National Capital Half Marathon update

I finally registered for the Half Marathon at this year's National Capital Race Weekend. After looking at their web page, I realized that the half marathon was already over 90% full, with 2 months still before the race. I figured since I'm training for it and have full intentions on running it, I might as well sign up before it fills up. Keep in mind that over 90% of 10,500 runners is a lot, and that number is higher than the last time I ran this race 2 years ago (9,000). That is a lot of people running side by side.

NCHM Challenge - Run # 36

Today was windy!

Here are my numbers

		My results	Comments
Type of Run	Steady	non-stop	great
Distance	5 km	5 Km	total: 171.63 km
Pace	7:19	7:23	ok
Average HR	137-148	???	see below
Max HR	180	???	see below
Calories Burned		606	total: 21523

I knew something was up with my HR monitor even before I started. As I made my way across an intersection to where I start my 5k route, my HR was very high. I then stopped and it wouldn't go down. So I said that I wouldn't worry about my HR readings for this run. Within 25m of starting, my HR monitor strap became loose and fell to around my stomach. So I left it there for the complete run, never know how my heart was working. Thankfully it was an easy run, with an easy pace, so it's not a big deal.

NCHM Challenge - Run # 35

Today was hills!

Here are my numbers

		My results	Comments
Type of Run	Hills	non-stop	great
Distance	4 hills	6.23 Km	total: 166.63 km
Pace	6:36	6:45	see below
Average HR	148-159	149	ok
Max HR	180	183	little high
Calories Burned		781	total: 20917

My average time for each hill rep was 4:50 which is 10 seconds faster than last week. That is very good. Even my Max HR was that high considering I was trying to push going up the hills.

NCHM Challenge - Run # 34

Even though the weather is not nice today (cold and raining), I still made it out for my Tempo run.

Here are my numbers

		My results	Comments
Type of Run	Tempo	non-stop	great
Distance	4 Km	4 Km	total: 160.4 km
Pace	6:36	6:12	great
Average HR	148-159	160	ok
Max HR	180	191	high
Calories Burned		482	total: 20136

Same run as last week except this time I made it through without too much difficulty. Did 2.75km at a 5:59/km pace. Very happy, but now my right hamstring is feeling a little tight. I've stretched it a few times now and hopefully it will feel better before tomorrow.

Reality check

All because of you,
I believe in angels.
Not the kind with wings,
No, not the kind with halos,
The kind that bring you home,
When home becomes a strange place.
Rise Against - The Good Left Undone
 
Heard this song lyric yesterday while running. I've heard this song many times before (one of my favourite bands), but yesterday, hearing this specific part, really stuck with me. Even today it is still with me.

Not sure exactly why, but this lyric really made me think of my wife. Probably because if I ever needed someone to bring me back "home," I know she would be there for me.

Appreciate what you have. Hopefully she knows I do.

NCHM Challenge - Run # 33

It's Sunday, so that means it's LSD run day!

Here are my numbers

		My results	Comments
Type of Run	LSD	10:1s	great
Distance	10 Km	10 Km	total: 156.4 km
Pace	7:19	7:11	little fast
Average HR	137-148	136	great
Max HR	180	180	high
Calories Burned		1214	total: 19654

Incredible run. My pace was faster than expected, including walking time, but my Average HR was below the range, meaning I could have went faster. My Max HR hit high, but I was really watching it and I never saw it hit that high, so it must have been a one time occurrence. Either way, all was good.

NCHM Challenge - Run # 32

Made it out early this morning for my Steady run.

Here are my numbers

		My results	Comments
Type of Run	Steady	steady	great
Distance	3 Km	4.3 Km	total: 146.4 km
Pace	7:19	6:54	fast
Average HR	137-148	157	high
Max HR	180	245	too high
Calories Burned		535	total: 18440

I went a little farther than planned today and now I've almost made up the distance I missed in the only run I haven't done for this training. I also added a few little hills to today's run and went faster than expected which put my HR off.