Checking in, catching up...

Hello blogging world, sorry to have neglected you. Here's the training update:

Thursday, 3/27 - 3 miles, inside at the high school gym. They have an elevated walkway around the top of the gym, which community members can use during the day. You get the added bonus of watching gym class while you run. :-) I actually had a pretty crummy run. I couldn't seem to get my rhythm going, and it was really warm in there, so I don't think I'll be heading back there again. I suppose I was moving, so that was a plus, but in reality it wasn't much better than the treadmill.

Saturday, 3/29 - 5 miles! On the treadmill. I should have taken a lot of joy in completing this run - my first 5 miles, ever. But I think Thursday's run had me down, so while my 5 was a pretty good run, I just couldn't seem to muster enthusiasm or excitement over the achievement. Not like when I first ran 3 miles (ha! Seems so long ago!) when I ran around proclaiming it to the world with great joy. So I ran 2.5 miles, walked for a minute, and then ran the remaining distance. I think I needed the break mentally more than physically.

Tuesday, 4/1 - skipped :-S I really wasn't into it, and stayed up too late the night before, and hubby stayed up WAY LATE working on a business proposal, and I didn't want him to have to deal with AM kid stuff, and.... well, I basically made up a bunch of excuses and skipped. By Wednesday morning I was regretting it though. I may not love the running, but I like the feeling of using my body. Makes it feel like less of a useless lump.

Today! - 2 miles on treadmill. It was a shorter run today to prepare for Saturday's 7 miles (GULP!) which I'm desperate to do outside (although the report is currently calling for rain... better than snow I guess!). Anyway, I picked up the intensity today, and it was a pretty quick 2 miles. Glad to be back in the saddle again. It was good to miss a day and regret it, helps me to chase away the thoughts of skipping next time!

Stay tuned for the 7 mile adventure...

3 miles with no pauses

Most of my runs up until now have worked like this: run a mile, walk for 1 minute. Repeat until the mileage has been achieved. It was such a nice reward after each mile to get that one minute of relief, get my breath back, and then attack again, renewed. But for my run on Saturday (3 miles, done outside in the afternoon) and my run today (3 miles, on the treadmill this evening) I did the full distance with no pauses, no walking. Woo hoo! It wasn't even that difficult. I found my breath to be in control for almost the entire run, I really only had to pay attention to it that last mile. It give me confidence going into Saturday's 5-mile run that I'll be able to handle it, no problem. I only hope that the forecasted snow (!!!!!) does not occur, so that I can do it outside. That long on the treadmill is just too boring, no matter what I'm listening to.

Off to hit the shower...

2 miles - the Chi is with me...

Yesterday was just 2 miles, and I was back on the treadmill. Hopefully tomorrow's run (which is only 3 miles actually - gearing up for the big 5 miles next Saturday!) will be done outside.

I spent most of yesterday's run concentrating on my posture and form. I'm reading a book that a friend recommended called Chi Running, which I thought I would hate based on the title, but have actually found quite interesting. The short overview is that you should try to use your core muscles as much as possible rather than running just with your legs. Difficult to describe, interesting to attempt! ;-) I felt a difference in yesterday's run, so I'm continuing to read it and figure out exactly what it is I'm supposed to be doing!

OUTSIDE!!! - 3 miles

I ran outside today! I'm so excited, it felt so good to be moving and breathing fresh air. And the best part? Average of 12 minute miles! I'm so relieved.

Of course, it's an 80% chance of snow tonight, with freezing rain as well, so who knows if I'll be outside again on Thursday, but at least I got a little taste of it. So much better than treadmill, I've got to say. Now I'm just looking forward to the end of snow and the end of mud season (which will follow the snow) so that I can get back on the trails. I don't like running on the road where there are so many people to see me!

saturday - 4 miles

It is done. I have officially crossed the 4 mile mark. Hooray! It didn't feel quite as triumphant as the 3 mile mark. Wasn't quite as energizing either, as was evidenced by the nap I took on the playroom floor at about 2pm. :-)

I'm anxious to get outside to run, in part because the treadmill is getting a little monotonous, and also in part because I'm curious about my actual pace. Back when we were running outside this fall, I was doing about an 11 minute mile. Nothing fast, but that's not really what I'm going for here. According to my ipod (with the Nike+ tracker) I'm still running about the same pace as I was when we were outside, but the treadmill says I am running 14.5 minute miles! That sounds pretty darn slow to me. I'm looking forward to getting outside where I can run a course that I've tracked on the Gmap Pedometer at the same heart rate that I've been running at, and see what the equates to as far as pace. If I'm unlucky, I've actually been running slower. If I'm lucky, the treadmill is off and I've been running further than I thought, which would be so nice. I guess if I'm REALLY unlucky, the treadmill is off and I've been running much slower and much shorter distances. Sigh. Trying not to get my hopes up!

So yes, in order to run what the treadmill told me was 4 miles, I had to run for an HOUR. Plus warm up and cool down. That's a long time to stare at a brick wall. When I was leaving, one of the older men who was working out commented that I'd been on there a long time, and I definitely agreed with him. If you had told me this fall that I'd be spending an hour on the treadmill by choice, I'd have laughed in your face.

Thursday - "Just two miles"

That's what I said on Wednesday night when Nate asked me how long I had to run in the morning - "Just two miles". Ha! Never thought I'd be saying that. It was fine, I ran at a higher intensity, so it didn't exactly fly by, but it wasn't so bad.

Tomorrow will see the dawn of the 4 mile run. Gulp! I was considering an outside run, but I just checked the weather and there's an 80% chance of snow. Sigh. So it's off to the treadmill for me. I got a couple of new gear bits to bring with me - a replacement Nike + sensor (since my old one died about 10 miles ago...) and a super-duper little pouch to put the sensor in. I"m glad to have it back, I've missed having Lance Armstrong telling me what a good job I'm doing. :-)

3 miles - awesome run

I'm back! After a week of no running (and no cross training unless you count my boogie time on Friday night) I hit the treadmill this morning with a bit of trepidation. This whole daylight savings time switch has been really hard for me. I can't seem to get to bed before midnight, 12:30, and then 6:30 comes really really quickly. It just hurts to not only get up at that time, but to go EXERT.

But, mile 1 of today's run was one of the best I've ever had. I found myself thinking "how was one mile ever a challenge?" - that's how quickly and easily it flew by. Mile 2 was a definitely not as comfortable, but still not awful. Mile 3... well, about halfway through that my legs decided they were too tired and they'd rather stop, but I ignored that and powered through. So clearly endurance is needing some work! But it was great to feel so good for the first mile / two miles, especially since I've got a four mile run coming up on Saturday!

My friend who was in the hospital (Kristy) is back home, thank goodness. She is feeling better but has some life changes to adjust to - if you want to read about what's going on, you can go here. I'm just glad that it isn't something life-threatening - you hear spot on the brain, and your mind just runs wild with it.