Pony Express

felt really nice and smooth. Excited for my 1/2 on Sat. Hope the full on Sun. I don't tank!!! Gonna run tomorrow a.m. w/ Danny in the coooool temps!! Should be in the 30's when we head out. Not very common here in central FL. But I love it!!!  Bundle up, and cowboy up Buttercup!

Ran a medium distance today trying to stay in good form for this coming weekends races. The temps were 41-43 while we did our run. Very refreshing. Not very many runners out

p.s.- I love my Garmin 310XT  it's soo nice, and it's super easy to work even while on the run. Love It!!! 

Off to get ready to give some lessons! Yay- nice and cold!! Must work the pony before the younger ones hop on- don't want him to fresh!!  

Weeeeee!! 39 degrees!!! New shoes tonight, I think I like them?

Was having a great pre-race final easy run when at the final leg.....Wham!! tripped and fell an the asphalt. I really hammered my shoulder hard. I am soooo mad. The timing couldn't be worse. I have the Disney Goofy race and a half a day away...=(   Had to get hubby help me out of my clothes. Hope I can still run. I can't lift my arm right now.

Purposely took a very easy pace for this 1/2 marathon. Tomorrow I run the full. I signed up for the "Goofy" 1/2 on Sat. the full on Sun. I've never done this much racing so smushed together. Wanted to keep my legs from getting too tired. Really want to make sure I finish both races w/out tanking. Also, the weather is crazy!!! It was 32 degrees and snow flurries and sleet. I had 6 layers on. I felt pretty good and worked to keep to my strategy. (don't go too fast and have some energy for tomorrow) With the cold weather and my shoulder injury, (still have swelling and minimal use in left shoulder and arm.) I did fine. I really started to get cold the last couple miles. By then very wet and temps still in the low 30's.  Sorry if this sounds wimpy to all you guys who get severe winters. I loved the weather just wish we'd get it more often so we get a chance to get used to it!! :)  Post race I felt good. Had to take a long hot shower to get my fingers and toes to thaw out!!  p.s. Iran w/out having to use my ipod-- yay.

Place: Orlando FL. 

Arrive at staging area: 4:30 am

Start time: 6:00 am

Temp at start: 29F wind chill=19

Stop at Goodwill 2 days before race to get extra "throw away layers", $24.

2 packets of hand warmers 8 bucks.

Seeing all the thousands of runners from up north who brought only summer running wear wrapped up in their hotel's blankets and  hefty bags, Priceless..

Couldn't resist, Soo, record lows for Florida Sat a.m. for the 1/2, I did a slow pace. That worked and I felt good Sunday a.m. And hoped to be able to finish w/out feeling broke down or letting the unusual cold temps ruin me. Shoulder injury was feeling doable, (had a bad fall Thur. night on the Melbourne Cuaseway, rotator cuff =(   My hubby helped me get dressed. Today, (day after race) the shoulder is more swollen and very sore. I will be giving it some needed rest and ice. Sunday a.m. more record low temps, thankful to not have the sleet, snow flurries and rain that I had the day before for the 1/2. Wind chill was a factor. I had a thin rain jacket that I took on and off during the race as needed to deal w/ that. Worked super. Disappointed w/ the fact that I lost a ton of time due to the pee factor. Major bummer. The lines for porta potties was a time killer. W/out the pee stops I would have finished a lot faster. (I know, everyone says that, and I get better w/ more practice) That's about my only disappointment. Sunday morning I was not feeling particularly up to the full and motivated myself by thinking about the mental push I'd have forever after, and that the sooner I got started the sooner I could get some hot coffee!

The volunteers who manned the water stops were great and were very good about breaking the ice that had froze across the water in the cups. The road was frozen over at every water station from all the spilled liquids. Definitely got dicey a couple of times. My buddy Danny slipped and fell. 

I'm most proud of my last 6.2 miles. I found a nice rhythm and got through the final part of the race in good shape. My hardest point was between miles 14 and 17.  I got to see my hubby and daughter at mile 8 at the front gate to Magic Kingdom. That was a nice boost as well as a much needed opportunity to ditch a couple layers. 

Very pleased day after w/ how my legs are feeling today.  I feel like going for a light run actually. Except for the shoulder that is mad at me. Knees feel great, muscles are good, no blisters,  gonna lose a toenail or two. Very excited! Now I plan to do it faster. 

Did the causeway run. Danny kept crackin' me up w/ stories about stuff when he was a kid that were so funny I had to stop running a couple times 'cause I was laughing so hard! Too fun. Did a good push on the 2nd half! 

Didn't run today. Trying to let my shoulder rest. I have actually learned that I have a "separated' shoulder. My students Dad is a doctor and we were chatting about the Disney run last weekend and I told him about the fall. and he looked at the bump I've got. So, happy to report I should be good as new but it is gonna take longer than I thought. Oh well, it could have been worse. I've had a lot of friends break their collarbones (common injury in show jumping)- So thankful I didn't end up w/ something that requires major repair work. Still able to run but I'm trying to get some healing going before I go and make it worse. I don't do couch potatoe well, I get cranky.

Ran w/ Danny, Jessica and Brian- nice, did a quick pace out, easy pace back.

Ran solo this afternoon, added 2/10 mile to my run by parking in the other lot. It was warm and windy today! 82 and lots of wind. Did a good pace though and beat my virtual partner by 7 seconds, a first!

No run- rode Lenny this afternoon while I gave a lesson. :)

First day ever trying a run w/ my dog Pearl. She's never done it before but she was trying! She's not used to being on a leash much, or the sights and sounds of regular city noises. She had moments where we achieved a steady but slow jog. I think she'll get better w/ a little more practice. She's almost 2, and is a 68lb. Catahoula. She blazes around the farm, Once she gets used to the leash and new stuff on the runs I'm sure she'll be a great running buddy!

Had one of those days where I was totally in the mood to laze around instead of going for my run. Felt totally pooped out. But I made myself get out the door, drive out to the causeway, and BAM! I had a neat run. Danny and I blazed the first half. On the return trip, had a chilly head wind the whole way. We averaged 8:30/m including up the bridge and the street lights that were not on. Finished up feeling good. Starting to get our pace a little faster. It's nice to know I'm getting faster and fitter and the work is paying off!

Ran 1st half hard, took our time a little on the way back then finished last 1.5 strong. Ran out of the house w/out my good watch so don't have any numbers. ugh.

Did a run at Bayside, out and back. Did the whole thing w/out stopping,  1/2 marathon pace. 1st mile easy warm-up at -9:45/m then the rest at 8:50/m average. Last mile was 8:35/m. Felt pretty good.

Did a new loop added onto the regular causeway beach route so we could get a little longer run. It was nice but definitely can't say I'll be doing it by myself when it's dark. Ran nice tonight and got some decent times. Worked a little faster pace up the causeway and finished w/ an easy final mile at 8;45/m.

Did the usual, nice pace out- my reugular "easy pace" is getting a little faster than it used to be. (yay), My last mile up over causeway and to the finish I did in 7:40/m happy w/ that.

My hubby walked the causeway tonight and is starting to get out w/ us more frequently. Very glad to see him come along. He's working on dropping some weight and getting fit. Doubt he'll be able to really run due to a back injury he had from an accident years ago. All I care about is he gets a workout and feels healthy. :)  

Have the Melbourne 1/2 on Sunday. Good weather is forecasted, hopefully will give me a chance to do some good running. 

Ran the local 1/2 Marathon today. We had very decent weather. Start temp in hi 40's finish temp about 51. A bit windtybut not horrible. Little bit of tightness in my left thigh mid-way so didn't push until it loosened up/ Did finish strong. Have a blister on right foot, wh/ is weird I haven't had that issue at all in these shoes. Looking to get my speed going for dure now. I'm feeling mentally more confident in my runs now that I've done 2 1/2"s in the last few months under 2:10. Woo hoo, time start some more serious speed work. Lovely day!

Great run! Beautiful course along the Banana and Indian River, saw a dolphin, made new friends and did a PR for my 1/2! Fun day.