Combo

This morning I went out for a 5 mile run, and 2 miles in I was DONE.  I just cannot handle the heat.  So I headed to the rec center jumped on a treadmill and ran an 8:30 mile.  Then I did the eliptical for 15 minutes and followed up with some crunches.  All in all, not too bad.  I just can't seem to get a long run in, but I'm not stressing over it.  The heat plus hills are really tough for me right now.  As long as I can keep plugging away I'll be happy!

Miles: 3.5

Miles this Week: 3.5
Miles this Month: 10.5

Early AM Run

I knew that if I didn't run first thing this morning I wasn't going to run at all today.  And since I have no idea what (if any) mileage I'll do in California this weekend, I got my butt to the gym at 6:20 this morning! I only had enough time for 3 miles instead of the planned 4, but I'll take it!

Kept the pace at 10:30 as planned... still not so easy on the treadmill.  While I'm improving in my treadmill abilities I still struggle to run on it.  Either way I was just grateful that to find an empty treadmill this morning to use.

Miles: 3
Time: 31 minutes, 30 seconds

Miles this Week: 13
Miles this Month: 58

Treadmill Thursday

In an effort to make myself an overall better runner, and to do a better job training for marathon #2 I decided to work on my treadmill running today.  I would much rather run outside but there are days and circumstances that prevent me from always running outside.  I'd like to get better about the treadmill, but I know it will take practice.

I think I did really well today!  The whole last mile, I kept saying "one more minute, one more minute".  And it was brutally boring, but I kept running and did it!! :)

Miles: 5
Time: 53 minutes

Miles this Week: 8
Miles this Month: 37

Blah

This morning I began a new routine of waking up and working out FIRST thing in the morning.  This "waiting around all day to run in the afternoon" thing has not been working out for me.  Mathis and I got to the rec center this morning around 9, and I planned on running 6 miles on the dreadmill.  Unfortunately, 3 miles in and I was done.  I really hate the treadmill. :(

And today we will throw out all the leftover desserts.  I was shocked when I stepped on the scale this morning, and I definitely plan on loosing these "Christmas cookie-pounds" before the marathon.  On the bright side, our 10 day forecast looks AMAZING, and we should be able to run outside from here on out.  Now if all this snow would just melt... :)

Miles: 3
Time: blah

Miles this Week: 3
Miles this Month: 63

Continuing to Make Friends with the Treadmill

Forgot to log Saturday's five mile run on the treadmill.  My friend Stacie unexpectedly showed up the last few miles and ran on a treadmill next to me.  LOVED it!  Made the last few miles so much more bearable!! :)

Miles: 5
Time: 53 minutes

Miles this Week: 19
Miles this Month: 36

Timing is Everything

Yesterday I had a great run on the treadmill.  I've realized that it works best for me to set my pace, and then switch the view over to time.  I then tell myself to run for time rather than distance (even though it's really the same thing!).  I didn't have much time yesterday so I only ran 3 miles, but it felt GREAT!  I think I'm getting back into the swing of things!

We got 3-4 inches of snow this morning, and it's still going strong.  I know this will continue to impact my training, but I'm not going to stress over it.  Just going to get back on the treadmill tomorrow!

Miles: 3
Time: 32 minutes

Miles this Week: 14
Miles this Month: 31

Running for Time?

Well my time was certainly not fast today, but it is was I decided to focus on while on the dreadmill today.  I've found that if I focus on the time as opposed to the distance the treadmill isn't so awful.  Still pretty painful, but somewhat more manageable.

And at this point with the terrible weather and poor training the past two weeks I'm just happy to have gotten anything in.  Here's to adding back the miles!

Miles: 5
Time: 55 minutes

Miles this Week: 11
Miles this Month: 28

Running in Circles

This afternoon I headed to the rec center to do a long run of 12 miles.  6 miles later I was done. :(  I ran 4 on the treadmill and about 2 around the track.  Running in circles on the track is somewhat boring, and the treadmill is even worse.  I'm not that upset over calling in quits early... my last few weeks of running have been virtually non-existent, but I'm slowly starting to pick it all back up.  While this break from training is certainly not ideal, I know that I'll still be okay to run the marathon.  At least that's what I keep telling myself!!!

This week I really need to stay diligent and get the miles in.  Sometime in the next 10 days I will run 20 miles, and I want this final long run to be a good one.

Also starting to think about marathon outfit options, but this is difficult to do when I have no idea what the weather could be like.  I am thinking about ordering these, but what do y'all think??

Miles: 6ish
Time: no clue

Miles this Week: 6
Miles this Month: 23

Back to the 'Mill

Well, it's a brand new week.  I didn't plan on missing so many miles last week, but I'm just going to pick back up this week and keep trucking along.  Only 30 days left until the marathon!!!  woot!  woot!

The weather here is still insane, so I renewed my membership at the rec center this afternoon to run inside.  I ran on the treadmill, and it wasn't pretty but it wasn't terrible either.  Still took me almost 10 more minutes to get my 5 miles done.  I just get bored and can't seem to keep the pace as well on a treadmill.  I'll probably run on the track some this week too.


Miles: 5
Time: 57 minutes, 30 seconds

Miles this Week: 5
Miles this Month: 14

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

I haven't logged many miles since the Half (10 to be exact), but in all fairness I was busy finishing up the semester and trying to adjust to life outside of training.

Today was VERY windy so I hit up the rec center to do a run on the dreadmill.  Running the treadmill wasn't as bad as I remembered, but I was only able to crank out three miles before I couldn't do it anymore.  I forced myself to walk an additional mile at an incline of 10.  It was a slow run, but it felt really good to be moving my legs again!

Tomorrow I'm going to try to get out in the neighborhood for a 6 mile run, and then hopefully I'll get back on track with some more consistent running!

Miles: 4 miles
Time: 50 minutes (walked last mile)

Miles this Week: 8
Miles this Month: 11

Small :)

Tonight, two great things happened.

1.  I am able to wear my SMALL Nike running shorts again!!! Woo-hoo!!  So glad I saved those babies... If only I'd saved more of my small clothes.

2.  I had every excuse NOT to go run, but I wanted to go run!  And so run I did!!  I went up to the rec center (because it was already dark out), and I ran my scheduled 3 miles in my small shorts!  And I really increased the incline on the treadmill in order to get ready for my run through the mountains in 4 weeks!  I ran the last mile at an incline of 6 and it felt gooooood!!

Miles: 3
Time: 35 minutes

Miles this Week: 3
Miles this Month: 46

Slow and Steady

I am not a fast runner.  But I am a runner.  And I am so proud to be able to call myself a runner.  A few years ago, I hated running.  There were times in college I doubted I'd ever have the ability to run even just a few miles.  I was amazed at the handful of times I ran the Beartrail (2.25 miles), and when I ran my first 5K.

Over the past few months, I've become enamored with running.  I think about running multiple times throughout the day, I spend hours each week pouring over various running blogs, and I jump for joy when I see my Runner's World magazine in the mailbox.  I plan my days around getting my training done, and I'm signed up for (at least) two big races in the next 12 months.  I am a runner.  :)

Today I ran at the rec center, because we have seen gusts of wind up to 60 mph today.  As I ran on the track, I grew slightly frustrated because other runners kept passing me up.  I know my pace is slow, but I'm a beginner and it should be slow.  However, even though my mind knows this, my pride gets in the way.  I start comparing myself to others, and whenever this happens I'll always fall short.  I had to remind myself that I'm running for me, and not for anyone else.  And the exciting thing was that most of these runners came and left before I finished.  So while they were fast, their runs were short.  I ran for a total of 50 minutes, and I was proud of that.  I've come such a long way from beginning my running journey, and I have lots more to look forward to!

I read this on another runner's blog, and I love it!!  I can relate to so much of what it says.  Hope it encourages you as much as it encourages me.  Run on!! :)

running has changed my life for the better.  it has given me something to always strive for and to look forward to.  it has taught me that i can do anything i set my mind to, and that i am tougher than i thought i was.  it has introduced me to some of my very best friends.  it keeps me sane, focused, dedicated and happy.  it has made me stronger, both physically and emotionally.  it has taught me that hard work pays off, but the things worth working for don’t come easily. 

Miles: 4.5?
Time: 50 minutes

Miles this Week: 12
Miles this Month:  16.5

Back Inside...

Last night and today we had more snow and wintry weather... so it was back to the rec center tonight for me!   I ran on the track for 30 minutes.  Mathis was there too, but he runs faster so we do our own paces.  But still having him there was encouraging.

Tomorrow we're supposed to get high winds, so my plan is to get up and head to the rec center for a 4.5 mile run.  I'm hoping this weekend I can run outside.  We're doing a 10 Mile race next weekend, and I feel slightly unprepared!!! :/

Miles: 3ish?
Time: 30 minutes

Miles this Week: 7.5
Miles this Month: 12

Success!

I have been SO frustrated with the weather this past week!  The past few days it's been pretty slushly/icy outside, and I haven't been brave enough to venture out for a run.

On Monday I went to run on the treadmill at the rec center, and I just couldn't do it.  Serious FAIL after only like 10 minutes on the treadmill.  Today Mathis encouraged me to run on the track at the rec.  I was skeptical, but it was great!  There was no way I was going to keep track of how many loops/miles I did, so I just decided to run for time.  I ran for 45 minutes hoping that was close to 4 miles (my training goal for today).  The track wasn't too crowded, but I did have to do some weaving and passing.

It felt soooooooooo good to be running again today.  I used to dread running, and it's still a challenge for me, but today I was so happy to be running the track!!!  When you can't run, you realize how much you really want to run.

Unfortunately the weather forecast doesn't look good.  We're expecting lots more snow this weekend.  I'm a little nervous because I know I won't get to train like I had planned, but thankfully I can now run on the track.

And today I signed up for a 6-week yoga class starting in March!!

Miles: 4??
Time: 45 minutes

Miles this Week: 5
Miles this Month: 5

Rec Center

Today we made it out of the neighborhood to go work out at the rec center.  After being snowed in ALL day yesterday, we were ready to go somewhere! :)

I did a little cardio on the treadmill, and some light weight-lifting.  I also found out that I can sign-up for some Yoga classes starting in March!!!  Since starting to run I have really wanted to do yoga.  I think it will be great to combine the two!

Miles: 1
Time: 12 minutes

Miles this Week: 1
Miles this Month: 50!!!  Woo-hoo!!