Finally back in the saddle

Rode from home up to a doctor's appointment this morning in PB (12.5 miles) then back.  Notable moments from the ride involved 2 hills that I used to just barely survive... one was up Maryland Ave. from Hillcrest to Uni Heights -- not a horrible hill, but I always slowed down noticeably when I got to it.  Today, took the whole thing 12-15 MPH!

But even more notably... Presidio from Mission Valley up to Mission Hills.  Blew it out of the water!  Wasn't even tired or huffing and puffing at the top.  I remember that hill being worse last time I tried it.  I'm guessing that it's a combination of about 10% "I psyched myself out for a worse hill" and 90% "I'm just crazy fit these days."

Just glad to be back in the saddle, more than anything!

All kinds of PRs

I forgot to post my 5k PR last week!  25:51 course time!  8:20 pace.  Who knew?

And then today's half marathon, blown out of the water.  Finished in 2:08:14 -- and considering I was hoping to do a 2:20 finish, that means I shaved a minute off each mile from my expected time.  Wow.

http://runkeeper.com/user/music2mychakras/activity/74833557

Noteworthy moments from the race:
Seeing Julia and Alla at the start line
The guy at mile 0.1 with the sign:  "Only 13.0 miles to go!"
Dropping (And breaking) my sunglasses at mile 0.2, and carrying them in my hand the entire remaining distance.
The sign "A half marathon is really just a 5k, with a 10 mile warm up"
The 8 year old kid with the sign "Come on, even I can run 10 miles"
The guy with the sign "Hurry up Melissa, this sign is getting heavy"
The guy with the sign "Worst Parade Ever"
Running up Washington St without a break, past lots of people who stopped to walk.
Running past Kim on the sidelines, putting my arms in the air for a picture, and hearing "That was an awesome picture!  I'll email it to you!"
Crossing mile 11 and realizing... this is officially the longest distance I've ever run... and I ain't done yet!
Two cool girls I met at mile 11, who were also doing their first half marathon, and were equally surprised to find that they were sub-2:10 pace.
Shoe coming untied at mile 12.9 (D'oh!)
Tears welling up in my eyes as I passed the mile 13 sign.
EPIC FINISH ON THE FIELD!
Hot military man putting my medal on me, and then a second later getting a phone call from the best trainer that ever was, congratulating me on my epic finish.
Sharing my finish with the whole group:  Phillip, Jen, Robin, Annabelle, David

And last but not least... finishing, and my nervous stomach finally easing up so that I have my appetite back.  And I plan to EAT my way through the kitchen shortly.

Another 5k PR

Can't sleep, so now's a great time to post today's successful run!  27:54 at the 3.11 mile marker.

http://runkeeper.com/user/music2mychakras/activity/73196473?&mobile=false

Didn't even feel like I was working all that hard, either.  Guess I'm ready for Saturday!  Hoping to top even this time Saturday morning.

Running, Riding, and Rest -- OH MY!

I fell behind on updating... I was too busy training?

A beautiful 42 mile loop around Lake Hodges last weekend:  http://runkeeper.com/user/music2mychakras/activity/71342219  My legs were not happy with me in the beginning of the ride for some reason.  Muscles were all tight... kept stretching but they were just not cooperating.  Still, I made it to the finish line -- that's what counts!

Frustrating run around Lake Murray -- lap 1 went great, but then my legs gave out.  Part of the same problem (muscles all wound up, calves and IT band pain, yuck).  http://runkeeper.com/user/music2mychakras/activity/71507288  Thank heavens for my trainer and PVC pipe (read: PAIN), that has finally cleared up.

Lunchtime 5k + HILL:  http://runkeeper.com/user/music2mychakras/activity/71947331  My usual 5k route, plus a run down and back up a big hill.  Gotta prep for Washington...

And a new PR for distance today, 11.1 miles!  http://runkeeper.com/user/music2mychakras/activity/72381037    By mile 6, I was ready to give up, but I ate some Cliff Shots and drank some water, and promised myself I'd make it at least to the 7.7 mile mark, so that I'd done better than last weekend.  Then, somehow, I just kept going.  Looped Fiesta Island and felt amazing.  Race day in 2 weeks... I'm so ready.

Lunchtime 5k

http://runkeeper.com/user/music2mychakras/activity/70804643

Another 31 minute "easy 5k".  Perfect weather for it, nice and cool, slight breeze.

A fitness weekend!

Friday 2/09:  commute to and from work via bicycle:  http://connect.garmin.com/activity/148507591 and http://connect.garmin.com/activity/148599999

Saturday 2/10:  new distance PR (9 miles in 1:40):  http://connect.garmin.com/activity/148878029

Sunday 2/11:  Biking in icky weather.  30+ miles with my favorite GPS buddy:  http://connect.garmin.com/activity/149230577


So yeah, busy weekend.  And I'm HUNGRY.  :-)

Official ALC Training Ride!

Awesome ride today, 50+ miles (including to and from home):  http://runkeeper.com/user/music2mychakras/activity/69603853

I've been fighting a knee thing (a tracking problem, apparently) which has been hampering my ability to run lately.  I've been doing what I can, but will be taking some time to rest, stretch, and strengthen.