Will Run For Ice Cream

Wow, I can't believe it has taken me this long to write about my first Half. October 16, 2011 was the day. I was nervous, excited and very emotional. I have never cried during a race before. But after I passed the starting line, I felt the tears - I was actually doing this. I also have never really enjoyed a race before, and I have to admit I enjoyed this race. It was one of the hardest things I have done to date (besides labor of course). The hills were killer, but I took each one and braced for the next one. I was doing awesome until around mile 10. I hadn't walked once, but then both calves cramped at the same time. I almost fell.  I have never had anything 'cramp' during a run. I tried to run through it, but knew that wasn't going to happen. So I powerwalked. I was disappointed that I had to walk, especially so close to the finish, but I knew if i didn't I wasn't going to be able to finish. I then again tried to run, and after about 20 steps my legs c...

First of all, I have to say that I am enjoying the cooler temps. (Although yesterday it was very humid). But running lately has been very frustrating.  First of all, I'm exhausted with lack of sleep. The Lil Man hasn't been sleeping so great since all of the heavy rain with Irene and then the flooding from Lee. Second, because I'm not sleeping, I am not getting up early enough to get my runs in before hubby goes to work so I am using the jogging stroller. Let me say that the jogging stroller is GREAT. It allows me to take the Lil Man out for a run. But it is SOOOO hard to push. Within the first half mile it seems like I am already struggling. So far our longest run has been 4 miles (he got cranky the last mile). But pushing the stroller is leaving me very sore which is requiring more rest days because I haven't been able to use the jogger stroller for back to back days. My hamstrings are hating me right now - especially my left leg. Lastly, my long runs have been non-e...

I didn't want to do this today. In fact, I got out of bed, back in bed then talked myself back out of bed and put my running clothes on. As I was driving to drop off my car to start the run, I almost turned around and went back home. Mentally I just wasn't into this. But I told myself that I needed to do at least 6 miles today.  About about 4.5 miles, I thought about looping back to the car.I was fading fast and was beginning to get stomach cramps. But then I saw someone walking, and didn't think much of it until he started running behind me. CRAP, there was no way I was letting this guy (whoever he was) run past me while all of these cars were out on the road. Of course we were approaching a hill, double crap. I pushed it and stayed ahead of him (not that his goal was to pass me, but I was determined it was going to be a cold day in hell before that happened this morning). I made it up the hill. Unfortunately he did too. Thankfully, he kept going straight as I made my u...

Last week was my first 7 mile run, and I wasn't 100% sure what this week's long run would be especially since I haven't slept much this entire week. I had wanted to do 8, but just wasn't sure if that was going to happen this week.  The temp was only 71, but it was VERY VERY humid. Within a mile, I was soaked with sweat already.Also, the route that I was running, I had to pass my car 4 times which I don't like to do. It makes it too easy to just stop.  But I found the will power today to keep moving. The main goal was just to do the distance. But, I also had hoped that I could keep the pace to the mid to lower 11:00's. For the most part, I ran a fairly even pace give or take 30 seconds. Mile splits were: Mile 1 ~ 10:40, Mile 2 ~ 11:17, Mile 3 ~ 11:13, Mile 4 ~ 11:32, Mile 5 ~ 11:09, Mile 6 ~ 11:30, Mile 7 ~ 10:56, Mile 8 ~ 11:14. Overall, my average pace was 11:11. I was pleased today with the distance and the pace.  I do believe ...

Today was NOT the ideal day to do this. But I had already set a goal and the weekend weather didn't look much better. At 5:00am today it was 83 degrees with 70% humidity which made it feel like 89. I armed myself with 2 running belts (one for my phone, the other for my water bottles). My phone won't fit in the pouch for my water bottle belt, and with the conditions I thought I really needed my phone with me in case I needed help. Around mile 2, I really just wanted to stop. It was miserable, but I kept moving. I made sure that I ran away from the car so that at 5 miles I was no where near where I had parked. This wasn't pretty, and I sweated more than I think I ever have. But I did it. I completed my first 7 mile run this year. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Really nice day for a morning run. It was only 56 this morning. For homework we were supposed to run 40 minutes at a fairly even pace on a somewhat hilly course. I wanted to average around an 11 min mile. I ran some hills mixed in with some flatter areas as not to overdo it on this first hill workout at home. Mile 1~ 11:05, Mile 2 ~ 11:14, Mile 3 ~ 11:18, Mile 4 ~ 10:41 - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The goal for the day was 5 miles this morning. Sluggish doesn't even begin to describe the morning. I had a hard time staying awake on the drive to get to the River Front. I was so glad that I was meeting up with some other runners - otherwise I think today might would have been more of a walk than a run. One issue with early morning runs is time constraints. We all have to make it back by a certain time to make it home on time. When we made it back to the studio, I was at 4.6 so I ran a couple of blocks to get my 5 miles in. Actually I went a little farther because on one loop my garmin hadn't been started back. Good mile splits this morning. The last mile was slower, but partly because of crossing streets and having to stop/start - Mile 1 ~ 11:26, Mile 2 ~ 11:24, Mile 3 ~ 10:28, Mile 4 ~ 10:05, Mile 5 ~ 10:59 Today was my fastest pace for a longer distance. I was glad I had someone with me to help push me. I am really glad that I signed up for this running class. - Posted us...