Will Run For Ice Cream

It has been quite some time since I have posted anything. But... I'm back... A couple of weeks ago I was cleared to exercise. It has been a huge reality check to start back exercising after not exercising for almost a year. Wow! When I got pregnant I was running 6 miles without difficulty. When I first started back, it was a struggle to power walk a mile. I realized I was going to have to 'start over' and took the advice of friends. I downloaded the Couch to 5K program and got started. I will admit that I have skipped a week in the program, and there are times that I will continue to jog when the program says walk. But overall, the jog/walk theory has been a good transition for me.  I had hoped to run some 5Ks this summer. I'm not 100% sure if that will happen - only time will tell. I also got a little too adventurous and signed up for a Half Marathon in Oct. I'm not sure if that is realistic either. I'm going to keep it as a goal for myself and a motivator. ...

Seven months pregnant - it's hard to believe. I am so excited that our little one should be here in about 3 months. I'm also excited about the idea of being able to exercise again! For the last 7 months, I haven't even really been able to walk for exercise. So I went from running or working out most days a week to no exercise at all. It has been a major adjustment. Don't get me started on the weight that I've gained. I know that after the baby gets here everything will be different. Major life changes ahead! I plan to start walking with him as soon as the Dr will release me to exercise. HG has promised to give me an hour a day to be able to go run. I also have a jogging stroller that I'll be using once he gets a little older. So we'll adjust. Hopefully I can make some of the summer/fall races of 2011. It's all very exciting.

So, I was supposed to run the Hershey Half today. I had been keeping my distances short because my husband and I were trying to conceive. But we decided to take a break from trying, and I decided to put my energy into training for this Half. I was several weeks into my training schedule when SURPRISE we find out we are pregnant. I was thrilled, but due to some minor complications and between the nausea and extreme fatigue, my running came to a halt. Not just my running, but all working out in general. To someone who scheduled her life around her workout schedule, this was a huge change for me. Now that I am further along in the pregnancy and feeling a little better, I decided last week to try going for a walk. FAIL. Within minutes, I had sharp pains in my side which resulted in me turning around and coming back home. This week I tried doing part of a Prenatal Yoga DVD for the first time. I was surprised at how weak my muscles were. But twice this week I did a couple of sessions of yog...

I'm finally getting around to getting my pictures off of my camera. Last weekend I went to visit my best friend. She and I went trail running. Considering I'm a road runner, trail running was very different for me. It was awesome though to finally get to run with my best friend again! I had missed it so much. After about 2.5 miles or so, this was our view. Beautiful isn't it! It was well worth the steep inclines to see this! Of course going in was easier than coming back out. My legs were screaming, but it was a beautiful run. Later that evening we went for a 2 mile hike out to Rainbow Lake. It too was beautiful. I really enjoyed my time with my best friend and her family! I miss her so much. It is because of her that I started running and have continued running today. There is barely a run that goes by that sometime during that run that I don't think of her.

My longest run so far this year. Note to self, drive the course before running it for the first time. I didn't expect the hills, but it was a nice challenging run. I had to stop a few times to stretch my knee. The slant of the road really started to bother me. It's the same knee that has the 'lump' on it. I iced it after I got home, and I will ice it again tonight. But I loved the cooler temps. I'm pleased with my pace. It was a nice decent pace for me. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Well I definitely had a "that was stupid" moment. I decided to go do my 'long run' today instead of this weekend. The problem? Well first of all my foot is still sore. I'm not sure what the issue is there. But it hurts to flex my foot. I worked through that though for the most part. After my run, it is tender to walk. But it was 12:30 and HOT. I had my hydration belt so I really didn't think it would be too much of a problem - wrong. About 2.5 miles in, I decided to take the lower level by the River Front. DUH, there is absolutely NO shade. So here I was in the blazing sun and struggling doesn't even begin to describe it. I ran/walked 5 miles in a little under 55 minutes. Not my goal by any means, but at that point I just wanted to make it back to the car. Oh well, these things happen... on to the next run I suppose ...

Well today was my 'long run' for my Half Marathon training. At this stage, 6 miles is a long run for me. I got up early and drove to the Greenbelt. I had my hydration belt with me. But sometimes I use that as an excuse to walk more than I should. I'll tell myself that I need water when the reality is I just want to walk. So on my drive to park and run, I decided I would take water half way at 3 miles and walk while drinking the water. At mile 4, I wanted to stop and have another water break. But I knew the reality was that I didn't need water, I just wanted to stop. So I pushed on through the mental hurdle. I won't lie, I had to mentally push through the last two miles. But I did it, and I'm proud of myself for the accomplishment.