Dreams of Boston

About a week ago, I was blindsided with the news that the Boston Athletic Association has revamped the qualifying times for both men and women in all age groups. I have let the new settle and now Ill tell you what this news means to me

As runner in middle school and high school, when the Boston Marathon would be televised each spring I was glued to the boobtube. I would watch as thousands of people would achieve something that many would never do. I watched history being made as records were broken as well as the spirits of those who could not finish. One day, I kept telling myself I would run Boston. It was just one of those things that people say but never really try to accomplish until this past year when I pushed beyond my comfort zone and ran my first marathon.

After completing the race and recovering, I came the conclusion that I WOULD run Boston, at least once before I aged out of the 18-34 age group. I know, I know "Jenn, you have more than 10 years." And yes I do realize that, however do I really want to be killing myself year after year to break the new qualifying time of 3:35 for 26.2 miles. Me, being the nut I am, averaged out the pace per mile I would have to maintain and HOLY MOLY. I've got to be flying at about an 8:15 min/mi pace just make the 3:35.

Read more about BAA's new Boston Marathon Qualifying Times and Registration Rules

I have only run 1 marathon so far and my time was 4:45, this means I have 10 years to knock of over an 1 hour and 10 minutes. AHHHHH. That is pretty intense, I would need to log 50 plus miles a week. I tell my non runner friends about the change and they commented "Oh, thats just five minutes" Just five minutes! yes for the people who can run the 3:40 is just five minutes but for people who run 4:45 this it has gone from an 1 hour and 05 minutes to 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Whatever this means to me, working harder, logging more miles, eating more healthfully, working on my core, strength training, I understand the BAA's position on keep thing the race's prestige and elite status allowing for faster runners and a more competetive race. The BAA has also changed how registration for the Boston Marathon will be handled. Runners who have bettered the standard qualifiying time will be allowed to register first, and other runners will register on their respective days according to thier qualifiying time.

Well, Boston is still and always will be on the brain. The first step for me in making this goal reality is to shave time off in baby steps. My goal for this fall will be to run a 4:00 hr marathon or go sub 4:00. If I can do that then I can continue to become a better, faster, stronger and more experienced runner.

What are your thoughts on the new changes for the Boston Marathon?

Week's A Wash.

Ugh. This entire week has been an awful run week. Here in south texas we have had some monster weather changes this week and last week! We had a hard freeze (work/school cancelled for "snow days" AWESOME) Then this week we dipped into the 20's twice and by the time it came for my daily run it was only in the high 30's. I knew it was going to be torture and I have been feeling sore and tight legs since The South Texas Sizzler 10K. I think I just needed time to recover.

This weeks workouts amounted to a 6.5 and a 7.5. And a Turbo Fire/Insanity mix all week. I had a blast in the little workout room jammin to the awesome music Chalene Johnson has created for her workouts.

I had a crappy run yesterday but I got it done thank God. I look happy but did not feel too ecstatic about my slowness.

I felt much better after then had an awesome date night. Olive Garden was on the menu, as was a nice glass of Berry Sangria. Yum. We capped of the night at the movies and ventured to see "The Rite" I know, I know. Not a traditional romantic movie but the fright factor does add to the cuddle factor! Anthony Hopkins played a great role!

I am still debating getting out there and putting in my long run. 10 miles (today?) I really need it. The Borderfest half is only 21 days away. EEEEK! And I feel so unprepared. I know I can manage the distance but dont want to be in bad shape the days after.

Challenge Week 4

HOLY MOLY! I almost ran 100 miles this month! Plus, I am now officially registered to run The Borderfest Half Marathon March 6th, so I'll be attempting to tackle one of my Fitness Goals for 2011 - Run a half marathon in under 2:00 hours.

On another note somehow I didnt realize I got paid yesterday, so all that window shopping I was doing the past two days (eyeing those awesome nike running shorts, tops and gu) was for nothing! Academy, just wait till tomorrow you can have my hard earned money then.

Monday: 8.01 miles
Tuesday: 6.03 miles
Wednesay: 0 miles
Thursday: 3.47 miles Xtrain- Rev Abs
Friday: XTrain - TurboFire HIIT 15/RevAbs
Saturday: 6.2 miles* (10K/PR) :D
Sunday: 9.02 miles

Unless noted with a * all distances ar courtesy of my Garmin Forerunner 110. I either forgot my Garmin or needed to charge it.

Total Miles for Week 4
32.73 miles down
904.5 miles to go
95.5 miles - Month of January

I'm having an affair....

We have been together through thick and thin. They have seen me sweaty, at times in tears, and on a rare occasion bloody. Since we started this whirlwind romance, I now feel strong, sexy and powerful. We have made some fantastic memories together and there will be many more to come. No one understands me like they do, I know that whenever I have had a bad day I can home and everthing will be a million times better after we spend some time together.

I just cant hide how I feel anymore so I must confess, that I am having an affair with.... my running shoes.

It's amazing how something as small (for me sz 9 not small) as shoes can make someone else feel like a million bucks.

So here's my question: Do you have an affair with your shoes? And do you replace your shoes every 500 miles as recommended?

Challenge Week 3

I am slowly hacking aways at this massive goal. I really need to kick it into gear if I plan on running the Borderfest Half Marathon. I have an 8 mile run on schedule for tomorrow. By the looks of it, knocking out 40 miles this week is the plan, guess its time to stop screwing around.

I think I need to take my workout clothes to work so as soon as I get home I can take off.... It gets dark too soon and even with my new headlight I'm still hesitant about running in the dark. I'm afraid El Cucuy is going to get me. Thanks, Mom. I'll be forever scarred with stories of the Boogyman lurking around in the night.

Monday: 6.01 miles
Tuesday: 5.01 miles
Wednesay: 2.38 miles
Thursday: 2 miles */ Xtrain- Rev Abs
Friday: 0 miles/XTrain - RevAbs
Saturday: 3.16 miles (5K/PR) :D
Sunday: 0 miles

Unless noted with a * all distances ar courtesy of my Garmin Forerunner 110. I either forgot my Garmin or needed to charge it.

Total Miles for Week 3
18.56 miles down
937.23 miles to go

-Happy Running

Challenge Week 2

Ok so I have already broken one of my challenges. I seriously wanted to cry! Last Monday, my car decided to take a major poo on me. I had a blow out on my way home from work. I pulled over, somehow managed to jack up my car, got out the spare and the crowbar before someone pulled over and did the hard work for me. Major thanks to all the other chivilrous men who drove on in thier trusty steeds, while I lay stranded on the side of the road. Ok sob story over, well not quite, when I got to the tire store they told me I needed ALL new tires or I would probably have another blowout soon. By the time I got out of the tire store it was to dark to go out. I was soooooo angry, drained and stressed. :(

I will still strive to complete the 1000 mile challenge!

Monday: 0 miles
Tuesday: 3.08 miles
Wednesday: 4.59 miles
Thursday: 2.36 miles
Friday: 3 miles*
Saturday: 1 mile*
Sunday: 1 mile*

unless noted with a * all distances are courtesy of my Garmin Forerunner 110. I forgot my Garmin the other days or it needed to be charged.

Total miles for week 2
15.03 miles down
955.79 miles to go

Race Recap: The Longest Causeway 10K

Its been a week since The Longest Causeway 10k. It was my first 10k ever and I LOVED IT. I registered online the day before online registration ended. I felt like I trained pretty well. I had a few 7 and 6 miles runs thrown in there as well as some great speed days.

But....on thursday 2 days before the race which was my last speed workout I think I pulled a muscle or bruised the outside of my foot, I was really hurting. I got home and stretched, iced, then put on some IcyHot hoping maybe it was just sore. No such luck. Friday rolled around and was nursing my tenderfoot all day at work. As a teacher, I dont do much sitting around, so Friday was horrible pressure on my poor little baby.

Saturday morning I rolled out of bed half debating staying home because of that little nagging pain. I hoped that once I got the chance to warm up and stretch I wouldnt be so conscious of it. I finally pulled into Port Isabel and still had to make the ride over the bridge. 10k participants had to park at the finish area and be shuttled back to the start of the race. I thought it was pretty cool that it was just a one way race.

Once there I found a couple of friends and we chatted away. My friend Carolyn was running her first 10k ever as well and I think first race in general. She is doing few races, 10k, half marathon, and cycling to ramp up for The Tour De Cure where she'll ride 160 miles for the American Diabetes Association as a Red Rider (a rider with diabetes). She is beyond inspiring. If you are interested in donating to Caroyln's fund for a diabetes cure post a comment and I'll email you her info!

We started lining up and someguy asked me to take a picture of him....I was thinking 'yeah, sure, uh this is wierd' so I did it anyway. While I did the 1, 2, 3 click, he was telling me how he was nervous because this was his first 10k and how he didnt want to walk. I told him this was my first one too and that there was no shame in walking, and said I would if I needed too (I wasnt planning on walking though) which i think he took as an insult :( he sorta smiled and laughed it off. Oh well.

I plugged in my tunage. My Eminem Pandora station has yet to fail me! I was getting all ramped up and boom the race started. I never imagined the race was soooooo big. There were over 3,000 people registered. So I did lots of dodging and side stepping some of the slower runners, until I had comfortable path. I sped through the first mile (under 8:00 min/mi) like always, I need to make a mental note to slow down some at the beginning. Then came the BRIDGE! It was a steady incline for at least 1-2 miles. I could feel the slow burn in quads. And then it turned into a gradual down hill. I was finally crusing, the weather was perfect, overcast and cool. It wasnt till we made the turn on Padre Island Blvd "The Strip" that the sun decided to wreak is revenge on us. I could just feel the sun beating it's evil heat rays on my back. Not nice sun. Not nice at all.

At this point mile 4, I didnt really know my position so I tried to pick off as many female runners as possible. I wanted a medal and the only way to do it was to pass all the ones I could see. I past about 5 or 6 women that way before I settled on the fact I couldnt see any other lady runners. I just pushed on until I could finally see the finish line and was soooooo glad I was getting really tired my legs were starting to feel it, especially my foot.

After I finished I waited and ran the last 200 or so with another one of my friends whom I made during our Team In Training Marathon season. It was her first 10K too. Francis did an amazing job! I am so proud of her and husband Jason for being troopers and driving the 1hr+ to make the race from McAllen.

I saw a big group gathering and had a feeling they put up race results. I had decided that if I didnt place in my division I would leave(Im a party pooper like that), but I had high hopes that I did. I pushed and shoved my way to the front and low and behold. I placed..... 4th in my division in 52:09 (a PR for me!) but NOT good enough to get a medal. I cursed under my breath and left.
It wasnt until the next day where I kicked myself, after really seeing the results, the 3rd place woman in my div. beat me by 10 seconds and we live in the same city. AHHHHHHHHHHH!

Overall it was a great race, there were plenty of water stations, volunteers, and cheering spectators not to mention the course is beautiful. The Queen Isabella Causeways never open to travel over by foot so it really was a fantastic experience to run over looking the gulf. I will totally register again to run it. I had a blast and next year I will get a medal! Thats a promise! I also hope I can redeem myself at Jan 29th's South Texas Sizzler 10K.

Time: 52:09 min
Pace: 8:24 min/mile
Div Place: 4th (20-24)
36th female/200something overall