Running the Time Away

Where is the time going?????  I've been running, but I'm amazed by how quickly the days are flying by.  I apologize for the lack of blogging!  On Saturday I met up with Meagan for a long run.  That was my first LONG run in a LONG time! :)  We ran 9 miles together in 1 hour and 35 minutes.  It felt good, but my legs were feeling it.  I was pretty worn out the rest of the day, but I love this feeling.  It was good to have this feeling again, and I'm grateful for such a good running buddy!

Today I met up with Jackie for a three mile run, and it was a good start to the week.  I'm definitely glad to have friends to run with -- it makes the miles click away!  Hopefully I'll get a few more runs in this week... our weather is great here!  Hope your running is going well.

The Same Reason

These past two weeks of running have been tough.  This week was really my first week back into the world of training, and I logged 24.5 miles.  Most of the miles didn't feel very good.  In fact, they felt really hard.  And that's when I realized something very important... I don't love to run because it's easy.

I love running for the same reason I used to hate it: It's hard.

But by doing something hard I feel strong.  I know that I can overcome the difficulties and push myself through the pain.  Push myself to keep going when I want to stop.  Push myself to find a mental and a physical strength within myself.  I strive to be better each and every run.  I have watched myself accomplish the goal of running a 5K, an 8K, a half-marathon, and even a marathon.  It wasn't easy, but I never did it because it was easy.  I love it because it's hard.  It makes me a better person in so many ways.  Through the hard runs I learn that I am capable of more than I ever thought. 

And so this morning when I didn't really want to get out and do my long run, I did it anyway. I put on the clothes I had set out last night, grabbed my Garmin off the charger, and filled my Nathan belt with water.  Afterwards I didn't have a single regret.  Yes, it was hard.  BUT I DID IT.  And after doing it I felt stronger.

Miles: 9
Time: 1 hour, 39 minutes

Miles this Week: 24.5
Miles this Month: 48.5

Nine is Fine

This morning I met up with Hannah for a long run, and it felt good.  The weather was strange... not too cold, not too hot but definitely humid at times.  My legs still felt a little rusty from what I put them through last weekend, but it was good to stretch them out today.

I ran a total of 9 miles.  Next week I'll do 10, and then hello again 13.1 miles the following week. :)  I am getting spoiled by all these fun half-marathons I'm getting to do.  I really, really want to PR at the Capital City Half in Columbus, but either way I'll become a fanatic that day!

Happy Easter Weekend!!!

Miles: 9
Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes (I think)

Miles this Week: 14
Miles this Month: 60

Ouch

My legs are hurting after today's run.  While the run went fairly well, it hurt.  And I was dehydrated.  Mathis was too.  I thought we did a good job of drinking plenty of water, but looking back I guess we could have done better.

Either way we got it done, and it feels good to be done.  Gotta drink LOTS of water this next week and stretch stretch stretch.

Miles: 9
Time: 1 hour, 36 minutes

Miles this Week: 19
Miles this Month: 9

9

In order to squeeze in the Race for the Cure 5K tomorrow, I had to do my long run today.  I needed to get in 9 miles, and I decided to run some of the hills here in my neighborhood.

I felt good on my run.  It's much cooler today, and this felt nice.  I walked a few times, but overall it felt really good.  When I hit mile 3 I thought, I can definitely run 6 more miles!  I love counting down the miles, and seeing how much farther I can go.

I ran with my new iFitness belt today, and it fits a little differently than my old one, so that was an adjustment.  And then a few different times it felt like my shoes weren't tied tight enough, or my shorts didn't fit right, etc.  I finally seemed to pull it all together, but I definitely had some technical difficulties at first.

I'm really excited to run the 5K in the morning... there's about 1800 people registered for this race!!! :)

Miles: 9 miles
Time: 1 hour 42 minutes

Miles this Week: 22 miles
Miles this Month: 27