Mi Familia

My Mom sent me this picture last night. Our extended family has had a rough year with a couple of deaths and some other issues. This picture from the Christmas of 1968 brought back some very good memories. The Varelas used to get together every Christmas eve in El Paso. We drove from Phoenix every year until I was about 14. My grandmother passed away in 1979 and those of us that lived outside of El Paso didn't come back as often. The family still gets together every Christmas eve, but the group is a lot smaller since many of the cousins moved away. Anyway, 1968 was a much simpler time for all of us. My family is lucky that only 5 of the people in the picture are no longer with us. Although we are spread across the country, we are still close in spirit and have many great memories to fall back on.

Viva La Familia Varela!

Cross Training

My calf is feeling a lot better today, but I decided to cross train today instead of running. I rode the elliptical machine for 30 minutes and then did my weight routine. I finished off with some ab work and stretching.

Tomorrow is a rest day and a 14 miler on Saturday. Hopefully the calf will hold up.

Fartleks on the Trail

Today we did a new fartlek workout on the trail. We started at RunTex and went counter clockwise on the trail. Once we crossed I-35 we started out. The plan was 3 minutes fast, 1 slow, 2 fast, 1 slow, and finally 1 fast. We did 3 sets. My calf is still a little sore, but I stayed close to the group for all 3 sets. We did some strides when we finished and called it a day.

Stats - 6.91/1:01:44/8:56 pace
AHR - 136
MHR - 156

Recovery on the Trail and Weights

I met Anne, Marcy, and Brian at the Rock for 7 miles on the trail. My calf was tight this morning, but felt better as it warmed up. We ran into Mike Jeroslow, Carrie's running hubby, at the Rock and he joined us on the back half of the run. I felt pretty good the whole way around and we finished with a nice pace for a recovery run. I hit the gym on the way home and did all of my exercises except for the calf raises. They hurt like hell so I abandoned that machine quickly!

Tomorrow is fartleks and then maybe a couple of days rest or some cross training on Thursday. I have to see how the calf feels.

Stats - 6.87 miles/1:02:31/9:06 pace

Mile Repeats at Zilker

Today we met for mile repeats at Zilker. We did our drills and then Gilbert told us to start with 4 since our marathons are a long way off. I lined up with my group and we started a bit slow at 7:20. The next two were faster with a 6:58 and a 7:01. I was on a good pace during the 3rd one when my right calf started hurting on the hill that goes up the back side of the park. I walked a bit and then jogged back to the finish. I was able to jog back and it didn't hurt that much. Hopefully it is just a tweak.

Stats - 7.89 miles
MHR - 168

July Catch Up Part II - 7/22 - 7/26

7/22 - I didn't sleep on Sunday night so I skipped the Gazelle workout. This morning I met my group along with one of my co-workers from the Bay area. We met at the Rock at 6AM and did the 7 mile loop. I hit the gym on the way home and did my weight routine, ab work, and stretched.

Stats - 6.87 miles/1:03:27/9:13 pace
AHR - 130
MHR - 151

7/23 - 800 Repeats at AHS - we met for 800s at AHS today. Bernard said to do 4-8 so I chose to do 6. I wanted to do in the 3:20-3:30 range to get a feel for where I am. I started out slow and finished really strong. I was happy with the workout.

Splits - 3:27, 3:23, 3:22, 3:18, 3:22, 3:11 - 3:21 Average
Stats - 7.16 miles

7/24 - Medium Run with Wish - We woke up today with some rain and cloud cover from hurricane Dolly. Wish and I took advantage of it and got back to our 8 mile route. My legs were a little sluggish, but once I got going I felt good.

Stats - 8.2 Miles/1:11:23/8:42 pace
AHR - 141
MHR - 162

7/26 - Grove LSR - Today we met to do the Grove Loop. It's not my favorite run, but it was perfect for today. It was really humid since we had all that rain on Thursday and really warm. My stomach held together this morning which was a plus and I finished strong.

Stats - 13.4 miles/1:56:24/8:41 pace
AHR - 142
MHR - 160

July Catch Up - 7/10 - 7/19

I have been very busy with work and traveling so my blog has become a bit stale. Below is a recap of about 10 days.

7/10 - Run with Wish in the neighborhood. We did two loops in the park and then back home.

Stats - 5.93 miles/53:32/9:01 pace
AHR - 132
MHR - 154

7/13 - LSR with Wish's "Old Guys" - I took Friday and Saturday off because we had to pick up Emma at Camp Mo Ranch on Saturday. I ran with Wish's group for a tour of Mt. Bonnell and then up Mt. Barker. It was a really hilly run and I wasn't feeling so good due to lack of water. The distance felt a lot longer, but I survived.

Stats - 11.25 miles/1:41:07/8:59 pace
AHR - 139
MHR - 163

7/14 - Recovery run at home - Since I went long yesterday and had to fly to San Jose for work I slept in and ran at home. I just wanted to get 45 minutes in.

Stats - 5.16 miles/45:01/8:43 pace
AHR - 138
MHR - 156

7/15 - Gym Run and Weights - I had an early meeting today so I hit the Sun workout facility in Menlo Park where I ran and lifted weights. It was a shame to be inside because it was so nice and cool outside.

Stats - 5.3 miles/45:00/8:29 pace

7/16 - 4 Mile Tempo and the Alameda Creek Trail - Today I tried to simulate our 4 mile tempo run on a very nice trail that runs into the SF bay. I did a 1.5 mile warmup and then started on the 4 mile tempo. I was not feeling too good due to the beers I had last night, but I wanted to see where I was at for the four miles. My splits were 7:36, 7:50, 7:37, and 7:28 for a 30:33. That is very slow for me, but I have plenty of time before my marathon and running this workout by yourself just sucks.

Stats - 6 Miles
Tempo - 4 miles/30:33/7:38 pace

7/17 - Recovery Run - I returned to the Alameda Creek Trail for a 6 mile recovery run. The temps were nice and cool in the high 50s just like yesterday. I really enjoyed this run.

Stats - 6.02 Miles/52:05/8:39 pace

7/19 - LSR with the Group - It was nice to get back to Austin and run with my group today. We ran up Exposition and then up Shoal Creek to Hancock. We did the backward Scenic return where my stomach blew up once I got to the top of the hill. Thank goodness there was a potty at the top that saved me. It was a good run and I finished fast after I emptied out. My last 3 miles were 8:15, 8:15, and 8:25.

Stats - 14.15 miles/2:05:02/8:50 pace
AHR - 139
MHR - 159

1000s at AHS

Today we met for 1000s at AHS. The goal was 6 repeats with a 200 walk/jog in between (2:30 rest). I haven't done these in a long time and was surprised at how good I felt during the workout. My legs were a little dead after my gym day. I am hoping that eventually I won't feel this tired. I need to get up earlier on Thursdays to get in my run and get in a second, quick weight workout.

As for the workout we did our drills and then broke into groups. We had at least 10 folks. I led the first and slowest of the repeats and then stayed near the back for the remaining five. It was really humid today and I wore a t-shirt so I suffered a bit as the shirt got soaked. I had to expose my gut for the last two repeats when I took off my shirt, but I didn't seem to scare anyone!

Repeats - 4:37, 4:35, 4:24, 4:24, 4:15, 4:08

For this stage in my training I was very happy with my times. I did some stretching at home and called it a day.

Stats - 8.27 miles
AHR - 129/169

Gym Run and Weights

I returned to the gym today for a 45 minute run and weights. I haven't been in a couple of weeks and need to get here more regularly to strengthen my glutes and lower back. I was a bit sore from the hill workout yesterday, but nothing major. I ran most of the time at 8:41 pace and then shifted to 8:34 pace for the last 15 minutes.

I used the machines for my legs along with rack to do squats for my back/glutes. I also did a couple of exercises for my arms and shoulders.

Stats - 45:00/5.2 miles

Spring Creek Hill

Today I officially begin my serious training for the 2008 Dallas Marathon. I have been watching the US Olympic Track and Field and the Swimming Trials for the past week and am totally motivated by those athletes. I really enjoyed watching my fellow Arizona Alum, Bernard Lagat, win the 1500. I am also very happy Leo Manzano from UT got 2nd in the same race to advance to Beijing. Dara Torres is representing my age group well in swimming...very cool!!

Anyway, today I woke up really motivated to get my ass in shape for my next marathon. I met the group at Runtex for a 2 mile jog to the Spring Creek hill. We did our drills and then started with two sets of 3 attacks on the hill from varying distances. We finished with 3 backward and 3 sprints. It was a really good workout.

Stats - 6.62 miles
HR - 135/166

Back Home and Getting Out the Toxins - Week of 6/30

I am back in Austin and running on the ground again. I was hoping I didn't gain that much weight on the cruise, but I put about 4-6 pounds. Given that I ate about 5 times a day and had a lot of beer, wine, and rum drinks that wasn't so bad. It was a rough week getting back into my workouts. We got home from Miami late on Sunday night so I slept and didn't run on Monday. The rest of the week's workouts are below.

Tuesday - 7/1
I ran at home today and it wasn't so bad. I did an out and back on Escarpment.

Stats - 5.03 miles/42:51/8:30 pace
HR - 145/164

Wednesday - 7/2
I met the Gazelles for fartleks. I was with my group for the warmup, but had to stop and pee so I ended up running an even pace for the 7 mile loop at Lady Bird Lake. I wasn't feeling so well so it was a good workout for me.

Stats - 6.91 miles/59:59/8:41 pace
HR - 139/159

Thursday - 7/3
I met Wish for a couple of loops in the Circle C Park. My legs felt dead and I wasn't feeling too good this morning so it was a really slow pace. This loop is becoming the norm for me since it is warmer now and I am working harder on Wednesdays. The 6 miles are a good recovery distance and I will go back to 8 miles in the fall.

Stats - 6.45 miles/57:33/8:55 pace
HR - 143/164

Saturday - 7/5
I met the group for a long run. Marcy and Brian joined me for a 12 mile out and back up Exposition to 35th Street and across to Shoal Creek. I celebrated the 4th too much at our block party last night and had to deliver a "Whopper" to the poor Burger King on 35th Street. Thank goodness they were open! I felt and ran really well after that. I am getting my mojo back!

Stats - 11.8 miles/1:47:40/9:07 pace
HR - 136/155