Haven't written for a little while. I'm up to running 8 min at a time for a total of 27 running minutes. I'm feeling good when I run a lot less tired. I am frustrated because I am still so slow. I run somewhere between an 11-12 minute mile. This is frustrating since my Mom can walk a 13 minute mile. I would really like to get closer to 10 min miles for the 5k race. I want to go to a track and see what kind of time I can get on just running a mile flat out. I would think I could get somewhere between 8-9 minutes but I'm not sure. Maybe I need to be taking my 3 mile pace a little faster. But I don't know how much more I could do without feeling overexerted. The back of my calves have started to plague me while I take my running breaks while running and then when I first start running. My right leg has pains all over it surprisingly my knee hasn't given me that much problems. Well it is almost Christmas. We already celebrated christmas with my family. It was fun there were a lot of presents.

Today was a good day. My parents are back in town from Florida it was nice to have them back for a while ecspecially to help with babysitting. I went out shopping with my mom and sister. My mom was buying christmas presents for us. We were looking for some new running shoes for me. We were actually looking for ones without mesh for running in the snow. We could not find any so we ended up at running spectialty store to ask them. They told us that all running shoes come with mesh. I decided to go ahead and get fitted for some shoes at the store. The customer service was incredible. One person sat down with you looked at your foot used a palm pilot to enter information about it and it calculated a good shoe fit for you. I was surprised to find out I'm really a size 8 I had always bought size 7. Anyway so he got a pair of shoes and then I ran a little outside to determine if I have any pronation. He said I do have some in my right foot. That could account for my knee and leg pain that has troubled me in that leg. So I got a pair of shoes with more support to prevent the pronation. I got a pair that was a pretty tight fit but i liked they way they felt. So I went back to my parents house my mom let me test the shoes out for a test run even thought it's not christmas yet. I ran around my parents neighborhood. There are a lot more hills in their neighborhood. I liked that the loop I was running was a lot bigger it kept me a lot more interested. My shins are sore from the hills. I liked the shoes I had them laced up a little too tight my toes fell asleep. I hope there not to tight in general they were exspensive. My right leg definitely felt a lot better after the run. Only three more runs to do with my old shoes then I'll get my new ones on Sunday,

The day started out great we went to get our Christmas tree in the morning. I slipped on the ice and fell right on my hip ouch! My running for the day went well it was a beautiful day with temperatures in the high 40s. I ramped the running up another minute running for 4 minutes walking for 1. It was a beautiful day with temperatures in the high 40s. It was rough my first time around the block I really wanted to go on into my house and call it quits. But I kept going when I got around the block a second time I had to take a pit spot. Then I came right back out and finished up. It was a good run the kind you can feel in your lungs the rest of the day and know you have been working hard.

Today was supposed to be a non running day. But my husband will be gone tomorrow so I moved up my running to today. Today's interval was run 3 min walk 1. It was rough. I think I look at my phone a little too much to see how many minutes of the running interval are left. The one minute walking seems to go by way too fast. I can hardly believe that I am only 7 minutes away from running for a full 30 minutes. Today my time was 2.5 miles in 30 minutes. I'm getting close, by my next interval I should make it the full 3 miles. Next two days will be non running I plan to do some wight lifting toning and aerobics. I'll pick up the running on Saturday and Sunday to round out my week. My parents will be back next week, I'm excited I'll have babysitters for a couple weeks. The snow is starting to melt off the sidewalks maybe by Saturday I'll be able to run on the sidewalk.

Today was a rough run. I think I started my pace off a little bit too fast. Tonight I ran 2 min walked 1 shaving another two minutes off my time. I did 2.5 miles in 34 minutes and that includes my 5 min warm up. Tonight was my first time to run in the dark. I was on the street again the sidewalks are still covered with snow . I like snow but I also like the fact that here and Missouri it usually only sticks around a day or two this one has almost lasted a week. I'm looking forward to the sidewalks being clear again. Yet it will be even longer till all the piles around peoples driveways have melted. I'm starting to feel like a runner.

Another running day. Today was a little tougher. First the temperature was only in the teens with a wind chill in the single digits. Also I ramped up my running times a little bit getting ready for the next rung of run 2 minutes walk 1 essentially doubling my running time . I increased my 2.5 mile time by 2 minutes. So I ran/walked 2.5 miles in 36 minutes. So tomorrow is a non running day I'll do some weights and aerobics.

I just did my first cold weather run and six inches of snow on the ground. It wasn't near as challenging as I thought it might be. The temperature was in the lower 20's but no wind so I quickly acclimated and stayed warm. The roads were marginaly cleared so I had fairly safe area to run. I slipped a little one time afraid I may have pulled my hamstring a little bit. I think I need to get running shoes without any mesh. Mesh and water and snow don't go together too well.

2nd day of running another beautiful 70 degree day. Same interval run one minute walk two. My husband took a half day today so I was able to run around the block. Pretty easy actually it seemed to get easier about 15 minutes in maybe because I got into a rhythm. My shins and right knee are hurting. I need to take it easy so I don't get injured. It took me 40 minutes to run/walk around the block 5 times 2.5 miles 16 minute miles that are 2/3 walking not too bad. I think I will do a mile trial after week two. It started to rain right as I was finishing up perfect timing. Cold front coming in tonight. Tomorrow ice and snow, Friday the same. I plan to do weights tomorrow for sure and probably friday, I'll pick up running again on Saturday.
I like the time running gives me to reflect. As I passed people outside there houses it gave me a chance to pray for them and consider how I can minister to their needs. The elderly lady around the corner does she have a husband? Would she appreciate a meal or a dinner invitation? The young couples around me, should I put together a luncheon with some of my friends and invite them too?
Still excited about running disappointed the weather will be turning crummy.

Well I did it I started training today to run a 5k in February. Yes February one of the coldest months of the year here in Missouri. Yet today was beautiful near 70 degree weather. The program I'm following calls for running 1 minute walking for 2 minutes 10 times, for the first week. It really was pretty easy. My mistake when running before was lets see what kind of time I can run a mile in. This makes a lot more sense.
My biggest challenge I think will be finding the time to run. I have two small children so If I actually want to run around the block I have to do it when someone is available to watch them. Weekdays that leaves about four options. Run before my husband goes to work dark, early and cold that would be a challenge. Run when my husband comes home, often he has commitments and the evening and quite honestly I find it hard to motivate myself to do anything after dinner. Third find someone to watch my kids for 40 minutes while I run. This has possibilities but I would need someone in the neighborhood and it might become rather cost prohibitive. The fourth possibility is to invest in a double jogging stroller. I can't see shelling out the cash for something I may only be committed to for 2 months. Also I'm afraid it might be too cold to take them with me. So what to do. I'm not sure yet I will take it one day at a time. Today I managed to run during my boys nap time. Since I was only running 1 minute intervals I just ran down the street for a little ways within site of my house and back. Then I did the 2 minutes of walking around my yard. This approach will work for now but as my running intervals get longer it will be unpractical.
Well that is all for now. It felt good to get back in the habit of running. I'm excited. Now comes the hard part of staying committed.