Comprehensive exam results

I PASSED!!!

Training-Week 14 summary

Half marathon: This past week was supposed to be another 40-ish mile week. However, Ben and I were out of town for 2 nights on a Fall Break camping trip, so I missed a day of running. That's okay though; I know that I can run 13 miles without collapsing, so it's not a big deal that I didn't meet last week's quota. This week is my last high volume week; the following week is the week of the race!

14 down, 2 to go.

I am a runner

This is a nice essay that I found on Runnersworld.com.

I AM A RUNNER because my runs have names. I do tempo runs and threshold runs and fartlek runs. I do long, slow runs and track workouts. My runs are defined, even if my abs are not.

I AM A RUNNER because my shoes are training equipment, not a fashion statement. The best shoe for me is the one that makes me a better runner. I choose the shoe that goes with my running mechanics, not my running outfit.

I AM A RUNNER because I don't have running outfits. I have technical shirts and shorts and socks. I have apparel that enhances the experience of running by allowing me to run comfortably. I can say "Coolmax" and "Gore-Tex" in the same sentence and know which does what.

I AM A RUNNER because I know what effort feels like, and I embrace it. I know when I'm pushing the limits of my comfort and why I'm doing it. I know that heavy breathing and an accelerated heart rate--things I once avoided--are necessary if I want to be a better runner.

I AM A RUNNER because I value and respect my body. It will whisper to me when I've done too much. And if I choose to listen to that whisper, my body won't have to scream in pain later on.

I AM A RUNNER because I am willing to lay it all on the line. I know that every finish line has the potential to lift my spirits to new highs or devastate me, yet I line up anyway.

I AM A RUNNER because I know that despite my best efforts, I will always want more from myself. I will always want to know my limits so that I can exceed them.

I AM A RUNNER because I run. Not because I run fast. Not because I run far.

I AM A RUNNER because I say I am. And no one can tell me I'm not.

John Bingham

Training-Week 13 summary

Half marathon: Last week I ran a total of 40 miles. Oh yes, that's right, 40 miles. And let me tell you, I was feeling it yesterday afternoon and this morning! I had another 13-mile long run yesterday morning, which I did in 2:01:00. My goal time for the race is around 2 hours, so I'm right on track. Now that the morning temperatures are in the upper 40s/low 50s, my runs are even more enjoyable, as I am not completely soaked with sweat when I'm done. There's also something kind of cool and refreshing about running as the sun is coming up.

13 weeks down, 3 to go.

Training-Week 12 summary and Carrboro 10K

Half marathon: This was a really good week for running. I had no speed workouts and no long runs. It was all easy runs, with the exception of 1 day. Yesterday, I ran the Carrboro 10K. This was my third 10K, (the last one I ran was in March), and I wanted to see if I had improved. Well, I am happy to report that I set a new PR! My official race time was 49:56, which is an improvement of about 2 and a half minutes off my previous PR. I was excited not only that I set a new PR, but that I also broke 50 minutes. I came in 5th in my age group (25-29 year old women) and if I counted right, there were 26 women in my age group. The top 3 places in each age group won prizes, and I missed 3rd place by 51 seconds. This is definitely good motivation not only for my half-marathon training, but also for future 10K races.

I would also like to congratulate Ben, who also ran the Carrboro 10K yesterday. This was his first 10K, and he came in with a very good time of 1:01:11. I was quite proud of him, especially since he did not officially train for the race. I'm not sure he's quite caught the running bug, but I wouldn't count him out of future races.

This coming training week will be another hard one as now enter a training volume of 40-45 weekly miles, as well as another pace increase. I'm now basically in the home stretch of training, and the race is less than a month away.

12 weeks down, 4 to go.

Rio Jesus

This is a picture that my thesis advisor sent me. It is on top of a cliff in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. My thesis advisor is from Brazil, and he's been up to see this statue in person. This photo was taken by a photographer named Ricardo Zerrenner; if you visit his website (www.zerrenner.fot.br), you can see some more pictures.

Another hurdle

So in our masters program, we have 3 major hurdles to get through during our second year: passing comps, proposing the thesis, and defending the thesis. I took comps a little over 2 weeks ago, and today, I successfully proposed my thesis. I do have to make some minor revisions on my methodology, but basically this means that I can now start recruiting subjects and collecting data.

Training-Week 11 summary

Half marathon: Well, just about 1 more month to go until the big race. This past week was another high-mileage week with a long run of 13 miles. This coming week is an easy week with no long runs or tempo runs/speedwork. However, I will be running in the Carrboro 10K on Saturday. The last 10K I did was in March, and my time to beat is 52:37.

11 weeks down, 5 to go.