6 Miles Today

My knee is acting up again. I don't know if it's because I didn't have enough recovery time between half marathons; if it's the new moves from Zumba class or a combination of both. I went to Zumba class twice last week, but did not walk or run any. This morning I walked 6 miles and felt a little tugging at my knee, but nothing major. I'm way behind on my training for the C-Different Tri which is on March 17th. Time to start swimming and cycling - I may have to try some spinning classes very soon.

Rhythm and Blues Half Marathon

I took it pretty easy all week, with a few light walks and one more Zumba class (only 30 minutes).

The race was scheduled to start at 8:30am. Although the forecast for today was scattered thunderstorms , it was only a little windy and still clear when I headed out. By the time the race started the winds had picked up, but it still got pretty hot a few miles into it. The skies got increasingly dark and around 10:30am a cold front moved in, dropping the temperature at least 20 degrees before the rain started.  I was glad that I had worn my long sleeve shirt over my singlet! The weather reports scared away a few of the bands, and once it started raining, most of those who had shown up left. Peter Manry, of Other Brother was there cheering the back of the packers on until the very end. I finished in 3:28, much better than my Sugar Land finish. Would I do this race again - probably not, although the premiums were great (hat and technical shirt) and the medal was huge. Three loops on Allen Parkway gets old.

30 Minutes of Zumba

I went to Zumba class this morning. The instructor is intense! I decided to stop after 30 minutes - again  because this is a recovery/taper week. I love the program and will really get into it after the 10th.

3 Miles Cycling at the Gym

Stan signed up at the Fitness Connection today. He checked out the various machines while I cycled for 3 miles. I need to build up for the C-Different Sprint Tri in March but don't want to overdo anything this week before the Rhythm and Blues Half on the 10th.

My Personal 10K at Sugar land Memorial Park

I'm repeating what I did back in 2006, and applying it to my upcoming half marathons by doing 6 miles per weekend in between races. This morning  I did a little over 6.2 miles, walking most of it and doing 1:00/1:00's for about 2 miles. It was sunny and bright and more spring-like than winter. In fact by the time I was finished, it was pretty hot.

Recovery Week

I took it easy on Monday and Tuesday and then did 35 minutes of the one hour Zumba class on Wednesday. I figured I would ease back in to my routine, so today I ran 1:1's for 20 minutes. I plan to do 6 miles this weekend as part of my discombobulated recovery/taper week as I signed up to do the Rhythm and Blues Half Marathon on the 10th.

Another Half Marathon on the Books

The USA Fit Marathons were today in Sugar Land. I did the half with my friend Carla Fair-Wright. The weather was great (a little too warm for some) - in the 60's with a cloud cover. We ran 1:00/1:00's for the first 8 miles and then my calves started to cramp. At first I didn't know why, but then I realized that I had failed to follow my own advice and had started a new exercise routine last week.
I did Zumba classes 2 times and then took advantage of an introductory consultation that involved strength exercises. I used muscles I had not used in a very long time, and they came back to bite me today. Luckily, I had some Tylenol, and once it kicked in, I was able to pick up the pace. We walked the last 3 miles and then ran it in at the finish line. Our time was 3:45. The finisher's medal (see below) and the shirt are really nice.

Since I survived, I  registered for the Sugar Land Half that is scheduled for March 3rd, starting and ending at Sugar Land Town Center  www.signmeup.com/83247. I'm trying to decide if I want to commit to the Rhythm and Blues that is on February 10th in downtown Houston. I'll probably decide tomorrow.

Me and Carla finishing the race

Finisher's Medal