April Round Up

I may only be starting my 3rd week of my training program, but I am completing my first month of training. My first shoes-to-the-pavement run was on April 11. Coupling that with hitting the gyms, I've had a month of working out. Not only that, April also included running my first race of all time. I'm so happy with what I've done so far. I feel some real accomplishment.

Trainings

I ran all the way to the end
of a silent film.

My training has gone well. I started running at the gym on the elliptical. I also got out and went running. I have my sights set on Walt Disney World in January with my half marathon training plan. I've utilized the run-walk-run method from Jeff Galloway, which has been perfect for me. It's really worked exactly as advertised. It helps me to keep a good pace, without getting too tired and helping with the strain on my muscles. Every training session I try and improve. It may be more distance, it may be a quicker pace or it may be trying to improve my technique a little. I've played with some different tech and some apps, trying to find the right mix that works for me. It's still in flux, but I have a set that works pretty well for me right now.

Races

I completed my first race ever, not a 5K as you might suspect, but the Rockstar 8K. The race was held here in Burke, VA, just around the corner running down and back Burke Center Parkway. The race was ran by Potomac River Running. They have a couple of stores in the area and do a lot of races. I finished the race with an official time of 1:08:12 giving me a 13:45 min / mile pace. That pace blew away all of training paces up to that point. I guess the adrenaline and the concentration of the race helped keep my pace up nicely.

I'm eyeing up some future races as well. I want to get in some longer runs. I need to do some 10Ks to give to Disney for pacing purposes. I'm looking at some Memorial Day weekend that Derek asked if I may be interested in. There is the Cascades 10K Firechase and the Ringing in the Hope 10K. I also want to find a 5K to run with my sister up in PA, since I cannot do the Chocolate Miracle 5K with her in Hershey. Longer term, I'm looking at the Perfect 10 and, if I can get into it, the Army 10 Miler (it apparently fills up quick).

Some Monthly Stats

I'm a geek, so I like numbers and stats. So here are some stats that I've been tracking for the month of April.

Total Distance on the Pavement: 16.9 miles
Average Pavement Pace: 14:16 min / mile
Best Pavement Pace: 13:43 min / mile

Total Distance in the Gym: 16.4 miles
Average Pace in the Gym: 7:48 min / mile
Best Pace in the Gym: 7:13 min / mile

What's Next?

What will May hold? Another race? Hopefully. More distance? Check. The plan calls for a 5 mile and a 6.5 mile runs this month. New gear? Check. My running shoes are in at the store, so I'll be picking them up soon.

What will May hold? More work, more progress, more success.