Hippie Chick Half Marathon registration!

The Hippie Chick Half Marathon registration is going to happen soon! On November 1st at midnight registration will open and all us hippie chicks will be on our computers trying to get a spot in the race!

In 2008 I wanted to register for the race and while I was contemplating if I would be able or would want to run a half marathon the race filled up which made me very sad so for the 2009 race I was more alert and ready to do it on the day registration opened. I came home from my Halloween party and went to register, website down, so I went to bed, was unable to sleep and when I woke up I was able to register for the half marathon! Yes I was signed up for my first half marathon, scary and exciting all at the same time!

The race went well it was well organized and the atmosphere was great! I also placed pretty good 5th in my age group so I decided I wanted to do it again in 2010 and it would be good training for my marathon. Registration is in 2 days! This time I am just going to stay awake until midnight to sign up I don't want to take any chances last year they sold out in about 9 hours. Can't wait to be a Hippie Chick again this year!

Run Like Hell: Portland, Oregon

On October 26, 2010 my friend joined about 3000 to participate in the Run Like Hell in Portland, Oregon 10k. There were a few races going on that morning, a half marathon, a 10k and a 5k. The race started at 7:30am which meant that is was really dark and the temperatures were in the 50s. Many people at the race were wearing costumes or Halloween themed outfits. Unfortunately I was not able to participate because I had to be at work (booooo).

This sounds like a very fun race and I hope to be able to participate in it at some point. I hear that some of the costumes people wear at Run Like Hell are pretty interesting. There was someone dressed as Bam Bam and running barefoot, there was someone in a Prom dress with a long train holding her train while pushing a stroller. I don't think I would ever be able to run with all these added challenges but it sure does sound fun to watch.

My friend says the race was well organized overall, her only complaint was that there only was one water station that you hit 2 miles out and since it was a loop you hit it again at mile 4 on the way back. She also says that she could not find any water at the finish line. She had a good time though and was glad she participated.

Running Slow Just Jogging

My workout routine called for me to do something different, something I have never done before, take it easy to build on endurance. I usually run at about an 8 mile minute pace, but today's workout looked something like this:
warm up at an 11 minute mile for 15 minutes
run at about 9:50 for 15 minutes
cool down 5 minutes at 11 minute mile

Now if one runs at this pace this is great! All running is great so don't get me wrong but for me this is a little hard I really had to try and work at going this pace. It was a mental workout more than anything else.... So supposedly this is going to help me get faster we will soon find out. Hope it works!

My Nike chip for Ipod is crazy!

I have a Nike chip for the Ipod and I loved it until it started to do whatever it wanted to. When I go for a run it seems to tell me a different distance every time. Now I know that it calculates the distance based on my stride so I do not expect it to be perfect but I know my stride is not changing that much and the inaccuracy is sometimes a difference of 3 blocks. This is just crazy!!

I have tried calibrating it over and over again, and nothing one week it tells me to turn around at 30th the next week it tells me to turn around at 33rd I don't know what to do!? So I guess I will just turn around somewhere in between?! Does anyone else have this problem?

4 Mile Run with Hills

I woke up this morning expecting rain, wind and cold and to my surprise it was relatively warm and still. So I went out for a run I decided to do a harder course and put a 2 mile uphill into it. I felt great for the first 2 miles at about mile 3 though my knee was bothering me a bit I hope the ITB problems are not coming back.... I finished my run though at a good pace did some stretching so I am hoping it is going to be fine, we will soon find out.

Dark Fall Already!

I woke up at 7am which is not early at all to go on my morning run and it was windy, dark, rainy, and cold. I got up anyway and did what I have to do but this is crazy it is way too dark and cold. I guess daylight savings is coming soon so that will give me a little more light when I wake up to go for a run but I miss summer!

Why can't I run?!?!

I went for a run today, I intended it to be a 5 mile run it turned into 3.5 with a little walking at the end. I don't know what my problem is I know I can do the distance but today about .5 miles into it my lungs started to hurt. Its not that I haven't warmed up because I did. This happens to me way to often and its starting to make it very hard to train and it makes me feel like I will never be able to accomplish my marathon goal.

Last few days of sun!

I went for a run on my day off which was nice because by the time I went the sun was out and it was warm enough to just wear shorts and a t-shirt. There were all sorts of people out training for what seemed to be every sport. There were the soccer players, the cyclocross, lots of people jogging in a group I'm assuming training for a run that is coming up, and the air force reserves were out running around the track doing drills. I love it when there are so many people out being active it gives me a sense that I am part of something very big. What a great feeling!

Steve Prefontaine Memorial 10k

About 10 years ago I watched the movie Without Limits about Steve Prefontaine and loved it. I loved the movie and the story of Prefontaine so much I decided that one day I was going to go to Coos Bay, OR and see where it all started.

On September 19 2009 I finally made it to Coos Bay, OR not only did I make it to Coos Bay but I participated along with about 1200 other people in the Steve Prefontaine Memorial 10k! The race took us on one of his old training routes and up a long hill called agony hill. It was pouring rain and one of the hardest 10ks I have ever done but I had a great time! I finished 10th in my age group and 100 out of around 550 women. What a great time I had. I hope I can go back there again!

Training Program!

So now that I have decided to do this I have chosen two training programs. These training programs have gotten good reviews and as far as I can tell if I follow them I will be able to do this. At the beginning of the year I am doing a half marathon so I will start off with that training program and then in october I will be doing a full and will follow the other program!
Hope this works!

Half Marathon training plan:


Marathon training plan: