Run Summaries

Distance: 9.29 mi
Time: 1:40:41
Avg. Pace: 10′50″
Max. Pace: 9′49″
Avg. HR: 177
Max. HR: 191

With Mike C. After missing my two 3-milers this week, it was a harder run, and I felt the increased distance. Pleased with the average pace all things considered. Thanks to Mike for taking it easy on me with the pace!

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Distance: 4.00 mi
Time: 0:48:19
Avg. Pace: 12′05″
Max. Pace: 11′15″
Avg. HR: 152
Max. HR: 184

Slow and easy. With Brian.

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Distance: 3.11 mi
Time: 0:29:09
Avg. Pace: 9′22″
Max. Pace: 9′11″
Avg. HR: 168
Max. HR: 184

This was my first-ever organized race, the Firecracker 5K in Brentwood. It was fun, and an invaluable experience for the future. My only real disappointment was that my timing chip apparently did not work as I was not listed on the official results. (The timing above is my self-timing of the race.)

1. Trying to be realistic in your expected performance, and therefore placing yourself near the rear of the starting queue, will penalize you because of the number of people up front who have no intention of doing anything but walking. Navigating through those people in the first mile will kill your time. Better to get as close to the front as you can, and move to the outside to clear the path of the faster runners after the start. (This was quite aggravating…)

2. It’s very difficult to drink from a cup while running. Pouring water over your head at pace is much easier. The apparent implication for the marathon is that I’ll have to walk through at least some of the fluid stations in order to take in enough fluids during the race.

3. If your timing chip doesn’t work (and mine didn’t), you won’t appear on the official results if that is the only timing mechanism in use at the race. I have my own timing of the 5K, but I would be extremely disappointed if this happened to me in a marathon.

Perhaps most important, I thoroughly enjoyed the race. It did make me think that I’ll probably want to have an iPod for the marathon. I was fine without music in this race, but I think 4+ hours without any distraction would get monotonous.

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Distance: 3.00 mi
Time: 0:28:57
Avg. Pace: 9′39″
Max. Pace: 9′31″
Avg. HR: 162
Max. HR: 186

Today was the last run before a 5K (my first) this coming weekend. Wanted to push the pace from what we’ve been running, and the result was my first run with Brian with an average pace under 10 minutes/mile. (I did it once when my friend Mark was running me like a dog 2 weeks ago, but today I was able to set that pace myself, which was evidence of progress.) I’m looking forward to the 5K. My goal is a pace under 9′30″ for the race. That’s loafing for a lot of those who will be running, but it’s about all I have right now. This one will set a benchmark for the next one, though.

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Distance: 4.00 mi
Time: 0:48:48
Avg. Pace: 12′12″
Max. Pace: 11′41″
Avg. HR: 145
Max. HR: 174

Another great, cool morning, and a good run. This was Brian’s first time to exceed 3 miles with no walking break – a real achievement in just his third week of consistent running! I don’t care what the pace, that’s significant. A quicker 3-mile run is on tap for Thursday ahead of a 5K on Saturday. I’m looking forward to both of those things.

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Distance: 3.00 mi
Time: 0:32:00
Avg. Pace: 10′39″
Max. Pace: 10′28″
Avg. HR: 150
Max. HR: 174

What a great morning! We had really nice, cool temperatures overnight, and low humidity, which means that it was possible for perspiration to evaporate from my face this morning. I don’t really like running the day after my long runs, but the weekend’s travel made it necessary this week, and it wasn’t bad. I’m looking forward to running a 5K this weekend. I’ve never run in an organized race, so it will be great experience ahead of the marathon.

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Distance: 7.00 mi
Time: 1:29:02
Avg. Pace: 12′43″
Max. Pace: 10′59″
Avg. HR: 151
Max. HR: 183

Longest run thus far, on a very muggy day. With Brian. Tried to set a slow initial pace to help us run as much of the 7 miles as possible – questionable success.

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