Post HM Recovery Run

Ran a slow 5.4 miles to recover from my HM last Saturday. I need to get back on the wagon quick because my first 26.2 is coming up in just over a month. I'm not setting a time goal, I'm just setting out to finish.

Miaoli International Marathon (My first 13.1)

Saturday, November 19 was my first HM. I entered the Miaoli International Marathon and signed up for 13.1. The weather forecast predicted rainstorms all weekend but as is Taiwan, it was hot with high humidity. 

Here's the pre-run photo.

Thousands of people with a stadium start means it takes a long time to get out the gate. 

I wanted to run a faster time but 1:48:05 still makes me happy. 

Last Run Before 13.1!

I ran a race pace for 20 mins. I had some nasty greasy lasagna for dinner and wasn't feeling too hot. 2.71 miles in 20:28. I plan on resting tomorrow, eating tons of macaroni tomorrow, then trying my best to get as much sleep as I can Friday night.
Rain storms arriving just in time for Saturday!

Quick 4-miler with friends....

My wife and Elias joined me for a run on the Feng Chia University track. I needed to see if my Nike Sportband was synced correctly. I ran 4 miles and it said I ran 3.96. Close enough! Time was 28:04.
One more run until my first HM! Stay tuned!

Short Sync Rum

I needed to calibrate my Nike Sportband before my HM so I ran a quick 3 miles on the Feng Chia track. My watch is a little off so I'm glad I did it. One more run before the 13.1!

8 Days to go!

I'm still a little sore from my track and field event but needed to go enjoy this weather for a nice run. I ran 4.68 miles in 30'06" with a pace of 6'26"which is a little faster than race pace, but I felt too good to run slow. It finally stopped raining after three solid days.

HAH! It just started pouring outside. Perfect.

Feng Chia University 50th Year Anniversary Track & Field Event

I have been running sprints for a few weeks now. By a few weeks I mean I ran sprints two times in the last two weeks. I've always been a fast runner but haven't sprinted since freshman year of high school. Without really knowing what to expect I entered into the race for the 200, 400, and 1500. It's been raining for 3 solid days so the track is slippery, especially without spikes.
First up was the 200. People were slipping in the first three lanes. Those with spikes were fine. I was lucky enough to be in the 5th lane for the race. They split us up into three groups because too many people were competing. My group went up first. Around the first corner I was fine, no slipping and passing people in the outside three lanes. The last 100m I was all alone and really felt I was giving it my all. Seeing an open eight lanes and the finish line with no one in front is an exhilarating feeling. The sound of foot-steppes and heavy breathing pushed me even harder. I won! After the second and third groups ran I got 2nd place overall with a time of 25.73 seconds.
For the 400m there were also three groups. I was in the first group again but this time in the 3rd lane. My left leg slipped on the last half of the last curve and I barely caught myself. On the last 100m, I was really digging deep. I stayed ahead and won first in my group again and 2nd overall with a time of 57.32.

My first track and field event ever with almost zero practice and I ended up with two silver medals!

Short Two-miler

I ran with my wife. 2 miles in 15:10. It was really humid but a nice night overall.

I have three trial runs tomorrow for the Feng Chia University 50th Anniversary Track Meet. I'm running the 200, 400, and 1500. Wish me luck.

Miaoli 13.1+ Practice Run

About a month ago, I made plans to run the Miaoli Half-Marathon. I set a goal to finish sub-1:40 and put myself on my own training schedule with some suggestions from people on RunnersWorld.com. Many told me it was too soon or that my shoes weren't enough for the amount of training I've done. I'm the type of person that hears that and wants to go HARDER!
I took the train to Miaoli last night and stayed at the wonderful Jessica Chen's house. She teaches 30 or so kids every night so when I arrived, her house was still a little crazy. I had fun talking to the kids and even played Bomber-Man with a few of them. One of the kids fathers was preparing for the 26.2 in Miaoli on the same day. He told me about the course and drew me a quick map.
Waking up early has never really been a problem for me. Today was no exception. I woke up at 5:15, ate some granola, and set out. Running in Miaoli is 10x better than running in Taichung. The air is better, the scenery is more rural and beautiful, and there's actually places to run! I took Jing Guo Road past the Miaoli Sports Complex and ran about 7 miles alongside the river until I hit the High-Speed Rail bridge. I met a fellow runner preparing for his first 26.2. We jogged together for a few minutes, but his pace was a little slow, so I said goodbye.

I ran 15.76 miles in 1:51:26 with an average pace of 7'04". My 13 mile time was 1:31:53, so I think it's safe to say that my 13.1 time was sub-1:40. T-minus 2 weeks until my first 13.1 with my sights still set on running Ironman Fall 2013.

MILE	TIME	AVG.PACE
1	7:15	7'15"/mi
2	14:11	6'56"/mi
3	21:20	7'09"/mi
4	28:23	7'03"/mi
5	35:26	7'03"/mi
6	42:19	6'53"/mi
7	49:27	7'08"/mi
8	56:26	6'59"/mi
9	1:03:26	7'00"/mi
10	1:10:27	7'01"/mi
11	1:17:34	7'07"/mi
12	1:24:44	7'10"/mi
13	1:31:43	6'59"/mi
14	1:38:50	7'07"/mi
15	1:46:06	7'16"/mi

Update with 2 weeks until the 13.1.

10/31 - Quick 5 mile. I ran on an entertaining road called Taiyuan Road. 你們知道台中的太原路嗎？My legs felt a little heavy through the first mile but after that I started flying. Average pace was 6'37" per mile. Total was 5.11 miles in 33'48". I like this road because there are constant obstacles that really force me to focus on my stride and foot placement. There's also great scenery.

11/1 - After class I decided to run a few 400's. I went to the track and ran 5- 400's at 1500m pace with a nice resting 400 in between each. Total was 2.53 miles in 16'15".

11/2 - Lauren wanted to run tonight to prepare for her first 5k coming up on 12/31. I won't lie, I was expecting a nice breezy slow jog for a mile point five. Lauren kept going, and on a nice pace too. We ran 2.24 miles in 17'54" with a pace of 7'57" per mile.

11/3 - After my two midterms, I put on my shoes and wanted to run some sprints. I asked my buddy from Paraguay to take a break from studying from his midterms to time me. I'm running the 1500, 400, and 200 next Saturday at my schools 50th Anniversary. Sometimes I hate the track. I don't know what it is, but people think they can walk in the fast lane. Many people are walking on the left side in jeans and sandals, just chatting with their friends. I finally found a gap so I could run a 200m at full. My first went great, but halfway through number two, some idiot walked right in front of me without looking and we collided hard. I said some things I shouldn't have. My chest hurt after that so I went home.

Tomorrow, I'm heading to Miaoli to run a 13.1+ on the course for my 11/19 Miaoli Half-Marathon.