Better late than never

7.5 miles!

Yes, this long run should have happened weeks, maybe even months ago, had I been following a normal training schedule.

But I am not on a normal training schedule. I am on a quest to finish 3 half marathons within 98 days and have been a total slacker in keep up my training as this third half looms. As such, I did my longest run (and only one on the road) one week before race day.

It was an unusually sunny, clear and mild (Lee -- dang, it's hot today) San Franciscan day. It made the run entirely satisfying, even as I wiggled through the last mile or so.

The calves ached and the hips tweaked uncomfortably towards the end but nothing that prevented the many hours of holiday sale shopping that followed.

The best miles were probably 3 - 5 when I got into a groove. The hardest was definitely the last mile when I felt winded and out of shape.

I needed this run today. I needed to know that I could at least rock out half of the distance without problems. Ready for Vegas!

Pounding the rubber

I had an awesome 4-miler on the treadmill yesterday. I was FAST. Well, FAST for me.

More importantly, I was FAST yesterday and today, I'm pain-free. It's obvious my back has grown stronger and I can push my body harder now.

Ohhhhh and I lost a whole 2 pounds. Last week, it was a net loss of 3 pounds but somehow a pound crept back so it's a net 2 pound loss. Maybe it was a pound of the awesome pie the Hambricks brought to potluck that did it...

Hurts so...good?

I have actually been better at working out than blogging about the workouts. I rocked out a 5-miler on the treadmill last week and started up workouts with Rachel (whom I have a bone to pick with -- good lord, my hips and butt hurts from those damn squats and weird squat/toe tap exercises!!!).

I am slightly (okay, maybe A LOT) concerned that I haven't done an outdoor run since the Nike Half. Is it bad to be tapering for 6 six weeks? ;-)

2 weeks until Vegas!

Fat tire

I have a ring of fat around my belly. I've worked hard on it, especially with my mom's home cooking lately.

Unfortunately, I have not worked as hard on my running...even with Vegas about a month out. No excuses. I have chosen to work / eat / sleep / just spend time doing something else other than get ready for the race.

Even as I stress about my un-fit-ness, I'm thinking of what sweet I could inhale... Willpower. Willpower. Willpower.

Tomorrow is another day. It's another chance make myself proud.