Just starting

[fitoverforty]

Goodnight Edgar! Good luck tomorrow! I can't wait to hear all about it.

I got my running gear laid out, my chip attached to my shoe. Everything else I need I have in a bag blocking my front door so I don't forget anything

that is such a "running thing" to do....I LOVE IT!!! Have fun!

[EdgarHF]

I was definitely thinking about you during my own 5k this morning. It was like I wasn't running alone!! How'd you do? Addicted yet?

I was addicted before the race And how did you do?

My goal before the race was to beat 38 min. I had said I would be happy coming in under 40 min. When I first saw the beginning of the course I got worried. The race was in a Northern suburb of Chicago, but not flat like Chicago. This area was gently rolling hills. That may be nice for a weekend drive, but the sight of it unnerved me for the prospect of running my first 5K. The course was an out and back and from the start line I could see the course went downhill for about the first half mile before rising again and disappearing around a curve. I knew that at the end of the race I would be running the last 1/2 mile uphill. I did not know what it would be like after the curve, but I expected it to be hilly. I really had butterflys in my stomach at the start. When the start gate open and I began the run I knew I was in trouble I looked down at my watch and saw that I was going at too fast a pace. I knew I had to slow down as not to burn myself out at the beginning. After the downhill stretch and going uphill around the curve I got my pace above 11 min where I planned it to be. After the curve the hills were not long or steep so it wasn't so bad. I finished the first mile in just under 12 min according to what I saw on the pace readout of my watch. The second mile was not too bad, but the hills were taking a toll on my legs. At the 2 mile mark I took some water and dumped it on my head. I was able to get a second cup and tossed the water in my mouth. I looked at my watch and the pace read 12:06. My legs were getting tired. As I climbed the hill to get to the home stretch my watch showed my pace slowing and I didn't feel like I had the energy to speed up. At the top of the curve my pace was 12:35. I really didn't pick up speed on the last downhill before that last 1/2 mile uphill to the finish. Halfway up the hill I was teetering above 13:00. I felt like my heart was breaking. I was not going to break 38:00. I had about a quarter of a mile to go and I felt like I could not go on. I wanted to quit, but I still thought I had a chance of beating 40 min. At that point I could not see anyone in front of me so I knew I had to be pretty far back. I could see the finish line, but no runners. In that last quarter and got my pace back down to 12:45. Then I got close enough to see the clock, 37:10. When I saw that my heart leaped and suddenly I had the energy to break into a sprint. 37:16 ... 37:18.... I crossed the finish. My official chip time 37:13:90. Its not the fastest time in the world, but it is good for a first time. Now I have a PR to beat!!! My Garmin showed 37:10 for the race so it was pretty close. By the way I am proud of my time as slow as it is.

The picture is of me and my nieces after the race.





Overall
Time: 00:37:10
Distance: 3.11 mi
Elevation Gain: 27 ft
Calories: 530 C

Timing
Time: 00:37:10
Moving Time: 00:37:04
Elapsed Time: 00:37:10
Avg Speed: 5.0 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 5.0 mph
Max Speed: 6.8 mph
Avg Pace: 11:56 min/mi
Avg Moving Pace: 11:54 min/mi
Best Pace: 08:52 min/mi
SpeedPaceElevation
Elevation Gain: 27 ft
Elevation Loss: 35 ft
Min Elevation: 781 ft
Max Elevation: 827 ft
Laps 4
View Splits SplitSplit Hour:Minute:SecondTime MilesDistance Minutes per MileAvg Pace
Summary 00:37:10 3.11 11:56
1 00:11:13 1.00 11:13
2 00:11:59 1.00 11:59
3 00:12:41 1.00 12:41
4 00:01:15 0.11 11:21

[fitoverforty]

Wow Edgar!! What an awesome story! I love how you described the course and how you felt along the different parts of it. I read your post aloud to my son, and showed him your finishing pic. He thought it was WAY cool that you finished under 38:00 and reached your goal. He thought your watch was cool too! I am so proud of you, you proved to yourself that you can push yourself when you don't think you have anything left - the mark of a true athlete!
Congrats Edgar! You are an inspiration to all.

[EdgarHF]

I think I should be able to shed 15 lbs before the next race. My goal for the next race is to beat 35 min.

PS: Lynne, I hope you read the post after I corrected the worst of the grammar.

[Bonnie]

Very well described indeed, way to go edgar

[feelin-great]

Way to go, I am sooooo proud of you - as you should be as well

[EdgarHF]

Its a rest day today. It feels strange not going out for a run on Sunday. I have to admit my legs are a bit sore, but not really that bad. Tomorrow is my gym day and then back to running on Tuesday. I am going to make it a 4 mile run. I am already excited about my next 5K. Well, not really my next one. My next one is September 19th, but that one is going to be the tune up for the one I run on September 25th. The one on the 19th is one I am running with someone from work. Now, that I have finally run a 5k I have something to build on. I want to build up my weekly mileage to at least 15 miles a week by the time of the next race. I think that is a reasonable goal. I also should, as stated in another post, drop at least another 15 lbs by then. And as I said before in another post my tenative goal is to beat 35 minutes for that race. But, that could change as time gets closer to race date.

[Noosk]

Well done Edgar! You're inspiring me to get out and try a run again this week! So proud of you for your time - amazing result for your first 5K!

[Fygle]

Good read, congratulations!

[EdgarHF]

My computer was taken over in an internet exploit yesterday morning and in dealing with it I missed going to the gym. Besides the agravation of getting my computer back in order I probably needed other days rest. I did my weigh in two days late this week. I weighed in at 229 lbs for a 3 pound loss. I did a 4 mile run this morning at a slow easy pace.

Now, I am going to sit down and read a book


Time: 00:57:59
Distance: 4.00 mi
Elevation Gain: 18 ft
Calories: 488 C

Timing
Time: 00:57:59
Moving Time: 00:57:34
Elapsed Time: 00:57:59
Avg Speed: 4.1 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 4.2 mph
Max Speed: 6.4 mph
Avg Pace: 14:29 min/mi
Avg Moving Pace: 14:23 min/mi
Best Pace: 09:24 min/mi

SpeedPaceElevation
Elevation Gain: 18 ft
Elevation Loss: 27 ft
Min Elevation: 579 ft
Max Elevation: 594 ft
Laps 4
View Splits SplitSplit Hour:Minute:SecondTime MilesDistance Minutes per MileAvg Pace
Summary 00:57:59 4.00 14:29
1 00:14:26 1.00 14:25
2 00:14:39 1.00 14:39
3 00:14:44 1.00 14:44
4 00:14:09 1.00 14:10

[EdgarHF]

I think I need my head examined. I was extremely mad at myself after my run this morning. I had set a goal to do my second mile in under 11 minutes, but I could only keep up the pace for half of that second mile. My head and neck felt like an overheated radiator and I let myself slow the pace. I finished the 3rd mile in a pace I did not think one could run and still be so slow. After the run I felt dizzy and overheated. I had to dump a bottle of water over my head and the back of my neck. It probably took a good 5 minutes fo my head to cool down. Then I began to get angry at myself for not having the guts to keep up the pace. When I got home I found out it was 88 degrees F with 77 percent humidity. What the heck was I trying to prove? Anyhow, end of rant I only have one room of my place air conditioned and I am headed there now, later!

Time: 00:40:06
Distance: 3.00 mi
Elevation Gain: 10 ft
Calories: 468 C

Timing
Time: 00:40:06
Moving Time: 00:39:23
Elapsed Time: 00:40:06
Avg Speed: 4.5 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 4.6 mph
Max Speed: 7.2 mph
Avg Pace: 13:21 min/mi
Avg Moving Pace: 13:07 min/mi
Best Pace: 08:22 min/mi

SpeedPaceElevation
Elevation Gain: 10 ft
Elevation Loss: 23 ft
Min Elevation: 579 ft
Max Elevation: 594 ft
Laps 3
View Splits SplitSplit Hour:Minute:SecondTime MilesDistance Minutes per MileAvg Pace
Summary 00:40:06 3.00 13:21
1 00:11:52 1.00 11:51
2 00:11:41 1.00 11:41
3 00:16:32 1.00 16:32

[feelin-great]

Edgar I wouldn't even attempt a run tonight - when I got home from work it was 92 degrees with the humidity so high the "real feel" as they call it was 104. I came home and worked out in my air conditioned living room I can't believe you were able to do 3 miles in this weather - you're crazy

[EdgarHF]

For today's weigh in I lost zilch, nada, nothing. I'm still 229. Well, it was a short week since I did my weigh in late for last week, Tuesday instead of Sunday, so only 5 days between weigh ins. But, it does not matter, I just need to keep doing what I am doing and the weight will drop. I was bound to have a no loss week at some point.

I pushed my run out to 5 miles this morning. I did it slow and easy. I have a week vacation left after I get back from Vegas late next month. I am toying with the idea of signing up for a half marathon somewhere in late November or early December. I am not sure if it is to early for me to try training for something like that. I will see how things go over the next few weeks. As I push my long run farther out I will know better if I can handle something like that this soon.

Time: 01:13:07
Distance: 5.00 mi
Elevation Gain: 8 ft
Calories: 607 C

Timing
Time: 01:13:07
Moving Time: 01:10:47
Elapsed Time: 01:13:07
Avg Speed: 4.1 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 4.2 mph
Max Speed: 6.5 mph
Avg Pace: 14:37 min/mi
Avg Moving Pace: 14:09 min/mi
Best Pace: 09:15 min/mi

SpeedPaceElevation
Elevation Gain: 8 ft
Elevation Loss: 12 ft
Min Elevation: 582 ft
Max Elevation: 595 ft
Laps 5
View Splits SplitSplit Hour:Minute:SecondTime MilesDistance Minutes per MileAvg Pace
Summary 01:13:07 5.00 14:37
1 00:14:12 1.00 14:12
2 00:14:57 1.00 14:56
3 00:14:58 1.00 14:57
4 00:14:33 1.00 14:33
5 00:14:25 1.00 14:26

[fitoverforty]

My head and neck felt like an overheated radiator and I let myself slow the pace. I finished the 3rd mile in a pace I did not think one could run and still be so slow. After the run I felt dizzy and overheated. I had to dump a bottle of water over my head and the back of my neck.

You should carry a bottle of water with you, if you aren't already for those hot runs. I routinely dump cold water on my head and down my shirt while I run in the heat - it really helps instantly cool you down. Have you thought about getting a water belt? One of those that either have a single or double water bottle holder at the back, or one like I have that has 4 water bottles around the belt.

Or sometimes I use one hand held bottle:

In this heat it is so important to have some hydration with you. If for nothing else - just to pour on your head.

I pushed my run out to 5 miles this morning. I did it slow and easy

Awesome Edgar! You are really improving in your distance. Don't worry too much about speed - it will come in time.

I am toying with the idea of signing up for a half marathon somewhere in late November or early December. I am not sure if it is to early for me to try training for something like that. I will see how things go over the next few weeks. As I push my long run farther out I will know better if I can handle something like that this soon.

You go Edgar! You are the best judge of your abilities - you will know whether you can do it.

[EdgarHF]

Don't worry too much about speed - it will come in time.

I guess what I do not have in speed right now I make up in mass. I have been carrying a bottle of water with me on my run, but I am eyeing one of those water bottle belts.

I really don't now why, but I have been getting down on myself after my runs lately. I have set a goal of besting 34 min on my next race come September 25th and I am getting mad at myself for not being able to keep a sub 10:56 pace over a mile. I should not be able to attain that just a week after my last race and I need to be patient. I goal today was to push for 2 miles and do the last mile easy. I wanted to do my second mile below that 10:56 pace but I could not hold the pace for the whole mile. Heat was not an excuse this time. I know I can do it physically but I give up mentally. Well, I did string together my fastest 2 miles since leaving the Marines. I am going to take a nap now.

Overall
Time: 00:36:17
Distance: 3.00 mi
Elevation Gain: 12 ft
Calories: 488 C

Timing
Time: 00:36:17
Moving Time: 00:35:57
Elapsed Time: 00:36:17
Avg Speed: 5.0 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 5.0 mph
Max Speed: 7.5 mph
Avg Pace: 12:05 min/mi
Avg Moving Pace: 11:58 min/mi
Best Pace: 08:03 min/mi

SpeedPaceElevation
Elevation Gain: 12 ft
Elevation Loss: 24 ft
Min Elevation: 579 ft
Max Elevation: 594 ft
Laps 3
View Splits SplitSplit Hour:Minute:SecondTime MilesDistance Minutes per MileAvg Pace
Summary 00:36:17 3.00 12:05
1 00:11:17 1.00 11:16
2 00:11:21 1.00 11:21
3 00:13:38 1.00 13:38