New Years Race 1/2 Marathon (Los Angeles at Night)

Last night I had my first run of 2014, some of you may have seen the email I sent out that gave you the chance to follow me live during the run.

The run was set to start at 7:00pm from 7th and Grand (the heart of downtown LA) and up to dodger stadium and back, with lots of zigging and zagging and hills… oh god the hills…

This was probably the hardest course I've run with exception to mud runs, climbing over 500 feet in a couple miles, really zaps the legs. I was hoping to finish the 13.1 mile race in a time of under two hours (which would be a new PR) but unfortunately that didn't happen. I finished the race with a time of 2:02:59.0 just under my old PR (2:03:06) for a half marathon, which was the first half of the long beach marathon (much flatter)

My official time can be found here: http://www.geminitiming.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/nyr_half_fl_14.htm (I am listed as 789 out of 3714) people, however, that is based on time of the gun. Not time of the chip, so I think I should be ranked higher.

Photos can be viewed here: http://www.marathonfoto.com/
To find photos of me type "Burkett" in the last name box and click the link for "New Years Race 1/2 Marathon & 5K." At the time of writing this email, no photos are up

The best part about the race was my parents decided to come to the race and surprise me. There I am warming up for the race, I turn around and there is my mom and dad. It was AMAZING that they came down to watch the run. I had originally told them it wouldn't be worth their time because the course didn't double back on itself and it would be boring for them to see me start and finish. But they still showed up!

Birthday Gifts bring renewed Energy

I haven't posted much of anything on here lately, and that's been due to my lack of running, I think I've only done about 8 miles during the month of December. But I definitely plan to start out 2014 with a bang. The first Half Marathon is January 4th, so I will be quick out of the gate with running.

For my 25th birthday, My parents were gracious enough to support my new found love of running and training by providing me entrances to both the Folsom Long Course (70.3 Mile Triathlon) and the OC Half Marathon. Both set in 2014.

Look out 2014! Here I come!

Stepping Up to the Plate

So nervous but I have never felt more alive! I just stepped up to a new challenge! Tonight, I put my money where my mouth is because I want to continue to push forward in my new healthy lifestyle. #Bethechange #endthetrend

Julie Weiss Training Run and Tough Mudder San Diego

Julie Weiss Training Run: http://youtu.be/RLaK8Wt-SaI?t=2m

Tough Mudder San Diego: http://youtu.be/RLaK8Wt-SaI?t=5m32s

Unrealistic Dreams Becoming Reality

I've always been competitive in my life, not just with opponents but with friends and especially myself. One thing that I've been competitive about in my running is the thought and briefly that I can always do better than I have been before. Back before the marathon and before I got hit with IT band pain I was able to set a 5 mile PR. Every Wednesday I run the same route with the run club, so I know when one run is better than the other. Using the iPhone app "Runkeeper" I am able to track the pace of my runs, swims, and biking, it uses the phone gps to pinpoint the route and speed.

Back on August 14th I set a time at 8:32/mile, amazed with myself and impressed I was satisfied, but only for the time being. Then when the IT band pain hit. I decoded to slow my pace and not hurt myself. But then October came around and the marathon came and went and my legs finally healed, then something amazing happened. I set a new PR for my 5 mile run. 

When I say I hit a new PR I don't mean by one or two seconds, but on October 23rd (exactly ten days after the LB marathon) I ran the same 5 mile course as always but I paced it at an 8:09/mile, a full 23 seconds faster than a couple months before!!! But that's not the last of it. Exactly seven days later, the very next Wednesday on the same 5 mike course I set ANOTHER PR. On October 30th, I ran the 5 mile route at a pace of 7:43/mile, a full 26 seconds faster than before, for the first time breaking an average pace of 8:00/mile for anything over 2 miles.

Knowing myself I was beyond excited with last weeks pace time. Then today, one week since my PR on the 30th, I decided I was going to push and see what I could do. I got off to a good start, setting a quick pace, running my fasted pace mile ever in my life (2nd mile was ran in 7min 5sec) and no mile was over 8min. For the 3rd week in a row I set a new PR, this week I ran my 5 mile course at a pace of 7:28/mile, dropping another 15 seconds per mile. 

Attached is a photo showing my pace time with the last 3 weeks and a comparative chart. Who knows where I plateau but I'm still going strong. Who knows what next week will bring!

Weekly Recap: Halloween, Sold Out Races, New Bikes, and Boots with Fur!

This video is about Weekly Recap 10.28.13 - 11.03.13 HALLOWEEN WEEK! Check out how the holiday affected the training.  The Ironman 70.3 that we are looking at doing sold out before we even got a chance to sign up, so find out how we adapt. Check out the bike that I am in the process of purchasing. There is also a surprise clip at the end, because you never know what you will run into out here in Long Beach!

Vineman 70.3 sold out

The Vineman 70.3 tickets went on sale this morning at 9am and when I logged on at 9:02am the webpage was back logged and giving hold notices. By the time the site was updated, before 10am they officially were sold out and only taking wait list options. At the time of writing this. I believe

that the wait list is sold out as I cannot register for it and they haven't been able to update their website quick enough.

Sad day. 

Please stay tuned. More to follow, I'm not giving up just quite yet.