A Change of Focus

I've decided to make this a running blog. I'm running half of the Vermont City Marathon at the end of May, so I have a goal. And a long way to go to reach it. Living in Vermont means you don't have 12 months of outside-running weather. After my last half marathon (Leaf Peepers, Sept 30, 2007), I let myself slack off a bit...okay, a lot.

Now, I'm in Florida and have started training again. But next week I'll be back in VT and dealing with snow, sleet, slush, rain, wind and other weathery unmentionables. (Down here, people wear jeans and jackets if it goes below 75. And it has rained on 3 out of the 21 days we've been here.)

So....yesterday I ran 6 miles. AND saw a manatee. (I saw him just after finishing 5 miles, so I did get a bit of a break...and yeah, I turned off the Garmin. So sue me. Marine mammals take precedence over finishing a run!)

Here are the stats from yesterday, which was a "chilly" 65 degrees or so:

6.02 miles
1:10:44
11:45 pace
9:19 max pace
1077 cal
179 cal/mile

Now the stats from today's 3-ish mile run - it was about 80 degrees (and no manatees):

3.13 miles
37:06
11:51 pace
7:49 max pace
585 cal
187 cal/mile

Now, I don't really know how the Garmin calculates calories burned. I'm not wearing my heart-rate monitor (left it in VT), so it must be using a combination of my weight, speed, and the terrain changes. Or maybe it's just guessing. :)

Just for motivation, here are the times of my other half marathons:

2007 Leaf Peepers: 2:33:18
2004 Philly Distance run: 2:28:12
2001 B&A Trail Half Marathon: 2:27:12

So I've been getting progressively slower. :)

I'd love to set a PR in May...but VCM is not the best place to do it....it's hilly! Philadelphia was soooo flat, and I could have gone much faster, but was enjoying running the race with a friend and not getting out of breath.