magic Mile, which was uphill and barely any faster than my overall time, and possibly increasing the run/walk ratio to 30:45 seconds helped a bit, too. I didn't take any water or food with me, since it was such a short run, and didn't need any. Finished feeling good, with plenty of energy to do all the other things I have to do today.

Because of the snow this week, my driveway was too muddy and slushy to run on, and I didn't want to drive somewhere for a mere 30-minute run, so I fired up my Wii and did some running in place and around the house, and some other exercises with Wii Fit. Not as good as actually getting out and running, but better than nothing for those winter days when running outside is a problem.

Week 5: Six and a half miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
1:47:19 hours
6.94 miles
15.5 minutes/mile

I didn't run last weekend, or do my midweek runs this week, because I'd hurt my back on Friday and was feeling really stressed and besides, I really needed to get some firewood in before the rain and snow that was forecast for Monday, so I spent my time cutting firewood instead. This week, again, I need more wood and it's supposed to rain (or snow, the weather report can't make up its mind) on Sunday, so I was worrying about having time to get some wood in and do a long run today, and finally, I decided that I don't really need to train up for a full marathon, especially not when I've got other stuff I need to do on weekends, so I redid my schedule for the half marathon and ended up with a 6.5 mile run for this weekend—something I could finish before noon and still have time/energy for some woodcutting this afternoon.

The run went well. I got to the park around 9:45 AM and finished around 11:30 AM. It was cold, but not terribly so, around 60 F and sunny but with a cold breeze. I wore my full-length leggings, long-sleeved running shirt, and jacket for the first two miles, but took off the jacket for the rest of the run, and it was just about right. I wore my visor instead of my cap because I thought I'd still want some air for the top of my head, and that was about right, too. So I was comfortable for the whole run, not too hot and not too cold.

I had a protein drink before my run, which kept me going throughout the run. I brought a GU with me, but didn't use it.

I wasn't pushing but still kept up a good pace. I thought, after I'd started, that as long as I'm going to be just doing a half marathon schedule, I should try bumping up  my run/walk interval to 30:45 seconds and see how that goes. Too late for this run but I'll set my app for next run.

It's hard to make myself get out there when it's cold. Once I get going, I'm fine, and it's better running in cool weather than hot, but it's a psychological thing I'm going to have to overcome if I'm going to keep training all winter.

I decided to try doing a tonglen meditation for the victims of the recent terrorist attacks while I was running. I usually try to visualize the suffering of others that I breathe in as sort of like smog: dark, dirty, full of scratchy, wiry shards of junk. Then the compassion I breathe out is warm, soft, golden light, like sunlight. But it was taking too long to conjure up and set my visualizations while I was running, so I ended up just chanting "hate" on the in-breath and "love" on the out-breath, which worked pretty well. Possibly not a proper tonglen—I'm not Tibetan Buddhist, anyway, so it's not usually part of my practice, but I like to use it on occasions like these.

Week 3: Fifteen miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
3:52:37 hours
14.41 miles
16.1 minutes/mile

My app was set up for a 14 mile run this week, so I have stats for 14 miles, but I did go ahead and run/walk a 15th mile when the app was done. I did 5 complete loops at the park, so I finished my 14th mile at the top of the upper loop, leaving me with one mile to get back to my truck, so I was bound to do 15 miles whether I felt like it or not! The 14th mile was, in fact, pretty hard, being uphill in the sun with me in my full-length leggings and long-sleeved tee-shirt, but I forced myself to do all my run intervals even if they were a bit slow. As soon as I turned around to go downhill for the last mile, a breeze came up and I felt much better. I'd finished the 14 mile run before the turnaround, but went ahead and walked up to the circle before turning back. I went ahead and walked the 3-minute cooldown, then, since Jeff was done telling me when to run and walk, I just winged it on the way back. I figured I wasn't on the clock anyway, so I ran when I felt like it and walked likewise. I suspect I was doing about 1 minute running to 2 or 3 minutes walking.

I had my usual protein drink in the truck on my way to the park, and ate three GUs during my run, at around mile 7, 10, and 13, which kept my energy up pretty well. Didn't really start to flag until the 14th mile, but even then, I kept going and felt fine once I was going downhill again. I did have a digestive upset early, on my way up the upper loop on mile 2. Kept waiting to see if it would settle down, but it didn't, and spent most of mile 3 heading back to the parking lot & bathrooms hoping I'd make it in time and praying this wouldn't be one of those rare times when the bathroom was locked. Fortunately, it wasn't, and once I made the stop I felt all right the rest of the way. Slightly low on energy today, but not enough to really interfere with my run.

I got up early, at 6 AM, to try to get to the park by 8 AM, but was feeling wonky and didn't actually leave until a little after 8 AM. It was COLD in the house this morning, and the outside thermometer said 45 F outdoors, and I really didn't want to go outside, heh. Which is why I wore my warmest running clothes plus my jacket, even though I knew it would be hot later and I'd wish I had lighter clothes on. Also why I wanted to wait until the sun was up before starting—I figured it would be better to wait so I wouldn't be too cold in the beginning, and it wasn't supposed to get that hot today anyway. Well, the weather forecast called for a high of 75 F, which is a long way from the 90 F days of summer, but is still pretty hot when the sky's clear and the sun's beating down in the middle of the day. I took my jacket off when I made my bathroom stop, at the end of mile 3. The first half of the run was fine, but the last half was kind of hot. That's the way it is in the desert, though. Cold nights and hot days and a 30-degree increase in temperature between sunrise and noon. Hard to dress properly for the beginning and the end of the run.

All in all, it was a pretty good run. Maybe not my fastest, but I kept up my energy and finished strong and feeling fine.

Week 2: Seven miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
1:52 hours
7.41 miles
15.2 min/mile

And that was the last of the runs on my half marathon training app. Next week, I go back to the marathon training app and do the last half. I made a spreadsheet with various marathon training schedules (First Marathon and Timed from the app, and To Finish from Galloway's book, Marathon) so I could compare and see which one looked most appealing, and where I should jump in to get myself to Surf City, and I decided to use the app for First Marathon, starting with Week 15, and follow it from there. Actually, Week 15 is a 14-mile run, and I want to try to do 15 miles, but it doesn't really matter. I can use the app and just add another mile to the end of the run, or stop at 14 miles if I feel like it. Anyway, I will then follow the marathon app out to the end, except that it has three short runs -- 7 miles, 6 miles, and another 7 mile run -- following the 26-mile run before the marathon. I will just skip the last 7-mile run. Two short runs before the half marathon will be plenty. That has me doing all the 20+ mile runs in December and January, when the weather will be cool. I think that will work well. And if the weather interferes and I have to skip runs and don't quite reach 26 miles before the race, no big deal, since I'm only doing the half marathon, anyway.

Good run today. Kept up a good pace and felt fine the whole way. I went shopping this week for more running clothes to wear for cooler weather, and bought a jacket and two pairs of full-length leggings. (Actually, they're more than full length -- I could stand to hem them up a couple of inches.) Today I wore one of the pairs of leggings and a long-sleeved shirt. Didn't really need them, as the sun was out and I didn't get started until 9 AM, so it was already warmish. I could easily have worn the capri-length leggings and a short-sleeved shirt. I'll remember that for these fall days when it's not really that cold yet. I expect the longer leggings and long-sleeved shirts will come in handy later in the season when it's colder, but for now the days are still clear and in the 70s and it's not that cold unless I start much earlier in the morning. Even then, I could probably just wear my jacket for the first hour or so and then take it off for the rest of the run.

I brought several GUs with me but only ate one, near the end of the run. It was Salted Caramel flavor, and it was delicious! I loved the little bit of salt in it. I started out with my usual protein drink before the run, and it seemed to keep me going pretty much the whole way. But I do want to get in the habit of eating something on a regular schedule, once I figure out what works best.

Week 1: Five Miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
1:19:53 hours
5.40 miles
14.8 minutes/per mile

Now, that was a good run! Temperature was around 59 F when I started out, 64 F when I finished. Nice and cool. I drank a protein drink (8 oz soy milk, 4 oz coconut water, scoop of protein powder, spoonful of cocoa, drizzle of agave nectar) in the truck on my way to the park, didn't bring any other water or GU with me, since I'd only be running five miles. Felt really good and strong the whole way and kept up a good pace. Only problem was digestive wonkiness, which is annoying because I got up at 7 AM and left for the park a little after 9 AM, so I had plenty of time to get my digestion moving before I left. But it still went wonky on me. My last two miles were pretty much "I'd better turn around and head for the bathroom... no, I'm ok I'll just keep going... no, I need a bathroom now... well, I'm a mile away from the bathroom so I'll just have to wait..." Kept going anyway. Actually, I was probably faster on my last mile because I was in such a hurry to get back to the parking lot & bathroom, heh.

One good thing about doing so poorly in Long Beach is that I'm that much more eager to get out there and do another one and do better this time! So I've decided my next race will be the Surf City Half Marathon on February 7. The time limit for the half marathon is about 5 hours, so I'll certainly be able to finish. It will be nice and cool in February in Huntington Beach, it's convenient to drive to, and three and a half months will allow me to train up in good time while still allowing for occasional breaks for the weather. In fact, I've decided that, since I'm already trained up for a half marathon, I'll go ahead and continue training as if I'm going to do a full marathon. For several reasons: for one, I do want to know how fast I can reasonably expect to do a marathon, in case I want to try one that has, say, a 7-hour time limit. Also, it will be more fun than just doing a 10- to 15-mile run every other week to keep myself trained up for the half, not to mention that my half marathon time will be that much better if my longest training run is a full 26 miles. But if the winter weather intervenes and I skip some long runs and end up only getting up to 20 or 23 miles, no big, I'm still only doing a half marathon.

Surf City is also part of the Beach Cities Challenge, which also includes Long Beach and the OC Marathon on May 1. So if Surf City goes well, I'll have my next half marathon already chosen. OC has a 3.5 hour time limit for the half marathon, but that's certainly doable as long as I keep up my training and don't make any big mistakes during the race.

One thing I want to do for the next race is try some different foods. I do think that my problem with running out of steam in Long Beach and my 23-mile training run in Monterey is as much due to low blood sugar as anything else, from eating energy gels early and nothing later. They do warn that once you start using energy gels you have to keep using them throughout the race, or your blood sugar will crash, because they're pretty much pure sugar -- they give you a quick boost, but wear off just as quickly. So I either need to schedule and make sure I eat my GU at regular intervals, no matter if I'm not hungry or my stomach is wonky or whatever, or switch to something that will have less of a rollercoaster effect on my blood sugar, so it won't be such a big letdown if I forget or skip a food break. Maybe crackers or pretzels or a banana-peanut butter sandwich or something like that. I will start experimenting on my next long runs.

I didn't use to have this problem when I was running before, but I'm older now and I suppose things change. I don't think I've been taking food seriously enough during my training for Long Beach, and it really messed me up. This time I will give it more consideration.

Long Beach Half Marathon

I did it!

It was a hard race, and a trip that could have gone better in a lot of ways, but I did it.

I arrived in Long Beach at around 4:30 PM on Saturday, checked into the Renaissance Hotel, threw my stuff down and headed out to pick up my race packet at the Expo. Despite knowing that packet pickup would stay open until 6 PM, I was frazzled and stressed and in a hurry to get it. Took a turn around the Expo, but having rushed out of the hotel into the 93 F heat without stopping to change into cooler clothes or even to drink a glass of water, I didn't stay long. Just wanted to relax in my hotel room and rest up for the race.

I brought a vegan meal from home, not wanting to have to go out in search of food in the evening, and risk getting something that would upset my stomach, and that turned out to be a good idea. I had scrambled tofu with vegetables and rice and it was yummy. Watched TV and went to bed early, with my alarm set for 5:30 AM, to give me plenty of time to wake up and get ready for the half marathon start at 7:30 AM.

Had a shower in the morning, drank coffee and a protein drink (also brought from home), got dressed and pinned on my bib, and sorted my running pack. I'd brought both the pack with the water bottle and the one without, switched back and forth several times, then finally decided to take the water bottle, for two reasons: one, so I'd have water to drink with my GU and not have to wait for a water station; and two, because it would be easier to get my phone in and out of the pocket on the larger pack.

Headed out a little after 7 AM to find my starting corral. It was already hot, humid and cloudless, not a good sign. I was in the last wave and crossed the starting line around 7:40 AM. I started out strong and was making good time for the first eight miles or so. Ate a GU at around mile 5, which turned out to be my only one. Stomach was wonky from stress and drinking a Nuun by mistake (electrolyte drink they were handing out — I meant to grab water but got the Nuun, and drank it anyway) and I don't think it agreed with me, plus the heat killed my appetite, so I didn't really want anything more to eat. Probably should have forced down another one anyway.

Started slowing down a bit in the ninth mile. Skipped a run interval or two, but was still keeping on, but by mile ten, I was really dragging, and pretty much stopped running. Dear heaven, it was hot! I think it had already hit 90 F by 10 AM, or close to it, and the humidity made it worse. I wet my handkerchief and put it around my neck, and poured a glass of water over my head at every water station (one time, one of the volunteers threw a glass of water over me, heh, I was soaked but I didn't mind!), which helped, but not enough. By mile twelve, I was feeling very weak and exhausted, and starting to see sparkles, like I did near the end of my 22-mile run in Monterey. I really, really wanted to stop and rest a bit, but I knew if I did, I wouldn't be able to get going again, so I just kept pushing on. The last mile was torture, but I crossed the finish line still upright and moving! Got my finisher's medal, picked up a bottle of water, a big can of coconut water, and a bag of snacks, then got through to the fenced-off area where the finisher's photos were being taken. Found a patch of shade and sat down in the grass to rest.

I drank the whole can of coconut water and rested for 10 minutes or so. Tried to get up once to toss the empty can, managed to get to the trash can but was still pretty dizzy and wobbly so went back to the shade and sat down again. Another 10 minutes or so and I felt ready to get up. Still a little wobbly but got my picture taken and headed out to try to figure out how to get back to my hotel. Stopped along the way when I went through a grassy area to rest under a tree and eat a protein bar that was in my bag of snacks. That helped perk me up a bit (but then I read the ingredients and saw that it had both sucralose and stevia — fortunately it didn't bother me too much, but I could have used some sugar instead), and then I walked back to my hotel. Plopped down with my computer to rest some more, ate the rest of my snacks (blue potato chips, pistachios, and a flax seed bar of some kind?) and drank more water.

Couple of hours later, I was finally revived enough to take a shower and go out for something to eat. I would have just gotten something at the hotel, but their restaurant was breakfast-only and already closed, so I went out and started walking up Pine Street, hoping to find something appealing nearby. Didn't really find anything, so I ended up searching vegan restaurants on my phone and finding one that wasn't too far away. Ate lunch at Ahimsa Vegan Cafe, and it was wonderful! I had the Thai Temple Bowl (delicious tofu and vegetables over brown rice with peanut sauce) and lemonade, and ordered a Tempeh Reuben to go, so I could have it for dinner and not have to go out again. Before I left, I also picked up a slice of cherry pie and a coconut water with aloe drink. Really yummy food, so satisfying and delicious! Wish we had a restaurant like that around here.

I was half inclined to just get up this morning and head home, but decided that as long as I was in Long Beach, I really should visit the Aquarium of the Pacific, at least for a short time. They opened at 9 AM, so I figured I could stay for an hour and a half and still have time to get back to the hotel and check out by 11 AM. And I had a coupon for a $5 ticket if I showed them my race bib. Saw lots of wonderful fishes, big and small, jellies and seahorses, dragonfish, tangs and turbots, sharks and rays and clownfish and one triggerfish! Also puffins and seals and sea lions. Took lots of pictures and petted some sharks and rays and jellies. And also found out from the jelly guy that they decided after all to let the half marathoners have an early start, along with the full marathoners. So I could have started at 6 AM if I'd known, sigh. Would have made such a big difference. But I didn't know, so oh well.

My official time was 3:39:15. Slow, but not as bad as it could have been, and at least I finished!

Week 26: Five miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
1:22 hours
5.43 miles
15.2 min/mile

I did my run on Friday morning this week, because I was heading out of town for the weekend and wouldn't have time on Saturday. I did pretty well, despite being tired and headachy and really not wanting to run at all. I took some Tylenol and futzed around for a while, and finally headed out around 8 AM. I started out thinking I'd just run around the house to save a little time, then thought maybe I'd just park at the mailboxes and run along Dennison and Valley the way I used to do, but ended up driving to the park after all, as I generally do. The weather was cool for a change—I wore my long leggings and long-sleeved shirt, and actually needed them for most of the run. Kept up a good pace and felt fine, although my headache never really went away.

This week was the first week that I skipped one of my midweek runs. Well, unless you count the week I was in Disneyland, but I figured walking all day long was just as good. I've just had a really hard time this week, feeling depressed and really tired and enervated. But I've managed to get in every long run on my schedule, even though a few were cut a bit short or had a long interruption. I got out there every week and ran, though, which is an accomplishment. Now, just two more midweek runs, and then the half marathon!

Week 25: Fourteen miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
3:52 hours
14.49  miles
16.1 min/mile

Good run today! I was a bit worried, as I had a migraine yesterday, and drank green tea at lunch to try to help fight it off, so was a bit caffeinated last night. I didn't sleep as well as I could have, and for some reason decided to set the alarm for 5:30 AM instead of 5 AM and ended up not getting to the park until 7 AM, and my digestion hadn't quite kicked into gear when I left. In addition, I kept forgetting to finish washing my running clothes (had them soaking in the wash tub for two days) until I was about to go to bed last night, when I finally got them washed and hung up to dry, but the shorts and bra were still damp this morning, so I ended up using my not-as-comfy Kmart bra and over-the-knee running tights instead.

Despite all that, I felt pretty good and got off to a good energetic start. I'd had a protein drink before my run, and brought three GUs with me and used them all. They were 40 mg caffeine, 20 mg caffeine, and no caffeine and I used them in that order, at around 6, 9, and 12 miles.

I ended up having to stop and use the bathroom after 9 miles (see digestion not in gear when I left). If I'd gotten up at 5 AM and had another half hour at home to drink coffee and wake up and use the bathroom one more time, I might have been able to avoid the stop. I hope I don't have to make any bathroom stops during the actual half marathon, but even if I do, as long as there's not a big line, it shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes. I put my app on pause while I was in the bathroom, because I felt like I was doing a pretty good pace and didn't want to throw it off, but a few minutes wouldn't have made that much difference. I did also take time to throw water on my face and refill my water bottle, because it was getting hot by then.

The weather was no bother until around 10 AM, when it started to get pretty hot. It was probably over 80 F by the time I finished. I could feel the heat slowing me down, but I poured water over my head and dribbled it down my back, and wet my handkerchief and put it around my neck, and was able to keep going pretty well. High today is supposed to be 88 F, so I'm glad I was finished by 11 AM! I've been watching the weather for Long Beach, and they've been having some days in the high 80s, too. Yikes! Hope it cools down by the half marathon. That's only two weeks away now! But even if it's still hot by then, I've already proved I can do a half marathon-length run starting at 7 AM and finishing in heat and still keep a good pace. I'm ready!

Week 24: MM + 3 miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
1:08 hours
4.36 miles
15.7 minutes/mile
Magic Mile: 14.2 minutes

Great run! I'm in Monterey again this weekend for a visit, so I did my long run from my friend's house up to the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail and along the trail. Went much better than last time I tried it! Of course, I only went a fraction of the distance. I thought I was scheduled for a five mile run this weekend, but when I fired up my app, it was only four miles, with one Magic Mile, so even shorter than I expected.

It's been a tiring weekend, and a hard one on my stomach, as I've been eating a lot of dairy when I couldn't find vegan options, which doesn't really agree with me anymore. I was up late last night, driving back from the city after an opera, and got up this morning feeling worn out and stomach-rumbly and head-achy. It would have been tempting to bag it, but I figured since it was a short run, I'd just take it easy and get it done, and I knew some exercise would make me feel better anyway. I got started around 9:30 AM, and it was already near 80 F with no clouds, but there was some shade on the trail and I guess I'm used to the heat by now, at least on a short run, so I carried on.

The hardest part was when I got to the street I needed to turn up to get back to my friend's house. It was uphill and hard going, but I was on my last mile, so I just kept plodding along. I admit I was glad there were traffic lights at the corners that sometimes forced a brief rest while I waited for the light to change.

I sort of outsmarted myself when I neared the end. The run had finished anyway and I was just walking it in, and I was trying to avoid the steep hill up my friend's street by turning up a less steep street that I thought was one block short of home, thinking I'd cut across one of the little side streets and hope I could avoide the worst of the hills. Turned out I was actually about three or four blocks short of her street, and some of the side streets didn't go through to where I wanted to go, and I ended up having to go all the way up to the street above my friend's street on some hills that were as steep or steeper than the one I was trying to avoid! I'd have been better off just to come back the way I went out.

Anyway, I do feel much better now, that run really cleared away the cobwebs, so I'm glad I didn't skip it. Even kept my time under 16 minutes for the whole run, even with the traffic lights and hills on the way back.

Week 23: Twelve and a half miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
3:44:38 hours
12.81 miles
17.5 minutes/mile

Well, okay, it looks like somehow I didn't get the GPS turned on, and the distance was off, because I did four full loops plus one and a half lower loops, which is more like 13.5 miles than 12.5. My Stepz app (which for some reason seems to have the most accurate mileage, even though it doesn't use the GPS) says I did 13.7 miles today. Which would make my pace 16.4 minutes per mile, not 17.5. Hmph. Didn't think I was that slow. (My Health app says I did 14.94 miles today. Heh. It's always high, the running app is low, and Stepz is just about right.)

I was scheduled to do a 26-mile run today, but plans have changed. After such nice weather last week, we were back to forecasts of 90 F all weekend long, and between dreading trying to finish an eight-hour run in 90 degree weather, and not being able to properly finish my last two long runs, I thought about it and decided that I was not fully confident of being able to finish my training and complete a full marathon. So I switched my registration from the full marathon to the half marathon, and re-did my schedule based on that. Now my schedule is 12.5 miles today, 5 miles next weekend, then 14 miles, then 6, and then the half marathon! Since I've already trained up to over 20 miles, it should be relatively easy to do a half, and today's run was in fact no problem. I am thinking of resuming marathon training after Long Beach, when the weather's cooler, and doing Honolulu in December. We'll see. I won't make any decisions until after Long Beach.

So for today, I got up early—I'd set my alarm for 5 AM, but woke up at 4:40 and went ahead and got up—and was ready to hit the road by 5:40 AM. But I hadn't taken into consideration that the days are getting shorter, and it was still full dark at 5:40 AM. So I hung around until the sky started to lighten, which was around 6 AM, and hit the road, figuring it would be light enough to run by the time I got to the park, which it was. It was a pleasant 60 F when I got started.

I brought three GUs with me and used them all, which I think really helped keep my energy up. Two of them had caffeine, which also gave me a lift. I generally avoid caffeine, because it keeps me up at night, but the amount of caffeine in GU is fairly small, and I figure I burn it off while running. I brought one GU with no caffeine, one with 20 mg, and one with 40 mg. Same as about half a cup of coffee for both of those, and it's early in the day, so I don't think it will bother me. Also drank most of a full bottle of water. I had a protein drink in the morning before I left.

It was starting to get pretty warm by the time I finished, at a little after 10 AM, but there was some slight cloud cover that kept the sun from beating down too hard, so the heat didn't bother me much. My digestion was a bit wonky, that might have slowed me down a little, but I didn't stop to use the bathroom until after I'd finished the run. I wanted to see if I could do a half marathon without any bathroom breaks, and it looks like I can!

All in all, I'm much more relaxed and looking forward to my runs instead of dreading them, so I'm glad I decided to do the half instead of the full marathon this time.

Week 22: Seven miles

30:45 sec run/walk ratio
1:58 hours
7.38 miles
16.0 min/mile

Good run today!

I ended up using a different run/walk ratio—I'd bumped it up for my midweek run Thursday, and of course forgot to change it back. I only noticed when I started my first run interval today. Since I was already out there, I just let it go. I actually think it feels better to run a little longer. With the 20 sec run interval, sometimes I feel like I'm just hitting my stride when it's time to start walking. It felt good to use the 30:45 sec ratio for the whole run, and I never got tired of running that long. I wish I'd started it sooner—at this point, it might be too late to switch for the marathon. I've only got 26-mile run to do, then three more 6 – 7 mile runs. I guess I could try it next week on the 26-mile run and see how it goes.

The weather was great today, in the low-to-mid 60s all morning. I didn't get started until a little after 9 AM, even wore my capri leggings instead of shorts because it was still cold when I headed out. So nice to run without getting beaten down by the hot sun!

I got my new running pouch from Amphipod, and I really like it. It turned out to be smaller than I'd imagined, even though I checked the measurements. I was afraid it might be bulky and in the way on my belt, but it isn't. It's barely wider than the belt, and fits nice and snug against my waist. I also worried, once I saw it, that it would be too small to be useful, but it's great! It has a separate compartment for ID, which fit my driver's license just right and kept it secure and safe from accidentally being pulled out with other stuff. Also has a tiny key compartment, which would be fine for one or two keys on a small ring, but didn't really fit my truck remote, so I put my keys in the lower pocket of the main pouch, with my handkerchief and lip balm. I only put one GU in my new pouch today, since it was a short run, but it's stretchy and I'm sure I'll be able to shove 6 or 7 GUs or gummy packs in there for the marathon, and they'll be easily reachable and convenient. So, plenty of room for everything now!

Good time today. I don't know if it's because of the cool weather, late start, longer run interval, or some combination or all of the above, but it was good to be able to finish a run with a good pace and still feeling strong.

Week 21: Six miles

20:40 second run/walk ratio
1:42 hours
6.40 miles
16.0 minutes/mile

Pretty good run today! Actually kept up a good pace the whole way and felt pretty good.

I've been thinking about running out of steam on my last two mileage-increasing runs, and decided that I'm just not eating enough. I used to always take GU with me on any run longer than an hour—at least 1 GU per hour I expected to be running. I didn't always use all of them, but I'd eat all but one or two as I was running. This time, for some reason, I've been assuming I didn't need much food and only taking one or two gels or gummy packs along. So I ordered a 24-pak box of assorted GU and now have plenty to take along on each of my remaining runs and the marathon. Some of them have caffeine and some don't—I figure I'll use the non-caffeine ones early and the caffeine ones later when I need an energy boost. I usually avoid caffeine, but the GUs don't have a lot of it—20 mg in some, 40 mg in others—and I expect I'll burn it up while running so it won't bother me too much afterwards. I remember I used to save one caffeinated GU for around mile 18 of really long runs and really liked the boost.

I also ordered another pouch for my belt to carry all the GU and stuff I'll need for long runs. One of the reasons I haven't been taking a lot of food with me is that I just don't have room for it in my belt pack. It has one big pocket for my phone, and then one smaller pocket for everything else—once I stuff it with handkerchief, chapstick, battery stick & cord, keys, etc., there's no room for 6 - 7 GUs and gummies. For shorter runs, especially if I don't need the battery stick, I can manage, but for anything over 12 - 15 miles, I need more room. So another pouch will hold all the extra stuff I need.

For today, since it was just 6 miles, the regular pack was fine. I put coconut water in my water bottle and took one GU with 20 mg caffeine. Didn't think I would really need it for six miles, but wanted to experiment with foods and waters since there is not that much time left before the marathon. I also skipped breakfast—I meant to have a protein drink, but my stomach wasn't really ready, and I figured it would be a good test of whether GUs and coconut water alone could keep me going in later parts of longer runs. I drank most of the coconut water and ate the GU about halfway through the run. Had plenty of energy the whole way.

I got up at 5 AM and was at the park by 6:20 AM to start my run. Supposed to reach 90 F today, but with an early start for a short run, I was finished a little after 8 AM and before the morning started to get too hot. The only problem I had was some pain in my right groin area. I'd strained it during my 23-mile run last week, although I had no pain while I was running, after I stopped and my muscles cooled down, I had a lot of pain and soreness on both sides, but especially on the right. It got better after a few days, and I did both of my midweek runs without any trouble (on Tuesday and Thursday this week, because I was still pretty wiped out on Monday). But when I started out today, I had a very sharp pain as soon as I started running. I kept going, hoping it would work itself out, massaging the area while I walked and trying to run gently. It did ease up after a bit, and was mostly just a dull heaviness by the end of the first mile. It didn't seem to slow me down any.

I'm encouraged by the way things went today, and I have a plan to keep up my energy throughout the marathon. Of course, the 26-mile run will be the real test, but so far, so good!

Week 20: Twenty-three miles

 EDIT: I found my stats! Turned out I hadn't actually stopped the workout running on the app, it just got shoved into the background and paused. Once I finally closed the workout, my stats showed up in history. So here they are:

20:40 second run/walk ratio for ~18 - 20 miles? then walked the rest of the way
6:31 hours
22.47 miles
17.4 minutes/mile

That's not actually too bad, considering how much I slowed down for the last few miles, and stopped to rest a couple of times. Very close to getting the full 23 miles in.

-------

No stats today—my app got all screwed up somewhere along the way. My best estimate is 7 hours for 22 - 23 miles. Close enough.

I'm in Monterey this weekend, visiting a friend, and taking advantage of the cool coastal weather to do my 23-mile run. I ran up the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail, from Monterey near the Aquarium, all the way to the Starbucks in Marina on Del Monte and Reservation Dr. Got up at 6:30 AM and hit the road at 7:10 AM, running from her place up to pick up the trail near the Aquarium, and out.

The first half of the run was great! Beautiful cool weather, lovely scenery, and lots of fun taking a new route I'd never run before, especially one I could run out and back the whole way. I'd checked the map online and figured that the Marina Starbucks would be just about half way, and sure enough, my app told me I was halfway there about a block short of the Starbucks.

There my plans began to go awry. I'd brought a $10 bill with me to buy a cold drink and a snack at Starbucks, but I'd tucked it in the same pocket as my phone, and somewhere along the way when I took my phone out to check my distance or take a picture, the money had fallen out. So I arrived at Starbucks with no money. I did use the bathroom and refilled my water bottle, but no drinks or snacks for me! I'd only brought one gel and one pack of gummies along, thinking I'd have one halfway there, one halfway back, plus whatever I got at Starbucks. (I also drank a protein drink before starting out.) With no money, I ended up eating my second gel soon after the turnaround, with nothing more to eat for the second half of the run.

It was also around here somewhere that I hit the wrong button and my app flipped out. It was still timing my run/walk intervals, but had somehow decided I needed to run 18 more miles when I'd already gone over half way, and really only needed another 11-ish miles. Oh well. I'd gone halfway and turned around, all I needed to do was go back the way I came.

My phone battery was low, and I plugged in the battery stick. That worked well, although I wasn't sure it was going to at the time, because it didn't look like it was charging. It was, though—the app kept going the whole way back, and my phone was fully charged when I got home.

Around 11 AM, the overcast cleared up and I started getting some sun. Not anywhere near as bad as in Tehachapi, but the combination of no food and sun and my water bottle running low eventually did me in when I got near Fisherman's Wharf. My vision was going bright and I was feeling really tired. I'd already stopped for a brief rest, which helped me keep going a little way, and I was no longer doing any run intervals, but finally I had to stop again in a patch of shade, and had to squat down to rest, and started getting dizzy and almost passing out. A very nice guy stopped to see if I was all right. I managed to stand up and told him I'd just gotten dizzy, too hot and not enough water (although I had found a water fountain just shortly before, and refilled my bottle, but not soon enough) and no food. He wanted to call someone, I said I had my phone and maybe I should call my friend to come and get me. So I did.

I was already feeling better, and was able to walk back a bit and out to the street so my friend could find me. I only had no more than a mile and a half to go, and probably could have made it once I rested, but it was also nice to get a ride home and not have to try.

I think I still got my 23 miles in—my Step app says I did 23.1 miles today. So I don't mind cutting it a bit short, although I hope the getting dizzy near the end doesn't become a thing. I was also wondering whether doing my twenty-mile run in two sections six hours apart might make the 23-mile run harder. Maybe my body still thinks the 15 mile section is my longest run, which would definitely make a 23-mile run harder.

Anyway, it got done, and it was a a good run most of the way! Coming up to Monterey to do the long run was a good idea. If it's still hot in Tehachapi in three weeks, I might come back to do the 26-miler.

Week 19: 1 mile + Magic Mile + 4 miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
1:43 hours
6.39 miles
16.2 minutes/mile
15:59 Magic Mile

Another recovery run done! I got up at 5 AM and got to the park by 6:20 AM. Even though it was only a 6-mile run, the high today is supposed to be 93 F, so I wanted to get an early start and get done before it started to get hot. I was actually kind of cold for my first mile or so—it was around 60 F when I started, but I wore my shorts and short-sleeved tee-shirt, because I knew it would get hotter soon enough. As soon as the sun came over the horizon, it warmed up.

I thought I would be able to go faster today, since I was running in mostly cool-ish weather, but I still ended up doing just over 16 minute miles. Hm. When I did my first 6-mile training run last spring, I did 15-minute miles. I was just looking at my old entries to try to see what the difference was. For one thing, it was cool all day so I didn't start until 10:30 AM, and I had a cool breeze all throughout my run. So that probably helped. Oh well, 16-minute miles are fine, too. Just getting the training done is the important thing!

Week 18: Six miles

20:40 second run/walk ratio
1:51 hours
6.31 miles
17.6 minutes/mile

I decided to run at home this morning, because I had somewhere to be at 11:30 AM and I wanted to save a little time. I didn't use the GPS, and I'm pretty sure I actually went more than 6.31 miles, so my pace was probably better than that. I tried to count laps, but lost count fairly quickly, and decided to just go as far as the app told me to. I think I had done a little more than 10 laps when it told me I'd gone a mile, so I was probably doing more than an extra half-lap per mile. But in any case, I finished my run without any problems. I started a little bit late, around 8:12 AM, but the weather was cooler today, probably in the mid-70s when I was running, and there was still some shade at the back of the house and over the driveway, so I didn't get hot. I didn't take my water bottle or any food since it was a short run. And that's another one done.

Oh, I also realized this week that the battery stick/charger and the headphones do not actually use the same port. I don't even know what I was thinking. I decided to check online for a headphone splitter, so I could plug in both at once, and when I saw that they had the little round headphone plug, not a USB port, I slapped my forehead and went D'oh! Of course the headphones have their own place to plug in. So that's one problem, which was never really a problem, solved!

Week 17: Fifteen + Five Miles

20:40 second run/walk ratio
4:38:20 hours
15.90 miles
17.5 minutes/mile

35:65 second (appx) run/walk ratio
1:18:54 hours
4.7 miles
16.8 minutes/mile

Well, today's run was a big mess. I got up early enough—right at 5 AM, got ready, and was about to head out at 5:45, when my running app started acting up, demanding that I had to log in in order to start the app running. I futzed around with it for about 15 minutes, finally gave up and registered an account, then headed out, only to remember a few minutes down the road that I'd forgotten to bring my battery stick, and I knew my battery phone couldn't last for 20 miles, so I had to go back and get it.

Still, I got to the park by 6:30 and started my 20-mile run. It was hot today—forecast was for 90 F, but it was also supposed to be partly cloudy, so I was hoping for some shade. No luck! The only clouds were little wispy ones near the horizon, nothing to stand between me and the hot sun. It started getting hot around 7 AM. Still, I did my first 8 miles or so without too much trouble, but by the time I'd gone 10 miles, I was exhausted and ready to quit. I ate a gel at about 9 miles, and started drinking water, little sips at first, then more and more as the day went on.

At maybe 12 miles, I decided to stop at the restroom to refill my water bottle and pour water over my face and head. That helped, so I planned to stop every three miles to soak my head. (In this week's paper, there was an article about planned improvements at Meadowbrook Park, and one of their plans is to install a misting station along the trail. That will be awesome! But it won't be done until next spring, so won't help me at all for this marathon!)

I stopped at 15 miles, and noticed that my phone battery was very low. I splashed water on my face and head, but was still very hot and tired. It was already 11 PM and only getting hotter. I thought about heading home to wait out the heat of the day and finishing my run later, but had just about decided to stick it out, when I discovered that I'd brought the wrong cord for the battery stick—I'd forgotten that the iPhone doesn't use a normal micro-USB connection, and the one I brought wouldn't plug into my phone. So that was that. I jumped in the truck and came home. I plugged in my phone to recharge, then settled in to rest for a few hours until the day cooled down enough to finish my run.

I was hoping to get back out at around 2 PM, but it was still blazing hot so I waited until 4 PM, and it was still hot, so I waited until nearly 5 PM, and then decided to get started anyway, and just walk the remaining nearly 5 miles if necessary. The sun was still hot, but I had some shade from the oak tree and the hill behind the house, so I went ahead and did some run intervals. I was hoping if I left the app running but paused, I'd be able to just start it up again to finish, but somehow I ended up stopping it, so I just used my phone to count laps (44 laps = appx 4.7 miles), and ran about 35 seconds each lap, then walked the rest of the way. I felt much better than I did this morning, with shade to run in!

Anyway, I got 20 miles in, although there was a six hour break between the first 15 miles and the last 5.

Week 16: 1 mile + Magic Mile + 4 miles

20:40 second run/walk ratio
1:41:54 hours
6.38 miles
16.0 min/mile
15:54 Magic Mile

Pretty good run today, although I was confused about how long it was and messed up my Magic Mile! It started off as usual with three minutes walking to warm up, then he said, "Go for one mile!" and I wasn't sure whether that one mile run was supposed to be a warm up (because before we've always done 5 minutes run to warm up before a Magic Mile) or whether that was the Magic Mile. I decided to go ahead and push it a bit, in case it was the Magic Mile, but then when it was over, he said that now we'd start the Magic Mile. So there I was, on the uphill side, having already pushed for one mile, about to do the Magic Mile uphill all the way. Oops! I still pushed a bit, and felt pretty good, and in fact did my Magic Mile in under 16 minutes, so it was fine. And I don't worry that much about the Magic Miles anyway. I don't think the Magic Mile is very accurate for predicting marathon times at my speed. I don't really do my long runs much slower than my short runs.

But then I was wondering, when the day's run called for "Magic Mile plus 4 miles," whether that 4 miles included the warm-up mile before the Magic Mile. Turned out to be four more miles after the Magic Mile, so the total for the day was six miles. But I felt good the whole way, didn't get really tired at all. Partly the weather—even though I got a slow start, and didn't get to the park until around 9:20 AM, it wasn't very hot, no more than around 75 F, I think, and there was a nice breeze. Also, getting a little extra sleep this morning helped.

It was nice to have a good run, especially since yesterday I was considering skipping the long run this week! I had a really hard week, working on clearing the brush off my property. I'd worked for four hours in the heat on Thursday, and had to clear a fallen tree off the road as well, and Friday I was so sore and exhausted I just wanted to collapse. Didn't know if I'd be recovered enough to run today. But it was a short one, so I figured I'd just go and take it easy. I'm glad I did! I think the run actually helped work some of the kinks out of my back and shoulders, so I feel better than I did before I started.

Next week is another mile-extender—20 miles! The weather report is currently calling for 88 F and clear on Saturday. I'd better start setting my alarm so I'm used to getting up early this week. I want to try to get to the park around 6 AM so I can finish before noon.

Week 15: Five miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
1:24:09 hours
5.42 miles
15.5 min/mile

Ah, a nice short run today. I was thinking of running on Dennison & Valley today, but went on to Meadowbrook Park instead, as I always seem to do.  But it's so pretty and pleasant to run there, I suppose it's worth the extra ten minutes to drive down to the park.

The weather was pleasant, mostly clear but not too hot. The weather report had been for clouds and thunderstorms today, but it didn't really start to cloud up until I was nearly done with my run.

I decided to practice taking pictures along the way, since I'll be wanting to do that during the marathon, and wanted to make sure switching back and forth between camera & my running app wouldn't be a problem. It wasn't, it was very easy. I took some pictures just in the camera and a few I took from the Instagram app and posted them to my Instagram, since I thought it would be fun to live-Instagram my marathon. Both worked fine. One problem might be that I'll have to run with my phone in my hand, or else be fumbling it in and out of my running belt camera pocket all the time. I didn't mind holding it while I ran for a mile or so, but then I started to get tired of it. I suppose I'll be able to put it away when I don't want to hold it. I won't be taking pictures constantly, maybe a few every mile or so.

The other problem will be making sure my phone battery doesn't run out. My battery was getting low after the 17-mile run last week. It might have gone another mile or so, but I was getting low-battery warnings, so it definitely wouldn't have lasted a full 26 miles. On the one hand, I was using the GPS  last week, which uses more power, and I won't need the GPS during the actual marathon, so that will help. On the other hand, I will be taking and posting pictures, which will take some battery power. Probably not as much as the GPS, but will it last out the marathon? I might also turn off the vibrating notification, since that probably takes more battery, too. And I do have a battery stick I can take with me to recharge the phone if it gets low. Problem with that is, I have to plug it into the same slot the headphones use, so I won't be able to use headphones and charge at the same time. One option would be to get another interval timer and just use the phone for camera. Or hold the phone while it's charging and either watch the intervals or turn the vibrating alarm back on so I can feel them. I guess if I have the volume turned up loud enough, I can hear the intervals without headphones. Will have to experiment with that some more on the next long runs.

(If I had Bluetooth headphones, I wouldn't need to plug them in. But Bluetooth uses a lot more power, too, so my battery would drain even faster.)

Anyway, had a good run today.

Week 15: Seventeen miles

20:40 second run/walk ratio
5:05:59 hours
17.58 miles
17.4 minutes/mile

Got my 17-mile run done! I'm somewhat disappointed in my time, but oh well. I should be able to do better in the actual marathon—I'll be better trained, the weather should be cooler, and there won't be as many hills.

The weather wasn't too bad, though. The high today was supposed to be  82 F but it looks like it won't go over 80 F. It's about 75 F right now. It was partly cloudy most of the morning with a slight breeze, so I never felt overheated.

I got up at 5 AM and got to the park and started my run at 6:30 AM. It was cool then. I wore my shorts and black short-sleeved shirt, with the long-sleeved running shirt over it for the first three or four miles. When it warmed up enough, I took off the long-sleeved shirt and left it in the truck. That worked pretty well. I wasn't too cold for the first hour, or too hot for the rest of the time.

I felt pretty good most of the time—I just got tired! For one thing, I was in Disneyland earlier in the week, and I'm not sure I was completely recuperated from that. I walked over 12 miles on Monday, and over 7 miles on Tuesday, plus all the driving. I didn't feel too tired, but I have been sleeping in a bit these past few days, which didn't help, either, when I had to get up early this morning and probably didn't get enough sleep last night. So I guess I have a pretty good excuse for a slow run today.

I also don't think I got enough to eat. I had a protein drink at home before I left to start me off, but I only brought one gel thing with me. It was extra large, so I thought it would go for two servings, but it was a thin kind of applesauce-y thing that was only one serving, and I got hungry again and didn't have anything else to eat. Must remember to take more food on these long runs.

I made one bathroom stop—fortunately, the bathrooms were unlocked this time! I didn't pause my app, but it only took a couple of minutes so I don't think it added much to my time.

In any case, I got it done and it went pretty well, if a bit slow. I'll be doing the long runs every third week from now on, so the next two weeks are five-milers. I'll be able to rest up and be ready for the next mileage increase—20 miles in three weeks!

Week 14: Magic Mile +4 miles

20:40 second run/walk ratio
1:28 hours
5.64 miles
15.8 minutes/mile
15:04 minute Magic Mile

My time was pretty good today, which surprised me a bit, because I felt like I was plodding along pretty slowly. I ran at home today and didn't use the GPS, which generally tends to overestimate the miles, so I probably did even better than that. In fact, I counted laps on my Magic Mile and did ten full laps before it told me my mile was finished, so my time was probably actually closer to 14 minutes.

I ran at home because I slept in a bit late, and it was 7:15 AM before I was ready to run. Didn't want to take that extra 20 minutes to drive to the park, because it was already getting hot. Supposed to be another 90 F day today. It was "only" around 80 F when I finished running, but I was still feeling the heat.

I bought myself a running visor at Big 5, and wore it today. It was nice to have the top of my head uncovered. I also cut my hair short, so that helped keep my head cooler, too. I didn't take my water bottle, because it was a shorter run, but I kind of wish I had. I was starting to wish I had a drink at that last mile.

Next week, 17 miles! The weather report is currently calling for a high of 81 F next Saturday. Still hot, but much better than 91F. I should have no trouble if I get an early start.

Week 13: Fourteen miles

20:40 second run/walk ratio
4:00 hours
14.46 miles
16.6 minutes/mile

It was a hot one today, so I got up early—5 AM—and got my morning chores done so I could get to the park by 6:15 AM. I drank a protein drink before I left, and I think it helped keep my energy up for four hours. It was also nice to get most of the run out of the way before it got too hot. It was around 65 F this morning when I got started. I think it was at least 85 F when I finished.

It was a good run! A bit slow, because of the heat, but I felt good the whole time and didn't have any trouble keeping up my run segments. When it started to get hot, I drank water and used a wet handkerchief around my neck and dumped water on my head, and I didn't feel too hot. I do think I should get a visor to wear instead of a hat. I soaked my hat so it would carry heat away from my head, but occasionally I'd take it off and my head felt much cooler without it. But I do like having the bill of the cap to keep the sun out of my eyes. I don't like wearing sunglasses when I run because they get too hot and steamy. I also want to get my hair cut short-short so it will keep my head cooler.

I took two gels with me, and ate both of them, one at around 8 miles and the other at around 12 miles. I think they helped, too. I used just about my whole water bottle, both drinking and soaking my handkerchief and hair. I had another bottle in the truck if I'd needed it, but I didn't quite. Fortunately, I didn't need the bathroom, because it was locked today. Aargh! I walked around the playing fields afterwards to see if there were water faucets/fountains I could use if the bathrooms were locked, but they had their valves taken off so they couldn't be used. Guess I'd better just take all the water I'll need, just in case. And hope the bathrooms are open on the days I do my really long runs!

I'm tired now but still feel pretty good. I think I'm getting the hang of this! I keep reminding myself that the long runs are going to get much longer as they go—I'm just over halfway there with 14 miles—but I'll just have to take them as they come and worry about one run at a time. Today's run is done, anyway. So far, so good!

Week 12: Four miles

20:40 second run/walk ratio
1.11 hours
4.31 miles
16.5 min/mile

Did my long run Friday this week, because in a few hours I'm heading out of town for the weekend, and didn't want to have to worry about trying to fit in a run while I'm gone. I stayed home and ran around the house, to save time, so I'm not sure about the distance, but I used my 19-bead wrist mala to count laps and it seemed to work out pretty closely to four miles.

I got up early and started a little after 7 AM. It was nice and breezy at first, but it didn't take long for the sun to come out and start beating down. I'm glad it was only a four-mile run today! It went pretty well, though. I felt fine the whole time, even though I could feel the sun slowing me down.

Week 11: Twelve miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
3:29 hours
12.45 miles
16.9 minutes/mile

Another run I was worried about—the weather was forecast to be 90 F today, and I had twelve miles to do. But it wasn't bad. I got up about quarter to 6 AM and was at the park ready to run by 7 AM. Turned out there was a 5K run about to start—for a while I was worried about whether I'd find a place to park, or be able to run on the trails, but they were starting off up the uphill side, then going out of the park onto the road, and back the same way, so the lower loop was open. I ran my first five miles or so on the lower loop, running on the inside a few times for variety, and also going off up a dirt trail through the fields that took off near the end of the spur that goes out to the railroad tracks.

By the time I finished around five and a half miles, the 5K was over and I was able to do the upper loop as well.

It was fairly warm right from the beginning, probably around 70 F at 7 AM. I wore my shorts and a short-sleeved vee-neck tee-shirt—one I found in my closet the other day that I'd totally forgotten ever buying. I used my new hydration belt and brought water and a couple of GUs with me. I ate one at around 8 miles, didn't need the second one. I used about half of my water, part of it to soak my handkerchief and wipe my face and arms with it. I put my wet handkerchief around my neck like a bandanna, and that helped cool me down.

I was getting pretty hot by the time I was doing the second half of my run, and I knew I was going to be running a slower pace than I can do when the weather's cool, but I felt okay and finished without any problems. My right hamstring got a bit of a twinge, but nothing too bad, and I'm feeling fine now, just tired. So one more long run down!

Week 10: Magic Mile + 3 miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
1:12 hours
4.70 miles
15.4 minutes/mile
14:09 minute Magic Mile

Magic Mile wasn't quite as fast as last time, which didn't surprise me—for one thing, it was hotter, and for another, I was trying out a new running belt with a water bottle and I kept trying to adjust it while I was walking, and I'm sure my walk intervals were slower than they could have been with all the fiddling.

Still and all, it was a decent run. I got to the Park by 8 AM, remembered to turn the GPS on for a change, wore the right clothes for the weather (capri tights and short-sleeved shirt), and felt good on my run.

The new running belt is an Amphipod Full Tilt Velocity Plus (whew, that's a mouthful!). It has a pack that goes in the back that holds a slightly flattened water bottle sideways, with a mesh pad against your back for comfort. It has two pockets, one larger one that fits my phone, and a smaller one for ID, keys, handkerchief. I can also stuff some GU packets in it. Both pockets are stretchy, so they can be stuffed as full as you want. The belts are also stretchy.

The problem I had was that the belt was too loose at first and the bottle was bouncing around—not so much while I was doing my slower warm-up run, but once I started the Magic Mile it was moving a lot. And it just happened to sit right at the waistband of my tights, so it was gradually pushing my waistband down as it was making my shirt ride up and it was very annoying. It was also really hard to tighten the belt—which is a good thing, in a way, because once you've got it adjusted the way you want it, it won't loosen up on its own while you're running, but it also makes it very hard to get it adjusted in the first place. I eventually got it tight enough around my hips to hold the water bottle firmly against the small of my back. It's not perfect, but I think it's as good as it's going to get. Maybe it would help just to wear different tights or shorts while I wear the belt.

It was nice to have water with me while I ran. Even though it was only four miles today, I drank a couple of times. I will really need it next week on my 12-mile run! It's supposed to be 88 F next Saturday, so it will be a hot one.

Week 9: Ten and a half miles

20:40 second run/walk ratio
2:47 hours
10.5 miles?

Well, I got my running app all messed up, so I don't really know how many miles exactly or what my pace was, but assuming I managed to maintain around 16 minute/miles, I did my 10.5 miles today. I know I was slower than usual because of the heat, and I did three complete loops of Meadowbrook Park, plus one more lower loop, which is at least 10 miles, so I'm calling it good.

What happened was that I forgot to switch on the GPS again, and was at least half a mile into my run when I remembered. I didn't want to restart the whole workout, so I just turned on GPS and continued, not knowing whether it would be able to switch on the fly. Turns out it couldn't. I kept on getting my intervals, but it wasn't keeping track of miles or pace at all. I noticed when I got to the top of the upper loop, which should have been around two miles, it said I had 10.21 miles to go! I checked again when I got back to the parking lot, and it was still at 10.21 miles. So it had just stopped counting when I switched GPS on. So I switched GPS back off and carried on. Now it started counting down miles again, but it lost the three miles I did while I had GPS on. Plus, who knows how accurate the "miles to go" are when it's not using the GPS.

Anyway, I figured I knew the approximate length of the loops, so I could just ignore what the app said and do four lower loops plus three upper loops and that would be close enough. Actually, I was going to do part of an extra loop for the extra half mile plus cool down, but I was getting kind of icky at the end and I think that doing the outside run on the lower loop is maybe more than a mile, so I skipped it. Bleah.

Anyway, the run got done, whether it was 10 miles or 10.5 or 12 (which is what my Health app said I did, heh), and it went reasonably well. I got up at 6 AM and was at the park ready to run by 7 AM, so I was able to finish before 10 AM and avoid the worst of the heat. My stomach was a bit wobbly, probably from getting up so early, but didn't really trouble me until the end. I'd brought a Power Bar with me to try, and at a few bites and drank some water right before the last mile, but I don't think my stomach liked it. May have to go back to goo. I think I can get that at Big 5.

I am still trying to figure out how to bring water along with me. I've been looking at hydration belts online, can't find one I like that has water bottles plus a pouch big enough for my phone & keys & hankie & foods. Finally, went to Big 5 yesterday and bought one there, but it's designed more for hiking than running and is very big and sort of clumsy. It has two water bottles and a big pouch, and when I got it home, it felt like the bottles would bump my elbows while I run, and that would be a big annoyance after a while. For today, I ended up just putting a bottle of water in my truck bed and stopping after every loop to grab a drink. It worked okay, but by the end I think I needed water more often. I really need to carry it with me.

I think I will mess around with the one I bought and see if I can do anything with it. Maybe if I cut one of the water bottle holders off, I can use it with just one bottle and pouch tucked behind me enough not to bump my elbows. Or maybe take the extra holder and put a loop on it and hang it on my belt. And just pick something to order online and try it.

Week 8: Four miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
1:05 hours
4.38 miles
15.1 minutes/mile

What a day. Slept in late, started out late—didn't get out the door until 10 AM. Couldn't get motivated. Couldn't decide where to run until the last minute, but finally went to Meadowbrook Park as usual. I was going to try to take some water with me using a plastic flask I'd bought, so I was emptying some of the water so I could try to fold it up and fit it in my running belt, and spilled water on my crotch. Decided it would probably dry enough by the time I got to the park, so I didn't go back to change. Started out the run with wet tights. The flask wouldn't fit in my belt anyway, so I stll need to figure out a way to carry water with me. Forgot to turn the GPS on until I was almost half a mile into my run, so I had to restart my workout.

Still, I got my run in, and it went pretty well once I got going. Good thing it was only a four-miler today. (Although, I suspect I'd have been less lackadaisical about it if it had been a longer run.) My tights did dry out fairly quickly once I started running, so that was no problem. I ate part of a Clif Bar before I started my run, so I could see how my stomach did on it, and it was fine. I ate the rest of it after I finished. I think it's a good idea to bring something with me to eat after I finish my run, otherwise I don't get anything until I get home and change clothes, which is over half an hour later. Also need to figure out what to bring with me to eat during the long runs. I took a Clif Bar with me last week, planning to eat some when I had two miles left, but I misjudged how far into the run I was and was nearly done by the time I ate it, so I couldn't really tell. I did find that it was hard to eat it without any water to wash it down, so I definitely need to have some water with me, or just wait to eat until I can take a detour through the parking lot to the bathroom. During the actual marathon, there will be water stations every few miles, so I won't need to bring my own, but in training I'll need water.

I have two new items of running gear this week: a couple of long-sleeved dri-fit tee-shirts I got on Amazon for running in cooler weather. They fit great and feel great and they're safety green and VERY BRIGHT, and they were cheap, two for around $17. Good deal. I almost wore one today, since it was windy, but it was starting to warm up a bit by the time I hit the road, so I went back to my usual short-sleeved shirt, which turned out to be a good decision. It wasn't hot, but it was warm enough that my arms didn't get cold. I think the long-sleeves would have been fine, too, but I'd rather err on the cool side.

The other thing I bought was a pair of Yurbuds earbuds, which have special covers to fit snugly in your ears so they don't come loose while you're working out. I'd heard very mixed reviews—some people just loved them, others said they didn't work at all—but I decided to give them a try. I like them a lot! They came with two sizes of covers, and I needed the larger size, but with those, they fit my ears very well and really don't fall out! I tried them on one of my short runs this week, and then again today, and didn't have to adjust them or push them back in my ears at all! I got the more expensive model that has a mic and volume controls on the cord, and that was handy, too. So that was a good investment.

Next thing is to figure out a way to carry water with me! Will have to do some research on that.

Week 7: Nine miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
2:21 hours
9.44 miles
15.0 minutes/mile

Good run today, although for some reason I was dreading it. Enough to dream about missing it, and then wake myself up at 6:15 AM with a dream alarm. I almost went ahead and got up, but I was feeling a little tired still and possibly a little contrary, so I went back to bed for another half hour. Did my chores and got ready and headed out early enough to be at Meadowbrook Park by 8 AM.

It was a cool day, a few clouds and a cold breeze, probably around 50 - 55 F. Good running weather! I had gone into Bakersfield earlier this week and bought some new running gear, so I was wearing a new sports bra, running tights and new shoes. I got Nike Free 5.0 shoes—they are awesomely comfortable and my feet felt great all nine miles! I wouldn't normally have started a brand-new pair of shoes on a long-ish run, but my Internet shoes were starting to feel a bit pinchy at the longer miles and I'm familiar enough with the way Nikes fit me to take the chance on them. It worked out fine. The other clothes were good, too. I had thought about getting a long-sleeved running shirt or hoodie, but didn't see any I liked. My arms get a bit chilly on these windy, cold days, but it's too warm to wear a sweatshirt. I might look online for one. Of course, by the time I get one, it will be summer and the cold days will be over!

I strained my back earlier in the week and worried a bit about whether that would bother me on a long run (I'd already found that the midweek runs were fine), but that was fine, too. I did get a twinge once or twice, but nothing that really bothered me.

One more run done!

Week 6: Magic Mile + Two miles

20:40 second run/walk ratio
54:59 min
3.76 miles
14.6 min/mile
Magic Mile 13:19 min

Did my first Magic Mile run today. Started with the usual 3 minute walk, then 5 minutes run/walk to warm up, then the Magic Mile, which you run as fast as you comfortably can. After that, there was another two mile run. My Magic Mile was pretty fast! I was surprised I managed to get under 14 minutes.

According to Jeff Galloway's website, that means my marathon pace should be 1.3 times my Magic Mile, or 17:18 minutes. Hm. I think I can do better than that, really. I don't speed up that much for shorter runs. I pushed myself, but not super hard.

Well, anyway, I'm going to be pleased with my time for today.

I ran at Meadowbrook Park, so I could let the GPS measure my miles. Also, it's been raining the past few days and my driveway is still muddy in places. I got off to a slow start this morning, not getting up until after 8 AM and didn't get to the park until 10 AM. But it's been cool and cloudy today, perfect running weather, so the late start was no problem. I've got a 9-mile run next week, though, so I'd better start getting up earlier!

I made the mistake of using Rage Against the Machine for my music today—I love them, and thought the music would energize me, but I forgot that their recordings are loud and it was hard to hear the prompts over the music sometimes. I ended up holding my phone in my hand while I was doing the Magic Mile, so I could feel it vibrate to mark the run/walk intervals. (Also, I was using my phone's stopwatch app to time the Magic Mile. I'd assumed the app would time the MM automatically, but Jeff said we should time our MM, so I did. But afterwards, I saw that the app did indeed keep the Magic Mile time, so that wasn't necessary.)

Wish the weather could be like this the whole time! I'm still dreading the long runs on hot summer days.

Week 5: Seven and a half miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
2:04 hours
7.92 miles
15.7 minutes/mile

I had originally planned to do 3 miles today, but when I turned over the calendar and wrote down the weekly runs for May, I decided I didn't want to go directly from 7.5 miles to 9 miles, so I skipped the 3 mile run and went directly from 6 to 7.5 miles instead. It was a bit rough shifting gears to do a long run today instead of the easy 3 miles I'd been counting on, but it turned out all right.

I set the alarm for 7 AM, ended up getting up at quarter to 7, and thought I might be able to head out for Meadowbrook Park by 7:30, but my stomach was a bit wonky and I just couldn't get myself going. I ended up hitting the road around 8:10 AM, and got to the park to start my run at 8:30 AM. I checked to make sure the bathroom was open—turned out I didn't need it, but I was glad to know it was available if I had.

It was already hot at 8:30, and I worried a bit knowing I'd be out for around two hours, but it didn't seem to get much hotter while I was out there.  I did feel that I had less energy than I did last week when it was cool and breezy. The lack of sleep and wonky stomach didn't help, either. Still, I kept up a pretty good pace—under 16 minute miles. All in all, not a great run, but a good one.

Week 4: Six miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
1:36:49 hours
6.42 miles
15.1 minutes/mile

I had a really good run today! After a very false start yesterday—I planned to get up early and drive to Lancaster for the Met Opera broadcast, which started at 9:30 AM, so I knew I wouldn't be able to run in the morning. Originally, I thought I'd just run on Sunday—which is what I ended up doing—but then I thought, well, I'll see how I feel when I get home from Lancaster. If I had energy and the weather wasn't too bad, I figured I could do my run in the afternoon.

As it turned out, though, I slept very badly the night before, and felt exhausted and wonky all day. Plus, it was raining and cold. I still went out around 4:20 PM and started plodding around the house, but it was not working out. My stomach was achy and I couldn't get into a groove. I was trying to count laps on my phone, but kept forgetting to mark them. And I was worrying about something I'd posted online that I thought maybe I shouldn't have. Finally, I decided to go in and delete the post and then continue my run, but once I got in the house, I just bagged it. Decided it was silly to push myself when I was feeling so icky when it would be just as easy to run the next day instead.

And so I did. And it was much better! I slept well last night, got up early feeling refreshed and ready to go, and the weather had cleared up quite a bit. It was still windy and cold, but only partly cloudy and no rain. I decided to go to Meadowbrook Park for a change, and I really enjoyed it. So much nicer to have long trails to run on instead of going round and round the house. It was cool enough that I didn't bother trying to get there early. I think I left here around 10 AM, so it was probably 10:30-ish when I got started. I ran the first mile with my hoodie and two pairs of tights, but then I was warmed up enough to drop them off at the truck and run in just my tee-shirt and one pair of tights for the rest of the way. My arms got a bit cold in the breeze—especially when there were clouds blocking the sun—but not too bad. The rest of me stayed warm enough.

My time was really good! Fifteen minute miles, and I wasn't even pushing myself at all. I wasn't tired when I finished, felt like I could have easily kept on for another couple of miles.

Even though I had GPS turned on, I used only about a third of my phone battery. Still probably won't last through a whole 26-mile run with GPS, but I did buy a battery stick to charge it up with on the go, so I hope that will keep it going throughout my training runs. Of course, if I run at Meadowbrook, I don't really need the GPS—I know how long each segment of the trail is, so I can just do the appropriate number of loops. But it's fun to have it keep track of my miles and pace. The only problem with the battery stick is that I have to unplug the headphones to plug it in, so I'll be without headphones while it's charging. But that's better than having the battery run down and not have the phone at all!

Week 3: Five miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
5.39 miles (6.22 miles counting laps)
18.3 min/mile (15.9 min/mile)

I did my run around the house with the GPS, but I also counted laps to check the distance, and sure enough, the GPS was about .1 mile off per mile. I did a total of 54 laps—about 58.5 if you count the 3 minute warm up/cool down walks—which is closer to 5.7 miles. Over 6 miles for the full 58.5 laps. So, 5.39 miles x 18.3 minutes/mile = 98.6 minutes total, which, divided by the more accurate 6.22 miles, gives me a pace of 15.9 minutes/mile. Whew! Much better.

Counting laps required some concentration, but I was able to keep track by counting out each ten laps on my fingers, then switching direction every 20 laps. I suppose if I want to use the GPS, I'm going to have to start running in town. Or keep counting laps. Or just know I'm actually running farther than the app is telling me. I'm not going to be able to use GPS on the longer runs anyway—just in six miles, I used nearly half my phone battery. No way it's going to last 26 miles. Not even sure the phone battery will last with the app running the whole time. I plan to get one of those thumb-drive-sized battery sticks to take with me on the longer runs, to keep my phone charged.

I was finally able to figure out how to turn off the music shuffle, so it would play my albums in order. I emailed lolofit support to ask them how to do it, and the response was to turn off BeatSync to stop it shuffling. Well, I already had BeatSync turned off (don't want it speeding up and slowing down my music to match my BPM, it's not that kind of music), but I turned it on, and then the Smart Shuffle option came up—it was hidden while BeatSync was off. So I was able to turn off Smart Shuffle, then turn off BeatSync again, and then my music played in order. Ah! So much nicer! It was really bugging me to have my songs shuffled. Today, I played Horslips' Book of Invasions and Duran Duran's Rio. Nice! I'm ripping some more CDs to load up my iPhone. Turns out some of the albums I bought from iTunes have DRM that won't let them be used by other apps, so I can't play them with the Marathon app. So I won't buy music from them any more, I'll just buy CDs and rip them.

Weather was decent today. I got out around 8:30 AM, with the temperature just under 60 F. It was 65 F by the time I was done—not very hot, but still hot enough to make me feel it.

I'm feeling more and more inclined to try doing the Long Beach Marathon. If I can keep up the 16 minute mile pace, I'll be able to finish it in around 7 hours, well under the 7.5 hour time limit.

Week 3 Day 2

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
36:22 minutes
1.76 miles
20.5 minutes/mile

Okay, yeah, the GPS is definitely not able to keep track of those tight circles, because I know I wasn't that much slower than last time! My Health app says I've done 5880 steps and 2.97 miles today, which I think is closer to accurate. I did some walking before I went out to do my run, so that isn't all from my workout, but most of it should be.

This makes me think I should either do my long runs in town, where I'm running straight ahead most of the time, so the GPS can keep track; or turn off the GPS and count laps if I'm going to run here at the house.

Anyway. Still a good run. I didn't get out until around noon, but it was cool and breezy—enough that I wore my long johns under my tee-shirt and tights and didn't get too hot. My electronics all cooperated with me (except that my earbuds always feel like they're falling out—I don't know if my earholes are too small or too large or what, but earbuds never fit snugly) and I listened to Beastie Boys as I ran, and they kept me moving. I ran counter-clockwise today to change up which leg was outside.

It's interesting how Jeff Galloway's recommended run/walk ratios have tightened up over the years. In my first marathon, in 2001, I trained with a 2:2 minute run/walk. Then I did 3:2 for my second marathon. After I had cancer and slowed down, my ratio was 2:3 minutes. I don't know when he switched from whole minute ratios to seconds, but I think when I last started training, he was using 30:60 seconds instead of 1:2 minutes. Now, it's 20:40 seconds. It's still a 1:2 ratio, but squeezed down into one minute. I like it! It's just as much running overall as a 1:2 minute ratio, but cut into tinier pieces it does seem easier.

Week 3 Day 1

20:40 second run/walk ratio
36:18 minutes
2.62 miles
13.8 miles/min

I have to say, I'm skeptical about that pace! Although I would love to have really run 13.8 minute miles, that's way under my normal pace. I didn't count laps, I let the GPS on my phone keep track, and I'm not sure how accurate that can be when I'm running tight tenth-of-a-mile loops. Maybe next time I'll count laps and see how it matches up. On the other hand, none of my other midweek runs were this far off, and I used the GPS for those, too. Hm.

I slept in late this morning and didn't get started until 10 AM. It was already 70 F outside, barely any breeze and not a cloud in the sky. Hot, but I didn't feel like it was getting to me too badly. Dang it, I might actually be getting my health back after all these years.

Of course, 70 F is still cool compared to what the summer is going to be like. I had an idea about that—it occurred to me that if I run the Long Beach half marathon, I wouldn't have to do any long runs above 13 miles before October, and I could squeeze those into the morning hours if I get up early enough. Then I could train up to the marathon and do Honolulu. But I'm not sure I'd have time to get from 13 miles to 26 in the less than two months between Long Beach and Honolulu... need to get out a calendar and plan it out. Other options would be to get a membership at a gym and run indoors on a treadmill if it's too hot outside. T-Fitness has month-to-month memberships. Or possibly even try to run after the sun goes down/before it comes up. I've been thinking it would be too dark, but most nights, if they're clear, are fairly well lit by the moon and stars, and I know my circular driveway pretty well.  I could carry a flashlight!

If I really wanted to get into it (and spend some money), I could build myself a covered running track. Have the driveway smoothed out and put up covered pavilions over it. Heh. That would be a bit extreme... but very convenient.

Week 2: Four miles

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
1:13:54 hours
4.33 miles
17.0 min/mile

Pretty good run today. I was really tired yesterday, so I slept in until around 9:15 AM and didn't get started running until 10 AM, but the weather was a cool 58 F and there was a nice breeze so the sun didn't bother me too much.

I did have several annoying interruptions. First, I added two albums to my playlist today, Rage Against the Machine and Linkin Park, planning to listen to one after the other, but the app decided to shuffle the songs, which I didn't like, but I couldn't figure out how to make them not shuffle. I know I've seen the shuffle icon in the app, but it wasn't anywhere I could find, and I didn't want to take too much time on it, so I just let it go. Will have to see if I can figure it out for next time. I used my new iPhone belt, and it works really well, except that I can't look at the phone or make adjustments to my workout while it's in the belt, so I have to either make sure everything's set up the way I want it before I start, or  fiddle with taking it out and putting it back in the belt while I'm running.

Later, I stopped for a few minutes to talk to a guy who was driving by in a fire truck (they'd had a paramedic call earlier for someone farther up the road, and were returning after taking care of things). He said he'd lived in my house years ago—when it was the previous house—and asked me about it and took a picture. I paused the workout while I was talking to him, so I don't think it counted.

Then, finally, I was getting near the end and wanted to check how much longer I had to go, so I took the phone out of the pouch to look at it, and got all messed up trying to get it back in, accidentally stopping the workout, dropping the phone, finally just carried it in my hand the rest of the way (which was only another .2 miles anyway).

Still. It was a good four miles. I started to get a little tired by the end, but not too bad. I could have gone on if I'd had to. I ran a good pace and finished my second long run right on schedule.

Oh! I almost forgot to mention—I wore my new shoes and really like them! Not a twinge in my left ankle. The shoes might be a bit snug, but they're made of soft mesh with a plastic grid that's flexible enough that they don't feel too tight. Will see how they do as the miles get longer, but for now, I'm very pleased. They have good support and feel good on my feet. I do need new socks, but I've ordered a couple of pairs of Wright Socks online and hope to have them soon.

Week 2 Day 2

20:40 sec run/walk ratio
36:20 min
2.22 miles
16.2 min/mile

Good run today. It was cold—47 F at 2:30 PM when I went out—so I wore long johns under my tights and tee-shirt, and that worked pretty well for keeping me warm but not too warm as I ran. The sun was out but the wind was cold. It was actually supposed to snow last night, but it didn't reach my elevation. I can see a dusting of snow on the mountaintops, though. It did rain heavily yesterday, but by the time I went out for my run it was pretty dry.

I wore my old Nikes and ran counter-clockwise, to see if that would help my ankle. It was a little sore as I ran, but not enough to bother me. So I think it did help. I hope if I get some good shoes it will eventually stop hurting altogether. My new running shoes arrived at the post office yesterday, but I didn't get the notice in my mailbox until I was on my way home, and I didn't feel like driving all the way back to the post office at that point. I'll go into town in a little while and pick them up. I have only a short walk scheduled for tomorrow, so that will be a good time to try them out.