Running Thoughts

I want to be able to run 3 miles in my 30 minute run...so I set a goal to run at least 5 runs at under an 11 minute mile within one month.  I figure that shaving a few seconds off at a time will feel more successful.   Today's run was 30 minutes of conversational running with pick-ups after.  I ran at an 11 minute, 18 second mile.  Then I ran 3 pick ups.  The last one got me to where I was planning to end up so I called it good.  It was long and uphill anyway. I'm sore from lifting yesterday and the day before...yesterday was back and biceps.  I forgot about abs.  bummer.

***UPDATE*** Sara and I went to the gym for chest, shoulders, and triceps.  She ran after that too.  I thought you might enjoy seeing her engagement pics!!  Here is the link. Today's run was supposed to be 30 minutes of conversational paced running.   You know when some days feel so right?  Like your conversational pace will be better and faster and more graceful all at the same time?  That's how I felt.  I normally start off at a super slow pace, but today, I just felt like running.  So I started off with a bang and then slowed my run to a jog when I felt like I needed to.  I slowed to a walk to adjust my ipod.  Stretched and kept running/jogging.   Then, I realized it!!!  I was suppose to take my youngest to soccer practice!  I finished the trail I was on and turned around and ran home...we will never know how the rest of my run would have been.  I only got to run 13 minutes.  The good news is that I ran it in intervals with jogging in between.   When I got home, Sara had sav...

I saw my reflection today and it surprised me.  I still can't get used to seeing myself thin and healthy looking.  I had to look twice because my head hasn't caught up with my fitness.  I still think of myself as overweight until I see that reflection!  What a nice surprise. I stopped to do some reflecting of my own.  I have come from tired, stiff, achy and out of breath to a person training for a half marathon.  I have come from flabby to fit, from a life of mediocrity to a life of fullness.  I thought about my 4 mile run and the sight of looking down at my legs as they moved beneath me, the muscle visible through legs that are tan for the first time ever.  I thought of when I struggled to run at all, as I ran and ran and ran.  It isn't that I've done everything right either.  I haven't made all the right choices.  I've just made more good ones than bad and haven't given up on myself.  I've let myself fail and not quit because of the failure.  I've ...

Mile 1:  wondered why I'm doing this... Mile 2:  remembered... Mile 3:  dumped pebbles out of my shoe... Mile 4:  Ahh, just as I thought.

I got out the door for my 30 minute run early yesterday morning.  I have family in town, so I had to get to it early or not at all.  Not at all was not an option.  I felt great, had great energy, and felt like a kid for a large portion of my run.  I ran the farthest I've run in 30 minutes (2.78 mi).  My pace was 10:50...getting faster.  My plan is to run 4 miles on Sunday.  I think I'll like the 4 mile run because I really don't get "warmed up" completely until late in my run, so the second half feels better than the first.  The beginning of each run, I want to STOP.  Then a mile goes by and I feel better and then the second mile goes by and I feel more relaxed and can look around me more and enjoy the scenery without slowing down for it.  How do you relax in the first part of the run?  I want to enjoy it ALL!  I think the fourth mile will be like dessert.  We'll see.

I went for my 30 minute conversational run.  No one to converse with, so I sang.  It was very pretty.  I didn't know all the words to the songs so it was especially lovely.  Luckily, I can't hear myself with the earbuds in.  :)  Ran it all. Have I mentioned that I have "runner's knee?"  Well, I figured out my problem.  I turn my right foot out on uphill climbs.  I will stop.  Easy enough.  Until it heals, I will be icing it after runs. I'm taking this week off from lifting.  We have company in town and I will be doing really well if I fit in all my runs. Oh, yeah!  Sara is engaged.  She doesn't blog much these days, so I'm spilling the beans.  

I thought you might enjoy the peaceful lake I ran along on Saturday.  (Odell thinks you might like to try lake fort phantom, Ruth...lol)

We camped last night at the lake. Then, this morning, Odell and I ran 3 miles along the road around the lake. Breathtaking! But, hillllllllly! I had to walk part of it which was disappointing to me for some reason. I think just because I can run 3 miles and expected to. Expectations! The hills got me! I slowed way down on the hills, but there were too many of them in a row and they were long. Anyway, 3 miles with hubby...yippeeee!

My little 12 year old birthday boy was amazing yesterday!  Kaegan has autism.  The professionals had given us pretty grim predictions about his future back when he was about 2.  The more hopeful ones told us that if he wasn't "recovered" from autism by the time he was 6, it was too late.  We set in to do everything we could before age 6.  On his 6th birthday, I struggled.  Really struggled.  What hadn't I done?  Was this the end of his progression?  Had he come as far as he would ever go?  We made the conscious effort to celebrate how far he had come and not lament how far he hadn't. Yesterday, he turned 12.  He still has autism, but luckily, I think I now have it too!  I say this because I love everything he does and says.  I look at him in wonder for surpassing that 6 year old prediction with his continued growth.  We are growing together, and I'm happy with who he is.  I completely believe that he is capable of overcoming his obstacles and that I am capable...

Sara and I hit the gym for back and biceps.  She did abwork when we got home, but I did it yesterday, so I'll do abs tomorrow which is a rest day.  Then, running again on Thursday, cross train on Friday (bicycle?) and long run on Saturday.  It's tough to fit in leg day for weights...but in looking at Ruthie's pictures...I'm thinkin' the half training is enough!  I know that my legs feel tired most of the time.  

Fitness catch-up day... I did abs earlier, ran my 30 minutes (2.67 mi), and lifted (chest, shoulders, triceps).  I'm tired, but happy.  It was also laundry day and playroom day with my son with autism.   Good day...fun stuff.  well, the laundry wasn't as fun.

Our internet was down yesterday and part of today.  I just saw Ruth's plan to Rock San Antonio!  Yay!  Did you all see her pictures??????  Wow.  wow. I ran my 2 miles yesterday.  My mind kept wanting to walk, but I realized that it was only my mind and kept running.  I ran my fastest mile.  How sweeeet... a PR!  (personal record) Today is a lifting and abs day, but I'm exhausted.  (we had a belly dance performance in a nearby town)  It's leg day, and I'm less concerned about missing a leg day because of all the running.  I have a sciatic nerve thing going on today.  I'll probably rest.

Well, I did it!  I registered for the "run like a girl half marathon" on October 19th!  It's a nike+ race, so I will run here with my nike+ and then log on to include my run in the race and get my tee shirt!  :) Today is a rest day, and I'm supposed to run 2 miles on Saturday...I will be too busy Sat., so I'm running 2 miles tomorrow and today's leg day will be Saturday.  That made today a rest day!  

I had a spectacular run today.  Well, I thought so.  You fast people wouldn't be impressed.  :) I THINK I've officially decided to train for a half marathon with the mindset that if it spoils the fun of running for me, I'll step back and at least I'll be farther along with my endurance and speed than I am now.  I'm thinking of the Nike+ Run Like a Girl race on October 17th.  I'm counting Monday's miserable run as my first training workout, but I deleted it from my Nike plus, so if you check my nike+ widget, you will see my second workout as my first.  Anyway, today, I was to run for 30 minutes (no walking) and then cool down and run 4 "pick-ups" (30 second sprints for form practice).  So, that is what I did.  With my usual pokey speed, I ran 2.5 miles in my 30 minutes, and then 4 nicely done sprints up and down my driveway hill.   My next run is Saturday's "long run" for 2 miles.  Seems a little short for a long run since I ran 2.5 to...

Day 2 down. We lifted in the community gym which had been overtaken by muscle bound guys I've never seen in there before.  They had their music turned up super loud and what could have been a nice get-away was...not.  So we got through back and biceps and then did pilates abwork at home.  All done! 2 complainy posts in a row!  that's a record for me, I think.  :)

Today marks day one of our latest workout plans!  Eating is still BFL style.  Lifting is from Maximum Growth.  And Cardio is Running for Mortals' Run 5K plan.  That is how it stands right now anyway.  I know that it will stay this way for 4 weeks, which is our "change it up" date, except that I may change the cardio to train for a Half with Ruth.   Today, I ran on my new (old) treadmill that we got over the weekend at a garage sale.  It's temporary until we decide what we want to get.  It was rainy outside and I thought I'd just try it out.  It doesn't go very fast, so I thought I'd do my conversational level run on it.  It nearly killed me, I'm pretty sure.  Here's what happened.   The treadmill is set on its steepest incline.  I can't figure out how to lower it.  I think, oh well, I'll run uphill then.  Well, I walked as much or more than running and today marks the slowest mile I've ever gone!  lol Then, my foot stepped half on and h...

Out the door for 1 mile of sprints and 1 mile endurance with a couple sprints mixed in for the second mile.   I could sure feel the altitude adjustment.  Temperature was perfect!  Saw a deer.  The creek was high and fast, making me take my earbuds down so that I could hear the music of nature.  Nice to be back! Odell bought me this cute new running skirt on our trip.  The cap is new too and is orange and brown.  The little muffin above the skirt is new too.  Oh, I had a little muffin before our vacations, but it has definitely become more prominent!  lol  Say goodbye to it; it will be gone soon!  ;)

We got home Tuesday night from our fun anniversary trip!  It was so great to have no schedule at all and no responsibilities before us.  We just did what we wanted when we wanted, and that was just like our honeymoon 19 years ago and in the same B&B.  Super time! I am very excited about the possibility of running tomorrow!  (besides, I got a new running skirt on the trip) Sunday begins a new "Blitz-a-rama."  I cannot wait!!!  Weight room, here I come!!  And I'm training for a 5K with plans for a 10k after that.  Maybe Ruth's Half will be so appealing that I'll have to go for more!  :)  Can you believe she runs it THIS FRIDAY!!!!!  I wish so much I could be there to man a water station!  What'll you do, Ruth?  Take water with you?  Wear a camel bak?  Have your family stationed along your route?  Do you have it all mapped out?  Do you have a strategy planned?  What are your goals for this run?  I neeeeeeed to know.