Two Days

I got in two runs this week. On Tuesday I ran almost the complete course of the 5k. I wasn't able to run the whole thing due to a soccer game. I ran it in ok time. I think my goal for Sunday will be 31 minutes that might be attainable. I went for a run yesterday and felt great. I haven't felt so good on a run in a long time. It was a good chance to clear my head. I am fighting a little bit of a head cold. Compliments of my two year old. It would figure I've only been sick twice this season both on the weeks I am scheduled to run a race. I won't need to forfeit this race since I am only mildly sick. I have plans to go for a run with my neighbor this evening. I'm not sure If I'm going to be able to or not. We are going to the Fox this evening and I don't know if I'll have time. It depends on our dinner plans I guess. I'm gonna try to talk my husband into dropping the boys off at his moms by himself and then coming back to pick me up so I have a chance to run. Then again if it doesn't stop raining I don't think I'll be doing any running.

Almost Here

I picked up the course map for the 5k today. It is a very flat course. It is a little odd too it isn't all on roads or paths. A part of it goes along the edge of a soccer field at the tree line. I hope it isn't very soggy or muddy. I'm looking forward to giving the path a trial run tomorrow. Hopefully I'll actually be able to run the whole thing. My stamina has definitely been waning as of late.

Someone to Run with

I did 2.5 miles today for a grand total of 4 miles for the week. Kinda Sad but that's ok. I talked to my neighbor on my way back from my run and found out that she's been running too. We made plans to run together on Friday so that's pretty exciting. I think it would be fun to run with someone at least occasionally. Yet I'm not very conversational and I'm sure I'll feel even less conversational while running.

My cardio fitness level has definitely improved dramatically. I am amazed at how quickly I recover my breath after working really hard. I definitely feel fit and strong. Unfortunately running has done very little to help me shed my excess pounds. Sigh, maybe I'm stuck with them for life.

Finally

Finally made it back out to run today. I just did a short 1.5 miles. It was definitely a challenge not easy at all. I'm blaming that partly on the high temperatures. High 70's and sunny is too warm for running in my opinion. I guess it is something I will just have to get used to. I wish I would of headed out this morning while it was cool instead of going to garage sales. While I was out I saw seven joggers. Some looked like real serious runners. One guy had 6 water bottles hooked into a belt around his waist. Other joggers looked like they were suffering through every step like I'm sure I do. When you read about running training plans they talk about days where you do your "easy run". I for one really have no idea what an easy run is. Every one I do is a step after step challenge.

Sore Knee

I shouldn't have done that run on Saturday. My knee was quite sore on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Actually on Saturday night we sat down on the couch to watch some TV after we got home from church. When I got up to go to bed I was practically limping my way there. Sunday morning it was better and by afternoon I felt good but decided pushing it with a run would be foolish. So Jake and I took the bikes out for a ride. It was a delightful bike ride. I hope to ride my bike much this week. Bike riding is just not the same as running. It was way too leisurely and easy I probably had to put out about 1/10th the effort I do when I'm running. So today is a scheduled running day but I'm leery to put that effort on my knee. I don't want to injure it to the point of compromising by ability to take part in the 5k run or worse yet not be able to hike on our vacation. So I think I will rest today. Tomorrow is already a scheduled off day, then Wednesday I'll pick it back up. My millage for last week was 14.5

Quiet Run

Peaceful run in the snow today. The snow is a little annoying though. It didn't seem to matter which direction I was going the snow was always blowing in my eyes. It was so quiet though. I love the sound snow makes as it falls. I almost didn't go running. Me plague some right knee was really hurting me after my run on Thursday. My right knee has been bothersome since my freshman year of college. Actually it had always been one of my excuses not to run. Then I decided how do I really know how well my knee will perform until I test it. It has actually caused me very little problems these last few months which is surprising. Anyway it was hurting on Thursday night and all day Friday. Today it felt better but I still so wanted to push off the run till tomorrow. I was afraid once I started the pushing off the run slope I may never stop. So I went out. Actually my knee felt better running than walking go figure. That was the case for the first couple miles then towards the end of the run I could feel the twinge. I don't really think it is anything serious just some running aches and pains.

A run with Jake

I borrowed Revonda's biking trailer/jogging stroller yesterday. I got it all put together then after dinner Jake and I went for a run together. It pretty much turned out the way I thought it would. Jake not having run at all in the past 4 months and me running 3-5 days a week for four months and Jake was still better than me. Sigh. We start out and he is like go ahead and run at your normal pace I'm like I am. Then he is pushing the jogging stroller for the first mile and he is pushing the pace on me! Then it got to be my turn to push the stroller and oh boy was that rough. I was pretty much embarrassed by how poorly I ran it was only 3 miles and we probably walked about a half of a mile total. Also on the way back I start jogging and my jog was hardly faster than his fast walk. He says it's all about stride length. He also said I had more stamina than him so that is good. I'm looking forward to going out biking maybe we'll go out today.

A little easier

I ran yesterday and it was a lot better than my last two runs. I did four miles and I actually felt good. Not great but good. It was still at the difficult before dinner time, but I changed two things to try to make it easier. First I made sure I was well hydrated before heading out. I wasn't the last couple times. Also I had a few spoon fulls of peanut butter that helped stave off the hunger. I was thinking about trying 4.5 miles on Saturday but I'm not so sure I am up for that yet I might just stick with the 4. Only a little over two weeks till the race it should be fun.

Another Rough One

I ran the same route that I did on Saturday. Again it got the best of me. I think before dinner is a very difficult time for me to run. I just felt so tired and hungry. My legs felt like lead through the whole run. I think I got too accustomed to my regular route. That route has a wonderful steady gentle downhill slope at one mile that goes on for at least a half mile. I think running that easy route has led me to believe I can actually run better and farther than in reality I can. So It is good to challenge myself and change it up more. I am definitely looking forward to a day off of running tomorrow.

Today

Went back to the track to run some pace intervals. It was a little easier this time I was actually able to jog instead of walk between all the intervals but one. I totaled 15 miles for the week. The race is 3 weeks from today.

Rough

Beautiful day today. I actually ran in shorts! Actually it was almost a little to warm for my taste. I think I have become partial to running in the cold. I attempted a 4 miler today but ended up taking 2 walking breaks I just didn't feel into the rhythm.

Yesterday I ran about 2 miles of hills. I kept running the same hill over and over pushing my pace up the hill. There was a funny incident that happened. I was almost to the bottom of the hill getting ready to turn around to run back up. Two teenage boys were part way up the hill and they yelled "We like your butt". Well just after that I got to the bottom of the hill turned around and started coming back up. That totally freaked them out and they ran off into their garage. Sometimes people are just rude. There was a similar incident a while back I was running by a large group of older teenage boys. They yelled out "hey we want your picture" and someone else "hey fatso" or something like that. Sigh. Running by a group of teenage boys can definitely be intimidating and a little nerve wracking. That is all for now.

Feeling Good

I ran 3.5 miles tonight. I actually felt good for the first time since being sick. So I might finally be back up to the level I was at a couple weeks ago. It was still a struggle though, I so wanted to take a walking break at about the 2.5 mile mark. I just had to convince myself to get to the top of the hill I knew I'd feel so much better after a little down hill run.

Registered

I registered today for the 5K race on April 1st. I was very annoyingly 1 day late and had to pay an additional $5 I guess that is just $5 more motivation. So I guess I'm going to do it now. It should be fun I heard the course is flat which will be a good thing. Although I really like the downhill part of the hills.

Ho hum

I ran 3 miles yesterday. Nothing too interesting to note. It was a beautiful day that made it into the lower 60's. Today will be quite a bit cooler. I'm planning on running 3.5 miles today. Jake will be getting home late tonight so my run will be in the cold and dark. At least there is less traffic on the road at that time it makes for a much more peaceful run.

Intervals

I headed out to the local high school track this afternoon. (At least I get some use of all the tax money we pay.) It was my first time to run some pace intervals. The idea is run so many meters at the pace you want to run your 5k in. My goal is a 10 minute pace. So I ran 6 400m at 10 minute pace. Well I was tired. A couple of the laps were closer to 8 minute pace but they all stayed above the 10 minute pace so I was happy with that. That brings my grand total mileage of the week to a grand 5 miles. Next week I have myself scheduled for 18 miles but I think that is going to be way to big of a jump so I'll probably be paring that down.

Back at it!

I finally got back out for a run today after way too long of a hiatus. I went without running for 11 days! Surprisingly I didn't feel too bad on my run today. My stride felt great. I did run slow and I took a walking break but I'm still happy about the 2.5 miles. I'll take them. Tomorrow I'm gonna run 3 miles. The weather should be better tomorrow. Today it was only in the 20's windy and snowing.