Running update

After not running in ages, and getting on the scale only to make myself miserable, I dusted off my running shoes and strapped on my Garmin. It was cold outside. But the skies were a combination of blue and white and the sun was shining. It didn't help that I was given a nasty cough from Mr. Wonderful and the kids. Add that to trying to run against a stiff wind......

Yeah, I know I am complaining. I'm a complainer. The only disability is a bad attitude. Chalk it up to being angry with myself for stopping my running habit and gaining weight as a result. I am not happy with myself at the moment. At least I got out. I'm proud that I did run (1 mile non stop at 11:30/mi. and the second mile off and on because I was coughing so much. I didn't get the third mile in at all).

Last night I got online to check out blog and saw that my sweet Sis-in-love had a similar idea and dusted off her running shoes, too. I feel a kinship with that woman. She is one of my heroes.

Running Update

I haven't been running in six weeks. Yes, I am ashamed to admit it. My weight has creeped up from all the holiday noshing. I have started to have dreams of what I would be like if I let myself go worse than now. (Now I know that dreams aren't accurate, that I won't grow 18" chin hairs, have my triceps sag down past my elbows, or that my teeth will fall out. But you know how dreams are. It shook me up, as illogical as it seemed).

So last night I made a goal which I emailed to all my Relief Society sisters to help keep me focused. I committed to running M/W/F and most Saturdays at a specific time each day. I asked if anyone wanted to join me (no one did, yet).

This morning I dressed in running gear to take the kids to school. I know I looked ridiculous driving to school while wearing running gear, but The Love Magnet is slow. Getting her to move in the right direction and at a regular speed is like herding cats. It isn't going to happen.

I came home. Posted on Face Book that I was going for a run. Posted on my Kookies WW board that I was going for a run. Psyched myself up. Turned on my Garmin and got it linked up to those mysterious satellites in the heavens. Walked out the door.

oooh. ugh. puff....puffpuff......*gasp*....chug...chug...chug

It was hard. Really hard. I know I am going to have to bite the bullet and get over the fact that it will be hard for the next two weeks.

At least I am proud for getting out. 2 1/2 miles 11:30/mile

Here we go again.

RACE DAY

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."
- John "The Penguin" Bingham

Rain. POURING RAIN. As in "climb aboard Noah's ark" rain. We were soaked over an hour before race started. Last night the weather guy said the low temp would be 61. Nope. More like 45 degrees. There I stood in my usual running shorts and top, really wishing I had warmer gear or at least a hat or poncho. Some women were carrying umbrellas. Every time the lightning would strike and the thunder rolled the women would cheer. Some guy proposed to his girlfriend before the race started. More cheering. If we weren't so cold it would have been a wild party.

Did I mention that they were expecting 16,000 women at this event? Picture 16,000 women dancing to "Let's Get Loud" and "We Are Family" - not just to psych us up, but to keep warm while waiting to start.

I was completely soaked before my wave started. Running in squishy shoes is different. I made it up the hill with no problem. I did walk for 20 seconds after that and then 20 seconds again before the big down hill on the final mile.

Time: 36:04

Not the 35:00 I was aiming for. But I can't complain about the time. I did my best. Now I have a baseline time to beat next year.

Oh, yeah, I am doing this again. I called K (who is at Disney World right now) to let her know my time. She left a little gift for me to wear during the race - a little pewter running pendant. I told her that it would be my good luck charm for all my races. K told me of a 1/2 marathon she is running in October. She said they also have a 5K.

Sign me up.

I am officially a runner.

When was the last time you set a goal? I triple-dog-dare you to make one right now....

A real honest to goodness goal. The kind that takes a while and a lot of sacrifice.

A few months ago I would have said that the last time I set a goal was .........a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Back when I was a young woman working on my Personal Progress (do they even do that anymore in YW? I've been in Primary and Music callings for so long that I would not know.)

Tomorrow is the end of a goal I set back in June. Thirteen weeks worth of work. I started out as a couch potato, running 2 minutes and walking 2 minutes and wondering how I would survive. Now I am a runner who can run a 5K in 35 minutes. Which is a good thing because tomorrow I have to run a 5K in 35 minutes or less.

I've lost 3 pant sizes and 1 shirt size. I've lost 5 lbs (which doesn't make sense to me either, but hey, I look better). I now look forward to exercise - never saw that one coming! I feel so much better about myself. I've made some really good girlfriends. My confidence has grown.

I'm appreciating this goal-making much more than I ever did as a YW. I'm thinking the RS should start a program of writing down goals. I'll get through my race tomorrow and return and report. Then I will spend some of my Sabbath making new goals.

Do you have goals?

Running update:

Final countdown to the 5K this Saturday. Tonight's run wasn't timed but I feel that we ran at a good clip. Still stopped at the end of each mile to walk one minute, although I felt that I could have kept running. It was gorgeous tonight and I felt great. The walking is definitely a mental thing. I need to get over that. If Mr. Wonderful can make it to the 5K, I will have him take pictures. I have heard through the family grapevine that my daddy can not wrap his head around the idea of my running. (I know, Daddy. Shocks me, too. I no longer grand jete down the street........I really run.)

I realized tonight that I need to make another goal after this 5K is over. I don't want to waste the effort it took to come this far. I'll have to aim for a 10K in the spring. There are more 5Ks to run this fall, too. I am definitely loving this cooler weather.

I'd like to start swimming, too. Why not? After all Mr. Wonderful is the mild-mannered alter-ego of Aquaman. Not sure where to find the time to swim........

Running update:

After four weeks of running 2X or less per week, I am determined to get back on a schedule. Tonight's run was 3.11 miles. Mile #2 was hard - really tired ankles. I didn't beat my PR of 10:23/mile (Is that right, K? - K keeps all my stats.) But I did do 10:40/mile (or so) on mile #1 and #3. I think mile #2 was in the 12's.

But all said and done, it felt good to get out and clear my head after working on my first Psych paper.

My first 5K is in two weeks.

and in case you were wondering, my Psych paper assignment was this:

Considering what is known about the damaging effects on of poor nutrition, drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol on the fetus, what can be done to protect a baby from the effects of its mother’s activities? Should any legal action be taken?

Running Update:

Yesterday's running didn't happen. I had an ungraceful fall in in Las Vegas which resulted in rolling my ankle and wounding my dignity and scaring the poor man holding a door for me.

But this morning......

St. George, Utah
6:30 a.m.
2 1/2 miles
one long uphill (which is why I didn't go further than 2 1/2. I've never run a continuous hill.)
one hand holding 16 oz water (duh, this is St. George. It's HOT!) and the other holding my cell phone in case I got lost.
Feeling good. I"m grateful my ankle isn't sore anymore.

Running update:

Oregon beach
9 a.m.
50 degrees
Foggy
2 1/2 miles (I am guessing)
no watch to time me
running on wet sand
incredible views between the ocean and the pine covered cliffs
I don't stop for breaks
I feel like I could run forever

Running update:

Today I ran a full mile without stopping. We took 1 minute breaks between each mile. It was hard (my legs were tired) but my breathing was okay. K said that we don't' need the breaks any more and wants to take them out next week.

My record so far was a 12:02 average. Today we ran an average of 11:43 . If you take out the walks, we averaged 11:19

1st mile: 11:04
2nd mile: 11:34
3rd mile: 11:20

Total: 3.18 miles in 37:15.

No weight loss this week (no gain either). I was fully expecting to be down 2 lbs. Weigh in is supposed to be tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to it. I really thought the weight would be dropping fast by now. I guess I'll just be grateful for the PR in running and my Non Scale Victory (NSV) with the library doors.

I should head back to the library today.

Running update:

1st mile – somewhere in the 11's. (We were talking to much to pay attention to the watch. Let me rephrase that - they were talking too much. I was breathing.)
2 mile – 24:09 (12:04 average)
3 mile – 36:16 (12:05 average)
3.1 mile – 37:23 (12:04 average)

K emailed this: By the way, we pushed it the last .1 and you got down to a 9:02 average. Way to go! You thought you were tired but pushed to a 9:02 – that is totally amazing! We missed our PR by 7 seconds. Jul. 25’s run was 37:16, but so awesome. I’ve never trained anyone that PR’s almost every time!

We ran 5 minutes the first time and then 7 minutes every time with 1 minute walk breaks in between. Not my best times. I felt slow. I have to admit that I felt wimpy. The other two women who have started training with me are faster (and younger and cuter.....) . now I need to work on catching up with them (and maybe someday blowing past them) as a goal to improve my times.

Gotta get busy. We're planning on running 10 minutes at a time by this weekend.

Running update:

Mile 1 - 12:02
Mile 2 - 12:24 (12:13 two mile average)
Mile 3 - 11:54 (12:06 three mile average)
Total: 3.1 Miles (5K) in 37:16. A 12:02 total average. That's another 16 seconds per mile PR.

Today was not as hard as yesterday. Still hard breathing but I think some of that is due to the icky air quality out here (all the smoke form the fires and nothing to clear it out). It felt good to be done. I can't believe we ran a 5K and only walked 3 minutes of that time.

I am exhausted as I had a lousy sleep last night - up a few times every hour. I'm going to bed early tonight and hope it means for a better rest in prep for tomorrow.

Running Update:

1st mile average 11:03 - (My goal is to hit the 10s.)
2 mile average – 12:08 (Best yet by 2 seconds)
Total distance ran - 2.66 miles – 12:18 average
Total 32:45

Run times: 4 minutes – 7 minutes – 4:40 minutes – 5 minutes – 7 minutes, with 1 minute walks in between. K emailed this: "Think of it this way – you only walked 5 minutes and 5 seconds out of the whole entire run. That is awesome improvement!" Yeah, she is my own personal cheerleader.

This run was hard. I don't think I was feeling the greatest that day but I was really looking forward to getting out and running. We were joined by three others in my group. They were so cute and fit and ran ahead of me most of the time. The looked great while I looked like I was about to die. Then, to add insult to injury, they would walk back to me during the breaks only to start running again and get waaaay ahead of me. It forced me to push when I felt like I was going to drop. My breathing was difficult - almost like my first two weeks all over again.

K used the last 1/2 mile of the run to teach me about the mental game. She told me to "Run to the tree" and when I was there she would remind me that I still felt okay (i.e. I didn't die) and encourage me to run to the next tree. I made it. I spent the next few hours gulping water and reading. It was hard to get to sleep last night.

Funny...Although my legs still feel a little tired this morning, I want to get out and run. Doggie Girl has been begging me to get her leash. I think I will head out for just a small run/walk tonight.

Running Update:

1st mile - 11:29
2 mile average - 12:38
Total miles run: 2.75 (mile average - 12:32)
runs were broken up into 4 min., 6:29 min., 4 min., 4 min., , 6:09 min., and 4 min. with a 1 min walk break in between
Total run 34:26.

Last night K had me try something completely foreign. She taught me how to be competitive. I had to pick a person in front of me and catch up to them. Other runners. People walking. Teens standing in the middle of the road flirting (I guess they didn't count since they weren't moving?) It was a new concept.

My last 1/4 mile was the closest I had ever come to a sprint. We sped up so my total mile average would be a new record time for me. I made it to the corner turning into my neighborhood. My lungs were burning! I felt fast....until I saw K out of the corner of my eye. She was loping. According to Merriam-Websters:

lope
Pronunciation:
\lōp\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English loup, lope leap,
probably from Old Norse hlaup; akin to Old English hlēapan to leap

Date:1809
1 : an easy natural gait of a horse resembling
a canter 2 : an easy usually bounding gait capable of being sustained for a
long time

I guess I wasn't as fast as I hoped. At least I am faster than I was 5 weeks ago.

8 weeks left and counting....

Running update:

Weigh in this morning and I am down 2 lbs. (woo-hoo!)

Our run this morning was harder because we ran two hours later and it felt hot! Again we ran 4:1 with a 3:1 thrown in the middle.

Total distance: 2.5 miles

First mile time: 11:52 (how on earth did I do that?!)

Two miles average: 12:10/mile.

Mentally: I agreed with K that we would keep running our last lap till we got to our destination, thinking that I would be running just a little over 4 minutes. I ran over 6 minutes that final lap! I can't believe that I ran 6 minutes without stopping, let alone ran that long at the end of our run when I was tired out. K said it was just part of the mental game of setting visual goals rather than relying on the clock.

My times today are better than yesterday. I went into this run thinking it would be harder after pushing yesterday. I'm surprised at the results. No pain in my calves and my ankles and feet weren't as tired as they have been. I have been sure to get in my water requirements and have been taking supplements (Bio 35 and Pro-Cal, and Triple Flex. I am not sure they they are making any difference but I like to think so.)

Running update:

2.6 miles running 4:1 (with one 3:1 thrown in when it was hard). Our best time yet, 2 mile averaged at 12:46/mile.

No calf cramps today (I was praying hard) but it felt harder with all 4:1. I feel great right now. I'll add some yoga in today to stretch those calf muscles. I also checked Runner's World.com to find exercises to strengthen feet and ankles. I'll look for more today. I also need to head to the store for potassium-rich foods.

We were joined by another newbie today. It has been fun to watch this grow.

Running update:

Last night we had two more women join so our group numbered 5. K ran with me so we could do the extra mileage. I'm up to 2.5 miles running4:1 half the time and 3:1 (its all mixed together.)

For some reason this run was hard! I started a bit too fast and finished my first mile in a little over 12 minutes. My 2nd mile was much slower and the two miles averaged out to just over 13 minutes each. My feet felt heavy (probably due to my shoes being tied too tight) and my calves built up huge knots due to lactic acid. Surprisingly, it felt better to run than walk the last 1/4 mile because the knots worsened when I walked. My breathing was fine.

I don't know if I did anything wrong or if it was just a harder night or even an off night. I know this journey is not going to be cakewalk but it would be good to know if I need to do something differently.

Mr. Wonderful massaged the knots out of my calves for me. It hurt. The poor man had to listen to my "OW!" and groaning. Good thing he loves me.

Any suggestions appreciated. I plan on Googling some info. I post it if I find anything of significance.

Running update

We upped the miles to just over 2.5 (still at 4:2 and 3:1. I can't remember the times on our miles). There are also two additions that actually make us into a group. It has been fun to get to know these women. I'm looking forward to Wednesday's run. In the meantime, I am going to research a bit on exercises that will help. I'm still a little worried that I won't be ready to run the full 5K. Its probably those nasty little voices in my head again, trying to psyche me out. K still insists I will be ready.

Strange thing, I developed bad heartburn for the first time last night. I am not sure if it is due to eating brats for dinner (two hours before the run). Still feeling it today. I guess I should research that, too.

5 people have agreed to sign up on my team for the 5K. Just need 4 more. Any takers? Those family and friends coming from out of town will be hosted at my fabulous "B&B". (The guest bedroom is taken but I can always move the boys to sleeping bags and give you their beds.)

Running Update:

Tonight I averaged 13:01 minutes a mile which beats my best time I think by 15 seconds. My next two runs Friday and Saturday will be on my own which will be interesting to see if I can keep up the expectations I've set for myself without K to cheer me on.

Tonight we were joined by another sister in our ward. I hope she keeps coming. It was fun to get to know her.

Running update:

Tonight's run was divided between 3:1 (three min. run to 1 min. walk) and 4:2. I completed my first mile in a better time than my mile race just over a week ago. Feeling great about that.

I bought some running clothes this morning. Amazing what official running clothes in my favorite color does to my attitude. I was determined not to be wimpy tonight. When K would tell me the run time was up, I went a little farther a few times. No complaining tonight.

I told K I was a little worried that I wouldn't be ready in time for my 5K in September. She has much more faith in me than I do right now.

Running update:

Running update

Today's run was 3 minutes running/2 min. walking with the last 1/2 mile at 3 min. run/1 min. walk. Mile time 14:20. My 2nd best time. Next week we will change to 3 min. run/1 min. walk for the entire 2.2 miles. After that week we will start upping distance.

My ankles are tired but not sore. My shins and outer calves do not hurt. I can really tell the difference with these new shoes. (I think Mr. Wonderful is envious and wants a pair. In case you were wondering: my shoes are Saucony Progrid Hurricane 10. I think with all the silver on them they look like Buck Rogers shoes. Does that date me? does anyone else remember Buck Rogers?) My breathing is much better. If my legs would cooperate I think I could go further than 3 minutes as my lungs don't burn any more. But my legs get tired. My upper thighs are sore in front. Don't get me wrong, today was hard. But it is nice to see improvement. Its nice to know that I can do something hard and like it.

At weigh in today I was up 4 oz and really disappointed. My mentor thinks its water weight from the heat - she said that I wouldn't notice a weight loss from this new training until 5 weeks. I have committed to journaling every bite and measuring every portion and she will look at my journal next week. Mr. Wonderful and K think it is muscle. I came home frustrated with all those nasty voices in my head going at it with negative thinking. Mr. Wonderful, in all his wisdom, told me to go on my run, that it would clear my head and break the bad attitude. He was right. I feel great. I look forward to running with K. Beyond the girl talk, it has been great to get to know her.

On the mental side, today was the first time I wore running shorts and the tank from my running store goodie bag. Yesterday on my run my yoga pants fell off (proof that I am losing inches at least) so I had to find something that fit for today. I felt like an athlete.

This is so cool! (Yes, I am gushing. Let me have my moment....)