A Whiney Little Post

Hi there,
Fair warning: I might whine a bit. 

Today was a struggle.  I got up at a decent time, went outside to run & was pleasantly surprised it wasn't too hot yet.  (77°) I did my warm up walk & then began my jog.  The first jog was 90 seconds- I did fine on that one.  I knew the second jog was going to be 3 minutes, so I didn't want to tire out so I was trying really hard to keep a slower pace.  Of course as soon as my job time begins, I start up a small hill.  I pushed through & was able to run the entire 3 minutes.  Obviously, I was not as fast as when I'm on the treadmill, but I did run the entire thing.  The last 3 minute jog I was mostly going downhill.  It wasn't until the final 45-60 seconds I began going back uphill.  I did it though! I was proud of that... BUT

This is the first day I'm questioning myself & my ability to do this.  I'm proud of my measly almost 1.5 mile run... great! Only 11.6 more miles to go! I know I have all fall/winter to train for the half, but I am feeling a little discouraged.  I guess I'm starting to worry a little about this 10K I signed up for in August.  My 5K training won't even be finished by then.  I'm going to have to start adding a running day to my schedule.  Either do 4 days a week of the training to speed it up, or just take long runs on Saturdays (this is Shaun's suggestion). 
While I'm on the complain train... my leg still hurts! It is my right leg & it hurts while I run and throughout the day after my run.  Like, right now, it feels like someone is squeezing my calf with all their might.  Hey! Maybe that's the fat squeezing out.  Ha ha..
Ok, no more complaining... I promise. 
Here are my stats according to runkeeper:

Time: 18.59
Distance: 1.37 (not nearly as far as on the treadmill)
Min/Mile: 13.49
Calories: 214

It doesn't give me the mile/hour but the minute mile is helpful.  I use this to make sure I'm running at a pace I can do.  The problem is when I hear, "Begin running", I take off.  Obviously, I can't keep up that pace for very long at all.... So, I'm trying to learn to pace myself.  It just feels so unnatural and I feel so sluggish & slow.  I can only imagine how I look out there. 

 



Honestly, the dog probably has better form!
Anyway,
There is today's run... I know my next one will be better.  I didn't want to write this post, but I feel like I need to be able to look back and see that every run is not easy. 
Have a great Wednesday!
~Summer

The beginning of Week 3

Hello There! Happy Tuesday to you all!

I have not been sleeping well lately- which is NOT like me.  I usually am asleep less than 10 minutes after my head hits the pillow.  Sunday night I was up tossing & turning until 3 something.  Last night, I was up until after 1.  Needless to say, I'm not super energetic in the morning, but I knew since I skipped yesterday, I HAD to get a run in today.  I chose noon as a good time, so obviously, I was inside on the treadmill.

My right calf is still a little sore so I didn't add an incline today.  But, I ran faster than I have previously! Yay me. 
Since today was the beginning of Week 3, it means new training times.  I apparently read the description wrong.  I thought it said, "90 seconds running/90 seconds walking"- which it did, but then it added, "3 minutes running/3 minutes walking".  I have to say, during that first 3 minutes of jogging, I was thinking, "This is a really long 90 seconds... Maybe I missed the 'walk' cue.... Whatever, I can do it.... Seriously, when am I supposed to walk?" I finally got my phone out to see if I was going crazy right as it told me to start walking.  I noticed the remaining time was 2:58.  That's when I read the description a little better.  I was ok though! The 2nd 3 minute jog, I pushed myself to run faster than normal & I was able to keep it up! I had to talk myself through it a couple of times, but I was proud of my mini accomplishment.  And yes- I'm one of those, "I can do it!" girls.  I have talked myself through a LOT of workouts. 

I think I am going to start taking & posting a pic of myself at the end of my run.  Here I am right now (post shower & a good 45 minutes after my run), but it's a start. 

 



This way, I'll be able to go back and say, "I was able to smile after that little run..."

Ok, here are todays stats:
Total time: 18:32 (not counting my warm up & cool down)
Distance: 1.41 miles
Calories: 172
Avg MPH: 4.5
Avg min/mile: 13.51

Yay! Again, I know it was a short, inside run, but I also know it will help me get to where I want to go: The Finish Line of the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon!!!
My "I can do it?" is turning into "I think I might be able to do this..."

I'm not sure when I'm going to get my outside run in this week.  It's REALLY hot here... Hopefully, I will fall asleep early enough to get up super early tomorrow or Thursday morning.
Til next time,
~Summer

Week 2- In the books!

Week 2 is officially finished! Woo Hoo!!! I know it's still early in my training, but I'm celebrating the little steps!
I think this was the longest break I've had from running.  I took Thursday & Friday off. I definitely felt it today! This was the first time my legs have hurt.  Actually, it was just my right calf.  It felt tight & really sore & didn't get better as I ran.  Even after my shower, it's still hurting.  I must not be stretching right.  I'll have to look up good pre & post running stretches, I guess.  So- leg in pain- here are my workout results :

Total time: 24 minute;
Distance: 1.64 miles;
Avg MPH: 4.0;
Avg Minute/Mile: 15:58- this is the important one! I have to keep at least a 16 minute mile in the Princess Half.  This is including a warm up walk, so it is probably a little better than this...
Vertical ft: 190
Avg Grade: 2.1- I'm wondering if these last 2 are my incline.  I set it at 2.5 for the 1st half & then dropped it to 2.0.  I'm just trying to be a little realistic regarding hills. 

Anyhoo... That's all for now!  I will start week 3 Monday (unless I get a wild hair tomorrow morning) which is 90 seconds running/90 seconds walking.  The overall workout is shorter, but so is my "recovery" time. I think I can do it!
I guess we'll see... ;)
~Summer

I'm already spoiled...

What is this? 2 posts in one day??? Yes, well... I had to post a quick running update.  Yeah, that's right- I got up extra early on my birthday & went for a run. Why? Because I can! 
Today was my outside day!  It wasn't super hot yet, but the pacing is still messing with me.  I get winded a lot faster outside than on that trusty old treadmill.  I didn't go as far today, but my time was much better.  According to Run keeper, my average min/mile was 13.53! That's amazing! I only need a 16 min mile for the Disney Princess Half.  Granted, I'll have to be running like 20 times longer... Anyway- I did it! That's what is important.  I only felt like I wasn't going to make it (through the running part) once, BUT, I felt like I could keep running once.  So, it evened itself out.  There were a few small hills on my path this morning too, so I'm sure that had an effect as well.
So there it is- Week 2/Day 2 & Week 2 Outside Run is in the books! Whew! Now, I'm going to go enjoy my birthday coffee!

Happy Birthday to me!

Let's get this out of the way: I love birthdays! I love MY birthday! Why? I don't know. Maybe because it is the one day of the year I hear from friends I love dearly. Maybe it's because I know I will get to spend the evening with my family. Maybe it's because I like attention & this day is all mine!!!

 Ok, just kidding about the last part.  Let's be honest- your birthday as an adult is not as much fun as when you're a kid.  Who wants to add another number to that "age"? Not me.  Much like my mom, I tend to fabricate my age.  As a matter of fact- about 3 months ago, I was filling out paperwork at a Dr.'s office & I put my "pretend" age (not realizing it) & filled in my actual birth date (the year).  They must have thought I was completely mental.  Oh well... I'm sure they figured it out.  What does your age even mean? I'm clearly old enough to vote, drink, rent a car and pretty much anything else legally I want.  The next "good" birthday is the one I officially am considered a senior citizen so I can get my discount at the Movie Theater.  Not much to get excited about.  So... my age is how young I feel.  Today... I feel...  older than my 20s... I think- early 30's.  That sounds good to me. 33? 34? Who cares?!  As my Grandma Goey always said, "It beats the alternative!"

Well, It's official...

I am officially signed up to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon February 2016!

I honestly am not sure how I feel about it- excited, nervous, confident, NOT confident, disbelief...
Anyway, I AM going to do it! My goal is to get into a faster corral so I will have time to stop and take some pics with the characters.  In order to get in a faster corral I will have to submit an official time from a 10k between August & November.  So... that being said:
I have signed up for my first 10k! 
Shaun & I are going to run it together.  Well, he'll be running much faster, but we will be in the same race. It is the 3rd Annual Moonlight Dash 10k. 

 

 

I have done a 5k, but never "seriously".  My C25K will be "finished" the week following the 10k, so we will see how that works out...

 

Speaking of my program, I started week 2 today.  It felt like I hadn't run in a few days, but I only took 1 day off.  Today, I ran for 90 seconds, walking for 2.  I felt really good, but again I was on a treadmill.  I'm going to try to run at least 1 day a week outside so I don't get too spoiled on the treadmill.  Tomorrow is my birthday, and I am going to try to run outside early in the morning.  We shall see!

I'll let you know!



 

I'm baaaaccccckkkkk

Hi! We are just going to pretend I haven't logged on in almost 4 years...
I will probably finish the blog challenge I started (again... 4 years ago) but I really want to talk about my attempt at running a half marathon! This is really therapy and encouragement for me so feel free to skip the running blogs if that bores you. :)

So far, I've made it all the way to week 2 of the C25K- yes you read that correctly, week 2.  That means I've run a whopping 3 times, but at least I did those 3 times, right? I also managed to work in a class at the Y 1 day! So, let me sum up my 1st official week of running:

Day 1
"I can do this..." This mantra is how I started my run.  I left my front door ready to take on my neighborhood.  Shortly after I began running my "I can do this" turned to "Holy Guacamole it's hot out here!" (It was probably around 7 in the morning).  I pushed myself to finish though.  I had not hydrated myself before the run (or the previous day) so I was thirsty.  I also forgot to take my puff (my inhaler for exercise-induced asthma).  I just can't seem to take deep breaths or get the air into my lungs when running or working out.  Needless to say,  it wasn't the best experience ever, but I was happy I finished it- even if I wasn't very confident I would be able to do much more than that. 

Day 2
It is actually 4 days later- Rather than run outside, I opted for the treadmill.  I knew it would be "easier" than running on the actual ground, but I justified it by thinking, "I will work on my lungs first, then my legs".  I did a lot better! I ran a few seconds more than I was supposed to run each time.  I felt like I could have gone a bit farther running, but stuck to my little trainer on my phone.  (I'm using the C25K app by ZenLabs).  It made me happy that I felt better about the run.  I was excited to see my results. BUT- As the screen was showing me my workout results, I hit a button & it restarted a new program, erasing all of my data.  :( I was very sad- But at least I felt better about the run. 

Day 3
Literally less than 12 hours after my Day 2 run- Back to the treadmill I go. Once again, I opted for indoors.  I am sure I'm going to be fussing at myself when I do go back outside.  Anyway, I figured my legs would be tired from running the night before, but they were ok.  I elevated the treadmill a couple of inclines hoping that would help me outside.  I guess we will see. 
I felt good about this run as well! I am trying to figure out my pacing so when I do go outside, I don't just start sprinting. Obviously, when I do this- I don't make it very far.   I am not good at running "slow".  I'm not really sure how to work this out.  Time, I guess?
Anyway, I only ran 1 1/2 miles, but it felt good.  I felt like I could keep running after she said, "Begin Walking".  Next week (This week) my "run" time gets longer so we'll see how I do with that...

So, if you're wondering why I've decided to take up running (other than the obvious health reasons)- I want to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon.  I have never come close to running something like that, but I think I can do it! I have lots of people tell me, "If I could do you, you can do it".  I hope they are right! Registration is Tuesday.  I'll let you know if I get in!
Have a great afternoon!
~Summer