One Bad Ass Runner

  Today I ran the Miami Turkey Trot 10K, a feast of 4600 people all standing in the wrong corral. This is the third time I've done this event and it has always been a very tough race because it's usually the only weekend in November where temperatures are close to 80F. Not this weekend. Today it was 71-75F during the race. I did not check the humidity but I know it was high because my sunglasses were foggy all through the race. So, the weather was better than last year, which was 77F. I was not going to shoot for a PR because I know I have not been able to run my normal paces since the asthma diagnosis. However, I wanted to run all out to see what I can do with the asthma. I was not disappointed in finding out I am stronger than I thought. Update on Asthma: I went to the doctor on Monday and they redid the breathing test (this is my 6th test). I was at 80-81% after NYCM, with the small bronchi at 62%. Bad, bad, bad. So, with less than two weeks with the new medication...

Short:  I ran my third 13.1 Ft. Lauderdale (10th completed half marathon).  Did not PR but ran strong.  Final time: 2:14:58, which is a PR post asthma, but not even close to what I could have accomplished before the Summer. Long: On Sunday, I ran the 2011's 13.1 Ft. Lauderdale race.  This has always been my favorite HM of all times, mainly because it was my first HM in 2009 and because it's always my PR race of the year.  However, since being diagnosed with asthma, I have struggled to come to terms with the fact that my PRs may be gone for good (or at least for a while).  I also finished the NYCM last week and, although recovery is going very well, I approached this race with trepidation. I have been debating between attempting a PR or not for this race.  I knew it would be hard, first because my lungs are still stuck at 80% breathing capacity, and because I had an unplanned marathon I just finished.  After NYCM, the doctor chan...

Summary: On Sunday, I finished my 4th Marathon, the NYCM, the first of my season.  It was a great experience and I had tons of fun, I met tons of forumites, and I experienced how my marathon season may go if I don't get my asthma in check.  Even with that, I finished in 4:59:22, not a PR, but with a lot of insight as to how my lungs work. Novel: Chapter 1: The Training This was not a marathon I was planning or wanting to run, but my friend wanted me to enter the lottery and run with her (pacing her on her first) so I entered never believing I would get in.  So, of course I got in.  I had already planned to choose a high mileage intense training for the West Palm Beach Marathon (December 4), so all I needed to do was to organize my training so that I was already trained by the time I would get to NYCM and with enough time to recover until WPB. Since I was already doing 50mpw easily, and already averaging 40mpw in 2011, in June I made the decision to...

Chiqui and I ran the Miami Beach Halloween Half Marathon on October 29.  This is the third year of this race and, if you remember, this is the race that I DNF'd last year due to the flu.  So,I invited Chiqui to do this race while they were running (aka struggling) through the 13.1 Miami Beach, where Chiqui informed me that she would NEVER sign up for that HM (or any other) ever again.  Then, Chiqui proceeded to sign up for this race and other Half Marathons as well, LOL. I had been debating about what to wear, including what costume could I use.  Then, Chiqui told me she had purchased a devil costume and me and my big head thought: hey, I can dress as an angel and go as her nemesis! So, off I went to try to find something runable and light, since it is still 80+ degrees here.  Both decided to treat it as a LR or training run, me because it was one week before the NYCM, and Chiqui, because she's training for her goal HM race which comes later this mont...

Today I ran the Livelong Half Marathon, benefiting Livestrong.  It is a weekend planned set of events during the weekend, including a HM, a 5K, and a family bike ride on Saturday and rides of different distances on Sunday.  Most of the people I saw today during the HM looked like triathletes and were going to ride tomorrow as well. I would like to thank the people that contributed to the Livestrong cause: Chiqui74, cardholic, troy41, LonelyRoadScholar, and RedSparkle, and help in my fundraising. Some of the people that contributed were doing it in memory of or in honor of a person that had suffered from cancer.  I included these persons in my bib and also wrote their names and put them on the display.  I also remembered their names throughout the race and called their names as I crossed the finish lines. I was debating all week long what to wear, how to run, etc.  It is still super hot here and not only that, it's been very humid.  Today was no...

RR Portion: Today I ran the UPS 5K race, benefiting the United Way of Miami.  It was hot and humid, and I was nauseous and short of breath.  No PR and a 27:3X, which is my worst in the last 9 months. The weather today was yucky.  80F feels like 86F with 75 dewpoint.  Not our worst dewpoint (like last week) but not nice either.  My shoelace came loose at Mile 0.25; I had nausea at Mile 2-3 and had to walk the water stations (which I never do).  Still, I had fun and my dad was cheering me for the first time in his life (he's here for a visit), so I finished smiling and having fun.  I also cheered on Chiqui74 on the 5K and on her DH on his first race! Some pics: New racing flats: The Three Amigos Post Race: The Three Amigos Pre-Race Floating Pic: One final one: Long and Whiny Part: This RR is more than an RR; to me it's a please let me know whether I'm doing this wrong thread.  Sorry for t...

Short: I ran the inaugural Doral 5K Freedom Run in my backyard.  It's the first Summer 5K my city has created and we were there in support of the city and the troops.  I came in at 27:15, my worst this year (my PR is 24:57 from July) but I met most of my goals today. Long: I wasn't shooting for a PR but then why am I disappointed?  Oh, yes, I'm a perfectionist and I feel like I telephoned this race.  Training : Training has not been going well during the last 2-4 weeks.  I'm doing Pfitz 18/70 and all my runs have been done well and on pace in this weather, except the LRs.  I've been bonking LRs left and right, mostly because I have not been able to breathe in the high humidity of the morning.  I also twisted my ankle last week and my knee is tender because of it.  So, overall, I've been very disappointed and I'm starting to question my training.  I know this is normal but still.... Weather : It was 80F feels like 87-90F,...