Looking back at 2009
I started running towards the beginning of 2009 so it hasn't been quite a year yet for me. I remember starting out and I thought it was a pretty big deal being able to run down to the Bravo Burger and back home (which is a little over 3 miles). I then moved on to running around the Chino Spectrum (which was about 4.2 miles). These are now pretty easy for me and I consider my shorter runs. That's a big difference from where I was at the beginning of the year! I was able to participate in 3 10Ks and complete my first half marathon in September. Along the way, I suffered through a bout of ITBS which really hampered my training for the half marathon. I've been fortunate enough to have been able to run again without any of the pain associated with ITBS thanks in part to being more consistent with my training, doing more stretching before and after runs, using the foam roller, and doing more leg strengthening exercises.So it's almost been a year and I'm still running and enjoying it immensely! I'm not super fast...I'm not going to win any races anytime soon but, for me, having the ability to get out there and run and enjoying it is my reward (not to mention helping to keep my weight in check!).
What's in store for 2010? I previously blogged about my race plans for 2010. My next race is only 3 weeks away now and I'm getting excited!
3 Weeks Until Surf City
Training has been going pretty well for Surf City but had a few snags due to illness. I'm up to 12 miles on my long runs now. Just did 12 miles this morning going down Pipeline to Soquel Canyon and Butterfield. I was planning to go down to Pine but I went as far as I could in 1 hour and headed back to make sure I was back before my daughter's piano class. Based on my pace this morning, I would be able to finish half marathon somewhere around 2:20. However, the route I took this morning had a lot of hills which of course slowed me down so I'm hoping I can be closer to around 2:10-2:15.
My wife has also been training and she is doing awesome! She ran 5.5 earlier this week and was able to run it about 8 minutes faster than she did about 10 weeks ago which is great. I'm really proud of her and I'm so happy we'll both be running in this race.
Weird Dreams
Oh, one thing I wanted to write here so I would remember it later on...I've had 2 weird dreams in the past month or so about running in the half marathon.
The first dream I had arrived at the race pretty early and started chatting it up with some folks there before the race. Before I knew it, the race had started and it was already about 1 hour into the race already and I didn't even have my bib or my shoe tag! I started panicking trying to get these things on and kept fumbling the stupid safety pins trying to get my bib pinned on my shirt. I woke up shortly after that (very much relieved that it was just a dream) :)
The second dream I was actually on time and racing. Somehow, I took a wrong turn and before I knew it I was by the finish line and seeing my friend Justin about to finish. My friend Justin runs much faster than me so I knew something was wrong because there is no way I would be finishing at the same time as him. I somehow figure out that I had cut through the course and missed a big portion of it so I had to figure out how to backtrack to where I had taken a wrong turn. It was a pretty significant distance back to where I had to go and it was up in some hilly mountain area. I woke up around this time (again, very much relieved it was just a dream).
I keep thinking back why I had these dreams. Maybe I'm too anxious or excited? All I know is I'm going to get there early and ready to run and I'm definitely going to stay on course! :)
