Today's Run in 50 Degrees

Today's run went pretty good, I have a photo of it that I will put up here tomorrow. It was 50 degrees and windy, but overall I enjoyed it; I could definitely feel my legs being a bit tired but I hope that is due to the squats I did yesterday.

I love this trail because it is pretty much away from vehicles and not too many people use it. You can either do a total of 6 miles on it or less. It is my preferred route for running.

Can't Get Enough of It

I was so happy to run this morning, I ran about .25 miles more than I planned but I can feel the soreness already coming from too much maybe. I'm hoping that it is just soreness and I will be good enough for 3 miles Friday morning, I just want to get out of this rut and over the 3 mile plateau that I've been stuck on for about 3 months. I signed up for the 7K run in Feburary and I'm pretty sure I won't have any problems with it, since it is only around 4 miles total. The trail I am using right now is about 3 miles total at this point (they are building on to it, making the Greenway Passage go all the way around and through Evansville), so I will be able to keep training on it up to 6 miles (3 miles to and 3 miles back). There is another part of the Greenway Passage along the river front but it only totals to about 4 miles at this moment, they are adding on to it as well. I just can't get enough of running and I can decide which is better to run in, summer or winter? I love it both, winter is refreshing and my mouth doesn't dry up, I feel like I can go on and on. While summer, I don't have to wear as much clothing, I can even just wear shorts and a sports bra. I can not believe I didn't start running a few years ago.

All I Can Think About

Since last week, all I can think about is running everyday; but I know that I need to give my body at least 48 hours to rest and recover. This past summer I have definitely learned a bit more patience, which is very much needed. Right now I really wish I could go run tomorrow morning, but I've got to go to the gym and do strength training, I would just really rather run instead!

Running in Snow!

I can say as of today, I could get used to this whole running in winter and even 20 degree weather. At first I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to handle it, but now I wish I would've done it sooner. Today I made it 3 miles in just around 30 minutes with no problem at all, I honestly felt I could've done more but from early experience I do not want to push it and end up injured (AGAIN). I'm am just going to slowly ease my way through my 3 mile plateau which has been keeping me down for the past 3 months, but I am confident that I will get past it with the new year and January. I am excited with the New Year, excited with new chances and possible new experiences. I will be joining Jumpstart in May (which begins at 1 mile and adds 10% each week, we meet 3 times a week) and this time with the runners group; then in July I will join Team 13 which starts with 3 miles (which will be a snap for me by then) and we will work our way to 13.1 miles for the Half Marathon next October!!!!!! I am so excited!

Running in 26 Degree Weather

I did get to go run this morning outside, in 26 degrees with the sun shining and no wind at all. I felt pretty great except for the minor chill even though I had a sock hat on and gloves. My goal was for 2.50 miles but I ended up running 2.39 miles which isn't bad for my first running in that kind of temperature. I am so happy to know that I don't have to run inside just because it's below 30 degrees. It felt great and I can't wait until my next run!

Today's Lesson

 I just can not get over the excitement I feel after this morning's run! And it looks like I will be able to run outside again Thursday morning, I can't wait! I've missed running outside, it has probably been over a month since my last outdoor run, and now I'm finally back at it and it has never felt so good. After my painful run back in November, I was really nervous about running in the cold because I thought my leg muscles would not warm up enough. But it feels even better to be back out there running again, with no pain or stiffness at all. Hopefully I will be able to do 2.50 miles Thursday, depending on whether I end up being sore from the 2.91 miles today. I haven't been getting past 2.15 or 2.25 all month so I'm worried that my going over the 10% rule might have injured me slightly. I will see though on Thursday morning, I hoping and praying that it all goes well.

My first outdoor run this winter

This morning I woke up with the intentions of going to the gym and running on the treadmill like I have for the past month and a half; but when I got to the doors I just stood there and realized that it did not feel cold at all outside, it was only around 40 and there wasn't any wind. I quickly made my mind up to head home and grab my running long sleeve and go on the Garvin Park Greenway Trail and run. It was exhilarating and freeing to be outside running again, I haven't been able to run more than 2.15 miles on the treadmill for the past month due to my "overheating" and just plain boredom, but being outside again felt so good I was able to make it to 2.91 miles with not a single problem at all. I can't even begin to describe the feeling, my fingers were a bit numb, but everything else felt all too right, and my nose wasn't even runny at all. From now on, if it isn't raining or below 35 degrees (I'm not sure if I have the gear or the stamina for anything below that yet) and isn't slippery, I will be running outside!!!!!!!

2010 Winter

I am ashamed to say that I have not kept up with my running since the beginning of November, my body does not want to get out into the cold to run. My attempts at getting up in the morning and running on the treadmill have been slow and inconsistent, but I am going to shoot for 20 miles this month (even if it is going to be on the treadmill). I don't know if I will be able to do the HM in April since I haven't even made it past 3 miles on runs yet, but Jumpstart at the YMCA will be starting in May and I plan on getting back into it, only running this time and working my way up to the HM in October of next year. I admit that this year has been a rough start, but I've had a few reality checks and have definitely learned a few things. Even with less running this month and winter, I will be doing Aerobics, working out and walking 4.15 miles a night at around 19 minutes a mile. Hopefully 2011 will be a much better year for me.

Tough Love From Winter

I will admit that I did not expect it to be this difficult of a transition into running in cold ass weather, but it has been. I have always been having some minor pains in my knee and shin, when pushing myself. I haven't been keeping up with running for 3 days a week for the past 2 weeks, I've kind of fell off the wagon, last week I ran once (made it to 2 miles with slight aggravation) and today 2.25 miles when I had to stop because my Hamstring suddenly spazzed out. This morning at 1.50 miles I started feeling tension under my knee, at the top of my shin but ignored it; I wanted to make it to 2.50 miles before stopping, well at 2.25 my right hamstring made the final decision. Not to mention I was running on a treadmill both times, I'm hoping I can run again Friday but I can't help wonder why I'm feeling these pains. Anyways, thought I'd make another post, hopefully we'll see sunny weather soon and I will try myself outside even if it 40 something degrees out there.

The Starbucks 5K Race 11/07/2010

I am very excited to say that I enjoyed the race 11/07/2010, I had finished without any problems (my shin or knee) though I could've picked up the pace, but better safe than sorry. My time was 32:22, so 10:26/mile; now that was a bit slower than my first 5K but I had injured myself that day as well. I am pretty happy because before this race I was so nervous, all I could think about was the horrific pain I had felt during my 10K race in September. I have another 5K race this Saturday 11/13/2010 and am really excited to see how I do!

StarBucks 5K Race November 7th

Just yesterday a fellow runner (someone I look up to and barely know :D) invited me to the Starbucks 5K, this will be my second 5K race but I think I am going to do better than my first. My first 5K I had finished in 29 minutes and 58 seconds (just 2 seconds before 30 minutes),  I was doing 9:43 a mile and was in pain. Two weeks before that I had injured my IT band and didn't know it, not until my 10K race about a month later. But I am better prepared and my last 3 mile run (this last Saturday October 23) turned out to be 3.25 miles instead of 3 and I ran that in about 30:38 minutes so about 9:29 minutes a mile. I am really excited for this run, because I know that I am ready and as long as I don't do anything stupid, and just stay around 2.75 miles twice this week and my 3.50 miles this Saturday, and a planned 3 miler next Tuesday I should be very ready for the race November 7th! I am excited!

National Married-to-a-Runner Day

I tend to forget how patient my husband is about a lot of my crazy stuff, sometimes I even find myself neglecting him for my workouts, or in other words my runs. On mornings when I WANT to stay in bed with him and should stay in bed and cuddle with him, I can't help but FEEL the NEED to get up for my run. I would like to thank him and let him know that I appreciate his love and patience, and let him know that I don't mean to make him feel neglected if I have. I love you hubby and thank you for loving me.

My Relationship With Running

This is my first post, and my first blog on here. I have always been impressed by runners, ever since my sister had joined her middle school track and cross country about 11 years ago, I could never understand the mechanics of it. My breathing technique sucked, my running technique sucked. For about 6 years I went to my sister's meets and watched her run and race, she was a natural at it and I wanted so much to join her. Even after high school I was infatuated with it, for the past 3 years now I started run/walking,  but my technique just wasn't good enough for long distance. Back in March of this year my brother and I started going to the gym, I wanted to get back into shape, lose 25 lbs and feel great about myself. About 2 months later I had lost 20 lbs, I was standing in the gym waiting for my brother when I looked and saw a flier. The flier stated that the YMCA was hold a Jumpstart for people interested in getting into running and doing the Half Marathon in October, that urge hit me there, I signed up for it. In July Jumpstart ended and Team 13 began, but I was still run/walking, though at that point I was running more. Around the end of July by accident I got lost in the group of runners instead of run/walkers and ran a whole 5 miles without walking, ended in 55 minutes but I was feeling the soreness. But unfortunately I had injured my IT band without knowing it, I kept pushing myself, in August I ran the 5K and finished at 29:58, I had one 9:43 mpm and felt it even more severely. But it wasn't until the 10K in September that I had to realize and admit it to myself that I needed a rest and to start from base again. So more than a month later here I am, running 3 times a week. This morning I ran 3.25 miles with no pain, except for the side stitch. I am excited to say that not only will I get my 30 miles in this month, but I have signed up for the Half Marathon in April 2011, and I believe that if I keep training myself, and listening to my body, I will be able to do it. Even though this relationship started out bumpy if not with a lot of road blocks, it is smoothing out and becoming something quite beautiful. I will not stop at the Half Marathon, I do not wish to stop there, but keep going, and some day start and finish a Full Marathon along with a few Triathlons. I have found peace in running, and can't wait til I'll be running 5 miles a day, and then 10 miles every other day or just on the weekend long runs. I am in love.........with running.