31...
That's the number of frogs I passed on the sidewalk during my 4.5 mile run just after sunset. Do you have any idea how hard it is to dodge frogs while running in the dark? Not fun. But the idea of one of those frogs ending up beneath my shoe was enough to force me to keep my eyes on the sidewalk for the entire run. Frog 29 jumped right in front of me and I was sure he was a goner. Fortunately, I can state for the record that there were no fatalities or injuries during this workout. Another fun fact... apparently the sidewalks of Avon are the place to be on a Wednesday night... if you're a frog that is.
Okay, so back to the important stuff...
I've been doing a little reading on marathon training and running in general. I recently read that, unless you're a seasoned runner working on improving your time, there's really no reason to push yourself to the limit every time you run. A good jogging pace is when you're able to comfortably hold a conversation during your run. And, while I didn't have anyone to converse with this evening, I did decide to slow my pace and see how many miles I could put in instead of trying to finish a certain distance in as little time as possible. The first three miles or so were at a leisurely 11 minute mile pace. And, while I couldn't exactly test whether or not I could hold a conversation at that pace, I did feel comfortable enough to add another mile and a half to the end of my run. I'm not sure I had set out to run my longest distance to date, but I'm happy to report that I felt great doing it. My legs seem to be holding up well, much of which I assume can be attributed to my new shoes, and the cooler weather has made running a lot more pleasant.
Looks like I'll be ready for that 10k before I know it...
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Day 22 (8/29): about 2 miles / 17:56
Today was supposed to be my day off. I was awake at 4:30 for no apparent reason and forbid myself from running because I felt my body deserved the break. And yet, here I am. This evening rolled around and I just couldn't help myself. I was still feeling so good from yesterday that I just needed to get out and put a few more miles on these new shoes of mine.
Speaking of new shoes - I love them! Definitely one of my better purchases.
Of course, after my run, I was reminded why I needed a day off. While I'm certainly not battling any injuries, I think my body is telling me it needs a little break. So, tomorrow I will not run... I will not run... I will not run... I will not run...
In the meantime, I will reflect a little on what this little endeavor of mine has already changed in my life...
First and foremost, I'm proud to say that I've quit smoking. This past Thursday was my last one, so it's been 4 days, 1 hour and 44 minutes... more or less :) I really thought it would be much harder than it was. Fortunately for me, my hubby quit as well, which made it a million times easier for me to get through!
My second and not quite so healthy change has been my appetite. Don't get me wrong, I've always loved food, but this is insane. I have an insatiable appetite and I never desire anything that would actually be considered healthy. Take today for example... I started my day with a bowl of cereal, then had a bowl of soup and some french bread for lunch... which I proceeded to follow with a candy bar. Okay, no biggie, except what I was looking for in the office freezer was ice cream. When I found none there, the only reason I didn't go buy some was because I told myself that we had better ice cream at home. So I manage to make it through the rest of the day without further raiding the office snack box and, because I'm not sure it would end well if I went running right after dinner, I held off on eating dinner until after my run. When I'm finally ready to eat, I decide on some french bread pizzas. And, even though the box claims that a serving size is just one pizza, I consider the possibility that this is a typo and decide that two is better than one. While that cheesy deliciousness is cooking, I decide to see what we have the fridge. To my surprise, there's an unopened Hershey bar sitting on the top shelf just staring back at me. I pause for a moment and think 'why are you not already in my belly?' Truly, the only thing that kept me from eating it is the fact that I imagine it will taste better after the pizza than it would before. I give Mr. Hershey a wink: 'I'll be seeing you later". You may be wondering why I would be planning to eat that chocolate bar since it obviously wasn't mine, but my husband and I made a rule... food in the house is totally up for grabs unless you stake a claim on it... this candy bar had no such claim. And, to be totally fair, I even said aloud: 'honey, is this your candy bar?' It's possible he didn't hear me from Virginia, but there's just not much that could be done about that.
So, as I sit here, I'm finishing off my last few bites of pizza and already trying to decide what to consume next. Of course, there is Mr. Hershey with whom I promised to visit a short time ago. But, then again, there's Butterfinger ice cream and all kinds of delectable toppings to choose from. There's brownies or Nutty Bars. Then again, I wouldn't mind a big bowl of leftover pasta salad... Maybe the problem is simply that I have too many options.
The fact is, I certainly don't feel like I have anything to be concerned about with my weight. However, I do need to stop telling myself that I can have anything I want just because I burned a few extra calories. Yes, my body is telling me that it's hungry because it probably is... but I'm guessing we might need to start keeping some healthier options in the house if I hope to not gain weight during this process.
Speaking of new shoes - I love them! Definitely one of my better purchases.
Of course, after my run, I was reminded why I needed a day off. While I'm certainly not battling any injuries, I think my body is telling me it needs a little break. So, tomorrow I will not run... I will not run... I will not run... I will not run...
In the meantime, I will reflect a little on what this little endeavor of mine has already changed in my life...
First and foremost, I'm proud to say that I've quit smoking. This past Thursday was my last one, so it's been 4 days, 1 hour and 44 minutes... more or less :) I really thought it would be much harder than it was. Fortunately for me, my hubby quit as well, which made it a million times easier for me to get through!
My second and not quite so healthy change has been my appetite. Don't get me wrong, I've always loved food, but this is insane. I have an insatiable appetite and I never desire anything that would actually be considered healthy. Take today for example... I started my day with a bowl of cereal, then had a bowl of soup and some french bread for lunch... which I proceeded to follow with a candy bar. Okay, no biggie, except what I was looking for in the office freezer was ice cream. When I found none there, the only reason I didn't go buy some was because I told myself that we had better ice cream at home. So I manage to make it through the rest of the day without further raiding the office snack box and, because I'm not sure it would end well if I went running right after dinner, I held off on eating dinner until after my run. When I'm finally ready to eat, I decide on some french bread pizzas. And, even though the box claims that a serving size is just one pizza, I consider the possibility that this is a typo and decide that two is better than one. While that cheesy deliciousness is cooking, I decide to see what we have the fridge. To my surprise, there's an unopened Hershey bar sitting on the top shelf just staring back at me. I pause for a moment and think 'why are you not already in my belly?' Truly, the only thing that kept me from eating it is the fact that I imagine it will taste better after the pizza than it would before. I give Mr. Hershey a wink: 'I'll be seeing you later". You may be wondering why I would be planning to eat that chocolate bar since it obviously wasn't mine, but my husband and I made a rule... food in the house is totally up for grabs unless you stake a claim on it... this candy bar had no such claim. And, to be totally fair, I even said aloud: 'honey, is this your candy bar?' It's possible he didn't hear me from Virginia, but there's just not much that could be done about that.
So, as I sit here, I'm finishing off my last few bites of pizza and already trying to decide what to consume next. Of course, there is Mr. Hershey with whom I promised to visit a short time ago. But, then again, there's Butterfinger ice cream and all kinds of delectable toppings to choose from. There's brownies or Nutty Bars. Then again, I wouldn't mind a big bowl of leftover pasta salad... Maybe the problem is simply that I have too many options.
The fact is, I certainly don't feel like I have anything to be concerned about with my weight. However, I do need to stop telling myself that I can have anything I want just because I burned a few extra calories. Yes, my body is telling me that it's hungry because it probably is... but I'm guessing we might need to start keeping some healthier options in the house if I hope to not gain weight during this process.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Day 21 (8/28): 5k / 26:17
My first race in more than 12 years! Crazy!!!
It felt so great to race again! I was mostly excited, but a little bit nervous at the beginning. I felt like I was 15 years old again. Thankfully, I'm not... those kids are fast!!!
So, let's cut to the chase... I finished first in my age group (30-34) with a total time of 26:17 (for which I received a lovely orange and black ribbon). Unfortunately, I don't know what place I finished overall, but hopefully they'll post that information soon. Regardless of my overall place, I'm pretty thrilled with where I ended up. My time was much faster than I anticipated and I somehow managed to pace myself fairly well... even after all these years.
I was a little nervous after my first mile when I saw I ran it in 8:30, but I was feeling really good and saw no reason to slow down. At the 2 mile mark I was at 16:58 (an 8:28 mile) and couldn't believe I'd managed to keep my pace that well, let alone that I still felt strong enough to not slow down. Unfortunately, my last mile was a little bit slower, but not by too much (9:19 for 1.1 miles is about an 8:45 mile pace).
I found it really easy to get back into my old race mind set. I remembered all of the mental tricks I used for passing people in a race and the head games I'd play as I passed them to let them know that they shouldn't bother trying to keep up with me. I forgot how much fun that could be! Sure, it doesn't sound very sportsmanlike, but let me give you an example... When I was in high school, I didn't have a very strong kick at the end of the race, which meant I needed to put as much distance between myself and my opponents as I possibly could so they couldn't beat me in the last 100 yards. I needed them to think I was stronger than them and that it wasn't worth it to try to beat me, even though I knew that they could likely sprint faster than me if they wanted to. Here's what worked for me...
When you're nearing the end of a race and the group has spread out a bit and it becomes more difficult to find people to pass, you have to find something to make you go faster... a reason to work harder... after all, you're not out for a jog... you're racing. So, you find someone ahead of you that looks like they're getting tired. You take a few moments to note all of the signs they're giving you to let you know how tired they are. Then you give yourself a quick once-over and remind yourself not to do any of those things as you tie a mental rope around their waist and slowly pull yourself up to where they are. Once you catch them you relax your breathing and try to do all of the things you're supposed to do when you're running... take long deep breaths, put your shoulders back, bring your knees up higher and continue to stride right past them. Their breathing is labored and they sound exhausted. Never look at them as you pass... after all, you're not at all concerned that they're going to be competitive with you.
Now, imagine yourself as that exhausted runner just trying to make it to the finish line. You're tired and can't catch your breath. Out of nowhere comes this runner who looks like they've got all the energy in the world. They're having no trouble breathing. They're strong and confident. There's no way in the world you could ever keep up with them. If you've ever been the one getting passed towards the end of a race, you know exactly how this feels. I can assure you, I didn't feel like I had all the energy in the world, I didn't feel strong and confident and I certainly did have trouble catching my breath. I was giving it all I had. All I needed to push myself for that last half mile was someone behind me thinking all of those things about me... that's what encouraged me to give it every little bit I had left. It's all a mental game... and I so loved playing it again!!!
With my 5k under my belt, I'm already looking forward to training for a 10k... but I think I deserve a day off, so I'm thinking that training will begin Tuesday :)
It felt so great to race again! I was mostly excited, but a little bit nervous at the beginning. I felt like I was 15 years old again. Thankfully, I'm not... those kids are fast!!!
So, let's cut to the chase... I finished first in my age group (30-34) with a total time of 26:17 (for which I received a lovely orange and black ribbon). Unfortunately, I don't know what place I finished overall, but hopefully they'll post that information soon. Regardless of my overall place, I'm pretty thrilled with where I ended up. My time was much faster than I anticipated and I somehow managed to pace myself fairly well... even after all these years.
I was a little nervous after my first mile when I saw I ran it in 8:30, but I was feeling really good and saw no reason to slow down. At the 2 mile mark I was at 16:58 (an 8:28 mile) and couldn't believe I'd managed to keep my pace that well, let alone that I still felt strong enough to not slow down. Unfortunately, my last mile was a little bit slower, but not by too much (9:19 for 1.1 miles is about an 8:45 mile pace).
I found it really easy to get back into my old race mind set. I remembered all of the mental tricks I used for passing people in a race and the head games I'd play as I passed them to let them know that they shouldn't bother trying to keep up with me. I forgot how much fun that could be! Sure, it doesn't sound very sportsmanlike, but let me give you an example... When I was in high school, I didn't have a very strong kick at the end of the race, which meant I needed to put as much distance between myself and my opponents as I possibly could so they couldn't beat me in the last 100 yards. I needed them to think I was stronger than them and that it wasn't worth it to try to beat me, even though I knew that they could likely sprint faster than me if they wanted to. Here's what worked for me...
When you're nearing the end of a race and the group has spread out a bit and it becomes more difficult to find people to pass, you have to find something to make you go faster... a reason to work harder... after all, you're not out for a jog... you're racing. So, you find someone ahead of you that looks like they're getting tired. You take a few moments to note all of the signs they're giving you to let you know how tired they are. Then you give yourself a quick once-over and remind yourself not to do any of those things as you tie a mental rope around their waist and slowly pull yourself up to where they are. Once you catch them you relax your breathing and try to do all of the things you're supposed to do when you're running... take long deep breaths, put your shoulders back, bring your knees up higher and continue to stride right past them. Their breathing is labored and they sound exhausted. Never look at them as you pass... after all, you're not at all concerned that they're going to be competitive with you.
Now, imagine yourself as that exhausted runner just trying to make it to the finish line. You're tired and can't catch your breath. Out of nowhere comes this runner who looks like they've got all the energy in the world. They're having no trouble breathing. They're strong and confident. There's no way in the world you could ever keep up with them. If you've ever been the one getting passed towards the end of a race, you know exactly how this feels. I can assure you, I didn't feel like I had all the energy in the world, I didn't feel strong and confident and I certainly did have trouble catching my breath. I was giving it all I had. All I needed to push myself for that last half mile was someone behind me thinking all of those things about me... that's what encouraged me to give it every little bit I had left. It's all a mental game... and I so loved playing it again!!!
With my 5k under my belt, I'm already looking forward to training for a 10k... but I think I deserve a day off, so I'm thinking that training will begin Tuesday :)
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Day 20 (8/27): 1 mile / 9:55
It's official - I really need a new pair of shoes. Sure, these running shoes are not to blame for the blisters on my feet, but in thinking back to how long I've had them, there's no doubt it's time.
So, after my relaxed one mile run, I shower and head to the mall for some new shoes. I've never owned a pair of New Balance shoes. I always felt they were really expensive. But, the way I see it, if I'm training for a marathon, I really should have the right equipment. As it turns out, New Balance is pretty darn cool. First of all, I love that they actually check out your feet, measure them and have you walk across that crazy ink pad thing to see how you walk and what kind of support you need. Then, and I don't know if it gets much cooler than this, they actually go in the back, pick out some shoes that they recommend, lace them up, put in the inserts and tie the shoes on your feet for you. Seriously? I can't recall the last time someone put shoes on my feet for me, but in my book, that's great customer service for you. The only bad thing... they don't care at all what you think looks good. They don't ask what you like before they go back and select some shoes for you and they really don't care what kind of price range you're looking at. Their job is to find shoes that actually fit you feet. Hmmm... maybe there's something to be said for this kind of policy... I walk away with a pair of shoes that actually fit instead of something that simply looks nice on my foot. Given this week's blisters from my fancy heels, I may have been looking at shoe shopping all wrong... until now. I ended up with a pair of shoes I never would have chosen from the rack but am pretty much in love with. I believe the girl told me that each shoe weighs 7 ounces... yeah... that's pretty darn light! Of course, the real test will be tomorrow. I can't wait to run in them!
So, after my relaxed one mile run, I shower and head to the mall for some new shoes. I've never owned a pair of New Balance shoes. I always felt they were really expensive. But, the way I see it, if I'm training for a marathon, I really should have the right equipment. As it turns out, New Balance is pretty darn cool. First of all, I love that they actually check out your feet, measure them and have you walk across that crazy ink pad thing to see how you walk and what kind of support you need. Then, and I don't know if it gets much cooler than this, they actually go in the back, pick out some shoes that they recommend, lace them up, put in the inserts and tie the shoes on your feet for you. Seriously? I can't recall the last time someone put shoes on my feet for me, but in my book, that's great customer service for you. The only bad thing... they don't care at all what you think looks good. They don't ask what you like before they go back and select some shoes for you and they really don't care what kind of price range you're looking at. Their job is to find shoes that actually fit you feet. Hmmm... maybe there's something to be said for this kind of policy... I walk away with a pair of shoes that actually fit instead of something that simply looks nice on my foot. Given this week's blisters from my fancy heels, I may have been looking at shoe shopping all wrong... until now. I ended up with a pair of shoes I never would have chosen from the rack but am pretty much in love with. I believe the girl told me that each shoe weighs 7 ounces... yeah... that's pretty darn light! Of course, the real test will be tomorrow. I can't wait to run in them!
Day 19 (8/26): 2 miles / 19:42
Blisters are the worst!
I bought this great pair of shoes the other day and decided to wear them to work. I really should know better by now. Wearing brand new shoes all day usually doesn't end well. And it didn't. So, today's blisters from yesterday's not-so-great pair of shoes are really causing me trouble. The good news... my knees are holding up well.
Other than the nagging pain, I'm surprised at how good I feel this early in the morning. It's 4:30 and I feel like these two miles are a great start to my day. Of course, we'll just have to see how early I fall asleep on the couch tonight. My Friday nights just aren't what they used to be...
I bought this great pair of shoes the other day and decided to wear them to work. I really should know better by now. Wearing brand new shoes all day usually doesn't end well. And it didn't. So, today's blisters from yesterday's not-so-great pair of shoes are really causing me trouble. The good news... my knees are holding up well.
Other than the nagging pain, I'm surprised at how good I feel this early in the morning. It's 4:30 and I feel like these two miles are a great start to my day. Of course, we'll just have to see how early I fall asleep on the couch tonight. My Friday nights just aren't what they used to be...
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Day 18 (8/24): 1.5 miles / 13:36
Okay, so it's possible that this particular route is not quite 1.5 miles, so I won't get overexcited about my time... that being said, I'm still happy with it :)
I'm happy with my times, my pace and how I've been feeling, but more than anything else, I'm really just happy that I'm sticking with it! Sure, I've only been at it for a couple of weeks, but, hey, I've got to start somewhere, right?!?
Today I was thinking about what it will be like to run in a race again. I'm fairly certain I know exactly how it will go. At the start I'll line myself up somewhere in the back not wanting to get run over by the people that need to pass me. I'll get swept up in the excitement of the race and run my first mile way too fast. My second mile will be sad in comparison and wind up being so slow that I find I have an excess amount of energy left for the last mile. It will be hard to pick up the pace for my last mile from the slowness of my second, but about half way through I'll settle into my new pace. The last tenth of a mile is what's really up in the air. I've been practicing giving the end of my run a little something extra, but who knows how that will play out in an actual race. I feel pretty good about where I am physically... it's the mental part of the race that I'm not yet sure about... it's been a really long time...
I'm happy with my times, my pace and how I've been feeling, but more than anything else, I'm really just happy that I'm sticking with it! Sure, I've only been at it for a couple of weeks, but, hey, I've got to start somewhere, right?!?
Today I was thinking about what it will be like to run in a race again. I'm fairly certain I know exactly how it will go. At the start I'll line myself up somewhere in the back not wanting to get run over by the people that need to pass me. I'll get swept up in the excitement of the race and run my first mile way too fast. My second mile will be sad in comparison and wind up being so slow that I find I have an excess amount of energy left for the last mile. It will be hard to pick up the pace for my last mile from the slowness of my second, but about half way through I'll settle into my new pace. The last tenth of a mile is what's really up in the air. I've been practicing giving the end of my run a little something extra, but who knows how that will play out in an actual race. I feel pretty good about where I am physically... it's the mental part of the race that I'm not yet sure about... it's been a really long time...
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Day 17 (8/23): 4 miles / 43:46
4 miles pushing a stroller... that should make Sunday's 3.1 miles alone seems like a walk in the park... or a run in the park as the case may be...
The great news is that I think I've gotten the ice thing figured out... a few minutes before I run and about ten minutes after I finish... that's all it takes to really feel good the rest of the day. I'd certainly prefer to not need that extra step, but for now I'll take whatever gets me through my day without looking like I need a walker.
And the not smoking thing is coming along nicely as well. I can't say I've quit yet... after all, I think you need to make it at least one whole day without one to make that claim... but I'm getting there. Yesterday's total was 2... today's goal is not to exceed that. I'll have to keep you posted...
Today's run really felt good though. Sure, it was a little harder than my previous runs, but instead of being upset about that, I finally felt upbeat about the higher level of difficulty... it means I'm actually working a little harder instead of simply waiting for everything around me to get easier. Those 26 miles aren't going to run themselves, so at some point I need to step up my training. I felt really good moving on to something more difficult.
The problem, however, is that my neighborhood isn't all that big. I'm running out of places to run. There are basically two directions I can go - the west loop (1 mile) or the south loop (1.5 miles). Today I had to run the south loop, then the west loop, then repeat the south loop again. The repeating of routes isn't so much of a problem, but when my training gets to 10 miles, I don't really want to be running these things three times each. I think it's time to find some new places to go. The only real problem, then, will be finding places that have sidewalks... pushing a stroller through the grass does not sound like a good time.
The great news is that I think I've gotten the ice thing figured out... a few minutes before I run and about ten minutes after I finish... that's all it takes to really feel good the rest of the day. I'd certainly prefer to not need that extra step, but for now I'll take whatever gets me through my day without looking like I need a walker.
And the not smoking thing is coming along nicely as well. I can't say I've quit yet... after all, I think you need to make it at least one whole day without one to make that claim... but I'm getting there. Yesterday's total was 2... today's goal is not to exceed that. I'll have to keep you posted...
Today's run really felt good though. Sure, it was a little harder than my previous runs, but instead of being upset about that, I finally felt upbeat about the higher level of difficulty... it means I'm actually working a little harder instead of simply waiting for everything around me to get easier. Those 26 miles aren't going to run themselves, so at some point I need to step up my training. I felt really good moving on to something more difficult.
The problem, however, is that my neighborhood isn't all that big. I'm running out of places to run. There are basically two directions I can go - the west loop (1 mile) or the south loop (1.5 miles). Today I had to run the south loop, then the west loop, then repeat the south loop again. The repeating of routes isn't so much of a problem, but when my training gets to 10 miles, I don't really want to be running these things three times each. I think it's time to find some new places to go. The only real problem, then, will be finding places that have sidewalks... pushing a stroller through the grass does not sound like a good time.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Day 16 (8/22): 2 miles / 19:33
This morning's run began before the sun came up. It was sort of strange and felt like I was going for a run in the middle of the night. The sky was clear and the stars were amazing. Far more appealing was the idea of lying on the grass and staring at the stars for 20 minutes instead of going for this run, but I likely would have fallen back asleep and the last thing I needed was for the neighbors to leave for work and find me sleeping in my front yard...
Lots of random thoughts came to mind as I ran. First and foremost, I am now less than a week away from my first 5k in a very long time. I can't say that I'm nervous about it, but I do feel like I'm just a little bit crazy... like I'm attempting to travel back in time several years in order to accomplish something I have no business doing at this point in my life. I wonder sometimes if that's just the negative side of me that isn't sure I can do it or if that's the realist in me simply saying "what the hell are you trying to prove?" Maybe my body is really trying to tell me I shouldn't be pushing myself this hard. I have to remind myself frequently that most worthwhile things do not come easily. So, on I run...
Unfortunately, I'm sad that my husband won't be there for my first race... The real question is, did I pick this race because it was the one I was most interested in or did part of me know that he was busy that day and pick it because it meant a little less pressure not having him on the sidelines? I really don't believe the latter is true, but I certainly had the ability to pick another race once I found out he wasn't available that day. So, then the question becomes, did I stick with that date because I didn't want to use that as an excuse to put off my first 5k or did I secretly want to attempt this first one alone.
Let's contemplate this further... I think of my husband as a great athlete - sure, it may have been a few years since he played football, but he was great at what he did. I see myself as a person that used to be an average athlete, which seems far less impressive. He's never insinuated that I should be a better, faster or stronger, but I sometimes assume these things when he sees me running or attempting to play any sport, which is really quite silly. It's clearly pressure I put on myself for lord knows what reason. I'm just strange that way.
Turns out the worst mind games out there are the ones you play on yourself. Truth be told, it doesn't really matter that my husband won't be there... he supports what I do and I'm not exactly doing it for him in the first place. I need to look at this as my lone adventure... it's certainly one I need a lot of support for and absolutely can't do alone, but I have to remember to do it for me. So, I will race on Sunday, with my husband not there, and look forward to his phone call to ask how it all went... and I will be so excited to tell him how well I ran...
Lots of random thoughts came to mind as I ran. First and foremost, I am now less than a week away from my first 5k in a very long time. I can't say that I'm nervous about it, but I do feel like I'm just a little bit crazy... like I'm attempting to travel back in time several years in order to accomplish something I have no business doing at this point in my life. I wonder sometimes if that's just the negative side of me that isn't sure I can do it or if that's the realist in me simply saying "what the hell are you trying to prove?" Maybe my body is really trying to tell me I shouldn't be pushing myself this hard. I have to remind myself frequently that most worthwhile things do not come easily. So, on I run...
Unfortunately, I'm sad that my husband won't be there for my first race... The real question is, did I pick this race because it was the one I was most interested in or did part of me know that he was busy that day and pick it because it meant a little less pressure not having him on the sidelines? I really don't believe the latter is true, but I certainly had the ability to pick another race once I found out he wasn't available that day. So, then the question becomes, did I stick with that date because I didn't want to use that as an excuse to put off my first 5k or did I secretly want to attempt this first one alone.
Let's contemplate this further... I think of my husband as a great athlete - sure, it may have been a few years since he played football, but he was great at what he did. I see myself as a person that used to be an average athlete, which seems far less impressive. He's never insinuated that I should be a better, faster or stronger, but I sometimes assume these things when he sees me running or attempting to play any sport, which is really quite silly. It's clearly pressure I put on myself for lord knows what reason. I'm just strange that way.
Turns out the worst mind games out there are the ones you play on yourself. Truth be told, it doesn't really matter that my husband won't be there... he supports what I do and I'm not exactly doing it for him in the first place. I need to look at this as my lone adventure... it's certainly one I need a lot of support for and absolutely can't do alone, but I have to remember to do it for me. So, I will race on Sunday, with my husband not there, and look forward to his phone call to ask how it all went... and I will be so excited to tell him how well I ran...
Day 15 (8/21): 1 mile / 10:03
Who put weights in the bottom of this stroller?!? Good lord, it's hard to push this thing! All I wanted was a quick and easy 1 mile to start my day... but this is turning out to be really hard work...
Okay, enough complaining...
Now that I've had a few days of running without the stroller, it really is amazing what a difference it makes to have to push it again. I should definitely run with it every day this week so that, when I run without it in next Sunday's 5k, it will seem so much easier :)
There's really not too much to say specifically about today's run. The biggest part of my day was getting back from my run and having my husband tell me that he's ready, once again, to try to quit smoking. We've done this a few times over the last several months, but I'm determined that the next time will be the last time. Quitting is really hard and I don't particularly want to spend the rest of my life trying to do it. So, with 5 cigarettes left between us, we've made the decision to give it another go... just as soon as these ones are gone...
Okay, enough complaining...
Now that I've had a few days of running without the stroller, it really is amazing what a difference it makes to have to push it again. I should definitely run with it every day this week so that, when I run without it in next Sunday's 5k, it will seem so much easier :)
There's really not too much to say specifically about today's run. The biggest part of my day was getting back from my run and having my husband tell me that he's ready, once again, to try to quit smoking. We've done this a few times over the last several months, but I'm determined that the next time will be the last time. Quitting is really hard and I don't particularly want to spend the rest of my life trying to do it. So, with 5 cigarettes left between us, we've made the decision to give it another go... just as soon as these ones are gone...
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Day 14 (8/20): 3.1 miles / 29:12
Today's run felt great! That's not to say that I felt great for the entire 3.1 miles, but all in all, it was definitely a success. After a few days off to rest my legs, I decided to ice before today's run. What a difference. They were a little sore for the first half mile, but loosened up and felt really good after that.
It was my goal to run a 10 minute mile pace and the first mile started out around 10:20. I knew I could go a little faster, so I picked up my pace for the rest of the run. I tried not to overdo it, but somewhere around the 2 mile mark I felt myself slowing down. I felt tired and gravity was suddenly twice as strong as usual. I remembered back in my cross country days to what I tried to do when I felt like this... I needed to focus everything upward. Rather than thinking about gravity pulling me downward, I needed to focus on the upward motion of my legs, the forward motion of my arms and I needed to keep my eyes focused ahead instead of on the ground in front of me. It was this last part that really made the difference... I caught sight of one of the most beautiful sunsets I've seen all summer. The sun was directly behind a large white cloud causing one of those visions you imagine when thinking about miracles, heaven and angels. Now, I'm not a particularly religious person, but the sun's rays shining from behind the clouds would be enough to lift anyone's spirits. It was breathtaking and I suddenly felt capable of just about anything.
My last mile felt better than I ever expected and I even managed a little something extra for the last three tenths of a mile. I was shooting for a time of 31:00 and was so excited to do even better than my goal. I'm feeling very confident about my ability to run next weekend's 5k and am looking forward to it even more than I thought I would!
For now, I'd better revisit those ice packs in the freezer...
It was my goal to run a 10 minute mile pace and the first mile started out around 10:20. I knew I could go a little faster, so I picked up my pace for the rest of the run. I tried not to overdo it, but somewhere around the 2 mile mark I felt myself slowing down. I felt tired and gravity was suddenly twice as strong as usual. I remembered back in my cross country days to what I tried to do when I felt like this... I needed to focus everything upward. Rather than thinking about gravity pulling me downward, I needed to focus on the upward motion of my legs, the forward motion of my arms and I needed to keep my eyes focused ahead instead of on the ground in front of me. It was this last part that really made the difference... I caught sight of one of the most beautiful sunsets I've seen all summer. The sun was directly behind a large white cloud causing one of those visions you imagine when thinking about miracles, heaven and angels. Now, I'm not a particularly religious person, but the sun's rays shining from behind the clouds would be enough to lift anyone's spirits. It was breathtaking and I suddenly felt capable of just about anything.
My last mile felt better than I ever expected and I even managed a little something extra for the last three tenths of a mile. I was shooting for a time of 31:00 and was so excited to do even better than my goal. I'm feeling very confident about my ability to run next weekend's 5k and am looking forward to it even more than I thought I would!
For now, I'd better revisit those ice packs in the freezer...
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Day 13 (8/17): 1 mile / 9:31
Holy hell, my knees hurt! I think I actually need to ice! It's been a long time since I've had to do that! What's most disappointing is the fact that I know I can run that mile much faster now. I felt great... aside from the fact that someone could have offered to cut off my legs for me and I would have seriously considered taking them up on it. Guess it's a sign that I need to start taking better care of my body. I feel like I've gotten much better about stretching before and after my runs, but unless someone can tell me how to stretch my knees, I think I'm going to have to find another solution. I'll start with ice, but maybe it's time for a new pair of running shoes. Unfortunately, I always hated buying new running shoes. As much as I may like how they look, I always felt that my shoes were most comfortable once they were broken in... but once they're really broken in, it's about time for a new pair. This may also be an indication that I'm not wearing the right shoes for my feet. I guess that's one more thing to add to the list of things to remedy. This has the potential to turn into a very expensive hobby...
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Day 12 (8/16): 2.5 miles / 29:21
Wow - my legs ache! Today was definitely better than yesterday, but I'm still struggling. It was great to get out first thing in the morning while it was still cool (which is easy when your son wakes you up at 5:30). And, while I'm certainly not setting any personal records with my pace, I do find that the longer distances are getting easier. That's not to say that I'm not looking forward to the short run I have scheduled for tomorrow :)
Unfortunately, I don't have any life altering thoughts to share from today's run. I truly just enjoyed getting out in the fresh air and thinking about all of the things in my life that I have to be thankful for. A friend recently shared some terrible news about a friend of hers and I guess it's made me think a little more about all of the things I have and it was a good reminder to constantly appreciate those things every day. I am so blessed to have my family and friends, my health, my son and my husband. They give me so much joy and I don't know what I would do without their love and support. I must admit, I'm one lucky woman!
Unfortunately, I don't have any life altering thoughts to share from today's run. I truly just enjoyed getting out in the fresh air and thinking about all of the things in my life that I have to be thankful for. A friend recently shared some terrible news about a friend of hers and I guess it's made me think a little more about all of the things I have and it was a good reminder to constantly appreciate those things every day. I am so blessed to have my family and friends, my health, my son and my husband. They give me so much joy and I don't know what I would do without their love and support. I must admit, I'm one lucky woman!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Day 11 (8/15): about 2 miles / 22:36
Nope... don't worry... you didn't miss anything. Indeed, I did not run for the rest of my vacation. I certainly didn't set out to be lazy and I'm sure this is only the first failed goal with many more to follow, but I did fail to run 3 times during my vacation. I could tell you that I had a good excuse every day, but that would be a lie, so I won't bother. Truth be told, I preferred to spend my days on the beach or at the pool, having a few beers was more appealing than jogging in 90+ degrees, and I simply enjoyed starting my day with a cup of coffee on the deck overlooking the ocean more than I would have enjoyed putting a few more miles on my running shoes.
Nevertheless, I can truthfully say that I did get in some exercise on my vacation. One afternoon, while our son slept and everyone else was out of the house, my husband and I spent some time by the pool. I pretended I was going to swim a few laps to at least get some kind of workout in, but after one time across our not so great big pool, I was reminded that I'm just about the worst swimmer ever. Unfortunately for me, my husband is a great swimmer and decided to give me pointers... so very, very annoying! I was very close to my usual reaction when it comes to any kind of criticism... I had every intention of never swimming in front of him again... but it did occur to me how silly that really was. After all, he was only trying to help. So, instead of being the jerk I really wanted to be, I listened... then I attempted to do what he suggested.
He suggested I was wasting a lot of energy with my arms by coming way too far out of the water. I worked on my form for a few laps and felt pretty good about my improvement. I was now a good swimmer.
Oh wait... there's more? Apparently, once I got the arms down, my husband thought he should move on to another area that could use some work. It would seem my kicking was all wrong too! I took a deep breath and, once again, figured I'd take his advice. After a few more laps, I somehow managed to work that out too. It was an even bigger struggle to handle both at the same time. But, once I had my legs and arms working together, I was feeling like a great swimmer.
Apparently my husband didn't agree. He felt my breathing could use a little work. What the hell? It's not like I'm trying to become an olympic athlete! Sheesh! But, in all fairness, he definitely wasn't wrong in this area. After years of ear problems, I refused to put my head under water. I might as well have been doing the doggy paddle. I probably looked ridiculous and he was actually doing me a huge favor by suggesting that I just give it a whirl. It was still a challenge and took me a few more laps to figure it all out, but when all was said and done, at least I felt like I actually got some exercise. And I still may not be a great swimmer, but maybe now I don't look quite so foolish doing it.
Which brings me to today's run... my first in a week. I tried to take it easy and planned to go 20 minutes, regardless of the distance. I had a stopping point in mind, but when I hadn't reached it in my set time, I decided to go a few extra minutes to get to where I'd hoped to. The good news is, my breathing was great, my lungs weren't burning and I was feeling pretty good mentally. My legs, on the other hand, were not at all pleased. I get the distinct impression that my knees are pretty pissed at my decision to run this evening. I was pretty sure my knee caps were about ready to explode when I finally stopped. I'm guessing I'm going to have to spend a lot more time stretching this week.
Oddly enough, I'm already looking forward to tomorrow's run...
Nevertheless, I can truthfully say that I did get in some exercise on my vacation. One afternoon, while our son slept and everyone else was out of the house, my husband and I spent some time by the pool. I pretended I was going to swim a few laps to at least get some kind of workout in, but after one time across our not so great big pool, I was reminded that I'm just about the worst swimmer ever. Unfortunately for me, my husband is a great swimmer and decided to give me pointers... so very, very annoying! I was very close to my usual reaction when it comes to any kind of criticism... I had every intention of never swimming in front of him again... but it did occur to me how silly that really was. After all, he was only trying to help. So, instead of being the jerk I really wanted to be, I listened... then I attempted to do what he suggested.
He suggested I was wasting a lot of energy with my arms by coming way too far out of the water. I worked on my form for a few laps and felt pretty good about my improvement. I was now a good swimmer.
Oh wait... there's more? Apparently, once I got the arms down, my husband thought he should move on to another area that could use some work. It would seem my kicking was all wrong too! I took a deep breath and, once again, figured I'd take his advice. After a few more laps, I somehow managed to work that out too. It was an even bigger struggle to handle both at the same time. But, once I had my legs and arms working together, I was feeling like a great swimmer.
Apparently my husband didn't agree. He felt my breathing could use a little work. What the hell? It's not like I'm trying to become an olympic athlete! Sheesh! But, in all fairness, he definitely wasn't wrong in this area. After years of ear problems, I refused to put my head under water. I might as well have been doing the doggy paddle. I probably looked ridiculous and he was actually doing me a huge favor by suggesting that I just give it a whirl. It was still a challenge and took me a few more laps to figure it all out, but when all was said and done, at least I felt like I actually got some exercise. And I still may not be a great swimmer, but maybe now I don't look quite so foolish doing it.
Which brings me to today's run... my first in a week. I tried to take it easy and planned to go 20 minutes, regardless of the distance. I had a stopping point in mind, but when I hadn't reached it in my set time, I decided to go a few extra minutes to get to where I'd hoped to. The good news is, my breathing was great, my lungs weren't burning and I was feeling pretty good mentally. My legs, on the other hand, were not at all pleased. I get the distinct impression that my knees are pretty pissed at my decision to run this evening. I was pretty sure my knee caps were about ready to explode when I finally stopped. I'm guessing I'm going to have to spend a lot more time stretching this week.
Oddly enough, I'm already looking forward to tomorrow's run...
Day 10 (8/10): unknown / 14:32
Wow, it's hot! After taking off yesterday to lounge by the pool, it was really hard to motivate myself to get going today. Luckily, my husband was willing to take our son for a walk while I squeezed in a run. We headed in the same direction and I decided to run as far as I could in 10 minutes, then turn around and would stop whenever I met back up with them for the walk back to the house. I was feeling pretty good about myself until I saw my husband and the stroller in the distance...stopped at a bench along the bike path... Are you kidding me?!? If they'd kept walking, I wouldn't have had to run so far! Good god, I'm lazy! I should have been glad to have the excuse to push myself that much further in order to do what I'd set out to do this morning... instead I'm irritated because I had to go a few steps further. It occurs to me now that, all of my physical hurdles aside, my biggest challenges in this endeavor will definitely be mental ones. I realize that I'm determined to succeed, as long as the path to success is an easy one. I guess I've still got a lot to learn. For now, all I can do is take it one day at a time and remind myself that each run will get easier as my physical abilities improve... and the mind set will just have to change along with everything else.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Day 9 (8/6) unknown / 30:00
Well this was an interesting run...
Day 1 of my vacation and I'm determined to get off to a good start, so after the family gets up, I head down to the fitness center of the hotel to get in my long run and, wouldn't you know it, all 4 machines are not functioning. I'm determined not to use this as an excuse to not run, so I leave the hotel and get my run accomplished outside. Of course, I'm in Virginia and have no idea where to go or any way to gauge my distance. I had decided on a 30 minute run, so I figured I'd just start and see where it would take me.
I head down the street and around a corner and find a huge shopping center that isn't open yet, so I decide to make a large loop around the empty lot. Well, the shopping center ended up much larger than I had anticipated, so rather than make the entire loop, I find a stop sign in the distance and decide that it will be my turn-around point. I check my watch at the stop sign: 10:25, and decide to find out if I can make it back to my starting point in less time. It's hot out and it's definitely hard work, but I'm proud to say I made it back to the hotel in 10:01. Great news, right?!? Except now I have to find a way to go another nine and a half minutes in order to complete my goal of a 30 minute run. It's really hard to tear myself away from the air conditioned doorway, but I'm determined...
I head back across the street and run a few loops through a developing neighborhood which clearly posts that no one should be traveling through. I see a few workers off in the distance and fill the rest of my minutes coming up with ways to talk myself out of trouble should one of them decide I shouldn't be there. Of course, none of them care... I suppose I don't look like I'm going to do any damage with my sweaty hair and running shoes.
I get back to the hotel entrance a minute early and finish by running small loops through the parking lot until I reach exactly 30:00 on my fancy watch. Thank goodness for that thing!!! Otherwise, I'd have no way of keeping track of distance or time... and this post would be pretty much pointless :)
At this point, I'm exhausted but satisfied that I did well on my first day of vacation... off to a very good start on my goal to run at least 3 times this week. And I also feel I've earned my day off from running tomorrow... I'm looking forward to drinks by the pool and don't plan to think about running again until Monday...
Day 1 of my vacation and I'm determined to get off to a good start, so after the family gets up, I head down to the fitness center of the hotel to get in my long run and, wouldn't you know it, all 4 machines are not functioning. I'm determined not to use this as an excuse to not run, so I leave the hotel and get my run accomplished outside. Of course, I'm in Virginia and have no idea where to go or any way to gauge my distance. I had decided on a 30 minute run, so I figured I'd just start and see where it would take me.
I head down the street and around a corner and find a huge shopping center that isn't open yet, so I decide to make a large loop around the empty lot. Well, the shopping center ended up much larger than I had anticipated, so rather than make the entire loop, I find a stop sign in the distance and decide that it will be my turn-around point. I check my watch at the stop sign: 10:25, and decide to find out if I can make it back to my starting point in less time. It's hot out and it's definitely hard work, but I'm proud to say I made it back to the hotel in 10:01. Great news, right?!? Except now I have to find a way to go another nine and a half minutes in order to complete my goal of a 30 minute run. It's really hard to tear myself away from the air conditioned doorway, but I'm determined...
I head back across the street and run a few loops through a developing neighborhood which clearly posts that no one should be traveling through. I see a few workers off in the distance and fill the rest of my minutes coming up with ways to talk myself out of trouble should one of them decide I shouldn't be there. Of course, none of them care... I suppose I don't look like I'm going to do any damage with my sweaty hair and running shoes.
I get back to the hotel entrance a minute early and finish by running small loops through the parking lot until I reach exactly 30:00 on my fancy watch. Thank goodness for that thing!!! Otherwise, I'd have no way of keeping track of distance or time... and this post would be pretty much pointless :)
At this point, I'm exhausted but satisfied that I did well on my first day of vacation... off to a very good start on my goal to run at least 3 times this week. And I also feel I've earned my day off from running tomorrow... I'm looking forward to drinks by the pool and don't plan to think about running again until Monday...
Day 8 (8/5): 1.5 miles / 16:45
So today is an easier day... or so I thought. I seem to be dragging a bit, but manage to bounce back while contemplating all that needs to be done to get ready for vacation... we're leaving this afternoon... somehow that long list doesn't really feel like work when it's planning ahead for vacation.
It's my morning to get up with my son, though, so I've got to take him with me and the stroller has never seemed heavier. And he insists on taking his ball with him, which I swear weighs an additional ten pounds. This, of course, is impossible for this small plastic ball, but I need to find some reason for my slow pace. That has to be it...
Nonetheless, it's a beautiful day and I see lots of neighbors out and about... of course that's because it's a Friday and they're all headed to work... poor souls... For some reason, though, I no longer cringe at the idea of them seeing me run by. I'm guessing I'm just getting more comfortable with the idea of running in general. I mean, people are going to see me eventually... I suppose it's just as well that my neighbors get to see me improve as well.
When I finish my run I'm feeling pretty good about my progress with running in general. I feel like I'm much better at pacing myself at this point and, even though I haven't gotten much faster, I do feel like my body is much better at handling everything I'm putting it through. Hopefully it continues to cooperate, but so far so good :)
It's my morning to get up with my son, though, so I've got to take him with me and the stroller has never seemed heavier. And he insists on taking his ball with him, which I swear weighs an additional ten pounds. This, of course, is impossible for this small plastic ball, but I need to find some reason for my slow pace. That has to be it...
Nonetheless, it's a beautiful day and I see lots of neighbors out and about... of course that's because it's a Friday and they're all headed to work... poor souls... For some reason, though, I no longer cringe at the idea of them seeing me run by. I'm guessing I'm just getting more comfortable with the idea of running in general. I mean, people are going to see me eventually... I suppose it's just as well that my neighbors get to see me improve as well.
When I finish my run I'm feeling pretty good about my progress with running in general. I feel like I'm much better at pacing myself at this point and, even though I haven't gotten much faster, I do feel like my body is much better at handling everything I'm putting it through. Hopefully it continues to cooperate, but so far so good :)
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Day 7 (8/3): 1 mile / 10:46
With my legs still a little pissed at me over yesterday's 5k, I decided I'd give them a little break and only run a mile today, and do so at a more leisurely pace. It felt pretty good and, I must say, seemed a lot easier after running so long yesterday. It's funny how much easier this distance is just a week and a half after getting started. Sure, a full marathon is still a stretch, but at least I can already see improvement.
I'm a little nervous about vacation next week and whether or not I'll stick to my routine. I plan to give myself a little break, but I'm hoping to run at least 3 times next week. A typical week would be 5 times and I'd be really happy with 4, but I figure it's best to set the bar a little lower for such things and be pleasantly surprised when they end up better than expected. No need to be disappointed at the end of vacation just because I was having too much fun drinking to fit in as many miles as I would have liked, right?
On another note, I've been told by a few people that I should consider joining a running club to train. I feel that's a bit premature at this point... those running clubs usually like to accomplish more than 2 miles in a weekend... but I suppose it's a good idea to at least look into it for when I'm ready to move on to the next stage. But, to be perfectly honest, this idea makes me really nervous. I don't mind having someone to answer to when it comes to my training, but something tells me I'd be joining some pretty seasoned runners and I'm fairly certain I'd start out a little further behind than I'd like. Then again, I suppose I should consider it a challenge and a great way to push myself to improve. I know I'm still not ready for that step yet, but I should probably do it sooner than later. We'll see how I feel about that in a few more weeks.
Until then, I'll just continue to plug away on my own and see where this crazy adventure takes me.
I'm a little nervous about vacation next week and whether or not I'll stick to my routine. I plan to give myself a little break, but I'm hoping to run at least 3 times next week. A typical week would be 5 times and I'd be really happy with 4, but I figure it's best to set the bar a little lower for such things and be pleasantly surprised when they end up better than expected. No need to be disappointed at the end of vacation just because I was having too much fun drinking to fit in as many miles as I would have liked, right?
On another note, I've been told by a few people that I should consider joining a running club to train. I feel that's a bit premature at this point... those running clubs usually like to accomplish more than 2 miles in a weekend... but I suppose it's a good idea to at least look into it for when I'm ready to move on to the next stage. But, to be perfectly honest, this idea makes me really nervous. I don't mind having someone to answer to when it comes to my training, but something tells me I'd be joining some pretty seasoned runners and I'm fairly certain I'd start out a little further behind than I'd like. Then again, I suppose I should consider it a challenge and a great way to push myself to improve. I know I'm still not ready for that step yet, but I should probably do it sooner than later. We'll see how I feel about that in a few more weeks.
Until then, I'll just continue to plug away on my own and see where this crazy adventure takes me.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Day 6 (8/2): 3.1 miles / 30:39
The craziest thing about this 5k was that it wasn’t even intentional. I chose a route that I didn’t know the distance of and figured I’d drive it later to see how far I’d gone. Turns out it will be a great route for me to run to prepare for the Kiwanis 5k!
Oh, and maybe you’ve noticed the slightly more precise time. That’s right… someone got an actual watch! I’ve been upgraded to a real thing by my wonderful husband. It’s either his way of encouraging me or he just thinks it’s sad that I was previously using my cell phone. Either way, I’ll take it.
This watch, however, is a bit of a distraction for me. I check it far too frequently. For example, when I checked it during today’s run, these were the first few readings: 0:34, 1:48 and 2:37. The first half of my run was difficult, but I eventually stopped obsessing about it and only looked at it a few more times after that.
When I started out today, I wasn’t sure how far I was going to go. I had a pretty good idea of the distance of some routes, so I knew I’d be adding a little on to one that I’ve done several times. What I wasn’t sure about was if I was going to add on another mile to the end. I really need to make that decision at the beginning next time. My pace was perfect for the first leg and I felt pretty good, so I was determined to add that last mile. Once I made the commitment, I almost immediately regretted it. With sweat in my eyes and my lungs burning, I pressed on. Of course, when I most want it, I can’t find a single person watering their grass at this time of the day… at least not the area surrounding the sidewalk. I figure it’s best not to go frolicking through the neighbors’ yards since a lot of them are outside. Not that what I was doing could, in any way, be confused for ‘frolicking’.
As I round the corner to the last half mile stretch, the feeling suddenly hits me… nausea… that awful sick feeling I haven’t felt in years… the sign of a great workout. There was a time in high school when I would have simply let it go and hoped to not get anything on my own shoes. I’m far too vain these days and refuse to let the neighbors see me vomiting in their tree lawns. But, the only way to avoid that is to slow down. I promise myself that, no matter what, I will not walk and I somehow manage to work my way through it enough to again pick up my pace for a big finish. And it’s a good thing… my husband was in the driveway and I’d hate for him to see me slacking off on my training. Especially now that I have this fancy new watch on my wrist.
Oh, and maybe you’ve noticed the slightly more precise time. That’s right… someone got an actual watch! I’ve been upgraded to a real thing by my wonderful husband. It’s either his way of encouraging me or he just thinks it’s sad that I was previously using my cell phone. Either way, I’ll take it.
This watch, however, is a bit of a distraction for me. I check it far too frequently. For example, when I checked it during today’s run, these were the first few readings: 0:34, 1:48 and 2:37. The first half of my run was difficult, but I eventually stopped obsessing about it and only looked at it a few more times after that.
When I started out today, I wasn’t sure how far I was going to go. I had a pretty good idea of the distance of some routes, so I knew I’d be adding a little on to one that I’ve done several times. What I wasn’t sure about was if I was going to add on another mile to the end. I really need to make that decision at the beginning next time. My pace was perfect for the first leg and I felt pretty good, so I was determined to add that last mile. Once I made the commitment, I almost immediately regretted it. With sweat in my eyes and my lungs burning, I pressed on. Of course, when I most want it, I can’t find a single person watering their grass at this time of the day… at least not the area surrounding the sidewalk. I figure it’s best not to go frolicking through the neighbors’ yards since a lot of them are outside. Not that what I was doing could, in any way, be confused for ‘frolicking’.
As I round the corner to the last half mile stretch, the feeling suddenly hits me… nausea… that awful sick feeling I haven’t felt in years… the sign of a great workout. There was a time in high school when I would have simply let it go and hoped to not get anything on my own shoes. I’m far too vain these days and refuse to let the neighbors see me vomiting in their tree lawns. But, the only way to avoid that is to slow down. I promise myself that, no matter what, I will not walk and I somehow manage to work my way through it enough to again pick up my pace for a big finish. And it’s a good thing… my husband was in the driveway and I’d hate for him to see me slacking off on my training. Especially now that I have this fancy new watch on my wrist.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Day 5 (8/1): 1 mile / 11 minutes
After a much needed day of rest yesterday, my one mile run today felt like a breeze. It’s amazing how much shorter that mile feels after running longer distances. It was great start to my day… even if it was a 4:45 am.
My thoughts during my run were all over the place. On a Monday morning I have a to-do list a mile long (wow - it literally took a mile to sort through all of my thoughts today… and I wasn’t even going for the play on words). Anyway, with an upcoming vacation, my desire to register for a 5k beforehand so that I am committed to doing it, all of the work I had waiting for me at the office and all of the things I need to get accomplished this week, my thoughts bounced from one thing to another with hardly a moment to actually process any of it. I found it rather frustrating… I’m a list person, and making a list while running would have been an interesting task to attempt. I knew I’d never remember everything I needed to take care of. I was short of breath and not feeling my best. I knew I needed to set all of that aside for a little while and just focus on my run. When I was finally able to do that, I felt more energetic and upbeat. It was as if focusing on just one thing instead of a bunch made me feel like I was actually accomplishing something. What a novel concept.
I decided that’s how I would attack my week. One task at a time. Sure, I can still sit down and make a list, but what I need is complete focus on what I’m working on, both at the office and at home. I’m proud to say that, once I got to work, I focused only on that and I couldn’t be happier with the amount of work I actually got done. Sure, my list of things to do is still quite lengthy, but I’ll get to it when I get to it. I also found my day a lot more enjoyable. It’s amazing how much more you can take in when you’re thinking about only one thing. When you’re talking to a co-worker, don’t think about other things you still have to do – focus on the conversation and you’ll get a lot more out of it. The same is so very true for things at home and in your personal life. Never think about work during your time off… your time away from the office is for your own well-being. Enjoy every moment of it. You’ll be back at the office before you know it… you can think about all of that work when you get there.
As my busy day draws to a close I know I only have one thing to focus on right now… a trip to the spa for a pedicure. And I promise myself to think of nothing else while I’m there :)
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