As you can see in the right sidebar, I have tow more races under my belt: Corrida 1º de Maio and Meia Maratona dos Palácios, both with new PB.

My 15k PB is now 1:13:37 and the Half-marathon PB 1:49:33.

Improvements lately are the race starts, in a more brisk pace and the fact that I’m getting more tolerant to general discomfort during races.

As always, you can follow Pernas de Gafanhoto’s racing team blog

First race I did with a team, running integrated with them. It was a really enjoyable experience. I managed to race the 15k race in a 1h19min53secs mark. Acceptable for my physical form. The race itself was easy, since I only had to do some effort management at the beginning (first 5 kilometres. The second half of the race was a “all way down” thing, in very familiar sites (Lisbon centre). Long distance running is becoming a natural thing in myself, now. After almost a year running 10k to half-marathons, I am pleased to see that I’m at ease in this distance range.

Marathon will be the next logical stage, but with supported workouts, consistent training schedule and above all, realistic mental preparation.

As the team blog is fairly active, I might slow down my individual post here, at least those concerned with races and events and start to do more recent updates there (portuguese only).

Registered today for the XVIII CORRIDA DO METRO (Lisboa), a 15k race in Lisbon. Hope I still can manage to get in the race, as the participants limit is to be reached in no time (20 to go or so). Hoping for the best, I’ll start trainning tomorrow, with a 7k mild-paced race.

I ran the 15k beneficial race “Carlos Lopes Golden Marathon” yesterday.

Time: 1 hour, 14 minutes 11 seconds, bellow my target… so… goal achieved!

The course was fairly easy, mostly downhill. Fuelling at around 6.5km (where I was passed by the marathon athletes and 12km (where they informed that the finish was 5k ahead… wrooooong).

Since this was not a race for the masses, the starting was smooth and unpopulated and the pace higher than in previous races I participated. I don’t have a clue about the number of athletes in the 15k race, but something around 400 should be near the truth.

Personally, I only start having problems around the 11^th and 13^th kilometre… after that I managed to end the race at full speed, making the last two kilometres quite easily.

A good event, well organized and with a nice course!

Next weeks, due to personnal constrains, I’ll do less mileage on my workouts and focus more on muscular wokouts, for total fitness purposes.

Balance is the key.

So it’s done. I’ve trained all of what I felt to be needed to train for the next race.

With some 10k workouts and a 15k (race length) training, I’m fully satisfied with my performance. Taking in account that my goal here is just to finish the race, a 1h15min seems to be a good goal.

Mentally, I find this 15k distance not at all different from the 10k, besides the fact that I do run in a more “zen” state, really relaxed from the very beginning and only pushing up after feeling that I have enough energy. Last workouts have made me feel that I am more a long distance runner and not a 5k or less racer. Psychology playing a role here, definitely.

Race post after it! Wish me luck.

As the weather is starting to heat a bit, I start recalling how it was to run long distances two years ago, when I stated seriously in running. The amount of water drunk is so much more, at least for me, regardless my how fit I am. Today, in my regular 10 k workout, I had to park and refuel at 4k, 6k and 8k… and ended the training session thirsty. Lets see if things get more controlled tomorrow…

One resolution I’ve made was not to do a workout shorter the 10k as a reparation for the 15k race in the 12^th April. Furthermore, I will do my first 15k this weekend and another Tuesday or so…

Mentally speaking, as my goal will be just to finish the 15k race, I will adopt the “zen state” mood as described in a previous post… control was the key for that long race, and certainly will be for the 15k race.

Unlike expected when I left home for running, today… I ended up making a long distance workout: 12,73 km in one hour.

For future reference:

• I started really relaxed and controlling my pace
• Mentally, I opted for a kind of a zen state of mind
• I have no pains whatsoever
• Only drank water at 7,5 km
• Did not need to do effort management
• The last kilometre (12^th) was done faster
• I ended the workout less tired than I expected

With this mark, I will make a good race in the Golden Marathon 15k, for sure, something around 1 hour and 15 minutes.

I will start doing more workouts like these, but taking special care not to enter in a fatigue state… prior to Easter hollidays a few 7k runs and that’s it.

Ok, getting slightly addicted here. Prior to yesterday’s race, I’ve found an interesting event to help me prepare for a half marathon: a 15 kilometre race in an easy course: Carlos Lopes Golden Marathon’s 15 kilometre race.

The event is organized by the former Olympic champion’s foundation (Fundação Carlos Lopes) and will take place in Lisbon, on the 12^thof April 2008. Part of the registration fee will be applied in supporting handicapped sport, one of the major areas of work in which Fundação Carlos Lopes works.

Besides the 15 k race, there will be a full marathon, a bike marathon and a 5k “family race”.

Register in the event’s website on the competition that fits you and start training!