It's been getting harder and harder to maintain a good running schedule these days! My mid-week runs have definitely been spotty over the last three weeks, and I've missed a few long weekend runs, but I am scheduled for a twelve miler this coming weekend, which I will most likely have to squeeze in tomorrow morning. The heat has definitely made the long runs a challenge, but overall, I do feel stronger and more confident about this next fall marathon, but that's if I can start getting more serious about the rest of my runs and boost the intensity! My last two ten milers averaged between 8:00 - 8:17, both were run in the hot sun, the first one along the beach...gotta be out on the trails by 5:00am at the latest with the weather such as it is, which means very little sleep and play time...but for BQ, it's worth it! Right? Or at least I try to tell myself that... (but getting up super early has been more difficult these days)

I caught a little bit of "I Survived a Japanese Game Show" last night at the gym...three words: OMG.

training has started for my next fall marathon coming up in october...i've completed my eight miler over the weekend (ran sub 8:00 min miles), and i actually felt pretty comfortable tonight doing my tuesday night usual six miler! it wasn't faster than my 10k race time from early may, but it was my fastest six miler practice run so far, and definitely the most at ease and comfortable...felt pretty darn good tonight!

i'm so tired right now...but i'm going to get in some strength training before i hit the sack! work's been insanely busy lately, and i'm actually quite behind on many projects (which is usually not the case)! but my runs have been pretty consistent, i've made sure of that (well, so far)! good night...

Hi - here is the verbage for the two letters.

Congratulations!  You have been selected to run the 2008 St. George Marathon.  We are pleased to have you join us for our 32nd annual race and wish you the very best in your training.

Please click on the following link to (www.stgeorgemarathon.com) and read the very important information contained in the Runner's Guide.  Please note this change in our cancellation policy:  only the first 500 entrants to cancel will be given the opportunity to reigster new year as a guaranteed runner, thus bypassing the lottery.

St. George Marathon Staff

TRAINING HAS BEGUN...  Got up for an early morning run, but apparently still not early enough, the sun was quite strong, and I immediately felt the heat and tired out in the first half. Fortunately, as soon as I turned around after reaching midpoint, I felt a new wind carry me through the second half, causing a negative split for a seven miler! It was slower than my 10k pace, but I was still satisfied considering the heat and hills (averaged 8:11). I think I can finally start training early again, it felt good to still have the whole day ahead of me! Stay cool folks...

Sunday Morning's 10k

I think I squeezed in another one or two 10k practice runs (in addition to the other usual runs/workouts) since my last post on 4/17, and each run was slightly better than the last...I remember my last 10k practice run averaged at about a 7:44 pace, even though I remember really struggling with that last run! I think what helped was this one young dude who was running at a similar pace who had passed me up but stayed the same distance ahead, who I ended up passing up at the end of the first loop...

So...my 10k run was this past weekend in Santa Monica on Sunday morning! Considering how little sleep I got all weekend long and woke up with a slight headache Sunday morning, I did pretty well for myself and was mostly satisfied with my time! However, as I picked up my bib that same morning right before the race, I learned that there were no timing chips for this particular race...that was a bit disappointing, but I still tried to give it my best for the day, and although I started out slightly too fast, I forced myself to finish strong and clocked in a better time than my past 10k practice runs at the Rose Bowl. I was told that the start time was whenever the horn blared, regardless of when you actually crossed the start line, so the displayed results were not quite accurate for mostly everyone! I wore my Garmin, which lead me to believe that I might've ran the 10k right under 47 minutes...but the race results read as follows: Total time: 47:10 Average Pace: 7:37

Garmin stats (what I'd prefer to go by, the mile indicator beeps were right on par with the signs): Total time of 47:01 for 6.23 miles at an average pace of 7:33

Mile 1 - 7:40
Mile 2 - 7:34
Mile 3 - 7:49
Mile 4 - 8:02
Mile 5 - 7:13
Mile 6 - 7:14
Mile 6.23 - 6:28

The first four miles were steadily uphill, especially the fourth where I could really feel it, but the fifth mile had a very decent decline, while the sixth had a slight one which still helped me comp for that fourth mile! So yea, I'll believe in my Garmin and think to myself that I actually might've ran the 6.2 miles in 46 fifty-something minutes! The weather was absolutely perfect, cool and overcast but not super chilly! Oh yea, St. George lotto results coming up real soon...