One Bad Ass Runner

As all of you know, I've been struggling with my races since I was diagnosed with the asthma and given medication plus a rescue inhaler.  My times have gone slower and slower and I have not been able to perform as I had in the Summer. So, when I saw this race in between the WPB Marathon and the Disney Goofy Challenge, I knew it was the perfect time to do some quality racing and give it my all.  My intention was not to PR but rather to see how fast could I go with the asthma and how my performance will be affected by it. I had run three 5Ks since being diagnosed with asthma, two of them in the 80s and 90% humidity and this one.  My times prior to today were: 27:16 and 27:36, respectively, both in September, two weeks after being diagnosed with the asthma and without the right medication for me.  PR pre asthma was 24:57 (Garmin). I have to say I think this was a success, in part.  I, however, did a lot of things wrong. What I Did Wrong : Starte...

I reviewed the Asics GT 2160 in a previous blog post.  Here is the review of the newer version, the Asics GT 2160. This shoe is everything the GT 2150 and GT 2160 are not.  It's sleek, it's lighter, it's cool, it comes in awesome colors.  It feels like it's a shoe you can either run long or fast. The shoe is 9.9 oz in weight but it really feels almost like a racer shoe.  It feels light overall.  I've used it on two runs, both recovery runs.  However, the shoe feels like you can run fast (I actually did some sprints with it).  It feels like it could be your long run shoe while also perfect for 5K or 10K races.  It has enough support to use during a marathon and, in fact, I am thinking of using it for one of my next few marathons and see how it feels.  Maybe it is perfect enough for my first ultra. From all the shoes I'm currently trying, this is one of my favorite ones.

As I venture into the unknown by changing from the Adidas Supernova to anything that works (basically), I am going to try to review the shoes so that any interested party can compare them.  My first review is of the Asics GT 2160. My opinion of the Asics GT 2150 has been well known.  I hate them...with a passion...my feet do not like them.  So, with much trepidation, I bough a pair of GT 2160s to try out, but feared that my review of them would be the same as the GT 2150. More or less. From the 8 pairs of shoes I am currently trying, the GT 2160 are the ones I like the least.  There is no reason for it.  I don't even know why I don't love these.  The feet just never feel comfortable with them.  They are a little heavy (10.2 oz) but other than that, there should not be a reason for me not to like them.  The shoes have nothing wrong with them; however, there is nothing wow about them either.  It's a good training shoe for normal runs but...

For four years, I have been in love with my soulmate.  We've gone through a lot: 5Ks, 10Ks, HMs, marathons, and asthma.  But today, I had to make the toughest choice I've had to make in years.  I have to say goodbye....TO MY ADIDAS SUPERNOVA SEQUENCES. Ha, you thought I was leaving my husband, didn't you? Since I started taking running seriously 4 years ago, I went to the running store and got fitted with the Adidas Supernova Sequence shoes.  They felt like I was running on a cloud.  They got me through thick and thin.  All my first races were in Supernovas.  My weight loss happened while running Supernovas.  My best PRs (except my recent marathon PR) happened with the Supernovas. I tried other shoes, I did.  But while they felt OK, nothing compared with the Supernovas But something happened when I lost weight.  Or maybe my stride got better, or I am a more efficient runner, or whatnot.  The Supernova Sequence 2 and 3 felt a...

Yesterday, I ran the Down2Earth Trail Half Marathon in North Miami, Florida.  This trail race is held several times a year and I had signed up for this race in June, but had to DNF when I twisted my ankle 7 times and fell during the first loop (the first 5K). So, I was out to reinvindicate myself and finish this mother.  So, I found a time where I had sufficient time to recover without it affecting a race (I spent 4 days without running last time and I was so sore I thought I was injured).  Yesterday was the perfect day. Trail  - This trail is pretty technical and tough.  There were no photographers this time around so you will have to do with my old picture from the other trail race: What I Changed From Last Time Shoes - Last time I used the Brooks Cascadia and, since I twisted my ankles so many times, and I thought they did not provide sufficient support, I wanted to change them.  I ended up buying the Adidas Supernova Riot. Trainin...

FE:  On Friday we went out to party and party we did.  We first went to the see the TransSiberian Orchestra's Christmas Concert, followed by dinner in South Beach, and party at Mango's.  Here are some of the pictures from said partying. Here are the Goddesses individually: @ Dinner.  There are no words.  Just remember, I am not sharing all the pictures that exist, here with you.  There are more, some more embarrassing than others. Race Day: We all got to meet Dana (zircardia) although I was the last one: Not sure if you have not noticed, but apart from being model-gorgeous, Dana is tall: And off we go! Here is Dana and me goofing off as we wait for somebody to go to the potty: After that picture, we saw some nice signs around the course, with this one catching the most attention: Let me tell you that Rich was a sensation.  He never runs at the back of the back, and these lad...

There is no short version! Long: Pre-Race; This weekend and the next there's going to be a big FE with a lot of our forumites.  rpflash and bingo_jenn came over to WPB this weekend to do the half and full, respectively.  I will let them tell their own tales, as each one have an interesting story to tell.  But, here are some of the FE pics from yesterday at the Cheesecake Factory: Be jealous, ladies, be very jealous.  The first thing I saw as I was going into the finishing chute was Rich, shirtless! Revenge is at Hand: Today, I ran the Palm Beaches Marathon.  This was my first marathon ever and last year, I walked the last 10 miles due to what I thought was a cold or some sort of flu.  Reading the RR from that race, sounds eerily familiar.  Here are some excerpts from it: Mile 1 - Halfway through Mile 1 I noticed I was winded.  I'm not even running fast, I'm doing somewhere close to easy pace and I'm winded. ...