Half-marathon?

I did a nice, long run today of about 8 miles (not exactly sure of the distance, it was just whatever I could cover in about 1:45) It was a great run. It tied for the longest I have ever ran so far.

The run was really HOT though. I started running early in the morning when it was still supposed to be cool oustide. The coolness ovbiously did not happen. At eight in the morning it was already almost 80 degrees! I was dripping sweat through out the entire run.

The last two milles were really hot and difficult but I am hoping to run even farther. I know I can because if it wasn't so hot outside on today's run, I would have definatly been able to go longer. I want to do a half marathon this summer(hopefully) or fall (if I can't do one this summer.)

I have been planning on doing a half marathon since August, but swim team practice got "in the way" of training. I leave "in the way" in quotes because swim practice is definatly not an intrusion. I love every moment of it!

Since the swim team practices are fewer in the summer (4 days a week instead of 6) and I have a lot more time in the summer to train, I have decided that now is the time when I will start training for the half-marathon. I am sick of woundering what a half marathon would be like. I just want to do it.

I have actually found another great race directory on the internet. I found it while browsing some forums while bored. It is the most comprehensive race directtory I have ever seen except for Trifind.com.

From this directory, I have found a couple of potential races I would like to run. This is all very tenitave because of the Olympic triathlons I would like to do this sumemr as well. I can only do about one race a month because I have to depend on my mom in order to have transportation to the races (I know, I am going to learn how to drive very soon!). My race scheduule is whatever is convienient to her (except for swim meets. I always get to do swim meets.)

I would like to do one or more of these races this summer/fall:
Lifeline of Ohio Dash for Donation- July 26 (only if I don't do that other triathlon I want to do planned a week before)
Columbus Half Marathon and 5K- Aug 24
United States Air Force Marathon (Only about half an hour away from where I live)-Sept 20
Dayton River Corridor Classic Half Marathon (again, only about half an hour from where I live)-Oct 12

I would love to be able to live out my dream this summer!!!

Me and my Schwinn are friends

Note: I actually found a picture of my exact bike on the internet. Isn't it pretty? (If you are a triathlete with a $1,000,000,00000 high-tech bike don't say anything!)

I rode my bike (my blue Schwinn) for almost 3 hours yesterday! (2 hours and 55 minutes to be exact!) I didn't start out the bike ride wanting it to be that long. I was originally planning only to do a 2 hour bike ride. I wanted to get some bike riding done because I want to get ready to do an olympic distance triathlon this summer.

It was a beautiful day outside when I rode my bike. It was sunny and almost 70 degrees! We havn't had a nice day like that for at least 3 weeks! Normally, I don't enjoy riding my bike as much as I enjoy swimming and running. Yesterday, however, was the best bike ride EVER.

I basically just rode around the streets near my home. I rode up and down 3 times this really long street, and up and down some cul-de-sacs several times. I was loving every minute of this bike ride! Untill I got home, I didn't realize I almost went 3 hours. I thought I went just a little bit over two hours. Time flies when you are enjoying yourself!

I am guessing I covered at least 20 miles. My cycling computer is broke, so I am not exactly sure of the distance I covered. Howver, with my average speed about 8 miles an hour, maybe a little slower since the ride was so long, 20 miles would seem about accurate.

Don't laugh at my slowness. Laughing at people is not nice! It's okay to laugh if you really feel the need though. I will probably laughat my slowness when I re-read this blog in a couple years.

The only thing that really hurt on this bicycle ride was the muscles in the tops of my legs (quads?) about 2 hours into the ride. I am a little sore today, but not a ton. I slept very good last night!

I have also realized that all this working out and everything has become a part of my life now. A year ago, when I first started doing triathlons, I would have never realized I would continue with the sport so long. I have done workout routines before, but have always quit after a couple of months. With triathlon and swimming, however, I am enjoying myself so much that I don't want to quit.

If I don't get in my daily (except for one day a week I take off to recover) workout, somehing feels very weird. Working out is starting to feel as natural as brushing my teeth.

I have also realized that although, I love doing races, they are not the most important thing anymore. When I first started doing triathlons, I worked out mostly so I could get ready for the next race. Now I enjoy a good workout as much as I enjoy a race.

Speaking of races, there are two races coming up that seem really awesome. The first one is the Columbus International Triathlon and Sports Festival which takes place July 19-20. On July 19th, there are 3 open water swims. The swims are distances of .75K, 1.5K, and 3K. They have the swims staggered out so that you are able to do each one and the swims do not overlap with one another.

They also only charge $25 for the first distance you swim and $5 for each additional distance. That pretty much forces you to do all 3 distances! You could do only one distance if you wanted, but who would do that?

The next day of this fesival, you have a chance to do a choice of various distances of triathlons and duathlons. Of course, I would like to do the international distance triathlon. A whole lot of swimming and a triathlon! How fun does that weekend sound?

Speaking of fun weekends, on the third week of January next year, just a couple of hours away from home in Indiana, there is the Chili Hilly which is a two day race cosisting of five distances. On the first day you get there, you would do a 10K race, and later that night, a four mile race.

When you wake up the next morning (in one of the awesome camp-style cabins they provide) you get to run a 5K race, followed later by a 10 mile race, and a 1 mile race. That sounds really cool to me! I would definatly have to train a lot to do this race-but the training would definatly be worth it. As a bonus, you get a free sweatshirt when you register. Sweatshits are the best thing ever. I'm always freezing cold and they keep you soooo warm. I wear sweathsirts all the time (except in the summer when its actually warm outside!)

Wow! That was a long post. I think I have finally said everything I wanted to say today. I really hope I can do those two races.